"In The Midst Of It All"
by Dan Wisner
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"Bubblegum Crisis" is copyrighted to Ken-ichi Sonoda, Artmic and Suzuki Toshimachi. Characters from Wanna-Be's are also copyrighted to Kenichi Sonoda and Artmic. Silent Mobius is copyrighted to Kia Asamiya. Oh! My Goddess is copyrighted to Kosuke Fujishima. "Toratotaka International Ltd" and all affiliated characters were created by Fred Herriot for his BGC-based crossover fanfic series "Illusions." Yoshio Saotome and all related characters hail from the Konami PS/SS game "Tokimeki Memorial." Serika Kurusugawa and all related characters hail from the Leaf/Aquaplus game "To Heart." Chikage Hirosaki and all related characters hail from the Mediaworks PS game "Sister Princess - Onii-chan Daisuki." Kaneko Akamura and all related characters hail from the BGC fanfic series "No Armour Against Fate," created by Shawn Hagen. "In The Midst Of It All" is copyrighted to Dan Wisner.
"In The Midst Of It All" is copyrighted to Dan Wisner.
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WRITER'S NOTES: I'd like to dedicate this story to my mom who passed away in 1999. I love you, Mom. I would also like to thank Fred Herriot for allowing me to use his concepts in my story. I'd also like to note that while I am using Toratotaka International in this story, this IS NOT a part of the "Illusions" universe that Fred has created.
Chapter One: "Be Careful Of What You Wish For."
Dallas, Texas.
6:00PM June 30, 2001 AD
Orange sunlight streamed through the windows of a small bedroom and played upon its interior. Within the room was a medium sized bed, a dresser as well as a nightstand. On the dresser was a jumble of manga, printouts, popular science magazines and some original artwork.
The door banged open and Dan entered the room. He looked around for a moment and thought to clean the clutter, but the orange stain on his shirt was a more pressing concern to him. He stripped his clothing off and then left his bedroom, walking to the laundry room. The bundle of clothing was stuffed into the machine, followed by some detergent, and then the start button was hit and water started flowing into the machine.
Dan walked out of the laundry room and back into his bathroom. Dan turned on the shower and waited for it to warm up. He stepped into the shower and sighed as hot water and steam surrounded him.
*It's good to be back,* Dan Wisner thought as he rubbed his arms. *Today was not a good day at work.*
Dan was an usher at Cinemark Tinseltown in Plano, Texas. It was his second year working for this particular movie chain.
*That place...is maddening,* He thought. *Yes, being an usher pays the bills and all, but I should be doing something different with my life. I don't want to spend the rest of my life tearing tickets, after all! I don't like it.*
He thought of the stained shirt and growled.
*Nor do I like being accosted by a customer!* Dan thought as he poured some shampoo in his hand. He scowled as he lathered his hair. *Especially when the person splashes her drink all over me. I was just doing my job! If I had let her pass then I'd be unemployed!!!*
*I wish to the heavens that SOMETHING good would happen in my life.* He thought as he as he rinsed the shampoo out of his hair *But that's only wishful thinking.*
He shook his head.
*Why? Why am I thinking like this?* Dan thought as he shut the shower off. He stepped out of the shower stall. He slipped his underwear on walked out of bathroom. *I need to think positive about this. Certainly some good can come out of this. Right?! I mean I living own, now! So that's something, right?!*
*Yeah. I'm living.* He thought and walked back into his bedroom. He went to his closet and put a pair of pants and a short sleeved shirt. *But that's all I've been doing. Living. I'm not DOING something! Like everyone else in the world! I don't have a meaningful career!*
*Why?!* He thought as he sat down on his bed *Because I was too lazy, that's why! Now I have to catch up with everyone else!*
*Jeez.* He thought as he laid on his back *I might as well just call it quits and just live. Hell, I enjoy 'living'. I do it everyday. I surf the net. I go to work and get paid. After that, I get back home, feed myself and go to bed.*
*Yeah* He thought and closed his eyes. *Maybe that's what I'll do from now on.*
After that thought, Dan quickly fell asleep. In the meantime, the mirror began to glow and an ornately dressed woman with dark markings on her face exited mirror. The odd visitor floated in front of the mirror for a few moments, looking about the room, before she pivoted so she was facing the shower curtain. She then descended, her feet touching the floor, her loose clothing settling about it her.
The odd visitor looked around for a moment and then walked out of the bathroom. She blinked when she noticed that Dan was in the room. She walked up to the foot of the bed. She gazed at Dan for a moment and then nodded.
*He's perfect.* She thought and smiled *He's exactly the one we're looking for.*
*I'll see you soon, Daniel Wisner* She thought and walked away from his sleeping form.
Dan awoke at around eight o'clock the next morning. He looked around for a moment and noticed that he was still dressed. He stripped off most of his clothes and went to the closet. After opening the door, he stuffed the bundle into a clothes bag. After a moment of searching for his bathrobe, Dan found the garment and slipped it on. He tightened the tie around his waist, walked out of the closet and shut the door behind him.
Dan walked out of his bedroom and down a flight of stairs. The flight of stairs led to a small sitting room. It had a bathroom, a small closet, a kitchenette and a fireplace. Within the room was a pair of black couches, a black television stand, a television, a coffee table, a pair of lamps and a dining table. Next to the bathroom was a cellular phone.
Dan went into the kitchenette and opened the refrigerator. He leaned forward and took a can of Mountain Dew off of one of the shelves. Dan popped the top and looked at the calendar that was on the wall. Most of the days in that week were circled. It was a reminder that he had to work on those days. He sighed when he noticed that he had to work on that day. Fortunately, his hours were from five to eleven thirty on that day.
*Damn,* He thought and relaxed. *I really need to do something about this. I can't just 'live.' I don't want to spend the rest of my life as an usher.*
He took a sip and sighed.
*I certainly don't want a management position,* Dan thought and took a longer sip from his beverage. *I'm not a good leader.*
*Hell,* Dan said to himself. *Maybe I should transfer to a smaller theater. I'd have a lot more fun that way. Or get a more relaxing job.*
*Or maybe I should go back to school,* Dan grinned. *I could finish getting a computer science degree. I love working with HTML.*
*But going back to school would cost money,* Dan sighed. *Which means I would still have to work at the theater. Then again, I could find a better job that won't interfere with my studies. Damn, I'm beginning to regret my decision not to go on with my double major. Or work at a clinic.*
Several years ago, Dan was enrolled at Bridgewater State College. Dan dropped out of special education because he didn't feel up to assisting people who were severely handicapped. He finished his studies but chose not to persue a career in psychology. It was his opinion that he wouldn't be happy working there. Nor would they pay enough money for him to live comfortably on.
"What a joke," Dan uttered "I'm earning enough money now. Why am I moaning and whining about this? Oh that's right...the shirt. Then again...I'm not to happy about my job right now. Might as well find something else to do with my life before I go insane."
Dan finished of his soda and deposited it in a wastebasket that was underneath the sink. Grumbling to himself, Dan shut the door and walked out of the kitchenette. He walked past the furniture and went up the flight of stairs. He entered his bathroom and loosened the tie.
*No,* Dan sighed as he slipped his robe and underwear off. *I can't quit now. The job market's so poor right now I'd have little chance of being hired.*
Dan opened the shower curtain, turned on the tap, stepped into the shower stall and pulled the shower curtain closed behind him.
"Damn." He said as the hot water sprayed him. "I guess I'll just stay with Cinemark until I get my degree...or until the economy get stronger. I'll have to find a college that is close to where I live and where I work. I'll also have to ensure that I don't take too many courses as well. That way school won't interfere with work and work won't interfere with school."
*Sounds like a good plan.* He thought as he shook his head. *But it isn't perfect.*
He sighed and poured some liquid soap into the palm of his hand.
*Ah well,* He mused as he lathered up his arms. *At least I'll get a good education out of this. It'll be one hell of an experience that's for sure.*
Fifteen minutes later, Dan walked out of his bedroom wearing a pair of tan shorts, a Bubblegum Crisis 2040 tee shirt, a pair of white socks and black sneakers. He walked down the flight of steps and into the sitting room. He wanted to make some breakfast, but a videocassette case on the coffee table caught his eye. He looked at the television on the stand and turned away from it. He was hungry and he had already seen the video that sat on the table.
Dan went to another cupboard, took out a box of cereal, and began to pour the cereal into the bowl. As he did so, the small mirror in the bathroom began to glow. The odd visitor emerged from the mirror, looked around to get her bearings and pulled herself out of the mirror. She descended to the floor, walked out of the bathroom and smiled at Dan who was about to take his meal to the dining table.
Dan started and half-ran, half-stumbled away from the odd visitor that was now in the kitchenette. Dan, whose back was now against counter, gaped at her as she approached him.
"Who the hell are you and what are you doing here?!" Dan exclaimed.
"I am Belldandy. A first class goddess," Belldandy said as she tried not to frown at his use of colorful language.
"Well, Belldandy, I have one question to ask you," Dan said as he placed his cereal and a glass of juice on the counter. "What's so damned important for you to barge in here like this?!"
"Forgive me," She said. "I am here for one reason and one reason only, sir. You."
"Me?! Why me?! Whatever it is...you could handle it. You ARE a goddess after all," he cried with an arched eyebrow as he took a sip of his juice.
"There are things that not even I can control. That is why I need a MORTAL like you to help me. Please come with me," the goddess of the present said.
"What?! What the heck do you mean? 'Come with me?!' And you haven't answered my last question. Why me?!" Dan exclaimed as he gazed at her with a perplexed expression on his face.
The goddess sighed and grabbed his arm just as he was about to say 'no thanks.'
"I'm sorry. But we cannot delay any longer. The people of my world are in peril," she said and lifted him off the floor and then smiled. "Oh! Don't worry. I won't let you fall."
"Wait!" Dan yelled as he and the ornately dressed woman floated towards the bathroom. He growled angrily while glaring at the goddess. "Wait, damn you! Where are you taking me!?"
"You don't have to swear," she said with an annoyed look on her face and then smiled apologetically. "And I'm quite sorry to say this but...I really can't tell you where you're going. You're going to have to find that out yourself."
Dan ducked his head as the duo floated through the doorway and over the tiled floor of his small bathroom. As they floated towards the mirror, Belldandy kept on smiling as she reached out and touched the mirror. At that moment, Dan slumped forward as he lost all consciousness. Belldandy gazed back at him and wished him the best of luck.
Dan awoke to an unfamiliar ceiling and wondered where he was. He sat up and looked around. Doing so lead to several discoveries. The first discovery was that he was dressed in a silk housecoat. Which caused him to wonder where his clothes were and who did this to him. The second discovery was that he now occupying a medium sized bedroom whose air temperature was a bit warm.
The room had a dresser, a mirror and a medium sized bed; which he was laying on. Next to the dresser was a pair of windows. On the dresser was a bundle of clothes. Next to the bundle was his wallet and a passport. Next to the bed was a nightstand. On the nightstand was a phone with a small screen and video camera attached to it. Past the nightstand were a pair of doors. One led to a hallway, the other lead to a bathroom. A casual glance out one of them told him that it was snowing. He assumed that it was winter, wherever he was, and that was why the heat was on.
Dan walked up one of the windows, gazed out of it and noted that there were several two-story apartments. Past the structures was an extensive beachfront that seemed, at least for the moment, to be devoid of life. Beyond the beach was the sea. Dan, after gazing out of that window for a minute or two, scratched his head in confusion.
He turned away from the window, took a step to the right, and leaned back against the wall. Crossing his arms, Dan sighed as he contemplated his new surroundings.
*This is extremely odd,* Dan thought. *Where am I? This isn't Marsh Creek Apartments. All I know is that this place is near a shoreline. Who did this to me? I'd certainly like to know that. What is there reason for bringing me to this strange place? I'd like to know why they took me away from my family, my job and my other responsibilities. It better be important, whatever it is, because if it isn't...I'll be very unhappy!*
Dan pushed away from the wall and sat down on the bed. His gaze fell upon the nightstand. He noticed that there was an indentation in the top of the stand. Curious, he touched the depression to see what would happen. Dan jerked back when a view screen and small keyboard flipped up and out. The screen flickered on and a woman dressed in a uniform greeted him.
"Good day, sir." The woman said, "Sleep well?"
"Yeah." Dan nodded and peered at the image. "Who...or...what are you?"7
"Good question!" The woman smiled, "I am an artificial intelligence program slaved to a user interface. I am here to answer your questions, sir."
"Damn," He grinned. "You're better than the computer on the Enterprise E. Very user friendly and pretty, too."
"Flatterer." The AI blushed. Dan blinked and tried not to shudder. He expected her to shrug off that comment and ask him if he had any questions. He never thought an A.I would react in such a manner as blushing at his compliment. Dan shook his head and gazed at the A.I
She was indeed pretty. The AI had chocolate brown eyes and short black hair that tapered at the nape of her neck. She was wearing a black blazer, white shirt and a tiger striped ascot. The AI looked very stylish and was pleasant
on the eyes.
"Is anything the matter?" The A.I asked.
"No," He sighed. "Not really. Could you tell me the date and my current location?"
"Certainly," The AI smiles "You are now in Oshika, Japan. The date December 19 , 2033AD. Would you like to know the time as well, sir?"
"Er...no that's okay," Dan uttered with a puzzled expression on his face "Did you say Oshika or Osaka?"
"No, I said Oshika." The AI shook her head "Osaka is to the south of us. As is Mega-Tokyo."
Dan's eyes widened and he leaned forward.
"What?" The AI nervously asked.
"Serious?" Dan asked.
"Very," She said. "Is...there anything else, sir?"
"No." He said.
"Then have a good day." The AI replied. The screen went blank, then retracted into the nightstand. Dan sighed and gazed out the window. He wondered why Belldandy didn't bring him to Mega-Tokyo. From what he knew, GENOM used that city as a 'proving ground' for it Buma prototypes. Did Belldandy want him to deal with GENOM? If that was so he guessed that hiding him here in Oshika, wherever that was, was a good strategy.
That is if this was the same Mega-Tokyo he knew about. For all he knew he could be in the DC universe...or maybe Marvel for that matter. Hell he supposed it could be an amalgamation of the two. Well, it sounded interesting and Dan wondered if he should look into this further.
Dan sighed and shook his head. He couldn't think like that now. He had to find Belldandy so he could go back home. He had to get back soon or he would be late for work.
Dan slipped off of the bed and walked up to the other window. He was glad that he did. A pair of lovers, both female, bundled in layers of clothes, topped off by a pair of gabardines, strolled by arm in arm. They stopped, hugged each other and kissed. Dan, who was blushing at the moment, turned away from the window to give the couple some privacy.
Dan, sighing, made a mental note to seek out a companion after he returned to his native world.
There was a knock and Dan turned towards the bedroom door.
"Ah," Dan uttered. "Come in?"
The door opened and a beautiful woman with jet-black hair, brown skin and sea green eyes entered the room. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail and she was wearing a red blazer over the top half of a golden one-piece dress.
"Good morning," The woman with dark skin smiled. "Are you well, sir?"
"Who are you?" Dan asked.
"Forgive me," She said apologetically. "I am Karen Collette DuPre Matheson. You can call me Karen or Collette if you like?"
"It's a pleasure," Dan replied "I'm Dan Wisner. You can call me Dan or Daniel, if you like."
"Oh no," She smiled. "The pleasure is mine, Daniel."
"Really?" Dan asked.
"Hai." She nodded.
"Uh. Okay," Dan uttered. "So, where's Belldandy?"
"Pardon?" She blinked.
"Where's Belldandy?" Dan repeated. "She's the goddess who brought me here."
"I don't know what you mean," Karen, looking quite confused, shook her head. "All that I know is that I was to bring you to Senior Matriarch Nakano's bungalow."
"Why?" Dan asked.
"Gomen ne," She shrugged. "I do not know that. All she said it was important for you to meet her. Nothing more. Nothing less."
"I see." Dan sighed.
"Still," Karen mused. "I'd like to know why Senior Matriarch Nakano didn't mention to anyone that Belldandy, her older sister, is a goddess. Demo, were not going to find that out, or why she brought you here, until you get dressed. Understand?"
"True," Dan nodded, glanced at the pile of clothes on the dresser and then looked back at her. "But I can't get dressed at the moment, if you know what I mean."
"Mm hm," She hummed. "That I do. I'll give you some privacy, Daniel."
"Thanks." Dan nodded. He smiled when she turned to leave.
*Nice girl.* He thought as she walked out of the room and closed the door behind her. He glanced at the window and sighed. *Wonder if it'll still be snowing when I get out of here?*
* * *
A short time later, Dan walked out of the apartment building wearing a pair of black slacks, black shoes, a white shirt and a black blazer. He slipped on a black leather overcoat and closed the door behind him. He buttoned up the jacket and then looked upwards. The sky was overcast and it was indeed still snowing.
He didn't mind the snow. He, being born in the Midwest portion of the United States, was used to snowfall. Hell he wouldn't mind if a snowstorm came rolling in right about now.
Seconds later, Dan heard a -SNICK- and something obscured his view. Looking to his right and found Karen standing next to him holding an umbrella in her free hand. Her left had a large pocket book in it. She was wearing a heavy cloak and some of her black hair tucked under a black beret.
She turned slightly and gazed up at him.
"Sorry for obstructing the view of the sky," She smiled "We're expecting a snow storm to hit Oshika and Onagawa today."
*Wasn't I just thinking about that?* Dan thought and shrugged his shoulders.
"Nah," Dan sighed. "Its okay. Just thinking about home."
"Mm." Karen hummed "So. Ready to go?"
"Certainly." Dan nodded. With that, the pair walked on past his and another guest apartment. "Does Senior Matriarch Nakano live far?"
"Oh no," Karen shook her head. "She lives just a few rows down."
"Ah," Dan nodded, looked around then smiled at Karen. "Nice place. However, it seems too spaced out to be an apartment complex. A subdivision on the outskirts of Onagawa, maybe?"
"No," Karen smiled. "More like lodging for a Mega-Corporation's covert operations teams. Several Senior Matriarchs and Patriarchs have made this land their home as well. There is also lodging for employees who have business here in Japan. Or for the companies' guests. Such as yourself."
"Who?" Dan asked while crossing his arms across his chest. "GENOM?"
"Iie," She shook her head. "Not GENOM. Toratotaka International. I work for them."
"Toratotaka International?" Dan repeated as they walked past a two-story guest apartment. As they did so, a quartet of warmly dressed, beautiful women exited the building.
"Hai." Karen replied.
"Konban wa!" One the warmly dressed women called out. Karen stopped and turned to respond to the woman's cry.
"Who?!" She blinked, then grinned as the women approached them. "Ah! Linna-san, Nene-san! Priss-san! Sylia-san! Ohayo!"
Dan blinked, turned and gazed at the four women walking towards him. Nene was about five feet tall, had pinkish-red hair and green eyes. She looked very cute and was wearing clothing that matched her personality. Linna was taller than Nene, had aquamarine eyes and short black hair that was held up by a headband. She was wearing a pair of brown boots, black pants, brown turtleneck sweater and a grey jacket. Priss was a bit shorter than Linna, had long brown hair, red brown eyes. She was dressed in black leather pants, boots and a black leather jacket. Sylia had short, blue-black hair that tapered at the neck, brown eyes and was the tallest among the four women. She was dressed in a red, fur-lined cloak, a blue, one-piece dress whose hemline fell just below her knees and a one piece bodysuit with stiletto heels.
"Ohayo Sylia," Colette hummed. "What brings the Knight Sabers to Oshika?"
*What?! How does an employee for Toratotaka know about the Knight Sabers identities?!* Dan thought. As far as he knew they kept their identities a closely guarded secret.
"Ohayo Karen-san," Sylia replied "We've been asked to bodyguard a V.I.P while she spends the week in Oshika and in Mega-Tokyo. We're on our way to meet her at Senior Matriarch Nakano's apartment."
"Ah," Karen smiled. "What a coincidence. We're going to see Nakano as well. Why don't we walk together, ne? I wouldn't mind the company. How about you, Dan? Do you mind if they walk with us."
"No," Dan sighed. "That's fine."
Karen and the other women, save for Priss, smiled and nodded.
"Yokatta," Karen smiled. "Iko."
"Un." The other ladies nodded.
"Right..." Dan sighed.
"Nice outfit by the way," Karen smiled at the leader of the Knight Sabers. "I really must find the boutique that sold you that ensemble, Sylia."
"Thank you," Sylia replied and smirked as Linna slipped up to Karen. "I'll be seeing Obaa-sama after our initial meeting with the V.I.P."
"Special occasion?" Karen asked.
"No," Sylia replied "On a whim. Though I must admit I did get a little dressed up for the V.I.P as well. We've been close friends since elementary school."
Dan, feeling confused and left out of the conversation, slowed his pace a bit. He knew that the Sabers were supposed to protect a V.I.P. But he didn't know who. He wanted to find out, but he felt like an outsider so he didn't take the chance to ask. Priss, noticing his demeanor, slipped up to him with a grin.
"Hey Dan," She said. "You look a little lost. First day on the job?"
"Huh?!" Dan grunted.
"Don't 'huh' me," Priss uttered. "You are a Toratotaka operative, right?"
"No." Dan replied. "I'm not with Toratotaka."
"Nani?!" Priss blurted which made the others stopped at her outburst. "Sylia! We have a problem here!"
"What may that be?" Sylia asked as she crossed her arms.
"This guy says he's not with Toratotaka," Priss replied. "We were talking about 'business' right under this guy's nose."
"That -is- a problem," Sylia replied and turned to Karen. "Who is this person, why is he here?"
The others gazed at Dan with a mixture of emotions playing on their faces. Priss was suspicious, but seemed a little intrigued as well. Linna, on the other hand, seemed weary about him. Nene looked apprehensive.
"It..its okay," Karen sighed, not wanting to say anything about Belldandy being a goddess. That would raise all sorts of uncomfortable questions about her sister. "That's why we're going to Nakano-san's apartment."
"Very well," Sylia sighed. "Priss-san? Keep an eye on him?"
"Un." Priss nodded, then smiled coldly at Dan. "Better not do anything funny, you hear?"
"Wouldn't dream of it." Dan quipped.
A short time later, the group came upon a two-story bungalow. Karen walked up to the front door and knocked on it. A minute or so passed before a tall, beautiful woman with fiery red hair and dark brown eyes answered the door.
"Ohayo Lucy," Karen smiled. "Daniel-kun's here."
"Ah good," Lucy Kay Vanderburg murmured, then noticed that the Knight Sabers were there as well. The tall, red head sighed and gazed at Sylia. "Mm. I also see that Sylia-san's team has come to see Miss Liquer, right?"
"Hai." Sylia nodded.
"I see," The fiery haired woman sighed. "Come on in."
"Thank you." Karen nodded, then smiled at Dan. "Ready?"
"Yeah." Dan nodded.
* * *
Katsumi sighed and glanced around the living room. It was a medium sized room with a bay window. The medium sized room had a pair of couches, a large coffee table, and several bookcases filled with books ad CD-ROMS, a computer workstation and a fireplace. Sitting across from her was beautiful woman with dark hair and brown eyes. She also had curious tattoo like markings on her cheeks and forehead. Off to her right was woman with black, waist length hair and blue eyes. She was dressed in a Toratotaka office lady's uniform.
*I wonder when my 'bodyguards' will arrive?* Katsumi Liquer wondered. She thought for a moment then shook her head. *Why bodyguards, for that matter? I'm on Toratotaka's home turf, after all. Their security forces, mostly composed of a mixture of 33S, 48C and 59Cs, should be able to keep an eye on me. So why??*
"Something troubling you, Katsumi-san?" The dark haired woman asked.
"I'm curious to know why Toratotaka hired a mercenary team to protect me, Senior Matriarch Nakano." Katsumi replied.
"Mmm," Senior Matriarch Skuld Nakano hummed. "That's funny, I don't remember Miharu saying anything about us hiring a group to protect you."
"Y...you haven't?!" Katsumi blurted.
"No," Skuld shook her head. "We haven't."
"Then who?" Katsumi asked.
"It seems your mother had an apprentice," Skuld smiled. "A young fourteen year old girl named Chikage Hirosaki."
"Hm," Katsumi nodded. "Yeah, I remember her now. Pity she and Okaa-san died in the quake."
"Well," Skuld said. "That's not entirely true."
"Eh?" Katsumi uttered.
"Un," Skuld grinned. "Chikage was reborn a few years ago as a 33S Child Companion. Not only that but she's taken it upon herself to become a powerful sorceress. She is the 'keeper' of the Spiral, after all. At any rate, she was the one who hired the mercenary team. She's quite fond of you, after all."
"That she is." Katsumi nodded just as Sylia Stingray and Linna Yamazaki stepped into the family room. Dan Wisner, Karen Collette DuPre Matheson, Priss Asagiri and Nene Romanova remained outside to give Sylia some privacy.
"She's not the only one, Katsumi." Sylia replied with a slight smile and a tone of affection in her voice.
"Sylia!" Katsumi blurted and leapt out of the couch. "What are you doing here?"
"Personally or professionally?" Sylia murmured. "Personally I'm saying hello to an old friend who I haven't seen for a very long time. Its good to see you again."
"Well its good to see you, too." Katsumi replied. "Demo, what's with the girl with the yellow head band?"
"Let's just say that I'm here...to protect you, Katsumi." Sylia replied.
Katsumi gasped.
"Masaka," Katsumi uttered with a look of shock on her face. "You...You've pulled it off haven't you? You formed the Knight Sabers, then?"
Hai," Sylia nodded "I have. Shortly after I asked you to join my group, as a matter of fact."
"I see." Katsumi nodded.
Linna blinked, took a step back in the doorway and glanced at her teammates, Karen and Dan.
Nene looked confused and concerned. She had every right to be. She must have a lot of questions running through her head. Priss's expression, however, was very hard to read. Linna couldn't tell if Priss was mad or hurt by the fact that Sylia didn't tell them that there was someone else who knew about their identities.
Dan and Karen's expressions were completely opposite. Karen was leaning against the wall with her hands folded behind her head. She looked completely at ease with the situation. She had the advantage of being an employee of a corporation who had a very extensive intelligence network. So of course she knew all that there was to know about Sylia's request to Katsumi.
In contrast, Dan had his back against the wall and seemed to be pondering something. To Linna, Dan looked confused, concerned, slightly upset and a little lost. Linna wasn't sure what his deal was. He was a stranger, yet it seemed he was at ease around her teammates as well as herself. At the same time, he seemed very aloof and wished to be alone to deal with his troubles on his own.
Linna sighed, stepped up to Dan and tapped him on the shoulder. He looked up, blinked and gave her an odd look. Linna shrugged it off and gave him a friendly smile.
"Daijobu, des ka?" Linna asked. Dan sighed and told her that he was fine. She didn't believe him and stayed put. Seeing that she was going to stay, Dan relinquished and gazed at her.
"I...I'm just a little confused," Dan confessed. "Could you tell me what Katsumi-san looks like?"
"Would it help if I did?" Linna asked.
"Somewhat." Dan nodded. Linna hummed, looked back through the doorway and gazed at Katsumi Liquer.
"Hmm," She mused. "Well she's quite an attractive lady. She has blue eyes, straight, waist length black hair and...she's about as tall as Priss over there. Does that help?"
"Mmm." Dan uttered. "Yeah. That does help."
*Yep,* Dan thought. *That's Katsumi Liquer all right. But is this the Katsumi Liquer that -I- know about? Or some alternate version of her. If it's the former then I may have to deal with the Lucifer Hawk soon. Then again, maybe not. Maybe Belldandy wants me to deal with some corporate stooge at GENOM and then I can go home sooner than expected.*
"The former," Said a familiar voice. Dan started and turned to see Belldandy with. The others looked on as Dan and Belldandy gazed at each other. "Not the latter."
"Y...you," Dan growled and pointed a finger at the goddess. "H...how?! N...never mind that. Damn it. Why the hell did you take me from my home?"
Priss, Linna and Nene looked puzzled. Colette, on the other hand, looked very uneasy and wished Dan had better tact. She knew that this would raise a lot of uncomfortable questions about Senior Matriarch Nakano's bloodline.
"Daniel, be reasonable." Belldandy uttered.
"Tell me why!" Dan yelled. His demands brought Sylia, Skuld and Katsumi to the doorway. Belldandy trembled as if she were on the verge of tears.
"Because a ravenous horde known as the Lucifer Hawk was about invade your world!" Belldandy, looking very distraught, said. "I had no other choice than to take you at that very moment, Daniel! If I didn't, and let you die -there- we would have had no future -here-!"
Karen sighed into the palm of her hand.
"W...what?" Dan uttered and shook his head. "N...no! No! You're wrong! You're lying!"
"Iie!" Belldandy cried as Skuld entered the hallway. "I'm telling you the truth! I can't lie to you! The people of your world are dead."
"N...no." He whimpered and his legs gave way. He slumped to the floor and just sat there. "No...that can't be. It just can't be...all those people...gone. Just like that?"
"No," Belldandy murmured and sat next to him. "Not 'just like that.' After the initial panic of seeing them...you're people will fight back. But they will loose. After that...the feeding frenzy will begin."
"No." Dan uttered.
"Hai," Skuld nodded, then looked to Karen. "Take him to one of the guestrooms and see that he's comfortable, okay?"
"Will do," Karen sighed, bent down and hauled Dan up off of the floor. "C'mon, Dan. Lets go."
"Where are we going?" He muttered as he found his feet.
"This way." Karen said and led him down the hall "To a guest room where you can have all the peace and quiet you want. You're important to us after all."
"Okay." Dan uttered.
"Good," Skuld nodded, looked to her sister and sighed. "I guess we'll have to fill your team in on the deal, Sylia. Thankfully, discretion is in unsaid rule of the Knight Sabers Organization."
"Why the secrecy?" Sylia asked.
"Why indeed," Skuld said and then waved them into the family room. "Come on in. I'll fill you all in with the basics. If you have any questions; ask away. But...none of this leaves the room, understand?"
The Knight Sabers and Katsumi nodded and followed her in. Linna paused to gaze back at the retreating figures and sighed. Priss gave her an odd look which Linna shrugged off strode into the room. Linna went over to one of the couches and sat down. Priss plopped down beside here and gazed at him.
"Why are you so concerned about him?" Priss asked "Don't tell me...you've got a crush on him, haven't ya?"
"Eh," Linna uttered, then shook her head. "No. Nothing like that. It's just that I feel sorry for him. He's confused, lost and now he has no home. Hell, I'm a little lost myself, demo, that's because I don't know what we're talking about."
"True," Sylia nodded as she and Nene sat on the other couch. "The one thing we do recognize, however, is the name Lucifer Hawk. We've had some experience with them."
"Worse than Buma," Priss nodded. "Thank god we've got the weaponry to handle the lot of them."
"For the moment." Sylia sighed.
"Eh?" Priss uttered.
"There may come a time when stronger foes will cross our path." Sylia sighed and looked at Skuld.
"When it does," Skuld hummed. "Withdraw and we'll handle it."
"Mm." Sylia mused "Or findings someone more capable of handling them. Not that we wouldn't appreciate the help."
"Who the hell are you anyway?" Priss asked. Linna and Nene told her to be more respectful but the singer paid no mind.
"I'm the Senior Matriarch for EPR&I," Skuld beamed "That's the short form for Experimental and Paranormal Research and Investigations."
"EPR&I?" Nene and Katsumi said at the same time.
"Strange acronym." Priss mumbled.
"Be as that may," Skuld murmured. "I think its time we talked."
The Knight Sabers nodded.
"The truth is," Skuld sighed. "That we're goddesses."
"Megami?!" Priss, Linna and Nene blurted. Even Sylia looked surprised.
"What's a Megami doing here?!" Priss asked.
"The fate of this world, and its inhabitants, concerns us deeply." Skuld murmured and Belldandy nodded. "Humanity is evolving...but some corporations aren't being so helpful with that evolution. So I thought best way to help humanity was to join a forward thinking company...Toratotaka!!!"
Linna and Nene, who looked upon Toratotaka with a positive attitude nodded. Priss on the other hand looked unsure.
"I dunno." Priss uttered. Linna and Nene gave her a look that she ignored.
"I used to fear GENOM. But that's before I heard of Toratotaka. It's the one that should be feared. You're company is -so- powerful. Somewhere along the line...it may become dangerously overposessive of this place."
"Its my goal, my desire, to see that it doesn't." Skuld smiled. "Funny thing is The Almighty doesn't object to this at all. If he did we'd be recalled instantly. Yet, due to our unique nature, we've chosen to keep our identity a secret."
"Why?" Sylia asked.
"Because we can grant wishes." Belldandy replied. Linna and Nene boggled while Priss mouth fell slightly agape.
"You can grant a wish to anyone. Just like that?" Priss snapped her fingers.
"Well," Skuld sighed. "No. Not really."
"We specialize in people with problems." Belldandy replied.
"Hmph," Priss shrugged. "That doesn't impress me. A lot of people have problems. It's a fact of life."
"But you see," Skuld smiled. "Most of those people also have ulterior motives as well. Like destroying the world, for example. Heck, the goddess helpline had to refuse a request from Prometheus Bound not to long ago. Sad isn't it. They can't see that Cyberdroids are another form of mankind."
"Let me guess," Sylia replied coolly. "They wanted you to get rid of all the boomers on the earth, right."
"Yes." Belldandy nodded. "We had to decline on that offer. Cyberdroids after all, much like all living things, have a soul."
"First time I've ever heard of that." Katsumi replied.
"So what's all the hullabaloo about Dan about?" Priss replied. Nene and Linna sighed, knowing that she was trying to change the subject.
"I'll keep it simple," Skuld replied. "He's here to protect this world from the Lucifer Hawk."
"Big job," Priss hummed. "Does he know yet?"
"No," Skuld replied. "We're going to fill him on the deal when he settles down. Hopefully he'll accept our request. If he doesn't...well...we do have someone to fall back on. Not that we'd like to put all of the weight on her, mind you."
"Who?" Sylia asked and Skuld glanced at Katsumi. Katsumi caught the glance and gasped when the implications hit home.
"Me?" Katsumi uttered, then shook her head with a look of terror in her eyes. "Iie! I can't fight them! I'm just a secretary! That's all. I can't fight those...those horrible, disgusting monsters!"
"Well," Priss sighed. "What's plan B?"
"Plan B??" Skuld asked not knowing what Priss was referring to.
"Its obvious," Priss shrugged. "Right? Katsumi doesn't want to fight and Dan's out of it. So who do you have for plan B?"
"Priss-san!" Linna barked.
"No one," Skuld sighed. "We knew it would be a long shot, but we had to take the chance. Katsumi and Dan were going to be the cornerstone of a new department that would deal solely with aggressive incursions caused by paranormal and extra-dimensional entities."
"So in other words they would become a part of Toratotaka, correct?" Sylia asked glancing at Katsumi. "But she has refused that, hasn't she?"
"Seems that way," Skuld replied.
"Then," Sylia smiled. "Perhaps I can make her an offer as well?"
"You're not thinking of..."Skuld replied "But she refused that offer once before!"
"Sylia..."Katsumi uttered.
"Think it over, "Sylia said and gave her a small smile. "I'm in no hurry. I must admit that we may face a Lucifer Hawk one time or another. But then...that's why I'm asking you to join us."
"I...see." Katsumi said and sighed "Buma I could face...maybe. But I'm not so sure about facing a Lucifer Hawk. I'll...have to think about this, Sylia."
"I understand," Sylia nodded. "Take you're time."
"What of Dan?" Linna asked.
"Speaking of him," Nene mused looking out the window. "There he is now!"
"GMT-1 is there as well," Skuld smiled, then shrugged. "Or at least half of them. The rest should be arriving shortly."
Linna gazed at him and shook her head.
"He looks more lost than ever." Linna replied.
"He should," Skuld replied after glancing at him. "I'm guessing he's the looking Palace. Those who first see The Crystal Palace are at a loss for words for minute or two. But considering where he's from...it must be boggling his mind right now."
"I wonder," Belldandy sighed. "If bringing him to Oshika was the right thing to do. I can understand the reason. He's safe from attacks from the Lucifer Hawk. But is his mental stability safe?"
"Why is he safe?" Nene asked.
"Simple. They know Onee-sama's too powerful for them." A deep melodious voice spoke. Nene blinked then shrunk back when she a tall, imposing red haired lioness standing in the doorway.
"55Cs?" Priss growled.
"No. 33S Sexaroids," The lioness replied. Linna looked at her. She was quite tall; about six foot two or so. She had green eyes and neck length flaming red hair. She was dressed was wearing a Toratotaka office ladies uniform. "Bu TT 33S Guardian Sexaroids, to be exact."
"You're a sexaroid?!" Nene cried, then smiled. "Mou, the more I learn about Toratotaka the better it gets."
"Who are you anyway?" Priss asked.
"I'm Edith Hamilton; Interrogator for GMT-1." The red head replied, then smiled when an even taller woman joined her. "This is Elinor Wylie, our commander."
"What does a Guardsman do?" Linna ask Elinor. She had short, slightly wavy silver hair, smiled at her and adjusted the bifocals that were perched before her blue eyes.
"We're visible bodyguards," Elinor shrugged. "We're also trained in SWAT tactics. Seeing as though we're bodyguards..."
"Obaa-sama's asked us to look after Dan," Edith said, smiling sadly as she looked out the bay window. "By looks of things he'll need our emotional support as well."
"Un." Elinor sighed. Skuld turned to talk to her sister but then blinked when she noticed that Belldandy wasn't there. She sighed, then turned to Katsumi.
"You're welcome to stay Katsumi-san," Skuld smiled. "But if you'd rather leave for Tokyo, we'd understand."
"Iie," Katsumi Liquer said. "I'll stay, just for tonight."
"Visiting family are we?" Skuld smiled.
"Why not," Katsumi smiled "I am a bio-roid, after all. So for all purposes Dame Nicole is my Obaa-sama."
Sylia smiled at that.
"Care to accompany me to the Palace, Sylia?" Katsumi asked.
"Of course," Sylia smiled, then turned to her teammates. "Go back to the apartment and monitor the area. The Toratotaka tower will provide all the surveillance information we need to protect Katsumi. This'll be a brief visit, so be prepared to pull out. Understand?"
"Hai!" Priss, Linna and Nene nodded.
Outside, Dan indeed looked as if he needed to be looked after. His face was wrought in a mixture of confusion, puzzlement, fear and concern. Part of his mind just wanted to determine what the enormous structure in front of him was.
But the parts that were boggling, protesting that this shouldn't be and crying out in fear were blocking its requests.
He gave up and looked to Karen and Lucy for an answer.
"What...is...that?" He uttered. Karen and Lucy, members of GMT-1, let out a collective sigh.
"The Crystal Palace." Karen smiled, as she gazed at the enormous crystalline structure that looked like a three dimensional snowflake. "The headquarters of Toratotaka international and our Onee-sama."
"Oh?" Dan uttered, then blinked when he heard someone approaching from behind.
He turned and saw Belldandy smile pensively at him.
"Beautiful...isn't she?" Belldandy said.
"I...yeah." He uttered.
"She's sentient," Belldandy. "The Crystal Palace was created by a race long before mankind began to build its first cities, villages and settlements."
"How...long?" He uttered after taking that in.
"3 billion years ago." She smiled
"3......billion?" Dan repeated "That...long...ago?!"
"Hai," Belldandy.
"Mm," Dan replied, then looked at Karen "That's...enough for one day. Can we go back?"
"Uh?!" Karen uttered. "Are you sure?!"
Dan nodded.
"Um, well, okay." Karen Collette DuPre Matheson nodded, then looked at Kay. "C'mon. We're go back to Dan's guest apartment. Tell the others, okay?"
"Understood," Lucy nodded and took out a CVP.
"We're on our way," Edith replied and shut off her CVP. She sighed, then turned to Elinor who was gazing out the bay window. "Dan's on his way back to his guest apartment. I think he's had enough for one day."
"I don't blame him," Elinor sighed. "He's in a different time and space. Of course he'll be distraught."
"The fact that Lucifer Hawk hunting his ken for food doesn't make it easier, either." Edith murmured.
"Mmm," Skuld hummed. "Sad isn't it. This is happening to his world because of our folly."
"What do you mean?" Elinor asked.
"It's a known fact their food resources are almost depleted, right?" Skuld asked.
"Of course," Edith nodded. "Because of that they've made forays into this universe to feed on human flesh. But only a few can do so, since the gateway between our world and Nemesis, their home universe, has been sealed off."
"Un," Skuld said. "Because of that the Lucifer Hawk, I think, are turning to other worlds, parallel dimensions, for the right food sources. They'll invade his world, harvest his ken, and feed on their dead bodies once they return to Nemesis."
"What's to stop them?" Elinor asked.
"Not much," She sighed.
"Can't they go some other planet in their universe and inhabit it?" Edith replied.
"Maybe Earth is the best choice," Elinor hummed. "As we know, they do thrive in a polluted environment."
"If not our earth, Dan's Earth then." Edith sighed.
"Un," Skuld nodded. "At any rate the two of you should get on your way. Dan needs consoling and I'm not so sure he'll let Onesama near him."
"Understood," Elinor nodded, then turned to Edith. "Let's go, Edith!"
"Yeah!" Edith replied
Within minutes Elinor and Edith arrived at Dan's guest apartment. Upon entering the bungalow, they found Lucy and Karen sitting at a dining table. Seeing the concerned expressions on their faces Edith asked what was the matter. Their reply surprised the Commander and Interrogator of GMT-1.
"He just went upstairs?" Elinor asked. The heavy weapons and technical specialists nodded, causing Elinor and Edith to sigh. "I know he's in shock but...he does have to eat sometime."
"Maybe he ate breakfast before coming here?" Lucy suggested. But Belldandy, who was carrying a tea tray in her hands, told her that the opposite was true with a shake of her head.
"Damn," Lucy sighed. "What can we do for him?"
"Someone has to talk to him." Edith sighed.
"True," Elinor nodded, then smiled at her. "Come on. Lets go console our guest."
"Wait." Belldandy softly replied. They turned and saw the goddess standing with a tray of food in her hands. "Please take this to him. I denied him the right to a healthy meal."
Elinor smiled, walked over to the goddess and took the tray from her.
"I will," She smiled, then leaned forward to brush her lips against Belldandy's forehead. "It is no wonder that you are the mother of four healthy children, Belldandy. Hopefully Dan will come to his senses and will do all that he can to insure that they'll all have happy productive lives."
"That is my hope, too." Belldandy sighed.
"Let's go." Edith smiled, then blinked when Lucy held up a hand. "What, Lucy?"
"A warning that's all," Lucy said, then shrugged. "Just be ready for his mind to go piff when he sees you. He might mistake you for a 55C."
"Got you," Elinor nodded. "Iko."
"Un." Edith nodded.
Thankfully, Dan's mind did not go 'piff' when Elinor and Edith walked into his bedroom. Instead, he accepted their explanation to who whom and what they were.
After the introductions were made, Edith handed him his breakfast. He quietly took it from her and silently attacked his meal without delay. Seeing this, they leaned against the wall and patiently waited for Dan to finish his meal.
Ten minutes later, he laid his tray on the end table and looked out the window.
"Something I can do for you, ladies?" Dan asked quietly.
"You seem distraught," Elinor hummed "Want to talk about it, Daniel-kun?"
He thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"Sorry," He replied. "But I don't think you could understand."
"Don't be too sure about that." Elinor smiled as she pushed away from the wall. After wandering over, she sat on the bed, took his hand and gazed at him. "Its in our nature to be understanding."
"I don't know..."He sighed, then nodded "Okay, but I must warn you...what I'm about to say might...cause you to...doubt...who you are, Elinor."
"I think I can handle it." She smiled.
"Okay," Dan sighed "First of all...I have to tell you that...I'm very confused."
"What's leading to this confusion?" Edith asked.
"Well..."He sighed "to make a long story short I'm from another world. That world is no different that yours except for the fact that I come from the early 21st century. In that world, there is an animated OVA series where AD POLICE and the Knight Sabers try to stop GENOM's boomers from destroying the city. All the while USSD's beam satellites are orbiting the Earth supposedly protecting us from nuclear missiles."
For a moment he could see panic their eyes. But then Elinor smiled and nodded.
"Sounds like our world, all right." She replied and blinked when Dan shook his head.
"But I've never heard of Toratotaka." Dan sighed. "I have...heard of the Lucifer Hawk though. Just that I've never expected them to be -here-."
"Have you dealt with them before?" Elinor asked. Dan shook his head.
"No." Dan sighed, "Only heard of them, and Katsumi Liquer, through an anime series. Maybe that's why Belldandy asked me to come here. She knew I was familiar with both worlds...and she hoped I could find a way to deal with them.
Though I don't know if I can, seeing as how I'm not trained in modern combat."
Elinor blinked, then smiled.
"Well," Edith smiled. "It is true that you're here to protect this world the Lucifer Hawk. As for training..."
"You could leave that up to Toratotaka." Elinor nodded. "Or someone else for that matter. Who you work with to fight the Lucifer Hawk is up to you. Demo, if you do choose us...we'll welcome you with open arms."
"Really?" Dan asked.
"Yeah." They nodded.
"Why would a Mega-corp do that?" Dan asked.
"Because Toratotaka cares," Edith smiled "We care about this world and those who live on it. As does Onee-sama."
"Onee-sama?" Dan uttered. "Oh! The Palace, right?"
**Yes!** A melodious voice said inside his head. That startled Dan and he looked around.
*Who? Who said that?* Dan thought and then glanced at Edith then at Elinor.
"Is something wrong?" Edith asked.
"Did you say something?" Dan asked.
"Just now?" Edith said and shook her head "No. Why?"
"I just heard a voice. Inside my head." Dan uttered. Edith smiled as did Elinor.
"That would be Onee-sama," Elinor said and patted his shoulder. "Say hi to her, Dan."
"For real?" Dan asked.
They nodded, which caused Dan to sigh.
"Okay." He shrugged.
**Er,** Dan murmured. **Hello?**
**Greetings, Daniel.** The Palace said brightly. **Feeling a little better now? You looked...disturbed when you first set your eyes on me.**
**A little,** He replied **I know why I'm here...although I'm unsure if I can do it all by myself.**
**I'd prefer that you don't,** She sighed. **Death is a certainty if you take that road, Daniel.**
**Well...that is true,** Dan sighed. **It'd be best that way. If I work with a larger organization I can find the Lucifer Hawks, deal with then return home.**
**Oh Daniel,** She sighed. **I fear you may not be able to return home.**
**What?** He uttered. **What do you mean by that?!**
**Skuld has informed me that the Lucifer Hawk has invaded your world, your Earth, Daniel.** She murmured **The citizens of your world may not survive the attack.**
**Surely some will survive?** Dan said hopefully.
**Survive -THEIR- attacks, Daniel?** She mused. **No. No one will. I believe this is why Belldandy brought you here, Daniel. So you can deal with the foul beings from Nemesis...and start anew as well.**
**N...no!** He thought.
**I'm sorry, but that is the truth.** She said. **A pair of cyber-bioroid's are nearby correct?**
**Yes.** Dan replied. **Elinor and Edith are sitting on my bed.**
**Take solace from their embrace.** She said **It will do wonders for your soul, Daniel.**
**I...I will.** Dan thought.
**Farewell** She murmured. Dan slumped to the right and Elinor caught him in her strong muscular arms.
"Diajobu, Daniel?!" Elinor cried.
"They're gone." Dan uttered. "All gone."
End chapter one
by Dan Wisner
**** **** ****
"Bubblegum Crisis" is copyrighted to Ken-ichi Sonoda, Artmic and Suzuki Toshimachi. Characters from Wanna-Be's are also copyrighted to Kenichi Sonoda and Artmic. Silent Mobius is copyrighted to Kia Asamiya. Oh! My Goddess is copyrighted to Kosuke Fujishima. "Toratotaka International Ltd" and all affiliated characters were created by Fred Herriot for his BGC-based crossover fanfic series "Illusions." Yoshio Saotome and all related characters hail from the Konami PS/SS game "Tokimeki Memorial." Serika Kurusugawa and all related characters hail from the Leaf/Aquaplus game "To Heart." Chikage Hirosaki and all related characters hail from the Mediaworks PS game "Sister Princess - Onii-chan Daisuki." Kaneko Akamura and all related characters hail from the BGC fanfic series "No Armour Against Fate," created by Shawn Hagen. "In The Midst Of It All" is copyrighted to Dan Wisner.
"In The Midst Of It All" is copyrighted to Dan Wisner.
**** **** ****
WRITER'S NOTES: I'd like to dedicate this story to my mom who passed away in 1999. I love you, Mom. I would also like to thank Fred Herriot for allowing me to use his concepts in my story. I'd also like to note that while I am using Toratotaka International in this story, this IS NOT a part of the "Illusions" universe that Fred has created.
Chapter One: "Be Careful Of What You Wish For."
Dallas, Texas.
6:00PM June 30, 2001 AD
Orange sunlight streamed through the windows of a small bedroom and played upon its interior. Within the room was a medium sized bed, a dresser as well as a nightstand. On the dresser was a jumble of manga, printouts, popular science magazines and some original artwork.
The door banged open and Dan entered the room. He looked around for a moment and thought to clean the clutter, but the orange stain on his shirt was a more pressing concern to him. He stripped his clothing off and then left his bedroom, walking to the laundry room. The bundle of clothing was stuffed into the machine, followed by some detergent, and then the start button was hit and water started flowing into the machine.
Dan walked out of the laundry room and back into his bathroom. Dan turned on the shower and waited for it to warm up. He stepped into the shower and sighed as hot water and steam surrounded him.
*It's good to be back,* Dan Wisner thought as he rubbed his arms. *Today was not a good day at work.*
Dan was an usher at Cinemark Tinseltown in Plano, Texas. It was his second year working for this particular movie chain.
*That place...is maddening,* He thought. *Yes, being an usher pays the bills and all, but I should be doing something different with my life. I don't want to spend the rest of my life tearing tickets, after all! I don't like it.*
He thought of the stained shirt and growled.
*Nor do I like being accosted by a customer!* Dan thought as he poured some shampoo in his hand. He scowled as he lathered his hair. *Especially when the person splashes her drink all over me. I was just doing my job! If I had let her pass then I'd be unemployed!!!*
*I wish to the heavens that SOMETHING good would happen in my life.* He thought as he as he rinsed the shampoo out of his hair *But that's only wishful thinking.*
He shook his head.
*Why? Why am I thinking like this?* Dan thought as he shut the shower off. He stepped out of the shower stall. He slipped his underwear on walked out of bathroom. *I need to think positive about this. Certainly some good can come out of this. Right?! I mean I living own, now! So that's something, right?!*
*Yeah. I'm living.* He thought and walked back into his bedroom. He went to his closet and put a pair of pants and a short sleeved shirt. *But that's all I've been doing. Living. I'm not DOING something! Like everyone else in the world! I don't have a meaningful career!*
*Why?!* He thought as he sat down on his bed *Because I was too lazy, that's why! Now I have to catch up with everyone else!*
*Jeez.* He thought as he laid on his back *I might as well just call it quits and just live. Hell, I enjoy 'living'. I do it everyday. I surf the net. I go to work and get paid. After that, I get back home, feed myself and go to bed.*
*Yeah* He thought and closed his eyes. *Maybe that's what I'll do from now on.*
After that thought, Dan quickly fell asleep. In the meantime, the mirror began to glow and an ornately dressed woman with dark markings on her face exited mirror. The odd visitor floated in front of the mirror for a few moments, looking about the room, before she pivoted so she was facing the shower curtain. She then descended, her feet touching the floor, her loose clothing settling about it her.
The odd visitor looked around for a moment and then walked out of the bathroom. She blinked when she noticed that Dan was in the room. She walked up to the foot of the bed. She gazed at Dan for a moment and then nodded.
*He's perfect.* She thought and smiled *He's exactly the one we're looking for.*
*I'll see you soon, Daniel Wisner* She thought and walked away from his sleeping form.
Dan awoke at around eight o'clock the next morning. He looked around for a moment and noticed that he was still dressed. He stripped off most of his clothes and went to the closet. After opening the door, he stuffed the bundle into a clothes bag. After a moment of searching for his bathrobe, Dan found the garment and slipped it on. He tightened the tie around his waist, walked out of the closet and shut the door behind him.
Dan walked out of his bedroom and down a flight of stairs. The flight of stairs led to a small sitting room. It had a bathroom, a small closet, a kitchenette and a fireplace. Within the room was a pair of black couches, a black television stand, a television, a coffee table, a pair of lamps and a dining table. Next to the bathroom was a cellular phone.
Dan went into the kitchenette and opened the refrigerator. He leaned forward and took a can of Mountain Dew off of one of the shelves. Dan popped the top and looked at the calendar that was on the wall. Most of the days in that week were circled. It was a reminder that he had to work on those days. He sighed when he noticed that he had to work on that day. Fortunately, his hours were from five to eleven thirty on that day.
*Damn,* He thought and relaxed. *I really need to do something about this. I can't just 'live.' I don't want to spend the rest of my life as an usher.*
He took a sip and sighed.
*I certainly don't want a management position,* Dan thought and took a longer sip from his beverage. *I'm not a good leader.*
*Hell,* Dan said to himself. *Maybe I should transfer to a smaller theater. I'd have a lot more fun that way. Or get a more relaxing job.*
*Or maybe I should go back to school,* Dan grinned. *I could finish getting a computer science degree. I love working with HTML.*
*But going back to school would cost money,* Dan sighed. *Which means I would still have to work at the theater. Then again, I could find a better job that won't interfere with my studies. Damn, I'm beginning to regret my decision not to go on with my double major. Or work at a clinic.*
Several years ago, Dan was enrolled at Bridgewater State College. Dan dropped out of special education because he didn't feel up to assisting people who were severely handicapped. He finished his studies but chose not to persue a career in psychology. It was his opinion that he wouldn't be happy working there. Nor would they pay enough money for him to live comfortably on.
"What a joke," Dan uttered "I'm earning enough money now. Why am I moaning and whining about this? Oh that's right...the shirt. Then again...I'm not to happy about my job right now. Might as well find something else to do with my life before I go insane."
Dan finished of his soda and deposited it in a wastebasket that was underneath the sink. Grumbling to himself, Dan shut the door and walked out of the kitchenette. He walked past the furniture and went up the flight of stairs. He entered his bathroom and loosened the tie.
*No,* Dan sighed as he slipped his robe and underwear off. *I can't quit now. The job market's so poor right now I'd have little chance of being hired.*
Dan opened the shower curtain, turned on the tap, stepped into the shower stall and pulled the shower curtain closed behind him.
"Damn." He said as the hot water sprayed him. "I guess I'll just stay with Cinemark until I get my degree...or until the economy get stronger. I'll have to find a college that is close to where I live and where I work. I'll also have to ensure that I don't take too many courses as well. That way school won't interfere with work and work won't interfere with school."
*Sounds like a good plan.* He thought as he shook his head. *But it isn't perfect.*
He sighed and poured some liquid soap into the palm of his hand.
*Ah well,* He mused as he lathered up his arms. *At least I'll get a good education out of this. It'll be one hell of an experience that's for sure.*
Fifteen minutes later, Dan walked out of his bedroom wearing a pair of tan shorts, a Bubblegum Crisis 2040 tee shirt, a pair of white socks and black sneakers. He walked down the flight of steps and into the sitting room. He wanted to make some breakfast, but a videocassette case on the coffee table caught his eye. He looked at the television on the stand and turned away from it. He was hungry and he had already seen the video that sat on the table.
Dan went to another cupboard, took out a box of cereal, and began to pour the cereal into the bowl. As he did so, the small mirror in the bathroom began to glow. The odd visitor emerged from the mirror, looked around to get her bearings and pulled herself out of the mirror. She descended to the floor, walked out of the bathroom and smiled at Dan who was about to take his meal to the dining table.
Dan started and half-ran, half-stumbled away from the odd visitor that was now in the kitchenette. Dan, whose back was now against counter, gaped at her as she approached him.
"Who the hell are you and what are you doing here?!" Dan exclaimed.
"I am Belldandy. A first class goddess," Belldandy said as she tried not to frown at his use of colorful language.
"Well, Belldandy, I have one question to ask you," Dan said as he placed his cereal and a glass of juice on the counter. "What's so damned important for you to barge in here like this?!"
"Forgive me," She said. "I am here for one reason and one reason only, sir. You."
"Me?! Why me?! Whatever it is...you could handle it. You ARE a goddess after all," he cried with an arched eyebrow as he took a sip of his juice.
"There are things that not even I can control. That is why I need a MORTAL like you to help me. Please come with me," the goddess of the present said.
"What?! What the heck do you mean? 'Come with me?!' And you haven't answered my last question. Why me?!" Dan exclaimed as he gazed at her with a perplexed expression on his face.
The goddess sighed and grabbed his arm just as he was about to say 'no thanks.'
"I'm sorry. But we cannot delay any longer. The people of my world are in peril," she said and lifted him off the floor and then smiled. "Oh! Don't worry. I won't let you fall."
"Wait!" Dan yelled as he and the ornately dressed woman floated towards the bathroom. He growled angrily while glaring at the goddess. "Wait, damn you! Where are you taking me!?"
"You don't have to swear," she said with an annoyed look on her face and then smiled apologetically. "And I'm quite sorry to say this but...I really can't tell you where you're going. You're going to have to find that out yourself."
Dan ducked his head as the duo floated through the doorway and over the tiled floor of his small bathroom. As they floated towards the mirror, Belldandy kept on smiling as she reached out and touched the mirror. At that moment, Dan slumped forward as he lost all consciousness. Belldandy gazed back at him and wished him the best of luck.
Dan awoke to an unfamiliar ceiling and wondered where he was. He sat up and looked around. Doing so lead to several discoveries. The first discovery was that he was dressed in a silk housecoat. Which caused him to wonder where his clothes were and who did this to him. The second discovery was that he now occupying a medium sized bedroom whose air temperature was a bit warm.
The room had a dresser, a mirror and a medium sized bed; which he was laying on. Next to the dresser was a pair of windows. On the dresser was a bundle of clothes. Next to the bundle was his wallet and a passport. Next to the bed was a nightstand. On the nightstand was a phone with a small screen and video camera attached to it. Past the nightstand were a pair of doors. One led to a hallway, the other lead to a bathroom. A casual glance out one of them told him that it was snowing. He assumed that it was winter, wherever he was, and that was why the heat was on.
Dan walked up one of the windows, gazed out of it and noted that there were several two-story apartments. Past the structures was an extensive beachfront that seemed, at least for the moment, to be devoid of life. Beyond the beach was the sea. Dan, after gazing out of that window for a minute or two, scratched his head in confusion.
He turned away from the window, took a step to the right, and leaned back against the wall. Crossing his arms, Dan sighed as he contemplated his new surroundings.
*This is extremely odd,* Dan thought. *Where am I? This isn't Marsh Creek Apartments. All I know is that this place is near a shoreline. Who did this to me? I'd certainly like to know that. What is there reason for bringing me to this strange place? I'd like to know why they took me away from my family, my job and my other responsibilities. It better be important, whatever it is, because if it isn't...I'll be very unhappy!*
Dan pushed away from the wall and sat down on the bed. His gaze fell upon the nightstand. He noticed that there was an indentation in the top of the stand. Curious, he touched the depression to see what would happen. Dan jerked back when a view screen and small keyboard flipped up and out. The screen flickered on and a woman dressed in a uniform greeted him.
"Good day, sir." The woman said, "Sleep well?"
"Yeah." Dan nodded and peered at the image. "Who...or...what are you?"7
"Good question!" The woman smiled, "I am an artificial intelligence program slaved to a user interface. I am here to answer your questions, sir."
"Damn," He grinned. "You're better than the computer on the Enterprise E. Very user friendly and pretty, too."
"Flatterer." The AI blushed. Dan blinked and tried not to shudder. He expected her to shrug off that comment and ask him if he had any questions. He never thought an A.I would react in such a manner as blushing at his compliment. Dan shook his head and gazed at the A.I
She was indeed pretty. The AI had chocolate brown eyes and short black hair that tapered at the nape of her neck. She was wearing a black blazer, white shirt and a tiger striped ascot. The AI looked very stylish and was pleasant
on the eyes.
"Is anything the matter?" The A.I asked.
"No," He sighed. "Not really. Could you tell me the date and my current location?"
"Certainly," The AI smiles "You are now in Oshika, Japan. The date December 19 , 2033AD. Would you like to know the time as well, sir?"
"Er...no that's okay," Dan uttered with a puzzled expression on his face "Did you say Oshika or Osaka?"
"No, I said Oshika." The AI shook her head "Osaka is to the south of us. As is Mega-Tokyo."
Dan's eyes widened and he leaned forward.
"What?" The AI nervously asked.
"Serious?" Dan asked.
"Very," She said. "Is...there anything else, sir?"
"No." He said.
"Then have a good day." The AI replied. The screen went blank, then retracted into the nightstand. Dan sighed and gazed out the window. He wondered why Belldandy didn't bring him to Mega-Tokyo. From what he knew, GENOM used that city as a 'proving ground' for it Buma prototypes. Did Belldandy want him to deal with GENOM? If that was so he guessed that hiding him here in Oshika, wherever that was, was a good strategy.
That is if this was the same Mega-Tokyo he knew about. For all he knew he could be in the DC universe...or maybe Marvel for that matter. Hell he supposed it could be an amalgamation of the two. Well, it sounded interesting and Dan wondered if he should look into this further.
Dan sighed and shook his head. He couldn't think like that now. He had to find Belldandy so he could go back home. He had to get back soon or he would be late for work.
Dan slipped off of the bed and walked up to the other window. He was glad that he did. A pair of lovers, both female, bundled in layers of clothes, topped off by a pair of gabardines, strolled by arm in arm. They stopped, hugged each other and kissed. Dan, who was blushing at the moment, turned away from the window to give the couple some privacy.
Dan, sighing, made a mental note to seek out a companion after he returned to his native world.
There was a knock and Dan turned towards the bedroom door.
"Ah," Dan uttered. "Come in?"
The door opened and a beautiful woman with jet-black hair, brown skin and sea green eyes entered the room. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail and she was wearing a red blazer over the top half of a golden one-piece dress.
"Good morning," The woman with dark skin smiled. "Are you well, sir?"
"Who are you?" Dan asked.
"Forgive me," She said apologetically. "I am Karen Collette DuPre Matheson. You can call me Karen or Collette if you like?"
"It's a pleasure," Dan replied "I'm Dan Wisner. You can call me Dan or Daniel, if you like."
"Oh no," She smiled. "The pleasure is mine, Daniel."
"Really?" Dan asked.
"Hai." She nodded.
"Uh. Okay," Dan uttered. "So, where's Belldandy?"
"Pardon?" She blinked.
"Where's Belldandy?" Dan repeated. "She's the goddess who brought me here."
"I don't know what you mean," Karen, looking quite confused, shook her head. "All that I know is that I was to bring you to Senior Matriarch Nakano's bungalow."
"Why?" Dan asked.
"Gomen ne," She shrugged. "I do not know that. All she said it was important for you to meet her. Nothing more. Nothing less."
"I see." Dan sighed.
"Still," Karen mused. "I'd like to know why Senior Matriarch Nakano didn't mention to anyone that Belldandy, her older sister, is a goddess. Demo, were not going to find that out, or why she brought you here, until you get dressed. Understand?"
"True," Dan nodded, glanced at the pile of clothes on the dresser and then looked back at her. "But I can't get dressed at the moment, if you know what I mean."
"Mm hm," She hummed. "That I do. I'll give you some privacy, Daniel."
"Thanks." Dan nodded. He smiled when she turned to leave.
*Nice girl.* He thought as she walked out of the room and closed the door behind her. He glanced at the window and sighed. *Wonder if it'll still be snowing when I get out of here?*
* * *
A short time later, Dan walked out of the apartment building wearing a pair of black slacks, black shoes, a white shirt and a black blazer. He slipped on a black leather overcoat and closed the door behind him. He buttoned up the jacket and then looked upwards. The sky was overcast and it was indeed still snowing.
He didn't mind the snow. He, being born in the Midwest portion of the United States, was used to snowfall. Hell he wouldn't mind if a snowstorm came rolling in right about now.
Seconds later, Dan heard a -SNICK- and something obscured his view. Looking to his right and found Karen standing next to him holding an umbrella in her free hand. Her left had a large pocket book in it. She was wearing a heavy cloak and some of her black hair tucked under a black beret.
She turned slightly and gazed up at him.
"Sorry for obstructing the view of the sky," She smiled "We're expecting a snow storm to hit Oshika and Onagawa today."
*Wasn't I just thinking about that?* Dan thought and shrugged his shoulders.
"Nah," Dan sighed. "Its okay. Just thinking about home."
"Mm." Karen hummed "So. Ready to go?"
"Certainly." Dan nodded. With that, the pair walked on past his and another guest apartment. "Does Senior Matriarch Nakano live far?"
"Oh no," Karen shook her head. "She lives just a few rows down."
"Ah," Dan nodded, looked around then smiled at Karen. "Nice place. However, it seems too spaced out to be an apartment complex. A subdivision on the outskirts of Onagawa, maybe?"
"No," Karen smiled. "More like lodging for a Mega-Corporation's covert operations teams. Several Senior Matriarchs and Patriarchs have made this land their home as well. There is also lodging for employees who have business here in Japan. Or for the companies' guests. Such as yourself."
"Who?" Dan asked while crossing his arms across his chest. "GENOM?"
"Iie," She shook her head. "Not GENOM. Toratotaka International. I work for them."
"Toratotaka International?" Dan repeated as they walked past a two-story guest apartment. As they did so, a quartet of warmly dressed, beautiful women exited the building.
"Hai." Karen replied.
"Konban wa!" One the warmly dressed women called out. Karen stopped and turned to respond to the woman's cry.
"Who?!" She blinked, then grinned as the women approached them. "Ah! Linna-san, Nene-san! Priss-san! Sylia-san! Ohayo!"
Dan blinked, turned and gazed at the four women walking towards him. Nene was about five feet tall, had pinkish-red hair and green eyes. She looked very cute and was wearing clothing that matched her personality. Linna was taller than Nene, had aquamarine eyes and short black hair that was held up by a headband. She was wearing a pair of brown boots, black pants, brown turtleneck sweater and a grey jacket. Priss was a bit shorter than Linna, had long brown hair, red brown eyes. She was dressed in black leather pants, boots and a black leather jacket. Sylia had short, blue-black hair that tapered at the neck, brown eyes and was the tallest among the four women. She was dressed in a red, fur-lined cloak, a blue, one-piece dress whose hemline fell just below her knees and a one piece bodysuit with stiletto heels.
"Ohayo Sylia," Colette hummed. "What brings the Knight Sabers to Oshika?"
*What?! How does an employee for Toratotaka know about the Knight Sabers identities?!* Dan thought. As far as he knew they kept their identities a closely guarded secret.
"Ohayo Karen-san," Sylia replied "We've been asked to bodyguard a V.I.P while she spends the week in Oshika and in Mega-Tokyo. We're on our way to meet her at Senior Matriarch Nakano's apartment."
"Ah," Karen smiled. "What a coincidence. We're going to see Nakano as well. Why don't we walk together, ne? I wouldn't mind the company. How about you, Dan? Do you mind if they walk with us."
"No," Dan sighed. "That's fine."
Karen and the other women, save for Priss, smiled and nodded.
"Yokatta," Karen smiled. "Iko."
"Un." The other ladies nodded.
"Right..." Dan sighed.
"Nice outfit by the way," Karen smiled at the leader of the Knight Sabers. "I really must find the boutique that sold you that ensemble, Sylia."
"Thank you," Sylia replied and smirked as Linna slipped up to Karen. "I'll be seeing Obaa-sama after our initial meeting with the V.I.P."
"Special occasion?" Karen asked.
"No," Sylia replied "On a whim. Though I must admit I did get a little dressed up for the V.I.P as well. We've been close friends since elementary school."
Dan, feeling confused and left out of the conversation, slowed his pace a bit. He knew that the Sabers were supposed to protect a V.I.P. But he didn't know who. He wanted to find out, but he felt like an outsider so he didn't take the chance to ask. Priss, noticing his demeanor, slipped up to him with a grin.
"Hey Dan," She said. "You look a little lost. First day on the job?"
"Huh?!" Dan grunted.
"Don't 'huh' me," Priss uttered. "You are a Toratotaka operative, right?"
"No." Dan replied. "I'm not with Toratotaka."
"Nani?!" Priss blurted which made the others stopped at her outburst. "Sylia! We have a problem here!"
"What may that be?" Sylia asked as she crossed her arms.
"This guy says he's not with Toratotaka," Priss replied. "We were talking about 'business' right under this guy's nose."
"That -is- a problem," Sylia replied and turned to Karen. "Who is this person, why is he here?"
The others gazed at Dan with a mixture of emotions playing on their faces. Priss was suspicious, but seemed a little intrigued as well. Linna, on the other hand, seemed weary about him. Nene looked apprehensive.
"It..its okay," Karen sighed, not wanting to say anything about Belldandy being a goddess. That would raise all sorts of uncomfortable questions about her sister. "That's why we're going to Nakano-san's apartment."
"Very well," Sylia sighed. "Priss-san? Keep an eye on him?"
"Un." Priss nodded, then smiled coldly at Dan. "Better not do anything funny, you hear?"
"Wouldn't dream of it." Dan quipped.
A short time later, the group came upon a two-story bungalow. Karen walked up to the front door and knocked on it. A minute or so passed before a tall, beautiful woman with fiery red hair and dark brown eyes answered the door.
"Ohayo Lucy," Karen smiled. "Daniel-kun's here."
"Ah good," Lucy Kay Vanderburg murmured, then noticed that the Knight Sabers were there as well. The tall, red head sighed and gazed at Sylia. "Mm. I also see that Sylia-san's team has come to see Miss Liquer, right?"
"Hai." Sylia nodded.
"I see," The fiery haired woman sighed. "Come on in."
"Thank you." Karen nodded, then smiled at Dan. "Ready?"
"Yeah." Dan nodded.
* * *
Katsumi sighed and glanced around the living room. It was a medium sized room with a bay window. The medium sized room had a pair of couches, a large coffee table, and several bookcases filled with books ad CD-ROMS, a computer workstation and a fireplace. Sitting across from her was beautiful woman with dark hair and brown eyes. She also had curious tattoo like markings on her cheeks and forehead. Off to her right was woman with black, waist length hair and blue eyes. She was dressed in a Toratotaka office lady's uniform.
*I wonder when my 'bodyguards' will arrive?* Katsumi Liquer wondered. She thought for a moment then shook her head. *Why bodyguards, for that matter? I'm on Toratotaka's home turf, after all. Their security forces, mostly composed of a mixture of 33S, 48C and 59Cs, should be able to keep an eye on me. So why??*
"Something troubling you, Katsumi-san?" The dark haired woman asked.
"I'm curious to know why Toratotaka hired a mercenary team to protect me, Senior Matriarch Nakano." Katsumi replied.
"Mmm," Senior Matriarch Skuld Nakano hummed. "That's funny, I don't remember Miharu saying anything about us hiring a group to protect you."
"Y...you haven't?!" Katsumi blurted.
"No," Skuld shook her head. "We haven't."
"Then who?" Katsumi asked.
"It seems your mother had an apprentice," Skuld smiled. "A young fourteen year old girl named Chikage Hirosaki."
"Hm," Katsumi nodded. "Yeah, I remember her now. Pity she and Okaa-san died in the quake."
"Well," Skuld said. "That's not entirely true."
"Eh?" Katsumi uttered.
"Un," Skuld grinned. "Chikage was reborn a few years ago as a 33S Child Companion. Not only that but she's taken it upon herself to become a powerful sorceress. She is the 'keeper' of the Spiral, after all. At any rate, she was the one who hired the mercenary team. She's quite fond of you, after all."
"That she is." Katsumi nodded just as Sylia Stingray and Linna Yamazaki stepped into the family room. Dan Wisner, Karen Collette DuPre Matheson, Priss Asagiri and Nene Romanova remained outside to give Sylia some privacy.
"She's not the only one, Katsumi." Sylia replied with a slight smile and a tone of affection in her voice.
"Sylia!" Katsumi blurted and leapt out of the couch. "What are you doing here?"
"Personally or professionally?" Sylia murmured. "Personally I'm saying hello to an old friend who I haven't seen for a very long time. Its good to see you again."
"Well its good to see you, too." Katsumi replied. "Demo, what's with the girl with the yellow head band?"
"Let's just say that I'm here...to protect you, Katsumi." Sylia replied.
Katsumi gasped.
"Masaka," Katsumi uttered with a look of shock on her face. "You...You've pulled it off haven't you? You formed the Knight Sabers, then?"
Hai," Sylia nodded "I have. Shortly after I asked you to join my group, as a matter of fact."
"I see." Katsumi nodded.
Linna blinked, took a step back in the doorway and glanced at her teammates, Karen and Dan.
Nene looked confused and concerned. She had every right to be. She must have a lot of questions running through her head. Priss's expression, however, was very hard to read. Linna couldn't tell if Priss was mad or hurt by the fact that Sylia didn't tell them that there was someone else who knew about their identities.
Dan and Karen's expressions were completely opposite. Karen was leaning against the wall with her hands folded behind her head. She looked completely at ease with the situation. She had the advantage of being an employee of a corporation who had a very extensive intelligence network. So of course she knew all that there was to know about Sylia's request to Katsumi.
In contrast, Dan had his back against the wall and seemed to be pondering something. To Linna, Dan looked confused, concerned, slightly upset and a little lost. Linna wasn't sure what his deal was. He was a stranger, yet it seemed he was at ease around her teammates as well as herself. At the same time, he seemed very aloof and wished to be alone to deal with his troubles on his own.
Linna sighed, stepped up to Dan and tapped him on the shoulder. He looked up, blinked and gave her an odd look. Linna shrugged it off and gave him a friendly smile.
"Daijobu, des ka?" Linna asked. Dan sighed and told her that he was fine. She didn't believe him and stayed put. Seeing that she was going to stay, Dan relinquished and gazed at her.
"I...I'm just a little confused," Dan confessed. "Could you tell me what Katsumi-san looks like?"
"Would it help if I did?" Linna asked.
"Somewhat." Dan nodded. Linna hummed, looked back through the doorway and gazed at Katsumi Liquer.
"Hmm," She mused. "Well she's quite an attractive lady. She has blue eyes, straight, waist length black hair and...she's about as tall as Priss over there. Does that help?"
"Mmm." Dan uttered. "Yeah. That does help."
*Yep,* Dan thought. *That's Katsumi Liquer all right. But is this the Katsumi Liquer that -I- know about? Or some alternate version of her. If it's the former then I may have to deal with the Lucifer Hawk soon. Then again, maybe not. Maybe Belldandy wants me to deal with some corporate stooge at GENOM and then I can go home sooner than expected.*
"The former," Said a familiar voice. Dan started and turned to see Belldandy with. The others looked on as Dan and Belldandy gazed at each other. "Not the latter."
"Y...you," Dan growled and pointed a finger at the goddess. "H...how?! N...never mind that. Damn it. Why the hell did you take me from my home?"
Priss, Linna and Nene looked puzzled. Colette, on the other hand, looked very uneasy and wished Dan had better tact. She knew that this would raise a lot of uncomfortable questions about Senior Matriarch Nakano's bloodline.
"Daniel, be reasonable." Belldandy uttered.
"Tell me why!" Dan yelled. His demands brought Sylia, Skuld and Katsumi to the doorway. Belldandy trembled as if she were on the verge of tears.
"Because a ravenous horde known as the Lucifer Hawk was about invade your world!" Belldandy, looking very distraught, said. "I had no other choice than to take you at that very moment, Daniel! If I didn't, and let you die -there- we would have had no future -here-!"
Karen sighed into the palm of her hand.
"W...what?" Dan uttered and shook his head. "N...no! No! You're wrong! You're lying!"
"Iie!" Belldandy cried as Skuld entered the hallway. "I'm telling you the truth! I can't lie to you! The people of your world are dead."
"N...no." He whimpered and his legs gave way. He slumped to the floor and just sat there. "No...that can't be. It just can't be...all those people...gone. Just like that?"
"No," Belldandy murmured and sat next to him. "Not 'just like that.' After the initial panic of seeing them...you're people will fight back. But they will loose. After that...the feeding frenzy will begin."
"No." Dan uttered.
"Hai," Skuld nodded, then looked to Karen. "Take him to one of the guestrooms and see that he's comfortable, okay?"
"Will do," Karen sighed, bent down and hauled Dan up off of the floor. "C'mon, Dan. Lets go."
"Where are we going?" He muttered as he found his feet.
"This way." Karen said and led him down the hall "To a guest room where you can have all the peace and quiet you want. You're important to us after all."
"Okay." Dan uttered.
"Good," Skuld nodded, looked to her sister and sighed. "I guess we'll have to fill your team in on the deal, Sylia. Thankfully, discretion is in unsaid rule of the Knight Sabers Organization."
"Why the secrecy?" Sylia asked.
"Why indeed," Skuld said and then waved them into the family room. "Come on in. I'll fill you all in with the basics. If you have any questions; ask away. But...none of this leaves the room, understand?"
The Knight Sabers and Katsumi nodded and followed her in. Linna paused to gaze back at the retreating figures and sighed. Priss gave her an odd look which Linna shrugged off strode into the room. Linna went over to one of the couches and sat down. Priss plopped down beside here and gazed at him.
"Why are you so concerned about him?" Priss asked "Don't tell me...you've got a crush on him, haven't ya?"
"Eh," Linna uttered, then shook her head. "No. Nothing like that. It's just that I feel sorry for him. He's confused, lost and now he has no home. Hell, I'm a little lost myself, demo, that's because I don't know what we're talking about."
"True," Sylia nodded as she and Nene sat on the other couch. "The one thing we do recognize, however, is the name Lucifer Hawk. We've had some experience with them."
"Worse than Buma," Priss nodded. "Thank god we've got the weaponry to handle the lot of them."
"For the moment." Sylia sighed.
"Eh?" Priss uttered.
"There may come a time when stronger foes will cross our path." Sylia sighed and looked at Skuld.
"When it does," Skuld hummed. "Withdraw and we'll handle it."
"Mm." Sylia mused "Or findings someone more capable of handling them. Not that we wouldn't appreciate the help."
"Who the hell are you anyway?" Priss asked. Linna and Nene told her to be more respectful but the singer paid no mind.
"I'm the Senior Matriarch for EPR&I," Skuld beamed "That's the short form for Experimental and Paranormal Research and Investigations."
"EPR&I?" Nene and Katsumi said at the same time.
"Strange acronym." Priss mumbled.
"Be as that may," Skuld murmured. "I think its time we talked."
The Knight Sabers nodded.
"The truth is," Skuld sighed. "That we're goddesses."
"Megami?!" Priss, Linna and Nene blurted. Even Sylia looked surprised.
"What's a Megami doing here?!" Priss asked.
"The fate of this world, and its inhabitants, concerns us deeply." Skuld murmured and Belldandy nodded. "Humanity is evolving...but some corporations aren't being so helpful with that evolution. So I thought best way to help humanity was to join a forward thinking company...Toratotaka!!!"
Linna and Nene, who looked upon Toratotaka with a positive attitude nodded. Priss on the other hand looked unsure.
"I dunno." Priss uttered. Linna and Nene gave her a look that she ignored.
"I used to fear GENOM. But that's before I heard of Toratotaka. It's the one that should be feared. You're company is -so- powerful. Somewhere along the line...it may become dangerously overposessive of this place."
"Its my goal, my desire, to see that it doesn't." Skuld smiled. "Funny thing is The Almighty doesn't object to this at all. If he did we'd be recalled instantly. Yet, due to our unique nature, we've chosen to keep our identity a secret."
"Why?" Sylia asked.
"Because we can grant wishes." Belldandy replied. Linna and Nene boggled while Priss mouth fell slightly agape.
"You can grant a wish to anyone. Just like that?" Priss snapped her fingers.
"Well," Skuld sighed. "No. Not really."
"We specialize in people with problems." Belldandy replied.
"Hmph," Priss shrugged. "That doesn't impress me. A lot of people have problems. It's a fact of life."
"But you see," Skuld smiled. "Most of those people also have ulterior motives as well. Like destroying the world, for example. Heck, the goddess helpline had to refuse a request from Prometheus Bound not to long ago. Sad isn't it. They can't see that Cyberdroids are another form of mankind."
"Let me guess," Sylia replied coolly. "They wanted you to get rid of all the boomers on the earth, right."
"Yes." Belldandy nodded. "We had to decline on that offer. Cyberdroids after all, much like all living things, have a soul."
"First time I've ever heard of that." Katsumi replied.
"So what's all the hullabaloo about Dan about?" Priss replied. Nene and Linna sighed, knowing that she was trying to change the subject.
"I'll keep it simple," Skuld replied. "He's here to protect this world from the Lucifer Hawk."
"Big job," Priss hummed. "Does he know yet?"
"No," Skuld replied. "We're going to fill him on the deal when he settles down. Hopefully he'll accept our request. If he doesn't...well...we do have someone to fall back on. Not that we'd like to put all of the weight on her, mind you."
"Who?" Sylia asked and Skuld glanced at Katsumi. Katsumi caught the glance and gasped when the implications hit home.
"Me?" Katsumi uttered, then shook her head with a look of terror in her eyes. "Iie! I can't fight them! I'm just a secretary! That's all. I can't fight those...those horrible, disgusting monsters!"
"Well," Priss sighed. "What's plan B?"
"Plan B??" Skuld asked not knowing what Priss was referring to.
"Its obvious," Priss shrugged. "Right? Katsumi doesn't want to fight and Dan's out of it. So who do you have for plan B?"
"Priss-san!" Linna barked.
"No one," Skuld sighed. "We knew it would be a long shot, but we had to take the chance. Katsumi and Dan were going to be the cornerstone of a new department that would deal solely with aggressive incursions caused by paranormal and extra-dimensional entities."
"So in other words they would become a part of Toratotaka, correct?" Sylia asked glancing at Katsumi. "But she has refused that, hasn't she?"
"Seems that way," Skuld replied.
"Then," Sylia smiled. "Perhaps I can make her an offer as well?"
"You're not thinking of..."Skuld replied "But she refused that offer once before!"
"Sylia..."Katsumi uttered.
"Think it over, "Sylia said and gave her a small smile. "I'm in no hurry. I must admit that we may face a Lucifer Hawk one time or another. But then...that's why I'm asking you to join us."
"I...see." Katsumi said and sighed "Buma I could face...maybe. But I'm not so sure about facing a Lucifer Hawk. I'll...have to think about this, Sylia."
"I understand," Sylia nodded. "Take you're time."
"What of Dan?" Linna asked.
"Speaking of him," Nene mused looking out the window. "There he is now!"
"GMT-1 is there as well," Skuld smiled, then shrugged. "Or at least half of them. The rest should be arriving shortly."
Linna gazed at him and shook her head.
"He looks more lost than ever." Linna replied.
"He should," Skuld replied after glancing at him. "I'm guessing he's the looking Palace. Those who first see The Crystal Palace are at a loss for words for minute or two. But considering where he's from...it must be boggling his mind right now."
"I wonder," Belldandy sighed. "If bringing him to Oshika was the right thing to do. I can understand the reason. He's safe from attacks from the Lucifer Hawk. But is his mental stability safe?"
"Why is he safe?" Nene asked.
"Simple. They know Onee-sama's too powerful for them." A deep melodious voice spoke. Nene blinked then shrunk back when she a tall, imposing red haired lioness standing in the doorway.
"55Cs?" Priss growled.
"No. 33S Sexaroids," The lioness replied. Linna looked at her. She was quite tall; about six foot two or so. She had green eyes and neck length flaming red hair. She was dressed was wearing a Toratotaka office ladies uniform. "Bu TT 33S Guardian Sexaroids, to be exact."
"You're a sexaroid?!" Nene cried, then smiled. "Mou, the more I learn about Toratotaka the better it gets."
"Who are you anyway?" Priss asked.
"I'm Edith Hamilton; Interrogator for GMT-1." The red head replied, then smiled when an even taller woman joined her. "This is Elinor Wylie, our commander."
"What does a Guardsman do?" Linna ask Elinor. She had short, slightly wavy silver hair, smiled at her and adjusted the bifocals that were perched before her blue eyes.
"We're visible bodyguards," Elinor shrugged. "We're also trained in SWAT tactics. Seeing as though we're bodyguards..."
"Obaa-sama's asked us to look after Dan," Edith said, smiling sadly as she looked out the bay window. "By looks of things he'll need our emotional support as well."
"Un." Elinor sighed. Skuld turned to talk to her sister but then blinked when she noticed that Belldandy wasn't there. She sighed, then turned to Katsumi.
"You're welcome to stay Katsumi-san," Skuld smiled. "But if you'd rather leave for Tokyo, we'd understand."
"Iie," Katsumi Liquer said. "I'll stay, just for tonight."
"Visiting family are we?" Skuld smiled.
"Why not," Katsumi smiled "I am a bio-roid, after all. So for all purposes Dame Nicole is my Obaa-sama."
Sylia smiled at that.
"Care to accompany me to the Palace, Sylia?" Katsumi asked.
"Of course," Sylia smiled, then turned to her teammates. "Go back to the apartment and monitor the area. The Toratotaka tower will provide all the surveillance information we need to protect Katsumi. This'll be a brief visit, so be prepared to pull out. Understand?"
"Hai!" Priss, Linna and Nene nodded.
Outside, Dan indeed looked as if he needed to be looked after. His face was wrought in a mixture of confusion, puzzlement, fear and concern. Part of his mind just wanted to determine what the enormous structure in front of him was.
But the parts that were boggling, protesting that this shouldn't be and crying out in fear were blocking its requests.
He gave up and looked to Karen and Lucy for an answer.
"What...is...that?" He uttered. Karen and Lucy, members of GMT-1, let out a collective sigh.
"The Crystal Palace." Karen smiled, as she gazed at the enormous crystalline structure that looked like a three dimensional snowflake. "The headquarters of Toratotaka international and our Onee-sama."
"Oh?" Dan uttered, then blinked when he heard someone approaching from behind.
He turned and saw Belldandy smile pensively at him.
"Beautiful...isn't she?" Belldandy said.
"I...yeah." He uttered.
"She's sentient," Belldandy. "The Crystal Palace was created by a race long before mankind began to build its first cities, villages and settlements."
"How...long?" He uttered after taking that in.
"3 billion years ago." She smiled
"3......billion?" Dan repeated "That...long...ago?!"
"Hai," Belldandy.
"Mm," Dan replied, then looked at Karen "That's...enough for one day. Can we go back?"
"Uh?!" Karen uttered. "Are you sure?!"
Dan nodded.
"Um, well, okay." Karen Collette DuPre Matheson nodded, then looked at Kay. "C'mon. We're go back to Dan's guest apartment. Tell the others, okay?"
"Understood," Lucy nodded and took out a CVP.
"We're on our way," Edith replied and shut off her CVP. She sighed, then turned to Elinor who was gazing out the bay window. "Dan's on his way back to his guest apartment. I think he's had enough for one day."
"I don't blame him," Elinor sighed. "He's in a different time and space. Of course he'll be distraught."
"The fact that Lucifer Hawk hunting his ken for food doesn't make it easier, either." Edith murmured.
"Mmm," Skuld hummed. "Sad isn't it. This is happening to his world because of our folly."
"What do you mean?" Elinor asked.
"It's a known fact their food resources are almost depleted, right?" Skuld asked.
"Of course," Edith nodded. "Because of that they've made forays into this universe to feed on human flesh. But only a few can do so, since the gateway between our world and Nemesis, their home universe, has been sealed off."
"Un," Skuld said. "Because of that the Lucifer Hawk, I think, are turning to other worlds, parallel dimensions, for the right food sources. They'll invade his world, harvest his ken, and feed on their dead bodies once they return to Nemesis."
"What's to stop them?" Elinor asked.
"Not much," She sighed.
"Can't they go some other planet in their universe and inhabit it?" Edith replied.
"Maybe Earth is the best choice," Elinor hummed. "As we know, they do thrive in a polluted environment."
"If not our earth, Dan's Earth then." Edith sighed.
"Un," Skuld nodded. "At any rate the two of you should get on your way. Dan needs consoling and I'm not so sure he'll let Onesama near him."
"Understood," Elinor nodded, then turned to Edith. "Let's go, Edith!"
"Yeah!" Edith replied
Within minutes Elinor and Edith arrived at Dan's guest apartment. Upon entering the bungalow, they found Lucy and Karen sitting at a dining table. Seeing the concerned expressions on their faces Edith asked what was the matter. Their reply surprised the Commander and Interrogator of GMT-1.
"He just went upstairs?" Elinor asked. The heavy weapons and technical specialists nodded, causing Elinor and Edith to sigh. "I know he's in shock but...he does have to eat sometime."
"Maybe he ate breakfast before coming here?" Lucy suggested. But Belldandy, who was carrying a tea tray in her hands, told her that the opposite was true with a shake of her head.
"Damn," Lucy sighed. "What can we do for him?"
"Someone has to talk to him." Edith sighed.
"True," Elinor nodded, then smiled at her. "Come on. Lets go console our guest."
"Wait." Belldandy softly replied. They turned and saw the goddess standing with a tray of food in her hands. "Please take this to him. I denied him the right to a healthy meal."
Elinor smiled, walked over to the goddess and took the tray from her.
"I will," She smiled, then leaned forward to brush her lips against Belldandy's forehead. "It is no wonder that you are the mother of four healthy children, Belldandy. Hopefully Dan will come to his senses and will do all that he can to insure that they'll all have happy productive lives."
"That is my hope, too." Belldandy sighed.
"Let's go." Edith smiled, then blinked when Lucy held up a hand. "What, Lucy?"
"A warning that's all," Lucy said, then shrugged. "Just be ready for his mind to go piff when he sees you. He might mistake you for a 55C."
"Got you," Elinor nodded. "Iko."
"Un." Edith nodded.
Thankfully, Dan's mind did not go 'piff' when Elinor and Edith walked into his bedroom. Instead, he accepted their explanation to who whom and what they were.
After the introductions were made, Edith handed him his breakfast. He quietly took it from her and silently attacked his meal without delay. Seeing this, they leaned against the wall and patiently waited for Dan to finish his meal.
Ten minutes later, he laid his tray on the end table and looked out the window.
"Something I can do for you, ladies?" Dan asked quietly.
"You seem distraught," Elinor hummed "Want to talk about it, Daniel-kun?"
He thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"Sorry," He replied. "But I don't think you could understand."
"Don't be too sure about that." Elinor smiled as she pushed away from the wall. After wandering over, she sat on the bed, took his hand and gazed at him. "Its in our nature to be understanding."
"I don't know..."He sighed, then nodded "Okay, but I must warn you...what I'm about to say might...cause you to...doubt...who you are, Elinor."
"I think I can handle it." She smiled.
"Okay," Dan sighed "First of all...I have to tell you that...I'm very confused."
"What's leading to this confusion?" Edith asked.
"Well..."He sighed "to make a long story short I'm from another world. That world is no different that yours except for the fact that I come from the early 21st century. In that world, there is an animated OVA series where AD POLICE and the Knight Sabers try to stop GENOM's boomers from destroying the city. All the while USSD's beam satellites are orbiting the Earth supposedly protecting us from nuclear missiles."
For a moment he could see panic their eyes. But then Elinor smiled and nodded.
"Sounds like our world, all right." She replied and blinked when Dan shook his head.
"But I've never heard of Toratotaka." Dan sighed. "I have...heard of the Lucifer Hawk though. Just that I've never expected them to be -here-."
"Have you dealt with them before?" Elinor asked. Dan shook his head.
"No." Dan sighed, "Only heard of them, and Katsumi Liquer, through an anime series. Maybe that's why Belldandy asked me to come here. She knew I was familiar with both worlds...and she hoped I could find a way to deal with them.
Though I don't know if I can, seeing as how I'm not trained in modern combat."
Elinor blinked, then smiled.
"Well," Edith smiled. "It is true that you're here to protect this world the Lucifer Hawk. As for training..."
"You could leave that up to Toratotaka." Elinor nodded. "Or someone else for that matter. Who you work with to fight the Lucifer Hawk is up to you. Demo, if you do choose us...we'll welcome you with open arms."
"Really?" Dan asked.
"Yeah." They nodded.
"Why would a Mega-corp do that?" Dan asked.
"Because Toratotaka cares," Edith smiled "We care about this world and those who live on it. As does Onee-sama."
"Onee-sama?" Dan uttered. "Oh! The Palace, right?"
**Yes!** A melodious voice said inside his head. That startled Dan and he looked around.
*Who? Who said that?* Dan thought and then glanced at Edith then at Elinor.
"Is something wrong?" Edith asked.
"Did you say something?" Dan asked.
"Just now?" Edith said and shook her head "No. Why?"
"I just heard a voice. Inside my head." Dan uttered. Edith smiled as did Elinor.
"That would be Onee-sama," Elinor said and patted his shoulder. "Say hi to her, Dan."
"For real?" Dan asked.
They nodded, which caused Dan to sigh.
"Okay." He shrugged.
**Er,** Dan murmured. **Hello?**
**Greetings, Daniel.** The Palace said brightly. **Feeling a little better now? You looked...disturbed when you first set your eyes on me.**
**A little,** He replied **I know why I'm here...although I'm unsure if I can do it all by myself.**
**I'd prefer that you don't,** She sighed. **Death is a certainty if you take that road, Daniel.**
**Well...that is true,** Dan sighed. **It'd be best that way. If I work with a larger organization I can find the Lucifer Hawks, deal with then return home.**
**Oh Daniel,** She sighed. **I fear you may not be able to return home.**
**What?** He uttered. **What do you mean by that?!**
**Skuld has informed me that the Lucifer Hawk has invaded your world, your Earth, Daniel.** She murmured **The citizens of your world may not survive the attack.**
**Surely some will survive?** Dan said hopefully.
**Survive -THEIR- attacks, Daniel?** She mused. **No. No one will. I believe this is why Belldandy brought you here, Daniel. So you can deal with the foul beings from Nemesis...and start anew as well.**
**N...no!** He thought.
**I'm sorry, but that is the truth.** She said. **A pair of cyber-bioroid's are nearby correct?**
**Yes.** Dan replied. **Elinor and Edith are sitting on my bed.**
**Take solace from their embrace.** She said **It will do wonders for your soul, Daniel.**
**I...I will.** Dan thought.
**Farewell** She murmured. Dan slumped to the right and Elinor caught him in her strong muscular arms.
"Diajobu, Daniel?!" Elinor cried.
"They're gone." Dan uttered. "All gone."
End chapter one