To better understand this story you may want to read my previous story "Premonitions of a Firefight." That story itself is

imcomplete but you will still understand.

Additional information: Along with Tenchi Muyo and Desert Punk characters, I will include a few other anime characters.

When I do I will state at the end who they belong to or if you see a new character but I don't make a statement at the end

then that character belongs to me. Again thanks for reading and please review. ENJOY!

Chapter 1

Another New Years Eve. A light rain accompanied by just above freezing temperatures came upon Hamburg, Germany.

The scent of wet concrete filled the air and pedestrians filled the busy sidewalks and streets with umbrellas above them.

Despite the unexpected precipitation hardly anything was hindered. The world renowned harbor was handling incoming

and outgoing sea vessels at normal capacity; all incoming flights to the airport were on time; and elsewhere many families

set out to prepare for New Years parties. Lamposts and the thousands upon thousands of building lights illuminated the city

as it sprung into almost full gear. Almost because unlike the famous celebrations across the Atlantic in the United States,

this years New Years celebration was more docile and laid back. Still there was much celebration and much to be celebrated.

At a small tavern close to downtown a big screen television was displaying a soccer (futbol) game while the bartenders kept

busy serving orders, mainly beers created at the tavern's brewery. The dim lights revealed dark brown wooden walls advertising

the beers that the tavern made. Sitting at a small corner booth was school professor Morien Eeham relaxing and slowly sipping

a tall glass of golden brown beer while his eyes occasionally gazed at the soccer game. Accompanying him was an aspriring musician

and close friend Christian "Flake" Lorenz. Flake was a music instructor at Morien's school. From former East Berlin, in East Germany

he was in a few respected bands but recently got involved with another band which he believed would achieve worldwide fame.

Morien: "Worldwide fame? Don't count your eggs before they hatch"

Flake: "I know but everything is falling into place. What do you think of our name?

Morien: "Rammstein is alright I guess. I still think you should have picked Insignia"

Flake: "We need one more guitarist and I know you're pretty damn good. You interested?"

Morien: "Me? Thanks but I'm busy. School and such"

Flake: "Always dedicated. Why don't you want to talk about that event 4 years ago?"

Morien: "I will neither confirm nor deny anything (He takes a sip of beer) Somethings are better kept under wraps"

Flake: "So that was you who helped defeat the augmented men created by the defunct INSF. You know I won't walk

around spilling the beans"

Morien: "I know. It's not me I'm worried about. It's the others I don't want to compromise"

Flake: "That's fine. It's fifteen minutes until the New Year. Let's toast to something"

Morien: "To your band in the hopes that it will acheive the success you are all looking for"

They take a drink.

Flake: "I need something a bit heavier to drink from the bar. Be back in a bit"

Morien, with a chill smile on his face focuses his vision on the furthest point in the bar as he remembers his last battle 4 years

ago aiding in the defeat of an INSF experiment involving augmented human beings. Their purpose was to destroy the world's

holy cities in all 3 major religions to spark a world war. Alongside him was the Desert Punk, Vash the Stampede, Nabeshin, Tenchi

Masaki, Ryoko Hakubi, Ayeka Jurai, and Washu Hakubi. Morien himself was and still is an augmented human being but did not

succum to his mind being controled by the INSF. His other difference was that his strength only came with he was in a life or

death situation. Otherwise he was a perfecly normal, tall, built, light brown skinned, human being. Since the event world

leaders decided enough was enough and quickly ended the INSF terrorist group. Soon Flake returned with 6 shot glasses.

Morien: "Are those..."

Flake: "Jaggerbombs? Yes!"

Morien: "Dude, you rock. It's been quite a while since I've treated myself to this drink of the gods"

Flake: "It's new years. Why not right? What should we toast to this time?"

Morien: "To alcohol, ha!"

Flake: "Works for me. Cheers!"

The hour drew near midnight. The soccer game was halted for a brief moment as a countdown clock appeared on the screen.

At first everyone cheered but as soon as the clock reached 30 seconds everyone counted down out loud all the way towards

zero. At 2 seconds the lights went out for a brief moment. Then came back on. The people were quiet at first and a bit

bummed since they missed the changing into the new year but it became water under the bridge as everyone went back into cheering.

Flake: "That was odd"

Morien: "Seemed normal to me" as he took another Jaggerbomb

The rest of the evening grew calmer as people slowly started to vacate the tavern. A few hours after midnight Morien and Flake bid

each other farewell and went their seperate ways home. Morien's condominium was a quick ten minute tram ride from the tavern.

After his somewhat short involvment with the Spetsnaz thanks in part to his father, Dmitri, he made more money as a soldier in a

few missions than he ever would in a lifetime as a teacher. Nonetheles he kept his career as a professor to give the illusion that he

had no invovlment with the fight against the INSF. Many of Morien's colleagues teased him about looking like the person they saw

on the newscast the day the war was televised. If only they knew. Eventually the tram stopped in front of Morien's new living space.

It was almost 3 times as big as his old apartment but it was still overlooking the harbor. With his "mercenary" money Morien decided

it was time to move into a new and bigger place. All the walls were white and the floor was wooden tile. It was a bland interior design

but Morien didn't care. Within his two bedroom condo he made a music studio in the other bedroom complete with his collection of

guitars, 2 bass guitars, a drum set with a double base drum double pedal set, and an electric piano. Other than the move with the

new extra space everything seemed normal. However, something else was different. Morien opened the door to his 3rd floor condo

and layed down on his sofa after turning a lamp on. With his eyes shut he thought of nothing until he heard the sound of a

dimensional portal opening. A smile grew on his face. A woman with emerald green eyes and long spiky pink hair walked into

the light wearing a black kimono.

Morien: "I missed you"

Washu: "Well isn't that sweet. I hope it's not too late"

Morien: "It's well past midnight"

Washu: "Better late then never right?"

Morien: "For you of course"

Washu: "How was your trip to that tavern?"

Morien: "Peaceful. Flake and I conversed for hours. Only got crazy towards midnight. Then silence again. How are Tenchi and the others doing?"

Washu: "Oh brother. Ryoko and Ayeka kept fighting over who got to hold Tenchi when the clock turned midnight. You know how those two get"

Morien: "And you decided to come here to my boring living space instead of watching the entertainment unfolding back there?" (laughs)

Washu: "As non-monotonous as that gang is I think someone special deserved a visit. I didn't want to be too alone for New Years"

Morien: "Too alone?" (chuckles)

Washu: "You know what I meant"

Morien: "Indeed. I think there is room for one more on this sofa"

Washu: "Are you suggesting that I could be the lucky one to fill that void?

Morien: "You're the genius. I think you can figure it out"

Washu: "In that case this genius says the bed has more area than this sofa"

Morien: "Agreed"

End of Chapter 1