Disclaimer: I don't own Ultraman in any of his incarnations. Tsuburaya does. Lucky devils.

Urutoraman Za First
Regenerate

Prologue

It is forbidden for us to interfere in the affairs of the races we observe. This law above all others, holds precedence to explorers.

He kept repeating this in his head over and over as he sat by the small lake. He had learned this law early in his education on Ultoran. He understood the importance of the law, but in the case of this world, he wished it did not exist. He felt a deep sorrow for these 'humans' as they called themselves. He knew there was so much he could do for them. He could change their lives, overthrow their oppressive government. But if he did, he would have to undergo severe punishment. He couldn't do that to his new wife, or to his parents. He wanted to help the people of this planet they called 'Earth'. He wanted to, but couldn't.

He had been on Earth for nearly a week. He'd taken a human form, but was still unable to achieve the ability to communicate vocally. He was unaccustomed to vocal speech and found it difficult to form the organs necessary to create the sounds. (Se'ban was far better at assuming alien forms.)

Every day, he went out about the humans to study them. From these excursions he learned much about humans. They were a very care-free race; they loved to take risks. Some were totally vulgar, doing anything to achieve pleasure. But there were many good humans as well, simply trying to get by day to day, despite the oppressive nature of the government. He also enjoyed their spiritualism, and took part in various religious ceremonies. He loved this world.

Alas, his hands were tied. By the end of the day he'd be on a one-way wormhole trip home. He'd give his report, go home to his wife, and, Creator willing, he'd forget this sad planet.

Ah, who am I kidding? He said to himself, No way I'll ever forget this place.

He took a deep breath and sighed. Of course he didn't really need air. The radiation of the planet's sun provided all of the nourishment he needed. Unfortunately, the planet's atmosphere blocked out the optimum amount of sunlight he needed to survive. In human form he could survive for about an hour at a time, but in his true alien form he could only survive for about three minuets.

He sat in human form, waiting for the wormhole to open so he could leave. He hoped it would not take long.

"Hello."

He turned. The voice came from a small human child, a boy, Asian in origin. The child stood by the lake next to him. He nodded his head in response to the boy's greeting.

"My name's Usagi. What's yours?"

He shook his head, opened his mouth, and made a slashing motion across his throat, hoping the boy would understand his meaning.

"You can't talk?" the boy asked.

He nodded.

"Gomen," replied the boy, sitting. "I'll try not to ask anything too hard."

He smiled and nodded. He had never tried to communicate with humans before. Not enough time.

"My family came here from Tendou," Continued Usagi. "We heard the police robots weren't as rough here. Do you live here?"

He shook his head at the question.

"Where do you live?"

He sighed and laughed softly, knowing any adult human would think he was insane. But this human still had the innocence of childhood, so telling him the truth wouldn't hurt. He pointed upward.

"Na-nii?" asked Usagi. "The sky?"

He shook his head and lifted his hand higher up.

"In space?" Usagi laughed in delight as the stranger nodded his head. "Cool, so you're an alien? What's your name?"

The alien sighed, wondering how he'd be able to tell him that. Then he looked at the sand and, hoping the boy could read at his age, wrote his name in English.

The boy read the name off, syllable by syllable, "Ul...to...ra-...Ma'...un. Ultora-Ma'un, that right?"

Ma'un nodded his head but shook his hand in the so-so gesture. The boy had mispronounced the last syllable as Un instead of 'oon as it was pronounced in his language, but it was close enough.

"You know," said Usagi, "you're the first friend I've made here. Will you stay long?"

Ma'un shook his head.

"Oh," Usagi replied. "Will I see you again?"

Not wanting to upset the child, Ma'un nodded, then patted the child's head. He stood up and readied himself to leave. He felt his wormhole open. He was about to fly off when he heard a loud banging sound from across the lake.

The trees across the lake gave way as a giant creature, resembling a reptile, appeared. It moved out of the woods and tore across the beach, thrashing trees with it's claws and tail. It ran past Ma'un and nearly whipped him with its tail. Usagi had taken cover behind some trees.

Ma'un looked at the giant beast. He knew nothing like this was born on this world. He also knew that if it got into the city many people would be killed.

I'm going to be court marshaled for this.

A strange glow formed around the alien from Ultoran. His body dissolved into a golden dust. The dust formed into a vortex of light. Inside, a figure appeared. It flew out of the portal and kicked the monster on the head, back flipped, landed and took a fighting stance. He was over two hundred feet tall. His actual body was silver, but he wore a reddish material over it along with a set of silver plates on his fore-arms, lower legs, outer thighs, shoulders and chest. His head was a silver oval shape with a fin, huge yellow eyes, and a v shaped upper lip and rigid jaw.

Ma'un and the beast wrestled, each trying to gain an edge. Unfortunately, Ma'un's thoughts were split between fighting and keeping Usagi out of danger. The creature made use of the distraction and quickly swung around, tripping Ma'un with its tail. But Ma'un caught himself with his hands and thrust himself up on his feet.

Usagi watched in amaze as his new friend fought the beast.

Ma'un kicked the creature's head. Then he lifted it up and hurled it across the lake. The creature walked into the water to get to the other side faster, but Ma'un wanted to keep the fight away from Usagi. He flew up into the air and landed in the water next to the beast. The two again started brawling. This time, the monster shot energy bursts at Ma'un from its mouth. Ma'un took these bursts easily. Then he pulled his right hand behind his head and thrust it forward, releasing a disk of spinning energy from his hand. The disk slashed the beast. This infuriated the monster. It let out a gigantic burst of energy at the warrior. This succeeded in knocking him down. It fired again and again. Ma'un was thrown back toward the shore. He tried to get up but was in serious pain. Then he heard a familiar BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP. He looked down and saw the once blue crystal on his chest flashing red and beeping an alarm.

Energy... low. Time almost up.

Ma'un managed to stand. The creature once again let an energy blast, knocking him down again. As he fell, Ma'un noticed a small burst of excess energy. At first he didn't care, until he saw where it was headed...

Usagi!

There was nothing he could do but watch as the blast struck the ground where the Earth child stood. Watched as he fell to the ground, laying in a manner humans weren't meant to lay in. He reached his hand out to the child as a shining tear seeped down his rigid face.

A fierce growl of anger arose from his throat. He charged at the monster, ignoring his pain. He beat the monster savagely. The beast had no idea what was happening. All it felt was pain. When Ma'un stopped, the beast was barely able to move. It was very near death. Still it charged, blinded by rage and stupidity.

Time to end this! Ma'un Thrust his arms to the left, crossed at the wrists, then raised them above his head. Light began to shine at the connection point. Then, with a fierce battle cry, he brought his arms down, left crossed over right. From his right hand, a blast of pure energy shot toward the beast. The beast's body burned away in the heat of the blast till there was nothing left.

Ma'un walked toward the dead body of his young friend. Never get involved. He allowed his hand to hover near the poor boy. More tears formed in his eyes. Nothing I could do. Nothing I could do. He looks toward his crystal, flashing faster. No, there is something I can do. He looked toward the sky. Forgive me Ariea. I will not be home as soon as we'd hoped.

He thrust his hands together and held them above the child. Light shone from his hands. His body became dust again. The dust flowed into Usagi. The dust disappeared, and Usagi awoke. He looked around. Aside from the broken trees and scorch marks, he saw nothing different. In his mind, all that had happened in the last few minuets didn't happen. He walked home, unaware of the strange happenings that had occurred that day.

In the capital city of Heaven, the sovereign nation of the URE, Vice minister Graham sat in his office, silently. Then, a monitor on his desk came alive. On it was a man in a military uniform and with a worried look on his face.

"Vice Minister Graham," said the soldier, "we've lost track of mutant #739. It disappeared near Valhalla's capital. We've found no trace of it."

"Any signs of conflict?" Asked the minister.

"Yes. We've confirmed several plasma burst burns and an energy signature we can't ID."

Graham stood up. "Put all effort into investigating this! If you find any evidence the Valhallans are involved, inform me at once!"

"Yes Sir."

(R&R please. I'm glad they finally put an Ultraman section on this site. Looking forward to reading other people's Ultraman Fanfics.)