"Shooting Stars" Chapter 2:
"Ugh… where… where am I?" Konata asked to herself as she opened her eyes. She was looking at the ceiling, so she sat up and looked at her surroundings. It was a dark and somewhat small room. She would've seen nothing without that small light that was on the ceiling. That little light was enough to let her see a small table and a large screen on one of the walls.
Her friends came to her memory and she searched for them. Fortunately for her, they were just sleeping inches away from the place she woke up. She proceeded to wake up her only companions on this weird experience.
"Kagami… Tsukasa… Miyuki…" she said their names as she poked them with her finger.
"Nnnh… Konata… where are we?" Kagami asked blurrily as she woke up.
"I don't know," Konata responded. "Was that just a dream? I mean… Haruhi and everything."
"Probably," Kagami answered. "Or at least I hope so." She then turned to where her sister was lying. "Tsukasa, are you okay?"
"Barely," Tsukasa replied. "How's Miyuki-chan?"
"I'm right here," Miyuki said. "However, I don't recognize this place."
"It's dark… there's some screens…" Konata analyzed. "Maybe a kidnapper got to us?" The other three girls look scared just contemplating that notion. "Wonder what they'll do to us."
Tsukasa and Miyuki started crying and hugging each other.
"I don't know," Kagami said, trying to calm the tense atmosphere. "Maybe we're still in the dream. But Haruhi doesn't even exist."
"How dare you call me a dream!" a girl's voice yelled with impressive vigor.
"This can't be possible!" Kagami said, a shaky finger pointing behind Konata. She turned around and she saw an opened door where there was solid stone but a moment ago, with the whole SOS brigade standing at the entrance. Konata's jaw dropped at the sight of Haruhi.
Haruhi had stopped wearing her high school uniform; instead she was now dressed in an exquisite golden gown that was made of some unidentified material. The rest were dressed more formally, in a style that looked both Gothic and militaristic at the same time. An embossed "H" appeared on all their uniforms, like a logo.
"Welcome to Terra!" Haruhi announced. "This will be your new home from now on!"
Kagami, Miyuki and Tsukasa were frightened to death with that statement. However, Konata stood up and immediately started talking to Haruhi.
"Why us?" Konata enquired, wonder in her voice.
"You four possess an innate talent for leadership," Nagato pointed out. "That element, combined with charisma and physical elements, instantly make all four of you perfect leaders for the Empress's cause."
"Okay, that issue aside, I still don't believe that you truly exist, Haruhi-sama," Konata said. "You were just a fictional character… but now that I'm standing in front of you… I… I don't know what to say. Besides, you had always been my favorite character..."
"Heh, I'm starting to like this girl!" Haruhi exclaimed. "She is extremely loyal to me. She's just perfect for a Primarch!"
Haruhi's statement made Konata strangely warm and happy inside.
"Hmm… the only issue that bothers me is the height, like that boy with the metal hand," Haruhi said. Konata's happiness turned into momentary gloom.
"W…what? Boy with metal hand?" Kagami asked. She knew of one such character in yet another anime that she watched, but it was impossible. It was as impossible as meeting Suzumiya Haruhi in the flesh. Yet here they are… Kagami's view of reality was slowly unraveling.
"Oh right! The video! Kyon, please show them the video," Haruhi ordered.
Kyon walked to the big screen while muttering something to himself, and pressed some buttons unnoticed before.
A video started playing. For the girls, it looked like one of those educational videos in school.
A symbol appeared on screen that was identical to the one in Haruhi's golden gown.
"Welcome to Terra!" said Haruhi's voice, which was projected from the screen itself. "If you're watching this, it means that you've been selected as one of my Primarchs for my cause! You should be proud!"
The screen showed some gothic and futuristic landscapes. "Mankind has been split into many colonies throughout the galaxy. They live in constant chaos, under attack by evil aliens and fighting among themselves. However, with my plans, we will reunite the whole of Humanity and start living in peace!"
"We started on this planet, leading my Space Marines to victory. We conquered Terra in two short years." The screen showed many battles being fought to conquer Terra in the name of the Empress. Tsukasa and Miyuki were frightened at those scenes.
"Now, we're expanding to the hundreds of colonies in other planets throughout the galaxy. But, we need more leaders. And you have been selected to perform that assignment! You'll be leading my Space Marines, the Adeptus Astartes to war!"
Konata felt a chill travel down her spine.
"You'll be assigned with thousands of superhuman warriors, the most powerful fighting force the universe has ever seen. Your job is to lead them in conquering those befouled planets in my name! Planets under alien rule, planets ruled by tyrants, planets ruled by ignorant leaders who cannot see the justness of the Imperial cause, it does not matter. I believe in your skills, so do not let me down!" The girls were just about to release a scream of horror when the video ended.
"So, what do you think?" Haruhi asked. She was obviously very pleased with the video.
"This galaxy is horrible!!!" Kagami yelled. "I won't fight in wars just because you desire it! I'm against wars and the very thought of consigning that many lives to death makes me sick!"
Haruhi looked disappointed at Kagami's outburst, and shifted her gaze to Miyuki and Tsukasa. Obviously, they had nothing to say.
Silence reigned for several long moments.
"I will do it," Konata announced suddenly.
"What?" Kagami asked incredulously.
"Don't you see?! We were chosen to do this job because she needs people to help her bring peace and safety to the whole of Mankind!"
"Konata…Think carefully! The very idea of Haruhi speaking to us in the flesh is absurd! This has to be a dream or something. Yes, an illusion. We must be having a mass-illusion!"
"Mass-illusion eh, my girl?" muttered Haruhi, who looked nonplussed by Kagami's statement. She reached over to Kagami with both hands and pinched her cheeks hard.
"Owww! Why did you do that?"
"The fact that you felt pain means that you are not dreaming nor are you under any illusion. This is the real thing. You are now in an alternate dimension, a different reality from your own. That is all," explained Mikuru helpfully.
"A different reality…." Kagami looked defeated and at a loss.
"Kagamin, it doesn't matter if this is not my normal reality. I want to help these people. They are suffering elsewhere in the galaxy right now. Besides, it might sound silly, but I trust in Haruhi's leadership skills."
"Konata, are you sure?" Tsukasa asked.
"Yes. Besides, I trust that she will return us to our world when this is over." Konata said.
"You have my word on that. After this is done, if you choose to return to your world, you may. But only after this is done." said the Empress.
"If that's the case… I'm with you," Miyuki said. "I also want to bring peace to these people."
"Me too," Tsukasa said.
"What about you, Kagamin?" Konata asked, looking at the girl who was arguably her best friend.
"Sigh… I guess I have no other choice," Kagami said, surrendering to Konata's previous statements. "Though I still find it hard to buy the whole "alternate dimension" story. Besides, you're simply too small to command a whole army of "superhuman warriors" by yourself," she smirked.
"We accept your request… my Empress," Konata said to Haruhi, kneeling down on one knee to her. It seemed the right thing to do. This was how it was done in all the RPG games Konata ever played.
The Empress smiled pleasantly in response.
"Arise, Lady Izumi Konata, Primarch of the 13th Legion. They shall be named the Ultramarines, in honor of your strategic skills and your blue hair," Haruhi said solemnly, as Konata got back to her feet, her bearing radiating pride and happiness.
"Lady Takara Miyuki, you'll be her Strategic Advisor. Lady Hiiragi Kagami, you'll be her First Captain, the leader of the Ultramarine's elite 1st Company. Lady Hiiragi Tsukasa, you'll assist Lady Kagami as her support."
"Yes, errr…" the four girls hesitated.
"You may address me as "Haruhi" in private and as "My Lady" or "Your Majesty" in public."
"Ok, Haruhi."
"All of you may rise." As Kagami, Tsukasa and Miyuki stood up, the Empress gestured towards the open entrance of the room.
"Now, beyond the door, you'll meet with some of the other Primarchs that I have already found. You can chat to them if you want. I am still in the process of locating the remaining Primarchs, and thus we are not starting the crusade so soon. Use the time to acquaint yourself with your colleagues and your Legion. You will find that the Astartes you are commanding may not be what you expect of them. But first…"
With that, the Empress grabbed Konata by her hand. Konata felt raw power surge through the Empress' palm into her own hand. Leading her out into the adjoining room, Haruhi triumphantly announced to the waiting audience.
"My Primarchs, may I present Primarch Izumi Konata of the 13th Astartes Legion, the Ultramarines!"
Polite applause broke out at the Empress' pronouncement. Konata looked around. There were a few faces in the small group that she recognized. Such a strange fact no longer surprised her as it should.
"Now, my Primarchs, get to know her, and brief her on our undertaking. I have matters of the state to attend to, so I shall leave for now. Teach her well, she is still new around here!"
With that, the Empress swept from the room, Kyon, Koizumi, Yuki and Mikuru trailing behind her. Konata and her group were subject to the scrutiny of the Primarchs. Kagami was right beside her, with Miyuki and Tsukasa doing their best to hide behind the two of them. Konata wondered if she should introduce herself and her group again.
"Ok, this is going to be harder than I expected." she thought.
