Chapter 21
Tro-Cons and Dickens Don't Mix!" or "Kei's Restless Nights-Part One"
Mugghi trilled lightly in her comlink, waking Marlene from her dozing. She checked her wristchromo. 0600 hours on Kurisumasu-ibu. Yay, Christmas Eve, she thought. It would have been nicer to at least be home if not on Terra but this place was pretty cool too. Kei was really going out of her way to be nice to her and Kome (AN- Very OOC for our Kei!). Yuri was like the sister that she had always wanted. And with all their new tomos, it was like one big, happy family back on good old Terra. Mugghi trilled her again. "Arigato Mugghi, I'm up. Are we still on course?" Mugghi trilled an 'hai' back to her. "Ninety-six more flight hours to go. Log it, Nammo. Mugghi, better wake up Kei and Yuri. Kome, time to get up partner." Marlene finished her trilling and keyed the PA mike for the ship's intercom system. "Ohayo gozaimasu (Good morning) hazu! It's 0600 hours and time to get up! We are still on course 96 hours from our destination. Today is Kurisumasu- ibu. After breakfast we will finish decorating the tree. Then we can all have a Christmas Carol singalong. Kome and I want to say Ja mata to you all and a big domo arigato from us both. You've become a family to us and made us both so happy. Ja mata for now." Marlene flipped off the intercom as a sleepy Kome Sawaguchi stumbled onto the bridge. Today she was sporting a pink kimono and fuzzy pink slippers. A matching headband completed her ensemble. She waved a hand at Marlene in greeting and checked her comm. Relays for messages. "UG confirms that we are still on course bearing 290 north northwest. Estimated remaing flight time is 96 hours. Mr. Garner says 'Meri Kurisumasu' to all of us and wishes us a safe journey home. He also says 'grat job' on the successful completion of our mission. That's all the messages, Mar. I need some coffee and grub. See you later." Kome headed back towards the exit.
"Just a minute Kome." Said Marlene. "I don't think that we can get away with wandering around the ship like schoolgirls in a dorm anymore. It's not like it was when it was just you and Yuri or Kei and myself. I know Kei said she hates formality and that we could dress casually but I sure don't think that she meant that!" lectured Marlene. "Oro are you talking about Mar?" asked a puzzled Kome. "Kome! Get some clothes on now!" ordered Kei 1 who had just come through the rear doors. "A ship full of guys and you parade around like that! Ain't we in enough hot water back home already?" she yelled. "That's what I was talking about Kome." Said marlene quietly, pointing to her lack of proper attire. "Gomen Kei. Onegai yuruse watashi. I'll be right back." Apologized Kome, finally noticing that she was still in her kimono and slippers. "You can get breakfast first Kome. Then get back up here." Called Kei 1 to her retreating form. "OK partner, go and get your breakfast too. I'll hold down the fort now." Said Kei 1 to Marlene. Arigato Kei, ja ne." Marlene had already left when Kei had another thought. She trilled Marlene. "Mar, get a couple of hours' sleep. I'll see you around 1100 hours, OK?" A slight trilling from Marlene signaled her understanding. Kei 1 sat down, checked some gauges, assigned a few tasks to Mugghi and Nammo and put her sneakered feet up on the console. She was in a grey 3WA sweatshirt and sweatpants today. Her habitual Kelly green headband completed her outfit.
"Konnichi wa Kei." Yuri1 had just come in still sporting the schoolgirl look but this time her skirt was aoishi instead of green. "So today you're Keiko not Kagome eh? Will you ever act your age?" Kei 1 wanted to know. Yuri 1 was indignant. "I'm the same age as you are Kei- 19! And it's fun to play dress up! It's not like we have anything else to do, do we?" she replied. Kei responded nonchalantly to that one. "You are not the same age as I am. I'm older by two months, remember? And I was only teasing you. I know that we're stuck here with that merry band of bakas for another shi (four) days. We'll just have to grin and bear it. And today's that Kurisumasu-itu that the girls have been yapping about." Yuri1 replied to that sweetly. "It will all be over after ashita no ban anyway Kei." Kei 1 looked up and grinned at her. "Kami arigato for that at least." She chuckled. "Go get some breakfast now Yuri." She added. "OK Kei and I'd better bring some back for you or you won't eat anything. I'll be right back." Said Yuri 1, running towards the galley. Having nothing else to do for the moment, Kei 1 called up the vidscreen showing the holonovel that Marlene had been reading last night. She read through the first few chapters speedily as was her wont and dozed off.
She began to dream. She dreamt of herself as a miserable miser. Her name was Kei O'Scrooge. She had a clerk (underpaid of course) named Yuri Cratchit. She also had a kindly nephew (who she treated like crap) named Keitarou Reeves. One fine, brisk Kurisumasu-itu two gentlemen (Spike Miroku and Legato Bluesummers) came to call. "Do we have the pleasure of addressing Miss O'Scrooge or Miss McMarley?" asked the more handsome of the two (Legato). "Ms. McMarley has been shindeiru (dead) these nana (seven) years. She died seven years ago this very night." She said. "Gomen, however, we are certain that her generosity will be well represented by her most kawaii surviving partner." Said the other one (Spike). "Oro the F are you two baka morons yapping about?" she demanded, keeping her fist on the ion cannon in her desk drawer. "A few of us are endeavoring to start a fund to buy the poor some meat, drink and a means of warmth. It is at this festive season of the year that want is most keenly felt while abundance rejoices with others." Said Legato. "You two are a couple of trellmas short of a korton, ain't you?" observed Miss O'Scrooge. "We're collecting donations for charity. They're tax deductible you know! How much shall we put you down for Miss O'Scrooge?" asked Spike, licking his pencil. "Nothing." She replied. "Ah, you wish to be anonymous!" said Legato beaming all over. "I wish to be left alone! Now get the jigoku out or I'll call Furool City Central and have you both arrested!" she yelled. "Are you quite sure you won't reconsider--" began Spike. Kei kicked them both out of her building and down the steps. "Bah! Humbug!" she cried after them before returning to her office. Then Keitarou came and invited her to Kurisumasu dinner ashita. She tossed him out too. She was a real nasty bitch! Before quitting work for the day at 2100 (9 PM) hours she bawled Yuri out for using another dylithium crystal in the warp core generator. "But Miss O'Scrooge, it's minus 76 degrees Kelvin outside. I'm freezing to death in here!" she whimpered. "Work faster and you won't feel the cold!" snapped Kei.
Yhat night, the yuku (ghost) of her late unlamented partner Iris McMarley (AN- she looked exactly like Iris, the former 'Lovely Angel' who became Lady Flair the contact assassin.) paid Kei a visit. Iris was bound by heavy chains made from bullet bandoleers, blasters, ion cannons, sonic disruptors, sonic beam cannons, explosives, bombs and anything else destructive by nature! She tried to explain to Kei how in life all she had ever cared about was their 'Killers for Hire' business instead of the welfare of her fellowmen. Now she had to do penance for it. Kei laughed at her which made Iris quite angry. She drew a Mark 4 ion cannon from her belt and fired it at Kei, catching her in the forearm. "Son of a bitch!" yelled Kei, slapping a hand to her injured arm. "Do you believe in me or not?" cried Iris preparing to fire a second blast. "F hai, I believe in you! You're nekkyo (nuts) you crazy baka!" screamed Kei drawing her own blaster and firing at Iris. She was amazed when her beam passed right through her harmlessly and frying a good portion of the mantelpiece! "I'm shindeiru stupid! Remember?" laughed Iris. "You have one chance, a reprieve as it were, of escaping my fate! A chance my dear of my procuring. (Kei thanked her begrudgingly cradling her disruptor blaster) You will be visited by san (three) yuyu (spirits). Expect the first at 0100 hours tonight, the second ashita at the same hour and the third ashita no ban when the last stroke of 12 has ceased to vibrate. (Kei wanted to take 'em on all at once because that was more her style but Iris nixed that idea) Look to see me no more. Farewell Kei." Kei fired at her again gouging the wall and celing with ion resin burn marks so Iris split.
Kei awakened to someone shaking her by the shoulder. She looked up to see her old Chief, Andre Francis Gooley frowning down at her. "Who the F are you?" she mumbled while fishing under the pillow for her weapon. "I am the yuyu of Kurisumasu Past." He said. Kei yanked out her blaster and fired. The blast went through him and hit the wall. The yuyu grabbed kei and leaped through the window with her. "Are you baka? I don't have my jet wings lifter pack with me!" Kei tried belting him in the jaw and her fist passed right through his face! "Now calm down Kei and shut up!" he ordered. "Don't tell me to shut up you son of a bitch!" Kei and Gooley landed in front of a decrepit old building. A sign outside proclaimed it as '3WA Training Academy'. Kei yelled out loud. "Hey, cowabonga dude! I was a kid here! I cut more classes here---" The yuyu cut in on her prattle. "Your sister had one child---" Kei finally exploded. You baka moron, I was a kami shimatta orphan! I never had no sister! My family was and still is the 3WA!" Gooley said "Gomen. Let's try again." He whisked her up again and landed in front of tro-con Lee Chan's pad. "Hey, Lee's place! That SOB broke up with me 'cause I refused to stop carrying a blaster! He wanted me to do all martial arts crap like he did! The less I see of him the better! But I really kicked his ass using his shimatta martial arts!" she yelled. Gooley checked his wristchromro. "Whoops, out of time. See ya!" Poof! He vanished and was replaced by the dry visage of Charles Augustus Garner! "I am the Yuyu of Kurisumasu Present." He said. "So you're gonna show me how I'm a bastard to Yuri and show me how much fun I would have at Keitarou's pad and tell me that Yuri and Billy have a kid that's gonna shinu (die) if I don't save him, right?" yelled Kei. Garner (for once) was speechless. "Well, Yuri and Billy have no kids yet but the rest is true enough!" she added. Since you know all that already I'm wasting my time here! I will leave you to the Yuyu of Kurisumasu Future! Farewell and good luck with your life." He said, vanishing in a cloud of ion resin.
Standing before Kei was a huge giant of a nekko (cat) creature that meowed at her (it looked exactly like Mugghi on the 'Angel') and pointed. "Mugghi! Oro the F are you doing in my nightmare? Get the jigoku out of it or I won't feed you for a month! You hear me Mugghi? No food!!!" she cried.
"I have food for you Kei." Said Yuri 1, who had just returned with a tray for her. "Holy shit! Oro a nightmare!" yelled Kei 1, grabbing the tray and speedily wolfing down her breakfast. It always made Yuri 1 nauseous to watch Kei 1 eat anything! She finished and poured coffee for them both. "Arigato Yuri, I needed that." She said. Yuri 1 casually glanced at the vidscreen in front of Kei 1. "Oro have you been reading anyway Kei? Oh, that one! Hai, I can see how that would have given you nightmares." She giggled. "Shut the jigoku up you purple haired punching bag!" she yelled, hurling the tray at Yuri 1's back as she beat a hasty retreat. Kei 1 took a last look at the vidscreen before blanking it entirely. "Kurisumasu! Bah! Humbug!" she said to no one. "Reading Mr. Dickens's story eh?" said Marlene mischievously. "Just a shimatta book Mar!" answered Kei 1. "Run a diagnostic on the nacelles, will you?" she asked her navigator. "Sure, right away Kei. Any problem with them?" she asked. "Nai, not really. One of the right ones seems to have a slightly richer fuel mix than the others, that's all Mar." she replied. Marlene struck some panels and checked some gauges. "Seems OK now except for that fuel mix Kei." Kei 1 frowned. "OK just keep an eye on it then." She ordered. "Gomen for snapping at you earlier Mar. But that shimatta dream seemed so real man!" she apologized. "That story effects everybody in some way or other. "Don't sweat it Kei." Responded her navigator quietly. Kei 1 continued to stare at the blank screen. She was thinking-am I really like that?-nai, it's just a frigging story anyway! (AN-Or is it?)
End of Chapter 21
Chapter 22 "Kei's Restless Nights-Part Two" or "Kei and the Pirate" coming soon.
Tro-Cons and Dickens Don't Mix!" or "Kei's Restless Nights-Part One"
Mugghi trilled lightly in her comlink, waking Marlene from her dozing. She checked her wristchromo. 0600 hours on Kurisumasu-ibu. Yay, Christmas Eve, she thought. It would have been nicer to at least be home if not on Terra but this place was pretty cool too. Kei was really going out of her way to be nice to her and Kome (AN- Very OOC for our Kei!). Yuri was like the sister that she had always wanted. And with all their new tomos, it was like one big, happy family back on good old Terra. Mugghi trilled her again. "Arigato Mugghi, I'm up. Are we still on course?" Mugghi trilled an 'hai' back to her. "Ninety-six more flight hours to go. Log it, Nammo. Mugghi, better wake up Kei and Yuri. Kome, time to get up partner." Marlene finished her trilling and keyed the PA mike for the ship's intercom system. "Ohayo gozaimasu (Good morning) hazu! It's 0600 hours and time to get up! We are still on course 96 hours from our destination. Today is Kurisumasu- ibu. After breakfast we will finish decorating the tree. Then we can all have a Christmas Carol singalong. Kome and I want to say Ja mata to you all and a big domo arigato from us both. You've become a family to us and made us both so happy. Ja mata for now." Marlene flipped off the intercom as a sleepy Kome Sawaguchi stumbled onto the bridge. Today she was sporting a pink kimono and fuzzy pink slippers. A matching headband completed her ensemble. She waved a hand at Marlene in greeting and checked her comm. Relays for messages. "UG confirms that we are still on course bearing 290 north northwest. Estimated remaing flight time is 96 hours. Mr. Garner says 'Meri Kurisumasu' to all of us and wishes us a safe journey home. He also says 'grat job' on the successful completion of our mission. That's all the messages, Mar. I need some coffee and grub. See you later." Kome headed back towards the exit.
"Just a minute Kome." Said Marlene. "I don't think that we can get away with wandering around the ship like schoolgirls in a dorm anymore. It's not like it was when it was just you and Yuri or Kei and myself. I know Kei said she hates formality and that we could dress casually but I sure don't think that she meant that!" lectured Marlene. "Oro are you talking about Mar?" asked a puzzled Kome. "Kome! Get some clothes on now!" ordered Kei 1 who had just come through the rear doors. "A ship full of guys and you parade around like that! Ain't we in enough hot water back home already?" she yelled. "That's what I was talking about Kome." Said marlene quietly, pointing to her lack of proper attire. "Gomen Kei. Onegai yuruse watashi. I'll be right back." Apologized Kome, finally noticing that she was still in her kimono and slippers. "You can get breakfast first Kome. Then get back up here." Called Kei 1 to her retreating form. "OK partner, go and get your breakfast too. I'll hold down the fort now." Said Kei 1 to Marlene. Arigato Kei, ja ne." Marlene had already left when Kei had another thought. She trilled Marlene. "Mar, get a couple of hours' sleep. I'll see you around 1100 hours, OK?" A slight trilling from Marlene signaled her understanding. Kei 1 sat down, checked some gauges, assigned a few tasks to Mugghi and Nammo and put her sneakered feet up on the console. She was in a grey 3WA sweatshirt and sweatpants today. Her habitual Kelly green headband completed her outfit.
"Konnichi wa Kei." Yuri1 had just come in still sporting the schoolgirl look but this time her skirt was aoishi instead of green. "So today you're Keiko not Kagome eh? Will you ever act your age?" Kei 1 wanted to know. Yuri 1 was indignant. "I'm the same age as you are Kei- 19! And it's fun to play dress up! It's not like we have anything else to do, do we?" she replied. Kei responded nonchalantly to that one. "You are not the same age as I am. I'm older by two months, remember? And I was only teasing you. I know that we're stuck here with that merry band of bakas for another shi (four) days. We'll just have to grin and bear it. And today's that Kurisumasu-itu that the girls have been yapping about." Yuri1 replied to that sweetly. "It will all be over after ashita no ban anyway Kei." Kei 1 looked up and grinned at her. "Kami arigato for that at least." She chuckled. "Go get some breakfast now Yuri." She added. "OK Kei and I'd better bring some back for you or you won't eat anything. I'll be right back." Said Yuri 1, running towards the galley. Having nothing else to do for the moment, Kei 1 called up the vidscreen showing the holonovel that Marlene had been reading last night. She read through the first few chapters speedily as was her wont and dozed off.
She began to dream. She dreamt of herself as a miserable miser. Her name was Kei O'Scrooge. She had a clerk (underpaid of course) named Yuri Cratchit. She also had a kindly nephew (who she treated like crap) named Keitarou Reeves. One fine, brisk Kurisumasu-itu two gentlemen (Spike Miroku and Legato Bluesummers) came to call. "Do we have the pleasure of addressing Miss O'Scrooge or Miss McMarley?" asked the more handsome of the two (Legato). "Ms. McMarley has been shindeiru (dead) these nana (seven) years. She died seven years ago this very night." She said. "Gomen, however, we are certain that her generosity will be well represented by her most kawaii surviving partner." Said the other one (Spike). "Oro the F are you two baka morons yapping about?" she demanded, keeping her fist on the ion cannon in her desk drawer. "A few of us are endeavoring to start a fund to buy the poor some meat, drink and a means of warmth. It is at this festive season of the year that want is most keenly felt while abundance rejoices with others." Said Legato. "You two are a couple of trellmas short of a korton, ain't you?" observed Miss O'Scrooge. "We're collecting donations for charity. They're tax deductible you know! How much shall we put you down for Miss O'Scrooge?" asked Spike, licking his pencil. "Nothing." She replied. "Ah, you wish to be anonymous!" said Legato beaming all over. "I wish to be left alone! Now get the jigoku out or I'll call Furool City Central and have you both arrested!" she yelled. "Are you quite sure you won't reconsider--" began Spike. Kei kicked them both out of her building and down the steps. "Bah! Humbug!" she cried after them before returning to her office. Then Keitarou came and invited her to Kurisumasu dinner ashita. She tossed him out too. She was a real nasty bitch! Before quitting work for the day at 2100 (9 PM) hours she bawled Yuri out for using another dylithium crystal in the warp core generator. "But Miss O'Scrooge, it's minus 76 degrees Kelvin outside. I'm freezing to death in here!" she whimpered. "Work faster and you won't feel the cold!" snapped Kei.
Yhat night, the yuku (ghost) of her late unlamented partner Iris McMarley (AN- she looked exactly like Iris, the former 'Lovely Angel' who became Lady Flair the contact assassin.) paid Kei a visit. Iris was bound by heavy chains made from bullet bandoleers, blasters, ion cannons, sonic disruptors, sonic beam cannons, explosives, bombs and anything else destructive by nature! She tried to explain to Kei how in life all she had ever cared about was their 'Killers for Hire' business instead of the welfare of her fellowmen. Now she had to do penance for it. Kei laughed at her which made Iris quite angry. She drew a Mark 4 ion cannon from her belt and fired it at Kei, catching her in the forearm. "Son of a bitch!" yelled Kei, slapping a hand to her injured arm. "Do you believe in me or not?" cried Iris preparing to fire a second blast. "F hai, I believe in you! You're nekkyo (nuts) you crazy baka!" screamed Kei drawing her own blaster and firing at Iris. She was amazed when her beam passed right through her harmlessly and frying a good portion of the mantelpiece! "I'm shindeiru stupid! Remember?" laughed Iris. "You have one chance, a reprieve as it were, of escaping my fate! A chance my dear of my procuring. (Kei thanked her begrudgingly cradling her disruptor blaster) You will be visited by san (three) yuyu (spirits). Expect the first at 0100 hours tonight, the second ashita at the same hour and the third ashita no ban when the last stroke of 12 has ceased to vibrate. (Kei wanted to take 'em on all at once because that was more her style but Iris nixed that idea) Look to see me no more. Farewell Kei." Kei fired at her again gouging the wall and celing with ion resin burn marks so Iris split.
Kei awakened to someone shaking her by the shoulder. She looked up to see her old Chief, Andre Francis Gooley frowning down at her. "Who the F are you?" she mumbled while fishing under the pillow for her weapon. "I am the yuyu of Kurisumasu Past." He said. Kei yanked out her blaster and fired. The blast went through him and hit the wall. The yuyu grabbed kei and leaped through the window with her. "Are you baka? I don't have my jet wings lifter pack with me!" Kei tried belting him in the jaw and her fist passed right through his face! "Now calm down Kei and shut up!" he ordered. "Don't tell me to shut up you son of a bitch!" Kei and Gooley landed in front of a decrepit old building. A sign outside proclaimed it as '3WA Training Academy'. Kei yelled out loud. "Hey, cowabonga dude! I was a kid here! I cut more classes here---" The yuyu cut in on her prattle. "Your sister had one child---" Kei finally exploded. You baka moron, I was a kami shimatta orphan! I never had no sister! My family was and still is the 3WA!" Gooley said "Gomen. Let's try again." He whisked her up again and landed in front of tro-con Lee Chan's pad. "Hey, Lee's place! That SOB broke up with me 'cause I refused to stop carrying a blaster! He wanted me to do all martial arts crap like he did! The less I see of him the better! But I really kicked his ass using his shimatta martial arts!" she yelled. Gooley checked his wristchromro. "Whoops, out of time. See ya!" Poof! He vanished and was replaced by the dry visage of Charles Augustus Garner! "I am the Yuyu of Kurisumasu Present." He said. "So you're gonna show me how I'm a bastard to Yuri and show me how much fun I would have at Keitarou's pad and tell me that Yuri and Billy have a kid that's gonna shinu (die) if I don't save him, right?" yelled Kei. Garner (for once) was speechless. "Well, Yuri and Billy have no kids yet but the rest is true enough!" she added. Since you know all that already I'm wasting my time here! I will leave you to the Yuyu of Kurisumasu Future! Farewell and good luck with your life." He said, vanishing in a cloud of ion resin.
Standing before Kei was a huge giant of a nekko (cat) creature that meowed at her (it looked exactly like Mugghi on the 'Angel') and pointed. "Mugghi! Oro the F are you doing in my nightmare? Get the jigoku out of it or I won't feed you for a month! You hear me Mugghi? No food!!!" she cried.
"I have food for you Kei." Said Yuri 1, who had just returned with a tray for her. "Holy shit! Oro a nightmare!" yelled Kei 1, grabbing the tray and speedily wolfing down her breakfast. It always made Yuri 1 nauseous to watch Kei 1 eat anything! She finished and poured coffee for them both. "Arigato Yuri, I needed that." She said. Yuri 1 casually glanced at the vidscreen in front of Kei 1. "Oro have you been reading anyway Kei? Oh, that one! Hai, I can see how that would have given you nightmares." She giggled. "Shut the jigoku up you purple haired punching bag!" she yelled, hurling the tray at Yuri 1's back as she beat a hasty retreat. Kei 1 took a last look at the vidscreen before blanking it entirely. "Kurisumasu! Bah! Humbug!" she said to no one. "Reading Mr. Dickens's story eh?" said Marlene mischievously. "Just a shimatta book Mar!" answered Kei 1. "Run a diagnostic on the nacelles, will you?" she asked her navigator. "Sure, right away Kei. Any problem with them?" she asked. "Nai, not really. One of the right ones seems to have a slightly richer fuel mix than the others, that's all Mar." she replied. Marlene struck some panels and checked some gauges. "Seems OK now except for that fuel mix Kei." Kei 1 frowned. "OK just keep an eye on it then." She ordered. "Gomen for snapping at you earlier Mar. But that shimatta dream seemed so real man!" she apologized. "That story effects everybody in some way or other. "Don't sweat it Kei." Responded her navigator quietly. Kei 1 continued to stare at the blank screen. She was thinking-am I really like that?-nai, it's just a frigging story anyway! (AN-Or is it?)
End of Chapter 21
Chapter 22 "Kei's Restless Nights-Part Two" or "Kei and the Pirate" coming soon.