TEKKADREAD THE SECOND STAGE

Disclaimer: Ranma ½, Vandread and Tekkadread belong to their respective creators, so please don't bother me while I write this story, okay?

: Thoughts

: Telepathic communication

Chapter 11

Part 1

End of the Line for Mejele...

The planet of the telepaths...

"So you're not going to change your mind?" Meia asked as she and a few others were bidding goodbye to a friend.

Misty shook her head as she faced her comrades from the Nirvana. On her shoulder, her holographic friend Q-chan squeaked in agreement. The fourteen-year-old (technically seventy-seven), was prepared for her new life on the world of telepaths and the refugees of Mission Delta Six.

"I've been considering leaving the ship and settling down for a long time now." Misty said with a slight sadness in her voice. "Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed my time on the Nirvana and I've made some really good friends, but... I think that it's time for me to begin my own life. Besides, living on a ship that's mostly made up of women is kind of hard for me... especially with our different... ideas about men... you know what I mean?"

Meia nodded in understanding, but remained silent. She knew about Misty's infatuation with Slade, and she felt a bit guilty as a small part of her was happy that Misty would no longer be on the ship and chasing after him. The former Dread pilot had grown closer toward him and there would be one less competitor. She quickly banished such thoughts as her friend continued.

Misty shrugged as she put on a happy, though forced expression. "Hey, it's okay. Besides, I really didn't feel that I fit in. The people here are really friendly and they've already set up a place for me to stay. And the others from Mission Delta Six are also willing to help me settle down. It'll be all right, and I would like to wish you all the best of luck." She extended her hand out toward Meia.

The blue-haired Tekkaman grasped the hand in her own and shook it. She then drew her toward her and gave her a farewell hug, which Misty returned.

Neither girl saw the tears brimming in each other's eyes.

----------

It is a pity that you cannot stay longer Slade... or do you prefer Ranma? The shaman said as he telepathically spoke with Nodoka's son.

Slade nodded as he replied. "Yeah, well a lot of things have happened in the past few weeks and I have to see this through to the end. And by the way, I prefer to be called Slade. I don't care much for the name of Ranma." He briefly thought of his conversation with Magno a few days ago, then tabled those thoughts for later, much later. "Well, I guess this is goodbye..." He turned around to leave for the shuttle.

One moment Slade... The shaman put a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. As the Tekkaman turned about, the elder man projected his thoughts. I sense great anger and intensity within you. In finding your past, you have also found the anguish and suffering that you had endured long ago, correct?

Slade gave the old man a lopsided smile. "Heh. Well that's one way of putting it. I found lost memories that should have stayed lost. They've brought me nothing but pain and misery, and I definitely would have been better off never knowing who I used to be." Again an image of Magno entered his mind, then was quickly dismissed.

But those memories are a part of you Slade. They are what shaped you into who you are now. And they cannot be denied any more than you could deny your soul.

"Hmpf. It doesn't really matter now. I'm Slade, now and forever. Ranma Saotome died centuries ago and that's that."

So you say. However, you needed to find your past in order to find yourself in the present and lead you towards your future. Learning from your past, is always the best way to shape one's destiny. Perhaps if you were to speak to someone who has learned that hard lesson, you will see the value of what I am telling you now.

"Yeah, and who might that be?"

As if in answer to his question, a certain someone appeared from behind a tree. There was the telltale hum of a hover-motor as he approached the two in a high-tech wheelchair. When he came into view, Slade immediately recognized him.

"YOU!"

Rabat nodded as he spoke to the Tekkaman with his thoughts. You were right. You did send me to Hell. It would have been more merciful if you HAD killed me.

The trader was in a sorry state as both of his arms and legs had been amputated when he had been harvested. His face was riddled with scars, as well as the rest of his body. The technological eyepatch now covered the open socket of the missing left eye. Much of what was left of his human form was now linked up with an elaborate life-support system. Tubes and wires were constantly pumping nutrients and solutions into him to keep him alive.

Slade's hands clenched into fists as he tensed up. He then growled at the former Harvester agent. "What are you doing here? And more importantly, what makes you think I won't finish the job? Give me one half-decent reason why I shouldn't reduce you into a smear for all of the suffering and death you caused? For all of those planets you betrayed to the Harvesters! Tell me why I shouldn't just put you out of everyone's misery!"

Rabat was silent for a moment in contemplation then telepathically replied. Actually, I can't think of a single reason why you shouldn't kill me. Then again, I don't have anyone to blame but myself for what happened. So go ahead. I deserve to die for what I did.

"Huh?"

The sincerity in his thoughts caught Slade off guard. Due to the telepathy, he could feel the emotion in Rabat's thoughts and they were of genuine regret, coupled with a desire for atonement. From prior experience, Slade knew that Rabat could not be trusted. So why was he sensing actual remorse from this traitor?

Go ahead. Rabat urged. And make certain that my end is as PAINFUL as possible. I won't stop you... not that I could anyway. I know it's not much of a penance, but at least all of those planets I sold out will get some measure of justice. I've got a lot to answer for when I see my Maker, but at least I can do something good with my life... by ending it.

This sudden admittance of his sins, coupled with a need to make amends for them, caused the anger in Slade to subside and his curiosity to surface. He relaxed his fists and asked in a suspicious tone, "What happened to you?"

Rabat shrugged his shoulders. They say that one reaps what one sows and I should have realized that I was planting a very bitter crop...

----------

Meanwhile, on Mejele...

Tekkaman Dagger, Axe and Rapier surveyed the devastated landscape with satisfaction. The invasion of the all-female planet was going well and nearly all resistance had been crushed. More than a hundred thousand Tekkapod spore plants had already taken root into the planet's surface and soon the entire populace would become the minions of the Radam. There were some small bands of Mejele's inhabitants that continued to hold out against the legions of Spider-Crabs, but they were considered inconsequential and would soon fall under the might of Darkon's armies.

The remnants of the world's space forces were scattered and no longer presented a threat to the Radam. Their mighty planetary defenses proved to be no match against the invaders and were easily overrun. Soon they would capture the major cities of Mejele and every one of the women, from the very old, to the newly born, would become slaves to Darkon... or perish.

----------

In her citadel, Grand Ma let off a sigh and shook her head. To think that it would come to this. Their much-vaunted technology and superiority over the men of Tarak, had come to naught against these cruel destroyers. Their great space fleets had been reduced to a paltry force of a few dozen ships. Hundreds of thousands of brave women had been slaughtered. Those that had not been killed outright were captured by the aliens, and the elderly supreme leader of Mejele didn't even want to think what had become of them.

In the beginning, the women had encountered only those strange Spider-Crabs. Those monsters were mindless and it was thought that with enough power, they could be stopped. However, as time passed, it was apparent that it would take all the power of Mejele's military, just to hold them at bay. There seemed to be no end to them and for every one that was destroyed, a dozen more would take its place. It looked as if the females would be overwhelmed by their sheer force of numbers.

Then, the Tekkamen came...

From that point on, Mejele lost a great many of its daughters. Those strange armored beings, each possessing unimaginable power, made short work of all who stood in their way as they directed the Spider-Crabs. Many more of the women fell to the enemy. With the majority of the surviving inhabitants now grouped in the massive, underground shelters that had been built in case of planetary disaster, Grand Ma had to consider the unthinkable... abandoning the planet.

In other words, another Great Migration... to Tarak.

The aged woman felt every one of her years weigh down on her shoulders as she came to a decision. To ensure the survival of her people, they would have to leave their homes and forsake all those who had been captured by the aliens. And they would have to cast aside their ingrained prejudices against the men... for they were their last hope against extinction. The planet Tarak had not yet been touched by those grotesque spore plants and its inhabitants were putting up better resistance against the invaders. Ironically, that which made them inferior in the eyes of the women was their edge against the aliens.

Men were considered brutish and uncontrolled savages, especially in those barbaric machines called Vanguards. However, it was that aggressive drive and experience with close-combat which made them more effective against the hordes of Spider-Crabs. Their planet was a desolate wasteland, but that worked in their favor as the environment was less suited for the alien spore plants to propagate. They were not as dependant on technology as the women, so they relied more on their base instincts. They didn't need much to survive and their lack of vanity over personal appearance ensured that they did not squander precious resources.

To put it simply, the men of Tarak and the women of Mejele would have to join forces, if the human race were to survive.

----------

Meanwhile...

"All right Rabat. What's the catch?" Slade asked suspiciously.

No catch. No deal. No hidden agenda. The crippled trader replied. I'm asking... no, I'm begging you... to KILL ME.

"Just like that? Not that I'm not tempted, ('cause I really am in the mood I'm in), but it's not like you to willingly ask for assisted suicide. Everything you've done, it was to save your own hide, at the cost of countless millions!"

And as you can see, I've got very little left of my hide to save. The former Harvester agent sighed. I'm not asking for forgiveness for what I've done. Hell, if I were in your position, I would have atomized someone like me a long time ago. They TORE me apart, Slade. They threw poor Utan into space. They didn't even give me a chance to explain. I was no longer useful to them, since I couldn't get any more information for them. To them, I was just spare parts.

"And just NOW you want to pay for all your crimes?" Slade said incredulously.

Better late than never, I suppose. Then again, what they did to me wouldn't even come close to paying back what I owe. I experienced first hand what they did to all those people I betrayed. They didn't just kill their victims and take their organs. They tore them apart piece by piece, keeping them alive for as long as possible to ensure that the body parts were in the best condition. You know what that feels like? It was like being constantly cut into and pulled apart. Every time they sliced off skin, removed a piece of bone, or plucked an eye, you could feel each sensation. You begin to wish for death, but they won't let you die until every part of you is dismembered. You don't die until they decide to let you die. By then, there's not enough left of you to cover a nanochip. I saw them do it to hundreds of people, before they started on me. And their screams still haunt me in my sleep. Those images keep me awake at night. And when the Harvesters were destroyed by the Radam, it didn't end there. What the organ-hunters did to humankind didn't even BEGIN to compare to the cruelty those aliens were capable of. Ever hear of a Radam mind-parasite?

Slade nodded as he remembered the attack by Tekkadread Carnage. "I've seen those things. They forced a couple of our comrades to turn against us. They nearly destroyed the Nirvana."

They are the Devil's tools. They take over your mind and will. At least with the Harvesters, my thoughts were still my own. But with the Radam, I wasn't even given the luxury to THINK! And they brought out the darkest parts of my inner self, making me see every detail of my sins. It was like an unending nightmare, but the problem was that I wasn't sleeping. Do you know what it's like to be that helpless in both body and mind? I would have lost all hold on reality if I hadn't eventually landed on this planet. These people helped me understand the hard lessons that they tried to teach me before, but I was too arrogant and stupid to listen.

This comment caught Slade by surprise as he addressed the shaman. "You knew Rabat from before? How long have you known him?"

For several years. The telepath replied mentally. Rabat came to us in a scout ship, a little before the Harvesters first started attacking planets. He was lost both physically and spiritually. We tried to educate him, and help him find his way. We had sensed that he would eventually come in contact with the Chosen One... namely you.

"Me? What are you talking about?"

We knew from the day we lost our voices, that a savior would come and rescue humankind from a threat that was even greater than the Harvesters. At first we thought it was Rabat, but when you came a few years later, we knew that the time of deliverance was drawing near. This angered Rabat, since he thought he was the Chosen One. I suppose his disappointment fueled his anger, but we never expected him to betray his own kind to the Harvesters. However, though his body could not be saved, his soul could be salvaged. Thanks to you, he has seen the error of his past and wishes to atone. Can you not let this go and do the same?

Rabat nodded solemnly. I wouldn't hold it against you if you wasted me here and now. I most certainly deserve it. But I'd like to tell you this. Take it from me. It doesn't do you any good to ignore your history, because it's ALWAYS going to come back to you. I learned too late of the price one pays when one decides to disregard what one has done and learned in the past. Don't let that happen to you.

Slade angrily raised a hand and began powering up for a ki blast, aiming it directly at Rabat. How dare this traitor preach to him about never forgetting one's past? It was his life and it didn't need any reminders of what he was as Ranma Saotome and of his mother... Nodoka. As he prepared to vaporize the former Harvester agent, an image of his mother appeared in his mind.

She represented all the pain, bitterness and loneliness that he suffered while growing up. She had abandoned him and left him without a shoulder to cry on, or a loving embrace. He had endured the Cat Fist, the Anything Goes training, the humiliation of being hunted by the law for crimes his father committed, the near-drowning at Jusenkyo and the centuries of being in the Tekkapod; ALL without his mother. Magno had SOME NERVE to think that she could just pick up where she left off centuries ago, calling him her beloved son. HAH! He never needed his mother then and he didn't need her now! And he most certainly didn't need a former traitor telling him how to live his life!

Slade's hand trembled as all of his inner energies were being focused and primed. Rabat took a deep breath and prepared for the end. There was a long, silent pause as not a word, spoken or mental, was said. Then the Tekkaman powered down and simply walked away from area.

----------

Some time later...

Slade leaned against a tree and stared up at the night sky, deep in thought. He wondered why he didn't destroy Rabat when he had the chance and eventually came to the conclusion that anything that he did to the scumbag now, wouldn't have made any difference. Rabat was already living in Hell and he would have to deal with it for the rest of his life and beyond. Then his words came back to him.

Rabat: Take it from me. It doesn't do you any good to ignore your history, because it's ALWAYS going to come back to you.

It was then that he sensed the approach of someone. He could tell by the shuffling footsteps and the impact of a walking cane who it was. He neither faced Magno nor acknowledged her presence as he continued to gaze at the star-studded sky.

Vivian Magno, or rather Nodoka Tensuke, (formally Saotome), could feel the anger in the air. She had wanted to speak with her newly found first-born son, but after their last conversation, she had to tread gently and choose her words carefully. She believed he meant what he said when he threatened to leave the Nirvana if she ever revealed to anyone on the ship that she was his mother. She had later told Duero and Parfet not to say anything, since they already knew about Slade's heritage, due to their research into his past and Nodoka's.

Oh, but how she wanted to embrace her long-lost child once more. It had been a terrible blow to her when she had been told of Ranma's death. After losing her second son Kenji, Nodoka had sworn never to have children again, for fear of losing them and suffering the pain of outliving one's offspring. After taking up the identity of Vivian Magno, she stuck to her vow and it wasn't until becoming captain of the Mejele Pirates, that she began to feel the joys of being a parent again.

The crew of the Nirvana were like her children, and every one of the one hundred and fifty members were surrogate daughters. However, now that her first child Ranma had miraculously returned to her, she had begun to hope to regain that which she had thought was lost to her. She had been given another chance to be the mother that she should have been. She should have NEVER let Genma take him away from her, and she'd be damned if she allowed the Radam, or anything else take him from her again.

But, it seemed that dream was dead the moment it was realized, as her son felt nothing but resentment and bitterness toward her. In retrospect, she couldn't really blame him. After all, where was she when he was growing up with just his father? During her first life as Nodoka Saotome, she had been informed by the police of all the crimes her husband had committed over the time he was training Ranma.

She still held out hope that she and her son could reconcile and become a family again. She had even entertained thoughts of becoming a grandmother. She already knew about the feelings that Jura, Meia and Dita had toward her son. She smiled at the image of little versions of Ranma and her surrogate daughters running about.

However, with his promise to leave the Nivana once the Radam were defeated, and their destination only a mere week away, she didn't have much time. Once the enemy was dealt with, Ranma would once again disappear from her life, this time for good. She could not bear to lose him all over again. A slight moisture began to form in her eyes...

"Well? Are you going to just stand there, or did you come to tell me something... Captain?"

The tone in which he addressed her left Magno with little doubt that he wanted nothing to do with her. She quickly blinked away the tears and took a deep breath before replying. "The Nirvana is now fully stocked and all repairs have been made. We will be arriving at the Mejele and Tarak sectors within seven days. It's time for us to leave."

"I'll be at the shuttle in an hour." Slade said simply.

"Very well."

There was another long pause between them. The tension in the air became even more dense.

"Was there something else... Captain?" Slade stressed.

Nodoka was tempted. She was so tempted to wrap her arms tightly around her son and cry, but she knew that if she did so, she would run the risk of losing him. She still had a week to try and bridge that gap between them that had spanned the centuries. At the very least, he would still be with the Nirvana for a little while longer.

"No, there isn't anything else. I'll see you back at the Nirvana."

With that, she turned about and walked away. She made certain that he would not see the tears that were streaming down her aged visage.

However, if she had stayed a little longer, she would have seen similar moisture forming in her son's eyes. He angrily wiped them away as wondered just where the humidity had come from.

----------

An hour later...

Misty looked up at the sky as she and several groups of the planet's inhabitants watched the shuttle rise up into the sky to rendezvous with the pirate vessel that was in orbit. As the craft became a distant dot of light, she sniffled a bit and let off a sigh. She had made her choice and it was time to begin her new life. On her shoulder, Q-chan squeaked and let off a tittering noise, as if it was trying to cheer him up.

Well, that's it. Good-bye my Prince Charming. I'll never forget...

"Hey there. What's a cute girl like you being all gloomy about?"

Misty turned about to address the person and her heart skipped a beat as she beheld a total HUNK!

"Hi, my name's Ghaleon Viperson, but I'm also known as Tekkaman Phantom."

----------

On the Nirvana...

"Are you sure that Ghaleon didn't want to come with us?" Meia asked as she and Slade watched the retreating image of the planet from the observation deck of the Bio-Park. "We could use his help against the Radam."

Slade shook his head. "No. He said that he was still needed to protect the refugees against any attack, should the Radam come their way. We're just going to have to make do with four Tekkamen, (five if you count the Doc), and whatever else we can muster. The Captain said that we'll rendezvous first with the other pirates that you had left behind when this journey first started."

"It will be good to see the others." Meia nodded as she smiled. She had lightened her mood considerably since she had met Slade. "You'll like them. They're good people and you won't find better fighters anywhere in the galaxy!" She then blushed a bit as she added. "Present company excepted."

Slade smiled a bit. "Well, I'll take your word for it, though I'm not too sure that they'd welcome a man with open arms. I mean, no offense, but they are from Mejele and I wouldn't expect them to just forget the idea that men are the enemy."

"I'm sure they'll LIKE you." The former Dread Leader insisted, then added shyly. "After all, I got to like you... a lot."

This made the Tekkaman a bit nervous, especially with the look she was giving him. When their eyes made direct contact with each other, he swallowed hard as she began to lean forward.

"Uhhh... Meia?"

The girl leaned even closer and Slade's heart beat began to accelerate. Since when was she ever THIS forward?

"I mean I REALLY LIKE you..." Meia stressed.

"Well, I... like you too... and... I..."

At that point, Slade's mental faculties were on standby as he found himself instinctively leaning toward her. As the distance between their lips began to shrink to less than an inch away, both began to feel an unknown force begin to draw them even closer together. Meia could almost taste the kiss...

"MR. ALIEN!"

Both Tekkamen winced as they turned to see the bubbly redhead approach them. Meia was irritated that her fellow space warrior interrupted what would have been her first kiss. As for Slade, he was annoyed that Dita was still calling him Mr. Alien.

"Dita... what did I tell you before? My name is Slade... or Ranma. I'm NOT going to take this Mr. Alien nonsense any more! How many times do I have to REMIND you! Does everything I tell you just goes in one ear and out the other! I've got enough to irritate me as is!"

The glare and tone of voice he used gave Dita a bit of a shock. Sure he had always been a little aggravated whenever she called him Mr. Alien, but now... the anger he displayed frightened her. She had only meant to greet him as she always did, and calling him Mr. Alien had just slipped out due to habit. She had been seeing less and less of him as they neared her home planet. She had also begun to notice that Jura and Meia were monopolizing their time with the White Tekkamen. She had started to fear that her competition was going to take him away from her.

Jura and Meia were her best friends and she would gladly lay down her life to help them. However, when it concerned Slade, she felt as if she was the only one who should be so close. She was the first one who met him and accepted him as part of the crew. She didn't care that he was a man and she was the first to combine with him. And then there was that time during Christmas when he gave her the rough diamond pendant. Her most intimate contact with him was during the time she had entered his mind and saw him as he really was... as Ranma Saotome, who had suffered a tortured and lonely childhood. Her heart had went out to him and she knew that she truly loved her Mr. Alien. (1)

Now, it seemed that her slip of the tongue may have caused a rift between them and irreparably damaged her relationship with him. Her expression became downcast and moisture started to form in her eyes.

When Slade saw that she was on the verge of tears, he immediately regretted his outburst. He hadn't meant to blow up on her, and he still couldn't stand to see a girl cry.

"Dita... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you..."

Dita immediately turned about and ran, not wanting to let anyone see the tears that were now running down her cheeks. She was gone in a heartbeat.

Slade shook his head sadly and sighed as he addressed Meia. "Damn! I really screwed up. I'm sorry Meia. We're going to have to talk later. I have to..."

Meia nodded as she replied. "It's all right. I understand. Go ahead."

The former Saotome noticed the disappointment in her eyes and voice. He nodded and turned to go after Dita. As he departed, he realized the irony. He had upset a girl with his insensitivity, and now he had to break another girl's heart, just so he could fix the heart of the first one. Ever since learning of his past as Ranma Saotome, his life had gotten very complicated.

----------

Knock! Knock!

"Dita? Can I come in?"

There was a long pause and silence, but no response. Slade took a deep breath and decided to enter. Using the override code, he made the door to her quarters open and stepped inside.

He found Dita sobbing away, face down on her bed. He slowly approached her and sat down beside her. The redhead took no notice of his presence as she continued to cry.

"Dita... I'm sorry. I really am. I didn't mean to say all those things."

Dita wept for a minute before responding. "You hate me now... don't you?" (sob) "I mean, why should... you even want to be with someone... (sob), when she can't even say your name right?"

Slade shook his head as he gently placed a hand on her left shoulder. "Dita... I don't hate you for not using my name."

Dita stopped sniffling as she sat up and faced him. It pained Slade to see her cheeks red and puffy from her tears. She took a deep breath, then said, "You don't?"

The White Tekkaman shook his head while giving her shoulder a gentle pat. "No, I don't. It's just that a lot of things have happened to me and I just learned of something that really got me on edge." An image of Magno crossed his mind briefly. "When I heard you call me Mr. Alien again, I lost it. I didn't mean to lash out at you. I'm sorry."

"What is it? What got you so angry? " She asked as she forgot her sadness to feel worried about him.

"Well... I'd rather not talk about it." He replied. "It's something I've got to work out on my own. Just so you know, it's not your fault or anyone else's. Can you forgive me?"

Dita's smile came back as she was assured that everything was all right. There's nothing to forgive, silly! I'm glad that you don't hate me!" She then quickly embraced him in a joyous hug. "I promise to call you by your name from now on! Do you want to be called Slade, Ranma or D-Boy?"

Slade stiffened at the sudden display of affection, then decided to let it go. He sighed as he replied. "Slade will be fine."

The redhead then broke away as she pointed out happily. "I just realized something! You finally kept your promise!"

"Promise?" He thought for a moment, then caught on. "Oh, that's right. I did promise to come to your room."

He then took in his surroundings of Dita's quarters. As expected there was a hodgepodge of items and pictures concerning aliens was scattered about her living area. Though he did notice a few pictures of him and several members of the crew. One picture in particular caught his attention. It was him and Dita during the Christmas Party, along with the majority of the crew. He picked it up and smiled, remembering those good times. It was almost as if he had become part of the Nirvana family.

Then he felt a bit of depression at the thought of having a family. He didn't have any family, at least not anymore. The only person whom he could call as family was... Vivian Magno.

"Slade?"

He then put the picture down and turned to face Dita. He was a bit surprised to see her standing in front of him, considering that he didn't even sense her approach. What was more surprising was that she had called him by name, finally.

It was then that he noticed that she had the same look in her eyes that Meia had a few minutes ago, and that she was leaning toward him... and his lips.

Uh oh.

----------

The Planet Tarak...

"What did you say?" Grand Pa asked as one of his subordinates came to his quarters. In the subordinate's hands was a message pad.

"I am sorry to disturb you my Lord Grand Pa." He gave him a salute as he handed him the message that one of the long-range communications outposts had received. "This was just transmitted to Station 49A and decoded. It's from... Lady Grand Ma of Mejele."

The century-old supreme leader of the planet of men looked at the message and his eyes widened in disbelief. He looked back at the messenger and asked, "Are you certain that this message is genuine?"

"Absolutely Lord Grand Pa. The message was encrypted in the ancient code and was verified in triplicate. The DNA marker on the message matched exactly to the one that we have on file. Voice and frequency codes also matched. It is most definitely from Lady Grand Ma."

"I see. Very well then lieutenant. You are dismissed."

The young man saluted his leader, then left the old man to contemplate the message in silence.

So... after all this time, you finally decide to contact me, eh? I can only wonder what would make you swallow your pride to speak with me after one hundred years...

He then pressed the Playback Button and watched the screen of the message pad light up, displaying the ancient visage of his female counterpart. Then the image spoke.

"Lord Grand Pa... if you are hearing this message, then you must assume that my world of Mejele and yours of Tarak are in the most gravest of dangers. You must undoubtedly be aware of the strange alien forces that are attacking our worlds. They are unlike anything our two planets have ever faced before, and seem to be unstoppable."

The old man nodded as he remembered the reports that his military staff had given to him. So far, the men of Tarak had been able to hold back the vicious hordes of Spider-Crabs and prevent them from overrunning the outer boundaries of their sector of space. However, he had a feeling that the enemy was only testing the planet's defenses. He then continued to listen to the message.

"At first, I thought that it might have had something to do with the message I had received from the Magno Pirates several months ago. I had later scanned it. I also know that you had received a similar message from them, pertaining to a group called the Harvesters. Knowing you as I do, you probably scanned it once, then had it deleted. However, upon further investigation, I now have evidence to believe that this new threat is not the Harvesters, but something far worse. These aliens are not interested in our organs as the message from Vivian Magno had stated. Their only goal is the enslavement all humankind and total conquest. And if subjugation is not possible, then they are more than willing to send us into extinction. Already, countless thousands of the women have been slaughtered or captured. Our forces cannot stand against these monsters. It is with a heavy heart that I must consider the unthinkable... and have my people abandon their homes and planet. Mejele cannot be saved and we must forsake our home world... forever."

This caught Grand Pa by surprise. The men of Tarak would have never considered leaving their world. Certainly it wasn't as prosperous as Mejele, but it was theirs and they would defend it to the last man. They had taken everything the planet had thrown at them and survived. They had endured hardships on a scale that would have been unimaginable on the female world. Through it all, they had persevered and they'll be damned if they would let some unknown enemy take away what they had rightfully earned; the right to live free.

"I know that you may think of us as cowardly and soft for abandoning our world, but I only made this decision after weighing all of my options. As you know, members of the First Generation still slumber within cold sleep and it is both our duty to ensure that they will one day awaken. I cannot guarantee this if there is no world for them to live on. You too also must consider this. And so, I have already begun preparations for another Migration... to your home world of Tarak. We ask that you allow us to land on your planet."

At this point, Grand Pa began to think that Grand Ma had gone insane. After one hundred years of animosity between the genders, she was now planning to have the entire population of Mejele move to Tarak? She was expecting the men to just accept this proposal? After all that's happened between the sexes and what had caused the separation in the first place?

"I know that you think that I have gone mad to even suggest this, but we are left with no other option. Please Grand Pa... my husband... help us."

----------

On the Nirvana...

Slade shook his head as he walked down the hallway. Things had gotten really tense after barely managing to beat off Dita's advances yesterday. Apparently the naive red-haired girl was beginning to grow out of her childlike behavior and was now acting on her more... primal instincts. It had taken all of his willpower not to give in to his desires and tell Dita that he needed time to think.

The Tekkaman wondered just how much longer he could hold out against such temptation. It's not that he didn't want to, because in fact he had been constantly taking ice-cold showers that would have given anyone a terminal case of pneumonia. He REALLY wanted to do it. He wanted to do the wild thing with Jura nonstop. He wanted to constantly keep Meia in a state of ecstasy. He wanted to hear Dita scream with pleasure. He wanted to...

ARRRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHHH! I CAN'T DO IT! I WANT TO, BUT I CAN'T!

He took a few calming breaths and shook his head. In his heart, he knew why he was so reluctant. He couldn't risk breaking the hearts of the others if he were to choose any of the girls. And contrary to what Magno had told him before, he wasn't going to have numerous relationships, despite the captain's approval. He wanted to have a meaningful and intimate relationship with someone who loved him for who he was, and understood his feelings. The problem was, he could easily see himself having that kind of relationship with Jura, Meia, or Dita.

He tabled those thoughts for later as he was called to the Conference Room.

----------

At the Conference Room...

"As you know, we are now only five days away from Mejele's sector of space." Magno said as she gestured to a holographic star chart. "Before we try and make contact with the Mejele World Government, we will first be making a rendezvous with the other pirates that we had left behind during that raid on the Ikazuchi, one year ago."

Buzom nodded as she gestured to an area on the chart. "We will be arriving at the rendezvous point in three hours. Once we've filled them in on the Radam menace, we will then present our case to Lady Grand Ma."

The pirate captain nodded. "It has been some time since we've seen our comrades." She then glanced over to Slade, Bart and Duero, whom she had invited to the briefing. "I am taking a big risk in allowing you into our most secret place of operations. You three will be the first men to ever see our base."

Though giving no outward sign, BC tensed up a bit at the captain's statement.

Duero nodded as he held up a hand. "Rest assured Captain. I will not divulge any information to the Tarak military or government. I give you my word as this vessel's physician and as a friend."

Bart smiled as he nodded in agreement. "Yeah, same for me too."

As for Slade, he gave the old woman an expressionless gaze, then said, "I won't tell any one. SOME secrets should be kept secret."

Magno nodded as she caught the hidden meaning in his words. Though it pained her each time he addressed her like that, she still had to keep hoping that it would all work out.

It was at that moment that Duero decided to reveal some good news for a change. "Oh yes, I wanted to inform all of you that Gascogne is now well enough to resume her duties as Head Supplier."

"Really? She's finally awakened and recovered from her injuries?" BC inquired.

The Tarak doctor nodded. "As of yesterday, her vital signs were deemed as normal and she no longer needs to remain in the Cryo-Pod. All of her injuries have been healed and she is now in the final stages of physical rehabilitation. I am confident that she will regain full strength and health within 12 hours. Therefore I have certified her as fit for duty."

"That's great Doc." Slade said with a smile. He had missed his old poker buddy, despite the fact that she regularly trounced him at cards. Then he realized something. With Gasco coming back, that meant that Ukyo XVII would no longer be running the Register and would be back on the Warrior Squadron.

Slade sighed as he hoped that he could smooth things over with her before they reached the pirate base.

----------

Fortunately for Slade, someone else was going to play peacemaker.

In the Sick Bay, Gascogne growled as she lay on the bed. She had just recently been revived from the Cryo-Pod and was anxious to get back to work in the Register. However, after spending months in hibernation, her strength had not yet fully returned and her limbs were weak and stiff from lack of use. Duero had assured her that she would be back on her feet in a few hours, but until then, she had to allow her body readjust to being alive again.

At that moment, the Sick Bay doors opened and in stepped one of her favorite stage hands, Ukyo.

"Ucchan!" The muscular woman smiled as she greeted the brown-haired girl. "It's about time someone decided to visit this old gal. So how has things been going in the Register since I became a Popsicle? I hear you've been taking good care of the my girls since then."

The younger female blushed a bit at the praise. It was rare when Gascogne gave out any kind of compliments. "It's been pretty rough since I had to fill in your shoes. It's good to have you back Ms. Gasco."

Gascogne scowled slightly at the nickname. "Now what did I tell you before? It's GASCOGNE! The only person who's allowed to call me Gasco is D-Boy. By the way, how's things going with Slade? You two seemed to have been getting along before I took my long nap."

At that point, the descendant of the original Ucchan took on a hard expression. She was barely able to contain her rage over the source of her family's dishonor as she said, "Why would I want to associate with that dishonorable scumbag?"

This sudden reversal caught Gascogne completely by surprise...

----------

An hour later...

"You've not serious, are you?" Gascogne exclaimed. "THAT'S the reason why you hate D-Boy so much? And the reason why you hated men in general? Because of a cart that was stolen over five hundred and fifty years ago?" She had been brought up to speed over Slade's, or rather Ranma's past and how it had affected Ukyo the XVII's family throughout the generations.

"It was MORE than just a cart!" Ukyo insisted. "He dishonored my family when he took that okonomiyaki cart and left my ancestor behind! He PROMISED to take her with him! He PROMISED!"

"Whoa! Slow down!" The Head Supplier waved her hands. "Let me get this straight. You're saying that HE promised to take your ancestor with him when he took your family's cart? From what you told me, your ancestor and Slade were only six years old at the time. Why would a six-year-old make a promise like that?"

At this point, Ukyo bowed her head in embarrassment as she responded quietly, "Well, Slade was supposed... to..."

"Supposed to what?" Her superior pressed.

In the quietest voice she could manage, she whispered her reply. "He was... supposed to marry her."

"Huh? Marry? What's marry?" That term was totally unknown to the Mejele-born Head Supplier.

Ukyo swallowed hard as she tried to explain. "It's... heresy to even consider this on Mejele. The word 'marry'... means... like what we do on Mejele with ohmas and fahmas... but it's between a woman... and a man. The cart was supposed to have been my ancestor's dowry."

"Whoa." Gascogne left a bit dumbfounded. Sure she was aware that men and women used to live together, but for a Mejele woman to admit that the source of her centuries-long grudge was because her ancestor was cheated out of becoming the mate to a man was unbelievable.

Still, Ukyo's explanation of her hatred toward Slade didn't make any sense. Why would she be angry over something that had nothing to do with her? This happened centuries ago. Was she actually carrying an absurd grudge that had been passed down through sixteen generations?

"So now you know why I can't just forgive Slade for what he did to my family." Ukyo the Seventeenth finished.

"Yes, I know the reason WHY you're angry, but I can't AGREE with it." Gascogne said. "Ucchan, I can't believe that THIS is why you hate men and Slade, especially after all he's done for you and this ship. If it weren't for him, NONE of us, including yourself would be here today."

"He dishonored my family!" Ukyo protested. "He must pay for what he's done!"

"Pay for what he's done, or what you BELIEVE he's done?" Gascogne stressed. "Ukyo, what you're telling me is that you're hating D-Boy over something that happened centuries ago, and has been ingrained into you since you were born. And I don't believe that Slade would hurt anyone intentionally, or go back on any promise."

"How would you know? You weren't there!" Ukyo cried out.

"Neither were you." Her superior pointed out. "All you have is what your fahma has told you, which was told by her fahma and all those who came before her. I could understand Ukyo the First being mad over being deserted, but I can't see why you would be. And don't you think you should get Slade's side of the story before you pass judgment? He WAS there and he might be able to fill in the gaps."

"Maybe I can." A new voice said, drawing the attention of both women toward the door of the Sick Bay.

Leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, Slade nodded to them. He had just come to the Sick Bay to check on Gascogne and had listened in on Ukyo the XVII's story. It had brought back long-forgotten memories of his early childhood. He DID remember those happy times with the original Ukyo and how sad he had been when he was forced to leave her. He hadn't even realized that she had been a girl until after hearing her descendant's tale. Then certain aspects of those memories that had once been confusing to him were now finally clear.

His old friend's descendant snarled at him. "So you finally decided to admit to your crime and take your punishment?"

Slade shook his head as he unfolded his arms and took a neutral stance. "I didn't come here to atone for a crime I didn't commit."

"Liar! You STOLE my family's cart and broke your promise to my ancestor! You ruined my family's honor and reputation!"

Slade shook his head again. "Ukyo... I'm telling you the truth. I didn't make any promises to my old buddy Ucchan to take her with me on that training journey. In fact, I didn't even know that she was a girl."

This caught the current Ukyo off-guard, as well as shocking Gascogne. "What!"

The Tekkaman sighed and said, "Oh come on now. Do you really think a SIX-YEAR-OLD KID would know any better? Would he know about marriage and dowries? I do remember all those times with my old buddy Ucchan, but I never once remember her telling me that she wasn't a boy. She never wore any dresses and I never saw her naked. All I saw was somebody that I could play with. It was pretty lonely during that training journey and I had nothing but that idiot father of mine for company."

"That still doesn't change the fact that you STOLE my family's cart and left my ancestor on the side of the road!" Ukyo shot back. "You went back on your promise!"

Slade let off another sigh. "I'm telling you that I DID NOT make any promises to her when I left her. As for the cart, I do remember having it when Pops and I left, but I was told that it was a gift."

"You expect me to believe that!"

"It's what I remember. But, considering that my Pops was nothing but a lying idiot, and didn't make any sense at times."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I do remember him asking me one time if I liked Ukyo or okonomiyaki. I wasn't exactly sure why he was asking and he never told me the reason, so I just thought he meant food. So I said okonomiyaki. The very next day, he's running away with me and the cart and Ucchan was running after us."

"I think I'm starting to understand, D-Boy." Gascogne said as she started to hypothesize what may have occurred all those centuries ago. She then addressed Ukyo the XVII. "Ucchan, I believe Slade when he says that he never made any promises to your ancestor. I think that promise was made by his... what did you call him again, Slade?"

"My father. He'd be the ohma in this case. His name was Genma Saotome and he was a total moron." He let off a disgusted sigh as he remembered all the pain and suffering he had endured for ten years.

Gasco nodded. "Yes, well I think it was him, who made that promise and not you. After all, a six-year-old wouldn't even know about the concept of a dowry or marriage. It would make sense that the parent would arrange a marriage for his or her child, right?"

Slade nodded in agreement. "Come to think of it, Pops and Ucchan's dad used to talk a lot and it's possible that they could have made an agreement... oh no!" He snapped his fingers in realization. "NOW I GET IT! DAMN YOU POPS!"

"What are you talking about!" Ukyo demanded.

"NOW I know why he asked me if I liked Ukyo or okonomiyaki! That BASTARD! He wanted the cart but didn't want to keep his promise!"

The Head Supplier then filled in the last piece of the puzzle. "And when you said okonomiyaki, your thieving father took that as an excuse to take the cart. He just stole it, plain and simple.(2)" She then addressed Ukyo. "Slade wasn't the one who broke the vow to take your ancestor along, it was his father. He never informed Slade that he was offered the cart in exchange for a marriage between his child and her, and most likely would have put the blame on him."

"That sounds just about what Pops would do." Slade growled. "That idiot only thought about his stomach, and I usually ended up paying for all the crimes he committed!"

"It looks like Ukyo's family has been angry at the wrong person all this time."

"What!" Ukyo gasped.

Gascogne explained. "A six-year-old boy making a marriage arrangement for himself? I don't think so. However, a scheming parent who uses his own child as a bargaining chip, to steal from another family and not even telling his child about it, makes perfect sense. It explains why Slade can't remember the promise made to your family. He never made it and was never informed of it. And when he left without knowing that his father had committed a great wrong, I think that being abandoned would be traumatic to a young girl. And she was probably unaware that Slade didn't know about the promise either. So she blamed him for a crime that he didn't commit."

"I think you've got it, Ms. Gasco." Slade said as it all fit in with what he remembered.

"No! It can't be true!" Ukyo said while shaking her head in denial.

"It all fits." The Head Supplier said. "The anger that your family has had against Slade has been wrongly focused. He can't be held responsible for something that he neither knew about, nor agreed to. The true villain was his father, both for using his child's innocence and naiveté, and for stealing from your ancestor. This hatred that your family has maintained has been misguided and it's time that you finally let it go."

"No... it's not possible... I can't... believe..."

Ukyo sank to her knees as she went into a kind of zombie-like state. Her eyes became watery as the truth began to sink in. Everything that she had been taught to hate about Ranma Saotome since her birth had been for naught. Then, after a long while, she held up her hands to her face and started to weep with the realization that she had been hating him for no reason.

Slade knelt down beside her and gave her a shoulder to cry. He said nothing as he allowed Ukyo to let it all out. He got a nod of approval from Gascogne.

Finally, between sobs and sniffles, Ucchan spoke.

"I'm... sorry Slade."

------------

Two hours later...

On the bridge, Magno nodded to her crew as the ship reached the rendezvous point where it would meet up with the other pirates. Standing beside the aged captain, Slade, Duero, BC, Meia, Dita and Jura waited as Amarone continued to send out messages on all frequencies. A few minutes later, an encoded transmission was received.

The pirates had arrived.

The Nirvana came to a full stop as a dozen or so Dread fighters came into view. They were not part of Magno's squadrons, but rather a patrol fleet from the pirates' hidden base. It was then that a section of space shimmered and glowed. Miraculously, a huge asteroid appeared from out of nowhere.

On the main screen of the Nirvana's bridge, an attractive female with silver hair was displayed. She smiled as she greeted the crew.

"Greetings Captain Magno. It's been a while. We all thought that you and the others were lost during that raid a year ago. Everyone's glad to see that you had survived."

Magno nodded to her. "Hello Rebecca. It has been a long time, and there have been a lot of changes since that time."

"Yes, I can see that." The Dread pilot concurred as she looked at the transformed Ikazuchi. Then she noticed the men on the bridge. "Captain, may I ask why there are men on board your vessel? Are they prisoners?"

"No they are most certainly not." The hundred-plus woman replied. "In fact, without them, we wouldn't have been able to make it back. They are an integral part of my crew and they will be treated as such. We'll fill you in on the details once all of the other captains are assembled in the Great Hall. For now, my crew needs to disembark and get in some R & R."

"Roger that, Captain Vivian Magno. Allow us to escort you ship... uhm...?"

"My vessel's name is the Nirvana."

"Then allow my squadron to escort the Nirvana to Heaven's Haven."

"Heaven's Haven?" Duero asked.

Magno nodded. "Yes. That is the name of our base. We consider it to be our haven from the so-called paradise that was supposed to be Mejele. I trust that you remember the reason why we became pirates."

The physician nodded as he recalled the story that Gascogne had told him early on in the voyage. As he looked at the enormous asteroid that was before them, he understood the reason why the Tarak military could never find it. Not only was it hidden from sight with some kind of cloaking technology, but it was also outfitted with huge engines in the rear, meaning that it was mobile. It was never in the same place twice.

The Nivana was guided into the docking bay of the base.

---------

A few hours later...

Just about all of Magno's crew were overjoyed over the fact that they were finally able to leave the ship and reunite with their lost comrades and families. After spending a year out in uncharted space, the women of the Nirvana quickly took advantage of their furlough.

As for the rest of the pirates, they were glad to see their long-lost compatriots again, but the presence of men in their midst was a bit unsettling. However, the oddest things about Magno's crew were the changes in certain individuals due to their prolonged contact with the males.

Rebecca had a chance to finally see the child that Ezra had given birth to. As a new ohma, she was overjoyed to see little Nodoka, but she was more than irritated when Pyoro kept insisting that the child belonged to it and her name was Pyoro 2. However, the greatest surprise was when she was informed that her child had been given her name by a man.

And there were other instances in which the men had left an indelible mark on the lives of the crew...

----------

The Sick Bay of Heaven's Haven...

"No! No! No! What are you doing!" Paiway exclaimed as she chided a trainee nurse who was tending to a patient's burn.

"What are you talking about?" The trainee asked as she was about to bind the wound.

Paiway shook her head. "You don't just wrap up a burn like that without first administering a cellular disinfectant and bio-regenerator! You want her to have scars? And you're tying it all wrong! This is how you do it!" She quickly undid the wrap, applied the correct amount of medication, then expertly bound the arm of the patient. She then addressed the patient. "Keep that bandage on for 24 hours, and don't scratch!"

Paiway then moved over to another station and started lecturing another novice. "Why aren't you manually counting the beats?"

"Huh?" The novice said in confusion. "The Pulse Meter can do that..."

Paiway threw her hands up. "You forget how to count? What's going to happen if we have a power failure or a glitch in the system? Taking a person's vital signs is VERY important and you don't have to waste power to do it!" She demonstrated by taking a thermometer out of one of her lab coat's pocket and stuck it under the tongue of the patient. She then took out a stethoscope and placed the probe on the patient's chest. She held up one hand of the patient and placed her index and middle fingers on the wrist. Fifteen seconds later, she wrote down the results on a pad. She showed it to the trainee, then rushed off to another station.

The trainee looked down at the figures, then looked at the screen of the Pulse Meter, which was just coming up with the results. Her eyes widened as the numbers on the screen matched exactly to what Paiway had written down.

High above in the observation deck, the Head Medical Officer watched in amazement as one girl tended to at least fifteen patients almost simultaneously. She turned to her subordinate and asked, "Who is she?"

The subordinate nodded as she read from a data pad. "According to our records, she's Paiway Underberg, age 13. She was the medical officer for Vivian Magno's crew during their disappearance. Though I am wondering just where she gained this kind of expertise. She has already correctly diagnosed several ailments and demonstrated proper procedures, all without using any of the standard equipment. In fact, she is showing skills that aren't regularly taught to first-year trainees on Mejele."

"Explain."

"Well, before she and the others disappeared, she was ranked as a Class D medic. She could barely dress wounds and administer basic medications, let alone use some of the more advanced machines. Now she is showing intricate knowledge of anatomy, chemistry, first-aid, preliminary diagnosis..."

SNAP! CRACKLE! POP!

Both women looked down when they heard the sounds of someone's spine being straightened. A patient was in a state of absolute relief as she was thanking Paiway for getting the kink out of her back.

"And apparently, she is also an expert in physical therapy and chiropractics." The subordinate continued. "And according to the report on her, she also possesses considerable experience in advanced surgery."

The Head Medical Officer stared in disbelief. She gulped and said, "And she learned all that in just one year? Who taught her all these skills? I don't think even the best medics on Mejele could perform as well as she is doing. Look at her! She's tending to those patients like a pro and she's barely even using the machines."

The subordinate then looked down at the rest of the report and her eyes widened in shock. "No... there must be a mistake!"

"What do you mean?"

"According to this report, she was the apprentice to the Chief Medical Officer of the Nirvana."

"I thought Paiway 'was' Vivian Magno's Chief Medical Officer."

"She was before the raid on the Ikazuchi. Afterwards, the crew had appointed a new Ship's Physician and Surgeon, which put Paiway under his command."

"HIS command!" Her superior stressed.

The subordinate nodded, while still in a state of disbelief. "The Nirvana's doctor had come from Tarak. His name is... Duero McFile..."

"YOU DON'T JUST SEND A PERSON TO THE JACUZZI WHENEVER YOU FEEL LIKE IT!" Paiway shouted.

----------

Elsewhere on the base, Duero was feeling somewhat uncomfortable at all the stares he was getting. Since he and the rest of the crew were given some leave time until Magno completed her business with the other pirate leaders, he had decided to explore Heaven's Haven. To his surprise, the pirate base was more like an urban city, rather than a hideout and headquarters. There were streets, shops, restaurants, parks and recreational centers. It even had an artificial sky, thanks to specialized holographic systems. It was if the pirates had taken a chunk of Mejele and transplanted it within the confines of the asteroid. They may have left the political beliefs and vanity of their home world, but they had not abandoned the comforts that it had afforded.

Despite being among the wonders that were far different from his world of Tarak, Duero found it hard to enjoy himself right now. Granted he was the only male in the crowds of women, but even so, the looks he was getting was making him nervous. Especially when he had one girl hanging on each arm and neither one was making the slightest effort at being inconspicuous. In fact, Barnette and Parfet were in a bit of tug-of-war with him as the rope!

As soon as they found out that the doctor was going to look around the base, Parfet and Barnette immediately elected themselves to be his tour guide. However, each had different ideas as to where to lead the good doctor, and would rather prefer that the other would just get lost.

"I want to show him the Engineering Section!" Parfet cried out.

"He doesn't want to see some boring reactor!" Barnette shot back. "C'mon Razor! I know of some really fun places!"

"Like what? You'd probably drag him all over the gun shops and shooting galleries!" She then looked up at Duero and gave him a pleading look. "If you don't want to see the Engineering Section, then we can go somewhere else. Are you hungry? I know of this great restaurant!"

"Oh no! We're not taking him to some greasy spoon!"

Duero then tried to get a word in. "Uhm... I am unfamiliar with the term greasy sp..."

Barnette then tugged at his arm. "I have some living quarters here at Heaven's Haven. Let's go there, and I'll cook you a meal that'll put any restaurant and café to shame!"

As the two continued to argue, the crowds began to gather around them and Duero. Some were curious since this was the first time they had ever seen a man before, but most were just puzzled over the spectacle of two women competing for the attentions of one man.

----------

In another part of Heaven's Haven, Slade was finally loosening up and having some fun, especially after the emotional roller coaster he had been riding for the last few days. He was given a chance to forget his problems for a while as he had been lead to one of the more popular dance clubs. Along with him was Jura, Meia and Dita. Of course, being one of the few males in the city gave him more than his fair share of spectators, he gave everyone a good-hearted smile and showed them how to enjoy oneself.

To the amazement of all those who were watching, Slade showed exceptional grace and coordination as he moved to the beat of the music. He showed off some moves that he had learned during his planet-hopping days, including long-forgotten steps like the Twist, the Moonwalk, the Bump, and some moves from a certain fellow named Elvis Presley.

His dance partners and fellow Tekkamen were the only ones who could keep up with him, due to their enhanced endurance. Even the normally reserved Meia found herself letting go of her inhibitions and just feel the groove. She was already shocking many who knew her by going into public in a dress. And it was all because of a certain someone had managed to work his way into her heart.

Jura swayed and jiggled all over the place as she gyrated in time with Slade and the music. She was glad to see the future ohma to her children finally showing a more fun side. Maybe now he'd consent to giving her what she desired the most, and it wasn't just his seed she was after any more.

Dita smiled as she watched Mr. Alien... no, Slade enjoy himself. It made her so happy to see him smile. He had been so moody and emotionally drained lately. And now with their journey nearly at an end, maybe he would consider becoming part of the crew. It was her dearest wish that she could be with him, always.

----------

Unfortunately, the time for rest and relaxation would soon end as Magno finished with her conference with the other pirate leaders. And the news had not been good.

Mejele had been lost.

Author's Notes

Wow! That was a LONG one! In any case, in part 2, an old enemy appears as this story begins to reach its climax. We'll get to see what has happened as the women of Mejele are forced to live and work with the men of Tarak. Be there for Chapter 11 part 2, Family Reunions.

(1) Yeah, I know that Dita can be a bit of an airhead. However, she's got some good points and just remember that she's got to compete with Meia and Jura for Slade's affections, despite the fact that they're both her closest friends.

(2) I've always wondered why Ranma was always blamed for his response for choosing okonomiyaki over Ukyo. Genma never told Ranma of the engagement he was offered with the cart as a dowry. In the Ranma ½ series, Genma placed the blame on Ranma, because of his response, but in actuality, he was the one at fault by NOT telling Ranma of promise, nor telling him WHY he wanted to know which Ranma liked better. I have a feeling that he didn't tell his son on purpose, so that he could use his son's response as an excuse to steal the cart and not even bothering to think of the consequences. Furthermore, I think that Ukyo harbored a hatred against Ranma, due to the fact that he was actually unaware of all of this. Overall, this cart episode WASN'T his fault, but rather the unfortunate result of his father's manipulations.