Tenchi Muyo/ Highlander Crossover
This is a Tenchi Muyo/ Highlander Crossover. This based off the OAV continuity for Tenchi Muyo. For Highlander, I am basing this of the first movie and the show. The Quickenings will be the more spectacular kind from the movies. I am regarding the first movie as Conner not gaining the Prize, and will be tweaking the mythology just a bit so don't get angry. I don't own any of the characters except the ones I create. This is just for fun. Tenchi Muyo belongs to AIC and Pioneer. Highlander belongs to Rysher Entertainment.
Legend -- 'thinking', [telepathic], "speaking"
~~~Immortal Among Us~~~
Chapter 4: Identities - Part 1
"This is First Class Detective Mihoshi of the Galaxy Police. You are ordered to surrender or be destroyed.", Mihoshi voice came strong and clear across the speakers.
The first officer of the pirate vessel, Avria, said, "It's Mihoshi." All the pirates became fearful. They knew of her reputation as an excellent investigator, ace shot, and totally fearless. She was one of the most feared Galaxy Police officers anywhere.
The captain pondered for a moment then said, "We'll pretend to surrender, and when she boards, we'll kill her and her partner. We'll be famous as the ones who killed the up and coming star of the Galaxy Police."
The crew liked that even though most of them had doubts that this plan would work. They responded with loud, "Yeah, lets do it."
"Tell them we surrender." The captain said with a calculating look in his eyes.
"Your surrender is accepted. Prepare to be boarded." Mihoshi's response came back.
The Yukinojo was directly behind the Avria. All the guns were trained on the Avria and ready to fire should anything funny happen. Mihoshi and her current partner, Aqetiqe (Aketike), boarded a small heavily shielded transport. Aqetiqe was slightly taller than Mihoshi and had an athletic build, although a little on the slim side. With shoulder length brown hair, silver eyes and a easy grin, he was quite good looking. Mihoshi skillfully piloted it out of the Yukinojo and over to the Avria.
"Docking procedures complete", Yukinojo's voice said.
The main hatch opened up.
Immediately Mihoshi sensed trouble. No one was there to greet them. The lights were dimmed. And it was very quiet. These weren't big time pirates. In fact, they had only been going through the neighboring star systems. Mihoshi was just passing through on to another assignment and was lending her aid to stop them.
'So they want to make this hard. Fine. We'll do it their way.' Mihoshi thought. She pulled out a GXP Assault Blaster. Twin barrels, 80 blasts a second from each barrel, and a projectile launcher, which at the moment was loaded with micro-rockets. It had twin triggers for the first and second fingers, one for the blaster and one for the micro-rockets. Her backpack was loaded with grenades, more rounds, energy clips, energy ties, and a first aid kit. She put on her body armor. Aqetiqe was similarly prepared. She signaled, "Let's go".
She walked out into the corridor followed by Aqetiqe. She scanned left, right, up, and down then ventured out into the corridor. They continued to look around the corridor, but no sign of the pirates. Their scanners indicated lifeforms ahead. Cautiously, one after another with their guns ready, they walked down the corridor. Soon the scanners indicated that they were very close to the lifeforms.
The door they faced looked very strong. It was a warehouse door built to withstand a lot of punishment. Mihoshi looked at her scanner again. It still indicated that the pirates were behind the door. 'All right.' She set up the grenades around the door. They both walked about thirty feet away. Mihoshi pushed the button on the remote detonator. Immediately there was a large explosion. Smoke filled the corridors and pieces of metal littered the ground. Their helmets filtered out the smoke and allowed them to see in infrared.
They walked over to where the door was. It was gone. They cautiously entered the large room. Blasters swung up and down and around looking for any targets. Then she saw him just standing there about fifty feet away. He was probably the captain. She trained her blaster on to him.
"You surrendered so come quietly or I will have to add resisting arrest as well to your charges." Mihoshi commanded.
"I don't think so because you are going to die in a moment. But first give me the command codes to your ship. It is far better that this one." The captain said even as he motioned to his men. Suddenly out of the floor, heavily armed men started pouring out.
Mihoshi and Aqetiqe started to retreat, but saw that men were already there. They stood back to back. Mihoshi smiled, a knowing smile.
"Last chance before I really get angry, put your weapons down and come quietly."
"I will be famous in all criminal minds as the one who took you out…Fire!"
Mihoshi instantly extender her hand and small white oval shots came out freezing the men in front and incasing them in ice. Together, she and Aqetiqe jumped over the frozen men. All in less time then the captain thought possible. The pirates had just started to fire when she had finished and they had jumped behind the frozen man.
Mihoshi continued to fire ice shots. The warehouse floor looked like an ice sculpture convention. Lucky for the pirates, someone got a lucky shot and shot her in the arm. The ice shooter was disabled, but the wound was gone in a few moments. She slung the blaster back into position and opened blistering fire on the remaining pirates. They started dropping like flies. They would run behind cargo, but a few micro-rockets would destroy any cargo they were behind.
Between the two of them, the pirates couldn't withstand their firepower and truly surrendered. Aqetiqe rounded up all the survivors and place energy ties on their arms. The energy ties numb the body in general and the arms especially making prisoners very easy to handle. Mihoshi went back to the transport and got an AG (anti-grav) transport. She loaded the frozen men on to it and delivered them back to the transport. Soon the crew was all rounded up. As the captain was lead by, Mihoshi pulled him aside.
"You realize that leading an ambush and assault on GP officers after a surrender could be the death penalty. For your sake, don't try anything else, and I will ensure that you won't get the death penalty. Can you say it was worth it? Look at all your fallen comrades some probably your friends. Go on." These fools always saddened her. These fools who would waste the lives under their command. Obviously, they did not know the extent of GP officers training or that they usually have access to heavy weaponry and armor. These pirates had advanced blasters, but still quite inferior to GP weapons. Did they really think they had a chance? My ship would have blown them away had tried to take it over or escape. 'Idiots'.
The pirates were all secured in the brig and their ship was brought into tow.
"Yukinojo plot course to GP outpost 9324." Mihoshi said.
"Course plotted." Came the computer's response.
Mihoshi activated the hyperspace engines and they were underway. Mihoshi sat back in her chair relieved to be done with that. Reconsidering the recent events, she should have made them all get in the transport themselves, and had it autopiloted back to the landing bay. It would have saved a lot of grief on both parts. However, then they might bring weapons and explosives with them and take over the ship. Which is why GP protocol says a GP officer must secure the ship and criminals.
"Aqetiqe, do you think we could have done better?"
Aqetiqe smiled to himself. "You always ask this question whenever someone dies. And what do I always say."
Mihoshi smiled and sighed. " "Perhaps." Can't you ever give me a definite answer?"
He laughed. "Sure if I was psychic, I could."
Mihoshi smiled again. They were good friends. They could talk about anything. More than once she thought she might tell him about her immortality, but held back for some reason or another. She didn't like him worrying so much when she took on a risk that she could survive, but he couldn't most likely. Although they had been partners for over two years, she wasn't entirely sure how he would react to her 'gift' and she didn't want to risk the friendship. The truth was that she liked him, maybe loved him and the fact that Immortals can't have children is what stopped her from telling. She loved to hear his stories about his youth with his several brothers and sisters. She knew that he wanted to marry and have a big family. This troubled her, but what could she do? She definitely liked him, but knew a relationship was practically impossible without some type of change.
"Hello, hello, HQ to Mihoshi." Aqetiqe said while waving his hand.
"Oh sorry. What were you saying?" Mihoshi said. She tilted her head forward and toward him slightly.
"Daydreaming Mihoshi? What would HQ say if they knew that one of their finest, up and coming officers daydreamed on the job? Tsk, tsk is what they'd say. How can this be?" He teased with a semi-straight face.
She narrowed her eyes at him and with a wry smile pulled out her control cube and twisted a few times. A water balloon suddenly fell out of a subspace pocket above him. He quickly turned his cube several times and averted having to change his clothes.
She wasn't done yet not even close. Thus began a little control cube war. She would sometimes have advantage and things would be dropping out over his head. Water balloons, shaving cream, eggs, slime, and all sorts of fun messy stuff. However, he would sometimes have advantage and things would be dropping out over her head. While they had lots of fun, it also trained their reflexes and their use of the control cubes. It ended when she lost and a few eggs broke over her head.
He tried not to laugh. "It…ahh…blends with your hair." He said with a small snicker. She took one of the eggs and threw it at his face.
"Now who has egg on their face."
"Ha, ha." He used his control cube and got a cloth. He wiped his face off and threw the cloth into a subspace pocket.
She went off to her quarters to rinse her hair. On the way, she kept thinking about her relationship with him. She liked him, but didn't know exactly what to do. She was Immortal, destined to live forever unless she was beheaded. She was fairly certain he was a latent Immortal, but his species made it difficult to be sure.. She knew that in this job, it was only a matter of time before he ended up getting killed and possibly becoming an Immortal. She wondered for a moment if she should just kill him and make him Immortal. They would then have more in common. 'No, that would be very wrong. How could I even consider it?' She berated herself.
She finished rinsing her hair and went back to command. They continued talking on various subjects as they proceeded to the GP Outpost. They soon arrived and deposited the prisoners and ship. Then they were on their way to the real assignment, the capture of an infamous space pirate, Karprah.
The plan was to infiltrate into the seedy underground of the planet Cartlishin, a known pirate's hangout. There they would spread a rumor of a mysterious artifact that could control the minds of others. Karprah was a collector of rare artifacts. When he came for it, as they were sure he would, they would capture him.
They continued to the GP Tech Base 132 in the Onrianan system. The ship was retrofitted to look like and be scanned as an old cargo ship. Scan-shielded weapons lockers were installed and the ships weapons were modified to give off a much older design when scanned. Surgery was done on both Mihoshi and Aqetiqe to make them appear Cartlisin.
The mission was extremely dangerous. Karprah was known as cruel and calculating man. If he sensed a trap or even if he didn't like them, they would both die rather painfully. Mihoshi wasn't afraid of failure or being killed, however, some of the things she had heard about him made her wonder if he could be an Immortal. If so, then her Immortality would give them away as no known Cartlisin was Immortal. In addition, Aqetiqe would be easy pickings as a new Immortal. She had tried to get him to learn some basic sword techniques, but he laughed and said no sword can stop a blaster and he was an ace shot.
It was going to take several days to finish refitting. This also gave time for the surgery to heal up and for the patients to get used to their new looks. Mihoshi and Aqetiqe spent the extra time checking out the GP Base and the nearby planet. After all, they knew the mission profile backwards and forwards not to mention Mihoshi had drafted it.
They saw the springs of Onriavia, the Ec'ratiaac caves, swam with some ovry, a shark-like animal, but of a much friendlier disposition, and did a hundred other things. They were having a great time together. Mihoshi couldn't help herself. She was definitely in love, yet she was unsure of his feelings toward her, friend or more.
They were having dinner at a nice restaurant on the final night of their stay here. The ship's retrofitting was completed and final preparations were being completed tomorrow. The mission would officially commence on the day after tomorrow. Radio silence would be maintained until they had captured and escaped with him or they had failed. The latter less likely, because they would probably be dead.
"Well this is it. Tomorrow we begin." Aqetiqe said.
"Indeed it is, but lets just enjoy the moment here and not concentrate on the mission, ok?" Mihoshi asked a little pleadingly.
"Yeah, sure."
They sat for a few moments not saying anything.
"So how is you dinner?" Aqetiqe asked.
"It's good, but these lips are making it difficult to get the food in." Mihoshi said with a smile.
"You can say that again. I can barely taste my food although from what I have heard of Cartlisin food that's a good thing." Aqetiqe said laughingly.
Mihoshi responded with a laugh. "Oh yeah. Have you ever tasted food from a GrenVenRen diner? I was protecting a diplomat and after duty, me and some other officers went to one. We ordered several things on the menu and no matter what they served. It was some type of goo. Nasty doesn't begin to describe it. However, the Garvi seemed to like it well enough."
They continued to trade stories for over an hour. Although neither said anything yet, they both could feel some sort of tension. Dinner was soon finished and they left to go get some dessert. They soon arrived at bakery. Aqetiqe ordered a donut-like pastry and Mihoshi ordered a sticky roll thing. They both ate in silence. It was Mihoshi who spoke first.
"You know this is such a dangerous mission and well…"
"Yes, it will be a dangerous mission, but we have gotten through many dangerous missions. Although, I have often wondered how." Aqetiqe said with a gung-ho attitude and a confident smile.
"What I am trying to say is…be careful." But her mind was saying. 'No, you want to say "I love you".'
"Of course I will be careful. You need to be careful. You are the one always taking extreme risks, yet you manage to survive. It pains me each time you do that." He said seriously with a grimace.
"What?" She asked in a surprised manner. Her hand stopping halfway to her mouth.
"Well, I don't want to see anything happen to you. You are a great friend, perhaps my best friend." He answered with a slight waver.
"You know there is one thing you have never told me. Do you have someone waiting for you at your home?" She asked uncertainly. Her hands clenched her pants.
Aqetiqe took a long time to answer the question. When he did, it was with sadness and something else, perhaps hope. He looked into the distance. "There was someone I cared about back there."
Mihoshi's eyes lowered and her hopes fell.
"We had been seeing each other for about eight months. Then I got this assignment and I didn't know how long I was going to be gone. She waited for several months, but finally told me that she and I could not continue together. Each time I wrote, I left out the really dangerous parts, but somehow she knew. She couldn't take the thought of me dying on some distant world, never to return. It was good that we broke it off when we did because I was beginning to suspect I might have feelings for someone else." Aqetiqe looked at her. "Yes, it is you. I love you, but I have been more than a little afraid of putting my love in someone who defies death constantly. Yet, my feelings are there as strong as ever. I can not deny them any longer."
"I love you too. I was unsure how you felt, and if it could even be. I am ready to tell you something that should take away your fear." She said with tears in her eyes. "This will be hard to believe, but you have no doubt heard of the rumours of Immortals."
"Yes. Wait, are you saying you are Immortal?" He asked doubtfully. He reactively leaned back a little.
"Yes. I am Immortal. I cannot die unless someone chops off my head. You don't need to worry anymore. Those risks that I take won't kill me."
"I don't know what to say. You have never lied to me so I know this isn't a joke, but it is too fantastic to believe. Why are you immortal?"
"I don't know, but I am. There is big downside to this Immortality." She sighed. "I can't have children, ever."
"Never?"
"Never." Mihoshi said with great sadness.
"I see." Aqetiqe said sadly and thoughtfully. He brightened in a moment. "Well, then we can always adopt."
"You mean it. You mean that you still want to date me. Even though it means never, ever having your own children." Mihoshi said disbelievingly, yet hopefully.
"You haven't lied to me ever and I have never lied to you. Why would I start now? Yes, I will date you knowing that. I will even marry you knowing that. I love you." Aqetiqe said with a shake of his head.
"You know why wait. We love each other, right? We have for some time. We know all about each other. We are best friends. Lets do it before the mission." Mihoshi said rapidly and happily.
"Whoa Mihoshi. Lets back the starship up a few. What about your family? What about my family? What about the cake? It just isn't done this way." Aqetiqe said while waving his hands up and down.
Mihoshi directed a concentrated gaze at him. "We are going on a mission tomorrow which we may not come out of. The man I love is coming with me. This could be a long mission. Not only do I want to be married to the man I love as I hope he does, but I don't know if I could live in the same hotel with connecting rooms for a long time with the man I love without doing something I would regret later."
"Hmm. I do see your point and I am a man of honor no matter what my sisters say." He smiled. "All right, but I think we should have a ceremony WHEN we get back for our family sakes."
"Of course, I wouldn't have it any other way." She said as visions of her in a magnificent white gown floated through her head.
So in a small room near the Official Records department, Aqetiqe on Deairtre and Mihoshi Kurumitsu were joined in the covenant of marriage by the station commander. They used some chameleon paint to change their appearance temporarily back to their original appearance so the photos will look normal and so for the wedding night, they will look normal. They got a nice suite in a five star hotel. They made sure to leave the "Do Not Disturb" sign posted on the outside.
Tonight, they thought only of each other. Not about the tomorrow. Not about the mission. Not about victory or failure. Not about the future. Not about the past. Only about now.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Author's Note
So what do you think? Getting better? Please email me any comments (no flames) @ dcforever001@hotmail.com
This is a Tenchi Muyo/ Highlander Crossover. This based off the OAV continuity for Tenchi Muyo. For Highlander, I am basing this of the first movie and the show. The Quickenings will be the more spectacular kind from the movies. I am regarding the first movie as Conner not gaining the Prize, and will be tweaking the mythology just a bit so don't get angry. I don't own any of the characters except the ones I create. This is just for fun. Tenchi Muyo belongs to AIC and Pioneer. Highlander belongs to Rysher Entertainment.
Legend -- 'thinking', [telepathic], "speaking"
~~~Immortal Among Us~~~
Chapter 4: Identities - Part 1
"This is First Class Detective Mihoshi of the Galaxy Police. You are ordered to surrender or be destroyed.", Mihoshi voice came strong and clear across the speakers.
The first officer of the pirate vessel, Avria, said, "It's Mihoshi." All the pirates became fearful. They knew of her reputation as an excellent investigator, ace shot, and totally fearless. She was one of the most feared Galaxy Police officers anywhere.
The captain pondered for a moment then said, "We'll pretend to surrender, and when she boards, we'll kill her and her partner. We'll be famous as the ones who killed the up and coming star of the Galaxy Police."
The crew liked that even though most of them had doubts that this plan would work. They responded with loud, "Yeah, lets do it."
"Tell them we surrender." The captain said with a calculating look in his eyes.
"Your surrender is accepted. Prepare to be boarded." Mihoshi's response came back.
The Yukinojo was directly behind the Avria. All the guns were trained on the Avria and ready to fire should anything funny happen. Mihoshi and her current partner, Aqetiqe (Aketike), boarded a small heavily shielded transport. Aqetiqe was slightly taller than Mihoshi and had an athletic build, although a little on the slim side. With shoulder length brown hair, silver eyes and a easy grin, he was quite good looking. Mihoshi skillfully piloted it out of the Yukinojo and over to the Avria.
"Docking procedures complete", Yukinojo's voice said.
The main hatch opened up.
Immediately Mihoshi sensed trouble. No one was there to greet them. The lights were dimmed. And it was very quiet. These weren't big time pirates. In fact, they had only been going through the neighboring star systems. Mihoshi was just passing through on to another assignment and was lending her aid to stop them.
'So they want to make this hard. Fine. We'll do it their way.' Mihoshi thought. She pulled out a GXP Assault Blaster. Twin barrels, 80 blasts a second from each barrel, and a projectile launcher, which at the moment was loaded with micro-rockets. It had twin triggers for the first and second fingers, one for the blaster and one for the micro-rockets. Her backpack was loaded with grenades, more rounds, energy clips, energy ties, and a first aid kit. She put on her body armor. Aqetiqe was similarly prepared. She signaled, "Let's go".
She walked out into the corridor followed by Aqetiqe. She scanned left, right, up, and down then ventured out into the corridor. They continued to look around the corridor, but no sign of the pirates. Their scanners indicated lifeforms ahead. Cautiously, one after another with their guns ready, they walked down the corridor. Soon the scanners indicated that they were very close to the lifeforms.
The door they faced looked very strong. It was a warehouse door built to withstand a lot of punishment. Mihoshi looked at her scanner again. It still indicated that the pirates were behind the door. 'All right.' She set up the grenades around the door. They both walked about thirty feet away. Mihoshi pushed the button on the remote detonator. Immediately there was a large explosion. Smoke filled the corridors and pieces of metal littered the ground. Their helmets filtered out the smoke and allowed them to see in infrared.
They walked over to where the door was. It was gone. They cautiously entered the large room. Blasters swung up and down and around looking for any targets. Then she saw him just standing there about fifty feet away. He was probably the captain. She trained her blaster on to him.
"You surrendered so come quietly or I will have to add resisting arrest as well to your charges." Mihoshi commanded.
"I don't think so because you are going to die in a moment. But first give me the command codes to your ship. It is far better that this one." The captain said even as he motioned to his men. Suddenly out of the floor, heavily armed men started pouring out.
Mihoshi and Aqetiqe started to retreat, but saw that men were already there. They stood back to back. Mihoshi smiled, a knowing smile.
"Last chance before I really get angry, put your weapons down and come quietly."
"I will be famous in all criminal minds as the one who took you out…Fire!"
Mihoshi instantly extender her hand and small white oval shots came out freezing the men in front and incasing them in ice. Together, she and Aqetiqe jumped over the frozen men. All in less time then the captain thought possible. The pirates had just started to fire when she had finished and they had jumped behind the frozen man.
Mihoshi continued to fire ice shots. The warehouse floor looked like an ice sculpture convention. Lucky for the pirates, someone got a lucky shot and shot her in the arm. The ice shooter was disabled, but the wound was gone in a few moments. She slung the blaster back into position and opened blistering fire on the remaining pirates. They started dropping like flies. They would run behind cargo, but a few micro-rockets would destroy any cargo they were behind.
Between the two of them, the pirates couldn't withstand their firepower and truly surrendered. Aqetiqe rounded up all the survivors and place energy ties on their arms. The energy ties numb the body in general and the arms especially making prisoners very easy to handle. Mihoshi went back to the transport and got an AG (anti-grav) transport. She loaded the frozen men on to it and delivered them back to the transport. Soon the crew was all rounded up. As the captain was lead by, Mihoshi pulled him aside.
"You realize that leading an ambush and assault on GP officers after a surrender could be the death penalty. For your sake, don't try anything else, and I will ensure that you won't get the death penalty. Can you say it was worth it? Look at all your fallen comrades some probably your friends. Go on." These fools always saddened her. These fools who would waste the lives under their command. Obviously, they did not know the extent of GP officers training or that they usually have access to heavy weaponry and armor. These pirates had advanced blasters, but still quite inferior to GP weapons. Did they really think they had a chance? My ship would have blown them away had tried to take it over or escape. 'Idiots'.
The pirates were all secured in the brig and their ship was brought into tow.
"Yukinojo plot course to GP outpost 9324." Mihoshi said.
"Course plotted." Came the computer's response.
Mihoshi activated the hyperspace engines and they were underway. Mihoshi sat back in her chair relieved to be done with that. Reconsidering the recent events, she should have made them all get in the transport themselves, and had it autopiloted back to the landing bay. It would have saved a lot of grief on both parts. However, then they might bring weapons and explosives with them and take over the ship. Which is why GP protocol says a GP officer must secure the ship and criminals.
"Aqetiqe, do you think we could have done better?"
Aqetiqe smiled to himself. "You always ask this question whenever someone dies. And what do I always say."
Mihoshi smiled and sighed. " "Perhaps." Can't you ever give me a definite answer?"
He laughed. "Sure if I was psychic, I could."
Mihoshi smiled again. They were good friends. They could talk about anything. More than once she thought she might tell him about her immortality, but held back for some reason or another. She didn't like him worrying so much when she took on a risk that she could survive, but he couldn't most likely. Although they had been partners for over two years, she wasn't entirely sure how he would react to her 'gift' and she didn't want to risk the friendship. The truth was that she liked him, maybe loved him and the fact that Immortals can't have children is what stopped her from telling. She loved to hear his stories about his youth with his several brothers and sisters. She knew that he wanted to marry and have a big family. This troubled her, but what could she do? She definitely liked him, but knew a relationship was practically impossible without some type of change.
"Hello, hello, HQ to Mihoshi." Aqetiqe said while waving his hand.
"Oh sorry. What were you saying?" Mihoshi said. She tilted her head forward and toward him slightly.
"Daydreaming Mihoshi? What would HQ say if they knew that one of their finest, up and coming officers daydreamed on the job? Tsk, tsk is what they'd say. How can this be?" He teased with a semi-straight face.
She narrowed her eyes at him and with a wry smile pulled out her control cube and twisted a few times. A water balloon suddenly fell out of a subspace pocket above him. He quickly turned his cube several times and averted having to change his clothes.
She wasn't done yet not even close. Thus began a little control cube war. She would sometimes have advantage and things would be dropping out over his head. Water balloons, shaving cream, eggs, slime, and all sorts of fun messy stuff. However, he would sometimes have advantage and things would be dropping out over her head. While they had lots of fun, it also trained their reflexes and their use of the control cubes. It ended when she lost and a few eggs broke over her head.
He tried not to laugh. "It…ahh…blends with your hair." He said with a small snicker. She took one of the eggs and threw it at his face.
"Now who has egg on their face."
"Ha, ha." He used his control cube and got a cloth. He wiped his face off and threw the cloth into a subspace pocket.
She went off to her quarters to rinse her hair. On the way, she kept thinking about her relationship with him. She liked him, but didn't know exactly what to do. She was Immortal, destined to live forever unless she was beheaded. She was fairly certain he was a latent Immortal, but his species made it difficult to be sure.. She knew that in this job, it was only a matter of time before he ended up getting killed and possibly becoming an Immortal. She wondered for a moment if she should just kill him and make him Immortal. They would then have more in common. 'No, that would be very wrong. How could I even consider it?' She berated herself.
She finished rinsing her hair and went back to command. They continued talking on various subjects as they proceeded to the GP Outpost. They soon arrived and deposited the prisoners and ship. Then they were on their way to the real assignment, the capture of an infamous space pirate, Karprah.
The plan was to infiltrate into the seedy underground of the planet Cartlishin, a known pirate's hangout. There they would spread a rumor of a mysterious artifact that could control the minds of others. Karprah was a collector of rare artifacts. When he came for it, as they were sure he would, they would capture him.
They continued to the GP Tech Base 132 in the Onrianan system. The ship was retrofitted to look like and be scanned as an old cargo ship. Scan-shielded weapons lockers were installed and the ships weapons were modified to give off a much older design when scanned. Surgery was done on both Mihoshi and Aqetiqe to make them appear Cartlisin.
The mission was extremely dangerous. Karprah was known as cruel and calculating man. If he sensed a trap or even if he didn't like them, they would both die rather painfully. Mihoshi wasn't afraid of failure or being killed, however, some of the things she had heard about him made her wonder if he could be an Immortal. If so, then her Immortality would give them away as no known Cartlisin was Immortal. In addition, Aqetiqe would be easy pickings as a new Immortal. She had tried to get him to learn some basic sword techniques, but he laughed and said no sword can stop a blaster and he was an ace shot.
It was going to take several days to finish refitting. This also gave time for the surgery to heal up and for the patients to get used to their new looks. Mihoshi and Aqetiqe spent the extra time checking out the GP Base and the nearby planet. After all, they knew the mission profile backwards and forwards not to mention Mihoshi had drafted it.
They saw the springs of Onriavia, the Ec'ratiaac caves, swam with some ovry, a shark-like animal, but of a much friendlier disposition, and did a hundred other things. They were having a great time together. Mihoshi couldn't help herself. She was definitely in love, yet she was unsure of his feelings toward her, friend or more.
They were having dinner at a nice restaurant on the final night of their stay here. The ship's retrofitting was completed and final preparations were being completed tomorrow. The mission would officially commence on the day after tomorrow. Radio silence would be maintained until they had captured and escaped with him or they had failed. The latter less likely, because they would probably be dead.
"Well this is it. Tomorrow we begin." Aqetiqe said.
"Indeed it is, but lets just enjoy the moment here and not concentrate on the mission, ok?" Mihoshi asked a little pleadingly.
"Yeah, sure."
They sat for a few moments not saying anything.
"So how is you dinner?" Aqetiqe asked.
"It's good, but these lips are making it difficult to get the food in." Mihoshi said with a smile.
"You can say that again. I can barely taste my food although from what I have heard of Cartlisin food that's a good thing." Aqetiqe said laughingly.
Mihoshi responded with a laugh. "Oh yeah. Have you ever tasted food from a GrenVenRen diner? I was protecting a diplomat and after duty, me and some other officers went to one. We ordered several things on the menu and no matter what they served. It was some type of goo. Nasty doesn't begin to describe it. However, the Garvi seemed to like it well enough."
They continued to trade stories for over an hour. Although neither said anything yet, they both could feel some sort of tension. Dinner was soon finished and they left to go get some dessert. They soon arrived at bakery. Aqetiqe ordered a donut-like pastry and Mihoshi ordered a sticky roll thing. They both ate in silence. It was Mihoshi who spoke first.
"You know this is such a dangerous mission and well…"
"Yes, it will be a dangerous mission, but we have gotten through many dangerous missions. Although, I have often wondered how." Aqetiqe said with a gung-ho attitude and a confident smile.
"What I am trying to say is…be careful." But her mind was saying. 'No, you want to say "I love you".'
"Of course I will be careful. You need to be careful. You are the one always taking extreme risks, yet you manage to survive. It pains me each time you do that." He said seriously with a grimace.
"What?" She asked in a surprised manner. Her hand stopping halfway to her mouth.
"Well, I don't want to see anything happen to you. You are a great friend, perhaps my best friend." He answered with a slight waver.
"You know there is one thing you have never told me. Do you have someone waiting for you at your home?" She asked uncertainly. Her hands clenched her pants.
Aqetiqe took a long time to answer the question. When he did, it was with sadness and something else, perhaps hope. He looked into the distance. "There was someone I cared about back there."
Mihoshi's eyes lowered and her hopes fell.
"We had been seeing each other for about eight months. Then I got this assignment and I didn't know how long I was going to be gone. She waited for several months, but finally told me that she and I could not continue together. Each time I wrote, I left out the really dangerous parts, but somehow she knew. She couldn't take the thought of me dying on some distant world, never to return. It was good that we broke it off when we did because I was beginning to suspect I might have feelings for someone else." Aqetiqe looked at her. "Yes, it is you. I love you, but I have been more than a little afraid of putting my love in someone who defies death constantly. Yet, my feelings are there as strong as ever. I can not deny them any longer."
"I love you too. I was unsure how you felt, and if it could even be. I am ready to tell you something that should take away your fear." She said with tears in her eyes. "This will be hard to believe, but you have no doubt heard of the rumours of Immortals."
"Yes. Wait, are you saying you are Immortal?" He asked doubtfully. He reactively leaned back a little.
"Yes. I am Immortal. I cannot die unless someone chops off my head. You don't need to worry anymore. Those risks that I take won't kill me."
"I don't know what to say. You have never lied to me so I know this isn't a joke, but it is too fantastic to believe. Why are you immortal?"
"I don't know, but I am. There is big downside to this Immortality." She sighed. "I can't have children, ever."
"Never?"
"Never." Mihoshi said with great sadness.
"I see." Aqetiqe said sadly and thoughtfully. He brightened in a moment. "Well, then we can always adopt."
"You mean it. You mean that you still want to date me. Even though it means never, ever having your own children." Mihoshi said disbelievingly, yet hopefully.
"You haven't lied to me ever and I have never lied to you. Why would I start now? Yes, I will date you knowing that. I will even marry you knowing that. I love you." Aqetiqe said with a shake of his head.
"You know why wait. We love each other, right? We have for some time. We know all about each other. We are best friends. Lets do it before the mission." Mihoshi said rapidly and happily.
"Whoa Mihoshi. Lets back the starship up a few. What about your family? What about my family? What about the cake? It just isn't done this way." Aqetiqe said while waving his hands up and down.
Mihoshi directed a concentrated gaze at him. "We are going on a mission tomorrow which we may not come out of. The man I love is coming with me. This could be a long mission. Not only do I want to be married to the man I love as I hope he does, but I don't know if I could live in the same hotel with connecting rooms for a long time with the man I love without doing something I would regret later."
"Hmm. I do see your point and I am a man of honor no matter what my sisters say." He smiled. "All right, but I think we should have a ceremony WHEN we get back for our family sakes."
"Of course, I wouldn't have it any other way." She said as visions of her in a magnificent white gown floated through her head.
So in a small room near the Official Records department, Aqetiqe on Deairtre and Mihoshi Kurumitsu were joined in the covenant of marriage by the station commander. They used some chameleon paint to change their appearance temporarily back to their original appearance so the photos will look normal and so for the wedding night, they will look normal. They got a nice suite in a five star hotel. They made sure to leave the "Do Not Disturb" sign posted on the outside.
Tonight, they thought only of each other. Not about the tomorrow. Not about the mission. Not about victory or failure. Not about the future. Not about the past. Only about now.
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Author's Note
So what do you think? Getting better? Please email me any comments (no flames) @ dcforever001@hotmail.com