Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year
What Price For Love? (Part 5-7 and Epilogue)
by Fred Herriot
fherriot@hotmail.com
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With special thanks to Patrick Vera, Dorrie (Shinobu) A. and Steven P. Cornett for their plot suggestions
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edited by E.B. Kushnir
kush1@iaw.on.ca
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Seventeenth of a series based on "Urusei Yatsura," created by Rumiko Takahashi
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At that moment, Atako sneezes! "Oooh!" she rubs her nose. "Someone's talking about me...or is it Ataru they're talking about?!"
"Miyaki-san," Tomoko hums, "...why are you now in the tree?"
Atako spins around, looking up to see Shinobu hanging for dear life from a large tree beside their encampment. "What are you doing up there?!!" the older bioroid walks over. "Get down from there, Shinobu-chan!!"
The Terran fearfully lowers herself, waving Atako away. The bioroid looks disgusted. "I don't bite!" she smiles. "You can relax around me, you know! Don't forget that I'm in the middle of this, just like you."
"After what's been happening between us, do you expect me to believe that?" Shinobu stammers, keeping herself at a distance. "Excuse me! I'm going for a walk to relax."
She walks into the forest. Atako looks hurt. "Shinobu-chan...?"
The bioroid sits beside a tree, looking to the stars and the wisps of plasma drifting away from Niko-Phentax. Tomoko sits beside her. "Sister, are you malfunctioning?"
"Huh? What's wrong, Tomoko-chan?"
"I couldn't help but notice the feelings you possess when you are with Miyaki-san," the younger bioroid sits. "It's obvious you desire her as your bond-mate. Does she not understand your desire?"
Atako blinks. Bond-mate? Lovers sharing each other's life and the raising of the other's children like couples the galaxy over. On Sagussa and among the Avalonians, questions of sexual orientation did not exist. On Earth, there would be many. Could she love Shinobu like Ataru loves Lum? Shinobu was hurt because of past events, that was quite evident. How should she overcome that pain to breed trust, friendship...even love? Should she try? "No, she doesn't," Atako sighs. "And I don't think she would accept it even if she did understand what I might want. You see, before I became this, I...hurt her. I hurt her very much. Most of it wasn't my fault...but she wouldn't believe it."
"Still, you should inform her," Tomoko urges. "Honesty is the most logical recourse, sister. You must make her understand what your desires are, especially if wish to foster trust, perhaps pursue a relationship. She was honest with us when she first entered our commune. You should do the same."
Atako takes in that information, then nods. "Yeah. You know something, Tomoko-chan," she pats the younger bioroid's head.
"What?"
"You remind me of someone else who's a lot smarter than he lets on," Atako kisses her forehead. "But you're much nicer about it."
"I am happy to serve."
A while later, Shinobu returns to the camp. Her cheeks are damp. Atako takes notice. "Shinobu-chan, are you okay?!" she stands, reaching over to brush the tears away.
The Terran doesn't resist as the bioroid wipes her face clean. "I'm sorry, Atako-kun. It's just that...this is getting to me."
"Shinobu-chan," Atako gently grasps her shoulders. "I need you."
Shinobu looks surprised, eyes widening. "You...I...Atako-kun...!"
Atako relaxes, sensing her calming. "Shinobu-chan...I know you're hurting because of what's gone on between us. But this is a horrible time to get into some disagreement. We've got to get our minds back on business. I can't do this alone, Shinobu-chan. I'm not Nassur, I'm not Dake-chan...hell, I'm not even Lum! If you die...if you're hurt...I'll never forgive myself. I need to know where you are, that you're still here with me...that you're safe...so I can feel safe, too. Please...?"
Her heartfelt plea, something Shinobu never heard from Ataru, makes the Terran smile. "I'll try," she nods.
They then drift into an embrace. Tomoko appears beside them. "Will you require a larger sleeping bag?" the young bioroid asks.
"What?" Shinobu gasps.
Tomoko smiles. "It is clear that you are forming a bond-mating, Miyaki-san. You should begin sleeping with sister Atako."
The Terran looks shocked. "What?!!" she gasps, staring at Atako. "What is this girl talking about, Atako-kun?!!"
"Um...she thinks we're becoming lovers," Atako giggles, rubbing the back of her skull.
"Lovers?!! You...m-me?!!" she points at Atako, then herself. "I'm not a lesbian!!!"
Tomoko blinks. "What's a 'lesbian?!'"
Shinobu does not know whether to stand there with jaw agape, slap Tomoko or punch Atako. She notices Atako laughing. The laughter in contagious. In seconds, both are doubling over. Tomoko looks confused...
* * *
"Nothing!" the "Kashin's" electronics warfare officer shakes his head, sitting up, two electronic probes in hand. "There's no way we can track your daughter's location using Hensou-san's transponder. There's some sort of jamming blocking Lum-san's transponder from properly sending signals."
Invader sighs. The "Kashin" and the "Tamashii no Bensaiten" are presently slowly progressing towards the Phentax star system. In the electronic warfare control room, Hensou sits at one work table, a computer lead sticking out from atop her head. A concerned Kamen stands beside her fellow bioroid. Located between the lobes of the Oni bioroid's brain is an empathic-telepathic transponder, a special modification Nassur saw installed in her and the other bioroids. Simply put, it allows Hensou to properly gage Lum's current behavioral pattern so the bioroid could better play her role. Further, as an added advantage, it allowed people to trace Lum's location through Hensou in case the Oni was kidnapped. "Do you have any idea what could be jamming the transponder?" the large captain growls. "This was made by the best Zephyrite psi-doctors. No system exists that can jam the transponder, much less jam it enough to prevent us from locating my daughter!"
"I can't understand it, Captain! Whatever this is, it's a form of energy for which the transponder can't compensate."
Hensou looks at her "father." "Captain, may I offer a suggestion?"
"Certainly," the large Oni looks relieved that someone was trying to help him in this trying time. "What do you have in mind?"
The bioroid stands, gently removing the leads. "Since I do resemble Lum and I can act like her, I would possess a certain advantage if I proceed to a nearby Niphentaxian outpost to ascertain her location. I believe this time, the direct approach may be necessary. From there, we can proceed to rescue them."
"Child, that could take days," Invader sighs. "Mr. Groom may not have those days if what Nagaiwakai-sama fears comes true."
Hensou's features soften, now presenting the joyful demeanour common to Lum. "Daddy, Darling can survive anything some silly Niphentaxian can heap on him! I know he'll come back to me!" she giggles.
Kamen howls. Invader looks stunned. "I hate it when you do that!" he playfully snaps, reaching over and tweaking Hensou's cheek.
"Do I have your permission, then?"
"Okay...but be careful, please!" he wags a finger at her. "Use a fast shuttle. If you feel endangered, get out!!"
Hensou smiles, then flies out of the room. "We'll be fine!" Kamen waves as she follows her fellow bioroid.
Invader watches them go, feeling the same concern for the bioroid as he would were that Lum. "I hope so, child..."
* * *
A warpshuttle launches from the "Kashin," directing its way towards the Phentax system. Mienai and Hensou pilot while Kamen and Damasu check weapons. "We're clear from the 'Kashin' and on course for the Phentax sector," the Tritonian bioroid reports. "Which outpost?"
"Some place remote," the Oni bioroid sighs. "Preferably with an all-male crew."
"Accessing U.D.F. intelligence files on Niphentaxian defenses," Mienai programs the computer. "This should take a moment."
"Right," Hensou stands, moving to Kamen's side. "How're the weapons?"
"We're equipped," the Fukunokami bioroid shoulders a machine gun. "This should be easy in case someone tries to give us grief."
"Hopefully, it won't get to that," Hensou pats Kamen's shoulders. "Watch yourself."
"I'll always come back to you," the latter gives her a daring smile.
Damasu giggles as she loads a bazooka. "How are you?" Hensou asks. "You realize that people will suspect you, mistrust you."
"Hey," the Seishin bioroid winks. "I've got my own charm to play off on, Hensou. Don't worry about me. Give me ten minutes and I'll have them eating outta my hand!"
"Don't get overconfident," Hensou hums. "Oogi's desperate to keep his hold on power, not to mention make Lum his wife. He'll be on the lookout for any attempt to rescue Darling."
"He's an idiot!" Damasu squeaks, now acting exactly like Lan. "He can't help it if people are smarter than he is!!"
"Found one!" Mienai yelps.
"Where?!" Hensou asks.
"Station Yooina," the Tritonian bioroid reports. "It's several parsecs from the outermost point of the Phentax system, well beyond the range of the military sensory net and the System Destroyers. It's an early-warning post meant to monitor trade routes between Uru and Zeiwan. Total compliment eight, all male. Linked directly by computer to the central military net. Resupply shuttles come once every three months. Their reports normally contain knowledge of traffic moving past the Phentax sector."
"Eight men," Kamen purrs. "Interesting."
"Exploitable," Damasu adds.
Hensou nods. "Get us there fast, Mienai! Lives are depending on us!!"
"Understood," Mienai nods.
The warpshuttle races into hyperspace...
* * *
Ataru crashes to earth. He looks around. Now in the mountains beyond the field where he had been deposited by Otako, he takes a deep breath. "Well, that didn't take too long," he wipes his forehead, transforming back. "Now, where would the space-dragons be?!" he hums.
"Right here!"
Ataru spins to behold several monstrous creatures the size of his Tomobiki home. All resemble the Oriental dragon. Several have softer features denoting females. They stare at the lone human with curiosity. The Terran shrieks. "Wh-who are y-you...?!!"
"I am Shoomeiko of Ibkos!" the one who first spoke growls. The voice has a heavy, Yehisrite-like tinge. "I assume you've been sent here to obtain the Sleeping Beauty we've been enslaved to protect!"
Ataru blinks. "Enslaved?!! You?!!" He looks around, not registering any devices meant to bond them. "Where're your chains?!!"
"You can see them if you know how to look," a female dragon muses.
Ataru's eye glows. To his *te'a*-enhanced sight, ghostly chains binding the dragons to the rock at their feet are glaringly clear. "**I see,**" Ataru growls. "**Then you shall be enchained no more!!**"
Transforming into the Cyborg, Ataru draws a stun-stick from his arm-shield. Walking over, he jabs the weapon at the chains. With a flare of magical matrices shattering, the chains disappear. Sensing their bonds gone, the dragons bellow in relief. "Thank you!" Shoomeiko bows. "We are grateful."
Ataru sheathes the stun-stick. "You don't strike me as typical dragons," he reverts to human. "What exactly are you?!"
"We are *ib'f*," Shoomeiko declares.
"Yehisrite spirit-dragons," Ataru nods. "How did the Niphentaxians capture you, much less detain you here so far from home?!"
The *ib'f* look incensed. "We are special agents of the Milky Way 'Curses 'R Us' Management Organization," Shoomeiko explains. "In the last while, people have begun to abuse the power the Organization grants to those desiring to curse another. One of our investigations lead us to this planet a year ago. Someone had located a controlling orb and was now extracting the power of a cancelled curse for their own purposes."
"Controlling orb...?" Ataru hums, then his eyes widen. "Hey!! That crystal ball Otako has! Is that it?!"
"Yes!" Shoomeiko's eyes narrow. "That woman has been drawn in by the curse's power. As of now, she and the curse have become one, each feeding off the other's desire to hurt the one you care for. The woman you call 'Otako' in all practicality no longer exists."
Ataru shudders, realizing the problem was getting out of hand. "How powerful is this curse?! What exactly is this curse?!"
"It was a curse meant to ensure that the Oni girl Lum never enjoys a happy life with her True Love," a female explains. "For seventeen years, ever since a misconception caused a witch to become angry at Lum's parents, this curse has festered, growing and feeding on itself until such time it gained a sentient host by which it could funnel its power, carry out the mission set for it years ago."
Ataru pales as he interprets what the *ib'f* told him. A curse meant to bring misery to his relationship with Lum?! Who would hate the Oni so much that such a punishment would be unleashed? This had now turned from problem to potential catastrophe. "Can this curse influence people other than Otako?!" he looks at Shoomeiko.
"Yes...save for those who have no reason to hate Lum," the *ib'f* nods. "By your tone, you have been victimized by others who have now become that creature's unwilling allies."
"I and another," Ataru hums, remembering what happened to Shinobu. "Look, I want to start hitting back...but I need to know if there's anyone outside of Lum I can trust!"
"There is," Shoomeiko nods. "This planet is populated by bio-genetically engineered human females called Avalonians. You'll recognize many of them by the round ears. They were forced to become the Niphentaxians' *wilvirhis'r* when they conquered this world. They are now trying to free themselves."
"Oh, good!" he chuckles, a maniacal gleam in his eyes. "I think it's time the nice ladies of this world had a breath of freedom! Oh, by the way...where's this lady I'm supposed to come here to rescue?!"
The *ib'f* are decked by an explosion!!
* * *
Moments later, Ataru walks into a cave. Looking back, he watches as the spirit-dragons disappear. "Sheesh!!!" he growls. "I want to get some help and everyone thinks I'm off chasing skirts!! Some gratitude!!!"
Turning around, he walks into the cave. Ataru's thoughts storm as he processes the information Shoomeiko gave him. A planet was now under the power of a curse planned to make Lum's life miserable, a whole planet which nominally was loyal to the Oni. Was that a cosmic joke or what? None the less, Ataru realizes that even if he escapes with Lum and Shinobu, the curse would still plague their lives. That was no joking matter. Worse, it had the potential to spread to all the planets under Niphentaxian control. If the whole populace turned into fanatic Ataru haters, not even the combined power of the Zephyrite Navy would protect him, his child, his family.
But the only solution he could conceive wasn't pleasant. If the curse's power had twisted Otako and her followers as much as Shoomeiko hinted, Phentax Twelve would have to be destroyed. The idea of slaughtering a whole colony didn't please Ataru one bit. This was way more serious than taking out the Masters of Noukiios. And if he did succeed in destroying Phentax Twelve, what then? Would Oogi use it as an excuse to launch an vengeful attack on Earth, aimed directly at him. How many more would have to die and suffer before people could feel safe again?
Ataru turns a corner, stopping on seeing a raised slab of rock. On it, protected by forcefields to keep out the elements, sleeps a beautiful woman dressed in a white sleeved gown. Approaching her, Ataru's eyes widen as he recognizes the woman sleeping there. "Wh-what the...?!" he stammers, falling back a step. "Wait a moment!! This can't be!!!"
His voice activates a servo-motor which deactivates the hibernation shield protecting the sleeping woman. Her eyes open as she takes a deep breath, then look over to stare at Ataru. A beautiful smile crosses her face.
"Hello, Ataru," Otako sighs. "We meet at last."
Ataru faints!
* * *
"How was I?" Otako purrs.
Now draped only in her gown, they relax on the marble slab where the Terran had found the hibernating Niphentaxian, Otako sitting in Ataru's lap. "Whoo!!" he lets out a blast of air, trying to regain his breath after their bout of passion. "Girl, you were like a spastic tiger! Whoever ends up marrying you's not going be bored, that's for sure!!"
"Well, it's not often than one beds the consort of a goddess," Otako playfully kisses his nose. When she had been awakened, the priestess had acted in a way which overwhelmed the Terran student. Ataru was grateful Lum wasn't present; if the Oni had seen how he behaved with Otako, her jealousy meter would have kicked into overdrive. "Then again, it's said that Lum-sama's Beloved Darling would do anything for a woman, regardless of cost to himself, his pride or any threat to his life."
He sighs. His reputation had proceeded him. This time, he deserved whatever people said. Still, earning this Otako's trust was important. Further, he had many questions. "Pardon me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it you who captured me, hauled me here, tried to drug me and send me on this bizarre quest?!" he points at her. "Because if you are, then believe me, you've got a lot of explaining to do before I'd ever do any more favours, lady!"
Otako nods. "Well, I am...and I'm not."
Ataru looks confused. "Come again?"
"I am Otako...but I'm not the Otako who kidnapped you and brought you here."
It still doesn't register. "Um...what's wrong, then?" he places a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. "Are you suffering from some sort of multiple-personality disorder?"
"No, silly!" she playfully laughs. "I'm a bioroid! The Otako you met before is the original! I'm a copy of her!!"
Ataru looks surprised, then confirms the presence of tapered ears. "You mean...she had you created?" he points at her.
Otako nods. "Why?!" he looks confused. One was bad enough, even if this one presented a more civil side to the priestess.
"Why were you ecstatic when your sister returned from the Outland?!" she slips on her gown. "Why did Lum-sama feel such joy when Mal-sama underwent the Crossing Over? We're only children, Ataru. When we found ourselves with twins, or in your case, an older sister, we did not feel so alone anymore!"
Ataru looks shocked. "How did you...?!"
Otako looks regretful. "As an Avalonian, I'm touch-telepathic. When we made love, your mind became crystal clear to me."
At his incensed stare, she holds her hand up. "Don't worry...it's not a *marei'cha* bond. I have to ensure I can trust you as much as you have to ensure you can trust me!"
Ataru gives her a dirty look. The bioroid looks apprehensive...then finds herself in his arms. "Do I pass muster?"
"With flying colours," she sighs.
Finally allowing their passions to abate, Otako stands to allow Ataru to dress. "Well, now that you know what I'm thinking, what's your opinion?" he grunts as he ties his shoes.
"About destroying this planet?" she sighs, looking to the cave entrance. "You're right, Ataru. That cursed orb has magically wound its spell into every Niphentaxian living here. They don't even realize it. I don't believe the Holy Apostles understand what's happening to them. Once they're free of this place, they'll return to normal."
"We hope," Ataru stands, then offers his arm. "Shall we go, my lady?"
"Please," she slips her arm around his.
Later, the two make their way down a mountain. "But what do we do about your people?" Ataru looks at his companion. "Even if we kill off every Niphentaxian on the planet, where does that leave the Avalonians? If they stay here, they'll just wind up enslaved again by the Niphentaxians."
"There is hope, even if my sister's people believe they've won. Gloriana will have to be reactivated again."
"Gloriana?!" Ataru looks confused.
"Our leader," the bioroid's face shines. Clearly, she was more than a kinder double of the Niphentaxian. "Gloriana is the one who possesses the knowledge the Creators left us. Her mind is linked to the gestation factory's central processor. If she is freed, she could re-program the factory and have us relocated where Oogi couldn't pursue. There is such a place. It's in a system several sectors away: a planet complete with cities, towns, villages and an intact ecosystem which was constructed by the Creators in another experiment. The factory is equipped with humanoid-compatible habitation units and is warp-capable. We could be on New Avalon within a day."
"New Avalon?!" he hums. "Wait! Do all your people know of this?!"
Otako shakes her head. "No. Most of us were created in the last five years. They weren't programmed. Oogi and his ministers feared a rebellion would start. Those created over five years ago...or special cases such as myself...are well versed in the story."
"Why hasn't the Niphentaxians conquered this place? They should know where it is; just ask the gestation computer."
"You're far more intelligent than you let on, Ataru. New Avalon's in a sector bordering space claimed by the Dominion. The Dominion's antipathy towards the Galactic Federation is known to you. If they suspected anyone affiliated with the Federation making any move towards claiming New Avalon..."
"War," Ataru concludes.
"Exactly. However, since we've no love for the Niphentaxians, I doubt the Dominion would perceive us as a threat. To make certain we're not taken advantage of, we'll deal with those Houses which are sympathetic towards inter-species relations. Thus, the Federation will have nothing to fear. The balance of power will be maintained."
Balance. Over the last three months, Ataru was beginning to grasp an understanding of how intergalactic relations worked. It was all a complex game of checks and balances, each power playing its assigned role while cautiously probing for new places where each could gain advantage over their adversaries. Ataru found the situation too complex for his liking. He wondered how Lum's father, even his grandmother, kept track of such things on a day-to-day basis. "But all this is academic if we don't find some way to bring Gloriana back, right?" he looks at Otako.
"Yes," she nods. "We have a problem. When the Niphentaxians learned about Gloriana, they saw to it that we would have no way of constructing a body to house her sentience by obliterating all DNA datafiles assigned to her. Our first task is to locate a template, then begin the gestation process. It takes a day. Other than yourself, I can't see any candidates to act as Gloriana's template."
He looks up. "I see one."
"Who?" she looks expectantly at him.
Ataru smiles as he wraps an arm around her. "The one person even the most staunch Niphentaxian would hesitate to harm."
"Her?!! Could it work?!"
"Let's find out," he kisses her...
* * *
"Shinobu-chan?" Atako kneels.
"What is it, Atako-kun?" the Terran looks at the bioroid. They and Tomoko have stopped for another night, still several hours' walk from Gekijoo. The young bioroid is asleep.
"Can we talk?" Atako lightly smiles.
Shinobu looks afraid. "Please?" Atako pleads. "I think we really should air out the differences between us, Shinobu-chan."
The Terran considers the bioroid's words. Images flash in her mind, recounting the past differences between her and Ataru. Her vision then clears as she looks at Atako. "Okay," she nods. "What do you want to talk about?"
Atako sits beside Shinobu. "You know, even after all we've been through," she sighs, "...I still miss the times we had together."
The Terran is surprised, then smiles. "Strange. I do, too. Part of me wishes we could go back to those simple times."
"Well...we could," Atako weakly smiles.
Shinobu feels a chill. "Atako-kun, I hope you realize that we're both...I mean, you're now a...!"
"Woman?" Atako completes.
The Terran nods. "Shinobu-chan, I know I'm a woman now," the bioroid beams. "I'm not letting it get to me! I'm still me underneath this!! Can't you understand that?!"
"That's what I'm afraid of, Atako-kun!" Shinobu sobs, tears brimming in her eyes. "Don't you understand?! I don't know what's real and what's an illusion about you! I don't think anyone knows or understands what you are...what Ataru-kun is, I mean!!"
"Don't you think I know that?! Don't you think Ataru knows that, too?!" Atako shakes her head. "Shinobu-chan, he has just had his whole world ripped to shreds! It's not like when Lum first started to live in Tomobiki, what she broke us up!! He has to live in fear of watching those he loves facing that monster again...and this time, you might not be lucky! This time, you could be **dead**!!!"
She shudders. "Shinobu-chan, please," Atako shamefully looks down. "I admit I was rough on you before. I was a total ogre...and many of you, **you** above all, didn't deserve that! I was scared for you, Shinobu-chan!! If any of you died because of that thing..." she reaches over, holding Shinobu's shoulders, "...I would kill myself to ensure no one would ever have to deal with that monster again!"
The Terran pales. Was Ataru willing to end his life rather than risk the *saikoo jinseijitsu's* possible re-emergence?! Why did she not see this before? "I...I didn't understand," she looks away, reaching up to place her hand atop Atako's. "But...why did you leave us?! Take Lum away from us?! Don't you understand?! She's our friend!"
"I know that!" Atako nods. "And Ataru knows that! He never wanted for Lum to stop being friends with you! All he wanted was for you to realize you can't live in this fantasy we've imposed on ourselves for two years!!"
"What fantasy?!"
"What do you think?! Look at you! Here you are, still wishing you could marry people you can't get! Ataru's practically engaged to Lum! Mendou could still get shanghaied into marrying Asuka! Inaba's a hard guy to reach! And I guarantee that within the month, Nassur will marry Benten! Why do you still dream of these people, Shinobu-chan?!"
Shinobu looks down. Atako was asking a question she herself bandied about. "I've watched you, Shinobu-chan," the bioroid cups her companion's chin with one finger. "I know how passionate you can be. I know how smart you are. I know what a good person you really are. You've got to let those people go, Shinobu-chan...all of them! Totally!"
"Then what?" Shinobu sniffs. "Do I live alone for the rest of my life?! Do I give up hope that anyone will love me?!"
Silence falls over them as they stare into the other's eyes. "Shinobu-chan...you have someone right here," Atako blushes.
Shinobu stares at the bioroid. Atako was attracted to her. But...was it just a continuation of what she had with Ataru...or was it something new? "I do, don't I?"
Atako breathes out in relief. "But...I'm not sure if I can give you want you want, Atako-kun," Shinobu shakes her head. "You see...I've been spending some time wondering what you and I...what Ataru-kun and I...had."
"And that is?" Atako muses.
"We did love each other," Shinobu smiles, trying to keep control over her discomfort. "But it was a continuation of the love we had as children. I remember five years ago...when you went to Sendai for a while. That was the time you met Windy, wasn't it?"
"Yes," the bioroid numbly nods.
"You came back...and while I didn't notice...you changed," the Terran shakes her head. "It really became apparent when Lum entered our lives. You were looking for something more than I was prepared to give. I guess...kids love in a different way than adults, even young adults do."
"That's true. When we were kids, we knew exactly what we wanted. We didn't concerns ourselves with what the other thought. In a queer sense of the term, we tried to dominate the other just like Lum did with Ataru."
"We were pretty selfish, too," Shinobu adds. "It was me and only me..."
"Ditto here, especially after Mendou came into our lives," Atako sniffs.
"And we've clung onto each other..."
"And we've hurt each other..."
"And we've been so jealous of each other, over the most stupid things," Shinobu sighs.
They stop, looking at each other. "I guess maybe we did love each other...as much as we've understood what love means," Atako smiles. "The question now is...can we love each other like adults?"
"I guess we could love each other...at least be friends," she shrugs, hesitancy entering her demeanour. "But...I don't think I could be your lover...your life-mate. That'll be too much a change for me."
Atako looks disappointed, but nods. "Yes. I guess that would be. Part of our problem I think is that we've always made too many demands on each other. If we're not careful, we'll do it again, won't we?"
"Yeah," Shinobu smiles. "Atako-kun?"
"Yes?"
"Am I really beautiful?"
Atako's answer is succinct. "Very."
"More than Lum?"
"Yes," Atako nods. "Besides, Lum's an alien...and already taken."
"More than Sakura-sensei?"
"Yes. Besides, Sakura's also taken."
"I don't believe you," she hums.
Atako looks offended. "To be honest," she purrs, "...I'm right now fighting an urge to rip your clothes off and pillow you silly!"
Shinobu pales, stunned that Atako's attraction was that serious. "Would you do that to other people...other girls?"
"Except for Tomoko-chan, there are no other girls I see," Atako smiles. "But while I hope I don't have to think of other girls, I do admit the possibility is there."
Shinobu feels some relief...but there is a touch of jealousy. "Well, then...if I do find myself accepting your offer," she smiles, "...then I'll just have to make sure you don't succumb to such...temptation!"
Both girls giggle, obviously wondering where this was going to take them. Atako kisses Shinobu, then turns in. Shinobu slides into her sleeping bag, then stops to consider something. Finally, she reaches over and nudges Tomoko. "Tomoko-chan," she whispers.
"Eh?" the young bioroid stirs. "Is there a problem, Miyaki-san?"
"I've got a question," Shinobu whispers. "Keep your voice down. Atako-kun's asleep."
"What is it?" Tomoko hisses.
"This machine...the one that created you and Atako-kun," Shinobu gestures to the now-sleeping bioroid. "Could it do that again?"
"Do what again?"
"Make another double."
The young bioroid remains confused, then comprehension crosses her face. "You mean create one of...?" she points.
The Terran nods. "I believe so," Tomoko nods. "When we arrive in Gekijoo tomorrow, I'll have the information passed on."
Shinobu nods, then lies down...
* * *
"There! Gekijoo."
Ahead of Shinobu and Atako is a small town no larger than Tomobiki district. Like all Niphentaxian urban centres, it is a nearly-exact double of Shinobu's hometown. "Wow!!" the Terran stammers, sweat pouring down her head. "When Lum said these people venerated us, she wasn't kidding!"
"Yeah," Atako looks as nervous. "Well, shall we go face the lions?!"
Shinobu nods. Moments later, they enter Gekijoo. Looking around, Shinobu is wide-eyed to see everyone is dressed in some variation of clothing common either to Uru or Tomobiki. The usual dress is the Tomobiki High School uniform. "Aren't we conspicuous?" Shinobu stares at the jumpsuit she and Atako wear.
"Not really," Tomoko smiles. "You two are dressed like any Avalonian fresh from the gestation factory. Don't worry. They won't take too much notice of you."
Shinobu relaxes in relief, then is stopped by a hand. "Hey, what have we here?!"
Shinobu and Atako see four men staring at them. They're dressed in school uniforms, having taken the guards as their inspiration. "My, my, my!" the one resembling Megane cackles. "Look at these two little play-toys here! Hey, boys, wanna have some fun?!"
He moves to grab Shinobu's jumpsuit. The Terran is enraged. "Hands off me, pervert!!!"
Megane's look-alike is smashed head-first into the concrete! "Hey!!!" Paama's look-alike growls. "What was that for, slave?!!"
Tomoko leaps in front of Shinobu. "You don't understand! Shinobu and Atako here are warriors for Lady Otako's bodyguard!!"
The "guards" don't believe her. "Why should we trust a little pillow-warmer like you?!" Chibi's look-alike pokes Tomoko.
"If you do not believe me, ask Otako!" the young bioroid snorts. "I believe the report I'll give her when I see her later today may not particularly please her."
The four men gasp at that prospect. "Um...n-never mind...!" Kakugari's look-alike stammers. "You didn't see us!!"
The four quickly retreat. "Bastards," Shinobu zips up her jumpsuit.
They proceed down the street. "There's something I don't understand," Shinobu looks around. "This supposedly occurred in the last decade. Most religions I know of normally took centuries to develop. How did the Niphentaxians convert so quickly?"
"It's their way. They quickly adapt to new situations," Tomoko explains. "The Invaders have this ability to instantaneously analyze, adopt and copy other people's social and technological patterns. It is a survival tactic which has evolved over the years. However, they lack...originality. They cannot conceive their own society. They're compelled by their own genes to copy from others."
The teenagers are surprised by the young bioroid's statement. "I was right all along," Atako sighs. "They really have **no** life!"
"Hopeless," Shinobu shakes her head. "Do you think something better will come along to make them turn away from us?!"
"I don't believe so," Tomoko hums. "When the cult of Lum became widespread, everyone regardless of prior affiliations participated. For the first time, the Invaders were a united culture. That's what motivates them in their desire to preserve the status quo on Earth."
"In other words, without us to inspire them, they'll feel they're losing control of their world," Shinobu concludes.
"They're just reacting to the Spirit War and everything after that!" Atako groans.
"Just like everyone in Tomobiki."
"I guess Ataru'll just have to redouble his efforts," Atako concludes. "It's the only way to punch holes in these jerks' hubris!!"
"Agreed," Shinobu stops. "Hold it!"
They freeze, staring at a Shinto shrine across the street. Seated by the front gate are Mendou and the guards, attended by pretty Niphentaxian priestesses dressed as either Sakura or Lum. The girls seem quite willing to permit the Terrans to shamelessly fondle them. Tomoko, Atako and Shinobu leap behind a cherry tree. "Shit, what a time for those jerks to show up!!" Atako hisses.
"Look at them!" Shinobu glares. "They're practically in paradise!!"
"We'll just have to destroy paradise!" Atako concludes...then her eyes narrow as a strange feeling crosses her heart. "Eh?!"
"Sister, be...!" Tomoko gasps.
The priestesses pause, curiosity crossing their faces. Their eyes gaze upon Atako in the distance. It is as if all they see now is the bioroid. Atako is paralyzed, wondering how this discovery will affect their task. Finally, the feeling fades and the priestesses return their attention to their guests. They didn't notice the sudden shift in behaviour.
"...careful!" Tomoko gasps.
Atako spins around as she catches her breath. "Wh-what happened?!" she stammers. "Why did they feel so familiar to me?!"
Tomoko sighs. "They're Avalonians."
"Eh?!" Shinobu gasps. "How did they get themselves integrated?!"
"Quite simple, really," Tomoko smiles. "They are older bioroids. When the Invaders prompted the gestation factory to begin mass production, they initially wanted us to resemble them and behave like them. Only recently have they modified their stance to ensure we can be segregated from them."
"I see," Atako looks. "Tomoko-chan, is there a back door to this place?"
"Yes. Follow me, please."
The three walk out of their hiding place. Seeing this, the priestesses increase their sensual foreplay with their guests, moving to block their view of the street beyond the shrine. Mendou and the guards are quick to react to their ministrations. In minutes, Tomoko, Shinobu and Atako have moved to the shrine's back door. The door slides open and a topless priestess, looking like a brown haired hornless Lum, smiles. "Enter."
"Thanks," Atako nods.
She then jolts as the priestess embraces her. "Oh, sister, you have finally come!" she tearfully wails. "Now, we are free!!"
Ataru's double nearly faints. "Could you get your breasts out of my chest, pl-please!" she stammers. "I really can't take that!"
"Oh, sorry!" the priestess stands back. "I did not mean to sexually arouse you."
"Th-thanks...!" Atako nearly collapses.
The door to the main shrine slides open. "Hey, Nuriko-chan!" Paama seizes the priestess from behind, roughly fondling her breasts. "Come back out here and let's party...eh?!"
Paama finds himself staring at Atako. "Hiya, Shitto!" the bioroid cackles, cracking her knuckles. "Mind letting her go?!"
He pales. "A-a-a-Ataru...?!"
Her fist sends him into a wall! "Atako-kun!!" Shinobu cries out. "The others...!!"
"What was that about the others?!"
Atako and Shinobu see Mendou and the other guards standing there, weapons out and fanatic determination in their eyes. "Well, well, well," Megane hefts a machine gun. "Look who's come back into our trap!! Now, there'll be no chance of anyone interfering with Lum-san's life again!"
"Once we're finished with you, your grandmother and your sister will be next!" Mendou draws his katana. "There will be no power which'll stand in Lum-san's way!!"
Atako smiles, her hand reaching for her jumpsuit zipper. "Hey, boys!!!" she sweetly bats her eyelashes. "Look at this!!!"
The men gape as she unzips and exposes herself. "Whoa!!!" Kakugari howls...
...then gets an elbow, knocking him out. "Pervert!!!" Atako snaps.
"Look out!!!" Shinobu rams Atako aside.
Megane's machine gun chatters. Bullets rip through Shinobu's shoulder! She cries in pain as she falls to the floor, gripping her wounded arm. "SHINOBU-CHAN!!!!!!" Atako howls in rage. "YOU BASTARDS!!!!!!"
Before Mendou, Megane and Chibi could defend themselves, Atako sandwiches their heads! The three collapse to the floor like marionettes with their strings cut. Atako takes a defensive stance as she looks around, expecting new targets. "Anyone else?!!"
"No," Nuriko reports. "They stepped into our trap believing they were laying a trap for you. You must remove yourself from this town immediately, sister! Lady Otako has assigned a company of assassins to ensure that no one may harm Lum-sama's Holy Apostles."
"We'll deal with them later," Atako leaps to Shinobu's side. "Shinobu-chan!"
The Terran is being comforted by the others. "It hurts," she painfully reaches for her shoulder. "They shot me...!" she gasps. "They really shot me...!!"
"Help her," Atako looks at a priestess.
"But of course," she nods.
Atako looks at Nuriko. "Nuriko, can you tell me where Lum is?"
"She is in the town cathedral," the priestess sighs. "She is protected by two companies, all with orders to shoot to kill. Atako, with your friend injured like this, it will be suicide for you to attempt a rescue!"
"There's a way!" Shinobu gasps. "Atako-kun, if this gestation machine could create you, it could create another me! I'm out of this fight...!" she feels faint. "Sorry!"
Atako kneels beside her. "It's okay, Shinobu-chan," she kisses the Terran's forehead. "Thank you so much."
Shinobu is mercifully allowed to lose consciousness. "Even with Shinobu's strength added to an Avalonian's abilities, the odds against your success in rescuing Lum-sama are exceedingly small," Nuriko shakes her head. "Besides, this town is protected by an energy field which prevents the gestation machine from making a duplicate of Shinobu from here. You must remove her from this town before you can be transported back to the factory."
"Can you help us, Nuriko...without compromising your own position here?"
"I believe our position is already compromised," Nuriko smiles. "At the same time, you must remove them, too," she points at the unmoving forms of Mendou and the guards. "If they are allowed to escape, then they will certainly raise the alarm."
"Yeah," Atako hums as she kneels beside Mendou. "That's true. Then again..."
"What?" Tomoko looks confused.
A grin crosses Atako's face. "I just got a crazy idea about how to get some more help in rescuing Lum," the bioroid icily giggles.
The other bioroids look scared, sweat pouring down their heads...
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
"Station Yooina, dead ahead."
The bioroids tense as the warpshuttle emerges from warp. Yooina is a Manhattan-sized rock with a sensory outpost mounted on one side, drifting in the delicate gravimetric balance between star systems. On the bridge, Mienai notes an incoming message. "Open hailing frequencies," Hensou orders.
Mienai activates a control, revealing the unshaven face of a Niphentaxian officer trying miserably to resemble Mark Onsen, dressed in a militaristic version of the teacher's uniform. "This is Yooina Station, Urusian shuttle Keiryaku-Four-Nine-Four," the officer drones, clearly bored and irritated. "Identify yourself and please state your purpose."
Hensou looks angry, brilliantly acting the way Lum did after catching Ataru chasing a girl. "Is that some way to speak to me, Lieutenant?!!" she snaps, baring her fangs. "At least show some respect!!! I've come to see how my loyal soldiers are behaving themselves on their lonely watch!!!"
The officer nearly collapses on seeing who is speaking to him. "L-l-Lum-sama?!!" he falls down, staring at the Oni in disbelief. "Lum-sama, what are you doing here?!!"
"Is that a way you express gratitude when I've come to see my troops?!" she pouts. "Maybe I should go home and not come back!"
The officer panics. "N-no, Lum-sama!!" he gasps. "Please, forgive your most humble servant's disrespect, ma'am!" he bows low. "Wh-what can I do for you to atone my sin?!"
"Permit us to dock?" Hensou smiles.
He looks relieved. "With pleasure!!"
The screen goes blank. Soon, a hangar bay opens. "We've struck a nerve," Kamen hums. "How do we play this?! Subtle or," she pulls off her top, "...straightforward?"
"Subtle," Hensou smiles. "Let's not overwhelm them all at once. That'll make them instantly suspicious. Be...discreet."
"Gotcha!" Kamen slips her top back on.
The shuttle lands. Awaiting it are a troop of Niphentaxian soldiers. They have taken several people from Tomobiki as their inspiration: the guards and even Ryuunosuke. As the shuttle's boarding ramp lowers and Hensou steps out, the soldiers snap to attention. The officer bows low to his "goddess." "Lum-sama, on behalf of your loyal servants of Yooina Station, I welcome you!"
"Thank you," Hensou smiles, then waves behind her as Kamen, Mienai and Damasu disembark. "You recognize my friends?"
The soldiers gape. Receiving Lum was the honour of honours, but to meet her along with two of the Holy Company, even one of the Sinful Doubters?! "But of course, Lum-sama!" the officer bows. "Benten-sama, Oyuki-sama, Lan-sama, welcome to Yooina Station!!"
"Thanks," Kamen steps down beside Hensou. "It's kind of nice to take a break! Shit, making these long voyages is such a pain, especially when your ships are broken down!!"
"How terrible!" the officer hums. "May I enquire where Your Graces were travelling?!"
"Zeiwan," Mienai softly intones. "We were hoping to visit our dear friend Chara."
"Yeah!" Damasu giggles. "She's about to bring out a new line of companion androids and wanted us to see them!!" She looks around. "Gee, you could use a couple of 'droids here yourself! Is this all you have?!"
"Unfortunately, yes," the officer nods. "Ours is a very important task! The trade between the Urusian Union and the Zeiwan Republic is very important. We do not wish to see the Dominion interrupting it."
Also, the Niphentaxian Union extracted a transit tariff whenever foreign ships passed through its space, Hensou notes. "If you don't mind, Lieutenant, it has been a long trip," she yawns. "We'd like to stay here for the night before proceeding on tomorrow."
The officer drools. "Um, certainly, Lum-sama!!" he nods. "S-shall I inform President Oogi of your presence here...?!"
"Oh, no!" Hensou shakes her head. "Don't bother me about that boy, please, Lieutenant!! He really gives me a headache! As a matter of fact, don't tell anyone we were here until we're gone! Is that alright?!"
"It's irregular," he starts, then sweats as Hensou seductively moves towards him. "Of course! What harm could that be?!"
The Oni bioroid subdues a triumphant smile. Her baiting the lieutenant served two purposes. First, ensure that Oogi doesn't hear that his people's goddess is in **two** places, thus making him suspect something. Second, the Niphentaxians were notorious for absorbing all sorts of gossip. If the news got out in the defence networks that Lum disapproved of Oogi, then the Defence Force would be less reticent about obeying their president's commands. That would aid them well when the time came. "Well, if you don't mind, I'd like to take a look around," Hensou hums. "I've never been to a monitor station. Could your crew give us a tour, Lieutenant?"
"C-c-certainly!!" the officer stammers.
"I'd like to call Rei-san!" Damasu cries.
"We'll take you there, Lan-sama!" a petty officer accurately resembling Paama volunteers along with a friend looking like Ryuunosuke.
"Thank you!!" Damasu sweetly giggles. "You're such wonderful men!"
The three exit as the lieutenant divides his remaining crew between Hensou, Kamen and Mienai. Damasu listens as the others argue over who'll stay with the lieutenant, who immediately volunteered to escort "Lum" around the station. Reaching into her bottoms, the bioroid extracts two rings, each with a tiny blade no larger than a thumbtack. Soon, the three step into the station's communications room. "Here you are, Lan-sama!" the petty officer bows. "Please, be our guest!"
"Thank you," Damasu giggles as she steps inside. She waits until the Niphentaxians are inside the room and the door has closed before letting out a sensual cry. "Oooh!!!" she drops to her knees, one hand reaching for her bust and the other reaching for her crotch.
Instantly, the two soldiers leap to her side, quickly inquiring her present state. "I'm okay...I think..." Damasu pants, her hand slowly tugging her bikini top away from her bust. "I just have a very strange feeling..."
The soldiers' eyes bulge on seeing her breasts exposed. "Wh-where...?" the crewman stammers, his eyes rivetted on her nipples.
"Right here," Damasu coos, indicating her bust. "Could you touch me there, please...?"
The soldiers gag, wondering what they did to deserve such a chance to be intimate with someone as beautiful as Lan. However, their pent-up passions quickly overwhelm what little senses they have. In seconds, both lightly embrace Damasu, their hands stroking her breasts. The bioroid lets out passionate gasps. "Oh...oh...oh, that's just what I need...!" she sighs as her hands slide to the exposed skin below their hairlines.
The soldiers pass out. Damasu stands, slipping her top where it belongs. "Thank you so much, gentlemen," the bioroid giggles. "I'd normally allow you to express yourselves further, but I've work to do!"
A nude Mienai appears in front of her bond-mate, eyes wide and tearing, an un-Oyuki expression of shame on her face. "Damasu-chan, how could you?!!" the Tritonian bioroid wails, showering the Seishin bioroid with ice-pellet tears. "Don't you enjoy my company?!!"
Damasu comforts Mienai. "Now, now, now, Mienai-chan! You know you're the only one in my eyes!! There, there," she gently embraces the crying bioroid. "I'll always love you, Mienai-chan!! We're bond-mates, remember?!"
"Remind me," Mienai huskily whispers.
The Seishin bioroid purrs as they kiss. "A-hem!" Kamen's voice is heard. "Could you two stow it for a bit?!"
Damasu and Mienai fire resentful stares at the Fukunokami bioroid, who just stepped in with Hensou. Both she and the Oni bioroid are topless. "I see Damasu was successful, too," Hensou muses. "Let's get to work!"
"Got it!" Damasu sits at the console, then calls up the encryption programs. In minutes, classified information of an interesting sort appears. Fortunately, the Seishin bioroid was created with a special aptitude towards cryptography. "I wonder what's so secret that they put five code-locks on it!" she muses as she attacks the program.
"That has to be about where Darling is!!" Hensou hisses, slipping on her top. "Break it open, Damasu-chan! Hurry!!"
"Right!" Damasu nods as Kamen slips on her top and Mienai dresses.
Moments pass as a list blurs past. It is broken with images from other anime shows..."Patlabor," "Maison Ikkoku," "Ranma 1/2," "City Hunter," "Cutey Honey," "Gall Force," "Sailor Moon," "Kimagure Orange Road" among many others. Finally, the last code is broken and Damasu calls up the file. "Why, this is...!!!" she gasps...then her head slumps as sweat pours down her hair. "A copy of the 'Rec.Arts.Anime.Fandom's List of Favourite Anime Shows!!'"
An explosion occurs!! [Note: apologies to those who use rec.arts.anime.fandom to express their views about other shows...F.H.]
* * *
"Goods news, Captain!!" Hensou reports. "We've found Lum and Ataru!"
The "Kashin's" bridge crew relax. "Good work, Hensou!!" Invader nods. "Where?!"
"Phentax Twelve, outside the town of Gekijoo," the bioroid reports. "We've confirmed that the person responsible for this is indeed Otako, head of the Hegane Sect."
The bridge crew pales. "The Hegane?!!" Invader howls. "They're the most monstrous of the lot!!! Mr. Groom's in big trouble!! Report back as soon as you can, Hensou!!!"
"Yes, Captain," Hensou salutes, then the screen changes to present the local starfield.
The large Oni shudders as he turns to face Nagaiwakai and Koosei. "I take it the Hegane are not pleasant," the matriarch muses.
"Mildly!!" Invader snorts. "They're the equivalent to right-wing *Asan'on* racists on Ipraedos!! They'll never give Mr. Groom any mercy if they get the chance!!"
"Then I suggest it's time we started calling favours in," Nagaiwakai sighs, then turns to the communications officer. "Young man, would you hail the colony of Magairu."
"Yes, ma'am!" the officer nods.
The image of a Zephyrite male in his thirties appears on the screen. He has blond hair and red-gold eyes, distantly resembling Ataru's first fiancee. He is dressed in a high-collared jumpsuit with a gold-trimmed blue cape. "Magistrate-archdeacon Fireye Windrider PRCZ here," he nods, then recognizes his caller. "Lady Nagaiwakai! The blessings of the Spirit of the Ancient Homeworld on you!!" he gracefully bows.
"And to you, Your Grace," Nagaiwakai returns his bow. "Fireye, dear, I've a great favour to request of the Zephyrite people!"
The minister shudders. "Which is?!"
"My grandson has been kidnapped by Purveyors of Entropy from the planet Phentax Two," the matriarch sighs. "In fact, it is the Hegane Sect of their religion which is responsible! Would His Holiness bequeath a writ of excommunication to aid my poor Ataru-chan?!"
He looks horrified on hearing Ataru's problem, which turns to fury when he learns who's responsible. "The Niphentaxians, eh?!" he snaps. "They've been plaguing the whole galaxy with their Entropic beliefs for too long!!" A smile crosses his face. "I'm sure His Holiness will happily grant your request, Nagaiwakai!! Where do we have to go?!!"
"If I can barge in for a moment," Invader holds up a finger. "I'm getting my people to call in as many ships as possible! Rendezvous with us near Station Yooina. We can plan an avenue of attack then!!"
"Of course," the minister nods, then recognition dawns on his face as he stares at Invader. "So, you're Lum's father, eh?!"
"That's right," the captain nods.
Fireye Windrider has a twinkle in his eye. "Believe me, Captain, your daughter has no idea what she's in for. Magairu, out!"
The screen goes blank. "Now, what the heck does he mean by that?!" Invader wonders, scratching the back of his head.
"Search me," Nagaiwakai muses...
* * *
"I'M A GIRL!!!!!!"
A hatchway in the factory opens and Atako looks in. "I see our new recruits have just awakened," she hums. "You alright in there?!"
A nude brown-haired woman leaps over, seizing Atako by her jumpsuit collar. Her eyes squint as she tried to focus on the bioroid before her. "Ataru, you bastard!!! How could you do this to me?!! Is this your revenge on us for what we supposedly did to you?!! Answer me, you slime...eh?!"
The woman stops as her arms brush against Atako's bust. "What the...?!" she gasps, her eyes widening. "Um...who are you...?!"
Atako produces a pair of square-rim spectacles. "Put these on."
The woman slips on the glasses. Other than the upturned nose and the chiselled jaw, she is attractive. A further modification was made: this bioroid's wavy hair was allowed to grow to shoulder length. As soon as her vision is cleared, she looks on Atako...then her eyes trail to the bioroid's chest. "Oh, gods!!!" she gasps, horror crossing her face. "It happened to you, too!!!" Wailing, she tightly embraces Atako. "Oh, Ataru-kun, this is the most horrible day of our lives!!! Our manhood has been taken away!!!"
Atako gasps. "Let me go!! Cut it out, man!!! This ain't the time to panic!!!"
After a moment, the other bioroid calms down. "Um...is there a mirror?" she looks at Atako. "I'd like to see the...um, damage."
"Over there," Atako points.
The other bioroid walks over. Her eyes widen on seeing how attractive she. "Gods!!" she whistles as Atako moves to stand beside her. "As girls, we're not so bad, are we?!"
"Yeah," Atako nods. "It takes a bit of getting used to, but I have no big problems. Anyhow, you can relax. The real Aisuru Megane's physically okay. He's in another chamber of this place."
"Then...what are we?!"
"We're bioroids," Atako sighs, handing the other a jumpsuit. "We're copies of the originals. Unfortunately, this gestation machine's only programmed to create women."
"Bioroids?!" Megane's duplicate gasps. "Oogi's people've come this far, Ataru?!!"
"Um...you can call me Atako," the other amends. "And no, they certainly haven't got this far, thank the gods. The technology that created us was seized by them so they can have a handy source of cheap labour."
"You mean...*slave* labour?!"
"Exactly," Atako nods.
"Does Lum know of this?!"
What? Not "Lum-san" liked Megane called the Oni since they first met? This version of Megane was definitely an improvement. "No!" Atako sighs. "In fact, I don't think anyone outside of the Niphentaxian government...and those who live here...know of this. Do you think the Niphentaxians would be allowed to keep them if Lum got wind of it?!"
"No, I guess not. So, why create me?"
Atako nods. This version of Megane was becoming better by the second. "Simple. The leader here, Otako, is under the influence of a curse designed to make Lum's life hell. I don't know who put it on her, why that person did it or what it's supposed to do. Worse, every Niphentaxian on this planet is under the influence of this curse...not to mention your other self, the guards and Mendou."
"I see," Megane's double hums. "Where's Lum...and wasn't Shinobu kidnapped with us?"
"Shinobu's here...and wounded."
"Wounded?!!" she gasps. "By who?!"
"Your brother," Atako looks regretful.
Megane's double staggers, then sits. "Oh, boy!! What about Lum? Is she safe?"
"In a cathedral, under heavy guard," Atako sits beside her. "Look...I need you guys to help me if we're to rescue her! Not only that, we've got to find some way to free the Avalonians...the bioroids created here!"
"I'm not the only one, then?"
"No. There's doubles of the guards, Mendou and Shinobu. I think between us, we'll give Otako something to think about!"
"Damn right we will!" Megane's double cackles. "Well. You changed your name, so I might as well change mine. How's 'Aisuko?!'"
"Perfect. It's better than 'hey, you!'"
They laugh as they emerge from the room. "Hey, sexy!!" a voice hums. "Going my way?!"
Aisuko flushes as she faces her heckler. "Oh, cut it out...whoo!!!" she whistles, eyes wide. "Who're you calling sexy, man?!!"
Atako is as impressed. While maintaining their templates' uniqueness (Chibi's short stature, Paama's curly hair and Kakugari's freckles and stockiness), certain features have been accentuated. Urayako Chibi is well-proportioned. Shikko Paama has a model's demeanour mixed with someone who spends time playing physically intensive sports. The greatest change is in Dareko Kakugari, who, in addition to having shoulder-length hair, has had her body fat replaced by rock-hard muscle. Further, their larger, more expressive eyes naturally enhance their beauty. Shinobu pops out from behind Dareko. "Well?!" she giggles. "What do you think, Atako-kun?!"
"Shinobu!!" Atako gasps. "You're okay!!"
"Atako-kun, I'm not Shinobu!" she points to herself. "I'm Shinoko."
Atako then remembers what the gestation machine has also done. "Oh, I'm sorry! I hope you're not jealous, Shinoko-chan!"
"Wait until we're alone and I'll express my jealousy," Shinobu's bioroid double purrs, sensually leaning against Atako's shoulder.
The guards' doubles emit wolf-calls. The priestesses who accompanied them giggle. "My, what a natural bond-mating!" Nuriko smiles. "You make such a lovely couple!"
Everyone laughs as they allow the tension to flow out of their systems. "Hey!" Aisuko looks around. "Where's Mendou's sister?!"
Shinoko sighs, thumbing a nearby room. "Still looking at herself! She just can't get over herself!! She's worse than Rei!"
Atako looks inside. "Hey, quit staring at yourself!! We've got...whoa!!!" she gasps.
The guards' doubles see Mendou's twin still nude, shifting herself from side to side to take in all the details. Like Atako, Shutako Mendou's physical features have not shifted beyond the basic gender change. "Self-love freak or what!" Shikko gasps.
"If I had that body, I'd be the same way!" Urayako sighs.
Atako growls as she storms in. "Hey!!! Earth to Shutako!!" she waves her hand in front of Shutako. "Time to get to work!!!"
"Eh?!" Shutako looks surprised, then stares at Atako. "Is there something wrong, Atako-chan?!" She stares at the mirror, a romantic sigh escaping her. "I still have to get myself used to seeing such a vision of divine beauty staring back at me!!"
"Couldn't the machine have made her less pompous?!" Aisuko groans.
"I'll handle this," Shinoko steps inside, moving to stand beside Atako. "Shutako-san!" she coos. "Shutako-san, we need you!!"
"Did you say something, Shinoko-san?" Shutako's eyes don't turn away.
"But, Shutako-san," tears appear in Shinoko's eyes, her eyes wide with sorrow. "Someone shot my poor sister Shinobu!"
Mendou's double freezes, then in a flash, whips over to grasp Shinoko's hands. "Is this true?!!" she hisses. "How dare they think of harming such a delicate flower as your sister, who enchants my brother to this day!! By all the gods, I shall make them **two** for their sins!!!" she draws a sheathed katana from nowhere, partially drawing it for effect.
The guards and Atako look scared, sweat pouring down their heads. "I prefer her the way she was before!" Dareko moans.
"Never mind!" Atako shakes her head. "I guess there're certain things that can't be changed!!" She passes a jumpsuit to Shutako. "Here, gorgeous! Throw this on!!"
Mendou's double looks at the fabric. "But, this doesn't reveal enough!"
Everyone faints! "Who do you think you are, Shutako?!" Atako demands, her head four times larger than normal. "Seiteki Ozuno?!!"
"Wrong series," Shinobu's double objects.
"They'll start fighting like their brothers did!!" Aisuko sighs.
"We'll never rescue Lum at this rate!" Shikko stretches herself.
Urayako and Dareko nod in agreement...
* * *
After what seems an eternity, the rescue team departs from the gestation machine. Shinobu, her arm now in a sling, waves good-bye as she watches from a secluded bedroom with Tomoko and Nuriko. "This is not going to be an easy mission," the Terran sadly concludes as she sits on the bed.
"What made you reach that conclusion, Miyaki-san?" Tomoko hums.
"With the way Mendou-san and the guards fight Ataru-kun, I'm sure that sort of thing will rub off on their doubles!" Shinobu sits. "I hope Shinoko-chan's got enough patience to prevent them from killing each other!"
"I am sure sister Shinoko will have no difficulties," Nuriko stares out the window. "Considering Mendou-san's and Ataru-sama's attraction towards you...not to mention sister Atako's and sister Shutako's reflection of that interest...I believe sister Shinoko may find herself facing two potential suitors."
Shinobu looks surprised. "She'll have to choose between Atako-kun and Shutako-san," she moans. "It's just like before!"
"Not necessarily," Tomoko holds up an objecting finger. "Like our Creators, we do not practice the curious bonding you call 'marriage.' On Sagussa, people could seek more than one bond-made if they so desired."
"Two lovers?!!" Shinobu gasps, then shakes her head. "Oh, wonderful! Now I **know** things are going to go wrong!!"
The Terran moans as the two Avalonians stare at the other, wondering what could be so objectionable to Shinoko's situation...
* * *
"This should be the easiest rescue on record!" Dareko giggles as she hefts a missile launcher. "Swoop in and take Lum out of her prison, then get clear of the town and let the gestation machine transport us back!"
"Don't get to cocky, Dareko," Urayako wags a warning finger, shoulder-arming a grenade-launcher equipped assault rifle. "We've got two companies of assassins ahead of us protecting Lum, not to mention the company which was supposed to protect our brothers!"
"That's why this'll be so easy!" the muscular bioroid shrugs, giving her friend a cocky smile. "The company which was guarding our brothers was on the other side of town enjoying the company of a brothel! Honestly, Urayako-chan, you call that protection?!"
"Well, I guess not," Urayako scratches her cheek. "Still, don't get cocky! I want you to come out of this in one piece, okay!!"
"Okay, okay!" Dareko sighs. "Stop acting like my mother!! Sheesh!"
Atako and Aisuko listen from up ahead, both shouldering pump-action shotguns. "Hey, do something about those two, huh?!" the former looks at the latter. "They better not gab when we hit Gekijoo!"
"They'll be fine," Aisuko adjusts her glasses. "Have a little faith, Atako! We know what we're up against!!"
"Uh-huh," Ataru's bioroid double seems not convinced, then looks over to see Shinoko and Shutako staring at her. "What is it?"
The two wait until Aisuko has dropped back to be with Shikko, then shift over to walk on either side of Atako. "Atako-kun, are you sure you're up to this?!" Shinobu's double hums, cradling a machine gun.
"What's that mean?" Atako looks confused.
"Forgive me for implying this, Atako-chan," Mendou's double places her free hand reassuringly on Atako's shoulder, "...but may I remind you that when we were our normal selves, you always shirked away from fighting alongside us when those chances presented themselves...such as the time when Memory first emerged from under my family's tree."
Atako sighs. "Look, Shutako-chan, I never liked the way you tried to resolve that. All you did was waste tons of ammunition and totalled Tomobiki. Big waste of time, don't you think? Besides," she looks at the shotgun in her hand as if it was a rattlesnake about to bite her, "...under normal circumstances, I'm loath to resort to this when I've got a problem! I can't begin to understand how my brother is still able to yank guns whenever something gets out of hand!"
"We are different from our templates," Shinoko muses. "This might be a good sign."
Atako and Shutako consider the point, then nod. "Maybe," the former muses...then her eyes widen as she notices that the latter has not moved her hand from her shoulder. Looking at Mendou's double, Atako feels a curious shift in her emotions. If she could alter her very being from what Ataru Moroboshi currently was, could Shutako do the same? The prospect seems quite intriguing to Atako and definitely worth exploring.
Immediately, her left hand slides up to gently lift Shutako's from her shoulder. Shutako looks confused...then her demeanour transforms to surprise when Atako doesn't let go of her hand. The two look at each other, unsure if this is the proper way they should behave given the bad blood between Ataru Moroboshi and Shutaro Mendou. Finally, both seem to smile, as if saying "I'm willing if you are." Their hands don't part. Watching from behind them, the guards' sisters stare at each other, wondering what was happening to their reality if a double of Ataru and a double of Mendou could treat the other with friendship, if not something more intimate.
Atako's eyes widen as she realizes there is another factor: Shinoko. Looking right, she notices Shinobu's sister looking at them. Both Atako and Shutako seem nervous, wondering if Shinoko would express her sister's temper if she felt left out again. To their total surprise, Shinoko smiles approvingly. Atako and Shutako emit sighs of relief. Then, as to better communicate her desires, Shinoko shifts herself to stand between Ataru's and Mendou's sister, slinging her machine gun so she could wrap an arm around them both. Feeling her closeness, Atako and Shutako stare at each other, then smile and link hands behind Shinoko's back, leaning their heads against hers to signify their desire not to let the other go. Shinoko feels a blush rising in her cheek, realizing that in this existence, she will never have to fear being alone.
Now, if they could only help Shinobu...
* * *
Many hours later, the rescue team pass through a small market on the outskirts of Gekijoo. Completely inhabited by Avalonians, the newcomers are welcomed with warm smiles and hot food in preparation for their raid on the cathedral. The bright orb of Phentax Twelve's primary, Sanko-Phentax, sets behind the grounded hulk of the gestation factory, a 20 kilometre long multi-storied flat structure painted khaki brown. Dotting the roof of the factory are control complexes, one of which possesses a glowing orb atop the tower's apex. Watching this through binoculars from a fruit kiosk, the bioroid Otako sighs in resignation. "There's the real problem," she growls. "That orb atop the factory must be an auxiliary control unit my sister created to prevent us from recreating Gloriana. Ataru, what do you think...?!" she turns to her companion, then looks confused. "Ataru, are you alright?!"
The Terran watches as the bioroid rescue team heads towards the distant glow of Gekijoo, disbelief and confusion on his face. "This may sound totally crazy, but I just watched Shinobu pass by with what looked like female doubles of myself, Mendou and Megane's boob-patrol!" he looks at Otako.
"Perhaps they are bioroids," the bioroid shrugs. "The gestation factory does that sometimes. It's quite unpredictable."
"Oh?!" Ataru shakes his head. "How's this, then: my double and Mendou's double were arm-in-arm with Shinobu!"
"So?!"
Ataru leans up to her, intimidating her with a haunted stare. "My double and Mendou's double were holding hands!"
Otako faints! "That **is** strange!"
* * *
"Welcome back," Invader grins as Hensou's team disembark. "Congratulations!"
"Thanks," Lum's bioroid double smiles, fishing a small computer chip from her bikini top. "I believe we'll be needing this."
"What's this?"
"A computer chip Damasu lifted off the Yooina central defence computer," Hensou nods to Lan's double. "It has on it the prefix access codes for every Niphentaxian defence unit currently in commission."
"With one command, we could shut the whole of Oogi's navy down just like that!" Damasu snaps her fingers in emphasis.
"Yeah!" Kamen cackles in anticipation. "This rescue'll be a cakewalk!!"
Invader nods. "Okay! We'll get everyone organized, then we'll head in. Meantime, I want you four to report to sick bay."
The bioroids hesitate. Sick bay mean the hyber-sleep capsules. "Of course, Captain," Hensou nods. "Let's go, girls."
The four proceed towards the "Kashin's" medical station. As soon as they are out of hearing range from Captain Invader, Kamen gently seizes Hensou's arm. "If they think I'm going back into that cryo-tube so I can pretend to be an icicle for Fate knows how long, they're wrong!" the Fukunokami bioroid hisses. "C'mon! I've got a better idea!"
"If we're caught, we'll be put into hyber-sleep without being given a chance to explain our actions," the Oni bioroid retorts, keeping her voice low. "Are you sure you want to risk that, Kamen-chan?"
"Could I make a suggestion?"
The four stop, looking right to see Dakejinzou standing there. "Shogai-sama," Mienai hums. "What are you doing here?"
"As soon as I overheard where you were ordered, I figured out the rest," she hums. "I take it you girls want to go elsewhere."
They look suspiciously at Dakejinzou. "Why do you care, anyway?" Kamen growls, reaching over to gently grasp Hensou's hand.
"Because, if your transponders were working correctly, you'd know that I'm a synthezoid," Dakejinzou points to herself.
"A synthezoid?!" Damasu hums. "You don't act like one, Dakejinzou."
"Of course not," the hunter gives them a off-smile. "I guess that's because I was constructed with such care to psychological detail. I don't remember who created me or why. I guess that's because I was in cryo-stasis for five million years. Anyhow, that's my problem to bear. How would you girls like to go someplace where you'll never have to worry about being controlled by others again?"
"We were hoping to go to Phentax Twelve," Oyuki's double smiles. "Like you, we don't possess information about who created us or why. All Nassur-sama informed us was that the Niphentaxians assisted in our creation."
"The Niphentaxians?!" Dakejinzou hums. "Well, well, well," she muses. "That does seem to confirm some rumours I've heard."
"What rumours?!" Lan's double demands.
"That the Niphentaxians have enslaved a race native to Phentax Twelve," the hunter muses. "I've always wondered why that planet was a forbidden zone to all outsiders."
The bioroids look stunned; that rumour wasn't general knowledge to their templates. "There are others like us?!" Hensou gasps.
"I believe so. Care to find out?"
"Could you get away with it?" Kamen hums. "I mean, old man Invader can go a long way if he wants to get something."
"Besides, we're seen as insurance to keep our templates safe," Damasu adds.
"Against who?" Dakejinzou snorts. "Any of Natsu-chan's enemies? The Ipraedies? Even the Dominion? Don't be ridiculous!" she hums. "Even if you are designed to portray your sisters, Dakejinzou's First Rule of Kidnapping states 'Always assume dead-ringers!'"
The bioroids hesitate. If Invader and Nassur understood that, they could be quickly considered not relevant. "Then our usefulness is ended," Hensou looks at Dakejinzou. "You got some more room in your ship?"
The adopted Fukunokami thumbs towards the hangar deck. "Get aboard and make yourselves at home. I'll be with you shortly."
The four nod, then run to Dakejinzou's ship. The synthezoid sighs as she proceeds to the bridge. Persuading Nassur of this would be difficult; one of the Vosian's greatest fears was his enemies using his few friends against him. Dakejinzou's own life had become interesting since the day she met Nassur shortly after Cinba's demise. She became a frequent target for the Mikado's dwindling legion of psi-hunters in an attempt to turn her against her former lover. Fortunately, her combat skills and unique origins made Dakejinzou Shogai one of the most impossible targets for opponents to capture, much less kill. Unmarked graves on a dozen worlds holding the remains of many experienced psi-hunters and mercenaries attested to that.
Dakejinzou turns, then sees Nagaiwakai standing there. "Is there a problem, ma'am?" Dakejinzou clasps her hands behind her back.
"Yes," the matriarch muses. "I hear that Invader has ordered those four bioroids back to their storage chambers on Io."
"He has," the hunter nods. "However, I don't want to stand by and allow them to be treated like brainless pieces of equipment. They're not so different from myself."
"True," Nagaiwakai muses. "After this is over, I just might have another option for them if they're willing to take it."
"Really?" Dakejinzou looks surprised. "Well, just as long as they're treated as people, not machines, I won't object."
"Do I treat you as a machine?"
"Of course not, ma'am!"
Nagaiwakai smiles as she slips her arm around Dakejinzou's. "Come, child. I've some business to discuss with you...something I think you'll find financially rewarding."
"It doesn't involve my killing people, does it?" the synthezoid hums.
"Not this time," the matriarch giggles...
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
"There!" Aisuko hisses, glancing on the sleeping town of Gekijoo through binoculars. "All's quiet on the Western Front."
Atako's team is now perched on a small hill overlooking the town. Near the centre is the familiar shape of Tomobiki High, which, like in all Niphentaxian urban centres, serves as the temple for the Church of Lum. The bioroids scan the building through their own binoculars. "Any sign of Lum?" Shinoko hums.
"There!" Shutako points. "Clock tower!"
Everyone looks. Waiting on the balcony, staring to the night sky, is a depressed Lum. "Why doesn't she fly away?" Atako muses. "Shit, if she's supposed to be their goddess, it'd be considered heresy if they tried to stop her from going wherever she wanted!"
"Look around, Atako," Dareko sighs.
Atako looks. Mounted on the roof of the school are watch stations, each manned with grim-looking Niphentaxian soldiers. On the grounds in front of the school are surface-to-air and anti-ship missile launchers, not to mention tank traps and anything else soldiers would devise. "A little bit of overkill, eh?"
"Too much," Shikko hums. "You'd think this was the Imperial Palace during the war!"
"Or Fort Knox," Urayako muses. "Okay, so now what?!" she glances over.
Everyone looks to Atako. "Why're you looking at me?" she shudders.
"It's your party," Aisuko shrugs.
Atako sighs, sitting up and crossing her legs. "I've got no training in this sort of strategy, guys! Anyone got any ideas?!"
The others shake their heads. Shutako sits beside her, grasping her hand. "Atako-chan, when you were your old self before the Spirit War, you used to be able to perform incredible feats to try to win a woman's favour. No one was safe from you. Even if you have rejected such actions, can't you try to do it one more time? This is your future sister-in-law we're talking about."
Atako blushes. No one from Tomobiki save Mie ever expressed faith in Ataru's abilities. "Okay," she sighs, taking her binoculars and scanning Lum's prison. "All male guards."
"Is that important?" Shinoko wonders.
"Well," Atako sighs, then smiles. "If you guys can stand having people stare at you, I think we've got a chance..."
* * *
"Darling, where are you?"
The Oni had been forced to reside in the clock tower of Gekijoo's cathedral without any hint of when she would be released. There was good news. The disappearance of Mendou and the guards had caused an uproar. That paled against Lum's learning of who else resided on Phentax Twelve. She had been assigned several Avalonians when she was brought here. That surprised her; no planet in the Federation had advanced far in bio-cybernetic engineering. When she inquired Otako, Lum was told the Avalonians were spoils of colonization, the Niphentaxians' property by right of discovery. Lum felt nauseated. It didn't help that her servants stared at the Oni with hatred every time they were in her presence. Befriending them was going to be difficult.
The Oni walks back to her luxurious bed, laying down and staring at the ceiling. When she was alone in Tomobiki, she either sought Mie's company or allowed herself to drift into the Dreamscape to visit Noa. Mie was probably back on Earth. Lum had also discovered that some shield was blocking her from projecting herself into the Dreamscape. The Oni wondered what could do that. She dared not explore further. Heaven only knew what could happen if the Niphentaxians learned of the Sagussans. Lum didn't doubt Noa's people had the power to wipe out the Church of Lum, but if the interest of the *daishi'cha* in Ataru...and their acknowledgement of Lum's desire to marry him...became known, that would simply give them another excuse to exterminate Ataru. Lum would rather die than permit that to happen.
Worst of all, her personal bond with Ataru was missing. Lum discovered long ago that she could sometimes feel her Darling's emotions. The emergence of Ataru's Cyborg persona had increased her awareness, almost to the point where Ataru had confessed that whenever he was relaxed, he sometimes felt that they weren't really separated. Was this bond the reason the *daishi'cha* considered Lum the Other? If so, then who allowed such a bond to exist in the first place? Was it some unexplainable quirk of nature or was it intentional? If so, who did it and why?
Before the Oni could drift asleep, the door opens and Otako steps in. "Good evening, Lum-sama," the priestess mirthlessly smiles.
Lum looks incensed. Otako seemed not to care anymore about usual formalities. "What do you want?!" she growls, looking away.
Otako giggles, holding the mysterious crystal ball in hand. "Hoping Moroboshi will come take you away from us?" she muses. "Did you know that a massive fleet from as far away as Zephyrus and the Dominion are massing near Yooina? I suggest you think again. We still don't understand how is it he gained such personal power, not to mention such vociferous support, but we shall leave no stone unturned until we have all our answers about him."
"And then what?!" Lum snorts. "Don't waste your time, Otako! I'll tell you what's been going on! Did you know that Darling's family was a ninja clan who discovered how to preserve the knowledge of their leaders in a special bio-neural databank?! Did you know that databank is sentient?!! It calls itself the *saikoo jinseijitsu*!! What it hates most of all is me and all who care for me!!! We had the devil's own time trying to subdue that monster!! If it ever got out of Darling's head while he's still here, it'd proceed to kill every member of the Church of Lum it could get its hands on!!! What's more, I'd **allow** it to kill as much as it wants!!!"
Otako pales. "Want to know what else?!!" Lum stands. "Darling has a split personality! The inner self is a cybernetic killing machine which doesn't take too kindly to people making my life miserable!!! The Cyborg would rip your arms out and beat you with them if it got the chance!!! I'll make sure it **gets** the chance!!! Don't think that army out there's going to stop him, either!!!" she points out the window to indicate the soldiers "guarding" her. "The Cyborg eats armies for breakfast!"
The Niphentaxian priestess shudders. "Did you know Darling's sister Nokoko lived for twelve years in the Outland?!!" Lum prods. "Did you know that Darling is now under the protection of Dakejinzou Shogai?!! Did you know that Nokoko-chan has friends who're powerful enough to kill you without blinking their eyes?!! Did you know that Darling once saved the honour of a daughter of the First Mage of the Seifukusu Dominion?!! Did you know Darling's grandmother is a Righteous Gentile?!!" Lum pauses, allowing that information to sink in, then moves to drop the final bombshell. "And did you know that Darling is destined to become the...?!!"
The door collapses, smashing Otako in the head! The priestess drops like a marionette with her strings cut, her hand releasing the orb. The orb bounces on the floor as it rolls away from Lum. The Oni leaps back in shock as confirms Otako's unconscious state, then looks up to see the face of the person who rescued her. "Darling!!!" she cries.
"Don't tell her classified information, Lum-chan!!" a voice chuckles.
Lum leaps over to embrace her...then stops on seeing Atako looking at her, now in a string bikini! The Oni cries out, then drops back a step, eyes wide on seeing the transformation between the bioroid and her template. "D-d-darling...!!" Lum tearfully stammers, "...y-y-you're a g-g-girl...!!!"
"Hey, hold on here, Lum-chan!!" she calmly intones. "I can explain...!"
Lum's grief-stricken wail knocks Atako over! "MY DARLING'S A **GIRL**!!!!!! THIS IS THE MOST HORRIBLE DAY OF MY LIFE!!!! NOA-CHAN, I FAILED YOU!!!!!! HOW COULD DARLING BECOME *DAIMON'CHA* WHEN HE'S A **SHE?!?!?!**"
"Maybe I should keep her here and get Ataru to come rescue her...!" Atako moans, rising to her knees as she rubs her skull.
She finds herself embraced by a crying Lum. "Oh, Darling, our love will never die because you're a girl!!!" she weeps, dousing the bioroid with her tears. "I'll always love you even if we can't have children...!!!"
Lum is bashed down by Shinoko! "You horse-thief, you're not taking Atako-kun away from me **this** time!!!"
The Oni bolts up, her grief transforming to vile rage. "If you think you'll try to dominate **my** Darling because of this, Miyaki, you're very mistaken!!!" she snarls, lightning dancing over her body.
Both get blasted down by Atako's scream! "***HEY!!!! THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A RESCUE, NOT A FIGHT!!!! GET WITH THE PROGRAM!!!!***"
"Yes, Darling..." Lum gulps.
"S-sorry, Atako-kun..." Shinoko shudders.
The Oni looks surprised. "'Atako?!!'"
"Yeah!!" Atako rises. "Ataru's safe, but he's somewhere on this dirtball!! Once we get you safe, we're going after him, then we're blowing this ramen shop forever!"
"That's what you think!" a voice cackles.
They see Otako standing several feet away, the controlling orb in hand. "No one shall take Lum-sama away!!!" she cackles, her body glowing with magical energies. "Once you are destroyed, I shall go forth and destroy everyone who dares unites you with Lum-sama!!! Prepare for your true destiny, you artificial demons...your **deaths**!!!"
Lum leaps defensively in front of Atako. "No one takes **any** part of Darling away from me!!!" the Oni murderously snarls, then lets lose with a lightning bolt of unparalleled strength! "FRY!!!!!!"
The blast of energy rips through Otako's heart, coring out a fist-wide section of flesh and bone!! The priestess gasps as she is blasted against the wall, then drops to the ground, her blood staining the wall behind her. Otako's eyes stare at Lum as her life drains away. "Lum-sama...why...?"
Her head slumps forward, the controlling orb falling. Lum gasps as she realizes what she's done. Shinoko stares fearfully at the Oni. Atako walks around the two as she pulls up her shotgun. "Make sure this doesn't bother us again!!" she aims and fires.
A bolt of particle-plasma rips into the orb, totally shattering it! Atako sighs. "Let's get the hell out of here!!"
Both girls numbly nod as they turn and smartly move out of the room, Atako following them. Descending down the stairs to the third floor, Atako looks. "Where are you guys?!!"
An explosion to her left nearly knocks the three down as the other bioroids appear!! Lum gasps on seeing five women standing there in lieu of the five men who normally fawn over her, but after remembering Atako's brief explanation, relaxes. Cordite stains their faces, but the five seem to maintain their cool. One of Shutako's arms has a field bandage on it covering a gunshot wound which sliced into her biceps. "Shutako-chan, you're hurt!!" Atako leaps to her side, reaching over to support her friend. "How bad?!"
"It's a scratch," Mendou's double smiles, doing her best to hide the pain. "We've taken care of the idiots below! I think we've also found some hovercycles on the first floor, where Sakura-sensei's office would be!!"
Ataru's double looks relieved. "Okay, we've got what we came for and we've got rid of Otako to boot!! Let's amscray!!!"
They race to the first floor landing, then into the north-west wing. Bursting into the room, they find a group of Urusian pattern airbikes. "Great!!" Lum leaps on one. "Let's get out of this place!!!"
"Amen to that!!" Aisuko leaps on another, then stares at the controls. "Eh...Lum, could you tell us how to work these things?!"
* * *
Gekijoo's cathedral detonates in a giant explosion as bombs laid by the guards' doubles do their murderous work! Niphentaxians gasp in mortal fear as they watch the centre of their faith brought to ruin. The Avalonians witnessing this smile, realizing that their decades of indentured servitude are soon to be nothing more than painful memories. Before anyone could react, four airbikes blast away, flying to the distant gestation factory.
In the ruins, soldiers claw through the wreckage in hopes of finding survivors. As with all Niphentaxian ground troops, they are dressed as if they were members of Mendou's Panzer Division. "Otako-sama!!!" one sergeant cries. "Where are you?!!"
In answer, a volcano of psychic energy funnels from the site of the clock tower. Rising from the wreckage is a living Otako, her chest wound healed, eyes glowing like twin suns. "Otako-sama!!!" the sergeant gasps in relief. "You're alright!!! What happened?!!"
The priestess' eyes narrow as her voice booms. "GET MOROBOSHI!!!!!!"
Mortified, the soldiers retreat...
* * *
"Is everyone okay?!!" Lum calls as she guides her airbike to the distant gestation factory, Shinoko hugging her from behind.
Cheers of confirmation echo from the guards' doubles and Shinoko. Atako sees that Shutako is on the verge of unconsciousness. "We've got to get Shutako-chan to medical aid, Lum! She's losing a lot of blood!!"
"I'm...alright..." Mendou's sister gasps. "I said...it was...a scratch...!"
"Jeez, you're as thick-skulled as your brother!" Atako shakes her head.
"Hey!!!" Aisuko cries. "Incoming!!!"
Lum looks to see a battalion of airbike troops rising in pursuit from Gekijoo. "Oh, gods, they don't want to give up, do they?!!"
"A gun!!" Shinoko barks. "You drive!"
Lum passes a machine gun back. Shikko and Urayako arm themselves. "Atako-kun, fly on ahead!!" Shinoko yells. "Get Shutako-kun to the priestesses so they can look at her!"
"Right!! Watch yourselves!" Atako waves as she guns the airbike's engines to maximum overdrive, rocketing ahead of the others.
Lum glances back to see the Niphentaxians close in. "Lum-sama!!!" a sergeant waves. "Stop!!! We won't hurt you!!"
"Lie and a half!" the Oni hisses.
As the Niphentaxians close the range, the thunder of starship engines is heard. Everyone looks up to see the boat-shaped hull of the "Goddess of Luck" race at them, photon torpedo and concussion missile launchers deploying. "Incoming!!!" Lum screams.
The Niphentaxians wail as the first fusillade decimates their ranks! Shattered airbikes and burning troopers rain the ground far below. Machine gun then fire rakes them from another direction as the thunderous roar of a Fukunokami airbike is heard, followed by very familiar laughter. Lum's eyes widen as she looks back. "Benten!!!"
The Niphentaxians spin around, staring in shock as Kamen races at them, a machine gun in hand slung over her bike's handlebars and the bike's weapons firing! The Fukunokami bioroid cackles as she hoses the enemy bikers, sending many more to an early demise. "Let's see how much you like taking it!!!" Kamen howls.
The bike battalion is whittled to several wrecked platoons, retreating as the "Goddess'" swivel particle gun mounts chase them off. Lum notices more familiar faces piloting the frigate as the hatchway opens and Dakejinzou stares outside. "Are you people alright?!"
"We've fine!!" Lum glides her bike over. "Can you find Darling?!"
"He's waiting up ahead!" Dakejinzou points at the factory, then looks back. "And I see there are much more bioroids living on this planet than just Kamen and her team!"
"Eh?!" Lum looks at "Benten." "You mean, you're not Benten...?!"
The Fukunokami's attention is locked on Shinoko. "Y-you're just like m-me...!" Kamen stammers, eyes wide with confusion and relief.
"That's right," Shinoko smiles. "I'm Shinoko Miyaki. Shinobu's my template."
Kamen nods to her, grinning. "I'm Kamen Shigaten. Benten's my template."
Shinoko blushes from Kamen's stare, then looks at Lum. "Lum, why don't you catch up. Kamen-chan could take me back to the factory."
Without giving the Oni a chance to reply, Shinobu's sister steps over to sit on Kamen's airbike. Benten's sister guns her machine as the other doubles race away. Lum looks at Dakejinzou. "What's going on here?!! Who made that double of Benten?!!"
"Oogi did, on your father's orders," the hunter nods. "Come on in and I'll explain..."
* * *
The "Goddess of Luck" touches down atop the factory beside a tower. Dakejinzou and Lum disembark. The Oni is overjoyed to see who's waiting for her. "Darling!!!" she leaps into Ataru's arms. "Darling, you're alright!! You're safe!!!" she cakes him with kisses.
"Hey, hey, you!!" Ataru chuckles as he tightly embraces Lum. "Relax!! Don't you know by now I'm invincible?!!"
Lum then sees Hensou. "Mal-chan...?"
"My name's Hensou," her double bows.
"I suggest we get below and get everyone introduced to everyone," Ataru interrupts. "Besides, I need you for something, Lum!"
"You do?!" Lum looks confused.
In minutes, everyone is introduced to everyone else. While there is hesitation around Otako, Ataru's words quickly sooth any doubts. As they chat away, Atako tends to Shinobu and Shutako. Lum sits beside her former rival, regretful at the sight of the Terran's wounds. "I'm sorry," she quietly sobs as she lightly squeezes Shinobu's hand.
"Sorry?" Shinobu blinks. "Why?!"
"For not telling you about these people before," the Oni shakes her head. "Maybe somehow we could've avoided this disaster..."
"Lum, don't be mad," Shinobu pats Lum's hand. "You can't predict how other people are going to act! There's no reason for you to blame yourself! You're not at fault!"
"Uh-oh!" Dakejinzou looks out a window into the forest. "We've got incoming!!"
Everyone stares outside to see multiple lights shining through the canopy of trees, indicating a massive host. "Shit, we're on long odds now!" Kamen hisses. "Any way we can just teleport ourselves off this rock?!"
"All teleporters and transporters are down," Dakejinzou shakes her head. "We barely have communications to contact the fleets in orbit! Further, their fire-control nets are down. They could accidentally hit an Avalonian commune or this place! Like it or not, we'll have to settle it here!"
"How?!" Lum looks anxious.
"It's being done," Otako reports. "When you stepped into this station, Lum-sama, your body and mind were scanned. Gloriana's new body is being gestated. Once she's cognizant, she can then seize control of the gestation factory, then it can take us to Avalon."
"You're making **another** me?!" Lum gasps. "Isn't **three** of me enough with Mal-chan and Hensou-chan?!!"
"We're lucky our brothers aren't up to see this," Aisuko sighs.
"Lum, you have to agree there's no way Gloriana'll be harmed if she looks like you," Ataru hums. "Besides, you're one up on me! I've got two sisters and you'll have three!!"
"True," Lum looks at Dakejinzou. "But, what do we do about that?" she points outside. "I doubt they'll wait for us to resurrect Gloriana so we could steal their slaves!!"
"True," the hunter nods. "As to how to stop them, I'm at a loss."
The bioroids shake their heads save one. "I'm not," Atako speaks up.
"What do you have in mind?" Ataru hums.
"Well, I don't have it in my head...but **you** do," Atako taps her brother on the shoulder. "I say you just walk out, pretend you've come to surrender yourself...and when they least suspect it...let **you know what** out of your head...and let **it** deal with them!!" a mirthless smile crosses her face. "That curse we've been fighting may be much for all of us...but it'll be peanuts in comparison to the *saikoo jinseijitsu*!!"
Everyone turns white. "Darling, no!!!" Lum shakes her head. "If you let that monster out again, it'll try to destroy you!!!"
"Atako's right," Ataru sighs. "I doubt even as the Cyborg, I could wax those bastards out there!" he nods outside. "The *saikoo jinseijitsu* would have a field day!!"
"Are you sure we should risk it?!" Aisuko wonders. "We had the devil's own time trying to subdue that monster during the Spirit War! It'll be ready for us now!! What do you think, Shogai-san?!" she looks at Dakejinzou.
The synthezoid hunter muses. "I haven't had any personal experience with that beast, so I am unable to predict what could happen. I've only now just been hired by Nagaiwakai-sama to become Ataru-chan's combat teacher!"
"Call Grandma and ask," the Oni prompts.
Dakejinzou contacts the "Kashin." Once a clear and secure channel has been obtained, the hunter relays the plan. The matriarch's answer is grim. "Unfortunately, we can't beam down troops to stop this fight," Nagaiwakai sighs. "Further, there's the problem of this curse. If it's as powerful as people've hinted, then the *saikoo jinseijitsu* might be tempted to absorb that power for itself."
"If the *saikoo jinseijitsu* absorbs the power of this curse, this'll make the Spirit War look like a tea party!!" Kamen growls.
Everyone looks to Ataru. The Terran nods. "We've no choice." He looks at Atako. "Atako-chan, you and the others protect Gloriana. If you see any Avalonians approach the factory, get them to safety. Dake-chan, you'll help, okay?!" he looks at the hunter.
"Of course," she nods.
Ataru faces Lum. "Ready?"
"Ready!" the Oni nods.
They leave. "May the Creators go with them!" Nuriko intones.
* * *
"Any hope of penetrating that field?!"
"None, sir," the sensory officer shakes her head, then yelps. "Sir!! Incoming force! Niphentaxians..." she gasps, then curses. "Over six hundred ships!!! Sensors also indicate an echelon of Planet Destroyers!!"
Invader curses in Oni, then stares at the forward viewscreen, now projecting a view of the Niphentaxian task force. Invader and Nagaiwakai had scraped up a fleet of two hundred ships, including representation from the Ipraedies Empire, the Royal Kingdoms of Yehisril, the Seifukusu Dominion and the Holy Republic of Zephyrus. Fortunately, Invader had aces. "Tell the EWCR to transmit the fleet stand-down codes!!!" he barks. "Signal all ships!!! Sound battle stations!!!"
The klaxon blares as the crew leap to their action stations as an invisible code transmits from the "Kashin"...
* * *
Aboard the "Tamashii no Lum," Oogi glares at the opposition. The sight of ships from a half-dozen fellow Federation worlds, not to mention elsewhere, sends rage and betrayal down the president's spine. "I was trying to free Lum-sama from that devil's chains...and **this** is how they repay me?!!" he hisses. "Order all ships to action stations!! Have the Planet Destroyers stand by! Target all Seifukusu, Zephyrite and Ipraedies forces!! If necessary, target the Yehisrites, too!!!"
The fleet captain nods, then turns to relay the command...just as the lights dim. Everyone gasps as ship's power dies. "Sir!!!" an officer reports. "All weapons systems and shields are deactivating!!!"
"Every ship's affected!!!" another gasps. "Even the Planet Destroyers've been hit!!!"
"What?!!" Oogi cries. "How?!!"
* * *
Standing atop a ridge near the factory, Ataru and Lum watch as the Niphentaxians approach. Torches light an eerie scene as Lum gasps, "It looks like every Niphentaxian who lives on this colony's come!!!"
"There're even children!!" he points. "Mothers with babies...kids who should be in school...teenagers who should be dating...!!"
He falls silent, unable to say anything more. "All because of a curse someone tried to punish me with when I was born?!!" Lum shudders. "This...this is madness!!"
"Why do you think I've been so scared about you staying in Tomobiki?"
Atako's voice speaks from nowhere. "Ataru-chan! Lum-chan!!"
"Is Gloriana ready?!" Lum asks.
"No, not yet!" the bioroid replies. "But the Avalonians're making their way here! It's like Noah's Ark!!! You gotta see this!!"
"Tell us about it later, sis," Ataru smiles. "If there is a later."
"Darling, don't say that!" Lum cries.
Minutes tick away as the Niphentaxians approach. Ataru's eyes narrow as he detects one figure leading the pack: Otako. "Ready?"
Lum looks hesitant. "Are you sure...?!"
"Don't question it!!" he snaps.
"Moroboshi!!" Otako's voice echoes. "Surrender!! If you surrender, I'll guarantee that Lum-sama will not be harmed!!!"
"They always say that," he sighs, then yells, "What about my family?!!"
"What about them?!!" Otako replies. "They're not relevant!!!"
"No!!!" he screams. "Get ready, Lum!"
"Ready!" the Oni forms a lightning ball.
"Don't be a fool!!!" the priestess snaps. "Think, Ataru!!! For two years, your life's been dominated by Lum-sama's presence!!! You've chafed at her domination, fought to free yourself, free your planet from her!!! You and I seek the same thing!!! Join me and we'll guarantee Earth will develop the way it should!!! Isn't that more important?!!"
Interesting switch in tactics. "So, you mean to say to me that you never cared for Lum?!! I wonder what Oogi'd say to that!!!"
"What does he know?!!" Otako snarls. "He desires Lum-sama!!! Lum-sama must remain pure!!! Lum-sama must remain whole!!! Anyone who dares alter that must be destroyed!!!"
"That curse is trying to use every trick to make me turn away from you!" he looks at Lum, then yells. "Is that really you I'm talking to...or the curse the Old Woman of the Oak Forest put on Lum seventeen years ago?!!"
Silence. "I thought as much!!!" Ataru laughs. "It's no wonder you were so easy to take over, considering that everyone **knows** that all Niphentaxians are *brainless*, **clueless**, ***IDIOTS!!!!!!***"
"Prepare to eat those words!!!" Otako mindlessly screams.
"Now, Lum!!!" Ataru barks.
The Oni, still looking unsure, nods as the lightning lashes out, impacting the back of her Darling's head. Ataru cries in shock as he drops to his knees. "I'm sorry!"
Her eyes widen as Ataru is surrounded by a orange glow. His skin pales as tiger striping appears. Ataru's eyes glow star-white. Rising, his voice booms. "***COMBAT CLOTHING TRANSFORM WHIRLWIND!!!!!!***"
The energy rips away Ataru's civilian clothing, reforming into a ninja's gi. Lum tries to suppress her fear as she watches. "*I AM FREE!!*" the *saikoo jinseijitsu* glares at Lum. "*WHY DID YOU FREE ME, ONI?! ARE YOU PREPARED TO SURRENDER MOROBOSHI SO I MAY AT LAST HAVE A LIFE OF MY OWN?!!*"
"N-no...!!" Lum looks angry. "There's something you better know, first! Look there!!" she nods down the hill.
Ataru sees the advancing Niphentaxians. The possessed teen snorts as he glares at Lum. "*ARE THEY OF ANY CONCERN OF MINE?!*"
"They'd be if you realize that they're here to destroy Darling!!"
"*LET THEM! I'LL EVEN HELP!!*"
"I wouldn't say that if I were you!!" Lum snarls. "Even if they found out you existed, they'd still move to destroy **you**!!!"
"*WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!*"
"Think about it!" Lum holds up a cautious finger. "Not everyone knows about you!! All they see is Darling! They're not going to give you a chance to state your case before they destroy Darling...and you!!"
Ataru hums as he stares at the advancing Niphentaxians. His eyes narrow as he notices their eyes glowing. "***SPIRIT-SENSOR!!!!***"
A mace appears! The crystal at one end glows as it gives the possessed teen a clearer view. "*INTERESTING!*" he muses. "*THEY HAVE BEEN POSSESSED BY SOME OUTSIDE POWER!*"
"That's a curse for me!!" Lum points at herself. "It's designed to keep me away from consummating my relationship with Darling!!!"
Ataru gives her a thin smile. "*UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, I WOULD HELP SUCH A CURSE KEEP YOU AWAY FROM MOROBOSHI!!*" he mirthlessly cackles. "*HOWEVER, I ALSO SENSE THAT THIS CURSE HAS BECOME A SHINMA!!!*"
Lum looks confused. "*Shinma*?!"
"*YOU SHOULD BETTER LEARN YOUR FUTURE HOMELAND'S MYTHS IF YOU DESIRE TO LIVE ON EARTH*," the possessed teen sneers. "*A SHINMA IS A CREATURE NEITHER GOOD NOR EVIL, BUT AS LONG AS IT EXISTS WITHIN THIS DIMENSION, THOSE NORMAL HUMANS WHO COME IN CONTACT WITH IT ARE DOOMED!*"
The Oni shudders, realizing there is presently no hope for Otako or her fellow colonists. Looking at his spirit-sensor, Ataru hums, then his head turns toward the gestation factory. "*THOSE APPROACHING US ARE MILLIPEDES' FEET!*" he snorts, pointing to a glowing light on one of the factory's towers. "*THERE IS THE SHINMA'S HEART!!*"
Lum looks, her eyes focusing on the glow. A nauseating feeling crosses her heart. "Why do I feel so ill...?!" she shudders.
"*IT IS FOCUSING ITS ENERGY ON YOU!*" the *saikoo jinseijitsu* reports. "*IT LIVES TO BRING YOU MISERY AND LONELINESS! COMMENDABLE, IF YOU ASK ME!! STILL, I'LL NOT BROOK ANYONE ATTEMPTING TO DESTROY MY HOST BEFORE I CAN MAKE IT MY OWN OR TRANSFER TO ANOTHER!!!*"
Lum shudders, wondering which side she should applaud. "Lum-chan!!!" Atako's voice yells from nowhere. "We've got a problem!!"
Inside the factory's control room, Atako stands beside another Lum, now dressed in a jumpsuit, working feverishly on the primary command systems. "What's wrong?!" Lum asks.
"Sister, there's an object attached to the stations primary power systems!" Gloriana speaks. "*Tcha*, this is so annoying!!"
"That must be the controlling orb!"
"Yes!!" Gloriana nods. "It's feeding a virus program into the primary command codes! As long as that orb exists, I can't activate the factory's stardrive systems, the planetary destruct system or reprogram the social control systems to free my people from the master control network!! It must be destroyed at once or we'll never leave this planet...and that's not to mention what could happen if that curse spreads to other worlds!!!"
Lum looks at Ataru. "If this curse isn't stopped here, it'll spread to the other worlds of Niphentaxian space! The whole galaxy could be threatened if this curse gets out of hand!"
"*SO I SEE*," the possessed teen snarls. "*SUCH DOMINATION DOES NOT PLEASE ME ONE BIT!! I SUGGEST WE DISPOSE OF THAT ORB!!!*"
He leaps, snaring Lum by the hand as he soars to the factory. Landing on the roof some distance from the orb, the possessed teen brings his cupped hands together as if he was drawing a sword. "***SOULSWORD!!!!!!***"
The magical katana appears. "*WE SHALL SEE IF THIS CURSE IS STRONG ENOUGH TO RESIST THE GREATEST FORCE OF THE MARTIAL ARTS!!!*"
"You better look around!" Lum warns.
Ataru's eyes narrow as he finds himself surrounded by Niphentaxians, blankly gazing at him. Leading them is Otako. "Destroy him!!"
The Oni notices the Niphentaxians' skins shrivelling, their life forces drained to form a glowing cloud. "Gods, no!!!" she gasps, cupping her mouth closed. "Their energy's being drained by that thing!!"
"*AN INTERESTING TACTIC!*" Ataru raises his hand. "*BUT ONE EASILY COUNTERED!!*" He barks, "***SPIRIT-BREAKER FIRE-LIGHT!!!!!!***"
A beam of energy lashes from Ataru's fingertip, lancing into the orb!! The orb's glow fades as it defends itself. Lum gasps as the energy draining from the Niphentaxians disperses. The Oni's eyes widen on seeing the colonists' bodies fading. "No...no...gods, no!!!" she shakes her head, stumbling towards Otako, who still seems alive. "Otako!!"
Lum gently lifts the dying priestess into her lap. She tries not to vomit at the sight of the shrivelling skin. "My fault..." Otako gasps, summoning what little strength she has left. "All... my fault...Lum-sama..."
"Don't move! Save your strength!!"
"No...this is only just...punishment, Lum-sama..." she gasps. "Don't...mourn me...I accept...judgement Fate...chose for me...!"
The Oni shakes her head, wondering what she did to deserve such loyalty. "Lum-sama, my sister...?" Otako gasps. "Is she...?"
"She's all right," Lum nods.
Otako nods, allowing death to take her. "I hope...you and Ataru...have a wonderful life...tell him...how sorry...I am...!"
Lum gasps as Otako fades. "No...NO!!!!" the Oni screams, spinning around to glare at the orb. "YOU MURDERED ALL THESE INNOCENT PEOPLE JUST TO HURT ME?!?!?! ***HERE'S MY DIVINE RETRIBUTION!!!!!!***"
She unleashes a blast of electricity. It strikes the orb with as much fury as the *saikoo jinseijitsu's* attack!! "*YOU FOOL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!*" it bellows...
...as a backlash of energy ploughs into him!!! "DARLING!!!!!!" Lum cries.
She turns back, seeing the controlling orb glowing more brightly than ever. The Oni floats back, eyes wide. "What...what does it take to destroy you...?!!" she gasps.
An aged cackle is heard as the Old Woman's voice taunts over the years. THE NEWBORN WAS A GIRL, WAS IT NOT?! she cackles. THUS SHALL THE CURSE BE FULFILLED! WHEN THE BABE BECOMES A WOMAN, HER FATE SHALL BE SUCH THAT SHE AND HER BELOVED WILL BE FOREVER SEPARATED!! NO MATTER HOW MUCH SHE MAY LOVE HIM, THE LOVE WON'T BE MUTUAL! NO MATTER HOW MUCH SHE MAY FALL IN LOVE, THE LOVE WILL BE SHATTERED AND HER DREAMS SHALL NEVER COME TRUE!! More laughter is heard, then the Old Woman finishes. THUS, IT SHALL BE! HER DESTINY IS NOW DETERMINED!!
"No...no...!!" she shakes her head. "No! I will not allow this to happen to me!! I will **not** allow this to happen!!! I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN TO ME!!!! I WILL NOT ALLOW **ANYONE** TO DOMINATE MY LIFE!!!!!!"
Summoning what power she has, she lashes out, blasting the orb anew! It summons the energy necessary to defend itself against the Oni's attacks...as Lum utters a tired gasp, falling to the factory's roof. "No...!!" she moans. "It can't end this way..."
* * *
"Lum...!" Atako gasps as she and Gloriana witness the battle from below. She gently embraces the Oni bioroid, their eyes rivetted on the scene playing itself on the viewscreen.
* * *
Silence falls over the roof as Lum and Ataru lay unconscious, unmoving. The orb glows, as if it was Big Brother watching over streets in "1984." Then, an astral image appears beside Lum. Lum-chan...
Lum's eyes flutter open. "Noa...?"
She looks up to see the Seishin-born bureaucrat smiling at her. Hi, love! Noa kisses the Oni's forehead. Miss me?
The orb glows bright white, then lashes out with a bolt of psychic energy. Noa's eyes narrow. The attack dissipates. "What...?!" Lum gasps, eyes wide. "How?!!"
Simple, silly! Noa smiles. Don't you know the old saying that no one gets between a Sagussan and her bond-mate?!
Lum notices they aren't alone. Appearing around the Oni are a great host of Sagussans: Honey, Lufy, Catty, Hikaru, Madoka and Ataru's guards. The Oni's eyes water as she witnesses others appearing around Ataru. "Y-you came! You came to help me...help Darling...help us!"
Did you expect us to do otherwise? Catty smiles. You ARE Ataru-sama's Other!
You're destined to be together! Lufy nods approvingly.
And we'll not stop until you *are* together!! Mikan adds.
***NO!!!!!!***
The Sagussans surrounding Lum are deluged by a blast from the orb! The Oni screams, but the *daishi'cha* dismiss the attack. Don't you just hate it when someone tries to be a fly in the ointment?! Madoka sighs.
I think it's time we taught people a lesson! Hikaru growls.
"Hey!!!" Ataru gasps. "Look at me!!!"
Lum looks over...then her eyes widen on seeing Ataru surrounded by doubles of every girl her Darling once expressed interest in. The Oni quickly recognizes them by name and department. "The Inner Circle!" she beams, remembering her precognitive dreams.
Sakura-chan stares at the orb. Noa was right to summon us! Everyone, join hands! Form a mind-meld with Ataru-sama!!
People quickly link together, forming a giant psychic wall of energy which soon unites with Ataru. *No wonder I've always dreamt of a harem!!* Ataru stammers, wondering whether the sight of so many was a fond dream being fulfilled...or a foreshadowing of disasters and problems innumerable ahead.
It's alright, Ataru-sama! Lum-chan smiles at him. We'll never allow you to be separated from the Other!!
The Other?
Lum?!
Was it true?!
As if sensing his unspoken question, Lum glances left to gaze into Ataru's eyes. *Darling...I will always be here for you...!!*
*Koishii...I'll never leave your side!!*
Sensing what is happening, the orb glows white as it lashes anew. ***NO!!!! THIS MUST NOT BE!!!! THIS WILL NEVER BE!!!!***
Incensed, Lum and Ataru together draw the power of the *daishi'cha*, then, as if they were one, project it at the orb...
* * *
"What's happening?!!" Invader demands, staring at the blackened orb of Phentax Twelve rotating below the "Kashin's" hull.
A volcano of psychic energy explodes from the planet! The ships are rocked as the energy lashes out, finally dissipating into nothingness. On the bridge, everyone looks around. "What was that?!" Nagaiwakai demands.
"I can't say!" the sensory officer shakes her head. "Whatever it was, it seems to have dispersed the energy shield surrounding Phentax Twelve...oh, gods!!!" she gasps, her eyes widening as a new reading is displayed.
"What?!" Invader demands.
"There...the only lifesigns...there's no Niphentaxian lifesigns, Captain...!!" she shakes her head, covering her mouth.
Silence falls. "What...?" Invader gasps.
"How many people lived here, anyway?!" Koosei demands, staring at Oyuki.
"Sir!" the communications officer yips. "A message from the Milky Way 'Curses 'R Us' Management Organization!! They report that the time management device monitoring Lum-san's curse has deactivated itself!!!"
Invader takes that in, then gazes at Phentax Twelve. "But...what happened...?!"
"Sir!!" the sensory officer reports. "Sensors indicate two ships lifting off from the planet's surface! One is the 'Goddess of Luck,' the other is...eh?" she gapes. "Gods!! Contact Two is twenty kilometres long!!!"
"Incoming signal from the second!" the communications officer barks. "It's Lum!!"
Lum's image appears. "Daddy!!! Tell everyone to get away from the planet!! It's going to explode!!! Hurry!!!"
The bridge crew gasps in disbelief. Invader spins to the communications station. "All ships, this is the 'Kashin!!!' Phentax Twelve is about to detonate itself!!! Pull back!!! Clear out of this place!!!"
As funnels of energy burst from the surface, hundreds of starships scatter in every direction. In seconds, Phentax Twelve's crust crumbles into the boiling mantle below. Finally, the planet's energy reaches super-saturation point. With a titanic flash, Phentax Twelve detonates, shattering into billions of atomic-sized particles!
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
"It's over. We're free."
Warping away from the Phentax system, the factory proceeds to the Avalonians' new home. In a lounge near the aft end of the ship, everyone relaxes, relieved that the insanity is over with and saddened that the cost of freeing the galaxy of the Old Woman's curse was so high. Hensou walks up to stand beside her sister. "Ria, what happens to us now?"
The other bioroid smiles. "Our people are free to determine their destiny, Hensou. Once they've established themselves on New Avalon, then the future is theirs to decide and control. When Lum and Darling freed the master control system, I downloaded the information I retained on behalf of all Avalonians to the central matrix. They can use it now if they desire."
"Eh?!" Hensou blinks. "What about you?! Aren't you supposed to be their queen?!"
"No," Gloriana smiles. "People've always mistook my role. They believe it is my task to be New Avalon's leader. That's wrong. I was created to be a repository of knowledge, like Darling is with the *saikoo jinseijitsu*. The true nature of the experiment the Creators planned so long ago was to see if the people of New Avalon can use the knowledge I provide to forge a society they can call their own. Now, with the Niphentaxians unable to interfere, my initial purpose is ended."
"An elderwoman, you mean," Shinobu muses.
"Exactly," Gloriana nods. "Now that my people are free, I have the rest of my life to explore. I'll be going to Earth!"
The others are surprised. "Eh?!!" Aisuko leaps to her feet. "You're coming to Earth, Ria-san?!! Does that mean you'll be...?!!"
"Living where you go," Gloriana nods.
"Can we live in Tomobiki?" Shutako asks.
"Doubtful," Ataru's sister shakes her head. "My brother'd prefer that any version of Lum not live in Tomobiki...that is until Mendou's married, the guards are disbanded and Ataru-chan's married to Lum! If Ria or Hensou move to Tomobiki, there'll be a riot!!"
"True," Shinoko sighs. "Where do we go?"
"I've got that answer," Kamen holds up a finger. "Atako's grandma's looking for people to run her farm on Sado!" She then looks at Hensou. "If you're interested, I'll go!"
The bioroids face Atako. "Darling, will you go?" Gloriana walks up to her.
"I'll go if Shutako-chan and Shinoko-chan go," Atako smiles.
"Willingly!" Shinoko embraces her.
"With pleasure," Shutako takes her hand.
The other bioroids are quick to voice their willingness to join the enterprise. "Excuse me!" a male voice echoes.
Everyone sees the other kidnap victims finally recovered. "Um, this may be a stupid question, but where are we and who are you?!!" Mendou shakes his head, having just awakened.
The guards' eyes widen in disbelief on seeing what's happened. "Do my eyes deceive me?!!" Megane gasps. "Two Shinobus...female doubles of all of us...a female Ataru...a female Mendou...and TWO LUM-SANS?!?!?!"
Electricity from Gloriana and Hensou burns the five before they could do a thing!! "Hard to believe we were like that, eh?!" Aisuko sighs, shaking her head in disgust.
"Amen to that!" Shutako nods.
"They're awake?!" Ataru snorts.
He and Lum enter. "Unfortunately, yes!" Shinobu sighs. "What's happened?!"
The Oni rolls her eyes. "Well, Oogi's charged Darling with genocide! I called Lupica and told her the truth, not to mention telling her about the Niphentaxians' treatment of the Avalonians!! She called Oogi and ordered him to quash the charges or else face expulsion from the Galactic Federation. That would leave Oogi's people quite vulnerable to attacks from Ipraedos, Zephyrus, Vos or the Dominion since we'd no longer be bound to help them! Oogi complied...fortunately!"
"But it doesn't mean that's the last we've seen of him!" Ataru sighs.
"Unfortunately," Lum nods in agreement. "So," she turns to Hensou and Gloriana. "What do you two plan to do now?!"
They are informed of the bioroids' plans. "Wonderful!" Ataru nods. "Hey, Lum! Let's get everyone from Oshika to move to Sado and we'll all be one big happy family!!"
"Mm..." Lum rubs her cheek against his. "Let's go someplace and talk about it!"
"But of course," he playfully growls as he escorts Lum out of the lounge.
Instantly, Mendou and the guards bolt up. "WHAT?!?!" Megane howls. "ATARU, HOW DARE YOU THINK OF SEDUCING **OUR** LUM-SAN?!?!?! PREPARE FOR YOUR PUNISHMENT, YOU SLIME...!!!!"
The five are instantly buried under everything their sisters could get their hands on!! "***GET A LIFE, YOU JERKS!!!!!!***"
They moan. Meanwhile, in a private lounge, Ataru and Lum relax within the other's embrace. "Now, tell me something, Darling," the Oni kisses him. "Did you recognize any of those girls who helped us destroy that curse?"
He considers the question. "Only one."
"Who?!"
"The one who loves you."
Lum is stunned. "Noa?!"
Ataru nods, then kisses her forehead. "I...barely remember seeing her...a long time ago," he shakes his head, clearly frustrated. "But...I know if I meet that girl again...I'll finally have the answers I want."
"That's wonderful," Lum smiles.
They look at each other. "And the best thing about this, I guess," he muses, "...is that unlike everyone else we know, those girls don't object to us being together. Is that the reason I've always dreamt of a harem?" he wonders. "Because I've always wanted friends who don't object to our being together? I mean, after all, the girls in your class have always wanted us to be together."
"True, but that was probably because they wanted you to stop chasing them!"
Both laugh, then kiss. "Now," Ataru rubs his nose against hers, "...tell me about her."
"Noa?"
He nods. "I can do that," Lum smiles...
*** The End ***
What Price For Love? (Part 5-7 and Epilogue)
by Fred Herriot
fherriot@hotmail.com
**** **** ****
With special thanks to Patrick Vera, Dorrie (Shinobu) A. and Steven P. Cornett for their plot suggestions
**** **** ****
edited by E.B. Kushnir
kush1@iaw.on.ca
**** **** ****
Seventeenth of a series based on "Urusei Yatsura," created by Rumiko Takahashi
**** **** ****
At that moment, Atako sneezes! "Oooh!" she rubs her nose. "Someone's talking about me...or is it Ataru they're talking about?!"
"Miyaki-san," Tomoko hums, "...why are you now in the tree?"
Atako spins around, looking up to see Shinobu hanging for dear life from a large tree beside their encampment. "What are you doing up there?!!" the older bioroid walks over. "Get down from there, Shinobu-chan!!"
The Terran fearfully lowers herself, waving Atako away. The bioroid looks disgusted. "I don't bite!" she smiles. "You can relax around me, you know! Don't forget that I'm in the middle of this, just like you."
"After what's been happening between us, do you expect me to believe that?" Shinobu stammers, keeping herself at a distance. "Excuse me! I'm going for a walk to relax."
She walks into the forest. Atako looks hurt. "Shinobu-chan...?"
The bioroid sits beside a tree, looking to the stars and the wisps of plasma drifting away from Niko-Phentax. Tomoko sits beside her. "Sister, are you malfunctioning?"
"Huh? What's wrong, Tomoko-chan?"
"I couldn't help but notice the feelings you possess when you are with Miyaki-san," the younger bioroid sits. "It's obvious you desire her as your bond-mate. Does she not understand your desire?"
Atako blinks. Bond-mate? Lovers sharing each other's life and the raising of the other's children like couples the galaxy over. On Sagussa and among the Avalonians, questions of sexual orientation did not exist. On Earth, there would be many. Could she love Shinobu like Ataru loves Lum? Shinobu was hurt because of past events, that was quite evident. How should she overcome that pain to breed trust, friendship...even love? Should she try? "No, she doesn't," Atako sighs. "And I don't think she would accept it even if she did understand what I might want. You see, before I became this, I...hurt her. I hurt her very much. Most of it wasn't my fault...but she wouldn't believe it."
"Still, you should inform her," Tomoko urges. "Honesty is the most logical recourse, sister. You must make her understand what your desires are, especially if wish to foster trust, perhaps pursue a relationship. She was honest with us when she first entered our commune. You should do the same."
Atako takes in that information, then nods. "Yeah. You know something, Tomoko-chan," she pats the younger bioroid's head.
"What?"
"You remind me of someone else who's a lot smarter than he lets on," Atako kisses her forehead. "But you're much nicer about it."
"I am happy to serve."
A while later, Shinobu returns to the camp. Her cheeks are damp. Atako takes notice. "Shinobu-chan, are you okay?!" she stands, reaching over to brush the tears away.
The Terran doesn't resist as the bioroid wipes her face clean. "I'm sorry, Atako-kun. It's just that...this is getting to me."
"Shinobu-chan," Atako gently grasps her shoulders. "I need you."
Shinobu looks surprised, eyes widening. "You...I...Atako-kun...!"
Atako relaxes, sensing her calming. "Shinobu-chan...I know you're hurting because of what's gone on between us. But this is a horrible time to get into some disagreement. We've got to get our minds back on business. I can't do this alone, Shinobu-chan. I'm not Nassur, I'm not Dake-chan...hell, I'm not even Lum! If you die...if you're hurt...I'll never forgive myself. I need to know where you are, that you're still here with me...that you're safe...so I can feel safe, too. Please...?"
Her heartfelt plea, something Shinobu never heard from Ataru, makes the Terran smile. "I'll try," she nods.
They then drift into an embrace. Tomoko appears beside them. "Will you require a larger sleeping bag?" the young bioroid asks.
"What?" Shinobu gasps.
Tomoko smiles. "It is clear that you are forming a bond-mating, Miyaki-san. You should begin sleeping with sister Atako."
The Terran looks shocked. "What?!!" she gasps, staring at Atako. "What is this girl talking about, Atako-kun?!!"
"Um...she thinks we're becoming lovers," Atako giggles, rubbing the back of her skull.
"Lovers?!! You...m-me?!!" she points at Atako, then herself. "I'm not a lesbian!!!"
Tomoko blinks. "What's a 'lesbian?!'"
Shinobu does not know whether to stand there with jaw agape, slap Tomoko or punch Atako. She notices Atako laughing. The laughter in contagious. In seconds, both are doubling over. Tomoko looks confused...
* * *
"Nothing!" the "Kashin's" electronics warfare officer shakes his head, sitting up, two electronic probes in hand. "There's no way we can track your daughter's location using Hensou-san's transponder. There's some sort of jamming blocking Lum-san's transponder from properly sending signals."
Invader sighs. The "Kashin" and the "Tamashii no Bensaiten" are presently slowly progressing towards the Phentax star system. In the electronic warfare control room, Hensou sits at one work table, a computer lead sticking out from atop her head. A concerned Kamen stands beside her fellow bioroid. Located between the lobes of the Oni bioroid's brain is an empathic-telepathic transponder, a special modification Nassur saw installed in her and the other bioroids. Simply put, it allows Hensou to properly gage Lum's current behavioral pattern so the bioroid could better play her role. Further, as an added advantage, it allowed people to trace Lum's location through Hensou in case the Oni was kidnapped. "Do you have any idea what could be jamming the transponder?" the large captain growls. "This was made by the best Zephyrite psi-doctors. No system exists that can jam the transponder, much less jam it enough to prevent us from locating my daughter!"
"I can't understand it, Captain! Whatever this is, it's a form of energy for which the transponder can't compensate."
Hensou looks at her "father." "Captain, may I offer a suggestion?"
"Certainly," the large Oni looks relieved that someone was trying to help him in this trying time. "What do you have in mind?"
The bioroid stands, gently removing the leads. "Since I do resemble Lum and I can act like her, I would possess a certain advantage if I proceed to a nearby Niphentaxian outpost to ascertain her location. I believe this time, the direct approach may be necessary. From there, we can proceed to rescue them."
"Child, that could take days," Invader sighs. "Mr. Groom may not have those days if what Nagaiwakai-sama fears comes true."
Hensou's features soften, now presenting the joyful demeanour common to Lum. "Daddy, Darling can survive anything some silly Niphentaxian can heap on him! I know he'll come back to me!" she giggles.
Kamen howls. Invader looks stunned. "I hate it when you do that!" he playfully snaps, reaching over and tweaking Hensou's cheek.
"Do I have your permission, then?"
"Okay...but be careful, please!" he wags a finger at her. "Use a fast shuttle. If you feel endangered, get out!!"
Hensou smiles, then flies out of the room. "We'll be fine!" Kamen waves as she follows her fellow bioroid.
Invader watches them go, feeling the same concern for the bioroid as he would were that Lum. "I hope so, child..."
* * *
A warpshuttle launches from the "Kashin," directing its way towards the Phentax system. Mienai and Hensou pilot while Kamen and Damasu check weapons. "We're clear from the 'Kashin' and on course for the Phentax sector," the Tritonian bioroid reports. "Which outpost?"
"Some place remote," the Oni bioroid sighs. "Preferably with an all-male crew."
"Accessing U.D.F. intelligence files on Niphentaxian defenses," Mienai programs the computer. "This should take a moment."
"Right," Hensou stands, moving to Kamen's side. "How're the weapons?"
"We're equipped," the Fukunokami bioroid shoulders a machine gun. "This should be easy in case someone tries to give us grief."
"Hopefully, it won't get to that," Hensou pats Kamen's shoulders. "Watch yourself."
"I'll always come back to you," the latter gives her a daring smile.
Damasu giggles as she loads a bazooka. "How are you?" Hensou asks. "You realize that people will suspect you, mistrust you."
"Hey," the Seishin bioroid winks. "I've got my own charm to play off on, Hensou. Don't worry about me. Give me ten minutes and I'll have them eating outta my hand!"
"Don't get overconfident," Hensou hums. "Oogi's desperate to keep his hold on power, not to mention make Lum his wife. He'll be on the lookout for any attempt to rescue Darling."
"He's an idiot!" Damasu squeaks, now acting exactly like Lan. "He can't help it if people are smarter than he is!!"
"Found one!" Mienai yelps.
"Where?!" Hensou asks.
"Station Yooina," the Tritonian bioroid reports. "It's several parsecs from the outermost point of the Phentax system, well beyond the range of the military sensory net and the System Destroyers. It's an early-warning post meant to monitor trade routes between Uru and Zeiwan. Total compliment eight, all male. Linked directly by computer to the central military net. Resupply shuttles come once every three months. Their reports normally contain knowledge of traffic moving past the Phentax sector."
"Eight men," Kamen purrs. "Interesting."
"Exploitable," Damasu adds.
Hensou nods. "Get us there fast, Mienai! Lives are depending on us!!"
"Understood," Mienai nods.
The warpshuttle races into hyperspace...
* * *
Ataru crashes to earth. He looks around. Now in the mountains beyond the field where he had been deposited by Otako, he takes a deep breath. "Well, that didn't take too long," he wipes his forehead, transforming back. "Now, where would the space-dragons be?!" he hums.
"Right here!"
Ataru spins to behold several monstrous creatures the size of his Tomobiki home. All resemble the Oriental dragon. Several have softer features denoting females. They stare at the lone human with curiosity. The Terran shrieks. "Wh-who are y-you...?!!"
"I am Shoomeiko of Ibkos!" the one who first spoke growls. The voice has a heavy, Yehisrite-like tinge. "I assume you've been sent here to obtain the Sleeping Beauty we've been enslaved to protect!"
Ataru blinks. "Enslaved?!! You?!!" He looks around, not registering any devices meant to bond them. "Where're your chains?!!"
"You can see them if you know how to look," a female dragon muses.
Ataru's eye glows. To his *te'a*-enhanced sight, ghostly chains binding the dragons to the rock at their feet are glaringly clear. "**I see,**" Ataru growls. "**Then you shall be enchained no more!!**"
Transforming into the Cyborg, Ataru draws a stun-stick from his arm-shield. Walking over, he jabs the weapon at the chains. With a flare of magical matrices shattering, the chains disappear. Sensing their bonds gone, the dragons bellow in relief. "Thank you!" Shoomeiko bows. "We are grateful."
Ataru sheathes the stun-stick. "You don't strike me as typical dragons," he reverts to human. "What exactly are you?!"
"We are *ib'f*," Shoomeiko declares.
"Yehisrite spirit-dragons," Ataru nods. "How did the Niphentaxians capture you, much less detain you here so far from home?!"
The *ib'f* look incensed. "We are special agents of the Milky Way 'Curses 'R Us' Management Organization," Shoomeiko explains. "In the last while, people have begun to abuse the power the Organization grants to those desiring to curse another. One of our investigations lead us to this planet a year ago. Someone had located a controlling orb and was now extracting the power of a cancelled curse for their own purposes."
"Controlling orb...?" Ataru hums, then his eyes widen. "Hey!! That crystal ball Otako has! Is that it?!"
"Yes!" Shoomeiko's eyes narrow. "That woman has been drawn in by the curse's power. As of now, she and the curse have become one, each feeding off the other's desire to hurt the one you care for. The woman you call 'Otako' in all practicality no longer exists."
Ataru shudders, realizing the problem was getting out of hand. "How powerful is this curse?! What exactly is this curse?!"
"It was a curse meant to ensure that the Oni girl Lum never enjoys a happy life with her True Love," a female explains. "For seventeen years, ever since a misconception caused a witch to become angry at Lum's parents, this curse has festered, growing and feeding on itself until such time it gained a sentient host by which it could funnel its power, carry out the mission set for it years ago."
Ataru pales as he interprets what the *ib'f* told him. A curse meant to bring misery to his relationship with Lum?! Who would hate the Oni so much that such a punishment would be unleashed? This had now turned from problem to potential catastrophe. "Can this curse influence people other than Otako?!" he looks at Shoomeiko.
"Yes...save for those who have no reason to hate Lum," the *ib'f* nods. "By your tone, you have been victimized by others who have now become that creature's unwilling allies."
"I and another," Ataru hums, remembering what happened to Shinobu. "Look, I want to start hitting back...but I need to know if there's anyone outside of Lum I can trust!"
"There is," Shoomeiko nods. "This planet is populated by bio-genetically engineered human females called Avalonians. You'll recognize many of them by the round ears. They were forced to become the Niphentaxians' *wilvirhis'r* when they conquered this world. They are now trying to free themselves."
"Oh, good!" he chuckles, a maniacal gleam in his eyes. "I think it's time the nice ladies of this world had a breath of freedom! Oh, by the way...where's this lady I'm supposed to come here to rescue?!"
The *ib'f* are decked by an explosion!!
* * *
Moments later, Ataru walks into a cave. Looking back, he watches as the spirit-dragons disappear. "Sheesh!!!" he growls. "I want to get some help and everyone thinks I'm off chasing skirts!! Some gratitude!!!"
Turning around, he walks into the cave. Ataru's thoughts storm as he processes the information Shoomeiko gave him. A planet was now under the power of a curse planned to make Lum's life miserable, a whole planet which nominally was loyal to the Oni. Was that a cosmic joke or what? None the less, Ataru realizes that even if he escapes with Lum and Shinobu, the curse would still plague their lives. That was no joking matter. Worse, it had the potential to spread to all the planets under Niphentaxian control. If the whole populace turned into fanatic Ataru haters, not even the combined power of the Zephyrite Navy would protect him, his child, his family.
But the only solution he could conceive wasn't pleasant. If the curse's power had twisted Otako and her followers as much as Shoomeiko hinted, Phentax Twelve would have to be destroyed. The idea of slaughtering a whole colony didn't please Ataru one bit. This was way more serious than taking out the Masters of Noukiios. And if he did succeed in destroying Phentax Twelve, what then? Would Oogi use it as an excuse to launch an vengeful attack on Earth, aimed directly at him. How many more would have to die and suffer before people could feel safe again?
Ataru turns a corner, stopping on seeing a raised slab of rock. On it, protected by forcefields to keep out the elements, sleeps a beautiful woman dressed in a white sleeved gown. Approaching her, Ataru's eyes widen as he recognizes the woman sleeping there. "Wh-what the...?!" he stammers, falling back a step. "Wait a moment!! This can't be!!!"
His voice activates a servo-motor which deactivates the hibernation shield protecting the sleeping woman. Her eyes open as she takes a deep breath, then look over to stare at Ataru. A beautiful smile crosses her face.
"Hello, Ataru," Otako sighs. "We meet at last."
Ataru faints!
* * *
"How was I?" Otako purrs.
Now draped only in her gown, they relax on the marble slab where the Terran had found the hibernating Niphentaxian, Otako sitting in Ataru's lap. "Whoo!!" he lets out a blast of air, trying to regain his breath after their bout of passion. "Girl, you were like a spastic tiger! Whoever ends up marrying you's not going be bored, that's for sure!!"
"Well, it's not often than one beds the consort of a goddess," Otako playfully kisses his nose. When she had been awakened, the priestess had acted in a way which overwhelmed the Terran student. Ataru was grateful Lum wasn't present; if the Oni had seen how he behaved with Otako, her jealousy meter would have kicked into overdrive. "Then again, it's said that Lum-sama's Beloved Darling would do anything for a woman, regardless of cost to himself, his pride or any threat to his life."
He sighs. His reputation had proceeded him. This time, he deserved whatever people said. Still, earning this Otako's trust was important. Further, he had many questions. "Pardon me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it you who captured me, hauled me here, tried to drug me and send me on this bizarre quest?!" he points at her. "Because if you are, then believe me, you've got a lot of explaining to do before I'd ever do any more favours, lady!"
Otako nods. "Well, I am...and I'm not."
Ataru looks confused. "Come again?"
"I am Otako...but I'm not the Otako who kidnapped you and brought you here."
It still doesn't register. "Um...what's wrong, then?" he places a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. "Are you suffering from some sort of multiple-personality disorder?"
"No, silly!" she playfully laughs. "I'm a bioroid! The Otako you met before is the original! I'm a copy of her!!"
Ataru looks surprised, then confirms the presence of tapered ears. "You mean...she had you created?" he points at her.
Otako nods. "Why?!" he looks confused. One was bad enough, even if this one presented a more civil side to the priestess.
"Why were you ecstatic when your sister returned from the Outland?!" she slips on her gown. "Why did Lum-sama feel such joy when Mal-sama underwent the Crossing Over? We're only children, Ataru. When we found ourselves with twins, or in your case, an older sister, we did not feel so alone anymore!"
Ataru looks shocked. "How did you...?!"
Otako looks regretful. "As an Avalonian, I'm touch-telepathic. When we made love, your mind became crystal clear to me."
At his incensed stare, she holds her hand up. "Don't worry...it's not a *marei'cha* bond. I have to ensure I can trust you as much as you have to ensure you can trust me!"
Ataru gives her a dirty look. The bioroid looks apprehensive...then finds herself in his arms. "Do I pass muster?"
"With flying colours," she sighs.
Finally allowing their passions to abate, Otako stands to allow Ataru to dress. "Well, now that you know what I'm thinking, what's your opinion?" he grunts as he ties his shoes.
"About destroying this planet?" she sighs, looking to the cave entrance. "You're right, Ataru. That cursed orb has magically wound its spell into every Niphentaxian living here. They don't even realize it. I don't believe the Holy Apostles understand what's happening to them. Once they're free of this place, they'll return to normal."
"We hope," Ataru stands, then offers his arm. "Shall we go, my lady?"
"Please," she slips her arm around his.
Later, the two make their way down a mountain. "But what do we do about your people?" Ataru looks at his companion. "Even if we kill off every Niphentaxian on the planet, where does that leave the Avalonians? If they stay here, they'll just wind up enslaved again by the Niphentaxians."
"There is hope, even if my sister's people believe they've won. Gloriana will have to be reactivated again."
"Gloriana?!" Ataru looks confused.
"Our leader," the bioroid's face shines. Clearly, she was more than a kinder double of the Niphentaxian. "Gloriana is the one who possesses the knowledge the Creators left us. Her mind is linked to the gestation factory's central processor. If she is freed, she could re-program the factory and have us relocated where Oogi couldn't pursue. There is such a place. It's in a system several sectors away: a planet complete with cities, towns, villages and an intact ecosystem which was constructed by the Creators in another experiment. The factory is equipped with humanoid-compatible habitation units and is warp-capable. We could be on New Avalon within a day."
"New Avalon?!" he hums. "Wait! Do all your people know of this?!"
Otako shakes her head. "No. Most of us were created in the last five years. They weren't programmed. Oogi and his ministers feared a rebellion would start. Those created over five years ago...or special cases such as myself...are well versed in the story."
"Why hasn't the Niphentaxians conquered this place? They should know where it is; just ask the gestation computer."
"You're far more intelligent than you let on, Ataru. New Avalon's in a sector bordering space claimed by the Dominion. The Dominion's antipathy towards the Galactic Federation is known to you. If they suspected anyone affiliated with the Federation making any move towards claiming New Avalon..."
"War," Ataru concludes.
"Exactly. However, since we've no love for the Niphentaxians, I doubt the Dominion would perceive us as a threat. To make certain we're not taken advantage of, we'll deal with those Houses which are sympathetic towards inter-species relations. Thus, the Federation will have nothing to fear. The balance of power will be maintained."
Balance. Over the last three months, Ataru was beginning to grasp an understanding of how intergalactic relations worked. It was all a complex game of checks and balances, each power playing its assigned role while cautiously probing for new places where each could gain advantage over their adversaries. Ataru found the situation too complex for his liking. He wondered how Lum's father, even his grandmother, kept track of such things on a day-to-day basis. "But all this is academic if we don't find some way to bring Gloriana back, right?" he looks at Otako.
"Yes," she nods. "We have a problem. When the Niphentaxians learned about Gloriana, they saw to it that we would have no way of constructing a body to house her sentience by obliterating all DNA datafiles assigned to her. Our first task is to locate a template, then begin the gestation process. It takes a day. Other than yourself, I can't see any candidates to act as Gloriana's template."
He looks up. "I see one."
"Who?" she looks expectantly at him.
Ataru smiles as he wraps an arm around her. "The one person even the most staunch Niphentaxian would hesitate to harm."
"Her?!! Could it work?!"
"Let's find out," he kisses her...
* * *
"Shinobu-chan?" Atako kneels.
"What is it, Atako-kun?" the Terran looks at the bioroid. They and Tomoko have stopped for another night, still several hours' walk from Gekijoo. The young bioroid is asleep.
"Can we talk?" Atako lightly smiles.
Shinobu looks afraid. "Please?" Atako pleads. "I think we really should air out the differences between us, Shinobu-chan."
The Terran considers the bioroid's words. Images flash in her mind, recounting the past differences between her and Ataru. Her vision then clears as she looks at Atako. "Okay," she nods. "What do you want to talk about?"
Atako sits beside Shinobu. "You know, even after all we've been through," she sighs, "...I still miss the times we had together."
The Terran is surprised, then smiles. "Strange. I do, too. Part of me wishes we could go back to those simple times."
"Well...we could," Atako weakly smiles.
Shinobu feels a chill. "Atako-kun, I hope you realize that we're both...I mean, you're now a...!"
"Woman?" Atako completes.
The Terran nods. "Shinobu-chan, I know I'm a woman now," the bioroid beams. "I'm not letting it get to me! I'm still me underneath this!! Can't you understand that?!"
"That's what I'm afraid of, Atako-kun!" Shinobu sobs, tears brimming in her eyes. "Don't you understand?! I don't know what's real and what's an illusion about you! I don't think anyone knows or understands what you are...what Ataru-kun is, I mean!!"
"Don't you think I know that?! Don't you think Ataru knows that, too?!" Atako shakes her head. "Shinobu-chan, he has just had his whole world ripped to shreds! It's not like when Lum first started to live in Tomobiki, what she broke us up!! He has to live in fear of watching those he loves facing that monster again...and this time, you might not be lucky! This time, you could be **dead**!!!"
She shudders. "Shinobu-chan, please," Atako shamefully looks down. "I admit I was rough on you before. I was a total ogre...and many of you, **you** above all, didn't deserve that! I was scared for you, Shinobu-chan!! If any of you died because of that thing..." she reaches over, holding Shinobu's shoulders, "...I would kill myself to ensure no one would ever have to deal with that monster again!"
The Terran pales. Was Ataru willing to end his life rather than risk the *saikoo jinseijitsu's* possible re-emergence?! Why did she not see this before? "I...I didn't understand," she looks away, reaching up to place her hand atop Atako's. "But...why did you leave us?! Take Lum away from us?! Don't you understand?! She's our friend!"
"I know that!" Atako nods. "And Ataru knows that! He never wanted for Lum to stop being friends with you! All he wanted was for you to realize you can't live in this fantasy we've imposed on ourselves for two years!!"
"What fantasy?!"
"What do you think?! Look at you! Here you are, still wishing you could marry people you can't get! Ataru's practically engaged to Lum! Mendou could still get shanghaied into marrying Asuka! Inaba's a hard guy to reach! And I guarantee that within the month, Nassur will marry Benten! Why do you still dream of these people, Shinobu-chan?!"
Shinobu looks down. Atako was asking a question she herself bandied about. "I've watched you, Shinobu-chan," the bioroid cups her companion's chin with one finger. "I know how passionate you can be. I know how smart you are. I know what a good person you really are. You've got to let those people go, Shinobu-chan...all of them! Totally!"
"Then what?" Shinobu sniffs. "Do I live alone for the rest of my life?! Do I give up hope that anyone will love me?!"
Silence falls over them as they stare into the other's eyes. "Shinobu-chan...you have someone right here," Atako blushes.
Shinobu stares at the bioroid. Atako was attracted to her. But...was it just a continuation of what she had with Ataru...or was it something new? "I do, don't I?"
Atako breathes out in relief. "But...I'm not sure if I can give you want you want, Atako-kun," Shinobu shakes her head. "You see...I've been spending some time wondering what you and I...what Ataru-kun and I...had."
"And that is?" Atako muses.
"We did love each other," Shinobu smiles, trying to keep control over her discomfort. "But it was a continuation of the love we had as children. I remember five years ago...when you went to Sendai for a while. That was the time you met Windy, wasn't it?"
"Yes," the bioroid numbly nods.
"You came back...and while I didn't notice...you changed," the Terran shakes her head. "It really became apparent when Lum entered our lives. You were looking for something more than I was prepared to give. I guess...kids love in a different way than adults, even young adults do."
"That's true. When we were kids, we knew exactly what we wanted. We didn't concerns ourselves with what the other thought. In a queer sense of the term, we tried to dominate the other just like Lum did with Ataru."
"We were pretty selfish, too," Shinobu adds. "It was me and only me..."
"Ditto here, especially after Mendou came into our lives," Atako sniffs.
"And we've clung onto each other..."
"And we've hurt each other..."
"And we've been so jealous of each other, over the most stupid things," Shinobu sighs.
They stop, looking at each other. "I guess maybe we did love each other...as much as we've understood what love means," Atako smiles. "The question now is...can we love each other like adults?"
"I guess we could love each other...at least be friends," she shrugs, hesitancy entering her demeanour. "But...I don't think I could be your lover...your life-mate. That'll be too much a change for me."
Atako looks disappointed, but nods. "Yes. I guess that would be. Part of our problem I think is that we've always made too many demands on each other. If we're not careful, we'll do it again, won't we?"
"Yeah," Shinobu smiles. "Atako-kun?"
"Yes?"
"Am I really beautiful?"
Atako's answer is succinct. "Very."
"More than Lum?"
"Yes," Atako nods. "Besides, Lum's an alien...and already taken."
"More than Sakura-sensei?"
"Yes. Besides, Sakura's also taken."
"I don't believe you," she hums.
Atako looks offended. "To be honest," she purrs, "...I'm right now fighting an urge to rip your clothes off and pillow you silly!"
Shinobu pales, stunned that Atako's attraction was that serious. "Would you do that to other people...other girls?"
"Except for Tomoko-chan, there are no other girls I see," Atako smiles. "But while I hope I don't have to think of other girls, I do admit the possibility is there."
Shinobu feels some relief...but there is a touch of jealousy. "Well, then...if I do find myself accepting your offer," she smiles, "...then I'll just have to make sure you don't succumb to such...temptation!"
Both girls giggle, obviously wondering where this was going to take them. Atako kisses Shinobu, then turns in. Shinobu slides into her sleeping bag, then stops to consider something. Finally, she reaches over and nudges Tomoko. "Tomoko-chan," she whispers.
"Eh?" the young bioroid stirs. "Is there a problem, Miyaki-san?"
"I've got a question," Shinobu whispers. "Keep your voice down. Atako-kun's asleep."
"What is it?" Tomoko hisses.
"This machine...the one that created you and Atako-kun," Shinobu gestures to the now-sleeping bioroid. "Could it do that again?"
"Do what again?"
"Make another double."
The young bioroid remains confused, then comprehension crosses her face. "You mean create one of...?" she points.
The Terran nods. "I believe so," Tomoko nods. "When we arrive in Gekijoo tomorrow, I'll have the information passed on."
Shinobu nods, then lies down...
* * *
"There! Gekijoo."
Ahead of Shinobu and Atako is a small town no larger than Tomobiki district. Like all Niphentaxian urban centres, it is a nearly-exact double of Shinobu's hometown. "Wow!!" the Terran stammers, sweat pouring down her head. "When Lum said these people venerated us, she wasn't kidding!"
"Yeah," Atako looks as nervous. "Well, shall we go face the lions?!"
Shinobu nods. Moments later, they enter Gekijoo. Looking around, Shinobu is wide-eyed to see everyone is dressed in some variation of clothing common either to Uru or Tomobiki. The usual dress is the Tomobiki High School uniform. "Aren't we conspicuous?" Shinobu stares at the jumpsuit she and Atako wear.
"Not really," Tomoko smiles. "You two are dressed like any Avalonian fresh from the gestation factory. Don't worry. They won't take too much notice of you."
Shinobu relaxes in relief, then is stopped by a hand. "Hey, what have we here?!"
Shinobu and Atako see four men staring at them. They're dressed in school uniforms, having taken the guards as their inspiration. "My, my, my!" the one resembling Megane cackles. "Look at these two little play-toys here! Hey, boys, wanna have some fun?!"
He moves to grab Shinobu's jumpsuit. The Terran is enraged. "Hands off me, pervert!!!"
Megane's look-alike is smashed head-first into the concrete! "Hey!!!" Paama's look-alike growls. "What was that for, slave?!!"
Tomoko leaps in front of Shinobu. "You don't understand! Shinobu and Atako here are warriors for Lady Otako's bodyguard!!"
The "guards" don't believe her. "Why should we trust a little pillow-warmer like you?!" Chibi's look-alike pokes Tomoko.
"If you do not believe me, ask Otako!" the young bioroid snorts. "I believe the report I'll give her when I see her later today may not particularly please her."
The four men gasp at that prospect. "Um...n-never mind...!" Kakugari's look-alike stammers. "You didn't see us!!"
The four quickly retreat. "Bastards," Shinobu zips up her jumpsuit.
They proceed down the street. "There's something I don't understand," Shinobu looks around. "This supposedly occurred in the last decade. Most religions I know of normally took centuries to develop. How did the Niphentaxians convert so quickly?"
"It's their way. They quickly adapt to new situations," Tomoko explains. "The Invaders have this ability to instantaneously analyze, adopt and copy other people's social and technological patterns. It is a survival tactic which has evolved over the years. However, they lack...originality. They cannot conceive their own society. They're compelled by their own genes to copy from others."
The teenagers are surprised by the young bioroid's statement. "I was right all along," Atako sighs. "They really have **no** life!"
"Hopeless," Shinobu shakes her head. "Do you think something better will come along to make them turn away from us?!"
"I don't believe so," Tomoko hums. "When the cult of Lum became widespread, everyone regardless of prior affiliations participated. For the first time, the Invaders were a united culture. That's what motivates them in their desire to preserve the status quo on Earth."
"In other words, without us to inspire them, they'll feel they're losing control of their world," Shinobu concludes.
"They're just reacting to the Spirit War and everything after that!" Atako groans.
"Just like everyone in Tomobiki."
"I guess Ataru'll just have to redouble his efforts," Atako concludes. "It's the only way to punch holes in these jerks' hubris!!"
"Agreed," Shinobu stops. "Hold it!"
They freeze, staring at a Shinto shrine across the street. Seated by the front gate are Mendou and the guards, attended by pretty Niphentaxian priestesses dressed as either Sakura or Lum. The girls seem quite willing to permit the Terrans to shamelessly fondle them. Tomoko, Atako and Shinobu leap behind a cherry tree. "Shit, what a time for those jerks to show up!!" Atako hisses.
"Look at them!" Shinobu glares. "They're practically in paradise!!"
"We'll just have to destroy paradise!" Atako concludes...then her eyes narrow as a strange feeling crosses her heart. "Eh?!"
"Sister, be...!" Tomoko gasps.
The priestesses pause, curiosity crossing their faces. Their eyes gaze upon Atako in the distance. It is as if all they see now is the bioroid. Atako is paralyzed, wondering how this discovery will affect their task. Finally, the feeling fades and the priestesses return their attention to their guests. They didn't notice the sudden shift in behaviour.
"...careful!" Tomoko gasps.
Atako spins around as she catches her breath. "Wh-what happened?!" she stammers. "Why did they feel so familiar to me?!"
Tomoko sighs. "They're Avalonians."
"Eh?!" Shinobu gasps. "How did they get themselves integrated?!"
"Quite simple, really," Tomoko smiles. "They are older bioroids. When the Invaders prompted the gestation factory to begin mass production, they initially wanted us to resemble them and behave like them. Only recently have they modified their stance to ensure we can be segregated from them."
"I see," Atako looks. "Tomoko-chan, is there a back door to this place?"
"Yes. Follow me, please."
The three walk out of their hiding place. Seeing this, the priestesses increase their sensual foreplay with their guests, moving to block their view of the street beyond the shrine. Mendou and the guards are quick to react to their ministrations. In minutes, Tomoko, Shinobu and Atako have moved to the shrine's back door. The door slides open and a topless priestess, looking like a brown haired hornless Lum, smiles. "Enter."
"Thanks," Atako nods.
She then jolts as the priestess embraces her. "Oh, sister, you have finally come!" she tearfully wails. "Now, we are free!!"
Ataru's double nearly faints. "Could you get your breasts out of my chest, pl-please!" she stammers. "I really can't take that!"
"Oh, sorry!" the priestess stands back. "I did not mean to sexually arouse you."
"Th-thanks...!" Atako nearly collapses.
The door to the main shrine slides open. "Hey, Nuriko-chan!" Paama seizes the priestess from behind, roughly fondling her breasts. "Come back out here and let's party...eh?!"
Paama finds himself staring at Atako. "Hiya, Shitto!" the bioroid cackles, cracking her knuckles. "Mind letting her go?!"
He pales. "A-a-a-Ataru...?!"
Her fist sends him into a wall! "Atako-kun!!" Shinobu cries out. "The others...!!"
"What was that about the others?!"
Atako and Shinobu see Mendou and the other guards standing there, weapons out and fanatic determination in their eyes. "Well, well, well," Megane hefts a machine gun. "Look who's come back into our trap!! Now, there'll be no chance of anyone interfering with Lum-san's life again!"
"Once we're finished with you, your grandmother and your sister will be next!" Mendou draws his katana. "There will be no power which'll stand in Lum-san's way!!"
Atako smiles, her hand reaching for her jumpsuit zipper. "Hey, boys!!!" she sweetly bats her eyelashes. "Look at this!!!"
The men gape as she unzips and exposes herself. "Whoa!!!" Kakugari howls...
...then gets an elbow, knocking him out. "Pervert!!!" Atako snaps.
"Look out!!!" Shinobu rams Atako aside.
Megane's machine gun chatters. Bullets rip through Shinobu's shoulder! She cries in pain as she falls to the floor, gripping her wounded arm. "SHINOBU-CHAN!!!!!!" Atako howls in rage. "YOU BASTARDS!!!!!!"
Before Mendou, Megane and Chibi could defend themselves, Atako sandwiches their heads! The three collapse to the floor like marionettes with their strings cut. Atako takes a defensive stance as she looks around, expecting new targets. "Anyone else?!!"
"No," Nuriko reports. "They stepped into our trap believing they were laying a trap for you. You must remove yourself from this town immediately, sister! Lady Otako has assigned a company of assassins to ensure that no one may harm Lum-sama's Holy Apostles."
"We'll deal with them later," Atako leaps to Shinobu's side. "Shinobu-chan!"
The Terran is being comforted by the others. "It hurts," she painfully reaches for her shoulder. "They shot me...!" she gasps. "They really shot me...!!"
"Help her," Atako looks at a priestess.
"But of course," she nods.
Atako looks at Nuriko. "Nuriko, can you tell me where Lum is?"
"She is in the town cathedral," the priestess sighs. "She is protected by two companies, all with orders to shoot to kill. Atako, with your friend injured like this, it will be suicide for you to attempt a rescue!"
"There's a way!" Shinobu gasps. "Atako-kun, if this gestation machine could create you, it could create another me! I'm out of this fight...!" she feels faint. "Sorry!"
Atako kneels beside her. "It's okay, Shinobu-chan," she kisses the Terran's forehead. "Thank you so much."
Shinobu is mercifully allowed to lose consciousness. "Even with Shinobu's strength added to an Avalonian's abilities, the odds against your success in rescuing Lum-sama are exceedingly small," Nuriko shakes her head. "Besides, this town is protected by an energy field which prevents the gestation machine from making a duplicate of Shinobu from here. You must remove her from this town before you can be transported back to the factory."
"Can you help us, Nuriko...without compromising your own position here?"
"I believe our position is already compromised," Nuriko smiles. "At the same time, you must remove them, too," she points at the unmoving forms of Mendou and the guards. "If they are allowed to escape, then they will certainly raise the alarm."
"Yeah," Atako hums as she kneels beside Mendou. "That's true. Then again..."
"What?" Tomoko looks confused.
A grin crosses Atako's face. "I just got a crazy idea about how to get some more help in rescuing Lum," the bioroid icily giggles.
The other bioroids look scared, sweat pouring down their heads...
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
"Station Yooina, dead ahead."
The bioroids tense as the warpshuttle emerges from warp. Yooina is a Manhattan-sized rock with a sensory outpost mounted on one side, drifting in the delicate gravimetric balance between star systems. On the bridge, Mienai notes an incoming message. "Open hailing frequencies," Hensou orders.
Mienai activates a control, revealing the unshaven face of a Niphentaxian officer trying miserably to resemble Mark Onsen, dressed in a militaristic version of the teacher's uniform. "This is Yooina Station, Urusian shuttle Keiryaku-Four-Nine-Four," the officer drones, clearly bored and irritated. "Identify yourself and please state your purpose."
Hensou looks angry, brilliantly acting the way Lum did after catching Ataru chasing a girl. "Is that some way to speak to me, Lieutenant?!!" she snaps, baring her fangs. "At least show some respect!!! I've come to see how my loyal soldiers are behaving themselves on their lonely watch!!!"
The officer nearly collapses on seeing who is speaking to him. "L-l-Lum-sama?!!" he falls down, staring at the Oni in disbelief. "Lum-sama, what are you doing here?!!"
"Is that a way you express gratitude when I've come to see my troops?!" she pouts. "Maybe I should go home and not come back!"
The officer panics. "N-no, Lum-sama!!" he gasps. "Please, forgive your most humble servant's disrespect, ma'am!" he bows low. "Wh-what can I do for you to atone my sin?!"
"Permit us to dock?" Hensou smiles.
He looks relieved. "With pleasure!!"
The screen goes blank. Soon, a hangar bay opens. "We've struck a nerve," Kamen hums. "How do we play this?! Subtle or," she pulls off her top, "...straightforward?"
"Subtle," Hensou smiles. "Let's not overwhelm them all at once. That'll make them instantly suspicious. Be...discreet."
"Gotcha!" Kamen slips her top back on.
The shuttle lands. Awaiting it are a troop of Niphentaxian soldiers. They have taken several people from Tomobiki as their inspiration: the guards and even Ryuunosuke. As the shuttle's boarding ramp lowers and Hensou steps out, the soldiers snap to attention. The officer bows low to his "goddess." "Lum-sama, on behalf of your loyal servants of Yooina Station, I welcome you!"
"Thank you," Hensou smiles, then waves behind her as Kamen, Mienai and Damasu disembark. "You recognize my friends?"
The soldiers gape. Receiving Lum was the honour of honours, but to meet her along with two of the Holy Company, even one of the Sinful Doubters?! "But of course, Lum-sama!" the officer bows. "Benten-sama, Oyuki-sama, Lan-sama, welcome to Yooina Station!!"
"Thanks," Kamen steps down beside Hensou. "It's kind of nice to take a break! Shit, making these long voyages is such a pain, especially when your ships are broken down!!"
"How terrible!" the officer hums. "May I enquire where Your Graces were travelling?!"
"Zeiwan," Mienai softly intones. "We were hoping to visit our dear friend Chara."
"Yeah!" Damasu giggles. "She's about to bring out a new line of companion androids and wanted us to see them!!" She looks around. "Gee, you could use a couple of 'droids here yourself! Is this all you have?!"
"Unfortunately, yes," the officer nods. "Ours is a very important task! The trade between the Urusian Union and the Zeiwan Republic is very important. We do not wish to see the Dominion interrupting it."
Also, the Niphentaxian Union extracted a transit tariff whenever foreign ships passed through its space, Hensou notes. "If you don't mind, Lieutenant, it has been a long trip," she yawns. "We'd like to stay here for the night before proceeding on tomorrow."
The officer drools. "Um, certainly, Lum-sama!!" he nods. "S-shall I inform President Oogi of your presence here...?!"
"Oh, no!" Hensou shakes her head. "Don't bother me about that boy, please, Lieutenant!! He really gives me a headache! As a matter of fact, don't tell anyone we were here until we're gone! Is that alright?!"
"It's irregular," he starts, then sweats as Hensou seductively moves towards him. "Of course! What harm could that be?!"
The Oni bioroid subdues a triumphant smile. Her baiting the lieutenant served two purposes. First, ensure that Oogi doesn't hear that his people's goddess is in **two** places, thus making him suspect something. Second, the Niphentaxians were notorious for absorbing all sorts of gossip. If the news got out in the defence networks that Lum disapproved of Oogi, then the Defence Force would be less reticent about obeying their president's commands. That would aid them well when the time came. "Well, if you don't mind, I'd like to take a look around," Hensou hums. "I've never been to a monitor station. Could your crew give us a tour, Lieutenant?"
"C-c-certainly!!" the officer stammers.
"I'd like to call Rei-san!" Damasu cries.
"We'll take you there, Lan-sama!" a petty officer accurately resembling Paama volunteers along with a friend looking like Ryuunosuke.
"Thank you!!" Damasu sweetly giggles. "You're such wonderful men!"
The three exit as the lieutenant divides his remaining crew between Hensou, Kamen and Mienai. Damasu listens as the others argue over who'll stay with the lieutenant, who immediately volunteered to escort "Lum" around the station. Reaching into her bottoms, the bioroid extracts two rings, each with a tiny blade no larger than a thumbtack. Soon, the three step into the station's communications room. "Here you are, Lan-sama!" the petty officer bows. "Please, be our guest!"
"Thank you," Damasu giggles as she steps inside. She waits until the Niphentaxians are inside the room and the door has closed before letting out a sensual cry. "Oooh!!!" she drops to her knees, one hand reaching for her bust and the other reaching for her crotch.
Instantly, the two soldiers leap to her side, quickly inquiring her present state. "I'm okay...I think..." Damasu pants, her hand slowly tugging her bikini top away from her bust. "I just have a very strange feeling..."
The soldiers' eyes bulge on seeing her breasts exposed. "Wh-where...?" the crewman stammers, his eyes rivetted on her nipples.
"Right here," Damasu coos, indicating her bust. "Could you touch me there, please...?"
The soldiers gag, wondering what they did to deserve such a chance to be intimate with someone as beautiful as Lan. However, their pent-up passions quickly overwhelm what little senses they have. In seconds, both lightly embrace Damasu, their hands stroking her breasts. The bioroid lets out passionate gasps. "Oh...oh...oh, that's just what I need...!" she sighs as her hands slide to the exposed skin below their hairlines.
The soldiers pass out. Damasu stands, slipping her top where it belongs. "Thank you so much, gentlemen," the bioroid giggles. "I'd normally allow you to express yourselves further, but I've work to do!"
A nude Mienai appears in front of her bond-mate, eyes wide and tearing, an un-Oyuki expression of shame on her face. "Damasu-chan, how could you?!!" the Tritonian bioroid wails, showering the Seishin bioroid with ice-pellet tears. "Don't you enjoy my company?!!"
Damasu comforts Mienai. "Now, now, now, Mienai-chan! You know you're the only one in my eyes!! There, there," she gently embraces the crying bioroid. "I'll always love you, Mienai-chan!! We're bond-mates, remember?!"
"Remind me," Mienai huskily whispers.
The Seishin bioroid purrs as they kiss. "A-hem!" Kamen's voice is heard. "Could you two stow it for a bit?!"
Damasu and Mienai fire resentful stares at the Fukunokami bioroid, who just stepped in with Hensou. Both she and the Oni bioroid are topless. "I see Damasu was successful, too," Hensou muses. "Let's get to work!"
"Got it!" Damasu sits at the console, then calls up the encryption programs. In minutes, classified information of an interesting sort appears. Fortunately, the Seishin bioroid was created with a special aptitude towards cryptography. "I wonder what's so secret that they put five code-locks on it!" she muses as she attacks the program.
"That has to be about where Darling is!!" Hensou hisses, slipping on her top. "Break it open, Damasu-chan! Hurry!!"
"Right!" Damasu nods as Kamen slips on her top and Mienai dresses.
Moments pass as a list blurs past. It is broken with images from other anime shows..."Patlabor," "Maison Ikkoku," "Ranma 1/2," "City Hunter," "Cutey Honey," "Gall Force," "Sailor Moon," "Kimagure Orange Road" among many others. Finally, the last code is broken and Damasu calls up the file. "Why, this is...!!!" she gasps...then her head slumps as sweat pours down her hair. "A copy of the 'Rec.Arts.Anime.Fandom's List of Favourite Anime Shows!!'"
An explosion occurs!! [Note: apologies to those who use rec.arts.anime.fandom to express their views about other shows...F.H.]
* * *
"Goods news, Captain!!" Hensou reports. "We've found Lum and Ataru!"
The "Kashin's" bridge crew relax. "Good work, Hensou!!" Invader nods. "Where?!"
"Phentax Twelve, outside the town of Gekijoo," the bioroid reports. "We've confirmed that the person responsible for this is indeed Otako, head of the Hegane Sect."
The bridge crew pales. "The Hegane?!!" Invader howls. "They're the most monstrous of the lot!!! Mr. Groom's in big trouble!! Report back as soon as you can, Hensou!!!"
"Yes, Captain," Hensou salutes, then the screen changes to present the local starfield.
The large Oni shudders as he turns to face Nagaiwakai and Koosei. "I take it the Hegane are not pleasant," the matriarch muses.
"Mildly!!" Invader snorts. "They're the equivalent to right-wing *Asan'on* racists on Ipraedos!! They'll never give Mr. Groom any mercy if they get the chance!!"
"Then I suggest it's time we started calling favours in," Nagaiwakai sighs, then turns to the communications officer. "Young man, would you hail the colony of Magairu."
"Yes, ma'am!" the officer nods.
The image of a Zephyrite male in his thirties appears on the screen. He has blond hair and red-gold eyes, distantly resembling Ataru's first fiancee. He is dressed in a high-collared jumpsuit with a gold-trimmed blue cape. "Magistrate-archdeacon Fireye Windrider PRCZ here," he nods, then recognizes his caller. "Lady Nagaiwakai! The blessings of the Spirit of the Ancient Homeworld on you!!" he gracefully bows.
"And to you, Your Grace," Nagaiwakai returns his bow. "Fireye, dear, I've a great favour to request of the Zephyrite people!"
The minister shudders. "Which is?!"
"My grandson has been kidnapped by Purveyors of Entropy from the planet Phentax Two," the matriarch sighs. "In fact, it is the Hegane Sect of their religion which is responsible! Would His Holiness bequeath a writ of excommunication to aid my poor Ataru-chan?!"
He looks horrified on hearing Ataru's problem, which turns to fury when he learns who's responsible. "The Niphentaxians, eh?!" he snaps. "They've been plaguing the whole galaxy with their Entropic beliefs for too long!!" A smile crosses his face. "I'm sure His Holiness will happily grant your request, Nagaiwakai!! Where do we have to go?!!"
"If I can barge in for a moment," Invader holds up a finger. "I'm getting my people to call in as many ships as possible! Rendezvous with us near Station Yooina. We can plan an avenue of attack then!!"
"Of course," the minister nods, then recognition dawns on his face as he stares at Invader. "So, you're Lum's father, eh?!"
"That's right," the captain nods.
Fireye Windrider has a twinkle in his eye. "Believe me, Captain, your daughter has no idea what she's in for. Magairu, out!"
The screen goes blank. "Now, what the heck does he mean by that?!" Invader wonders, scratching the back of his head.
"Search me," Nagaiwakai muses...
* * *
"I'M A GIRL!!!!!!"
A hatchway in the factory opens and Atako looks in. "I see our new recruits have just awakened," she hums. "You alright in there?!"
A nude brown-haired woman leaps over, seizing Atako by her jumpsuit collar. Her eyes squint as she tried to focus on the bioroid before her. "Ataru, you bastard!!! How could you do this to me?!! Is this your revenge on us for what we supposedly did to you?!! Answer me, you slime...eh?!"
The woman stops as her arms brush against Atako's bust. "What the...?!" she gasps, her eyes widening. "Um...who are you...?!"
Atako produces a pair of square-rim spectacles. "Put these on."
The woman slips on the glasses. Other than the upturned nose and the chiselled jaw, she is attractive. A further modification was made: this bioroid's wavy hair was allowed to grow to shoulder length. As soon as her vision is cleared, she looks on Atako...then her eyes trail to the bioroid's chest. "Oh, gods!!!" she gasps, horror crossing her face. "It happened to you, too!!!" Wailing, she tightly embraces Atako. "Oh, Ataru-kun, this is the most horrible day of our lives!!! Our manhood has been taken away!!!"
Atako gasps. "Let me go!! Cut it out, man!!! This ain't the time to panic!!!"
After a moment, the other bioroid calms down. "Um...is there a mirror?" she looks at Atako. "I'd like to see the...um, damage."
"Over there," Atako points.
The other bioroid walks over. Her eyes widen on seeing how attractive she. "Gods!!" she whistles as Atako moves to stand beside her. "As girls, we're not so bad, are we?!"
"Yeah," Atako nods. "It takes a bit of getting used to, but I have no big problems. Anyhow, you can relax. The real Aisuru Megane's physically okay. He's in another chamber of this place."
"Then...what are we?!"
"We're bioroids," Atako sighs, handing the other a jumpsuit. "We're copies of the originals. Unfortunately, this gestation machine's only programmed to create women."
"Bioroids?!" Megane's duplicate gasps. "Oogi's people've come this far, Ataru?!!"
"Um...you can call me Atako," the other amends. "And no, they certainly haven't got this far, thank the gods. The technology that created us was seized by them so they can have a handy source of cheap labour."
"You mean...*slave* labour?!"
"Exactly," Atako nods.
"Does Lum know of this?!"
What? Not "Lum-san" liked Megane called the Oni since they first met? This version of Megane was definitely an improvement. "No!" Atako sighs. "In fact, I don't think anyone outside of the Niphentaxian government...and those who live here...know of this. Do you think the Niphentaxians would be allowed to keep them if Lum got wind of it?!"
"No, I guess not. So, why create me?"
Atako nods. This version of Megane was becoming better by the second. "Simple. The leader here, Otako, is under the influence of a curse designed to make Lum's life hell. I don't know who put it on her, why that person did it or what it's supposed to do. Worse, every Niphentaxian on this planet is under the influence of this curse...not to mention your other self, the guards and Mendou."
"I see," Megane's double hums. "Where's Lum...and wasn't Shinobu kidnapped with us?"
"Shinobu's here...and wounded."
"Wounded?!!" she gasps. "By who?!"
"Your brother," Atako looks regretful.
Megane's double staggers, then sits. "Oh, boy!! What about Lum? Is she safe?"
"In a cathedral, under heavy guard," Atako sits beside her. "Look...I need you guys to help me if we're to rescue her! Not only that, we've got to find some way to free the Avalonians...the bioroids created here!"
"I'm not the only one, then?"
"No. There's doubles of the guards, Mendou and Shinobu. I think between us, we'll give Otako something to think about!"
"Damn right we will!" Megane's double cackles. "Well. You changed your name, so I might as well change mine. How's 'Aisuko?!'"
"Perfect. It's better than 'hey, you!'"
They laugh as they emerge from the room. "Hey, sexy!!" a voice hums. "Going my way?!"
Aisuko flushes as she faces her heckler. "Oh, cut it out...whoo!!!" she whistles, eyes wide. "Who're you calling sexy, man?!!"
Atako is as impressed. While maintaining their templates' uniqueness (Chibi's short stature, Paama's curly hair and Kakugari's freckles and stockiness), certain features have been accentuated. Urayako Chibi is well-proportioned. Shikko Paama has a model's demeanour mixed with someone who spends time playing physically intensive sports. The greatest change is in Dareko Kakugari, who, in addition to having shoulder-length hair, has had her body fat replaced by rock-hard muscle. Further, their larger, more expressive eyes naturally enhance their beauty. Shinobu pops out from behind Dareko. "Well?!" she giggles. "What do you think, Atako-kun?!"
"Shinobu!!" Atako gasps. "You're okay!!"
"Atako-kun, I'm not Shinobu!" she points to herself. "I'm Shinoko."
Atako then remembers what the gestation machine has also done. "Oh, I'm sorry! I hope you're not jealous, Shinoko-chan!"
"Wait until we're alone and I'll express my jealousy," Shinobu's bioroid double purrs, sensually leaning against Atako's shoulder.
The guards' doubles emit wolf-calls. The priestesses who accompanied them giggle. "My, what a natural bond-mating!" Nuriko smiles. "You make such a lovely couple!"
Everyone laughs as they allow the tension to flow out of their systems. "Hey!" Aisuko looks around. "Where's Mendou's sister?!"
Shinoko sighs, thumbing a nearby room. "Still looking at herself! She just can't get over herself!! She's worse than Rei!"
Atako looks inside. "Hey, quit staring at yourself!! We've got...whoa!!!" she gasps.
The guards' doubles see Mendou's twin still nude, shifting herself from side to side to take in all the details. Like Atako, Shutako Mendou's physical features have not shifted beyond the basic gender change. "Self-love freak or what!" Shikko gasps.
"If I had that body, I'd be the same way!" Urayako sighs.
Atako growls as she storms in. "Hey!!! Earth to Shutako!!" she waves her hand in front of Shutako. "Time to get to work!!!"
"Eh?!" Shutako looks surprised, then stares at Atako. "Is there something wrong, Atako-chan?!" She stares at the mirror, a romantic sigh escaping her. "I still have to get myself used to seeing such a vision of divine beauty staring back at me!!"
"Couldn't the machine have made her less pompous?!" Aisuko groans.
"I'll handle this," Shinoko steps inside, moving to stand beside Atako. "Shutako-san!" she coos. "Shutako-san, we need you!!"
"Did you say something, Shinoko-san?" Shutako's eyes don't turn away.
"But, Shutako-san," tears appear in Shinoko's eyes, her eyes wide with sorrow. "Someone shot my poor sister Shinobu!"
Mendou's double freezes, then in a flash, whips over to grasp Shinoko's hands. "Is this true?!!" she hisses. "How dare they think of harming such a delicate flower as your sister, who enchants my brother to this day!! By all the gods, I shall make them **two** for their sins!!!" she draws a sheathed katana from nowhere, partially drawing it for effect.
The guards and Atako look scared, sweat pouring down their heads. "I prefer her the way she was before!" Dareko moans.
"Never mind!" Atako shakes her head. "I guess there're certain things that can't be changed!!" She passes a jumpsuit to Shutako. "Here, gorgeous! Throw this on!!"
Mendou's double looks at the fabric. "But, this doesn't reveal enough!"
Everyone faints! "Who do you think you are, Shutako?!" Atako demands, her head four times larger than normal. "Seiteki Ozuno?!!"
"Wrong series," Shinobu's double objects.
"They'll start fighting like their brothers did!!" Aisuko sighs.
"We'll never rescue Lum at this rate!" Shikko stretches herself.
Urayako and Dareko nod in agreement...
* * *
After what seems an eternity, the rescue team departs from the gestation machine. Shinobu, her arm now in a sling, waves good-bye as she watches from a secluded bedroom with Tomoko and Nuriko. "This is not going to be an easy mission," the Terran sadly concludes as she sits on the bed.
"What made you reach that conclusion, Miyaki-san?" Tomoko hums.
"With the way Mendou-san and the guards fight Ataru-kun, I'm sure that sort of thing will rub off on their doubles!" Shinobu sits. "I hope Shinoko-chan's got enough patience to prevent them from killing each other!"
"I am sure sister Shinoko will have no difficulties," Nuriko stares out the window. "Considering Mendou-san's and Ataru-sama's attraction towards you...not to mention sister Atako's and sister Shutako's reflection of that interest...I believe sister Shinoko may find herself facing two potential suitors."
Shinobu looks surprised. "She'll have to choose between Atako-kun and Shutako-san," she moans. "It's just like before!"
"Not necessarily," Tomoko holds up an objecting finger. "Like our Creators, we do not practice the curious bonding you call 'marriage.' On Sagussa, people could seek more than one bond-made if they so desired."
"Two lovers?!!" Shinobu gasps, then shakes her head. "Oh, wonderful! Now I **know** things are going to go wrong!!"
The Terran moans as the two Avalonians stare at the other, wondering what could be so objectionable to Shinoko's situation...
* * *
"This should be the easiest rescue on record!" Dareko giggles as she hefts a missile launcher. "Swoop in and take Lum out of her prison, then get clear of the town and let the gestation machine transport us back!"
"Don't get to cocky, Dareko," Urayako wags a warning finger, shoulder-arming a grenade-launcher equipped assault rifle. "We've got two companies of assassins ahead of us protecting Lum, not to mention the company which was supposed to protect our brothers!"
"That's why this'll be so easy!" the muscular bioroid shrugs, giving her friend a cocky smile. "The company which was guarding our brothers was on the other side of town enjoying the company of a brothel! Honestly, Urayako-chan, you call that protection?!"
"Well, I guess not," Urayako scratches her cheek. "Still, don't get cocky! I want you to come out of this in one piece, okay!!"
"Okay, okay!" Dareko sighs. "Stop acting like my mother!! Sheesh!"
Atako and Aisuko listen from up ahead, both shouldering pump-action shotguns. "Hey, do something about those two, huh?!" the former looks at the latter. "They better not gab when we hit Gekijoo!"
"They'll be fine," Aisuko adjusts her glasses. "Have a little faith, Atako! We know what we're up against!!"
"Uh-huh," Ataru's bioroid double seems not convinced, then looks over to see Shinoko and Shutako staring at her. "What is it?"
The two wait until Aisuko has dropped back to be with Shikko, then shift over to walk on either side of Atako. "Atako-kun, are you sure you're up to this?!" Shinobu's double hums, cradling a machine gun.
"What's that mean?" Atako looks confused.
"Forgive me for implying this, Atako-chan," Mendou's double places her free hand reassuringly on Atako's shoulder, "...but may I remind you that when we were our normal selves, you always shirked away from fighting alongside us when those chances presented themselves...such as the time when Memory first emerged from under my family's tree."
Atako sighs. "Look, Shutako-chan, I never liked the way you tried to resolve that. All you did was waste tons of ammunition and totalled Tomobiki. Big waste of time, don't you think? Besides," she looks at the shotgun in her hand as if it was a rattlesnake about to bite her, "...under normal circumstances, I'm loath to resort to this when I've got a problem! I can't begin to understand how my brother is still able to yank guns whenever something gets out of hand!"
"We are different from our templates," Shinoko muses. "This might be a good sign."
Atako and Shutako consider the point, then nod. "Maybe," the former muses...then her eyes widen as she notices that the latter has not moved her hand from her shoulder. Looking at Mendou's double, Atako feels a curious shift in her emotions. If she could alter her very being from what Ataru Moroboshi currently was, could Shutako do the same? The prospect seems quite intriguing to Atako and definitely worth exploring.
Immediately, her left hand slides up to gently lift Shutako's from her shoulder. Shutako looks confused...then her demeanour transforms to surprise when Atako doesn't let go of her hand. The two look at each other, unsure if this is the proper way they should behave given the bad blood between Ataru Moroboshi and Shutaro Mendou. Finally, both seem to smile, as if saying "I'm willing if you are." Their hands don't part. Watching from behind them, the guards' sisters stare at each other, wondering what was happening to their reality if a double of Ataru and a double of Mendou could treat the other with friendship, if not something more intimate.
Atako's eyes widen as she realizes there is another factor: Shinoko. Looking right, she notices Shinobu's sister looking at them. Both Atako and Shutako seem nervous, wondering if Shinoko would express her sister's temper if she felt left out again. To their total surprise, Shinoko smiles approvingly. Atako and Shutako emit sighs of relief. Then, as to better communicate her desires, Shinoko shifts herself to stand between Ataru's and Mendou's sister, slinging her machine gun so she could wrap an arm around them both. Feeling her closeness, Atako and Shutako stare at each other, then smile and link hands behind Shinoko's back, leaning their heads against hers to signify their desire not to let the other go. Shinoko feels a blush rising in her cheek, realizing that in this existence, she will never have to fear being alone.
Now, if they could only help Shinobu...
* * *
Many hours later, the rescue team pass through a small market on the outskirts of Gekijoo. Completely inhabited by Avalonians, the newcomers are welcomed with warm smiles and hot food in preparation for their raid on the cathedral. The bright orb of Phentax Twelve's primary, Sanko-Phentax, sets behind the grounded hulk of the gestation factory, a 20 kilometre long multi-storied flat structure painted khaki brown. Dotting the roof of the factory are control complexes, one of which possesses a glowing orb atop the tower's apex. Watching this through binoculars from a fruit kiosk, the bioroid Otako sighs in resignation. "There's the real problem," she growls. "That orb atop the factory must be an auxiliary control unit my sister created to prevent us from recreating Gloriana. Ataru, what do you think...?!" she turns to her companion, then looks confused. "Ataru, are you alright?!"
The Terran watches as the bioroid rescue team heads towards the distant glow of Gekijoo, disbelief and confusion on his face. "This may sound totally crazy, but I just watched Shinobu pass by with what looked like female doubles of myself, Mendou and Megane's boob-patrol!" he looks at Otako.
"Perhaps they are bioroids," the bioroid shrugs. "The gestation factory does that sometimes. It's quite unpredictable."
"Oh?!" Ataru shakes his head. "How's this, then: my double and Mendou's double were arm-in-arm with Shinobu!"
"So?!"
Ataru leans up to her, intimidating her with a haunted stare. "My double and Mendou's double were holding hands!"
Otako faints! "That **is** strange!"
* * *
"Welcome back," Invader grins as Hensou's team disembark. "Congratulations!"
"Thanks," Lum's bioroid double smiles, fishing a small computer chip from her bikini top. "I believe we'll be needing this."
"What's this?"
"A computer chip Damasu lifted off the Yooina central defence computer," Hensou nods to Lan's double. "It has on it the prefix access codes for every Niphentaxian defence unit currently in commission."
"With one command, we could shut the whole of Oogi's navy down just like that!" Damasu snaps her fingers in emphasis.
"Yeah!" Kamen cackles in anticipation. "This rescue'll be a cakewalk!!"
Invader nods. "Okay! We'll get everyone organized, then we'll head in. Meantime, I want you four to report to sick bay."
The bioroids hesitate. Sick bay mean the hyber-sleep capsules. "Of course, Captain," Hensou nods. "Let's go, girls."
The four proceed towards the "Kashin's" medical station. As soon as they are out of hearing range from Captain Invader, Kamen gently seizes Hensou's arm. "If they think I'm going back into that cryo-tube so I can pretend to be an icicle for Fate knows how long, they're wrong!" the Fukunokami bioroid hisses. "C'mon! I've got a better idea!"
"If we're caught, we'll be put into hyber-sleep without being given a chance to explain our actions," the Oni bioroid retorts, keeping her voice low. "Are you sure you want to risk that, Kamen-chan?"
"Could I make a suggestion?"
The four stop, looking right to see Dakejinzou standing there. "Shogai-sama," Mienai hums. "What are you doing here?"
"As soon as I overheard where you were ordered, I figured out the rest," she hums. "I take it you girls want to go elsewhere."
They look suspiciously at Dakejinzou. "Why do you care, anyway?" Kamen growls, reaching over to gently grasp Hensou's hand.
"Because, if your transponders were working correctly, you'd know that I'm a synthezoid," Dakejinzou points to herself.
"A synthezoid?!" Damasu hums. "You don't act like one, Dakejinzou."
"Of course not," the hunter gives them a off-smile. "I guess that's because I was constructed with such care to psychological detail. I don't remember who created me or why. I guess that's because I was in cryo-stasis for five million years. Anyhow, that's my problem to bear. How would you girls like to go someplace where you'll never have to worry about being controlled by others again?"
"We were hoping to go to Phentax Twelve," Oyuki's double smiles. "Like you, we don't possess information about who created us or why. All Nassur-sama informed us was that the Niphentaxians assisted in our creation."
"The Niphentaxians?!" Dakejinzou hums. "Well, well, well," she muses. "That does seem to confirm some rumours I've heard."
"What rumours?!" Lan's double demands.
"That the Niphentaxians have enslaved a race native to Phentax Twelve," the hunter muses. "I've always wondered why that planet was a forbidden zone to all outsiders."
The bioroids look stunned; that rumour wasn't general knowledge to their templates. "There are others like us?!" Hensou gasps.
"I believe so. Care to find out?"
"Could you get away with it?" Kamen hums. "I mean, old man Invader can go a long way if he wants to get something."
"Besides, we're seen as insurance to keep our templates safe," Damasu adds.
"Against who?" Dakejinzou snorts. "Any of Natsu-chan's enemies? The Ipraedies? Even the Dominion? Don't be ridiculous!" she hums. "Even if you are designed to portray your sisters, Dakejinzou's First Rule of Kidnapping states 'Always assume dead-ringers!'"
The bioroids hesitate. If Invader and Nassur understood that, they could be quickly considered not relevant. "Then our usefulness is ended," Hensou looks at Dakejinzou. "You got some more room in your ship?"
The adopted Fukunokami thumbs towards the hangar deck. "Get aboard and make yourselves at home. I'll be with you shortly."
The four nod, then run to Dakejinzou's ship. The synthezoid sighs as she proceeds to the bridge. Persuading Nassur of this would be difficult; one of the Vosian's greatest fears was his enemies using his few friends against him. Dakejinzou's own life had become interesting since the day she met Nassur shortly after Cinba's demise. She became a frequent target for the Mikado's dwindling legion of psi-hunters in an attempt to turn her against her former lover. Fortunately, her combat skills and unique origins made Dakejinzou Shogai one of the most impossible targets for opponents to capture, much less kill. Unmarked graves on a dozen worlds holding the remains of many experienced psi-hunters and mercenaries attested to that.
Dakejinzou turns, then sees Nagaiwakai standing there. "Is there a problem, ma'am?" Dakejinzou clasps her hands behind her back.
"Yes," the matriarch muses. "I hear that Invader has ordered those four bioroids back to their storage chambers on Io."
"He has," the hunter nods. "However, I don't want to stand by and allow them to be treated like brainless pieces of equipment. They're not so different from myself."
"True," Nagaiwakai muses. "After this is over, I just might have another option for them if they're willing to take it."
"Really?" Dakejinzou looks surprised. "Well, just as long as they're treated as people, not machines, I won't object."
"Do I treat you as a machine?"
"Of course not, ma'am!"
Nagaiwakai smiles as she slips her arm around Dakejinzou's. "Come, child. I've some business to discuss with you...something I think you'll find financially rewarding."
"It doesn't involve my killing people, does it?" the synthezoid hums.
"Not this time," the matriarch giggles...
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
"There!" Aisuko hisses, glancing on the sleeping town of Gekijoo through binoculars. "All's quiet on the Western Front."
Atako's team is now perched on a small hill overlooking the town. Near the centre is the familiar shape of Tomobiki High, which, like in all Niphentaxian urban centres, serves as the temple for the Church of Lum. The bioroids scan the building through their own binoculars. "Any sign of Lum?" Shinoko hums.
"There!" Shutako points. "Clock tower!"
Everyone looks. Waiting on the balcony, staring to the night sky, is a depressed Lum. "Why doesn't she fly away?" Atako muses. "Shit, if she's supposed to be their goddess, it'd be considered heresy if they tried to stop her from going wherever she wanted!"
"Look around, Atako," Dareko sighs.
Atako looks. Mounted on the roof of the school are watch stations, each manned with grim-looking Niphentaxian soldiers. On the grounds in front of the school are surface-to-air and anti-ship missile launchers, not to mention tank traps and anything else soldiers would devise. "A little bit of overkill, eh?"
"Too much," Shikko hums. "You'd think this was the Imperial Palace during the war!"
"Or Fort Knox," Urayako muses. "Okay, so now what?!" she glances over.
Everyone looks to Atako. "Why're you looking at me?" she shudders.
"It's your party," Aisuko shrugs.
Atako sighs, sitting up and crossing her legs. "I've got no training in this sort of strategy, guys! Anyone got any ideas?!"
The others shake their heads. Shutako sits beside her, grasping her hand. "Atako-chan, when you were your old self before the Spirit War, you used to be able to perform incredible feats to try to win a woman's favour. No one was safe from you. Even if you have rejected such actions, can't you try to do it one more time? This is your future sister-in-law we're talking about."
Atako blushes. No one from Tomobiki save Mie ever expressed faith in Ataru's abilities. "Okay," she sighs, taking her binoculars and scanning Lum's prison. "All male guards."
"Is that important?" Shinoko wonders.
"Well," Atako sighs, then smiles. "If you guys can stand having people stare at you, I think we've got a chance..."
* * *
"Darling, where are you?"
The Oni had been forced to reside in the clock tower of Gekijoo's cathedral without any hint of when she would be released. There was good news. The disappearance of Mendou and the guards had caused an uproar. That paled against Lum's learning of who else resided on Phentax Twelve. She had been assigned several Avalonians when she was brought here. That surprised her; no planet in the Federation had advanced far in bio-cybernetic engineering. When she inquired Otako, Lum was told the Avalonians were spoils of colonization, the Niphentaxians' property by right of discovery. Lum felt nauseated. It didn't help that her servants stared at the Oni with hatred every time they were in her presence. Befriending them was going to be difficult.
The Oni walks back to her luxurious bed, laying down and staring at the ceiling. When she was alone in Tomobiki, she either sought Mie's company or allowed herself to drift into the Dreamscape to visit Noa. Mie was probably back on Earth. Lum had also discovered that some shield was blocking her from projecting herself into the Dreamscape. The Oni wondered what could do that. She dared not explore further. Heaven only knew what could happen if the Niphentaxians learned of the Sagussans. Lum didn't doubt Noa's people had the power to wipe out the Church of Lum, but if the interest of the *daishi'cha* in Ataru...and their acknowledgement of Lum's desire to marry him...became known, that would simply give them another excuse to exterminate Ataru. Lum would rather die than permit that to happen.
Worst of all, her personal bond with Ataru was missing. Lum discovered long ago that she could sometimes feel her Darling's emotions. The emergence of Ataru's Cyborg persona had increased her awareness, almost to the point where Ataru had confessed that whenever he was relaxed, he sometimes felt that they weren't really separated. Was this bond the reason the *daishi'cha* considered Lum the Other? If so, then who allowed such a bond to exist in the first place? Was it some unexplainable quirk of nature or was it intentional? If so, who did it and why?
Before the Oni could drift asleep, the door opens and Otako steps in. "Good evening, Lum-sama," the priestess mirthlessly smiles.
Lum looks incensed. Otako seemed not to care anymore about usual formalities. "What do you want?!" she growls, looking away.
Otako giggles, holding the mysterious crystal ball in hand. "Hoping Moroboshi will come take you away from us?" she muses. "Did you know that a massive fleet from as far away as Zephyrus and the Dominion are massing near Yooina? I suggest you think again. We still don't understand how is it he gained such personal power, not to mention such vociferous support, but we shall leave no stone unturned until we have all our answers about him."
"And then what?!" Lum snorts. "Don't waste your time, Otako! I'll tell you what's been going on! Did you know that Darling's family was a ninja clan who discovered how to preserve the knowledge of their leaders in a special bio-neural databank?! Did you know that databank is sentient?!! It calls itself the *saikoo jinseijitsu*!! What it hates most of all is me and all who care for me!!! We had the devil's own time trying to subdue that monster!! If it ever got out of Darling's head while he's still here, it'd proceed to kill every member of the Church of Lum it could get its hands on!!! What's more, I'd **allow** it to kill as much as it wants!!!"
Otako pales. "Want to know what else?!!" Lum stands. "Darling has a split personality! The inner self is a cybernetic killing machine which doesn't take too kindly to people making my life miserable!!! The Cyborg would rip your arms out and beat you with them if it got the chance!!! I'll make sure it **gets** the chance!!! Don't think that army out there's going to stop him, either!!!" she points out the window to indicate the soldiers "guarding" her. "The Cyborg eats armies for breakfast!"
The Niphentaxian priestess shudders. "Did you know Darling's sister Nokoko lived for twelve years in the Outland?!!" Lum prods. "Did you know that Darling is now under the protection of Dakejinzou Shogai?!! Did you know that Nokoko-chan has friends who're powerful enough to kill you without blinking their eyes?!! Did you know that Darling once saved the honour of a daughter of the First Mage of the Seifukusu Dominion?!! Did you know Darling's grandmother is a Righteous Gentile?!!" Lum pauses, allowing that information to sink in, then moves to drop the final bombshell. "And did you know that Darling is destined to become the...?!!"
The door collapses, smashing Otako in the head! The priestess drops like a marionette with her strings cut, her hand releasing the orb. The orb bounces on the floor as it rolls away from Lum. The Oni leaps back in shock as confirms Otako's unconscious state, then looks up to see the face of the person who rescued her. "Darling!!!" she cries.
"Don't tell her classified information, Lum-chan!!" a voice chuckles.
Lum leaps over to embrace her...then stops on seeing Atako looking at her, now in a string bikini! The Oni cries out, then drops back a step, eyes wide on seeing the transformation between the bioroid and her template. "D-d-darling...!!" Lum tearfully stammers, "...y-y-you're a g-g-girl...!!!"
"Hey, hold on here, Lum-chan!!" she calmly intones. "I can explain...!"
Lum's grief-stricken wail knocks Atako over! "MY DARLING'S A **GIRL**!!!!!! THIS IS THE MOST HORRIBLE DAY OF MY LIFE!!!! NOA-CHAN, I FAILED YOU!!!!!! HOW COULD DARLING BECOME *DAIMON'CHA* WHEN HE'S A **SHE?!?!?!**"
"Maybe I should keep her here and get Ataru to come rescue her...!" Atako moans, rising to her knees as she rubs her skull.
She finds herself embraced by a crying Lum. "Oh, Darling, our love will never die because you're a girl!!!" she weeps, dousing the bioroid with her tears. "I'll always love you even if we can't have children...!!!"
Lum is bashed down by Shinoko! "You horse-thief, you're not taking Atako-kun away from me **this** time!!!"
The Oni bolts up, her grief transforming to vile rage. "If you think you'll try to dominate **my** Darling because of this, Miyaki, you're very mistaken!!!" she snarls, lightning dancing over her body.
Both get blasted down by Atako's scream! "***HEY!!!! THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A RESCUE, NOT A FIGHT!!!! GET WITH THE PROGRAM!!!!***"
"Yes, Darling..." Lum gulps.
"S-sorry, Atako-kun..." Shinoko shudders.
The Oni looks surprised. "'Atako?!!'"
"Yeah!!" Atako rises. "Ataru's safe, but he's somewhere on this dirtball!! Once we get you safe, we're going after him, then we're blowing this ramen shop forever!"
"That's what you think!" a voice cackles.
They see Otako standing several feet away, the controlling orb in hand. "No one shall take Lum-sama away!!!" she cackles, her body glowing with magical energies. "Once you are destroyed, I shall go forth and destroy everyone who dares unites you with Lum-sama!!! Prepare for your true destiny, you artificial demons...your **deaths**!!!"
Lum leaps defensively in front of Atako. "No one takes **any** part of Darling away from me!!!" the Oni murderously snarls, then lets lose with a lightning bolt of unparalleled strength! "FRY!!!!!!"
The blast of energy rips through Otako's heart, coring out a fist-wide section of flesh and bone!! The priestess gasps as she is blasted against the wall, then drops to the ground, her blood staining the wall behind her. Otako's eyes stare at Lum as her life drains away. "Lum-sama...why...?"
Her head slumps forward, the controlling orb falling. Lum gasps as she realizes what she's done. Shinoko stares fearfully at the Oni. Atako walks around the two as she pulls up her shotgun. "Make sure this doesn't bother us again!!" she aims and fires.
A bolt of particle-plasma rips into the orb, totally shattering it! Atako sighs. "Let's get the hell out of here!!"
Both girls numbly nod as they turn and smartly move out of the room, Atako following them. Descending down the stairs to the third floor, Atako looks. "Where are you guys?!!"
An explosion to her left nearly knocks the three down as the other bioroids appear!! Lum gasps on seeing five women standing there in lieu of the five men who normally fawn over her, but after remembering Atako's brief explanation, relaxes. Cordite stains their faces, but the five seem to maintain their cool. One of Shutako's arms has a field bandage on it covering a gunshot wound which sliced into her biceps. "Shutako-chan, you're hurt!!" Atako leaps to her side, reaching over to support her friend. "How bad?!"
"It's a scratch," Mendou's double smiles, doing her best to hide the pain. "We've taken care of the idiots below! I think we've also found some hovercycles on the first floor, where Sakura-sensei's office would be!!"
Ataru's double looks relieved. "Okay, we've got what we came for and we've got rid of Otako to boot!! Let's amscray!!!"
They race to the first floor landing, then into the north-west wing. Bursting into the room, they find a group of Urusian pattern airbikes. "Great!!" Lum leaps on one. "Let's get out of this place!!!"
"Amen to that!!" Aisuko leaps on another, then stares at the controls. "Eh...Lum, could you tell us how to work these things?!"
* * *
Gekijoo's cathedral detonates in a giant explosion as bombs laid by the guards' doubles do their murderous work! Niphentaxians gasp in mortal fear as they watch the centre of their faith brought to ruin. The Avalonians witnessing this smile, realizing that their decades of indentured servitude are soon to be nothing more than painful memories. Before anyone could react, four airbikes blast away, flying to the distant gestation factory.
In the ruins, soldiers claw through the wreckage in hopes of finding survivors. As with all Niphentaxian ground troops, they are dressed as if they were members of Mendou's Panzer Division. "Otako-sama!!!" one sergeant cries. "Where are you?!!"
In answer, a volcano of psychic energy funnels from the site of the clock tower. Rising from the wreckage is a living Otako, her chest wound healed, eyes glowing like twin suns. "Otako-sama!!!" the sergeant gasps in relief. "You're alright!!! What happened?!!"
The priestess' eyes narrow as her voice booms. "GET MOROBOSHI!!!!!!"
Mortified, the soldiers retreat...
* * *
"Is everyone okay?!!" Lum calls as she guides her airbike to the distant gestation factory, Shinoko hugging her from behind.
Cheers of confirmation echo from the guards' doubles and Shinoko. Atako sees that Shutako is on the verge of unconsciousness. "We've got to get Shutako-chan to medical aid, Lum! She's losing a lot of blood!!"
"I'm...alright..." Mendou's sister gasps. "I said...it was...a scratch...!"
"Jeez, you're as thick-skulled as your brother!" Atako shakes her head.
"Hey!!!" Aisuko cries. "Incoming!!!"
Lum looks to see a battalion of airbike troops rising in pursuit from Gekijoo. "Oh, gods, they don't want to give up, do they?!!"
"A gun!!" Shinoko barks. "You drive!"
Lum passes a machine gun back. Shikko and Urayako arm themselves. "Atako-kun, fly on ahead!!" Shinoko yells. "Get Shutako-kun to the priestesses so they can look at her!"
"Right!! Watch yourselves!" Atako waves as she guns the airbike's engines to maximum overdrive, rocketing ahead of the others.
Lum glances back to see the Niphentaxians close in. "Lum-sama!!!" a sergeant waves. "Stop!!! We won't hurt you!!"
"Lie and a half!" the Oni hisses.
As the Niphentaxians close the range, the thunder of starship engines is heard. Everyone looks up to see the boat-shaped hull of the "Goddess of Luck" race at them, photon torpedo and concussion missile launchers deploying. "Incoming!!!" Lum screams.
The Niphentaxians wail as the first fusillade decimates their ranks! Shattered airbikes and burning troopers rain the ground far below. Machine gun then fire rakes them from another direction as the thunderous roar of a Fukunokami airbike is heard, followed by very familiar laughter. Lum's eyes widen as she looks back. "Benten!!!"
The Niphentaxians spin around, staring in shock as Kamen races at them, a machine gun in hand slung over her bike's handlebars and the bike's weapons firing! The Fukunokami bioroid cackles as she hoses the enemy bikers, sending many more to an early demise. "Let's see how much you like taking it!!!" Kamen howls.
The bike battalion is whittled to several wrecked platoons, retreating as the "Goddess'" swivel particle gun mounts chase them off. Lum notices more familiar faces piloting the frigate as the hatchway opens and Dakejinzou stares outside. "Are you people alright?!"
"We've fine!!" Lum glides her bike over. "Can you find Darling?!"
"He's waiting up ahead!" Dakejinzou points at the factory, then looks back. "And I see there are much more bioroids living on this planet than just Kamen and her team!"
"Eh?!" Lum looks at "Benten." "You mean, you're not Benten...?!"
The Fukunokami's attention is locked on Shinoko. "Y-you're just like m-me...!" Kamen stammers, eyes wide with confusion and relief.
"That's right," Shinoko smiles. "I'm Shinoko Miyaki. Shinobu's my template."
Kamen nods to her, grinning. "I'm Kamen Shigaten. Benten's my template."
Shinoko blushes from Kamen's stare, then looks at Lum. "Lum, why don't you catch up. Kamen-chan could take me back to the factory."
Without giving the Oni a chance to reply, Shinobu's sister steps over to sit on Kamen's airbike. Benten's sister guns her machine as the other doubles race away. Lum looks at Dakejinzou. "What's going on here?!! Who made that double of Benten?!!"
"Oogi did, on your father's orders," the hunter nods. "Come on in and I'll explain..."
* * *
The "Goddess of Luck" touches down atop the factory beside a tower. Dakejinzou and Lum disembark. The Oni is overjoyed to see who's waiting for her. "Darling!!!" she leaps into Ataru's arms. "Darling, you're alright!! You're safe!!!" she cakes him with kisses.
"Hey, hey, you!!" Ataru chuckles as he tightly embraces Lum. "Relax!! Don't you know by now I'm invincible?!!"
Lum then sees Hensou. "Mal-chan...?"
"My name's Hensou," her double bows.
"I suggest we get below and get everyone introduced to everyone," Ataru interrupts. "Besides, I need you for something, Lum!"
"You do?!" Lum looks confused.
In minutes, everyone is introduced to everyone else. While there is hesitation around Otako, Ataru's words quickly sooth any doubts. As they chat away, Atako tends to Shinobu and Shutako. Lum sits beside her former rival, regretful at the sight of the Terran's wounds. "I'm sorry," she quietly sobs as she lightly squeezes Shinobu's hand.
"Sorry?" Shinobu blinks. "Why?!"
"For not telling you about these people before," the Oni shakes her head. "Maybe somehow we could've avoided this disaster..."
"Lum, don't be mad," Shinobu pats Lum's hand. "You can't predict how other people are going to act! There's no reason for you to blame yourself! You're not at fault!"
"Uh-oh!" Dakejinzou looks out a window into the forest. "We've got incoming!!"
Everyone stares outside to see multiple lights shining through the canopy of trees, indicating a massive host. "Shit, we're on long odds now!" Kamen hisses. "Any way we can just teleport ourselves off this rock?!"
"All teleporters and transporters are down," Dakejinzou shakes her head. "We barely have communications to contact the fleets in orbit! Further, their fire-control nets are down. They could accidentally hit an Avalonian commune or this place! Like it or not, we'll have to settle it here!"
"How?!" Lum looks anxious.
"It's being done," Otako reports. "When you stepped into this station, Lum-sama, your body and mind were scanned. Gloriana's new body is being gestated. Once she's cognizant, she can then seize control of the gestation factory, then it can take us to Avalon."
"You're making **another** me?!" Lum gasps. "Isn't **three** of me enough with Mal-chan and Hensou-chan?!!"
"We're lucky our brothers aren't up to see this," Aisuko sighs.
"Lum, you have to agree there's no way Gloriana'll be harmed if she looks like you," Ataru hums. "Besides, you're one up on me! I've got two sisters and you'll have three!!"
"True," Lum looks at Dakejinzou. "But, what do we do about that?" she points outside. "I doubt they'll wait for us to resurrect Gloriana so we could steal their slaves!!"
"True," the hunter nods. "As to how to stop them, I'm at a loss."
The bioroids shake their heads save one. "I'm not," Atako speaks up.
"What do you have in mind?" Ataru hums.
"Well, I don't have it in my head...but **you** do," Atako taps her brother on the shoulder. "I say you just walk out, pretend you've come to surrender yourself...and when they least suspect it...let **you know what** out of your head...and let **it** deal with them!!" a mirthless smile crosses her face. "That curse we've been fighting may be much for all of us...but it'll be peanuts in comparison to the *saikoo jinseijitsu*!!"
Everyone turns white. "Darling, no!!!" Lum shakes her head. "If you let that monster out again, it'll try to destroy you!!!"
"Atako's right," Ataru sighs. "I doubt even as the Cyborg, I could wax those bastards out there!" he nods outside. "The *saikoo jinseijitsu* would have a field day!!"
"Are you sure we should risk it?!" Aisuko wonders. "We had the devil's own time trying to subdue that monster during the Spirit War! It'll be ready for us now!! What do you think, Shogai-san?!" she looks at Dakejinzou.
The synthezoid hunter muses. "I haven't had any personal experience with that beast, so I am unable to predict what could happen. I've only now just been hired by Nagaiwakai-sama to become Ataru-chan's combat teacher!"
"Call Grandma and ask," the Oni prompts.
Dakejinzou contacts the "Kashin." Once a clear and secure channel has been obtained, the hunter relays the plan. The matriarch's answer is grim. "Unfortunately, we can't beam down troops to stop this fight," Nagaiwakai sighs. "Further, there's the problem of this curse. If it's as powerful as people've hinted, then the *saikoo jinseijitsu* might be tempted to absorb that power for itself."
"If the *saikoo jinseijitsu* absorbs the power of this curse, this'll make the Spirit War look like a tea party!!" Kamen growls.
Everyone looks to Ataru. The Terran nods. "We've no choice." He looks at Atako. "Atako-chan, you and the others protect Gloriana. If you see any Avalonians approach the factory, get them to safety. Dake-chan, you'll help, okay?!" he looks at the hunter.
"Of course," she nods.
Ataru faces Lum. "Ready?"
"Ready!" the Oni nods.
They leave. "May the Creators go with them!" Nuriko intones.
* * *
"Any hope of penetrating that field?!"
"None, sir," the sensory officer shakes her head, then yelps. "Sir!! Incoming force! Niphentaxians..." she gasps, then curses. "Over six hundred ships!!! Sensors also indicate an echelon of Planet Destroyers!!"
Invader curses in Oni, then stares at the forward viewscreen, now projecting a view of the Niphentaxian task force. Invader and Nagaiwakai had scraped up a fleet of two hundred ships, including representation from the Ipraedies Empire, the Royal Kingdoms of Yehisril, the Seifukusu Dominion and the Holy Republic of Zephyrus. Fortunately, Invader had aces. "Tell the EWCR to transmit the fleet stand-down codes!!!" he barks. "Signal all ships!!! Sound battle stations!!!"
The klaxon blares as the crew leap to their action stations as an invisible code transmits from the "Kashin"...
* * *
Aboard the "Tamashii no Lum," Oogi glares at the opposition. The sight of ships from a half-dozen fellow Federation worlds, not to mention elsewhere, sends rage and betrayal down the president's spine. "I was trying to free Lum-sama from that devil's chains...and **this** is how they repay me?!!" he hisses. "Order all ships to action stations!! Have the Planet Destroyers stand by! Target all Seifukusu, Zephyrite and Ipraedies forces!! If necessary, target the Yehisrites, too!!!"
The fleet captain nods, then turns to relay the command...just as the lights dim. Everyone gasps as ship's power dies. "Sir!!!" an officer reports. "All weapons systems and shields are deactivating!!!"
"Every ship's affected!!!" another gasps. "Even the Planet Destroyers've been hit!!!"
"What?!!" Oogi cries. "How?!!"
* * *
Standing atop a ridge near the factory, Ataru and Lum watch as the Niphentaxians approach. Torches light an eerie scene as Lum gasps, "It looks like every Niphentaxian who lives on this colony's come!!!"
"There're even children!!" he points. "Mothers with babies...kids who should be in school...teenagers who should be dating...!!"
He falls silent, unable to say anything more. "All because of a curse someone tried to punish me with when I was born?!!" Lum shudders. "This...this is madness!!"
"Why do you think I've been so scared about you staying in Tomobiki?"
Atako's voice speaks from nowhere. "Ataru-chan! Lum-chan!!"
"Is Gloriana ready?!" Lum asks.
"No, not yet!" the bioroid replies. "But the Avalonians're making their way here! It's like Noah's Ark!!! You gotta see this!!"
"Tell us about it later, sis," Ataru smiles. "If there is a later."
"Darling, don't say that!" Lum cries.
Minutes tick away as the Niphentaxians approach. Ataru's eyes narrow as he detects one figure leading the pack: Otako. "Ready?"
Lum looks hesitant. "Are you sure...?!"
"Don't question it!!" he snaps.
"Moroboshi!!" Otako's voice echoes. "Surrender!! If you surrender, I'll guarantee that Lum-sama will not be harmed!!!"
"They always say that," he sighs, then yells, "What about my family?!!"
"What about them?!!" Otako replies. "They're not relevant!!!"
"No!!!" he screams. "Get ready, Lum!"
"Ready!" the Oni forms a lightning ball.
"Don't be a fool!!!" the priestess snaps. "Think, Ataru!!! For two years, your life's been dominated by Lum-sama's presence!!! You've chafed at her domination, fought to free yourself, free your planet from her!!! You and I seek the same thing!!! Join me and we'll guarantee Earth will develop the way it should!!! Isn't that more important?!!"
Interesting switch in tactics. "So, you mean to say to me that you never cared for Lum?!! I wonder what Oogi'd say to that!!!"
"What does he know?!!" Otako snarls. "He desires Lum-sama!!! Lum-sama must remain pure!!! Lum-sama must remain whole!!! Anyone who dares alter that must be destroyed!!!"
"That curse is trying to use every trick to make me turn away from you!" he looks at Lum, then yells. "Is that really you I'm talking to...or the curse the Old Woman of the Oak Forest put on Lum seventeen years ago?!!"
Silence. "I thought as much!!!" Ataru laughs. "It's no wonder you were so easy to take over, considering that everyone **knows** that all Niphentaxians are *brainless*, **clueless**, ***IDIOTS!!!!!!***"
"Prepare to eat those words!!!" Otako mindlessly screams.
"Now, Lum!!!" Ataru barks.
The Oni, still looking unsure, nods as the lightning lashes out, impacting the back of her Darling's head. Ataru cries in shock as he drops to his knees. "I'm sorry!"
Her eyes widen as Ataru is surrounded by a orange glow. His skin pales as tiger striping appears. Ataru's eyes glow star-white. Rising, his voice booms. "***COMBAT CLOTHING TRANSFORM WHIRLWIND!!!!!!***"
The energy rips away Ataru's civilian clothing, reforming into a ninja's gi. Lum tries to suppress her fear as she watches. "*I AM FREE!!*" the *saikoo jinseijitsu* glares at Lum. "*WHY DID YOU FREE ME, ONI?! ARE YOU PREPARED TO SURRENDER MOROBOSHI SO I MAY AT LAST HAVE A LIFE OF MY OWN?!!*"
"N-no...!!" Lum looks angry. "There's something you better know, first! Look there!!" she nods down the hill.
Ataru sees the advancing Niphentaxians. The possessed teen snorts as he glares at Lum. "*ARE THEY OF ANY CONCERN OF MINE?!*"
"They'd be if you realize that they're here to destroy Darling!!"
"*LET THEM! I'LL EVEN HELP!!*"
"I wouldn't say that if I were you!!" Lum snarls. "Even if they found out you existed, they'd still move to destroy **you**!!!"
"*WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!*"
"Think about it!" Lum holds up a cautious finger. "Not everyone knows about you!! All they see is Darling! They're not going to give you a chance to state your case before they destroy Darling...and you!!"
Ataru hums as he stares at the advancing Niphentaxians. His eyes narrow as he notices their eyes glowing. "***SPIRIT-SENSOR!!!!***"
A mace appears! The crystal at one end glows as it gives the possessed teen a clearer view. "*INTERESTING!*" he muses. "*THEY HAVE BEEN POSSESSED BY SOME OUTSIDE POWER!*"
"That's a curse for me!!" Lum points at herself. "It's designed to keep me away from consummating my relationship with Darling!!!"
Ataru gives her a thin smile. "*UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, I WOULD HELP SUCH A CURSE KEEP YOU AWAY FROM MOROBOSHI!!*" he mirthlessly cackles. "*HOWEVER, I ALSO SENSE THAT THIS CURSE HAS BECOME A SHINMA!!!*"
Lum looks confused. "*Shinma*?!"
"*YOU SHOULD BETTER LEARN YOUR FUTURE HOMELAND'S MYTHS IF YOU DESIRE TO LIVE ON EARTH*," the possessed teen sneers. "*A SHINMA IS A CREATURE NEITHER GOOD NOR EVIL, BUT AS LONG AS IT EXISTS WITHIN THIS DIMENSION, THOSE NORMAL HUMANS WHO COME IN CONTACT WITH IT ARE DOOMED!*"
The Oni shudders, realizing there is presently no hope for Otako or her fellow colonists. Looking at his spirit-sensor, Ataru hums, then his head turns toward the gestation factory. "*THOSE APPROACHING US ARE MILLIPEDES' FEET!*" he snorts, pointing to a glowing light on one of the factory's towers. "*THERE IS THE SHINMA'S HEART!!*"
Lum looks, her eyes focusing on the glow. A nauseating feeling crosses her heart. "Why do I feel so ill...?!" she shudders.
"*IT IS FOCUSING ITS ENERGY ON YOU!*" the *saikoo jinseijitsu* reports. "*IT LIVES TO BRING YOU MISERY AND LONELINESS! COMMENDABLE, IF YOU ASK ME!! STILL, I'LL NOT BROOK ANYONE ATTEMPTING TO DESTROY MY HOST BEFORE I CAN MAKE IT MY OWN OR TRANSFER TO ANOTHER!!!*"
Lum shudders, wondering which side she should applaud. "Lum-chan!!!" Atako's voice yells from nowhere. "We've got a problem!!"
Inside the factory's control room, Atako stands beside another Lum, now dressed in a jumpsuit, working feverishly on the primary command systems. "What's wrong?!" Lum asks.
"Sister, there's an object attached to the stations primary power systems!" Gloriana speaks. "*Tcha*, this is so annoying!!"
"That must be the controlling orb!"
"Yes!!" Gloriana nods. "It's feeding a virus program into the primary command codes! As long as that orb exists, I can't activate the factory's stardrive systems, the planetary destruct system or reprogram the social control systems to free my people from the master control network!! It must be destroyed at once or we'll never leave this planet...and that's not to mention what could happen if that curse spreads to other worlds!!!"
Lum looks at Ataru. "If this curse isn't stopped here, it'll spread to the other worlds of Niphentaxian space! The whole galaxy could be threatened if this curse gets out of hand!"
"*SO I SEE*," the possessed teen snarls. "*SUCH DOMINATION DOES NOT PLEASE ME ONE BIT!! I SUGGEST WE DISPOSE OF THAT ORB!!!*"
He leaps, snaring Lum by the hand as he soars to the factory. Landing on the roof some distance from the orb, the possessed teen brings his cupped hands together as if he was drawing a sword. "***SOULSWORD!!!!!!***"
The magical katana appears. "*WE SHALL SEE IF THIS CURSE IS STRONG ENOUGH TO RESIST THE GREATEST FORCE OF THE MARTIAL ARTS!!!*"
"You better look around!" Lum warns.
Ataru's eyes narrow as he finds himself surrounded by Niphentaxians, blankly gazing at him. Leading them is Otako. "Destroy him!!"
The Oni notices the Niphentaxians' skins shrivelling, their life forces drained to form a glowing cloud. "Gods, no!!!" she gasps, cupping her mouth closed. "Their energy's being drained by that thing!!"
"*AN INTERESTING TACTIC!*" Ataru raises his hand. "*BUT ONE EASILY COUNTERED!!*" He barks, "***SPIRIT-BREAKER FIRE-LIGHT!!!!!!***"
A beam of energy lashes from Ataru's fingertip, lancing into the orb!! The orb's glow fades as it defends itself. Lum gasps as the energy draining from the Niphentaxians disperses. The Oni's eyes widen on seeing the colonists' bodies fading. "No...no...gods, no!!!" she shakes her head, stumbling towards Otako, who still seems alive. "Otako!!"
Lum gently lifts the dying priestess into her lap. She tries not to vomit at the sight of the shrivelling skin. "My fault..." Otako gasps, summoning what little strength she has left. "All... my fault...Lum-sama..."
"Don't move! Save your strength!!"
"No...this is only just...punishment, Lum-sama..." she gasps. "Don't...mourn me...I accept...judgement Fate...chose for me...!"
The Oni shakes her head, wondering what she did to deserve such loyalty. "Lum-sama, my sister...?" Otako gasps. "Is she...?"
"She's all right," Lum nods.
Otako nods, allowing death to take her. "I hope...you and Ataru...have a wonderful life...tell him...how sorry...I am...!"
Lum gasps as Otako fades. "No...NO!!!!" the Oni screams, spinning around to glare at the orb. "YOU MURDERED ALL THESE INNOCENT PEOPLE JUST TO HURT ME?!?!?! ***HERE'S MY DIVINE RETRIBUTION!!!!!!***"
She unleashes a blast of electricity. It strikes the orb with as much fury as the *saikoo jinseijitsu's* attack!! "*YOU FOOL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!*" it bellows...
...as a backlash of energy ploughs into him!!! "DARLING!!!!!!" Lum cries.
She turns back, seeing the controlling orb glowing more brightly than ever. The Oni floats back, eyes wide. "What...what does it take to destroy you...?!!" she gasps.
An aged cackle is heard as the Old Woman's voice taunts over the years. THE NEWBORN WAS A GIRL, WAS IT NOT?! she cackles. THUS SHALL THE CURSE BE FULFILLED! WHEN THE BABE BECOMES A WOMAN, HER FATE SHALL BE SUCH THAT SHE AND HER BELOVED WILL BE FOREVER SEPARATED!! NO MATTER HOW MUCH SHE MAY LOVE HIM, THE LOVE WON'T BE MUTUAL! NO MATTER HOW MUCH SHE MAY FALL IN LOVE, THE LOVE WILL BE SHATTERED AND HER DREAMS SHALL NEVER COME TRUE!! More laughter is heard, then the Old Woman finishes. THUS, IT SHALL BE! HER DESTINY IS NOW DETERMINED!!
"No...no...!!" she shakes her head. "No! I will not allow this to happen to me!! I will **not** allow this to happen!!! I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN TO ME!!!! I WILL NOT ALLOW **ANYONE** TO DOMINATE MY LIFE!!!!!!"
Summoning what power she has, she lashes out, blasting the orb anew! It summons the energy necessary to defend itself against the Oni's attacks...as Lum utters a tired gasp, falling to the factory's roof. "No...!!" she moans. "It can't end this way..."
* * *
"Lum...!" Atako gasps as she and Gloriana witness the battle from below. She gently embraces the Oni bioroid, their eyes rivetted on the scene playing itself on the viewscreen.
* * *
Silence falls over the roof as Lum and Ataru lay unconscious, unmoving. The orb glows, as if it was Big Brother watching over streets in "1984." Then, an astral image appears beside Lum. Lum-chan...
Lum's eyes flutter open. "Noa...?"
She looks up to see the Seishin-born bureaucrat smiling at her. Hi, love! Noa kisses the Oni's forehead. Miss me?
The orb glows bright white, then lashes out with a bolt of psychic energy. Noa's eyes narrow. The attack dissipates. "What...?!" Lum gasps, eyes wide. "How?!!"
Simple, silly! Noa smiles. Don't you know the old saying that no one gets between a Sagussan and her bond-mate?!
Lum notices they aren't alone. Appearing around the Oni are a great host of Sagussans: Honey, Lufy, Catty, Hikaru, Madoka and Ataru's guards. The Oni's eyes water as she witnesses others appearing around Ataru. "Y-you came! You came to help me...help Darling...help us!"
Did you expect us to do otherwise? Catty smiles. You ARE Ataru-sama's Other!
You're destined to be together! Lufy nods approvingly.
And we'll not stop until you *are* together!! Mikan adds.
***NO!!!!!!***
The Sagussans surrounding Lum are deluged by a blast from the orb! The Oni screams, but the *daishi'cha* dismiss the attack. Don't you just hate it when someone tries to be a fly in the ointment?! Madoka sighs.
I think it's time we taught people a lesson! Hikaru growls.
"Hey!!!" Ataru gasps. "Look at me!!!"
Lum looks over...then her eyes widen on seeing Ataru surrounded by doubles of every girl her Darling once expressed interest in. The Oni quickly recognizes them by name and department. "The Inner Circle!" she beams, remembering her precognitive dreams.
Sakura-chan stares at the orb. Noa was right to summon us! Everyone, join hands! Form a mind-meld with Ataru-sama!!
People quickly link together, forming a giant psychic wall of energy which soon unites with Ataru. *No wonder I've always dreamt of a harem!!* Ataru stammers, wondering whether the sight of so many was a fond dream being fulfilled...or a foreshadowing of disasters and problems innumerable ahead.
It's alright, Ataru-sama! Lum-chan smiles at him. We'll never allow you to be separated from the Other!!
The Other?
Lum?!
Was it true?!
As if sensing his unspoken question, Lum glances left to gaze into Ataru's eyes. *Darling...I will always be here for you...!!*
*Koishii...I'll never leave your side!!*
Sensing what is happening, the orb glows white as it lashes anew. ***NO!!!! THIS MUST NOT BE!!!! THIS WILL NEVER BE!!!!***
Incensed, Lum and Ataru together draw the power of the *daishi'cha*, then, as if they were one, project it at the orb...
* * *
"What's happening?!!" Invader demands, staring at the blackened orb of Phentax Twelve rotating below the "Kashin's" hull.
A volcano of psychic energy explodes from the planet! The ships are rocked as the energy lashes out, finally dissipating into nothingness. On the bridge, everyone looks around. "What was that?!" Nagaiwakai demands.
"I can't say!" the sensory officer shakes her head. "Whatever it was, it seems to have dispersed the energy shield surrounding Phentax Twelve...oh, gods!!!" she gasps, her eyes widening as a new reading is displayed.
"What?!" Invader demands.
"There...the only lifesigns...there's no Niphentaxian lifesigns, Captain...!!" she shakes her head, covering her mouth.
Silence falls. "What...?" Invader gasps.
"How many people lived here, anyway?!" Koosei demands, staring at Oyuki.
"Sir!" the communications officer yips. "A message from the Milky Way 'Curses 'R Us' Management Organization!! They report that the time management device monitoring Lum-san's curse has deactivated itself!!!"
Invader takes that in, then gazes at Phentax Twelve. "But...what happened...?!"
"Sir!!" the sensory officer reports. "Sensors indicate two ships lifting off from the planet's surface! One is the 'Goddess of Luck,' the other is...eh?" she gapes. "Gods!! Contact Two is twenty kilometres long!!!"
"Incoming signal from the second!" the communications officer barks. "It's Lum!!"
Lum's image appears. "Daddy!!! Tell everyone to get away from the planet!! It's going to explode!!! Hurry!!!"
The bridge crew gasps in disbelief. Invader spins to the communications station. "All ships, this is the 'Kashin!!!' Phentax Twelve is about to detonate itself!!! Pull back!!! Clear out of this place!!!"
As funnels of energy burst from the surface, hundreds of starships scatter in every direction. In seconds, Phentax Twelve's crust crumbles into the boiling mantle below. Finally, the planet's energy reaches super-saturation point. With a titanic flash, Phentax Twelve detonates, shattering into billions of atomic-sized particles!
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
"It's over. We're free."
Warping away from the Phentax system, the factory proceeds to the Avalonians' new home. In a lounge near the aft end of the ship, everyone relaxes, relieved that the insanity is over with and saddened that the cost of freeing the galaxy of the Old Woman's curse was so high. Hensou walks up to stand beside her sister. "Ria, what happens to us now?"
The other bioroid smiles. "Our people are free to determine their destiny, Hensou. Once they've established themselves on New Avalon, then the future is theirs to decide and control. When Lum and Darling freed the master control system, I downloaded the information I retained on behalf of all Avalonians to the central matrix. They can use it now if they desire."
"Eh?!" Hensou blinks. "What about you?! Aren't you supposed to be their queen?!"
"No," Gloriana smiles. "People've always mistook my role. They believe it is my task to be New Avalon's leader. That's wrong. I was created to be a repository of knowledge, like Darling is with the *saikoo jinseijitsu*. The true nature of the experiment the Creators planned so long ago was to see if the people of New Avalon can use the knowledge I provide to forge a society they can call their own. Now, with the Niphentaxians unable to interfere, my initial purpose is ended."
"An elderwoman, you mean," Shinobu muses.
"Exactly," Gloriana nods. "Now that my people are free, I have the rest of my life to explore. I'll be going to Earth!"
The others are surprised. "Eh?!!" Aisuko leaps to her feet. "You're coming to Earth, Ria-san?!! Does that mean you'll be...?!!"
"Living where you go," Gloriana nods.
"Can we live in Tomobiki?" Shutako asks.
"Doubtful," Ataru's sister shakes her head. "My brother'd prefer that any version of Lum not live in Tomobiki...that is until Mendou's married, the guards are disbanded and Ataru-chan's married to Lum! If Ria or Hensou move to Tomobiki, there'll be a riot!!"
"True," Shinoko sighs. "Where do we go?"
"I've got that answer," Kamen holds up a finger. "Atako's grandma's looking for people to run her farm on Sado!" She then looks at Hensou. "If you're interested, I'll go!"
The bioroids face Atako. "Darling, will you go?" Gloriana walks up to her.
"I'll go if Shutako-chan and Shinoko-chan go," Atako smiles.
"Willingly!" Shinoko embraces her.
"With pleasure," Shutako takes her hand.
The other bioroids are quick to voice their willingness to join the enterprise. "Excuse me!" a male voice echoes.
Everyone sees the other kidnap victims finally recovered. "Um, this may be a stupid question, but where are we and who are you?!!" Mendou shakes his head, having just awakened.
The guards' eyes widen in disbelief on seeing what's happened. "Do my eyes deceive me?!!" Megane gasps. "Two Shinobus...female doubles of all of us...a female Ataru...a female Mendou...and TWO LUM-SANS?!?!?!"
Electricity from Gloriana and Hensou burns the five before they could do a thing!! "Hard to believe we were like that, eh?!" Aisuko sighs, shaking her head in disgust.
"Amen to that!" Shutako nods.
"They're awake?!" Ataru snorts.
He and Lum enter. "Unfortunately, yes!" Shinobu sighs. "What's happened?!"
The Oni rolls her eyes. "Well, Oogi's charged Darling with genocide! I called Lupica and told her the truth, not to mention telling her about the Niphentaxians' treatment of the Avalonians!! She called Oogi and ordered him to quash the charges or else face expulsion from the Galactic Federation. That would leave Oogi's people quite vulnerable to attacks from Ipraedos, Zephyrus, Vos or the Dominion since we'd no longer be bound to help them! Oogi complied...fortunately!"
"But it doesn't mean that's the last we've seen of him!" Ataru sighs.
"Unfortunately," Lum nods in agreement. "So," she turns to Hensou and Gloriana. "What do you two plan to do now?!"
They are informed of the bioroids' plans. "Wonderful!" Ataru nods. "Hey, Lum! Let's get everyone from Oshika to move to Sado and we'll all be one big happy family!!"
"Mm..." Lum rubs her cheek against his. "Let's go someplace and talk about it!"
"But of course," he playfully growls as he escorts Lum out of the lounge.
Instantly, Mendou and the guards bolt up. "WHAT?!?!" Megane howls. "ATARU, HOW DARE YOU THINK OF SEDUCING **OUR** LUM-SAN?!?!?! PREPARE FOR YOUR PUNISHMENT, YOU SLIME...!!!!"
The five are instantly buried under everything their sisters could get their hands on!! "***GET A LIFE, YOU JERKS!!!!!!***"
They moan. Meanwhile, in a private lounge, Ataru and Lum relax within the other's embrace. "Now, tell me something, Darling," the Oni kisses him. "Did you recognize any of those girls who helped us destroy that curse?"
He considers the question. "Only one."
"Who?!"
"The one who loves you."
Lum is stunned. "Noa?!"
Ataru nods, then kisses her forehead. "I...barely remember seeing her...a long time ago," he shakes his head, clearly frustrated. "But...I know if I meet that girl again...I'll finally have the answers I want."
"That's wonderful," Lum smiles.
They look at each other. "And the best thing about this, I guess," he muses, "...is that unlike everyone else we know, those girls don't object to us being together. Is that the reason I've always dreamt of a harem?" he wonders. "Because I've always wanted friends who don't object to our being together? I mean, after all, the girls in your class have always wanted us to be together."
"True, but that was probably because they wanted you to stop chasing them!"
Both laugh, then kiss. "Now," Ataru rubs his nose against hers, "...tell me about her."
"Noa?"
He nods. "I can do that," Lum smiles...
*** The End ***
