Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year: "Mie's Story" Part 4
by Fred Herriot
450 Clare Avenue South, Welland, Ontario L3C 3B3 Canada
gorgo@havajava.com
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Edited by E.B. Kushnir
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Thirty-third of a series of fan-fiction stories based on "Urusei Yatsura"
created by Rumiko Takahashi
**** **** ****
IN THE THIRD PART OF "MIE'S STORY," the morning after the party, the Sagussans
muster to look for Oogi's spies. Aminobishoojo goes to Mitsushima on Tsushima
to look at Mie's Gladiator, salvaged from the Sea of Japan a year after the
pilot came to Earth. The others are split into two teams, Mie purposefully
separated from Makoto or Reinoevan. During the search, Makoto confronts Rei,
demanding to know why she is interested in Mie while her troopmate Asukanoevan
wants her. Rei reveals that when the *daishi'cha* began to transform in the
wake of Ataru's visit twelve years before, Asuka (who fully embraced the use
of emotions) became a frightening monster to Rei (who still kept herself bound
to rationality). Rei loves Asuka, but finds the latter's rampant emotionalism
overwhelming. Makoto forces Rei to admit the truth to Asuka, making the
Pathfinder realize that by her actions, she is hurting Asuka and confusing
Mie. Later, at Shapiro's Ice Cream Parlour, Asuka and Rei meet. Determined
to win her troopmate over, the former uses *mavan'shagh,* which the latter
barely resists. When Asuka demands why, Rei performs her own *mavan'shagh,*
at last revealing her true feelings. Asuka does not care; she loves Rei.
Further, by their actions, they have become bond-mates...
**** **** ****
And after that...ON WITH THE SHOW!!!!
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"Congratulations!!!" Linna beams.
Asuka and Rei blush as they walk into Toranoseishin Finances' private
apartment in Tomobiki, now the headquarters of Pathfinder Troop Six. Among
their people, the bond of *marei'cha* is as discernable as any physical
expression of emotion, hence their status as bond-mates was an open book to
their troopmates. Linna and Nene walk up, clasping hands with Asuka and Rei.
"Thanks," Asuka sighs. "It almost took me forever, but I did it!"
"We can tell!" Nene muses. "So...want to make it a four-way orgy for
the first night as a couple?"
Asuka and Rei stare at each other. "No, we'll just be by ourselves,"
the latter sighs. "We need to do a lot of talking."
"Among other things," Linna coyly muses.
Asuka and Rei turn beet-red as Linna and Nene laugh, returning to their
private bedroom. They then sense Sylia's presence. "I hoped you two would've
exercised a little more discretion."
The two stare at their commander. "Sorry, Sylia," Asuka shrugs. "You
just might say it's fate."
Sylia's eyes roll. "Everyone uses that excuse," she mutters.
"Where's Priss?" Rei looks around.
"She's checking on the status of our courier missile to Phentax Two,"
Sylia sighs. "It should be there by now."
"It arrived," Priss' voice announces.
The three see the *pirpirsiw'r*-turned-*daishi'cha* walk into the room.
"What happened?!" Rei inquires.
"It blew apart half of the Great Lum Church in Lumukyou," Priss smiles,
then frowns. "Oogi wasn't in town...but they sure as hell got the message."
"Oh, we'll just have to kill him later," Asuka smiles...
* * *
"A simple case of bad luck," Misato shakes her head. "Being close to
two Sagussans performing *mavan'shagh* on each other. You two are lucky to be
alive, you know that?"
Shapiro and Pamanba, both with ice packs on their heads, moan in
response to the psychologist's statement. "So I presently feel," the elder
observer moans. He had been in the basement when Rei and Asuka stripped
themselves of their psychic defenses, nearly burning the minds of both Vosians
by the strength of their brainwaves. Both are now on futons in the cafeteria,
blankets over them. Shinobu sits beside Pamanba. "Would you care to tell me
what those two were actually doing?" Shapiro stares at Misato.
"They were trying to win each other's love and trust so they could form
a bond-mating," the Fukunokami-born psychologist sighs. "Unlike your race and
that delightful form of genetic slavery you call 'recognition,' we Sagussans
have the full freedom of choice when it comes to selecting our life-partners
and co-parents for our children. Given the somewhat tortured history of their
relationship, Asuka and Rei had to resort to desperate measures to win the
other's attention, much less their interest and commitment. We derive very
intimate pleasure from mental contact. The more intense the contact, the more
emotionally and sexually aroused we become. You just had the bad luck of
being in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"That seems to be happening to us a lot lately," Shapiro muses, shifting
the bag on his head.
"Well, all I can recommend is rest and light duties for both of you for
the next couple of days," Misato rises, turning to leave. "Now, if you'll
excuse me, I'm going to be with my bond-mate. Oh, Pamanba."
"Yes, Sensei?" Pamanba blinks.
"Priss' bomb got to Lumukyou," Misato smiles. "It didn't get Oogi, but
he probably got the message we wanted to deliver to him."
"Thanks, Sensei," the huntress nods. "Next time, use an H-bomb when
you're dealing with that murdering slime!"
"It might just come to that," the psychologist waves as she steps out.
"Good night."
"'Night, Sensei," Shinobu nods as the door closes behind Misato. She
then sits back. "I wonder what's going to happen to Mie now that Rei's bonded
to Asuka."
"I don't care just as long as I'm not close by when she does bond with
someone," Pamanba groans, squeezing her eyes shut to cut out the pain...
* * *
"I'm home!" Mie calls out as she walks into the living room later that
evening. "Hey, where is everyone?!"
"Hi, Mie-chan!" Makoto's voice calls out from the kitchen. "Dinner'll
be ready in a few minutes!"
"Thanks! I'm starved!!" Mie sighs as she sits down. "Where'd everyone
go?! Back to Sagussa?!"
"Haruka, Michiru, Rei and Minako went back," Makoto confirms. "Hotaru
and Setsuna are staying here. Usagi went to Tsushima to be with Ami. I think
Misato's down there with Ritsuko. Your parents, Tamiko and Suzume went out to
eat with Hotaru and Setsuna."
In other words, Mie is alone with Makoto and there is no sign of
Reinoevan. "Where're Rei and the others?"
"They're at Toranoseishin Fiances," Makoto replies. "Rei and Asuka
finally got together earlier on."
"Oh, that's nice!" Mie sighs.
*No, it's not nice!* one side of her storms. *It's the worst situation
possible!! No one's giving you the chance to make up your mind! Makoto
thinks she's got the right to waltz over you when you're still trying to
decide who and what you are!*
*But think of Makoto's suffering for twelve years in the Chamber of
Eternity,* the other part cuts in. *All she wants is to fulfill her own
dreams and help you regain a sense of who you are. Rei obviously couldn't
understand that, hence she's presently with Asuka. But at least Makoto's
trying to understand.*
*Trying as a Sagussan, you mean!* the first side retaliates. *We're not
Sagussan anymore, remember?!*
*We're not exactly Terran, either.*
Mie blinks as a bowl of karugh-kalghku is placed in front of her. "Here
you go!" Makoto sits in front of her, smiling.
"Ah, thank you," Mie picks up chopsticks, then digs in. Makoto had also
mixed in some fried airdevil eggs, shredded chonagh and opaque hogh-kyi to
make it a full meal. There is also a side dish of yanbe-chagh and a bowl of
fresh chigh for them to share.
Both dig in. They remain silent as they eat, although they do steal
glances at each other. A look of uncertainty haunts Makoto's eyes, as if
realizing that her dreams, made all the more possible by Rei's withdrawal,
could still be shattered if Mie turns in a direction Makoto may not be willing
to follow. *Look at her!* the softer side of Mie sighs. *She wants you to be
happy so she could be happy! Can't you see how much she loves you?!*
*So?! Who says we have to bow to her desires?!* the other half
grumbles. *Isn't love supposed to mean that we both have a say in how our
relationship is going to be?!*
After they finish the meal, both relax. "Ah, that was great," Mie
sighs, then leans on one arm. "We have to talk, Makoto."
"About what?" Makoto looks nervous.
"Us...and where we're going," Mie sighs. "Makoto, I hope you realize
that I'm not the same woman you were in love with twelve years ago. I've
changed, in ways you can't begin to understand."
"I understand how much you changed, even if I don't fully understand
what sort of changes have come over you," Makoto nods. "Mie, that doesn't for
an instant change how much I still want you, how much I still care for
you...how much I love you."
"So you understand that we're not going to be a normal Sagussan couple,"
Mie sighs.
"I knew that the instant you disappeared and I felt deep inside that you
were still alive and well," Makoto nods.
"That's good."
"Mie?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you still want to come back to Sagussa?"
Mie considers the point. "It's still too early to consider whether I'll
be living here or there," she shakes her head. "Part of it is the fact that I
have a home and family here. What happens to them when I suddenly take off
for a planet ten thousand parsecs away?"
"I was thinking about that," Makoto sighs. "So's Hotaru, by the way.
That's the reason they're out with your family. We realized it was pretty
unfair to ask you to come back and leave your family behind. So why shouldn't
they come with us?"
"You mean move to Sagussa?!" Mie blinks.
"Not right away, of course," Makoto nods. "Tamiko and Suzume still have
to graduate from school...and shifting from Earth to Sagussa is going to be a
hell of a culture shock for all of them, especially since they'll be caught up
in the middle of the reconstruction and land restoration. But it doesn't mean
we should slam the door shut. They have as much right to come to Sagussa as
you, especially after all the good they've done for you."
Mie considers the point, then wryly shrugs. "Maybe I'm afraid of
abandoning them like I abandoned you and Hotaru."
"You didn't abandon us," Makoto shakes her head. "While we may never
know the real reasons for your coming here, we could deduce it had something
to do with watching over Ataru. You proved it when you started hitting on
everyone to leave him alone. And that's not to mention you watching over Lum
while she's been here."
"Yeah, that could be true," Mie crosses her arms. "Maybe I left a
message in my Gladiator which could finally give me my answer. It would be
nice to understand what motivated me to come here."
"Well, if there is one, Ami and Ritsuko'll find it," Makoto muses as she
pulls out a bottle of chigh-tagh, pouring two glasses, handing one to Mie.
"But truthfully, I don't care anymore."
"About what?"
"About why you came here," Makoto lightly smiles. "You came here.
What's past is past. We have the future to think about now."
"That's true," Mie nods, then smiles. "Well, two more days and school's
finally over. Ataru-chan and Lum-chan'll be in Oshika, probably on their way
to a chapel within the month, and then it's off to Sagussa for them."
"And us, I hope," Makoto blushes.
"Maybe," Mie muses.
The watchmistress nods. "Well, no matter where you decide to stay, I'll
stay with you," she announces.
"You mean that?" the pilot blinks.
"I mean it," Makoto nods. "It's you I want, Mie. I'll take you as you
are right now, and I'll live with you were you want to live. On Earth,
Sagussa...Lyna's Soul, Mie, I really don't care. I want my life to have you
in it. And I'm going to get it one way or another, even if it takes me a
hundred years."
Mie intently stares into the Yehisrite-born woman's eyes. There is no
hint of fear, confusion, regret or any other emotion which could indicate any
possible deviation from Makoto's stated course. Only clear determination to
get what she wants...and what she wants is presently looking at her. "Maybe
you don't have to wait that long," she smiles, reaching over to gently grasp
Makoto's hand.
Makoto psionically reaches out. Mie's shields were up and rigid,
standard protective mode to wall in her *mei'na* from unwanted intrusion.
Obviously she was not in the mood for shocks, such as what *mavan'shagh* could
unleash. No need to go overboard, then. "Let's go on a date," she proposes.
"Now?" Mie blinks.
"Tomorrow after school. I want to take a closer look at this place.
Besides, we need the time to get to know each other again."
Mie considers the point, then nods...
* * *
The next morning, Lum is awakened by a relay signal from her scout.
Moaning, she dresses, then flies up to her ship to see who would call her at
such an early time of day. The screen dissolves into the image of an incensed
Oogi. "What do you want now, Oogi?!" the Oni growls.
"Lum-sama, have you heard?!!" the Niphentaxian demands. "A missile was
fired at Your Holy Church in Lumukyou!!"
"Oh?" Lum could barely suppress her mirth. "So?!"
"We have traced the missile's flight path back to Earth," Oogi growls.
"It is without a doubt the Great Evil's doing! He is trying once again to
destroy Your Beloved Church and Your loyal worshippers!"
"He's been doing that since before the Spirit War," Lum shrugs, a
mocking tone edging into her voice. "It doesn't matter. I'm moving to Oshika
to marry Darling and we're going to live happily ever after!"
"Lum-sama, you can't allow him to...!!"
"Good-bye, Oogi!" Lum presses the cut-off switch. "Moron!"
Suddenly, the scout shakes as a blast of air nearly knocks it out of its
stationary orbit. "*Tcha!!*" Lum gasps as she is nearly thrown into a
bulkhead. "What's going on?!"
Flying to her door, she looks outside...to see contrails indicative of
large jets having blitzed past her scout. Lum squints, quickly visualizing
out the three jets responsible for nearly giving her a concussion. The
variable geometric shape and twin steering rudders making the jets look like
the F-14 Tomcat fighter, quickly tell Lum what they are. "Gladiators!!!"
With a delighted yip, she flies down to get her books...
* * *
A sizable crowd has gathered on the front lawn of Tomobiki High School
to watch the three jets do their deadly dance. Koosei blinks as he notices
Lum arriving. "I take it Mie's fighter has been repaired," the teacher hums.
"By the looks of it," Lum looks skyward, covering her eyes from the
morning sun. "Boy, Ami and Ritsuko sure work fast."
Usagi and Misato walk up, Luna and Penpen beside them. "Well, what did
you expect, Lum...especially after we gave them encouragement," the Terran-
born zoologist giggles.
"I hope Makoto gives Mie some of that same encouragement," Lum sighs as
she watches one of the Gladiators peel towards the ground, moving to land on
the back lawn of Tomobiki High.
The others quickly notice. "Um...Lum, is it alright for that ship to
land here?!" Paama wonders. "I mean, it's as big as a Boeing 747 and it
doesn't look like it's got retrothrusters!"
"It doesn't need them," Lum smiles. "Watch."
As the Gladiator, a silver-hued craft marked with the Sagussan national
insignia and the code number 503, approaches the school, the engine cavities
metamorph, swinging on hidden pistons from horizontal flight to vertical, as
if the fighter grew legs. The forward engine cavities transform, moulding
into two humanoid arms complete with five-finger hands. The engines roar as
the Gladiator makes a soft landing in the middle of the soccer field, its port
wing nearly brushing the east wing of the school building. Everyone stands on
the back tarmac, staring at the large jet in disbelieving awe. "What is this
thing?!!" Shinobu demands.
"A Gladiator point-defence transformable fighter-bomber," Lum explains
as someone ejects herself from a lower boarding hatch under what appears to be
the cockpit. "It's in Guardian mode now, which is normally used for hover
flight or flying backwards to evade someone trying to shoot you down. Oh,
there's Ami! Hi, Ami!!"
"Hi, Lum!" Ami waves as she walks onto the tarmac, now dressed in her
engineer's coverall. She looks at the Gladiator. "Take her to Battledroid
mode, Ritsuko!"
"Okay!" a Vosian-accented voice responds from the Gladiator.
Everyone gasps as the fighter seems to straighten on its legs as its
forward structure folds on itself. The arms shift to lock into the shoulders
of the newly-formed torso. The wings fold back to provide perfect shielding
for the back and the legs. A head then elevates into position, shaped like a
patrol labor's. "Battledroid mode confirms positive," Ritsuko's voice calls
out from the machine.
Awed stares are projected at the sixty-metre tall fighter from Lum's
friends. "Gundam, move over!!!" Megane gasps, his glasses skewered. "Do they
actually use this thing on Sagussa?!"
"Four hundred in four defence squadrons, plus each capital ship has a
fighter flight of twenty...and three for the 'Hasei'cha,' Mie's ship!" Lum
explains, then notices the two other Gladiators waiting in Guardian mode near
the school. "Is that Lufy and Rabby?!"
"Yep," Ami nods. "They came here on Eluza's order to look in on Mie and
see if she wants to come back to Sagussa. But they couldn't bring the
'Hasei'cha' herself since they're still working on upgrading her systems and
making her fit for service. It'll be another two months before she's
considered spaceworthy."
"Oh," Lum nods.
"Returning to Guardian mode," Ritsuko reports as the Gladiator shifts
back to its squatting form. "Shutting her down."
"Okay!" Ami nods, then calls to the other Gladiators, clearing them to
land wherever there is any room for the giant jets.
"Hey, what's going on here?!" Mie's voice demands.
Everyone turns to see Mie stride around the school building, Makoto
behind her. The pilot then stops on seeing her Gladiator sitting there.
"She's all ready whenever you are!" Ami announces.
"You fixed that mess?!!" Mie exclaims, pointing.
"Of course," Ami looks insulted. "Our reputations as miracle workers is
intact."
Everyone laughs as Ritsuko, a tall, statuesque Vosian-born armourer with
chin-length blonde hair, blue eyes and a dimple on her left cheek, walks up.
"Nice work, Ritsu-chan!" Misato smiles as she embraces her bond-mate, kissing
her cheek.
"Well, with you around to encourage me, what did you expect, Misa-
chan?!" Ritsuko muses, lustfully eyeing Misato.
"What does she mean by that?!" Mendou inquires.
"Too X-rated for you to hear," Usagi warns.
"Hey, shipmate!!!" Lufy's voice barks as she slaps Mie in the back,
driving the pilot to her knees. "You slack-ass!!! There you are!!! Ready to
come back to the real world again?!!"
"Nice to see you, too, Lufy..." Mie grunts.
"Who're you calling a slack-ass, Lufy?!" Priss then appears behind her
fellow *pirpirsiw'r,* snidely glaring at her. "At least Mie's been making
herself busy. What's your excuse?!"
Lufy spins around to stare into Priss' eyes. "I've got plenty of
excuses!" she growls. "What's your excuse for still living?!"
"Are you saying I don't have an excuse for living?!"
"Yeah, I'm saying that! What're you going to do about it?!"
The lightning flashing between their eyes, not to mention battle auras
which would impress Makoto and Rei, sends chills down everyone's spine. "Are
they always like this?!" Megane gulps.
"Actually, they're very tame today," Lum shudders. "I think."
Suddenly, Lufy and Priss high-five the other, then burst out laughing.
"Hah! Still got it!!" the latter snorts, elbowing the former in the side.
"You should've been a Pathfinder, Lufy! What're you doing flying those
transformable junkheaps anyway?!"
"Hey, I can still fight outside a Gladiator!" Lufy smiles.
"See?!" Lum beams. "They're really very good friends!"
Everyone not of Sagussa faints! "I wonder," Mie hums...
* * *
"Here it is, Mie," a strawberry-blonde haired, blue eyed Zeiwanite hands
the pilot a padded dark blue and red uniform. Both are now in class with
everyone else. "We got a new one ready for you just in case your old one
doesn't fit anymore."
"Thanks, Rabby," Mie takes the uniform, then rubs the fabric, a private
confirmation that this is what it should be: a Gladiator pilot's flight suit.
Padded dark blue fabric with built-in G-suit and survival gear. Trimmed in
red with a red phoenix emblazoned on both arms, along with Mie's sequential
number. On the collars is a gold-trimmed black rectangle studded with three
square gold tabs indicative of her rank. Pilot Chief Petty Officer, Defence
Central Command. On her identification badge over the right breast is written
her rank, name and ship: P/CPO MIE SEIKOU, R.S.S. HASEI'CHA. *At least
they're acknowledging your time on Earth,* one part of her muses.
The other part of her declines to comment. At that moment, Makoto's
voice is heard. "Hey, are we all set to surf the wind?!"
Mie looks over to see her would-be bond-mate dressed in her flight suit.
Given her different place in the Sagussan Navy, Makoto's rank insignia is
silver, the rank itself being a single rectangular tab. Watchmistress, First
Sagussan Fleet. The flight suit seems to tightly hug Makoto's contours,
sending tingles of excitement through Mie's spine. "You still have the suit I
gave you."
"I wouldn't throw this away even if it's the last thing I have to my
name," Makoto purrs as she gently grasps Mie's hand.
Many of the Terrans look confused. "Oh, that's right!" Lum nods. "Mie
taught you how to fly, didn't she?!"
"You bet," Makoto smiles.
Mie nods in confirmation as her mind goes back...
* * *
Three hundred and fifty years ago. Sagussa.
Located near one of the entrances to the Chamber of Eternity, swept by
the incessant desert winds which have scoured this war-torn planet for
millennia, is the home airfield of the First Defence Squadron. Attached to it
is the flight element for the defence intelligence support unit, which would
coalesce years in the future around the Republic of Sagussa Starship
"Hasei'cha." Mie...then just known as Ii'iieo...stands beside her Gladiator
doing her pre-flight checks as Lufy...then just Eiuoiiaoii...walks up, Makoto
beside her. The Yehisrite-born watchmistress is in her standard short-sleeved
duty jumpsuit. "Ii'iieo," Lufy announces in a neutral voice.
Mie turns, then curtly nods at her wingmate. "This is the new candidate
for pilot training," Lufy waves to Makoto.
Mie quickly reads the sequential number. "Aoaiuiuiio. Are you prepared
to commence the training you requested?"
"I am prepared, Ii'iieo," Makoto nods.
Lufy walks away. Mie and Makoto stare at each other. "You are selected
for a First Fleet command assignment," the former notes on seeing her silver
watchmistress' rank. "Explain your logic in pursuing a skill normally
employed in the Fourth Fleet."
"Despite the rational division of fleet assignments, not all Gladiator
pilots will be assigned to the home defence units. Capital ships carry their
own point-defence flights," Makoto explains. "If I am slated to command a
ship-of-the-line, I should be aware of all my crews' abilities, including my
pilots. Is my explanation sufficient for your purposes or do you require
further elaboration, Ii'iieo?"
"It is quite sufficient," Mie nods, then waves Makoto to her machine.
"Shall we commence?"
"We cannot at present."
A twinge of surprise crosses Mie's face. "Why not?"
"I require a flight suit if I am to perform evolutions in the
Gladiator," Makoto reminds her, looking at herself.
Mie blinks, then notices what Makoto is wearing. "An error on my part.
Let us proceed to requisition a flight suit."
The two turn away...
* * *
...as Mie returns to the present. "Ready?!" Makoto smiles at her,
realizing where...or when...the pilot's thoughts drifted.
Mie blinks, then stares at her suit. "Well, I require a flight suit if
I am to perform evolutions in the Gladiator," she parrots Makoto's words from
centuries past.
"An error on your part," Makoto notes, pointing out the door. "Proceed
to attire yourself, Ii'iieo, then we shall commence."
"I shall proceed to do so, Aoaiuiuiio," Mie walks out.
"Did we just miss something?" Ryuunosuke scratches the back of her head.
"I dunno, but if those two aren't bond-mates by the end of the month,
then something's wrong with them," Koosei crosses his arms.
Ritsuko and Ami turn to Lum. "We'll want to monitor Mie's progress
while she spars with Lufy and Rabby, Lum," the former notes. "May we make use
of your scoutship?"
"Just as long as I'm flying!" the Oni nods.
"But of course," Ami nods.
"I'm coming," Misato sighs. "Evaluating Mie's performance in the
Gladiator would reflect a lot on her personal mood."
The Sagussans and Lum depart for their various ships...
* * *
A half-hour later, three Gladiators soar over southern Japan in Fighter
mode, maintaining a tight arrowhead formation with Lufy on point. Lum's scout
follows them at several hundred metres distance. "We'll keep the manoeuvres
simple at first," Lufy calls over the line to Rabby, Mie and Makoto. "No
sense pushing the envelope."
"Roger," Rabby and Mie reply.
Mie sighs as she relaxes in her seat, a specially designed chair-
ejection seat which automatically conforms to the pilot's body for maximum
comfort. Remote tracers are attached to her arms and legs, which come into
play when the Gladiator assumes Battledroid mode. Built-in relays in her
helmet control the head, as well as auto-targeting gear which operates in all
modes. Her console is very simple for such a complex advanced machine:
communications, position indicator, engine controls, altimeter and sensory.
Behind and slightly above Mie, Makoto relaxes in the guest's chair (Gladiators
were normally deployed as single-pilot machines), which replicates all of
Mie's controls, plus a control switch which allows the guest to automatically
take over in case something happens to the pilot. "How do you feel?" Makoto
inquires as she stares at her girlfriend.
"I'm still getting used to the controls," Mie smiles. "They seem to be
a little sluggish. I'll be fine."
*Boy, that reassures Makoto!* one part of her growls. *What are you
doing flying this coffin, anyway?! Lufy and Rabby are top pilots who put in
as much simulator and real-flight time as they can! You haven't sat in this
bucket for twelve years! What in Buddha's name are you trying to prove?*
*You are a pilot, remember?* the other softly intones. *If you are
scared, Lufy and Rabby'll knock it out of you. Shock therapy always works to
bring the best out of people. Besides, Lufy and Rabby won't play dirty!
They're not the type.*
*That was what they were like twelve years ago, remember?!*
By that time, the formation soars past the southern tip of Kyushu into
the airspace of the East China Sea. "Yeah...right about here looks good,"
Lufy looks around. "What's the air traffic like?!"
"Stay away from the Chinese coast and Okinawa, and don't stray towards
Taiwan, Cheju-do and the tip of Korea," Ritsuko reports from Lum's scout.
"The area is clear right down to the deck."
"Got it. Keep us posted," Lufy sighs. "Okay, we'll start here. No
ceiling limit, stay in F-mode. Fight's on!!"
"Right!" Rabby nods. "Tally-ho!!"
Gladiators 501 (Lufy) and 502 (Rabby) peel away from the arrowhead,
splitting off in different directions. Lufy climbs for altitude and Rabby
spins east for Amami-shima. Mie kicks her mount in a dive for the ocean.
"What are you doing?!" Makoto wonders.
"I'm going to keep this down on the deck," Mie reports. "It'll keep
their manoeuvres restricted. Sit back and watch!"
"Okay, you're the boss."
Rabby does a lazy circle as she swings around to get at Mie's six
o'clock, then blinks on seeing her wingmate diving for the ocean. "Nice try,
Mie!" she smiles as she falls into a shallow dive.
Mie smiles as the icon for Rabby's machine appears behind her. "That's
right, Rabby. Come right on in. Get ready for a splash!"
The two Gladiators continue their descent. Finally, when Mie passes a
hundred metres above the East China Sea, she kicks in full-throttle and
afterburners, yanking the joystick back. Rabby yelps as Mie's machine
literally stands on end, creating a funnel of water which could swamp Rabby's
had not the Zeiwanite-born pilot turned hard right, skimming the water with
her starboard wing.
Mie torques into a tight Immlemann turn, then acquires lock on Rabby's
machine. She thumbs the trigger for her chain gun when Rabby switches to
B-mode, transforming into Battledroid, her wings still splayed in open
formation to keep level flight. The chain gun, a magnetic-drive weapon system
capable of firing six thousand rounds a minute, each round flying at half-
light speed to target, is now in Rabby's hands as she takes aim. Mie kicks
hard right rudder to spin out of the way as a burst of shells arc through the
night sky.
"Hey, that's not fair!!!" Lum growls, watching this from her scout over
the Senkaku Islands. "Lufy said stay in F-mode!!"
"Lufy and Rabby tend to re-write the rules as they go," Ami laughs. "At
least Mie's reaction seemed good!"
"I guess she doesn't have to worry about fitting back into regular
duties if she decides to come back," Misato thoughtfully hums.
Mie climbs up, then notices Lufy making a wide circle all the way north
to Cheju-do as she tries to mark position. "Not a chance, Lufy!" Mie growls
as she turns north to pursue her wingmate.
"Keep an eye on Rabby," Makoto warns.
"Hey, I'm flying, remember?!" Mie snarls.
Makoto clams up...
* * *
Meanwhile, on an American missile base on Okinawa, technicians manning
the radar station watch in awe as the three Gladiators...to them, three very
large gomers...clash over the East China Sea. Then, their commanding
officer...the same colonel who ordered Lum's scout shot down in "Time
Curse"...walks in. "What's going on?!" he growls.
"Sir, you better see this," a technician points at the screen.
The colonel looks. "Who're they?!"
"Dunno," the technician shakes his head. "They flew in from the general
direction of Tokyo about a half-hour ago, then started doing ACM over the East
China Sea."
"Must be fighters from Fujisawa," the colonel shrugs.
"Fighters the size of a C-5A?!" another technician wonders.
The colonel's eyes narrow. "Are you sure they came from Tokyo
airspace?!"
"Well, we didn't get an exact confirmation," the technician muses. "And
no one from Korea or Kyushu reported their presence. We first picked them up
over the Oosumi-kaikyoo."
"Then they must've been at very high altitude when they came down from
Vladivostock!!" the colonel growls.
"Sir, there's no report of aircraft this size capable of doing what
these three are doing...!" a technician tries to protest.
"Belay that!!" the colonel snaps. "What about IFF?!"
"Nada," another technician shakes her head.
The colonel grimly nods. "Time to teach those commies a little
something called respect!" he grumbles, then barks. "Roll out the Arrow of
Heaven!! Let's put them down!"
Technicians leap to work as army and air force engineers unroll a
familiar missile from its storage shed. In the radar shack, one technician
turns to another. "Great!" she hisses. "The last time we did this, we shot
down the ship belonging to that alien girl who lives in Tokyo! What're we
going to shoot down this time?!"
"Hey, we just obey orders!" the other technician shrugs.
"Aw, I was actually getting to enjoy this!" a third mutters as he
watches the pitched battle over the East China Sea on his screen, munching
popcorn as he relaxes in his chair...
* * *
By now, Lufy, Mie and Rabby are dodging for position somewhere north-
west of Okinawa. Chain guns and wing-mounted pulse-photon cannons thunder as
the three try to jockey for a kill. Lufy and Rabby try two-on-one double-
teaming, but Mie scatters them by razzle-dazzle flying or else spinning out of
the way if the two try to come at her from different directions. The rule
about staying in F-mode is gone. The three switch from Fighter to Guardian to
Battledroid mode with practiced fluidity as the situation demands. On Lum's
scout, the Oni watches with awe as Mie gets the drop on Rabby. "Wow!! She's
the best pilot I've ever seen! If Daddy saw this, he'd hire her on the spot!"
"And that's just with Lufy and Rabby," Misato comments. "Wait until Mie
spars with the likes of Tita and Satomi from DEFRON One! Then you'll see some
real seat-of-the-pants stuff!!"
Ami then blinks as a strange reading comes to her station. "I've got an
unknown launching from Okinawa, heading for the Gladiators. Trying to scan
what it is right now."
"It's a conventional warhead missile!" Ritsuko barks from her post.
"Oh, no!!!" Lum panics, remembering her flight back in time thanks in
part to the United States Air Force. "Those crazy Americans must think Mie,
Lufy and Rabby are Russians!!"
"Guys, watch out!!!" Ami tabs her communications button. "Incoming
hostile fire from Okinawa!! No duff!!!"
"We see it!!" Mie grunts as she watches the missile ascend toward them.
"Sunflower Break!!!"
The Gladiators split in three different directions. afterburners
thundering at full power, as the Arrow of Heaven races at them. "Bust up my
fight?!!" Lufy growls as she glares at Okinawa. "This'll teach you to mind
your own business!"
Levelling her Gladiator, Lufy thumbs the concussion missile controls. A
storm of missiles races out from a retractable launcher under the cockpit,
thundering at the American base! "Lufy, you stupid idiot!!!" Lum screams as
she watches the missiles turn the base into a very nice bomb crater!!
* * *
In the wrecked radar section, a technician turns to a very burnt
colonel. "I don't think they're Russians, sir."
The colonel faints!
* * *
Meanwhile, Mie flies down as the Arrow of Heaven tries to pursue Rabby.
"Rabby, stay off G-mode!!" she barks. "These things are a lot smarter than
people give them credit for! You try to fly backwards, it'll ram right into
you!!"
"Get if off me, Mie!!" Rabby snarls. "I ain't going to take this
fighter back to Patty all messed up!!"
Mie watches as the missile falls into chain gun range. "Sayonara!" she
smiles as she thumbs the trigger.
A blast of bullets shreds the Arrow of Heaven as Rabby breaks away. The
warhead detonates, but Mie spins right to get clear of debris. Seeing this,
Lum lets out a cheer. "Yes!!!"
At Tomobiki High School, everyone in room 337 howl with joy as they
watch the fight thanks to a relay monitor Usagi set up. Even the radar
technicians on Okinawa watching the fight from an undamaged station emit a
cheer. "Fight's over!" Misato then declares...
* * *
"Well, that was fun," Mie yawns as she stretches herself.
Mie's Gladiator is now soaring at sub-light past the asteroid belt on
course for Neptune. Mie sits in the back seat with Makoto. Ami had
thoughtfully put a "love seat" in the back; in essence a seat which can expand
to comfortably accomodate two people. With inertia dampeners not needed
(Gladiators cannot fly at warp speeds without special boosters attached to the
main hull), the two Sagussans can relax. "Yeah, you were really good," Makoto
smiles.
Mie stares at her girlfriend. Smiling, she yanks Makoto into her arms.
"I intend to be a lot better, you know."
Makoto gasps as Mie finally lowers her psi-shields. "Yes-s-s...!!" she
cries as she fiercely embraces her bond-mate.
Before they could get far, the sensory alarm sounds off. "Who could
THAT be?!!" both angrily demand.
Mie sits up to activate the Gladiator's warbook, the computer program
which identifies all known contacts as registered over the years by the many
rover units scouting the local cluster. "According to this, six Kashin-class
battlewagons plus twenty Doroka-class heavy troop and equipment transports."
She then blinks on registering something else. "Urusian Defence Force ships!"
"What?!!" Makoto sits up, zipping up her flight suit. "What're troop
transports doing in this system?! Do they see us?!"
"No, ECM is automatically blocking their scanners," Mie shakes her head.
"Something strange is going on here. Let's get to Triton and talk with Oyuki.
She'll probably know something."
* * *
To be continued...
Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year: "Mie's Story" Part 5
by Fred Herriot
450 Clare Avenue South, Welland, Ontario L3C 3B3 Canada
gorgo@havajava.com
**** **** ****
Edited by E.B. Kushnir
**** **** ****
Thirty-third of a series of fan-fiction stories based on "Urusei Yatsura"
created by Rumiko Takahashi
**** **** ****
IN THE FOURTH PART OF "MIE'S STORY," as they celebrate Asuka's and Rei's
bonding, Pathfinder Troop Six learn that the missile containing the ashes of
Oogi's spies strikes its target: the Great Lum Church in Lumukyou. Oogi,
much to Pamanba's disgust, was not there when the missile struck. By now,
Hotaru's and Makoto's opinions about Mie's present status have changed.
Hotaru, while still wanting her sister to come back to Sagussa, now thinks it
prudent to have Mie's whole family move with her. Makoto, very much in love
with Mie, does not care what Mie does as long as they are together. By the
next morning, Mie's Gladiator is back in service. Mie's fellow pilots Lufy
and Rabby come to Earth to help Mie get used to being a fighter pilot again.
In a mock duel over the East China Sea...which almost becomes real when the
American colonel who nearly killed Lum in "Time Curse" tries to shoot the
Sagussans down...Mie proves that she still has the fighting edge to return to
the Sagussan Navy. Later, while on a private cruise in space, Mie and Makoto
discover a large Urusian Defence Force contingent in the Earth-Terran system,
including twenty troop transports. They proceed to Neptune to tell Oyuki.
**** **** ****
So therefore...ON WITH THE SHOW!!!!
**** **** ****
"If what you are saying is correct, this is a major treaty violation,"
Oyuki muses.
Mie and Makoto are in the Tritonian Royal Palace, having flown to Koori
City to tell Oyuki about the Urusian battle squadron waiting near Saturn. The
crown princess has tea brought in. "What treaty are we talking about, Your
Highness?" the latter asks.
"The Galactic Federation Treaty, of course, Makoto-san," Oyuki reports.
"It has specific clauses forbidding the presence of other members' armed
services in sovereign airspace or territory under the purview of any member of
the Federation. Due to Earth's lack of technology, she was declared to be
under our purview."
"Then how would that explain the Tag Races?" Makoto adds.
"That was a...unique problem given the Ipraedies' interest in this
system," Oyuki's lips purse together. "Personally, Father and I disapproved
of the whole Tag Race idea, not to mention the clauses which would have
resulted in Earth's occupation had Ataru lost. We were of the idea of
engendering Zephyrite contacts so they could extend their protection over this
system. As you know, Jiyuu is far closer to this star system than
Barsoom...or Uru for that matter. That does not give the Urusian Defence
Force carte blanche to send in an invasion force into this system. It's
provocative in the extreme, not only to the Ipraedies but to the Seifukusu."
"Are you sure it can be considered an invasion fleet?" Mie wonders.
"Just because twenty troop transports are out there, it doesn't necessarily
constitute intent to invade. They could just be on exercises."
"We should have been informed immediately of such intent to carry out
war games," Oyuki counters. "It's an invasion fleet. As to who's fleet it
exactly belongs to, there is really no need to guess."
"So who is the *ki'shi?!*" Makoto growls.
"General Yethis Seq," Oyuki reports.
"The Urusian President's chief-of-staff?" Makoto gasps. "I've heard
he's a racist and would gladly invade Earth just to avenge the Union
Revolution, not to mention what he could possibly do to the Other, but even
he's got to have some controls."
"Unfortunately, he does not," Oyuki sighs, just as the doorbell rings.
"Come in!" she calls out.
The door opens and a beautiful platinum-haired woman dressed in a formal
kimono bearing military-like insignia walks in. "Are you busy, cousin?" she
smiles on seeing Oyuki.
"Not for you, Pukaze-chan," Oyuki rises to embrace her cousin, then
blinks. "What in Koori's name is that?!" she points behind Pukaze.
Everyone sees a Sagussan rover unit numbered H-494 float into the room.
"Ah, yes," Pukaze blushes. "This being just came down asking for either
Watchmistress Makoto or Pilot Chief Petty Officer Mie, bringing a report of
troop movements from Phentax Two."
"Report, Four-ninety-four," Makoto sighs.
"*Begging the watchmistress' pardon,*" the rover unit bows in greeting.
"*Compliments from the supervisor of the Phentax Observation Group, and
apologies for not sending a message but it was believed to be prudent to
deliver it in person. He begs to report that President Oogi is now mustering
an interdiction force composed of six battlewagon squadrons and ten squadrons
of troopships, with intent to intimidate the United Nations to force the Other
to remain in Tomobiki, not to mention extradite the *daimon'cha* to Phentax
Two for trial in relation to the destruction of Phentax Twelve.*"
Makoto's eyes flash. "We'll see about that!!" she growls. "How many
ships are we talking about?!"
"*Thirty-six Kashin and Panako class battlewagons, sixty Doroka class
troopships, plus various support craft,*" Rover H-494 reports. "*In addition,
four Planet Destroyers and a mobile System Destroyer are being mobilized as
heavy support.*"
"WHAT?!?!" Oyuki and Pukaze gasp.
"Boy, these dorks really DON'T have a life!" Mie slaps her head,
wondering what awful thing the galaxy did in a previous existence to merit
having the Niphentaxians among them...
* * *
Meanwhile, back in Tomobiki, Suzume Seikou whistles as he heads home, a
rose in hand. Smelling it, he smiles. "Now I know I love her," he sighs.
An image of Setsuna appears in his mind's eye, bashfully covered in a
blanket as if she was waiting for him to come home after a hard day at work.
*Suzume-kun, I'm here for you,* the nurse coos as she lowers her blanket, then
leans up to kiss her "husband"...
...as Suzume smacks into a telephone pole! "Man, I better watch myself
when I dream of these things," he moans as he staggers away, then shaking his
head clear, rushes home.
Suzume always had an eye for girls, but found chasing them in Tomobiki
High School to be a waste of time; most had eyes only for Shutaro Mendou.
Even now, with Mendou intent on marrying Sil Dedron, many dreamt of landing
the scion of Japan's richest family as their husband. After a while, Suzume
decided to hold back and wait until opportunity knocked on his door.
It came when Setsuna walked into his life three wonderful days ago.
Suzume had never seen someone THAT exotic in his life. Lum's allure with
Sakura's figure...and she was a nurse to boot! With everyone in the family
leaning on the idea of moving to Sagussa so Mie would not feel isolated when
she finally mated with Makoto, Suzume knew he had the chance to really impress
Setsuna and, hopefully, win her interest. And it was no time like the present
to start wooing her. Walking into the house, he calls out, "I'm home!"
"Hi, Suzume-chan," Setsuna walks out of the kitchen, a bowl of pyogh-
giku in hand. "Mie's hasn't returned yet. Your parents, Hotaru and Tamiko
are out shopping."
*We're alone?!!* Suzume gasps as the Oni-born nurse heads to the living
room. *Totally, completely alone?!! Yes!!!* he nods, then walks in, the rose
behind him. "Setsuna-chan?"
"What is it?" she looks curiously at him, then notices he is hiding
something. "What have you got?"
"For you," he hands her the rose.
Setsuna blinks. "When Ataru did this to Noa twelve years ago, do you
want to know what she said?"
"'What is the logic of presenting me a flower,'" Suzume readily quotes.
"Mie learned it when she mind-brushed Lum one day."
"That's right," the nurse nods. "So, what is your logic?"
Suzume blinks. This was not proceeding in the direction he planned.
"M-my logic?" he points to himself.
"That's right," Setsuna sits down. "Suzume...what do you see when you
look at me?"
Suzume blushes, realizing that Setsuna might not be impressed if he
tried to skirt the subject. He never realized that Mie's people were THIS
rational about their feelings. "I see a very desirable woman that I want to
love and perhaps marry," he finally admits, pulling at his collar. Boy, it
was hot!
Setsuna smiles. "Suzume, we don't have marriage on Sagussa. Further,
if we take the basic idea of marriage and expand it to include all life-
partnerships...then I'm already married."
He jerks. "To who?!!"
"Hotaru-chan," she softly intones, flashing him a sympathetic smile.
"We became *marei'cha* six years ago."
He stares at her. "Now, I realize right now that your urge is motivated
a lot by you wanting to discover your sexuality," she gently grasps his hands.
"And I'd be more than happy to help you. As you know, our primary purpose on
Sagussa is to be the birth mothers of a new race. In fact, if you really
desire it and you think you're ready for it, I could have my first child with
you."
Suzume blinks. This was getting way too complicated for his taste.
"You see," Setsuna smiles. "You're not so ready yet."
"I...I came in here wanting to declare my love for you...and now I'm so
confused," he shakes his head.
"That's alright," she gently kisses him. "Besides, the wait will do you
good. Go out and discover what women are like. Go out and discover what men
are like if that interests you. Be free, enjoy yourself. Don't commit just
yet."
"But can I commit to you?" Suzume stares at her.
"As *surei'cha*...as the father of my children?" Setsuna hums, then
nods. "Certainly. *Surei'cha* are automatic *marei'cha* in our eyes. You
have as much right to care for and love your children as I do. But, tell me:
are you willing to have children with Hotaru?"
Suzume jerks. "See?" Setsuna muses. "Your family social codes make you
hesitant when dealing with what technically could be considered your sister,
even if she is not related by blood. You're still not sure of yourself yet.
You should realize that if you have children with me, you have to have them
with my bond-mate. I would want that to happen; it's considered very bad form
on my planet not to introduce one's child-mate to one's bond-mate. I'd be
insulting Hotaru and our relationship by keeping you to myself, so to speak."
Suzume looks down. "And I can't ask you to leave Hotaru even if it's
just for me so you could have kids," he finally sighs. "Mie would never
forgive me and I don't think you would, either."
Setsuna nods. He looks at the rose, then hands it to her. "Here," he
smiles. "Take it, anyway. I still find you the most beautiful woman I've
ever met...and maybe one day in the future, I might be ready to help you and
Hotaru have kids."
"Thank you," she smiles, sniffing the rose. "In the meantime, I just
made some pyogh-giku. Want to share?"
"Sure!" he nods, sitting beside her as they dig in...
* * *
"Oogi's sending THAT many ships?!!" Lum exclaims.
Mie and Makoto grimly nod. The two now meet with Ataru, Lum, Noa and
Honey in the latter's home in Oshika after learning of the intelligence Rover
H-494 and his companion rover units acquired. "Right now, they're just
mustering," Mie sighs. "Oogi's got his fleet still scouring half of the local
cluster looking for the Avalonians, so he's got to wait before he has enough
strength to launch an offensive our way. And if he does, we're going to be
hard pressed to stop it even if you send Pathfinder Six in to assassinate
him."
"And if you did assassinate him, you'd make him a martyr to the glory of
Lum," Makoto wryly growls.
"Wonderful!!" Ataru sighs. "I couldn't get Grandma to get a half-dozen
Zephyrite crusader fleets here in time to stop them."
"Even if you did, Nagaiwakai would just see it as an excuse to expel Lum
from Earth since her presence here would be seen as a danger to this planet's
sovereignty," Noa notes.
"Why don't we stop them?" Honey proposes.
Makoto instantly looks eager. "Do we have enough forces to stop them?!"
Noa stares at the watchmistress.
"Let's see now," Makoto muses. "For ground and Fourth Fleet forces,
we're at full battle strength. Four hundred Gladiators alone would make hash
out of Oogi's battlewagons. If their troops land, the Warsuit, Pathfinder and
Hovercycle Brigades could stop them."
"What about the Planet Destroyers?" Lum wonders.
"Our home-defence monitors are warp-equipped since they come fitted with
wave proton cannons," Makoto notes. "And there's the 'Lyna'cha,' Feb's
command cruiser. She may not be as well armed as what we'd want for a First
Fleet ship-of-the-line, but she's also got the wave proton cannons. Those
Planet Destroyers and that System Destroyer wouldn't stand a chance."
"How soon can they be here?" Ataru wonders.
"A day, tops," Makoto reports.
"Make it sooner than that if possible," Ataru stands. "I want the
commanders or would-be commanders to be here in twelve hours so we can discuss
what we're going to do."
"Yes, sir!" Makoto salutes, then runs out to Mie's Gladiator.
"The Battle of Graduation Day," Lum muses.
"What was that, Lum?" Noa stares at her bond-mate.
"Tomorrow's Graduation Day for us," the Oni wryly muses. "My last day
in Tomobiki. Oogi would schedule his attack for then."
"Don't worry," the Sagussan winks at her. "We'll give him an extra-
special graduation party, one he won't soon forget...for the last few seconds
of his time in this existence."
"What about Yethis?" Mie wonders. "What do we do about him? I can
guess he's out there to act as a 'peacekeeping' force," she makes finger-
quotes, "...which would just be a mask for the invasion he's wanted to unleash
on us over the last two years."
"We can teach him a lesson, too," Noa sighs, then stares at Lum, sensing
the Oni tense. "Love, you'll have to decide pretty quick as to whose side
you're on," she gently grasps Lum's hand.
"Darling's," Lum automatically responds. "But...at the same time, I
hope that it doesn't turn into an orgy of killing. I know that Leona, Rayna
and Miranda are salivating at the chance to get their troops used to the idea
of killing people."
"We'll try to keep it as minimal as possible," Noa assures her. "But,
remember: when in the middle of a war, anything goes."
"You're right about that," Lum shudders...
* * *
Graduation Day.
"There you are, Aisuru-kun," Tanoshii smiles as she finishes buttoning
Megane's jacket, now dry-cleaned and pressed for the final day of classes.
"Looking good for your final day of school."
"So are you, even if you did finish classes a few months ago," he kisses
her. Both are now in the latter's shrine, Megane having come to stay with his
girlfriend since they started dating. Tanoshii is now in her Butsumetsu
Girl's High School uniform, although today is not graduation day for her.
"I'm glad your graduation is tomorrow. I wouldn't want to miss it for
anything."
"Thanks," she smiles, embracing him. "Mmm...tempted to have a little
fun before we head off?"
"Um...can we wait until after classes?" Megane gulps.
Tanoshii giggles as she walks to the kitchen to prepare tea. Megane
sighs as he relaxes in the shrine's small living room. Once both were free of
the Japanese education system, they were bound to commence their Shinto
training in earnest under Sakura's guidance. Chie Budou and others would come
by to look in on them, not to mention perform special tutorials. The chief
priest of Kantou also wanted Megane and Tanoshii to proceed to university if
the opportunity presented itself; he preferred to give his subordinates all
the chances they could use to enhance their personal lives. "Boy, this is
still so much to get used to," Megane muses as he looks up, then straightens
himself as Tanoshii returns. He tenses on seeing a concerned look on her
face, she now staring into a cup. "What is it?"
"These leaves," she grimly nods to the cup. "The pattern states that a
great battle is soon about to begin."
Punctuating her statement is the thunder of helicopter blades. A whole
fleet by the sound of them. Megane and Tanoshii look up, then run outside to
see what is going on. "What's Mendou doing?!!" the former demands on seeing
the whole Mendou air corps on the move. "Is he celebrating graduation or
trying to start World War Three?!!"
"Aisuru-kun!!!" Kakugari's voice echoes from down the street.
The two turn to see the guards and their girlfriends race up, worried
looks etched in their faces. "What is it?!" Megane demands.
"Real bad news, Aisuru-kun!!" Paama reports. "Oogi's gone totally
ballistic! He's sending a force this way to make Lum stay in Tomobiki!!"
"Not to mention try to drag Ataru-chan back to Phentax Two for trial
because of that garbage on Phentax Twelve," Yasashii adds. "Ryooki-sensei
said to get to the school ASAP. He also said to..." a confused look crosses
her face, "...bring stuff, whatever that meant!"
Megane grimly nods. "That means bring everything for a fight, just in
case!" he looks up. "Mendou's got everything he's got on the move. Let's go
get ready!"
"Right!!!" the others nod...
* * *
A half-hour later finds Tomobiki High School flanked by a squadron of
Leopard II tanks as everyone musters on the front lawn. Most are in
camouflage uniforms loaned from the Mendou Clan's stores. Sil is in a woman's
version of Mendou's Wehrmacht-inspired battle uniform, a tiger-striped bandana
around her head. "Are we all here?!" Koosei, still in his normal working
clothes, inquires.
"Where're Aisuru and the others?!" Shinobu looks around. Beside her is
Pamanba, once more in her hunter's uniform.
"Here they come," Lan points.
The guards and their girlfriends race up. Kenmei, Yasashii and Aijooa
wear black Moroboshi Clan ninja gis. Megane is in his usual blue battle
armour, the buckle now emblazoned with the first kanji of Tanoshii's name.
Tanoshii is nowhere in sight. "Where's your girlfriend?" Koosei demands.
"She said she had to get something, then she'll be right here," Megane
looks around.
"Right here!" Tanoshii's voice calls out from behind him.
Everyone emits cheers and whistles as Tanoshii walks up in a duplicate
of her boyfriend's battlesuit, the first kanji of Megane's given name on her
buckle. "Well, what do you think?!" the apprentice priestess coos as she
shows herself to her boyfriend.
"I like it, I like it!!!" Megane gasps, hearts in his eyes.
"Koosei, where are Rei and her group?!" Sakura wonders.
In answer, the six members of Pathfinder Troop Six appear virtually out
of nowhere. All are dressed in their black combat uniforms. "Did someone
call us?" Sylia wonders.
"Is Ataru calling his grandmother to get some help?" Koosei wonders.
"And give her a chance to throw the Other off Earth?!" Priss snorts.
"Not a chance! He's getting REAL help this time: ours!!"
"But you don't have a fleet to speak of," Koosei protests...
...then everyone is knocked off their feet as a ten-metre tall robot
resembling a Shinohara AV-98 Mark II patrol labor fitted with booster rockets
on the back lands harshly on the ground! Painted overall dark grey with the
phoenix on both arms, it comes equipped with shoulder-mounted chain guns,
thigh-mounted missile launchers and labor-scale pistols stowed in each calf.
Sylia spins around to angrily stare at where the pilot's position would be.
"Leona, you reckless jackass!!! Whoever taught you how to pilot a Warsuit?!!"
The carapace opens, allowing a chestnut-haired Ellsian-born woman
dressed in black battle fatigues and the three rectangular bars of a brigade
commander to slip out. Her bandana has THE BOSS - DON'T PISS ME OFF! in
Japanese emblazoned on it. Over her fatigues is a brown leather jacket
personalized with a mad kaleidoscope of badges, including the ever-popular
screw-and-8 ball, a Dietman's badge and pins from a half-dozen anime shows.
Leaping to the ground, she walks up, jauntily saluting Koosei. "Hi, Koosei-
san. You're looking good."
"Leona, they made *you* the commander of the Warsuit Brigade?" Koosei
looks very ill. "Suddenly, I don't feel so good."
"I take it you know this person," Sakura stares at her friend.
"It could be said," he looks down.
"Lyna, the guy sure doesn't appreciate any decent help, does he?!" Leona
crosses her arms, pouting. "Then, what should I expect?!" she shrugs, asking
no one in particular. "He never appreciated it when Henry and I pulled him
away from the Mikado four years ago!"
"I didn't mind you rescuing me," Koosei holds up a finger. "But I *did*
mind you using a fleet of tactical nuclear missiles on Colony Sixteen to
distract the Mikado's people from coming after me while we were making our
getaway. They're **still** cleaning up the mess those missiles left behind."
Koosei's students pale at that revelation. "What type of help are we
getting?!" Shinobu wonders.
"So where're the others?" Sylia walks up.
In answer, a sleek black machine resembling a manta with its wings
clipped flies up, lowering to the ground beside Leona's warsuit. Armed with a
forest of chain guns and mini-missile launchers forward, the hovercycle
projects an aura of brute power matched with unnerving grace. The pilot's
hatch opens, allowing a strawberry-blonde Ellsian to emerge, dressed in a
stylish black leather bodysuit bearing three rectangular bars on the
shoulders. "Hi, Miranda," Leona smiles.
"Hey, Leona," Miranda walks up, slapping her fellow brigade commander in
the back. "Ready to boogie?"
"Yohko snuck some annihilation missiles out of the Central Armoury
before we came here," Leona smiles. "We're ready."
"Annihilation missiles?!" Mendou whispers to Sil.
"Missiles using anti-matter as the warhead," the Oni gulps.
Mendou fearfully shudders. "What a radical machine!!" Chibi gasps as a
bunch of students crowd around Miranda's mount, gently feeling the surface.
"What is this thing?!"
"A Type 88C combat hovercycle...HEY!!!!" Miranda screams as she bashes
everyone away from her mount with a giant sledgehammer! "Stop pawing my
bike!!! I just painted that!!!"
She then leans against her cycle, as if she was a loving parent and it a
dear child. "Oh, sweetie, are you hurt?! Did those mean, awful people smudge
your paint...AH!!!!" she screams on seeing fingerprints on the black hull.
"Smudge marks!!! Oh, how awful!!!"
Everyone fearfully sweats as Miranda continues her tirade, wiping the
fingerprints with a very soft silk cloth. "A reckless mobile suit driver and
a hovercycle love-freak," Sakura slaps her head. "This is NOT good!"
"You haven't seen the worst of it," Priss warns.
"How can it get worse than this?!" Megane demands.
"OUCH!!!!!!" a woman's voice yelps from behind them.
"That's how," Priss thumbs behind her.
Everyone spins around to see a brunette Fukunokami in a Pathfinder's
dark uniform lying embarrassingly on her backside after tripping down the
front stairs. "Damn transporter! I hate it when they transport me inside a
building for a strategy meeting!! Why couldn't we have it outside in the
open?!" she mutters, standing up...and slamming her head into a tree branch!
"Ouch!!! Who put that there?!" she mutters as she staggers away, then flips
over the corner of the stairs to fall flat on her face!!
"What's her problem?!" Shinobu wonders.
"Um...Rayna's a sort of back-to-nature freak," Sylia blushes, pulling at
her collar. "She eschews all forms of what you'd call creature comforts:
houses and the like. Unfortunately, it's made her very clumsy when she's in
built-up areas. In the open, she's actually quite fine. She teaches
wilderness survival seminars alongside commanding the Pathfinder Brigade."
"You must be happy to not be under her command," Koosei muses.
"Utterly ecstatic!" Sylia whistles.
"Now I know things are going to go wrong," Mendou sighs.
"Hey, there you are!!" Ataru leans out from room 337. "Get your butts
up here! We're ready to get started!!"
"In there?!!" Rayna panics. "Ataru-sama, how could you...?!!"
Miranda and Leona grab the Pathfinder commander by both arms. "C'mon,
Ray! Let's get inside and see the boss," the latter muses.
"I don't wanna go inside!!" Rayna fearfully wails as the two brigade
commanders drag her inside, then emits a shocked scream as she hits something
once past the front door.
"Ray, you are such a klutz!!" Miranda mutters...
* * *
A few minutes later, everyone crowds into room 337. The centre of the
room has been cleared to permit the presence of a holographic projector to
show a three-dimensional portrait of the solar system. A red swath leads from
somewhere out of the system right to Earth. Beside Saturn is a target icon.
"It's about time," a wavy-haired brunette Toukonokouen fleet shipmistress in
central command dress uniform relaxes in a chair, brandy sniffer in hand, as
the three ground force commanders come into the room.
"Why didn't you just beam me into this place so that we could get this
over with, Feb?!!" Rayna growls as she straightens herself, shrugging off
Miranda's and Leona's hands.
"Because I get insane pleasure watching you make a total fool of
yourself," Feb mirthlessly smiles.
"That's enough!" Ataru snaps. "We have a war to plan. Stow the
bickering 'till afterward, Feb!"
"No problem," Feb muses, sipping her brandy.
"Could I get a glass, please?" Sylia appears beside Feb.
"There," Feb points to a large bottle and a tray of snifters.
As everyone relaxes, a platinum-haired Tritonian walks up, pointer in
hand. "Hi, everyone," she happily nods to the Terrans and the other
Sagussans. "I'm Janny, plans officer of the Strategic Defence Directorate.
If you can relax, we can get started."
She indicates the red swath in the hologram. "This is the projected
course of the Niphentaxian attack force heading our way. With what little we
have, and given their approach to this campaign, we've devised a three-layer
defence strategy to stop them in their tracks."
"How are they deploying?" a red-haired Ellsian shipmistress Lum
recognizes as Mie's commander Eluza puts up her hand.
"Jun," Janny calls out.
The brunette Fukunokami running the hologram pulls up an image of three
separate forces. The first and largest are marked TROOPSHIPS in Sagussan and
Japanese. The middle force is marked BATTLEWAGONS. The last force, five
large icons, is marked PLANET/SYSTEM DESTROYERS. "It's quite ingenious given
their history of fanatic belligerence," Janny points to the image of the enemy
fleet. "Which shows that even these idiots can learn when pounded in the head
often enough."
"Or someone is planning this for them," Sil warns.
"Possibly," Janny nods. "The troopships, we assume, will make a covert
approach to Earth to ensure they are not detected by Royal Tritonian Defence
Force patrols. We assume that they'll commence their landing right away, so
as to better 'convince' the United Nations to capitulate to Oogi's demands
when the battlewagons show up. The Planet Destroyers and System Destroyer are
present to ensure that any help Ataru-sama's grandmother gets from Zephyrus is
nullified. Now, as to our role..." she nods to her shipmate.
Jun deletes the image of the enemy fleet, then adds three tan bars to
the tactical map, one beside Earth, the second at the asteroid belt and the
third by Pluto's orbit. "All ground forces will be concentrated on Earth,"
Janny points to the applicable icon. "Warsuit and Hovercycle Brigades will be
in high orbit, with Pathfinder Brigade in Tomobiki itself."
"Let's hope they're not as accident-prone as their boss," Sakura
whispers to Koosei.
"I heard that!" Rayna growls.
"Your task is simple: wipe out the invasion force," Janny concludes,
then turns to the ground commanders. "Anything else?"
"We got the gear," Leona flashes a thumbs-up. "We're set."
"We're ready to go," Miranda nods.
"My forces are ready," Rayna adds.
Janny then indicates the second icon. "Gladiators will intercept the
battlewagons at the asteroid belt here," she turns to the four squadron
commanders. "Since no Fourth Fleet shipmistress has been nominated,
Inspector-General Oryuu will take temporary command," she nods to the fleet
shipmistress beside Feb, a red-haired Ellsian.
Oryuu walks up to the icon. "Deploy in diamond formation. Michiko,
First Squadron will be the point. I want Tita's and Satomi's flight to be
right up front. Yookihi, Second Squadron will be right wing. Shiori, Third
Squadron will be left wing. Fay, Fourth Squadron will fall into the rear.
Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am," the four squadron commanders nod.
Janny then points to the third icon. "'Lyna'cha' and the four monitors
will jump the Planet Destroyers and System Destroyer before they enter the
system. Nihitomi," she turns to the Zeiwanite-born shipmistress, "...your
monitors will fall under Feb's command. We suspect they'll be held back since
their presence inside the system's boundaries will be seen as provocative by
the Tritonian government. Pathfinder Troop Six will be aboard the 'Lyna'cha'
for this operation, as well as the crew of the 'Hasei'cha.'"
Sylia, Eluza, Nihitomi and the four watchmistresses nod. "I also want
Makoto to join us. We have a spare Gladiator," Feb notes.
"I'll pass it to her," Eluza sighs.
"Any questions?" Janny inquires.
"What about Yethis' little party?" Sil nods to the icon beside Saturn.
"I doubt he's here just for sightseeing."
"Ataru-sama?" Janny stares at Ataru.
Everyone looks at Sagussa's *daimon'cha.* "If he makes any move against
you or Earth for that matter...stop him," Ataru sighs, then icily smiles. "As
to how, I'll leave it to your imagination."
Lum and Sil readily nod. The Sagussans grin. "Any other questions?"
Janny wonders.
"What about us?" Megane points to himself.
"You get the simple part," Lum muses. "Sit back and watch the fun."
"That'll be no fun!" Ryuunosuke snorts.
"Would you rather be dead?" Ataru wonders.
The tomboy shakes her head. As the meeting breaks up, Ritsuko walks
over to Lum. "Lum-san, are you going up to see Mie?"
"Of course," the Oni nods. "Why?"
"Could you give us a lift to the 'Lyna'cha?'" she waves back to Misato,
Ami and Usagi, who entered the class while Janny was conducting her briefing.
"I'd be happy to!" Lum nods, then flies off to get her scout.
Pamanba's eyes narrow. "What is it?" Shinobu wonders, quizzically
staring at her friend.
"I have to do something," the Vosian mutters as she walks off...
* * *
A half-hour later, three Gladiators and Lum's scout soar into orbit.
They are quickly joined by the de-cloaking "Kiboo'cha," a black-hued starship,
shaped like a railroad boxcar with large wings to both sides fitted with
powerful warp boosters and weapons batteries, about the size of a wet-navy
destroyer. "'Hasei'cha' Gladiator 501 to 'Lyna'cha,'" Lufy calls over the
comm line. "Ready to dock."
"Acknowledged, Five-oh-one," Janny's voice replies. "Opening hangar bay
for docking procedure."
Space then literally opens to reveal a large docking bay big enough to
take the "Kiboo'cha" and her escorting party. The five ships settle on the
hangar deck as the "Lyna'cha's" cloaking screen is restored. Thanks to
force-shields keeping the air in, everyone can readily disembark on landing.
Feb walks over to gently grasp Lum's hand. "You didn't need to come up here
to see us off, Lum-san," the Strategic Defence Director notes.
"I just came to check on Mie-chan and Makoto-chan," the Oni smiles, then
heads over to Mie's Gladiator. "Mie-chan!!"
"Hi, Lum-chan," Mie smiles as she monitors the loading of missiles and
gear on her fighter. "Ready to start a war?"
"To start this war?" Lum muses, then nods. "Yes. It's about time
someone slammed Oogi against the wall and taught him a lesson. I'm more than
glad that it's you people doing it."
A faraway look crosses Mie's face. "Yeah, they are my people, aren't
they?" she muses, crossing her arms.
"Still hesitant on going back?" Lum inquires.
"Not anymore if my whole family is coming to live with me," Mie shrugs.
"Actually, Suzume-chan tried to make a pass at Setsuna last night. I think
he's going to like it there."
"Any man would," Lum snickers, then looks thoughtful. "So, I guess it's
no handfasting, huh?"
Mie blinks, then glares at her. "What do you mean? Of course I'm going
to handfast with Makoto-chan! If you think I'm going to live with a girl
without marrying her, you're nuts, Lum-chan!"
"Good luck in trying to persuade Makoto, then," Lum smiles, realizing
that Mie will have a fight on her hands if Makoto is the least bit reticent on
the idea of performing a non-Sagussan bonding. "Who knows?!" Lum then shrugs.
"Next thing I know, you'll be trying to persuade her to have kinds via
parthenogenesis!"
"That'll be the next step," Mie admits.
Makoto walks up at that time. "What step?!" she wonders.
"You'll find out," Lum winks as she embraces Mie. "You be careful out
there, okay?!"
"We'll be fine," Mie kisses her cheek. "Get out of here!"
Lum waves as she returns to her scout. "What step?!!" Makoto demands,
staring quizzically at Mie. "What's going on here?!!"
"That's for me to know and you to find out when it's time," Mie quips,
knowing that keeping things secret always irked Makoto.
The watchmistress growls. "Mie," Eluza calls out.
"Oh, Shipmistress!" Mie stands to attention, saluting her commanding
officer. "Can I help you?"
"At ease, Mie," the shipmistress returns her courtesy with a smile, then
absently brushes her slicked-back red hair. "As you know, I will be launching
an investigation as to what happened to you twelve years ago. But I want you
to know this..." She then reaches over to embrace Mie. "Welcome back."
Mie feels the sting of tears in her eyes. Now she knew. Returning to
Sagussa was the right thing. Now if only Makoto would go along with some of
her personal ideas to make their relationship work. "Thanks, Eluza," she
sniffs, wiping her eyes. "Believe me, I'd like to know just as much why I
left you guys and came to Earth, too. But Ami and Ritsuko didn't find
anything when they fixed up my Gladiator."
"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it," Eluza notes. "Let's get to
the briefing room so we can review what we're going to do. It's a good thing
we're all cross-trained as Pathfinders just for cases like this."
"Yeah, good thing," Mie nods as she and Makoto follow Eluza to an inter-
ship transporter pad...the "Lyna'cha" is 9,720 metres long with a 7,750 metre
wingspan, shaped somewhat like am eagle...so they could get to Main Briefing.
As they depart, a box located where Lum's scout landed is pushed aside,
revealing Shinobu and Pamanba. They look around, happy to see that no one has
seen them. "Coast is clear," Shinobu looks around. "Can you sense anything?"
"With a race who can blank their minds out better than Yehisrites?"
Pamanba wonders. "Nothing, as usual. C'mon."
Both sneak over to the boarding ramp leading inside the "Kiboo'cha." "I
just can't believe the scale of everything here," Pamanba muses, looking at
the warpsloop. "I can't begin to imagine how big this ship is."
"Probably the same as the Gatherer," Shinobu hums, remembering her trip
on the Sagussan super-dreadnought which was the forward agent for the Grand
Design. "And he's over ten kilometres long!"
"'He?!'" Pamanba quizzically stares at her friend.
"Ataru-kun nicknamed the central computer 'Henry' since he speaks like
an Englishman," Shinobu shrugs as they scramble up the gangway aboard the
"Kiboo'cha." "It's sort of like Nassur-kun always calling the Home Base
computer 'she' since she's female."
"I understand," Pamanba nods. "Lucky thing that Lum had to land her
ship so that Ritsuko, Misato-sensei, Ami and Usagi could come aboard for the
trip up here. Let's hide!"
The two make their way toward an aft cargo hold. Unseen by either of
them, Priss stands in an alcove near the inter-ship transporter pad. "If you
two wanted to join the fight, all you had to do was ask!" the Yehisrite-born
warrior mutters, shaking her head.
She heads over to join her teammates and Mie's shipmates...
* * *
To be concluded...
Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year: "Mie's Story" Part 6
by Fred Herriot
450 Clare Avenue South, Welland, Ontario, L3C 3B3 Canada
gorgo@havajava.com
**** **** ****
Edited by E.B. Kushnir
**** **** ****
Thirty-third of a series of fan-fiction stories based on "Urusei Yatsura"
created by Rumiko Takahashi
**** **** ****
IN THE FIFTH PART OF "MIE'S STORY," Mie and Makoto discuss the presence of the
Urusian battle group in Earth's solar system with Oyuki. The conclusion is
quickly drawn: that is the fleet of Rei's uncle General Yethis, who intends
to take advantage of Oogi's plan to attack Earth to press his own agenda. A
Sagussan rover unit reports the movement of a massive fleet from Phentax Two
to Earth. While this is going on, Suzume gets a lesson in growing up from
Setsuna, with whom the freshman became quite smitten when she arrived. When
Ataru learns of Oogi's machinations, he orders the Sagussan Navy to prepare a
defence. Next day...Graduation Day for Tomobiki High School...the Sagussans
arrive in force. The fighting forces include the Warsuit Brigade, the
Hovercycle Brigade, the Pathfinder Brigade, the Fourth Sagussan Fleet and the
command ship "Lyna'cha," along with Pathfinder Troop Six and the crew of Mie's
ship, the "Hasei'cha." Mie, Makoto, Pathfinder Troop Six and the "Hasei'cha"
crew are tasked to the "Lyna'cha" under the command of Strategic Defence
Director Feb, who intends to attack the force of Planet Destroyers and System
Destroyer sent to back Oogi's fleet up along the Fourth Fleet monitors. They
are not alone; Shinobu and Pamanba have stowed away aboard the "Kiboo'cha"...
**** **** ****
And finally...ON WITH THE SHOW!!!!
**** **** ****
"Status report?!" Feb barks.
The "Lyna'cha" is at red alert, sailing gracefully into a barrage of
missiles and cannons crashing uselessly against her shields. Still at the
line of the asteroid belt alongside the monitors "Flori'cha," "Alaba'cha,"
"Mississi'cha" and "Virgin'cha," the command cruiser is providing fire support
for the Fourth Fleet Gladiators, now entangled in a vicious dogfight with
Niphentaxian fighters. "Shields remain at full power," Jun reports.
"Gladiators are heavily engaged with enemy fighters. Monitors engaging
Niphentaxian battle force. No craft or personnel losses, but several have had
to proceed to Triton with battle damage and depleted weapons stores."
"Status of enemy Planet Destroyers?!" "Lyna'cha's" shipmistress April, a
blonde-haired Vosian, demands.
"Rover units maintaining communications jamming," Janny barks. "Planet
Destroyers and System Destroyer are at Pluto's orbit. Attempts by enemy
commander to signal support forces or Phentax Two have been halted. Further,
Urusian force by Saturn is completely blind as to our presence."
"They won't be blind for long," April turns to Feb.
"True," Feb sighs. "What's going on back on Earth?"
"Trying to raise Leona now," Jun punches some controls.
A signal from deep inside "Lyna'cha's" hull relays to the bridge. "Feb,
can we get out of here?!" ship's engineer May, a brown-haired Yehisrite,
demands. "Much that I'm proud of Sagussan technology, but even it has limits,
you know!!"
Feb sighs. The battle was about to fly out of control. "What's Leona's
status?!" she turns to Jun.
The Fukunokami-born combat officer grins. "She reports total success!!"
she yips. "The troopships have been destroyed! Miranda's brigade is busy
picking up survivors and transferring them to the warsuit support ships for
processing!"
"Good!" Feb nods. "Order Leona to rearm and get her people out here to
help Oryuu! Signal the 'Virgin'cha!'"
The front viewscreen shifts to an image of Nihitomi, commander of the
fleet monitor force. "What is it, Feb?" the brunette Zeiwanite inquires.
"Get your people together, Ni-chan," Feb straightens herself. "We're
going after a pack of Planet Destroyers!"
"We're right behind you, 'Lyna'cha!'" Nihitomi nods, then cuts the
transmission.
"Signal from Leona," Jun calls out. "'Orders received. After mop-up,
will move at best possible speed to assist Oryuu. Support ships will take on
depleted and damaged Gladiators if necessary.'"
"Excellent!" the fleet shipmistress nods. "Signal the 'Virgin'cha!'
Best speed to Pluto's orbit! Let's finish this!"
The "Lyna'cha" quickly tilts on one wing as it proceeds at impulse speed
toward the system's outermost planet. The four monitors, six-kilometre long
starships resembling three railroad boxcars conjoined abreast, the outer wings
equipped with deployable gun arms, fall in behind the command cruiser.
Noticing this, the Niphentaxian battlewagons try to pursue, but are jumped by
Gladiators not busy taking down the defensive fighter screen...
* * *
Deep in the cruiser's hull, the combined crews of Pathfinder Team Six
and the "Hasei'cha" suit up for their mission. Missing their own ship, the
latter crew were now dressed in dark combat uniforms, ready to attack
alongside the former crew as ground infantry. Eluza watches as they prepare
in silence. Normally, they would be doing jobs on their ship, but the
"Hasei'cha" was still two months from completion and trials. Converting a
courier warpsloop to sling three Gladiators in special trapezes at the aft end
while still maintaining a modem of decent performance took a lot of
compromises and juggling of power ratios, as Patty, the ship's brunette
Terran-born engineer, loved to complain all the time.
Three of the "Hasei'cha's" eleven-person crew...Mie, Rabby and Lufy,
plus Makoto...would fly their Gladiators as escort to the "Kiboo'cha." That
left Eluza's eight to join Sylia's six Pathfinders in whatever they would end
up doing. Rumy had proposed bringing Starleaf, the ship's sandpanther/mascot,
along for the mission, but Eluza had countermanded the young blonde-haired
Terran-born science chief's proposal. While sandpanthers were very effective,
they were not invulnerable, nor did they cherish the idea of wearing personal
shielding belts; they restricted wing movement. Naturally, Starleaf was
effectively Rumy's sandpanther; she mothered the poor lad as if he was one of
her own sons.
"How are we doing?" Sylia inquires as she walks in.
"We're ready," Priss slips on her web gear, then charges a load into her
Urban Assault Cannon. "What's the plan?"
"So far, no one really knows," Sylia crosses her arms. "We were delayed
a bit because of the Niphentaxian attack force jumping us while the Gladiators
were distracted. Leona's finished cleaning up over Earth, so she's on her way
out to help Oryuu. We're just getting to Pluto...right about now, I believe,"
she looks up as the faint drone of the "Lyna'cha's" engines die away.
A hologram displaying Feb's face appears beside Sylia and Eluza. "You
folks ready down there?" the fleet shipmistress wonders.
"We're set," Eluza nods.
"Get to the 'Kiboo'cha' and stand by," Feb orders, a wry smile crossing
her face. "We're just about to take a look at what the Niphentaxians call
Planet Destroyers."
"Send us a view," Eluza laughs as they head to their ship...
* * *
The Niphentaxian Planet Destroyer is in essence a giant anti-matter
cannon four kilometres long. Cigar-shaped with a command superstructure
amidships, it is one of the most intimidating vessels ever constructed. The
System Destroyer, a giant-scale version of the Planet Destroyer, is a six
kilometre long ship shaped like a giant eye, energy arrays forming a vertical
ring around its prime meridian. The five ships brought to Earth's solar
system today remain in a box formation, the System Destroyer in the middle.
However, they do not react to the presence of the five Sagussan warships now
surrounding them, the kilometre-wide gates of their wave proton cannons open,
ready to smash the enemy craft into their component atoms. On the
"Lyna'cha's" bridge, confusion reigns as everyone tries to understand why the
Niphentaxian craft have not reacted to the Sagussans. "Are you sure there's
no increasing power curve in their systems?!" Feb stares quizzically at Janny.
"Nothing," the plans officer shakes her head, staring at her readings.
"Navigational deflectors are up, but that's it. No sign of any belligerence."
"Let's not waste time, Feb," Jun urges from her station. "Hit them now
and let's go home!"
"Just a minute here," Feb holds up a hand. "I'm not going to start a
fight unless I really need to. What about lifesigns, Jan?"
"Scanning now," Janny reconfigures her scanner, then gets to work.
"What are you thinking, love?" April stares at her bond-mate.
"I've been thinking that the Niphentaxians may have had some help in
planning this attack thanks to our friend Yethis," the fleet shipmistress
relaxes in her chair. "If so, this may be an opportunity on our part to kill
two birds with one stone."
April frowns in annoyance. Feb could conceive of plans and
contingencies in the blink of an eye, which made her promotion as Strategic
Defence Director...in essence, the master battle planner of the Sagussan
Navy...all the more logical. "How so?"
"Wait for it," Feb stares at Janny. "How's it coming?"
"Planet Destroyers are fully automated," the plans officer reports.
"Scanning the System Destroyer now."
Feb nods. "If we could use the Niphentaxian ships to attack Yethis,
he'd think that Oogi was double-crossing him. It could even be believable; I
doubt Oogi would want to see Lum-san turned into a slave of the Urusian
Imperialists, especially if she is taken away from Tomobiki because of it.
Yethis would have to eliminate Oogi so he could get his hands on Lum-san..."
"...and Oogi would defend Lum-san so she can stay the way she is," April
concludes. She was not totally ignorant to Feb's way of thinking. "They'd
destroy each other and Lum-san and Ataru-sama would be safe."
"Right," Feb nods, then turns to Jun. "Signal the monitors. No
aggressive action unless fired upon."
"Right," the combat officer turns to her board.
"May, get to work on the holo-projectors," Feb presses an intercom to
the engine room. "We might just need them."
"Oh, so you're not going to wreck my ship trying to bash in the heads of
a pack of *kimei'ne,* eh?!" May retorts. "Good! I can spend time putting
this mess down here back together again!"
"May!!"
"On it, on it!" she sighs, then cuts the link.
"Scan of the System Destroyer complete," Janny looks up, a touch of
surprise on her face. "You're not going to believe this, Feb, but it's
entirely crewed by Vosians!"
"What?!!" everyone exclaims.
"And there's more," Janny adds. "They seem to be slaved to the ship's
control system. ECM scans report that the ship's command and control gear is
perfectly meshed into humanoid material."
"I see," Feb leans back. "Even better. Those poor souls across the way
must be survivors of the Mikado's attempt to punish Oogi. Another nail in the
coffin of the Church of Lum." Pressing a control toggle, she signals the
"Kiboo'cha." "Sylia, Eluza, stand by to board the System Destroyer. Janny'll
fill you in."
* * *
The "Kiboo'cha" and her escorting Gladiators soar from the "Lyna'cha's"
hangar deck toward the silent Niphentaxian system wrecker. "Vosians
cyber-slaved to the Destroyer's controls?!!" Nene gasps as she hears Janny's
report, then nods. "That would make sense. We've long passed the point where
computers can calculate the necessary amount of functions to match and surpass
the performance of the human mind. Other races haven't. If they could
suppress the Vosians' sense of self, they'd make perfect living computers."
"Not so different from the way we were before Ataru-sama came to
Sagussa," Amy, a diminutive brown-haired, bespeckled Vosian who served as
"Hasei'cha's" coxswain and combat chief, muses.
Everyone senses her tensing. Despite years of indoctrination in
Sagussan society, everyone from *daishi'cha* #1 to #100 000 felt some affinity
for their ancestral homeworlds. "We'll find out what's going on, Amy," her
bond-mate Spea, a curly red-haired Terran who serves as Eluza's combat
officer, gently hugs Amy.
"Which means we better get some help," Priss muses as she walks over to
a storage closet, opening it. "Come on out."
Shinobu and Pamanba literally fall flat on their faces. "What are you
doing here?!!" Eluza and Sylia demand.
"S-sorry," Shinobu blushes. "But Pamanba wanted to come out here and
help you fight the Niphentaxians."
"Shit, if you wanted to do that, all you had to do was ask," Priss
comments.
"Never mind!" Sylia sighs. "I'll have a talk with Koosei-san when this
is over about your lack of self-discipline, Shinobu! In the meantime," she
turns to her first officer and her bond-mate. "Rei, Asuka, get them suited
up. They'll come aboard with us."
"Right," Reinoevan grabs the two stowaways and drags them to the
equipment locker aft, Asukanoevan right behind her.
"Any signs that the Systems Destroyer is receiving any communications
from Phentax Two?" Eluza turns to Amy.
"Negative, Shipmistress," Amy shakes her head. "Rover unit comm-jamming
still in full effect."
"I'd almost think they were on stand-by mode, just sitting out here
waiting for orders to do something," Nene muses.
"They just might be," Sylia hums, then turns to Nene. "Nene, can you
hack into the Niphentaxian command system to give us safe boarding access to
the System Destroyer?"
"Give me ten seconds," Nene nods, programming her field labtop to send
electronic probes into the enemy ship's systems.
The silence almost becomes audible as Nene works away. By that time,
Shinobu and Pamanba return to the bridge, dressed in combat clothes and
defensive webgear. Sylia turns to the Vosian huntress. "Pamanba, we've just
detected that the organic crew on the System Destroyer are in fact Vosians."
"What?!!" Pamanba gasps. "But...no Vosian on either side of the Civil
War would ever willingly serve the likes of Oogi!!"
"No, they wouldn't," Sylia shakes her head. "These ones are cyber-
slaved to the System Destroyer's controls, adding their brainpower to the
computers so these things can better run. I'd like you to be with us when we
board the Destroyer so you can help us determine what to do with them."
"Yes, ma'am," Pamanba nods.
"We're in!!" Nene announces.
"Good! Open their hangar bay so we can dock!" Sylia nods...
* * *
Five minutes later, everyone disembarks from their ships and proceeds
into the bowels of the giant flying gun. Keeping staggered formation,
everyone's eyes sweep around looking for possible signs of attack. In the
middle of the group, Shinobu remains close to Mie and Makoto, wondering
whatever persuaded her to come out here to confront people who were more than
ready to kill her just because she opposed their view of how Lum and Ataru
should live their lives. This was crazy! Total war between a planet of
religious zealots and a planet of oversexed reincarnated Amazons over an Oni
girl and her Terran-born, Sagussan-adopted boyfriend. "You okay, Shinobu?"
Mie glances at her classmate.
"Aren't you scared?" Shinobu wonders.
"Sure I am," Mie nods. "But if I die, I die. I died once, nine
thousand years ago. Death harbours no secrets from me."
Shinobu blinks as she takes that in. Before the Sagussans came, Mie was
just a nice girl from Kyushu. A little odd, but after Lum and Inaba, Shinobu
was taking mysterious occurrences in stride. But even her experiences before
could not prepare her for the truth Mie discovered about herself...three days
ago, was it? It was impossible to believe that this woman before her, whom
she went to school with for six months, had fought time and time again when
Mie defended Ataru as he separated himself from Tomobiki, was chronologically
nine thousand years old, having lived a life until seventeen, died, was
reborn, cryofrozen for the millennia on a far-away planet, then proceeded to
live another life on Earth. How could Mie take all the information she had
received in over seventy-two hours with such panache?! Shinobu would want to
run away and hide for a month!
"How far until we get to the central bridge?" Sylia looks at Nene, who
is busy working on her labtop, now strapped to Linna's back.
"About five hundred metres down this corridor, Sylia," Nene points down
a foreboding tubular passage marked with THIS WAY TO MAIN BRIDGE - NO TRYING
TO SCARE PEOPLE WITH ECHOES!
"Good," Sylia nods.
"Keep your eyes sharp, people," Eluza warns. "There still might be some
surprises waiting for us."
Echoing her statement, a klaxon sounds off. The corridor then glows red
as emergency doors slam shut, trapping the Sagussans and their friends in
place. "Shit, they're onto us!" Lufy braces herself.
"Trying to override internal security!" Nene calls out.
"Try harder!!" Priss barks.
At that moment, small globes resembling targeting remotes pop out from
all sides, their pulse lasers flashing. Everyone leaps for cover as the
Sagussans return fire. Shinobu screams as she hides in an alcove, then
watches in awe as everyone calmly shoots down the remotes before their weapons
could do anyone harm. Even the doctors from the "Hasei'cha," Lufy's friend
Catty and Eluza's bond-mate Pony, a lavender-haired Toukonokouen, were
blasting away with as much calm determination as Lufy, Makoto and Priss. In a
minute, the last drone is down, shattered like broken eggs on the deck. "That
was fun!" Sylia comments as she stands. "Anyone hurt?"
"Got a scratch by one before my shield came up," Spea grunts as Pony
helps her wrap a dressing around one arm, the bandage now turning red with the
Terran-born woman's blood.
"Stay alert!" Eluza snaps. "Just because we don't do this often doesn't
give you an excuse to slack off."
"Yes, ma'am," Spea nods, picking up her Urban Assault Cannon.
"Can we punch through this door here?" Rumy feels the shield door
blocking them from the main bridge.
"Trying to get the security system to shut down," Nene plugs away on her
labtop. "It'll take a bit."
"Never mind," Eluza's first officer Shildy walks up, an assault rifle
with over/under photon grenade launcher fitted to the forestock in her hand.
"I'll blast us through. Get out of the way."
Everyone backs off as the Fukunokami-born watchmistress takes aim, then
fires. The grenade slams into the door, but does nothing save deflecting
sparks at the Sagussans! "Shit!!" Mie snaps. "Force-shielded! What now?!"
"Step on it, Nene!" Priss urges. "For all we know, this thing could be
heading to Earth to turn it into an asteroid field!!"
"Working as fast as I can!" Nene growls. "Trying to mesh with such a
backward system isn't easy, you know!!"
Shinobu blinks. Could their penetration into this place have provoked
its automated crew to lash out at Earth or Triton? Would Feb and the
"Lyna'cha" be forced to destroy them to save billions of lives from Oogi's
wrath?! She charges at the door, digs her fingers into the metal, then with a
banzai yell, yanks the shield door right out of its sockets, slamming it
aside!
Everyone is suitably impressed. "Not bad," Lufy hums, keeping her
reaction to a minimum. "Where do we sign her up?!"
"Let's go!" Sylia waves them down the corridor...
* * *
Several minutes and ten shield doors later, everyone breaks into the
command bridge, a circular affair about the size of classroom 337. A central
computer nexus forms the core of the room. Attached to it on all sides are a
group of Vosians. The oldest is Pamanba's age, the youngest Rumy's (at
fourteen, she is one of the youngest of the *daishi'cha*). They are dressed
in what could have been Mikado Marine uniforms, but have faded due to their
years trapped aboard this ship. Their hair shaved off, their scalps are
literally pried open, revealing a forest of cyberlinks melded right to their
brains. Seeing this, Shinobu turns away, tears flowing down her cheeks in
horror as she is about to throw up. Even the Sagussans shudder in disgust and
horror. "Lyna have mercy on these poor souls!" Eluza shudders. "Catty, Pony,
check them out."
"Okay," the two doctors run up to begin medical exams.
Pamanba shakes her head, tears flowing down her cheeks as she helplessly
stares at the unmoving forms. "You recognize any of them?" Makoto wonders,
placing a reassuring hand on the Vosian's shoulder.
"N-no..." she shudders, turning into Makoto's embrace. "Who?! Who's
going to make Oogi pay for this madness?!"
"We'll get to him soon," Makoto growls. "Count on it."
Catty and Pony turn back to their friends, depressed looks on their
faces. "What is it, Darling?" Eluza comes up to her bond-mate, placing
reassuring hands on Pony's shoulders.
Pony shudders helplessly. "Th-there's nothing w-we can d-do for th-them
now, Eluza," she sniffs back tears. "Wh-whatever was left of them...slipped
into those realms beyond this one long before...we could help them..."
Eluza embraces Pony, allowing the latter to freely shed her tears. Lufy
comes up to embrace Catty. The others shake their heads at the senselessness
of it all. "Just because they fought for some lunatic dictator doesn't mean
they deserve this," Rumy sniffs, then leans into Patty's embrace.
Shinobu openly weeps. The others either cry or just stare at this mad
situation. Sylia looks down, then jolts as a communicator is heard.
"'Lyna'cha' to Pathfinder Six," Feb's voice calls out. "Report!"
Sylia touches her left wrist-bracelet. "Sylia here, 'Lyna'cha.' We
found the Vosians, Feb. There's...nothing we can do for them," she shudders,
tears brimming in her own eyes.
Gasps can be heard from the other bridge crew. "I understand," the
Toukonokouen-born fleet shipmistress sighs. "But we need that ship now to
handle another problem plaguing Ataru-sama and Lum-san."
"Yethis?" Sylia wonders.
"Right."
"Understood," Sylia sighs, then closes the comm line. She looks at
Nene. "Nene?"
"On it," the Ellsian-born warrior walks over to a clear spot beside one
station, opening her labtop, then gets to work.
"What's she doing?" Pamanba wonders.
"Oogi isn't the only problem Earth faces right now," Sylia sighs.
"Another problem is a fellow by the name of Yethis. He's an Urusian general
who is also the leader of their Imperialist sect."
"I've heard of him," the Vosian nods. "Even the Mikado and Lord Sheko
are scared of that one. He's vicious!"
"Well, right now, we believe he was the one who helped the Niphentaxians
coordinate this attack," the Pathfinder commander points to the central
control nexus. "So we're going to break the little alliance between Yethis
and Oogi by making the former believe the latter is double-crossing him."
"And they'll blow each other up," Pamanba smiles, then stares at the
unmoving Vosian cyber-slaves. "I think they won't mind."
"New targeting program loaded into the central nexus," Nene reports.
"Transmitting target coordinates to the Planet Destroyers."
"Excellent," Sylia nods. "Let's go."
"Hold it," Makoto barks.
"What is it, Makoto?" Shinobu stares at Mie's girlfriend.
The watchmistress turns to the unmoving Vosians, then raises her right
hand to her eyebrow. Seeing this, the others straighten themselves, forming
ranks. "Salute!" Eluza commands.
Silence for a moment, then Sylia lowers her hand. "Let's go."
* * *
Minutes later, after evacuating from the Niphentaxian ships, everyone
walks onto the bridge of the "Lyna'cha." The bridge crew is relaxed as the
Sagussan force proceeds back to the asteroid belt to assist the Fourth Fleet
in mop-up duties. "What's happening now?" Eluza wonders as she walks up
beside April and Feb.
"The Niphentaxian ships are attacking Yethis' force," Jun stares at her
readouts. "Eight troopships and four battlewagons are confirmed destroyed.
The survivors are using command protocols to initiate the self-destruct
sequences of the Niphentaxian vessels. General Yethis' flagship is now
retreating for Uru. There's no sign that they detected us or our
interference."
"Yethis will have some explaining to do when he gets back home," Feb
pours herself some brandy, then offers a glass to April, Eluza and Sylia.
"And I don't think that he'll be so trusting of Oogi. Things should be quiet
for the next while."
"I hope so," an incensed...and VERY familiar voice...replies.
Everyone spins around to see Oogi stride purposefully onto the bridge.
"What's HE doing here?!!" Shinobu nearly leaps out of her clothes in shocked
disbelief.
"Oogi" smiles as he presses a control under his cummerbund...then
disappears to be replaced by May! "Relax, it's me!" the Yehisrite-born
engineer beams. "How was I?!"
"I think Yethis was pretty convinced," Feb nods.
Shinobu and Pamanba stare confusedly at the fleet shipmistress, then the
former snaps her fingers. "I get it now!! A false transmission!"
"Right," April nods. "May played Oogi even better than Oogi himself
could have done."
"I just hope I didn't overdo it," May sighs.
"Relax, May-chan," Janny stretches herself. "You deserve a medal for
that performance!"
"Thanks, Janny," May nods, then walks over to slip her arms around Jun.
"Jun-chan, I'm very tired and I don't feel so good. Do you have a cure for a
headache?"
The Fukunokami-born combat officer rubs her cheek against her bond-
mate's. "I think I have something right up your alley, love. Let's go to my
cabin."
Both giggle as they head off the bridge. "Ah, true love," Feb relaxes,
reaching over to grasp April's hand. "No cause in the galaxy is worth
fighting for more than that."
"I just wish I had that sort of luck," Shinobu notes.
"Well, there are some available people right here," Feb notes. "Janny's
single. So're Sylia and Priss."
The three women then angrily spin on Feb. "***HEY, YOU!!!!!! WHO
ELECTED YOU TO BE OUR MATCHMAKER?!?!?!***"
Shinobu blushes while everyone else laughs. "I want to talk to you,"
Makoto then spins on Mie.
"What's the problem?" Mie stares at her would-be bond-mate.
"I want to know what's this next step you were talking to Lum about
earlier!" Makoto growls.
"Ah, that!" Mie smiles. "Relax, Makoto. You'll see what I have in mind
as soon as we get back."
Shinobu blinks, then looks at her watch. "Hey, it's only just noon!! I
thought we were gone the whole day!"
"Well, did you people think we'd force you to miss your own
graduation?!" Feb wonders...
* * *
Tomobiki High School's sixty-second commencement begins at two o'clock
sharp, which allowed Shinobu and Mie the chance to get changed into their
school uniforms and proceed to the gymnasium, where the other students
convene. "There you two are!!" Koosei growls as he walks up to them. "I know
why Mie was absent, but what's your excuse, Shinobu?!"
"I'm very sorry, sir," Ataru's former girlfriend repentently bows. "I
went with Pamanba to help her fight the Niphentaxians. I'll try to be more
careful in the future."
"You better be, for your sake," Koosei sighs. "Ataru or his friends
might not be around in the future to save you if you get into trouble."
"I'll try to remember that, sir."
"See that you do," Koosei nods as he heads off.
Everyone then lets out a whoop as Ataru and Lum arrive. The former is
now dressed in a black velvet school uniform, a present from Nagaiwakai. A
tiger-striped tie, from Lum, keeps his still-long hair neat at the shoulders.
A gold, phoenix-encrusted cummerbund, from Noa and Honey, surround his waist.
He even took the time to neatly trim his beard and moustache. Walking up,
Onsen gives him an appraising look, then nods. "Well, it's the last day."
People grin as the vice-principal heads back to join Ayanba, who is busy
chatting with several Vosian-descent *daishi'cha,* including Amy, Ritsuko and
April. The Sagussans are now in their dress uniforms. For civilian personnel
like Noa and Honey, it is a double-breasted jacket in primary colours over a
white ruffled shirt and tertiary-coloured bowtie and an ankle-length skirt in
secondary, buttons in tertiary. Sagussan Navy personnel like Makoto and
Reinoevan wear a form-fitting uniform similar to the male school uniform,
coloured in the same pattern as their civilian counterparts, their ranks on
stand collars and qualifications (Gladiator pilot wings, for example) on their
left breast. Seeing people chat with each other, Ataru and Lum smile. "Well,
it's a good sign," he muses.
"For all of us," she adds, hugging his arm.
The Principal then walks out of the gym. "If I may have your attention,
please. Shall we proceed inside to begin the ceremonies?"
Everyone smiles as they file into the gymnasium. The parents of the
graduating students are already seated. Most of the Sagussans file into the
guest chairs in the back. Makoto, Hotaru and Setsuna sit with the Seikous
while Noa and Honey sit with the Invaders. Nagaiwakai is there, as are
Nokoko, Mal, the other Nendo-kata and Reiko, as well as Ataru's parents and
Komeru; strangely enough, all sitting beside each other. Even stranger,
Kinshou is not mooing at her mother-in-law. When everyone takes their seats,
the Principal mounts the podium. "Ladies and gentlemen, honoured guests from
Earth and abroad, students of the class of 1984...I welcome you on behalf of
the staff and students of Tomobiki High School for our sixty-second annual
commencement." Everyone applauds. "Due to the uniqueness of our graduating
class, I call upon Doctor Catty of the Republic of Sagussa Starship
'Hasei'cha' to bless these proceedings."
Catty walks up. As a doctor assigned to the Sagussan Navy, she is
entitled to wear either the civilian or military pattern dress uniform. In
civilian dress, she also has a long blue shawl draped over her shoulders. Lum
smiles on seeing this; Catty is one of a few people who have dedicated herself
to preserving Lyna's memory, in essence forming the Fifth Republic's first
quasi-religion. Taking the podium, she stares at the audience. "I call upon
all of you to pray to whichever deity or spirit you worship," she announces,
then looks to the ceiling. "Blessed Lyna, by whose death the Fourth Republic
was rendered ashes and we, the mothers of the Fifth Republic, were born,
project your spirit of Creation from those realms beyond this one to touch
these, our newfound friends and loved ones. Fill them with the spirit of
Creation as Atar and Ram so long ago sought to fill the dark pit of Entropy
which this innocent commune is likewise named. Let them go forth as you went
forth to discover the truth of themselves. Let them not be afraid of what
lies before them. Let them accept Fate as it deals with them. Give them the
strength so that they too can become *daimon'cha* and *daishi'cha* of their
own destinies. In the memory of you and the innocents of the War of Clone
Rights, in whose death our destinies and those of our loved ones were forever
locked with the world we now call home, we pray."
Everyone bows her head, calling upon her own faith to bring divine
favour to this day. With that done, the ceremony begins in earnest. The
diplomas are handed out. Loudest cheers to go Mendou (from all the girls in
the graduating class), Lum (from all the guys in the class) and Ataru (from
all the Sagussans). Lum then presents the valedictory address (she was voted
unanimously for the task by everyone, even Ataru when he was in Oshika).
Awards and special certificates are handed out. The class is then called
together to sing the national anthem. Sakura then mounts the stage to offer
closing prayers...
* * *
Two hours later, everyone is in a reception in room 337 as the memories
flow of the last two years, even more. Many look around the class, realizing
that indeed it is finally over. Ataru, Mendou and Megane walk as a group
around the room, allowing their girlfriends the chance to chat. "I'll miss
this place," the guards' leader sighs.
"As will I," Mendou nods. "Strange. When I first came here, I thought
so little of a normal high school. Yet...I wouldn't change the last two years
for anything."
"I wish I could say the same thing," Ataru frowns. "But I can't.
Still, I'll have a place in my heart for this old dump."
The two stare at their former classmate. "Ataru, I don't know how many
times we have to say 'we're sorry,' but will you finally cut us some slack for
a change?!" Megane sighs.
"Hey, you never had to say that, you know," Ataru shakes his head. "If
you don't know by now, I really went up north to keep this thing in check," he
points to his head.
"I believe Lum is still hesitant on leaving," Mendou notes.
"I know that," Ataru nods. "But until I can finally put this monster to
rest, I'm not going to put anyone at risk by returning to this place. It's
still...too early, for all of us. Besides, don't you two want to commit your
energies in solidifying your relationships with Sil and Tanoshii?"
"Of course we do," Mendou stiffens.
"Speaking of which, what's going on with you and your parents over Sil?"
Megane stares at Mendou.
"They are still...reticent over our decision to marry," Mendou sighs.
"Understandable; they limited their vision of the future to permit them only
to see the possibility of my marrying Asuka or Ryooko marrying Tobimaro. But,
peace can still come between our families."
"I hope so," Ataru sips his punch.
"Excuse me!!" a voice calls out.
Everyone seed Amy standing at the door. The Vosian-born master chief
petty officer coughs. "Shipmistress Eluza and the crew of R.S.S. 'Hasei'cha'
would request the honour of your presence at the school gymnasium for a
special ceremony. Would you come with me, please?"
"Amy, what's going on?!" Makoto marches up to Amy.
"You have to definitely come, Makoto," the bespeckled woman winks at the
watchmistress. "Mie needs you there!! Let's go!"
Everyone curiously shuffles out of the school back to the gymnasium.
Patty and Lufy are at the doors. "Open them!" Amy nods.
They smile, opening the doors. Makoto then purposefully strides into
the gym. "Mie, what's going on...?!" her voice drops to a terrified squeak.
In under an hour, the front of the gymnasium was converted into a
beautiful shrine. Standing there is a Zeiwanite Sensualist priestess, having
finished her blessings of the makeshift altar. Sakura and Catty stand to
either side, both wearing the robes of their beliefs. Everyone else...the
crew of the "Hasei'cha," Mie's family from Earth and Sagussa, the members of
Pathfinder Troop Six...relax in the front rows. Also there is Oyuki.
"Oyuki-chan, you did it!" Lum flies over to embrace the Tritonian.
"As you and Ataru requested," Oyuki nods, then turns to the priestess.
"I do apologize for taking you so suddenly from your temple, Your Grace. It
was a most urgent matter."
"I'm more than happy to be here, Your Highness," the priestess nods.
"Anything to help two happy people fulfill their dreams."
Makoto does not hear their words, for her attention is fixed solely on
Mie, who now stands in front of the priestess. In her dress uniform, she
looks worlds different from the innocent high school student she was six
months before. "Wh-what is th-this?!" she stammers, wondering what her
girlfriend was about to get her into.
Priss and Lufy appear behind her, shoving Makoto to the altar. "What
does it look like, stupid?!" the former wonders. "This is a handfasting
ceremony. You and Mie are getting married!"
"MARRIED?!?!?!" Makoto screams.
Everyone braces themselves, wondering if Makoto was going to reject the
idea and beat a fast retreat. Shaking off Priss' and Lufy's hands, the
watchmistress then smiles. "Why didn't you say so?"
Hearing this, everyone lets out a cheer as Makoto walks up to join Mie.
Lum and Reinoevan fall into place as their seconds. The priestess begins. "I
call upon the Mother Goddess, as well as the Lady Lyna of Sagussa, to bestow
Their Blessings on these proceedings..."
*** The Beginning ***
**** **** ****
NEXT STORY: It's vacation time for Ataru, Lum, Noa, Honey, Mie, Makoto and
the crew of the "Hasei'cha" as people reunite and try to recapture the spirit
of times gone by, not to mention capture the spirit of a new tomorrow. While
on vacation on Reiner's Five, however, they run across a group whose
grievances against Lum could cost her and Ataru everything they hold so dear.
Come back very soon for "A Hectic Vacation" to see what we mean!
**** **** ****
by Fred Herriot
450 Clare Avenue South, Welland, Ontario L3C 3B3 Canada
gorgo@havajava.com
**** **** ****
Edited by E.B. Kushnir
**** **** ****
Thirty-third of a series of fan-fiction stories based on "Urusei Yatsura"
created by Rumiko Takahashi
**** **** ****
IN THE THIRD PART OF "MIE'S STORY," the morning after the party, the Sagussans
muster to look for Oogi's spies. Aminobishoojo goes to Mitsushima on Tsushima
to look at Mie's Gladiator, salvaged from the Sea of Japan a year after the
pilot came to Earth. The others are split into two teams, Mie purposefully
separated from Makoto or Reinoevan. During the search, Makoto confronts Rei,
demanding to know why she is interested in Mie while her troopmate Asukanoevan
wants her. Rei reveals that when the *daishi'cha* began to transform in the
wake of Ataru's visit twelve years before, Asuka (who fully embraced the use
of emotions) became a frightening monster to Rei (who still kept herself bound
to rationality). Rei loves Asuka, but finds the latter's rampant emotionalism
overwhelming. Makoto forces Rei to admit the truth to Asuka, making the
Pathfinder realize that by her actions, she is hurting Asuka and confusing
Mie. Later, at Shapiro's Ice Cream Parlour, Asuka and Rei meet. Determined
to win her troopmate over, the former uses *mavan'shagh,* which the latter
barely resists. When Asuka demands why, Rei performs her own *mavan'shagh,*
at last revealing her true feelings. Asuka does not care; she loves Rei.
Further, by their actions, they have become bond-mates...
**** **** ****
And after that...ON WITH THE SHOW!!!!
**** **** ****
"Congratulations!!!" Linna beams.
Asuka and Rei blush as they walk into Toranoseishin Finances' private
apartment in Tomobiki, now the headquarters of Pathfinder Troop Six. Among
their people, the bond of *marei'cha* is as discernable as any physical
expression of emotion, hence their status as bond-mates was an open book to
their troopmates. Linna and Nene walk up, clasping hands with Asuka and Rei.
"Thanks," Asuka sighs. "It almost took me forever, but I did it!"
"We can tell!" Nene muses. "So...want to make it a four-way orgy for
the first night as a couple?"
Asuka and Rei stare at each other. "No, we'll just be by ourselves,"
the latter sighs. "We need to do a lot of talking."
"Among other things," Linna coyly muses.
Asuka and Rei turn beet-red as Linna and Nene laugh, returning to their
private bedroom. They then sense Sylia's presence. "I hoped you two would've
exercised a little more discretion."
The two stare at their commander. "Sorry, Sylia," Asuka shrugs. "You
just might say it's fate."
Sylia's eyes roll. "Everyone uses that excuse," she mutters.
"Where's Priss?" Rei looks around.
"She's checking on the status of our courier missile to Phentax Two,"
Sylia sighs. "It should be there by now."
"It arrived," Priss' voice announces.
The three see the *pirpirsiw'r*-turned-*daishi'cha* walk into the room.
"What happened?!" Rei inquires.
"It blew apart half of the Great Lum Church in Lumukyou," Priss smiles,
then frowns. "Oogi wasn't in town...but they sure as hell got the message."
"Oh, we'll just have to kill him later," Asuka smiles...
* * *
"A simple case of bad luck," Misato shakes her head. "Being close to
two Sagussans performing *mavan'shagh* on each other. You two are lucky to be
alive, you know that?"
Shapiro and Pamanba, both with ice packs on their heads, moan in
response to the psychologist's statement. "So I presently feel," the elder
observer moans. He had been in the basement when Rei and Asuka stripped
themselves of their psychic defenses, nearly burning the minds of both Vosians
by the strength of their brainwaves. Both are now on futons in the cafeteria,
blankets over them. Shinobu sits beside Pamanba. "Would you care to tell me
what those two were actually doing?" Shapiro stares at Misato.
"They were trying to win each other's love and trust so they could form
a bond-mating," the Fukunokami-born psychologist sighs. "Unlike your race and
that delightful form of genetic slavery you call 'recognition,' we Sagussans
have the full freedom of choice when it comes to selecting our life-partners
and co-parents for our children. Given the somewhat tortured history of their
relationship, Asuka and Rei had to resort to desperate measures to win the
other's attention, much less their interest and commitment. We derive very
intimate pleasure from mental contact. The more intense the contact, the more
emotionally and sexually aroused we become. You just had the bad luck of
being in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"That seems to be happening to us a lot lately," Shapiro muses, shifting
the bag on his head.
"Well, all I can recommend is rest and light duties for both of you for
the next couple of days," Misato rises, turning to leave. "Now, if you'll
excuse me, I'm going to be with my bond-mate. Oh, Pamanba."
"Yes, Sensei?" Pamanba blinks.
"Priss' bomb got to Lumukyou," Misato smiles. "It didn't get Oogi, but
he probably got the message we wanted to deliver to him."
"Thanks, Sensei," the huntress nods. "Next time, use an H-bomb when
you're dealing with that murdering slime!"
"It might just come to that," the psychologist waves as she steps out.
"Good night."
"'Night, Sensei," Shinobu nods as the door closes behind Misato. She
then sits back. "I wonder what's going to happen to Mie now that Rei's bonded
to Asuka."
"I don't care just as long as I'm not close by when she does bond with
someone," Pamanba groans, squeezing her eyes shut to cut out the pain...
* * *
"I'm home!" Mie calls out as she walks into the living room later that
evening. "Hey, where is everyone?!"
"Hi, Mie-chan!" Makoto's voice calls out from the kitchen. "Dinner'll
be ready in a few minutes!"
"Thanks! I'm starved!!" Mie sighs as she sits down. "Where'd everyone
go?! Back to Sagussa?!"
"Haruka, Michiru, Rei and Minako went back," Makoto confirms. "Hotaru
and Setsuna are staying here. Usagi went to Tsushima to be with Ami. I think
Misato's down there with Ritsuko. Your parents, Tamiko and Suzume went out to
eat with Hotaru and Setsuna."
In other words, Mie is alone with Makoto and there is no sign of
Reinoevan. "Where're Rei and the others?"
"They're at Toranoseishin Fiances," Makoto replies. "Rei and Asuka
finally got together earlier on."
"Oh, that's nice!" Mie sighs.
*No, it's not nice!* one side of her storms. *It's the worst situation
possible!! No one's giving you the chance to make up your mind! Makoto
thinks she's got the right to waltz over you when you're still trying to
decide who and what you are!*
*But think of Makoto's suffering for twelve years in the Chamber of
Eternity,* the other part cuts in. *All she wants is to fulfill her own
dreams and help you regain a sense of who you are. Rei obviously couldn't
understand that, hence she's presently with Asuka. But at least Makoto's
trying to understand.*
*Trying as a Sagussan, you mean!* the first side retaliates. *We're not
Sagussan anymore, remember?!*
*We're not exactly Terran, either.*
Mie blinks as a bowl of karugh-kalghku is placed in front of her. "Here
you go!" Makoto sits in front of her, smiling.
"Ah, thank you," Mie picks up chopsticks, then digs in. Makoto had also
mixed in some fried airdevil eggs, shredded chonagh and opaque hogh-kyi to
make it a full meal. There is also a side dish of yanbe-chagh and a bowl of
fresh chigh for them to share.
Both dig in. They remain silent as they eat, although they do steal
glances at each other. A look of uncertainty haunts Makoto's eyes, as if
realizing that her dreams, made all the more possible by Rei's withdrawal,
could still be shattered if Mie turns in a direction Makoto may not be willing
to follow. *Look at her!* the softer side of Mie sighs. *She wants you to be
happy so she could be happy! Can't you see how much she loves you?!*
*So?! Who says we have to bow to her desires?!* the other half
grumbles. *Isn't love supposed to mean that we both have a say in how our
relationship is going to be?!*
After they finish the meal, both relax. "Ah, that was great," Mie
sighs, then leans on one arm. "We have to talk, Makoto."
"About what?" Makoto looks nervous.
"Us...and where we're going," Mie sighs. "Makoto, I hope you realize
that I'm not the same woman you were in love with twelve years ago. I've
changed, in ways you can't begin to understand."
"I understand how much you changed, even if I don't fully understand
what sort of changes have come over you," Makoto nods. "Mie, that doesn't for
an instant change how much I still want you, how much I still care for
you...how much I love you."
"So you understand that we're not going to be a normal Sagussan couple,"
Mie sighs.
"I knew that the instant you disappeared and I felt deep inside that you
were still alive and well," Makoto nods.
"That's good."
"Mie?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you still want to come back to Sagussa?"
Mie considers the point. "It's still too early to consider whether I'll
be living here or there," she shakes her head. "Part of it is the fact that I
have a home and family here. What happens to them when I suddenly take off
for a planet ten thousand parsecs away?"
"I was thinking about that," Makoto sighs. "So's Hotaru, by the way.
That's the reason they're out with your family. We realized it was pretty
unfair to ask you to come back and leave your family behind. So why shouldn't
they come with us?"
"You mean move to Sagussa?!" Mie blinks.
"Not right away, of course," Makoto nods. "Tamiko and Suzume still have
to graduate from school...and shifting from Earth to Sagussa is going to be a
hell of a culture shock for all of them, especially since they'll be caught up
in the middle of the reconstruction and land restoration. But it doesn't mean
we should slam the door shut. They have as much right to come to Sagussa as
you, especially after all the good they've done for you."
Mie considers the point, then wryly shrugs. "Maybe I'm afraid of
abandoning them like I abandoned you and Hotaru."
"You didn't abandon us," Makoto shakes her head. "While we may never
know the real reasons for your coming here, we could deduce it had something
to do with watching over Ataru. You proved it when you started hitting on
everyone to leave him alone. And that's not to mention you watching over Lum
while she's been here."
"Yeah, that could be true," Mie crosses her arms. "Maybe I left a
message in my Gladiator which could finally give me my answer. It would be
nice to understand what motivated me to come here."
"Well, if there is one, Ami and Ritsuko'll find it," Makoto muses as she
pulls out a bottle of chigh-tagh, pouring two glasses, handing one to Mie.
"But truthfully, I don't care anymore."
"About what?"
"About why you came here," Makoto lightly smiles. "You came here.
What's past is past. We have the future to think about now."
"That's true," Mie nods, then smiles. "Well, two more days and school's
finally over. Ataru-chan and Lum-chan'll be in Oshika, probably on their way
to a chapel within the month, and then it's off to Sagussa for them."
"And us, I hope," Makoto blushes.
"Maybe," Mie muses.
The watchmistress nods. "Well, no matter where you decide to stay, I'll
stay with you," she announces.
"You mean that?" the pilot blinks.
"I mean it," Makoto nods. "It's you I want, Mie. I'll take you as you
are right now, and I'll live with you were you want to live. On Earth,
Sagussa...Lyna's Soul, Mie, I really don't care. I want my life to have you
in it. And I'm going to get it one way or another, even if it takes me a
hundred years."
Mie intently stares into the Yehisrite-born woman's eyes. There is no
hint of fear, confusion, regret or any other emotion which could indicate any
possible deviation from Makoto's stated course. Only clear determination to
get what she wants...and what she wants is presently looking at her. "Maybe
you don't have to wait that long," she smiles, reaching over to gently grasp
Makoto's hand.
Makoto psionically reaches out. Mie's shields were up and rigid,
standard protective mode to wall in her *mei'na* from unwanted intrusion.
Obviously she was not in the mood for shocks, such as what *mavan'shagh* could
unleash. No need to go overboard, then. "Let's go on a date," she proposes.
"Now?" Mie blinks.
"Tomorrow after school. I want to take a closer look at this place.
Besides, we need the time to get to know each other again."
Mie considers the point, then nods...
* * *
The next morning, Lum is awakened by a relay signal from her scout.
Moaning, she dresses, then flies up to her ship to see who would call her at
such an early time of day. The screen dissolves into the image of an incensed
Oogi. "What do you want now, Oogi?!" the Oni growls.
"Lum-sama, have you heard?!!" the Niphentaxian demands. "A missile was
fired at Your Holy Church in Lumukyou!!"
"Oh?" Lum could barely suppress her mirth. "So?!"
"We have traced the missile's flight path back to Earth," Oogi growls.
"It is without a doubt the Great Evil's doing! He is trying once again to
destroy Your Beloved Church and Your loyal worshippers!"
"He's been doing that since before the Spirit War," Lum shrugs, a
mocking tone edging into her voice. "It doesn't matter. I'm moving to Oshika
to marry Darling and we're going to live happily ever after!"
"Lum-sama, you can't allow him to...!!"
"Good-bye, Oogi!" Lum presses the cut-off switch. "Moron!"
Suddenly, the scout shakes as a blast of air nearly knocks it out of its
stationary orbit. "*Tcha!!*" Lum gasps as she is nearly thrown into a
bulkhead. "What's going on?!"
Flying to her door, she looks outside...to see contrails indicative of
large jets having blitzed past her scout. Lum squints, quickly visualizing
out the three jets responsible for nearly giving her a concussion. The
variable geometric shape and twin steering rudders making the jets look like
the F-14 Tomcat fighter, quickly tell Lum what they are. "Gladiators!!!"
With a delighted yip, she flies down to get her books...
* * *
A sizable crowd has gathered on the front lawn of Tomobiki High School
to watch the three jets do their deadly dance. Koosei blinks as he notices
Lum arriving. "I take it Mie's fighter has been repaired," the teacher hums.
"By the looks of it," Lum looks skyward, covering her eyes from the
morning sun. "Boy, Ami and Ritsuko sure work fast."
Usagi and Misato walk up, Luna and Penpen beside them. "Well, what did
you expect, Lum...especially after we gave them encouragement," the Terran-
born zoologist giggles.
"I hope Makoto gives Mie some of that same encouragement," Lum sighs as
she watches one of the Gladiators peel towards the ground, moving to land on
the back lawn of Tomobiki High.
The others quickly notice. "Um...Lum, is it alright for that ship to
land here?!" Paama wonders. "I mean, it's as big as a Boeing 747 and it
doesn't look like it's got retrothrusters!"
"It doesn't need them," Lum smiles. "Watch."
As the Gladiator, a silver-hued craft marked with the Sagussan national
insignia and the code number 503, approaches the school, the engine cavities
metamorph, swinging on hidden pistons from horizontal flight to vertical, as
if the fighter grew legs. The forward engine cavities transform, moulding
into two humanoid arms complete with five-finger hands. The engines roar as
the Gladiator makes a soft landing in the middle of the soccer field, its port
wing nearly brushing the east wing of the school building. Everyone stands on
the back tarmac, staring at the large jet in disbelieving awe. "What is this
thing?!!" Shinobu demands.
"A Gladiator point-defence transformable fighter-bomber," Lum explains
as someone ejects herself from a lower boarding hatch under what appears to be
the cockpit. "It's in Guardian mode now, which is normally used for hover
flight or flying backwards to evade someone trying to shoot you down. Oh,
there's Ami! Hi, Ami!!"
"Hi, Lum!" Ami waves as she walks onto the tarmac, now dressed in her
engineer's coverall. She looks at the Gladiator. "Take her to Battledroid
mode, Ritsuko!"
"Okay!" a Vosian-accented voice responds from the Gladiator.
Everyone gasps as the fighter seems to straighten on its legs as its
forward structure folds on itself. The arms shift to lock into the shoulders
of the newly-formed torso. The wings fold back to provide perfect shielding
for the back and the legs. A head then elevates into position, shaped like a
patrol labor's. "Battledroid mode confirms positive," Ritsuko's voice calls
out from the machine.
Awed stares are projected at the sixty-metre tall fighter from Lum's
friends. "Gundam, move over!!!" Megane gasps, his glasses skewered. "Do they
actually use this thing on Sagussa?!"
"Four hundred in four defence squadrons, plus each capital ship has a
fighter flight of twenty...and three for the 'Hasei'cha,' Mie's ship!" Lum
explains, then notices the two other Gladiators waiting in Guardian mode near
the school. "Is that Lufy and Rabby?!"
"Yep," Ami nods. "They came here on Eluza's order to look in on Mie and
see if she wants to come back to Sagussa. But they couldn't bring the
'Hasei'cha' herself since they're still working on upgrading her systems and
making her fit for service. It'll be another two months before she's
considered spaceworthy."
"Oh," Lum nods.
"Returning to Guardian mode," Ritsuko reports as the Gladiator shifts
back to its squatting form. "Shutting her down."
"Okay!" Ami nods, then calls to the other Gladiators, clearing them to
land wherever there is any room for the giant jets.
"Hey, what's going on here?!" Mie's voice demands.
Everyone turns to see Mie stride around the school building, Makoto
behind her. The pilot then stops on seeing her Gladiator sitting there.
"She's all ready whenever you are!" Ami announces.
"You fixed that mess?!!" Mie exclaims, pointing.
"Of course," Ami looks insulted. "Our reputations as miracle workers is
intact."
Everyone laughs as Ritsuko, a tall, statuesque Vosian-born armourer with
chin-length blonde hair, blue eyes and a dimple on her left cheek, walks up.
"Nice work, Ritsu-chan!" Misato smiles as she embraces her bond-mate, kissing
her cheek.
"Well, with you around to encourage me, what did you expect, Misa-
chan?!" Ritsuko muses, lustfully eyeing Misato.
"What does she mean by that?!" Mendou inquires.
"Too X-rated for you to hear," Usagi warns.
"Hey, shipmate!!!" Lufy's voice barks as she slaps Mie in the back,
driving the pilot to her knees. "You slack-ass!!! There you are!!! Ready to
come back to the real world again?!!"
"Nice to see you, too, Lufy..." Mie grunts.
"Who're you calling a slack-ass, Lufy?!" Priss then appears behind her
fellow *pirpirsiw'r,* snidely glaring at her. "At least Mie's been making
herself busy. What's your excuse?!"
Lufy spins around to stare into Priss' eyes. "I've got plenty of
excuses!" she growls. "What's your excuse for still living?!"
"Are you saying I don't have an excuse for living?!"
"Yeah, I'm saying that! What're you going to do about it?!"
The lightning flashing between their eyes, not to mention battle auras
which would impress Makoto and Rei, sends chills down everyone's spine. "Are
they always like this?!" Megane gulps.
"Actually, they're very tame today," Lum shudders. "I think."
Suddenly, Lufy and Priss high-five the other, then burst out laughing.
"Hah! Still got it!!" the latter snorts, elbowing the former in the side.
"You should've been a Pathfinder, Lufy! What're you doing flying those
transformable junkheaps anyway?!"
"Hey, I can still fight outside a Gladiator!" Lufy smiles.
"See?!" Lum beams. "They're really very good friends!"
Everyone not of Sagussa faints! "I wonder," Mie hums...
* * *
"Here it is, Mie," a strawberry-blonde haired, blue eyed Zeiwanite hands
the pilot a padded dark blue and red uniform. Both are now in class with
everyone else. "We got a new one ready for you just in case your old one
doesn't fit anymore."
"Thanks, Rabby," Mie takes the uniform, then rubs the fabric, a private
confirmation that this is what it should be: a Gladiator pilot's flight suit.
Padded dark blue fabric with built-in G-suit and survival gear. Trimmed in
red with a red phoenix emblazoned on both arms, along with Mie's sequential
number. On the collars is a gold-trimmed black rectangle studded with three
square gold tabs indicative of her rank. Pilot Chief Petty Officer, Defence
Central Command. On her identification badge over the right breast is written
her rank, name and ship: P/CPO MIE SEIKOU, R.S.S. HASEI'CHA. *At least
they're acknowledging your time on Earth,* one part of her muses.
The other part of her declines to comment. At that moment, Makoto's
voice is heard. "Hey, are we all set to surf the wind?!"
Mie looks over to see her would-be bond-mate dressed in her flight suit.
Given her different place in the Sagussan Navy, Makoto's rank insignia is
silver, the rank itself being a single rectangular tab. Watchmistress, First
Sagussan Fleet. The flight suit seems to tightly hug Makoto's contours,
sending tingles of excitement through Mie's spine. "You still have the suit I
gave you."
"I wouldn't throw this away even if it's the last thing I have to my
name," Makoto purrs as she gently grasps Mie's hand.
Many of the Terrans look confused. "Oh, that's right!" Lum nods. "Mie
taught you how to fly, didn't she?!"
"You bet," Makoto smiles.
Mie nods in confirmation as her mind goes back...
* * *
Three hundred and fifty years ago. Sagussa.
Located near one of the entrances to the Chamber of Eternity, swept by
the incessant desert winds which have scoured this war-torn planet for
millennia, is the home airfield of the First Defence Squadron. Attached to it
is the flight element for the defence intelligence support unit, which would
coalesce years in the future around the Republic of Sagussa Starship
"Hasei'cha." Mie...then just known as Ii'iieo...stands beside her Gladiator
doing her pre-flight checks as Lufy...then just Eiuoiiaoii...walks up, Makoto
beside her. The Yehisrite-born watchmistress is in her standard short-sleeved
duty jumpsuit. "Ii'iieo," Lufy announces in a neutral voice.
Mie turns, then curtly nods at her wingmate. "This is the new candidate
for pilot training," Lufy waves to Makoto.
Mie quickly reads the sequential number. "Aoaiuiuiio. Are you prepared
to commence the training you requested?"
"I am prepared, Ii'iieo," Makoto nods.
Lufy walks away. Mie and Makoto stare at each other. "You are selected
for a First Fleet command assignment," the former notes on seeing her silver
watchmistress' rank. "Explain your logic in pursuing a skill normally
employed in the Fourth Fleet."
"Despite the rational division of fleet assignments, not all Gladiator
pilots will be assigned to the home defence units. Capital ships carry their
own point-defence flights," Makoto explains. "If I am slated to command a
ship-of-the-line, I should be aware of all my crews' abilities, including my
pilots. Is my explanation sufficient for your purposes or do you require
further elaboration, Ii'iieo?"
"It is quite sufficient," Mie nods, then waves Makoto to her machine.
"Shall we commence?"
"We cannot at present."
A twinge of surprise crosses Mie's face. "Why not?"
"I require a flight suit if I am to perform evolutions in the
Gladiator," Makoto reminds her, looking at herself.
Mie blinks, then notices what Makoto is wearing. "An error on my part.
Let us proceed to requisition a flight suit."
The two turn away...
* * *
...as Mie returns to the present. "Ready?!" Makoto smiles at her,
realizing where...or when...the pilot's thoughts drifted.
Mie blinks, then stares at her suit. "Well, I require a flight suit if
I am to perform evolutions in the Gladiator," she parrots Makoto's words from
centuries past.
"An error on your part," Makoto notes, pointing out the door. "Proceed
to attire yourself, Ii'iieo, then we shall commence."
"I shall proceed to do so, Aoaiuiuiio," Mie walks out.
"Did we just miss something?" Ryuunosuke scratches the back of her head.
"I dunno, but if those two aren't bond-mates by the end of the month,
then something's wrong with them," Koosei crosses his arms.
Ritsuko and Ami turn to Lum. "We'll want to monitor Mie's progress
while she spars with Lufy and Rabby, Lum," the former notes. "May we make use
of your scoutship?"
"Just as long as I'm flying!" the Oni nods.
"But of course," Ami nods.
"I'm coming," Misato sighs. "Evaluating Mie's performance in the
Gladiator would reflect a lot on her personal mood."
The Sagussans and Lum depart for their various ships...
* * *
A half-hour later, three Gladiators soar over southern Japan in Fighter
mode, maintaining a tight arrowhead formation with Lufy on point. Lum's scout
follows them at several hundred metres distance. "We'll keep the manoeuvres
simple at first," Lufy calls over the line to Rabby, Mie and Makoto. "No
sense pushing the envelope."
"Roger," Rabby and Mie reply.
Mie sighs as she relaxes in her seat, a specially designed chair-
ejection seat which automatically conforms to the pilot's body for maximum
comfort. Remote tracers are attached to her arms and legs, which come into
play when the Gladiator assumes Battledroid mode. Built-in relays in her
helmet control the head, as well as auto-targeting gear which operates in all
modes. Her console is very simple for such a complex advanced machine:
communications, position indicator, engine controls, altimeter and sensory.
Behind and slightly above Mie, Makoto relaxes in the guest's chair (Gladiators
were normally deployed as single-pilot machines), which replicates all of
Mie's controls, plus a control switch which allows the guest to automatically
take over in case something happens to the pilot. "How do you feel?" Makoto
inquires as she stares at her girlfriend.
"I'm still getting used to the controls," Mie smiles. "They seem to be
a little sluggish. I'll be fine."
*Boy, that reassures Makoto!* one part of her growls. *What are you
doing flying this coffin, anyway?! Lufy and Rabby are top pilots who put in
as much simulator and real-flight time as they can! You haven't sat in this
bucket for twelve years! What in Buddha's name are you trying to prove?*
*You are a pilot, remember?* the other softly intones. *If you are
scared, Lufy and Rabby'll knock it out of you. Shock therapy always works to
bring the best out of people. Besides, Lufy and Rabby won't play dirty!
They're not the type.*
*That was what they were like twelve years ago, remember?!*
By that time, the formation soars past the southern tip of Kyushu into
the airspace of the East China Sea. "Yeah...right about here looks good,"
Lufy looks around. "What's the air traffic like?!"
"Stay away from the Chinese coast and Okinawa, and don't stray towards
Taiwan, Cheju-do and the tip of Korea," Ritsuko reports from Lum's scout.
"The area is clear right down to the deck."
"Got it. Keep us posted," Lufy sighs. "Okay, we'll start here. No
ceiling limit, stay in F-mode. Fight's on!!"
"Right!" Rabby nods. "Tally-ho!!"
Gladiators 501 (Lufy) and 502 (Rabby) peel away from the arrowhead,
splitting off in different directions. Lufy climbs for altitude and Rabby
spins east for Amami-shima. Mie kicks her mount in a dive for the ocean.
"What are you doing?!" Makoto wonders.
"I'm going to keep this down on the deck," Mie reports. "It'll keep
their manoeuvres restricted. Sit back and watch!"
"Okay, you're the boss."
Rabby does a lazy circle as she swings around to get at Mie's six
o'clock, then blinks on seeing her wingmate diving for the ocean. "Nice try,
Mie!" she smiles as she falls into a shallow dive.
Mie smiles as the icon for Rabby's machine appears behind her. "That's
right, Rabby. Come right on in. Get ready for a splash!"
The two Gladiators continue their descent. Finally, when Mie passes a
hundred metres above the East China Sea, she kicks in full-throttle and
afterburners, yanking the joystick back. Rabby yelps as Mie's machine
literally stands on end, creating a funnel of water which could swamp Rabby's
had not the Zeiwanite-born pilot turned hard right, skimming the water with
her starboard wing.
Mie torques into a tight Immlemann turn, then acquires lock on Rabby's
machine. She thumbs the trigger for her chain gun when Rabby switches to
B-mode, transforming into Battledroid, her wings still splayed in open
formation to keep level flight. The chain gun, a magnetic-drive weapon system
capable of firing six thousand rounds a minute, each round flying at half-
light speed to target, is now in Rabby's hands as she takes aim. Mie kicks
hard right rudder to spin out of the way as a burst of shells arc through the
night sky.
"Hey, that's not fair!!!" Lum growls, watching this from her scout over
the Senkaku Islands. "Lufy said stay in F-mode!!"
"Lufy and Rabby tend to re-write the rules as they go," Ami laughs. "At
least Mie's reaction seemed good!"
"I guess she doesn't have to worry about fitting back into regular
duties if she decides to come back," Misato thoughtfully hums.
Mie climbs up, then notices Lufy making a wide circle all the way north
to Cheju-do as she tries to mark position. "Not a chance, Lufy!" Mie growls
as she turns north to pursue her wingmate.
"Keep an eye on Rabby," Makoto warns.
"Hey, I'm flying, remember?!" Mie snarls.
Makoto clams up...
* * *
Meanwhile, on an American missile base on Okinawa, technicians manning
the radar station watch in awe as the three Gladiators...to them, three very
large gomers...clash over the East China Sea. Then, their commanding
officer...the same colonel who ordered Lum's scout shot down in "Time
Curse"...walks in. "What's going on?!" he growls.
"Sir, you better see this," a technician points at the screen.
The colonel looks. "Who're they?!"
"Dunno," the technician shakes his head. "They flew in from the general
direction of Tokyo about a half-hour ago, then started doing ACM over the East
China Sea."
"Must be fighters from Fujisawa," the colonel shrugs.
"Fighters the size of a C-5A?!" another technician wonders.
The colonel's eyes narrow. "Are you sure they came from Tokyo
airspace?!"
"Well, we didn't get an exact confirmation," the technician muses. "And
no one from Korea or Kyushu reported their presence. We first picked them up
over the Oosumi-kaikyoo."
"Then they must've been at very high altitude when they came down from
Vladivostock!!" the colonel growls.
"Sir, there's no report of aircraft this size capable of doing what
these three are doing...!" a technician tries to protest.
"Belay that!!" the colonel snaps. "What about IFF?!"
"Nada," another technician shakes her head.
The colonel grimly nods. "Time to teach those commies a little
something called respect!" he grumbles, then barks. "Roll out the Arrow of
Heaven!! Let's put them down!"
Technicians leap to work as army and air force engineers unroll a
familiar missile from its storage shed. In the radar shack, one technician
turns to another. "Great!" she hisses. "The last time we did this, we shot
down the ship belonging to that alien girl who lives in Tokyo! What're we
going to shoot down this time?!"
"Hey, we just obey orders!" the other technician shrugs.
"Aw, I was actually getting to enjoy this!" a third mutters as he
watches the pitched battle over the East China Sea on his screen, munching
popcorn as he relaxes in his chair...
* * *
By now, Lufy, Mie and Rabby are dodging for position somewhere north-
west of Okinawa. Chain guns and wing-mounted pulse-photon cannons thunder as
the three try to jockey for a kill. Lufy and Rabby try two-on-one double-
teaming, but Mie scatters them by razzle-dazzle flying or else spinning out of
the way if the two try to come at her from different directions. The rule
about staying in F-mode is gone. The three switch from Fighter to Guardian to
Battledroid mode with practiced fluidity as the situation demands. On Lum's
scout, the Oni watches with awe as Mie gets the drop on Rabby. "Wow!! She's
the best pilot I've ever seen! If Daddy saw this, he'd hire her on the spot!"
"And that's just with Lufy and Rabby," Misato comments. "Wait until Mie
spars with the likes of Tita and Satomi from DEFRON One! Then you'll see some
real seat-of-the-pants stuff!!"
Ami then blinks as a strange reading comes to her station. "I've got an
unknown launching from Okinawa, heading for the Gladiators. Trying to scan
what it is right now."
"It's a conventional warhead missile!" Ritsuko barks from her post.
"Oh, no!!!" Lum panics, remembering her flight back in time thanks in
part to the United States Air Force. "Those crazy Americans must think Mie,
Lufy and Rabby are Russians!!"
"Guys, watch out!!!" Ami tabs her communications button. "Incoming
hostile fire from Okinawa!! No duff!!!"
"We see it!!" Mie grunts as she watches the missile ascend toward them.
"Sunflower Break!!!"
The Gladiators split in three different directions. afterburners
thundering at full power, as the Arrow of Heaven races at them. "Bust up my
fight?!!" Lufy growls as she glares at Okinawa. "This'll teach you to mind
your own business!"
Levelling her Gladiator, Lufy thumbs the concussion missile controls. A
storm of missiles races out from a retractable launcher under the cockpit,
thundering at the American base! "Lufy, you stupid idiot!!!" Lum screams as
she watches the missiles turn the base into a very nice bomb crater!!
* * *
In the wrecked radar section, a technician turns to a very burnt
colonel. "I don't think they're Russians, sir."
The colonel faints!
* * *
Meanwhile, Mie flies down as the Arrow of Heaven tries to pursue Rabby.
"Rabby, stay off G-mode!!" she barks. "These things are a lot smarter than
people give them credit for! You try to fly backwards, it'll ram right into
you!!"
"Get if off me, Mie!!" Rabby snarls. "I ain't going to take this
fighter back to Patty all messed up!!"
Mie watches as the missile falls into chain gun range. "Sayonara!" she
smiles as she thumbs the trigger.
A blast of bullets shreds the Arrow of Heaven as Rabby breaks away. The
warhead detonates, but Mie spins right to get clear of debris. Seeing this,
Lum lets out a cheer. "Yes!!!"
At Tomobiki High School, everyone in room 337 howl with joy as they
watch the fight thanks to a relay monitor Usagi set up. Even the radar
technicians on Okinawa watching the fight from an undamaged station emit a
cheer. "Fight's over!" Misato then declares...
* * *
"Well, that was fun," Mie yawns as she stretches herself.
Mie's Gladiator is now soaring at sub-light past the asteroid belt on
course for Neptune. Mie sits in the back seat with Makoto. Ami had
thoughtfully put a "love seat" in the back; in essence a seat which can expand
to comfortably accomodate two people. With inertia dampeners not needed
(Gladiators cannot fly at warp speeds without special boosters attached to the
main hull), the two Sagussans can relax. "Yeah, you were really good," Makoto
smiles.
Mie stares at her girlfriend. Smiling, she yanks Makoto into her arms.
"I intend to be a lot better, you know."
Makoto gasps as Mie finally lowers her psi-shields. "Yes-s-s...!!" she
cries as she fiercely embraces her bond-mate.
Before they could get far, the sensory alarm sounds off. "Who could
THAT be?!!" both angrily demand.
Mie sits up to activate the Gladiator's warbook, the computer program
which identifies all known contacts as registered over the years by the many
rover units scouting the local cluster. "According to this, six Kashin-class
battlewagons plus twenty Doroka-class heavy troop and equipment transports."
She then blinks on registering something else. "Urusian Defence Force ships!"
"What?!!" Makoto sits up, zipping up her flight suit. "What're troop
transports doing in this system?! Do they see us?!"
"No, ECM is automatically blocking their scanners," Mie shakes her head.
"Something strange is going on here. Let's get to Triton and talk with Oyuki.
She'll probably know something."
* * *
To be continued...
Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year: "Mie's Story" Part 5
by Fred Herriot
450 Clare Avenue South, Welland, Ontario L3C 3B3 Canada
gorgo@havajava.com
**** **** ****
Edited by E.B. Kushnir
**** **** ****
Thirty-third of a series of fan-fiction stories based on "Urusei Yatsura"
created by Rumiko Takahashi
**** **** ****
IN THE FOURTH PART OF "MIE'S STORY," as they celebrate Asuka's and Rei's
bonding, Pathfinder Troop Six learn that the missile containing the ashes of
Oogi's spies strikes its target: the Great Lum Church in Lumukyou. Oogi,
much to Pamanba's disgust, was not there when the missile struck. By now,
Hotaru's and Makoto's opinions about Mie's present status have changed.
Hotaru, while still wanting her sister to come back to Sagussa, now thinks it
prudent to have Mie's whole family move with her. Makoto, very much in love
with Mie, does not care what Mie does as long as they are together. By the
next morning, Mie's Gladiator is back in service. Mie's fellow pilots Lufy
and Rabby come to Earth to help Mie get used to being a fighter pilot again.
In a mock duel over the East China Sea...which almost becomes real when the
American colonel who nearly killed Lum in "Time Curse" tries to shoot the
Sagussans down...Mie proves that she still has the fighting edge to return to
the Sagussan Navy. Later, while on a private cruise in space, Mie and Makoto
discover a large Urusian Defence Force contingent in the Earth-Terran system,
including twenty troop transports. They proceed to Neptune to tell Oyuki.
**** **** ****
So therefore...ON WITH THE SHOW!!!!
**** **** ****
"If what you are saying is correct, this is a major treaty violation,"
Oyuki muses.
Mie and Makoto are in the Tritonian Royal Palace, having flown to Koori
City to tell Oyuki about the Urusian battle squadron waiting near Saturn. The
crown princess has tea brought in. "What treaty are we talking about, Your
Highness?" the latter asks.
"The Galactic Federation Treaty, of course, Makoto-san," Oyuki reports.
"It has specific clauses forbidding the presence of other members' armed
services in sovereign airspace or territory under the purview of any member of
the Federation. Due to Earth's lack of technology, she was declared to be
under our purview."
"Then how would that explain the Tag Races?" Makoto adds.
"That was a...unique problem given the Ipraedies' interest in this
system," Oyuki's lips purse together. "Personally, Father and I disapproved
of the whole Tag Race idea, not to mention the clauses which would have
resulted in Earth's occupation had Ataru lost. We were of the idea of
engendering Zephyrite contacts so they could extend their protection over this
system. As you know, Jiyuu is far closer to this star system than
Barsoom...or Uru for that matter. That does not give the Urusian Defence
Force carte blanche to send in an invasion force into this system. It's
provocative in the extreme, not only to the Ipraedies but to the Seifukusu."
"Are you sure it can be considered an invasion fleet?" Mie wonders.
"Just because twenty troop transports are out there, it doesn't necessarily
constitute intent to invade. They could just be on exercises."
"We should have been informed immediately of such intent to carry out
war games," Oyuki counters. "It's an invasion fleet. As to who's fleet it
exactly belongs to, there is really no need to guess."
"So who is the *ki'shi?!*" Makoto growls.
"General Yethis Seq," Oyuki reports.
"The Urusian President's chief-of-staff?" Makoto gasps. "I've heard
he's a racist and would gladly invade Earth just to avenge the Union
Revolution, not to mention what he could possibly do to the Other, but even
he's got to have some controls."
"Unfortunately, he does not," Oyuki sighs, just as the doorbell rings.
"Come in!" she calls out.
The door opens and a beautiful platinum-haired woman dressed in a formal
kimono bearing military-like insignia walks in. "Are you busy, cousin?" she
smiles on seeing Oyuki.
"Not for you, Pukaze-chan," Oyuki rises to embrace her cousin, then
blinks. "What in Koori's name is that?!" she points behind Pukaze.
Everyone sees a Sagussan rover unit numbered H-494 float into the room.
"Ah, yes," Pukaze blushes. "This being just came down asking for either
Watchmistress Makoto or Pilot Chief Petty Officer Mie, bringing a report of
troop movements from Phentax Two."
"Report, Four-ninety-four," Makoto sighs.
"*Begging the watchmistress' pardon,*" the rover unit bows in greeting.
"*Compliments from the supervisor of the Phentax Observation Group, and
apologies for not sending a message but it was believed to be prudent to
deliver it in person. He begs to report that President Oogi is now mustering
an interdiction force composed of six battlewagon squadrons and ten squadrons
of troopships, with intent to intimidate the United Nations to force the Other
to remain in Tomobiki, not to mention extradite the *daimon'cha* to Phentax
Two for trial in relation to the destruction of Phentax Twelve.*"
Makoto's eyes flash. "We'll see about that!!" she growls. "How many
ships are we talking about?!"
"*Thirty-six Kashin and Panako class battlewagons, sixty Doroka class
troopships, plus various support craft,*" Rover H-494 reports. "*In addition,
four Planet Destroyers and a mobile System Destroyer are being mobilized as
heavy support.*"
"WHAT?!?!" Oyuki and Pukaze gasp.
"Boy, these dorks really DON'T have a life!" Mie slaps her head,
wondering what awful thing the galaxy did in a previous existence to merit
having the Niphentaxians among them...
* * *
Meanwhile, back in Tomobiki, Suzume Seikou whistles as he heads home, a
rose in hand. Smelling it, he smiles. "Now I know I love her," he sighs.
An image of Setsuna appears in his mind's eye, bashfully covered in a
blanket as if she was waiting for him to come home after a hard day at work.
*Suzume-kun, I'm here for you,* the nurse coos as she lowers her blanket, then
leans up to kiss her "husband"...
...as Suzume smacks into a telephone pole! "Man, I better watch myself
when I dream of these things," he moans as he staggers away, then shaking his
head clear, rushes home.
Suzume always had an eye for girls, but found chasing them in Tomobiki
High School to be a waste of time; most had eyes only for Shutaro Mendou.
Even now, with Mendou intent on marrying Sil Dedron, many dreamt of landing
the scion of Japan's richest family as their husband. After a while, Suzume
decided to hold back and wait until opportunity knocked on his door.
It came when Setsuna walked into his life three wonderful days ago.
Suzume had never seen someone THAT exotic in his life. Lum's allure with
Sakura's figure...and she was a nurse to boot! With everyone in the family
leaning on the idea of moving to Sagussa so Mie would not feel isolated when
she finally mated with Makoto, Suzume knew he had the chance to really impress
Setsuna and, hopefully, win her interest. And it was no time like the present
to start wooing her. Walking into the house, he calls out, "I'm home!"
"Hi, Suzume-chan," Setsuna walks out of the kitchen, a bowl of pyogh-
giku in hand. "Mie's hasn't returned yet. Your parents, Hotaru and Tamiko
are out shopping."
*We're alone?!!* Suzume gasps as the Oni-born nurse heads to the living
room. *Totally, completely alone?!! Yes!!!* he nods, then walks in, the rose
behind him. "Setsuna-chan?"
"What is it?" she looks curiously at him, then notices he is hiding
something. "What have you got?"
"For you," he hands her the rose.
Setsuna blinks. "When Ataru did this to Noa twelve years ago, do you
want to know what she said?"
"'What is the logic of presenting me a flower,'" Suzume readily quotes.
"Mie learned it when she mind-brushed Lum one day."
"That's right," the nurse nods. "So, what is your logic?"
Suzume blinks. This was not proceeding in the direction he planned.
"M-my logic?" he points to himself.
"That's right," Setsuna sits down. "Suzume...what do you see when you
look at me?"
Suzume blushes, realizing that Setsuna might not be impressed if he
tried to skirt the subject. He never realized that Mie's people were THIS
rational about their feelings. "I see a very desirable woman that I want to
love and perhaps marry," he finally admits, pulling at his collar. Boy, it
was hot!
Setsuna smiles. "Suzume, we don't have marriage on Sagussa. Further,
if we take the basic idea of marriage and expand it to include all life-
partnerships...then I'm already married."
He jerks. "To who?!!"
"Hotaru-chan," she softly intones, flashing him a sympathetic smile.
"We became *marei'cha* six years ago."
He stares at her. "Now, I realize right now that your urge is motivated
a lot by you wanting to discover your sexuality," she gently grasps his hands.
"And I'd be more than happy to help you. As you know, our primary purpose on
Sagussa is to be the birth mothers of a new race. In fact, if you really
desire it and you think you're ready for it, I could have my first child with
you."
Suzume blinks. This was getting way too complicated for his taste.
"You see," Setsuna smiles. "You're not so ready yet."
"I...I came in here wanting to declare my love for you...and now I'm so
confused," he shakes his head.
"That's alright," she gently kisses him. "Besides, the wait will do you
good. Go out and discover what women are like. Go out and discover what men
are like if that interests you. Be free, enjoy yourself. Don't commit just
yet."
"But can I commit to you?" Suzume stares at her.
"As *surei'cha*...as the father of my children?" Setsuna hums, then
nods. "Certainly. *Surei'cha* are automatic *marei'cha* in our eyes. You
have as much right to care for and love your children as I do. But, tell me:
are you willing to have children with Hotaru?"
Suzume jerks. "See?" Setsuna muses. "Your family social codes make you
hesitant when dealing with what technically could be considered your sister,
even if she is not related by blood. You're still not sure of yourself yet.
You should realize that if you have children with me, you have to have them
with my bond-mate. I would want that to happen; it's considered very bad form
on my planet not to introduce one's child-mate to one's bond-mate. I'd be
insulting Hotaru and our relationship by keeping you to myself, so to speak."
Suzume looks down. "And I can't ask you to leave Hotaru even if it's
just for me so you could have kids," he finally sighs. "Mie would never
forgive me and I don't think you would, either."
Setsuna nods. He looks at the rose, then hands it to her. "Here," he
smiles. "Take it, anyway. I still find you the most beautiful woman I've
ever met...and maybe one day in the future, I might be ready to help you and
Hotaru have kids."
"Thank you," she smiles, sniffing the rose. "In the meantime, I just
made some pyogh-giku. Want to share?"
"Sure!" he nods, sitting beside her as they dig in...
* * *
"Oogi's sending THAT many ships?!!" Lum exclaims.
Mie and Makoto grimly nod. The two now meet with Ataru, Lum, Noa and
Honey in the latter's home in Oshika after learning of the intelligence Rover
H-494 and his companion rover units acquired. "Right now, they're just
mustering," Mie sighs. "Oogi's got his fleet still scouring half of the local
cluster looking for the Avalonians, so he's got to wait before he has enough
strength to launch an offensive our way. And if he does, we're going to be
hard pressed to stop it even if you send Pathfinder Six in to assassinate
him."
"And if you did assassinate him, you'd make him a martyr to the glory of
Lum," Makoto wryly growls.
"Wonderful!!" Ataru sighs. "I couldn't get Grandma to get a half-dozen
Zephyrite crusader fleets here in time to stop them."
"Even if you did, Nagaiwakai would just see it as an excuse to expel Lum
from Earth since her presence here would be seen as a danger to this planet's
sovereignty," Noa notes.
"Why don't we stop them?" Honey proposes.
Makoto instantly looks eager. "Do we have enough forces to stop them?!"
Noa stares at the watchmistress.
"Let's see now," Makoto muses. "For ground and Fourth Fleet forces,
we're at full battle strength. Four hundred Gladiators alone would make hash
out of Oogi's battlewagons. If their troops land, the Warsuit, Pathfinder and
Hovercycle Brigades could stop them."
"What about the Planet Destroyers?" Lum wonders.
"Our home-defence monitors are warp-equipped since they come fitted with
wave proton cannons," Makoto notes. "And there's the 'Lyna'cha,' Feb's
command cruiser. She may not be as well armed as what we'd want for a First
Fleet ship-of-the-line, but she's also got the wave proton cannons. Those
Planet Destroyers and that System Destroyer wouldn't stand a chance."
"How soon can they be here?" Ataru wonders.
"A day, tops," Makoto reports.
"Make it sooner than that if possible," Ataru stands. "I want the
commanders or would-be commanders to be here in twelve hours so we can discuss
what we're going to do."
"Yes, sir!" Makoto salutes, then runs out to Mie's Gladiator.
"The Battle of Graduation Day," Lum muses.
"What was that, Lum?" Noa stares at her bond-mate.
"Tomorrow's Graduation Day for us," the Oni wryly muses. "My last day
in Tomobiki. Oogi would schedule his attack for then."
"Don't worry," the Sagussan winks at her. "We'll give him an extra-
special graduation party, one he won't soon forget...for the last few seconds
of his time in this existence."
"What about Yethis?" Mie wonders. "What do we do about him? I can
guess he's out there to act as a 'peacekeeping' force," she makes finger-
quotes, "...which would just be a mask for the invasion he's wanted to unleash
on us over the last two years."
"We can teach him a lesson, too," Noa sighs, then stares at Lum, sensing
the Oni tense. "Love, you'll have to decide pretty quick as to whose side
you're on," she gently grasps Lum's hand.
"Darling's," Lum automatically responds. "But...at the same time, I
hope that it doesn't turn into an orgy of killing. I know that Leona, Rayna
and Miranda are salivating at the chance to get their troops used to the idea
of killing people."
"We'll try to keep it as minimal as possible," Noa assures her. "But,
remember: when in the middle of a war, anything goes."
"You're right about that," Lum shudders...
* * *
Graduation Day.
"There you are, Aisuru-kun," Tanoshii smiles as she finishes buttoning
Megane's jacket, now dry-cleaned and pressed for the final day of classes.
"Looking good for your final day of school."
"So are you, even if you did finish classes a few months ago," he kisses
her. Both are now in the latter's shrine, Megane having come to stay with his
girlfriend since they started dating. Tanoshii is now in her Butsumetsu
Girl's High School uniform, although today is not graduation day for her.
"I'm glad your graduation is tomorrow. I wouldn't want to miss it for
anything."
"Thanks," she smiles, embracing him. "Mmm...tempted to have a little
fun before we head off?"
"Um...can we wait until after classes?" Megane gulps.
Tanoshii giggles as she walks to the kitchen to prepare tea. Megane
sighs as he relaxes in the shrine's small living room. Once both were free of
the Japanese education system, they were bound to commence their Shinto
training in earnest under Sakura's guidance. Chie Budou and others would come
by to look in on them, not to mention perform special tutorials. The chief
priest of Kantou also wanted Megane and Tanoshii to proceed to university if
the opportunity presented itself; he preferred to give his subordinates all
the chances they could use to enhance their personal lives. "Boy, this is
still so much to get used to," Megane muses as he looks up, then straightens
himself as Tanoshii returns. He tenses on seeing a concerned look on her
face, she now staring into a cup. "What is it?"
"These leaves," she grimly nods to the cup. "The pattern states that a
great battle is soon about to begin."
Punctuating her statement is the thunder of helicopter blades. A whole
fleet by the sound of them. Megane and Tanoshii look up, then run outside to
see what is going on. "What's Mendou doing?!!" the former demands on seeing
the whole Mendou air corps on the move. "Is he celebrating graduation or
trying to start World War Three?!!"
"Aisuru-kun!!!" Kakugari's voice echoes from down the street.
The two turn to see the guards and their girlfriends race up, worried
looks etched in their faces. "What is it?!" Megane demands.
"Real bad news, Aisuru-kun!!" Paama reports. "Oogi's gone totally
ballistic! He's sending a force this way to make Lum stay in Tomobiki!!"
"Not to mention try to drag Ataru-chan back to Phentax Two for trial
because of that garbage on Phentax Twelve," Yasashii adds. "Ryooki-sensei
said to get to the school ASAP. He also said to..." a confused look crosses
her face, "...bring stuff, whatever that meant!"
Megane grimly nods. "That means bring everything for a fight, just in
case!" he looks up. "Mendou's got everything he's got on the move. Let's go
get ready!"
"Right!!!" the others nod...
* * *
A half-hour later finds Tomobiki High School flanked by a squadron of
Leopard II tanks as everyone musters on the front lawn. Most are in
camouflage uniforms loaned from the Mendou Clan's stores. Sil is in a woman's
version of Mendou's Wehrmacht-inspired battle uniform, a tiger-striped bandana
around her head. "Are we all here?!" Koosei, still in his normal working
clothes, inquires.
"Where're Aisuru and the others?!" Shinobu looks around. Beside her is
Pamanba, once more in her hunter's uniform.
"Here they come," Lan points.
The guards and their girlfriends race up. Kenmei, Yasashii and Aijooa
wear black Moroboshi Clan ninja gis. Megane is in his usual blue battle
armour, the buckle now emblazoned with the first kanji of Tanoshii's name.
Tanoshii is nowhere in sight. "Where's your girlfriend?" Koosei demands.
"She said she had to get something, then she'll be right here," Megane
looks around.
"Right here!" Tanoshii's voice calls out from behind him.
Everyone emits cheers and whistles as Tanoshii walks up in a duplicate
of her boyfriend's battlesuit, the first kanji of Megane's given name on her
buckle. "Well, what do you think?!" the apprentice priestess coos as she
shows herself to her boyfriend.
"I like it, I like it!!!" Megane gasps, hearts in his eyes.
"Koosei, where are Rei and her group?!" Sakura wonders.
In answer, the six members of Pathfinder Troop Six appear virtually out
of nowhere. All are dressed in their black combat uniforms. "Did someone
call us?" Sylia wonders.
"Is Ataru calling his grandmother to get some help?" Koosei wonders.
"And give her a chance to throw the Other off Earth?!" Priss snorts.
"Not a chance! He's getting REAL help this time: ours!!"
"But you don't have a fleet to speak of," Koosei protests...
...then everyone is knocked off their feet as a ten-metre tall robot
resembling a Shinohara AV-98 Mark II patrol labor fitted with booster rockets
on the back lands harshly on the ground! Painted overall dark grey with the
phoenix on both arms, it comes equipped with shoulder-mounted chain guns,
thigh-mounted missile launchers and labor-scale pistols stowed in each calf.
Sylia spins around to angrily stare at where the pilot's position would be.
"Leona, you reckless jackass!!! Whoever taught you how to pilot a Warsuit?!!"
The carapace opens, allowing a chestnut-haired Ellsian-born woman
dressed in black battle fatigues and the three rectangular bars of a brigade
commander to slip out. Her bandana has THE BOSS - DON'T PISS ME OFF! in
Japanese emblazoned on it. Over her fatigues is a brown leather jacket
personalized with a mad kaleidoscope of badges, including the ever-popular
screw-and-8 ball, a Dietman's badge and pins from a half-dozen anime shows.
Leaping to the ground, she walks up, jauntily saluting Koosei. "Hi, Koosei-
san. You're looking good."
"Leona, they made *you* the commander of the Warsuit Brigade?" Koosei
looks very ill. "Suddenly, I don't feel so good."
"I take it you know this person," Sakura stares at her friend.
"It could be said," he looks down.
"Lyna, the guy sure doesn't appreciate any decent help, does he?!" Leona
crosses her arms, pouting. "Then, what should I expect?!" she shrugs, asking
no one in particular. "He never appreciated it when Henry and I pulled him
away from the Mikado four years ago!"
"I didn't mind you rescuing me," Koosei holds up a finger. "But I *did*
mind you using a fleet of tactical nuclear missiles on Colony Sixteen to
distract the Mikado's people from coming after me while we were making our
getaway. They're **still** cleaning up the mess those missiles left behind."
Koosei's students pale at that revelation. "What type of help are we
getting?!" Shinobu wonders.
"So where're the others?" Sylia walks up.
In answer, a sleek black machine resembling a manta with its wings
clipped flies up, lowering to the ground beside Leona's warsuit. Armed with a
forest of chain guns and mini-missile launchers forward, the hovercycle
projects an aura of brute power matched with unnerving grace. The pilot's
hatch opens, allowing a strawberry-blonde Ellsian to emerge, dressed in a
stylish black leather bodysuit bearing three rectangular bars on the
shoulders. "Hi, Miranda," Leona smiles.
"Hey, Leona," Miranda walks up, slapping her fellow brigade commander in
the back. "Ready to boogie?"
"Yohko snuck some annihilation missiles out of the Central Armoury
before we came here," Leona smiles. "We're ready."
"Annihilation missiles?!" Mendou whispers to Sil.
"Missiles using anti-matter as the warhead," the Oni gulps.
Mendou fearfully shudders. "What a radical machine!!" Chibi gasps as a
bunch of students crowd around Miranda's mount, gently feeling the surface.
"What is this thing?!"
"A Type 88C combat hovercycle...HEY!!!!" Miranda screams as she bashes
everyone away from her mount with a giant sledgehammer! "Stop pawing my
bike!!! I just painted that!!!"
She then leans against her cycle, as if she was a loving parent and it a
dear child. "Oh, sweetie, are you hurt?! Did those mean, awful people smudge
your paint...AH!!!!" she screams on seeing fingerprints on the black hull.
"Smudge marks!!! Oh, how awful!!!"
Everyone fearfully sweats as Miranda continues her tirade, wiping the
fingerprints with a very soft silk cloth. "A reckless mobile suit driver and
a hovercycle love-freak," Sakura slaps her head. "This is NOT good!"
"You haven't seen the worst of it," Priss warns.
"How can it get worse than this?!" Megane demands.
"OUCH!!!!!!" a woman's voice yelps from behind them.
"That's how," Priss thumbs behind her.
Everyone spins around to see a brunette Fukunokami in a Pathfinder's
dark uniform lying embarrassingly on her backside after tripping down the
front stairs. "Damn transporter! I hate it when they transport me inside a
building for a strategy meeting!! Why couldn't we have it outside in the
open?!" she mutters, standing up...and slamming her head into a tree branch!
"Ouch!!! Who put that there?!" she mutters as she staggers away, then flips
over the corner of the stairs to fall flat on her face!!
"What's her problem?!" Shinobu wonders.
"Um...Rayna's a sort of back-to-nature freak," Sylia blushes, pulling at
her collar. "She eschews all forms of what you'd call creature comforts:
houses and the like. Unfortunately, it's made her very clumsy when she's in
built-up areas. In the open, she's actually quite fine. She teaches
wilderness survival seminars alongside commanding the Pathfinder Brigade."
"You must be happy to not be under her command," Koosei muses.
"Utterly ecstatic!" Sylia whistles.
"Now I know things are going to go wrong," Mendou sighs.
"Hey, there you are!!" Ataru leans out from room 337. "Get your butts
up here! We're ready to get started!!"
"In there?!!" Rayna panics. "Ataru-sama, how could you...?!!"
Miranda and Leona grab the Pathfinder commander by both arms. "C'mon,
Ray! Let's get inside and see the boss," the latter muses.
"I don't wanna go inside!!" Rayna fearfully wails as the two brigade
commanders drag her inside, then emits a shocked scream as she hits something
once past the front door.
"Ray, you are such a klutz!!" Miranda mutters...
* * *
A few minutes later, everyone crowds into room 337. The centre of the
room has been cleared to permit the presence of a holographic projector to
show a three-dimensional portrait of the solar system. A red swath leads from
somewhere out of the system right to Earth. Beside Saturn is a target icon.
"It's about time," a wavy-haired brunette Toukonokouen fleet shipmistress in
central command dress uniform relaxes in a chair, brandy sniffer in hand, as
the three ground force commanders come into the room.
"Why didn't you just beam me into this place so that we could get this
over with, Feb?!!" Rayna growls as she straightens herself, shrugging off
Miranda's and Leona's hands.
"Because I get insane pleasure watching you make a total fool of
yourself," Feb mirthlessly smiles.
"That's enough!" Ataru snaps. "We have a war to plan. Stow the
bickering 'till afterward, Feb!"
"No problem," Feb muses, sipping her brandy.
"Could I get a glass, please?" Sylia appears beside Feb.
"There," Feb points to a large bottle and a tray of snifters.
As everyone relaxes, a platinum-haired Tritonian walks up, pointer in
hand. "Hi, everyone," she happily nods to the Terrans and the other
Sagussans. "I'm Janny, plans officer of the Strategic Defence Directorate.
If you can relax, we can get started."
She indicates the red swath in the hologram. "This is the projected
course of the Niphentaxian attack force heading our way. With what little we
have, and given their approach to this campaign, we've devised a three-layer
defence strategy to stop them in their tracks."
"How are they deploying?" a red-haired Ellsian shipmistress Lum
recognizes as Mie's commander Eluza puts up her hand.
"Jun," Janny calls out.
The brunette Fukunokami running the hologram pulls up an image of three
separate forces. The first and largest are marked TROOPSHIPS in Sagussan and
Japanese. The middle force is marked BATTLEWAGONS. The last force, five
large icons, is marked PLANET/SYSTEM DESTROYERS. "It's quite ingenious given
their history of fanatic belligerence," Janny points to the image of the enemy
fleet. "Which shows that even these idiots can learn when pounded in the head
often enough."
"Or someone is planning this for them," Sil warns.
"Possibly," Janny nods. "The troopships, we assume, will make a covert
approach to Earth to ensure they are not detected by Royal Tritonian Defence
Force patrols. We assume that they'll commence their landing right away, so
as to better 'convince' the United Nations to capitulate to Oogi's demands
when the battlewagons show up. The Planet Destroyers and System Destroyer are
present to ensure that any help Ataru-sama's grandmother gets from Zephyrus is
nullified. Now, as to our role..." she nods to her shipmate.
Jun deletes the image of the enemy fleet, then adds three tan bars to
the tactical map, one beside Earth, the second at the asteroid belt and the
third by Pluto's orbit. "All ground forces will be concentrated on Earth,"
Janny points to the applicable icon. "Warsuit and Hovercycle Brigades will be
in high orbit, with Pathfinder Brigade in Tomobiki itself."
"Let's hope they're not as accident-prone as their boss," Sakura
whispers to Koosei.
"I heard that!" Rayna growls.
"Your task is simple: wipe out the invasion force," Janny concludes,
then turns to the ground commanders. "Anything else?"
"We got the gear," Leona flashes a thumbs-up. "We're set."
"We're ready to go," Miranda nods.
"My forces are ready," Rayna adds.
Janny then indicates the second icon. "Gladiators will intercept the
battlewagons at the asteroid belt here," she turns to the four squadron
commanders. "Since no Fourth Fleet shipmistress has been nominated,
Inspector-General Oryuu will take temporary command," she nods to the fleet
shipmistress beside Feb, a red-haired Ellsian.
Oryuu walks up to the icon. "Deploy in diamond formation. Michiko,
First Squadron will be the point. I want Tita's and Satomi's flight to be
right up front. Yookihi, Second Squadron will be right wing. Shiori, Third
Squadron will be left wing. Fay, Fourth Squadron will fall into the rear.
Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am," the four squadron commanders nod.
Janny then points to the third icon. "'Lyna'cha' and the four monitors
will jump the Planet Destroyers and System Destroyer before they enter the
system. Nihitomi," she turns to the Zeiwanite-born shipmistress, "...your
monitors will fall under Feb's command. We suspect they'll be held back since
their presence inside the system's boundaries will be seen as provocative by
the Tritonian government. Pathfinder Troop Six will be aboard the 'Lyna'cha'
for this operation, as well as the crew of the 'Hasei'cha.'"
Sylia, Eluza, Nihitomi and the four watchmistresses nod. "I also want
Makoto to join us. We have a spare Gladiator," Feb notes.
"I'll pass it to her," Eluza sighs.
"Any questions?" Janny inquires.
"What about Yethis' little party?" Sil nods to the icon beside Saturn.
"I doubt he's here just for sightseeing."
"Ataru-sama?" Janny stares at Ataru.
Everyone looks at Sagussa's *daimon'cha.* "If he makes any move against
you or Earth for that matter...stop him," Ataru sighs, then icily smiles. "As
to how, I'll leave it to your imagination."
Lum and Sil readily nod. The Sagussans grin. "Any other questions?"
Janny wonders.
"What about us?" Megane points to himself.
"You get the simple part," Lum muses. "Sit back and watch the fun."
"That'll be no fun!" Ryuunosuke snorts.
"Would you rather be dead?" Ataru wonders.
The tomboy shakes her head. As the meeting breaks up, Ritsuko walks
over to Lum. "Lum-san, are you going up to see Mie?"
"Of course," the Oni nods. "Why?"
"Could you give us a lift to the 'Lyna'cha?'" she waves back to Misato,
Ami and Usagi, who entered the class while Janny was conducting her briefing.
"I'd be happy to!" Lum nods, then flies off to get her scout.
Pamanba's eyes narrow. "What is it?" Shinobu wonders, quizzically
staring at her friend.
"I have to do something," the Vosian mutters as she walks off...
* * *
A half-hour later, three Gladiators and Lum's scout soar into orbit.
They are quickly joined by the de-cloaking "Kiboo'cha," a black-hued starship,
shaped like a railroad boxcar with large wings to both sides fitted with
powerful warp boosters and weapons batteries, about the size of a wet-navy
destroyer. "'Hasei'cha' Gladiator 501 to 'Lyna'cha,'" Lufy calls over the
comm line. "Ready to dock."
"Acknowledged, Five-oh-one," Janny's voice replies. "Opening hangar bay
for docking procedure."
Space then literally opens to reveal a large docking bay big enough to
take the "Kiboo'cha" and her escorting party. The five ships settle on the
hangar deck as the "Lyna'cha's" cloaking screen is restored. Thanks to
force-shields keeping the air in, everyone can readily disembark on landing.
Feb walks over to gently grasp Lum's hand. "You didn't need to come up here
to see us off, Lum-san," the Strategic Defence Director notes.
"I just came to check on Mie-chan and Makoto-chan," the Oni smiles, then
heads over to Mie's Gladiator. "Mie-chan!!"
"Hi, Lum-chan," Mie smiles as she monitors the loading of missiles and
gear on her fighter. "Ready to start a war?"
"To start this war?" Lum muses, then nods. "Yes. It's about time
someone slammed Oogi against the wall and taught him a lesson. I'm more than
glad that it's you people doing it."
A faraway look crosses Mie's face. "Yeah, they are my people, aren't
they?" she muses, crossing her arms.
"Still hesitant on going back?" Lum inquires.
"Not anymore if my whole family is coming to live with me," Mie shrugs.
"Actually, Suzume-chan tried to make a pass at Setsuna last night. I think
he's going to like it there."
"Any man would," Lum snickers, then looks thoughtful. "So, I guess it's
no handfasting, huh?"
Mie blinks, then glares at her. "What do you mean? Of course I'm going
to handfast with Makoto-chan! If you think I'm going to live with a girl
without marrying her, you're nuts, Lum-chan!"
"Good luck in trying to persuade Makoto, then," Lum smiles, realizing
that Mie will have a fight on her hands if Makoto is the least bit reticent on
the idea of performing a non-Sagussan bonding. "Who knows?!" Lum then shrugs.
"Next thing I know, you'll be trying to persuade her to have kinds via
parthenogenesis!"
"That'll be the next step," Mie admits.
Makoto walks up at that time. "What step?!" she wonders.
"You'll find out," Lum winks as she embraces Mie. "You be careful out
there, okay?!"
"We'll be fine," Mie kisses her cheek. "Get out of here!"
Lum waves as she returns to her scout. "What step?!!" Makoto demands,
staring quizzically at Mie. "What's going on here?!!"
"That's for me to know and you to find out when it's time," Mie quips,
knowing that keeping things secret always irked Makoto.
The watchmistress growls. "Mie," Eluza calls out.
"Oh, Shipmistress!" Mie stands to attention, saluting her commanding
officer. "Can I help you?"
"At ease, Mie," the shipmistress returns her courtesy with a smile, then
absently brushes her slicked-back red hair. "As you know, I will be launching
an investigation as to what happened to you twelve years ago. But I want you
to know this..." She then reaches over to embrace Mie. "Welcome back."
Mie feels the sting of tears in her eyes. Now she knew. Returning to
Sagussa was the right thing. Now if only Makoto would go along with some of
her personal ideas to make their relationship work. "Thanks, Eluza," she
sniffs, wiping her eyes. "Believe me, I'd like to know just as much why I
left you guys and came to Earth, too. But Ami and Ritsuko didn't find
anything when they fixed up my Gladiator."
"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it," Eluza notes. "Let's get to
the briefing room so we can review what we're going to do. It's a good thing
we're all cross-trained as Pathfinders just for cases like this."
"Yeah, good thing," Mie nods as she and Makoto follow Eluza to an inter-
ship transporter pad...the "Lyna'cha" is 9,720 metres long with a 7,750 metre
wingspan, shaped somewhat like am eagle...so they could get to Main Briefing.
As they depart, a box located where Lum's scout landed is pushed aside,
revealing Shinobu and Pamanba. They look around, happy to see that no one has
seen them. "Coast is clear," Shinobu looks around. "Can you sense anything?"
"With a race who can blank their minds out better than Yehisrites?"
Pamanba wonders. "Nothing, as usual. C'mon."
Both sneak over to the boarding ramp leading inside the "Kiboo'cha." "I
just can't believe the scale of everything here," Pamanba muses, looking at
the warpsloop. "I can't begin to imagine how big this ship is."
"Probably the same as the Gatherer," Shinobu hums, remembering her trip
on the Sagussan super-dreadnought which was the forward agent for the Grand
Design. "And he's over ten kilometres long!"
"'He?!'" Pamanba quizzically stares at her friend.
"Ataru-kun nicknamed the central computer 'Henry' since he speaks like
an Englishman," Shinobu shrugs as they scramble up the gangway aboard the
"Kiboo'cha." "It's sort of like Nassur-kun always calling the Home Base
computer 'she' since she's female."
"I understand," Pamanba nods. "Lucky thing that Lum had to land her
ship so that Ritsuko, Misato-sensei, Ami and Usagi could come aboard for the
trip up here. Let's hide!"
The two make their way toward an aft cargo hold. Unseen by either of
them, Priss stands in an alcove near the inter-ship transporter pad. "If you
two wanted to join the fight, all you had to do was ask!" the Yehisrite-born
warrior mutters, shaking her head.
She heads over to join her teammates and Mie's shipmates...
* * *
To be concluded...
Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year: "Mie's Story" Part 6
by Fred Herriot
450 Clare Avenue South, Welland, Ontario, L3C 3B3 Canada
gorgo@havajava.com
**** **** ****
Edited by E.B. Kushnir
**** **** ****
Thirty-third of a series of fan-fiction stories based on "Urusei Yatsura"
created by Rumiko Takahashi
**** **** ****
IN THE FIFTH PART OF "MIE'S STORY," Mie and Makoto discuss the presence of the
Urusian battle group in Earth's solar system with Oyuki. The conclusion is
quickly drawn: that is the fleet of Rei's uncle General Yethis, who intends
to take advantage of Oogi's plan to attack Earth to press his own agenda. A
Sagussan rover unit reports the movement of a massive fleet from Phentax Two
to Earth. While this is going on, Suzume gets a lesson in growing up from
Setsuna, with whom the freshman became quite smitten when she arrived. When
Ataru learns of Oogi's machinations, he orders the Sagussan Navy to prepare a
defence. Next day...Graduation Day for Tomobiki High School...the Sagussans
arrive in force. The fighting forces include the Warsuit Brigade, the
Hovercycle Brigade, the Pathfinder Brigade, the Fourth Sagussan Fleet and the
command ship "Lyna'cha," along with Pathfinder Troop Six and the crew of Mie's
ship, the "Hasei'cha." Mie, Makoto, Pathfinder Troop Six and the "Hasei'cha"
crew are tasked to the "Lyna'cha" under the command of Strategic Defence
Director Feb, who intends to attack the force of Planet Destroyers and System
Destroyer sent to back Oogi's fleet up along the Fourth Fleet monitors. They
are not alone; Shinobu and Pamanba have stowed away aboard the "Kiboo'cha"...
**** **** ****
And finally...ON WITH THE SHOW!!!!
**** **** ****
"Status report?!" Feb barks.
The "Lyna'cha" is at red alert, sailing gracefully into a barrage of
missiles and cannons crashing uselessly against her shields. Still at the
line of the asteroid belt alongside the monitors "Flori'cha," "Alaba'cha,"
"Mississi'cha" and "Virgin'cha," the command cruiser is providing fire support
for the Fourth Fleet Gladiators, now entangled in a vicious dogfight with
Niphentaxian fighters. "Shields remain at full power," Jun reports.
"Gladiators are heavily engaged with enemy fighters. Monitors engaging
Niphentaxian battle force. No craft or personnel losses, but several have had
to proceed to Triton with battle damage and depleted weapons stores."
"Status of enemy Planet Destroyers?!" "Lyna'cha's" shipmistress April, a
blonde-haired Vosian, demands.
"Rover units maintaining communications jamming," Janny barks. "Planet
Destroyers and System Destroyer are at Pluto's orbit. Attempts by enemy
commander to signal support forces or Phentax Two have been halted. Further,
Urusian force by Saturn is completely blind as to our presence."
"They won't be blind for long," April turns to Feb.
"True," Feb sighs. "What's going on back on Earth?"
"Trying to raise Leona now," Jun punches some controls.
A signal from deep inside "Lyna'cha's" hull relays to the bridge. "Feb,
can we get out of here?!" ship's engineer May, a brown-haired Yehisrite,
demands. "Much that I'm proud of Sagussan technology, but even it has limits,
you know!!"
Feb sighs. The battle was about to fly out of control. "What's Leona's
status?!" she turns to Jun.
The Fukunokami-born combat officer grins. "She reports total success!!"
she yips. "The troopships have been destroyed! Miranda's brigade is busy
picking up survivors and transferring them to the warsuit support ships for
processing!"
"Good!" Feb nods. "Order Leona to rearm and get her people out here to
help Oryuu! Signal the 'Virgin'cha!'"
The front viewscreen shifts to an image of Nihitomi, commander of the
fleet monitor force. "What is it, Feb?" the brunette Zeiwanite inquires.
"Get your people together, Ni-chan," Feb straightens herself. "We're
going after a pack of Planet Destroyers!"
"We're right behind you, 'Lyna'cha!'" Nihitomi nods, then cuts the
transmission.
"Signal from Leona," Jun calls out. "'Orders received. After mop-up,
will move at best possible speed to assist Oryuu. Support ships will take on
depleted and damaged Gladiators if necessary.'"
"Excellent!" the fleet shipmistress nods. "Signal the 'Virgin'cha!'
Best speed to Pluto's orbit! Let's finish this!"
The "Lyna'cha" quickly tilts on one wing as it proceeds at impulse speed
toward the system's outermost planet. The four monitors, six-kilometre long
starships resembling three railroad boxcars conjoined abreast, the outer wings
equipped with deployable gun arms, fall in behind the command cruiser.
Noticing this, the Niphentaxian battlewagons try to pursue, but are jumped by
Gladiators not busy taking down the defensive fighter screen...
* * *
Deep in the cruiser's hull, the combined crews of Pathfinder Team Six
and the "Hasei'cha" suit up for their mission. Missing their own ship, the
latter crew were now dressed in dark combat uniforms, ready to attack
alongside the former crew as ground infantry. Eluza watches as they prepare
in silence. Normally, they would be doing jobs on their ship, but the
"Hasei'cha" was still two months from completion and trials. Converting a
courier warpsloop to sling three Gladiators in special trapezes at the aft end
while still maintaining a modem of decent performance took a lot of
compromises and juggling of power ratios, as Patty, the ship's brunette
Terran-born engineer, loved to complain all the time.
Three of the "Hasei'cha's" eleven-person crew...Mie, Rabby and Lufy,
plus Makoto...would fly their Gladiators as escort to the "Kiboo'cha." That
left Eluza's eight to join Sylia's six Pathfinders in whatever they would end
up doing. Rumy had proposed bringing Starleaf, the ship's sandpanther/mascot,
along for the mission, but Eluza had countermanded the young blonde-haired
Terran-born science chief's proposal. While sandpanthers were very effective,
they were not invulnerable, nor did they cherish the idea of wearing personal
shielding belts; they restricted wing movement. Naturally, Starleaf was
effectively Rumy's sandpanther; she mothered the poor lad as if he was one of
her own sons.
"How are we doing?" Sylia inquires as she walks in.
"We're ready," Priss slips on her web gear, then charges a load into her
Urban Assault Cannon. "What's the plan?"
"So far, no one really knows," Sylia crosses her arms. "We were delayed
a bit because of the Niphentaxian attack force jumping us while the Gladiators
were distracted. Leona's finished cleaning up over Earth, so she's on her way
out to help Oryuu. We're just getting to Pluto...right about now, I believe,"
she looks up as the faint drone of the "Lyna'cha's" engines die away.
A hologram displaying Feb's face appears beside Sylia and Eluza. "You
folks ready down there?" the fleet shipmistress wonders.
"We're set," Eluza nods.
"Get to the 'Kiboo'cha' and stand by," Feb orders, a wry smile crossing
her face. "We're just about to take a look at what the Niphentaxians call
Planet Destroyers."
"Send us a view," Eluza laughs as they head to their ship...
* * *
The Niphentaxian Planet Destroyer is in essence a giant anti-matter
cannon four kilometres long. Cigar-shaped with a command superstructure
amidships, it is one of the most intimidating vessels ever constructed. The
System Destroyer, a giant-scale version of the Planet Destroyer, is a six
kilometre long ship shaped like a giant eye, energy arrays forming a vertical
ring around its prime meridian. The five ships brought to Earth's solar
system today remain in a box formation, the System Destroyer in the middle.
However, they do not react to the presence of the five Sagussan warships now
surrounding them, the kilometre-wide gates of their wave proton cannons open,
ready to smash the enemy craft into their component atoms. On the
"Lyna'cha's" bridge, confusion reigns as everyone tries to understand why the
Niphentaxian craft have not reacted to the Sagussans. "Are you sure there's
no increasing power curve in their systems?!" Feb stares quizzically at Janny.
"Nothing," the plans officer shakes her head, staring at her readings.
"Navigational deflectors are up, but that's it. No sign of any belligerence."
"Let's not waste time, Feb," Jun urges from her station. "Hit them now
and let's go home!"
"Just a minute here," Feb holds up a hand. "I'm not going to start a
fight unless I really need to. What about lifesigns, Jan?"
"Scanning now," Janny reconfigures her scanner, then gets to work.
"What are you thinking, love?" April stares at her bond-mate.
"I've been thinking that the Niphentaxians may have had some help in
planning this attack thanks to our friend Yethis," the fleet shipmistress
relaxes in her chair. "If so, this may be an opportunity on our part to kill
two birds with one stone."
April frowns in annoyance. Feb could conceive of plans and
contingencies in the blink of an eye, which made her promotion as Strategic
Defence Director...in essence, the master battle planner of the Sagussan
Navy...all the more logical. "How so?"
"Wait for it," Feb stares at Janny. "How's it coming?"
"Planet Destroyers are fully automated," the plans officer reports.
"Scanning the System Destroyer now."
Feb nods. "If we could use the Niphentaxian ships to attack Yethis,
he'd think that Oogi was double-crossing him. It could even be believable; I
doubt Oogi would want to see Lum-san turned into a slave of the Urusian
Imperialists, especially if she is taken away from Tomobiki because of it.
Yethis would have to eliminate Oogi so he could get his hands on Lum-san..."
"...and Oogi would defend Lum-san so she can stay the way she is," April
concludes. She was not totally ignorant to Feb's way of thinking. "They'd
destroy each other and Lum-san and Ataru-sama would be safe."
"Right," Feb nods, then turns to Jun. "Signal the monitors. No
aggressive action unless fired upon."
"Right," the combat officer turns to her board.
"May, get to work on the holo-projectors," Feb presses an intercom to
the engine room. "We might just need them."
"Oh, so you're not going to wreck my ship trying to bash in the heads of
a pack of *kimei'ne,* eh?!" May retorts. "Good! I can spend time putting
this mess down here back together again!"
"May!!"
"On it, on it!" she sighs, then cuts the link.
"Scan of the System Destroyer complete," Janny looks up, a touch of
surprise on her face. "You're not going to believe this, Feb, but it's
entirely crewed by Vosians!"
"What?!!" everyone exclaims.
"And there's more," Janny adds. "They seem to be slaved to the ship's
control system. ECM scans report that the ship's command and control gear is
perfectly meshed into humanoid material."
"I see," Feb leans back. "Even better. Those poor souls across the way
must be survivors of the Mikado's attempt to punish Oogi. Another nail in the
coffin of the Church of Lum." Pressing a control toggle, she signals the
"Kiboo'cha." "Sylia, Eluza, stand by to board the System Destroyer. Janny'll
fill you in."
* * *
The "Kiboo'cha" and her escorting Gladiators soar from the "Lyna'cha's"
hangar deck toward the silent Niphentaxian system wrecker. "Vosians
cyber-slaved to the Destroyer's controls?!!" Nene gasps as she hears Janny's
report, then nods. "That would make sense. We've long passed the point where
computers can calculate the necessary amount of functions to match and surpass
the performance of the human mind. Other races haven't. If they could
suppress the Vosians' sense of self, they'd make perfect living computers."
"Not so different from the way we were before Ataru-sama came to
Sagussa," Amy, a diminutive brown-haired, bespeckled Vosian who served as
"Hasei'cha's" coxswain and combat chief, muses.
Everyone senses her tensing. Despite years of indoctrination in
Sagussan society, everyone from *daishi'cha* #1 to #100 000 felt some affinity
for their ancestral homeworlds. "We'll find out what's going on, Amy," her
bond-mate Spea, a curly red-haired Terran who serves as Eluza's combat
officer, gently hugs Amy.
"Which means we better get some help," Priss muses as she walks over to
a storage closet, opening it. "Come on out."
Shinobu and Pamanba literally fall flat on their faces. "What are you
doing here?!!" Eluza and Sylia demand.
"S-sorry," Shinobu blushes. "But Pamanba wanted to come out here and
help you fight the Niphentaxians."
"Shit, if you wanted to do that, all you had to do was ask," Priss
comments.
"Never mind!" Sylia sighs. "I'll have a talk with Koosei-san when this
is over about your lack of self-discipline, Shinobu! In the meantime," she
turns to her first officer and her bond-mate. "Rei, Asuka, get them suited
up. They'll come aboard with us."
"Right," Reinoevan grabs the two stowaways and drags them to the
equipment locker aft, Asukanoevan right behind her.
"Any signs that the Systems Destroyer is receiving any communications
from Phentax Two?" Eluza turns to Amy.
"Negative, Shipmistress," Amy shakes her head. "Rover unit comm-jamming
still in full effect."
"I'd almost think they were on stand-by mode, just sitting out here
waiting for orders to do something," Nene muses.
"They just might be," Sylia hums, then turns to Nene. "Nene, can you
hack into the Niphentaxian command system to give us safe boarding access to
the System Destroyer?"
"Give me ten seconds," Nene nods, programming her field labtop to send
electronic probes into the enemy ship's systems.
The silence almost becomes audible as Nene works away. By that time,
Shinobu and Pamanba return to the bridge, dressed in combat clothes and
defensive webgear. Sylia turns to the Vosian huntress. "Pamanba, we've just
detected that the organic crew on the System Destroyer are in fact Vosians."
"What?!!" Pamanba gasps. "But...no Vosian on either side of the Civil
War would ever willingly serve the likes of Oogi!!"
"No, they wouldn't," Sylia shakes her head. "These ones are cyber-
slaved to the System Destroyer's controls, adding their brainpower to the
computers so these things can better run. I'd like you to be with us when we
board the Destroyer so you can help us determine what to do with them."
"Yes, ma'am," Pamanba nods.
"We're in!!" Nene announces.
"Good! Open their hangar bay so we can dock!" Sylia nods...
* * *
Five minutes later, everyone disembarks from their ships and proceeds
into the bowels of the giant flying gun. Keeping staggered formation,
everyone's eyes sweep around looking for possible signs of attack. In the
middle of the group, Shinobu remains close to Mie and Makoto, wondering
whatever persuaded her to come out here to confront people who were more than
ready to kill her just because she opposed their view of how Lum and Ataru
should live their lives. This was crazy! Total war between a planet of
religious zealots and a planet of oversexed reincarnated Amazons over an Oni
girl and her Terran-born, Sagussan-adopted boyfriend. "You okay, Shinobu?"
Mie glances at her classmate.
"Aren't you scared?" Shinobu wonders.
"Sure I am," Mie nods. "But if I die, I die. I died once, nine
thousand years ago. Death harbours no secrets from me."
Shinobu blinks as she takes that in. Before the Sagussans came, Mie was
just a nice girl from Kyushu. A little odd, but after Lum and Inaba, Shinobu
was taking mysterious occurrences in stride. But even her experiences before
could not prepare her for the truth Mie discovered about herself...three days
ago, was it? It was impossible to believe that this woman before her, whom
she went to school with for six months, had fought time and time again when
Mie defended Ataru as he separated himself from Tomobiki, was chronologically
nine thousand years old, having lived a life until seventeen, died, was
reborn, cryofrozen for the millennia on a far-away planet, then proceeded to
live another life on Earth. How could Mie take all the information she had
received in over seventy-two hours with such panache?! Shinobu would want to
run away and hide for a month!
"How far until we get to the central bridge?" Sylia looks at Nene, who
is busy working on her labtop, now strapped to Linna's back.
"About five hundred metres down this corridor, Sylia," Nene points down
a foreboding tubular passage marked with THIS WAY TO MAIN BRIDGE - NO TRYING
TO SCARE PEOPLE WITH ECHOES!
"Good," Sylia nods.
"Keep your eyes sharp, people," Eluza warns. "There still might be some
surprises waiting for us."
Echoing her statement, a klaxon sounds off. The corridor then glows red
as emergency doors slam shut, trapping the Sagussans and their friends in
place. "Shit, they're onto us!" Lufy braces herself.
"Trying to override internal security!" Nene calls out.
"Try harder!!" Priss barks.
At that moment, small globes resembling targeting remotes pop out from
all sides, their pulse lasers flashing. Everyone leaps for cover as the
Sagussans return fire. Shinobu screams as she hides in an alcove, then
watches in awe as everyone calmly shoots down the remotes before their weapons
could do anyone harm. Even the doctors from the "Hasei'cha," Lufy's friend
Catty and Eluza's bond-mate Pony, a lavender-haired Toukonokouen, were
blasting away with as much calm determination as Lufy, Makoto and Priss. In a
minute, the last drone is down, shattered like broken eggs on the deck. "That
was fun!" Sylia comments as she stands. "Anyone hurt?"
"Got a scratch by one before my shield came up," Spea grunts as Pony
helps her wrap a dressing around one arm, the bandage now turning red with the
Terran-born woman's blood.
"Stay alert!" Eluza snaps. "Just because we don't do this often doesn't
give you an excuse to slack off."
"Yes, ma'am," Spea nods, picking up her Urban Assault Cannon.
"Can we punch through this door here?" Rumy feels the shield door
blocking them from the main bridge.
"Trying to get the security system to shut down," Nene plugs away on her
labtop. "It'll take a bit."
"Never mind," Eluza's first officer Shildy walks up, an assault rifle
with over/under photon grenade launcher fitted to the forestock in her hand.
"I'll blast us through. Get out of the way."
Everyone backs off as the Fukunokami-born watchmistress takes aim, then
fires. The grenade slams into the door, but does nothing save deflecting
sparks at the Sagussans! "Shit!!" Mie snaps. "Force-shielded! What now?!"
"Step on it, Nene!" Priss urges. "For all we know, this thing could be
heading to Earth to turn it into an asteroid field!!"
"Working as fast as I can!" Nene growls. "Trying to mesh with such a
backward system isn't easy, you know!!"
Shinobu blinks. Could their penetration into this place have provoked
its automated crew to lash out at Earth or Triton? Would Feb and the
"Lyna'cha" be forced to destroy them to save billions of lives from Oogi's
wrath?! She charges at the door, digs her fingers into the metal, then with a
banzai yell, yanks the shield door right out of its sockets, slamming it
aside!
Everyone is suitably impressed. "Not bad," Lufy hums, keeping her
reaction to a minimum. "Where do we sign her up?!"
"Let's go!" Sylia waves them down the corridor...
* * *
Several minutes and ten shield doors later, everyone breaks into the
command bridge, a circular affair about the size of classroom 337. A central
computer nexus forms the core of the room. Attached to it on all sides are a
group of Vosians. The oldest is Pamanba's age, the youngest Rumy's (at
fourteen, she is one of the youngest of the *daishi'cha*). They are dressed
in what could have been Mikado Marine uniforms, but have faded due to their
years trapped aboard this ship. Their hair shaved off, their scalps are
literally pried open, revealing a forest of cyberlinks melded right to their
brains. Seeing this, Shinobu turns away, tears flowing down her cheeks in
horror as she is about to throw up. Even the Sagussans shudder in disgust and
horror. "Lyna have mercy on these poor souls!" Eluza shudders. "Catty, Pony,
check them out."
"Okay," the two doctors run up to begin medical exams.
Pamanba shakes her head, tears flowing down her cheeks as she helplessly
stares at the unmoving forms. "You recognize any of them?" Makoto wonders,
placing a reassuring hand on the Vosian's shoulder.
"N-no..." she shudders, turning into Makoto's embrace. "Who?! Who's
going to make Oogi pay for this madness?!"
"We'll get to him soon," Makoto growls. "Count on it."
Catty and Pony turn back to their friends, depressed looks on their
faces. "What is it, Darling?" Eluza comes up to her bond-mate, placing
reassuring hands on Pony's shoulders.
Pony shudders helplessly. "Th-there's nothing w-we can d-do for th-them
now, Eluza," she sniffs back tears. "Wh-whatever was left of them...slipped
into those realms beyond this one long before...we could help them..."
Eluza embraces Pony, allowing the latter to freely shed her tears. Lufy
comes up to embrace Catty. The others shake their heads at the senselessness
of it all. "Just because they fought for some lunatic dictator doesn't mean
they deserve this," Rumy sniffs, then leans into Patty's embrace.
Shinobu openly weeps. The others either cry or just stare at this mad
situation. Sylia looks down, then jolts as a communicator is heard.
"'Lyna'cha' to Pathfinder Six," Feb's voice calls out. "Report!"
Sylia touches her left wrist-bracelet. "Sylia here, 'Lyna'cha.' We
found the Vosians, Feb. There's...nothing we can do for them," she shudders,
tears brimming in her own eyes.
Gasps can be heard from the other bridge crew. "I understand," the
Toukonokouen-born fleet shipmistress sighs. "But we need that ship now to
handle another problem plaguing Ataru-sama and Lum-san."
"Yethis?" Sylia wonders.
"Right."
"Understood," Sylia sighs, then closes the comm line. She looks at
Nene. "Nene?"
"On it," the Ellsian-born warrior walks over to a clear spot beside one
station, opening her labtop, then gets to work.
"What's she doing?" Pamanba wonders.
"Oogi isn't the only problem Earth faces right now," Sylia sighs.
"Another problem is a fellow by the name of Yethis. He's an Urusian general
who is also the leader of their Imperialist sect."
"I've heard of him," the Vosian nods. "Even the Mikado and Lord Sheko
are scared of that one. He's vicious!"
"Well, right now, we believe he was the one who helped the Niphentaxians
coordinate this attack," the Pathfinder commander points to the central
control nexus. "So we're going to break the little alliance between Yethis
and Oogi by making the former believe the latter is double-crossing him."
"And they'll blow each other up," Pamanba smiles, then stares at the
unmoving Vosian cyber-slaves. "I think they won't mind."
"New targeting program loaded into the central nexus," Nene reports.
"Transmitting target coordinates to the Planet Destroyers."
"Excellent," Sylia nods. "Let's go."
"Hold it," Makoto barks.
"What is it, Makoto?" Shinobu stares at Mie's girlfriend.
The watchmistress turns to the unmoving Vosians, then raises her right
hand to her eyebrow. Seeing this, the others straighten themselves, forming
ranks. "Salute!" Eluza commands.
Silence for a moment, then Sylia lowers her hand. "Let's go."
* * *
Minutes later, after evacuating from the Niphentaxian ships, everyone
walks onto the bridge of the "Lyna'cha." The bridge crew is relaxed as the
Sagussan force proceeds back to the asteroid belt to assist the Fourth Fleet
in mop-up duties. "What's happening now?" Eluza wonders as she walks up
beside April and Feb.
"The Niphentaxian ships are attacking Yethis' force," Jun stares at her
readouts. "Eight troopships and four battlewagons are confirmed destroyed.
The survivors are using command protocols to initiate the self-destruct
sequences of the Niphentaxian vessels. General Yethis' flagship is now
retreating for Uru. There's no sign that they detected us or our
interference."
"Yethis will have some explaining to do when he gets back home," Feb
pours herself some brandy, then offers a glass to April, Eluza and Sylia.
"And I don't think that he'll be so trusting of Oogi. Things should be quiet
for the next while."
"I hope so," an incensed...and VERY familiar voice...replies.
Everyone spins around to see Oogi stride purposefully onto the bridge.
"What's HE doing here?!!" Shinobu nearly leaps out of her clothes in shocked
disbelief.
"Oogi" smiles as he presses a control under his cummerbund...then
disappears to be replaced by May! "Relax, it's me!" the Yehisrite-born
engineer beams. "How was I?!"
"I think Yethis was pretty convinced," Feb nods.
Shinobu and Pamanba stare confusedly at the fleet shipmistress, then the
former snaps her fingers. "I get it now!! A false transmission!"
"Right," April nods. "May played Oogi even better than Oogi himself
could have done."
"I just hope I didn't overdo it," May sighs.
"Relax, May-chan," Janny stretches herself. "You deserve a medal for
that performance!"
"Thanks, Janny," May nods, then walks over to slip her arms around Jun.
"Jun-chan, I'm very tired and I don't feel so good. Do you have a cure for a
headache?"
The Fukunokami-born combat officer rubs her cheek against her bond-
mate's. "I think I have something right up your alley, love. Let's go to my
cabin."
Both giggle as they head off the bridge. "Ah, true love," Feb relaxes,
reaching over to grasp April's hand. "No cause in the galaxy is worth
fighting for more than that."
"I just wish I had that sort of luck," Shinobu notes.
"Well, there are some available people right here," Feb notes. "Janny's
single. So're Sylia and Priss."
The three women then angrily spin on Feb. "***HEY, YOU!!!!!! WHO
ELECTED YOU TO BE OUR MATCHMAKER?!?!?!***"
Shinobu blushes while everyone else laughs. "I want to talk to you,"
Makoto then spins on Mie.
"What's the problem?" Mie stares at her would-be bond-mate.
"I want to know what's this next step you were talking to Lum about
earlier!" Makoto growls.
"Ah, that!" Mie smiles. "Relax, Makoto. You'll see what I have in mind
as soon as we get back."
Shinobu blinks, then looks at her watch. "Hey, it's only just noon!! I
thought we were gone the whole day!"
"Well, did you people think we'd force you to miss your own
graduation?!" Feb wonders...
* * *
Tomobiki High School's sixty-second commencement begins at two o'clock
sharp, which allowed Shinobu and Mie the chance to get changed into their
school uniforms and proceed to the gymnasium, where the other students
convene. "There you two are!!" Koosei growls as he walks up to them. "I know
why Mie was absent, but what's your excuse, Shinobu?!"
"I'm very sorry, sir," Ataru's former girlfriend repentently bows. "I
went with Pamanba to help her fight the Niphentaxians. I'll try to be more
careful in the future."
"You better be, for your sake," Koosei sighs. "Ataru or his friends
might not be around in the future to save you if you get into trouble."
"I'll try to remember that, sir."
"See that you do," Koosei nods as he heads off.
Everyone then lets out a whoop as Ataru and Lum arrive. The former is
now dressed in a black velvet school uniform, a present from Nagaiwakai. A
tiger-striped tie, from Lum, keeps his still-long hair neat at the shoulders.
A gold, phoenix-encrusted cummerbund, from Noa and Honey, surround his waist.
He even took the time to neatly trim his beard and moustache. Walking up,
Onsen gives him an appraising look, then nods. "Well, it's the last day."
People grin as the vice-principal heads back to join Ayanba, who is busy
chatting with several Vosian-descent *daishi'cha,* including Amy, Ritsuko and
April. The Sagussans are now in their dress uniforms. For civilian personnel
like Noa and Honey, it is a double-breasted jacket in primary colours over a
white ruffled shirt and tertiary-coloured bowtie and an ankle-length skirt in
secondary, buttons in tertiary. Sagussan Navy personnel like Makoto and
Reinoevan wear a form-fitting uniform similar to the male school uniform,
coloured in the same pattern as their civilian counterparts, their ranks on
stand collars and qualifications (Gladiator pilot wings, for example) on their
left breast. Seeing people chat with each other, Ataru and Lum smile. "Well,
it's a good sign," he muses.
"For all of us," she adds, hugging his arm.
The Principal then walks out of the gym. "If I may have your attention,
please. Shall we proceed inside to begin the ceremonies?"
Everyone smiles as they file into the gymnasium. The parents of the
graduating students are already seated. Most of the Sagussans file into the
guest chairs in the back. Makoto, Hotaru and Setsuna sit with the Seikous
while Noa and Honey sit with the Invaders. Nagaiwakai is there, as are
Nokoko, Mal, the other Nendo-kata and Reiko, as well as Ataru's parents and
Komeru; strangely enough, all sitting beside each other. Even stranger,
Kinshou is not mooing at her mother-in-law. When everyone takes their seats,
the Principal mounts the podium. "Ladies and gentlemen, honoured guests from
Earth and abroad, students of the class of 1984...I welcome you on behalf of
the staff and students of Tomobiki High School for our sixty-second annual
commencement." Everyone applauds. "Due to the uniqueness of our graduating
class, I call upon Doctor Catty of the Republic of Sagussa Starship
'Hasei'cha' to bless these proceedings."
Catty walks up. As a doctor assigned to the Sagussan Navy, she is
entitled to wear either the civilian or military pattern dress uniform. In
civilian dress, she also has a long blue shawl draped over her shoulders. Lum
smiles on seeing this; Catty is one of a few people who have dedicated herself
to preserving Lyna's memory, in essence forming the Fifth Republic's first
quasi-religion. Taking the podium, she stares at the audience. "I call upon
all of you to pray to whichever deity or spirit you worship," she announces,
then looks to the ceiling. "Blessed Lyna, by whose death the Fourth Republic
was rendered ashes and we, the mothers of the Fifth Republic, were born,
project your spirit of Creation from those realms beyond this one to touch
these, our newfound friends and loved ones. Fill them with the spirit of
Creation as Atar and Ram so long ago sought to fill the dark pit of Entropy
which this innocent commune is likewise named. Let them go forth as you went
forth to discover the truth of themselves. Let them not be afraid of what
lies before them. Let them accept Fate as it deals with them. Give them the
strength so that they too can become *daimon'cha* and *daishi'cha* of their
own destinies. In the memory of you and the innocents of the War of Clone
Rights, in whose death our destinies and those of our loved ones were forever
locked with the world we now call home, we pray."
Everyone bows her head, calling upon her own faith to bring divine
favour to this day. With that done, the ceremony begins in earnest. The
diplomas are handed out. Loudest cheers to go Mendou (from all the girls in
the graduating class), Lum (from all the guys in the class) and Ataru (from
all the Sagussans). Lum then presents the valedictory address (she was voted
unanimously for the task by everyone, even Ataru when he was in Oshika).
Awards and special certificates are handed out. The class is then called
together to sing the national anthem. Sakura then mounts the stage to offer
closing prayers...
* * *
Two hours later, everyone is in a reception in room 337 as the memories
flow of the last two years, even more. Many look around the class, realizing
that indeed it is finally over. Ataru, Mendou and Megane walk as a group
around the room, allowing their girlfriends the chance to chat. "I'll miss
this place," the guards' leader sighs.
"As will I," Mendou nods. "Strange. When I first came here, I thought
so little of a normal high school. Yet...I wouldn't change the last two years
for anything."
"I wish I could say the same thing," Ataru frowns. "But I can't.
Still, I'll have a place in my heart for this old dump."
The two stare at their former classmate. "Ataru, I don't know how many
times we have to say 'we're sorry,' but will you finally cut us some slack for
a change?!" Megane sighs.
"Hey, you never had to say that, you know," Ataru shakes his head. "If
you don't know by now, I really went up north to keep this thing in check," he
points to his head.
"I believe Lum is still hesitant on leaving," Mendou notes.
"I know that," Ataru nods. "But until I can finally put this monster to
rest, I'm not going to put anyone at risk by returning to this place. It's
still...too early, for all of us. Besides, don't you two want to commit your
energies in solidifying your relationships with Sil and Tanoshii?"
"Of course we do," Mendou stiffens.
"Speaking of which, what's going on with you and your parents over Sil?"
Megane stares at Mendou.
"They are still...reticent over our decision to marry," Mendou sighs.
"Understandable; they limited their vision of the future to permit them only
to see the possibility of my marrying Asuka or Ryooko marrying Tobimaro. But,
peace can still come between our families."
"I hope so," Ataru sips his punch.
"Excuse me!!" a voice calls out.
Everyone seed Amy standing at the door. The Vosian-born master chief
petty officer coughs. "Shipmistress Eluza and the crew of R.S.S. 'Hasei'cha'
would request the honour of your presence at the school gymnasium for a
special ceremony. Would you come with me, please?"
"Amy, what's going on?!" Makoto marches up to Amy.
"You have to definitely come, Makoto," the bespeckled woman winks at the
watchmistress. "Mie needs you there!! Let's go!"
Everyone curiously shuffles out of the school back to the gymnasium.
Patty and Lufy are at the doors. "Open them!" Amy nods.
They smile, opening the doors. Makoto then purposefully strides into
the gym. "Mie, what's going on...?!" her voice drops to a terrified squeak.
In under an hour, the front of the gymnasium was converted into a
beautiful shrine. Standing there is a Zeiwanite Sensualist priestess, having
finished her blessings of the makeshift altar. Sakura and Catty stand to
either side, both wearing the robes of their beliefs. Everyone else...the
crew of the "Hasei'cha," Mie's family from Earth and Sagussa, the members of
Pathfinder Troop Six...relax in the front rows. Also there is Oyuki.
"Oyuki-chan, you did it!" Lum flies over to embrace the Tritonian.
"As you and Ataru requested," Oyuki nods, then turns to the priestess.
"I do apologize for taking you so suddenly from your temple, Your Grace. It
was a most urgent matter."
"I'm more than happy to be here, Your Highness," the priestess nods.
"Anything to help two happy people fulfill their dreams."
Makoto does not hear their words, for her attention is fixed solely on
Mie, who now stands in front of the priestess. In her dress uniform, she
looks worlds different from the innocent high school student she was six
months before. "Wh-what is th-this?!" she stammers, wondering what her
girlfriend was about to get her into.
Priss and Lufy appear behind her, shoving Makoto to the altar. "What
does it look like, stupid?!" the former wonders. "This is a handfasting
ceremony. You and Mie are getting married!"
"MARRIED?!?!?!" Makoto screams.
Everyone braces themselves, wondering if Makoto was going to reject the
idea and beat a fast retreat. Shaking off Priss' and Lufy's hands, the
watchmistress then smiles. "Why didn't you say so?"
Hearing this, everyone lets out a cheer as Makoto walks up to join Mie.
Lum and Reinoevan fall into place as their seconds. The priestess begins. "I
call upon the Mother Goddess, as well as the Lady Lyna of Sagussa, to bestow
Their Blessings on these proceedings..."
*** The Beginning ***
**** **** ****
NEXT STORY: It's vacation time for Ataru, Lum, Noa, Honey, Mie, Makoto and
the crew of the "Hasei'cha" as people reunite and try to recapture the spirit
of times gone by, not to mention capture the spirit of a new tomorrow. While
on vacation on Reiner's Five, however, they run across a group whose
grievances against Lum could cost her and Ataru everything they hold so dear.
Come back very soon for "A Hectic Vacation" to see what we mean!
**** **** ****
