Ataru, Seisuru, Lumuneko and Benten'neko carry Dakejinzou into a
small encampment of five small thatched huts and a larger commune hut
secluded in a dense grove. Looking around, Ataru does not detect any
sign of life. "Hey, where is everyone?!" he wonders.

"They're here," Lumuneko's nose twitches.

She and Benten'neko yowl. Emerging from the commune are four
women. Seeing them, Ataru feels his strength drain. "No way!"

"You know them?!" Seisuru wonders.

"Un...!" the Terran stammers.

The leader of the group is a white-furred Sakura. Beside her is a
golden Shinobu. Behind them is a dark golden Lan and a platinum Oyuki.
The four are dressed in animal skins, Oyukineko bearing beads and a
pouch reminiscent of a shaman. Dakejinzou is lowered to the ground as
Lumuneko explains what has happened to her tribe. The group confer,
then Lumuneko turns to Ataru. "We'll allow you to remain here."
Indicating Oyukineko, she adds, "She is our healer."

"Okay," he nods. "I'll tell her."

After she learns Japanese, Oyukineko is briefed on Dakejinzou's
injuries. Staring at the synthezoid, the Nekotengu shaman's nose
twitches. "Her scent is so odd. I'll try..."

She places her hands on Dakejinzou's shoulders. An ethereal glow
inundates the synthezoid as the shaman concentrates. Ataru and Seisuru
watch, awestruck. "What's she doing?!" he turns to Lumuneko.

"She has 'healer's touch,'" she explains. "She is able to heal
most wounds by it."

"Some sort of empathy?" Seisuru wonders.

T'her thoughts are interrupted by Oyukineko's cry. The shaman
falls away from Dakejinzou. "What is it?!!" Ataru panics.

"She's so different!" she gasps. "Her body...part of it's made
out of rock...!!"

"Rock?!" Ataru blinks in confusion, then nods understandingly.
"Oh, the trisilicon compounds in her system!!" Panic fills him. "Don't
tell me you can't do anything...?!"

"I was able to help her," she admits. "Her muscles and other
fleshy parts are normal. I cured them...but her ribs are rock...and I
can't do anything about them." She shrugs resignedly. "Sorry..."

"Hey, that helped. Thank you."

Sakuraneko's hand falls on his shoulder. Realizing that
unfiltered communication was necessary, Ataru quickly introduces
himself. He also gives the Nekotengu names so that he needn't resort to
"hey, you." The curiosity on their faces is rampant. "Since you're
here, mind telling us why you've come, Ataru?" Sakuraneko wonders.

"Let me check my friend," Ataru kneels, pressing the back of
Dakejinzou's skull.

The synthezoid wakes. "Huh?!" she jolts. "Where am I...Ataru-
chan...?"

"It's okay, Dake-chan," he places a hand on her shoulder. "How do
you feel?"

Slowly, she rises, feeling herself. "My lung's healed...but my
ribs are still broken," she grits her teeth. "Who did this...?" Her
vision detects the sextet of Nekotengu women staring at her. "What in
Bensaiten's name?!"

Ataru does the introductions, then indicates Oyukineko. "She's
the local shaman. She's the one who mended your lungs. But the ribs
can't be touched..."

"...because they're silicon," she nods. "A healing empath, eh?
My thanks," she bows.

"You're welcome," the shaman kneels beside her. "Er...what are
you?!"

"What do you mean?!"

"Well, all things in Creation are either flesh or rock," she
waves. "You're made of both?" she gestures at Dakejinzou. "Why?!"

"I can't answer that. I don't know why I was created or why I'm
this way."

"Can you tell us why you came here?" Sakuraneko wonders. "We
rarely see sky-canoes in this part of the world."

"Yes," Shinobuneko nods. "Whenever no-tails come, they go to the
larger villages south of here. Why did you come to us?"

As the group shifts into the commune hut, Dakejinzou, Ataru and
Seisuru explain their predicament. "Once we have the herb," t'he
concludes, "we can return to Hustaros and prevent many from dying of the
kokushibyou."

The Nekotengu exchange looks. "We'll help you," Sakuraneko nods.
"The flowers you seek are several days walk from here."

"Enough to fill this hut?" Dakejinzou wonders. "All of us
together couldn't bring that amount from the mountains."

"You need your sky-canoe," Lan'neko hums.

"Exactly," the synthezoid shifts herself. "I should get back to
the ship..."

Ataru and Seisuru keep her still. "Your ribs are broken,
remember?!!" he snaps.

"I can still walk!!" she protests.

"Oh, really?!" t'he jabs her side.

The hunter yowls, folding on herself. "Nothing doing!!" Ataru
snaps. "Nassur tried that shit and nearly killed himself! No one's
around to help you heal, so stay put!!"

"But what about the ship...?"

"The ship's repair circuits will restore power!" Seisuru
announces. "Once we can move the ship, we'll concentrate on the hull
and the thruster unit! But you have to rest!!"

"I will not...!"

"ENOUGH!!!!" Ataru barks sharply. "You are wounded, Dakejinzou!!!
I will **not** allow you to pull these bone-headed stunts you hunters do
all the time!!! I care for you too much to allow that to happen!!!"

Surprised, Dakejinzou's mouth twitches. "It was a foolish thing,
wasn't it?"

"Damn right it is!!" he nods. "Now, you'll stay here until
Oyukineko says you're okay!!! When you are, we'll go fix the ship and
get after those flowers!!" As the adrenaline drains, he sighs. "Like
it or not, Fate's not working for us this time!"

Dakejinzou nods, laying back. Muttering, Ataru storms out of the
hut. Everyone watches him depart. "Ataru...?" Seisuru muses.

"He's so hurt," Sakuraneko twitches.

"He gives us names and makes us feel wanted!!" Benten'neko snarls.
"Why?!"

"What makes me curious is why're you here without any males!"
Dakejinzou blinks. "Don't you know the risk if mating time comes?!"

"We do," Sakuraneko nods. "We come from a large village to the
south. All of us are from different litters...but we share a desire to
get away from society and live on our own."

"We heard there're nomads to the north who accept females better
than in the villages," Lumuneko adds. "So one day, we got together and
left our village to find them."

"But we haven't found any males so we can have litters,"
Shinobuneko flecks a whisker. "For some of us, our time is coming
short."

"We've marked every grove within a day's walk with our scents,"
Lan'neko muses.

"And the only thing we got is that scavenger!" Oyukineko snorts.

The others forlornly nod. Dakejinzou shudders. Nekotengu females
operate on a terminal biological clock. If they did not bear offspring
before a certain age, usually in the five year period after the onset of
puberty, their reproductive system would cease to function. In the
patriarchal society Sakuraneko and her friends hailed, such rendered
them "runts," outcasts from their birth litters. Even the nomads would
have little use of them should that be their fate.

What made matters interesting was that two males had just walked
into their village: Ataru and Seisuru. Were this a year ago, Ataru
might've been receptive, especially with Lum nowhere in sight. Doubtful
now. Worse, Seisuru was still in mourning over t'her mate. Would t'he
be receptive to the advances of six strange women, especially if t'he
could not transplant them to Hustaros?

If the Nekotengu's clocks were on final countdown, things would
become interesting...

* * *

Ataru relaxes under a ginkgo tree near the village, nibbling on
some grass. Seisuru approaches him. "You okay?" t'he wonders.

"No," he leans against t'her shoulder. "I just wish ONCE, things
would go right!"

"Relax," t'he pats his cheek. "That's the way Fate works,
remember?"

"Thanks for reminding me," he sighs.

They stare at the other, then without invitation, drift into a
tender kiss. Blinking surprisedly, their lips renew contact as their
passions begin to surface. As they tumble into the bush, Ataru fixes
t'her with a stare. "Are you sure you want this?"

"I want it," t'he sighs. "You?"

Ataru blinks, staring at this warm person before him. Person.
Not man. Not fem. Not transsexual. Person. One trying to overcome
t'her loss, not to mention the numbing agony of not knowing what was
happening back home. One who wanted Ataru to help t'her overcome
Yakuri's passing. "C'mon," he smiles. "Let's go find someplace more
private."

He boosts t'her into his arms as they move to a bush...just as
Seisuru's ear twitches. "Wait!" t'her head snaps around.

"What?!" he tenses.

"Company," t'he growls.

Ataru detects it; a rustling in a nearby bush. Glancing around,
his eye glows as the Cyborg's senses seek out the intruder. "**There!
One male near their food dump!**"

"I see him," Seisuru lowers t'herself. "Must be that poacher
Lumuneko spoke of."

They move behind trees to keep themselves hidden from the
intruder's view. Can you psi-link? Ataru psionically wonders.

I can hear you, Seisuru replies.

Stay upwind. He won't smell you.

Gotcha.

Lum's voice then cuts in. Darling, what's going on?! the Oni
impatiently demands. What's happening to you...?!

Later! Ataru snaps, waving his girlfriend out of his mind.
I'm busy!!

No need to snap... her voice fades.

Ataru and Seisuru close in. The intruder stares at the small
mounds of camp-baked grain bread and strips of dried meat, then stuffing
an armful into a tanned skin pouch, he moves to withdraw. "**Hold
it!!!**" Ataru barks.

Yowling, the Nekotengu bolts from the pile, racing for an opening
in the grove. Ataru and Seisuru give chase, the former fully
transforming. Despite the machine-man's unparalleled strength, the
Nekotengu is as agile as a minx, evading his hands. "**Slow down,
you...!**" he growls, ready to drop the poacher with a blast of his eye-
laser.

Wait! Seisuru barks. Let him go!

Ataru stops, staring at t'her. Feeling lucky, the Nekotengu makes
a break. "Why?!!" he demands, reverting to normal. "That's their food,
remember?!"

"Yeah," t'he whispers. "You got infra-red scanners, don't you?!"

"I think I do," he muses...

* * *

A half-hour later, Manari slips into a shabby tent in a grove some
distance from the "Goddess of Luck." His eyes narrow as he hears the
subtle breathing of his co-habitant. "Sis? You here?"

A gasp emits from the frail woman laying in a pile of furs, warmed
by a fire. "Did you...?" her hand feebly rises to greet him.

He licks her. "Here's some food," he hands her a loaf of
bread. "Eat."

"No..." she tries to force it away.

"You have to eat," he insists.

"I can't drag you down," she turns away. "Go. Let me
die."

"No!!" he hisses, laying beside her to provide additional
warmth. "I won't let you die, Sis! You're too important to me!"

The woman's eyes squeeze shut, shamed tears trickling down her
cheeks. Manari was a runt, not maturing into the hulking monsters that
were normal male Nekotengu. She begged her mother to let him stay with
the litter. All that resulted in was their exile from the village. For
weeks, the two, lacking any decent hunting skills, had wandered north.
It was by sheer luck that they had stumbled onto Lumuneko's village; by
that time, Manari's sister had succumbed to a serious infection.

At first hoping to barter for food, Manari was rejected. Even
those strange women living alone wanted nothing to do with a male runt.
He had to resort to theft to keep her alive. But now, with strange no-
tails in the village, who knows what could happen. "You will not
die," he coos a mantra in her ear.

Suddenly, a strange light shines in their eyes. The outcasts yowl
as they spin around to see Ataru glaring at them, his sensor-eye telling
him what he needed to know. "**So that explains it,**" he muses.

* * *

"She is very ill," Oyukineko gasps, staring at Manari. "It's a
miracle you've kept her alive for this amount of time."

The other Nekotengu fidget. Still angry over the runt's thievery,
their emotions are mollified by the revelations of his sister's illness.
They sit around Manari, waiting for the shaman to finish. Given her
tomboyish demeanour and other apparent details, Ataru originated the
golden-furred woman's name: Ryuuneko. "Can you help her?" Ataru
wonders.

Oyukineko extracts some dried herbs from her pouch, then inserts
it into Ryuuneko's mouth, giving her water to drink. "Relax," the
shaman strokes the sickly woman's forehead as she marshals her strength.

Touching Ryuuneko's shoulders, Oyukineko floods her with her
power. The sick woman gasps as her dull golden tresses gain new life,
restored to a healthy metallic shade. After a moment, the glow fades as
Ryuuneko feels her strength return. Slowly, she shifts to a sitting
position, then smiles. "Thank you, Healer," she grasps Oyukineko's paw,
lifting it to her lips. Ataru blinks as Ryuuneko delivers a bite to
Oyukineko's hand. "I am now yours, Healer."

Oyukineko returns that. "And I yours."

"What did she do?" Ataru whispers.

"It must be some sort of enslavement ritual," Dakejinzou muses.

"No," Oyukineko smiles. "Because she was banished from her
litter, Ryuu has no family to call her own. Village males would have
nothing to do with her. By the sharing of our blood, we are now of one
litter. The nomad males would find her more acceptable."

"I'm worried that nomads may not find you acceptable," Seisuru
muses. "As far as they could be concerned, you're runts or diseased."

Lan'neko turns to Ataru. "Ataru, I'm not diseased, am I?!" she
leaps into his lap, rubbing her cheek against his.

"Aren't you supposed to be independent?!" he wonders, trying to
shove her off.

Sakuraneko stares at Manari. "Since Oyuki has accepted Ryuu as
part of her litter, then we've no choice but to accept you as well," she
muses. "That you were helping your sister is well enough, but do not
expect for a moment that your thievery won't be forgotten."

Manari gulps, feeling their anger. "Well, now that's settled,
what say we relax and wait for Dake-chan to heal before we get to work
on finding that herb?" Ataru sighs.

The others nod...

* * *

"You crashed?!!" Lum gasps. "Darling, you're not hurt, are
you?!!"

"I'm fine," Ataru sighs. Both relax in Noa's dream site,
approximating their bedroom. Noa is with Honey in hers. "So's Seisuru,
by the way. Now that's an interesting person!"

"Interesting?" Lum blinks, noting the twinkle in his eyes.
"Something tells me you find t'her more than 'interesting.'"

"We almost did it," he admits.

Lum faints! "You're kidding?!!"

"No," he shakes his head, then explains what happened. "I mean,
there t'he is. T'he just lost t'her lover. T'her mother's now sick.
With the 'Goddess' down, we've no way of communicating back to Hustaros.
That can get to a person, you know."

"Like what happened to Nassur and I when we were in the past," she
lays beside him. "You know, that would be something to see."

"Do you want me to?" he stares at her.

Lum blinks as she considers his question. By the moral standards
of Uru and Earth, in addition to her relationship with Ataru, she was
enjoying an affair with another woman. In a curious twist, Lum was two-
timing Ataru. That judgement was expected given the rigid moral codes
demanded of Urusians and Terrans.

However, Sagussans didn't tie sex to love. Recognizing that a
person's sex drive was not regulated by set mating seasons, the old
Sagussans chose to concentrate that which they addressed as "love" to
the sharing of a household and the rearing of children. Sex in its
recreational format was seen as a natural act, a need everyone had and
an unquestionable right to experience as long as they did not force
themselves on their partner.

"If it goes that far, I won't stop you," she sighs. "I'm not
there all the time, you know. And Seisuru needs companionship, a
shoulder to cry on, someone to tell t'her things are going to be fine.
If things do progress that far...well..." she shrugs.

He sighs, sensing her discomfort. As the first *surei'cha* couple
on Sagussa, they had the obligation to show by example that the classic
ways were the ways the *daishi'cha* had to pass to the next generation.
Difficult when they were still influenced by the ways of their parent
societies. Ataru realized how the House of Windsor felt at times.
"Maybe we should've been plunged into the matrix when they chose us to
come to Sagussa," he muses.

"Maybe," she laughs...

* * *

"She's not home?" Tabitha Lee wonders.

Shinpai Shogai shakes her head. "She was called off on a job, or
so Nassur explained," the Fukunokami matriarch sighs. "There's a plague
on the loose on Hustaros. Further, her friend Ataru Moroboshi was
kidnapped. She should be back in a couple of weeks, Tabitha."

The Terran muses, relaxing in her chair. Along with Koosei Ryooki
and a host of others, she had been kidnapped during the 1970s by the
Ipraedies prior to their planned invasion. Originally from San
Francisco, her features reflect her Chinese-American heritage. "Well, I
hope she's okay," Tabitha sighs. "Thanks anyway, Mrs. Shogai. I'll
call again."

"Nice to hear from you," Shinpai smiles.

"'Bye," Tabitha nods. "Professor Ninko isn't going to like this,"
she muses.

Her hands fly over the controls. Her small frigate banks away
from Fukunokami, warping towards Noukiios...

* * *

Morning dawns on Nekotengu Four as Ataru's eyes flutter open.
"Oooh, what a good morning," he yawns, stretching himself. He then
nudges his companion. "You okay?"

Seisuru's eyes flutter open, then t'he stifles a yawn. "What did
you expect?" t'he stretches, then embraces him. "Thank you."

"I do aim to please," he kisses t'her.

After they had found Manari and Ryuuneko, Ataru and Seisuru had
gone to check on the "Goddess of Luck." Returning to the commune hut,
they were warned by Dakejinzou that both would be sought by the
Nekotengu sooner or later as potential breeding stock. Not wanting to
be gang-raped by their hosts, Ataru and Seisuru shared the same bed.
Naturally, their close proximity overwhelmed their inhibitions, allowing
them to express their sexuality in ways Ataru soon realized were not so
different from the many times he had been passionate with Lum. A very
enjoyable night.

As the two proceed to dress, a tail sticks through the doorway.
"Is anyone here?" Ryuuneko's voice echoes from outside.

"C'mon in," Seisuru calls out.

Ryuuneko and Oyukineko step in. The shaman looks in on the dozing
Dakejinzou while her adopted sister turns to the no-tails. "Oyuki and
I're going out to collect herbs and berries. Want to come with us?"

"I am a little hungry," the Hustari muses, then turns to t'her
friend. "Ataru?"

He shakes his head. "No thanks," he hums. "I'm going to look at
the 'Goddess.'"

Thanks a lot! Seisuru psi-links as t'he follows the two women
out of the hut.

He sighs as he steps outside. His eyes drift to see Manari and
Shinobuneko collecting firewood. Ataru blinks as he notices the
attention the runt is trying to bestow on the village cook. His sixth
sense comes on line as he interprets the subtle body signals the
Nekotengu woman was transmitting. Shinobuneko could consider Manari as
a mate IF he could prove he was a strong enough person who could help
bear healthy offspring. Until he did that, she and her village mates
would look elsewhere. Ataru shakes his head. The same as mating
rituals on a dozen other worlds.

Time to change the rules...

* * *

Later, Sakuraneko heads out of the village to forage for
groundhogs, a staple of the Nekotengu diet. Manari follows, carrying
several spears for the village chief. Unseen by either of them, Ataru
follows, ensuring neither Nekotengu would detect his scent. In an hour,
they wander into another grove. The soil is marked with small holes.
Taking a spear, Sakuraneko begins to sniff the holes.

Manari remains close, unable to keep his eyes off the alluring
woman beside him. Unlike other males, who were aggressive when it came
to seeking mates, Manari would be what Terrans call "fumble-fingered."
Atop his physical features, Manari had never developed the conquering
streak other males used to subdue potential mates. The idea of forcing
a woman down, treating her like trash, made no sense to him.
"Anything?" he wonders.

Sakuraneko frowns, straightening. "No. This litter seems to be
away from the nest. C'mon...we'll find some more."

They proceed out. Manari falls in beside Sakuraneko, his hand
reaching for hers, in replication of what Ataru and Seisuru did to show
their closeness. The chief blinks, but finds no reason to pull her hand
away. Behind them, Ataru smiles. So far, so good.

They enter a grove. "Ah!" Sakuraneko's nose twitches. "We've
found them!"

The two poise themselves over the holes. As soon as the scents
become strong, they jab their spears into the holes. The groundhogs'
dying squeals echo from the pits as the two Nekotengu draw them out. In
minutes, a dozen of the critters are impaled on the spears. "That
should be enough for Shinobu," Sakuraneko muses. "Let's head back."

"Okay," Manari smiles, then stops.

"What is it?" the village chief tenses, then her nose twitches.
"Eh?!"

Before the two could react, a large, muscular form crashes to the
ground in front of them. Nearby, Ataru blinks, awestruck at the size
difference between Manari and what is a typical male Nekotengu. "Talk
about David and Goliath!" he mutters under his breath.

Understatement of the century. The intruder rises to full height,
towering several heads over the tall Sakuraneko. His grey fur tenses as
he hungrily stares at the village chief. "You are the one?!" he
throatily growls, lunging at her.

Sakuraneko tries to scramble clear, but is too slow. She is
rammed against a tree, his claws ripping away her bikini. "Such a
nice girl," he lecherously licks his lips, pressing himself against
her.

The village chief lashes out with her claws, trying to drive him
away. Laughing, he slaps her across the cheeks to quell her energy.
"Stay put! Once you're tamed, I'll tame the others in your
village!!"

A log slams his head. "Let her go!" Manari snaps. "She's
not yours!"

Twitching, the intruder spins around, slamming Sakuraneko's would-
be white knight away with one arm. "Go away, runt!!"

"Manari!!!" Sakuraneko screams.

Rolling, Manari slams against a tree. Shaking his head clear, he
stares horrified as Sakuraneko continues her feeble attempts at freeing
herself. Looking around, the runt detects an even larger trunk.
Grabbing it, he leaps to his feet, slamming it into the intruder's
skull. He jolts, then turns once more. "You seem not to listen,
runt!" he snarls, his fists rising to pound Manari into pulp.
"These women are mine!!"

Ataru feels his adrenaline surge. One transformation would do it.
The brutish Nekotengu wouldn't stand a chance. Suddenly, a haunting
voice whispers in his mind.

***Leave them be.***

Ataru pauses. Sakuraneko drops to her knees, her hand reaching
for her most prized possession, hidden in her hunting bag...a Bowie-type
knife a Zephyrite woodsman left in her village when she was a kitten.
She had taken it when others showed no interest in the gleaming steel
blade. Drawing it, she pounces, driving it into his spine! He howls in
pain as nerve connections to his legs are cut, dropping to his face as
Sakuraneko yanks the blade out, twisting him around to get at his neck.
"We belong to no one!!"

The blade parts his jugular veins and carotid arteries. The
intruder shudders as blood drains. Sakuraneko steps away, watching as
his twitching ceases. As soon as life drains, she turns to Manari.
"You alright?"

He stares at the blade, then dropping the log, reaches for her
bikini. "Here."

Smiling, she lowers the blade, then dresses. Slipping her bag
over her shoulder, she sheathes the knife, then turns to Manari. "Let's
go back. We've got enough for today."

"What about him?" he points.

Her ears flatten. "Leave him. He's only good for the scavengers
now. Besides, other males might find him...and realize that while we'll
have mates, we WON'T have masters!"

He falls in beside her as they proceed to the village, holding
hands. Watching this, Ataru smiles as he makes his way back...

* * *

Sometime later, Manari's tail pokes into Sakuraneko's hut. "You
wanted to see me?"

"Come in," she summons.

Manari shuffles in. Sakuraneko relaxes in a throne-like pile of
furs and artifacts expectant of a village leader. She is modestly
draped in very rich furs reminiscent of a panda's pelt. The runt sits
before her. "Is there a problem?" he inquires.

Sakuraneko notices the nervousness in his demeanour. "You can
relax, Manari. I wanted to thank you for saving my life."

"I didn't save your life," he protests, shuddering with
humiliation. "I wasn't strong enough to protect you from that refuse!
I've never been strong enough to take them..."

"Enough!" the chief waves her hand. "Self-recrimination serves no
purpose, Manari. Yes, you weren't strong enough to face that male down.
But you still distracted him enough to give me the chance to kill him."

Manari blinks. "The reason we've been able to survive for this
amount of time is not because of our strength," she adds. "We survive
by using our minds as well as our bodies. You did the same thing with
Ryuu. You certainly belong with us, Manari...and I want you to know
that regardless of how the others feel, I want you to stay."

"Thanks," he perks up.

She gently shifts the blankets away, revealing herself to him.
"Would you care to stay with me tonight?" she hums.

"Um...do you really want that?" he muses, feeling his pulse
accelerate.

"Yes. But remember what I said before. We'll accept mates...but
not masters."

He finds himself laughing as Sakuraneko guides him to her. Unseen
by either of them, Ataru relaxes behind a tree, having overheard their
conversation. "They'll get it sooner or later," he muses, then rises,
heading to the communal hut to look in on Dakejinzou...

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

"You are sad," Ryuuneko muses.

Seisuru tenses, staring quizzically at the Nekotengu. The sounds
of Manari's and Sakuraneko's lovemaking flutter from their hut. The
Hustari blinks, feeling the sting of tears. "I-I'm not sad," t'he
stammers.

"Are you sure?" she wonders.

Seisuru sighs, realizing the Nekotengu's curiosity would not abate
until she was given answers that were satisfactory. "I...I was just
remembering my mate," t'he announces.

"Mate?" Ryuuneko blinks. "Where is she?"

"Fh'e," t'he amends. "Like me, Yakuri wasn't female. We call
fh'is type 'mem.'"

"'Was?'" she wonders, then her tail droops understandingly. "Oh."

"At least your brother has been accepted and can have children,"
t'he sniffs. "Yakuri and I were planning to start our own family."

"But sh...fh'e died before that could happen," Ryuuneko concludes.
"Seisuru...if you and I had kittens, would they be normal?"

Seisuru jolts, then blinks, surprised that Ryuuneko's unspoken
offer was tempting her. "Well, what you call 'normal' is worlds apart
from what I label as 'normal.'"

"Does it matter?" she wonders.

They stare at each other. Over the last two weeks, Seisuru had
slowly vented t'her grief at Yakuri's loss, finally coming to a point
where the pain of fh'is death was now a dull ache somewhere in t'her
heart. Seisuru would never forget nor fully recover from Yakuri. Each
love, a poet said, was as unique as each planet, each system, in a
galaxy. The loss of that, regardless of reasons, always left a mark.
And here was the one girl in the encampment who could not, for
understandable reasons, have kittens through the nearest available male.
Was this the first encounter with that new star, that new world?

"No," t'he sighs as they kiss...

* * *

Days pass. By the fifth day of their forced stay on Nekotengu
Four, Dakejinzou is recovered enough to head to the "Goddess" and survey
the damage. Fortunately, save for the cargo hatch Ataru had to break
into, hull integrity isn't compromised. Further, with judicious use of
impulse drive, the loss of the starboard thruster is rendered
negligible. After test runs, Dakejinzou declares the ship ready for the
return trip to Hustaros.

Manari and Ryuuneko become fully accepted parts of the village.
After Sakuraneko's time with the runt, the other women warm up to
Manari, finding themselves capable of answering the call of Nature
through him. Oyukineko and Ryuuneko, however, turn to Seisuru as the
father of their future kittens.

News from Earth filters in through the Dreamscape. Atop the
recent commissioning of the "Hasei'cha," fresh from modifications, Lum's
lessons in learning how to better manipulate her new abilities proceed
with breakneck speed. After trial mind-melds with her teachers, Lum
even performed a beautiful *mavan'shagh* which had Noa all over her!
Now, there was one step left: the Awakening, when Lum's perceptions of
the *te'a* would finally coalesce into giving her a personal
understanding of how the Universe worked.

Problem was, the Awakening varied from person to person. Lum's
time of isolation was now critical; having unshielded minds touch hers
would confuse her sense of What Is. The need for her to be alone was
now adversely affecting many of her friendships in Tomobiki, given what
was happening to Shinobu. Such is the topic of discussion in the
Dreamscape one day. "She's with her cousins?" Ataru wonders.

"Uh-huh," Lum nods. Both recline in the living room. "She went
to Nerima, staying with her cousins, working as a chiropractor's
assistant. But she got caught in an earthquake. Everyone went down to
help."

"So...what's the problem?" Ataru blinks, noting the depressed look
on the Oni's face.

"Well, because of what's happening to me, Catty ordered me to
remain in Oshika," Lum sighs. "Fine and fair. However, Catty arranged
with Koosei and Mie-chan to keep a lid on what's going on. Noa and the
others tried to stall when everyone wanted to know where we were.
They...weren't convincing."

"So what?! Gods, there are times when I think they haven't
changed at all! Don't they have their own lives to worry about?!"

"Well, they still expected us to help."

He groans. He agreed to the idea of keeping Lum's problem quiet
from everyone in Tomobiki, fearing regression from the progress of the
last several months. Once again, Fate slammed a curve ball into a
simple plan. "So, I take it things are decidedly cool between you and
everyone down there," he muses.

"'Cool' is not the term I'd use."

"It's good. The less they look to you, the more they'll turn to
new things. That's the whole idea of this exercise."

"I don't want them to think we're so callous, we wouldn't come
help," she protests.

"Look, when I come back to Earth, we'll tell them the truth," he
sits up. "If they listen and understand, fine. If they don't, to hell
with them. I think we've long earned the right to decide on our own
what we're going to do with ourselves...and we've certainly earned the
right to keep stuff to ourselves, especially from all of them."

"Still..." she winces.

"Lum-chan, when people grow up, they drift apart to find their own
destinies," Ataru kisses her forehead. "Shinobu's doing that right now
with her travelling around, trying to discover what she wants. The
others are doing the same thing. We'll still be friends, but we decide
what's important. For you and I, what's important is being together,
charting our own course. If people in Tomobiki still consider being
close to you a priority, then something's really wrong."

Lum sighs, relaxing in his embrace. "You're right. But, I still
feel unsure."

"That's normal," he nods. "You were closer to them than I was.
Nothing wrong with that. If you want to give some time to them, that's
your decision. But they've got to realize they can't DEMAND your time
anymore. Overtly or covertly, it doesn't matter. YOU are master of
your destiny, Lum, not them!"

"Maybe you should've been a priest," Lum smiles, kissing him...

* * *

"Hey, it's time to get up!!" Seisuru shouts in his ear.
"Ataru!!!"

He blinks, quizzically staring at t'her. "What's wrong, Seisuru?!
Something happen?!"

His ears then detect the rumble of starship engines. Bolting out
of bed, he runs outside to see the "Goddess of Luck" floating over the
village. Dakejinzou stands beneath her frigate. "C'mon, Ataru-chan!!"
the hunter waves. "We're set to move! Let's go!!"

"Right!" he jogs into the hut, picking up a bag of personal items
he brought ashore. Running out of the hut, he stops, noticing Seisuru
beside Ryuuneko. He approaches t'her. "You're staying, aren't you?"

"Yeah," t'he grips his hands. "There's nothing for me back
home...and I found something here," t'he smiles at Ryuuneko.

The Nekotengu's tail wraps around t'her waist. "There's so much I
want to say," Ataru grips t'her shoulders. "Thank you for helping me
discover a little more about myself."

"Take care," t'he embraces him.

Ataru nods, then waving at the others, runs to Dakejinzou...

* * *

Sometime later, her cargo bays full, the "Goddess of Luck" races
away from Nekotengu Four for Hustaros. "I've signalled Suki,"
Dakejinzou relaxes on the jury-rigged bridge. "The plague's killing
people left, right and centre. We might make it in time."

"And if we don't?" Ataru gulps.

"Then people on Hustaros' colonies might have to consider moving
back home."

He tenses as her words sink in. "Right."

What were problems like Shinobu's in comparison to the demise of
an entire race? Even Lum's transformation seemed irrelevant when
confronting the death of six billion sentients. Trembling, he walks
into the lounge, sinking into a chair.

The frustrations and uncertainties suddenly burst forth. Tears
flowing down his cheeks, he cries as images fill his mind. So many
nameless people...but people with faces, with dreams and hopes,
destinies which once seemed certain...were dying. The only cure lay in
the "Goddess'" cargo bays. That had kept him from flying in a brute
rage when the impact of what Suki did to Lum hit him.

More frustrations as well. The Gatherer, off to who knows where.
The one power in the galaxy which could have solved the Hustari's
problem in an instant. The superdreadnought's speed was incalculable,
his storage capacity virtually limitless. That very fact was what drew
Suki to find Ataru, nearly killing Lum along the way. Yet Henry was
nowhere to be found, forcing the Hustari to accept the stopgap solution
of dispatching Dakejinzou. And that nearly killed her, not to mention
threatening to maroon them on a backward world with little chance of
rescue.

And then, there was Lum. Now having her life torn apart in ways
which surpassed even his awakening before the Spirit War. Even with
friends defending her, she felt alone. Who knows what Lum would be like
if she hadn't thought of giving Ataru access to the Dreamscape. Atop
that, her forced isolation was offending everyone in Tomobiki, for whom
Lum still cared. Ataru wanted to be there, help defend her, shield her
from the myriad problems her new life was forcing on her.

Sleep overcomes him. Dakejinzou finds him dozing on the couch
later. She draws a blanket over him, then returns to the bridge.

* * *

While Ataru fretfully sleeps, Ninko of Vos Colony 90 works
diligently on his master genetic computer. In his mid-fifties, the
frail *azhis'f* scientist seems hypnotized by the information reflecting
off his glasses. Cyberjacks are affixed to his temples and the back of
his hands, pouring additional information from side computers. He
absently runs a hand through his white hair as his reality shrinks to
the readouts before him.

Unwanted reality intrudes in the form of a large Zeiwanite man
dressed impeccably in a tuxedo, a tray bearing a bottle of 195-proof
Hysos cognac in his hands. "Ah, Professor, there you are," he softly
announces.

Ninko jerks, confusing readouts emanating from his computer. The
pause is temporary. "Josha, you dolt, how many times must I tell you
not to interrupt me when I'm working?!!"

"But, Professor, you must have something to eat," he notes. "You
have been at it for the last 42 hours without rest..."

"DAMNATION!!!!!!" Ninko screams.

Josha takes a step back. In front of the haggard professor is a
blank screen. "Another failed simulation, sir?" the valet ventures.

"Yes," Ninko moans, sinking into his chair. "Another bloody
failed simulation!!!"

He rises, yanking out the modems from his computers. They cascade
in an unseemly mess around his face as he sinks into another chair.
"Why is this happening to me?!" he wonders. "I make the most
revolutionary leap in genetic studies over thirty years ago and to this
day, I have *not* been able to repeat the glory of that early
experiment!!"

"Well sir, you know the Defence Force and the Rebel Alliance Army
will not support your requests for trisilicon hydroxide..."

"I don't care about politics anymore, you hear me?!!" Ninko bolts
to his feet, glasses glowing. "I don't care!!! The whole Vosian Civil
War can go to HELL for all I care...even if they don't believe in
Hell!!!" Moaning, he returns to his computer. "Ninko, old boy, you're
losing it," he rubs his hair.

"This should calm you down, sir," Josha pours a glass. "A bottle
of 195-proof Hysos cognac, bottled in AV 1210. Very good year."

He hands the snifter to Ninko, who drowns it in one shot. "What
would I do without you, Josha?" the professor wonders.

"Respectfully, sir, you could have easily misplaced your head."

The scientist utters a startled bark. A communications beeper
sounds. "Damnation, who could that be?!!" Ninko wonders.

"I'll get it, sir," Josha walks over.

A screen comes on line, revealing Tabitha Lee. "Professor," the
Terran smiles.

"What do you want, Tabitha?" Ninko sighs.

"Another failed experiment?"

"Yes!!" Ninko nods. "Get on with it!"

"Well, I've got good news, then," she beams. "Dakejinzou Shogai's
on her way back from Nekotengu Four."

"Oh, please, in the name of Pizalna-sama, don't bother me with
such useless social babble, Tabitha, my dear...wha...?!" It hits him.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!?!?!"

Tabitha backs away from the screen. "Chill out, man!! I said
Dake-chan's making her way back from Nekotengu Four! She'll be over
Hustaros in a little over a week!!"

The surprise on the professor's face then melts to sheer delight,
his glasses flashing. "She...is...?" he gasps. "Wonderful!! Simply
wonderful!!! You and your partner will *invite* her to join us as soon
as her business on Hustaros is done! Understood?!"

"No problemo, Prof. See ya later!!"

The screen darkens. Ninko holds out his snifter. "Another one,
my good man! This day, success has come back to my door!!"

"Very good, sir," Josha nods.

Ninko's laughter echoes throughout the two kilometre long mobile
science station which has served as his home for a decade. Elsewhere
aboard the giant craft, in a secluded chamber, many sleeping forms stir.
One rises, staring out the door. Elfin ears and a bushy tail are barely
perceptible.

"Father...happy?"

* * *

A week later, as the "Goddess of Luck" races for Hustaros, the
Republic of Sagussa Starship "Hasei'cha" assumes orbit over Home Base.
In the hangar bay, near the "Renegade" and the incomplete
"Perseverance," Nassur and Benten await as Lum, Noa and Catty beam over.
"How are you doing, Lum?" the Vosian smiles as he embraces his former
student.

"Much better," Lum smiles. Touching Nassur didn't affect her
despite his own powerful mind. The *mei'lagh* lessons had worked. "I
was just getting so stir-crazy staying in Oshika, I had to get out. I
was able to persuade Catty to go along with it."

"Well, I suppose we could let her loose as long as proper
precautions are taken," the doctor notes. "When the Awakening comes..."

"I know, I know," Lum sighs, then turns to Benten. "Doctors may
be God on Sagussa, but they're also a bunch of nags!!"

Everyone laughs. "Lum-sensei!" Hazel runs out to embrace her
former teacher, then blinks. "When did you get the new uniform?"

Lum smiles, twirling around to show everyone. A standard cut
Sagussan duty jumpsuit, it was orange with tiger-stripes trimmed in
black. "Noa gave it to me," the Oni announces. "Like it?!"

"Well, for Sagussan uniforms..."

"Hazel!" Benten glares at the hybrid, then grasps Lum's hand.
"Hey, as long as I can visit you again, that's fair enough! Let's get
some chow!"

Everyone heads to the cafeteria. "Say, Noa, Eluza didn't find any
trouble with that couple I sent to Earth, did she?" Nassur asks.

"Not really," Noa shrugs. "They're on their way to Zephyrus right
now."

"And you're still spending all that gold you won in that bet over
what their child'd be like," Lum muses knowingly.

"That's right!" Noa spreads her hands in surrender. "Blame me for
my larcenous nature when it's MY money that's keeping you and Ataru
independent from Nagaiwakai!!"

Everyone laughs as food is dialled up, then they sit around a
table. "Couldn't help but notice the ship," Nassur muses. "As powerful
as five Ellsian patrol monitors and you people call it a warpsloop?!"

"Blame Clone Wars architecture," Noa hums. "Everything was done
in grandiose style. The Gatherer was constructed prior to the war.
Everything's scaled around that."

"Too bad," Benten notes. "We could fit the Gladiators, but not
the whole damn ship."

"Don't they want to come?" Hazel wonders.

"They're still testing things," Catty shrugs. "Besides, Shildy's
concentrating on making her attraction to Rabby mutual, Spea and Amy
have to test the weapons, Patty's grumbling about some of the
modifications Mie wants for her Gladiator, Makoto's biting at the bit to
get off the ship so she can get her own command, Lufy wants to blow up
things..."

"We get the idea," Benten groans. "It'd be nice if Lufy or Priss
would come by to help train the hybrids."

"They might get the chance," Lum notes. "The U.N. and various
national governments are starting to get antsy over the Sagussans now."

"Why?!" Benten blinks.

"The usual garbage," Lum waves it aside. "Japan's right-wingers
are smelling a chance at world domination. Industrialists want to tap
into non-Terran technology to make them richer. National governments
are complaining that aliens aren't respecting local laws."

"The concerns which led to the proposals for Resolution 444, you
mean," Nassur hums.

"Yeah!" Lum growls, shuddering. "They even rigged that
legislation to shaft Darling and Grandma, believe it or not!"

"No shit!!" Benten gasps.

"What's their problem?" Lum asks. "Noa-chan and her friends are
far better behaved than the Niphentaxians or the Ipraedies! Lyna's
Soul, the way things're going right now, Earth'll NEED the Sagussans!!"

"She's definitely becoming a Sagussan," Hazel smiles knowingly.

"I'll say," Benten muses, staring at Lum. "So, what sort of
powers do you have now?"

"Nothing much," Lum shrugs. "It's just a redefinition of what I
used to have. You remember when we were training."

"Uh-huh!" Benten muses, disbelief flashing in her eyes. "Then why
is it Catty here ordered everyone to stay away, to the point where those
dorks in Tomobiki now think you and Ataru don't give a damn anymore!"
she points at her friend. "Lan told me that one!"

"That's Lan's problem," Lum's eyes roll. "When did whatever she
felt bother you?"

"It never has," Benten shakes her head. "But I know that you
still care for some of those people down there."

"I know," the Oni sighs. "But if we told them 'oh, by the way,
Lum nearly got shot to pieces and Ataru was kidnapped,' what would've
happened? Everything Darling's done for the past five months would've
been wrecked!"

"If you had told them the story, they might've accepted that,"
Nassur warns.

"Nassur, leopards don't change their spots overnight," Lum notes.

"Ataru did."

"True, but he had help," the Oni amends.

"So did everyone in Tomobiki," the Vosian smiles. "Ataru helped
them, remember? I think a little of Ataru's mistrust of them is rubbing
off on you."

"Possibly," Lum sighs. "Then again, I don't think Darling'll be
in a good mood when he comes back. The thought of all those people on
Hustaros dying while they were stuck on Nekotengu Four is getting to
him."

"At least he has you and Dakejinzou," Benten notes, rising to
order a new salad.

"True," Lum sighs.

Conversation picks up as recent events are discussed. Lum relaxes
as she watches Benten return to the table, a salad bowl in hand. The
Oni blinks as the Fukunokami picks up a shaker, sprinkling soap
flakes...

Soap flakes?

Lum stares. Fukunokami and Vosians were genetically related
thanks to migration during Lecasur's age. But Fukunokami couldn't
intake soap flakes. Had she acquired a taste for it, living with
Vosians? Did she realize what she was putting on there? What was going
on?

The Oni's foot touches the Fukunokami's boot. A psi-probe plunges
into Benten's nervous system, darting instantaneously up the leg to the
brain. Odd. A subliminal message had told Benten's digestive centre
that soap flakes were needed. Why?

The psi probe plunges down the spinal column, tracking the flow of
digestive enzymes out of the small intestine. Blood flow seemed to be
delivering those specific enzymes to her lower abdomen...to her
reproductive organs...?

Reproductive organs?!

Lum jolts as her boot pulls away. The Oni is speechless as her
friend munches on her salad, listening to Catty and Noa. Totally
unaware of what was happening in her own body. The final step in the
fulfilment of Benten's dream had been taken! Would she be surprised.

Lum sighs as her inner senses bask in the *te'a's* light.
Creation had occurred. New life was dawning. The cycle was beginning.
As her personal guards lessen in power, more of the *te'a's* energy
flows into Lum's body, her *mei'na* strengthening with that cosmic
boost. Her inner senses then present a different picture of what lay
around her.

Instead of the physical forms which her visual sight perceived,
each of the entities around here were hominoid shapes of energy. Noa
and Catty were shielded, veiled. Strands of energy connected Lum to
Noa, Lum to Ataru billions of kilometres away, Lum to Nassur (although
that was minor compared to her Sagussan bondings), Benten to Nassur,
Hazel to both her guardians, even Catty to Lufy aboard the "Hasei'cha"
in the near distance.

Nassur, Benten and Hazel were unshielded. Their *mei'na* was
different. Not fully in sync with the *te'a.* Understandable. Each
perceived Existence in her own way. Sagussans were better tuned to the
*te'a's* infinite power; after all, they could see It as clearly as they
could see a tree, a sandpanther, even the windswept sands which covered
Sagussa.

Lum blinks as energy coalesces around Benten, gently flowing into
her like running water. Why was Benten in need of energy...? *Of
course!!* the Oni chastises herself. Benten was now in the task of
bringing new life into the mortal plain of existence.

The Oni jolts as Noa's thoughts drift into her. You sense it
too, don't you?

Noa-chan...! Lum blinks, trying to prevent herself from
crying. Benten's...

We know, her bond-mate assures her...

* * *

Sometime later, Lum and Noa relax in the "Hasei'cha's" meditation
room, overlooking the warpsloop's engine assembly. Here, in the privacy
of pastoral scenes from a Sagussa long dead and dust, the ship's crew
and visitors can come to rest, meditate on whatever topic which may be
plaguing them. Staring at the beautiful glass mural of Lyna's Ascension
over their heads, Lum relaxes in her bond-mate's lap. "Noa...what did I
see?"

"You tell me," Noa smiles.

"The *te'a's* energy flowed into Benten."

"You know why," the *ashi'cha* muses.

"She's pregnant," Lum sighs, then turns to Noa. "Is that the way
with everyone?"

Noa nods. "When a person is born in this plane, the *te'a*
bestows on her the necessary energy to be one with the mortal plane.
When it comes time to die, her energy returns to the *te'a.*
Equilibrium is maintained."

"But, more people are being born every day!" Lum sits up, staring
at her bond-mate. "Noa, the *te'a's* gonna be sucked dry...!!"

"Is it?"

Lum stops. "I...no."

Noa nods. "Why?"

"I...I don't know."

"Try harder."

Lum sighs. "Wait," she holds up a hand. "The energy which passes
from the *te'a,* that goes back when we die."

"Yes."

"But...there has to be a limit!" Lum exclaims. "Even that energy
must have a place where it says 'enough!!'"

"Does it?"

Lum shakes her head. "I don't know," she stares pleadingly at
Noa.

In answer, Noa shakes her head. "You don't know, either," the Oni
gasps.

"That's right," Noa nods. "NONE of us knows the truth. Why do
you think we call That which we sense '*te'a?!*'"

Lum blinks, translating the term. "'That Which Is...ABOVE mortal
understanding,'" she exclaims, eyes widening in understanding.

"That's right," Noa smiles. "Our people are a rationally-based
race, Lum-chan. Even the Fourth Republic was like that long before
Gisan'cha. We like things in countable lots. Yet, we have this sense
of Something which can't be counted, which can't be managed. And that
Something is with us from the day we draw first breath to the day of our
last."

"But...how do you stand not knowing?!!"

"You do it. Many of the old Republic tried to understand what the
*te'a* was. They failed. Even those who created things like the
*haijo-ju* didn't understand what That was! They couldn't; how could
you understand Infinity?! It's THERE, Lum! We can't do anything about
it, so you have two choices! You either accept the *te'a*...or run
away."

The Oni looks down. "I guess I can't undergo the Awakening
now..."

"Did I say that?" the Sagussan wonders.

Lum blinks. "You mean...?!"

Noa nods. "What you do with the *te'a* is your business, Lum.
Not mine, not Ataru's, not anyone else's. YOUR business, Lum. How you
perceive, how you accept or reject It, is your decision. And that is
something NO ONE can take away from you. If he does, however improbable
that may be...then you'll never be at peace with yourself or those you
love."

Lum smiles, tears trickling down her cheeks. It was very simple.
The *te'a* was there. What It did was none of Lum's concern. Lum was
mortal. Lum was born of the *te'a*. Lum would return to the *te'a*
when she died. Everyone was like that. That was Life. Everyone around
her was mortal. Everyone would return to the *te'a*. How she returned,
when she returned, where she returned...all that was inconsequential.
That was Fate. What mattered, the Sagussans knew, was how one lived
when within the parameters of the mortal plain. Eternity was always
looking over your shoulder. Accept that fact and go on.

Perhaps that concept, in millennia past, was what led to
Gisan'cha, the Clone Rights War. People could not accept the *te'a.*
Perhaps they feared it, dreading the presence of Eternity. They wanted
to flee it, prolong their stay in this realm, stay away from the Fate
which awaited all. And they paid for that fear. Five centuries. Ten
billion lives. A scorched world.

"I have to be there."

"Where?" Noa wonders.

"Darling!" the Oni pales. "He won't understand!! Oh, he's going
back to Hustaros with all those people dying...!"

"He can't see, yet," Noa assures her. "Besides, if you're that
close, you'll see it. Do you really think you're ready for that?!"

Lum stops, blinking. The Awakening didn't bestow her a shield
against the entropic nature of the *te'a.* Going to Hustaros could
swamp her unless she blinded herself to the *te'a's* presence. Would
that do her any good? For Ataru, especially since he would be soon
undergoing the same trial? "No," she shakes her head. "Can't blind
myself when I just learned how to really see, can't I?!"

Noa beams as they embrace...

* * *

"Are we in time...?" Ataru gulps.

Twelve days after departing Nekotengu Four, the "Goddess of Luck"
slides into orbit over Hustaros. Space seems unnaturally quiet as he
and Dakejinzou stand on the frigate's bridge. "I don't know," the
hunter sighs.

"*Dakejinzou-san,*" the computer warns. "*Planetary life-scan is
complete.*"

"Report."

"*Number of surviving Hustari: 22,671.*"

Horror crosses their faces. "That's not enough for a small
city!!!" Ataru exclaims.

"Population prior to departure for Nekotengu Four?" Dakejinzou
shudders.

"*Number of Hustari at time of departure: 6,641,628,306,*" the
computer announces.

Silence falls over the frigate's bridge. Ataru's body shakes,
disbelief and horror etched on his face. Dakejinzou remains still, her
teary eyes betraying her. "Dead," he gasps. "The whole
race...dead...!"

Sobs shake him as Dakejinzou rises, embracing him. "Dead..." he
moans, shaking his head. "They all died...!"

"No, no, Ataru-chan...it's okay," she soothes. "There still are
survivors! And that number doesn't count the colonies the Hustari have,
not to mention those abroad."

"How...how can you be so upbeat about this...?!" he hoarsely
demands.

"Simple," she lightly smiles. "I'm a race of *one,* remember?"

He blinks, then numbly nods...

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

Six billion dead.

Ataru and Dakejinzou stand on the landing pad overlooking the
capital. A pall hangs over the scene, smoke from hundreds, thousands of
funeral pyres. To prevent contamination, the survivors were forced to
resort to a simplistic form of cremation to destroy the virus which had
slaughtered so many.

Six billion dead.

Not as many as the Clone Rights War. But the time scale was
hideously different. Sagussa's apocalypse was spread over five
centuries. Hustaros' took a little over three weeks. Ataru winces as
the statistics flash through his mind again and again. Twenty-two
thousand survivors. Out of over six billion when he and Dakejinzou left
weeks before.

Six billion dead.

Ataru feels tears flow down his face as the sheer horror of it all
relentlessly slams into him. He jolts on feeling Dakejinzou's arm. She
nods to the cargo bays. Numbly nodding, he proceeds to help her unload.

In a short while, the cargo bays are emptied. Their cargo had
been bushels of a wheat-like grain native to the northern mountains of
Nekotengu Four. Given the rarefied air and a fresh supply of melting
snow, it created a beautiful bloom. The herb needed to counter the
kokushibyou was ground from the flower. "Do you think the survivors
will come to use these things?" he muses.

"They will," she grimly sighs. "I'll leave them a note telling
them what happened. Suki would want to know what happened to Seisuru.
They should understand."

"I hope so," he sighs.

"What is it, Ataru-chan?"

"Why...?!" he shakes his head. "Why me?! Why did they think I
could help them?!"

She pauses to consider her answer. "When you're drowning...does
it matter whose hand you grasp? Besides, few people understand the
truth of the Gatherer, of Sagussa. You're still trying to understand.
All Suki's people know was that five centuries ago, a great ship saved
their race from extinction. When people become desperate, they grasp at
whatever straws within their reach."

Both tense as a small party steps onto the landing pad. A haggard
Suki leads them. "You're back!" zh'e smiles. "What took you so long?!
Where's Seisuru?!"

Dakejinzou smiles, explaining what happened as the Hustari's
companions scan the flowers. Finally, one stares at zh'er. "Serray
Suki, these are the flowers we need!" he smiles, then frowns, "But..."

"But what?!" zh'e blinks.

"If these readings are right," he shakes his head, "...they match
a flower growing in the mountains of the north continent!"

"WHAT?!?!?!" Suki exclaims.

Ataru feels hysterical laughter bubbling up from his lungs.
"Don't you get it?!" he exclaims, shaking his head. "The damn herb you
wanted was here all along!! You didn't have to come to Earth to get
me!!"

The Hustari blink, not believing that the solution of their
problem was within their grasp all along. Ataru sinks to the ground,
his body quaking with enraged laughter. "I can't believe you people!!!"
he snickers. "You went to all that trouble, tried to find the
Gatherer...and all along, the cure was right under your noses!!! C'mon,
Dake-chan," he waves to the synthezoid. "Let's get the hell out of here
before I get mad!!"

They board the "Goddess," ignoring the shocked stares from Suki's
party...

* * *

Later, the frigate clears Hustaros, bound for Earth. On the
bridge, Ataru sits beside Dakejinzou, his head buried in his hands. "I
can't believe I did that," he shakes his head.

"You have to admit, the situation was pretty ridiculous," she
muses, rubbing his shoulders. "All the trouble they went through...all
the trouble they put us through...and the answer was right at their
fingertips."

"How stupid...!" he sighs. "Arrogant! They believed a legend
would save them! They believed that legend was the only thing that
COULD save them!! And because of that...!"

His voice fades as tears flow, the horror of what happened
revisiting him. Dakejinzou kneels beside him, offering the warmth of
her embrace. Unseen by either, a mysterious craft falls in behind the
"Goddess of Luck"...

* * *

"Darling should be leaving Hustaros," Lum relaxes in her bedroom.
"Maybe I should try to talk to him over the Dreamscape..."

Her space videophone rings. Surprised, the Oni sits up, activates
the scrambler, then picks up the phone. "Darling?!"

"Hi," his haggard image appears.

"You don't look so good."

"Try twenty-two thousand survivors out of six billion, Lum-chan."

The Oni jolts. "That's all that's left?" she gasps, covering her
mouth in horror.

"That's all that's left," he nods. "Want to know the worst
part?!"

"What?!"

He tells her. "You mean to tell me that they had the damn herb
all along?!!" she exclaims, bolting to her feet.

"Yeah," he nods. "I've heard of arrogant supposition, but THIS is
ridiculous!!"

Lum sinks to the bed. "I can't believe them! They kidnap you,
nearly kill me, put you and Dakejinzou through hell...and the cure was
right there?!! How dare they?!!"

"Lum-chan, let's not talk about that," he sighs. "All I care
about is getting home and sleeping for a week...preferably with you in
my arms," a twinkle flashes in his eyes.

"I love you, too, Darling," she meows. "Save that gorgeous body
for when you get back! I'm going all out on you this time!!"

"You calm down!" he waves her down. "But make sure that you have
that teddy I got for you when I get there...and **nothing else!!**"

"You bet!" she sighs. "I love you."

"I love you, sweetie...wait for me."

"Always," she kisses him.

The connection is cut. Lum sighs, placing the phone down. A
chill feeling them rushes through her body. "Why do I have this
horrible feeling something's about to happen?"

* * *

"Where am I...?"

Dakejinzou's hands are in manacles over her head. Looking down,
she sees her unclothed body hanging several metres above a deck.
Shaking her head, she looks around. Last thing she remembered was a
general power outage in the "Goddess of Luck's" impulse drive. She was
about to check on it when she felt someone tap the back of her
head...then she woke up here, wherever here was.

She is surrounded by an array of sensors. From one unit, a metal
arm extends a needle towards her. The needle jabs into her side,
extracting some of her blood. Once done, the needle is withdrawn to a
nearby work bubble. Staring at it, Dakejinzou then notices Ninko
diligently working at his master computer. "Hey!!!" she snaps. "Who
are you?!!"

The scientist jerks, his glasses flashing with confusion and
irritation. "Do you mind, Shogai-san?!! I've work to do!!!"

"Idiot, what are you doing with me?!! Where's Ataru-chan?!!
What's the meaning of this?!! This is kidnapping, you know!!!"

He sighs. "I never knew you were so uppity about these things!"
he mutters.

"Synthezoid I may be, buster, but **I** control my life!!!" she
growls, the threat in her voice all too apparent. "You got that?!!"

"Oh, very well then," he sighs. "If you must know, I'm trying to
give you children!"

Her anger instantly melts, shock replacing it. "You're...what?!"

"Do you think I was going to dissect you to discover what makes
you tick, Shogai-san?!" he smiles. "Don't be ridiculous! Why would I
ruin such a work of art as yourself?!"

"I don't know. You tell me."

"Permit me to explain," he presses a control, lowering Dakejinzou
to the deck. Ninko's work bubble descends as the hunter's manacles are
released. He steps out of his work bubble, ignoring the cyberlinks
which fly out of the computer, cascading in a mess around his face and
hands. "You might say that I'm the first person to discover the
unbelievable truth of your being, Shogai-san."

"And?" she rubs her arms.

"Tell me," he crosses his arms. "Do you remember chasing a group
of bandits on Fukunokami about thirty years ago?"

"Yes."

"Do you remember being shot up?!"

"Yes," she nods. "What of it?!"

"Well, with all that blood you lost, you should've died," he
chuckles. "However, you survived. Even in the Confederation in the
early stages of the Civil War, your reputation had spread, Shogai-san,
including tales of your invincibility. That intrigued a group of
scientists such as myself, then working for the Rebel Alliance. One of
my people took samples of your blood and brought it to me."

"What?!!" she exclaims. "If you knew what I was then, why didn't
you tell me?!!"

"Please. I was involved in serious war work at that time, Shogai-
san! Anyhow, it took me twenty years, but I managed to at last clone
ten bodies I created from your blood!"

Dakejinzou pales. "You mean...you made...others like me?!"

"Yes," he sadly nods. "But the Mikado got wind of it. Even then,
before you formed your partnership with Nassur, he was afraid of you.
The greatest student Varanko has taught to date. Slayer of two dozen of
Osur's and Furusur's best hunters. Suddenly confronting the possibility
of facing an army of Dakejinzou Shogais, he had my base on Colony 90
destroyed." A forlorn sigh escapes his lips. "All the prototypes were
lost."

Dakejinzou blinks as that information sinks in. "Colony Ninety,"
she blinks. "You're Ninko, aren't you?"

"At your service," he inclines his head.

She takes a moment to absorb that. "So why am I here now?! Still
trying to create warriors for the rebel forces?!"

"Oh, no," he shakes his head. "You see, it took me twenty years
to try to comprehend the complex DNA and RNA patterns in your system.
You not only have DNA and RNA which give you your particular features
and abilities, but you also have what you call a 'ghost' DNA/RNA strand
which acts as a base point for your very existence."

"What?!!" she blinks. "You mean to say I was...different?!
Before I became this?!"

"Exactly," he nods.

Ignoring her nudity, the hunter walks over to the work pod,
sitting. "Well, that's interesting. But you still haven't told me why
I've been brought here now."

"Easy enough," he relaxes beside her. "You see, I've never been
much interested in the politics of the Civil War. When I first learned
of you, I asked 'Who in Pizalna-sama's name could've made someone like
that?!' So since there were no others like you, I felt you were a lost
treasure of the race which constructed you. To that end, I decided...to
duplicate what had been done. My work for the rebel forces was just the
chance to do that."

"But...they were destroyed."

"Yes, lost," he shudders. "All of them!! However, I was able to
save my notes on your DNA and RNA structures, both the 'ghost' strands
and your regular chromosome makeup; your templated strands, if you
will." He stares at her. "From that point, I tried to birth other
synthezoids from scratch. They...haven't turned out as I hoped."

"How many did you create?" she wonders.

"Twenty-two," he sighs.

Dakejinzou blinks, then looks away. "I'm not alone, now. May I
see them?!"

"If you want," he sighs. "But don't be surprised at their mental
state."

After allowing her the chance to dress, Ninko leads Dakejinzou
along a moving hallway to a chamber. "Where are we?" she wonders.

"Not too far from Hustaros," he hums. "We intercepted you just as
you and your friend were about to enter warp for Earth."

"Ataru-chan's okay?!" she blinks.

"My daughter Virna is looking after him."

"How did you know I was on Hustaros?"

"A friend of yours has kept track of you over the years for me.
Tabitha Lee."

Dakejinzou jolts. "Tabitha?!! I thought she managed to return to
Earth!!"

"Well, she wanted to," he chuckles. "But she met a *Dowe'on* and
they fell in love."

"Oh," she breathes, then jolts. "Wait a minute!!! Did Tabitha
break into my computer files before Ataru-chan was kidnapped?!!"

"Yes."

"Why?!!"

"Because the Hustari needed to know who the Chosen One of the
Eternal Voyager was to save them from the kokushibyou, Shogai-san," he
crosses his arms. "At the same time, friends of mine in the rebel
intelligence forces told me that the Mikado was taking a...**more** than
passing interest in you."

"That idiot wants me?! What for?!"

"He knows what you are, Shogai-san," he chuckles. "He hopes to
kidnap and reprogram you in an attempt to kill your friend Nassur."

She laughs. "That asshole!! I've killed every hunter he's sent
after me!! Does the Mikado actually think he could twist my mind
against those I care for?!!"

"It's impossible!!" he snorts. "I've had a group of high-ranking
Aimaiyite *ehn* priests and Toukonokouen *ibqu'b* grand magi look you
over for the past two days!! Even stunned unconscious, your mind's
integrity is as solid as pure neutronium!! The Mikado could *never*
hope to control you!!"

"That's good!" she grimly nods. "No one plays with my mind!!"

They arrive at the end of the hallway. On the arch over the
hatchway before them is emblazoned ABANDON ALL HOPE, ALL YE WHO ENTER
HERE. Ninko programs a security code. "Physically, they're as perfect
as you," he sighs as the door opens, "...but mentally, they leave much
to be desired."

Dakejinzou's night vision comes on line. In the darkened chamber,
the size of the average domestic home, reclining on simple diagnostic
beds, are sixteen boys and six girls. All Umanoshippo, with tapered
elf-like ears and bushy tails as long as their legs. The men are draped
in sleeveless T-shirts and shorts, the women in halter tops and skirts.
All are in late teenage years. Their eyes are open, staring blankly
into space. The noise of entry does not disturb them. Dakejinzou is
stunned to see the variations Ninko was able to produce just using
computer data. "Bensaiten's Grave...!!" she gasps.

"Wonderful, isn't it?! From the same base DNA strand, we get such
variety!!"

Dakejinzou steps into the midst of her countrywomen, drinking in
additional detail. Hair colour ranges from blonde to bright orange,
red, chestnut, brown, black...even blue, purple and green! Eyes have
the same range of colour, even a couple odd-eyed people! No visible
body fat. Some of the males are lanky, track-runner types. Others are
muscular, body-builder types. The females are a wide variety of shapes:
slim and petite; shapely; even one who is quite well endowed. As she
stares at each of them, Dakejinzou quickly notices their lack of
attention. "They're so...dead!"

"Sadly," he nods. "I was able to build perfect bodies...but for
their minds, I missed out on something! I don't understand what!!"

She stares at him. "So you decided to go back to first base," she
concludes. "Me."

"Exactly," he nods. "After all this, I still have trisilicon
hydroxide left. Enough for two. **This** time, it's my intention to
construct those new synthezoids based on your blood. They'll literally
be your children."

Dakejinzou stares at the woman before her. Purple haired and
eyes, the only well-endowed of the sextet of female synthezoids, she
blankly gazes at Dakejinzou. The hunter leans over, smoothing the hair
of her countrywoman, smiling. "These are all my kin," she announces,
then turns back to Ninko. "Alright, then. What do you want me to do?"

"You've already done it," he announces. "The blood, I mean.
Leave the rest to me."

She nods...

* * *

Sometime later, Dakejinzou walks up to a door, delivering a knock.
"Just a minute, please," a female voice hails from inside.

The door opens, revealing an *azhis'f* girl of sixteen. Her
turquoise eyes widen on recognizing her visitor. "Shogai-san!!" she
gasps. "*Hisri'hilm!* Come in, come in!!"

They walk into the room. "Where's Ataru-chan?" Dakejinzou looks
around.

"Right here," Ataru's voice echoes from the bathroom. The two see
him step out of the shower, a towel wrapped around him. Seeing his
friend, he embraces her. "Vi-chan's told me about what her father wants
to do, Dake-chan," Ataru smiles. "Any hope for success?"

"There's always hope, Ataru-chan," Dakejinzou sighs, then turns to
Virna. "Thanks for keeping an eye on him, Virna-san."

"It's okay, ma'am. Sempai's so nice!"

She departs. Ataru and Dakejinzou sigh, then relax on the bed.
"Did Ninko tell you how long this will take?" he wonders.

"About a week at the most," she muses.

"I'd better call Lum and tell here where I am, just in case," he
moans.

"Something wrong?" she wonders.

"Yeah," he nods. "It's Virna."

"What of her?"

"You think she's one of the synthezoids Ninko created on Colony
Ninety?!"

Dakejinzou faints! "What in Bensaiten's name made you say
that?!!"

"The fact that she's a very beautiful sixteen year old...who
believes she's a lesbian, by the way," Ataru sighs, "and I don't react
one bit to her presence."

Dakejinzou blinks. "Maybe you're more in control of yourself than
you believe, Ataru-chan. Besides, for the past four weeks, save for
Lumuneko and her friends plus Seisuru, you've been with no one else
other than me."

"Well, I'm not interested in going after other girls," he readily
nods, "but at the same time, I'm asking myself why I'm not reacting to
her. Then I heard what her dad was doing and...well..."

"Interesting. Even if she is or isn't, that doesn't matter.
Virna has her own life to worry about. Besides," she slaps his thigh,
"...I'm going to do some work on the 'Goddess.' Want to call Lum?!"

"Might as well," he yawns...

* * *

"Where is he?!!" Lum paces her bedroom. "Darling should've been
back by now!!!"

Noa and Honey recline on the bed. "Lum, sit down and relax," the
former sighs. "You're making me dizzy with your pacing. If Ataru's in
trouble, he'll call us..."

And speak of the devil, the phone rings. Lum leaps over, picking
it up. Ataru appears on the screen. "Hey, there you are, sexy!!"

"Darling, where are you?!!" Lum demands.

"We got delayed...yet again!" his eyes roll. "Seems there's this
scientist who's been interested in Dake-chan for the longest time! Put
simply, we're having loads of **maternal** problems here!!"

Lum faints! "***WHAT?!?!?! YOU MADE DAKEJINZOU
PREGNANT?!?!?!***"

Ataru faints! "Dummy, don't you know by now that I'm not
attracted to her?!!" he demands, then coughs. "Anyhow, this guy...his
name's Ninko...he's been trying to create new synthezoids like Dake-
chan. You know...give her a family and all that! And now, she's
volunteered to help him!"

Lum sighs. "Oh, Lyna, it's one thing after the next on this trip,
isn't it?!"

"Yeah, yeah. Listen, do you want to come over here?! We're still
near Hustaros."

"We'll be right over!!!" she nods.

"Oh, by the way," he interrupts. "Bring those hunters who tried
to kill Pamanba and those two new ones! We'll need 'em!!"

Lum blinks...

* * *

A day later, the "Hasei'cha" and the "Kiboo'cha" pull alongside
Ninko's laboratory. In the main docking bay of the wedge-shaped craft,
beside the "Goddess of Luck," Tabitha waits. Beside her is a sultry
black-haired, green-eyed Ipraedies woman bearing the *Dowe'on* raven
tattoos. Both are dressed in form fitting leather pants, tank-top
shirts and studded leather jackets. As a transporter brings into
existence Lum, Noa, Lufy and Catty, the Terran walks up. "Hello, Lum,"
she has her hand out. "It's nice to meet you. I'm the professor's
assistant, Tabitha Lee."

Lum blinks. "You're from Earth!!"

"That's right," she nods. "We have a mutual friend: Koosei
Ryooki."

"What a surprise this is!" she blushes. "I assume you were taken
by the Ipraedies."

"Yeah," she nods. "But unlike him, I got away early with the help
of my partner here," she indicates the Ipraedies.

She bows. "My name's Kumiaika, Lum-san," she shakes the Oni's
hands. "The *ehn's* blessings on you. I assume your friends are
several of the Maidens of the Soultaker."

Lum introduces her bond-mate and friends. "Since you're here, can
you bring in those Vosians Ataru promised?" Tabitha wonders.

"Sure," Lum taps her wrist communicator. "Lum to 'Hasei'cha.'
Beam them over."

"They're on their way," Spea reports.

A transport beam brings in Fanba, Shanba, Hinanba and the other
hunters from Bujosur's strike team. Guarding them are Priss and Makoto,
weapons out and ready. Looking around, the women turn to Lum. "So why
are we here?" Kanba demands, walking up to the Oni.

"You're here to help Darling," Lum sighs. "As for what, you have
to ask him."

"This way, please," Tabitha gestures.

The group proceeds off the hangar deck onto a walkway. Moments
later, they arrive at the chamber holding Ninko's other creations.
"He's in there," Kumiaika points.

Lum opens the door. Ataru's voice echoes from inside. "No,
no...not that way!"

She flies in, stopping to see the purple-haired girl who had
attracted Dakejinzou's attention embracing one of the males, a raven-
haired muscular lad with brown eyes. The other synthezoids sit around
Ataru as he guides the two. Everyone blinks as Lum flies up to him.
"Darling, what are you doing?!!"

Jolting in surprise, Ataru spins around to fiercely embrace the
Oni. "Lum, baby, c'mere!!!" he growls, overwhelming her with a kiss.
"Sweetie, I missed you!!!"

The hapless (?) Lum is understandably overcome by his greeting.
"N-nice to s-see you t-too, Darling..." she deliriously gasps.

"Get the guest bedroom ready," Lufy hums.

Catty snickers. Seeing this, the raven-haired Umanoshippo turns
to his would-be mate. "Sweetie, I missed you!!!" he declares, then
devours her lips with a throaty kiss.

Everyone blinks as the two remain frozen. "Er...what's going on
here?!" Lum turns to Ataru. "What are these people?!"

"They're the synthezoids the professor made over the years from
readings he obtained from Dake-chan's DNA and RNA," Ataru smiles. "But
while they may be perfect in body, upstairs," he taps his forehead,
"they're as smart as Ten juiced on pickled plums."

"I remember!!" Hinanba snaps her fingers. "Ninko was a rebel
scientist trying to construct an army of super soldiers for the Rebel
Alliance Army! The Mikado had his operation shut down ten years ago!!"

"That's right," Ataru nods. "But while he may have destroyed the
prototypes, all the professor's notes and technical data was saved.
He's been using it ever since to try to recreate what he lost...and
they're all here," he waves around him. "Right now, he's got enough
trisilicon to make two more synthezoids...but this time, they'll be
directly based on Dake-chan's DNA and RNA."

"She'll finally be a mother," Lufy muses.

"The Mikado will try to stop him," Fanba warns. "You don't
understand. The Mikado may be afraid of people like Nassur, but he's
petrified of someone like Dakejinzou Shogai."

"That's right," Shanba nods. "Ever since the first time Shogai-
san killed one of Osur's hunters 40 years ago...someone with Nassur's
level of skill and training, one of his old classmates, I think...the
Mikado's pulled all the stops to either kill her or capture her for
study! If he finds out all of them exist," she indicates the other
synthezoids, "...this'll be the pretext for war!!"

"Good," Lufy smiles at Priss. "We can use the target practice!"

The Pathfinder laughs. "Besides, who's business is it of the
Mikado's to interfere in the affairs of another species?" Ataru wonders.
"Doesn't he have a version of the Non-Interference Directive he has to
obey?"

"Has he EVER?!?!" Hinanba hums. "If he did, none of us would've
come to Earth!!"

"My point exactly," Ataru smiles. "I'm going to tell Ninko to
head to Fukunokami. After all, Dake-chan hasn't seen her parents in a
while...and I'm sure they'll want to be the first to know about their
grandchildren. And if the Mikado butts in...well, it's HIS fault that
he provoked a war against a world of the Galactic Federation."

"And while he's busy defending his reputation," Lum adds,
"Dakejinzou-chan and all her friends will be safe."

"Right," Ataru drawls the word out.

"So why are we here?!" Fanba wonders.

"Well," he places a hand on her shoulder. "First, you can help
them," he indicates the synthezoids, "come to a better understanding of
what they are. Second, you," he taps her nose, smiling, "can call His
Buffoonishness and tell him about Ninko's plans."

Fanba blinks. "Will he believe me?"

"If you make yourself convincing enough," Lufy leans up to her,
all humour draining from her face. "And you BETTER be convincing!!"

Fanba shudders, quickly conceiving the "or else." "N-n-no
problem," she stammers.

"What about the rest of us?" Kanba muses.

"As for the rest of you," he smiles, waving to the other
synthezoids. "As they say in stepdancing, pick your partner."

"Darling, wait," Lum cuts in. "They can't do a thing while
they're like this."

"What can you do?" Kanba wonders.

Lum turns to Noa. "I think we can do something," she smiles.

"Definitely," the *ashi'cha* muses.

"What?!" Hinanba demands.

The Sagussans form a circle around Lum. "Oh, I get it now," Ataru
muses, then stares at the Vosians. "Bring everyone close in."

Confused, they shift the synthezoids into a tight circle around
the Sagussans. Ataru gestures the Vosians, Tabitha and Kumiaika away
from the circle. "Ready?" Lum wonders.

"Ready," Noa nods.

Fingertips touch. Eyes close as they forge a general mind-meld,
then reach out into the *te'a.* Ataru's left eye glows as he watches
his girlfriend and her companions draw in energy from the cosmic force
which inhabits all living things. With That Power behind them, their
minds reach out, touching the unmoulded minds around them. The
synthezoids jerk as that cosmic force inundates them.

Hinanba's eyes glow. "Wow!!" she gasps.

Obviously Vosians were more in tune with the *te'a* than Lum
thought.

After what seems an eternity, the circle parts into its segments.
The synthezoids blink, staring confusedly at each other, then at those
whose minds touched theirs. "There," Lum smiles. "Now, they can be
taught."

With that, the hunters come forth to take charge of Ninko's
creations. Lum watches them, a light smile tugging at her lips. "The
*te'a* gives," she muses...then her smile fades. "And soon, it will
take away."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

Several days pass. As the small convoy of mobile science station
and two warpsloops makes its way toward the Fukunokami Union, Ninko
continues work on his latest creations. Dakejinzou remains with him,
overseeing the design and construction of her children.

It is quickly decided that both would be female, to bear the names
Koiko and Aiko. When asked, Dakejinzou explained she always knew that
among her people, females came first. And given the potential pairing
of male synthezoids with female synthezoids and Vosian hunters, two
males were left unbonded.

In the meantime, the synthezoids display a stunning ability to
adapt and learn from their volunteer teachers. Given the males'
combined carbon-silicon nature, recognition was impossible by any of the
hunters. Dakejinzou later notes that another feeling she believes was
native to her race was a distinct aversion to ANY form of permanent
bonding. "Your people're more omni than Seisuru!!" Ataru exclaimed on
hearing that.

Fanba, technically a "prisoner" of the Galactic Federation for
venturing to a world under the Federation's purview to commit acts of
terrorism, managed to "escape" her captors. Barely able to signal Vos
before she was "recaptured," she frantically informed the Mikado's
government of Ninko's experiments. With that tidbit now in the open,
all the Sagussans had to do was wait.

* * *

As the morning shift dawns, Ataru and Lum share a bed. However,
something strange has happened: a bandage has appeared on his arm.
Both gaze at it. "Are you sure you don't know who did that to you,
Darling?" she wonders.

"I'm positive. All the kids're in their room and I don't think
anyone's been around!"

Pulling off the bandage, he notices a red mark. "Someone's taken
a sample of my blood!"

"B-but...why?!" she stammers.

Before they could answer, the ecstatic shout of "EUREKA!!!!!!"
echoes! Bolting out of bed, the couple run to the door. Staring
outside, they see Ninko charge to his lab, draped in his housecoat. "I
DID IT, I DID IT, I DID IT, I DID IT!!!!!!" the scientist yips.

"*Tcha!* What's going on?!" Lum wonders.

"Let's go see!" Ataru urges.

Both race to the laboratory. Already present are Dakejinzou,
Tabitha, Kumiaika, Catty and Pony. Josha had departed sometime before
with Virna for Reiner's Five. Ninko works passionately at his board.
Before them are two man-sized cylindrical chambers, dark metal barely
containing violent energy inside. "What's going on?!" Lufy runs in.

"Quiet!!!" Ninko barks. "I must have quiet here!! This is
critical!!!"

He manipulates controls. Two small vials filled with Dakejinzou's
blood are inserted into receptacles over each chamber. Ninko slams a
sensory control. They are bombarded with brilliant energy, then the
blood drains into the chambers. The energy within the birthing chambers
glows bright white, making everyone turn away. "God said 'let there be
light!'" Tabitha gasps.

The glow fades. Pony and Catty scan the chambers. Everyone
blinks as their vision returns, then stare at the birthing chambers.
"What happened?!" Lum wonders.

"I...I don't know," Ninko blinks.

The doctors stare at their readings, then smiling, unlock the
chambers. "Simple," Catty sighs. "God said 'let there be light.'"

"And light, there was," Pony completes.

The chambers open. Dakejinzou leaps from the work bubble,
hesitantly approaching them, Silence falls over the scene as the new
mother approaches her children. "Something's moving..." Kumiaika gasps.

An arm rises. Dakejinzou halts, unsure if she should approach or
back away. Lufy marches up, shoving her to them. Dakejinzou reaches
over, gently grasping the hand. "Come on," she intones. "Don't be
afraid."

Rising from the chamber is a slim girl. Possessing shoulder
length brown hair framing a cherubic face which would outdo Lan, she
stares at her surroundings in confusion, brown eyes blinking. Her eyes
then fall on the one whose blood aided in her creation. Dakejinzou and
Catty help her to her feet. Lufy comes up with a housecoat. Everyone
else is awestruck. "Lyna's Soul," Lum gasps. "She's an angel..."

The younger synthezoid hesitantly steps out, then leans into her
mother, permitting Dakejinzou to embrace her. A smile crosses her face,
then she speaks. "Mother..."

There is not a dry eye in the house. "Dake-chan, she's divine!!"
Tabitha gasps.

"The *ehn* has truly blessed this day!" Kumiaika intones.

"I did it...I did it!" Ninko babbles.

"Darling, Dake-chan's a mother!!!" Lum leaps into Ataru's embrace.

"T-tell me s-something I d-don't know," he laughs as they kiss.

Silence falls as Dakejinzou faces her child. "Do you know who you
are?"

"Yes, Mother. I am Koiko Shogai."

Catty moves about the girl, administering the blessings of her own
faith. Meanwhile, Dakejinzou and Pony proceed to aid Aiko from her
birthing chamber. As people lay eyes on Koiko's sister, compliments
fly. "She's so beautiful!" Lum exclaims.

Aiko, like her sister, is brown haired and eyed. However, while
Koiko is the essence of "kawaii," Aiko is a statuesque beauty,
possessing a model's grace. Her hair is tapered, a roguish curl over
her forehead. As she becomes aware of her surroundings, she sinks into
Dakejinzou's embrace. "Mommy..."

Silence falls as Dakejinzou stares at her. "Do you know who you
are?"

"I'm Aiko Shogai," Aiko beams.

Catty approaches, Koiko beside her. They gaze upon the other.
"Aiko..." Koiko smiles.

"Koiko," Aiko smiles.

Their hands raise up, touching the other's face, then they sink
into an embrace. With that, everyone cheers...

* * *

After dressing them and subjecting them to a battery of
psychological tests, Ninko makes his report on Koiko and Aiko to
everyone else. "I'm more than pleased to report that Koiko and Aiko
have inherited their mother's vast intelligence...not to mention certain
other attributes which exist in the other synthezoids but seem to have
avoided their mother. Fortunately, they possess a pronounced sense of
self, something I was unable to produce in the others."

"But we eliminated that," Noa notes.

"True. I guess that's something my level of science may never
understand."

"Well, now that we have them, what do we do with them?!" Honey
wonders.

"What do you mean?" Ataru wonders.

"You remember everyone's warning," Honey objects. "Just because
we're about to give the Mikado a rough reception now doesn't mean that
someone might not try something later."

"Everyone takes chances," Lufy warns.

"True, but given Dakejinzou's choice of career, her chances may
not be pleasant," the physical education instructor warns.

"They can stay with my parents on Fukunokami," Dakejinzou shrugs.

"Dakejinzou, your parents are pushing three figures already," Lufy
turns to the hunter. "They aren't going to be long for this world, you
know. What happens then?"

"Home Base?" Lum proposes.

Dakejinzou shakes her head. "I don't want to impose myself on
Natsu-chan more than I have to. Besides, can his hybrids tolerate being
around people like Koiko and Aiko?"

"Much less those hunters?" Noa adds.

"I've an idea," Catty looks up.

"What is it, love?" Lufy stares at her.

"Well, it's obvious Dakejinzou needs a base of her own from which
to operate," the doctor smiles. "We owe her for keeping silent about
Ataru's connection to us over the years. So why don't we give her one?"

"We don't have any!" Lufy objects.

"Not a military-style base like Sen'sha Seven or the MOSS," Catty
shakes her head. "But what about the old observation units? We've got
a few of those hanging around."

"What's it like?" Dakejinzou wonders.

"Prior to Gisan'cha, they were used to observe primitive races
without resorting to the need of sending landing parties," Catty
explains. "They fell out of favour when people started to manipulate
other races' genes. Most of them are floating around Sen'sha Seven,
totally useless now."

"The 'Hasei'cha' could tow one out here," Priss turns to Lufy.

Everyone turns to Ataru. "How soon can you get one?" he stares at
Noa.

"Two days. But where would we put it?"

"Fukunotaiin," Dakejinzou sighs.

"Your moon?!" Honey hums. "It's a Class D hunk of rock no bigger
than Earth's moon!"

"That's right," Dakejinzou smiles. "Everyone would have to
approach via ship or by teleporter. Sagussan systems are advanced
enough to deflect teleport beams, which guarantees privacy and
security."

"The central computer could be made to answer just to you," Lufy
muses. "Atop that, weapons could be added to make it a fortress."

She considers the option, then Dakejinzou nods. "So," she stares
at Ataru, hand out. "Do you have a satellite you can spare me?"

Everyone laughs...

* * *

A day later, the convoy enters Fukunokami home space. A coded
message is sent to Bensaikyou, promising Dakejinzou's parents a surprise
as soon as Ninko's laboratory achieves orbit. For safety's sake, the
"Kiboo'cha," the less armed of the two Sagussan ships, is dispatched to
Sen'sha Seven to obtain an observation satellite. The "Hasei'cha" is
now at yellow alert.

In the observation gallery, Ataru and Lum watch the stars lazily
pass. "So Dake-chan becomes a mother," he sighs. "I bet she'll be a
good mother to those kids."

"She will be," she smiles, hugging his arm. "Fukunokami may be
strict parents, but they frown on child abuse just like everyone else.
Besides, once Hinanba and her friends accept working with Dakejinzou,
she'll be able to spare time for her children."

"A pity we can't discover some way to make them fully organic,
like the Umanoshippo *daishi'cha* on Sagussa."

"Maybe someday in the future," she sighs. "Or perhaps, Dake-chan
and her kids would want to remain synthezoids. Would she lose some of
her abilities if she became fully organic?"

"Her ability to absorb punishment," he muses. "Good point."

They gaze upon the other, then drift into a tender kiss. "What do
you want, Darling?" she smiles. "Boy or girl?"

He pales. "You're not...?!"

"Not yet. But that can change."

"True," he chuckles. "If it's a boy, I want his name to be
Kokeru, after Grandpa."

"And if she's a girl?"

"Koishii."

"'Koishii?!'"

"That's right," he winks. "After all, she'll be **our** Darling!"

Lum blinks, then laughs as she embraces him. Just as their lips
are about to make contact, the whole ship shakes from a violent
explosion!! "***WHAT THE HELL?!?!?!***" they exclaim, slamming to the
deck.

Lum recovers first, staring out the viewport to see multiple
blasts surrounding the science ship. There is no sign of the
"Hasei'cha." "What is it?!!" Ataru gets to his feet. "Who's out
there?!!"

"I think the Mikado's people're here!!"

Ataru blinks. "And he's attacking in Fukunokami home space?!!
Gods, this jerk's even crazier than **I** imagined!!!"

The door opens, revealing Tabitha. "Both of you, get moving!!"
she barks.

"What is it?!!" Ataru demands as they follow Ninko's assistant out
of the lounge.

"There's a Mikado Marines ship out there trying to board us!!"
Tabitha reports.

"In Fukunokami space?!!" Lum gasps as they follow her out. "He IS
desperate!!!"

They race to the bridge, several levels above Ninko's
laboratories. Staring out the viewport, Ataru notices a silver cigar-
shaped craft emblazoned with a black cygnet insignia looming in the near
distance. No sign of the "Hasei'cha." The professor himself faces a
crimson-haired woman on the main viewscreen, she dressed in a black
uniform similar to Nassur's blue outfit. "Who are you and what's the
meaning of this attack?!!" Ninko demands.

"Professor Ninko, I'm Colonel Nathanba of the Fifth Marines.
You've been identified as a traitor to the Mikado through your illegal
experiments in creating biogenetic warriors against the Mikado's
rightful rule!! Heave that scow to and prepare to be boarded!!!"

"Ridiculous!!" Ninko snarls. "I've no affiliation to the Rebel
Alliance Army or the Defence Forces...and that idiot you serve knows
that!!! Further, you're in the sovereign space of the Fukunokami
Union!! As far as I recall, that places me in the general purview of
the Holy Republic according to the applicable treaties!!! YOU'RE the
one who's in violation of a lot of things, Colonel!!! Go away and I
might not report this to the proper authorities!!!"

"Come now, Professor," she chortles. "Do you think we'd allow you
to get away with out searching your ship for contraband?!"

"Do you think I'd allow you to do that?!" he snarls. "We're in
free space and this is an act of open piracy!!"

"I don't think so," she throws her head back. "The Mikado has
given us orders to search and seize any Vosian ship inside or outside
the boundaries of the Confederation!"

"Then you, madame, are in contradiction of intergalactic law," he
accuses her. "I know what you're really after: the bioroids I've just
created!! And they're NOT yours!!"

"I wouldn't say that, my dear professor," she smiles. "They're
**not** recognized as sentient beings by the Science Council and since
the trisilicon was mined on Vos, that **makes** them the Mikado's
property!!"

Ataru's eyes roll. "Are these dorks for real?!" he turns to Lum.

"More than real," the Oni sighs.

"Ah!" Nathanba turns to face them. "I heard the apprentice of the
renegade Nassur was aboard!! There's a pretty price for your head, Lum!
You've got some things to answer for when we take you to Lecashuto!!"

"Who says I'm going to Lecashuto?!" Lum calmly crosses her arms.
"And who says you're going to make it back to Lecashuto, you goose-
stepping oaf?! Didn't that ass you serve realize that we *allowed*
Fanba to make that signal?! Nice way to totally destroy what little
respect he has left!"

"Well, what did you expect, Lum?!" Ataru gazes at her. "Dictators
are all alike, remember?! They're arrogant, swaggering, tin-plated
morons with delusions of grandeur!! Atop that, they're hopelessly
stupid!"

Nathanba shudders with barely contained rage. Dakejinzou steps
onto the bridge at that time. "What's your problem, Colonel?!" she
faces the Marine officer. "Why are you interfering with this ship's
voyage?!"

"Well, well, well," a smile cuts across Nathanba's face. "Another
one who has to answer for crimes against the Mikado!"

"Oh?!" Dakejinzou wonders. "What did I do to offend His
Oafishness THIS time?!!"

"Other than insulting him, you cheap excuse for an android, you
have to answer for the deaths of many hunters and Marines sent to
apprehend the renegade Nassur and other renegades!!" Nathanba growls.

"Oh, really?!" Dakejinzou blinks. "Well, I don't recall killing
His Buffoonishness' agents in Vosian space. As a matter of fact, I
don't seem to recall ever *visiting* Vosian space," she taps her lips in
thought. "The only time I've ever killed His Idiotness' agents was when
they purposefully infringed on the sovereign power of other planets!"

"So what?!!" Nathanba demands.

"By the way, Colonel...your jamming is the pits! I've already
sent messages to the Urusian and Fukunokami Defence Forces about your
*illegal* presence in Fukunokami home space. You've got ten minutes to
clear out of here or else YOU'LL be landshark bait!"

Nathanba sputters. "Good day, Colonel," Ninko reaches for the
cut-off switch. "I actually hope the Defence Forces blow you into atoms
before you get back to Vos!"

"Say hello to His Stupiditiness for me!!" Dakejinzou taunts,
waving.

The line is cut before Nathanba could reply. Everyone sighs.
"Did you actually send a signal to Daddy?!" Lum asks.

"Sure. I bounced it off the carrier wave of the Marines' ship in
piggy-back mode."

Everyone stares at the looming Mikado craft. "So where's Eluza?!"
Ataru scans around for the missing "Hasei'cha."

Lum concentrates. "They're cloaked. They don't want to move lest
Nathanba's sensors pick up the tachytron radiation which Sagussans ships
emit, even when cloaked."

"What do we do?" Ninko wonders. "I assume you gave them an under-
exaggeration."

"We've got 25 minutes before the cavalry comes," Dakejinzou turns
to Ataru. "Unless you want to go public about Sagussa now."

"Not yet," he sighs. "Still too many assholes in this galaxy to
contend with."

"And if any one of those Marines sees Lufy or Makoto, it won't
take the Mikado long to guess what's really going on," Lum advises. "He
may be nuts, but he's not stupid."

Ninko sighs, sitting in his command chair. "Again, again and
again, they always try to stop me!!!" he moans. "Why?!! What did I
ever do to deserve this?!!"

"Don't worry," Dakejinzou assures him. "I'm used to getting
people out of jams!"

A thoughtful look crossing his face, Ataru stares at the Mikado
ship. "Hey, Lum, what if we keep Colonel Red-britches' playmates busy
while everyone gets away with the goods?!" he stares at his girlfriend.

Lum turns, paling as the implication of Ataru's words hit. "You
mean?!"

"Yes," Ataru smiles as his left eye glows. "**I want to play.**"

* * *

Moments later, Nathanba calls back, demanding again that Ninko
haul his ship to for inspection. This time, she stipulates that the
Vos-Zephyrus Treaty does not protect him or his creations since Ninko is
a Vosian citizen. The professor, realizing the hopelessness of his
situation, gives in. However, by that time, a boarding crew from the
"Hasei'cha" have come aboard, dressed in civilians to disguise their
true nature. Lufy and Makoto wear bandages over their tattoos to mask
they were once *pirpirsiw'r.* With Hinanba's team of hunters armed and
ready for a hot reception, Dakejinzou, Ataru and Lum proceed to the
forward docking area.

The Marines' ship docks using an universal docking cradle. Once
the locks are secured, the hatch opens and a platoon of the brutish
warriors storms onto the deck. Leading them is a young woman with
captain's bars. Weapons instantly level on the three. "Hold it right
there, you!!" the captain barks. "I'm Captain Janba of the Fifth
Marines!! You're all prisoners of the Mikado! Turn your weapons over
to the sergeant, now!!"

Dakejinzou calmly removes her pistol belt, handing it to the
sergeant beside her. Another Marine slips a power dampener around Lum's
neck. "I recognize you two, but who's this third one?!" Janba nods at
Ataru.

His eye glows. "**Your death!**"

Ataru's fingers slam into Janba's throat, crushing her trachea.
Dakejinzou's foot trips the sergeant as her fist crushes his nose.
"**Lum, *mavan'shagh!!!***" Ataru barks.

Lum's psi-shields drop, exposing the *te'a's* radiance to every
Vosian around her. Howls of numbing pain echo as the Marines' tracking
powers overload. Fatal strokes setting in, they collapse as Ataru
completes his transformation, charging for the hatch. "**Get everyone
to the 'Hasei'cha!!**'" he barks. "**I'll take care of these
jerks!!!**"

Lufy and Makoto charge after Ataru. "Wait for us!!!" the former
yells.

"Lum!!" Eluza's voice echoes from nowhere. "Marines are boarding
near the chamber where Hinanba and her friends are!! Get over there to
help!!!"

"Right!!!" Lum yanks off the collar, flying out with Dakejinzou in
her wake.

On the Marines' ship, Ataru, Lufy and Makoto find themselves in a
sea of black-clad warriors. "A thousand to three," Lufy loads her Urban
Assault Cannon. "I can dig it!"

"**So can I!!!**" Ataru cracks his knuckles. "**LET'S
RUMBLE!!!!!!**"

Multiple explosions rock the ship!!

* * *

Shildy works on freeing the jammed door leading to the
synthezoids' chamber. The remainder of the "Hasei'cha's" boarding party
stand guard. "Can't you do anything to that thing?!" Spea demands.

"It's stuck!" the first officer grunts.

Mie cocks her photon shotgun, then takes aim. Shildy gets clear.
The weapon fires, disintegrating the door! "There, it's unstuck!!!" the
Gladiator pilot snarls.

Hinanba staggers out of the shadows, blackened with cordite.
"What do you guys use for door bells?! Atomic bombs?!!"

"Never mind!!" Shildy barks. "Let's go!! Patty, take them to the
beam-down point!!"

"Right," the engineer nods as the hunters and synthezoids follow.

"Incoming!!!" Amy warns.

Weapons chatter as a platoon of Marines waltz into the Sagussans'
reception party! The Vosians drunkenly dance as they are shot, the
surprise on their faces understandable since no one sensed what awaited
them. A second later, what few who are still alive are blasted down by
attackers hitting them from behind. "It's Lum!!!" Spea gasps.

She and Dakejinzou race over the bodies to join them. "Is
everyone okay?!" Lum asks.

"We got them out!" Shildy nods. "Where're Ataru, Lufy and
Makoto?!"

The group sees more explosions tear apart the Marines' ship.
"Need you ask?!"

An intercom signal sounds off. "Ninko to Dakejinzou Shogai," the
professor's voice echoes. "I'm on my way to your ship!"

"Understood, Professor!" she replies.

"I also set the auto-destruct sequence to destroy the ship in five
minutes!!"

"***YOU DID WHAT?!?!?!***"

"It's the only way that *yizpiz* will ever understand that I want
to be left alone, Shogai-san!" the professor explains. "The explosion
will destroy a whole regiment of his precious Marines...and that's one
less regiment for the rebels to contend with!!"

Dakejinzou blinks, then nods. "Okay!!"

Shildy taps her communicator. "Shildy to Eluza!! The professor's
ship is set to self-destruct! We've got to get off now!!!"

"Hang on a moment!" the shipmistress exclaims. "We still have to
recalibrate our transporters to get the synthezoids off!!"

"We don't HAVE a moment!!"

"*I do!*"

"Henry!!!" Lum screams out in relief. "Where have you been?!!"

"*Don't yell at me!*" the Gatherer's central computer sniffs. "*I
can't help it if no one bothers to tell me what's going on!!*"

"Never mind!!!" Lum gasps. "Get Dake-chan's children out of
here!!!"

"*Very well, then,*" Henry replies.

* * *

A very hectic moment later, the "Goddess of Luck" slips out of the
main hangar bay, falling away from the doomed laboratory ship. The
cloaked "Hasei'cha" follows. However, aboard the wrecked Marines' ship,
a wounded Nathanba struggles to open a communications channel to Vos.
"Home base," she spits up blood. "Mikado-sama...do you see me?!"

The screen activates, revealing the hazy image of a Vosian man.
"Yes, Colonel?" his voice crackles over the line. "Did you get hold of
those synthezoids and Shogai?!"

"N-negative. We were ambushed..." she coughs. "Shogai and
Lum...they tricked us..."

More explosions shake the battleship as the aft door to the bridge
explodes! Nathanba gasps as Lufy emerges from the smoke, a pistol drawn
and ready. "Uh-uh!!" the Sagussan cackles. "No calling Daddy!!"

Nathanba is stitched up as Ataru walks onto the bridge. "Henry,
where are you?"

"*Standing by,*" the Gatherer's computer reports. "*Thirty
seconds.*"

He looks around, then breathes in relief as Makoto arrives. "You
okay?!"

"That was fun!" the watchmistress wipes her cheek, absently
pulling off the bandage covering her tattoo. "How many did you get?!"

"Lost count at two hundred. Go, Henry!"

A transporter beam seizes them. Twenty seconds later, the main
drive of Ninko's laboratory detonates. The explosion rips apart the two
kilometre craft, pulverizing Nathanba's battleship along the way!!

Unseen by anyone, a ten kilometre long superdreadnought slips
away...

* * *

Vos.

The Mikado reclines in his chair, staring at the frozen image of
Ataru, Lufy and Makoto standing triumphantly on the bridge of Nathanba's
ship, quite calm and collected after slaughtering a regiment of well-
trained soldiers. His eyes remain fixed on one point: Makoto's tattoo.
But his thoughts are affixed on the man beside the *pirpirsiw'r.*

The dictator had heard of Lum's Darling. Intelligence's files
were well-maintained. His antics prior to his torture on Icarus. The
torture and the bombshell effect that had on his life. The slaughter of
child-slavers on Noukiios. His willingness to sacrifice his
relationship with Lum to keep his planet safe. His grandmother's
connections to Zephyrus and how she used that to bring the Federation to
heel. His sister and her friends, believed to have slaughtered a
company of Mikado Marines on Sakusei Station sometime ago. His
participation in the destruction of Phentax Twelve, the liberation of
the Avalonians.

Yet until now, the Mikado had no real interest in Ataru Moroboshi,
no plans to include him in Project: Twinkiller. According to reports
from Abraham Shapiro and Thanba, Ataru did not take well to Nassur when
the renegade first visited Earth. Understandable: the existence of
Nassur's hybrid apprentice Hazel indirectly resulted in Ataru's torture
on Icarus. Besides, Ataru trusted Dakejinzou more; she helped him in
saving his child. Since that time, Ataru had always kept contact with
the renegade to a minimum, only receiving him whenever Nassur wanted to
visit his former student Lum.

Until now...

The Mikado stares at the evidence. Few would draw the conclusions
he had just made. Yet, there was Ataru, standing on the bridge of
Nathanba's ship, with two *pirpirsiw'r!* That dread cult of Yehisrite
Amazons had died out ages ago. Most normal people would conclude that
the Most Dangerous Ones wanted outsiders to believe that. The Mikado
knew differently...for he knew that not all the *pirpirsiw'r* had died.
Many of them had been taken by a ship whose existence had baffled
everyone for ages. The Eternal Voyager.

Ataru was the Chosen One.

Standing, the dictator shuts off the monitor. There was work to
be done...

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

Fukunotaiin, two days later.

Sitting in a crater facing its mother planet, Dakejinzou Shogai's
new base glows in spotlights. The observation satellite, a crucifix-
shaped craft two kilometres long by one wide, was built on a main hull
now buried deep in Fukunotaiin's rocky surface. The control centre is
several hundred-metre towers in the centre of the crucifix. Sensory
apparatus cover all four wings. Presently, its new master takes the
nickel tour thanks to Patty. Behind her, Koiko and Aiko remain beside
Ataru, Lum and Noa. "Won't you stay here, Uncle Ataru?" Dakejinzou's
elder daughter wonders, grasping Ataru's arm.

"No, Koiko-chan," he pats her arm. "Lum and I will visit you now
and again, but we have our lives and family to get back to."

"We'll return in a short while," Lum assures her. "Meanwhile, you
two need to learn what it means to live as Fukunokami."

"Any news about the Mikado?" Noa wonders.

"Well, His Stupiditiness' lapdogs lodged a formal complaint to the
High Council," her tail sways with delight. "Father naturally declared
the Union would no longer recognize the Mikado's government. We're
already receiving delegations from Hunba's army."

"Wonderful!" Lum beams. "With that, the Mikado doesn't have much
to stand on anymore."

"I dunno," Ataru muses. "Something tells me this jerk's as bad as
Oogi or Schwartz."

"True, but he has enough problems facing him back home,"
Dakejinzou advises. "If he wants to stay in power, he'll need to
concentrate on defeating Hunba, rather than chase after Natsu-chan."

The Vosian in question walks up beside his wife, having been given
their own tour by Rumy. "Can you believe this place?!" Benten exclaims.
"You can house an army in here!"

"Or at least you can keep one out," Noa smiles, staring at Patty.
"All the weapons emplacements complete?!"

"The last ones were fitted just before the 'Kiboo'cha' towed her
out of Sen'sha Seven," the engineer confirms. "We'll come by later to
make sure everything's shipshape."

"Thanks, Patty," Dakejinzou smiles.

* * *

Later, the "Hasei'cha" takes Ataru and Lum to Earth. Dakejinzou
and Nassur remain by themselves in the observation lounge. "This is as
good as Home Base," he smiles. "Some places, even better. I envy you."

"Well, what did you expect?" she stares at him. "For so long,
I've operated alone. It'll be strange working with partners...not to
mention raising two children. Have you ever told Benten about Akisur?"

"She knows," he nods, embracing her. "Anyhow, I've got to get
back. Can't leave the hybrids alone for any length of time before they
tear the place to pieces."

"Yeah," she kisses him. "Be careful out there. If the Mikado's
getting desperate, he'll pull something sooner or later."

"I 'm afraid you're right. See you."

Dakejinzou waves as Nassur heads off to the "Renegade." Sighing,
she takes the lift to the central tower, housing her quarters. Already
there, Koiko and Aiko are arranging things, unpacking boxes bearing
Dakejinzou's possessions from home. Both blink as their mother steps
inside. "Mom!" Aiko walks up to her. "You okay? You're sad."

"Not really," she slips an arm around her children. "I guess I'm
still feeling a little overwhelmed. For so long, I've been alone,
taking on the galaxy without anything to fall back on. It'll be strange
having something other than an empty ship and a small apartment in
Bensaikyou to come to after a mission."

The three move to the bedroom, laying down on the heart-shaped bed
Sagussan engineers had thoughtfully provided. "Mom, can you tell us
anything about our people?" Koiko stares at Dakejinzou. "Anything?"

"No, not much," Dakejinzou shakes her head. "I wish I could say
why I was brought into existence. Then again, does it matter?"

"Of course it matters," Aiko blinks. "Everything must have a
purpose."

"Okay, what's your purpose?"

She blinks. "I don't know."

"That's right," Dakejinzou smiles. "The difference between us and
ordinary machines is that machines have a purpose. It's defined, set
down in code, and most of all, it can be changed. I never had a
purpose, not since the day I was first awakened. I had to find my
purpose, my place in life. So will you."

"How will we know when we found what we were meant to do?" Koiko
muses.

"You don't know that, either," Dakejinzou chuckles. "If you
believe that you can be only ONE thing, you're restricting yourself.
The Universe is more varied. Experience as much as you can. Each
experience adds to you, gives you more information than you had, allows
you to explore more opportunities. I found that being a bounty hunter.
If that's what you want, then be that. If you want something else, be
something else."

Koiko and Aiko stare at each other. "I know what I want to be,"
the latter announces.

"So do I," the former smiles.

"Already?" their mother tenses. "What?!"

Her children respond with warm hugs. "We want to be your
children," Aiko smiles.

"And we want to love you with everything we have," Koiko beams.

Dakejinzou laughs...

* * *

Sometime later, Dakejinzou closes the door on her daughters' room.
The younger Umanoshippo are fast asleep as she proceeds to the living
room. A strange but wonderfully familiar voice catches her short. "I
resent being called an 'ordinary' machine!"

Dakejinzou spins to see a gentleman in an English tweed suit and
bowler hat sitting on her couch. "Henry!!!" she exclaims, glancing out
of the corner of her eye to confirm the Gatherer's presence some
distance away. "Where've you been?!! You want to know how angry I was
at you disappearing like that!!"

"Well, I can't help it if James doesn't bother contacting me!" the
holographic projection of the superdreadnought's central conscience
shrugs. "Besides, the Hustari had the herb they needed all the time.
With a little intelligence, they should've been able to create the
vaccine. If they didn't, how was I supposed to help?!"

"I would've at least told them the herb was still there,"
Dakejinzou sits beside him.

"And I would have...were I not so busy being midwife to a pregnant
starwhale."

The hunter moans. "There are days I wish this was real, so I
could hit you!"

"Now, now, Dakejinzou," he chides her. "How are people supposed
to learn when you're around nursemaiding them? You noticed how Ataru
and Lum have left their companions in Tomobiki alone since they moved to
Oshika. They've learned. Why can't the Hustari?"

"True," she sighs. "What happens now?"

"Well, everyone's preparing for Ataru's coming to Sagussa," he
rises. "I suspect they'll be there in a week. After that, well, that's
for Fate to decide."

"True. So, what brings you here?"

He shrugs. "Can't I join a friend in the celebration of her
becoming a mother?"

Dakejinzou blinks, then smiles, sinking into his embrace.
Fortunately, Henry's holographic image projector is advanced enough to
project the "feel" of a real person. "By the way," he gestures to a
nearby computer terminal. "Gilnira left you a message."

"I'll get to that later," she sighs. "Right now, I want to be
with my friend."

Henry smiles...

*** The Beginning ***