Chapter 17
DISCLAIMER: Love Hina is not mine. I'm not making any profit off this fanwork, and the authors used own themselves. "The Love Hina Fan Boy War!" is the property of Kanako Himekazi-Urashima, which she gave me permission a while ago back to write a prequel to.
Therefore.
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A filler chapter, before the fireworks. Written by Kebinu. Enjoy!
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Andrews AFB, MarylandTwo streams of super-fast air, churned by the whirl of colossal, counter-rotating propellers, blasted across the concrete tarmac of the base as the NC-2 transport maneuvered into its designated parking spot. As the engines shut down and the whip-like metal blades' movement slowly came to a stop, a pair of eyes narrowed, scanning from within the flight deck at the scene outside the airplane.
"What the hell?" Kebinu mumbled to himself, eyeing the rows of some four dozen troops lined up along the left side of the transport, illuminated by floodlights, standing at attention. "Have they been taking reception protocol tips from Darth Vader?"
The two pilots glanced at him, frowning in confusion.
"Never mind, it's a joke from before your time," he sighed. "Go ahead and get started on the postflight shutdown procedures. Tell our dorsal gunner to stand down and deactivate his turret, and see that the control surfaces are inspected. I'll handle the rough stuff."
*
"Here comes the Badyear blimp," muttered Talon as he watched the transport pull into its parking position and a few technicians ran out to chock the airplane's wheels. He shifted uneasily as the engines shut down and lights blinked on and off within.
"Jikei!" Lucia hissed behind him. "You'd better not speak so flippantly when they come out! They're just here for a diplomatic mission!"
"I can't help but be a little suspicious about this, Lucia," Andrew responded calmly, his hand shifting to his waist, where Greyspar hung securely. "Don't you find it a trifle odd that they just up and flew a plane into our territory, without contacting us through any other means first? And with their prime minister on board, no less."
Lucia shrugged. "The empress is reportedly rather impulsive in her decision making. It's not overly surprising, but yes, it's rather unconventional."
"And as for Kebinu himself."
"Prime minister. Fire elemental user, power level unknown. It's quite possible he's second only to the empress herself in that department. Military commander since the empire's inception. Won two major ground campaigns. Known to be highly intelligent, and more than a little."
"Perverted? Tell me something I don't know," Talon muttered. "Be on your guard, everyone. Especially you, Lucia."
*
Turning and walking from the cockpit, into the cabin, where he passed a dozen or so staffers, gathering their belongings and paperwork, Kebinu arrived in the cargo bay, where he examined his axe, strapped securely to the wall. Patting the weapon softly, he turned to find one of his aides standing before him.
"Sir," one of them began, "Are you prepared to disembark?"
"Hm? Oh, Lieutenant Jameson. Yeah. I expect every one of you to be on your best behavior, got it? We're going to have to pick our words very carefully. Those fighters weren't sent for our protection."
"Understood. Did you see anything out of the ordinary?"
"Not from the cockpit, no," Kebinu replied as he unstrapped the axe and looked the weapon up and down, as sharp today as when he found it. "Looks like a standard diplomatic reception. No rooftop snipers or anything like that, if that's what you're worried about. Ready?"
As Kebinu walked over to the side door, Jameson stood next to it and threw a lever on the door, swinging it open. Next, a retractable airstair deployed from the side of the transport, which he descended slowly, taking in his surroundings. The humid air, so unlike the dry mountain atmosphere, was the first thing he noticed. The second thing was the troops. The third thing was a young man standing about twenty feet away, with a young woman slightly behind him, dressed in a flight suit. A sword hung from his side.
"That must be General Talon," he muttered. "Not as tall as I expected. Oh well, here goes nothing."
*
Talon strode forward, his eyes locked on the long-haired man before him, steps measured and even, his hand never straying more than two inches from Greyspar.
"I am Andrew Joshua Talon, military commander of the Otohime Union," he spoke cordially but tersely as he came to a stop three feet from the ambassador. "Welcome to Maryland, Ambassador."
"Hm. Nice to meet you, General," Kebinu replied calmly, nodding. "On behalf of the Empire, I thank you for your hospitality, and for the warm-" he paused slightly both for irony and to review the assembled troops-"reception. I apologize for the suddenness of our visit, but it was the empress' personal order. I hope we're not causing any undue inconvenience."
"Not at all," Talon answered, turning and gesturing for Kebinu to follow. "We've already arranged accommodations for you and your staff; a limousine is standing by. Queen Mutsumi is expecting you."
"Hmm. I look forward to seeing her. The empress has told me quite a bit about her. if she's half as beautiful as I expect, I believe I'll be in for a wonderful surprise," Kebinu smiled slightly as he quickened his pace to walk alongside the OU general, his ears barely picking up the wary growl that briefly escaped Talon's lips before he quickly stopped it. "My staff has their own transportation onboard the transport, but I will be happy to ride with you to her location. I'm not one for talking outside, anyway."
"Understood," Talon replied. "I will escort you to the limo. This way."
"Thank you very much, General. And. madame, you are?" he added, smiling as he turned to Lucia, who trailed just behind them.
"Lucia Tanaka," Lucia replied, giving him a slightly twisted smile. "And I'm not available for coffee later," she added, making her hand spark slightly for emphasis.
"Yowch. Okay, okay, I can take a hint," Kebinu sighed, holding up his hands. Following Talon across the tarmac to a hangar, he stepped through the huge bay door and was hit by the bright light of electric arc lights high overhead. A number of jet fighters were lined up across the hangar in a row, access panels opened and undergoing maintenance-F-22s, an early-21st century American design, Kebinu noted, although with some subtle modifications.
Arriving at a black stretch limousine with diplomatic license plates, a uniformed soldier opened the door and the three demigods climbed inside. As the soldier closed the door and turned away, neither he nor anyone else noticed as a black streak swept from a shadow cast by one of the jets' wings across the floor of the hangar until it merged with the limousine's own shadow, and remained there as the car started and drove out of the hangar and into the Maryland night.
"Man, having this power just rocks sometimes," Shiara Kazikal, aka the Sadistic Shadow, laughed softly to herself as the car headed out onto the highway towards Washington.
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And the saga rolls on...
NEXT TIME: No, this part is NOT just to deceive you. Next time, truly, the war gets underway! We're just waiting on Tuxy now.
R&R!