The Ramarian Crisis

By DarkHorse

Chapter 14: Fighting Fire with Fire


UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The United Nations has convened a special assembly
inviting both member and non-member nations to discuss plans for Earth's defense
against the alien invaders. Secretary-General Anton Lassiter commented that for the
very first time ever, every nation has sent a representative to the assembly. He
expressed elation about the evidence of unity presented but at the same time
sadness that it had to take a global threat to bring it about.

The special assembly comes after the controversial briefing that the Japanese Defense
Minister gave earlier to the Security Council essentially stating that another extra-
terrestrial force is coming to aid in the defense of the planet. This surprising information,
according to his report, comes from two female Japanese teenagers...

---

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House spokesperson Linda Roberts has
confirmed in a press conference that the President has spent at least nine hours with
the Joint Chiefs and many of his cabinet members to discuss the country's defense
against the invading extra-terrestrials.

The lengthy meeting follows the President's television announcement earlier today
publicly acknowledging for the first time ever the existence of extra-terrestrials and
the possibility of an invasion. The President has not yet made any announcements as
to what decisions have been made regarding the current crisis.

In related incidents...

---

NEW YORK (AP) - Gripped by fear and panic following the President's nationwide
television address confirming rumors of an impending extra-terrestrial invasion, tens of
thousands of New Yorkers took to the streets to flee the city today. Within only minutes,
more than two thousand fender benders have already been reported as vehicles literally
pushed and rammed their way through the already heavily congested streets.

Widespread looting had also begun. Hundreds of electronics, appliance and grocery
shops have been broken into and robbed. New York Police Chief Raphael Fallow has
given a shoot-on-sight order to anyone caught looting.

In his own televised address, New York Mayor Christopher Benning urged the citizens
to remain calm and if they absolutely need to leave the city, that they do so in an orderly
fashion. So far, the Mayor's pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

Meanwhile, similar reports of pandemonium have begun to come in as several other cities
all over the world have likewise succumbed to chaos...

---

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Defense Department has confirmed that the President
has ordered all US military forces around the world be on Defense Condition (DEFCON) 1.
This is the highest level of military readiness ever declared in US history.

Before today, the highest level of military readiness was DEFCON 2 declared during the
Cuban Missile Crisis more than two decades ago.

This declaration follows the President's earlier address...

---

TOKYO (AP) - In a city that is now being dubbed all over the world as the Alien Capital
due to the recent spate of extra-terrestrial activities, a senior police officer has come forward
with alarming evidence pointing to the alleged illegal operation of US military troops in the
country. In a special press conference held today amid the city-wide panic, Chief Investigator
Kazuo Hirota, injured earlier in an alien attack, presented data suggesting that over the last
few days, several elite members of the US Marines have been illegally operating within Tokyo
to either eradicate or abduct the extra-terrestrials.

The latest operation, according to Hirota, was the abduction of two female teenagers from a
private airstrip used by Prime Minister. Hirota declined to comment on the identities of the
teenagers and whether they were the same ones that briefed the Defense Minister earlier today.

While the identities of these teenagers remain a mystery, many have speculated on their
involvement in the crisis that is now gripping the planet...

---

Past the Tropic of Cancer, Somewhere over the Pacific Ocean

FUU HOUOUJI, Wind Knight of Cephiro, could see her best friend, Hikaru, clearly: she was encased in flames that seemed alive and was relentlessly eating at her! She was screaming horribly, arching her body, contorting against her restraints, trying so desperately to get free. She felt her awful, awful pain. It was as if her very bones were being pulverized and sucked out of her body through her skin! FUU!

She heard her name being screamed and the fair-haired teenager suddenly bolted upright, emerald-green eyes wide open, beads of perspiration dotting her forehead. She stared unseeingly at the area in front of her, unaware that her abrupt movement surprised the soldiers that surrounded her causing them to instinctively raise their weapons and aim at her.

"At ease, men!" came the loud, authoritative command, which jolted the girl to full wakefulness.

The soldiers slowly lowered their rifles but kept a watchful eye on the girl. The ones in front saw her verdant eyes slowly transform from those that were unseeing to those that suddenly registered fear and apprehension in a blink.

"W-where am I?" Fuu asked instinctively in English after seeing the predominantly Caucasian soldiers, directing her question to the men right in front of her. For some reason, her ears seemed stuffed and she had to swallow several times to clear it. When she tried to move her hands, she discovered to her shock and dismay that they were handcuffed to the sides of the bed she was sitting on. She took a quick scan of her surroundings and found that her friend, Umi, was still lying unconscious on an identical cot next to hers. She was indeed surrounded by soldiers and that they seemed to be on a plane. It explained why her ears felt blocked.

Movement registered on the Wind Knight's peripheral vision and she turned to look. The burly man they met in the helicopter was approaching her. He seemed to be the one in command. Two of the soldiers sitting in front of her vacated their seats to accommodate him. She followed the sure movements of this person with her eyes, the fear she felt catching on her throat.

The man sat down slowly and raked his eyes over her. It was then that she realized she was still in her full battle, form-fitting, white uniform, the skirt of which was too short for comfort. She tucked her legs under her in a kneeling position as she began to feel self-conscious. And although her handcuffed hands prevented her from wrapping her green cape completely around her, she managed to flick both edges of it with her fingers so that they at least covered her bare thighs. With a grimace, she realized she could do nothing about Umi's current state.

Finally, the man's eyes rested on hers. "You are right now on a private jet, somewhere over the Pacific Ocean on our way to the United States." He paused, allowing his statement to sink in.

"The United States?" Fuu asked, uttering the syllables slowly.

"I'm afraid so," the man said, nodding almost apologetically. "You and your friend," he nodded towards the still-unconscious girl beside her, "pose a threat to my country's National Security. We have no choice but to bring you into custody."

"A threat to your National Security?" Fuu repeated the statement, a look of utter disbelief on her face. "Sir, I think you mistake us for someone else. My name is--"

"Fuu Hououji. And your friend over there is Umi Ryuuzaki. The other friend of yours, the one who was captured, her name is Hikaru Shidou. I assure you, there is no mistake."

The girl's eyes widened in protest. "But--"

"I was there," the man continued, not allowing her the chance to interject, "when Hikaru Shidou opened that portal. I would not have believed it had I not seen it."

"But we don't mean your government any harm!" the blonde teenager cried out in alarm.

"But you and your friends have already caused considerable harm. Nobody should have that kind of power." To Fuu's utter dismay, the man stood up before she could react to what he said.

"Where are you going?" She demanded fiercely as she tugged vigorously at her restraints. "What are you going to do with us?"

The soldiers surrounding her reacted to her sudden movements by once again raising their weapons at her. The man who she had just spoken with already had his back towards her. He casually turned around and gave her a disinterested glance. "That is completely out of my hands now."

---

La Farga raised his drenched face up towards the dark, stormy Cephirean skies to gaze at the large portal shining in the distance. There were only a few more vessels that needed to go through. He wished they'd hurry. He glanced down at the ring of ten mages surrounding a large circular marble-like slab. Hovering over the center was the Fenestra, glowing exceedingly bright. Each mage had his staff stretched out towards the radiating medallion, focusing their energies and magic on it.

The Captain of the Guard could see that each mage was weakening. They're not going to last long, he thought to himself. He cast his eyes behind each mage to find his men, alert and ready to step in to catch any that collapse.

La Farga glanced at his charge, Master Mage Clef himself. He was the oldest and most powerful mage in Cephiro. One would never have suspected, with his cherubic, child-like face and diminutive stature. Despite his power, opening a portal to the Pillar's native world was proving to be taxing exercise for him and the nine other mages. This was the third time they tried opening a portal. And although they had gotten better at it, the portal they had conjured was huge. It had to be big enough for several full-sized starships to pass through and it had to remain open until more than three hundred of them did so.

La Farga took one step closer towards his charge. The old wizard was beginning to tremble, the grip on his outstretched ornate staff becoming unstable. It was frustrating for the swordsman to just stand there and not be able to help. He dared not voice his concern lest he break the mage's concentration.

"Do not be overly concerned, La Farga."

The swordsman's eyes widened when he heard Master Mage Clef address him. "Master Mage--" he began but was immediately interrupted.

"How many more ships?"

"Wha-- " La Farga didn't quite get the question immediately but in the next instant, he raised his eyes skyward once more. It was difficult to make out the actual number of starships that still needed to go through the portal because of the heavy downpour. But the sky lit up from several lightning bolts streaking downwards, making it easier for the swordsman to make a count. "There are just three ships left, Master Mage Clef," he said, lowering his eyes.

"Thank you, La Farga."

He merely nodded. The mage had already begun concentrating once more. La Farga noticed from his peripheral vision that one of the mages faltered, his knees almost buckling. The glow of medallion dimmed considerably, its light flickering. However, the mage was able to right himself before the guard behind could move in to assist.

The swordsman exhaled a breath in relief. He raised his eyes one last time and saw the last three ships disappear one after another into the portal. "They've all gone in!" he exclaimed.

Almost as one, the mages started to collapse. The guards moved in fluidly and caught each one. Only Master Mage Clef remained standing but only barely so. La Farga crossed the distance between them in one large step. The mage immediately held on to his arm for support even as he continued to lean heavily on his staff.

The Master Mage glanced at the swordsman and smiled weakly. "We did it," he said, his voice hoarse. It was him this time that glanced up at the tempestuous skies. There were no sign of either the ships or the portal they labored for five hours to sustain.

"You most certainly did, Master Mage," La Farga said as he walked the other towards their transport back to the palace. "You most certainly did."

As he boarded the conveyance, which was shaped like a large bowl with feathery wings at each side, Master Mage Clef took one more glance over his shoulder and was pleased to see that a guard was already handing the Fenestra to La Farga. He leaned his head back on the silk upholstery of the transport and closed his eyes. He said a little prayer for the fleet. The battle was just about to begin.

---

The control room of the Amplification Chamber was alive with celebratory chatter. The scientists were clapping each other on the back; the closest Ramarian, Rogo, was beating his chest and making annoyingly loud whistling noises with his mouth.

Tanaka was oblivious to it all. He stood stock still, staring unblinkingly at the holographic image before him, clearly showing the huge wormhole shimmering brightly just ahead of the Weret. What have I done? was the question that kept playing in his mind. What would have taken a generation of space travel was now going to take mere seconds. Earth might have had a fighting chance against the Ramarians in a couple of decades. But not now. All thanks to him. How could he have miscalculated so greatly?

A brusque slap on his shoulder shook him from his thoughts. It was Rogo. Tanaka turned and glared briefly at the alien. It was easy for him to remember and imagine the other's human face and the gloating expression it would have had. He would have loved nothing more than to punch him right that moment. But he held himself back. Getting himself killed was not going to gain him or his planet anything. So he took a deep breath, turned away and said nothing, keeping his eyes once again focused on the image of the wormhole.

"Mr. Tanaka, you should be celebrating with us," Rogo said, keeping his hand on the Japanese's shoulder. "After all, you'll be going home soon," he said and then laughed out loud.

Tanaka gritted his teeth as he seethed with rage. It wasn't going to be much of a home after these bastards were through with it. He knew that the alien was merely goading him into anger. Perhaps Rogo was looking for an excuse to inflict bodily harm on him. While he was sorely tempted to indulge the son of a bitch, he had already decided that he needed to look for a better opportunity to get back at them.

Tanaka was about to open his mouth to give a bored, nonchalant reply but he was spared at the last moment when a voice similar to Higon's streamed out of invisible speakers inside the room. All chatter immediately stopped as everyone listened.

Rogo narrowed his eyes at the human. The human was focused on the holographic image in front and was deliberately ignoring him. He couldn't understand why the puny creature was still being kept alive. If it were up to him, the man in front of him would have long been exterminated. As a matter of fact, he was itching to give the other a good beating. If only the human would just give him a reason to.

Unfortunately, Supreme Commander Higon had chosen that moment to address the entire fleet. Rogo listened but his eyes never left his quarry. He had to hand it to the old Ramarian though. He was actually quite eloquent, spouting patriotic phrases such as "being at the threshold of asserting their dominance once more..." and "we are at the brink of claiming a world that we will soon be able to call our home...," effectively inducing the already palpable excitement and anticipation to even greater levels.

He was not immune to it. The recent battle he had with the earthlings to capture the Shidou girl proved to only whet his appetite for more violence. The human in front of him also served to feed his growing desire for conquest. He couldn't wait to see the collective fear on the faces on the earthlings when they finally arrive in full force.

The Supreme Commander at last ordered everyone to their battle stations. They were finally going to enter the wormhole.

"That's our cue, human. I have to return you to your quarters," Rogo said, tightening his grip on the other's shoulder.

"Is there any way this image," the Japanese nodded towards the holographic display, "could also be projected in my room?"

"No. There are no holographic emitters in your quarters," Rogo replied, his curiosity piqued.

"In that case, I would like to request that I remain here."

"That's not poss--"

"Please," Tanaka turned to face the alien this time and stared right into those hideous orange eyes. He couldn't bear to just sit around locked up in his room and not know what was happening.

Rogo met his stare unflinchingly as if trying to expose his true intentions. After a moment, he turned away and summoned another Ramarian, one who was shorter and considerably less bulky. They chirped and whistled at each other for a few seconds. The smaller alien kept throwing glances at him throughout the exchange so it was obvious he was the topic of their discourse.

Finally, Rogo turned back to face the Japanese, his expression as inscrutable as ever. "I have been informed that you won't be able to cause any mischief while alone in here."

Tanaka bowed his head ever so slightly. "Thank you."

The alien pierced him with a cold glare and then smirked. "Don't thank me just yet, human," he said in a threatening tone before executing a smart about-face and stalking off.

One by one, Tanaka watched the other aliens leave the control room of the Amplification Chamber until at last, he was alone.

He turned his attention back to the bright image of the wormhole. He was truly and irrevocably alone.

---

Supreme Commander Higon sat relaxed on the command chair. The slight elevation of the chair afforded him an excellent view of the Weret's bridge and its officers. Arrayed in front of him in an arc were banks upon banks of monitors and holographic emitters that either displayed or projected tactical, operations and engineering data of not only the Weret, but of more than five hundred other starships in the fleet.

But for all that information, Higon's focus was on data retrieved from the probe he sent through the wormhole. On the one hand, the probe was able to make it to the other side successfully, sustaining only superficial damage. Its compact and dense construction protected it from the gamma radiation and severe turbulence that bombarded it all the way. And that was what concerned the old scientist. The five hundred odd starships in the fleet were neither compact nor had dense constructions. Could these travel-weary and obsolete vessels survive that kind of abuse throughout the ten seconds it would take to reach Earth?

It was a tough decision but one he had to make within the next twenty seconds. A quick glance at the digital counter located at the bottom part of the right side monitor confirmed it. The wormhole was already starting to degrade. The Supreme Commander looked up from his console to find a dozen pairs of expectant eyes staring at him. Behind them was the magnified real-time holographic image of the wormhole with its swirling, dancing lights.

He needed time! The analytical part of him was screaming for him to not make such a drastic decision without being sure that every single vessel in the fleet would survive the short albeit perilous journey through the portal. But there just wasn't enough time!

Higon clenched the armrests of his chair tightly as he sought out one pair of eyes--that of his First Officer, Prono. He was a fine warrior, standing erect, patiently awaiting his order. "Supreme Commander," he said curtly.

"Take us in," Higon said, without a trace of the hesitation he was feeling inside.

Prono held the Supreme Commander's gaze a nanosecond longer than was comfortable for both Ramarians. He could tell that the old scientist was apprehensive. He could smell it. But Higon didn't waver. He nodded imperceptibly. "By your command," the First Officer acknowledged and did a smart about-face. Facing the other bridge officers, he said, "Arta--!"

"Sir!" Arta, the Navigator acknowledged.

"--plot a course into the wormhole."

"Aye, sir!"

"Balar--!"

"Sir!" the Operations Engineer replied.

"Alert the fleet. We are going in. Shields at maximum!"

"By your command!"

Prono carefully watched the proceedings. Each officer worked like efficient automatons, feeding information, communicating with the other sections of the ship, and guiding the other vessels towards the right path into the spatial anomaly. All because the Supreme Commander ordered it to be so.

If it wasn't for Higon, they wouldn't be here right now. It was because of him that they survived the destruction of their home worlds. He had never been wrong. He trusted the old scientist's judgment. And yet, he smelled his fear. Prono turned his head to glance back at the Supreme Commander, only to find that the other's eyes were already on him.

"We will make it," Higon promised.

Prono nodded and faced forward once more. As the image of the wormhole loomed larger, the First Officer steeled himself. We will make it.

---

"Shields are at forty-three percent and dropping!" Zazu cried out, holding on tightly onto the sides of his console as the NSX lurched once more. Any and all loose items on the bridge were now flying in every direction. Sensors all over the ship were blinking angrily, begging for attention. The blaring of a multitude of alarms only served to rattle the crewmembers out of their wits.

"Divert power from all non-essential systems to the shields!" Geo commanded, his eyes glued to the forward view screen, at the vortex that was the eye of the portal.

"Diverting all remaining power from non-essential systems to the shields!" Zazu shouted as his fingers danced furiously over his console as he complied with Geo's command. He was sweating profusely, the feeling of panic threatening to overcome him.

"Talk to me, Zazu!"

"Shields are holding at thirty-six percent! Oh no...!" As if to punctuate Zazu's ominous comment, the NSX lurched once more on the opposite direction triggering another round of alarms. Various bridge consoles exploded in a shower of sparks, scorching many of the bridge officers.

"What? What!" Geo's eyes were wide as saucers as he glared at the younger commander. "Don't just sit there and stare at your console. Talk to me, for crying out loud!"

Zazu remained uncharacteristically quiet for a couple of heartbeats amidst the cacophony of alarm, explosions and screams in the bridge, his eyes equally wide and glued to his console.

"Zazu, I swear, if you don't start talking--"

"The portal is collapsing!"

Every head within earshot of the young commander turned to look at him. Geo stared hard at his friend, unable to believe what he had just heard. "Say again?"

"The portal is destabilizing and it's going to collapse any second now!"

"What's going to happen?" Geo demanded as the shaking of the ship began to intensify.

"I can't get a fix on our position. One thing's for sure: it's not likely we will reach Earth," Zazu said grimly.

The NSX Commander swallowed the lump of fear in this throat. He tapped a button on his console to activate the public address system. "This is Commander Geo Metro of the NSX…" he began, his voice being broadcasted throughout the ship as well as to the rest of the fleet.

---

Mr. and Mrs. Ryuuzaki held hands tightly as they listened to Geo Metro's static-filled addressed streaming through invisible speakers in their lounge. The lights had been turning on and off intermittently as the entire ship continued to buckle and shake. It was worse than any turbulence Mr. Ryuuzaki had ever experienced in any commercial flight and it was making him sick in his gut. He glanced at his wife and wished he didn't as he saw that she was white with fear, her hands gripping his tightly. It was contagious. He shut his eyes in an attempt to calm himself.

"...brace yourself…rtal is destabilizing and will most…lapse any second now…repeat…" Commander Metro repeated his warning on the intercom over and over to ensure that everyone received and understood it.

What wasn't clear was whether they were going to survive the collapse of the portal. Mr. Ryuuzaki whispered a prayer and hoped that the gods were listening.

---

The expression on Joan Rumsen's face grew grimmer with every step she took through the normally sedate halls of SETI. What usually just took a minute to cross from her office to the lab was now taking five minutes! Scientists of every field, in every part of the world--scientists who in the past had snubbed this institution--were now scrambling to get a chance to work on one of the biggest (if not the biggest) breakthroughs in mankind's history. As she watched the excited faces of the scientists walking to the various labs of SETI or converging along the already narrow hallways to discuss whatever findings they had uncovered, Joan couldn't help but feel a certain sense of vindication. And it was with no small amount of satisfaction that credit had been rightfully given to her for first discovering and encountering the alien species.

That last thought eased the scowl from her face. However, it returned in full force as she rounded the corner and saw that her small office, the one place where she could have some peace and quiet, had been overrun by men in gray military fatigues! Each soldier she saw was carrying a box filled either with files or pieces of laboratory or computer equipment vital to her research.

Eyes narrowing into angry slits, she stepped right into the path of a soldier who had just exited her office carrying her files. The fact that the soldier was over a head taller did not deter Joan as she used both her hands to forcefully shove against the box held by the other, effectively stopping him on his tracks.

"What the--!" the man was about to say something really profane until he saw the petite woman in front of him.

"These are my files, mister! Where do you think you're taking them?"

Bill Winters, who was inside the office attempting to provide order to the chaotic transfer process, stiffened when he heard Joan's distinctive angry voice. Uh oh, he thought. He knew this was gonna happen.

He hurriedly squeezed past the many moving bodies inside the cramped office space towards his colleague's voice. When he finally emerged into the hallway he discovered, much to his dismay, that he was too late.

Joan and the Marine were exchanging expletives that would cause a sailor to blush. Bill quickly interspersed himself between the two. He turned his back on the Marine and faced his colleague, holding her shoulders in an effort to hold her at bay and try to calm her.

"The President ordered this transfer, Joan," he pleaded.

"What?"

"He's giving us a bigger lab in a more secure location!"

"That's ridiculous--" Joan growled, her fists clenching tightly at her side.

"C'mon, Joan, don't make this any difficult. Think about it, it'll be a much bigger lab. Better equipment…" his voice trailed, hoping that what he said was enough to convince his feisty partner to consider.

For what seemed like eternity, Joan visibly calmed down and nodded. "Very well--"

"Thank, God--"

Joan swiped at the Bill's left arm, effectively taking his hand off her shoulder. She then put up a stern forefinger mere centimeters off his nose in warning. "If this turns out to be a bad idea, you know who I'm going to blame," she said, narrowing her eyes at him dangerously until they were mere slits.

Bill could only gulp in fear.

---

Hikaru Shidou lay naked, in a fetal position, on the smoldering floor of the Amplification Sphere; every bit of clothing she wore had disintegrated from the intense thermal energy that enveloped the interior. The chair she was sitting on had completely slagged and deformed; it had now fused with the rest of the metal walls and floor of the sphere. In fact, the sphere itself was no longer as perfect as it used to be, having also lost its true form as extreme heat, radiation and energy blasted through its interior and exterior.

Although the girl was immobile, she was alive. She was also unscathed due, primarily, to her natural affinity to fire, which was the chief element required for creating wormholes. Anyone monitoring the inside of the sphere would be terribly surprised that the girl had not disintegrated together with her clothing. Even more surprising would be the presence of another figure inside the smoke-filled sphere, hovering over the prone girl.

The figure had a sylph-like quality, dressed in form-fitting black suit with white breast and shoulder plates, white gloves and ankle-high boots. She had long pointy ears sticking out of her pink hair, which reached down to her calves. The figure slowly drifted downwards, appearing to kneel by the unconscious girl. She extended a hand to touch Hikaru's forehead, brushing away stray locks of fiery red hair from her face.

The sylph bent her head to the other's ear. "Wake up, Hikaru," she whispered in a sing-song voice, a mischievous smile appearing on her delicate lips. "It's time to play."

---

Prono picked himself up, instinctively touching the bleeding wound on his forehead. His head collided with the sharp corner of a console during the passage through the wormhole. He glanced at his fingers and saw the blue blood. It wasn't a lot. The wound would heal quickly. With a hand on a console, he pulled himself up. The first thing he noticed as his eyes swept across the bridge was that every single Ramarian was standing and unmoving. They all had their eyes glued at the view screen. He looked up and saw that Supreme Commander Higon was the same way, except he was sitting rigidly erect on his command chair, hands tightly gripping the armrests.

The First Officer slowly turned. He already knew what he was going to see. But the actual sight of the planet Earth hit him with an unexpectedly strong emotion. He could only stand still and stare.

It was a beautiful planet, with her blue oceans, white clouds and whole landmasses tinged in green and brown. It was so…alive. It was a paradise compared to Ramar. Even before their sun destroyed their home planet, it was already black with decay caused by hundreds of centuries of unbridled abuse by its denizens.

Now after more than a decade of wearisome space travel, here they were. There were many times when Prono felt that they might not survive the journey. Surely, had it not been for the incredible ability of the tiny human female, it would have taken even more years. And knowing his fellow Ramarians, with their thirst for battle, it wouldn't have taken long for them to turn on each other just because there wasn't anything better to do.

But here at last was the salvation for his race. The planet was well within reach and just ripe for the taking. He, too, read the reports that Rogo and his team periodically sent. The earthlings had no hope of winning against the Ramarian might. The warrior within him was bursting with the excitement of the conquest. However, he was also a student of science and history. He knew all too well the self-destructive ways of his people. It was time for change. And who better to lead them but Higon.

"Prono," the Supreme Commander's voice was soft but was clearly heard over the deafening silence of the bridge.

"Sir," Prono replied without taking his eyes away from the view screen.

"Status report."

It took him several seconds to tear his eyes away from the slowly spinning planet before him. He looked down and saw that the reports were also just coming in. Apparently the bridge officers in the other vessels were equally mesmerized by Earth that they took their time to check in with Weret. It took him several more seconds to scan the various logs. He already knew the Supreme Commander would not like what he had to report.

Slowly, reluctantly, Prono turned away from his console and the view screen to face Higon. "Sir, eighty-six battleships did not make it through the wormhole. However, there are 124,726 escape pods that managed to jettison out of these battleships and into this space."

It also took a moment for dull yellow eyes of the Supreme Commander to shift to him. The First Officer could see him doing the calculations in his head. Each escape pod can hold up to eight warriors. Almost a million of his people were floating in space, waiting for the Supreme Commander's decision. It was clear that the remaining 427 battleships would not be able to pick up the pods since each one was already filled beyond normal capacity. There was only one recourse.

"How many of the pods have enough energy to reach Earth?"

Prono consulted his terminal before replying. "Ninety-four percent of the pods can reach Earth, sir."

"Very well. Instruct them to enter Earth's night side and scatter. They are free to engage the enemy at will."

"And the remaining six percent?"

It was Higon's turn to consult his terminal. "There is room in the Weret. Bring them in."

Although no surprise registered on his face, Prono did feel it. He was expecting the Supreme Commander to just leave them to their fate. Instead, he gave the order to save their lives. The time for change had indeed arrived. He didn't realize that he was just standing there until Higon called to him.

"Was there something else, Prono?"

"None at all, Supreme Commander," the First Officer quickly replied. As he turned to his console to enter the instructions the entire ship shook. His sensitive ears caught the sound of a distance explosion. Alarms started going off in the bridge, effectively taking the bridge officers out of their reverie.

"Report!"

"Sir," Prono replied as he held onto his console with both hands as the ship continued to rock, "multiple explosions coming from the Amplification Chamber!"

"Amplification Chamber? How is that possible?"

"The human Tanaka was left in the control room." Prono raised his head. "Rogo! Report!"

Rogo's voice immediately came through the speakers. "This is Rogo. I'm already on my way to the Amplification Chamber with a security force. But I was assured that there was no way that Tanaka could have--"

"Never mind that! Just head over there and report your findings!"

"Done. Rogo out."

Prono turned to face the Supreme Commander and found him punching several keys on his terminal. "This is not possible," he heard Higon say over and over again. His fist clenched at his side. It would be the ultimate irony, the First Officer thought, for his people's salvation to be within grasp only for it to be cruelly wrenched away. Well, he wasn't going to allow that to happen.

He held down a key on his terminal without looking down. "Stum, Faz. Meet me in the Amplification Chamber." He then started walking towards the bridge exit.

"Prono."

He turned to find Higon looking directly in the eye. "Yes, sir."

"Terminate the human."

Prono nodded and walked out.

---

Interesting, Col. Biggs thought as he fought to stare back unflinchingly at the glare being directed upon him by the blue-haired teenager. The girl had spirit. He continued to watch as she followed her blonde friend into their designated room, completely straight-backed and poised except for her eyes, which would make a lesser man crumble to his knees. Both girls had an otherworldly aura about them. He couldn't help but wonder whether they were indeed from another world like the aliens they had been battling these past few days.

He entered the room once both girls were inside. Four of his men followed him inside, flanking him. He signaled for one of them to unlock and take a way the cuffs that held the girls' wrists.

The blonde girl, Fuu Hououji, immediately brought her wrists up, rubbing them; her green eyes also rested on him but had a lot less spite. Umi Ryuuzaki, on the other hand, didn't even spare a glance at the cuffs that held her for many hours, nor at the soldier that removed them, nor at her wrists, which must be sore. Her eyes, burning with blue fire, just rested on his and nothing else.

"I hope you like your new home," Biggs said amiably after several seconds of silence. "I imagine you'll be here a while."

In response, Ryuuzaki merely turned around, making a show of ignoring of him completely. Biggs took a deep breath in silent relief that he didn't anymore have to stare into those blue, fury-filled eyes. He took the opportunity to cast his eyes around the room. It should keep these two comfortable. It was big, tastily decorated in soft tones, beds with thick mattresses, and books to read.

Hououji took one step forward.

"We are more useful to you out there instead of in here," she said.

"When we are certain which side you are on, perhaps we'll let you out."

"Don't waste your time talking to that brute, Fuu. He won't listen," the taller girl said with her back still facing him. "You may go, Colonel Biggs."

Biggs' jaw dropped. He had just been dismissed! His fists clenched at his side but the years of discipline and self-control dictated that he just let that slide. They were mere fourteen-year-old girls. He merely nodded and with one final hard look at the blue-haired girl, he walked out the room. His men filed out after.

Only when he was gone did Fuu turn to face her friend. "Umi," she began hesitantly, "are you still mad at me?"

Umi turned to face her friend and shook her head slowly. She stepped forward and hugged Fuu tightly. "I could never stay mad at you or Hikaru."

A single tear of happiness and relief trickled down the Wind Knight's cheek. Fuu swiped at it without letting go of the other. She was still overwhelmed to speak.

"We need to get out of here, Fuu."

"Okay. But let's do it right. We have to plan it out."

Umi nodded. "Okay, Fuu. We'll do it your way. Let's just get out of here."

---

"No, please! No!" Tanaka pleaded while crawling backwards, as far away from the girl as possible. He had been thrown from one end of the control room to another, smashing against the walls and various other instruments. He was already bleeding from several places and he was hurting more than he ever thought possible. And yet the girl was relentless. Even now she stalked him, with a manic gleam in her reddish brown eyes that was terrifying. He quickly scrambled to his feet and tried to reach the door but as he looked up, she was already there!

With inhuman strength she seized him around the neck with her left hand and brought him down hard on his knees. He would have groaned but the girl's vice-like grip effectively cut off any sound he would have made. "Please," he croaked.

"Puny human," she said, tightening her hold around his neck, "you want mercy? After what you did to my sister?"

Sister? Tanaka turned his head to look at the unconscious redheaded girl, who was leaning against the wall in the far corner. Hikaru Shidou had a sister? But how did she get into the Amplification Chamber?

"It…wasn't…me," it was an effort to speak. Black dots began swimming around his vision.

"Not you? Hah!" Something long and glowing appeared in the girl's right hand. She held it up like a spear. She lifted him up slightly and aimed her weapon towards his heart. "Time to say good night, puny human!"

She drew back her right hand and just as she was about to plunge the spear into him the doors of the control room exploded! He felt the grip on his neck instantly slacken and then disappear. He couldn't help but let his body fall the floor.

The girl immediately leaped backwards towards the Shidou girl, effectively shielding her. She now had two brightly glowing spears. "What's this?" she asked as she approached the hole in the room where the doors once were. She raised her eyebrows as she saw three reptilian creatures standing several meters away. They seemed equally stunned to see her. "Oh, this is going to be so much more fun!" she exclaimed after a second, a wide, wicked grin on her face. "More playmates!" She started laughing.

Tanaka remembered thinking that the sound of her laughter was the most terrifying sound he had ever heard in his life. And then he heard nothing more.

---

Rogo and his two warriors turned the corner and rushed down the wide corridor that led to the control room. "Open it, quickly!" he ordered. The entrance was almost as wide as the corridor. The door was composed of two large panels that slid open on opposite sides. There was a biometric scanner on the right side. One of his warriors went to it but after a second, gestured that the door was jammed. "Blow it open!" The warrior complied by planting a small bomb at the center where the two panels met and quickly drew back. They all moved back several meters. Rogo held the detonator in his hand and thumbed the only button on it. The resulting explosion blew open the panels.

Rogo could only stare at the strange girl before him. She had long pink hair and pointy ears but her face looked incredibly familiar. Except for the white breastplate, metal shoulder protectors and white ankle-high boots, she was wearing an all black form-fitting suit. How did she get here? Where did she come from? Her face was very familiar.

"Oh, this is going to be so much more fun!" she suddenly said, not seemingly the least bothered by him or the two other warriors that were with him. "More playmates!" And then she laughed.

Playmates? "Drop those…weapons," Rogo said firmly, referring to the two dangerous-looking glowing rods she held. He aimed his plasma rifle at the girl. The two other warriors flanking him did the same.

"Or what?" she cut him off, planting her knuckles on her slim hips and giving him a lopsided grin. "You think those guns of yours are gonna work against me?"

"Only one way to find out." He telepathically ordered his warriors to begin firing, which they did immediately. He kept his plasma rifle aimed but didn't fire. He wanted to see what would happen.

The girl quickly raised her left fist, still holding her glowing rod. The plasma bolts splashed harmlessly against an invisible shield. What in Ramar is this? His warriors stopped firing. They were as dumbfounded as him.

She gave out a hearty giggle. "Is that all you can do?" The girl sighed in mock disappointment. "I guess it's my turn now." She quickly stuck her rods together, forming a cross, and then let loose.

"Get down!" Rogo ordered instinctively, something he really didn't need to do His warriors were already taking cover. He felt the rods spin just above his head, missing him by mere centimeters. It passed over them, careening and ricocheting wildly across the length of the corridor causing small explosions as it did so. He was about to crawl backwards when he looked up and saw that the glowing, spinning cross was on its way back!

The approaching sound of the weapon caused the warrior on his left to raise his head. He raised it higher than was necessary. The cross sliced through his face neatly just above the nose, instantly cauterizing the wound, not even giving him a chance to scream. The semi-headless body dropped to the ground with a thud and started to spasm as the body reflexively tried to compensate for the loss of its brain, not realizing, of course, that it was useless.

Rogo wrenched his eyes off his comrade to follow the path of the cross. The girl plucked it off the air as it reached her as if it was nothing more than a bubble floating down to the ground. He started firing continuously prompting his remaining warrior to do the same. He already knew it was useless but he would rather go down fighting than just do nothing while awaiting his demise.

Just as he expected, the girl deflected the plasma bolts like they were pebbles. Rogo half expected that all they had to do to survive was to keep up the barrage as they slowly backed away from the corridor and turn the corner using their legs. The girl though had plans of her own.

She raised her right fist and fired an energy bolt at him! Rogo reacted quickly, rising to a crouch and raising his rifle across his chest in a vain effort to deflect her return fire. It exploded in a shower of sparks, the force of it throwing him back several meters. His remaining warrior swiftly occupied the spot he was in before he got flung back. He dropped to one knee and stepped up the barrage aimed at the girl. The girl wasted no time in deflecting and returning fire with her bolts. One bolt caught him in the chest, burning a huge hole that Rogo, who was watching from behind, could see through all the way to the control room!

His eyes were transfixed on his comrade as he slowly slumped forward, his face hitting the floor with a splat.

"Rogo!"

Rogo turned his head to in time to see Prono and two more warriors he identified as Stum and Faz round the corner. "Fall back!" he yelled at them, waving them to come no further. "Cover me!" He rose and leapt as far as he could in the direction of Prono. Behind him, more energy bolts exploded on the floor. Prono and the warriors laid down cover fire from the safety of the corner.

"What in the holy name of Ramar was that?" Prono asked as Rogo safely joined him amidst the plasma bolts Stum and Fax were steadfastly firing towards the girl.

"I don't know," Rogo replied, leaning heavily on the wall.

"Where did she come from?"

"I don't know anything about her," he replied, keeping his annoyance in check.

Prono stared at the other for a few seconds and then thumbed his communicator. "Supreme Command Higon."

"This is Higon. Report."

"Sir, we've got a situation here. There's someone else in the control room. It wasn't Tanaka. It's a female humanoid. There is massive damage to the control room. Apparently, all sensors are offline--"

"Humanoid?"

"Yes, sir, humanoid. Sending you a visual right now." Prono transmitted the live video image of the...girl...as seen by Stum.

There was silence in the com channel as Higon received and studied the image Prono sent. There was no other word for it. The girl looked human except for the pointy ears. Of course, her powers were also beyond human but the three girls they tried to capture, of which Hikaru Shidou belonged, also had great powers.

"What happened to Rogo?"

Rogo tapped the communicator on his wrist to join the conversation. "Rogo here, sir. The girl is able to deflect plasma fire and is able to throw thermal energy back at us. The two warriors who were with me did not survive."

"Interesting specimen."

"Sir," Rogo already knew what the scientist-turned-Supreme Commander was thinking. "I strongly recommend we destroy the girl using all necessary means."

Again there was silence on the other end.

"No. She could be useful."

"Sir," it was Prono this time, "I agree with--"

"Seal off that entire section."

"But, sir--"

Higon cut Rogo off in mid-sentence. "That's an order, Rogo."

"By your command!" Rogo tapped his communicator. He looked up to see Prono eyeing him. "You heard the Supreme Commander."

"Stum! Faz! Fall out. We're sealing this section."

Stum and Faz fired off two more shots before backing up quickly and retreating towards the outer doors.

Once all four of them were on the other side, Prono keyed off a code on the biometric panel. It chimed once, prompting Prono to confirm his command. Several hisses of air were heard as the door disappeared before them, blending perfectly with the rest of the walls. He stepped back and turned to Rogo. "You think this will hold her?"

Rogo glanced at the other from the corner of his eye before returning it to the wall that used to be a door. "I suggest we bring a small force contingent here just in case it doesn't. Make sure they bring the polaron canon."

"Firing the polaron canon in close quarters is also likely to damage the Weret. Isn't it excessive?"

"Not if you've seen what I've seen."

Prono remained silent for a time. "I'm beginning to wonder about these Earth creatures."

"Me too, Prono," Rogo said as he turned away from the wall, "me too."

---

Major Ronald Cummings discreetly moved away as the arguments became increasingly heated with each passing moment. Alone on one side was the head of the National Security Agency, Carl Parsons. On the other side were his commanding officer and friend, Lt. Colonel Scott Biggs and the very head of their division, Major General Roger Masterson. Pretending to be in the middle was the Director of Central Intelligence, Tim Warner. Cummings snorted inwardly. He knew what Warner's real stand was in all of this. Was he not the one who actually instigated the operation that led to the capture of the two Japanese teenage girls they now held in custody?

"This is outrageous!" Parsons nearly screamed his cry against the kidnapping. "This is completely against what we're supposed to stand for. This is not what our country stands for!"

Cummings closed the door as he exited silencing whatever response the General, he was sure, was going to give. He walked the several steps down the gleaming corridor to where he knew the surveillance was. He might as well check up on the girls.

The huge and ultra-modern military facility that he was now in was one of the biggest secrets that the US government kept from its people and from the rest of the world. The President himself had only scant information regarding it. "Plausible deniability" was the catch phrase that was used to ensure that if questioned, the President could deny any accusations with convincing results.

Cummings rounded the corner. There was a flat panel on the right side of the entrance. He laid his palm on it and felt the tingly sensation that usually accompanied the scanning process.

"Identify," the disembodied computerized female voice demanded.

"Major Ronald Cummings. Serial number 2931203."

"Acknowledged." The bullet-proof, translucent glass doors of the security section slid open. "Welcome, Major Ronald Cummings," the voice greeted him as he stepped through.

He made a beeline towards Lt. Evans, who manned the banks of monitors and surveillance equipment that eavesdropped on the girls. Evans made to stand when he realized an officer was standing behind him. Cummings laid a hand on his shoulder in a silent command to stand down.

He peered into one of the monitors. The girls were standing, facing each other, standing just a few meters away from the heavily reinforced door that kept them locked inside the room. He looked down the array of buttons just below the monitor he was focused on and found the knob that would allow him to zoom in.

Interesting. The two girls seem to be talking except they weren't moving their lips nor making any sound.

"How long have they been like this?" he asked of Evans.

"Not long, sir. They did search the room as expected. Obviously looking for a way out."

"Have you picked up any conversation?"

"No, sir. Upon arrival, they did speak but they were silent afterwards. It's slightly creepy though," Evans let out a short laugh.

"Creepy?" Cummings gave the other a sideways glance.

"Yes, sir. It's as if they were communicating by the way they looked at each other and gesticulate."

"You think it's some kind of telepathy?"

"Well, sir, there have been documented cases of people who have manifested that capability."

"It's not so hard to believe," Cummings replied, turning his eyes back to the monitor, "especially after I've seen what these girls can do. Wait a minute…" his voice faded a bit as he stepped closer to the display. "Take a look at this, Evans."

Evans adjusted his eyeglasses and squinted into the monitor. "What are they doing?"

---

"Ready when you are, Fuu," Umi telepathically told the Wind Knight.

Fuu merely nodded. Together, they focused on the locked door before them. Magic began to swirl around like a small whirlwind. The air whipped around them, causing their hair to billow, the items in the room to spin around the room.

Umi twisted towards her left at her waist, bringing her right arm back. She felt bright energy begin to build at the tip of her fingers of her left hand. She would unleash the power of her spell in a moment. She would know the right time to swing around.

"Icicle Blades!" she uttered the spell loudly as she twisted back, throwing her left hand in front of her as hundreds of thin shards of razor sharp ice spewed forth.

At the same moment, Fuu cast her own spell. She raised her arms, folding them over her head, palms outward, fingers of intense energy rippled in her hands. She brought her arms down quickly but gracefully, directing her cupped hands towards the target.

"Emerald Cyclone!"

Crescent shaped blades of wind poured out, battering the object of its wrath.

The door was made of two inches of solid, reinforced steel. Grenades would have been useless in breaking it down. Against the bombardment from two devastating magical spells it didn't stand a chance as it was completed shredded in seconds, leaving a gaping hole where once it stood.

---

Evans was now standing, his mouth agape, his chair had tipped over backwards. Behind him, the other security technicians had gathered. The room had dimmed, the only source of illumination were the blinking red lights strategically located throughout the large room. A facility-wide alarm was sounding in the background. They were in red alert.

Cummings heard the doors swish open behind him. He knew that the top brass had arrived. He turned around. The first face he saw was that of his commanding officer, Scott Biggs. "What's going on, Ron?" he demanded briskly. Behind him were Warner, Parsons and General Masterson.

"The girls have broken down the door in a manner of speaking," Cummings replied as calmly as possible. He stepped aside so that the others could have a clear view of the monitors.

On it they saw the two girls stepped over the rubble and debris that were once their door and the surrounding wall. Wordlessly, they turned right.

"Where are they going?" Warner asked, it was obvious that he was fighting to try to hide the fear that Cummings knew he now felt.

Evans brought up the three dimensional schematics of the facility on one of the larger displays. A red dot appeared where the girls were. It was moving down one of the many corridors. He traced his fingers down that corridor, more for the benefit of his audience. "It looks like they're heading towards Lab 3."

"What's in Lab 3?" it was Parsons this time.

"It's where we've kept those gloves the girls were wearing. They were being analyzed," Cummings offered, his eyes never leaving the monitor showing the girls. "We've got troops already in place on the next turn. What are your orders, sir?" this question he directed at Masterson.

The General remained silent for a moment. All eyes were suddenly on him. On the one hand, he didn't want the girls to be destroyed. On the other, he no longer knew how he could contain them effectively.

"Destroy them," he said finally.

---

Nova swept the long barrel of the wrecked canon aside with her hand causing it to fall heavily on the floor. She cast her eyes on the crumpled bodies of the aliens she disposed. With a foot, she turned one of the aliens' faces so that it looked up straight at her. She snorted derisively. "Ugly creatures, aren't you?" With a flick of an ankle, she kicked the face so that it turned the other way.

Levitating behind her were Hikaru and the Earth guy, both still unconscious. She felt something change though and turned around. Hikaru was no longer unconscious. She stood before her on slightly wobbly feet, a hand massaging her left temple. Her sienna brown eyes were looking straight at her.

"Hikaru!" Nova broke into a huge smile and rushed towards her, arms outstretched intending to give the other a hug but Hikaru stopped her with a hand.

"Nova, what are you doing?"

Nova ignored the question. She flicked Hikaru's hand away,closed the distance between them and gave her a tight hug. "Oh, Hikaru! I missed you!"

Hikaru let out a strangled yelp in surprise. "Nova!" She pushed at her, holding both her shoulders firmly to keep her at bay. "Nova, how--I mean--?"

"You mean, 'how am I here?'" she supplied the correct question for her, a huge grin on her face. "I don't know," she replied with a cavalier shrug, "I just opened my eyes and all of a sudden I'm inside this--this strange sphere and you were just lying there, naked. I figured you needed my help." There was a gleam of mischief in her eyes. "By the way, I hope you like your new outfit."

It was only then that the Fire Knight looked down at herself and her eyes widened! She was wearing a black form fitting outfit, with white shoulder and chest plates, and white gloves and boots. She was wearing a replica of Nova's suit! Her eyes snapped up and glowered at her twin. "You are truly wicked, Nova."

She pushed her back and took a step back herself. There was no way she was going to allow herself to be caught dead in this outfit. Summoning the magic to change should be easy but...nothing. She raised her eyes at Nova in confusion and then tried closing her eyes to focus some more. Still nothing. And then all of a sudden blinding pain bloomed in her head. She cupped her whole face and wobbled. She would have fallen to the ground but Nova caught her easily. She felt herself being eased down gently against a wall.

"Hikaru! What's wrong?"

"I don't know. My head started to hurt all of a sudden." She used her fingers to massage her temples. "And for some reason, I can't summon any magic."

"Oh no!" Nova started to fuss, arranging her legs and her position against the wall. "All you need is to relax. You've been through so much."

The pain began to dissipate. Hikaru raised her eyes and took a good look at her twin. She appeared to be truly concerned about her. Had Nova really changed? She quickly cast her eyes around the destruction she wrought and remembered all the evil she unleashed the last time she appeared. Nova represented everything that was dark in her. Ever since she became the Pillar, she feared her dark side more; afraid that she would get drunk with the enormous power she was given and use it for evil.

"Tell me what to do, Hikaru," Nova's eyes were pleading. "How can I help you?"

Hikaru's brows creased. "Maybe you need to merge back with me."

Nova seemed to hesitate but eventually she nodded. "Okay. What should I do?"

It was the Fire Knight's turn to hesitate. "I guess we do it like we did the last time. You have to hug me and concentrate."

"Oh okay." Nova moved forward, wrapping her arms around the other. Hikaru wrapped her arms around her twin in turn. She felt rather awkward. They remained that way for several seconds. "Uhm, Hikaru," Nova said tentatively, "nothing's happening."

Hikaru let out a breath of frustration. "Did you focus?"

"I did."

"Okay, you can let go of me now," she said, letting her arms fall. Her pink-haired twin pulled back. Hikaru found herself staring into the eyes of the other, which looked exactly like her own. It was uncanny. "I don't know what happened to my powers but I think it'll come back eventually. You'll have to fend for us in the meantime."

Nova smiled brightly. "You don't have to worry about--"

Several loud hissing sounds interrupted her. It was immediately followed by a heavy jolt and a shudder.

"I don't like the sound of that," the Fire Knight said. Nova slowly rose from her kneeling position and scanned the ceilings and the walls.

Another heavy jolt and shudder broke the silence. The lights suddenly dimmed. Nova's eyes suddenly widened. "Uh oh."

"What?" Hikaru demanded but immediately saw--or rather felt--what her twin meant. She felt herself starting to float. The other objects and bodies that surrounded them also floated. The gravity was turned off. The whole room began tilting in the beginnings of a slow rotation.

Nova completed her turn. By force of magic, she was still standing and not floating. Her eyes met Hikaru's. "Looks like our friends don't want to play anymore."

---

"The entire section has been disengaged, Supreme Commander," Prono reported. He tapped a button and a sizeable cube floating in space showed on the onscreen display.

"Good. Prepare to fire a polaron burst at it," Higon replied.

"Yes, sir. We will be in safe firing distance in 20 seconds."

---

"I don't like this," Hikaru said as she dug her nails into the fleshy, slimy walls of the corridors to keep from floating aimlessly. She looked down at Nova who seemed to find amusement in the floating dead bodies of the aliens. "Nova, we need to get to somewhere safe."

Nova finally faced her twin. "Where's that?"

The Fire Knight thought for a while. "The sphere. Take us back to the sphere, now."

The pink-haired sylph detected the urgency in the other's tone and allowed herself to float. Using magic, she began to push off in zero gravity, towing Hikaru behind her. She was about to gather speed when Hikaru stopped her.

"What?" Nova asked, almost irritably.

"You left the other guy behind."

Nova spun in midair to face the other. "So what? Why should we save him?"

"Because it's the right thing to do, Nova."

Nova frowned but raised a hand towards the section of the corridor they had just left. Debris and floating alien corpses moved out of the way, clearing a path towards the man she deliberately left behind. His body began to move towards her. "There. Satisfied?" she asked with a smirk when the man's body reached Hikaru.

"Yes, very," was her reply. "Now let's go and hurry!"

Nova didn't need to be told twice. She sped down the long corridor; Hikaru and the Japanese man were zooming down at the same speed behind her. She had to blast her way through the debris and what remained of the glass wall that separated the control room from the sphere to get through.

"Now seal the sphere," Hikaru urged, unable to keep the urgent tone from her voice.

They suddenly felt a jolt so strong that it sent both girls flying towards the far end of the sphere, hitting its smooth wall hard. Hikaru felt the breath go out of her and had to struggle to recover. She looked up in time to see a blinding white light speeding towards them through the opening in the sphere. "Nova! Seal the sph--!"

---

Higon saw the cube break up and explode as the polaron burst blasted into it. The biomechanical filters in his eyes activated automatically to protect him from the blinding light. Even with the filters on, the light from the blast was intense but it didn't last very long. After a few seconds it dissipated leaving in its wake small fragments of what was once the section of the starship that held the Amplification Chamber.

"Scan for life signs," he ordered. He didn't think anybody could survive a direct polaron burst but he had to be sure.

"No life signs detected, sir," Prono reported back.

"Good. Signal to the other captains to prepare for the invasion."

---

Col. Biggs was way past being afraid of death having had very close brushes with it in his illustrious career as a combat soldier and a black bag operative. Nevertheless, he had to admit that the faintly glowing, blue-haired, obviously enraged, teenage girl standing before him was unnerving him. The sight of a dozen of his best soldiers lying either unconscious or dead around him also added to his sense of unease. His mind still refused to believe the brief battle that had just occurred. His men were firing their guns, emptying their clips as the girls relentlessly moved forward, unaffected by the barrage of bullets, all of which were either bouncing off their invisible shields or being deflected by the girls' brightly glowing swords.

Both of them spoke words, which he didn't understand. Obviously spells of some sort. But the...magic that came forth was beyond belief. His men were buffeted around, like rag dolls bouncing against walls, equipment and floors.

When all the soldiers were out of commission, the blue-haired girl, Umi Ryuuzaki, walked menacingly towards them, the pointed edge of her sword jutting out in front of her, pushing him and the others back until their backs were to the far wall. The other girl, Fuu Hououji, went straight for the computer terminals after making her sword disappear into the gem embedded in her white glove. She began accessing sensitive information, information that should have been difficult for a fourteen-year-old to access. Biggs' brain was going into overload with all the astonishing abilities he witnessed.

General Masterson and Warner tried to placate Ryuuzaki, making all sorts of promises. "Shut up," was her only response but it was enough to silence any further attempts by anyone to reason with the girl. And then her eyes would burn into his again.

The Hououji girl uttered something in a language he had never heard before.

Ryuuzaki twisted her head slightly, keeping them in her peripheral vision while looking at her friend. She seemed to ask a question in the same strange tongue.

Biggs did recognize a word in what Ryuuzaki said: Hikaru. He saw emotion flicker across the blue-haired girl's face as they continued their conversation. He glanced at the large monitors in front of the other girl. He was too far to read the details displayed.

He clenched his fists. There had to be a way to defeat these girls. He still had his sidearm but after seeing how their conventional weapons fared against Ryuuzaki and Hououji he wasn't up to taking a chance. He let his eyes roam around the room. He had to think of a way.

---

"Uh oh," Fuu breathed.

"What is it, Fuu?" Umi was tempted to approach her friend and see the information she was retrieving first hand but she had to guard the men.

"It appears that the aliens are already here."

"Can you find out anything about Hikaru?" Umi persisted.

Fuu was already feeling the pressure and certainly didn't need to be pushed but she held her tongue. "I'm trying," was all she said.

"How about Geo? Any sign of the NSX and the rest of the fleet? They should be here by now."

The Wind Knight was thankful that her face was away from Umi's or else the worry that she fought to hide would be seen. Fuu feared that her friend would react badly if she knew how desperate she felt.

Ordinarily, she would be excited by the vast technology that was now under her control but her worry over Hikaru and the fact that the fleet from Cephiro had yet to make an appearance overshadowed that.

She was about to key in additional instructions into the computer when she stopped abruptly. Her eyes were wide with surprise as she slowly turned to look at her friend. Umi was frozen in her place, her eyes wide as well.

"Miss Umi," Fuu began, her voice quavering.

Umi's sword lowered as she stared back at her blonde friend. "Is that who I think it is?"

---

Now was his chance! The girls were obviously distracted. Biggs drew his sidearm and aimed. Ryuuzaki's back was turned. A bullet in the head should do it. He began to squeeze the trigger but stopped. Directly in front of Ryuuzaki a portal was forming. His first thoughts were that aliens had finally arrived.

His eyes went wide when a pink-haired girl stepped through. There was a wide, almost maniacal grin on her face.

"What in the hell?" he heard Warner behind him as he, too, took a step closer.

The swirling lights in the middle of the portal rippled again and a man staggered through. He was Japanese. Immediately behind him was none other than Hikaru Shidou!

What is going on here?

---

"Hikaru!" both Umi and Fuu rushed towards their friend.

"Umi! Fuu!" Hikaru opened her arms to accept her best friends. There were tears streaming down their eyes.

"Hey, how about me?" Nova demanded, her lips forming a deep pout, her hands on her hips.

Both Umi and Fuu stepped back from Hikaru and stared at Nova. Hikaru watched her friends closely and took a step closer to her twin, draping an arm around her shoulder. "Guys, Nova was the one who rescued me."

Ever the polite one, Fuu stepped forward and bowed. "Hello, Miss Nova. Thank you for rescuing our friend."

"So you're the one who spoke to us telepathically?" Umi asked, crossing her arms across her chest.

Nova nodded and then winked.

Biggs couldn't take it anymore. "Now listen here!" he raised his voice and his pistol, not really caring where to aim it. When the girls turned, they all spared his weapon a glance and then looked at him as if to say "So?" He had never felt so foolish and useless in all his life.

The blonde teenager, Hououji, stepped forward. "Colonel Biggs," she said in English, "please put away your weapon. We do not wish to hurt anyone anymore. We are not the enemy. We are here to help. Please believe us."

"That's correct!" it was Ryuuzaki this time. "We are here to help. And you people just keep getting in the way," she said testily, her impatience showing very clearly.

Parsons stepped forward and gently laid a hand on his right arm to lower his gun. "The time for fighting amongst ourselves is over, Colonel," he said quietly. "It's time to start working together. Let's listen to what they have to say."

---

Tanaka shifted in his seat, trying to get more comfortable. His wrists were handcuffed behind the backrest of his chair, which limited his movements. His butt was getting sore from being in the same position for almost two hours now. But he was still thankful. He would rather be here, with humans, the good guys, than with the Ramarians any day. The four girls and the four men had been discussing--calmly, for the most part--what needed to be done.

What he found interesting before all the serious talk about repelling the aliens was the story of how he, together with the Shidou girl and her twin, survived the trip back to Earth. Apparently, when the Ramarians failed to contain Shidou's twin, Nova, they decided to just cut off the section of their space ship where they were and then blast them to oblivion. Shidou had the brilliant idea of using the sphere to protect them. With her not having powers at the time, it was up to Nova to defend them. He wasn't clear as to how she managed it but she used the beam from the space ship to propel the sphere back to Earth. They landed safely in the Sahara desert. That was, in fact, the moment when he woke up.

From there, Shidou was able to create a portal to where they were now. The four men were still reluctant to reveal exactly where "here" was. He was just thankful he was unconscious during that whole ordeal or he would have died just from the shock.

The two other girls, Ryuuzaki and Hououji, had spoken of another alien fleet supposedly coming to Earth to help in the defense but they hadn't arrived yet. This greatly worried the girls. Shidou attempted to open a portal back to her "home" planet, which she called Sefiro (or something like that) but failed. As powerful as these girls were, it occurred to Tanaka that they did not completely understand their abilities. He was still trying to decide whether this was good or bad.

The last mystery that he was dying to know but it looked like they weren't going to discuss it anymore was where this Nova character came from. She just suddenly appeared in the Amplification Chamber, with a maniacal gleam in her eye as she gave him a good tossing. His body was still aching from the beating.

"We need to inform the President immediately. We can't waste time anymore," Parsons was saying to his colleagues.

The CIA guy, Warner, shared a look with the general and then both nodded, resignedly. Tanaka didn't understand the obvious reluctance these two had. By all means, talk to the President! Why the hesitance?

The Japanese gangster glanced over to where the girls were seated on the long conference table. They were once again lost in their own discussion, using their strange language. Shidou, Ryuuzaki and Hououji had tears in their eyes.

Parsons saw it too. "Uhm, excuse me, Miss Shidou? Is there a problem? Can we help?"

The girl took a moment to compose herself, wiping the tears from her eyes. "My brothers," she nodded towards her friends, "their parents, all in the lost fleet from Cephiro."

Parsons' brows creased, obviously trying to piece together what the girl said in her heavily accented English. And then his eyes widened. "You mean to tell me your family is in that fleet that's supposed to be coming?"

Shidou merely nodded, swiping another tear from her cheek.

Parsons cast his eyes at his colleagues. Tanaka had the impression that this guy was either not accustomed to being the spokesperson for the group or was not usually chosen to represent them or both. With a great show of reluctance he spoke.

"I hope you don't take this as being insensitive to your...loss...but we need your help. First to inform our President, who will then have to share this information with the rest of the world, and second, to help us fight the invasion. The four of you have tremendous powers and we will need them to--"

"We will help," Shidou said and then glanced at her friends. They all held hands and then she looked back at Parsons. "Of course, we will help."

---

Geo pulled himself up back into his command chair. He swept his eyes around and took in the damage, both to people and equipment. It wasn't good but it wasn't that bad either. Nevertheless, the planet they came for was clearly visible in the distance on their view screen. He kept his relief in check though. He wanted to make sure that all the vessels had indeed survived the trip.

He turned to his right. Zazu was already tapping keys on his console pad. He was almost afraid to ask but he had to. "Zazu?"

Zazu already knew what Geo wanted. Thankfully, he had good news to share. "All vessels, including those from Chizeta and Fahren, made it through." There was visible relief on his face. "Most of our vessels have sustained heavy damage. Some injuries but no casualties," he continued.

"That's a big relief," Geo exclaimed, slumping into his chair.

"I'm picking up some strange things though." The NSX commander went ramrod straight upon hearing this. Zazu tapped a few more keys before looking up. "You're not going to like this, Geo."

"What is it already?" he said in an impatient tone.

"It...ah..." he bent down to check his data again to be sure, "it appears that we arrived two years late."

NEXT:

Chapter 15 - War of the Worlds

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

This is, by far, the longest time it took me to complete a chapter. To those who have been waiting patiently for this next installment, my apologies. Besides the intrusion of real life concerns, coming up with the next events in the story held me up. I already had an outline ready but when I sat down to write this chapter, it didn't feel right so I had to conjure up a different outline. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed what you've read in this chapter. Additional apologies for the cliffhanger. I promise that the next chapter will come sooner (although I've already promised that before, haven't I?).

I've made some minor changes in the earlier chapters, mainly sentence restructuring and stuff. I've corrected some continuity errors and physics mistakes. Reading the earlier chapters for these changes is optional. The story has not been affected at all.

C&C/reviews are very welcome. Please e-mail them to darkhrse0714 (at) yahoo dot com.

DISCLAIMER:

Magic Knight Rayearth and all the characters in that anime/manga are properties of CLAMP. These are used here without permission.