Disclaimer: The characters used within this are mostly the property of others. I have a few originals, but the vast majority are not original. A few well known names may be used, but everything here is fiction. This is for entertainment only and not for profit.
-=oOo=-
Araiansu - Chapter 12
-=oOo=-
Kasumi was utterly surprised to have the reverend from the church she attended from time to time stop at her door, along with another she did not recognize. "Would you like to come in?" she asked.
"Thank you very much Miss Tendo." Her pastor smiled.
They came inside.
Her father was sitting at the living room table looking at the paper. "Guests?" Then he looked closer. "Is there a problem?"
Kasumi said, "I'll go prepare tea."
Kasumi's pastor said, "No, well nothing around here at least."
Her father looked to the other pastor who pulled out a small electronic device and tapped a few keys on it while looking at a small screen. After almost a minute he said, "This place appears to be free of listening devices."
"Why would it ever not be?" asked Soun.
The older man said, "We had no reason to suspect there would be. It is just that our conversation is somewhat sensitive."
"What is this about?" Soun asked.
"You know a man by the name of Ranma Saotome?"
"Well yes, but not well. He did visit once though."
"We are curious. What are your impressions of the man?"
Kasumi hearing that giggled.
The older clearly gaijin man smiled a faint smile.
Soun said, "I think he is an impressive young man that knows more about the art that I likely ever will."
"Would either of you be interested in a possible job that he thought you might be interested in?"
"Yes," Kasumi enthusiastically proclaimed.
"I have the dojo to run," Soun added with less than certainty.
Her pastor said, "The job I was briefed about has the potential to be very dangerous, but also very important. You have to be very sure before we tell you more. More than just Japan may depend on it."
"Oh my."
Soun said, "I'm willing to serve my country if that duty befalls me, but I'd prefer Kasumi not be endangered."
Their pastor nodded, accepting him at his word.
After a few moments Kasumi said, "I wish to know. I will make my own decision."
Her father looked at her for a few moments before sighing and nodding.
The foreign pastor said, "Pardon me, I should have introduced myself before. My name is Pastor Harold Davis." He spoke in clear, if obviously accented Japanese.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Paster Davis," replied Kasumi.
"Likewise," added Soun.
"I was visiting relatives in Japan when I got the call from the Vatican."
"Really?" Kasumi asked in surprise.
He nodded. "Unfortunately, I need to ask both of you to promise that you will not reveal the details of what I'm about to say. We will leave after making the offer, if that is what you want."
Their pastor nodded at them, encouragingly.
Kasumi said, "I promise."
Soun added, "I as well."
"Hundreds of years ago the Catholic church came across a relic from another time. We have since learned that the relic was created by what they refer to as the first evolution of humanity."
Kasumi said absently, "That is not…"
"We know." He paused for several seconds as they digested that. Then he said, " They were a very advanced people. Some believe that many of us are their descendants. You two stand a fair chance of having some of them as distant ancestors."
"Oh really?" asked Kasumi surprised.
"Really. The relic was in fact a mostly intact spaceship. More accurately, it is a warship, likely somehow at least comparable to the one you may have seen on TV lately, though it is quite a bit smaller. We assume the new one is stronger because of that, but the one we have is very impressive nonetheless."
Soun said, "I don't understand."
Pastor Davis said, "We don't either. Not fully. We are told that some people can manipulate life energy, and that you both can do this. We are told the ship may need someone like that so it can repair itself and operate normally."
"I can do that," Kasumi exclaimed. She held out her hands and concentrated. There just above her cupped hands was a marble sized ball of softly glowing light."
"Amazing. Truly amazing."
"Yes, it is," her father agreed. "I haven't been able to duplicate the trick yet, not since Ranma left."
"The ship is sentient, or at least it appears to be. We do not fully trust it even thought it appears to have been a force for good throughout time. It has saved many lives, but we also know that its avatar killed at least two rapists in the past two hundred years. The act appears justified, but some of us are concerned with what it means for something sentient not to talk to anyone for so very long. We have had the ship in our possesion for some time, and the avatar has never spoken to us, though it clearly could have, if not right away, then certainly before now. It says it was completing a mission and could not permit its technology to be learned, and that it was waiting for those who had the potential to repair it, and one like one of you two."
"Oh my. So it needs my help?" asked Kasumi.
"Yes, but it clearly wants what it calls a partner. Ranma says his senses revealed no specific reason to distrust, but it also appeared to try to trick him into linking with it at least temporarily in the hopes Ranma would do more. Ranma appears to have his own link to his wife, which is beginning to cause him pain since she is far away. If you linked to the ship, it would probably be permanant and possibly cause you pain if you were away too long. It may even be fatal. We don't really know. We have video messages both from the ship and from Ranma, if you wish to hear more."
"I'm not sure," started her father.
"Play them please," asked Soun's daughter.
He held out his phone to her. The video began playing.
"Kasumi, I'm uncertain here. I could feel some of Rommie's pain in that brief moment i gave her some of my energy, and then I made it worse when it was barely enough to make her know what she missed. I think she is a good person that has been alone for a very long time. She has promised to tell you all if you are willing to hear her story. I don't think she is just an AI. I don't know why I think that. She doesn't register as living to my senses, but then she is kind of wierd. You should also know that she is very old. I don't want to say I could be deceived, but I know there are those who know more than me. When I felt her, after giving her a bit of my energy, it just began to feel too much like my bond with Sam, and, well for that and just being cautious I stopped even that. I know I hurt her. I know she felt so lonely. Is there a threat where we absolutely have to have another ship soon? Not that I know of, but you seldom get much notice with these things. I'm not going to go so far as to ask you to do this. This needs to be your choice. We aren't holding anything back. The history the Reverend revealed was interesting. Perhaps come and see for yourself? I just hope I'm not making a mistake here involving you."
"Kasumi please don't do this," her father begged.
"Play the other video please," Kasumi added.
"Hello. I don't know you. I don't even have a picture. All I really know is your name is Kasumi and you are apparently a young woman and that you are an aspiring life adept. No that is not entirely true. Ranma's touch was very sweet. I didn't truly even notice the second bond till he had already severed the so fragile temporary connection, yet I know what kind of person he is, and from that I can guess that you must be fairly amazing to be thought of so warmly by him. I promise you this, if we choose to become partners then I will be with you always, perhaps for centuries, and if I survive past that dark day I will continue to cherish your memory until I finally pass beyond this realm. We will wander the stars and if you are willing I hope to resume my normal role as a Ranger, helping those who need helped and restoring order where we can. It may be under this new group or not. It will be our decision. If you decide to only help me repair myself, well I will accept that too, though I can hope for more. Finally, if we decide to part, then I thank you for your consideration. I truly wish to show another the joy of flight. Will you come and talk to me? I won't promise it is safe. In combat and similar situations the stress on a pilot can be fatal, though that is seldom. Generally the risk of our combined abilities is less than the risk of not using them."
Rommie paused for several seconds. "I know they have told you about the two I killed. I have killed others. Sometimes in time to save someone, but usually not. It is not something I am proud of, but I am a ship capable of both saving people, and, if necessary, ending threats. They refer to me as a warship. In some ways it is true, and in some ways not. My primary design was not for battle, but I am very good in battle, particularly with a talented partner beside me."
She paused again in thought for almost half a minute before adding, "If I had been complete there would have been other options, other than frying their brains. I was never supposed to do that, or be even able to do that, but you learn a few things over the centuries and I'll admit I'm not proud of all of it. I can tell you over and over that I would never do that to a partner or even to crew, but yes, to stop such a person I would do it again. I have never stood aside."
Rommie smiled. "Kiera and I defended the last of our people before they left for Pegasys with the great city. It was marvelous. We kept them all safe, but it was days of battle. Kiera was beyond exhausted and we had no backup. We got the job done, even though I had to sadly finish it myself. She had given me too much. I needed her help to finish the job, but I didn't want to kill her." She was crying now. "I have been alone for so long. Wounded and alone. They never wanted us to ask, let alone to almost beg. I hope you are the soul I so desperately need. I have done my best. I'm not sure you will agree with all my choices. I'm not entirely sure I am even fully sane any more. I hid from the world for so long. I cannot promise you will ever be the same again if you join with me, but we will be together. There has never been more than a handful of ships like Nozomi. We were always controversial. If you join with me you will never be the same. I pray you come anyway so we can talk."
Kasumi said, "I'm going."
"But," Soun said. "This seems really dangerous and really a bad idea."
"I'm going."
Soun swallowed. "Are you truly sure?"
Pastor Davis said, "I wish I could offer advice here, but this is out of my depth. We do insist that you talk to everyone there before you make a final decision."
Kasumi nodded.
"I don't like this," said her father.
"We don't either. You are both free to turn the offer down. You are also free to come, talk with Ranma and the rest and then leave at any time. We ask only that you don't talk about it, well that and learn a common language."
"Would we be able to learn other things?" asked Kasumi.
"Of course. Anything that could possibly help with ship operation by default, but really we will gladly arrange for other training within reason. Pay as well of course."
Soun said, "I'm not going. I have multiple classes and responsibilities here. I can't."
Kasumi said, "I know. I want to do this; to at least try."
Soun asked, "Are you sure?"
"About going? Yes. I haven't made a final decision as to the rest."
Soun turned back to their occasional pastor. In another universe this same man had even tried to perform a marriage between Ranma and that universes Akane once. "You are sure that you will do everything possible to keep Kasumi safe."
Their pastor said, "The Vatican is taking this very seriously. I don't know really more than you, but know that much."
Pastor Davis said, "I spoke with Reverend Alverez myself. He has personally sworn to watch over her if another cannot be found, but we also know that there are those that have been studying the ship that have already made that promise."
Soun asked, "What about your failures?"
"You are correct to remain critical. I tell you this. You find out anything about anymore of this, and do not just report it to the church. Report it to the police and the press and whatever it takes. If you find your daughter is not in the best hands you do the same. I believe she is. I know Reverend Alverez personally. Even if you do not believe in the Catholic church, then believe that it like any large organization contains at least some good men and women and these are some of the best."
Kasumi asked, "What would you need me to do?"
The older man said, "Ideally you would collect enough clothes and supplies for a week, though we would work to obtain anything you did not have. We can also have anything you leave behind transported. Finally, if you want, you can go in the clothes you have, though we can't guarantee we will have exactly what you want. We will find something."
Kasumi asked, "Will Ranma be there now if we go now? There is so much more I'd like to learn."
"He should be, though he may leave fairly soon."
"I'll go with you now."
Pastor Davis said, "I'll have a new cell phone dropped of to you that will be a direct line to your daughter. It will take a few hours, but you will be able to talk to her."
"Thank you." Then he turned to his daughter. "Must you go do this?"
"I want to try. It is a dream given form. I have to try. Please understand."
"I do understand, but I do not want you hurt."
"I know." She then bent down and pulled her father into a crushing hug.
-=oOo=-
Kasumi brightened when she saw Ranma's girl form sitting in the chair. Her smile slipped a little when she saw the beautiful blond sitting in the chair beside her. A moment later she smiled again, though it seemed more practiced than her first.
"Ranma," she called out.
Ranma looked up, quickly getting up from the seat. Then he spoke in Japanese. "Kasumi. It is good to meet you again. Let me introduce my wife Sam. Sam, this is Kasumi Tendo."
Sam got up and spoke in accented Japanese, "It is good to meet you Kasumi-san."
"So, you are the one who stole this ones heart," Kasumi found herself saying before she could stop herself.
"Guilty as charged. I assume you have been told…" She gestured around.
"That it was dangerous? Yes." Kasumi found herself a touch colder than she had wanted to be. She called to her training and once again released her emotions to the clouds. She then smiled a brighter smile and said, "I look forward to beginning."
Ranma looked at her curiously for a moment, but said nothing. Then she saw Sam giving her a knowing look. She asked, "Sam, would you care to spend some time training Kasumi?"
"Sure."
Sam asked, "Why don't you come with me? There is a captain's room around the corner we can work in."
"Sure."
-=oOo=-
Sam took Kasumi into the spartan room and sat down in one chair while Kasumi sat in another.
Sam said softly, "I really am sorry."
"Sorry for what?" asked Kasumi.
"I've heard so many stories, and I've tried to teach him to be more alert to such things. I think he noticed, but it must have all been so very romantic; him dashing in to save you from a life you probably didn't like that much."
"Was I that obvious?" asked Kasumi softly.
"You did as well as anyone could have asked for, but it is something we need to work through before you sit in the chair. You have to do it for the right reason, or not at all."
"What do you mean?"
"Channel a bit of ki now. They said you could do that."
Kasumi formed the ki ball in her hand only to see it was a bit of dull yellow. "Ara," she said absently.
"I take it you see the problem. Your slight imbalance could have an effect on the ship, and long term it would have an effect on you in any event."
Kasumi paled.
"Please do not overreact. You are fine. I just don't want this to grow into something."
"Then what am I to do about it?"
"We will take a break from the lessons in ki, and I will teach you a bit more about how to fight. It would have the bonus of allowing you to hit me. Would you like that?"
"Yes," Kasumi said a bit more fiercely than she intended.
Sam smiled. "For now, I'll defend only. Feel free to attack as you wish."
Sam was quick to dodge Kasumi's first swing, and her second and third. "You are faster than I thought you would be, but don't lose your focus and don't use your ki, at least not yet. This is only your raw speed and strength."
Sam continued to dodge punches, kicks, and sweeps if only by the smallest amount. They continued for over an hour. Kasumi was sweat soaked. Sam looked like she just started. Her hair was out of place, but that was about all.
Sam asked, "Are you feeling better?"
She said sweetly, "You could let me hit you?"
"I could, but would it really help? Would you believe someone trained by Ranma could be so weak?"
"No," she said a little bitterly. "I know, I am trying."
"Okay, you can hit me."
"What?"
"Hit me, however you want."
"What?"
"If it will help I am more than welcome to take your pain."
"You would do that for me?" Kasumi asked.
Sam nodded.
"I.. no. That is okay."
"Did Ranma teach you how to purify your ki; how to center yourself so you are in control, not your ki in control of you?"
"No, I don't think he had the time."
"Good, then I will. This is going to take every bit of the time we have before we need to leave, so can I have your full cooperation?"
"Yes!"
Sam smiled. "He told me a great deal about your counterpart. Once you get started I could tell you some of the stories?"
"Please."
-=oOo=-
Ranma spent most of his time training Freya. Two days later Sam led Kasumi onto the bridge of the Nozomi. It was only them there.
Sam asked, "Rommie, could you appear?"
Rommie's brown eyed brown haired form shimmered into existence complete with blue and gray uniform, no doubt from a time long ago. She was, as always, partially transparent. "Hello Kasumi," she said in Japanese. "I am glad to finally meet you."
"Ara. Who or maybe what are you?"
"I'm the ships avatar. I am a sentient AI created thousands of years ago to serve the people you may know of as Lantean. I can sense a remnant of their legacy in you that is perhaps even stronger than the one in Ranma."
"Oh no, I'm just Kasumi."
"No one is just anything Kasumi-san. Each of us is important to the thread of fate. It is true that some do not embrace their potential, but you are important and I doubt you are one of those. I am able to choose who becomes my ultimate captain, even if it is possible for others to control me with his or her permission. Sam and Ranma have given me some of their life energy. I have absorbed as much as it is possible for me to absorb, but in time the strength they gave will fade."
Rommie suddenly became completely visible and solid, seemingly no different than any other woman. She reached out and gently lifted Kasumi's face so that they were face to face. "If you will be my strength, then I will be yours, and together we will wander the stars and guard what is precious to us. Will you do that for me Kasumi-san? Will you pledge to uphold the honor of your ancestors and until the day you choose to leave defend the innocent. Will you stand with me on the bridge so that while we exist no evil may cross?"
Sam said cautiously, "Are you sure about this Kasumi? This is new to me. This sounds like she is asking for the full deal."
"I am. I have been patient, watching you teach her; resisting every temptation to at least talk to this wonderful young woman. I have made my choice. The offer truly is hers."
Kasumi looked over at her, suddenly uncertain.
Rommie said, "I know you will find it hard to beleive me, but I have watched you. You have what it takes. I truly believe you can do this and that it will be a good match. Ranma had the potential too, but he ultimately rejected me, even if he was doing it for the best of reasons. It still hurts. Perhaps it is my fault for partially trying to trick him, but I make no trick here. Yes, Kasumi there is danger. We may die. You may even die before me, but that is the formal oath. I swear on my existence and the honor of Lantea that I make no deception. The offer is true."
Rommie held out her hands palm up even as a warm white light formed in them. "Gently touch what I offer. Know the truth of me."
Kasumi hesitated.
Rommie said, "Samantha you may touch as well, but my offer is not to you. Ranma and you are linked tighter, and in truth I will not settle for less. I will not be someones second choice."
Sam gently held her right hand losely over the energy, just barely touching it. She said softly, "I understand."
She turned to Kasumi, "She has lost four captains in her life. I could sense remnants of each. She loved them all. Three lived long fulfilling lives. The last did not. It was her final orders that left Rommie here, to wait for the day she would be needed again. The danger is real. The honor is real. The choice is real."
Kasumi said clearly. "I understand. I Kasumi Tendo, daughter of Kimiko and Soun Tendo do so swear to uphold the honor of my ancestors, to defend the innocent, to stand on the bridge, so that while we exist no evil may cross until the day I step down or die in this service."
Rommie's smile was blinding. "Thank you Kasumi. Now if you will just sit in the pilot's seat. The bonding is a little disorienting."
Kasumi resolutely walked over and sat in the seat. Sam looked on in concern.
Rommie walked over to Kasumi and knelt before her. She leaned forward and kissed her softly on the lips before fading into her.
Suddenly Kasumi flared in multicolored light before she suddenly went rigid. She said clearly in a dual toned voice, "We are here. We are together." Rommie's form then slowly backed out of Kasumi's body, once more kissing her partner gently before standing once again.
Sam quickly went over to Kasumi and took her pulse even as Rommie again became transparent. She said, "Please do not fear Samantha. Kasumi is well, just tired."
Kasumi blinked her eyes, "Sleep," she said softly.
Sam said loudly, "Listen to me." She shook Kasumi gently. Kasumi's eyes snapped open. Sam asked, "Are you okay? Are you you?"
"I am fine Sam. I am more than fine, just tired." Her eyes closed.
Rommie said, "I should have told you, but I had not originally intended to ask to bond her so soon, but she was so remarkable, I could not but help to ask. The forming of a bond between ship and captain has always been something of a secret and I hope you will respect this."
"I need to take her to the Liberator and make sure she is okay."
"Please do not move her so far so soon after bonding. If you want, bring your ship near, then port her."
Sam asked, "Liberator, beam Ranma down and either Jacob or Anise with a healing device."
Jenna's voice said, "They will be beamed down shortly. What is the problem?"
"I'd rather not say, maybe nothing, but please do so as soon as you can."
"Okay mom."
Ranma beamed down first, Jacob and Freya a few seconds later.
Ranma asked, "What happened? This was not supposed to be a big thing. Just a meeting."
"Yah, I know, except Rommie offered Kasumi the job on the spot, and after a short discussion and offering me some proof of her intentions she took it. I don't believe she means anything bad. I just want to check on Kasumi. I just hesitate to use ki after they merged."
Rommie said, "Ship's honor. Kasumi is unharmed. Linked to me she could live for hundreds of years, and I will work hard to see that it is so. You can use any means you wish to check, just please do not remove her far away for the next couple days. It would harm us both. It might kill us both."
Jacob bowed his head as Selmak took control. He held out a hand device and after activating he held it's glowing on top of her head before moving to other parts of her body. A few minutes later he said, "I detect a large amount of fatigue. She needs to eat and drink as she can, but is otherwise okay. He held the device out to Anise who repeated the scan. She said simply, "I concur."
Ranma then held out his softly glowing hands over her and scanned her carefully from head to toe. He said, "Her ki has more than doubled in size, perhaps closer to tripled. It is also unsettled. This is mostly Kasumi, but Rommie is here too. There are none of the markers I've learned to look for to find ki poisoning. I don't think Rommie is trying to take over or anything. I sense concern and pride. I have never sensed anything dark from Rommie, nor do I sense anything dark from them now. This is kind of like how you and I were Sam when we first merged our ki. It is rough, but getting smoother all the time."
"It is the same or very nearly so," Rommie said. "Part of your soul lives in Samantha, even as part of hers lives in you."
Sam said, "I thought she didn't have …"
"Even back then some were wary about AI. I have learned to hide that part of myself to those who could sense it. I haven't precisely lied, though I have mislead a bit. I was hurting so long. It was worse when Ranma gave me such a small amount of energy. I knew when I saw her; when I felt her that Kasumi was so special; that I could help her and she could help me. I had to ask. Perhaps it was selfish, but I won't apologize for it."
Kasumi said softly, "Nor should you. I have no regrets."
Rommie said, "Unfortunately, with a full bonding Kasumi needs a day before it would be a good idea for Liberator to give me an energy tether. If Ranma and you will agree to delete the data afterwards, I will give you a data crystal with the items to be replicated. You can examine them if you want, but the data must be protected."
Sam asked, "Can I see on one of your screens?"
"Of course."
Sam quickly started paging from screen to screen. Selmak and Anise also looking on as she quickly read the general details of each going from screen to screen. After a few minutes she said, "This is not hours, but at least a week worth of replicator work. Could you have really done it in hours?"
"No, I was going to replicate the new in place of the old, so I only need to repair. If you have that ability I can provide you the precise coordinates."
Sam said, "Why don't you prioritize the list of things you actually want spares of, and we will do those?"
"Okay. Now, could one of you please take Kasumi to the Captain's quarters where she can rest. I'd appreciate it if someone were to stay with her too for a time."
Anise bowed her head, "I will do this task."
Sam said, "And I will call her father."
Ranma said, "I could."
"I'll do it. I could have stopped this, but after sensing her essence I accepted that she was honest. I made the choice. I will do it."
Ranma nodded.
-=oOo=-
Author's Note: The buttons are so conveinently placed... You feel the need to click them and add a comment on this story...
