Disclaimer: Don't own HYD

RECAP: Tsukasa tried to rush through the virtual professor program to chase after Makino. Meanwhile Makino finds herself and a patient on an alien space ship and confronts their captor. The patient seems to know the captor and begins negotiations.

Chapter 2 Rescue Interlude: Introducing Akira's Wife

Back in the Aurora Galaxy, Present Time

"Sir, there are 26 ships uncloaking off the starboard bow, and I cannot discern their signatures." Sakurako looked closer at the monitor. "In fact sir, their signatures seem to keep changing every moment. I can't get a lock on to it. What do I do? The captain can't be hailed in the holodeck until the virtual professor has decided that he has completed his course."

First officer Hanazawa Rui thought for a second, and then slightly smiled. "When they hail us, we will answer."

Sakurako nodded and waited. Sure enough once all 26 ships uncloaked, the main ship hailed them. "Sir, as you predicted, they are hailing us."

Rui looked at her and nodded. The person showed on screen. "Rui."

"Akira." Rui answered succinctly.

"I received your distress signal and got here as quickly as I could. What's up?" Akira asked.

Rui answered succinctly. "Tsukasa's mom."

"Makino?" Akira asked. Rui sighed and nodded. "What happened?"

"She hired Shiroisama and his men to ambush us and take Makino." Rui answered.

"Well, why didn't Jiroh and the fly boys take them out?" Akira asked.

"Because they had an armada of 36 fully armed battle class war birds, and by the time Jiroh's guys were ready, they had already boarded us, took what they came for, and jumped 200 light years away." Rui explained.

Akira looked around. "Where's Tsukasa? Don't tell me he went by himself to go after Tsukushi?"

Rui shook his head. "Nope, he's otherwise occupied."

Holodeck

"Next review question, when did Academy Associate Director and rumored space pirate Mimisaka Akira marry associate art professor Saje?" The computerized voice asked.

"That's easy. It was 15 months ago after his yakuza fiancée from the arranged marriage tried to have her killed." Tsukasa replied.

"Incorrect. That is when the marriage was registered in Japan." The program stated.

"No way, I was in the wedding. I distinctly remember that." Tsukasa puffed out his chest.

"That answer is incorrect. The correct answer is the first night they met, two years ago in Paris, France."

"What? No way." Tsukasa was shocked.

"Virtual professor?" Akira asked. Rui nodded as Akira smirked. "Idiot."

"Yep." Rui agreed.

"Do you guys have any other casualties or needs? You guys are sitting ducks out here like this. I'll leave ten of my ships with you, and rendezvous with 15 more and go after and crush the kidnappers." Akira planned.

"Akira." Rui spoke somberly.

Akira looked at Rui and then frowned. The foreboding he had had ever since receiving their distress signal caused him to be anxious. "Rui, no. Don't tell me." Akira shook his head. Rui nodded. "My wife?"

"They got her, Akira. Saje was in sick bay having a routine checkup with Makino, and they took her too when they boarded."

Akira shook his head and then banged his fist on the arm of his chair. How did that dragon lady find out about the connection? Akira sighed and ran his hands through his wavy hair. "Rui, I'll leave five ships with you and send for ten more to rendezvous with you. I'll take the rest and go after them. I will get them back."

"Akira." Rui spoke. Akira looked up at Rui. "Go get em and good luck." He gave him the thumbs up signal and smiled.

Akira returned the gesture. "Akira out." He closed the communication channel and turned to his navigation officer. "Ensign, see if you can pick up a trace of those 36 battle class cruisers and lay in a course to follow them. Anjinsan, power up the warp thrusters and get ready to move on my mark." He then turned on the internal P.A. system. "This is Pirate Mimisaka Akira, captain of the Serenity ship. We will be going to top warp speed and then jumping through a wormhole. Man your battle stations. We have a very precious cargo to retrieve from 36 fully armed war class ships with advanced weaponry, which we will meet on the other side of the wormhole. They may be waiting for us. Kakugoshiiya! That is all. Akira out."

His first officer turned to him. "Sir, you know we are always prepared for an all-out brawl."

"Continuing the story two years ago, Paris France." The computer asked.

"Virtual Professor, I don't have time for this. I have a rescue to mount and a ship to chase. Can't we put this off until after then?" Tsukasa asked.

"Probability of success of a rescue is only 1.1415607%. That is provided you can engage the hyper drive engines. At this point that is unlikely since they are off-line for maintenance. So continuing from two years ago, Paris France"

"Fine, whatever." Tsukasa waved his hand.

"Continuing the story two years ago, Paris, France." The computer repeated.

A/N: So we begin the shoujo part of the story. I know this was a short chapter interlude, but again I want to break up the chapters in a way that makes sense. So, be prepared for some longer chapters after this.