Babylon's Guardian
Chapter 8: Twin Revelations/The SWA Cometh
Recap: Ichigo Kurosaki has survived another encounter with the Minbari, but now he and Rukia must make a choice: use Orihime's Shin Shun Rikka to heal Garibaldi, or let someone sacrifice some of their life force to save him. And they do not know of G'Kar's investigations into the Shadow's attack on Quadrant 37, nor of Delenn's transformation. They will soon learn.
"He's not coming out of it."
Rukia looked at Ichigo, who continued to look at the unconscious Michael Garibaldi.
"Franklin's planning on using that alien healing device to save him."
"That will shorten the life of whoever's using it. You saw what it did to that asshole back in November."
Rukia nodded, remembering the doctor who killed a man using the very same device. Granted, he was threatening her daughter and he was a mass killer, (the Gates of Hell had popped up once again that day, scaring the shit out of all of them) but that put a dark cloud over the device.
"Well, WE can't use it."
"No. but what about Orihime's Shin Shun Rikka?"
"We'll need to keep Franklin and everyone out of here while she does what she needs to do. And while you and I have PPGs, Chad and Ishida don't."
Rukia smirked, then pulled out two extra PPGs.
"...I don't think Chad can even hold that thing. It's tiny."
Rukia would've kicked her boyfriend had he been talking about her.
He had a point, though: Chad's hands were massive. It the PPG wasn't made of something harder then diamond, he could crush it.
"Kido, then. I could put barriers up."
"Still need to get everyone out of here."
At that moment, Franklin and several members of his staff left, likely because of a fight caused by the Drazi.
"Perfect timing."
Orihime, Uryū and Chad walked in.
"Orihime, do your thing and patch him up. Rukia, seal the doors."
Babylon 5: Council chambers
The meeting had just ended, and Sheridan was annoyed with Londo bitching about how G'Kar and Delenn were making the meetings almost meaningless.
His link beeped.
'More annoyances.'
"Sheridan, go."
"Captain, someone just locked me and my staff out of Medlab!"
"Oh, HELL."
He ran to the transport tube, assuming that someone was going to try and kill Garibaldi.
Luckily for them, no one was killing anyone.
By the time Sheridan arrived, the staff were in Medlab and Garibaldi was perfectly fine, although still unconscious.
And someone shorted out the security cameras, so no one knew who did it.
Franklin shook his head.
"Well, I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth."
Sheridan sighed.
"Great."
He was a fan of mysteries, but this was ridiculous. And that train of thought brought up Ichigo Shiba.
While no photos existed of the Kurosaki family pre-2060, the name Ichigo Kurosaki DID appear in 1993's birth records, and Ichigo looked very much like flight instructor Lt. Commander Kaien Kurosaki, who died on the Line, and nowhere could he find a birth certificate with the name 'Ichigo Shiba'.
And nowhere did he find Ichigo's name in the Earthforce records before 2258, when he suddenly appeared on Babylon 5.
"I want security down here now. Double shifts if need be! I do not want to lose Garibaldi!"
He left Medlab with a scowl on his face.
Little did the good Captain know his life was about to get worse.
Much worse.
Outside the station, a pair of large shuttles arrived.
They carried the be-all, end-all of headaches for any dimension: The Shinigami Women's Association.
Babylon 5: Green 1, Level 5
Rukia stared at her phone.
"Oh, NO."
Ichigo, who was busy getting out of his uniform, looked at his girlfriend.
"What?"
"The SWA. They're HERE!"
If that wasn't incentive enough, the look on Rukia's horrified face was enough to make Ichigo want to hide in a bunker full of machine guns and a nuke.
Babylon 5: Passenger Terminal
The SWA had arrived, and already, they were causing chaos.
And the only one responsible was the well-endowed Rangiku Matsumoto, the ultimate pain in the ass and Lieutenant of the 10th Division.
Sui-Feng, Captain of the 2nd and Commander of the Onmitsukidō, was three seconds from pulling out Suzumebachi and going Bankai just to shut her up.
As Ichigo and Rukia did, they all wore Earthforce Navy uniforms.
Matsumoto's blue jacket was unzipped and a good percentage of her cleavage was hanging out, as with her shihakushō.
Everyone else was dressed normally, although Unohana's ponytail was tied backwards rather then hanging out in front as usual.
Earthforce regulations were a bitch like that.
And it was Matsumoto's far too small uniform that was causing the most problems.
"Good God, lady, button that thing up! There's children around!"
"I can't! Too small, you see."
'Seeping crest of turbidity, Arrogant vessel of lunacy-'
Zack Allen, acting Deputy Chief of Security, looked annoyed as all hell.
"Lady, either button it up or I'm throwing you in the brig for public indecency."
Sui-Feng could come to like the man.
Matsumoto pouted, then tried buttoning up.
One popped out and hit Zack in the face.
"Boys, get her down to the Quartermaster's Office and get her a properly sized uniform."
He turned to the rest of the disguised SWA.
"The rest of you are free to go. Welcome to Babylon 5."
Babylon 5: Green 1, Level 5
"How the hell did you get that thing?"
Ichigo was wearing heavy assault armor, had a heavy repeating PPG and was sitting in what looked like a bunker.
"They nearly ruined my life once. They are staying away from me now."
The SWA DID screw up Ichigo's life once: the Summer Beach Incident, as everyone else called it. \How the hell they got permission to come to Babylon 5 was beyond the 13th Division Lieutenant, as coming there was still off limits to everyone but herself and other members of the 13th Division, and no one had any real reason to come other then bothering Ichigo.
The door chimed, then opened. In came Uryū.
"I just came to warn you: the SWA is here, and they're looking for your quarters."
Ichigo realized there was only one way to avoid the witches of that unholy organization now.
He shunpo'ed out, heading for the Cobra Bays.
"Good thing he's a Starfury pilot."
"That's not going to help him."
"Actually, it will. They can't get him in space. That's why we have the Fleet Division, because while shinigami can survive in the vacuum of space, we can't do our jobs in it."
Babylon 5: Cobra Bays
Ichigo ran, screaming, into the locker room before grabbing his flight suit and helmet, then running like hell to his Black Sun 'Fury.
Zeta Squadron watched the whole affair, and had the 'What the fuck?' look on their faces.
Ichigo finally got to his Fury and was launched into the black.
'Is there a good reason you ran?'
'Have you ever dealt with the SWA, Zangetsu?'
'No. And I pray I never have to.'
'Then you know WHY I'm in this Starfury and not dealing with them.'
'Ichigo, they could easily get their hands on a Starfury.'
'I doubt it.'
He joined Alpha Squadron on CAP, and prayed the SWA would be gone soon.
Babylon 5: Green 1, Level 5
Sui-Feng had long since left the rest of the SWA to their own devices, having found Ichigo's quarters while they were off looking at the stores, (and in Matsumoto's case, getting stone drunk) and planning on getting revenge for taking all of Yoruichi's attention 250 years earlier.
She hacked the controls (she DID have two centuries to learn, and learn she did) and opened the door.
"Kurosaki?!"
"Ichigo isn't here right now, ma'am."
She looked at Rukia, who was busy cleaning the rank insignia on her uniform and sitting on the bed Ichigo normally slept on.
"And where is he?"
"He's one of the station's Starfury pilots, and he didn't want to deal with the SWA, so-"
Sui-Feng quickly left, planning on killing Ichigo.
Outside the station
'I get the feeling someone is going to try and kill me.'
His feeling was right.
Alpha Squadron was fired on, forcing them to break off.
Ichigo quickly barrel rolled and found out WHAT had lost at them: a stolen Delta Squadron Aurora.
And piloting it was none other then Sui-Feng.
'When the hell did SHE learn how to fly?!'
He quickly evaded her fire, and used his superior skills to dart in another around the station's support struts.
"Good God, what the fuck is her problem?!"
He was not going to fire on one of B5's Starfuries.
"B5 Control, I have a problem!"
"We've noticed, Lieutenant Shiba. Hang on."
White bolts of energy passed the 'Fury, missing the solar collector panels by mere meters.
"C&C! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"
"Stand by, Lieutenant!"
A burst scored a hit on the upper starboard wing. "I CAN'T! FUCK IT!"
He spun and returned fire, forcing the angry captain of the 2nd Division to back the hell off. Seconds after she dodged, C&C took control of the Fury and turned it back.
"About time."
"Sorry about that, Lieutenant. Who the hell would want to kill you, though?" "Just keep the pilot as far away from me as possible. I think I know who it is. Returning to CAP."
The Aurora rejoined the reformed Alpha Squadron team.
'My life sucks.'
'That's life in general, King.'
Ichigo rolled his eyes
'I know that, Shiro.'
Babylon 5: Sheridan's office
"An Earthforce officer, who was jealous of you in the Academy and hates you because you were just better then her tried to kill you?"
Ichigo nodded. Sui-Feng had been thrown into the brig, and now Ichigo had to deal with Sheridan.
"Sir, don't you have anything else to deal with? Lt. Commander-"
"Commander Ivanova is busy with the Drazi situation. And she's been promoted."
Ichigo's link beeped. "Shiba."
"Ichigo, Ambassador G'Kar wants to speak with you."
Ichigo looked at Sheridan.
The Captain finally decided to let the time traveler go.
"Fine. Link in later. Besides, you actually didn't do anything to provoke her."
"Anything that I know of. She's a BIT of a bitch."
Sheridan chuckled.
"A violent one."
Babylon 5: Debarkation Terminal
"You ruined our trip, Captain!"
Sui-Feng pointed at her rank badges, which were those of a Lieutenant in Earthforce.
"I'm a Lieutenant here, Ensign. And I did what I thought was right."
"Getting revenge for Yoruichi when she didn't want it to begin with isn't right, ma'am. It's stupid."
Sui-Feng looked at Matsumoto.
"From your point of view."
Isane, who had grown a backbone over the last two centuries, scoffed.
"From EVERYONE'S point of view. And now Rukia's going to report us, because we're technically not supposed to be here! If it weren't for Ca-Commander Unohana, we wouldn't even be here!"
Sui-Feng scowled at the thought of the reports she was going to have to write for this.
The Captain-General's orders were clear: no one goes to Babylon 5 except on business.
Yachiru twisted this in a way everyone saw coming and got Unohana to get them to the living realm, get gigais from Urahara and go to Babylon 5 to tour the station.
Yachiru, of course, was barred from going.
Babylon 5 wouldn't survive her visiting again.
"Did you enjoy yourselves, at least, girls?"
Matsumoto started talking about her limited experience in the Zocalo's bars after getting her uniform properly sized, and Sui-Feng started resiting the incantation for Kurohitsugi and Raikōhō, and focused on Matsumoto.
Babylon 5: Council Chambers
G'Kar, Na'Toth and Ichigo stood in the Council Chambers as they thought about what just happened do the cruiser G'Kar had sent to Z'ha'dum.
Someone had destroyed it, that much was sure, but Sheridan and Londo seemed convinced that it was a malfunction as it happened just after the G'Quan-Class ship left hyperspace.
It was more practical to believe.
Ichigo saw it for what it was: Londo had to have informed Morden.
Ichigo couldn't blame the Centauri Ambassador, as the man didn't have a clue what he was doing.
"If I may I address the Council?"
Everyone turned to face Lennier, who had entered without them noticing.
"Yes, Mr Lennier?"
"Ambassador Delenn has been unavailable of late. She has now returned, and wishes to know if she can now take back her seat on the Council."
Sheridan smiled.
"Yes, of course. Please, have her come in. I've been looking forward to meeting her."
Lennier bowed and stepped aside as Delenn, wearing a white robe with a hood, walked in.
She stopped, then took the hood off her head.
Ichigo gaped.
Delenn had HAIR on her head.
The crest was very reduced, and her ears were also in a more human position.
'Holy. Shit. THAT'S what she's been up to in that thing?!'
Everyone had some kind of shocked look on their faces.
Delenn's eyes met Sheridan's for a moment, and she bowed when she looked at him.
Not out of hate, but recognition.
Delenn had met Sheridan before.
Franklin had said he and the Captain had worked together in the past, trying to reach a peace agreement with the Minbari during the War.
Someone attacked and killed the Minbari Ambassador, and they were captured and brought before a member of the Gray Council saved only by Sheridan's use of the Minbari word Insil'zha, meaning 'the Future'.
Now Ichigo knew which one: Delenn. (AN: Canon: In the Beginning, so no bitching. In fact, watch the (CENSORED FOR MA+ CONTENT) movie. It'll help for Season Three)
Ichigo left, deciding to see his midget before he lost what was left of his sanity.
I decided to say 'fuck it'. Besides, there wasn't much for Ichigo to do during Revelations.
Sui-Feng HATES Ichigo, as he treats Yoruichi like everyone else while she treats her like a god and believes everyone else should do the same.
Hence, the attempt on his life. She's still kind of insane.
Now everything picks up.
Bleach Canon Rant (do not scroll down if you do not want to see spoilers)
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What. The. Fuck?
Kubo, I think, is honestly trying to fuck with us. Zangetsu, Ichigo's zanpakutō, is actually the avatar of his Quincy powers, while his Hollow, who kept trying to hijack his body, is the real avatar of his shinigami powers?!
Congratulations, Tite Kubo: you have earned the Bullshitter of the Year Award.
He's almost like the producers of Battlestar Galactica during Season 4: 'Here's Earth! Oh, wait, it's a nuclear dust bowl'.
I expect one HELL of an explanation for this next week, and not the bullshit Kubo just fed us. And if Ichigo has to relearn all of his powers (shikai, bankai and Hollowfication) I am going to be ROYALLY PISSED. I mean, I have to use this shit in the sequel to WSR, for God's sake, and I'm sure there are many, many people who are just as pissed as I am.
Don't expect me to put the spoilers in too often: I think I'll wait every three weeks to post in one of my Bleach fics.
Next Time on Babylon's Guardian: A ship from the past arrives, and Ichigo must fight a monster stronger then anything he had faced on Babylon 5 yet.
Ja Ne!