Iczer-one Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Earth Child ❯ Familiar Encounters ( Chapter 7 )

The Earthchild

 

(An Iczer/Ranma/Sailor Moon Crossover)

 

Written by

Jim Robert Bader

 

Proofread by

Shiva Barnwell

 

(Inspired by the works of Rumiko Takahashi,

Naoko Takeuchi, Toshihiro Hirano, & Hitoshi Okuda,

with ideas and suggestions by TH Tiger and Johannes Huber)

 

 

 

 

 

“I see…” mused Sir Violet, leaning on her staff as she considered the image of her terrestrial counterpart, the Lady Protector of their C'thuwulf Earthbase, “So…in other words the enemy appears to have our technology insofar as they are able to create their own Iczer Robo, and this Bioroid who claimed to be Iczer Two's daughter, this self-described Nova?”

 

“That is the gist of the report my sisters related when I debriefed them,” Iczer One replied, “Apparently our enemy is the same one that we faced so long ago, before we put our protection protocols into place…”

 

“You mean before I allowed myself to be taken over and used as their pawn,” Violet sighed, “You don't need to mince words with me, Iczer One…my memory is still vivid concerning the time when I foolishly allowed Big Gold to control the destiny of our people.”

 

“Those times are long in the past,” Iczer One replied, “You must not dwell upon a single mistake that was reversed long before the present era. We must concentrate our resources to deal with the new enemy, the one presently at hand…”

 

“Quite right,” Violet nodded, “But as you are our chosen Protector, I think it right that you should lead the C'thuwulf in at this time while I maintain the civilian end of our defenses.”

 

“That would be wise,” Iczer One agreed, “The morale of our people is every bit as important as our physical defenses, and there must never again be a repeat of the Intrusion. As a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, so too are our people bound together by the strength of character. Should one of us falter, it might create the opening that the enemy will need to infuse its presence among us again…”

 

“As happened before when I proved to be that weak link?” Violet asked with no little irony in her voice, “Perhaps I am not exactly the best example to use as a leader in these times…”

 

“No,” Iczer One replied, “You are exactly the right kind of leader that we need, Mother to us all. You are proof that the hope and the dream for our people can never truly die. You, more than any other, know what the consequences would be if we were fall under the dominion of the enemy once again. No one better knows what is at stake here, and what signs we should look for. You are the symbol of our survival and continuation, and so you can best serve us by giving others the confidence that we will need to persevere against the darkness.”

 

“I hope that you are right,” Violet replied, “The last time it took you altering reality to void our doom, and there is no telling what extremes might be needed should the enemy prove more formidable than even we are estimating.”

 

“The jury is still out on that,” Iczer One replied, “Are there any points of irregularity out on your end?”

 

“No,” Violet replied with some surprise, “That is the curious thing…all of the troubles that we have noted so far seem to be concentrated on the Earth, especially around New Gamora. Our Iczelion scouts report clear space all around the Worldship, and we're hoping that this condition will continue…but if matters take a turn for the worst, then we are prepared to take whatever steps are necessary to protect the Earth and our people.”

 

“This very much would seem to fit the pattern that we have noticed so far,” Iczer Two said grimly, “Is Sister Grey online?”

 

“I am here, Protector,” a fair-haired woman stepped forward to share a space in the light of command chamber.

 

“Are your people making any progress in determining the nature of these infusions and where they might be originating?” Iczer One inquired, “It would help if you could give us a lead to the lair or stronghold of the Venomoids, or at least give us some idea of how large an enemy force we may be up against so that we can prepare for a worst-case scenario…”

 

“I am sorry, Protector,” Grey replied, “We are still going over the data to determine the nature of these attacks, but we have ruled out a terrestrial source for these intrusions…in fact, we are almost certain that the attacks are crossing through the Subspace net from a source in a parallel dimension…possibly on one of the shadow earths that we have been monitoring with our sensor probes. I think you can see what disturbing implications this leaves open…”

 

“I…do,” Iczer One said grimly, “And if you are right, then it would explain many of the puzzling things that we have encountered in these attacks, not least of which is the existence of another Iczer.”

 

“In which case further research would be prudent,” Violet counseled, “But I think it would be safe to say that the enemy has only just begun to tip her hand, and if we are correct in this new speculation, then it is possible that far worse is in store for us all. Be wary, Protector, I believe that the past few days have been only an opening salvo.”

 

“My thoughts run along similar lines, Mother to us all,” Iczer One replied, “Vigilance runs both ways, however, and my sisters stand united with me to resist the enemy should they attempt to inflict their evil on our new home planet. Protector Kano out.”

 

Sir Violet sighed as she leaned against her command staff, gazing at the starry night-field that lay beyond their moon-sized vessel, then murmuring softly to herself, “Ah…my daughter…I hope that your faith in me is well placed, for we will need all of our resources in the coming days ahead if our fears prove valid…”

 

Back on Earth in the command center, Iczer One had similar misgivings as she turned to Nagisa, then said, “We may be in for much worse than we thought. If it turns out to be Gold…”

 

“Hey,” Nagisa tried to reassure her, “You beat her twice, we can do it to her again if she raises her sorry head to try and give us grief for a third time.”

 

“WE defeated her the last time, Nagisa-chan,” Iczer One smiled softly, “But even then it was no easy battle. Sayoko was fairly exhausted using her Iczelion powers as she did, and my sister is presently comforting her while they share the regenerative process together. Whoever this Nova is, she was strong enough to give Troi a rough time, and you know how formidable my Sisters are in a battle.”

 

“So what?” Nagisa shrugged, “You're still the strongest one of the bunch, and you've got me to back you up…so what could go wrong?”

 

“Let's hope we don't find out,” Iczer One averred, all too much aware of what a broad statement such as that could portend, “But in the meantime we have something of a more personal nature to consider. Our Rhea has several times now made contact with her new partner…but this…Muku Dori Senzenen…”

 

“I follow you,” Nagisa nodded, “She could be the weak link you were talking about a moment ago, and that could spell bad news for our little Rhea.”

 

“I am thinking…” Iczer One hesitated, “Perhaps we may not have the luxury of waiting for Rhea to bring her Partner in gently. There may be a need to directly intervene in this matter…”

 

“You mean the way you did with me?” Nagisa smiled in a way that triggered memories in both women.

 

In response to this Iczer One could only sigh and roll her eyes, “Oh yes…I remember how famously well that went…”

 

“I wasn't ready to have someone like you in my life,” Nagisa replied, “It took me time to get used to the idea, let alone to get a hang on this Partnership deal…but now that we've passed all of the hurdles, I wouldn't change a thing about it…at least in the present reality that you created.”

 

“But your point is well taken,” Iczer One nodded, “Going too fast could prove catastrophic. At best we would be…meddlesome parents intruding in the personal life of our daughter…”

 

“And at worst we could wind up driving a wedge between our child and her significant other,” Nagisa said softly, then paused before adding, “By the way…where is Rhea-chan? Isn't she back yet from visiting her White Starling?”

 

“Now who sounds just like a mother?” Iczer One half-smiled.

 

“Very funny,” Nagisa sniffed, “So…do you think we should worry? I mean…they might have run into trouble again, and the last time Rhea-chan got injured…”

 

“I do not sense…hostility or danger…emanating from Rhea at the moment,” Iczer One said thoughtfully, “Instead I sense…nervousness, hopefulness, uncertainty and…how curious…a flavor that I should know from somewhere before. It tastes almost like…okonomiyaki?”

 

“Okonomiyaki?” Nagisa blinked, “You mean…like maybe they went to a restaurant? Like…on a date? Hey! What if this Muku chick tries to put the moves on our Rhea…?”

 

“I should think that you would have more faith in our child to behave herself in such a matter,” Iczer One said in amusement.

 

“It isn't Rhea I'm worried about,” Nagisa said crossly, “You know how us Earth Girls tend to behave with you C'thuwulf…maybe this Muku can't keep her hands off our little Rhea…”

 

“I hardly think that would be likely,” Iczer One replied.

 

“Why not?” Nagisa shot back with a winsome smile, “Do you think I'd trust myself around you on a date? Don't forget that this Muku is supposedly a perfect match for our little Rhea…”

 

“Ah…” Iczer One tried to think about it and found her mind balking, but then she dismissed the thought with a casual, “Well…it hardly matters anyway. I sent Troi along to bring her home, and my sister has promised that she will be discrete in making contact…”

 

“What???” Nagisa reacted, blinking, “You sent TROI to check on RHEA, and you expect her to be discrete about it? Honey…are you out of your mind or something?”

 

“But Troi knows her way around in the human world,” Iczer One insisted, “And she knows as well how to keep a low profile…”

 

“A-hah,” Nagisa said skeptically, “Pull the other one. Think about it, I-chan, Troi---Iczer Three---keeping a low profile? You know what that means?”

 

“Ah…well…um…” Iczer One visibly blanched, “I...think I see your point…”

 

“That's it,” Nagisa sniffed, “You're coming with me back into the regenerator just as soon as Two and Sayoko get back out again! No way am I taking it easy with your hell-on-wheels sibling on the loose. I love her like she was my own sister, but Troi is a BAAAAAD influence for Rhea, and you well know it.”

 

“Um…did I err?” Iczer One asked with a sheepish expression.

 

Nagisa sighed, coming off her high-horse, then shrugged her shoulders and said, “Oh well…we all make mistakes, and after all…you're only human…” she grinned sweetly, taking her partner by the hand and squeezing it in a reassuring manner, all the while trying to picture in her mind the unlikely concept of the silver haired Iczer Three maintaining her idea of a “low profile…”

 

 

 

 

“Well, what do you think?”

 

Rhea took the wafer of piping hot cheese, crust and toppings and held it up to her lips, taking great care in biting the solid food in a delicate manner, much as she had been taught to do by her mother. To her surprise the flavor proved indescribably good, and after a few moments of dainty chewing with her eyebrows fully raised she turned to the chef and declared, “It's very good…”

 

“The best in Japan,” Sakura said with understandable pride, glancing at an older counterpart to herself and saying, “Just the way my mother taught me.”

 

“What can I say?” the older woman said as she ruffled the younger one's hair with affection, “A real chip off the old block, like mother like daughter, right Sugar?”

 

“Oh…sure,” Sakura managed to say without wincing, “Must be genetics…or something like that…”

 

“Oh, genetics is very important to development,” Rhea remarked between taking, chewing and swallowing more modest bites, “But there is much to be said for learning about your individual potential. My mothers, for example, are both excellent fighters, but I needed to study a variety of techniques in order to fully master them. You can't program the finer nuances of battle without living them first…”

 

“Um…excuse me?” Ken asked, “Did you just say…mothers? As in plural?”

 

“Um…yes,” Rhea said sheepishly, “I don't…really have a…father, at least not in the sense you would be thinking of at the moment…”

 

“Sounds like a pretty interesting place where you hail from,” Yumi noted.

 

“I'd like to know more about what she means by programming,” Yui frowned, “It sounds almost like she was comparing herself to a computer.”

 

“Um…perhaps that was a poor analogy,” Rhea considered, “Neural programming isn't the same as working with your silicon-based relays…which are much too crude and mechanical, for one thing…”

 

“You know of something better?” Sakura asked with a puzzled expression.

 

“I…know of…other ways in which to employ advanced technology,” Rhea admitted with a sheepish expression, “I…was not intending to imply anything disrespectful...”

 

“I agree with Yumi-chan, it does sounds as though you come from a very interesting place,” Perm remarked in calm observation, “So…how did you and Muku-san first meet?”

 

“Um…guys?” Muku winced, “Could you mind laying off the twenty questions? I mean, she's still new in town and already you're pumping her for information. Let her finish her meal first, then if she wants to talk about it, you can grill her…”

 

“Oh, I do not mind conversing with your friends, Muku-chan,” Rhea assured, “It is an honor to meet with them, as it was in meeting your parents…”

 

“You met her parents?” Sakura replied with arching eyebrows.

 

“Oh yes,” Rhea replied, “They're…quite nice people, especially her mother…”

 

“What about Muku's father?” Yui asked.

 

“Oh…he's…very nice too,” Rhea said with obvious reluctance, “He is very skilled…I can see where Muku learned so much from him, and where she gained her superb reflexes…”

 

“You have a problem with men, don't you?” Ken remarked with a cautious expression.

 

“I'm sorry,” Rhea looked down rather than glance directly at him, “It is not that…there is anything wrong with you…it is just that…” again she hesitated, clearly reluctant to complete the rest of her statement.

 

Fortunately for her a sympathetic ear was on hand, as Sakura's mother said, “Sugar, there's lots of us women who have a problem with men. Take Muku-chan's own mother, for example…she had a real problem dealing with boys our age long before she met up with Mikado…”

 

“Auntie?” Muku's ears perked up as she heard a reference to the premarital days of her parents, a time of which she had only the sketchiest information.

 

“Of course I had my own share of hassles dealing with boys before I met my husband,” the older Saotome continued, earning a studious look from her curious daughter, “Heck, I even tried passing myself off as a boy for a number of years before I decided I liked being a girl, which is when I chose to marry my Ranma…”

 

“You…disguised yourself as a…boy?” Rhea asked in surprise, “Why would you do this?”

 

“Long story, Sugar,” the owner of the restaurant waved a dismissive hand, then stared a bit more intently at Rhea before saying, “You know…you remind me of someone I once knew a long time ago…never did catch her name, but with those eyes and ears, I think you definitely must be related…”

 

“That…does not seem too likely, Saotome-sama,” Rhea replied, “My family tends to be a bit…clannish…”

 

“Well, it's no nevermind,” the senior chef sniffed, “So…how did you and Muku-chan meet anyway?”

 

“Ah…well…” Muku hesitated, “We just sort of…ran into each other on the way to school, and later on she…um…dropped by to see how I was doing…”

 

“That isn't how you told it to me and Sakura,” Yumi chimed in, “There were monsters in that version, and you made it sound like she's twice saved your life.”

 

“Oho?” the senior chef remarked with lifted eyebrows, “I guess that makes you something of a heroine, young lady…”

 

“Um…I'm not sure if that is how I would put things, Lady Saotome,” Rhea said with reluctance.

 

“Call me Ukyo,” the older woman seemed amused by the self-effacing manner of the “elf-girl,” who then added slyly, “Or Ucchan…either one's good enough for me. Mrs. Saotome makes me sound like somebody's mother…”

 

“Mom,” Sakura winced.

 

Muku felt sympathetic to the embarrassed feelings of her oldest friend, but when she glanced at her newest companion she felt an odd mix of confusing emotions. It was not just sympathy over the way Rhea was being pestered with questions by the rest of her friends and close associations, it was the sense that this entire situation was apparently so new to Rhea's experience that she felt as if the girl would melt right through the seat of her chair at any minute. That the strawberry blonde “elf girl” was at least making an effort to socialize with the others was something that could be appreciated on a certain level, but Muku felt as if---at any minute---one of her friends would ask a much-too-personal question and Rhea would be compelled to answer with honesty and integrity in terms that would really turn heads and convince everyone that Muku was just as strange by association.

 

But then she sensed---as well as felt---how Rhea stiffened and sat more alert in her chair as though hearing a sound that only her ears could detect. Then---very slowly---Rhea began to turn around, only to hear a voice call out, “Well…so this is where you got off to, young lady. Fancy meeting you here of all places…”

 

 

 

 

“Hey, check it out,” said Otaru to his street companions as they turned their heads in time to see the motorcycle pulling up alongside the curve upon which they were standing.

 

“Whoah,” said Hiyami, the second oldest of the youths present, “What planet did that momma hail from?”

 

“I dunno,” agreed Yonta, the third of their little street-savvy group, “But wherever it is, I wanna go there for a visit!”

 

The driver of the motorcycle, a sleeveless leather-jacketed, statuesque beauty whose long mane of silvery hair hung down her back like a flowing cape. As she drew her powerful vehicle to a stop alongside a certain restaurant she adjusted the sunglasses that she was wearing and smiled. Said smile did not go unnoticed by the trio of street toughs, who interpreted it as a sign of a friendly disposition.

 

Said “friendly” look clashed somewhat with the hard-edged “biker babe” look that she was doing her best to uphold, her long legs barely contained by a set of jeans that were two sizes too tight around her hips. A bare midriff exposing her middle half while the halter-top that (barely) contained her bounteous upper chest. A pair of metal studded boots and a dangling chain about her waist added to the appearance of a “tough girl” on a machine too large for someone so slender and graceful looking. Even her curiously pointed ears seemed to somehow add weight to the impression of a “Elf” dressed up like a heavy-metal biker, and the low-slung cap that completed the impression made her look like a refugee from the “Wild Bunch,” unusual even for the modern-day streets of a province like Nerima.

 

Most curious of all, she seemed to be focusing her attention on a local okonomiyaki restaurant that was connected to a dojo, a well-known landmark on the Nerima landscape, and home to many a legend that the locals here spoke of with awe and disbelief, though the white haired beauty was chiefly concerned with something that she sensed was inside the building…

 

Or rather…someone.

 

“Well now,” Troi remarked, in wry amusement, “Who's going native this time around, eh? Not too shabby, Niece…and definitely on par for our jolly little family.”

 

“Yo, big Silver Momma!” Otaru hailed as he and his comrades approached, “You new in these parts, or are you looking for somebody special?”

 

“That would be me, right?” Hiyami leered as he leaned on Otaru's shoulder and eyed the silver-haired biker with undisguised interest, “You're looking for a real man, I'm you're number one choice.”

 

“In your dreams,” Yonta snorted, “She's looking for a guy who can rock her world, not make her puke up her lunch.”

 

“Hmm,” Troi gave the trio a quick scan to make sure that none of them were carrying the Venomoid influence, then smiled when she read them as all-clear and “mostly harmless.” She lowered the kickstand and dismounted from her bike, then stood to her full height and said, “Sorry boys, I'm a little bit too far outside your league. Besides, I've got business to attend to.”

 

“You want business, we can help,” Otaru said hopefully.

 

“Yeah, we know all about this neighborhood,” Hiyami offered, “We can show you sights you won't find in any of the tour books.”

 

Troi mused that these fellows were considering her an “easy pick up,” and considered disabusing them of that notion in quick good order. Her sisters would definitely make plain their lack of interest in the male half of the human population, Iczer One by ignoring their clumsy pick-up lines, Two by flattening them where they stood, then stepping on their egos in passing, but Troi was of a very different make and model. She had tried men in the past and found them…amusing. She was primarily female-oriented, of course, but she was at least willing to experiment with something new and different, unlike some C'thuwulf, who could not even bear the sight of a man without flinching.

 

But this was no time to pick up a quick date…later, maybe, but not while they were faced with a looming crisis. After the battle was ended was a good time to come back and explore “alternative” options, which meant that burning her bridges here was definitely not a tactic to her liking.

 

“Thanks for the offer, boys,” Troi smiled, removing her sunglasses, “And I'm flattered, really, but…like I said before, I'm a little too fast for you. Give it a couple of years and I'll bet you three will turn out to be really something.”

 

“Are you calling us boys?” Yonta replied, hooking a thumb as he said, “We're not, we're men!”

 

(Yeah,) Troi thought to herself with amusement, (and how long have any of you been shaving?) Aloud what she said was, “Yeah, I can see you are…” she looked him up and down with meaning, then she playfully stretched out a hand and cupped the guy's groin area, giving him a very light and playful “squeeze,” just to get her point across without hurting him and added, “And I'll bet you'd like to let this bad boy out to play…but…I've really got to get on to my appointment. I've got a niece I want to snag, and family takes precedence over fun where I come from.”

 

“Urk!” Yonta winced, more for effect than in actual pain as Troi sauntered on by him with an exaggerated wiggle in her hips. The other two youths followed her movements as though she was a loadstone and their eyes were bar magnets.

 

“Hey, wait…” Otaru said as he shook off his daze, “You're an aunt? No way!”

 

“You don't look old enough to get carded!” Hiyami protested.

 

Troi paused to fetch them a glance over her shoulder, then smiled in a way that could only set male pulses to racing and added in a sultry voice, “Don't let appearances fool you, boys…I may be young for my age, but I'm mature in all the ways that really matter.”

 

The sound of a triple “GULP” could be heard as the trio stared after the wake of the platinum haired Iczer, the rage of male hormones at war with an instinctive sense that the new object of their fantasies was definitely of a class well beyond their dreams of acquisition. Of course they had to wonder about the curious embroidery on the back of her jacket, which bore the Mong symbols in kanji that read, “ICZERS RULE!” in bold silver relief.

 

Troi could not help smiling to herself, amused as she was at the predictable behavior of the strange life form known as the “male of the species.” Ten years of close observation and association with Earth creatures had given her some insight into the strange internal dynamic that characterized masculine behavior, no matter what age beyond puberty to obsolescence. She could remember a time when men had seemed strange and even threatening, a great unknown and unfathomable enigma that no C'thuwulf nor Bioroid could ever hope to unravel.

 

Experience and close association with a number of male friends had taught her not to fear this enigma, nor to feel threatened by the fact that men found her sexually exciting, or even to find it in the least bit unsettling since she had a better grasp of why men felt that way towards women than most others of her class and culture. Troi did not share their level of excitement, unfortunately…there was just something missing from male anatomy that failed to “flip her switches,” like it would for a normal Earth woman. Something in biology and evolution, she reckoned, or perhaps the fact that her very construction was geared to a different sort of outlet, but still and all Troi could have fun with men and even obtain a measure of satisfaction from their exchanges. It certainly could liven up an evening, amusing herself by studying their reactions to her well-learned and carefully calculated routine of “teasing” and “seduction.”

 

She sighed as she contemplated the real reason why men could never hope to satisfy her in that “special kind of way.” She was waiting for someone…someone special who had yet to manifest, and that waiting was seriously gnawing on her nerves of late, being the only Iczer who did not yet have a partner…

 

And on that depressing note she entered the restaurant and did a quick scan of the interior surroundings, immediately picking out a rather handsome looking woman behind the counter and grill. Troi “scouted” her out the way she normally would any attractive looking female, seeing signs of age and maturity that definitely meant she was no “spring chicken,” but still retaining a vigorous youth about her frame that appealed to Troi in a rough-and-tumble kind of way. The woman's long brown hair was done up in a pony tail that was bound up with a bow tie ribbon, and her outfit was that of a traditional Japanese cook, albeit that there was a bandoleer of mini-spatulas stretching across her chest that looked as if they would make dandy weapons in the right sort of hands. That the chef in question did seem like the “right sort” only added to her allure in Troi's rather jaded estimation, and there was even a younger version standing next to her that could have been a younger sister which only added to the attraction.

 

Sitting before the counter on a row of bench seats were a group of teenagers, and---set further down the way---was Rhea herself, whose back was turned to Troi but who could plainly sense the presence of her aunt, just as Troi could sense her even at street level, causing the fiery gold haired Iczer to turn around and stare at her silver-haired elder. Troi smiled as she acknowledged the stare of her younger counterpart, then strode forward and said, “Well, so this is where you got off to, young lady. Fancy meeting you here of all places…”

 

“Aunt Troi?” Rhea asked, at which point Muku also turned and stared in blank amazement at the sight of the (somewhat) older warrior in her biker leathers, at which point her mouth hung open and her eyes nearly doubled in circumference.

 

“What's the matter, kid?” Troi asked as she took notice of Muku's expression, “Didn't think the squirt here had any more like her at home?”

 

“Another one?” Ken asked in amazement.

 

“That's her…aunt?” Yumi also seemed astonished.

 

“Um…one of them, anyway,” Rhea meekly interjected.

 

“I can see the family resemblance,” Perm noted matter-of-factly.

 

“So can I,” Yui agreed, murmuring under her breath, “And what's with those ears anyway?”

 

“Oh, these?” Troi indicated her own with her fingers, “What can I say? Would you believe my folks are big fans of Tolkien? Got the whole series in MDVD and everything…”

 

“Um…Auntie Troi,” Rhea stood up and indicated the others, “This is my partner and her friends, whom I only just met today…her friends, I mean…Muku-chan I met several days ago…”

 

“I get the point, Niece,” Troi waved it away, then stared at the one referred to by name and said, “So you're Senzenen Muku Dori, the girl chosen to be Rhea-chan's partner….”

 

“Um…excuse me?” Muku replied, wondering if this new girl was as wild in her behavior as she looked, and the thought that she could be Rhea's aunt seemed a stretch by anyone's measure. She definitely did not look to be much older than Rhea herself, though her height and bearing gave one the impression of robust power and a dynamic personality, the sort of which could be explosive if one were to mess with her in any substantial manner.

 

“So,” the older Ukyo spoke up, “Have you come to pick your niece up or would you care to order something from the establishment, Sugar?”

 

“Okonomiyaki?” Troi grinned, “Sure thing. Way I hear it you serve the best in town, maybe even Japan…”

 

“More like the world,” Ukyo bragged.

 

“Why stop there?” Troi grinned even more broadly, “How about the Universe? I've got it on pretty good authority that the best okonomiyaki is served here on Earth and no other planet…”

 

“Why, what a nice thing to say,” Ukyo smiled back, “I can tell that you're a real fan of okonomiyaki.”

 

“Why do you think I keep coming back to this planet for more?” Troi said as she sat down on a bench, pretending to ignore the stares that she was receiving from the other occupants of the restaurant, including a nonplussed Sakura.

 

While Ukyo fetched up a hot okonomiyaki to serve to her new customer, Yumi leaned closer to Rhea and said, “Is she really your aunt? She's way too cool to be a senior citizen…”

 

“Ah…well…my aunt is kind of a young-at-heart sort of person…” Rhea sheepishly noted.

 

“No fooling,” Yui remarked, “Just how old is she, really?”

 

“That…might be difficult to say…” Rhea started to explain, when Troi looked up from her meal and answered for her through a half-full mouth of Japanese pizza, “I'm twenty, kid…don't believe it? I got references I can show you.”

 

“Twenty?” Ken marveled, “Interesting…”

 

“MMMMMMM---YUMMY!!!” Troi exclaimed to the loud smacking of her fingers, “My compliments to the chef! You not only look hot, you cook like a dream, baby!”

 

Ukyo actually blushed at the compliment, “Why, thank you! You really are the charming sort, but I'm afraid I'm already committed.”

 

“Really?” Troi made a face, “How disappointing. Tell me who the jerk is and I'll tell him what a lucky dog he is. Oh well…at least you've got a really foxy younger sister…don't tell me she's your daughter?”

 

“I'm afraid she is,” Ukyo ruffled Sakura's hair---much to the latter's chagrin, “But she's also promised to young Master Ken here, who's her promised iinazuke.”

 

“You mean him?” Troi hooked a thumb towards Ken, then looked that worthy up and down as if sizing him up for something---either pleasant or unpleasant, “What have you got that makes you so special, other than killer looks, a good head and a tight set of buns, cutie?”

 

“Hey!” Sakura went instantly from nervous apprehension to jealous anger without stopping at points in between, and reflexively she started to reach for her bakers peel even as Rhea exclaimed, “AUNTIE!”

 

“What?” Troi asked, giving a look of innocence that dared one to ask what could possibly be the matter.

 

“What seems to be the problem here?” a new voice intruded on the scene as a tall man walked in through the door carrying a box of groceries in both hands.

 

Muku caught Rhea's sharp intake as her new friend turned around to stare at the new arrival, which prompted her to say by introduction, “That's my uncle Ranma, there's no need to be afraid of him, he doesn't bite.”

 

“Your uncle…Ranma?” Rhea asked, seeing a weathered-but-handsome face that bore several scars of combat, framed by a red Chinese-style shirt and a dark set of trousers.

 

“Huh?” Troi turned around and gaped, then gestured at the man and said, “HEY! I know you! You're that guy…the one my big Sis used to hang around with, the one who gave her combat lessons!”

 

“Say WHAT?” Sakura reacted.

 

“Excuse me?” the man in question asked, then stared back at the ivory haired Iczer before saying, “Hey…you do look kind of familiar…ten years ago, wasn't it? But…you've grown a bit since then…”

 

“Excuse me?” Ukyo asked as she vaulted over her own grill, moving with an ease that belied any thoughts of calling her a “senior,” and her combat spatula was in her hands as she hovered ominously near to the man, saying with a half-serious glare, “You mind explaining that one in more detail…Sugar?”

 

“Urk!” the man in question responded, finding the edge of a giant spatula poised mere centimeters from his face, which same he hastily moved aside with the edge of his box, which he held up like a shield as he said, “Now wait a second Ucchan! I can explain things! Remember ten years ago, all that business that wound up flattening half the town, the giant robot and its pilots?”

 

“You mean the redhead and the kid?” Ukyo remarked, then stood back and slung her spatula over her shoulder, “Well, why didn't you say so, Mister? Put the things in the pantry and pull up a seat…I want to hear the details on this one with the kids, especially the part where you ran into this silver-haired sweet talker.”

 

“Sure thing,” the man said, moving hastily to deliver his cargo around behind the counter, moving with such fluidity and grace that even Rhea was moved to watch in awe of his prowess.

 

“Don't worry so much,” Muku assured, “You'll like Uncle Ranma…he's pretty cool as adults go, and he's my sensei…taught me half of everything I know about the martial arts.”

 

“He is a great warrior?” Rhea asked in amazement.

 

“The best I've ever heard of,” Muku assured, “He just has one…tiny little problem…”

 

“WHOOOP!” came a startled male voice as Ranma started to vault the counter, only to startled Rhea so much that the glass of water she had begun to pick up went flying to strike the man with its contents.

 

“Oh, I'm so sorry, you startled me!” Rhea began to apologize, only to stop herself as she stared, finding the man had shrunk a bit, and his hair had noticeably changed color.

 

“Don't mention it,” said Ranma in a higher pitched voice and a tone of resignation, “This sort of thing just…happens…”

 

“Dad?” Sakura blinked again, not so much for the change as the sense that there were some new revelations that she was about to hear concerning her father.

 

“I KNEW IT!” Troi was up on her feet and pointing, “I knew you were the guy! Man, is this the department of amazing coincidences or what?”

 

“No,” Ukyo smiled, “It's Nerima.”

 

“Same difference,” the now female Ranma shrugged her shoulders.

 

Rhea stood where she was, blinking her eyes and staring at the redhead, which left it to Muku to say, “That's what I meant about a…tiny little problem…”

 

“Welcome to Nerima,” Yumi cheerfully perked up, “Where anything can---and inevitably will---happen.”

 

“And usually does,” Perm added as a side-note, “Which means you ought to fit right in here.”

 

“I wonder about that,” Yui frowned, giving Rhea a curious lookover, but refusing to volunteer further comment on what strange thoughts she happened to be thinking that very moment, deciding a “wait and see” approach was all the more prudent…or at least until she heard the details of the curious story that was about to be revealed concerning these strange elvish women and their redoubtable “Uncle Ranma…”

 

 

 

Continued

 

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