Iczer-one Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Earth Child ❯ The Truth About Nova ( Chapter 12 )

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)

 

 

 

 

 

“EEP!” Muku exclaimed as she materialized with Rhea inside her own bedchamber, still semi-wet and (even more importantly) semi-naked.

 

“We are here at your home, just as I promised,” Rhea remarked as she released Muku's wrist then stood back and started to scan the room as if seeing it for the first time with her own eyes, “You have a very…interesting place, Muku-chan. Is this how normal Earth girls choose to decorate their private quarters?”

 

“Ah…no,” Muku backed away a half-step from the other girl, her heart (for some inexplicable reason) beating like a triphammer, “You'd have to give me time to straighten up a bit first…Mom's always after me about how messy my room gets when I have guests over…I mean…when one of my friends sleeps over…AH! I didn't mean that quite the way it sounded…”

 

Rhea turned to look at her again with those incredibly magnetic eyes of hers and said, “It is all right if I make you nervous. I did not mean to withhold information about me before…I wanted to tell you the truth about me, but…I was afraid you would not understand and might reject me…”

 

“Reject you…for…?” Muku swallowed.

 

“For being descended from an alien race…and for being of alien manufacture,” Rhea turned and looked down as she added, “But now you know the truth about me…that I am a Bioroid…created to serve and protect the C'thuwulf people, even though I have a human mother.”

 

“Ah…yeah…about that,” Muku swallowed, “Your mom seems nice…in fact she's very…human…but your—um---other parent…”

 

“She is the Protector of the C'thuwulf,” Rhea explained, “Our Military Governor and the Incarnation of all that is best in the C'thuwulf race. I was raised under her benevolent rule in New Gamora, and I tend to think of myself as an Earth girl, despite my artificial origins.”

 

“Uh…yeah,” Muku took a deep breath and willed herself to relax, trying very hard not to think of where she was and how near she might be at that moment to her loving (but rather nosy) parents, especially standing in a bath towel clutching borrowed clothing of alien manufacture, and sharing space with a girl who was unearthly in every sense, not least of which being her incomparable beauty, “About that…you mean you've grown up here all along but this is the very first time you've been to the surface?”

 

“More or less,” Rhea said evasively, “But…when I sensed your existence…when I became aware that you lived out here in the world of the Terrans…I wanted to come and meet you for myself. I was afraid to get too close to you until I sensed that the Venomoids were starting to penetrate into our world. I…have known about you for some weeks now…but I could not reveal myself until I was certain…”

 

“Certain of what?” Muku asked, not certain if she was going to be any more comfortable knowing the answer.

 

“That you are the one whom I was fated to meet,” Rhea said shyly, reminding Muku very much of a timid deer that could spook at any moment, “The one human who is a perfect biological and spiritual match for bonding with me and becoming my partner. I wanted to have more time to explain things to you…but I…lacked the courage. I did not wish to deceive you in any way, but I hoped if you had more time to…get to know me better…you might…”

 

“Might…what?” Muku asked, surprised upon discovering that Rhea had stepped closer to her in proximity, her eyes still fixed on those luminous eyes that gazed on her in such an adoring manner.

 

“That you might…come to accept me for who and what I am,” Rhea replied, taking Muku by one hand and holding the palm up to her own armored breast, “That you might…understand what I was born to be…a living weapon, but mostly your friend. Though I am composed of a different sort of basic matter than you, I am still flesh and blood and every cubic centimeter a human being…”

 

Muku was surprised to find the armor was warm to the touch, and on impulse she raised her hand to cup Muku's cheek, unconsciously feeling along the veins in the exposed flesh of the other girl's neck until she discovered something unexpected there…a pulse!

 

“You…feel so warm…” Muku said in dull amazement.

 

“I have body temperature regulators, the same as you,” Rhea replied, “I have a heart that beats and pumps a different kind of blood through my arterial system, but I have a liver and other organs that function very much like your own. My brain is constructed upon similar micro-cellular lines, though more highly advanced and tolerant of stress levels that human flesh could not withstand…and I have other bodily functions that operate on much the same lines. You will not find any part of me that is less real than your own flesh, and if you wish to…examine me in further detail…I would not object.”

 

“Examine…?” Muku closed her mouth and very audibly swallowed.

 

“I would, of course, be very much in favor of examining your body along similar lines,” Rhea continued, the very innocence of her eyes belying the suggestiveness of her statement, “I wish to commit every part of you to memory…you are sacred to me now, and I desire to know all that there is to know about you…if you will permit it.”

 

“If I…?” Muku brain almost short-circuited as she tried to sort out the significance of that statement, only to be interrupted in mid-gasp.

 

“Muku-chan!” a voice from downstairs called out, “Are you home yet? I'm sorry if I let myself in, but there was nobody at the front door, so…Muku-chan? Are you there?”

 

“Yumi-chan??” Muku reacted with a start, even as she saw the startled look in Rhea's own eyes, and then the other girl vanished from the room in a flash of pixilation.

 

“Muku-chan?” there was the sound of feet moving rapidly up the stairs, and another moment later the door to her room swung wide open as Yumi rushed right in, took one look at Muku and halted in mid-step with a startled, “What the heck happened to you?”

 

“Ah…” despite Rhea having made herself scarce once again, Muku felt like blushing from head to toe as though caught in a very compromising situation, “Nothing…I was just taking a bath, that's all…”

 

“Oh,” Yumi visibly relaxed, only to pause when she saw the alien mini-dress that Muku still clutched to her body, “What's that? A new outfit?”

 

“Huh?” Muku belatedly realized what she was holding and quickly held it out to display it before Yumi, “Er yes…do you like it?”

 

“Yellow and orange?” Yumi blinked her eyes then shrugged, “Well…whatever. But where the heck have you been for the last few hours? Don't you know everybody's been going crazy looking for you, not the least of whom---I mean to say---includes your parents?”

 

“Oh…sorry about that…” Muku nervously chuckled, “Didn't mean to have everybody get worried over nothing…”

 

Yumi studied Muku's face for a long moment then said, “What are you blushing for? Did I catch you at a bad time or something? Oh wait…it's that girl you were with, Rhea, huh?” Yumi grinned suggestively, “Were you spending the whole day with her after beating up on that giant robot? I'll bet she's the one who bought you that dress, am I right?”

 

“What…um…well…?” Muku tried to think fast for an answer, only now Yumi was glancing around the room as though looking for something significant.

 

“Is she still here?” Yumi asked, crouching down to peer under Muku's bed, then going over to inspect her closet, “Did I catch you two lovebirds in the middle of something naughty? Damn! If only I had Ken's camera…”

 

“What do you mean…I mean…I didn't do anything wrong!” Muku sputtered in protest.

 

“I never said you did,” Yumi replied while inspecting the window to see if they had been recently opened, “Don't mind me…nosy friend and all that, I just want the low down on what's up with you two…you know…the juicy scoop, what's shaking with the most popular girl in school suddenly finding herself a new girlfriend?”

 

“You're imagining things!” Muku protested, “And she's not my girlfriend…I mean…not like you're implying…”

 

“Sure she isn't,” Yumi straightened up, leaning forward as she looked Muku directly face-to-face, “Don't try to kid a kidder, Muku-chan…I've known you since we were rug-rats together. I can always tell when you're trying to hide something, and you're a terrible liar anyway, so drop the act and don't play so dumb with your old best buddy. What's the real deal here? Have you gone to town with her, by which I mean all the way?”

 

“All the way?” it took Muku all of four seconds to realize that her best friend was NOT referring to any “Mall Hopping.” She started to give another perfunctory protest, only to freeze in the act as a mental image of Rhea came to mind, taking the wind out of her sails with any further evasions.

 

“You haven't done it yet, have you?” Yumi said after another few seconds of complete silence, “Darn…and here I was hoping to get the straight skivy on how she was and whether you liked it or not. I'll bet you were thinking of doing it with her when I went and interrupted you like an idiot…rats! Bad timing, the story of my life…”

 

“Er…Yumi-chan,” Muku took a deep breath and said, “Rhea-chan…walked me home after the fight…she took me to see her parents, but that's all that happened, honest!”

 

“That's all?” Yumi sounded profoundly disappointed, “Yeah, that sounds a lot like you, Senzenen. You never were one to jump into things with both feet, you always have to test the waters first before you get yourself wet. And here I thought maybe you'd finally settle down and make a commitment…”

 

“A commitment?” Muku realized that she had been repeating the words other used a lot that day, but did not know for the life of her how to stop doing so when people kept saying surprising things that were driving her to distraction.

 

“Sure,” Yumi sniffed, “It may have escaped your notice, Robo-Jock, but there are more than a few girls in school who think you're a pretty hot number. It's not just the guys who get all fluttery when they see you pass, you've got quite a fan club with the fair sex, and not the least of those who have the hots for you is our good buddy, Sakura.”

 

“Sakura? No way!” Muku protested, then paused with a confused expression and added, “You mean it?”

 

“Huh, she's only the second biggest ball-buster in our school, next to you,” Yumi pouted, “Not that she'd ever admit that she likes girls, she just says she hates guys a lot so Kenny-boy won't push their engagement. Why do you think she's got such a bad temper around you lately? She wants you but she's in denial, so she reacts with violence, then a new girl shows up and you go all goo-goo eyes over her, so what is she supposed to think? Of course she gets all jealous and possessive!”

 

“But I…but she…but we…but…hooboy…” Muku grimaced.

 

“But what about me?” Yumi continued, “You've never tried to hit on me, and how do you think that makes me feel? Not that I'm saying I want to bed with you, of course, but it would have been nice if you asked me even once. Makes me feel like surplus goods that you never even think about my feelings.”

 

“But…Yumi-chan…” Muku helplessly protested.

 

“Of course you've scanned me when we're changing in the girls locker rooms a lot,” Yumi went on as if uninterrupted, “And who knows what's been going through your mind lately, so I guess maybe I should take a little comfort in that. If you've ever had any secret fetishes revolving around me…I'd understand, of course…not that I expect you to tell me what they are…would you?”

 

“Would I…what?” Muku asked, feeling as if she had totally lost all control over the conversation.

 

“Okay, play hard to get, see how I feel,” Yumi sniffed, “Pretend the whole thing never happened, I never said anything and you never heard me say that, all right?”

 

“Uh…” Muku blinked, her head swimming from too much sensory overload, “Whatever…”

 

“Right,” Yumi nodded, “Now, why don't you get dressed and meet me downstairs. I hope you won't mind if I make myself a sandwich. No offense, but I'd rather not risk my health by trying anything your mother might have made for you. I'll see you when you're ready, okay Muku-chan?”

 

“Ready…for what?” Muku asked.

 

“For coming with me down to the skating rink, of course,” Yumi said as she headed out the way she had come, “That's where your parents went to meet up with Uncle Ranma.”

 

“To meet up with…why are they doing that?” Muku called out before the door was closed behind the exiting Yumi.

 

“Something about sensei asking to meet with them about important business…centering around you, of course, but what else is new?” and with that the door closed firmly, leaving Muku standing where she was with a totally nonplussed expression.

 

Rhea appeared moments later and stared at the door, her expression almost matching that of Muku as she said, “Your friend…is a very strange person.”

 

“Tell something I don't already know,” Muku murmured back, only to think a moment before hastily adding, “On second thought---don't! I don't think I can take any more dramatic revelations in one day.”

 

“As you wish, Muku-chan,” Rhea replied, “But why would your uncle wish to speak with your parents?”

 

“With them?” Muku shrugged, “It can mean only one thing…” and then she looked meaningfully at Rhea, who belatedly had the good sense to turn around, though her eyes immediately sought out the vanity mirror on Muku's desk in which she watched with rapt attention as her partner disrobed and began to change into something more C'thuwulf-befitting, much to Rhea's heartfelt sigh of approval…

 

 

 

 

 

“All right, Pretty boy,” Ranma growled, “Let's see what you've got!”

 

“More than you can handle, Saotome!” Mikado challenged back as the two of them circled out into the ice rink, moving swiftly and gaining in momentum.

 

All at once Ranma leaped into the air, skates extended like a pair of deadly blades, but Mikado easily avoided the attack and performed a perfect circle recovery in order to meet up with his foe as Ranma spun about to renew his onslaught.

 

“Too slow as usual!” Mikado said as they came together in a clash of arms where fists and feet flew and were exchanged like a rapid ice-ballet, only for the two of them to part again and circle around, looking for new openings in their mutual defenses.

 

“Too fast for you, Kissy-face!” Ranma cried out as he spun about on one skate like a human top and came whirling at Mikado like a human cyclone.

 

“As usual you lack grace in your attacks,” Mikado taunted as he executed a perfect spinning vault that carried him gracefully over the head of his opponent, landing in time to execute a full turn that brought him into line for his next attack.

 

“So what?” Ranma snorted, “I'm still gonna mop up the rink with your face!”

 

“As if I'd be so clumsy as to fall for your cheap theatrics…”

 

“Boys,” grunted Akane from where she and Ukyo were sitting on the sidelines.

 

“Tell me about it,” Ukyo replied, her feet propped up on the railing as she leaned back in her chair and watched the battle of the two skaters play out in all its frigid glory.

 

“You'd think at their age they'd be beyond the name calling and the taunting,” Akane shook her head, “But no, they have to act like they're still a couple of kids fighting over a stupid pet pig, or something.”

 

“That's the way they like it, Sugar,” Ukyo said in amusement, “They'll never change and they never grow up…but…speaking of Ryoga, when was the last time you saw him and Rei?”

 

“A couple of weeks ago, when we took Muku-chan up to visit her friend Yui on Cherry Hill,” Akane replied, sipping from her cup of tea before adding, “Amazingly enough everybody was home when we got there…and what are the odds of something like that happening?”

 

“Sugar,” Ukyo chided, “One of these days you're gonna have to let go of the past and learn to forgive him. It ain't like the baka meant to spy on you all of those nights…”

 

“I have forgiven him,” Akane insisted, “I just don't see why I have to drag things out by putting up with another one of his `kicked puppy' expressions. He's the one who ought to let go of the past…we're well beyond the point where modesty is that big an issue.”

 

“True,” Ukyo mused, “And in a few more years we'll both be more than happy if anybody even bothers to look at us in the nude, including our husbands…”

 

“You don't really believe that, do you?” Akane asked.

 

“Of course not,” Ukyo chuckled, “I plan to be young and beautiful forever. So, what are your plans?”

 

“Surviving until retirement,” Akane replied, “Actually…I've been thinking a lot…what with Muku growing up and maybe leaving home in a few more years…that maybe I'd like to go back on the circuit with Miki. I've been keeping myself in shape so I can still be a pretty effective partner, and I don't like sitting at home when he's out touring and giving performances to all the little fan-girls who'd like to get more than just a kiss from him. It's much too much temptation, and I'm afraid he might revert to his old type…”

 

“He'd never cheat on you, Sugar,” Ukyo replied, “He'd never have the guts. Besides, these days he's strictly a one-girl kissing machine, am I right?”

 

“Well…” Akane started to blush a bit like a teenager, only to give a yelp as a spray of ice showered both of them, kicked up by the mutual skates of their respective husbands.

 

“HAH!” Ranma said, holding Mikado in a headlock, “Say uncle, tough guy!”

 

“No way!” Mikado grunted, using a free hand to strike at the back of Ranma's left knee, which caused the other man to lose his balance so that the two of them went tumbling into the ice, just moments before they both hit the backboard together.

 

There was a creak, and they looked up, then hastily slid out of the way as part of the backboard folded over and hit the ice with a crash.

 

A moment or two passed before they both pushed their way up from the ice, then Mikado felt along his back said, “I think…a truce for now, while we take stock of our bearings?”

 

“Could be a good idea, yeah,” Ranma conceded, then the two of them exchanged grins as they helped each other back to their feet, dusting off the ice that clung to their outfits.

 

“A good workout…for an amateur,” Mikado cheerfully noted.

 

“Nice to see you ain't slowing down any in your old age, Molester,” Ranma grinned back, only to halt as he took better stock of their surroundings and saw the expressions their wives were giving them at the moment, “Uh oh…”

 

“Uh oh what?” Senzenen asked, then froze as he followed the other man's line of sight and saw the snow and ice that presently colored the faces of Ukyo and Akane, to which the handsome skater said, “This…looks bad…”

 

“You could say that,” Akane growled, ice and snow flowing out of her nostrils.

 

“You are so dead, Mister,” Ukyo growled, reaching for her battle spatula, at which point Ranma considered looking for the nearest available exit.

 

“Now Ucchan…” Ranma started to plead for his life, backing away with both hands raised in his defense, only to halt as a familiar voice broke out over the tableau.

 

“SAOTOME, YOU CUR!!!”

 

Mikado whirled around then said, “Well…what do you know…saved by the bell?”

 

“Nice to know some things in life are reliable,” Ranma stage-murmured as he too turned in time to see the approaching form of an angry Kuno Tatewaki, with a familiar purple-haired presence tagging along at his side, managing well on the ice as though skating were a part of her nature.

 

“Ranma!” Kuno growled again as he came skating up to confront his old antagonist.

 

“Hey Kuno, what's shaking?” Ranma replied, nodding to the other woman present and saying, “Shampoo.”

 

“Hmph!” she turned up her nose to him, like usual, her way of expressing a profound sense of disapproval.

 

“Saotome…you and Senzenen had better explain yourselves, and swiftly!” Tatewaki declared in wrath, “What have your two too unfeminine offspring been doing with my children?”

 

“Hey, watch that `unfeminine stuff,'” Ranma leaned forward and stage whispered, “You wanna get us all in Dutch with the ladies? I mean…more hot water than usual, if you take my meaning?”

 

Tatewaki visibly paused to consider this, glancing at the hostile stares of Akane and Ukyo before relaxing and murmuring back, “I take your point to heart. Perhaps I was a bit too hasty in describing them in such ungentlemanly terms, but…”

 

“What did they do now?” Mikado asked, certain that the blame would lie on the other party, but not willing to make too much of a fuss about the particulars in the matter.

 

“That is just the point,” Tatewaki bristled, “There was a challenge match held today…one of which I did not approve, but honorably given and accepted, between young Muku Dori and my fair flower of velvet evening…”

 

“You mean Gel?” Ranma translated, “I understand their fight got interrupted…”

 

“Precisely!” Kuno flared, “Another party did interfere in their duel and took task with both my son and my daughter. As you know, I have tried to discourage their taking an interest in your offspring, but youth will be prone to folly, and Godai is a man who shares his father's fine eye for the ladies…” he paused as there was a pointed bit of throat-clearing at his side, and then dutifully added, “…Back when I was a young man of leisure who had not yet met my true one and only lilac-tressed love goddess...”

 

“Flatterer,” Shampoo replied, but with a broad smile that showed how much she appreciated her silver-tongued hubby.

 

“I was not aware of this,” Senzenen turned to Ranma and asked, “Was this the reason you asked me here, and not just for recreation?”

 

“I was going to tell you all about it, old buddy,” Ranma assured him, “It seems Muku's picked up a new admirer…a girl from out of town…I know her family, she's of good stock, so don't go on about her consorting with riff-raff, Kuno-san…”

 

“As if your recommendation were enough to assuage me,” Kuno sniffed, “So…this…admirer of young Senzenen took exception to the fight between Gel-chan and Muku?”

 

“Among other things,” Ranma replied tactfully, “You see…about ten years ago I met up with one of her aunts and…well…she sort of became my student, and she's passed on some of what she knows to her niece, so…”

 

“In other words she is of the Anything Goes school,” Shampoo deduced, “Which makes her your responsibility, Saotome. What then was her cause for injuring Godai?”

 

“The usual,” Ranma replied, “He got a little too fresh with the new girl, so she decked him.”

 

“Ah yes,” Kuno nodded sagely, “I remember well what that was like…like father, like son, and none too far from the branch fall certain apples…”

 

“Bad apples if you ask me,” said Akane as she and Ukyo got up to join the conversation, “I've told you repeatedly to keep your son away from my daughter, but you just have to let him carry on like a Lothario! Can't you at least get him to respect the fact that a girl means `No' when she says `No?'”

 

“It's not my desire that he be so aggressive in pursuing his suit,” Tatewaki sighed, “I've tried explaining to him many times how my own blind pursuits never availed me of the ones whom I desired…”

 

“Yeah,” Ranma said coyly, “Right.”

 

Kuno did not glance at his one-time rival, but he colored a bit, to which Mikado gave him a sympathetic nod of understanding.

 

“I will not defend my son's actions if they were improper,” Shampoo declared, “He is of an age when he must fight his own battles, but I would wish him to take less after his Uncle Mousse as it…displeases me to see him following such a poor example,” she winced slightly, then resumed, “However, I cannot abide seeing an Amazon duel being disrupted by an outsider. Whether or not Gel should have issued that challenge, it was for Muku to fight and defeat her, not for the likes of some strange girl whom no one has ever met before. You should count it fortunate if Gel does not give her the Kiss of Death for this outrage.”

 

“Um…isn't that going a little bit overboard?” Ranma winced, recalling all too well the days when he had been forced to fend off numerous attacks in his female guise with the Purple Haired Dynamo before him seeking to mete out vengeance, until she accidentally wound up entrapping her present husband, “I'm sure Rhea-chan never meant to give offense…”

 

“Rhea-chan?” Tatewaki repeated, “This girl bears the name of an ancient Greek Goddess?”

 

“Titan,” Senzenen corrected.

 

“Whatever,” Kuno shrugged.

 

“Her name is Kano Rhea,” Ranma replied, “And like I said…she's a friend of the family. I'd take it personal if anyone tries to mess with her, and---believe me---you don't want to mess with her family, especially her aunts.”

 

“But what is this…Kano Rhea's business defending Muku?” Shampoo asked, “Are they Sword-Pledged together?”

 

“Ah…it's a little more complicated than that…” Ranma winced slightly.

 

“Oh?” Senzenen asked, “Do tell?”

 

“Ah…maybe I should explain a few things at the beginning,” Ranma said, glancing over his shoulder, “Ucchan?”

 

“Sure, no problem,” Ukyo sniffed, “I'll back up your story, Sugar, just be sure to tell it from the beginning.”

 

“Hey, no sweat,” Ranma reassured, “Like I said, it happened about ten years ago, right before I decided to open up the restaurant dojo and take in students, like little Muku, who's been training ever since with my Sakura…”

 

“…Who also seems to have a tendency to interfere in Amazon challenge matches,” Shampoo noted.

 

“Right,” Ranma said, “Well…one day I was coming home from a training trip when I saw our place under attack by a couple of monsters…one a giant robot…”

 

“Giant robot?” Kuno eyed him skeptically, “Do you take me to still be an addle-witted fool on drugs, Saotome?”

 

“It's true, Sugar,” Ukyo assured, “I almost got stepped on by the bloody big bugger. Of course it was the other guy who got the worst of it, but then when Ranma fished out the pilot she turned out to be in pretty bad shape. A couple of weeks of rest, however, and she was back on her feet again, and ready to take lessons.”

 

“You do have the oddest way of recruiting students, old friend,” Senzenen said of Ranma.

 

“Tell me about it,” Ranma agreed, “Anyway…Ucchan and me helped her get back on her feet, then she studied with us for a couple of months before going back to her own people…and ten years later we find out that she's been training her niece in the same system…”

 

“Surely there must be more to the story than just this,” Shampoo frowned, “To hear Godai express it, you would think he met an angel…”

 

“Or an Elvish Princess,” her husband duly noted.

 

“Ah…well…not quite,” Ranma said, “In fact, that was the part I was just getting around to. You see, she called herself an Iczer, which is a kind of…”

 

“Did somebody mention me?” yet another voice asked.

 

Heads turned at once to take in the presence of the silver-haired Troi, who smiled at them while once again dressed in her biker leathers.

 

“Thought you went back to your place, Sugar?” Ukyo remarked.

 

“I did go back,” Troi smiled, “But now I'm here…Sugar. Actually I'm looking for my niece and I wondered if you'd seen her? I got a residual trace of her having been here within the last twelve hours, but I'd hoped you'd have some idea where she went off to.”

 

“Not a clue,” Ranma replied.

 

“We thought she was still with Muku,” Ukyo noted.

 

“With Muku-chan?” Akane blinked, “And…who are you?”

 

“Troi's the name,” the Iczer in question answered with a jaunty little smile, “And you must be Muku-chan's mother. I've heard a little about you…”

 

“Don't you want to hear her side of it?” Senzenen asked, then winced slightly as his wife gave him a playful punch to the ribs.

 

“Hey, take it easy with my buddy,” Ranma urged his former fiancée, “You might hurt something delicate down there…”

 

“That's my business, Mister,” Akane sniffed.

 

“Ranma-kun,” Senzenen murmured in sotto-voice, “Don't help.”

 

“Hey, I gotta stand up for my best buds,” Ranma assured, “After all, you saved my life once.”

 

“And how, precisely, did he do this?” Kuno asked.

 

Ranma turned a benevolent smile at the taller man and said, “He married Akane.”

 

“WHY YOU…!” Akane started to take a step forward, only to be stopped by Ukyo's outstretched hand.

 

“Hold it, Sugar,” the Chef assured, “That's my husband you're picking on.”

 

“So?” Akane asked.

 

“So, if anybody's gonna punish him, it's me!” Ukyo said, and brought her spatula down on Ranma, flattening him (though she did it with affection).

 

***BWAM!***

 

“Ooooohhh…”

 

“Now that he had coming,” Senzenen remarked with no little sympathy in his expression.

 

“Well now,” Troi arched a silvery eyebrow, “I can see you guys are busy socializing, so I guess I'll just pop on out of here and try looking somewhere else for Rhea-chan. Nice to meet you, by the way,” she gave Shampoo an appropriately standard leer, to which the purple haired woman just as appropriately colored, “Be seeing you around, Cute Stuff.”

 

And with that she vanished, leaving Tatewaki to gasp, “How did she do that?”

 

“Fairy dust most likely,” Ukyo said as she helped Ranma back to his feet.

 

“Anybody get the number of that combat Mecha?” Ranma asked in a semi-dazed state.

 

“So…that was this Rhea's aunt, eh?” Shampoo murmured with a look of disquiet.

 

“One of `em anyway,” Ranma replied as he started to recover his scrambled wits, “Of course her big sister really is a hell raiser…”

 

“One can only imagine,” Kuno remarked in a faintly appalled tone of voice.

 

“Can…this Rhea vanish and reappear like that?” Akane asked.

 

“It's a family trait,” Ukyo replied, “You get used to it after a while.”

 

Senzenen turned to his wife and said, “You do meet the oddest sorts in this town.”

 

“Don't I know it,” Akane nodded, thinking to herself that she was going to have to have a long and careful mother-daughter talk with her Muku…

 

 

 

 

“So…” Iczer-One remarked as she studied the chamber that houses three charred and blackened corpses, “What, so far, have you been able to determine regarding these enemy Bioroids, Sister Grey?”

 

“First off, your suspicions about them turned out to be entirely correct,” the chief Scientist of the C'thuwulf replied, “Their quantum flux readings definitely confirm that they are from a near-parallel dimension, one slightly off from synchronicity to our own universe, perhaps no more than a few angstroms in vibrancy separating us from their world.”

 

“That little?” Nagisa was appalled, “You mean that they are that close to being in constant with our own universe?”

 

“We believe that the separation between their continuum and our own is much less precise than we would have imagined,” Sister Grey affirmed, “That means the danger to us is even more considerable than we would have thought possible…and the incursions into our world will likely grow more intense very shortly.”

 

“Because it requires less energy for them to translate into our world?” Iczer-Two inquired.

 

“Worse than that,” Sayoko quipped, “They're that much closer to being on Troi's wavelength. Now that's scary!”

 

“There is more to the problem that confronts us, of course,” Grey continued, turning to the chamber in question, “We suspected that the ease with which we recovered these units might indicate that we were meant to find and recover them, which is why certain precautions were taken and a firewall was erected to contain them in case our suspicions should prove valid, which they did.”

 

“What do you mean?” Iczer-One asked with a note of increasing concern.

 

“Observe this,” Grey remarked as she passed her hand over a control panel, “We discovered this during a routine data scan of these remains…watch what happens when we approach a certain frequency in UV electron readings…”

 

The room lighting shifted in frequency and took on a more violet shading, when all at once the three bodies erupted into a spurting growth of tentacles that shot out in all directions, filling the entire chamber in a matter of seconds…but falling short of the observation booth as a field of energy sprang up to contain them.

 

“Venomoids,” Iczer-Two spat the word with distaste, “These bodies were contaminated with the host virus.”

 

“Correct,” Grey replied, “But, as you can see, routine countermeasures have so far proven most effective.”

 

She passed her hand over the panel again and the entire room was bathed in blinding incandescent light, causing the screen filters to automatically kick on, sparing the observers from momentary flash blindness. When the radiance ended the chamber was clear, only the three bodies remaining unaffected.

 

“We've purged them three times and still the tentacles grow back each time we subject them to the UV scans,” Grey remarked, “Rather remarkable on the face of it, but we do believe that we have a means of permanently decontaminating them of all traces of the residual virus. That will still leave us with three inactive Bioroids, but for all the extensive damage they've each received, we do believe that they are within the realm of repairable functions. It might even be possible to recover important data from their residual memory files…”

 

“Can you bring them back to life?” Nagisa asked.

 

Grey and the others looked at her curiously, Sayoko asking, “Why would you want to?”

 

“Well, think about it,” Nagisa remarked, “Who do you think now has a better reason to hate Neos Gold and her boss? Those three have twice now been killed doing the bidding of their creator…”

 

“Might I remind you that their primary function until now has been to seek our own termination?” Iczer-Two said dryly.

 

“Perhaps so,” Iczer-One remarked, “But they haven't had that good a success of it so far, now have they?”

 

“So what?” Sayoko asked, “They still have the blood of countless billions of people on their synthetic hides! Besides, Two, aren't you the one who's always calling them defective?”

 

“Indeed,” Iczer-Two frowned, “But still…I was once where they are now, and while there is somewhat less blood on my hands than on theirs, one cannot totally ignore the fact that they are the victims of bad design and faulty programming.”

 

“My thoughts on that exactly,” Iczer-One concurred, “Perhaps we ought to try it…but with certain…modifications.”

 

“If that is what you wish, Protector, then my people will get on with it at once,” Grey replied, “After we make sure that there are no more nasty surprises waiting to be discovered.”

 

“Do what you must, Sister Grey,” Iczer-One replied, “We know so little about the current strength of the enemy, anything these three might be able to yield will be of benefit to our cause.”

 

“I see,” Grey nodded, “Well then…there is one more significant bit of data that I have to relate for you concerning the Bioroid who calls herself Nova.”

 

“Eh?” Iczer-Two asked, her interest level peaking.

 

Grey called up a holographic display of a DNA molecule then explained, “My daughter, Troi, took a reading on her during their most recent encounter, and a scan of her genetic composition turned up some surprising findings, not the least of which is the confirmation we needed regarding her parentage. I am sorry to have to inform you of this, Iczer-Two, but she truly is your daughter.”

 

“I see,” Iczer-Two glanced down, “I had feared that would prove to be the case…”

 

“Yes, but the surprising thing is that the other parent in her matrix is Nagisa,” Grey resumed.

 

Everyone looked sharply at the chief scientist over this, and as one they chorused, “NAGISA…?”

 

“Me???” Nagisa herself reacted with astonishment.

 

“You?” Sayoko looked at her, then glanced at her own partner, “Is there something you two have been meaning to tell the rest of us?”

 

“Eh?” both Nagisa and Iczer-Two replied, exchanging looks with one another, then taking notice of their mutual significant others.

 

“My sister and Nagisa,” Iczer-One looked thoughtful, “In a way it does make sense…”

 

“It does?” Sayoko responded.

 

“Long before she knew you, Two harbored a deep interest in having Nagisa for a partner,” Iczer-One faintly smiled as she regarded her crimson haired sister, “In fact she even tried to get her to kill me…”

 

“Ah…” Iczer-Two glanced away with a look of uneasiness, “Well…if you're going to keep bringing that up in every other conversation…”

 

“That's right,” Nagisa turned to regard Iczer-Two, “You were trying to steal me away from your sister, you pervert.”

 

“But I---!” Iczer-Two started to protest.

 

“Ancient history, as you say” Iczer-One made a placating gesture, “The point remains…this is a child who was formed from your DNA and that of Nagisa. That means she has great power and even greater potential…”

 

“Hey, it's not so ancient for me!” Sayoko protested, “Why the heck couldn't they use my DNA when they made her? By all rights that should be MY daughter!”

 

“Sayoko-chan…” Iczer-Two tried to sound placating.

 

“Don't Sayoko-chan me, you two-timer!” Sayoko retorted, “How could you do something like this to me…and behind my back?”

 

“…” Iczer-Two replied with a totally nonplussed expression.

 

“You know what this means, don't you?” Sayoko turned to regard her partner frankly, “Either we have a child of our own, or else we're adopting this one.”

 

Only the sound of Iczer-Two's blinking filled the silence that followed that particular declaration.

 

“Well…” Nagisa said at last, “I guess that means that congratulations are in order. Should we call this one Iczer Five, or some other number?”

 

“I know what Troi would say if she were here,” Iczer-One mused.

 

“So do I,” Grey half-smiled, “I am not a Number, I'm a free Iczer…”

 

“Say, that's right,” Sayoko snapped her fingers as if just then getting another `bright suggestion,' one that caused alarm bells to ring out in the mind of her partner, “You know, it does sound a little dorky always calling you guys by your number designation. I think Troi actually has the right idea, for once…maybe you should both adopt names that we can use in the world outside so we don't always have to be calling you One and Two, or Ichan and Nichan.”

 

“You know, I definitely like that idea,” Nagisa beamed, “I've been wondering how we were going to introduce ourselves when we meet Muku Dori's parents, and it would make a kind of sense if you were to take a normal Earth name…like, say…Unas?”

 

“Unas?” Iczer-One repeated, her expression going from amusement over her sister's plight to definite alarm of a comparable nature.

 

“Yeah, that works,” Sayoko said, turning to her own significant other, “Then maybe I ought to call you Duo-something…or maybe Duella?”

 

“Duella?” Iczer-Two replied with a slightly sinking sensation.

 

“It's settled then,” Nagisa clapped, “From now on you're Kano Unas, One.”

 

“And that makes you Kai Duella,” Sayoko beamed proudly.

 

“Kano Unas?” Iczer-One repeated.

 

“…Kai Duella?” Iczer-Two seconded.

 

“What a great idea,” Nagisa beamed at Sayoko, “Great minds think alike, hai?”

 

“You said it!” Sayoko grinned, “This calls for a celebration…how about the four of us go out this time, and this time we pick a restaurant that isn't a Venomoid outpost. I'll even spring for the check, since I'm feeling generous.”

 

“I do like the way you think, Sayoko-chan,” Nagisa grinned as the two Japanese women linked arms together and strode side-by-side out of the chamber.

 

There was total dead silence in the room, which lasted around half a minute, until Iczer-Two spoke up, “Oneesama?”

 

“Yes?” Iczer-One replied.

 

“You and I are two of the most powerful beings who currently reside upon this planet,” the crimson haired Iczer observed, “So…how is it that we both find ourselves constantly being led by the noses by both of our partners?”

 

“Just one of life's mysteries, I guess,” her older blonde sister responded.

 

“That is what I figured.”

 

“COME ALONG, YOU TWO!” Nagisa's voice was heard to ring from down the hallway.

 

“HAI!” both Iczers dutifully responded, then with an ironic glance of sisterly affection they, too, linked arms and exited the room together, leaving Sister Grey to shake her head and murmur to herself, “And they call Iczer-Three the wild one in this family unit…”

 

 

 

Continued

 

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