Urusei Yatsura Fan Fiction ❯ The Senior Year ❯ Benten's Story ( Chapter 4 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year: "Benten's Story" Part 1 of 2
by Mike Smith
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Edited by E.B. Kushnir
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Fourth in a series of fan-fiction stories based on "Urusei Yatsura,"
created by Rumiko Takahashi
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WRITER'S NOTES:
1) The only note to be made here is the name of Jaja's people.
When Mike created the race, he spelt the name "Ipredes," which rhymes
with "Mercedes." Being the son of an English teacher, I spelt it with
a more phonetic flair: "Ipraedies," pronounced "eh-PRAY-dees."
Eventually, we settled on the latter spelling, with the "ae" being
combined as one symbol (in the old Classic style). Unfortunately, as
you can guess, such a symbol cannot be duplicated on the Net.
3) Additional details on Jaja's people will be forthcoming,
especially in the next story, "Enter Space-Hybrid Hazel." Be patient!
However, here is the nomenclature you would use for Jaja's race:
"Ipraedies" (the people)...in Japanese, "Ipureidosujin."
(the word can be used for either one or many)
"Ipraedos" (the planet)...in Japanese, "Wakusei Ipureidosu."
"Ipraediespeak" (the language)...in Japanese, "Ipureidosugo."
4) Details about the specific sect that Jaja hails from (not to
mention its opposite number) will be forthcoming in future stories.
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One week ago...
A small bird-shaped starship heads towards the planet of
Fukunokami. On board are two people. One is a beautiful teenage
Fukunokami girl with long black hair tied with a grey hair-chain into
a bun. She wears a red-and-black battle-bikini, knee-high silver
boots and a grey chain across her ample chest. Her name is Benten
Shigaten. The other is a tall handsome Vosian man with long dark
brown hair and a trimmed beard and moustache. He wears a blue body
suit trimmed in silver with silver knee-high boots and a white knotted
belt around his slim waist. This is Nassur.
Nassur sits at the helm while Benten stands behind him,
feeling relieved that she will soon be home. "There you go, Benten,"
the Vosian announces. "Your home planet."
"Thanks, Nassur," Benten sighs, sitting down beside a nearby
console. "Are you sure you're not going to visit my parents?"
"I wish I could," Nassur chuckles, turning to her, seemingly
in admiration of her youthful figure. "But I've got another job.
Thanks again for your assistance. It was nice to have a partner
again, even if only briefly."
Benten blushes. "Well, I did need the extra money," she
scratches the back of her head nervously. "But how can you stand all
the tension and danger of what you do? This is my first time and I'm
drained!"
Nassur lets out a laugh. "I've gotten used to it," he smiles.
"Of course, my life's been one no-win situation after another. But we
do make a good team. Why don't you join up with me? I could always
use someone to watch my back. I haven't had anyone help me since
Dake-chan and I went our separate ways."
Benten looks surprised by Nassur's offer. "Partner?! Me?!"
"Who else am I talking about? Lum?!"
"I don't know!" the Fukunokami starts to fret. "This is so
sudden. Give me some time to think about it!"
"I'll give you all the time you need!" the Vosian smiles,
"...but first, keep an eye out for space debris."
"Right!" Benten salutes, then mans the scanner.
However, thoughts other than scanning for anything unusual is
on the young Fukunokami's mind. *Nassur asked me to be his partner!*
Benten silently gasps, ignoring her job. *Could this be the beginning
of something? Is this the first move in Nassur finally recognizing
me?*
Benten goes into a self-imposed fantasy. In it, Benten is
married to Nassur and has a little baby who looks like her but with
Vosian tapered ears instead of Fukunokami large-lobed ears. They live
in a modest house together on some alien planet. Benten is busy
making breakfast with her child sleeping in a back pack attached to
her back. Nassur is sitting in the dining room nearby reading a
newspaper while waiting for breakfast. "Is breakfast nearly ready,
honey?" Nassur asks in a kind voice.
"Almost, dear!" Benten smiles.
Seconds later, Benten serves breakfast for her and her
husband. "Here you are," she cheerfully serves some alien food.
Nassur begins to eat, very pleased. "It's delicious," he
smiles, "...but there's something missing."
"What?" Benten looks surprised.
"This..." Nassur kisses her...
...then the whole ship rocks violently!
Nassur and Benten are thrown onto the deck. Consoles begin to
short out. Fires begin. The whole ship itself seems to have gone
into a swan dive into Fukunokami's upper atmosphere. Nassur and
Benten fight to stand up and take their positions. "What the hell was
that?" Benten growls.
Nassur looks at the structural integrity field computers,
horrified by what they say. "Shit!" he screams. "We hit some space
debris from some old satellite. What were you thinking of at the
scanner, Benten?"
"Happy thoughts?" Benten blushes with embarrassment.
Nassur looks at what few navigational computers are still
on-line. It does not look good. "We're going down like a
meteor...and I can't control her! The debris has knocked the engine
systems off-line."
"Ohmigod!" Benten panics. "What do we do?"
"You get the escape pod ready while I see where this brick is
going to crash," Nassur orders.
"Okay," Benten rushes to a nearby door marked ESCAPE POD,
pressing a button to open it. Benten looks at the pod. It is very
small, barely large enough for two full-grown bipeds.
Meanwhile, Nassur looks at his directional computers to find
out where his ship is going to crash. Unfortunately, the computer
simulations do not give him the news he wants to hear. It shows the
ship crashing into Bensaikyou, the planet's capital, not to mention
the most heavily populated area of Fukunokami! A crash of a
warp-driven starship could cause a blast which would kill half the
people in the area, not to mention doom most of the survivors to a
slow, painful, radioactive death. "This is bad!" Nassur announces.
"We're headed straight for Bensaikyou!"
"Which means?" Benten gulps, dreading the answer.
"It means we can't abandon this crate now!" Nassur answers
before nearly getting burned by an overloaded circuit exploding.
"The way things are going," the Fukunokami gulps "...we're not
going to last long enough to hit Bensaikyou!"
"Since this is my ship," the Vosian removes his kill-belt and
hands it to Benten, "...you go first!"
"What?" Benten looks askanse at Nassur calmly handing her his
most treasured possession.
"I'll follow you when I've found a safe place for this thing
to crash!" Nassur draps the kill-belt over her shoulder, then shoves
her into the escape pod.
"Wait!!" Benten protests. "What if you can't get to another
escape pod in time?!"
"That's why you've got my kill-belt," Nassur presses the
button to close the pod's door, then ejects it before Benten can
protest any further.
Benten watches helplessly as the escape pod rockets safely
away from the ship. "Nassur, wait!" she yells, knowing her plea is
falling on deaf ears.
Benten sees the damage the piece of space debris has done.
The debris itself, unrecognizable from the collision and the friction
from her planet's atmosphere, has made a gash on one of the ship's
engine nacelles. She can see fuel and radioactive material flooding
out of it like blood from a cut on someone's arm. "Bensaiten help
him!!!!" she gasps.
The ship suddenly pulls away from the escape pod like a
wounded bird trying to escape a hunter. Benten watches it disappear
into a nearby cloud bank with a steep turn, its vapour trail the only
clue to its position.
Unfortunately, the ship explodes inside the clouds! Benten
does not see any other escape pods rocketing away. "No!!" she gasps,
tears forming in her eyes. "He's dead!!!"
Benten can only pray as her escape pod mercifully sends her
away from the explosion...
* * *
A week later, inside a rented starship, Benten heads to Earth
to visit her best friend, Lum no Midorinokaminoke-oni, formerly of the
planet Uru. The Fukunokami is dressed in her usual battle bikini but
with one slight change...her chain is gone, replaced by Nassur's
kill-belt. Her eyes, once full of the happiness of youth, are now
heavy with the sadness of loss. *You must be able to help me, Lum*,
she sighs. *After all that Nassur has done for you, you must!*
* * *
Meanwhile, in Tomobiki, in a modest two-story bungalow, Ataru
Moroboshi and his self-styled wife Lum, are sitting alone in the
living room watching television. It is a quiet Sunday morning. Lum
is dressed in her usual tiger-striped bikini and knee-high boots,
while Ataru is dressed in a orange-and-white baseball undershirt and
blue jeans. For once they are alone; Ataru's parents and Ten-chan are
gone. "I'm bored, Lum!" Ataru yawns, watching an old, monochrome,
American sit-com about an airheaded red-head and her witless Cuban
band-leader husband. "My parents are gone on vacation and Jariten's
visiting his parents. I wish there was something I could do."
Lum rubs her body against Ataru's body suggestively. "If
you're bored..." she smiles, "...why don't we go out together on a
date?"
"I'm broke," Ataru states.
"How come when you go out with other girls, you've always got
money?!! But when I want to go out with you, you're broke!!!"
Ataru looks nervous. "Well..." he says as he tries to think
up a lie. Luckily, he is saved by the bell...the doorbell, to be
specific. "Someone's at the door," he sighs. "I wonder who it is?"
Ataru runs as fast as he can to the front door. *I hope she
has pretty knockers*, he sighs.
Ataru opens the door to reveal Benten. "Yo, Moroboshi," she
sadly intones as she walks in. "Is Lum around?"
"What will you give me if I say yes?" Ataru lecherously grins.
"How about disembowelment?" Benten gives Ataru such a cold
look, he freezes on the spot!
"Brr..." Ataru's teeth chatters, "...s-she's c-colder th-than
O-oyuki-ch-chan..."
Lum flies up to the door, smiling on seeing Benten. "Oh,
Benten!" the Oni lands, then notices the frozen Ataru and Benten's sad
face. "Why so sad?"
"I've a good reason to be sad," Benten sighs.
"Well, tell me after I get Darling thawed out," Lum notes.
Later, all three sit in the living room. "So, what's up,
Benten?" Lum sighs. "You don't generally act so cold to Darling."
Benten begins to cry. "What's with the tears?" Ataru asks.
"This is serious, Darling," Lum gasps. "Benten doesn't
usually cry!"
"This is the first time I've seen her act like a woman," Ataru
hums. "Oh, let me kiss the blues away!"
Ataru leaps to kiss Benten...but winds up kissing her elbow!
"Don't kiss in Kazuga's Garage," the Fukunokami growls.
Ataru faints! "You're disgusting, Darling!" Lum sighs.
"Of all the times to get horny," Benten snarls, "...this is
*not* one of them!"
"What's bothering you, Benten?" the Oni looks concerned.
"Nassur's dead," Benten replies, then wails.
Lum looks shocked. "No!!!" she shakes her head. "It's only a
trick like in the last story!!!"
"I'm telling the truth!" the Fukunokami shakes her head. "And
you know what's worse?! I was the one who killed him!"
"How?" Lum starts to weep.
"It's like this," Benten sighs. "I was coming home with him
after his last mission when he asked me to be his new permanent
partner."
"Partner?!" Ataru looks surprised.
"Did you say yes?" Lum asks.
"I said I'd think about it," the Fukunokami continues. "So I
went to watch out for space debris in Fukunokami's upper atmosphere.
Unfortunately, all I kept thinking about was getting married."
"Married?!" Ataru yelps. "To who?! Me?!!"
Benten gives Ataru another freezing cold look. "Why would I
want to marry you?" she growls. "I kept fantasizing about getting
married to Nassur."
"So what else is new?" Lum sighs.
"Unfortunately, I didn't do what I was supposed to do and our
ship collided with a piece of space debris," Benten sadly continues.
"Before I could do anything, he handed me my kill-belt, shoved me into
the escape pod, and ejected me!"
"What happened to his ship?" Lum looks anxious.
"It exploded...with him in it!" she cries.
"So that explains why you're wearing Nassur's belt instead of
your usual chain," Ataru hums.
"I'm wearing this in honour of Nassur and what he did for me,"
Benten sobs. "And how I repaid him...by being totally incompetent!"
"Did you find his body?" Lum asks.
"We haven't yet," Benten gets a hold of herself. "It's been a
week since the incident. There's little hope we'll ever will find
it."
Ataru appears in front of Benten, a concerned look on his
face. "Benten, you mustn't blame yourself for things you can't
control. Nassur's fate was to die this day, you must live to make
sure he isn't forgotten."
Both Lum and Benten are surprised by Ataru's sudden gift of
condolence. "That's beautiful, Darling," Lum sighs.
"Yeah, Moroboshi," Benten adds. "I didn't know you cared."
Ataru then takes Benten by the hand. "The matter is about
marriage, isn't it? Why not marry me instead?"
He gets clobbered by Benten's fist in front and Lum's
sledgehammer from behind! "Can't you think of something else?!" both
growl.
Ataru is pushed away. "There is one last thing," Benten pulls
out what looks to be a small computer disk. "I found this in the
latch of Nassur's kill-belt."
"A computer disk?" Lum looks closely. The label read FOR
BENTEN'S AND LUM'S EYES ONLY.
"Do you have anything that can play it?" Benten asks.
Minutes later, Lum has adapted the television into a computer
screen. "I think this should do it," the Oni nods. "Put it in."
Benten places the disk into a player. Immediately, the small
disk begins to play. On the screen, Nassur is sitting behind the
desk. "It's a video?" Ataru looks disinterested. "I wonder if it's
for karaoke."
"Quiet!!" Lum snaps. "This is important!"
"Not to me it's not!" Ataru snaps back.
The Oni looks shocked by Ataru's words, but is then distracted
by Nassur's recording. "Benten, Lum..." the message begins, "...if
you're both hearing this, then I'm probably dead. I made this message
for the both of you in case such an event occurred so you'll both have
something to remember me by. Don't worry...the Home Base computer has
instructions from me to relay a message to both Varanko and Dakejinzou
Shogai in this situation. I regret that I have little more than this
to give to you, but I sensed both of you would've wanted it this way.
I wish you all the best for whatever fate has in store for you both in
terms of careers and lifemates. Live both your lives with honour and
dignity. Remember the happy times the three of us had together in the
short time we were together. To me, you were both children I never
had with my late wife, Cinba. I'll be watching you from Heaven and
waiting for you to join me when your lives have ended. Remember me,
but don't pine your lives away in sadness over whatever fate I may
have had. Farewell."
It is nearly an hour later before someone finally talks. "He
must've been quite a guy," Ataru sighs.
Lum looks over. "Now are you sorry for what you said?!" she
sniffs.
"Sorry about what?" he looks at her.
"For saying it's none of your business?"
"It's not," he shrugs.
Lum looks horrified. "Why not?!!"
"Because he was *your* friend, Lum!" Ataru sighs. "I hardly
knew the guy! Part of me didn't want to know him if you want to know.
And there's nothing you can say or do to change that fact!"
The Oni looks shocked by her "fiance's" words, then falls
silent, realizing that he does have a point. "All the things he did
for the people of the Galaxy," Benten moans. "All the shit he took
because he fought for what he believed in. Now to die this way...I
wish there was a way I could've warned him!" The Fukunokami then has
a thought. "Lum!" she turns to her friend. "Do you still have your
spacializers?!"
"Yeah," Lum nods before realizing what Benten wants to do.
"You're not thinking what I think your thinking?!"
"It'll work!" Benten nods. "We go back into time and warn
Nassur about his death. Then maybe..."
"DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?!?!?!" Lum screams so
violently, even Benten is awed. "You're talking about changing
history!!! That's too dangerous!!!"
"I agree, Lum," Ataru nods, remembering what happened when he
tried to change history to rid himself of the Oni.
An angry look appears on Benten's face. "Lum, you owe this to
Nassur!!!" she growls. "Remember all he did for you?!! Is this how
you repay him?!!"
"You can't change what must be," Lum coldly crosses her arms.
Benten slumps to the floor. "I loved Nassur!!" she sobs. "He
was my idol growing up! I always dreamed I would one day be his
partner!! I didn't mean for him to get killed! It's not fair that I
was going to receive my wish only to have taken away from me!!"
"I won't give you my spacializer...and that's final!" Lum
growls.
Benten stands, beside herself in rage. "Then, you'll
understand what I must do!!!"
The Fukunokami pulls out a handful of pickled plums. Before
the Oni can react, Benten rams them into her mouth! "Have some
pickled plums!"
The hapless Lum swallows all the plums, immediately becoming
drunk. "Wash's...dis...?" she hiccups drunkenly before passing out.
Ataru looks surprised. "Benten!! Why did you get Lum
drunk?!!"
"The easier it is to get her spacializer," Benten moves over
towards the sleeping Lum. "I gave her enough pickled plums to knock
her out for awhile."
Benten reaches for Lum's bikini top, but Ataru's hand grabs
her. "Don't do it, Benten!" the Terran tries to stop her.
"You can't stop me!!!" the Fukunokami pushes him away.
Ataru falls to the floor. "I see I'll have to deal with you,
too!" Benten growls as she stands threateningly over him.
"W-what are you going to do to me?" he sputters in fear.
"This!" Benten shoves the lip of a green bottle with an alien
label into his mouth!
Before Ataru can do anything, he takes several large gulps of
the sweet-tasting, sour-smelling liquid in the bottle. In a matter of
moments, Ataru is so drunk, he can barely stay conscious. "Waddaya
gib me?"
"Fukunokami super-vodka," Benten sighs. "One sip and you'll
be drunk for hours. You drank half the bottle in one go!"
Sure enough, he passes out. Benten looks at the two
unconscious teens sadly. "I hope you forgive me," Benten quietly
sighs before taking Lum's spacializer. "...but I must do this!"
Benten looks at the spacializer with regret. "This is the
only thing that will make Nassur live again," she sighs. "I won't let
anyone stop me."
* * *
Meanwhile, outside the front door of the Moroboshi house,
Shinobu Miyaki arrives. She is dressed in a pink blouse with a green
plaid skirt. *I wonder if she's heard anything from Nassur-kun, yet?*
the Terran sighs. *I really wish Lum would tell me how to get his
attention.*
Shinobu gets to the door just as Benten is coming out. Both
look surprised. "Benten?" Shinobu hums. "What are you doing here?"
"Shinobu?" Benten quickly hides the spacializer from Shinobu's
eyes. "What do you want?!"
"I came to visit Lum," Shinobu replies.
"I just finished visiting Lum and Moroboshi," Benten rushes
off. "Go ahead! Bye!"
Benten runs as fast as she can. Shinobu innocently watches.
"Why is she running so fast?" She then enters the house. "Hello?!
Anybody home?!" she calls out from the foyer.
No answer. Puzzled, Shinobu removes her shoes, then steps
inside. "Ataru-kun?! Lum?!"
Then she enters the living room to see Ataru and Lum passed
out on the floor. "**WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!?!?!**" Shinobu screams
loud enough to scare everyone in the neighbourhood.
"Kirin Beer is great after a tough day!" Yamada declares.
The yell is loud enough to awaken the drunken Lum and Ataru.
"Whozzat?" Ataru groans drunkenly at Shinobu. "Shinoby?"
"Wazzat tramp doin' here?" Lum drunkenly snarls.
The breath of both drunken teens is enough to nearly overwhelm
their visitor. "This 'tramp' came to visit you, Lum!" Shinobu growls.
"No wonder Benten nearly ran over me getting out of here!! You're
drunk out of your minds!!"
"B'ten?!" Lum slowly tries to fly up to Shinobu. "Ya saw
her?"
Lum falls on her stomach with an embarrassing thud just short
of Shinobu! "Just a few minutes ago!" Shinobu sighs.
"Ya godda stop her!" Lum replies. "She stoled m'spaciadizer."
"I couldn't care less about Benten right now," Shinobu growls.
"Ataru Moroboshi, how could you and Lum do such at thing when your
parents are on vacation?"
Ataru answers her with a burp with enough force to knock
Shinobu to the floor! "Lizzen, 'Noby, ya dope!" he growls. "B'ten
made us dis way. She stoled Lummy's spaciawhateveritis!"
"Sure," Shinobu snorts. "And I'm the next Gundam pilot! I'm
sick of your lies. I hope you both get big hangovers tomorrow and
your parents throw you both out of the house!"
With that, Shinobu marches out. "I'd bet Nassur would've
given you clean-up duty for a year!" she growls.
Ataru suddenly looks disgusted. "Ah, git lost, ya tramp! I
don' know wat I saw in ya in the first place!! I hope ya grow old and
unmarried, ya bitch!! Don' come back!"
His ex-girlfriend looks horrified by Ataru's words. "Fine,
then!!!" Shinobu screams as she slams the door shut.
Lum and Ataru just sit there looking at each other drunkenly.
"Nobuddy 'lieves dat B'ten did dis ta us!" Lum wails.
"Ah, w'll get sumbuddy else!" Ataru sighs.
* * *
Shinobu marches off the Moroboshi property, red with rage.
"Ataru-kun has the morals of a dumpster!! Lum should know better!
What undutiful children! Nassur-kun'll flip when he hears of this!"
As she heads home, Shinobu passes a construction site. She
notices Benten standing there busy attaching the spacializer to the
lip of a large pipe. The Terran watches her from behind the fence.
"For this to work," Benten spacializer's controls, "...I'll have to
meet Nassur at a time before he knew me. I'll go to when Nassur was
Lum's bodyguard. Lum herself was only a baby, so I won't have to
worry about her interfering."
Benten finishes setting the controls, then climbs into the
pipe. Shinobu hears the sound of space being warped, then notices
that Benten does not come out the other end of the pipe. "What's
Benten talking about?" Shinobu thinks aloud. "Is she talking about
going back into time? But that's impossible, isn't it?! I'd better
talk to Lum again!"
Shinobu turns to return to the Moroboshi home...
* * *
At the Moroboshi home, Ataru has passed out again. Lum fights
to stay conscious on the floor of the living room. Shinobu bursts
back in and runs into the living room to confront the drunken Lum.
"Lum!" she harshly demands. "What's going on?! I just saw Benten
boasting she was going back into time!"
Lum looks up at Shinobu, then bursts out crying. "Noguddy
'lieves B'ten stoled my spaciadizer!"
"I do, Lum," the Terran looks compassionate. "Why does she
want to go back into time?"
"B'ten wants ta save N'sur's life," Lum tries to get her
composure back. "She blamed herself fer his death, ya see! She wanna
go ta change history so he'll be alive again!"
Shinobu looks horrified. "Nassur-kun's dead?!!" she grabs Lum
and shakes her violently. "Why didn't you tell me?!!"
"It justed happened," Lum burps.
"If she's trying to bring Nassur back to life," Shinobu stops
shaking the Oni. "Why did she make you two drunk?"
"'Cause we tried ta stop her," Lum drunkenly stammers.
"***WHY?!?!?!***"
"'Cause changin' history is dangerous!" Lum continues. "B'ten
could wipe out da entire space-time condominium!"
"That could be a problem," the Terran nods. "Then we'll have
to stop her!"
"'Kay," Lum drunkenly nods. "Just after Darling and me have a
little nappy...!"
Lum passes out on the floor. Shinobu grabs her by her bikini
top. "Lum!!! Lum!!! Don't go to sleep now!!!"
Lum responds by snoring. "She won't wake up!" Shinobu lets
go, allowing the Oni to drop to the floor. "What can I do?!"
[Suddenly, a small piece of junk bounces off the top of her
head! "Don't you think you should go into time after her?!!" a reader
yells.
"Yeah!!!" another snaps. "We don't want a repeat of the first
story!!!"]
"I'm going! I'm going!" Shinobu rubs her head as she rushes
out the front door...
* * *
Seventeen years in the past, on the planet of Uru, Benten
appears in the capital city of Lum's homeworld, Onishuto. Like most
cities in the universe, it is a mixture of both rich and poor, good
and bad. Benten materializes out of a space-time warp into a
garbage-filled alleyway. "I made it!" the Fukunokami smiles.
She notices a newspaper indicating the date. "This is the
right date," she nods. "Now to find Nassur."
Suddenly, Benten hears the sound of someone coming through the
warp! *Who's that?!* she prepares herself. *It can't be Lum or
Moroboshi! They're too out of it!!*
Benten is surprised when the pursuer falls through the warp,
landing like a crashing plane into a bunch of nearby garbage cans!
When the dust settles, Benten is surprised to see her pursuer is none
other than Shinobu. "Shinobu?!!" the Fukunokami snaps. "What the
hell are you doing here?!!"
"I'm here to stop you from changing history, Benten!!" Shinobu
wipes off garbage from her clothes. "Lum told me what you're planning
to do and it's wrong!!!"
"Do you think I want to do this?!!" Benten growls. "I must do
this or Nassur's spirit won't rest!!!"
"Forget it!" Shinobu grabs Benten. "I'm taking you back!"
Benten shoves Shinobu away. "Never!!!"
Shinobu retaliates with a punch to Benten's jaw. Benten,
knowing how strong the Terran can be, barely manages to duck. The
Fukunokami slips behind her opponent, then squeezes her left shoulder!
"Temporary Incapacitating Manoeuvre!!"
Shinobu drops unconscious to the ground! Benten relaxes.
"That was a little something Nassur taught me from his visit to 40
Erandii! By the time you recover, I'll be long gone. I know you mean
well, Shinobu, but, I'm sorry, I can't let you stop me!"
Benten runs into the street, leaving the unconscious Shinobu
behind.
In the streets of the city, aliens are everywhere but the
majority of people are either Onis or Seishins going about their
business. No one pays much attention to Benten, although she is
dressed a little out of fashion for the times. *Where do I find
Nassur?* she hums to herself...then runs into something hard! Benten
falls to the ground! "Idiot!" Benten screams at whom she ran into.
"I ought to...!!"
She realizes whom she just run into...a younger, beardless,
Nassur! "Huh?!" she gasps as Nassur stands over her, offering his
hand.
"Are you all right, miss?" the Vosian asks. "You took a nasty
spill."
Benten looks nervous as Nassur helps her to her feet.
"I...I...I..." she stutters.
"What a strange look," Nassur smiles. "Do you know me from
somewhere?"
"N-no...!!" Benten says...then hugs him! "I was so scared,
Nassur!!!"
"Do I know you?" Nassur pushes her away.
"I'm Benten Shigaten of Fukunokami," Benten holds out her
hand.
"Nassur of Vos," Nassur shakes her hand. "You'd better watch
where you're going. You could run into things a little less pleasant
than me. I don't have time for autographs right now. I'm late for an
appointment. See you!"
Nassur walks away. Benten is too much in awe to stop him.
After Nassur is gone, she realizes that she wrecked a glorious
opportunity to carry out her mission. "***I'M AN IDIOT!!!!!!***" she
screams as she bangs her head on a nearby wall! "***I AM!!!! I
AM!!!! I AM!!!!***"
Bystanders watch Benten in awe over what she is doing to
herself...
* * *
Meanwhile, in the alleyway, Shinobu is still unconscious. A
pair of Oni males, one short and fat, the other tall and thin, both
middle-aged and dressed in what look like police uniforms, walk by.
They see Shinobu. Disgusted looks appear on their faces. "Y'know,
Com!" the fat one sighs. "What makes me really wanna puke?! Stoopid
tourists who come ta our planet, get drunk and pass out inna street!"
"I know whatcha mean, Vac!" the tall one agrees. "Ain't they
got no civic pride?!"
Both cops walk up to Shinobu, then tap her wake with the Oni
version of a bully club. "Get up, you!" Vac growls. "Police!!"
Shinobu opens her eyes, then looks strangely at the
constables. "What's going on?!"
"We'll ask da questions!" Com snaps. "Foist, who're ya 'n'
where ya from?!"
"I'm Shinobu Miyaki from Earth."
"Earth?" Vac looks disdainfully at her. "Never hoid of da
place! Lessee yer passport!"
Shinobu searches her clothes for a passport...before she
realizes she does not have one. "Wait a minute! I don't have a
passport!!" the Terran looks nervous.
Vac and Com sighs. "Oh, an illegal alien, eh?" Com
threateningly growls. "Yer inna lotta trouble now, chickie!"
"We're takin' ya in!" Vac declares as he and Com grab Shinobu
by the arms, then start dragging her to the station.
"No! You don't understand!" Shinobu protests. "I'm from the
future!"
"Save it for immigration!" Vac growls.
Suddenly, she jumps the constables! A melee begins. In the
heat of the battle, a couple of rugby players leap in. "***I'M* NOT
*GOING TO JAIL...AND THAT'S FINAL!!!!!!***" Shinobu screams as she
defeats them with ease!
Seconds later, Shinobu rushes out of the alleyway and down the
street. Vac and Com both look like they have fought a war...and lost!
"Sheet!" Vac groans. "I don't wanna tell the Chief about dis one!"
"Me, neither!" Com groans.
Both pass out...
* * *
Meanwhile, in the outskirts of Onishuto, Nassur comes to a
huge tiger-stripped oval starship which has landed in the middle of
the alien country side. The Vosian walks to the door to see a sign
declaring INVADER NO MIDORINOKAMINOKE-ONI (REDET): CAPTAIN, MRS, LUM.
"This must be the place," Nassur rings the doorbell. It sounds like a
beast from the Terrible Fields howling! "Interesting doorbell."
He does not see Benten arriving near the Invader family's
home. She hides behind some trees to observe. Finally, the door
opens and a younger Captain Invader appears, smiling. "Hello, you
must be Nassur-san," he extends his hand in friendship with a smile.
"I'm Captain Invader. Pleased to meet you!"
"Likewise," Nassur shakes Invader's hand.
"Come in! Come in!!" the large Oni nearly drags Nassur into
the house by his arm.
Inside the Invader home, little is different from the present
day, except nothing is as grandly designed as we know it. Mrs Invader
flies in, then lands beside her husband. She looks almost like Lum
save for her shorter hair. "This is my wife," Invader waves to her.
She gives a greeting in Oni, holding out her hand in
friendship. "Pleased to meet both of you," Nassur replies. "Sorry,
I'm late, but I got delayed at the spaceport."
"That's okay," Invader scratches the back of his head. "We
knew you'd show up eventually. Let's go up to my office and talk
about what we want you to do."
As the three stroll up to the next floor, Nassur looks about,
impressed at how the Onis live. "You've got a nice place here."
"Rank does have its privileges," Invader nods. "We've heard a
lot about you and your wife Cinba. Is she coming later?"
"Maybe," Nassur nods. "She'll be filling in for me on a
couple of our other jobs. With fame comes work!"
"Well, after that incident with the President of the Tribal
Council, no wonder you get work!" the large Oni laughs.
"Don't mention that!" Nassur groans. "Both Cinba and I are
still healing from that little incident."
"I don't recall saving the President from assassination by a
sicko being little!" Invader chuckles. As they pass a window, all
three fail to notice Benten peeking in after climbing the outside of
the house!
Invader's office is now a nursery. In the crib is an Oni baby
girl wearing a tiger-stripped jumpsuit playing with some stuffed toys.
The child is obviously Lum. Although she looks barely six months old,
she possesses the angelic looks she will have when she reaches teenage
years. Mrs Invader takes Lum out of the crib, then places her on her
lap as she sits on a nearby chair. Invader and Nassur sit nearby.
"See our treasure?" Invader beams. "Our first child. Her name is
Lum!"
"Such a cute child," the Vosian nods. "So, what's the story?"
"Well, we've heard rumours that someone's trying to kidnap our
daughter."
"That's terrible," Nassur gasps. "Who would want to kidnap
your baby?"
"According to our intelligence, the Ipraedies!" the large Oni
intones.
"The Ipraedies?" Nassur looks shocked. "That planet of
barbarians?! They're almost as bad as the Seifukusu! What do they
want with your daughter?!"
"It's not my daughter they're after...it's me," Invader points
at himself. "I've just been named the first captain of the new
Kashin-class battle wagon cruiser for the Urusian Defense Force."
"I've heard of that," Nassur nods. "According to rumour,
they're supposed to be better armed and stronger than any warbirds in
the Ipraedies fleet."
"That's true," Invader sighs. "All the more reason to get
their specs to find any weaknesses in the design to exploit."
"I see," the Vosian muses. "Kidnap your daughter and they
have you in their hands. It's an old story."
"Then you'll protect our daughter?" the large Oni looks
anxious.
"I gave my word, didn't I?" Nassur smiles.
Invader smiles. "Thanks, Nassur-san! I know you'll do a good
job."
"I'll do my best!"
Mrs Invader then offers Lum to Nassur, speaking in Oni.
"Sure, I'd love to hold her, ma'am!" Nassur smiles, grabbing Lum away
greedily from her mother.
Lum looks at Nassur with big green eyes, happily giggling.
"I've a son that's your age, too," the Vosian smiles. "Maybe he'll
become your husband some day."
Unnoticed by anyone, Benten looks in from a window. *Looks
like everything is unfolding as it should so far*, she sighs. *I'll
try to get in contact with him later.*
Nassur lifts Lum gently in the air. "Upsy-daisy!"
Lum giggles. "You'll stay in the guest room," Invader watches
Nassur play. "My house is yours."
"Thanks," Nassur nods. "I hope I won't get in the way too
much!"
Suddenly, Lum points to the window Benten is staring into.
Nassur's eyes flash green. The Invaders notice. "What is it?" the
large Oni gasps.
"There's someone at the window!" the Vosian quietly intones.
Benten notices she has been discovered. She panics. *Shit!!!
I'm in for it now!!! What do I do?!!*
Mrs Invader takes ahold of Lum while Invader and Nassur rush
to the window, opening it slowly. "***WHO'S OUT HERE?!?!?!***" the
two men scream, then look down...to find no one.
"Funny," Nassur scratches his forehead. "I could've sworn I
sensed somebody out here!"
"Maybe it was a bird," Invader hums.
Mrs Invader joins them in looking out the window and down at
the ground. Only Lum is looking in the air where she sees Benten
hanging above them on an antenna, pleading silently not to lose her
grip. *Please don't look up!*
"I guess I must've imagined it," Nassur sighs as they close
the window.
Benten relaxes. "Phew!!"
Unfortunately, relaxing weakens her grip on the antenna enough
for Benten to fall! The Fukunokami screams all the way down...until a
dumpster breaks her fall. "Damn it!" Benten swears as she tries to
pick herself up.
Her screams alert both Nassur and the Invaders to return to
the window. "Hello down there!" Nassur yells.
Benten huddles further inside the garbage, hoping that she was
not seen. *Now, what do I do?!* she gulps. *They know someone's
around!!* An idea then appears on her face. *I got it!!*
Benten begins to meow like a cat loudly enough for Nassur and
the Invaders to hear. "A cat?" Invader wonders. "It must've been
after the food scraps in the garbage."
"Why don't you using composting instead?" Nassur looks over.
Nassur and the Invader close the window to return to their
meeting. Benten climbs out of the dumpster, very relieved. "This
isn't going to be as easy as I thought!" the Fukunokami sighs. "I'll
wait until night falls."
* * *
In Onishuto, Shinobu hunts for any sign of Nassur or Benten.
"I don't see Benten or Nassur-kun anywhere," she looks tired...then
her stomach growls. "Ugh! I'm getting hungry, too! I hope there's
something around here I can eat!"
Shinobu then notices she has blundered into the restaurant and
market centre of Uru's capital city. As well as Oni and Seishin foods
and restaurants, there are plenty of alien ones. Most of the food
looks disgusting to Shinobu as she moves from stall to stall.
Finally, she comes across a stall filled with what looks like some
sort of lobster. It is staffed by a couple of aliens who look like
giant bats. *These look like I can actually eat them!* the Terran
smiles.
"May help?" one of the aliens asks Shinobu in a
heavily-accented voice.
"What are these?" Shinobu points.
"These be scubi," the alien smiles. "Delicious, no? You want
free sample, yes?"
"If it's okay," Shinobu nods.
"Is okay," the alien smiles.
Shinobu takes one of the scubi and prepares to eat it.
Unfortunately, it moves. Further, it is quite warm to her touch.
"Hey!" the Terran gasps. "They're still alive!"
"Of course," the alien nods, amused. "Scubi taste better
eaten alive."
Shinobu's face turns green. "I'm ready to do a Bush-san," she
returns the scubi. "Sorry, I preferred dead food."
She runs away. "Funny alien," the alien shrugs before
returning to promoting his wares.
Shinobu stops nearby, still sick. *I think I lost my
appetite!!* she gasps...before noticing a sign proclaiming HUMANOIDS
SERVED HERE. "Oh good," the Terran sighs. "At least, there will be
something normal to eat in here...I hope!"
Shinobu enters the restaurant. Inside, the establishment
looks like any restaurant on Earth except all the staff and patrons
are indescribably alien. There is a sign on the cashier proclaiming
ALL HUMANOIDS MUST INFORM NEXT OF KIN BEFORE SERVICE. "What a weird
place," Shinobu hums.
An alien maitre d' arrives. Shinobu notices it looks like a
cross between Godzilla and the Alien from "Alien" dressed in a red
tuxedo. "May I 'elp you?" it asks with a quasi-French accent,
toothily smiling.
"Y-yes," Shinobu looks nervous. "I saw your sign outside
saying you serve humanoids. Is that true?"
"But of course," the maitre d' nods. "At Chez Hubert, we
serve any 'umanoids dat walk drough dat door!"
"Thanks," Shinobu relaxes...before she notices the maitre d'
looking at her as if she was a piece of meat.
"You are a little skinny to be served immediately," the maitre
d' hums. "We'll 'ave to fatten you up a lot before we can serve you."
Shinobu faints! "What do you mean by that?!!"
"Madame," the maitre d' takes hold of Shinobu, pushing her
towards the kitchen. "Chez Hubert serves 'umanoids AS food!"
"***WHAT?!?!?!***" Shinobu yells. A skull bounces of the top
of her head!
"C'mon," the maitre d' orders. "Let's get you properly
fattened and seasoned!"
The maitre d' opens the door, then tries to push Shinobu in.
Fortunately, she grabs the door frame with her arms and legs, then
uses her strength to keep from getting pushed in. "But, I came to
eat, not be eaten!!!"
"Sorry," the maitre d' groans as he tries to push Shinobu in.
"Dose are da rules!"
"Oh, yeah?!!" the Terran looks mad.
Suddenly, the whole restaurant shakes from the impact of
Shinobu's fists on the maitre d's body! All the patrons look
surprised when it is the maitre d' which rockets into orbit instead of
Shinobu! "What an aggressive meal she'd make...!!!" the maitre d'
says as it approaches escape velocity!
Shinobu runs out of the restaurant...
* * *
Night falls. The Invaders have gone to bed. However, Nassur
is still awake, playing with the baby Lum well after bedtime.
"Upsy-daisy!" the Vosian carefully lifts her into the air.
Lum giggles happily as Nassur repeats the gesture over and
over again until a video-telephone rings. "Oops!" Nassur stops
playing with his future student. "Phone's ringing."
Nassur answers the phone. On the viewscreen, there is a
beautiful young Vosian woman with long blonde hair. She wears a
red-and-black uniform similar in style to Nassur's. "Natsu-chan!" she
smiles. "How'd it go?"
"Great, Ci-chan!" Nassur smiles as he presents Lum. "I'm this
little one's protector. How about you?"
"It's been a long day," Cinba sighs. "I got Tupa in a Gomiana
bar. He was not easy to arrest, I tell you. Nic-Nic of Dosa gave
himself up to the local authorities, so that contract is cancelled.
I'm off to Zeiwan to look for Dirudo."
"In other words, normal goings-on," Nassur sighs.
"I wish I could be with you on your assignment," Cinba sighs.
"Aki-chan would love to have a playmate!"
"That's if you can't get the computer away from him," Nassur
chuckles. "Who would've thought that fickle, shameless computer of
ours would fall in love with our kid?"
"Them's the breaks," Cinba shrugs. "But at least she's been
leaving the Eternal Voyager's computer and other systems alone for a
while. Perhaps the Voyager will finally head out to locate the Chosen
One."
Both Vosians laugh. "Well, I'd better go, Natsu-chan," Cinba
moves to end the call. "God bless!"
"God bless!" Nassur replies before ending contact. He then
looks at Lum. "That's my wife, Lum-chan," he smiles. "She'd make a
good mother-in-law for you someday." Nassur then notices the clock on
the wall and how late the hour is. "Oops!" he looks shocked. "It's
well past your bedtime. Time for bed!"
Nassur gently places the baby Oni into her crib, then covers
her with her blankets. "Now, you go to sleep, Lum-chan," Nassur
kisses Lum on the cheek. "Even future hunters need to rest sometime.
Pleasant dreams."
Lum closes her eyes immediately. Nassur quietly sneaks out of
the room and turns off the light. *Nice kid.*
But as soon as Nassur closes the door behind him, Lum wakes
up, then sits up. She holds her hands in a praying position, watching
as tiny sparks of electricity flash between her pudgy hands.
"Hunter," she quietly hums.
* * *
Meanwhile, outside the house, Benten notices the last of the
lights going out as she hides in the nearby trees. "They're asleep
finally," the Fukunokami pulls out a letter. "I'll sneak in and give
Nassur this letter explaining everything. That'll be enough...I
hope."
As Benten climbs down the tree, Shinobu wanders around,
aimlessly lost. "At least I managed to find something to eat," she
sighs to herself, remembering finding a McDonald's. "But, I still
haven't found hide nor hair of Nassur-kun or Benten!"
Unfortunately, Benten finds Shinobu...by falling right on top
of her! "Oops!!" Benten exclaims as she realizes whom she has fallen
on. "What are you doing here?!"
"Stopping you from changing history!" Shinobu pushes Benten
off her.
"Idiot!" Benten prepares to fight. "I won't let you ruin
everything!"
The Terran is not the least bit pleased. "I've been nerve
pinched, nearly forced into cannabalism, nearly eaten myself,
arrested, harassed and almost forced to join some perverted missionary
group...but I'm still determined to bring you back to our time!!!"
"Don't tell me about hard times!!" Benten snaps. "You'll have
to fight me if you want to take me back before my mission is over!!!"
"No problem!" Shinobu takes a ready position.
"It's a duel!!!" a Yamada exclaims as it whacks another Yamada
over the head with a sledgehammer!
Shinobu and Benten size each other up mentally as the cool
night wind blows past them. Then they yell and attack each other.
Shinobu tries to punch the Fukunokami, but she ducks in time. Benten
counters with a karate kick towards Shinobu's face. Shinobu blocks it
with her arm. The two lock arms, testing their strength like a pair
of pro wrestlers. "Why are you doing this?!!" Benten strains. "I
thought you hated Lum!!"
"I'm not doing this for Lum, you know!!" Shinobu strains.
"Moroboshi, then?!"
"Why should I work for that traitor?! I'm doing this for
someone else!"
Before Benten can continue, a spotlight shines upon them.
Both girls stop their feud to look up. "Halt, Intruders!!!" Invader's
voice is heard.
In the light, Invader and Nassur step out. Nassur has his gun
out while Invader, dressed in his nightclothes, grabs both Shinobu and
Benten and slams them into a bearhug. "You are both trespassing on
private property," the Vosian declares. "State your business before
we call the police!"
Benten and Shinobu look nervous. "What do we do?" the latter
whispers. "They won't believe the truth."
"Leave it to me," the Fukunokami whispers back. She then
wails at Nassur. "It's horrible!!! Just horrible!!"
Invader, Nassur and Shinobu look confused by Benten's sudden
change in mood. "What's so horrible?!" the Vosian asks.
"Shinobu-chan and I are members of your fan club!" Benten
tries to play a cute-girl act.
"We are?" Shinobu hums.
Benten kicks her painfully in the knee! "We are! We are!"
the Terran rapidly nods.
"When we heard you were going to be staying..." Benten
continues, "...we started discussing who was going to get your
autograph first!"
"It looked more like an out-of-your-minds brawl," Invader
sighs. "These girls legitimate, Nassur-san?"
"Well," Nassur lowers his gun. "I recognize one of them.
Your name's Benten, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Benten smiles nervously. "That's right. I'm Benten
Shigaten of Fukunokami. I'm your biggest fan!"
Shinobu elbows Benten painfully in the side. "I'm his biggest
fan!!!" the Terran growls.
Invader looks at Nassur again, more angrier than ever. "You
know these airheads?!"
"Not very well, I'm afraid," Nassur sighs, wondering what to
do. "I only met Benten earlier today. But I don't think these girls
are dangerous, so let them go."
"Sure, Nassur," Invader releases them. The two girls fall to
the ground!
"Couldn't you have been a little gentler?" Shinobu rubs her
sore bottom.
"Since you only want autographs," Nassur looks stern. "I'll
do it as long as you don't tell anyone else that I'm here."
"Of course," Benten jumps into Nassur's arms and kisses him on
the lips...and at the same time, shoving the letter into his pocket.
"Mum's the word," Shinobu nods, seeing what the Fukunokami has
done.
"I don't know," Invader muses. "These girls look to be
nothing but trouble."
As the four walk to the house, on a hill close by, a
evergreen-skinned, foppish, middle-aged man with strawberry-blonde
hair watches them using infra-red binoculars. He is dressed in a
white-and-purple outfit which looks as if it came from an
eighteenth-century European court. "So..." he hums, his voice
affected by a curious lisp, "...the Invadews' have hiwed the infamous
Nassuw. Thewe couwd be a medaw for his death fwom the Empewow himsewf
in this!"
This is Jaja, a citizen of the Asan'on sect of the planet
Ipraedos. Despite appearances, he is the most twisted of all of the
Ipraedies' assassins. With sixty missions to his credit, Jaja could
easily give lessons on cruelty and amoral behaviour. The worse part
is that he keeps complete records of his killings like a collector
with his sports cards or comics!
* * *
Later, inside the den of Invader home, Nassur, Benten and
Shinobu sit together at a table. "I'm going back to bed!" Invader
sighs. "Make sure your fans are out of here before you turn in,
Nassur."
"No problem," Nassur replies.
He takes a couple of small pieces of paper and begins to sign
his name to them with a pen. "So, I have a fan club now?" he hums.
"I didn't know I was so popular."
"You'd be surprised by how popular you'll be...I mean...are,"
Benten accidentally slips.
Nassur looks at her. "That's quite a replica of my kill-belt
you're wearing, Benten," the Vosian leans up. "But you've exaggerated
the knots a little. I've only completed one hundred and sixty-three
missions so far. Yours has nearly five hundred."
"Well," the Fukunokami looks nervous. "Someday you'll have
that many."
The Vosian looks closer. "It must have cost a lot to get the
imitation chichi bear leather for the belt," he adds. "I see you
remembered to paint my first mission knot red."
"Let's just say I pay attention to detail," Benten smiles.
Shinobu looks jealous. "How come your first knot is red?" she
quickly shoves Benten aside.
"I thought everyone knew about that mission by now," Nassur
laughs. "Or at least the exaggerations around it. It's in honour of
the time I liberated Home Base eight years ago from a small group of
slavers and cutthroats under the control of the most infamous pirate
in history, Gegranko. There was fifty of them against myself and
Cinba."
"I heard it was a thousand," Benten points up.
"Nope," Nassur shakes his head. "It was only fifty. But,
exaggeration like that is good for one thing. It brings the business
in." He then finishes the autographs, then hands them to Benten and
Shinobu. "Here you are," Nassur smiles.
"Thanks," Shinobu takes the autograph, then politely bows.
Benten takes her autograph. Tears well in her eyes. "Is
something wrong?" Nassur reaches over.
"It's nothing," Benten shakes her head. "Thanks, Nassur.
Let's go, Shinobu."
Benten grabs Shinobu by the arm and drags her away. "Wait!"
Shinobu protests.
"We're going!" Benten snarls before waving goodbye to Nassur.
"See you!"
"Right," Nassur waves back, suspicion on his face.
Seconds later, Benten and Shinobu have left the grounds.
"Well, let's go back to our time, Shinobu," Benten says.
Shinobu stops immediately. Benten continues walking a couple
of steps before she notices. "Now, what?!!" she turns to look back.
"I saw you slip that letter into Nassur's pocket!" the Terran
points at her.
"Whatever do you mean?" Benten nervously giggles.
Shinobu transforms into a huge scary monster ready to kill the
tiny Benten! "***DON'T TRY TO DENY IT!!!! IT'S WRITTEN ALL OVER YOUR
FACE!!!!!!***"
"Okay! Okay!!" Benten waves her companion off. "I did it!
But what are you going to do about it?!"
Shinobu returns to normal. "I don't know," she weakly sighs.
Benten faints! "But, I'll think of something!" Shinobu adds.
The Terran begins to stomp back towards the Invaders' home.
Benten rushes after her. "Wait, Shinobu!!"
Before Benten and Shinobu can go any farther, a small
grenade-like bomb flies out of nowhere to land between them, exploding
in a bright light! "What the...?" Benten yells...then finds moving
impossible!
"Can't...moooovvvveeee...." Shinobu's voice slurrs.
In seconds, the two teenaged girls are no more than living
statues. Out of the bush, Jaja walks up to them. "So, my pwetties,"
he devilishly lisps. "You'we fwiends of Nassuw, eh? Finding it hawd
to move? I used a pawawysis gwenade to stop youw bwain impuwses fwom
going to youw muscwes!"
Benten tries to move, but her body does not respond to her
brain. "I'm Jaja, an Ipwaedies assassin," the Ipraedies boasts. "I'm
going to kidnap that baby Nassuw is pwotecting and howd her fow
wansom. The Empewow wants the pwans fow the Kashin-cwass battwe
wagons so we can study them and weawn how to beat them. Isn't that
gweat?"
Jaja puts his hands on both girls' shoulders. "Now you two
awe going to hewp me get wid of that pesky Vosian once and fow aww."
With the ease of someone picking up a pair of mannequins, Jaja
picks both girls up and carries them to a nearby black vehicle. "My,"
the assassin comments. "You'we both heavy. You giwws shouwd do mowe
than go aftew autogwaphs."
After shoving them into the trunk, Jaja hopes into the drives
seat and flies off into the night!
* * *
The next morning, as the beasts of the Terrible Fields wake up
and roar at the rising sun, the Invaders, Lum and Nassur awaken for
breakfast. The three Onis look well-rested, while the Vosian looks
like he got little sleep last night. "Morning, all," Nassur yawns as
he gets the Oni equalivant of rice and toast with juice before joining
them at the family table.
"Morning, Nassur," Invader smiles. "How did you sleep?"
"Well," Nassur eats. "It would've been better if those two
autograph hounds didn't come to visit. What a strange pair they
were."
"I only hope this won't be a common occurrence," the large Oni
sighs.
"That makes two of us!" Nassur agrees. "But those girls
somehow look familiar. As if I know them from somewhere."
"All aliens look alike to me," Invader sips his tea.
Unfortunately, the domestic tranquility is shattered by a
brick being thrown through the dining room window, landing in the
middle of the table! "What the...?!" Invader yells, ready to fight.
Mrs Invader shields Lum from the flying glass. Nassur looks
at the brick, then sees a note tied to it. "What's this?" the Vosian
sees that the note is addressed to him. Taking the note off the
brick, he opens it and reads. "Dear Nassur, I've got your pretty
followers. If you value their lives, deliver yourself and the baby
Oni to the sewer treatment plant nearby. Come alone! You have until
midday to do what I ask or your friends will die in painful ecstacy.
Jaja of Ipraedos."
The Vosian crushes the note. "This is bad! I don't know
those two girls, but Jaja's put them in danger! And knowing how
twisted I've heard he is, he could do anything horrible to them!"
"What do we do?" Invader looks concerned. "I can't just give
my daughter to that monster!"
"I'm afraid we must," Nassur sighs. "But if I do it
correctly, everything should be all right. I've got a plan."
"I hope so," Invader sighs.
* * *
The sewer control plant is somewhere in the middle of the
Terrible Fields. Completely automated, the only people present are in
the lowest level of the plant. Near the outtake area, Benten and
Shinobu sit on the cement floor, tied back-to-back with rope. As you
might expect, neither are very happy about current events.
Unfortunately for anyone nearby, the paralysis grenade's effects have
worn off. "We're in trouble now!!!" Shinobu growls. "And it's your
fault!!!"
"My fault?!!" Benten snaps. "It's no wonder Moroboshi dropped
you like a hot potato, the way you accuse people like that!!! If you
didn't interfere...!!!"
"Wadies, wadies..." Jaja arrives from an access chamber.
"That's not the way for prisonews to behave!"
Benten and Shinobu look angrily at Jaja. "Go stick your head
in a toilet, Ipraedies!" the former growls.
"Why," Jaja looks ready to cry, "...I'm simply insuwted by
youw wack of mannews!"
He then slaps Benten across the face! "Since when are
Ipraedies concerned with manners?!" the Fukunokami's cheeks turn red.
"M'deaw," Jaja laughs, "...the Ipwaedies wote the book on
mannews!"
"Just like they wrote books on torture and cruelty!" Benten
snarls.
"Oh, you pain me," the assassin begins to be dramatic. "I'm
not just any owd assassin! I'm an awtiste! I must show you my
powtfowio!"
He extracts a small video display terminal, then presses a
button. Immediately on the screen, photos of horribly mangled bodies
appear. Benten steels herself. Shinobu looks ready to vomit. "See?"
Jaja gloats. "Each one is a mastewpiece!"
"You're sick!" Shinobu turns pale. "You know that?!"
"Sick?" Jaja looks surprised. "I've been cawwed neuwotic,
psychotic, even a homicidaw maniac. But never sick! You insuwt me,
Tewwan!"
"You know where I'm from?" she gasps.
"Of course," Jaja snorts. "Eawth's sowaw system is between my
Empire's and Uwu's infwuence. They say it couwd be the next majow
fwashpoint in the next few yeaws. But, you must be punished for youw
insuwt, Tewwan!"
Jaja pulls out a long, thin, white object about the size of a
vibrator. He touches a stud on the bottom. The object begins to glow
pink. "This is a shockew!" he coldly intones. "It sends ewectwicaw
shocks through a being's newvous system. And it weaves behind the
most beautifuw scaws."
Jaja moves the shocker towards Shinobu's face. She tries to
pull back, but cannot. "Leave her alone!" Benten demands. "If you're
gonna torture someone, do me! Leave her out of it!"
The Ipraedies looks cruelly at the Fukunokami. "Towtuwing you
won't be fun!" his voice turns to ice. "I've nevew towtuwed a Tewwan
befowe. I wondew how beautifuwwy they scweam!"
Jaja moves the shocker even closer to the Terran's face.
Shinobu sweats nervously. Suddenly, a stone hits Jaja's hand,
knocking the shocker away! Shinobu looks relieved. "Who did that?"
the Ipraedies demands.
"I did," a familiar voice calls out.
Jaja turns as out of the shadows, Nassur steps out, carrying
Lum wrapped in a tiger-stripped blanket. "Nassur-kun!" Shinobu looks
relieved.
"Ah, Nassuw," Jaja smiles, seeing that Nassur has arrived with
the baby. "I knew you won't disappoint me!"
"I brought Lum with me," the Vosian walks up. "Now let those
two girls go."
The Ipraedies devilishly grins at the baby's presence. Lum
bursts out crying when she sees the assassin's face as if she could
somehow sense his cruelty. Ignoring the cries, Jaja takes Lum from
Nassur's arms, placing her beside Benten and Shinobu. "My job is
done," he declares. "I'w get a medaw for suwe!"
"You know, Jaja," the Vosian sighs, "...you're shooting
yourself in the foot doing this."
"What do you mean?" Jaja looks surprised.
"Instead of asking for the baby, you could've asked for the
plans for the 'Kashin,'" Nassur smiles. "But I guess what I've heard
about you is true."
"What have you heawd about me?!"
"That Jaja's lost his edge!"
"Wost my edge?!!" the Ipraedies gasps. "No way!! I'm as
effective as evew befowe!!"
"Not according to my information," the Vosian hums. "I heard
a rumour that Emperor Schwartz himself wants to get rid of you."
"Oh, he does, does he?!!" Jaja growls, angrier than before.
"Who towd you that wie?!"
"It's no lie," Nassur snorts. "You're on the outs with the
Assassins Guild."
"Then, to get back to theiw good gwaces," Jaja smiles,
"...means youw death!"
Jaja jumps Nassur! A wrestling match begins. In the first
few minutes, the two are even, but a head-butt from Jaja to Nassur's
forehead gives the assassin the chance. Jaja manages to get the
Vosian to his knees. "Oh, no!" Benten looks horrified. "If Nassur
loses, history will be changed!!"
"What can we do?!" Shinobu gasps.
The Ipraedies belts the Vosian in the jaw! "Who's past it
now, Vosian?" Jaja bolts to his feet, eyes ablaze with triumph.
"Is that the best you can do?" Nassur stands up!
Jaja looks in awe over how the Vosian simply shrugs off what
he did to him, visually uninjured. "Impossibwe," the Ipraedies
hoarsely gasps.
"My turn!" Nassur clobbers Jaja with such a hard punch, the
assassin goes flying into the opposite wall! Jaja leaves a noticeable
dent before sliding down to the floor.
"B-beaten...!" Jaja moans before losing consciousness.
"He did it!!!" Shinobu yips in delight.
"It's not over yet!!!" Nassur yells, covering Lum.
Jaja's body suddenly explodes into nothingness! "Gods!!!"
Shinobu gasps. "He exploded!!!"
Nassur stands up, waving the smouldering ashes away. "The
Ipraedies Assassins Guild have no stomache for losers, I'm afraid," he
moves to free the two girls. "I love it when a plan comes together."
Once free, Benten and Shinobu quickly hug their idol. "Thanks
for saving us!!!"
"You're fans of mine!" Nassur blushes...then blurts out,
"Could you explain this, Benten?!" he flashes the letter Benten shoved
secretly into his pocket.
The girls look nervous. "I think I hear my mother calling
me!" Benten starts to push Shinobu to the door. "Bye!!"
"Hold it, you two!" Nassur growls, causing both Benten and
Shinobu to bolt to attention. "You're time travellers, aren't you?!"
The two face him. "Well," Benten begins, "...we're friends of
yours in the future...but you died while saving me. I only wanted to
return the favour!"
"Don't you know that's dangerous?!" Nassur rips up the letter.
"You can't change what must be!"
"But," the Fukunokami sobs, "...it's to save your life."
"If I'm fated to die in your time, so be it!" the Vosian
sighs. "That's the will of the gods! I'm sorry for your loss, but
you can't change what must be!"
"That's what I've been trying to tell you," Shinobu looks
sympathetic. "Let's go back to our own time!"
Benten looks at Nassur, tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry for
causing this trouble," she sniffs. "When we finally meet each other
in the future, I hope you'll forgive me."
"Perhaps, I will," Nassur sighs...
* * *
In the present, Benten and Shinobu return to the construction
site where their journey began. Shinobu looks relieved that she has
made it back alive. Benten looks as if she has had her heart cut out.
"I could try again," the Fukunokami sobs, removing the spacializer
from the pipe. "But what's the use? History can't be changed. Now,
I've not only shamed myself but broken up a long friendship with Lum!"
"Benten..." Shinobu reaches over.
"If you want to see the fireworks," Benten sighs. "You're
welcome to come along."
"I'll go," the Terran nods, "...but to support your side. You
did what you thought in your heart was right."
* * *
Minutes later, the two arrive at the Moroboshi home. All is
quiet. "Do you think they're recovered enough from the stuff you gave
them?" Shinobu looks over.
"Who knows?" Benten sighs, as depressed as ever.
When they both reach the front door, it opens and a
happy-looking Lum stands there, a little worse for wear but sober.
"Oh, you're both back!" she smiles. "We've been waiting for you!
Come in!"
Benten and Shinobu look at each other. "Doesn't she seem to
be a little too happy for what I did to her?" the former asks.
"Maybe she's on Prozac?" the latter muses.
The two follow Lum into the living room. Ataru is nursing a
massive hangover from the Fukunokami super-vodka. "Oh, Moroboshi,"
Benten looks surprised. "You're recovered. Sorry about that!"
"Don't yell so loud!" Ataru yells. "My head's ready to split
from the hangover I got. Next time you try that, I'll make sure you
never come back to this planet again!" He turns away, grumbling
"Bloody chain-bitch...always causing trouble...!" as he staggers away.
Benten and Shinobu looks shocked. "Shit, he's been sniping at
everyone these days, isn't he?!" the former sighs.
"I remember the time he threatened to ask Elle to execute
Mendou-san, the guards and I when we were prisoners!" the latter
moans.
"Oh, don't worry. Darling'll recover in a few minutes," Lum
sighs. "Yohimbine takes a while to work."
Benten looks surprised. "Yohimbine?" she looks at the Oni.
"Where did you get that from?"
"From me," a familiar voice declares.
Benten and Shinobu turn...to see Nassur standing there, alive
and well. "N-Nassur?" Benten stutters. "Y-you're a-a-a...!"
"Alive?" the Vosian smiles. "Of course, I am...thanks to your
early warning seventeen years ago."
The time-travellers faint! "But I thought you tore it up!"
the Fukunokami cries out.
"I did," he nods. "But I read it before I tore it up. If I
remember correctly, that's how I found out you were time travellers."
"But what about changing history?" Shinobu gasps.
"To be honest, Shinobu," Nassur sighs, "...history changed
when you two appeared in the past."
"I see," the Terran looks down.
"Nassur-chan came after you two left," Lum smiles. "They just
found him yesterday."
"How did you survive?" Benten looks over.
"I always keep an ejection seat on the bridge as emergency
equipment," Nassur smiles, putting his arm around her. "But I've got
one question to ask you."
"Oh?!" Benten looks curious. "What is it?"
"Can I have my kill-belt back?" the Vosian points to the
knitted belt wrapped around her. "I feel naked without it!"
Benten playfully punches Nassur in the arm. Everyone laughs
expect Ataru, who is still hung over. "From now on..." the class
president groans, a touch of a snarl in his voice, "...I'm a
tea-totaller...even if I have to drive every jerk outta my life to do
it, too!!"
The three girls look slightly scared. "What's biting him?!"
Benten whispers to Lum.
"I don't know!" Lum shrugs.
"I guess we'll find out next story," Nassur sighs...
*** The End ***
by Mike Smith
**** **** ****
Edited by E.B. Kushnir
**** **** ****
Fourth in a series of fan-fiction stories based on "Urusei Yatsura,"
created by Rumiko Takahashi
**** **** ****
WRITER'S NOTES:
1) The only note to be made here is the name of Jaja's people.
When Mike created the race, he spelt the name "Ipredes," which rhymes
with "Mercedes." Being the son of an English teacher, I spelt it with
a more phonetic flair: "Ipraedies," pronounced "eh-PRAY-dees."
Eventually, we settled on the latter spelling, with the "ae" being
combined as one symbol (in the old Classic style). Unfortunately, as
you can guess, such a symbol cannot be duplicated on the Net.
3) Additional details on Jaja's people will be forthcoming,
especially in the next story, "Enter Space-Hybrid Hazel." Be patient!
However, here is the nomenclature you would use for Jaja's race:
"Ipraedies" (the people)...in Japanese, "Ipureidosujin."
(the word can be used for either one or many)
"Ipraedos" (the planet)...in Japanese, "Wakusei Ipureidosu."
"Ipraediespeak" (the language)...in Japanese, "Ipureidosugo."
4) Details about the specific sect that Jaja hails from (not to
mention its opposite number) will be forthcoming in future stories.
**** **** ****
One week ago...
A small bird-shaped starship heads towards the planet of
Fukunokami. On board are two people. One is a beautiful teenage
Fukunokami girl with long black hair tied with a grey hair-chain into
a bun. She wears a red-and-black battle-bikini, knee-high silver
boots and a grey chain across her ample chest. Her name is Benten
Shigaten. The other is a tall handsome Vosian man with long dark
brown hair and a trimmed beard and moustache. He wears a blue body
suit trimmed in silver with silver knee-high boots and a white knotted
belt around his slim waist. This is Nassur.
Nassur sits at the helm while Benten stands behind him,
feeling relieved that she will soon be home. "There you go, Benten,"
the Vosian announces. "Your home planet."
"Thanks, Nassur," Benten sighs, sitting down beside a nearby
console. "Are you sure you're not going to visit my parents?"
"I wish I could," Nassur chuckles, turning to her, seemingly
in admiration of her youthful figure. "But I've got another job.
Thanks again for your assistance. It was nice to have a partner
again, even if only briefly."
Benten blushes. "Well, I did need the extra money," she
scratches the back of her head nervously. "But how can you stand all
the tension and danger of what you do? This is my first time and I'm
drained!"
Nassur lets out a laugh. "I've gotten used to it," he smiles.
"Of course, my life's been one no-win situation after another. But we
do make a good team. Why don't you join up with me? I could always
use someone to watch my back. I haven't had anyone help me since
Dake-chan and I went our separate ways."
Benten looks surprised by Nassur's offer. "Partner?! Me?!"
"Who else am I talking about? Lum?!"
"I don't know!" the Fukunokami starts to fret. "This is so
sudden. Give me some time to think about it!"
"I'll give you all the time you need!" the Vosian smiles,
"...but first, keep an eye out for space debris."
"Right!" Benten salutes, then mans the scanner.
However, thoughts other than scanning for anything unusual is
on the young Fukunokami's mind. *Nassur asked me to be his partner!*
Benten silently gasps, ignoring her job. *Could this be the beginning
of something? Is this the first move in Nassur finally recognizing
me?*
Benten goes into a self-imposed fantasy. In it, Benten is
married to Nassur and has a little baby who looks like her but with
Vosian tapered ears instead of Fukunokami large-lobed ears. They live
in a modest house together on some alien planet. Benten is busy
making breakfast with her child sleeping in a back pack attached to
her back. Nassur is sitting in the dining room nearby reading a
newspaper while waiting for breakfast. "Is breakfast nearly ready,
honey?" Nassur asks in a kind voice.
"Almost, dear!" Benten smiles.
Seconds later, Benten serves breakfast for her and her
husband. "Here you are," she cheerfully serves some alien food.
Nassur begins to eat, very pleased. "It's delicious," he
smiles, "...but there's something missing."
"What?" Benten looks surprised.
"This..." Nassur kisses her...
...then the whole ship rocks violently!
Nassur and Benten are thrown onto the deck. Consoles begin to
short out. Fires begin. The whole ship itself seems to have gone
into a swan dive into Fukunokami's upper atmosphere. Nassur and
Benten fight to stand up and take their positions. "What the hell was
that?" Benten growls.
Nassur looks at the structural integrity field computers,
horrified by what they say. "Shit!" he screams. "We hit some space
debris from some old satellite. What were you thinking of at the
scanner, Benten?"
"Happy thoughts?" Benten blushes with embarrassment.
Nassur looks at what few navigational computers are still
on-line. It does not look good. "We're going down like a
meteor...and I can't control her! The debris has knocked the engine
systems off-line."
"Ohmigod!" Benten panics. "What do we do?"
"You get the escape pod ready while I see where this brick is
going to crash," Nassur orders.
"Okay," Benten rushes to a nearby door marked ESCAPE POD,
pressing a button to open it. Benten looks at the pod. It is very
small, barely large enough for two full-grown bipeds.
Meanwhile, Nassur looks at his directional computers to find
out where his ship is going to crash. Unfortunately, the computer
simulations do not give him the news he wants to hear. It shows the
ship crashing into Bensaikyou, the planet's capital, not to mention
the most heavily populated area of Fukunokami! A crash of a
warp-driven starship could cause a blast which would kill half the
people in the area, not to mention doom most of the survivors to a
slow, painful, radioactive death. "This is bad!" Nassur announces.
"We're headed straight for Bensaikyou!"
"Which means?" Benten gulps, dreading the answer.
"It means we can't abandon this crate now!" Nassur answers
before nearly getting burned by an overloaded circuit exploding.
"The way things are going," the Fukunokami gulps "...we're not
going to last long enough to hit Bensaikyou!"
"Since this is my ship," the Vosian removes his kill-belt and
hands it to Benten, "...you go first!"
"What?" Benten looks askanse at Nassur calmly handing her his
most treasured possession.
"I'll follow you when I've found a safe place for this thing
to crash!" Nassur draps the kill-belt over her shoulder, then shoves
her into the escape pod.
"Wait!!" Benten protests. "What if you can't get to another
escape pod in time?!"
"That's why you've got my kill-belt," Nassur presses the
button to close the pod's door, then ejects it before Benten can
protest any further.
Benten watches helplessly as the escape pod rockets safely
away from the ship. "Nassur, wait!" she yells, knowing her plea is
falling on deaf ears.
Benten sees the damage the piece of space debris has done.
The debris itself, unrecognizable from the collision and the friction
from her planet's atmosphere, has made a gash on one of the ship's
engine nacelles. She can see fuel and radioactive material flooding
out of it like blood from a cut on someone's arm. "Bensaiten help
him!!!!" she gasps.
The ship suddenly pulls away from the escape pod like a
wounded bird trying to escape a hunter. Benten watches it disappear
into a nearby cloud bank with a steep turn, its vapour trail the only
clue to its position.
Unfortunately, the ship explodes inside the clouds! Benten
does not see any other escape pods rocketing away. "No!!" she gasps,
tears forming in her eyes. "He's dead!!!"
Benten can only pray as her escape pod mercifully sends her
away from the explosion...
* * *
A week later, inside a rented starship, Benten heads to Earth
to visit her best friend, Lum no Midorinokaminoke-oni, formerly of the
planet Uru. The Fukunokami is dressed in her usual battle bikini but
with one slight change...her chain is gone, replaced by Nassur's
kill-belt. Her eyes, once full of the happiness of youth, are now
heavy with the sadness of loss. *You must be able to help me, Lum*,
she sighs. *After all that Nassur has done for you, you must!*
* * *
Meanwhile, in Tomobiki, in a modest two-story bungalow, Ataru
Moroboshi and his self-styled wife Lum, are sitting alone in the
living room watching television. It is a quiet Sunday morning. Lum
is dressed in her usual tiger-striped bikini and knee-high boots,
while Ataru is dressed in a orange-and-white baseball undershirt and
blue jeans. For once they are alone; Ataru's parents and Ten-chan are
gone. "I'm bored, Lum!" Ataru yawns, watching an old, monochrome,
American sit-com about an airheaded red-head and her witless Cuban
band-leader husband. "My parents are gone on vacation and Jariten's
visiting his parents. I wish there was something I could do."
Lum rubs her body against Ataru's body suggestively. "If
you're bored..." she smiles, "...why don't we go out together on a
date?"
"I'm broke," Ataru states.
"How come when you go out with other girls, you've always got
money?!! But when I want to go out with you, you're broke!!!"
Ataru looks nervous. "Well..." he says as he tries to think
up a lie. Luckily, he is saved by the bell...the doorbell, to be
specific. "Someone's at the door," he sighs. "I wonder who it is?"
Ataru runs as fast as he can to the front door. *I hope she
has pretty knockers*, he sighs.
Ataru opens the door to reveal Benten. "Yo, Moroboshi," she
sadly intones as she walks in. "Is Lum around?"
"What will you give me if I say yes?" Ataru lecherously grins.
"How about disembowelment?" Benten gives Ataru such a cold
look, he freezes on the spot!
"Brr..." Ataru's teeth chatters, "...s-she's c-colder th-than
O-oyuki-ch-chan..."
Lum flies up to the door, smiling on seeing Benten. "Oh,
Benten!" the Oni lands, then notices the frozen Ataru and Benten's sad
face. "Why so sad?"
"I've a good reason to be sad," Benten sighs.
"Well, tell me after I get Darling thawed out," Lum notes.
Later, all three sit in the living room. "So, what's up,
Benten?" Lum sighs. "You don't generally act so cold to Darling."
Benten begins to cry. "What's with the tears?" Ataru asks.
"This is serious, Darling," Lum gasps. "Benten doesn't
usually cry!"
"This is the first time I've seen her act like a woman," Ataru
hums. "Oh, let me kiss the blues away!"
Ataru leaps to kiss Benten...but winds up kissing her elbow!
"Don't kiss in Kazuga's Garage," the Fukunokami growls.
Ataru faints! "You're disgusting, Darling!" Lum sighs.
"Of all the times to get horny," Benten snarls, "...this is
*not* one of them!"
"What's bothering you, Benten?" the Oni looks concerned.
"Nassur's dead," Benten replies, then wails.
Lum looks shocked. "No!!!" she shakes her head. "It's only a
trick like in the last story!!!"
"I'm telling the truth!" the Fukunokami shakes her head. "And
you know what's worse?! I was the one who killed him!"
"How?" Lum starts to weep.
"It's like this," Benten sighs. "I was coming home with him
after his last mission when he asked me to be his new permanent
partner."
"Partner?!" Ataru looks surprised.
"Did you say yes?" Lum asks.
"I said I'd think about it," the Fukunokami continues. "So I
went to watch out for space debris in Fukunokami's upper atmosphere.
Unfortunately, all I kept thinking about was getting married."
"Married?!" Ataru yelps. "To who?! Me?!!"
Benten gives Ataru another freezing cold look. "Why would I
want to marry you?" she growls. "I kept fantasizing about getting
married to Nassur."
"So what else is new?" Lum sighs.
"Unfortunately, I didn't do what I was supposed to do and our
ship collided with a piece of space debris," Benten sadly continues.
"Before I could do anything, he handed me my kill-belt, shoved me into
the escape pod, and ejected me!"
"What happened to his ship?" Lum looks anxious.
"It exploded...with him in it!" she cries.
"So that explains why you're wearing Nassur's belt instead of
your usual chain," Ataru hums.
"I'm wearing this in honour of Nassur and what he did for me,"
Benten sobs. "And how I repaid him...by being totally incompetent!"
"Did you find his body?" Lum asks.
"We haven't yet," Benten gets a hold of herself. "It's been a
week since the incident. There's little hope we'll ever will find
it."
Ataru appears in front of Benten, a concerned look on his
face. "Benten, you mustn't blame yourself for things you can't
control. Nassur's fate was to die this day, you must live to make
sure he isn't forgotten."
Both Lum and Benten are surprised by Ataru's sudden gift of
condolence. "That's beautiful, Darling," Lum sighs.
"Yeah, Moroboshi," Benten adds. "I didn't know you cared."
Ataru then takes Benten by the hand. "The matter is about
marriage, isn't it? Why not marry me instead?"
He gets clobbered by Benten's fist in front and Lum's
sledgehammer from behind! "Can't you think of something else?!" both
growl.
Ataru is pushed away. "There is one last thing," Benten pulls
out what looks to be a small computer disk. "I found this in the
latch of Nassur's kill-belt."
"A computer disk?" Lum looks closely. The label read FOR
BENTEN'S AND LUM'S EYES ONLY.
"Do you have anything that can play it?" Benten asks.
Minutes later, Lum has adapted the television into a computer
screen. "I think this should do it," the Oni nods. "Put it in."
Benten places the disk into a player. Immediately, the small
disk begins to play. On the screen, Nassur is sitting behind the
desk. "It's a video?" Ataru looks disinterested. "I wonder if it's
for karaoke."
"Quiet!!" Lum snaps. "This is important!"
"Not to me it's not!" Ataru snaps back.
The Oni looks shocked by Ataru's words, but is then distracted
by Nassur's recording. "Benten, Lum..." the message begins, "...if
you're both hearing this, then I'm probably dead. I made this message
for the both of you in case such an event occurred so you'll both have
something to remember me by. Don't worry...the Home Base computer has
instructions from me to relay a message to both Varanko and Dakejinzou
Shogai in this situation. I regret that I have little more than this
to give to you, but I sensed both of you would've wanted it this way.
I wish you all the best for whatever fate has in store for you both in
terms of careers and lifemates. Live both your lives with honour and
dignity. Remember the happy times the three of us had together in the
short time we were together. To me, you were both children I never
had with my late wife, Cinba. I'll be watching you from Heaven and
waiting for you to join me when your lives have ended. Remember me,
but don't pine your lives away in sadness over whatever fate I may
have had. Farewell."
It is nearly an hour later before someone finally talks. "He
must've been quite a guy," Ataru sighs.
Lum looks over. "Now are you sorry for what you said?!" she
sniffs.
"Sorry about what?" he looks at her.
"For saying it's none of your business?"
"It's not," he shrugs.
Lum looks horrified. "Why not?!!"
"Because he was *your* friend, Lum!" Ataru sighs. "I hardly
knew the guy! Part of me didn't want to know him if you want to know.
And there's nothing you can say or do to change that fact!"
The Oni looks shocked by her "fiance's" words, then falls
silent, realizing that he does have a point. "All the things he did
for the people of the Galaxy," Benten moans. "All the shit he took
because he fought for what he believed in. Now to die this way...I
wish there was a way I could've warned him!" The Fukunokami then has
a thought. "Lum!" she turns to her friend. "Do you still have your
spacializers?!"
"Yeah," Lum nods before realizing what Benten wants to do.
"You're not thinking what I think your thinking?!"
"It'll work!" Benten nods. "We go back into time and warn
Nassur about his death. Then maybe..."
"DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?!?!?!" Lum screams so
violently, even Benten is awed. "You're talking about changing
history!!! That's too dangerous!!!"
"I agree, Lum," Ataru nods, remembering what happened when he
tried to change history to rid himself of the Oni.
An angry look appears on Benten's face. "Lum, you owe this to
Nassur!!!" she growls. "Remember all he did for you?!! Is this how
you repay him?!!"
"You can't change what must be," Lum coldly crosses her arms.
Benten slumps to the floor. "I loved Nassur!!" she sobs. "He
was my idol growing up! I always dreamed I would one day be his
partner!! I didn't mean for him to get killed! It's not fair that I
was going to receive my wish only to have taken away from me!!"
"I won't give you my spacializer...and that's final!" Lum
growls.
Benten stands, beside herself in rage. "Then, you'll
understand what I must do!!!"
The Fukunokami pulls out a handful of pickled plums. Before
the Oni can react, Benten rams them into her mouth! "Have some
pickled plums!"
The hapless Lum swallows all the plums, immediately becoming
drunk. "Wash's...dis...?" she hiccups drunkenly before passing out.
Ataru looks surprised. "Benten!! Why did you get Lum
drunk?!!"
"The easier it is to get her spacializer," Benten moves over
towards the sleeping Lum. "I gave her enough pickled plums to knock
her out for awhile."
Benten reaches for Lum's bikini top, but Ataru's hand grabs
her. "Don't do it, Benten!" the Terran tries to stop her.
"You can't stop me!!!" the Fukunokami pushes him away.
Ataru falls to the floor. "I see I'll have to deal with you,
too!" Benten growls as she stands threateningly over him.
"W-what are you going to do to me?" he sputters in fear.
"This!" Benten shoves the lip of a green bottle with an alien
label into his mouth!
Before Ataru can do anything, he takes several large gulps of
the sweet-tasting, sour-smelling liquid in the bottle. In a matter of
moments, Ataru is so drunk, he can barely stay conscious. "Waddaya
gib me?"
"Fukunokami super-vodka," Benten sighs. "One sip and you'll
be drunk for hours. You drank half the bottle in one go!"
Sure enough, he passes out. Benten looks at the two
unconscious teens sadly. "I hope you forgive me," Benten quietly
sighs before taking Lum's spacializer. "...but I must do this!"
Benten looks at the spacializer with regret. "This is the
only thing that will make Nassur live again," she sighs. "I won't let
anyone stop me."
* * *
Meanwhile, outside the front door of the Moroboshi house,
Shinobu Miyaki arrives. She is dressed in a pink blouse with a green
plaid skirt. *I wonder if she's heard anything from Nassur-kun, yet?*
the Terran sighs. *I really wish Lum would tell me how to get his
attention.*
Shinobu gets to the door just as Benten is coming out. Both
look surprised. "Benten?" Shinobu hums. "What are you doing here?"
"Shinobu?" Benten quickly hides the spacializer from Shinobu's
eyes. "What do you want?!"
"I came to visit Lum," Shinobu replies.
"I just finished visiting Lum and Moroboshi," Benten rushes
off. "Go ahead! Bye!"
Benten runs as fast as she can. Shinobu innocently watches.
"Why is she running so fast?" She then enters the house. "Hello?!
Anybody home?!" she calls out from the foyer.
No answer. Puzzled, Shinobu removes her shoes, then steps
inside. "Ataru-kun?! Lum?!"
Then she enters the living room to see Ataru and Lum passed
out on the floor. "**WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!?!?!**" Shinobu screams
loud enough to scare everyone in the neighbourhood.
"Kirin Beer is great after a tough day!" Yamada declares.
The yell is loud enough to awaken the drunken Lum and Ataru.
"Whozzat?" Ataru groans drunkenly at Shinobu. "Shinoby?"
"Wazzat tramp doin' here?" Lum drunkenly snarls.
The breath of both drunken teens is enough to nearly overwhelm
their visitor. "This 'tramp' came to visit you, Lum!" Shinobu growls.
"No wonder Benten nearly ran over me getting out of here!! You're
drunk out of your minds!!"
"B'ten?!" Lum slowly tries to fly up to Shinobu. "Ya saw
her?"
Lum falls on her stomach with an embarrassing thud just short
of Shinobu! "Just a few minutes ago!" Shinobu sighs.
"Ya godda stop her!" Lum replies. "She stoled m'spaciadizer."
"I couldn't care less about Benten right now," Shinobu growls.
"Ataru Moroboshi, how could you and Lum do such at thing when your
parents are on vacation?"
Ataru answers her with a burp with enough force to knock
Shinobu to the floor! "Lizzen, 'Noby, ya dope!" he growls. "B'ten
made us dis way. She stoled Lummy's spaciawhateveritis!"
"Sure," Shinobu snorts. "And I'm the next Gundam pilot! I'm
sick of your lies. I hope you both get big hangovers tomorrow and
your parents throw you both out of the house!"
With that, Shinobu marches out. "I'd bet Nassur would've
given you clean-up duty for a year!" she growls.
Ataru suddenly looks disgusted. "Ah, git lost, ya tramp! I
don' know wat I saw in ya in the first place!! I hope ya grow old and
unmarried, ya bitch!! Don' come back!"
His ex-girlfriend looks horrified by Ataru's words. "Fine,
then!!!" Shinobu screams as she slams the door shut.
Lum and Ataru just sit there looking at each other drunkenly.
"Nobuddy 'lieves dat B'ten did dis ta us!" Lum wails.
"Ah, w'll get sumbuddy else!" Ataru sighs.
* * *
Shinobu marches off the Moroboshi property, red with rage.
"Ataru-kun has the morals of a dumpster!! Lum should know better!
What undutiful children! Nassur-kun'll flip when he hears of this!"
As she heads home, Shinobu passes a construction site. She
notices Benten standing there busy attaching the spacializer to the
lip of a large pipe. The Terran watches her from behind the fence.
"For this to work," Benten spacializer's controls, "...I'll have to
meet Nassur at a time before he knew me. I'll go to when Nassur was
Lum's bodyguard. Lum herself was only a baby, so I won't have to
worry about her interfering."
Benten finishes setting the controls, then climbs into the
pipe. Shinobu hears the sound of space being warped, then notices
that Benten does not come out the other end of the pipe. "What's
Benten talking about?" Shinobu thinks aloud. "Is she talking about
going back into time? But that's impossible, isn't it?! I'd better
talk to Lum again!"
Shinobu turns to return to the Moroboshi home...
* * *
At the Moroboshi home, Ataru has passed out again. Lum fights
to stay conscious on the floor of the living room. Shinobu bursts
back in and runs into the living room to confront the drunken Lum.
"Lum!" she harshly demands. "What's going on?! I just saw Benten
boasting she was going back into time!"
Lum looks up at Shinobu, then bursts out crying. "Noguddy
'lieves B'ten stoled my spaciadizer!"
"I do, Lum," the Terran looks compassionate. "Why does she
want to go back into time?"
"B'ten wants ta save N'sur's life," Lum tries to get her
composure back. "She blamed herself fer his death, ya see! She wanna
go ta change history so he'll be alive again!"
Shinobu looks horrified. "Nassur-kun's dead?!!" she grabs Lum
and shakes her violently. "Why didn't you tell me?!!"
"It justed happened," Lum burps.
"If she's trying to bring Nassur back to life," Shinobu stops
shaking the Oni. "Why did she make you two drunk?"
"'Cause we tried ta stop her," Lum drunkenly stammers.
"***WHY?!?!?!***"
"'Cause changin' history is dangerous!" Lum continues. "B'ten
could wipe out da entire space-time condominium!"
"That could be a problem," the Terran nods. "Then we'll have
to stop her!"
"'Kay," Lum drunkenly nods. "Just after Darling and me have a
little nappy...!"
Lum passes out on the floor. Shinobu grabs her by her bikini
top. "Lum!!! Lum!!! Don't go to sleep now!!!"
Lum responds by snoring. "She won't wake up!" Shinobu lets
go, allowing the Oni to drop to the floor. "What can I do?!"
[Suddenly, a small piece of junk bounces off the top of her
head! "Don't you think you should go into time after her?!!" a reader
yells.
"Yeah!!!" another snaps. "We don't want a repeat of the first
story!!!"]
"I'm going! I'm going!" Shinobu rubs her head as she rushes
out the front door...
* * *
Seventeen years in the past, on the planet of Uru, Benten
appears in the capital city of Lum's homeworld, Onishuto. Like most
cities in the universe, it is a mixture of both rich and poor, good
and bad. Benten materializes out of a space-time warp into a
garbage-filled alleyway. "I made it!" the Fukunokami smiles.
She notices a newspaper indicating the date. "This is the
right date," she nods. "Now to find Nassur."
Suddenly, Benten hears the sound of someone coming through the
warp! *Who's that?!* she prepares herself. *It can't be Lum or
Moroboshi! They're too out of it!!*
Benten is surprised when the pursuer falls through the warp,
landing like a crashing plane into a bunch of nearby garbage cans!
When the dust settles, Benten is surprised to see her pursuer is none
other than Shinobu. "Shinobu?!!" the Fukunokami snaps. "What the
hell are you doing here?!!"
"I'm here to stop you from changing history, Benten!!" Shinobu
wipes off garbage from her clothes. "Lum told me what you're planning
to do and it's wrong!!!"
"Do you think I want to do this?!!" Benten growls. "I must do
this or Nassur's spirit won't rest!!!"
"Forget it!" Shinobu grabs Benten. "I'm taking you back!"
Benten shoves Shinobu away. "Never!!!"
Shinobu retaliates with a punch to Benten's jaw. Benten,
knowing how strong the Terran can be, barely manages to duck. The
Fukunokami slips behind her opponent, then squeezes her left shoulder!
"Temporary Incapacitating Manoeuvre!!"
Shinobu drops unconscious to the ground! Benten relaxes.
"That was a little something Nassur taught me from his visit to 40
Erandii! By the time you recover, I'll be long gone. I know you mean
well, Shinobu, but, I'm sorry, I can't let you stop me!"
Benten runs into the street, leaving the unconscious Shinobu
behind.
In the streets of the city, aliens are everywhere but the
majority of people are either Onis or Seishins going about their
business. No one pays much attention to Benten, although she is
dressed a little out of fashion for the times. *Where do I find
Nassur?* she hums to herself...then runs into something hard! Benten
falls to the ground! "Idiot!" Benten screams at whom she ran into.
"I ought to...!!"
She realizes whom she just run into...a younger, beardless,
Nassur! "Huh?!" she gasps as Nassur stands over her, offering his
hand.
"Are you all right, miss?" the Vosian asks. "You took a nasty
spill."
Benten looks nervous as Nassur helps her to her feet.
"I...I...I..." she stutters.
"What a strange look," Nassur smiles. "Do you know me from
somewhere?"
"N-no...!!" Benten says...then hugs him! "I was so scared,
Nassur!!!"
"Do I know you?" Nassur pushes her away.
"I'm Benten Shigaten of Fukunokami," Benten holds out her
hand.
"Nassur of Vos," Nassur shakes her hand. "You'd better watch
where you're going. You could run into things a little less pleasant
than me. I don't have time for autographs right now. I'm late for an
appointment. See you!"
Nassur walks away. Benten is too much in awe to stop him.
After Nassur is gone, she realizes that she wrecked a glorious
opportunity to carry out her mission. "***I'M AN IDIOT!!!!!!***" she
screams as she bangs her head on a nearby wall! "***I AM!!!! I
AM!!!! I AM!!!!***"
Bystanders watch Benten in awe over what she is doing to
herself...
* * *
Meanwhile, in the alleyway, Shinobu is still unconscious. A
pair of Oni males, one short and fat, the other tall and thin, both
middle-aged and dressed in what look like police uniforms, walk by.
They see Shinobu. Disgusted looks appear on their faces. "Y'know,
Com!" the fat one sighs. "What makes me really wanna puke?! Stoopid
tourists who come ta our planet, get drunk and pass out inna street!"
"I know whatcha mean, Vac!" the tall one agrees. "Ain't they
got no civic pride?!"
Both cops walk up to Shinobu, then tap her wake with the Oni
version of a bully club. "Get up, you!" Vac growls. "Police!!"
Shinobu opens her eyes, then looks strangely at the
constables. "What's going on?!"
"We'll ask da questions!" Com snaps. "Foist, who're ya 'n'
where ya from?!"
"I'm Shinobu Miyaki from Earth."
"Earth?" Vac looks disdainfully at her. "Never hoid of da
place! Lessee yer passport!"
Shinobu searches her clothes for a passport...before she
realizes she does not have one. "Wait a minute! I don't have a
passport!!" the Terran looks nervous.
Vac and Com sighs. "Oh, an illegal alien, eh?" Com
threateningly growls. "Yer inna lotta trouble now, chickie!"
"We're takin' ya in!" Vac declares as he and Com grab Shinobu
by the arms, then start dragging her to the station.
"No! You don't understand!" Shinobu protests. "I'm from the
future!"
"Save it for immigration!" Vac growls.
Suddenly, she jumps the constables! A melee begins. In the
heat of the battle, a couple of rugby players leap in. "***I'M* NOT
*GOING TO JAIL...AND THAT'S FINAL!!!!!!***" Shinobu screams as she
defeats them with ease!
Seconds later, Shinobu rushes out of the alleyway and down the
street. Vac and Com both look like they have fought a war...and lost!
"Sheet!" Vac groans. "I don't wanna tell the Chief about dis one!"
"Me, neither!" Com groans.
Both pass out...
* * *
Meanwhile, in the outskirts of Onishuto, Nassur comes to a
huge tiger-stripped oval starship which has landed in the middle of
the alien country side. The Vosian walks to the door to see a sign
declaring INVADER NO MIDORINOKAMINOKE-ONI (REDET): CAPTAIN, MRS, LUM.
"This must be the place," Nassur rings the doorbell. It sounds like a
beast from the Terrible Fields howling! "Interesting doorbell."
He does not see Benten arriving near the Invader family's
home. She hides behind some trees to observe. Finally, the door
opens and a younger Captain Invader appears, smiling. "Hello, you
must be Nassur-san," he extends his hand in friendship with a smile.
"I'm Captain Invader. Pleased to meet you!"
"Likewise," Nassur shakes Invader's hand.
"Come in! Come in!!" the large Oni nearly drags Nassur into
the house by his arm.
Inside the Invader home, little is different from the present
day, except nothing is as grandly designed as we know it. Mrs Invader
flies in, then lands beside her husband. She looks almost like Lum
save for her shorter hair. "This is my wife," Invader waves to her.
She gives a greeting in Oni, holding out her hand in
friendship. "Pleased to meet both of you," Nassur replies. "Sorry,
I'm late, but I got delayed at the spaceport."
"That's okay," Invader scratches the back of his head. "We
knew you'd show up eventually. Let's go up to my office and talk
about what we want you to do."
As the three stroll up to the next floor, Nassur looks about,
impressed at how the Onis live. "You've got a nice place here."
"Rank does have its privileges," Invader nods. "We've heard a
lot about you and your wife Cinba. Is she coming later?"
"Maybe," Nassur nods. "She'll be filling in for me on a
couple of our other jobs. With fame comes work!"
"Well, after that incident with the President of the Tribal
Council, no wonder you get work!" the large Oni laughs.
"Don't mention that!" Nassur groans. "Both Cinba and I are
still healing from that little incident."
"I don't recall saving the President from assassination by a
sicko being little!" Invader chuckles. As they pass a window, all
three fail to notice Benten peeking in after climbing the outside of
the house!
Invader's office is now a nursery. In the crib is an Oni baby
girl wearing a tiger-stripped jumpsuit playing with some stuffed toys.
The child is obviously Lum. Although she looks barely six months old,
she possesses the angelic looks she will have when she reaches teenage
years. Mrs Invader takes Lum out of the crib, then places her on her
lap as she sits on a nearby chair. Invader and Nassur sit nearby.
"See our treasure?" Invader beams. "Our first child. Her name is
Lum!"
"Such a cute child," the Vosian nods. "So, what's the story?"
"Well, we've heard rumours that someone's trying to kidnap our
daughter."
"That's terrible," Nassur gasps. "Who would want to kidnap
your baby?"
"According to our intelligence, the Ipraedies!" the large Oni
intones.
"The Ipraedies?" Nassur looks shocked. "That planet of
barbarians?! They're almost as bad as the Seifukusu! What do they
want with your daughter?!"
"It's not my daughter they're after...it's me," Invader points
at himself. "I've just been named the first captain of the new
Kashin-class battle wagon cruiser for the Urusian Defense Force."
"I've heard of that," Nassur nods. "According to rumour,
they're supposed to be better armed and stronger than any warbirds in
the Ipraedies fleet."
"That's true," Invader sighs. "All the more reason to get
their specs to find any weaknesses in the design to exploit."
"I see," the Vosian muses. "Kidnap your daughter and they
have you in their hands. It's an old story."
"Then you'll protect our daughter?" the large Oni looks
anxious.
"I gave my word, didn't I?" Nassur smiles.
Invader smiles. "Thanks, Nassur-san! I know you'll do a good
job."
"I'll do my best!"
Mrs Invader then offers Lum to Nassur, speaking in Oni.
"Sure, I'd love to hold her, ma'am!" Nassur smiles, grabbing Lum away
greedily from her mother.
Lum looks at Nassur with big green eyes, happily giggling.
"I've a son that's your age, too," the Vosian smiles. "Maybe he'll
become your husband some day."
Unnoticed by anyone, Benten looks in from a window. *Looks
like everything is unfolding as it should so far*, she sighs. *I'll
try to get in contact with him later.*
Nassur lifts Lum gently in the air. "Upsy-daisy!"
Lum giggles. "You'll stay in the guest room," Invader watches
Nassur play. "My house is yours."
"Thanks," Nassur nods. "I hope I won't get in the way too
much!"
Suddenly, Lum points to the window Benten is staring into.
Nassur's eyes flash green. The Invaders notice. "What is it?" the
large Oni gasps.
"There's someone at the window!" the Vosian quietly intones.
Benten notices she has been discovered. She panics. *Shit!!!
I'm in for it now!!! What do I do?!!*
Mrs Invader takes ahold of Lum while Invader and Nassur rush
to the window, opening it slowly. "***WHO'S OUT HERE?!?!?!***" the
two men scream, then look down...to find no one.
"Funny," Nassur scratches his forehead. "I could've sworn I
sensed somebody out here!"
"Maybe it was a bird," Invader hums.
Mrs Invader joins them in looking out the window and down at
the ground. Only Lum is looking in the air where she sees Benten
hanging above them on an antenna, pleading silently not to lose her
grip. *Please don't look up!*
"I guess I must've imagined it," Nassur sighs as they close
the window.
Benten relaxes. "Phew!!"
Unfortunately, relaxing weakens her grip on the antenna enough
for Benten to fall! The Fukunokami screams all the way down...until a
dumpster breaks her fall. "Damn it!" Benten swears as she tries to
pick herself up.
Her screams alert both Nassur and the Invaders to return to
the window. "Hello down there!" Nassur yells.
Benten huddles further inside the garbage, hoping that she was
not seen. *Now, what do I do?!* she gulps. *They know someone's
around!!* An idea then appears on her face. *I got it!!*
Benten begins to meow like a cat loudly enough for Nassur and
the Invaders to hear. "A cat?" Invader wonders. "It must've been
after the food scraps in the garbage."
"Why don't you using composting instead?" Nassur looks over.
Nassur and the Invader close the window to return to their
meeting. Benten climbs out of the dumpster, very relieved. "This
isn't going to be as easy as I thought!" the Fukunokami sighs. "I'll
wait until night falls."
* * *
In Onishuto, Shinobu hunts for any sign of Nassur or Benten.
"I don't see Benten or Nassur-kun anywhere," she looks tired...then
her stomach growls. "Ugh! I'm getting hungry, too! I hope there's
something around here I can eat!"
Shinobu then notices she has blundered into the restaurant and
market centre of Uru's capital city. As well as Oni and Seishin foods
and restaurants, there are plenty of alien ones. Most of the food
looks disgusting to Shinobu as she moves from stall to stall.
Finally, she comes across a stall filled with what looks like some
sort of lobster. It is staffed by a couple of aliens who look like
giant bats. *These look like I can actually eat them!* the Terran
smiles.
"May help?" one of the aliens asks Shinobu in a
heavily-accented voice.
"What are these?" Shinobu points.
"These be scubi," the alien smiles. "Delicious, no? You want
free sample, yes?"
"If it's okay," Shinobu nods.
"Is okay," the alien smiles.
Shinobu takes one of the scubi and prepares to eat it.
Unfortunately, it moves. Further, it is quite warm to her touch.
"Hey!" the Terran gasps. "They're still alive!"
"Of course," the alien nods, amused. "Scubi taste better
eaten alive."
Shinobu's face turns green. "I'm ready to do a Bush-san," she
returns the scubi. "Sorry, I preferred dead food."
She runs away. "Funny alien," the alien shrugs before
returning to promoting his wares.
Shinobu stops nearby, still sick. *I think I lost my
appetite!!* she gasps...before noticing a sign proclaiming HUMANOIDS
SERVED HERE. "Oh good," the Terran sighs. "At least, there will be
something normal to eat in here...I hope!"
Shinobu enters the restaurant. Inside, the establishment
looks like any restaurant on Earth except all the staff and patrons
are indescribably alien. There is a sign on the cashier proclaiming
ALL HUMANOIDS MUST INFORM NEXT OF KIN BEFORE SERVICE. "What a weird
place," Shinobu hums.
An alien maitre d' arrives. Shinobu notices it looks like a
cross between Godzilla and the Alien from "Alien" dressed in a red
tuxedo. "May I 'elp you?" it asks with a quasi-French accent,
toothily smiling.
"Y-yes," Shinobu looks nervous. "I saw your sign outside
saying you serve humanoids. Is that true?"
"But of course," the maitre d' nods. "At Chez Hubert, we
serve any 'umanoids dat walk drough dat door!"
"Thanks," Shinobu relaxes...before she notices the maitre d'
looking at her as if she was a piece of meat.
"You are a little skinny to be served immediately," the maitre
d' hums. "We'll 'ave to fatten you up a lot before we can serve you."
Shinobu faints! "What do you mean by that?!!"
"Madame," the maitre d' takes hold of Shinobu, pushing her
towards the kitchen. "Chez Hubert serves 'umanoids AS food!"
"***WHAT?!?!?!***" Shinobu yells. A skull bounces of the top
of her head!
"C'mon," the maitre d' orders. "Let's get you properly
fattened and seasoned!"
The maitre d' opens the door, then tries to push Shinobu in.
Fortunately, she grabs the door frame with her arms and legs, then
uses her strength to keep from getting pushed in. "But, I came to
eat, not be eaten!!!"
"Sorry," the maitre d' groans as he tries to push Shinobu in.
"Dose are da rules!"
"Oh, yeah?!!" the Terran looks mad.
Suddenly, the whole restaurant shakes from the impact of
Shinobu's fists on the maitre d's body! All the patrons look
surprised when it is the maitre d' which rockets into orbit instead of
Shinobu! "What an aggressive meal she'd make...!!!" the maitre d'
says as it approaches escape velocity!
Shinobu runs out of the restaurant...
* * *
Night falls. The Invaders have gone to bed. However, Nassur
is still awake, playing with the baby Lum well after bedtime.
"Upsy-daisy!" the Vosian carefully lifts her into the air.
Lum giggles happily as Nassur repeats the gesture over and
over again until a video-telephone rings. "Oops!" Nassur stops
playing with his future student. "Phone's ringing."
Nassur answers the phone. On the viewscreen, there is a
beautiful young Vosian woman with long blonde hair. She wears a
red-and-black uniform similar in style to Nassur's. "Natsu-chan!" she
smiles. "How'd it go?"
"Great, Ci-chan!" Nassur smiles as he presents Lum. "I'm this
little one's protector. How about you?"
"It's been a long day," Cinba sighs. "I got Tupa in a Gomiana
bar. He was not easy to arrest, I tell you. Nic-Nic of Dosa gave
himself up to the local authorities, so that contract is cancelled.
I'm off to Zeiwan to look for Dirudo."
"In other words, normal goings-on," Nassur sighs.
"I wish I could be with you on your assignment," Cinba sighs.
"Aki-chan would love to have a playmate!"
"That's if you can't get the computer away from him," Nassur
chuckles. "Who would've thought that fickle, shameless computer of
ours would fall in love with our kid?"
"Them's the breaks," Cinba shrugs. "But at least she's been
leaving the Eternal Voyager's computer and other systems alone for a
while. Perhaps the Voyager will finally head out to locate the Chosen
One."
Both Vosians laugh. "Well, I'd better go, Natsu-chan," Cinba
moves to end the call. "God bless!"
"God bless!" Nassur replies before ending contact. He then
looks at Lum. "That's my wife, Lum-chan," he smiles. "She'd make a
good mother-in-law for you someday." Nassur then notices the clock on
the wall and how late the hour is. "Oops!" he looks shocked. "It's
well past your bedtime. Time for bed!"
Nassur gently places the baby Oni into her crib, then covers
her with her blankets. "Now, you go to sleep, Lum-chan," Nassur
kisses Lum on the cheek. "Even future hunters need to rest sometime.
Pleasant dreams."
Lum closes her eyes immediately. Nassur quietly sneaks out of
the room and turns off the light. *Nice kid.*
But as soon as Nassur closes the door behind him, Lum wakes
up, then sits up. She holds her hands in a praying position, watching
as tiny sparks of electricity flash between her pudgy hands.
"Hunter," she quietly hums.
* * *
Meanwhile, outside the house, Benten notices the last of the
lights going out as she hides in the nearby trees. "They're asleep
finally," the Fukunokami pulls out a letter. "I'll sneak in and give
Nassur this letter explaining everything. That'll be enough...I
hope."
As Benten climbs down the tree, Shinobu wanders around,
aimlessly lost. "At least I managed to find something to eat," she
sighs to herself, remembering finding a McDonald's. "But, I still
haven't found hide nor hair of Nassur-kun or Benten!"
Unfortunately, Benten finds Shinobu...by falling right on top
of her! "Oops!!" Benten exclaims as she realizes whom she has fallen
on. "What are you doing here?!"
"Stopping you from changing history!" Shinobu pushes Benten
off her.
"Idiot!" Benten prepares to fight. "I won't let you ruin
everything!"
The Terran is not the least bit pleased. "I've been nerve
pinched, nearly forced into cannabalism, nearly eaten myself,
arrested, harassed and almost forced to join some perverted missionary
group...but I'm still determined to bring you back to our time!!!"
"Don't tell me about hard times!!" Benten snaps. "You'll have
to fight me if you want to take me back before my mission is over!!!"
"No problem!" Shinobu takes a ready position.
"It's a duel!!!" a Yamada exclaims as it whacks another Yamada
over the head with a sledgehammer!
Shinobu and Benten size each other up mentally as the cool
night wind blows past them. Then they yell and attack each other.
Shinobu tries to punch the Fukunokami, but she ducks in time. Benten
counters with a karate kick towards Shinobu's face. Shinobu blocks it
with her arm. The two lock arms, testing their strength like a pair
of pro wrestlers. "Why are you doing this?!!" Benten strains. "I
thought you hated Lum!!"
"I'm not doing this for Lum, you know!!" Shinobu strains.
"Moroboshi, then?!"
"Why should I work for that traitor?! I'm doing this for
someone else!"
Before Benten can continue, a spotlight shines upon them.
Both girls stop their feud to look up. "Halt, Intruders!!!" Invader's
voice is heard.
In the light, Invader and Nassur step out. Nassur has his gun
out while Invader, dressed in his nightclothes, grabs both Shinobu and
Benten and slams them into a bearhug. "You are both trespassing on
private property," the Vosian declares. "State your business before
we call the police!"
Benten and Shinobu look nervous. "What do we do?" the latter
whispers. "They won't believe the truth."
"Leave it to me," the Fukunokami whispers back. She then
wails at Nassur. "It's horrible!!! Just horrible!!"
Invader, Nassur and Shinobu look confused by Benten's sudden
change in mood. "What's so horrible?!" the Vosian asks.
"Shinobu-chan and I are members of your fan club!" Benten
tries to play a cute-girl act.
"We are?" Shinobu hums.
Benten kicks her painfully in the knee! "We are! We are!"
the Terran rapidly nods.
"When we heard you were going to be staying..." Benten
continues, "...we started discussing who was going to get your
autograph first!"
"It looked more like an out-of-your-minds brawl," Invader
sighs. "These girls legitimate, Nassur-san?"
"Well," Nassur lowers his gun. "I recognize one of them.
Your name's Benten, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Benten smiles nervously. "That's right. I'm Benten
Shigaten of Fukunokami. I'm your biggest fan!"
Shinobu elbows Benten painfully in the side. "I'm his biggest
fan!!!" the Terran growls.
Invader looks at Nassur again, more angrier than ever. "You
know these airheads?!"
"Not very well, I'm afraid," Nassur sighs, wondering what to
do. "I only met Benten earlier today. But I don't think these girls
are dangerous, so let them go."
"Sure, Nassur," Invader releases them. The two girls fall to
the ground!
"Couldn't you have been a little gentler?" Shinobu rubs her
sore bottom.
"Since you only want autographs," Nassur looks stern. "I'll
do it as long as you don't tell anyone else that I'm here."
"Of course," Benten jumps into Nassur's arms and kisses him on
the lips...and at the same time, shoving the letter into his pocket.
"Mum's the word," Shinobu nods, seeing what the Fukunokami has
done.
"I don't know," Invader muses. "These girls look to be
nothing but trouble."
As the four walk to the house, on a hill close by, a
evergreen-skinned, foppish, middle-aged man with strawberry-blonde
hair watches them using infra-red binoculars. He is dressed in a
white-and-purple outfit which looks as if it came from an
eighteenth-century European court. "So..." he hums, his voice
affected by a curious lisp, "...the Invadews' have hiwed the infamous
Nassuw. Thewe couwd be a medaw for his death fwom the Empewow himsewf
in this!"
This is Jaja, a citizen of the Asan'on sect of the planet
Ipraedos. Despite appearances, he is the most twisted of all of the
Ipraedies' assassins. With sixty missions to his credit, Jaja could
easily give lessons on cruelty and amoral behaviour. The worse part
is that he keeps complete records of his killings like a collector
with his sports cards or comics!
* * *
Later, inside the den of Invader home, Nassur, Benten and
Shinobu sit together at a table. "I'm going back to bed!" Invader
sighs. "Make sure your fans are out of here before you turn in,
Nassur."
"No problem," Nassur replies.
He takes a couple of small pieces of paper and begins to sign
his name to them with a pen. "So, I have a fan club now?" he hums.
"I didn't know I was so popular."
"You'd be surprised by how popular you'll be...I mean...are,"
Benten accidentally slips.
Nassur looks at her. "That's quite a replica of my kill-belt
you're wearing, Benten," the Vosian leans up. "But you've exaggerated
the knots a little. I've only completed one hundred and sixty-three
missions so far. Yours has nearly five hundred."
"Well," the Fukunokami looks nervous. "Someday you'll have
that many."
The Vosian looks closer. "It must have cost a lot to get the
imitation chichi bear leather for the belt," he adds. "I see you
remembered to paint my first mission knot red."
"Let's just say I pay attention to detail," Benten smiles.
Shinobu looks jealous. "How come your first knot is red?" she
quickly shoves Benten aside.
"I thought everyone knew about that mission by now," Nassur
laughs. "Or at least the exaggerations around it. It's in honour of
the time I liberated Home Base eight years ago from a small group of
slavers and cutthroats under the control of the most infamous pirate
in history, Gegranko. There was fifty of them against myself and
Cinba."
"I heard it was a thousand," Benten points up.
"Nope," Nassur shakes his head. "It was only fifty. But,
exaggeration like that is good for one thing. It brings the business
in." He then finishes the autographs, then hands them to Benten and
Shinobu. "Here you are," Nassur smiles.
"Thanks," Shinobu takes the autograph, then politely bows.
Benten takes her autograph. Tears well in her eyes. "Is
something wrong?" Nassur reaches over.
"It's nothing," Benten shakes her head. "Thanks, Nassur.
Let's go, Shinobu."
Benten grabs Shinobu by the arm and drags her away. "Wait!"
Shinobu protests.
"We're going!" Benten snarls before waving goodbye to Nassur.
"See you!"
"Right," Nassur waves back, suspicion on his face.
Seconds later, Benten and Shinobu have left the grounds.
"Well, let's go back to our time, Shinobu," Benten says.
Shinobu stops immediately. Benten continues walking a couple
of steps before she notices. "Now, what?!!" she turns to look back.
"I saw you slip that letter into Nassur's pocket!" the Terran
points at her.
"Whatever do you mean?" Benten nervously giggles.
Shinobu transforms into a huge scary monster ready to kill the
tiny Benten! "***DON'T TRY TO DENY IT!!!! IT'S WRITTEN ALL OVER YOUR
FACE!!!!!!***"
"Okay! Okay!!" Benten waves her companion off. "I did it!
But what are you going to do about it?!"
Shinobu returns to normal. "I don't know," she weakly sighs.
Benten faints! "But, I'll think of something!" Shinobu adds.
The Terran begins to stomp back towards the Invaders' home.
Benten rushes after her. "Wait, Shinobu!!"
Before Benten and Shinobu can go any farther, a small
grenade-like bomb flies out of nowhere to land between them, exploding
in a bright light! "What the...?" Benten yells...then finds moving
impossible!
"Can't...moooovvvveeee...." Shinobu's voice slurrs.
In seconds, the two teenaged girls are no more than living
statues. Out of the bush, Jaja walks up to them. "So, my pwetties,"
he devilishly lisps. "You'we fwiends of Nassuw, eh? Finding it hawd
to move? I used a pawawysis gwenade to stop youw bwain impuwses fwom
going to youw muscwes!"
Benten tries to move, but her body does not respond to her
brain. "I'm Jaja, an Ipwaedies assassin," the Ipraedies boasts. "I'm
going to kidnap that baby Nassuw is pwotecting and howd her fow
wansom. The Empewow wants the pwans fow the Kashin-cwass battwe
wagons so we can study them and weawn how to beat them. Isn't that
gweat?"
Jaja puts his hands on both girls' shoulders. "Now you two
awe going to hewp me get wid of that pesky Vosian once and fow aww."
With the ease of someone picking up a pair of mannequins, Jaja
picks both girls up and carries them to a nearby black vehicle. "My,"
the assassin comments. "You'we both heavy. You giwws shouwd do mowe
than go aftew autogwaphs."
After shoving them into the trunk, Jaja hopes into the drives
seat and flies off into the night!
* * *
The next morning, as the beasts of the Terrible Fields wake up
and roar at the rising sun, the Invaders, Lum and Nassur awaken for
breakfast. The three Onis look well-rested, while the Vosian looks
like he got little sleep last night. "Morning, all," Nassur yawns as
he gets the Oni equalivant of rice and toast with juice before joining
them at the family table.
"Morning, Nassur," Invader smiles. "How did you sleep?"
"Well," Nassur eats. "It would've been better if those two
autograph hounds didn't come to visit. What a strange pair they
were."
"I only hope this won't be a common occurrence," the large Oni
sighs.
"That makes two of us!" Nassur agrees. "But those girls
somehow look familiar. As if I know them from somewhere."
"All aliens look alike to me," Invader sips his tea.
Unfortunately, the domestic tranquility is shattered by a
brick being thrown through the dining room window, landing in the
middle of the table! "What the...?!" Invader yells, ready to fight.
Mrs Invader shields Lum from the flying glass. Nassur looks
at the brick, then sees a note tied to it. "What's this?" the Vosian
sees that the note is addressed to him. Taking the note off the
brick, he opens it and reads. "Dear Nassur, I've got your pretty
followers. If you value their lives, deliver yourself and the baby
Oni to the sewer treatment plant nearby. Come alone! You have until
midday to do what I ask or your friends will die in painful ecstacy.
Jaja of Ipraedos."
The Vosian crushes the note. "This is bad! I don't know
those two girls, but Jaja's put them in danger! And knowing how
twisted I've heard he is, he could do anything horrible to them!"
"What do we do?" Invader looks concerned. "I can't just give
my daughter to that monster!"
"I'm afraid we must," Nassur sighs. "But if I do it
correctly, everything should be all right. I've got a plan."
"I hope so," Invader sighs.
* * *
The sewer control plant is somewhere in the middle of the
Terrible Fields. Completely automated, the only people present are in
the lowest level of the plant. Near the outtake area, Benten and
Shinobu sit on the cement floor, tied back-to-back with rope. As you
might expect, neither are very happy about current events.
Unfortunately for anyone nearby, the paralysis grenade's effects have
worn off. "We're in trouble now!!!" Shinobu growls. "And it's your
fault!!!"
"My fault?!!" Benten snaps. "It's no wonder Moroboshi dropped
you like a hot potato, the way you accuse people like that!!! If you
didn't interfere...!!!"
"Wadies, wadies..." Jaja arrives from an access chamber.
"That's not the way for prisonews to behave!"
Benten and Shinobu look angrily at Jaja. "Go stick your head
in a toilet, Ipraedies!" the former growls.
"Why," Jaja looks ready to cry, "...I'm simply insuwted by
youw wack of mannews!"
He then slaps Benten across the face! "Since when are
Ipraedies concerned with manners?!" the Fukunokami's cheeks turn red.
"M'deaw," Jaja laughs, "...the Ipwaedies wote the book on
mannews!"
"Just like they wrote books on torture and cruelty!" Benten
snarls.
"Oh, you pain me," the assassin begins to be dramatic. "I'm
not just any owd assassin! I'm an awtiste! I must show you my
powtfowio!"
He extracts a small video display terminal, then presses a
button. Immediately on the screen, photos of horribly mangled bodies
appear. Benten steels herself. Shinobu looks ready to vomit. "See?"
Jaja gloats. "Each one is a mastewpiece!"
"You're sick!" Shinobu turns pale. "You know that?!"
"Sick?" Jaja looks surprised. "I've been cawwed neuwotic,
psychotic, even a homicidaw maniac. But never sick! You insuwt me,
Tewwan!"
"You know where I'm from?" she gasps.
"Of course," Jaja snorts. "Eawth's sowaw system is between my
Empire's and Uwu's infwuence. They say it couwd be the next majow
fwashpoint in the next few yeaws. But, you must be punished for youw
insuwt, Tewwan!"
Jaja pulls out a long, thin, white object about the size of a
vibrator. He touches a stud on the bottom. The object begins to glow
pink. "This is a shockew!" he coldly intones. "It sends ewectwicaw
shocks through a being's newvous system. And it weaves behind the
most beautifuw scaws."
Jaja moves the shocker towards Shinobu's face. She tries to
pull back, but cannot. "Leave her alone!" Benten demands. "If you're
gonna torture someone, do me! Leave her out of it!"
The Ipraedies looks cruelly at the Fukunokami. "Towtuwing you
won't be fun!" his voice turns to ice. "I've nevew towtuwed a Tewwan
befowe. I wondew how beautifuwwy they scweam!"
Jaja moves the shocker even closer to the Terran's face.
Shinobu sweats nervously. Suddenly, a stone hits Jaja's hand,
knocking the shocker away! Shinobu looks relieved. "Who did that?"
the Ipraedies demands.
"I did," a familiar voice calls out.
Jaja turns as out of the shadows, Nassur steps out, carrying
Lum wrapped in a tiger-stripped blanket. "Nassur-kun!" Shinobu looks
relieved.
"Ah, Nassuw," Jaja smiles, seeing that Nassur has arrived with
the baby. "I knew you won't disappoint me!"
"I brought Lum with me," the Vosian walks up. "Now let those
two girls go."
The Ipraedies devilishly grins at the baby's presence. Lum
bursts out crying when she sees the assassin's face as if she could
somehow sense his cruelty. Ignoring the cries, Jaja takes Lum from
Nassur's arms, placing her beside Benten and Shinobu. "My job is
done," he declares. "I'w get a medaw for suwe!"
"You know, Jaja," the Vosian sighs, "...you're shooting
yourself in the foot doing this."
"What do you mean?" Jaja looks surprised.
"Instead of asking for the baby, you could've asked for the
plans for the 'Kashin,'" Nassur smiles. "But I guess what I've heard
about you is true."
"What have you heawd about me?!"
"That Jaja's lost his edge!"
"Wost my edge?!!" the Ipraedies gasps. "No way!! I'm as
effective as evew befowe!!"
"Not according to my information," the Vosian hums. "I heard
a rumour that Emperor Schwartz himself wants to get rid of you."
"Oh, he does, does he?!!" Jaja growls, angrier than before.
"Who towd you that wie?!"
"It's no lie," Nassur snorts. "You're on the outs with the
Assassins Guild."
"Then, to get back to theiw good gwaces," Jaja smiles,
"...means youw death!"
Jaja jumps Nassur! A wrestling match begins. In the first
few minutes, the two are even, but a head-butt from Jaja to Nassur's
forehead gives the assassin the chance. Jaja manages to get the
Vosian to his knees. "Oh, no!" Benten looks horrified. "If Nassur
loses, history will be changed!!"
"What can we do?!" Shinobu gasps.
The Ipraedies belts the Vosian in the jaw! "Who's past it
now, Vosian?" Jaja bolts to his feet, eyes ablaze with triumph.
"Is that the best you can do?" Nassur stands up!
Jaja looks in awe over how the Vosian simply shrugs off what
he did to him, visually uninjured. "Impossibwe," the Ipraedies
hoarsely gasps.
"My turn!" Nassur clobbers Jaja with such a hard punch, the
assassin goes flying into the opposite wall! Jaja leaves a noticeable
dent before sliding down to the floor.
"B-beaten...!" Jaja moans before losing consciousness.
"He did it!!!" Shinobu yips in delight.
"It's not over yet!!!" Nassur yells, covering Lum.
Jaja's body suddenly explodes into nothingness! "Gods!!!"
Shinobu gasps. "He exploded!!!"
Nassur stands up, waving the smouldering ashes away. "The
Ipraedies Assassins Guild have no stomache for losers, I'm afraid," he
moves to free the two girls. "I love it when a plan comes together."
Once free, Benten and Shinobu quickly hug their idol. "Thanks
for saving us!!!"
"You're fans of mine!" Nassur blushes...then blurts out,
"Could you explain this, Benten?!" he flashes the letter Benten shoved
secretly into his pocket.
The girls look nervous. "I think I hear my mother calling
me!" Benten starts to push Shinobu to the door. "Bye!!"
"Hold it, you two!" Nassur growls, causing both Benten and
Shinobu to bolt to attention. "You're time travellers, aren't you?!"
The two face him. "Well," Benten begins, "...we're friends of
yours in the future...but you died while saving me. I only wanted to
return the favour!"
"Don't you know that's dangerous?!" Nassur rips up the letter.
"You can't change what must be!"
"But," the Fukunokami sobs, "...it's to save your life."
"If I'm fated to die in your time, so be it!" the Vosian
sighs. "That's the will of the gods! I'm sorry for your loss, but
you can't change what must be!"
"That's what I've been trying to tell you," Shinobu looks
sympathetic. "Let's go back to our own time!"
Benten looks at Nassur, tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry for
causing this trouble," she sniffs. "When we finally meet each other
in the future, I hope you'll forgive me."
"Perhaps, I will," Nassur sighs...
* * *
In the present, Benten and Shinobu return to the construction
site where their journey began. Shinobu looks relieved that she has
made it back alive. Benten looks as if she has had her heart cut out.
"I could try again," the Fukunokami sobs, removing the spacializer
from the pipe. "But what's the use? History can't be changed. Now,
I've not only shamed myself but broken up a long friendship with Lum!"
"Benten..." Shinobu reaches over.
"If you want to see the fireworks," Benten sighs. "You're
welcome to come along."
"I'll go," the Terran nods, "...but to support your side. You
did what you thought in your heart was right."
* * *
Minutes later, the two arrive at the Moroboshi home. All is
quiet. "Do you think they're recovered enough from the stuff you gave
them?" Shinobu looks over.
"Who knows?" Benten sighs, as depressed as ever.
When they both reach the front door, it opens and a
happy-looking Lum stands there, a little worse for wear but sober.
"Oh, you're both back!" she smiles. "We've been waiting for you!
Come in!"
Benten and Shinobu look at each other. "Doesn't she seem to
be a little too happy for what I did to her?" the former asks.
"Maybe she's on Prozac?" the latter muses.
The two follow Lum into the living room. Ataru is nursing a
massive hangover from the Fukunokami super-vodka. "Oh, Moroboshi,"
Benten looks surprised. "You're recovered. Sorry about that!"
"Don't yell so loud!" Ataru yells. "My head's ready to split
from the hangover I got. Next time you try that, I'll make sure you
never come back to this planet again!" He turns away, grumbling
"Bloody chain-bitch...always causing trouble...!" as he staggers away.
Benten and Shinobu looks shocked. "Shit, he's been sniping at
everyone these days, isn't he?!" the former sighs.
"I remember the time he threatened to ask Elle to execute
Mendou-san, the guards and I when we were prisoners!" the latter
moans.
"Oh, don't worry. Darling'll recover in a few minutes," Lum
sighs. "Yohimbine takes a while to work."
Benten looks surprised. "Yohimbine?" she looks at the Oni.
"Where did you get that from?"
"From me," a familiar voice declares.
Benten and Shinobu turn...to see Nassur standing there, alive
and well. "N-Nassur?" Benten stutters. "Y-you're a-a-a...!"
"Alive?" the Vosian smiles. "Of course, I am...thanks to your
early warning seventeen years ago."
The time-travellers faint! "But I thought you tore it up!"
the Fukunokami cries out.
"I did," he nods. "But I read it before I tore it up. If I
remember correctly, that's how I found out you were time travellers."
"But what about changing history?" Shinobu gasps.
"To be honest, Shinobu," Nassur sighs, "...history changed
when you two appeared in the past."
"I see," the Terran looks down.
"Nassur-chan came after you two left," Lum smiles. "They just
found him yesterday."
"How did you survive?" Benten looks over.
"I always keep an ejection seat on the bridge as emergency
equipment," Nassur smiles, putting his arm around her. "But I've got
one question to ask you."
"Oh?!" Benten looks curious. "What is it?"
"Can I have my kill-belt back?" the Vosian points to the
knitted belt wrapped around her. "I feel naked without it!"
Benten playfully punches Nassur in the arm. Everyone laughs
expect Ataru, who is still hung over. "From now on..." the class
president groans, a touch of a snarl in his voice, "...I'm a
tea-totaller...even if I have to drive every jerk outta my life to do
it, too!!"
The three girls look slightly scared. "What's biting him?!"
Benten whispers to Lum.
"I don't know!" Lum shrugs.
"I guess we'll find out next story," Nassur sighs...
*** The End ***