Urusei Yatsura Fan Fiction ❯ The Senior Year ❯ Enter Space-Hybrid Hazel ( Chapter 5 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year: "Enter Space-Hybrid Hazel" Part 1
by Mike Smith
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edited by E.B. Kushnir
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Fifth of a series of fan-fiction stories based on "Urusei Yatsura,"
written by Rumiko Takahashi
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WRITER'S NOTES:

1) This is the last of our first group of stories. Collectively,
Alternate Lum-san," "Return of Memory," "Incredible Shrunken Lum,"
"Benten's Story" and "ESHH" are addressed as "Urusei Yatsura - The
Senior Year: The Adventure Continues."

2) This is the story which expands more on the Ipraedies, who
were introduced in "Benten's Story." Further details about the race,
beyond what is introduced here, will come in future stories.

3) This is also the story where the lives of the characters,
ESPECIALLY one of the two stars, begin to undergo some serious
changes. To further elaborate would spoil the following stories of
the series. However, as I would say it if a preview of the next five
stories could be made..."From This Point On...NOTHING Is The Same!"

4) "Ti-chan" is the Vosian euphonism which a parent uses to
address a child.

5) "Azhis'f" is a term identifying a specific type of Vosian
hybrid, one who has in addition only Yehisrite blood. Since the
Yehisrites will not be introduced for a while, do not be concerned.
It will be explained in the future.

6) "Asan'on" and "Dowe'on" are the two main socio-cultural groups
which compose Ipraedies society. While we do not elaborate much about
them and their aims in this story, such will become relevant in future
stories. We'll let you guess who belongs to what group, how they
symbolize themselves and what their basic social aims are like.

7) Information about the Yehisrites, as mentioned above, will be
presented in much greater detail in future stories, especially the
Cademus massacre. "Laqu'r" is the name of the sixteen crown princes
who rule one part of the Yehisrite domain, known officially as the
Royal Kingdoms of Yehisril. The Lord Protector is Yehisril's
head-of-state. The Imperial Corps of Executioners are Yehisril's
chief law enforcement branch, roughly possessing the same stature as
the RCMP in Canada and the FBI in the United States.

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A rainy day at Tomobiki High School...

The students of Class 3-4 are bored. They are bored because
Mark Onsen drones on some dull topic. They are bored because after
the events in "Benten's Story," nothing even remotely exciting has
occurred. Even Lum's zapping of Ataru for his chasing girls did
nothing but produce yawns. Everyone and everything seems as dull as
the cloudy weather.

After school, Lum returns to her starship to change into her
tiger-striped bikini. "That Darling," she grumbles. "He's such an
idiot!"

"So, what else is new?" Ten-chan sighs. *How boring!*

As she puts her uniform away, she hears the beep of her
communications panel. "Who's calling?" she flies to the panel.

Appearing on the main screen is Nassur. Looking well since
his last adventure, the Vosian seems pleased. "Hello, Lum-chan. How
are you?"

"Oh, Nassur-chan," the Oni looks surprised. "I haven't heard
from you and Benten in weeks! What's up?"

"Well," Nassur scratches the back of his head, "...I'm on
Fukunokami to oversee the construction of the 'Renegade'-C. Benten's
personally supervising."

Lum gets a vision of Benten's version of "personal
overseeing"...chasing workers with a bullwhip and being the boss from
Hell! "So why are you calling?" the Oni asks.

"Well," Nassur sighs. "This time, I've a favour to ask of
you!"

"Why?" Lum looks surprised.

"Because since we last met, I've accumulated an apprentice!"

"No kidding!!" Ten-chan flies up to the screen.

"Unfortunately, with the business of building a new ship,
we're too busy to train her properly," Nassur sighs, "...so I'd like
you to take charge for her for a while."

"Sure," Lum nods. "I'll do my best...but I'm not a teacher
like you."

"That doesn't matter," Nassur smiles. "My apprentice is a
quick study...although she's lacking in social graces."

*Lacking in social graces?* the Oni hums. *What does
Nassur-chan mean by that?* "I'll heed your warning then," Lum nods.
"But who is she?"

A picture of a dark-skinned girl with long, black, hip-length
hair appears on the screen. She is dressed in a form-fitting,
sleeveless, gold trimmed, green outfit with black china flat shoes.
The girl is beautiful and quite slim. She has tapered ears, looking
about fourteen. "Her name is Hazel," Nassur announces, pride in his
voice. "She's part-Vosian."

"She's pretty," Ten-chan breathes with awe.

"Such an unusual skin tone," Lum hums. "Darling could have a
relapse of his disease around her."

"I wouldn't worry, Lum," Nassur chuckles as he re-appears on
the screen. "Hazel can handle him with ease!"

"So when will she be coming?" the Oni hums.

"In a couple of days," the Vosian sighs. "Benten's already
overseeing her shuttle."

* * *

In the main spaceport of the capital city of Fukunokami,
Bensaikyou, Benten Shigaten is "overseeing" Hazel's departure.
Actually, Hazel is throwing a temper tantrum! "***I DON'T WANNA GO TO
EARTH!!!!!! I WANNA STAY HERE WITH YOU AND SENSEI!!!!!!***" she yells
loud enough to be heard in the next sector.

The part-Vosian hybrid is wearing her uniform. Beside her is
a large-sized suitcase. "In Bensaiten's name, Hazel!!" Benten growls,
feeling like a mother of an undisciplined child. "We've discussed
this a dozen times!! We're too busy with the building of the
'Renegade'-C to spend time training you!! Nassur has arranged to send
you to Lum for a couple of weeks to give you that training!!"

Hazel turns her back to Benten, crossing her arms with a huff.
"What's so great about this Lum, anyway?!"

"Lum is Nassur's first student," the Fukunokami snaps. "All
she knows, she learned from him!"

"But, Sensei's my teacher," Hazel snorts, clearly unimpressed.
"Not this Lum! Sensei adopted me, remember!! I'm not going!!"

Benten is ready to either pull her hair out or strangle Hazel.
*This kid is a pain in the ass!* she grumbles, then gets an idea. She
puts her hand on Hazel's shoulder. "Hey, Hazel," she sweetly intones
"...do you remember what you were doing *before* you met us?"

"Y-yeah..." Hazel looks apprehensive.

Benten walks in front of Hazel, staring into her big brown
eyes. "A shuttle's pretty expensive to go to a backward planet like
Earth, you know! You don't want to waste all that money, do you?!"

Hazel looks more nervous. "You swore to obey Nassur's and my
commands, didn't you?" the Fukunokami holds up a finger.

"Y-yeah..."

"What's the Third Rule of a Hunter?"

"Don't break your promises," Hazel squeaks.

"That's right, Hazel," Benten smiles. "And you don't want to
break your promise to us, do you?"

Hazel puts her head down. "Okay, I'll go."

Benten points Hazel to the proper gate, leading her to the
shuttle. "Good," she looks relieved. "The shuttle's waiting!"

A half-hour later, the shuttle carrying Hazel leaves for
Earth. Benten sighs as she watches it depart. *Lum's going to have
her hands full with this wild girl!*

* * *

A couple of days later on Earth, the boredom and the rain at
Tomobiki High School continue. Mark Onsen drones on. Most of the
class ignores him. Finally, Onsen slams his bokan stick on the desk!
"Pay attention!!!" he yells. "Why isn't anybody listening?!!"

Suddenly, Hazel materializes in the front of the room with her
suitcase! "What's this?!" Shutaro Mendou gasps.

"Who's this?!" Shinobu Miyaki looks curious.

"A chick!" Ataru quickly notices.

"Why, it's Hazel!" Lum smiles.

"Who are you?" Onsen walks up to Hazel, bokan stick behind his
back.

Hazel suddenly grabs Onsen by the tie, pulling his head down
to look at him eye-to-eye! "Listen, you!!" she growls abruptly. "I'm
looking for Lum!! Where is she?!"

The teacher begins to choke, turning red. "Answer me!!!"
Hazel snaps.

She does not realize that Onsen cannot breathe, let alone
talk. Luckily, Lum flies up to her. "I'm Lum, Hazel-chan!" she
smiles. "Don't strangle the teacher now."

"Oh, there you are," Hazel lets go of Onsen's tie, allowing
the teacher to breathe once more. Hazel bows to Lum. "Greetings,"
she humbly smiles. "I'm Hazel of Home Base. Pleased to meet you!"

"That's a tough kid," Aisuru Megane is awed.

"Pleased to meet you, Hazel-chan," Lum smiles. "Now,
apologize to the man you almost strangled."

Hazel looks at her strangely. "What for?! He was carrying a
weapon."

"Onsen-sensei's harmless," Lum smiles. "Come on, there's
someone I want you to meet."

Lum pushes Hazel to Ataru. "Darling," Lum introduces her to
him, "...this is Hazel. The girl Nassur-chan wants me to train. This
is Ataru Moroboshi, my husband."

"How do you do," Ataru nods, smiling. "And don't listen to
anything Lum says about us being married."

"Darling!" Lum looks shocked.

The hybrid does not look impressed. "You recognized *this*
moron?!" Hazel snaps.

Ataru faints! Almost everyone else can barely hold back their
laughter. "She catches on quick, doesn't she?" Mendou snorts.

"I guess she'll catch on quicker with a jerk like **you**,
Supersnob!!" Mie Seikou sneers.

Mendou nearly has a heart-attack. "No!" the Oni snaps. "Our
peoples don't recognize mates. I love Darling and he loves me!"

"Doesn't she have any manners?" Ataru suddenly growls.

"Apparently not," Lum sighs.

"Well, at least she's cute," Ataru nods...until he notices her
lack of physical development. "Wait a minute!" he snaps. "You didn't
tell me she was a kid!"

"Does it matter?" Lum looks over.

"I'm equal in development to a fourteen year-old Earth girl,
or so I'm told," Hazel evenly states. "I've yet to reach Stop Time
for my lifespan to lengthen to that of a Vosian. You got a problem
with that?"

"I was expecting a babe," the class president looks
disappointed. "And all I get is a punk kid who's as flat a board!!"

Incensed, Hazel clobbers Ataru with a desk! "So, I'm skinny!"
she growls. "But I gain weight easily! What's your excuse for being
stupid?!"

Ataru groans...

* * *

After school ends, Lum, Hazel and Ataru walk home. Lum
carries Hazel's suitcase while Ataru recovers from the shiner Hazel
gave him. "The people here are weird," the hybrid announces, disdain
still in her voice.

"You'll get used to them, Hazel-chan," Lum turns to Ataru.
"How's your head, Darling?"

"Sore," Ataru snorts, clearly disappointed by what has
happened. "Where did Nassur find such an undisciplined brat?"

"I think she's sweet," Lum smiles.

Suddenly, Shinobu appears! "Oh, Lum-san!" Ataru's
ex-girlfriend seems unusually gentile. "Are you really going to train
this girl without my help?"

"Who's the fat-ass?" Hazel snorts.

Shinobu looks understandably shocked. "I'm Shinobu Miyaki,"
she introduces herself, trying to prevent herself from taking Hazel
over her knee and spank her. "I'm Lum's best friend."

"You are?" Lum and Ataru look at each other, disbelief and
disgust on their faces.

Shinobu hugs Hazel close. "I'll teach you everything you need
to know," she smiles.

"You're crushing me!" Hazel gasps.

Shinobu turns to Lum. "Please let me help train her."

"Well," the Oni hums. "Hazel does need a little training in
manners. So, I guess you can help her with that."

"I'm not a dog, you know!" the hybrid sighs.

"I'll start tomorrow after school," Shinobu lets go of Hazel
before skipping home.

"Shinobu as a manners teacher?" Ataru crosses his arms,
shaking his head. "Is that possible?"

* * *

Later at the Moroboshi home, Hazel joins Lum, Ten-chan and the
Moroboshi family at the table. "I didn't know Nassur-san had an
apprentice," Ataru's mother Kinshou smiles.

"Well," Hazel mouths through her food, "...Sensei only adopted
me a few days ago."

"You're an orphan?" Ataru looks surprised.

"Sort of," Hazel nods. "I don't know my dad. My mom's dead!"

"That's terrible," Lum looks sad. "Who knows! Maybe Darling
or I'll adopt a child someday."

Ataru nearly chokes on some rice when he hears that. "Not on
your life!" he snaps.

"So, Nassur-chan adopted you?" Lum looks over. "I can't think
of anyone to be a better father than him."

Hazel finishes her meal, then burps suddenly. "Excuse
yourself!" Ataru coldly intones.

"Sorry," Hazel yawns, stretching her arms up. "I'm so tired!"

Lum notices something under Hazel left arm. It is a brand
mark: the number "28." *She has a brand?!!* the Oni gasps. *What
kind of girl is she?!* "I'd better show you where you'll be sleeping
during your stay here," Lum subdues her curiosity, then takes Hazel
upstairs.

"She's neat," Ten-chan smiles as Ataru's mother removes the
dirty dishes.

"She's a brat!" Ataru snorts. "Nassur's gonna have his hands
full raising her!"

"What's the matter?" the young Oni growls. "Mad because she's
not as old as Lum-chan?!"

Ataru shoves a rice ball into his mouth! "Don't think such
vulgar things," he snaps. "At least she doesn't breath fire in
people's faces like you do!"

Ten-chan responds by blowing flame into Ataru's face!

* * *

In Ataru's bedroom, Lum leads Hazel to the closet. The hybrid
is in awe of how nice the room is. "Such a nice room," she smiles.

"This is Darling's room," Lum mentions. "He'll be sleeping in
the guest room next door while you're here. I'll be sleeping here
with Ten-chan."

"Where do I sleep?" Hazel looks over.

Lum opens the closet. "You'll sleep in here!"

Hazel looks nervous. "I-in there?" she shivers.

"Is something wrong?" Lum notices her distress.

"It's nothing," Hazel shakes her head.

"Well," Lum directs Hazel forcefully into the closet. "If
you're tired, then you'd better go to bed now to get over your travel
lag. Ten-chan will show you around the town tomorrow and I'll start
with your training after school."

Lum stuffs the child into the futon inside closet, then
prepares to close the door. "Pleasant dreams," Lum smiles.

Suddenly, Hazel's hand reaches out to stop the door.
"Lum-sensei," Hazel's eyes plead. "You won't go away during the
night, will you?"

"Of course not," Lum smiles. "I'll be just out here. Now, go
to sleep!"

Lum tries to close the door again, but Hazel stops it once
more. "Lum-sensei," she pleads, "...don't die!"

"I don't plan to," Lum looks confused.

The Oni flies down the stairs. *How strange*, she hums to
herself before she smells something burning. She sees it is Ataru
himself who was burning. "Darling!" she gasps. "What happened to
you?!"

"That bratty cousin of yours blew fire at me again!" Ataru
snorts as he goes to the bathroom to clean himself off. "At least
Hazel is better mannered than he is! That little jerk does it again,
I'll see to it he gets sent home!!"

In the closet, Hazel looks too afraid to sleep much...

* * *

The next morning on the way to Tomobiki High School, Lum and
Ataru walk together. Lum seems confused while Ataru complains about
Hazel. "Where did Nassur find such a girl?! She acts as if she grew
up in a jungle!"

"Darling, I'm worried about Hazel," Lum bursts out.

"What's to worry about?" Ataru sighs. "Hazel's too tough to
get hurt."

"She maybe be tough, but there's a vulnerable side to her,"
the Oni sighs. "She seems so wild with that skin colour of hers.
I've seen Vosian half-breeds before, but they're usually the same
colour as Vosians. And there's the fact she didn't seem to like the
idea of being in your closet."

"Well," Ataru grins. "If it makes her feel any better, I
could sleep in the closet with her."

The class president giggles. Lum gets angry. "What a
horrible thing to say!" she fries him!

Ataru falls to the pavement. Cherry appears in front of him!
"What a bad sign!!"

Ataru nearly has a heart-attack. "What are you doing here,
Cherry?!"

Cherry looks closely at the face of his favourite target.
"Your features look more horrible than ever! Something horrible is
coming for you which even you won't be able to handle."

"I agree," Sakura then appears! "Coming events will have dire
consequences for you."

"What do you mean by that nonsense?!" Ataru demands.

Sakura points her spirit-sensor at him. "I have seen your
future. Something you'll do soon will unleash a terrible power within
you! It will try to destroy your happiness!"

Ataru looks horrorstruck. "My happiness?" he gasps, then
shrugs. "I didn't know I had any."

"Don't look at me," Lum sighs.

"What's more," Cherry adds, "...it will cause you to make
friends with those whom you despise and enemies of those whom are your
friends!"

The class president looks enraged. "The day I'm friends with
you is the day I'll die!!!" he punches Cherry into the sky!

"It's fate...!!!" the monk wails as he reaches escape
velocity!

"Heed our words, Ataru," Sakura intones. "Beware the Box!"

The priestess disappears. "The Box?" Ataru looks at Lum.
"What's the Box?"

"I don't know, Darling," the Oni shrugs.

* * *

Meanwhile, Hazel tours Tomobiki with Ten-chan. "This is the
shopping district," Ten-chan points. "I'd bet it's primitive to what
you're used to."

"Actually," Hazel replies, "...I lived on a colony where the
only thing we had was a supply shuttle. We never did shop."

Hazel notices all the clothing stores, then looks around to
see the amount of clothes everyone wears. "Ten-chan, why do Terrans
wear so many clothes?"

Ten-chan nearly collides into a telephone pole! "What?!!" he
gasps before realizing how innocent a question she is asking. "Oh,
that's right, you're part-Vosian. Well, Earth has rules like
elsewhere else on governing what type of clothes to wear."

Hazel sees a poster of a young female American country western
singer. The singer wears a tight blue dress, has long blond hair and
is very well-endowed. "Boy, she's got big tits!" Hazel blurts out.

"I don't know anything about that," Ten-chan blushes. "I'm a
good boy!"

"I hope mine don't get that big!" Hazel walks away.

"Say, Hazel-chan," Ten-chan floats after her. "How'd you like
to meet Kota-chan?"

"Who's Kota-chan?" the hybrid looks confused.

"Follow me and I'll show ya!" the Oni flies ahead of her.

Not seen by the two children, someone in a huge, heavy, grey
overcoat with a wide, face-covering hat slowly follows them. This is
unusual because it is a hot day. He gives off feelings of fear which
causes mothers to move their toddlers away and dogs to growl or run
away. Upon seeing Hazel, the person lifts one of his arms to his
face. On the wrist is a watch-sized communicator. His skin is green.
"Our intelligence was correct," the person declares with a
heavily-accented, deep voice. "The missing hybrid is here on this
planet."

"Continue watching," another heavily-accepted, deep voice
replies. "Wait for the right time to take her. We want to make sure
Nassur doesn't know about our activities."

"Understood," the person replies...

* * *

Twenty minutes later, Ten-chan leads Hazel to an abandoned
field. "Kota-chan lives here," the Oni declares.

"What's a Kota-chan?" the hybrid asks.

Then "Kota-chan"...Kotatsuneko...appears in front of them!
Hazel nearly jumps out of her skin when she sees a two-metre tall
walking cat smoking a pipe. "What is it?" Hazel screams, trying to
decide whether to fight, run or hide.

"This is Kota-chan," Ten-chan smiles. "He's harmless."

"I-is h-he...?" Hazel looks nervous.

"Kota-chan," Ten-chan looks to his friend, "...this is Hazel.
I thought you should meet her."

Kotatsuneko smiles, then looks Hazel over. The hybrid remains
frozen in place, unsure as to what to do. The cat-ghost then hugs
Hazel as a mother hugs a kitten. Hazel relaxes on feeling warm. "Oh,
he likes you!" Ten-chan looks happy.

"He's so warm," Hazel sighs, "...and so soft. Just like my
mother's touch."

* * *

A few days later, Hazel's training with Lum and Shinobu
begins. Ataru "helps" by feeding the hybrid at every opportunity.
Because of this, the skinny urchin rapidly gains weight. Today, Hazel
undergoes some exercises with Lum. Soon enough, the hybrid finds it
hard going. "Keep it up, Hazel-chan," Lum calls out.

"I'm...trying...to..." Hazel pants.

Ataru and Ten-chan observe. *Hazel's really starting to fill
out*, Ataru smiles. *A few more pounds and nobody will know she's a
kid.*

"What are you thinking of, idiot?" Ten-chan looks suspicious.

"Don't be suspicious," Ataru snaps back.

Hazel finally sits down, sweating as if Lum has run through a
tough workout. "I..." she pants, "...need a..." she gasps, "...break!"

"I don't understand it," the Oni sighs. "You're gaining a lot
of weight. Nassur asked me to train you, not turn you into a blimp."

"But, I've never had such food in my life," Hazel retorts.

"I've been watching what Darling's mother's been feeding you,"
Lum muses. "You shouldn't gain that much weight. I'd almost think
you'd be part-Ipraedies for gaining weight so easily."

Hazel looks nervous and incensed. "I'm *not* an Ipraedies!!"
she growls.

"Sorry," Lum looks surprised. "Get cleaned up and I'll take
you over to Shinobu's house for your manner lessons."

"Okay!" Hazel runs into the house.

Unseen by any of them, the green-skinned man in the overcoat
observes from behind the fence. "I have found where the hybrid is
living," he speaks into his communicator.

"Good," the voice replies. "Wait until nightfall, then take
her."

"Understood."

* * *

After Hazel returns from her lesson with Shinobu, she,
Ten-chan, Lum and Ataru are in his bedroom. Lum plays with Ten-chan
while Ataru stuffs Hazel with candy. "Just one more," Ataru coaxes
Hazel with a piece of chocolate.

"I'm stuffed," Hazel groans, patting a now-round stomach.

"One more piece won't hurt," Ataru teases...

...until Lum slams his face into the floor with her foot!
"Don't overfeed her," the Oni icily declares. "Hazel's gaining too
much weight!!"

"Are you talking about a girl or a dog?" Ataru groans.

"I like this Earth food called chocolate," Hazel smiles,
holding up the piece Ataru tried to give her. "It's the same colour
as I am."

Lum pinches her waistline. "From the looks of this," she
sighs, "...it likes you more. It's time for a little diet, starting
tomorrow."

Hazel sighs. "I'm beat," Ataru yawns. "I'm going to bed.
Good night!"

He steps out. Lum turns to Hazel and Ten-chan. "It's bed
time."

"I'm not tired!" Hazel shakes her head.

Lum pushes Hazel into the closet. "Tomorrow's a busy day.
You need the rest."

"But..." Hazel gasps...before Lum slams the closet door shut!

"Good night!" Lum sighs.

* * *

After the last of the lights are turned off, the man in the
overcoat smiles, then speaks into his communicator. "The inhabitants
are asleep," he declares. "Beginning retrieval."

"Understood," the voice replies. "The teleporter is ready."

Quietly, the man sneaks into the yard, then climbs up the side
of the house to the second floor balcony...

* * *

In the closet, Hazel is having a nightmare...

Hazel is only six years old. She is being carried by a young,
brown-haired, suntanned Vosian woman who resembles a bustier Lum.
"Momma!" the young hybrid looks around. "What's going on? Where are
we going?"

"Hush, *Ti-chan*!" her mother whispers as she places Hazel
into a closet-like room. "I don't want the Ipraedies to take you away
like they did the others! Be quiet and your mother will come back for
you!"

Before Hazel could protest, her mother slams the door shut.
True to her promise, the young girl says quiet. She hears the sound
of tromping boots. Looking through a crack between the door and the
frame, Hazel sees her mother cornered by a green-skinned, red-haired
young man in a khaki military duty uniform. His gun is aimed at her
mother. "Where is that hybrid?" the soldier demands.

"Safe from you!" Hazel's mother looks defiant.

Then, without provocation, the soldier shoots her! Hazel's
mother drops dead to the floor!! The soldier's communicator beeps.
"What is it?" he growls.

"Return to the ship!" a voice orders. "There's an Urusian
ship in this sector."

"But I've still haven't located the missing hybrid!"

"We've got the other fifty," the voice replies. "All the
mothers are dead! Let's go!"

"Understood!" the soldier sighs, then leaves...

...and Hazel wakes up in a cold sweat! "Momma!!!" she yelps.

She is still in Ataru's closet. The young hybrid looks
through the crack of the closet door. She sees Lum peacefully
sleeping. Ten-chan sleeps in a stocking hanging from the chair. In
Hazel's mind, Lum lays in the same position as her mother the day she
died. "Momma..." she whispers, crawling to Lum's side.

Lum innocently sleeps. "Momma..." the hybrid sighs, "...I was
quiet like you asked. Don't die, Momma..."

Silence. Hazel slips under the covers beside her. "I'm
scared, Momma..." she moans. "I wanna suckle..."

Lum starts to stir, sensing someone beside her. By that time,
Hazel has pulled her top down. Lum giggles, still half-asleep.
"Don't be silly, Darling..." she mutters...

...until Hazel bites her on the nipple!

* * *

Meanwhile, the green-skinned man has climbed to the balcony.
He is preparing to enter the room when...he gets zapped by
lightning!!!! "**TCHA*!!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!?! *TCHA*!!!!***"

The man flies away thanks to the force of Lum's blast!

* * *

Ataru's bedroom is a shambles. Strangely enough, Ten-chan
remains asleep, even though he is now hanging from the balcony
railing! Ataru's mother and Ataru burst into the room to see Lum
slipping her top on and Hazel crying in a corner! "What's going
on?!!" Ataru demands.

"Hazel just bit me on the breast!" Lum showing the bite mark.

Everyone looks to the hybrid. "I...I was h-having a b-bad
dream..." Hazel sobs, "...f-from sleeping i-in that cl-closet..."

"What's wrong with the closet?" Kinshou demands.

"It reminds me of the night my mom was killed!!!" Hazel wails.

Everyone looks shocked...

* * *

After Hazel has been calmed down and the room cleaned up, the
hybrid explains her actions. "I was born in an Ipraedies prison camp.
There were many other Vosian woman...and kids like me."

"Ipraedies?" Ataru asks.

"Don't you know anything?!" Ten-chan snorts. "The Ipraedies
are the most evil race ever to get space travel! Didn't you read the
last story?!"

"I wasn't sober then," Ataru growls. "Sue me! Besides, the
only race I know beyond the races that came after you jerks are the
Zephyrites!!"

Ten-chan and Lum look shocked. Ataru's mother looks
surprised. Hazel is curious. "Darling, you know about the
Zephyrites?!!" Lum gasps. "How?!! I never told you about them!!! I
don't think anyone else has!!"

"I have other sources...*better* ones than you!!" Ataru snaps
back.

Ataru's mother looks incensed. Ataru freezes her with a look.
"Go ahead!" he snarls. "Give me the excuse to send **you** into
orbit!!"

Kinshou clams up. Lum has a questioning look on her face, but
then decides to drop the subject and get back to more pressing
matters. "It's not like the Ipraedies to keep prisoners, especially
Vosians," she turns back to Hazel. "Why did they?!"

"I'm not sure," Hazel shrugs, "...but all I remember was the
fact that the guards bred with our mothers!"

Everyone looks shocked. "Y-you mean you're...?" Lum gasps.

"Half-Ipraedies and half-Vosian," Hazel nods, tears flowing
down her face. "That's my curse! And you want to know the worst part
about it?! The Ipraedies abandoned the place when I was six and took
the other hybrids with them!"

"What did they do with the mothers?" Lum shudders.

"They killed them all," the hybrid wails. "My momma managed
to hide me from the Ipraedies...and they killed her because of it!
After that I was alone until Sensei found me!!"

Silence falls over the room. "I guess now that since you know
the truth, you'll send me back..." Hazel sighs.

"I don't know what to do," Lum stands up. "I'm going to talk
to Nassur. Don't go away."

Lum flies out of the house...

* * *

"What's up, Lum?" Nassur looks anxious as he replies to her
call from Bensaikyou. "Is Hazel too troublesome for you?"

"No, it's not that," Lum shakes her head. "Why didn't you
tell me Hazel was part-Ipraedies?!"

"Does it matter?" the Vosian hums. "I did adopt her, you
know."

"Well, it didn't matter until Hazel tried to suckle my breasts
thinking I was her dead mother!"

"I see," Nassur nods. "Hazel seems to be more emotionally
disturbed than I thought."

"Disturbed or not..." Lum growls, barring her fangs, "...where
did you find such a wild child?!!"

"How else?" he shrugs. "By accident."

She looks confused. "By accident?!!"

"It happened when Benten and I were going to Fukunokami a few
weeks back," the Vosian explains. "We were in an ion storm and were
forced to make an emergency landing on the planet Barsoom."

"I heard of that planet," the Oni nods. "It's near the border
between Uru and Ipraedos. They say it's older than Earth, but no
intelligent life ever evolved there."

"That's what we thought," he sighs. "However, we found the
remains of a small settlement. It was an Ipraedies base."

"*Datcha*!" she gasps.

"While shifting through the ruins..." he continues, "...we
found a cemetary. Most of the graves contained Vosian and *azhis'f*
females. All were in child-bearing age. One of them was most likely
Hazel's mother."

"That's terrible!" she gasps, eyes watering with tears.

"While we were there..." he continues, "...we found Hazel...or
Twenty-eight, as she called herself. She attacked Benten, defeating
her with ease. Fortunately, I managed to stop her by making her see
reason. We learned that the base's purpose was to breed Ipraedies
males with Vosian females. Hazel was one of the results. However,
the Ipraedies, when they left, took most of the other children...but
left her behind by mistake."

"I see," she sighs, still not fully comprehending the
unbelievable nightmare Nassur's charge has undergone. "That would
explain why Hazel's so wild."

"That's right," he nods. "If Hazel's too much of a problem
for you, I can always pick her up. Do you want me to do so?"

Lum hesitates...

* * *

The Oni returns to Ataru's room. Hazel, Ataru and Kinshou
wait for her. Ten-chan is *still* asleep. "Hazel," Lum growls, "...I
know everything now. I've talked to Nassur. I think it's in your
best interest to..." she sighs, then smiles, "...stay with me for the
next little while."

"Thanks, Lum-sensei," the hybrid beams.

"But first there'll be some changes," the Oni announces.

"Yes?!" Hazel sits at attention.

"You'll no longer sleep in the closet!" Lum points at the
cause of tonight's trouble. "You'll sleep with me as long as you
behave and don't try to suck on my breasts or anything like that
again!"

"I'll try not to, Sensei," the hybrid nods.

"Next," Lum continues, "...you'll work at improving your
manners around people. I know you were a feral child, but now you're
in civilization. Act like it!"

"Yes, Sensei."

"Finally," Lum looks curious. "Why did you confuse me for
your mother?"

Hazel pulls out a photo. "Because you look a lot like my
momma."

Lum looks at the photo. Save for brown hair, a very
well-endowed chest, a grey smock and no horns, Hazel's mother looks
like Lum. "*Datcha*!" the Oni gasps.

"She looks like she could be your older sister," Ataru
whistles.

"Your mother was beautiful," Lum sighs, tears in her eyes.
"It's too bad she died."

"Yeah," Hazel nods, also crying. "I wish she lived so I would
know a real family."

"Well, let's get to bed," Lum ushers her charge to a futon.

"Wait!" Ataru pulls out some chocolate. "How about a midnight
snack, Hazel-chan?"

Lum zaps Ataru! "She is *still* going on a diet!" the Oni
growls. "Go to bed, Darling!!"

Ataru moans. "Jeez, alright, already!!" he mutters as he
leaves the room. "Sheesh, you're *not* my mother, Lum...and I'm
tempted to **disown** the one I got!!"

Lum and Hazel look shocked by his statement. Ataru's mother
is decked by an H-bomb blast!!!! "I wish he was never born..." she
moans.

* * *

The next day is Sunday...hot and humid! The house boils.
Whirling fans attempt to cool the premises. They miserably fail. In
the living room, Ataru is dressed in a tank-top and shorts. Lum and
Ten-chan are in their normal clothes. "Shit, it's hot!!" Ataru lays
in front of a fan. "I feel like an egg on a skillet!"

"Lum-sensei," Hazel calls from the next room. "Why are you
all wearing clothes in this weather?!"

Hazel enters the room...nude! Ten-chan blushes. Ataru hold
his nose to keep it from bleeding. "She's nude!"

Lum quickly takes the hybrid aside. "Umm, Hazel-chan..." the
Oni blushes, "...on Earth, we wear clothes at all times except for
bathing."

"How prudish," Hazel sighs. "It's too hot to wear clothes
today!"

"It doesn't matter," Lum takes her by the hand. "You have to
wear clothes! I think I've got some things you can wear."

Lum drags Hazel to the stairs just as Shinobu and Mendou
arrive, dressed as if they were going to the beach. "Hello," Shinobu
calls out...then gasps as she and Mendou notice Hazel's state of
undress!

The scion of Japan's richest family looks shocked, eyes
bulging out of his head. Shinobu nearly has a heart-attack. "Lum!!!
Why is Hazel nude?!!"

"Cultural preference," Lum points up the stairs. "Hazel, put
some clothes on...now!! You're causing trouble!"

"Yes, Sensei..." Hazel heads upstairs. "Prudish primitives!"

Lum turns to face her guests. "What can I do for you,
Shinobu?"

"Well," Ataru's ex-girlfriend calms down. "How would you,
Ataru-kun and Hazel-chan like to go to the pool?"

"Sure," Lum smiles. "It'll give Hazel-chan some much needed
exercise."

"Good! Get yourselves ready," Shinobu suddenly orders.

"Right!" Lum flies up to Ataru's room.

"You're not my mother, either!!!" Ataru snaps at Shinobu.

His ex-girlfriend looks shocked, but says nothing as Ataru
enters the foyer. He notices Mendou standing there, frozen when he
first saw Hazel. "Hey, Shinobu-chan!" Ataru grins maliciously.
"What's with Sword-boy here?"

"He saw Hazel nude," Shinobu sighs.

"Funny," Ataru heads upstairs. "I never thought of Mendou
being a paedophile. Wait until the others hear about this!"

He walks up. Shinobu watches him go, concern on her face.
*Ataru-kun's been getting more grumpy as time passes!* she sighs. *I
hope he calms down finally. If it gets worse, who knows what will
happen!*

* * *

Later at the town pool, Ataru, Lum and Mendou wait for Shinobu
and Hazel to come out of the change room. "They seem to be taking a
long time," Ataru sighs.

Shinobu runs out of the change room. "Lum, Hazel won't come
out. She doesn't like the bathing suit you're making her wear!"

"I'll talk to her, Shinobu," Lum flies into the change room.

The change room is empty of people. "Hazel" Lum calls out.
"What's the problem?!"

Hazel appears, a towel wrapped around her. She looks
embarrassed. "Sensei, you can make me wear clothes in hot weather but
when you force me to wear *this*, I won't!!" she growls.

"You must if you don't want to be arrested!" Lum rolls her
eyes.

"But I swam nude all the time on Barsoom," the hybrid shrugs.
"Why do I have to wear this thing?" With that, she removes the towel,
revealing a beautiful, one-piece, blue bathing suit. It looks perfect
on her. "I feel ridicious!" Hazel sighs.

"It's one of Shinobu's old suits," Lum sighs.

"It doesn't fit right!" Hazel tugs the bra straps. "It's too
small in the bust."

"How's the waist?" Lum asks.

Hazel pulls on the waist. "Lots of room."

Outside the change room, Shinobu sneezes! Finally, Hazel and
Lum come out. Hazel wears the bathing suit, but her face is red with
embarrassment. "I convinced her to come out," Lum smiles.

"About time," Ataru sighs before seeing Hazel in her suit.
"My, you look so cute!"

Hazel gives him a cold look. "Don't start!" she threatens,
"...unless you want another black eye."

Ataru looks disgusted. "Fine! Pack your bags and go home!!"

Hazel faints! He walks away. Everyone looks shocked.
"Moroboshi's getting worse by the day!" Mendou hisses. "Sniping at
everyone like he was lord over all of us! It's bad enough he chases
every girl in sight and he's a total idiot, but acting like that?!!"

"Speaking about yourself, Mendou-san?" Shinobu whistles,
looking away. "Pity Mie-san isn't here!"

Paling at her mentioning the one woman beyond Lum and Sakura
who has consistently rejected his advances, Mendou then faces his
favourite classmate. "Lum-san, can't you do something?!"

"I don't know," the Oni shrugs. "He even threatened to disown
his mother last night!! I'm afraid if I interfere, it'll just make
things worse!"

* * *

Minutes later, everyone is in the pool. It is a busy day.
Ataru, of course, chases girls. His luck is usual. Hazel avoids
swimming, sitting on the side of the pool wading her feet in the
water. Lum swims up to her. "What's wrong? The water's fine."

"I'm fine," Hazel responds.

"Okay," Lum swims away.

Once she is gone, Hazel snorts to herself. "How prudish can
you get?!"

Suddenly, someone snaps the bra strap of her suit. "Owch!!"
Hazel growls as she spins around. "Who did that?!!"

Surrounding her are several boys her age. "Hey," a short boy
with brown hair points. "Look at this girl!"

"She's got brown skin," a thin boy, be-speckled with black
hair, hums.

"And pointed ears," an overweight boy adds.

"Go away!" Hazel growls.

"Oh, a tough one, eh?!" the overweight boy sneers. "What's
the matter?! Afraid you'll melt in the water?!"

"She's a freak!" another boy remarks.

That word echoes in Hazel's mind. "***DON'T CALL ME
'FREAK!!!!!!'***" she punches the insulting boy into the air!

The boy screams as he flies to an impossible height, then
gravity takes over! Screaming all the way down, the boy smashes into
the water stomach-first with such force he slowly sinks to the bottom
of the pool after impact!! "Shit!" another boy gasps. "She must've
punched Taro ten metres!!"

Taro surfaces, then spits out water. "What did she hit me
with?!"

"Want to try it again?" Hazel growls, cracking her knuckles.
"Keep bugging me and you'll go even higher!"

Silence, then the boys smile. "You're neat!" one walks up.
"I'm Yoshio."

"I'm Ryou," another introduces himself.

Hazel is taken aback by their shift in mood. "I'm Hazel," she
stammers.

"I'm Taro," Taro climbs out of the pool. "Not a lot of people
can throw me around like that!"

"I'm not like most people around here," the hybrid sighs.

The boys then look shy. "Do you wanna play with us?" Taro
hums.

"Well," Hazel hums, "...okay...if you all promise not to snap
my bathing suit again. That hurts!"

"Sure!" the three boys nods.

Minutes later, Shinobu swims to Lum's side. The girls notice
Hazel playing in the shallow end of the pool with the three boys as if
they have been friends for years. "Is that Hazel playing with those
boys?" Shinobu points.

"*Datcha*," Lum nods. "It seems wearing a bathing suit isn't
so bad after all."

"All we need is Doraemon," Shinobu giggles.

For the first time in her life, Hazel laughs and plays like a
normal child. Lum, Ataru, Shinobu and Mendou take notice. *I think
we're finally getting through to her*, the Oni beams.

* * *

Hours later, Hazel and the other head home. "See you later!"
she waves at her new friends, now dressed in a T-shirt, slacks and
sandals.

"Come again, Hazel-chan!" Taro calls back.

"So, who're your friends, Hazel-chan?" Lum asks.

"Just some kids who wanted to play," Hazel sighs. "It's been
so long since I had someone to play with, I thought I forgot how."

"Well," Shinobu her hand on Hazel's shoulder, "...the bathing
suit helped you then."

"What do you mean?" the hybrid looks confused.

"If you didn't wear one," Hazel's self-appointed manners
teacher sighs, "...they wouldn't have anything to get your attention
with. You would've had a bad time."

"I didn't think of it that way," Hazel muses. "But this suit
is still too tight in the bust and too large in the waist."

Shinobu looks upset. "It's an old suit," she hisses. "I wore
it last year! I don't have a big butt!"

Lum, Ataru and Mendou try to keep a straight face. "We won't
comment on that," the Oni whistles. "Why don't we go to Darling's
house and have some tea?"

"Sure," Mendou nods. "Lead on, Lum-san!"

Not noticed by them, the green-skinned man follows. "I have
located the hybrid again," he reports. "She is with her trainer and
some of her allies."

"Can you obtain her now?" the voice queries.

The pursuer sees dozens of people walking around the pool area
and a nearby park. "Negative," he groans. "There are too many
witnesses."

"Wait until they're alone. Use a paralysis grenade if you
must. We'll lock the teleporter on your pattern."

"Understood," the man nods.

However, his presence has not gone unnoticed. "What is this?"
a bystander remarks. "'Project A-ko?!'"

Time passes. Lum and the others walk through the streets of
Tomobiki, unsuspecting that someone is following them. Finally, they
come to an alley, devoid of people, to use a shortcut. "This is
creepy," Shinobu frets, seeing the filth there. "Bandits could jump
out at any moment."

"I'll protect you," Ataru declares...then gets a slap in the
face from Shinobu.

"Who is going to protect me from you?" she growls.

Lum notices Ataru has his hand on Shinobu's bottom. "Don't
tell me," the Oni growls. "Let me guess. Shinobu's bum is a big
target."

Lum zaps Ataru! Shinobu looks insulted. "Who has a big bum?"
she lifts an entire dumpster over her head.

"Are they always like this?" Hazel looks at Mendou.

"This is tame for Moroboshi," he replies.

Suddenly, the hybrid's eyes glow gold. "Someone's coming!!"

Everyone freezes. Shinobu drops the dumpster. Mendou pulls
out his katana. Lum ceases zapping Ataru. "Is it a bandit?!" Shinobu
frets.

"I don't know..." Hazel points to the entrance to the
alleyway, "...but he's right there!"

They see the man in the overcoat, now holding a grenade-shaped
device. "We have found you at last, Twenty-eight," he declares. "You
may have eluded us in the past, but you're ours again...forever!!"

The man removes his overcoat and hat, revealing a muscular
green-skinned man with average looking face and blond hair. He wears
a uniform similar to a seventeenth-century pirate: purple pants,
white shirt and red boots with sash. Looking like he stepped out of a
pirate movie, the man looks even more threatening with his cover
removed. "It's an Ipraedies!!!" Shinobu gasps.

"How'd you know what an Ipraedies is?!" Lum looks over.

"Go read the last story," the Terran replies.

"I'm here to take Twenty-eight back to where she
belongs...with the Ipraedies people!" the spy declares.

Hazel hides behind Lum. "Don't let them take me away from you
and Sensei, Lum-sensei! I've seen what the Ipraedies can do!!"

"Don't worry," Lum growls. "The only person you're going back
to is Nassur-chan!"

"For once, Lum, I agree with you," Ataru nods.

"I have a grenade here," the spy declares, "...and I'll use
it, too!"

"Then again," Ataru suddenly moves Hazel away from Lum,
"...she is part-Ipraedies too, you know."

Hazel pushes him away! "Don't be so cowardly! I'm not going
anywhere with any Ipraedies!!"

Above, Ten-chan looks for Lum and Hazel. "Why didn't Lum-chan
take me to the pool with them?" he snorts. "I'm a good boy, aren't
I?"

The Oni is then nearly blinded by a suddenly blast of light
and the sound of an explosion! "What was that?!!" Ten-chan steadies
himself as his eyes clear. "That must've been Lum-chan!! That stupid
Ataru must be chasing girls again!" Ten-chan flies towards the
alleyway. "I think it came from here!" he grumbles, readying himself
to spit flame. "I'll fry him into toast!!"

Ten-chan comes to the level of the roof above the alley. He
is then horrified to see Lum, Ataru, Shinobu and Mendou frozen like
statues where they stand. Only Hazel and the Ipraedies are untouched.
"You're a pretty one," the man grabs Hazel by her hair before she can
flee.

"Let go of me!!" Hazel demands painfully.

Ten-chan hides on the roof, then looks down. "It's an
Ipraedies soldier!" he shivers. "They're even more scarier in person!
What do I do?!"

"You have spirit," the Ipraedies cackles at the struggling
child, "...but, it's time to go! We'll take your friends too. There
is no reason why we should allow them to try to warn Nassur!"

"Let us go!" Hazel demands as the man yells an order in
Ipraediespeak.

Seconds later, the man, Hazel, Lum and the others disappear in
a transporter beam! Ten-chan watches in horror. "They're gone!!!"
the young Oni cries. "I've got to tell Nassur-chan!! But how?!
Sakura-onee-chan will know!!!"

Ten-chan flies to Sakura's shrine...

* * *

An Ipraedies Warhawk is a destroyer-class starship designed in
the shape of a bird. They are normally coloured brown. Markings
displaying the name and registry in Ipraediespeak adorn the hull and
wings. Unfortunately, the insides of a Warhawk are cramped and dark,
akin to an Earth submarine. With a crew of forty-five officers and
men, a Warhawk is one of the few known warships types that can cloak
itself from an enemy's scanning systems.

Aboard the Warhawk now in orbit around Earth, Lum and the
others have their frozen bodies stored in a brig by the security
officers. Hazel is placed into a guarded cabin on another deck,
having been given a sedative to calm her down. On the bridge, the
officer who brought them aboard reports to the captain. He is dressed
in a frilly purple and yellow outfit looking as if it came from a
Enlightenment-era court. He is a handsome, kindly-looking man in
middle-age. His long brown hair is flecked with grey at the roots but
still looks young enough to tempt any woman. Further, he has twin
gold wrist-bracelets each barely hiding a black raven-like tattoo.
"Captain Hakaba," the officer gives him a Roman-style salute. "The
prisoners have been placed in the brig and the hybrid has been put in
a cabin and sedated as you ordered."

"Good," Hakaba nods. "You are dismissed. Helm, full speed to
home territory."

"Aye, sir," the helmsman replies.

"What about the other prisoners?" the spy looks curious.

"We'll see," Hakaba sighs. "Perhaps we can have them
brainwashed later, like they tried with the other Terran we brought
in."

"We have left Earth orbit, on course to home space," the
helmsman reports. "There is no sign of pursuit from Royal Tritonian
Defence Force units."

"Number One, you have the conn," Hakaba stands. "I shall go
talk with the hybrid alone."

Hakaba walks off the bridge alongside the spy. "You seem
anxious to see the hybrid," the officer hums as they enter the
turbolift.

"You'd be anxious too," Hakaba sighs, "...if you knew
my...contribution to Project: Superwarrior."

The officer looks surprised. "You mean you...?!"

"I am sworn to secrecy," the captain interrupts.

The turbolift arrives and Hakaba heads down a passageway. *I
should've known he would be involved in such a project!* the officer
hums.

Hakaba arrives at a door now guarded by two young Ipraedies
soldiers armed with laser rifles. "We are not to be disturbed," he
declares. "This is a private conversation."

"Aye, sir," a guard salutes before opening the door.

Once inside, Hakaba sees Hazel asleep on a bed. The cabin
itself is small and dark, with little in the way of furniture. There
is a porthole revealing the rapidly passing starfield. Hakaba
approaches quietly, looking at her like a proud father would look at
his child. *Such a lovely child!* he sighs. *Just like her mother.*

Hakaba pulls up a stool noisily to sit beside the bed. Hazel
awakens. Her eyes open slowly, then she looks sluggishly at Hakaba.
"Wh-who are you...?" Hazel slurrs with surprise. "Wh-what do y-you
want...?"

"Relax, Twenty-eight," Hakaba sighs. "I'm not going to harm
you as long as you behave. I'm Captain Hakaba."

"My name is Hazel," Hazel growls. "I'm not a number anymore!"

"Interesting name," Hakaba sighs. "Who gave it to you?"

"Nassur did," Hazel snarls. "And he adopted me, too! When he
finds out what you done, he'll kill you!!"

"I doubt it," Hakaba smiles. "Everyone who could tell Nassur
about your abduction are aboard this ship in the brig."

"Oh, no!" she gasps. "You haven't hurt them, have you?!"

"No, they're fine," he holds up a finger in caution. "But
that could change should you become a problem."

"Lum-sensei..." she moans.

"My orders are to make sure you're properly taken care of," he
declares. "...until we arrive at the planet Icarus and you are
reunited with the other hybrids of Project: Superwarrior now being
trained there."

"I won't go!" Hazel growls. "I'm Vosian, not Ipraedies!!"

Hakaba laughs. "What's so funny?!" the hybrid looks confused.

"You're just as spirited as your mother!" he chuckles.

Hazel looks shocked. "Y-you knew m-my mother...?"

"Yes, I did," he nods. "As a matter of fact, *I* am your
father!"

Hazel looks shocked. "F-father...?" she gasps. "But that's
impossible! We didn't have any fathers!! Only mothers, which your
soldiers killed when you left me on Barsoom!"

Hakaba stands to look out the porthole. "That's right..." he
sighs, a touch of regret in his voice, "...to a point. While I was an
ensign, I was assigned briefly to Project: Superwarrior. They had a
problem. A malfunction in a cryogenic storage area caused many sperm
samples to spoil. The scientists required fresh samples immediately.
So they asked for volunteers. I was one of them."

"You volunteered?" Hazel looks surprised.

"That's right," he chuckles. "When I met your mother, it was
love at first sight...even though she would have tried to disembowel
me if she had the chance. I did my duty. When you were born, I felt
a longing to be your father. Unfortunately, that was against the
rules. So I was shipped off on another assignment and sworn never to
tell anyone about the child I fathered."

"Mom's dead now," Hazel says. "She never told me about my
father. I always thought I never had one."

"I know how you feel," Hakaba looks at her. "When I heard
about their deaths, I cried."

"So what's going to happen to me now?"

"You are to be taken to Icarus, where you'll become an
Ipraedies warrior as you were bred for," his voice turns to ice.

Hazel looks insulted. "Never!!!" she snaps. "I'm **Vosian**,
not Ipraedies!! Sensei adopted me and he's going to make me a
hunter!!"

He then walks over and shakes her! "You are the property of
the Ipraedies Empire!" Hakaba growls. "I suggest you act like it for
your sake and the sake of your friends in the brig!!"

Hakaba then strides out. Hazel's eyes water with tears. "I'm
Vosian..." she hisses, "...and I'll always be one!"

Leaving the deck, Hakaba looks sad. *I'm sorry, Hazel...* he
sighs. *It must be this way for now.*

* * *

Meanwhile, in Bensaikyou, Nassur and Benten look at the
almost-finished "Renegade"-C from the privacy of a nearby hotel room.
The "Renegade," following Fukunokami shipbuilding tradition, is more
boat-shaped and streamlined than either of her sister-ships. Looking
like an Earth speedboat, she has a pyramid-like superstructure with
three steerage rudders astern, thick wings to the sides ending in
powerful impulse boosters, and a sensory prod forward looking like the
radardome of a reconnaissance aircraft. "Almost done finally," Benten
sighs, sitting on a couch. "Sooner we can get her out, the sooner we
can take Hazel off Lum's hands."

"Don't tell me you miss Hazel?" Nassur teases, standing by the
window with tea in her hand.

"You're wrong!" Benten blushes. "I'm only worried about Lum.
A wild child like Hazel could even test her!"

"Hazel can't be any worst than Ataru," the Vosian sighs.

"Well..." Benten hums...then a communicator sounds off.

"Somebody's calling," Nassur turns to a nearby videoscreen,
pressing a remote control.

A frantic Ten-chan appears. "Nassur-chan!!!" he yells. "The
Ipraedies grabbed Lum, Hazel, Ataru, Mendou and Shinobu!!!"

Both hunters look shocked. "You're kidding!!!" Nassur gasps.

"What would the Ipraedies want with Hazel?" Benten looks
confused. "Or Lum and her friends for that matter?!"

"I dunno," the young Oni shakes his head. "But you gotta help
rescue them!"

"We'll need some help," the Vosian sighs.

"Oyuki-chan is getting that now."

As if on cue, the room's temperature decreases. It begins to
snow. In seconds, the snow turns into a blizzard. The blizzard then
disappears, leaving the room full of snow. Benten shivers with cold,
while Nassur feels nothing. Now standing there is Oyuki acting as if
she just walked in. In a pile of snow and bodies are Sakura, Lan,
Megane, the bodyguards, Mie and Ryuunosuke. All of them look as if
they were snatched from whatever they were doing. "We're here,
Nassur-sama!" the Tritonian smiles shyly.

"Welcome, Oyuki-sama," Nassur bows.

"I hope these people will be enough to help you."

"I'm sure they'll be enough."

One of the first out of the pile is Lan. She is dressed in a
sleeveless gold summer dress, high heel open-toed shoes and a floppy
white hat. "At least you should've asked us first before you sucked
us here, Oyuki!!" the Seishin girl growls.

"Sorry, Lan-chan," the Tritonian does not look sympathetic.

Nassur and Lan exchange angry glances. "I'm surprised to see
you in this group..." the Vosian glows with anger, "...considering how
much you hate Lum!"

"Why, Nassur..." Lan tries to hold in her anger, "...how dare
you think I'm so spiteful!"

"I don't think you're spiteful!" Nassur stares into her eyes.
"I **know** you are!!"

Lan growls. Sakura pulls herself out of the pile of bodies.
"Hey!! Stop with the staring contest!! Can you rescue Lum and the
others?!"

"It's hard to say," Nassur turns to her. "The Ipraedies
Empire is restricted space. We'll need permission to enter it to
search in it."

"Can we get permission?"

"Probably not," Nassur walks to an intercom. "It's like
playing a fight song at a Nihon Ham Fighters' home game. It's a
formality." He presses the intercom control. "Nassur to
engineering."

"Engineering here," a male voice replies.

"How long until 'Renegade' is ready?"

"About twelve hours."

"I don't have twelve hours."

"Okay, we can have her ready in three. Engineering out!"

"You're going to sneak into Ipraedies' space?" Benten looks
shocked.

"Of course," Nassur replies, "...but first, let's all clear
this room of snow while we're waiting."

Nassur throws some shovels to everyone. Most of the group
sigh, grab a shovel and start digging. Sakura notices an anxious look
on the Vosian. "Something wrong?"

"Plenty," Nassur nods. "Hazel's origins have me worried."

"Ten-chan told me about the Ipraedies...but there's more to
this than that, isn't there?"

"That's right," he sighs. "Do you know of recent
Vosian-Ipraedies relations?"

She shakes her head. "I'll tell you," he nods. "About a
century ago, the Ipraedies tried to attack the Confederation. Of
course, their leaders forgot one thing: my people have tracking
powers. We could sense them coming. While they did, our fleets laid
in wait. The war between us lasted five minutes before the Ipraedies
fleets were annilhiated."

"That was quick," Mie whistles, standing beside the priestess.

"Hey!!" Megane growls. "Give us a hand here!"

The Kyushu native glares at the guards' leader, the fire in
her eyes frightening him to the core of his being. "Shaddup,
Tweedledee, or you'll never have the chance to fawn over Lum again!"
she snarls.

Megane quickly turns away. Nassur, Sakura and Benten are
quite impressed. "The Vosians made the Ipraedies sign a peace treaty
halving their sphere of influence," he continues. "Since then,
they've been trying to find a way to get revenge on my people. I
suspect Hazel is the result of one such plan."

"I see," Sakura hums. "And what are those plans?"

"As near as I can tell, to create a warrior..." he sighs,
"...with Vosian tracking powers and Ipraedies cunning and
aggressiveness. Such a warrior would be an equal to us."

"So Hazel's a result of selective breeding?" the Shinto
priestess gasps.

"Yeah," the hunter nods. "What's more, there could be an
untold number of kids like Hazel somewhere in Ipraedies space. All of
them are soon getting close to Stop Time, the time when Vosians begin
to mature and our aging processes slow down. If my suspicions are
true, this is a major violation of the peace treaty between our
peoples!"

"You sound concerned."

"I am," he nods. "I've always harboured concerns when one of
my people mate with a short-life. Recognition aside, sometimes being
Vosian is a curse as well as a blessing."

"Why is that?"

"Well," Nassur explains, "...it's a well-known fact that if a
short-life female mates with a Vosian male, she'll get our lifespan.
Unfortunately, the same is not true for a short-life male who mates
with a Vosian female."

"Wait until Shinobu hears that," Sakura hums.

"Hmph!!" Mie snorts. "Simple genetic slavery, if you ask me!
I really pity your people a lot, Nassur. Glad I'll never have to
worry about garbage like that!"

The others quizzically stare at her. "Now, that's the
strangest girl I've ever come across," Nassur muses.

"You aren't the only one," Benten hums...

* * *

Somewhere inside Ipraedies space, Hakaba's Warbird arrives at
a reddish-brown planet about the size of Earth. "We're nearing
Icarus," the helmsman reports.

"Inform the Commandant that we have the hybrid and some
extras," Hakaba commands. "Then land."

"Aye, sir," the helmsman replies.

* * *

Icarus is an Earth-like world with no indigenous intelligent
life. Bands of desert are mixed with pockets of temperate forest.
Near the equator nestles a small settlement. Composed of a dozen
buildings ringed with a fence, there is visible surface-to-air
weaponry. Hakaba's Warbird lands on what looks like a dry river bed
close by. As it lands, a hovercarrier makes its way to the landing
zone. A boarding ramp lowers. A hatch on the hover-carrier opens,
allowing a dozen armed Ipraedies soldiers, all dressed in khaki
jumpsuits reminiscent of musketeers, to march out and take offensive
positions around the loading ramp, weapons ready to fire.

Last one out is a middle-aged Ipraedies man with blond hair
and a cruel-looking face, dressed more extravagantly than the others.
He proceeds to the airlock of the Warbird. Before he gets there, it
opens and Hakaba steps out flanked by some of his men. "Welcome back,
Captain Hakaba," the elder officer nods.

"Thank you, Commandant," Hakaba salutes. "My mission was
successful. The missing hybrid is back where she belongs."

Hakaba gestures. Hazel is dragged out by two badly beaten
security guards. "I'm not Ipraedies!!!" she growls. "I'm Vosian!!!
A Vosian, I tell you!!! A Vosian!!!"

The commandant looks amused. "She's a spirited one, I grant
that...but, if I remember the files, Twenty-eight was always that way.
It'll be a pleasure for me to break her!"

"My name is Hazel!!!" the hybrid snaps. "I'm not a number!!!"

"Whatever name you were given is no more!" he slaps her!
"You'll be referred to your birth number until you are trained. Only
then will you be allowed the honour of having a name...and it will be
an Ipraedies' name!! Take her to the barracks!"

The guards drag the protesting Hazel into the carrier. "You
said you had some others," the commandant looks at Hakaba.

"That's right," the captain gestures.

Flanked by more security guards, Lum, Ataru, Mendou and
Shinobu are escorted out. Lum wears what looks like a rubber hose
attached to her horns. Mendou has been relieved of his katana.
"There you are," Hakaba says.

"Three Terrans and an Oni," the commandant sighs. "The
Terrans don't look to be much use save the girl with the big bum. She
could make a passable bedwarmer some nights!"

"Who's got a big bum?!" Shinobu growls.

The commandant then looks at Lum. "But, I know this Oni..."
he muses. "Aren't you Lum the Notorious?!"

"Who, me?" the Oni looks dumb.

"Don't play stupid with me!" the commandant growls. "It'll be
a pleasure for me to torture you for any information you may possess
about the Urusian Defense Force!"

"I won't tell you a thing!" Lum growls. "I'd rather die than
do that!"

"Oh?" the Ipraedies looks amused. "But what if I threaten to
sell all four of you to the...***CIRCUS?!?!?!***"

The Terrans faint! "You'd sell us to a circus?!" Ataru gasps.
"That's punishment?!!"

"Unlike circuses on other planets," Hakaba sighs, "...the
Ipraedies Circus is noted for the cruelty heaped upon its acts by the
audience. Only aliens, condemned criminals and chartered accountants
are allowed to join."

"What do the audience do to them?" Shinobu gulps.

"If they're lucky, they kill them," the captain replies.

"If they're unlucky?" Ataru gulps.

"They get to perform again," Hakaba replies, "...until someone
does the mercy of killing them."

"Boy, talk about tough audiences!" Shinobu whistles.

Lum hugs Ataru. "Darling!" she sobs. "Don't let them sell us
to the Circus!!"

"I've made up my mind!" the commandant then growls. "I shall
transmit my offer immediately! Take them away!!"

Lum and the others are dragged into the carrier by the
commandant's soldiers. "I don't wanna go to the circus!!!" the
prisoners yell.

The commandant turns to Hakaba. "You are to be commended," he
salutes.

"You'd better hurry up and go, sir," Hakaba salutes back with
a smile. "It looks like they're leaving without you!"

The commandant turns to see that the hover-carrier is leaving
without him! "Hey!!! Wait!!! Wait!!!" the commandant pursues.
"Wait for me!!!"

Unfortunately, the carrier leaves the commandant running in
vain to catch it. *Nice to see the commandant's men hold him in high
respect!* Hakaba barely contains himself from laughing.

* * *

Minutes later, the security guards deposit Hazel inside a
small hanger-like building. "This is your home now!" a guard turns to
leave. "Enjoy it!!"

Hazel falls to the floor, then looks up and notices the room
is filled with bunks and footlockers. She also notices forty-nine
dark-skinned people with tapered ears like herself. Unlike her, they
are dressed in plain khaki uniforms. Everyone's hair, including the
females, is shorn short. Hazel notices all are her age. For several
agonizing seconds, the others look at Hazel in confusion. The
missing hybrid of Project: Superwarrior is nervous. "My name is
Hazel..." she begins. "You've got to help me. They're holding my
friends prisoners...!"

Before she can continue, Hazel is cut off by the sound of the
entire group standing at attention. "Commandant entering!!!" one
announces.

Hazel sees the commandant standing behind her, wheezing
heavily after doing a long run in the heat of Icarus' sun. "A-at
ease," he pants. Once the commandant catches his breath, he puts his
hand on Hazel's shoulder. "Everyone..." he announces, "...this is
your missing sister, Twenty-eight. She was mistakenly left behind on
our old base. Our enemies have brainwashed her into believing she is
not Ipraedies. I hope you'll all teach her the mistake she's made.
Dismissed!"

The commandant salutes, then departs. The hybrids return the
salute. Once their superior leaves, they turn as one to Hazel. "So,
you think you're not an Ipraedies, eh?" one slyly hums.

All the other hybrids then move away from Hazel. She notices
a huge male hybrid sitting with his back to her on a chair, looking
out a window. "I hate people who are like that," he growls.

He looks at her. Besides being abnormally large and muscular,
he possesses a plain, if not homely, face. Standing up, he towers
over everyone else! Hazel looks unimpressed. "So what are you going
to do about it?!" she takes a defensive position. "Try to scare me to
death with that ugly face of yours?!"

The hybrid looks insulted. "I'm Sixteen..." he growls as he
rolls up his uniform's sleeves. "I'm the head of this class. You
wanna live, you'll start acting Ipraedies...**now!!!**"

"Over my dead body!" Hazel replies.

"That can be arranged!"

Outside the barracks, a group of Ipraedies soldiers listen in
on what is going on. They take bets. "Okay," one soldier gathers
money. "Haja has Sixteen after twenty minutes...Doruk says Sixteen in
five minutes...Ikura gives Sixteen an hour...Any more bets?!"

As if on cue, an explosion takes out one of the walls! When
the smoke clears, the soldiers look surprised to see not Hazel laying
on the ground badly beaten...but *Sixteen!* Hazel stands at the hole,
wolfishly staring at her opponent. "Next?!"

The other hybrids are awed. "Did you see that?!" one gasps.
"One beautiful judo toss followed by a punch to the back of Sixteen's
head! She's great!!"

The soldiers are just as impressed. "We've got another Yukio
on our hands!" the bet-taker hums, returning the money to the other
soldiers.

From the Warbird, Hakaba watches via binoculars. *And I was
worried about her?* he smiles. *Nassur's a better teacher than I
thought! Then again, he did learn from the best of them all!*

* * *

Later, after Lum, Shinobu, Ataru and Mendou are thrown into a
small stockade, all sit quietly in fear of what happens next. "Lum,"
Shinobu looks over. "What are we going to do now?"

"I don't know, Shinobu," Lum sighs. "No one has ever escaped
from the Ipraedies Circus alive before."

"You sound like you know a lot about that circus," Ataru hums.

"Unfortunately, I do, Darling," Lum sighs. "While I was being
trained by Nassur, Lan nearly sold me, Benten and Oyuki to them.
Nassur stopped her."

"Sweet little Lan-san did that?" Mendou looks surprised.

"She's not all sweetness and light, Shutaro," the Oni rolls
her eyes. "Lan is the most vindictive and heartlessly cruel person
this side of the Mikado! It was because of what she did that
Nassur-chan and Lan became enemies."

"I don't blame Nassur-kun," Shinobu snorts.

The group hears a commotion outside. "What's that?" Lum
stands.

Lum is answered a few minutes later by the entrance of a
couple of Ipraedies soldiers flanking Captain Hakaba. "This is
against regulations, sir..." one unlocks the cell door, "...but since
you do outrank us, we'll allow it to pass."

"Thank you, Private," Hakaba enters the cell.

Lum looks upset to see the Ipraedies captain. "You?! What
are you doing here?!"

"You know me?" he smiles.

"Of course, I do," she bears her fangs. "My daddy told me all
about you! You're Captain Hakaba, the horniest Ipraedies alive!!"

The Terrans faint! "What do you mean by that, Lum?!" Ataru
gasps.

"You think you're bad when your illness attacks, Darling?" Lum
looks over. "Hakaba's girl-chasing makes you look tame in
comparison."

"Flattery will get you nowhere," the Ipraedies blushes. "But
that was in the past. The mokkori attacks of my youth are behind me
now since I got married."

"Why are you here?" the Oni asks.

"As you probably guessed," Hakaba replies, "...I was the
captain of the ship which was responsible in capturing Twenty-eight
and bringing her here to Icarus."

"So what does that have to do with us?" Shinobu asks.

"I'm her father."

"Father?" Lum gasps. "I'm not surprised."

"How'd you guess?"

"You're the only starship captain in known space that isn't
allowed any female crewmembers," the Oni replies. "If I remember
correctly, you went hog-wild on one ship early in your career."

"What did he do?" Ataru looks up.

"I tried to mokkori any female crewmember I saw," Hakaba
blushes, scratching the back of his head.

"Having a planet full of captive women on another planet," Lum
adds, "...would be a dream come true to you!"

"And I thought I was horny," Ataru sighs.

"This guy makes Moroboshi look like a Buddhist monk," Mendou
adds.

"What about you?!" Ataru sneers at his rival.

"So why are you talking to us?" Lum asks.

"Well, Twenty-eight is the first child I ever had..." Hakaba
shrugs. "I felt responsible for her, just like any father would. I
would like to start bridging the gap between us. What can you tell me
that will help do so?"

"Well, first off," the Oni hums "...don't call her a number.
Nassur-chan gave her a name. It's Hazel. Second, she wants to be
Vosian. I haven't known her long enough to think of any more."

"That's enough for now," Hakaba turns to leave. "Thank you."

Lum watches him leave. *I only hope Hazel will accept him.*

* * *

In the hybrid's barracks, Hazel lays on her cot at one end.
*What a terrible life I have!* she looks sad. *No parents and forced
to become a soldier for some race that bred me for such a job! Maybe
I should've stayed on Barsoom!!*

Suddenly, a beautiful blonde-haired hybrid girl walks up.
Dressed in a cadet uniform, her hair extends to her shoulders.
"Hello, Twenty-eight," she grins with a high-pitched voice. "I'm
Thirty-five. Do you wanna be friends?"

Hazel gives her such an icy stare, it freezes her! "What a
cold look!!" she exclaims, wiping snow off her. "What did I say?!"

"If you want to be my friend, you'll call me 'Hazel,' not the
number tattooed on my side!" Hazel growls.

"Why?!" Thirty-five asks. "The only person who has a name
here is Fifty-one. She earned her name."

"After what the Ipraedies did to my mom..." Hazel snorts,
"...do you think I'd want to be one?!"

"Oh, the Ipraedies are nice people," Thirty-five giggles, then
points to Sixteen, who is being treated for his injuries by a
plain-looking boy wearing the Ipraedies' version of a medical uniform.
"Take Sixteen. He may look like a monster, but he really is very
sweet."

Hazel looks closely at Thirty-five. She notices that her
fellow hybrid has the look of someone hopelessly in love. "Of all the
people to recognize, you had to recognize him?! You're almost as bad
as Lum-sensei is with that moron Ataru Moroboshi!"

"Wait until you recognize someone," hearts appear in
Thirty-five's eyes. "You'll be just like me!" She then gets a hold
of herself. "So, why are you so down on being Ipraedies for anyway?"

"Because I saw the Ipraedies kill our mothers," Hazel
announces.

The whole barrack goes silent. All turn angrily as one to
Hazel. "You lie!" the one treating Sixteen snaps.

"Our mothers were all released and sent back home," a wavy
blonde-haired girl in an engineer's uniform yells. "Our commandant
says so!"

Everyone's eyes change colour. "Hazel is telling the truth!"
a man's voice announces.

All see Hakaba standing at the doorway. "Who are you?!" a
nerdish-looking boy asks.

"I'm Captain Hakaba," he nods. "I should know. I was once
assigned to Project: Superwarrior as a guard commander."

*Why is he here?* Hazel looks confused.

"I fell in love with the mother of one of you," the captain
sadly declares. "And the Ipraedies, under the direction of the
*Asan'on,* butchered the whole lot of them without mercy when they
abandoned the base on Barsoom!"

The hybrids fall silent as they try to understand what Hakaba
said. Unfortunately, Hakaba notices their eyes changing colour.
"That's enough!" another man snaps.

This voice belongs to the commandant. He is flanked by
several armed soldiers. The commandant walks up to Hakaba, then decks
him with a punch to the jaw! "Idiot!!!" he growls. "Do you want to
destroy years of work with your lies?!!"

Hakaba stands, violently incensed. "They are not lies," he
cooly declares. "That's the truth!"

The commandant's face turns a brilliant shade of brown. "You
have one hour to get off this planet and never return!!" he snarls.
"If you don't, it'll be the Box for you!!"

Hakaba turns to leave. "I'll go..." he icily smiles. "...for
now!"

Once Hakaba walks out, the commandant turns to everyone. "As
for the rest of you," he snarls, "...lights out!!"

He turns out the lights...then trips over someone on the way
out! That someone is not pleased. "***YOU CLUMSY OAF!!!!!!***" a
growling yet female scream is heard. "***WATCH WHERE YOU'RE
GOING!!!!!!***"

The commandant is literally punched through a wall! The
hybrids bolt up as the lights come back on. Hazel is awed at the
sight of the senior officer bashed down low...then is totally
surprised to see the person responsible! "Who's that?!" she points.

"Oh, that's Yukio," Thirty-five sighs. "Fifty-one."

Standing in the doorway is a hybrid girl about Hazel's height.
She is dressed in a modified version of the jumpsuit the other
hybrids wear, with no sleeves, ripped knees and other modifications
which most street kids on Earth would consider "cool." Her
crimson-red hair is short cut and shaggy, falling in bangs over her
forehead. The look on her face is one which Hazel finds quite
intimidating...a rage that would even scare Nassur! "You pathetic
piece of trash!!!" the girl snaps as she steps inside. "What's with
the lights being out early?!! You almost spoiled all the wild boar I
got for the troops with your fat feet!!!"

The Ipraedies soldiers and the other hybrids immediately
drool. Hazel is speechless. The red-haired hybrid storms in, then
looks at one of the bunks. "Naosu, haul your ass over here and check
these boars out!!!"

"Okay, Yukio!" the hybrid who treated Sixteen walks to the
door, tricorder in hand.

"And remember..." Yukio growls, "...the **bad** ones go to the
officers!! Get it wrong and I'll start calling you 'Twenty' again!"

Hazel does not know whether to be in awe or fear for her life.
Yukio turns to the commandant, hauling him up to his feet
single-handedly. "Listen up, bud!!!" she snarls. "Lights out are in
**two** hours!!!" she holds up two fingers. "You *can* count, can't
you?!!"

"Y-yes...!" the commandant nods, turning pale green in mortal
fear.

Naosu steps back in. "They're all good, Yukio!" he smiles.
"Not a fault amongst them!!"

Yukio looks at him, then back at the commandant. "Hey, it's
your lucky day!!!" she icily smiles.

"Um, Yukio-chan..." one of the soldiers walks up. "There's
something you should know."

"What's that?" she looks over.

"We got prisoners," the soldier reports. "Four of them."

Yukio looks shocked, then angrily turns to the commandant.
"***WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!?!?!***" she screams at the top of her
lungs. "***YOU TOOK PRISONERS AND YOU DIDN'T TELL* ME *ABOUT
THEM?!?!?!***" She then sends the commandant flying out of the
barracks at mach speed! "***GET OUTTA MY FACE, CREEP!!!!!!***"

The soldiers smile on seeing the hybrid beat their commanding
officer up without pause. "Tell the others I'll get the boars to them
as soon as I calm down!" Yukio points.

"Yes, ma'am!!" the soldiers chant together.

Hazel watches as they leave. There is a bounce to their step,
as if the red-haired hybrid's return has just made their day. Yukio
is still in a vile mood. "Now I've got to go get more boars!" she
moans, then turns around...and stops on seeing Hazel. "Who're you?!!"

Hazel suddenly feels very embarrassed. "She's Twenty-eight,
Yukio," Thirty-five smiles. "Our missing sister."

"Oh?!" surprise appears on Yukio's face. With the change of
emotion, Hazel notices how cute her fellow hybrid really is. She also
notices that Yukio, given her number, is curiously the most
well-developed of the hybrids, looking more like she was sixteen
instead of fourteen. Yukio walks over to sit beside Hazel. "So! You
survived all those years on Barsoom, eh?! Nice to see you! Did your
old man save you or someone else?!"

"Someone else," Hazel nods, still quite intimidated.

"You got a name?" Yukio hums.

"Hazel."

"Hazel it is, then!" Yukio stands up, nodding.

"Um...should we call her that?!" Sixteen looks confused.

Yukio freezes him with a dirty stare. "Daros, you moron, if
her name is Hazel, then it's Hazel!!!" she growls. "Show some
respect, you slob!!!"

"Y-yes, ma'am...!" the tall hybrid stammers.

Yukio sighs. "Look, Hazel, I've got work to do!" she turns to
leave. "I'll get you a boar so you can eat when I get one for the
prisoners! I'll talk to you later, okay?!"

"Okay," Hazel nods, suddenly feeling pleased to have come to
Icarus for the first time.

Yukio heads out. The other hybrids gather around Hazel.
"Well," Naosu hums. "I guess if Yukio says you're alright, then you
must be okay." He sits down, extending his hand. "I'm Naosu...Number
Twenty. I'll be your medical officer."

"Hi, Naosu-chan," Hazel shakes his hand. "So...you really do
have names, don't you?"

"Not really," Naosu shrugs. "And not all of us have them.
Yukio's been trying to give us all names...a mix of Vosian and
Ipraedies to reflect our dual heritage. We only use them between
ourselves when the officers aren't looking."

"How did Yukio-chan get her name?" Hazel looks confused.

"You don't know Ipraediespeak?" Thirty-five asks.

Hazel shakes her head. "In Ipraediespeak, 'Yukio' means 'the
uncontrollable storm,'" Thirty-five smiles. "As you saw, she loves to
live up to that name. The non-commissioned officers unanimously chose
it for her."

"Oh!" Hazel nods in understanding.

Sixteen walks up. "Hi, Hazel. I'm Daros," he looks meek.
"I'm sorry about earlier, but we've got to behave ourselves or else.
Even Yukio tends to watch herself when she has to."

"Hi, Daros-chan," Hazel nods. "It's okay."

Other hybrids introduce themselves. Once the last of the
hybrids with names passes through, Hazel looks to Thirty-five. "Don't
you have a name?"

"No," the blonde-haired girl shakes her head. "Yukio'll think
up of one for me soon, I'll bet."

Hazel thinks for a moment, then looks up. "I know! I'll give
you a name."

"You will?!" Daros and Thirty-five exclaim together.

"Uh-huh!" Hazel nods. "You see, when the man who rescued me
gave me my name, he told me that he called me that because I reminded
him of a former student of his. He nicknamed her 'Hazel.' She was a
hunter who'd been severely crippled on a mission. She also had a
partner. Since we'll be together no matter what, I'll call you by the
name my namesake's partner had: Althea."

"'Althea?!'" Thirty-five hums as she rolls the name in her
lips, then nods readily. "Okay! Althea it is!!"

"Hey, everyone!" Naosu calls out. "Thirty-five got a name!"

The other hybrids let out cheers. Daros hugs his newly-named
girlfriend. Hazel lets out a sigh of relief. *I hope this'll work in
getting them on my side!* she looks up. *Oh, Sensei, come soon!!*

* * *

Meanwhile, just outside Ipraedies space, the "Renegade," hours
after being launched, proceeds into enemy territory at warp speed. On
the bridge, Nassur sits in the command chair, Benten is at
sensory...and surprisingly, Mie is at the helm, being guided by Oyuki.
Lan, Sakura and the rest of Lum's friends stand nearby, apprehensively
staring at the Kyushu native. "Twelve minutes to the Uru-Ipraedos
Neutral Zone," Mie reports, staring at the board.

"Slow to one-quarter impulse," Nassur orders.

"Okay."

Her hands expertly dart over the control board. The
"Renegade's" engines die down as she de-warps. "Nicely done," the
Tritonian princess muses, a touch of awe in her voice. "You're a
natural pilot, Mie-san...for your first try."

"Thanks," Mie nods. "These controls are simpler than I
thought. I was expecting something a lot more challenging."

"She considers that 'simple?!'" Megane gasps. "I hate to see
her idea of 'challenging!'"

"I couldn't figure that control panel out!" Kakugari admits.

"What did you expect, Tweedledee?!" Mie sneers. "From what I
can tell, people who're born in Tomobiki don't even have enough brain
cells to figure out a VCR!"

Everyone from Earth looks incensed. "That's a good one!" Lan
laughs.

"Not to mention red-haired alien airheads!" Mie adds.

Lan then looks incensed. The Terrans and Benten howl with
delight. Sakura walks up to Nassur's side. "Planning not to be
somewhere in a hurry?"

"This is a safety precaution," he sighs. "We're nearing the
checkpoint station. Like most checkpoints, we need both visual and
audio transmittion given in Ipraediespeak if we don't want to the
entire Imperial Ipraedies Navy chasing us!"

"Is there a problem?"

"Yes. The person making contact must be able to speak
Ipraediespeak," Nassur smiles...then looks at Lan. "And there's one
person who fits that qualification present!"

Lan looks nervous. Nassur looks her over closely. "Who,
me?!" the Seishin girl sputters. "I'm just a cute, defenceless,
little girl!"

"Who just happened to began learning Ipraediespeak so you
could sell Benten, Oyuki and Lum to the Ipraedies Circus," the Vosian
icily intones.

Suddenly, Lan finds herself surrounded by the guards! "What
is this?!!" Megane growls, eyes glowing. "You *dared* sell Lum-san
like a slave, you pathetic, vindictive, airheaded slut?!!"

"WELL?!?!?!" the other guards demand as one.

"But that was a long time ago!" Lan tries her cute-girl act.
"I was going through a phase...!"

"I still haven't given you a suitable punishment!" Nassur
crosses his arms, icily smiling in Megane's direction. "And I've just
thought of a just punishment to give you!!"

"Y-you wouldn't dare!" Lan growls.

Four fists pound her in the head! "YOU'LL TAKE IT!!!!!!" the
guards snap as one.

Nassur turns to Sakura. "How long will it take you to cover
Lan's entire body with green makeup?"

"An hour at least!" the priestess looks at Lan.

Lan looks angry. "You can't be serious!! I can't pass for an
Ipraedies!!!"

"Use the replicators in the dining hall," Nassur orders,
ignoring the Seishin girl's protest. "Also replicate her an Ipraedies
military officer's uniform. You'll find specs for them in the
computer terminal."

"Aren't you listening?!!" Lan yells. "I'm not going to do
this!!! There's nothing you can do to force to do this!!!"

Suddenly, ***five*** sledgehammers fall on her, welded by
Benten and the guards!! Lan falls to the deck, a large lump on her
head. "How nice of you to volunteer!" the Fukunokami snickers.

"Yes!!" Megane growls. "How nice of you to volunteer!!
Right, guys?!"

"RIGHT!!!!!!" the guards snap.

"There you go, Sakura," Nassur nods. "Go ahead."

"Thanks, Nassur," the priestess drags Lan off the bridge.

"All that's left is the bribe," Nassur turns to Benten.
"Benten, is there any unopened cases of Fukunokami super-vodka still
aboard which your dad gave us as launching gift?"

Benten looks nervous. "You're not using *that* as a bribe?!"

"Can you think of anything else to give them?" Nassur seems
not to care.

"Okay," Benten sighs. "But I expect a replacement!"

She tromps off to the turbo-lift. Nassur turns to the others.
"Now here's the plan!" the hunter begins...

* * *

An hour later, at a small space station which looks like a
pair of dishes glued to the ends of a used toilet paper roll, peace
reigns. Aboard are a crew of a dozen Imperial Ipraedies Navy
officers. All look bored due to the lack of activity. "Six months of
this boring duty," an ensign sighs. "I want some action!"

"I know what you mean," a lieutenant rubs his eyes, strained
from too much time viewing a blank video terminal. "You would think
this sector would be as exciting as the Yehisrite border."

Suddenly, the sound of radar picking up a target is heard. "A
ship's coming!" the watch commander snaps. "Tell them to stop their
approach and identify themselves!"

"Aye, sir," an ensign nods.

Minutes later, Lan appears on the viewscreen of the control
centre. She is covered with green makeup and is now wearing an outfit
which looks like pirate's gear from the seventeenth century: a red
top with white pants. Her hair is tied with a polka-dotted bandanna.
"H-hello," the Seishin girl begins in broken Ipraediespeak, "...this
am freighter 'Kochak.' We is coming from Sector 007 and headed for
Homeworld. We am carrying food, alcohol and stuff. We asking for
passage."

"Who is this babe?" an ensign hums.

"She's cute!" another ensign sighs.

*I hope they fall for this!* Lan looks even.

"What kind of alcohol are you carrying?" a lieutenant demans.

"We am carrying Fukunokami super-vodka," Lan sighs. "Would
you like a sample?"

Wolfish grins appear on their faces. "Of course," the watch
command readily nods.

"Energizing," Lan reports.

In one of the lower decks, Benten places a case of twelve
green glass bottles on the teleporter pad. "You can energize when
ready," Nassur calls over the intercom.

"Alright, already!" Benten growls. "I'm doing it! Just
because you can't get drunk on this stuff doesn't mean we can give it
to the Ipraedies!"

"Better them than you, Benten," Nassur replies. "You know I
don't like your drinking!"

"You never let me have any fun!" Benten snorts. "Energizing!"

The case of alcohol dematerializes from the "Renegade" and
re-materializes in the control room of the space station. The
Ipraedies look happy to see the alcohol. "You're clear," the watch
commander nods.

"Thanks," Lan smiles. "Have a nice day!"

* * *

On the bridge, Nassur, Mie, Oyuki and the others come out of
hiding. "Good job, Lan," Nassur nods. "Mie, head straight for
Ipraedos."

"Right away!" the Kyushu native sets course.

Lan begins to scratch herself. "Can I take off this makeup
yet?! it's making me itch!"

"Not yet, Lan," Nassur sits down. "We may need you to do this
again!"

"If I break out into a rash..." the Seishin girl sighs,
"...it'll be your fault!"

* * *

Meanwhile on Icarus, all the hybrids are in bed save Yukio,
who has gone out to get more wild boar. But sleep cannot come easily
for this group of teens tonight. "This place is hell!" Althea, who
has a bunk near Hazel, sighs.

"It sure is," Daros replies from the bunk above her. "The
food's terrible. The teachers are mean...not to mention that they
couldn't teach a dog to bark!"

["It's nearly as bad as my college!" the writer states.]

"Keep your comments to yourself," Hazel yells. "Nobody in
Japan would understand them anyway!"

"Then there's this thing about our mothers," Darsei, first of
the hybrids, yells from another bunk. "I hate this! I hate how
things are!"

Althea turns to Hazel. "Hazel, you're lucky not to have been
here all this time. You at least had another teacher. What was his
name?"

"Nassur," Hazel replies.

"***NASSUR?!?!?!***" all the hybrids yell, loud enough to
momentarily frighten the commandant, who was drinking coffee in his
office.

Before Hazel can do anything, she is surrounded by her
friends. "The same Nassur who single-handedly wiped our a whole
Ipraedies company?" Althea gasps.

"The same Nassur who defeated the legendary Jaja?" Daros adds.

"The same Nassur who makes the Emperor wet himself when he
hears his name spoken?" Kyonba, the wavy blonde-haired group engineer,
demands.

"Y-yeah..." Hazel stammers.

"***WHAT'S HE LIKE?!?!?!***" they demand as one, powerfully
enough to nearly send Hazel flying through a wall!

"Well," she stammers, "...he's very patient, kind and nice."

The other hybrids sigh. "I wish I could study under him
someday," Nisur, a brown-haired field operative, moans.

"Do you think Nassur will come to rescue you?" Tisur, his twin
brother, looks over.

"I don't know," Hazel sighs. "He doesn't even know where I
am."

* * *

Meanwhile, in the stockade, the prisoners relax. "This is
crazy!" Ataru snarls. "If that wild child hadn't come to Tomobiki, we
wouldn't be in this damn predicament!! If we escape, she goes back to
Nassur!!!"

Mendou looks incensed. "Moroboshi, you bastard!" he grabs
Ataru by the collar of his shirt. "How *dare* you denounce Hazel at
this time?! Besides, if Lum-san's tutor says she's okay, then she's
okay!!"

Ataru dumps a garbage bin on Mendou's head! "Idiot, stop
taking Lum's side!!!"

Mendou yelps in fright as his claustrophobia comes on line.
At that moment, Yukio's voice is heard. "Hey, stop yelling!!!
Suppertime!!"

The scion of Japan's richest family calms down as an Ipraedies
soldier walks up and unlocks the cell door, thus allowing Yukio to
wheel a beautiful dinner composed of a giant pig-like creature,
skinned, charcoal-broiled and dressed with all the trimmings, into the
cell. "So, you're our guests, eh?!" the red-haired hybrid smiles,
then turns to the soldier. "Thanks, Reika."

"Okay, Yukio," the soldier closes the door behind him.

The Oni and the three Terrans look shocked. "You're a hybrid,
too?!" Shinobu gasps.

"I'm Yukio," the hybrid nods. "Pleased to meet you. Here's
something for you to eat. No one bothered to tell me that we had
prisoners coming in today. If they did, I would've brought some food
earlier."

The smell of the roasted boar causes everyone's mouth to
water. "Oh, man, I'm starved!!" Ataru licks his lips. "Thanks,
Yukio-chan!"

Yukio looks over. Seeing Ataru, the hybrid does not react as
most normal women would react. To the red-haired hybrid, Ataru seems
quite handsome in a plain way. *Holy!!* Yukio mentally gasps. *He's
cute!*

Sensing the attention, Ataru looks up. Seeing Yukio, an
equally strange feeling crosses Ataru's heart...as if all the
perversions which he has caused over the years suddenly no longer
meant a thing to him. Yukio, as well as being quite attractive, is
also the most beguiling woman he has ever crossed...save one.
*Gods!!* Ataru mentally gasps. *What a beautiful girl! Why...why
does she reminds me of Windy-chan...?!*

Lum also notices the attention. "Hey!!!" she leaps in front
of Ataru, eyes ablaze. "Darling, stop looking at that girl!!!"

Ataru stands up...then without warning, shoves Lum out of his
path! He then takes Yukio's hand in his, then places a very courtly
kiss on her knuckle. "Thank you for your kindness, Yukio-san."

Yukio blushes. "Y-you're welcome..." she stammers. "What's
your name...?"

"Ataru."

"A-ataru..." she smiles.

Mendou and Shinobu are shocked. "I don't believe it!" the
latter gasps. "I've never seen Ataru-kun like that in front of a girl
in all my life!!"

Lum leaps over to shove Yukio away from Ataru. "Get away from
my husband, you...you Darling-thief!!!"

Before the Oni could react, Yukio grabs her by the throat and
begins to apply terrible pressure on her trachea. Lum gasps as her
oxygen is cut off, her face turning blue. "Ataru," Yukio hums, "...is
this brat Oni your wife?"

"No," he shakes his head. "Lum only pretends to be my wife."

"Lum?!" Yukio's eyes widen, then she turns to face the Oni, a
sneer on her face. "As in Lum the Notorious?!!"

"Y-yes..." the Oni gasps.

A second later, Lum is smashed into the wall! Shinobu
and Mendou look mortally afraid. Ataru does not react. "So!!!" Yukio
snarls, the heat of her anger leeching from her body. "The pathetic
little Oni tramp who hides behind her lightning, eh?!!" She then
looks at Mendou and Shinobu, grimly nodding. "I assume you two must
be from the fool's paradise called 'Tomobiki,' right?!"

"Um...y-you m-must be m-mistaking us f-for th-those who come
f-from T-tomobiki...!" Mendou stammers.

"Liars," Ataru crosses his arms.

Shinobu looks incensed. "Hey, you're from Tomobiki, too,
Ataru-kun!!!"

Before she could leap at Ataru, Yukio grabs Shinobu. Ten
seconds later, the hapless Terran drops to the floor, pounded
literally into hamburger!! "Liar!" Ataru snorts, spitting at the
ground near Shinobu's face. "I'm from Hokkaido, not Tomobiki!!"

Mendou looks mortally afraid, having never seen his two
favourite women defeated so easily. Yukio looks indignant. "So! It
seems everything I've heard of Tomobiki is true!" she snorts, then
turns to the cell door. "Reika!!!"

The soldier walks up. "Yes, Yukio?"

Yukio takes Ataru by the hand. "Reika, please move this one
into the solitary cell. I want him separated physically from these
three morons...and I want him out of their eyesight!"

"No problem, Yukio," the soldier nods.

Ataru is escorted out of the cell. "No!!!" Lum cries as she
leaps over to grab him...

...then gets grabbed by Yukio. "You mind your place, Oni!!!"
the hybrid slaps her hard across the face!! "I've long heard that an
Oni's greatest fear is loosing his or her horns...especially if it's
by a lover!! Shall I teach Ataru how to do that...not to mention
*crush* your horns?!!"

Lum turns white with shock. Yukio tosses her aside, then
takes the meal out of the cell. "Hey, what about us?!!" Shinobu cries
out.

"You'll get rations!!" Yukio snaps as she leaves the cell.

The door is locked. Lum, Shinobu and Mendou now are really
scared. "I...I can't believe it...!" the Oni stammers. "If that's
the way the other hybrids are like, we *are* doomed!!"

"Wh-what's g-going t-to h-happen now...?!" Shinobu stammers.

* * *

Later, on the brownish green planet of Ipraedos, in his castle
in the capital city, Emperor Schwartz prepares to go to bed. His
castle is a grand palace which would be the envy of any planetary
ruler. With high-tech security devices mixed in with the Gothic-like
architecture and Romantic-like artworks, Schwartz's castle has a
museum-like quality to it.

Emperor Schwartz himself is an old man, perhaps seventy.
Remarkably fit for one his age, he is dressed in a outfit of yellow
and dark blue similar to a Jion officer. His hair is grey, cut short.
His aged face is covered by a long handlebar moustache and sideburns.
"Emperor Schwartz," an aide bows as he walks up. "Can I speak with
you a moment before you retire for the night?"

"What is it?" Schwartz looks over. "I'm very tired, you
know."

"Of course, Your Majesty. Planetary Defense is reporting a
strange ship in the area."

"Is that all?" Schwartz yawns. "It's probably some meteor
shower like the last time. Still, keep me informed if something
serious should occur."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the aide salutes, then leaves. "Good
night!"

Schwartz wearily walks to a nearby room, which has as an
entrance a gaily-painted door. A sign on the door proclaims THE
EMPEROR'S BEDROOM...COME TO PAPA'S BED!!!! Schwartz opens the door,
entering the dark room. *I thought I left a light on in here!* he
hums to himself.

Looking for the light switch, Schwartz trips over a footstool,
a chair and a chandelier before he manages to turn the light on! His
bedroom is as grand as the rest of the castle. With a huge bed which
could probably hold a dozen people easily and extravagant furnishings,
the Ipraedies Emperor is surprised to discover two things in his
bedroom which were not there when he woke up this morning: Nassur and
Benten!

Benten sits on the bed holding what looks to be an Ipraedies
version of a teddy bear. Nassur reads some files. "It's about time
you came to bed," the Vosian hums. "Sitting on a throne all day must
give you piles."

The Ipraedies turns white with horror. "N-n-n-n-nassur...?!!"

"Oh, you remember me?" Nassur hums in mock surprise. "I take
it you remembered the time I destroyed your experimental system
destroyer. Don't bother calling for security; one signal from me or
Benten and all three of us are teleported to my ship in orbit. By the
time they realize what happened, we'd be in Yehisrite space."

"W-what do you want...?" Schwartz looks scared.

"Some of your soldiers kidnapped some friends of mine," Nassur
walks up to the monarch. "One of them is an Ipraedies-Vosian hybrid
girl whom I've discovered was a part of a secret and illegal
experiment in genetic breeding."

"I don't know what you're talking about!" the Emperor sweats.

"I think you do," the hunter icily declares. "You really
should get a computer system in this place. You have a lot of
interesting files in your filing cabinet."

Nassur shows a file marked "Cademus." "This one tells of a
sneak attack you led fifty years ago when you were still a Crown
Prince," his voice has a taunt in it. "If I remember, it was a colony
in Yehisrite space called Cademus. Five hundred thousand Yehisrites
died there. Rumour has it there's a big bounty on your head, offered
by the six *laqu'rs* who claim territory there, not to mention Lord
Protector Alko. I've seen Yehisrite justice, Schwartz! It's not
pretty!!"

"What do you want to know?" Schwartz gulps.

"I believe my friends were taken to a base where there are
other hybrids from the same project," Nassur stares into the Emperor's
eyes. "Where is the location of that base?"

"How should I know where it is?" Schwartz stammers.

Nassur turns to Benten. "Benten, don't the Imperial Corps of
Executioners still use condemned criminals as practice targets for
their swords?"

"Yeah," Benten nods. "I think they do."

Nassur pulls out his communicator. "Nassur to 'Renegade.'"

"'Renegade' here," Oyuki's voice replies.

"Prepare to beam everyone up in this room," Nassur orders.
"On my signal. Once we're there, set course for Yehisril!" The
Vosian then icily stares at the Ipraedies Emperor.

"All right!" Schwartz snaps. "They're on Icarus!"

"Icarus," Nassur hums. "That's only a day or two from here.
I hope you're not leading us into a trap."

"It's no trap, believe me!!" Schwartz frets. "Few of my
defense personnel even know what's there!"

"For your sake, you better be right," the Vosian holds up a
finger, "...or else, you'll be facing Varanko!" he draws a slashing
motion across his throat. He then speaks into his communicator.
"Oyuki, beam Benten and I up."

"Energizing," Oyuki replies.

Nassur and Benten dematerialize. Schwartz looks relieved.
"They're gone," he sighs, "...and I think I wet myself!"

* * *

Morning arrives on Icarus. The hybrids are awakened to the
sound of a bugle. Slowly, most of the hybrids get out of bed to
prepare themselves for the day. Hazel is among those who continue to
sleep. Suddenly, the door to the barracks bursts open and several
Ipraedies soldiers rush in, flanking the commandant. The soldiers
begin rousting the hybrids out of bed. Finally one comes to Hazel's
cot and lifts one side up, making her fall to the floor! "Wake up!"
growls the soldier.

Hazel wakes up, covering her nude body. "What the hell...?!!"
she growls before an Ipraedies uniform is shoved into her face.

"Put this uniform on!" the soldier orders.

Hazel looks at the uniform, then throws it to the ground in
disgust. "I don't wear Ipraedies clothes!!"

The soldier looks angry. He attempts to hit Hazel, but the
commandant appears beside him. "What's the problem, soldier?"

"She refuses to wear the uniform we've provided her, sir," the
soldier reports.

"I'd rather go naked than wear that rag," Hazel snorts. "It's
worse than wearing that bathing suit Shinobu-sensei gave me!"

The commandant looks angry. "You **will** wear that uniform
or else!!"

"Never!!!" Hazel growls.

"Very well," the commandant snaps his fingers. "Take her to
my office!"

Out of nowhere, two huge soldiers appear behind Hazel, then
drag her away! "Lemme go!" she struggles to free herself.

Unfortunately, the soldiers are just too strong for the young
hybrid to escape. In a matter of minutes, Hazel is dragged out of the
barracks and towards another building nearby. From their cell, Lum,
Shinobu and Mendou watch helplessly as the soldiers open the door to a
nearby building and shove Hazel inside. "What are they doing to
Hazel-chan?!" Shinobu gasps.

"Looks like they're doing something to her," Lum gulps. "I
hope it doesn't end up with Hazel going into the Box."

"What does that do?" Mendou looks over.

"I'm not sure exactly...but the Ipraedies use it as a torture
device," the Oni gulps. "It's said to be extremely effective!"

"Can't we do anything to help her?" Shinobu looks over.

"Unfortunately, we can't," Lum shakes her head.

* * *

Somewhere between Ipraedos and Icarus, "Renegade" speeds
through space. Nassur, Benten, Oyuki, Mie, Sakura and Lan are on the
bridge. "Benten, send a coded message to Uru," Nassur orders. "It's
time we got Captain Invader involved in this."

"Do you think that's wise?" Sakura hums. "It could start a
war."

"I don't think so, Sakura," the Vosian shakes his head. "If
our information is correct, the average Ipraedies doesn't even know
what Project: Superwarrior is. Should it become known, old Schwartz
will have heart problems to go with his piles. It could, given the
right sort of circumstances, start a revolution!"

* * *

Meanwhile, Hakaba's ship proceeds to Ipraedos from Icarus. On
the bridge, everyone is silent. Hakaba sits in the command chair lost
in thought. *I'm reaching another crossroad in my life*, he sighs.
*Just like when I met Shunba on Barsoom, I've fallen in love with our
daughter. But what do I do?! If I rescue her, I'll be branded a
traitor to Ipraedos! If I don't, I'll lose Hazel completely! What do
I do?!*

"Sir," the sensory officer reports. "There's a ship heading
towards us. Its markings identify it as the independent frigate
'Renegade.'"

"'Renegade?!'" Hakaba looks confused.

"Orders?" the helmsman looks back.

"Take us on an intercept course," Hakaba snaps. "Full battle
speed!"

* * *

On the "Renegade's" bridge, everything is quiet. Sakura sits
near Lan, sipping some tea. The Seishin girl scratches herself
because of the makeup she is still forced to wear. "Don't scratch so
much, Lan," the nurse snaps. "You'll ruin your makeup!"

"I can't help it," Lan growls. "I'm allergic to this stuff."

Sakura finishes her tea, then looks horrified to see what the
remnants say. "This says someone is coming!"

On cue, Benten picks up a contact. "Ipraedies Warhawk, dead
ahead!!" she looks over. "It's heading straight for us!!"

"Red alert!" Nassur yells. "Power weapons and raise shields."

Immediately, the lights aboard the "Renegade" turn from white
to a dark red. Benten's communications panel beeps. "Incoming
message from the Ipraedies ship."

"On screen," Nassur orders.

On the viewscreen, Hakaba appears. "This is Captain Hakaba of
the Warhawk 'Keppaa.'" Then, to everyone's surprise save Nassur,
relaxes. "Nice to see you again, Nassur-san. It's been a while."

"Oh, Captain Hakaba," Nassur nods. "Nice to see you again.
What are you doing out here? You're usually on patrol duty."

"I was reassigned temporarily to Icarus," Hakaba smiles. "I
was in charge of retrieving Hazel for Project: Superwarrior...if you
hadn't guessed by now."

"Why am I not surprised?"

"You know each other?" Benten gasps.

"Yep," the Vosian nods. "This is Captain Hakaba. He used to
be the horniest Ipraedies alive until he got married. He's one of the
few people I have as an ally in this whole sector."

"That's true," Hakaba nods. "Without Nassur, we wouldn't have
found Hazel."

"So, what do you want to do?" the Vosian looks at him. "Fight
or withdraw?"

"Actually, I want to help you," the Ipraedies announces.

Everyone looks shocked. "Help us?!!" Benten gasps. "Why?!!"

"I have a personal interest in one of the hybrids."

"You mean Hazel's *your* kid?" Nassur's eyes widen.

"Is it that obvious?" Hakaba scratches the back of his head.

"Both of you have similar traits," Nassur smiles. "Besides,
you're *Dowe'on*."

"Why am I not surprised?" Benten nods in understanding.

"So, what's the plan?" Hakaba hums.

"I'll let you know," Nassur replies, "...when Captain Invader
arrives."

* * *

It is noon on Icarus. As the hybrids eat their lunch, all
notice Hazel has not returned yet. "No one's been in the commandant's
office for so long," Althea looks afraid. "What could he be doing to
her?!"

"Hazel is so stubborn," Daros shakes his head. "Even Yukio
knows when not to push it! I'll bet he's beating her!"

The hybrids sigh as one. "Poor kid."

* * *

The commandant's office is a small room fitted with a desk and
file cabinets. The colours are depressingly drab. The only
decorations are the Ipraedies' dark green, raven-crested flag in one
corner and a picture of Emperor Schwartz hanging on the wall. Hazel
sits on a chair in the middle of the room. The commandant stands over
her. Hazel is uninjured physically, while the commandant looks very
frustrated. "I am **not** wearing an Ipraedies' uniform and that's
final!!!" the hybrid snaps.

"You will wear the uniform and like it!!!" the commandant
retorts. "No one knows where you are!!! Even if you could escape,
the only way off this planet is by starship!!! Even Fifty-one
understands that!!! You'd never survive for long in this world!!!"

"I spent years alone of Barsoom!" Hazel snorts. "It was a
jungle world with no people!! This place is no different! And her
name is 'Yukio!!'"

The commandant's face turns purple with frustration. "I ought
to throw you into the Box and let you go mad with fear!!" he snaps.

* * *

At the perimeter of the camp, Yukio sits alone in the branch
of a tree. She can clearly hear the screaming, cleaning her
fingernails. "Poor Hazel," she sighs. "She'll catch on sooner or
later."

* * *

The commandant finally calms down enough to admire Hazel's
developing beauty. "But, that would waste such a blooming flower of
beauty!"

The commandant touches Hazel's face. She glares at him, ready
to spit in his eye. "You know if you play along with us," he states,
"...you could learn to love it here."

"What do you mean?" she icily demands.

"You're a very pretty young woman. You have a nice figure.
The life of a commandant can be lonely at times...!"

Hazel notices the commandant is sneaking his other hand
towards her naked bottom. "Don't act so familiar around me!!!" Hazel
growls as she slams her elbow into his jaw!

Outside the closed office door, a couple of junior officers
are standing with the secretary listening in on what is going on. "Is
he still trying to get her to wear a uniform?" one ensign gasps.

"Apparently," the secretary nods. "He's been after that child
all day."

"***YOU WILL WEAR THAT UNIFORM!!!!!!***" the commandant's
voice booms from behind the closed door. It is followed by the sound
of a slap to someone's face! "***YOU WILL OBEY YOUR
SUPERIORS!!!!!!***" the commandant yells again and another slap is
heard!! "***YOU WILL BE A MODEL IPRAEDIES SOLDIER!!!!!!***" the
commandant yells once more, followed with a succession of slaps which
cause concern from everyone nearby!!! "***YOU WILL OBEY* EVERY
*COMMAND YOU ARE GIVEN!!!!!!***" the commandant yells over the sound
of the slapping!! "***AND ABOVE ALL, YOU WILL* STOP *HITTING*
ME*!!!!!!***" the commandant yells.

Finally, one of the junior officers enters the office. There,
he sees the commandant badly beaten. Hazel stands on top of him,
banging his head on the floor. "Sir?!" the ensign gasps.

"What is it?!!" the commandant groans. "Can't you see I'm
busy interrogating this girl?!!"

"The ringmaster from the Ipraedies Circus has arrived!" he
salutes.

"Oh! Then take this girl back to the barracks!" the
commandant groans. "I'll finish with her later!!"

"Yes, sir," the officer salutes.

* * *

Minutes later, the freshly bandaged commandant leaves his
office building to meet...a clown! Like clowns on Earth, he is
dressed in a bright, almost garish, ill-fitting outfit. His face is
covered with white makeup and red lining the eyes, nose and mouth.
His hair is an impossible shade of purple. On his lapel, there is a
button which declares MEMBER OF THE DIET in Japanese. "Welcome to
Icarus, Ringmaster Nimrod," the commandant extends his hand.

Nimrod takes his hand, looking with amazement at the injuries
the commandant sustained. "Charmed, I'm sure. May I ask what
happened to you?! Did you have an argument with the Uncontrollable
One?!"

"I...cut myself shaving," the commandant looks nervous.

"What were you shaving with?" Nimrod sighs. "A buzzsaw?!"

"Never mind that now," the commandant shakes his head.
"Follow me and I'll show you the prisoners."

"Lead on," Nimrod says.

* * *

While that is going on, Hazel is thrown back into the barracks
by a couple of soldiers. All the hybrids are surprised to see their
newest member unharmed. "Hazel!!!" Althea gasps. "You're all
right!!"

"The only thing that hurts are my knuckles," Hazel winces,
showing them how red they are. "The commandant hurt them with his
jaw!"

"You spent all day in the commandant's office...and **you**
beat him up?!" Daros gasps.

"Yup," Hazel nods. "He's a wimp if I ever saw one. He even
tried to slip his hand onto my bum! I can see why Yukio treats him
like that!"

Then, Hyakka, the nerdish-looking computer operator, rushes
into the barracks, an upset look on his face. "The ringmaster from
the Ipraedies Circus is here to take Hazel's friends away!!"

"Oh, no," Hazel panics. "They can't take Lum-sensei and
Shinobu-sensei away! They're friends of mine!! We've got to do
something!"

Hazel tries to run out of the barracks. Althea stops her.
"You can't go out there yet!"

"Why not?!" Hazel replies, ready to fight.

"You need these first," Daros hands her the clothes Hazel was
wearing when captured.

"My clothes!" Hazel beams as she dresses. "You kept them!!"

"You've earned the right to keep them," Althea nods, "...as
well as your name."

"Now, all we need is a plan," Darsei announces.

The other hybrids nod. "Right..." Hazel beams, then looks
around. "Um, where's Yukio?! We need her!"

"What's up?!" Yukio walks into the room.

"Yukio, there you are!" Naosu gasps. "The ringmaster from the
Circus is here to take Hazel's friends away!!"

The red-haired hybrid then glows with unholy rage. "***WHAT
WAS THAT?!?!?!***" she howls, nearly blowing off the roof of the
barracks! "***HOW DARE THEY EVEN* THINK *OF TAKING* MY *KOICHI AWAY
FROM ME?!?!?!***"

"'Koichi?'" Hazel looks confused. "Who's Koichi?!"

Yukio turns to run out the door, mayhem and murder in her
eyes. "I killed one ringmaster!! I can do it again!"

Daros, Darsei and Althea *barely* hold her back! "Whoa,
Yukio, wait!!!" the first of the hybrids calls out. "We can't charge
into this now! Who knows what the ringmaster brought with him!! He's
gotta know you're here! We have to plan this!!"

Yukio stops, then looks back. A look of barely contained
frustration appears on her face. "Yes, you're right..." she hisses.

"We'll get them out!" Hazel nods. "I promise you that!!
Let's plan!"

Everyone huddles together...

* * *

Inside the prison, Lum, Shinobu and Mendou look surprised to
see a clown being escorted into their cell. "A clown...?" Shinobu
gasps.

Nimrod enters the cell with the commandant and several
soldiers. "I thought you said *four* prisoners!" the clown turns to
the commandant.

"Where's the fourth one?!!" the commandant snaps.

"Um...he's in solitary," a soldier replies. "Yukio had him
placed there to get him away from these three!" he nods to Lum,
Shinobu and Mendou.

On hearing the name 'Yukio,' Nimrod shudders fearfully. "Get
him here now!!" the commandant hisses. "We'll worry about her later!"

The soldier nods, then runs off. A moment later, Ataru is led
into the cell. He looks disgusted on seeing his Tomobiki companions.
"Oh, these jerks again!" he growls, then looks at Nimrod. "Who's the
clown?!"

"Sit down, pal," the soldier shoves Ataru to a chair.

Immediately, Nimrod begins to inspect each of the prisoners.
"Let's see..." he hums. "Three Terrans and an Oni-Urusian. Not much
to chose from."

Suddenly, Lum dashes over, then leaps on Nimrod, biting him
hard on his forehead! Her fangs sink deep. "You're not taking me to
the Circus!" Lum growls through a full mouth.

"Yeowch!!! Get her off me!!!" the clown screams. "Get her
off!!! Off!!! OFF!!!!"

Three soldiers barely manage to pull Lum off the ringmaster
before she can do serious damage. "I'm sorry about that!" the
commandant sighs.

A rougish grin appears on Nimrod's face. "That Oni has
spirit," he smiles. "I'll be more than happy to break it!"

The clown then stares at Ataru. The Terran looks nervous.
"And I know just the way to do it!" the clown snarls, then turns to
the commandant. "Do you perchance have a place where reluctant
prisoners...learn their mistakes?!"

"Yes, we do," the commandant smiles.

"Then take him," he says pointing to Ataru, "...and put him
into it!"

"Me?!!" Ataru gasps as some soldiers grab him and begin to
drag him away. "Why me?!!"

"Hands off my hubby!!!" Lum tries to free herself from the
soldiers' grips.

"I know you," Nimrod looks at Ataru. "You're the fool the
Urusians chose to be Earth's tag champ!"

"T-that was Ataru Moroboshi," he stutters. "Stay here and
I'll go get him!"

"Don't play cute with me!!!" Nimrod bellows. "As of now, your
Oni girlfriend will learn the price of defying me as well as the
Ipraedies Empire!! She has stymied our ambitions over your little
world for far too long!!! Besides, if the Uncontrollable One has
taken interest in you, then you can be useful in helping us control
her!! Take him!!"

Ataru is dragged away. Nimrod turns to Lum. "Remember
this!!!" the clown yells loud enough for Ataru to hear. "It's because
of *Lum* that Ataru Moroboshi was made to suffer!!! No one else but
*her* is to blame!!!"

With a howl of rage, Lum escapes the soldiers' hands, then
beats both the commandant and the clown within an inch of their
lives!! It takes almost a whole platoon of soldiers to slow Lum down
enough to allow them to escape!

* * *

Ataru is dragged to a telephone booth-sized building set away
from the rest of the settlement. With thick concrete walls, an iron
roof and a steel door, it looks more like an outhouse than something
which could be deadly. "You're taking me to an outhouse?" Ataru does
not look impressed.

"It's not an outhouse," a soldier opens the door, "...although
you'll probably get so scared, you'll go in there anyway!"

The other soldier shoves Ataru in. The door slams closed
behind him. "Have a nice day!!!" both soldiers howl as they walk off.

Inside, Ataru nervously looks around. The room is small,
barely enough room for one person and dark! "Shit!!!" Ataru moans.
"Why am I being tortured by what Lum did?!! And why did that clown
say Lum was stymying their plans for Earth?!!" He then looks around.
"Is this the place Sakura-sensei said to avoid...?"

*IT IS!!!* a booming, dirge-like voice, sounding as if someone
who has been dead for centuries just awakened, speaks out.

The Terran looks mortified. "W-who said that...?!" he
stammers.

*ME!!*

"Who said 'me?'" Ataru looks around.

*I SAID 'ME!!'*

"Who said 'I said me?!!'"

*I SAID 'I SAID ME!!!!'*

Suddenly, out of Ataru's own body emerges an orange
tiger-striped form of energy. He shivers fearfully as the energy
takes a vaguely human form, about twice Ataru's size! "W-what are
you...?!!"

*FOOL!!!!* the being snaps. *I AM THE ONE THING YOU CANNOT
DEFEAT!! NO ONE CAN DEFEAT ME...FOR I AM WITHIN YOU, ATARU
MOROBOSHI!!!!*

Ataru does not know whether to run, hide or faint. "W-within
me...?!"

*CORRECT, IDIOT!!!! FOR TWELVE YEARS, I HAVE WAITED FOR THIS
DAY TO COME!!! FINALLY, I AM FREE!!!! NOW I CAN HAVE WHAT I ALWAYS
DESIRED...A BODY OF MY OWN...YOURS!!!!!!*

"Wh-who are you...?!"

*I AM THE SUM TOTAL OF EIGHT CENTURIES OF MARTIAL ARTS
KNOWLEDGE COLLECTED BY THE MOROBOSHI CLAN...THE CLAN WHO'S TRUE POWER
YOU KEPT SECRET FROM THOSE YOU LIVED WITH!!!!* the creature cackles.
*I SHALL HAVE YOUR BODY!!!! NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO STOP ME!!!! NOT
THE ALIENS YOU KNOW!!! NOT THE PRIESTS YOU KNOW!!! NOT THAT ONI GIRL
YOU'RE BONDED TO!!!! NOT EVEN THE PERSON READING THIS CAN STOP ME!!!!
SHOULD THEY TRY, THEY WILL ALL DIE...*DIE...*DIE!!!!!!***

Insane laughter is heard as Ataru slumps to the floor...

* * *

At the prison, Lum, Shinobu and Mendou are being dragged away
to a gaily-painted starship by a force of soldiers and clowns. "Let
us go!!!" Lum howls as a giant clown takes her away. "I don't want to
join the Circus!!!"

"They will make interesting acts..." Nimrod chuckles, "...or
the audience will kill them!!"

Suddenly, both the commandant and Nimrod are run over...by all
fifty-one hybrids, led by Hazel and Yukio!!! "***HOLD IT!!!!!!***"
they scream as one as they take a position between the prisoners and
the Circus' ship.

"What is this?" the commandant groans, boot marks all over
him. "Get out of the way!!"

"Never!!!" Hazel snaps. "We're not letting you take our
friends to the Circus!!!"

The other hybrids roar with approval. The commandant notices
they are all armed with crude clubs and stolen rifles. "To act this
way..." he growls, "...is not the way of the Ipraedies."

"Who says we're Ipraedies?!!" Althea grabs the commandant by
the shirt collar. "We're Vosians...just like our mothers were!!!"

"What garbage is this?!!" Nimrod growls...

...just as he is bashed over by a photon torpedo!!

Everyone watches in awe as the torpedo scores a direct hit on
a nearby gun placement. Nimrod is now out, a large lump on his head.
Everyone notices "Renegade" flying by, destroying the other gun
placements. "Who's that?!" Daros gasps.

"That's Sensei's new ship!!" Hazel yelps, recognizing
"Renegade's" hull. "We're saved!!!"

The hybrids cheer as "Renegade" completes her bombing run,
then lands nearby. Everyone rushes to the landing site. Once there,
they all look surprised to see Nassur and Benten descending the
loading ramp with Hakaba beside them! "Sensei!" Hazel gasps, pointing
to her father. "What's he doing here?!"

"That's what I want to know!" the commandant growls. "You've
turned traitor, Hakaba!!"

"No, I haven't," the captain cooly sighs. "I defected with my
crew!"

"And I granted them asylum," Nassur adds. "Under the
Protocols of the Galactic Federation, I now demand your unconditional
surrender."

"I'll never surrender!" the commandant snaps.

"Oh, yeah," Nassur smiles...as a low, growing rumble is heard.
"I think I've got the right person to change your mind!"

He points up. Everyone looks up...and sees the Urusian battle
wagon "Kashin" coming in a low orbit near the settlement. Two
additional battle wagons form an arrowhead attack formation alongside
their sistership. "***THIS IS CAPTAIN INVADER OF THE URUSIAN DEFENSE
FORCE!!!!!!***" Invader's growling voice booms all over the planet.
"***COUGH UP MY DAUGHTER AND HER FRIENDS IMMEDIATELY OR ELSE!!!!!!***"

"What do you say now, Commandant?" Nassur smiles.

"Just take what you want and go!" the commandant sighs,
defeated.

The soldiers and clowns release everyone. Lum flies up to her
tutor, giving him a hug. "Thanks, Nassur-chan!! For a while there, I
thought we would be in show business!"

"Timing's the key, Lum-chan," Nassur smiles. "Let's get
going."

Watching this, Yukio walks away from her fellow hybrids. Lum,
Shinobu and Mendou move to leave...but strangely, Hazel does not. All
soon notice. "Aren't you coming, Hazel?" Nassur looks concerned.

"Sensei, I can't," Hazel shakes her head.

"What?!!" Lum yells. "After all these dorks tried to do to
you, you're going to stay here?!! Why?!!"

"It's just if I go..." the hybrid sighs, "...all the other
hybrids will have to stay! I don't want to leave them! They're like
me, too! They don't have any family!"

"So what are you going to do, Nassur?" Benten looks over.

All eyes turn to Nassur. "Well, then," the Vosian hums,
"...we have no choice but...to take all of them with us!!"

The commandant faints! "What?!! Out of the question!!!"

The other hybrids cheer. Benten looks confused. "What would
you do with all these trainees?!!"

"I've always wanted to start my own school," Nassur smiles.

The commandant runs up to Nassur, angrily staring him in the
face. "Aren't you listening?!! We're not letting the hybrids go!!!"

Hakaba taps the commandant on the shoulder. "On the
contrary..." he shoves a couple of books into the commandant's hands,
"...Nassur is within his rights according to both the Vosian-Ipraedies
Peace Treaty and the *Dowe'on* Tribunal! Read section five, paragraph
three of the peace treaty...and Bill 494 of the Tribunal. They'll
tell you everything you'll want to know."

Nassur turns to the group of hybrids. "It'll be a little
crowded..." he smiles, "...but there's room for all of you if you want
to come with me! You have two hours to pack you things and get
aboard."

The hybrids cheer, then run over the commandant in the rush to
get to their barracks for their things. Hakaba turns to Nassur and
Hazel. "I'll make sure everything is taken care of until the Tribunal
arrives," the captain smiles.

Hazel looks sad. "You mean you're staying?! But why?!"

"Times are changing around the Empire," Hakaba places his
hands on Hazel's shoulders. "My sect is gaining power and acceptance
among our people. Someday, there will be a time when Ipraedies will
be accepted by the rest of the Galaxy as friends, not enemies."

"Then I'll stay with you!" Hazel sobs.

"No," Hakaba shakes his head. "Stay with Nassur, Benten and
the other hybrids. You are too young to understand what's going to
happen. There may be a chance we might fail. All you'll be doing is
getting killed needlessly." With that, he taps his communicator, then
disappears in a teleporter beam.

Hazel looks up to the sky. "Good-bye, Father," she quietly
sighs. "Maybe we'll see each other again someday."

Lum and Nassur watch what Hazel has done and feel happy. "So,
Hazel has accepted Hakaba as her father," the Oni beams.

"Seems to have," Nassur nods. He then looks around. "Where's
Ataru?!"

Hazel also looks around. "Did anyone see Yukio?!"

Lum suddenly remembers what happened to Ataru. "Oh, no!!!"
she cries. "The Ipraedies took him away to punish him because of
me!!! We'd better find him fast!!!"

Mendou grabs Lum and holds her back. "Lum-san, let him go!!!
You saw what he did with that hybrid girl!! Let me fill the gaping
holes in your heart!"

"***BASTARD, HANDS OFF* OUR *LUM-SAN!!!!!!***" Megane and the
guards jump Mendou.

Nassur sighs. "I'm tempted to fire them *all* out a torpedo
tube!" he shakes his head, then looks to Hazel, realizing what she
said. "Did you say 'Yukio?!' There's a girl named Yukio in your
group?!!"

"Uh-huh!" Hazel nods. "A real nice girl, too!! You'll like
her! C'mon," she grabs his arm. "I'll introduce you!"

"Okay," Nassur sighs, leaving Lum behind, now in the middle of
a giant fight between Mendou and the guards!

* * *

Yukio now sits in a tree. The other hybrids rush to and fro
getting packed to leave. At that moment, her eyes glow gold. "Hello,
Hazel."

Hazel and Nassur walk up. "Yukio-chan, what're you doing up
there?!" the former looks up. "Come on! We're going!"

"That's nice," the red-haired hybrid sighs.

"Don't you want to come with us?" Nassur looks concerned.

Yukio looks down. "You're Nassur?" her eyebrow rises.

"That's right," Nassur nods.

She leaps to the ground. The Vosian looks at the hybrid,
quite awed by the aura of strength flowing out of her. It is mixed
with respect...even a touch of fear. "That's nice," Yukio sighs.

"Yukio-chan, please!" Hazel pleads. "Come with us!"

"And what?!" Yukio looks over. "I'm a lone wolf, Hazel. A
loose cannon! I live my way, by my rules! Anyone gets in my way, I
stomp all over them! Nassur may be a hero to you, but he's just
another man to me!!"

"True," Nassur nods. "I can see that you're the best hunter
of the lot, Yukio. If your name's got anything to do with your
personality, you'll be even better than me one day."

Yukio sighs. "I'm sorry," her mouth quirks in a smile. "I
know you mean well. Just understand that I'm determined to live my
life as soon as I can. I've been that way on Icarus. I'll be that
way with you, too."

Nassur looks at the red-haired hybrid. In that raging face of
emotion, he sees not only another version of Hazel...he sees himself.
"You know, Yukio...I was once like you. Willing to take on the whole
galaxy if need be. I could've probably done it, too...but I needed
help, training. Look...if I'm not what you're looking for, there are
many others. I'm not the best person for everyone. I'll admit that.
There's Dakejinzou Shogai, Rogo Chishiki, even Varanko. The only way
for you to learn is to come out and meet them."

The two look at each other. "Okay," Yukio nods. "I'll come
with you, Nassur...for now."

She walks to the barracks. Nassur and Hazel watch her go.
"Is she going to be a problem?" the young hybrid looks up.

"Nah!" Nassur shakes his head. "She'll be fine. Go get the
hybrids ready, Hazel-chan. I'll find Ataru."

"Right!" Hazel heads off...

* * *

In the Box, Ataru is presently at a near-catatonic state.
*NOW YOU UNDERSTAND...!!!!* the creature howls as it disappears into
his body.

Outside, Nassur walks up to the Box. "Ataru?!!" his eyes
change colour, then horror crosses his face. "Oh, no!! Ataru, are
you in there?!!" He then rips the Box's door open...then sees Ataru
peacefully asleep inside. "Ataru?!" Nassur shakes him awake. "Are
you all right?!"

Ataru's eyes open. He looks at Nassur, then yawns. "W-what
happened?" he stretches himself as if he had slept in his bed. "I
must've dozed off."

Nassur looks impressed. "You fell asleep in the Box?!!
Anyone who's been in one of these things has never been the same
psychologically!!"

"Who said I'm the same?" Ataru walks out. "Let's go home."

Before Ataru turns away from Nassur, the Vosian notices the
Terran's eye glitter with mindless hate and unholy rage...anger which
even scares Nassur himself! *Lum's in for it now!*

* * *

Hours later, the "Kashin" proceeds to Earth to drop Lum, Ataru
and the others off. Everyone except for Lan, Yukio and Ataru sit
around Invader and Nassur in the observation lounge. Ataru is looking
out of the window by himself, Yukio standing beside him. "Well,
Nassur," the large Oni beams. "Not only did you rescue my daughter,
her fiance and their friends, you also picked up a whole army of
students! Good luck in teaching them."

"Well," the Vosian looks humble. "If Hazel's any indication,
they'll be fine warriors some day!"

"What about me, Sensei?" Hazel looks up.

"Well," Nassur replies, "...'Renegade' still needs a proper
shakedown. So you have a choice: you can go to Home Base with the
rest of the hybrids, or stay with Lum on Earth until the shakedown is
completed."

Hazel thinks a moment. "I'll stay with Lum-sensei for now. I
like Earth...just so long as I don't have to wear that silly bathing
suit Shinobu-sensei made me wear! It's too tight in the chest and too
loose in the waist!"

Shinobu looks ready to strangle Hazel, however, she holds back
in front of Nassur. "It's an old suit!" she growls. "I wore it last
year!"

The door to the observation lounge opens. Lan enters the
room. She has finally removed the green makeup on her skin. "Hello,
everyone," the Seishin girl growls.

"Hello, Lan," Mendou smiles...then, he looks repulsed upon
seeing her. "What happened to you?!!"

Lan, now dressed in her summer dress, has pimples all over her
face and body! "That makeup Nassur made me wear caused me to break
out all over!" Lan exclaims, then turns angrily to Nassur. "I hope
you're satisfied, Nassur!!"

"I consider it just punishment," Nassur smiles.

"*Datcha*!" Lum adds.

Lan and Nassur enter a staring contest. It lasts several
seconds, ending when Lan storms away from Nassur, frustration on her
face. "Wow!!!" Megane gasps. "Nassur can outstare Lan?!! Is such a
thing possible?!!"

Lan walks up to Ataru, then puts on her cute-girl act.
"Darling!" she wails. "Look at what that meanie Nassur did to me!!"

Suddenly, Ataru glows with anger. He turns to Lan, giving her
an icy look...so icy, Lan immediately freezes! "Do you expect any
sympathy from me, airhead?!" he growls.

Everyone gasps. "Ataru gave a girl the brush off?!!" Chibi
exclaims.

"Is such a thing possible?!" Kakugari gulps.

*What did happen in the Box with Ataru?!* Nassur hums.

"W-what a cold look," Lan stammers, her body save her face now
frozen in foot-thick ice!

"Lan's like a snowperson!" Ryuunosuke gulps.

Lum watches this, then leaps up and down with joy.
"Hurray!!!" she cheers. "Darling's finally rejected Lan!!! Hurray!!!
Hurray!!! She'll never get her stupid revenge on us again!!!"

The other students and hybrids burst out laughing. Lan growls
as she staggers away, not wanting to contest the issue. Ataru rolls
his eyes to the deckhead...then an idea comes to him. "Hey, Yukio,"
he leans over to the hybrid.

"What is it?" she looks at him.

Ataru whispers in her ear. Yukio looks surprised. "Are you
sure?!!"

"Yes," Ataru nods.

"Okay!" Yukio nods.

* * *

On Earth a day later, on the back lawn of Tomobiki High
School, Nassur and Benten prepare to take "Renegade" on a test flight.
"Well, shall we get going?!" the Vosian smiles.

"Let's!" the Fukunokami nods.

"Hold it!!!" a voice barks out.

The two hunters look back to see Ataru and Yukio walk up to
them. Yukio has a suitcase in hand. Ataru carries Hazel in his!
"Hey, put me down!!!" the hybrid yelps as she tries to struggle out of
his grip. "Let me go!!! Sensei, help!!!"

"Ataru?!" Nassur looks shocked. "What's this?!"

Hazel is then tossed into Nassur's arms. Ataru grabs the
suitcase from Yukio, then flings it at Benten. The suitcase belts the
Fukunokami huntress in the head! "Heads up, stupid!!!" Ataru snaps.

"What's going on?!" Nassur looks confused.

"That thing will go back with you!!!" Ataru snaps, eyes ablaze
with fury.

"What?!!" Benten and Hazel gasp.

"But, Lum said...!" Nassur begins.

Ataru then literally explodes into a monster which scares all
three of them!!! "***YOU LISTEN UP AND LISTEN GOOD!!!!!!***" he
screams, his voice shaking Tomobiki to its foundations! "***LUM* HAS
*NOT,* DOES *NOT AND* WILL *NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DICTATE WHOEVER
STAYS IN* MY *HOUSE!!!! THAT IPRAEDIES IS TO LEAVE THIS PLANET AND*
NEVER *RETURN AGAIN!!!! IF I EVER CATCH HAZEL HERE AGAIN,* I'LL *SELL
HER TO THE IPRAEDIES CIRCUS!!!! AND DON'T THINK YOU CAN STOP ME
UNLESS YOU WANT TO FACE STAR CHAMBER!!!! DO YOU TWO PATHETIC MORONS*
BEGIN *TO COMPREHEND THAT?!?!?!***"

"Y-yes...!" Benten stammers.

"N-no p-problem...!" Nassur gulps.

Ataru reverts to normal. "Better!! Get lost!"

The three hunters quickly board "Renegade." Ataru turns to
face Yukio. "It seems we both have answers to find," the latter
smiles.

"Good luck in finding yours," the former nods.

"And you," she kisses him.

Yukio runs to the "Renegade." Ataru waves as she goes. The
frigate blasts off and soars away. Letting out a sigh of relief,
Ataru turns to head home...then sees Lum fly up to him. "Darling!!
Have you seen Hazel-chan?!" she looks around.

Ataru thumbs "Renegade." "She left! I sent her home!"

Lum faints! "You **what?!!**" she cries out. "Why?!!"

The Oni is then nearly overwhelmed by the anger which leeches
out from Ataru! "Because I did not *want* that *Ipraedies* here!!!
You happen to have a problem with that?!!"

Lum looks horrified, having *never* seen Ataru act in this
manner towards her. "N-no...!" she stammers, wide eyed with fear and
uncertainty.

"Good!!" Ataru snaps.

Shinobu and Ten-chan come up. "Lum, where's Hazel-chan?" the
former looks around.

Ataru gives Lum a vile stare. "Darling sent her back to Home
Base," the Oni sighs.

"What?!!" both cry out.

"You have a problem with that?!" Ataru snarls as he heads off.

Ten-chan races up in front of him. "Hold it, you!!!" the
small Oni growls. "Why'd you do that?!!"

Ataru suddenly produces one of his mother's meat-cleavers!
"Since when was it *your* business?!" he hisses.

Before Ten-chan could react, Ataru grabs him, whips him
around, then brings the blade down hard on the back of the small boy's
head! The cut is so good, all it does it clip his horn off,
effectively cutting off Ten-chan's power!! "***YEOW!!!!!!***" the
small Oni wails. "***HE CUT MY HORN OFF!!!!!!***"

Lum and Shinobu look horrified. Ataru drop-kicks Ten-chan
into the sky! "Get out of my sight!!!" he growls.

"Hey...!!!" the small Oni wails as he flies away.

Ataru sighs, then moves away. "Wait!!!" Lum growls.
"Darling, how dare you cut Ten-chan's horn off...?!!"

Suddenly, both Lum and Shinobu are frozen solid by a dirty,
icy look from Ataru. "Did I ask for your objections?!!" he snarls.
"Or do you want me to cut **your** horns off?!!"

Lum looks mortified at the threat which scares her more than
anything else. Ataru leaves. "Wh-what's with him...?" Shinobu moans.

"D-darling...wh-what's wrong w-with y-you...?" Lum gulps.

*** The End...and The Beginning ***