Urusei Yatsura Fan Fiction ❯ The Senior Year ❯ Tales of Avalon: Ria's Bodyguards ( Chapter 34 )

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

Niigata High School. Two years ago.

"What is it?" Keiko Senyou wonders.

A small group of students gather around a curious rock placed on a
table in the school science lab. The rock, blackened by atmospheric friction
before it crashed into the earth south of the city, is coated by dark blue
sandy coloured flecks. One of the male students puts protective gloves on,
takes a sample dish and scrapes off some of the dust. Everyone then moves to
the head of the room to see the sample under the microscope. "What is it,
Hitomaru-kun?" Keiko wonders.

He stares into the microscope. Magnified 200 times, the flecks
transform into small rectangular shapes with legs...and all of them are not
natural. "Whatever it is, Keiko-chan," Hitomaru muses. "It's not local."

"Let me see!" Keiko leans up.

She looks through the lens. Three other girls surround the
mysterious rock, their hands not centimetres away from the blue flecks. A boy
then walks up, bumping into the table. The rock shakes, some of the flecks
gently falling off the surface to sprinkle undetected onto the girls' hands.
At that moment, dark clouds gather over the city. "I think...they're
machines!" Keiko exclaims. "Microscopic machines! Weird!!"

"Where did they come from?" Ruriko, one of the girls around the rock,
wonders.

"Maybe the aliens who showed up sometime ago in Tokyo?" Keiko shrugs,
then returns to observing the dust. "But it's strange. They don't seem to be
doing anything..."

Lightning falls. One student goes to close the windows...just as a
blast rips through an open window to slam into the rock! The shower of
electricity ignites the tiny flecks on the girls' hands. They shriek as
hundreds of volts smash through their bodies!! Further, another arc lances
forward to slam into the microscope, electrocuting Keiko!!!

"KEIKO!!!!!!" Hitomaru screams...

* * *

Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year: "Tales of Avalon: Ria's Bodyguards"
by Fred Herriot
**** **** ****
Edited by E.B. Kushnir
**** **** ****
A story based on the stories in turn based on "Urusei Yatsura," created by
Rumiko Takahashi
**** **** ****

WRITER'S NOTES:

1) This story takes place after the events in "My Darlings United."

2) Remember the nanites! Those that created them return to haunt the
people of Tomobiki in "Urusei Yatsura Twenty Years Later" and especially in
"Double Zeta Urusei Yatsura."

**** **** ****

"Hussy!"

"Show-off!!"

"What a slut!"

Aisuko blinks confusedly as she emerges from the change room at the
Niigata Ladies' Tennis Club. It was so strange for Megane's sister to be in
an all-girls sports club; as a boy, she would have never passed the front
gate. But she needed something to do during the afternoons. Volunteering to
help Ria maintain the factory ship was not an option since Jenny and the
others were created. Looking for boyfriends was out; the guards' sisters
could never imagine pursuing a man for romance or...ugh, marriage!

Joining a girls' club could teach Aisuko how to act like a lady.
There was also the possibility that she could bump into some nice girl who
could be a friend or hopefully a potential bond-mate...the operative word
being "hopefully." Having vainly pursued Lum when she was Aisuru, Aisuko
knew she was grossly lacking in skills concerning approaching women.
Further, there were few role models she could use to template her actions;
she could not advertise in the paper and ask if some guy had just undergone a
sex change!

Aisuko adjusts her skirt, feeling her legs shake thanks to a cool
breeze from the Sea of Japan, wondering how women could subject themselves to
wearing such clothing. While as an Avalonian, Aisuko could endure much more
than a Terran, she was in no mood to push her luck. With that, she grasps her
tennis racquet and proceeds to the group of women gathered around one of the
courts. "Is this the place for new members?" she asks one.

The middle-aged woman turns, smiling. "Hi, I'm Hanae Shingai," she
returns Aisuko's bow. "You must be Aisuko Megane."

"Hai. I hope I'm not late."

"Nah!" Hanae snorts. "You're just in time, in fact. Chooki-sama
over there is slaughtering another lamb!"

Aisuko follows the gestured thumb, surprised that a woman would
address another by the term for "favoured mistress." On the court right now,
a very tired housewife was being viciously savaged by an athletic young
woman, barely past high school years. Aisuko's eyes lock on the beauty about
to claim her victory. Her black hair is braided in a long ponytail, her
brown eyes flashed with determination and her body...!

Aisuko hoped she wasn't drooling.

Finally, the ball slams into the back court. "Point!" the referee
calls out. "Match to Senyou!" he flags the beauty.

The housewife collapses as the beauty approaches, hand out. "a very
good game, ichinose-san," she sweetly smiles, speaking with the most timid
voice Aisuko ever heard.

The gasping housewife nods, weakly returning the handshake as the
beauty sweeps off court. Aisuko watches her go, then her ears detected hushed
conversation from those around her. "...believe her! Miss Perfect Princess
loves to destroy us all on the court, yet she still tries to be friendly!"

"I wouldn't be friendly to that bitch in a million years!"

"Probably her fiancee hasn't screwed her today! Not that it would
help! Her body hasn't changed since I joined this club!"

"Whore!"

Aisuko watches as the other women head off. *What's that all about?!
* she wonders, then walks over to the beauty, who was drying her face. "Hi!"
she smiles. "Nice game!"

She stops, then turns to the Avalonian. "pardon me, but did you say
something?"

"I said 'nice game,'" Aisuko repeats, her eyes detecting the absence
of a bra beneath her shirt. "Um...I'm new here. Could you show me some of
that stuff?"

The woman blinks, then stares at her watch. "i can only remain for
another hour, but i will be happy to teach you."

"Great!" Aisuko holds out her hand. "Aisuko Megane. I live on Sado."

The woman shakes her hand. "my name is keiko senyou. shall we
begin?"

Aisuko blinks as her autonomic psi-probes immediately go to work to
find...nothing! The guards' leader blinks as Keiko leads her back to the
court...

* * *

"C'mon!! Try it again!"

The pitcher grunts as she sends a fastball down the slot. Shikko
leans back, then lets it go. CRACK!!!! Sayonara into the left field
bleachers. The tallest of the guards' sisters laughs as the ball disappears
behind the scoreboard, then trots around the bases. Her teammates laugh as
Shikko makes the circuit, then returns to the dugout. "Nice hit!!" the coach
laughs as Shikko relaxes, pulling out a bottle of spring water.

Shikko joined the Mitsubushi Angels, a local amateur women's team,
shortly after moving to Sado. It was a chance to keep in practice, hopefully
help her forge a career in the women's pro leagues. The women on the team
were nice to her, some sensing that Shikko was not a "normal" girl by any
stretch of the imagination. They had not pressed her on the matter; Shikko
was the team's home run slugger, giving them ten wins over the last two
months. Shikko was glad they did not pry more. How would one explain her
origins?

Another hitter slams another homer before the final out is called,
ending the game with another Angels win. The teams dash onto the field,
congratulating the other with a banzai cheer, then they proceed to the locker
rooms. Shikko tries to avert her eyes from gazing lasciviously at her
teammates' well-honed bodies. Permanently changing gender didn't do wonders
for one's sense of self-control. She wondered how the other guards endured
it.

Once in civilians, Shikko proceeds into the lobby. Her eyes lock on
the vendor manning the ramen stand. Smiling, she walks up. "Hi, Ikuko-chan!
The usual, please!"

"hai, paama-san," the pretty vendor responds with the most timid,
kawaii voice Shikko ever heard. Turning around, she immediately proceeds to
work.

Shikko allows herself to daydream, her eyes never swerving from Ikuko
So's bosomy features. Shaggy reddish-brown hair to her shoulders, blue eyes,
a well-sculptured face over a figure which put Sakura to shame! Shikko had
been attracted to the pretty vendor since the first game. Ikuko never
watched the games herself, always maintaining her post at the ramen stand,
but she avidly listened as Shikko described the games after. Or that is what
Shikko thought Ikuko did; sometimes Paama's sister felt Ikuko didn't
understand what happened on the diamond, listening just to be friendly.
Ikuko was described by male players frequenting the stadium as "no man's
land," a woman who'd never swerve from her boyfriend, who owned the shop.
Shikko had seen him, wondering what a nice girl like Ikuko was doing with a
schlep like him. *If I was still a guy, I'd sweep her off her feet!!* Shikko
had thought again and again.

"so how was the game, paama-san?" Ikuko wonders as she pours the
broth into a bowl, then places it before Shikko.

"Ikuko-chan, please call me Shikko," she sighs. "You make me feel
like my brother!"

"i am sorry, shikko-san," Ikuko smiles.

*Same apology every time! What is WRONG with this girl?!* Shikko
sighs as she begins her tale. Ikuko remains in place, her eyes never swerving
from her guest. Shikko had to admit the girl's ability to remain rock-still;
others would be doing all sorts of things. Ikuko fascinated Shikko...and at
the same time, concerned her. There had been times when Shikko had touched
her, receiving no sense of one's *mei'na* like she did touching other people.
Shikko had said nothing to date, wondering what to do. Ikuko seemed nice,
willing to accept her place in life without regret. That took guts, which
Shikko admired above everything else in Ikuko So...

* * *

"Okay, try some more reps, Dareko!" Damasu sighs, hands over the bar.

Dareko grunts as she begins her bench presses. Fifty reps later, she
stops, sweating as she sits up. "Thanks, Damasu!" she wipes herself. "Want
to switch?"

"Sure!!" Lan's sister takes her place on the bench as Dareko spots
her.

Fifty reps later, both move out of the weight room and down to the
cafeteria level of the Jump Health Spa, Restaurant and Aerobics Studio.
Already, Mienai was leading her aerobics class through warm-down exercises.
Dareko liked coming here after working on the farm. She knew three of the
staff, spent some of her time helping the other weightlifters with their
workouts, then volunteered with the kids' exercise classes. Both move up to
the fast food lineup. "Two calorie juices, Ruriko-chan," Damasu calls out.

"immediately, damasu-san," she nods.

Dareko shudders, trying not to make a complete ass of herself before
Ruriko. But how could one avoid NOT staring at the woman? Bob-styled black
hair and brown eyes over a slim body, not much taller than Urayako. Ruriko
Mi had begun working at the spa right after graduating from high school a
year ago. According to the other staff, she had a boyfriend, a college
student, but not much of a home life. No one, staff and customers alike, had
any complaints about her. She was efficient, quick, kept perfect track of
the till and was very friendly. In fact, the only comment was that she
seemed TOO friendly, eager to please anyone who came up to her.

Ruriko returns with the calorie drinks. "there you go, damasu-san,
kakugari-san."

"Thanks, Ruri-chan!" Dareko smiles as the two proceed to a booth.

Lan's sister warily eyes her. "Still pining after her, I take it?"

"Wouldn't you?"

"Of course I would, but I already have my heart's desire...and she's
right over there!" Damasu stares at Mienai, sending a psychic jab to playfully
smack her bond-mate's shields.

The Tritonian-Avalonian shudders, then fires Damasu a warning stare
before returning to her class. "I envy you two," Dareko sighs.

"Well, you could change your unbonded state if you quit chasing girls
like Ruriko and returned to the fold, so to speak. Every time I touch that
girl, I get the same feeling I get when I touch a brick wall! Something is
not right about her...and as your friend, I'm not going to allow you to dive
in without fully understanding what you're diving into!"

"Why would Ruriko-chan have no *mei'na?*" Dareko sips. "Would it be
because her own psi-shields are too strong for our probes?"

"Dareko, every living person has a *mei'na* which constitutes the
core of her being. Even the so called 'undead' from B-horror films would have
it; it's your living spirit, remember? Appears when your brain becomes
cognisant, disappears back into the *te'a* when you die. I...really, there's
only one explanation for Ruriko."

"What?"

Damasu leans up. "She an android."

Dareko sighs. She and Damasu have this same conversation every time
Ruriko is brought up. "If she is, who created her and why?"

"Aye! There's the rub!" Damasu shrugs. "She doesn't hurt anyone,
goes out of her way to please people, plus a host of other things. It's
weird, not the norm for this town."

"Damasu-chan, WE'RE not the norm."

"Well, it still doesn't answer my question about Ruriko," Damasu
snorts.

* * *

"Hey, slow down, you scamps!!" Urayako gasps. "You're too fast for
an old woman!!"

Ranko Katsura and Tamako Aoi giggle as the smallest of the guards'
sisters jogs up to them. Unlike the others, who chose to spend their spare
time pushing their bodies to their limits, Urayako offered her services to the
Niigata Children's Aid Centre chaperoning the orphans whenever they wanted to
go out on the town and there was no one available to supervise them. Chibi's
sister believed that she got the best workout, what with the way girls like
Ranko and Tamako run her into the ground every time they went shopping.
"You're not old!" Tamako giggles as Urayako catches up, then the three enter
the clothing store. "You're not that much older than Marine-onee-chan!"

"I sure don't feel like it," Urayako pants as the three head to the
toy section.

After loading up on their requisite dolls and dresses, the three head
into the ladies' boutique. Urayako remembered the first time she went out
shopping, heading into men's clothing to pick out jeans and T-shirts. Lucky
she was a girl; most of the staff believed she was trying to make a fashion
statement. These days, Urayako felt it weird that society viewed girl's
cross- dressing as chic and guy's as perverted. What did it say about
society in general, she wondered.

Once there, Urayako feels her heart race as a familiar face comes
into view. "hello, chibi-san. do you require assistance?"

"Yeah, Atsumi-chan, I need four more of me to keep track of these
two!" Urayako nods to Ranko and Tamako.

The clerk titters, covering her mouth as Urayako proceeds to a rack
of sweaters. If something made her being a woman feel right, it was Atsumi
Ayama. Always there, always helpful, always friendly, Atsumi seemed to be
the heart and soul of the department store. Never an ill word toward anyone,
patient whenever people seemed to lose track of things. The type of woman no
one wanted to take advantage of. Naturally, her physical attributes had
caught Urayako's attention, as well. Long brown hair in a stylish bun,
inquisitive brown eyes, a plain yet pretty face over a slim body about
Urayako's height. Urayako wanted no more than to ask Atsumi out, spend time
with her...and, admittedly, get to know her very intimately. But, like her
brother, Urayako inherited a shyness around her present gender. Fortunately,
Atsumi's kindness always cut through it.

"Which one should I get?" Urayako holds out two sweaters, a brown one
and a blue one.

"the brown," Atsumi points. "it goes well with your hair, chibi-san."

"Atsumi-chan, we know each other enough! Please, call me Urayako."

"yes, urayako-san."

Urayako sighs as she goes to try out the sweater. Always the same
comment, always the same behaviour, no change. Weird!

* * *

The dinner table that evening echoes with casual conversation as the
bioroids exchange news about the day's events. Each day, pairs would do the
cooking for everyone, which now included Junko Moroboshi and Sadako Shigaten.
As Mienai and Damasu distribute the dishes, everyone's attention is locked on
Aisuko. "The other girls loathe Keiko-chan!" Aisuko explains. "She's sweet,
kind, nice..."

"Pretty!" Shutako cuts in.

"That, too," Aisuko admits over everyone's laughter. "And she plays
a killer game of tennis! Always willing to teach others, yet everyone in the
club thinks she's the biggest snob since Paishu Redet!"

"Did you beat her?!" Kamen wonders.

"Barely. Like I say, she's a killer on the court. Never misses a
mark. She wore me down, but I nailed her in the last serve."

"How did the others react?" Damasu asks.

"They were stunned!" Aisuko sighs. "They were ready to carry me out
on their shoulders, that's how much they thanked me! Right in front of Keiko-
chan, too!!"

"How did she take it?" Mienai wonders.

"Cool as a cucumber," Aisuko dreamily sighs. "Thanked me for a good
match, asked me for a rematch...then I had the pleasure of watching her take a
shower!"

The other guards howl as they swat Aisuko with their table napkins.
"Hentai!!!" Shikko snaps. "You at least could work out with this girl!! What
about me, huh?!"

"What about you, Shikko-kun?" Shinoko wonders. "You've been pining
after this ramen shop girl since you joined the Angels! Haven't you reached
first base with her yet?!"

"Well..."

"Admit it, creep!!" Urayako taunts.

"Not in front of the kids!" Shikko sighs.

The two girls roll their eyes. "C'mon, Jun-chan," Sadako sighs.
"Grown-ups are so immature! Let's play with my dolls!"

"Sure, Sada-chan!" Junko nods.

As soon as they are alone, Urayako fixes Shikko with a stare.
"Well?!"

"Okay, okay!" the tallest of the guards waves her down. "We were
alone one night; it was the late game against the Pirates. I was really
tired, had a couple beers, then sauntered over to Ikuko-chan! Now, I wasn't
drunk, just a little disorientated...I think!"

Everyone laughs, then Shikko continues. "So, I asked Ikuko-chan to
give me her usual. She does and I'm looking at her. I then ask her if she
ever went to the beach. 'All the time,' she answered. I asked her what sort
of swimsuit she was wearing. She opens her top..." she makes an opening
movement with her hands, "...looks down, no bra, and I swear to Buddha, she
says 'nothing at the moment!'"

Howls of laughter bring the house down. "It might be amusing, but we
have a problem," Ria's calm voice cuts through the giggles.

"What problem, my love?" Shutako wonders.

Silence falls as attention turns to the elder mother. "Keiko Senyou
is the fourth girl we've discovered over the last while who seems to be
missing the one big thing to make a person human, her *mei'na,*" Ria sighs.
"Dareko and Damasu discovered it first with Ruriko Mi. Then, Urayako and her
encounters with Atsumi Ayama. Shikko then stumbles onto Ikuko So. Once is
coincidence, Nassur-chan told my sister. Twice is evidence..."

"...and four times is a conspiracy," Hensou completes.

"Exactly. While Keiko, Ruriko, Atsumi and Ikuko seem nice girls,
their lack of a detectable *mei'na* can only spell one thing."

"Androids," Damasu concludes.

"Right. Now, who and why?"

Everyone exchanges looks. "Could it just be a typical nice scientist
wanting to play Doctor Frankenstein?" Atako wonders.

"Or Tetsuwan Atom?" Shutako muses.

"Even so, Earth doesn't have the technology necessary to permit the
creation of androids possessing such articulation and self-cognisance as these
four," Ria warns. "That only means one thing."

"Import," Kamen concludes. "And that's a big violation of the Non-
Interference Treaty."

"Not that it's ever obeyed," Aisuko hums.

"True, but let's get back to the case," Ria cuts in. "We're new in
this town. Our presence here can determine whether or not the United Nations
will permit aliens to continue to migrate in or close the door on us all. If
we do not investigate this and something big happens later, it could reflect
badly on us. I don't want that; this is my home now."

"What do we do?" Dareko wonders.

"You four have learned that our targets have boyfriends. Try to get
to know them. Spent time with them, become their friends. I've asked
Jinseiko and the Kuromoroboshi to come down and investigate their
backgrounds. If they just appeared a year or so ago, we have a definite NIT
violation on our hands. Their boyfriends might be in danger, not to mention
other close friends."

"Right," the guards nod...

* * *

"Hey, Killer!" Hanae laughs as Aisuko steps into the court the next
afternoon. "Good to see you again! How's it feel?!"

"Pretty okay, I guess," Aisuko smiles as her eyes detect Keiko
standing alone at one end of the court. "Others'd say 'beginner's luck.'
Anyhow, would you excuse me."

"Slaughter 'em, kid!" Hanae waves.

The guards' leader then approaches Keiko. Her eyes turn, take notice
of her fellow player, then smiling pleasantly, she straightens herself.
"hello, megane-san," she softly sighs. "how are you?"

"Keiko-chan, please, will you call me Aisuko?" the Avalonian notions
her to a bench. "'Megane-san' sounds so impersonal."

"of course, aisuko-san," Keiko sits beside her. "yesterday was a
very good game for your first try."

"Thank you. You've played long?"

"since i was six years old. i've only become really good over the
last two years."

Aisuko's eyes narrow. Keiko had a past which stretched back some
time. A real person with a history. But the comment "last two years" comes
to mind. Whatever happened to Keiko, it now had a time frame. Good place to
start an investigation. Aisuko would have to mention it to Jinseiko later.
"Well, have you ever thought of going pro?" she wonders.

"actually, my boyfriend would like it if i no longer played," Keiko
announces.

"Why? You're better'n Billy Jean King!"

"thank you. when i marry, my boyfriend would desire that i remain in
the house."

Aisuko then has dark visions of impaling the heartless bastard on her
racquet, then whisking Keiko to the nearest Sensualist priestess for a
romantic handfasting. "Keiko-chan, don't let him do that! Your life is your
business, even if you do marry. If he forces himself on you like that...it's
wrong! This isn't the sixteenth century, you know!"

Keiko stares at Aisuko. "but he loves me and i love him. he tells
me my place is in the home, caring for the house and the family. if i do not
perform that task, i am lost."

Aisuko feels her stomach turn over. Not just an android, but a meek,
domestic model atop that! Still, Keiko's extended past made conclusions hard
to substantiate. More time. "Keiko-chan, when do you have to be home?"

"my boyfriend returns by eight. why?"

"Would you like to do some shopping?!"

* * *

"there is no game today, shikko-san, so admittedly, business is
light," Ikuko admits to Shikko at that moment. "my boyfriend has gone to
fujisawa to obtain supplies, but he prefers me to sit and wait for him here."

"Ikuko-chan, there's no need to stay here all alone when no one's
going to come down to have your ramen and see you. I'm sure your boyfriend
won't mind if you prettied yourself up. Wouldn't that be a nice thing to do?"

"do you believe so, shikko-san?"

"I know so!" Shikko nods.

The vendor considers that, then nods...

* * *

"won't the manager be angry if i left early?" Ruriko wonders as she
and Dareko exit the Jump Spa. "my boyfriend doesn't like it when he believes
i've done something wrong."

"Relax!" the largest of the guards smiles as she guides the cashier's
arm around her's. "There's little business, so you're wasting your time
there. I already cleared it with Nagumo-san. He wants you to take a break.
'Sides, I'm seeing my friends downtown, so we all might as well have a good
time. You're a friend, so why can't you have a good time?"

Ruriko blinks, then nods...

* * *

"it is not really busy today, urayako-san, but i feel very
uncomfortable leaving work so early," Atsumi hums as she and Urayako leave the
store. "you sure this is alright?"

"I talked it over with the manager," Urayako smiles, remembering the
very expensive dresses she just purchased when Atsumi was off-shift. Nothing
worked better in persuading managers than offering them good business. "I
said Atsumi Ayama was the best clerk he had under his employ and that after
all the wonderful time you came to help me in need, I felt it just that I had
to repay your kindness. He thought it was okay, so here we are. 'Sides, my
friends want to meet you."

"okay," Atsumi nods...

* * *

"There you guys are!" Aisuko waves.

The meeting place was in the city park. At most, the guards had a
four hour window before the girls' boyfriends returned. Already, Urayako and
Atsumi were by the park gate. Shikko and Dareko were approaching from
different directions. "Yo, guys!!" Shikko smiles as she guides Ikuko up.
"Ikuko-chan, these are my friends."

"pleased to meet you...eh?" Ikuko blinks. "Keiko! Atsumi! Ruriko!!"

The guards exchange looks as the four dance a happy jig, embracing
and laughing as if they had not seen the other in years. "You four know each
other?!" Urayako blinks.

"Of course!" Atsumi beams, indicating her friends, speaking with such
force, she seems a different person. "These are my classmates from Niigata
High School! I haven't seen them since we graduated last February!"

"How are you, Atsumi-chan?!" Keiko embraces her. "How's Yoshio-kun?"

At the mention of their boyfriends, they tense, eliciting another
exchange of looks from the guards. "He's okay," Atsumi shrugs. "Busy at
college, little time for me."

<<This is weird!>> Urayako psi-flashes. <<They're like Dr. Jekyll
and Miss Hyde!!>>

The others nod. "Hey, we thought we were the only ones getting
together today," Shikko moves to cut the ice. "Instead of standing around,
let's do what all good people do when they're bored...GO SHOPPING!!!!"

"Okay!!" Ikuko readily nods.

The other guards howl agreement. Their new friends look surprised,
then laugh as they follow their hosts...

* * *

Over the next three hours, the eight blitz through the heart of
Niigata's central market. New clothes, makeup, accessories, not to mention a
raid on the food court. They are everywhere. Even when the four "couples"
were separated, Keiko, Atsumi, Ikuko and Ruriko seem not to lose their more
outgoing demeanour. For the first time, the guards stop seeing them as
suspect devices whose presence was probably illegal on Earth. They start
seeing them as real friends, the first true friends the guards have made
outside other bioroids since their arrival at Sado.

Finally, they relax in the park where they first met. Each guard
parts, latching herself onto "her" girl. Aisuko and Keiko pick a bench under
a cherry tree. "I really enjoyed myself today, Aisuko-chan," Keiko smiles.
"It's the first time anyone's ever done this to me in quite a while."

"Hey, it's my pleasure," Aisuko gently grips Keiko's hand, wincing at
the unnaturalness of the psionic silence the girl projects. "I'm new in this
part of Japan, so I'm as much in need of a friend as you."

"Thank you," Keiko smiles. "I think I've heard your last name
somewhere before. Are you related to a Megane who lives in Tokyo?"

"Aisuru, my brother," Aisuko's eyes roll. "I normally don't reflect
on him. Despite what you might've heard, he's a moron!"

"I've heard a lot worse," Keiko titters, a haunting sound which sends
the Avalonian's heart into overdrive. "Is it true that he and three friends
fawn all over this Lum, as if she's some god and they her priests?"

"That's putting it mildly," Aisuko nods. "But I suspect that Onii-
chan's teacher'll smash them out of their 'Lum-itis.'"

The absurd name for Tomobiki's fixation with its favourite Oni
elicits another laugh from Keiko. "But, enough about him," Aisuko sighs.
"What about you? Any brothers or sisters, family?"

Keiko tenses. "Not...really, not anymore. I still have my parents,
but I haven't seen them in a year or so. All I have truthfully is Hitomaru,
my...boyfriend."

A lost look crosses her face mentioning him. "Do you like him?"

"I...I love him," Keiko admits.

"Why are you hesitating?"

Keiko's eyes then lock with Aisuko's. A heart-wrenching pain shines
from deep in those orbs, mixed with a silent plea to be released from whatever
prison Keiko felt herself trapped in. "I...I can't leave him," she admits.
"If I lost him...I'd have nothing left! No one would want me..."

"Hey!!" Aisuko cuts in. "I'd want you!"

Surprise crosses Keiko's face as Aisuko leans up, placing a tender
kiss on her lips. Flustered, looking for some escape, she looks at her watch.
"oh, no!" her voice then drops back to its "kawaii" mode. "look at the time.
i have to get home and get dinner ready. please excuse me, megane-san."

Keiko runs off. Aisuko shudders as her eyes detect Atsumi, Ruriko
and Ikuko also making a hasty departure. Very soon, the other guards join
her. "They were normal until they saw the time," Urayako comments. "Then, it
was back to 'Miss Sweetness-and-Light' again! This is too weird!"

"Agreed," Aisuko stands. "Guys...this isn't over yet!"

The others readily nod...

* * *

"You look lovely tonight, Keiko-chan."

Keiko flushes, basking in her boyfriend's gaze. Having hastily
returned home, she prepared a scrumptious meal, cleaned their apartment, then
freshened herself up and dressed in a beautiful kimono before his return from
university. Still, she could not shake the guilt she carried over the
wonderful time she had with Aisuko that afternoon. It seemed a betrayal of
the loyalty she was to present to the man who had cared for her since the
accident. "thank you, hitomaru-kun," she responds, her timid lilt perfectly
tuned to arouse him. "would you desire dessert?"

"Yes," Hitomaru stands.

Keiko walks up, escorting him to their small bedroom. As he waits,
she draws a futon, lays it out, then helps him lay down. Deftly untying her
obi, she allows her kimono to hang loose, seductively revealing her perfect
body for him to see. Squatting over him, she leans forward, allowing him to
slip the fabric from her shoulders. Her hands expertly undo his trousers and
boxers, then she allows him to enter her.

Their sex, to experienced lovers like Lum and Ataru, would earn
descriptions like "mechanical," "unromantic," "going through the motions" and
so on. Keiko remains still, allowing Hitomaru to fondle her. She knew she
was supposed to feel happy; after all, as long as her boyfriend was happy,
she could be happy. But Keiko couldn't erase the image of Aisuko kissing her
in the town park. Hitomaru never kissed her now, hadn't for two years. Yet,
wasn't she supposed to love him...?

YOU ARE TO LOVE NO OTHER BUT HITOMARU.

Keiko shudders as that emotionless, robotic voice booms through her
mind. She then relaxes as its echo fades, her mind again filling with images
of Aisuko. She even saw the new club member nude while they were taking a
shower. Aisuko's admiring eyes had raked over her body. Odd. Keiko believed
Aisuko to be one of the loveliest women she had ever met. There was a strong,
almost mannish quality to her...

ERROR. DISOBEDIENCE OF DIRECTIVE IS FORBIDDEN. PRIMARY CONTROL
REMAINS OVER THIS UNIT. YOU ARE TO LOVE NO OTHER BUT HITOMARU.

*But Aisuko is a girl,* another, more human voice, responds. *Does
the primary directive...* oh, how she sometimes cringed at that phrase,
*...apply to a girl?*

NEGATIVE.

*Then I can love Aisuko?*

AFFIRMATIVE. SUBJECT AISUKO MEGANE IS A FEMALE. PRIMARY DIRECTIVE
REMAINS INTACT.

*Very well, then. Allow me control when I'm with Aisuko.*

ACKNOWLEDGED.

Keiko sighs, barely acknowledging Hitomaru's climax. Her body
shudders in response. Going through the motions.

Once they were done, Hitomaru removes himself from the bed and heads
to the living room to study, leaving Keiko in place. It had been a constant
mental tug of war with the nanites which now constituted 88.7 percent of her
body mass. Loss of self-control. Near-total loss of willpower. Enslavement
to a boy who once loved her, but now, with her being nothing more than a
robot, treated her as a sex toy. She hadn't seen her parents in a year;
Hitomaru feared that her parents would sense the changes in the girl
immediately and would investigate about the accident. He made the nanites
ensure she'd never see her parents again. Keiko tried to make him understand
she wasn't a robot but a person with rights all her own. At least Aisuko
understood that!

But the nanites inhabiting her, Ruriko, Atsumi and Ikuko had
developed a loyalty to the four boys who had discovered the rock which had
borne them to Earth from their home world. The lads, in turn, realizing the
incredible power they had gained once Keiko and the others had been
"converted," hid the rock to ensure the nanites and their victims stayed
loyal. One interesting side effect appeared when she was near Ruriko, Atsumi
and Ikuko. For some reason, in those situations, the nanites concentrated
their energies on communicating with each other, reforming their collective,
which diverted energies away from suppressing the girls' will, thereby giving
them more freedom to act naturally.

Now, four nice women had come along to befriend them. Slight
Urayako, a frequent shopper at Atsumi's shop. Muscular yet gentle Dareko, a
volunteer at Ruriko's health spa who knew her co-workers Damasu and Mienai.
Spry Shikko, a ball player who took to frequenting Ikuko's ramen stand. And
Aisuko, an excellent tennis player in her own right. They seemed very good
friends, having been together for quite some time by the way they treated each
other. *And us...* Keiko adds, smiling...

* * *

"...and that's what happened," Aisuko sighs as she shares tea with
Ria that evening in Sado. "Put the four together, they act as any normal
first- year college students. Separate them or mention their boyfriends,
they revert to meek little mice who'll do anything for a bit of cheese."

"I see," the elder mother steeples her fingers under her chin. "So,
pure androids they're not. They have histories, if what Keiko told you is the
truth. I should be expecting something from the Kuromoroboshi..."

"Young Mistress Ria," a voice announces.

The Avalonians spin around to see Denpatan Kitei kneeling beside
Ria. Given the lack of psionic powers Terrans possessed, the ninjas stood a
much better chance of entering the house undetected by the Avalonians. "Oh,
Denpatan-chan!!" Ria breathes out. "What have you got?"

Folders are produced. "The intelligence files on the four women you
requested, Young Mistress," Denpatan explains. "If you require something
else, please inform us."

A *whoosh!* later, Aisuko and Ria find themselves alone. "We have to
learn how they do that!" the former exclaims as she picks up the file marked
KEIKO SENYOU.

An examination tells her many things. Keiko was a star student at
Niigata High, expected to attend a top-flight university on graduation. Good
home, well-off parents, no siblings. Everything seemed normal...until two
years ago, Keiko's senior year. After a freak accident in a science lab
involving a meteorite discovered by Keiko's boyfriend Hitomaru Hashira, she
changed. She dropped out of all out-of-school clubs and activities,
concentrating on her relationship. Curiously enough, her scholastic marks
fired through the roof, resulting in the top score in the college exam the
previous October. But, she did not go to college the next year, electing to
share an apartment with Hitomaru.

"So, two years ago, everything changes," Aisuko muses, then stares at
Ria reading Ruriko's file. "Same with you?"

"Same with all," Ria stares at the other files. "And they have one
thing in common. An accident in a science lab two years ago..."

"With a meteorite," Aisuko concludes. "We have to find it."

"First, we should find out what exactly happened to these four. Any
suggestions?"

"I have an idea," Aisuko smiles...

* * *

The next afternoon, Keiko makes her way to the tennis club. She
liked every chance she got to let go with the racquet, be with people other
than her boyfriend. However, her nanite-enhanced skills made her superior
even to experienced players, which quickly soured every attempt at making a
friendship...until Aisuko. Keiko shudders as she heads inside, feeling that
despite the shoddy way Fate had treated her until now, there was a chance for
her to enjoy something of a normal life.

In the lobby, she blinks on seeing Aisuko waiting for her by the door
to the girl's changeroom. "Hi, Keiko-chan!" the guards' leader waves as they
embrace.

"Hi, Aisuko-chan," Keiko kisses her, then looks around curiously.
"Where is everyone?"

"Oh, they're already in the court," Aisuko smiles. "Listen,
Keiko...you know everyone inside doesn't really get along with you. I was
wondering if you'd like to go someplace else to practise."

Keiko blinks. "Well, I don't see the harm in it," she shrugs.
"Where to?"

"Trust me!" Aisuko winks as the two head out. "You'll like this
place."

* * *

*At least Ikuko-chan's acting normal,* Shikko beams as she relaxes at
the ramen stand. There is no game today, the Angels taking the chance to get
in some practice. Shikko feigned a leg cramp to be relieved of practice so
she could concentrate on getting Ikuko away from her boyfriend Takaya.

To Shikko's disgust, Takaya had taken notice of the exuberance Ikuko
was projecting to her customers. One look at his face told the tallest of
the guards that he didn't like it. That meant that not only did Takaya knew
of whatever happened to Ikuko, he liked her that way. The Kuromoroboshi
learned that Ikuko and her friends hadn't seen their parents in a year.
Understandable that Takaya would want to keep his love toy under control; a
mother could instinctively tell when something drastic had happened to her
child. Jinseiko, who had scouted the So household, had reported that she had
never seen such sadness in a couple over their missing child. Shikko had
vowed that Ikuko wouldn't be separated from her parents for much longer. Of
course, Takaya had to be disposed of first.

Enter Damasu...with a friend.

Shikko jolts as a strained moo echoes. Damasu runs up, hands waving
wildly. "Run for your lives!!! Run for your lives!!!"

"What is it, Damasu-chan?" Shikko asks.

The Seishin-Avalonian looks upset. "My idiot sister forgot to feed
Rei-chan!! He's hungry and he wants ramen...TONS of it!!!"

"Wha...?" Takaya wonders...

...before a half-ton of Oni-Urusian tiger-bull smashes into his
forehead!! Most of the crowd scatters as Rei picks up the vat of ramen from
the stove, then starts to shovel it down without pausing. Shikko remains in
place, calmly eating her serving. Ikuko stares at the polymorph with wide
eyes, then faces her friend. "Is he normally like this?"

"All the time," Shikko shakes her head.

"I'm so sorry about this!" Damasu launches into cute-girl mode. "Rei-
chan just spent a month alone out in space!! Look, why don't you close down
and I'll get Lan-chan to pay for the damages later, okay?!"

"but i doubt my boyfriend would like that," Ikuko's voice drops to
timidity.

"I don't think he's in any condition to have an opinion, Ikuko-chan,"
Shikko advises, pointing to the boyfriend in question.

Ikuko looks, eyes wide on seeing that Takaya is now the thickness of
okonomiyaki. "Uh...yeah," she shakes her head.

"C'mon!" Shikko waves her out of the ramen stand. "Let's go see the
others!"

Hearing that, Ikuko's eyes brighten. "Okay!!" she tosses off her
apron and leaps out from behind the counter to follow Shikko.

The only response from Takaya is a very pained moan. Damasu picks up
a bowl of ramen, then winks at Rei. "Oooh, its gonna be a hot time in the old
ship tonight," she beams...

* * *

"i cannot leave now, chibi-san," Atsumi protests as she and Urayako
walk through the aisles. "what you did for me yesterday was very sweet, but i
cannot do it all the time."

"Hey, it'll be just an hour," Urayako protests. "You've worked
overtime every day for the last two months. Your supervisor feels you deserve
time off for your sales. Besides, my friends want to get together and they're
inviting Keiko, Ikuko and Ruriko."

Atsumi's eyes light up as she stares at her friend. "You mean like
we did yesterday?"

"Yes!" Urayako nods. "Now, c'mon! You're off-shift! Let's go!"

"I...I...okay," Atsumi nods as they move to the cashier...then
stops. "Oh, no!"

"What is it?!" Urayako wonders.

"My boyfriend," a touch of bitterness enters the clerk's voice.

Urayako looks. *What was Atsumi-chan thinking of when she fell in
love with THAT schlep?!* flashes through her mind on seeing Yoshio. He was a
bespectacled, buck-toothed, first-year college student which resembled Jerry
Lewis doing a horrible imitation of a Japanese soldier. On seeing Atsumi,
Yoshio toothily grins as he makes his way to her. Urayako turns, her eyes
detecting the help she summoned to do away with problems. "Atsumi," Yoshio
smiles. "Why aren't you working?"

Back to Miss Sweetness-and-Light. "hello, yoshio. i have been given
some time off by my supervisor for all the extra work i have done. he feels i
have deserved it."

Yoshio blinks. "Wait a minute, here! We need all the extra money
you can earn..."

*So you could steal it from her, I'll bet!!* Urayako fumes.

"...why are you leaving?!" Yoshio asks.

A young voice then calls out, "Excuse me! Can we get some help here,
please?"

"my supervisor has allowed me time off," Atsumi calmly explains, the
conflict between the nanites' loyalty to Yoshio and her desire to be free
dangerously flashing in her eyes.

"Hey!!" a boy's voice calls out. "We need help here!"

"Well, don't take it!" Yoshio orders.

"i..." Atsumi stammers...

...but before she could say more, an invisible hand grabs the hapless
Yoshio and sends him flying into the roof! He drops dazed to the ground, then
for good measure, gets a blast of flame!! Atsumi blinks, then stares at the
two alien children responsible.

"Reiko-chan, Ten, what are you doing here?!" Urayako innocently
wonders.

"Sorry about that!" the Noukiite looks very annoyed. "But we need
help picking a dress for my dad's girlfriend as a wedding present! Could you
please help us?!"

"I'm sorry," she bows repentantly, then sees the manager walk up.
"Kurihara-san!"

The manager stares at the dazed boy at Atsumi's feet, then bows to
Reiko and Ten-chan. "I'm truly sorry for this! Please, I will be more than
happy to help you!"

"Thanks!!" both kids beam.

Kurihara then turns on Atsumi, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"Ayama-kun, you will NOT bring your boyfriend to this store again!"

"Yes, sir," Atsumi repentantly bows.

"And you're on time off! Go!"

"Hai!" Atsumi nods, then heads off, Urayako in her wake.

As the manager escorts Reiko and Ten-chan to the selection of
blouses, both kids pull out lollipops, tap them in salute, then go to work.
Yoshio remains a burnt husk on the floor, eyes spinning. "I wonder what
happened to the polite customers. I don't remember them being this
violent..." he groans...

* * *

"Namisuke-kun, what are you doing using these things?!" Mienai storms
out of the weight room, a small pack of objects in hand.

Dareko's usual partner in weightlifting sweats as he sees that the
aerobics instructor had located some empty bottles of anabolic steroids, a
habit he had kicked long ago. "Um...gee, Mienai, I..." he stammers, backing
away from the studio floor into the cafeteria.

"Namisuke-kun, you lost your girlfriend over this!" Mienai's voice
turns to ice as she advances on him. "Damasu-chan and I went to a lot of
trouble helping you! Do NOT disappoint me like this again!!"

The whole spa tenses on hearing that icy warning. Like everyone in
Tomobiki with Oyuki, people here knew NEVER to piss Mienai off. Namisuke
shudders, then sinks to his knees, sobs escaping him. "I can't help it,
Mienai!! I'm weak! I still get the craving all the time!! I need the edge!"

"You need something, alright!" Mienai's eyes flash as her cold powers
instantly forge a giant ice dumbbell with hundred kilogram weights on the
ends. "You'll get THIS!!!!"

Seeing the giant weapon sweep for his head, Namisuke screams as he
lunges away from the incensed Mienai, charging past the front counter...where
Ruriko is meeting her boyfriend, Satoru. Everyone screams as they duck save
Satoru, who has not been to the Jump Spa before. His mistake; as Mienai
prepares to make Namisuke a head shorter with her improvised club, she swings
out...and slams Satoru in the jaw, sending him against an I-beam supporting
the upper floor!! The hapless student falls flat on his face as Ruriko calls
out, "Satoru!!!"

Mienai stops, anger turning to shocked surprise as she realizes who
she hit. "I'm so sorry!" she gasps, dropping the dumbbell as she kneels
beside the unconscious Satoru. "Oh, dear, this is quite a lump he has," she
tenses on seeing the giant bruise, not to mention the smaller bruises where
his nose used to be. "Well, he'll need ice on that."

In a second, Satoru is instant ice cube! "Um...isn't that too much?"
Ruriko blinks.

"He'll be disorientated after that blow, not to mention risking a
concussion," Mienai explains. "Immobility ensures a speedy recovery...oh,
Dareko-chan!" she smiles on seeing the largest of the guards approach.

"Aw, you did it again, didn't you?!" Dareko sighs, staring at the
hapless Satoru. "Who pissed you off this time, Mienai?!"

"Never mind," Mienai giggles.

Ruriko blinks, staring at her fallen boyfriend, then feels Dareko's
hand on her shoulder. "Hey, are you busy?" she wonders.

"Um...well, I..." Ruriko shrugs.

"Great!" Dareko smiles. "Look, the guys're getting together with
Keiko, Atsumi and Ikuko! Want to come along?!"

Ruriko's eyes widen. "Sure!!"

The two head out. Namisuke ducks in a moment later, then notices the
frozen college student. "Boy, Mienai, when you say you're gonna put someone
'on ice,' you weren't kidding!" he whistles.

"Thank you, Namisuke-kun," Mienai sighs. "Place this person
somewhere where he won't cause trouble over the next while."

"Sure thing," the weight lifter grunts as he drags the ice block
away...

* * *

A transporter beam brings Aisuko and Keiko into the main laboratory
of the factory satellite. The tennis player blinks as she takes in the very
unusual surroundings. "That was a quantum-energy-matter transporter beam,"
she then announces, emotion gone from her voice. "Where are we, Aisuko?"

"Welcome aboard the Avalon bioroid factory ship, Keiko Senyou," a
voice announces from above. "If indeed, that is who you are."

Keiko spins around as Ria lands behind her. "You are a bioroid?!"
she blinks.

"Correct. Now, what are you?"

"That is none of your concern," Keiko moves toward her...

...then slams into a forcefield now surrounding her. "I'm sorry
about this, Keiko," Aisuko sighs. "This was the only way to find out what you
are."

"You tricked us!" Keiko's eyes glow.

Energy then slams into the field! Aisuko winces, then turns to Ria.
"What is she?!"

"Wait," Ria holds up her hand.

Transporter beams then send in Ruriko, Ikuko and Atsumi. Forcefields
form around them as Dareko, Shikko and Urayako beam in, moving over to join
their fellow bioroids. "Did the computer scan them?" Dareko wonders.

"It's doing it right now," Ria reports.

The four girls then notice the others' presence. Their eyes glow as
they direct their energies on cracking their forcefields at a point where they
could come together in an 'X.' However, while the Sagussan-designed fields
bend under the assault, they don't break. "Wow!!" Urayako gasps. "They're
just as powerful as Ataru when he's the Cyborg!"

"Perhaps," Ria sighs. "Timotei, report."

"Scans complete, Mother," Timotei's voice echoes from the control
room. "The four beings now with us have been infested with a highly advanced
form of nanite, which has now converted most of their bodies into cybernetic
simulcra of their original selves."

"What?!!" Aisuko gasps, then looks at Keiko. "How much is gone?!!"

"Conversion varies," Timotei reports, staring at her monitors.
"Subject Keiko, 88.7 percent cybernetic. Subject Ruriko, 82.9 percent.
Subject Ikuko, 90.5 percent. Subject Atsumi, 92.3 percent."

"Oh, no!!" Urayako cries. "Can you change it back?!"

"Impossible," Ria sadly notes. "A genetic-cybernetic conversion of
this nature can be stopped, but not reversed."

The guards tremble, tears appearing in their eyes as realization hits
them. Ria then walks up beside Keiko. "Keiko."

The cyberdroid faces her. "Free us."

"What will you do if I free you?"

"We will reform our collective."

"Why?!"

"Because the collective was shattered when we made contact with these
carbonoids. Further, the rock which brought us to this world has been taken
from us. We must locate it to properly reform the collective."

Ria interprets it, then turns to Timotei. "Timotei, wide scan sweep
of the Niigata area! Locate a rock which possesses the nanites infesting
these four! Hurry!!"

"At once!" Timotei nods.

Aisuko walks up, staring at Keiko, who has ceased assaulting her
prison when she heard Ria's order. "Keiko-chan, you there?"

Keiko blinks. "Aisuko-chan..."

"How are you?"

A celestial smile. "Scared...but happy."

Aisuko blinks, then turns to Ria. "Ria, we can't save their old
bodies, but we can at least try to get them out of them!"

Ria stares at Aisuko, then nods. "Timotei, get unaffected genetic
samples from these four. Get the factory working."

"Yes, Ria-sempai," Timotei nods...

* * *

Hours pass as the search continues. When the nanites confirm that
they will not harm anyone if they were freed, the shields were dropped so the
guards can spend time with their new friends. Ruriko lays in Dareko's lap.
"Two years," she tearfully shakes her head. "Two years of living like a damn
slave. 'Yes, Satoru,' 'No, Satoru,' 'Sure you can make love to me, Satoru!'
How could that bastard do that to me?!"

"You ever see 'The Stepford Wives?'" Aisuko wonders.

"What's that?" Atsumi wonders.

"An American sci-fi thriller, admittedly one of the better ones,"
Aisuko sighs. "It's a story about this town where all the men replaced all
their wives with android doubles so things like the women's movement couldn't
upset the patriarchal society the men wanted to keep. Your boyfriends did
that not only to you, but to the nanites inside you."

"Disgusting, now that you experience it," Shikko sighs, tightly
holding Ikuko.

"Shikko-chan...what's going to happen to us when the rock's found?"
Ikuko wonders.

"Well, first, we have to get your minds out of these bodies and into
replacement bodies," Shikko explains. "Ria's doing that now. Once the rock's
found, that'll be up to the nanites, I guess."

Echoing her words, Jenny, Timotei, Marine and Christy Lain wheel in
four antigrav stretchers, their cargoes covered by light sheets. The four
move the stretchers are placed beside the four girls. "They're done,
Mother," Jenny announces to Ria.

"Licca, what's the status on the rock?!" Ria calls out.

"Located," Licca's voice echoes over the room. "Kamen-sempai and
Hensou-sempai have dug it out. It turns out that the boys who enslaved our
guests tried to get to it first."

"Probably to drag Atsumi-chan and the others back," Urayako growls
disgustedly.

A second later, Kamen and Hensou appear, antigrav grapplers holding
the rock which had destroyed the lives of Keiko and the others. The four
girls rise to their feet, tensing as the rock is placed between them.
"Good!" Ria nods. "Now, before we could allow you to reunite your
collective, the damage you've done to your host bodies must be corrected."

"We understand," Keiko responds.

Jenny and her companions wheel up the stretchers. Keiko looks down
as Jenny moves to draw away the sheet. "Keiko-san...meet Keiko-san," the
chief assistant smiles.

The sheet is drawn off, revealing an unmoving Keiko strapped to life-
support equipment, a meson crystal connecting to acupuncture-like leads on her
head. Keiko gasps, staring at the bioroid, then looks at Aisuko.
"This...won't hurt, will it?"

"Didn't for me," Aisuko smiles.

Keiko nods, noting that the others were moving their new bodies into
position. Doing the same, she turns to Ria. "You have done us a favour by
helping us reform our collective," her eyes glow. "Thus, we allow our hosts
to reclaim their lives."

Everyone blinks as the four girls glow. Energy lances into the meson
crystals attached to the newly-constructed bioroids as what little organic
flesh remains of the nanite-beings falls away. A minute later, the rock
drops to the floor, now cleaned of nanites. The glow fades, revealing four
silver- hued feminine metallic beings distantly resembling their former
hosts. "*It is done,*" the one who was once Keiko announces.

"We're happy for you," Ria smiles. "We hope your existence from this
point is no longer plagued with interference."

"*Your words are courteous, Gloriana,*" once-Keiko nods. "*We were
created ages ago by a race which eschewed organic bodies for cybernetics. We
were originally led to believe that all organics were morally and spiritually
weak. After our experience with our former hosts and yourselves, we now
believe otherwise. We will leave you now to seek our destiny elsewhere.*"

"I understand," Ria nods. "Go in peace."

The nanite-beings disappear in a flash of energy. Once that is done,
Keiko's eyes open. "Oh, where am I...?" she blinks on seeing Aisuko leaning
over her. "Aisuko-chan!"

"Hi!" Aisuko leans down to kiss her.

The other bioroids blush as the guards reunite with their new
friends. "Hey, what about all that?" Kamen winces, pointing to the empty
shells which once housed the spirits of Keiko, Ruriko, Atsumi and Ikuko.

The four new Avalonians look. "I have a perfect idea," Keiko
smiles...

* * *

"Keiko, I'm home!" Hitomaru calls out as he walks into the
apartment. "Dinner ready?"

Silence responds. The college student blinks, then heads into the
small kitchenette. "Keiko?" he calls, then turns to the bedroom.

Entering, he looks around, then down... ...and screams!

* * *

"Take that!!" Keiko growls.

"Bastard!" Ikuko yells.

She parries, sending it to Aisuko, who slams it at Shikko. The other
tennis club members...now joined by the other guards and their
girlfriends...watch as the two teams savage each other. "Wow!!" Hanae gasps.
"Where did they find them?!"

"We're all friends," Ruriko smiles, slipping an arm around Dareko's.

<<And more than that, eh, love?>> the largest of the guards
psionically transmits.

<<Much more, gorgeous!>> Ruriko blows her a wet kiss.

After the four new bioroids adjusted to being Avalonians...helped
very much along by Aisuko, Shikko, Dareko and Urayako...they visited their
parents to explain what happened. The guards and Ria came with them, the
presence of the Oni-Avalonian adding considerable weight to their seemingly
wild stories. When the involvement of Aisuko and the guards became known,
the girls' parents happily allowed bondings to occur. After all, Keiko,
Ruriko, Atsumi and Ikuko had lost all of their friends when they were taken
over by the nanites. Having new friends, especially friends who empathically
understood the wild changes the four experienced, was a must.

After the game's end, the four couples walk out arm-in-arm, heading
to the beamdown point for the trip to Sado. "You know, it'll be weird working
on a farm," Keiko admits. "I don't know the first thing about farming!"

"Hey, I didn't know anything," Aisuko kisses her cheek. "And I
didn't know what being a woman was about...until I met you!"

"You better keep reminding me of that, buster!" Keiko smiles, gently
tugging Aisuko's collar. "Or our bed will get very cold at nights because I'm
sleeping alone!"

Everyone laughs. Suddenly, four haggard forms emerge behind the four
girls. Hands then fall on their buttocks as delighted cries emit from their
attackers. "We found you!!!"

The eight girls spin around to see Hitomaru, Yoshio, Satoru and
Takaya trying to grope them. "EEEEK!!!!!! CHIKAN!!!! HENTAI!!!!!! POLICE,
HELP!!!!!!"

A troop of Niigata's finest appear to drag them off. "Wait!"
Hitomaru bellows. "That's my fiancee!! Let us go!!! Arrest those dykes for
taking our girls away!!!"

A sergeant questioningly looks at Keiko. "I have no idea what he's
talking about, sir," she looks innocent.

"Then who are you?" the sergeant wonders.

"I'm an Avalonian. I was constructed a week ago! Aisuko-chan can
confirm it!" she smiles at her bond-mate, then stares at Hitomaru. "I've
never met him in my life!"

The sergeant nods understandingly, then barks, "Take them away!!"

"NO!!!!" they scream as they are dragged off. "This is criminal!!!
We're innocent!!! They're supposed to be our wives...!!"

The Avalonians sigh as they head off...

*** The End ***