Urusei Yatsura Fan Fiction ❯ The Senior Year ❯ Mie's Story ( Chapter 40 )

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

Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year: "Mie's Story"
by Fred Herriot
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Edited by E.B. Kushnir
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Thirty-third of a series of fan-fiction stories based on "Urusei Yatsura"
created by Rumiko Takahashi
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WRITER'S NOTES:

1) For those of you now probably wondering, Sagussan uniforms are colour-
coded according to the wearer's mission task. The uniform is divided into
primary (blazer), secondary (pants) and tertiary (trimming) colours.

2) More Sagussan numbers: 10 = o, 100 = oa, 1000 = oe, 10000 = oai, 100000
= ou. Multiples of these, add the single numbers before the multiple, i.e. 50
= ui-o. To simplify matters when calling a *daishi'cha* by number when a zero
appears, the higher numbers are used. Reinoevan (*daishi'cha* #10272) would
be called "Oai-eieoei" (literally "ten thousand, two-seven-two").

4) And yet some more Sagussan terms:

igh - Equivalent of "to be."
I'sagh - Term applied to all healers.
Eii'sagh - Term applied to all nurses.
Do vanan'cha - The oath of bonding.

And Sagussan foods and drinks:

pyogh - Common grain, similar to barley
kyi - Grain, similar to wheat
chagh - Generic term for vegetables
ku - Generic term for soup
gi - Generic term for meat
chigh - Generic term for fruit
cho - Generic term for dairy products
tagh - Generic term for non-alcoholic beverages
jugh - Generic term for alcoholic beverages
hogh-kyi - Noodles
chonagh - Cheese
kamchagh - Potatoes
yanbe-chagh - A fermented, spicy vegetable side dish
karugh-kalghku - Stormwalker rib soup
karugh-gi - Stormwalker meat, usually broiled
bam-gi - Nightlizard meat, usually boiled
torghsu-gi - Airdevil meat, also usually broiled
hogh-kyi-giku - Meat and noodle soup
pyogh-giku - Meat and grain soup
chigh-tagh - Fruit juice
karugh-chotagh - Stormwalker milk
ran-jugh - Sagussan brandy

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"Mie..." a sultry voice calls out.

Mie Seikou's eyes flutter open. "Who...?"

Her eyes widen as she finds herself nude, floating in the middle of
space over some barren, desert world. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees
the flat disk of the Milky Way galaxy. By all rights, she should be dead.
She then feels...a presence. Just like the time of the Spirit War, when she
encountered Noa and her friends. Flipping around, she lets out a gasp. "Who
are you?"

Nearby her, also nude, is another woman. Her brown hair tied in a
ponytail, her suntanned skin unmarked save for the Sagussan numbers 61558 on
the back of her thighs, as well as a heart and lightning bolt tattoo on her
right cheek, she is a tall, statuesque beauty who would melt anyone's heart.
Haunting green eyes, even more entrancing than Lum's, focus on her as a serene
smile crosses her face. "Come to me, my love," she coos. "Now, we shall be
together."

Mie's hormones go into instant overdrive as she drinks in all the
details, then with a gentle push of her legs, she floats into her bond-mate's
arms. "How?" she gasps.

"True love, although you've forgotten it for twelve years," the other
purrs, her body and mind assaulting Mie from every direction...

* * *

...as Mie's eyes snap open. "Wait!!" she bolts up.

Panting, the Sagussan-born Kyushu native pushes the sheets back as she
looks outside. Full moon. Terrific. The first detailed dream she had about
her homeworld since her coming to Earth, and she had to wake up before her
seducer could identify herself. At least her sequential number was clear to
her, so when the time came, she could reunite with her.

That is, if she decided to return home...

* * *

"'Morning, everyone!!" Lum calls out as she walks into Shapiro's Ice
Cream Parlour.

"Good morning, Lum," Abraham Shapiro smiles as he brings up a banana
split. "How are you this morning?"

"Oh, fine," the Oni sits down at the counter, placing her lunch on the
table. "Last few days, then it's off to Oshika for me!"

"You must be happy, Lum-san," Pamanba warily smiles.

Lum glares at the former Mikado hunter, still somewhat angry that
Pamanba had tried to kill her and her classmates one day. One stun shot from
the Vosian ruined one of Lum's sailor suits. However, she was mollified by
Pamanba's decision to desert the Mikado, which became permanent when Lufy
slaughtered her superiors later at Noa's instigation. "I'm still keeping an
eye on you, Pamanba!" she snarls.

"Lum!!" Shinobu sighs. "Give it a rest!! Pamanba had no choice! It
was either fight Nassur-kun or be killed!" She then takes a whiff. "And
what's that awful smell?!"

"Oh, that's this stuff," Lum reaches into her bag and pulls out a
covered dish full of fermented vegetables in spicy sauce.

The smell drives Shinobu to her knees. "Ugh! What IS that?!"

"Yanbe-chagh," Lum smiles, replacing the dish in her bag. "Sagussan
kimch'i. It's always eaten with every meal. Want some?"

"No, thank you!!" Shinobu blanches, pinching her nose. "Gods, who
taught you how to make that garbage?!"

"Garbage?!" Lum snarls. "This stuff is very traditional on Sagussa. Do
you know how much Darling likes this stuff?! He ate a whole jarfull of my
first batch! I have to beat Honey back with a stick to make sure she doesn't
clean out the rest!!"

"Well, he puts anything into his mouth," Shinobu sighs.

"I'll let that comment go," Lum returns to her banana split.

"Interesting start to the day," Shapiro hums.

The door opens, allowing the guards and their girlfriends to step
inside. Pamanba quickly fills their orders, then welcomes Mendou and Sil as
they come in. "'Morning, Lum-chan!" Sil smiles.

"Hi, Sil-chan, Shutaro," Lum beams.

Tomobiki's newest couple sit in a private booth. "So it's really
happened," Shinobu stares at them. "They fell in love."

"That's good," Lum smiles, finishing her split, then opening her dish of
yanbe-chagh. "I just wonder how Shutaro's parents are going to take it. They
want him to marry Asuka-chan."

"With her expecting a child with Osooko?" Shinobu blinks.

"I know," Lum snickers. "And with Tobimaro and Ryooko poised to marry
Yuukiki and Reigi, there's no way out for their parents."

"Well, I guess peace won't come soon for them."

"Who says peace has to come via marriage?" Lum shrugs.

The door then opens as Mie walks in. Everyone turns to stare at the
Kyushu native...she had returned from her trip to Yame...then quickly turn
away, seeing the hungry, vicious look on her face. She walks up to the
counter, then sits beside Lum. The Oni essays a friendly smile. "H-hi,
Mie-chan. You're looking okay."

Mie evenly stares at Lum, then seeing the yanbe-chagh, grabs two
chopsticks, then dips into the dish. Everyone watches as she demolishes what
is left in the proverbial blink of an eye! "She's got to have a cast-iron
stomach if she can swallow that!!" Shinobu gasps.

"Hey, that's my snack!" Lum cries out.

"Delicious," Mie mutters as she hands the bowl back.

Lum stares at the empty bowl. "Um...glad you liked it."

Mie then stares at Pamanba. "Hey, you!!! C'mere!!!"

"Can I help you?" the Vosian walks up to her...

...then before anyone could react, is caught in an arm-lock, Mie
applying brutal pressure to Pamanba's shoulder. "I just heard what you did to
Lum-chan while I was down with the cold!!" the Kyushu native lowers her voice
to a gutteral whisper. "I don't like it when my friends get hurt! You better
thank what lucky stars you have that I wasn't there that day, because if I
was..." she takes a knife and gently traces it across Pamanba's throat,
"...you'd've had no chance to dessert from your friends!! Don't do it
again!!"

She lets Pamanba go, then pulls out a sandwich and begins to eat it.
The former huntress quickly scrambles away, putting as much distance between
her and Mie as possible. Everyone stares at Mie, including Shapiro. Of all
of Lum's classmates, this one was the oddest of the lot, for to the Vosian
observer, she was completely shrouded by riddles and mystery.

Everyone said she was just a hick country girl from Kyushu, the first
woman ever to truly befriend Ataru Moroboshi shortly after she arrived in
Tomobiki. That was just part of the story. Rumour had it that Mie was also a
crack pilot, having helmed the "Renegade" on a couple of missions, as well as
was involved in the Shingetsu disaster and the Spirit War. She was
overprotective of Lum, keeping the Oni free of the influences of her
classmates. If you were on Mie's good side, fine. If you were on her bad
side, you were courting a lengthy stay in a hospital; her fighting prowess, as
she just demonstrated, easily put her in Nassur's category.

"Mie, are you okay?" Lum gently prods.

Mie sighs. "No, I'm not fine," she leans on her elbows. "I haven't
been feeling well since I got back from Yame."

"Catch a cold again?"

"Nyaa!" Mie shakes her head. "Just a strange dream I keep having since
I returned from there."

"Dream!" Lum looks very concerned. Dreams she had about Noa, the
Sagussans and the Cyborg version of Ataru heralded the coming of the Spirit
War. "Nothing bad, I hope."

"Actually, they're okay...just damn mysterious," Mie muses. "Some girl
tries to seduce me, saying we're going to be back together again soon...but I
always wake up before I hear her name."

"Well, I hope she's a pretty girl," Lum smiles.

"Oh, that she is!" Mie chortles, deciding that Lum had heard enough for
now. Although she had long sensed Lum's growing knowledge of Sagussa...which
had to have started when Noa and her friends had come down the day of the
Spirit War...Mie had hesitated on telling her friend the truth about herself.
Partially, because Mie feared losing Lum's friendship. She really had no idea
how Lum would take the impending approach of Ataru's destiny; she had never
psi-probed Lum deep enough to learn that answer.

Also, Mie's own amnesia kept her tongue still. Mie Seikou was the type
of girl who, when she opened up, gave it to people honestly and forthrightly.
It galled her that it took the Sagussans twelve years to catch up with her.
Did they think she was dead? Did her bond-mate think she was dead? Did Mie
really have a home?

"Hey, Mie-chan!" Lum's voice cuts through her thoughts.

"What is it, Lum-chan?" Mie blinks, staring at the Oni.

"Boy, you're really out of it today," Lum looks concerned. "Do you want
to see Sakura-sensei or Ashin-san?"

"No, I'll be fine," Mie shakes her head, stretching herself. "I always
have Mom and all her herbal cures to go back to."

"Well, that's good," Lum sighs. "But remember one thing."

"What?"

"I want to be your second at your handfasting!"

Mie nods, smiling. "Deal!"

Everyone laughs...

* * *

"How did you finagle Lufy and Catty into taking our place as the Duty
*Daishi'cha?!*" Hotaru quizzically demands as she relaxes in the shipmistress'
chair of Warpshuttle 100, the image of Earth growing before them as they sweep
into orbit.

Makoto sighs, powering back the impulse drive as she looks back. "They
felt guilty because they didn't say anything about Mie being alive in the
first place," the Yehisrite-born First Fleet watchmistress growls. "I can't
believe Noa! How dare she say nothing about Mie living all these years on
Earth, especially to me?! I've just as much right to know about your twin
sister as you do!"

"They were probably afraid that Reinoevan would find out," Hotaru
explains. Save for being physically a year younger thanks to cryogenic
suspension as well as having raven-black hair, the Terran-born defence force
nurse would be an exact physical double of Mie. "And I suppose I'm glad for
it. I want you to be *Ashoi'cha's marei'cha,* not Rei!"

Makoto blushes at her watchmate's comment. "Thanks, Hotaru.
C'mon...let's boogie it down. I've waited twelve years for this!"

The two head off the bridge...

* * *

Students happily stream toward Tomobiki High School as the
fourth-to-last day in the term begins. Exams are finished and the college
entrance rolls have been posted for September commencement, many are already
looking forward to a final bout of cram school before continuing their
education elsewhere. Nostalgia is in the air as people look around, wondering
when next they would see this place. Lum and Mie walk up together. "So when
did Supersnob get a hold of his latest little squeeze?" the Kyushu native
inquires.

"Oh, you were down south when Sil came by," the Oni smiles. "She came
to ask me to become Uru's empress!"

Mie faints! "What?!! What did you say?!"

"I told her to stuff it and leave me alone!" Lum snorts. "I've got
other ideas about how I want my life to unfold!"

"Good for you, Lum-chan!" Mie sighs, then a lost look crosses her face.
"I wish I knew what was going to happen to me next."

"Don't give up hope, Mie-chan," Lum looks sympathetic. "If you want,
come move up and live with Darling and I!"

"We'll consider it," Mie smiles. *If we don't all move to Sagussa
first,* she mentally adds.

A hoverscooter is heard, followed by the flap of wings. "Hi, Lum-chan!
Hi, Mie-onee-chan!!" Ten-chan's voice calls out.

The two turn to see Ten-chan lower his hoverscooter to the ground.
Landing beside him is Alphonse, Noa's sandpanther. "Hi, Ten-chan," Lum
smiles. "Making sure Alphonse gets some exercise?!"

"Uh-huh!" the young Oni smiles, floating up to his cousin's eye level.
"Noa-onee-chan said I can keep an eye on him down here while you're still
waiting to move up north to be with Ataru."

"Oh, that's good," Lum smiles, then blinks. "Eh?!"

Delighted purrs echo from Alphonse's lips as Mie rubs her face into the
fleshy part of the sandpanther's neck. The two Onis stare at this curious
scene as Mie straightens herself, letting out a sigh. "Ah, fuzz therapy!" the
Kyushu native hums. "Always works!"

She heads into the school. "Is she okay?!" Ten-chan stares at Lum.
"I've never seen Mie-onee-chan act like that before!"

"She's been having bad dreams lately," a pensive look crosses Lum's
face. Why did Mie's actions with Alphonse look so familiar? Noa and Honey
acted the same way with the sandpanther; she had seen it a half-dozen times
since they came to stay with Ataru. Mie would not know how to do
that...unless she was...

"Are you okay?!" Ten-chan stares at Lum.

Lum blinks, looking at her cousin. "You know something, Ten-chan. I
just had the weirdest feeling about Mie-chan."

"What was that?"

"That's she's a *daishi'cha!*"

Alphonse growls an affirmative response; he knew a Sagussan when he
smelt one, especially one who could rub her face against his fur like that!
"Mie-onee-chan a Sagussan?!" Ten-chan stares at Lum. "First of all, what
would she be doing here?! All of them should be still on Sagussa except
Noa-onee-chan and Honey-onee-chan!"

Lum hums. "That should be true, but I did hear a rumour in the
Dreamscape one day about one of the *daishi'cha* having been missing twelve
years ago, just after Darling visited Sagussa. I never thought about that
until now, to be honest with you."

"Twelve years ago?!" Ten-chan blinks. "Oh, brother, if she's got family
back there, they must be worried sick about her!"

"True," Lum nods. "And Mie's not the type to abandon people like that.
Something's wrong here. I better find out what it is."

"Should I tell Noa-onee-chan?" Ten-chan inquires.

"Yes," Lum nods. "Darling, too."

"Right! C'mon, Alphonse!!"

Ten-chan and Alphonse take off for the Moroboshi home. Lum stares at
the school and the living mystery now inside. If Mie was a *daishi'cha,* the
proof would be on the back of her thighs, hidden by her skirt: a sequential
tattoo composed of Sagussan numbers. James, the Chamber of Eternity's central
computer, did that so that he could quickly identify the *daishi'cha* since
there were so many of them.

But if Mie was really a Sagussan, what was she doing on Earth?...unless
she did not remember who and what she was. Amnesia was a possibility; Mie was
an honest person with her close friends, especially Lum. It went totally
against her nature to keep a secret like that. If so, help was needed right
away. If Mie's dreams hinted that she had a bond-mate waiting for her back
home, Lum had no idea what could happen...

* * *

"Well, here we are!" Makoto smiles after she and Hotaru had beamed down
in a back alley some distance from Tomobiki High School, carrying backpacks
filled with emergency gear. Makoto also had a bandage covering her tattoo.
"Let's go find Mie!"

"Right!" Hotaru looks down at herself, clearly displeased. Both are now
dressed in blue jeans and heavy plaid shirts in lieu of their duty uniforms.
"Lyna's Soul, I look ridiculous in this thing! How could *Ashoi'cha*
recognize me when I'm in this?! If Setsuna saw me dressed like this, I'd die
of embarrassment!!"

"Hey, do you think I like wearing this?!" Makoto points at her bandaged
tattoo. "Besides, if we showed up in uniforms, every spy in this dump'd
recognize us and who knows what'd happen to Ataru-sama!"

"True," Hotaru sighs. "Let's go find her!! I'm as nervous as a long-
tailed sandpanther in a room full of rocking chairs!"

"Okay, okay!" Makoto nods as the two head down a street. They are quick
to notice the last few students racing off toward school. "Hey, those're the
uniforms Lum-san's schoolmates wear," she points. "Let's follow them!"

Hotaru nods...then both jolt as a frightened scream echoes from behind
them. They spin around to see Ayanba Onsen fearfully staring at them, her
eyes wide with confusion and horror. "Wh-what s-sort of n-no-waves a-are
y-you...?!" the former Most Perfect stammers, pointing warily at the two
Sagussans.

Hotaru and Makoto stare at the Vosian, then at each other. "Makoto, you
don't suppose this could be one of those spies who tried to hurt the Other
sometime ago?" the nurse inquires.

"Maybe," Makoto growls, icily eyeing Ayanba.

"Get away from me, you devils!!!" she races away.

The Sagussans stare quizzically at each other, then shrug and head off
toward Tomobiki High School...

* * *

"Why couldn't they just allow us to stay home instead of making us come
to school right up to graduation?" Shinobu yawns as everyone gathers in study
hall.

"Well, at least we can relax now that exams are done," Momoe stretches
herself, then stares at Mie, at a table by herself, a turbulent look on her
face. Lowering her voice to a whisper, she stares at her classmates. "What's
with Mie?"

"Who knows," Paama warily eyes the Kyushu native. "She's been grumpy
all morning."

"You should've seen what she almost did to Pamanba," Shinobu shudders.
"I'm glad that Mie wasn't around when Pamanba came into class that day. She
would've been carted out in a coffin."

"I guess she must be feeling lonely now that Lum is heading up to
Ataru," Kumiko muses.

Lum flies in at that time. "Mie-chan!" she calls out.

Mie brightens up a bit, giving the Oni a faint wave as Lum lands in
front of her. "Something *is* wrong!" Natsuko hisses. "Mie's always more
emotional when she greets Lum!"

"I hope Lum finds out what's going on soon," Kakugari gulps. "At her
worst, Mie's more vicious than Ataru as the Cyborg!"

A teleport beam interrupts their thoughts as a familiar form dressed in
a silver school uniform, a tiger-striped cummerbund around his waist, appears
beside Lum! In a flash, he takes the Oni's hand in his own. "Lum-sama, is
this true?!" he demands.

Shocked, Lum lets go with a violent blast of lightning! When she
catches her breath, she then looks enraged. "Oogi?!! What are you doing back
here?!! I thought I told you to stay on Phentax Two!!"

"Oh, what's HE doing here?!" Shinobu's eyes roll.

The Niphentaxian president shrinks back, staring Lum in the eye. "Is
this true, Lum-sama?! My observers report that you are now planning to leave
the Holy City to live with the Great Evil!! How could you allow him to
deceive you like that?!!"

"Look, stupid, for the last time, Darling is NOT evil!!" she snarls at
Oogi. "I'm going up there, I'm going to marry Darling and we're going to live
happily ever after!! And if you keep bothering me about this, I'll LET
Darling do to Phentax Two what he did to Phentax Twelve!!!"

"So!!" Oogi growls, his eyes ablaze. "He IS responsible for the
mindless slaughter of five million colonists!! How could you allow him to go
unpunished for such a crime against your faithful and loyal servants, Lum-
sama?!"

Lum moans. When Oogi got like this, there was little she could do to
snap him back to what was "normal" for a Niphentaxian. Mie stands up,
hungrily eyeing Oogi. "Look, jerkoid, why don't you take the hint and get
lost?!!" she grabs the Niphentaxian by the collar, lifting him off his feet.
"If you don't split, I'll send you back in a body bag since I'm in a very
lousy mood today and I just elected you as my punching bag!!!"

"Do your worst, Mie!" Megane laughs.

"Unhand me, witch!!" Oogi protests. "Guards!!!"

A dozen Niphentaxian guards teleport out of nowhere, dogpiling the
surprised Mie before she could react. "Mie-chan!!" Lum gasps.

* * *

"Eh?!!" Makoto blinks as a psychic flash bolts into her mind as she and
Hotaru were about to walk onto the school grounds. "Oh, Lyna, no!! Mie's in
trouble!!!"

With a battle cry, the *pirpirsiw'r*-turned-*daishi'cha* races for the
school building. "Makoto, wait!!" Hotaru gasps, then moans as she runs after
the watchmistress. "Damn, why now?!"

* * *

In study hall, a half-dozen guards are sprawled on the floor as Mie
continues to spar with those still standing. Oogi is holding Lum back from
helping her classmate. "Don't, Lum-sama!" the president pleads. "This dark
angel of the Great Evil must be subdued if you are to be safe!!"

"Whose going to save me from you?!!" the Oni snarls, giving him another
dose of her powers.

Oogi looks utterly ecstatic, his grip on Lum tightening. "Oh, to be
bathed in the Great Lum's Holy Lightning is such an transcendental
experience!" he deliriously moans.

"This guy really DOESN'T have a life!!" Chibi shudders.

"And he looks like me?!" Mendou looks insulted.

"Hey, I can use some help here!!" Mie clobbers another guard.

An explosion answers her!! One of the side walls collapses. Everyone
jolts back in shock as a dark figure carrying what looks like a pump-action
shotgun walks through the smoke. Makoto's face clears the mist as she angrily
eyes the Niphentaxians assaulting the woman she loves. "***HANDS OFF MY
BOND-MATE, YOU KIMEI'NE!!!!!!***" she bellows as she opens fire.

Lum and her classmates hit the deck as grenades, knives and a host of
other weapons storm at the Niphentaxians!! The explosions that follow shake
the school right to its foundations, alerting Koosei, Sakura and Onsen in the
Principal's office two floors down. "That was way too much even for Lan!!!"
the homeroom teacher declares, bolting to his feet. "C'mon!!!"

As the three sprint out of the room, the Principal eyes Kotatsuneko.
"Ah, such a nice day, isn't it, Kota-chan?"

The cat-ghost nods, warily staring at the ceiling. By that time, the
last grenade has gone off, filling the study hall with smoke and burning
debris. "Shit, who does that girl think she is?!" Shinobu coughs as she opens
the window to vent the fumes. "John Rambo?!!"

"Rambo, move over!!!" Megane gasps.

As the smoke clears, Oogi shakes his head. "What hit me...?"

A hand grabs the president by the throat, boosting him up and slamming
him against a wall, the gaping muzzle of an Urban Assault Cannon now inches
from his nose! By that time, Lum has emerged from the dissipating smoke to
see Makoto poised to finish Oogi off. "Makoto...?!" Lum gasps, recognizing
the Yehisrite-born watchmistress from a psi-picture she saw in a visit to
Usagi's dreamsite.

"Awaiting your orders, ma'am," Makoto evenly declares.

Lum sighs, pointing down. "Put him down."

The Sagussan looks disappointed. "Aw..."

"Be creative when you do it," the Oni suggests, winking.

Makoto then icily smiles. "Yes, ma'am!!"

Everyone fearfully watches as Makoto unleashes all sorts of physical
tortures on Oogi, so grotesque that even the writers have trouble visualizing
them! Finally, after the president's pained screams have died away, Makoto
sweetly smiles at Lum. "He's down."

"Creative," Lum laughs. "I'll mention it to Darling."

"Thanks, ma'am," Makoto respectfully bows.

"Lum, you know this person?!" Shinobu stares at the Oni.

"Ah, this is Makoto," Lum smiles. "As you can guess, she's from
Sagussa. She's a friend of Usagi's and Ami's, Shinobu."

"Oh, yes!" Shinobu nods. "Welcome to Earth, Makoto-san."

"Thanks," Makoto smiles. "Usagi and Ami told me about you. You don't
look half as wild as your reputation makes you."

Shinobu blushes. "Well, I try..."

"I assume that there are no casualties," Hotaru inquires.

Everyone watches as the nurse walk in, medical kit and tricorder at the
ready. "No, Hotaru; all clear...except for them," Makoto nods at the fallen
Niphentaxians now scattered around the room.

"Hey, where's Mie?!" Megane looks around.

Makoto turns sheet-white. "Mie?!! Where is she?!!"

"I think *Ashoi'cha's* over there," Hotaru calmly points at a pile of
wreckage where Mie is sitting.

Makoto freaks as she sees a hand sticking out from under the pile of
broken desks. "***MIE-CHAN!!!!!!***" she screams, leaping over to tear away
at the wreckage to get at her bond-mate. "Where are you?!! Speak to me!!!"

Lum blinks as she stares at Makoto, then looks at Hotaru, her mind
finally registering something the nurse said. "Wait!!! You just said
*ashoi'cha!!* That means...?!"

"Elder sister," Hotaru smiles, blushing.

"WHAT?!?!?!" everyone else exclaims.

By that time, the wreckage is cleared off Mie, who is unconscious on the
floor. "Mie...!" Makoto gasps as she gently reaches down to lift her fellow
Sagussan into her arms.

Hotaru gasps as she races over to administer aid...just as Mie bolts up,
belting Makoto over the head! "***YOU IDIOT!!!!!! WHAT IN BUDDHA'S NAME WAS
ALL THAT ABOUT, BUSTING IN HERE LIKE THAT?!?!?!***"

"Yep," Lum nods, realizing that if Mie did remember her past life, she
would call on Lyna. "It's amnesia, alright."

"I'm sorry," Makoto yelps, looking contrite. "I felt you being attacked
and I automatically responded!"

"Well, next time, control yourself...eh?!" Mie's voice drops to a squeak
as she takes a close look at Makoto.

The watchmistress essays a light smile at the amnesiac pilot. Mie then
blinks as she turns to see Hotaru kneeling beside her. "Wh-who are y-
you...?!" she fearfully stammers.

"Oh, you *de'ne!*" Hotaru sighs. "I'm your sister!"

Hearing that, Mie does the most logical thing: she faints! "She took
that better than I thought," Lum muses...

* * *

"Is she alright?!" Sakura wonders as Mie is brought into the nurse's
station by Makoto and Hotaru.

"She just passed out from the shock of seeing her girlfriend and her
sister again," Lum announces as she follows the watchmistress and the nurse
inside, her classmates right behind her. "I'm sure she'll be out of it soon."

"Sister...?" Sakura stares curiously at Hotaru, then at Makoto.
"Girlfriend?! Who are these people?!"

"They're Mie-chan's people," a voice speaks from the doorway.

Everyone turns to see Tamiko Seikou standing there. "What?!" Shinobu
blinks, still trying to comprehend what has just been revealed. "What are you
saying, Tamiko?! That Mie...?"

"Is from Sagussa," Makoto supplies.

"But how?!!" Megane demands. "She's just a normal girl!"

"A normal girl who can pilot starships, not to mention figure out how to
do time-warps, and is way stronger than even Shinobu?!" Ryuunosuke probes,
staring at her classmate.

Megane considers the point, then nods. "Okay, so she's not so normal!
How the heck can you say she's from your planet?!"

"Easy," Lum walks over to pull up Mie's skirt, showing the sequential
tattoo on the back of her thighs. "All of Noa-chan's people have these on the
back of their legs." Staring at the tattoo, she reads the number.
"*Daishi'cha* Three-thirty-seven." She then blinks in surprise. "*Tcha!*
That means Mie's over nine thousand years old, counting all her years in
cryogenic suspension."

"Nine thousand years old?!!" Shinobu gapes. "No way!!"

"Way," Hotaru nods. "I should know since I'm *Daishi'cha* Three-thirty-
eight. We were both retrieved by the Gatherer at the same time...actually,
not too far from here, if I remember correctly."

Everyone looks dazed as they try to assimilate Hotaru's revelation.
"Okay, okay, so that proves it!" Megane snarls. "So what the hell IS she
doing here anyway?! Is she a spy?!"

Lum looks incensed, as do Tamiko and Hotaru. "You care to repeat that,
*ki'shi?!!*" Makoto angrily growls as she grabs Megane by his shirt, her fist
cocked to send him flying to the moon.

The guards' leader sputters fearfully at the watchmistress' intense
gaze. "Tamiko-chan, did Mie-chan have amnesia when your parents found her?"
Lum stares at Mie's adopted sister.

"Uh-huh," Tamiko nods. "Mom and Dad found her in what they thought was
a lifepod off Tsushima. According to Mom, she had a really nasty concussion;
it took them a year to get her to be able to talk with some sense of normalcy.
After that, Mom and Dad just decided to adopt her as part of the family. It
was no big deal."

"Wow!" Momoe sighs. "Poor Mie."

"But how did Mie live all those years in Yame when her slowed aging
process would have indicated that she definitely wasn't from around the area?"
Koosei inquires.

"Hey, everyone knew she was a stranger," Tamiko shrugs. "Just because
she was from out of town...WAY out of town," she emphasizes, eliciting
snickers from everyone else, "...didn't mean that we wouldn't accept her. We
did. No one had any problems with it."

Everyone whistles as they take in what Tamiko said. At that moment, a
groan escapes Mie's lips. Everyone crowds around her as her eyes flutter
open. "Where am I...?"

"In the nurse's station, Mie," Sakura smiles. "You okay?"

"I think so," Mie moans as she sits up, then blinking, turns to stare at
Hotaru. "Wh-who are y-you...?" she stammers.

"I'm your sister," Hotaru blushes, then leans over to embrace Mie. "Oh,
*Ashoi'cha,* are you okay?!"

"I...I really have a sister...?!" Mie blinks, then growls. "Gee, I wish
someone who'll remain unnamed would've told me that!"

Her eyes focus on the door, where a contrite Noa now stands, a very
annoyed Ataru beside her. "Hi, Mie," the former waves.

Lum, Hotaru and Makoto then surround Noa. "You care to give me an
explanation as to why you kept information about Mie-chan away from me, Noa?!"
the watchmistress growls, cracking her knuckles.

"Considering she's my sister, I had just as much right to know, Noa!"
the nurse adds, icily eyeing the *ashi'cha*. "Don't forget, you've got a
physical coming up very soon!"

"And I'd like to know why you kept Mie's identity a secret from me in
the three months we've been together in the Dreamscape!" the Oni adds, a flash
of lightning dancing over her body.

Noa remains calm. "Do the words 'Non-Interference Directive' mean
anything to any of you?!" she gently inquires.

"What about it?!!" Hotaru demands. "Mie is my sister!! The instant she
was found, I should've been told right away!! She belongs back on Sagussa
with the rest of us, not here in this tomobiki!!!"

"And what about Mie's family?" Noa stares at Hotaru.

The nurse stops, then turns to see Tamiko standing beside Mie. "Did you
honestly believe that bringing Mie back to Sagussa," Noa inquires, "...IF she
WANTS to return to Sagussa, by the way...would have no affect on her sister,
her brother or her parents?!"

Hotaru falls silent, realizing that Noa has brought up a very important
point. "Mie is in the same situation as Ataru and Lum," Noa points out. "She
has obligations on Earth which bear as much weight as her obligations back on
Sagussa. They have to be respected, Hotaru. If we don't respect them, we're
just as bad as the people who instigated the Age of Gisan'cha!"

"I understand," the nurse bows.

"Hey, it's okay," Tamiko walks over to wrap an arm around Hotaru. "It's
kind of nice to have an extra sister pop out of the blue like that. Not to
mention Mie's lover," she gives Makoto an appraising glance. "Shoot, sis, you
got good taste, you know that?"

Makoto flushes as Mie scratches her head, chuckling. "I guess I
do...even if I don't remember how I did it!"

"Ah, that's no problem!" Hotaru walks over to her sister's side. "We
can fix that in about two seconds."

"*Satre'cha?*" Lum inquires.

Hotaru nods. Lum, Ataru, Koosei and Noa step out of the room. Makoto
turns to everyone else. "Okay, jerks...out!!! Tamiko-san can stay!! This is
a private affair!!"

"What's going on...?!" Sakura demands...

...before the others find themselves in a pile outside the nurse's
station, the door slamming shut behind them. "Geez, they didn't have to be so
rough!" Shinobu grunts.

"*Satre'cha* means 'the refusion,'" Lum explains, essaying a sympathetic
smile. "Mie-chan must've done *tre'cha* with Hotaru prior to her coming to
Earth. It's a very precise mind-meld. No one save family and bond-mates can
be present when this happens. Other people's minds will cloud up the memory
transfer."

"But why DID Mie come to Earth?!" Shinobu demands.

"No one's really sure, not even Hotaru," Noa sighs. "Mie performed
*tre'cha* just prior to our return to cryofreeze after Ataru was sent back to
Earth. The only time people do *tre'cha* is when they sense they could die.
It's a way of keeping one's *mei'na* alive, passing the memories and
experiences to the next generation. As for Mie, she never indicated to Hotaru
why she did it. By the time any of us realized what was going on, it was too
late; she was gone."

"And with her amnesia when her Gladiator crashed on Earth, I doubt the
story'll ever be known," Ataru adds.

"Poor Mie-chan," Lum sighs.

A startled cry emits from the nurse's station. Everyone gasps as they
run to the door, just as it opens to reveal Tamiko. "Tamiko, is Mie...?"
Shinobu hesitantly inquires.

"See for yourself," Tamiko smiles as she turns to indicate Mie, now in
Makoto's embrace, the two passionately embracing. Hotaru is nearby, quietly
putting her medical equipment away.

"Oh, how romantic!" Kumiko swoons.

"C'mon, everyone, let's leave them alone," Ataru tries to usher everyone
out the door...just as a violent rumble is heard from outside. "What the
hell's that?!"

"Did Oogi bring friends?!!" Mendou gulps.

Mie and Makoto break apart, annoyed looks crossing their faces. "Oh,
no...!" the former moans. "Don't tell me..."

"Afraid it is," the latter sighs.

An explosion rips apart the side of the nurse's station, knocking
everyone over save Hotaru, Mie and Makoto!! As the smoke clears, a lithe
silver-haired, crimson-eyed Tritonian-born woman in a black combat uniform
with platoon commander's rank on her shoulder, bearing enough weapons to
instigate World War Three, emerges. "MIE!!!!!!"

Mie and Makoto turn to the new arrival. "Um...hi, Oai-eieoei," the
former smiles.

Everyone quickly notices the icy glares Makoto is exchanging with the
newcomer. "Don't tell me, let me guess," Ataru groans. "She wants to be
Mie's bond-mate, too...right?!"

"By the looks of it," Lum rolls her eyes.

Sagussa's *daimon'cha* lowers his head. "Why couldn't it be something
simple...like a thermonuclear war?!" he grumbles...

* * *

Makoto, Hotaru and the *daishi'cha* who came in just after the amnesiac
pilot had her memories returned, stand in room 337, their names and sequence
numbers written on the blackboard. "I'm Makoto, *daishi'cha* #61558 of the
First Sagussan Fleet," the first bows. "A pleasure to meet you all."

"I'm Hotaru, *daishi'cha* #338, *eii'sagh* of the Sagussan Fleet Medical
Unit," the second then bows. "Honoured. I'm very pleased to meet my sister's
friends and classmates."

"I am Reinoevan, *daishi'cha* #10272, first officer of Pathfinder Troop
Six," the third bows, her hands in a splayed-finger prayer. "I bid you all
peace, logic and harmony."

"Thank you," Koosei nods. "Now, will you kindly explain why you came
blasting in like that? I know you have no love for Tomobiki, but that still
doesn't excuse you from making a mess of this place."

"What did you expect?!" Makoto growls. "Mie was under attack by those
*kimei'ne* Niphentaxians! I defended my bond-mate!!"

Reinoevan looks very incensed. "YOUR bond-mate?!" she snarls, spinning
on Makoto. "*Ki'shi!!* You DARE presume she's YOURS?!?!"

"Well, I don't see Mie jumping your bones, *kide'ne!!*" Makoto snarls,
icily eyeing her rival. "Besides, when she recovered from *satre'cha,* she
kissed ME!!!! What're you going to do about that?!!"

The whole class trembles as the battle auras growing around Makoto and
Reinoevan eclipse the classroom. "*Tcha!*" Lum gasps. "Even Nassur-chan
would be scared of those battle auras!!"

"Ataru-kun, do something!" Shinobu pleads. "They're going to kill each
other and probably take the school and us with them!!"

"Hey, even the Cyborg and the *saikoo jinseijitsu* aren't crazy enough
to take on two Sagussans fighting over a bond-mate, especially if one used to
be a *pirpirsiw'r* and the other's a Pathfinder!" Ataru sheepishly shrugs.

"We're dead!!" Lan gulps.

After a moment, Makoto then slyly stares at Mie. "Mie-chan, it's me you
want, isn't it?" she coos, sliding onto the teacher's desk, her hand
unbuttoning her shirt.

"She's taking her clothes off!!!" Chibi exclaims.

"They BOTH are!!!" Kakugari moans.

Reinoevan is now slinking against the backboard, her combat jersey
undone, revealing everything she has. "Don't you want something a little more
sensual, Mie-chan?" she seductively purrs.

Mie is utterly enthralled. "Lyna's Soul, I never thought Rei loved Mie
THAT much!!" Hotaru gasps, her face turning a beautiful red as her powers
sense the psychic assault Makoto and Reinoevan are using on her sister in
concert with their impromptu strip show. "If I wasn't bonded to Setsuna, I'd
take them both!!"

"So would I!" Noa gasps, just as awed.

Suddenly, a transporter beam materializes between Mie and her would-be
lovers a tall, brunette Fukunokami woman dressed in a standard duty jumpsuit
with light green top, dark green pants and gold trim. "Alright, you sex-
kittens, that's enough!" she orders.

Makoto and Reinoevan are surprised. "Misato-i'sagh, what are you doing
here?!!" the latter demands.

"There's a sick woman here and I'm not going to permit you two horny
little vixens to have your way with her until I've verified her health,"
Misato growls. "So knock it off with the *mavan'shagh!*"

"Yes, I'sagh," both girls reluctantly nod, clearly disappointed.

Makoto and Reinoevan obediently dress. "I don't believe her!!"
Ryuunosuke blinks, awed by Misato's ability to handle the situation. "She
just told them to knock it off and they did! Who is she?! An executioner?!"

"Actually, she's a psychologist," Noa smiles.

An explosion occurs!! "A psychologist?!!" everyone exclaims.

"That's right," the *ashi'cha* nods. "You see, there's a very old
saying on Sagussa...*Igh te'a i'sagh.*"

"What's that mean?!" Shinobu stares at Lum.

"'Doctors ARE God,'" the Oni translates.

Pleased that Makoto and Reinoevan are controlling themselves, Misato
turns to see Mie passed out on the floor, blood draining from her nose, a
delirious look etched on the pilot's face. "Oh, my!" the psychologist
blushes. "I never thought those two would be THAT good when they tried to
seduce someone!"

* * *

As Misato, Hotaru and Sakura examine Mie in the nurse's station,
everyone relaxes in room 337. That is when Oogi staggers in, still bruised
and bleeding from Makoto's pounding him when she blasted into study hall to
save Mie. "Lum-sama...?" he moans.

"What's HE doing here?!!" Ataru demands, angered to see the Niphentaxian
president on Earth.

Startled by Ataru's voice, Oogi screams as he draws his katana, leaping
to the attack. Before he could get close, however, Makoto and Reinoevan jump
him. "BASTARD, HANDS OFF ATARU-SAMA!!!!!!"

Oogi then gets a further beating!! "Boy, those girls really are loyal
to Ataru, aren't they?!" Chibi whistles, awed by their devotion.

"Now I understand why Ataru has to go back to this place," Ryuunosuke
muses. "He's got to wean those girls from worshipping him like Oogi and his
pit of morons worship Lum!"

"Lum, were we EVER that bad?!" Megane stares at the Oni.

"Sometimes, you were worse," Lum sympathetically smiles. "But you were,
despite your libidos going out of control all the time, still my friends.
That's the difference between you and the likes of him," she then icily glares
at Oogi, now tied into an imitation pretzel.

The other boys blush. "Wh-where d-did you g-get s-such Amazons f-from,
y-you d-devil...?!" Oogi grunts as he tries to crawl toward Ataru, the
determination in his eyes still blazing.

"Actually, these lovely ladies found me," Ataru crosses his arms,
projecting a triumphant smile. "And with them, I'll finally be able to
eliminate all the other pains who're standing in the way of my marrying
Lum...and **you're** atop that list!!" he points at Oogi.

"***WHAT?!?!?!***" Oogi bolts to his feet, miraculously healed and very
angry. "You dare try to make war against the Holy Church of Lum?!!"

"I never WANTED a church in my name!!!" Lum barks.

Oogi then looks as if he had just been stabbed. "L-lum-s-sama...?!" he
glances fretfully at the Oni.

"Hey, that reminds me!" Lan snarls as she marches up to Oogi. "Who the
hell gave you the right to probe into MY personal diaries so you can write
your stupid holy book, anyway?!!"

"Yeah!!" Shinobu appears on the other side of the president. "And what
about the entries from MY diary?!!"

"And mine?!!" Mendou partially draws his katana.

"And ours?!!" the guards growl.

"I'm sure Oyuki, Benten and Nassur would be interested in how you got
their entries, too," Ataru adds, savouring the pain Oogi must now be feeling
at having his holy icons reject everything the Niphentaxians have constructed
in Lum's name. "Maybe I should ask one of you ladies to mind-probe this jerk
to find out," he stares at Noa.

"We'd be more than happy to," the *ashi'cha* beams.

"Who are you?!!" Oogi leaps over to seize Noa's hand. "How could this
devil of devils enthrall you so?! What magic has he spread over you to make
you support him in his quest to destroy Lum-sama, the Most Holy of Holies, the
Supreme Agent of Creation...?!!"

Makoto and Reinoevan pound him into okonomiyaki!!! "Bastard, **Ataru**
is the Supreme Agent of Creation!!!" the former snarls.

"Apologize to him for your insult!!!" the latter growls.

"Even Memory would back that assertion," Shinobu nods.

"True, true," Megane readily nods, remembering Dark Memory's words about
the matter in "Return of Memory."

"But you're totally wrong, sir," Noa projects a mirthless smile, shaking
her head. "You don't understand. We like Lum very much!"

"You do?!!" Oogi appears in front of her, again healed.

"How does he keep doing that?!!" Makoto demands. "He's more resilient
than we made Ataru!!"

"Of course we do," Noa beams. "Let me demonstrate. Lum!"

"Yes, Noa?!" the Oni flies up to the Sagussan.

Noa then sweeps Lum off her feet, swamping her with a very passionate
kiss. The whole class let out admiring whoops. Oogi looks ready to either
die of heart failure or kill. "***HOW DARE YOU FORCE YOURSELF ON THE GREAT
LUM-SAMA, YOU DISRESPECTFUL WENCH?!?!?!***"

Noa returns a dazed Lum to her feet. "Why, I have more right to do that
than you ever will!" she smiles.

Oogi spins on Mendou. "Mendou-sama, how could you permit that
disrespectful dyke to do that to Lum-sama?!!"

"Hey, it's none of my business what Lum does," Mendou hums, then draws
his katana, moving to make Oogi a head shorter. "And remember this, buster!!!
My bioroid sister is a lesbian and I don't take too kindly to the idea of
hearing people like her insulted!!!"

Oogi catches the blade between his hands. "Mendou-sama, how could you
accept that slave as being a part of your family?!!"

"***WHAT?!?!***" Mendou bellows. "You dare call Shutako-chan a slave?!!
NO Mendou has been, is, or will ever be a slave, not even if she is a
bioroid!!! Now apologize for your insult or else they'll be looking for a NEW
president on Phentax Two!!!"

Ataru blinks as he observes matters. Unlike Otako, herself possessed by
a cursed controlling orb which had been created by a friend of the Invaders
who then believed she had not been invited to Lum's baptism party, Oogi was
what he would term a moderate when it came to listening to orders from Lum or
any of her "holy company." Now either Oogi had undergone a radical conversion
or...

"Pistol!" he barks.

Reinoevan passes him a personal defence pistol. Everyone screams as
Ataru snap-aims and fires, the weapon at full power! Oogi is hit by the blast
in the chest, then literally falls apart into a blob of flesh-like gelatin.
People stare at what is left of the "president," then stare at Ataru. "I
thought as much," Ataru hands the pistol back to the pathfinder. "That wasn't
Oogi."

Makoto kneels, science tricorder in hand. "You're right, Ataru," she
hums as she takes a scan. "This is some sort of proto-life creature!"

"What's that?!" Shinobu exclaims.

"An allasomorphic biodroid which can make itself look like anything or
anyone on command," Lum explains. "I never thought the Niphentaxians advanced
that far in genetic engineering!"

"They probably stole it from the Avalonians," Makoto sighs. "The same
concept is used in creating solid bioroids; just throw in some extra
chromosomes and controlling proteins which de-stabilize the biodroid's cells
into becoming malleable on command."

"So Oogi's testing the waters," Megane muses.

"What do you mean, Aisuru?" Lum stares at the guards' leader.

"Lum, that thing just insinuated that there were Niphentaxian observers
on Earth," Megane reminds her. "Which means he must be now aware of what's
happening to you, not to mention all of us."

"We got our girlfriends," Paama adds.

"As have I my fiancee," Mendou grimly notes.

"Plus your leaving Tomobiki for Oshika," Shinobu stares at Lum. "He
probably even knows of Noa's arrival."

"Oh, wonderful," the Oni slaps her forehead.

"Lum, you've had your scanners attuned to sweeping Tomobiki for
Niphentaxian lifesigns since that incident with the Avalonians, haven't you?"
Noa curiously stares at her bond-mate.

"Yes! So's Lan!"

Lan nods. "What are you saying, Noa?" Shinobu wonders.

"I'm saying that whatever agents Oogi has here are the same type of
being as this delightful creature," the *ashi'cha* indicates the fallen
proto-life being. "Trained and obedient watchdogs who can't be detected by
life scanners unless they're specifically programmed to look for their type of
DNA...and until now, hidden because we never considered that they'd be here."

"Great!!" Megane snarls. "So how do we get rid of them...oh, no...!" a
horrorstruck look then crosses his face.

"What is it, Aisuru-kun?" Chibi stares at the guards' leader.

"What about Tan-chan?!!" Megane demands. "What will happen to her if
Oogi finds out that I'm dating her?!"

"She'll be probably assassinated," Lum warns. "Ditto with Sil, Aijooa,
Yasashii and Kenmei. After all, the one thing Oogi and his lunatics fear
above all others is our getting out of our so-called 'roles' within the
precepts of the Church of Lum."

Mendou and the guards faint! "ASSASSINATED?!?!?!"

"Relax," Ataru cuts in. "We can stop this."

"How?!!" Megane spins on his former classmate. "You can defend yourself
at least!! Tan-chan and the others can't!!!"

"They can be protected," Ataru calmly replies, then turns to Reinoevan.
"Rei, you said you were from a pathfinder troop, right?"

"Yes, sir," she nods.

"Where are your troop-mates?"

"Back on Sagussa, sir."

"Then what are they doing there?!" Ataru snaps. "I've got a job for
them! Get them down here...and I mean YESTERDAY!!!!"

"Yessir!!!" Reinoevan snaps a salute, then runs off.

Lum and Noa stare concernedly at Ataru. "You want to bring all of
Pathfinder Six here?!" the Oni stammers. "Darling, Priss is part of that
troop! She's just as bad as Lufy!!"

"Then let's bring Lufy, too!" Ataru shrugs. "Hell, let's get every
*pirpirsiw'r* on Sagussa down here if that'll do the trick!"

With that, he heads out. Lum and Noa moan. "Lyna's Soul, he sure
believes in overkill, doesn't he?" the *ashi'cha* muses. "'Bring all the
*pirpirsiw'r*,' he states. Does he realize how many that is?"

"Let's see," the Oni hums as she tries to remember names. "Lufy, Score,
Aminobishoojo, Priss, Angel, Kaori, Yookihi..."

* * *

"Well, you seem to be in pretty good shape for someone whose been
suffering from amnesia for twelve years," Misato muses as she pulls her hand
away from Mie's face. "At least the *satre'cha* was executed properly. No
trace of Hotaru's mind in yours."

"I'sagh!" Hotaru blushes at the doctor's unspoken compliment. "I am
trained in mental-restoration duties, remember?"

"Yes, you are," Misato sighs, smiling. "Well, you've got quite the
decision ahead of you, Mie. I don't envy your present position. I'll stay
here if you want some advice."

"Thanks, Misato," Mie nods.

Misato and Sakura then step out of the office to allow Mie to have a
chance to be alone with Hotaru. "What do you mean that Mie has a big choice
ahead of her?" the latter stares at the former.

"She has two options ahead of her," the psychologist sighs. "She can
elect to remain here on Earth with her adopted family. Or she can return to
Sagussa and resume her life as a *daishi'cha.*"

"I thought it would be an automatic choice," Sakura muses. "Returning
Mie to Sagussa."

"For us, it's a little different," Misato muses. "Mie was born here in
her previous existence, hence she can fit reasonably well on Earth. She has
in fact fitted quite well in Terran society, first in Yame with her family and
close friends, then here in Tomobiki. Her lifespan may present future
psychological problems when her family dies out before she physically ages
past twenty-five Earth years, but there are long-lived races living throughout
the local cluster."

"What if she returns to Sagussa?" Sakura inquires. "Given her piloting
skills, she has to belong to your defence force."

"She does," Misato nods. "She'll be welcome back, although knowing her
commanding officer, there will be an investigation as to why she came to Earth
twelve years ago. It's just a formality; she'll be let off the hook due to a
host of medical reasons, plus lack of hard evidence. Once she gets back into
the routine, not to mention obtaining a bond-mate, she'll be back into the
swing of things. In fact, Mie will possess quite an advantage over the rest
of us. She's been raised by a loving and caring family. We were all
programmed by two very highly advanced, sentient computers...which wasn't
enough since we never learned how to properly emote, hence our need to have
contact with Ataru twelve years ago. I can easily guess that her home will be
the warmest hearth for her future family on Sagussa."

"But the choice is hers, right?"

"Naturally," Misato nods. "Hotaru won't agree with me since she is
Mie's sister. Ditto with Makoto and Rei since they're in love with Mie and
can't see themselves moving to Earth just to be with her. And Lyna only knows
how Mie's family here would take to the idea of moving to Sagussa. But in the
end, it has to be Mie's decision."

"Poor girl," Sakura sighs. "She'll be hurt either way..."

* * *

At the end of the day, everyone streams out of Tomobiki High School for
home. Mie, Hotaru, Tamiko and Suzume walk out together, Makoto and Misato
trailing them. "Well, we might as well get you introduced to Mom and Dad,"
Mie stares at her twin sister.

"I hope our parents are ready for this," Suzume sighs, giving the
psychologist an appraising eye.

"My, you seem to be keen on some dirty thoughts," Misato hums, dressed
in civilian clothes so as to not draw attention to herself.

"Suzume-chan's always been a little too ecchi for my tastes," Tamiko
hums, then longingly stares at Misato. "But I can see what makes you so
attractive, Sensei."

"Sorry...already taken," Misato blushes.

"Pity," Tamiko muses.

"My, we should talk, eh, sis?!" Mie glares at Tamiko.

Hotaru laughs. Moments later, the group reaches the Seikou house. Mie
blinks as her powers sense other Sagussans inside. "Are you the only people
who came here?!" she quizzically stares at Hotaru and Makoto.

"Oh, no," Hotaru blushes. "We sent our shuttle back to pick up some
friends who wanted to see you."

"Right," Mie sighs. *You're playing dirty, sis!*

Just as they arrive, the door opens and Aminobishoojo looks out. "Well,
there you are!!!" the *pirpirsiw'r*-born armourer steps out to embrace Mie.
"Oh, it's so good to see you again, Mie!! C'mon in! Everyone's waiting for
you!!"

"Setsuna-chan!" Hotaru smiles as she sees her bond-mate, a tall green-
haired Oni who also works at the Fleet Medical Unit.

"Everyone's here, Hotaru!" Setsuna embraces Hotaru.

Mie stares at the living room, now decorated for a party. A banner
marked WELCOME HOME, MIE! in Japanese and Sagussan hangs from one wall. A
virtual feast lavishly prepared by Hotaru's and Setsuna's friends is laid out
on the table. In the middle of it, surrounded by a half-dozen *daishi'cha*
fashionably dressed in Terran clothes, are her parents, now enjoying the
company of Mie's countrywomen. "Hey, there's the guest of honour!" Usagi
leaps up, running over to embrace Mie. "It's so good to see you again, Mie!!
We missed you so much!"

"I wish I could reciprocate that," Mie blushes.

The Terran-born zoologist shrugs. "Understandable. Don't be sad,
though. If you do come back, you'll never be alone."

Hotaru shudders, a resentful look crossing her face at Usagi's comment.
Setsuna's hand steadies her. Mie glances briefly at her sister, realizing
that while Hotaru may be adamant on the idea of Mie going back to Sagussa, her
friends freely and happily acknowledged that Mie had a right to choose her own
destiny. "Well, since we're all here, we might as well dig in," Mie blushes.

The other Sagussans let out a cheer. "Hey, we're not all here yet!"
Setsuna declares. "Ataru-sama, Lum-san, Noa and Honey still have to come."

"Oh, I sent Luna out to find them," Usagi beams.

"She found us!!" Lum's voice calls out.

The *daishi'cha* emit squeals on seeing Ataru as he comes in with Lum,
Noa and Honey behind him. "Hi, guys," Mie walks over to embrace her friends.
"Some surprise party, eh?"

"Hotaru-chan must be going overboard trying to persuade you to come
back," Lum whispers as they embrace.

"She is, isn't she?" Mie hums, then shrugs. "Well, I can't wait to see
what Rei might have in mind when she shows up later."

"I don't envy you your decision, Mie," Ataru chuckles as he gets swamped
by Usagi's and Ami's embraces. "Ooof!! Hi, girls!"

"Hey, couldn't we invite some other guys around here?!" a blonde-haired
Vosian Mie recognizes as *daishi'cha* #86582, a warsuit pilot, inquires. "I
wouldn't mind getting started on my first kid!"

"What are you talking about, Minako?!" Usagi rubs her cheek against
Ataru's. "We got THE man right here!"

"Hey!!!" Lum threateningly growls. "If anyone's going to have Darling's
first child, it's going to be ME!!!!"

"Just kidding!" Usagi smirks, waving the angry Oni down.

Everyone laughs, then the Sagussans tense. "What is it?!" Lum looks
concerned.

"Just some more guests arriving," Hotaru announces as she opens the
door. "Hi, everyone! C'mon in!!"

The six members of Pathfinder Troop Six stream in, dressed in civilians
but visibly armed. *Really covering your bases this time, aren't you, sis?!*
Mie sighs as she greets everyone.

"Hey, hotshot, how's it going?!" a brown-haired Yehisrite with a musical
note tattoo on her cheek that Mie recognizes as *daishi'cha* #22860, comes up
to slap Mie in the back, nearly driving the hapless pilot to her knees. "I'm
Priss now. Nice to see you again!"

"Nice to see you too, Priss," Mie grunts as she knocks the kink out of
her back. "I see you're as friendly as ever."

Ataru walks over. "Which one of you is the commander?"

"I am, sir," a brunette Seishin woman stands at attention. "Troop
Commander Sylia, *daishi'cha* #76073, at your service."

"Good," Ataru nods, smiling. "Try not to drink too much tonight, girls.
I'll need all of you tomorrow morning if we're going to flush out all of
Oogi's little robot spies."

"Hey, we can take it," Priss laughs.

"Yeah!!" a brunette Fukunokami with her hair cut in flowing bangs to her
collars snorts. "You fight better drunk!"

"Up yours, Linna!" Priss threateningly growls as she moves to walk over
to join Makoto. "Why don't you pillow Nene there!"

"I think I will," Linna hums, scooping the red-haired Ellsian
communications expert. "C'mon, Nene!! Let's get physical!"

Everyone save Sylia laughs. A touch of annoyance is on the troop
commander's face, as if she personally does not approve of two of her troopers
being bond-mates. "Speaking of which, Rei," an Oni with strawberry-blonde
hair stares at Mie's would-be lover. "Care to cut a rug?"

"No, thanks, Asuka," Reinoevan dismisses her with a wave, a touch of
fear in her eyes. "I've got other things on my mind."

With that, she walks over to join Mie. Asukanoevan glares at her
troopmate with a mixture of anger and anguish. "Seems to me Rei's got someone
interested in her," Ataru whispers to Lum.

"*Tcha!*" the Oni nods, watching Asukanoevan place herself down beside
Minako and her bond-mate Rei, a brunette Aimaiyite who also is a warsuit
pilot. "By the looks of it, Rei doesn't seem too hot about letting Asuka get
at her. In fact, I'd swear that Rei's a little intimidated by Asuka."

"Sort of like the way Ataru was with you before the Spirit War, Lum,"
Noa notes. "I wonder why. I know Rei and Mie have been friends since Rei
became a *daishi'cha,* but I distinctly remember that Mie was always closer to
Makoto."

"Maybe Rei's trying to use Mie to get Asuka away from her," Honey hums,
then looks at Noa and Lum. "Then again, Sylia would agree to Rei and Mie
coming together. She doesn't like the idea of people under her command having
relationships with each other. Could get real messy if they get into a tight
spot and there'd be no one around for anyone to perform *tre'cha.*"

"True," Lum nods as the doorbell rings.

"I'll get it!!" Tamiko calls out as she opens the door, then smiles.
"Hi, everyone! C'mon in!! We're just getting started!"

Ataru and Lum turn to see a lot of their classmates stream in. Mendou
and the guards come with their girlfriends, Shinobu comes with Pamanba, Lan is
by herself and Ryuunosuke is with Nagisa. "What is SHE doing here?!" the Oni
threateningly growls, projecting a laser-like stare at Pamanba.

The Vosian fearfully leaps behind Shinobu. "Lum, will you cut it out?!"
Ataru's former girlfriend snaps. "Give Pamanba a chance!"

"Yeah, right!!" Lum snorts as she proceeds to sample the food.

"Boy, Lum can sure carry a grudge, can't she?!" Pamanba sighs.

"Give her time, Pamanba," Shinobu looks sympathetic, then blinks on
seeing the Sagussans. "Wow!! I didn't realize Mie had all these friends
waiting for her back on Sagussa!"

Everyone comes in to greet everyone else. People immediately come over
to try the food. "Wow, who cooked all this?!" Megane blinks on seeing the
variety of meats, soups and what look like potatoes.

"We all did," Setsuna walks up to refill her plate with strips of
broiled marinated meat similar to beef. "All of us know how to cook so we all
pitched in before we came here to throw the party. Try it!"

Guests quickly dig in, then file their way to the middle of the living
room where they join everyone else. People quickly notice the attention
Makoto and Reinoevan are trying to heap on Mie. "Don't you think that's a
little too dangerous this early in the game?" Ataru whispers to Misato.
"Mie's got to decide what to do with herself before she considers which one to
take as her bond-mate."

"Well, Hotaru's as headstrong as her sister, and she is quite determined
to bring Mie back to Sagussa," the psychologist notes, taking down a dish of
what looks like turkey meat.

Ataru shrugs, then nibbles away on his plate of yanbe-chagh mixed with
fried hogh-kyi. The Terrans, having been repulsed by the pungent odor the
fermented dish produces, stare as he enjoys the dish like it was ramen or
beefbowl. "He's actually eating that stuff?!" Shinobu gapes.

"His taste buds must've been wiped out when Lum tried to force him to
eat some of her early concoctions," Tanoshii muses.

"Hey, I heard that!" Lum growls.

Usagi then appears in front of Ataru, a plate of her personal yanbe-
chagh in hand. "Here, Ataru! Try mine!!"

"Oh, no you don't, Usagi!" Rei shoves the zoologist away. "Ataru-sama
gets to try mine first!!"

"Oh, yeah?!" Haruka, a tomboyish Terran-born biologist, shoves Rei away.
"Everyone knows my yanbe-chagh is the best on all Sagussa!"

"I can attest to that!" her bond-mate Michiru, a green-haired Oni
biologist, beams from nearby as she finishes her meal.

Promptly, everyone who brought their personal yanbe-chagh recipes launch
an argument as to who will get to serve their *daimon'cha* first. Everyone
not of Sagussa watch this in disbelief, some immediately reminded of the way
the Niphentaxians venerate Lum. "HOLD IT!!!!" Ataru barks.

The Sagussans freeze. Ataru takes samples from everyone's plates, stirs
them together, then consumes the mixed dish. "Excellent!" he declares,
smacking his lips.

"But you didn't...?!" Ami begins.

"Ami, I'm not going to play favourites with you girls!" Ataru shakes his
head. "Besides, I only started to eat this stuff when Lum began preparing it
before Noa arrived. Give me a while before I can judge who makes the best
food, even if I *want* to judge who makes the best! Is that okay?!"

The girls nod. "Now, instead of trying to out-do each other by currying
my favour, why don't you let the others sample your dishes and get their
opinions," Ataru suggests. "Rei, you give Usagi a sample. Haruka, give
Setsuna a taste of yours. C'mon, now..."

The *daishi'cha* do as he requests. Sure enough, compliments start to
fly as everyone approves of the other's dish. With that situation ended,
Ataru returns to the buffet table to refill his dish. Nearby, Pamanba watches
this, quite awed that Ataru could keep such control on these women. "You
know, I'd swear that Ataru was the Chosen One of the Eternal Voyager with the
way these women act around him," she quietly mutters to Lan.

"He IS the Chosen One," the Seishin teen confirms.

"Eh?!!" Pamanba gasps, then drops her voice. "No way!"

"Oh, shoot, it was easy to figure out the way Koosei and Dakejinzou
behave around Darling," Lan mutters. "They're the only two alive today who've
ever walked the Voyager's decks, other thank Koruneko-san. But don't think
you can try to signal the Mikado to give him the news, much less anyone else.
You even think of trying it, you're bucking for a very early grave."

"I wouldn't," Pamanba shudders, warily eyeing Priss, Makoto and Ami.
"Our constitution states that no Vosian is to interfere in the affairs of the
Voyager or the Maidens. And with people like *them* protecting Ataru," she
notions to the three former *pirpirsiw'r,* "...even the Mikado would be out of
his mind if he tried to directly challenge either Ataru or Lum!"

"Since when has the Mikado ever obeyed your constitution?" Lan muses,
then shrugs. "Then again, you're right. Believe me, when certain people in
this galaxy learn what's coming to Darling, this part of space is going to be
very quiet from then on."

"People like Schwartz, Elle...but especially that trench-wave Oogi,"
Pamanba spits out the last name like a curse. "I was there when the
Niphentaxians dropped their bio-bomb on Lecashuto!"

"Was it really that bad?" Shinobu blinks.

The huntress looks down, tears in her eyes. "It was awful," Pamanba
declares. "Five million people killed just because the Mikado tried to have
one of Nassur's friends put to death. Old people, couples, even little
children clutching stuffed chichi bears..."

She stops, covering her eyes as she vividly remembers being part of the
graves unit which buried the dead. "I mean...even if they got the Mikado,
which they didn't, did they have to kill all those people, people who probably
never even heard of Nassur or Lum or Phentax Two?" Pamanba wonders, wiping her
face. "Who'll make Oogi answer for that sort of crime?! It's hideous!"

"Who'll make the Mikado answer for slaughtering three hundred thousand
colonists on Colony Seventy-one?" Lan counters. "It really depends on
people's perspective. This isn't a perfect galaxy."

"Nothing's perfect," Shinobu muses, then stares at Ataru, who is busy
chatting with Rei and Minako. "Not even paradise."

The others look. "S'funny," Lan hums.

"What is?" Pamanba stares at the Seishin teen.

"There's a legend on Uru about the Chosen One and the Maidens," Lan
muses. "It states that if the Maidens of Aruka...Noa and Honey...come back,
the Chosen One will come and salvage Uru from it's darkest hour."

"Vos has a similar legend," Pamanba nods. "It dates from Lecasur's
time. After a time of darkness and great evil, the Chosen One will come and
lead Vos into a time of peace and prosperity."

Shinobu glances again at Ataru. "I don't think the people who told
legends like that ever imagined this Chosen One to be a person like Ataru
Moroboshi," she snorts.

"Ridiculous, isn't it?!" Lan snickers.

The three women laugh. Ataru sneezes. Meanwhile, Mie separates herself
from the crowd, then proceeds to the front porch, inhaling deeply. Hotaru
steps out a moment later. "You okay, Mie?" the nurse looks concerned.

Mie flashes her an annoyed stare. "You played dirty, Hotaru."

"And if I did?!" Hotaru walks up to her, crossing her arms. "So?!! I
want my family to be made whole again! Outside of Setsuna, you're my family,
Mie! What in Lyna's name is wrong with that?!"

"Nothing, if I *was* alone these past twelve years," Mie admits.

"Mie, you don't belong here!" Hotaru pleads. You belong back home with
people who understand you, people who care for you!!"

"I've got them here, too," Mie reminds her. "My parents didn't have to
take me in when they found me twelve years ago. They did! Doesn't that
deserve some sort of respect?!"

"I..." Hotaru looks away, tears flowing down her face. "Mie, do you
have any idea what it's been like?!"

Mie sympathetically shakes her head. "All alone in that damn chamber
for twelve years," Hotaru gasps. "Wondering whether you were alive or dead!
You didn't even tell me why you did *tre'cha* with me...and when James told me
that you were nowhere to be found, I thought the worst! And that doesn't
mention what your disappearance did to Makoto! She just wanted to die! All
of us...Setsuna, Usagi, Ami, Rei, Minako, Haruka, Michiru and I...we had to
band together to prevent Makoto from killing herself. But there were times
when I felt as bad as she! There were times I wanted to die, when I thought
that you were dead and there was nothing left of you but the memories you gave
me..."

Her voice breaking, she spins around to embrace her sister. "Then we
found out you were alive," she sighs. "Finally, it was over. The Dream Time
wasn't a time of contemplation for us. It was a nightmare because you were
gone! Why, Mie?! Why did you go?!" She then shudders as sobs wrack her.
"Wh-why w-won't y-you c-come back...?!"

The nurse's voice breaks as she wails, tightly embracing the sister she
feared she would never see again. Mie stands there, sadness and confusion
storming on her face. *What possessed me to leave these people?! To leave my
own flesh-and-blood, the woman who would've died for me, all my friends...?!*
one part of her wonders.

*What of those who cared for you, a total stranger, when you came here
twelve years ago?* the other part calmly inquires. *Your father, your mother,
Tamiko, Suzume, all your friends? Don't they deserve some consideration for
all they've done for you?!*

Sighing, Mie shifts Hotaru away from her. "Hotaru?"

"Y-you're going to s-stay, aren't you...?" Hotaru hesitantly inquires,
looking away from her sister.

Smiling, Mie shifts Hotaru so they could stare eye-to-eye. "I don't
know, *Oshoi'cha,*" she calmly intones the Sagussan word for "younger sister."
"I have to find myself. I'm two people if you think about it. *Daishi'cha*
Three-thirty-seven and Mie Seikou. I've got to find my way back into becoming
one person again."

"I...I can understand that," Hotaru nods.

"Will you help me?"

Brightening, Hotaru yelps as she embraces Mie again. "Yes!!!"

Mie returns her embrace. Watching this from inside the home, Mie's
parents nod, then return to the party...

* * *

Mie's eyes open.

She smiles on seeing Makoto sleeping to one side of her and Reinoevan on
the other, a large blanket covering all three. Both were certainly determined
to exploit every chance at winning Mie's heart. Hotaru and Setsuna sleep in
another futon nearby. The other *daishi'cha* elected to sleep in the Seikou
home rather than crash aboard Pathfinder Troop Six's base ship, the warpsloop
"Kiboo'cha," now orbiting Earth. Twisting herself so that she could wrap an
arm around her would-be lovers, Mie stares out the window to view the sunrise.

The party, despite Hotaru's hidden agenda, had been wonderful. Of
course, the Terran guests had been ushered out before the ran-jugh...Sagussan
brandy...was brought out. More potent than Fukunokami super-vodka, one shot
would, according to Setsuna, have made a Terran drunk for a month. Mie
herself had three glasses. Very dry, akin to one of James Bond's martinis,
with a touch of peach. She would have to learn how to ferment the stuff.

By that time, Makoto and Rei are stirring. "'Morning," Mie smiles as
their eyes flutter open.

"Oh, 'morning," Makoto yawns as she stretches herself, then sits up.
"What time is it?"

"About six-thirty," Rei stares at a clock. "What time did Ataru want us
to meet him?"

"He said eight," Mie stands, walking over to nudge Hotaru and Setsuna.
"Up and at 'em, sleepy-heads! Let's get to work."

Both nurses moan. "Morning, already?" Hotaru yawns as she stretches
herself. "Lyna's Soul, how time flies."

"After nine thousand years in cryofreeze, it would for you," Setsuna
playfully growls as she yanks her bond-mate back into her embrace, then
overwhelms her with a kiss.

Mie quickly turns away as the two nurses become more passionate...then
jerks as Makoto and Rei give her very seductive stares. "Wh-what's w-with
th-that look?!" she stammers.

"You have to choose sooner or later, Mie-chan," Makoto purrs.

"Maybe we should help you choose," Rei smiles as she reaches over to
draw Mie back into bed...

* * *

Sometime later, the Sagussans come to Tomobiki High School. Despite
being in civilians, the weapons they bear quickly indicate their intention.
Misato, Usagi and Minako bring their sandpanthers Penpen, Luna and Artemis to
help in the search. Ataru is there waiting for them, as is Lum, who has been
given the day off to help flush out Oogi's spies. "We're all here, bright and
chipper!" Noa declares, flashing Ataru a mock salute. "Where to, boss?!"

"Darling and I discussed the matter last night," Lum smiles. "We
believe there'd be little cause for Oogi to send agents to Oshika since they
could be detected by Nokoko-chan, the Nendo-kata or Nicole's palace. Besides,
the more Darling's away from Tomobiki, the better the Niphentaxians like it."

"We'll give 'em an education on that point," Priss smiles.

Everyone laughs. "A team will go to Oshika and sweep it clear just in
case," Ataru muses. "Chances are, real Niphentaxians are there. Lum, Noa,
Honey and Mie will come with me. Sylia, you'll take charge of the others."

Makoto and Reinoevan blink, shocked that Mie was ordered to Oshika
without either of them. "Yes, sir," Sylia nods.

"And make it a clean sweep!" Lum insists. "If even one lives, it can
warn Oogi and who knows what'll happen then!"

"Right!!" the others nod.

"Except me," Ami holds up her hand.

"What's the problem, Ami?" Hotaru stares at the armourer.

"Mie's parents told me her Gladiator is now in an abandoned seaplane
hangar in Mitsushima on property her uncle owns," Ami announces. "I'm going
down there to see if it's salvageable."

Mie moans. Now her parents were in on the act! "Mie's Gladiator's
intact?!" Ataru blinks, surprised by that revelation, then turns to the pilot.
"Why didn't you tell me?!"

"Well, I doubt it's flyable after it took a year-long dunk in the Sea of
Japan," Mie admits. "Besides, until Hotaru brought my memory back, I didn't
remember how to work the self-repair circuits, much less set an auto-distress
beacon to get help!"

"That would cause a problem," Lum admits.

"Okay, Ami, go ahead," Ataru nods.

The armourer nods, then heads off. "I'll bring some chonagh and chigh-
tagh for you later," Usagi calls out.

"Bring for two, Usagi-chan!" Ami calls back before heading off the
school grounds. "Ritsuko's coming down to help me!"

Misato flushes. "Ritsuko-chan's coming here?!" she gasps, then turns to
Usagi. "You let me handle her, Usagi-chan!!"

"No problem," the zoologist beams.

"Let's get the job done first!!" Ataru growls.

Usagi and Misato flush in embarrassment. Lum snickers. Due to the
unique closeness of the *daishi'cha,* some being together for thousands of
years in cryogenic suspension, what Ami did was easily understood. Ritsuko,
as well as being Misato's *marei'cha,* was Ami's *aiha'cha;* both were
armourers who specialized in Gladiator maintenance. Since Misato came alone
to Earth to examine Mie, Ami...like all the *daishi'cha* would loathe to be
anywhere for an unspecified period of time without their bond-mate...resolved
the problem by inviting Ritsuko to come work with her. Ritsuko would do the
same thing for Ami if Usagi was not around for her bond-mate.

The two groups separate, Lum's team heading to her scout for the trip to
Oshika. Sylia faces everyone else. "Okay, we'll work in pairs. Priss with
me, Makoto with Reinoevan, Asukanoevan with Usagi, Rei with Minako, Hotaru
with Setsuna, Haruka with Michiru, Nene with Linna. We'll split the town
according to the RSN case study manual on suppressing Tomobiki. Everyone
should be familiar with it. Let's go!"

The groups nod, heading off. Disappointment is clearly on the faces of
three of the *daishi'cha*...

* * *

"Why I get stuck with you is something I'll never understand!" Makoto
growls as she and Reinoevan walk down one side street, scanners and pistols
out. "Aren't you supposed to be Asuka's teammate?!"

"If you think I like this, think again!" Rei snarls. "Yes, I am Asuka's
teammate! But with Ami fixing Mie's Gladiator, Usagi needs a partner!"

"I'd prefer Usagi over you!!"

The Tritonian-born Pathfinder emits a barking laugh. "Sure! A ditzoid
ship driver with an equally ditzoid zoologist!! I'm sure you two would've
been pretty effective!"

The Yehisrite-born watchmistress growls. What was wrong with this
situation? Sure, Mie and Rei had known each other longer than the former knew
Makoto, but the Pathfinder had been empathically closer with her Oni-born
teammate, despite the very short time Rei and Asukanoevan had known the other
(as *daishi'cha* #95143, Asuka had been a Sagussan for a little over a
century). When the *daishi'cha* began discovering their emotions, it was
expected by many that the two would become bond-mates.

Deciding that physical confrontation would do no good...understandable
since Rei's fighting prowess impressed Lufy...Makoto switches tactics. "Well,
maybe I'm wrong. This morning was quite enjoyable."

Rei blinks. "It was, wasn't it? Maybe Mie would be interested in
making it a threesome."

Makoto blinks. All three women becoming *marei'cha,* forming a single
family group?! Was Mie prepared for that? And why was Rei so desperate to
get in Mie's good graces? "Could you and I ever get along?" she probes.

"If Mie can't make a choice, it may be the only way we could all be
happy," Rei admits, projecting a light smile. "After all, we're both
dedicated to making Mie happy."

*You're running away from something, Rei!* Makoto keeps her face
neutral. *And I'd swear on Lyna's grave in Tere'na-korgh that her name's
spelt A-S-U-K-A-N-O-E-V-A-N!* "Well, if Mie does want it, then I suppose we
could come to some sort of understanding," the watchmistress muses. "But what
about Asuka?"

The Pathfinder jolts, then scowls. "That's a low blow!"

"I've got a right to question your motives!" Makoto snarls. "If you
really loved Mie, I could understand that! In fact, I'd be willing to become
bond-mates with you since we both shared the same interest in Mie! But I have
this sneaking hunch that you're after her for some other reason!"

"What reason could that be?!" Rei muses.

"Simple! Twelve years ago, you and Asuka were pretty close, even if we
didn't then understand what it meant to love someone. Then almost right after
Mie disappears, you declare that you wanted to be Mie's bond-mate! Now, if
that doesn't smell like mouldy, rotten yanbe-chagh, I don't know what will!!"

"I'm entitled to change my mind. Maybe I didn't find Asuka attractive
anymore! And I don't!!"

"You certainly find her cooking attractive!" Makoto snarls. "Last
night, you totally demolished Asuka's bam-gi with salt-spiced chagh! A lot of
people wanted to try that, you know!"

"She's an excellent cook," Rei admits.

"And I remember that knitted sweater she made for you when you two were
Duty *Daishi'cha,*" Makoto probes further. "You never wore your duty jersey
after that, even taking that sweater into cryosleep when Linna and Nene took
your place!"

"It was the middle of winter!" Rei snaps. "James was working on the
heaters and I wasn't interested in getting pneumonia!!"

"Bullshit!" Makoto snaps, pointing accusingly at her. "You love Asuka
even now! I bet if she did *mavan'shagh* for you, you'd pillow her silly for
three hours afterward and forget Mie ever existed!! So what's the big deal?!
Trying to go for a two-in-one?!"

The Tritonian-born warrior's eyes flash as she spins on her. "What
makes you think I want to be with anyone else BUT Asuka?!!"

She gasps, realizing what she just admitted. Makoto blinks as she
lowers her hand. "So that's it," she hums. "It's because Asuka changed so
much after Ataru visited, right?"

Rei looks down, tears in her eyes. "Yes..."

Silence. Rei tries desperately to regain her self-discipline. Makoto
looks away, angry at herself. She heard of cases like this. While the
majority of *daishi'cha* had embraced the internal revelations Ataru's
presence provoked, there were some who actually were frightened by the storm
of emotions they found themselves capable of unleashing. People who were more
comfortable being more rational, in a mode akin to Fourth Republic Sagussans
in the wake of the Clone Wars, than empathic.

Makoto knew Asuka despite their different positions in the Sagussan
Navy. She was passionate, devoted to her troopmates...not to mention
dedicated to winning her teammate's love. Given that Rei was more comfortable
being in a rational mode of mind, Asuka's wild and free-spirited nature must
have hit her teammate like a cyclone. Rei really saw no other option than to
keep her would-be bond-mate at an emotional distance. And doing so was
tearing at her soul. She was desperate for any respite from Asuka...but at
the same time could not stand being parted from her!

"She has to know the truth," Makoto advises.

"And break her heart?" Rei wonders.

"You're already breaking her heart by chasing after Mie," Makoto warns.
"Besides, I wonder if you're prepared to live the rest of your life on Earth."

"What?!! What does that mean?!"

"It means that Mie may choose to stay here," Makoto warns. "She has a
family. Even Ataru believes that Mie has the right to make a choice. Then
again, if you did come to live here, you'll be apart from Asuka."

Rei winces. "What about Mie's family?!" she snaps. "She's a
*daishi'cha!* Her proper place is on Sagussa, not Earth!! I wouldn't abandon
the world that gave me a new life just to chase after someone who's so
unappreciative that she'd turn her back on Sagussa!!"

"Then how can you say you love Mie?" Makoto muses. "I want to love Mie.
Love means that I respect Mie's wishes. If she wishes to live on Earth
because she feels uncomfortable about returning to Sagussa, then I either
respect her wishes and consider living here, or else consider letting her go.
You really can't let her go because if you do, Asuka'll be all over you and
you'd have no place to run!"

They glare at each other. The Pathfinder shudders, realizing that the
watchmistress has her trapped and there is no way out. "There are days I
curse Ataru's coming to Sagussa, you know that," Rei finally sighs.

"Let Asuka know the truth," Makoto insists. "If she can't take it,
she'll look elsewhere. Or she'll conform into something you'd like. Don't
drag me and Mie into this! She's doesn't need this garbage!!"

The silence is punctuated by a beep emitting from Makoto's scanner. She
looks at it, blinking. "Shit, I just picked up something really strong!!
That direction!" she points down a side street.

"Confirmed," Rei looks at her scanner, then she nods. "Let's go!! We
have a job to do!"

They sprint down the street. A moment later, they stand before an
abandoned ramshackle home. "Two small communications devices and four
biodroids inside," Rei looks at her readings, then at Makoto. "How d'you want
to play this?"

"Straightforward," the watchmistress pulls out a stun grenade, arms it,
then tosses it through a window.

Passing students watch as a muffled explosion forces what appears to be
a normal Japanese family...father, mother, son and daughter...run out of the
home. Makoto and Rei shoot them down without so much as batting an eye!
"I'll go take care of the comm gear," Rei heads inside the house.

"Right," Makoto nods as she stares at what is left of the "family."
"You'd think fanatic jerks like the Niphentaxians would've come up with
something a little more challenging!"

* * *

In another part of town walk Asukanoevan, Usagi and Luna. The
Terran-born zoologist is unarmed, being the type who would normally eschew
weapons (and given her lackluster performance in "My Darlings United," has
little skill to use them despite being bond-mates with an armourer). The
Oni-born Pathfinder keeps an eye out as Usagi sweeps the area with a
tricorder. "Anything?" she glances at her partner.

"Nothing...wait!" Usagi yelps as she registers something. "A faint
reading in that direction!" she points down the street.

"Let's go!" Asuka snaps as she charges down the street.

Luna growls as she runs after the Pathfinder. "Hey, wait for me!!"
Usagi gasps.

Ahead, Asuka emits a growl. She needed to let off some steam before she
did something really stupid, like lose her temper in front of Rei. That would
blow any chance she had of making the Tritonian-born warrior her bond-mate.
What had made Rei so cold over the last dozen years?! True, she had been
friends with Mie for a long time, almost nine centuries, but that still did
not explain her sudden and intense desire for the long-missing pilot.
Everyone knew that Mie and Makoto were an item, had been even before Ataru
came. Asuka had not been pleased to hear that Mie was alive and well. It
made her troopmate more distant.

Turning a corner, Asuka sees Mendou sitting on a park bench passionately
kissing Sil. Annoyed, she then spins on Usagi as she catches up, then nearly
faints for lack of oxygen. "*De'ne,* you're reading that scanner wrong!!" she
snarls. "There's nothing here but Mendou and his girlfriend!"

Mendou and Sil look quizzically at the two Sagussans. "I'm sure one of
them's a biodroid," Usagi protests...

...but says nothing more as Luna emits a roar as she leaps at "Mendou."
Sil shrieks as the biodroid is mauled by the sandpanther, unable to defend
itself against claws which could rend solid steel like a knife punching
through hot butter! In a moment, what is left falls apart. Luna sniffs what
is left, then hungrily growls. "Good girl, Luna," Usagi smiles as she walks
up, stroking the sandpanther's fur. "Who knows what that thing could've done
if we didn't catch it!"

"I...I didn't even realize..." Sil stammers, eyes wide.

"You're lucky," Asuka pulls out her own scanner to confirm that Sil is
who she is, then slings her rifle. "Chances are we better look in on the
guards' girlfriends to make sure none of them are being bushwacked."

"Good point," Usagi nods, then bops Luna's head. "No, Luna! You can't
eat it! You'll get indigestion!"

An annoyed Luna glares at the zoologist, as if to say, "Can't I get
ANYTHING to eat around this place?!"

* * *

Sylia's team works throughout the morning sweeping Tomobiki clear of all
biodroids and wrecking their communication gear. By noon, the all-clear is
sounded as what is left of the biodroids is retrieved by the "Kiboo'cha's"
transporter and beamed to the back lawn of Tomobiki High School, joining the
biodroids who replicated Oogi and his guards. "Any news from Oshika?" the
Seishin-born Pathfinder inquires of Priss.

"All clear," Priss sighs as she pulls out a spheroid grenade-like
object. "Mie's on her way down."

Makoto brightens. Reinoevan looks nervous. An annoyed glare crosses
Asukanoevan's face. "Well, let's get this over with," Sylia stares at the
heaped pile of metamorphic flesh some distance away. "Clear out, everyone!"

Everyone backs away as Priss arms the baulximite flash-bomb. "Fire in
the hole!!!" she yells as she tosses the weapon into the pile of biodroids,
then leaps for cover.

The weapon explodes, disintegrating all solid matter within a five-metre
radius of the blast-point. The smoke quickly dissipates, leaving nothing
behind but a pile of ashes. Everyone sighs as they stare morbidly at the
remains of Oogi's spies. "So now what?" Setsuna inquires.

"We should send them back to Phentax Two," Minako proposes. "With a few
rigged grenades to go along with it."

"Did Ataru order that?!" Rei stares at her bond-mate.

"No, but we should be thinking a little more for ourselves," the Vosian-
born warsuit pilot muses. "Besides, if Oogi gets caught in the blast, who
knows what that'll do to the Church of Lum as a whole."

"Doesn't the Non-Interference Directive apply?" Michiru inquires.

"Hey, those *kimei'ne* fanatics are threatening OUR *daimon'cha* and his
Other!!" Nene growls.

The Oni-born biologist sighs, mock-slapping herself. "Oh, silly me! I
forgot about that!" she muses. "Of course it doesn't apply!! Whatever was I
thinking?!"

Everyone laughs. "Priss, you take care of the care package," Sylia
notions the pile of ashes.

"Right, boss," the Yehisrite-born Pathfinder smiles. "I'll give it some
extra special attention. After all, it IS a declaration of war! We gotta
make sure the Niphentaxians get the message!"

"Oooh, I can't wait!" Rei purrs...

* * *

Later that afternoon, Reinoevan walks into Shapiro's Ice Cream Parlour,
now dressed in a jeans and a beautiful home-knit sweater of grey, white and
black. "Mount Fuji, please," she calls out.

"Okay," Pamanba smiles as she proceeds to fill the order.

"Did you get those creepy things?" Shinobu wonders as Rei sits.

"Yep," the Tritonian-born Pathfinder sighs. "The town's as clean as a
whistle. We're sending the ashes back to Phentax Two, along with a few
grenades just to make sure Oogi gets the message."

"He better get the message," Pamanba snarls as she prepares the Mount
Fuji. "I wouldn't be surprised if after the rebels win, they try to drag Oogi
back to Vos for trial."

"Hasn't the Mikado tried that?" Rei wonders. "If he did, he'd score a
lot of points with folks on the homeworld."

"He tried," Pamanba admits as she places the Mount Fuji. "We sent a
regiment of Marines and a squadron of battleships to destroy Lumukyou in
retaliation. Unfortunately, the Niphentaxians have those System Destroyers
protecting their homeworld and inner colonies. No one knew about it until
they wiped out our fleet and slaughtered almost everyone aboard. We heard
that the few survivors, if they weren't executed, were made into slaves."

"Barbaric!" Shinobu spits out disgustingly. "I can see why Lum hates
them! They're animals!!"

"Every race has the potential for barbarism, Shinobu," Rei warns. "Even
my race. After all, we inherited all the beliefs and philosophy of the Fourth
Republic, so we or our descendants could easily revert."

"I've heard something about this War of Clone Rights," Shinobu hums.
"Was it really that bad?!"

"Five hundred years, ten billion dead," Rei reports.

Shinobu and Pamanba pale. "That's a joke, right?!" the Vosian huntress
fearfully squeaks.

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Rei muses.

Pamanba shudders. "Boy, the Mikado would be nuts to try to attack Ataru
head on with you girls around."

"Don't worry," Rei smiles as she digs into her Mount Fuji. "We believe
in the subtle approach. Your former commander and his officers got a
demonstration of it sometime ago."

"That was you?!!" Shinobu blinks.

"Actually, it was Lufy," Rei reports. "She's a former *pirpirsiw'r*
like Makoto, Ami and Priss."

"Wait!" Shinobu hums as she remembers the gathering at the end of the
Spirit War. "Blonde hair, green streak in it, a star on her cheek, right?!"

"That's her," the Sagussan nods.

"You mean the Enchanting *Laqu'r* of Falcros?!" Pamanba blinks. "She
would've died about eight hundred years ago?!"

"Maybe," Rei shrugs. "Most of us don't remember our previous lives
after our bodies are regenerated in the matrix. There are some who do, but
it's all fragmented memories which remained after the *mei'na* of the previous
self has already fled the body. I have no memories of my old life. All that
I presently am first came into existence a millennia ago."

"Wow!" Shinobu whistles, feeling her arm. "You sure don't feel like a
zombie to me!"

"That's to be expected," Pamanba hums. "Most people who gave the
Maidens consideration knew right from the start that you'd have to be restored
to true life if you were to serve whatever planet you eventually settled."

"That'll have to be kept under the table," Shinobu muses. "The guys at
school are pretty antsy about the idea of you girls coming after Ataru-kun,
even if a lot of them now have girlfriends. They still can't accept that
Lum's going along with it."

"That's why we moved to get Lum's understanding and approval of it
before we approached Ataru," Rei explains. "We don't look at Lum as an enemy.
She's part of us because she's part of Ataru. We're a part of Ataru too, as
he is of us."

"Do you know that Noa was the one who arranged that?!" Shinobu inquires.
"She bonded Ataru-kun and Lum fourteen years ago."

Rei considers the point. "She did? Well, that's understandable. If I
was caught in that sort of situation, I'd've done the same thing. You could
confess that for all of us. We...weren't what you'd call competent in
expressing our emotions, much less trying to interpret others."

"Especially shielding yourselves from other people's emotions," Shinobu
muses. "Noa told me at the party last night that her encounter with Ataru-
kun, Lum and Nokoko was very painful."

"Understandable," Rei nods...then tenses.

"What is it?" Pamanba looks concerned.

The door opens and Asukanoevan steps in. The Oni-born warrior is
dressed in a fetching gold dress. "Hi," she smiles. "Triple-scoop
neapolitan, please."

"Right away," Pamanba smiles.

Shinobu looks at Asuka, then looks at Rei. The Tritonian-born warrior
stares at her teammate, a lustful hunger glowing deep in her eyes...metered
with something Shinobu suspects is a touch of intimidation. *Only time I ever
saw that was when Ataru-kun reacted to Lum prior to going to Icarus,* she
muses, quickly drawing a host of conclusions.

Asuka sits beside Rei, obviously doing her best not to let her libido
take control of her. "Sylia got orders from Ataru," the former announces.
"We're to stay in town until the Niphentaxian situation is considered secure.
We'll be living at the Toranoseishin Finance building."

"That's good," Rei nods, eating her Mount Fuji as Pamanba hands Asuka
her ice cream cone, then switches to Sagussan. "Igh'oghn nuni mei'ne, ipdagh
kyoghno saran-oe-mujoigh."

"What does that mean?!" Shinobu and Pamanba chorus.

"'When fanatics are blind, a thousand innocent people suffer their
wrath,'" Asuka translates. "It dates from the Clone Wars. The people who
initiated that conflict had no purpose beyond fighting for their cause. When
the government deprived them of the person they chose as their icon, they went
crazy..."

"And we have to undo that," Rei completes. "If Oogi is of the same
nature as the members of Tarun-Chong fourteen millennia ago, this battle's not
over yet."

Shinobu takes that in. "Ataru-kun would have to destroy Phentax Two
like he was forced to destroy Phentax Twelve."

"He destroyed a Niphentaxian colony?!" Pamanba gasps, then laughs.
"It's no wonder Oogi hates him. Ataru should have got a medal."

"He almost did," Shinobu confirms. "The people of Phentax Twelve
stumbled onto this bioroid production faculty and were using the products as
their slaves. Worse, they used a cursed crystal ball meant for Lum to control
the bioroids...the Avalonians. The crystal ball literally sucked the
life-energy out of the Niphentaxians living on Phentax Twelve. When Ataru-kun
destroyed the crystal ball to save Lum, he not only freed the Avalonians, he
killed every Niphentaxian on the planet...and to make sure that the curse
could never spread, he had to destroy Phentax Twelve itself. The rest of the
Galactic Federation understood that, according to Lum..."

"But Oogi never could," Pamanba concludes.

"Right," Shinobu nods.

As Ataru's former girlfriend and the Vosian huntress continue their
discussion, Asuka and Rei stare at the other. The former reaches to grasp the
latter's hand. Sensing the storm of emotions barely contained under Asuka's
skin, Rei bolts away. "No!!" she gasps, leaping back to put some distance
between her and her would-be bond-mate.

"Rei!" Asuka stares at her, standing. "Why are you running away?! You
know that Mie doesn't want anything to do with you!"

Shinobu and Pamanba quizzically stare at this scene, unsure as to what
happened. A mixture of pain and confusion is on Asuka's face. Rei's is
crossed by denial, pain and a touch of revulsion, all mixed with sadness.
"It's me you want, Rei," Asuka's voice lowers an octave as her hand reaches to
her dress. "Why are you chasing another's bond-mate when I'm around...?"

The clasp comes undone, Asuka's dress falling away to reveal nothing
underneath. Rei lets out a hoarse gasp as her teammate's mind then begins to
shed her psionic barriers. *Mavan'shagh.* Time of no secrets. The
uninhibited bearing of one's soul to another in the most erotic act a Sagussan
could perform. To Rei's psionic eyes, Asuka is not just a pretty sixteen year
old Oni, well-developed and highly exercised given her chosen profession.

Asuka is presently a glowing point of warm light. This image is a
visualization of her *mei'na,* the very core of her being, now freed from the
trappings of the flesh, exposed for all to see, touch, caress and meld. Rei's
*mei'na* automatically ignites, her own desires forcing her psi-barriers down
as she reach out to that icon of purity before her.

Sensing Rei's interest, Asuka's *mei'na* extends psionic tendrils,
metaphysical "hands" to grasp her target. Some intertwine with Rei's probes.
Others pass them, penetrating through the holes in Rei's defenses to integrate
with the Tritonian-born woman's own *mei'na.* Given time and Rei's
willingness to cooperate with Asuka, this process would form a *marei'cha*
bond, making them a couple in the eyes of their people.

"No!!!"

Asuka gasps as Rei brings her arms in an X-formation in front of her,
yanking away her psionic probes as her shields return to full strength,
effectively blinding her senses to Asuka's radiance. *Manuni'shagh.* Denial
of one's own intimate desires by denying the interest of others. The ultimate
slap in the face. But the exertion costs Rei all her strength; she collapses
to her knees, then passes out. "Rei!!!" Asuka gasps as she runs to her fallen
teammate's side, gently lifting the unconscious Rei onto her lap.

Shinobu blinks. Being psi-null, she does not comprehend what transpired
here. Pamanba had no choice in the matter. When Asuka stripped her shields,
her brainwave patterns became "visible" to the Vosian's tracking powers...and
by the sheer intensity of the Sagussan's mind, burned her own mind out. She
now lies on the floor, unconscious from the searing power of Asuka's mind, her
nose haemorrhaging. By that time, Rei's eyes are fluttering open. Asuka
glares at her, the betrayal and pain torquing her features. "Why?!" she
demands. "In Lyna's name, why?! Why?!! Why?!!"

Rei wants nothing else but to be left alone so she could try to put the
mess her own spirit in order. But Asuka would not back away. Retreat was not
in a Pathfinder's language. Then a friend's words come to her: "Let Asuka
know the truth. If she can't take it, she'll look elsewhere. Or she'll
change herself to conform into something you'd like..."

There was only one way to do that.

Asuka gasps as Rei relaxes all her guards, lowering them in her own
*mavan'shagh.* Anticipation crosses the former's face as she prepares to
drink from this heady ran-jugh, something she dreamt of for a century. And
this time, she will not be denied as her shields lower. Then, Asuka blinks as
thoughts and words come to her. Rei asking herself what was happening to the
person she cared for...

No.

Back then, they were Oai-eieoei and Uouiaioi'ii; they did not have names
when Ataru first visited. Like most *daishi'cha,* Asuka had drunk deeply from
the heady wine of uncontrolled emotions typical of a five-year old boy from
Earth, they becoming part of her soul. However, Rei only sipped from that
emotional bottle. While she did learn, as they all did, how to emote, she
kept her newfound knowledge in perspective. She liked being in control of
herself, using logic instead of venting her new emotions and potentially
losing command of the situation. After all, the warrior who lost all sense of
her situation soon became a dead warrior.
And Rei had lost all sense of what happened to Asuka.

Before Ataru's coming, Asuka had been as thoroughly analytical, as
rational as her teammate. Both had seriously discussed becoming bond-mates
long before they understood the emotion called love. But when Asuka's
mannerisms radically altered with the changes in her *mei'na,* Rei was
repulsed. To the latter, the woman she knew had ceased to exist, replaced by
this stranger with Asuka's face and voice, but with little else where it
really counted.

Which began Rei's interest in Mie. She was one of the first to learn of
the pilot's disappearance, as well as the *tre'cha* she performed with Hotaru
prior to her disappearance. Bombarded by an unrelenting Asuka, Rei sought a
place of refuge where she could still be in command of the situation. That
refuge was Mie. More precisely, the Mie which remained on Sagussa, hardly
changed by Ataru's appearance and the havoc he caused. With it, Rei's sanity
was kept intact...while her heart was cruelly divided between her past love of
Asuka and her present need for Mie.

"I didn't understand..." Asuka gasps, tightly embracing Rei.

Both stare at each other. "You became a stranger to me," Rei sniffs,
tears flowing down her cheeks. "The woman I was used to just disappeared
before my eyes..."

"I'm still here, Rei..."

"I know...and deep down, I hoped you'd come back..."

"I can't turn back the clock," Asuka admits.

Sadness crosses Rei's face as she nods. Makoto was right. She had been
unfair to many people, most of all herself. Asuka had deeply suffered, Mie
was confused and Makoto more than right to be angry. But Rei liked being the
way she was. It felt safe to her, as well as secure. How could she
accommodate Asuka? She could not. It would just produce more pain and
misery. "Nothing can go further from this," she looks away.

Asuka blinks, then tilts Rei's head back so they could stare into the
other's eyes. "Wanna bet?"

"Wha...?!" Rei gasps, but her voice is cut off as Asuka's lips caress
her teammate's...no!

Bond-mate's.

It had happened.

They stare at each other. "If you can accept me the way I am now,"
Asuka smiles. "I can more than accept you."

Rei shudders, sobs bursting from her lungs as she fiercely embraces
Asuka. The one who had stood by her for a century. The one who had never
given up on her dreams of winning Rei's love. And Rei did love Asuka. She
always had. There were parts of Asuka which intimidated, frightened her
bond-mate, but everyone was unique. Such was the way of the Universe. How
could you deny reality? Rei continues to cry as Asuka rocks her body,
soothing Rei with a soft mantra. "It's okay...it's okay...it's okay..."

Finally, Rei looks up, then places her hands on the other's cheek.
Since their minds automatically bonded when both performed *mavan'shagh* with
the other unshielded, there was no need for an additional mind-meld.

"Do vanan'cha...marei'cha-Asuka."

Asuka sniffs as she duplicate's Rei's actions.

"Do vanan'cha...marei'cha-Rei."

They kiss...

* * *

Several minutes later, a happy couple departs Shapiro's Ice Cream
Parlour, hand-in-hand. Shinobu remains in place, confusion etched on her
face. Something incredible had happened, but she had no idea what it was. Of
all the strange oddities she had encountered since Lum's arrival, this had to
be the oddest! "What do you think happened, Pamanba...?!" she turns to stare
at her friend...then blinks on not seeing her. "Pamanba?! Where are you?!"

She sees Pamanba slowly recovering, her skin pale from loss of blood,
clothes now stained red. "Pamanba!!!" Shinobu shrieks as she leaps to her
friend's side. "What happened?!!"

Pamanba yelps as Shinobu's words crash into her eardrums. "Ouch!!
Don't shout so loud, Shinobu! Lecasur's Soul, did someone get the number of
those asteroids that hit me?!"

Shinobu blinks, then stares out the window where Asuka and Rei had
gone...

* * *

"Congratulations!!!" Linna beams.

Asuka and Rei blush as they walk into Toranoseishin Finances' private
apartment in Tomobiki, now the headquarters of Pathfinder Troop Six. Among
their people, the bond of *marei'cha* is as discernable as any physical
expression of emotion, hence their status as bond-mates was an open book to
their troopmates. Linna and Nene walk up, clasping hands with Asuka and Rei.
"Thanks," Asuka sighs. "It almost took me forever, but I did it!"

"We can tell!" Nene muses. "So...want to make it a four-way orgy for
the first night as a couple?"

Asuka and Rei stare at each other. "No, we'll just be by ourselves,"
the latter sighs. "We need to do a lot of talking."

"Among other things," Linna coyly muses.

Asuka and Rei turn beet-red as Linna and Nene laugh, returning to their
private bedroom. They then sense Sylia's presence. "I hoped you two would've
exercised a little more discretion."

The two stare at their commander. "Sorry, Sylia," Asuka shrugs. "You
just might say it's fate."

Sylia's eyes roll. "Everyone uses that excuse," she mutters.

"Where's Priss?" Rei looks around.

"She's checking on the status of our courier missile to Phentax Two,"
Sylia sighs. "It should be there by now."

"It arrived," Priss' voice announces.

The three see the *pirpirsiw'r*-turned-*daishi'cha* walk into the room.
"What happened?!" Rei inquires.

"It blew apart half of the Great Lum Church in Lumukyou," Priss smiles,
then frowns. "Oogi wasn't in town...but they sure as hell got the message."

"Oh, we'll just have to kill him later," Asuka smiles...

* * *

"A simple case of bad luck," Misato shakes her head. "Being close to
two Sagussans performing *mavan'shagh* on each other. You two are lucky to be
alive, you know that?"

Shapiro and Pamanba, both with ice packs on their heads, moan in
response to the psychologist's statement. "So I presently feel," the elder
observer moans. He had been in the basement when Rei and Asuka stripped
themselves of their psychic defenses, nearly burning the minds of both Vosians
by the strength of their brainwaves. Both are now on futons in the cafeteria,
blankets over them. Shinobu sits beside Pamanba. "Would you care to tell me
what those two were actually doing?" Shapiro stares at Misato.

"They were trying to win each other's love and trust so they could form
a bond-mating," the Fukunokami-born psychologist sighs. "Unlike your race and
that delightful form of genetic slavery you call 'recognition,' we Sagussans
have the full freedom of choice when it comes to selecting our life-partners
and co-parents for our children. Given the somewhat tortured history of their
relationship, Asuka and Rei had to resort to desperate measures to win the
other's attention, much less their interest and commitment. We derive very
intimate pleasure from mental contact. The more intense the contact, the more
emotionally and sexually aroused we become. You just had the bad luck of
being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"That seems to be happening to us a lot lately," Shapiro muses, shifting
the bag on his head.

"Well, all I can recommend is rest and light duties for both of you for
the next couple of days," Misato rises, turning to leave. "Now, if you'll
excuse me, I'm going to be with my bond-mate. Oh, Pamanba."

"Yes, Sensei?" Pamanba blinks.

"Priss' bomb got to Lumukyou," Misato smiles. "It didn't get Oogi, but
he probably got the message we wanted to deliver to him."

"Thanks, Sensei," the huntress nods. "Next time, use an H-bomb when
you're dealing with that murdering slime!"

"It might just come to that," the psychologist waves as she steps out.
"Good night."

"'Night, Sensei," Shinobu nods as the door closes behind Misato. She
then sits back. "I wonder what's going to happen to Mie now that Rei's bonded
to Asuka."

"I don't care just as long as I'm not close by when she does bond with
someone," Pamanba groans, squeezing her eyes shut to cut out the pain...

* * *

"I'm home!" Mie calls out as she walks into the living room later that
evening. "Hey, where is everyone?!"

"Hi, Mie-chan!" Makoto's voice calls out from the kitchen. "Dinner'll
be ready in a few minutes!"

"Thanks! I'm starved!!" Mie sighs as she sits down. "Where'd everyone
go?! Back to Sagussa?!"

"Haruka, Michiru, Rei and Minako went back," Makoto confirms. "Hotaru
and Setsuna are staying here. Usagi went to Tsushima to be with Ami. I think
Misato's down there with Ritsuko. Your parents, Tamiko and Suzume went out to
eat with Hotaru and Setsuna."

In other words, Mie is alone with Makoto and there is no sign of
Reinoevan. "Where're Rei and the others?"

"They're at Toranoseishin Fiances," Makoto replies. "Rei and Asuka
finally got together earlier on."

"Oh, that's nice!" Mie sighs.

*No, it's not nice!* one side of her storms. *It's the worst situation
possible!! No one's giving you the chance to make up your mind! Makoto
thinks she's got the right to waltz over you when you're still trying to
decide who and what you are!*

*But think of Makoto's suffering for twelve years in the Chamber of
Eternity,* the other part cuts in. *All she wants is to fulfill her own
dreams and help you regain a sense of who you are. Rei obviously couldn't
understand that, hence she's presently with Asuka. But at least Makoto's
trying to understand.*

*Trying as a Sagussan, you mean!* the first side retaliates. *We're not
Sagussan anymore, remember?!*

*We're not exactly Terran, either.*

Mie blinks as a bowl of karugh-kalghku is placed in front of her. "Here
you go!" Makoto sits in front of her, smiling.

"Ah, thank you," Mie picks up chopsticks, then digs in. Makoto had also
mixed in some fried airdevil eggs, shredded chonagh and opaque hogh-kyi to
make it a full meal. There is also a side dish of yanbe-chagh and a bowl of
fresh chigh for them to share.

Both dig in. They remain silent as they eat, although they do steal
glances at each other. A look of uncertainty haunts Makoto's eyes, as if
realizing that her dreams, made all the more possible by Rei's withdrawal,
could still be shattered if Mie turns in a direction Makoto may not be willing
to follow. *Look at her!* the softer side of Mie sighs. *She wants you to be
happy so she could be happy! Can't you see how much she loves you?!*

*So?! Who says we have to bow to her desires?!* the other half
grumbles. *Isn't love supposed to mean that we both have a say in how our
relationship is going to be?!*

After they finish the meal, both relax. "Ah, that was great," Mie
sighs, then leans on one arm. "We have to talk, Makoto."

"About what?" Makoto looks nervous.

"Us...and where we're going," Mie sighs. "Makoto, I hope you realize
that I'm not the same woman you were in love with twelve years ago. I've
changed, in ways you can't begin to understand."

"I understand how much you changed, even if I don't fully understand
what sort of changes have come over you," Makoto nods. "Mie, that doesn't for
an instant change how much I still want you, how much I still care for
you...how much I love you."

"So you understand that we're not going to be a normal Sagussan couple,"
Mie sighs.

"I knew that the instant you disappeared and I felt deep inside that you
were still alive and well," Makoto nods.

"That's good."

"Mie?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you still want to come back to Sagussa?"

Mie considers the point. "It's still too early to consider whether I'll
be living here or there," she shakes her head. "Part of it is the fact that I
have a home and family here. What happens to them when I suddenly take off
for a planet ten thousand parsecs away?"

"I was thinking about that," Makoto sighs. "So's Hotaru, by the way.
That's the reason they're out with your family. We realized it was pretty
unfair to ask you to come back and leave your family behind. So why shouldn't
they come with us?"

"You mean move to Sagussa?!" Mie blinks.

"Not right away, of course," Makoto nods. "Tamiko and Suzume still have
to graduate from school...and shifting from Earth to Sagussa is going to be a
hell of a culture shock for all of them, especially since they'll be caught up
in the middle of the reconstruction and land restoration. But it doesn't mean
we should slam the door shut. They have as much right to come to Sagussa as
you, especially after all the good they've done for you."

Mie considers the point, then wryly shrugs. "Maybe I'm afraid of
abandoning them like I abandoned you and Hotaru."

"You didn't abandon us," Makoto shakes her head. "While we may never
know the real reasons for your coming here, we could deduce it had something
to do with watching over Ataru. You proved it when you started hitting on
everyone to leave him alone. And that's not to mention you watching over Lum
while she's been here."

"Yeah, that could be true," Mie crosses her arms. "Maybe I left a
message in my Gladiator which could finally give me my answer. It would be
nice to understand what motivated me to come here."

"Well, if there is one, Ami and Ritsuko'll find it," Makoto muses as she
pulls out a bottle of chigh-tagh, pouring two glasses, handing one to Mie.
"But truthfully, I don't care anymore."

"About what?"

"About why you came here," Makoto lightly smiles. "You came here.
What's past is past. We have the future to think about now."

"That's true," Mie nods, then smiles. "Well, two more days and school's
finally over. Ataru-chan and Lum-chan'll be in Oshika, probably on their way
to a chapel within the month, and then it's off to Sagussa for them."

"And us, I hope," Makoto blushes.

"Maybe," Mie muses.

The watchmistress nods. "Well, no matter where you decide to stay, I'll
stay with you," she announces.

"You mean that?" the pilot blinks.

"I mean it," Makoto nods. "It's you I want, Mie. I'll take you as you
are right now, and I'll live with you were you want to live. On Earth,
Sagussa...Lyna's Soul, Mie, I really don't care. I want my life to have you
in it. And I'm going to get it one way or another, even if it takes me a
hundred years."

Mie intently stares into the Yehisrite-born woman's eyes. There is no
hint of fear, confusion, regret or any other emotion which could indicate any
possible deviation from Makoto's stated course. Only clear determination to
get what she wants...and what she wants is presently looking at her. "Maybe
you don't have to wait that long," she smiles, reaching over to gently grasp
Makoto's hand.

Makoto psionically reaches out. Mie's shields were up and rigid,
standard protective mode to wall in her *mei'na* from unwanted intrusion.
Obviously she was not in the mood for shocks, such as what *mavan'shagh* could
unleash. No need to go overboard, then. "Let's go on a date," she proposes.

"Now?" Mie blinks.

"Tomorrow after school. I want to take a closer look at this place.
Besides, we need the time to get to know each other again."

Mie considers the point, then nods...

* * *

The next morning, Lum is awakened by a relay signal from her scout.
Moaning, she dresses, then flies up to her ship to see who would call her at
such an early time of day. The screen dissolves into the image of an incensed
Oogi. "What do you want now, Oogi?!" the Oni growls.

"Lum-sama, have you heard?!!" the Niphentaxian demands. "A missile was
fired at Your Holy Church in Lumukyou!!"

"Oh?" Lum could barely suppress her mirth. "So?!"

"We have traced the missile's flight path back to Earth," Oogi growls.
"It is without a doubt the Great Evil's doing! He is trying once again to
destroy Your Beloved Church and Your loyal worshippers!"

"He's been doing that since before the Spirit War," Lum shrugs, a
mocking tone edging into her voice. "It doesn't matter. I'm moving to Oshika
to marry Darling and we're going to live happily ever after!"

"Lum-sama, you can't allow him to...!!"

"Good-bye, Oogi!" Lum presses the cut-off switch. "Moron!"

Suddenly, the scout shakes as a blast of air nearly knocks it out of its
stationary orbit. "*Tcha!!*" Lum gasps as she is nearly thrown into a
bulkhead. "What's going on?!"

Flying to her door, she looks outside...to see contrails indicative of
large jets having blitzed past her scout. Lum squints, quickly visualizing
out the three jets responsible for nearly giving her a concussion. The
variable geometric shape and twin steering rudders making the jets look like
the F-14 Tomcat fighter, quickly tell Lum what they are. "Gladiators!!!"

With a delighted yip, she flies down to get her books...

* * *

A sizable crowd has gathered on the front lawn of Tomobiki High School
to watch the three jets do their deadly dance. Koosei blinks as he notices
Lum arriving. "I take it Mie's fighter has been repaired," the teacher hums.

"By the looks of it," Lum looks skyward, covering her eyes from the
morning sun. "Boy, Ami and Ritsuko sure work fast."

Usagi and Misato walk up, Luna and Penpen beside them. "Well, what did
you expect, Lum...especially after we gave them encouragement," the Terran-
born zoologist giggles.

"I hope Makoto gives Mie some of that same encouragement," Lum sighs as
she watches one of the Gladiators peel towards the ground, moving to land on
the back lawn of Tomobiki High.

The others quickly notice. "Um...Lum, is it alright for that ship to
land here?!" Paama wonders. "I mean, it's as big as a Boeing 747 and it
doesn't look like it's got retrothrusters!"

"It doesn't need them," Lum smiles. "Watch."

As the Gladiator, a silver-hued craft marked with the Sagussan national
insignia and the code number 503, approaches the school, the engine cavities
metamorph, swinging on hidden pistons from horizontal flight to vertical, as
if the fighter grew legs. The forward engine cavities transform, moulding
into two humanoid arms complete with five-finger hands. The engines roar as
the Gladiator makes a soft landing in the middle of the soccer field, its port
wing nearly brushing the east wing of the school building. Everyone stands on
the back tarmac, staring at the large jet in disbelieving awe. "What is this
thing?!!" Shinobu demands.

"A Gladiator point-defence transformable fighter-bomber," Lum explains
as someone ejects herself from a lower boarding hatch under what appears to be
the cockpit. "It's in Guardian mode now, which is normally used for hover
flight or flying backwards to evade someone trying to shoot you down. Oh,
there's Ami! Hi, Ami!!"

"Hi, Lum!" Ami waves as she walks onto the tarmac, now dressed in her
engineer's coverall. She looks at the Gladiator. "Take her to Battledroid
mode, Ritsuko!"

"Okay!" a Vosian-accented voice responds from the Gladiator.

Everyone gasps as the fighter seems to straighten on its legs as its
forward structure folds on itself. The arms shift to lock into the shoulders
of the newly-formed torso. The wings fold back to provide perfect shielding
for the back and the legs. A head then elevates into position, shaped like a
patrol labor's. "Battledroid mode confirms positive," Ritsuko's voice calls
out from the machine.

Awed stares are projected at the sixty-metre tall fighter from Lum's
friends. "Gundam, move over!!!" Megane gasps, his glasses skewered. "Do they
actually use this thing on Sagussa?!"

"Four hundred in four defence squadrons, plus each capital ship has a
fighter flight of twenty...and three for the 'Hasei'cha,' Mie's ship!" Lum
explains, then notices the two other Gladiators waiting in Guardian mode near
the school. "Is that Lufy and Rabby?!"

"Yep," Ami nods. "They came here on Eluza's order to look in on Mie and
see if she wants to come back to Sagussa. But they couldn't bring the
'Hasei'cha' herself since they're still working on upgrading her systems and
making her fit for service. It'll be another two months before she's
considered spaceworthy."

"Oh," Lum nods.

"Returning to Guardian mode," Ritsuko reports as the Gladiator shifts
back to its squatting form. "Shutting her down."
"Okay!" Ami nods, then calls to the other Gladiators, clearing them to
land wherever there is any room for the giant jets.

"Hey, what's going on here?!" Mie's voice demands.

Everyone turns to see Mie stride around the school building, Makoto
behind her. The pilot then stops on seeing her Gladiator sitting there.
"She's all ready whenever you are!" Ami announces.

"You fixed that mess?!!" Mie exclaims, pointing.

"Of course," Ami looks insulted. "Our reputations as miracle workers is
intact."

Everyone laughs as Ritsuko, a tall, statuesque Vosian-born armourer with
chin-length blonde hair, blue eyes and a dimple on her left cheek, walks up.
"Nice work, Ritsu-chan!" Misato smiles as she embraces her bond-mate, kissing
her cheek.

"Well, with you around to encourage me, what did you expect, Misa-
chan?!" Ritsuko muses, lustfully eyeing Misato.

"What does she mean by that?!" Mendou inquires.

"Too X-rated for you to hear," Usagi warns.

"Hey, shipmate!!!" Lufy's voice barks as she slaps Mie in the back,
driving the pilot to her knees. "You slack-ass!!! There you are!!! Ready to
come back to the real world again?!!"

"Nice to see you, too, Lufy..." Mie grunts.

"Who're you calling a slack-ass, Lufy?!" Priss then appears behind her
fellow *pirpirsiw'r,* snidely glaring at her. "At least Mie's been making
herself busy. What's your excuse?!"

Lufy spins around to stare into Priss' eyes. "I've got plenty of
excuses!" she growls. "What's your excuse for still living?!"

"Are you saying I don't have an excuse for living?!"

"Yeah, I'm saying that! What're you going to do about it?!"

The lightning flashing between their eyes, not to mention battle auras
which would impress Makoto and Rei, sends chills down everyone's spine. "Are
they always like this?!" Megane gulps.

"Actually, they're very tame today," Lum shudders. "I think."

Suddenly, Lufy and Priss high-five the other, then burst out laughing.
"Hah! Still got it!!" the latter snorts, elbowing the former in the side.
"You should've been a Pathfinder, Lufy! What're you doing flying those
transformable junkheaps anyway?!"

"Hey, I can still fight outside a Gladiator!" Lufy smiles.

"See?!" Lum beams. "They're really very good friends!"

Everyone not of Sagussa faints! "I wonder," Mie hums...

* * *

"Here it is, Mie," a strawberry-blonde haired, blue eyed Zeiwanite hands
the pilot a padded dark blue and red uniform. Both are now in class with
everyone else. "We got a new one ready for you just in case your old one
doesn't fit anymore."

"Thanks, Rabby," Mie takes the uniform, then rubs the fabric, a private
confirmation that this is what it should be: a Gladiator pilot's flight suit.
Padded dark blue fabric with built-in G-suit and survival gear. Trimmed in
red with a red phoenix emblazoned on both arms, along with Mie's sequential
number. On the collars is a gold-trimmed black rectangle studded with three
square gold tabs indicative of her rank. Pilot Chief Petty Officer, Defence
Central Command. On her identification badge over the right breast is written
her rank, name and ship: P/CPO MIE SEIKOU, R.S.S. HASEI'CHA. *At least
they're acknowledging your time on Earth,* one part of her muses.

The other part of her declines to comment. At that moment, Makoto's
voice is heard. "Hey, are we all set to surf the wind?!"

Mie looks over to see her would-be bond-mate dressed in her flight suit.
Given her different place in the Sagussan Navy, Makoto's rank insignia is
silver, the rank itself being a single rectangular tab. Watchmistress, First
Sagussan Fleet. The flight suit seems to tightly hug Makoto's contours,
sending tingles of excitement through Mie's spine. "You still have the suit I
gave you."

"I wouldn't throw this away even if it's the last thing I have to my
name," Makoto purrs as she gently grasps Mie's hand.

Many of the Terrans look confused. "Oh, that's right!" Lum nods. "Mie
taught you how to fly, didn't she?!"

"You bet," Makoto smiles.

Mie nods in confirmation as her mind goes back...

* * *

Three hundred and fifty years ago. Sagussa.

Located near one of the entrances to the Chamber of Eternity, swept by
the incessant desert winds which have scoured this war-torn planet for
millennia, is the home airfield of the First Defence Squadron. Attached to it
is the flight element for the defence intelligence support unit, which would
coalesce years in the future around the Republic of Sagussa Starship
"Hasei'cha." Mie...then just known as Ii'iieo...stands beside her Gladiator
doing her pre-flight checks as Lufy...then just Eiuoiiaoii...walks up, Makoto
beside her. The Yehisrite-born watchmistress is in her standard short-sleeved
duty jumpsuit. "Ii'iieo," Lufy announces in a neutral voice.

Mie turns, then curtly nods at her wingmate. "This is the new candidate
for pilot training," Lufy waves to Makoto.

Mie quickly reads the sequential number. "Aoaiuiuiio. Are you prepared
to commence the training you requested?"

"I am prepared, Ii'iieo," Makoto nods.

Lufy walks away. Mie and Makoto stare at each other. "You are selected
for a First Fleet command assignment," the former notes on seeing her silver
watchmistress' rank. "Explain your logic in pursuing a skill normally
employed in the Fourth Fleet."

"Despite the rational division of fleet assignments, not all Gladiator
pilots will be assigned to the home defence units. Capital ships carry their
own point-defence flights," Makoto explains. "If I am slated to command a
ship-of-the-line, I should be aware of all my crews' abilities, including my
pilots. Is my explanation sufficient for your purposes or do you require
further elaboration, Ii'iieo?"

"It is quite sufficient," Mie nods, then waves Makoto to her machine.
"Shall we commence?"

"We cannot at present."

A twinge of surprise crosses Mie's face. "Why not?"

"I require a flight suit if I am to perform evolutions in the
Gladiator," Makoto reminds her, looking at herself.

Mie blinks, then notices what Makoto is wearing. "An error on my part.
Let us proceed to requisition a flight suit."

The two turn away...

* * *

...as Mie returns to the present. "Ready?!" Makoto smiles at her,
realizing where...or when...the pilot's thoughts drifted.

Mie blinks, then stares at her suit. "Well, I require a flight suit if
I am to perform evolutions in the Gladiator," she parrots Makoto's words from
centuries past.

"An error on your part," Makoto notes, pointing out the door. "Proceed
to attire yourself, Ii'iieo, then we shall commence."

"I shall proceed to do so, Aoaiuiuiio," Mie walks out.

"Did we just miss something?" Ryuunosuke scratches the back of her head.

"I dunno, but if those two aren't bond-mates by the end of the month,
then something's wrong with them," Koosei crosses his arms.

Ritsuko and Ami turn to Lum. "We'll want to monitor Mie's progress
while she spars with Lufy and Rabby, Lum," the former notes. "May we make use
of your scoutship?"

"Just as long as I'm flying!" the Oni nods.

"But of course," Ami nods.

"I'm coming," Misato sighs. "Evaluating Mie's performance in the
Gladiator would reflect a lot on her personal mood."

The Sagussans and Lum depart for their various ships...

* * *

A half-hour later, three Gladiators soar over southern Japan in Fighter
mode, maintaining a tight arrowhead formation with Lufy on point. Lum's scout
follows them at several hundred metres distance. "We'll keep the manoeuvres
simple at first," Lufy calls over the line to Rabby, Mie and Makoto. "No
sense pushing the envelope."

"Roger," Rabby and Mie reply.

Mie sighs as she relaxes in her seat, a specially designed chair-
ejection seat which automatically conforms to the pilot's body for maximum
comfort. Remote tracers are attached to her arms and legs, which come into
play when the Gladiator assumes Battledroid mode. Built-in relays in her
helmet control the head, as well as auto-targeting gear which operates in all
modes. Her console is very simple for such a complex advanced machine:
communications, position indicator, engine controls, altimeter and sensory.
Behind and slightly above Mie, Makoto relaxes in the guest's chair (Gladiators
were normally deployed as single-pilot machines), which replicates all of
Mie's controls, plus a control switch which allows the guest to automatically
take over in case something happens to the pilot. "How do you feel?" Makoto
inquires as she stares at her girlfriend.

"I'm still getting used to the controls," Mie smiles. "They seem to be
a little sluggish. I'll be fine."

*Boy, that reassures Makoto!* one part of her growls. *What are you
doing flying this coffin, anyway?! Lufy and Rabby are top pilots who put in
as much simulator and real-flight time as they can! You haven't sat in this
bucket for twelve years! What in Buddha's name are you trying to prove?*

*You are a pilot, remember?* the other softly intones. *If you are
scared, Lufy and Rabby'll knock it out of you. Shock therapy always works to
bring the best out of people. Besides, Lufy and Rabby won't play dirty!
They're not the type.*

*That was what they were like twelve years ago, remember?!*

By that time, the formation soars past the southern tip of Kyushu into
the airspace of the East China Sea. "Yeah...right about here looks good,"
Lufy looks around. "What's the air traffic like?!"

"Stay away from the Chinese coast and Okinawa, and don't stray towards
Taiwan, Cheju-do and the tip of Korea," Ritsuko reports from Lum's scout.
"The area is clear right down to the deck."

"Got it. Keep us posted," Lufy sighs. "Okay, we'll start here. No
ceiling limit, stay in F-mode. Fight's on!!"

"Right!" Rabby nods. "Tally-ho!!"

Gladiators 501 (Lufy) and 502 (Rabby) peel away from the arrowhead,
splitting off in different directions. Lufy climbs for altitude and Rabby
spins east for Amami-shima. Mie kicks her mount in a dive for the ocean.
"What are you doing?!" Makoto wonders.

"I'm going to keep this down on the deck," Mie reports. "It'll keep
their manoeuvres restricted. Sit back and watch!"

"Okay, you're the boss."

Rabby does a lazy circle as she swings around to get at Mie's six
o'clock, then blinks on seeing her wingmate diving for the ocean. "Nice try,
Mie!" she smiles as she falls into a shallow dive.

Mie smiles as the icon for Rabby's machine appears behind her. "That's
right, Rabby. Come right on in. Get ready for a splash!"

The two Gladiators continue their descent. Finally, when Mie passes a
hundred metres above the East China Sea, she kicks in full-throttle and
afterburners, yanking the joystick back. Rabby yelps as Mie's machine
literally stands on end, creating a funnel of water which could swamp Rabby's
had not the Zeiwanite-born pilot turned hard right, skimming the water with
her starboard wing.

Mie torques into a tight Immlemann turn, then acquires lock on Rabby's
machine. She thumbs the trigger for her chain gun when Rabby switches to
B-mode, transforming into Battledroid, her wings still splayed in open
formation to keep level flight. The chain gun, a magnetic-drive weapon system
capable of firing six thousand rounds a minute, each round flying at half-
light speed to target, is now in Rabby's hands as she takes aim. Mie kicks
hard right rudder to spin out of the way as a burst of shells arc through the
night sky.

"Hey, that's not fair!!!" Lum growls, watching this from her scout over
the Senkaku Islands. "Lufy said stay in F-mode!!"

"Lufy and Rabby tend to re-write the rules as they go," Ami laughs. "At
least Mie's reaction seemed good!"

"I guess she doesn't have to worry about fitting back into regular
duties if she decides to come back," Misato thoughtfully hums.

Mie climbs up, then notices Lufy making a wide circle all the way north
to Cheju-do as she tries to mark position. "Not a chance, Lufy!" Mie growls
as she turns north to pursue her wingmate.

"Keep an eye on Rabby," Makoto warns.

"Hey, I'm flying, remember?!" Mie snarls.

Makoto clams up...

* * *

Meanwhile, on an American missile base on Okinawa, technicians manning
the radar station watch in awe as the three Gladiators...to them, three very
large gomers...clash over the East China Sea. Then, their commanding
officer...the same colonel who ordered Lum's scout shot down in "Time
Curse"...walks in. "What's going on?!" he growls.

"Sir, you better see this," a technician points at the screen.

The colonel looks. "Who're they?!"

"Dunno," the technician shakes his head. "They flew in from the general
direction of Tokyo about a half-hour ago, then started doing ACM over the East
China Sea."

"Must be fighters from Fujisawa," the colonel shrugs.

"Fighters the size of a C-5A?!" another technician wonders.

The colonel's eyes narrow. "Are you sure they came from Tokyo
airspace?!"

"Well, we didn't get an exact confirmation," the technician muses. "And
no one from Korea or Kyushu reported their presence. We first picked them up
over the Oosumi-kaikyoo."

"Then they must've been at very high altitude when they came down from
Vladivostock!!" the colonel growls.

"Sir, there's no report of aircraft this size capable of doing what
these three are doing...!" a technician tries to protest.

"Belay that!!" the colonel snaps. "What about IFF?!"

"Nada," another technician shakes her head.

The colonel grimly nods. "Time to teach those commies a little
something called respect!" he grumbles, then barks. "Roll out the Arrow of
Heaven!! Let's put them down!"

Technicians leap to work as army and air force engineers unroll a
familiar missile from its storage shed. In the radar shack, one technician
turns to another. "Great!" she hisses. "The last time we did this, we shot
down the ship belonging to that alien girl who lives in Tokyo! What're we
going to shoot down this time?!"

"Hey, we just obey orders!" the other technician shrugs.

"Aw, I was actually getting to enjoy this!" a third mutters as he
watches the pitched battle over the East China Sea on his screen, munching
popcorn as he relaxes in his chair...

* * *

By now, Lufy, Mie and Rabby are dodging for position somewhere north-
west of Okinawa. Chain guns and wing-mounted pulse-photon cannons thunder as
the three try to jockey for a kill. Lufy and Rabby try two-on-one double-
teaming, but Mie scatters them by razzle-dazzle flying or else spinning out of
the way if the two try to come at her from different directions. The rule
about staying in F-mode is gone. The three switch from Fighter to Guardian to
Battledroid mode with practiced fluidity as the situation demands. On Lum's
scout, the Oni watches with awe as Mie gets the drop on Rabby. "Wow!! She's
the best pilot I've ever seen! If Daddy saw this, he'd hire her on the spot!"

"And that's just with Lufy and Rabby," Misato comments. "Wait until Mie
spars with the likes of Tita and Satomi from DEFRON One! Then you'll see some
real seat-of-the-pants stuff!!"

Ami then blinks as a strange reading comes to her station. "I've got an
unknown launching from Okinawa, heading for the Gladiators. Trying to scan
what it is right now."

"It's a conventional warhead missile!" Ritsuko barks from her post.

"Oh, no!!!" Lum panics, remembering her flight back in time thanks in
part to the United States Air Force. "Those crazy Americans must think Mie,
Lufy and Rabby are Russians!!"

"Guys, watch out!!!" Ami tabs her communications button. "Incoming
hostile fire from Okinawa!! No duff!!!"

"We see it!!" Mie grunts as she watches the missile ascend toward them.
"Sunflower Break!!!"

The Gladiators split in three different directions. afterburners
thundering at full power, as the Arrow of Heaven races at them. "Bust up my
fight?!!" Lufy growls as she glares at Okinawa. "This'll teach you to mind
your own business!"

Levelling her Gladiator, Lufy thumbs the concussion missile controls. A
storm of missiles races out from a retractable launcher under the cockpit,
thundering at the American base! "Lufy, you stupid idiot!!!" Lum screams as
she watches the missiles turn the base into a very nice bomb crater!!

* * *

In the wrecked radar section, a technician turns to a very burnt
colonel. "I don't think they're Russians, sir."

The colonel faints!

* * *

Meanwhile, Mie flies down as the Arrow of Heaven tries to pursue Rabby.
"Rabby, stay off G-mode!!" she barks. "These things are a lot smarter than
people give them credit for! You try to fly backwards, it'll ram right into
you!!"

"Get if off me, Mie!!" Rabby snarls. "I ain't going to take this
fighter back to Patty all messed up!!"

Mie watches as the missile falls into chain gun range. "Sayonara!" she
smiles as she thumbs the trigger.

A blast of bullets shreds the Arrow of Heaven as Rabby breaks away. The
warhead detonates, but Mie spins right to get clear of debris. Seeing this,
Lum lets out a cheer. "Yes!!!"

At Tomobiki High School, everyone in room 337 howl with joy as they
watch the fight thanks to a relay monitor Usagi set up. Even the radar
technicians on Okinawa watching the fight from an undamaged station emit a
cheer. "Fight's over!" Misato then declares...

* * *

"Well, that was fun," Mie yawns as she stretches herself.

Mie's Gladiator is now soaring at sub-light past the asteroid belt on
course for Neptune. Mie sits in the back seat with Makoto. Ami had
thoughtfully put a "love seat" in the back; in essence a seat which can expand
to comfortably accomodate two people. With inertia dampeners not needed
(Gladiators cannot fly at warp speeds without special boosters attached to the
main hull), the two Sagussans can relax. "Yeah, you were really good," Makoto
smiles.

Mie stares at her girlfriend. Smiling, she yanks Makoto into her arms.
"I intend to be a lot better, you know."

Makoto gasps as Mie finally lowers her psi-shields. "Yes-s-s...!!" she
cries as she fiercely embraces her bond-mate.

Before they could get far, the sensory alarm sounds off. "Who could
THAT be?!!" both angrily demand.

Mie sits up to activate the Gladiator's warbook, the computer program
which identifies all known contacts as registered over the years by the many
rover units scouting the local cluster. "According to this, six Kashin-class
battlewagons plus twenty Doroka-class heavy troop and equipment transports."
She then blinks on registering something else. "Urusian Defence Force ships!"

"What?!!" Makoto sits up, zipping up her flight suit. "What're troop
transports doing in this system?! Do they see us?!"

"No, ECM is automatically blocking their scanners," Mie shakes her head.
"Something strange is going on here. Let's get to Triton and talk with Oyuki.
She'll probably know something."

* * *

"If what you are saying is correct, this is a major treaty violation,"
Oyuki muses.

Mie and Makoto are in the Tritonian Royal Palace, having flown to Koori
City to tell Oyuki about the Urusian battle squadron waiting near Saturn. The
crown princess has tea brought in. "What treaty are we talking about, Your
Highness?" the latter asks.

"The Galactic Federation Treaty, of course, Makoto-san," Oyuki reports.
"It has specific clauses forbidding the presence of other members' armed
services in sovereign airspace or territory under the purview of any member of
the Federation. Due to Earth's lack of technology, she was declared to be
under our purview."

"Then how would that explain the Tag Races?" Makoto adds.

"That was a...unique problem given the Ipraedies' interest in this
system," Oyuki's lips purse together. "Personally, Father and I disapproved
of the whole Tag Race idea, not to mention the clauses which would have
resulted in Earth's occupation had Ataru lost. We were of the idea of
engendering Zephyrite contacts so they could extend their protection over this
system. As you know, Jiyuu is far closer to this star system than
Barsoom...or Uru for that matter. That does not give the Urusian Defence
Force carte blanche to send in an invasion force into this system. It's
provocative in the extreme, not only to the Ipraedies but to the Seifukusu."

"Are you sure it can be considered an invasion fleet?" Mie wonders.
"Just because twenty troop transports are out there, it doesn't necessarily
constitute intent to invade. They could just be on exercises."

"We should have been informed immediately of such intent to carry out
war games," Oyuki counters. "It's an invasion fleet. As to who's fleet it
exactly belongs to, there is really no need to guess."

"So who is the *ki'shi?!*" Makoto growls.

"General Yethis Seq," Oyuki reports.

"The Urusian President's chief-of-staff?" Makoto gasps. "I've heard
he's a racist and would gladly invade Earth just to avenge the Union
Revolution, not to mention what he could possibly do to the Other, but even
he's got to have some controls."

"Unfortunately, he does not," Oyuki sighs, just as the doorbell rings.
"Come in!" she calls out.

The door opens and a beautiful platinum-haired woman dressed in a formal
kimono bearing military-like insignia walks in. "Are you busy, cousin?" she
smiles on seeing Oyuki.

"Not for you, Pukaze-chan," Oyuki rises to embrace her cousin, then
blinks. "What in Koori's name is that?!" she points behind Pukaze.

Everyone sees a Sagussan rover unit numbered H-494 float into the room.
"Ah, yes," Pukaze blushes. "This being just came down asking for either
Watchmistress Makoto or Pilot Chief Petty Officer Mie, bringing a report of
troop movements from Phentax Two."

"Report, Four-ninety-four," Makoto sighs.

"*Begging the watchmistress' pardon,*" the rover unit bows in greeting.
"*Compliments from the supervisor of the Phentax Observation Group, and
apologies for not sending a message but it was believed to be prudent to
deliver it in person. He begs to report that President Oogi is now mustering
an interdiction force composed of six battlewagon squadrons and ten squadrons
of troopships, with intent to intimidate the United Nations to force the Other
to remain in Tomobiki, not to mention extradite the *daimon'cha* to Phentax
Two for trial in relation to the destruction of Phentax Twelve.*"

Makoto's eyes flash. "We'll see about that!!" she growls. "How many
ships are we talking about?!"

"*Thirty-six Kashin and Panako class battlewagons, sixty Doroka class
troopships, plus various support craft,*" Rover H-494 reports. "*In addition,
four Planet Destroyers and a mobile System Destroyer are being mobilized as
heavy support.*"

"WHAT?!?!" Oyuki and Pukaze gasp.

"Boy, these dorks really DON'T have a life!" Mie slaps her head,
wondering what awful thing the galaxy did in a previous existence to merit
having the Niphentaxians among them...

* * *

Meanwhile, back in Tomobiki, Suzume Seikou whistles as he heads home, a
rose in hand. Smelling it, he smiles. "Now I know I love her," he sighs.

An image of Setsuna appears in his mind's eye, bashfully covered in a
blanket as if she was waiting for him to come home after a hard day at work.
*Suzume-kun, I'm here for you,* the nurse coos as she lowers her blanket, then
leans up to kiss her "husband"...

...as Suzume smacks into a telephone pole! "Man, I better watch myself
when I dream of these things," he moans as he staggers away, then shaking his
head clear, rushes home.

Suzume always had an eye for girls, but found chasing them in Tomobiki
High School to be a waste of time; most had eyes only for Shutaro Mendou.
Even now, with Mendou intent on marrying Sil Dedron, many dreamt of landing
the scion of Japan's richest family as their husband. After a while, Suzume
decided to hold back and wait until opportunity knocked on his door.

It came when Setsuna walked into his life three wonderful days ago.
Suzume had never seen someone THAT exotic in his life. Lum's allure with
Sakura's figure...and she was a nurse to boot! With everyone in the family
leaning on the idea of moving to Sagussa so Mie would not feel isolated when
she finally mated with Makoto, Suzume knew he had the chance to really impress
Setsuna and, hopefully, win her interest. And it was no time like the present
to start wooing her. Walking into the house, he calls out, "I'm home!"

"Hi, Suzume-chan," Setsuna walks out of the kitchen, a bowl of pyogh-
giku in hand. "Mie's hasn't returned yet. Your parents, Hotaru and Tamiko
are out shopping."

*We're alone?!!* Suzume gasps as the Oni-born nurse heads to the living
room. *Totally, completely alone?!! Yes!!!* he nods, then walks in, the rose
behind him. "Setsuna-chan?"

"What is it?" she looks curiously at him, then notices he is hiding
something. "What have you got?"

"For you," he hands her the rose.

Setsuna blinks. "When Ataru did this to Noa twelve years ago, do you
want to know what she said?"

"'What is the logic of presenting me a flower,'" Suzume readily quotes.
"Mie learned it when she mind-brushed Lum one day."

"That's right," the nurse nods. "So, what is your logic?"

Suzume blinks. This was not proceeding in the direction he planned.
"M-my logic?" he points to himself.

"That's right," Setsuna sits down. "Suzume...what do you see when you
look at me?"

Suzume blushes, realizing that Setsuna might not be impressed if he
tried to skirt the subject. He never realized that Mie's people were THIS
rational about their feelings. "I see a very desirable woman that I want to
love and perhaps marry," he finally admits, pulling at his collar. Boy, it
was hot!

Setsuna smiles. "Suzume, we don't have marriage on Sagussa. Further,
if we take the basic idea of marriage and expand it to include all life-
partnerships...then I'm already married."

He jerks. "To who?!!"

"Hotaru-chan," she softly intones, flashing him a sympathetic smile.
"We became *marei'cha* six years ago."

He stares at her. "Now, I realize right now that your urge is motivated
a lot by you wanting to discover your sexuality," she gently grasps his hands.
"And I'd be more than happy to help you. As you know, our primary purpose on
Sagussa is to be the birth mothers of a new race. In fact, if you really
desire it and you think you're ready for it, I could have my first child with
you."

Suzume blinks. This was getting way too complicated for his taste.
"You see," Setsuna smiles. "You're not so ready yet."

"I...I came in here wanting to declare my love for you...and now I'm so
confused," he shakes his head.

"That's alright," she gently kisses him. "Besides, the wait will do you
good. Go out and discover what women are like. Go out and discover what men
are like if that interests you. Be free, enjoy yourself. Don't commit just
yet."

"But can I commit to you?" Suzume stares at her.

"As *surei'cha*...as the father of my children?" Setsuna hums, then
nods. "Certainly. *Surei'cha* are automatic *marei'cha* in our eyes. You
have as much right to care for and love your children as I do. But, tell me:
are you willing to have children with Hotaru?"

Suzume jerks. "See?" Setsuna muses. "Your family social codes make you
hesitant when dealing with what technically could be considered your sister,
even if she is not related by blood. You're still not sure of yourself yet.
You should realize that if you have children with me, you have to have them
with my bond-mate. I would want that to happen; it's considered very bad form
on my planet not to introduce one's child-mate to one's bond-mate. I'd be
insulting Hotaru and our relationship by keeping you to myself, so to speak."

Suzume looks down. "And I can't ask you to leave Hotaru even if it's
just for me so you could have kids," he finally sighs. "Mie would never
forgive me and I don't think you would, either."

Setsuna nods. He looks at the rose, then hands it to her. "Here," he
smiles. "Take it, anyway. I still find you the most beautiful woman I've
ever met...and maybe one day in the future, I might be ready to help you and
Hotaru have kids."

"Thank you," she smiles, sniffing the rose. "In the meantime, I just
made some pyogh-giku. Want to share?"

"Sure!" he nods, sitting beside her as they dig in...

* * *

"Oogi's sending THAT many ships?!!" Lum exclaims.

Mie and Makoto grimly nod. The two now meet with Ataru, Lum, Noa and
Honey in the latter's home in Oshika after learning of the intelligence Rover
H-494 and his companion rover units acquired. "Right now, they're just
mustering," Mie sighs. "Oogi's got his fleet still scouring half of the local
cluster looking for the Avalonians, so he's got to wait before he has enough
strength to launch an offensive our way. And if he does, we're going to be
hard pressed to stop it even if you send Pathfinder Six in to assassinate
him."

"And if you did assassinate him, you'd make him a martyr to the glory of
Lum," Makoto wryly growls.

"Wonderful!!" Ataru sighs. "I couldn't get Grandma to get a half-dozen
Zephyrite crusader fleets here in time to stop them."

"Even if you did, Nagaiwakai would just see it as an excuse to expel Lum
from Earth since her presence here would be seen as a danger to this planet's
sovereignty," Noa notes.

"Why don't we stop them?" Honey proposes.

Makoto instantly looks eager. "Do we have enough forces to stop them?!"
Noa stares at the watchmistress.

"Let's see now," Makoto muses. "For ground and Fourth Fleet forces,
we're at full battle strength. Four hundred Gladiators alone would make hash
out of Oogi's battlewagons. If their troops land, the Warsuit, Pathfinder and
Hovercycle Brigades could stop them."

"What about the Planet Destroyers?" Lum wonders.

"Our home-defence monitors are warp-equipped since they come fitted with
wave proton cannons," Makoto notes. "And there's the 'Lyna'cha,' Feb's
command cruiser. She may not be as well armed as what we'd want for a First
Fleet ship-of-the-line, but she's also got the wave proton cannons. Those
Planet Destroyers and that System Destroyer wouldn't stand a chance."

"How soon can they be here?" Ataru wonders.

"A day, tops," Makoto reports.

"Make it sooner than that if possible," Ataru stands. "I want the
commanders or would-be commanders to be here in twelve hours so we can discuss
what we're going to do."

"Yes, sir!" Makoto salutes, then runs out to Mie's Gladiator.

"The Battle of Graduation Day," Lum muses.

"What was that, Lum?" Noa stares at her bond-mate.

"Tomorrow's Graduation Day for us," the Oni wryly muses. "My last day
in Tomobiki. Oogi would schedule his attack for then."

"Don't worry," the Sagussan winks at her. "We'll give him an extra-
special graduation party, one he won't soon forget...for the last few seconds
of his time in this existence."

"What about Yethis?" Mie wonders. "What do we do about him? I can
guess he's out there to act as a 'peacekeeping' force," she makes finger-
quotes, "...which would just be a mask for the invasion he's wanted to unleash
on us over the last two years."

"We can teach him a lesson, too," Noa sighs, then stares at Lum, sensing
the Oni tense. "Love, you'll have to decide pretty quick as to whose side
you're on," she gently grasps Lum's hand.

"Darling's," Lum automatically responds. "But...at the same time, I
hope that it doesn't turn into an orgy of killing. I know that Leona, Rayna
and Miranda are salivating at the chance to get their troops used to the idea
of killing people."

"We'll try to keep it as minimal as possible," Noa assures her. "But,
remember: when in the middle of a war, anything goes."

"You're right about that," Lum shudders...

* * *

Graduation Day.

"There you are, Aisuru-kun," Tanoshii smiles as she finishes buttoning
Megane's jacket, now dry-cleaned and pressed for the final day of classes.
"Looking good for your final day of school."

"So are you, even if you did finish classes a few months ago," he kisses
her. Both are now in the latter's shrine, Megane having come to stay with his
girlfriend since they started dating. Tanoshii is now in her Butsumetsu
Girl's High School uniform, although today is not graduation day for her.
"I'm glad your graduation is tomorrow. I wouldn't want to miss it for
anything."

"Thanks," she smiles, embracing him. "Mmm...tempted to have a little
fun before we head off?"

"Um...can we wait until after classes?" Megane gulps.

Tanoshii giggles as she walks to the kitchen to prepare tea. Megane
sighs as he relaxes in the shrine's small living room. Once both were free of
the Japanese education system, they were bound to commence their Shinto
training in earnest under Sakura's guidance. Chie Budou and others would come
by to look in on them, not to mention perform special tutorials. The chief
priest of Kantou also wanted Megane and Tanoshii to proceed to university if
the opportunity presented itself; he preferred to give his subordinates all
the chances they could use to enhance their personal lives. "Boy, this is
still so much to get used to," Megane muses as he looks up, then straightens
himself as Tanoshii returns. He tenses on seeing a concerned look on her
face, she now staring into a cup. "What is it?"

"These leaves," she grimly nods to the cup. "The pattern states that a
great battle is soon about to begin."

Punctuating her statement is the thunder of helicopter blades. A whole
fleet by the sound of them. Megane and Tanoshii look up, then run outside to
see what is going on. "What's Mendou doing?!!" the former demands on seeing
the whole Mendou air corps on the move. "Is he celebrating graduation or
trying to start World War Three?!!"

"Aisuru-kun!!!" Kakugari's voice echoes from down the street.

The two turn to see the guards and their girlfriends race up, worried
looks etched in their faces. "What is it?!" Megane demands.

"Real bad news, Aisuru-kun!!" Paama reports. "Oogi's gone totally
ballistic! He's sending a force this way to make Lum stay in Tomobiki!!"

"Not to mention try to drag Ataru-chan back to Phentax Two for trial
because of that garbage on Phentax Twelve," Yasashii adds. "Ryooki-sensei
said to get to the school ASAP. He also said to..." a confused look crosses
her face, "...bring stuff, whatever that meant!"

Megane grimly nods. "That means bring everything for a fight, just in
case!" he looks up. "Mendou's got everything he's got on the move. Let's go
get ready!"

"Right!!!" the others nod...

* * *

A half-hour later finds Tomobiki High School flanked by a squadron of
Leopard II tanks as everyone musters on the front lawn. Most are in
camouflage uniforms loaned from the Mendou Clan's stores. Sil is in a woman's
version of Mendou's Wehrmacht-inspired battle uniform, a tiger-striped bandana
around her head. "Are we all here?!" Koosei, still in his normal working
clothes, inquires.

"Where're Aisuru and the others?!" Shinobu looks around. Beside her is
Pamanba, once more in her hunter's uniform.

"Here they come," Lan points.

The guards and their girlfriends race up. Kenmei, Yasashii and Aijooa
wear black Moroboshi Clan ninja gis. Megane is in his usual blue battle
armour, the buckle now emblazoned with the first kanji of Tanoshii's name.
Tanoshii is nowhere in sight. "Where's your girlfriend?" Koosei demands.

"She said she had to get something, then she'll be right here," Megane
looks around.

"Right here!" Tanoshii's voice calls out from behind him.

Everyone emits cheers and whistles as Tanoshii walks up in a duplicate
of her boyfriend's battlesuit, the first kanji of Megane's given name on her
buckle. "Well, what do you think?!" the apprentice priestess coos as she
shows herself to her boyfriend.

"I like it, I like it!!!" Megane gasps, hearts in his eyes.

"Koosei, where are Rei and her group?!" Sakura wonders.

In answer, the six members of Pathfinder Troop Six appear virtually out
of nowhere. All are dressed in their black combat uniforms. "Did someone
call us?" Sylia wonders.

"Is Ataru calling his grandmother to get some help?" Koosei wonders.

"And give her a chance to throw the Other off Earth?!" Priss snorts.
"Not a chance! He's getting REAL help this time: ours!!"

"But you don't have a fleet to speak of," Koosei protests...

...then everyone is knocked off their feet as a ten-metre tall robot
resembling a Shinohara AV-98 Mark II patrol labor fitted with booster rockets
on the back lands harshly on the ground! Painted overall dark grey with the
phoenix on both arms, it comes equipped with shoulder-mounted chain guns,
thigh-mounted missile launchers and labor-scale pistols stowed in each calf.
Sylia spins around to angrily stare at where the pilot's position would be.
"Leona, you reckless jackass!!! Whoever taught you how to pilot a Warsuit?!!"

The carapace opens, allowing a chestnut-haired Ellsian-born woman
dressed in black battle fatigues and the three rectangular bars of a brigade
commander to slip out. Her bandana has THE BOSS - DON'T PISS ME OFF! in
Japanese emblazoned on it. Over her fatigues is a brown leather jacket
personalized with a mad kaleidoscope of badges, including the ever-popular
screw-and-8 ball, a Dietman's badge and pins from a half-dozen anime shows.
Leaping to the ground, she walks up, jauntily saluting Koosei. "Hi, Koosei-
san. You're looking good."

"Leona, they made *you* the commander of the Warsuit Brigade?" Koosei
looks very ill. "Suddenly, I don't feel so good."

"I take it you know this person," Sakura stares at her friend.

"It could be said," he looks down.

"Lyna, the guy sure doesn't appreciate any decent help, does he?!" Leona
crosses her arms, pouting. "Then, what should I expect?!" she shrugs, asking
no one in particular. "He never appreciated it when Henry and I pulled him
away from the Mikado four years ago!"

"I didn't mind you rescuing me," Koosei holds up a finger. "But I *did*
mind you using a fleet of tactical nuclear missiles on Colony Sixteen to
distract the Mikado's people from coming after me while we were making our
getaway. They're **still** cleaning up the mess those missiles left behind."

Koosei's students pale at that revelation. "What type of help are we
getting?!" Shinobu wonders.

"So where're the others?" Sylia walks up.

In answer, a sleek black machine resembling a manta with its wings
clipped flies up, lowering to the ground beside Leona's warsuit. Armed with a
forest of chain guns and mini-missile launchers forward, the hovercycle
projects an aura of brute power matched with unnerving grace. The pilot's
hatch opens, allowing a strawberry-blonde Ellsian to emerge, dressed in a
stylish black leather bodysuit bearing three rectangular bars on the
shoulders. "Hi, Miranda," Leona smiles.

"Hey, Leona," Miranda walks up, slapping her fellow brigade commander in
the back. "Ready to boogie?"

"Yohko snuck some annihilation missiles out of the Central Armoury
before we came here," Leona smiles. "We're ready."

"Annihilation missiles?!" Mendou whispers to Sil.

"Missiles using anti-matter as the warhead," the Oni gulps.

Mendou fearfully shudders. "What a radical machine!!" Chibi gasps as a
bunch of students crowd around Miranda's mount, gently feeling the surface.
"What is this thing?!"

"A Type 88C combat hovercycle...HEY!!!!" Miranda screams as she bashes
everyone away from her mount with a giant sledgehammer! "Stop pawing my
bike!!! I just painted that!!!"

She then leans against her cycle, as if she was a loving parent and it a
dear child. "Oh, sweetie, are you hurt?! Did those mean, awful people smudge
your paint...AH!!!!" she screams on seeing fingerprints on the black hull.
"Smudge marks!!! Oh, how awful!!!"

Everyone fearfully sweats as Miranda continues her tirade, wiping the
fingerprints with a very soft silk cloth. "A reckless mobile suit driver and
a hovercycle love-freak," Sakura slaps her head. "This is NOT good!"

"You haven't seen the worst of it," Priss warns.

"How can it get worse than this?!" Megane demands.

"OUCH!!!!!!" a woman's voice yelps from behind them.

"That's how," Priss thumbs behind her.

Everyone spins around to see a brunette Fukunokami in a Pathfinder's
dark uniform lying embarrassingly on her backside after tripping down the
front stairs. "Damn transporter! I hate it when they transport me inside a
building for a strategy meeting!! Why couldn't we have it outside in the
open?!" she mutters, standing up...and slamming her head into a tree branch!
"Ouch!!! Who put that there?!" she mutters as she staggers away, then flips
over the corner of the stairs to fall flat on her face!!

"What's her problem?!" Shinobu wonders.

"Um...Rayna's a sort of back-to-nature freak," Sylia blushes, pulling at
her collar. "She eschews all forms of what you'd call creature comforts:
houses and the like. Unfortunately, it's made her very clumsy when she's in
built-up areas. In the open, she's actually quite fine. She teaches
wilderness survival seminars alongside commanding the Pathfinder Brigade."

"You must be happy to not be under her command," Koosei muses.

"Utterly ecstatic!" Sylia whistles.

"Now I know things are going to go wrong," Mendou sighs.

"Hey, there you are!!" Ataru leans out from room 337. "Get your butts
up here! We're ready to get started!!"

"In there?!!" Rayna panics. "Ataru-sama, how could you...?!!"

Miranda and Leona grab the Pathfinder commander by both arms. "C'mon,
Ray! Let's get inside and see the boss," the latter muses.

"I don't wanna go inside!!" Rayna fearfully wails as the two brigade
commanders drag her inside, then emits a shocked scream as she hits something
once past the front door.

"Ray, you are such a klutz!!" Miranda mutters...

* * *

A few minutes later, everyone crowds into room 337. The centre of the
room has been cleared to permit the presence of a holographic projector to
show a three-dimensional portrait of the solar system. A red swath leads from
somewhere out of the system right to Earth. Beside Saturn is a target icon.
"It's about time," a wavy-haired brunette Toukonokouen fleet shipmistress in
central command dress uniform relaxes in a chair, brandy sniffer in hand, as
the three ground force commanders come into the room.

"Why didn't you just beam me into this place so that we could get this
over with, Feb?!!" Rayna growls as she straightens herself, shrugging off
Miranda's and Leona's hands.

"Because I get insane pleasure watching you make a total fool of
yourself," Feb mirthlessly smiles.

"That's enough!" Ataru snaps. "We have a war to plan. Stow the
bickering 'till afterward, Feb!"

"No problem," Feb muses, sipping her brandy.

"Could I get a glass, please?" Sylia appears beside Feb.

"There," Feb points to a large bottle and a tray of snifters.

As everyone relaxes, a platinum-haired Tritonian walks up, pointer in
hand. "Hi, everyone," she happily nods to the Terrans and the other
Sagussans. "I'm Janny, plans officer of the Strategic Defence Directorate.
If you can relax, we can get started."

She indicates the red swath in the hologram. "This is the projected
course of the Niphentaxian attack force heading our way. With what little we
have, and given their approach to this campaign, we've devised a three-layer
defence strategy to stop them in their tracks."

"How are they deploying?" a red-haired Ellsian shipmistress Lum
recognizes as Mie's commander Eluza puts up her hand.

"Jun," Janny calls out.

The brunette Fukunokami running the hologram pulls up an image of three
separate forces. The first and largest are marked TROOPSHIPS in Sagussan and
Japanese. The middle force is marked BATTLEWAGONS. The last force, five
large icons, is marked PLANET/SYSTEM DESTROYERS. "It's quite ingenious given
their history of fanatic belligerence," Janny points to the image of the enemy
fleet. "Which shows that even these idiots can learn when pounded in the head
often enough."

"Or someone is planning this for them," Sil warns.

"Possibly," Janny nods. "The troopships, we assume, will make a covert
approach to Earth to ensure they are not detected by Royal Tritonian Defence
Force patrols. We assume that they'll commence their landing right away, so
as to better 'convince' the United Nations to capitulate to Oogi's demands
when the battlewagons show up. The Planet Destroyers and System Destroyer are
present to ensure that any help Ataru-sama's grandmother gets from Zephyrus is
nullified. Now, as to our role..." she nods to her shipmate.

Jun deletes the image of the enemy fleet, then adds three tan bars to
the tactical map, one beside Earth, the second at the asteroid belt and the
third by Pluto's orbit. "All ground forces will be concentrated on Earth,"
Janny points to the applicable icon. "Warsuit and Hovercycle Brigades will be
in high orbit, with Pathfinder Brigade in Tomobiki itself."

"Let's hope they're not as accident-prone as their boss," Sakura
whispers to Koosei.

"I heard that!" Rayna growls.

"Your task is simple: wipe out the invasion force," Janny concludes,
then turns to the ground commanders. "Anything else?"

"We got the gear," Leona flashes a thumbs-up. "We're set."

"We're ready to go," Miranda nods.

"My forces are ready," Rayna adds.

Janny then indicates the second icon. "Gladiators will intercept the
battlewagons at the asteroid belt here," she turns to the four squadron
commanders. "Since no Fourth Fleet shipmistress has been nominated,
Inspector-General Oryuu will take temporary command," she nods to the fleet
shipmistress beside Feb, a red-haired Ellsian.

Oryuu walks up to the icon. "Deploy in diamond formation. Michiko,
First Squadron will be the point. I want Tita's and Satomi's flight to be
right up front. Yookihi, Second Squadron will be right wing. Shiori, Third
Squadron will be left wing. Fay, Fourth Squadron will fall into the rear.
Understood?"

"Yes, ma'am," the four squadron commanders nod.

Janny then points to the third icon. "'Lyna'cha' and the four monitors
will jump the Planet Destroyers and System Destroyer before they enter the
system. Nihitomi," she turns to the Zeiwanite-born shipmistress, "...your
monitors will fall under Feb's command. We suspect they'll be held back since
their presence inside the system's boundaries will be seen as provocative by
the Tritonian government. Pathfinder Troop Six will be aboard the 'Lyna'cha'
for this operation, as well as the crew of the 'Hasei'cha.'"

Sylia, Eluza, Nihitomi and the four watchmistresses nod. "I also want
Makoto to join us. We have a spare Gladiator," Feb notes.

"I'll pass it to her," Eluza sighs.

"Any questions?" Janny inquires.

"What about Yethis' little party?" Sil nods to the icon beside Saturn.
"I doubt he's here just for sightseeing."

"Ataru-sama?" Janny stares at Ataru.

Everyone looks at Sagussa's *daimon'cha.* "If he makes any move against
you or Earth for that matter...stop him," Ataru sighs, then icily smiles. "As
to how, I'll leave it to your imagination."

Lum and Sil readily nod. The Sagussans grin. "Any other questions?"
Janny wonders.

"What about us?" Megane points to himself.

"You get the simple part," Lum muses. "Sit back and watch the fun."

"That'll be no fun!" Ryuunosuke snorts.

"Would you rather be dead?" Ataru wonders.

The tomboy shakes her head. As the meeting breaks up, Ritsuko walks
over to Lum. "Lum-san, are you going up to see Mie?"

"Of course," the Oni nods. "Why?"

"Could you give us a lift to the 'Lyna'cha?'" she waves back to Misato,
Ami and Usagi, who entered the class while Janny was conducting her briefing.

"I'd be happy to!" Lum nods, then flies off to get her scout.

Pamanba's eyes narrow. "What is it?" Shinobu wonders, quizzically
staring at her friend.

"I have to do something," the Vosian mutters as she walks off...

* * *

A half-hour later, three Gladiators and Lum's scout soar into orbit.
They are quickly joined by the de-cloaking "Kiboo'cha," a black-hued starship,
shaped like a railroad boxcar with large wings to both sides fitted with
powerful warp boosters and weapons batteries, about the size of a wet-navy
destroyer. "'Hasei'cha' Gladiator 501 to 'Lyna'cha,'" Lufy calls over the
comm line. "Ready to dock."

"Acknowledged, Five-oh-one," Janny's voice replies. "Opening hangar bay
for docking procedure."

Space then literally opens to reveal a large docking bay big enough to
take the "Kiboo'cha" and her escorting party. The five ships settle on the
hangar deck as the "Lyna'cha's" cloaking screen is restored. Thanks to
force-shields keeping the air in, everyone can readily disembark on landing.
Feb walks over to gently grasp Lum's hand. "You didn't need to come up here
to see us off, Lum-san," the Strategic Defence Director notes.

"I just came to check on Mie-chan and Makoto-chan," the Oni smiles, then
heads over to Mie's Gladiator. "Mie-chan!!"

"Hi, Lum-chan," Mie smiles as she monitors the loading of missiles and
gear on her fighter. "Ready to start a war?"

"To start this war?" Lum muses, then nods. "Yes. It's about time
someone slammed Oogi against the wall and taught him a lesson. I'm more than
glad that it's you people doing it."

A faraway look crosses Mie's face. "Yeah, they are my people, aren't
they?" she muses, crossing her arms.

"Still hesitant on going back?" Lum inquires.

"Not anymore if my whole family is coming to live with me," Mie shrugs.
"Actually, Suzume-chan tried to make a pass at Setsuna last night. I think
he's going to like it there."

"Any man would," Lum snickers, then looks thoughtful. "So, I guess it's
no handfasting, huh?"

Mie blinks, then glares at her. "What do you mean? Of course I'm going
to handfast with Makoto-chan! If you think I'm going to live with a girl
without marrying her, you're nuts, Lum-chan!"

"Good luck in trying to persuade Makoto, then," Lum smiles, realizing
that Mie will have a fight on her hands if Makoto is the least bit reticent on
the idea of performing a non-Sagussan bonding. "Who knows?!" Lum then shrugs.
"Next thing I know, you'll be trying to persuade her to have kinds via
parthenogenesis!"

"That'll be the next step," Mie admits.

Makoto walks up at that time. "What step?!" she wonders.

"You'll find out," Lum winks as she embraces Mie. "You be careful out
there, okay?!"

"We'll be fine," Mie kisses her cheek. "Get out of here!"

Lum waves as she returns to her scout. "What step?!!" Makoto demands,
staring quizzically at Mie. "What's going on here?!!"

"That's for me to know and you to find out when it's time," Mie quips,
knowing that keeping things secret always irked Makoto.

The watchmistress growls. "Mie," Eluza calls out.
"Oh, Shipmistress!" Mie stands to attention, saluting her commanding
officer. "Can I help you?"

"At ease, Mie," the shipmistress returns her courtesy with a smile, then
absently brushes her slicked-back red hair. "As you know, I will be launching
an investigation as to what happened to you twelve years ago. But I want you
to know this..." She then reaches over to embrace Mie. "Welcome back."

Mie feels the sting of tears in her eyes. Now she knew. Returning to
Sagussa was the right thing. Now if only Makoto would go along with some of
her personal ideas to make their relationship work. "Thanks, Eluza," she
sniffs, wiping her eyes. "Believe me, I'd like to know just as much why I
left you guys and came to Earth, too. But Ami and Ritsuko didn't find
anything when they fixed up my Gladiator."

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it," Eluza notes. "Let's get to
the briefing room so we can review what we're going to do. It's a good thing
we're all cross-trained as Pathfinders just for cases like this."

"Yeah, good thing," Mie nods as she and Makoto follow Eluza to an inter-
ship transporter pad...the "Lyna'cha" is 9,720 metres long with a 7,750 metre
wingspan, shaped somewhat like am eagle...so they could get to Main Briefing.

As they depart, a box located where Lum's scout landed is pushed aside,
revealing Shinobu and Pamanba. They look around, happy to see that no one has
seen them. "Coast is clear," Shinobu looks around. "Can you sense anything?"

"With a race who can blank their minds out better than Yehisrites?"
Pamanba wonders. "Nothing, as usual. C'mon."

Both sneak over to the boarding ramp leading inside the "Kiboo'cha." "I
just can't believe the scale of everything here," Pamanba muses, looking at
the warpsloop. "I can't begin to imagine how big this ship is."

"Probably the same as the Gatherer," Shinobu hums, remembering her trip
on the Sagussan super-dreadnought which was the forward agent for the Grand
Design. "And he's over ten kilometres long!"

"'He?!'" Pamanba quizzically stares at her friend.

"Ataru-kun nicknamed the central computer 'Henry' since he speaks like
an Englishman," Shinobu shrugs as they scramble up the gangway aboard the
"Kiboo'cha." "It's sort of like Nassur-kun always calling the Home Base
computer 'she' since she's female."

"I understand," Pamanba nods. "Lucky thing that Lum had to land her
ship so that Ritsuko, Misato-sensei, Ami and Usagi could come aboard for the
trip up here. Let's hide!"

The two make their way toward an aft cargo hold. Unseen by either of
them, Priss stands in an alcove near the inter-ship transporter pad. "If you
two wanted to join the fight, all you had to do was ask!" the Yehisrite-born
warrior mutters, shaking her head.

She heads over to join her teammates and Mie's shipmates...

* * *

"Status report?!" Feb barks.

The "Lyna'cha" is at red alert, sailing gracefully into a barrage of
missiles and cannons crashing uselessly against her shields. Still at the
line of the asteroid belt alongside the monitors "Flori'cha," "Alaba'cha,"
"Mississi'cha" and "Virgin'cha," the command cruiser is providing fire support
for the Fourth Fleet Gladiators, now entangled in a vicious dogfight with
Niphentaxian fighters. "Shields remain at full power," Jun reports.
"Gladiators are heavily engaged with enemy fighters. Monitors engaging
Niphentaxian battle force. No craft or personnel losses, but several have had
to proceed to Triton with battle damage and depleted weapons stores."

"Status of enemy Planet Destroyers?!" "Lyna'cha's" shipmistress April, a
blonde-haired Vosian, demands.

"Rover units maintaining communications jamming," Janny barks. "Planet
Destroyers and System Destroyer are at Pluto's orbit. Attempts by enemy
commander to signal support forces or Phentax Two have been halted. Further,
Urusian force by Saturn is completely blind as to our presence."

"They won't be blind for long," April turns to Feb.

"True," Feb sighs. "What's going on back on Earth?"

"Trying to raise Leona now," Jun punches some controls.

A signal from deep inside "Lyna'cha's" hull relays to the bridge. "Feb,
can we get out of here?!" ship's engineer May, a brown-haired Yehisrite,
demands. "Much that I'm proud of Sagussan technology, but even it has limits,
you know!!"

Feb sighs. The battle was about to fly out of control. "What's Leona's
status?!" she turns to Jun.

The Fukunokami-born combat officer grins. "She reports total success!!"
she yips. "The troopships have been destroyed! Miranda's brigade is busy
picking up survivors and transferring them to the warsuit support ships for
processing!"

"Good!" Feb nods. "Order Leona to rearm and get her people out here to
help Oryuu! Signal the 'Virgin'cha!'"

The front viewscreen shifts to an image of Nihitomi, commander of the
fleet monitor force. "What is it, Feb?" the brunette Zeiwanite inquires.

"Get your people together, Ni-chan," Feb straightens herself. "We're
going after a pack of Planet Destroyers!"

"We're right behind you, 'Lyna'cha!'" Nihitomi nods, then cuts the
transmission.

"Signal from Leona," Jun calls out. "'Orders received. After mop-up,
will move at best possible speed to assist Oryuu. Support ships will take on
depleted and damaged Gladiators if necessary.'"

"Excellent!" the fleet shipmistress nods. "Signal the 'Virgin'cha!'
Best speed to Pluto's orbit! Let's finish this!"

The "Lyna'cha" quickly tilts on one wing as it proceeds at impulse speed
toward the system's outermost planet. The four monitors, six-kilometre long
starships resembling three railroad boxcars conjoined abreast, the outer wings
equipped with deployable gun arms, fall in behind the command cruiser.
Noticing this, the Niphentaxian battlewagons try to pursue, but are jumped by
Gladiators not busy taking down the defensive fighter screen...

* * *

Deep in the cruiser's hull, the combined crews of Pathfinder Team Six
and the "Hasei'cha" suit up for their mission. Missing their own ship, the
latter crew were now dressed in dark combat uniforms, ready to attack
alongside the former crew as ground infantry. Eluza watches as they prepare
in silence. Normally, they would be doing jobs on their ship, but the
"Hasei'cha" was still two months from completion and trials. Converting a
courier warpsloop to sling three Gladiators in special trapezes at the aft end
while still maintaining a modem of decent performance took a lot of
compromises and juggling of power ratios, as Patty, the ship's brunette
Terran-born engineer, loved to complain all the time.

Three of the "Hasei'cha's" eleven-person crew...Mie, Rabby and Lufy,
plus Makoto...would fly their Gladiators as escort to the "Kiboo'cha." That
left Eluza's eight to join Sylia's six Pathfinders in whatever they would end
up doing. Rumy had proposed bringing Starleaf, the ship's sandpanther/mascot,
along for the mission, but Eluza had countermanded the young blonde-haired
Terran-born science chief's proposal. While sandpanthers were very effective,
they were not invulnerable, nor did they cherish the idea of wearing personal
shielding belts; they restricted wing movement. Naturally, Starleaf was
effectively Rumy's sandpanther; she mothered the poor lad as if he was one of
her own sons.

"How are we doing?" Sylia inquires as she walks in.

"We're ready," Priss slips on her web gear, then charges a load into her
Urban Assault Cannon. "What's the plan?"

"So far, no one really knows," Sylia crosses her arms. "We were delayed
a bit because of the Niphentaxian attack force jumping us while the Gladiators
were distracted. Leona's finished cleaning up over Earth, so she's on her way
out to help Oryuu. We're just getting to Pluto...right about now, I believe,"
she looks up as the faint drone of the "Lyna'cha's" engines die away.

A hologram displaying Feb's face appears beside Sylia and Eluza. "You
folks ready down there?" the fleet shipmistress wonders.

"We're set," Eluza nods.

"Get to the 'Kiboo'cha' and stand by," Feb orders, a wry smile crossing
her face. "We're just about to take a look at what the Niphentaxians call
Planet Destroyers."

"Send us a view," Eluza laughs as they head to their ship...

* * *

The Niphentaxian Planet Destroyer is in essence a giant anti-matter
cannon four kilometres long. Cigar-shaped with a command superstructure
amidships, it is one of the most intimidating vessels ever constructed. The
System Destroyer, a giant-scale version of the Planet Destroyer, is a six
kilometre long ship shaped like a giant eye, energy arrays forming a vertical
ring around its prime meridian. The five ships brought to Earth's solar
system today remain in a box formation, the System Destroyer in the middle.
However, they do not react to the presence of the five Sagussan warships now
surrounding them, the kilometre-wide gates of their wave proton cannons open,
ready to smash the enemy craft into their component atoms. On the
"Lyna'cha's" bridge, confusion reigns as everyone tries to understand why the
Niphentaxian craft have not reacted to the Sagussans. "Are you sure there's
no increasing power curve in their systems?!" Feb stares quizzically at Janny.

"Nothing," the plans officer shakes her head, staring at her readings.
"Navigational deflectors are up, but that's it. No sign of any belligerence."

"Let's not waste time, Feb," Jun urges from her station. "Hit them now
and let's go home!"

"Just a minute here," Feb holds up a hand. "I'm not going to start a
fight unless I really need to. What about lifesigns, Jan?"

"Scanning now," Janny reconfigures her scanner, then gets to work.

"What are you thinking, love?" April stares at her bond-mate.

"I've been thinking that the Niphentaxians may have had some help in
planning this attack thanks to our friend Yethis," the fleet shipmistress
relaxes in her chair. "If so, this may be an opportunity on our part to kill
two birds with one stone."

April frowns in annoyance. Feb could conceive of plans and
contingencies in the blink of an eye, which made her promotion as Strategic
Defence Director...in essence, the master battle planner of the Sagussan
Navy...all the more logical. "How so?"

"Wait for it," Feb stares at Janny. "How's it coming?"

"Planet Destroyers are fully automated," the plans officer reports.
"Scanning the System Destroyer now."

Feb nods. "If we could use the Niphentaxian ships to attack Yethis,
he'd think that Oogi was double-crossing him. It could even be believable; I
doubt Oogi would want to see Lum-san turned into a slave of the Urusian
Imperialists, especially if she is taken away from Tomobiki because of it.
Yethis would have to eliminate Oogi so he could get his hands on Lum-san..."

"...and Oogi would defend Lum-san so she can stay the way she is," April
concludes. She was not totally ignorant to Feb's way of thinking. "They'd
destroy each other and Lum-san and Ataru-sama would be safe."

"Right," Feb nods, then turns to Jun. "Signal the monitors. No
aggressive action unless fired upon."

"Right," the combat officer turns to her board.

"May, get to work on the holo-projectors," Feb presses an intercom to
the engine room. "We might just need them."

"Oh, so you're not going to wreck my ship trying to bash in the heads of
a pack of *kimei'ne,* eh?!" May retorts. "Good! I can spend time putting
this mess down here back together again!"

"May!!"

"On it, on it!" she sighs, then cuts the link.

"Scan of the System Destroyer complete," Janny looks up, a touch of
surprise on her face. "You're not going to believe this, Feb, but it's
entirely crewed by Vosians!"

"What?!!" everyone exclaims.

"And there's more," Janny adds. "They seem to be slaved to the ship's
control system. ECM scans report that the ship's command and control gear is
perfectly meshed into humanoid material."

"I see," Feb leans back. "Even better. Those poor souls across the way
must be survivors of the Mikado's attempt to punish Oogi. Another nail in the
coffin of the Church of Lum." Pressing a control toggle, she signals the
"Kiboo'cha." "Sylia, Eluza, stand by to board the System Destroyer. Janny'll
fill you in."

* * *

The "Kiboo'cha" and her escorting Gladiators soar from the "Lyna'cha's"
hangar deck toward the silent Niphentaxian system wrecker. "Vosians
cyber-slaved to the Destroyer's controls?!!" Nene gasps as she hears Janny's
report, then nods. "That would make sense. We've long passed the point where
computers can calculate the necessary amount of functions to match and surpass
the performance of the human mind. Other races haven't. If they could
suppress the Vosians' sense of self, they'd make perfect living computers."

"Not so different from the way we were before Ataru-sama came to
Sagussa," Amy, a diminutive brown-haired, bespeckled Vosian who served as
"Hasei'cha's" coxswain and combat chief, muses.

Everyone senses her tensing. Despite years of indoctrination in
Sagussan society, everyone from *daishi'cha* #1 to #100 000 felt some affinity
for their ancestral homeworlds. "We'll find out what's going on, Amy," her
bond-mate Spea, a curly red-haired Terran who serves as Eluza's combat
officer, gently hugs Amy.

"Which means we better get some help," Priss muses as she walks over to
a storage closet, opening it. "Come on out."

Shinobu and Pamanba literally fall flat on their faces. "What are you
doing here?!!" Eluza and Sylia demand.

"S-sorry," Shinobu blushes. "But Pamanba wanted to come out here and
help you fight the Niphentaxians."

"Shit, if you wanted to do that, all you had to do was ask," Priss
comments.

"Never mind!" Sylia sighs. "I'll have a talk with Koosei-san when this
is over about your lack of self-discipline, Shinobu! In the meantime," she
turns to her first officer and her bond-mate. "Rei, Asuka, get them suited
up. They'll come aboard with us."

"Right," Reinoevan grabs the two stowaways and drags them to the
equipment locker aft, Asukanoevan right behind her.

"Any signs that the Systems Destroyer is receiving any communications
from Phentax Two?" Eluza turns to Amy.

"Negative, Shipmistress," Amy shakes her head. "Rover unit comm-jamming
still in full effect."

"I'd almost think they were on stand-by mode, just sitting out here
waiting for orders to do something," Nene muses.

"They just might be," Sylia hums, then turns to Nene. "Nene, can you
hack into the Niphentaxian command system to give us safe boarding access to
the System Destroyer?"

"Give me ten seconds," Nene nods, programming her field labtop to send
electronic probes into the enemy ship's systems.

The silence almost becomes audible as Nene works away. By that time,
Shinobu and Pamanba return to the bridge, dressed in combat clothes and
defensive webgear. Sylia turns to the Vosian huntress. "Pamanba, we've just
detected that the organic crew on the System Destroyer are in fact Vosians."

"What?!!" Pamanba gasps. "But...no Vosian on either side of the Civil
War would ever willingly serve the likes of Oogi!!"

"No, they wouldn't," Sylia shakes her head. "These ones are cyber-
slaved to the System Destroyer's controls, adding their brainpower to the
computers so these things can better run. I'd like you to be with us when we
board the Destroyer so you can help us determine what to do with them."

"Yes, ma'am," Pamanba nods.

"We're in!!" Nene announces.

"Good! Open their hangar bay so we can dock!" Sylia nods...

* * *

Five minutes later, everyone disembarks from their ships and proceeds
into the bowels of the giant flying gun. Keeping staggered formation,
everyone's eyes sweep around looking for possible signs of attack. In the
middle of the group, Shinobu remains close to Mie and Makoto, wondering
whatever persuaded her to come out here to confront people who were more than
ready to kill her just because she opposed their view of how Lum and Ataru
should live their lives. This was crazy! Total war between a planet of
religious zealots and a planet of oversexed reincarnated Amazons over an Oni
girl and her Terran-born, Sagussan-adopted boyfriend. "You okay, Shinobu?"
Mie glances at her classmate.

"Aren't you scared?" Shinobu wonders.

"Sure I am," Mie nods. "But if I die, I die. I died once, nine
thousand years ago. Death harbours no secrets from me."

Shinobu blinks as she takes that in. Before the Sagussans came, Mie was
just a nice girl from Kyushu. A little odd, but after Lum and Inaba, Shinobu
was taking mysterious occurrences in stride. But even her experiences before
could not prepare her for the truth Mie discovered about herself...three days
ago, was it? It was impossible to believe that this woman before her, whom
she went to school with for six months, had fought time and time again when
Mie defended Ataru as he separated himself from Tomobiki, was chronologically
nine thousand years old, having lived a life until seventeen, died, was
reborn, cryofrozen for the millennia on a far-away planet, then proceeded to
live another life on Earth. How could Mie take all the information she had
received in over seventy-two hours with such panache?! Shinobu would want to
run away and hide for a month!

"How far until we get to the central bridge?" Sylia looks at Nene, who
is busy working on her labtop, now strapped to Linna's back.

"About five hundred metres down this corridor, Sylia," Nene points down
a foreboding tubular passage marked with THIS WAY TO MAIN BRIDGE - NO TRYING
TO SCARE PEOPLE WITH ECHOES!

"Good," Sylia nods.

"Keep your eyes sharp, people," Eluza warns. "There still might be some
surprises waiting for us."

Echoing her statement, a klaxon sounds off. The corridor then glows red
as emergency doors slam shut, trapping the Sagussans and their friends in
place. "Shit, they're onto us!" Lufy braces herself.

"Trying to override internal security!" Nene calls out.

"Try harder!!" Priss barks.

At that moment, small globes resembling targeting remotes pop out from
all sides, their pulse lasers flashing. Everyone leaps for cover as the
Sagussans return fire. Shinobu screams as she hides in an alcove, then
watches in awe as everyone calmly shoots down the remotes before their weapons
could do anyone harm. Even the doctors from the "Hasei'cha," Lufy's friend
Catty and Eluza's bond-mate Pony, a lavender-haired Toukonokouen, were
blasting away with as much calm determination as Lufy, Makoto and Priss. In a
minute, the last drone is down, shattered like broken eggs on the deck. "That
was fun!" Sylia comments as she stands. "Anyone hurt?"

"Got a scratch by one before my shield came up," Spea grunts as Pony
helps her wrap a dressing around one arm, the bandage now turning red with the
Terran-born woman's blood.

"Stay alert!" Eluza snaps. "Just because we don't do this often doesn't
give you an excuse to slack off."

"Yes, ma'am," Spea nods, picking up her Urban Assault Cannon.

"Can we punch through this door here?" Rumy feels the shield door
blocking them from the main bridge.

"Trying to get the security system to shut down," Nene plugs away on her
labtop. "It'll take a bit."

"Never mind," Eluza's first officer Shildy walks up, an assault rifle
with over/under photon grenade launcher fitted to the forestock in her hand.
"I'll blast us through. Get out of the way."

Everyone backs off as the Fukunokami-born watchmistress takes aim, then
fires. The grenade slams into the door, but does nothing save deflecting
sparks at the Sagussans! "Shit!!" Mie snaps. "Force-shielded! What now?!"

"Step on it, Nene!" Priss urges. "For all we know, this thing could be
heading to Earth to turn it into an asteroid field!!"

"Working as fast as I can!" Nene growls. "Trying to mesh with such a
backward system isn't easy, you know!!"

Shinobu blinks. Could their penetration into this place have provoked
its automated crew to lash out at Earth or Triton? Would Feb and the
"Lyna'cha" be forced to destroy them to save billions of lives from Oogi's
wrath?! She charges at the door, digs her fingers into the metal, then with a
banzai yell, yanks the shield door right out of its sockets, slamming it
aside!

Everyone is suitably impressed. "Not bad," Lufy hums, keeping her
reaction to a minimum. "Where do we sign her up?!"

"Let's go!" Sylia waves them down the corridor...

* * *

Several minutes and ten shield doors later, everyone breaks into the
command bridge, a circular affair about the size of classroom 337. A central
computer nexus forms the core of the room. Attached to it on all sides are a
group of Vosians. The oldest is Pamanba's age, the youngest Rumy's (at
fourteen, she is one of the youngest of the *daishi'cha*). They are dressed
in what could have been Mikado Marine uniforms, but have faded due to their
years trapped aboard this ship. Their hair shaved off, their scalps are
literally pried open, revealing a forest of cyberlinks melded right to their
brains. Seeing this, Shinobu turns away, tears flowing down her cheeks in
horror as she is about to throw up. Even the Sagussans shudder in disgust and
horror. "Lyna have mercy on these poor souls!" Eluza shudders. "Catty, Pony,
check them out."

"Okay," the two doctors run up to begin medical exams.

Pamanba shakes her head, tears flowing down her cheeks as she helplessly
stares at the unmoving forms. "You recognize any of them?" Makoto wonders,
placing a reassuring hand on the Vosian's shoulder.

"N-no..." she shudders, turning into Makoto's embrace. "Who?! Who's
going to make Oogi pay for this madness?!"

"We'll get to him soon," Makoto growls. "Count on it."

Catty and Pony turn back to their friends, depressed looks on their
faces. "What is it, Darling?" Eluza comes up to her bond-mate, placing
reassuring hands on Pony's shoulders.

Pony shudders helplessly. "Th-there's nothing w-we can d-do for th-them
now, Eluza," she sniffs back tears. "Wh-whatever was left of them...slipped
into those realms beyond this one long before...we could help them..."

Eluza embraces Pony, allowing the latter to freely shed her tears. Lufy
comes up to embrace Catty. The others shake their heads at the senselessness
of it all. "Just because they fought for some lunatic dictator doesn't mean
they deserve this," Rumy sniffs, then leans into Patty's embrace.

Shinobu openly weeps. The others either cry or just stare at this mad
situation. Sylia looks down, then jolts as a communicator is heard.
"'Lyna'cha' to Pathfinder Six," Feb's voice calls out. "Report!"

Sylia touches her left wrist-bracelet. "Sylia here, 'Lyna'cha.' We
found the Vosians, Feb. There's...nothing we can do for them," she shudders,
tears brimming in her own eyes.

Gasps can be heard from the other bridge crew. "I understand," the
Toukonokouen-born fleet shipmistress sighs. "But we need that ship now to
handle another problem plaguing Ataru-sama and Lum-san."

"Yethis?" Sylia wonders.

"Right."

"Understood," Sylia sighs, then closes the comm line. She looks at
Nene. "Nene?"

"On it," the Ellsian-born warrior walks over to a clear spot beside one
station, opening her labtop, then gets to work.

"What's she doing?" Pamanba wonders.

"Oogi isn't the only problem Earth faces right now," Sylia sighs.
"Another problem is a fellow by the name of Yethis. He's an Urusian general
who is also the leader of their Imperialist sect."

"I've heard of him," the Vosian nods. "Even the Mikado and Lord Sheko
are scared of that one. He's vicious!"

"Well, right now, we believe he was the one who helped the Niphentaxians
coordinate this attack," the Pathfinder commander points to the central
control nexus. "So we're going to break the little alliance between Yethis
and Oogi by making the former believe the latter is double-crossing him."

"And they'll blow each other up," Pamanba smiles, then stares at the
unmoving Vosian cyber-slaves. "I think they won't mind."

"New targeting program loaded into the central nexus," Nene reports.
"Transmitting target coordinates to the Planet Destroyers."

"Excellent," Sylia nods. "Let's go."

"Hold it," Makoto barks.

"What is it, Makoto?" Shinobu stares at Mie's girlfriend.

The watchmistress turns to the unmoving Vosians, then raises her right
hand to her eyebrow. Seeing this, the others straighten themselves, forming
ranks. "Salute!" Eluza commands.

Silence for a moment, then Sylia lowers her hand. "Let's go."

* * *

Minutes later, after evacuating from the Niphentaxian ships, everyone
walks onto the bridge of the "Lyna'cha." The bridge crew is relaxed as the
Sagussan force proceeds back to the asteroid belt to assist the Fourth Fleet
in mop-up duties. "What's happening now?" Eluza wonders as she walks up
beside April and Feb.

"The Niphentaxian ships are attacking Yethis' force," Jun stares at her
readouts. "Eight troopships and four battlewagons are confirmed destroyed.
The survivors are using command protocols to initiate the self-destruct
sequences of the Niphentaxian vessels. General Yethis' flagship is now
retreating for Uru. There's no sign that they detected us or our
interference."

"Yethis will have some explaining to do when he gets back home," Feb
pours herself some brandy, then offers a glass to April, Eluza and Sylia.
"And I don't think that he'll be so trusting of Oogi. Things should be quiet
for the next while."

"I hope so," an incensed...and VERY familiar voice...replies.

Everyone spins around to see Oogi stride purposefully onto the bridge.
"What's HE doing here?!!" Shinobu nearly leaps out of her clothes in shocked
disbelief.

"Oogi" smiles as he presses a control under his cummerbund...then
disappears to be replaced by May! "Relax, it's me!" the Yehisrite-born
engineer beams. "How was I?!"

"I think Yethis was pretty convinced," Feb nods.

Shinobu and Pamanba stare confusedly at the fleet shipmistress, then the
former snaps her fingers. "I get it now!! A false transmission!"

"Right," April nods. "May played Oogi even better than Oogi himself
could have done."

"I just hope I didn't overdo it," May sighs.

"Relax, May-chan," Janny stretches herself. "You deserve a medal for
that performance!"

"Thanks, Janny," May nods, then walks over to slip her arms around Jun.
"Jun-chan, I'm very tired and I don't feel so good. Do you have a cure for a
headache?"

The Fukunokami-born combat officer rubs her cheek against her bond-
mate's. "I think I have something right up your alley, love. Let's go to my
cabin."

Both giggle as they head off the bridge. "Ah, true love," Feb relaxes,
reaching over to grasp April's hand. "No cause in the galaxy is worth
fighting for more than that."

"I just wish I had that sort of luck," Shinobu notes.

"Well, there are some available people right here," Feb notes. "Janny's
single. So're Sylia and Priss."

The three women then angrily spin on Feb. "***HEY, YOU!!!!!! WHO
ELECTED YOU TO BE OUR MATCHMAKER?!?!?!***"

Shinobu blushes while everyone else laughs. "I want to talk to you,"
Makoto then spins on Mie.

"What's the problem?" Mie stares at her would-be bond-mate.

"I want to know what's this next step you were talking to Lum about
earlier!" Makoto growls.

"Ah, that!" Mie smiles. "Relax, Makoto. You'll see what I have in mind
as soon as we get back."

Shinobu blinks, then looks at her watch. "Hey, it's only just noon!! I
thought we were gone the whole day!"

"Well, did you people think we'd force you to miss your own
graduation?!" Feb wonders...

* * *

Tomobiki High School's sixty-second commencement begins at two o'clock
sharp, which allowed Shinobu and Mie the chance to get changed into their
school uniforms and proceed to the gymnasium, where the other students
convene. "There you two are!!" Koosei growls as he walks up to them. "I know
why Mie was absent, but what's your excuse, Shinobu?!"

"I'm very sorry, sir," Ataru's former girlfriend repentently bows. "I
went with Pamanba to help her fight the Niphentaxians. I'll try to be more
careful in the future."

"You better be, for your sake," Koosei sighs. "Ataru or his friends
might not be around in the future to save you if you get into trouble."

"I'll try to remember that, sir."

"See that you do," Koosei nods as he heads off.

Everyone then lets out a whoop as Ataru and Lum arrive. The former is
now dressed in a black velvet school uniform, a present from Nagaiwakai. A
tiger-striped tie, from Lum, keeps his still-long hair neat at the shoulders.
A gold, phoenix-encrusted cummerbund, from Noa and Honey, surround his waist.
He even took the time to neatly trim his beard and moustache. Walking up,
Onsen gives him an appraising look, then nods. "Well, it's the last day."

People grin as the vice-principal heads back to join Ayanba, who is busy
chatting with several Vosian-descent *daishi'cha,* including Amy, Ritsuko and
April. The Sagussans are now in their dress uniforms. For civilian personnel
like Noa and Honey, it is a double-breasted jacket in primary colours over a
white ruffled shirt and tertiary-coloured bowtie and an ankle-length skirt in
secondary, buttons in tertiary. Sagussan Navy personnel like Makoto and
Reinoevan wear a form-fitting uniform similar to the male school uniform,
coloured in the same pattern as their civilian counterparts, their ranks on
stand collars and qualifications (Gladiator pilot wings, for example) on their
left breast. Seeing people chat with each other, Ataru and Lum smile. "Well,
it's a good sign," he muses.

"For all of us," she adds, hugging his arm.

The Principal then walks out of the gym. "If I may have your attention,
please. Shall we proceed inside to begin the ceremonies?"

Everyone smiles as they file into the gymnasium. The parents of the
graduating students are already seated. Most of the Sagussans file into the
guest chairs in the back. Makoto, Hotaru and Setsuna sit with the Seikous
while Noa and Honey sit with the Invaders. Nagaiwakai is there, as are
Nokoko, Mal, the other Nendo-kata and Reiko, as well as Ataru's parents and
Komeru; strangely enough, all sitting beside each other. Even stranger,
Kinshou is not mooing at her mother-in-law. When everyone takes their seats,
the Principal mounts the podium. "Ladies and gentlemen, honoured guests from
Earth and abroad, students of the class of 1984...I welcome you on behalf of
the staff and students of Tomobiki High School for our sixty-second annual
commencement." Everyone applauds. "Due to the uniqueness of our graduating
class, I call upon Doctor Catty of the Republic of Sagussa Starship
'Hasei'cha' to bless these proceedings."

Catty walks up. As a doctor assigned to the Sagussan Navy, she is
entitled to wear either the civilian or military pattern dress uniform. In
civilian dress, she also has a long blue shawl draped over her shoulders. Lum
smiles on seeing this; Catty is one of a few people who have dedicated herself
to preserving Lyna's memory, in essence forming the Fifth Republic's first
quasi-religion. Taking the podium, she stares at the audience. "I call upon
all of you to pray to whichever deity or spirit you worship," she announces,
then looks to the ceiling. "Blessed Lyna, by whose death the Fourth Republic
was rendered ashes and we, the mothers of the Fifth Republic, were born,
project your spirit of Creation from those realms beyond this one to touch
these, our newfound friends and loved ones. Fill them with the spirit of
Creation as Atar and Ram so long ago sought to fill the dark pit of Entropy
which this innocent commune is likewise named. Let them go forth as you went
forth to discover the truth of themselves. Let them not be afraid of what
lies before them. Let them accept Fate as it deals with them. Give them the
strength so that they too can become *daimon'cha* and *daishi'cha* of their
own destinies. In the memory of you and the innocents of the War of Clone
Rights, in whose death our destinies and those of our loved ones were forever
locked with the world we now call home, we pray."

Everyone bows her head, calling upon her own faith to bring divine
favour to this day. With that done, the ceremony begins in earnest. The
diplomas are handed out. Loudest cheers to go Mendou (from all the girls in
the graduating class), Lum (from all the guys in the class) and Ataru (from
all the Sagussans). Lum then presents the valedictory address (she was voted
unanimously for the task by everyone, even Ataru when he was in Oshika).
Awards and special certificates are handed out. The class is then called
together to sing the national anthem. Sakura then mounts the stage to offer
closing prayers...

* * *

Two hours later, everyone is in a reception in room 337 as the memories
flow of the last two years, even more. Many look around the class, realizing
that indeed it is finally over. Ataru, Mendou and Megane walk as a group
around the room, allowing their girlfriends the chance to chat. "I'll miss
this place," the guards' leader sighs.

"As will I," Mendou nods. "Strange. When I first came here, I thought
so little of a normal high school. Yet...I wouldn't change the last two years
for anything."

"I wish I could say the same thing," Ataru frowns. "But I can't.
Still, I'll have a place in my heart for this old dump."

The two stare at their former classmate. "Ataru, I don't know how many
times we have to say 'we're sorry,' but will you finally cut us some slack for
a change?!" Megane sighs.

"Hey, you never had to say that, you know," Ataru shakes his head. "If
you don't know by now, I really went up north to keep this thing in check," he
points to his head.

"I believe Lum is still hesitant on leaving," Mendou notes.

"I know that," Ataru nods. "But until I can finally put this monster to
rest, I'm not going to put anyone at risk by returning to this place. It's
still...too early, for all of us. Besides, don't you two want to commit your
energies in solidifying your relationships with Sil and Tanoshii?"

"Of course we do," Mendou stiffens.

"Speaking of which, what's going on with you and your parents over Sil?"
Megane stares at Mendou.

"They are still...reticent over our decision to marry," Mendou sighs.
"Understandable; they limited their vision of the future to permit them only
to see the possibility of my marrying Asuka or Ryooko marrying Tobimaro. But,
peace can still come between our families."

"I hope so," Ataru sips his punch.

"Excuse me!!" a voice calls out.

Everyone seed Amy standing at the door. The Vosian-born master chief
petty officer coughs. "Shipmistress Eluza and the crew of R.S.S. 'Hasei'cha'
would request the honour of your presence at the school gymnasium for a
special ceremony. Would you come with me, please?"

"Amy, what's going on?!" Makoto marches up to Amy.

"You have to definitely come, Makoto," the bespeckled woman winks at the
watchmistress. "Mie needs you there!! Let's go!"

Everyone curiously shuffles out of the school back to the gymnasium.
Patty and Lufy are at the doors. "Open them!" Amy nods.

They smile, opening the doors. Makoto then purposefully strides into
the gym. "Mie, what's going on...?!" her voice drops to a terrified squeak.

In under an hour, the front of the gymnasium was converted into a
beautiful shrine. Standing there is a Zeiwanite Sensualist priestess, having
finished her blessings of the makeshift altar. Sakura and Catty stand to
either side, both wearing the robes of their beliefs. Everyone else...the
crew of the "Hasei'cha," Mie's family from Earth and Sagussa, the members of
Pathfinder Troop Six...relax in the front rows. Also there is Oyuki.
"Oyuki-chan, you did it!" Lum flies over to embrace the Tritonian.

"As you and Ataru requested," Oyuki nods, then turns to the priestess.
"I do apologize for taking you so suddenly from your temple, Your Grace. It
was a most urgent matter."

"I'm more than happy to be here, Your Highness," the priestess nods.
"Anything to help two happy people fulfill their dreams."

Makoto does not hear their words, for her attention is fixed solely on
Mie, who now stands in front of the priestess. In her dress uniform, she
looks worlds different from the innocent high school student she was six
months before. "Wh-what is th-this?!" she stammers, wondering what her
girlfriend was about to get her into.

Priss and Lufy appear behind her, shoving Makoto to the altar. "What
does it look like, stupid?!" the former wonders. "This is a handfasting
ceremony. You and Mie are getting married!"

"MARRIED?!?!?!" Makoto screams.

Everyone braces themselves, wondering if Makoto was going to reject the
idea and beat a fast retreat. Shaking off Priss' and Lufy's hands, the
watchmistress then smiles. "Why didn't you say so?"

Hearing this, everyone lets out a cheer as Makoto walks up to join Mie.
Lum and Reinoevan fall into place as their seconds. The priestess begins. "I
call upon the Mother Goddess, as well as the Lady Lyna of Sagussa, to bestow
Their Blessings on these proceedings..."

*** The Beginning ***