Urusei Yatsura Fan Fiction ❯ The Senior Year ❯ Endings and Beginnings: Be Forever Nassur ( Chapter 50 )

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

Urusei Yatsura - Endings and Beginnings: "Be Forever Nassur"
by Mike Smith
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Edited by E.B. Kushnir
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Thirty-eighth in a series based on "Urusei Yatsura" by Rumiko Takahashi
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WRITER'S NOTES: So, you made it past "Nassur's Story." Good! Now we
continue with "Be Forever Nassur." It should be noted that this will
probably be the final story for Mike Smith in "UY-TSY." He will be
moving on to the upcoming "Urusei Yatsura Twenty Years Later" series and
(maybe) a side story or two.

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Nassur and Shinobu carry the injured Ataru to a diagnostic bed.
His uniform is soaked with his blood, thanks to the queen's stinger. In
fact, the stinger remained imbedded in Ataru's chest to prevent his
blood from pouring out. As Nassur and Shinobu activate the diagnostic
bed, Junba stands aside, her face showing conflicting emotions over the
events of the last few hours.

*They risked their lives for me!* she shakes her head in
disbelief. Since this mission began, she treated them abominably as
instructed by the Mikado. The main focus of her tortures had been
Shinobu...but she was a part of the group that rescued her.

*Why did they rescue me?* the question echoes in her mind. They
had every right to abandon her to the Lannarkites, but they risked their
lives. Even now Ataru may lose his life...and all for her. The more
Junba thinks about the events of the last few hours, the more she felt
contrite.

Lum enters the sickbay, horrified upon what she sees. "Oh,
*tcha!*" the Oni gasps in horror. "DARLING!!!!" Lum flies to Ataru's
side and takes his hand. "Darling!!!" she pleads as her eyes well up
with tears. "Don't die!!! Too many people are counting on you for you
to leave now!!!"

He doesn't respond. To him, everything is a noiseless black void.
The last thing he remembers is the feel of the Lannarkite queen's
stinger ramming through his body and the faint squeaking of voices
gasping about how hurt he is. He did feel his body being transported
back the "Renegade" or Lum's hand holding his on the diagnostic bed.

Nassur works with the medical machines as best he can and in
minutes, Ataru is placed into stasis. life support activated. Lum,
pulled away by Shinobu so Nassur could do his job, stands nearby weeping
inconsolably. "I've done all I can," Nassur sighs.

"That's all?!!" Shinobu gasps.

"We don't have a doctor aboard," Nassur informs Shinobu. "And the
odds are not that great that we'll find a doctor among the women we left
in the Lannarkite hive."

"But we can't let Ataru-kun die!!"

"Nassur," Lum interrupts. "Don't you have an emergency medical
hologram program?"

"I do. But, I don't like to use it."

"Why not?" Shinobu asks.

"The Home Base computer designed it," Nassur sighs. "It's...not
really practical."

"Darling doesn't have much choice, does he?!" Lum angrily demands.

"Okay," Nassur sighs. "I'll activate it...but don't say I didn't
warn you!" He then looks to the deckhead. "Computer, activate
Emergency Medical Hologram!" Then everyone sees Nassur blush violently.

Suddenly, an extremely beautiful, well-endowed, exotic young woman
with hip-length long brown hair and sexy blue eyes appears. She wears a
very short, tight, revealing nurse's outfit with spike-heeled shoes.
"Please state ze nature o' ze emergency," the hologram inquires with a
strong French accent.

"THIS is the EMH?!!" Lum gasps.

"I said it was designed by the Home Base computer," Nassur
scratches the back of his head nervously. "I don't know what she was
thinking when she designed it!"

"I was expecting a REAL doctor!!" Shinobu bleats, shaking her
head.

Nassur points to Ataru. "This patient has been stabbed by a
Lannarkite stinger."

"I see," the hologram slinks suggestively to scan Ataru. "Eet is
lodged vary close to 'is 'eart," she reports, straddling over him. "Eef
eet is pulled out, 'e will lose a lot o' blood. Are zair any blood
supplies o' 'is type around for a transfusion?"

"None," Nassur answers, regretting how ill-prepared they were for
such an emergency. "We haven't had the time build a blood bank."

"D'accord," the hologram turns a computer terminal. "I shall see
eef zair is a match among ze Terran personnel aboard."

Seconds later, the hologram tsks. "Alors," her eyes grow big in
surprise. "None o' ze Terrans aboard 'ave ze same blood type as ze
patient. Zat weel may dings toughair!"

"What about a transfusion with one of the non-Terrans aboard?"
Shinobu inquires.

"Zat may work," the hologram shrugs. "But, c'est tres dangereux.
Ze patient has a Type A-positive blood type."

"I'm A-positive!" Lum points to herself.

The hologram scans Lum. "You are an Oni-Urusian with Sagussan
genetic modifications?" she asks. "I weel 'ave to filter out ze Oni
antibodies so zey do not affect ze patient. But I cannot remove ze
Sagussan antibodies or ze regeneration enzymes. Zis transfusion is also
vary dangereux. Eet may kill you!"

Lum looks determined. "If Darling dies," she boasts, "...why
should I live?! Even Noa will agree with me on this...wherever she is!"

"Zen prepare yourself," the hologram orders. "Ze rest o' you,
please to leave, okay?" she winks suggestively.

"Okay," Nassur nods to Shinobu and Junba. "You heard her, let's
leave."

"Wait," Shinobu cuts in. "I'll help you in the operation."

"Ce n'est pas necessairy," the hologram smiles and winks. "I am
trained in all sorts o'...medical techniques."

"I see the computer programmed this thing to be a little TOO
lifelike," Nassur quips. "Shinobu, do you think you can assist her?"

"I'm in training to be a nurse," Shinobu smiles. "It's a little
on-the-job training."

"Good luck then," Junba hums.

The two hunters leave. "D'accord," the hologram announces. "Let
us begin!"

* * *

Later in the dining hall, Junba is applying first aid to her own
injuries, mostly minor cuts and scrapes, with a biofuser. She watches
Nassur while he talks with Mendou and Megane. "The prognosis is not
good for Ataru," Nassur minces no words. "If the transfusion from Lum
fails, then he'll die."

Churlish grins come to their faces. "Dead?!" Mendou beams.
"That'd be a godsend! Without him, you know what that means!!"

"Yeah," Megane nods in agreement. "I know what that means."

"What does that mean?" Nassur asks.

"It means that those girls from Sagussa will be needing a NEW
*daimon'cha!*" Megane's glasses fog over in ecstacy. "Oh, I know
they'll choose the best man for the job..." He stands and looks to the
ceiling.

Mendou shoves him away. "ME!!!!" he declares. "A harem like that
should be mine!"

Megane grabs Mendou by his tunic and shakes him. "What gives you
that right?!!" the bespectacled student demands. "If anyone deserves a
harem, it's ME!!!!"

Nassur, visibly disgusted by the way the two are acting, breaks up
the discussion. "Maybe when we get in contact with Noa and the
Gatherer...they could bring back TANOSHII and SIL to have a little TALK
with you!"

Mendou and Megane both faint! "Y-YOU WOULDN'T!!!!" they gasp,
holding each other.

"Don't bet on it!!" Nassur intones.

"Nassur..." Junba interrupts. "I'd like to say a few things
myself."

They turn to the Mikado hunter, the looks in their eyes
demonstrating their attitude towards her. "What is it, Junba?"

Junba hands the cardiac band control over to Nassur. "After all
that has happened," she says slowly, "I won't be using this."

He takes the control, staring at Junba. "You're giving the
cardiac band control up without a fight?" he asks. "What for?"

"After you laid down your lives for me," Junba looks down, "...I
don't know what to think. The Mikado told me you were a cruel and
vicious person without an ounce of concern for anyone but yourself.
But, you saved me...a sworn enemy...as if I was a friend."

"So, you admit that the Mikado was wrong about me?" Nassur
counters.

"I do," Junba says as she holds out her wrists together. "I
surrender to you. You can do to me what you wish. I won't blame you
for finishing the job the Lannarkites tried."

Nassur eyes Junba silently for a second, then he turns away.
"That will be decided later...after we find out Ataru's fate."

* * *

The transfusion begins. Shinobu puts on a special apron to assist
the hologram in the operation. The hologram herself wears the exact
same outfit. "Usually, I do operations in ze nude," the hologram
declares.

Shinobu looks surprised by the boldness of the hologram's
programming. "J-just keep your clothes on, please," she gulps while
wondering what the designer was thinking when they programmed this
thing.

Lum lays on the spare diagnostic bed beside Ataru. Cords and
monitors are attached to both their bodies. The hologram, despite its
programming deficiencies, adequately oversees things while Shinobu
assists where she is instructed. "Ataru is stable," Shinobu reports.
"But he's still in bad shape."

"D'Accord," the hologram presses a few buttons. "Beginning ze
transfusion."

Lum feels a growing weakness within her body as she notices her
life's blood being sucked out. She looks at Ataru. He looks deathly
pale as he lays on his diagnostic bed unconscious. *Please, Darling,
survive,* she intones to herself over and over.

"D'Accord," the hologram announces, "I am removing ze stinger!"

With the deftness of a martial artist, the hologram grabs the
stinger and swiftly draws it out of Ataru's chest. Then the hologram
tosses the stinger aside to begin closing up Ataru's wounds with a
biofuser. In minutes, the job is done. Shinobu is amazed by how
quickly the whole procedure went. "Voila, ze stinger, she is out," the
hologram reports. "And, ze wounds are all closed. Now, we wait for ze
transfusion to work."

Shinobu looks at the stinger. It is about two feet long with
barbs on one end and looked as strong as a metal rod. "Jesu Cristo,"
she gasps to herself. "No wonder Ataru's badly hurt. This thing's like
a metal pipe." She looks at the other end. It had been suddenly cut
off by the transporter beam when Nassur ordered them all beamed up. She
could see some of the ooze of Lannarkite blood now dried up on it from
where it was still attached to the queen. It was revolting to see, and
Shinobu worked at keeping her stomach from turning over. Then a warning
beep comes from Lum's diagnosis bed. Shinobu drops everything to see
what it is. She does not like what she sees. "Lum is going into
shock!" she reports to the hologram.

"End ze transfusion," the hologram orders. "Ataru's vital signs
are improving."

Shinobu does what the hologram asks. *Was it in time?* she stares
at the patients. Lum is now as pale as Ataru was a few minutes
ago...and her vital signs are plummeting faster than someone jumping off
a building. "Lum's getting worse!" Shinobu panics.

"Begin anti-shock protocols."

Shinobu wraps Lum in a blanket, then tries to disconnect the
transfusion cords but it doesn't seem to work. Ataru was getting
better, Lum was getting worse. "No change!"

The hologram takes over. "Alors," she gasps. "I must do
somet'ing!" She unzips her uniform. "Zis weel bring 'er out o' shock!"

"No, I've got a better idea!" Shinobu crouches low enough beside
Lum to whisper into her ear. "Lum, don't die!" she pleads to her former
classmate. "I won't let you die!! What'll Ataru do if you die?!!
Shit, what would NOA do if you die?!!"

"Dar-...ling. No-...a..."

The hologram looks at Lum's vitals. "She is improving!"

Shinobu smiles, knowing that the Oni is yet to recover. "That's
right," she snarls. "Darling and Noa! You wanna get married to Ataru
and have kids Noa can help raise!! Don't blow it by dying on them!!"

Lum's vital signs raise higher and higher as Shinobu coaches the
Oni on recovering. Finally, Lum's vitals return to normal. "Lum's
recovering!" she smiles. "We did it!"

"D'Accord," the hologram nods. "I shall announce eet to ze crew!"

Shinobu relaxes and starts to move away...but Lum weakly reaches
out with her hand and grabs her. "Shinobu..." she gasps as if the act
of talking was a big strain, "...don't...tell...Darling ...what I did."

"Why?"

"Let...me...tell...him."

"O-okay," Shinobu nods.

* * *

The news of Ataru's survival drew mixed reviews in the dining
area. Junba and Nassur were immediately relieved while Mendou and
Megane were disappointed that their chance at grabbing Ataru's so-called
harem was nixed by a sex-crazed medical hologram. "Maybe next time,"
Mendou snorts in disappointment.

"I can STILL have Sil and Tanoshii brought aboard!" Nassur
insists. "Besides, when we get back, Lum'll be living in Oshika while
YOU'LL be STUCK in Tomobiki!!"

Mendou and Megane shudder...

* * *

Sometime later, Nassur beams down to visit the humanoid
Lannarkites who helped save Junba. Strangely, they are all still alive,
although some had minor injuries. The only sign of their insectoid
cousins where the thousands of crushed bodies scattered about. This
hive was finished as a Lannarkite base...hopefully for good. "Ataru
will survive his wounds," Nassur smiles at Marcia, the self-appointed
leader of the group. "Although he'll be out of action for a while."

"Pleased to hear it," Marcia smiles. She had a lot to be thankful
for from Ataru, least of which, her own life. "We finished scouting
around the hive for survivors and found some more like us. It seems the
bugs were trying to destroy them. Most were males."

"Well," Nassur smiles. "At least, we did some good here. If you
want you can all come aboard my ship and we can take you home."

Marcia is momentarily tempted by Nassur's offer, but then looks at
herself a moment. Except for her face and hair, very little of herself
remained as it was before the change. What she noticed the most were
the exoskeleton-like bands running all over her body. Once seeing them,
the former Fukunokami knows that she could never return to her
homeworld. The reaction from her own people would condemn her to a life
of loneliness. "If it's alright with you," she smiles. "We would like
to stay here...if you don't mind."

"I understand," Nassur presses a button on his communicator.
"I'll have supplies sent down to tide you over until I can contact some
friends look over you. Take care, Marcia."

"Thanks, Nassur."

Nassur waves as he disappears...

* * *

Meanwhile back on Earth, Benten and the others are having lunch
together in the house. This is because it is raining outside...and for
once, Benten agrees with Catty that going out in the rain is not in her
baby's best interest. "Well, at least it's quiet," Catty smiles while
taking a break from her duties.

"That's because it's raining," Benten snorts. "You can't swim in
the rain."

Reiko looks disappointed. "Darn," she sighs while looking out the
window, waiting for the rain to stop. "How can I watch Yamasaki when
it's raining buckets outside."

"Don't worry, Reiko," Benten smiles. "Yamasaki doesn't seem to be
going anywhere. There's always tomorrow."

"Tomorrow's such a long way away!"

"Gee," Ten-chan sighs while hovering upside down in the air. "I'm
SO bored."

"Me, too," Minami nods. "It's been raining ALL day! If I knew it
was going to be like this, maybe we could've gone with Mal-sempai and
the others to their coffee shop."

"That sounds good," Benten smiles.

"No unnecessary travel," Catty ahems.

"Whattaya mean?" Benten turns to her. "Catty, we're going stir-
crazy in this place."

"What if you go into labour at the coffee shop?" Catty nags. "Or
catch something on the way there or back? You must be careful!"

Benten pats her stomach lightly. "I've got over two months left
to go!" she moans. "I've got to have a LITTLE freedom!! Jeez, not even
SAKURA is as restrictive as YOU!!!!"

* * *

In Tsuchiura, Sakura sneezes. "I wonder who's thinking of me
now?" she wonders as she walks towards the Budou shrine.

It is Sakura's day off from her job as teacher and nurse. Since
Catty relieved her of most of her duties in looking after Benten, the
shrine maiden has had the time to visit those who mean the most to
her...mainly her boyfriend and her mentor. As she stops at the gate in
front of the shrine, Sakura remembers the first time she came to this
place.

Sakura was barely 18 years old then, in hiding from the JGSDF
after the destruction of North Tokyo High. She remembers feeling lost
and alone. Koosei had disappeared shortly after the massacre which
claimed all her friends and classmates. She had no aim in life, no goal
to target, nothing really to do with herself. She had thought about
moving to Roppongi and becoming one of their famous exotic dancers...but
with her health starting to fail, she wondered what club would even hire
her...no matter how good she looked.

So she wandered the streets of Tokyo for a bit, not informing her
parents of her whereabouts lest those responsible for destroying North
Tokyo High School would hunt her down and finish the job. Once in a
while, she would sleep with Cherry in exchange for something to eat and
his secrecy. Finally one day, depressed over being spared while others
died, she decided to end it all.

At that time, Sakura was too poor to afford drugs to overdose on
and too weak to hang herself or commit seppuku. She decided the easiest
way to end her miserable existence was simply by jumping off one of the
many bridges in Tokyo. She remembered it was raining that day...like it
always seemed to in situations like that. No one was around to notice
her as she tried to crawl over the railing and let go to kiss the
pavement below.

This is when Chie appeared.

Like something out of a samurai film, he came holding an umbrella
which covered most of his face. Dressed in a simple men's kimono of
white trimmed with tan, he stopped where the despondent Sakura was
planning to jump from and stared at her. Sakura, her torn, dirty
clothing and long, unkempt hair flowing in the rain's breeze, looked at
him with tear-filled eyes. The priest looked at her coolly, as if what
Sakura was going to do was no big deal. He said nothing for what seemed
like an eternity. Then finally, he spoke.

"If you die, it would be a dog's death."

Chie continued on his way. Sakura looked at herself and for the
first time felt ashamed of her actions. She climbed back over the
railing, ran over to the retreating Chie, and bowed low. Once she
explained her problems, Chie took her in. The rest is history.

Sakura walks up the steps to the front door of Chie's shrine. She
remembers feeling scared the first time she saw this shrine. It
resembled something out of an old horror movie. But, she was used to
it. Chie never told her why his shrine was so intimidating to the
casual visitor, only that it was safe from crime (no one DARED try to
break in). In fact, the shrine seemed so intimidating that not even the
most harden member of the Yakuza would even THINK of trying to extort
money from it or the surrounding neighbourhood.

Sakura entered. There was Chie in his full Shinto priest's robes,
having tea. "Why, Sakura-san," the middle-aged priest smiles upon
seeing her. "What brings you here?"

"Oh, just a social visit," Sakura smiles as she removes her shoes.
"It's been so quiet since what happened at the school weeks ago."

"Oh, yes," Chie nods, taking a sip of tea. "It has been quiet.
Too quiet in fact, since Ataru, Lum and the others have been kidnapped.
Has there been any word on them?"

"Nothing," Sakura sits and helps herself to some tea. "Benten is
fine and Catty has told Koosei that her baby is growing normally...for a
Vosian baby that is."

"Well, I guess that's to be expected."

"I've decided to accept promotion to vice-principal of Tomobiki
High School."

"How nice," Chie smiles. "The knighted pawn becomes a queen!"

"True. Since now my future is assured, I think it's time Tsubame
and I got married."

"That's true," Chie nods. "Besides, I hear Tsubame is trying to
get a teaching job at a local university."

"Yes, he's busy studying for the exam," Sakura takes a cracker.
"He wants to get into teaching about paranormal phenomena."

"Everyone in Tomobiki has had experience in that!" Chie muses...

* * *

Meanwhile in the trees of the shrine, a black blur appears and
leaps from tree to tree until he reaches the shrine. The blur then
becomes Shingo, Mendou's illiterate, witless guardian ninja. "This must
be the place," he muses to himself as he looks at the map (drawn without
any kanji so he could understand) given to him. He then pulls out a
scroll which has written on it the name of Chiezou Budou. "I shall
deliver this now!"

Shingo then disappears into a blur as he leaps into the shrine...

...and lands on top of Chie himself! Shingo looks around for the
Shinto priest not noticing that he is standing on his head. "Oh, miss,"
he looks dopily at the surprised Sakura. "Have you seen a priest by the
name of Chiezou Budou around here?"

He sends him through the roof! "Moron!!! You were standing on my
head!!!"

Shingo reappears in front of Chie and hands the scroll to him.
"This is for you!"

Chie takes the scroll and reads it:

"Dear Budou-sama,
"We have decided to end the feud between the Mendou and Mizunokoji
clans by marrying our daughters to our sons. Please come at once for
guidance. We are located at Gongho Fa Chou Chinese Restaurant in
Tomobiki. Come alone, the survival of both our clans are at stake.
"Hajime and Haruka Mendou, Yuujiro and Saeko Mizunokoji"

Chie concludes reading the message not knowing whether to laugh or
to cry. "It looks like the Mendous and Mizunkojis are going to stop
feuding with each other," he states to Sakura.

"How?" Sakura asks...then it hits her.

"By marrying one of them to another one of them," Chie gets a pen
and paper together.

"That's going to be hard," Sakura groans. "Word on the street has
Ryooko and Tobimaro are already engaged to people outside both clans.
Then there's what Asuka is doing with Osooko. Plus, Shutaro is
missing."

"They're going to do it anyway. And they want me to select the
victims," Chie finishes the note and hands it to Shingo. "Okay, take
this to the ones that sent you here."

"Sure," Shingo takes the note...

* * *

A ninja is given a golden scroll to protect from a lovely young
woman dressed in a kimono from the late Sixteenth Century. "Go forth
and be wary," the woman orders, "...for there are Onis on patrol at
night."

The ninja smiles wide enough to make a tooth sparkle in the dim
light. "I shall be like the wind," he boasts...

* * *

Chie notices Shingo is watching a ninja movie on his television.
"***GET GOING, WILLYA!!!!***" the enraged priest yells before literally
kicking the witless ninja out the door...forgetting to open it first!!

* * *

If Shingo was not enough trouble for the Mendou and Mizunokoji
clans, another problem has popped up. Sil Dedron has arrived on Earth
to visit Mendou. She left Earth once Lan, bored that Lum and Benten
were not around to tease, had told her of her lover's disappearance.
Sil almost tried to fly to Earth without a starship before she managed
to get hold of a ship and get there quicker.

She went to the Mendou mansion, only to learn that Shutaro's
parents were home and the staff were forbidden to tell the Oni where
they went. Sil tried Ryooko, only to find out that she wasn't home
either. Sil flew around Tomobiki, hoping to find out what was going
with her lover and his immediate family.

That's when Shingo runs into her...

*CRASH!!!!*

"Oh, sorry, miss," Shingo scratches the back of his head as he
picks himself up. "I was delivering a message to my superiors."

Sil recognizes Shingo. She had seen him before delivering love
notes from Mendou to her...when he wasn't watching television or landing
on top of his master's head, that is. "That's all right," Sil smiles.
"Go ahead."

"Of course," Shingo then leaps away to disappear into thin air.

Sil then notices he left his message on the ground at her feet.
Curious, the young Oni opens it to read it:

"To the Mendous and Mizunokoji,
"I will do this marriage between one of your sons to one of your
daughters but under protest. I'll be arriving. Don't do anything
intelligent before I arrive. I hate when people act out of character.
"Chiezou Budou"

Sil looks horrified at what she has just read. "They're gonna
marry MY LOVER to another woman?!!" she bares her fangs. "MY LOVER!!!!"
She literally explodes so powerfully in anger that she causes an Akira
wave to form. "***OVER MY DEAD BODY, THEY WILL!!!!!!***"

Sil then reads the address the message was to be sent to. "Gongho
Fa Chou Chinese Restaurant? That's where I'm going!"

Sil then flies into the night.

* * *

Nearby, Chie notices Sil searching for Mendou's parents. *Looks
like it's going to be an interesting meeting! If I hurry I might make
it in time to see the fireworks begin.*

The middle-aged Shinto priest rushes off.

* * *

The Gongho Fa Chou Chinese Restaurant is no different than any
other Chinese restaurant in Tokyo. The place is filled with Chinese-
style art and architecture and the waitresses and waiters are dressed in
Chinese-style uniform, although few are Chinese. The chef is in the
kitchen preparing meals for the dozen members of the Mendou and
Mizunokoji Clans. Included among the clan members are both Mendou's
parents and Tobimaro's parents. As expected, Haruka Mendou is seconded
by a grey-haired man with a moustache. He is to act as her voice. Also
there are members of each clans' special guard units.

The room is quiet as both sides sit on opposite ends of the room.
The tension is so strident that it effects the staff. "I've never seen
such uptight people as between these two clans," one waitress, a chubby
Japanese girl, gulps to her partner.

"It gonna be total war in moment if something doesn't change," the
other one, a tall, plain looking Chinese girl nods.

Hajime Mendou looks sternly towards his counterpart. Tobacco
smoke rings his head. "It seems we are at an impasse," he hums.

Yuujiro Mizunokoji nods in agreement. "The future of both our
clans are at stake in this meeting," he says equally as grimly. "It's
time for us to make a move."

The whole room goes silent. Members of both clans looks strained
as they wait for some hidden weaknesses as a signal to attack the other
side. Finally, Yuujiro picks up a menu and reads it. "I'll have the
egg fu young with wonton soup!"

Hajime take a menu as well. "I'll have the chicken wings with
honey."

The staff collapse. "They were figuring out who was going to
order first?!!" the chef, a fat, middle-aged, Chinese man, gulps.

Before any other members of the party can order their meals, the
door swings open. The sound of wind is heard as the figure enters the
room. "Oh, there you are, Budou-sama," Hajime smiles. "I trust you got
our plea."

"Yes, I did," Chie nods as he takes a seat in between both clans.
"Where are those whom I'm supposed to 'marry?'"

Yuujiro claps his hands. A huge Chinese waiter appears beside him
and bows. "Bring in our children!" he orders the waiter.

"At once," the waiter disappears.

"You will notice that we've taken every precaution on keeping our
children from trying to escape their birthright," Hajime nods.

"'Escape?'" Chie looks confused...

...until he sees Ryooko, Tobimaro and Asuka gagged and tied up in
ropes together and placed upon a wheeled table pushed by the waiter.
Beside them is a photograph of Shutaro Mendou taken shortly after his
graduation from Tomobiki High School. They are wheeled in front of Chie
as if they were the special of the day. "I see now," Chie sighs,
feeling a little sorry for them.

"As you can see," Yuujiro points out. "Our children have no
escape. We can't decide on whom is going to marry whom. We thought a
neutral party like yourself could chose."

Chie slaps his forehead. *I knew Lady Nagaiwakai wanted the silly
feud between these two clans to end...but, all of these kids have their
own lovers to worry about...and Shutaro isn't even on Earth! What
should I do?!*

A waitress, a cute Thai girl, appears beside Chie holding a large
bottle of sake and a small glass on a serving tray. "Sake?" she asks
the priest with a smile.

"Sure," Chie nods as he takes the glass and bottle, fills the
glass with sake, places the glass back on the tray, then proceeds to
down the rest of the bottle in one gulp. The effect is immediate. Chie
is sloshed. "Nosh, I'm r-r-reddy ta make m' decision," he slurs. "I's
sink dat da Giants'll win da pennant!"

"We are talking about our children!" Hajime intervenes tersely.

"Oh, yeah," the high priest hiccups. "The only ding dat comes
outta both yer clans are baseball players 'n' loose women."

"What about Asuka?" Yuujiro pipes up.

"Wot positions do they play?" Chie asks.

Haruka whispers into her retainer's ear. "Lady Mendou is appalled
at such behaviour," he flushes angrily. "She is a woman..."

"Pudda sock innit!" Chie snorts.

"...breeding going back centuries."

Both lord of the clan then move closer towards Chie. "Budou-
sama," Hajime urges. "You must make your decision soon."

"Okay," Chie sighs. "I's choose one o' youse ta marry in m'usual
way."

"What way?" Yuujiro asks.

Chie pulls out a coin. "Dis way."

"A coin?!!" everyone gasps.

"Of course," Chie flips the coin in the air, grabs it, and places
on his arm, covering it with his hand. "Heads 'r tails?" he asks.

"Heads," Hajime says.

"Heads it is," Chie shows the coin to both of them. "Shutaro
Mendou and Asuka Mizunokoji! Battin' foist!"

Asuka is untied and shoved in front of Chie with the photo of
Shutaro. "I protest! Shuu-chan isn't even HERE to get married!"

"Asuka," Saeko sniffs. "Think about the future of our clan."

"I'd rather think of my future with Osooko," Asuka growls.

The whole restaurant goes quiet. Hajime turns nervously towards
Yuujiro. "You mean that your daughter really has become a..."

"I hope not!" Yuujiro wipes his brow with a tissue. "But, no
matter what her sexual preferences are, a choice has been made! Asuka
and Shutaro must wed NOW!!!!"

"But..." Asuka protests.

"NOW!!!!" her father cuts her off, then turns to Chie. "Do it,
Budou-sama."

Chie sighs and hunts through the pockets of his Shinto priest
robes for his books on ceremonies. Out of his pockets he pulls out an
elaborate collection of objects d'art, until he finally finds the books
in question...under his hat. "Okay," Chie begins. "Who're da sponsors
o' dis child?"

"This is a wedding," Hajime interrupts. "Not a baptism!"

"Sorry," Chie leafs through the book again. "Here ya go...does
anyone here protest da fact dat dese two marry?"

The answer is given by a wall exploding!! When the smoke clears,
Sil Dedron is standing there with Reigi Yumoa, Yuukiki Seishin and
Osooko. "***WE PROTEST!!!!***"

"Who is that?!!" Yuujiro gasps.

Sil flies up to both lords of the clans and glares angrily at
them. "We're the true loves of your children!!!" Sil explains. "And
we're here to retrieve them!!!"

Reigi and Yuukiki untie their lovers. "Ryooko-chan," Reigi hugs
Ryooko. "I've saved you from a fate worse than death!"

"Thanks, Reigi-kun," Ryooko smiles.

"Ton-chan," Yuukiki nearly smothers Tobimaro with her own chest.
"When they stole you from my bosom, I thought I saw the last of you!
Now, I'm glad you're safe and whole."

Tobimaro faints. Osooko frees Asuka. "I hope I was in time,
Asuka-chan," the Nendo-kata-turned-Tritonian sighs. "I wouldn't want to
lose you to these Purveyors of disUnity!!"

"Just in time, Osooko-chan!" Asuka beams.

"All right!!" Sil snarls, spinning on the Mendous. "Where's my
Shuu-chan?!!"

"In space somewhere," Hajime shrugs. "We know not where. This
wedding has been decided upon even while my son is missing."

"Wedding?!!" Sil glows. "With whom?!!"

"Me," Asuka points to herself.

Sil looks at Asuka. She had heard of the former fiance of Mendou,
a girl who was afraid of men save for Shutaro and her own relatives.
Shutaro had told her it was all over between them, that Asuka had become
a lesbian of all things and was now living with one of those strange
alien women in Oshika. "You?!!" the Oni asks her. "Aren't you a
lesbian?!"

"Not exactly," Asuka scratches the back of her head. "Osooko-chan
can only mate with other women to have children. I volunteered to help
her make a baby."

"And we have been successful," Osooko reports by opening her
kimono to show her extended abdomen. "See?"

"I thought I'd seen everything!" the raven-haired Oni muses.

Haruka whispers to her retainer, whom points at Asuka. "The Lady
Mendou does not recognize this child's parentage..."

"Shaddap!!!" Reigi snarls at him.

"...is an outrage," the retainer ends.

"But for the sake of our clans," Yuujiro pleads, "you must marry
Shutaro Mendou!"

"I won't!!!" Asuka snarls. "All he cares about are flighty Onis
like Sil or Lum!!"

"***WHO'S A FLIGHTY ONI?!?!?!***" Sil bellows.

Hajime takes Sil by the arm. "This is your fault, Oni!!! If you
stayed on your own planet, this would never have happened!!"

"My fault, is it?!" Sil growls. "With cold parents like you, I'm
doing Shuu-chan a favour getting rid of you!!"

Sil demonstrates her own special power: she transforms into
volatile energy which threatened to destroy the entire building!! Dust
and smoke are everywhere. In the middle of it, Chie, still drunk, looks
around for the people he is going to marry. "Hey," Chie slurs. "I
dought I wuz gonna marry someone."

Then he notices two pairs of people lined up. "Marry us!!" they
declare together.

"Okee-dokey," Chie hums.

After a minute, Sil calms down and leaves the restaurant in
shambles. Unconscious Kuromegane and Kurotenshi lay all over the place.
"Now, if I only knew where Shuu-chan was!!" Sil brushes herself off.

"I now pronounce ya all hubby and wife!" Chie hums. "You may kiss
da brides...while I go ta sleep!" Chie passes out on the floor.

"Who got married?!" Sil asks.

In the confusion, Sil could not see whom Chie was marrying. But
with the dust and smoke settling, the Oni girl was beginning to make out
details. She sees Reigi and Ryooko holding hands and kissing each
other...and standing beside them, doing the same thing, are Yuukiki and
Tobimaro. "You four got married to each other?!" Sil asks.

"That's right," Reigi smiles. "We took advantage of the confusion
and did it!"

"Our parents can't stop us!" Ryooko hums.

"We're legal now," Tobimaro grins.

"Let's party, Ton-chan," Yuukiki hugs Tobimaro, "and celebrate!"

"We'll join you," Asuka smiles. "We have to celebrate Osooko-
chan's coming child."

Asuka pats Osooko's stomach which causes the former Nendo-kata to
blush a little. "Sure, Asuka," Tobimaro smiles. "The more, the
merrier. You coming, Sil?"

"Sure," Sil flies after the group.

Once gone, the chef looks at the carnage and unconscious bodies
lying in what was once a beautiful restaurant. He groans then turns to
a waitress, a chubby Chinese girl. "The Japanese are such messy
eaters!"

"And they didn't even leave a tip," the waitress nods
agreeingly...

* * *

While the staff clean up, the "Renegade" orbits the Lannarkite
planet as the crew decides on their next move. In sickbay, the
Emergency Medical Hologram completes her check of Ataru. In only a few
days, Ataru's wounds have healed to the point where he is ready for
discharge. "Sacre bleu," the hologram's eyes grow big. "C'est
impossible. According to zese readings, your body's repair capacity 'as
increased a t'ousand fold. But, you were dying but a few days ago."

"Well," Ataru scratches his head tiredly. "I always did heal
fast."

"D'Accord," the hologram muses. "You are free to go." She
reaches for the zipper of her uniform. "Unless, you wish for a complete
physical examination, yes?"

Ataru holds his nose. "Er...no, thanks! Computer...end Emergency
Medical Hologram!"

To his relief, the hologram fades out just as her breasts became
visible. "What were the designers thinking of when they programmed
HER?!?!" he gasps.

In the corridor, Ataru notices Lum weakly flying by. "Oh, Lum,"
he embraces her from behind. "I feel better than I have in years."

He then notices the paleness of Lum's skin and the unsteadiness in
her flying. Even after a few days, Lum's blood count is still low but
climbing. To someone like Ataru, who has rarely seen his girlfriend in
anything less than full health, the difference is striking. "Are you
alright, Lum-chan?"

"I'm fine," Lum smiles. "It's just the stress of your injuries.
That's all."

"You look like a vampire."

"Close, Darling," Lum then remembering something. "Oh, now that
you're back on your feet, Nassur and Junba are having a meeting to
decide what to do next."

"Why?" Ataru wonders. "What's happened?"

"Junba's given up the cardiac band control and surrendered
herself," Lum explains. "They want our input on whether we should go
back to Earth or not."

A smile appears on Ataru's face. "Finally," he drags Lum with
him. "Someone who really is using his brain!"

* * *

With "Renegade's" helm on automatic, Nassur and Junba meet with
Lum and the others in the dining hall. The mood is filled with silent
anxiousness as the two hunters begin. "I'm glad to see Ataru and Lum
back on their feet so quickly," Nassur acknowledges their shipmates'
recent misfortunes. "I don't think your families would have forgiven me
if I didn't bring you both back alive or whole."

"Next time you wanna fight the Lannarkites," Ataru groans, "leave
me out!"

"Hopefully, that'll be the only time we fight them," Lum sits
down. "I don't think I can take you getting hurt that badly again."

"So," Ataru ahems. "What now?"

Nassur takes the cardiac band control and presses a green button.
"First things first...this." The cardiac bands drop from everyone's
wrists like broken watch bands. The crew looks relieved. "You're free
of the cardiac bands for good," Nassur smiles.

"I wasn't worried too much about them," Ataru shrugs. "They
didn't affect me."

"They hurt us!!" Mendou and Megane growl.

"Good!" Ataru snorts back.

"Ahem!" Nassur interrupts the bickering. "Junba has also
surrendered herself to our mercy. Therefore, we are faced with a couple
of choices. We can go back to Earth and forget about the Sceptre of
Lecasur or we can continue on as normal and bring it back."

Ataru is the only one who faints at the second suggestion!
"What's this?!!" he yells at Nassur. "Go home or keep going after some
mythical object?!! Are you nuts?!"

"Despite what the Mikado did to you," Junba intervenes, "...the
Sceptre of Lecasur is real and I for one am curious about finding it and
bringing it back to my people."

"So am I," Nassur adds.

"Well, that's up to you," Ataru nods as he realizes Nassur's and
Junba's reasons for wanting to go on. "But, we've been dragged into
this against our will."

"True," Nassur nods. "Therefore, ANY of you who want to go
home...will be allowed to go home as soon as we get back in contact with
some of YOUR friends."

*'YOUR friends?'* Ataru thinks, then remembers Lum telling him
that the Gatherer was tailing this ship until they unexpectedly lost
contact. Nassur is keeping information about the Sagussans quiet from
Junba.

"What about you?" Lum asks. Lum knows that Nassur going off into
the unknown with a partner who's loyalties are questionable is
uncharacteristically naive of her former teacher. Anything bad could
happen to her former tutor and being alone, there would be no witnesses.
Besides, what would she tell Benten if Nassur did not return with her?

"I'll be fine. If you go, make sure you tell the Chain-Lady of my
health."

*'Chain-Lady?'* Lum thinks before realizing Nassur is meaning
Benten.

"Whether you all go, some of you go, or none of you go," Nassur
continues, "...is not an issue. I can't force you to stay here against
your wills. All those wanting to leave...meet me back here in an hour."

Nassur leaves. Junba stays for a moment, a pensive look on her
face. Remembering how badly she treated everyone else on this ship
before she was captured by the Lannarkites, Junba for the first time
feels as nervous. *How will they react to me now?* she wonders. By
rights, they could have her arrested and thrown into the brig. Or they
could maroon her somewhere to live the rest of her life alone.
Thousands of possible scenarios play through the hunter's mind before
she gets up the courage to speak. "Before I leave," she begins, "I'd
like to apologize for everything I've done to hurt you. I once believed
that anyone who allied themselves with Nassur was my enemy so I treated
you as such." She gives Shinobu a glance. "Especially you, Shinobu-
san. I nearly killed you because you found out something about me that
I didn't want anyone on this ship to know. For that, I am hoping that
my apology could help to mend the fences between us. If you decide to
stay, I will accept any punishment you desire for what I did to you."
She turns to Lum. "I know you find it hard to believe...but I now want
to join Nassur as an equal member of this ship's crew with any of you
who want to do so. Maybe somehow, someday, you'll trust me as you trust
each other." Before her eyes can fill with tears, she bows to leave the
dining hall. "I'll see you in an hour, maybe?"

Everyone looks at everyone else in silence after Junba leaves.

* * *

An hour later, Nassur and Junba walk down the corridor to the
dining hall. Never has such a walk seem so drawn out as it feels to the
hunters. "The rest of the ship can be set on automatic until we reach
the Planet of Shadows," Nassur makes small talk. "It'll be a lonely
journey but regular communications with Home Base should keep us
company."

"A videoscreen is nothing compared to a living person," Junba
reminds Nassur. "Still, I wonder how we're going to get your friends
back. We're far from any shipping routes."

"Don't worry," Nassur smiles. "I have ways in sending people
where they want to go."

Both stop at the door and look at each other, anxiety across their
faces. "Well, here it goes," Nassur sighs.

They open the door...

...and notice that NO ONE is there waiting to leave. Junba and
Nassur look at each other. "Could it be...?" she asks.

"I guess Terrans are just as curious as Vosians," Nassur answers.

The intercom beeps. "Bridge to Nassur," Lum's voice is heard.
"We're ready to leave orbit for the Planet of Shadows when you are."

"Understood," Nassur answers. "But I thought Ataru wasn't going
with us!"

"I'm coming," Ataru's voice answers. "But, the first chance I
get, I'm outta here and back home, understand?!"

"Understood," Nassur smiles. "We'll be on the bridge. Meanwhile,
engage!"

The "Renegade" leaves the orbit of the Lannarkite planet to
continue its mission...

* * *

On Earth, Benten is visiting Koosei under the watchful eyes of
Catty. It took a lot to convince the Sagussan doctor to ALLOW Benten
the privilege of visiting friends. Leaving Mal to babysit Reiko, Ten-
chan and Minami, Benten reluctantly agreed to be chaperoned to Koosei's
home so she could be "protected from the idiocy of this tomobiki."
Koosei enjoys the company, being depressed after Oyuki left for Triton a
few hours earlier. He was always like that after their dates ended,
though the Umbrella and his Cloud wife would not DARE pester him. "So,
how is life in Oshika, Benten?" Koosei asks while serving some tea.

"Oh, it's fine," Benten takes a tea cup, only to have it
immediately scanned by Catty and her ever-present tricorder.

"It passes," Catty ends her scan.

"Do you mind, Catty?!" Benten snarls. "Koosei doesn't put poison
in their tea...at least, not if it's for Lan!"

"I was checking if the composition could harm the fetus," Catty
retorts. "Continue."

Benten turns back to Koosei. "As you can see," she continues,
"Catty's a little TOO overprotective of me!"

"Well, on Sagussa, medical officers are given considerable
respect," Koosei says before offering a biscuit to Benten, repeating the
oft-quoted dictum, "*Igh te'a i'sagh.*"

Catty scans them as well before she allows Benten to touch one.
"They pass."

Benten looks annoyed. "I understand that. But she never lets me
do anything!"

"You must think about the baby!!"

"I KNOW I'm pregnant!!!" Benten hollers back. "I don't need to be
reminded about it every second of the day!!"

"Then, why not consider having the fetus moved into a gestation
chamber for its OWN protection?!" Catty counters.

"Not on your life!" Benten pats her rounded stomach. "I helped
MAKE this baby! I wanna finish growing it inside me...obsessive doctor
or no obsessive doctor!!"

"You have to admit, Catty, Benten's got you there," he chuckles.
"If the Sagussans have a flaw, it's their overuse of technology. They
make it too easy to do stuff...and that makes them forget that they all
once were part of our 'primitive' civilizations."

"But, it's my job to...!"

Koosei puts his hand on Catty's shoulder. "If anything I've
learned about Benten, Catty, it's this: she's been entrusted carrying
something VERY precious to Nassur-kun...and she wants to see it to the
end. Since you haven't had any children, you don't understand Benten.
So, relax! Benten or the baby will tell you if anything's wrong."

Catty, unaccustomed to being told to relax, doesn't know how to
respond. "But..."

"Women in this part of the galaxy have been having babies this way
eons before the *daishi'cha* were collected," Koosei stares into her
eyes. "And they'll be having them for eons after your people have died
out. So make this a learning experience for you."

Catty looks confused. "Well, I may have been a little harsh," she
scratches her head. "But, Benten's the first pregnant woman I've come
across and I've been sleep-trained in all the arts of Sagussan
medicine."

"Well, training's no substitute for experience," Koosei adds.

"I'll try to give a little more leeway in what comes in contact
with her," Catty sighs.

"Good," Benten smiles. "Say, Koosei, isn't Tanabana coming up
soon?"

"Next week, I think," Koosei remembers.

"Why don't we have a party up in Oshika celebrating it?" Benten
asks.

"I don't see why not," Koosei smiles. "Who do you want to
invite?"

"I'll decide later," Benten turns to Catty. "Of course, you can
bring in the crew of the 'Hasei'cha,' too, Catty."

"It'll give them a break from monitor duty our return to Sagussa
to prepare for the *daimon'cha's* arrival," Catty smiles.

*It'll also give Lufy a chance to work on her bond with you,
Catty,* Koosei muses.

Tanabana is a festival in Japan...and on both Uru and Fukunokami.
Unlike Setsubun, this is not a violent celebration. Between Urusians
and Fukunokami, it is traditionally the one day that NO fighting is
allowed. It is a day to love one another, renew old friendships which
have been interrupted by distance and one's obligations.

Like Japan's Tanabana, legend has it that the son of an Oni lord
and the daughter of a Fukunokami lord fell in love against the wishes of
their families. Finally, they were barred from seeing each other except
for ONE day of the year, where they would leave a card tied to an
evergreen tree. On the card is written a wish that is to be fulfilled
in the coming year. According to legend, if the card stayed on the tree
the whole night without once falling off, the wish would come true.

As time passed, Tanabana became a festival as eagerly awaited as
Setsubun. Reenactments using children from both races are the
highlights of the evening before all the guests would tie their wishes
for the coming year on the tree.

Benten always liked Tanabana because it was the first time she got
to wear a cute girl's kimono. She was eight years old at the time, an
atypical tomboy. In school plays, she would be handed a male role.
Lum, on the other hand, always got the female leading role in the
class...much to the chagrin of Lan. Even though she won the part by
acclamation (Benten was the only Fukunokami in her class), she saw this
as a chance to change her image. Years later, Benten could still quote
the lines she had to learn without error...she also had the kimono she
wore in the play, stored somewhere in her parents' house.

"Then, let's get to planning it," Benten pats both Koosei and
Catty on the back...

* * *

In the "Renegade's" holosuite, Nassur instructs Lum and the others
on what they might expect on the Planet of Shadows. Although a holo-
simulation is good, it cannot plan for every possible congruency.
Packed with all the information stored in the frigate's computer banks
along with what the Mikado supplied through Junba, the simulation was as
accurate as possible.

The Planet of Shadows looked covered with a thick, lush jungle not
unlike those in Africa or South America. There seemed to be no
intelligent humanoid life there...save for the Keeper... despite there
being ruins indicative of a very advanced civilization. There is one
intact structure, a palace of shiny crystal, standing in a clearing. It
was not easy to overlook. It could be the size of Tokyo itself if the
information was correct. Despite its intactness, it seemed uninhabited.

Strangely, the planet surrounds its sun, unlike most other worlds.
In the horizon, they could see more of the Earth-like geography and less
proof of any intelligent life. "As you can see," Nassur walks everyone
through the simulation, "...what information we have on the Planet of
Shadows shows that it's a Dyson sphere. This means that the whole world
is artificial. Probably it was built from raw materials from all its
solar system's planets, moons and asteroids. It is a feat of
engineering that has no equal anywhere...possibly even on Sagussa."

"Tere'na-korgh is nothing compared to that!" Lum whistles.

"I'll have to agree," Ataru nods. On all the planets he had
visited, none could boast a horizon that curved UP.

"What information we have on the Planet of Shadows and the initial
act of finding the Sceptre of Lecasur is from Lecasur's log entries from
the 'Unification,'" Nassur continues. "It's by no means complete. Log
entries in that time were known for little...omissions stating what
actually happened. But it's better than nothing." He points towards
the Crystal Palace. "The Sceptre was found in that building over
there."

"A palace of crystal?" Lum gasps.

"It's so beautiful!" Shinobu exclaims.

"It's here where the Keeper is alleged to live," Nassur adds.

"Keeper?" Mendou asks. "What Keeper?"

"According to the log entries," Nassur explains, "...an old man
lives in the Crystal Palace alone. No one knows who he is or how long
he's been there. It is claimed that he is immortal. Only he knows
where in the Palace the Sceptre is located now."

A hologram of an elderly, spry-looking man with long greying hair
and full beard appears. He wears a long, blue robe and holds a long
pole in his left hand. The wrinkles on his face give a kindly look
about him. "This is the Keeper," Nassur introduces the hologram.
"Despite his looks, he is VERY powerful. Treat him with respect."

The intercom beeps. "Nassur," Junba hums. "There's an energy
field developing in the holosuite. You want to investigate it."

Nassur looks puzzled. "Okay. Computer, stop and save program."

The program disappears to show the walls, ceiling, and floor
covered with dark, glass-like panelling from which the holographic
projections are created. Everyone looks around. "What energy field?"
Megane scratches his head. "I don't see one."

Nassur pulls out a tricorder and scans around the room. "Looks
like it's up there," he reports, pointing up. "It's a type of energy
I've never seen before. It's almost like it's from another
dimension..."

"Another dimension?" everyone echoes.

"Who do we know who can do that?" Mendou scratches his head.

"From the looks of things," Nassur adds, "...they're ready to drop
in at any moment."

Then something falls to the floor with a hard thud! "It's gone
now," Nassur reports.

Everyone stares at what just took a header on the deck. Luckily,
he was not hurt. "Inaba-kun?!" Shinobu gasps surprisedly on seeing her
former boyfriend.

"Shinobu-san?" Inaba groans, picking himself up. "I've found
you!" he takes his former girlfriend by the hand. "It took me a long
time and inquiries at fifty Destiny Management offices before I found
you!"

"What are you doing here?" Lum asks the question that everyone had
on his mind.

"I was getting ready to leave for my new job on Sagussa," Inaba
smiles. "So, I came to say my goodbyes. I went to Earth and found that
Shinobu-san and the rest of you had been kidnapped, so I came looking
for you all."

"How'd you manage to get a cloaked ship this far into the Galaxy?"
Nassur asks.

"We don't use starships," Inaba scratches his head gleefully. "We
use spacial warps."

"I see," Nassur says...then thinks. "Inaba, can you carry a
message for me to Benten? She's living in Oshika right now."

A smile appears on the rabbit-boy's face. "Can I carry a
message?" he boasts. "Can I carry a message?" He looks confused. "Can
I carry a message?"

Everyone yells loud enough to knock him across the room. "***CAN
YOU?!?!?!***"

"Sure," Inaba picks himself up. "I can. Just tell me what you
want to know."

Inaba is immediately besieged by everyone and given several
messages to take with him. Nassur has a message for Benten. Lum has
one for her parents and Ten-chan. Ataru has one for his grandmother,
sister and Reiko. Shinobu wants one sent to her parents and siblings.
Mendou gets one ready for his parents and Sil, while Megane has one
ready to be delivered to his mother and Tanoshii. "This'll take some
time," Inaba sighs as he places the notes into his apron pockets. "But,
I'll get everyone's messages delivered." He then disappears into a
spacial warp.

"I hope he makes it back," Ataru sighs.

"I just hope he finds Tanoshii," Megane sighs. "I miss her
terribly."

"We miss everyone terribly," Mendou nods. "Even our enemies."

* * *

At Ataru's house, Benten, Catty and the kids relax. Since Koosei
urged the doctor to ease off, the pregnant hunter looks happier. Reiko
still looks hopelessly lovesick as she wanders around the house. Ten-
chan and Minami play house with each other. "Things are so quiet here,"
Benten stretches her tired body. "I wish the kid wouldn't be so
active."

Benten pats her stomach. For the last month, she felt as if
someone else is slowly taking control of her body. Catty stated this is
normal for a woman carrying a Vosian child as the fetus is only getting
used to using her powers. Benten remained unconvinced. Despite all the
information written on the subject, birthing a Vosian-descent child
remains filled with many unknowns. There are rumours of the baby
actually taking over its mother's body while she sleeps to get a look at
the "afterbirth" (as the fetuses call it). As far as she knew, her baby
didn't do that so far...but it would help if the baby would stop putting
post-hypnotic suggestions into her own mind. The last one had her eat
an entire box of detergent at the local convenience store to the shock
of everyone present. It took a LOT of explaining from Catty to the
store's owner about what she was going through...not that the owner
believed a word of it.

But, living in Oshika bored Benten. Once in a while Koosei,
Sakura or Mie would visit. Even Oyuki would literally drop in with
Lan...when the latter was not waiting for Lum to return so the Seishin
could get her revenge on the Oni. That was rare. There was nothing
really to look forward to except Tanabana and Clarisse and Pamanba's
upcoming concert. What she would give to have a break from routine.

She gets one: Kurama, flanked by Noa, enters the room. "Chain
Lady!" the Tengu princess growls upon seeing Benten. "You have some
explaining to do!"

Benten looks unimpressed by Kurama's bluster. "I'm glad to see
you, too, Kurama," she replies with contempt in her voice before she
notices Noa. "Why are you and Noa here?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing!" Kurama snorts before she
notices the signs of Benten's pregnancy. "I see," she nods in
understanding. "NATSU-KUN DUMPED YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE CARRYING ANOTHER
MAN'S CHILD!!!!"

When the smoke clears, Benten stares her in the eye. "WHO TOLD
YOU THAT LIE?!?!?!"

"She met with Nassur and the 'Renegade' in space a few days ago,"
Noa sighs. "Henry and I saved her from getting destroyed."

"Couldn't you have LET them finish the job?!!" Benten wonders.

"After sharing a ride in space with her," Noa groans, "...I was
tempted to!"

Kurama points her leaf fan. "If that THING is Natsu-kun's child,
explain why I saw him and the Ghost Boy in a loving embrace!"

"Ghost Boy?" Benten remembers whom Kurama means. "You mean
Shinobu is trying to have an affair with MY husband?! That's
impossible! Nassur is recognized to me! Affairs NEVER occur after
recognition!"

"That's right," Noa nods.

"I know what I saw!" Kurama protests. "And I have the evidence
recorded!"

"Well, let me see it!" Benten retorts.

"Of course," Kurama nods.

* * *

Minutes later, Kurama's crewmen set up a huge holoprojector in the
living room. After the tape is played, Benten looks stunned. "Shinobu
IS trying to have an affair with Nassur," Benten denies. "But, she
can't succeed! Nassur's recognized me!"

"You want to know where we met?" Kurama goes on the offensive.
"Just outside the borders of known space. It seems that Nassur and his
little band are going on a little exploration cruise!"

"But he was going on a rescue mission!" Benten did not know what
to think. Nassur is always as good as his word. Something must have
happened to change his mission.

"From the looks of things, that's changed," Kurama rubs it in.

Benten looks at the tape again. On the second watching, she
notices Junba in the command chair. "Who is that girl?" Benten points
to the image. "She looks like Cinba!"

"It's a bastardization!" Noa snorts.

"She was in charge of what is going on," Kurama nods. "Maybe it's
impossible for Nassur to have an affair with another alien woman, but
what about another VOSIAN woman?!"

Benten turns away. "Preposterous!" she snorts. "There's
something going on there and I wanna find out the truth...no matter if
it drops out of the sky!"

The truth chooses to crash in! Inaba drops through the roof and
nearly hits Benten before bouncing to the floor!! "Benten?"

"Inaba?!" Benten looks surprised.

Inaba hands her a letter with her name written in Nassur's
handwriting on it. "This is for you!" he groans before passing out.

"Probably a goodbye letter!" Kurama hums.

Annoyed, Benten seizes the letter from the extra-dimensional
rabbit-boy to read it. "'Dear Benten,'" she reads aloud. "'Probably by
now, Kurama has come to visit you and tell her side of what happened
while we are in space. All I ask is NOT to believe a word she says
until you learn the truth. Lum, Ataru, the others and myself are being
FORCED to go on a secret mission for the Mikado. The overseer of this
mission is a woman who CLAIMS to be a twin sister of Cinba herself.
While no one is in a danger at the moment, I've asked Noa and her people
to secretly follow us just in case (until recently, that was true). I'm
not sure when or IF any of us will be back or what condition we will be
in when we return, but I hold you in my heart every night. I'm sorry
for all the anxiety that is occurring for you on Earth. I hope our
coming baby is healthy and everyone on Earth is looking after you.
Hoping that the time that separates us will be brief...Nassur.'"

The whole room goes silent. Benten puts the letter down and tears
begin to well up in her eyes. Kurama smiles with relief. "Oh, so
Natsu-kun's being forced to do something for that disgusting Mikado! I
knew it all along!"

Kurama pats Benten on the shoulder. She suddenly wheels on her.
Her tears flowing like rain. "SURE you did!!" Benten snarls. "Wasn't
it YOU who came in here a few minutes ago accusing ME for being
unfaithful?!"

"Well..." Kurama backs off, gulping.

"Wasn't it YOU who accused Nassur and Shinobu of having an
affair?!!"

"Well...I...um..."

"WASN'T IT YOU WHO ACCUSED NASSUR HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH ANOTHER
VOSIAN WOMAN?!?!?!"

"But..." Kurama continues to back away from the angry Fukunokami
hunter until she literally has her back against the wall.

Benten traps her against the wall. "You NEVER accepted that I can
carry Nassur's children and you and he are not compatible!!!" Benten
shoves her face until it is barely the width of a finger's distance from
their noses. "So, you come making accusations...UNFOUNDED
accusations...trying to break us apart!!! Well, Nassur's risking his
life and the lives of a group of people who are OUR friends!!!
Something a crow-slut like you wouldn't even understand!! If I wasn't
pregnant, I'D be with him now risking my life right beside him!! If it
were YOU, you'd probably be busy trying find some other guy to screw
you!!!"

Noa, who had, until this time, thought this would be a good source
of amusement to make up for the boredom of following "Renegade," decides
against her better judgement to intervene. "Benten, that's..."

Benten immediately grabs Noa. "Aren't YOU supposed to be
following my husband's ship to make sure NOTHING goes wrong?!"

"W-well, I..." Noa scratches her head as she remembers that Benten
does have a point.

"BUT NOTHING!!!!" Benten transforms into a VERY scary monster
who's ferocity even intimidates Catty. "GET GOING!!!!"

"I'm going!! I'm going!!" Noa sighs.

As she dematerializes in the transporter beam, Benten continues to
yell into the air. "...AND DON'T COME BACK UNTIL YOU BRING NASSUR AND
THE OTHERS WITH YOU!!!!"

Benten falls to her hands and knees and pants heavily, the stress
draining her. Catty is at her side and gives her a quick scan with her
tricorder. "Your blood pressure is rising," she reports. "I
suggest..."

"Don't you start!" Benten snaps at Catty. "Gods, I feel tired."

"I think it is time I left," Kurama says while quickly moving
towards the nearest door.

Benten watches her and sits on her bottom. She pretends to kick
Kurama out the door with her bare foot. "Don't come back!"

"Just rest," Catty orders her. "You'll feel better after a nap."

Catty lays Benten down on the floor. The angered hunter closes
her eyes, then...

...she immediately sits back up WITHOUT opening her eyes. "Catty-
oba-chan," Benten childishly whines. "Momma didn't mean ta be angry at
Noa-oba-chan. She's just upset that she isn't with Daddy."

"I understand," Catty nods as she sets Benten back down on her
back. "Now, let your mother's body rest. She's very agitated and needs
to calm down."

"Okay," Benten smiles and goes to sleep.

Ten-chan, Minami and Reiko look in awe. "W-what was that all
about?" Minami asks.

"Oh, Benten's baby just took over her body," Catty pats the
Japanese girl on the head. "Nothing to worry about. It just means that
the baby's coming soon." She then carefully picks up Benten and carts
her away. "I'll put her in her own bed."

Minami looks strangely at Ten-chan. "Vosian babies take over your
body when you sleep?" she asks. "That's weird!"

"Isn't it?!" Ten-chan nods in approval.

"You think that's weird," Reiko adds. "You should get a load of
how much noise that kid gives off mentally!"

* * *

An hour or so later, Benten sleeps in the guest bedroom. The
sounds of her snoring can be heard quite clearly to anyone standing
beside the room. The door opens and Ten-chan floats in towards the
hunter. He notices Catty just laid her on top of the bed without
disturbing any of the covers. He also notices that Benten's distended
stomach is giving her problems in finding a comfortable position to
sleep. *It's a wonder she can sleep with that belly!* Ten-chan floats
closer to Benten.

Then Benten, without opening her eyes again, sits up. "Ten-chan?"
she says in the same childish-sounding voice. "Is that you?"

"Yikes!!" Ten-chan nearly jumps out of his skin. "I didn't mean
to wake you, Benten-chan! I just wanted ta see if you were okay."

"Momma's very tired," Benten reports. "She's still dreamin'."

"Momma?" Ten-chan gasps before her remembers about what Catty
said. "Oh, yeah, you're the baby!"

"That's right," Benten nods before pointing herself towards the
floating Oni boy. "So, what's it like?"

"What's what like?"

"Afterbirth."

"Oh, it's got its good things and bad things. Say, why don'tcha
open your momma's eyes and see for yourself?"

"What if ya try to trick me?"

"I'm only a little kid! How could I trick a kid who's yet to be
born?"

Benten opens her eyes and the first thing she "sees" is Ten-chan.
"So, that's what ya look like! Just like how I sensed ya to be."

"That's right," Ten-chan smiles as he shyly scratches his head.
"I guess."

Benten pats Ten-chan on the head. "Maybe someday we'll be friends
after I'm born."

"Maybe," he shrugs.

"I'd better let momma take control back," Benten closes her eyes.
"I'm getting tired."

"Sure."

"Can ya sleep with me for a while?" she asks. "I'd like to get to
know ya better."

"Er...how?"

Benten points to her stomach. "Just lay here. It's so lonely
with just me and Momma."

"Well, okay," Ten-chan nods, landing on Benten's stomach after she
lays down.

Once Ten-chan closes his eyes. Benten lightly taps him on the
forehead. "Now we meet for the first time," she whispers.

* * *

In Ten-chan's mind, he is instantly transported into a dream world
filled with all the wonders that children could want. There are toys
and playthings everywhere with not a hint of anything else. The only
light source is a huge sun floating high in the yellow sky. "Where am
I?" he says with confusion in his voice. "I just shut my eyes...and I'm
here?"

Then a cute, brown-haired girl resembling a young Benten appears
in front of Ten-chan. She is physically his age, wearing a frilly red
and black dress. "Hello, Ten-chan," the girl giggles. "Welcome to my
world."

"W-who are ya?" he gasps.

"I'm Momma's baby," the girl points to the sun. "That's Momma up
there!"

"You're the baby?!" Ten-chan nearly falls through the floor before
noticing the baby's pointed ears. "But how?"

"This is only a temporary link between us," the baby says. "Since
I saw ya, it's only right for ya ta see me!"

"Er...right," Ten-chan scratches his head, not deciding what to
believe. To him this is like something out of some of the horror manga
he read in Ataru's room when he was in school. Very weird.

The baby looks annoyed. "Don't be a trench-wave!" she begins to
drag him towards the playground. "Teach me how to play!"

"S-sure."

Eventually the Oni boy loses his shyness with the baby and teaches
her all sorts of Oni and Terran games which he himself learned. Soon,
time passes by like an ocean, and both Ten-chan and the baby play with
each other as if they had grown up together for years.

Finally, playtime ends and a noticeably tired baby turns to Ten-
chan happily. "Thank you for bein' with me," she smiles. "Maybe next
time, we can play for real!"

"Er...maybe," Ten-chan nods.

The ground trembles as if an earthquake is occurring. The force
knocks them both to the ground. When it ends, both Ten-chan and the
baby look afraid. "What was that?" he asks while picking himself off
the ground.

"Oh, no!" the baby frets. "Momma wants ta wake up! That means
you gotta go and I gotta end this link! See ya!"

"Wait..." Ten-chan tries to say...

* * *

...but finds himself back in the real world...laying on Benten's
stomach. "What a weird dream!" he sighs.

Then he feels someone grabbing the back of his jumper. "WHAT THE
HELL IS THIS?!?!?!" the harsher tone of Benten interrupts. "What are
you doing sleeping on MY gut?!"

Benten looks at the Oni boy angrily. "The baby asked me to!" Ten-
chan cries.

"Get real!!!" Benten growls. "Next, you'll say you were playing
with her!!!"

"I was...I think."

Benten lumbers out of bed. "Well, don't sleep on me like that
again! It makes me dream of anvils on my gut! I'm hungry. I guess the
baby wants some soap chips again."

Benten leaves but seemingly unnoticed by her, her hand gently pats
him on the head. Ten-chan realizes that it was Benten's baby's only way
of saying things were okay with her.

* * *

Meanwhile in Lum's cabin aboard the "Renegade," Lum sleeps in her
bed. It only took a few days but her body finally returned to what it
was before she gave Ataru his transfusion. Normally, this would have
kept her out of action for nearly a week, but since what happened to her
after she nearly died from the Hustari, her body's defenses were
increasing in strength to Sagussan norms.

After Lum falls into a deep enough sleep, she accesses the
Dreamscape. As it was several times before, Noa wasn't there. *What
happened to her and the Gatherer?* the Oni wonders. Nassur said they
were following them but for the last week or so, she couldn't contact
Noa or ANY of the Sagussans via the Dreamscape. Could something have
happened to the Gatherer? Sure, the superdreadnought is a huge and
well-protected ship, but against most of the Universe's natural
phenomena, he was as vulnerable as any other vessel.

Lum's dream self looks around for anyone and finds herself alone
amongst an endless sea of black. According to what she learned about
the Dreamscape, that meant that she was out of range of her objective
receiver...meaning that Noa was too far away to pick each other up.
*Where did Noa go?!* she frets.

Then someone covers her eyes. "Miss me?"

Lum removes the slim fingers and turns to see Noa standing there.
"Noa-chan!!!" Lum hugs her bond-mate. "Where were you all this time?!
I was worried!!!"

"Henry and I were just performing a little...service for someone,"
Noa sighs. "We just got back. How are you and Ataru?"

"Well..." Lum begins.

"Ataru was nearly WHAT?!?!?!" Noa's voice echoes throughout the
cosmos when she hears the news. "Thank Lyna that he's okay!!" Noa
sighs. "For a moment there, I thought we were going to need a new
*daimon'cha!!*"

"Well, Darling's fine now," Lum smiles. "Thanks to a little
transfusion from me."

"That's a relief!!" Noa smiles. "But why risk his life for that
HALF-LIFE?!?!"

"H-half-life...?!" Lum blinks, surprised that Noa would use the
most degrading curse in the Sagussan language.

Noa gives Lum a strange look. "Don't you know? That girl named
Junba. It's a clone!"

"A clone?!" Lum faints! "But she says she was Cinba's twin
sister!!"

"Don't yell at me!" Noa snaps. "I scanned the 'Renegade' shortly
after you guys left Vos and found that Junba has the SAME DNA make-up as
Cinba! That means a clone."

"But why make a clone of Cinba?!"

"I don't know," Noa shrugs. "But watch yourself around it. Clones
can do anything."

"I'll keep that in mind," Lum nods before leaving the
Dreamscape...

...and wakes up. "A clone?" she muses. "Why make a clone of one
of the most virtuous women I've ever known?"

* * *

Tanabana arrives. The inhabitants of Ataru's house become
restless. With the coffee shop closed for the day, Mal and the rest of
the Nendo-kata (with the exception of the still-catatonic Nokoko)
decorate the place for the festival. Reiko, Minami and Ten-chan help as
needed, especially hanging decorations in high places. Even Catty gets
into the act of decorating. Benten helps with phoning everyone she
wants to come to the party. The list is long: Koosei, Oyuki, Lan, Rei,
Sakura, Lum's parents, her parents, Hazel and the hybrids, the crew of
the "Hasei'cha," Mie and Makoto, the Avalonians, Pamanba, Clarisse and
many more. With each call, Benten gets more excited. Even her baby
seems excited.

"That's the last of them, I hope," Benten giggles with
anticipation over what is coming. "I hope they all come."

"I hope they behave," Catty sighs.

"Lufy's invited," Benten adds. "She'll make sure NO ONE acts up.
I can hardly wait."

Catty scans Benten. "Your baby seems to be active, too," the
medic reports. "I'm not surprised. This is her first party."

"True," Benten strokes her abdomen. "I hope I don't get a craving
for soap chips during the party."

"I wish Noa would come," Catty sighs. "We could use a little good
news today."

"She's busy," Benten adds. "Still, you and Lufy can work on your
relationship."

Benten noticed the first time Catty acted in anyway other than a
by-the-book medical officer. Koosei had informed her about the unusual
love polygon that developed amongst most of the "Hasei'cha's" crew.
True, almost everyone aboard are *marei'cha* with each other but that
didn't end the fantasies that they had for others outside their personal
bonds or for Ataru. The Sagussans seemed always to be rather open in
their attraction to one another. Perhaps that is a remnant of the
influence from the young, innocent Ataru. "Isn't the 'Hasei'cha' soon
returning to Sagussa?" she changes the subject.

"That's right," Catty nods. "At the end of the week." She gives
the pregnant hunter a cold glance. "But, you won't be free of me that
easily. We're assigning someone to look after you until you give
birth."

"Who might that be?" Benten asks.

"I don't know," Catty shrugs. "Koosei said he wanted some input
on it this time."

"I hope she's a better person than you."

"What was that?" Catty snorts.

Benten looks nervous. "I just said, 'I'm sorry to hear that.'"

"You better be!" Catty hums knowingly.

* * *

The party begins without any major hitches. Some feathers got
ruffled when Lan and Rei arrived, but Lufy kept her guns and bombs to
herself out of respect for the absent *daimon'cha.* The crew of the
"Hasei'cha" brought a Douglas Fir sapling direct from Canada to use. By
using their technology, they sped the growth of the tree until it was
tall enough to hold everyone's wishes. "What a nice party so far," Mie
quips to Benten, "despite Lan being here. How's living here with Catty
been, Benten?"

"She's driving me up the wall! She's always getting in the way of
my doing things."

"Catty has always been that way," Mie nods. "By the book." She
notices Catty is missing. "Where is she, anyway?"

"I don't know," Benten shrugs. "She's could be looking in on
Nokoko. How are you and Makoto getting on?"

"Oh, fine," Mie replies. "She's been keeping me busy."

"I see," Benten nods. "I guess things in Tomobiki must be quiet
since you got rid of that thing the Mikado sent."

"It is," Mie nods with a smile. "Makoto and I have been using
that time getting reacquainted. We've been separated for such a long
time both by distance and memories."

"Right," Benten nods before she notices Rabby sitting at the
farthest end of the room alone. "Say, Mie," Benten points out. "Isn't
that Rabby sitting alone over there?"

Mie glances a look at the Zeiwanite-turned-Sagussan. "It is," Mie
agrees. "She looks lonely. I hear she didn't take the news that Lufy
and Catty became *marei'cha* well."

"Really?"

"Yeah," Mie continues. "Almost the entire crew of the 'Hasei'cha'
are *marei'cha* with another. Rumour has it that morale suffered
somewhat when some of them formally became couples but it soon rebounded
after Ataru and the others disappeared."

"Jealousy," Benten nods in understanding before noticing Shildy
sitting nearby making hand signs at Rabby. "What's Shildy doing?"

"Trying to get Rabby's attention from the look of things," Mie
replies. "You know how much Shildy likes Rabby. When Lufy was single,
Rabby ignored her completely."

"This sounds like a bad soap opera plot. But isn't Rabby part of
the 'Hasei'cha?' I know she's a Gladiator pilot like you..."

"Yeah," Mie nods. "They're the only members of the crew that
haven't formed a *marei'cha* bond with anyone."

Benten looks at both girls and for once, feels sorry for them.
True, the type of love affair common on Sagussa is treated with scorn on
most other worlds. Benten could see the love Shildy held for Rabby. It
was as equally as intense at the heartbreak in Rabby's eyes over being
passed over by Lufy. This went beyond "morality" into an area that has
basis in all types of relationships. "Shouldn't YOU do something about
it?" Benten asks Mie.

"Why me?"

"You're one of them," Benten reminds Mie. "They'll listen to you
more than me."

"So, what's the plan?" Mie asks.

Benten whispers into Mie's ear. A wicked smile appears on the
Terran-turned-Sagussan's face. "I like it!"

* * *

Minutes later, Rabby, looking as lonely and depressed as ever,
sits alone while having a drink. Then, Mie appears in front of her.
"Oh, Rabby," Mie says as she pulls out a note. "LUFY asked me to give
this to you."

"What is it?" Rabby opens the envelope.

"I don't know," Mie shrugs. "But she said this is a little
something that will get rid of your depression over her becoming
*marei'cha* with Catty."

Mie leaves to allow Rabby to read the note. Almost immediately,
steam billows from the pilot's ears. Mie could even see her nose bleed
with passion (NOTE: WE'RE all too young to know what is written on that
note...M.S.). Rabby furtively hides the note in a pocket of her uniform
and sneaks out of the house.

Mie and Benten signal each other.

"Objective One...achieved," Yamada says.

Mie then turns her attentions to Shildy who notices Rabby leaving
the house with a sly grin on her face. The former Fukunokami decides to
follow her but runs into Mie. "Oh, Shildy," Mie playacts. "Where are
you going?"

"I'm following Rabby, Mie," she replies anxiously. "Do you know
where she is going?"

"Something to do with Lufy I guess," Mie replies. "Rabby's been
very distraught over Lufy becoming *marei'cha* with Catty. Who knows?
She could do anything to herself."

"LUFY?!?!" Shildy yells in surprise. "What does that
unintelligent, uncouth, violent girl want with MY Rabby-chan?! I'm
gonna give that *de'ne* a piece of my mind!"

"Be my guest," Mie steps out of her way.

Like an out-of-control bullet train, the first officer tramples
anyone or anything that is in her way to reach her goal. Mie makes
another signal to Benten.

"Objective Two...achieved," Yamada says.

Once outside, Rabby makes her way to the beach hunting for Lufy.
Night has fallen and no clouds blot the moon and the stars. *Where is
she?* the question races through her mind as she remembers what she read
in "Lufy's" note. She found Catty to be as unemotionally cold as she
always appeared to be in person and wanted a REAL woman to replace her
as her *marei'cha.* Judging by the language in the note she received,
Lufy is desperate.

Rabby makes her way down the beach to find the *pirpirsiw'r*-
turned-*daishi'cha,* but there is no sign of her. The note did mention
something about taking a midnight nude swim. Maybe Lufy is already
doing so while she waits for her to arrive. Rabby removes her uniform
for an impromptu skinny-dip into the Pacific Ocean.

After wading out into the cold water, Rabby dives. Mere moments
later, Shildy comes out of the house looking for the pilot. "Where did
she go?" the Fukunokami-turned-Sagussan asks to herself aloud.

Then she sees clothing lying on the beach. *This is Rabby's
uniform!* she thinks. What is it doing here? Then she gets a vision of
Rabby skinny-dipping. Her vision is embellished a lot by her own
fantasies about how Rabby's figure looks without her uniform. *Skinny-
dipping?!* she then thinks. *Rabby NEVER skinny-dips alone!* Then a
horrible thought comes to her mind. *Maybe she's not skinny-dipping!
Maybe she's...!*

Rabby pops her head out of water. There is no sign of Lufy within
her swimming range. It is obvious that Lufy isn't in the ocean either.
So, she turns to swim back towards the beach. As she does so, she sees
someone on the beach bent over her clothes as if in mourning or
something. Coming closer, she hears her sobs. It is Shildy.

As she reaches shallow water, Rabby rushes up to her morose
crewmate. Once close enough, she notices Shildy is holding her uniform
as if it were Rabby. "Why, why, why, why did you do it, Rabby?!" the
first officer sobs uncontrollably. "Why did you drown yourself over
Lufy getting together with Catty?!" She looks to the sky. "Lufy
ignored you like you were a wall! Shit! If anything, I feel sorry for
Catty because that violent bimbo is hanging around her!! I love you,
Rabby!! I wanted you to be *marei'cha* with me!!! IF ONLY I HAD KNOWN
YOUR WERE GOING TO DO THIS, I'D COME FASTER!!!!"

"Why in Lyna's name are you carrying on like this, Shildy?" Rabby
snarls as she steps out of the water.

"R-rabby...?" Shildy stares at her then collapses into her arms.
"You're alive!!!"

"Who said I was dead?" the pilot asks.

"When I saw your clothes laying on the sand there, I...I..."
Shildy cries some more into Rabby's chest.

"I was only looking for Lufy," Rabby sighs. "Have you seen her?"

Shildy leans back to look at the pilot. Her face holds anger and
her eyes are filled with tears. "Forget Lufy! Be MY bond-mate!!"

"But..."

"No buts!"

"Aw..."

"No aws, either!! Be my bond-mate..." Shildy demands as she
transforms into a horribly angry monster, "...OR ELSE!!!!"

Rabby quakes. "O-okay," the pilot gulps, having never seen her
first officer act so aggressive. Shildy was once a Fukunokami and
despite the regeneration matrix, they still tended to be rather
aggressive.

"Fine," Shildy returns to normal. "Let's put our wishes on the
tree!"

She drags Rabby away to the tree. Unknown to them, Benten and Mie
have been watching the goings-on from nearby. "And that's the end of
that," Mie nods.

"I love it when a plan comes together," Benten hums, "...because
it rarely happens."

"Well," Mie leads the way. "Let's put our wishes on the tree and
call it a night."

"I almost forgot about that!"

When they arrive at the tree, Benten and Mie find it is already
covered with wishes from the other guests at the party. There is hardly
any room for more. "Looks like we're the last ones," Benten sighs.

"I'll put mine here," Mie puts her wish on an empty branch. "I
hope it comes true!"

"My turn," Benten smiles as she pulls out two wishes to put on the
tree.

"Why are you putting two wishes on the tree for?" Mie asks.

"One for me," then she indicates her stomach. "And one for this
one."

"Oh, right," Mie nods.

That done, Mie and Benten leave to rejoin the party. A slight
breeze moves them to reveal Benten's wish to be reunited with her
husband Nassur. The baby's wish is to meet her father and get Ten-
chan...

* * *

Somewhere, the "Renegade" continues its lonely trek towards the
Planet of Shadows. On the observation deck, Lum stands at the main
window watching the elongated flashes of light. Now back to full
strength after the transfusion she gave Ataru, Lum found the voyage very
comforting for the first time since it began. True, their destination
was still the Planet of Shadows, but now they are going on their own
free will.

But, other things are on the Oni-turned-Sagussan's mind. *I have
to tell him now.*

Lum is, of course, thinking about telling Ataru about nearly dying
on the operating table. The only other person who knows what she did is
Shinobu. True to her promise, she has not told anyone else. Although
since the transfusion, Lum has rarely talked to her former rival to make
sure she is keeping her promise. Junba requested Shinobu transferred to
her shift almost as soon as they left the Lannarkite planet. After the
initial nervousness between them, things between the former enemies
improved to the point that they acted like friends...or, at least,
allies.

In the corridors leading up to the observation deck, Ataru,
freshly showered and dressed, rushes. He is late and knows it. This is
to be their first date since this whole mess with the Mikado began and
he had a hell of a time trying to get dressed. The clothes coming out
of the replicator did not fit correctly and he wasted considerable time
recalibrating the machine's parameters. Vosian clothing styles...due to
their height and girth...were noticeably different than Terran,
especially to a Japanese. Things like ties and cufflinks are all but
unheard of to the Vosians...let alone a Vosian clothing replicator.
Finally, Ataru settles on an outfit similar to his orange baseball
undershirt and jeans and ran through the corridors to make up for lost
time.

He reaches Lum. "I made it finally. Sorry, I'm late, Lum-chan.
You won't believe the trouble I had with the replicators."

"You didn't have to go through all of that trouble," Lum pooh-
poohs. "You could've came in your uniform, Darling."

"The only uniform I wanna wear in my off-hours is my Sagussan
jumpsuit," Ataru replies. "But, I don't have it here and I can't get
the replicators to make one. So, where will we go tonight?"

"Well," Lum turns from him and leans against the bulkhead.
"Before we start, I have something to say to you."

A look of concern appears on Ataru's face. "What? Is something
the matter?"

"Not exactly. Darling, did you wonder about where we got the
blood to save you from those injuries the Lannarkite queen gave you?"

Ataru scratches his head. "Well, the thought had crossed my
mind."

"You had a transfusion from someone on this ship," Lum announces.

"Someone on this ship? Who?"

Lum's eyes open very wide, as she stares at her Darling. Ataru
looks surprised. "Y-you?!" he gulps. "But you're an Oni!" Ataru
checks his body for any changes. He had felt different since the
operation, as if his body was changing into something other than Terran,
maybe better. But, with all the weird alien things he had inside his
body, he is cautious to look for anything unusual nevertheless.

"The ship's Emergency Medical Hologram removed all the Oni
antibodies from my blood during the transfusion," Lum smiles. "She
couldn't get the Sagussan antibodies, so this might spare you a trip
into the regeneration matrix. It was like any transfusion done in a
hospital. You want to know what else?"

"What?" Ataru frets.

"I almost DIED giving you my blood," Lum answers. "That's why
I've acted so sickly lately. I was so weak from the loss of blood. If
it wasn't for Shinobu and the Emergency Medical Hologram, I wouldn't
have made it."

Ataru pales as he realizes how close he came to losing her.
Slowly, he looks relieved by the news Lum had given him. "Thank the
gods for that!" he turns to Lum again. "There's only one thing I can do
for what you've done..." He grabs one of Lum's hands and sinks to one
knee. "Marry me."

Lum faints! "Y-you mean it?!" she asks.

"Nothing stands in the way now," Ataru embraces her. "Not even
Grandma can stop us."

"Hai," Lum smiles. "Once we're free from this trip, let's do it
as soon as possible."

"Of course," Ataru smiles.

They both move to kiss...

...when without warning, the ship lurches. Ataru misses Lum and
kisses the deck, literally! "What the...?!!" Ataru yells, staggering to
his feet.

"We've stopped," Lum exclaims.

Junba's voice is heard. "Yellow alert! Ataru Moroboshi to the
bridge, please!"

Ataru groans as he and Lum rush to the bridge. When Lum and Ataru
reach the bridge, they find it already crowded with the rest of the crew
of the "Renegade." Junba and the members of her shift fill the bridge
positions while Nassur and Shinobu stand around waiting to take their
battle stations if need be. "What is going on here?" Ataru asks Junba.

"A Zephyrite battlecruiser has just come out of warp. It's headed
this way."

"Zephyrite?" Ataru asks.

"The sensors have identified it as the 'Windrider Dreams,'" Nassur
reports looking over Megane's shoulder at the scanner. "You remember
whose ship that is!"

"Of course," Ataru nods in anticipation.

"Incoming signal," Megane reports.

"Main screen," Nassur orders.

On the screen, Windy appears. "Hello, Nassur," she acknowledges
him. "I'm glad to see you and the ones in your care are well." She
gives Junba a cold glance. "Despite a follower of the Mikado on your
ship."

Junba looks suitably insulted. "Who are you?" she demands. "And
what do you want?"

"I am Captain Sunhair Windrider PRCZ," Windy replies formally. "I
wish to talk with Ataru Moroboshi."

"Me?" Ataru points to himself. "Why?"

"That's a secret for now," Windy replies. "According to the Non-
Aggression Pact between the Confederation and the Holy Republic, we
cannot fight each other." She glares icily at Junba. "Although with
the Mikado's outrageous kidnapping of the grandson of a Righteous
Gentile and his friends from a planet under our zone of influence, all
it would take is one word from Nagaiwakai-sama to the Holy Father to
ensure we no longer recognize the treaty when it concerns Mikado
supporters."

Junba looks uneasy. "But, such has not happened...yet," Windy
adds. "Therefore, I ask this favour in the interests of peace between
our peoples."

"You are interfering with a mission for the Mikado, who is still
the ruler of the Confederation...unless something happens," Junba
replies, her resolve returning. "It is within my rights to refuse such
a request." She then looks at Ataru. "Fortunately, my orders say
otherwise. You may come aboard this ship...but don't breathe a word of
what you see here to *anyone!*"

"Very well, then. Prepare to dock."

Three hundred years ago, the Vosians and the Zephyrites
established first contact. Since the Zephyrites were and remain the
more advanced of the two, the Vosians for the first time encountered a
race which could give them a real fight. Relations between the two
peoples began as a series of political and military jousts for almost
fifty years due to the differences in cultural mores. The Vosians, a
secretively spiritual race who are open-minded of the cultural mores of
other people, had problems coping with the less open-minded and openly
spiritual Zephyrites and the opposite was true. Throughout this time,
minor interstellar incidents took place which could be blamed on both
sides. Things came to a head when the Vosians began experimenting with
photon-based weaponry which could penetrate Zephyrite shielding systems
like so much tissue paper. The Zephyrites quickly compensated by
building cloaked self-replicating mine fields on their borders.

Unfortunately, something went wrong during the set up of one of
the mine fields. An ecological disaster ravaged across several nearby
Zephyrite colonies. Strangely, the Vosians assisted the colonies as
best they could. This caused a rethinking of priorities within the
Zephyrite leadership. Finally, a non-aggression pact was signed between
the two governments, and it remained in force today.

Paramount among the pact's agreements was respect for both races'
sovereignty over their own space, non-interference in their internal
matters and various other protocols which were followed to the letter.
In exchange, extradition rights would be respected by both nations for
criminals. Safe havens for legitimate refugees were provided by either
planet. Further, the other worlds of the local cluster were divided
into Zephyrite and Vosian spheres of influence. Under the pact's
clauses, Windy could legally seize the "Renegade" and have Junba face
the Holy Inquisition since Earth and Uru both fell in the Holy
Republic's sphere of influence.

* * *

After landing the "Renegade" on the main hangar deck of the
"Windrider Dreams," Windy, a couple of guards escorting her, arrives at
the frigate's dining hall where Ataru, Nassur, Lum and Junba await.
"Greetings all," Windy waves to everyone but Junba. "And to you, too.
Junba, wasn't it?"

"That's right," Junba nods. "I didn't know I gave you my name."

"We Zephyrites have our ways of getting information," Windy
replies.

"What brings you out here?" Ataru asks. "I thought you stayed in
Zephyrite space."

"Let's say I was passing through," Windy nods. "When I was told
of something important. Something that SHE..." indicating Junba,
"...should not be allowed to hear."

"I'll stand out in the corridor if it pleases you," Junba sighs as
she leaves. "Tell me when you're finished."

Once Junba is gone, Windy turns to Ataru. A look of relief
appears on her face. "I'm glad you're okay," Windy nods. "When I heard
the news from your grandmother, I feared the worse. The Mikado is
always hiding behind the Non-Aggression Pact when he does things like
this. All it would take is one vote of the Cabal of Archbishops and the
Vosian Civil War gets turned into a Holy Crusade."

"I'm fine...despite almost getting killed by the Lannarkites,"
Ataru scratches his head.

"And I saved him," Lum replies.

"I see," Windy nods in understanding. "Well, I can bring you all
back to Earth if you want. That Junba doesn't need to know."

Ataru looks tempted. "Does that include Lum, too?" he asks
finally.

"If you wish."

"Darling, if you want to go," Lum says, "...I won't stand in your
way."

Ataru thinks to himself. A part of him wants to return to Earth
with Windy and reunite with Reiko and begin the quick march to the
wedding altar with Lum. But, a part of him is curious about what lies
ahead on the Planet of Shadows. Sure, it really is none of his business
to risk his life over some old alien artifact some almost has-been
dictator wants. However, fascination pulls him after this thing they
were trying to find. After a long thought, Ataru voices his decision.
"If it's alright with you, Windy-chan, I want to stay and see this thing
out...for now."

Windy looks surprised. The Ataru she knew would never give up an
easy chance to escape something that doesn't directly concern him.
"But, Ataru-chan..."

Ataru takes Windy by the hand. "I'm sorry, Windy-chan. Part of
me wants to go home and part of me wants to find out what is so
important that the Mikado wants to risk our lives for. Maybe later,
after we find that Sceptre of Lecasur, I'll want to go home. Besides,
the Sagussans are close by. They won't let things get too out of hand."

Windy prepares to voice an objection, but no sound escapes. "I
understand," she nods. "I hope you're making the right decision."

"I hope so, too," Ataru smiles, then remembers something. "But,
before you go, I have a favour to ask you."

He whispers into Windy's ear. The Zephyrite looks surprised.
"You want me to perform THAT to her?!"

"She may seem to be a hard case," Ataru nods, "...but she's as
much a victim in all of this as we are. Actually, after that business
on the Lannarkite planet, she released us and permitted us the choice to
come with her or go back home on the Gatherer. She...may not be totally
on our side, but she's certainly no dark kami to be destroyed."

Lum looks confused. "Who are you taking about? What's going on?"

"You'll find out...maybe," Windy says as she exits the dining
hall.

Seconds later, a scream from Junba is heard through the closed
door. Immediately, Lum, Ataru and Nassur rush out and see...Junba
laying semi-conscious on the deck, seemingly unharmed, Windy standing
over her. "What happened?" Nassur asks Windy.

"It's for me to know and you to find out, Nassur," she replies as
she leaves.

As she leaves, Windy thinks to herself as she walks towards the
aft airlock and to her ship. *I wonder why Ataru wanted me to learn
that scum how to perform the passing-on? I can never understand his
motives...*

Minutes later, before Junba completely recovers, the "Renegade"
departs the "Windrider Dreams" to return to its journey. The Zephyrite
battlecruiser returns to its old duties mapping this sector of space...

* * *

Morning breaks at Ataru's beach house. Silence reigns
there...until Benten wakes up. "WHO THE HELL HAS BEEN WRITING WEIRD
THINGS IN MY DIARY?!?!?!" the pregnant Fukunokami hunter screams at the
top of her lungs.

Since she first discovered that she was pregnant, Benten had begun
keeping a personal diary on a datapadd. Keeping a diary during a
pregnancy is common among the Fukunokami. When the child is old enough,
he or she can read it to find out what was going on when the mother was
carrying them to term. Like all diaries, Benten made sure to keep its
contents a complete secret...so not to cause problems.

When Benten fell asleep last night, she stopped in the middle of
an entry. The next morning, she found something added to the entry.
Some childish scrawl written in it and addressed to Ten-chan!

Benten immediately yanked all three kids out of bed to find out
who the culprit was. "Someone wrote in my diary last night," she snarls
at them before reading it aloud. "'I likey Ten-chan 'cause he cute!'"
She looks at the three of them. "Okay, WHO did it?"

All look at each other nervously. They all had behaved themselves
like they promised Koosei and Catty, they thought. Plus, Benten keeps
the diary under lock and key all the time. They could not access it if
they wanted to. Something is strange about this...

* * *

"All right!" Benten orders while pacing around the room like a
drill sergeant. "Who did it?! Did you do it, Reiko-chan?"

Reiko looks at Benten defiantly. "No, I didn't write that!" the
Noukiite replies sternly. "If it was about Yamasaki-chan, maybe. But,
I'd NEVER write anywhere that I like Jariten. I hate his guts!"

"You do?" Benten asks.

"Yeah," Reiko nods as she begins counting the reasons on her
fingers. "First off, he's an Oni! Next, he breathes fire on anyone who
yells at him! Then, he's the worst girl chaser I've ever saw! Also..."

"I get the idea," Benten sighs, figuring Reiko's alibis eliminate
her from being a suspect. She looks at Minami. Minami could be a prime
suspect because the Japanese girl arrived with Ten-chan and they act
like they are close friends. "What about you, Minami?"

"Gee, Benten-san," Minami looks nervous. "I like Ten-chan, but I
don't know how to use that calculator-book you've got in your hand."

Benten looks at her padd. It is simple to use, but to a race that
has yet to develop such things, it would be too much to ask one of their
children to try it. "Really?"

"Besides," Minami continues. "I'd write a love note on paper, not
someone's book."

"I guess you're right," Benten smiles, then turns to Ten-chan.
True to Nassur's training, Benten makes sure she talks with ALL
suspects, no matter how far fetched the reasons. "Okay, Jariten, why
did YOU do it?!"

"I didn't do it either!" he snaps. "If anything, it was probably
YOUR baby who did it. Ever since we played together psychically that
one time, she's had the hots for me ever since! She's worse than that
Mako was!"

Benten kneels down to look him in the eye. "So, you're blaming MY
baby for this?" she pats her stomach. "There's one problem with your
theory. My baby ISN'T born yet!"

"But, the baby HAS talked to me," Ten-chan protests. "I've even
played with her and everything! Why can'tcha believe that the kid can
take over yer body once in a while?!"

"I know that the baby has been giving me post-hypnotic
suggestions," Benten sighs. "But, she hasn't been taking me over..."

Then Benten's look changes suddenly. She looks childish.
"Momma's really mad," she says. "I hadda take over, so's she could calm
down, Ten-chan. I don't wanna see you hurt!"

Minami looks scared. "Who is that?"

"The baby," Ten-chan sighs. "Who else?"

"The baby?" Minami looks confused.

"Yeah, she's taken over Benten for a moment," Reiko nods then
groans. "I wish she wouldn't do it so fast. That hurts."

Benten then grabs Ten-chan and hugs him. "I'm sorry I gots ya in
trouble, Ten-chan," she says. "I was only seein' if I could write
somethin' in Momma's diary about ya. I didn't mean to make momma mad!"

"Hey, lay off the hugs!" he groans. "You're crushing me!"

"Sorry!" Benten lets go.

Catty enters the room looking like she just woke up. "What's the
yelling about? You woke me up!" She strides up to Benten. "Hey,
little one, your mother wants control again. Please return to your
proper place."

"Not until she agrees not to hurt Ten-chan," Benten replies.

Catty concentrates. "She wasn't going to hurt him," Catty says.
"Only punish him."

"Okay," Benten sighs...then returns to normal. "I'm glad that's
over. Jariten, please tell the kid NOT to do that again."

"I'll try!" Ten-chan says.

"Until then," Benten stands. "Let's get ready for Clarisse and
Pamanba's concert!"

All cheer.

* * *

In uncharted space, the "Renegade" crew nears a critical point of
their journey: finding the wormhole that leads to the Planet of
Shadows. Without it, the long trip there would take much longer.

Nassur's watch is on duty. Nassur takes the command chair while
Lum takes the helm and Ataru the scanner. The ship is on yellow alert
in case something dangerous happens. Flying through wormholes is like
taking a coin flip; you never know your final destination and when you
get there, whether you are going to be able to return to your original
point of entry. Some are so unstable that they can deposit you
anywhere, any time. Others are rumoured to send crews into other
dimensions, perhaps never to return. Once in a while, you come across
one that is stable enough for many trips to occur...but those are rare.

"We're arriving to where the wormhole should be," Lum reports. "I
hope it's there."

"Me, too," Nassur hums. "Ataru, keep an eye out for any change in
tachyon particle readings. That means we're getting close."

"Okay," Ataru nods, but then his console beeps immediately. "I'm
getting a rise in tachyon particles at about three light-years."

"Lum, ahead Warp One," Nassur orders.

"*Tcha!*" Lum replies.

Junba arrives. "Are we there yet?"

"I think so," Nassur nods. "Red alert."

Outside the ship, space looks as calm as always. Then suddenly, a
huge whirlpool of light and gas appears out of nowhere. The "Renegade"
immediately enters the tunnel created by this whirlpool and...

...exits. On the bridge, except for minor adjustments to the
inertia damping fields, the trip happens without disruption. In fact,
the ride was smoother than a normal cruise. "We made it," Ataru
announces. "The wormhole is closing behind us."

"Look ahead," Nassur orders Ataru. "Can you locate the Planet of
Shadows?"

"Scanning now," Ataru says.

Agonizingly long minutes pass. Ataru straightens to finally
report. "There's a huge ball of metal dead ahead about 44 light-years
from our present position."

"Close enough for visual?" Junba asks.

"Barely," Ataru replies.

"On screen," Nassur orders.

On the viewscreen, appears a small object which looks like a black
metallic baseball with the occasional light to make it stand out from
the starfield. "That's it!" Junba smiles. "It's the Planet of
Shadows!"

"Lum, full speed to the Planet of Shadows," Nassur orders.

"*Tcha!*" Lum presses the buttons on the helm to send the
"Renegade" to their target.

* * *

A very long hour or so later, Nassur's shift is joined by Shinobu,
Mendou and Megane. They watch in awe as the Planet of Shadows grows in
size. "So, that's the Planet of Shadows," Shinobu gasps. "Impressive."

"Who built it, I wonder?" Megane asks.

"Nobody knows," Nassur shrugs. "It's said to have be very old, so
it's possible whomever built it may have abandoned it millennia ago.
It's probably been used like a cosmic Stonehenge by anyone who came by."

Ataru notices Mendou looking in wonder at this mechanical marvel.
"Hey, Mendou, what are you looking at?" he sarcastically wonders.

"I'm looking for something very important, Moroboshi," Mendou
replies in his characteristic growl. "The entrance!"

"Entrance?" Ataru hums, then realizes Mendou is right. How do
they get into this place? "According to our intelligence," Junba muses,
"there is a sign that will tell us how to enter the Planet of Shadows."

Shinobu points. "I think I see a sign."

Everyone looks at the screen and sees a sign which says in bright
neon pink letters, WELCOME TO THE PLANET OF SHADOWS...THOSE WISHING TO
INVADE, PLEASE USE BACK ENTRANCE. "Well, there goes that myth," Megane
sighs.

Another anxious few minutes pass as the "Renegade" approaches what
looks to be the main entrance. As they near it, Nassur orders
friendship signals sent to whomever may be inside the Dyson sphere to
prove they are non-threatening. The signals work...sort of; a pair of
search lights shine upon the ship and a tractor beam strong enough to
hold the Gatherer seizes her to bring her inside.

Once inside, the crew of the "Renegade" gape in awe of the beauty
inside the Dyson sphere. All of them have been to so many worlds that
visiting them seemed now to be a dull routine. But, looking inside the
Planet of Shadows' metal skin, everyone feels like they did the first
time they came to an alien world. The feelings of wonder and of
anticipation about who or what may be hidden on this world. What
secrets lay on this planet waiting to be discovered?

The planet itself surrounds its sun completely with several large,
rectangular, black objects floating high enough to give some indication
of day and night. The planet's geographic features give no indication
of any civilizations present. The continents are as green as jade and
the seas as blue as the sky on a clear summer's day.

"It's so beautiful," Mendou says first.

"Almost like heaven," Megane adds.

"It's seems endless," Shinobu nods in agreement. "You could
explore this place for your whole life and still NEVER see it all."

"It's got to be heaven," Ataru says.

"If it is, then life is but a dream," Nassur looks at the
"Renegade's" plaque. It says WHERE EVER YOU GO, YOU ARE THERE.

"Speaking of life," Junba nods to Ataru. "Is there any so we can
begin our search?"

"Just a minute," Ataru scans. He yelps in surprise. "I think I
found something."

"The Crystal Palace?" Junba asks.

"I don't know," Ataru shrugs. "I'm making out a small building
with a pair of yellow arches. There's a sign in front."

"What does it say?" Junba asks.

"'Welcome to McDonald's,'" Ataru replies.

After the customary mass faint of surprise, everyone looks over
Ataru's shoulder to confirm his discovery. Ataru is indeed correct;
there is a McDonald's restaurant on the Planet of Shadows. "That means
there must be intelligent life on this planet," Lum says.

"Not necessarily," Junba shrugs. "Ever eat at one of those
hamburger places?"

"Never mind that," Nassur asks Ataru. "What else can you see on
the scanner?"

Ataru searches anew. "I've found something else, another sign."

"What does it say?" Mendou asks.

"'Crystal Palace, 3000 kilometres.'"

"A road sign?" Shinobu sighs. *This is too silly for words!*
thought the former student. She knew through their intelligence that
the Keeper of the Sceptre of Lecasur is a little strange but this takes
the cake. It seems he has turned the Planet of Shadows into a cheap
tourist spot like Tomobiki Marchenland or Tokyo Disneyland. What else
weird could happen here? "Do we follow it?"

"Do we have any choice?" Lum shrugs.

"I hope everyone on Earth is having a better time than we are!"
Ataru sighs.

* * *

In Sendai's indoor stadium, everything has in readiness for a
concert. The crowds slowly pour in avidly anticipating Clarisse's first
concert since being reborn. There has been many changes in Clarisse's
act. First, she left the artificial world of Western pop music and
returned to a more of an enka style with a basis in traditional folk.
This, of course, disappointed many of her old fans; mostly teenaged
males and young salarymen for whom the idol singers and metalheads were
designed. Older music lovers applauded the change and they came in
droves to replace the initial loss of interest.

Next came the changes to her management. Gone forever were the
skinflints who owned Clarisse with drugs and alcohol. Even her former
record label's contract was allowed to expire to prevent their continued
exploitation of every penny she earned. Clarisse now produces her own
records for a bigger slice of the pie in profits...with a fair dose to
various charities. A far cry from her life before the arrival of the
Bard.

The final change came in her back-up band, known now as "Rebirth."
Sure, most of them were veterans from her old back-up metalband "Boy
Knife," but there is one extra member this time...Clarisse's new life-
mate Pamanba Ike. She will work as a back-up to Clarisse until she
learns enough about music to deserve equal billing in future concerts
and records. As one can expect, the media is having a field day with
Pamanba's origins as well as her relationship with Clarisse. To them,
an alien hunter and a woman claiming to be taken over by another alien
in a lesbian relationship sounded like something out the psychedelic era
of the late 1960's.

Still, the crowds didn't care about the origins (however seemingly
far-fetched they sounded) of their favourite singer. She sang well
enough to put a big enough dent in the Japanese music scene to get
noticed by the masses seeking to escape their dull, dreary lives of
work, eating and sleeping.

Unknown, or unsuspecting, from the local crowd were small groups
of people who can verify that Clarisse and Pamanba are whom they say
they are. They included Mal and the rest of the Nendo-kata (Nokoko came
but still was catatonic though no one near her noticed much), some of
the Avalonians, Mie, Makoto, some of the crew of the "Hasei'cha,"
Abraham Shapiro, Benten, Ten-chan, Reiko and Minami.

Benten, at first, wondered why she was going. She didn't care too
much for the squeaks Terrans claim to be music (although some hard rock
groups like X-Japan piqued her interest at times), let alone attending a
concert where one of the participants served the Mikado as one of his
pet killers. Still she couldn't be left alone in Ataru's beach house
with her pregnancy moving closer to her due date. So, she went, while
protesting that the first person who sang a song from Minmay would get
shot on sight by her...personally.

Finally after an hour of waiting (which is right on time for music
concerts), the show started. Clarisse began the concert dressed in a
summer yukata and sang an enka version of "The Sukiyaki Song." The
crowd loved it.

Next came some original music using a blend of traditional folk
and enka. They too were hits with audience who beg for more.

Three hours passed like magic, and for a while the crowd forgot
their real problems in a world of peaceful song. By the time it was
over, Clarisse and her band were asked for not one but five encores.
Even Pamanba got into the act by singing a traditional Vosian hymn which
received great applause even though she sang it in her native language.

Finally, after the last song was sung, the last autograph signed,
and the last fan escorted out of the building, Clarisse, Pamanba, and
her band met with everyone else in Mal's coffee shop. "I'm wasted," the
Nendo-kata-turned-Terran singer groans as she collapses on a chair and
removes her shoes. "But, I'm glad we seemed to be a hit!"

"I thought being a hunter was hard," Pamanba groans. "This is
just as stressful."

"Nice show," Benten nods to them all. "Both of us seemed to enjoy
it."

"Thanks, Benten," Pamanba nods, then pats Benten's stomach. "It
seems your baby is anxious to come out soon," she smiles. "I hope
she'll be a credit to you."

"I just wanna see my feet again," Benten groans. "...and have my
mind to myself. Having a Vosian child can be such a pain."

"Maybe Clarisse and I will have children someday," Pamanba nods.

"Not during this tour," Clarisse groans. "Ten cities in nine
nights starting tonight. You Terrans really ask a lot of your bards."

"Be glad Terrans haven't developed teleportation yet," Benten
smiles.

Pamanba looks over the other Nendo-kata and sees that almost every
one's figure has altered. "What has been going on at Ataru's beach
house?" she asks jokingly. "Almost everyone of you is pregnant."

"That's right," Benten laughs. "The only ones in the house who
aren't pregnant it seems are Nokoko," she indicates the catatonic girl
lying on a table looking as lifeless as a dummy. "...Catty, Minami,
Muzainba and Reiko. I image if Nokoko wasn't catatonic, Catty such a
jerk and Muzainba, Minami and Reiko so young, we'd all be pregnant."

Catty looks upset. "WHO SAYS I'M A JERK?!?!?!" she snarls as she
stares into Benten's eyes. "I think you and the kids have been out too
late. You need your rest!"

"Who's tired?!" Benten responds.

Catty drags Benten away, trailed by Ten-chan, Minami and Reiko.
"C'mon, it's time to go to bed!" the doctor snarls.

"Er...right," Benten sighs before waving goodbye. "See ya
around!"

* * *

While Benten forcibly banished to the realm of the dreamworld, on
the Planet of Shadows, the "Renegade" continues the search. Since they
came across the sign telling them which direction the palace is, there
has been little sign of anything else. "Are we there yet?" Megane
groans bored.

"We must be soon coming up to it," Lum replies. "Something like
the Crystal Palace can't be missed easily."

"We've been travelling for hours," Shinobu sighs. "I thought
things would be easier once we got to this place."

"Me, too," Ataru groans...then his console beeps. "I've made
contact with something," Ataru smiles. "It's dead ahead."

"*Tcha!*" Lum nods as she manoeuvres the "Renegade" over the
mountains.

Once past, they see the Crystal Palace, as ethereal and as
majestic as in the holosuite showed it to be. "There it is," Nassur
smiles in awe. "The Crystal Palace."

"It's so beautiful," Mendou says with awe. "Even the holograms
don't do it justice. Who could have built it?"

"I don't know," Junba shrugs. "Too bad we're only here for the
Sceptre of Lecasur, not for an archaeological survey...it would take a
lifetime...several lifetimes...to find out its secrets."

Everyone nods. Ataru continues his scanning. "I think I found a
place to land," he reports. "If my scan is correct...there's a parking
lot on the other side."

Indeed, Ataru is correct; there appears to be a parking lot nearby
the Crystal Palace. Paved with some sort of alien asphalt, it is
covered with markings like any parking lots throughout the civilized
planets everywhere. But unlike parking lots in Tomobiki, no vehicles of
any type was parked save for "Renegade." Once the landing is completed
and the ramp is lowered, the crew slowly disembark the ship. On the
ground, everyone is happy just to be breathing real air, though the
Dyson sphere is just as artificial as the "Renegade." The air is
cleaner than any air they had ever breathed before, it almost seemed
intoxicating, especially with the faint scents of alien flowers nearby.

Moving away from the ship, apart from the palace itself, the only
other things around the parking lot are a myriad of alien plants, all
exotic enough to look not too out of place in the rain forests of South
America or the Terrible Fields on Uru. The only sounds they could hear
were of birds and small animals in the nearby forests and the sound of a
gentle breeze. Shinobu stops to let an alien butterfly, indescribably
beautiful, land on her hands. "This place is so beautiful," she sighs
as she watches the butterfly fly off into the air. "Who would want to
leave it?"

"There doesn't seem to be anybody around," Junba says as she uses
her powers. "Just us and the animals in the forest."

"That doesn't surprise me," Nassur says. "The legends speak of
the Keeper being the only person living on this Dyson sphere."

"I'm envious!" Shinobu adds. "Nowhere I've been has been the
equal to this place."

"*Tcha!*" Lum agrees.

"Let's just get this thing and go home," Ataru snorts as he walks
ahead.

"Darling, can't you feel at least something of awe about this
place?"

"I am in awe of this place," Ataru sighs. "But, I want to do my
job first then get out of here as fast as I can...so I don't regret
having to leave this place."

Lum blinks. "W-what do you mean?"

"Think, Lum," he warns. "This place is paradise...no, BETTER than
paradise. It's so good, I don't want to stay here because every place
I'll go to from now on will seem ugly."

"I understand, Darling," Lum hugs Ataru.

"Let's go!" Ataru points ahead.

Then move to a path seemingly leading towards the Crystal Palace.
When they get to the path, they find a large white sign:

WELCOME TO THE CRYSTAL PALACE
NO CAMPFIRES, LITTERING, WILD PARTIES, FEEDING
THE ANIMALS OR KARAOKE SINGING ALLOWED!
DOCUMENTARY FILM CREWS MUST PHONE AHEAD!
by order of the Keeper

Everyone blinks. "What is this? A campground or something?"
groans Megane.

"Looks like," Mendou muses.

"Let's just get moving towards the Crystal Palace," Junba sighs.

"We're off to see the Keeper..." Nassur sing-songs, eliciting a
chorus of groans.

"We have to be," Ataru adds.

After a long exhausting trek that nearly wipes out most of the
crew, they reach the front entrance. The double doors are ten metres
high and made of solid glass tinged with some brown pigment to make them
stand out from the crystal walls surrounding it and the steps leading up
to it. The palace appears to be made of an extremely thick crystal
which prevents them seeing inside. There are several windows, but they
are rather high and covered with some sort of stained glass. This gave
the place a holy feel about it. The palace itself looked at least ten
stories high and as majestic as a shrine or a church back on Earth and
on dozen of other planets. "W-we made it!" groans Shinobu. "We must've
hiked for hours. I'm beat!"

"I'm bushed too," Megane sighs as he sits on the ground in front
of the steps. "Too bad there's no hotel where we can stay."

"With all the signs we've seen," Mendou adds. "I'm surprised
there isn't!"

Ataru turns to Nassur and Junba. "Now, that we're here, what do
we do now?"

"We must ask permission to enter the Crystal Palace," Junba
answers solemnly.

"And how do we do that?" Ataru then asks.

"Damned if I know," Junba shrugs.

Ataru faints! "You don't know, half-life?!" Lum snarls at Junba,
before turning to Nassur. "What do the legends say about entering the
Crystal Palace, Nassur-chan?"

"Well, according to the legends," Nassur muses. "You must walk up
to the front doors and perform a very short incantation."

"Incantation," everyone says together.

"What sort of incantation?" Shinobu asks.

"Something like this, I think," Nassur walks up the steps to the
front doors, moves to the side of one of the doors, and presses a simple
doorbell.

"A doorbell?" Mendou groans. "You mean we just had to ring a
doorbell?"

"Apparently," Megane adds.

There is the sound of someone coming. Nassur walks back to the
group as everyone tries to look their best. Long minutes pass, until
finally, the Keeper, still looking exactly like the hologram aboard the
"Renegade," steps out. "All deliveries should be made in the back," he
announces.

After an explosion decks everyone, a pyxie-like smile appears on
the old man's face!! "Just kidding! Just kidding!" he laughs,
scratching his head. "I'm the Keeper of this place. What may I do for
you?"

Junba moves ahead of the group and bows down in front of the
Keeper. Despite his hologram, everyone, even Ataru, could feel the
power radiating from this old man. This power did not ask but DEMANDED
a certain level of respect from all who meets with him. "Keeper-sama,"
Junba bows as low as she can. "We have come from a great distance to
retrieve the Sceptre of Lecasur and return it to my people, so they
maybe reunited in peace once again."

The Keeper looks silent for several minutes. "You want that old
thing again?! Can't you Vosians make up your minds?! First you want
it, then you don't want it, now you want it again! No wonder I'm grey!"

"It's very important," Junba pleads.

The Keeper looks serious. "Well, in that case," he speaks. "I've
placed the Sceptre in the deepest confines of the Crystal Palace. So
deep, even I can't go in and retrieve it without getting killed. Since
YOU lead this group, you can try to bring it back."

Junba looks relieved. "Oh, thank you, Keeper-sama!" she sighs.

"But, there's some rules," the Keeper wags his finger. "First,
you must take only ONE of your group to assist you. Second, only one
attempt to get the Sceptre can be made per day." He points to the sky.
"Night" is falling. "Come back tomorrow morning bright and early with
your assistant."

Junba looks surprised, but this was accurate with the legends.
"I-I understand."

"Then, until tomorrow..." the Keeper disappears and the doors
close immediately.

"What a strange character," Ataru sighs.

"Yeah," Mendou shrugs. "I guess living alone in this place does
that to a person."

Unknown to all, the Keeper has not disappeared...only leapt up to
the highest row of windows over the front doors. He waits anxiously for
the group to leave. "Get going, you dorks!" he groans as he desperately
tries not to fall or be seen. "How can I fake an exit if you're still
here?!"

* * *

In Oshika, someone packs to leave. It isn't Benten leaving for a
hospital, nor is it Ten-chan or Minami returning to Tomobiki for school.
It is Catty preparing to return to Sagussa. "So, you're finally
leaving, eh?" Benten watches, all the while playing at looking
disappointed. "Too bad, we were just getting to know each other."

Catty snaps the suitcases closed, then looks cooly at Benten.
"Don't play the disappointed wife with me, Benten," she snorts at the
pregnant hunter. "The 'Hasei'cha' must return to Sagussa and I have to
go with them. But, don't worry! SOMEONE else is coming to watch after
you..." she points to Benten's rounded abdomen, "...and her."

"I can't wait," Benten sighs calmly. Right from the first moment,
Catty has been a nagging pain. She rarely permitted the Fukunokami any
freedom lest her baby be placed in jeopardy. Fortunately, the only
jeopardy for her or the baby was boredom...coming from the fact Catty
never letting her do anything to think about her pregnancy. Now, she
will be free from the "Medic From Hell" as Benten once described the
Sagussan in her diary.

"Well, I've got to go," Catty smiles. "I hope Reiko-chan and the
others won't be too hard on you and the other women here."

*They weren't that hard before you came!* Benten snorts as she
watches Catty vanish.

In the living room, Ten-chan and Minami play house together while
Reiko stares longingly out the window at the beach, waiting for
Yamasaki. Ten-chan himself looks bored at the game he and Minami play,
not because he didn't like to play house with Minami (unlike with Mako,
who always forced him to play), but because Minami wanted to play a
pregnant mother. To bring in some realism to the role, she stuffed a
pillow under her shirt and shorts to give that appearance. "Dear," she
says while she pretends to be knitting, "What would be a nice name for
our baby?"

"What's it gonna be?" he snorts while reading a storybook. "A boy
or a girl?"

"How should I know?!" Minami snarls back. "MY baby DOESN'T talk
to me!"

Before Ten-chan can respond, all three kids are nearly blasted out
of the house. "YAHOO!!!! I'M FREE OF THAT WITCH!!!!"

The doorbell rings. "Who could that be?" Benten sighs as she
walks towards the door. "I hope it's not Catty back again."

Benten opens the door and sees...

...*herself* standing there! However, this version of Benten
wears a Sagussan civilian jumpsuit in the colours of the Sagussan Navy,
not a maternity dress. She is not pregnant, but the other Benten looks
like she could be the Fukunokami's twin sister, right to the silver sash
chain and the hair chain keeping her raven trusses in a bun. "Yo,
spirit-sister!" she enters carrying a sack. "I'm here to watch over
you."

"Y-you're me...?!" Benten gasps.

"That's my line," the woman smiles. "I'm *Daishi'cha* Forty-four-
twenty-eight...but you can call me Benten-chan. I think I saw you at
the end of the Spirit War when we met Lum."

"Oh, I remember now," Benten nods. "But why did Catty assign a
Sagussan Navy officer instead of another doctor?"

"Koosei's idea," Benten-chan replies. "He thought you'd be more
open if you had someone who thinks along the lines you do."

"What if I go into labour?" Benten asks.

"Then, I'll get you to the nearest hospital," Benten-chan smiles.
"Oh, and another thing...I didn't come alone."

"You didn't?"

Benten-chan whistles. Another woman enters the house. This one
resembles Oyuki though she wears a blue trimmed snow-white jumpsuit
denoting she works in Education. Like Benten-chan, she too carries a
large sack. "Excuse me," Oyuki-chan smiles and bows to Benten. "Let me
introduce myself. I am *Daishi'cha* Ninety-nine-forty-three. You may
address me as Oyuki-chan."

"No kidding," Benten stares open-mouthed.

"There's more," Benten-chan announces.

"Another one?" Benten looks worried.

Another Sagussan enters. This time, it is a double of Lan, though
this woman does not disguise her ears or canines. She wears the red-
and-gold with black pants of an armourer and carries a big sack and a
large gun in her arms. "I'm *Daishi'cha* Twenty-three...or Lan-chan as
others now call me," she smiles. "A pleasure to meet you, Benten."

"Pleased to meet you," Benten groans. She could stomach a
Sagussan who looked like her and one who looks like Oyuki, but Lan?
That is a little too much to take.

Unfortunately, Lan-chan picks up on Benten's indifference. "Don't
worry about me, Benten," she says with a high loli-com voice. "I'm NOT
that vengeful monster who PRETENDS to be your friend..."

"Because she's WORSE than that vengeful monster who pretends to be
your friend," Benten-chan interjects.

"What did you say?" Lan-chan gives Benten-chan a withering glance.

Benten-chan ignores her. "And one more."

"One more?"

"That's me," a familiar yet accentless voice echoes from the door.

Benten looks to see an Oni-born girl who looks exactly like Lum
herself save for lighter green hair. "L-lum...?!" Benten looks
surprised. "Y-you're back! Is the 'Renegade' back too?! Where's my
husband?!!"

"Sorry," Lum-chan smiles. "I'm *Daishi'cha* Eighty-nine-seventy-
nine...now known as Lum-chan. I'm not the *daimon'cha's* Other." She
points to her light blue and gold uniform. "I work in Sciences."

"I see. Are you ALL staying here?"

"Yeah," Benten-chan nods, trying to cheer her namesake. "I don't
want to be alone."

"Besides," Lan-chan adds as she holds the piece of Sagussan
weaponry like a newborn in her arms, "...Benten-chan needs to be
supervised when she plays with my babies!"

"And I can help teach your baby," Oyuki-chan nods. "As well as
look after Reiko-chan, Ten-chan and Minami-chan."

"And keep your spirits up, too," Lum-chan adds with a very bright
grin.

"Well," Benten sighs. "I guess it's okay...since Koosei helped
chose you all."

"Good," Benten-chan grabs her and drags her into the living room.
"Time to party!"

* * *

Meanwhile, over Earth, the "Hasei'cha" prepares to leave orbit.
Eluza and Patty overlook the final checks of the systems. "Well, it's
back to Sagussa with us," Eluza sighs. "I'll miss Earth, but that's
life."

"We can always come back," Patty adds.

Then the communications panel beeps. "A priority one message from
the Gatherer," Rumy gasps, recognizing the beep.

Noa appears on the forward viewscreen. "This is the 'Hasei'cha,'
Noa," Eluza announces. "What can I do for you?"

"There's been a change of plans," Noa announces. "You've been
diverted from Sagussa to the Planet of Shadows. Get here as fast as you
can...and bring Tanoshii Seiryokuteki and Sil Dedron with you!"

"Understood," Eluza nods.

The screen goes dark. Shildy appears on the bridge. "What was
that all about?"

"We're ordered to the Planet of Shadows immediately and bring
Tanoshii and Sil with us," Eluza orders.

"I see," Shildy scratches her head. "I think Tanoshii is at
Sakura's shrine undergoing some training while Sil is talking to
Tobimaro and Yuukiki Mizunokoji."

"Find them and beam them up," Eluza orders. "I'll inform the
crew. Mie will like the fact that we'll be seeing Ataru again. So will
most of the other members of our band!"

In five minutes, the "Hasei'cha's" transporter sensors find both
Tanoshii and Sil and beam them aboard. Luckily, neither were in the
middle of anything pressing, although they were reasonably upset in
having their privacy violated in such a dramatic fashion. Once Eluza
explained why they were aboard, not even the "Hasei'cha's" warp engines
were fast enough to please the two anxious girls.

* * *

On the Planet of Shadows, everyone relaxes as Junba struggles with
who will be her partner to retrieve the Sceptre. The Mikado hunter
discovers that each member of the "Renegade's" crew has certain
advantages and disadvantages according to the computer simulations she
had been running non-stop.

Megane is intelligent and willing, but his tendency to overlook
important details could prove fatal. Mendou has the skills and desire
to be a good partner, but his claustrophobia and fear of the dark
eliminated him. Ataru has the ability to NOT get hurt when something
serious occurs (Lannarkites exempted). There was also his ability to
transform into the Cyborg (something Junba had privately dreaded), but
his desire to assist Junba is questionable. Shinobu has great strength
and is willing to trust Junba for what could be the MOST dangerous part,
yet her inexperience is a negative factor. Lum is both well-trained by
means she didn't quite understand and knowledgeable about retrieving the
Sceptre but the snarkiness that the Oni has been treating her as of late
could be fatal to both. Then there is Nassur...

Junba sighs when she thinks of Nassur. True, they have been
enemies until recently, but now Junba is hopelessly recognized to him.
Although the renegade hunter has been lax to admit it, he must feel
something...deep down inside. Junba knew Nassur is partnered now with
Benten Shigaten of Fukunokami, admittedly an EASIER target to eliminate
compared to Dakejinzou Shogai. Still, Junba couldn't even guess as to
the true nature of Nassur's and Benten's bond. Finally, she makes her
choice. "Computer. Where is Nassur?"

"*Nassur is in his cabin meditating.*"

"Good," Junba smiles as she leaves. "I'll go ask him right now."

Once outside her cabin, she runs across both Lum and Ataru. "It's
about time you wore that," Lum sighs as she hugs Ataru by the arm.
"They must have entered it in the replicator before Nassur-chan came
here."

Ataru had removed his usual uniform for his black-and-gold
Sagussan duty jumpsuit, a little gift from the Sagussan engineers who
secretly upgraded the "Renegade's" systems. "I just found it listed by
chance," Ataru scratches the back of his head dumbly.

Junba immediately notices the new clothes, not recognizing the
design. "What kind of outfit is that?" she asks.

Both Ataru and Lum look nervous. As true to Nassur's wishes, Lum
and the other kept as silent as possible about Sagussa as well as
Nassur's marriage to Benten. "It's just something we designed for a
school play a few years back," Ataru quickly lies.

"That's right, half-life," Lum nods. "Darling was playing an
alien. He liked the suit so much he kept wearing it all the time."

"R-right," Junba shrugs.

"So, Junba," Ataru asks. "Have you decided who you are going to
choose as your partner to retrieve the Sceptre?"

"I think so. I'm gonna choose Nassur."

"I see," Lum smiles. "I'm sure Nassur-chan will be a great
partner for you. Despite your being a half-life and all."

"I hope so, too," Junba replies, ignoring the insult. "I'm
recognized to him."

Lum and Ataru faint! "R-recognized?! To Nassur?!" they sputter
together.

"Yeah," Junba disregards the reaction of both of her shipmates.
"Maybe after all of this is over, I might ask Nassur to marry me."

*Oh, shit!!* Ataru gulps. *She's in for a BIG disappointment!*
Although Ataru had promised not to say anything about Benten to Junba,
in case Junba may turn traitor later, he finds that he must say
something now. "You CAN'T marry Nassur, Junba!"

Junba looks surprised. "Why not?!"

Lum tries to intervene. "No, Darling..."

Ataru ignores Lum. "Because Nassur's already recognized and
married to someone!"

Junba looks stricken, her face paling. "Already recognized and
married?! To whom?! Not to Shinobu, is he?"

"No," Ataru shakes his head. "To his partner, Benten. In fact,
the only reason she's not here on this trip is because she's pregnant
with HIS child!"

To Junba, this was horrible news. While affairs are rare in
Vosian society, it wasn't biologically impossible for someone to
recognize someone already recognized to someone else. The shock of this
news snaps something in her heart. "No! That can't be!" she denies as
tears well up in her eyes.

"It's true," Ataru pities her.

Lum looks at her with uncharacteristic disgust. "There, half-
life!" she snarls. "Nassur's already safe from you and the Mikado!!
And don't even THINK of asking us where Benten and her child are
hiding!!! They're both safe and we'd rather die than tell the likes of
YOU!!!!"

Junba says nothing. Her tears say enough as she walks away
towards Nassur's cabin. Unknowingly, she passes Shinobu's cabin just as
Shinobu is just coming out. She notices Junba's tears. "What's with
her?"

Lum walks up. "She just learned the truth about Nassur's marital
status."

Lum and Ataru leave immediately. Shinobu feels a sort of kinship
with Junba, even more so than before. She, too, was...maybe still
is...in love with Nassur, but someone beat her to the altar. She had to
do something to help Junba cope with the sadness in her heart.

Shinobu rushes after the saddened hunter. "Wait, Junba!" she
yells until Junba stops.

"What is it?" Junba tearfully snarls. "Coming to get your licks
in, knowing that I can't have Nassur either?"

Shinobu pauses. "No," she says. "I understand how you feel. I
discovered the truth about Nassur and Benten shortly after this began.
I was heartbroken and angry that I lost the person I gave my heart to.
But, he wasn't the only one I lost out on. I've been so unlucky in
love, it's not funny."

Surprised to hear that, Junba relaxes. "There were never many men
I was interested in on Vos," Junba sighs. "Most of them were recognized
or were such losers, NOBODY would want to recognize them. Nassur
reminded me of someone I knew. Someone I was separated from by force.
I never got the chance to say goodbye to him when we last parted. I'm
not even sure if he still lives or not."

*Just like Akisur...* Shinobu muses. "Have you decided on who
will be your partner to get the Sceptre?" she changes the subject.

"I was considering Nassur," Junba begins. "But after I found out
the truth about him, a partnership would be too heartbreaking for me. I
want a partner that I can trust and who can trust me in return. But,
among this crew, I don't know who that person could be?"

"How about me?"

Junba falls over. "YOU?!?!"

"That's right," Shinobu smiles. "I trust you. And you must trust
me because why would you have assigned me to your watch after we came
across those Lannarkites."

"But, you're too inexperienced..."

"I can GET experienced!"

Junba thinks. Shinobu reminds her of herself, once a happy,
anxious young woman looking for new challenges and trying to get away
from a lifetime of bad experiences. Yes, Shinobu is young and naive,
but even the most experienced hunters had to start somewhere. "Okay,"
she puts her hand on her shoulder. "...you can be my partner. I pledge
to protect you with my life if necessary!"

Shinobu places her hand on one of Junba's shoulders. "I pledge to
protect you with my life," she echoes. "Let's get that Sceptre."

"Yeah," Junba nods.

* * *

The crew of the "Renegade" return to the front door of the Palace
early next morning. "Are you sure you wanna do this, Shinobu?" Ataru
asks his former girlfriend anxiously. "Nassur said he would do it for
you."

"I gave my word," Shinobu exchanges looks with Junba. "I won't
break it."

"Then, good luck," Ataru smiles...

...then he kisses her. Shinobu's eyes pop open in shock. She is
further shocked that Lum, who was standing close enough to notice, did
nothing. "Y-you kissed me?"

"For luck," Ataru nods.

"Well, this is it," Junba says nervously to Nassur. "Hopefully
soon, we'll have the Sceptre in our hands and be returning to Vos."

"I hope so, too," Nassur frowns. "By the way, Lum told me about
your feelings for me. I'm sorry, but Benten was there first."

Junba tenses, then forces herself to relax. "That's okay,
Nassur," she says slowly. "I understand. You've been living among the
short-lives so long, it would have been a matter of time before you
recognized one of them. She is a lucky woman." She then stares
lovingly at him. "But remember, should she turn into little more than
recognition bait, I'll be waiting for you."

"You may have to fight Shinobu for that honour," Nassur smiles.

"Perhaps," Junba smiles, then turns to Shinobu. "Let's go,
Shinobu!"

"Right," Shinobu nods and the pair of them walk up to the front
door to perform the "ritual" that Nassur did the day before. Unlike the
last time, the door opens slowly with a creak and there is no sign of
the Keeper anywhere. "Where's the Keeper?"

"Enter," a disembodied voice announces.

Cautiously, the two girls enter the Crystal Palace. Upon
entering, the door slams shut. They hear the clunk of locks and know
now that they are completely cut off from Nassur and the others. Junba
and Shinobu gulp anxiously. Whatever game the Keeper is playing, he
wants no interference.

The foyer is huge, and like the outer walls, made of crystal.
There are some glass sculptures of humanoids lining the walls like armed
guards. The walls are bare save for a poster on one of the far walls.
Junba and Shinobu look at it: COMING MATCH...SHINOBU MIYAKI II AND
NASSUR VS. LUMSEI AND BENSAITEN...A REAL GRUDGE MATCH!!!

"What a weird poster," Shinobu sighs upon reading it. "It looks
like an advertisement for a pro wrestling show."

"It's actually a plug for another 'UY' series done by the
writers!" the Keeper announces after appearing out of nowhere.

After they recover from their initial surprise, they notice the
Keeper. "You're late," the Keeper says. "But, come, I'll show you
where the Sceptre is hidden."

An hour of walking through the crystal halls inside the Palace
follows. Junba and Shinobu look in awe at the beauty of the place. The
Keeper rattles on about how hard it is to keep the Palace clean, how
great it is to have visitors, and what they will face retrieving the
Sceptre. "I really set up a lot of traps to keep thieves from stealing
the Sceptre," the Keeper smugly nods. "I had help from an expert in
booby traps. A Terran named Umibozu, if I remember his name correctly."

Finally, they come to an entrance marked with a sign saying SEARCH
FOR THE SCEPTRE OF LECASUR MAZE. It looks vaguely like the entrance to
a haunted house ride in a fair. "There you go," the Keeper ushers them
ahead. "Good luck. And be careful of hidden traps."

When Junba and Shinobu walk into the entrance, the Keeper steps on
something that gives off a crack. Before he can do anything, a tanuki
statue attached to a chain lands on him and knocks him out!

The entrance is very dark and spooky, but for the most part, Junba
and Shinobu have avoided any traps. The two women can barely see a foot
ahead as they inch forward without setting off any booby traps.
Finally, they see a light at the end of the tunnel and walk towards it.
"A light," Shinobu points ahead. "Finally, we can see where we're
going."

"Let's be careful," Junba frets. "I don't want to lose you."

"Me neither," Shinobu replies.

But, as they near the light, Shinobu's foot brushes against a
near-hidden lever. Before they know it, two huge buzzsaws, one from
above them and one from below them shriek at them. Shinobu freezes in
horror.

Luckily, Junba doesn't. She lunges and grabs Shinobu away from
the path of the saws and into the light. "Thanks," Shinobu gasps. "I
hadn't realized I touched something."

Junba looks around scared. "Thanks are a bit premature, I think."

Junba points to a huge bottomless crevasse ahead of them. There
is an opening on the other side of the crevasse but no bridge or ledges
leading to it. Junba looks over the edge. "It's a dead end," Junba
looks defeated. "There's nothing to cross this and if we fall into it,
we're doomed."

Shinobu spots a sign nearby. "Look at this," she says. "'To
cross this crevasse, you must take a leap of faith.'"

"Leap of faith?" Junba blinks confusedly. "What do they mean by
that?"

"Well, don't you think we should find out?" Shinobu says.

Junba looks at the crevasse again and its lack of any noticeable
bridges or ledges. If Lum was here, she could fly them over. But she
isn't and they have to rely on themselves. "We have to try something,"
she sighs. "If we run at it, maybe that will be faith enough."

Junba and Shinobu hold hands, close their eyes, take a deep
breath, then leap. They feel themselves plummeting through the air
until their feet hit something. They open their eyes and find
themselves sprawled on the opposite side, before the entrance. Somehow,
they crossed the whole crevasse, without touching anything in between,
with the ease of a child jumping over a small puddle. "W-we made it!"
Shinobu says in relief. "But how?"

"Faith, I guess," Junba shrugs as she leads her into the entrance.

* * *

Even though they made it through the first two traps, Shinobu and
Junba had still more adventures to go through. The traps and dangers
seem to increase in regularity as they did in ferocity. Hidden land
mines, falling rocks, trapdoors, sliding spears, hidden laser placements
and much more appeared when least expected. Only luck, dexterity and
quick thinking kept both girls from getting killed or seriously injured.
Finally, they arrive at a small room marked with the sign THE SCEPTRE
ROOM. "W-we made it," groans Shinobu, who felt she had been through a
war.

"F-finally," Junba is much the same way.

Their clothes are badly in need of repair and bloody scrapes and
scratches cover their bodies. They limp towards the door leading to the
Sceptre room. Then a little voice in Shinobu's head tells her to duck.
"Wait!" the former Terran high schooler yells as she shoves Junba and
herself down to floor to avoid a large boxing glove which shot out of
nowhere and could have taken off their heads.

Once safe, they struggled to their feet. "I hope that's the last
trap," Shinobu groans.

"Me, too," Junba sighs. "And to think, we may have to go back
through all that!"

"Don't remind me," Shinobu sighs and she helps Junba into the
room.

The Sceptre room is about the size of a large closet, covered with
gold artwork on the floor, walls, and ceiling. The Sceptre itself,
which resembles an old flashlight used in emergencies fitted with a
large ruby-red crystal stands in the middle of the room on a jewel
pedestal. "That's it?!" Shinobu sighs. After all their struggles, they
were disappointed at its common appearance.

"Yep," Junba walks towards it.

"It looks like a flashlight," Shinobu groans as she takes
it...then the floor gives way. Junba and Shinobu drop through an
endless maze of chutes...

...until they are unceremoniously dumped at the feet of the rest
of the "Renegade's" crew! "Junba, Shinobu!!!" they say together in
surprise. "Did you get it?"

The Keeper appears out of nowhere and pulls out the Sceptre from
the pile of bodies. "THEY GOT IT!!!!" he announces through a
microphone. "THE WINNERS!!!!!!"

Fireworks detonate over the Crystal Palace as a celebration ball
explodes!! A sign declaring CONGRATULATIONS, YOU'RE A WINNER!!! flaps
in the breeze. The Keeper returns the Sceptre to Shinobu. "Finally,"
she groans. "It's over."

The Keeper immediately disappears, as everyone else surrounds
Shinobu and Junba to examine at the Sceptre. "So, that's the Sceptre of
Lecasur," Mendou whistles. "I'd never have thought it to be a
flashlight."

Ataru looks at the Sceptre, a bell of recognition going off in his
head. "That's a *haijo-ju!!*" he announces before grabbing it.

Lum screams, backing away. "A *haijo*-what?" Megane asks
confusedly.

"It's a high piece of Sagussan technology from the Fourth
Republic," Ataru answers.

"It still looks like a flashlight to me," Mendou shrugs.

"This 'flashlight' has enough power to turn this place into
ashes!!" Ataru warns, then with his left eye glowing, he gives it a
quick inspection. "**Hmm...its circuits seem burnt out; I suppose it's
safe.**" He then gives it to Junba, his eye reverting to normal.
"Hopefully, the Mikado's so stupid, he won't be able to repair it!"

"Right," Junba looks confused by Ataru's knowledge of a race she
has never heard of before. "Let's get going."

"Of course," Nassur says.

As the group goes, Lum pulls Ataru aside. "Darling, YOU have to
go!" she whisper to him.

"Go?! But, I already went before we..."

"Not that type of go," Lum hums. "*Go!*"

Ataru gets the message. Lum meant it is time for him to go to
Sagussa. *About time!* "I'll just stay here until they come."

"Try to keep hidden," Lum kisses Ataru. "With you out of the
Mikado's grasp, Sagussa and Earth won't be threatened."

"Won't you...?!"

"Darling," she gently grips his hands. "Chances are good the
Mikado knows about your connection to Sagussa. Why would he kidnap you?
I know you still find Nassur-chan hard to accept. Lyna knows, the
Sagussans haven't kept secret what they've been doing on Earth,
especially after destroying that Niphentaxian fleet and the Tripwire
thing. If we both disappear, the Mikado might assume the *daishi'cha*
are rigging this mess to their favour...and he might take it out on the
others. If YOU just disappear, he'll think the *daishi'cha* grabbed you
and took off, so he'll be less inclined to hurt us."

Ataru tenses, then nods. With that, Lum gives him a kiss. "Good
luck, Darling,"

Lum flies off. Ataru waves good-bye, saying nothing so he doesn't
raise suspicions among the others. "Be careful, Lum-chan," he quietly
sighs. "I wanna see you on Sagussa when all of this is over."

Ataru walks towards the Crystal Palace...

*** To Be Concluded ***