Urusei Yatsura Fan Fiction ❯ The Senior Year ❯ Great Father Ataru Stage Six: Auction ( Chapter 59 )

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

The Den'sha star system.

A red dwarf, having long expended its hydrogen gas. Five worlds in
orbit around it, barren rock possessing no life-supporting capabilities. A
hollow husk of a solar system, worthless in the eyes of the neighbouring races
the closest named Spotak. Located in one of the three arms of the Galactic
Federation, it serves as a navigational marker for ships travelling from
Gomiana to Spotak. Since the latter world used boom-tube travel in lieu of
starships, no spaceship had cause to visit this system.

Until now.

The facts of the Den'sha system did not disturb Rover Unit S-729 as it
darted through the heliopause, then began long range scans. It was one of a
dozen units reassigned by Intelligence to Fleet Engineering in hopes of
locating any trace of the long-missing Sagussan fleet. Having disappeared
during the Clone Rights War's climatic stages, the fleet, if found, would give
Sagussa the right tools to press Stage Two of the Grand Design to a most
satisfactory conclusion.

Wait.

The rover pauses in its approach to the second planet of this system. A
typical Class D world, a big rock in the middle of space. However, its
electromagnetic field was powerful. Odd. Any ship passing through this area
would be unable to scan Den'sha Two. Militarily, this was an excellent place
for an ambush; ships would have to be in visual range to detect each other.
Curiosity getting the better of it (natural since rovers were designed to be
curious), it proceeds toward this world.

It soars past the terminator, its golden hull now reflecting Den'sha's
very weak light. There! Floating in the near distance, a virtual armada of
man-made shapes. Cameras focus on one ten-kilometre craft. Its cigar-shaped
main hull with numerous side blisters, stubby wings and a hump-like
superstructure aft was immediately recognizable. Type 58 battleship, the last
series of capital ships built before the Eliminator and Gatherer.

Scanning other craft, the rover unit performs a detailed analysis.
Power systems were at emergency standby. Repair robots made their way across
the hulls, maintaining ship integrity. Best of all was the number. Over a
hundred ships were here. Enough to satisfy Sagussa's defence needs. And
there was an extra bonus: in the middle of this formation lay a working
shipbuilding factory satellite. Fifty kilometres long, warp-capable, her
construction slips were large enough to build the necessary solar energy
collectors to drain off Sen'a's excess fuel, guaranteeing Sagussa's ecological
survival.

Mission successful, the rover unit powers away from Den'sha Two.
Clearing the electromagnetic fields, it sends a signal to the relay station
near Yaminokuni...

* * *

Urusei Yatsura - Great Father Ataru: "Stage Six: Auction"

by Fred Herriot
**** **** ****
Edited by E.B. Kushnir
**** **** ****
Forty-fifth of a series of fan-fiction stories based on "Urusei Yatsura"
created by Rumiko Takahashi
**** **** ****

WRITER'S NOTES:

1) A note from last story: "marona" is Sagussan for "re-birth."

2) I also decided it was time to espouse the basic beliefs of Sensualism
since I've used that religion on several occasions to help people like Shinoko
and Atako to unite. Two Sensualists, Ryuunosuke's and Nagisa's twin daughters
Josei and Onna, will be regular cast members of "Double Zeta Urusei Yatsura."

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

"She's dying?!!" Shinobu exclaims.

Marianoshoo sadly nods. Both were having tea in the Miyaki home. It
had been several days since the rains stopped on Sagussa, her seas refilled.
While excitement had gripped people's attention elsewhere, Shinobu and Aya had
established a powerful rapport. It was not love, akin to what Shinobu
possessed with Junba. So soon after the Vosian's demise, Shinobu was
unwilling to risk any involvement that could lead to more pain.

However, over the last few days, Aya demonstrated very erratic
behaviour. Memory lapses mostly. There were times when Aya seemed unaware of
who she was. Incidents of inattentiveness, clumsiness, even one incident
where Kimiki Miyaki was almost crushed when Aya, lifting a heavy table to
permit Shinobu's mother to clean underneath, dropped it! Fearing for her new
friend, Shinobu put in an immediate call to the Sagussan embassy in New York
(she had the number memorized), bringing the cyberdoctor who had first
discovered the truth of Aya.

And now...now this? Tears well, as Maria explains what is happening.
"All of Aya's systems are operating at near peak-efficiency, given the age of
her body. She's doing quite well. Up here is where the problem lies," she
points to her head. "Her organic parts...are decaying."

"Decaying?!" Shinobu gasps, feeling her face pale.

"That's right," Maria nods. "Obviously, whoever placed her mind into
that body never considered preserving the mind from the wear-and-tear
associated with interfacing with high-speed cybernetic systems. Simply put,
Aya was twenty-two when she was nearly killed. The brain inside that body is
the equivalent of a sixty year old."

It takes a minute for Shinobu to absorb that. "H-how long...?" she
hesitantly inquires.

"My best guess, a couple of months," Maria sighs. "The strain of her
fighting against Henra was too much for her mind to take. I've modified some
controls, placing a greater workload on her on-board computers. They can take
it. But...I can't stop this, Shinobu. I'm sorry."

Shinobu hesitantly nods. Despite the near-magical nature of Sagussan
technology, there were limits. The *haijo-ju,* for example, which Hazel-chan
used to direct Mizu to Sagussa, had blown itself apart when it teleported the
water planetoid ten thousand parsecs to save the female student population
from Mizu's native merpeople. Looking down, she sighs. It was happening
again. She was losing someone she cared for. She was getting involved again.

"Shinobu," Maria reaches for the Terran's hand. "Please, don't be
upset. You've given Aya something she never had for two centuries. Freedom,
total control of her own destiny. That's a wonderful gift, just like the gift
you gave Junba before she died. Don't be ashamed."

"I...I'm sorry, Maria," Shinobu sniffs back tears. "I'm doing it again.
Trying to make things perfect, make it a paradise. I've done it again and
again...and every time, reality comes along and smashes me in the face! Why
is this happening to me?!"

"Because you care too much," Maria smiles. "You love with such power,
Shinobu...and at the same time, you don't prepare for the consequences of
love. What happens when someone you love goes away, like Ataru...or dies,
like Junba? That's love's great trap, Shinobu. We're innocent of that...
although I profoundly expect that sooner or later, we'll suffer just like you.
And I wonder if we'll be ready for it."

Shinobu stares at the doctor. Vast knowledge, total innocence. "Maria
...please...are you bonded?"

"Yes, I am," Maria blinks surprisedly. "To Lilicia of the Hostage
Rescue Team, to be precise. But, thank you for your offer, anyway. If you
are interested, there are many others who're still looking. Ayesha, for one."

"Should I consider it?"

"You should," the doctor nods. "You need a chance to find stability in
your life...and try as you might, you're not finding it in Tomobiki. Your
little exercise in going to Nerima was unsuccessful...in fact, it almost got
you killed. I can honestly say that a dozen women would sponsor you on the
spot. I'd be one of them. Ataru certainly would approve, as would Lum.
Besides, isn't your friend Inaba in charge of the Destiny Management
Dimension's Sagussa group?"

"Yes, he is," Shinobu blushes, then frowns. "Oh!! Here I am talking
about myself and I'm totally ignoring Aya! What do I do, Maria?!"

"Comfort her," Maria smiles. "Treat her with kindness and respect.
Help her when she needs it. Act as if she's a full organic about to expire.
You'll know what to do then."

Shinobu readily nods. Sometime later, Maria leaves for Sagussa carrying
a letter from Shinobu to Ataru. Sighing, she proceeds to her room. There,
Aya lays on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Only two weeks, Shinobu
realizes. Two weeks since the day Aya staggered out of the alley, revealing
the horrors her former supervisor had forced on her. Two weeks since Shinobu
did what she always did. Opened her heart to a suffering person. Staring at
the peaceful form before her, Shinobu shakes her head. "She won't even
physically deteriorate, wouldn't she?" she wonders aloud.

Aya does not react. <<No,>> a warm, loving voice echoes from deep in
her mind. <<It's hard to conceive that she's dying, isn't she?>>

"Oh, Ju-chan, I wish I had your tracking powers so I can sense that
she's alive," Shinobu sighs. "Press anywhere on her body and you'll see the
truth underneath. It's...hard to think otherwise."

<<I'm glad we never dealt with androids on Vos,>> Junba sighs. <<Well,
different peoples have different philosophies. After the Atomic Wars, I guess
the Zeiwanites needed to be reminded they were still masters of their domain.
They needed something to control. They couldn't control their surroundings,
so they had to make something.>>

"Well, no one will control Aya in her last days!" Shinobu sets her jaw.
"No one!!"

Aya blinks, then she stares at her friend. "You're talking to the one
inside you, aren't you?"

Shinobu blinks, then nods. "Yes. Ju-chan and I are always together."

"I'm glad," Aya shifts herself to face her host. "I wish I could go
inside you when I die."

"Maybe you can," Shinobu smiles. "Don't give up hope."

"Shinobu, it's alright," Aya reaches out to grasp her friend's hand.
"I've lived three times the average Zeiwanite lifespan, most of them trapped
in a cybernetic body like this one. I'm not afraid of death anymore. There's
little chance for me to become organic again, so...why should I expend all my
energies in fruitless fantasies?"

"I do it all the time," Shinobu admits. "And...I hurt myself doing it."

"No, you don't," the Zeiwanite smiles. "You've yet to learn how to tell
the difference between fantasy and reality...where dreams stop and life
begins. There's where the pain comes from. You've always thought ahead, not
really concerning yourself with the here and now. You've been afraid of the
here and now, not understanding what goes on around you. That's why when
things go wrong, you react with such violence. You must learn how to see,
Shinobu. And..." she pauses, "...maybe it's time you explored philosophies
which allow you to truly see."

"Like what?" Shinobu blinks.

"Well, I can't speak for Earth...but there's always Sensualism."

"Eh?!" Shinobu blinks. "You mean that religion Nintaiko-chan and
Shinoko-chan used to handfast with Donna and Atako-kun?"

"It's more than that," Aya shakes her head. "Sensualism is a faith of
the physical world. It accepts the divine, the Mother Goddess, but its core
is the acceptance that all of Creation must be experienced, must be worshipped
for It reflects the divine. Sensualism accepts that other faiths exist
because people are as a whole diverse, different. The Sagussans are very
Sensualist in their faith."

Shinobu smiles. "You know, Maria just said that I should seriously
consider going to Sagussa."

"You should," Aya nods. "But...please. I beg you, don't think of it as
running away from life, Shinobu. Think of it as claiming your life, your
place in the grand scheme of things. Don't be afraid to experience life,
Shinobu. Seize the day! Don't let your chances escape you...or you will
regret it for a long time to come..."

* * *

Ataru sits at his desk, scanning the daily notes. Rover S-729's
discovery at Den'sha Two had the brandy flowing in Engineering. At present,
salvage crews from Fleet Engineering and Defence were mustering to travel to
the remote system to salvage the fleet and the factory satellite. With the
satellite alone, Lum-chan's science crews could move to create the necessary
solar collectors to siphon off Sen'a's excess fuel, restore the white giant to
a normal G-class star. That, according to Ryooko-chan and Tsuyoko-chan, would
go a long way in restoring Sagussa's ecosystem.

However, tragic personal news had arrived. Shinobu's cyborg friend Aya
was terminally ill, her mind disintegrating after two centuries of being
separated from an organic body. Ataru was stunned when Maria dropped that
bombshell. It was happening again. His first, truest friend was about to
lose someone she cared for. Ataru had isolated himself for a time, wondering
what to do. He had not been there to support her when Mendou was first
engaged to Asuka. He had, in a fit of mindless rage, done everything
conceivable to prevent Shinobu from ever coming close to Nassur. He had not
been there when Inaba left her. And he, feeling guilt over his long abuse of
her, had not been there at Junba's funeral. And now...

Sighing, he stands, heading to the door. It opens, revealing a sad
Reiko. "Reiko-chan, what's wrong?" he kneels before his daughter.

"It's Shiko-onee-chan!" she sighs. "She's frantic because Eiko-oba-
chan's going to Den'sha Two to get the fleet!"

"So?!" Ataru blinks. "Eiko's a defence officer. It is her duty to
retrieve the ships. Makoto's going."

"I know," Reiko sighs, then blinks. "Where are you going?"

"To see Shinobu," Ataru stands.

Reiko blinks, her telepathic powers picking up the reason why. "Oh!"
she looks down. "Bummer. But then again, Aya-san's been avoiding the
reincarnation pool for a long time. She's wrecking her chances of coming back
if she doesn't go soon."

Ataru's mouth twitches. Reiko was so firm in her convictions that the
thought of death itself did not scare her. He wished they all had that sort
of strength. "Hey, that gives me an idea," he smiles. "Let's go to Earth
together and see Shinobu. I want to bring her here, maybe take her to the
Forge."

Reiko blinks. Her own visit with Lyna had been an eye-opener. She
hoped the chance would come when the whole family...herself, Ataru, Lum and
Noa...could visit Sagussa's spiritual guardian. "Do you think she's ready for
that?" she wonders. "I mean, Lyna was a lot for me to take."

"Hey, look what she did for me," Ataru smiles.

"True," Reiko hums. "Okay!"

She leaves to get changed. At that moment, Ayaka comes up. "We're
ready to go when you are, sir," she jauntily salutes.

"Eh?!" Ataru stares quizzically at her.

"Babara's state funeral," the intelligence officer reminds him.

He blinks, then slaps his head. "Wonderful!! I forgot! When is it?!"

"Tomorrow morning, sir," Ayaka smiles. "You could ask Shinobu to come
with you since Lum's busy on Uru."

Ataru stares at her. "Rumour mill works very well here," she admits.
"Maria's information about Shinobu's friend got around."

"Ah," Ataru nods. "Well, I...I wonder if she'll be willing to go.
Finding out about Aya, then going to Babara's funeral..."

"Sir, may I remind you that your daughter with Elle is somewhere down
there...and that you did make plans to retrieve her at the first opportunity,"
Ayaka smiles.

Ataru pauses. "Good point," he nods. "As soon as Reiko-chan's ready."

"Yes, sir," she nods, then heads off.

Immediately, Mikan appears beside him. "Good news, sir!!" she beams.

"What, what?!" he stares at her.

"Stage Two is done," she shivers with delight. "We've done the pre-
tests! He looks great!!"

Ataru blinks, then sighs. "Project Four. I'm sorry, I forgot."

"If you want, we can do the field test with the Phantom now."

"Not now," he shakes his head. "I have a funeral to attend, a friend
who needs some comfort, my fiancee's on Uru hunting Yethis' cronies and my
daughter's sitter is panicking because her bond-mate's on her way to Den'sha
Two. What else can hit me today?"

"Bad day, sir?" Mikan looks sympathetic.

"You could say that, Mikan."

* * *

The doorbell rings. "I got it!!" Shinobu calls out as she answers it.

"Hi," Ataru smiles.

"Ataru-kun!!" she gapes. "Why are you here?!"

He steps inside. "Well, a friend was in need of a shoulder to cry on,
so I volunteered myself for the drenching task."

She jolts, then nearly falls over. "Ataru-kun, you're impossible!!" she
laughs, embracing him. "Oh, but I'm glad you're here!"

"How is she?"

"Not good," Shinobu shakes her head. "She's fading in and out day by
day. Sometimes, it's as if nothing's wrong, then next moment, she acts as if
I don't exist. It's like Alzheimer's disease, but a hundred times faster.
And...I feel so helpless..."

She leans into him. "There are things we can't affect, Shinobu-chan,"
he smiles. "I couldn't save Chigaiko Inu from leukemia, remember? I couldn't
save the people of Phentax Twelve from that curse...much less all those on
Phentax Two and Hustaros."

"Yeah, you've had some hard hits, haven't you?" she muses. "So, other
than trying to make me happy, why are you here?"

"Actually, I wanted to invite you to come to Sagussa...for a visit," he
quickly adds.

Shinobu blinks. "You mean I'll be allowed to see this place?!"

"Yeah," he nods. "Bring Aya if you want. Maybe Maria could team up
with her friends and come up with a solution together. And...there's a place
on Sagussa where...I think you could come to grips with what you've been
through over the last while. It helped me a lot...and I think it can do the
same for you."

"Really?" she smiles. "Oh, thank you, Ataru-kun."

He sighs. "And...much that I'd prefer not to mention this...but..."

"What?" she tenses.

"Elle's nanny was killed in an explosion a couple days ago," he sighs.
"I've been invited to the funeral."

Shinobu's eyes widen. "Babara's dead...? Oh, no!!"

Then it hits her. "Wait a moment!! You mean to say that you're going
to Elle to attend her funeral?! Ataru-kun, that's the perfect opportunity for
Elle to try to make another grab for you!! Don't go!!"

"When's she's mourning her adopted mother?!" Ataru crosses his arms.
"Not likely, Shinobu-chan. Besides, the Gatherer'll be right there. One
false step and we'd be back aboard in the blink of an eye!"

"True," she hums, then nods. "Well, I think I could use the break.
This place, even with you and Lum gone, seems to be continuously attracting
its share of weirdness..."

* * *

A half-day later, the Gatherer slides into orbit over planet Elle.
Shinobu, formally dressed, stands on the bridge as the superdreadnought slides
past the gates of Elle's planetary defence shield. "Hopefully, the last time
I'll ever have to look at this place," she muses aloud.

Elle-chan, in dress uniform, walks onto the bridge. "Hopefully, for all
of us," she smiles, catching the last of Shinobu's statement.

Shinobu blinks on seeing the Sagussan Navy's commander-in-chief. "They
are going to go ballistic when they see you!"

"That's the reason I'm here," the shipmistress-prime smiles. "So're a
representation of other Ellsian-born *daishi'cha.* Ayaka from Intelligence
plus our intelligence chief for Elle, Tsubaki. We've also got Rose, the C.O.
of our Sen'sha Seven Base. Kurama and Carmen will be there representing the
government. Tamanegi, the deputy director of intelligence operations. Plus
the usual diplomatic rabble: Kaede, Kaori and Kimaenowakai."

Shinobu blinks. "Why so many intelligence officers?"

"Well, it has something to do with whatever's going on in this place,"
Elle frowns. "I hope that I can get in close contact with my spirit-sister.
Then I can determine what's going on."

"Does this have something to do with what Donna sensed about Elle?"
Shinobu wonders.

"Yes," a familiar voice echoes from behind her.

Shinobu spins around to see Nintaiko and Donna standing there, Belle
between them. Emitting a shocked gasp, Shinobu runs over to embrace her
sister and sister-in-law. "What are you doing here?!!"

"Despite our differences, Elle is my sister," Donna smiles. "You look
well, Shinobu. The Unity, despite its harshness, does keep you intact."

"Somewhat," Shinobu turns to Nintaiko. "It's nice to see you again."

"And you, sister," Nintaiko kisses her. "Please do not allow that
incident of months past to cloud your opinions of me. I will always consider
you part of my family, Shinobu-chan."

"And you of mine," Shinobu embraces her...

* * *

Minutes later, the guests from the Gatherer beam into the Royal Docks.
Waiting for them is Dureko, who came with a phalanx of Freemasons. The
Sagussan defence officers visibly place hands on sidearms as Ataru walks up to
the grand teacher. "Good to see you again, Lord Dureko," he nods.

"And you," Dureko smiles bemusedly at the tense figures behind him.
"You need not worry this day. All animosities are put aside as we cheer
Babara on to the Three-Faced One's table. This way."

A fleet of hoverlimos transport the delegation to the Royal Palace.
Belle and Reiko sit together with their parents and Shinobu. "I never thought
I'd come back here again," the Ellsian admits.

"Worry not, Belle-chan," Donna smiles. "If we sense any thoughts of
disUnity from the people here, we'll be back aboard the Gatherer in no time."

"That's good," Ataru smiles. "Now, Belle, you know what to do?"

"Yep!" she readily nods.

"What is going on?" Shinobu wonders.

"My little surprise," he winks at her.

Shinobu rolls her eyes. "Here we go again."

The fleet of cars slide up to the Royal Palace. Nearby, the shattered
hulk of the Great Baran Church is covered in scaffolding, reconstruction still
some months from completion. Everyone disembarks as he finds himself facing
the long set of stairs leading to the queen's private quarters. Awaiting them
is a lovely figure in white and red. "Ataru-sama!!!" Elle cries as she runs
down.

This time, with the absence of other men, the Rose Queen embraces the
right person. "Hi!" he gently kisses her damp cheek. "How are you?"

"Not well," she admits, then notices his companions. "Hello, Shinobu,"
she smiles.

"I'm so sorry," Shinobu embraces her. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"N-no," Elle admits. "I...I never prepared for this, truthfully. I
wish it never happened...not to Babara of all people!"

"She's still with you, sister," Donna comes up to embrace her. "In the
Cosmic Chain of Life where we all go when our time in this life is done, we
are all reunited. Don't fret, Elle-chan. Babara will still be with you."

"Yeah," Reiko smiles. "She'll be back someday."

Beaming, Elle lifts Ataru's daughter into her arms. "I wish I had the
strength of your faith, Reiko-chan," she sniffs. "Please, come this way.
We're still recovering from what your sister did, Honey, so the funeral'll be
held in the palace."

"Sure," he falls in beside her...

* * *

"Gahan, look!!" Senya gasps, pointing.

Gahan, carrying the sleeping bundle in his stubby arms, blinks on seeing
the slim figure in black, gold and green. "It's him!" he beams. "He's here!
Now's our chance!!"

The two remain in place as the other dignitaries disembark their
vehicles, proceeding up the stairs to the palace. One of them, Kurama-chan,
easily noted by her wing-styled hair and light green uniform, stops as her
senses pick up something. Blinking, she glances right, her eyes locking on
the two diminutive skunk-like beings hiding in the alcove, one of them holding
a bundle which could only be a baby. Smiling, she nods, then heads upstairs.
<<Belle-chan!>> she telepathically contacts Donna's and Nintaiko's daughter.
<<There're two Seireians holding a baby nearby here. Do you know them?>>

Up several steps, Belle looks. <<Gahan and Senya!!>> she blinks with
surprise. <<They're Lady Babara's chief assistants! How'd they get hold of
the baby?>>

<<We'll find out soon enough,>> the child services chief smiles...

* * *

The ceremony is mercifully brief. Anna delivers the eulogy, lamenting
her friend of thirty years as a woman who believed in greater things than just
raising a child to be a queen. She believed in the Ellsian people, the unity
of all peoples in a great, peaceful galaxy, working side-by-side as they faced
the future. As with all Yehisrites, Anna believes that Babara is in the Hall
of Honour, the upper part of the Afterworld, sharing a feast with the great
Rose Emperor Adam at the Three-Faced One's table. "Great warriors do not
always have to bear arms," she declares. "Great warriors must have, above
all, a noble heart. This is as much recognized by us as those who go out to
battle evil, those who destroy hateful enemies on the field of honour.
Babara, my friend...you died with honour! *Hisri'hilm!!*" she claps her hands
nine times to invoke the gods' attention.

The Yehisrite honour guard then bellows the Death Chant, warning the
Afterworld that a warrior was about to pass the gates. Ellsian priests
administer their own rites as the casket is borne to the first row of seats.
Elle rises, then delivers a farewell kiss to her nanny. "Good-bye, Babara,"
she sniffs back tears. "I'll never forget you."

The priests close the casket, then the honour guard bears Babara away.
A funeral march is played as Elle sinks into Ataru's embrace. Despite the
long animosities between the Kingdom of Elle and her fellow Federation states,
there is not a dry eye in the house. Ataru notices that Dakejinzou's parents
are there, representing Fukunokami. Kurama is there. Lupica and Rio. Rupa
and Carla. The Prince of the Underworld and Prim. Oyuki's parents. Chara's
father Hosha. "Strange," he muses.

"What is it, Honey?" she stares at him.

"It's strange that only with the death of a loved one do everyone put
their hatreds aside," he sighs. "Why can't they do it all the time?"

Elle shakes her head. "Yeah. Why can't they?"

* * *

With the funeral procession heading for the gardens where Babara will
finally be laid to rest, three figures silently slip away from the crowd,
heading into the Palace proper. As expected for this day, the guards and
patrols are nowhere to be seen. "Henry, scan for Seireian lifeforms," Elle-
chan calls over her communicator. "We're looking for two, a man and a woman.
They'll be with a newborn baby girl with Ataru's genes mixed with my spirit-
sister's. Expedite!"

"*Located,*" Henry's voice filters in. "*Proceed ahead twenty metres,
Shipmistress-prime. They're waiting in servant quarters.*"

"Acknowledged. Any pursuit?"

"*None in your area.*"

With that, Elle, Kurama-chan and Belle race down the hallway. The
shipmistress-prime keeps her communicator open as she scans left and right.
The Freemasons would be some problem even for someone like her, well trained
in Sagussa's various martial arts. After a walk which seems to take forever,
they pause in front of a double set of doors. "Where now?" Elle wonders.

"*Proceed inside. First room on the left.*"

"Right," Elle nods as they head in, then turn into the room in question.

Inside, Gahan and Senya jolt on seeing what seems at first to be Queen
Elle and Crown Princess Kurama, then relax when they see the Sagussan phoenix
on their uniform buttons. "Are you here because of her?" Senya wonders,
staring at the bundle of joy in her arms.

Blinking, the two Sagussans kneel before the Seireian, staring in awe at
the angelic baby girl inside. Unruly brown hair falls in bangs over her
forehead. Clear brown eyes stare quizzically at the two women as she smiles,
reaching out for them. Kurama offers her hand. As soon as skin contact is
made, the child services chief gasps as her empathic senses touch the child's
pure, uncluttered mind. "Oh, Lyna herself would be in awe!!" she exclaims as
she gently lifts the child into her arms. "Please, what is her name?"

"Amora," Gahan offers. "Last of the Black Roses."

Kurama smiles. "Not anymore," she declares. "On Ataru's behalf, thank
you so much for doing this. If you want, we'll transport you to any place
you'd want to go."

"We've...already made arrangements," Senya explains. "We'll be going to
Nova Seireiya very soon. We just want her to have a good home."

"She will," Kurama nods, tapping her communicator. "Henry, beam us out
of here. Inform Althea that she'll be watching over Amora-chan."

"*Acknowledged,*" Henry responds. "*Transporting now.*"

As they beam out of the Royal Palace, Gahan and Senya stare at each
other. "Now, let's go start our family," the latter's tail bushes out.

"That sounds like a plan," the former nods as they head off...

* * *

Elle-chan and Kurama-chan returned to the internment ceremony long
before anyone noticed their absence. Belle chose to remain aboard the
Gatherer, helping Althea babysit Amora. The internment is relatively short,
allowing Ataru and his entourage to return to the Gatherer within an hour.
"Oh, thank the gods that's over with!!" Shinobu exclaims as they step into the
superdreadnought's master bedroom with Reiko. "I was as nervous as a long-
tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs!"

"Well, that will be the last time I'll ever consider coming here," he
groans, taking off his jacket. "So, ready to go to Sagussa?"

"Of course I am!" she sweeps into his embrace. "Someone has to keep you
company while Lum's busy on Uru!"

"I'm glad you volunteered," he kisses her on the forehead. "Truthfully,
I wouldn't want anyone else to be near me over the next while...other than
those wanting to start their families."

"You really mean that," she sighs. "Oh, thank the gods, after all this
time, you've come back, Ataru-kun. I'm so glad."

"I never came back, Shinobu-chan," he warns her. "I was just able to
fit some of you back into my life again."

"I'm glad," she kisses him.

"Um, Daddy," Reiko looks around the empty room.

"What is it, Reiko-chan?" he stares at her.

Reiko shrugs. "Where is she?!"

"Who?!" Shinobu wonders.

She is answered when the door swooshes open, revealing Kurama-chan, her
hands full of joy. "Here she is!" she declares as she makes her presentation.
"Ataru...say hello to your daughter Amora."

Shinobu turns sheet-white on seeing the newborn baby. "Amora-chan...my
little beacon of love," Ataru sighs, his eyes watering as he lifts her into
his arms. "Now, you'll have the life you deserve."

Staring at her father, Amora cries, her tiny hands reaching for him. He
leans down to kiss her forehead, his powers sensing the divine purity of her
mind. Burbling with delight, Amora smiles, forming a word. "Da-...da..."

"She spoke!!" Reiko leaps up on a chair to stare at her sister. "She
really spoke!"

"Boy, they sure evolved her fast," Ataru hums. "When was she born?"

"Just before the lab blew up, if our cellular dating methods are on
line," Kurama muses. "She was still in the gestation chamber when everything
came down on Babara. Lucky for her that Gahan and Senya were around."

"Gahan and Senya, huh?" Ataru muses. "Kurama, you pass it on to Carmen
that those two're to be helped whenever they need it."

"No problem," the child services chief nods.

Ataru returns his attention to Amora, then hands her to Reiko. "Here
you go, Amora-chan," he coos. "This is your big sister Reiko-chan."

"Hi, Amora-chan," Reiko smiles.

Amora chortles with delight as Reiko walks over to sit on the bed.
Ataru sighs, then notices Shinobu staring dumbfoundedly at him. "You okay?"

"Ataru-kun..." Shinobu stares at Amora, then turns back to him, "...how
in Buddha's name...gods...would you please explain this!! How'd you get hold
of a daughter so fast?! She couldn't be one from the *daishi'cha!!*"

"No, she isn't," Ataru sighs, sitting beside his friend. "Actually,
Shinobu-chan...it's a VERY long story which started when Annabelle came into
our lives a year ago..."

* * *

"The child that prevented a war," Shinobu sighs.

Amora Moroboshi sleeps in Shinobu's arms, suckling on a soother. They
rest in Ataru's master bedroom, shortly after Babara's funeral. Even though
Shinobu had heard about the damage the Clone Rights War unleashed on this
world, she could never have conceived the devastation she beheld when the
Gatherer entered orbit over Sagussa. But determination reflected on the faces
of everyone she met when she took the grand tour of the Chamber of Eternity.
They all informed Shinobu that Sagussa's barren state was merely a transitory
stage.

Gazing at the beautiful baby girl in her arms, Shinobu smiles. While
initially shocked that Ataru went along with Elle's plans, his reasoning was
commendable. Either submit or provoke a war; at that time, the Rose Queen was
so head-strong, anything was possible. Besides, who could ignore a beautiful
baby like this? Shinobu gently strokes Amora's forehead, causing her to reach
up in a vain attempt to clutch at the thing tickling her. "You're as
beautiful as Aiotoga," Shinobu sighs. "I hope you'll be good friends."

The door opens, revealing Reiko, a weary expression on her face. "Hi,
Shinobu!" the Noukiite yawns, hopping on the bed. "Boy, I'm bored!!"

"Don't you have anyone to play with?" Shinobu stares at her.

"Well, those Urusian kids Noa-oba-chan found stick to themselves," Reiko
sighs. "Street kids; it's understandable. They don't like it when a member
of a former 'slave' race can do things they can't. Typical Oni pride. And
those other kids, the ex-Lost Ones, they're still so out of it, it isn't
funny! Shiko-onee-chan's nice, but I can't find her anywhere!"

"What could've happened?" Shinobu wonders. "Where's your father?"

"Daddy's with the bodyguards working on that Project Four thing,"
Reiko's eyes roll. "He hasn't once told me what that's about! It's something
really hush-hush!"

Shinobu sighs, placing Amora into her crib beside the bed. "James, can
you bring someone up here to watch over Amora-chan, please," she looks up.
"And where's Ataru-kun now?"

"*In the Project Four room; Maintenance Engineering Section Seventeen,*"
the Chamber's central computer reports. "*Daycare technician dispatched to
your locale.*"

The door opens, revealing Sugoi, now dressed in a green-and-silver child
services technician's uniform. In her arms is Priss' adopted daughter
Shunran. "Hi, Shinobu!!" Rei's younger sister smiles, waving. "What's up?"

"Hi, Sugoi!" Shinobu nods, then coos. "Hi, Shunran-chan! Wanna sleep
with Amora-chan?!"

The baby Oni gurgles as Sugoi places her beside Amora. Shinobu and
Sugoi watch as the two babies stare quizzically at each other, then start to
babble. "Ah, it's so nice to be able to care for something instead of seeing
it destroyed," Sugoi sighs. "I just wish Priss-chan would come home soon."

"They're still on Uru, aren't they?" Shinobu wonders.

"Yep. With Des Azu gone, the Defence Intelligence Directorate's in the
middle of a major shake-up. Rumour has it Ando Pochik will take over. He's
said to be even worse than Des. Sil never liked him though she dated him for
a couple of years."

"Uh-oh," Shinobu shudders. "I hope someone's watching over Sil. If
she's hurt, Mendou-san'll go ballistic!"

"She'll be fine," Sugoi nods. "When she revealed she was a member of
the Alliance, a lot of Imperial support automatically jumped the fence. Polls
now put the Alliance in a near landslide victory if the referendum is held
today. The big problem now is the Tribal Council. Will they go for it?"

"Let's hope so," Shinobu sighs. "We're standing on a planet which
experienced the worst civil war I've ever heard of. I never want something
like that to ever visit anyone! Anyhow, I'm going to see Ataru-kun. Be back
in a while."

Sugoi nods as Shinobu and Reiko head out...

* * *

"General Des' death was tragic," Ando Pochik sighs as he stares at
Yethis. "Without a doubt, the Sagussans were involved. But we...have no
evidence to present to the authorities."

The intelligence officer sat beside the president's chief-of-staff in a
hoverlimo heading for the Pochik mansion to the east of Onishuto. Yethis
found the young man, barely older than Rei, quite loyal to the Imperial Round
and its goals. Handsome with jet black hair and icy blue eyes, Ando cut a
dashing figure among his peers. It amazed Yethis that Sil Dedron rejected
him. "He was too independent," the general sighs. "I hope you won't be."

"Of course not, sir," Ando stiffens. "General Des, while a proficient
officer, took many liberties, the last being with your sister. Her death...
was unnecessary. That could lead to more trouble down the road for us."

"I'm glad you understand that, Ando," Yethis fixes him with a warning
look. "I hope you continue to understand that when you deal with the
Alliance's new spokesperson."

Ando shudders. "It is hard, sir. Sil betrayed us all, sold out her
birthright to the lessers all because she lost her friendship to Lum. She
betrayed ME most of all, taking interest in an alien! I...may not be able to
control myself when it comes to her, General. I mean this not as a sign of
disloyalty...but my personal honour has been slighted."

"I understand that," Yethis remains calm. "I mentioned this to your
father's agent some time before Des disappeared. He called and said there was
a way around that. That's why we're seeing him today."

Ando blinks. "He never told me anything."

"Understandable. He always was a secretive old fox," Yethis smiles.

The car's video-phone rings. Ando picks it up. "Ando," he announces.
A moment later, he jerks in surprise. "You sure?!" A pause. "Excellent!
Yes, send scouts out to investigate!! He's right here with me. I'll tell him
now!" Another pause, then Ando nods. "Yes. See to it information is leaked.
The more involved, the more potential damage Sagussa could take. Report to me
when more information comes in."

He hangs up. "What are you up to?" Yethis wonders.

"An agent on Spotak reported some mysterious activity in the Den'sha
star system yesterday," Ando relaxes, smiling. "He investigated...and believe
it or not, stumbled onto a old fleet of what he believes to be Sagussan ships
floating over that system's second planet."

Yethis blinks. "Are you sure about this?!"

"We just confirmed it," Ando nods. "A hundred ships, maybe more, plus
what appears to be a warp-capable mobile construction starbase. He just
reported back that salvage crews from Sagussa are already on the scene trying
to restart those ship, obviously to bring them home."

The general sighs. "Another opportunity lost, then."

"Not so, sir," Ando's smile grew broad.

"What are you up to?"

"Sir, technically, no race claims the Den'sha system. It's a worthless
cubic light-year of space with no value whatsoever. If another race did
stumble onto that fleet, they would have the first salvage rights."

"Which the Sagussans now have. They're already there!"

"True, sir...but what would happen if other races took interest?"

Yethis stares at the young intelligence officer. Ando had obviously
taken time to consider an appropriate response to this situation. "What do
you mean?"

"Simple," Ando smiles. "I just ordered that our find be...released to
our counterparts in other governments' intelligence agencies. The Ipraedies
Information Service, the Dominion's Intelligence Guild, the Imperial Corps of
Executioners, the Holy Inquisition, the Vosian Defence Intelligence Agency,
plus all of the Federation intelligence groups. You can guess that in a very
short while, they'll send scouts to Den'sha Two to investigate. And...if they
like what they find...who knows what could happen?" he shrugs.

The general blinks, stunned at Ando's audacity. "You're provoking a
cosmic scramble, Ando. It's the pretext to intergalactic war."

"Agreed, sir," Ando nods. "One of three things could happen. One, the
Sagussans get away scot free and we gain nothing. Two, a cosmic scramble
occurs, the Sagussans would be forced to defend their technology, which could
sour relations with other states. Perhaps provoke the Galactic Federation
into demanding a concession before normal relations are restored. We could
take advantage of this to demand they renounce their treaty with Earth,
recognize Uru's traditional prerogatives. And three, during a cosmic
scramble, we could capture one of those ships, let the techs go at it, then
we'd have the means to press a battle right to Sagussa itself."

Yethis nods approvingly. "Well done, Ando. Very well thought out.
There's a bright future ahead of you. Ah, here we are!"

The hoverlimo arrives at the Pochik mansion, an unassuming ranch house-
like building on a hill overlooking Uru's capital city. Disembarking, the two
are met by a servant, then escorted into the mansion's reception hall. "Sir,
General Yethis Seq and Lord Ando."

"Come in, come in, you two," Vel Pochik waves them inside. Over ninety,
the retired admiral was hoverchair-bound thanks to injuries suffered in a
battle with Noukiite pirates while commanding the UDF expeditionary forces.
The chair was cyber-linked to the admiral's mind, allowing him free access to
wherever he wanted. "So, Ando. You've been stirring up a little trouble, I
see. Already see general's stars, eh?"

Ando blushes. His father knew almost everything he did, monitoring his
son's progress through a network of informants. "Just trying to help us
achieve victory, Father. We're up against a very powerful foe."

"Agreed," Vel sighs. "The Sagussan beast is powerful indeed. Direct
conflict is suicide as the Niphentaxians learned to their cost. By the way, I
managed to contact an old...ally of ours. I told him about the discovery at
Den'sha Two. He's on his way there right now."

"He's still around?!" Yethis blinks surprisedly. "I'd figure the new
government on Phentax Two would've lynched him by now!"

"He still has support in the Niphentaxian colonies; the Church of Lum
was never touched there," Vel sighs. "They managed to scramble a force of
ships. Mere target practice for the Sagussans, but they'll keep them busy
until others arrive. I told Sayan to get a force prepared to head to Den'sha
Two so we'll have a chance to capture some ships when the fireworks start."

"The President'll have to okay it first," Yethis muses. "Let's hope the
Ipraedies are as greedy as ever."

"Oh, be assured, they will be," Vel snorts. "Schwartz is on his last
legs. Schwartzkoff's siding with the Tribunal. The Home Council is watching
support dry up before their eyes. They're demanding action or else they'll
let Schwartz hang out to dry. Further, the Provisional Government on Vos is
pressing for answers on things like Project: Superwarrior. This is the
perfect opportunity for Schwartz to eliminate all his enemies. Don't worry...
he'll be there!"

"Good," Yethis nods.

"Now," Vel sighs. "We have to deal with Sil Dedron."

Ando shudders with rage. Seeing the young man's anger, Yethis shakes
his head. "We can't eliminate her, Vel," he warns. "The Alliance already has
two martyrs! We can't give them a third!"

"I know that," Vel nods. "But, what if I could show you a way we can
swing Sil to our side?"

"How?" Ando wonders.

Vel claps his hands. Ando and Yethis jolt in shock on seeing Sil Dedron
walk into the room. "You wanted to see me, General?" she blinks, then beams
on seeing his son. "Ando-kun!!"

Sil leaps into Ando's lap, smothering him with a kiss. The colonel
gasps in surprise, then warms up to her advances. Yethis blinks, then smiles,
turning to his friend. "A clone! I should've known!"

"That's right," Vel smiles. "Easy enough to get genetic samples. Sil's
doctor is a friend of mine. Besides, I became suspicious when Sil called off
her engagement to Ando. It didn't take me long to realize the Alliance had
wooed her to their cause. Not long after that, I heard how that superannuated
old fool Upa used a copying mushroom to deceive Moroboshi into believing Lum
rejected him for Rupa. Why not do the same thing with the Alliance?"

Yethis nods, then kneels beside Sil. "Sil?"

"Yes, General," Sil stares at him, allowing Ando to kiss her neck.

"Whose side do you support? The Alliance or the Empire?"

"The Empire, of course," she replies indignantly. "What Head of House
would permit herself to succumb to the rule of the lessers?! My parents'd
never forgive me if I did that!"

"Good," Yethis nods, staring at Vel. "Looks like Sil'll be defecting
before long," he icily smiles.

"Indeed," Vel sneers...

* * *

"Gods!!!" Shinobu turns white with horror. "You brought THAT back?!!"

Before her stands the culmination of Project Four: the Cyborg. The
machine-man stands still in his programming chamber as Shinobu and Ataru stare
at him. Virtually every detail matched the creature Ataru transformed into
while under the decreasing influence of the *saikoo jinseijitsu*. "Yep!" he
nods. "I have to admit, this is the one thing no one'll suspect I still have
in my corner! Besides, it's a good way to banish some bad memories."

Shinobu stares at him. "Ataru-kun, how could you?! I thought you
buried this thing when you got rid of the *saikoo jinseijitsu!*"

"Yes, I did!" Ataru nods. "But I can't escape the fact that there are
people out there who believe that without the Cyborg, I'm weak! I told you
this sometime ago, Shinobu: this is a weapon of last resort!! I meant it!"

Shinobu gazes into his eyes, then nods. "I believe you. I just hope
you remember that when you're in this thing!"

"Not to worry," Badoka walks over, wiping her hands. "The CT controls
ensure that Ataru's *mei'na* won't be affected by the regeneration matrix in
each of the Cyborg's cells. They'll prevent a psychic backlash in case
something goes wrong. One flip of the switch and Ataru's back in his old body
again, safe and sound."

"I hope so," Shinobu hesitantly approaches the Cyborg, her hand reaching
up to the metal jaw. "What's it made of?"

"Carbo-neutronium," Mikan proudly smiles. "A million times denser than
diamond, it could take a direct blow from a megaton thermonuclear weapon and
not be scratched." She comes up to indicate the details. "Internal power is
provided by an energy converter system mated to his cardiovascular system.
Excess regeneration energy produced by his cells is converted into energy.
The process is somewhat akin to how a hydroelectric generator works. It's a
million times more proficient than micro-fusion reactors, but we put some in
for redundancy's sake."

"Limitless power," Shinobu whistles.

"Even better," Mikan smiles. "The organic body regenerates every time
an injury occurs or a cell dies. This body'll last as long as Lyna's; no one
really had to put her into a capsule of frozen cryogenic gasses to preserve
her. Stun-laser in the sensor eye, full communications and computer-interface
systems, stun-batons in the arm-guards..."

"I get the idea," Shinobu cuts in to stop the rambling engineer.

"We're ready!" Kiiwii looks up from the conscience transference machine.

Ataru sighs, then walks over, fitting himself in the booth. Zakuro sets
the control helmet over his head. Badoka checks the controls, then nods.
"All systems go."

"Commence the operation," Mikan orders.

Badoka flips a switch. Shinobu's eyes fall on the Cyborg. Suddenly,
the sensor-eye glows as the good eye opens. "**It works!**" Ataru's metal-
tinged voice echoes from the machine-man's jaw.

"Systems check?" Kiiwii wonders.

The Cyborg concentrates. "**All systems nominal. Moving out.**"

Then, as if he was the old Cyborg, Ataru calmly walks out of the
programming cubicle. Shinobu remains rooted in place as he steps up to her,
then calmly boosts her into the air. "**Hi, sexy!**" he winks with his good
eye. "**What's a cute babe like you doing in a place like this?**"

Blinking surprisedly, Shinobu laughs as she embraces the machine-man.
"Oh, this is great!!" she beams, kissing his closed jaws. "He's so human!"

"Well, the image itself is derived from the mythical image of the
*keiseiri'cha,* the Master of Entropy," Mikan nods. "I wouldn't call him
human when he's in this state."

Shinobu shudders. "You mean...this is designed to look like your
planet's devil?!" she indicates the Cyborg.

"Our version of one," Mikan nods. "Besides, don't you Terrans say
'fight fire with fire?'"

"Yeah, I guess," Shinobu muses. "Um...can you put me down, Ataru-kun?"

"**Sorry,**" the organic part of his face reddens as he lowers her.
"**It's a little hard for me to adjust to controlling this thing. It's a lot
different from just transforming into the Cyborg.**"

"How different?!" Shinobu wonders.

"**Well, becoming the Cyborg was like putting on a second skin,**" he
shrugs. "**Every part of the Cyborg was an extension of my body. I thought
the action and it happened. In this case, I transmit thoughts from my mind...
which is still there,**" he points to his body in the conscience transference
machine.

"Oh!" Shinobu nods.

"If you want, we can go right to the combat trials," Mikan offers.
"Kiiwii can control the Phantom; we have a spare machine."

"**Let's get started,**" the Cyborg nods...

* * *

"How're things?!" Biiko looks down from the sensor officer's station.

Eiko stares at her tricorder, programming information into the weapons
control panel. "All systems go!" the watchmistress reports, staring at the
lavender-haired Terran-born architect. "I think we can bring the CPU on line
now, Biiko."

A spark is heard. Heads snap up to see the architect-prime back away,
allowing a panel to fizzle out. "Stand by," Biiko sighs.

"Okay," the red-haired Yizibahojei-born watchmistress relaxes in her
chair, stretching herself. "Lyna, this is taking forever!"

"The system's been down for some time, Eiko," Asa reports from the
communications station. "We can't expect this to start working with a flick
of a switch."

"You'd wish people'd've left things like this over Sagussa, not here in
the middle of nowhere!" Eiko grumbles. "This is no place to leave a fleet.
Thank the Fates the Spotakites developed boom-tube technology! Who knows what
could've happened!"

The others on the "Gihan'cha's" bridge readily nod, diligently working
away. The old flagship of the Sagussan Navy was currently being inspected by
Biiko's central architect team, a small crew of defence personnel under Eiko's
command plus several fleet engineers. They had been here for over a day. So
far, only the smaller ships...couriers, science explorers, even some ancient
patrol frigates which were obsolete long before the Clone Rights War...had
come back on line. The destroyers, cruisers, battleships and the construction
yard remained stubbornly silent.

Still, some systems were working and if nothing could happen, they would
just have to tow everything back to Sen'sha Seven. Fortunately, space in this
vicinity was quiet. Kimaenowakai had informed the Spotakite government about
the salvage operation, requesting they remain silent on the affair in case
thing should get out of hand. They were more than happy to agree; outside of
home defence units, Spotak had no armed forces to speak of. Hopefully, things
would stay that way.

Eiko sighs, rising up to get a drink from a thermos...when, from out of
nowhere, a beautiful box lunch is thrust in front of her! "Here you go, Eiko-
chan!" a saccharine-sweet voice announces.

Everyone jolts in surprise on seeing Shiko there. The diminutive,
blonde-haired Terran-born child services officer, no taller than Chibi, fixes
her bond-mate with her fuzzy-warm blue eyes. "Shiko?!!" Eiko exclaims. "What
are you doing here?!!"

"I brought you lunch," Shiko answers matter-of-factly.

"How'd you get here?!"

"I came with Shuttle One-hundred," Shiko shrugs.

"Shiko!!" Biiko descends from the bridge's upper level. "You're not
supposed to be here! Who's watching over Reiko-chan and Amora-chan?! That's
your job, remember?!"

"There're others there!!" Shiko's lips form a pout. "I didn't want you
two to go out alone without me! Don't you want me here?!"

Eiko and Biiko shudder, knowing Shiko was about to unleash her most
potent weapon in winning them over: a fountain of tears which would impress
Fujimi Fujinami! Both loved the child services officer dearly, having long
ago decided they would not fight over Shiko, but join forces in forming a
three-way bonding. "It's okay, it's okay!" the former embraces Shiko, taking
her offered lunch. "There, there, Shiko, it's alright! We don't mind you
being here!!"

"Especially after she feeds them!" Asa whispers to Ine.

The other architects snicker. "Now, why don't you sit there and let us
work, okay?!" Eiko indicates the command chair.

"Okay!" Shiko's face immediately clears up, then pulls up another box
lunch for Biiko, then humming the bars for "Book of Days," sits down.

Eiko and Biiko sigh. "Eiko-chan, tell me why we fell in love with her?"
the latter wonders, staring at her bond-mate.

"I'm still trying to figure that out," the former moans.

Both quickly return to their work stations...

* * *

"There, sir!!" the helmsman points.

Oogi shudders delightfully as the image of the dormant Sagussan fleet
appears before him. The Niphentaxian leader cackles at the sight. "So!!" he
sneers. "He thought he could strike at us, then hide behind the infernal
Barrier when we sought revenge, eh?! All strike crews, prepare to head in!!
That one, first!" he points at the "Gihan'cha."

"Yes, sir!!!" the others bark...

* * *

Nearby, Tita pulls back her joystick, allowing her Gladiator to bank
around the fleet. It was silly worrying about people disturbing them, but
Henra had been adamant demanding First Squadron's presence in the Den'sha
system. The new Fourth Fleet shipmistress, promoted thanks to her excellent
tactical and administrative skills, was determined to prove herself. Tita did
not mind that, but the pilots and ground crew of the First Defence Squadron
needed a rest after their heavy engagement in three simultaneous battles.
Always at the point of attack, Tita's squadron spent more time in action than
the others. Plans to organize a reserve squadron were underway, but it would
be a while; replacement Gladiators were still a year from completion.

Still, she loved flying...and Sagussa's reigning fighter ace loved it
all the more because Satomi was always on her wingtip. Tita had just to
glance right to see her bond-mate always in position, then returned to the
normal fighter pilot routine. Up, left, right, over her shoulder, down,
front, then repeat. Den'sha Two's magnetic fields fouled even a Gladiator's
hypersensitive scanners. The timeless searching of the stars was more than
necessary. Tita could not, would not allow herself to tire; she was asking
for an early death if she slackened even for an instant. In her position, no
one was around to take her *mei'na* in case she bought it.

Her eyes were about to scan right when Satomi's voice barked, "Bandits,
multiple targets, two o'clock high!!"

Tita's eyes snapped over. Several ominous lights were moving toward the
silent fleet. "Confirmed! Tally-ho!!" she nods, hands automatically arming
the Gladiator's weapons. "Weapons hot!"

"Weapons hot!" Satomi confirms. "Let's nail them!!"

"Right behind you, love," Tita purrs.

The Gladiators bank over to intercept. Meanwhile, aboard the
"Hasei'cha," the command ship for the salvage operation, Elle was alerted the
instant Satomi made the call. "Launch your Gladiators," she orders Eluza,
then turns to Rumy. "Signal Yoshimi. Have her units scramble. Then signal
Sagussa. We need reinforcements in case others come!"

"Aye, ma'am," the science chief makes her signal.

In a minute, the warpsloop's two remaining fighters (Lufy is presently
on Uru) free themselves from their mothership, then race off. "Hasei'cha's"
shields raise as she flies after Rabby and Mie, weapons arming.

Up ahead, Tita and Satomi dive toward the lead alien ship. "Shit,
they're Niphentaxians!!" the latter exclaims on seeing the Church of Lum
insignia on the frigate's flanks.

"Didn't we do this a couple weeks ago?!" Tita grinds her teeth as she
squeezes her trigger.

Quantum torpedoes smash into the frigate's shields, blasting them down
as Satomi's first salvoes blow gaping holes in her hull...

* * *

"Damn, they're onto us!!" Oogi yelps. "All units attack!!!"

Explosions rock the bridge as the deposed president races to the
elevator. "Mister President, where are you going?!" the captain cries.

"I'm leading the first attack wave!!" Oogi replies. "For the glory of
Lum, defend yourselves!!"

The bridge crew cheer as Oogi heads off. Their inattentiveness costs
them; Mie's first salvoes destroy the bridge! Meanwhile, Oogi runs into a
teleport chamber. "Ready?!" he nods to the crew of soldiers.

They bark affirmative as Oogi takes his place, drawing his katana. The
teleport technician beams them out, mere seconds before a concussion missile
from the "Hasei'cha" detonates the frigate's warp core...

* * *

On Sagussa, the Cyborg straightens himself, staring at the wrecked
Phantom. "**You okay, Kiiwii?**"

Badoka is unstrapping her friend from the conscience transference
machine. "I'm fine," the Tritonian-born maintenance engineer pants. "Wow!!
Who taught you all those moves, Ataru?!"

"**The *saikoo jinseijitsu,***" the machine-man sighs. "**Anyhow, I'm
going to get out of here.**"

"Okay!" Zakuro nods, proceeding to Ataru's CT machine to help the
*daimon'cha* once his *mei'na* was freed from the Cyborg's mind.

"*Ataru?!*" James' voice cuts in.

"**What is it, James?**"

"*Sir, emergency signal from the Shipmistress-prime,*" the central
computer reports. "*She reports Niphentaxian forces arriving at the Den'sha
system, intent on capturing the fleet. She is requesting reinforcements in
case more enemy forces arrive.*"

Ataru shudders. He thought he had put an end to that annoyance a long
time ago. "**Tell Elle help's on the way! Then tell Benten to scramble
everything we have!!**" he growls, then turns to Mikan. "**We're bringing
this, too! Looks like we'll get a chance to do some real combat tests!!**" he
points to the conscience transference machine.

"Yes, sir!!" Mikan wolfishly smiles.

Nearby, Shinobu shakes her head, aghast. "It just doesn't end..."

* * *

"Sir, may I ask why we're going to Spotak?" Invader stares at his
superior. "What sort of threat could be there?!"

Sayan Renning relaxes in the admiral's chair now posted in the centre of
the "Kashin's" bridge. The battlewagon, along with eleven of her sisterships
and twice the number of support vessels, was passing Gomianite space bound for
Spotak, another three hours away. "Intelligence reports some strange activity
is occurring in a remote system near Spotak, Captain," the admiral frowns,
hands clasped under his chin. "You know as well as I that the Spotakites do
not have any deep-space defence capabilities. As fellow Federation members,
it's only prudent that we intervene."

"I'd like to know what we're intervening against," Invader crosses his
arms. "Sir, I will not condone this ship entering a potential hostile zone
without justification. That is my right as this ship's captain."

Sayan nods. "You're right, Invader. I'm glad you remembered that." He
sighs. "However, we believe that the people there...are friends of your
future son-in-law," he fixes the captain with a warning stare.

The bridge crew goes quiet as all eyes fall on Invader. "The Sagussans,
you mean," he clenches and unclenches his hand.

"That's right," the admiral nods. "Now, their ambassador promised the
Federation that she would inform us of any action they take in our territory.
The Den'sha star system is in Federation space. Doesn't that sound strange?"

"The Den'sha system, sir, is not claimed by anyone," Invader counters.
"I'm sure Ambassador Kimaenowakai would've told the Spotakite government of
any plans to send ships to that system. Signals," he then turns to the
communications officer. "Send a call to Spotak. Request an update as to
what's going on in the Den'sha system. Let's confirm this."

"Yes, sir," she nods, tapping controls.

"That wasn't necessary," Sayan warns.

"That's my prerogative, Admiral," Invader counters.

"Sir!" the communications officer gasps. "Priority signal from Spotak!"

"On screen!!" the captain orders.

The image melts into a tall, slender figure dressed in flowing robes.
"To all Federation states, this is Councillor Shika of the Republic of
Spotak," she announces. "Niphentaxian renegades are now in the Den'sha system
engaging Sagussan defence forces in the midst of a salvage operation. Our
outer defence markers have also detected Ipraedies, Dominion and Kyotos-
Yehisrite forces moving in. We have no means of asserting our sovereignty
against these invaders. Any assistance to that end is requested."

"There, you see!" Sayan muses.

"Wait!" Invader holds up a hand. "Response frequency. Councillor
Shika, this is Captain Invader of Uru. What are the Sagussans doing in the
Den'sha system, anyway?!"

"Oh, Captain!" Shika breathes out in relief. "A Sagussan rover unit
detected derelict ships and a factory satellite from their Fourth Republic
over Den'sha Two. They informed us of the find and asked permission to
perform salvage operations."

"I see," Invader hums. "Alright. We're on our way there with a dozen
battlewagons. We'll be there in under three hours."

"Thank you, Captain," Shika nods. "Spotak out."

The screen goes blank. "Wonderful!!" Invader grumbles. "I wonder who
else knows about that fleet!"

"Are you sure Mr. Groom can handle all that, sir?" the first officer
wonders. "I mean, how soon could reinforcements from Sagussa come?"

"Under two hours or so Lum-chan told me," Invader muses, then smiles.
"Hell, when we get there, all that'll be left are the pieces!!" he laughs.

Nearby, Sayan twitches in annoyance...

* * *

Aboard the "Hasei'cha" at that time, Elle watches as the Niphentaxian
forces are besieged by the rampaging hornets of the First Defence Squadron.
Presently, three-quarters of the force was gone. However, Niphentaxian attack
teams had managed to board several ships, trying to seize control before they
could be activated. Fortunately, Pathfinders assigned as security were
alerted the instant Satomi shouted her warning. Several running gunfights
were occurring, the largest being on the "Gihan'cha," but so far, there had
been no casualties. "We're holding them," Eluza muses.

"So far," Elle sighs. "Let's hope this is the last time we'll have to
deal with this lot!"

"Ma'am!" Rumy yelps from her station. "Several rover units have called
in. Rover Delta-Six-oh-nine reports the Dominion Magate Round fleet mustering
near New Avalon, moving to this sector. Rover Yankee-Nine-oh-two reports a
mixed fleet of Kyotos and Kyotos-aligned forces mustering and proceeding in
this direction. Rover India-Four-ten reports the Special Imperial Ipraedies
Fleet is mustering in the Kaori system with orders to proceed to this system.
Rover Uniform-Six-oh-nine reports a squad of battlewagons coming from Uru...
ma'am, fleets from a dozen Federation worlds are massing with orders to
proceed to Den'sha Two!! According to ECM, many have secret orders to seize
elements of our fleet for scientific study!"

The warpsloop's bridge goes very quiet as everyone's eyes fall on Rumy.
"Is this confirmed?!" Elle wonders.

"Yes, ma'am!" the science chief trembles. "The earliest enemy forces to
arrive in this sector will be in two hours!!"

Several people fearfully gulp. "ETA our reinforcements?" Elle asks.

"One hour, fifty minutes," Rumy reports.

Tension mounts. Spea wolfishly smiles, the scent of battle exciting
her. Shildy shakes her head, quickly imagining what could happen next. Amy
begins to pray. Patty wonders what they ever did to deserve a day like today.
Eluza stares expectantly at the shipmistress-prime. Elle turns her gaze at
the battle blazing before her. A small force of Niphentaxian renegades were
easy to handle. The elite fleets from two dozen worlds...that was another
ball of wax.

"Cosmic scramble," she announces.

"Your orders, ma'am?" Eluza asks.

Elle sighs. "Rumy."

"Ma'am?"

"Signal Sagussa. Inform all commands to proceed here with all possible
speed. Unless overridden by the Defence Minister or the *daimon'cha,* all
units...are ordered to shoot to kill."

"Aye-aye, ma'am!" Rumy nods...

* * *

"A cosmic scramble is the worst potential military situation we could
face," Feb briefs Ataru, Benten and the defence chiefs aboard the "Lyna'cha"
en route to Den'sha Two. They have about twenty minutes before fleets from a
dozen worlds descend on them. "It's a time where no one has friends.
Everyone is an enemy. We must be prepared to fight everyone in sight; the
limited rapport we have with other races will be ineffectual."

"Any idea as to how news of the fleet got out?" Dakejinzou wonders.

"Intelligence is investigating," Feb sighs. "We can certainly bet that
someone deliberately leaked this information. There's no way spies from the
parties concerned could've learned of the fleet by hanging out on Spotak. The
planet itself has little strategic value for the Dominion, the Ipraedies or
the Yehisrites."

"So the guilty party has to be one of the Federation worlds," Sansura
concludes. "And since the Niphentaxian provisional government is decidedly
more friendly to us, that leaves one place: Uru."

Ataru's eyes close. "Investigate all communiques from Uru," he sighs.
"Find out which parties found out what and why, then decide the most likely
party responsible. I'll bet the person's on our target list or is related.
In the meantime, Benten, override Elle's shoot-to-kill order. I DON'T want to
inflict casualties. History seems only to record the numbers of dead in a
battle. For this one, let's have them record the numbers who survived. The
beginning of the Fifth Republic must not start with a blood bath."

"Sir, the chances are good that once everyone is present, they'll be
shooting at each other," Feb warns. "We could slip away with the fleet and
not be concerned. But we still have to protect ourselves."

Ataru glares at her. "Protect ourselves...but no bloodshed, Feb!"

"Yes, sir," the fleet shipmistress nods.

He stands. "Alright. We'll play this by ear. Everyone stay in contact
with each other. Let's go to work."

The others nod as he beams to the Gatherer. Heading into his bedroom,
he sees his bodyguards setting up the conscience transference machine. The
Cyborg stands motionless in his programming chamber. Shinobu relaxes on the
bed. "Are we there yet?" she stands.

"Almost," he kisses her. "Problem is, we'll be facing every fleet in
this part of the galaxy...and they won't have friendly thoughts toward us."

"Wonderful!" she moans. "Can we escape?"

"We can if we hurry," he grits his teeth. "But first, we have an old
friend to dispose of."

She nods as he turns to the CT machine...

* * *

"How much time?!!" Oogi demands.

One of his troopers looks at his chrono. "Ten minutes!!" he barks.

"Good!!" the deposed president cackles. "With the whole galaxy falling
on his head, Moroboshi won't have a chance to defend himself or his planet of
harpies from Lum-sama's righteous revenge!! This day belongs to Lum!!!"

Howling with insane laughter, he sends a fusillade of shells down the
passage. Oogi's boarding team was trapped in the engineering section of the
"Gihan'cha," keeping teams of Pathfinders down while a scientist worked at
breaking into the battleship's long-silent central computer. There were just
a handful of teams left aboard the battleships "Gihan'cha," "Horan'cha" and
"Issei'cha," the largest vessels in the derelict fleet. With his renegade
fleet gone, Oogi knew he had no way out save surrender. But if they could
hold on long enough for the Urusian Imperials to arrive, it would be perfect.
Seeing his beloved goddess become Uru's Empress in triumph over the Great Evil
was worth any sacrifice.

Suddenly, a sonic boom, the harbinger of a Spotakite-style boom-tube, is
heard. Oogi's squad spins around to see a dark, ominous shadow appear behind
them. Before the computer technician could flee, a metal hand effortlessly
snaps his neck! The others howl in fearful rage as they turn weapons on the
Cyborg. Several shells hit the machine-man in the chest and face!! Those
hitting his cybernetic parts deflect harmlessly away. Those hitting flesh
instantaneously heal. Not so the wounds the Cyborg unleashes on the
Niphentaxians; in a minute, all save Oogi are dead.

The deposed president screams as the machine-man scoops him up by the
left arm. "**I have had enough of you!!!**" the Cyborg raises his fist, his
sensor-eye glowing star-white. "**Tell me who told you about this, and you
will live so you can explain yourself to Lum when this is over!!!**"

Oogi pales, realizing Ataru's sense of mercy was giving him another
chance. Well, what could he do to those who wished so much for Lum? "It was
Vel Pochik!!" he stammers. "He's one of Yethis' friends!! He told us! But
his son Ando's now in charge of the intelligence directorate!! Ando's the one
who passed it on to everyone else!!!"

"**Did they now?!**" the Cyborg hums, scanning Oogi's mind to ensure
that was the truth. "**Thank you, Oogi. That was simple, wasn't it?!**"

Oogi breathes out in relief...then panics as Ataru's fist swings back.
"Wait!!!" he shrieked. "You said you'd let me live!!!"

If Ataru could smile, he would.

"**I lied.**"

The Pathfinders, watching this, turn away as Oogi's skull is crushed!!
As the Niphentaxian's lifeless body is dropped to the deck, the Cyborg faces
his people. "**How many others are still active, Mink?!**"

"Sir, two teams remain on the 'Horan'cha,'" a red-haired Koomori-born
sergeant reports. "They're contained in a non-essential section. Emergency
start-up procedures are underway."

"**Good!**" the Cyborg nods as a hatch appears on his upper right arm,
allowing a transmitter to deploy. "**Ataru to Benten. Are we in position?**"

"Affirmative!!" the defence minister reports. "Sensors just picked up
the Ipraedies and the Dominion! They'll be here any minute!!"

"**Return fire only if fired on!**" Ataru barks. "**I'm going to the
'Horan'cha' to suppress the teams there!! Get Henry to jump-start these ships
if you have to! I want to be out of here in an hour!!**"

"Yes, sir!"

* * *

"We're almost there, sir!!" the captain smiles.

"Good!" Schwartz sneers. Clumsy of the old Sagussans to leave such a
tantalizing prize within the reach of other races. Clumsier still that Ataru
Moroboshi would let information of that fleet run free. Now the Empire could
deal with the Sagussans on an equal footing. "Are you sure that salvage crews
are the only people there?!" he wonders.

"That's what the Information Service reported, sir," the captain nods.
"Coming out of warp now!"

The fleet of a hundred warships, constructed in total secrecy to not
alert the Vosians, burst free of hyperspace, defence shields snapping into
place as Den'sha Two seemingly races at them. The bright lights indicating
the derelict Sagussan fleet became ships. Staring greedily at them, Schwartz
pales as he notices something wrong. "Gods!!!"

Floating some distance from the silent fleet, the active Sagussan Navy
faced the attackers, weapons deployed and ready. Warsuits, Gladiators and
hovercyles formed a fire line ahead of their motherships, guns out and ready.
Staring at all that firepower pointed at his face, Schwartz begins to shake.
"Sir...signal from the Gatherer," the captain shudders.

The image melts into Ataru Moroboshi...or rather, his cybernetic alter-
ego. "**What brings you here, Your Majesty?**" the machine-man's good eye
narrows. "**This is Federation space.**"

Schwartz's eyes then fall to the crushed and severed head on a pike by
Ataru's knee. Although the features were barely unrecognizable, the cowlick
said it all. Oogi. "**Ah, you've noticed my new trophy,**" Ataru's hand
falls on the last remnants of one of his most hated foes. "**Care to add
another to my collection?**" he fixes the emperor with a stare.

Schwartz feels the strength in his legs go. The Cyborg's features gave
him the perfect poker face. There was no way to read the machine-man's mood,
especially with his good eye narrowed. Suddenly, a sensor officer yelps.
"Sir, sensors indicate a Seifukusu fleet arriving in the system several
hundred thousand kilometres from here!!! They're moving in on the derelict
fleet!!!"

Schwartz's head snaps over. "WHAT?!?!?!" he screams. "How dare they
take my prize away!!! I'll deal with you later, Moroboshi!!! All ships,
change course and attack!!!"

"Yessir!!!" the fleet captain nods...

* * *

The Ipraedies fleet performs a perfect right oblique, reforming their
attack line on the Dominion's port flank. Fighters leap from their hanger
bays as the capital ships open up. The Dominion forces, proceeding in two
staggered lines of battle, turn port to meet their attackers head on. In a
minute, a raging firefight ignites a safe distance from the dormant Sagussan
fleet. Observing this from the Gatherer's bridge, Ataru nodded. "**This is
perfect!**" he laughs. "**With those idiots going at it, everyone else'll
just sit back and watch!!**"

"Sir, that may be for the Federation worlds, but not the Yehisrites!"
Elle warns. "They'll be here next!!"

Ataru's good eye narrows. "**The Yehisrites hate the Ipraedies too much
to pass up a chance to kill Schwartz! Open hailing frequencies to the
flagship of that force when they come in range! Oh, and Elle...**"

"Yes, sir?"

He indicates Oogi's severed head. "**Get that thing off the bridge,
please! Put it in the transporter and beam it out at maximum dispersal!**"

"Yes, sir!" she nods.

"Sir, Yehisrite fleet just came out of warp!!" Oryuu calls out from the
watchmistress' station.

"**Call them!**" Ataru barks.

Sheko's image appears on the viewscreen. The *laqu'r's* contemptful
sneer vanishes as he gazes at the Cyborg's grim visage. "**Hello, Sheko,**"
the machine-man exhales. "**I warned you not to make me an enemy.**"

"You interfered with my affairs once, Moroboshi!!" Sheko growls, holding
up a threatening finger. "Do it again and your homeworld will be forfeit!"

"**Come now, sir. I'm about to make you an offer you can't refuse!**"

"And what would that be?"

"**To have all the people of Yehisril speak of you as...the Avenger of
Cademus...?**" Ataru tilts his head, his good eye sparkling. "**Emperor
Schwartz's personally commanding the Ipraedies fleet! He's yours for the
taking if you're up to the enterprise!**"

Sheko blinks at that information. Around him, his bridge crew shudder
with delight at being able to avenge the slaughter of thousands fifty years
before. "Is that a fact," the *laqu'r* muses.

The flagship's captain turns on his leader. "M'lord, we cannot let the
animal Schwartz escape!! Surely that is more important than enticing the
wrath of the Slayer of the Masters of Noukiios!"

Sheko stares at him, then Ataru. "So be it!!" he sneers. "I'll let it
go this time, Moroboshi! You won't be lucky the next!!"

The image fades as the Yehisrite ships sail past the Sagussan defence
line, charging for their hated enemies. Ataru watches them go. "**Idiot!
Elle, inform Carmen that after we're finished with Yethis' goons, Sheko's the
one we watch next!!**"

"Yes, sir," the shipmistress-prime nods.

"*Ataru,*" Henry's voice cuts in. "*Signal from the 'Gihan'cha.' All
systems are now on-line...oh, no!!*" his voice rises in panic.

"**What is it?!!**" Ataru panics.

Suddenly, a sickly-syrupy female voice slithers over the bridge.
"*HENRY!!!! Thank the Creator you're still functional!! What're you doing in
the middle of that overgunned scow?!!*"

If a superdreadnought could sweat, he would! "*I...ah...well, I've been
a little busy, Suzy,*" the Gatherer's computer hesitantly replies. "*N-nice
t-to h-hear from you again...*"

Ataru stares at Benten and Elle. "**I take it they know each other.**"

"We didn't know that particular unit was aboard the 'Gihan'cha,'" the
defence minister sighs. "According to Henry, she always had a bit of a
programming problem."

"*I do NOT have a programming problem!!*" Suzy indignantly snaps.

"**Never mind!!**" Ataru cuts in. "**We have to get out of here before
the rest of the galaxy falls in on us! Get ready to move out!!**"

"*Okey-dokey!*" Suzy cheerfully responds. "*Uh-oh.*"

"*What's the problem?!*" Henry wonders.

"*This place's electromagnetic fields!!*" Suzy wails. "*We've been
stuck in this place for so long, our ships' circuits won't operate as long as
they're in place! We can't leave!!*"

"That's a problem!" Elle mutters.

"Hate to say it, but the Urusians, the Fukunokami and the Ellsians just
arrived!" Oryuu cuts in. "The Zeiwanites and the Tofunokoibito will be here
in five. Yaminokuni, Noukiites and Karasutengu five minutes after that!"

"Is there anyone NOT coming?!" Benten wonders.

"Hard to tell at this point," the inspector general sighs.

Space warps appear, revealing three separate fleets of ships. The sight
of so many Ipraedies and Dominion vessels before them ignite old animosities
among the Urusian and Fukunokami commanders. In seconds, they leap into the
fray. The Ellsians immediately charge the Kyotos ships, revealing that Queen
Elle was NOT in command. "This is getting good," Dakejinzou muses from
weapons control, eating popcorn.

"**Quick,**" Ataru looks up. "**Fastest way to eliminate those fields
holding everyone down, Henry!**"

"*Destroy Den'sha Two!*" the Gatherer's computer replies.

"**Simple enough!!**" Ataru nods. "**Order all minor ships back to
their bases! Lock proton cannons on target!!**"

* * *

"All systems confirm go!" Eiko reports from her station. "They appear
to be in good shape but it's anyone's guess if they'll work once we're free!"

The "Gihan'cha" was at red alert, Biiko in command. "Raise shields the
instant systems confirm positive!" the architect-prime orders. "Stand by!"

"She's firing!!" Asa warns.

Eyes lock on the front viewscreen. In the far distance, flashes of
explosions from hundreds of ships locked in mortal combat flash, blend with
the backdrop of stars. Suddenly, the starboard side of the screen glows star-
white as the Gatherer's proton cannons discharge. The bolt flies safely past
the battleship's bow, slamming into the pitted surface of Den'sha Two!

That, added to fire from the defence monitors and the "Lyna'cha," turns
half the planet's surface into a molten sea of lava. A repetition of the
destruction of Mizu a week earlier plays out as Den'sha Two's core is fatally
compromised, shattering the planet's gravity and electromagnetic fields. The
remainder of the crust begins to collapse as titanic forces build within the
doomed planet's interior.

System lights flash. "*All systems positive!!*" Suzy yips delightfully.

"Shields up!!!" Biiko barks.

Den'sha Two explodes!! Wave upon wave of shattered rock, molten lava
and ionized energy ram into erect shields as the Sagussan Navy manoeuvres away
from the danger. Ships still unable to manoeuvre are shielded by others, then
towed to safety. "We're free!!!" Eiko yips, embracing Shiko. "We did it!!"

"Status report!" Biiko barks.

"All systems positive, weapons armed and ready!!" Asa calls out.

"All other ships mobile!!" Ine stares at her scanner. "Twelve vessels
now under tow! Construction station now warping for Sen'sha Seven!!"

Everyone watches as the giant space dockyard vanishes in a trail of warp
energies, trailed by minor vessels and several frigates. "Thank Lyna!!" Biiko
breathes out. "Set course for home!"

"*Oh, no!!*" Suzy cries. "*Henry's been hit!*"

* * *

As the first exploding wave from Den'sha Two slammed into the Gatherer,
a freak bolt of energy slipped through the superdreadnought's shields to slam
into the port side of the superstructure. Systems go haywire as the energy is
transmitted throughout the upper decks. In Ataru's bedroom, a surge fires out
of the command console to hit the conscience transference machine! It is
immediately felt on the bridge as the Cyborg almost topples. "Ataru-kun!!"
Shinobu shrieks as she races to the bridge to see the machine-man on his
knees, grabbing his left arm. "Are you okay?!!"

"**No...what was...that...?**" he weakly inquires.

"Get him out of that thing!!" Benten orders. "He's been in too long!!"

Summoning all her strength, Shinobu boosts the fourteen-hundred kilogram
Cyborg to his feet, half-dragging him into his room. "Benten!!!" Elle yells.

The defence minister turns to see a dozen alien ships race at them,
weapons ablaze. "Damn!!" she growls. "Return fire!! Humane targets!"

Oryuu's hand skims over the controls. From over five hundred places,
four-pronged particle-proton guns deploy, blazing away. They are quickly
augmented by the superdreadnought's twenty long guns, able to reach across a
solar system with brutal accuracy. A thousand concussion missile launchers
unleash their loads, turning the space around the Gatherer into no-man's land
as seriously damaged ships quickly withdraw. "This isn't what we needed!!"
Elle growls.

"You have any better ideas?!" Benten wonders.

Ataru staggers to the bridge, gripping his burned shoulder. Shinobu
remains by his side as the *daimon'cha* rests in his chair. "What's
happening?!" he asks.

"They must've freaked when we blew up Den'sha Two," Bushi reports from
the science station. "Given their present mood, they must've thought our
destroying the planet was meant for them."

"Damn!!" Ataru pants.

More alien ships swarm at the superdreadnought, attempting to overwhelm
the giant's battery of weapons by sheer numbers. Help arrives when the
"Gihan'cha" and her sisters surround the alien fleets, pouring their fire into
the formation. With additional forces arriving from Zeiwan, Karasutengu and
Tofunokoibito, the makings of an all-out war has fallen into place. "This
isn't what I wanted!" Ataru grits his teeth.

"How do we make them stop?!" Elle wonders. "If we run, they'll think
we're cowards, not worth their attention! That spells trouble for Earth!!"

"And if we destroy them or even badly cripple them, we ignite a war
against half the galaxy!" Benten sighs. "Shit!!"

Shinobu watches this, realization dawning on her. This battle was, in
essence, a high-tech street brawl, as one party tries to prove he was the
toughest bully on the galactic block. Ataru had made himself the one to beat
by becoming *daimon'cha,* in effect upsetting the galactic balance of power.
Everyone out there would gladly be rid of him to restore things to the way
things were...

...just like Tomobiki reacted after Ataru turned on them!

She faces him. "What if we threatened them with the ultimate weapon?!"

Everyone stares at her...

* * *

"I will NOT commit this ship into battle against them!!" Invader snaps,
glaring at Sayan. "They destroyed Den'sha Two to free their trapped ships!!
Mr. Groom has nothing against us! Order the other ships to head home!!"

"No!!!" the admiral growls. "He fired on us to destroy us, ensure that
we'd never threaten Earth again!! We've been at war with the Sagussans since
General Yethis' mansion was destroyed by his agents!! Now, Captain, you
either engage the enemy or I'll have you charged with mutiny and treason!!!"

The "Kashin's" bridge crew freeze as captain and admiral face off. The
tension was palpable. Suddenly, the communications officer yelps, "Sir!! All
our comm systems are jammed!!!"

"WHAT?!?!?!" Invader and Sayan gasp, their face-off momentarily
forgotten.

The front viewscreen melts into an image of the Sagussan flag, Shinobu
Miyaki standing before the gold phoenix. "Now, now, now!!" she wags her
finger at them. "You've been all bad boys and girls! Stop that!!"

"Sir, everyone's getting this!!" the communications officer reports.

"Just us?!" Sayan wonders.

"No, Admiral! Everyone here!!"

Fire against the Gatherer slackens off as people find themselves staring
at Shinobu's image on their viewscreens and targeting monitors. "That's
better!" the Terran smiles as space around the Sagussan superdreadnought
becomes strangely peaceful. "Now, you didn't have to be so noisy if you
wanted to be a part of the auction!! We know you're here!"

Confusion appears on everyone's faces. "What auction?!!" Sayan demands.

Shinobu walks to her left, revealing that she was in the Gatherer's main
meeting hall. Now dressed to resemble the stage of a game show, it has a row
of contestants to one side. On centre stage is Ataru, hanging upside down on
a pole beside what looks like a cloning chamber. Waiting for Shinobu is the
Master-at-Arms of the Republic House of Assembly. "Hikaru here will be the
chief auctioneer today!" Shinobu smiles, then waves to stage left. "Now, to
introduce the representatives for each party..."

The image switches to the auction's bidders. "Representing Uru, Deputy
Prime Councillor Lumunookaa," Shinobu announces. "For Fukunokami, Defence
Minister Benten. For Elle, Shipmistress-prime Elle. For Karasutengu, Chief
of Child Services Kurama. For Ipraedos, Third Fleet Shipmistress Bushi. For
the Seifukusu Dominion, First Fleet Shipmistress Dakejinzou. For Zeiwan,
Fourth Fleet Shipmistress Henra. For Yehisril, Second Fleet Shipmistress
Sansura. For Tofunokoibito, Surgeon-General Lupica. For Noukiios, Kyre'sha
City Mayor Reiko. And for Yaminokuni, Chief of Logistics Carla."

The camera moves back to Shinobu. "Now, this being a Sagussan-style
auction, the presentor...that's Ataru-kun right there," she indicates her
former boyfriend behind her, "...has decided on a gift for the government
whose representatives make the highest bid for what he has to offer!! Now,
Ataru-kun," she walks over to kneel beside her boyfriend. "Why don't you tell
us what you have to offer that lucky race out there today?!"

Ataru whispers in her ear. Shinobu bolts to her feet as she faces the
camera. "Outstanding!!!" she squeals in delight. "Ataru-kun is willing to
offer TEN BILLION CLONES OF HIMSELF!!!!!!"

Cries of horror echo from everyone save Invader, who smiles, realization
dawning. "And even better!!!" Shinobu beams after hearing another thing from
Ataru. "Each clone will have Ataru-kun's wonderful personality...from two
years ago, that is!" she conspiratorially winks at her "audience."

"NO!!!!!!" Sayan wails. "WHO'LL PROTECT OUR DAUGHTERS?!?!?!"

Invader howls with merriment...

* * *

Shinobu turns to Hikaru. "Master-at-Arms, please take it away!!"

"Alright!!" Hikaru takes microphone in hand, then faces the bidders.
"Are we ready?!"

"Yes!!!" the bidders reply.

"Very well, then!" Hikaru takes in a deep breath. "The bid starts at
ten thousand pyogh!! Ten thousand!! Do I hear fifteen?!"

"Fifteen!" Benten barks.

"Fifteen, fifteen," Hikaru's voice rockets at machine-gun speed. "Do I
heart twenty, twenty..."

"Twenty!!" Elle announces.

"Twenty-five!!" Lumunookaa adds.

"Twenty-five, twenty-five!" Hikaru notions to the two. "Do I hear
thirty, thirty..."

The other bidders quickly jump in...

* * *

"He's serious!!!" Kurama whimpers in horror from the bridge of her
cruiser, near the edge of the battlezone.

"I thought cloning was prohibited on Sagussa," a crewman wonders.

"Princess K., we could use those clones!!" another muses. "No humanoid
woman would be alone anymore...!"

"NO!!!!" Kurama barks. "Ten billion clones of that sex-crazed idiot?!!
He's doing this to get back at me for all the times I tried to make him a
better man!!! Hand-signal all the ships!!! Let's get out of here!!!"

In a minute, the Tengu fleet wheels about and warps for home...

* * *

"And Tengu is out, Tengu is out!!" Hikaru calls out, noting the status
board of fleets in range. "Bid is now fifty-five thousand pyogh! Do I hear
sixty, sixty..."

* * *

"Get us out of here!!" Lupica rages from her bridge. "We came here to
settle this mess, not have every woman in the galaxy raped!!!"

The Tofunokoibito fleet withdraws...

* * *

"Tofunokoibito is out! Bid is now one-hundred thousand pyogh!!"

* * *

"With all those clones, we could create an army just as powerful as the
Black Roses," Dureko muses from the bridge of the "Rose Emperor."

"Sir, could we control them all?" the patrol monitor's captain shudders.

After a moment of thought he sighs, "Not really! Let's go home."

The Ellsian fleet warps away...

* * *

"Elle is out! Bid is now two-hundred thousand...!!"

* * *

"We came to conquer a galaxy...and he wants to conquer us?!!" First Mage
Belok Redet shudders. "The Dominion will fight another day!! Return home!!"

"Yes, sir!!" the flagship's captain nods.

As the Dominion fleet withdraws, the weathered warrior sighs. "I must
talk to Paishu about her husband...!"

* * *

"The Dominion has withdrawn! Bid is now five-hundred thousand...!!"

* * *

"GET US OUT OF HERE!!!!!!" Schwartz bellows, wide-eyed with panic.

"Yes, sir!!!" the captain salutes, then barks orders.

The aged emperor collapses in his chair. "He's worse than Nassur and
Shogai combined!!" he moans.

The Ipraedies fleet rockets away...

* * *

"Ipraedos has withdrawn!!" Hikaru waves at the status board. "The bid
is now a million pyogh! Do I hear two million?! Two, two..."

"Two-point-five!!" Benten snaps.

"Three!!" Sansura adds.

"Five!!" Henra cuts in.

"Ten!!" Lumunookaa tops that.

The Zeiwanite fleet withdraws. "Zeiwan has withdrawn!!" Hikaru nods.
"Do I hear twenty million?! Twenty, twenty..."

"Thirty!!" Carla barks.

"Fifty!!" Benten tops that.

"A hundred!!" Lumunookaa adds.

"Two hundred!!" the logistics chief tops that.

The Yaminokuni fleet has withdrawn. "Yaminokuni has withdrawn!" Hikaru
notes. "Do I hear three hundred?! Three hundred..."

"Five hundred!!" Benten barks.

"A billion!!" Lumunookaa snaps.

"Two billion!!" Sansura tops that.

The Yehisrites race away. "Yehisril has withdrawn!!" Hikaru nods.

"Five billion!!" Benten announces.

"Ten billion!!" Lumunookaa points to the deckhead.

"You can stop now," Shinobu interrupts. "They're all gone."

Everyone stares at the empty space between the Gatherer and the three
old battleships. "I won!!!" Lumunookaa leaps up and down.

"Sold to Uru!!" Hikaru declares.

Laughter echoes as the tension fades. Shinobu unchains Ataru from the
pole and helps him to his feet. "Well, now that's over with, let's get you
home!" the *daimon'cha* smiles at his former girlfriend. "I wonder what
everyone'll say when they hear this!"

"I know what Megane will say," Shinobu giggles, then twists her face in
an approximation of her classmate on a tear. "IT'S A TRAVESTY!!!!"

Everyone howls with merriment. "Excuse me!!!" Lumunookaa cuts in.

"What is it?" Ataru stares at the deputy prime councillor.

"How do I pay for those clones, sir?!" Lumunookaa pulls out a Sagussan
debit card. "Cash, debit or charge?!"

The house comes down as the Gatherer swings for Earth...

* * *

"You threatened to unleash ten billion clones on everyone if they didn't
back off?!" Lum blinks as she listens to Ataru over the secure communications
line. "Boy, Darling, they must be upset!" she laughs. "They'll accuse you of
threatening to use a weapon of mass destruction!!"

Everyone relaxes in an abandoned campsite to the north of Onishuto.
Night has fallen, many people having turned in. "Uh-huh!" Lum nods, then
blinks. "Eh?! Oogi said that?! You sure?!" A pause, then she grimly nods.
"Right! I'll tell her. You get some sleep now, Darling; who knows what
could've happened to you when that bolt hit the Gatherer! 'Bye, love...I miss
you!!" she blows a kiss into the receiver, then hangs up.

Lufy steps out of her tent, stretching herself. "He okay?" the pilot
stifles a yawn.

"He'll be fine, hopefully," Lum stands, then fixes her friend with a
stare. "Lufy, just before the scramble, Oogi confessed to Darling that Vel
Pochik and his son leaked information about our missing fleet to everyone
else."

"Is that a fact?" Lufy icily smiles.

Lum nods. "You and Priss will express my extreme displeasure at what
happened to them tomorrow...won't you?"

"Our pleasure, ma'am," the chief petty officer gracefully bows.

* * *

"Radiation poisoning...?" Ataru weakly stares at Lupica.

The surgeon-general nods. After seeing Shinobu and Aya back to Earth,
Ataru collapsed while entertaining Eiko, Shiko and Biiko in his quarters. The
*daimon'cha* was now in his bedroom in the Chamber of Eternity. "It must've
happened when that bolt of lightning hit the conscience transference machine
after Den'sha Two was destroyed," she stares at her tricorder. "Your body's
immune system is still adjusting to the blood infusion Lum gave you during the
Planet of Shadows mission. It's not strong enough to fight this off. The
only thing that can save you now is the regeneration matrix."

"Do we have...any mind-shields...?" he coughs.

"No," the surgeon-general shakes her head. "The first units are still a
month away from completion. Worse, your condition is fast deteriorating. By
the time we brought Lum or Noa here, it would be too late. It has to happen
now."

Ataru weakly nods. The door opens, revealing Mikan. "Lupica, we might
have an answer," the maintenance engineer announces. "How long does he have
to be in regeneration?"

"Two days," Lupica stares at her. "Why?"

Mikan smiles, waving behind her. Lupica nearly drops her tricorder on
seeing the Cyborg wheeled in by Kiiwii, Badoka and Zakuro...

* * *

"Ten billion clones?!!" Nassur exclaims.

At present, a small party is being held at the Miyaki residence. As
soon as Shinobu came home, people gathered to hear the tale of the Great
Cosmic Scramble Auction, as INN titled the incident at Den'sha Two. "Yes!!"
Shinobu laughs. "You should've seen them run!!! The instant things got over
a million, they hightailed it out of there!!"

Everyone laughs, toasting Shinobu for her originality. "Well, let's
hope people'll learn to leave other people's things alone from now on," Koosei
smirks, wrapping an arm around Oyuki. "How's Ataru, by the way?"

"He seemed a little pale when I left him, but he should be okay,"
Shinobu sighs. "You know him; totally invincible!"

"Let's hope so," Nassur nods.

Unseen by anyone inside the Miyaki home, a space-warp begins to appear
over Tomobiki...

*** To Be Continued...If You Dare! ***