Urusei Yatsura Fan Fiction ❯ The Senior Year ❯ Great Father Ataru Stage Nine: Redemption ( Chapter 62 )

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

Colony Seventy-one.

The woman races through the dense jungle, fearfully glancing behind her
every minute or so. She has no idea who she is; all she knows is her name.
What is she doing in this place? Where is she? Does she have somewhere to
go? Why has her "big brother" not told her anything? She calls out to Him
every chance she could, but He is not responding. He has only told her one
thing: Fate helps those who help themselves.

But how can she help herself if she does not understand her situation?
She awoke in the deep pit, wearing a strange blue, red and green robe with
tiny ribbons around her neck and the silver knotted belt on her waist. She
knew they had significance. However, she is unable to remember what they are
at present. She does not take them off, however. Perhaps someone will come
along and show her their value.

Then she ran into Marinba.

The aged woman identified herself as her creator. Was she her mother?
No, came the reply. Marinba informed her that she is a clone, created in a
lab after her template and thousands of others were senselessly butchered by
some monster named the Mikado. She...the woman learned her name is Junba...
is, however, not meant to be alone. She has parents, Namasur and Shuba. A
husband, Nyassur. However, several years ago, Junba left Colony Seventy-one
after sensing that her template, Cinba, had died.

Marinba has vainly searched for Junba over the years. During that time,
her parents and husband disappeared. Saddened by their loss, Marinba was
determined never to lose track of Junba again. She did things to Junba, put
information into her mind, tried to make her stay on Colony Seventy-one. But
some deep voice inside Junba's mind told her this is not right. She does not
belong on Colony Seventy-one. It is a war cemetery; no one is permitted to
live here. Further, Junba has a mate elsewhere. Shinobu. Her Shi-chan.

Angered by Junba's rebellion, Marinba tried to erase the scant memories
the clone has of Shinobu. Yet, thanks to the strange power her "big brother"
gave Junba when she was reborn, all of Marinba's efforts are wasted. The
tortures became worse until one day, Junba snaps and flees Marinba's lab,
wandering into the jungle. She vainly cries out to her "big brother," begging
Him to save her from Marinba. Is it not His plan, is it not the *te'a's*
plan, to prevent interference in the rebirth of Colony Seventy-one? Is not
Marinba's presence on this world interfering with the *te'a?* Why is He not
destroying her, removing her from this world?

No answer. He remains silent, save for giving her that strange advice.
Junba has no idea what He means. Then a memory seeps from deep within her
mind. She is holding her Shi-chan, placing her fingertips on her mate's face.
Something happens, something she does not understand. Yet she remembers words
said to her mate. Could those words bring her here?

Sinking to her knees, Junba stares at the stars. "Shi-chan...remember,
my love...remember, my love...Shi-chan..."

* * *

Urusei Yatsura - Great Father Ataru: "Stage Nine: Redemption"
by Fred Herriot
**** **** ****
Edited by E.B. Kushnir
**** **** ****
Forty-eighth of a series of fan-fiction stories based on "Urusei Yatsura"
created by Rumiko Takahashi
**** **** ****

WRITER'S NOTES:

1) If you remember Jamie McTavish from "The End of the Circle," you should
remember what the term "Iceman" means. His first appearance in "UY Twenty
Years Later" is in the second story, "The Beginning of the Circle."

2) Since the members of the Tere'na City Compudata Centre (Rally, Ledia,
Katsumi, Kiddy, Nami and Yuki) are named after the cast of "Silent Mobius," it
would be natural they would be referred to as "Rabby and the Mobius Five."

3) The story about Aisuko Megane and Ria's bodyguards encountering their
future life-mates will be recounted in the side-story "Tales of Avalon: Ria's
Bodyguards," to be written after the main series of stories are complete.

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

"Junba!!!" Shinobu screams, bolting out of bed.

The nursing assistant blinks as she looks around, wondering where that
weird dream came from. It was as if her lover had cried out to her from
Colony Seventy-one, begging her to come back. Why? Junba's *mei'na,* her
living essence, was deep in Shinobu's mind, safe and sound. Shaking her head,
Shinobu rises from her bed, heading to the lavatory to wash herself. It had
been the fourth night she had that dream. Maybe she had to arrange an
appointment with Misato. This was getting on her nerves.

Shinobu blinks as the door to her room opens, revealing the psychologist
in question. "You okay, Shinobu?"

"Do you always pop in on people like that?" Shinobu pours herself a
glass of water, then heads back to the bed.

"Well, since your arrival, we have tried to make sure you have no
problems fitting in," Misato pulls up a chair, relaxing beside Shinobu. "You
want to talk about it?"

The Terran sighs. Most Sagussans, especially in the medical community,
had been quite blunt in their dealings with her. Misato was not one, which
was one of the reasons Shinobu did not pitch the psychologist out on her ear.
Taking a deep breath, she explains the dream. Upon completion of her
monologue, Shinobu stares at her. "I...I feel as if I must return to Colony
Seventy-one. But...why? There's nothing much we could do for Ju-chan, even
if we could make use of that cloning machine Lupica-sensei allowed into
service. I don't want to ask Nassur to raid his first wife's grave for some
DNA and...and I don't want to risk bringing Ju-chan out of my mind."

"Why?"

"Because...I'm scared," Shinobu admits. "I...my people believe that
dreams like that are a reflection of reality. If there is someone on Colony
Seventy-one out to hurt her, just putting her *mei'na* back in her body, even
if it was alive, would...I don't want to risk that!!"

"Don't you think you're afraid of losing Junba if the chance comes for
you to perform *satre'cha?*" Misato wonders.

"I...I don't understand."

"Shinobu, over the last three months, you've taken some pretty nasty
blows," Misato sighs. "You reconciled with Junba, became bond-mates with her,
then you lost her. Ataru leaves for Sagussa. The Imperials try to brainwash
Lum into being their puppet. You've attempted to form some rapport with her,
but the opportunity hasn't presented itself. Aya comes into your life.
Through your problems with Aya, you found a way to bring your life closer to
Ataru's. Then you find out about Akisur...and on that same day, you lose both
Akisur and Aya. You also came pretty close to losing Ataru, too. And in each
time, you were unable to protect those you love. Junba is the last thing you
can protect, Shinobu. That's why you're afraid of losing her."

Shinobu stares off into space. They were aboard the Gatherer proceeding
to Vos. The Provisional Government had elected to honour Ataru and Sagussa
for their assistance in putting down the Mikado. Given the importance of this
meeting, Lum, Noa and their friends had suspended work on Uru to join the
*daimon'cha.* "Am I still...recovering from what Ataru-kun did in Tomobiki?"

"Are you?" Misato asks.

"I...I guess I am," Shinobu bites her teeth. "Ever since Lum came, I
developed ways of protecting myself from what was happening around me. Then
just when I'm comfortable with everything, Ataru-kun changes, tries to take it
down. And...I feel helpless. Nothing I do, nothing I say, means anything to
him. I...I am unable to protect myself, I can't protect the world around me.
And...when it dawns on me that I can't depend on him anymore...I hate it!!"

Shinobu trembles, tears flowing down her cheeks. "I don't want to hate
him, Misato! I love him! I have always loved him, even when those monsters
in his head made him do such awful things! I want him to know that. I want
him to know I would never hurt him, not now, not after all he's been through,
all he's done for us. I...I don't want any walls between us anymore."

"Okay," Misato nods. "Then tell me...what did it feel like when you
first mind-melded with him?"

Shinobu blinks, smiling. "It was...so incredible. I finally understood
the war that was going on inside him. How he cared so much for us...and how
he hated us! How much he wanted a sense of peace in his life, how he wanted
to feel safe again. How he wanted us to feel safe, but at the same time not
tie ourselves to Lum. I needed Lum; I needed her to feel strong. I needed to
hate her so I could feel safe. I...maybe part of me needed Ataru-kun with
Lum, subordinate to her, so I could still possess that strength.

"I remember the first time I went into Inaba-kun's dimension...and he
gave us the chance to create our own destinies. I created a destiny which
kept everything the same. I felt safe in all that chaos. And when Ataru-kun
blew up on everyone, began to change things...I felt violated. My world was
torn asunder without my permission."

"You were after Nassur then, weren't you?"

"Yes...but that was an excuse!" Shinobu shakes her head.

"You love Nassur, don't you?"

"Of course I do; I still do," Shinobu nods. "But at the same time, I
needed things to stay the same. Just like everyone else. We felt safe and
comfortable with the way things were before Icarus. And then everything went
crazy...we couldn't beat him. He had his grandmother. His daughter. His
sister. Lum, too, when she chose sides. He actually had the *te'a* Itself
backing him up! And all of you as well; you were there, at least in spirit."

"Yes, we were," Misato nods. "Shinobu, when you found out about Noa's
petition to allow you to live with us, why did you accept? Weren't we the
people who denied you the chance to have Ataru all to yourself?"

"Yes," Shinobu nods. "At first, I resented your people. Then, I feared
you. You were hell-bent and determined to get your hands on Ataru-kun and Lum
and you didn't give a damn who got in your way. You were way too powerful for
us. And then, you began to show how much you could care for us. You're the
first race to come to Earth to demonstrate consistently that our opinions
mattered. Our peace of mind mattered. Our safety mattered. You protected us
again and again. Noa, Nene, Sylia and the others; they were there when I was
in Nerima and Lum and Ataru-kun couldn't be there. Maria was there when Aya
needed help. Mie was there all along, trying to show me that I couldn't re-
make the world in my image. You're here right now."

"Well, I'm happy to be here," Misato smiles.

"Misato...I know you signed my spirit-sister's petition," the Terran
stares at the Sagussan. "Why did you do it?"

"Why?" the psychologist muses. "Very simple. I've been keeping an eye
on you for quite a time now. Your presence helped Sylia and Eluza complete
their mission. There is no dispute on that. Then you dealt with your four
future-selves."

"Three," Shinobu corrects her. "Mecha was never a threat."

"Oh?"

The nursing assistant sighs. "Mecha came back to ensure I NEVER became
her. When she learned of Katana, Kali and Scalphunter, she decided to help me
stop them. I...I'm grateful to her for that."

"I see," Misato nods. "Thank you for telling me; Noa's always wondered
why you wanted her left alone. You then confronted Junba, then Akisur and
Aya. At the same time, you're forging a rapport with Ataru and Lum. You
wanted normalcy, but you couldn't get it. Your environment was wrong. It
prevented you from using all your strengths. Sagussa can give you that
chance, Shinobu. That's why I signed the petition...why a lot of people
signed those petitions. We see wonderful potential in you...and we saw
someone who hasn't had the chance to blast forth like Ataru tried to help
everyone else."

"Thanks," Shinobu blushes. "But what can I do with Ataru-kun and Lum?"

"I think," Misato sighs, "...and if Sakurambou was here, he'd agree with
me, that if you are going to experience another problem with Junba, you'll
need all the friends you can get. You'll have the best chances with Ataru and
Lum. You said it yourself; you don't want a wall between you and Ataru. And
I think you don't want to consider Lum your enemy. What you should do is sit
down with Ataru, Lum and Noa and honestly discuss this."

"Why Noa?"

"Because if you want to be successful in forging a lasting rapport with
them, putting all your past differences behind you, you should consider being
bond-mates with one of them. And if you become bond-mates with one, the
others, because they are linked, will want a say. From our perspective,
Ataru, Lum and Noa are a family. You would be entering the family. You don't
want to barge into that, do you?"

"No," Shinobu stiffens. "But what should I do about Ju-chan?"

"Pray for the best...prepare for the worst," Misato sighs. "After we're
done on Vos, you should suggest that we visit Colony Seventy-one. You're the
lover of someone buried there; the Vosian government won't interfere. The
chances are that something's happened; even we put great credence in our
dreams. Maybe nothing's happened. You need to make sure. You should take
advantage of that."

"Thanks, Misato," Shinobu nods as the doorbell is heard. "Enter!"

The door opens, revealing Lum. "Shinobu, I...oh!" the Oni stops. "I
didn't realize you had company. I'll come back."

"No, we're done. What is it?" the Terran smiles.

"Well, we're getting a little poker game going on in Darling's room. Do
you want to join in?"

Shinobu warily eyes Lum. "Lum...is it strip-poker?"

"Noa wouldn't mind that. Neither does Darling."

"Let's go," the nursing assistant stands. "Want to join in, Misato?"

"I think I'll pass," the psychologist stands. "Ritsuko-chan doesn't
trust me with strangers in those situations. Good night, you two."

"'Night!" the two high school graduates wave as Misato leaves, then
stare at each other.

"We've got to talk," Shinobu sighs.

"I know," Lum nods. "C'mon."

They head off to the master bedroom...

* * *

"...legends of the Chosen One of the Eternal Voyager stated that at Vos'
darkest time, he would lead the Vosian people to a new tomorrow," Admiral
Shermansur reads the dedication in the House of Commons chambers in downtown
Lecashuto. "Legends are one thing. Fact is another. The facts of this case
speak volumes. The Mikado made a most foolish blunder when he decided that no
matter how badly he disrupted the societies of those worlds who sheltered his
targets, he would pursue them to the end. And then, he compounded the mistake
when he challenged Sagussa to use the Maidens and the Chosen One to enslave
the Vosian people. Well, thanks very much to the man we're honouring tonight,
the Mikado failed. Not only are our neighbours grateful, not only are the
citizens of Sagussa grateful...but the Vosian people themselves are grateful.
To that end, Madame Speaker, I announce my recommendation that Ataru Moroboshi
of Sagussa be awarded our highest civic award for his actions of the last
three months, supporting the Vosian people in their drive to free themselves
from a tyrant's grip."

Cheers echo from the gallery and the other representatives as the
admiral sits. This is a Provisional House, so the members who sit here today
represent the various factions of the Rebel Alliance Army and the senior
officers of the Defence Force instead of the five hundred electoral ridings
normally representing Vos and her 115 colonies. Only when reconstruction was
underway would elections be held and a fully civilian House sworn in. The
Speaker, a major-general of the Defence Intelligence Agency, calls the House
to a vote. Unanimous. It was expected. Ataru then comes forward to receive
the red ribbon and gold medal denoting him as Commander of the Honourable
Order of Lecasur. As the House gives him a standing ovation, Ataru pulls out
a sheet of paper and reads his acceptance speech.

Sometime later, a reception is held in the Parliament's atrium, a
beautiful garden in the centre of the grounds. It stood over a view of the
rebuilding capital, especially the mound of rubble and upturned earth which
was the site of the former dictator's headquarters. Ataru stares at the
wrecked tower, his memories of those bloody hours in Colony Four washing over
him. Even now, he found it hard to accept people going to such lengths to
remain at the top of a social pyramid, killing to continue drinking from the
cup of power. He blinks as his subliminal senses pick up Shermansur. "I see
you noticed our redecorating."

"It's been long due," Ataru hums. "It reminds me of the first attack
Tarun-Chong unleashed on the government when the Clone Rights Wars started.
In the middle of Tere'na City was this gawky statue, three kilometres high,
made out of limestone metal, meant to demonstrate the success of the Age of
Gisan'cha. It was so dense, everyone believed it would outlast the dome at
Tere'na-korgh. Tarun-Chong brought it down in a tenth of a second."

"Anti-matter bomb, wasn't it?" Shermansur muses. "Thank Lecasur we
didn't go that far. Some were tempted, I'll admit. I liked the part of your
speech cautioning us against social stagnation. A lot of the Alliance's
support came from those who held the reigns of power before the Mikado seized
control. They want 'business as usual.' If outsiders keep warning us against
'business as usual,' the Confederation will finally go places."

"I doubt my words are enough," Ataru shrugs.

"On the contrary," Hessur walks up, nibbling on some yanbe-chagh from
the buffet table. "You don't appreciate the power of your words, the mystique
which surrounds the Sagussans. Many will listen and take heed. But there is
still need of a base upon which the new Vos will arise, similar to the one
you're building for the new Sagussa. We invited you here not just to honour
you for what you did, but to inspire everyone to break away from traditional
modes of thinking."

"Well, let's hope it'll work; this galaxy's had enough of ONE Mikado,"
Ataru toasts them, then notices what the Vosian minister is eating. "I hope
you like that stuff; that's my fiancee's personal batch."

Hessur jolts while Shermansur laughs. Ataru heads back into the crowd,
shaking hands with dignitaries. Soon enough, he is at Lum's side. "How're
you holding up?" he wonders, kissing her cheek.

"Better than expected," she sighs. "I've been to so many of these,
Darling. They never stop boring me."

He laughs, then blinks, noticing a pudgy colonel with a mixed cygnet
insignia on his uniform. "Now, who could that be?" he wonders.

Lum looks. The red cygnet stands over the prostrate black, the former
eating the guts of the latter. "I've seen that symbol before," she muses. "I
can't seem to place it."

The colonel notices the couple's attention, then winds his way over. "A
pleasure to meet you two," he has his hand out. "My name's Gomasur."

"Colonel," Ataru shakes his hand. "Pardon our staring, but we've never
seen that insignia before."

"Oh, this!" Gomasur chuckles. "I'm the commander of a special forces
unit not so different from your Pathfinder Troop Six. We call ourselves the
*an'san-Mikado.* It's an old battle cry from the early days of the war."

"'Down with the Mikado,'" Lum translates, then blinks as she remembers a
visitor from the future who came to Tomobiki one day seven months before.
"Then you must be responsible for tracking down the remaining Mikado forces."

"We're part of a team working to that end," Gomasur admits. "Our area
of expertise lies in tracking down the few hunters of the Mikado's special
forces who're still active. The general amnesty the Provisional Government
has put out hasn't worked well. Many still want to fight the war."

"Dedicated to a lost cause," Ataru muses.

"Agreed," Gomasur nods. "I should warn you that the People's Court,
composed of the senior staff who escaped the fall of Lecashuto and Colony
Four, have publicly declared you a war criminal."

Ataru and Lum blink. "You're kidding," the latter muses.

"I take it these idiots tend to disregard what the Mikado did to us, not
to mention our friends on Earth?" the former wonders.

"Naturally," Gomasur rolls his eyes. "It's something you should think
about. Intelligence estimates put the Mikado's forces still under arms at
about six thousand, spread out over the Confederation. They have no leaders,
are in hiding and have little ability to rearm and press on. But, one fanatic
could do horrendous damage with the right set of circumstances...and until
Earth is able to defend itself, Tomobiki would be a target."

"You mean Colony Four wasn't enough?" Lum blinks.

"No. Like Lyna's death did to Tarun-Chong, your killing the Mikado was
a red flag to the bulls still willing to die for him," Gomasur stares at
Ataru. "Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I felt you should know."

"Thanks a lot," Ataru sighs, rolling his eyes.

Gomasur nods, then heads off. "Well, we did get into this with open
eyes, Darling," Lum muses.

"I just hope those idiots don't come after us," Ataru sighs.

Lum readily nods. "At least until the Iceman cometh to smite them all
into Purgatory!" she dramatically waves her hand in dismissal.

Ataru quizzically stares at his fiancee. "Who's the Iceman?!"

"Long story, Darling," Lum smiles, remembering the recently-born great-
grandson of Nagaiwakai's long-time friend. "I'll tell it to you one day."

* * *

That night, with the reception finished and a treaty of recognition
signed between the Confederation and the Fifth Republic, the Gatherer departs
Vos for Colony Seventy-one. Proceeding at Warp 4.3, the Sagussan craft is
escorted by the Vosian star-destroyer "Lecasur's Soul," following official
protocol regarding a foreign head-of-state in Vosian territory. The Sagussans
found that amusing; the "Lecasur's Soul" was only 1800 metres long and only as
powerful as the "Hasei'cha." The Gatherer, at 10,370 metres, dwarfed the
star-destroyer like one of the Sunin dwarfed Cherry!

On the superdreadnought's bridge, Shinobu relaxes in the shipmistress'
chair, watching the warpfield fly past the viewports. She had felt so
comfortable mingling with the delegates in Lecashuto. It had to be Junba's
influence. The nursing assistant sighs. In a few hours, she will be able to
confirm or deny the reality of her dreams. Nervousness overtakes her as she
wonders what she would find there? Would she be ready for it?

The door to the master bedroom opens, revealing Lum. "Hi," the Oni
smiles as she relaxes beside her former classmate. "You okay, Shinobu?"

"I'm scared...but it's not as bad," Shinobu smiles. "Not with you two
here. I appreciate you doing this."

"Hey!" Lum gently squeezes Shinobu's hand. "You don't need to ask
anymore. Ever since I've understood what my being on Earth did to you, I
wanted to show that I'm not an ogre. I wanted to be there for you in Nerima,
you know."

"But you couldn't with what the Hustari did to you."

"Yeah," Lum nods. "Then we got so busy with the Planet of Shadows and
that garbage on Uru. I'm glad the chances are finally coming to us. I'm glad
you're a part of us now, Shinobu. I really am." She pauses, then stares at
her old classmate. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"That letter you had Ryuunosuke give me when you went to Nerima," Lum
sighs. "What did you write in it?"

"Eh?!" Shinobu blinks, looking hurt. "You never read it?!!"

"I never had the chance!!" Lum sighs, waving the Terran down. "I
planned to, but when the Hustari turned me into Swiss cheese, the letter was
destroyed, too!"

"Why didn't you say so, you idiot?!" Shinobu slaps the Oni's shoulder.
"We could've solved this mess a long time ago!"

"Well, we haven't had much of a chance!" Lum shrugs.

They pause, staring at each other, then joyful tears flow down their
cheeks, and they slip into a warm embrace. "Oh, Lum," Shinobu smiles. "I'm
so glad this is finally over."

"No," Lum shakes her head. "It's only begun."

* * *

"*Standard orbit over Colony Seventy-one achieved,*" Henry reports.
"*Commencing planetary scans.*"

Three hours later, the Gatherer floats in geosynchronous orbit over the
site of Colony Seventy-one's capital city. It would be impossible to tell
that the planet had once been inhabited, so deep has the jungle spread over
this world. Seas teem with life. Birds soar through the heavens. Ground
creatures scour the plentiful food in the vast forests. On the bridge, Ataru,
Lum and Shinobu stare at an ecological impossibility. "How did this happen?"
the latter wonders, echoing the questions the others were asking.

"All this took three months?!" Ataru blinks.

"Something strange is going on here," Lum warns.

Eluza walks up. "A signal from the 'Lecasur's Soul,'" the shipmistress
reports. "They just found the graves of the other colonists."

"Where?!" Shinobu wonders.

"On a small island in the middle of the largest ocean on this planet,"
Eluza points to a tiny dot of land in a vast sea of blue. "An island which
was not there when the Vosians first settled this place."

Ataru, Lum and Shinobu exchange looks. "Ask them if they found Junba's
grave," the latter turns to Eluza.

"Already did," the shipmistress looks sympathetic. "It's not there."

Shinobu shudders, turning away. "I KNEW it!" she spits out. "Something
is going on here!! Let's get down there!"

"Hold it!" Ataru places a restraining hand on her shoulder. "BOTH of
you, calm down! Let's not jump in blind, okay?!"

Shinobu stares at him, then her demeanor changes. "Ataru," she firmly
intones, a touch of Junba's accent coming into her voice. "Someone is mucking
with MY body! I have every right to be peeved!"

"I know, Junba," he nods. "We're going to find out, but we're not going
to charge in. We're all asking for trouble and you're both at risk being in
one body. Now, would you let Shinobu come back out, please?"

"Wait," Lum cuts in. "Junba, Misato told me about Shinobu's dream. Do
you in any way remember a person by the name of Marinba?"

Shinobu/Junba bites her lip. "The only Marinba I know is the Mikado's
wife. But she lives on Colony 115 with her son Parasur. Ataru, you and Lum
met Grisur once, didn't you?"

"On Reiner's Five just before I went to Hustaros," Ataru confirms.

"Well, Grisur took it on himself to protect Marinba and Parasur from any
whacko who'd want to go after them because of their relation to the Mikado,"
the possessed nursing assistant explains. "And another thing. I actually met
Marinba. She's your great-grandmother's age, Ataru. The Marinba in our dream
is a very old woman, aged before her time."

"'Our dream?!'" Lum blinks.

"Lum, it's affecting us both," Shinobu/Junba shudders. "In addition, I
have no memories before the Mikado's control. I can't confirm or deny
anything! I'm sorry."

"Both of you?!" Lum stares at her fiance, then back at their possessed
friend. "That's it! We're getting you out of there, Junba. If your body is
still lifeless, we'll go the cloning route. Is that okay?"

"Hey, I want my life back!" Shinobu/Junba nods.

"We'll get it for you," Ataru asserts. "Now, let Shinobu come back."

Shinobu shudders, then exhales. "She's angry, Ataru-kun. And she's
scared. She wants this over with. Henry, are you done yet?"

"*Yes,*" the Gatherer's computer reports. "*It appears that the
sentience inside the Sceptre of Lecasur broke loose shortly after Junba's
funeral. It is in the process of restoring Colony Seventy-one to the state it
was prior to first settlement...and it has done a surprisingly good job.*"

The three exchange looks. "Henry, compare the Sceptre we found with all
the known *haijo-ju* prototypes," Ataru orders. "Who built that one?"

"*Head Scientist Parah, Ataru.*"

Ataru and Lum moan. "Who?!" Shinobu wonders.

"He was known as the World-Builder," the Oni explains. "Parah was the
prominent philosopher of the Age of Gisan'cha. He believed that it was the
duty of the Sagussan people to remold the whole galaxy in Sagussa's image.
He's the one who organized the genetic modifications done to the Vosians and
everything else. When he sat down to create his attempted *haijo-ju,* he
created it as a working Genesis bomb."

"Genesis bomb...?" Shinobu shudders.

"It's a weapon which converts a planet from lifelessness to life," Ataru
explains. "But if life is already there, it destroys the old matrix and
replaces it with the new. Universal Armageddon, Tarun-Chong once called it."

Shinobu shudders as Junba takes over. "Lecasur's Eternal Soul!!" she
grips the side of her head. "The Mikado wanted THAT thing?!!"

"*You need not concern yourself, Junba,*" Henry interrupts. "*When Head
Scientist Horan dispersed the haijo-ju prototypes, he took Parah's device and
saw to it that it would never destroy existing life. A pity he did not do the
same to Gihan's staff; it would've spared us much heartache at Phentax Two.*"

"Agreed!" Ataru nods. "Any sign of Junba's body?"

"*Unable to tell via sensors at this range,*" the superdreadnought's
computer reports. "*However, long range cameras have located an empty grave
corresponding to the site of Junba's. Logic dictates that when the Sceptre
restored the planet, it also restored Junba's body.*"

"That means we better get down to find her!" Ataru sighs. "Let's go!"

* * *

Moments later, a small landing party beams down beside Junba's now-empty
grave. Accompanying Ataru, Lum and Shinobu are Hotaru, Rumy, Lufy, Makoto and
Mie. The science chief quickly sweeps the area. "Considerable animal and
plant life forms, all infused with the *te'a's* energy, although it seems to
be decaying as DNA structures firm up. Within a month, it will be as if they
were naturally born."

"What about my body?" Shinobu/Junba wonders.

"Wait...there!!" Rumy points at a distant plain, site of the colony's
capital. "One humanoid, Vosian, female. Range, 2000 metres."

"Let's go!!" Lufy yells as they sprint into the forest.

Fortunately, the undergrowth is not so dense that it slows everyone
down. In fact, it seems as if the plants are clearing a passageway for the
landing party to make contact. "Junba!!!" Shinobu calls out. "Junba!!!"

"Shinobu, I don't think she can understand you!" Hotaru warns. "Without
her *mei'na,* her body will have no mind!!"

"Never mind, sis!!" Mie snaps. "Let's go!"

Everyone sprints down the way, Lum and Shinobu in the lead. After a few
more minutes, they step onto a grassy plain. "Where, Rumy?" the Oni wonders.

"There!!" Rumy points. "You see her?!"

They look. Barely visible in the sea of shoulder-high grains, a blonde
head peeks out. "Ju-chan...!" Shinobu gasps, then races off. "Ju-chan!!!"

The head snaps around, revealing a calm and wondrously familiar face.
Seeing the approaching figure, Junba screams, racing to her mate's side.
"Shi-chan!!!"

"Darling..." Lum blinks on seeing the restored hunter, "...could that
actually be Cinba?"

"Lum, Cinba only met Shinobu once, remember?" Ataru stares at his wife,
then moves to follow Shinobu. "Besides, Junba's the only one I know of who
ever called Shinobu 'Shi-chan!'"

In the middle of the field, Shinobu and Junba laugh as they draw closer.
Unseen by anyone, a rifle rises, bearing on the former. The two stop as they
come together, gazing at each other with a mix of confusion and hope. "Shi-
chan..." Junba blinks, feeling the strength in her legs go, "...help me."

Hotaru catches up. "Hotaru, tell me what to do," Shinobu pleads.

The nurse reaches up to place Shinobu's fingers on Junba's face. "Now,
clear your mind and concentrate," Hotaru orders, then faces the restored
clone. "Junba, open your mind up. Accept the other part of you back."

Junba's and Shinobu's eyes close as they concentrate, allowing their
private guards to fall as the former's *mei'na* flows through the latter's
nervous system back into the former's body. Junba jolts as her mind is
flooded with the memories of her life up to the point of her *tre'cha* before
her tragic return to Lecashuto. Shinobu grits her teeth, feeling her mind
drain of that extra presence she has lived with for three months. Finally,
both cry out as the contact is severed, dropping to their knees. Hotaru
quickly scans them, then mind-probes them. "Did it...work?" Shinobu gasps.

In answer, Junba leans over to bestow a warm kiss on her lover's lips.
"Hi, honey!" the Vosian coos. "I'm home!!"

Seeing the clear eyes, Shinobu cries as she boosts Junba to her feet,
embracing her. They twirl around, not suspecting the rifle aimed at Shinobu's
back. As soon as there are no obstructions, the weapon fires! The bolt slams
into Shinobu's back, the force throwing her and Junba to the ground!!

"Sniper!!!" Makoto barks.

Hotaru dives for the ground. Makoto, Mie and Lufy snap-draw pistols,
eyes locked on the spot where the bolt emerged. Their weapons thunder at full
power, the bolts disintegrating a good section of ground as Ataru and Lum leap
over to help Hotaru with Shinobu. "***SHINOBU!!!!!!***"

Junba rolls her body atop her lover's as Hotaru breaks out her first aid
kit. "Shi-chan, how bad...?!" the Vosian gasps.

A wry smile crosses the Terran's face as her strength fades. "This is
just...great..." she spits up blood. "I couldn't...protect myself..."

"Turn her, right side!!" Hotaru orders. "Her spine isn't compromised
but her right lung's flooding! You're drowning her!!"

Junba nods, lowering Shinobu on her side as Hotaru places a stasis field
on the wounded girl's back. Ataru and Lum kneel beside her as Mie, Makoto and
Lufy move on the sniper's position. "How bad?!" the Oni gasps.

"Bad," Hotaru grits her teeth. "The bolt shattered the inferior vena
cava and lacerated the outer layers of her aorta. If she's shoved around too
much, the aorta will burst and she'll bleed to death."

"Regeneration?" Ataru wonders.

The nurse nods. "Can she survive that?" Junba demands.

"We have no mind-shields," Hotaru shakes her head.

Junba, Ataru and Lum exchange looks. "Shinobu-chan," Ataru stares at
his former girlfriend. "They can't operate. Regeneration's the only way, but
they can't shield your mind while you're in there. You know what that means."

Shinobu weakly nods. "Tell me what to do," Junba stares at Hotaru.

"You were only given the knowledge of bestowing your *mei'na* on another
person," the nurse warns. "Taking in another's *mei'na* is a whole different
game given that you're not Sagussan." At Junba's angry glare, Hotaru places a
hand on hers. "Junba, I'm trained to do this. Nothing will go wrong."

Junba gazes at the nurse, then nods. Hotaru moves to place her fingers
on the Terran's face when the latter weakly reaches up to stop her. "No..."
Shinobu coughs. "No offense...Sempai. I want...Ataru-kun...to do it..."

Ataru and Hotaru exchange looks, then the former reaches down to form a
spider-leg fist on Shinobu's face. Lum remains at his side, adding her mind
to his as he draws Shinobu's *mei'na* in. Junba rises, then turns to see
Makoto and Lufy drag up something. "What'd you find?" the Vosian wonders.

"Look for yourself!!" Makoto growls.

Junba stares, shuddering. The slain woman at their feet, despite half
her body being mangled by pistol shot, is unmistakably the same who had chased
Junba since the clone's rebirth. "Marinba..." she shakes her head. "I always
wanted to meet the person who created me."

"Well, this isn't her!" Lufy snarls, kicking the body over. "Whoever
this witch is, she seems to love making clones of herself as much as she does
other people! Chances are this thing's been chasing you around...but we won't
be able to find out if she knows anything about you! When we mind-scanned it,
it's brain was a total blank!!"

Junba blinks. "Just like the way the Mikado found me..."

* * *

Shinobu becomes aware of a strange mist. The Terran stares about
herself, wondering where she is, what brought her here. She then remembers
the draining feeling of Junba's *mei'na* returning to her body, the joy she
felt in seeing her lover restored...then the searing pain of a laser shot in
the back. Now...here. "Hello?!!" she calls out, taking in her surroundings.
"Ju-chan?!! Ataru-kun?!! Lum?!! Where are you?!!"

<<Keep it down,>> Lum's voice echoes. <<Darling's concentrating on keep
your *mei'na* intact, Shinobu. He can't do it with your shouting.>>

"Lum?!" Shinobu blinks. "Where am I?! Am I...INSIDE Ataru-kun?"

<<Welcome to the wonders of the passing-on,>> a wondrously familiar
voice cuts in. <<They're regenerating your body right now, Shi-chan. Just
sit back and relax.>>

"Ju-chan..." Shinobu breathes out. "How long will I be in here?"

<<A little while longer,>> Lum reports. <<Oh, there's one thing we have
to ask you. Catty thought of it as we put your body in.>>

Shinobu blinks, then realizes what Lum has in mind. Since she was in
regeneration for other reasons, why not take advantage of circumstance and
truly become one with her friends?

Once more unto the breech...

"Do it."

<<*Tcha!*>> Lum nods. <<That should take another hour. You're lucky.
When the Hustari shot me up, I was in regen for two days.>>

"Ugh!" Shinobu winces, looking around. "Well, I'll be right here."

<<We know, love,>> Junba laughs as the psi-links fade...

* * *

As Ataru sleeps in his bedroom and Shinobu's body undergoes regeneration
in the medical station next door, Lum shows Junba the Chamber of Eternity.
They are joined by Junba-chan, one of the Vosian-born twins in charge of
Zoology. "So, did you and Yuri finally settle matters with Kei?" Junba asks.

Junba-chan blinks surprisedly. "How'd you know?!"

"Shi-chan and I eavesdropped on you two in the Gatherer's hydroponic
gardens on the trip to Earth."

"Ah!" Junba-chan nods. "Yes, we did. It turns out that Kei had her own
relationship on the side...with my sister Cinba!!"

"No way!" Junba gasps.

"Way!" her spirit-sister giggles. "You should've seen Kei and Yuri when
they found out what the other was doing! It was priceless!!"

Everyone laughs as the three wander into a cafeteria. Junba feels the
hairs on the back of her neck stand, sensing the curious stares directed her
way. Typical of a small, closely-knit community, everyone on Sagussa probably
knew who and what she was. However, to Junba's surprise, she does not hear
the hissed "half-life" or "*mei'aidoei*" insults she expected. Junba-chan
loops an arm around her spirit-sister's. "Relax, Junba. They're...shocked
after hearing what you've been through."

"Any idea why the Sceptre brought me back?" Junba muses. "Why not the
other colonists?"

"Who knows when you're dealing with a *haijo-ju,*" the zoologist chief
shrugs. "Maybe by the time the Sceptre became involved, the other victims
were so far gone, it could see no logic to restoring them. Don't forget, we
buried you inside a cryostasis chamber."

"True," Junba sits down as Lum orders up food.

As they relax, more enter the cafeteria. To Junba's surprise, many are
Vosian males, most dressed in Internal Security uniforms. "Who are they?"

"Oh, they're hunters from Colony Four who defected after Darling killed
the Mikado," Lum shrugs.

Junba's jaw drops. "ATARU killed the Mikado?!! You're kidding!!"

"Well, you were there, sort of!" Lum shrugs. "It was inside Colony
Four, in that monitor station, I think. I actually didn't see what happened;
I was finding out how many people Darling killed in that rampage on Uru."

"Oh, that!" Junba nods. "I remember. Shi-chan was really hurt because
the Mikado killed those two friends of hers...who were they?"

"Don't you remember?" Lum blinks.

"Not really," Junba shakes her head. "Misato-sensei told me that was to
be expected. Shi-chan's endured a lot of trauma over the last bit. Her mind
automatically sealed off certain parts from me. Also, the *satre'cha*
might've not transmitted everything back to me. Bits and pieces, mostly..."

"You better see Misato again," her spirit-sister warns, nibbling on some
hogh-kyi. "If you're not careful, that could come back to haunt you."

"True," Junba nods.

As everyone eats, Junba regards the sea of faces around them. People.
Parents of a new race. The chatter echoes in her ears as she eavesdrops on
several conversations. Dates with the mature Colony Four hunters. Problems
at a construction site in Tere'na City. A date visiting Lyna's grave in
Tere'na-korgh. New strains of pyogh planted and raised for the plateaus of
Ly'sha. Election of several Colony Four hunters as chiefs of Internal
Security's three force groups. Everyday life on a rebuilding world.

Now, Shinobu has become part of this. While resting in her mind for
three months, Junba knew the full scope of agony and pain her lover had
endured because of Sagussa's interest in Ataru. How the people here initially
mistrusted her, automatically grouping her with others from Tomobiki. How,
over time, Shinobu earned their trust, their respect. How the petitions were
circulated, apology as well as invitation, to unite her with her former
boyfriend and his fiancee.

Junba sighs. Could she become a part of this? After what they endured
together, Junba could not imagine life with anyone but Shinobu. But could the
Sagussans overcome their inherent disgust of clones enough to permit one to
live here? Dare she try, given recent events with Shinobu? Her lover wanted
normalcy, security. Coming to Sagussa gave her the opportunity to explore
options Tomobiki never allowed her. Would Junba's presence enhance that...or
shatter it?

<<No, Junba...!>>

The hunter jolts as a flash of pain rips through her mind. "Who...?!"

"Spirit-sister, what's wrong?!!" Junba-chan gasps.

<<No!!>> that imperious voice repeats. <<You do not belong here!!>>

"Junba!!" Lum cries, shaking her friend's shoulder. "Are you okay?!"

The pain escalates in sharpness until Junba is driven to her knees.
"No!!" she pants. "Get...out of my...head!"

Another hot lance pierces her mind. <<Stop this defiance!!!>> the voice
barks. <<You belong nowhere but Colony Seventy-one!!! Reject Shinobu!!!>>

"Never!!!" Junba screams. "I will never reject Shi-chan!!!"

The hunter yelps, more in surprise than in pain, as questioning psi-
probes lance into her mind. "Some sort of post-hypnotic suggestion, I
think...!" Junba-chan reports, using the strength of her mind to ease her
spirit-sister's pain. "It's trying to make her turn away from Shinobu!!"

"It's got to Marinba!!" Lum gasps, then turns to Yuri. "Call Misato!!!
Get her here, quick!!"

"Right!!" the administrator runs off.

Junba wails. "Damn!!" Junba-chan pants. "This is deeply ingrained! I
can't clear her mind of this!!"

"What did that witch do to her...?!" Lum grits her teeth.

<<Eliminate them!!!>> Marinba's voice orders. <<They're trying to take
you away from me!!! Return at once!!!>>

"No...no...no..." Junba shudders.

"Draw on us!!" Lum pants, throwing the full strength of her mind into
fighting off Junba's psi-intruder. "Use us to support you! You can do it!!"

Junba nods, allowing her spirit-sister and the Oni the entry to her mind
and raise shields against Marinba's influence. Misato then mercifully
appears, gently probing Junba's mind, then runs a very sophisticated tricorder
over the clone. "Lyna's Soul!!" she exclaims on seeing the readings. "This
isn't some post-hypnotic suggestion! Whoever did this altered some of her
neurons to carry this message!!"

"What?!!" Lum exclaims.

Hearing this, Junba shakes. Marinba must have guessed that the hunter's
missing spirit could be returned to her body one day. Hence, after the
Sceptre had rejuvenated her body, Junba's creator implanted this little fail-
safe measure, to ensure her creation would never vanish again. Screaming, she
bolts to her feet, throwing everyone aside, then runs out of the cafeteria.
"Spirit-sister!!!" Junba-chan cries.

"Damn!!" Lum spits out. "Of all the times for Shinobu to be in regen!!
Get after her!!!" she barks to several policewomen.

They race off...

* * *

Junba races out of the cafeteria, finding herself in an impossibly long
corridor. Turning one way, she runs as fast as she can, seeking anything that
could help her chase Marinba away. Her creator's voice barks continuously to
the clone. The pain in her mind overwhelms Junba's ability to comprehend the
words. She dodges around people as her vision focuses on the tiny dot at the
end of this corridor. Escape. She had to escape. Voices yell at her from
behind, begging her to stop. Two were familiar, but they could not help her.
No one could. Not even Shinobu.

Suddenly, from a side catwalk emerges a young Vosian-born woman dressed
in a biologist's uniform. Brown haired, she looks very much like Shinobu.
Junba ploughs into her, sending both to the floor. Seeing the face, Junba
screams as memories the Mikado gave her roar up from her sub-conscious.
"Tenba?!!" she howls, backing away. "You're dead!!! Get away from me!!!"

Tenba blinks, then seeing the clone, realizes what is hurting the former
hunter. "Hey!!" she firmly grasps Junba's hands. "Relax!!! I'm not dead,
Junba! I became a *daishi'cha!* Just like Shinobu's becoming one! You can
be one, too, Junba!! Calm down! Calm down!!"

Junba blinks, her mind cooling down allowing rationality to take over.
She knew Tenba - thanks to false memories implants by the Mikado when she was
remoulded into a loyal hunter for Project: Twinkiller. A former classmate of
Nassur's, Tenba had been killed in the massacre at the mall when they escaped
Osur's school. Obviously, given the number 100000 on the young woman's
uniform, she became the last *daishi'cha* at the time of her death.
"Oh...oh!!" she breathes out. "I'm sorry, Tenba..."

<<JUNBA!!!!>> Marinba yells. <<COME HOME AT ONCE!!!!>>

"NO!!!!!!" Junba screams as she falls to the floor. "GET OUT OF MY
HEAD!!!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!!!"

By that time, Misato is at hand, a hypodermic in hand. She injects a
sedative into the hunter's neck, then motions for the policewomen behind her
to restrain Junba. "Take her to my examination room," the psychologist
orders. "We might have to put her through regeneration if this keeps up!"

"Misato, we CAN'T regenerate Junba, remember?!" Lum turns on her.

"Now we can!" Misato sighs. "Catty and I examined her when she boarded
the Gatherer. Something the Sceptre did to her removed all traces of clone
structure. Exposure to the *te'a* must've done it; the matrix doesn't react
when it confronts any being touched by the *te'a.*"

"Thank Lyna!!" Lum nods. "Maybe dunking her in the matrix'll wipe out
whatever that witch did to her!"

In her sedative-hazed stupor, the controlling program in Junba's head
jolts on hearing Lum's threat. Junba had to return to Colony Seventy-one to
help her creator fight the alien force destroying all last vestiges of Vosian
inhabitation. Anyone who interfered in that regard would not be tolerated.
Summoning what little strength it could muster, it seizes control of the
clone's body, slamming her into Lum and Misato as she tried to escape. "Stop
her!!!" Tenba barks.

Behind Junba, Kiyone draws her pistol and fires. The stun-bolt slams
into the hunter's back, sending her careening against a guardrail bordering
the catwalk from where Tenba emerged. "No!!" Misato leaps to her feet as
Junba sails over the edge, then drops the ten metres to the floor below.

Everyone rushes to the catwalk, to stare at the still form below.
Junba's left shoulder is impaled on a cut piece of conduit tubing, the
bloodied end sticking through her back. Concentrating, Misato feels that the
hunter's life was not in imminent danger, then barks at an arriving group of
nurses, "Prep her for full-body regeneration, stat!!!"

"Hai, I'sagh!!" Hotaru replies from below.

As trained hands lift Junba off the conduit tubing, the clone seems
strangely peaceful. "Now...no one can...hurt you, Shi-chan..." she moans
before the pain overwhelms her...

* * *

"WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?!" Shinobu cries.

Fresh out of regeneration, the nursing assistant faces a grim Misato and
Lum. Junba floats in a regeneration chamber, the matrix's magical powers
clearing up her wound and, unseen by casual observers, the modifications
Marinba unleashed after her rebirth. Hotaru sits in meditation nearby, her
mind protecting Junba's *mei'na* from flying into the *te'a.* Misato quickly
explains the situation, completing with, "We've now reworked the neurons in
Junba's mind. She won't be in any danger once *satre'cha* occurs...we hope."

"Thank Lyna the Sceptre gave her the chance to be healed this time," Lum
comments.

"Don't be too sure about that, Lum," the psychologist warns. "The only
scars Junba will have after this are the mental ones...and they're the hardest
ones to cure."

Shinobu stares at her lover's body. Rage and anguish fight for control
of her psyche as she feels the adrenaline thunder through her system. Once
again, someone close to her was hurt. Once again, she was nowhere close by to
protect her. Tears appearing in her eyes, the nursing assistant nods.
"Thanks, Misato. How long will she be?"

"Another hour," Misato smiles. "Go somewhere and rest. You need it."

"Hai," Shinobu nods, then walks out of the room.

"Shinobu, wait," Lum flies after her.

They make their way toward Ataru's bedroom. Shinobu slightly stiffens
as Lum's hand touches her shoulder, her awakening psi-senses automatically
probing the Oni's defenses for information. Lum, remembering her own
experience transforming into a Sagussan, keeps her shields at full strength.
They enter a small refectory garden near Ataru's bedroom, then relax on a
bench near a decorative fountain. "It's happening again..." Shinobu shakes
her head, burying her face into her hands.

"Shinobu..." Lum gently squeezes her hand.

"One after another after another..." Shinobu bites her lip, fighting the
urge to cry. "Aki-chan, Aya, Ataru-kun, you, Ju-chan...why is this happening
to me?! Why, why, why?!"

Lum looks down, then draws her friend into an embrace. "It's not your
fault," she soothes. "It's not your fault. They know how much you love them,
Shinobu. They know, they know..."

"I want to help her," Shinobu sniffs, staring at the Oni. "Now...now I
think I'm going to lose her..."

"Don't say that!" Lum pleads. "Don't ever say that, Shinobu! It won't
happen! It won't!!"

"It will, it will, it will...!!" Shinobu moans.

The two fall silent, the tranquil scene only broken by Shinobu's sobs.
Lum kisses her friend's forehead, a surge of guilt racing through her heart.
Her arrival had plunged Shinobu on her current path. Her taking Ataru away
from Shinobu had sent the Terran on a frantic, hopeless search for someone,
anyone, to fill the void Ataru left. Mendou, Inaba, Nassur, Atako, Kaeru,
Naromo, Junba, Aya...all those people and more whom Shinobu had tried to
impress over the last three years. That need not have happened had not Lum
come to Earth, fulfilled the promise Noa gave her and Ataru years before.

"It's not your fault," Shinobu says.

Lum shudders. The warmth of Shinobu's *mei'na* was wearing the Oni's
shields down. Her own *mei'na* was not compromised yet. The pain. The love.
The power. The passion. Shinobu felt so much, cared so much, for so many.
It was no wonder Noa and the others made their invitation, extended the olive
branch, helped her come here. Tomobiki could have accommodated her and
did...before Lum's arrival. After, the Oni's influence entrapped Shinobu...
and destroyed any hopes the Terran had of regaining the normalcy she desired.

"It's not your fault," Shinobu repeats.

"It is..." Lum sniffs, tears flowing down her cheeks. "It is. I did
this to you. I hurt you so much. Ryuunosuke was right. I took everything
away from you, one way or another. I'm so sorry..."

"Don't apologize," Shinobu shakes her head. "We're all to blame. You,
me, Ataru-kun, everyone. It was just a bad situation. We didn't understand.
We didn't see what we were doing to each other until it was too late. We
can't change the past, Lum. It's done. Nothing can be changed. And...and
we...we have to stop blaming each other...and ourselves. I don't want to hate
you anymore, Lum. I want to care for you just like I care for Ataru-kun and
the others. And I want you to care for me. We can do that, can't we...?"

"Oh, Shinobu..."

The two fall silent, enjoying the tranquilityl and beauty of the garden
around them. Outside the chamber, Catty approaches, intent on speaking to Lum
in private, then sensing the former classmates' closeness, motions others away
to give them privacy. Inside the gardens, Lum smiles, sensing everyone
drawing away. Shinobu would come to sense this herself in time, with the
right training. Others were already preparing a regimen similar to what Lum
experienced. Lum knew Shinobu needed friends to be there for her as her
perceptions expanded, embraced the unbelievable potential a Sagussan could
achieve. She vowed she would be there for Shinobu when she needed her.

Still, Lum felt guilty. Ataru's maturing instilled a deep sense of
responsibility, of guilt toward her long ignorance of those around her, in his
fiancee. Her growing up had in part been a redemption, a chance to heal the
wounds her living on Earth unleashed on her friends. Since Ryuunosuke had
slammed Lum against the wall one day after graduation, the Oni had privately
vowed she would do the same for Shinobu. She had shielded the Terran during
the Planet of Shadows mission. Still, Lum felt it was not enough. Something
more was needed. Something to finally redress the initial injury...

Lum blinks as the idea comes to her, then smiles. She would have to
convince Ataru and Noa of that, but it would work. On any other world, what
she had in mind would be seen as a sin. Not Sagussa. With new confidence,
she gives her friend's body a warm squeeze. Fortunately, her shields were up
full-strength. No need to spoil this surprise just yet.

Shinobu shudders as she senses the closing off of Lum's mind. Even now,
without much training, she was picking up the tricks needed to protect herself
from outside bombardment. She was already capable of sensing the *te'a,* feel
Its powerful light bathe her *mei'na.* Having heard of Lum's near-fatal
accident when she first felt Its seductive power, Shinobu turned her
concentration elsewhere. No sense giving the doctors here more work.

Her mind then keys in her inner sense, the ability to perceive the
*te'a's* power in her surroundings. Not gazing directly at the *te'a* Itself,
it allowed Shinobu the chance to see how everything interacted, to better
understand the balance between the finite and infinite. Pulling herself away
from Lum, the Terran gazes at her friend. Now, Lum was a veiled hominoid
figure of light, tendrils connecting her to Ataru, Noa, Nassur and others
branching away like a spider's web. "Wow...!" Shinobu exhales.

"That's it, Shinobu," Lum intones. "You're doing okay. My first time
was just as awe-inspiring."

"What did you see?"

Lum blushes, looking down. "I was on Home Base at the time...just after
you dealt with your future-selves. I...saw the *te'a* pass on its energies to
Benten...to..."

Shinobu blinks confusedly, then understands. "To Aiotoga."

"Un," the Oni nods.

The Terran nods, feeling another twinge of guilt from her friend. "Stop
it, Lum," she squeezes the Oni's hands. "It's over, I said...eh?"

"What?"

Shinobu blinks as a torrent of energy flows from everywhere around her,
pouring into Lum's body. The nursing assistant shudders as the energy seems
to concentrate in the Oni's lower abdomen...

Lower abdomen?!

"Lum!!" she gasps, realization dawning. "It...it...!"

Shinobu blinks as hands fall on her shoulders. "What did you see,
Shinobu?" Catty's voice gently inquires.

The Terran's vision returns to realtime as she gazes at the doctor.
"Sensei...I...saw the *te'a*...It sent energy...into Lum..."

"Why?" Catty inquires.

Shinobu blinks, then gazes at her friend...and now expectant mother.
Her mouth drops open, remembering Lum's recounting of her Awakening. "Lum,"
she gasps. "You...you...you're...!"

Lum nods. "Catty told me just become I left Uru to see you."

Shinobu emits a delighted cheer as she embraces the Oni. "Oh, Lum, it's
wonderful!!!" she kisses her friend on the cheek. "I can't believe it!!!
You're going to have a baby!!!"

"Thank you," the Oni beams.

Instantly, the nursing assistant is on her feet, pulling Lum with her.
"C'mon!!" Shinobu drags her toward Ataru's bedroom. "Let's go!"

"Hey, what are you doing?!"

"Dummy!" the Terran spins on the Oni. "We're going to tell Ataru-kun!
Then we're going to have a party and celebrate!! Let's go!"

"I...okay!" Lum laughs as she follows Shinobu out of the garden.

Before the entourage can make five steps, a Fukunokami-born computer
services officer approaches. "Lum?!"

The two stop, gazing at her. "What is it, Katsumi?" the Oni wonders,
then remembers Shinobu. "Shinobu, do you know Katsumi from Rally's team?!"

"Sure," Shinobu nods, then shudders on seeing the forlorn look on
Katsumi's face. "What's wrong?"

Katsumi sighs, gazing sympathetically at Lum. "I hate to be the one who
bears such bad news...but you and Ataru did give orders that once Nene's find
was decoded, you were to be immediately informed."

"What did Nene do?" Shinobu wonders.

Lum holds out her hand. Katsumi gives her a datapadd. The Oni glances
down, pressing the control to scroll the information. As the conversations
Yethis Seq had with his co-conspirators rolls onto the screen, Lum fights down
a bout of nausea. Shinobu and Catty lean over the Oni's shoulders to gaze at
Nene's find. "Oh, gods!!" the Terran gapes, then reads. "'We should upon
conquering Earth institute a genetic engineering program which would retard
the Terrans' ability to expand their knowledge. Selective breeding should
also be instituted to ENHANCE mental deficiencies to suppress potential
rebellions?!' When was this?!"

"Six months ago when Yethis' little cadre were discussing all the
interesting possibilities which could come from conquering Earth after they
restored the Empire," Katsumi crosses her arms. "Vel Pochik proposed that
little tidbit. You should see what they said about what your people could
have done with themselves after Resolution 442 came down."

Shinobu shakes her head, turning away. Lum feels her arm shake. "I'll
read this over, then I'll show it to Darling," she intones.

"Okay," Katsumi nods, heading off.

Catty and Shinobu gaze concernedly at the Oni, surprised to see tears
flowing down Lum's cheeks...

* * *

"You okay?" Junba wonders.

Shinobu blinks as she gazes on her lover, now reclining on a diagnostic
table in the medical station by Ataru's quarters. The Vosian had just emerged
from regeneration. "It's nothing," the Terran sighs. "Nothing much."

Junba sighs. "Shi-chan, something's bothering you. What's going on?"

Shinobu takes in a deep breath. "Sometime ago, Sylia and her friends
broke into Yethis Seq's personal holophone files, grabbing about three months
worth of conversations. Rally and the Mobius Five just decoded it. You
should've seen some the garbage they talked about!! Buddha, it reminded me of
tales I once heard about white supremacists in North America!!"

"Like what?" Junba sits up.

"Genetic modifications, unleashing mental diseases to keep the slaves
suppressed...we're dogs to them!!" Shinobu spits out. "How dare they think
that?! How dare they look down upon us because we weren't conquered by the
Dominion and they were?!"

"What did you expect?" Junba smiles. "Shinobu, my race made one very
big blunder when we first ventured into space. That was when we bumped into
the Yehisrites. We dealt with them not taking into consideration all the
fractured politics, the infighting, the feuds. A nasty little war broke out
between us about thirteen centuries ago. It lasted a month, killing thousands
of people. When it was over, everyone started to ask why we fought? But we
learned something. We learned that whenever two cultures, especially with a
vast difference in technology, meet, there's going to be problems. Feelings
of superiority and inferiority. This has happened to one extent or another
with every race who has bumped into another."

Shinobu sighs. "Junba...once, I looked on Lum as a devil, a interloper
who was wrecking my life and my boyfriend's life. It took me a long time to
understand that she's not that way, that deep down, she's a wonderful person."

"And you made the mistake of believing her entire race was that way."

"Yes!" Shinobu nods. "Her father is a noble, wonderful man. Her mother
is a delight. Ten-chan might get on your nerves, but he's really sweet. Lan,
despite her problems, is so full of passion. Rei...I think deep down, all he
wants is a secure home and family. There are so many others I've met. But...
nothing, nothing I have seen in my past encounters with Urusians began to
demonstrate that garbage I saw in those notes Nene found!"

"There are always bigots in every race," Junba warns. "I'll bet there
are people on your planet who look upon aliens as useful commodities to be
used, then cast aside, in their drive for power."

"Junba, you know I've already bumped into those people."

"I know. You shouldn't be surprised about people looking down at other
people. Look what happened between us."

Shinobu blinks, then gazes at Junba. "Do you...still think about that?"

"All the time," the Vosian frowns, feeling her eyes sting. "I...and now
this has happened...!"

She turns away, covering her face. "Junba!!" Shinobu walks around to
kneel before her, gently grasping her hands. "It's over! She won't hurt you
anymore!! Stop that!"

"She will..." Junba tearfully shakes her head. "Oh, she will, Shinobu!
You have no idea what that witch did to me! To make me stay on Colony
Seventy-one! She's just as crazy as the Mikado or Osur!! That's all she
sees, going out there and finding my parents and my...oh, god, my husband...!"

Junba leans back, sobs shaking her. Shinobu leans up to tenderly
embrace the Vosian, allowing her to vent her rage and frustration. "She made
this perfect world...then when I was taken away from it, she...what did she do
to me, Shinobu?!" Junba pleads. "Why?! Why was I created?! Why did she do
all that?! Why can't she leave me alone?!"

The Terran remains silent, allowing Junba to weep. Tears sting
Shinobu's eyes as realization dawns. After finding out about her past, Junba
was more confused than ever about her place in this life. That in itself
could spell death to any hopes Shinobu had of rebuilding a relationship with
the former hunter. Still, she had to try. "Ju-chan...you can stay here," she
softly coos. "You don't have to go anywhere. Here, you're safe..."

"I can't hide, Shi-chan," Junba shakes her head. "I can't live this
mockery of a life without understanding why I came into this world. Where are
my parents? Are they clones like me? Where's Nyassur? Does he still
remember me or does he think me dead? I have to know these things, Shi-chan.
I have to know..."

"Then we'll find out together!"

"No," Junba bites her lips. "Shinobu...you almost got killed because
Marinba doesn't want anyone to interfere with what she's created. If you
died, I would never forgive myself. What's to stop Marinba from sending
someone after your parents? Your sisters? You're well known on Vos. It's
just like what trench-waves like Oogi and the Mikado tried to pull on Ataru.
They can't attack Sagussa head-on, so they make situations where Sagussa has
to come into the galaxy. I don't want that to happen to you, Shinobu! I love
you, I care for you too much to even consider letting that happen!"

"Junba..." Shinobu looks down.

"I know," Junba smiles. "You want to save me, to protect me like I
tried to protect you. This is a cruel universe we live in, Shinobu. If we
became bond-mates, Marinba could attack you through our bond. Until I find
out where she is and eliminate her, we'll never know peace."

Silence falls over the room as the Terran considers the point. "I'll
never see you again...it's happening again..."

"No, it's not!" the Vosian grips Shinobu's arms, canting her face to
gaze upon Junba's. "Shinobu...you have gone through one mess after the next.
You're trying to put order into your life, you're trying to find a situation
where you feel safe. You can't feel that with me now, love. Not while my
life is so full of uncertainties. I have to go look, Shinobu. I have to find
Marinba and I have to free myself once and for all from her control. I don't
know how long it'll take. I don't even know where to begin. But until I know
the truth about myself, I can't begin to think about a relationship. It's the
same reason Nassur would never want you to come work with him. You're strong,
but you don't have the training or the experience. Going out there could get
you killed right now!"

Shinobu blinks. She knew Junba spoke the truth. After all the bumps
and bruises she endured, it was easier to accept. "We'll still be friends,
won't we?"

"We'll be more than that," Junba smiles, kissing her. "Much more."

The two embrace...

* * *

Lum sits in Ataru's bedroom, staring at the datapadd before her. Her
fiance relaxes beside her, gazing at the information scrolling through the
screen. "I have to admit that I've never been cursed and insulted quite like
that before," he muses. "It's just as bad as someone calling you a Noukiite."

Lum smirks, then gazes once more at the information. Rage boiled in her
soul, storming through her thoughts as those words and the people who spoke
them play through her mind. Over two-thirds were dead now, thanks to Ataru.
Still, the very fact that these people, who held some of the most politically
influential positions in Urusian government, had said these things left a foul
taste in her mouth.

She again regretted her long lack of attention, her self-centred belief
that as long as she was with Ataru, all was right with the world. Lum had
been quite proud to volunteer herself to be the Urusian tag champion at the
First Tag Race. She knew her actions three years ago would have prevented
Earth from falling under the brutal sway of the Ipraedies and the Dominion.
Then, ironically, she had fought to lose, ensure that Earth's independence was
secure. And now...now everything she had done then was made hollow by this.

Lum looks off into space, remembering the alternate timeline Ataru first
visited shortly after the Second Tag Race, where the Terrans had lost the Tag
Race and Uru invaded. That timeline's Lum had unleashed unspeakable horrors
on that Earth. It required the efforts of the *saikoo jinseijitsu,* the
Zephyrites and the Yehisrites to put everything right...but the cost was
hideous, or so that other Ataru once told her in his brief visit to this
timeline.

And by the words now before her, those horrors and more could have come
to her Earth, her friends and family. The pleas of so many to return and aid
the Democratic Alliance echo through her mind. Sil, now dead, with only a
clone to stand in her place. Yedris and Sugoi, both believed dead, supposedly
martyred on Uru while actually living new lives on Sagussa, never again to see
home. All those expectant people she had seen in Onishuto Stadium, people
wanting control over their lives, their destinies.

What had she done? Ignored them all...until the Imperials came after
her, tried to force her into being their puppet so they could turn back the
clock. She should have seen the signs a year before, when Nagaiwakai had
revealed the First Tag Race rules. The underhanded activities of the Tribal
Council...of Yethis and his cronies...should have sounded a warning bell right
away. But then, she was only concerned with maintaining some control over
Ataru. Lum shakes her head. Her blind devotion to her Darling could have
potentially ended his life had things gone differently.

That did not make her feel well.

Lum tenses as Ataru draws her into an embrace. "It's okay, Lum-chan,"
he whispers into her ear. "They can't do much now."

"They can," she corrects him. "Even if there're only a few left, they
can. If we eliminate them, more could arise. It has to stop, Darling. It
has to stop now."

He looks at her. "What do you want to do?"

"President Lana has to see this," Lum holds up the datapadd. "Daddy
said he won't do anything about a referendum until he has positive proof that
Yethis is using the system to ferment revolution. He'll have it."

Ataru nods. "I'll make sure you have a copy of that when you return to
Uru," he sighs. "But someone else will have to see that, too."

Lum quizzically stares at him, then her eyes go wide. "No!!" she gasps.
"If you do that, the U.N. could...!"

"Lum, under the treaty, I'm obliged to report to the U.N. all threats
Earth could face," Ataru stops her. "This is one of them, one the U.N.'s
known of for some time."

"But if they see that, the U.N. could throw everyone off Earth!!" Lum
exclaims. "What about Ten-chan?! What about Lan and Rei?! They like it on
Earth...!"

"Lum," he gazes at her. "I can't afford to put personal feelings over
my obligations to my homeworld...either of them. That's the way it's been
since the First Tag Race, remember? Right now, you can't, either. If Ten,
Lan and Rei are kicked off, they'll still have homes waiting for them on Uru.
We'll have a home here if need be. But there are five billion people on
Earth. Don't their lives, their wishes, their destinies count?"

The Oni pauses, then sadly nods...

* * *

"I'm sorry to hear you say that, Junba," Ataru frowns. "I wish there
was something I could do to help."

Junba smiles, feeling her cheeks redden; Ataru had a myriad of reasons
not to like her. "Thanks, Ataru," she sighs. "I...heard about those messages
your troops lifted off Yethis' holophone files. What do you intend to do?"

"Expose the truth and let Nature take its course," he sighs. Junba and
Shinobu relax with Ataru and Lum in the *daimon'cha's* bedroom, his fiancee
nursing Amora. The former hunter was unable to take her eyes off the angelic
baby since she first saw her, something her would-be lover was quick to
notice. "As for the U.N.'s reaction, well, we'll just have to wait and see,"
Ataru continues. "Lum will take a copy of those recordings to President Lana.
It all depends on what he does. Right now, we just wait and see."

"That's good," Junba nods, gazing once more at Amora. She was amazed
that Ataru, despite his reputation as an idiot, planned so much for his
future. With her exposure to Shinobu's memories, she surmised that everything
Ataru had done since Icarus had one goal: to ensure future peace without
outside interference. Many of the Mikado's staff she knew were not like this.
They were concerned only with maintaining their iron grip on power. That
Ataru held them with such contempt was understandable.

A warning buzzer sounds off, a holoscreen then appearing beside Ataru,
revealing Makoto. "Ataru, we just received an emergency signal from the
*an'san-Mikado,*" the shipmistress reports.

"What do they want?" Ataru asks.

"Their intelligence discovered a small group of cybernetically enhanced
Mikado Marines en route to Earth. Their target may well be Tomobiki. Colonel
Gomasur has already passed on the warning through diplomatic channels to the
U.N. However, Earth forces are nowhere near equipped to handle a pack of
Vosian terrorists."

"Cybernetically enhanced?!" Junba blinks. "Did they find out who's in
command of that force?"

"Someone named Dosur, a lieutenant-colonel from their Fourth Regiment,"
Makoto stares at her datapadd. "Real low slime, this one. He was in command
of the force..."

"...that helped Osur destroy Colony Seventy-one," Junba completes. At
Ataru's questioning glance, she continues. "He's popularly known as the
Butcher of Colony Seventy-one. The Rebel Alliance Army has put a million
credit reward for his capture, dead or alive. If he's got a capable force
behind him, I wouldn't give Tomobiki much of a chance, Ataru."

"Here we go again," Shinobu sighs.

"Thanks, Makoto," Ataru keys controls on his armrest. "Mikan?"

The image changes to the leader of Ataru's bodyguards. "Yes?"

"What's the Cyborg's status?"

"Fully operational, all systems tested," the engineer reports. "He's
operating within normal CT parameters."

"Have him taken to the Gatherer. Contact Makoto for the details, then
get the necessary armaments from Lan. We're leaving in an hour."

"Yes, sir," Mikan salutes, then the holoscreen disappears.

Ataru sighs, standing. "I hate to eat and run, Junba. I really wish I
could've done something to help you two..."

"It's okay," Junba smiles. "Actually, would you mind if I came for the
ride? I know how Dosur operates."

Ataru nods...

* * *

Three hours later, the Gatherer assumes cloaked orbit over Earth. In
that time, Tomobiki authorities declared martial law, getting everyone to
safety sometime before Sagussan monitors detected the Vosians' arrival. On
the bridge, the Cyborg flexes and unflexes his hands, Ataru's mind adjusting
to the separated feeling being in the conscience transference machine gives
him. "Everything's working okay," Mikan runs a tricorder over him. "Mind-
shields operating within design limits, no threat to your *mei'na.* You're
all set to go."

"**Good,**" Ataru nods, taking Urban Assault Cannon in hand and charging
it. "**What's the situation below?**"

"The enemy forces number about fifty, all cybernetically enhanced,"
Badoka reads from the science station's reports. "All of them are dispersed.
They seem to be looking for something. No contact with local riot squads or
Mendou/Mizunokoji paramilitary roving patrols."

"He's waiting," Junba conjectures flatly. "For you, Ataru. He must've
seen what you did to the Mikado on Colony Four. That may explain the
cybernetics. Vosian hunters and troopers normally don't enhance themselves in
this manner."

"**Too bad for them,**" Ataru's good eye narrows. "**Analysis of the
cybernetic components. What am I up against?**"

"They look like the same type of components Aisuko Megane and her
friends encountered with their bond-mates in Niigata, if the information we
received from Gloriana is correct," Badoka reports. "Billions of nanites
reconstructing their bodies, shielding them from normal weaponry."

"**Understood,**" Ataru adjusts the Cannon's emitter wavelength to its
tightest range. "**We'll isolate them once they're captured to prevent
contamination. Ask one of the other engineers if it's possible to use the
transporter to get the nanites out of their systems once they're subdued.**"

"I'll ask them right now," Badoka makes the signal.

"Be careful, Darling," Lum looks worried. "Nassur told me about Dosur.
He's vicious."

Ataru winks, keying his boom-tube controls. "**So am I.**"

In a second, he disappears from the bridge...

* * *

Lan sits in her living room, gazing into the night. The surprise curfew
had caught both her and Rei off-guard, trapping them inside their house and
ruining their date. With the growing animosity in the U.N. and the Japanese
government toward Urusians, she felt it prudent to not complain, keep Rei
indoors. One false step and she would never see Tomobiki again. It was bad
enough her plans to wreck vengeance on Lum were gutted thanks to Ataru and
Sagussa, but to be tossed off Earth in disgrace would be too much to bear.

The streets were quiet, punctuated intermittently by a passing tank or
troop carrier. Mendou and Tobimaro Mizunokoji had turned their forces over to
national control for this occasion. National control did not know what was
going on. All that was hinted was that alien terrorists were coming to
Tomobiki. Who could be coming here now? Ataru had destroyed everyone who had
any grudge against any person living here...unless it was another hotshot
wanting a chance to battle the *daimon'cha* in the open. "Morons!" she
growls, standing and proceeding to the kitchen. "Rei-chan, are you okay?"

The pilot, in tiger-bull format, relaxes in his chair nibbling his tenth
beefbowl. His eyes sparkle with delight as he continues to eat. Lan feels
her adrenaline rise in response. She loved it when Rei was happy; it made her
happy. Very soon, he would probably finally work up the courage to ask her to
marry him...in his usual way. Lan felt a frown twitch her lips. Rei's lack
of natural intelligence was bothersome at times. But like Lum to Ataru, Lan
could not imagine sharing her life with anyone else. Perhaps a Sagussan had
bonded them together in the past like Noa bonded Lum to Ataru.

The telephone connected to local lines rings. "Hello?" Lan picks it up.

"Hi, Lan!" a cheery voice responds. "This is Aijooa Katsudooteki."

The Seishin teen blinks. Chibi's girlfriend? Lan believed that with
the way she went after Lum at times, her bodyguards would ensure no relation
of theirs would want to have anything to do with her. "What is it, Aijooa?"

"Well, I was running through my child studies notes for first year and I
found something interesting," the heptathelete responds. "Would Rei mind if
he was tested for dyslexia and dysphonia?"

Lan stares quizzically at the receiver. "Dyslexia...?!"

"It's a learning disorder," Aijooa explains. "Dyslexia is a form of
aphasia; people who suffer from this can't understand or make use of words.
It's a situation where a person can't teach himself how to read or interpret
what's being said. Dysphonia is where a person can't vocalize what he wants.
It may explain why people think Rei is mentally challenged. After watching
him, I think that might be his problem. So I was wondering if he'd object to
some testing."

"Why are you concerned?"

"Well, first of all, in my first year of university, I have to tutor
someone who has special learning needs. Rei's as good a candidate as anyone.
I've already discussed this with my instructor; he's okayed it. I don't think
the U.N.'ll boot you off the planet just because your leaders are a pack of
racist jerks. Since you two are getting married sometime soon, I might as
well take advantage of times when Rei's here to help him with his basic
learning skills."

Lan blinks. She could not believe that after Rei had earned such a bad
reputation among the people here, someone would actually be concerned for his
education. "Why are you so convinced Rei-chan needs help?"

"Lan, he's a pilot, remember? If he was as stupid as everyone says he
is, he wouldn't have the raw intelligence to man a starfighter. I'm convinced
that while Rei has no problems with physical motor skills, he has big problems
when it comes to reading or arithmetic. All we have to do is teach him new
ways of learning these skills. So, can you talk to him?"

"I..." Lan pauses. What Aijooa said did make sense. "Well, it's best
if you talk to him, show him what you want. I can't guarantee anything...eh?"

"What is it?"

Lan stares out the kitchen window. Walking down the street past her
house is a very dark, familiar form. "What's Darling doing here?!"

"Ataru-chan's here?!" Aijooa wonders aloud. "What's going on?!"

"I don't know," Lan shivers. "But he's here as the Cyborg. And when
he's in that form, blood's gonna flow..."

* * *

Ataru strolls onto a bridge crossing the Tomobiki River, scanners on
full resolution to detect where Dosur's forces lurked. Several were within
several metres of his location. He stops and waits. Not for long. Emerging
from an alley is a burly Vosian male looking like a warmed up Mr. Freeze, a
giant cannon in hand. "There you are!" he cackles, taking aim. "Now, you're
going to learn what it means to cross us!!"

Keeping silent...talking to these idiots WAS wasted breath...Ataru draws
the Urban Assault Cannon, clicking on automatic reload. Simultaneoulsy,
internal sensors detected two behind him, weapons coming to bear. Life
scanners detected that the nanites inside the Vosians' bodies formed a conduit
system taking the place of their central nervous structures. A vulnerability
to be exploited, Ataru muses as he dodges left. "That's the spirit!!!" the
Marine in front of him fires.

The bolt disintegrates the part of the bridge where the Cyborg once
stood; Ataru had taken to the river, moving underneath. The Marines converge
on the hole, their weapons firing. Given the progressing night, light under
the bridge was non-existent...until a glowing red eye appeared. "**Missed me,
missed me!**" Ataru taunts. "**Now you have to kiss me!**"

A hand hydraulically extends from Ataru's arm, snaring the first Marine.
The Vosian gasps with surprise as he is dragged down, his back crushed by the
Sagussan's right knee-shield. Dropping him aside, Ataru takes the Cannon and
fires two shots. The bolts slam into the other Marines, shorting out their
mind's controls over their systems and they drop spasmodically into the river.
Two more back-breakers, then Ataru returns to street level. The *an'san-
Mikado's* body-handlers would get those three.

With that, he races toward another section...

* * *

"Ten down...wait! Eleven!!" Badoka trills several minutes later on the
Gatherer's bridge. "He's really going to town on these idiots!"

"Wow!!" Junba leans over the engineer's shoulder. "I've never seen
anyone move that fast in my life!"

"Any civilian casualties?" Lum wonders.

"Negative," Badoka shakes her head. "The enemy forces are moving to
concentrate on Ataru's position...except this one!" she indicates a lone icon
in Tomobiki's north end.

Shinobu stares at the icon, then visualizes a district map. "That's
where Lan's ship is located!!" she exclaims. "Who could that be?!"

"You don't think Lan brought these idiots here, do you?" Junba muses.

"If she doesn't want to face the World Court on attempted murder and
terrorism charges, she won't," Lum shakes her head. "Who could that be?"

"Scanning her now," Badoka programs the controls, then blinks at the
results. "Lyna's Soul, that's no Vosian!! She's Seishin-Urusian!"

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

"Age forty-six years, female," Badoka reports. "DNA scans show that's
she's closely related to Lan...in fact," she stares at the screen, "that's..."

"Her mother!!" Lum pales...

* * *

Lan leaps under a table as a bolt of energy disintegrates a nearby sofa,
eyes wide with horror as she tries to back away from the monster stalking her.
"Where were you, you naughty little girl?!" her attacker growls, a voice Lan
hoped never to hear again. "Why didn't you come find me when our home was
destroyed?!! Why didn't you ask about me?!"

Lan stares at the creature who was once her mother. Chena Aruka levels
a pulse cannon at her, cornering her daughter. Her eyes burn with a volatile
mix of emotions as she gazes on the only remnant of her family. "You have
always defied me!" Chena snarls. "You have always misbehaved, always blamed
it on someone else, always refused to accept the responsibility a PROPER child
should for her mistakes!! And then, you run off, hide on this planet, behind
that witch who tried to take MY Mamoko away from me, care for her brat son...
and don't say a thing! Ignore your poor, suffering mother!! Now, let's see
you try to ignore me now!!!"

Lan screams as she leaps clear of the bolt of energy, wondering why she
deserved a day like today. Her mother had been a monster when she was a
child. Now, if there was any vestige of humanity left in her, it was
invisible. "Rei-chan, help me!!!" she bellows.

Emerging from the kitchen, Rei's eyes widen on seeing his girlfriend
flee the monster who had blasted her way in while he was eating. Bellowing,
he transforms, then lunges...only to be stopped by a claw-like hand. "I heard
that your mother and sister are dead!!" Chena icily glares at the tiger-bull.
"I never liked your family, especially after what that bitch Yedris almost did
to MY husband!! Now, I'll send you to join them!!!"

With that, she delivers a bolt of energy at his heart, sending the
transformed Oni flying through the kitchen wall and the outer hull into space
at supersonic speeds!! "REI-CHAN!!!!!!" Lan screams...

* * *

Downtown, Ataru was facing a steadily decreasing number of Mikado
Marines. Already, the curious have emerged to watch the *daimon'cha* deliver
crippling blow after blow, before polishing them off with back-breakers to
sever the spines and knock out the nanites' control systems. Given the
Cyborg's inherent invulnerabilities, any nanite trying to drill into his flesh
finds itself overwhelmed by the raw energy of the regeneration matrix. A
half-hour after this donnybrook began, Ataru finds himself facing the last
Marine, a strikingly handsome middle-aged man with icy eyes. Across his
uniform rested an insignia indicating high rank. "**C'mon, sucker!!**" the
Sagussan waves him on. "**I can keep this up all night! Can you?!**"

"You're not going to send me to the cooler!" Dosur growls, firing his
pulse gun.

Ataru's arm-shield deflects the blow, then as he is about to leap onto
the Vosian, a thousand kilograms of tiger-bull slam into him! The Sagussan is
propelled into a car, Rei sprawling over him. "**Damn you, you mindless slab
of beef!!!**" Ataru roars. "**I don't have time for this!!**"

A punt vaults Rei back from where he came...just as Dosur tackles Ataru
from the side, sending the two cyborgs sprawling!! "Now, I have you!!" Dosur
rolls atop his leader's murderer, pulse gun aimed at his face.

"**Wrong!**" Ataru's hands slam into the Vosian's shoulder, sending his
back right into the Cyborg's left knee!!

Dosur screams as the techno-organic connections to his body are severed,
then is rolled off Ataru as the Sagussan stands. By that time, pairs of
Vosian *an'san-Mikado* hunters are on the scene, placing the downed Marines
into stasis fields and transporting them to their orbiting ship. "**Make sure
you stay away from those nanites!**" Ataru reminds them as a crew arrives for
Dosur. "**They'll have to be isolated until we get them out of their
bodies!**"

"You fool..." Dosur grits his teeth as two gloved hunters roughly lift
him onto an anti-grav stretcher. "You can...never take them away from us...!"

"What?!" Gomasur demands.

The Butcher of Colony Seventy-one painfully laughs. "When we found this
cache of nanites, they totally rebuilt us!" he sneers. "Even if you strip
away our armour and weapons, they'll just make new ones!!"

Ataru and Gomasur exchange glances. "If that's true," the leader of the
*an'san-Mikado* grimaces, "...then they'll have to remain in isolation for the
rest of their lives."

"**Or we can put them through the transporter...at maximum particle
dispersal,**" Ataru icily glares at Dosur.

The Marine colonel shudders. "We'll think about it," Gomasur smiles.

Ataru's arm-communicator then deploys. "Darling, there's one still
active!" Lum's frantic voice calls over the line. "She's at Lan's house!!
It's Lan's mother!"

He blinks, surprised by that revelation. "**Lan's mother?! What's she
doing with the Mikado Marines?!**"

"She's now...my...wife!" Dosur spits out. "We found...her drifting in
some escape pod...near Shingetsu. She...had a Lannarkite egg in her. The
nanites...disposed of it. She...wanted to come here...settle some personal
business, she said..."

"Oh, no!!" Lum cries. "That means she's here for Lan-chan!!"

"**So?!**" Ataru glares at the communicator.

"Darling, you were never told this," his fiancee sighs. "Lan-chan was
beaten by her mother when she was a child! You thought your mother was bad?!
Lan's was worse and then some!! It was part of the reason Lan moved to Earth;
she wanted to get away from her!"

"**Why were we never told this?!**" Ataru demands.

"It's...a long story," Lum sighs. "Please, Darling! If Lan's infected
by those nanites, we've doomed her to a fate worse than death!! I know you
don't like her but please, don't let this happen! Please!!"

Ataru sighs. Personally, leaving Lan to her mother's mercy would be
poetic justice for all the pain and humiliation the Seishin teen unleashed on
Lum and her friends. Ataru knew Lum felt compelled to placate Lan for reasons
remaining unclear to this day. Only when he stood up to her, publicly
humiliated her, blew apart her "cute girl" facade and slammed her into the
dirt did his fiancee gain the confidence to turn away from her "friend." But
if Lan's mother abused her, it greatly explained Lan's erratic behaviour.
"**I'll see what I can do,**" he reluctantly nods.

"Thank you!" Lum breathes out in relief...

* * *

By now, Lan had escaped her damaged scoutship, seeking desperately for
another place to hide. The streets were slowly filling with the curious,
drawn by the sounds of battle to her property. Chena was on the lawn, her
pulse rifle at the ready. "You come back here, Lan!!" she growls. "I didn't
give you permission to walk away from me!!!"

Lan finds herself against her front fence, tearfully staring at the
advancing cyborg. One bazooka shot would blow Chena in half, finally stop the
pain her mother had unleashed over the years. But...this was her mother! The
woman who had brought her into this world. She could not bring herself to
raise any sort of defence. What child could, even after all the pain...?

Chena jolts as something massive slams into the ground behind her.
Slowly turning, she finds herself facing the Cyborg's impassive face. "What
do you want?!" she growls, bringing her pulse gun to bear.

Lan moans. Suddenly everything was much worse than it had ever been
before: her life was in the hands of the man she tried killing to avenge
herself with Lum. A man who openly avowed his hatred of her and would do
anything to rid Lum's life of her. "**Oh, please,**" the Cyborg crosses his
arms. "**Don't let me interrupt the execution. This town's been praying for
this for three years! Go right ahead; I won't stop you. Kill Rei if you
want; we have no need for him either!!**"

Lan feels all her strength ebb out as Chena lowers her weapon, turning
back to her daughter. "Well, did you see that?!" she cackles. "These
primitive monkeys know when to mind their own business...!"

A hand lands on her shoulder. Chena is spun around, seeing a raised
metal fist. "**Sorry!**" Ataru growls. "**But where I come from, YOU'RE the
primitive monkey!!**"

Chena is slammed into a tree with such force, it falls over! Ataru
turns on her, drawing the Urban Assault Cannon, cocking it and fires. The
bolt slams into Chena's leg, shattering the knee. She howls in pain as Ataru
recharges his weapon and fires. Both legs, both arms, the stomach; it happens
with the same regimented pace Ataru used to kill the Mikado. Finally, with
her body all but useless, Ataru slings the Cannon, grabs her by the neck, then
boosts her face-to-face. "**Sorry...but this IS personal!!**"

His other hand wraps around, punching into her spine and ripping out a
section! Lan's mother howls with agony as Ataru casually tosses her against a
tree, then steps back. By that time, the crowd has streamed onto the lawn,
aghast at the nightmare they had witnessed. Lan is being held up by Ataru's
mother, who arrived when she heard that her son had returned. Ataru turns to
her, unslinging the Cannon, charging it to maximum, then handing it buttstock-
first to the sobbing Seishin teen.

Chena trembles as rage boils in her daughter's eyes. She breaks away
from Kinshou, grabs the Cannon, then draws it to her shoulder, the crosshairs
locked on her mother's forehead. Ataru backs away, his hand out to the crowd
to ensure they did not interfere. Helpless, Chena cannot even summon the
power to look away. The silence is palpable as everyone stares first at the
helpless cyborg, then at the angry teenager she had birthed.

Suddenly, new sobs burst from Lan as she drops the Cannon, staggering
into Ataru's embrace. The tension lifts as a team from the *an'san-Mikado*
appear, stretcher in hand. "Take her away!!" Gomasur orders.

Lan blinks, then gazes on the colonel. "Wh-why...?"

"The nanites can't be removed from their bodies," he grimly sighs. "For
the sake of every living thing in the local cluster, we'll transport them to
an isolated planetoid we once reserved for alien criminals. The Zephyrites
have offered one of their self-generating cloaked mine fields to ensure no one
will escape to unleash them on innocent people. Should the impossible happen
and they do manage to get out...we'll ask the Kamahanites or the Sagussans to
destroy the planetoid."

Lan blinks, then gazes once more on her mother. Chena stares at her
daughter. Lan averts her eyes, her emotions overwhelming her as her mother is
taken away. At that moment, the crowd parts, revealing a haggard Rei, now
human. Seeing him alive and well, Lan cries out as she dashes into his arms.
"Rei-chan!! Oh, Rei-chan, you're alright!!! Rei-chan..."

The couple stagger to Lan's scout. Ataru watches them leave, then picks
up the Cannon, staring at the energy readout. Zero. Slinging it, he turns to
walk away when Kinshou gazes at him. "Did you ever feel that bad?"

Ataru pauses, then soundlessly brings up a boom-tube...

* * *

Sometime later, Ataru relaxes on the Gatherer's bridge, drinking some
himgh-tagh. The *an'san-Mikado* had just departed the system with their
prisoners. No one in Tomobiki was seriously hurt outside Lan and Rei. The
latter's mother had called from Sagussa, promising to visit as soon as her
business in Uru was complete. Gazing at his homeworld, the *daimon'cha*
sighs, then blinks as the side door opens, revealing Junba. "Nicely done!"
she smiles, walking up to him. "And for your next performance..."

"I am hoping that Yethis will decide to not push it," Ataru muses. "So,
what're your plans now?"

"Me?" the hunter crosses her arms. "I spent time with Shinobu's
parents, telling them what happened. They...want me to stay with them, said
it was alright. But this would be the first place Marinba'd look for me. I
have to go somewhere where she'd have problems coming after me."

"Outside of Sagussa, you don't have many options."

"There is one," Junba muses, gazing into the passing starfield. "It's
the option Hisur and Sianba took. Toukonokouen."

Ataru blinks. He knew little about this planet. Seeing his questioning
gaze, Junba explains. "Toukonokouen is located in the exact point where
Vosian, Ipraedies and Yehisrite space intersect; it's just down the way from
Reiner's Five. It's native population are pretty laid-back."

"And you expect to find sanctuary there?!"

"That's on the surface," Junba smiles. "Deep down, the natives are a
very spiritual race, even more powerful than the Aimaiyites. They haven't
developed much in the way of technology because they really don't need it.
When Vosian and Yehisrite research teams tried to explore the place, they were
welcomed with open arms...but told to behave themselves. It's the one time in
Vosian history where the Prime Directive couldn't be applied."

"So what makes this place a safe haven for you?"

"Well, a lot of dissidents from Vos, Ipraedos and Yehisril have seen
Toukonokouen as a sanctuary, a place where they could live their lives in
peace without interference," Junba hums. "Early in his reign, the Mikado
learned not to irritate the natives. He sent hunters after one group of
dissident businessmen. The hunters returned mind-wiped, carrying a message
from the Toukonokouen's leaders never to do it again. Emperor Schwartz and
the *laqu'rs* have learned that lesson to their cost, too."

"And if Marinba tries anything..."

"She'll be stopped," Junba nods. "The Toukonokouen do NOT tolerate any
disturbance on their planet. Some really wild rumours have circulated about
what their magi could do to people."

"I see," Ataru nods. "Well, if that is the place for you, then I won't
stop you. But...where does this leave Shinobu?"

"She...understands," Junba sighs. "She needs the chance to put her life
back together. Right now, any idea of family is out for her. She needs to
ensure she has a safe, normal life before considering having kids."

Ataru gazes at her. "But you don't seem to share that right now."

Junba jolts. "How did you...?"

"The way you were looking at Amora-chan," Ataru smiles. "It spoke
volumes. Have you discussed this with Shinobu? We do have a parthenogenetic
clinic on Sagussa; Mie and Makoto are using it."

"No!!" Junba forcefully shakes her head, then relaxes. "I'm sorry. But
after I learned I was a clone, I developed an aversion to anything clinical...
unless it was self-preserving, like the matrix. While it would help Shinobu
and I in the future...we're not going to tie ourselves down at this time...the
idea of having a genetic specialist perform something as intimate as creating
new life doesn't thrill me. Too much of my life's already been ripped open
for all to see. I want something to myself, Ataru. I want to stop feeling
like a lab rat in some crazy experiment. I want to feel truly human."

"I see," Ataru whistles.

"At the same time, I want to do something which proves I'm not just a
programmable soldier," Junba gazes conspiratorially at him. "With the way
Marinba creates clones, she doesn't care too much about the natural way of
creating life. I see now why the Sagussans detest clones; they're contrary to
the natural order. I want to show the galaxy...show myself most of all...that
I can do something Marinba can't or won't do."

Ataru nods. "I see you've thought this out. Is there...some reason
you've told me this?" he glances at her.

Junba smiles. "I've shared with Lum and Shinobu what I want to do.
They won't object if you won't." She pauses, breathing in, then adds, "Ever
since we met, you've treated me with respect. You saw me as a victim, someone
who needed help, not hatred. You were the one who ensured I could protect
myself in case the worst happened. Even after learning I was a clone, you
continued to give me a normal life, supported my relationship with Shinobu.
You are the first person who has ever seen me as a person. Not as a clone,
not as a puppet, not as a slave. I will always be grateful to you for that.
Because of that...I would really desire it if you became the father of my
first child."

Silence for a moment, then Ataru stands, offering his arm. "I'd love
to...as long as you keep me up to date about how she develops."

Junba slips an arm around his. "Why do you think she'll be a girl?"

"Just a hunch," he chuckles...

* * *

A day later, the Gatherer slides into orbit over Toukonokouen. A
beautiful tropical world with its population dispersed between small villages,
several fair-sized towns and many farms, the world seemed no different than
any other from orbit. Ataru, Lum, Shinobu and Junba beam down to the capital
village's spaceport. The Vosian hunter is attired in local clothing: a T-
shirt under coveralls with work shoes. The four face each other, then Junba
shrugs. "Well, I guess this is it," she sighs, then embraces Lum. "You take
care of yourself, Lum-chan. Watch your back, huh? It's not over yet on Uru."

"I know," Lum smiles. "Don't forget, Junba-chan. You'll always have a
place with us in Tomobiki."

"Thanks," Junba nods, then embraces Ataru. "Thank you, Ataru-kun...for
everything."

"I'll never forget you, Junba-chan," he kisses her. "Peace, logic and
harmony to you and your child."

Ataru and Lum pull back as Junba and Shinobu face each other. "I
wouldn't've minded if we had the baby together," the latter admits. "It would
be the best way to keep us together."

"You're not ready for that...and I can't afford to make you vulnerable
because of me," the former shakes her head, then warmly kisses her. "I will
always love you, Shi-chan, even if we don't reunite."

"I will always love you, Ju-chan," Shinobu sniffs, then pulls away.
"Good-bye."

The nursing assistant moves to join her friends. Junba watches her go,
then calls out, "Shi-chan!"

Shinobu looks back. "I haven't forgotten my promise," Junba smiles.

A beatific smile crosses the Terran's face. "I know."

With that, Junba joins the line of new immigrants awaiting clearance to
enter Toukonokouen society. Ataru, Lum and Shinobu exchange looks, then he
looks up. "Henry, three to beam up."

They disappear in a transporter beam. Junba watches them go, then
smiles, turning to face the immigration officer, a native dark-skinned woman
projecting a subtle air of authority. "Comin' to live here, childe?" she
inquires, projecting a knowing smile at the Vosian.

"For now," Junba admits. "That could change if matters go against me."

"I don't think so, childe," the woman smiles, crossing her arms. "My
name is Mayasu. People here call me Mama Mayasu. I can sense your strength.
You'll make it through in due time...right back to her heart," she nods to
where Shinobu once stood.

"I hope so," Junba smiles. "For all our sakes..."

*** To Be Continued ***