[FFML] [fanfic][UY/Ranma/SisPri] "Lonely Souls" Part 8 (final draft)

[Frederick Herriot]

And this is all for tonight.

Fred

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	"The planet where I was first activated."

	The man sitting in the control centre of the probe gazed out a view port on 
the glimmering orb lying off his larboard beam.  Tapping controls on the 
console, he waited for information files to be called up.  He glanced at the 
holographic readout before returning his attention to the archipelago coming 
into view.  "Sub-planetary political unit, indigenous name:  Dai-Nihon.  
Terran worldwide communicative language 'English' reference name:  Japan.  
Population:  approximately 125,000,000 sentient beings."  He tapped a 
button.  "Unit Two, begin carbon-protein humanoid DNA scan.  Locate all 
sentient beings and/or physical evidence of all sentient beings possessing 
DNA compatibility to Nagussan organic sentient, designate 'Kaeru 
ryi'Kouhae-Raikue.'"

	"*Working,*" the probe's on-board sensor control robot replied.  A minute 
later, it spoke, "*Scan complete.  Evidence of one exact carbon-protein 
DNA/RNA duplicate of organic sentient, designate 'Kaeru ryi'Kouhae-Raikue,' 
located.*"  A quick pause, barely noticeable even by Kaeru, and then it 
added, "*Additional information.  Scan indicates twelve additional sentient 
beings, female, possessing same patrilineal parentage as organic sentient 
Kaeru ryi'Kouhae-Raikue, though possessing different matrilineal parentage 
than subject sentient.  Indicating primary locations of DNA fragment scans 
on display.  Scan does not indicate any of the target sentient beings are 
currently on Earth.*"

	Kaeru glanced at the map.  Target icons flashed.  One was on the mainland 
of Japan's largest island, within the limits of its most populous habitation 
and political control centre, Tokyo.  The other was on an island bearing 230 
degrees from Tokyo's city centre, Oomure-jima.  Gazing on small graphs being 
projected on the screen, Kaeru also noted that the scan of Oomure-jima had a 
significantly greater amount of DNA fragments in comparison to Tokyo, 
indicative that his relatives currently resided on the island.

	"Unit One, engage visual cloak.  Commence atmospheric approach to 
Oomure-jima.  Scan for best possible landing site to ensure minimal 
disruption."

	"*Compliance,*" the ship's on-board navigation robot replied.

	The probe faded out in a torrent of bent light beams.

*    *    *

	"She just cloaked?"

	Otako gazed on her monitor, she grimly nodding.  "Affirmative, Mister 
President.  Whatever type of cloak that ship possesses, it's more advanced 
than anything the factory's sensors have ever encountered.  I can't even 
scan for an ion trail or any gravimetric disturbance."

	Oogi blinked as he absorbs that information.  "But that's impossible!  Even 
if they've been gone for over ten thousand years, the Sagussans ARE the 
technological leaders in the galaxy!  You MUST be able to detect that ship, 
Otako!  Do a diagnostic on the scanners!"

	"Already done, sir," Otako declared as she waved to her monitoring screen, 
and then she sat back in her chair.  "The only possibility I could surmise 
from this is that this alien ship is actually NOT from this galaxy."

	The bodiless president of Phentax Two paused before a nod twitched his 
chin.  "Yes, that could be possible . . . "  His voice trailed before he 
gazed on Otako.  "From where did this ship come from?  Directly from the 
Barrier?"

	The Avalonian replica of the late leader of the Church of Lum's Hegane Sect 
shook her head.  "No, Mister President.  She came from a stable wormhole 
beyond Hustari space that connects our quadrant with the quadrant directly 
opposite ours beyond the galactic core.  And the factory's databanks have no 
up-to-date information on any races lying in that direction, sir.  You DID 
instruct us not to contact the Gatherer and request an exploratory update."  
She gave him a reminding look on saying that.

	Oogi stiffened for a moment.  "Yes, I did."  He nodded.  "And I expect 
total silence between this factory and the Voyager, Otako!"

	"Of course, Mister President."

	"Keep an eye out for that ship or any signs of its crew."

	"Yes, Mister President.  Oh, if you wish to know, final programming has 
commenced on the units tasked to Operation:  Hashish."

	"Excellent."

*    *    *

	"What sort of ship, Lou?"

	"Couldn't tell from this distance, but according to the master databank on 
all the known races in the galaxy, she might be Nagussan," Louise, the 
blonde, blue-eyed, Seishin-born demolitions officer in Pathfinder Troop 
Six's Section Two, reported as she looked up from the controls connected to 
the sensory suite on the "Kiboo'cha's" pilotage.  "Small probe-class ship, 
probably a scout from a larger vessel in their Defence Force."

	Taking that in, Asukanoevan sat back in the command chair.  The 
crimson-haired, blue-eyed Oni-born chief petty officer in charge of Section 
Two -- in her previous life, she was, in fact, Lum's paternal 
great-grand-aunt -- reached up to rub the bridge of her nose as she 
considered what her subordinate just told her.  "A Nagussan ship all the way 
here over Earth?" she muttered.

	"Where was it going when it cloaked, Lou?" Megan, the crimson-haired, 
green-eyed Pirpirsiw'r section sniper, wondered.

	"It was over China when it started descent, Meg.  Heading towards Japan."

	The members of Section Two took that in, they exchanging confused looks.  
Asuka wasn't so confused.  As she was the only person currently on the 
"Kiboo'cha's" bridge who had been on Sagussa before Ataru's visit, she knew 
of the series of events that had led RSS "Hasei'cha" to visit Earth the day 
an apparent malfunction of the Central Warp Chamber on Triton (a gift from 
the Gatherer a thousand years before, a gift which had saved Oyuki's people 
from extinction thanks to the long occupation of Neptune by the hordes of 
the Seifukusu Dominion) nearly transported a young Oni girl to a city named 
Sendai.  Running the possible scenario in her mind for a moment, Asuka then 
nodded as she tapped an intercom switch.  "Asuka to Nene."

	"Go, Asuka," the Troop coxswain replied.

	"Is Linna eating you out right now?" Asuka teasingly asked.

	The junior members of Section Two snickered at Asuka's blunt question.  
Nene and Linna had been lovers for years, though -- to the surprise of many 
on Sagussa -- they had not become bond-mates.  "No, she's asleep right now," 
Nene replied, she clearly not bothered by Asuka's blunt question.  "What's 
up?"

	"Can you find a way to put a virus into the factory's sensory to ensure it 
can't detect a Rover?" Asuka then asked.

	"Easily enough.  Why?"

	Asuka smirked.  "It appears that the Daimon'cha's brother has returned home 
from Nagussa, Nene.  That's why."

	The members of Section Two stared in dumbfounded shock at their chief.  "Is 
that a fact," Nene trilled.

**** **** ****
"Lonely Souls"
By Fred Herriot
pyeknu at hotmail.com OR fherriot at yahoo.com
**** **** ****
Based on "Urusei Yatsura" and "Ranma 1/2," created by Takahashi Rumiko; and 
"Sister Princess," created by Tenhiro Naoto and Kimino Sakurako.
**** **** ****
Set in the universe of the fanfic series "Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year," 
created by Mike Smith and Fred Herriot
**** **** ****

NOTE:  The writer's notes are in a separate text file.

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

THE EIGHTH PART - STAFFS, WANDS AND SAGUSSANS

	"Susan Aglukark?!  Who's she, Ataru-kun?"

	"An Inuit singer Yotsuba-chan discovered a few years ago," Ataru replied.  
Then, noting the confused looks on the faces of the women in the master's 
cabin aboard the "Windrider," he added, "Canadian northern Ainu; what they 
used to call 'Eskimos' back when political correctness wasn't an issue in 
that country.  For most of her life, she lived in what they call Nunavut 
these days."

	Shinobu and Kumiko exchanged a look.  "Eastern part of the old Northwest 
Territories," the latter noted.

	Nabiki took that in, and then she slipped the CD out of its cover.  Putting 
that into the player by the bed where Momoe was currently resting, she hit 
PLAY.  As the massed drum beat of the preamble to "One Turn Deserves 
Another" began to play, the middle Tendou daughter began to nod approvingly. 
  "Might want to order a copy of this when I get the chance," she noted as 
she gazed on the CD cover before she set it aside.  Looking then on her 
friend from Tomobiki, Nabiki asked, "How're you doing, Momoe-chan?"

	"My ears are ringing from having that bullet whiz past me," Momoe moaned as 
her eyes locked on her former classmate and current host, he busying himself 
with several packets of herbs Haruka had provided him to create a tea for 
her.

	"I apologize for that, Marubeya-san."  His eyes flicked in her direction.  
"But at that moment, Rose was lowering her pistol at your head.  The ship 
was self-destructing.  A fool could've seen what the real options would've 
been at that moment and time."  A deep breath.  "She decided that her 
loyalty to Elle mattered more than her survival.  I've encountered more 
fanatics like that over the last couple of months than I'd have cared to 
meet in my lifetime.  There's only one way to deal with people like that."

	The Tomobiki High seniors stared at their former classmate, the shock they 
clearly felt at his words and actions over the last several hours chilling 
them like nothing else Ataru had done in the last two years could.  The very 
CONCEPT of Ataru being serious about ANYTHING at all was something that had 
always frightened most of his female classmates, even Shinobu at times.  But 
the events of the last couple of months -- the bombing of Tomobiki High by 
Ibrahim Alhamzi, the deaths of the Bodyguards and the others, the 
revelations of Ataru's activities concerning the Noukiites and their war 
against Uru, plus what just happened aboard the "Rose Emperor" -- went 
beyond just "serious."  WAY beyond "serious."  "Doesn't this bother you?!" 
Kumiko then asked.

	"What?" Ataru asked as he stared at her, and then he sighed.  "Rose, you 
mean.  Hai, it does bother me, Gekasawa-san . . . "

	"Ataru, PLEASE!  Will you stop doing that?!"

	He looked at Shinobu.  "Doing what?"

	"Calling us by our family names!" she snapped, her eyes glistening with 
frightened tears.  "It's bad enough that you were made to see three billion 
people die, that you found out that your grandmother was murdered by Lum's 
father, that your parents betrayed you like they did, but PLEASE . . .!"

	Hands reached out for her.  Shinobu sobbed as she flung her arms around 
Ataru, she burying her face into his neck.  Staring at them, Nabiki, Momoe 
and Kumiko could only smile understandingly.  Like Nabiki's sister 
concerning Saotome Ranma, Momoe knew, Miyake Shinobu had always been quite 
mercurial when it came to her friendship and brief relationship with 
Moroboshi Ataru.  Even after they had broken up in the wake of Lum's and 
Mendou Shuutarou's entrance into their lives, Shinobu always did her best to 
ensure Ataru behaved himself, even during times when his lechery hadn't 
directly involved her.  Yet, there had been times when Shinobu had been the 
only friend Ataru truthfully had in Tomobiki.  And like Akane concerning 
Ranma, Nabiki pretty much understood that the changes that had overcome 
Ataru over the last couple of months were SO great, nothing -- NOTHING AT 
ALL! -- Shinobu could do would change her former boyfriend back to what he 
had been like before Lum's departure.

	"Shinobu . . . "

	Shinobu sniffed before she wearily looked up at Ataru.  "Ataru . . . "

	He closed his eyes.  "Go live your life.  Stay as far away from me as you 
can.  I'm too dangerous for any of you to know right now."

	Hearing that, she shook her head.  "NO!  No . . .!  Please . . .!"

	Ataru shuddered as her grip tightened.  He took a breath, remembering 
something he had noticed about his ex-girlfriend and one of her new 
classmates when they had been brought aboard the "Windrider."  "What about 
Minako-san?"

	Silence.

	Shinobu blinked, she pulling away to gaze into his eyes.  "What?"

	"Don't you know that she's very attracted to you?" he calmly asked.

	Shinobu acked, her eyes going VERY wide.  Momoe and Kumiko exchanged a 
shocked look.  Nabiki appeared thoughtful for a moment.  "I . . .!" Shinobu 
sputtered before her throat locked up, she stepping back from him.  "I . . 
.!  M-m-Minako-chan . . .?!  M-m-ME?!"

	"Why not?" he asked as he turned back to finish preparing the tea for 
Momoe.  "She is part-Avalonian, remember?  If you didn't know this, they're 
all functionally bisexual.  And from what I know of their parent society, 
it's considered normal for Avalonian women to seek out another woman to 
psionically bond with before they'd seek a man to serve as the father of 
their children."  All that knowledge had been given to him by Negako shortly 
after Miree and her daughters, plus Kawamura Himiko and Serizawa Mikiko, had 
beamed into the lives of Ataru and his sisters.  "Minako-san can try all she 
wants, but she can't fight off thousands of years of genetic programming 
passed onto her through the factory from its creators.  Neither can 
Tomomi-san and Kyooko-san."

	"Ataru-kun, what are you talking about now?!" Kumiko demanded.  "Are you 
saying that Minako-san's part-alien?!"

	"Hai, she is," Shinobu spoke up, the shock she currently felt at Ataru's 
words shaking her from head to toe.  "Minako-chan . . . "

	Ataru held up a warning finger.  "But DON'T say anything about that to 
anyone, Gekasawa-san," he warned as he turned to stare her in the eye.  
"There's someone in orbit right over Tomobiki as we speak who has control of 
a VERY large ship that can create bioroids like Minako-san's mother just 
like that."  He snapped his fingers several times.  "And they can be 
programmed to do anything that bastard could desire.  I mean ANYTHING, 
Gekasawa-san!  Minako-san and her friends have already got enough problems 
on their heads being what they are.  They don't need anything else heaped on 
their heads.  Ne?"

	Kumiko blinked confusedly, her mind still trying to absorb the series of 
bombshells Ataru had just dropped on her head.  Momoe, who knew more about 
the Avalonians thanks to her encounter with Kitahara Yukimi and her friends 
the previous Sunday, could only breathe out.  "No, they don't," Shinobu then 
spoke up, she reaching up to scratch the back of her head.  "But still . . . 
"

	"I have to confess, Shinobu-san, Minako-san does have exceptionally good 
taste in potential bond-mates," Nabiki then noted.

	Shinobu acked, her whole body turning red.  Momoe blinked, her head 
snapping around as she peered at Nabiki.  While she hadn't learned 
everything she would have wanted to know about the middle Tendou daughter, 
she did know that Nabiki's sexual tastes were normal for a girl her age.  
"What the heck made you say that, Nabiki?" she asked.

	"Isn't it obvious?" Nabiki breathed out.  "I'm an Avalonian now, Momoe."

	Silence.

	"WHAT?!" Momoe and Shinobu shrilled in sync.

	Nabiki sighed.  "Several key points, Apprentice," she said as she held up a 
warning finger.  Hearing her call her that, Momoe braced herself, she giving 
Nabiki her undivided attention.  "My father."  Nabiki held up a fist, she 
raising a finger to mark a point.  "The Nanniichuan casket sent for the 
wedding.  Ranma-chan being turned into a girl in body AND soul thanks to 
Jusenkyou.  Ranma-chan also being bonded to Ataru-kun here since LONG before 
Lum OR Akane . . . " -- a flash of pain appeared in her eyes on her 
mentioning her sister -- " . . . came into their lives.  Joining the 
schools.  Result . . . "  Her voice faded as she sent out a psionic 
transmission to a nearby cabin.

	Everyone blinked confusedly for a moment, and then they perked as a knock 
was heard at the door.  "Enter!" Ataru called out.

	The door opened, revealing Tendou Shinshi.  "What's up, Nabiki?"

	Momoe and Kumiko's jaws hit the deck in shock.  Shinobu, who didn't know of 
Tendou Nabiki beyond the usual spiel of rumours that had flowed from Nerima 
since the day Saotome Ranma moved into town, blinked in confusion.  "Ladies, 
meet my twin brother -- and Yotsuba-chan's current boyfriend, I should add . 
. . " Nabiki amended as she gazed amusedly at Ataru.  "Tendou Shinshi.  
Shinshi, you know everyone here, don't you?"

	"That I do," Shinshi declared.  "Nice to see you alive and safe, minna."

	Stunned silence followed.

*    *    *

	"Brace up, Young Mistress!" Firesky Owleye declared as two orderlies picked 
up the stretcher bearing the comatose Elle and carried her away to the 
medical station of the "Windrider Dreams."  "What you did was the proper 
thing.  No court in the galaxy would convict you of what you just did."

	Ranma took that in before she felt Seiko's supportive embrace tighten.  
Ataru's past and present girlfriends, along with Sakiko, Ryuunosuke, Seiko's 
friends and Shogai Dakejinzou, plus several of Ataru's sisters, were 
standing in the quarterdeck beside the hatchway connecting the "Windrider 
Dreams" to the "Windrider."  The "Goddess of Luck" was docked at the 
hatchway on the other side of the battlecruiser's superstructure from the 
solar-sail barque.

	"I lost control," Ranma muttered.  "I should know better."

	"Onee-sama, you were defending your relationship with Onii-sama," Sakuya 
then spoke up.  "After what that bitch did to all of us, what she got is 
what she deserved!  Right, girls?" she asked the other sisters standing 
beside her.

	They empathically nodded.  "What'll happen now, Firesky?" Nassur asked.

	"We've contacted the Ellsian government, Nassur," the senior Inquisitor, a 
grey-eyed, silver-haired man with a thick moustache and chin beard, replied. 
  "We've warned them that as long as their government continues to support 
their queen's . . . oh, shall we say, more *eccentric* actions . . .?"  
Everyone save Ranma laughed.  "She will remain our prisoner.  And, if the 
good and true magistrates at the High Court of Star Chamber on Jiyuu so 
decide, she will be put on trial for multiple accounts of kidnapping, forced 
confinement, attempted murder, not to mention instigating an overt intrusion 
on the sovereignty of Earth.  Which, I add, will soon fall under a more 
restrictive interpretation of the Non-Interference Edict than we've applied 
to them to date."

	"Will the Noukiites help you on that regard, Your Grace?" Oyuki asked.

	"They will.  We've even received a very positive note of support from the 
Dowe'on Tribunal on Ipraedos concerning Earth."  Firesky then held up his 
hand to forestall any verbal objection from the Neptunian princess.  "Fear 
not about that, Your Highness. I was told that Crown Prince Schwartzkoff 
himself will persuade his father and the Asan'on Home Council to go along 
with it, plus make an open guarantee of your home planet's continued 
sovereignty as an independent planet state.  He even mentioned the 
possibility that the Ipraedies Empire might be willing to help your kingdom 
engage in a more thorough clean-up of Neptune than what you've done to date 
with the Federation's support."

	Oyuki's eyes widened as she took in that message, and then her eyes turned 
in on herself as she considered what the Inquisitor had just told her.  
Benten quickly noted this, a chill warping through her as the implications 
of a Neptune-Ipraedos alliance, guaranteed by Zephyrus and a Noukiios free 
from the Federation, could mean for the cluster.  As the daughter of 
Commander Shigaten Hotei, one of the senior members of the Fukunokami 
Union's ruling body, Benten knew what the break-up of the Galactic 
Federation could mean.  Before she could say anything, though, Seiko walked 
up to place a supportive hand on her friend's shoulder.  As Oyuki gazed on 
her, the Oni-turned-Nendo-kata/Terran said, "Your first duty's to your own 
people, Oyuki-chan.  Don't forget that."

	The crown princess and heir to the Throne of Koori blinked before she 
breathed out, "I know that, Lu- . . .!"  She caught herself, and then she 
said, "Seiko-chan."  Her eyes then focused on Firesky.  "Your Grace, Emperor 
Schwartz has made it quite clear that he would desire nothing more than to 
see me married to his son.  What's to stop him from pressing those ends if 
the Kingdom and the Empire do become economic allies?"

	The Inquisitor made a dismissive wave.  "Pay no mind about that, Your 
Highness.  Prince Schwartzkoff is quite aware of your relationship with 
Ryooki Koosei."  He didn't notice the perked looks on the sisters' face on 
his mentioning that name.  "The Crown Prince is in love with a delightful 
local girl, Gella -- who, according to the Central Registry of Ipraedos, 
might be an actual relative of the late final Emperor of the First Dynasty 
-- and he wishes to marry her as soon as he can make his father see the 
light.  And, I should note that the Emperor might soon face the Imperial 
Corps of Executioners for what he did on Cademus all those years ago.  After 
all, with the direct 'threat' to the Empire's continued independence -- the 
Federation led by an anti-Ipraedies Uru, not to mince words -- about to 
vanish, the people of Ipraedos might become more inclined to accept 
increased trade and social relations with its neighbours."  He then gave the 
Neptunian princess a knowing look.  "If Neptune and Ipraedos worked in 
concert towards that end, the reward to the Federation as a whole might be 
tremendous.  Perhaps all the way to having the Empire itself become a member 
of the Federation."

	A thoughtful look crossed Oyuki's face on hearing that.  "Where did Yotsuba 
hear that name before . . .?" Yotsuba then wondered.

	Chikage smirked.  "He was Ani-kun's neighbour when he lived in Tomobiki."

	The would-be detective blinked before her eyes went wide.  "Oh, Yotsuba's 
stupid!" she moaned, bopping the side of her head.  "Yotsuba learned that 
when she went to Tomobiki during the Pseudo-War!  Yotsuba no baka!  Baka!  
Baka!"

	The other sisters laughed.  Sakuya turned to gaze on Oyuki.  "I've seen 
pictures of him when he was attending Kitatookyou High School along with 
Sakurambou Sakura," the elder sister noted.  "He's quite the hottie!  I 
assume he's still pretty good-looking."

	"That, Sakuya-chan, I can guarantee," Dakejinzou noted.

	"Really?" Haruka mused as she drew out her gunsen to fan herself.  "Well, 
one must applaud Oyuki-sama's exceptionally good taste."

	Oyuki's pale skin instantly became the shade of ripe tomatoes.  Seiko and 
Sakiko exchanged a knowing look and snicker, and then the latter stared at 
the Neptunian.  "By the way, Oyuki-chan, would you like to adopt Ten-chan 
when you and Koosei finally tie the knot?"

	The princess gazed on her transformed former middle school classmate.  
"Whatever do you mean, Ra- . . .!  Er, Sakiko-chan?"

	"When he re-registered with the Men in Black after he came to Earth, he 
took the name 'Ryooki Tennosuke,'" Sakiko explained.

	"That's a nice name," Ryuunosuke noted.

	Oyuki blinked before a content look crossed her face.  Having wandered deep 
space since the Ipraedies had kidnapped him a decade before, Ryooki Koosei 
had briefly served as Redet Jariten's personal babysitter before Lum's 
cousin travelled to Earth.  "I see," the princess then said, she nodding.  
"Well, when I see Koosei-kun next, I'll tell him that."

	"If he doesn't melt into mush when he gets close to you," Benten noted.

	Seiko, Sakiko, Nassur and Dakejinzou laughed.  "What's this?" Sakuya asked. 
  "Are we dealing with another case of love-madness here?"

	"You mean like Doc Toofuu with Chikage?" Ranma wondered.

	"By the sounds of it," Haruka mused.

	Oyuki flustered.  "Well, indeed . . . "

	More laughter.  Oyuki then turned her attention back to Firesky.  Sensing 
what the princess might want to know, he gave her a reassuring smile.  "Your 
Highness, concerning what I've said before about your people's future course 
-- not to mention your own desires -- you have the full and ironclad 
guarantee of the Six Churches," he firmly declared.

	Oyuki nodded.  When it came to situations like that, whenever a person of 
bishop rank or higher -- especially if they were members of an important 
state organ like the Holy Inquisition -- spoke words like that, they WERE 
speaking on behalf of the WHOLE of the Holy Republic!  The future of the 
Kingdom of Neptune-Triton was secure.  Taking a deep breath, she then said, 
"On behalf of my kingdom and my people, I thank you very much for those kind 
words, Your Grace.  And on behalf of my kingdom and my people, I state now 
on my parents' behalf that whatever future course of action the Holy 
Republic of Zephyrus takes concerning the United Nations of Earth -- as long 
as my kingdom and my people are not threatened by it -- will not be opposed 
from our quarter."

	"As long as you respect the wishes of the people of Earth, that will be 
accepted by us as well," Firesky declared, nodding.

	"Your Grace?"

	Everyone turned as a junior engineer came up, the younger man bowing 
respectfully to the Inquisitor.  "What is it?" Firesky asked.

	"Your Grace, the courier set aside for the Young Master Ataru's former 
classmates' return to Earth is ready to depart."

	"I see, then."

	Sakuya sighed.  "We better chase the rest of those people off the ship."

*    *    *

	"Mie-san is a Sagussan?"

	"Is that the name of my people?"

	"Uhn!" Hinako replied with a nod.  She and Seikou Mie were seated in the 
former's cabin.  The Staff of Gihan, its focusing crystal barely lit with 
the eternal fire that gave the Haijo-ju prototype its power, was tucked into 
the sheets at the head of Hinako's bed.  The pistol Tomo had stuck into 
Haruka's hakama trousers when the Sagussan internal security officer had 
boarded the "Rose Emperor" was in the Kyushu native's hand, it having been 
disarmed and unloaded.  "Hina met some of Mie-san's people when she went to 
the bioroid factory to get Akane-san's new body for her.  They're really, 
really, really nice!  And they really, really, really love Onii-tama!"  She 
frowned as her eyes fell on the Staff.  "Hina only wishes that Bou-san 
didn't have to sleep because of Elle's ship going *boom* like that.  If Hina 
could, Hina'd take Mie-san to meet Lufy-san, Priss-san, Ayumu-chan, 
Tomo-chan and their friends."

	Mie smiled.  Reborn as Daishi'cha #337 of the Grand Design of the Fifth 
Republic of Sagussa nine thousand years before, the woman known these days 
to her friends as "Seikou Mie" had been living on Earth for over a decade.  
Having crash-landed off the shores of Tsushima in her starship for reasons 
she hadn't come to understand to this very day -- she suffered from 
near-total amnesia as a result of the crash -- Mie had been later adopted by 
an elderly couple from Yame who had lost their first-born daughter (also 
named Mie) the previous year.  Since that time, Mie, whose slowed aging 
process guaranteed that she still looked like a teenager even after eleven 
years on Earth, had lived a quiet life in the mountainous backwoods of 
Kyushu.  A quiet life that ended two months before when she had seen 
Moroboshi Ataru on NHK shortly after the Second Tag Race began.  "I'd like 
to see them again. If only to understand why I came to be on Earth when I 
did.  And why is it that I know your brother.  As far as I can recall, I've 
never, even ONCE, been close to him until the day his daughters beamed down 
at the school and he and you showed up."  She breathed out before adding, 
"If only Tomo had stayed behind . . . "

	"Well, according to Sylia-san, all the people on Sagussa aren't really sure 
what might happen if they met up with Onii-tama again and all those 
baka-bakas who'd want to hurt Onii-tama find out," Hinako added, she gazing 
in sympathy at Mie.  "It really, really, really hurts them, too."

	"Well, maybe it's a good thing that they met you first, Hinako-chan."

	The youngest sister perked.  "Really?!"

	"Hai . . . "

	A knock echoed from the doorway.  "Hai!" Hinako called out.

	The door opened, revealing Kaho.  "Hinako-chan . . .?  Ah, Mie-sempai, 
there you are! Kaho heard from Sakuya-chan that it's time for you to go 
home!" the cheerleader announced as she leaned past the doorway.

	"Mie-san won't go back to Earth just yet, Kaho-chan," Hinako declared.  
"She's gonna stay with us when we go get Tsue-san!"

	Kaho blinked.  "Really?!  Aren't your parents worried about you, Sempai?"

	Mie giggled.  "Don't worry about that, Kaho-chan.  My parents trust me a 
lot more than most parents would trust their children."

	Kaho took that in, and then she tittered.  "Sempai's lucky!"

	"Kaho-chan!"

	"Eh?  What is it, Hinako-chan?"

	Hinako made a shushing motion.  "Kaho-chan, you can't tell anyone about 
Mie-san staying with us!  It's a secret!"

	Kaho blinked confusedly before she nodded.  "Oh, okay!"

*    *    *

	"This is bland," Momoe admitted before sipping the rest of her tea.

	"It's supposed to be," Ataru said as a finger probed several of her shiatsu 
points.  Momoe was sitting up in the bed.  Shinobu, Kumiko, Nabiki and 
Shinshi relaxed by the door as Ataru continued to work.  "Momoe, I'm not 
going to lie to you.  You WILL have some pretty doozy nightmares about what 
happened on the 'Emperor.'  Rose is going to scream at you from the grave, 
demanding to know why an 'insignificant nobody' like Marubeya Momoe survived 
while a 'noble warrior' like her was shot dead.  Or something stupid like 
that.  Let it happen, but don't let it overwhelm you.  Believe me, I wish it 
could have gone down better than it did, but it didn't happen.  If 
necessary, go visit Onee-chan.  Nabiki knows where she lives.  She knows 
what to do in cases like that.  If it becomes necessary, she can go all the 
way to blocking out those memories until you acquire the emotional strength 
to deal with them.  Fair enough?"

	Momoe took that in, and then she nodded.  "If that's your idea of an 
apology to me for the times you got fresh with me, it's one I can accept 
with open arms, Ataru."  She took a deep breath.  "And in that regard, I 
should apologize to you for the times I helped force you to stay with Lum 
just so all of us could fawn over Mendou-san."  She bowed her head as she 
said that.  "After hearing about Sakuya-san being the head of your family 
now that your grandmother's dead -- with her having full power and control 
over whom you'd end up marrying -- I strongly have to wonder what might have 
happened had your sisters decided to drop into your life a lot sooner than 
they actually did."

	"Talk to Onee-chan about that," Ataru advised.  "She can explain more."

	Momoe smirked.  "I just might."

	"Just remember a few things when it comes to Negako-san, Momoe-chan," 
Nabiki warned with a raised finger.  "She despises titles like you wouldn't 
believe.  To her, the whole and unvarnished truth is ALL that matters.  
Lies, half-truths, even tact, are not relevant.  Above all else . . . "

	Ataru, Nabiki and Shinshi, in sync:  "DON'T CALL HER 'SENSEI!'"

	Hearing that, Shinobu nearly fell over laughing.  Kumiko rolled her eyes.  
"I'll try to remember that!" Momoe stated.  Then, setting her teacup aside, 
she slipped out from under the covers.  Positioning herself beside Ataru, 
she reached over to draw her arms around him, she planting a warm kiss on 
his lips.  The door to the master's cabin then opened, revealing Sakuya, 
Chikage and Haruka.  The elder sisters stopped on seeing one of their 
brother's minor pains-in-the-butt giving him such a kiss, and then they 
exchanged surprised looks.  Momoe then pulled away from Ataru, her hand 
reaching up to rub his beard.  "It's a nice touch," she admitted before 
standing, moving to leave.

	"Get a good night's rest when you get back home, Momoe," Ataru advised, he 
giving her a concerned look.  "If you feel it's necessary, take tomorrow off 
from school.  I'm sure your parents and the teachers at school'll 
understand."

	"Hai," she replied.  Then, standing at attention, she gave him a bow.

	The others watched her as she turned and left, and then Kumiko sighed.  
"Well, we better head off, too, Shinobu-chan."

	"You go ahead," Shinobu told her.

	"Right," Kumiko replied before she gave Ataru a bow, and then she left.

	Right after that, Ranma walked into the room.  "Hey, Nabiki!"

	Nabiki perked.  "What's up?"

	"What're we gonna do with Kunou?"

	The Tendou siblings and Ataru blinked.  "He's alive?!" Nabiki demanded.  "I 
thought he got blown up when the ship was destroyed!"

	"No such luck.  According to Bishop Owleye, Kunou saved a whole slew of the 
Ellsians when their warp drive went bonkers.  In fact, the Ellsian captain 
wants to take ol' Bokken-boy back to her planet and keep him there."

	Ataru hummed.  "Yes, I can see why she'd want that.  There is something of 
a dearth of eligible young men on Elle these days."

	"Ataru, how could you even SUGGEST such a thing?!" Shinobu demanded.

	"Shinobu-san, please don't tell me that you've never heard of Kunou."

	Shinobu blinked as she considered Nabiki's words, and then her forehead 
furrowed as she considered that point.  "He's the kendou team captain at 
your school, right?" she then asked, gazing on Nabiki.  After she nodded, 
Shinobu then added, "A real arrogant creep who loved to lord it over 
everyone because his father's the principal, right?"

	"Yep," Nabiki said.  "Compared to Kunou, Mendou is something of a saint."

	A wary look crossed Shinobu's face.  "Really . . .?"

	Ryuunosuke's voice boomed through the main hallway connecting the cabins 
aft of the pilotage.  "Hey, Shinobu, c'mon!  Get the lead out!" the tomboy 
screamed from the gangway.  "We're waitin' for you!  You comin' or what?!"

	"Hai!" Shinobu called before she turned to leave.  "See you guys later!"

	"Shinobu."

	She stopped, turning to stare at Ataru.  "Hai?"

	"Remember what I told you about Minako-san."

	She considered that, and then she sighed.  "I'll think about it, Ataru."

	She headed out.  "What was that about?" Ranma asked.

	"Long story," Ataru replied, walking over to embrace her.  "You okay?"

	Ranma blinked before a shudder rocked her.  "I'm not sure."

	The others gazed sympathetically at her.

*    *    *

	"Himiko-san, Mikiko-san, daijoubu desu no?"

	The two Terran-turned-Avalonians jerked on hearing Shirayuki's question, 
and then they turned to stare at her.  Both of them were seated in the 
"Windrider's" main galley, located one deck below the pilotage.  "You say 
something, Shirayuki-san?" Himiko asked.

	The chef was quick to see the tears brimming in their eyes.  "What's 
wrong?!" Shirayuki gasped as she placed her tea tray aside, and then she 
moved to gently grasp the former swim team captain's hand.  "Why are you 
crying?!"

	"Oh, it's nothing much," Mikiko admitted.  "Just us recovering from having 
our illusions shattered, that's all."

	Shirayuki blinked.  "'Illusions?'"

	"A-ri-ri?  What's wrong with Himiko-chan and Mikiko-chan?!"

	"That's what Hime's trying to find out, Hinako-chan . . .!  Eh?!  Mie-san, 
what are you doing here?!" the chef asked on recognizing the person who had 
accompanied Hinako to the galley.  "Aren't you going back to Earth?"

	"I'm sticking around, Shirayuki-san," Mie admitted as she and Hinako took 
seats at the table being used by Himiko and Mikiko.  "There's something that 
I need to find out and I need to stay close to your brother so I can find 
it."

	Shirayuki blinked.  "You're not going to try to hurt Nii-sama, are you?"

	"I'll hopefully avoid it," Mie promised her.

	Hearing that, the chef grinned.  "Desu no!"

	She headed to the kitchen.  By then, both Himiko and Mikiko were staring 
intently at the amnesiac Sagussan, their Avalonian psionic powers telling 
them much.  "You're like us in a way," the former then noted.  "But you're 
different.  Not really sure how . . . "

	"I wish I could answer the questions I'm sure that you both want to ask me, 
but I can't answer them now," Mie admitted.

	"And you think Ataru-kun can help you find that out?" Mikiko asked.

	"Pretty much so.  You weren't involved in the rescue, right?"

	"We were waitin' to help in case things got screwed up," Himiko said.

	"Well, while things were going crazy on Elle's ship, someone whom (I think) 
came from whatever planet I hail from came to help with the rescue," Mie 
explained.  "She took off just after that Rose creep took the Magic Carpet 
Ride to Eternity thanks to Ataru-kun and his pistol.  I didn't get any 
chance to ask her any questions 'cause right afterward, Hinako-chan brought 
us here."

	The other girls nodded.  "Ah!"

	"I see you've decided to join us for the remainder of the voyage."

	Everyone turned as Chikage stepped into the galley, she followed by Sakuya 
and Haruka.  "Oh, hi, guys!" Himiko hailed.

	"Himiko-san, what's wrong?!" Haruka demanded as she walked over to sit 
beside the swimmer, a hand reaching over to grasp the latter's as the 
martial artist tried to provide some sort of comfort.  "Were you hurt on 
seeing your old schoolmates so soon?" she gently asked.

	Himiko shuddered as she felt Haruka's concern flood her nervous system with 
a delicious warmth she had NEVER felt before, even when she was just a 
Terran instead of an Avalonian physically disguised as one.  Blinking 
several times as she found herself gazing on the raven-haired, blue-eyed 
beauty beside her, Himiko took a breath.  "It wasn't that, Haruka-san.  It 
was . . . "

	"Don't tell us," Sakuya cut in.  "Let us guess.  Mendou, right?"

*    *    *

	"AH-CHOO!"

	Eyes locked on Mendou Shuutarou.  "Mendou-san, are you all right?" one of 
the girls in Shinobu's class asked concernedly.

	The scion of Japan's richest family sniffed before he took the chance to 
look around the passenger cabin of the small courier ship that would soon 
take Elle's former hostages back to Earth.  "Someone must be talking about 
me."

	Instantly, several handkerchiefs were handed to him.  He smiled his thanks 
to the girls who were being so kind to him.

*    *    *

	Eyes locked on Sakuya.  "How'd you guess, Sakuya-san?" Mikiko asked.

	"Couldn't help but notice how much he freaked out when Onii-sama apologized 
to him for what he did around Mendou's sister."

	"It was more than that."

	People stared at Himiko.  "What do you mean, Himiko-chan?" Hinako asked.

	The swimmer closed her eyes for a moment, she shifting herself a bit to 
lean against Haruka.  The latter raised her arm to wrap around Himiko's 
neck.  "Mendou hated the fact that Ataru-kun apologized to him," the former 
hissed.

	"I couldn't believe I actually sensed that from him when it happened!" 
Mikiko added as Sakuya walked over to sit beside her.  As Haruka had done to 
Himiko, Sakuya automatically reached over to gently grasp the other 
Terran-turned-Avalonian's hand.  That contact also began to do interesting 
things to Mikiko's mind and body.  Squeezing her eyes shut, she then added 
in a near-sob, "Now I wish I'd stayed dead . . . "

	"Mikiko-chan, don't say such awful things!" Hinako whined.

	"Take it easy, Hinako-chan," Mie soothed.  "They just became Avalonians, 
remember?  Adjusting to what they've got to live with now's going to hurt 
them real bad at times.  Let them vent themselves out.  They need it."

	Himiko and Mikiko gave the amnesiac Sagussan thankful smiles.  Sakuya and 
Haruka moved to embrace them.  "Do not think of it as hate when it comes to 
Shuutarou's feelings for Ani-kun, girls," Chikage then spoke up.  "It's fear 
that drives him, not hate."

	"'Fear?'" the former Tomobiki High sophomores chorused in sync.

	"Hai, fear.  After all, as long as Ani-kun continued to behave like a 
sex-crazed moron, Shuutarou could act as he pleased," Chikage elaborated.  
"After all, as long as Shuutarou behaved as one expected of him, people 
could focus their anger, outrage and revulsion at Ani-kun without 
reservation or question.  Once Ani-kun changed, however . . . "

	"The game was up," Mie finished for the sorceress.

	"Exactly."

	"Could it potentially cause problems for Anigimi-sama?" Haruka asked.

	"Not really, especially given the planned wedding on Saturday.  Once he's 
married to Mizunokooji Asuka, Shuutarou'll be too busy with her to worry too 
much about Ani-kun, much less his social standing with the girls at Tomobiki 
High School.  THAT is . . . "  The sorceress raised a warning finger, a 
mirthless smile crossing her face.  "IF Shuutarou, of course, survives the 
wedding night and the honeymoon," she finished with a knowing wink.

	Hearing that, those who knew of Asuka's superhuman strength began to 
snicker.  "What's that about?" Mie asked.

	"Long story," Sakuya said.

*    *    *

	"Um, Marie-sama?"

	Marie looked up to see Jonna staring at her.  As the eldest sister 
currently in the "Windrider's" pilotage, she had been given the right to sit 
in the central chair.  Reiko and Kaneko were back at their stations prepping 
the barque for the voyage that would take them to locate the Genesis Wand of 
Parah.  Orin and Miree were in Aria's cabin, they keeping an eye on the 
young Parisian as she slept, still recovering from her injuries on the "Rose 
Emperor."

	"What is it, Jonna-san?"

	"Did you know that there's another Avalonian aboard the ship right now?"

	Marie blinked.  "What do you mean?  Where is this person?"

	Jonna pointed aft.  "In Chikage-sama's cabin, Marie-sama."

	The replica-bioroids once made for Nassur by the Niphentaxians, they at 
their side stations and helping the Noukiite twins prepare the "Windrider" 
for deep space flight, turned as one to gaze on Marie and Jonna.  "That's 
funny," Damasu -- she living now under the name "Arashi Mika" -- spoke up as 
she turned her eyes aft.  "I just started to sense her.  Why didn't I sense 
her before?"

	"She's waking up, I think," Nomade Shinobi said.  "Who is that, anyway?"

	"Let's go find out," Fujikaze Nobuko proposed.

	With that, the four replica-bioroids moved to step off the pilotage.  Marie 
blinked, and then she stood up, moving to follow them.  "Mamoru-chan, can 
you call Aniue-sama and tell him what we just found?" she told her sister, 
who had been half-asleep at her chair.

	"Right!" the tomboy chimed back.

	The five women walked off the pilotage, they heading to the door leading to 
Chikage's cabin.  Kanki Yukiko shifted herself to shield Marie's body with 
her own as the latter moved to press her hand against the security lock 
panel located beside the doorway.  As Mienai, the Tritonian/Avalonian had 
often used her ice-generating powers to form a quick shield against incoming 
fire, thus allowing Hensou, Kamen and Damasu to shoot around that to get at 
their targets.  Marie tried not to moan at Yukiko's show of 
over-protectiveness.  It was sweet, but given that Chikage probably had 
something to do with this, truthfully unnecessary.  "Yukiko-chan, please 
don't do that . . . "

	The silver-haired woman looked over her shoulder, she giving Marie a smile 
and a wink.  Marie pressed her hand against the palm reader fitted in the 
panel.  The door unlocked.  Holding up a hand to keep Marie back -- thus 
earning her an annoyed stare from Ataru's sister in return -- Mika then 
opened the door to peek inside.  One look was enough to make her drool.  
"Very nice."

	Yukiko, Nobuko and Shinobi looked in.  "Agreed," Lum's replica cooed.

	"What?" Marie demanded as she pushed Yukiko aside to see for herself.

	One look was enough.

	"***AKANE-SAN?!***"

*    *    *

	The shout echoed throughout the ship, including the galley one deck below.  
"Uh-oh!" Hinako said as she and Chikage's heads turned to the ladder 
ascending up-deck.  "Hina thinks we forgot about Akane-san . . . "

	The sorceress sighed as the faint *thump!* of a body hitting the deck 
echoed through the air.  "Wonderful," she muttered.

	"What's this all about, girls?"

	Chikage and Hinako turned to gaze on Sakuya and Haruka.

*    *    *

	"***I DEMAND TO BE RELEASED AT ONCE!***"

	"Lad, do you not get tired of listening to your own voice all the time?"

	Kunou Tatewaki, who had recovered minutes before from the stun-bolt shot a 
crewmember on the "Windrider Dreams" delivered to him at the order of the 
battlecruiser's captain, spun around to see Firesky Owleye staring intently 
at him.  Standing to both sides of the elder Inquisitor were an amused 
Tendou Nabiki and a neutral-faced Sunhair Windrider.  "Tendou Nabiki!" the 
kendou-ka said as he surged toward the holding cell's door . . .

	He not realizing a force field was there!  "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!" 
Kunou howled as thousands of volts of electricity surged through his system. 
  Then, mercifully, he collapsed unconscious to the deck.

	Nabiki shook her head.  "Kunou-chan, you just don't learn, do you?" she 
muttered before gazing on her blonde, blue-eyed host.  "So what's the plan 
with him, Windy-chan?" she asked, her eyebrow arching.  "I can tell you flat 
out that Ataru-kun, Ranma-chan and the sisters are NOT going to let this 
idiot anywhere close to their ship anytime soon.  If EVER!"

	Windy -- the nickname had been bestowed on Sunhair Windrider by Moroboshi 
Ataru years earlier when the daughter of the magistrate-bishop of Magairu 
first met the grandson of Earth's only Zephyrite Righteous Gentile -- 
grinned.  "Well, technically, when we rescued him, he was in the custody of 
the Royal Ellsian Navy.  Granted, he had been taken from Earth unknowingly, 
but how in the name of the Fates are we to know if he hadn't been charged 
with anything under Ellsian law?  Since we're not at war with the Ellsian 
Kingdom -- though that might change if those hotheads in Baran decide to 
support their queen against common sense -- we'll send him off with Captain 
du Kohln and her crew."

	"Unless you believe it proper to return him to Earth," Firesky added.

	Nabiki considered that for a moment before she shook his head.  "No.  Some 
civil rights lawyer might say it isn't right to allow him to be whisked to 
another planet when the chance existed to bring him back home to Earth.  But 
all of us in Nerima are getting sick and tired of his idiocy, especially 
when it comes to my sister Akane and Ranma-chan."  She closed her eyes for a 
moment, and then she breathed out, "I have to take some responsibility for 
this.  To help support my family doojou, I goaded this idiot's fantasies 
concerning Akane-chan and Ranma-chan almost to the point where he could've 
gone all the way to raping them had he ever got the chance . . . "

	"You are repentant, child," Firesky sagely advised.  "Repentance in your 
heart is the first step to atonement.  It is a good thing."

	"So what can we do now, Your Grace?" Windy asked.

	"Could there be objections from the lad's family?" Firesky wondered.

	Nabiki shook her head.  "Nope.  Kodachi, his sister, is fully on our side 
now.  His mother's been dead for years.  And his dad's gone off on a 
sabbatical to Hawai'i."  A light smile then crossed her face.  "Besides, 
look at it this way:  All we're REALLY doing is hooking Kunou-chan up with a 
bright, intelligent, MATURE woman who is more than ready to walk down the 
aisle with him.  All we have to do to guarantee that is prevent him from 
thinking anymore about Akane-chan and Ranma-chan.  And that's a good thing 
if you ask me.  Given Ranma-chan's relationship with Ataru-kun, if 
Kunou-chan pressed matters with them, it could have lead to a blood feud.  
And given how busy Ataru-kun's been over the last while, that's gonna be one 
feud Kunou-chan will lose!  Badly!"

	"We are agreed, then," Firesky concluded.  "In the meantime, ladies, I'll 
leave you two to attend to your business."

	Nabiki and Windy bowed respectfully before they headed off.  The Inquisitor 
waited until he was alone with the dazed kendou-ka before he reached over to 
deactivate the force field holding Kunou at bay.  Firesky Owleye had cleared 
the brig level of any other crewmembers long before Windy and Nabiki had 
come to look in on the latter's classmate.

	"You can come in now, Ladies," he called out.

	A transporter beam sparkled to life, revealing three women dressed in 
Sagussan jumpsuits.  The leader of the group was dressed in a civilian 
uniform, it coloured in the black-and-gold denoting a member of the 
Republic's central government.  The three wreath-of-laurels denoting 
minister's rank adorned her arms.  "Hello again," she hailed, her voice 
tinged with a Celtic-like lilt.

	Firesky smiled as he waved the visitors into the cell.

*    *    *

	"Is this everyone?"

	Shinobu quickly took a look around the courier's passenger cabin to see who 
was seated there.  Quickly noting that Izumo Sakiko had elected to come back 
to Earth with them instead of staying with Ataru and his family as they went 
off to wherever they were planning to go, she then turned back to the deck 
technician standing at the gangplank.  "Just a second and I'll find out."

	He nodded.  She then moved to take a head-count.  Pausing after she 
finished, she then blinked.  Someone was missing.  Who . . .?

	"Something wrong, Shinobu?" Sakiko asked.

	"We're missing someone," Shinobu said.

	The Seishin-turned-Nendo-kata blinked as she took that in, and then she 
turned to make a head-count using her telepathy.  Closing her eyes to 
prevent the others from seeing them glow, she got to work.  Seconds later, 
they opened.  "Mie-san's not here," she then announced before she tilted her 
head in the general direction of the docked "Windrider."  *Mie-san, it's 
Izumo Sakiko,* she called out telepathically, again closing her eyes to hide 
their glow.  *We're about to head out.  Aren't you coming with us?*

	*Afraid not, Sakiko-san,* the amnesiac Sagussan replied.  *I've got to 
stick around your 'Darling' for a bit.  Go on ahead.*

	*Okay!* Sakiko replied before she relaxed her powers, she turning to the 
technician.  "We're all here."

	"What about Mie-san?" Shinobu asked.

	"She's staying with Darling and the sisters."

	"Oh . . . "

	Before Shinobu could say anything else, Mendou bolted up.  "WHAT?!  Mie-san 
is being forced to stay behind by Moroboshi . . .?!"

	*WHAM!*

	Gasps filled the cabin as everyone turned to see the scion of Japan's 
richest family having been driven into the deck thanks to Sawada Minako's 
elbow.  "Minako-san, why did you do that to Mendou-san?!" one girl wailed.

	The rose-haired Avalonian sighed.  "You know, I'm beginning to appreciate 
the idea of him actually NOT being part of the class!" she snarled before 
turning to stare at the technician.  "Yo, let's get this damned show on the 
road!  We got classes tomorrow!"

	The technician shook his head.  "I see all the rumours about Tomobiki 
aren't only just true, they're *understated,*" he muttered.

	Shinobu blinked confusedly.  "What rumours?"

	"That everyone who lives there would gladly blame Young Master Ataru for 
EVERYTHING odd that happens in that place."

	Ataru's former girlfriend jolted.  Was THAT the way outsiders looked on 
people like her?!  "Gomen nasai," she apologized.

	"It's alright," he assured her before stepping off the gangplank.

	The hatchway was sealed.  The courier's engines turned over.  Everyone 
relaxed as they gazed out the view ports to watch the launch.  The courier 
began to taxi towards the main doors of its host ship's hangar.  Within a 
moment, it was free of the "Windrider Dreams," moving to do a beauty pass of 
the battlecruiser before angling towards Earth.  Seeing the "Windrider" and 
the "Goddess of Luck" docked alongside the superstructure of the Zephyrite 
ship, Shinobu took a breath.  She then sensed a hand gently grasp hers.  
Turning, her eyes widened on seeing Minako seated beside her, a concerned 
look on her face.  Shinobu blinked as she wondered what to say to her 
classmate, given the fact that they were in a crowd of thirty people, most 
of whom knew her quite well.

	Sensing that, Minako smirked as she rose, beckoning Shinobu with a nod to 
follow.  As the courier finished its beauty pass, the two teens walked 
through an aft doorway to find themselves in a small lounge complete with a 
bar and stools.  It even gave potential visitors an even better view of 
surrounding space; it was located at the aft end of the courier's small 
superstructure.  "Saw this when I came aboard," Minako noted as she took a 
seat by the bar, turning herself to stare aft at the receding image of the 
"Windrider Dreams."  "The adrenaline's starting to wear off in most of the 
guys from what happened on Elle's ship.  They'll probably sleep all the way 
back to Earth."

	Shinobu sat beside her.  "You know how long it'll take us to get back?"

	"Couple hours according to the pilot of this thing," Minako replied.  She 
then closed her eyes.  "You know now, don't you?"

	Ataru's former girlfriend perked on hearing that statement, and then she 
felt her cheeks redden slightly.  "Hai."

	Silence fell as the two considered what to say next.  Finally, Minako 
clicked her tongue.  "I never thought it would happen to me."

	Shinobu blinked.  "What?"

	"The urge to get a bond-mate."  Here, Minako paused as she marshalled her 
thoughts, and then she continued, "One of my friends from down south, Ishida 
Nagisa, bonded with a buddy of hers, Sakakibara Chiharu, a year ago.  They 
told me what it was like when 'the urge' . . . " -- she made finger-quotes 
-- "Hit them.  It was like a freakin' tsunami came outta nowhere to swamp 
their minds with all sorts of crazy thoughts.  Friends, family, school . . 
.!  It just didn't matter anymore.  All that mattered to Nagisa-chan and 
Chiharu-chan were each other.  You couldn't pry them apart no matter how 
hard you tried."

	"And you've felt that for me?"

	Minako stared at her before she nodded.  "Hai."

	Shinobu found herself gazing at the deck.  "When we met on Sunday?"

	"Hai."

	The brown-haired girl took a deep breath as she absorbed what her companion 
had just admitted.  She then gazed on Minako.  "I need to think about it, 
Minako-chan," she then said.  "I really need to think about it.  Okay?"

	Minako nodded.  "Sure."

	The background noise of the courier's engines suddenly dropped before a 
high whine heralded its entrance into hyperspace.  Cries of shock and cheers 
echoed from the cabin forward as Minako and Shinobu watched the surrounding 
stars melt into a shower of lights.  As they turned their attention aft, 
Minako's hand drifted over to gently grasp Shinobu's.  The latter tensed for 
a second, and then she relaxed herself as she felt Minako's chestnut eyes 
fall on her.  They stared at each other for a moment, and then Minako stood, 
nodding to the row of sofas lining the aft end and both sides of the lounge. 
  Shinobu rose, walking over with her classmate to a sofa poised in a way 
that would allow them to gaze aft.  Sitting down, they relaxed, Shinobu 
leaning her head on Minako's shoulder as they watched the stars fly past.

	Unseen by either, Sakiko was staring at them from the lounge's entrance.  
She was quick to note that no one else, not even Yoshino Tomomi or Ikusawa 
Kyooko -- they were seated together in the aft-most row of chairs in the 
cabin, holding each other's hands as they leaned their heads together -- was 
considering coming back to the lounge and watch the stars pass from there.  
Gazing at Minako's friends, Sakiko didn't need to use her own telepathy to 
sense that the two Avalonians were currently engaged in things non-psi 
species couldn't begin to contemplate.  Grinning as she gently closed the 
door to give Minako and Shinobu privacy, she headed up to sit with 
Ryuunosuke.

*    *    *

	"Benten, I'm not that person anymore . . .!"

	"Dammit, Lum, don't say that!" the Fukunokami shrilled.  She was 
confronting Seiko in the lounge aboard the "Goddess of Luck," just aft of 
the frigate's bridge.  Nassur and Dakejinzou were currently there, they 
preparing the ship for the short flight back to Uru so that the former could 
reclaim his own starship, the "Renegade," and return to Home Base.  Oyuki 
had taken the Warp Chamber to Triton to report on things concerning Earth to 
her parents, King Fuyu and Queen Samui.  Benten would get a ride with 
Dakejinzou to Uru, and then take her air bike back to Fukunokami.  "Look, 
you already explained this whole damned 'crossing over' thing to me!  That 
don't matter!  Please . . . "

	Seiko surged up to grasp her friend's shoulders, she shaking Benten to 
force the latter to look into her eyes.  "Benten, stop this!" she snapped.  
"Things haven't really changed!  Will you quit acting like the whole Cosmic 
Chain of Life's going to end . . .!"

	"Then come live with me, for Bensaiten's sake!" Benten pleaded.

	Seiko blinked as she stared on her friend's face.  "I can't do that."

	"Why the fuck not?!" Benten roared.  "Is it Moroboshi?!  You ain't got a 
chance with him!  You can't have kids unless you have 'em with another girl, 
remember?!  Why the hell're you stayin' on Earth?!  They're gonna slam the 
doors closed on all of us anyway!  If you stay there, you're STUCK there!  
Do you really want that?!  C'mon, Lum . . .!"

	"Seiko."

	That one word made Benten stop.  "Eh . . .?"

	"My name is Seiko.  Izumo Seiko.  Lum is dead."

	Silence fell as Benten stared wide-eyed at her transformed friend.  Friend 
. . .?  Shuddering as the finality of Seiko's words slammed into her heart 
like a meteorite, Benten sobbed as she spun away from the Nendo-kata, she 
racing out of the lounge.  Seiko watched her go, she squeezing her eyes shut 
as the Fukunokami teen slammed the door leading to one of the guest bedrooms 
closed behind her.  Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Seiko then 
whispered, "Gomen nasai, Benten.  I didn't want it to be this way . . . "

	"She just needs time to let what happened to you sink in."

	Seiko turned to see Nassur staring concernedly at her.  "Hai, Nassur-chan, 
I know."  She crossed her arms as she turned to stare out a view port into 
the space around the "Goddess of Luck" and the "Windrider Dreams."  "They 
teach us in the Great School that one must have patience above all else to 
allow the Unity to property foster.  But with people like Benten . . . "

	A wry chuckle escaped her.  "Yes, she can be pretty stone-headed," the 
Vosian mused as he moved to stand beside her.

	"Nassur, why didn't you tell us about Hensou and the others?"

	He perked as Seiko's dark gaze fixed on him, and then he breathed out, 
closing his eyes.  The Nendo-kata was quick to sense the surge of guilt her 
friend felt concerning the replica-bioroids who had rescued Ten and brought 
him to Earth.  "I'm really sorry about that, Seiko-chan," he apologized.  "I 
thought it was a good idea at the time.  Business took me once to Phentax 
Two when I met one of those Avalonians.  Of course, I couldn't sense her 
brainwave patterns and she didn't even come close to looking like a 
Yehisrite.  And . . . "  A disgusted look then crossed his face.  "Seeing 
her 'owner' play with her like she was some expensive love doll, I could 
only come to one conclusion."

	"Android."

	"Android," the Vosian confirmed with a nod.  "So, since this was just after 
the bio-bombing of Lecashuto, I came to realize I had to do something to 
keep you and Benten safe just in case the worst happened.  The Mikado 
would've kidnapped you in an instant if he got the chance, especially after 
Oogi murdered all those people."  A pause.  "And since Oyuki and Ran were 
your best friends from middle school, it wouldn't be much of a leap of logic 
for someone to consider going after them just to get to me.  So, after I 
convinced your father, Benten's father and King Fuyu to go along with it, I 
went to Oogi and had them built.  Of course, I never thought to question 
their origins . . . "

	"And the Niphentaxians would've done everything to ensure you'd never learn 
the truth about them," Seiko finished.

	"Hai.  How are they, anyway?"

	Seiko smiled.  "Adjusting to life on Earth, not to mention trying to deal 
with a massive crush they ALL have on Darling!"

	Nassur smirked.  "And after all the times he dreamt of a harem . . . "

	"It only happened AFTER he got over that!" Seiko finished.

	Snickers filled the "Goddess'" lounge for a moment, and then Nassur sighed. 
  "You don't seem to be too jealous of Ranma-san."

	Seiko blinked before she shook her head.  "More envious than jealous, 
Nassur-chan.  After all, someone bonded Darling and Ranma-san together when 
they were very young.  I REALLY would like to learn who that was.  Then 
again, what could I really do to change that?  If any of us tried to break 
the bond between them, we'd end up killing them.  Or worse, allow Darling's 
Cyborg-self and Ranma-san's 'Neko' persona to take over.  And given that 
from what I've sensed from them both, the Cyborg and Neko-Ranma really don't 
like many of the people their other-selves have had to deal with in the past 
. . . "  A shudder raced through her as the potential result of THAT 
scenario came to her.

	"Right," he drawled before his eyes glowed.  "It's Karen-san."

	Seiko turned as the hatchway connecting the "Goddess of Luck" and the 
"Windrider Dreams" opened, revealing the pianist in question.  "Hello?!  
Seiko-san . . .?  Ah, there you are!"  She grinned on seeing the Nendo-kata. 
  "Gomen nasai, Seiko-san, but we're almost ready to head out to get the 
Genesis Wand for Aria-chan.  Onii-chan was wondering if you were going to 
come with us."

	"I'll be right there," Seiko promised before she leaned over to kiss 
Nassur's cheek.  "You be careful now, Nassur-chan."

	"I'll be fine," he promised.  "Watch yourselves out there, Karen-san."

	Karen grinned.  "Hai!"

*    *    *

	Watching from the privacy of her guest cabin's window, Benten blinked back 
her tears as she saw Karen and Seiko race out of the "Goddess," heading to a 
corridor that would lead them to the gangway and the "Windrider."  Sniffing, 
the Fukunokami teen squeezed her eyes shut as she turned away.  "Good-bye, 
Lum . . . " she whispered before her strength let go and she dropped.

	Strong arms supported her as Benten wept, she crying into Nassur's tunic.

*    *    *

	Seiko stopped, her eyes turning to stare once more at the "Goddess of 
Luck."  Karen took several steps before she herself stopped, turning around 
to gaze questioningly at the Nendo-kata.  "Seiko-san, is there something 
wrong?"

	Seiko jolted, and then she sighed before smiling.  "It's alright."

	Karen gazed curiously at her before she nodded.  They turned once more to 
race off for the "Windrider."

*    *    *

	"Hello?  Negako-san?  Are you here?"

	"Enter, Kasumi."

	Kasumi smiled pleasantly as she stepped through the old shrine's front 
door.  Quickly focusing her attention on the people seated around the table 
in the living room, her smile broadened a fraction.  "Hello, Sensei, 
Panda-san," she hailed Negako's present guests.

	"Hello, Kasumi," Toofuu returned her greetings with a smile.  Beside him, 
the panda raised a sign that echoed his employer's words.

	Kasumi sat down.  "Any news from your brother, Negako-san?"

	"Ataru should be contacting us concerning the status of the operation 
against Elle son," Negako said as Toofuu picked up the teakettle to pour a 
cup for his student.  "If they were successful -- as I suspect they should 
have been given Hinako's possession of the Staff of Gihan -- Ataru will no 
doubt make arrangements with the Zephyrites to see his former classmates 
transported to Earth within the next several hours.  Certainly before 
midnight tonight."

	"I hope so . . .!  Thank you, Sensei."

	Kasumi beamed as she was handed a cup.  The front doors opened again, 
revealing Inu Chigaiko.  Following her was Tendou Kimiko.  "Tadaima!"

	"Okaeri ne!" Kasumi called back before she blushed as she turned back to 
her host.  "I'm sorry, Negako-san . . . "

	The ninjutsu grandmaster shook her head.  "Pay it no mind, Kasumi."

	Toofuu was quick to sense the annoyed look on Kimiko's face.  "Are you 
alright, Kimiko-san?" he asked as the first Avalonian replica of Tendou 
Akane sat to the right of her adopted older sister.  Chigaiko took her seat 
beside Negako.  "What's wrong?  Did something happen today?"

	Kimiko sighed, and then she nodded thanks as a cup of tea was handed to 
her.  "It appears that some of the boys who once chased Akane-sama seem 
hell-bent on the idea of pressing their challenge against me," she flatly 
declared.

	Kasumi perked.  "Oh, my!  Are you serious, Kimiko-chan?!"

	"Unfortunately," Kimiko confirmed with a nod before she sipped her tea 
before she continued, "I was with Hikaru-kun at a bistro when several of 
Akane-sama's would-be suitors spotted us.  They came up to haze Hikaru-kun 
about his interest in me.  I was forced to defend him."

	"You didn't hurt them too much, did you?" Toofuu asked.

	"No.  Ninomiya-sensei intervened before matters got out of hand."

	"That might not stop them," Kasumi warned.

	"Agreed, it will not," Negako warned.  "Further, with Pauline's departure 
for Hawai'i, some of the students at Fuurinkan might decide the time has 
come to remove all remnants of Pauline's influence on the student body."  
The ninjutsu grandmaster ignored the snickers from Kasumi and Chigaiko on 
hearing the principal's given name as she continued, "Hinako represents the 
most profound 'threat' Pauline has unleashed 'against' the student body at 
Fuurinkan over the previous year.  To remove her once and for all . . . "

	"Her powers should be able to protect her," Toofuu mused.

	"Toofuu, you should know well that no defence is perfect."

	The chiropractor paused as he considered Negako's point.  "Agreed."

	The panda raised a sign.  [YOU PROMISED HINAKO THAT YOU'D HELP HER STAY AN 
ADULT FULL-TIME.]  It was flipped around.  [DO YOU WANT ME TO TELL HINAKO TO 
COME SEE YOU SO YOU CAN START TREATING HER?]

	"Do so."

	[ALL RIGHT.]

	A faint buzzing noise echoed from the direction of the grandmaster's 
bedroom.  "I got it!" a young boy's voice called out.

	"Who's that?" Chigaiko demanded.

	"Jariten," Negako replied before she called out, "Is it Ataru?!"

	Toofuu, Kasumi and Kimiko quickly noted Chigaiko's twitching eyebrow.  
"It's Sakuya-oneechan, Negako-oneechan!" Ten called back.

	"Bring the phone here!" Negako ordered.

	A moment later, a young boy of five walked into the living room, an 
alien-looking portable communicator unit in hand.  Seeing the transformed 
Ten, Chigaiko blinked in shock.  The Nerima natives were also taken aback by 
the changes in Ten's appearance; Lum's cousin was as well known among the 
general public, especially in the districts and towns on Tomobiki's borders, 
as Lum herself.  "Here ya go!" he said as the communicator was handed over.

	Negako pressed controls to allow the speakers to transmit Sakuya's voice 
openly.  "Hello, Sakuya.  Toofuu, Kasumi, Kimiko and Chigaiko are with me 
right now.  I trust the rescue went off without problems."

	"Hai, everything went a-okay!" Sakuya replied.  "Miyake-san and everyone 
else got sent back to Earth on a Zephyrite courier ship a half-hour ago.  
They should be back in Tomobiki in a couple hours at the most."

	Cheers whooped.  "Are your sisters alright, Sakuya-san?" Kasumi asked.

	Sakuya sighed.  "Aria-chan chipped one of her arm bones when the warp drive 
on Elle's ship went bonkers after Onii-sama and the others started the 
rescue.  A Zephyrite medic looked it over and patched it up for her.  She's 
asleep in her cabin right now."

	"Guenevere-san won't like hearing that," Toofuu ruefully muttered before he 
spoke up, "Sakuya-chan, when will you come back?!"

	"Not just yet, Sensei," Sakuya replied.  "We have to go off and find a 
friend for Hinako-chan's friend first."

	Toofuu's, Kasumi's and Kimiko's eyes widened on hearing that.  "Are 
Nabiki-chan or Shinshi-chan around?" Kasumi asked.

	"Right here, Onee-chan," Nabiki's voice echoed from the speakers.  
"Shinshi's with Yotsuba-chan now in her cabin.  We're okay."

	"What about that boor Kunou, Onee-sama?" Kimiko asked.

	"Being held prisoner," Nabiki said.  "He won't be coming back to Earth."

	Surprise crossed everyone's faces.  "What happened?" Negako asked.

	Nabiki quickly explained the situation between Kunou and the young women 
from Elle.  Hearing that, the Nerima natives laughed.  "Well, he should be 
happy," Toofuu mused.  "But what's to stop him from trying to come back to 
Earth to harass Ranma-chan?  If he wins over senior officers in the Ellsian 
Navy, he could easily borrow a ship . . . "

	"Inspector Owleye promised us that'll be taken care of," Nabiki cut in.  
"He strikes me as being a man of his word."

	"Nabiki-chan, this IS Kunou Tatewaki we're speaking of," Kasumi warned.

	"True," the middle Tendou daughter conceded.  "But Kunou-chan's never had 
to deal with aliens before, especially people like these Zephyrites.  
Besides, if the Noukiites succeed in setting up their neutral zone plan, 
it'll encompass Earth.  The Ellsians would need permission to send a ship 
our way from now on.  Kunou-chan's trapped, Onee-chan."

	"Let's hope his father doesn't raise an objection about it," Toofuu said.

	"Pauline would not care either which way about Tatewaki," Negako stated.

	"What about Ranma-chan, Nabiki-chan?" Kasumi asked.

	A deep sigh.  "Ranma's 'catty' side got loose again, Onee-chan.  Elle got 
caught in the line of fire."

	Toofuu and Kasumi blanched.  "She didn't . . .!" the chiropractor gasped.

	"Elle's in a coma," Nabiki assured them.  "She's being cared for by the 
Zephyrites as we speak."  A pause.  "And as long as she remains the 
Zephyrites' prisoner, not to mince words, that'll be another incentive for 
the Ellsians to behave themselves when it comes to us."

	"Thus keeping Kunou away," Chigaiko finished.

	"Right," Nabiki drawled.

	"What about Ataru-kun?" Chigaiko asked.

	"He's okay.  Ditto with everyone else."  A sigh.  "Except Marie-chan."

	Toofuu, Kasumi and Chigaiko, in sync:  "Marie-chan?!"

	"I assume Marie has learned of what the Staff of Gihan did," Negako said.

	Nabiki ruefully laughed.  "Figures YOU sensed what happened, Negako-san!"

	"What are you talking about?!" Kasumi asked.

	Nabiki and Sakuya joined together to explain.

	The response?

	"Oh, MY!"

	Did you expect anything else, dear readers?

*    *    *

	"Oooh . . . "

	"Hey, Sleeping Beauty's awake!"

	Marie's eyes fluttered as she found herself staring at what she quickly 
realized was the deckhead of her cabin aboard the "Windrider."  The very 
fluffy feeling of a thick mattress pressing against her back confirmed her 
suspicions.  A second later, Hinako popped into her arc of vision, concern 
etched on her face.  "Are you okay, Marie-chan?!"

	"Hinako-chan . . . " Marie whispered.  "I just had the strangest dream."

	Chikage stepped up to stand beside Hinako.  "About Akane, I would assume," 
the sorceress mused with a knowing smile.

	"Yes," the bespectacled teen said before she froze.  "It wasn't a dream?"

	Chikage nodded behind her.  Marie's head slowly turned right, making her 
stare at one corner of the cabin.  Her eyes widened even more on seeing 
Tendou Akane seated there, her legs tucked into her body with her arms 
wrapped around them, a flutter of nonsensical words escaping the bioroid's 
lips.  Kneeling beside her was Fujikaze Nobuko, she keeping a supportive 
hand on the other Avalonian's shoulder.  Standing behind Benten's replica 
were the other replica-bioroids, concerned looks on their faces.  Staring at 
the double of the youngest Tendou, Marie blinked as her mind churned through 
the previous twenty-four hours' events, and then she slowly rose, swinging 
her legs around so she could sit up.  "This isn't . . .?  Our Akane, is it?" 
she hesitantly asked.

	"No.  The Staff make a soul-copy of Akane before she went to be with her 
mother," the sorceress declared.  "Behind Hinako's back, by the way.  We 
obtained the body for her late this morning, just before Elle decided to 
stick her nose into our lives."

	Marie took that in with a slow nod.  "I see . . . "

	Nobuko stared at her.  "'Bout time you came back to the land of the 
living," she said before turning to Akane.  "Hey, Akane-chan, look!"  She 
pointed at Marie.  "Marie-chan's awake.  See?  You didn't hurt her at all."

	Akane's lips stopped fluttering as elements of her mind quickly absorbed 
her sister Avalonian's words, and then her eyes slowly shifted left to lock 
on Marie's face.  The latter remained still as the former gazed on her, and 
then Akane's eyes dropped as she started to mutter again.  "What's wrong 
with her, Chikage-chan?" Hinako asked as she stared at the sorceress.

	Chikage sighed.  "It appears Akane's spirit is still having problems 
adjusting to her new body."  She then stared at the replica-bioroids.  "Do 
any of you have any suggestions concerning how we should proceed with 
Akane?"

	They exchanged looks, and then Nomade Shinobi sighed.  "Well, the one thing 
I'd recommend is intimate therapy, Chikage-chan."

	"That does work," Arashi Mika said with a nod.

	Marie's eyes widened.  "Excuse me?!" she uttered, her voice an embarrassed 
squeak.  "You mean to say I should . . .?"

	The replica-bioroids nodded, they passing the Terran sympathetic looks.  
"Nani?  Nani?" Hinako asked as she looked at each of the people in the room 
in succession.  "What're you talking about?  What's 'intimate therapy?'"

	"Silly adult stuff," Chikage answered.

	Hinako blinked before she huffed, "Oh, *that!*"  She turned to leave.  
"Hina'd rather play with Kuma-san!"

	"In four years' time, you'll be singing a different tune."

	"Hina doesn't think so."

	She walked out.  Once the door closed behind the youngest sister, Marie 
turned to Nobuko.  "You cannot be serious!" she declared, surprising herself 
with the steadiness of her voice.  "You actually think it best to . . .?!"

	"Put Akane-chan in bed, rip her clothes off and screw her silly."

	"NOBUKO-SAN!"

	The Fukunokami/Avalonian then laughed as she waved her host down.  
"Bensaiten's Grave, Marie-chan, I was templated off a girl whom, as 
Sakuya-chan so eloquently put it earlier, is nothing better than a 
'trash-mouth.'  Now, I'm pretty much my own girl now -- that's thanks to 
Hinako-chan and the Staff when she made me look like a Terran after we met 
up with Darling and the others -- but I can't deny Benten's influence on me 
whatsoever."

	"Well, I wish you would practice.  Especially if you might decide to come 
to the Island and live with us," Marie insisted, she crossing her arms as 
she gave Nobuko a stern glare.  "Believe me, you would NOT wish to know how 
Guenevere-san would react if you spoke like that within hearing range of 
Aria-chan.  Even Aniue-sama knows when to be careful in that sort of 
situation."

	"Really stiffed-lipped one, huh?" Nobuko smirked, and then she looked at 
Kanki Yukiko.  "Sounds like your type, Mienai."

	"She must be," Oyuki's replica mused before she tittered.  "And she IS from 
France!  They are said to be great lovers, after all!"

	Chikage howled.  Marie rolled her eyes, a moan escaping the latter.

*    *    *

	"AH-CHOO!"

	Moaning, a bleary-eyed Guenevere Rochelles looked up from her tea.  "Who 
could be speaking about me?" the maid from Lyon asked.

*    *    *

	"Marie-chan, are you saying you're not beautiful?"

	Marie blinked before she focused on Shinobi.  Seeing the knowing smile 
cross the disguised Oni/Avalonian's face, Marie then sighed.  "Shinobi-san, 
that is not the point!  I'm not a lesbian and I'm certainly not bisexual!  
Yes, my first lover was a woman . . .!"

	Her voice caught in her throat as her hand flew to her mouth, her eyes as 
wide as saucers.  "And who was the lucky girl?" Mika asked.

	"Kimino Kunie.  A former resident of the convalescent home Marie spent time 
in after her step-father died," Chikage answered.

	Instant-blush time!  "CHIKAGE!"

	"Marie, that's enough!" the sorceress sternly said as she glared at her.  
"This is no time to argue about sexual ethics.  A life is in potential 
danger here.  A life whose very creation, I'm afraid to say, was influenced 
in part by your actions late last night."

	Silence.  Marie stared wide-eyed at her sister, her face paling as 
Chikage's words struck home deep in her own heart.  Her eyes then shifted 
right to gaze once more on Akane, who had remained in place, looking nowhere 
in particular, her lips fluttering.  Shivering, Marie hugged herself as 
tears threatened to pour down her cheeks.  "I didn't kill her . . . " she 
hissed.

	Chikage shook her head, she placing her hands on her hips.  "No, you did 
not.  What happened to the original Akane, in some ways, doesn't matter.  
But when it comes to the original Akane's sexual and emotional immaturity, 
they now matched up to an Avalonian body, it DOES matter greatly."

	Marie looked at Chikage.  "'Sexual and emotional immaturity?!'"

	"You should remember what Ane-kun told us about Akane's temper-tantrums."

	The bespectacled teen took that in before she breathed out, "True . . . "

	Chikage straightened herself.  "Perhaps a demonstration is called for.  
Nobuko, sit beside Marie, please."

	"'Kay," Benten's replica replied as she moved to sit on the bed.

	A knock was then heard at the door.  Yukiko answered it to reveal Yotsuba.  
"Hey, minna!" the would-be detective hailed as she walked inside, and then 
she drew out her spyglass so she could give Akane a close look.  "Hmmm.  
A-chama's still out of it, huh?" she asked.

	"Unfortunately.  We're persuading Marie to change that," Chikage said.

	"Checky!" Yotsuba acknowledged, she closing her eyes.  "Shi-chama . . .?"

	Marie stared at her English-born sister for a moment as Yotsuba's caramel 
eyes seemed to loose their lucidity, and then the latter breathed out, 
"Checky . . . "  She then gazed on Mika.  "Da-chama," she said with a smile 
as she opened her arms for a hug from the red-haired Avalonian.

	Mika grinned as she walked over to embrace the other girl.  Marie's eyes 
nearly popped through her glasses as they shared a tender kiss, and then the 
bespectacled teen looked down to see Yotsuba's hands reach behind the 
bioroid to un-tuck her blouse from her skirt.  A soft moan escaped Ran's 
replica as Yotsuba's hand gently stroked the small of the former's back.  
Their kisses remained soft and tender as Mika held Yotsuba close to her.  
Watching this, Marie was spellbound.  That was soon broken when a hand 
touched hers.  Jolting, she then looked down to see that Nobuko had reached 
down to gently stroke her fingertips over Marie's middle finger.  The urge 
to snap her hand away from the bioroid's touch burned through Marie.  She 
then blinked as Nobuko's hand pulled away from her.  A glance to her face 
revealed a look of concern being sent her way.  Realizing that Benten's 
replica had sensed her initial hesitation, Marie then sighed.  "Gomen nasai, 
Nobuko-san . . . "

	She reached over to press Nobuko's hand against hers.  Sensing Marie's 
willingness to allow this even in the face of what Chikage was ultimately 
proposing should happen between her and Akane -- no doubt, the bespectacled 
teen had been inspired in her own way to follow in Yotsuba's example -- 
Nobuko then smiled as her fingertips continued to brush over Marie's skin.  
*It's okay,* her voice then echoed in Marie's mind.  *You're a hell of a lot 
braver than most people'd think when they'd meet up with you, Marie-chan.*

	Marie blinked as her mind absorbed that comment, and then she gazed once 
more on Yotsuba and Mika.  The two weren't kissing at that time, they simply 
electing to hold each other, allowing their foreheads to rub against the 
other's.  "Um, Yotsuba-chan . . .?"

	"Hmmm?" the would-be detective trilled.  "What is it, Marie-chan?"

	"Do you . . . um, do that now with Shinshi-kun?"

	"Yotsuba does a LOT more than this with Shi-chama, Marie-chan."

	Marie took that in, and then she drew back her hand from Nobuko.  
"Marie-chan . . .?" Benten's replica whispered concernedly.

	"It need not go that far if you don't wish it to, Marie."

	Marie hesitantly looked at Chikage.  "But . . . "

	"Marie, they are telepaths and empaths," the sorceress said.  "To them, it 
is the mind and the spirit that matters.  The body is a shell.  Simple 
window-dressing.  It is the primary factor that rules their relationships 
with each other and outsiders.  Even if they look as they do now, none of 
them can deny what even a simple brush of the fingers over another's skin 
can do to them."  A pause.  "It makes them happy.  It gives them pleasure.  
And their ancestors on Sagussa went and built a society that acknowledged 
that and welcomed it as an integral part of their lives.  Social values 
eventually come to influence genetic development over the many generations.  
The Sagussans passed that on to the Avalonians when the bioroid factory was 
first built.  No Avalonian alive today can deny that fact.  Nobuko can't.  
Shinobi can't.  Yukiko can't.  Mika can't.  Shinshi can't.  Miree and her 
children can't." Her finger then indicated the fifth Avalonian in the room.  
"Neither can Akane."

	Marie blinked before her eyes swung to gaze on Akane.  "Then why . . .?"

	"Because her spirit was copied from that of a woman who, we no longer can 
deny, readily strove to deny almost every positive thought that comes from 
the onslaught of puberty ever since the day Kunou decided to start treating 
her as an object," Chikage answered.  "Add to that the fact that her family 
failed to make Akane realize that those feelings, in and of themselves, were 
not 'perverted.'  Add also to that her relationship with Ane-kun, how 
Ane-kun's own sexual immaturity came to clash so badly with Akane's.  And 
now, Akane's clone is in a body that will not allow her to hide herself from 
those feelings."  A pause.  "Put simply, she needs the chance to experience 
a truly positive emotional relationship.  And you are the best person to 
give that to her."

	Marie's cheeks warmed as Chikage's words sank in.  "She needs a boy!"

	"No.  That would be the worst thing to happen to Akane right now, Marie.  
The only people we know who, I believe, could possibly succeed in making 
Akane comfortable about herself in the presence of a man are Ani-kun and 
Toofuu-kun.  Ani-kun is trying to resolve his own feelings on a whole host 
of matters, so he couldn't possibly be of benefit to Akane.  And, 
unfortunately, the good doctor's ethics and morals would not allow him to 
overcome the considerable age difference between him and Akane.  So . . . "

	"What about one of the other Avalonians aboard, Chikage?" Marie wondered.

	"It can't be any of us," Nobuko answered.

	"Why not?"

	Benten's replica pointed to the side of her head.  "Thanks to the 
bio-transmitters in our heads that linked us to our templates so we could 
act like them in public, Marie-chan.  Ya see, before this, we were 
bond-mated to each other.  Hensou to me, Damasu to Mienai.  When Lum 'died' 
after the Noukiites blew Onishuto to hell, her spirit got fired through 
Hensou's mind, then it bounced around in our collective skulls for a bit 
before it exited through Damasu's head into Ran's subconscious mind.  And 
when that happened . . . "

	"Our bonds were shattered," Yukiko finished.  "It's a miracle none of us 
died.  Fortunately, the life-support units we were in were able to affect 
the necessary repairs to our mental synapses."  A rueful smile crossed her 
face.  "Still, it took us almost a week to recover enough mentally so we 
could break out of our holding area on Io."

	"If we hadn't, it would've been too late for Ten-chan," Shinobi added.

	Marie gazed on each of the replica-bioroids before her eyes fell on Nobuko. 
  "You still love her, don't you?" she asked.

	"I'll always love her," she asserted.  "Just as much as Benten loves Lum.  
And when I feel I'm ready for it, I'll bond with her again.  Just as much as 
Damasu and Mienai'll bond with each other.  So, in the end . . . "

	"None of us are really in any shape to help Akane out of this mess by 
*that* route," Yukiko finished for Nobuko.

	"What about the others?" Marie demanded.

	"Shinshi is disqualified for obvious reasons," Chikage said.  "Miree is too 
old psychologically.  Jonna and Orin are concentrating, as per Ani-kun's 
request, their attentions on Hinako and Aria, though they do understand not 
to step *too* far concerning our sisters.  As for Himiko and Mikiko, they're 
recovering from discovering some rather ugly things about Mendou Shuutarou, 
things they would have preferred NOT to discover.  And, by the looks of 
things, they might decide to try to go after Haruka and Sakuya."

	"I don't think Haruka-chan and Sakuya-chan'll accept *that!*"

	"True, but things might change."

	Silence fell as Marie took the chance to consider what she just heard.  Her 
eyes focused once more on Akane, who had finally fallen silent, though her 
eyes still remained glazed and unfocused.  "She needs your strength, Marie," 
Chikage then said as she placed an assuring hand on her sister's shoulder.

	Marie started, and then her cheeks flamed.  "I'm not strong . . . "

	"Yes, you are," the sorceress firmly asserted.  "You've just blinded 
yourself to that strength because of the pain you still feel at what 
happened to your stepfather.  Don't let it blind you anymore, Marie.  It can 
come back and hurt you badly when you least expect it.  And given what 
happened to you last night . . . "  Her voice trailed off as she took a deep 
breath.  "In her own way, Akane is as strong as you are, Marie.  But like 
you, she needs the chance to look past the blinds her template's experiences 
have forced on her.  You can give her that chance.  And as you help her, she 
helps you.  And that will make ALL our lives a lot easier in the long run."

	"It definitely won't be checky if Shi-chama lost his sister again."

	Marie's eyes focused on Yotsuba.  The latter had pulled away from Mika, 
though they kept an arm wrapped around each other's waist.  Seeing the look 
on her sister's face, Marie then sighed as she looked once more on Akane.  A 
shudder raced through her as she remembered the previous night's events at 
Hikarigaoka.  Calming herself with a breath, the bespectacled teen then 
stood.

	Walking over, she knelt beside Akane.  Raising her hand, she paused, 
letting it hover over the bioroid's shoulder.  Finally, she reached around 
and under Akane's armpit to tuck her fingers there, Marie's other hand 
grasping Akane's right arm.  The bioroid jolted on feeling that touch 
through her shirt, though she did not resist as Marie boosted her up.  
Slowly, calling on the many times she helped younger patients at the 
convalescent home get around when they didn't have enough physical strength 
to move themselves, she walked Akane over to the bed.  Nobuko got out of the 
way as Marie sat Akane on the mattress, she then moving to sit beside the 
newborn bioroid.  "Just hold her hands at the start, Marie," Chikage 
instructed.  "Let her get used to your touch at first."

	"Don't worry if you don't wanna do anything more," Nobuko added.  "She'll 
sense it if you don't like something."

	Marie gazed on Benten's double, she nodding.  The others quickly filed out 
of the cabin, Chikage closing the door behind them.  Marie watched them go, 
and then she gazed into Akane's eyes.  They were focused on her, the growing 
strength in that stare speaking volumes about what Marie's simple touch was 
doing to the bioroid's mind and soul.  Feeling her cheeks start to heat, 
Marie fought down the urge to pull her hands away from Akane's as Yotsuba's 
warning echoed once more in her mind.  Indeed, it simply wouldn't do at all 
if Kasumi, Nabiki and Shinshi had to endure losing their sister a SECOND 
time after the Staff of Gihan had gone to the trouble to ensure that 
something of Tendou Akane remained in this life for her siblings to cling 
to.  And, unfortunately, given Ranma's own bond with Marie's brother -- that 
added to a whole host of other factors whose influence on the original Akane 
had finally come to a head the previous night -- Akane didn't even have the 
luxury to fall on her template's only true loving relationship to help put 
her own life back in order.

	"Ranma . . . "

	Marie blinked as Akane's eyes turned away from her to gaze around the room. 
  "Do you want to see Aneue-sama, Akane?"

	Akane remained silent for a moment before her eyes drooped.  "I shouldn't . 
. . " she whispered.  "I doubt Ranma'll be happy to see me after what I . . 
. "  She stuttered before sighing.  "After what the other me did last 
night."

	"I know what it's like to loose your mother, Akane."

	Akane turned to gaze on her host.  "You've lost your step-dad, too."

	Marie nodded.  "I miss them both.  But I'm sure that wherever in Heaven 
they are now, Papa and Mama would want me to go on.  Oh, yes, Akane-chan, 
I've wanted many times to go be with them.  More times than I'd care to 
count.  And maybe . . . "  She paused to take a breath before she focused 
once more on Akane.  "If I found myself in a situation like the other you 
was in last night, I'd be tempted to let it all go, too.  But I can't.  If I 
did that, my sisters would be hurt.  Aniue-sama would be hurt.  Aneue-sama . 
. . " -- by this, Akane realized that Marie was speaking of Negako, not 
Ranma -- " . . . would be hurt, too.  And I can't do that to them, Akane.  I 
really can't."

	Akane considered that for a moment before her lips quirked into a smile.  
"I guess I can't do that either.  Especially not now."

	Silence fell as they gazed on each other.  Akane's eyes then closed as she 
found herself drifting closer to Marie.  The latter remained frozen in place 
as the former's lips brushed against hers.  At the same time, Akane guided 
Marie's arms around the former's neck as they drew themselves closer.  Their 
kiss deepened as their heads twisted around into the classic French kiss 
position.  Before they could sense what they were doing, their lips parted 
to allow their tongues to tap the other.  Akane's hands began to roam over 
Marie's back as they found themselves sinking into the mattress.  Once their 
heads were resting against the fabric of the bedcovers, their lips slowly 
pulled apart as they found themselves gazing intently at the other.  They 
remained still for a moment, and then embarrassed giggles escaped them.  
Finally, Akane reached up to gently touch Marie's cheek.  "You're so 
beautiful, Marie-chan . . . "

	Marie felt her cheeks heat.  "What do we do now, Akane-chan?"

	She considered that, and then she shrugged.  "Whatever we want, I guess."

*    *    *

	"It's about damned time . . . "

	"Are they alright, Nabiki-chan?"

	Nabiki sighed.  She was relaxing in Rinrin's seat on the "Windrider's" 
pilotage, the link connecting the solar-sail barque to Negako's communicator 
unit directly tied into the intercom unit located on the panel before her.  
"I think so, Onee-chan.  At least Marie-chan seems a little more open to the 
idea of being closer to Akane-chan."  A frown turned her lips.  "And if what 
I sensed about Marie-chan is true . . . "

	"It will do them both well," Negako cut in from Nerima.

	"At least you got something of your sister back," Inu Chigaiko added.  
"You'd probably want a lot more -- hell, ANYONE'D want a lot more in cases 
like this! -- but sometimes, Fate can throw you all sorts of curve balls."

	"True, true."  Nabiki took a deep breath.  "Pity I didn't find out about 
what the Staff did before everyone headed back to Earth.  I could've caught 
a ride and got back to Nerima as soon as I could.  If we're bringing this 
Akane 'back' into the fold . . . "

	"Yes, that is true, isn't it?" Kasumi acknowledged.

	"Nabiki-san?"

	Nabiki looked over to see Seiko gazing curiously at her.  "What is it?"

	"If you want, you can ask Shogai-san to give you a ride to Earth."

	"Would she be allowed?  She's from Benten's home planet, right . . .?"

	"She doesn't have to land in Nerima if she doesn't have to," Seiko noted.  
"She could transport you down right from orbit and no one in Nerima or 
Tomobiki would be any the wiser.  If you want, I can ask her to give you a 
ride."

	"If it wouldn't be any trouble," Kasumi noted.

	Nabiki nodded.  "Okay, it's a plan, then.  I'll see you guys in a while."

	"All right, then," Kasumi called back.

	The link was cut.  Nabiki stood.  "If you'll all excuse me, minna . . . "

	"Don't worry about it, Nabiki," Sakuya spoke up from the central chair.  
"We'll be back before you guys know it."

	"Right.  Be careful, huh?"

	With that, the middle Tendou daughter stepped off the pilotage, she heading 
for the gangway to board the "Windrider Dreams."  Stepping aboard the 
Zephyrite battlecruiser, she then paused, turning back to gaze on the 
solar-sail barque through a nearby view port.  Fortunately for her, the 
porthole opening into Marie's cabin was within her line of sight.  Akane's 
head then came into view, the replica of Nabiki's late sister gazing 
directly at her.  *See you soon, sis,* Nabiki telepathically called out.

	Akane nodded.  Nabiki then turned, she quickly finding the hallway that 
would connect her to the other side of the battlecruiser's superstructure, 
where the "Goddess of Luck" was docked.  She then smirked on seeing Ranma 
and Ataru standing by the gangway leading to the Fukunokami-built frigate, 
they chatting with Nassur and Shogai Dakejinzou.  Smirking on seeing Ranma 
demonstrate some kata to the expat Vosian, Nabiki then decided to give in to 
her curiosity and focused her empathic senses on the two bounty hunters.

	Dakejinzou was hard to read -- no doubt, that was because of how alien she 
seemed in comparison to her former partner, much less the other humanoids 
Nabiki had encountered since she first met Ataru.  From what she could 
sense, though, the elfin-eared woman was the epitome of serenity.  It was as 
if she had come to accept whatever pains and tribulations Life tossed at her 
as simple obstacles to be overcome.  No doubt, she could probably teach 
senior Buddhist clerics some things about internal peace and harmony.

	Nassur was pretty much the same way, yet Nabiki was quick to sense a cloud 
of sorrow looming over his heart.  An extra push with her empathic powers 
quickly garnished an image for Nabiki's mind to see, that of a lovely woman 
that seemed to be a blonde, Vosian Oyuki.  *His wife?* Nabiki mused as Ataru 
glanced her way before he walked over to stand beside her.  Yes, a tragic 
loss, quite recent.  *Amazing how many people I know who've lost their 
spouses.*  Still, Nassur seemed willing to press on.  Good for him.

	"Found out about Akane, I see," Ataru whispered as he stopped beside her.

	"Had no choice," Nabiki admitted.

	"Did you tell your sister?"

	"Hai.  If we're going to welcome her 'back,' so to speak, into the family, 
I've got to get back to Nerima and make arrangements.  You think your friend 
there can give me a lift to Earth while you're out in the vast unknown?"

	Dakejinzou's ear twitched as her cat-slit eyes focused on Nabiki.  "You 
need a ride to Earth, Tendou-san?" she asked.

	"You heard me?!"

	The hunter pointed to her elongated lobes.  "As you might notice, my ears 
are built for it," she declared with a wink.

	Nabiki laughed.  "I can use the ride!"

	Dakejinzou nodded before she stared at Nassur.  "You mind?"

	The Vosian nodded his permission.  Nabiki grinned as she nodded before 
heading over to step aboard the "Goddess."  She then paused as she was about 
to walk past Ranma.  They gazed on each other, a question crossing Nabiki's 
face.  Ranma blinked before she breathed out, "I need some time, 
Nabiki-chan.  It ain't her fault by any sense of the imagination.  But I . . 
. "  She then shrugged, pointing at her own heart as she gave her a knowing 
look.

	Nabiki nodded.  "No problem."

	She kissed Ranma's cheek before heading through the gangway to the 
"Goddess."  With that, Nassur and Dakejinzou parted from Ataru and Ranma.  
The latter pair then turned to head back to the "Windrider."  "We better get 
a move-on if we're going to get to that wormhole the Staff told us about so 
we can get to this Dyson sphere and find the Genesis Wand," Ataru mused.

	"Will we be able to get back to Earth by tomorrow?" Ranma asked.

	"It should be no problem . . .!  WHOA!" Ataru cried out as he stopped 
himself before he ran over a familiar figure in a hakama.

	"Kunou!" Ranma snapped on seeing the kendou-ka.

	Kunou turned to gaze on them, and then his eyes glazed over for a second 
before they cleared up.  "I beg your pardon, good sir, fair madam, but you 
should be more careful running around these hallways," he declared before 
turning to stare on the Inquisitor -- it was Inquisitor-Archdeacon Sunwind 
Skyrain, Ataru realized, the man who had accompanied Highridge Malefire to 
Earth to escort Lum, Ran and Jariten out of Tomobiki -- behind him.  "Now, 
good sir, where exactly could the most fair Anna du Kolhn be at this time?"

	Skyrain beckoned him down the hallway.  "This way, Young Master."

	Kunou and the Inquisitor headed off, the former not bothering to look at 
Ranma as he went.  Ranma and Ataru remained rooted in place as they vanished 
around the corner, and then they exchanged looks.  "What the hell happened 
to him . . .?" the former hissed.

	"Don't ask," the latter asserted.  "Remember when you told me about Souun 
and Genma not wanting to speak Happoosai's name?"

	Ranma paused, and then she nodded.  "Right.  Let's get outta here."

	They ran off for the waiting "Windrider."

*    *    *

	Minutes later, the "Windrider" and the "Goddess of Luck" unlocked 
themselves from the "Windrider Dreams."  Both smaller ships soared away from 
the Zephyrite battlecruiser, the solar-sail barque deploying her mainsails 
as she angled her prow in the general direction of Karasutengu space.  Some 
distance beyond that was a wormhole that, according to the Staff of Gihan as 
it had explained to everyone through Hinako prior to the final encounter 
with Elle, would take the "Windrider" into an unexplored quadrant of the 
galaxy.

	Waiting there, parsecs beyond the wormhole's exit, was a Dyson sphere 
constructed by parties unknown millions of years ago.  Inside that was a 
crystal palace where, a century before, the Genesis Wand of Parah had been 
deposited almost two millennia after it had been found by the Vosian 
unification leader Lecasur -- among Vosians, the Genesis Wand was known as 
"the Sceptre of Lecasur" -- and used by every president of the Confederation 
until a military leader known as the Mikado seized power in a coup d'état.

	The Genesis Wand, according to what the Staff had said, was relatively 
intact, its link to the Te'a strong.  All it seemed to require was a new 
controlling mechanism, which could be fabricated, and then Aria would get 
the chance to become the first true controller of Parah's Haijo-ju prototype 
for the first time in fourteen thousand years.

	"How's your arm, Aria-chan?" Mamoru asked.

	A Zephyrite medical technician had tended to the young Parisian's arm after 
Ataru's former classmates had been escorted off the "Windrider."  It was 
still currently in a sling.  "It still hurts, Mamoru-chan," she admitted 
before yawning.  She had woken up when the sounds of the barque unlocking 
from the "Windrider Dreams" had echoed through her cabin.

	"Aria-sama, do you want to go back to bed?" Orin asked.  "It'll be several 
hours before you'd be needed to deal with Tsue-san."

	Aria blinked, and then she yawned again.  "Aria is tired . . . "

	"All right, then," Orin asserted as she reached down to pick Aria up.

	Aria wrapped her good arm around the older woman's neck as Orin carried her 
off the pilotage.  "Nee-ya is so nice to Aria . . . "

	"You get some sleep, Aria-chan," Hinako called out.

	"Hai . . . "

	The doors closed behind her.  "Darling, all systems show green.  Gallants 
and staysails ready to deploy," Shinobi declared.

	He tapped a control on his chair.  "Sail control, this is the pilotage."

	"Hai!  Everything's okay down here, Aniki!" a familiar voice chimed back.

	"What are you doing there, Rinrin-chan?"

	Laughter responded from forward.  "What do you think?!"

	Snickers and guffaws echoed over the pilotage.  "Set course for the 
wormhole, Reiko-chan," Ataru declared.  "Warp speed!"

	"Hai, Papa!"

*    *    *

	"There she goes."

	Dakejinzou, Nassur and Nabiki watched as the "Windrider's" smaller sails 
deployed before the barque disappeared in a flash of energy.  To the middle 
Tendou daughter, who was familiar with "Star Trek," it was like watching the 
"Enterprise-D," the "Defiant" or the "Voyager" leap into hyperspace; the 
"Windrider" seemed to stretch like an elastic band before it disappeared.  
"You should've told me it was the Planet of Shadows they're going to," 
Nassur noted.  "I could've helped them find this Genesis Wand."

	The older hunter sat back in her chair.  "I didn't realize that this 
habitation they were heading for was the Planet of Shadows until I had a 
chance to think about it," she admitted.  "Why?  Are you worried they might 
find the Sceptre of Lecasur by accident?"

	Nassur took a deep breath before he sat in the co-pilot's chair.  
"Dake-chan, I've heard some rumours from Vos . . . "

	"So have I.  His Stupidity-ness is contemplating sending a team out to get 
the Sceptre as a way of 'legitimizing' his rule over what's left of his 
petty empire."  Hearing that name for the Mikado, Nassur smirked.  
Dakejinzou NEVER addressed the dictator by his *nom de guerre* and few 
people knew his birth name.  "Matter of fact, I've heard of who might be 
leading that trip."

	"Who?"

	"Mujanba and Varena."

	Nassur's eyes widened.  The Special Hunter Corps' elite operatives, Mujanba 
and Varena were natives of the Confederation's "witches' planet," Colony 
Nine.  They were also the only members of the Hunter Corps who hadn't been 
"recruited" in the normal way, as Nassur and so many others could readily 
attest to:  Kidnapped after birth, then subjected to a fourteen year-long 
training regimen in camps that would make the Gulag of Iosef Vissarionnovich 
Stalin's Soviet Union look like the vacation resort town of Sochi in 
comparison.  While he had never faced either Mujanba or Varena in battle, 
Nassur respected their reputations and their desire to serve the Mikado; 
both joined the Hunter Corps shortly after their homes had been destroyed by 
radical rebel groups early in the Confederation's three-decade old civil 
war.  "Have they already left?" he asked.  "If the Mikado wants the Sceptre 
. . . "

	"I'm not sure," Dakejinzou replied as she looked at her console.  "Ship, 
set course for Earth.  Engage warp when ready."

	"*Understood,*" the on-board computer replied.

	The "Goddess of Luck" swung its prow around as it angled itself on a direct 
vector for Earth.  As the ship's engines began to power up to accelerate the 
frigate into warp, Dakejinzou took a deep breath.  "From what I did learn of 
what His Buffoonish-ness' plan was all about, he originally came up with the 
idea of targeting you, Lum and some of Lum's friends from Earth to force you 
to go on the trip to the Planet of Shadows.  Turns out, in fact, he managed 
to locate a clone of Cinba -- her name was Junba -- whom he had brainwashed 
into hating you enough so that she could've served as overseer of such a 
trip.  Fortunately, Junba was dealt with sometime ago."

	Nassur's jaw dropped.  "Someone made a clone of my wife?!"

	"Yes, they did," Dakejinzou replied.  "No one knows who, by the way."

	"And this Junba . . .?"

	"Dead."

	He frowned.  "I see . . . "  He considered that before he breathed out, 
"Why didn't the Mikado elect to find someone else -- say Mujanba or Varena 
or perhaps Grisur -- to take charge of a trip involving Lum-chan and I . . 
.?"

	"The whole thing between Noukiios and Uru started up at that time," 
Dakejinzou answered as the "Goddess'" engines roared to full power, sending 
the small frigate into hyperspace.  "Just after it started, several of the 
older Lost Stars were sent to Lecashuto to deliver a strong 'message' to His 
Idiot-ness.  That was the fight where Junba and a few others in the Corps 
were killed.  The message was two-fold:  His Moron-ness keeps his nose out 
of Noukiios' business or else when Noukiios got finished with Uru, she AND 
Zephyrus would openly support the rebels with materiel AND troops if it was 
deemed necessary to bring the civil war to a speedy conclusion."

	Nassur blinked.  "And the second message?"

	"That you, in light of your service to the smaller powers in the galaxy, 
especially Gomiana, were now under the Dominion's protection.  And that any 
act against you or those you cared for would be seen as an act of war by His 
Stupidity-ness against Noukiios."

	Silence fell as the expat Vosian hunter took that in.  "I see . . . "

	"I didn't realize you were so popular," Nabiki then spoke up.

	Both hunters gazed on her.  "Are you always this quiet?" Nassur asked.

	"It's my trade in life, Nassur-san," Nabiki replied with a titter.  
"Granted, with the way things are going concerning Earth's relations with 
its galactic neighbours, it might not matter.  But to me, not knowing about 
certain things that might come to bite us in our collective butts has always 
sat wrong.  And if Ataru-kun, Ranma-chan and the sisters are about to run 
headlong into this monster's troops if they go to this Planet of Shadows 
place, I'm damn hell concerned.  Ataru-kun just came out of a war and 
Ranma-chan just had her whole life turned inside out and upside-down thanks 
to her fool father and everything else she's run into.  So yes, Nassur-san, 
I WOULD like to know a lot more about what's going on here.  My friends are 
potentially flying into harm's way."

	"Understandable."  Nassur nodded approvingly.  "I wouldn't really worry 
about it, though.  Seiko-chan's there to help out.  Ataru-san's experience 
with the Dominion will help out, too.  And they also have the Cyborg and 
this 'cat' version of Ranma-san to call upon if things got really out of 
hand.  Not to mention that Staff-thing young Hinako-san currently has in her 
possession."

	"And the Sagussans."

	Nassur and Nabiki blinked; Dakejinzou had barely whispered those words.  
"Excuse me, Shogai-san?" Nabiki asked.

	The hunter stared at her guests.  "Tendou-san, before I explain, tell me 
this:  Do you consider yourself a friend of Moroboshi Ataru, yes or no?"

	"I'd like to be his friend," Nabiki answered.  "And I do care a lot for his 
girlfriend.  If it affects Ranma-chan, it concerns me.  And if it might end 
up reflecting on everyone Ataru-kun and Ranma-chan knows, better to nip it 
in the bud.  Agreed?"  Her eyebrow arched as she gazed on her host.

	"Agreed," Dakejinzou acknowledged before she stared at Nassur.  "You know 
I've kept one thing from you since we decided to work together, 
Nassur-chan."

	"The Maidens of the Eternal Voyager . . . "  His voice then trailed off as 
his eyes went wide.  "Ataru-san?" he gasped.

	Dakejinzou nodded.  "It's time for you to learn about a planet named 
Sagussa, a war worse than even Varanko's darkest nightmares, a plan to 
restore a dead world to life that's been ongoing for the last ten millennia 
. . . "  She paused before her eyes fell on a picture posted on the T-frame 
dividing the view ports of her bridge.  "And how Moroboshi Ataru relates to 
all that."

	A wry chuckle escaped Nassur.  "I see."

*    *    *

	Outside the closed door connecting the frigate's bridge and lounge, a 
wide-eyed Benten stood there.  Despite the fact that Nassur could have 
detected the Fukunokami's presence with his tracking powers -- had he 
already sensed her? -- she hadn't made her presence known to the people on 
the bridge.  And she had overhead almost everything they had said.

	*Moroboshi . . .?!* she mentally railed as she turned to stagger to her 
guest room.  *He's the Chosen One of the Eternal Voyager . . .?!*

	Ye gods, the Universe couldn't be THAT cruel!

	Could it?

*    *    *

	"So they're on their way."

	"Are you having someone trail them, Lady?"

	Noa blinked as her mind absorbed Firesky Owleye's words, and then she shook 
her head.  "You need not call me *that,* you know."

	"You are who you are," the Inquisitor insisted.  They and the other 
Sagussans who had accompanied Noa aboard the "Windrider Dreams" from the 
cloaked "Hasei'cha" -- the warpsloop was currently several hundred 
kilometres away from the Zephyrite formation, off the battlecruiser's port 
beam -- were standing in a private reflective lounge high in the 
superstructure, one normally set aside for senior clerics.  They had just 
watched the "Windrider" and the "Goddess of Luck" warp out.  "You are simply 
who you are."

	Noa tittered in amusement as she shared a knowing look with Catty, and then 
she ran a hand through her shaggy chestnut-brown hair.  Born originally as 
Aruka Noa, one of the legendary Maidens of Aruka who had helped Uru liberate 
itself from the hordes of the Seifukusu Dominion nine centuries before, the 
woman who had been later designated Daishi'cha #19282 was seen by everyone 
on Sagussa these days as the Elder Mother of the Fifth Republic.  While she 
didn't have any true political power to exercise in the day-to-day affairs 
of the Republic, her moral influence on the other Daishi'cha could not, for 
a moment, be discounted.  After all, it had been Noa, eleven years before, 
who had convinced a young boy from Earth named Moroboshi Ataru to come visit 
their planet.  And, in the space of two months, had done more to advance the 
cause of the Grand Design to levels its creators couldn't have hoped to 
envision.

	"And sometimes, I wonder what I've ever done to truly earn that level of 
respect," she admitted.  "I'm not a living goddess as many on Uru might look 
on me these days if they ever met me.  I'm not a devil like some of your 
Scripturalists might see me as.  I'm a normal mortal woman with my own 
dreams and desires, my own hopes and ambitions."  Noa then took a deep 
breath.  "There's no need to send someone after Ataru-sama and his family.  
With his experience and the Staff of Gihan on his side, retrieving the 
Genesis Wand of Parah should be simplicity itself.  What we should have to 
worry ourselves about now is the Avalon bioroid factory and Oogi's continued 
control over it."

	"Nene's still doing a detailed diagnostic of the factory's sub-systems," 
the third Sagussan, a raven-haired, blue-eyed double of Seikou Mie, she 
currently dressed in the dark blue-red-and-light green of a defence force 
medical officer -- Catty was likewise dressed -- declared.

	"We best get an update," Noa mused.  "In the meantime, we'll . . . "

	A communicator sounded off.  "Hotaru here," the third Sagussan declared as 
she tapped her wrist-bracelet.  "What is it, Eluza?"

	"Problem," the "Hasei'cha's" shipmistress declared over the comm-link.

	"What is it, Eluza?" Noa asked.

	"It's Makoto."

	Silence fell over the lounge as the Sagussans exchanged shocked looks.  
"Oh, Lyna, no!" Catty moaned for them all.

*    *    *

	"Makoto, what in Lyna's name are you doing?!  That warp's open . . .!"

	Makoto grunted as her finger flicked off the communications link connecting 
her Gladiator to the "Hasei'cha."  Then, with a slight nudge of the control 
stick, she sent the Boeing 747-sized mechamorphic fighter -- like its 
mothership, Makoto's mount was equipped with a cloaking device to mask its 
presence from Zephyrite sensory -- in the direction of the point where the 
"Windrider" had disappeared into hyperspace.  This manoeuvre, if she 
succeeded, would allow her to ride the crest of warp energies the barque was 
using to carry it on its trip to the Planet of Shadows.  If she succeeded, 
that is; no pilot in the Sagussan Navy would try a crazy stunt like THIS 
even in the direst of circumstances.  But to Makoto, things had gone past 
THAT point long ago.

	"Mie . . .!"

	Keeping her eyes locked on the heads-up display before her, the 
brown-haired, green-eyed Pirpirsiw'r tilted her stick a little bit more to 
the left, aligning the Gladiator's nose right at the centre of the warp 
hole.  It was fading right before her eyes; if she didn't get into that bend 
in hyperspace, her chance at reuniting with her beloved would be lost and 
she'd catch all sorts of crap from Eluza and Noa as a result.  Losing her 
commission -- Makoto was a flightmistress, the fleet fighter arm's version 
of a watchmistress, in rank -- and most likely her career was the LEAST her 
superiors would do to her.  If her Gladiator was wrecked and if Makoto 
survived its destruction, Patty, the "Hasei'cha's" Terran-born chief 
engineer, would personally tan her a new hide.

	But still . . .

	Mie . . .

	*Makoto, stop!* Noa's voice boomed in the flightmistress' mind.  *You don't 
have to do this now!  Come back . . .!*

	"NO!" Makoto screamed as she forced the Elder Mother out of her mind, her 
finger flicking off the cloak as she slammed her foot into the accelerator.  
"I've waited eleven years, Noa!  She's out there!  AND I WON'T WAIT 
ANYMORE!"

	As the Gladiator wavered into existence, it setting off all sorts of 
sensory alarms in the Zephyrite fleet behind it, the fighter's nose caught 
the rolling end of the warp wave from the "Windrider."

	In a flash, it disappeared into hyperspace.

*    *    *

	"Lyna's Soul, she actually pulled it off!" Eluza exclaimed.

	"If she survives that, she's the luckiest idiot in the universe!" Shildy, 
the "Hasei'cha's" first officer, exclaimed.

	"If she survives that, she'll wish she hadn't!" Patty snarled from her 
station on the bridge's port side.

	"Can she survive?" Rumy, the ship's young science chief, asked.

	Eyes locked on the raven-haired, brown-eyed Patty.  The "Hasei'cha's" chief 
engineer's brow furrowed as she considered what could happen to a 
non-shielded Gladiator caught in the warp wake of a Noukiite solar-sail 
craft moving at transwarp speeds, and then she shook her head.  "There's 
nowhere close to enough anti-radiation shielding on that crate to protect 
her from the 'Windrider.'  If they don't spot her right away . . . "

	A grim silence fell over the bridge as Patty's shipmates considered that.  
"Could we hope Mie would remember enough to rescue her if Ataru-sama or any 
of his sisters spot Makoto?" Spea, the ship's combat officer, asked.

	Eluza grimaced as she considered that.  Seikou Mie's obvious amnesia where 
it concerned her life on Sagussa had been one of the factors that blocked 
the "Hasei'cha's" crew from retrieving their missing shipmate when Noa -- 
ironically doing what Mie herself had suggested before Ataru had been sent 
back to Earth eleven years before -- learned of her true fate just before 
the First Tag Race changed everything for the whole local cluster.  "I'm not 
taking that chance," she then declared.  "Amy, pursuit course!"

	"Aye-aye!" Amy, the "Hasei'cha's" coxswain, said as she tapped controls.

	"Noa, Catty, Hotaru, get ready!" Eluza said.  "We're beaming you aboard!"

	"Understood," the Ashi'cha replied.

*    *    *

	"Good luck, Ladies," Firesky Owleye bade his guests with a nod.

	Noa stared at the Inquisitor, and then she gripped his hand.  "I am -- and 
will always be -- Lyna, your sister," she declared in the classical tongue 
of Tere'na, from which modern Sagussan and Zephyrite had evolved from, 
before stepping back from him to stand beside Catty and Hotaru.

	In a flare of transporter beams, the Sagussans were whisked off.  Firesky 
watched them go, and then he perked as a knock echoed from the door.  
"Enter!"

	The door opened, revealing Sunhair Windrider.  "Your Grace, we . . . "

	"I know, child," Firesky cut her off with a stern wave of his hand.  "Pass 
the message to the other captains.  I will brief them about this matter as 
soon as we've repatriated the Ellsians.  Until then, they are NOT to speak 
of this, especially in communiqués back home."

	Windy took that in, and then she whispered, "The Holy Birth Mot- . . .?"

	The Inquisitor shushed her.  Windy tensed for a moment before she nodded.

*    *    *

	"Eh?"

	Mamoru looked up from the video game she had been playing at her console to 
see a confused look on Kaneko's face.  "What is it, Kaneko-chan?" the tomboy 
asked, walking down to stand beside her niece's station.  "Something wrong?"

	Kaneko blinked as she stared at her readouts, and then she glanced up at 
her aunt.  "I'm not sure.  But aft sensors seem to have picked up something 
that came into warp behind us.  I'm trying to figure out what it is . . . "

	Mamoru took that in before she started to tense.  "Is it dangerous?"

	"I can't say."

*    *    *

	"Here you go!  Your first meal as an Avalonian!  Bon appetit!"

	Akane sighed as she stared at the bowl of Hakata-style ramen with rice 
cakes that Shirayuki just laid out before her.  The newborn Avalonian's 
stomach had started to growl the instant the "Windrider" had entered warp.  
It didn't take her or Marie long to find the galley and get something to 
eat.  Along with the ramen, Shirayuki had prepared a Caesar salad, a glass 
of orange juice and some cut pieces of toast with butter.  "Is this a normal 
type of breakfast for her, Marie-chan?" the youngest Tendou then asked.

	"Pretty much so," Marie affirmed before she lifted her cup of tea.

	"Okay!  But I'm DEFINITELY learning how to cook for you, Marie-chan!"

	The small crowd around Akane and Marie exchanged looks.  "Akane, I don't 
think Shirayuki-chan's gonna like the idea of letting YOU loose into HER 
kitchen!" Shinshi warned, his arm wrapped lovingly around Yotsuba's 
shoulders.

	Laughter filled the galley as Akane's cheeks went red.  "It's okay, 
Shinshi-san," Karen said.  "If anyone can teach her how to cook, 
Shirayuki-chan can.  She's learned from some of the best chefs you could 
imagine."

	"Hai desu no!" Shirayuki then asserted as she clapped her hands.  "Hime's 
Special Cooking School is always open for new students!"

	Akane stared at the chef before she bowed.  "Arigatou, Shirayuki-sensei!"

	Shirayuki shuddered.  "Oooh!  Hime LIKES being called 'Sensei!'"

	More laughter filled the room before a voice called out, "Hey, Ataru!"

	Everyone looked to see Ranma scamper down the ladder from the deck above.  
"What is it, Ranma?" Ataru asked.

	Ranma pointed aft.  "There's someone following us!"

	Silence.

	"SAY WHAT?!" Ataru exclaimed.

	Ranma beckoned him to follow.  "C'mon and see!"

	The two scampered up the ladder, and then ran aft to Ataru's cabin.  They 
were soon followed by everyone else.  Once there, Ataru knelt by his 
nightstand to draw out a pair of macro-binoculars from a storage shelf, and 
then he poised himself by the large windows to take a look at the storm of 
warped stars flowing past the "Windrider."  Putting the binoculars to his 
eyes, he focused his attention at the point of bright light that marked the 
end of the warp stream being produced by the solar-sail barque.  "Ah . . . " 
he uttered on seeing a dark object that could only be some sort of 
spaceship, it barely visible in the surrounding bright light.  "Who the hell 
is that . . .?"

	"Anegimi-sama, you were able to sense a ship following us?" Haruka asked.

	"Actually, Haruka-chan, I was the one who sensed someone back there."

	Eyes focused on Izumo Seiko.  The raven-haired Nendo-kata was standing to 
Ataru's right.  "Who is it, Sei-chan?" Ataru asked.

	Seiko shook her head as her eyes glowed.  "I can't really tell from here, 
Darling; warp space tends to muck up our telepathic powers, especially at a 
distance.  But from what I can tell, she desperately wants to get aboard the 
ship.  I can't say why, though . . . "

	"Um, Ataru-kun . . .?"

	Ataru turned to see Mie standing beside h