pyeknu@gmail.com
9th April 2007, 08:29 PM
"So it is agreed, then?"
"It has been decided, child."
Hearing that, the woman nodded as she moved to follow the elder down
the hallway past the largest meeting hall in Keuket' Fortress, located
in one of the northern districts of Ryekkyuk. It was at this site,
over five thousand years ago, the Ch'uoeuk -- during his mortal
lifetime -- established the first worldwide ruling kingdom of
Noukiios. Keuket' Fortress had been expanded, demolished, rebuilt and
redesigned over the five millennia since Muchach's time, it finally
being turned into the main base of the Council of Sages after the
Muine Emperor established the Ep'ye Dynasty in the city of Uohek.
Even during the Occupation, the Council had sat within these walls;
the Urusians had been fooled during those dark years into thinking
Keuket' to be a shrine instead of the base of a government
organisation. An organisation that had planned the overthrow of the
alien conquerors from the very instant the Kyaksai Emperor had been
forced to abdicate.
"It was so fast," the young woman noted as she paused at the ramparts
to gaze on the vast city beyond.
"It was quite simple in the end, child," the older man said as he
stood beside her. "The inheritance laws have been set in stone for
years. And we HAVE a copy of the Eukt'ach' Emperor's will. The
government in Noukiyek recognises the fact that any decisions made by
the Kyaksai Emperor under duress by the Urusians has never possessed
legitimacy. AND the modern government was founded as a 'provisional'
government after the Liberation; nothing they've decided since that
time has changed that one simple fact."
She closed her eyes. "She'll hate it."
"Don't you mean you'll hate it, Atnu?"
The young woman perked, and then she breathed out. "If that is my
fate in life, I accept it," she repeated the lament the Most Venerable
Inuch'ech first uttered four millennia before when he began to teach
his sermons on the theories of reincarnation, one of the cornerstones
of the Noukiite faith.
"Well said. Now go summon your ship. One of the clerks just
reported to me Her Majesty and the Venerable Admiral Ye-Yi have gone
to Terra to see the Venerable P'yeknu and her adopted parents. We
will relay the news to Her Majesty there, in the presence of the Euk
Hichheksuch Seuchhoukhek himself." An approving nod tilted the old
warrior's face. "A truly auspicious beginning for the new age of our
people."
She nodded. "Alright."
The woman headed off. Watching her go, Eyu-K'ung Chuip'-Neksai took
a deep breath before he passed a hand through his silver-grey hair,
rubbing one of the ridgelines underneath that mass as he soothed the
headache he suffered from time to time. They came to him whenever he
had been forced to think of profound things, that starting after he
got the disruptor shot that grazed his head when his then-intelligence
chief, K'e-It' Chuch'a-Nuoya, tried to end his life (and effectively
ending his presidency), not to mention murder several of his loyal
bodyguards. It was only the quick thinking of a local doctor -- who
had access to transportation to an advanced Zephyrite clinic on
Magairu -- that spared Neksai his eventual meeting with the Ch'uoeuk
at the Two Portals, plus set him on the road to the Keuket' Fortress.
Many Noukiites still questioned President K'u-It' Chusu-Ch'uonak's
decision to allow Neksai to ascend to the Council in the first place.
While Neksai had driven through the necessary reforms that helped
Noukiios fully recover economically from the Urusian Occupation, he
had done so under the umbrella of nearly draconian laws that earned
him the rueful nickname of "Noukiios' Mikado" by outside observers.
The current president himself had been a victim of Neksai's brutality;
it was a special assassination team sent by the Nakkuk-nekk'ek'a --
run by Neksai's nephew-in-law, Eyu-It' Chusu-Nekrip' -- that chased
him down on Elle, crippling the man in an attempt to forever silence
his criticisms of the general's domestic policies.
Would some people view his supporting the restoration of the throne
-- and thus, the abolition of the presidency -- as Neksai's revenge on
his old opponent? Thinking that, the old general shook his head.
No. The Council had been unanimous in its decision concerning Her
Majesty's proper place in society. And the President himself had
requested their decision be unanimous regardless of which way it fell;
he HAD understood that technicality concerning the legal status of the
Dominion's present government in a way most normal Noukiites could
not. The people themselves would be educated when that announcement
was made as soon as the empress herself was informed. Realising that,
Neksai squared his shoulders and took a deep breath, his ears perking
on hearing his young companion's footsteps. Turning to see her, he
nodded.
"I trust your ship is ready to go, Venerable Atnu?"
"But of course," Ye-Nehek Yech'a-Atnu chirruped back as she slipped
her arm around his.
* * *
Tomobiki glittered with evening lights a night later as a small fleet
of limousines and people on foot made their way to the Tarouzakura
Hill for Tetsubou's party. The vast domestic work force employed by
the Mendou Clan on their ancestral home grounds had outdone themselves
to ensure the Youngest Master's party in honour of his rescuer from
Skelad Lara would go without a hitch. Some of the older ones
remembered the time when they hosted the Young Master Shuutarou's
classmates when Fujinami Ryuunosuke celebrated her birthday at the
Tarouzakura back at the end of September 1983. That party --
converted at the suggestion of then-Princess Oyuki into a dual
celebration of Moroboshi Ataru's adoption of Reiko -- turned into a
total disaster when the Young Master teamed with his classmates to
make it seem as if Lum and everyone else were snubbing her fianci and
his just-adopted daughter. That, thanks to behind-the-scenes work by
Ataru's grandmother Nagaiwakai, resulted in the Third Tag Race and
Lum's near-final expulsion from Earth.
It hopefully would not happen this time.
"Good evening, Mistress Reiko," the valet -- and full-time human
parrot -- of the matriarch of the Mendou Clan hailed as he bowed
formally to Reiko. Mendou Haruka herself sat on the back of an ox as
they greeted everyone coming tonight. "You're looking truly lovely
this evening. Is this Mistress Mina?"
"Hai, Grand-aunt Haruka, she is," Reiko answered, she gazing on
Haruka as she gently grasped the latter's hand. "Still suffering from
laryngitis?" she playfully asked.
Haruka hid her blush behind a folding fan. "Somewhat, Mistress
Reiko," the valet admitted.
Reiko smiled at her and winked at him before she slipped her arm
around Mina's and they headed onto the flat plateau surrounding the
Tarouzakura, they followed by Hicha and Nek. Once there, all four
paused as they took in the scenery around them. Niap'yeng,
K'yechsungi and her sister Hanak'at' had proceeded Reiko and her
lovers here. The priestess was currently examining the young cherry
tree with the help of Megane Aisuru and Ozuno Sakura, while her two
closest friends were relaxing on a blanket, they having joined Miyake
Shinobu, her adopted daughter Junba and Amora. The empath jolted as
Reiko approached her, her eyes glowing that pretty pink as she looked
her way. "Reiko-oneechan!"
Reiko smirked as Amora ran over to hug her. "Hey, shrimp! Ouch! Go
easy on my legs, huh?!"
Amora pouted. "Hi, Reiko-oneechan!" Junba called out as she walked
over to join Amora, she then nodding at Mina and the two Onis. "Mina-
san! Hicha-san! Nek-san! Isn't this such a neat place?"
"It is that, Miss Junba," Nek admitted as he walked up to slip an arm
around Reiko's.
Amora quickly noted that, and then a wary look crossed her face as
she looked once more at her sister. "Onee-chan, am I gonna feel funny
again?" she timidly asked.
"Hopefully not, Amora-yu."
Everyone turned as Niap'yeng walked up. "What do you mean, Nia-
neechan?" Amora asked.
The priestess went to one knee before the young empath. "That's
going to be a little surprise," she promised. "Think of it as a
special present to you from all of us for being such a good little
sister to P'yeknu. Once the present comes to you, you won't ever
'feel funny' anymore whenever you feel P'yeknu express her love to
Mina, Hicha and Nek -- much less your parents expressing their love to
each other, not to mention young Junba's mother or the Elder Mother
Noa." She pulled out a jewellery case to open it, it holding a simple
pendant with an emerald on a base of silver. "And as a prelude to
that, this is yours."
"What's that?" Mina asked.
Niap'yeng drew out the necklace to drape it around Amora's neck.
"It's a special empathic blocking rune, Mina," she explained. "This
will allow Amora to protect herself from any strong show of emotion
until such time as Rogo comes to teach her how to use her powers
better."
"Is Mom going to allow that?" Amora asked.
"She will!"
Heads turned as Lum (carrying Ataru) landed behind Reiko's party.
"Hey, Mom!" Reiko called out as her parents stretched themselves.
"You actually managed to call Chishiki-san?"
"No, but I called Ginger and asked to pass on a message to Rogo-san,"
Lum reported. "I'll get a call about Rogo-san coming to Earth
sometime later this week; she has to ensure she isn't going to be
called back to Aimaiyu for some reason or another. Atop that, she's
not done with Luala-chan yet."
"She will come, Venerable," Niap'yeng promised.
"Is she nice, Onee-chan?"
Eyes locked on Amora. "She will be fine, Amora-yu," the priestess
replied.
"ONII-CHAN!"
Ataru jolted on hearing Seiteki's shout, that making him freeze for
the critical second he could have used to dodge her oncoming hug.
Before Sakura's daughter could land on target, something GRABBED her
in mid-air, which made her cry out in shock. "Onee-chan!" Amora
yelled as she spun on Reiko . . .
Whose eyes were NOT glowing.
"I'm not doing anything," Reiko noted.
"I am, P'ye."
Eyes locked on the pair of people standing nearby, both dressed in
formal Noukiite robes, the eyes of one glowing. Both had cheek
tattoos marking them as one of the groups of Huhat'hu, the caste of
city dwellers. Reiko knew both were of the specific sub-caste of
professional entertainers, which included thespians, writers, visual
artists -- and Noukiios' version of Japan's geisha. Quickly
recognising the crimson-haired one (hers were the eyes that were
glowing), Reiko laughed as she walked over to grasp the newcomer's
hands. "Hu'jhogsuch-t'ach, Hekp'yuk! What are you doing here?!"
A snort escaped Hu-Hut' Yesu-Hekp'yuk, the former Subject 463 of the
Lost Stars, as her glowing eyes reverted back to their normal blue-
grey. Nearby, the floating Seiteki found herself NOT floating
anymore, she smacking headfirst into the hard rock of the Tarouzakura
terrace. "What do you think I'm doing here, P'ye?! I'm gonna be
working here at the embassy as the protocol officer." She leaned over
to kiss Reiko's cheeks. "Sorry I haven't had the chance to come visit
you; I was busy getting settled into my apartment with Nich." She
nodded towards her companion, she giving Reiko a knowing look.
Reiko nodded as she glanced over at Hekp'yuk's adopted sister, Hu-
Hut' Yech'a-Nich, the former Subject 171. Nodding in understanding,
Reiko walked over to gaze into Nich's bright blue eyes. The raven-
haired woman blinked as she felt her sister Lost Star's gaze fall on
her, and then she moved to tightly embrace the stuffed Noukiite bear
she held in her arms, she ducking Reiko's gaze. Thanks to memories
Reiko had scanned from K'yechsungi the day they mind-melded before
their adventure to the Yekk'ap' began, the former knew the bear --
named "Et" by Nich -- contained a special series of charms and runes,
similar to the one Niap'yeng just gave Amora. Given Nich's potential
power level -- she was K'yechsungi's equal -- those charms were all
that stood between a young woman with the emotional maturity of a
child and many brain-dead bystanders.
"Et," Reiko addressed the bear. "Can P'yeknu give Nich a hug?"
The bear's head shifted slightly in a nod. With that, Reiko walked
over to gently embrace Nich from the side. Watching this, Niap'yeng
smiled; she had been the one who had created Et in the first place.
"Wow!" Megane Shinpai called out; EVERYONE had seen that. "It's a
magical teddy bear!"
"Cool!" Kakugari Kokishin gasped.
"Awesome!" Paama Omoshiroi and Chibi Rikoshugi chimed together.
"Mom, can I have one, too?!" Ron, the youngest daughter of Rei and
Ran, asked her mother.
Ran's jaw was scraping the ground. While everyone else began to chat
about Et, one person at the party had other things in mind. "ONII-
CHAN!" Seiteki yodelled as she tried again to hug Ataru.
K'yechsungi's hand snared her by the blouse before she could make
contact. "We think the Venerable One has no desire to submit himself
to your childish attempts at seduction, Kozue," the sin-destroyer
stated, her voice as frightfully neutral as always, before she shifted
Seiteki around towards Hekp'yuk. "Here! She desires to become an
ihuok, Hekp'yuk. We suggest you take her on as an apprentice."
"Really?" the escort trilled as she gave Sakura's daughter an
appraising look, and then she hummed, a nod tilting her head. "She
has much in the way of potential. Quite young, but we all started
that way too. Okay, I'll take her." With that, her eyes glowed again
as Seiteki was elevated from K'yechsungi's hand.
Seiteki wailed as Hekp'yuk towed her off towards another part of the
terrace. Sakura, ever the protective mother despite her daughter's
growing sexual desires -- and her passionate lust for Moroboshi Ataru
thanks to his saving her life weeks before from the Nerima
Toranotenshi Boosoozoku -- moved to chase the escort down so she could
get Seiteki to safety. Niap'yeng's hand stayed her in place. "This
actually might do your daughter good in the long term, Sakura," the
priestess noted as the Shinto shrine maiden glared at her. "You were
no different than she was when you were her age, remember?"
"That's the part I'm trying to save her from, Niap'yeng!" Sakura
snarled.
"Hekp'yuk can assist you," Niap'yeng noted. "She's been trained by
the best t'uotachk'a on Noukiios. She can give Kozue some needed
insights as to where her passions are actually leading her, insights
neither you, your friend . . . " -- here, she nodded at Ryooki Koosei,
who had come to the party alongside his long-time girlfriend, Oyuki --
"And the Venerable Ataru never gained when you were Kozue's age."
"Doubt it'll work," Lum sourly noted.
* * *
Tetsubou soon arrived, followed by the remainder of his classmates
from Onigakkou Elementary School and many of Reiko's former
schoolmates from the Ishinomaki Girls High School (those of whom were
moving on to the Young Women's Academy). Muzuka Marina had been
escorted to the party by K'ech'chut'a Aya, Fujino Hiromi and Yuri,
they also coming with two of Reiko's other very close friends, Koomei
Hitomi and Yayoi Emiri. Of course, despite Ataru's attempts at
calming them, Lum and Shinobu were acting quite distant when it came
to Reiko's newest friend. Unseen by many of the crowd, Ran was trying
not to snicker as she stole looks at Marina; she had got a call from
Hazel earlier in the day concerning a possible visit to Tomobiki by
the current leader of Nassur's Hunters. Of course, her twin sons Rin
and Ren were too busy devouring a lot of the food laid out by the
staff to notice. And Ron was trying her best to get a closer look at
Et.
Much to the private amusement of the members of the old Tomobiki Gang
who were present this evening, Kuroda Mirei caused a scene when she
attempted to hug BOTH Hicha and Nek, she being stopped by Mina and a
well-aimed skillet drawn out of mallet-space. "Hey, Ataru, has Reiko
always had to put up to that girl?" Fujinami Ryuunosuke -- who had
come with her husband Nagisa and daughter Dansei -- wondered.
"Ever since junior high school," Ataru replied. "After she decided
she was going to do everything in her power to put Reiko-chan down,
Mirei-chan tried to steal Reiko's first boyfriend, Yamazaki Akira."
"I didn't know Reiko HAD a boyfriend!" Paama Shitto noted.
"We've never really asked about her, Shitto," Chibi Urayamu reminded
his friend.
Paama jolted, and then he nodded. "Yeah, that's true."
"Is she popular at the Women's Schools, Lum?" Paama Yasashii asked.
"Tcha, she is! Almost as popular as I was back at Tomobiki High!"
the Oni proudly noted.
"Does she have her own set of 'bodyguards?'" Chibi Aijooa probed.
The old members of Lum's Bodyguards blushed. "Not that I'm aware
of," Lum trilled out, and then she gazed curiously at Ataru. "What do
you think, Darling?"
"Not that I'm . . .!"
His voice was cut off as the distant rumble of motorcycle engines
echoed through the air, the noise originating from somewhere to the
northeast. Eyes gazed on a nearby street, where a stream of lights
seemed to flow between houses. "A bike gang?!" Shinobu wondered as
she got to her feet. "Who could . . .?!"
"MISTRESS!"
Heads snapped around as a Kuromegane ran over to kneel before Mendou
Haruka, who had been sitting on a blanket beside her grandson.
"Report!" the valet barked out on his mistress' behalf.
"Mistress, sentries at the residence report spotting members of the
Nerima Toranotenshi Boosoozoku, numbering about twenty, riding through
the streets," the bodyguard stated.
Hearing the dread name of the Tiger Angels, Seiteki shrieked as she
scrambled away from Hekp'yuk to hug Ataru, she burying her face into
his chest. "Onii-chan, save me!" she wailed as Sakura ran over to try
to comfort her. "They're gonna take me away and take nude pictures of
me!"
"They're STILL around?!" Koosei demanded as he walked over to the
edge of the terrace, one of his handy 100-tonne mallets appearing in
his hand as he scouted the scene below. "I thought Ataru got rid of
the last of those dorks the day he came for his job interview,
Sakura!"
"So did I!" Sakura said as she held the wailing Seiteki.
"Guess the ones who went into hiding decided to come out and play,"
Shinobu hissed.
"So who are these jokers, anyway?"
Eyes locked on Marina, who had joined Koosei by the fence line, her
hand resting on the gilded hilt of Aeyek-hup'uk. "Land bike gang,
Marina-san," the vice-principal of Tomobiki High School stated as he
gazed warmly on the hybrid; he knew Caitlyn Bryan from their shared
time together on Ipraedos. "Affiliated to our local version of
Gegranko and his ilk. Most of them are in jail now, but not all."
Marina took that in, and then she gazed on the scene below. The
stream of bikers was swerving onto the ring road that went around the
Tarouzakura hill. Gazing back at the crying Seiteki, who was being
comforted by both Sakura and Hekp'yuk, the hybrid sighed. "Well, I
personally came here to enjoy a party," she told Koosei as her hand
moved to draw Aeyek from her scabbard. "So . . .!"
With a leap, she was airborne. Watching her go, K'yechsungi smirked,
and then she morphed into her winged form to fly off after Marina.
Many of Amora's and Tetsubou's classmates ooed and aahed on seeing
that, and then Reiko sighed. "Oh, great! Just the thing we needed to
end the night!"
A telekinetic boost sent her off, she followed by Hanak'at', Willow
and Yuri. As more people scrambled to the edge of the terrace to
watch the coming battle, Nich stood up. "Nich wants to play," she
said in a squeaky voice, and then she walked over to place Et on the
blanket beside Ron. "Ron-u will play with Et-u while Nich plays with
the bad people," she said before she flew off after the others.
Hearing that, Hekp'yuk turned stark white before she screamed, "CHAI-
YU! COME BACK HERE!"
"Why are you stopping her?!" Sakura demanded.
The crimson-haired Lost Star spun on the shrine maiden. "K'uk'e!
You want them ALIVE, don't you?!"
And with that, she was off. "Oh, dear!" Oyuki breathed out as
everyone turned to watch.
* * *
Cackling madly, Danma Ryuuji guided his souped-up machine down the
street as he led the last of the Toranotenshi -- those who hadn't been
sent off to jail thanks to the police or that punk teacher from one of
the local high schools -- on a ride through the streets of their home
turf. Beside him, one of his gang-mates carried the team's banner
like the guidon of an American cavalry regiment from the Old West. On
it was their mascot: a winged tiger with an angel's halo over the
head. Behind them, the other members of the gang were using chains,
baseball bats and World War Two-vintage swords to rip up anything that
got in their way, from garbage cans to the odd car or truck. As
lights went on in the houses, apartment blocks and small businesses
they were passing, Ryuuji could only smirk. Stupid fools! Did they
really think . . .?
"Hey, asshole!"
Ryuuji jolted on feeling something land on the seat behind him, and
then he spun around to see a green-haired Oni girl in black leather
sitting there, a devilish smirk on her face and a drawn alien sword
held up in one hand. Before he could wonder what was going on, the
girl flipped up and to her right, she twirling around so that the
sword's sharp blade could plunge right into the hub of his back tire!
Ryuuji screamed as the cut sheared off the whole assembly, throwing
him off his seat and sending him skidding face-first into the tarmac.
Around him, his mates moved to dodge around so they couldn't run over
him, several then crashing into the stone and concrete fences of the
properties bordering the street.
As Marina calmly floated over the tail-end members of the gang, she
dropped to the ground. Several of the riders skidded to a halt, they
revving their machines as they moved to charge. "You Oni bitch!" the
one holding the team banner snarled as he pointed at her. "What the
fuck did you just do?!"
"I'm breaking up your street race, shit-for-brains!" Marina calmly
replied. "You're bugging all the neighbours and disturbing a party
I'm at now!" Her eyes narrowed. "You gonna ride outta here nice and
quiet or does my sword get to taste your blood?" Her eyes glowed
briefly as K'yechsungi came into a hover position near her right
shoulder. "Or do you give my friend the chance to eat your souls?"
The bikers were stunned speechless on seeing the winged Noukiite soul-
eater. "Holy shit . . .!" one of them gasped as several started to
shy away from their attackers. "What the fuck is THAT?!"
"She's my friend, the Bandit Slayer of Taktek," a new voice replied
from BEHIND the Toranotenshi. "Hey, Hanak'at', mind telling these
ch'ekuo how many bandits she's killed over the years?!"
Eyes snapped around to stare on four other Noukiite women standing
some distance away, their bodies backlit by nearby streetlamps to keep
their faces in shadow. Their eyes were glowing, the hands of one girl
crackling with energy. "I'm not sure, P'ye," that one replied as she
glanced on the pigtailed-haired one. "Chai-yu's never seen fit to
tell me how many souls she's taken over the last decade or so."
"We have slain 2,728 such unworthies since we started to feed on
souls in earnest."
Marina blinked as she turned to stare at K'yechsungi, a touch of
admiration in her eyes. "Scales of Lady Silna, K'yech! That's a
pretty impressive body-count you've racked up!" she noted.
"We have never minded such trivial matters, Marina," K'yechsungi
calmly said before she gazed on the shivering Toranotenshi. "Now, do
we taste twenty more souls this evening? Or do we allow Nich to
play?" She hummed as a thoughtful look crossed her face. "We are
undecided."
"Nich says they're monkeys. Nich likes monkeys."
As soon as Hekp'yuk's adopted sister -- like K'yechsungi, Nich was an
orphan -- said that, Ryuuji dropped into a crouch as a hooting sound
started to escape him, his face deforming into a caricature of a
chimpanzee. A second later, the other Toranotenshi began to grunt,
ook and ack as they started to scratch the sides of their bodies, they
crouching on their haunches just like their leader was doing right
now. By the time a small troupe of police cars had come onto the
scene, they disgorging their drivers and partners, Marina had already
moved in to hack away at their fallen bikes' engines to ensure they
could not be used anymore. Hanak'at' walked over to take up the
gang's banner, and then with a blast of energy, she disintegrated it.
Reiko and Hekp'yuk also headed over so they could make use of their
powers to help the local constabulary take the bikers into custody.
As soon as she finished ripping up the last of the bikes with Aeyek,
Marina walked over to stand once more beside K'yechsungi. A
disappointed look is on the sin-destroyer's face, one the hybrid was
quick to notice. "Maybe next time, K'yech."
"We hope so," K'yechsungi noted.
"Nich is sorry."
They turned to see Nich standing nearby. "Why do you apologise,
Nich?" K'yechsungi asked.
Nich gave her an impish smile. "Nich was afraid K'yech would get a
tummy-ache."
With that, the childlike Lost Star soared off back towards the
Tarouzakura. "Cute kid," Marina noted.
* * *
A couple hours later -- after the police got statements from
witnesses -- the party was moving to wind down. As the staff moved to
clean up the area and members of Tetsubou's class were parting from
Reiko and her friends, Ataru was quick to notice Ran looking quite
agitated. Quickly noticing the rose-haired Seishin woman's eyes were
locked on Marina, he blinked before a tired sigh escaped him.
Squaring his shoulders, he walked over to stand beside Lum and
Shinobu. "Girls!" he called out.
Both jolted, and then they turned to stare at him. "What is it,
Darling?!" Lum asked.
"Don't you think you can relax now when it comes to Marina-chan?" he
asked, crossing his arms.
Panic crossed their faces. "Ataru . . .!" Shinobu whined.
He leaned up to them. "Has she done ANYTHING concerning Aiotoga?" he
asked in a hiss.
Shinobu paled, her eyes flicking over to Junba. Her adopted daughter
was too busy chatting with Dansei and Amora to have overheard her
mother's bond-mate speak of her. She glared at Ataru. *Ataru, you
KNOW what that woman did to her father . . .!* she telepathically
transmitted out.
*Yes, I DO know what she did!* he transmitted back. *And if you both
took the chance to use your empathy, you would've noted that she
wishes every day that she never had to do THAT to him.*
*But Darling . . .!* Lum protested.
*Lum, if you know about Marina-chan, you know about her fiancie,
too. Didn't Nassur tell you that?*
Both women blinked -- and then everyone jolted on feeling another
mind touch theirs. *Give them a little time, Mr. Moroboshi,* a voice
with a slight Quibicois English accent then mused as a transporter
beam flared into life close to the Tarouzakura itself. *Now, if
you'll both excuse me . . . *
Everyone turned to see a blonde, blue-eyed woman in traveller's
clothes walk past them, she headed for Marina. The hybrid was
standing at the edge of the terrace, she gazing absently on the starry
night over Tomobiki. Before she could sense the person behind her,
hands came up to cover her eyes. "HEY!" Marina screamed out as she
spun around, her hand snapping for Aeyek's hilt. "Who the
fu- . . .?!"
Her voice screeched to a halt as her eyes took in the beautiful
features of the woman who had stolen her heart two decades before.
"MARINA MUZUKA!" Caitlyn scolded. "There ARE children present!"
Marina blinked several times as her mind threatened to crash on
seeing her fiancie for the first time in so long -- not to mention
seeing her whole and healthy! -- and then her eyes misted as she
lunged over to grab Caitlyn in a tight embrace, she boosting them both
into the air. "***CAITY!***"
Watching this from below, Reiko smiled before she sensed Amora's hand
slip in her own. "Who is that, Onee-chan?" the younger girl asked as
the Noukiite turned to gaze on her.
"Oh, it's just Marina-san's fiancie, Amora-chan," Reiko answered.
"Don't mind them."
Everyone jolted on hearing a louder transporter beam echo from close
to the Tarouzakura; Caitlyn had beamed in using the transporter of Koa
Oetan's ship, which had come with the "Odyssey" from Noukiios so the
Canadian could surprise her fiancie. As soon as the beams vanished,
Ataru blinked on recognising one woman in a green sleeveless
bodysuit. "Hazel-chan!" he called out as he walked over to gently
grasp Hazel's hand, he noting the hunter was currently accompanying
Reiko's genetic parents, her father's three lovers, Mendou Shuutarou
and a Fukunokami woman looking distantly like Marina. "What are you
doing here?!" He indicated Nukyek and Hachhich. "And what are you
doing with everyone else? Something wrong?!"
"No, Sempai!" Hazel replied with an embarrassed laugh, and then she
indicated Muzuka Hatashi with a wave of her hand. "Hatashi-san here
wanted to come down to see if her clanswoman was alright and I had to
come here anyway." She grinned at the Noukiite empress. "We crossed
paths with Her Majesty, the Admiral and their friends just outside
Pluto's orbit and they offered us a lift in on their ship!"
"It's a very good thing Marina would also get the chance to reunite
with her family as well as her heart-mate," Nukyek added before she
gazed fondly on Ataru. "A thousand humble pardons, Venerable, but
wherever is P'yeknu? Did we come at a bad time?" She looked around.
"Was there a party here just now?"
"A party Shuutarou's son threw on Reiko's behalf, ma'am," Ataru
answered as he indicated Mendou. "Tetsubou-chan wanted to thank her
publicly for her saving his life and his classmates' lives from a
woman I think you've been told about: Skelad Lara. The party was
winding down when Caitlyn-san came by to reunite with Marina-chan."
With that, he glanced up towards the hybrid in question.
Marina had, by then, floated back down to the ground, her arm wrapped
tenderly around Caitlyn's waist. Her eyes were locked on Hatashi.
"Tash . . .?" she whispered. "Is that really you . . .?"
Hatashi's cheeks were reddening. "Yeah, Rina, it's me . . . "
With a squeal, she lunged forward to swamp Marina with an embrace.
Caitlyn backed off, she moving to stand close to Ataru and Nukyek.
"She was just a baby when Marina stayed with her parents briefly
before she met me on Oyatsui," she explained to the empress. "After
we got separated and before I moved to New Avalon, she always came to
visit me at the shelter. She couldn't adopt me since Marina and I
hadn't done the clan-sister bonding, but she made it quite clear I was
part of the family."
"Well, at least she'll have family she can rely on more now that
she'll be living with you at the Palace, My Empress," Hachhich noted
with a raised finger.
"Quite correct, Admiral."
Hearing THAT, Ran -- who had drifted over to keep an ear on the
conversation that started up once Hazel and her companions arrived --
jolted before she walked around the crowd to get close to the hunter
in question. Grabbing her by the arm, she dragged her over to the
other side of the Tarouzakura from Marina. "What are you DOING, you
idiot?!" she hissed as Hazel sent her a look. "Don't you know who
that is?!" She pointed at Marina, who was still chatting with
Hatashi. "Why aren't you arresting her?!"
"Ran-chan? What are you doing?!"
Ran yelped, she spinning around to see Ataru standing behind her, a
curious look on his face, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Darling!" she cried. "Don't sneak up on me like that!"
Ataru sighed; it only had taken him one quick empathic scan to see
what Lum's friend had been trying to instigate. "Ran, this isn't
going to work," he warned with a shake of his head, and then he stared
knowingly at Hazel. "Isn't that right, Hazel-chan?" he asked as other
people came up to them.
"That's right, Sempai," Hazel replied with a smile before she stared
at Ran. "After all, Ran-san, I simply CAN'T arrest someone who hasn't
been accused of a crime."
"***WHAT?!***" Ran shrieked. "Are you stupid, you Ipraedies . . .!"
An elbow smashed Ran face-first into the ground. "Ooops!" Reiko
gasped in mock-horror before she gazed knowingly at Hazel. "I'm SO
sorry, Aunt Ran! My elbow didn't see you standing there!"
Ran moaned. Ataru's eyes rolled. Hazel laughed, and then she turned
to see Marina standing behind her, Caitlyn and Hatashi flanking her.
Bracing herself, the hunter bowed formally to her. "Hisri'hilm, Lady
Marina of Dysos," she greeted her. "I am Kuriinba of Kyotos, leader
of Nassur's Hunters of Home Base."
Marina's eyebrow arched, and then she calmly placed a hand on Aeyek's
hilt. "Hisri'hilm, Kuriinba of Kyotos," she greeted her in turn, her
tone politely neutral. "I've been told by my new friend, the Lady
Moroboshi Reiko of Sagussa, your leader's been missing for some time
now. What is it you want?"
Hazel stared hopefully at her. "To apologise to you on my leader's
-- my step-father's -- behalf."
Silence.
"***WHAT?!***" Ran shrieked again, she bolting to her feet as she
glared at Hazel.
Reiko's elbow sent her down yet again. "'Apologise?'" Marina
repeated. "For what?"
"For not explaining to you what he really intended to do when he
found you on Gomiana," Hazel replied. "When he tracked you down in
Niouto, my step-father didn't know the story of what happened to your
fiancie at the hands of your disowned half-brother Gilpirko in the
wake of you being forced to defend your mother's life by killing your
father. He intended to take you NOT to Dysos to face your
mother . . . but to Home Base so he could take an opportunity to
understand your whole situation." A sigh. "His silence concerning
his plans to you no doubt made you believe you had no choice but to
take any chance to flee his grasp. Doing so, of course, led you to
fall into the Dragon's Fire and meet the T'yekhek Empress, the mother
of your friend, the Lady Reiko. According to my step-father's notes,
Lady Marina . . . "
"Enough!"
Hazel fell silent. Marina took a deep breath, and then she stared at
her. "I cannot accept your apology, Kuriinba of Kyotos," she stated.
"I will only hear it from Nassur himself."
With that, she turned and walked away. Hazel remained in place, and
then she perked as Marina stopped, she gazing over her shoulder at
her. "By the way, Kuriinba: you better lose some weight. I can't
fuckin' believe Nassur would want ANYONE working for him to be as out
of shape as you are!"
Hazel jerked. As Marina walked off to rejoin Nukyek, Caitlyn watched
her go, and then she stared at the hunter from Home Base. "Relax,
Hazel," she said as she reached over to squeeze the younger girl's
shoulder in support. "You did what you felt you had to do. Believe
it or not, Marina respects that."
"Still . . . "
A wink. "Let me work on her a bit, okay?"
Hazel looked at her, and then she nodded, a grateful smile crossing
her face. Caitlyn headed off to join her fiancie. "Oh, Hazel-chan,
by the way," Reiko spoke up. "Who told you Marina-san was here?"
The hunter stared knowingly at the Lost Star. "Who do you think,
Reiko-chan?"
Reiko blinked, and then she sighed as she glared at the dazed Ran.
"Baka k'uk'e ch'ekuo!" she spat out as she stomped on Ran's head as
she headed over to join Marina and her fiancie.
"Much that I do like you, Ran-chan," Ataru noted. "You DEFINITELY
deserved that!"
Ran moaned.
* * *
"You must learn to forgive, Marina-yu."
Marina perked, and then she gazed on Nukyek. Taking a deep breath,
she turned to stare at the cityscape beyond the Tarouzakura hill. "I
know, Nukyek. I know. She meant good, but still . . . "
"You won't be satisfied until you hear it from him, right?" Caitlyn
asked.
"Yeah . . . "
"Is she normally this stubborn, Mama?"
Eyes locked on Reiko. "She sometimes is worse, P'yeknu," Nukyek
noted.
"'Mama' . . .?!"
They spun to gaze on a wide-eyed Amora. "Amora-chan?" Reiko asked.
"You okay?!"
The empath blinked, and then she pointed at the empress. "Onee-chan,
is she REALLY . . .?!"
"In a sense of the term, young lady, I am," Nukyek answered.
Silence.
"My sister's the daughter of Noukiios' Empress . . .?" Amora
wondered, and then she squealed. "COOL!"
"Is it true, Onee-chan?!" Junba, who had overheard everything from
nearby (as did Dansei and Seiteki), asked as they walked over to join
their classmate. "She's really your mom?!"
"Well, she's one of my mothers, Aiotoga," Reiko explained. "It's a
long story."
"How can you have more than one mom, Onee-chan?" Dansei wondered.
"Onee-chan's a bioroid, Dansei-chan," Amora answered.
"Like an Avalonian?" Seiteki asked.
"Yep!"
More of the younger ones' classmates had come over to join them.
"Um, Your Majesty?" Tetsubou asked as he bowed formally to Nukyek.
"Does this mean that Reiko-oneesan will be a crown princess?"
"Well . . .!"
"She can be, young man," a strange voice answered. "IF her noble
father will allow it, of course."
Eyes snapped over. "General Eyu-K'ung!" Reiko gasped on recognising
him.
"Elder Neksai! What are you doing here?!" Niap'yeng asked as the
other Lost Stars joined them.
"That's what I'd like to know, too!" Ataru noted as he walked up to
stand beside his daughters, he nodding a greeting to the retired
president. "It's been quite a while, sir. What brings you to
Earth?!"
Nukyek gazed at him. "You know each other, Venerable?"
"Hai, ma'am. When I was on Magairu once, I met him; he was in exile
at the time," Ataru explained.
"It indeed is good to see you again, sir," Neksai stated as he nodded
to the Daite'cha of Sagussa, and then he took a breath. "And it is
also fortuitous that you're here to witness this." He drew a rolled
parchment from under his cloak, it wrapped in a ribbon with an emerald
clasp bearing the sigil of the Council of Sages on it. Going to one
knee before Nukyek, he handed it to her with both hands. "My
Empress."
Nukyek blinked, and then she froze as the possible reason for one of
the Council of Sages to present himself this way -- to address her
like THAT -- and to do that in front of the Euk Hisehek himself . . .!
Reaching over, Reiko took the scroll from Neksai, and then she
snapped the clasp so she could unroll it. Reading the beautifully
scripted words there, she blinked as the message contained on the
parchment sank into her mind, and then she stared at the older woman
standing beside her.
The woman who was now her ancestral people's head-of-state in fact as
well as name.
"Mama . . .?"
Nukyek blinked as she tried to absorb what she had just been told,
and then she started to sway. In the blink of an eye, Marina was
right at her side, her hand holding Nukyek up. "Whoa, girl!" the
hybrid hissed. "It ain't gonna look good if you pass out after being
handed your husband's crown, you know!"
The empress jolted, and then she stared wide-eyed at her pe'cha
before she turned to gaze on the other people standing around her.
Ataru had a sympathetic look on his face. Reiko was worried. Caitlyn
was giving her a supportive smile. Amora and her classmates were
hushed silent. And the other Noukiites were now on one knee, they
bowing their heads towards her as they crossed their right hands over
their hearts in salute to their liege lady. Even Et, on the ground
beside Nich, was bowing to her.
Realising there was no going back, the Muine T'yekhek Empress of
Noukiios squared her shoulders.
"If that is my fate in life, I accept it."
*** To Be Continued . . .! ***
**** **** ****
WRITER'S NOTES:
1) This story takes place a week after "The Dragon's Breath."
2) Terms and translations:
Oniboshi . . . Uru's primary star, a Class F0I white-yellow sun.
flitter . . . Ground vehicle with low-level atmospheric flight
capability.
-vayae . . . Literally, "my beloved." Sagussan/Avalonian name-suffix
used for one's bond-mate.
tenth-day . . . Literally one-tenth of a solar day. The Sagussan
tenth-day is equal to 2 hours, 5 minutes and 24 seconds Earth-time.
The Avalonian equivalent is roughly similar.
Dowe'on . . . Literally, "guardians of the stars." The non-xenophobic
elements of Ipraedies society. Their opposite numbers are known as
the Asan'on (literally, "guardians of the home").
Gomiana . . . A planet located to the spinward side of Earth and
Neptune's solar system. Member of the Galactic Federation, but it has
no colony planets. An effectively lawless society, Gomiana is one of
the favoured stomping grounds of independent bounty hunters such as
Nassur and Shogai Dakejinzou. Niouto is its capital city; it's built
on two separate levels divided by an escarpment.
Sagurei . . . Literally, "child of Sagussa." Sagussa's Class A moon,
about the same size as Luna, orbiting at roughly the same distance
from Sagussa itself as Luna does from Earth. The regeneration matrix,
by which the Daishi'cha were all restored to life, is found in
Sagurei's upper mantle.
Cha'than . . . A race of female bioroids created five million years
ago by a race of cyborgs known today as the Kurosans, believed to be
the creators of the Planet of Shadows (see the TSY stories "Nassur's
Story," "Be Forever Nassur" and "Stage Zero"). I modelled them after
the Iczers from the Hirano Toshihiro series.
HUD . . . Head's Up Display.
K'ahuch . . . Noukiios' second-largest city, located on the southeast
corner of the southern continent. Traditionally seen as the primary
gateway for aliens coming onto the planet; it has a very larger
foreigner's ghetto downtown. Because of this, most other races'
embassies (save for some notable exceptions) are located here; no
foreign legation can, by tradition, be located in either Noukiyek or
Ryekkyuk. Nakkuk is a district located in the central part of the
city; the name itself actually translates as "city centre."
mesosphere . . . The part of Earth's atmosphere ranging from 50-80
kilometres (31-50 miles) above sea level. It is the part of the
atmosphere that can't be reached by normal ground-based aircraft, yet
lies below the average orbital altitudes of satellites. Because of
this, it's often nicknamed the "ignorosphere" since little in the ways
of scientific studies have been done concerning this part of Earth's
environment.
Pizalna . . . The Yehisrite goddess of home, marriage and the family,
second only to the Three-Faced One (the god of death) in social
stature within the ancient pantheon of that world. "Lady Pizalna's
Fleece Laces" is one of the most common oaths uttered by Yehisrites.
Tomobiki-chuuou . . . Central Tomobiki. In the way I imagine
Tomobiki, this station would be located on the Seibu Ikebukuro line,
halfway between Hooya and Hibarigaoka stations.
ch'ekuo . . . Literally "dung heap dog," the most vile insult
Noukiites use.
trench-wave . . . Standard Vosian insult towards people they don't
respect. It literally means one's brainwaves (which most Vosians can
sense to one degree or another) are too "low" to be worthy of notice.
ch'ehek . . . Noukiite title for one of its colony worlds; it
literally means "province-planet."
Hech'uo-t'ach . . . Literally "Great Western Gate." A prison located
in Noukiyek, west of downtown, close to the site of the western gate
of the old walled city. Used as a special detention centre for
Noukiite rebels against the Urusian Occupation. After the Occupation,
it was taken over by native authorities, remaining as a prison to this
day. Hech'uo-t'ach also doubles as the headquarters of the Central
Intelligence Agency.
kimch'i tchigae . . . A spicy, stew-like version of Korea's most
popular vegetable dish.
T'a-Eue . . . The variation of the classical civil servant's
examination (Eue) written by would-be military officers. For people
like Hachhich, Pin, Sen and Uin, it contained not only a written exam
(including a poem), but also demonstration of classical weapons use
such as swordsmanship and archery.
Eta-jima . . . The island close to Hiroshima which currently serves as
the site of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Forces' officer's
candidate school. It was the site of the Imperial Japanese Naval
Academy, alma mater of such famous leaders as Yamamoto Isoroku (Class
of 1904) and Nagumo Chuuichi (Class of 1908).
K'ut't'irak . . . Breeze of Evening.
shaku . . . Length of measurement in old Japan, equivalent to 30.3
centimetres (11.93 inches).
Hichheksuch-t'ach . . . Literally, "Heaven's Gate." The most common
oath used by Noukiites. The phrase is often pronounced by its
Ryekkyuk dialect pronunciation, "Hu'jhogsuch-t'ach." The Lost Stars,
thanks to their considerable mental programming, always utter this
oath in the Ryekkyuk dialect.
Kutit'kihap' Chacht'ap' . . . Tears of the Morning Dew.
Tomobiki-nishi . . . West Tomobiki.
Tomobiki-higashi . . . East Tomobiki.
nicha . . . The Vosian ceremony which allowed the survivor of a
shattered recognition bond to emotionally expunge his/her grief at the
loss so s/he could proceed forth to seek out a new mate. See the TSY
main story "Final Cinba" and the Tales of the Daishi'cha story "Lufy's
Quest" to see what I mean.
sirmir'mhifif . . . Yehisrite term indicative that the one so marked
has been banished from his/her birth family. Yukio's mother Nakanba
was declared as such by Varanko. See "Ancient Ties" to learn the full
story.
it'k'i . . . Vegetables fermented in a mixture of sweet pepper sauce
and seafood.
-nech . . . Name suffix for a meeting hall.
T'uhach . . . A large industrial city northwest of Nichsuo. The
inland body of water (an arm of the Great Southern Ocean) Nichsuo
actually sits on is called T'uhach-t'uch (T'uhach Bay).
nereng . . . Term for a member of a crime cartel on Noukiios; it can
also be used to implicate any type of criminal who works as part of a
team (much like Pepper, Sugar and Ginger wanted to do in their youth).
ramyoun . . . Korean way of saying "ramen."
daishou . . . Literally, "large and small." The combination of katana
and wakizashi normally carried by a wealthy samurai in the period
before the Meiji Restoration.
Et'a Yekaechsuch-at' . . . Mother's Eternal Dream.
Strathconas . . . Officially "Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal
Canadians)." The second senior cavalry regiment of the Canadian Army,
currently serving as part of the 1st Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group
in the Edmonton Garrison, Alberta. Formed in 1900, the Regiment
fought in the Boer War, both World Wars and Korea, plus has served on
United Nations and NATO missions in Cyprus, Kosovo and Afghanistan.
Uohek . . . City on the southern coast of Noukiios' northern
continent, located just across the Central Sea from the northern
suburbs of Noukiyek. During the Ep'ye Dynasty, it was called
"Hekch'e."
Et . . . Flower.
ihuok . . . Literally, "prostitute." People like Hekp'yuk are, these
days, trained in many things beyond sexual intercourse, so they often
use the term "t'uotachk'a" (escort) to describe their occupation.
boosoozoku . . . Literally, "violent running tribe." Japanese
euphemism for a bike gang.
k'uk'e . . . Idiot.
Silna . . . The Yehisrite goddess of justice, patron divinity of the
Imperial Corps of Executioners.
Hisri'hilm . . . Standard Yehisrite hail/farewell. It means "Die with
honour."
3) "Clan-sisters" (or "clan-brothers") on Fukunokami is the mark of
homosexual relationships there.
4) Tabitha Lee appeared in the TSY story "Dakejinzou's Story." The
Sukebans (Pepper, Ginger and Sugar) made several appearances
throughout the television series and manga, their last major run-in
with Ataru and Lum being depicted in the TSY story "Choices."
Kamekichi Tampopo and Zatsudan Ayako (who had a different given name,
Hisako) first appeared in my TSY-based lemon story "The Galatea
Syndrome."
5) Mike and I established in TSY (basing this on events in the first
television episode) that tagging an Oni's horn buds is seen as the
necessary physical act to be married to one. Thus, conversely,
ripping off and destroying the horn buds is an act of divorce. Horn
buds are also seen as the most sensuous part of an Oni's body; to
suckle them with the mouth evokes great arousal (these themes I
explored in my other TSY-based lemon story, "A Remarkable Destiny").
Because of that, any act done on an Oni's horns (outside the bounds of
a Tag Race) by anyone other than a recognised mate is seen as
tantamount to rape.
6) General galactic directions are marked as follows: coreward
(towards the core of the galaxy; course 000), spinward (the direct
opposite of coreward; course 180), inspin (with galactic rotation;
course 270) and outspin (against galactic rotation; course 090). The
degree measurements for vertical pitch in a ship's course begins at
000 (ahead), rotates to 090 (up), then to 180 (aft), and then to 270
(down).
7) The Lannarkites first appeared in the TSY story "Tag Race Mark
Three," they also having a considerable impact on events in "Nassur's
Story" and "Be Forever Nassur" (with the side story "Marcia's Story"
serving as a continuation to one element of that storyline). I based
the Lannarkites on the Brood (including their way of reproduction)
from a classic "X-Men" storyline. The events of the Second Colony
Four Massacre were depicted in the story "Great Father Ataru Stage
Seven: Re-birth."
**** **** ****
"It has been decided, child."
Hearing that, the woman nodded as she moved to follow the elder down
the hallway past the largest meeting hall in Keuket' Fortress, located
in one of the northern districts of Ryekkyuk. It was at this site,
over five thousand years ago, the Ch'uoeuk -- during his mortal
lifetime -- established the first worldwide ruling kingdom of
Noukiios. Keuket' Fortress had been expanded, demolished, rebuilt and
redesigned over the five millennia since Muchach's time, it finally
being turned into the main base of the Council of Sages after the
Muine Emperor established the Ep'ye Dynasty in the city of Uohek.
Even during the Occupation, the Council had sat within these walls;
the Urusians had been fooled during those dark years into thinking
Keuket' to be a shrine instead of the base of a government
organisation. An organisation that had planned the overthrow of the
alien conquerors from the very instant the Kyaksai Emperor had been
forced to abdicate.
"It was so fast," the young woman noted as she paused at the ramparts
to gaze on the vast city beyond.
"It was quite simple in the end, child," the older man said as he
stood beside her. "The inheritance laws have been set in stone for
years. And we HAVE a copy of the Eukt'ach' Emperor's will. The
government in Noukiyek recognises the fact that any decisions made by
the Kyaksai Emperor under duress by the Urusians has never possessed
legitimacy. AND the modern government was founded as a 'provisional'
government after the Liberation; nothing they've decided since that
time has changed that one simple fact."
She closed her eyes. "She'll hate it."
"Don't you mean you'll hate it, Atnu?"
The young woman perked, and then she breathed out. "If that is my
fate in life, I accept it," she repeated the lament the Most Venerable
Inuch'ech first uttered four millennia before when he began to teach
his sermons on the theories of reincarnation, one of the cornerstones
of the Noukiite faith.
"Well said. Now go summon your ship. One of the clerks just
reported to me Her Majesty and the Venerable Admiral Ye-Yi have gone
to Terra to see the Venerable P'yeknu and her adopted parents. We
will relay the news to Her Majesty there, in the presence of the Euk
Hichheksuch Seuchhoukhek himself." An approving nod tilted the old
warrior's face. "A truly auspicious beginning for the new age of our
people."
She nodded. "Alright."
The woman headed off. Watching her go, Eyu-K'ung Chuip'-Neksai took
a deep breath before he passed a hand through his silver-grey hair,
rubbing one of the ridgelines underneath that mass as he soothed the
headache he suffered from time to time. They came to him whenever he
had been forced to think of profound things, that starting after he
got the disruptor shot that grazed his head when his then-intelligence
chief, K'e-It' Chuch'a-Nuoya, tried to end his life (and effectively
ending his presidency), not to mention murder several of his loyal
bodyguards. It was only the quick thinking of a local doctor -- who
had access to transportation to an advanced Zephyrite clinic on
Magairu -- that spared Neksai his eventual meeting with the Ch'uoeuk
at the Two Portals, plus set him on the road to the Keuket' Fortress.
Many Noukiites still questioned President K'u-It' Chusu-Ch'uonak's
decision to allow Neksai to ascend to the Council in the first place.
While Neksai had driven through the necessary reforms that helped
Noukiios fully recover economically from the Urusian Occupation, he
had done so under the umbrella of nearly draconian laws that earned
him the rueful nickname of "Noukiios' Mikado" by outside observers.
The current president himself had been a victim of Neksai's brutality;
it was a special assassination team sent by the Nakkuk-nekk'ek'a --
run by Neksai's nephew-in-law, Eyu-It' Chusu-Nekrip' -- that chased
him down on Elle, crippling the man in an attempt to forever silence
his criticisms of the general's domestic policies.
Would some people view his supporting the restoration of the throne
-- and thus, the abolition of the presidency -- as Neksai's revenge on
his old opponent? Thinking that, the old general shook his head.
No. The Council had been unanimous in its decision concerning Her
Majesty's proper place in society. And the President himself had
requested their decision be unanimous regardless of which way it fell;
he HAD understood that technicality concerning the legal status of the
Dominion's present government in a way most normal Noukiites could
not. The people themselves would be educated when that announcement
was made as soon as the empress herself was informed. Realising that,
Neksai squared his shoulders and took a deep breath, his ears perking
on hearing his young companion's footsteps. Turning to see her, he
nodded.
"I trust your ship is ready to go, Venerable Atnu?"
"But of course," Ye-Nehek Yech'a-Atnu chirruped back as she slipped
her arm around his.
* * *
Tomobiki glittered with evening lights a night later as a small fleet
of limousines and people on foot made their way to the Tarouzakura
Hill for Tetsubou's party. The vast domestic work force employed by
the Mendou Clan on their ancestral home grounds had outdone themselves
to ensure the Youngest Master's party in honour of his rescuer from
Skelad Lara would go without a hitch. Some of the older ones
remembered the time when they hosted the Young Master Shuutarou's
classmates when Fujinami Ryuunosuke celebrated her birthday at the
Tarouzakura back at the end of September 1983. That party --
converted at the suggestion of then-Princess Oyuki into a dual
celebration of Moroboshi Ataru's adoption of Reiko -- turned into a
total disaster when the Young Master teamed with his classmates to
make it seem as if Lum and everyone else were snubbing her fianci and
his just-adopted daughter. That, thanks to behind-the-scenes work by
Ataru's grandmother Nagaiwakai, resulted in the Third Tag Race and
Lum's near-final expulsion from Earth.
It hopefully would not happen this time.
"Good evening, Mistress Reiko," the valet -- and full-time human
parrot -- of the matriarch of the Mendou Clan hailed as he bowed
formally to Reiko. Mendou Haruka herself sat on the back of an ox as
they greeted everyone coming tonight. "You're looking truly lovely
this evening. Is this Mistress Mina?"
"Hai, Grand-aunt Haruka, she is," Reiko answered, she gazing on
Haruka as she gently grasped the latter's hand. "Still suffering from
laryngitis?" she playfully asked.
Haruka hid her blush behind a folding fan. "Somewhat, Mistress
Reiko," the valet admitted.
Reiko smiled at her and winked at him before she slipped her arm
around Mina's and they headed onto the flat plateau surrounding the
Tarouzakura, they followed by Hicha and Nek. Once there, all four
paused as they took in the scenery around them. Niap'yeng,
K'yechsungi and her sister Hanak'at' had proceeded Reiko and her
lovers here. The priestess was currently examining the young cherry
tree with the help of Megane Aisuru and Ozuno Sakura, while her two
closest friends were relaxing on a blanket, they having joined Miyake
Shinobu, her adopted daughter Junba and Amora. The empath jolted as
Reiko approached her, her eyes glowing that pretty pink as she looked
her way. "Reiko-oneechan!"
Reiko smirked as Amora ran over to hug her. "Hey, shrimp! Ouch! Go
easy on my legs, huh?!"
Amora pouted. "Hi, Reiko-oneechan!" Junba called out as she walked
over to join Amora, she then nodding at Mina and the two Onis. "Mina-
san! Hicha-san! Nek-san! Isn't this such a neat place?"
"It is that, Miss Junba," Nek admitted as he walked up to slip an arm
around Reiko's.
Amora quickly noted that, and then a wary look crossed her face as
she looked once more at her sister. "Onee-chan, am I gonna feel funny
again?" she timidly asked.
"Hopefully not, Amora-yu."
Everyone turned as Niap'yeng walked up. "What do you mean, Nia-
neechan?" Amora asked.
The priestess went to one knee before the young empath. "That's
going to be a little surprise," she promised. "Think of it as a
special present to you from all of us for being such a good little
sister to P'yeknu. Once the present comes to you, you won't ever
'feel funny' anymore whenever you feel P'yeknu express her love to
Mina, Hicha and Nek -- much less your parents expressing their love to
each other, not to mention young Junba's mother or the Elder Mother
Noa." She pulled out a jewellery case to open it, it holding a simple
pendant with an emerald on a base of silver. "And as a prelude to
that, this is yours."
"What's that?" Mina asked.
Niap'yeng drew out the necklace to drape it around Amora's neck.
"It's a special empathic blocking rune, Mina," she explained. "This
will allow Amora to protect herself from any strong show of emotion
until such time as Rogo comes to teach her how to use her powers
better."
"Is Mom going to allow that?" Amora asked.
"She will!"
Heads turned as Lum (carrying Ataru) landed behind Reiko's party.
"Hey, Mom!" Reiko called out as her parents stretched themselves.
"You actually managed to call Chishiki-san?"
"No, but I called Ginger and asked to pass on a message to Rogo-san,"
Lum reported. "I'll get a call about Rogo-san coming to Earth
sometime later this week; she has to ensure she isn't going to be
called back to Aimaiyu for some reason or another. Atop that, she's
not done with Luala-chan yet."
"She will come, Venerable," Niap'yeng promised.
"Is she nice, Onee-chan?"
Eyes locked on Amora. "She will be fine, Amora-yu," the priestess
replied.
"ONII-CHAN!"
Ataru jolted on hearing Seiteki's shout, that making him freeze for
the critical second he could have used to dodge her oncoming hug.
Before Sakura's daughter could land on target, something GRABBED her
in mid-air, which made her cry out in shock. "Onee-chan!" Amora
yelled as she spun on Reiko . . .
Whose eyes were NOT glowing.
"I'm not doing anything," Reiko noted.
"I am, P'ye."
Eyes locked on the pair of people standing nearby, both dressed in
formal Noukiite robes, the eyes of one glowing. Both had cheek
tattoos marking them as one of the groups of Huhat'hu, the caste of
city dwellers. Reiko knew both were of the specific sub-caste of
professional entertainers, which included thespians, writers, visual
artists -- and Noukiios' version of Japan's geisha. Quickly
recognising the crimson-haired one (hers were the eyes that were
glowing), Reiko laughed as she walked over to grasp the newcomer's
hands. "Hu'jhogsuch-t'ach, Hekp'yuk! What are you doing here?!"
A snort escaped Hu-Hut' Yesu-Hekp'yuk, the former Subject 463 of the
Lost Stars, as her glowing eyes reverted back to their normal blue-
grey. Nearby, the floating Seiteki found herself NOT floating
anymore, she smacking headfirst into the hard rock of the Tarouzakura
terrace. "What do you think I'm doing here, P'ye?! I'm gonna be
working here at the embassy as the protocol officer." She leaned over
to kiss Reiko's cheeks. "Sorry I haven't had the chance to come visit
you; I was busy getting settled into my apartment with Nich." She
nodded towards her companion, she giving Reiko a knowing look.
Reiko nodded as she glanced over at Hekp'yuk's adopted sister, Hu-
Hut' Yech'a-Nich, the former Subject 171. Nodding in understanding,
Reiko walked over to gaze into Nich's bright blue eyes. The raven-
haired woman blinked as she felt her sister Lost Star's gaze fall on
her, and then she moved to tightly embrace the stuffed Noukiite bear
she held in her arms, she ducking Reiko's gaze. Thanks to memories
Reiko had scanned from K'yechsungi the day they mind-melded before
their adventure to the Yekk'ap' began, the former knew the bear --
named "Et" by Nich -- contained a special series of charms and runes,
similar to the one Niap'yeng just gave Amora. Given Nich's potential
power level -- she was K'yechsungi's equal -- those charms were all
that stood between a young woman with the emotional maturity of a
child and many brain-dead bystanders.
"Et," Reiko addressed the bear. "Can P'yeknu give Nich a hug?"
The bear's head shifted slightly in a nod. With that, Reiko walked
over to gently embrace Nich from the side. Watching this, Niap'yeng
smiled; she had been the one who had created Et in the first place.
"Wow!" Megane Shinpai called out; EVERYONE had seen that. "It's a
magical teddy bear!"
"Cool!" Kakugari Kokishin gasped.
"Awesome!" Paama Omoshiroi and Chibi Rikoshugi chimed together.
"Mom, can I have one, too?!" Ron, the youngest daughter of Rei and
Ran, asked her mother.
Ran's jaw was scraping the ground. While everyone else began to chat
about Et, one person at the party had other things in mind. "ONII-
CHAN!" Seiteki yodelled as she tried again to hug Ataru.
K'yechsungi's hand snared her by the blouse before she could make
contact. "We think the Venerable One has no desire to submit himself
to your childish attempts at seduction, Kozue," the sin-destroyer
stated, her voice as frightfully neutral as always, before she shifted
Seiteki around towards Hekp'yuk. "Here! She desires to become an
ihuok, Hekp'yuk. We suggest you take her on as an apprentice."
"Really?" the escort trilled as she gave Sakura's daughter an
appraising look, and then she hummed, a nod tilting her head. "She
has much in the way of potential. Quite young, but we all started
that way too. Okay, I'll take her." With that, her eyes glowed again
as Seiteki was elevated from K'yechsungi's hand.
Seiteki wailed as Hekp'yuk towed her off towards another part of the
terrace. Sakura, ever the protective mother despite her daughter's
growing sexual desires -- and her passionate lust for Moroboshi Ataru
thanks to his saving her life weeks before from the Nerima
Toranotenshi Boosoozoku -- moved to chase the escort down so she could
get Seiteki to safety. Niap'yeng's hand stayed her in place. "This
actually might do your daughter good in the long term, Sakura," the
priestess noted as the Shinto shrine maiden glared at her. "You were
no different than she was when you were her age, remember?"
"That's the part I'm trying to save her from, Niap'yeng!" Sakura
snarled.
"Hekp'yuk can assist you," Niap'yeng noted. "She's been trained by
the best t'uotachk'a on Noukiios. She can give Kozue some needed
insights as to where her passions are actually leading her, insights
neither you, your friend . . . " -- here, she nodded at Ryooki Koosei,
who had come to the party alongside his long-time girlfriend, Oyuki --
"And the Venerable Ataru never gained when you were Kozue's age."
"Doubt it'll work," Lum sourly noted.
* * *
Tetsubou soon arrived, followed by the remainder of his classmates
from Onigakkou Elementary School and many of Reiko's former
schoolmates from the Ishinomaki Girls High School (those of whom were
moving on to the Young Women's Academy). Muzuka Marina had been
escorted to the party by K'ech'chut'a Aya, Fujino Hiromi and Yuri,
they also coming with two of Reiko's other very close friends, Koomei
Hitomi and Yayoi Emiri. Of course, despite Ataru's attempts at
calming them, Lum and Shinobu were acting quite distant when it came
to Reiko's newest friend. Unseen by many of the crowd, Ran was trying
not to snicker as she stole looks at Marina; she had got a call from
Hazel earlier in the day concerning a possible visit to Tomobiki by
the current leader of Nassur's Hunters. Of course, her twin sons Rin
and Ren were too busy devouring a lot of the food laid out by the
staff to notice. And Ron was trying her best to get a closer look at
Et.
Much to the private amusement of the members of the old Tomobiki Gang
who were present this evening, Kuroda Mirei caused a scene when she
attempted to hug BOTH Hicha and Nek, she being stopped by Mina and a
well-aimed skillet drawn out of mallet-space. "Hey, Ataru, has Reiko
always had to put up to that girl?" Fujinami Ryuunosuke -- who had
come with her husband Nagisa and daughter Dansei -- wondered.
"Ever since junior high school," Ataru replied. "After she decided
she was going to do everything in her power to put Reiko-chan down,
Mirei-chan tried to steal Reiko's first boyfriend, Yamazaki Akira."
"I didn't know Reiko HAD a boyfriend!" Paama Shitto noted.
"We've never really asked about her, Shitto," Chibi Urayamu reminded
his friend.
Paama jolted, and then he nodded. "Yeah, that's true."
"Is she popular at the Women's Schools, Lum?" Paama Yasashii asked.
"Tcha, she is! Almost as popular as I was back at Tomobiki High!"
the Oni proudly noted.
"Does she have her own set of 'bodyguards?'" Chibi Aijooa probed.
The old members of Lum's Bodyguards blushed. "Not that I'm aware
of," Lum trilled out, and then she gazed curiously at Ataru. "What do
you think, Darling?"
"Not that I'm . . .!"
His voice was cut off as the distant rumble of motorcycle engines
echoed through the air, the noise originating from somewhere to the
northeast. Eyes gazed on a nearby street, where a stream of lights
seemed to flow between houses. "A bike gang?!" Shinobu wondered as
she got to her feet. "Who could . . .?!"
"MISTRESS!"
Heads snapped around as a Kuromegane ran over to kneel before Mendou
Haruka, who had been sitting on a blanket beside her grandson.
"Report!" the valet barked out on his mistress' behalf.
"Mistress, sentries at the residence report spotting members of the
Nerima Toranotenshi Boosoozoku, numbering about twenty, riding through
the streets," the bodyguard stated.
Hearing the dread name of the Tiger Angels, Seiteki shrieked as she
scrambled away from Hekp'yuk to hug Ataru, she burying her face into
his chest. "Onii-chan, save me!" she wailed as Sakura ran over to try
to comfort her. "They're gonna take me away and take nude pictures of
me!"
"They're STILL around?!" Koosei demanded as he walked over to the
edge of the terrace, one of his handy 100-tonne mallets appearing in
his hand as he scouted the scene below. "I thought Ataru got rid of
the last of those dorks the day he came for his job interview,
Sakura!"
"So did I!" Sakura said as she held the wailing Seiteki.
"Guess the ones who went into hiding decided to come out and play,"
Shinobu hissed.
"So who are these jokers, anyway?"
Eyes locked on Marina, who had joined Koosei by the fence line, her
hand resting on the gilded hilt of Aeyek-hup'uk. "Land bike gang,
Marina-san," the vice-principal of Tomobiki High School stated as he
gazed warmly on the hybrid; he knew Caitlyn Bryan from their shared
time together on Ipraedos. "Affiliated to our local version of
Gegranko and his ilk. Most of them are in jail now, but not all."
Marina took that in, and then she gazed on the scene below. The
stream of bikers was swerving onto the ring road that went around the
Tarouzakura hill. Gazing back at the crying Seiteki, who was being
comforted by both Sakura and Hekp'yuk, the hybrid sighed. "Well, I
personally came here to enjoy a party," she told Koosei as her hand
moved to draw Aeyek from her scabbard. "So . . .!"
With a leap, she was airborne. Watching her go, K'yechsungi smirked,
and then she morphed into her winged form to fly off after Marina.
Many of Amora's and Tetsubou's classmates ooed and aahed on seeing
that, and then Reiko sighed. "Oh, great! Just the thing we needed to
end the night!"
A telekinetic boost sent her off, she followed by Hanak'at', Willow
and Yuri. As more people scrambled to the edge of the terrace to
watch the coming battle, Nich stood up. "Nich wants to play," she
said in a squeaky voice, and then she walked over to place Et on the
blanket beside Ron. "Ron-u will play with Et-u while Nich plays with
the bad people," she said before she flew off after the others.
Hearing that, Hekp'yuk turned stark white before she screamed, "CHAI-
YU! COME BACK HERE!"
"Why are you stopping her?!" Sakura demanded.
The crimson-haired Lost Star spun on the shrine maiden. "K'uk'e!
You want them ALIVE, don't you?!"
And with that, she was off. "Oh, dear!" Oyuki breathed out as
everyone turned to watch.
* * *
Cackling madly, Danma Ryuuji guided his souped-up machine down the
street as he led the last of the Toranotenshi -- those who hadn't been
sent off to jail thanks to the police or that punk teacher from one of
the local high schools -- on a ride through the streets of their home
turf. Beside him, one of his gang-mates carried the team's banner
like the guidon of an American cavalry regiment from the Old West. On
it was their mascot: a winged tiger with an angel's halo over the
head. Behind them, the other members of the gang were using chains,
baseball bats and World War Two-vintage swords to rip up anything that
got in their way, from garbage cans to the odd car or truck. As
lights went on in the houses, apartment blocks and small businesses
they were passing, Ryuuji could only smirk. Stupid fools! Did they
really think . . .?
"Hey, asshole!"
Ryuuji jolted on feeling something land on the seat behind him, and
then he spun around to see a green-haired Oni girl in black leather
sitting there, a devilish smirk on her face and a drawn alien sword
held up in one hand. Before he could wonder what was going on, the
girl flipped up and to her right, she twirling around so that the
sword's sharp blade could plunge right into the hub of his back tire!
Ryuuji screamed as the cut sheared off the whole assembly, throwing
him off his seat and sending him skidding face-first into the tarmac.
Around him, his mates moved to dodge around so they couldn't run over
him, several then crashing into the stone and concrete fences of the
properties bordering the street.
As Marina calmly floated over the tail-end members of the gang, she
dropped to the ground. Several of the riders skidded to a halt, they
revving their machines as they moved to charge. "You Oni bitch!" the
one holding the team banner snarled as he pointed at her. "What the
fuck did you just do?!"
"I'm breaking up your street race, shit-for-brains!" Marina calmly
replied. "You're bugging all the neighbours and disturbing a party
I'm at now!" Her eyes narrowed. "You gonna ride outta here nice and
quiet or does my sword get to taste your blood?" Her eyes glowed
briefly as K'yechsungi came into a hover position near her right
shoulder. "Or do you give my friend the chance to eat your souls?"
The bikers were stunned speechless on seeing the winged Noukiite soul-
eater. "Holy shit . . .!" one of them gasped as several started to
shy away from their attackers. "What the fuck is THAT?!"
"She's my friend, the Bandit Slayer of Taktek," a new voice replied
from BEHIND the Toranotenshi. "Hey, Hanak'at', mind telling these
ch'ekuo how many bandits she's killed over the years?!"
Eyes snapped around to stare on four other Noukiite women standing
some distance away, their bodies backlit by nearby streetlamps to keep
their faces in shadow. Their eyes were glowing, the hands of one girl
crackling with energy. "I'm not sure, P'ye," that one replied as she
glanced on the pigtailed-haired one. "Chai-yu's never seen fit to
tell me how many souls she's taken over the last decade or so."
"We have slain 2,728 such unworthies since we started to feed on
souls in earnest."
Marina blinked as she turned to stare at K'yechsungi, a touch of
admiration in her eyes. "Scales of Lady Silna, K'yech! That's a
pretty impressive body-count you've racked up!" she noted.
"We have never minded such trivial matters, Marina," K'yechsungi
calmly said before she gazed on the shivering Toranotenshi. "Now, do
we taste twenty more souls this evening? Or do we allow Nich to
play?" She hummed as a thoughtful look crossed her face. "We are
undecided."
"Nich says they're monkeys. Nich likes monkeys."
As soon as Hekp'yuk's adopted sister -- like K'yechsungi, Nich was an
orphan -- said that, Ryuuji dropped into a crouch as a hooting sound
started to escape him, his face deforming into a caricature of a
chimpanzee. A second later, the other Toranotenshi began to grunt,
ook and ack as they started to scratch the sides of their bodies, they
crouching on their haunches just like their leader was doing right
now. By the time a small troupe of police cars had come onto the
scene, they disgorging their drivers and partners, Marina had already
moved in to hack away at their fallen bikes' engines to ensure they
could not be used anymore. Hanak'at' walked over to take up the
gang's banner, and then with a blast of energy, she disintegrated it.
Reiko and Hekp'yuk also headed over so they could make use of their
powers to help the local constabulary take the bikers into custody.
As soon as she finished ripping up the last of the bikes with Aeyek,
Marina walked over to stand once more beside K'yechsungi. A
disappointed look is on the sin-destroyer's face, one the hybrid was
quick to notice. "Maybe next time, K'yech."
"We hope so," K'yechsungi noted.
"Nich is sorry."
They turned to see Nich standing nearby. "Why do you apologise,
Nich?" K'yechsungi asked.
Nich gave her an impish smile. "Nich was afraid K'yech would get a
tummy-ache."
With that, the childlike Lost Star soared off back towards the
Tarouzakura. "Cute kid," Marina noted.
* * *
A couple hours later -- after the police got statements from
witnesses -- the party was moving to wind down. As the staff moved to
clean up the area and members of Tetsubou's class were parting from
Reiko and her friends, Ataru was quick to notice Ran looking quite
agitated. Quickly noticing the rose-haired Seishin woman's eyes were
locked on Marina, he blinked before a tired sigh escaped him.
Squaring his shoulders, he walked over to stand beside Lum and
Shinobu. "Girls!" he called out.
Both jolted, and then they turned to stare at him. "What is it,
Darling?!" Lum asked.
"Don't you think you can relax now when it comes to Marina-chan?" he
asked, crossing his arms.
Panic crossed their faces. "Ataru . . .!" Shinobu whined.
He leaned up to them. "Has she done ANYTHING concerning Aiotoga?" he
asked in a hiss.
Shinobu paled, her eyes flicking over to Junba. Her adopted daughter
was too busy chatting with Dansei and Amora to have overheard her
mother's bond-mate speak of her. She glared at Ataru. *Ataru, you
KNOW what that woman did to her father . . .!* she telepathically
transmitted out.
*Yes, I DO know what she did!* he transmitted back. *And if you both
took the chance to use your empathy, you would've noted that she
wishes every day that she never had to do THAT to him.*
*But Darling . . .!* Lum protested.
*Lum, if you know about Marina-chan, you know about her fiancie,
too. Didn't Nassur tell you that?*
Both women blinked -- and then everyone jolted on feeling another
mind touch theirs. *Give them a little time, Mr. Moroboshi,* a voice
with a slight Quibicois English accent then mused as a transporter
beam flared into life close to the Tarouzakura itself. *Now, if
you'll both excuse me . . . *
Everyone turned to see a blonde, blue-eyed woman in traveller's
clothes walk past them, she headed for Marina. The hybrid was
standing at the edge of the terrace, she gazing absently on the starry
night over Tomobiki. Before she could sense the person behind her,
hands came up to cover her eyes. "HEY!" Marina screamed out as she
spun around, her hand snapping for Aeyek's hilt. "Who the
fu- . . .?!"
Her voice screeched to a halt as her eyes took in the beautiful
features of the woman who had stolen her heart two decades before.
"MARINA MUZUKA!" Caitlyn scolded. "There ARE children present!"
Marina blinked several times as her mind threatened to crash on
seeing her fiancie for the first time in so long -- not to mention
seeing her whole and healthy! -- and then her eyes misted as she
lunged over to grab Caitlyn in a tight embrace, she boosting them both
into the air. "***CAITY!***"
Watching this from below, Reiko smiled before she sensed Amora's hand
slip in her own. "Who is that, Onee-chan?" the younger girl asked as
the Noukiite turned to gaze on her.
"Oh, it's just Marina-san's fiancie, Amora-chan," Reiko answered.
"Don't mind them."
Everyone jolted on hearing a louder transporter beam echo from close
to the Tarouzakura; Caitlyn had beamed in using the transporter of Koa
Oetan's ship, which had come with the "Odyssey" from Noukiios so the
Canadian could surprise her fiancie. As soon as the beams vanished,
Ataru blinked on recognising one woman in a green sleeveless
bodysuit. "Hazel-chan!" he called out as he walked over to gently
grasp Hazel's hand, he noting the hunter was currently accompanying
Reiko's genetic parents, her father's three lovers, Mendou Shuutarou
and a Fukunokami woman looking distantly like Marina. "What are you
doing here?!" He indicated Nukyek and Hachhich. "And what are you
doing with everyone else? Something wrong?!"
"No, Sempai!" Hazel replied with an embarrassed laugh, and then she
indicated Muzuka Hatashi with a wave of her hand. "Hatashi-san here
wanted to come down to see if her clanswoman was alright and I had to
come here anyway." She grinned at the Noukiite empress. "We crossed
paths with Her Majesty, the Admiral and their friends just outside
Pluto's orbit and they offered us a lift in on their ship!"
"It's a very good thing Marina would also get the chance to reunite
with her family as well as her heart-mate," Nukyek added before she
gazed fondly on Ataru. "A thousand humble pardons, Venerable, but
wherever is P'yeknu? Did we come at a bad time?" She looked around.
"Was there a party here just now?"
"A party Shuutarou's son threw on Reiko's behalf, ma'am," Ataru
answered as he indicated Mendou. "Tetsubou-chan wanted to thank her
publicly for her saving his life and his classmates' lives from a
woman I think you've been told about: Skelad Lara. The party was
winding down when Caitlyn-san came by to reunite with Marina-chan."
With that, he glanced up towards the hybrid in question.
Marina had, by then, floated back down to the ground, her arm wrapped
tenderly around Caitlyn's waist. Her eyes were locked on Hatashi.
"Tash . . .?" she whispered. "Is that really you . . .?"
Hatashi's cheeks were reddening. "Yeah, Rina, it's me . . . "
With a squeal, she lunged forward to swamp Marina with an embrace.
Caitlyn backed off, she moving to stand close to Ataru and Nukyek.
"She was just a baby when Marina stayed with her parents briefly
before she met me on Oyatsui," she explained to the empress. "After
we got separated and before I moved to New Avalon, she always came to
visit me at the shelter. She couldn't adopt me since Marina and I
hadn't done the clan-sister bonding, but she made it quite clear I was
part of the family."
"Well, at least she'll have family she can rely on more now that
she'll be living with you at the Palace, My Empress," Hachhich noted
with a raised finger.
"Quite correct, Admiral."
Hearing THAT, Ran -- who had drifted over to keep an ear on the
conversation that started up once Hazel and her companions arrived --
jolted before she walked around the crowd to get close to the hunter
in question. Grabbing her by the arm, she dragged her over to the
other side of the Tarouzakura from Marina. "What are you DOING, you
idiot?!" she hissed as Hazel sent her a look. "Don't you know who
that is?!" She pointed at Marina, who was still chatting with
Hatashi. "Why aren't you arresting her?!"
"Ran-chan? What are you doing?!"
Ran yelped, she spinning around to see Ataru standing behind her, a
curious look on his face, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Darling!" she cried. "Don't sneak up on me like that!"
Ataru sighed; it only had taken him one quick empathic scan to see
what Lum's friend had been trying to instigate. "Ran, this isn't
going to work," he warned with a shake of his head, and then he stared
knowingly at Hazel. "Isn't that right, Hazel-chan?" he asked as other
people came up to them.
"That's right, Sempai," Hazel replied with a smile before she stared
at Ran. "After all, Ran-san, I simply CAN'T arrest someone who hasn't
been accused of a crime."
"***WHAT?!***" Ran shrieked. "Are you stupid, you Ipraedies . . .!"
An elbow smashed Ran face-first into the ground. "Ooops!" Reiko
gasped in mock-horror before she gazed knowingly at Hazel. "I'm SO
sorry, Aunt Ran! My elbow didn't see you standing there!"
Ran moaned. Ataru's eyes rolled. Hazel laughed, and then she turned
to see Marina standing behind her, Caitlyn and Hatashi flanking her.
Bracing herself, the hunter bowed formally to her. "Hisri'hilm, Lady
Marina of Dysos," she greeted her. "I am Kuriinba of Kyotos, leader
of Nassur's Hunters of Home Base."
Marina's eyebrow arched, and then she calmly placed a hand on Aeyek's
hilt. "Hisri'hilm, Kuriinba of Kyotos," she greeted her in turn, her
tone politely neutral. "I've been told by my new friend, the Lady
Moroboshi Reiko of Sagussa, your leader's been missing for some time
now. What is it you want?"
Hazel stared hopefully at her. "To apologise to you on my leader's
-- my step-father's -- behalf."
Silence.
"***WHAT?!***" Ran shrieked again, she bolting to her feet as she
glared at Hazel.
Reiko's elbow sent her down yet again. "'Apologise?'" Marina
repeated. "For what?"
"For not explaining to you what he really intended to do when he
found you on Gomiana," Hazel replied. "When he tracked you down in
Niouto, my step-father didn't know the story of what happened to your
fiancie at the hands of your disowned half-brother Gilpirko in the
wake of you being forced to defend your mother's life by killing your
father. He intended to take you NOT to Dysos to face your
mother . . . but to Home Base so he could take an opportunity to
understand your whole situation." A sigh. "His silence concerning
his plans to you no doubt made you believe you had no choice but to
take any chance to flee his grasp. Doing so, of course, led you to
fall into the Dragon's Fire and meet the T'yekhek Empress, the mother
of your friend, the Lady Reiko. According to my step-father's notes,
Lady Marina . . . "
"Enough!"
Hazel fell silent. Marina took a deep breath, and then she stared at
her. "I cannot accept your apology, Kuriinba of Kyotos," she stated.
"I will only hear it from Nassur himself."
With that, she turned and walked away. Hazel remained in place, and
then she perked as Marina stopped, she gazing over her shoulder at
her. "By the way, Kuriinba: you better lose some weight. I can't
fuckin' believe Nassur would want ANYONE working for him to be as out
of shape as you are!"
Hazel jerked. As Marina walked off to rejoin Nukyek, Caitlyn watched
her go, and then she stared at the hunter from Home Base. "Relax,
Hazel," she said as she reached over to squeeze the younger girl's
shoulder in support. "You did what you felt you had to do. Believe
it or not, Marina respects that."
"Still . . . "
A wink. "Let me work on her a bit, okay?"
Hazel looked at her, and then she nodded, a grateful smile crossing
her face. Caitlyn headed off to join her fiancie. "Oh, Hazel-chan,
by the way," Reiko spoke up. "Who told you Marina-san was here?"
The hunter stared knowingly at the Lost Star. "Who do you think,
Reiko-chan?"
Reiko blinked, and then she sighed as she glared at the dazed Ran.
"Baka k'uk'e ch'ekuo!" she spat out as she stomped on Ran's head as
she headed over to join Marina and her fiancie.
"Much that I do like you, Ran-chan," Ataru noted. "You DEFINITELY
deserved that!"
Ran moaned.
* * *
"You must learn to forgive, Marina-yu."
Marina perked, and then she gazed on Nukyek. Taking a deep breath,
she turned to stare at the cityscape beyond the Tarouzakura hill. "I
know, Nukyek. I know. She meant good, but still . . . "
"You won't be satisfied until you hear it from him, right?" Caitlyn
asked.
"Yeah . . . "
"Is she normally this stubborn, Mama?"
Eyes locked on Reiko. "She sometimes is worse, P'yeknu," Nukyek
noted.
"'Mama' . . .?!"
They spun to gaze on a wide-eyed Amora. "Amora-chan?" Reiko asked.
"You okay?!"
The empath blinked, and then she pointed at the empress. "Onee-chan,
is she REALLY . . .?!"
"In a sense of the term, young lady, I am," Nukyek answered.
Silence.
"My sister's the daughter of Noukiios' Empress . . .?" Amora
wondered, and then she squealed. "COOL!"
"Is it true, Onee-chan?!" Junba, who had overheard everything from
nearby (as did Dansei and Seiteki), asked as they walked over to join
their classmate. "She's really your mom?!"
"Well, she's one of my mothers, Aiotoga," Reiko explained. "It's a
long story."
"How can you have more than one mom, Onee-chan?" Dansei wondered.
"Onee-chan's a bioroid, Dansei-chan," Amora answered.
"Like an Avalonian?" Seiteki asked.
"Yep!"
More of the younger ones' classmates had come over to join them.
"Um, Your Majesty?" Tetsubou asked as he bowed formally to Nukyek.
"Does this mean that Reiko-oneesan will be a crown princess?"
"Well . . .!"
"She can be, young man," a strange voice answered. "IF her noble
father will allow it, of course."
Eyes snapped over. "General Eyu-K'ung!" Reiko gasped on recognising
him.
"Elder Neksai! What are you doing here?!" Niap'yeng asked as the
other Lost Stars joined them.
"That's what I'd like to know, too!" Ataru noted as he walked up to
stand beside his daughters, he nodding a greeting to the retired
president. "It's been quite a while, sir. What brings you to
Earth?!"
Nukyek gazed at him. "You know each other, Venerable?"
"Hai, ma'am. When I was on Magairu once, I met him; he was in exile
at the time," Ataru explained.
"It indeed is good to see you again, sir," Neksai stated as he nodded
to the Daite'cha of Sagussa, and then he took a breath. "And it is
also fortuitous that you're here to witness this." He drew a rolled
parchment from under his cloak, it wrapped in a ribbon with an emerald
clasp bearing the sigil of the Council of Sages on it. Going to one
knee before Nukyek, he handed it to her with both hands. "My
Empress."
Nukyek blinked, and then she froze as the possible reason for one of
the Council of Sages to present himself this way -- to address her
like THAT -- and to do that in front of the Euk Hisehek himself . . .!
Reaching over, Reiko took the scroll from Neksai, and then she
snapped the clasp so she could unroll it. Reading the beautifully
scripted words there, she blinked as the message contained on the
parchment sank into her mind, and then she stared at the older woman
standing beside her.
The woman who was now her ancestral people's head-of-state in fact as
well as name.
"Mama . . .?"
Nukyek blinked as she tried to absorb what she had just been told,
and then she started to sway. In the blink of an eye, Marina was
right at her side, her hand holding Nukyek up. "Whoa, girl!" the
hybrid hissed. "It ain't gonna look good if you pass out after being
handed your husband's crown, you know!"
The empress jolted, and then she stared wide-eyed at her pe'cha
before she turned to gaze on the other people standing around her.
Ataru had a sympathetic look on his face. Reiko was worried. Caitlyn
was giving her a supportive smile. Amora and her classmates were
hushed silent. And the other Noukiites were now on one knee, they
bowing their heads towards her as they crossed their right hands over
their hearts in salute to their liege lady. Even Et, on the ground
beside Nich, was bowing to her.
Realising there was no going back, the Muine T'yekhek Empress of
Noukiios squared her shoulders.
"If that is my fate in life, I accept it."
*** To Be Continued . . .! ***
**** **** ****
WRITER'S NOTES:
1) This story takes place a week after "The Dragon's Breath."
2) Terms and translations:
Oniboshi . . . Uru's primary star, a Class F0I white-yellow sun.
flitter . . . Ground vehicle with low-level atmospheric flight
capability.
-vayae . . . Literally, "my beloved." Sagussan/Avalonian name-suffix
used for one's bond-mate.
tenth-day . . . Literally one-tenth of a solar day. The Sagussan
tenth-day is equal to 2 hours, 5 minutes and 24 seconds Earth-time.
The Avalonian equivalent is roughly similar.
Dowe'on . . . Literally, "guardians of the stars." The non-xenophobic
elements of Ipraedies society. Their opposite numbers are known as
the Asan'on (literally, "guardians of the home").
Gomiana . . . A planet located to the spinward side of Earth and
Neptune's solar system. Member of the Galactic Federation, but it has
no colony planets. An effectively lawless society, Gomiana is one of
the favoured stomping grounds of independent bounty hunters such as
Nassur and Shogai Dakejinzou. Niouto is its capital city; it's built
on two separate levels divided by an escarpment.
Sagurei . . . Literally, "child of Sagussa." Sagussa's Class A moon,
about the same size as Luna, orbiting at roughly the same distance
from Sagussa itself as Luna does from Earth. The regeneration matrix,
by which the Daishi'cha were all restored to life, is found in
Sagurei's upper mantle.
Cha'than . . . A race of female bioroids created five million years
ago by a race of cyborgs known today as the Kurosans, believed to be
the creators of the Planet of Shadows (see the TSY stories "Nassur's
Story," "Be Forever Nassur" and "Stage Zero"). I modelled them after
the Iczers from the Hirano Toshihiro series.
HUD . . . Head's Up Display.
K'ahuch . . . Noukiios' second-largest city, located on the southeast
corner of the southern continent. Traditionally seen as the primary
gateway for aliens coming onto the planet; it has a very larger
foreigner's ghetto downtown. Because of this, most other races'
embassies (save for some notable exceptions) are located here; no
foreign legation can, by tradition, be located in either Noukiyek or
Ryekkyuk. Nakkuk is a district located in the central part of the
city; the name itself actually translates as "city centre."
mesosphere . . . The part of Earth's atmosphere ranging from 50-80
kilometres (31-50 miles) above sea level. It is the part of the
atmosphere that can't be reached by normal ground-based aircraft, yet
lies below the average orbital altitudes of satellites. Because of
this, it's often nicknamed the "ignorosphere" since little in the ways
of scientific studies have been done concerning this part of Earth's
environment.
Pizalna . . . The Yehisrite goddess of home, marriage and the family,
second only to the Three-Faced One (the god of death) in social
stature within the ancient pantheon of that world. "Lady Pizalna's
Fleece Laces" is one of the most common oaths uttered by Yehisrites.
Tomobiki-chuuou . . . Central Tomobiki. In the way I imagine
Tomobiki, this station would be located on the Seibu Ikebukuro line,
halfway between Hooya and Hibarigaoka stations.
ch'ekuo . . . Literally "dung heap dog," the most vile insult
Noukiites use.
trench-wave . . . Standard Vosian insult towards people they don't
respect. It literally means one's brainwaves (which most Vosians can
sense to one degree or another) are too "low" to be worthy of notice.
ch'ehek . . . Noukiite title for one of its colony worlds; it
literally means "province-planet."
Hech'uo-t'ach . . . Literally "Great Western Gate." A prison located
in Noukiyek, west of downtown, close to the site of the western gate
of the old walled city. Used as a special detention centre for
Noukiite rebels against the Urusian Occupation. After the Occupation,
it was taken over by native authorities, remaining as a prison to this
day. Hech'uo-t'ach also doubles as the headquarters of the Central
Intelligence Agency.
kimch'i tchigae . . . A spicy, stew-like version of Korea's most
popular vegetable dish.
T'a-Eue . . . The variation of the classical civil servant's
examination (Eue) written by would-be military officers. For people
like Hachhich, Pin, Sen and Uin, it contained not only a written exam
(including a poem), but also demonstration of classical weapons use
such as swordsmanship and archery.
Eta-jima . . . The island close to Hiroshima which currently serves as
the site of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Forces' officer's
candidate school. It was the site of the Imperial Japanese Naval
Academy, alma mater of such famous leaders as Yamamoto Isoroku (Class
of 1904) and Nagumo Chuuichi (Class of 1908).
K'ut't'irak . . . Breeze of Evening.
shaku . . . Length of measurement in old Japan, equivalent to 30.3
centimetres (11.93 inches).
Hichheksuch-t'ach . . . Literally, "Heaven's Gate." The most common
oath used by Noukiites. The phrase is often pronounced by its
Ryekkyuk dialect pronunciation, "Hu'jhogsuch-t'ach." The Lost Stars,
thanks to their considerable mental programming, always utter this
oath in the Ryekkyuk dialect.
Kutit'kihap' Chacht'ap' . . . Tears of the Morning Dew.
Tomobiki-nishi . . . West Tomobiki.
Tomobiki-higashi . . . East Tomobiki.
nicha . . . The Vosian ceremony which allowed the survivor of a
shattered recognition bond to emotionally expunge his/her grief at the
loss so s/he could proceed forth to seek out a new mate. See the TSY
main story "Final Cinba" and the Tales of the Daishi'cha story "Lufy's
Quest" to see what I mean.
sirmir'mhifif . . . Yehisrite term indicative that the one so marked
has been banished from his/her birth family. Yukio's mother Nakanba
was declared as such by Varanko. See "Ancient Ties" to learn the full
story.
it'k'i . . . Vegetables fermented in a mixture of sweet pepper sauce
and seafood.
-nech . . . Name suffix for a meeting hall.
T'uhach . . . A large industrial city northwest of Nichsuo. The
inland body of water (an arm of the Great Southern Ocean) Nichsuo
actually sits on is called T'uhach-t'uch (T'uhach Bay).
nereng . . . Term for a member of a crime cartel on Noukiios; it can
also be used to implicate any type of criminal who works as part of a
team (much like Pepper, Sugar and Ginger wanted to do in their youth).
ramyoun . . . Korean way of saying "ramen."
daishou . . . Literally, "large and small." The combination of katana
and wakizashi normally carried by a wealthy samurai in the period
before the Meiji Restoration.
Et'a Yekaechsuch-at' . . . Mother's Eternal Dream.
Strathconas . . . Officially "Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal
Canadians)." The second senior cavalry regiment of the Canadian Army,
currently serving as part of the 1st Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group
in the Edmonton Garrison, Alberta. Formed in 1900, the Regiment
fought in the Boer War, both World Wars and Korea, plus has served on
United Nations and NATO missions in Cyprus, Kosovo and Afghanistan.
Uohek . . . City on the southern coast of Noukiios' northern
continent, located just across the Central Sea from the northern
suburbs of Noukiyek. During the Ep'ye Dynasty, it was called
"Hekch'e."
Et . . . Flower.
ihuok . . . Literally, "prostitute." People like Hekp'yuk are, these
days, trained in many things beyond sexual intercourse, so they often
use the term "t'uotachk'a" (escort) to describe their occupation.
boosoozoku . . . Literally, "violent running tribe." Japanese
euphemism for a bike gang.
k'uk'e . . . Idiot.
Silna . . . The Yehisrite goddess of justice, patron divinity of the
Imperial Corps of Executioners.
Hisri'hilm . . . Standard Yehisrite hail/farewell. It means "Die with
honour."
3) "Clan-sisters" (or "clan-brothers") on Fukunokami is the mark of
homosexual relationships there.
4) Tabitha Lee appeared in the TSY story "Dakejinzou's Story." The
Sukebans (Pepper, Ginger and Sugar) made several appearances
throughout the television series and manga, their last major run-in
with Ataru and Lum being depicted in the TSY story "Choices."
Kamekichi Tampopo and Zatsudan Ayako (who had a different given name,
Hisako) first appeared in my TSY-based lemon story "The Galatea
Syndrome."
5) Mike and I established in TSY (basing this on events in the first
television episode) that tagging an Oni's horn buds is seen as the
necessary physical act to be married to one. Thus, conversely,
ripping off and destroying the horn buds is an act of divorce. Horn
buds are also seen as the most sensuous part of an Oni's body; to
suckle them with the mouth evokes great arousal (these themes I
explored in my other TSY-based lemon story, "A Remarkable Destiny").
Because of that, any act done on an Oni's horns (outside the bounds of
a Tag Race) by anyone other than a recognised mate is seen as
tantamount to rape.
6) General galactic directions are marked as follows: coreward
(towards the core of the galaxy; course 000), spinward (the direct
opposite of coreward; course 180), inspin (with galactic rotation;
course 270) and outspin (against galactic rotation; course 090). The
degree measurements for vertical pitch in a ship's course begins at
000 (ahead), rotates to 090 (up), then to 180 (aft), and then to 270
(down).
7) The Lannarkites first appeared in the TSY story "Tag Race Mark
Three," they also having a considerable impact on events in "Nassur's
Story" and "Be Forever Nassur" (with the side story "Marcia's Story"
serving as a continuation to one element of that storyline). I based
the Lannarkites on the Brood (including their way of reproduction)
from a classic "X-Men" storyline. The events of the Second Colony
Four Massacre were depicted in the story "Great Father Ataru Stage
Seven: Re-birth."
**** **** ****