From gorgo@kwangju.net Sat Dec 20 00:16:04 1997
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 13:35:17 +0900
From: Fred Herriot <gorgo@kwangju.net>
Subject: [fanfic][lemon][UY] "A Remarkable Destiny" Part V



     "Good morning, Oyuki-sama."

     Oyuki smiles on seeing Nagisa sweep the area of the front gate
of Tomobiki High School.  Given the lack of available delinquents,
Nagisa and Ryuunosuke had been forced to pick up duties normally
allocated to those facing detention.  "Good morning, Nagisa-san,"
the Tritonian sighs contently, her hand gently playing with a lock
of her melted hair.  Staying more than a day in Earth's warmth
always did it to her.  "A pleasant day?"

     "It's alright...quiet, save for them," he nods to a troop of
Hitomi's squadron mounted up, doing basic movement drills with
their Warsuits.  Their commander was counting the cadence via a
bullhorn.  The tea shop "waitress" then gazes at the princess. 
"New hair style?"

     Oyuki blushes.  Atop wearing shirt and jeans, she left her
crown at Noa's apartment.  "I just let my hair down," she breathes
in, a sibilant flutter in her eyes.

     Nagisa gazes intently at Oyuki.  He had never seen someone so
distracted in all his life.  In the very few times he had met the
princess, she never struck him as one who'd allow something to
distract her.  "Oyuki-sama, forgive me...are you alright?!"

     Oyuki titters.  "Nagisa-san, I have seen Heaven.  Ta-ta."

     Nagisa's jaw hits the ground as the Tritonian walks past, a
sensual sway in her hips.  It was so UN-Oyuki, even HE couldn't
help BUT notice.  "Oh, my..." he breathes in.

     About halfway up the front walk, Oyuki glances right to see
Deunan nursing a cup of coffee, a map of Tomobiki on a chart table
as she reviews her dispositions.  The woman's patch was off.  Oyuki
knew the squadron commander's left eye was badly defective, but
instead of having treatment to correct it, Deunan had vigorously
trained herself to fight one-eyed.  The princess knew it worked;
outside *pirpirsiw'r* like Lufy and Pathfinders like Sylia, Deunan
was the most vicious fighter in the Sagussan Defence Force.

     Nearby the squadron commander lies Briareos, her sandpanther. 
Middle-aged by the looks of him, flecks of grey in his tan fur. 
"Good morning, Briareos-san," Oyuki smiles.  "How are you, sir?"

     Briareos hums, then responds in a litany of purrs and barks
Oyuki now found very easy to understand.  It was his first time on
another planet, the hunting was non-existent in this city, the
local felines were too immature to hold a decent conversation with
save for the disembodied one called Kotatsuneko and his pets Deunan
and Hitomi were running themselves ragged for something which may
never come.  "Well, let them do their jobs," Oyuki nods, stroking
his head fur.  "I know of this Graven.  He's not a pleasant sort to
deal with, especially after what he endured.  The threat is real."

     He hoped so, Briareos growls back, then lays down.  By then,
Deunan was gazing curiously at her.  "Since when can you talk to
him, Princess...eh?!" her eyes widen in surprise.

     Lyna, was it THAT noticeable?

     Deunan blinks, then smiles.  "Congratulations."

     "Doghma, Deunan," Oyuki nods, her heart skipping several
beats.  "Are you bonded?"

     "Hitomi," the squadron commander nods across the way.

     Oyuki looks.  Alpha Squadron's commander jerks, then turns
around, a questioning look on her face.  She then gazes at the
Tritonian, her eyes widening, then she smiles, flashing the thumbs-
up with a wink before going back to work.  "She says she's happy
for you and Honey," Deunan reports.

     "Blow her a kiss," Oyuki urges.

     Deunan purses her lips.  Across the way, Hitomi yelps in
shock, then mock-scowls at her bond-mate.  "Deunan!!"

     "Later, love!!" Deunan laughs, then gazes at Oyuki.  "It's
good that one of us became your marei'cha, Oyuki.  After all Koosei
suffered because of us, it's the proper thing to happen."

     "If you caught Graven, what would you do?" Oyuki wonders.

     "Me?!" Deunan wolfishly smiles.  "Dream up the slowest torture
possible with Lufy's or Priss' help, disintegrate his mei'na one
piece at a time, then dunk him in the matrix, reprogram him into a
living bomb, then fire him at Yethis Seq!  It'll happen; you're now
one of us even if you haven't been through the matrix.  Sagussan
justice is yours to call on, Oyuki.  Don't be shy on using it."

     "I'll consider it," Oyuki crosses her arms.  "What do you
think our chances are of rescuing Lum-chan and Noa-chan?"

     "Can't say," the squadron commander shakes her head.  "We've
no idea how much Graven got from Koosei before he iced him.  Does
he know about Sylia's team?  Eluza's?  What are our strengths and
weaknesses?  How we access the Dreamscape; if he's smart, he'll
keep Noa doped up to prevent her from slipping in and calling us. 
Atop that, no idea where he is or when he'll do what he wants to do
to Lum.  Ki'shi, this a pain in the ass!"

     "I know," Oyuki squeezes Deunan's shoulder.  "But thank you
for caring, Deunan.  Is everyone getting together later?"

     "On the 'Lyna'cha' for a beach party at the pool," Deunan
smiles.  "Lucky thing everyone brought their companion android
doubles with them; it effectively doubles our manpower."

     "Companion android...?" Oyuki purses her lips.  "I should get
one of myself created.  No sense letting Honey-chan be lonely if
we're separated."

     "I'll pass it on to the TES gang; one team's with the Intel
squirrels on Warpshuttle One-oh-one," Deunan smirks.  "Hitomi and
I might give her a try ourselves if things get boring!"

     Oyuki laughs, her cheeks turning a flaming red at Deunan's
unspoken compliment, then tenses as that gorgeous warmth fills her
soul.  "Honey-chan," she holds out her hand.

     It is immediately taken by her bond-mate.  "How do you feel,
Oyuki-chan?" Honey gazes into her eyes.

     "In Heaven," Oyuki breathes in.

     They kiss.  Deunan smiles as she gets back to work.  Unseen by
the new bond-mates, their affectionate act is also witnessed by two
shocked students from the windows of room 337...

                           *    *    *

                     "A Remarkable Destiny"
                   a Urusei Yatsura lemon fic
                         by Fred Herriot
                        gorgo@kwangju.net
                         **** **** ****
      Based on "Urusei Yatsura" created by Rumiko Takahashi
                         **** **** ****

NOTE:  All standard lemon warnings apply.  This is my second time
at this, so please give me a break.  I'll try to keep it as spicy
as possible without going too overboard.

WRITER'S NOTES

1)   And still more Sagussan terms:

Doghma    -    Thank you.  Short for "Doghma do va" (I thank you).
TES       -    Techno-Entertainment Services.  A sub-section of
               Civilian Administration, they run holosuites, the
               holovision and radio networks as well as maintain
               and build companion androids.

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

PART FIVE - A QUESTION OF FAITH

     "So what do we say to her?" Ryuunosuke wonders.

     Shinobu shudders.  It is noon, with the students and staff
heading outside to enjoy a buffet laid on by Deunan's and Hitomi's
squadrons in thanks for their hosts' hospitality.  It seemed false;
after all, the National Diet had ordered that Tomobiki High School
be set aside for the Sagussans' use.  Still, the forms had to be
followed.  But that was the least of their problems now.

     "I don't know," she admits, hands clutched in prayer.  "We
don't really know what's going on.  Maybe it was just an innocent
kiss.  The Sagussans are mourning her fiance's death as much as
Oyuki.  They want to help her heal."

     "Bullshit!" Ryuunosuke hisses, keeping her voice down.  "That
was one big fuckin' French kiss Honey gave her!  Nagisa told me
that Oyuki was practically floating on Cloud Nine when she came in
this morning!  And since when have we seen her dress in anything
other than a kimono?!  How long have you known Oyuki?  Two years?! 
Have you EVER seen her act like that before?!"

     "No, because I haven't seen her much at all!" Shinobu replies. 
"Oyuki doesn't visit often, remember?  What sort of person is she
like when she's not with us?  Maybe she's kept things to herself
just like Ataru-kun has.  What's wrong with that?"

     Ryuunosuke bites her lips.  She and Sakura had heard about
Ataru's destiny right before morning classes, not to mention all
the things he'd kept secret over the years.  Sakura didn't find
news about his grandmother surprising; both Cherry and the nurse's
Shinto teacher, Chiezou Budou, was close friends with Nagaiwakai
Moroboshi.  Sakura, in fact, admired Ataru for his willingness not
to push things.  Ryuunosuke had nearly been overwhelmed.

     They join the lineup, eyeing the wide variety of Sagussan
foods laid out for them to sample.  Readily, Shinobu digs in,
taking a mixed plate to one of the many tables set out.  Placing
the plate down, she offers thanks, then begins.  Even still, she
couldn't avoid looking at the table closest to Alpha Squadron's
command tent, where Hitomi, Deunan, Honey and Oyuki were enjoying
quiet conversation, snifters filled with what Shinobu knew was
Sagussa's version of brandy for their enjoyment.  By the looks of
it, Honey and Oyuki were a couple, uncaring of what others thought
of them.  That was good, Shinobu smiles.

     Around her, conversation danced between her schoolmates.  The
rumour mill was working full-steam ahead.  While the full story
about Ataru wasn't known, the subtle dropping of his name every
once in a while had got people talking.  It hadn't collated into
firm action yet, thank God.  She hoped the word hadn't got to
Mendou or the guards; they'd love to do anything which would wreck
Ataru's relationship with Sagussa.  Selfish or what?  Still, even
if they did plan to do something, what could they do?  Sagussa's
loyalty to Ataru was absolute, her mistrust of Tomobiki final.  It
was a loose-loose situation for Lum's most fanatic otaku.

     Ryuunosuke joins her, then glances across the way.  "Jeez,
what's this place coming to?"

     "I can't believe someone like you would frown at something as
simple as that," Shinobu nods at Honey and Oyuki.

     "I can't believe you're accepting it," the tomboy retorts.

     "Ryuunosuke!" Shinobu sighs, then nods.  "You're right.  With
what I normally believe, what Honey and Oyuki are doing is wrong. 
But in Honey's society, it's seen as the proper thing.  That's the
difference between Sagussans and Urusians.  Has Lum or Ten-chan
ever cared about what we think, what we believed?  What about
idiots like Rei?!  No, of course not.  But people like Honey and
Sylia do.  Honey must've taken what Oyuki believes in into account,
then made her move.  And by the looks of things, she succeeded."

     Ryuunosuke quickly notices that several students were gazing
resentfully at Shinobu.  The boys were obviously angry at her words
against Lum, the girls probably angry over Shinobu giving Rei the
grill.  "You wanna keep it down?" the tomboy warns, lowering her
voice.  "The natives aren't taking your words too kindly."

     "So?" Shinobu angrily sneers, flicking an annoyed gaze at her
schoolmates.  "It's about time someone said something."

     Before someone could move over to force Shinobu to retract her
words, a familiar shadow falls over her.  "Hi, Shinobu," Sylia
smiles as she slips in beside her, a plate of food in her own hand. 
"How are you doing today?"

     "Oh, hi, Sylia," Shinobu smiles.  "I'm okay.  Shouldn't you be
in bed?"

     "I slept for a couple of hours," the Pathfinder commander
admits.  "If I'm tired, I'll rack out for a couple more.  I don't
want to get my days and nights too fouled up."

     "Any news?" Shinobu wonders.

     "Nothing yet," Sylia admits, then smiles.  "We'll get lucky. 
That's half the game right there.  Anyhow, how'd you like to come
up to the 'Lyna'cha' after school?  Everyone's getting together to
celebrate a few things, including our newest couple," she nods
across to Honey and Oyuki.

     Shinobu looks over.  Honey blinks surprisedly, then sees the
Pathfinder commander.  Sylia flashes a thumbs up.  Honey projects
a dazzling smile, then kisses Oyuki.  The Tritonian looks confused
for a moment, then notices Shinobu.  A smile twitches her lips. 
Shinobu mouths "good luck."  Oyuki and Honey beam.  "They said
thank you for your wishes," Sylia whispers.

     Shinobu nods.  "So, a party, huh?" she stares at Sylia.  "Will
I get a chance to see Ataru-kun?"

     "You can see him, but you won't get close to him," Sylia nods. 
"He's still in regeneration; he won't get out until tonight and for
the next two days, visits will only be made by doctors."

     "And after that, he's one of you forever," Shinobu nods. 
"Good for him."

     Hearing that, some students pale.  Some boys begin to whisper
sinisterly.  Ryuunosuke notices, then taps Sylia's boot.  The
Pathfinder blinks, then turns to listen.  She nods thanks to the
tomboy, then stares at Shinobu, who also heard.  "I hope Catty-
sensei and Pony-sensei have taken precautions to ensure Ataru-kun
isn't hurt," the Terran muses aloud.

     "Oh, yes they have," Sylia snickers.  "Lufy and Makoto have
shoot on sight orders...shoot to kill, of course."

     Hearing that, the students around them gag on their food as
they quickly switch to safer topics.  Ryuunosuke can barely hide
her giggles.  Sylia winks at Shinobu, then returns to her lunch. 
Savouring her small victory, Shinobu gazes heavenward.  They
deserved it, didn't they...?

                           *    *    *

     After school, Shinobu meets Sylia at the front gate, then both
are whisked away by transporter to the "Lyna'cha," in orbit over
the mid-Pacific north of Hawaii.  The nine-kilometre battlecruiser
was de-cloaked, her weapons at first-standby.  It was unnecessary;
rover units scattered throughout the local cluster would give ample
warning should someone be on the march.  The only ship inbound was
the "Kashin," now passing Toshitto for the run to Earth.  Gazing at
the beautiful flamingo-like expanse of the command battlecruiser,
Shinobu's breath is taken away.  "It's like a city in the stars!"

     "True, but this city can do a lot of damage," the Sagussan
bites her lips.  "Not as much as a proper battlecruiser of her
dimensions and worlds behind the Gatherer, but still enough."

     Shinobu blinks, sensing the touch of sadness in her voice. 
"You don't like being forced to do this, do you?"

     "No," Sylia escorts her from the gallery to a turbolift.  "The
taking of any life is repugnant to me.  I can argue it logically if
I wanted to.  There are times when lethal force is required against
those who have no respect for Creation's ways and wouldn't really
care what happened to them.  Optimism must give way to pragmatism
sooner or later.  But I still ask the question:  could I do it
another way?  Everyone on my team, even Priss, is like that.  Rei's
the most profound.  She serves as our medic, actually wants to
train as our doctor...yet and at the same time, if there was a
sniper better than her, I haven't found her."

     "Jesu Cristo!" Shinobu gapes, then bites her lips as they walk
into a turbolift.  "I guess that every good soldier's like that."

     "They are," Sylia nods.  "Rec Deck Forward!"

     The turbolift shoots down for a kilometre, then forward for
three, then down for a couple hundred metres until they reach a
large bubble on the "Lyna'cha's" keel.  Emerging from the lift,
Shinobu gapes on seeing that they are now in a vast dome five
hundred metres across.  Made of what seemed to be quasi-opaque
glass...it had to be something else...with a subtle mix of other
metals, it gave the illusion that she was walking among the stars. 
"God!  This must be so beautiful when she's in warp!!"

     "It is!" Sylia laughs.  "This way."

     The battlecruiser's swimming pool is located at the very base
of the dome, large viewports on all sides giving them a gorgeous
view of the Hawaiian islands not three hundred kilometres away. 
Walking onto the deck, Shinobu notices that the pool was already
quite crowded, with women gathering in groups in the water and in
lawnchairs around the pool's edges.  Shinobu is quick to notice one
other thing.  Her cheeks reddening, she turns away.  "Sylia!"

     "What is it?" the Pathfinder commander wonders.

     "They're not wearing bathing suits," Shinobu hisses.

     Sylia looks around.  "So?" she shrugs, then casually slips off
her top.  "What's the big problem?" she sits down to take off her
boots and pants.

     Shinobu turns beet red on seeing Sylia display herself like
that, then looks around.  Passers-by wave friendly greetings to the
Pathfinder commander, but no one seems to care about their nudity. 
Shaking her head at her bout of shyness, she begins to undress.

     "There you go," Sylia smiles understandingly.  "Shinobu, the
only men on this ship are companion androids...and none of them
will be here if I know April.  Besides, they're not programmed to
advance on someone without invitation.  You have nothing to fear."

     "Thanks for telling me," Shinobu slips off her skirt, then
sits down to take off her shoes and socks.

     "Oh, Shinobu!" a voice hails from nearby.

     "Hi, Oyuki!!" Shinobu waves.

     Oyuki and Honey, both damp from swimming, walk up alongside
April, the "Lyna'cha's" Vosian-born shipmistress.  "Welcome aboard,
Shinobu," the blonde-haired woman offers her hand.  "I'm April, the
shipmistress.  I hope you enjoy your stay with us today."

     "Arigato, April-san," Shinobu shakes her hand, then stands to
slip off her bra and panties.  "Thanks for having me."

     She then feels the shipmistress' approving gaze.  "Well, she's
adopting well, eh, Sylia?" April winks at the Pathfinder.

     "Stow it, April," Sylia growls, stepping out of her trousers. 
"Hasn't Feb been crawling up your south gate recently or have you
been forced to use her companion droid?!"

     April red-eyes her as she escorts Honey and Oyuki away.  "What
was THAT all about?!" Shinobu exclaims.

     Sylia laughs.  "April and Feb are bond-mates; the latter's our
Strategic Defence Director, our master battle planner.  Atop that,
April can be a shit-disturber when the mood strikes her.  She's a
great shipmistress and all that, but quite annoying to live with. 
I wonder how Feb can put up to her all the time."

     Shinobu snickers.  "Sounds like most couples I know."

     "Anyhow, want to hit the jacuzzi first?" Sylia nods to a
secluded corner.  "Good way to relax the tension."

     "Okay!" Shinobu nods.

     Sylia offers her arm.  Shinobu readily slips hers around the
Pathfinder's, then they head to the jacuzzi room...

                           *    *    *

     "They're such nice people, Mom," Shinobu stares at her mother,
relaxing in her guest quarters sometime later.  "They've asked me
to remain aboard for a couple of days.  Besides, classes aren't
really happening because everyone's in the hospital."

     "That's good," Kimiki Miyaki nods.  "How's Ataru?"

     "He's out of regeneration," Shinobu reports.  "The 'Hasei'cha'
is off-limits to visitors for the next while because Catty-sensei
and Pony-sensei still have to figure out a way to teach him what he
has to know without outsiders butting in.  You should've seen it in
class today.  Everyone else is agitating for the chance to make the
Sagussans drop Ataru-kun, but they're too scared to do anything."

     "They don't have their normal leaders around," her mother
calmly muses.  "Lum's disappearance should be getting someone's
attention sooner or later.  Where's her cousin been?"

     "After Nene wrecked his ship, they got together and made up,"
Shinobu laughs.  "She promised to build him a new starboat as long
as he keeps quiet about Lum until her father arrives."

     Kimiki nods.  She was speaking to her daughter via Pathfinder
Team Two's secure communications unit; Tomobiki district park was
closer to the Miyaki home than Tomobiki High.  "Oh, by the way, you
better be careful," Shinobu's mother adds.  "Mendou's bodyguards
are out trying to interpret what's going on.  Several have been by
the house asking for you.  By the looks of things, Mendou might be
back to school as early as tomorrow."

     "I've no care for him," Shinobu shrugs.  "Besides, he's
promised to Asuka.  For a whole host of reasons, the Sagussans
wouldn't touch him with a ten-metre cattle prod.  He won't get far
with them and I know Megane and his gang won't."

     "That's good," Kimiki sighs.  "You know, everyone says that
Ataru has caused everything which has happened since Lum came. 
Once something odd occurs, blame him.  It's so easy.  But a lot of
what's happened can be attributed to Mendou and your other
classmates.  What are Ataru's plans concerning Lum?"

     "Up in the air thanks to Gaylan," Shinobu shrugs.  "I know
Ataru-kun'll go rescue Lum; he hasn't become so mad at her that
he'll just leave her to be executed.  What happens next depends on
how much Lum's willing to take Sagussa."

     "Well, I hope it is for the best," her mother relaxes.  "Oh,
by the way, I heard what happened to Princess Oyuki.  Is there
someone...after you, by any chance?"

     Shinobu jolts, then laughs.  "Mom, don't be ridiculous!!" she
waves Kimiki down.  "Who'd want someone like me?!  Honestly!"

     "Shinobu..."

     Ataru's former girlfriend sighs.  "No, I haven't noticed
someone giving me the eye," she admits.  "I am making good friends
though.  Sylia for one.  She doesn't force things on me like other
people have.  She shows what's different, explains it, then lets me
take my time in accepting it.  That really has made a difference."

     "That's good," Kimiki nods.  "I'll light a candle for her."

     "God bless, Mom," Shinobu smiles.

     "God bless, Shinobu."

     The screen goes dark.  Shinobu yawns, stretching.  She had
been given quarters in the "Lyna'cha's" superstructure; it was the
only ship with enough room to allow visitors to relax with comfort. 
She would've preferred the "Hasei'cha" to remain close to Ataru,
but that was verboten for some time still.  And the "Kiboo'cha" was
parked in one of the battlecruiser's small ship hangars, Pathfinder
Troop Six relaxing in their own guest quarters.  Adjusting her
housecoat...it was quite warm and since there were no men, what was
the fear?...she puts on slippers, then goes out to explore.

     That was the big difference between Sylia's people and Lum's,
Shinobu smiles.  On her one time aboard the "Kashin," she, along
with Ataru's other classmates, had been shoved into the captain's
gig, put out of the way so they didn't interfere in the ship's
operations.  That of course resulted in their being captured by
Seven Bake Rose when she kidnapped Ataru to take him to Elle.  On
the "Lyna'cha," she was given full access to every compartment save
those where her life could be endangered.  Atop the android crew
now up to allow the organics to rest, the battlecruiser also had
her own central computer, Bianca.  Not surprising, Shinobu muses;
the whole crew had taken their names from the same anime, one of
Ataru's favourites.

     "*Shinobu?*" Bianca's cheery voice echoes around her.  "*Is
there anywhere you want to go?  I can get you there right away.*"

     The Terran stops, then shakes her head.  "No, it's okay,
Bianca.  I don't mind walking.  Just tell me if I get close to the
warp core or some airlock, okay?"

     "*Okay,*" Bianca replies.

     Silence falls as Shinobu heads to the turbolift.  Walking in,
she stares at the schematic of the "Lyna'cha," then smiles.  "Main
bridge, please."

     The turbolift shoots forward for a kilometre before rising a
hundred metres to the apex of the battlecruiser's superstructure. 
It opens onto a light-dimmed room twice the size of her classroom. 
It is a split-level affair, with the central command area raised
above the primary control stations.  All of them are occupied right
now.  To Shinobu's surprise, all of Pathfinder Troop Six is
present.  Blinking confusedly, she walks onto the bridge, then it
comes to her.  *Of course!  They'd bring their companion androids
to help them as well!*  With that, she relaxes.

     "*Shinobu?*" Bianca's voice whispers in her ear.

     "Yes?" the Terran keeps her voice down.

     "*If you want to look at them, it's okay.  But if you don't
want to interact with them, don't talk to them.  You can touch them
if you want, but no talking.*"

     "Thanks."

     Bianca falls silent.  Shinobu walks onto the main bridge, then
looks aft.  She had been introduced to everyone in the jacuzzi
earlier, so their android doubles were quite easy to identify.  On
the upper level were Sylia, April and Feb.  The Strategic Defence
Director was a tall, stunning dark skinned, tapered-eared woman...
Toukonokouen, Shinobu later learned the race name...with long wavy
black hair and brown eyes which could melt people's hearts.  Her
double sat in the command chair, with Sylia's and April's manning
the stations immediately before her.

     In the main group sat the doubles of the remaining Pathfinders
and the rest of the "Lyna'cha's" ship's company.  Priss manned the
weapons console, followed by Nene at communications and Linna at
ship's defences.  The brown-haired and eyed Yehisrite *pirpirsiw'r*
was a bard in her previous life.  She was the one who had made the
Daishi'cha fall in love with music long before Ataru had taught
them joy and love.  The crimson-haired, blue-eyed Ellsian was a
playful sprite who considered all computers her personal domain. 
The woman had such a terrifying skill with the keyboard that no one
dared piss Nene off; she could do things to people and not leave a
trace.  Ten-chan learned that the hard way.  The black-haired,
blue-eyed Fukunokami was the Troop's demolitions officer and
physical fitness guru.  She loved getting into brawls just for the
fun of cracking skulls.

     Next came the battlecruiser's combat officer Jun, a very pale
skinned, black-haired Fukunokami with light coloured eyes.  She was
very cool and reserved, desiring to remain locked in the bounds of
logic.  Beside her was May, the Yehisrite-born ship's engineer, a
girl with wavy brown hair in a ponytail and blue eyes, packing a
playful streak Ten-chan would love matched to a love of engines
Montgomery Scott would admire.  And then there was Janny, the
ship's plans officer.  A silver-haired Tritonian with strangely
tanned skin...she could be mistaken for a Yehisrite...Janny also
had a black star tattoo on her cheek.  That was won thanks to her
taking combat courses under Lufy's guidance; Janny had a zeal for
hand-to-hand that matched Deunan's skill at knife-fighting.

     Reinoevan...Rei to her friends...was in the watchmistress'
chair.  The Troop's first officer was a silver-haired Tritonian
with crimson eyes.  Some said that was why she was such a good
sniper; she saw blood every time she looked in the mirror.  Shinobu
had learned how much a lie that was.  Beside Rei was Asukanoevan,
Asuka for short.  The brown-haired and eyed Oni was the emotional
counter-balance to Rei, lusting for the first officer with a
passion that matched all the boys' lust for Lum.  Shinobu knew that
in this case, Asuka would eventually win Rei over; it was only a
matter of time.

     Staring at them busily working, Shinobu feels a touch of
disquiet in her heart.  It was so hard to believe they were
androids.  In fact, staring closely at Priss, Shinobu could see her
chest rise up and down.  Biting her lips, Shinobu then touches the
coxswain's neck pulse.  To her surprise, a steady heartbeat sends
jolts up her fingers.  Gaping at the android, Shinobu then places
herself near the turbolift.  "Bianca?" she whispers.

     "*Yes, Shinobu?*" the computer responds.

     "Are you sure they're androids?"

     "*Of course they are,*" Bianca titters.  "*They breathe
because their bodies need oxygen to run the fusion reactors which
give them their primary power.  Atop that, it's a great temperature
regulator.  And the heartbeat comes from the energy pump that sends
the reactor's liquid fuel through the micro-turbines in their
bodies to produce the energy for them to operate.*"

     "Wow!  They're so lifelike."

     "*They're supposed to be that way.  Didn't Squadron Commander
Sylia tell you why the Daishi'cha use them?*"

     Shinobu nods.  "She did.  Thanks, Bianca."

     The computer falls silent.  Shinobu returns her attention to
the androids.  These were used literally as living advertisements. 
If someone...Asuka for example...wanted to seek someone else...like
Rei...as marei'cha, rather than risking the embarrassment of a
first date, Asuka would go to Rei's companion android double and
date her.  This could continue for as long as desired.  The system
was fully confidential; no template could ever know who had been
with her double unless she caught the android with a date, which
was rare but did happen.  That had led to Jun and May becoming
marei'cha, April had told Shinobu.  The androids were fully
functional sexually and meticulously programmed to display every
facet of their template's personality.  Atop that, they were great
for when one's marei'cha was off somewhere and the one still in the
hearth was lonely.  It was perfect.

     Walking back to behind Rei's station, Shinobu gazes at the
stars, then looks back at Sylia.  To her surprise, the commander's
double was gazing directly at her.  Shinobu blinks; she knew she
hadn't said a word directly to the android.  Curious, she walks up
to the command level.  Sylia's eyes remain locked with hers.  "Is
there a problem?" Shinobu wonders.

     Sylia smiles.  "Onee-chan asked me to make you a little more
comfortable if you came to the bridge.  I hope you don't mind."

     Shinobu blushes.  "Of course not," she looks down.  How sweet
of Sylia to watch out for her.  "I'm not bothering you, am I?"

     "No, of course not," Sylia shakes her head.  "Bianca has all
primary controls under her command anyway.  We're just active to
ensure that if something goes wrong, someone can quickly respond."

     "I see," Shinobu nods.

     "In fact," Sylia turns to her station.  "Bianca, take complete
control, please.  Execute program Sylia-April-Gamma-One-Six."

     "*Acknowledged, Sylia,*" the computer responds.

     Most of the flashing lights on everyone's screens dim.  There
are enough overhead lights to keep everyone in view.  "What did you
do?" Shinobu wonders.

     "I had Bianca take total control of the ship," Sylia sighs. 
"It's quite alright; you needn't fear a Westworld-like situation
aboard a Sagussan starship."

     "How'd you know...?!"

     "Onee-chan told me," Sylia smiles.  "Please relax, Shinobu. 
I really don't want to scare you."

     "It's okay," Shinobu hugs herself, then notices that all the
androids are unearthly still.  "What's with them?"

     "Oh, they went down to secondary power as soon as Bianca took
control of their stations.  It's alright.  They can't hear or feel
anything right now unless Bianca makes them wake up.  Of course,
Onee-chan kept me independent in case you visited."

     "Ah!" Shinobu stares at Feb.  She had rarely seen someone with
such lovely skin before.  "She is very beautiful.  April's lucky."

     "Yes, she is, isn't she?" Sylia muses, then smiles.  "Say, you
want to have a little bit of fun?"

     "What?"

     "Well, you did play with dolls before, didn't you?"

     "Yes, I..." Shinobu's eyes go wide.  "You mean...?!"

     Sylia smiles.  "I...ah...oh, gee!" Shinobu stammers, then
shrugs.  "Well, I suppose there's no harm in it!  Will they mind?"

     "They'd love it!" Sylia asserts.  "C'mon."

     The two kneel beside the unmoving Feb.  To tell them apart
from their organic doubles, the androids wore civilian clothing
unless they needed special clothing in case of nominal hazards,
which the duty uniform was well-designed to counter.  Feb dressed
her double in a white knee-length dress tied at the waist.  Sylia
gently draws on the belt, then setting it aside, unbuttons the
dress.  Shinobu breathes in as Sylia parts the dress, exposing the
android's beautiful body.  "Whoa!  She is lifelike!!"

     "Yeah!" Sylia playfully titters, then slips the dress off the
android's shoulders.  "Here, let's get it off."

     Shinobu pitches in, then folds the dress as Sylia sits the
android back down.  "Can I see her insides?"

     "Easily enough," Sylia reaches over and touches a point under
Feb's breasts.

     A circuit hatch opens, revealing a maze of wires, motherboards
and deep inside, a circular object with several leads heading up. 
"That's the fusion reactor," Sylia points, then touches a point
above Feb's breasts.  Another hatch opens, revealing a muffler-like
device with many leads.  "And that's her regulatory pump, her heart
if you will.  She takes in air and food to her reactor, which
converts it to a plasma state, then it goes to the pump to be sent
through her body.  It's quite simple, really."

     "Can I see yours?" Shinobu gazes at her.

     Sylia projects a warning gaze.  "You'd have to put me to
secondary power to do that safely...and you don't have the command
codes to make Bianca release control, remember?  Feb and April'll
be very angry if you left no one in charge up here.  When our
reactors are working, they do emit a small dose of radiation.  No
sense in keeping the doctors busy, don't you think?"

     "Ah, good point!" Shinobu nods.  "What else can I see?"

     "Well, I could take her face off," Sylia points to Feb's.

     "Ugh, no!!" Shinobu winces.

     "And there's this," Sylia points to a place under the
android's belly button.

     Another circuit hatch opens, this one taking a lot of the
space between the navel and the top of her pubic hair.  Shinobu
sees a large tube leading right to her vaginal opening connected to
small sample capsules.  "What's this?!"

     "Well, if a man should have sex with her, she's constructed to
capture all semen samples for genetic processing," Sylia points to
the android's neck.  "She has other sample tubes up here for oral
sex.  Sagussans don't like doing that; it's a waste of fine semen
if you ask me.  I know it grosses Ataru right out.  But other races
wouldn't be so bothered and we really don't want to waste a drop."

     "They're built for everything!" Shinobu whistles.

     Sylia nods, closing the android up.  "How'd you like to see
what she can do?"

     "Can I?" Shinobu gasps.

     "Sure," Sylia nods, then shrugs.  "I can have her do it with
me, if you want."

     The Terran blinks, then shakes her head.  "Um...no."  She then
wonders why she didn't like that.  Looking left, she points at the
blonde-haired android.  "Have her do it with April instead."

     "Okay," Sylia nods.  "You get April ready."

     Shinobu smiles as she walks over to April.  The blonde-haired
android was staring blankly ahead, her hands frozen over the
console in mid-program.  Like a mannequin, Shinobu smiles as she
shifts the chair around to give the android a clear view of the
command chair.  April was dressed in a button shirt, knee-length
skirt and blazer.  Easily taken off since her arms and legs could
be moved like a normal person's, just with a touch of resistance. 
In a couple of moments, the blonde is as she was built, allowed to
sit down in her chair.

     Sylia notions Shinobu to sit on the console beside the other
chair.  "Ready?" the former asks.

     Shinobu nods.  Sylia sits back.  "Feb, April, awake.  Execute
program Sylia-Sierra-Seven-Seven-Oh."

     Both androids blink, then take in a deep breath to get their
internal systems working.  "Feb," April coos, seductively rising. 
"What's a beautiful woman doing sitting there all alone?"

     "I don't want to be alone, April-chan," Feb pouts.

     April titters as she walks slowly over to kneel in front of
the dark-skinned android.  "Can I warm you up?" she hums.

     "Please," Feb sighs.

     Shinobu's eyes nearly shoot out of her head when April inserts
her tongue right into Feb's south gate.  With very dainty licks,
the blonde taps the brunette's tower, causing Feb to spasm with
orgasmic delight every time.  April wraps her arms around Feb's
hips to dig in, increasing the speed of her licks.  Feb moans with
delight every time the other android's soft tongue gongs her tower.

     For Shinobu, the effect is instantaneous:  her own body begins
to respond to the visual stimulation before her.  Sylia glances
over to see the Terran's legs rub together, the awestruck look in
her face transforming into a mixture of concern and desire.  As
April still continues to suck Feb's namghnum juices, the latter's
moans picking up in intensity and frequency, Shinobu is barely able
to fight down the desire to masturbate.

     It wasn't sinful, Father Cristobal had once told her.  The
need to have sex is as natural as breathing and eating.  In that
way, the priest from Acapulco had been light-years ahead in his
thinking.  Father Cristobal had told Shinobu that the Church
fathers were still thinking in terms of the Middle Ages, when
sexual desire was seen as a sin and the reproductive urge being to
the left of witchcraft.  His point was easily proven:  by denying
one's drive to mate, one could confront situations like the sexual
abuse of young, vulnerable children in orphanages.

     Sex was okay if one fully understood the consequences, Father
Cristobal told her one day after she had a particularly wet dream
about Ataru and Mendou pleasing her and admitting it in confession. 
To experiment was alright as long as it was mutually consenting and
if proper precautions were taken to avoid things like an unwanted
pregnancy and STDs.  Pre-marital sex was still something to be
avoided if one could...but in these days of faster physical and
social maturity rates, he had long concluded that the old standard
of no sex before marriage was wishful thinking.

     Shinobu bites her lips, hoping to get somewhere private...when
she looks left to see Sylia's pants around her knees, her hand
diving into her south gate in pace to April's and Feb's lovemaking. 
Her eyes were closed as her fingers gently played with her tower,
the tips of the others soothing her aching gate.  That surprises
Shinobu as she gazes at April's face now buried in Feb's muff. 
Sure enough, the blonde android's face was covered in a film of
something akin to sweat.  Wow, that IS realistic!

     Realizing that no one was really looking at her, Shinobu
fights down her embarrassment as she opens her housecoat, then
reaches into her love canal.  She was still a virgin and proud of
it; until she met the right man...man?...she'd NEVER contemplate
allowing her cherry to be taken.  Her choices were limited.  Ataru
was in all sense gone even though she still dreamt of him from time
to time.  Mendou was gone AND not wanted, especially since he had
long proved that his ultimate target was Lum.  Inaba was available,
but could Shinobu actually sustain a relationship with a being like
him?  All the other boys were too busy pining after Lum and Sakura
to pay attention elsewhere.  For a girl Shinobu's age, Tomobiki
High School was safer than a nunnery!

     The moans from the two androids in the command chair continue
to increase.  Sylia and Shinobu pick up the tempo, drumming their
towers with gusto as that beautifully warm flood flows through
their bodies aching for a release.  Feb's moaning increases with
April's ministrations until finally, Feb emits a shrill cry as her
orgasm program kicks in.  A second later, Sylia emits a hoarse gasp
as her body bucks and writhes from her hand's dancing.  Shinobu's
cry of pleasure is louder, but just as pleasant.

     After a moment, Feb's breathing returns to normal.  "Like?"
April stares knowingly at the other android.

     "Your turn!!" Feb suddenly growls, leaping forward to knock
April to the floor, swamping her with a kiss.

     By then, both Shinobu and Sylia are relaxed.  "Doesn't that
hurt?!" the former wonders.

     "They're pretty sturdily build," Sylia muses.  "Besides, the
carpet here isn't designed to cause friction.  They'll be fine."

     Shinobu gazes at her host.  Sylia's face was finely covered in
sweat from her masturbation, her fingers unbuttoning her shirt to
allow the heat from her body to escape.  Blinking, the Terran gazes
at Sylia, then looks back to Feb and April.  The androids did
produce vaginal juices but their skins were as dry as a rock.  She
then gazes back at the Sagussan, eyes widening in shock.

     "Sylia...it's really you, isn't it?"

     The Sagussan offers a weak smile.  "How'd you guess?"

     Shinobu blinks again.  Sylia intended for her to find out,
wanted her to find out!  If she was playing a trick, she would've
done everything to keep matters secret, wouldn't she?  That fills
the Terran with a strange warmth, something she was finding she
liked.  "They're dry, you're soaked!" she thumbs April and Feb.

     "Well, their heat dispersal system's more efficient than ours,
I'm afraid," Sylia shrugs.  "Feb, April, freeze."

     All movement from the two androids stop, their bodies still
locked in a tight embrace, their mouths open, tongues touching. 
Shinobu gazes at them concernedly.  "Are you sure it's okay to
leave them like that?" she gazes at Sylia.

     "They're alright," Sylia nods.  "Deactivated or on secondary,
their minds still run their orgasm programs.  My double admits she
likes being switched off; it's more enjoyable than being active."

     "Different strokes for different folks, I guess," Shinobu
bites her lips.  "Alright, why?"

     "Why?"

     "Why did you place yourself on the bridge to await me?  Why
did you provoke me into watching this?" she indicates the unmoving
April and Feb.

     Sylia sighs, then stands.  The pants fall away, then she slips
off her shirt.  Turning to face the Terran, she reaches up, then
gently tugs the housecoat from Shinobu's shoulders.  Suddenly, for
the first time, Shinobu realizes that she isn't embarrassed being
nude in front of a Sagussan...especially THIS Sagussan.  Standing,
she allows the cloth to fall to the deck, gazing intently into
Sylia's brown eyes.  What comes next doesn't surprise her.  Sylia
places her hands on the Terran's shoulder, then leans up.

     The kiss is warmer than before.  Sylia is trembling, though it
didn't show from a distance.  What she was now admitting scared
her.  Was it Shinobu?  No, Sylia certainly had nothing to fear from
the Terran.  Was it...rejection?  Sylia wanted it to happen, but
was afraid that Shinobu would run away.  Did she?  Didn't she? 
Shinobu then jolts as she feels Sylia's tongue gently press against
her lips, wanting to get in and explore her mouth.  Had Sylia ever
done this to someone else?  Shinobu strongly doubted it.

     Instinctively, Shinobu opens her mouth, allows Sylia's tongue
to slip in and tap hers.  Shinobu decides to close the distance,
allow Sylia to draw her into an embrace.  At the same time, her
tongue presses back against the Sagussan's, drifting in to explore
her mouth.  The obvious difference is the canine teeth; they were
sharp.  However, Sylia opens her mouth further to ensure Shinobu
didn't cut herself on her fangs.

     Their arms tightly wind against each other, their breasts
pressing close.  Sylia wanted to let go so much, give Shinobu the
time of her life.  But not yet.  She had to admit it vocally, then
receive Shinobu's reply.  If it was negative...oh, Lyna, please
don't let that happen!  Shinobu was the one, she had to be. 
Finally, a wonderful eternity later yet agonizingly too soon, they
draw away, gazing into each other's eyes.

     "Is that a good enough explanation?" Sylia wonders.

     Shinobu breathes in.  She had kissed so few people in a
romantic sense that she could easily compare the kiss with others
from those who've wanted her.  Ataru's were too wet, always driven
by his lechery.  Mendou's were stiff, as if kissing Shinobu was
more formality than real love.  Soban...ugh, he didn't deserve any
consideration.  As for the couple of times she had kissed Inaba,
well, they were sweet but lacked real passion, as if he was diving
into something that was strange and alien.

     But Sylia's...

     "It's not enough," Shinobu gazes knowingly into the Sagussan's
eyes.  "Sylia, my belief does espouse confessions, you know."

     Sylia's eyes widen.  Shinobu really wanted to hear it.  With
that, her hesitation and trepidation vanish.

     "I love you, Shinobu Miyaki."

     Shinobu smiles, then draws Sylia in for another kiss.  This,
the Terran throws herself into it with gusto, her tongue dipping
into the Sagussan's mouth with fervour.  Sylia almost has her
breath taken away as Shinobu tightly embraces her, showing no
desire to let her go anytime soon.  Lyna, she was even stronger
than anyone suspected!  But Shinobu's desire to hold her, hang onto
her, is as much a narcotic to Sylia as someone doing mavan'shagh to
win her as a bond-mate.  There was no need to fear that now.

     Their kissing continues for some time, then they slowly part. 
Shinobu smiles, stroking the unruly lock of Sylia's hair on her
forehead, then she gazes intently into the Sagussan's eyes.

     "I love you, Sylia Aruka."

     Sylia blinks.  "Sylia Aruka?"

     "Well, of course," Shinobu nods.  "Your name WAS Syl Aruka,
remember?  Did you expect me to call you Sylia Stingray?  That's
the anime character you took your name from, isn't it?"

     "Yes, it is," Sylia laughs, then kisses her.  "Well, what do
we do now?"

     Shinobu looks over at the frozen androids still locked in
their passionate embrace on the deck.  "Sylia-chan, we can't let
them lay there," she shakes her head.

     "I could activate them all and bring them up here," Sylia
muses.  "We could have a really good time, you know."

     "An orgy?!" Shinobu reproachfully gazes at her.

     "You'd be surprised to know how many of us grab as many droids
as possible for a one-night blowout."

     "Well, you better not be one of them, Sylia-chan," Shinobu
playfully growls.  "I want my bond-mate to be loyal to me!"

     Silence falls as Sylia stares at her, disbelief and hope in
her eyes.  "You're willing to go that far, Shinobu-chan?"

     "Well," Shinobu muses.  "You're the first person who's ever
loved me in the intimate sense of a married couple.  Ataru-kun was
never ready to get married.  Mendou-san didn't consider the matter
in the time we dated, then he was taken away.  I certainly can't
marry Inaba-kun given where he works.  That leaves you.  Marei'cha
is your equivalent of marriage, isn't it?"

     "Yes," Sylia nods.  "The bond between those dedicated to
raising children.  That would be the same."

     "And you wanted to bond with me tonight, didn't you?"

     "Yes."

     "So this would be our wedding night," Shinobu smiles.  "I
won't let you take me before we bond, Sylia-chan."

     Sylia laughs, then nods.  "Okay.  Now?"

     "Now."

     With that, Sylia adjusts her fingers to touch the psi-link
points on Shinobu's skull.  Thumb over the sinuses, index fingers
at the centre of the forehead, middle fingers well into the
hairline, ring fingers at the temples, little fingers above the
ears.  The Sagussan concentrates.  The Terran feels something flood
into her mind.  At first, it is maddeningly incoherent, then in
forms into wonderful images.

     Time stands still as Shinobu watches the events of Sylia's
life replay themselves.  Her first life as Syl Aruka, noblewoman
turned freedom fighter.  The sharp pain of a sniper's bullet in
Freedom Square which ended that life.  The warm bath of the matrix
healing her, breathing new life to her, cleansing her of most of
her previous memories.  New programs, a new life, a new purpose. 
Meeting the others of Pathfinder Troop Six, accepting their
loyalty, taking command.  Nene's and Asuka's arrival making the
Troop complete.  Training, the dull routine of Duty Daishi'cha, the
endless discussions in the Dreamscape.

     Ataru.

     Everything changes.  Suddenly, there are fits of laughter. 
Tears of sorrow.  The joy of discovering new things.  The greatest
discovery of all:  love.  Then the greatest sorrow:  loneliness. 
Nene and Linna bonding.  Asuka locking sights on Rei.  Priss,
friend and confidant, but never potential marei'cha.  All her other
friends, wonderful but never enough.  No one taking interest in
her.  No proper chemistry...until one day in Tomobiki.

     Shinobu.

     The Terran gasps as the Sagussan replays her life.  Growing up
a Roman Catholic in a sea of Buddhists and Shintoists, part of a
religion which couldn't accept the convergence of faiths which made
theology in the Orient a jumble too disorientating to a Westerner. 
A part of the crowd, yet alone.  Her wonderful cousin Hitomi, who
one day moved to Nerima.  Loneliness.  An offered daisy.  A dirty
boy telling her it would be alright.  That was Ataru to Shinobu. 
That was the day she fell in love with him.

     Time passes.  Ataru's slide into behaviour which ensures he
never had real friends.  Shinobu staying with him, knowing the good
soul within.  Then the First Tag Race.  Lum.  Those mistaken words
which changed everything.  The fighting, the pain.  Too many
mistakes, too many assumptions, too many times did Shinobu turn her
back, leaving Ataru to the Oni's "mercies."  Then came Mendou.  A
possible respite, perhaps?  The pain and betrayal in Ataru's eyes. 
She was too frustrated with him to care.  No looking back.

     In that sense, Ataru could've decided that they wouldn't even
be friends.  It would be some time before he'd start admitting his
growing feelings for Lum.  Such a lonely time for him.  Looking
back on it, Shinobu feels a wave of guilt.  Why did she blind
herself to what was really going on?  Why didn't she stay and
fight?  Was it easier to run away than stand up to the Oni whose
presence was destroying, changing so much?

     Still more.  The cool relationship with Mendou.  Knowing she
was with him yet subconsciously realizing he wanted someone else. 
Asuka then arrives and it ends.  Now Shinobu felt loneliness, but
for a short while, for then came Inaba.  But that wouldn't really
work out.  Sweet, but just a dream.  Reality soon crashes in with
the Second Tag Race...and Sagussa.

     Sylia.

     Time then speeds back to normal.  Shinobu gasps as her mind is
once again her own, save for a beautiful warmth flowing through
every corner of her body.  And there was something else, too.  A
sense of dislocation...that not all of her was in her body.  A part
of her was elsewhere, touching a kindred spirit in ways no physical
touching could compare.  Oh, they would have sex tonight, no doubt
about that.  But it would be a joining of both body and spirit,
something she could never do with anyone else.

     Sylia breathes in, then kisses her.

     "Do vanan'cha...marei'cha-Shinobu."

     My heart is yours, my love.

     "Do vanan'cha...marei'cha-Sylia."

     As mine heart is yours, my precious one.

     With Eternity as our witness, in the eyes of Those We Love.

     Now and forever more...

                           *    *    *

     They quickly dress, then hand-in-hand walk to the turbolift. 
"I'm just wondering how I'm going to tell my parents about this,"
Shinobu sighs as they reach the turbolift.

     "We'll go together," Sylia gently kisses her.  "And to Father
Cristobal, if you want."

     The turbolift arrives.  The Pathfinder looks back.  "Bianca,
restore to previous mode of operation."

     "*Yes, Commander,*" the battlecruiser's computer replies.

     Control consoles return to normal as the new couple step into
the turbolift.  The other androids resume their normal duties, not
caring that an hour had passed.  By the command chair, Feb and
April blink confusedly, then gaze at each other.  "Feb, what are we
doing naked in each other's arms?" the blonde android wonders.

     "Um...I don't remember," the dark-skinned android shakes her
head confusedly as they rise to dress.

     April feels between her legs.  "Someone had us doing something
intense," she reaches over for her shirt, then slips it on.  "You'd
wish that organics would learn to put us away properly before
shutting us down."

     "Yeah," Feb muses as she reaches for her dress, then smiles. 
"April?"

     "Yeah, Feb?"

     The brunette android gazes at her.  "Care to finish?"

     April blinks, then smiles.  "Let's."

     Both laugh...

                           *    *    *

To be continued...^Z