Alternative Urusei Yatsura Fanfic by *Lewis Burden* (file: jad12_uy.txt )
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This Fanfic is not yet finished and currently consists of 12 parts. Every
part will be uploaded and made available on a weekly basis on the Internet.
Files are available vie email request or ftp at world.std.com in:

ftp: ftp.std.com   /pub/uy-fanfic    email request: uy-fan@lexicor.com
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This Fanfic was first uploaded to GENIE and is now available on the Internet.

note: This is very alternative UY and highly recommendable UY fanfic
=====

Enjoy,

        Yat Siu

        - ysiu@lexicor.com

                         Alt-Urusei Yatsura
                                XII
                 "But What Does This Dream Mean?"

                    Written by Lewis Burden
                 Edited by Joseph Rispoli Jr.

          (Based on Characters and Situations created by
    Rumiko Takahashi in her manga series, URUSEI YATSURA)


     Ten felt that his work would successfully detain Yethiz
for the remainder of the day.  If he did ever get done with
the work that Ten created for him though, he would be
extremely angry.  Ten was just postponing the vengeance.  He
needed to talk to Lum to work on a more permanent solution.
Ten decided to start with the bridge, and was surprised to
find Lum and Ataru already there.
    Several floating tactical displays indicated that the
Fleet was in the Uinod star system and was approaching the
Pochik and Azu Fleets.  The Pochik apparently had lined up
more help than the Azu for this adventure.  Left to
themselves, they would most likely win.  Ten wondered what
Lum had planned, though he wondered more why Lum hadn't
hidden Ataru already.
    He sidled up beside Lum and whispered.  "I expect
General Yethiz will be busy for the rest of the day."
    "Good.  That will help, though we're just about ready
for him."
    "Oh?" Ten said, genuinely surprised, "Care to
elaborate?"
    "No, actually. I'm rather enjoying having a secret for a
change."
    "Ooh, a challenge.  I'm a-quiver."  Ten moved over to
Ataru.  "That was quite a game you had today.  Aren't you
the least bit worried that someone isn't going to catch onto
your game and have you run through?"
    "No," Ataru said calmly.
    Ten stepped back.  He checked the viewers again.  No,
still outnumbered five to one.  Looking around him, it still
looked like the Seq carrier and not the much more friendly
Redet ship, and then Ten did notice something odd.
    "There seems to be a high proportion of Redets on the
bridge today," Ten commented.
    "Yes, fancy that," Lum said.
    "We felt that there were a lot of Seq people who could
use the day off.  We altered the duty roster some,"  Ataru
explained.
    "And without little 'ol me.  I feel very put out."
    "Thanks for keeping General Seq out of our hair," Lum
said.
    "I'm glad I could do something."  Ten plopped down on
the Captain's chair.  He sat sideways with his legs over the
arm.  "So, any plans as to what to do with our friends out
there?"
    "As a matter of fact, yes,"  Lum began but said no more.
    "You two are about to make me physically ill.  It's been
a hard day, couldn't you make it easy on me?"
    "You missed our conference," Ataru explained.
    "Was I invited?"
    "Ten, you are always invited to our conferences," Lum
said.
    "Yes, it is one of the rare privileges I enjoy.  It's
too bad I missed this one.  What happened?"
    "We decided that a planet was a silly thing to fight
over,"  Lum said.
    "You thought that perhaps succession to the Throne would
be better, I take it."
    "Yes," Ataru answered.
    Ten checked the tactical displays again.  "We are a bit
out-numbered."
    "Kurama is on her way.  I won't tell our friends out
there until she gets here,"  Lum explained.
    Ten checked the monitors again, weighing Kurama's Fleet
against the numbers.  "Nope, still out-numbered."
    "The Seq Fleet is coming, too," Ataru said.
    "I don't think that's going to help."
    "Well, that's where you come in," Lum explained.
    Ten steepled his hands.  "Ahh, yes.  I knew the Ten
factor would have to be applied here somewhere.  So would
you like me to destroy the entire Seq Fleet, then?"
    "No," Lum said and then paused.  "Could you?"
    Ten voice took on a devious air of confidence.  "On a
good day, I might."
    "Well, I . . . No, what I would like you to do is help
Ran get Rei ready to rally the Seq Fleet to our side."
    "I think it would be easier to destroy the Fleet."
    "Ten!"
    "I find myself agreeing with him," Ataru said jokingly.
    "I don't think I want to talk to either of you," Lum
said and crossed her arms in a pout.
    Ten gave Ataru a knowing wink, and getting up out of the
chair said.  "I've had a rather busy day, but I suppose I
could manage it."
    Lum added, "Word is going out to the peasants and the
slaves aboard ship concerning our plans, and of course we
have Redet help.  If you know any of the higher ups on board
who could be persuaded or bought. . ."
    "Rei will be a full time job, but I'll see what I can
do."  With a bow and a flourish he said, "My Ladyship has
given me her word and my heart leaps to obey.  Ahh, the joy
of the faithful servant.  Every busy, but never seeking any
reward 'cept perhaps an occasional kind word from his most
gracious and beautiful Mistress."  He disappeared out the
door.
    "How does he think up those things?" Ataru asked.
    Lum was about to answer when the communications officer
spoke, "Princess, the Dedron carrier group has come out of
sub-space.  Matriarch Sil is requesting to speak with you."
    Lum tensed up at the name, but said, "Open a channel."
Ataru noticed her uneasiness.
    An image of Dedron Sil appeared in the air before Lum.
"Lum, dear.  It has been a while."  Sil, young Matriarch of
the Dedron House, glanced to Ataru who stood next to Lum,
"And is this Rei's present?  Ataru is it?"
    "Yes, Ma'am," Ataru answered.  Considering Lum's
reaction, Ataru was wondering what new terror this beautiful
Uruseian matriarch represented.
    "And polite too," Dedron continued, "I was wondering if
you had a change of heart about slaves.  Surely Benten does
not approve of your keeping one."
    Lum sighed.  It had been three years since Lum and Sil
had their final argument which turned good friends into
enemies.  It hurt Lum.  Sil had been her best friend.  Lum
was expected by her Family to spend her free time with Sil,
but she didn't mind.  The two shared a lot in common.  They
were both only children, young daughters who were the heirs
to their respective Family chairs.  They faced many of the
same trials in life, trying to adjust to their pre-ordained
realities.  There was only one thing that they didn't agree
on and that was how the slave planets should be treated.
Lum's friendship with a slave, Benten, became too much for
Sil to tolerate.
    They had always argued about the slave question, but the
arguments had been reasonably friendly.  However, the more
time that Lum spent with Benten, the more radical her own
ideas became.  The final argument between the two had come
to blows.  Sil demanded that Lum not see Benten any more.
She said that Benten was beneath Lum's dignity.  Lum refused
and they never spoke as friends again.
    Lum often missed her old friend.  There was no one else
with whom she could talk about the problems of being the
only daughter of a powerful Family.  Sil had already become
the Matriarch of her Family.  Lum so much wanted to ask how
well she handled the transition.  Lum especially didn't want
to fight her old friend as an adult, using adult means.  The
blows they came to as children hurt enough.
    "Please, Sil, we've been through that.  Couldn't we let
it go?"
    "We could," Sil said, but there was no warmth in her
smiled as she said it. "I had come to join the Azu Fleet,
but I'm willing to negotiate."
    "Politics?  Sil, that's not what I meant.  We were close
once.  You and I understood each other better than anyone
else."
    Sil smirked.  "My dearest Lum.  I stopped understanding
you when you took up with that slave.  Are you so naive,
though?  We're adults now.  There are no friends out here.
It's all about favors and dealing behind the scenes.  You
have to stop this war, but your position is weak.  What will
you offer the house of Dedron to side with the royal house?"
    When she saw the face of her old friend, she had hoped
that she could find a spark of that friendship still burning
a little, but Dedron was cold.  There was Lum without
Benten's passion.  There was Lum without Ten's pranks.
There was Lum without her Darling.  Sil was just a machine,
a tool of Family politics.  Lum shook her head, trying to
break such thoughts.
    Ataru looked at Lum worriedly.  He wanted to reach out
and take her hand.  He wanted to do anything to try and
comfort her.  He saw the pain that she was feeling, but he
couldn't do anything in front of Sil, not yet.  Still, he
want to do something.  "Forgive a slave for speaking up,"
Ataru began. "But what do you have against other races,
anyway?"
    "Darling, please don't," Lum whispered.  "Don't start
it."
    Dedron's eyes narrowed on Ataru.  "You're a bold one,
aren't you?  No doubt Lum gives you free reign."  She turned
to Lum.  "You had best coach him to keep his mouth shut
around his betters."
    Ataru wasn't going to let this one go.  His experiences
and Lum's pain wouldn't allow it.  "What makes Uruseians
better than anyone else?"  Ataru asked.
    Sil gasped. "You impertinent . . . !  We have the
Empire!  Is not our success against the slave races proof
enough?"
    "No," Ataru stated.  Lum was becoming desperate to stop
him, but she didn't know how.  She couldn't reprimand him as
a slave, nor could she make a request as a lover.  Ataru
continued.  "How you treat the people in your Empire defines
your superiority.  Without the slave planets there would be
no Empire.   You need us, but we don't need you.  Oh, sure,
Uruseian technology is very impressive.  Your achievements
are great and the slaves' planets could benefit greatly from
it, but they don't.  If you were truly great, everyone would
prosper under your umbrella.  That would truly be a great
Empire.  As it is, you are just parasites."
    "That will be quite enough!" Dedron screamed.  "What has
happened to you, Lum?!  Do you agree with this drivel?  Is
that why you didn't stop his insults?  If he were mine, I
would have him severely beaten until learned to keep his
tongue.  I suggest that you do the same, before he starts
talking to someone less forgiving than I."
    Lum looked to Ataru.  There was no apology in his eyes
as he stared levelly at Dedron.  Looking around the bridge,
Lum could see all eyes were on her.  She wondered what they
were thinking about what Ataru had just said.  They were
Redets or supporters of the House and were more than willing
to support their Princess in a coup against the Houses, but
were they ready for the rebellious words that Ataru had just
spoken?  Lum still wondered if she was.
    "I expect an apology," Dedron said.
    Lum turned back to Sil.  She bit her lip, trying to
think of how to handle this.  After all, deep down wasn't
what Ataru said exactly how she felt.  Wasn't it what this
was all about, freeing the slaves and not being parasites
any longer?
    "Sil," Lum began, "on one of your planets, Heis, I
believe, the people there make subspace engines.  It's the
core of the Dedron wealth, without that production your
Family would be nearly penniless.  You certainly couldn't
afford that nice cruiser you're on.  The factories are
manned by the native people of that planet.  You give them
enough to live on, but not much more.  They were much more
prosperous before they were taken.  Their technology was
very close to ours at the time.  You tell me that he's not
right about that world and dozens of others."
    Sil was turning red.  "The rumors were right, I see.
You have gone mad.  Do you really know what you are saying?
If you'll excuse me, I'm continuing on to the Azu Fleet."
    "Sil," Lum said drawing up her own strength.  Sil had to
believe this. "Please remember that my power rests on the
outcome of this battle, if there is one.  If I lose, then
the Families will have their way with me for the rest of my
life.  I have to win it, and I intend to show little mercy
to the losers.  I will be forced to strip their Houses and
divide the loot among my supporters.  If you can't support
me out of friendship, then support me for that.  I will win
this battle, Sil.  I think you know me that well."
    Sil studied Lum's eyes for a long time, testing her
resolve, then she cut the transmission.  Lum stood in
silence, staring at the open air where Sil's image had been.
She felt everyone's eyes on her.  Lum turned to Ataru.  "I
need to talk to you outside," she said sternly.
    When they got outside the door Lum began, "Do you think
that was altogether wise?  That was the Matriarch to one of
the major Houses you were talking to, not some school girl."
    "I know who it was.  I also wasn't going to put up with
what she was saying.  I shouldn't have to anymore.  By
tomorrow morning we'll be ready to go public with the crew."
    "Tomorrow morning," Lum repeated, "but not now, and not
with the other Families until we have support of the Fleet.
I've got to keep the Families in negotiation until then.  We
can't be stirring them up now.  My ultimatum to Sil should
give them something to think about though."
    "You two were really close at one time, weren't you?"
Ataru said kindly.
    Lum lowered her head.  "We were best friends.  I do miss
her.  There is a friendlier side to her, but it's been a
while since I've seen it.  I hope she decides to fight on
our side."
    "You don't believe she will, though?"
    "No," Lum admitted and went to Ataru.  He held her.
    "Remember, you don't have to carry this alone anymore,"
he said.
    "I know."  Lum stepped back and straighten her uniform.
"But this I do have to do alone.  It's time I called the Azu
and the Pochik, and started the negotiating.  After what you
said to Sil it's best if you weren't with me.  Go find
Benten and Mendo.  See how the recruiting is going.  Meet
you in a tenth."
    "Are you going to be all right?" Ataru asked.
    Lum smiled.  "I love you," she said and kissed him.
                         
                         * * *

     Lum returned to the bridge.  She guessed that taking
Ataru out to talk with him would satisfy most who didn't
know what was really going on.  Taking the command chair,
she turned to communications.  "Get me Pochik Vel,"  she
commanded.
    The officer pushed a few buttons.  "Coming through," she
said.
    The old man's image formed before Lum.  He sat bent in a
command chair.  His old fashioned uniform fit loosely over
his frail body.  His son Ando stood behind him.  Lum and
Ando's eyes met.  She knew she had a friend in Ando.  It was
the old Pochik she had to get to.
    "Ah, Princess Redet.  You are here in time to make
amends for your grandfather's mistake."
    "My Grandfather's action was regrettable, but I am here
merely to stop a war."
    "One and the same, my dear, one and the same.  We demand
a formal apology from the Azu, and possession of the planet
Uinod.  Both items are rightfully ours.  If they are not
given willingly, we will go to war.  And I'm sure that
you've already noticed that we have the better hand."
    Lum studied the elder Pochik's eyes.  There was usually
a craftiness in them, but not today.  He wasn't here to
negotiate a boon for his Family.  He was here for Family
honor.  Lum was worried.  It made it far more dangerous than
a simple Family game.  She didn't let her concern show.
"The Emperor will not allow a war," She said firmly.
    Vel laughed.  "I don't see where he has a choice.  You
do not have near the forces to stop us."
    "More will be coming.  I'm confident that I will have
enough, if need be, to defeat both forces."  She wasn't
really.  "I hope it won't come to that.  There must be some
way to work this out.  I'd like to invite you and Azu here
to cool down and discuss it."
    "Discussion is pointless, my dear.  Azu Des is an ass.
The Emperor should be pleased that I am finally going to put
the worm in his place."
    Lum took a breath.  "The first one who fires will be
considered a traitor and a rebel by the Emperor.  All their
planets and assets will be confiscated."  Lum paused to let
what she said sink in.  "Now would you accept my invitation
to sit down and talk?"
    Pochik studied the Princess.  "Young lady, this is a
very bold step you are taking.  If you can't back it up,
there'll be chaos."
    "I can back it up," Lum clipped, annoyed by the Pochik's
patronizing voice.  She had had enough of that in her
carrier.  "My patience is short.  I'll expect you and the
leaders supporting you here in the morning.  Good day, old
man."
    The line was cut before Pochik had a chance to respond.
When the image disappeared, the entire bridge crew stood and
began applauding.  Lum took a bow.  "Now on to Azu," she
said.

                         * * *

     It was nearly dark when Megane and Sugoi left the
school.  The government people had left long ago.  The
Uruseian Fleet had actually moved away as Onsenmark
predicted.  Now the world needed to decide what to do about
it.  Sugoi didn't care about Earth's problems, but as she
walked down the dark alien Tomobiki streets, she was feeling
very, very alone.  She was keenly aware that she was the
only Uruseian on the entire planet.  She tried to imagine
being exiled forever.  She knew how possible it could be
that Lum might never come back.
    Her earlier confidence was disappearing and being
replaced by despair.  She had been on alien planets before,
sometimes alone, but she carried the shield of the Uruseian
Empire.  No one would dare touch her and she knew it.  She
walked with her head up then.
    Sugoi glanced to Megane.  He stared off ahead, lost in
his own thoughts.  How alien he looked to her.  Handsome in
his own way, but oh so alien.  She tried to picture him as
an Uruseian.  She imagined his hair with a green tint, and
two orange horns.  She made the glasses disappear.  She
wondered what they were for.
    Megane noticed her attention, and nervously glanced back
down at her, and then away.  "We're almost there," he said.
    Sugoi smiled to herself.  At least she had some power
over him.  She wasn't totally helpless.  She took hold of
his arm and felt him stiffen up.  Resting her head against
him as he walked, she almost felt protected.  His arms were
strong.  She closed her eyes and allowed him to lead her.
She imagined she were on Urusei again, and walking with her
father.  The reason for her smile changed, letting herself
fall into the comfort of the image.
    Suddenly she let go of him and stopped walking.  Megane
took a few more steps before he noticed.  He turned to see
what was wrong.  Sugoi head was filled with the word
'danger'.  She looked up at the confused Megane and forced
herself to remember how alien he was.  She forced herself to
remember that she was going to use him to get the
transmitter and get off this planet.  She was going to use
him to defeat Lum and restart the invasion.
    She smiled girlishly and caught up to Megane.  "Just had
a thought," she said to Megane.
    "Oh?  What about?"  Megane asked almost regretting it.
    "About how much fun I'm going to have living with you."
     "Oh."  It was starting to feel much warmer for him.
     As they began walking again, they fell back into
silence.  Sugoi looked up at the stars, partially faded by
the occasional street lights.  She found what she hoped was
Urusei.  She wondered if she would ever see it up close
again.

                         * * *

     Benten was whistling to herself as she lovingly
polished her "bike."  There wasn't a smudge to be found
anywhere on the small spacecraft.  In fact, parked next to
the other fighters in the bay, her fighter appeared snowy
white, while the others appear dirty and used in comparison.
Benten still wasn't satisfied.  Her 'baby' was going into
battle against Uruseians.  It needed to look extra good.
    Mendo was feeling forgotten, a little jealous of
Benten's attentions to her first love.  Still, he kept
himself occupied taking in the sights and sounds of the busy
fighter bay.  It was a vast space, filled with deadly
looking fighters.  It usually wasn't this crowded, but now
it carried hardware from two carriers.
    Everyone was busy working on their vessels.  The poor
pilots who had their own ships placed next to Benten's were
vainly working, trying to polish their hulls, wondering why
what had been perfectly clean before, now appeared so
grungy.
    It was there that Ataru found them.  He approached them
slowly, taking in the sights of the hangar.  He still found
himself awed by technology and the size of the Uruseian
ships.  There were fighters as far as he could see.  Looking
out through the force field which was the only thing that
separated the bay from open space, Ataru realized that he
was no longer near Earth.  He wondered how far away they
were.  No one had bothered to mention distances.  Uinod was
just another planet in the Empire.  They could be on the
other side of the galaxy for all he knew.  It was another
sign of the new life that he was going to be living.  There
was no place beyond his reach.  And he was going to Emperor
of all this.  It was unbelievable.
    "Hello, Mendo," he said as if he had just come up him in
the school yard.  He wondered what it must be like for Mendo
when the dreams outpace the dreamer.  Probably, very much
what it was like for himself.  Once he was locked in a cave
of dancing shadows, but now had been brought into the sun.
The light was brilliant, blinding,  and the desire to run
back into the cave was great.
    Everywhere he looked there was something new.  Something
that he had never seen before.  There was incredible beauty
and incredible ugliness.  Ataru was feeling a new part of
him awakening.  It was alive, wild, and strong.  It was
stirred by the understanding of the power that he now had,
and the greater portion that was coming to him.  It was
moved by this incredible new world.
    He wondered if he had remained on Earth and eventually
married Shinobu if he would ever have felt this alive, if he
would have ever found the new Ataru underneath.
    "Hey Ataru," Mendo responded to Ataru's greeting.  "What
do you think of the view?  We're the first Terrans to see
it."
    Benten raised an eyebrow at that comment, but continued
polishing.  She glanced over to the starry opening.  "Old
stars, new eyes," she thought.  She had other things to
thing about.  She didn't know what to do with her display of
emotion toward Mendo.  It bothered her that she couldn't
stop thinking about it.  She studied the incredible
polishing job she had done.  The "bike" had never looked
this good before.  She was pleased, but also worried.  If
Lum had seen the fighter now, her curiosity would be peaked.
For those who knew Benten, of which there were very few,
polishing the "bike" was something she did when she needed
time to think.  The better the polishing job, the greater
the problem.
    Benten looked over to Mendo talking with Ataru.  "What
have I done?" Benten thought.  Sure she was known to make
rash decisions, but what had she done?  Did she really love
him, or did being placed in the same room, coupled with the
thrill of finally starting the road to freedom for her
people, cause her to act hastily.  She liked him, that was
certain.  He was handsome, and had a captivating voice.  She
liked to listen to him.  He had a certain naive wisdom.
    She had never danced for anyone before, and now for an
outworlder.  Worst of all she knew that her objectivity was
totally compromised.  She would do anything for . . .
    "Damn!" she said out loud, and jumped down from the
floating disc she was standing on.  She strode over to Mendo
and Ataru. She took a handful of Mendo's shirt and pulled
him over to her.  "I hate you," she snarled, and kissed him
hard on the lips.  She stared into his eyes for a second,
thinking and then said, "Damn!"  It was true.  She released
and strode out of the bay.
    The shocked figures of Mendo and Ataru watched her go.
As she walked out the door, Ataru said, "Do you know what
that was about?"
    "I think so," Mendo said.
    "I'll tell Lum about how well the reaction of the crew
has been.  Do you know what you're getting yourself into
with her?"
    "I'm beginning to,' Mendo said.  "I think I had better
go after her."
    "Yeah," Ataru replied.
    Mendo went off after Benten, tripping over a small
cleaning robot on the way there.  The robot beeped it's
annoyance and continued working, briefly pausing to adjust
its program to better avoid the other men still in the
hangar.
    Ataru continued to stare at the door.  He went to sit on
the floating disc that Benten was standing on.  "What does
one do when the dream exceeds the dreamer?"  he thought.
Somewhere on the ship his own alien was negotiating with the
great powers of the galaxy, in bad faith for the most part.
The scheme that they planned to reveal the next day would
change everything.
    "Emperor Moroboshi," he said quietly.  It had a strange
sound.  He and Lum were preparing to take on those same
great powers of the galaxy.  Ataru tried to imagine the
scope of it.  He couldn't.
    Ataru stood.  He decided to go see his room on this
ship.  Perhaps Jariten would be there.  Ataru had some
questions that he would like to ask him.

                         * * *

     As evening approached Jariten was near exhaustion.  It
was a strange situation that he found himself in.  He had
spent the last three years tormenting Rei, and now he was
actually helping him.  Jariten was finding that tormenting
the mentally challenged pilot was far easier.  Ten had
brought Rei and Ran to one of his "privacy" rooms on the new
ship.  He had only managed to acquire two.  It was difficult
with so many people on the ship.  He felt a little sorry for
the people who otherwise wouldn't have to triple up if the
rooms were available, but wasn't he worth it.
     It was still a little drab.  He hadn't had the chance
to get it painted.  He wondered if he should.  After all,
they weren't going to be on the ship for too long.  Still,
it was a matter of comfort.  Comfort was important.  He
briefly thought about Lum's reaction were she to find out
about his extra rooms.  She would be furious, but he would
simply explain that he needed a place to train Rei.  He
wouldn't mention his other, still more private room.
     His immediate job had two goals.  The first was to help
Rei to use longer sentences.  The second was to give him
some backbone against his uncle.  Ten had decided that it
was time that Rei commanded his own carrier.  He had
arranged that the orders which Yethiz was currently signing
were orders to transfer command.  He was sure that Yethiz
wasn't bothering to read them, but applying his print as
fast as he could.  Afterwards, Rei would have to take him
prisoner, and assume command.  That was the difficult part.
Rei had never questioned his uncle in his life.
    "Rei, my man, do you want your uncle controlling your
life?"
    "No," Rei said quietly.  He sat in a chair in the
corner.  His shoulders were drooped and his face showed his
own weariness and lack of self-confidence.  Ran sat next to
him, with a tray of sandwiches, little pieces of incentive.
    "Then," Ran said, "you have to stand up to him.  You
know he'll never let us get married."
    Rei looked worriedly at Ran.  He was wringing his hands.
The pressure was weighing hard on him.  "My uncle . . . I
don't know . . . I can't," he said.
    Ten sighed.  "It's hopeless.  I can't do it."  He began
pacing.  "Look at the material she gives me to work with.
Does she think I can work miracles?  I can!  But this!"  He
went to Rei and studied him, trying to come up with some
possibility.  "I see no other choice," he said finally.
    "What?" asked Ran.
    "We're just going to have to throw him in the water and
see if he can swim."
    "The water?" Rei asked nervously.
    "What if he doesn't do it?" Ran asked.
    "Then we drown," Ten said plainly.
    "Drown?" Rei asked. "How will water help?"
    "Quiet dear," Ran said taking his hand.  "You're going
to talk to your uncle."
    Ten shook his head.  "Come to think of it, I'd rather
drown."
    Ran and Ten prepared for Rei for his encounter.  They
fitted him with a small receiver in his ear so that Ten
could prompt him.  Ran gave him a pressed uniform to wear.
    "Doesn't he look wonderful," she exclaimed.
    "Looks are not what I'm concerned about.  Now Rei, no
matter what he says don't back down.  Do you have that?"
    "Don't back down," Rei repeated.
    "Good, now keep saying that."
    And Rei did.  He repeated it while they went to find
some guards.  He said it while they found a jailer who was
already on their side, and he continued as they went to find
Seq Yethiz.
    "Rei dear," Ran said becoming a little irritable, "I
think you've got it now."
    "No, no, no," Ten corrected.  "I want those words burned
indelibly in his mind.  Rei, you just keep on saying that
until we run into your uncle.  Which should be about now,"
Ten said as he noticed Yethiz coming down the hall.  "Good
luck,"  Ten said and he and Ran turned to leave.
    Rei seeing the angered look on his uncle's face as he
marched down the hall, turned to go with them.  "Stay," Ran
commanded, and Rei stopped.  "I'll be watching just around
the corner."
    Rei gulped and turn back around.  Ran and Ten
disappeared around the corner.  Rei heard Ten's voice in his
ear.  "Don't worry.  I'll be with you the whole time."
    "Don't back down," Rei said and took a breath.  He
checked to see if the guards were with him.  They were.
Well, his uncle wanted him to be forceful.
    Yethiz was so consumed with anger that he didn't notice
his nephew blocking his path until he had almost run into
him.  Rei's uncle stopped short, and looked up at his
nervous nephew.  He noticed the guards, and then gazed to
his nephew, quizzically.  "Where are you going with them?"
he asked angrily.
    Rei opened his mouth and then closed it.  His mind was
completely blank.  At last he said, "Uncle," in response to
Ten's prompting, "I'm taking command of this ship."
    "I'm in no mood for command games today.  I have a slave
to kill."  Yethiz pushed past his nephew.  "What do I do?"
Rei said out loud.
    Yethiz stopped.  "About what?  Really nephew, can't this
wait."
    "I'm taking command of this ship, and placing . . .
placing you under arrest."
    Yethiz sighed and went back to his nephew.  "Those are a
lot of words from one such as you.  Who's prompting you?"
    "Jariten," Rei said plainly.
    "That weasel?!  When did you start working with him."
    Just then, Jariten came around the corner, annoyed at
how quickly his plan was falling apart.  "I would kindly ask
you to refrain from name calling, General Seq."
    "What is going on here?!  I'm going to have you killed
for this conspiracy.  And you nephew, you are in need of
some serious and probably painful lessons.  How stupid could
you be, working with this trash?"
    "Watch the names!"  Ten said.
    Yethiz marched over to Ten.  "How dare you wear a Urusei
uniform!  I don't know how your Family puts up with you, but
after they here about this attempt at mutiny . . ."
    Ten smiled.  "I'm afraid they already know.  There's
been a change of plans,  you see.  Lum has decided that she
doesn't want to marry Rei."
    Yethiz smirked.  "She doesn't have much of a choice."
    "No, I agree.  Not with you running loose, but if that
situation were to change. . . "
    "Guards!" Yethiz yelled.  "Arrest this traitor!"
    The guards started to take a step forward and then
hesitated.  "They obey me," Rei said forcefully.  Ran had
come out and moved behind him.  She was prompting him now.
    Yethiz sized up the situation.  "Well, well, well.  The
Princess' personal servant.  You've slept with her, haven't
you, nephew?"
    "I . . ," he received a jab.  "I am placing you under
arrest."
    "Arrest?  You spineless, brainless, peasant loving  . .
. They're powerless without you, and yet you don't have the
guts to do it.  You're mine! Do you understand?  I've given
you everything you have, and I can take it away.  Now tell
those guards to arrest Redet Jariten and this . . . whore as
well."
    At that last remark, Rei, unprompted, pulled back his
fist and slammed it into his Uncle's face.  Yethiz fell back
at the impact and then dove at his nephew.  The younger and
larger Rei was soon the victor.  With a final blow he said,
"Ran is a Lady!"
    Ten was plainly stunned at Rei's actions.  Ran was
overjoyed and gave her bruised hero a painful hug.  Ten went
up and put a hand on Rei's shoulder.  "You'll do fine,"  he
said, and left.

                         * * *
     A little later Ten found Ataru waiting for him in his
quarters.  "Well, my dear boy.  I expected you to be with
Lum."
    Ataru stood.  "I'll be going to her shortly, but I
wanted to talk to you."
    Ten plopped down on one the standard issue chairs.  He
made a face.  "Damn uncomfortable," he said getting up and
checking the upholstery.  "I hope you don't mind if I
acquire a couple additions for this room tomorrow."
    "It doesn't matter," Ataru said absently.
    "It does, my friend, it does."  he said back down.  "So
why do you want to talk to me?"
    Ataru sat back down on the bed and collected his
thoughts.  He began to speak.  "I think you're the only one
who really understands what's going on."
    "Pretty much."
    "I'm starting to realize what is really being asked of
me.  It starting as some type of game, but we're going to be
taking on the galaxy.  Lum's been training for this all her
life.  I've been training to be a salaryman.  Though, it's
not like I've ever really thought much past graduation."
    "Are you going to give me that 'I'm just a school kid,'
line again?"
    "I suppose I am."  Ataru stood.  "We never had any
classes on Emperor of the galaxy.  Hell, I don't even know
where in the galaxy we are now.  I don't know the history.
I don't know the places.  I don't know the people.  I
haven't done anything to deserve this.  It's all Lum."
    "Have you told Lum how you feel?"
    "No, of course not.  She's got her own worries.  I've
been enough trouble already."
    "Trouble?" Ten asked, "What have you done?"
    "This whole thing!  We wouldn't be going to war if it
wasn't for me.  Lum would marry Rei, and the Empire would
been at peace."
    Ten chuckled.  "My boy, the last thing this Empire
needed was for Lum to marry Rei.  You're saving the Empire.
It's Lum who hadn't done anything to deserve her position,
until she accepted you, that is.  She was just born into it.
If you want to earn the Throne, then just be who you are and
stand at her side.  That's a harder thing than a lot of her
ancestors did for their Thrones, I'll tell you that."
    Ataru shook his head.  "I feel so inadequate."
    "Good!  It's called humility.  You're probably the only
person in the galaxy who has it.  Most of these Family power
lords think that they're miniature gods and that they can do
anything.  An Emperor who knows what he can and can't do,
and is not afraid to ask for help is exactly what this
galaxy needs.  It's a quality that Lum, herself, often
lacks."
    "What do you mean?"
    "Haven't you noticed?" Ten said. "My dear cousin all too
often convinces herself that she can do it all.  You
mentioned before why she seemed so sad, that's why.  She was
fifteen when she got this Fleet.  Fifteen!  She's the
youngest Fleet commander in the Empire by twenty years,
except for Dedron.  She pushes herself every second.  How
long do you think her tiny shoulders can carry that weight?"
  Ten stood and put his hands on Ataru's shoulders.  "I'll
let you in on a little secret.  I'm sure you've wondered
were those dreams came from?"
    "Oh course."
    "They were a desperate sub-space cry for help.  It was
her soul's final effort to save itself.  In a year, maybe
two if she hadn't found you, she would have had a nervous
breakdown."  Ten laughed.  "My jokes could only slow down
the inevitable."
    Ataru fell back on the bed.  "I didn't realize.  But why
me, then?"
    "Were you happy where you were?"
    "No," Ataru admitted.
    Ten shrugged.  "Well, then.  But enough of the pep-talk.
You have work to do."
    Ataru got up and went to the door.  He turned back to
Ten.  "Her soul cried out to me?  I've never been much into
spirits and such."
    "You can't deny reality.  Here you are."
    "Yeah, I suppose," he said and left.

                         * * *

     Benten had returned to their small room, and was now
pacing trying to figure out what she should do.  After a
short while Mendo entered.
    "Don't you know how to knock?!"  Benten snapped.  "I
could have been undressing."
    "It's my room too,"  Mendo said.  He had geared himself
up to be strong.  He played out a likely scenario out in his
head while coming over.  He hoped that it was right.  "Would
you like to talk about it?"  he asked.
    "About what?" she said and continued pacing.
    "About why you still can't bring yourself to say 'I love
you.'"
    "Maybe," Benten said, "it's because I don't."
    Mendo took her shoulders and stopped her from pacing.
"Did you dance for me, or didn't you?"
    Benten stopped and looked into his eyes.  "I thought I
was ready.  I thought I was ready to let my guard down a
little.  I'm not.  Dammit, I have to be a warrior!  I have
to stop the fucking Uruseians from destroying my planet.  I
don't have time for love now."
    "Should I give the ribbons back, then?"
    "No!  No.  Please don't.  I don't mean. . .  I . . .
Hell!"  She went over and threw the desk chair against the
wall.  It bounced off with a crash.  She turned hard on
Mendo, but softened.  "Please wait for me.  Give me time."
    Mendo went and took her in his arms again.  "When Ataru
first told me of his dreams, I was jealous.  I imagined that
I had an beautiful alien chasing after me as well.  I
imagined all different kinds of women, but could never
decide on who I wanted.  I have to admit that not one of
these women were anything like you, but I'm no longer
jealous of Ataru."
    "When my home is freed, you can come back with me and
I'll show you who I really am. "
    "I know.  I've seen a little bit of that woman.  I
content myself to imagine the rest of her.  I can wait."
    "Thank you,"  she squeezed him tighter.
    "What are we going to do about the bed now?"
    Benten pulled away and smiled at him, then her eyes
narrowed on him.  "I'm going to order a damn bunk!  What did
you think, you fucking pervert?!  I said no touching!"  She
looked to the ceiling.  "Computer: requisitions."
    "Place your order," came the response.
    "I want an upper bunk brought to this room, pronto!"
    "Requisition placed."
    She turned back to Mendo.  "I'm taking the top bunk.
You touch, you die!" she said with a wry smile.
    "How about gawking?"  Mendo asked.
    "I'll consider it."  She offered him a profile and
winked.

                         * * *

     Ataru soon tracked Lum down to her new quarters.  He
knocked and got a response.  He entered.  She was staring at
her bed.  She turned to him.  "A bed!  Do you know how long
it has been?  I'm going to be sore tomorrow."
    "Hi, Lum,"  Ataru said.
    She went to him and they embraced.  "Hi, Darling.  It's
all working out.  The Redet Fleet is here and on our side.
The Seq Fleet is coming, and I understand that Yethiz is in
the brig."
    "That I would like to see."
    "You can visit him later.  Pochik Vel, and Azu Des have
agreed to meet here tomorrow, along with the rest of the
Families involved.  We'll break the news to this Fleet
tomorrow and then we'll tell the other Families.  If they
don't agree then I declare them traitors."
    "Do you think we have a chance to win?"
    "Not at all, but I don't care.  I have you.  If I can't
have you then I would rather die, so it doesn't matter
anymore."
    "How about all the other people who will die?" Ataru
asked.  He was becoming aware of how many people were really
involved.  It wasn't fair to be just concerned about
themselves, and their own happiness.
    Lum turned away from Ataru.  "Oh, them.  It hurts.  It
hurts a lot, but Benten's right.  I knew after I invaded
your world -- our world.  We're killing billions of people,
all in the name of Family pride.  It's just like this Fleet
was run before I came, but on a larger scale.  I have to
stop it and I have to have you."
    Ataru took Lum's hand, and corrected her,  "We have to
stop it.  We have to have each other," Ataru corrected,
"Don't forget that I am with you.  I am going to be the
Emperor after all."
    Lum smiled.  "I won't forget, Darling."  They were
silent for a moment and then Lum said, "There's something
that I want to show you."
    "What?"
    "Come with me."
    Lum took Ataru's hand and lead him down the halls to a
cul de sac which was starkly different from the decor of the
rest of the ship.  The wall had a wood finish, and there
were candles arrayed at the sides of the double doors.  The
doors themselves actually had handles.  They weren't
mechanical as the rest of the doors on the ship were.
    "What is this?" Ataru asked, but Lum put her finger to
his lips.
    "Quiet.  Follow me."  She pulled open the great door,
and lead him in the dark chamber beyond.  Once the door
closed, it became dark.  There was no electric  lighting in
the room.  Only two candles burned at the opposite end of
the room.  Lum took a taper from a small black metal stand
and lit it from the candles.  She took the taper and used it
to light four other candles, two on either side of the room.
As she lit each one she said, "Eshol cha," and bowed.
    With each candle lit the room became a little brighter
and Ataru began to see some detail.  Tapestries lined the
walls.  Each bore strange images which danced in the candle
light.  There were people depicted on them,  Uruseian,
apparently, with great horns, riding beasts which looked a
little like the beast that Rei had turned into in the
dreams.  At the end of the room was an altar painted flat
black.  On its center was a large white candle, with ancient
writing on it.  It appeared to Ataru that it might be an
early form of Uruseian writing.  He thought he could make
out some of the letters, but it didn't make any sense to
him.  The candle was surrounded by a three-sided cabinet,
which also bore writing.
    When Lum lit the fourth candle she took Ataru's hand and
brought him to the altar.  She knelt and he followed suit.
She took her taper and lit the large candle saying, "Eschol
cha, seit-e!"  And she bowed her head to pray.  Ataru was
completely lost, but said nothing.
    After a few moments, Lum began to whisper, "Many
centuries ago, when the Empire was only just looking out to
the stars, the Emperors were considered to be divine
servants of the Spirits.  Along with ruling the Empire, they
were also the spiritual leaders of the people.  We have long
since given up our divine title, but we still keep the
temples.  If you are to be Emperor you have to learn the
stories."
    Ataru felt he was very shaky ground here.  Ataru's only
experience of religion was Cherry, and he didn't believe a
word that Cherry told him.  He had stopped really believing
much in the supernatural at all.  Civilization was
destroying its gods, it seemed.  Whether it was God, Buddha
or Amaterasu they didn't matter anymore.  Ataru had always
assumed that the more advanced that a civilization became
the less they would need gods.  But then there was Ten with
his desperate souls, and now this.  How could he tell Lum
that he didn't believe.
    Lum stood and pulled a small chair from its place
against the wall.  She motioned for Ataru to sit in it, and
then she got one for herself.  Looking around the room, she
said, "Hmm, most of the things in here are from my ship.  No
doubt Yethiz doesn't worry much about the Spirits.  It's not
surprising.  The greatest devotion is among the peasants.
For a lot of the Families, the devotions are just social
formalities.  Something to do because that's what they're
expected to  do."
    "How about for you?" Ataru asked.
    Lum got up.  "I don't know.  Since it's been part of my
training, I suppose I'm immersed in it more than most.
Sometimes I think that I'm just praying to air, but other
times. . ."  Her voice trailed off.  She went over the altar
and stared at the large candle.  The light danced on her
features.  She began speaking again. "Other times I can feel
the Spirits with me, as real as you're with me now.  When I
was younger living in the palace I would come to our temple.
It's much bigger than this one.  I would go there just to be
alone.  It's was so big, and so old.  It was like I could
touch all the centuries that had gone there.  Often the
Spirits would come to me there.  The Spirits' strength were
in the walls and the beams, everywhere."
    Lum sat down again.  "But I was younger, just a child.
So many horrible things happen I wonder how there could be
benign supernatural powers watching over us.   Or maybe, if
they're there, they just don't care.  Why should they, after
all?"
    Ataru started to feel as if it was safe to speak, now
that Lum had revealed her own doubts.  "I've never been very
religious," he said. "I suppose that I've never really
thought about it.  My mother believes in all kind of spirits
and demons.  I guess I do a little.  You can't throw away
your parents beliefs all-together."
    Lum smiled.  "I supposed not," she agreed.  "I brought
you here so that you would better understand your
obligations, and to see another part of the real me.  When
we have more time, I'll teach you about it."
    Lum laughed.  "I know all the facts and the stories, but
I'm afraid my faith is a bit weak.  I suppose that I can't
really expect you to accept it wholeheartedly."  She stood
and went to put out the candles.  "All the same though, I
sometimes find comfort here.  I have to admit that I keep my
personal temple complete for more than just the formality.
I can't shake the idea that if I believed better and trusted
the Spirits more that my life would be easier."
    Ataru stood too.  "It all happens tomorrow, doesn't it?"
    "Yeah," Lum said as she put out the last of the side
candles, leaving the two that had been lit before and the
large one.  "Space battles tend to be rather short.  We'll
know who wins before the end of the day."
    "If we're alive at the end of the day, then we win?"
    Lum smiled.  "Yes, something like that."
    "What do we win?"
    Lum went over to put the big candle out.  "The right to
be happy together and freedom for billions of slaves."  She
put it out and turning back to Ataru, who was now only a
dark shadow in a dark room she said, "I've been thinking
that maybe it's not fair to involve you in all this.  I've
brought you up here, and your life has been in danger ever
since."
    Ataru approached Lum.  He took a look around the dark
room as he put his hands on her shoulders.  "We are going to
win tomorrow.  We're going to make this Empire better, and
we're going to do it together," he said tapping her gently
on the forehead.
    "I know,"  she responded, and they kissed.

                    [End of Part 12]