Alternative Urusei Yatsura Fanfic by *Lewis Burden* (file: jad2_uy.txt ) ==================================== 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: world.std.com /pub/uy-fanfic email request: uy-fan@lexicor.com ********************************* ********************************* This Fanfic was first uploaded to GENIE and is now available on the Internet. on GENIE it is available in the JAPAN RT m225 (page 225). note: This is very alternative UY and highly recommendable UY fanfic ===== Enjoy, Yat Siu - ysiu@lexicor.com "JUST A DREAM?" Part 2 Written by Lewis Burden Edited by Joseph Rispoli, Jr. (Based on characters and situations created by Rumiko Takahashi in her series URUSEI YATSURA.) Ataru Moroboshi's sleep was restless. This might have been because he was sleeping in class, or maybe due to the events that he was dreaming about. "Lum!" he called out at the top of his voice. This caused the immediate flight of Professor Onsenmark's eraser. As well-aimed as usual, it impacted at the center of Ataru's forehead, giving him a nasty knock. "Moroboshi!" Onsenmark screamed. "Kindly leave your dreams out of my class!" "Dreams?" Ataru asked, still a little dazed. Megane whispered to Ataru, "You shouted Lum's name at the top of your lungs. I hope it was good." Ataru felt a cold twinge run up his back. He turned quickly to Shinobu, who eyed him with distaste. "Your nights weren't enough, now she gets your days as well," she snapped and then turned away from him. He knew she was crying. "She was in trouble," he said quietly to anyone who would listen. "I think she might be dead. I couldn't save her." "What was that?" came Mendo's concerned voice. "I think she might be dead," Ataru repeated. "This evil man stabbed her with a dagger." "Lum is dead?" Mendo said loudly. This brought comments from the whole class. Megane grabbed Ataru by the shirt and accused, "How dare you let Lum die. What were you doing? Chasing after some other girl?" It was at this point that Onsenmark realized that he had lost the class. "I want everyone's attention! What is going on here? Megane let go of him!" "Professor," Megane began, "You don't understand. This louse dreamed that Lum died." "Lum, meaning the dream girl. Oh, I'm very sorry. I'll send flowers. NOW SIT DOWN AND PAY ATTENTION!" Everyone sat down and class resumed, but after that, Ataru could not give any kind of attention to his school work. School ended and Ataru ducked out the back so that he could avoid the questions from his classmates that he knew would be coming. He made his way home alone and wondered what he would dream about this night if Lum really was dead. Coming up to his home, he stopped short of the door. He had a feeling he should be wary. It was at times like this he wished he lived in America. In America, everyone had a car, and so if there were visitors one could tell before entering because of the car out front. This allowed one advance warning against someone that perhaps you didn't want to meet, a monk named Cherry, for example. He always popped up at the most inconvenient times, and there was no way to know if he was there before it was too late. The possible death of Lum, was just such a time. He was almost surely there. Ataru thought seriously about going for a long walk, but then his stomach began to growl and he smelled supper. There were more important things to worry about, he would have to endure Cherry. And endure him he did, for Cherry was indeed in the house. Ataru groaned and entered. "Hello, Cherry," he said reluctantly. "Ataru!" his mother snapped. "That is no way to show respect to such a distinguished man of the cloth." Turning to Cherry she continued, "I apologize for my son. We have tried and tried again to teach him proper manners, but nothing seems to sink in." "That is quite all right, Mrs. Moroboshi. The lad has a great deal of pressure to deal with. A great evil hangs over him." Ataru's mother ran to Cherry, a lot of worry on her face. "What evil?" she asked furtively. "Will he die?" "Worse," Cherry said, playing his audience. "Worse?" Ataru's mother responded. Ataru's mother believed strongly in the Buddhist religion. She welcomed what Ataru felt was merely freeloading, just to have a holy man present in the house. Ataru wished she could see through him, like he did. "Much worse. A demoness is trying to possess him through his dreams. His woes will be untold if she succeeds." Ataru couldn't take anymore. "Oh, come on! You expect me to believe that garbage. She's only a dream." "Ataru!" his mother yelled, and slapped him across the face. "You will have more respect! Now sit down and listen carefully to what Cherry has to say." "Yes, mother," came a meek response. Ataru sat. Cherry continued his story. "I have been doing a lot of studying about this sort of phenomena since I heard your story. She is anything but a dream, my son, I assure you. She is a demoness, and she will haunt your dreams every night until you succumb to her will. And then you will be hers. You did say she has horns." "Yes, but that's because she's an alien." "Yes, that's what she told you. I warn you not to take me lightly." Cherry bent down so that he was face-to-face with Ataru. "Listen very closely, my son. Do not let her kiss you. That will be the kiss of death. There will be no turning back once that happens." Ataru was unimpressed. He had his own reasons for not kissing her. He didn't need the ravings of some monk to convince him. Cherry stood, and made his way to the door. "Well, Mrs. Moroboshi, this is as long as I can stay. I put some spiritual wards in Ataru's room, that should help to keep the demons out, and if not, tomorrow I'll stay there myself. Ataru was about to protest, but his mother shot him a hard look. She turned back to Cherry and smiled. "Our family is honored that you are taking such an interest in our son." "I fight demons wherever I can find them. Good day." With that he left. Ataru's mother went quickly to her son and slapped him again. "You embarrass me with your disrespect. Cherry is a monk of great importance and you will take what he says to heart, do you understand me?" "Yes, mother, " Ataru answered sheepishly. "I don't know why he takes any interest in such a useless boy." She marched off to the kitchen. "Supper will be ready in a couple minutes, get cleaned up." 'Well, at least Cherry wasn't staying for dinner,' Ataru thought. He felt the sore spot on his face where his mother had slapped him. He wondered what she saw in that monk. He began to get up, and then noticed that his father was sitting right next to him reading the paper. His father lowered the paper slightly to look at his son. "The newspaper is a married man's best friend, son. Remember that," he explained. "Yes, father, I understand," Ataru responded. That was, without a doubt, the wisest thing anyone had said to him all day. He went to get cleaned up for dinner. * * * Lum spent the rest of the day in thought about this new revelation about her dreams being caused by alien transmissions. She did not want to believe it. Her Darling was involved with some plot against her. It had all been a trick. She had might as well accept it. There was no way out. There was no refuge from the life that she was destined to live. There was only one real world. This make-believe world of her dreams where she could run away and be free was just that, make-believe. She felt betrayed, and angry. She would crush this planet for what they had done. She would find their homeworld and destroy it. Redet Lum, Princess of the Uruseian Empire was not to be trifled with! She smashed her fist into the wall to punctuate her last thought. The wall was unforgiving, and her hand suffered for it. She sat in her study chair and thought of all the things she would do to her supposed 'Darling' when she found him for real. A chime sounded from her door. "Come," she snapped. The door opened up to reveal Jariten's round face. "My, my, aren't we wound up? I understand you beat Rei at Ossak again." "It was no big deal." "No big deal. As you know, the game is only the beginning of the torment." He walked over to Lum's free-fall chamber and said, "Computer, zero-gravity." Immediately, he began to float in the air. He carefully leaned back and sighed relaxedly. "I really should get one of these. Do you recommend them?" "They're fine, as long as you don't let your dreams get out of hand." "Oh?" Jariten asked innocently, turning over and crossing his arms on an imaginary pillow. "Oh, don't give me that innocent routine. You heard what happened or you wouldn't be here." "You wound me. Must I always have an ulterior reason for everything I do? Perhaps I just wanted to visit?" Lum quickly stood up, "Perhaps I just want to tear that Moroboshi's head off with my bare hands. You just wait until I find him and his people. I'll turn his shiny blue planet red with their blood." "A trifled miffed, are we?" "They tried to use me, Ten. They were messing with my mind, to get me not to invade them." "Those fiends! And such flimsy motivation, too. So you would like to slaughter the whole race, then? I'm sure you could get Rei to help you. He likes that sort of thing, you know." Lum stood in a brief stunned silence. She picked up a pillow and threw it hard at Jariten. "I hate you, Ten!" Ten moved out of the way. The pillow bounced off the opposite wall and followed an odd trajectory back due to the sudden shift of gravities. Lum continued,"You spoiled a marvelous righteous rage! But what am I supposed to do? I've been violated, mentally raped." "You liked it better when this Moroboshi was just a figment of your subconscious?" "It was easier. I suppose I did want him to be real, but not like this. I had hoped that maybe some powerful force of love was connecting us, if he existed at all." "That's sweet," Ten said and started a slow vertical spin, "What makes that so impossible now?" Lum sat down again, "Oh come on, Ten. It was a sub-space transmission." "Love can't work through sub-space transmissions?" "Of course not!" Ten jumped out of the zero gravity field, and made his way to the door. "That's what your head says, but now that you know he exists, what does your heart say?" With that, he left, leaving Lum totally lost in her emotions. That night, as Lum made ready for bed, she wondered about Ataru, and what he was really like. She wondered, too, what it would be like to have a night where she didn't dream about him. A sub-space jamming field was in place around her quarters. There would be no transmissions this night. The people she knew in her dreams didn't seem to have the technology to implant dreams in someone's mind at stellar distances. Of course, that could be a trick. The only mention of invasion though, was in the very first dream. Lum thought nothing of that, because the concept of her coming to invade a planet was certainly not a foreign one. The race concept was a bit different. Lum had liked the idea at the time. A race to determine whether or not the planet got invaded. It was an idea with some merit. Lum chuckled to herself as she climbed into her null-gravity field. From experience, she quickly adjusted to the sense of free fall, and stretched out. It was a marvelous device, her high-tech bed. A light force field enclosed a 200x150x200cm space. Within this force field, gravity was nullified. The space was also heated to near body temperature so that no blankets were required. The force field, apart from keeping the air in, kept noise out and provided some resistance to prevent the occupant from just floating out of the field and suddenly into a full gravity area. Though one could easily push themselves out if that was their intention. Nightmares could be hazardous, but on the whole it was difficult to accidentally float out of bed. The one last feature was a security one. One could not climb into the occupied field without applying a great deal of energy, or without permission. Lum was quite safe from a nighttime assassination attempt. However, when it came down to it, Lum simply preferred the comfort of sleeping in free fall. Expecting to have no dreams that night, for the first time in months, Lum quickly dozed off, but the dreams still came. This was the oddest one yet. It began simply with a class movie project, but after that, strange things began to happen. Spirits floated through the air, a great tree disintegrated before their eyes. Lum felt like a foreigner, an enemy, an invader. She began to lose her powers, and people were forgetting her. A lake formed from nowhere. Mendo had a dream that spilled into reality. Many strange images appeared for no reason. Then the worst of all, the war. All her friends were fighting against each other. She wasn't the cause of it, but it was still horrible. The whole city was destroyed, but her Darling. . . her Darling went jogging. She awoke the next morning confused and not very rested. She wondered what it all meant. She could only guess that the sub-space jamming was only distorting the transmission, not blocking it. She could not get the bloodshed out of her head, though she had seen numerous battles, this was different. Tomobiki was her home. Strangest of all, though, and most difficult to clear from her head, was the image of her Darling jogging in the midst of all of it. She tried to shake it out of her head. Ran would be here soon, and she had to be able to convince her that the dreams had stopped. * * * Ataru Moroboshi went to bed with the possibility that Lum might be dead on his mind. He had seen her stabbed through the heart. It was surely a death blow, but if she was only a dream, then that wouldn't make any difference. It wouldn't make any difference if she was a demon either he added, thinking of what Cherry had said. 'Well, she did look like one,' he thought, remembering the horns and the fangs. Actually, Ataru liked her horns. They were small and sort of cute. The fangs, he thought, he could do without, though. She was certainly also so devoted. Ataru was the only thing in her life. He was what she lived for. He didn't quite understand her reasons, but he did like the attention. He thought again that she might be dead, and although she was only a person in his dreams, the more he thought about his dreams being empty of Lum forever, the more he wanted to cry. Soon he had sobbed himself to sleep in remorse for his loss. Then he began to dream again, and there was Lum dressed as a beautiful goddess for a school movie project, but then she was gone again. She disappeared and he had trouble remembering her. Then came the war. It was such a crazy thing. He didn't want the noise of the battle to make him forget Lum further, so he went jogging. He went jogging in the outfit he wore when he first caught Lum. He though constantly about her as he ran, and then the war was over and there she was. He awoke as they embraced, and his tears were of a different type than when he fell asleep. She wasn't dead. This was the thought that rang in his head all that morning. She wasn't dead. He hadn't lost her. He was filled with a wholesome joy that comes from sharing in a friend's good fortune. It was quite different from the lecherous joy that he usually felt. Even his mother, who was usually very sparing with compliments for her son, noticed the change in him. She commented on what a fine young man he looked that morning. "The demon must have left you," she said. "The wards worked. You should trust Cherry more." "Yes, mother," Ataru agreed, not wanting to say anything that would spoil his feeling. This would mean that Cherry would not be staying in his room this night. There were so many things to be happy about. It was in that condition that his friends found him as they made their way to school. Megane studied Ataru carefully as he strode proudly and confidently toward school. "I take it from you joyous demeanor that Lum is not dead," Megane stated while pushing his glasses up. "Yep," Ataru said brightly, "she is still alive." Megane nodded, "Uh hmm." The other four smiled at each other. Megane gathered them in a circle as Ataru continued on. "Gentlemen," he said loudly so that Ataru could hear, "I think there is only one conclusion that we can draw from this." Ataru stopped cold. He didn't like the sound of it. "What's that?" Chibi asked. Pama and Kakugari exchanged looks. "Surely, you can see it," Megane continued. "When before have you seen Ataru this happy in the morning?" "Or at any time," Kakugari added. "Except when he's eating," Pama finished. "Precisely," Megane said. Ataru was listening closely. "There is only one thing that would provide that much happiness for a man this early in the morning." "You don't mean. . ." Chibi asked. "I do mean. Ataru has finally had his way with Lum." "Or she had her way with him," Pama corrected. At this all four started laughing. Megane walked over to Ataru and draped an arm around his shoulder. Ataru's elation was destroyed. Now he was building with anger. "My friend, I must congratulate you." Megane began. "Dream or no, we have all longed for the day when this would happen to each of us, and you were the first. I salute you!" Megane pulled back and saluted sharply. The other three pulled up beside him, and also saluted. "You are an inspiration to us all." Ataru could take no more. "I didn't sleep with her!" he shouted at the top of his lungs just as one of his mother's friends walked by. "I didn't sleep with her," he said again, much quieter. "Oh really?" asked Megane moving next to Ataru. "And your mood this morning was just a reaction to a sunny day?" The day was overcast. "No." "Well then. . ." "I was just happy to find out that she was still alive." Everyone just stared at him in silence. Megane cleared his throat. "Ataru, my lad," he said quietly, "You're not developing a conscience on us? Or worse, scruples?" "It can't be true!" Pama shouted nearly in tears. "What has that woman done to him?" Kakugari exclaimed. "He was our idol," added Chibi. "Yes, I'm afraid it is true," Megane proclaimed, "Ataru is more concerned with a woman's welfare than his lust for her." "Go away!" Ataru shouted. "Come gentlemen," said Megane, "Let us leave this tortured soul, and hope that he repents." With that they all left. It was then that Shinobu came up and asked, "What was that all about?" "Oh," said Ataru, "they were accusing me of sleeping with Lum last night." Ataru heard Shinobu gasp, and he realized that he had just said the very worst thing imaginable. Shinobu slapped him hard across the face and ran off crying. "But I didn't!" he called after her. She was already too far away. "Aw hell," he said. He put his hands in his pockets, kicked a stone and resumed walking to school. Albeit at a slower, less enthusiastic pace. It was going to be another one of those days. * * * Lum reclined restfully, listening to music. It was her policy before any invasion to take a couple days off. The invasion was now only four days away. The day before the invasion would be the day to make final preparations, and last minute drills. These two days, however, were for rest. The entire fleet was on minimum duty watch. Too much drilling made for low morale and tired soldiers. There was no reason to rush. Earth had no idea of their approach and there was really nothing they could do about it if they did. If last minute preparation took two days, then it took two days. Lum only wished that she could relax and clear her mind. She thought about Ataru's planet. She wondered where it was. She imagined it in a colorful nebula, with shimmering crystalline asteroids orbiting it. It had to be beautiful. The thought that it might be Earth, the planet that they were about to invade, never occurred to her. Like or not, after all the invasions that she had been on, and now commanded, even at her young age, conquest had become routine. Earth was just another planet. It was far too insignificant to be Darling's planet. His planet would have to be something special. After last night's dream, and listening to her heart, Lum had concluded that there was no subversion involved. Her Darling was real, she knew now, and they were cosmically connected. She liked the romanticism of it. Someday she would find him and marry him. Lum's thoughts were interrupted by the door chime. It must be Ran, she thought. "Come," she called, not getting up. The door opened, "Good morning, princess." Lum knew that voice. She turned quickly. It was Oyuki. "Oyuki!" Lum explained,"How did. . . If you're here, then . . ." Oyuki nodded, "Yes, I've been sent to collect you. Your father, the Emperor wishes to speak to you now in the royal suite. Lum was in a dream state as she stood. She was so confused. Her father had come without telling her. And so fast, as well. He had to had come in a small unprotected ship to get here this fast. What was so important? And mother had come as well, Lum thought, or Oyuki wouldn't be here. Oyuki was her Mother's personal servant. She was reserved and always correct. Lum knew it was useless to ask her what was going on, because it would be improper for Oyuki to say anything. She was formal, without being stuffy. It came naturally to her. Lum's mother adored her. Benten called her the Ice Princess, because she was so emotionless. Lum felt Oyuki's silent presence behind her as they made their way down the corridors of the ship towards the reserved royal suite. Lum's own ample quarters were insignificant next to these rooms. There were only two people who could ever use them. Lum wondered why they had come. Lum stopped when she reached the entrance to the royal suite. On top of the wide door was the seal of her family, next to that of the Empire. The sides of the door were ornately decorated with some scroll work and fleur designs. Oyuki silently moved in front of Lum and stood before the motion sensors. The doors opened. "I have brought your daughter as you commanded," she announced. She stepped back and bowed. "Your parents await your presence, mistress." Lum took a deep breath and stepped in. In these types of situations, all this pretense just made her nervous. The suite opened into a large sitting room, filled with expensive furniture and decorations. As she walked in, she immediately noticed the presence of the guard standing just inside the entrance. He was where he was supposed to be, but in Lum's world, it paid to be sharp. What did surprise her was that sitting in seats next to her father and mother were Benten and Jariten. Oyuki silently glided past Lum and went over to stand behind Lum's mother. All were sitting around a large coffee table. Lum's mother and father sat in the grandest chairs. Both were smiling at Lum as she entered. The confusion showed on her face. "Please my daughter, sit," her father said, motioning her to a chair. Lum nodded a greeting to Benten and Jariten and then sat down. She noticed that neither of the two seemed to be overly worried, so she relaxed a little. "I am happy to see you both," she said, "but I don't understand why you came." "Let me explain," her father opened. "First of all, when you talked to me yesterday, we were already en route. I hope that answers some of your questions." "It does, but you never said you were coming." Lum's father smiled, "Being Emperor affords me the luxury of the rudeness of not telling people that I'm coming." "True, but. . ." "But stop asking so many questions and let your father explain, dear," Lum's mother interrupted. "Sorry." "Very good. I am sorry I didn't tell you I was coming, but I didn't want anyone else to know, either. I wanted to catch certain people by surprise. When you rule the Empire, always remember to make sure that people know less about what you are doing than they think they do. The more you surprise them, the harder they will find it to plan coups and power grabs," Lum's father said, and winked at her. "Yes, father," Lum smiled back feeling a little more at ease. 'Keep your enemies guessing' was one of her first lessons. She felt more comfortable in a Teacher-student role, but she knew the Emperor-subject role was coming up. "I told you a lot of what was going on yesterday, so I am going to make this short and save the suspense. Your mother and I are planning to retire in two weeks." Lum felt the air freeze in her lungs. She became uniquely aware of her heart beating. She looked at Benten who smiled back. It was obvious that Benten had been told before she had come in. Jariten, as well. She now knew why they were here. They were the beginnings of her royal staff. Her staff? Two weeks?! The full scope of what she was just told was having trouble sinking in. "The Empire needs strong, young leadership now," her mother continued. "There are just too many things that tie our hands." 'Like not having any sons,' Lum thought. "How about Rei?" Lum asked," I'm not married yet. We could never plan a royal wedding in two weeks." Lum's father smiled broadly. Jariten also let out a brief chuckle. The Emperor said, "No, I suppose not. It will take at least five months to make all the arrangements. During that time, you will be Empress alone. The families won't like it, but no one will challenge you, because of your plans to marry. You'll be able to set up your court before Rei even has a say in the matter." "I'm too young, I'm not ready to be Empress yet!" she protested. "You'll be fine, precious," her mother said. "No one's ever ready to rule an empire," her father began, "I'm still not ready to do it. That's why you get trusted help." "That's what we're for," Benten said proudly. At the sound of Benten's words, Lum's mother shot her a look of worry and hate. She stood. "I protest having this slave as our daughter's advisor! The families will not stand for it." "I'll be able to deal with the families, Mother," Lum said, thinking. "Don't worry. I want Benten with me. Please don't call her a slave." Lum's mother turned hard on her daughter. "I'll call her what I like! Don't back talk your mother! She is a slave, and not worthy of your friendship or your trust. She'll betray you and the Empire!" "Now look here, you royal bitch!" Benten said standing. "Benten!" Lum said, also standing. "Get her out of here!" Lum's mother shouted, her face turning red. Lum's father decided to take a hand in this. "Everyone sit down," he commanded. Everyone did so without question. Turning to his angry wife, he said softly, "Please dear, you promised. It is our daughter's decision. If it is a mistake, she's old enough to make her own." "Did you hear what she called me?!" "Did you hear what you called her? I need you on my side. We're here for Lum, remember?" Lum had also been talking to Benten, and now Benten was standing before the Empress. "Maam," she said penitently, "I'm sorry for what I said. My people have quick tempers. I ask your forgiveness. I should have more respect." "I accept your apology," Lum's mother said pompously, but got jabbed by her husband. Shooting him a hard look, she reluctantly turned back to Benten and said, "And I ask you to accept mine. I will not call you a slave anymore." "Thank you, maam," Benten said. Lum gave her a high sign which was followed by a look similar to the one that Lum's mother gave her father. Benten sat. Jariten jabbed her a couple of times, giving her a wry smile. "Good," Lum's father continued. "Let's be friends again. "Though your mother is right. You will run into a few hot tempers over Benten." "We can handle 'em," Benten said, answering for Lum, and eliciting another look from her mother. "You know that I'll be available for advice at any time," Lum's father said. "As I will," the Empress added. "What will you do?" Lum asked. Lum's mother put her hand on her husband's. "Your father and I are going to try being married for a while. We're going to find someplace nice and out of the way to just be together." "Won't you miss your socials?" "Yes," Lum's mother said hesitantly. Lum could see that there was some compromise here. She continued, "but there will be plenty of those. We just want to be alone for awhile. Ruling an Empire leaves little time for intimacy. You and Rei sometimes won't see each other for days. It'll be hard." "That depends on how you look at it," Jariten whispered to Benten. She tried to hold back a laugh. Trying her hardest to ignore the comment, Lum said, "This is a lot to take, and much sooner than I expected." "We know," her father answered, "but we have confidence in you. There is one other subject. We heard about what has been causing your dreams, and so have a lot of other people. News that you might be compromised is running throughout the families. Did the jamming stop your dreams?" Lum looked directly into her father's eyes, trying to convey a subtle message. "Yes, Father," she said, "I slept peacefully last night." "Oh, thank the spirits," her mother said happily. Lum's father, however, had received the intended message. "That's good," he said calmly. "Hopefully, we'll be able to quiet everyone's nerves about this." Jariten was also able to perceive Lum's message, though Benten missed it. Jariten spoke up. "Is there any word on where the transmission originated from?" "No," Lum said, "The communications people are working on it. They believe it is somewhere ahead of us, but haven't been able to narrow it down anymore than that." "Good. At least that is coming. We will have to pay them a visit, when we discover their location," Lum's father stated. Slapping his hands on his knees he said, "Good. That is all I wanted to say, right now. I'm sure you'll have more questions later. Join me for dinner at point 75. You may go." Lum stood and bowed. "Yes, father," she said and left. "Yes, my Emperor," Jariten and Benten said simultaneously and also left. They met Lum outside. Benten shouted after the doors closed. "Yow! Can you believe it? It's happening now!" "Benten!" Lum admonished, "Quiet! Not out here. This has got to be hush-hush until the announcement, probably next week." "I find it hard to believe that she could keep a secret that long," Jariten said. Benten was about to hit him, when Lum pulled them off to the side, and said quietly, "Meet me in my quarters in two points and we'll begin to make plans. Remember, Benten, quiet." "Yes, my Empress," Benten said, chuckling as she bowed. "Benten!" "See ya in a bit," she said and went off. Lum started to make her way back to her quarters. Her mind was full of thoughts. She wasn't immediately aware that Jariten was quietly following her until she reached her room. Lum was startled when she noticed him. "Jariten! I need some time to myself to sort out my thoughts." "But my dear lady, that is what my job will be, to sort out your thoughts for you." "I need to be alone." "I know. I just have a couple questions before Benten comes." "Okay, come in. But make it quick." They both went inside. Lum sat in her favorite chair while Jariten remained standing. "Well?" "I was curious about your dream last night. The jamming did nothing?" Lum looked at Jariten and shook her head. "Will I have no secrets from you at all?" "No. I don't like secrets, unless they are mine." "I'd love to hear your secrets some day." "But dear cousin, then they wouldn't be secrets." "It is strange," he continued changing the subject, "that a simple sub-space transmission can breach our modern jamming, unfettered." Jariten was reaching for something and Lum knew what it was. "It wasn't totally 'unfettered'. There was some distortion." "Hmm," Jariten said, and leaned back against the wall. "What does your heart say now?" "It says that Moroboshi Ataru has no science to transmit such a signal. It also says that he will be my consort, not Rei." "Does it?" Jariten said, genuinely surprised. "That is better than I hoped. I wonder how your parents, Rei and the families will deal with that news?" "Not very well, but we still don't know where this Moroboshi is, do we? Maybe we won't find out in time. A heart is not much to go on." "Not true! Most times, it is the best thing we have. See you in point two. My Empress," Jariten said, bowing. "I like the way that sounds," he said as he left. She watched him go and found herself also very surprised at what her heart was telling her. After what seemed to be too short a time, Benten showed up at her door, shortly followed by Jariten. Benten looked around her, "When are you going to tell Ran about this? She'll be tickled." "Not until the last minute," Lum said. "She doesn't keep secrets very well. Before we start with anything I have a question for you, Benten." "Oh?" Benten said, sitting down. "Why didn't you tell me about the seven attempts on your life?" "Oh that. Actually, it's eight. Somebody put a bomb under my bed last night." "You obviously are not hurt," Ten said. "No, but I do need a new bed." "But why didn't you tell me?" "Shit, Lum it's our job to help you. We don't need to be adding our problems onto yours. Besides I didn't want you to worry. I thought you might stop seeing me if you thought you were putting my life in danger." "Benten, when my friends are in trouble, I want to know. And if my people are in trouble, I have to know. We have to help each other. What kind of guard are you going to be if you have to fend off people who are trying to kill you? I do have some power, and soon I'll have even more. Jariten, I want you to find out who is ordering the attempts on Benten's life." Jariten leaned back in his chair. "I already know," he said smugly. "See," said Lum. "You know?! Why didn't you say anything?" "You didn't ask." "I hope you will be quicker to volunteer information in the future," Lum said sternly, "Who is it?" "It's the Azu family." "My mother's family?" "That b . . ," Looking at Lum, she swallowed her last word, "She's trying to have me killed?" "Oh no. She's loyal to her husband. If she knows who it is at all, she heard it from him." "My father knows?" "Of course. There's not much that gets by him, I've found." "Everyone is keeping secrets!" Lum said under her breath. "Yes, great isn't it? No, I think he wanted you to handle this. If you can't protect your closest advisors, what kind of leader are you going to be? It's Azu Des who's footing the bill for this. Though he is not alone. There are five families that are conspiring to have Benten killed. You're lucky. I only have the Seq house trying to get me transferred. To a sub-zero outpost, I think." "I'm glad I'm so popular," Benten said, "Well, now that I know who's responsible the rest is easy." "You can't just go and kill Azu Des," Lum said. "Why the hell not? He's been trying to kill me!" "Because," said Jariten, "He's the number two son of the Azu family. It would start a civil war. The Azu's don't like the Redet's to begin with." "Are any of the Seq's conspiring against Benten?" Lum asked. "Yes, there are a couple, but don't worry, Rei is not involved. His only crime, besides being stupid, is that he wants to make ground meat out of me. Not that I haven't given him reason." "Is he trying to get you transferred?" "Personally, no. Rei would rather fight it out honorably. As much as I don't like him, he is a very honorable man. There's not a deceitful bone in his body. An awful way to live." "So I'll be the dishonorable one in our family," Lum said sadly. "Well, you have dishonorable help, at least." "Lum," began Benten, "I know about honor. Politics is not honorable, it can't be to work. You can be fair and just to a point, but you have to do some dirty deals to make it happen. That's the way life is." "An awful way to live. But my father says the same thing. Benten, you will be my honorable side, and Jariten, you are my political side." "Of course," Jariten said proudly. "Benten, in the case of Azu Des, we need Jariten." Jariten smiled broadly, and rubbed his hands together. "Finally bigger fish than Rei. What do you need?" "Get him to stop trying to kill me!" "Consider it done. Azu Des is currently on Trefalon, I got some people there. How do you want him cooked; rare, medium or," drawing his finger across his throat, "well done?" "What do you mean, you have people there?" Lum asked, very surprised at the new Jariten she was discovering. She was beginning to get an inkling of how powerful he really was, and how useful he'd be. "I have contacts and operatives all over the Empire. Most of them don't know it, but they are. You don't think I've been pulling all those gags on Rei by myself, do you? I'm not that fit. I have a good network working in this fleet. Very little happens that I don't know about. By the way, Benten, your weapons on your fighter will overload the next time you use them." Benten stood. "They tampered with my bike!" she shouted, referring to her fighter. "It wouldn't be the first time. They just haven't found anyone advanced enough to sabotage it right. They had to pay quite a bit to get this guy. You know, that thin old guy who hangs around the cooler whistling at the girls." "That's him?!" Benten said, angrily clenching her fists. Jariten nodded. "Him I want to kill!" "You say he's good enough to understand Benten's fighter?" Lum asked. "Better, probably." "Watch it!" "Can you get him for me?" Lum asked. "Of course." "What!?" "I want someone that good on my payroll." "He tried to kill me!" Benten was really getting steamed. "No, Azu Des tried to kill you. We'll take care of him." Turning to Jariten, Lum said, "Jariten, I don't want Azu killed. I do want him and his conspirators convinced that further threats against Benten are seriously against their self-interests." "Killing them would be easier, but I can do it. I'll need some grease." "Some what?" Lum asked, her confidence at her cool maneuvering suddenly shattered. "Money. Grease is a slang term, I got carried away. Something to smooth the machinations as it were." "Grease, huh. Okay. Give me a yearly expected operating budget tomorrow, and open an account in a bank of your choice. I'll see that some money is deposited there." "A budget? What a concept," Jariten said standing. "Lum, I must say that I am impressed. You've been hiding your political talents." "Thank you. My father has been teaching me for a while, but I'm still not him." "Who says you're supposed to be? I best get to work. Benten, dear," he said to the still fuming Benten who was barely holding her anger, "I'll be sure to give you all the juicy details." "At least that will be some consolation," Benten growled. "Good bye, Jariten. Bring a budget tomorrow." "My Empress," Jariten chuckled and bowed out. Lum turned to Benten. Benten's fists were clenched and she was staring hard at the ground. "A little upset?" Lum asked. At this Benten shot up, "Damn right, I'm upset. I fight my own battles. I don't need that weasel to do it for me." "Benten," Lum said firmly, "I don't have weasels, bitches or slaves working with me." "Well damn it, I'm sorry, but I have to do something. I'm a doer, Lum. Someone has messed with my bike, and now you're going to hire him!" "Benten you know I sympathize with you, but you're not an assassin, you're a warrior. You fight in the open. This is a family thing, it has to be in secret. I want you to handle the Empire's relations with the slave planets." "I thought there were no slaves," she said coyly. "You know what I mean. I want you to overtly and possibly militarily watchdog the families to get rid of the abuses." Benten shook her head. "No Lum. You don't understand. No slave planets," Benten said softly. "You mean dissolve the Empire?" "No, dissolve the families. Keep the Empire, but make the planets partners, not slaves. No more domination. Some of those families, like the Azu's are raping their planets. The people are destitute. The families don't care. You know my planet is an Azu planet. My planet is dying. The Azu's poisoned the oceans with their waste. The oceans are dead. There's no algae, no oxygen being produced. The ground's so polluted that we can barely grow any food. I want the damn Azu family off my planet. Keep the Empire. Uruseian technology and money can still save my planet, but not with the Azu's there." Lum looked at Benten for a long time, debating at what she should do. Benten spoke again. "Remember what we talked about. Let's string them all up. You can do it, you're the Empress." "Not yet, Benten. And I won't have that kind of power. I'm not a savior. The Azu's are powerful. They control a large section of the military. Nearly as large as mine," Lum said the word 'mine' again. It was her army now, or would be soon. "We'll need to work through channels, slowly. I'll give you the power to put pressure on the Azu's, but I don't have the power to get them off your planet, or any other. The system of families has been entrenched for five thousand years. One Empress can't rewrite five thousand years." Benten sighed and stood. She was about to say something, but then turned to go. Her obvious disappointment hurt Lum deeply. "I'm so sorry Benten. It's the world we live in." Benten stopped at the door. "I know. I'll take what you give me." With that she left. Lum sat and stared at the door. Dissolve the families? Lum couldn't even conceive of it. Two weeks, she thought. In two weeks, She'd be the Empress. Her thoughts then moved to her Darling. She wanted to feel his arms around her right now. She wanted his kiss that would take her away from all her responsibilities. It was the middle of the day, but she wanted to go to sleep and escape to him, but she wasn't tired. She stared at her null-gravity platform for a long time and then got up, leaving to go and walk around the deck for awhile. * * * Ataru finished his lunch quickly, before anyone would have the chance to disturb him, and then he went to look for Shinobu. This was going to be a hard conversation, but he had to somehow cure Shinobu's jealousy of Lum. It was hard on them both. He found her with a group of her friends chatting about something. When Shinobu's friends saw Ataru coming, they broke off the conversation and left. Shinobu turned to Ataru. She waited for him to speak. "I didn't sleep with Lum," he began. "I know," Shinobu said, her head lowered, "I heard the boys talking. I'm sorry I hit you." She absently played with her fingers while she talked. She was obviously anxious about something. Ataru put his hands on her shoulders. "She's only a dream, Shinobu. You're real. I can't marry her. We'll never have children together. It has to be you." "I don't know. It's like you're living another life in your dreams. It's like you could marry her, and you could have a family with her. I think you love her more than me." "Shinobu . . ." She pulled away from him. "No Ataru, maybe another girl can share you, but I can't. I can't be your girl anymore." Shinobu was nearly in tears. "Shinobu, she's a dream. Someday soon, she'll go away." "If she does, then she does, and maybe we'll be able to pick up the pieces, but now. . . I'm not your girl anymore, Lum is. Everyone knows that except you," she brushed a tear away. "Goodbye, Ataru. I loved you." With that she couldn't hold the tears in anymore and ran off, leaving Ataru standing alone. He was looking down at where she had been standing. "It's over," he said. "I belong to the dream now." Suddenly he thought about Cherry's demon. Maybe she was a demon out to destroy his life. The dreams made him unique. He couldn't fit in with his friends anymore. He had lost his girl. His mother thought he was possessed. The real world held nothing for him. All his hope was with Lum. Cherry had said that if he ever kissed her then he would belong to her. Right now, he wanted to kiss her. Mendo watched Ataru standing out near the wall of the school courtyard. He had seen what had happened with Shinobu. He guessed what they were talking about. Mendo understood being lost in one's imagination. He envied Ataru. He envied how real Ataru was able to make his dreams. Mendo wanted a dream girl like Lum to haunt his dreams. At least, he had the consolation that Ataru had made him rich in the dreams. Somewhere, in some reality, he thought, he was rich. Perhaps that was enough. Mendo watched Ataru turn and begin to make his way back to the school. Ataru noticed Mendo watching him. They stared at each other for a long time, carrying out some silent ethereal conversation. Mendo walked up to Ataru. "Welcome to my world," he said. They entered the school together. * * * Lum spent the rest of the day in a daze of thoughts and plans. She was overwhelmed. She had dinner with her father. It was a teacher-student relationship. He told her many things about the Empire. She asked him about how the Azu's treated their planets, and he told her the grim truth. She asked about some of the other abusers. The information shocked her. Her father, himself, controlled seventy planets. They were some of the wealthier ones, including Urusei itself. The ruling family always controlled Urusei. Her family gave a lot of freedom to their subjects. The subjects were largely allowed to run their own affairs and industries. Tribute was made to the Redet family, but much of it was put back into the planet in the form of public projects. They had very few riots. Lum had always assumed that other families used similar systems, maybe a little more authoritarian, but within an acceptable range. Now she realized how naive she had been. They talked about other things and governmental budget concerns, but the treatment of the slave planets bothered Lum. She thought about Benten's dying world and it made her ill. She could do something about that. Benten could put pressure on the Azu's to clean up the pollution and treat their people better. If Benten couldn't, then Jariten could. Lum would see that these people didn't suffer any more. Then she thought, 'A slave no matter how well treated is still a slave.' The next day she received a budget from Jariten. It was quite high, as far as Lum was concerned. They haggled it down to half. Jariten gave Benten a list of the sabotage that was done to her fighter. She was reluctantly impressed. The work was done in such a way that she would have never have found the changes on her own. She decided that she would have to get to know this mechanic. Lum's father and mother left that day with hugs and kisses. There was a couple last words of advice, and then: "We'll make the announcement next week as soon as you get back," Lum's father said. "Get back? I won't be going to the next system, then?" "You already have the plans set to take Earth, but when you've taken it, turn around. I have another fleet coming to replace you." "What should I tell the families? They'll be suspicious." The Emperor smiled, "Tell them the Emperor commands it, and then let them wonder." "Yes, father." "Don't worry, my precious darling. The universe is in your hands. You can do it. The day before we make the announcement I'll tell Rei's father. Rei can find out the news from his father." "Yes, I wasn't going to tell him." "Good, you're learning." After another hug, they boarded their shuttle and were off. Lum watched it disappear into warp and breathed a heavy sigh. That night Lum secretly disabled the sub-space jamming system so her dreams wouldn't be distorted anymore. She wanted Ataru to kiss her so badly. They would get so close sometimes and then something would come up. There was still no exact location of Ataru's planet. The communications experts were narrowing it down. It seemed to be fairly local, within twenty light years. That narrowed it down to ten planets, at least. None of which had colorful nebulas and crystalline asteroids, but Lum had her hopes. Soon she would meet him face to face. * * * Finally, the day of the attack came. They were ready on time. The fleet flew past one orbit after another and finally settled into an orbit of the third planet. Lum looked at it from the observations deck. The large window allowed her a nearly unobstructed view of the shiny blue world. She loved the look of water planets. She liked the way the wispy white clouds blended with the deep blue water. It was all very pretty. A point of light shot by her view and then continued down to the planet. It was followed by several others. The invasion of Earth had begun. She wasn't going on this one. There was no need. Everything was all planned out. It was a primitive planet. As long as everyone followed orders, the take-over would be easy. Jariten walked up beside her. "Another slave planet for the Empire," he said. "Yes," she answered. "Who are you going to give this one to?" "Efuan." "Good choice. They're a good family. At least the people will still have some freedom." "Yeah," she said absently. After a moment she said, "You're an Uruseian, Ten. Do you think I should give the slave planets their freedom?" "That's a tall order. What does your heart say?" Lum was about to open her mouth to answer when a communications officer rushed into the room. "Mistress," he said and knelt before her. "What is it?" she asked. "We found the source of the transmissions." "You did!" Lum said, becoming very excited. "Where?!" "Here. It came from Earth." Lum quickly turned back to the planet that shone before her. She was in shock. Pointing, the officer continued. "See that small island, near the largest land mass. It came from there. We can give you the exact coordinates." "Call the forces back, and get my shuttle ready," she said quickly. "Mistress," the officer began, "the battle has already begun." She turned on the officer, "Dammit, this is my fleet! I said call them back and get my shuttle! Now! * * * Ataru was making his daily walk to school when he heard a loud roar. He instinctively thought it was a jet, maybe an American fighter. He looked up, but saw nothing built on Earth. Several spacecraft sped through the skies. They dove down and began strafing the ground. Explosions were happening all around him. Like many other people all over the world, Ataru Moroboshi stood dumbfounded, unable to believe what he was seeing. Suddenly, there was an explosion near him that shook him out of his stupor. He saw the transports starting to come down and dove for a hiding place. He sat in a small cavity in the rubble of a destroyed home, waiting. It was dark where he was. He had put up a large piece of plaster board in front of him, which left only a small peephole to see out of. He vainly hoped that this would make him safe. Ataru trembled as he listened to his world blow up outside. 'This made it complete,' he thought. 'First my friends, then my parents, my girl, and now the world.' The entirety of reality was being destroyed as far as he was concerned. Now the dreams would be all that were left. It was with this in mind that he heard a familiar voice, "Darling!" it called. "Dah - ling!" He listened hard. Was he dreaming? Was this destruction a dream, and the real world still as he left it? "Darling, where are you?!" Lum walked down the damaged streets. Even in its damaged condition, she recognized everything. She knew where she was. She had been here many times before, in her dreams. She made her way to the home of Ataru's parents, continually calling out her lover's name, hoping against hope that he would answer. She reached the house, and was glad to see only minor damage. She had nearly been too late. A bomb had impacted in the yard near a wall. The wall was blown in, but the rest of the house still stood. She went in, familiarity striking her at every turn. "Darling!" she called. Ataru's father met her in the entrance hall, holding a large stick, which obviously was a piece of the house. Lum saw Ataru's mother injured, but breathing, lying under a burnt covering. "Who are you?" Ataru's father asked. Noticing the horns, and her military dress, he said, "You're one of the aliens, the invaders. We did nothing to you! Get out of my house, or I'll kill you!" "Father!" she said out of habit, "It's me, Lum." Ataru's mother opened her eyes. They had both recognized the name. "You're his dream girl," Ataru's mother said weakly, "We're in his dream, now. The demon has possessed us and the whole world. What a worthless boy." She passed out again. "I don't understand any of this!" yelled Ataru's father, "Just get out and leave our world in peace!" Lum saw the hate and fear in his eyes and thought it better to leave. Hate in such a familiar face stung Lum to the heart. Looking around at the devastation, it was as if she had destroyed her own home. "Darling!" she called. "Lum?" came a distantly faint voice. "Darling!" she called again. "Lum," came the voice, now a little stronger. There was a crash of wood. She turned her head and saw Ataru emerge from the rubble of a bombed out house. For the first time, she actually saw him with real eyes. She was bursting with excitement at seeing him alive. "Darling!" she yelled and ran to him. She hoped he wouldn't reject her as his parents did. "Lum, it's you," he said standing. She embraced him, and he slowly put his arms around her. Around them lay the smoking remains of a residential area of Tomobiki. The streets were vacant, except for the one or two bodies which laid motionless, taking no notice of the strange couple who held each other amidst the ruins. They pulled back and looked into each other's eyes. "Am I dreaming now?" Ataru asked. "Does it matter anymore?" she responded. Ataru smiled, and shook his head. They kissed. * * *