Alternative Urusei Yatsura Fanfic by *Lewis Burden* (file: jad4_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. note: This is very alternative UY and highly recommendable UY fanfic ===== Enjoy, Yat Siu - ysiu@lexicor.com Alt-Urusei Yatsura IV "That's What Dreams are Made of" __________________________ "Young people!" Cherry said under his breath as he emerged from the small closet near Benten's room. The lights had been dimmed slightly, indicating to Cherry that the night watch was beginning. He hoped he could move a little more freely. He glanced at Benten's door and wondered whether Ataru and Shinobu were both still there. He wondered if they might be already dead. "What a fool that boy Ataru was?!" Cherry thought. How easily he was willing to give his people up to alien invasion. Shinobu would follow him. Women will foolishly follow anyone. Cherry looked at the incomprehensible signs that labeled the doors around him. For a moment he wished that he had tried that language device, but then if he had he would be following the aliens blindly, as Ataru was. Finding his way around would be inconvenient, but he would manage. The alternative was unthinkable. He was Earth's only hope now. He chose a door that looked like the most obvious way out. It was. Now all he had to do was to find the engine room. Ataru stood in the middle of the street in front of his house. Off in the distance he saw Lum flying toward him. Just as he had almost escaped for his girl hunt, too. He decided to make a break for it and hope that she wouldn't catch him. Lum had seen him though and guessed his plans. It made her furious that after all that they had been through he was still refusing her love. She turned up the speed and flew after him. Sparks shimmered around her. She would stop him. "Darling! You had better stop! The only girl you should be hunting after is me!" Ataru looked back. Lum was gaining on him rapidly. He ducked down an alley way, hoping to make another quick turn, and then lose her. However, the alley was long and there were no quick exits. Lum caught up with him, and a resounding zap stopped him in his tracks. "Darling," she asked, floating down next to him, "Why must you always run from me? No one will love you more than I do." Ataru, a bit frazzled, turned to face Lum. "Love me?" he said, "You destroyed my home!" Lum was confused. "I don't understand. I didn't destroy anything." "Ha! It's what you do, remember. You invade planets! You've destroyed the Earth." "Darling what are you talking about? Earth is my home, now. I would never do anything to harm it." Suddenly a realization hit both of them. "We're dreaming," they said simultaneously. It was a shock. They had never realized that before while they were in the dream. Who they really were came back to them in a quick flash. "We still live in each other's dreams, even after meeting," Ataru said. Lum flew back out into the open street. It was Earth again, as she remembered it. Everything was restored. People walked about their business. "I haven't lost my home." she said. Ataru walked up beside her, and took her hand. Lum floated down next to him. "This is even stranger than it was before," Ataru said. "We're still in the dream, but now we know it's a dream. It's a whole separate world." "I've always liked this one more," Lum said. She put her arms around Ataru. "But now I'll like it better, because you won't run from me anymore." Ataru pulled away from her. "It isn't real, Lum. Benten told me a lot of things today, about you and your people." The scene around them started to shimmer and fade. "Do you understand why I like this world better?" she said. "You can't have it, and I'm not sure if I want yours, either." Lum opened her eyes. They were filled with tears. She looked around her darkened room. Ataru was gone and she was awake. This was reality and that was a dream, but Lum knew that Ataru was only one floor below, and he had shared that dream. They were so intertwined that they could never be apart. In dreams, and awake they would share their lives now, but Ataru was still going to run from her, and now she couldn't blame him. She wanted to run too. She closed her eyes, hoping that they could resume the dream and perhaps work something out. She just wanted to be with him again. She fell asleep, but she did not dream. Ataru awoke to see Shinobu looking down at him. "Ataru, wake up," she said in their own language. Ataru looked around. There was a numbing pain in his head. Benten was gone. Shinobu and Ataru were alone in the room. "The door isn't locked," she continued, "We should go now. We don't belong here." If Shinobu had only known what he had just said to Lum, Ataru thought. He felt bad that the dream ended there. He knew Lum would be hurt. Understanding a little of what Lum wanted from him, and the life that she knew, he felt very inadequate. But despite his feeling, he didn't feel like deserting Lum. Actually he didn't know what he wanted. "I don't think I should leave," he said. "You're going to stay here after what Benten said. You heard what these people do to planets. You want to join them? We should be helping Cherry. He was right, your dream girl is a demon!" "She not a demon!" Ataru demanded loudly, and then wished he hadn't because of his head. "Do you love her so much, and me so little that you can be so blind! We're on an alien battleship orbiting Earth. They've already attacked once. We have to escape." Ataru got up, ready to agree with Shinobu, and ready to argue with here. Then he remembered where he had just been. "I can't escape." "What do you mean?" "I'm still dreaming about her," he admitted, "There's no place I can go. We will always be connected." Shinobu's face turned red. She marched over to where Lum had stacked the empty Yuli bottles and began throwing them around the room, and occasionally at Ataru. Glass was shattering all over the room. "I hate you!" she kept yelling. When she had gone through the last bottle she turned on the cringing Ataru. "You've never loved me, have you? It's always been her. Why can't you dream about me for a change?! Aren't I pretty enough? Maybe I'm just an ordinary Earth girl, but I've got it where it counts! Look at me! Look at me! Aren't I a woman?! Why do you need that alien!? Please be with me." Ataru was in shock. Shinobu's outburst had him completely stunned. For the first time, he was actually afraid of her. She approached him, and he cringed back. "You're running from me?" she said, her rage beginning to change to tears. "I'm throwing myself at you. Am I the monster now? Am I the demon?" she dropped to her knees, and hid her face. "Why do you have to be so cruel to me? What did I do to you? Why do you hate me so?" "Shinobu, I don't hate you." "Yes you do! I'm giving myself to you and won't even come near me. You won't touch me even when I throw myself at you. I'm so ashamed. What was I thinking? Why do you love that demon, and not me?" Ataru watched Shinobu as she dropped to the floor. Her head was lowered in despair. He didn't understand her actions and he didn't understand his own. He had always wanted Shinobu, and now she was before him, and they were alone. He didn't have sneak up on her. She wanted him to touch her, to kiss her. It was everything he could have asked for, but now he didn't want her. He was confused by what he felt. Something that he always felt was very basic had now become complicated. He went to her and put a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him, there was hope in her eyes. "I do love you, Shinobu." She smiled, and held him close to her. He hesitantly put his arms around her. "Let's run away from that demon," she whispered in his ear. "I love you, but . . ." he said and immediately felt her stiffen. "Please don't say it," she said quietly, "I know what you're thinking. Your dream becomes real, and my reality becomes a dream. I've gone through the wrong door, and came into a world where I can never be happy. Please just hold me, and let me dream a little longer." Ataru held her tighter. He felt her shake, shedding silent tears. Her arms closed even tighter around him. Ataru still didn't know how to express how he felt about Shinobu. He was glad that she seemed to understand, and accept it. After a couple minutes, Shinobu pulled away from him, and stood. Her eyes were red from crying. She looked down at her clothes "My clothes are a mess from sleeping on them," she said to herself. "Maybe Ten has something in his closet." "But Ten's a man. He won't have anything for me." "In this room, I think he might," Ataru said. Shinobu looked around the room and remembered what they had said it was for. She started to make her way to the closet and then stopped. She turned to Ataru. "You do think I'm pretty don't you?" "Very." She turn and offered him a profile. "My breasts are shaped nicely and my hips aren't too wide?" "I wouldn't change anything." She smiled at the compliment. "But you will not leave your alien?" "No, I can't." * * * * * Far away from the Uruseian battle fleet orbiting Earth, on the Azu family homeworld, Azu, a meeting was taking place. In the family palace, a building which occupied 20 acres of land near one of the planet's five oceans in the northern tropical zone, Azu Des called this meeting of five of the major family leaders shortly after a small bomb went off in that very same palace. The damage was only superficial. No one was killed. A servant was injured, but not badly. The message, however, was unmistakable and grave. A new power was beginning to come into its own in the empire, and it would have to be dealt with, before it got out of control. Attending the meeting were Azu Des, who sat at the head of the long three-hundred year old ornate meeting table in the large west hall of the palace. This hall was purported to be so large that weather inhibitors had to be installed to keep it from raining. Also attending was Seq Yedis, powerful matron of the Seq house and mother of Rei. Her daughter, Rei's younger sister, sat quietly next to her. Uio Retah sat opposite of Seq. His family, like the Azu's were traditional enemies of the Redet's. The Uio family was known for a very violent past which the current members of the family honored and perpetuated. Uio Retah had killed seven in Ossak duels. He and Lum had not fought yet, but he was looking forward to the challenge. He had heard of her reputation and often chided Yedis Seq about her son's many defeats at the hands of the young female Redet. Next to Uio, was Pochik Vel, and his son Ando. Pochik was extremely old and required his now middle-aged son to help him get about. Despite his age, though, Vel had a sharp mind and held on to the family patriarchy with an iron grip. Ando had all but given up on taking his father's place and hoped that someday his teenage son would be allowed to take the seat. Vel held on to the family patriarcate because his son embarrassed him. Ando's sympathy with the Redet's and their policies was common knowledge, and unacceptable to the elder Pochik. Lastly was Dedron Sil. Sil, only a little older than Lum, and had just received the family title from her grandfather. Her parents had died when she was very young. When she was a child, she played with Redet Lum, but they grew apart. It was Lum's growing friendship with Benten which was the final wedge that divided them and made Sil an enemy. She had no love for the slave races, and knew they were not worthy of an Uruseian's friendship, especially the friendship of the princess. "So you had a little bomb in your living room, Azu," the old Pochik's creaky voice called out loudly. His voice was filled with contempt and sarcasm. The Pochik's had little love for the Azu's. Their family competed in almost every market. Only their mutual hatred of the Redet's got them talking. Pochik Vel, disliked Azu Des, in particular, however. He felt Azu was weak and a fool. It was that one point that he and his son agreed on. Azu Des didn't appreciate Pochik company either, but he needed them. It is an unwritten law of the Empire that any Azu plan will be countered by the Pochik familawas matter of principle, if they are not involved. Azu Des didn't need Pochik siding with the Redet's as a matter of principle. "Exactly," Uio added to Pochik chide, "we all get little bombs. They're annoying, but its part of the family game. Why bring us half way across the galaxy to talk about it?" "It is more than just a bomb," Azu said trying to restrain his temper. "It is a symptom of a much greater problem." "Well come out with it," the Seq matron called impatiently. Azu drew a breath, "The bomb had a molecular message which it plastered all over my walls. It read, 'tit for tat, a friend of Benten'" "The slave pilot?" Sil asked. "Yes." "This is the one you've been trying to kill, isn't it Azu?" Pochick chided more. "Yes," Azu answered grudgingly. "How many attempts have you made so far?" the old Pochick continued with what was had become his favorite jab against the Azu Patriarch. "Six, I believe." "Funny," Pochick said smiling, "I had heard that it was eight, and the slave hasn't even seen a hospital bed let alone a coffin. Why do you suppose that is?" "Rank incompetence, I'd say!" Uio added testily. At this Azu blew up. "I'd like to see one of you try it. Benten is exceptional or she wouldn't be in the fighter corp. How many slaves are there in the fighter corps? Five! Out of 94 billions? And Benten is the best of the five." "She's the best of the whole damn fighter corps, slaves and Uruseian's alike," Pochik added. "She's not better than my son!" Seq countered. "I've seen your son fly, Yedis," Pochik said calmly, "He's competent and not much else. He'd be better if he wasn't dumb as a brick." Seq stood angrily. "I did not come here to listen to insults against my son!" The old Pochick chuckled, "After all, you can hear them anywhere." "Enough!" Azu shouted. He shot a glance at Pochick, who just smiled knowingly back at him. The old bastard was purposely trying to railroad the meeting. Azu was not going to let it happen. He had some information that would shut them all up. "I have it on good authority that the emperor will be resigning soon," he announced and got the desired response. All eyes were on him. "Where did you here that?" the young Dedron matron questioned. "I have my sources," Azu said confidently, ignoring Pochik's wordless comment, "I'm not sure when, but it will shortly after Lum's fleet returns to Urusei." "That can't be!" Seq Yedis protested. "We haven't even begun the wedding plans. It'll take at least a year." "Perhaps they're planning to crown Lum before she gets married," the old Pochick said in a lilty voice. "That would give Lum ample time to dig in her heels before Rei would have any say about it," Uio commented. "By Rei," Azu said, "you mean us, and that is exactly my point, but there's more. You've all heard about the princess's dreams and possible alien influence on those dreams." Everyone nodded. "A mad empress is not all-together a bad thing," Pochik put in. "If she only she were just mad. They've were tracing the signal and found the source," everyone gasped. Azu continued, quite pleased with how his news was being received. "They found it as Lum's fleet was attacking it. Lum called the force back immediately, and went down to the planet alone." Azu paused to let his words settle in. "Well!" called the impatient Pochik, "what did she find?" "All my sources say she returned empty handed, but they're still in the planet's orbit, and the attack has not resumed." "Do you think that they've brought up the culprit, Azu?" Dedron asked. "I'm certain of it." "Which means what?" Uio put in. "How dense can you be! No matter how you look at this it is bad. First of all, there is the emperor's end-run by resigning early, hoping to give his daughter an advantage over us. Secondly, there's these transmissions. If this planet has in fact gained control of the princess, then they'll have to be stopped, and that'll mean war, civil war, because many families will side with the princess whether she is controlled or not. If, on the other hand, the Redets have gained the secret of subspace dream control, then they possess a weapon of unimaginable power. We are all at risk from its influence." "I assume you have a plan, Azu," Pochick said. "I do. We need to send a special spy to Lum's fleet, to find out what the exact coronation plans are, and whether Lum is still controlled or not, and if possible to steal information about dream control. Do you have anyone in mind, Seq?" The matron smiled. "I think I do." Lum awoke the next morning and dressed herself. Ran never came. That was so unlike Ran that it worried Lum. Ran was never late for anything. Although there were many times that Lum wish that Ran was not constantly hovering over her, at this moment she felt completely lost. She had no idea what her schedule was for the day. Ran had always kept that for her. She knew that she had a very important decision to make, though. What to do with the Earth. Leaving it alone would raise hundreds of questions, but she couldn't attack it again either. She couldn't destroy her home. It really was a no win situation, and there was only one solution that she could live with. She would have to deal with the questions. It was time to move on. If they stayed too long, then there would be some real questions. Then there was the matter of their guests. Darling would stay, but what of Shinobu, and that monk. She hoped that Ten had found him. Suddenly there was a muffled rumble followed by a shock wave that rattled her room. The klaxons sounded and a excited voice called over her speaker. "Princess, there's been an explosion!" "Where!" "Engineering. Fire crews are already on their way. The fire is very close to the reactor! She may go all the way!" "Who attacked us?" "There are no other ships in the area. It seems to have been an internal explosion." "Could it have been Cherry," she thought. "Casualties?" she said aloud. "The explosion was during the morning shift change. We lost two shifts. The room was engulfed in flames! There couldn't have been any survivors." "Get all non-essential personal ready for evacuation! I'll be right up. And shut off that alarm!" "Yes, my princess!" As Lum made her way to the bridge she kept on expecting the ship not to be there anymore. Imagines of what it would be like invaded her subconcious. How much of it would she be aware of? When the flames burst the bulkheads asunder and the hot plasma that was her ship mixed with the cold vacuum of space, what would her thoughts be, or would it just be instant blackness. "It was useless to think of those things at such a time," she admonished herself. Philosophy was better for times of idleness, but it was hard not to think about it. The moment of death is hard to put out of one's mind when it could happen at any instant. What is on the other side of that most opaque of doors? And when will she be invited to enter its threshold? Lum tried to rench her mind to the matters at hand Lum entered the bridge. Before her was the expected bustle of activity. The watch officer noticed her entry and went to her. "Status!" she commanded. The officer saluted and began his report. "The fire is under control, but still rages. The reactor is undamaged but has been temporarily taken off-line. We're operating on reserves now. It appears that our main drive systems are severely damage, perhaps irreparably. We can still maneuver locally, but we won't be able to leave this star system for some time." "Damn!" Lum said out loud. "How are the other ships in the fleet?" "They are undamaged." "Put them on high alert, in case this is a prelude to an attack. Have their crews scour their engines for sabotage." "Should I notify the Emperor?" "Not yet. We don't want to give our condition away until it's under control." "And what of our ship, a saboteur could be on board?" Lum thought. She couldn't initiate a search with her Darling on board, and she had a good idea who the saboteur was. Though, the thought that it might be one of the families getting a little bolder was not out of the question, either. Lum, studying the officer, formulated her response. "No search. I have a theory about the saboteur, and I don't think he's aboard anymore. I'll handle this matter. Carry on." "Yes, my Princess!" The officer saluted and went to carry out Lum's orders. Lum needed to find Ten. He was supposed to get Cherry under control. She had him called to the bridge. Well, at least they had an excuse to stay a little longer now, she thought. * * * * * Ran was startled awake by the explosion and the alarms. She sat up in her bed. She noticed that her old-fashioned alarm clock was buried under her pillow. She tried to collect her thoughts from the night before and noticed Rei sleeping peacefully beside her. She smiled. "Victory," she thought. She put her hands on her stomach and hoped. The alarms went off, so she assumed the emergency was being handled. Then another thought occurred to her and she quickly pulled her clock out from under her pillow. The digital face read point 32:13. She was late! For the first time in her career, she was horribly late. She jumped out of bed and began cleaning up. Her and Rei's clothes were strewn all over the floor. She tried to make some order out of it. If Lum had gotten up on time, she would have been up for more than a hundredth point by now. She would definitely know that Ran was late. And what was that noise that woke her up about, she wondered. Ran put on her clothes, touched up her hair and rushed out the door. She hoped that Lum was still there, so she would be able to apologize and get Lum ready for her day. She damned herself for her self-indulgence. If she lost her mistress's favor she would lose everything. She knocked on Lum's door. Ten arrived on the bridge and Lum grabbed his arm and ushered him back out. "You look a mess," he commented before she could say anything. It occurred to her that she probably did. This was the first time that she had every had to fix herself up in the morning. She wasn't very good at it. Ran was such a wonderful perfectionist when it came to Lum's appearance. Lum was really beginning to realize how much she relied on the too polite servant. She wondered what happened to her. "Ran didn't show up this morning, but we have more important things to discuss!" Ten smiled. "Didn't show up? Well, well, well. She must have had a good night." "What do you mean?" "If you'll recall I hooked her up with Rei last night." "Oh!" Lum said in astonishment. This was something that had not occurred to her. "I hope you can forgive her tardiness just this once." Lum thought about Ran and Rei for a second, and then switched quickly back to the matter at hand. "Her I can easily forgive, but you promised that you would find Cherry before he caused any trouble!" "Has their been a problem?" Lum has never had a desire to strike her cousin, until now. "You cannot expect me to believe that with all the alarms and orders that you were unaware of the explosion in engineering. " "So that was what that was all about. I'm sorry, I'm a heavy sleeper, especially after a good bottle of Yuli." "So why didn't you find Cherry!" "Calm down, I have been searching for him. He's a sly old-bugger, that's for sure. Nobody's seen him. There's been a few things missing, tools mostly, food. I think that he's learned to operate the replicators." Lum sighed. "I'm sorry, but I want him found! Nothing is as important as getting him under control, understand?" The bridge door opened and a crewwoman left the bridge. She bowed as she passed Lum and continued on her way. When she was out of sight, Ten said, "I think I get the point. I'll put everything I have on it, but like I said, he's good, and he may have died in the blast." "Do you believe that?" "No," Ten answered plainly. "Neither do I. If I was going to injure this ship from inside further. I would go after the fighter bay, the reactor, or the main computer. I would check there first." "He may also sneak a ride on a shuttle to get one of the other ships," Ten suggested. "I'll cancel all intership shuttles trips until you catch him." "Once I catch him, what are we supposed to do with him?" Ten inquired. "We take him and Shinobu back to Earth." "And the Earth?" Lum paused. "We're leaving that as it is." "Good luck on explaining it. Good day, princess." Ten turned and left. "Thank you, Ten," Lum called after him. * * * * * On Earth many things were happening in the aftermath of the stalled invasion. The planet's military forces were injured but not crippled by the initial surgical strikes of the Uruseian bombers. Militias were being formed and trained all over the planet, in expectation of a renewed invasion, including Tomobiki-cho. All the men, sixteen and above were called to service. Tomobiki high school had been turned into a military headquarters, and the yard, a training ground. Professor Onsenmark, a reservist, was given command of a squad that included his students. He found drilling them little different than teaching them. They drilled for most of the morning, and were finally given a brief rest. Mendo, Megane, Kakugari, Pama, and Chibi sat in a heap around the large tree in the center of the yard. They were exhausted. Their ill-fitting uniforms were drenched with sweat. "You know," Pama spoke up between breaths, "I can almost believe that Ataru got himself abducting by the aliens so he wouldn't have to go through this training." "Do not speak the name of the traitor," Megane barked, "I hope they torture him for a long time." "I don't know," Chibi said, "that Lum was every bit as good looking as Ataru said she was. That girl who shot at us wasn't bad either. I bet Ataru's enjoying himself." "And he's got Shinobu too," Kakugari said. "Who knows what happens when dreams come to life?" Mendo said. "I know that I'd rather be in Ataru's dream than our reality." "You can wish all you want," Megane said slowly getting a firm grip on his gun, "but if I see any of those horned demons again, especially Lum, I'll make sure that they know not to mess with the Earth again!" * * * * * Lum arrived to find Ataru and Shinobu talking together, sitting on the couch. Shinobu has changed into a dress. Quite a nice one too, Lum noted. Seeing how good Shinobu looked in it, and seeing the two of them together Lum felt a twinge of jealousy. She remembered the initial battle between them in the dreams and hoped that they wouldn't have to repeat that. She smiled and continued in. "Lum," Shinobu whispered. This was actually the first time that she had seen her. Shinobu had been sleeping before. When she heard "alien" from Ataru, she had convinced herself that Lum was some kind of weird bug-eyed monster, and that Ataru was crazy, but Lum was no monster, at least not physically. Shinobu had to admit that. In fact, she had an exotic beauty to her, which helped Shinobu to realize how serious the competition was. "Hello, Shinobu," Lum said in Japanese. "It's good to meet you." There was an obvious tension between them. Shinobu stood and approached Lum. "It's good to finally meet you too," she responded. Ataru nervously watched the exchange, waiting for one of them to lunge at the other. "Are you comfortable?" Lum asked trying to keep her tone polite. "I haven't given him up yet," Shinobu said, "I want you to know that." Lum did not avert her eyes, but kept contact. She could see that Shinobu's will was formidable, but so was hers. "I'll be making arrangements to take you and Cherry back to the planet." "And Ataru?" Shinobu asked coldly. "That's his decision and then it will be decided." Lum turned to leave. "Lum," Ataru called meekly. Lum turned, trying to control her anger over Shinobu. Ataru felt very uncomfortable about breaking into the exchange between Lum and Shinobu, but he had to know. "Last night, did you dream?" Lum's face softened. "Yes," she nodded. She shot a triumphant glance at Shinobu and then left. Ataru very much wished to leave the room with her, but he knew that it was dangerous. He wasn't sure, though, that it wasn't more dangerous than being here with Shinobu. He forgot completely to ask about the explosion, or the location of Cherry. He figured that they were related. He felt Shinobu's eyes on him. He had to be strong. "Shinobu," he began looking up at her, "we've discussed this. I'm staying on the ship. I have no choice. You lost me when you turned your back on me two days ago." "I don't care. I'm not a quitter. I've never stopped wanting you, but I couldn't fight a dream. Now I have someone real to fight!" Ataru stood, and called up all his strength as he faced Shinobu. "Shinobu, I am staying on the ship! I'm staying with Lum!" Shinobu paused in silence, not knowing how to react. Ataru was laying it on the line and she had to decide how to respond. She wanted to get angry, but she knew that wouldn't help. "You have no love for me at all." "Oh, this is not about love. It's about where I belong. I don't belong on Earth. Ataru Moroboshi died in the invasion. I love you. I'll always love you, but I belong with Lum. We're connected." Shinobu lower her head and said quietly, "Tell Lum that I want to go back to Earth as soon as possible." Shinobu then turned and ran into the bathroom. She shut the door behind herself and didn't come out. Ataru stared at the door for what seemed like a long time. He sighed at the futility of life in general and then sat back down. Lum marched back to her room in anger and found Ran there busily cleaning it. When she saw Lum enter, Ran dropped to her knees before Lum. "Mistress, I am so sorry. It won't happen again. I beg your forgiveness." It was barely midday and Lum had already been sent through the full gamut of emotions. Now she was asked for forgiveness and understanding. "Ran it's okay. I know where you were." "You do?" Ran said a little embarrassed. "You know my feelings about Rei. I'm not angry, I'm grateful. But if you really want to make me happy, you could fix my hair." Ran looked up and gasped. "My lady! You went out like that! I am a most wretched servant!" Ran grabbed a comb and immediately attacked Lum's hair. "What's my schedule for the rest of the day?" "There's nothing, my lady. Everything's on hold since you called off the invasion. It has been quite a week hasn't it?" "That it has, ow!" Lum agreed while twinging at the comb being forced through her hair. "Sorry, my lady. If I may ask, when are you going resume the attack? Rei was all preoccupied about it." "Was he? What did he say?" Ran took a breath. "Oh, look at that face! There's a lot more than your hair to do, isn't there?" "I'm not good with make-up. What did Rei say about the invasion?" "You certainly aren't. Actually, it was more about you marrying that dream lover over him. I thought that you had stopped dreaming." Lum knew that now she would have to think up something to perpetuate the lie that she had begun with Ran, but she didn't want to. She was tired of lying to Ran. "Ran, if I told you to keep a secret do you think you could." Ran stopped brushing. "I would do anything for you my lady, why do you ask?" "If this secret got out too soon, it would be the end of everything I've worked for up until now." "I can't believe that you've been keeping secrets from me, mistress. Nothing that you tell me ever leaves this room." "And who told the rest of the ship about my dreams?" "That's not politics, my lady, that's fun." Ran finished her brushing and started to work on Lum's face. "That fun has half the empire thinking that I've gone mad. We can't be too careful about what we tell people." "I'm sorry my lady, but so many people ask me about you. I have to tell them something. It seemed the safest thing to say, but if you tell me to be quiet about something, I will. What other mistress would let her servant sleep with her own fianc? I would do anything for you. It hurts that you don't trust me." Lum smiled. "When you're done, I have something to show you." "Thank you, my lady." "One more question, Ran?" Lum asked. "Yes?" "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little curious. How was he?" Cherry stood just inside a darkened doorway outside one of the ship's shuttle bays. His little bit of sabotage had gone well. He hoped he had crippled them sufficiently, but now he needed to get to one of the other ships, and continue his work. Earth owed him a great debt. From where he stood he had a good vantage of the shuttle bay. Activity had died down greatly since the explosion. He had hoped to start an evacuation and then he could just hitch a ride in the confusion, but that never happened. Now he had to wait for an opportunity. Someone entered the shuttle bay. Cherry watched his activity closely. It was a shortish man in a space suit. He went to one of the shuttles, and began a preflight examination of the outer hull. Here was Cherry's opportunity. He watch the man work his way around the shuttle examining wires, struts and vents. Cherry mentally congratulated the man for such a meticulous examination. Cherry decided to make his move. He left his doorway, hugging the shadows and moving from ship to ship. He moved without a sound. Soon he was within meters of the shuttle door. He waited for the man to move to the other side of the ship and then rushed for the door. He cursed the noise of the door servos, but it couldn't be helped. In a matter of seconds he was inside the shuttle and hidden. The door opened again and the shuttle pilot entered. Cherry hoped that he had not heard him. The pilot pulled out his weapon. Cherry felt his heart stop. He was caught! He stopped breathing, worried that any sound could give him away. He felt that his heart was beating far too loudly. The pilot turned toward the back of the shuttle and went straight to the locker that Cherry was hiding in. He opened it and leveled his weapon right between Cherry's eyes. Ten took off his helmet and smiled at his captive. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you've put me through?" Cherry, of course, didn't understand what he said, but offered a nervous smile in response. Benten trudged down the hall leading away from engineering. She was grimy, sooty and burnt. The fire was finally out. With every step she uttered expletives against the monk whom she foolishly had not blown to bits when she had the chance. Benten hated Uruseians in general, but there were good people killed in that explosion, and still more in the fire fight. Their loss was unacceptable. She also was not thrilled with the idea of spending more time around Earth than was necessary. The damage to the main drive was extensive. It was more a matter of rebuilding than repairing. It would take weeks. Weeks that they didn't have to waste. Lum had to get to Urusei. They could abandon this ship and crowd its crew on the other ships of the fleet, but Lum wasn't one who would abandon a vessel that could still move under its own power, especially this one, and Benten could hardly blame her. If her own fighter had suffered such sever engine damage, Benten would be more likely to get out and push rather than leave it. They would have to stay around Earth for a while. Benten had decided that she liked Ataru and that he could stay, but the monk was dead, and if the people of Earth weren't careful they wouldn't last long either. Benten was far too dirty and grimy at this point to be merciful. She went to her room and got cleaned up. She put on a fresh uniform. The rush of fighting the fire was beginning to give way, and her muscles were starting to feel sore. It had been a hard morning. She wanted to just collapse on her bed. The fire fighters were given the rest of the day off, while other crews sorted through the debris. She had plenty of time, but she needed to talk to Lum. She felt the best place to start looking would be the room where Ataru was so she went there. She made her way along some of the less traveled halls, and again used ladders instead of the lifts. They couldn't attract attention to that room by going in and out of there too casually. She arrived at the room almost unseen and went in. When the door opened she found herself nearly toe to toe with Cherry. Lum brought Ran to the floor below and over to room 912A. "Mistress, why do you have a room down here? What are you keeping in there?" "Ran, you are not going to believe what I found on the planet's surface," Lum said brightly, but her words were followed by a loud crash against the door. Lum quickly opened it. Inside were Shinobu, Ataru and Ten frantically trying to restrain Benten, who having been relieved of her gun almost at the onset, was now doing whatever she could to do serious harm to the fleeing Cherry. With the door open, Cherry saw his chance to escape this mad alien woman, and rushed past the surprised forms of Lum and Ran. Benten followed after him, but was tackled in front of the door by Ten, Ataru and Shinobu. "Ran, stay here!" Lum called and tore off after Cherry, who had sped straight for the access ladder. Lum followed after him. Benten was clawing and beating her captors. "Let me go, you fucking traitors! He sabotaged this ship and killed forty people! He's getting away! I've got to kill him!" With the help of Ran, Benten was dragged back into the room and the door was closed, and locked. "Damn you, Ten! Why'd you bring him here?! Why didn't you just blow him away! I've got to kill him!" "Now, now Benten," Ten said in a calmer voice, "that's no way to talk. He did nothing you wouldn't have done, if you thought it would do any good." "What?!" "He struck a blow against the Uruseian Empire. I thought that's what you wanted to do." "Yeah, but. . ." "I never would have considered you to be a proud defender of the Empire." "Well I . . ." "It does my Uruseian heart proud to see you so zealously go after a enemy of the Empire. Maybe we could get the Emperor to give you a medal." "Now cut that out!" Benten stood up, all the while glaring at Ten who just smiled back. "He just pissed me off, that's all. I have no love for the Empire." Ran looked up from the exchange and suddenly noticed the room that she was in and stood gawking at it. "I didn't know that there was such a room on the ship. Whose is it?" "Mine!" Ten said proudly. "I decorated it myself, like it?" "But this is in the upper command section?" Ten got up and brushed himself off. "Well you don't expect me to room with the peons, do you?" Then Ran noticed the other two surprises in the room. "You're not Uruseian, who are you?!" "That my dear Ran," Ten began, sitting it his favorite chair near the far corner of the room, "is our dear princess's dream lover, Moroboshi Ataru." Motioning to Ataru he said, "Introduce yourself, be polite." Ataru stood and bowed to Ran. "Moroboshi Ataru! I am pleased to meet you." Ran turned to Ten in shock, "This is the real Ataru?" Ten nodded. Ran looked at Shinobu. "And you're Shinobu, aren't you? Oh my! This can't be possible!" Ran fainted. "Oh, this is exciting," Benten said sarcastically while pouring herself a drink. Cherry was leading Lum quite a chase. He had explored much of the ducts and back ways of the ship and was making use of this knowledge now. Fortunately, Lum knew the ship much better, and she was younger. Catching him was just a matter of time. Because they were taking back ways the chase went almost unobserved. However, in a chase involving the princess it only took one witness to send word across the empire. There had been more than one witness already. There would be much explaining to do. Lum had considered more than once, while chasing Cherry, letting Benten kill him. The monk was causing a great deal of trouble. He had to be gotten under control. Lum felt she could almost reach out and get him, when he turned a sharp corner. He was making his way back to the shuttle bay. Undoubtedly he had explored that area the best. Cherry took a few more turns and stretched his lead somewhat. Still, all Lum needed was one more straightaway. Cherry turned another corner. Lum heard a dull thud and a high pitched yelp of surprise. Cherry had run into someone. Lum turned on the speed. She wasn't going to give him time to regain his balance. Lum turned the corner, but stopped short. Her mouth hung open. Cherry was pinned to the ground by someone whom Lum didn't expect to see, but knew. "Sugoi?" {End of Part 4}