Near the border with Tomobiki…
"Shasta, I'm gonna turn on the television."
"Dômo, Mack," Shaskaar stated, watching as Makasai headed over to the television to flick on the device and shift channels to NHK1 so they could watch the noon news report. She then perked on hearing footsteps come down the stairs from the upper floor. "Ohayô, Motoko," she called out with a smile as Koeko walked down Ken'yô Teigen from her bedroom, Chôsen staying close to her pregnant schoolmate, ready to jump in and catch her in case she stumbled and fell. "Did you get enough sleep?"
"I'm okay, Shasta-chan," the green-haired tôshi said as she was helped into the couch by Chôsen as Koeko headed into the kitchen to prepare tea. "I just wish the kid wouldn't get it into her head to take over my body every once in a while so she could talk to you. I know pregnancy's supposed to be tiring, but jeez…!"
Delighted laughter filled the living room as Shaskaar headed in to place herself down beside Ken'yô, immediately reaching over to gently pull the other woman into her arms. Koeko soon returned with tea while Makasai played with the volume before heading to her seat beside Chôsen. Once tea was served, Koeko moved to sit on Chôsen's other side, allowing the blonde tôshi to wrap her arms around hers and Makasai's shoulders so she could draw them close. As they snuggled, eyes remained locked on the television as the fanfare announcing the start of the news show began…
…just as the screen went blank for a moment, and then the flash card for BREAKING NEWS suddenly appeared. "What's going on?!" Shaskaar asked.
"Search me," Chôsen shook her head.
Outside and five metres away…
"How do they feel to you, Shikuko?"
"All very relaxed," Hôsen stated as she crossed her arms. She, Shimei, Hakufu and Ukitsu were standing at the corner of the street, all of them keeping themselves hidden from potential view by either group of Niphentaxians that lived here. Nearby, pairs and small teams of Gogun tôshi were walking up and down the street, all acting as if they were enjoying midday constitutionals with friends or heading to the nearest corner store for some snacks. There hadn't been time to get everyone changed into normal clothes, Hôsen then mused as she gazed on the women with the white shirts and the dark grey vest tops over pleated skirts of the same colour. Hopefully, the enemy wouldn't suddenly clue in until it was far too late. "When did she say it'd start?"
"When her boss at the Diet says something in her native language when she does her first speech before the media," the boss of Gogun replied as she crossed her arms. "Probably within five to ten minutes."
"How are Motoko and Semina?" Shimei asked.
Hôsen closed her eyes. "Motoko feels pretty agitated right now. Guess she's worried about the baby. As for Semina…" She concentrated for a moment, and then she breathed out. "Nervous, but happy. Also feel a little bit of love out of her."
"Oh, crap!" Ukitsu snarled. "Stockholm Syndrome!"
Hôsen scowled. "Probably…"
The Diet building…
"Everyone, I thank you all for coming to this special briefing today," Prime Minister Mogataru Kôga stated as he stood beside Secretary-General Kimun Pan at the podium in the press room near the chambers for the House of Councillors, the upper house of the Diet. "This is a momentous day for all of Earth and we, the citizens of Japan, have been singularly honoured to be the nation to host the first official meeting between the United Nations of Earth and the government of an extraterrestrial power."
As shocked whispers and hushed comments echoed through the crowd, punctuated with camera flashes going off, the elderly Prime Minister held up his hand for silence. "Arigatô," he said with a nod. "Thirteen months ago, the people of Earth learned at last that we are not alone in this universe. There are sentient species that live actually quite close by, all within reasonable travelling distance (given their own advanced technology) of our planet. Even more so, as time went on, we learned that we, in fact, shared our own solar system with another sentient hominoid species, currently resident on the largest moon of the planet Neptune." He then nodded before gazing on his current guest. "And now, the Secretary-General, Kimun Pan-sama."
"Kamsahamnida, Kôga-kungmuch'ongninim," the Korean politician thanked his host in his native tongue, bowing his head, and then he faced the audience. "Ever since that time, out of concerns for the safety of the people of Earth, the United Nations, through the Special Committee on Alien Activities — the 'Men in Black' as they are popularly known as — has seen to it all contacts between natives of Earth and the many extraterrestrials who have come to our world were allowed to happen ONLY WITHIN the borders of the town of Tomobiki, located in the city of Nishitôkyô to the west of Tôkyô itself. By doing this, we hoped that we could learn more about our visitors from afar as they did learn about us. For the most part, despite all the curious and unusual incidents that have occurred there since the arrival of Lum Redet-ssi, we have benefitted greatly from this approach. And even more so, out of respect for the results of the tag race run thirteen months ago between Redet-ssi and the late Ataru Moroboshi-ssi, our visitors from abroad, for the most part, have respected our desires to concentrate their presence on this world in Tomobiki and Tomobiki alone."
A pause.
"Note: I said 'for the most part.'"
Tomobiki High School…
"We're formalising relations with Lum-san's people!"
Hearing Megane's joyous declaration, the boys in Class 2-4 all blinked before a roar of delight and approval nearly shattered the windows of the classroom. They all leapt out of their chairs and began to clap their hands, slap each other's backs and hug each other, whoops and cheers escaping them before they calmed down and turned back to the television that had been wheeled into the room some moments earlier.
At the back of the room, two tôshi from Seito High School smiled a secret smile.
These people were about to become VERY disappointed.
Too bad.
The Diet…
"I say that, my friends, because very recently, we at the United Nations learned of something most disturbing," the Secretary-General stated as his eyes narrowed. "Shortly after Redet-ssi came to live with the late Moroboshi-ssi and his family in Tomobiki, the natives of a particular world allied to the Urusians and their allies — as a group, they are known collectively as 'the Galactic Federation of Planet-States' — began to secretly insert themselves among the people of Tomobiki and the municipalities surrounding Tomobiki on all sides. They did this without declaring their actions to the Special Committee (as we have requested and the leaders of the Federation have agreed to follow) and while they have not done anything that has brought any noticeable harm to any native of Earth, we have now learned of their true purpose for being here." A sigh. "And after thorough consultation with the leaders of the member-states of the United Nations, I have had no choice but to consider the presence of these beings a clear and present danger to the safety and security of the people of Earth."
Down the street from Shaskaar's residence…
"Who could he be talking about?!" one observer growled.
Tsui snorted. "Whoever it is, it's of no consequence," he declared. "If these creatures dare threaten Lum-sama, they will learn the price of defying Her!"
Hearing that, the other observers snarled their agreement…
The Diet…
"Now, many would believe that since those who have done this are members of the Galactic Federation, we should turn to them for assistance in this matter," the Secretary-General continued. "However, we were alerted — by Redet-ssi herself — that the chances of gaining such assistance from the Federation worlds, including her own, were slim. Or if they did agree to assist us, the ultimate price of such assistance would be far too great for the people of Earth to pay. To that end, on Redet-ssi's very own recommendation, we turned to another power for assistance. A power whose rulers understand what — as they call it — the 'growing pains' of a maturing world society unleashes on those who are part of it.
"And thus, people of Earth, it is my honour and my pleasure to officially welcome the emissary of Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress of the Imperial Dominion of Noukiios:
"Her Imperial Excellency, the Chancellor of the Outmarches."
"The Lady Seu-Ch'ek Yech'a-Mung Hechnich'-Nakkyek."
And in various homes in and around Tomobiki, not to mention Tomobiki High…
"WHAT?!"
The Diet…
Gasps and dropped jaws echoed from the crowd as the pretty woman — appearing to be in her late teens, though she did have the demeanour of someone who was much older than she seemed — walked into the room through a side door. She was dressed in flowing robes of state, coloured in a mixture of blacks, dark blues and purples. Underneath it was her normal two-piece kichk'eng, the martial arts gi-like clothing that almost all her people wore as a matter of course, her name lovingly stitched in the fabric of her top's outer flap for all to see. Around her forehead, which was clear thanks to her combing her neck-length, off-silver hair back and tying it down with a headband, was the Pendant of the Mandate of Heaven, the ruby jewel bestowed to her by the Empress when she was officially made Chancellor of the Imperial Outmarches. Her royal blue eyes sparkled with both delight and knowledge as she gazed on the crowd before her.
Clasping her hands before her face in a prayer-like gesture, she then lowered her head and upper body in a deep bow. "To the people of Earth, I bid you all Heaven's most sincere blessings and prayers from Her Imperial Majesty the Empress, the Council of Sages and all the citizens of the Imperial Dominion of Noukiios. May this day be the first day of prosperous and peaceful relations between our peoples and our societies. May we learn from you as much as we hope you will learn from us." Straightening, she then smiled, a smile that nearly caused dozens of hearts to stop suddenly, it was just THAT cute. As the press quieted down, she then relaxed herself.
"And now, if I may. A simple, humble phrase of my people:
"<Ì>T'uokch'eng-hechnich'kyechit'-kai t'up'sut'chich'u,
T'uokch'eng-hechnich'kyechit'-kap'e nukhe-ki ch'ap'keket'chich'u!"
Across Tomobiki and the neighbouring towns and cities around it, cell phones began to beep wildly as a mass text message went out…
Nerima, near Fûrinkan High School…
"What in the Goddess' name does THAT mean?!" an observer snarled.
A dry chuckle then echoed from nearby, that making the six people in the room freeze as the blood suddenly drained from their faces. "It means one thing, jerk," a familiar voice growled as the air around a familiar woman fizzled as she dropped her ki-cloak.
"It means the shit's just hit the fan," the redhead snarled.
"HITOMI?!" Ohei snarled. "What are you…?!"
"HIRYÛ SHÔTEN-HA!"
The front windows of the bungalow's living room exploded outward as six badly-shredded bodies flew through the reinforced glass to crash onto the street several metres beyond. As the smoke and dust began to settle over the dazed and bleeding observers, sparkles of teleportation energy appeared all around them, immediately solidifying into a whole platoon of armour-clad warriors, futuristic rifles in hand and pointing right at the observers' heads. "REMAIN WHERE YOU ARE, FILTH!" they all bellowed as doors of nearby homes and businesses suddenly flew open.
As a crowd of the curious began to gather — they soon kept back by the sudden imposition of several dozen bikers of the Kôshi Kasshi and their friends from Gogun High School to keep them clear and safe — the just-landed Imperial Marines went to work, spinning all six of the Niphentaxians under their control onto their faces as their arms were pulled behind their heads and secured into place by holding clamps. Once that was done, other troopers went to work patting the bodies to ensure any devices on their persons was located and removed. One soldier, bearing the insignia of a platoon sergeant, was doing a detailed inspection of them with a scanner. After that was done, she closed the machine, and then bowed to the platoon officer. "My Captain, the enemy here is as the Lord Free Warrior Ranma reported to us. Barely armed with anything save self-defence weapons and they possess nothing that will threaten Lord Ranma's sister or the other unfortunates they had under their control."
Acknowledging that, the captain nodded as she reached up to draw off her helmet, revealing a face that was both quite beautiful in its severity and quite scarred thanks to many past battles. She then turned, clicking her boot heels together as she bowed her head deeply just as Ranma hopped through the shattered bungalow windows to land on the front lawn, a cup of hot water in hand as she poured it over herself to transform back. On seeing that, the captain found her cheeks reddening as she bowed her head. "My Lord Ranma, the prisoners are secured. We can summon healers now to look upon the Lady Hitomi and her friends that were the unfortunate prisoners of these swine."
A nod. "Dômo, ma'am," Ranma said with a nod as he sensed the wide eyes of all six of the Niphentaxians now staring slack-jawed at him. Turning to return that look, he then snorted in disgust. "Did you really think Ataru Moroboshi was that much an idiot, much less me?" he wondered, a lethal smile crossing his face. "Or Lum for that matter?"
"ONII-CHAN!"
Ranma awked as a red-haired typhoon of pure love slammed into him, nearly bowling him over. Seeing that, the crowds all gasped as they took that in, and then began to chatter amongst themselves. The tôshi all keeping them back looked on the verge of gushing at the cuteness of Hitomi hugging her brother for all he was worth. Ranma himself was trying to fight down a blush as he held his sister close to him. He then perked on hearing a voice call out from behind him, "Ranma-sama, is it safe now?"
He looked over his shoulder. "Yeah, Kaori! You girls can come out now!"
People in the crowd gasped in shocked disbelief as — in their eyes — the Tendô sisters all came out of the bungalow through the front door, all dressed in flattering yet revealing clothing. Which was all the more shocking since Kasumi Tendô was NEVER seen in anything like the hip-hugging jeans Kaori Tendô presently had on. Immediately, all three converged on Ranma to give him their hugs, too. "Kasumi-chan!" one particular grocer who worked in the Nerima town market gasped. "What happened?!"
"She's not Kasumi!" Ranma called back, pitching his voice loud enough so all around him could clearly hear him. "Kaori, Minami, Atsumi and Hitomi here are clones of us these aliens here…" — He jutted his chin towards the captive Niphentaxians. — "…created so they could have their own sex toys to play with."
Silence.
"Wh-what…?" the grocer gasped.
"Hai, Ôda-san, it's true."
Eyes locked on Kaori, who slowly pulled herself away from Ranma. "Hey, Kaori! You don't have to…!" he began as he tried to restrain her.
"It's alright, Ranma-sama," Kaori replied, smiling. "I won't embarrass myself."
She then turned to Shirosuke Ôda's wife, Mariko. As the elderly woman was allowed past the line of tôshi, Kaori leaned over to whisper in her ear. A moment later, her whole face turned white before flushing an angry red. "THEY DID THAT TO YOU?!"
Kaori meekly nodded. Seeing that, the whole crowd began to shudder as blooms of angry battle auras began to appear all around them. Eyes burning with terrible rage as people began to snarl and growl, fingers rising in pointed accusation at the aliens now in their midst. Noting that, the captain of the platoon of Noukiite marines who had helped in the capture of the Niphentaxians looked nervous. "Um, My Lord…?"
"Young lady," an aged voice echoed from nearby, making the captain stare on Cologne, who stood on Hitomi's shoulder with Happôsai on her other shoulder. "You should understand this: Kasumi Tendô holds a considerable amount of personal respect among the people in Nerima. NONE of them would ever TOLERATE any such assault on her person." Her eyes fell on Kaori. "Even if she is but a replica of her."
The captain hummed. "So you say the Lady Kasumi is the village at'hing-et'a?"
Cologne perked. "What does that mean?"
The platoon sergeant giggled as she removed her helmet. "'Mother of the Eating House,' Lady Elder Kelun," she replied with a graceful bow. "In the villages of old, the communal eating house — what you would call 'restaurants' here — were gathering places for the village farmers to meet and discuss the affairs of all around them. The one who owned the eating house — normally a woman — was always seen as the hostess of such gatherings. To harm such a woman…"
The Nyûjiézú elder hummed, and then she nodded. "That would sound right."
The marine captain then gazed on her senior sergeant. "What do you think?"
"A good public flogging for these miscreants, My Captain."
"But what of the noble people who live here?"
"Oh, they must have their day of justice, too."
"Very well, then! SHACKLE THE PRISONERS!" the captain then barked loud enough to allow those around her to hear. "Once they're strung up, we'll march them to the Fûrinkan Academy so they can face the wrath of those whose noble presence they've infected with their filth this last year and more! Be quick about it, all of you!"
"HAI!" all the marines screamed out as they leapt to work…
Skipping back a few minutes and turning to a place in Tomobiki…
"Shasta, what does that mean?!" Chôsen demanded.
Ignoring the blonde tôshi's plea, much less the worried hug of the pregnant tôshi in her arms, Shaskaar was furiously thinking as her mind rolled over what she just saw.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations declaring Earth under threat of invasion.
A threat detected and reported by the Goddess Herself.
He then declaring that Earth would now open diplomatic relations with another world.
A power that would respect Earth's sovereignty.
And then she learned…
Noukiios.
Personified by the Imperial Chancellor of the Outmarches herself.
One of the ten most powerful people in the known galaxy.
Seeing the Lady Nakkyek make her greeting to the people of Earth…
And then say those words in Noukiite…
THAT made Shaskaar pale as an ugly realisation dawned.
Lum-sama had reported this threat.
Which meant…
Which meant that…
No…
No!
NO!
Before Shaskaar could say anything, a distant explosion was then heard, that making all five women in the room tense. "What was THAT?!" Makasai demanded…
…just as the front door exploded inward!
Screams filled the room as a rolling body dressed in a burgundy school uniform appeared through the smoke, instantly getting to her feet as the flash of a steel blade appeared beside her right leg, burning green eyes glaring a promise of eternal pain from a face framed by aqua blue-green hair tied in side ponytails. As the Niphentaxians spun around in shocked disbelief on seeing Hôsen Ryofu with a gleaming jiàn in her hand, the living room windows blew inward as two more people flew in to land on the floor before them, both instantly assuming ready positions with their fists as they also glared at the aliens before them.
"Knock-knock," Shimei Ryomô said with a deadly smile.
Silence.
"Hey! You're supposed to say, 'Who's there?'" Hakufu Sonsaku then prodded.
More silence.
"Um…" Koeko began as she stared at Chôsen. "Are these your friends, Semina?"
Chôsen blinked. "Shikuko and Mimôko are," she said as she held Koeko and Makasai closer to her. "I don't know who Mimôko's friend is."
"Girls!"
The three tôshi looked outside to see a familiar woman riding up to them on a lovely animal that resembled a horse save for a much more pronounced muscular structure in the body and legs, not to mention the lion-like mane of hair around its head. Also riding with Ni was Bunken Gakushin. "Ah! Ni-chan! Ken-chan!" Hakufu called out, and then she began to gush. "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaai! That's such a cute horse you have!"
"Oh, I've had him since he was but a pony, Lady Tsueko!" Ni said with a touch of pride as she patted the side of the neck of her faithful Hekk'up'ut'. "I take him wherever I go in case I need transportation and a flitter wouldn't work well!" She then glanced into the living room. "Are your companions well?" she then asked as she drew out her sidearm.
The tôshi turned to look. "They seem okay, but we're not sure," Hôsen reported.
"Let me make sure."
Eyes locked on Bunken as she hopped off Ni's mount and flipped into the living room between Shimei and Hakufu. She then walked over to kneel right before Shaskaar, who was now almost on the point of being strangled by a wide-eyed Ken'yô. "It's okay," the Kyoshô tôshi said as she gently moved Ken'yô's hands away from the Niphentaxian, and then, just as Shaskaar found herself able to breathe again, she got swamped by a kiss.
"HEY!" Ken'yô yelped, only to have her view of Shaskaar blocked by Hôsen's hand.
"Relax, Motoko," Hôsen urged.
Ken'yô glared at her former classmate, and then she jolted on hearing a croak of shock escape Bunken as the tôshi/monastic pulled herself away from Shaskaar. As people stared at her, they were quick to see the look of horror on Bunken's face, the tears flowing down her cheeks from wide eyes. "Ken-chan, what…?" Hakufu began.
Bunken blinked, and then she smiled as she reached down to gently grasp Shaskaar's hand. "It'll be okay," she assured the silver-haired alien, and then she looked over. "Ni, ask for their surrender," she then said, that comment making Hôsen and Shimei gape in shock and Hakufu blink in confusion. "They're alright."
Silence fell as the Noukiite marine took that in, and then she sighed. "My lady?"
Shaskaar tensed as she gazed on Ni. "H-hai?"
"Your name?"
The Niphentaxian blinked, and then she began, "Shaskaar bedai-Iyake…" She then stopped before smiling as she gripped Ken'yô's hand. "Shasta Ianson."
Ni stared at her. "Do I have the surrender of you and your friends?"
Shaskaar stared at Koeko and Makasai. Seeing them nod, she smiled. "You do, My General. We place ourselves totally upon your mercy."
Hearing that, Hôsen and Shimei relaxed as Hakufu and Bunken smiled. "So be it, then," Ni said. "You and your friends will be paroled until exchanged, Lady Shaskaar. For your sake and for theirs, do not violate your parole." She then perked on hearing another horse race up to her, that one ridden by a handsome man with curly black hair along with a thick moustache and bushy chin beard. The rank insignia of a brigadier was on his armoured suit. "Brigadier Eyu-T'up'ch'ang! Your report?" she demanded.
He saluted her. "Your pardon, My General, but all units have reported in," he declared with a boyish grin. "All enemy forces taken! No casualties, My General! Not among us, our allies or the surrounding population." He grew serious. "Your orders?"
"Shackle them and prepare to march them to the Tomobiki Academy," Ni declared with a flat voice. "Also have healers and a midwife brought here for the Lady Motoko."
"At once, My General."
After the exchange of salutes, he rode off. "I think I just took a step back a couple hundred years into history," Shimei said as she crossed her arms.
Ni smiled. "Sometimes the simple ways are the best ways, Lady Mimôko."
"My General, a request."
Ni gazed on Shaskaar. "Go ahead."
"You know of the Avalonians, do you not?"
Ni blinked, and then she smirked. "Lady, I AM an Avalonian." As Shaskaar's, Koeko's and Makasai's jaws dropped and Ken'yô's and Chôsen's eyes widened in disbelief, the Marine general then laughed. "For that, thank the Most Venerable Ganzo dai-Louc."
Shaskaar stared at her, and then she nodded. Regardless of how one of her people might feel on hearing HIS name, she had her duty to perform. "My General, the man keeping watch over your untemplated sisters in the mountains west of here was once of my work team before another of our co-workers…" — She then waved to one wall of the living room, where a picture of a very handsome young man hung, the picture itself touched with a black ribbon on the upper right corner — "…was accused of apostasy and put to death. I am also responsible for him, My General. Please…"
Ni nodded. "So be it, then," she said before calling out, "Kyech!"
"What is it, Ni?"
Gasps filled the room as Kyech floated down to stop cross-legged beside her friend, she still over a metre off the ground. Ni remained calm, though one of her eyebrows was twitching hard; she HATED it whenever the Dragonspeaker pulled THIS sort of stunt on her. "The storage facility to the west of here," she said as she gazed on the red-haired free warrior. "We need to get it secured now, but…"
"It's alright, Ni. Julie surrendered to me."
Silence.
"'JULIE?!'" Shaskaar, Makasai and Koeko gasped in unison.
Kyech nodded. "Hai. She's got your new bodies prepared. Do you want to do it now?"
A massive explosion decked the three Niphentaxians as the tôshi present all felt sweat in their hair. "What the heck is THIS all about?!" Hôsen demanded for them all.
Bunken sighed. "It's a long story, Hôsen. A REAL long story."
As people gazed on the tôshi/monastic from Kyoshô, we…
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