The planet Uru…
"Darling…why, Darling…why…why…?"
Hearing her daughter's dazed moan, which had been going on since she had stumbled back into the family home outside of Onishuto in the wake of that unmitigated DISASTER that had resulted from the attempt by Prince Rupa of Yaminokuni in seeking her hand in marriage, the woman born Seq Chim (and now known by Urusian convention simply as "Mrs. Invader") could only shudder as her own heart ached in grief at Lum's suffering. To believe that a relationship which had such promise — despite its many problems, which was understandable given the youth of both parties that were involved — that Moroboshi Ataru had done THAT to her precious child…!
"How is she, Benten?" Ran asked.
Benten could only blink as she gazed into Lum's bedroom to see the badly dishevelled Oni teenager still gazing at the ceiling of her room, her face damp with tears that wouldn't stop and her hair a limp, oily mess from lack of proper cleaning. "Same as before," the Fukunokami biker teen mused before walking back over to sit with her host and her former galactic middle school classmate. As she did, another shiver of rage quaked her body as she recalled what had happened a week before on Earth. "Damn that bastard…!" she hissed out as her fists clenched.
Hearing that complaint about Lum's now EX-husband, Ran could only shake her head as she sipped her tea. While she herself had been shaken by Ataru's calling down the Great Dragons of Noukiios to chase Lum and her friends off the planet a week before, the Seishin-Urusian teen couldn't make herself hate the man for grasping what he could to save his planet from what that idiot Carla had accidentally unleashed. While there were parts of her that did care for Lum — and Benten and Oyuki as well — the pains of many past indiscretions on the parts of all parties against Ran were still quite a tall wall for her to climb over at times. Even if Rei was pretty much safe in her clutches now, there were still the chance…
Well, maybe she could be a little bit upset at Ataru.
But was she going to do anything about it?
Hell, no!
Ran did often see herself as spiteful and vengeful, but she was certainly not stupid. That Lum's ex-husband ultimately proved to be a hell of a lot smarter and more knowledgeable than he normally led others to believe had been a shocker to everyone. That he somehow had gained a deep connection to the Noukiites of all the civilized races in the galaxy had been as much of a shocker. And now reflecting on it, Ran realised that if Ataru HAD met the Noukiites, it must have happened in that two-month period right after that whole mess with Queen Elle, when everyone who had been at the attempted wedding between Lum and her "Darling" would up in intensive care at Onishuto Revolution Medical Centre after the chapel they had been was destroyed…
Probably by Nengmek'i-sama or one of the other big ch'uokyek that showed up in town last week, she mused to herself as she took another sip of her tea.
"Gonna turn on the news," Benten then said as she reached for the remote.
Ran ignored her as the holographic viewer came on, revealing the icon for the Zeiwan-based Intergalactic News Network. As a trumpeting fanfare heralded the start of the transmission, a series of subtitles then flashed at the bottom of the tank. Benten blinked as she read them, and then she gaped. "WHAT THE FUCK?!"
Ran yelped on hearing that shout, and then she glared at the Fukunokami. "Benten!" she snarled as her fangs splayed. "Did you really have to…?!"
"Shut up!" Benten snapped, and then she pointed. "Look!"
Ran blinked, and then she tilted her head to see…
…and then her jaw dropped. "Oh, my…!"
"…shocking news coming out of both Neptune and Tofunokoibito about the startling revelation of a SPACE FLEET now claiming allegiance to the planet Earth," the holographic anchorwoman stated as she gazed at the proverbial "camera" before her. Beside her was a graphic image of a rather BIG starship bristling with large guns and coloured the light blue of the United Nations of Earth. "In an emergency meeting of the Galactic Federation at their headquarters on Tofunokoibito, it was revealed that a heretofore UNKNOWN sister of the infamous Terran onigokko champion Moroboshi Ataru had somehow acquired a battle fleet of FIFTY large warships, now guarding the inner elements of the Neptunian-Terran solar system. It was also revealed by authorities from Phentax Two that a group of peaceful observers — transiting back to Earth in the wake of the aborted 'Second Tag Race' between Moroboshi and his now ex-wife, Redet Lum of Uru — was attacked and destroyed by elements of this very same 'Volunteer Earth Defence Force' at the command of Moroboshi's sister, Hiromi."
"What the hell…?" Benten eeped.
"In the wake of this incident, President Ōgi of Phentax Two demanded an emergency meeting of the Federation heads-of-state in hopes of generating support for a move to either capture or destroy Moroboshi Hiromi — whom leaders of the Church of Lum on Phentax Two claim is actually Moroboshi Ataru in disguise — so that Federation hegemony over Earth is maintained, especially in the wake of the Second Tag Race, when many ch'uokyek from Noukiios were called down by Moroboshi to chase off Lum and her friends from Earth," the anchorwoman continued. "However, a surprise visitor to that meeting on Tofunokoibito in the person of Crown Prince Sheko of Kyotos, the most powerful of the Council of Princes ruling the Royal Kingdoms of Yehisril, may inhibit any efforts by the Church of Lum from seeking retribution from Moroboshi and another woman from Earth who actually went on a rampage and cut down over a thousand Niphentaxians aboard six destroyers not twelve hours ago, identified as one Sebone Shikuko and possessing the curious battle-name 'Ryofu Hōsen'…"
A shower of tea exploded from Ran's mouth. "RYOFU HŌSEN?!"
Benten and Mrs. Invader spun on her. "You know that girl?!" the Fukunokami asked.
Ran blinked, and then she placed the cup down. "She's a tōshi."
Silence.
"What the fuck is that?" Benten demanded.
"A warrior. Like the Flower Youth of Noukiios or the Pirpirsiw'r of Yehisril," Ran explained as she moved to clean herself off. "Fighters of real skill and power. They could even probably give Nassur and Shogai Dakejinzō a run for their money." As Benten's jaw dropped, Ran added, "Ryofu is said to be the most powerful of them all. If she's on the side of Darling's sister…" She shuddered.
"What?!"
Ran sighed. "Lum-chan wouldn't stand a chance against her."
More silence.
"You sure about that?" Benten asked, a look of disbelief crossing her face.
A shrug. "Truthfully, no. But if this girl was able to beam aboard six Niphentaxian destroyers — and they're even better than OURS! — and kill off all those people, what do you think Lum's chances would be?"
On hearing that, the Fukunokami blanched. While she had utterly NO use whatsoever for Ōgi's planet of morons, she knew such people were no pushovers. If this girl from Earth had been able to beam aboard six ships in succession and slaughter over a thousand well-trained navy personnel, what WERE Lum's chances against THAT?
"We will now turn the broadcast over to Milan Domo of Kurakoa, who is currently in orbit over the Neptunian moon of Triton, close to where a squadron of ships from the Volunteer Earth Defence Force is currently patrolling," the anchorwoman then added.
Benten looked over as the image changed to the cockpit of a crowded ship floating close to Neptune and her largest moon. A woman with dark red hair and green eyes, dressed in very flattering clothing for her race, faced the screen. "This is Milan Domo of INN, currently in orbit over Triton in the Neptunian-Terran solar system," she announced herself, and then waved with her free hand to her right. "Please look there."
The camera panned over to reveal a blue-hued starship bearing the wreathed globe insignia of the United Nations. "This is the Earth Defence Force Ship Bismarck, one of five such vessels currently on patrol near Neptune. According to sources in the Neptunian royal government, these ships have been actively monitoring usage of the Central Warp Chamber to ensure any attempts by the Neptunians to open a space warp to Earth itself would be deflected to Mars, the fourth world of this solar system. These ships — along with a sixth vessel believed to the be the flagship of the force, called the Haida — were involved in the incident not twelve hours ago when nearly the entire crews of six Niphentaxian destroyers were slaughtered in a vicious attack clearly meant to deny the Church of Lum any further access to their 'holy city,' the suburb of the large Terran metropolis of Tōkyō known as Tomobiki."
Milan turned to face the camera as it focused on her. "We have been attempting to contact the crews aboard Bismarck and her sisterships for some time…"
In orbit over Earth…
"The Intergalactic News Network?"
"Hai, Hiromi-sama," Enjutsu Kōro replied from Bismarck's bridge. Hiromi and her guests were currently on Yamato's bridge as they discussed matters with the once-leader of Nan'yō. "The news crew of Milan Domo to be exact. INN's putting out the first report of what we did this morning to Ōgi's idiots." She then smirked. "It's exactly as you predicted, Hiromi-sama. We got Sheko's attention."
"Who's Sheko?" Mōtoku asked.
"The crown prince of the largest principality of the Royal Kingdoms of Yehisril," Hiromi provided the leader of Kyoshō. "Think of them as a race of samurai, Torusuke-san. A people that live by a strict code of honour and ethics, a race that values the strength of warriors as more precious than gold or jade." As her visitors gaped at her, she sat back in her chair. "They are one of the 'Big Four' superpowers in this part of the galaxy. And even if their central government is somewhat fractured, even ONE of the princes of that world possesses power beyond your wildest dreams." A pause. "We've had another of the 'Big Four' pretty much stand at our side since this began, but the Noukiites, for all their power, don't unleash shock value like Prince Sheko by himself can." She smiled at Mōtoku. "You'll like him."
He returned her grin. "I'll be the one to judge that."
"So what do you intend to do?" Kōro asked.
Hiromi sighed as she stood. "Open a link with Domo-sensei, Michiko-san, then pipe it here," she ordered. "It's time we announced ourselves to the galaxy."
Onishuto…
"Wait!"
As Benten, Ran and Mrs. Invader watched, Milan seemed to pause as she touched the wireless transmitted hooked onto her left ear. She then smiled as she faced the camera. "A new development," she then declared. "We have opened a link with Bismarck, which is now relaying a transmission from one of the ships in orbit over Earth. I believe we are now communicating with Moroboshi Hiromi, who identified herself to Crown Princess Pukaze of Neptune as the Director of the Volunteer Earth Defence Force." She tapped her earpiece. "Miss Moroboshi, are you there?"
"Yes, I'm here," a woman's voice called back; the universal translation algorithms were allowing her to be understood in all the languages of all the planets that could receive broadcasts from INN. "Miss Domo, I presume?"
"Yes, ma'am. You're currently speaking live on INN News."
"So my subordinate in command over Neptune just told me. So what brings the eye of the galaxy on our humble corner of the galaxy this day?"
"Well, the news that Earth now possesses a space fleet of its own when it still is in the initial stages of atomic technology and can only deploy sub-luminal probes beyond the orbit of its own moon," Milan replied. "And that doesn't mention what your friend Sebone Shikuko did to the crews of six Niphentaxian warships that were…"
"Leading the vanguard of an invasion of my planet."
Silence.
"Oh, fuck!" Benten breathed out.
Milan looked surprised by that blunt admission, though her experience as a news reporter allowed her to recover quickly so she could try to take control of the interview. "Well, the leaders on Phentax Two…"
"Miss Domo, please don't bother trying to make excuses for the spinward barbarians that hold many of the civilised races in this quadrant of the galaxy hostage to their insane beliefs," Hiromi instantly cut her off…
Tofunokoibito…
"INSANE?!"
As the Niphentaxian delegation all began to scream out in wounded rage at that verbal slap in the face — the INN transmission had been immediately piped in by one of Lupica's aides as soon as it was put out — the other Federation delegates all cringed as Sheko, who was still standing close to Pukaze, began to laugh…
Onishuto…
"I will not hear of it and I will not allow anyone of the Galactic Federation to dictate to me or those who follow me what is acceptable and what is not beyond the bounds of Earth," Hiromi continued. "After the galling example of my would-be 'sister-in-law' and all her friends that my elder brother had chased off Earth a week and more ago, I don't think the leaders of my world will allow any of your peoples to darken my world anytime soon. And if there are those who would wish to challenge that…"
Pause.
"Bring it on. We're waiting for you."
Silence.
"You don't particularly care for what happened to your brother over the last year when Lum was living with him, don't you?" Milan then asked.
More silence.
"No, I don't," Hiromi calmly replied. "Put yourself in my brother's shoes, if you may, Miss Domo. He, the only child of an emotionally barren home, is forced to be the champion for his whole PLANET against alien invaders. And while the use of a tag race is, I must confess in the annals of conquest, quite unique, the fact that my brother was humiliated for NINE days by that selfish creature didn't do much to endear her to him. And all on the pathetic excuse that my brother 'didn't do his homework.'" A snort. "Well, how was my brother supposed to know that the stupid bitch could FLY?!"
"HEY!" Benten snarled.
"And then came the chance he took to make the tag," Hiromi continued. "What is not known about that day was that my brother's then-girlfriend, Miyake Shinobu, had vowed that if he won, she would marry him. THAT is what my brother meant when he said 'For marriage!' that last day. To be frank, if he never saw that Oni twit again, it would have made him the happiest man in his life. And what does she do?" A pause. "She DELIBERATELY violates her own planet's LAWS and declares herself his wife!"
Tofunokoibito…
"THAT'S NOT TRUE!" Invader screamed.
As many in the Urusian delegation found themselves screaming out in agreement with the large warlord, Sheko was desperately trying NOT to fall on his ass laughing…
Onishuto…
"The list of Lum's many indiscretions goes long and wide," Hiromi continued. "Kidnapping. Multiple counts of grievous bodily harm. Invasion of personal privacy, all the way to spying on his very own DIARIES just to learn what he was thinking!" As Benten and Ran both winced on hearing THAT one, the director of the VDEF then laughed. "Pity that Lum was later TRICKED into believing a FORGERY my brother kept in his bedroom while his REAL diary remained well out of her reach…"
"Excuse me, Miss Moroboshi, but I would like to interrupt for a moment," Milan then cut in. "Are you saying that Miss Redet actually SPIED on your brother's own DIARIES?"
"That's quite correct. And consider that a theme for this interview, Miss Domo. I am FULLY aware of this mad mockery of a RELIGION that worships her as a living GODDESS of all things!" A hum. "I wonder why Lum never told my brother about her friend Ōgi. An optimist would say that she didn't wish to have anything to do with such a stalker and didn't wish to plague her 'husband'…" — everyone in the Invader home was quick to sense the derision in Hiromi's voice when she said that last word — "…with news of such fools. Pity I'm not an optimist. I'm quite cynical. And I am MORE than convinced that she was actually HOPING that Ōgi would come along and KIDNAP my brother so she could go out and save him, thus earning his gratitude and perhaps weakening him to the point where he would finally give in to her wishes."
A sniff caused everyone to look at the doorway to Lum's bedroom. "Lum-chan…" Ran gasped on seeing Lum standing there, gazing at the holovision image.
"It's not true…" Lum moaned as she collapsed to her knees, Benten and her mother rushing to her side. "It's not true…Darling, please…it's not true…"
The Yamato…
"You really believe that, don't you?" Milan asked.
"Of course I do, Domo-sensei," Hiromi replied. "In my eyes, she who calls herself Lum has done nothing to be Onii-san's friend, to say anything of being Onii-san's future wife." She then smirked. "And if you're listening to me, Lum, don't hope that Onii-san's parents will come to the rescue. We've personally rid ourselves of both of them. Once and for all time." The smile faded. "This is a message for the fat oaf who calls himself Lum's father: I and I alone speak for the Moroboshi Clan. My word is the final law. And my answer to you concerning your daughter's desires to marry Onii-san can be put in two words…"
"HELL, NO!" the visiting tōshi from Kyoshō all screamed as one.
Hiromi chuckled. "My eternal thanks, my friends," she said before gazing at the image of Milan Domo on the starship's main view screen. "As to the core reason why I refuse you, Fat Boy, it's real simple. Project: Kamen." She smirked. "And for you, Domo-sensei, if you want to know the truth of THAT, go to Home Base and speak to Hunter Commander Nassur and his delightful wife, Cinba. They'll tell you plenty."
She then sat back in her chair. "Oh, Domo-sensei, please do pass on this to His Serene Imperial Highness, the noble Prince of Kyotos, Lord Sheko," Hiromi added. "The inner parts of my home solar system are a safe harbour for him and all allied to him in his noble cause against the Goa'uld. And if he wishes me to present myself to him in the Oath of Zipilna, I will be more than happy to do so at his earliest convenience."
Milan blinked. "Um…"
Hiromi smiled at her. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have things to do. Do take care of yourself, Domo-sensei." She then made a slashing motion at the level of her neck.
Yoshino Tomomi tapped a control. "Transmission cut, Hiromi-sama."
Hiromi nodded, and then she breathed out. "'Oath of Zipilna?'" Kakuka Hōkō asked.
"A very sacred oath among his kind, Yoisuke-san," the reborn emperor then said. "We need allies — and POWERFUL ones at that! — to keep ALL the barbarian hordes at bay. And he is fighting an enemy that has long felt they had a free hand on Earth. I intend to disabuse them of such a notion as soon as it is convenient."
"What are these Goa'uld?" Mōtoku asked.
"A race of slavers, liars and pretenders," Hiromi answered. "Who, when they came to interact with our world, pretended to be gods our ancestors worshipped." Her eyes then narrowed. "Including one who pretended to be the Jade Emperor himself!"
Jaws dropped as people stared at her…
Tofunokoibito…
"Your opinion, My Prince?" Sivko asked.
Sheko chuckled. "She is knowledgeable, this one. And honourable."
"And her offer of alliance against the Goa'uld?" Gizpizko asked.
"It will be honoured," the older warrior stated before he turned to gaze on all the delegates around him. "Hear this well!" he said, pitching his voice in such a way so that everyone would not misunderstand his words. "As of now, Earth is a protectorate world of the Principality of Kyotos! And before long, ALL of the Royal Kingdoms!" As shocked gasps filled the hall, he then turned to leave before stopping. "Invader!"
The large Oni warlord — who had been thunderstruck on hearing the words "Project: Kamen" escape Moroboshi Hiromi's lips — jolted before looking over. "Wh-what?"
"Even if they rebelled against my friend the Mikado years ago, Lord Nassur and Lady Cinba are the stepchildren of a lord of my realm," Sheko declared, not bothering to gaze on the Oni as his eyes narrowed, his voice dropping in pitch to a chilling hiss that made many people close to him shiver in absolute terror. "I will learn everything I can about this 'Project: Kamen' from Lord Nassur and his wife when next I see them, which will come soon, I assure you. And if I so much as even SUSPECT that you have done something that caused Varanko's stepson pain, I will PERSONALLY make your suffering — and that of your DAUGHTER'S! — eternal!"
With a jerk of his hand, he waved his small party out of the hall as we…
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