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Ice Squared
by Lerris Smith
“But, Shampoo!”
“Stupid duck boy stay here, or I splash you and lock you in cage.”
Mousse sighed. He had taken oaths. All Amazons that had come of age did, but most never really believed that that particular oath was more than ceremony. He wanted to stop her, but he couldn't, at least not yet. Out loud he said, “Goodbye Shampoo.”
Shampoo peered at Mousse for a moment as if wondering what he was planning before shrugging and going upstairs to finish packing.
An hour later and the trio walked out the door of the Nekohaten to begin their journey. As they walked out, Akane and Ukyo looked back and gave Mousse a sympathetic look before walking on and letting the door close behind them.
Mousse sat in the closed shade darkened cafe and brooded. The problem was that he didn't know where they were going, or even the true nature of what Shampoo was doing, other than the rumor was that it was very dangerous or something. Despite the oaths he had taken, much of Amazon lore was reserved for women alone. He also couldn't follow her closely since Shampoo would notice and end his quest before it began. There was also the possibility that if Cologne found out, she would track him down and kill him for interfering, but that didn't matter. He had spent his life chasing after that girl, and he could see no other path for himself.
The trip was nearly finished when a small beep could be heard. Mamoru tapped a few keys and read the screen for a half a minute before saying, “I think we are about out of gas.”
“What?” exclaimed Rei.
“I thought Canal had checked everything,” added Makoto.
In a sarcastic tone, Setsuna said, “Split yourself into two beings, while also doing massive repairs and reconstruction, and see if you don't forget a thing or two. This is one of their shuttles anyway. There is no reason Canal would know anything about it.”
Mamoru let out a small sigh before half nodding. He said, “It says we need tritium and deuterium, although I have no idea where to get those.”
Setsuna said cryptically, “They are heavy isotopes of hydrogen. I may know someone who can help.” She continued with, “Let us get Rei's grandfather to the doctor that Nabiki recommended and then I'll look into it. We need to get the ship refueled before that other ship arrives, assuming they are coming here. The trip through hyperspace probably shot us ahead of them, but I have no idea how much.”
He made a mental note to ask how sometime, since anything that could save the life of someone in that shape was something he really wanted to know of. Of course, knowing Ranma it was probably some magical one time only solution that required slaying a dragon or something. Of course, he mused, that that sickness was far beyond what some moss off the Orochi would cure. Just what had happened?
Dr. Tofu examined his patients ki carefully and then said, “You can wakeup now, you know. Your ki levels may be incredibly low, but you should no longer need to stay in the healing trance.”
Rei's grandfather's eyes blinked open slowly as he said weakly, “You're good. I didn't know their were any doctors that could even identify that.”
“I had a good teacher.”
“I'll bet. So, do you have anything to eat?”
“Sure, and then you'll need more rest I think. I'd also recommend not doing whatever you did again to get this weak, if possible.”
Rei's grandfather smirked, “Yes, I would greatly prefer to stay breathing as well. Now, about that food?”
Makoto answered the unasked question, “Rei and I will teleport with you. The strain should be tolerable with three of us.”
Rei gave a nod, before Mamoru said, “I'll go find Artemis and Luna to see if we have missed anything.”
After Setsuna repeated her advice for what must be the third time, she directed the pair to go take a break up the hill, while she waited for her friend. After about another half an hour, Colonel Jack O'Neil walked down the path, as he had done on Sundays when he had time, for, well since before he met his wife. Fishing was a tradition for him. Everything seemed to be so much better when you were sitting back drinking a beer and complaining about why the fish weren't biting.
As he reached the bottom, a sharply dressed woman with deep green hair sat in his chair and smiled up at him.
“You! What are you doing here?” exclaimed Jack in english.
“Hey, can't I visit an old boyfriend?” quipped Setsuna in english.
Jack said, “Your the one that run out on me.”
“I'm sorry Jack, but I need your help.”
“You! You, run off and leave me, and then come back fifteen years later and want my help? My help?” The last was said in an exclamation, before he continued with, “What happened to you, its like you haven't aged a day.”
Setsuna said in Japanese, “Yes, it does seem that way, doesn't it?” She gave him a winning smile, which only seemed to infuriate him more as he tried to puzzle out her Japanese. It had been so long since she had taught him what little he knew of the language.
She continued in English with, “I assume that with your new job, that your kept up on the odd things going on in the world, like the Sailor Senshi in Japan.”
“Yes, they are a group of magical vigilantes from Japan. What does that have to do with anything?”
“I'm one of them.”
“Sure, tell me another one. They are all supposed to be young girls.”
Setsuna grumbled, before fetching her henshin wand and changing in front of him. A few hundred feet away up the hill, Rei and Makoto looked on in Senshi form. It was surprising to see Setsuna reveal her identity, but they supposed it was probably the only way to get whoever this was to help. Also, it seemed this was hardly a stranger. Who would have thought Setsuna had a boyfriend?
As she finished her transformation sequence, the Senshi of Pluto faced the lake and whispered, “Dead Scream,” as she launched her trademark, although somewhat weakened attack into the lake. Water boiled and hundred's of dead fish floated to the surface.
“Dang it. What did you have to do that for? You ruined the fishing!” complained Jack.
Sailor Pluto's silvery laugh was almost enough to make the two other Senshi shiver. It just seemed wrong to hear Pluto laugh like that.
“So, what help do you need Suna-chan?”
“I need to speak to your boss.”
“What boss would that be? I'm retired.”
Setsuna smirked before saying, “I believe his name is General Hammond. Your part of a newly formed three person group that exists in case you get a certain ring shaped device you found to work that you believe goes to other planets in other solar systems.”
“Well informed, aren't you?” quipped Jack.
“Always,” rejoined Setsuna with a playful smirk.
“Your in a hurry.”
“Yes.”
“Well, my truck is up the hill. If you and your friends would like to come with me, we will be on our way.”
Sailor Jupiter winced at being caught so easily. He had known they were here, even with them being so far away, and he didn't even have any form of magic.
Mars said, “So, we get to meet Setsuna's old boyfriend. Great, just great.”
Setsuna said, “Relax. Jack is a good person.”
“You would know,” added Rei cryptically.
“Yes, I would,” replied Setsuna, almost to herself. Of course, the question of whether someone in the chain of command would do something stupid was an open one.
The details she had gave Jack had been sketchy at best, but, she thought necessary. She admitted to much of the battle at the gate, but played way down the enemy strength and numbers, as well as the resulting force of the gate explosion. She rather doubted they would have believed the truth, and she didn't really want Swordbreaker's capabilities known. The battle of Pluto was not mentioned. She hoped no one had even noticed the little planet's disappearance.
“So, why are we here?” asked Jackson.
Jack said, “A former girlfriend paid me a visit. She says that aliens are after the Earth system, although she apparently doesn't know why.”
“Aliens?” said a skeptical Carter and Jackson.
“Yep. Aliens. The thing is, I know her. She would not make this up.”
“Know her? As in the biblical sense?” inquired Jackson. Captain Carter suddenly seemed very curious as she waited for Jack to say something.
Jack frowned and said, “Hey, I don't ask about your private life.”
“Sorry,” said Daniel.
Jack said, “At any rate, they say they fought a battle against them that they barely won at some hyper something or other gate thing, and that they destroyed the gate so we should be safe.””
Captain Carter questioned, “Hyperspace Gate?” before continuing with, “I wonder if that would explain that unexplained event we had thought was a nova. No, that can't be. From what we have puzzled out, the energy released during whatever that was was enough to blow away a planet.” After she finished speaking, she seemed to become lost in thought for a moment.
General Hammond paled at the possibility before saying, “it's more than just a supposed alien threat from what you told me Colonel,” added Hammond, although given captain Carter's last words, he would have to make a call on that red phone when he finished the meeting here.
Jack said, “Yes, it is. They told me some of it, like that battle on the way, but I think she is holding some back. For one thing she claimed that ring was never meant to transport anyone beyond the planets of the solar system, and that most of the crap Jackson is trying to decipher was planted deliberately to create misleading trails so that the true secrets of something she calls the Moon Kingdom would not be uncovered prematurely.”
“That can't be! All of it is thousands of years old,” said Jackson.
“Hey, don't look at me. I don't understand the science stuff. I do know that I trust her, and I think we should talk to her, if for no other reason that she already knows our secrets and we have little to lose.”
“Aren't you forgetting something jack? Like what she did to the fish,” added Hammond.
“Oh, yah. Well it seems as she is part of that group of magical girls that the Japanese government informed us of. She tossed out a purple ball of something that must have killed a couple hundred fish.”
“That's fantastic. I've got to see how she does it. Just think of the chance to study such a phenomena,” added captain Carter.
“Tell them what she wanted Jack,” said General Hammond.
“Oh, she said they needed a supply of pure tritum and deuterum for a ship of theirs, or something like that.”
“You must mean tritium and deuterium. General, those are commonly believed to be the most likely fuel to sustain a fusion reaction. This is fantastic. If they have a nuclear fusion engine I have got to study it. Magic, fusion, and hyperspace travel. If all this is true then it has to be the single greatest scientific discovery of the century.,” added an enthusiastic Carter.
“Is there anything else?” inquired General Hammond. He looked around the room and settled on captain Carter who seemed again to be lost in thought.
Samantha said, “Oh, sir, I was just wondering if, perhaps, this all has something to do with the disappearance of Pluto.”
Daniel said, “Do you think the alien's destroyed it or something?”
She replied, “I don't know. If they can control forces like caused whatever that other event was, then its possible I guess, but then an explosion that would have destroyed Pluto would have been visible. It was just gone.”
General Hammond said, “Find out if you can. I'm authorizing you three to proceed with your own discretion, but keep me informed. I'm not willing to trust them inside the base though, not with that kind of power. I have a call to make. Dismissed.”
Mars blushed after she figured out what Samantha had asked, while Jupiter stammered out in broken English, “No, I'm never cold while transformed.”
Sailor Pluto sighed. She supposed the fact that this was not their normal form would have gotten out anyway. She had used that fact to convince Jack, since she doubted she could have gotten them to agree so fast without doing so. She said absently in English, “The magic protects from temperature extremes. It is a minor thing, really.”
“That must be convenient,” said Daniel.
“Yes, well, so are you going to help?” asked an impatient Sailor Pluto.
“We are. Captain Carter has arranged for the supplies you needed to be loaded onto a private jet that sits on standby at a small nearby airfield,” said Jack. Sailor Jupiter and Mars seemed puzzled for a few seconds until they mentally translated his words.
“That still leaves the question of where we are going. We assume Japan,” Dr. Jackson temporized.
“For now, that is close enough. I will direct you to the nearest airport when we are closer, and arrange for transportation from there,” added Setsuna in English.
“You don't trust us,” commented Dr. Jackson.
“Not entirely no, or more to the point I don't entirely trust everyone that could be in your chain of command,” remarked Setsuna.
Jack shrugged. It made little difference to him. It was good to see Suna-chan again. He couldn't help but wonder how his life would have turned out had she not dumped him. Would they have had a child? Would that child have lived? He forced the thought aside as Dr. Jackson spoke.
Dr. Jackson said in English, “Well, let's get going then.” He added dryly in Japanese, “Perhaps you can explain on the way why I've devoted years of my life to studying a fiction.”
“So, your just gonna sit here and mope eh boy?”
Mousse turned and tried to focus his eyes on the source of the sound. Of all the people to come here, he certainly didn't expect Happosai. He growled, “What do you want, you perverted gnome.”
Happosai used his pipe to knock him across the room before saying, “Better help, but I'm stuck with you and the lost boy.”
“Hey, you fixed that!” came from Ryoga who just walked through the front door.
“Yes I did, and you still get lost.”
“Well, what do you expect, its not as if I had a chance for a normal sense of direction to develop with the curse.”
“Cure? You cured his curse?” asked a suddenly curious Mousse.
“If you mean Jusenkyo's touch, then no. That never lets go of you, although occasionally people get adept enough at ki manipulation to control it, but most just die with it. I used a spell of sorts that worked to dispel his family curse.”
Ryoga said, “Ya, and you made me promise to do what I said until some mysterious quest you were on was over before you did it.”
Hapossai quipped, “Bah, bunch of idiots. I had to beat the lost boy senseless just to get him to give up on his stupid quest to get even with Ranma. Why, if I didn't owe.. Nevermind that. The question is, Mousse, whether or not your coming.”
“Coming, where?” queried a suspicious Amazon.
“Why, we are going to make sure Akane, Shampoo, and Ukyo don't get killed on their little quest,” said Happosai.
“Of course I'm coming. I'd have been gone already if I knew where they were going.”
“Yes, I imagine you would, and have been found out almost as soon. Let's see, what would the Amazon punishment be for interfering with this...” Happosai trailed off during the end of his speech as if in thought. Mouse supplied the answer in a monotone voice, “Death, by slow torture. The exact details to be determined by the warriors sent to carry it out.”
“Why, yes, that is it,” said Happosai dryly.
Ryoga starred at Mousse. He was willing to risk that for Shampoo. It seemed unbelievable. Of course, even though Akane hated him, he could not let her die. Perhaps he would get killed along the way. He almost welcomed that thought.
Mousse said in a neutral tone, “The penalty is the same for outsiders as well.” Ryoga smiled. It seemed he would get his wish.
Happosai said, “Well, its not like my death warrant from them was ever rescinded.”
Mousse nodded. He knew of that, but then the warrant was only if he ever came back to the village. Out loud he said, “Let's go.”
Happosai said, “Not so fast. If your going, you promise to obey my orders with the understanding that what we will do is meant to protect them during their journey. Promise that, and you may come. I'll even fix your vision problem.”
Mousse shrugged. A part of him wondered about Happosai's, “during their journey,” bit but it didn't matter. Going would be a violation of the oaths he had taken as an Amazon, so what was one more oath? He said, “I promise.”
Happosai fished around in his pockets until he pulled out a tiny brown bottle and said, “Lie down and remove your glasses.” Mousse did so before Happosai opened the tiny bottle and dropped a single drop of clear fluid in each of his eyes. Happosai quickly capped the bottle and stored it.
Mousse blinked a few times before saying with surprise, “It worked. I can see normally.”
Happosai said, “Just be grateful I spared you some. That takes over thirty years to make and I'm out of ingredients.” Of course, Happosai mused, had fewer people wanted him dead, he likely would still have a full bottle.
Dr. Carter asked in English, “So, what did you need the tritium and deuterium for?”
Setsuna smiled her, I've got a secret smile, before saying, “Our spacecraft is out of gas.” In truth Setsuna was a little surprised they had gotten the help they needed. Even the toned down story they told sounded crazy, but, then the Senshi were well regarded in Japan and no doubt they had good files in America. Besides, being Jack's ex lover had to count for something, right?. Of course, she did not know that the military had noticed the explosion in space at the gate. The likelihood that an automated monitoring system would catch the energy wave was, after all, quite remote.
She debated staying back in the passenger area to deflect unwanted questions or going up and joining Jack in the cockpit. Her thoughts drifted as she starred out the window. She wondered how the future would have played out and where those three would be now without her careful manipulations. It didn't matter. They were here now, and they were useful, if not quite in the way she originally intended.
Of course, Dr. Jackson might never forgive her if he found out that she herself planted much of the so called evidence he was studying thousands of years ago. It was pretty much all a convenient fiction that played upon the myths and legends of the time, yet it was a useful fiction, since it provided one of many false trails, such that people did not rediscover the legacy and heritage of the Moon Kingdom before time.
Of course, it seemed that the reactivation of the Silver Portal system might occur a great deal sooner than she had planned, but that was okay. Her original plan would just need to be moved up. Had her plan stayed on course, they would have likely spent many years figuring out the portals and years more trying to find a way to power them. Somehow she doubted that Daniel would appreciate the time she was saving him though.
She lacked the feel of the flow of the future that standing at the gates of time gave her, but she thought trying to make her relationship with Jack work again might be the best course of action, for the future, including their own future. Now, if only he would forget his insistence that she restock the lake with fish. It was a big lake, and she was sure she hadn't killed more than half of the fish in it. It was for a good cause, after all.
She wished, not for the first time, that she had caught a warning of Jack's son death. She had failed him in that, and she felt she owed him. Out loud she said in Japanese, “I think I'll go join Jack in the cockpit.”
Colonel Carter was a bit disappointed in what the other two could tell her, and for some reason they seemed to be hesitantly dancing around something. It did not seem so much a conscious effort as evasion by habit. Just what had these girls been through to be so hesitant with strangers, seemingly over any matter of substance? Of course the fact that she was really rusty at Japanese didn't help.
Daniel had no better luck. They had no idea what Sailor Pluto meant about how his life's work was based on a fiction, and when he started to go to the cockpit to ask her, Captain Carter suggested that he give them some time alone. It was all very irritating, but then, apparently, he would get to see a spaceship, so he supposed it was worth it. Now if only these two would wear something less revealing. It was quite distracting.
Usagi, Ami's mother, and Haruka sat at the round lounge area at the time dragged on. Haruka kept fidgeting and starring at a view screen showing the view ahead. Usagi, too, caught herself looking at that screen that floated in air in front of the far wall. Not far away, Dr. Mizuno would sit and stare at her held hands, and tap her feet gently, in an almost inaudible manner.
Usagi could not help but think of Kasumi, of all people. The elegant young woman that despite having no special powers or abilities held her family together. She called softly, “Canal, can you join us here for a few minutes?”
Canal appeared before them with a curious expression on her face. Usagi said, “Let's sit in a circle on the floor.” Haruka wondered why they were getting out of a perfectly good seat to sit on the floor. She shrugged and sat down, with Usagi to her left and Canal to her right. Across from Haruka sat Dr. Mizuno. Usagi reached out and took Haruka's left hand in her right and Ami's mother's right hand in her left. Seeing Usagi's nod, Canal joined hands with Ann and Haruka to complete the little circle.
Usagi just sat and felt the warmth of her friends touch for several seconds before she spoke, “Late at night, when my cat Luna is asleep, and quiet seems to cover the world like a blanket, I have often wondered why we have had to fight so very hard.” She paused for a moment as the others looked at her with curiosity.
She continued with, “Later still, I sometimes wonder why we have survived what we have. The little cross Kasumi wears is not just a decoration. She believes, and it seems to have made her one of the strongest women I have ever met, allowing her to smile and to go forward with resolve, in the strangest and most trying situations. She has been that way ever since her mother passed away when she was young.”
The curiosity of the others seemed greater now, as they wondered why Usagi would talk about Kasumi's faith. Usagi continued with, “I too have felt at times that someone or something has helped us from time to time, when we have struggled our hardest. Perhaps it is our family that has gone before us, or perhaps some higher power. It doesn't matter really, except to hope they will hear our prayers. May they watch over our friends and loved ones and help us and our enemies to find true wisdom. May a path of peace open before us.”
Canal was uncertain of what to say to that, but she was saved by the others' soft, “Amen,” which she quickly copied. It was quite strange, yet things seemed a little more hopeful now. In fact, the ambient psi energy she could collect had increased. It was a small thing compared to the flow from her captain, but nice nonetheless.
A few moments later, as if by some unspoken signal, they got up and returned to their original seats, while Canal walked towards the door, fading out as she went.
Minutes later, just after Usagi's stomach growled, Canal came back through the door carrying what looked like a blaster and some kind of cylindrical object. She hesitantly laid them on the table in front of the others and said, “The long cylindrical object is what is known as a psi blade. It belonged to Kane, my former master. The blaster was his wife's favorite. The blaster can be set to stun. I thought perhaps Dr. Mizuno might have need of it...” Her voice faded out as if she was uncertain how to continue.
Usagi said, “Thank you Canal. It must be hard to let go of your treasured mementos.”
Ann said, “I could not use a weapon. I swore an oath.”
Haruka said, “Then keep it on stun, or at worst store it where you could get it, should the worst happen.”
Ann nodded, still uncertain about the whole idea, but if the worst happened she might have to protect a patient she guessed.
Haruka said, “Psi blade? You mean like a light saber?” She picked up the weapon and felt its heft. It was much lighter than the space sword, but then it was only a handle. She continued with, “How does it work?”
Canal said, “You can read up on how to control and focus your own psi energy at any of the terminals. A psi blade is really only a tool to focus energy and may even be able to use some of the magical energy you have when transformed.” She was guessing of course, but then she was able to use Ranma's planetary mana tap so it seemed possible.
Canal pondered at the variety of psi based technology that had nothing to do with lost ships, or the secrets of their power. Psi blades were rare, since so few could ever find the mental focus to use one for more than a few seconds, and fewer still could fight effectively with one. Simply put, most people preferred blasters. It did seem that it had caught the interest of Haruka though, as she tapped the button near the top and seemed to be trying to will it to do something.
Ann suggested, “Perhaps you should read up first?” Haruka gave an absent nod before heading over to the nearest station. Ann looked over the blaster, while Canal made sure to point out how to change the strength of the blasts and read how much energy remained in the blaster. It gave Usagi a shiver, that a healer might need a weapon, but with the others gone to Earth to deal with the threats there, there was simply so few of them left on the ship.
Usagi asked, “Have you figured out anything about that crystal?”
Canal said, “I have not broken the outer layer encryption on the crystal yet. Without an intact ships computer to probe, this may take quite some time. It may not even be possible, if the encryption isn't based on a method I'm familiar with. At worst, we may have to find a world they control and borrow some of their equipment.”
Usagi nodded. It seemed that this time nothing was going to be easy, and they had always made breaking codes look so easy on television.
A balding man said, “Who knows of this?”
The gray haired man responded, “From what I can tell, only the crew of the one ship that fled the battle they were engaged in.”
“They have been dealt with?”
“Tonight sometime. The interviews have not been completed yet.” The word interviews was emphasized in his speech.
“Good. Good.” The man tapped a few spots on the screen before him and said, “It says here they destroyed a gate?”
“Yes, all of those interviewed seem certain about that, although we have not as yet figured just how that was accomplished. For now that part of the universe is closed to us, although the 2nd division of the home guard is already on its way to investigate the corresponding area in hyperspace and search for the boy.”
“Yes, it would be best if he was recovered. He is well liked, after all.” Nods could be seen around the table. This was said in a matter similar to the tone most people might express about it being best if they painted the walls the lighter rather than the darker shade of gray.
“Of a more pressing concern, is the fact that it seems a single ship, one that we thought useless,that was even under our control for years, was largely responsible for that defeat. Does anyone have suggestions as to that?”
Several people at the table skimmed through the report in front of them, trying to come up with something. A sandy haired man, perhaps the youngest person at the table, although likely at least forty five years old said in a thoughtful manner, “Well, given that they destroyed the gate, it seems likely that they hoped to close off that portion of the universe to us. it also seems likely that they only have the one ship, unless this is the region of the universe that ship came from in the first place. It looks like they tried a desperate strategy, and it worked.”
The balding man mused, “Still, if we could learn how that ship could do what it did, we would be invincible.”
The gray haired man responded, “The special projects division of the science ministry has been apprised and given the limited sensor data of the battle. Unfortunately, their initial review of the data yielded no clues, with the exception that the main attack on the gate used an almost unimaginable amount of chaos magic.”
The sandy haired man said, “No one in the empire has been able to successfully manipulate chaos magic on any significant scale. Its very nature destroys all the containment matrix spells used to control it.”
The gray haired man responded, “I know. Unfortunately, with the gate gone, we have no way to investigate closer, and to think that system went from unknown, to normal acquisition, to potentially vital strategic importance, to likely threat in so short a time. It is a pity the special projects division of the science ministry still says they are probably twenty years off being able to build our own gates.”
With sarcasm, a black haired man said, “They said that twenty years ago.”
With the major business discussed, the minor reports were brought in. The state of the empire was good. The average conquered world was usually proud of its membership in the empire within a half dozen years after its acquisition. Good public relations was a wonderful thing. The individual world governments had all kinds of disagreements. In fact, there were several disagreements yet to be scheduled, but they would wait. The illusion of freedom was an important thing, but updating the script would have to wait until next week. After all, what was the point of absolute power, without the free time to enjoy it?
He knew the council of emirs controlled nearly everything about his life. He wasn't completely unobservant after all, nor did he particularly disagree with most of their decisions, well except where they affected his own personal life. Yes, the council was useful. The day to day managing of little details was annoying, and something he gladly left to them.
He still was not sure if they had let him go on this little jaunt, perhaps as a way to improve the morale of the troops, or if he had really managed to take independent action, but he was sure of one thing. He wanted that beautiful brunette. She was gorgeous, and exotic. Among his people that color of hair and her clear brown eyes and delicate features was unheard of. Of course, the others here were also quite pretty, but the brunette was the one. She would be his Empress, of that there could be no doubt.
He wished he could understand their strange language. Important things might be being discussed, but the one who had translated before was largely ignoring him. Even now he was far from helpless, but there was little to be done but wait.
He half smiled as he recalled the series of questions they had asked through the one they called Canal. Most were questions about who he was and what he was doing with that fleet. He played dumb to the hilt of course, and gave them one of many prepared stories about being a rich trader that they had captured in order to get his goods for free. One question he found particularly interesting came from the blond woman. It seems she wanted to know if he had a girlfriend. She seemed to be encouraged by the simple truth that he did not have one, and yet the others seemed to somehow discourage her. Yes, it definitely was very frustrating not knowing their language.
“Lemme sleep. Tired,” came from the weary voice of Hotaru who was still lying on her adopted mother's lap.
Sailor Neptune said, “Good morning little one.”
Hotaru groggily replied, “Mama, stop calling me that name, and lemme sleep. I don't wanna go to school.”
Sailor Neptune blushed slightly and then said, “Up and at em little one. We have a visitor.”
Hotaru yawned and rubbed her eyes, seemingly finally recovered from her previous use of the Death Reborn Revolution. She looked around, spotting the visitor and then looked back at her mother, as if to ask what was he doing here?
Sailor Neptune said, “He came from one of the ships that attacked us. Fortunately, it seems that he can't speak our language, although one can never be sure.”
Hotaru nodded and unconsciously eased herself closer to her mother. Well, this could hardly get worse.
Sailor Neptune continued with, “After the battle we got swept into some kind of hyperspace. We don't know anything else, although Canal says that her other half is still alive somewhere. Our shuttle cannot return to normal space on its own.”
Hotaru told herself, once again, to never ever think that it can't get any worse.
Canal said, “Ships are coming. Many ships.”
Kasumi continued to gently play with the cat like Ranma-chan. Despite her best effortts Ranma-chan refused to go to sleep. She wished she had some hot water, since that might snap her out of it, but there didn't seem to be any on the shuttle.
Venus said, “Great, just great.”
Neptune noted that the stranger's ears seemed to perk up at the announcement, but that likely was just do to the general change of atmosphere in the room. She said, “What are our options?”
Canal said, “Without help. I see no way of winning. Whatever Ranma did before caused massive damage to the shielding system that I have no way to repair without Swordbreaker.”
Hotaru once again reminded herself not to ever think that things can't get worse. Across the room, a small smile appeared on Alex's face. It would not be long now.
Shampoo replied in a soft voice.“We go to Peru. There is an ancient lake a few miles from Machu Picchu. Our destination is there.”
“Machu Picchu? Isn't that like the remains of some old city or something?” asked Ukyo. Akane, from across the isle, learned a little toward them so as to hear better.
“Or something,” said Shampoo mysteriously. She continued with, “Shampoo tired. Mousse keep up all night begging to go with me, and Shampoo get no sleep.”
Ukyo gave the girl an odd look, before deciding that since the conversation was apparently at an end, that perhaps she should get some sleep as well.
As they drifted off to sleep, a private jet that had taken off almost an hour later than there own, sped past them. On it were the crew, two middle aged men, a short gnome like figure, and two young men. The older men were sleeping in their chairs, having been tired out in their quest to find the one's youngest daughter. The young men were intently studying an aged scroll, while the gnome like figure was taking a nap with a half empty bottle of wine tucked in the chair to his side and a stack of lingerie magazines open to random pages sitting on the table in front of him.
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