[Host Seg. Idea - interviews] [Segue from Henry] [The scene: A mech bay. Several part-dissasembled mechs are standing around in the backgrounbd. A muscular asian man in a a jacket, a thin man in a labcoat with mad hair and a tall lanky man dressed as a cowboy with an oversized hat are sitting on barrels. Captions come up labelling them as "Mackie Kusanagi", "Professor Grunthos" and "George W. Butros III"] Henry: So, Sel's your unit's leader, correct? Boutros: Ayup. Mackie: "Leader" is too strong a word, but generally, yes. She shouts things at us and makes decisions, and we usually follow them. Grunthos: And she gives me funding for mad mech engineering. Henry: And what's she like to work with? Mackie: Let's see... vain, self-centred, self-importaint, egotistical... she thinks she's so damned great. Grunthos: But she does give me lots of money for me to modify your mech with. Mackie: Well... yeah. Butros: She lets me stand on top of hills an' pelt things with long-range missiles. Mackie: Well, that too. Grunthos: And she looks good in those low-cut tight pants. Mackie: ...yeah... Henry: But she is an effective leader. Mackie: We're yet to all get killed or loose a mission, if that's what you mean. Henry: So how did she become the leader of your unit? [Everyone looks around blankly at each other] Grunthos: She volunteered first. Butros: Nobody else was qualified. Mackie: We all thought that if we aggeed, we had a better chance of getting into her pants. [They all nod sagely] Henry: I see. [Cut to a tacky run-down chinese resturant. A huge troll is hunched over a table, shoveling food into his mouth. Next to him are an over-endowed woman in tight black leather with red hair, a scrawny looking man with a huge miningun and a nonescript man in a longcoat and big hat. Captions come up reading "Ugworth", "Natasha", "Generic Disposable Mage" and "Man with no Personality"] Henry: So you all worked with Lightspeed, right? Ugworth: We did? GDM: Yeah, we did. You remember, the cute Elf girl. Ugworth: Oh yeah. Natasha: I've got a cool truck. Can I tell you about it? Henry: So how was she to work with? Ugworth: Elf girl nice. Elf Girl do cool thing with computer. Elf Girl get lots of money for us through computer. Elf Girl help us in ways. She use computer to turn stuff of so less people shoot at Ugworth. Ugworth once save Elf girl life. Ugworth protect her form explosion with his body. Henry: Did it hurt? Ugworth: Not much. GDM: I dunno, I thought she was a little whiny and self importaint. She was allways acting like she was the leader or something. She allways would say "Generic Dispoisable Mage don't provoke that Dragon!" and "Generic Disposable Mage, don't pick up that bomb!" and "Generic Disposable Mage, don't mess with things that man was not meant to know!" Who does she think she is, my mother? Ugworth: Dat's right! [He slaps the GDM on the back, who goes flying off and collides messily with the wall] Natasha: She was cool. But not as cool as my truck. Want to talk about my truck? [A Generic Disposable mage enters who is identical to the previous one. He steps over the other one's carcass and takes his seat] GDM: Yo. [Alistair - any ideas?] [Cut to a millitary breifing room. Despite the numerous chairs and various aids like whiteboards, projectors, display screens and the like, it looks very badly put together as if hastily constructed. A single man is sitting there. He has short black hair, brown eyes and is wearing a uniform similar to Rick's. A tag comes up saying "Rory Stonewall."] Henry: I understand you were in the same Earth Corps unit as Rick. Rory: That's correct. We trained together and then went on to fight alongside each other for the enrirety of the war. Henry: And how would you describe him? Rory: He was a brash, irrisposable, hot-headed idiot who seemed to never take responsibility for what he was doing. He cruised through life propelled by sheer good luck and stupidty while remaining firmly convinced of his own of his own indestructability. Henry: And yet he'd become the top scoring ace of the war, defeat the top enemy ace on numrerous occasions and go on to marry a supermodel. Rory: ...well, yeah... [Cut back to the apartment set. Henry is standing by the bookshelf, fondly stroking one of the fake mallies.] Henry: Ha ha! Such unique and different personalities. It's no wonder that the Voice chose these four for his try-outs. However, it's strange to think that of them, only one would appear in the "regular" series. [He puts down the Mally and returns to the couch] Henry: In fact, the voice had good reasons for pretending that they, and this tape never existed. As we shall see, it is quite revealing. [He picks up the tape and tries, unsuccessfully, to slot it into the DVD player. After a minute, he sits down and picks up a remote control.] Henry: Join me now for the second half of the lost Elmer Studios Pilot, "the Wandering Star Saga". [He presses a button on the Remote control] > Rbotekmaster: I don't own either Robotech or Tekkaman Blade 2 > Tekkaman Paladin: A shame. You could make a movie out of this! Alistair: Yes, I can see this being a cinematic great. LS: Coming soon to the direct-to-video shelves. Rick: Starring Shannon Tweed, Rutger Haugher, Mark Hamil and Julie Strain's breasts as Natasha. Directed and produced by Roger COrman. > Rbotekmaster: Good idea, but who would play Dana? > Tekkaman Paladin: I'm thinking a hair dyed Nicole Deboer. > Rbotekmaster: Hell Yes! On with the story!!! Alistair: No need to on our account. > The Wandering Star Saga > Part 4: "Revelations" Rick: Revelations was the first bit of the Bible I read. LS: Any reason? Rick: I skipped ahead. I had to find out how it ended. > The Space Knight's war against the evil Radam has just taken a tragic turn. Alistair [Damien Day]: A Space Knight Hyper Voltekka beam accidentally struck this Baghdad market, killing dozens of innocent civillians. And, in the midle of it all is this profound reminder of the tragedy, a battereds child's teddy bear. Sel [Alex]: That teddy bear has been present at every major disaster you've covered! Hand that over. [Alistair grudgily hands her a teddy bear] Sel [Alex]: *And* The bloodstained Plimsoll. > During > the mission to rescue Dana Sterling, Yumi Francois aka Tekkaman Hiver, was ambushed > from behind by the Radam Warlord Krojodan Sel: How Krokojam there managed to sneak up behind anybody mystefies me. LS: He turned his theme music down. > and was gravely wounded by his lancer when > he pierced it through her back. Rick: And getting a three-hundred meter ship shoved through your back would hurt. LS: You think that's bad? What if it was Yellow Belmont? [Rick shudders] > He then flung the wounded girl off his lancer into Vesna's arms, who then fled on > Chief Aki's orders to take the barely alive Yumi to the Blue Earth ship for > emergency treatment. Alistair: JUst to reaiterate the point, Krokojam speared Yumi. Sel: He did? I must havem issed it the first sixteen times. > Krojodan was ready to charge the remaining Tekkamen, but stopped when he saw Dana, > dressed in her rose and gold primary armor, hanging onto Tekkaman Sommer's arm. > Enraged that his plans for her were ruined, he decided to retreat and fight another > day. Alistair: Just to reitierate the point, Krokojam is also an idiot. Sel: Oh, I can live with that. > The Tekkamen had no time to celebrate their victory however, and they raced back > to the awaiting starship to be with their fallen comrade. LS [Aki]: So... we should do something for her. [Pause] Sel [Natasha]: Defintely. Rick [David]: Don't look at me. I don't have the first aid skill. Alistair [Golate]: And am I even here? > Dana was invited to join > them by Aki, and she accepted the Chief's offer, LS [Aki]: Hey, kid! You wanna lift? Sel [Dana]: I dunno, my mum told me never to take lifts from strangers. LS [Aki]: Well, it's a long way back home form here in Low Earth Orbit. Sel [Dana]: I can walk. LS [Aki]: I've got shiny stuff. Sel [Dana]: COOL! > riding with her on the back of Pegasus. Rick: In glorious stop-motion. > * * * * > They landed in the Blue Earth's cargo bay and were met by Natasha, Goliate and > Anita. Sel: Hello! Rick: Hello! LS: Hello! > Natasha had de-transformed and had time to change into a fresh uniform. Rick: No need to hurry on our accounts. > Aki jumped off Pegasus. LS: In glorious stop-motion. > David offered his armored hand to help Dana down, but > she said no thanks and hopped off on her own. Pegasus then converted to robot > mode and returned to its platform. > Natasha walked up to the Chief, sadness and concern apparent in her expression. > "What's her condition?" Aki asked Natasha, afraid to know the answer. LS: Pretty bad. She's loose and has sevre wear and damage. On the other hand she's got all her accessories. If you had the filecard, she'd be worth a bit more. Alistair: Damnation! Damn you blasted figure collecters and your damned guides too! > Natasha couldn't look the Chief in the eye. > "She lost her armor as soon as we got in. The medical staff are working on her > now," Rick: Hang on, how many people are there on this ship? Alistair: Usually just the pilots and the tekkamen. Rick: So where did the medics come from? LS: Ever wonded what was in the first aid kit in your home? Rick: Well there you go. > she shook her head slowly, "Hiyato's with her now, but it doesn't look > good. All that blood." LS: You *sure* this isn't a Troma film? Alistair: I most certainly hope not. > She couldn't speak anymore after that. She covered her > mouth with her hand, trying to stifle the sobs that wouldn't stop coming. LS [Natasha]: Damn it, I'm getting my raw onion all salty. Sel [Natasha]: If she dies, can I have her Hyper-Voltekka? > David folded Natasha into his arms, Alistair: And turned her into a paper crane. > and she cried into his metal shoulder. > He rubbed her back slowly, trying to comfort her. LS: This is touching... except they'tre both in armour... which makes it kinda disturbing. > "Hey, Yumi's going to be okay. Rick [Flint]: Doc called from HQ! Yumi's going to be A-okay! > She's a tough girl, don't worry," he said, and > then felt a metal-gloved hand lightly touch his shoulder. He turned to see > Dana standing behind him. Alistair: Aaah! That hair! Warn me before you do that! > "I'm sorry about your friend. She got injured because you were trying to save > me." she began, but Natasha reached out and slapped her hand away. > "Sorry!? That's all you can say is sorry?! One my best friends is lying in > a infirmary bed right now Sel [Natasha]: *And* Yumi as well. LS: That was cruel. Sel: YOu're right. She doesn't have any friends. > because we had to rescue your sorry ass!" Rick: Dana's arse is anyhtign but sorr- [Sel hits him with a cushion] > she > yelled, her eyes full of anger, and reached back to smack the blonde haired > woman across the mouth, Alistair: I say, slapping the woman in metal armour may not be the best idea. > when David grabbed her arm. > "Natasha, stop it! It wasn't her fault, things like that happen in war. LS: And the fact that Yumi was planning to retire to the country and buy a boat didn't help matters any. > She > couldn't help being abducted by that Radam bastard, Rick: Although going to a 7-11 in the deep south in the middle of the night and driving back home along a spooky deserted road in a battered sedan didn't hurt her chances. > and she didn't ask us > to rescue her. We made that decision on our own, Sel: Actually, those were orders from your boss. > so lay off, okay?" he asked her firmly. > A few tense moments passed, then Natasha lowered her arm and her features > softened somewhat. LS [Natasha]: Damn common sense. > "Your right. I'm sorry, both of you. I'm just worried, you know? I shouldn't > have snapped on you like that," Alistair: Now shake hands. Jolly good both of you. > she said to the other woman. Then Blade walked up to them. > "Enough. We need to get back to base immediately," he said, "Everyone revert > back and report to the bridge." Rick [Blade]: I will be remaining here to watch Dana transform. [Pause] In case there's anything wrong with her. Yes. > The Aki and him walked up to the nearest > shower alcoves embedded in the hanger walls, and the translucent doors slid > open to let them enter. Rick: One of these is actually the secret entrance to CONTROL Headquaters. > But before Aki went in, she turned to Natasha, who > had fully composed herself. > "Will you show our guest how to turn back to normal? Alistair: In Dana's case, "Normal" Is a relative term. > After you're done, have her come to the bridge," she asked. > "Yes Chief," Natasha said, thinking it would be a good time to apologize to > the girl she had almost bitch-slapped. LS: Who are you, strange Radam mutant and what have you done with Natasha? > Aki nodded, and then David, Blade and her walked into the showers and the > doors slid shut behind them. There was a shimmer of light, and Dana could > see an energy field surround their silhouettes, the same color and shape > as their tekkacrystals, but she didn't know that yet. Alistair: The description in this story is... LS: Indescribable? Alistair: Regrettably, yes. > Then she could see, > through the smoky glass, Sel [Dana]: Hey, I can see David's equipment. Rick: Okay, you won the bet on crossover pairing. Happy? > their armor disappear, and they started to get > dressed, grabbing clothes from hidden compartments inside. LS: Good to see that the Space Knights so value their agents' privacy. Rick: And the webcams are only there for security and not as a way to raise extra revenue. > She then felt > Natasha tap her on the shoulder. > "Your turn. You can use this one over here," she said, directing Dana over > to one of the compartments farther down the line. Alistair: Then, much to her surpsise, a man with a big hat and a long scarf stepped out of it. > "Lead the way," Dana replied, following the red-haired woman. LS: We've secretly replaced Natasha with Mai Shiranui. Let's see if anyone notices. Rick: Red hair, big boobs, frequerntly naked... LS: ...probably not. > They reached the shower, and Natasha let Dana in, and then shut the door. Rick [Clark Kent]: This one's in use! Don't you ever knock? > Dana looked around, but had no clue about what to do next. Sel: And this is different to normal because... > "Umm, this is going to sound completely stupid, but.how do I get this armor > off me?!" she shouted. Alistair: If its anything like the 'armour' worn by most human females I meet, moving or breathign should do it. Sel: Huh? Alistair: May fair woman, by the standards of human females in my world, and many other fantasy settings, you are overdressed. > Natasha laughed from outside, making Dana feel even more humiliated, "Hey, > stop being such a wise ass and help me out!" > "Don't worry, it's not that hard. Just image the armor disappearing off of > you. It's that simple," Rick: Armour on, armour off. Armour on, armour off. Armour on- LS: Mouth off. > she said, flipping a strand of red hair out of her face. > "Okay, but if this doesn't work I WILL jump out of here and strangle you," > Dana replied, making it sound like a joke. Alistair: Ha-ha! Homicide! > She dropped her arms to her sides and concentrated hard, and tried to image > her armor vanishing from around her. Then she felt it happen. She started to > glow a light green, LS: Dana, have you been into the U-235 again? Sel [Dana]: mmm... Yelowcake... > then a energy field shaped like her future tekkacrystal; > two outstretched wings attached to a elongated diamond, flashed around her > entire body. With a shimmer of energy, her armor disappeared. She stood > there naked, except for a gold pendant that she was wearing around her neck. > The gold part was shaped like wings with a inch long green jewel embedded > in it's center. Alistair: Once again, I feel I must ask how long the Radam have been making Tekkacrystals in convinient pendants. LS: Oh, about five minutes now. > Dana looked around for something to wear but couldn't find > anything. Rick: So instead she spent the rest of the day swinging around the city wearing a brown paper bag over her head. She beat Doctor Doom while doing it, though. > "Your name's Natasha right?" she asked, "Could you find me something to wear? > It's getting kinda cold in here." Rick: Yes, yes it is. Saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay... [Sel hits him with a cusion] Sel: You know, I could use a couple of these for staff meetings. > Natasha chuckled to herself. She was enjoying watching the new woman squirm. Alistair: YOu are a cruel, vicious and hearltless person. LS: And surpisingly in character. > "We're about the same size, and this is the one I usually use," she said, > indicating the shower, "There's a spare uniform in a compartment in the wall > to the right of the control panel." Sel [Dana]: All I can see in here is a box of one dozen starving, crazed weasels. Is it in there? LS [Natasha]: Um, yes. Yes it is. > Dana heard the amusement in the other woman's voice. "I don't really see > what's so funny," she said as she fiddled with the compartment, "I'm the one > freezing in here, and for your information I haven't had a decent bath in > two days. LS [Natasha]: Hang on. Let... let me lend you Yumi's. It might... um, fit you better. Yeah. > wait, here it is." > She opened the compartment and grabbed the bundle of clothing inside. It > consisted of a tight sleeveless jacket with a wide collar, short skirt, > bracers and boots. She unfolded the uniform and began to dress, but it > took several minutes because she was unfamiliar with the outfit and it was > slightly uncomfortable because she wasn't wearing a bra or panties, but > eventually to her pleasure she got it on right. LS: Let me get this straight. Their standard women's uniform has a miniskirt and they *don't* provide underwear for the change booths? Who made these decisions? Rick: Well, Aki doesn't seem to wear any underwear. Maybe she thought she'd set a trend. Sel: I don't see what the problem is here. I'm not wearing any underpants. LS: You're not helping. > She didn't mind the skirt, but she noticed that the jacket, which fit her > snugly, let more of her breasts show than her old Southern Cross uniform. Alistair: And remember, it's not sexist, it's futuristic! Rick: In an entrirly retro-sixties kind of a way. > After slipping on the boots and putting on the bracers, she opened the door > and saw Natasha waiting for her. Dana didn't notice it, but Natasha's > eyebrows lifted in surprise when she exited. > "Jeez, she's got the body of a model! She puts Yumi to shame," Natasha > thought, envious of the other woman's curves, Rick: Hang on, Natasha's envious of Dana's figure? When she's taller, slimemr and, well, bigger? LS: Authour favouritisim or just plain blindness? You be the judge. Sel: Say, how do you know how "big" Dana is? Rick: I've got Southern Cross perfect colelction tapes. I'm not blind. Sel: Curse eighties-style anime fanservice. Rick: Hang on, she's jelous of Yumi's figure? LS: Maybe Yumi's bigger if adjusted or height. Or somehting. [Damn, too early to make a Seras joke] > "But what's with that hairdo? Alistair: It's a fine hairdo... for a poodle. > I've never seen a blonde puffball before.never mind. One thing's for sure; > I have to keep David away from her at all costs. He has eyes for me but you > can never tell what he's thinking." Sel [David]: mmm... Dead... LS: Fangirl. Sel: You'll see. One of these days slashfic authouts won't be limited to Gundam Wing. > She could see Dana walking up to her, still fiddling with her borrowed clothes. > "So how are they? Not too uncomfortable I hope?" Natasha asked. > "They're fine, a bit tight in places, but I'll get used to it. Sel [Dana]: The chest is way to tight, and the waist is far too loose. LS [Natasha]: must... kill... you... > This jacket > shows more cleavage than I'd like, but I've worn stranger," Dana replied, > remembering the dress she bought in Monument City during the earliest days > of the war. LS: Now try to imagine Nova or Marie in that dress. Sel: Ugh. Fashion disasters. LS: ...no coment... > "Ha ha ha ha. You sound like an old friend of mine," Natasha began, but was > interrupted when the ship jolted suddenly, causing both of the women to loose > their balance and slip to the floor. Rick: Am I the only one who is seeing all of this as one long lemon set-up? > "What was that?!" Dana said as she and Natasha got to their feet, only to > have the ship rock again. Alistair: Damned sunday drivers! > "We're entering Earth's atmosphere," Natasha declared, and grabbed Dana's > arm, pulling towards the exit, "Come on, we have to get to the bridge!" > * * * * * > A couple of corridors and a turbolift ride later, Rick: Um, how big is this ship, exactly? Alistair: It is exactly the same length as any three corridoors in the Sundry Pump House (or BBC back lots if you prefer - Fish) > they reached the bridge. > The metal door swished open, and everyone inside turned their heads to look > at them as they walked in. All: Well hello, Newmann. > "We're here Chief," said Natasha, who went to join a young man on the lower > section, just below the command console. > "Alright. Take your station," Aki said, then looked at the other woman, > "Your name's Dana, right? Strap yourself in, we're about to hit more turbulence > in a minute." > Dana thanked her and walked over to the seat attached to the bulkhead and > strapped in, mumbling under her breath about being through worse things than > a little turbulence. Sel [Dana]: Mutter grumble blew up a Tirolian mothership fought hordes of killer clones touched the exposed terminals and all that. Rick: Say, in SDC Southern Cross, what do you think was with 'Aurora Sterling' anyway? LS: Don't worry. When the last Perfect Collection tapes come out, we'll know. > She saw that Aki's chair and console were elevated above the rest of the > bridge, and on the lower part Natasha was sitting next to the controls on > the right and an extremely handsome man with spiky blonde hair manning the > left. LS: What Roy Fokker was doing htere was anyone's guess. > The middle console and chair was empty, and Dana guessed that David > and Natasha's wounded friend sat there. Then David swiveled in his chair > to look at her. Rick [David as Blowfeld]: So good to see you, Ms Sterling. Now, it is time for you to die. > "Hey. You look great. I'm glad I was able to rescue you mademoiselle," he > said, holding out his hand. Sel: Okay, I know I called it, but I think the authour's going a bit out for their way to prove me right. > Dana blushed and shook his hand, then quickly looked away, but out of the > corner of her eye she could see and hear Natasha giving David a tongue > lashing about Yumi being hurt and the only thing being on his mind was girls! Rick [David]: Wait! I can think my way out of this situation using my four incredibly advanced brains! Alistair [David]: I'm cold. LS [David]: I'm tired. Sel [David]: I'm hungry. Rick [David]: Where are the babes? > The rest of the trip passed in silence. The Blue Earth flew over the > northern Pacific Ocean, past Japan, Sel: They got stuck in a holding pattern with the God phoinex and Gamera. > heading south. They would be back at > base in a few minutes. LS: No, you fool! That's Crescent Coral! Your base is the other way! Alistair: Two Gatchaman riffs in a row? How extraordianry! > Dana was deep in thought, trying to decide what to > do next. Here she was, stranded in an unknown dimension, Alistair: A dimension not of sight and not of sound. LS: But of crap. > and she had gained > armor she had the ability to transform into but didn't know anything about. > It reminded her of the superheroes she used to read about in the comic books > she had as a little girl. Sel: What kind of comic books reminded her of this? Rick: Probably the early Leifield or McFairline Image ones. LS: Nah, KrokojAam's got too much personailty for that. > Then there was the matter of Krojodan. Rick [Kojodan]: Yeah! Where am I? Where's my big scene? Am I even in this fic anymore? HELLO?! Sel: We love you, Krokojam. LS: He makes everything better. > She reached into her borrowed > jacket and took out her primary crystal and stared at it. Sel [Dana]: Sparkley. > She knew, without > any doubt, no matter what she had to go through, she had to hunt down > and kill him. Rick: She swore that she wouldn't rest untill she found Krokojam and got her revenge! But first... a side quest to get a pretty new dress! > She would make him pay for what he did. How she was going > to do it was an entirely different story, however. Alistair: She owuld egg his place of residence. She would leave bags of burning excrement on hos doorstep. She would make joke telephone calls at unusual hours. She would be a young rapscallion, engaging in all manner of shenannigans. > "You look stressed. Understandable," someone said from in front of > her, breaking her reverie. Dana looked up and saw a man dressed in > black jeans, a Space Knight jacket with the sleeves rolled up, and > he had slicked back black hair. He also wore sunglasses, and she > could see a scar running down his left eye behind the brown lenses. Sel: Oh look, it's... the man. LS [Dana]: Well my last boyfriend just blew himself up, so I'm not doing anyhting tonight. > Dana shook her head, "Nah. Just thinking about what happened. I owe > you people my life. I have a lot to get used to, but I'm fine, really!" > she smiled at him, "I didn't catch your name. I'm Dana Sterling. Pleased > to meet you." > "The pleasure is mine. I had a name, Rick [Cobra Comander]: I was once a man... a mannn... Sel: I don't think that's really appropriate. Rick: It's NEVER a bad time for Cobra Commander! You'll see, he'll be big again someday! > a long time ago, but people call me > D-Boy now," he replied. > "What does the D stand for?' Alistair [D-Boy]: Dodo. [Pause] Alistair [D-Boy]: I never said it was a good name! > "Dangerous" > "Okay.were you one of the.what's that word again?' Rick: Umptious? > "Tekkaman" > "That's it. Were you one of the Tekkamen out there?" > "Yes. I was the one in the white armor. They call me Tekkaman Blade." Alistair [D-Boy]: Because I have a blade. And I'm a Tekkaman. Hence the name Tekkaman Blade. > Suddenly Dana's expression became downcast. This man had seen his comrade > seriously wounded, and she was to blame, but not entirely. Sel [Dana]: It was an accident. Well, mostly an accident. > There was one other being that deserved the most blame. > "Krojodan, that bastard. What he did was beyond cruel. I've seen some > horrendous sights, but what he did to your friend tops my list. Alistair: So how about when the Radam turned all your family into Tekkamen and you had to kill them in order to save the planet? Rick [D-Boy]: Well, besides that. LS: And when they bombarded the entire Earth from orbit just to lure you into an obvious trap? Rick [D-Boy]: And that. Sel: And when the network yanked your show midway through the run? Rick [D-Boy]: BASTARDS! > He seemed to enjoy that she was in pain," Rick [Krokojam]: Well what do you want? I'm Evil! Evil! > she said, the hatred of the Radam apparent > in her eyes. > "Yes, and that's unusual even for a Radam. He seemed almost.human.almost. LS: That sounds allmost like... forshadowing... almost... > Anyway, where are you from? Do you have any family we should contact?" > he asked. > Dana averted her eyes at that. It wasn't the time to let the cat out of > the bag just yet. Rick: Besides, *you* try explaining Aurora to anyone. > "That's going to take a lot of explaining. I'd like to talk to your leader > before I say anything, if that's alright." LS: The question is, of she did explain, would they belive it? Sel: If they can accept the existance of Krokojam, I think they can accept anyhting. > "That's acceptable, and just so you know Aki and I created the space knights > together." Alistair: What about Freeman? Didn't he create the space knights? Rick: Oh, he did, but they "Reinterpitated" it. Alistair: Ah. > "Oh, I get it. You're partners, or.maybe more than partners, right?" Dana > implied, a gleam in her eye. Rick [D-Boy]: Actually, the Space Knights are registered in her name for tax reasons. > D-Boy seemed amused, "That's.another story for another time, and it seems > we're home," he pointed at the main viewer. > Dana looked out, and could see the Space Knight HQ just over the horizon. > "Oh, wow." she mumbled. The base was situated on a man made lagoon in the > middle of the ocean, and had an entire city built around it. Rick [D-Boy]: You like it? We made it out of coconuts. Sel: Gilligan's Island: The Next Generation! > There were > many buildings rising hundreds of feet in the air, and the communications > antennas rising even higher than that. LS: And billboards above those! > The buildings were steel gray in > color, and by the looks of it some of them had been repaired recently. Alistair: One must allways look one's best when there are visitors around. > She could also see civilians walking on pathways or visiting the local > beaches, which surprised her. Civilians usually weren't allowed on > military bases as far as she knew. Rick: It's a basic millitary regulation and all... LS: Without Nova to keep her brain switched on, Dana's really, really flakey. > Then she heard Aki talking into a headset she was wearing. > "Aki Kisaragi to Space Knight HQ. Honda, do you read me?" she said into > the small microphone. Rick: She's calling for E. Honda? Why? Sel: He's the emergency stop in case the ship's brakes fail. > "This is Honda," said a gruff voice from the speaker, "Go ahead Chief." > "Honda, we'll be coming in soon. I need a medical team waiting for us in > the hanger bay when we arrive." Sel [Aki]: Better have a body bag ready too. Just in case. > There was a slight pause before Honda spoke again. > "They're on their way. What happened?" he asked, his voice betraying his > apprehension. Alistair: They didn't like the cucumber sandwitches. > Aki didn't want to tell him. Yumi had been his favorite mechanic before > she became a Tekkaman, but she couldn't lie to her friend. > "Yumi's been injured," was all she said. > She heard Honda gasp over the speaker. > "My God. What happened? How bad is it?" LS [Aki]: It's nothing to worry about at all. Sel [Natasha]: Can someone get a mop back here? It's disgusiting! Rick [Honda]: ...I see. > "I'll tell you in a minute. We're coming in." > The Blue Earth descended until it was only a few feet above the ocean. Alistair: Er, excuse me, but I thought that you'd like to know that the runway is in the *other* direction. > It's landing gear locked into place, and it touched down on the airstrip > with a jolt, and David drove it back into the main hangar bay. > The Space Knights and Dana disembarked, and were met by Honda, Sel: -Zangief, Hugo, Birdie, Garuda- > Dead-End, Rick: -Dragstrip, Breakdown, Wildrider- > the cadets LS: [?] > and a full medical team. Yumi was taken off the ship on a > wheeled bed, Alistair: Or, in more commonplace conversation, a stretcher. > and IV needles protruded from her arm, connected to bags > hanging off a pole rising from one of the bedposts. Rick: She's got raspbrerry. Lucky stiff. LS: Wrong chocie of words. Rick: Oops. > She was wearing a > breath mask to help her shallow breathing, and she was unconscious and > extremely pale. LS: In case you missed it the first fourty-three times, she got speared through. > Hiyato was right by her side, holding her hand. They > rushed her to the infirmary immediately. > Aki and D-Boy headed to the main control room, and the Chief told Natasha > to take Dana to the infirmary as well, to be checked out. Rick: And that's twenty-three fifty for the Dana. LS [Natasha]: Damn, uh, can I put that on my card? > She then went > back to telling Honda about Yumi's condition, and the man's face became > visibly distraught. Alistair [Honda]: Oh Bother. Now I'll never get back that twenty she owned me. Such a fix. > Natasha walked Dana to the infirmary, and on the way she introduced her > to Dead-End and the cadets. Dana thought that Jeffrey and Samantha were > cool, if inexperienced as soldiers and a bit nervous around the other > Tekkamen. Rick [Alistair]: Hello! Self-inserions here being ingored! > She sensed a kind of kindred spirit in Dead-End, but was put > off by his cynisistic attitude. Rick: Is that a word? LS: Yes, they're so much alike in their clueless happiness and love for life. Sel: And later, they're gonna do each other's nails. > They reached the infirmary, but just as they were about to enter Dana > felt something flash over her, a distant memory she could just feel in > the back of her mind. Suddenly, in her mind's eye, she saw herself as a > little girl, strapped to a table in a hospital gown. Rick: There was a man with big thighs, and a whole bunch of women in white. And a dog too. > The room smelled of > strange chemicals, and over on a shelf she saw a Flower of Life encased > in glass. Sel: Let's see... [Reading] Water twice a day.... organic plant foods... do not drop... beware the spores... LS: Arthur the Avocado lives! > A shadow came over her, and her younger self looked up to see > the face of LS: The Virgin Mary in a tablecloth! All: Ooooh! > Lazlo Zand. LS: That would have been my second pick. > His beady eyes stared into hers with a look she > couldn't begin to describe, and she felt the icy hand of terror grip her > heart. Rick: And the obnoxious hand of Nelson give her a wedige. > She started to sweat, going visibly pale, her breathing became > shallow, and she had to put a hand to her mouth to stifle the scream that > was about to emerge. All: Aieeeee! > Natasha, Dead-End and the others saw Dana go pale, her eyes dimming, > her breathing becoming shallow. Alistair: She's having another episode! Quick! Loosen her clothes Rick: I'll gladly volunteer. [Sel hits him again] > She looked like she was about to scream, > but couldn't. Samantha decided to take a chance and shook the older > woman's shoulder gently. LS: So this ubercadet is *younger* then an allready *underaged* Dana? Sel: They recruited her from prescool. > Dana blinked, coming out of whatever spell > she was under, and shook her head, trying to shake off the aftereffects > of her vision. Sel [Dana]: Little... flower girl! Makes... no sense! > "Hey are you okay? You went white as a sheet," Alistair: That's just the colour change between NTSC master versions. Happens all the time. > Natasha said, concerned > for the blonde haired woman's health. Maybe the tekkaman transformation > process affected her body worse than they thought. Rick: Looks okay to me. [Sel holds a cushion over him menacingly] What? I was just saying that she looked good. [Raises cusion] I mean in good health! Will you put that thing down? [LS Hits him] Sel: Score! LS: Had to be done. > Dana looked at them and gave a slight smile, but you could see the > weakness in her eyes. > "Don't worry, I'm fine. I just had a couple of...bad experiences with > labs, that's all. Sel [Dana]: I had this job in a lab, where I woerked for a mad scientist and his goofy sidekick... only they hit me on the head and sent me into space and made me watch bad movies... [Normal] what? Why are you all looking at me like that? > Let's just get this over with," she said, trying to > put them at ease. LS [Samantha]: She scares me. Rick [Jeffery]: I am filled with fear. > The group entered the Infirmary, and left Dana with the Chief Medical > Officer, while the others went to check on Yumi who was resting > comfortably in her hospital bed. Alistair: One presumes that this is as comfortable as one can be when one has a hole straight through them. > She was still unconscious and hooked > up to a respirator and other equipment, but she looked much more colorful Rick: I see they've got the Funskool version. Sel: Funskool? Rick: They're a company in India that kame bizzre GI Joe variants. Sel: Well that sounds silly. > and was breathing much more soundly. The nurse informed them that she > was scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning. > Dana was put through a number of tests, including a complete body scan > and DNA test. She passed with flying colors; Rick: How do you "pass" a DNA test? LS: Some of my associates could fail one. > she was perfectly healthy, Alistair: She takes a long walk every day, is regularily groomed and has been checked for fleas, ticks and stomach worm. [They all glare at him] Well its what *I* call perfect health! > though she knew that a surprise awaited the person who studied her DNA > test results. Sel: For little did they know, she was actually... A half slime! > As she was finishing getting dressed, a medical tech. > accidentally walked in on her. Startled, she swung around and belted > him full in the mouth, knocking him back ten feet over a table and into > a wall. Rick: What did she hit him with, a bus? > He slumped down to the floor, rubbing his aching skull. Alistair [Tech]: I had nothing to do with any of this. Why did I get beaten up? > Realizing > what she had done, Dana got down and helped the man up, apologizing profusely. > "I'm so sorry! I jump off the handle like that sometimes. Are you alright?" > she said, hoping she didn't hurt him too badly. LS: She merely caved in the back of his skull. Nothing to worry about. > The tech winced. "Sure, I'm fine," he got to his feet, "That's some > punch you got there. Anyway, Doc Samson wants one final blood test. Rick: He's just checking for Gamma Radiation induced mutations. Just in case. LS: After that punch, I don't blame him. > Your arm please." > "Oh, sure, here ya go," Dana said, rolling up the sleeve of the t-shirt she > had been given to wear. > The tech drew the blood through her forearm with an air syringe that > didn't hurt at all. > "Boy, will they be surprised when that result comes back," Dana thought, > but then saw the tech's eyes perk up. > "Did you say something?" he asked. > "Ummmm...it's nothing, really. I'm fine!" she said, and smiled at him. Rick [Medtech]: Okay. Right. Well.. I'll just go now... Yes. I'll be off. Goodbye! Alistair: If I were him, I'd be a very, very scared man by now. > The tech cocked an eyebrow, not entirely convinced. He started to leave, > but turned around again. > "Oh, I almost forgot. The Chief asked me to tell you that you've already > been assigned quarters with the other Tekkamen. Room number 7 on B level, > right next to Natasha's place, I think," he said. LS: Natasha was just a normal Space Knight untill her whacky half-alien neighbour moved in next door and a crazy Alien warlord tried to ravage the planet! That's Natasha's Apartment, coming to aan early morning filler slot this non-definte season! > "Thanks. I appreciate the info," Dana replied, "Do you think I could meet > with her tomorrow morning? There's something I need to tell her, in private." > The tech nodded, "I'll pass along the message, and she wanted me to give you > these." Rick: A paperclip, two blank CDs, a feather, a twenty-sided dice and some pocket lint. LS: Funnily enough, she will manage to find a use for all of those except the pocket lint. > He held out a keycard and a fancy looking watch. He explained that the > keycard would let her into her quarters, while the watch had the current > time and a holographic map of the base in it, which Dana could activate if > needed. LS: While this button activates a GPS display, this one activates a communicator, this one activates a geiger counter and this one activates a homing beacon that can be detected anywhere on earth or in near space. Sel [Dana]: What do I do if I want to tell the time? LS: Now you're being silly. > He then left, still rubbing his jaw. Alistair: And then dissapeared, never to be seen again. > She put on the watch and tucked the keycard into her pants pocket, Sel: But she's not wearing any pants. LS: Dana would regret this oversight when she found herself lokced out of her room. > and was > about to leave the infirmary when she realized she had forgotten one other > important item. She grabbed her primary crystal off the chair it had been > resting on LS: ...I can see that this will end well. Alistair [D-Boy]: Dana, becuae you *misplaced* your crystal, the rest of the Space Knights were slaughtered by Krokojam. Do you have anything to say for yoursefl? Sel [Dana]: Don't worry, sir. I found it in the end. It was on my coffee table all along. > and slid it around her neck, letting it rest underneath her shirt. > Before she left, she looked over to where Yumi was sleeping. Seeing that > the others had left already, Dana walked over to her bed. She felt a deep > sense of guilt for putting her in that situation. Putting her hand on top > of Yumi's, Dana wished her a speedy recovery in Zentraedi Alistair: Actually there's no Zentraedi term for that. Sel: So what did Dana just say? Alistair: "May you be recycled into something yummy." > and vowed to > exterminate Krojodan with all the power she had. Sel [Dana, chanting]: May the fools who stand before me be destroyed by the power that you and I posess... > She strolled out of the > infirmary, taking one last look at Yumi before the door slid closed, > unaware that someone had been observing her with interest. Dead-End nodded > to himself, there was something strange about this woman, All: NO! > and he was going to find out what. Rick [Dead]: And how she gets her hair to stay up like that. > * * * * * > Dana strolled down a corridor, attracting stares from people as she went. Alistair: That's not her, that's Dead trailing her disguised as a shrubbery. > "Figures. Word must spread around this base quick," she shrugged, "I guess > things don't change no matter what dimension you're in." Sel: Actualy, it's just your hair. They've never seen anything like it. > She stopped and took a look out the window, and noticed that the tropical > sun had only begun to dip in the cloudless sky, causing the water below to > sparkle. LS: This is the sort of monment tourisim commercials are made out of. > Dana looked at her watch and discovered that it was only 3:00 in > the afternoon, far too early for sleep! Rick: Sleep is for the week! [He dozes off] > She brought up a map of the base, > and found a gym a few levels lower. She decided to head over there, > and when she arrived she found it not being used. Alistair; Given his description, I'm surprised that Hiyato isn't here working out. Sel: He doesn't need to. He's just naturallt buff. LS: Given the way the authour is going on and thiar level of subtely, I'd have thougth David would be here, working out in a pair of tiny speedos. Sel: Say... > Inside were various mats, weapons, and a few punching bags hanging from > the ceiling. She decided to take out her frustrations on a few unfortunate > bags. Dimming the lights, she tied up her shirt just above her navel and > hiked up the legs of her pants just below her knees. Sel: I thought she was wearing a skirt. Alistair: Well, she tied up the leg of her skirt then. Sel: Well that makes... no, no it doesn't. > Dana did a few stretches and then took a deep breath to try and clam herself, Sel [Dana]: Calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean, calm blue... Alistair [Dead]: I say, excuse me- Sel [Dana]: What?!? You dare to interrupt me? POW! Alistair [Dead]: I had nothing to do with this. WHy did I get beaten up? Sel [Dana]: I feel much better now. > and then swiftly executed a hapkido form at full speed, her movements > barely a blur. LS: So.. her movements were slow or... they were very fast or... ACK! Description... not... making sense... Rick: I can string together an umpty-dozen hit combo with Baek just by mashing the buttons. Sel: Anyone can do that. > She hit the bags in rapid succession, sending them flying > away, the shock of her blows sending ripples through the leather. > The warrior part of her personality came forward, her vision narrowing, > until the only things she was aware of were the bags and herself. Then > they appeared to morph into the appearances of all of her enemies. Leonard, LS: I wouldn't call the Leonard an enemy, really. Alistair: And if you were in the German Sixth Army, how would you fell about Von Paulus? LS: Ouch. > the Robotech Masters, Joseph Pietre, Rick: Great, Terry Weston's never around when you really need him. [Blank stares all round] Rick: Very obscure. > and even Lazlo Zand taunted her, Rick: And Dalmeric Khane, even. LS: Hey, what's the difference between that guy and Krokojam anyway? They both stripped her, stuffed her in a tank and tried to turn her into a megaweapon and had the surprise to be shocked when she turned on them. Sel: Khane had nicer hair. > using her every weakness, every mistake as a weapon. Alistair: It scored a critical hit with "The clothes she wore when she was yougner" Sel: I thought those were oulawed by the Geneva Convention > She tried to > fight back, but every time she hit an apparition it only reappeared, LS: That's because she keeps going back three steps and causes it to re-spawn. > yelling even louder than before. It felt like a red-hot poker was > being stuck into her brain, and she couldn't take anymore! > "Stop, please...leave me alone!" she screamed as she grabbed the sides of > her head and dropped to her knees, the pain almost unbearable. > "Why is happening to me!? Why!? Why!?" she sobbed. It was becoming harder > to breathe, and Dana thought right then she was going to die. But then > another vision appeared before her, and it was the last person she would > have ever expected. Rick: Mark Landry? What's he doing here? > It wore the face of Angelo Dante. > "Hey Dana, are you gonna let these second rate ghost push you around? Well?" > he asked, arms crossed in front of him, he was wearing the same scowl he > always wore. > "Angelo? Is that really you?! Or am I going even more off the deep end?!" > Dana shouted, looking at him. She hoped, with all her heart, that this was > real and not her mind playing tricks on her. > He crouched down so he could look into her eyes. > "Sort of. The reason these images can torture you like this is because > even though you try to act tough all the time, you're scared, scared of > what lies ahead, aren't you?" Angelo said, putting a hand on her shoulder. > Dana never heard him use that tone of voice that gentle before. It was > completely out of character for him, but maybe she didn't know him as well > as she thought she did. "Scared? Helpless is more like it. Here I am, the > woman who led the 15th to victory, and when Krojodan speared Yumi I > couldn't lift a finger to help! Not one!" she yelled, berating > herself for her display of weakness, wiping a tear from her eye. > Angelo chuckled and helped Dana to her feet. She noticed that the images > that had been tormenting her had disappeared. > "Dana, you were in no position to help even if you wanted to, ma'am," > he said, "You are the toughest person I know, but these circumstances > have thrown you completely through a loop. You just need to become stronger." > Dana dried her tears and smiled at her friend and former XO. > "Thanks Angie, you're a great guy, you know that?" she said sheepishly. > "Thanks. Looks like my time's up, so go and rest. You'll feel better in the > morning," he said, and enfolded her in a tight hug, Dana letting her headrest > on his chest, enjoying the rhythm of his breathing and the warm of his body. > She looked into his eyes and nodded, and suddenly he was gone, leaving her > alone in the chilly room. She then realized the destruction she had wrought > to the poor punching bags. Two were leaking sand, one was broken off the > chain, and the last was halfway across the room in two pieces. Dripping > sweat, Dana laughed to herself and headed to her quarters. > * * * * * * > The door to Dana's quarters slid open, and she was astonished by what she > saw. The whole place had been completely furbished already, with a bed, > carpeting, and a desk with a flat screen computer on it, and there were > several paintings on the wall. A glass door opened outward to a balcony > overlooking the tropical sea. The door itself was covered with curtains. > Dana checked the drawers of the dresser and the closet, and discovered > to her delight that clothes, including bra and panties (how they knew > her dress size she could only guess at), had been made for her already > and fit her perfectly. She selected the best sleeping clothes, and went > into the bathroom and undressed. > AN: You fanboys can stop drooling now. ; ) LS: I'd like to know why the authour mentions it now, when we've had plenty of fanservice so far. Heck, Dana spent most of the first half of the fic naked. Rick: Sorry, what were you saying? [Wipes chin on his hand] LS: Never mind. > She took a hot shower, letting the water was away the sweat, grime, and > the residual fear from her experience, letting it go down the drain. After > she had dried off, she put on a loose shirt and shorts and undid the covers > of her bed. Stretching out on the feather-soft mattress, she pulled up > the covers and drifted off to sleep. > * * * * * * > Early the next morning, Aki went to check on Yumi, and headed off to > the infirmary, getting in her daily jog while she was at it. She got to > the door, and was about to enter when she spied Hiyato through the > door's plate glass window. He was stretched out on a cot right next > to Yumi's bed, asleep, one of his hands intertwined with hers. Aki > smiled lightly, and decided to let the young pilot rest a little while > longer. > "Chief! There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you!" said a > gruff voice from behind. Aki turned to see Doctor Samson running up to > her, completely out of breath. > "You look pale," she observed, moving a strand of dark blue hair out of > her face, "What's wrong?" > The good doctor paused to catch his breath, then said, "We just > finished the blood work on Ms. Sterling, and... well, see for yourself!" > He handed her a piece of paper. Aki took it from him and scanned its > contents. What she read made her gasp in astonishment. Sel [Aki]: Two hearts? The hell? > "Are you sure about this?" she asked, indicating something on the page. > "Absolutely," he said, convinced of his findings, "What are you going > to do now?" > She lowered her voice to a whisper; "First, you're for the time being > under orders not to show that to anyone else, understood? I need to have > a talk with our guest." She handed him his document back, then quickly > headed for Dana's quarters. > * * * * * * > Dana was sound asleep in her bed, some drool running down her lip, All: ... LS: This authour never lets up, does he? > when > a beam of sunlight woke her up. She cursed and rubbed the sand out of her > eyes and wiped the drool off her chin, and was seriously considering > killing the person who opened the curtains, until she saw that the person > was Aki. > "How long did you think we were going to let you sleep in? Today's a big > day," she said, pulling out the chair from the desk and sitting down. > Rather than being angry with the Chief for waking her so abruptly, Dana > was rather glad she did. > "Well, I wanted to sleep for most of the day, but then I had this > disturbing dream. I was married to David and had seven kids!" Dana said > in mock horror, and sat up, throwing off the covers to her feet, "So > why 'yawn!' are you here so early?" > Aki laughed so hard that she almost gagged. David with kids, which > would be a sight, but she quickly went silent again. > "Dana, we got your blood tests back, you're not human, are you? At > least not completely" she said in a neutral tone, silently hoping that > she wouldn't have to use the two shot pistol she had hidden in the > back of her uniform. > Dana sighed. She knew this would happen, but didn't expect this > confrontation so soon. > "I'm not going to lie to you. I'm half Zentraedi," she replied > bluntly. She searched Aki's features fro any sign of malice, but > didn't find anything. She guessed that the woman was good at hiding > her emotions. > "Zentraedi," Aki whispered, trying out the word, "I've never heard > of any other aliens besides the Radam. So that makes you half human > I presume?" > Dana nodded as she got out of bed and began messing with the covers, > "Yep. My father is human, my mother is Zentraedi. I'm the first of > my kind, but I just found out that I have a sister, but I haven't > seen her yet." > "Interesting. So which system do they come from?" Aki asked, getting > up from her chair and sitting back down on the edge of the bed. > But Dana shook her head sadly, "You won't find them anywhere in this > galaxy," she said, staring at the sheets, knowing what she would say > next would shock the older woman to her core. > The Chief cocked an eyebrow, "Why's that? Wait, let me guess, the > Radam exterminated them, right?" Rick: Well, I was going to say "Invid", but close enough. > Dana's head shot up and she stared right into Aki's eyes. > "No! That's not it! The reason you won't find them is because... they > don't exist in this universe!" she practically shouted, and the Chief's > eyes widened and she put a hand to her mouth to conceal her surprise. > She felt her heart skip a beat, and she leapt off the bed. > "W...wha...what!? What did you say!?" Aki almost shouted in her > astonishment, and Dana stopped making the bed and sat down. > "I'd better explain, so you should get some breakfast if you haven't > already," she said, a bit of her old confidence creeping into her > voice. She did just that, starting with the First Robotech War and > going on from there, with Aki asking questions every so often. Dana > talked about the Rain of Death, the launch of the SDF-3, the coming > of the Robotech Masters and the Second Robotech War and finally her > disappearance off the bridge of the Homeward Bound and her capture > by Krojodan. Dana finished and glanced at the clock, her story had > taken more than an hour. Aki slumped back down onto the bed, feeling > faint. > "My God...incredible. If what you're telling me is true," she muttered, > putting a hand to her temples. She had woken up with a headache and > it was only getting worse. > "It is, trust me. I've been through too much crap in my life to > start lying now," Dana said, understanding Aki's position. For all > the Chief knew Dana was some sort of Radam spy. Dana knew that she would > act in the same manner. > "You said you disappeared from your home dimension and reappeared here. > What exactly happened?" the Chief asked as she headed for the bathroom > and a bottle of Aspirin. Dana got up and finished making the bed, talking > as she worked. > "I was on the bridge of my ship, the Homeward Bound. We were in mid- > fold..." she started to say, but the Chief interrupted her. > "Fold? I never heard of the term. What is it?" she asked. > "That's how we get from star to star. Anyway, the fold was almost done > when my friends and I were tossed around like toys when a hyperspace > shock wave hit us. I felt an intense pain right after and blacked out. > The next thing I know I'm strapped to a living wall inside the Radam > ship completely naked with Krojodan eyeing me up!" Dana shuddered at > the last sentence. > "Hmmm. That explains something. About a week ago a group of Radam ships > tried to bring down the moon with a black hole generator. It backfired > badly and destroyed both of the vessels, but it generated a hyperspace > ripple. Perhaps those events are related," Aki deduced. > "It's too much of a coincidence for them not to be," Dana said, and she > went into the bathroom and splashed water on her face. She toweled off > and went back to the other room. Aki went up to her and put a hand on > Dana's shoulder. > "Don't worry, we'll find a way to get you home. I'm sure it can be done," > Aki said reassuringly. > Dana nodded in appreciation. > "Thanks. I got a lot of people waiting for me on Tirol. They probably > think I'm dead..." she said, looking away, letting the sentence trail off, > a sad look in her eyes. > "What are you going to do now?" Aki asked, but had a decent idea of what > the younger woman was going to say already. Call it a commander's hunch. > Dana showed Aki her primary crystal. > "I want to join you. I can't beat Krojodan the way I am now. I want to go > all the way and become a full tekkaman like you and Blade," she declared, > "Besides, I'll loose my mind if I just sit around and do nothing. I'm a > soldier after all. It's what I do." > Aki smiled warmly. She expected this and had prepared for it. > "I thought you would. Check out your closet," she said, pointing across > the room. > Dana walked over to the closet, and when she opened it her jaw dropped > to the floor. Inside were three brand new Space Knight uniforms in her > size, and were colored the same as her armor. A rose jacket with a gold > color and a short skirt the same color as the jacket. She turned back to > Aki, who held out her hand. > "Welcome to the team, Tekkaman Valkerye," the Chief said. Sel [Dana]: Can I be Tekkaman Spartas instead? Rick: Bloody Macross facists. > Dana shook Aki's hand, and then the Chief had a sudden thought. > "Do you want me to tell the others, or do you want to do it?" she asked. > Dana laughed, "No, I'll tell them. Just have a medical team standing by. > I'm positive that Hiyato will faint! The guy has thin blood or something." > Aki snickered at that, then left Dana so she could get dressed, mentioning > that her that her training would begin in a couple days. Dana showered and > dried her hair, and put on her new uniform and boots. She stepped outside > onto the balcony, letting the warm morning breeze finish off the last drops > of water in her hair. > "So this is what Zor meant about trials," she thought, letting her > former lover's words roll through her head, trying to grasp their meaning, > hoping to find some sort of strength from them. She closed her eyes and > took a cleansing breath, letting the fresh air blow away her doubts for > the moment. She knew what she had to do; now she only needed to see it > through. She looked up into the clear blue sky. > "Mom, dad, sis, and especially you Angie, please wait for me," she > thought, trying to send her thoughts to her friends and family, even if > they were in a different dimension. > "I don't know when I'll be back, but I have made some new friends here, > and I'm damned well sure that they'll give me a hand. For the first time, > I feel truly happy. I can start clean here, and not have to worry about > what people think of me...heh, look at me, getting all sappy. This isn't > like me at all. The trip to this weird dimension must've fried my brains!" > Dana stood there for a few minutes more, then decided to visit Yumi and > the others. Better to tell them about her history now rather than later. > To be continued.... > * * * * * * > Part 5: "The Homeward Bound Returns" Coming soon! > A thank you to all my reviewers also in the next chapter! [Closing host seg - what ever happened to?; interview with a Mysterious Informer]