F U R R Y M E C H - I I Unlikely Meetings Copyrighted (C) 1991 by Conrad Wong This work is not public-domain. Though it is distributed over an electronic forum, no permission is given to include this work in other works (in part or in whole), to modify it, publish it (i.e. make hardcopies and send them out), etc. Please, ask the author before you do anything other than reading it, which is the point of distribution. All rights are normally reserved. The author may be contacted at: lynx@netcom.com (preferable) cwong@cory.berkeley.edu (this address expires after the summer of '91) His real mail address is: Conrad Wong 28368 Christopher's Lane Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 Persona Dramatis: (in no particular order) Vixen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vixen Neko Tomoe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ErmaFelna Trey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trip Tanji Hikaryu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jon-Ra Stephan of Malkar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephan Doctor Strangelynx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lynx Tygryss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tygryss Sthiss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sthiss Ruaja . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Luagha Gohan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mirage Kimasu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . tk Jaims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JimStoat Shei'dara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Iczer-II JRL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Uriel Kell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bandit Kari'danei . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Omaha Kym Moanting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Myk Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mercy Michiko . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Renge Tugrik . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tugrik Extras: Roy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -none- Dave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -none- Herge' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hervystia Serge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Salem Khamar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -none- Rhodin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -none- Rakshasa Seven-Claws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -none- Teeka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shariau Cerima . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -none- Violet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -none- Mershan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -none- Nares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -none- Mike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -none- Midnight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Midnight Policy: As may be discerned above, many characters do in fact derive from actual people. The author bears (in general) no malice towards the the people or the characters and does not intend slander or libel in this work; if you do not wish your name associated with this work or any of the characters, let me know and I will remove your name and file off appropiate identifying marks. In particular, if the author kills off "your" character, he doesn't mean it, and it would be inappropiate to sue him for assault and battery. The author's policy is that he will permit dialogue changes for characters as appropiate, but these must not damage the basic style or the continuity. He will also be willing to listen to suggestions and comments about motives of characters, i.e. whether or not something is "in character". The author reserves primary control of this story. The author would prefer not to be bombarded with ideas for what should happen next unless he specifically requests them. He will listen to requests for characters, but does not promise to include any of them. F U R R Y M E C H - I I Unlikely Meetings Copyrighted (C) 1991 by Conrad Wong Scene 1 Changes: May 30, 1991 0030 PDT - created June 1, 1991 2330 PDT - revised per Stephan's suggestions June 25, 1991 2330 PDT - changed Chi'lia to Kari'danei, revised actions other revisions carried out by inspection [A normal starscape fades onto the screen. It moves slowly down and forward, until a familiar cratered moon fills the screen, Earth nearly eclipsed; both are half-shadowed by the Sun. Slowly the view approaches the moon. Very soft music slowly rises, but remains at the background level, orchestral, with a lyrical quality. It becomes clear a large base occupies one crater, with a fleet of ships orbiting, similarly partially lit. The scene zooms in on one installation that turns out to be a huge docking and cargo transport bay, where several large ships are already docked, having sections detached or replaced. (1) The scene cartwheels so that the lunar surface is horizontal. One of the ships in orbit that was earlier seen moving closer now approaches, and docks slowly and efficiently as sections of machinery revolve and unfold to enfold it in a sort of technological cocoon. Technicians in space armor emerge from airlocks near the floor of the bay to jet up to the transport, where they direct the disassembly. One by one, the cargo modules enter the base.] [A quick scene: a grand hall, IPAI suits of increasing impressiveness and technologies standing like suits of armor on either side. The hall is poorly lit, nearly empty. Kari'danei skips down the hall: very young, in her early teens, perhaps, very slender, with sapphire, pupilless eyes and back-pointed ears concealed largely by an unruly mop of russet hair. Her clothes are brightly pastel and full of swirling skirts and ruffled arm sleeves. She listens to the echoing sounds of her footsteps, then poses prettily before one of the older suits and taps a foot in a catchy rhythm. She begins a lively song, like a ballad, and begins running and skipping down the hall to the meter, whirling so that her skirts flare out; part of the song has a regular beat, part is melodic.] [The scene shifts as the skirts flare out across the screen. The music remains dominant over any sounds. Inside a huge room, a lizardman-technician dressed in a dull blue harness intently monitors the unpackaging of each module, revealing artifacts taken from Earth in the raid of the previous night. Most of the modules are warehoused at one side; technicians use hover-lifts to move them to one end of a line where they open them and put the components within onto a painted line, where they are picked up with mysterious forces and passed through a line of scanners. (2) As we watch, a nearly destroyed Neo-Tokyo Special Defense Force tank passes through the line. When it reaches the end of the line, it is carried away to unseen cargo bays by a waiting technician with hover-lifts. The lizard-man stolidly makes checkmarks, referring to the monitors that are projected into midair next to him.] [Skirts swirl across the screen and the viewpoint pulls back to show Kari'danei skipping across a stone path in a garden of alien vegetation, her clothes reflecting the sunlight in constantly shifting patterns. (see scene 2 for a more complete description) She continues to sing her enigmatic song and dance, as if showing off her steps to someone. She leaps onto a branch, curtsies to no one, then leaps off the branch in a flourish of skirts, alighting to the ground gracefully.] [Another room, a holding tank with a low ceiling that curves slightly overhead, lit by wallside fluorescent lights. The same song continues, all the more chilling because it takes place over a shot of brutality. IPAIs brusquely remove frightened people from the interior of a prisoner transport module; they stun each person and pass them to medical technicians who run them through a line of scanners. At the end of the first line, another lizard-man tech examines the monitors and, for most, directs the people onto another line which injects them with various chemicals, strips off their clothes, and re-clothes them in grey uniform-like overalls. (3) Some, obviously more physically adept or mentally capable, are assigned to another line, where they are whisked to unknown destinations. The scene fades out as we see one final prisoner being put on the second line, his face clearly visible: Trey.] [And in a familiar flourish of skirts that sweep past the screen, the scene goes from black to the inside of a huge hangar where many of the Empire's drones are kept, being maintained by automatic repair and resupply systems. (4) Kari'danei stands at the farthest end of a line of black-visored guard IPAIs on duty, on one of the regular beat portions of her song; as she taps her foot in what now seems a military parade rhythm, each one kneels in turn, and then she skips forward. Kari'danei's clothes shift in a blur and become a dress uniform (5) as she parades forward, stepping high, and reaches the end of the line, where she turns left and steps into a cul-de-sac-- an apparent dead end. Kari'danei's song ends conveniently at this point, and she gives a startled noise as if wondering "How did this wall come to be here?" Her clothes change to a dress again, but markedly different as if belonging to a lesser noble rather than a royal Princess; holes and torn sleeves and dirt make it seem as if she had been imprisoned a long while. She clasps hands together, and motes of golden light begin to appear around her, forming a nimbus. She slowly fades from view.] [Raster lines sweep the scene away, replacing it with diagrams of the reconstructed layout of a tank, obviously the NT-SDF tank shown in a prior scene. The song continues apace, picking up pace as it builds up; the changing figures and graphs flicker in time. The view retreats to show the darkened, eerily red-lit laboratory where Dr. Strangelynx studies various displays annoyedly; Herge' and Serge guard the door, looking bored. The display switches to that of a large mecha which appears rather similar to a raptor in design, though stylized; its wings are folded into a design much like some kind of aerospace fighter. (6) Dr. Strangelynx gapes at the mecha for a moment, then forces himself to restrain his astonishment. Just then, Kari'danei appears in a glittering aura of golden light motes right behind Dr. Strangelynx, who spooks predictably.] Strangelynx: Augh! If being kidnapped by aliens wasn't bad enough, now they show up right as I'm working! Maybe I should have stayed at AnimeTech Labs... Kari'danei: My savior! Rescuer of a fair damsel from dungeons dire! However could I reward thee? [Kari'danei flings her arms around Dr. Strangelynx, who looks rather discomfitted and gently removes her arms.] Strangelynx: Dungeons? I haven't even had time to commit petty larceny, let alone grand treason... [Kari'danei's attention, being short-lived under even the best of times, has shifted to the screen which Dr. Strangelynx was inspecting. She reaches a hand up to touch the bird-mecha outline, leaving charged phosphors behind; her clothes shift to her usual Princessly garb as she loses attention in presenting a role.] Kari'danei: I've seen pictures of birds before! But this doesn't look like a real bird, and it doesn't move. Isn't that boring? Strangelynx: Nothing of the sort! That, my dear, is one of my greatest achievements! [Herge' looks up to the drawing with a calculating eye, then returns her baleful attention to Dr. Strangelynx and Kari'danei. Dr. Strangelynx tries to get Kari'danei to stop fingerprinting over his work and sighs relievedly as a jab at a button cleans the screen; he darts a glance over to Herge' and Serge, who watch fascinatedly. Fortunately their attention is on Kari'danei, not him.] Strangelynx: Now, go, this is no time or place for little girls. Kari'danei: (pouts) Won't you show me around sometimes? (clasps hands together and makes great wide eyes) Strangelynx: No! Err... That is, not now. Kari'danei: (beams widely) Great! I'll see you later then! [Kari'danei turns and skips happily out of the room, with Serge and Herge' drawing back and bowing before her obseqiously. Dr. Strangelynx takes advantage of the distraction to erase the current records of the mecha and advance to the next item, a motorcycle of ordinary design that has been heavily damaged.] Strangelynx: (muttered) My greatest hopes... In the hands of these-- bandits! [Herge' strolls up to the Doctor. She runs a paw down his back, which he annoyedly brushes away.] Herge': Not cooperating with me, Doctor? (in what might be a croon if it weren't for ugly metallic rasps) I know you're hiding something... I'm sure the Fleetmaster would be oh so very interested... Strangelynx: What have I got to hide? (turns to Herge' and glares) Damn it, I've lost everything! My home, my family, the labs that I started in a garage so long ago... Everything I'd built in my whole lifetime! (turns away from Herge', clenching hands) If I had the courage, I should kill myself so that your dastardly Empire would have nothing from me! So don't ever threaten me. I just might call your bluff. Serge: But deep down, you're a coward. (scornfully) Like all the rest of the biologicals, you'll back down like a cringing cur from a powerful master. (laughs maniacally) Strangelynx: That may be so. But you exist only by the Fleetmaster's whim. I'd think about that, if I were you... Serge: Perhaps. But we are irreplaceable. (snickering) You aren't. [Strangelynx gives him a hard look, then focuses his thoughts on the schematics, trying not to show that he's shaken by his and their words. Herge' smirks superiorly as she remains rather close to the Doctor. Serge scowls, but remains on duty at the door.] [The scene shifts in a flurry of skirts again, and reveals Kari'danei standing in front of what must be the mecha that Dr. Strangelynx was so concerned about, only with wings bent and splayed as if it had been thrown to the ground, stunned. Kari'danei whirl around, pleased, and looks up at the rather large avian. It doesn't take much poking and prodding before she finds a latch for the cockpit's canopy; shortly it's open and she's seated. Touches of her adept fingers bring systems to life, though the error messages and flickering patterns make it evident that this is nothing like normal operation parameters. All at once, the mecha straightens and gets up, flexing its wings; Kari'danei beams happily, and slips her hands into the control gloves; her clothes have, as usual, shifted with her mood to a close copy of the standard Entropy Empire flight suits. With a fluid motion, she guides the mech-- or tries to. One wing screeches as it cracks into a wall of the cargo bay where the mech was stored, crimping the wingtip. Frowning, Kari'danei concentrates, and golden motes of light surround not only her, but the entire mech as well; they glow brighter, until the whole assembly flickers out, leaving an afterimage. Alarm klaxons begin ringing as the mecha appears in low lunar orbit, not too far from a large freighter. Kari'danei presses the gloves forward, other lights and switches move by themselves, and the mecha reconfigures into a narrow aerospace fighter configuration with thrusters newly revealed that flame into life.] Kari'danei: This is neat! Like flying, but different! [The scene flashes to the control room of the Entropy Empire's flagship, with the stern-visaged and grey-maned lion 'morph commander at the center seat, Captain Rakshasa Seven-Claws; his battle uniform is cut and tailored to enhance his deadliness and intensity of appearance, with a few discreet gold skull adornments. Lt. Cmdr. Teeka sits at Rakshasa's left, a tan-furred caracal in uniform with black-tufted ears, bright red hair in a swept hairstyle, and light brown eyes specked with gold. She looks quietly competent as she runs the communications board. Lt. Cerima sits farther from Rakshasa at a station on the right, a plump racoon 'morph with glittering black eyes that accent his "mask"; he runs the electronics and sensors board with a quiet hurriedness. Other technicians work frantically to identify the intruder and establish targeting lockons. Rakshasa: I need a line to the Fleetmaster right now, Teeka! Cerima, I want everything you can get me on that intruder! All sections, hold fire, wait on my order. Teeka: I can't raise the Fleetmaster, sir, he's in his gardens. He gave express orders that he was not to be disturbed. Rakshasa: Damn! It's my call then. (studying the screens intently) It must be a spy of some kind... And to have sneaked in so closely, it must have... Teleported! Those fools misread the barbarians' technology! Port section three, open fire and destroy it before it gets away! [The pinpoint defense turrets rotate and begin firing. Three of the shots impact on one of the wings, leaving smoking craters as they pierce the relatively thin wing armor.] Kari'danei: (cries out alarmedly) They *dare* fire upon me? I'll show them! [She concentrates and the golden motes of light appear once again, surrounding the craft. Another shot impacts the glittering craft, this time along the armored beak section; it causes severe damage to the electronics, causing bright electrical bolts to crackle inside the cockpit. Seized by the electrical storm, Kari'danei cries out in pain, and the entire mecha flickers out in a golden afterimage surrounded by bright crackling lightning.] [In another room, completely spherical and without apparent exits, but filled with floating crystalline structures both spiky and curved, the Empress Shei'dara lifts her head. Her hair spreads out behind her, rising up like fire.] Shei'dara: She's gone... They must have taken her! [She spreads her wings and the entire chamber flows with liquid fire from her wrath, the crystal structures melting away.] Shei'dara: Barbaric fools! Little world, I will burn you to ashes once I have her again! Footnotes: (1) The lunar base was built by the Entropy Empire to provide them a temporary base of operation out of sight of the Earth forces; the kinds of large-scale mining and construction equipment to them makes it trivial to create these emplacements. The fleet remains generally in position here, in the lunar shadow, rather than stay permanently 'cloaked' from Earth sensors which is presumed to be very energy expensive; this also allows short supply lines and R&R facilities. The spaceport shown here is a standard docking bay for refueling, repairing, and transferring cargo from and to ships. These transports are not mainline military and are thus modularly configured: many pods of different types attached to a light structural skeleton. Other ships of the line are built up along structures tipped with engines and centered with the main crew and power modules, plated over with armor, with multiple turrets at various points. Larger spacecrafts have less ability to manuever effectively, so the largest are huge lengths of armor much like seagoing battleships; small scout crafts might be shaped much like jacks, not quite as nimble as the much smaller fighters but far more agile than the mainline ships. As might be obvious, virtually all of this was automated. Technicians supervise the machinery. (2) It's presumed that the Empire has the ability to use scanners far more capable than Earth scanners, which were already depicted in the story as capable of some minor probing at a distance. These scanners are being used to analyze the general mechanical and electronic traits of the Earth artifacts that were captured below; as seen in the Doctor's laboratory, he is being asked to aid in the breakdown and comprehension of the design features employed. (3) The Fleetmaster is diabolical indeed. Not only does he plan to wage war against Earth as a training exercise to improve morale and boost the knowledge of the Empire, but he plots to use Earth's own populace, captured in the last hours of the previous episode, as cannon fodders to supplement his troops (i.e. "easily exploded casualties"). Efficient as always, he also strives to recruit from the better of the Earth people to merge a 'wild' strain into his trainees' ranks. The treatments shown will suffice for the most trivial of tasks. (4) These drones can pull much higher G's and stresses than normal fighters because they don't have to provide life support for pilots; each is controlled by a computer brain within it. However the perceivable delays in transmission make it iffy to keep them well controlled away from the main ships; hence, they are usually escorts to the heavier and better armored and defended, but less speedy "command" fighters which are piloted. Artificial intelligence is not presumed to be one of the Empire's more advanced fields of science. Drones are half the size of standard fighters, have larger engines and weapons, and no provision for crew or passengers; they also have long spikes extending in four directions like jacks (usually folded while in the hangar) which receive their command signals. One drone would be an easy match for a manned fighter. (5) Kari'danei, shown here, is the daughter of Shei'dara produced by a triumph of Empire biotechnology, not a true member of Shei'dara's race but a fusion with other, mixed genes. As such, she resembles the humanoid frame (since that is what Shei'dara prefers) and has a working biology; however, her clothes are mutable and part of her "aura", so she can change them, one of the few powers that have manifested. She also teleports freely. It is suspected that Kari'danei has more powers that remain latent, but these have not been observed and Shei'dara prefers that her chosen daughter be not subjected to barrages of medical examinations. In fact, Kari'danei is pampered and spoiled by the royal staff, because no one dares risk her ire. Consequently she has received a rather rose-tinted view of the Empire and knows little of contemporary life. (6) The aerial counterpart to the feline mecha shown in act 1 scene 4, this mecha is also designed primarily for combat in urban environments that are likely to be confined in nature. Its wings are foldable, and powered by large servomotors, so that it can enjoy the tighter turning abilities of avians or the speed of aerospace fighters; it also thusly does not need the long landing strips planes would be subject to. This mecha has been rather dented up in what must have been a previous encounter; perhaps, for instance, the same explosion that threw forth the feline mecha. Nevertheless, it seems functional enough. F U R R Y M E C H - I I Unlikely Meetings Copyrighted (C) 1991 by Conrad Wong Scene 2 Changes: June 23, 1991 1550 PDT - created June 24, 1991 1800 PDT - changed per Stephan's revisions June 25, 1991 1510 PDT - changed to fix continuity errors June 25, 1991 1850 PDT - fixed dialogue between Kym and Stephan June 25, 1991 2330 PDT - changed Chi'lia to Kari'danei changed ATVs to armored hovercrafts [The scene opens in the midst of the same lush, exotic gardens that Kari'danei had danced through in scene 1-- trees with strangely crooked branches and roots, like baobabs, flowers and less recognizable blooms and fruits, creeping vines that bite into the stone paths and crack the masonry. (1) Soft samisen music plays in the background as Stephan of Malkar, dressed not in the familiar battle uniform, but a severely cut tunic of dark brown, suited to working in a garden, walks down a path slowly. He surveys a row of shrub-like growths with almost chitinous leaves and outcroppings, his left eye's laser optics glowing softly; his look is pensive, thoughtful. Stephan stands again and proceeds down the path, his stride efficient but unhurried; clearly, he fears no one in this, his sanctum sanctorum. He has just kneeled to examine what seems almost an Earthlike strawberry plant save that its berries grow in clusters and are glowing spheres, when a communicator whistles. Angrily, Stephan stands, brushes dirt off his clothes, and brings a communicator out of a belt holster. He activates it with a snarl.] Stephan: I left express orders *not* to be disturbed. Voice: Begging your pardon, Fleetmaster But the Chancellor Kym's called an emergency meeting. Stephan: And the nature of this emergency?... Voice: Sir, it's the Empress... The Princess's disappeared, and Her Worship's furious! Stephan: I see. Transfer all relevant data from the base and shipboard logs to Gorgon Adestes. (2) I shall examine them on my way to the Great Hall. [Stephan deactivates the communicator without even waiting to hear the affirmative reply and begins walking quickly back down the path. Behind him, an alien leaf flutters down to the ground.] [As the doors shut behind Stephan, the scene switches to the darkened alley where Hikaryu was thrown in scene 10, behind the cover of a low brick wall; garbage cans almost completely protects him from view. Part of the wall has crumbled away to reveal some of the street, much worse for wear and tear. A loud noise comes from along the street, like many industrial-strength fans whirring in unison, then a *thump*, a heavy object being dropped. Sound of a hatch opening; then someone's booted feet hit the pavement and walk over to where debris has blocked up part of the road; the broken end of a girder is apparent over the low brick wall.] Kell: Damn! More of this everywhere... Whoever they were, they sure made a good mess of this place! [We don't see Kell, but do hear his voice. Hikaryu stirs a bit and groans loudly, but remains unconscious.] Kell: What's that? Someone's in that alley? [Footsteps approach the wall, someone's uniformed legs are seen to come through the gap, then hands reach down to shake Hikaryu gently awake. The point of view switches to Hikaryu's, first a dazed and blurry view of the high walls of the alley, then of the person trying to awaken him, Kell.] Hikaryu: Huh, what? What am I doing here?... [Kell helps Hikaryu stand up.] Kell: Looks like aliens invaded Neo-Tokyo. Or maybe some big company hired the city for a movie and they forgot to tell us. Yeah, right. (laughs cynically) I'm Kell. Lt. Kell of the Neo-Tokyo Special Defense Forces, Air Force Maintenance division. Well, if there's *still* a Neo-Tokyo Air Force to maintain... Who're you? Hikaryu: (shakes his head confusedly and looks around the alley, then to the street.) My cycle! It's gone! Kell: You noticed? Lots of smashed up buildings, but nothing else. If it was an invasion force, they were nice enough to clean up before they went home, I guess. C'mon, my ATV's humming right 'round the corner. I'll give you a ride home. Hikaryu: Um... Thanks... Oh, I'm Hikaryu. Tanji Hikaryu. [They come out onto the street, where the pavement's cracked and sections of road have been broken or tilted into the air; scorch marks show where the motorcycles skidded. The ATV waits as promised-- a heavy armored vehicle something like a flattened van, or one of the aerodynes from Albedo, reduced muchly in size; painted in Special Defense Force colors and marked as property of the Neo-Tokyo First Air Force Base. Kell gets into the driver's seat and pops open the passenger side for Hikaryu, who gets in somewhat dazedly. He starts the engine up and lifts the ATV off the ground.] Kell: Tanji? Sounds like I've heard that name before... Hikaryu: Um... Maybe you have. (looks away and out the window) Kell: That's it!... It was in all the news, the pilot who saved the SSPS-1. (4) He-- oh, damn. Hikaryu: What's wrong? Kell: I'm picking up a fast incoming bogey, headed right our way. Whatever it is, it's *big!* I don't know why it wasn't intercepted before now... (checks displays, then lowers shades over eyes) Fasten your seat belts, I'm taking us outta here pronto! [The ATV fairly screams down the street, its fans at full power. Overhead, what seems first a too-bright star in the early morning sky grows into a brilliant fireball, then into a shooting star that plows right into the building now several blocks behind the ATV. The thunderous impact shakes the ground for a mile, like an earthquake; bits and pieces of buildings fall to the ground. The ATV smacks into a building as it bounces, sending bricks down to hit with a klang upon its roof and sleek sides; its armor holds, and it pulls out and begins heading the other way, one side scraping the ground. A sudden scene change back to the cockpit shows Kell struggling with Hikaryu for the controls.] Kell: What the hell do you think you're doing?! We've gotta get out of here before whatever it is goes off! Hikaryu: You ever had a feeling you just have to do something? I don't know... Call it destiny, call it stupidity, but that wasn't a missile... [A sudden flashback: Hikaryu seeing the shooting star, a delta form glowing bright red with friction heat, wings jutting wide from it, like a fighter. Another flashback: Hikaryu as a young boy standing in the middle of a crowd before a bulky aeroplane as large as a 747 but stream-lined, two long rocket thrusters strapped beneath its streamlined wings. It taxis forward, the Free Nippon Aerospace Force insignia glowing boldly on its sides, then leaps forward into the air. (5) Soaring into the sky in a wide curve, it accelerates to stupendous speeds on sudden long rocket plumes, then drops the thrusters once they're spent, and switches to internal fuel tanks. By that time, it's a faint star, shooting into the sky, looking almost exactly like the first flashback...] [The ATV crunches into the side of a building; more brick hails down onto the roof, bouncing off, though a larger piece leaves a visible dent.] Kell: Fine! Fine! Just make it quick, please? Is that too much to ask? Hikaryu: Um... Right... (the ATV crunches again as he nods a bit distractedly) Kell: And keep your mind on where you're going! [The ATV screams by the demolished building at ground zero; Hikaryu gets only a glimpse of some vast object before he's forced to turn the ATV about with a hideous howling of fans and more pavement scraping. Hikaryu pops open the passenger door and runs to the wreckage, jumping nimbly over the rubble.] Kell: (muttered to himself) What a day... Pick up a hitchiker and they think they own your car. See if I ever do anything nice for anyone again! (puts the ATV into gear and drives forward following Hikaryu) [The scene shifts to a giant hall that appears at first open to the starry vista beyond; a bit of inspection shows the spidery web of support frames that forms a dome over it. Marble seas of light and dark tiles on different levels surround a wide platform elevated on a high column. (6) The surface up to that point from the viewer's perspective (the entrance) looks accessable; beyond it, the ground drops away into a chasm, the other side of which is formed by the far end of the dome. Stephan of Malkar steps in, dressed in a battle uniform rather than the work clothes of before; a bridge of light forms beneath his feet, fading out a few meters behind him as he walks (just as in the bridge). The Chancellor, Kym Moanting, and the Spymaster, Jaims, with his new vassal, Neko Tomoe, wait on the platform; as the viewpoint approaches, it becomes apparent they stand around a black circle beneath a hologram sphere in which fleet placement information flicker. Stephan steps onto the platform, causing the last section of the bridge of light to vanish. He takes the southern point of the circle; Kym stands on the left, a tall distinguished looking crow with graying black feathers and gold/titanium chains of rank and office, and Jaims and Tomoe stand on the right. The northern point, towards the chasm, remains vacant.] Kym: The situation is grave, indeed, Fleetmaster. You have familiarized yourself with the details? Stephan: Of course. Captain Rakshasa's decision was most unfortunate. She will demand his personal apology... Jaims: A good man, our Rakshasa, if a bit hot-blooded. It's a pity we'll have to "let him go"... (snickers) [Tomoe looks up a bit with fire in her eyes; none of them see this.] Stephan: Enough, Spymaster. We cannot afford the loss of any of our more inspired personnel. Even *you* should realize that. (frowns slightly at Tomoe's presence) Or perhaps your work consumes too much of your attention... Jaims: I enjoy my work, Fleetmaster. (smirk) Permit me to introduce my aide, Tomoe. She will be carrying out missions for me on Earth. Tomoe, meet the Fleetmaster, Stephan of Malkar. Tomoe: (bows to the amount strictly necessary, and no more) This one is honored to greet her overlord. Stephan: (with narrowed eyes, acknowledges bow with a nod) Your "hobbies" will be the end of you yet, Spymaster... Dismiss your aide. She is not needed here. [Tomoe waits an uncomfortable second, standing defiantly, until Jaims gives her a hand signal. She turns and walks, while Stephan gives Jaims an intent look.] Kym: (ahems, tapping a wingtip against his chains thoughtfully) Then you know that if we allow the Empress to continue her plans, we shall be out the cost of the entire invasion, the bases, all that we had hoped to learn... The preliminary reports I have look quite promising indeed! And the secondary marketing and recruiting campaigns, the war taxes, the Empire bonds... Stephan: (interrupting Kym's reverie) Preliminary reports, Chancellor?... Kym: I have my sources, Fleetmaster, as you well know. But you agree, do you not, that we need to take action? Jaims: It is rather a nice little world... Invigorating, even. Still, what did you have in mind? Stephan: There is one possibility... Captain Teeka! Your report, please. [Teeka appears in the holosphere, though in reduced size, dressed in the formal Fleet uniform and new rank insignia attached to her uniform; previously the former Captain Rakshasa's communications officer and first mate, she now wears the rank of Captain herself. Teeka salutes Stephan, obviously only able to see him.] Teeka: We picked up tachyon emissions from the unidentified intruder, sir! They matched those of the Princess's teleportation ability. Stephan: Excellent... Were you able to trace the destination? Teeka: Only partially, sir... We think she's somewhere on the target world, within this area. (the holosphere changes and displays an area around Nippon and the adjacent East Asian coastline) I'm sorry, but we can't get a better fix. Stephan: That will be sufficient. Return to your duties. (the holosphere goes blank again) I shall speak with Her Worship on this... Alone. [Jaims bows sardonically and departs.] Kym: If the natives discover the preciousness of the life that they have captured, they might seek to... Bargain... Stephan: They would be foolish to try. Kym: They might even try to negotiate with the Empress. She may listen... Stephan: Even you, Chancellor, may not presume to know Her Worship's thoughts... [Kym caws a momentary laugh, bows elegantly, and departs in turn. As the others leave, Stephan braces himself, running his right hand over his cyberhand in what might be nervousness, or merely meditation on how best to change the Empress's mind. As the viewpoint pulls away, the awesome glittering form of the Empress Shei'dara appears before Stephan slowly, fading in. [The scene shifts for a ten-second frame of Hikaryu standing in front of the cockpit of the aerospace mecha. It's now visible as the front section of the mecha that Kari'danei ran away from the moon base in, the wings almost out of view but visibly bent by the stress of impact. And inside the cockpit, visible through the clear canopy, Kari'danei lies slumped over onto the control panel, hair fallen forward to almost cover her face.] Footnotes: (1) The private gardens of Stephan. An artificial environment that completely simulates the gravity, lighting conditions, and atmosphere of the Karego mountains of Malkar, where Stephan was born. Other places in the moon base are similarly environment-controlled, though only a few as the process is expensive. Most of the base is normal gravity for simple cost-cutting reasons. (2) Gorgon Adestes is a code phrase assigned by the translators that closely matches the original name given to the super-computer that relays information to and from Stephan's cyber-optics; Stephan thus requires only a very miniaturized hyper-link. Gorgon Adestes is kept separated from other computers and communicates along very secure channels with all valid information sources; it comes close to being completely impenetrable. Gorgon Adestes is not aware, and safeguards prevent it from becoming so. (3) The ATV shown here is a hovercraft similar to the Albedo aerodynes but without enough power to hover more than a hundred feet above the ground or so; its fans can be angled for a variety of speeds. It's heavily armored and the rear cargo module is a standard interchangeable pod that will fit onto conventional transport helicopters and planes, but carries no weapons other than what its passengers carry. Though these are primarily SDF army issues, the Air Force base maintains a group of ATVs for rapid resupplies in the field; the Air Force ATVs can carry special helicopter and VTOL aircraft resupply modules which provide enough space to land a helicopter (with guidance from the ground) and refuel and rearm them from internal storage. (4) SSPS-1 refers to a "Super Solar Power Satellite", in this case, one of the first to be launched into orbit to provide power for other satellites (nominally it was to provide power for groundside sources, but this was quietly dropped because the power was needed space-side for military satellites). These are huge floating solar power arrays with high-capacity banks of capacitors which can discharge their power into sudden bursts or relay over a steady period of time. The SSPS-1 was poorly installed in the rush to have a prototype working; some time after the work crew moved on to build the SSPS-2, its orbit began decaying. Other units were too far away to do anything, and the SSPS-1's attitude thrusters were inadequate for its mass given the time slot available. The pilot Tanji Tanaka was pressed into service on the still-experimental aerospace plane Fuji Four, and successfully led the rescue mission. The Fuji Four disappeared mysteriously after the rescue was completed; no adequate explanation as yet has been put forward. (5) The plane shown here is the Fuji Four. It follows the standard plans for aerospace planes: rocket thrusters and ordinary jet engines for the initial boost phase, SCRAM jets for the long trip to near-orbit, and thrusters for the remainder and for manuevering. Most contemporary Nipponese aerospace fighters follow similar design principles, building on the Fuji Four, though they may improve on the design or specialize for various phases-- for instance, interceptors have improved speed, reduced range-- and of course, they carry weapons, unlike the Fuji Four. (6) The Great Hall is similar in design to the control room shown earlier, but intended as a grand conference area. The various sections and levels can be reconfigured quickly into seats around the center, and those at the center, on the platform, dominate the proceedings. The chasm on one side provides for the Empress, whose manifestation can be overly dramatic at times; a nominal force field provides some protection against the worst of the heat without intruding on Her awareness. F U R R Y M E C H - I I Unlikely Meetings Copyrighted (C) 1991 by Conrad Wong Scene 3 Changes: June 26, 1991 2120 PDT - created July 17, 1991 1320 PDT - continued July 24, 1991 2135 PDT - finished first draft [The scene fades to black. A few random beeps, sounds of a computer thinking to itself. Bright raster graphics cross the screen, making first simple abstract rectangles, then resolving into crude line-graphic representations of a forest clearing by a lake. Letters and symbols flicker by next to movie objects, then an audio spectrum box pops up displaying a sound wave increasing in volume. As the volume increases, the sounds of an automobile engine becomes apparent. Tracking graphics pinpoint an approaching recreational vehicle. (1) The scene fades to black again, leaving the rumbling sound.] [A hazy dream scene: the noise deepens to the tones of a motorship's engines, propelling the ship through an ocean storm; occasional cracks of muffled thunder and the rolling sounds of water splashing outside. In a crowded passenger compartment occupied by many poorly dressed furries, a white-furred middle-aged vixen holds a little red-haired vixenish child, Vixen at age 4, on her lap. A single suitcase of luggage sits in front of the mother.] Vixen: Mama? Where are we going? Mother: Nippon, love. Our new home. Vixen: What's wrong with our old home? (2) I want to go back home!... (begins sniffling) Mother: (dabs at Vixen's eyes with a slightly dirty handkerchief and holds her close) Hush, hush... Mama will buy you a new dress when we get there. And when you grow up, you'll have all the things I always wanted to give you... But never could... Vixen: (sobs a bit, catches herself) I don't want a new dress! I want my daddy! Mother: Your mama misses your daddy very much too, love. (holds Vixen closely and pats her back to get her to stop crying) But he stayed behind so we could have a chance, Vixen. Let's make him proud of us. Vixen: I want to go home!... [The dream fades back to blackness, the noise reverts to an automobile engine. Vixen awakens slowly to her situation. She blinks and gasps, opening her eyes suddenly as she finds herself lying sprawled on the floor of the RV, facing four grimy street warriors. (3) Mershan: a gaunt greyhound, wearing a cyber-monocular strapped to one ear, a black leather jacket and slacks, and a holster with a long-barreled gun that has a sight almost as long; a sniper rifle is slung over his back. He sits at the computer station and electronics that takes up one side of the van. Violet: a nasty-looking mink wearing heavy flak armor articulated for flexibility, a headset with a thick antenna protruding up like a rabbit-ear, and carrying a long, sleek gyrojet rifle with a magazine fed from a belt-pack, and assorted knives, bombs, and other devices. Nares, the driver, can't be seen from this angle except partially; he is a tiger Tmorph in faded green camoflauge fatigues, with a grenade launcher and a carbine sitting on the seat next to him along with assorted grenades and munitions. Thomas is human with tousled red hair, cropped short, and laughing green eyes; he could be a street guitarist judging from his slightly torn brown leather jacket, Asia concert T-shirt, faded blue jeans, and a delicate mermaid earring on his left ear, safe that he also carries a slim business-like needler in his belt holster. A thick grey ceramic harp case with a shoulder strap sits on the floor next to his feet.] Violet: (notices Vixen stirring, narrows her eyes) So our sleeping beauty is awake now? Shall we ... entertain ... you? (she strides lithely forward to run a finger under Vixen's trembling chin) Vixen: (tries to jerk away, frightened and confused, involuntarily bares teeth; eyes teary) Who are you? What's going on? Mershan: This is your home now. Treat us like family and we'll get along fine. (ruffs scornful laughter) Violet: Don't snivel, it disgusts me. (imitating a high voice) Oh, sister-chan? Don't you think I look pretty in this new dress? Vixen: (growling low, ears lowered) I'm *not* your sister! Violet: (laughs) You'll be whatever I want you to be, and like it. (turns around and flounces to Thomas in mincing steps; Thomas watches amusedly. She continues in a dangerous tone of voice.) Does brother-sempai like it? Thomas: (grinning) You're so charming in that outfit! As ladylike as always, dear Violet; one should think you a princess among rogues. [Violet scowls ferociously at Thomas.] Thomas: Now, now, if you keep frowning, Violet, it might freeze like that. Then again, it could be worse. (looks upwards and continues philosophically) You could be stuck smiling, and then what would people say about you? [Violet pouts and slinks off to watch Vixen from the back. Thomas moves to sit by Vixen with a faintly amused, somewhat reassuring expression. Vixen squirms warily away from Thomas, staring back distrustfully.] Vixen: What... (swallows a bit, voice quivering) What do you want with me?... Thomas: (in a tone of mock-astonishment) Why, I'm your long-lost brother, dear Vixen! Faith, I forget to send a card one Christmas and the whole family forgets me... But don't I have Dad's nose and hair? Or was it he who had mine? I get mixed up with all these relatives, I confess... Vixen: (stares disbelievingly) Have you lost your mind or have I? (her expression shifts from confusion to uncertainty to anger) You're lying! Thomas: You're right. (looks repetant) I'm not really your long-lost brother. I'm your great great uncle! Cross my heart and hope to cry. Vixen: (glares furiously, sure that Thomas is still teasing her) Mershan: Hmf, make a joke and someone steals your punch line. Can't you even act ashamed of it, Thomas? Thomas: (with a laugh) In the company of thieves, what else is an honest man to do? But no thief could have budded at a younger age than you, dear Vixen; the very moment you were born, you stole something of mine. Tsk, tsk, a juvenile delinquent from the very cradle! I'm truly shocked, I am. [Thomas fishes around in a pocket and comes up with a blue crystal that glows of its own accord, refracting light in rainbow arcs. It sings musically as air brushes against its surface. Vixen stares, entranced, her anger momentarily forgotten. The others watch with some curiosity; Violet with the most, though pretending disdain.] Vixen: (softly, as if fearing to disturb it) What is it?... Thomas: It's pretty. See? (grins and tosses it in the air, catching it again) What did you expect? Vixen: I don't know... Even though I've never seen it before, it feels... Familiar. Thomas: (utterly serious) Oh, you've seen it before. In your dreams. It unlocks Elsewhere, brings strange visitors to haunt sleep. (4) It was mine. Now yours. Consider it your rightful inheritance, mayhaps. Vixen: Inheritance?... (blinks confusedly) Father died long ago... But my mother said he'd left no inheritance... (turns away for a moment, swallowing hard; a tear glistens on a cheek) Thomas: (blinks back at Vixen) A family thing. The talent shows up one generation, skips another, hops around a bit in a cadet line, maybe settles down for a bit, and then it's off again. It's always been very skittish. [Vixen looks uncertain, as if she'd like to believe him, but can't quite. Thomas looks about to say more, but then the vehicle shudders under a heavy impact and begins swerving, sending equipment flying. Part of the roof bends a bit under the weight of the attacker, indenting a bit in lines of points.] Violet: We're being attacked! Why the hell didn't you get it on sensors, Mershan?! Mershan: Brilliant observation, Violet. Nares, pop the sun roof and I'll get him! [The tiger 'morph complies, hitting the quick release that sends the sun roof slamming back while Mershan scrambles up onto the free seat, sending grenades spilling. Mershan takes out his pistol and stands up in the seat, peeking out the sun roof. He stares right into the blunt black nose of a 30' mecha in the form of a ferret, its exterior totally night-dark; its eyes glow dull red, and it bares gleaming fangs. (5) Back in the van, Mershan shrieks and staggers back, blood streaming from claw gouges over the left side of his face; his gun tumbles, letting off a stray shot that richochets into the computer, sending sparks flying. Violet swears and kicks open the back doors, swings her gyrojet rifle into a ready position, and slips on climbing claws. She lithely grabs hold of the top of the door and slings herself up onto the roof. A quick flash: the careening RV passes Gohan and Kimasu, who are staring astonished at the sight and have begun to sprint after the vehicle.] Thomas: Uninvited visitors are _so_ annoying... Now do just as I say, Vixen, this won't hurt a bit... Well, it might... (looks thoughtful and slightly apologetic as he begins to unlock to unlock Vixen's binds) Just the first time, though, after that, it's like a seal slipping into water... [On the roof, Violet pumps round after round into the ferret mecha, apparently to not much more effect than annoying it; the feed jams and she curses, trying to unjam it. She ducks a swipe of claws.] [Back in the RV, Thomas has gotten out his harp. Vixen holds the crystal as she's told to, a look of confusion on her face. Thomas begins to chant lowly, a Celtic song of power, as he strums the harp and concentrates. The air around the crystal begins to sparkle with blue motes of light that dance around each others, tinkling lightly; suddenly they flare a bit and sweat springs out on Thomas's face. A sudden loud explosion shakes the RV, sending Vixen stumbling; above, Violet curses clumsiness. Vixen makes a quick decision and sprints out the back door, still clutching the crystal. Thomas curses and gets up, then laughs quietly, making a quick gesture. The ferret detects Vixen's motion and springs off the RV after her, leaving a rather noticeable dent in the roof. The RV comes to a stop and Violet begins to lay down fire after the ferret, until Thomas calls for her to stop.] Thomas: (ruefully, with a grin) She's family. Fate protects us so that she can give us a harder time later. [Battle graphics: similar to those at the beginning of this scene, but focused now on the running silhouette of Vixen, recognizable by her long foxtail (the graphics are very blocky). Music is fast paced, the pursuit of the prey. Vixen stumbles over a tree root and stares up aghast at the fast-approaching ferret. Sensors report sudden approach of two others from a different direction, and the ferret whirls about fiercely.] [Point of view: a sleek black ferret facing Vixen, swinging over to face Gohan and Kimasu. Gohan feints with his staff at the ferret, drawing its attention.] Vixen: No, don't! You'll just get killed!... (winces in pain at leg and struggles to stand up unsteadily) Ow, I think I pulled something... [Gohan motions to Kimasu to get Vixen. Kimasu gives Gohan the kind of look that speaks volumes as he moves to pick up Vixen, who winces again.] Gohan: Courage is in doing one's duty, not in winning acclaim or battle glory. She needs a safe place and rest. [Kimasu nods sadly, opening his muzzle as if to mourn, but no sound emerges.] Gohan: I understand. We all must do things we don't want to sometimes. [Gohan feints again, moving with considerable agility to dodge and block the ferret's attacks, giving Kimasu a chance to sprint off with Vixen towards the foothills in the distance. Gohan squares off against the ferret again, his face impassive.] Footnotes: (1) RV - Recreational vehicle, similar to a bus, 30 feet long, with ten wheels: two front, eight back. Normally used as a mobile home for camping trips, this one has been adapted to assault use with heavier armor, gun ports, and computer-monitored sensors/communications gear. (2) Vixen and her mother come from the devastated parts of Pittsburgh, which was once a thriving furry community, but has fallen upon hard times. With the growing prevalence of Nipponese anime and manga and Disney animation, practically a culture unto itself, the traditional underground comics have fallen into precarious states except for rare successes. Like other furries, Vixen's mother hoped that Nippon will be more hospitable. Vixen's father is human, which is why Vixen appears mostly human. In this time line, furries suddenly appeared a century or so ago; no records or memories exist of furry culture prior to that. Current anthropological theory has it that there were always furries, but only in very few numbers; others would suggest some kind of mass transformation or genesis. Neither theory explains both the reports of furries as daemonic or divine spirits or their mass amnesia. Furries have been generally discriminated against and not accepted into normal positions because of their vastly fewer numbers; most have been employed in communes of furries and various entertainment positions. Vixen is one of the first furries to have captured a leading role in Nipponese anime, though some furries have already achieved idol status in minor roles. (3) 21st century Earth is a rough and violent place with wars of all kinds at the street, corporate, national, and global scale. Sophisticated weapons technology makes it cheap to hire out with various mercenary outfits; street warriors are like mercenaries, but available on a contractor basis and generally organized in corporations. They have less military discipline in general but are better adapted to TspecialU missions. (4) The Air Rhi is one of the four Rhi that have already been mentioned; all four of the Rhi comprise the lock against Elsewhere, a mysterious supernatural dimension from which all magical energies apparently come; it is inhabited by ancient entities believed insane by ancient mystics. The Rhi can be tapped for magical energy, but this comes at the cost of temporarily weakening the lock against Elsewhere, with chaotic results; a little may be harmless, but great workings may release fearsome horrors. Each Rhi has a Guardian who is most attuned to its powers, usually by inheritance or passing on of Talent, magical manipulation. The Guardians are sworn to keep the Rhi secret and guard them against others who might seek to release the Elsewhere, or to work great magics with them. The Rhi select their Guardians, an unpredictable process; in this case, Thomas had been a Guardian of the Air Rhi for a long time, until it finally passed from him with Vixen's birth. It is said that proximity to the Rhi also brings closeness to Elsewhere, where the entities there seek to influence the Guardians by sending messages into their dreams... (5) The ferret mecha here is designed for stealth and quiet operation, with a matte black exterior nearly invisible at night; its armor is a special honeycomb composite that traps and reflects radar unpredictably. Its heat exhausts are designed to mislead IR seekers and sensors. However fire of normal weapons would compromise its stealth ability; hence it is normally equipped with harder to detect weapons. Its claws and fangs are monofilament-edged. This mecha is operating autonomously, under computer guidance; this normally happens only when the pilot is badly hurt and unable to guide the mecha, on a mission that requires the mecha not fall into enemy hands or be destroyed. Strategically, the mecha seeks to achieve programmed objectives and can be easily fooled; tactically, the mecha is adequate. The other FurryMecha have not been operating autonomously either because that part of their software was not loaded in or they were not set in a mode in which their computers would decide autonomous action was needed. F U R R Y M E C H - I I Unlikely Meetings Copyrighted (C) 1991 by Conrad Wong Scene 4 Changes: August 7, 1991 1241 PDT - created August 10, 1991 1635 PDT - revised per Renge's and Bandit's comments [Scene switches to the driver's view from Ruaja's car, where it is now pulling up to the Neo-Tokyo Special Defense Force headquarters, a gigantic edifice that looks a bit as if a battleship had run aground and been converted to an office building, surrounded with an oval of fortifications. (1) A text-only query comes in on the car's computer; Ruaja taps a wide button pad (it is seen his hooves unfold into three fingers and two opposable thumbs) and parks. Ruaja gets out of the car, where the scene switches to give a full front view of the headquarters, and begins walking up the step. The car pulls away from the curb and drives into an underground ramp to a parking garage. (2)] [Ruaja steps into an office where Michiko waits next to the desk and the secretary. Michiko is small, slender, and her lavender hair is pulled behind her into a ponytail that spreads out to touch her shoulders. Her SDF uniform is perfectly in order; Ruaja's is rumpled by comparison. Michiko clicks her tongue and straightens up Ruaja.] Michiko: You're very late, Lieutenant. You should know better than to keep the General waiting! Ruaja: (leers at Michiko and waggles eyebrows) Let's let him wait a bit more while we rumple our uniforms together delightfully, and then you can straighten them up again. How can you resist such a tempting offer? Michiko: (grins broadly and steps back to inspect her handiwork) Work first, play later, big horse. There! You look presentable. Watch out, I hear the General is looking for someone to chew out. Ruaja: Really? I would never have guessed he was into that sort of thing... (feigns astonishment as he follows Michiko to the door) Michiko: (sternly) I'm serious, all sorts of higher-ups are being called in on this. (smiles wryly) I'd watch that tail if I were you. [Ruaja steps into General Rhodin's briefing room, where the good sir himself is standing next to the screen. Ruaja salutes; the General snorts and returns the salute.] Rhodin: About time you showed up! Ruaja: I drove here as soon as the call came in, sir. Well, after I finished my drink. And after I got the waitress's phone number... And... Rhodin: Never mind that! Lieutenant Ruaja, against my better judgement, I'm going to give you another chance. Ruaja: What? You want me to go back and see if I can beat my time here? Nooooo problem. Rhodin: Nothing of the sort! Hold your tongue and we'll begin the briefing. (dims the lights and activates the viewscreen) File WDEV-1. [The viewscreen displays a giant felinoid mecha, the one that Sthiss and Tygryss got entangled with. In the background are the SDF police cars and tanks; a long barrel next to the picture makes it clear that this view is from one of the tanks that were mobilized to block it. Two IPAI troopers are visible farther beyond. As Ruaja watches, the mecha turns and bounds down the street, knocking them aside.] Rhodin: This... is the mecha that you encountered last night, is that right? Ruaja: Mm... I'd say so. I'd thought it was bigger and nastier, but kittycats are like that. All show, no substance. (grins) Rhodin: Last night, we had reports of hundreds of attacks by powered armor infantry and armored vehicles. Perhaps some kind of terrorists. Until this morning, we had no reason to believe that this mecha was not, in fact, one of the enemies. Until we found... This. File WDEV-2. [The viewscreen flips to a giant unicorn mecha, apparently undamaged save that the weapons hardpoints are empty and that the armor segment over one rear leg is missing. It resembles a giant robotic horse covered with plate barding, and a long armored horn, reinforced against ramming; a gun of some kind stretches halfway up the horn. (3) Behind the mecha, which is lying in an ungainly heap on a pile of rubble, a subway wall; the roof has caved in, letting sunlight illuminate it.] Rhodin: The enemies were very careful to gather up anything that could be a clue to their nature. They left nothing behind. That is why it could be that these mechas-- the one you saw, and the one we've found-- have nothing to do with them. Ruaja: Handsome brute, isn't he. (openly admires the 'corn mecha) Rhodin: File WDEV-3! [The viewscreen flips to a view of the hawk mecha, similarly on a pile of rubble; to the left, an SDF ATV is parked. In the foreground, Kell and Hikaryu are being frisked, their hands bound behind them with SDF handcuffs; Kari'danei has been put into a stretcher and is being wheeled into an SDF van.] Rhodin: We picked up three people at the scene of another mecha that crash-landed earlier this morning. It appeared out of nowhere on our radar screens, and impacted here. If it were any ordinary aircraft, it'd have been completely destroyed by the crash! What's more, one of them is an SDF air force technician! He's being held on charges of abandoning his posting and theft of SDF property; we've got him for questioning until the orders go through. Ruaja: Uhm... Right. Any preliminary questioning been done? Rhodin: None. That will be your responsibility. If we found three in two days, there may be more of these mechas; even if they aren't allied with the terrorists, we don't know their intentions or why this one was abandoned. That is why I am forming an investigatory task force-- and why I want you to lead it. Ruaja: Me, sir? I'm just a lowly lieutenant, not a captain... How could I possibly lead a task force? Rhodin: Don't think I haven't looked at your record, Lieutenant. You've been a captain three times, and been busted back down the ranks every time-- insubordination, office harassment of the secretaries, conduct unbecoming an officer... I'll admit it, at first I didn't think a furry could do this kind of work. But you've got commendations for field performance down the line, and you've got a knack for getting the goods in your investigations. Bluntly, Ruaja, I don't have time to wait for a by-the-books officer; I need results fast, and I need them to be good. You've got full clearance on this, Priority Two. (4) Ruaja: (looks up at Rhodin startledly) Carte blanche on anything, personnel, equipment, search warrants? No waiting in line? Rhodin: I said Priority Two, and I mean it. As of now, you're leader of Task Force Silent Steel. You're being promoted to Captain, as well. Don't disappoint me. Ruaja: Yes, sir! Rhodin: We've already got some technical people on this case. We've also got the people we picked up, ready for questioning. I'm assigning my executive officer, Michiko, to you as your liaison with HQ. Ruaja: I wonder if that's liaison in more ways than one!... (waggles eyebrows) Rhodin: (looks sternly at Ruaja) You know the regulations on fraternization as well as I do. Dismissed! [Ruaja salutes and departs in high spirits. General Rhodin shakes his head, and turns off the screen, standing in dim light. The scene fades to darkness.] [Underground sounds: water dripping slowly, the squeaking of mice, an occasional deep splashing sound as of a mecha walking through foot-deep water. A light comes in from one side, soon revealed to be the lit eyes of the feline mecha that went into the subterranean tunnels back in Act I. Scene: the inside of the cockpit, dimly lit by the reflected light and by the internal lights of the controls and status displays.] Sthiss: I be huuuuuuuuuungry, Ty'ryss! Tygryss: Yeah, me too. Didja pack a bag lunch? Sthiss: You always do 't, Ty'ryss! Tygryss: That's what I thought. (yawns deeply) Let's park and take a nap. I feel like I've been hacking server code for a *week*! Sthiss: That be 'cos it do take thee that long to fix it! (ducks a good-natured swat) It wasna my fault that you didst leave off the las' line! Tygryss: Oh hush, you. Don't touch the controls now! Last time I let you drive, we got halfway to Siberia before you realized you had the map upside down! Sthiss: You didst gi' me the map that way! Tygryss: Oh, go to sleep. Sthiss: Awww, do I haf'ta? (makes big wide eyes at Tygryss) Tygryss: You want me to tie you up to make sure you don't do something? Sthiss: Well... Tygryss: And take away your comic books? Sthiss: Nappy time! [Sthiss holds up her paws to Tygryss, who picks her up. Tygryss gives a little sigh of exasperation and patpats Sthiss, snuggling in with her on the seat. Sthiss purrs, Tygryss purrs back, and they are soon both fast asleep. Well, for at least as long as it takes Tygryss to start snoring. Then Sthiss pops an eye open and looks around the mecha, calling quietly.] Sthiss: Tuggie-poo? Tugrik: (whickers softly and trots out from behind the seat) Sheesh, I keep telling you my name's Tugrik, and what do I get? "Tuggie-poo"... You cats have no respect for a pooka, I tell you. [Tugrik is a tiny blue horse that looks almost translucent in the dim light of the cockpit, like a shadow; not 'morphic, and perhaps six inches high from hooves to ears. Thin silvery chains drape around his body. Tugrik clippity-clops up a succession of levers and controls and panels to an eye-level with Sthiss. His voice is startlingly deep for such a tiny equine.] Sthiss: I be huuuuuuuuuuuungry, Tuggie-poo! Tugrik: (flicks ears about and sniffs the air) Well, this don't look like no restaurant to me, kiddo. Matter of fact, I don't think I've ever been inside this much ironmongery before... Eeeyugh. Smells like oil all over. Sthiss: (pokepokes Tugrik, who jumps back startledly) Well, find somethin' to eat! Tugrik: (snorts) I'm a pooka, not a chef, Sthisster. 'sides, don't sniff even a bite in here. What's outside? Sthiss: I g'ess we be in a subway tunn'l or somethin'. Tugrik: Pop the lid and I'll go scout around, mebbe. (trots up to the side of the canopy) Sthiss: Um... I dinna know how. Tugrik: Oh, fer crying out loud... (sniffs around the controls) Right, push this one here. [Sthiss obediently pushes the button, and the canopy whirs open, letting in much cold air and the eerie sounds of the underground. Tugrik hops onto the mecha armor and trots to the ground, defying gravity.] Sthiss: Eek! That be cold! Tygryss: Huh, what... You got us lost in Canada again?... (stirs muzzily in the chill wind, eyes snap open) Sthiss! I told you not to touch the controls! Sthiss: Um... Tuggie-poo didst tell me to! Tygryss: Surrrrre. Your invisible friend just walked up and told you to push that button, right? Just you wait 'til I get my hands on you... Sthiss: EEEP! Tuggie-poo, come back! Ty'ryss be upset! [Sthiss scats out of the cockpit after Tugrik, who is skit-skatting himself down the tunnel, besides the water. Sthiss splashes into the water, and Tygryss follows shortly behind. Tygryss splutters as the water splashes all around.] [The scene switches to a dimly lit holding cell, where Hikaryu is sitting on a lower bunk, chin cupped in hand as he thinks. Light streams in from the window, where the sun is slowly setting, as it is now late afternoon. Kell lounges on the upper bunk, one leg over another.] Kell: Damn! Damn, damn, damn. I was only a year away from getting out of the force, and look what happens. Goodbye, college scholarships. So long, back pay. I'm ruined, I tell you, no one ever hires someone who got court martialed! They wouldn't take me if I offered to be a medical test subject! Hikaryu: Yeah, I'm sorry. Didn't mean to cause all that trouble. Kell: Sorry, is it? (swings legs around, looks down over the edge of the bunk) All right, maybe I'm just a teensy bit bitter, but wouldn't you be in my place? Hikaryu: Um... I guess I would, at that. Kell: So why'd you do it? What possessed you to commandeer the ATV? Hikaryu: It's a long story, I guess. My father was a great pilot, one of the first people to fly the aerospace fighters. [The scene fades to a laughing mustached man with black hair in an SDF airforce uniform, picking up a small boy with a black ponytail; the boy looks about ten. Behind them stretches the SDF Neo-Tokyo air field; they stand in front of the sleek aerospace fighter that was shown in the flashback in scene 2. Hikaryu continues as a voiceover; silently the boy and the man joyfully hug each others. Soft music in the background.] Hikaryu: He was always flying, and being sent to different places... We didn't get to see him very often. It was the best year of my life when they were testing the Thunder and he was stationed at the local SDF airfield, because then he could be with us every day. [The scene dissolves to the young Hikaryu amidst a crowd of people cheering as the aerospace fighter prepares to take off. It vanishes into the sky silently, leaving a blazing trail behind.] Hikaryu: We saw a lot of reporters when he went on that mission to save the SSPS-1, the first real flight of the Thunder. It was a big success, I guess. The SSPS-1 didn't fall down into the atmosphere and burn up, because he went out there to fix the altitude jets. But all I asked for, every hour, was that he would come back. [The scene fades to Hikaryu at home, and a lovely black-haired woman with sad eyes answering the phone. Quiet words are exchanged, inaudible to the viewers, but obvious to their meaning; a crystal tear runs down her nose and falls, shattering.] Hikaryu: He came back from that mission. And from four more, all successful. But the last time, they called us in the middle of the night... [The scene fades to a helmeted pilot in the aerospace fighter's cockpit, struggling with the controls. The cockpit window flares dully red around the edges, and there is a roar as of heavy winds.] Hikaryu: They said that he'd had an instruments failure and that he tried to bring the craft down manually. He didn't make it... [Hikaryu stands outside on a grassy hillside and watches the stars, tears running down his cheeks. As he stares, a shooting star falls from the horizons.] Hikaryu: He told me once that he'd always return, because he was born on a lucky day, and because he had such a loving son and wife. I don't know... Stupid of me, maybe, but I was just hoping... [The scene fades to Hikaryu staring at an SDF Air Force recruitment poster and clenching fists.] Hikaryu: I told myself often that when I was old enough, I'd join the Air Force and go look for him, someday... Deep in my heart, I guess, I think he's still out there somewhere. He's waiting for me to come find him. [The scene fades back to the holding cell. Kell is lying back on the upper bunk bed again, staring up at the ceiling.] Kell: Great. I'm being court martialed because of someone's father. A dead guy, at that. That really makes me feel better, it does. Hikaryu: (shrugs) I said I was sorry! But I can't help wondering what happened to that girl we found... Kell: Probably resting easy in the hospital. Maybe they're filling her up with drugs and questioning her with lots of sharp pointy things. I wouldn't know. Hikaryu: You're right. No point in guessing. [Hikaryu goes over to the barred window and looks out across the SDF headquarters.] [The scene switches to the unicorn mecha which is secured in the midst of a virtual shipyard of technological instruments and repair tools. Michiko escorts Ruaja to a group of technicians, where she calls over one. Mike approaches, eyebrows raised in curiosity at the newcomer. He's tall and plump, with an extravagant beard and a receding hairline; his hair is dark brown. He wears spectacles and an oil-spotted SDF uniform.] Michiko: Hi, Mike! (pokes him in the tummy playfully) I see you're eating better these days! Mike: Michiko! Have you finally come to your senses and agreed to live with me in sin? And who's the handsome newcomer? Michiko: (giggling) You shameless flirt, I happen to know you have a wife! This is Captain Ruaja. He wants to inspect your findings on the mecha. Ruaja: (waggles an eyebrow at Mike) Want to make that a threesome? Mike: Oh, I won't tell my wife if you won't, Michiko, and I'll even buy you lunch at the Cafe Royale. (chuckles and takes a large weapon hooked to a two meter tall cylinder) You know what this is, Captain? Ruaja: A plasma lance! (5) I haven't seen one of those things since we got the tanks. Not much call for them these days, when a 150mm round does the job faster and at longer range. Mike: They still come in handy for some work around here; cuts through armor like nobody's business. Laser welders are slowpokes, compared to these lugs. Here, put these safety goggles on, and stand behind the red line. [Mike begins to prime the plasma lance, charging it. Ruaja toes the line; Michiko stands well back. Mike points the lance at the unicorn mecha's flank, and starts a countdown; at zero, he fires. A thin beam of energy strikes an invisible force field and diffuses out into a cloud of plasma that wisps towards the mecha, then fades away as it cools beneath the visible spectrum.] Ruaja: I've *never* seen anything like that before! What is it, some kind of de-focuser? Mike: Oh, something like. Far as we can tell, it's got a field generator in there that diffuses almost any kind of charged particle beam harmlessly; powered off the internal system, whatever *that* is. (6) Lasers, particle beam cannons, plasma weapons, you name it, we've tried it. 'Course a hot enough weapon might scorch the plates, I think. Got a sidearm? Ruaja: Are you kidding? I'd feel naked without one. (draws a huge gun and displays it to Mike) Mike: You really have been around a while, haven't you? That's an unrefitted 30mm Hellbore, you need a special order to get the depleted uranium ammo for it these days. (7) Mm... Try it. [Mike points out a location along the side, well away from any intruding equipment. Ruaja takes aim and fires. The bullet's path looks clearly skewed, leaving glitter behind it as it enters the field. It spangs off the armor harmlessly and richochets into an empty crate which explodes satisfactorily; there's no mark on the unicorn mecha itself.] Mike: High grade armor, that; gotta be even better than improved Chobham, or it'd have left a scratch. The field damps down kinetic projectiles a bit, but doesn't stop 'em. Still, with that kind of armor, it'd take an awful lot of punishment before you could so much as dent the mech. I've never seen anything like it before! Ruaja: Damn big brute, isn't he? Wouldn't mind having one like that, myself. Mike: Oh, it's an order of magnitude beyond any mecha that the SDF's ever tried to build or contract. I guess it to be a hundred tons, say... Michiko: Keep your work and play separate, dear. (grins broadly) Before you get too excited about this, if you want to question the people we brought in, you'll have to do it soon. The Air Force just requested Lt. Kell for a full inquisition. We're stalling them with paperwork right now, but I can only do that for so long before they notice the runaround. Ruaja: That's right... Say... We're Priority Two, right? Michiko: Absolutely! Ruaja: Have them assigned to my task force then. No one, but no one, swipes one of my suspects before they sing! Michiko: (laughs merrily) Affirmative, Captain. I'll call in the transfer now. [Michiko goes to a terminal on the side of the room and begins to type. Ruaja follows Mike as he excitedly describes more features of the mecha.] Footnotes: (1) The SDF HQ resembles a battleship so much in part because it was one of the US carriers in dock when Tokyo proper was bombed during the Two Day War that devastated most of inland China and Russia. Neo-Tokyo was built around the old parts of Tokyo, with floating sections over the sea to give more surface area. The battleship was so heavily damaged it was locked into the dock, so it was converted to an office building. The SDF since rebuilt the battleship and much of the area around it, giving a new complex with plenty of underground capacity (as long as surface integrity can be maintained against the sea) and the capability to launch fighters and helicopters from its deck. It carries nearly all the SDF complement of armored vehicles and a third of the aircrafts available; more aircrafts are stationed at a local airfield. The SDF HQ serves as a combined CCC and supply depot for the Neo-Tokyo Special Defence Force, though because of the great size of the megacity, there also exist local police, and the national army. Both are token, and the Nipponese government relies on the SDF, despite its name, to keep the peace. This avoids violation of the world treaties which Nippon was forced to sign at the end of the Two Day War. (2) The car is equipped with an autopilot which hooks in with the local computer guidance (in this case, the SDF traffic monitor) to park the car automatically. It is unnecessary to know how to drive in this modern age, if you have a good enough autopilot, but many people prefer to drive manually simply for the thrill of it. This feature is also not yet available in the rural countryside. (3) The unicorn mecha is the largest of the FurryMech mechas, and the most powerful; it carries a large particle beam cannon along its horn. Other features of the mecha are discussed in this scene as well; the armor and field generator it shares with the other FurryMech mechas, though it has the heaviest. Theoretically it could go faster than the other ground mechas, but it has a very poor turning radius. This one is nearly stripped of weapons, as evident here. Like the other mechas, it was not completed before it was thrown by the fusion reactor explosion to land in the subway, where the SDF found it. (4) Priority Two is the highest priority available in peacetime; only Priority One, which is restricted to wartime use, can override it. Most police matters are Priority Ten at best; matters involving the government would be Priority Three or Four. (5) A plasma lance fires a focused stream of plasma, which is generated separately from the projector unit itself. The stream is kept focused by the use of shaped magnetic fields. As a result, the plasma lance has a very short range-- up to 60' for most models-- but within this range it literally eats through most armor plating. Plasma lances were used by the SDF for dealing with armored terrorists until the adoption of tanks for the heavy work. A 150mm HEAP shell, as Ruaja noted, will pierce the same armor, and has a far longer range; it also has a faster fire rate, compared with the long charging time needed for a plasma lance. (6) The field generator system is, as noted, an energy field generated by the mecha which diffuses high-energy discharges and has limited effects on kinetic energy weapons. The intensity fades off at extreme and very close ranges, so that the pilot would be unaffected. This does create a slight corona effect around the mecha as light itself becomes distorted. Internal sensors compensate automatically for it. The larger the mecha, the larger the field generator it can power. Only the FurryMech mechas currently possess this technology; the Entropy Empire uses a different system of magnetic deflectors that works primarily against kinetic-energy weapons, and has less effect on energy weapons. (7) The 30mm Hellbore was superceded by the 16mm flechette guns which are far lighter and better at stopping people; the depleted uranium projectiles used by the Hellbore would go right through someone (with a nasty shock wave, admittedly) and almost through a cement wall. Ruaja keeps the Hellbore for use on cyborgs and armored vehicles, and partly because of the image it gives him as a hard-hitting horse. F U R R Y M E C H - I I Unlikely Meetings Scene 5 Copyrighted (C) 1991 by Conrad Wong Changes: August 20, 1991 -- created August 23, 1991 2243 PDT -- revised per Erma's and Stephan's revisions [Scene changes to a starship inner corridor, this one clean, brightly lit, and unobstructed; its high ceiling indicates it must be a major traffic section of the flagship. (1) Teeka and two IPAI troopers escort Rakshasa, who is now wearing an unmarked blue uniform. They walk without speaking; the IPAI troopers' boots click against the deck. At last Teeka and Rakshasa reach the airlock; she motions for the IPAI troopers to go about their duty, while hitting the button to open the airlock. Rakshasa steps in first; Teeka follows, and the door closes behind them. They step into a long transfer tube and begin walking.] Teeka: I'm sorry things came out this way, sir. In your place, I guess, I'd have done the same thing. Rakshasa: Understood, Teeka. But I made the decision. And if there are consequences, only I will suffer them. No one else. Teeka: (looks up shyly as they walk) I always admired your strength and conviction, you know, sir. But... The official word is that it's a transfer order... Unofficially... Rakshasa: I know. The Empress is not merciful to those who displease her. Teeka: (bites her lip, then speaks quietly) You don't have to do this, Captain. There's still a chance... Rakshasa: (stops and places his hands on Teeka's shoulders) I won't spend others' lives to save mine. Not when it would only prolong the inevitable. You are a captain now. Act like one. Teeka: (nods sadly, and whispers once more) Goodbye... Rakshasa. [Teeka salutes Rakshasa quietly; Rakshasa returns the salute slowly. Teeka then presses the button to circle the airlock open at the other end of the transfer tube. Tomoe and two IPAI troopers wait on the other side. Rakshasa steps out purposefully into the corridor; Teeka turns and begins walking back down the transfer tube, having completed her escort as far as she can take it. Tomoe and the IPAI troopers fall into place around Rakshasa, leading him away as the airlock closes once more.] [The scene shifts suddenly to an exotic jungle of blood-red plants beneath an orange sky, in an open clearing where a young frightened-looking rat 'morph with a backpack hikes down the trail. (2) Suddenly Trey leaps out of a bush, ambushing the rat; he pummels the other person unmercifully until she passes out.] Trey: Not much of a fight at all. Stupid furry. [Trey looks smug, though pants a bit from the effort. Trey removes the backpack from her and opens it, sorting through the contents. Most of it is food and clothings, which he discards; he takes the fuel tanks for the small stove, and the lighter elements, and the rope and other useful equipment.] Trey: Just what I needed... (lips curl in a practiced sneer) Thanks, sweetie, you've been more help than you know. [Trey hikes down the trail a while, until he comes to the edge, where a great chasm opens up; within the gap, two pillars rise into the air, each with a gun tower at the top, next to a winking red light. (3) On the other side, a door stands in the middle of nowhere, rimmed by a soft blue light. Trey takes cover behind a large rust-red boulder and fiddles with his own fuel tanks and the others he took, assembling them into four pint-sized bombs; he also ties the rope segments together and then attaches pitons to the end. He stands and quickly begins throwing the bombs at the gun towers; the first is a little too short, but he gets the range and scores a direct hit with the second, then two near-hits on the other tower. The gun towers return fire at first, but as he scores hits, both of their red lights go out and they cease. Panting, Trey then throws the rope up to wrap around the taller of the two pillars, where it chinks satisfactorily; he takes a deep breath and swings across, leaping off at the far end. He scrabbles for a handhold, and pulls himself onto firm ground, where he saunters to the door and pushes the button to open it. Beyond, he is greeted by an IPAI trooper who shoots him.] [When Trey awakens, he is in a briefing room with a black-uniformed officer who wears a mirror-visored helmet. He awakens on a couch, next to the table where the officer sits; at one end of the room is a blank screen, and the door is at the other; otherwise, the briefing room is featureless.] Trey: Wha... Sending an armored lunk when your little toys wouldn't keep me in your playground? (snarling slightly) I suppose this is where you pat me on the head and tell me that I should be grateful you didn't kill me, is that it? Officer: You were not told that you could leave the survival course, trainee. Explain your actions! Trey: (smirks) Who said I couldn't? If you thought I was going to stay in some kind of compound while you got your jollies by dropping nasties on us, you must be even more idiotic than I thought at first. [The officer types onto a keyboard recessed within the table. The screen flickers to life, replaying Trey's attack on the rat 'morph and his subsequent actions.] Officer: You were monitored during this course, trainee. You assaulted another trainee during your escape, solely so that you could take her equipment. Trey: (shrugs) She was just a furry. Bunch of job-stealing sex-starved furries, they don't deserve the air they breath. Officer: In fact, you mauled this trainee so badly that, without prompt medical attention, she bled to death internally. Your orders were strictly to survive for three days in this compound; you could have easily cooperated with the other trainees. This will look very bad on your record. Trey: (looks singularly unimpressed) Officer: You will lose your attitude very quickly, trainee. The Empire has no room for soldiers who cannot follow orders. (types into the keyboard) [The screen flickers and clears, then displays a sheet of dense hieroglyphs, the Empire written language. The officer stares astonishedly at the bottom.] Officer: Posted to... (shakes his head) Though I would like to shoot you on the spot and save the air that you're breathing... You have been promoted to Lieutenant, Junior Grade. (hits a key and a page of printout pops out of the table) These are your transfer orders. Commander Midnight will arrive in one hour to escort you to the Cerzon Nantes... (4) *THE* top space fighter school. [The scene fades to Stephan's gardens, where Stephan is sitting Japanese fashion before a low table, upon which a carafe and a glass sit; the holoviews show a simulated sunset around the gardens. Rakshasa is led in by Tomoe, the IPAI troopers waiting outside. Rakshasa salutes first; Tomoe follows suit a bit slowly, unused to the protocols of the Empire. Stephan regards Tomoe for a dangerous moment, then turns to Rakshasa.] Stephan: You realize the gravity of your situation, do you not, Captain? Rakshasa: I do, sir. I am prepared to take the consequences of my actions. Stephan: Exemplary. Most exemplary. In this day and age, so few people are willing to pay for their own mistakes. (sips wine from the glass) I had had high hopes for you, Captain. There are very few of your caliber in the Fleet. Rakshasa: I am flattered, Fleetmaster. I might have been more flattered had you not had me constantly watched by your agents... Your Lt. Cerima, for instance... Stephan: Indeed. He and others... You are a very respected officer, even now, Rakshasa. That makes you dangerous. Rakshasa: (shakes his head sadly) I am loyal to the Empire, sir. And to you. Stephan: (fixes Rakshasa with his laser eye icily) Do you think me foolish? Those with power always seek to arrogate greater power to themselves, no matter what their reasons. I am Fleetmaster because I command all within the Fleet. I cannot permit that to be challenged. So I must make an example of you. Rakshasa: Then I am truly sorry that the Empire has come to these straits. Yours is a position I do not envy, sir. Stephan: I as well. Brilliant leaders are difficult to find, and more so to keep. Most serve themselves first, the Empire second. (in a softer voice) Rakshasa... If only I commanded a hundred such as you, I could rule galaxies, and sleep far more easily at night. Rakshasa, do you understand why I must do this? Rakshasa: (bows his head) For the good of the Empire, Fleetmaster Stephan. Stephan: (turns away, focuses instead on the illusory sunset) Captain Rakshasa, you have been found guilty of treason in the highest degree. You are no longer Captain. Nor are you Rakshasa Seven-Claws. As Fleetmaster, I strip you of name and rank. You will be executed by Her Worship's hand immediately. Rakshasa: (looks up, shakened) Nameless... Stephan: (whispers without looking to Rakshasa) I regret the necessity... I too must obey Her. (in his normal voice) Tomoe! Escort the prisoner to Her Worship's chambers. Tomoe: At once, sir. [Tomoe bows to Stephan, who merely nods to her; she looks a bit disturbed at Rakshasa's sentencing as well. Rakshasa follows Tomoe, head downcast and eyes dull. They step through the door, which closes and vanishes, leaving the garden background in its place.] Stephan: Gorgon Adestes. Was the message broadcast to the Fleet? Gorgon: (speaks out of nowhere, genderless and emotionless) Yes, Fleetmaster. All units acknowledge as having received and viewed the broadcast. Monitors project 83.5% probability of increase in crew efficiency and discipline. Stephan: (to himself) At such great cost... Gorgon: Captain Teeka has assumed command with virtually no decrease in crew efficiency, Fleetmaster. Crew morale on her ship is down 12.5% however, recovering slowly. Stephan: (startled at Gorgon Adestes's interpretation of his musing, he curtly replies) That will be all, Gorgon Adestes. Gorgon Adestes: Acknowledged, Fleetmaster. [In the cramped room where Trey has been escorted, there to remain until someone arrives from Cerzon Nantes to pick him up, the door slides open suddenly. Beyond, a jaguar 'morph with fur so black she seems like a patch of night, Midnight stands, uniformed in light battle armor. That is, most of her leggy frame is covered by a flak-suit, a breast plate and shoulder pads covers her torso, and she wears heavy gauntlets and boots; she carries a sidearm comparable to Ruaja's for size. Trey doesn't even look up, pointedly lying on the bunk and staring at the ceiling.] Midnight: Well, 'allo therrre! If it ain't the newest kid on the block with the biggest chip on his shoulder! [A short pause while Trey says nothing. Midnight draws her sidearm and shoots from the hip, blowing out the support for one side of the bunk, causing it to drop precipitously and leave Trey to plummet to the floor awkwardly. The whole incident takes place so quickly Trey looks up at the ceiling dazedly for a minute, then recovers angrily.] Midnight: First lesson, kiddo. Enemies shoot without warning. (bares fangs in an impressively white grin) So why shouldn't I? Trey: You think you're gonna be the _furry_ to teach me, huh? If you didn't have that gun, I'd show you... Midnight: Ohhhh, a bad boy, are you? (with exaggeratedly wide golden eyes) _Do_ show me. [Midnight reverses the sidearm to hold it out to Trey, who warily reaches out to take it. Trey tries to make a quick grab, but Midnight anticipates him and once his hand is upon the grip, she clamps her paw around his forearm and another around his waist, and pulls him forward in a sudden throw, sending him rolling over to hit the wall painfully; she collects the gun again.] Midnight: Second lesson. With or without a gun, you're nothing but a groundcrawler. So keep a lid on that hull-breach of a mouth and don't even _think_ about trying to buck me, or you're going to get even worse the next time. [Smugly Midnight holsters the sidearm and exaggeratedly bows for Trey to go out the door, where she escorts him down the hallway.] [In the corridor, Tomoe escorts once-Rakshasa down a twisting series of byways. Silence for a short time, punctuated by idle machine noise; occasional doorways, some open and revealing parts of the base in-ways, some closed. At last Rakshasa glances towards Tomoe and speaks.] Rakshasa: You are unfamiliar to me. I thought I knew all those who served the Spymaster. Tomoe: I am... a "recent acquisition". Rakshasa: I see... And before? Tomoe: You are a foreigner-- no, totally alien, not even of Earth. How could you understand? (a short pause in which Rakshasa continues to regard Tomoe steadily) I was samurai, if that means anything to you. My family served the Rusalkan dynasty for more than a century. We were bodyguards to the Emperor. Rakshasa: Perhaps I understand more than you think... Your honor is your life, yes? To die in battle rather than to abandon your master, to hold loyalty over all things, to serve to the best of your abilities even should you think your master wrong... These are things I know well. Perhaps I am a relic of an old age of the Fleet, and it is long past time that I was swept away, with my dusty thoughts. (5) Tomoe: (sighs, remembering) Perhaps. Rusalka was small, a quiet little monarchy... (6) But even so, we had our enemies. I should have died in the surprise attack on the palace... I would have, but I was honor-bound to protect the Imperial Family. When I saw Prince Khamar, wounded on the field, I knew I had to save him... Ah, Prince Khamar... (looks wistful and recites) Fortune always smiled / Did it not occur to you / That she was fickle? [They step onto a wide hallway, nearly empty, and walk down the middle. Abstract murals depict the rise of a civilization, its advent to space faring, the colonization of other worlds, and the eventual Transfiguration of many of the race into energy forms; more scenes show how these people appeared to help or meddle in other civilizations and eventually, near the end, how almost all of them were elevated to some new plane of being.] (7) Rakshasa: You loved Prince Khamar. Tomoe: (stops and glares at Rakshasa) He was my master. I served him loyally all my life. Rakshasa: (looks steadily back) And now he is dead, and you have a new master. But your heart remembers. Tomoe: (turns away, having to concede Rakshasa's perception) We were playmates... He would joke sometimes how we were almost husband and wife, since I escorted him at all times... This is all I have left of him now. [Tomoe unbuttons a pocket to reveal a glittering blue crystal, like the Air Rhi, but watery-glistening and deeper-hued, with a tint of green. Rakshasa stops short and closes his paw over her hand, causing her to startle; he gently puts the crystal back in her pocket and closes it again.] (8) Rakshasa: Never show anyone of the Empire that stone. There are those that would kill for it... Tomoe: Pardon? (blinks up at Rakshasa startledly) Rakshasa: I know not its nature, only that the Empress's religious advisor, JRL, has searched constantly for it, or for gems like it. He is dangerous, unscrupulous. Do not trust him. Do not let him take your "keepsake". Tomoe: (recovers a bit) I thank you for your warning... [Tomoe briskly begins walking forward, and Rakshasa accompanies her with a look of slight sadness. They reach the end of the hall, where a relief carving of the Empress stands engraven in stone over the high arching doorway; within, two very thick armored sliding doors protect the entrance. Two efficient-looking IPAI troopers in the colors of the Chancellor's personal troops stand by the door. Tomoe walks over to the control panel beside the door. She turns to Rakshasa, who nods to her wordlessly; after brief hesitation, she begins to walk up to one of the troopers.] [In Dr. Strangelynx's lab, where Dr. Strangelynx is typing away at a keyboard and watching holo displays, while trying desperately to ignore Herge' as she fiddles with his neck fur, and where Serge stands guard at the doorway, a new screen comes to life. Strangelynx looks startledly at the screen, then nods decisively to himself.] Strangelynx: It's time... Footnotes: (1) Starship designs in the Empire are designed to include high-traffic corridors and narrower access and service corridors in a pattern that allows for quick transfer of boarding troops to other ships. An invader would find that the wide corridors also sport various security systems and very few obstructions to use as cover. (2) The jungle is one of several environs domes within the moonbase, this one being a training ground in use as a survival course for the brighter ones "saved out" from scene 1. It takes less pains to replicate a particular environ, instead being simply a 'generic jungle' with relatively few hazards innate in its vegetable life. Holobackgrounds complete the illusion. (3) The two gun towers protect the door to the "outside", which is actually in one of the walls against which the holobackgrounds are projected. The crevass itself is real enough, though likely at best 30 or 40 feet to the actual floor. (4) Cerzon Nantes is the equivalent of Top Gun for the United States Air Force, a training ship and carrier in the Fleet that carries the best and latest equipment, including beta-test versions of crafts out from R&D. (though the Empire's research program is somewhat stagnant and given to small percentage increases in performance and occasional change of SOP and standard armnaments rather than new systems) It serves as a kind of 'honor unit' as well. To be posted to Cerzon Nantes, whether as a cadet or as one of the instructors or the crew, is to be highly honored. And to be challenged; anyone at Cerzon Nantes is expected to be best of the best, and to prove it. Frequently. (5) The Fleet has undergone some political changes in the recent past since Rakshasa's initiation into the Fleet. Ascension to the top by assassination of one's superior was a valid career path before his times, but the proportion of insubordination and accidents has risen steadily in the times since Stephan's ascension to Fleetmaster and the other shifts in Empire management despite his efforts to control such rot. Stephan made it to the top by being the best at his trade. And being noticed. When a group of rebel ships attacked the Empress's, which had been left unescorted due to a slip of orders, Stephan deliberately held back his reinforcements until his predecessor had been embarrassed by the mishap, then charged in and rescued them. After this, he came under the Empress's eyes and rose rapidly through the ranks, permitting no insubordination or slips from those in his service, and eventually being promoted to Fleetmaster. It is a tribute to his very real skills and efficiency that he has remained at this post for nearly 15 years. Stephan permits no insubordination or slips in his service. (6) Rusalka is one of several tens of small countries that inhabit the various islands and mainland of China, which was itself fractured during the early 20th century and never unified under Communist rule as it did in our timeline. Instead, increasingly large proportions of furries in China caused the formation of nations of varying proportions; Rusalka being on the almost all-furry end. (7) This mural depicts the history of Shei'dara's people, as best as she recalls it, and is thus somewhat abstract. They preceeded almost all the known races of the galaxy, and the few that were contemporary have all been very reluctant to give any historical details to the chronicler. It is suspected that they fear vengeance from beyond the grave. One of the great legends of the galaxy is that Shei'dara's people who have translated to another plane of existence may return in a time of great trouble and desperation, when they will Change everything, the entire universe. The nature of this Change is not known. Some sects acclaim it as good and benevolent, others proclaim that the Return must be resisted and Shei'dara's people kept in 'exile'. (8) This is, in fact, the Water Rhi, one of the great possessions and treasures of the island-nation of Rusalka. It was entrusted to the protection of the imperial line of Rusalka. However, it has fallen to Tomoe as the last and closest to the Imperial line, perhaps hinting at distant relation to the ancient kings and queens that guarded the Rhi. Tomoe, however, has no idea of the stone's powers or how they can be awakened; this, along with her natural discipline, have kept her from suffering worse than occasional nightmares. F U R R Y M E C H - I I Unlikely Meetings Copyrighted (C) 1991 by Conrad Wong Scene 6 Changes: August 23, 1991 0915 PDT - created August 23, 1991 2242 PDT - revised per Myk's comments August 24, 1991 1520 PDT - revised per Stephan's comments [As Dr. Strangelynx finishes speaking, he types in a sequence of commands. Almost immediately, a loud wailing noise thunders through the room, white static fills all the monitors except those that Dr. Strangelynx is using. Herge' and Serge convulse as if electrified, then crash to the floor. Dr. Strangelynx winces and begins steadily typing. The screens start showing views around the base, mixed with tactical displays and occasional schematics; one screen to the right remains fixed on a view of what looks like a huge tunnel filled with machinery running straight up and down, expanding in the center to form a vast sphere: Gorgon Adestes's computer core. (1) Other views near it display the increasing seizure of cybernetic systems across the moonbase, the controlled systems displayed as blue against the initial hostile red. Blue sweeps across all screens but the one of Gorgon Adestes, where it forms an intricate tracery around the edges of the screen. Dr. Strangelynx nods to himself and grumbles.] [As Tomoe approaches the IPAI trooper on the left side of the door, both suddenly convulse and clutch at their helmets, struggling to remove them; white noise fills the hallway. Rakshasa whirls suddenly and grabs the rifle from the one on the right, then shoots both troopers. Tomoe draws her sword quickly, and moves to engage Rakshasa, but hesitates as her eyes meet his. Rakshasa seizes the opportunity and shoots the ground beneath Tomoe's feet, knocking her off balance and throwing her against the far wall; as she lies briefly dazed, sword flung a few feet away, Rakshasa sprints across to restrain her. Rakshasa whispers urgently into Tomoe's ears as she struggles.] Rakshasa: Live. So long as there is honor and integrity in this universe, there is hope. [Rakshasa knocks Tomoe unconscious with the butt of the rifle and sprints down the hall. View pans in on Tomoe lying askew against the wall.] [The view switches suddenly to Stephan's gardens, where the Fleetmaster is understandably perturbed. The hologram backgrounds that would normally form the sky and far horizons are flickering wildly, like a giant television screen flipping through channels wildly. Stephan winces at the white noise that fills the room, finally managing to turn it off as he fumbles with the controls on his cyberarm. Simultaneously the holo backgrounds fade, leaving the bare walls of the garden.] Stephan: Gorgon Adestes! What is the meaning of this? Gorgon: The base cybernetics have been taken over by outside attack, Fleetmaster. All communication frequencies have been jammed. It will take twelve minutes sixteen seconds before communications can be restored and the main computers restarted normally. Stephan: Amazing... How could our systems be so completely penetrated?... Strangelynx! [Stephan's cybereye glows as he snarls deeply. He looks around for soldiers, but finds none in the gardens; he draws his own sidearm, instead, checks the charge, and stands, preparing to leave the gardens.] Gorgon: Fleetmaster, a communique is being broadcast to all units. I cannot establish a channel to transmit. Stephan: Display! [A wide holoscreen rimmed by static appears before Stephan, Dr. Strangelynx at the foreground, his lab behind him. Dr. Strangelynx glares into the screen fiercely. The video quality is poor, occasionally flickering, and the audio hisses.] Strangelynx: ... recorded message. I can not conscionably serve an Empire that has taken from me all that I hold dear. I will not aid in any way this barbaric mentality that has taken a thousand worlds and crushed their individuality in order to fuel its war engines. People of the Empire! I call upon you to throw off enslavement, to become free thinkers and doers! Stephan: Stop. [The holoscreen suspends as Stephan slumps into the recliner chair, his cybereye glowing fiercely.] Stephan: Fool... Does he think he is the first to preach of freedom and revolution? Worlds may die, but the Empire will endure... The Empire _must_ endure... [Scene: Rakshasa steps onto the bridge of the flagship, where Teeka sits at the control chair, other bridge personnel working furiously to restore normal communications. Teeka stands and looks at Rakshasa astonishedly; Cerima turns, sees Rakshasa, and goes for his sidearm. Rakshasa raises his rifle and shoots Cerima, who flies across the bridge and lands in an ungainly heap at the far wall; blood spatters against the floor.] Teeka: (with astonishment and glad surprise, steps towards Rakshasa) Rakshasa! But... How?... Rakshasa: I am no longer of the Fleet, Teeka. Teeka: (dips head and flickers ears uncomfortably) I don't know what to say... I thought we served the Empire, Captain, and now... Rakshasa: (bows head to Teeka) You are learning. You know my loyalty. Will you join me, for the good of the Empire? Teeka: (with a sudden smile) Gladly, Captain. For the good of the Empire. And for you. Rakshasa: (looks at Teeka with a bit of startlement) I had not realized... Teeka: (grins, then turns all business and moves to her accustomed chair where she activates the intercoms) All crewmembers to battlestations! Secure airlocks and prepare to separate from base. (turns to Rakshasa and nods) Rakshasa: (looks into the screen resolutely) You know why we are gathered here today. You know what the Fleet has become, these long centuries. You know the oaths you swore. (2) Long ago for some, recently for others. Now you must make a choice. I call all loyal ships to aid in reshaping the Empire. The Empire has decayed for too long. Join me, for the good of the Empire. For Empire and home! [Teeka begins answering tight-beam messages from the other ships of the fleet in dock; a roster of the ships appears on the main screen, rebel ships appearing in blue as they answer the call. Rakshasa takes his seat in the command chair.] [Scene: the lab, where Dr. Strangelynx looks sadly into the screen.] Strangelynx: Goodbye, Miaore. To my son, Tommiau... I pray that you will grow up in a free world. (in a more commanding tone) End transmission. Send all messages and run the final program. [Strangelynx stands and turns about, facing a door into what seems like an arc furnace, blinding white light radiating in all directions. (3) He steps forward, becoming a shadow against that brilliance. Soft music begins to play, an angelic choir accompanying his march. The door hisses shut behind him, unmarked; in the window, the view continues until he has entirely disappeared into the light. The music rises into a mourning dirge.] [As the music continues, the scene switches to black space, where the flagship itself rises from the surface, joining the other ships assembled there. Inaudibly, guns on other ships turn and begin firing on the flagship; the flagship and other rebel ships return fire, gaining velocity as they accelerate from lunar orbit. The view switches to behind the rebel ships as their long drive plumes leave the others behind, though a few ships try to pursue. The music crashes silent as the flagship and its escorts enter hyperspace. (4)] [Soft music, like that of "Presence" from Robot Carnival, begins playing as Stephan enters a machinery-crowded robotics lab where Herge' is lying motionless on a table, and Serge stands watching from behind. Herge' is partially extended into robeast form, and a part of her skull swung away to reveal the bare armor beneath, and an access port. (5) Wires connect Herge' to a series of monitors and controls where a lizardman technician is serenely preparing the operations area. Stephan nods to the technician, who hisses slightly and flickers tongue. The technician leaves the lab. Stephan takes over the controls, shaking his head slightly; his cybereye probes into the flickering lights. As Stephan works, a holoscreen forms, replaying some of Herge's selected memories; most are corridor views, from Herge's point of view; each is a still frame. As the recall continues, we get snapshots: The office building of SoftWear Engineering. The front foyer, where the secretary looks up unsuspectingly. The secretary, lying in a pool of her own blood beneath the desk. Dr. Strangelynx, half-concealed behind a mecha prototype model. Dr. Strangelynx again, as Stephan, Strangelynx, Herge', and Serge stand in the inner chamber and the Empress speaks to them. A view from over Strangelynx's shoulder at a screen featuring a hawk mecha of some kind. At this, Stephan halts the recall and types briefly on another keyboard. The screen displays a few brief glyphs in the Empire language. (6) Stephan frowns and skips through the recall rapidly, assembling a collage of other views of data no longer in the computer banks.] Stephan: Even in death, your ghost will have its jests, Dr. Strangelynx... [Stephan finishes sifting through the recall, his cybereye absorbing the frames that flicker by too quickly to be absorbed by the human eye. He clears the screen and turns to regard Herge' who remains motionless.] Stephan: Most unfortunate. Not only did you fail to detect and prevent Dr. Strangelynx from subverting the network, you held back information from me for your own use. This is intolerable, especially in a servitor. It is a pity that your technology is too valuable for you to be destroyed. [Stephan considers for a while as soft music continues, and lights wink slowly on the controls behind him.] Stephan: Gorgon Adestes. Erase her memory and personality. Gorgon: Commencing, Fleetmaster. Reprogramming will be completed in three hours sixteen minutes. [Stephan turns and leaves, clearly expecting Serge to follow; Serge walks quickly to follow, but looks back from the door.] Serge: I will remember. [The scene fades to a balcony overlooking a sere desert wasteland, where Jaims stands with wineglass in hand. Tomoe enters, head bowed, dressed in a robe rather than her usual uniform. Jaims nods his head minutely to Tomoe, who begins speaking.] Tomoe: I have failed you, Lord. Because of my hesitation, the prisoner was able to subdue me and escape. (waits a bit while Jaims makes no reply) Lord, I request permission to commit seppuku to expiate my dishonor. Jaims: Indeed? Such a quaint custom... (turns to stare intently into Tomoe's eyes, sipping) Your request is denied. You are more valuable to me alive than dead, my servant. [Jaims sips from the glass while Tomoe stands warily, waiting for an explanation or command; slight dismay shows in her eyes.] Jaims: In fact, your neglect may have benefitted me. Because of you, Rakshasa not only escaped, he took part of the Fleet with him. Our dear Fleetmaster Stephan is, understandably, embarrassed. He gets knocked down a bit... I gain a little. [Jaims smirks at Tomoe's expression of half-disgust at this ruthless machination.] Jaims: You are young, still. An innocent at heart. I like that... [As Tomoe looks nervously at Jaims, a communicator buzzes. Jaims lifts it to his ear, and nods minutely; he places the wineglass on a table, and begins walking to the door. Tomoe is about to follow, but Jaims raises a hand.] Jaims: Go to my ship. (7) I will speak with you later. [He vanishes through the door as Tomoe turns to stare out onto the desert.] [The scene flickers to a spherical room in which the Empress dwells, her anger expressed as flares that lick hungrily at the walls. JRL stands on a gantry that has been extended into the room slightly, like a balcony, a force field shielding him from the incredible heat that has melted nearby crystal sculptures. The Empress turns to regard him, her eyes glaring like fire-lit rubies.] Shei'dara: You are a fool to come here, when you know well My rage at the theft of My daughter. No force field ever made could withstand even My slightest touch. (a hissing pause, then a sudden crackle) Why are you here? JRL: Empress, surely you know that I am not one to risk your wrath lightly. We have spoken many times before. You must believe me, then, when I say that I may be able to find your daughter! Shei'dara: (short pause) Even the Fleetmaster has said that he cannot guarantee he can find her upon Earth, wherever she may be. How can you be so sure of yourself? JRL: Pah! He has only his pathetic Fleet. What can he know of the Mysteries? Why, just today, the prisoner Rakshasa, who was to have been brought to you, mutinied and escaped with a dozen ships... Shei'dara: (not impressed by JRL's knowledge) What do you propose? JRL: There is a certain... crystal... you possess... I should not presume to ask this, but as your Empress's most loyal servant, my thoughts are only to serve you... Shei'dara: The last relic of My people... It is worthless to Me, when My daughter may be in great danger at this very moment. Take it. [As she speaks, a crystal appears at her neck, then floats to JRL, where it pierces the force field, glowing redly; JRL catches it, then clenches his teeth as smoke hisses from his singed fur. The Empress frowns and turns to the side a bit, not noticing JRL.] Shei'dara: As for My dear Fleetmaster... I shall have to speak to him about his... failure... [Shei'dara begins to fade slowly from within the chamber, leaving JRL to stand on the balcony. He holds up his scarred fist to the light and opens it slowly, revealing a blue crystal glowing fiercely as if it contained a blue-white fire within. (8)] [Stephan, Kym, and Jaims are speaking together on the central pillar in the meeting area they used before.] Stephan: Today's events have cost the Empire dearly. We must act swiftly to contain this rebellion before it can gain additional support. Jaims: As if bright words could make any difference... Whether they call it the Entropy Empire or some silly and brave sounding name, nothing will change. Only the names of the people who have the power. Stephan: You fool. (gives Jaims an icy look) This could split the Fleet. And that would end the Empire. The purges alone will devastate morale. (quietly, so that neither hears) And cost us our best... Kym: Upheaval of this kind is a minor economic disaster, not quite enough to tip us over the brink of recession, yet... It will require us to utilize new supply lines, guard every shipment from rebel piracy, scrupulously defend high risk targets... By increasing the scale of mobilization to deal with these threats, this venture will lose trillions of credits in battle damage alone. Simply unacceptable! Stephan is correct. This insurrection must be crushed before it escalates. Stephan: I have already laid out the plans for identifying and-- [Stephan is interrupted as the Empress begins to take shape in the great chasm given over for her materializations.] Stephan: Your Worship! Shei'dara: You have failed Me once, Fleetmaster. Do not fail Me again. Stephan: I am at your service as always, Empress. Shei'dara: Then hear My command! (flares brightly, causing the force field to glow visibly) All of Our forces are to be readied to an immediate invasion of Earth to rescue my daughter. You will aid JRL however he wishes. [Stephan, Kym, and Jaims stare disbelievingly at the Empress; one by one, they kneel to display their loyalty.] Shei'dara: You will find Kari'danei... And bring her back to Me, alive and well... Or you will burn like this tiny world, and not even ashes will remain. Stephan: (slowly) I understand, Your Worship... Shei'dara: See that My will is done. Footnotes: (1) Though Empire technology is generally more advanced in matters of power and efficiency, they lag behind on artificial intelligence research compared to Earthside matters. Dr. Strangelynx's virus program has, as shown here, infiltrated virtually the entire complex and hampered all communications. As the base serves as the command and control complex for the fleet, the Empire presence in the Earth system has been virtually immobilized. For a short time. Its attack on Gorgon Adestes is retarded however by the heavy security channels that guard the few open channels between the main computers and Stephan's personal computer system. (were this not so, the embargo on communications and computer access could continue indefinitely or until personnel restarted the computers manually) (2) Members of the Fleet, or of any of the armed services of the Empire in fact, are required to swear oaths of service to the Empire. Limited terms of service do not exist; rather, the Fleet operates somewhat as an army of old, its members 'pledged' to their superiors, who are in turn the vassals of higher-ups. (3) This is actually the power core that serves the local lab cluster in which Dr. Strangelynx was working; it is a matter-antimatter annihilation reactor. The light is the limited energy that manages to pierce the force field. (4) The Empire's starships are capable of hyperspace jumps once they have built up sufficient energy to make the transition; hyperspace is more or less mapped to normal space in such a way that great distances can be traversed quickly. Shorter distances such as within the width of a solar system are much harder to compute, though usable for nearly random manuevers. Transition to and from hyperspace requires great energy expenditure, however. (5) Robeasts don't have lots of little wires and blinking lights in their skulls or body; instead, they use solid-state components. This access port is the only way to hook a computer directly into them. Robeasts are nearly all muscle, as seen here; that is, they contain a central power core, a processor in their skulls, well protected and quite durable, and the rest of their bodies are muscles along limbs that can extend to nearly twice the normal length. Their armor plates give them the appearance of normal furries until they "transform". The specific robeast construction varies; robeast technology was lost some centuries ago in the last revolution, or perhaps ordered that way to prevent too many unseen traitors. (6) The glyphs shown here are simply, "File not found". All the important data that Dr. Strangelynx could identify has been erased, especially those that might show anything related to the FurryMech mechas. (7) Jaims's personal ship: the Dark Dream, a large aerospace fighter with a built-in micro hyperspace drive (which must rely on stored coordinates rather than being able to freely jump). It has relatively comfortable living quarters for two or three people and a stealth device as well. (it sacrifices combat ability for these luxuries) (8) As might have been guessed, this is the Fire Rhi, which alone of the four Rhi was kept (or taken) by Shei'dara's people. Shei'dara has no idea of the Rhi and knows it only as a keepsake. JRL, however, knows a fair amount of the Mysteries that shroud Elsewhere and magic, and seeks to gain the Rhi for his own private use; it must be freely given and not stolen or taken to be effective. (not that he would wish to attempt to steal it from the Empress's own person) F U R R Y M E C H - I I Unlikely Meetings Scene 7 Copyrighted (C) 1991 by Conrad Wong Changes: August 26, 1991 1044 PDT -- created August 28, 1991 0022 PDT -- revised per Myk's suggestions [At the end of scene 6, dramatic music thunders; it resolves into the sound of a jet engine as the view fades to the SDF headquarters at night, the ancient battleship tower silhouetted against the city. Storm clouds fill the sky, occasionally lit by lightning from above. The view switches to that from the cockpit of the flit as it comes in for a landing, a man visible upon the deck waving lit batons to guide the aircraft in. (1) A view of the pilot, storm light reflecting eerily off the black mirrored helmet; she presses the throttle forward decisively. In the control tower, nervous air traffic controllers hit a button as red lights start displaying, indicating that an approaching craft exceeds safe velocities for landings; alarm klaxons begin wailing. On the deck, the baton-waver dives for cover as safety nets shoot up from the deck; vans with fire-firing equipment start to mobilize, and nearby gun turrets activate, barrels tracking the intruder. At the last minute, the flit rotates its engines forward quickly and fires, sending huge plumes of jet flames washing across the deck and scorching the first safety net; it stops short, with nose just touching. A team of fire fighters in the background look disgruntled at the show-off. The elevator on the roof opens, revealing Michiko, who steps out with an uncommonly disapproving expression on her face. She walks up to the flit, and taps her feet while the cockpit swings open. The pilot emerges, dressed in a glossy black Intel uniform with silver markings resplendent; she wears a black helmet with a black visor. She removes the helmet with a wicked smile, tossing her head back to send long blonde tresses over her shoulders. Kitten gives Michiko an amused look through sultry grey eyes.] Michiko: You are so irresponsible, Kitten! Do you know how many forms we fill out every time you pull a stunt like that? Kitten: That is none of my concern, dear Michiko. You are paid to fill out forms. Now, do be so kind as to escort me to the prisoners... (begins walking to the elevator, leaving others to service the flit) Michiko: Oh, so that's whom you're after? (shakes her head knowingly and grins) I can tell you right now that they're out of your reach. You might as well go home now. Kitten: (with arched eyebrow, as they step in) Really, my dear, you should know better than to play these games with me. I understand our esteemed captain Ruaja is... Not averse to certain persuasion... [Michiko hmmphs disgruntledly at Kitten's sly look and punches the button for the main floor; her pink hair, slightly dampened, hangs limply. Kitten laughs throatily and leans against the back wall.] [In a crash of thunder, the scene switches to a cave where Vixen stares forlornly into the heart of a fire that crackles cheerily, lending warmth; Kimasu sits near the entrance, a silent guard. Lightning cracks again, and heavy rain pitterpatters over the ground beyond; the forest is only hazily visible. Vixen speaks quietly, not looking towards Kimasu.] Vixen: Last night, I slept snugly in a bed. I was going to be a successful singer, an actress... Now... I don't know what's going to happen. [Kimasu gives Vixen a sympathetic look but says nothing.] Vixen: Is this a nightmare? Are you real? Or am I just dreaming all this, and I'll wake up, and everything will be fine again? [Vixen gives Kimasu a slightly wild-eyed look, hoping for an answer. Kimasu stands, walks to Vixen, and places a massive paw on one of her shoulders, reassuringly solid. He sits down again, a wall of fur.] Vixen: You seem real enough to me... I don't know. Maybe there's no way to tell. (leans against Kimasu, who remains motionless) I'm glad you're here. I wonder... [The scene dissolves to dream as Vixen falls asleep. She is in the forest again, and the shadows have grown into eerie dark creatures of dangerously thin limbs and glowing eyes; they press in around her and the small fire that guards the clearing. With a flicker, Gohan appears, staff in hand; he dodges beneath a claw swipe and dissolves the apparition with a swing of his staff. Gohan evades three more attacks and presses forward, weaving a wall against the monsters; as he fights, his form changes, bit by bit becoming armored like an ancient samurai, the staff shining brighter as it moves until it becomes a katana being wielded fiercely. Vixen looks incredulously at the samurai, still fighting the shadows.] Vixen: Are you Tomoe? [Tomoe appears besides Vixen, dressed in the same long robe that she had in scene 6, when she spoke to Jaims.] Tomoe: I am already dead. [Tomoe fades away like a ghost, and another monster's claw swipe goes through empty air. The samurai blocks it, chopping through the monster as if it were mist. The monsters have all faded away now, and the fire crackles brightly, illuminating the clearing cheerily. The samurai lifts his mask, revealing Hikaryu's face; Vixen starts.] Vixen: It's you! ... What is your name? [She reaches out to the samurai, about to take his hands, when the face melts away to leave a grinning skull behind, and the armor fades to dull metal, sinking a bit to clatter against bones. The fire blows out suddenly, leaving all cast in chill gloom.] Samurai: I am a Lord of September. (2) And you have trespassed upon my demenses. [The September Lord reaches out with thin bony hands, and Vixen screams and falls back, hands reaching out for a weapon. Thunder crashes over the skies.] [Thomas wakes suddenly by the side of a fire, next to the RV; Violet and Mershan and Nares are still asleep. Sweat trickles a bit down Thomas's face, which has gone white. Storm clouds hang in the distance, thinning out overhead.] Thomas: So soon... She's touched on Elsewhere, or been touched by it, it makes no difference... Nares! Wake up everyone and start the engine! Violet: (muzzily) What are you babbling about?... Thomas: It's a family thing. You've just been adopted. [Sudden scene switch: the cave where Vixen and Kimasu were sleeping. Gohan has captured Vixen's hand as it searches for a weapon, and Vixen awakens startledly. Kimasu helps to hold Vixen until she calms down.] Vixen: I must have had a nightmare... Gohan: A dream is often your mind's way of knocking on your door and saying, "You'll have to sign for this package, ma'am..." Vixen: (with a soft embarrassed smile) Sorry... You can let go now, I don't bite. [Kimasu eases Vixen to a sitting position. Gohan smiles soothingly and begins to search in his pack for a teapot and some cups.] Vixen: How... How did you escape that monster? Gohan: There are many things that a wise man does not know. Perhaps a divine spirit saw fit to calm it and thus rescue a traveller from dire circumstances. For whatever reasons, it seems tame now. [The ferret mecha pokes its nose into the cave suddenly, startling Vixen who draws back behind Kimasu and starts looking for something to fend it off with. Gohan dives for his staff and comes up in a defensive posture, but stands as the ferret goes by, instead, a paw crushing the fire beneath and scattering the embers. Kimasu stands also, but relaxes.] Gohan: Perhaps that same divine spirit is also trying to tell us something. It might be best to take torches and follow it. [Vixen stands a bit unsteadily, then clutches her knees and sinks to a sitting posture again; Gohan collects his pack and takes two sticks that still burn brightly; he motions for Kimasu to pick Vixen up. Kimasu gently shoulders his own pack and scoops up Vixen, who looks about to protest, but sighs instead. They walk down the tunnel, behind the ferret. The embers of the remains of the firepit burn fitfully, fading out.] [Distant lightning thunders as the scene flicks again, switching to a darkened hospital room in which Kari'danei sleeps. Sounds of muffled voices; then the door creaks a bit and opens to reveal Ruaja standing beyond, silhouetted by bright light, Kitten behind and Michiko last. Ruaja reaches in to turn the light up dimly.] Ruaja: There she is. One genuine illegal alien, no papers, no identification, no nothing, completely without legal existence as far as Nippon is concerned. All present and accounted for, ma'am. (3) Kitten: You've done an exemplary job, dear Captain... I honestly admire your efficiency, truly. Ruaja: I'm wounded, stabbed in my very heart, I say! How can you talk about that when there are so many more things about me to... admire? Kitten: Well, yes, that too. I do admit I couldn't help but notice your many charms... [Kitten smiles slyly as she leans in past Ruaja to observe Kari'danei, not accidentally snugging against him. Ruaja merrily returns the snug, draping an arm around her shoulders. Michiko hmmfs resignedly, then starts as a beeper goes off. She takes a comm-headset out from a pocket and unfolds it, then secures it and taps the button on the side. (4) There is a short pause as a voice whispers.] Michiko: Captain Ruaja, so sorry to interrupt, but... It seems that both mechas have broken loose and are now heading away, under their own power! We've got a spotter helicopter tracking them now. Ruaja: What the hell?! Have an ATV powered up immediately. (looks thoughtful) Get Hikaryu and Kell on board, under escort, and bring the pilot here as well. There's a chance we might need them, where we're going... Kitten: Might I recommend my flit? It's much faster, I assure you, than one of your ATVs... Ruaja: (giving Kitten a measuring look, then grins) You're persistent, I'll give you that. All right then, we'll take your flit, as long as I get to drive. Kitten: I see you've heard about my takeoffs. [Kitten smiles winsomely and winks. Michiko groans at the double entendre and goes off to a terminal to arrange the transfer.] [Scene switch: the jet engines of the flit thunder as it shoots over the Neo-Tokyo night, shadowing the unicorn mecha as it charges through the streets; the hawk mecha flies low over the buildings next to it, smoke trailing from one engine. A copter marked SDF hover nearby, shooting ahead of the two mechas. The scene switches to that out of the cockpit of the flit, where Ruaja pilots, his horn protruding through his headgear, much like a German spiked helmet. Kitten occupies the copilot seat, paying more attention to the view and the sensors than to the instruments and controls. Kell and Hikaryu are being watched by two edgy security guards, dressed in spiffy red uniforms and armed with flechette rifles; a hospital bed brings up the rear, where Kari'danei rests.] (5) Kell: I don't like this a bit at all... Heck, with a court martial, at least I knew what to expect. Now, though... Hikaryu: It's strange, isn't it... Ruaja: (overhears them) You think this is strange? You haven't seen strange until you've been to some of the parties down on Piu Way. Kari'danei: (muzzily) Mother?... Where are you?... [Hikaryu rises to sit by Kari'danei, watched by his escort. Kell looks on interestedly.] Hikaryu: It's all right... I don't know where your mother is, but if you need someone... [Hikaryu pats Kari'danei's hand soothingly. Kari'danei blinks and focuses her eyes on him confusedly. Kara'danei reaches up to hug Hikaryu, startling him; she blinks innocently when she sees his expression. Kari'danei's clothes have also changed to that of a princess's.] Kari'danei: My prince! I knew you'd come to save me! Hikaryu: What?... (looks utterly confused) Kari'danei: (giggling) Isn't it always a prince who wakes a fair princess up from her enchanted sleep? Kell: (laughing softly) Prince Hikaryu, huh? Invite me to the wedding, maybe they'll give me time off from solitary confinement. [The scene flickers to the tunnels, where Tygryss is huffing and puffing while Sthiss waits warily a distance away, also catching her breath. Nearly unseen and apparently unnoticed by Tygryss, Tugrik rests on a rock.] Sthiss: I dinna know y'were that out 'a shape, Ty'ryss! It be 'cos you don't ex'cise 'nuff! Tygryss: Just you wait 'til I get my hands on you... Sthiss: EEK! Ty'ryss, look out behin' you! Tygryss: Oh, c'mon, Sthiss! The last time I fell for that trick, I couldn't find you for two whole days! [Sthiss sprints off to Tygryss, and takes her by her hand, tugging. Tygryss spins to track Sthiss and nab her, but catches sight of what really was behind her: a giant powerful-looking wolf mecha, its armor plates gleaming dull black in the dim light. The wolf mecha advances implacably upon the two.] Tygryss: Boy, they sure grow 'em big around hereabouts... Sthiss, for once, you're right. RUN! [Sthiss and Tygryss sprint down the tunnel, splashing water all around. The wolf mecha continues to pace them, until they quite suddenly emerge into a huge cavern that stretches up to unseen heights. Machinery and screens fill one side of the cave; over to another side, a frame encloses the felinoid mecha which Tygryss and Sthiss originally found, and sparks rain from instruments that hover around it. (6) Other empty frames await. The far end of the cavern is buried under rubble and debris as if by an explosion of some kind; bits of machinery gleams bright within. As Sthiss and Tygryss stop, amazed at the ruined underground complex, the wolf mecha pads out of the tunnel, and they shrink away from it. It crosses the cavern to another frame, which closes to secure it. At the far end, a unicorn mecha thunders in, followed by a hawk mecha that crashes upon the rubble in a ground-shaking landing, folds its wings, and begins to walk across to another frame. A ferret mecha appears to the side out of an unseen tunnel, and slinks to the last frame. Gohan, Kimasu, and Vixen, who limps along assisted by Kimasu, appear shortly thereafter from the tunnel, carrying aloft torches. Sthiss brightens at the sight of them and scampers over, Tygryss failing to grab her protectively.] Sthiss: I be huuuuuuuuungry! Gohan: (smiling and rummaging through his pack) Give a hungry man food and he eats for a day, but teach him to fish and he will say that he doesn't like sushi. Here, little one. [Tygryss wanders over, scritching her head bemusedly. Around this time, some curses and shouts come from the far end, and Ruaja, Kitten, Hikaryu (with Kari'danei clinging to an arm), Kell, and Michiko enter the cavern. Vixen looks across the cavern startledly, and sees Hikaryu, who looks back just as amazedly. Vixen takes an unsteady step towards Hikaryu, her eyes fixed on his. The background goes abstract white around them, cherry blossoms fading in, and the ground momentarily seems like the hillside of scene 5, act I. Vixen reaches out a hand to Hikaryu hopefully. Vixen stumbles a bit, and the background goes dark, with a vision of Hikaryu turning to a skeletal lord in armor superimposed briefly. In the cavern, Hikaryu steps forward about to say something to Vixen, who shrieks and stumbles, bringing her arm up to cover her eyes; Kimasu steadies her. Hikaryu looks quite nonplussed.] [All five mechas have, in the meantime, been secured in frames, and the main viewscreen comes alive. Dr. Strangelynx appears, looking quite grim. Though no one says anything, all those in the cavern move to the screen without being told to do so, and watch.] Strangelynx: I am already dead. [Vixen looks wide-eyed at the screen.] Strangelynx: You are here, whether by chance or by fate, I know not which. I regret that I cannot meet you all personally. It is a most difficult task that I must leave in your hands, one which I would prefer not to force upon people unfamiliar with the grave threat facing Earth. But circumstances have made it so. [The viewscreen flickers to show a tactical view that depicts the moon, the base on the far side, and the ships that orbit it. Other viewscreens light up with schematics of the ships and the mechas of the Empire, rotating, adding pointers to the capabilities represented by each system depicted.] Strangelynx: The Entropy Empire controls a thousand worlds, and more, and its forces are a million times Earth's own armies; that which orbits our moon is merely the fingernail of its strength. If it wanted to, it could crush all resistance easily, destroying every city. [The main viewscreen shows one of the Empire worlds, heavily mechanized, without any trace of creative life or brightness.] Strangelynx: The Entropy Empire is stagnant. Though their technology is beyond our own, they have advanced very little in a century. That is why they seek to invade Earth. They plan to use us to fuel their war engines, to whip up the fervor and sheer creativity they need to energize their people. [The viewscreen dissolves to show schematics of the five mechas: wolf, feline, hawk, ferret, and unicorn.] Strangelynx: I had originally conceived of a FurryMech force to patrol Earth and bring peace among its warring nations. Brave people, armed by my science and technology, would create a peace-keeping force to pilot these mechas, and more like them; they would build a new world. I did not know the magnitude of the threat that awaited us. My time was too short. I was kidnapped by the Entropy Empire's servants before I could complete the existing mechas, and lay the groundworks for the next stage of the force. I managed to subvert their systems long enough to compose and send this message, and what information I could gain. I am sorry. [Strangelynx's visage appears once again, as he salutes those present.] Strangelynx: For better or worse, these five FurryMechs, this complex, which represents the most advanced technology that I have developed, and the information within this computer are all that I can give you to fight for Earth's freedom. I can only hope that it will be enough. May the Fates bless your endeavors. [The viewscreen fades to dark again, and it seems like the whole cavern is dark save for a few winking lights and the nearly silent hiss of the welding torches as they work. Gradually, however, the cavern becomes brighter as everyone watches, and they turn around to see that beyond the far end and its rubble, the sun has begun to rise. Dawn silhouettes them as light floods the cavern, rimming the mechas in their frames.] Footnotes: (1) The flit is a ten-seater passenger aircraft, wide-bodied and equipped with powerful jet-engines which can be rotated like VTOL jets. It carries little in the way of any actual armnaments, beyond a turret with a 30mm autocannon, and serves more the purpose of an armored fast transport. (2) The September Lords are one of the more powerful of a hierarchy of entities that dominate Elsewhere. The dreams of the talented (such as the guardians of the Rhi) often border on or cross into Elsewhere, the only way to contact the denizens of that realm. As Thomas knows, for the untrained this can be very dangerous. In the normal course of things, a Guardian would be mentally disciplined enough not to be affected by such dreams; Thomas chose to listen to the dreams, interested by the fey landscapes they presented. With enough exposure to the Rhi, however, or other sources of magic (most of which are long depleted) the bearers' dreams will become increasingly disturbed and go farther and father across the borders of Elsewhere. The more Talent one possesses, the faster this occurs. The name 'September Lord' was invented by Ryan S. Borgstrom and is used here with his permission. (3) Kari'danei, not being a citizen anywhere in the world, naturally has no birth certificate on file, nor is her DNA matchable to anyone. However to most physical examinations she would appear perfectly normal for a human, metabolism perhaps off by a bit. (her powers are created by her mind, rather than any bodily changes) (4) The comm headset shown here is a typical item that might be used by any SDF personnel often on call; it folds neatly, secures lightly over an ear with excellent reception and transmission, and uses frequency-hopping transmitters to ensure secrecy. (5) The security guards' flechette rifles are standard anti-personnel use, where the flechettes are shaped for maximum damage against people (and can inflict horrible physical trauma, similar to dumdum bullets). (6) The frames shown here are repair frames rather like the one that surrounded the unicorn mecha in scene 4, but more sophisticated and capable of autonomous repairs and modifications as controlled by the complex's computer.