Neither Bubble Gum Crisis, El Hazard, nor their
characters are mine.  But this plot is.

      C&C will be accepted greatfully.


         The World of Balance and Ruin: Part 2

     Sylia sat in her lab, with the Knight Sabers
around her.  Mackie and Nanami were also present, and
everyone's luggage was piled about; including the new
wardrobe Nene insisted on buying to 'fit in at court.' 
In the center of the room stood the project Sylia would
have, until now, rated as the least useful thing
she'd built since the jell-o incident: God's Yo-yo. 
<Of course, it's only going to yo.>  The dimensional
weakener and power booster ought to let her mother
throw the entire building to El-Hazard.  <The rabbits
made it there and back, anyway.>

     Turbines roared to life as Sylia cut off the
outside power. The three emergency flywheels could
provide twenty minutes of power, but the Yo-yo needed
much more than they could provide.  Her mother sat at a
console next to her, with a hand on a large red button. 
It was a prop, of course, but they were not yet ready
to reveal Ifurita's true nature to the others. <It was
hard enough to get them to believe they will acquire
powers.>  Hopefully that omission would not blow up in
their faces while in El-Hazard.

     There was no warning, just sudden darkness and
phantom lights.  Her father's memories did not convey
the loss of feeling or the nakedness of being a lone
consciousness in the void.  Before she could scream to
fill the darkness with _something_, it was over.  They
were all standing in the basement lab, exactly as
before. <Thank the Heavens we all arrived in the same
place.> The wide dispersal of her father's companions
had worried her.  Everything was all right.

     Then Nene screamed.

     She crumpled onto Ifurita.  Nene twisted, as if
burned, from the hands that reached out to touch her,
and fell to the floor.  Linna ran over to the fallen
girl and grabbed her shoulders, but was batted away. 

      "Don't touch me!" Nene shouted, then curled in a 
ball. Sylia picked up a portable scanner and ran it over
Nene's sobbing form.

     "Well, what's wrong with her?" Priss asked.  "Are
we all going to go out of heads?"

     "The computer reports, unsurprisingly, that Nene
is under a great deal of stress.  Other than that, she
is perfectly healthy.  This probably is related to
whatever abilities she gained from the transfer."

     "That didn't happen to any of us!" Nanami
objected.

     "You don't know what happened to your brother,"
Sylia answered, "but I doubt it matters.  The abilities
people have gained have been so diverse that there is
no way of knowing if there is a normal pattern, much
less what it is."

     Sylia bent down next to Nene's head.  "Nene, are
you all right?  Can I help?"  Nene shook her head
violently, then visibly took control of her self.  She
uncurled her body and scooted back until she sat
against the wall.

     "I'm okay now," Nene said, with a quiver in her
voice.  Sylia nodded sympathetically, and the redhead
straightened up.  "It was like someone was in my mind,
telling me things about stuff."  Sylia saw her mom step
in front of Priss to spare Nene the sight of her
teammate reaching for her gun.

     "It wasn't like voices really, but I just suddenly
knew stuff, like about my cloths and the floor, and it
was worse when Linna touched me, because I started
knowing stuff about her too."  Nene's tear stained face
looked hopefully at Sylia.  "But it stopped now, and it
will be alright, won't it?"

     "I don't know," Sylia admitted. "Before, the
changes always were powers; it stands to reason-"

     "I'm sure you'll be fine kiddo," Priss said over
Sylia's hesitant conjecture.  She quickly reached down
and hauled Nene to her feet.  The younger girl gasped
and then stumbled into Ifurita, which provoked another
scream.  While she did not fall to the floor again,
Nene pressed her hands against her temples.

     After a minute Nene dropped her hands with a 
deepbreath.  Her face was drawn and her eyes glistened with
unshed tears.  "I'm sorry," she said to Ifurita, her
voice carrying more than an apology for bumping her.

     "Okaaay," Linna drawled.  "Does anyone have any
idea about what is going on?"

     "I believe I may have an answer," Sylia said
softly.  If she was right, then they may have to deal
with Ifurita's secret much earlier than expected. 
"Mackie, get my kidskin gloves.  I believe that Nene is
learning information about whatever she touches.  I'm
sure suddenly knowing information is unsettling, and
that is reason for her attacks."

     "Well, that makes sense," Nanami said. "Welcome to
the superpower club."  Nene blinked, and then laughed. 
Mackie returned then, and Nene pulled on the gloves. 
Sylia wondered if the others could see the slight
stiffening that occurred when she first touched them.

     "None of this information is to leave this room,"
Her mother commanded.  "Nene's ability could be a great
tactical advantage, but we will need to keep it a
surprise to use it to its utmost.  Besides, I doubt
Nene wishes to deal with others' reactions.  The court
of Roshtaria is filled with secrets."

     "Yeah," Nanami put in, "all the nobles would try
to use you.  It happened to me when there was a rumor I
could know if someone was lying."  Nanami's voice was
bitter.  "Say," she continued, her voice now filled
with curiosity, "exactly where did we appear?"

     "If we were on target, we should be next to the
Stairway to the Sky," Sylia answered.  She typed at her
consol, and a view of the outside appeared on the
screen.  "We are already surrounded by the palace
guard.  Nanami, why don't you go outside and reassure
the princesses that this is not a Bugrom attack." 
Nanami left as Sylia powered down the building.  The
generators would provide a week's worth of standby
power.  She had until then to come up with an alternate
power source.

     Sylia surveyed the group.  Her mother wore her
battle gown.  She had considered dressing differently,
but decided the best way to confront the prejudice
against her was to confront it head on.  Nene had
bought a dress patterned on medieval European styles
just for the occasion.  Sylia knew she had read the
dossier on El-Hazard, but she doubted it made a dent in
Nene's preconceptions of royalty. <Maybe if she read
something besides science fiction and fantasy. . . >

     Linna and Priss had both made a point of not
dressing up.  However, Sylia knew the blouse and slacks
Linna was wearing, while in a casual cut, were designer
items and only affordable because USSD had been speedy
with their pay.  Priss, on the other hand, wore her
normal red jacket, and the shirt was not new, even if
it was silk.  The same could be said for her leather
pants and boots.  Mackie outdid both of them by wearing
faded jeans and tee-shirt.  Of course, he knew Father
had met the princess in a school uniform.

     Sylia herself wore slacks and a blouse.  She'd
been tempted to recreate her mother's battle gown, but
common sense restrained her sense of humor.  She
sighed.  While they did not clash, the group was as
eclectically dressed as possible. <One of us _could_
have worn a kimono, but such restrictive cloths in a
war zone is a Bad Idea.> 

     "Everyone on their best behavior.  Priss, please
don't hurt anyone, no matter how much they deserve it. 
Ready to meet royalty?"  The team nodded, except for
Priss, who sulked over her special warning.  Sylia
smiled.  "Knight Sabers, go!"


                                    ~*~


     Shayla-Shayla found court boring.  She had come
from peasant stock and thought most of her relatives,
even Uncle Nebiza, deserved to rule more than these
nobles.  All they did was stand around and murmur
polite nothings to people they were scheming against.
At least they left her alone after she made it clear
she wanted no part in their little game.

     Of course, court was much more subdued than
normal.  It was held in a stone amphitheater instead of
the palace, in order to be close to the princesses, who
had erected a pavilion next to the Stairway to the Sky. 
Jinnai knew that they could activate the Eye of God
before he could take them, should he attack.  Which was
the other reason court was subdued.  Most of the nobles
were scared shitless and were here to reassure each
other that everything would be fine, and that nothing
was their faults.

     The only reason Shayla was at court was she drew
the short straw when the three priestesses chose
watches.  Afura volunteered to take the night, and Miz
claimed the morning.  So Shayla was stuck with guarding
the court.  Of course, Afura had to sleep during the
day and Miz did not have time to find a replacement so
she could start a family. <But Afura volunteered, and
if Miz had put any effort into her search before now
she could have retired already.>

     Shayla's dislike of court was so great she almost
found the sudden appearance of the strange building
welcome.  Almost, that is, until she recalled her
inability to leave the princess' side.  If Fatora had
not taken to making out with Alielle in the tent during
court, she might have disregarded her duty.

     When Nanami walked into the tent flanked by the
other two priestesses and several guards, Shayla felt
her jaw unclench. <It worked then.>  She had been sure
Makoto had been killed by the Eye, and that Nanami had
followed him.  It would be odd to see him alive again.
<Not that he was ever close to me.  By the time I got
over my crush, he'd become a hermit.  Only Nanami and
Fujisawa ever really got to know him.>

     Nanami bowed to Rune-Venus, then spoke. 
"Highness, I found Ifurita.  But over thirty years had
passed on Earth, and . . . Makoto is dead.  I, I spoke
with Ifurita, and she has agreed to help Roshtaria. 
She has brought warriors and weapons to fight the
Bugrom."

     Shayla squirmed.  She ought to feel sad at
Makoto's death, but it was really like hearing a
distant acquaintance had been knifed instead of
bludgeoned. <The big question is how Ifurita feels
about us.  She doesn't have any reason to help except
Makoto's memory.>  Rune-Venus rose to speak, but it was
then Ifurita entered the tent.

     She looked exactly as Shayla remembered, the same
dress, the same hair ornaments, even the same
expression.  Four women and a boy walked behind her. 
Rune-Venus turned to the Demon God and spoke.  "Lady
Ifurita, Roshtaria welcomes you.  We are in your debt
for responding to our need so quickly.  I would like to
offer my belated condolences for your loss."

     "Thank you for your sympathy, Rune-Venus.  I am
sure that Makoto would not have you grieve, especially
with your country in such jeopardy.  We departed as
soon as Nanami made your needs known.  As time is
precious, let me cut through the formalities and
introduce my companions."

     Ifurita pointed to one of the people with each
name.  "My daughter and son, Sylia and Mackie."  The
court began to buzz with whispers.  Shayla saw Nanami's
jaw tense, and deliberately eased her own. <The damn
bunch of parasites won't give them the time of day
now.>  Her anger at the courtiers overcame any feelings
of uneasiness she harbored.  Besides, how could she not
admire the total disregard for the nobles' sentiments? 
The girl, Sylia, looked like she enjoyed the stir.

     "Our friends and comrades, Linna, Nene, and
Priss."  For the first time, Shayla examined the others
carefully.  The tall one, Priss, was not as attractive
as Sylia, but had the kind of beauty Fatora latched
onto.  Hopefully she would put up with as little of
Fatora's nonsense as her frown indicated.  Nene was a
fellow redhead, and she really ought to warn her about
Alielle.  Despite the strange menagerie of clothing,
they all moved like warriors.

     "Roshtaria welcomes you and thanks you for coming
to the aid of a country you knew nothing about.  As you
said, Ifurita, time is short.  I must request you meet
with me and my generals as soon as possible.  If you
will come this way, I will have someone escort your
companions to your rooms."

     Normally such a job would fall to a servant. 
However, the odd nature of the guests really called for
a guide who would help them during their stay, and that
meant a noble.  Unfortunately, all the nobles would
treat them like dirt.  Makoto saved their world twice,
but was always a potential threat to their power. 
Ifurita was a definite threat, and their children!

     "I'll act as their guide Princess," Shayla found
herself saying.  <Take that leaches!> "I don't mind
showing them around, and Mr. Fujisawa can take my
shift. <No more court!  Heh, this is a great idea.>

     Rune-Venus frowned, but nodded.  "Very well
Shayla.  I will see that your things are moved into
their suite."  The princess nodded, and a servant girl
rose to show them the way.  Londs whispered in the
girl's ear a moment, then left with Rune-Venus and
Ifurita.  Shayla motioned to the others, and together
the followed the girl.


                                    ~*~


     Sylia examined the room she would share with her
mother.  The suite had several rooms, but, even so,
part of the group had to double up.  Mackie got his own
room by dint of his gender.  Shayla had claimed a room
for herself, and the other Knight Sabers shared the
largest bedroom.  If she could get the power running in
the Silky Doll, Sylia intended to move the family back
to their penthouse.

     Still, the room was not bad.  The walls were like
all of the palace, stone and living plants.  It was not
large, but the room was meant for sleeping.  Anything
that required space could be done in the common room. 
They had a balcony there that overlooked the gardens
where the Silky Doll now sat, a tower of metal out of
place in the surrounding greenery.

     Shayla-Shayla had taken the group on a whirlwind
tour of the palace.  Most of the building was given up
to administrative functions.  In the room that
remained, Shayla pointed out the great hall, the
princesses' bed chambers, the priestesses' suite, the
great hall, and the kitchen.  She was also full of
advice, such as never to dine with the court.  Given
their reaction to Sylia's mother, she was inclined to
agree.

     When they arrived at the suite, the others had
dropped into their beds at once.  While it was midday
in Roshtaria, they had left Mega-Tokyo late at night so
as to cause less of a commotion.  <Not that finding a
building gone won't cause a stir.>

     Sylia, however, did not need the sleep.  She would
have enjoyed it, but she could wait until the evening. 
She opened the door and entered the common room. 
Shayla was lounging in a chair.  "Thank you for acting
as our guide," Sylia said.  "We didn't mean to force
you to change rooms."

     "It's no big deal," Shayla replied, "It's not like
I've a bunch of stuff with me anyway.  Not to mention
Miz still acts like a newlywed."  Sylia smiled.

     "If it's not too much trouble, I was hoping to
find a way to provide power for my building.  I have an
idea, but I need to examine one of the flying barges
carefully.  I also have some minor needs to purchase
now that we are here.  Also, if I shouldn't eat in the
palace, just where should I get lunch?"

     "Well, you'll have to talk to Rune-Venus about the
ship.  But the shopping I can handle.  We'll get some
money from Londs and make a day of it!  We can eat at
Nanami's; she keeps a tab for the palace."  Shayla
smiled and rubbed her hands together.  "This sounds
like a much better afternoon than nodding off in
court."


                                    ~*~


     As it turned out, they did not find Londs. 
They did, however, find an underling of the seneschal
that was unwilling to tell the daughter of Ifurita
and a priestess of Mount Muldoon that he could not
release money to them.  Armed with gold, the two women
entered the bazaar.  Shayla was surprised at first with
Sylia's destinations.

     The weapon smith was unexpected only because Sylia
was not a native. <Although when you think about it,
Makoto could have told her about it.>  Edged weapons
were a privilege of the nobility and their soldiers,
and wearing them brought her much more respect,
especially with her foreign clothes.  

     Sylia's choice of weapons was another surprise. 
Shayla had half expected her to just fire energy blasts
from her hands, even though she knew Ifurita could not
have actually born the woman.  Instead, Sylia
purchased, and now wore, two curved swords worth more
than the average shopkeeper.  Each had almost three
feet of blade, sharpened on the front and one third of
the back spine.  Shayla was confident they were
intended to be used with both hands, but Sylia handled
them well enough.  Shayla had seen people fight using
two weapons before, but they were usually a sword and
dagger, not two swords. <I guess it's not so
surprising, considering her mother.> 

     The swords went into crossed sheaths on Sylia's
back, and the shop owner got the solemn oath of a
Priestess of Mount Muldoon that the palace would
reimburse him.  <I didn't expect her to buy such
expensive items, and that lackey wouldn't have given it
to us anyway.>

     Shayla thought she'd be ready for anything after
their first stop, but Sylia surprised her again. 
Instead of the junkyards Makoto often combed, or even
the blacksmith's, Sylia shopped for knickknacks and
jewelry.  Not that Shayla minded; she found a bargain
on a wonderful blouse, and Sylia insisted on paying for
it.  Sylia herself found a cloak, and, at her
insistence, they wore their purchases.  The entire trip
ended here, sitting at a table in Nanami's tavern.

     "Hey there, Sylia, Shayla!  Come to sample some of
my gourmet cuisine?"  Nanami asked as she came up to
their table.

     "We're ready to run up the palace's tab anyway,"
Shayla responded.  Nanami sat down next to her.

     "I hope you don't mind if I join you for a moment. 
The girls can take care of the tables without me; it's
the lull between lunch and dinner.  Oh!"  Nanami jumped
in surprise.  A moment later a yellow feline head
popped up on her lap.  "Sylia, this Ura.  She protected
you father many times.  Ura, this is Sylia, Makoto and
Ifurita's daughter."

     "Ura protect Sylia!" the cat said in a pidgin
Japanese, as he padded across the table to sit next to
Sylia.

     "I could not wish for a better protector," Sylia
said seriously.  Ura had saved her father several
times.

     "I'm glad Ura took to you," Shayla said, "she's
stopped Ifurita's blasts, so you should be safe from
those minor demon-gods."

     "I'm worried about those," Nanami admitted.  "What
if my brother creates another Kalia?"  Sylia smiled.

     "We should be so lucky," she said.  Relishing the
other's surprise, she explained, "When the Holy Wars
began, there were three factions: the radicals, the
moderates, and the reactionaries.  Each followed a
different prophet.  The radicals favored using
spiritual and biological engineering to improve the
human race.  They felt the community was all, and I
think they eventually became the Bugrom.  The moderates
felt technology and biotechnology must serve the higher
philosophy, and I think they were your ancestors.  The
reactionaries believed all biotechnology was anathema,
and they have no descendants."

     "The reactionaries were always more fanatical than
the other two factions, and believed that any use of
biotechnology was an affront to Allah.  When it became
obvious that the other two sides would not give up
their ways, they felt it was better to send everyone on
to their judgment rather than live in such a polluted
world.  To this end they built Kalia.  But the
moderates learned of this plan, and modified an Ifurita
unit to defeat Kalia.  Mother's extra durability,
repair, and adaptive functions all are not standard to
an Ifurita unit.  They also take up much more energy. 
Mother must recharge after every battle, but a normal
unit should run for a century or more upon one charge."

     "The Trigger of Destruction was destroyed after it
attacked the weapons development plant at Arlamon. 
Mother was then sent to destroy all the reactionaries,
which she did.  The people were horrified at her power,
and sealed her away.  But, as you can see, it would be
most fortunate if all we faced was Kalia, whom we know
we can defeat."  Sylia blinked.  "I've gone into
lecture mode again, haven't I?"

     "No, no, it's fine," Nanami reassured her.  "But I
do have to get back to running my business.  Just wave
to a waitress when you want to order."  With that the
manager stood and left.  Sylia turned to Shayla.

     "I'm sorry I drove her off."  Shayla shook her
head.

     "Despite what she said about a lull, Nanami
doesn't have much time to talk, even after hours. 
Besides, that was interesting.  That was more about the
Holy Wars than even Miz knows."

     "Mom would tell me about them in case we ever came
to El Hazard."  Shayla   Shayla caught the eye of a
waitress who hurried over to the table.

     "So what was it like, having Ifurita as your
mother?"  Sylia began to answer as Shayla ordered, but
was interrupted.  "Any idea what you want?"  Sylia
shook her head.  "Then let me."  The priestess suited
action to words, and the waitress departed.

     "I don't know what it's like not to have her."

     "But she didn't give birth to you, right?"

     "No, my biological mother died giving birth to me. 
Mackie is my full brother, he was born using our
technology, in case your wondering.  So the only real
mother I've had was Ifurita.  She always took care of
me and Mackie, and Makoto acted as my father for most
of that time too.  My birth father, Dr. Stingray,
wasn't present much.  I sometimes spent weeks at the
Mizuhara's home."

     "And then Makoto was killed . . ."

     "Well, Dr. Stingray died first.  Dad was killed
later on, when I was twelve.  Even then, I didn't learn
he was murdered for another six years.  I got a chance
to grow up normally.  So I don't think my childhood was
very exotic.  I guess you could call being in a
functional, loving family strange for our culture, but
that's it.  What about you; how did you become a
priestess of Mount Muldoon?"

     "Well, like you I was adopted, but I never knew my
birth parents.  A peasant farmer found me in her fields
and raised me as her own.  She treated me like one of
the family, and I had ten brothers and sisters to play
with.  Then boarder raids started, and my brothers were
pressed into our Lord's army.  We were left half a days
march from the boarder with no men to protect us.  

     "Inevitably raiders came.  I was out fetching
water from the stream.  When I returned to the house, I
saw the raiders set it on fire.  In the end, my family
burned to death rather than come out.  I hid in the
fields, and watched as the man who killed my family
rode off.  His men torched the crops, and in the smoke
I stumbled into one of them.  They tried to . . . take
me prisoner.  I got mad.  They killed my family,
destroyed our farm, and were going to   capture me.  I
hated them, wished they could feel what my mother and
sisters did, and then the Fire God appeared and killed
them all."

     "That's how you knew you were to be a priestess?"
Sylia asked as their food arrived.  She realized Shayla
had ordered her the local equivalent of a roast beef
sandwich.  Of course, Nanami did run the place, so it
wouldn't be odd for Earth food to be served, but Sylia
had expected something Japanese.  

     "Well, the Fire God was pretty noticeable, and
word got around.  I was staying with the neighbors when
the priestesses came for me.  They promised me justice. 
Of course, it turned out the bastard on the horse was
the High Lord Deltons.  And because Rune-Venus had just
come to power, she could not risk civil war by
alienating one of her least committed supporters."

     "So they shipped you off to Mount Muldoon?"

     "What?  Shipped me off?  Hell, they would have
loved it if I'd never set foot on Mount Muldoon.  I
don't care about lessons or all that high ritual and
stuff, but I'm the most powerful of all the fire
summoners, and the best at combat too.  Tradition
requires the priestesses of Muldoon to be the best
warriors of the three orders, so they couldn't stop
me."  Shayla smiled.  "Miz threw a fit when I was
ordained."

     "I can see that."

     "What's that supposed to mean?"

     "Just that you and Miz have very different
personalities."

     "Well, you've got that right."  Shayla brooded. 
<I didn't mean to tell her so much, but she was so
open.  And both of our lives changed because of
murdered family members.  Of course, no one ever->

     "Shall we return to the palace then?  If you're
done, I need to examine one of those flying barges." 
Surprised, Shayla realized she had, indeed, eaten her
meal.  They waved to Nanami, who was covering the bar,
and left the building.


                         ~*~
                           
                           
     Sylia stood before the computer as Nene's scan
entered its final stage.  Normally she would not tend
the terminal at all, but it was better not to take the
chance of some strange interaction with Nene's new
ability. <Couldn't it have been healing this damn
cold?>  The day after their arrival Sylia awoke with a
dull headache that no amount of aspirin stopped.  It
turned out to be the Roshtarian equivalent of the
common cold.  <If only it didn't leave me so tired.  I
could deal with the headache; I've lived weeks with
tension headaches before.>  "As I expected, the
computer can find no change from your last exam, except
for the extra half kilo of fat.  Have you had any
problems since the first day?"  She would have
preferred to get this scan done as soon as possible,
but until today she could not be sure she could get the
power generator working.

     "Not really.  I mean, I wear these gloves all the
time, so I don't touch stuff very much.  It would be an
invasion of their privacy; it's not like they left
their files out behind a bad security barrier or
something-"

     "If you don't use your power, how do you know it
won't affect you like before?"

     "I didn't say I didn't use it, I just try not to
touch people.  I mean, I have to touch my clothes, and
I found out I can read the books in the library by
knowing what is inside."

     "You must have covered half of the royal library
by now!"

     "Not really.  I mean, when I'm touching something
I know all about it, but I don't remember much when I
let go of it.  I have to go over stuff about as fast as
if I was reading it if I want to remember it all. 
Still, there are some really great romances there
Sylia!  Just stay away from the histories; they all are
creepy and talk about the Holy Wars."

     "I'll keep that in mind," Sylia said dryly.  She
actually knew most of the history of the Holy Wars from
her father, whose memories also gave her a fair level
of literacy in the Roshtarian language.  <A normal
person probably wouldn't be able to do that from Dad's
memories, but this mark two brain of mine. . ."

     "But anyway, I think I just screamed the first
time because it was so new that I couldn't not scream. 
You know what I mean."  Yes, Sylia did know.  And now
Nene knew.

     "So everything is fine?" Sylia asked, trying to
put more than an interest in her health into the
question.

     "What's not to be okay with?" Nene responded, her
tone not quite managing to sound lighthearted.  "I
mean, I'm a member of ERS."  The Equal Rights for
Sexeroids organization was prominent for its smuggling
of most the sexoriods to the United States after Japan
and other countries outlawed them.  The US had, out of
morals or protectionism, declared all sentients
eligible for citizenship, which made owning a boomer
slavery.  If they did manage to destroy Genom, it would
also be the world's best hope of economic recovery. 
<Not that they did well when they were the economic
leaders before.  Though, to be fair, avoiding a nuclear
war is more important than creating a tasteful
culture.>

     "Sylia, I think Linna can handle it, and you
better tell Priss."

     "Priss?  I'd think that'd be the worst thing I
could do."

     "She's going to find out sometime, so you at least
can show you trust her."

     "You're probably right."  <Not that it makes it
any easier.  Well, I don't have to deal with that right
now.>  "I take it you've spent the last week in the
library.  Where has everyone else been?"

     Nene frowned.  "I don't really know, Sylia.  Linna
and Priss just kinda appear for meals and wander into
bed at night.  You don't even do that!"

     Sylia chuckled.  "Well, I  guess I have been
working late on getting the power on.  But it's better
to have it too early than too late.  Besides, I'm not
eating all my meals down here.  Shayla and I have been
going to Nanami's place in the city."  <I really ought
to invite you along, but->

     "I've seen what the streets look like; it must be
a half-hour walk.  That's too long from the library for
me!"

     "It's more like twenty minutes.  Besides, you
better not get too used to the library; now that we've
got the power, you can expect full training sessions
again.  Mom only agreed to let Doctor Stalabaug
interview her since I couldn't make practice.  Now that
I can . . ."

     "But Sylia-"

     "Nene, we're going to need all the training we can
get.  Frankly, I'm surprised you're not bugging me
about it; I know how much you'd hate for your aim to go
bad."  Sylia mentally smirked at Nene's squawk. 
"Besides, it will be only for the mornings.  I need to
fit the priestesses for armor."

     "You do?"  Sylia recognized the voice and her
heart skipped a beat.  <Calm.  You handled this with
Priss, you can handle it with Shayla-Shayla.  You know
how she reacted to Alliele.  But I never felt this
way!  And maybe if Alliele had been less sexual . . .>

     Sylia turned around to face Shayla-Shayla.  "What? 
I just followed the open doors," she said in response
to the question on Sylia's face.

     "Oops," Nene said in a small voice, "I guess I
forgot to close them behind me."  <How many times have
I seen that 'I know I did something wrong but please
don't reprimand me" face?>

     "It's alright Nene, I didn't set the security
system."

     "Um, Shayla-Shayla," Nene began, "how do you stop
Fatora?"  Shayla's face hardened.

     "If she tries anything again, I'll kill her," she
dead panned.  At least, Sylia thought Shayla was not
serious.  "I don't think that would work for you.  I'd
suggest hiding."

     "That's what I've been doing!" Nene said in a
whine, "but I have to come out of Dr. Stalabaug's
office sometime!  Ahhh!  I have to get there before
she's in the library."  Nene hurried out of the room,
as Sylia shook her head.

     "I hadn't heard the others had problems with
Fatora," Sylia commented.

     "They haven't," Shayla-Shayla said.  "Priss fell
in with the royal guard.  I think she may be up by a
small amount in their dice games.  Fatora is barred
from the guard's quarters."  Shayla smiled, "It seems
they couldn't do their best while worrying about their
wives and daughters.  Not that it mattered; Fatora
heard Priss sing once."

     "She didn't like it?"  Sylia was fond of Priss's
singing, even now when her affections had shifted to an
equally unreachable target. . .

     Shayla snorted.  "I don't think you'll find anyone
in El Hazard that likes it.  Her songs aren't bad,
they're practically meaningless.  No plot at all."

     "Perhaps it requires the instruments to get the
full effect.  The point of the song is not to express a
story, but feelings."

     "Whatever.  If it keeps Fatora away, I don't care
what it is.  And while Linna doesn't sing- she doesn't
right?"  Sylia nodded.  "Well, her cooking keeps her
safe."  At Sylia's raised eyebrow, she elaborated. 
"She had me show her the kitchen, and she's been down
there everyday to help bake the bread until the last of
the dinner's desert is made.  Since she dresses like
the cooks and one flour splattered face is like another
. . ."

     "Fatora can't find her.  I didn't know Linna
cooked though."

     "Yeah, well, friends often surprise us.  Like how
you keep Fatora away."  Sylia shrugged.

     "That was easy; she doesn't know where I am in
here.  You saw that some of the doors are concealed,
she had no chance to interrupt me."

     Shayla looked around the room.  Sylia knew the
room's lights and metal resembled the ancient machines
of El Hazard, except for the flat planes and right
angles.  The ancients of El Hazard tended towards a
more organic feel.  "So you needed the scout pod's
engine to make this run?"

     Sylia considered her answer.  Shayla would not
understand the technical explanation and she did not
want to act condescending.  "Well, the power that makes
all this work requires a spinning rod with magnets
attached to it.  I used the engine to make the rod
spin."  Shayla's face indicated she found the
explanation as meaningless as it sounded to Sylia's
ears.  "Look, I could explain all the principles behind
the generation of electric power, but it'd probably
bore you.  Why did you come down here?"  <I dare not
hope it was to talk to me.>

     "Well, it took the last couple of days to settle
your teammates into their routines.  Even your
brother's found a place outside the women's bath to try
to catch peeks.  So I have some free time, and you
see,"  Shayla rubbed the back of her head, "when your
mom, Ifurita, fought us that first time, she beat me. 
Now," Shayla hurried to explain, "I was tired from
unsealing the Eye of God.  But I thought she might have
some time to train me a little.  If it wouldn't be too
much trouble."

     "You mean some extra training."

     "What do you mean?"

     "As you overheard, I plan on building armor for
each of you.  After all, you're going to fight boomers
too.  I can't custom design it like ours, we don't have
enough time.  Instead, Mother and I will analyze your
fighting styles and fit the spares and blanks we have
on hand to best suit you.  Of course, you'll need to
learn how to use the suits, and you really need to
learn to fight as part of our team.  If you want, I'm
sure Mom will give you extra time."  <God she's cute
when she smiles.  Whatever her flaws, Fatora has good
taste in women.  Unfortunately, she doesn't have taste
in women.  Such is my life.>

     "Thanks.  I know that many of the secrets of the
Line died after the Holy Wars, but Ifurita doesn't have
that problem.  Tell you what, to celebrate, I'll buy
you lunch at Nanami's.  I happen to know she
slaughtered a cow. . ."

     "Steak?  I think you can talk me into that."  <I
just hope I can get the image of slaughtering a cow out
of my mind before we eat.>


                          ~*~


     <Desks.  This dimension needs desks.>  Brian Mason
was not happy.  His failure to retrieve the "black box"
was not a blow to his carrier, but that did not make
his transfer any easier.  <The portals were supposed to
open once a month.  I got here two weeks after the
second shipment, and another hasn't opened in the last
two months.>

     Not that the situation didn't have its benefits. 
The first wave set up a boomer factory, and with the
Bugrom labor force, he did not have to worry about
supply problems.  Besides, no contact meant no new
people.  Ordinarily extra staff would be welcome, but
now . . .

     <Now extra staff means someone might prove
resistant.>  He had arrived to find the conquest
finished and a project manager resentful of losing his
position as top dog.  His primary responsibility was to
keep that madman Jinnai from doing something stupid
before they could import a laser satellite to destroy
the Stairway to the Sky.

     <Then came the power.>  At first he'd thought his
reputation had ensured his underlings' complete
compliance with all his orders.  Once a tech discovered
she could make plants grow, some of Jinnai's babbling
finally made sense.  <Unfortunately it also makes the
idiot more important than we thought.  He controls
Bugrom like I control humans.  Except for him.  Is it
his insanity, or something else.  I don't want any more
staff that could threaten my position.  Especially not
now.  I thought this project would force me to delay->

     "Inconceivable!"  Jinnai's voice held its
customary manic edge.  "How dare you Mizuhara!"  Mason
turned to face the worst part of his job.

     "Mizuhara is dead."  I killed him.  And if I had
been him, you would have died long before.  Now we have
the source of all his 'inventions.' 

     "Even from the grave he defied me!  Makoto, you
only think you're safe because you're dead.  I'll turn
this against you and destroy everything you hold dear. 
Yes, I can see it now-"

     "What is the problem Jinnai?" Mason asked with
exasperation.  The highschool student cum royal consort
treated him like an underling instead of a partner. 
Unfortunately, until they overcame the Eye of God, the
snot could get away with it.

     "My spies reported that Mizuhara's daughter and
Ifurita return to challenge my rule!  I'll destroy
them!  They cannot-"

     "That would be unwise.  Mizuhara's wife cannot be
the demon god you spoke of, she has children.  They
will die with the rest when our forces mass enough to
invade."

     "How do you know what a demon god looks like? 
Have you touched one?  Held her key and slid it into
her socket and then wound her?   Besides, Ifurita can
copy attacks.  Maybe someone birthed on the bitch."

     <You're a sick bastard, Jinnai.  Time to play to
your weakness and get rid of you.>  "It doesn't matter
even if it is her.  You will defeat the last remnants
of the Roshtarians and take your rightful place.  I'm
here to ensure that."  Jinnai laughed.  <I'm going to
rip your vocal cords out before you die for forcing me
to hear that laugh.>  Fortunately, he also exited the
room as the laughed.

     "Sir?" a voice said timidly.  <I Will Not Slap
Her.>  The mind control left his tools with such little
initiative he could not afford to crush what was left. 
"Um, guard unit 12 is experiencing sensor anomalies."

     "Why are you bringing this to me?"  If initiative
came up with this . . .

     "Well, uh, look sir!" she squeaked, pointing to
her control consol.  Mason curtly glanced at the
screen, then took a closer look.

     "Very well done.  Find another terminal."  The
tech scuttled away as he examined the data.  The unit
was assigned to guard Diva's throne room.  One of the
Bugrom, a small scout, while normal in the visual
spectrum, was humanoid to the boomer's lidar and sonar.
<This must be the Phantom Tribe.  Should I offer an
alliance?  No, as the game is now, I hold all the
cards.>  Mason dispatched two boomers to
surreptitiously shadow the intruder. <We will soon see
exactly who has entered out little game.>


Author's notes:

      Thanks to all my prereaders, especially Nathan Diederich.
Please give me C&C so I can improve my writing. 

                              ("`-''-/").___..--''"`-._
      Bastet's Chosen          `6_ 6  )   `-.  (     ).`-.__.`)
   matthew.lewis@Yale.edu      (_Y_.)'  ._   )  `._ `. ``-..-'
                             _..`--'_..-_/  /--'_.' ,'
                           (il).-''  (li).'  ((!.-'

Beware of organizations that proclaim their devotion to the light without
embracing, bowing to the dark; for when they idealize half the world they
must devalue the rest.
                           -Miriam Simos