The Night Before
A Goddess' Holiday
written by Kevin Bell (Death Star)
The Night Before
A Goddess' Holiday
written by Kevin Bell (Death Star)
11:30 AM, Galactic Standard Time
Erevis woke up later today, having decided to treat herself to a late sleep this fine Before Goddessmas Day. Or KittyMas. Or Christmas. Or 'Holidays'. It had so many different names it was honestly quite baffling how anyone knew what someone was talking about. Stretching nude in the bed, she sat up and saw her Kitten, Megumi Zhenmei - her wife and life partner - was already gone, always an earlier riser than Erevis, though the past year Erevis had sometimes risen even earlier than her to attend Suisen Empire matters. However, today and tomorrow was her days off and she had informed the crew not to bother her for anything.
Climbing out of the bed, she psionically pulled a silk, see through robe into her hands and slipped it on, adjusting her incrediblely long hair over it. Once it had made her unique, but now it seemed everyone had their hair long. Not that it mattered, she simply assumed they liked the style she set and mimiced it. She had read once that mimicing something was a form of flattery. That was why once she mimiced the way Kitten ate her food; she was glared at within moments strangely.
Moving down the stairs, she peered at the various colored lights strung about the stairs' banister and the walls covered in strange plants called 'holly'. As she worked her way down to the kitchen, she found Megumi preparing lunch, wearing nothing but the apron that Erevis had given her a few days past when they were at their home on Earth, her eyes closed just like she used to have them on Earth. She was slicing various vegetables and meats into a pot expertly and Erevis stood to admire her small waif body for a while.
"Good morning, Beloved," Megumi said after a moment without any sound coming from Erevis, causing her to blink and wonder if perhaps Megumi had begun to gain psionics. But then she went on, "I could smell your unique scent."
"So I stink?" Erevis asked with a frown, peering down at herself. Megumi shook her head gently. "Your scent is you," she said, putting the last of the vegetables and meat into the pot and closing the lid, turning to face Megumi in her apron only. She held up her hands like Athena did so often, like paws, and mewed in greeting.
Walking over, Erevis wrapped her arms around her and kissed her gently, leaning her gently against a cabinet. After a moment, they ended the kiss and Megumi sat down as she waited for the pot to continue cooking. "Will we be opening our gifts before the party for each other or after it?" Erevis asked as she sat down at the table.
"It is up to you, Beloved," Megumi responded, sipping some tea she had prepared. She seemed to be enjoying the quiet nature of the house, which Erevis admitted she was as well. The kids all seemed to be out doing their own things - she didn't care to guess what anymore after having CHIP track Ako and Iko about the ship one day. She decided her sanity was not as strong as she often boasted after hearing some of their locations and the fact CHIP could not keep them out for some reason.
"Where is Amapet?" Erevis asked after a moment, tilting her head, worried that the goddess Amaterasu had left again. She had vanished for a few days before after overhearing Kitten's feelings on something, and though they were working their way in a courtship now, it didn't mean that something could go wrong. Her own relationship with Megumi had been a rocky one until they finally agreed to become an offical couple. Megumi, after all, had to defeat her in open combat and dump her into freezing water to consider the possibility of dating Megumi.
"She said she would be back in time," Megumi said with a soft smile. "It would seem she is giving us the morning together."
"Hm. I see," Erevis pondered. "What should we do?" she wondered, having slept most of the morning away.
"You will see," Megumi responded cryptically, her eyes completely shut. Tilting her head more, Erevis asked ,"What shall I see?"
"You will have to wait to see what you will see."
"Why?"
"Because it is a surprise," Megumi said, infinitely calm in the face of Erevis' badgering. Sighing, Erevis sniffed and mentally yanked Megumi onto her lap and cuddled up to her, watching the pot cook the food slowly. They sat together, merely enjoying the silence.
12:40 P.M, Galactic Standard Time
Walking through the garden with Megumi, Erevis now wore a simple kimono - minus the underwear as was proper - who was wearing a similiar one, both of them wearing white. She held a basket under one arm and led Erevis along to a spot by a tree, laying out the blanket then the food. Erevis knelt down and watches as Megumi placed all the food about the blanket. "What is this, Kitten?" she asked.
Megumi blinked, peering up. "You've never been on a picnic?" she asked in surprise. Erevis shook her head and Megumi smiled slightly. "It's where you eat with the one you love." She casually set aside sandwiches and the stew she made, as well as a few desserts Erevis liked along with sake.
"I eat with the ones I love all the time," Erevis noted, tilting her head at that. Erevis popped a small sandwich into her mouth, forcing Erevis to chew while she poured the sake into glasses and handed one to Erevis. Swallowing the sandwich, she took hold of her cup of sake, peering at it, then at Megumi.
"What are the kids calling this now? Oh yes. Happy Goddess'mas, Beloved," Megumi said with some irony in her tone, as if amused at Erevis claiming Christmas in her name now. She sipped the sake and Erevis did the same. They began to share the meal together, peering out at the various flowers and trees about them. It occurred to Erevis they had never really spent any time in the garden together unless it was taking the kids there.
"It is so peaceful here, Kitten," Erevis noted after a few sips, feeling it warm her body and a little dizziness in her mind.
"Hai," Megumi agreed, her eyes closed as she sipped her drink, having finished all her helpings in a matter of moments, not a crumb left on her anywhere.
"I sometimes forget..." Erevis began but trailed off, not sure if she wished to speak of matters like that when this was a happy moment.
"Forget what, Beloved?" Megumi prodded gently, almost chidingly, since she hadn't come right out and asked. Of course her Kitten would expect to her hear it.
"How peaceful life can be with you," Erevis said finally, peering at her cup. "It always seems as if we are thrust into situation after situation and we never have time together even when there is not a crisis. Sometimes you do not get into bed late, or sometimes I do not. I have not felt the Goddess Cheer this year. Perhaps I even have been jealous of this Santa Claus - this obese man - taking some of the spotlight from me. I just fear sometimes we are growing apart."
"Do you still love me?" Megumi asked, shifting her white bangs aside to look at Erevis seriously.
Erevis blinked, tilting her head at such a question. "Of course. I have not loved you any less since the day we exchanged vows and became married under the law of EarthGov customs. Nor when each of us got fat with children. Or when the children began to multiply and take up our time." Megumi held up her hand finally to silence her.
"I do not love you any less either," Megumi said, refilling her sake. "And we are having a peaceful moment now."
Erevis mused over that. "Do you not miss the quiet sometimes we had back in our house together, away from all this? I would not trade our family for anything, and enjoy it growing dearly, and wish it to grow, but sometimes I miss the fate of the world not being in my hands."
"Of course I miss it sometimes, but we have a new happiness now. And if you ever feel the weight of the world is too much, there are others to help you," Megumi told her. "Now eat the sandwiches I made you before they get too cold." She sniffed haughtly and Erevis obediently began to eat them.
After eating a few, her normal helping of anything, she felt Megumi lean against her and she wrapped her arms around her, listening to the sounds of simulated wind, though there was none to be felt like on the planet Earth. In the distance they watched young couples running through and stripping to play in ponds nearby, but neither of them did anything like that. They simply were content to sit there - since Erevis had already mated her hard while she made the food due to the apron being on.
"Well, I suppose it's time to go to the next location," Megumi said after an hour of leaning against Erevis, both of them catnapping at times.
"Next location?" Erevis asked, tilting her head.
"I said the morning was ours; now it's time to include others," Megumi told her, sitting up and picking up things to put in the basket. Erevis studied her.
"You do not mind my relationship with Amapet do you, Kitten?" she asked her; she had always felt if you loved someone you simply included them into your family and made them part of it. She had learned that, from all people, from Megumi herself - her heart was not limited to one person and it made sense when she reached out to Zephyr so long ago. Denying your heart was denying yourself. Yet sometimes she wonder if she misunderstood things. She would not hate Megumi if she told her to quit seeing Amapet, even if it hurt to deny part of her heart.
"Didn't we already go over this? I'm fine with it, Beloved," Megumi told her, and gave her a rare smile these days, sending a flicker of pain through Erevis' heart; not because it was anything Erevis did to limit these smiles, but due to the universe itself always chipping away at them. It made her ache for a world without all this. "Besides, that's who we are going to see now. She said she had our gifts to give us."
Erevis rose to her feet, curious what sort of gifts a goddess like Amaterasu would have to give them. Hand in hand, they begin to hand back to 1B.
1:50 P.M, Galactic Standard Time
They arrived back at 1B; Megumi headed to the kitchen to put up the left overs, while Erevis looked about for the goddess Ama, not seeing her. She began to move up the stairs while Megumi came close to catching Iko and Ako as they returned to hide their goods in their Secret Kitty Lair. As she reached the master bedroom, she saw Ama sitting on the bed, bathed in a type of sunlight. "Hello," she said to Erevis, smiling.
"Hello, my pet," Erevis greeted her and walked over and kisses her on the lips, running her hand along her back. Ama responded with the kiss, closing her eyes, and they found themselves like that until Megumi returned, chuckling behind her hand a little. Erevis glanced back at Megumi. "I was merely greeting her."
"I could tell," Megumi smiled and sat and gave Ama a kiss on the lips gently as well, then sat back. "I brought her like we agreed."
"You two are in on the gift?" Erevis asked, confused. Ama smiled gently while Megumi looked innocent. Erevis puffed her cheeks. "That is not fair."
"I'm sorry; but lately I've been hearing your doubts about your role here," Ama told her gently. "I thought I would give you a gift of the peace of mind."
"...." Erevis frowned a bit, not because of the offer, but wondering how one could do such a thing. When one was empress of so much, and desired desperately for the quiet times of one's beginnings, how could they be given peace of mind? As if reading her mind, Ama continued. "I wish for you to look into the mirror with me and Megumi. It will show you things if you were not in this position."
"More magik?" Erevis asked curiously and Ama nodded. "You could say that, yes," she began to Erevis. "Megumi and I will be with you." Erevis considered and rose to her feet and took the hands of Megumi and Ama as they were offered, stepping over to the mirror Erevis used every day to change in. As she began to look into it, she felt light headed as the world around her faded to black and soon the mirror faded as well.
Altered Past Scene 1, Earth
As things began to come into focus, Erevis realizes they were on Earth, in truly what was their old home, not the one that looked so closely like it, that it was an almost exact match. There was tiny differences here and there that gave it away to her, since she had come to love that house so much - that year after Xanatos Durran had died had been a hard one, but she had found solace there in that place with Megumi, young Zephyr, and Ariel Knight, before Ariel Knight had gone mental and lost her respect.
Voices could be heard and Erevis approached the living room area to find Erevis and Megumi sitting there, watching the HoloVid, with some propaganda speech going on by General Steel. She raised her eyebrows at that, peering back at Ama and Megumi; even Megumi looked surprised at the scene, despite knowing this gift was coming, the details of what would happen was unknown to her. In the background she could hear Ako and Iko playing and she took a moment to move to a window, watching the two playing with a swing set in the backyard. There was no Isis or Athena present, perhaps they were not here, or perhaps they were working jobs. Or with their own families. She knew this was not the future, as Ako and Iko were still quite young, and watching them was none other than Zephyr, who did look well.
Peering back at the HoloVid, Erevis listened to the General's speech, only to realize to her horror that he was not a General. "As your President, I have been taking your concerns in with the ongoing war with the Cartel. Their dubious actions of attacking us and killing President Alexander Cran cannot be forgiven - the fact they poisoned our airs and our dragoons, killing many of them that were not given cures at the time, leaving them ill and weak and unable to protect us - preventing us from using our new Next Generation Dragoons in war against them. The assassination of President Cran. The deaths they have caused. We will not stand for it. General Cheryl Mizukazi will be launching her fleet against them this time tomorrow and we will crush them. I cannot give you the details of the operation, but I will tell you that they will not see it coming," President Steel said.
The reporters launched a series of questions at him; he seemed to be picking them out and they each asked questions that put him in a favorable light, until one forced a question out despite things - the reporter being Elayne Trenton. "Is it true that there's been reports of a new enemy out there, a race of aliens with wings?"
President Steel eyed her with cold eyes. "Really, now, Miss Trenton; are we going to believe there's a suddenly a race of aliens out there with angel like wings? Perhaps they have come because it's the end of times when no other race in recorded history has them on record?" The crowd laughed at that. "Come now, we have no time to run after imaginations and rumors when we have a real enemy in front of us. That is all." He stepped away from the podium.
The alternate Megumi turned off the HoloVid in disgust. "That man is a liar," Alternate Erevis stated and Alternate Megumi nodded. "And why even bring up that Cheryl Mizukazi was going to be launching an operation tomorrow? That is not very sound."
"It's so the Cartel are ready for her and it's one less political enemy to stand before him," Alternate Megumi told her, sighing. "I'm glad we're not part of these conspiracies sometimes, Beloved."
"Yes...though I worry about Isis being on the flag ship. She will not obey me in finding a better job here on Earth like her sister. Athena helps so many by being an idol here in Tokyo," Alternate Erevis said, peering down. "She is too stubborn."
"She did get that from you, I fear," Alternate Megumi smiled softly. "You are both very stubborn in your views. She knows of how you fought evil in your past and wishes to do the same. You know you just push her away by trying to get her to change her mind."
"But I am happier now than I ever was involved in the deceitful military. And so are you, you told me so many times. We are raising our children in peace," the alternate Erevis said hotly.
"We each have to follow our paths, Beloved." The alternate Megumi leaned over to kiss her and straddle her, leaning into it. "I will contact Cheryl before they are out of range of transmissions and see if she is doing okay."
The real Erevis frowned, peering back at Ama and Megumi. "I do not get along well with Little Kitten?" she asked in disbelief.
Ama began to explain. "You were drawn into events beyond your control, like Ao trying to kill your unborn daughter and the PAX situation, but you did not participate beyond that after you found the progenitor ship. You gave it to Cheryl who used it to become Supreme General of EarthGov, not turning it over to Steel after Alexander Cran was killed by the Cartel. Due to the law and the ship belonging to you while Cran was President, Steel could not take it from Cheryl, so he began to send Cheryl on dangerous missions - Isis joined to help run the ship after Chad Winters died. Despite forbidding her to do so, she still went with her heart," she told her.
Erevis peered down. "I do not believe I would deny my daughter what she wanted, no matter how dangerous. One has to do that they believe in..." she mumbled.
"Sometimes, when one craves peace so much, they become too used to it and do not wish anything to change it," Ama told her gently. "Should we go see what is going on with Cheryl and Isis in this place?" Erevis nodded once, then paused as Megumi spoke up.
"Why does Zephyr look so ill?" she asked tentatively, peering out the window.
"She was doused with the poison here and while given the cure was left very weak. She broke the bond with the Megumi of this timeline against Megumi's wishes because she did not want to cause her death. She is slowly dying, with a year or two left in her. She wishes, though, to spend it in peace with those she loves - your family here. She is very happy and glad you're all happy. Your family is happy - right now," Ama said forbodingly as the next scene began to fade in after the old faded away.
Altered Past Scene 2, Warship Dragoon
As the scene faded in, Erevis and Megumi quickly realized they were onboard the PAX, but it was radically different. There was no plaza center, which is where they were standing if Erevis was correct, but instead a large hanger full of warships that stretched for miles in every direction, with people moving about the large area; it took up about 1/3rd of the ship it seemed and there was troops in the hundreds of thousands here in this area alone. Everyone was moving and getting things prepared and Erevis could feel they were in hyperspace, traveling toward their destination - whatever they may be.
There was teleporters all around just like the PAX, and she quickly moved for one, wanting to escape all the noise; Megumi had clamped her hands to her sensitive ears to try to keep it all down. Taking pity, Ama did something to deaden the noise for them that was not important and Megumi gratefully lowered her hands as they stepped onto the teleporter. Inputting the bridge commands, they found themselves on a radically different bridge, despite the fact it couldn't be altered that much, things had been added. More chairs were present, more terminals and viewscreens. Cheryl stood there, in her General uniform, looking all serious, and Chii was near her, pregnant with Lorelei. They could hear Isis' voice over the comm speakers talking about how the engines were at complete capacity.
"Good job, Lieutenant Zhenmei; please let me know if there's any odd fluxations. CHIP, keep monitoring the ship yard and make sure none of Steel's people are doing anything dubious to try to get rid of me now," Cheryl said dryly. "Also let Jennifer Carmichael know she should be finished with her training under Caduceus before we arrive; we'll be having a lot wounded I think if the Cartel has half a brain after Steel's speech."
"I don't see why we don't take the ship and do what needs to be done to end this war on our own terms," Chii muttered darkly.
"Actually, we are," Cheryl said causing Chii to look surprised, then angry. "You don't have to tell in my head about why I didn't tell you. It's something only recently we've worked out, those we trust and me. I'll be informing you all about it after we hold a meeting in an hour."
"You know Steel will do anything he can to get you fired, even if we do succeed," Chii said testily. Cheryl could tell this Chii seemed - harder for some reason. Colder.
"If we do this right, people like Iceheart won't suffer just because of their alliegence to the Cartel; and you won't have to worry about killing Freyja," Cheryl added softly.
"I don't care about what happens to Freyja! She's the one who sided with Iceheart after that witch said she would destroy us if she had to do so," Chii said with heated anger, her hands moving to her stomach protectively.
"She also said that she hoped it didn't come to that and she thought EarthGov started this while we were away in those other realities," Cheryl pointed out. "We might not even have to fight her - she might decide to seek other ways to end this too."
"She knows if she takes out this ship then EarthGov can't wage war, Cherry. She won't stop until we're dead," Chii said stiffly, peering away.
"I wish you had stayed on Earth, even if it isn't safe with Steel there," Cheryl said softly. "Megumi contacted me a little while ago before we got too far away in hyperspace, asking how Isis was - I don't like how this war is making things turn out to be."
"Just because the cat won't do what's necessary to protect our home doesn't mean I won't be here with my wife doing what's right," Chii told her. Cheryl nodded softly and sat down in the captain's chair that Erevis found herself in so often, handling crisis. However, it felt like Cheryl's weight was crippling.
Erevis turned to look at Ama, seeking explanation. Ama immediately seemed to know the questions whirling through her mind. "With no PAX, there was no attempt at peace between governments, and the conflict that was brewing between Earth and the Cartel spilled into open war, with people taking sides. The Tsivrixsh have recently begun to support Earth and it is believed that Steel no longer needs the help of Cheryl and the warship that is PAX in your world. Cheryl plans to launch a surprise attack not on the homeworld like Steel wants, bringing the Cartel to it's knees through terror, but by attacking their ship yards and crippling their ability to fight and forcing a surrender that way," she told Erevis.
"Will that work?" Megumi asked.
"Yes, but it will mark her as a traitor to Steel and he will call for her resignation due to not following orders. Even though she is hailed as a hero by the people of EarthGov, that won't be enough to stop the military from slandering her name and turning the very people against her. So she will take the Dragoon and vanish into space, due to the fact there's a new enemy coming - The Others," Ama said.
"What happened to Iceheart and Freyja?" Erevis asked, worried about one of her closest friends.
"By a miracle, Freyja convinced Iceheart to look into the rumors of the Others stirring things up and they were not involved with the battle. Once Cheryl went rogue, they joined up with the Dragoon to seek them out. However, things do not begin to get better from there. The Others damage the Dragoon and kill Caduceus, forcing a not yet experienced Jennifer Carmichael to become the head doctor for an entire ship and Cheryl was forced to lose more than 3/4ths of the troops and ships before she went rogue lest they turn the Dragoon in; there was heavy in fighting when she did this and the Dragoon was crippled, it's capacity to fight weakened. And no other race was offering help. But this is your story, my love, so we will return to the planet Earth, a few months from this time," Ama said and the scene faded again, and Erevis began to feel a tightness in her stomach.
Altered Past Scene 3, Earth
Athena mewled against the table, looking haggered. Alternate Erevis and Megumi were busy making dinner while Zephyr was sitting there at the table, looking like she was asleep like some old person at a table. Ako and Iko were busy talking animatedly to each other. "Why are you unhappy, Tiny Kitten?" Alternate Erevis asked her daughter.
"People not feeling love; not coming to concert. People so angry. Joining this 'Order' that is mean," Athena told them. "I'm going to quit and stay home."
Alternate Megumi frowned in worried peering at her wife. "It is disturbing the growing news on them; they are challenging all sorts of ideals and it seems the Cartel has been completely taken over by them since the war ended a few months ago. They believe in equality and everything being shared - women especially," she said in disdain.
Alternate Erevis tilted her head. "Equality does not sound bad, but I will not agreeing to using women against their will. Unfortuantely President Steel is incompetent - our neighbors told me they are rounding up any that speak against the Government as being part of this Order and arresting them, while more and more real Order members are appearing," she stated in disdain. "I would not be surprised if Steel is allowing it to some degree to get the government to give him more power like they did last week."
Athena sighed. "Wish things were peaceful," she said, playing Ako and Iko dejectedly, no spirit left in her. Erevis frowned watching this scene and closed her eyes as her counter part reached over to hug Athena, telling her comforting things. "Is Isis-sis never coming home?" Athena asked Alternate Erevis after a moment, catchin her off guard.
"She is... still gone. And even if she returned, she would be arrested. All on the Dragoon are considered traitors by Steel," Alternate Erevis said in disdain, clearly angered. "That government is the traitors, full of liars." She chopped the carrots angerily and Ako and Iko, sensing the mood, began to cry. Alternate Megumi paused and moved over to hug them, peering at the other two and telling them they shouldn't have this conversation in front of the children.
As they watched the dinner, Erevis could tell the peace that had been present before was slowly vanishing and the HoloVid was never turned on anymore. Suddenly there was a banging on the door and Alternate Erevis rose to answer it. Standing there was Angelus, wearing an EarthGov suit. He looked her over and smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. Erevis wanted to shout a warning out to her counter part, but knew it was useless. She was a spectator like in the shows her family enjoyed so. "We're here to bring you and your wife and daughter in for questioning about alleged Order activities," Angelus told her.
Alternate Erevis rose up angerily. "I have done no such thing and will not be accused of such things. I am not going with you," she informed him.
"I'm afraid you have no choice, unless you want to cause a scene here where people might get hurt - like your neighbors," Angelus said. Angelos stood next to him, the same cold smile there. Alternate Erevis paused, then lowered her shoulders. "Good. The sick dragoon can watch them for now until she arranges for a place for them to stay."
Erevis and Megumi stood there, trembling in anger as the two led their alternate counterparts and Athena out, with Ako and Iko clinging to an angry, but weak Zephyr, crying. Pushed into a black car, it began to drive off and they found themselves now at a base where Erevis and Megumi had been stripped of their clothing, along with Athena, onto a bed. What happened next began to chill Erevis as Angelus and Angelos began to work on breaking their minds, hoping to find a link to Cheryl through their daughter Isis by breaking them enough to contact her. The sex against their wills, while drugged, was appauling.
"Please, no more," Erevis said, feeling like she was going to be sick, images of Xevil flashing through her mind. On her, in her, the pain, the tearing, the bleeding. The crying she could not stop despite being so prideful, his breath on her face, his cold, cruel smile. Megumi hugged her and looked at Ama.
"Let's move on," Megumi said quickly and Ama nodded, her own past making her not like this scene either.
"Let's move back to Cheryl and what is happening with her," Ama said and the scene faded out quicker than any of the others, and Erevis felt the tightening fading. Part of her cursed herself for her weakness - when would she get over this? She was a goddess. But then, after hearing Ama's story, she knew it was not something one simply got over easily.
Altered Past Scene 4, Warship Dragoon
As the scene faded in, Erevis witnessed a group of familiar, and some unfamiliar, faces about a table. Cheryl looked like she was even more haggared, circles under her eyes, though they lit up whenever she looked over at Chii rocking a baby Lorelei. A tired, and older in the face and eyes Jennifer Carmichael sat next to Lemon, leaning against her like they were lovers. Though she was a tiny bit younger than she was now, Jennifer seemed to have aged due to the stress of events going on. Dawn and Aya looked pretty much the same, though Aya was not pregnant yet, and likely would not be with the current crisis taking place. Freyja and Iceheart were there, with Elwyn and Billy on either side of them; Freyja was not looking like she would be pregnant either any time soon. Isis sat alone, her hands cupped together, and she looked the most different - harder, colder. More like the goddess Erevis was at one point than she was now. Cut off from her family for so long, it had changed her poorly. Leyaeh's hair was cut short and she was sitting with some man Erevis did not recognize. Ao was alone, but she too look - darker and more in touch with her colder side.
"We got a number of problems," Cheryl began without preamble. "The Erusians have fallen to the Others. All of them. What ships we could send revealed the planet look like it was in some sort of medieval like state, and all big structures were destroyed. The angel ships there ran us off before we could get more. From what newscasts we're getting, the other races believe it's the work of us, trying to get supplies - which we desperately need. Raids are getting harder to pull off despite having the most powerful ship in the world since we can't risk getting any other race to declare open war on us. The Guardian Colony was reported to have been taken over by EarthGov and any that resisted arrested or killed. We won't get allies there anymore. And this new Order group has been popping up all over with the most fucked up tenants. And..." Cheryl hesitated, then continued. "We got a secure message from Megumi to Isis, asking that Isis and myself return to Earth for some vital information to our cause."
Jennifer raised a brow. "Just you two?"
"It would make sense not to bring the Dragoon there; we're too big and noticable," Aya pointed out. "Also if too many of us go, being all wanted criminals on Earth, we're more likely to stand out."
"I know, but..." Jennifer trailed off and blinked as Lemon pulled her into a hug, shaking her head no about arguing this. She glanced over at Isis, as if indicating Isis could use this reconcilation - especially if her parents were ready to join the fight again.
"I knew that Erevis would not stay out of this fight once it became bad," Ao said with confidence. "I will go with you, despite the message. It'll still be a small enough group."
"I'm coming too," Chii said firmly. Cheryl glanced at the two and nodded, then held up her hand before anyone else could speak. "Just us four for now. Aya's right - too many of us and we're begging to get caught. And we'll need most of us here on the ship to plot what to do with what seems to be a massing of Other ships in the northern quadrant of Erusian Ascendency space. The fact the Tsivrixsh Empire has done nothing to stop it is disturbing," Cheryl told them. "We'll use the light teleporters Isis made - and pray they work, no offense Isis but any time we test something new it backfires - and get there instantly. We'll set a beacon within 12 hours for you to lock onto us and hopefully pull us back if it works."
"My crew is well taught; they'll do it," Isis said with confidence.
"Well, if it fails I'll use my reality powers to pull us out; I hope you don't mind taking command here, Lemon, and watching Lorelei for us?"
"Of course not," Lemon answered and cooed at Lorelei, who smiled back, bright eyed as ever. Cheryl nodded, getting to her feet. "Well, then, people, lets try to get a victory for once," Cheryl told them.
The scene sped up until finally Isis, Ao, Chii, and Cheryl stood on the teleporters, with a hyperspace gem hooked up directly to them - probably a vital gem so using it on the teleporter showed how desperate things were now. A crew member counted them down and they teleported away, the scene fading to black. Erevis felt that blackness was coming for them once they got there.
Altered Past Scene 5, Earth
Cheryl, Isis, Chii, and Ao had taken on various disguises and were moving through the suburbs of Tokyo toward the meeting spot, Erevis and Megumi's home. As they approached it, they could see the lights were on. Ama spoke gravely as they watched them walk toward it after spending 30 minutes making sure the area was secured. "Angelus and Angelos returned a few days after taking you three and took Zephyr, Ako and Iko. They used Zephyr the same way, actually completely healing her but brainwashing her and forcing her to bond against her will. Ako and Iko they began to brainwash to make them loyal when they were older," she told them. Erevis felt her hands clench together and she could psionically feel Megumi's hot white rage at the idea of Zephyr being used in such way, as well as their babies.
Isis knocked on the door first. "Mommas?" she asked and the door opened, the person standing there was Zephyr. Isis didn't notice the strange look in her eyes that indicated Zephyr was not herself anymore. She walked right in and Cheryl, Chii, and Ao followed. Ao glanced around, and it seemed she was just about to realize what was going on when Zephyr hit her with a high powered attack to knock her out. Cheryl and Chii whipped about, ready to use their weapons when Angelus and Angelos double teamed Cheryl with their unique link to their sister, making her collapse to her knees, and the Weapon/Dragoon hybrids taking down Isis and Chii rather quickly, after some interior destruction from the battle from the fight they put up. It was over within just a few minute and Erevis stared at the sickening sight of the two brothers stroking their sister's cheek devotedly, with a sick lust on their face.
The scene sped up to the base where Cheryl had been separated and Isis was now with their alternate selves, who looked broken and mentally tired. Though there was still fight there, the fact the Ako and Iko had been taken and knowing that any defiance on their part could lead to their deaths had taken the fight out of their counter parts, who saw no way around this now. Isis stared at them and Alternate Megumi spoke through dry lips. "We didn't send the message, my daughter. No matter how broken, we didnt' do that," she said, closing her eyes. Isis walked over and grabbed both of them in hugs, crying at the sight of them and glad to be with them, though it was heartbreaking to be in such conditions.
Elsewhere, Erevis, Megumi, and Ama watched as Cheryl was stripped naked and the two brothers began to work her over mentally, using their protocols to rip through her shields like they were nothing; they had threatened Chii with the death of the others if she aided Cheryl in any way and the one time she had tried, got Ao gravely wounded until she backed off. Ama didn't linger, but it was clear what happened - Cheryl was now their sex toy to give birth to the perfect heir. And that the brothers were working for the Others, since Angelos was never redeemed. The ectasy on his face before a scene of rape faded was stomach rolling.
Weeks passed and soon Cheryl was broken completely and under their thrall, and Chii had been quietly taken out of the bond equation without killing Cheryl so she was no longer useful, only kept alive so Cheryl didn't rebel. But always kept in sight of Ako and Iko so she knew what would happen to her if she rebelled - the brothers promising they would see have Lorelei too since the Dragoon was walking into it's final trap.
Alternate Erevis sat on the bed, having missed her period and realizing she was pregnant, as was Isis and Athena. All with the kids of their rapists who seemed to be breeding an army. Erevis looked away from it all finally and Ama nodded, knowing she did not need to see more of this part of the story, but told her verbally. Sometimes words were kinder than witnessing something. "He wasn't lying to this Chii; the Dragoon was about to meet it's end. The months that followed this, the Dragoon's morale had dipped and though Lemon, with Jennifer by her side tried their best, Jennifer in the end didn't quite have the moral fiber she had today and was easily broken mentally at the prospect of what was coming, leaving Lemon more insolated. Many of the Dragoon were the same way, though, to be fair," Ama added, seeing an expression on Megumi's face. "Your counter parts grew large with child and soon met Miyuki and Kasha, who had been found by Angelus and brainwashed to be his servants. Realizing their potiential and not caring about Mir or my arrangement with Miyuki, she soon was with child too, taken while under the influence of so many drugs she couldn't keep up with it, giving in with her sister. When Isis and Ao finally snapped and tried to break free, it was them they had to face and Isis was killed by Miyuki after Isis killed Kasha, her throat torn out." Ama looked down, clearly upset at all this. The fact they weren't seeing the scene, Erevis realized, was became Ama could not bare to watch it, even knowing it being too painful for her. She could understand - her daughter dead by her lover in this time period.
"Let us...go to the last scene," Ama said finally, clearing her throat and fading to the Dragoon.
Altered Present Scene, Warship Dragoon
Much time had passed on the ship, Erevis realized, and Megumi's hand found her's, having come to the same conclusion. There was no decorations on the ship to show it was Christmas Eve, there was nothing cheerful about it. The ship was that of a group of people who knew the end was upon them and were trying to find the courage to face it. Lemon sat in the Captain's chair, a hand propped up her head. She had never gotten pregnant, Erevis realized, when Megumi commented on the lack of baby in all they had seen. Before her was a crying Jennifer, kneeling and gripping the armrest.
"Why, Lemon, why? It's suicide. Reports say that the Other Fleet is using hyperspace and launching attacks on all the civilizations in space and the Order has made them so weak they can't stand up to it. We won't win returning to Earth to defend it. We'll die. I don't want you to die, Lemon. I want us to live in peace - lets just keep flying, far, far away from here. And don't ever stop. We'll find some place with no one else and the people on this ship can live in peace. And be happy together. We deserve it. We've been fighting this battle over a year. The Dragoon can't hande a fullscale battle like what's being described. The Vapaads' last transmission was that the song was over. And the Atleans messaged to say their fleets were in ruins," Jennifer told her, begging her. Her voice breaking with emotion and more tears flooding down when Lemon looked at her with disgust.
"Why, Jennifer? Why?" she repeated softly. "Because someone has to stand up to them. Because this ship is the only thing left. Because every ship we stop is a chance that people will live in peace on Earth. Because we can try. If you want to run away, go board the ship the civilians are boarding. And take Lorelei with you and promise me you'll protect her and not raise her to be a coward." Lemon's tone was harsh and made Jennifer flinch away.
Rising to her feet slowly, as if unbalanced, Jennifer looked away. "If that's what you want..." she said emotionlessly, as if Lemon had ripped her heart out.
"It is," Lemon said and Jennifer ran from the room after scooping up Lorelei, who looked back over her shoulder at Lemon in confusion, only having one tail despite her counterpart having two at this point. Her face didn't have the joy on it that Lorelei today had - just sadness and confusion that made Megumi gasp in pain next to Erevis; she understood it well. Her own heart felt like it was being squeezed dry. They watched Jennifer join other mothers and children on the ship, as well as some men, and depart the Dragoon before leaping into hyperspace somewhere.
"Do they find peace?" Erevis asked Ama as she watched events continue to unfold.
"I don't know; I can't see into the future, only the what if of what has gone on. We're nearly at the same time we began this journey," Ama told her softly. Erevis nodded, accepting that answer, and turned to watch Lemon rising to her feet, giving a speech on the intercomms to those that remain.
Leyaeh, childless as she never adopted Pome and Berry due to the cruel world that had to be done - in fact most Famfrits never stayed on the ship after Athena and Megumi left it, with only those who felt they could make a difference in battle did - lifted her head up to the words Lemon began to spoke. Scared doctors and nurses hastily trained by Jennifer glanced up - Ethan not amongst them. Nor Stacey. Aya and Dawn holding hands together on the bridge, watching Lemon speak. So many more, so many Erevis didn't recognize.
"This may be our last battle; the chances of winning are not predictable and are in the 0.0003% range. But we have to do this - Cheryl would have done it. She would have fought to her last breath. We have to go. And if she is alive, and being used to alter this reality for ill, we have to stop her. So that maybe a new hope can bloom. She would want that.... I know it since part of her is in me. Evil triumphs if good people do nothing. And I won't stand by. Those of you still with me, you are my family. Know that I respect each of you," Lemon told them; Erevis noted her voice sounded more like Cheryl in warrior mode. No talk of love; only respect.
Erevis and Megumi continued to hold hands as the Dragoon light jumped to the planet Earth, where dozens and dozens of Angel ships were engaging in battle, having decimated the planet. One area, Mega City at Cran's mansion, was being left untouched, as if some unsaid agreement had taken place there. The Dragoon immediately began to do battle, taking down Angel ship after Angel ship, where Erevis felt the hope that maybe there was a chance, until finally it was overwhelmed, like an animal brought down by a pack. It began to shake and break apart.
Lemon glanced over at Aya and Dawn. "Did you get her signature?" Lemon asked over the blaring alarms and shaking.
"Yes, she's at her mansion - along with the others. She's about to give birth to a child of some sort," Aya said in disbelief. "No signature of Chii is there anymore. Or Isis or Ao."
Lemon closed her eyes, then said the coldest words Erevis ever heard her utter. "Fire on the mansion. Destroy it and those in it." Aya looked at Dawn after receiving the order who just nodded sadly and Aya gripped the controls, firing a beam down at the mansion below. Erevis knew what Lemon was doing - denying the enemy Cheryl's reality powers. It was believed if she died it would jump to Lorelei. By killing the unborn child that Angelos spawned in her stomach, it would leave Lorelei as a possible hope one day.
"Target destroyed. No life signs," Aya said softly, right as an blast flew into the bridge and destroyed it completely, the three of them vanishing in the bright, painful light. And it all went dark around Erevis, Megumi, and Ama as they slowly returned to their time. Erevis realized, dimly, that the time of Aya, Dawn, and Lemon's death was the moment this journey had begun: 1:57 P.M, Christmas Eve.
6:00 P.M, Galactic Standard Time
Erevis felt drained as she sat on the bed, Megumi collapsing into sitting on her lap. Ama gracefully sat down as well, putting an arm around both of them and pulling them against her, comfortingly holding them. Words were not needed, not yet. In fact, Erevis was not even aware how long this journey had taken until Megumi commented that in 30 minutes Athena's concert would begin.
Shaking her head to clear it, Erevis looked at the two. Ama was looking at her, as if sorry she put her through it, but Erevis knew she had been given a great gift just now. She had seen what would have happened if Erevis clung to those peaceful moments without fighting for peace. She had seen what Megumi and Ama were trying to show her, and that gift was more precious than anything else. "Thank you, my loves. Thank you both," Erevis said, her voice hoarse. Megumi nodded, nuzzling her cheek against Erevis' like she did to the children now and again. "I see now why we have walked this path so long, Kitten. We may not have a lot of time together some days, and may miss mating each other by more than a few days to my disappointment. We may face hurt and lose those we love, but we are fighting for a world for them. We are building a foundation they can be proud of with this Empire. I will... always cherish that quiet time period we had together, Kitten, but I will cherish this time even more now. Thank you for showing this to me."
"You are welcome," Ama said with a smile and Megumi spoke next, love in her voice. "I may seem distant at times, and not interested in things as much as I was - it may seem like I'm never around to be with you with my hard work, but I do it because I love you and I want this to work. I am proud of you, my Beloved Goddess. I am proud of everything about you - your love, your pride, your determination, your naivity, your hope. That will never go away. It will only grow, like the family you are building around us now," Megum told her.
Erevis and nodded, peering at Ama and kissed her on the lips deeply, savoring the taste of the other woman she loved, then kissed Megumi, sharing the taste of Ama with her. She smiled softly, wiping at her eyes to find some liquid there. "I hope we are together forever. I hope your courtship goes well, Amapet," she added.
Ama smiled. "I think it has," she said quietly. "I think Megumi said we have 20 minutes left before your daughter's concert."
"Indeed," Erevis noted. "I can sense you are thinking of mating. I would desire that very much, to celebrate this holiday with you two naked, writing in pleasure under me. As the goddess off this holiday, it is my duty to bring cheer and joy to others." Megumi puffed her cheeks childishly at how Erevis worded that while Ama smiled brilliantly.
"Well, I think Megumi and I look forward to seeing what the goddess brings to this Kittymas," she said with serenity, laying back on the bed and offering herself to the two lovers before her. Megumi leaned down and nipped one of Ama's breasts, as if to show some control in all this, merowling when Erevis psionically spread her out beside Ama and then leaned down to bring them both a holiday cheer.
Sometimes, one had to remember the little moments like this, even when it felt like the world around them was insane and the choices they were making were beyond their control. A goddess had to keep their head held up high and marching onward, for there were those who needed her there, helping them and being amongst them. There may be pain, there may be loss, but Erevis could proudly say she was facing it with two people she loved, and with a family she had helped make, and now was growing on it's own, a testimate to the legacy that she and Megumi began so long ago in a simple Japanese home, with the two of them not even sure how to express their feelings to each other. A testimate to the two naive young people who were playing a game of Go one day and their world changed due to a slip that brought their lips together, and their journey beginning not as loyal friends, but something more.