PROJECT A-KO: SCHOOL'S OUT

(first draft - completed January 11, 1998)

Hello all! I took a couple of weeks off but now I'm back with much more to the story. I've gotten several requests (i.e. more than two) to break up the story below into multiple pages. I bow to your wisdom. If you've been here and read the story so far before January 5, 1998, click here to go to PART TWO. And I'm starting to add pictures to the story as well. There are only two so far, but more will come.

Anywise, read on and click where instructed at the end of Part one. Or, if you've aleady read this one, click HERE to catch the sequel!Enjoy!

PART ONE

A quick note: At the beginning of Project A-ko vs. Battle Blue Side there is a moment where the new A-ko believes she's in the continuing story from Project A-ko 4: Final. She meets Kei again and is attempting to begin a romance, all while working her new job. Then the story short circuits and we're back into the vs. battles.

The possibilities here are just about endless, and I know of two stories that have attempted to follow this plot line. However, I found neither of these stories entirely satisfying, and I thought that both of them were missing the elements of parody necessary to the series. So I thought it would be fun to tackle this little minute of A-ko 6 and expand it into a full story.

And here it is:

It's morning in Graviton City. Seven a.m. to be precise. The sun has risen and it's going to be a beautiful day. There are many who think so. Even A-ko, if not for one thing. She's late. Again.

"When school was over we all kind of lost track of each other as we went our separate ways. I went to work as a secretary in a big firm in the city. I made a lot of mistakes at first..."

Like being late. A-ko slipped off the white button-down shirt she wore as a night gown and dressed and ate her breakfast with the speed of a tiger. She took an extra moment to put on her arm bands, making certain that they weren't visible under her long sleeved blouse. Then she ran out the front door, past her father who was also late for his day in the world. Her father looked after, attempting to say hello, with a small tear running down his right cheek. A-ko had eaten his breakfast again. Maybe soon she would have enough money saved up for an apartment of her own.

A-ko took a long look towards the city and decided that today she would need to run in order to catch her train into town, so she ran. Past the cars and over the houses that were in the way of the shortcut she had learned. She smiled internally, thinking about the number of times she and C-ko had had to run to school this same way, although she had learned how to not do quite so much damage to the roadway as she went.

"I'll call C-ko later," she thought to herself. "It's been too long already." After what seemed an eternity of running she made the train, and settled down for the slower part of her commute.

"But I got better."

She rarely missed the train any more, and she knew that when she made the train she should actually be early for work. After all those years of having a reputation for being tardy it felt nice to be on time consistently.

A-ko arrived at her office and found a stack of letters on her desk. She sighed. "Mail again," she snorted. "Why do I always have to be the one who puts out the mail?" She knew why, but it was one of the rare chances she got to fume a bit so she took advantage of it. She knew the rest of the day would be about learning the business and helping Ms. Akigara, which she liked to do.

A-ko was rushing down a corridor to pass out the mail when she heard a familiar voice behind her.

"A-ko!"

A-ko turned around and what she saw brought a smile to her face. "Kei" She half-shouted. She hadn't seen him in a long time. Not since that dreadful night C-ko nearly left her.

"How have you been?" A-ko asked.

"Well," Kei answered. "You?"

"I'm fine," A-ko said, sounding to herself like a little school girl again. "Do you work here too?"

Kei smiled. "No. My mother owns this business. I'm here to have lunch with her."

"And dinner too?" A-ko asked. While she smiled outside, inside she frowned. That was subtle, she scolded herself.

"No real plans. You?"

A-ko blushed. "I'm... well.. available... I suppose... I mean... I could have... I mean... sure..."

Kei smiled a bit, and actually put his sunglasses on, although they were well inside the building. "See you after work then," he said.

A-ko jumped. "You mean it? You really mean it?" She dropped her mail and rushed over to Kei. "I mean... A date?"

Kei simply nodded, looking cool in a soft-spoken James Dean sort of way.

"Ooooh," A-ko swooned. Kei turned on his heel strode away, and A-ko fell over backwards into the dropped pile of mail. The mail flew in every direction, like confetti in a ticker tape parade.

* * * * *

A-ko barely noticed the rest of the day. Ms. Akigara scolded her twice for being absent-minded, and A-ko even scolded herself once when she put pepper into her afternoon tea. That reminds me, thought A-ko, I should call C-ko and tell her the news!

But soon enough the work day was done and A-ko found herself in front of her office building, waiting for her knight in shining leather to arrive for their evening out. She was so excited and preoccupied about dating Kei again that she didn't even notice when a gray limousine drove by, slowing nearly to a crawl, then speeding up to round a corner. The limousine parked.

In the back of the limousine were two occupants had noticed A-ko. While one of them had only barely noticed her in front of the building, the other was frankly startled. She hadn't seen A-ko in quite some time. Not since graduation.

"Ina," said one of the two. "It just might be time to reactivate the squad. Follow her."

Ina nodded and reached into her backpack, pulling out a minicam, making the necessary settings without thought. "Yes, Miss Diatokuji," she said, resuming a role she hadn't since high school. "Are we going to destroy the city again?"

B-ko frowned, then laughed. "No. Not again. A-ko and I made a promise to C-ko when she came back, and I for one am not going to break it. It's not my fault that A-ko was standing in front of that office building. I'm simply curious. Follow her."

Ina nodded and jumped out of the car, and rounded the corner just in time to see A-ko climbing onto the back of a motorcycle. Kei's motorcycle.

"Here we go again," Ina said aloud, to herself. She followed.

* * * * *

"Oh, it was the most wonderful time I've ever had," A-ko said, cautiously avoiding the kitchen.

A-ko was sitting at the dining room table where C-ko and her mother lived, a few blocks away from A-ko's home. A-ko was telling C-ko about her date with Kei, while C-ko was cooking lunch. Judging from the smell, C-ko's cooking still hadn't improved, but A-ko had grown used to it and her sinuses hadn't been this clear in ages.

"We went to a movie," A-ko continued, "you know the one, The Colonel Part VI, and afterwards we had dinner at this very nice restaurant and after that we went for a ride on his bike and after that we held hands in the park and it was just wonderful!""

C-ko, for her part, just listened and nodded. "Did he say anything?" she asked.

"Oh, you know Kei, still pretty silent although he talks more than he used to. It seemed like he spent about a fourth of the night on his mobile phone. But still not that much."

C-ko nodded and added more ginger and tobasco to her simmering soup. "So whatever happened to him after the wedding fell through? It's not like we ever saw him again after that day."

A-ko frowned. "I don't know. We didn't talk about that. When Miss Ayumi left the school the next day I honestly thought I'd never see him again. But who cares? He's back with me again and that's all that matters. He even kissed me!"

Now C-ko was startled. She dropped her stirring spoon into the soup, which dissolved. "What?!?" she yelled. Old jealousies flared in C-ko's mind. "This is serious!" she shook her head. "I still don't understand what you see in him."

"Oh, C-ko, if you only dated," A-ko replied. She regarded her friend for a moment. Like A-ko, C-ko was 19 years old, but still didn't look her age. However, instead of the 12 she had looked during high school she now looked about 14. Something about being an alien princess had allowed her to age a bit more, but only a bit more. The fact that Kei had originally been attracted to C-ko no longer bothered A-ko, because he was obviously hers now.

"He's handsome," A-ko continued, "romantic, rides one cool motorcycle... he just has a presence to him."

"Ugh," C-ko replied. "I just don't see it."

"Someday it will happen to you too C-ko. You'll feel heavy and light at the same time, forget how to spell your name, get woozy, and it may even redirect your priorities a bit. When it does, you'll understand."

C-ko's mother was in the next room, eavesdropping as she often did since agreeing to allow C-ko to continue to live in Graviton City. C-ko's reluctance with boys was troubling her, as C-ko one day had to provide an heir to the throne. In fact, C-ko was already betrothed to a young prince from another house, but the few times she had tried to bring up the subject with C-ko she had turned surly or even worse gone into the kitchen to cook.

The cooking genes had obviously not been passed down to C-ko, which was a shame, C-ko's mother thought. We were always renowned for our food . Until now. Perhaps cooking school would help. C-ko's mother stopped eavesdropping and decided to make arrangements.

* * * * *

At the same time, in the center of the crater that makes up Graviton City, sits the military industrial complex that two alien ships made up. The first ship was that which created the crater, and the second was from the events of the past two years. Neither ship was operable, and while the second of the two ships had crashed much more gently, it was still a crash and would never fly again. However, some of the crew had survived the crash and now were consultants for the Graviton City Government.

While C-ko's mom started placing phone calls, a signal came from the alert board in the front of the stellar traffic room. The two consultants were there, and were brought to the board to look at the readings.

"They're not ours," said the Major at the console. "and they appear to have come from out of our solar system. Are they yours?"

One of the consultants leaned forward, blocking the view of the other. "It's not familiar to me. Perhaps the Captain should have a look." The consultant motioned to her superior, whose view she had blocked. "Captain?"

The captain put down the bottle of booze and leaned forward for a better view. "Yes Dee?" she asked.

"Do you recognize this configuration?"

The Captain took a moment to focus her eyes on the display. Then she dropped the bottle, which shattered. She took a step back, fear in her eyes, something no one in the room could ever remember seeing.

"Trouble?" Dee asked.

"Big trouble," the Captain answered, her adam's apple bobbing visibly. "How many cruisers?"

The major looked back at the display. "Ten cruisers, all similar in size, each nearly 5 kilometers across."

"Unless I'm mistaken, those ships are from the sixth house of the second kingdom of the Krypton house of the system of Alpha Signi. These are the enemy of her highness!"

Dee gasped, as did many of the others in the room. The major picked up his telephone receiver and barked, "Get General Zuma! Immediately!"

Dee leaned down and whispered to her Captain. "Should somebody warn the princess?" she asked.

The Captain nodded. "And while you're out get me another bottle." She grabbed her agent. "Make it two. No... Fifty!"

Dee saluted and quietly made her way out of the command center.

* * * * *

Meanwhile, in a large spaceship just outside the orbit of Neptune, the commander of said ship put his hand on the shoulder of another, a young man.

"We've received the signal," said the commander. "It's time."

The young man looked up. "Father, you know I'm against this."

"It doesn't matter. Things were committed years ago and it's time to see them through. Come. There are preparations to make and weapons to check."

The young man nodded dutifully. "Yes father," he said.

* * * * *

"What?!?!?!?!?!?!???!!!!!"

A-ko was shocked. Devastated would be an even more appropriate word. Kei was standing before her, telling her that he could no longer see her. "It's not you," he said. "It almost isn't even me either. I... I... I tried to break it off, but that bitch took control of everything..."

"Oh, A-ko..." came a new voice. A friend and a rival for a long time now.

A-ko wasn't sure how many more shocks she could take. "B-ko?" she said incredulously. "B-ko's the bitch?"

Now B-ko took a startled step backward. "The what?" she said.

Kei shook his head, tears streaming from his face. "No!" he shouted. "Not her! You just don't get it at all, do you?" Kei stared a moment more, than ran down the hall and disappeared, leaving both A-ko and B-ko standing there looking stunned.

After a moment, A-ko turned to B-ko with real venom in her eyes. "This is all your fault!" she shouted.

"My fault?" B-ko shot back. "You heard him! I'm not the bitch!"

A-ko took a deep breath. "But now I don't know who is! He would have told me next if you hadn't come! What are you doing here anyway?"

"I could ask the same thing of you!"

"I work here!"

"My father owns the building!" B-ko yelled. Both A-ko and B-ko stood facing each other, each a tiger about to pounce. Then they both started to giggle. "Look at us!" B-ko finally said.

"Yeah," A-ko answered. "Back to our old tricks, and neither one of us were at fault this time. I'm sorry."

"I am too," B-ko said. "I didn't know you worked here. Since when?"

"Since High School. I had my interview almost a week after... after..."

"After we promised C-ko we wouldn't fight anymore," B-ko said. B-ko had stopped laughing. "It's a hard promise to keep."

"I know," A-ko replied. "Say, were you having us followed?"

B-ko folded her arms and turned away. "I might have. I saw you with Kei and thought you were trying to steal him away from me again."

"Again? He was never yours to begin with! Besides, it hardly matters. He's married!"

B-ko's eyes went wide with shock. "No! It can't be! To whom?"

Now A-ko was angry again. "I didn't get the chance to find out, thanks to you! And now I'm even more late returning to my office! You never change! Just stay away from me!" A-ko stormed away.

B-ko looked down the hall until long after A-ko had gone. "Married is he?" she finally said to herself. "I'm surprised that A-ko would let that stop her. Oh, well. I guess that means it's my turn now..." She reached into a hidden fold of her jacket and brought out a cellular phone. She spoke only five words.

"Ina, get the team together..."

* * * * *

That evening A-ko and C-ko were walking down the long avenue that leads from their area of town to downtown. A-ko trudged along, feeling as defeated as she ever had, while C-ko was trying her best to cheer her up.

"We could go see a movie," C-ko suggested. "There's a great new film out called 'Sezan Eyes' that looks good."

A-ko shook her head. "I went to a movie with Kei," she said. "I may never do that again."

C-ko frowned. "Oh," she said. She thought a moment. "We could always go shopping?"

A-ko slowly shook her head again. "Remember the trouble with that dress I wanted? The one that was going to win Kei for me? I haven't been able to shop like that since."

C-ko frowned again. "Oh," she said. She brightened. "We could always go back to my house and I'll cook us up a tasty treat..."

A-ko plopped face forward into the ground.

"That's better!" C-ko shouted. She kneeled down and shook A-ko into a sitting position. "I knew I could make you feel better!"

A-ko recovered and smiled. "Thank you C-ko. I know you were trying." She stood up and sighed, then continued walking. "Maybe it's for the best," she said. "I mean, he led me on twice before, so maybe he's not the best man for me after all."

"Maybe not," C-ko said. "You already know my opinion of him, but don't let that sway you. I mean, what would your best friend know? How good could his taste possibly be when he spurned you for me?"

A-ko laughed. "C-ko, all of us have fought over you these past few years. To me it's more surprising that more men like Kei aren't fighting over you."

C-ko shook her head. "I don't know," she said. "It doesn't make a lot of sense to me."

"Someday it will."

"Too soon if you ask me. Between you and mom I get lots of pressure to date."

A-ko stopped and grabbed her friend's arm. "You mom is pressuring you to date? Why?"

"She says that someday I'll have to marry and produce an heir to the kingdom. A kingdom I've never seen and probably never will. So I need to learn to interact with men. It's all so strange."

"She's not talking about taking you back is she?" This alarmed A-ko more than she could reasonably understand.

"No, no no," C-ko replied. "Besides, I've got you here to protect me, right?"

"Right!"

"So no big deal. Besides, can you imagine me in lingerie? I'd rather keep my bunny jammies and the pink underwear with the kittens on them anyway. They're comfortable."

A-ko laughed aloud, and hugged C-ko close. "You never change," she said, through tears of joy. "Let's always be friends, ok?"

"Ok. Now what do you say to getting some ice cream?"

"You have a deal. Hold on!" A-ko took her friend's arm and began to sprint down the road, quickly getting up to the speed of traffic. Then faster. "Just like old times, eh C-ko?" she yelled behind her.

"Only if we crash into Dee!" C-ko shouted back. "Whee!"

* * * * *

Well, as luck would have it, Dee was coming down the same street, fortunately for her she was on the opposite side of the street and only felt the strong gust as A-ko and C-ko ran the other way. Dee's hat was blown off, and she recovered it, missing her chance to meet C-ko and warn her about the ships approaching Earth.

And C-ko's mother refused to answer the door when she saw who was there. Dee skulked away, mission not yet accomplished.

* * * * *

Things weren't going as well as hoped. She had planning, stealth, and a great mecha pilot, but strength was missing. "Where's Mari?" B-ko asked.

"She turned me down," Ina said.

"SHE WHAT!!!!????" Ina seemed to shrink to half-size facing B-ko's wrath.

"Miss Diatokuji," Ina stammered, "Mari said that she doesn't want to be involved in the fighting anymore."

B-ko fumed. Little ringlets of smoke poured from her ears. "Damn it!" she shouted. "The team's not complete without Mari! This isn't about fighting, it's about gathering information! A-ko's not even involved!"

"Miss Diatokuji," Asa said, stepping forward from the ranks, "no one has mentioned A-ko. From what you and Ina have told us, she's dropped out of the picture, and that should make this an easy surveillance."

"Then why did Mari turn me down?" B-ko demanded.

"When was the last time you saw her?" Asa asked.

"Graduation, same as you."

Asa, Ina and Ume shared knowing looks between each other. "Miss Diatokuji," Ume said, "there's been some changes you don't know about. Mari left Diatokuji Enterprises about four months ago to run her mother's business, because she had grown ill."

"She's still on the payroll!" B-ko said.

Asa shook her head. "I'm afraid not. I had a look in personnel (that is what I'm paid to do, after all) and she's off payroll. Intentionally."

B-ko fumed more, but the smoke had stopped. "I'll go see her myself," she said abruptly. "You three know your assignments. Get to work."

"Miss..." Ina started.

"I'll expect your reports at 8pm every night until I'm ready for the next phase. Understood?"

The three women knew when to back down. They all bowed. "Yes, Miss Diatokuji." They left B-ko alone in her study.

"Now then... to see to Mari..."

* * * * *

"Can I help you?" A-ko asked the messenger.

A-ko was back at work, helping on a new project for Ms. Akigara. It kept her busy and her mind off her recent troubles. She was thankful for that, but for now she was helping at the reception desk for her boss' office. The messenger had arrived with a bouquet of roses.

"Yes," said the messenger. "I'm looking for a Miss Eiko Magami."

A-ko looked up, startled. "That's me," she said.

"Ah, yes," the messenger replied. "These are for you. There's a card attached." He handed the roses to A-ko, then bowed and departed the way he came.

A-ko stood there for a moment, stunned, then smelled the flowers deeply. They fluttered as if from a strong breeze. Who would send me flowers? she thought. Then she remembered the card. She tore the envelope open and read:

A-ko.

My deepest sorrow over causing you any pain. I did not mean that to happen. I have little control over most of the events in my life any more, and I thoughtlessly caught you up in the middle of them all. For that I am sorry.

Please meet me at the bench. I'm sure you remember where. 7pm tonight. Please bring C-ko with you, if you can.

I need your help.

-Kei

A-ko read the card fifteen times just to make certain she had read it right. "What does he need my help for?" she asked aloud.

"Who?" came a voice from behind her. It was Ms. Akigara.

"Ah, well, my, er, old boyfriend sent me these flowers," A-ko stammered.

A-ko's boss smelled the flowers and took a moment to admire the arrangement. "Looks to me like he'd rather not be an ex-boyfriend," she noted. "Lovely arrangement. What shop are they from?"

"I don't know," A-ko replied.

"Well check the back of the card," Ms. Akigara suggested.

A-ko looked at the name of the flower shop on the back and nearly fainted.

* * * * *

"I can't take much more of this," B-ko shook her head.

B-ko had caught up with Mari, after a three hour search, at her mother's business, which had been renamed in the past few weeks. And from the bustle of customers coming and going, it looked like Mari's Flowers was a booming business.

Mari, at 6 foot 6 and 285 pounds, was still the tower of muscle that B-ko remembered. And watching her move from customer to customer, she was as fast as she ever was and had all the skills that brought her to B-ko's attention years ago. But a flower shop? B-ko had had no idea.

"Look Mari," B-ko said. "Running your mother's business is a noble thing. Someday I'll be running my own father's business."

"No you won't," Mari shot back. Her high mezzo-soprano voice was perhaps the first significantly female thing you would ever notice about Mari, if given the time. "Your father sees you as a rival."

"Sometimes," B-ko acknowledged. "But I've designed some of his best mechas, and he never turns down talent."

Mari grunted in agreement. "But at least you understand why I'm here," Mari said.

"I do, but why now? Why when I need you with the rest of our team?"

Mari gathered a bunch of roses together, handing them to an assistant after deftly cutting them to a respectable short length. "I always knew this would happen someday," she said. "I was born to raise flowers, not to fight. That I was given this body is more a fluke than anything else. I belong here, not out fighting wars."

"There's no fighting anymore!" B-ko shouted. Several customers looked up, and B-ko forced herself to calm down. "This isn't about A-ko, it's about Kei!"

Mari clasped a fist into an open palm. "I know," she said, "and every time it's been something involving A-ko we've lost. I'm tired of losing. It's much more satisfying to work with flowers."

"But A-ko's out of the picture! And besides, I promised C-ko that there would be no more fights between us, and there haven't been."

Mari sighed. "You're wrong. A-ko's not out of the picture, and neither is C-ko for that matter. Apparently you do need me, because I have information you don't."

B-ko looked at Mari, for the first time absolutely perplexed. Mari shook her head, gathered a group of long-stem chrysanthemums and told her. It took only a minute.

B-ko, jaw dropped, took another 30 seconds to shake off her amazement. Then she addressed Mari, who had gone off to help other customers. "I do need you!" B-ko shouted. "This proves why!"

Mari looked over her shoulder. "That's all you get from me," she said, almost in a whisper. "I don't want a part of this any more. Leave me and my flowers alone." Without another word Mari disappeared into the back of the store, into her private office.

B-ko stared after her a moment more, then muttered to herself. "Just as well. At least I know now where they're meeting, and when." Armed with the information, she left.

* * * * *

Mari, for her part, sat in her office watching the all-news channel, debating the wisdom of having told B-ko anything. The woman was sometimes more trouble than she was worth, although they had been friends for a long time now. But ever since C-ko had joined them at Graviton High B-ko had seemed to lose her compass. She understood why, but given B-ko's already strong talents towards destruction sometimes she went too far.

An emergency bulletin on the news caught her attention:

Citizens of Graviton:

For the third time in as many years it appears that alien visitors are on their way. As you are well aware the first visitation from aliens 2 years ago caused significant damage to our fair city, while the last invasion force was completely without malice.

We do not know what to expect this time. However, intelligence has learned that this is a different group of aliens than from the previous two visits. The question remains, however, why are they coming?

And they are coming. We expect the aliens to arrive over Graviton City sometime tomorrow. We ask that all citizens remain calm and remain indoors. If an evacuation is necessary we will be notifying the citizens over the usual channels.

That is all for now. We return you to our regularly scheduled broadcast.

"Hmmmm," Mari said aloud. "I wonder if any of the others have even noticed."

* * * * *

The mechanized chair floated into the room, slowly. Agonizingly slowly. Everyone in the room stood at attention as the chair lifted to it's accustomed place at the command dais. everyone except the captain, who was asleep in the corner sleeping off her latest drunk.

As the chair settled down an overhead light came on, illuminating the figure seated in the chair. After a moment General Montgomery "Monty" Zuma lifted his head and acknowledged the rest of the room with a raise of his thick eyebrows. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and returned to their stations.

"An update please," the general whispered.

"The aliens are at about the orbit of Jupiter, and closing fast," his adjutant said. "They should be in orbit by early tomorrow morning."

"How many ships?"

"Four. There had been ten initially but the other six have jumped back into hyperspace. We don't know where they were headed."

"Can they reappear deeper in the system?"

"No, according to our specialist," the adjutant motioned towards the sleeping captain.

General Zuma squeezed his eyes together momentarily, then nodded. "Very well, four. What else?"

"We know they are the enemy of the last batch of aliens that were here. Fortunately, they're a much smaller configuration, so we may be able to deal with any hostilities as they break out."

Zuma nodded again. At that moment Dee entered the room. "Reporting as ordered," she said.

"Any luck communicating with your people?" The general asked.

Dee hung her massive head sadly. "No," she said. "I failed in communicating with her highness."

"Try again," the general ordered. "We need her."

Dee saluted, and went to her captain to give her more information. The sounds of an argument soon came from that corner.

The adjutant leaned close to the General. "How do you feel today?" he asked.

"About the same," the General grumbled. "It appears that the spine transplant was a success, but it will still be some time before I can walk again."

"But at least you now have a spine," the adjutant said.

Zuma almost smiled. "One more insubordinate remark like that and you'll be busted back down to Private."

The adjutant stood stiffly and saluted. One of his uniforms still had the Colonel's insignia he was no longer allowed to wear. "Yes sir," he said, turning on his heel.

Inwardly the General smiled. Maybe I should tell him the truth, he thought to himself. He's a good soldier. My pension kicks in in two days, and then he can know.

* * * * *

Meanwhile, at about the orbit of Jupiter...

"Tomorrow's going to be a big day," the commander said to his son. "There will be much to do."

The younger man nodded. "I know. I won't fail you."

The commander smiled and nodded sagely. "You can't. You're my son, after all."

The younger man rolled his eyes. Sometimes his father was simply too much. He took a deep breath and broached the next topic on his list. "Commander, why did you turn back the other six ships?"

"According to my intelligence, they weren't needed. This planet has seen two invasions in the past three Earth years, both from that other house we've discussed. Although neither were meant to be belligerent, the populace were overwhelmed just the same. We're not coming to conquer this planet."

"True," acknowledged the younger man. "Just capture a princess." He shook his head. "I will do as you ask, father, but I'm still uneasy with this plan."

"I know," the commander replied. "She's an innocent in all of this, but her fate was arranged long before her birth and even yours. You're about the same age, you know."

"I know everything about her highness," the younger man replied. "I've researched her to some depth to prepare."

"Good! Intelligence always pays off. Just keep in mind that she will not have that advantage."

The young man smiled. "I know," he said. The politics and intrigue of war could sometimes be tiresome, but he was born to be a warlord, so he needed these lessons from his father. Besides, after this mission he would begin missions of his own for the kingdom.

And the kingdom would be much larger if all went well tomorrow.

* * * * *

A-ko had been raised in such a way that it never occurred to her to lie to C-ko about their rendezvous with Kei. They nearly missed the appointed time because C-ko threw a tantrum before finally giving in and going along. A-ko would pay for it later; the only way C-ko had agreed to come along was that A-ko had promised to come over for dinner the next night.

But they did make it to the park bench on time, as Kei had asked. After only a moment Kei rode up, parking his motorcycle next to the bench. A-ko caught her breath. He's still so handsome, she thought.

"A-ko," Kei said. "C... C.... C..... C-ko. Thank you for coming. I have no right to ask your help, but I need it just the same."

"You're right," C-ko said. "You have no right!"

"C-ko..." A-ko began, covering her eyes.

"You've been nothing but trouble since we first saw you!" C-ko continued.

"I know," Kei replied. "I haven't wanted it that way, but that's how it's happened."

"At least you seem to be able to talk more than you used to."

"C-ko!" A-ko shouted, looking sternly at her friend.

C-ko turned to A-ko. "You know I don't like him," she said.

"I'm still in... love with you... C... C... C-ko," Kei said.

A-ko, about to lecture C-ko, froze in mid-syllable. She slowly turned her head to Kei. "What?"

Kei shook his head and sat on the grass. "Not that it matters anymore." He looked up. "Try to understand. I don't want to be in love with C... C.. C-ko."

"Good!" C-ko shot back at him. "I don't want you to be in love with me either."

A-ko finally closed her mouth and sat down. "I'm confused," she said. "Why did you even date me at all?"

"I need to get past C-ko. If anyone could get me past C-ko it would be you. That's why I need your help. Both of you."

"Hmm?" both A-ko and C-ko asked.

"C... C... C-ko doesn't want me, and I have to be able to accept that, but so far I've been unable to. Because of my current circumstances I'm reminded of her every day."

"Your wife," A-ko growled.

Kei nodded. "My own mother was very persuasive that things follow her plan, so that I could inherit the family business, and I wasn't in much of a position to care. C... C... C-ko was lost to me as of that night in the school gym. By the time she came back it was too late for me. It's very difficult for me to get any words out at all, and that night was devastating for me. So after everything that happened that night she insisted upon a reschedule."

A-ko fell to the ground, shocked. "It can't be!" she stammered.

Kei pulled a photograph out of his pocket and handed it to A-ko. She looked at it for a short moment then dropped it, her fears made real. C-ko, still confused, reached down for the photograph from the wedding. Her eyes went wide.

"Oh!" C-ko exclaimed. "That's Miss Ayumi! You're married to Miss Ayumi!"

A-ko slowly sat up. "I can't believe this..."

Kei took the photograph back from C-ko, holding it in his hand a moment longer while C-ko's faint touch was still there, then replaced it in his pocket.

"I'm trapped," Kei said. "Your teacher must have been a strong disciplinarian. She certainly is with me."

"She's very pretty," said C-ko. "Why are you unhappy?"

"She's not you. But she's a reminder of you. And until I'm free of her I'll always be reminded of you, and I can't have you." A tear trickled down his cheek.

A-ko stood up. "You're quite a mess," she said. "What has this to do with me? You have Miss Ayumi, you want C-ko. Where do I fit in?"

"Maybe someday we'd be together, if I can get over C-ko. I want to try, at least."

A-ko brightened. "So you really are interested in me!"

Kei nodded. "But you weren't my first choice."

"As long as I'm chosen," A-ko replied. "What do we need to do?"

"I need my freedom. First from my wife, second from C-ko."

"No!" C-ko yelled. "No no no no no! If we help you then I'll lose A-ko to you! I don't want to lose A-ko to you or anyone else! I might just as well have gone home with mommy!"

"C-ko," A-ko said. "No you won't. You promised to never leave me again and I'm going to hold you to that promise." She sighed and looked up at Kei, who was standing again by his motorcycle. "I can't cure you of loving C-ko," she said. "I can't cure myself of loving her despite the fact that she sometimes drives me crazy. She's my best friend."

Tears welled up in C-ko's eyes, but for once she looked happy. "I love you too A-ko," she said.

"Then help me at least get my freedom," Kei said to A-ko. "I need to leave Graviton City. Once I'm gone and some time has passed, I can write to you to come see me. Alone."

"But..." C-ko said.

Kei turned to C-ko. "And if I can be with A-ko without wanting you, then I can come back and maybe we can become friends. If I can't get your heart I'd like to at least have your friendship."

Now C-ko sat. "When you put it that way, it makes more sense," she said. She looked to A-ko. "Okay, I'll help." she turned back to Kei. "But if you try to take A-ko away from me I'll cry the whole city down."

A-ko hugged C-ko. "Thank you," she said. "I love you C-ko!"

Kei stood back, breathing deeply. He wanted to hug the both of them, but that would probably have been more than a bit awkward.

"One thing I don't get," A-ko said to Kei. "Why can't you just get on your bike and leave? New Nippon isn't that far away, especially when you have a good motorcycle like yours. You must have some money of your own, or you wouldn't be considering offending your own mother this way."

"Money's not the issue. I don't care about that. Remember all those phone calls I took while we were on our date?" Kei asked. "That was my wife checking up on me. She knows her hold on me is fragile, so she checks up on me constantly. If I don't talk to her at least once an hour she practically calls out the militia to find me."

"You're joking!" A-ko said.

"No. She made Mr. Diatokuji promise to help keep us together after the disaster of the wedding. He controls every road and shuttle out of town plus the military. I'm trapped."

"Oh no," A-ko said. "This is a problem." She turned to C-ko. "How can I do this without getting into a fight with B-ko?"

* * * * *

From her bedroom at home, B-ko watched the video being relayed from a tree 30 feet away from A-ko, C-ko and Kei. She was hatching plans of her own.

"I don't know how we won't be fighting this time either," she said aloud, standing. "Father, you've finally done something right. Kei can't leave town. Not before he's mine!

"A-ko, we're going to be on opposing sides again."

B-ko headed for her work room to prepare for battle.

* * * * *

In the meantime, C-ko's mother was also making final plans.

"It's agreed," she said into her phone. "Bring him by tomorrow evening and I'll make certain that C-ko's there."

A pause, while she listened to comments from the other end of the line.

"Seven p.m."

Pause.

"We'll bring the food."

Pause.

"No. I'll be doing the actual cooking."

Pause.

"I do not cook like my daughter!!!"

* * * * *

A-ko, C-ko and Kei stayed up well into the night putting together their plan. Finally, at well past midnight, Kei left for home confident as he could be that things would go well in the morning.

A-ko escorted C-ko home, walking the long boulevard back to the suburbs of town.

"Do you remember that old song?" A-ko asked C-ko. "You know the one, 'Follow Your Dreams'...?

C-ko, munching on a cold crepe, nodded and said, "Um hmm!"

A-ko smiled, staring up into the night. "That's kind of what we're doing here for Kei," she said. "I mean, he gets his freedom, you stop being bothered by him, and I finally get him! It's... it's... almost magical!"

C-ko nodded. "I know," she replied. "I didn't like all this at first, but it's like that movie we never got to see together." C-ko brightened. "I know! I'll buy you a red straw hat that you can give him as a going away present! I'm sure he'd like that!"

A-ko stopped and turned to her friend. "You'd do that for me?" she asked.

C-ko said, "Yes I would. I'd move mountains for you if I could."

A-ko smiled. "I know that. And you have!" she picked up C-ko and hugged her close. "I'm so glad you decided to stay!"

C-ko, winded, gasped back, "Me too..."

* * * * *

B-ko worked through most of the night, as did her now three woman support team. This time it couldn't fail!

* * * * *

C-ko's mother worked through most of the night, preparing her big feast. People passing by the home would linger a moment from the wonderful smell. This time it couldn't fail!

* * * * *

General Zuma and his staff worked with the Captain and Dee through most of the night, putting together a plan of attack. This time it couldn't fail!

* * * * *

Kei worked most of the night on making certain everything on his motorcycle was up to the task. This time it couldn't fail!

* * * * *

Most of the way to Mars, the spaceship commander and his son made their final plans for enlarging their empire. This time it couldn't fail!

* * * * *

A-ko slept fitfully, tossing her covers away, thinking mostly about her future with Kei. This time... aw hell, you get the picture.

* * * * *

C-ko, for her part, also slept fitfully. She had nightmares about A-ko abandoning her, her mother trying to control her, Kei smothering her with affection, and even B-ko trying to catch her with one of her mechas.

In her last dream of the night she dreamt that she was back at Graviton High, on her very first day. She was looking out the window at the small mechas in the yard when Miss Ayumi swatted her with a rolled up poetry book.

"But it's not my fault!" C-ko protested.

"Yes it is," shot back Miss Ayumi. "Everybody does everything because of you! IT IS YOUR FAULT!"

Then C-ko was falling, past the outstretched arms of nearly everyone she knew. Then she hit, and woke up as she hit the ground from rolling out of bed. She sat up and began to cry.

"Oh A-ko," she sobbed. "What have I agreed to? I can't hurt Miss Ayumi!"

* * * * *

When A-ko's alarm rang in the morning she slowly opened her eyes. It was dark in her room, so at first she rolled over and tried to go back to sleep. Then it hit her. It's dark???

She looked over to her clock again and saw the time; 8:15. On a work day she would already be running late, but today she could take her time. The day would get busy soon enough.

A-ko opened the door to her room just enough to peek out, and saw that it was dark outside her room as well. "Mom? Dad?" she called out. "Are we having a power outage?" There was no answer. "Hmm. They must be out already."

She closed the door to her room and stumbled her way to the window, stubbing her toe on a chair. Then she stretched just as she did every morning and turned the blinds to let in the sun.

It was still dark.

A-ko shook her head, but it was still dark outside. She grabbed her alarm clock and saw in the dim light that the clock insisted that it was morning. She then looked outside again and realized for the first time that she could see nothing.

She stared for a moment, then opened her window. She stuck her head out to take a better look and collided with a metal wall, nestled directly against the bedroom window.

"Ah, A-ko. You're awake I see," came a voice.

It took A-ko only a second to recognize the voice. "B-ko!" she shouted.

"No need to shout," came B-ko's voice. "Enjoying the view?"

"All right B-ko, what is this?"

"It's the Home Security Akigara35-C. It's meant to protect your home while you're away from home. I'm giving this one to you for free!"

"B-ko..."

"I hope you appreciate the effort A-ko; it took most of the night to finish it. It has a number of security features I could go into breathtaking detail about, but I'll just cut to the chase and point out that nothing inside the home will be leaving without the security system being deactivated. Not even you, A-ko."

"B-ko! Not another one of your toys! We agreed to not go through this again!"

"We agreed not to fight again," B-ko said. "And we won't. My mecha isn't designed to hurt you in any way; just keep you inside the house. By encasing the house.

"I know all about your plan with Kei and C-ko. It's noble and I agree with a good portion of it. However there are some specifics I'd like to fine tune, and I won't be able to do that with you in the way. With the Home Security Akigara35-C I can do that and still keep my promise to C-ko."

"And what about everything else? If you know my plan about Kei you know that without me it doesn't work!" A-ko had grown accustomed to the darkness now, and was rummaging for her clothes. She found her armbands first.

"Oh I agree, your brute strength is a needed factor. Fortunately I've taken care of that as well. There's nothing you can do about it, so you might as well just sit back and enjoy the day."

"Not a chance B-ko! I'll get out of this if I have to shake the whole house down!"

"You're welcome to try. However when the locks open at 3pm you'll find that the mecha surrounding your house will get up and leave, never to return, and that I'll have Kei. Have a good morning!" There was a click, then nothing more.

"B-ko!" A-ko shouted. There was no answer.

"B-ko!!!!!"

* * * * *

B-ko knew that C-ko's part of the plan needed for her to be out of the house by 11am that morning, so she had figured on having plenty of time. She was wrong. When B-ko arrived at the apartment C-ko shared with her mother she discovered a wondrous smell and a missing C-ko.

"She left very early this morning," C-ko's mother said. "Something about seeing an old friend from school. To be honest I can't really keep track of all of you."

"A-ko?" B-ko asked.

C-ko's mother nodded. "I think so."

For a moment B-ko didn't answer. This could be a problem, and besides, the smell of the food cooking in the next room was perhaps the best she had ever noticed. And she'd had some of the best in the world.

B-ko shook herself from her reverie. "Whatever you're cooking," she said, "It smells wonderful!"

"Thank you," C-ko's mother replied. "You're kind to say so. Your planet has such a limitation on spices that this was the best I could do. I just hope it will be enough for our guests tonight."

"Guests?"

"Yes. If you see C-ko tell her she can play as long as she wants as long as she's home by 6 this evening. Would you tell her that?"

B-ko bowed. "Yes miss," she said. She then turned and walked from the house, hungry. "So where is C-ko?"

* * * * *

"Where are they now?" General Zuma asked.

"They're parked in high orbit, about two thirds of the way to the moon sir," reported the adjutant. "It seems that they're staying there for the moment."

"And the scout craft?"

"Ahem..." came a new, strangely feminine voice. It was the alien Captain, awake and sober for the first time in anyone's memory.

"Captain?"

"The scout craft they sent earlier only came down long enough to pick up a person or perhaps take a quick survey. I would imagine that they're fine tuning whatever plan they have right now."

Zuma grunted. "We should prepare a strike against them."

The Captain almost laughed. "You couldn't defeat us when we attacked," she pointed out. "They're our enemies but in firepower they're our equals. And there's more of them."

Zuma looked up from is chair. "And yet you're still here, and your ship can't fly." he whispered.

The Captain stared for a moment, then began to tear up. She turned away, sobbing.

"Get that pathetic creature some red wine," the General said. "And scramble our fighters. Code red."

Lights began to flash immediately, and men reported to their stations to prepare for battle. The adjutant, for his part, smiled and saluted his General. "It's good to see you taking action again sir!" he said.

Zuma nodded. "Let's speak alone you and I," he said. "Things will be very different tomorrow, no matter what happens..."

* * * * *

Meanwhile, about 120,000 miles up:

"Has our scoutship returned?" The young man said.

"It has, sir."

"And...?"

"It went as expected. We have reconnoitered the area and have made an analysis of the terrain. I'll forward it to you now."

The young man nodded, accepting the data diskette. He inserted the diskette into his computer, and began reviewing the data. A smile crept over his face.

"Tonight, princess. Tonight you'll get a meal you can't possibly expect!"

Then laughter shook the room. The laughter of a conquering king.

* * * * *

It took nearly a dozen rings on the security alarm at the front door, but finally there was an answer.

"Yes?"

"It's me, C-ko Kotobuki."

There was a gasp. "Not you!"

"Please! I need to speak with you alone!" C-ko pleaded.

A pause. "Alone?"

"Yes, alone. It's very important."

For a moment there was no answer. But just as C-ko was turning away the security alarm on the front door buzzed and the door opened. C-ko jumped. "Yahoo!"

C-ko ran inside the building.

* * * * *

Click here to go to PART TWO!!!!!

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