From: "Coutuva" Subject: [Iczer][FanFic] Of Destiny and Purpose This is a Work of Fanfiction, based on the Anime Series Iczer One, from US Renditions, and Iczer Three from AIC. The Characters and Backstories are the Exclusive Property of their respective Copyright Owners, and are used without permission. My object is hopefully to entertain and promote these excellent animated series. Based solely on events in the Anime; unfortunately, I've never seen the Manga. For this and any of my other works, visit my Web Site at: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295 As always, C&C is anticipated, accepted, and appreciated. Please Enjoy! Coutuva. ++++++++ Of Destiny and Purpose ----------------------------------------------------------------- Stars. Planets. Nebulas. Asteroids. All beautiful; all marvels of nature; all the same after a few years. Iczer Two stood on the small chunk of planetary debris she had landed on a few days earlier, looking over the vast emptiness that surrounded her. It was the same thing as always surrounded her, and she was becoming less and less impressed with it by the millisecond. When she left Earth after helping her sisters defeat Neos Gold, she looked forward to wandering the Universe free and proud, subservient to no one and without any mission save whatever her heart desired. That was then. Now, she found she was without purpose -- like a weapon without a war. There had been a few little skirmishes as she encountered various lesser beings, but for the most part her existence had been painfully uneventful. In fact, as she recalled, the humans had a word for the state she found herself in. Bored. Sighing, she lit up her beam sword and slashed at the rock beneath her feet, chipping away a chunk and watching it drift aimlessly out into the void. Just like she had, so many years ago. As she contemplated that comparison, she idly picked at the rock with her sword, not even paying attention to what she was doing. Finally, she leapt up and swung around, about to reduce the rock to sand just for something to do, then froze as her eyes caught something. Moving a bit closer, she actually gasped as she saw that she had unwittingly written something in the hard rock. A single word. A *name*. Nagisa. Her face sobered for a moment as she searched her memory for any command to write that name. There was none. For a few more moments, she wondered how such a thing could possibly happen, especially to as perfect a being as she was. Expanding her search parameters, she came up with a very human answer. Fate. A wry smile crossed her face. Suddenly, she had something to do. Nagisa sat behind her console as per usual, intently studying the data streaming across her monitor. Finally, the telemetry from their experimental satellite was flowing as it should, meaning the project could advance. Kicking back in her chair, she flashed a relieved 'thumbs up' to Yajin, who flashed back a smile and an 'ok' sign. The rest of the crew in the Moonbase control room broke out in applause as she routed the feed over the main monitors for all to see. This was the culmination of six months work, and everyone was ecstatic that the new-type transmitter was finally on-line. "Way ta go, Commander!" Yajin smiled, sauntering up to her station. "Thanks, Sergeant... This has been far too long in coming. If we hadn't made it work by the end of the week..." she trailed off, her large eyes saying what her words hadn't. "Hai... They would have cut the budget. Maaa... I can't figure those idiots Earthside, though... After all that trouble eighteen years ago, you figure they'd see the need for an Early Warning System that actually *works*," he grumbled, long tired of all the politics. Nagisa smiled her trademark smile, and shook her head. "Some things never change though, do they, Yajin-kun?" she noted quietly, then rose from her chair and started toward her office. "Hey, jeese... Don't call me that here...!" he erked, glancing around at some of the female techs he had been trying to impress. "Like I said..." she smirked, laughing to herself. Yajin was still very much the same, even though a lot had happened in the eighteen years since the invasion. Of the original crew of the Queen Fuji, herself, Yajin, Candy and Rob were back on the rebuilt Moonbase, but Kawai had stayed Earthside, eventually marrying one of the Survivor Coordinators she had met during the rescue efforts. In fact, the last message she had from her old friend mentioned that her daughter, Nagisa, was about to graduate high school. Candy and Rob finally married as well, and now had two children, all of whom still lived on Moonbase. Candy was no longer a Pilot, but was still very active in the Defense Force, and her husband was now a Major, flying and developing the new generation fighters. Yajin was a Sergeant in the Defense Forces, and was working on his Pilot's wings, as well as every available female on the base. Nagisa herself had been 'drafted' into the Defense Force after her efforts to save the planet, and soon became a Commander. Her first act as such was to request transfer to Moonbase, particularly after she heard they couldn't find anyone willing to take over command. She too had married, but her marriage failed when her husband couldn't handle a woman as independent and strong-willed as her. They still spoke, but he was stationed Earthside, another area they didn't agree on. Sighing, she settled behind her desk and began scrolling through the reports of the day's activity, a job she wasn't impressed with, but had to do anyway. The reports went to North America Base every day, and she had to make sure they were accurate. As she looked them over, her mind actually began to wander, eventually recalling scenes from the invasion days, and of the beings that had helped them in their fight. Even to this day, she wondered what had become of the Iczers, especially Iczer Three. She had an almost motherly concern for the small girl, and unknown to anyone else, she had cried herself to sleep for months after the Iczers departed. It was amoung her dearest hopes that she would see them again, at least while she was young enough to be able to appreciate their presence. She knew time meant nothing to them, and hoped that they would remember that it meant a *lot* to her. Settling her chin on her hand, she returned her attention to her monitor before she got all weepy again, as she had a habit of doing when she thought too long about the unique beings she considered more than friends. As she started to read the reports again, she was shocked to hear a certain very specific sound from behind her. It was a sound that was burned into her memory. The sound of subspace righting itself after being opened and passed either from or into -- it was the signature sound -- of an Iczer. Spinning in her chair, she gasped as she met the tip of an emblazoned green beam sword inches away from her nose. Looking up the sword, she met the cold, level gaze of the last Iczer she ever expected to see again. "Iczer Two!" she gasped, more in disbelief than any other emotion. "Greetings, Nagisa... It seems the years and the humans have been kind to you," the smirking Iczer observed, looking her over intently. Nagisa, despite being delighted to see *any* Iczer, lowered an eyebrow and controlled her emotions. Iczer Two was too much of a wildcard to take for granted. "They have... " she replied, uncertain of her guest's intentions. "This is good... These humans owe you for their very existence. It is fitting that you hold a position of Command," Iczer Two noted, lifting her sword away. "Although, I would think they should have given you more to be in command of," she added disdainfully, looking out the large window in the front of the office. Nagisa relaxed. Something inside her told her that this was only a social call, and that Iczer Two was not in an aggressive mode. That observation made her smile. "I chose this assignment. I love Moonbase... It's close to the stars," she finally countered, almost wistfully. "The stars... Feh. After a time, they all begin to look the same, no matter what part of the Universe you are in," the red-haired Iczer remarked almost sadly, finally dissipating the sword. "I imagine they would... So tell me; what have you been doing? I've been thinking about all of you, and often wondered how you were all faring." Iczer Two looked back at Nagisa for a long second, as if considering a reply. Nagisa, meantime, swore that she saw a slight sparkle flash through her guest's eyes. That *really* got her wondering why she had come. "I have been exploring this Universe... On my own. My sisters are with the Cthuwulf, aiding them in their quest for a new homeworld, and destroying the remnants of Big Gold's evil," she finally replied, her face sobering again. "Well, I'm glad you came... I've missed all of you, even though I never really got to meet you," Nagisa smiled warmly, leaning back in her chair. "Come to think of it, I never got the chance to thank you for your help against Neos... Or even to say good-bye," she noted, thoughtfully. Iczer Two hesitated a moment before responding, her face briefly flashing a look Nagisa couldn't decipher. "I... Departed after the final battle was won. I was... Anxious to begin my quest," she indicated, at length. Again, Nagisa smiled, only this time, it was knowingly. "I see... " she nodded, picking up another 'impression'. "Iczer Two... What's wrong?" she found herself asking, almost before she realized it. Iczer Two erked, then made a scornful face. "Nothing!" she snapped, turning away from Nagisa quickly. Nagisa knew better. Rising from her chair, she walked to the defiant Iczer and touched her shoulder. Iczer Two jumped at her touch, then steadied herself. "You can tell me, Iczer Two... " she almost whispered, noting the slight quiver in the Iczer's body as she spoke. "Nothing is wrong. I am here... For a visit," she insisted, firmly. "I have come to see how you humans have used what we Iczer preserved for you," she added, the old smugness returning to her tone. Nagisa only smiled, then nodded acceptingly. "I'm glad you did... I'd worried I wouldn't see any of you again in my lifetime... My Grandmother never did," she redirected, knowing she wasn't going any further on the other topic. "Your grandmother... Kano Nagisa. I remember her well. She was a valiant warrior; you should be proud of her, Nagisa..." Iczer Two noted, scanning her memory. "Even I was impressed. She was tough... For a human," she added, thoughtfully. "Somehow, I have all of her memories... Memories that even she didn't know she had. That's how I know about you. I have to admit, I like you better now," Nagisa winked, moving back to her chair. She swore she saw Iczer Two's powerful eyes sparkle again. Just as she was about to speak again, her office door opened suddenly and Yajin stepped in, only to come to an instant stop as a burst of energy erupted beside his face. "Wak...!" he squawked, ducking quickly. "You are lucky to be alive, human... " Iczer Two admonished threateningly, slowly lowering her arm. Lifting his head slowly, Yajin looked toward the voice and erked. "Masaka... You're one of those... Iczers!" he choked, unsure of what to make of Nagisa's 'guest'. Iczer Two only smiled smugly. "Nagisa - ! What is *that* doing here?!?" he demanded, leaping to his feet and pointing to the red-haired figure angrily. Before Nagisa could answer, Yajin gulped as a beam sword appeared under his nose. "Human, you begin to annoy me... I am Iczer Two... You are advised not to forget that," she commanded, her eyes narrowing. "State your business with Nagisa... Or leave," she added, sending a ripple of energy down the sword. "He's harmless, Iczer Two... You don't need that," Nagisa interjected, eyes slightly wide at her 'guest's' behavior. "It will remain until I am convinced. Speak, human... If you wish to retain the ability," she responded, eyes fixed on Yajin. "Ano... I wanted to ask if Nagisa... Wanted to go get supper... That's all!" he stammered, nervously. Iczer Two smiled emotionlessly. "You are harmless... Although I advise you to treat Nagisa with more respect," she stated, removing her sword and turning away. "Gomen, Yajin... She's an Iczer," Nagisa explained, as he tried to keep from hyperventilating. "And yes, I'll have supper with you," she smiled, patting his shoulder as she walked by him. As he went to rise, he glanced at Iczer Two, who only glared coldly back at him. Swallowing hard, he scrambled out the door after Nagisa, not wanting to be too far away from her. Outside the office, he moved beside Nagisa and wiped his brow, his eyes wide and heart racing. "Hooo... What gives with *her*...?" he exclaimed, shaking his head. "She's protecting me... I think," she replied, thoughtfully. "Although I'm not sure why. I'm not even sure why she's here..." she added, glancing over at him. "I could feel sadness in her, and I think she may even be... Lonely," she noted, her brow furrowing. "Ano... I hope it doesn't mean we're gonna get attacked again... Once in a lifetime is enough for me," he emphasized, worriedly. "And what do you mean, you can 'feel' things...? Is that telepathy you had coming back...?" "Hai... I think so... It's like it was always there, and just went dormant while there were no Iczers around," she replied, smiling. "Kuso, I don't like the sound of that... It's like it's all happening again...!" he shuddered, grimacing. Nagisa almost laughed. "I don't think that's it at all, Yajin-kun... So don't worry," she assured, looking back at him. "She'll be fine," she added, nodding. "I sure hope so... For all our sakes." Entering the base cafeteria, they collected their food and moved to a table, Yajin talking about their great battle, and Nagisa only half-listening. Despite her assurances to the contrary, she was a bit concerned about Iczer Two's presence, and was devoting a good deal of energy to figuring out what she really wanted. As she toyed with some possibilities, she heard a murmur wash through the crowd, and glanced up to see what was happening. As her gaze found the main entry, she almost gasped as she saw Iczer Two step through and begin striding toward her, her proud visage and sultry walk standing out as much as her battle armor. She also noticed, much to her amusement, how the men in the room seemed almost hypnotized by the Iczer, although she paid them absolutely no heed. Her cool gaze was fixed on Nagisa herself, and seemed not to notice anything else. All eyes watched Iczer Two stride right up to Nagisa, and continued to gape as she remained standing just at her shoulder. "Would you like to join us?" Nagisa smiled, offering the Iczer a chair beside her. "What ritual is this...?" Iczer Two responded, casting a wary gaze about the room. Instantly, everyone else found something different to look at, including Yajin. "This particular one is called 'supper'. We humans need to eat to sustain ourselves. We aren't self-renewing," Nagisa supplied, trying to hide her grin. "Hm. And this is your fuel?" she asked, the seriousness in her face almost breaking Nagisa up. "Hai. We can use a variety of substances... It depends on what each 'human' wants." she added, holding her plate up for Iczer Two to inspect. The Iczer took the plate and looked it over carefully, making Nagisa and Yajin alike wonder if she was running some sort of analysis on it. She then raised her gaze over the room briefly, soon returning it to the plate. A few moments later, she grimaced and handed the plate back. "A distasteful practice... I am glad I have no need of it," she noted, relief touching her features. "Would you still like to sit with us?" Nagisa asked again, hoping to minimize the disruption that was gradually sweeping the room. Before the Iczer could respond, one of Yajin's friends walked up confidently behind her and cleared his throat. "Hi... I'm Mark... Could I interest you in some supper -- or maybe a little 'dessert'?" he suggested, eyeing her lewdly. Yajin gulped. Nagisa covered her eyes. Iczer Two's face darkened contemptuously. "You are too close to Nagisa, human..." she growled, prodding a finger into the center of his chest. The slight bluish flash at the point of contact was enough to send him several metres up the aisle, leaving him flat on his back and wondering what happened. Nagisa was surprised at the number of women who stood up and applauded riotously, and Iczer Two herself even cracked a thin, satisfied smile. A little over an hour later, Nagisa was well in the midst of showing Iczer Two around the base, mainly to keep her away from the rest of the population. She noticed, much to her delight, that the Iczer seemed genuinely interested in the facility. "... And this is the arboretum. We have samples all of the most efficient varieties of Earth fauna here, which helps maintain our atmosphere," she noted proudly, having instituted the program herself to make the Moonbase air more normalized. "It is unfortunate that humans require so much support... This limits your capabilities in the Greater Universe," Iczer Two noted, plaintively. "Your species will never conquer," she added, shaking her head. Nagisa flashed her an annoyed look. "We have no desire to conquer. We only want to exist peacefully... This Base and the EarthNet Bases are only for defense!" she indicated, firmly. "Then why do you expand off your home planet? If you have no desire to conquer, then your efforts are wasted," Iczer Two countered, genuinely confused. "As I said... For defensive purposes. Those "Masters of Heaven" wiped us out before we knew they were coming. We don't want that to happen again." "Hah! Your technology is far from advanced enough to detect such a threat... And you do not possess weaponry capable of countering it. As well, it will be many more generations before you achieve it, given your current rate of advancement," Iczer Two retorted, her voice almost contemptuous. "Nagisa, *this* is the kind of capability you will require to ward off such a threat," she stated, withdrawing a bracelet from her suit and clamping it over Nagisa's wrist. "Come... I will demonstrate its use," she smiled, then took Nagisa by the hand. A heartbeat later, the two stood side by side on the open lunar landscape. "Ahhh! Iczer Two... We're... Outside?!?" Nagisa shrieked, noting the moondust swirling about her feet. "Yes, Nagisa... The bracelet has enveloped you in a shield that protects you from the conditions, and will as long as you wear it. It will also protect you from this...!" she abruptly smirked, raising her arm and unloading a fairly powerful blast directly at her. Nagisa, much to Iczer Two's surprise, was ready for it, simply standing her ground and smiling as the blast bisected around her. "I see you know of the bracelet's capability... Very impressive... Nagisa," she intoned, actually impressed with the little 'one-up'. "I do... My Grandmother had memories of two similar ones... She wore each of them at various times," Nagisa noted, winking. Iczer Two frowned momentarily, suddenly remembering the last time she had given a woman named Nagisa a bracelet. It was a memory that she found she would rather not have. Nagisa noticed her expression and immediately walked up to her. Reaching out, she touched Iczer Two's shoulder, and discovered two things that startled her. First, Iczer Two shuddered at her touch, and second, she could actually feel the material of her armor through the 'shield'. Shaking off her surprise, she followed through. "What is it, Iczer Two...? We're alone out here... We can talk if you wish...?" she prodded, gently. Iczer Two met her eyes for a brief moment, then her face hardened. "Nothing," she almost snapped, although Nagisa had already seen the torment in her eyes. Deciding to go for broke, Nagisa threw caution to the wind and suddenly wrapped the startled Iczer in a huge, affectionate hug. Iczer Two stiffened for a second, an epithet ready on her lips. Nagisa then felt her abruptly relax, and noticed her arms start to rise. The next thing she knew, she was standing back in the hallway, her arms wrapped around empty space. Closing her arms tightly around her chest, she closed her eyes... And smiled. That night, Nagisa slept more peacefully than she had in recent memory, her mind filled with dreams of the invasion. Only this time, they were not her usual nightmares. They were memories of the accomplishments she cherished, and even in her sleep, a smile graced her soft face. On the other side of the room, shrouded in darkness, Iczer Two stood against the wall and simply watched Nagisa intently as she slept. She could feel some of the woman's emotions, and absently wished she possessed the ability to read dreams, so that she could appreciate what was making Nagisa smile so peacefully. Sighing, she walked silently to the bedside, looking down on the sleeping woman and studying her intently. She noticed that Nagisa's hair was scattered about her pretty face, and before she realized she was even doing it, she reached out and brushed it aside, eliciting a soft moan from the girl. "What is it about you, Nagisa? Why do you affect me?" she whispered softly, a small smile decorating her normally stoic visage. Sighing softly, she gazed at Nagisa for a few more moments, then rose and resumed her post against the wall. The next morning, Nagisa's alarm sounded insistently, rousing the woman from a sleep that felt so satisfying, she regretted its end. Fumbling about her side table, she eventually found the panel that deactivated the annoying device, and flopped back on her bed. Finally, she rolled herself off the bed and stretched luxuriantly, working the last of the sleep from her all-too-well relaxed muscles. Rubbing her eyes, she reached down and hit the panel to open her window's blast shields, and almost shrieked as she saw a shadowy figure outlined by the light of the sun. "Iczer Two...! You startled me..." she instead gasped, waving a hand before her face. "I am not surprised... This practice of hibernation is a dangerous one... An enemy could kill you before you were even aware of the danger," the Iczer noted, disapprovingly. "I know... But humans require it," she countered, trying to calm herself. "Were you there all night?" "I was... You required protection while in your hibernative state. I provided it... As a courtesy," she replied, slightly smugly. Nagisa smiled. "Thank you. I appreciate you watching over me. I hope someday to be able to return the favor," she indicated, bowing to the surprised Iczer. "I have to take my bath now and get ready for my day... Please feel free to relax," she added, smiling sweetly at Iczer Two and heading into the bathroom. As she started her shower and furo and laid out some clean towels, she was a bit surprised to hear Iczer Two appear in the room behind her. Turning, she was instantly amused by the look on the Iczer's face. "What is the purpose of this...?" Iczer Two asked, looking over Nagisa's Japanese appointed bath room. "For cleansing. We humans have to do it to prevent health problems," Nagisa supplied, thinking that would suffice. "Would you like to join me?" she asked, wondering what kind of response she'd get as she pulled her nightgown over her head. Iczer Two looked at her expressionlessly for a moment, although her normally cool eyes widened slightly. "Well...? Are you coming?" Nagisa urged, stepping under the shower and reaching for the soap. Iczer Two finally broke her silence. "I have no need of such a process... I will await you in the outer chamber," she stated flatly, vanishing once more. Nagisa smiled, shaking her head bemusedly at the remark. Turning her attention to her bathing, she caught herself thinking that she was feeling better than she had in years, and began to wonder if it wasn't related to Iczer Two's presence. Her telepathy had started to come back, and her spirits seemed recharged. She had slept better, and she found that Iczer Two's presence overall had definitely made her happier. In short, she felt like a sixteen year old again. The more she thought about it, the more she became convinced it was because of Iczer Two. Nothing else in her life had ever made her feel as whole or as strong as she had when Iczer Three had been around, and this was the same kind of feeling. Finishing her shower, she stepped into the furo and sank to her neck, the warm, swirling water relaxing her completely. Closing her eyes, she allowed her mind to simply drift, enjoying her newfound tranquillity. Before long, some strange feelings began to intrude on her thoughts, feelings she knew were not her own. They were feelings of sadness, confusion and painful loneliness, and as they pervaded further into her conscious, she gradually realized where they were coming from. Iczer Two. Suddenly, Nagisa knew exactly why the Iczer had come. She was feeling as if she had outlived her usefulness; a feeling Nagisa knew better than she cared to admit. Nagisa gasped aloud at that discovery, instantly jumping from the furo and heading out the bathroom door. Once in the living room, she strode straight up to the surprised Iczer and threw a loving hug around her. "I just want you to know... I'll always be your friend, Iczer Two... And I'm very glad you're here," she breathed, tightening her hug around the speechless being. "I didn't realize it until now, but I need you, too..." This time, when Iczer Two regained her composure, she returned the hug enthusiastically. "Nagisa..." she breathed, closing her eyes to hide her tears. Even Yajin noticed it. Nagisa walked with a deliberacy and purposefulness that she hadn't exhibited in years, and her eyes were as bright as an Earthrise when he met up with her in the control room. "Ano... What's this all about?" he asked nervously, remembering the last time he had seen such a change come over her. "What do you mean, Yajin?" she asked innocently, sliding behind her console and logging in. "I dunno... You seem... Different," he indicated, cautiously. Nagisa only smiled. "I guess... I am. I think... It's because I have a purpose again..." she indicated, turning to her console and pulling up her source code. Yajin blinked. "Ara... A purpose...? Kuso, the last time you said that..." he began, only to stop as Nagisa turned to face him assuringly. "It's nothing like that, Yajin-kun. I was worried at first too, but I'm sure now," she stated, confidently. "Feh... I'm worried now. I remember that Iczer from the big battle... But before that she was the one who took out Iczer Three, remember...? Are you absolutely sure we can trust her?" "Hai... I know we can," she assured, smiling even more brightly. "Well, for all our sakes, I hope you're right. She makes me nervous..." Yajin responded darkly, turning to walk back to his station. He only managed about two steps before a flash erupted in front of him. "Human, had I wished you harm... You'd already be dead," Iczer Two intoned, her cold, superior glare burning into Yajin's widening eyes. "Shimata...!" he blurted, scrambling around her quickly and making for his station. As he darted away watching her warily, Iczer Two smiled smugly. "Humans spook too easily..." she remarked condescendingly, turning her gaze back toward Nagisa. "That wasn't very nice, Iczer Two... Funny, but not very nice," Nagisa indicated, trying to hide her smirk. "What is the expression you humans use...? He had it coming...?" the Iczer remarked haughtily, flipping her deep red hair back over her shoulder. Nagisa couldn't help but laugh. Iczer Two remained at her side for the next couple of hours, stoically studying everything she did. Nagisa was slightly surprised at that, but assumed it was simply because she didn't have anything else to do. Whenever she would cast a glance toward the silent being, she noticed that she was always looking back at her, and her eyes would briefly soften. Just before lunch, Nagisa was surprised to hear a certain familiar voice call out to her from the main control room entry. Turning, she caught sight of Rob, Candy and one of their children at about the same time Iczer Two did. "You know these humans, Nagisa?" she asked, her eyes narrowing. "Hai. He's one of the others that fought with me. Both he and his wife... They flew the ship we were in," Nagisa smiled, waving back at him. "His... 'Wife'?" Iczer Two blinked, unfamiliar with the term. "Hai! His mate; the person he loves. They got married a year after the battle, and have two children now," Nagisa explained, to which Iczer Two only nodded thoughtfully. "Oi, Commander! We heard that you had a visitor...!" Rob smiled as he stepped up to them. "Hai! I do! This is Iczer Two... You never met her properly, but she was a big help during the final battle..." Nagisa announced proudly, a sentiment not lost on Iczer Two. "Then I guess we owe you one. So, what brings you back...? Something exciting going to happen?" he asked jovially, doing his best to disguise his own concerns. "You humans are a nervous species... I came back... Because it was my wish..." Iczer Two remarked absently, her attention drawn to the baby in Candy's arms. "Why is that human so small?" she asked, leaning closer to the baby. "It is very young, Iczer Two... Humans are born, not created, which means they start out as 'babies', like this one, and grow into 'adults' like the rest of us here. That is how we sustain our species," Nagisa supplied, smiling at the look the Iczer returned. "Hai. This is our second child... We have another, but he's much older, and in school right now. This one came a long as a bit of a surprise..." Candy confirmed, smiling as she looked down at the little girl's pudgy face. Iczer Two looked over at Candy as she spoke, then stepped up and inspected the baby closely. Tentatively, she reached out and brushed her gloved fingers over the child's head, at which the baby cooed happily. Iczer Two gasped and snatched her hand back, fear flashing across her face. "I meant it no harm...!" she stammered, stunning everyone. Nagisa smiled. "She was expressing happiness, Iczer Two... She likes you," she indicated, nodding for emphasis. "Likes... Me?" the Iczer blinked, looking back at the baby, who was now looking directly at her. Nagisa quickly looked over at Candy and nudged her head toward Iczer Two, hoping her friend would catch the hint. Thankfully, Candy figured it out. "Would you like to hold her, Iczer Two?" she offered pleasantly, extending the baby toward the flabbergasted being. "I... I... Am concerned I may damage it..." the Iczer stammered, eliciting shocked gapes from most everyone -- except Nagisa. "We will help you..." she assured, stepping up and moving the Iczer's arms into position. "All you have to remember is to keep her head supported. When babies are this young, they don't have the strength on their necks to hold their own head up..." she advised, gesturing for Candy to hand off the baby. As she gently placed the child in Iczer Two's arms, Candy watched the being's face to see how she was reacting, still worried about her baby despite Nagisa's encouraging looks. To everyone's surprise, Iczer Two's face instantly melted from uncertainty to a soft, actually loving look. It was the same expression one would expect from a human. The baby smiled happily and cooed its acceptance of the Iczer's embrace, which brought a small, content smile to the Iczer's visage. As the baby lay in her arms, she reached up and played with the child's flailing hands, and even Candy noticed how her eyes softened as she seemed to connect with the child. Nagisa actually shuddered as she felt a surge of new emotions wash over her, and gasped as she slowly figured out why. The simple act of holding the baby had awakened feelings and instincts that had lay dormant in Iczer Two's psyche, and were now finally moving into their rightful place in the Iczer's persona. She couldn't help but smile proudly. Abruptly, Iczer Two seemed to realize that something was different as well, and quickly hardened her face. "This does not bode well for survival of your species in Space... This weakness and vulnerability could easily be taken advantage of by an enemy," she asserted, handing the child back to Candy with a gentleness belying her bluster. "As well, this makes procreation off-planet difficult; it would ill require too much support to be practical," she added flatly, shaking her head condescendingly. "Oh, I'm sure we'll find a way, Iczer Two..." Nagisa smiled, dismissively. "For your sake... I hope so," the Iczer responded evenly, then, with a last glance at the still happy baby, vanished from sight. "She's a bit grumpy today..." Rob observed, scratching his head. "No... I think she just discovered that she's more 'human' than she thinks..." Nagisa countered, smiling and shaking her head. As Nagisa tried to get herself to concentrate on the code in front of her, she sighed and shook her head. For some reason, it wasn't making any sense to her at all, and the situation was starting to frustrate her to no end. It seemed as if all she could think about was the look on Iczer Two's face and the surge of emotion she had felt from the being as she held Candy's baby. Again, a smile crossed her face as she recalled it, and especially the Iczer's defiant attempt to belittle its impact. Just as she began to wonder why the Iczer was fighting it so hard, her wristcomm beeped insistently, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Hai?" she responded, raising the device to her face. "We're ready for the system test, Commander," a voice indicated, bringing a smile to Nagisa's face. "I'll be right there!" she replied excitedly, having been waiting anxiously for this particular event. The system in question was the propulsion unit for the fully-functional version of their Early-Warning System Satellite, which was the last major component of the unit that remained unfinished. Jumping down from her station, she almost ran to the testing lab, a facility separated from the base proper by a long passage. Several minutes later, she was swiping her ID through the reader and waiting none-too-patiently for the doors to open. When they finally did, she stepped through them and walked up to the checkpoint, waiting to be scanned. "Okay, Commander... You know the drill -- no interference-causing devices..." the tech at the station smirked, holding out his hand. Nagisa smirked back at him and removed her wristcomm, ID badge and necklace watch, then stepped into the scanner. She gasped as it beeped loudly. "You must have some other energy source on you, Commander..." the tech indicated, looking her over. "Nani? I... Oh! I do!" she gasped, holding up her wrist. On it was the bracelet that Iczer Two had given her. Rolling her eyes, she snapped it open and handed it over. "Gomen..." she apologized, then stepped through the scanner again. Clearing it without incident, she continued into the lab and met up with the Manager of the project, who was almost too excited to speak. "We're all ready to go, Commander! We've solved the heat problems, and the control systems are finally cooperating! We should be ready for a field test next week!" he indicated, handing her a chart. Nagisa looked it over coolly, knowing how many misfires this part of the project had already suffered. "Are you sure this time...? We can't afford another failure, or they'll force us to use the old engines..." she countered, flipping through the reports. The Manager frowned. "You know that won't work, Commander... They require too much fuel to make them practical," he stated, adamantly. "I know that, and you know that, but Earthside is pulling the strings. We're over budget already, and they're getting nervous down there," she replied, handing him back the charts. "Well, it looks good on paper... Are we ready to light it up?" she smiled, raising her eyebrows questioningly. "Very ready! We can initiate any time you're ready," the manager noted, turning to the console before him. "Then let's do it. I want to see this work," she indicated, nodding sharply. "Then we're underway..." he smiled back, touching a pad on the console. Abruptly, warnings began to sound and lights started to flash, warning everyone of the impending test. Once the panel flashed green for all-clear, he looked back at Nagisa and smiled proudly. "Would you like to do the honours?" he asked, pointing to a panel labeled 'Main Engine Start'. Nagisa grinned. "I would. Arigato," she responded with a quick bow, then reached over and touched the pad firmly. Before them, the outer blast doors opened onto empty space, followed by the engine stand rotating to direct its plume out of the opening. One by one, the fuel, control, and telemetry systems came to life, followed by the flashing of a countdown timer. Nagisa and the manager looked at each other nervously, crossing their fingers as the counter reached zero. The entire complex shook as the huge motor burst to life, blasting a plume out over the lunar surface that lit the sky like a sun. The Manager smiled at the sight, then turned his attention to the displays and readouts before him. "Wonderful! It's performing exactly as it should! Shall we increase power?" he asked, raising his voice a bit over the din. "Follow your program..." Nagisa nodded, watching the powerful engine through the inner blast shields. Just as the Manager nodded his confirmation, Nagisa smiled as she heard a familiar sound behind her. "Iczer Two!" she exclaimed, very pleased to see her back. "What is this device, Nagisa?" the Iczer responded, fixing her assessing gaze on the engine. "This is the new engine for our satellite... It supplies more power and runs longer on less fuel than its predecessors, meaning we can send it further out with a smaller fuel payload," Nagisa explained proudly, turning back toward it as she felt the results of the throttle-up. "How's it doing?" she redirected, turning toward the Manager again. "Great! All within spec! If it manages to maintain 75%, then we're in!" he responded happily, slipping her a wink. "Then give it a try!" Nagisa grinned, becoming more excited herself. Turning back toward Iczer Two, she smiled brightly. "We've been working on this for months, and had all kinds of problems... It was looking for a while like it might not ever work..." she explained, glancing back at the unit. "I am not surprised... It is rudimentary technology..." Iczer Two deadpanned, eyeing the device critically. Nagisa smirked reprovingly at her, then shook her head. "Okay... Here we go!" the Manager broke in, increasing the power to the desired range. The engine cooperated willingly, increasing its output smoothly. The vibration in the room seemed to settle as it topped out, eliciting an exchange of smiles between Nagisa and the Manager. "All it has to do for now is maintain this level for a few minutes, and we can call it a success! Then, we can move to the next phase!" the Manager smiled, returning his gaze to the panel. "Excellent! I'll be *glad* to tell Earthside about this!" Nagisa winked, only to be disturbed by a shrill warning beeper. "Damn! Its blown through the limiters! We'd better shut it down!!" the Manager abruptly shouted, frantically stabbing at panels all over the console. Unfortunately, he wasn't fast enough. The engine, now running out of control, shot up to 150% of its rated maximum, and began to vibrate too hard for its structure to absorb. As Nagisa watched in gape-mouthed horror, the unit began to break up in front of her. Just as she assimilated that occurrence, a powerful blast tore through the side of the unit, sending large chunks of the engine spinning toward the inner blast shields. Without taking the time to think about it, she spun in place and grabbed at both the Manager and Iczer Two, shoving them both to the floor just as the wall and console exploded from the impact of the fragments. Explosive decompression turned the room into a tornado of flying debris and components, until finally the outer blast doors slammed shut, and emergency oxygen began to flow back into the room. Coughing and gasping, Nagisa raised her head and looked at the Manager and Iczer Two, both of whom were on their backs under her sprawled form. "Are you... All right...?" she asked, looking back and forth between them worriedly. "Yeah... I think so..." the Manager gasped, raising his head to look back at her. Iczer Two's response was predictable. "Why did you protect me, Nagisa? Such an event would not harm me..." she stated critically, looking back at Nagisa questioningly. "Gomen... I forgot..." she smiled weakly, then her head suddenly dropped. "Oh, shit...!" the Manager blurted, suddenly noticing the gaping wound in the middle of Nagisa's back, and the array of shrapnel protruding from her body. "Medical!! Get Medical in here now!! The Commander's down!!" he shouted, pulling himself from under her and leaping to his feet. Iczer Two could only stare gape-mouthed at the body sprawled across hers, the sudden absence of Nagisa's presence in her mind stunning her immobile. "Nagisa..." she finally mouthed, reaching toward the woman's stilled face. As her fingers touched Nagisa's skin, she caught sight of the arm that lay just beside the woman's face -- and gasped as she discovered the absence of the bracelet. The Doctor sighed disgustedly through his mask. "That's it... Mark the time; 21:03. Good work, everyone; you tried your best," he droned, pulling down his mask. "Damn..." he added, turning away from the table. "Better notify Earthside..." he instructed, turning and walking dejectedly from the operating room. As the staff filed out of the room sadly, Nagisa's battered, abused body lay face-down on the table, still covered in the surgical dressings and connected to a few of the monitors. Abruptly, the silence of the room was disturbed by the sound of subspace opening, followed by the appearance of a mournful Iczer Two. Her face fixed in a sad frown, she strode up to the table and looked down at the remains of the only human she considered her friend. "Nagisa. It is not fitting for one such as you to throw your life away so foolishly... You wasted it protecting me; and yet, of us both, you have the greater right to live. It is your destiny to show others the value of life... As you have shown me," she stated reverently, a tear starting to form in her eye. "And since this is so, I will give you back that which you have as surely given me," she smiled, gently rolling Nagisa onto her back. Closing her eyes, Iczer Two lit up her hands and passed them slowly over Nagisa's body, then began to smile as she felt the spark of life return to it once more. Within moments, Nagisa's chest heaved up as she gasped a huge breath of air, then opened her eyes wide. Blinking, she looked wildly around the room, then finally spotted Iczer Two standing at her side. When she went to speak, however, she almost choked on the airway tube still in her mouth. Noticing that, Iczer Two grabbed it and pulled it carefully out, tossing it aside disdainfully. "You will live, Nagisa," she stated, a small smile parting her face. "Iczer Two... What? How...?" Nagisa croaked in response, her throat still irritated from the tube. "You died from your injuries, Nagisa... But I could not allow that to happen. I have given you back the life you gave to protect me. You did not deserve such a wasteful death," the Iczer explained, her face softening as she spoke. Nagisa blinked, then raised her head to look at herself. Her eyes widened as she saw the bloodied drapes, trays of surgical tools and monitors around her. Looking back up at Iczer Two, she shook her head and smiled appreciatively. "Thank you, Iczer Two... But why?" she asked, still somewhat confused. Iczer Two's eyes shimmered. "You saved my life, Nagisa... Not by your actions here, but by doing what I could not accomplish in all my time alone. You have shown me that there are things to live for beyond fighting... And what those things are. It is a debt that I can never completely repay... But it is also one that I will never forget," she smiled, reaching over to adjust Nagisa's matted hair. "Iczer Two, no...! You don't owe me anything... You're my friend," Nagisa protested, looking back at the Iczer evenly as she lifted herself to a sit. Iczer Two smiled knowingly. "And this is why you deserve to have your life back, Nagisa. I finally understand... Why my sisters think so highly of you. You are a truly special human..." she responded, leaning forward and kissing Nagisa fully on the lips. "And I also understand why you could have this effect on me. I love you... Just as they do," she smiled knowingly, then stepped back from the table and extended her hand with her typical flourish. A glow flashed briefly in it, then faded to reveal the bracelet Nagisa had left in the control room. "Now that the resistance and denial are gone from my heart, I know that my destiny is with my sisters and the Cthuwulf -- as it always has been. I must go now to rejoin them... But I will leave you this... As a reminder of my love -- and as a guarantee of protection for you in my absence," she stated, then snapped it over the bewildered Nagisa's wrist. "Fare you well, Nagisa... We Iczer owe everything we are... To you and your Grandmother," she smiled, then bowed deeply. Upon rising, she looked back at the now-gaping Nagisa with soft, emotion-filled eyes -- and vanished. "Iczer Two..." Nagisa gasped, reaching out toward the empty spot once occupied by the red-haired being. Drawing her hand back slowly, she brought it to her tightening chest and crossed it over the arm already there -- then broke out in tears. Yajin stood outside the door to Nagisa's quarters, literally leaning on the admit bellpad. He had been there for fifteen minutes, and was cursing to himself about wasting so much time. For the third straight day, Nagisa was late for her shift, and Yajin was becoming worried. Since Iczer Two had disappeared a week earlier, the woman hadn't been the same, seeming almost to have slipped into a depression. She was no longer the bright, enthusiastic, happy individual she was during Iczer Two's 'visit', and even the sparkle seemed to be missing from her eyes. She wouldn't talk to anyone, even him, and of late seemed like she was completely detached from what was happening around her. He had even seen her show up for work with reddened, puffy eyes, indicating she had likely been crying all night. Just like he knew she had the last time the Iczers left, despite her attempts to hide the fact. Finally, he looked down at his watch and growled his frustration, realizing he didn't have any more time to waste. Pounding the door with a resounding curse, he stormed off down the hallway, considering getting security to go in after her. Inside the darkened, disheveled room, Nagisa lay face-down on her bed, arms and legs splayed out and face buried in her pillow. She had heard Yajin outside her room, even with having deactivated her admit bell. That however, didn't matter. Nothing mattered to her any longer, now that the she was sure the Iczers had said their final farewells. Over the past few days, she had come to understand why Iczer Two had said what she had at their parting. It was because she had been the last Iczer Nagisa herself would likely ever see. It was that realization that had convinced Nagisa that she no longer had a purpose. Without the Iczers around, she felt lonely, incomplete, and desperately, painfully empty. She loved the Iczers, and had bonded with them in ways nobody but herself would ever be able to understand. She had given them so much of herself that with them now gone, there was simply nothing else left. For her or anyone else. Drawing a long, deep sigh, Nagisa turned her head slowly and looked at the bracelet adorning her arm, and heard Iczer Two's words run through her tortured brain. "But I will leave you this... As a reminder of my love -- and as a guarantee of protection for you in my absence," she had said, just before zapping out of Nagisa's life... Again. Sniffing, Nagisa rolled herself into a sitting position, bringing her arm over so she could get a better look at the shiny, metallic band. Even as her eyes found it again, her chest began to tighten and her eyes filled with tears. Suddenly, she knew what she had to do. Raising her arm to her chest, she clenched her hand into the familiar fist, closed her eyes -- and fired. Blackness. Endless, formless, empty blackness. It surrounded her, it pervaded her, and yet... It comforted her. Nagisa looked around herself curiously, noting that no matter where she turned, the scene before her did not change. It was simply black. Raising a hand to her chin, she wondered if she was in some sort of personal purgatory, reserved for those who took their own lives. A chill of fear ran her spine. This was not what she wanted. As she tried to figure out what was happening to her, she noticed the blackness beginning to change ever so slowly, gradually becoming a dull gray, and finally, a brighter, wispy gray that actually seemed warm and inviting. Abruptly, she gasped as she felt a presence behind her. Turning, she yelped out loud as she came face to face with... "Iczer One!" she exclaimed, leaping up to wrap a grateful hug around the receptive Iczer. "Greetings, Nagisa... I have missed you," Iczer One smiled, upon stepping back from the hug. Before Nagisa could respond, she noticed a second figure she didn't recognize standing a short distance behind them. "Iczer One...? Who is that?" she asked, uncertain of how to take the elegant, green-haired woman. Iczer One smiled. "Nagisa... Please allow me to present Sister Gray; she is the leader of the Cthuwulf, and the one who created me," she smiled, gesturing for Sister Gray to approach. Nagisa immediately bowed respectfully. "Hajimemashite, Gray-sama," she greeted, cautiously. "We and the entire Cthuwulf race owe you a great debt, Nagisa of Earth... It is I who should bow to you," Sister Gray smiled, immediately bowing. Nagisa flushed embarrassedly, then shook her head. "Iya... I didn't do anything special..." she sputtered, uncomfortably. "Oh, but you did. Because of you, the Iczers are at last together, and may act as one to protect the Cthuwulf in their quest for a new world, and rid the Universe of the last of Big Gold's evil spawn. You have much to be proud of," Sister Gray indicated, insistently. "And you gave Iczer Two an appreciation of life and love... And what it means to place another before yourself. I had not thought that possible, given that she was created out of Big Gold's desire to kill me, and she knew that as her only purpose for existing. But without even realizing it, you planted the seeds for her to grow beyond her hate-filled conception," Iczer One supplied, smiling at the confused look Nagisa returned. "Do you recall how you were able to reach Atlas? The same thing happened to Iczer Two. She was reincarnated using the Iczerio; and it had been exposed to you through Iczer Three and Iczer Robo. Because of that, you were already a part of both of them..." she elaborated, smiling knowingly. "Iczer Two is grateful beyond words... As are we all," Iczer One added, smiling. Nagisa looked back at the two figures incredulously, about to reiterate her objection, but instead suddenly collapsed to her knees in tears. Iczer One and Sister Gray simply looked at each other and exchanged knowing smiles. Sister Gray then stepped over and knelt beside the sobbing Nagisa, resting a hand on her shuddering shoulder. "Why do you cry, Nagisa? You should be pleased; you have accomplished more than we could ever have hoped," she asked gently, glancing back at Iczer One briefly. "I know... And I am..." Nagisa sobbed, making no effort to control her tears. "But that means... I'll never see any of them again! And I can't live like that any more... I love them; I'm part of them! They're all I am...! Without them... I might as well be dead!" she cried, covering her face with her hands and crying even harder. Sister Gray listened carefully, then turned to Iczer One and smiled. Iczer One nodded, then stepped in closer. "Nagisa... You do not need to live without us," she began, at which Nagisa instantly stopped crying and snapped her head up. "Nani?" she blurted, wiping at her face. "Hai. We were watching you carefully, fearing that after being so closely tied to all of us, you may have ended up feeling as you do. When you tried to take your life, we 'stepped in' and brought you here," Iczer One continued, then handed off to Sister Gray. "That is true, Nagisa. We could not simply take you from your Earthly life, as you are considered a hero and savior by your own people. But, as you have now 'indicated' that you no longer wish to remain there, we are free to offer you the chance... To come with us," she smiled, to which Iczer One nodded her enthusiastic agreement. Nagisa was dumbstruck. Looking back and forth between the Iczer and Sister Gray, she finally managed to get her gaping jaw to function. "I... Would be honoured..." she breathed, a wide smile spreading across her tear-streaked face. "Then so be it..." Sister Gray smiled, rising and helping Nagisa to her feet. As Nagisa rose, she felt something strange, and looked down to see that her pajamas were gone, replaced by a skirt-set like her Grandmother had once worn. She broke out in a wide, brilliant smile. "Thank you... This... Is my dream come true..." she sniffed, stepping up and hugging Sister Gray happily. "No, Nagisa... Having all of us; yourself, the Iczers and the Cthuwulf together at last is my dream -- and it is you who has made it possible. I am now certain that the Cthuwulf will survive... Survive and flourish as never before," Sister Gray corrected, hugging Nagisa back tightly. When Nagisa finally stepped back from the embrace, she was stunned to see that she was standing in an ornately-decorated room, her back to a large, sweeping couch, beside which stood a smiling Iczer Two. Before she could even react, an excited, familiar voice called out from beside her. "NAGISAAA!!" it shouted out, followed by a full-body tackle that flattened the stunned Nagisa back onto the couch. "Iczer Three!!" Nagisa squealed, hugging the stuffing out of the giggling young Iczer. Iczer One, Iczer Two and Sister Gray could only laugh. ==================================================================== END - Of Destiny and Purpose An Iczer Fanfic By Coutuva Comments Welcomed, Flames Extinguished! coutuva@vecdev.com