Band 3

"Well," Sengoku leered at Benten, "you could always let me fuck you onstage."
      A well aimed plate of maki zushi hit him in the face, followed by a chocolate éclair. Goggles sighed and dragged himself to his feet, ready to grab Sengoku if he showed signs of attacking the bassist - which might not happen, he'd been practising being unpredictable just recently. Well, more than usually unpredictable, anyway.
      On this occasion he caught the prawn, rice and nori-covered éclair as it dropped from his face - and took a large bite, chewing noisily with his mouth open and a grin on his face.
      Benten turned a delicate shade of green and covered his unpainted mouth with his hand.
      "You are vile."
      "Yeah, I know. It's a talent..."
      Goggles sat back down and grabbed another beer, then eyed Benten appraisingly. The albino had only roused half an hour ago, and was still waking up, otherwise his attack on the singer might have been more physical. And damaging. He looked good though, the black silk yukata sliding off one creamy shoulder and his hair all tousled like that...
      "Yeah, OK, so, while that'd definitely get the audience going, it'd probably get us banned as well. Or charged with public indecency or somethin'."
      "Not if it was simulated."
      "Could still be trouble. And d'you think you could stick to pretendin'?"
      Sengoku smirked broadly at the outraged albino and winked.
      "Oh, that'd be so hard..."
      Benten lifted another éclair, and Sengoku raised his hands ready to deflect the edible missile, but the bassist simply took a small bite and chewed delicately, tongue daintily licking at the cream on his lips, watching the singer from under soft white strands of hair, crimson eyes gleaming. Sengoku swallowed and hastily took a slurp of his own beer.
      "Yeah, well, anyway... So, new gimmick. Any sensible ideas?"
      There was a pensive silence. And indeed, Goggles admitted to himself, it was a tricky question. They'd been performing more or less constantly for the last three years, and coming up with something they hadn't already done was proving difficult. Well, something legal, anyway.
      Sengoku growled and rose to pace back and forth across the floor before the huge picture window, frowning in thought. Benten pulled his legs under him and rested an elbow on the back of the sofa, sipping at a large mug of hazelnut coffee and watching the singer...
      "Animals."
      Sengoku and Goggles turned to stare at him. "Animals?"
      "Animals."
      "There's laws against that..."
      Benten gave him a pitying look.
      "Not real animals, moron. Us, dressed as animals."
      "And where the fuck did that fucking lame idea come from?"
      The bassist inclined his head, pale cream-coloured lips quirking in a smirk.
      "Watching you pace like a caged... something. Pig, maybe."
      Sengoku launched himself at the albino: Goggles just managed to leap out of the way before sofa, singer and bassist tumbled backwards in a tangle of arms, legs and obscenely-shaped cushions. Sengoku had straddled the struggling Benten's hips and was about to... either kiss him or thump him, it wasn't easy to tell from Goggles' current perspective... when Hasegawa's face appeared on the screen. He eyed the tableau for a moment, then snorted loudly.
      "Can't you keep those antics for the bedroom? Or the stage?"
      Sengoku grinned, patted Benten's cheek, then pulled himself to his feet, hauling the dishevelled albino with him. Hasegawa closed his eyes with a long-suffering sigh.
      "Benten, pleasant as the view is, please cover yourself."
      The bassist stood mutinously for a moment, the yukata loosely hanging from its tie-belt, the top pulled down to his elbows, and the whole open down the front, revealing a glimpse of silky white hair and semi-erect flesh at his groin. Then he sighed and dragged the edges together, sliding the top back into place.
      "What do you want?"
      "Meeting. In three hours time. I'll send a car."
      "Meeting? What sort of a meeting?"
      Hasegawa eyed the singer sardonically.
      "You'll find out later. Be ready."
      The screen switched back to the ancient Western Goggles had been watching before the interruption, and the drummer swore quietly - he'd missed the showdown. He understood why Hasegawa had arranged to hijack the entertainment channel signal whenever he wanted their attention - if he tried the usual vid-con console he'd never get an answer - but it was a fucking nuisance when there was something on they wanted to see.
      "This had better be good..."
      "Yeah, well, anything to relieve the boredom." Sengoku smirked at Benten. "Better start getting ready, honey-blossom. You've only got three hours..."

Sengoku had struggled into his usual black leather trousers and vest, topped by his trademark red leather coat. Goggles grinned and prodded the singer's stomach as Sengoku swore quietly under his breath.
      "Getting' porky. You need some exercise... Speakin' of which, what's happened to Helena and Shoko? Not seen 'em for a while."
      Sengoku scowled.
      "Been busy."
      "Found themselves someone else, have they?"
      The singer smirked and preened himself.
      "Like there could be any competition..."
      Shaking his head sadly, Goggles checked the time and bellowed,
      "Benten! Hurry the fuck up! Car'll be here in five."
      The door to the bassist's room slid open. Sengoku's jaw dropped. Goggles stared.
      "What the fuck...?"
      Ignoring them both, Benten slid a pair of wraparound shades over his eyes, pulled a black leather jacket over the black silk vest and loped to the door, glancing back over his shoulder.
      "Well? Are you coming?"
      Sengoku blinked.
      "You feeling OK?"
      "Why do you ask?"
      "You look... ordinary. You'll disappoint your fans."
      Benten raised a fine eyebrow.
      "My admirers admire me for who I am, not what I look like."
      Goggles chuckled.
      "Yeah, right. You just keep tellin' yourself that..."
      Benten tossed his head and stalked out of the door, heading for the lift. Goggles shook his head - although, he had to admit, the skin-tight black trousers and low heeled, side-buckled knee boots looked good on the albino.

The usual gaggle of fans was waiting in the lobby, screaming and waving posters, album covers and various body parts at the band: they paused for a moment or two to sign autographs, then made a dash for the 'car pulling up outside the hotel. Inside was Hasegawa himself, accompanied as always by Okyo: Sengoku would swear her... outfits... were getting shorter and smaller every time they met. She smirked at him and stuck out her tongue, and he noted that she'd had two more studs put in since last time. Might be interesting to give those a try...
      Hasegawa stared at Benten, then frowned.
      "You're not turning normal on me, are you?"
      The bassist glowered at him for a moment, then deliberately turned his head to stare out of the window. Hasegawa gazed enquiringly at Goggles, who shrugged.
      "Don' ask me. I jus' live there."
      The manager shook his head, and they travelled in a strained silence - to Dove Entertainment headquarters. Sengoku glared suspiciously at Hasegawa as the car pulled smoothly down into the underground parking area.
      "What're they cooking up this time? Not another fucking battle of the bands?"
      "Oh no. This is something quite different."
      "What?"
      Hasegawa closed his eyes in what could have been despair.
      "I'll let them tell you themselves. But I want you to know, I argued against it."
      With mutual feelings of descending doom, the group exited the car and made their way two hundred storeys up to William Monglane's office...

"Ah, good. You're all here. Now we can make a start." Monglane gestured to the capacious chairs and sofas arranged around the low table in the middle of the luxurious room. "Please, be seated. Help yourselves to drinks."
      Goggles brightened fractionally, but the drinks were all non-alcoholic: he'd have to grit his teeth and endure this farce sober. He sighed and smirked mirthlessly at Gina, who was sitting with her 'girls' on one of the vast leather sofas.
      "You know what this is all about?"
      She nodded, smiling pleasantly, but Goggles was fairly certain she was angry.
      "Yes, unfortunately. You?"
      "Not yet." He sat heavily in a large armchair and scowled at Oliver Pagan. "What crap is this?"
      Sengoku was smirking teasingly at the members of Aisu Kurimu. Sakura was grinning back, blushing lightly and giggling. Chikako smiled at Benten as the bassist draped himself elegantly on the adjacent sofa.
      "Good to see you again, Benten-san."
      "And you, Chikako-chan. Do you know what this is about?"
      "No - but I think we might be about to find out..."
      Monglane and Pagan had both risen to their feet. The rest fell silent. Well, almost silent - Sakura was still giggling quietly, and Emi was, as usual, fidgeting loudly. The two C.E.O.s ignored them.
      "As you know," Oliver Pagan began without preamble, "The first joint album, Orchids, was a real success..."
      "We're not doin' another one, are we?" Goggles groaned, grimacing. Monglane raised an elegant eyebrow.
      "Not at the present time, dear boy. Although we won't rule it out completely. No, this is something a little different. Our girls' first foray into the movie business - Aisu-Kurimu Against the Aliens - was an enormous success." He smiled. It was, thought Goggles with apprehension, a rather predatory smile. "We're planning to make a sequel - and we want you to star in it."
      There was a half-startled, half-horrified silence from both bands' members, then:
      "We ain't actors!" Goggles had leapt to his feet first. Pagan shrugged.
      "Who cares? You're only there for the fans to drool over. And to make money, of course. Lots of money."
      "We appreciate your honesty." Benten tucked his legs under him - which had the effect of pulling the vest out of the waistband to reveal a lean hip and the faintest suggestion of snowy white hair at the bassist's groin. Sengoku was momentarily distracted: those trousers really were rather low cut... "But really, we are musicians. And while it is enjoyable working with Aisu-Kurimu, Rikiya is quite right - we aren't actors. Nor have we ever wanted to be."
      "Hold on a minute." Sengoku was frowning. "What's this film going to be about?"
      The other two band members stared at him in disbelief.
      "You aren't seriously considering this... ridiculous idea, surely?"
      Sengoku smirked at the albino.
      "Well, why not? Assuming the plot's a good one, of course. I mean, we're all pretty enough." He paused and frowned at Goggles. "OK, maybe striking's a better word for it. And the exposure won't do us any harm."
      The drummer was staring at him, mouth hanging open.
      "You... what? You wanna be involved in this fuckin' lunacy?"
      Sengoku smirked at Gina, who was glowering at Hasegawa.
      "Oh yeah..."

Half an hour later Hasegawa breathed a silent sigh of relief. Contrary to his expectations Benten had not thrown a tantrum: in fact, after it being pointed out that the film was to feature a special Criminal Intent/Aisu Kurimu soundtrack, and he and Chikako would be writing it, the albino seemed to be coming round to the idea. Which left Goggles disgruntled, but since the big man preferred an easy life, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that if Sengoku and Benten agreed to the project, the drummer would fall into line.
      Gina was also beginning to look interested rather than angry and apprehensive. That the girls were eager and excited went without saying.
      But that was only the first hurdle.
      "The Prince Must Die? What sort of a title is that?"
      Oliver Pagan smirked at Goggles.
      "A working one."
      "And who's playin' the prince?"
      "Ah. That'll be Sengoku."
      The singer grinned broadly and sprawled on the sofa, waving a hand negligently at Benten and Goggles.
      "Sounds good to me! That makes you two my minions."
      Benten abruptly stood, folding his arms over his chest and glowering at the singer.
      "Under no circumstances."
      "Aww, g'wan. You've always wanted to serve under me..."
      Pagan and Monglane both winced at the sound of the impact of Benten's hand on Sengoku's face: the albino could certainly move fast when he wanted. Monglane raised his hands placatingly.
      "You'll all have equal billing and equal screen time, of course."
      Benten snarled something under his breath, then reluctantly sat back down.
      "I'd expect nothing less... What is this film about? Not," he added as Pagan relaxed and grinned at Monglane, "that I have agreed to it, yet."
      "Of course not, my sweet." Monglane placed a large folder bulging with notes, snippets of dialogue, costume ideas and various other bits and pieces on the table, gesturing for everyone to take a look. "The basic plot is quite simple. Aisu-Kurimu will resume their roles from the first film: you three will play aliens who arrive on earth, trying to escape from the hordes of blood-sucking alien squid who have forced you into exile. Sengoku will play the alien prince, Goggles his bodyguard, Benten his pilot and advisor."
      The albino waved a piece of paper at the C.E.O., holding it gingerly between long crimson nails.
      "And these are supposed to be our costumes?"
      "These are preliminary sketches, yes."
      Goggles and Sengoku both snatched for the paper - and burst out laughing. Monglane looked most put out.
      "I'll have you know we've had the most prestigious fashionistas working on those designs!"
      "Yeah right..." Goggles laid the picture face up on the table: Rei made a grab for it, eyes widening as the other band members jostled closer to take a look. Sakura squealed.
      "OOOOH! You'll look gorgeous!"
      The... 'costumes'... were leather, with a lot of straps and buckles. Mostly useless straps and buckles, as far as Gina could see. There wasn't an awful lot of coverage to the outfits, either.
      "Might as well call it Bondage Slaves from Outer Space and have fuckin' done with it." growled Goggles. There was an abrupt, pregnant silence, then Monglane sighed and shook his head.
      "Alas, delicious as the idea may be, we need to suggest wholesomeness and romance since our girls are also starring."
      As Sengoku spluttered, horrified, Benten inclined his head.
      "What are their rôles to be?"
      "A reprise of the first film."
      The bassist frowned irritably.
      "So you have said. But not all of us have seen the first film."
      "Ah, of course." Monglane turned to his PA. "Madlen, please arrange a private showing for Criminal Intent. I'm sure Juzo here will be able to tell you when they will be free."
      'Juzo' snarled silently behind Monglane's back, then nodded wearily at the PA, who smirked and blew him a kiss. Monglane beamed brightly at the band members.
      "Fundamentally, the girls are superheroes in the classic vein: mild-mannered workers by day, amateur band by night, valiant defenders of the planet when needed."
      Benten folded his arms, glaring at Monglane.
      "And where do we fit in?"
      "In brief, the girls rescue you from the alien squids, and together you defeat the blood-suckers."
      Sengoku raised an eyebrow, expression suddenly stubborn.
      "Make more sense if we rescue them."
      Monglane glanced at Pagan, who shook his head very slightly, and the effete blond sighed.
      "Well, nothing is absolute as yet. I'm sure we can find a mutually agreeable compromise."
      The singer frowned.
      "How much d'we get paid for this crap?"
      Pagan glanced at Hasegawa.
      "That's still in negotiation. But it'll be generous."
      "It had better be!"
      "Oh, you don't need to worry about that, dear boy." Monglane flipped back his hair with a graceful hand. "And the publicity will be tremendous. We've been monitoring the fansites and know for a fact that the Aisu-Kurimu admirers are just dying to see their heroes in another film. And your own fans have expressed a deep desire to have you all in some form that they can watch and rewatch." He flung his head back, arms wide. "I foresee that the project will be a truly global success!" he paused for a moment, then eyed them, his expression sly. "It should boost your disc sales too."
      There was a pensive silence. Then Benten relaxed back in his seat.
      "I will not be involved in anything of less than first class quality."
      "Oh no, sweetie, of course not! We'd never ask you to compromise your artistic integrity. We've already approached Spielvan, the famous director, and have several top scriptwriters just waiting for our OK. I assure you, you'll have nothing but the best."
      "Then I will consider it."
      "Good, good..." Monglane glanced at Pagan. "Shall we leave them to discuss it?"
      Pagan eyed the smouldering Hasegawa and nodded.
      "Yeah. I think that might be the best idea right now."

"How much did you have to do with this... idiocy?"
      Gina had shifted to sit near enough to Hasegawa for him to benefit from the full force of her quiet but forceful animosity while still retaining a measure of personal space. Hasegawa glanced briefly at Criminal Intent in conversation with Aisu-Kurimu and snorted quietly.
      "I told them I thought it was the worst idea they'd ever had."
      Gina shook her head, mock-pityingly.
      "Foolish, Juzo, very foolish. You should know by now that those two would simply take that as a challenge." She drummed beautifully-manicured fingertips on the arm of the sofa and frowned to herself. "So, it's now a matter of damage limitation. We should insist on reading the scripts before our charges ever get their paws on them - and also insist on any changes we see fit."
      "Best we can do under the circumstances." Hasegawa growled reluctantly. "I assume you've been issued the same directive we have?"
      "That refusal constitutes a breach of contract? Of course." She sighed. "Fortunately I won't even have to mention it. My girls loved making the first film and quite obviously can't wait to work with your boys again."
      "Fuck it."
      "Quite, my dear, but the Powers that Be have spoken, and thus it must be so." She smiled condescendingly. "And of course, we will have to be on hand to act as chaperones."
      "... oh fucking hell..."

Chikako and Benten were bent over an abbreviated outline of the plot as it currently stood, engrossed in musical considerations.
      "They used other composers in the first film - they said we didn't have enough 'presence' to do the whole soundtrack." Chikako sighed. "They let us sing though. But for this one... well, your sound is 'bigger' than ours. I think they might let us have much more influence."
      Benten was frowning pensively. From what he could see, the film looked set to be what used to be referred to as B movie crap. A comic monster sci-fi romantic musical? Give me strength!
      And yet - his professional pride was tickled. It would be a real challenge turning this distinctly underwhelming material into something half-way decent. And then there was Chikako, sitting beside him gazing up so earnestly. Working with her on Orchids - both the song and the album - had been very satisfying, and something he would not be averse to repeating.
      And as far as he could see, the role of the prince's advisor would be... interesting. They all assumed roles onstage, and in interviews, after all: surely acting in a film wouldn't be that much different?
      "It would be useful to see the first film. I would then have more of an idea as to what is desired."
      Chikako grinned.
      "We could probably do that now. There's a private theatre several floors down."
      Benten gestured to Hasegawa...

Madlen had organised a variety of drinks - alcoholic as well, this time - and snacks in the small discussion room next door to the theatre. It was probably just as well he did so. On being ushered into the side room, a pale and shaking Goggles grabbed a beer, drained it almost in one draught, then took another, gulping it a little more slowly. His voice was rather less gritty than normal.
      "That... that was..."
      Hasegawa grabbed his forearm and hissed, "Don't say it."
      "But..."
      "You want to keep your contract?"
      Goggles stared at him in horror, but perhaps luckily Gina distracted him before he could take any action.
      "I know it's hardly high-brow, Goggles - but it was very popular. And very high grossing."
      "It sure as fuck was gross." he growled quietly. Gina reached up and patted his shoulder.
      "Ah, but, you see, we're hoping a little manly action will improve the quality, widen its appeal."
      He rubbed a hand defeatedly over his face, then glanced hopefully at Benten. The albino had threatened to walk out of the film at one point: if he now refused to have anything to do with the project they'd all escape. But to his horror he saw the bassist deep in conversation with the little song-writer. Benten didn't look discouraged...

Hasegawa actually risked venturing into the band's suite that evening, accompanied by Okyo as usual. Sengoku didn't even wait for them to be seated before beginning his rant.
      Hasegawa bore it with his usual stolid calm, and at the end, pointed out mildly,
      "But you still agreed to do it."
      "Not the fuckin' point! This is the third fucking time you've set us up like this."
      "And have you suffered because of it?"
      "No, but..."
      "Then what's the problem?"
      Benten glowered at him.
      "Occasionally, being allowed the illusion that we have some control over our lives would be much appreciated."
      Hasegawa sighed and rubbed his forehead.
      "I don't have any choice in the matter either. As I said, I argued against it."
      Which shut Sengoku up for five minutes. He growled and tossed a half-full bottle of hugely-expensive malt whiskey to the manager: Hasegawa accepted the peace offering for what it was and took a hefty swallow from the bottle - no point in asking for a glass unless he was prepared to wash it up himself. Or have Okyo do it, but she had dissuaded everyone from asking such a domestic thing of her by continually managing to 'drop' and smash every glass she'd been given to clean...
      "Anyway," Hasegawa twisted the top back onto the bottle and handed it back to Sengoku, "We're stuck with it, so let's make the best we can of it, OK?"
      A chorus of grumbled 'yeses' had him smiling grimly.
      "That's what I like to hear - you rising to the challenge." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Now, a few details for you. Filming is scheduled to start in a months' time, and we're going to be on location for some of it."
      Benten leaned forwards slightly.
      "Oh? Where?"
      "I don't know yet - it's still being discussed. The plot calls for a jungle - where you lot crashland - and an aquatic location, where you'll battle the squids." He closed his eyes with a shudder. "Squids. Vampire squids. Who the hell came up with that?"
      Okyo giggled and winked at Sengoku, who raised an eyebrow and indicated his lap. She glanced at her boss, then shrugged and rose.
      "Be back in a minute..." Grabbing the singer's hand she dragged him to the main bathroom. Hasegawa shook his head in despair, then turned back to Goggles and Benten.
      "So - you two happy with things? As happy as you can be, I mean."
      Benten curled up on the sofa, legs tucked under him, and regarded their manager sardonically.
      "I trust you realise the only reason I'm agreeing to this is because musically, it represents quite a challenge."
      Yeah right, thought Hasegawa sourly, and the fact that you'll be kicked out of the band if you don't agree has nothing to do with it... He nodded.
      "I anticipate you all bringing your skills to bear. This is a chance to break into a new medium. The rewards could be considerable."
      Goggles growled irritably, and reached for another beer. Hasegawa relaxed a little, sitting back and crossing long legs.
      "It's been suggested you take acting lessons."
      "Oh fuckin' great..."
      "It's not my suggestion. It might be useful, though." He glanced over his shoulder as Okyo - grinning and licking her lips - and a beaming Sengoku exited the bathroom. "After all, we've cancelled everything else until filming starts."
      Sengoku flopped back down and rolled his eyes.
      "Been a while since we had a break."
      Benten eyed him with disgust.
      "Acting lessons. Not a break."
      "Ah fuck... surely we don't need them?"
      "Apparently so."
      Sengoku stretched, grumbling.
      "Eh well. At least we get to do fun stuff..." He glared at Hasegawa, who was shaking his head. "What?"
      "You're too valuable to do your own stunts - except for the safe ones. You'll have stunt doubles for the dangerous parts."
      "So we don't even get to have fun? Fuck that!"
      "Oh, there'll be plenty of fun to be had..."

The coach threw his hands in the air in despair and stormed off the set. Sengoku stared after him, then glanced at his fellow 'actors' and shrugged.
      "What'd I do?"
      Benten sighed, rubbed a hand gingerly over his eyes, trying not to smudge the elaborate makeup, and tried once again to get comfortable in the... outfit he wore for this scene. And far too many others as far as he was concerned.
      "You could at least try to do as directed. The rest of us are hungry."
      Goggles growled. So did his stomach.
      "Yeah. Just do what he says. Then we can take a break."
      It was an unexpected side-effect of the whole project, and something they really should have foreseen - namely, that Sengoku didn't take orders from anyone, and certainly not the willowy, expressive young man the director had brought in to try to teach them how to act, since the previous two months' lessons had had very little result. Well, for Sengoku, anyway: Benten and Goggles had taken to the whole thing with aplomb. But not the singer, oh no. The ancient phrase 'hamming it up' described his interpretation of the art quite nicely...
      Benten flopped gracefully down into the black leather chair that was supposed to be his seat at the navigator console on the spacecraft in which they'd fled into exile, leaning back against the deeply padded back and closing his eyes as the assistant director ranted once more at Sengoku.
      Gods it was hot! The interior set wasn't big, and the lights threw out a ludicrous amount of heat, and while Sengoku was arsing around Benten had to sit in this capacious chair, his skin sticking to the leather... And there was a lot of skin to stick, he thought morosely, shifting vainly to try to find a more comfortable position. Who'd designed this outfit, anyway? He glanced down at himself, scowling at the strapped and buckled cutaway sides of the white leather leggings with their incorporated open-toed high-heeled footwear. As if any serious pilot would wear something like this! And as for the top half... he was permanently worried that the long jewelled silver chains - attached to his nipple rings, hanging down almost to his waist then looping up to his gem-studded and buckled white leather collar - were going to catch in something and rip the rings out.
      It didn't help that Sengoku had taken to tugging on them whenever Benten had his hands full.
      Probably worst of all was the fact that while the trousers covered his groin in the front, at the back was little more than a thin strip of leather attached to the waistband, leaving his buttocks bare.
      Sengoku had also taken to stroking his backside when he was standing and trying to deliver his lines. At least he'd been - mostly - able to put a stop to that, by stepping back hard on the singer's foot, the high thin heel of his footwear as it crunched down on Sengoku's instep rousing a most satisfying yelp.
      They'd woven fluffy blood-red feathers into his hair, too, under the pretext that he was supposed to be evolved from some sort of bird creature. He supposed he should be grateful they hadn't expected him to wear a beak.
      A heavy hand on his shoulder had him looking up into Goggles' sweating face. The big man was, if anything, worse off than his fellow band-members: as the Prince's bodyguard they had him wearing elaborately strapped and buckled black leather and metal armour - light and flexible, yes, but still unbearably hot under the lights. His mohican had been dyed black for the duration, too, which made him look... odd - they were all used to his crest being that bright orange-red. And his face and head had been made up with fake scars matching those across what had once been his eyes, which gave him a definitely fearsome - if intriguing - appearance.
      "You OK?"
      Benten nodded wearily, setting his long, glittering earrings swinging.
      "A little hot. I will be glad when we can take a break."
      Goggles grunted and glared in Sengoku's direction.
      "Yeah. When fuck-face over there has fuckin' done..."
      But apparently the director had finally finished what he wanted to say to Sengoku, and they were all ushered from the set and into the small restaurant that had been commandeered for the exclusive use of the cast and crew while filming.
      Benten winced as he seated himself: the metal chair was cold to the heated skin of his buttocks. Sengoku smirked.
      "Are we having fun yet?"
      Goggles slapped him across the back of the head.
      "Will you get your fuckin' act together? You might think this fucking around is fun. We don't."
      "Now is that any way to speak to your prince?"
      Benten slammed down the beaker of chilled fruit juice he'd been sipping and glowered at the singer.
      "You are not a prince. The way things are going, you can barely be called a colleague, much less a friend."
      Sengoku's jaw dropped.
      "What the fuck...? What's bitten you?"
      Benten regarded him icily.
      "We are here to make a film. To expand our careers, rise to the challenge of a new medium. We are not here to pander to your ego. Unless you start acting as a team member, I will no longer perform with you." He smiled tightly. "No matter how much you believe it, you are not irreplaceable."
      The singer glowered sulkily.
      "That goes both ways."
      "Yes it does. However, I have already made arrangements for my welfare if or when Criminal Intent disbands - unlike you."
      Sengoku muttered something that sounded like "you don't know my fuckin' business" - then slumped in his seat, pouting.
      "OK. Alright. I'll behave."
      "Good." Goggles growled, glaring at the singer. "Then I won't have to hit you. Though I'm sure Makeup could find somethin' to cover the bruises..."

After that, the first day of shooting went much more smoothly, and in the evening they all gathered together to watch the 'rushes', as Jigson, the assistant director, called them in the ancient arcane tongue of moviedom.
      On the screen, the interior of the spacecraft looked quite convincing, small and a little cramped, but nevertheless luxurious, and all three of them looked respectably alien without appearing garish or phoney. Chikako, who was curled up in the chair beside Benten's, gazed at the bassist with new respect, murmuring, "You look amazing!"
      Goggles overheard, and grinned. Benten was staring at himself on the screen, face almost expressionless, but his body had relaxed a little after the first ten seconds.
      "I... wasn't aware of how thin I look."
      Chikako touched his hand briefly.
      "Not thin, Benten-san. Well, not unhealthily thin, anyway. Slender. You really look like a bird alien."
      It was true, too, thought Goggles. Lithe, graceful, shimmering white and red, the albino was a subtle exotic presence onscreen. Unlike himself, who looked more like a granite slab standing behind the prince.
      Speaking of whom...
      They'd dressed Sengoku in red - tight red leather that defined his muscular chest and shoulders and the leanness of his hips and legs. The costume was essentially sleeveless, but red leather straps ran the length of his arms, smaller straps around bicep, forearm and wrist holding them in place. Completely useless, but it looked - kinky. Goggles smirked. Sakura was entranced...
      Rather to everyone's surprise, the dialogue sounded convincing. Well, reasonably convincing.

"Highness, we have sustained too much damage. I cannot maintain control for very much longer. We must land."
      The prince leaned forward, frowning.
      "We're in uncharted space, aren't we? Where is there to land?"
      A moment's silence, then long, elegant fingers tipped with crimson talons flitted across a brightly-lit control panel. The navigator pointed to the main viewscreen.
      "There. A small world, but able to support life."
      "Where is the enemy fleet? Can they track us?"
      "I believe I can... obscure our subspace directional trace. It may hold them off - for a while, at least."
      "Then we must do it." A small, trusting smile. "We are in your hands, Benten."
      The small craft veered towards the blue and green world, screaming down towards the sheen of atmosphere...

A minute's worth of film. And it had taken all day to film. Goggles sighed. The film was supposed to be three hours long. At that rate, they'd still be here next year...
      But the assistant director was pleased. He congratulated them all, expressed his wish that the rest of the filming would be as successful, then admonished them to get an early night, as they started filming again at six am...
      Sengoku burst out laughing at the horrified expression on Benten's face.
      "Better get to bed now, honey-blossom. Don't want you looking all droopy in the morning!"
      With a muttered curse, the albino rose gracefully to his feet and stalked out of the room. Goggles smirked at the singer.
      "We'd all better. You aren't a pretty sight when you're tired either!"
      Gina laughed.
      "Well, it's time for the girls to settle anyway." There was a chorus of groans, and she shook her head. "Now now. You know the routine when we're filming."
      Reluctantly, the four Aisu-Kurimu members wished everyone a good night and filed out of the door. Gina nodded at Goggles, then offered Hasegawa a cool smile.
      "Good night everyone. We'll see you bright and early in the morning."

Benten looked so sweet when he was asleep, Goggles thought to himself. Almost a shame to wake him. But they had to be at the dressing rooms in half an hour. Automatically glancing around to make sure no-one was in sight, he sat on the edge of the bed and gently stroked the albino's face; Benten sighed and pressed against the hand, murmuring something that sounded like 'Jade', but showed no sign of actually rousing. The drummer tried again, whispering the bassist's name - then jumped as the door slammed open and Sengoku bounced in, grinning widely.
      "C'mon honey-blossom, time to... what the fuck are you doing here?"
      Caught between a suddenly-bolt upright and startled Benten and a jealously glowering Sengoku, Goggles hauled himself from the bed and backed off, hands raised in surrender.
      "Hey, just tryin' to get a start on the day..."
      Benten flopped back onto the pillows, shoving a hand through dishevelled snowy hair and glaring at them.
      "Just... fuck off, both of you..."
      Sengoku smirked.
      "Oooh, grumpy grumpy. Can't, pet. Gotta get up now." He glared at the drummer. "You can go."
      "You can both go." Benten pushed himself reluctantly upright. "I'm quite capable of making my own way to the set."
      "But..."
      "OUT." One long, perfectly manicured nail pointed to the door. Goggles exited, smirking, followed by Sengoku grumbling,
      "Didn't even get any breakfast."
      Goggles stared at the singer, then decided he'd rather not know...

Today's schedule included the film of the crash itself, and the aftermath as the three alien exiles dragged themselves from the wreckage and took stock of the situation. It was also where they first learned that not only was Benten supposed to resemble a bird alien, he could also fly like one...
      The tiny anti-grav unit attached to the back of his collar, hidden by his hair, was controlled remotely by a specialist operator: a tiny earpiece allowed him to hear spoken instructions as to how to move, and warnings of sudden halts or turns. He hadn't been too impressed to learn that he'd have no control over his actions in the air, but Jigson explained that the girls' units were worked in exactly the same way - and having five bodies in the air at once was a recipe for disaster if everything wasn't precisely and accurately predetermined and controlled from the ground.
      Sengoku had been jealous.
      "Why can't I fly?"
      The drama coach had sighed and patiently explained - again - that he hadn't evolved from a bird, and his 'powers' were quite different, fiery, as fitted a Prince. Sengoku wasn't mollified.
      "Yeah, but lasers coming from my hands isn't the same..."
      Goggles slapped the back of his head.
      "Shut up. It's more than I get to do."
      The singer smirked: Goggles' power seemed to be little more than the ability to turn to rock and act as a wall to protect the prince. Jigson scowled at them all.
      "When you're quite ready..."

Filming the crash was fairly easy. Filming the aftermath was a little more difficult...
      Sengoku pouted and looked down at his chest. He'd been redressed in another red leather outfit, this one with several artistically placed long tears across his chest and back, around one hip, allowing a glimpse of the tanned skin across the top of one buttock, and several slashes down one leg - all of them showing a glimpse of fake orange-red blood.
      "But I liked that costume."
      Jigson gritted his teeth.
      "The script calls for it to be ripped in the crash."
      "But..."
      Goggles - currently wearing a chameleon net over his costume, calibrated to give his body the appearance of being made of stone - slapped him across the back of the head again. Sengoku rounded on him.
      "Will you fuckin' stop doing that?!"
      "When you stop bitching and grow up!"
      Benten sighed loudly and laid a hand on the singer's shoulder.
      "It looks extremely sexy."
      Sengoku blinked, then preened.
      "It does?"
      "I'm sure Shoko and Helena will love it. Not to mention Sakura. Now can we get on, please?"
      He turned and moved back to his position, slumped over his navigation console. Sengoku pouted again.
      "What, you don't find it sexy?"
      Jigson interrupted whatever Benten might have said next.
      "Positions, please!"
      Sengoku humphed and resumed his sprawl over his command chair, with Goggles lying on the floor in front of him, and filming continued.

The sparking electrical arcs of blown circuits fizzled down to nothing and the blue smoke cleared, to reveal a scene of devastation. Of the three unmoving figures, the prince was the first to move, pulling himself upright in the chair with a groan.
      "... Benten...? Riki...?"
      A grunt from the rocklike form on the ground, and the bodyguard hauled himself to his feet.
      "Heh. Not the most elegant of landings."
      The prince slapped his shoulder.
      "What's that old saying? 'Any landing you can walk away from'..." he glanced at the pale, unmoving form at the front of the craft, half buried in metal and plastic rubble. "Benten?"
      The faintest whispered moan. The prince stood, then grabbed his bodyguard's shoulder as his legs nearly gave way.
      "Help him, Riki!"
      The bodyguard scrambled over chunks of smouldering metal, dragging them away from the frail figure then lifting the navigator into his arms.
      "How badly is he hurt?"
      "How the fuck do I know? I'm not a doctor... oops."

Jigson grabbed his hair with both hands and shouted "cut!" in a strangled voice. Benten lifted his head and gazed up at Goggles, trying not to chuckle: the big man looked so shamefaced.
      "... sorry..."
      "Please try to stick to your lines." The assistant director's voice was frosty, and Goggles nodded hastily.
      "Won't happen again."
      Jigson grunted, then waited with barely concealed impatience while the shot was set up again. This time, however, it went smoothly, with the bodyguard retrieving the unconscious navigator and carrying him out of the wreck, followed by the limping prince. The shot ended with Goggles lying Benten gently on the mossy ground, and Jigson called "cut!" in a much more amiable tone of voice.
      "That was good. If we can keep up that standard we'll be well on target."
      "Oh good." muttered Benten, propping himself up on his elbows. "How long do I have to lie here?"

Riki and the prince knelt by the unconscious navigator, worried. The prince brushed feathery hair back from the pale forehead, revealing a large, pale blue bruise where Benten's head had impacted with his console.
      "He's breathing." The bodyguard felt for a pulse in the slender neck, then frowned. "Weak, but still beating."
      The prince was eyeing the cuts and burns on the ivory skin of the navigator's body.
      "He's hurt."
      "So are you, highness."
      The prince glanced down at himself and shrugged.
      "I'll survive. But Benten... we must find help. I need my advisor..."
      Riki glanced over his shoulder, stiffening in alarm.
      "Right now, highness, we need to get away from the ship."
      The smoke from within the shattered craft was growing thicker, flames crackling as they burned through cabling. Riki pulled Benten over one shoulder and wrapped the other arm firmly around the prince's waist, hauling him to his feet.
      "Excuse the familiarity, highness..."
      As the ship exploded dramatically and noisily behind them, Riki dragged his two charges from the scene of devastation.

"Bravo!" Jigson applauded as the vidcams stopped recording. "That was excellent!"
      As the crew set up for the next shot and their personal attendants hastened their charges back to makeup for a touch-up - and a run-through of their next lines - Gina joined Hasegawa perched inconspicuously at the back of the set.
      "Thought I'd find you skulking here. How is it going?"
      Hasegawa glared at her momentarily, then smirked.
      "Surprisingly well. My boys are natural actors."
      Gina sniffed.
      "Given the fantasy world in which they usually live, that's hardly surprising. It'll be more interesting to see how they interact with my girls."
      "I have great faith in them."
      She patted his cheek condescendingly.
      "Of course you do, Juzo."
      Grinning at him, she sauntered back to the interior set a short distance away, where the four Aisu-Kurimu members were preparing for their next scene.

"Did you see what he was wearing!?" Sakura was pink with agitation. "It was just gorgeous!"
      Rei tugged her friend's hair lightly.
      "Yes, 'kura, so you've said. Over and over and over again. And just think, in a couple of days time you'll actually have to act with him!" She rolled her eyes. "That'll be interesting."
      Chikako grinned. In a way it was good she had no interest in any of the men - it made it so much easier for her to remain detached and professional. Though even she had to admit to an odd... motherly feeling, seeing Benten's fragile appearance.
      It was going to be fun working with him.
      But for now...

The call had gone out to Aisu-Kurimu from the world leaders that something had crash-landed on earth, in the jungles to the north. Rei had *received* it, and sighed. For once the timing was good - she had just about had enough of hauling live eels from their pots and into the container tanks: working at the fish-market was a living but not much else could be said for it - and she excused herself apologetically, slipping away as quickly as she could, *calling* the others as she hastened back to their shared apartment.
      *Oooh - a new mission?* That was Sakura - currently promenading through the elevated Yumenoshima Park with her latest charge, a pampered part-cyber poodle with pink fur and a pink ribbon tied around its topknot. Rei shuddered, then grabbed her head as a dizzying *whirl* of colour intruded into her mind: Emi was also at work, large trays of cold drinks perfectly balanced on one hand above her head as she threading through the tightly packed tables, cyberblades sparking against the ceramic of the flooring as she twirled.
      Rei could almost *hear* the thump as Chikako hurriedly thrust her cleaning baton back into its automatic refiller: it was quite a pleasant relief after the *noise* of the other two. Not that Chika liked working as a cleaner, of course, not even for such a prestigious and well-paying company - but at least it was a quiet, unassuming job.
      Rei took a deep breath.
      *We have been summoned. Come home.*

"Excellent work, ladies. Take a break before the next scene."
      Gina strode quickly out to take charge, draping wraps over the girls' shoulders and ushering them to the snack-bar, where fruit juices and raw vegetables awaited.
      "That was very good." The manager nodded approvingly. "Have you learned all your lines for the next scene?"
      Yes Miss Gina." came in chorus, and she smiled.
      "Good. If you do well, I'll see about us all having dinner together. If the boys finish in time, that is."
      Sakura squeaked and nearly choked on her drink, spluttering when Emi slapped her on the back. Gina raised an eyebrow.
      "Not if you're not going to be well-behaved, though."
      "Oh, don't tease! That's unkind." Rei frowned at their manager, who laughed.
      "Very well. I'll see what I can arrange. Now," she glanced at the announcement board above the bar, "looks like they're ready for you again."
      The girls obediently filed back to the set...

"So what is it this time?" Chikako dropped her bag onto the floor and eyed Rei with interest.
      "Oh, I think you'll enjoy it..." she paused as the other two tumbled into the apartment, Emi bouncing, Sakura panting.
      "Something good?" Emi grinned, tossing her long red hair back over her shoulders.
      "Something's crashlanded - " Rei touched an inconspicuous panel on the coffee table: with a click-whirr a hologram of the planet unfolded itself above the table, the point of view rapidly zooming in to an island off the coast of what had been India several thousand years ago "here. And they want us to check it out."
      "Crashlanded from where?"
      "From space, apparently."
      "Ooooh!" Sakura's golden-brown eyes widened. "Are there survivors? More aliens?"
      "That's what we're going there to find out."
      Emi planted her fists on her hips and grinned, tilting her head.
      "Then we'd better get ready..."

      The screen filled with sparkling golden lights. When they faded, all four girls were in costume - skintight costumes that enveloped them from neck to toe - and clad in the masks that supposedly kept their identities secret.

How such a miniscule scrap of fabric could hide who they were had puzzled Emi for a while to start with, until Rei had snapped at her that most humans were stupid enough not to notice, which had shut her up.

*Are we ready?*
      Affirmative nods from the other three. Rei flung her head back dramatically.
      *Then let's go save the world!*

Back at the other set, the exiles were having problems. Whether it was because they were tired, or hungry, or fed up, nothing was going quite right. The next scene was supposed to be Benten groggily waking up, being helped to sit by his companions, who expressed concern as to his health: he was to say he would survive, and then give them what little information he'd gleaned before the crash.
      And the scene just wouldn't work the way they wanted. Either one or other of them fumbled their lines, or something made an inappropriate noise, or a piece of scenery slipped... Jigson finally gave up and called a halt for the day, reassuring his stars that they'd nevertheless made excellent progress, and these things were to be expected, and he was sure that after a good night's sleep, they'd be absolutely on form tomorrow...

Goggles slumped, discouraged, and stirred his ale with an olive on a skewer. Benten was sprawled on the high stool beside him, chin resting in his cupped hand. Sengoku faced them both, usual smirk AWOL tonight.
      "That was shit."
      Benten sighed and closed his eyes.
      "It will be better tomorrow."
      "It'd better be..." Sengoku focussed past his colleagues and attempted a weak smile. "'lo, Gina, girls."
      "Hello." Sakura sounded a little breathless. "How did it go?"
      Gina raised an eyebrow.
      "It rather looks as though your day wasn't successful."
      "Fuckin' disaster." Goggles twisted to offer a rueful smirk. Gina patted his shoulder.
      "It happens. Don't let it get you down. Do you have any plans for now?"
      "Gonna sit and get drunk." Sengoku gazed morosely down at his beer. Gina smiled.
      "Will you join us for dinner?"
      The three men glanced at each other, then Sengoku shrugged.
      "Why not? Nothin' better to do."
      Benten frowned at the singer, then turned to Gina.
      "Please ignore him - he has yet to learn any manners. Thank you. We'd be happy to join you."

Gina had already organised a table for them all: as they sat down Hasegawa appeared, seating himself as far from Gina as he could. She smiled, a certain mild malice glinting in her eyes.
      "So nice you could join us, Juzo. What will you have?"
      He snatched a menucard from the centre of the table, perused it derisively, then tossed it to Goggles and turned to the hovering waiter.
      "Squid and mussel sandwich. And a double Scotch."
      Gina raised an eyebrow and tutted quietly.
      "So predictable. We'll have the sashimi special for five."
      "Make that six, if you will." Benten inclined his head, and the waiter nodded, flushed gaze fixed on the albino's face for a moment before remembering why he was there. Goggles ordered steak with all the trimmings, and Sengoku demanded a curry. A hot one. With several bottles of imported pseudo-lager to wash it down.
      There was something of an awkward silence as they waited for their meals to be delivered, not helped by Sengoku making faces at the blushing, giggling Sakura, much to everyone else's irritation - or amusement, in Goggles' case. Once they were eating, however, the atmosphere eased a little.
      "So, how are you enjoying your first experience of the film business?" Gina's smile embraced the three band members and pointedly ignored their manager. Benten paused, chopsticks half way to the plate, and frowned.
      "It's a little more complex than we'd anticipated."
      "But are you enjoying it?"
      "It's hot and uncomfortable, and hardly the most pleasant of jobs. But it is interesting."
      "Fuckin' pain in the arse." Goggles grumbled, making Emi giggle. Gina frowned admonishingly, then smiled sweetly at Sengoku.
      "And how is our prince doing? Behaving in a regal manner, I trust?"
      "Fuckin' royal pain in the arse." commented Goggles, but very quietly. Sengoku flashed him a filthy look.
      "No problem!"
      "That's not what you said earlier..."
      "Earlier I was tired."
      "And you aren't now?"
      The singer leered at the girls.
      "No. Now I'm just horny."
      "Pity you can't do fuck all about it."
      Gina coughed, and Sengoku and Goggles glanced in her direction - to see the girls staring at them, wrapt. Goggles chuckled embarrassedly and smirked at Gina.
      "Um, sorry. Don't mean to corrupt the kids..."
      Which drew an annoyed squeak from Sakura, and grumbles of annoyance from the others. Gina raised her hands.
      "Now now. We're not here to indulge in anything so... vulgar."
      Emi and Chikako exchanged a look, unseen by Gina but noticed by Benten, who smirked to himself. At least two of their merry band were happy...
      The rest of the meal passed quickly, with the girls talking happily about their experiences on the first film and tentatively discussing how they might tackle their joint scenes. At nine Gina sighed and rose to her feet, to groans of disappointment.
      "Can't we stay just a bit longer, Miss Gina? Benten-san and I wanted to talk about the music a bit."
      Gina firmly shook her head.
      "I'm sorry. It's been a long day, and tomorrow will be another, and you need to be fresh and rested. But," she glanced over her shoulder at Hasegawa, "if we're all agreeable, we can make a regular date for dinner while we're filming."
      "Oooh, yes please!" Sakura beamed at her mentor, then flashed Sengoku a shy smile. "That would be lovely."
      "I'm sure we can arrange it. We'll discuss it tomorrow."
      With 'good night, sleep well, sweet dreams' wishes all round, the girls followed their manager back to their quarters. Sengoku scowled after them.
      "Just great."
      Goggles grinned.
      "Ah, they're OK. Sweet kids."
      "Yeah, if you like schoolgirls. I prefer something a bit more experienced."
      The drummer frowned pensively.
      "Wonder if we could have the ladies visit us?" He smirked at Benten. "Sorry - ladies and Jade."
      Benten sighed, not rising to the bait.
      "It might be wise to organise something along those lines. Sengoku might be used to the privation, but I am not."
      "Why you..." The singer half rose and grabbed for the albino, but Goggles caught his arm and pulled him back.
      "Truth hurts, don't it?" He grinned at the singer, then gestured to Benten. "But you've always fancied pretty boy. Why don't you two get together while we're here. Relieve some... tension..."
      Benten eyed the singer haughtily.
      "I would rather be eaten alive by weasels."
      "That too can be arranged..." Sengoku snarled.
      "ENOUGH!" They all jumped: they'd forgotten Hasegawa was still there. Their manager rose to his not inconsiderable height and glared at them all. "I will consider putting in a request for... conjugal rights - on condition that you behave. If you do not, or I hear any complaints from anyone, I'll have Okyo cook for you for the rest of the shoot."
      There was a chorus of horrified groans, and all three sat back down.
      "We'll be good." Sengoku smiled weakly. Benten nodded - a touch reluctantly, Hasegawa thought. He glowered at them.
      "Very well. Now, bed. By yourselves. You have another early start tomorrow."
      Benten turned to Goggles as they exited the restaurant.
      "He's enjoying this, isn't he?"
      "Hase-fuckface-gawa? Yeah, sure. He doesn't usually get the chance to boss us around, does he? Can't blame the man for taking advantage of the opportunity."
      "No, I suppose not." There was an evil glint in the albino's crimson eyes. "Nevertheless, I shall make sure he regrets it when this is all over..."

To make the best use of the available time, the individual and group scenes were shot simultaneously: given their complexity, the joint scenes - the dialogues and action between the exiles and the superheroines, and the big battles that made up a good third of the film - would be shot later. It was confusing, to Criminal Intent, anyway, that the scenes were also shot out of sequence. Though they learned to deal with that quite quickly. After only a week they were acting like professionals.

Riki's armoured form saved his two charges from being too badly hurt by the hurtling debris thrown out by the explosion. He ran for a good half an hour, only stopping when he felt they were safe. The prince was gasping: he dropped to the ground beside a wide stream overarched by graceful palms and helped the bodyguard lower Benten to the mossy streambank. The navigator was still unconscious.
      "Benten? You must wake up!" The prince stroked snowy hair, then decisively ripped away the bottom part of his shirt, leaving his muscular abdomen exposed. Soaking the leather in the stream, he gently dribbled cold water over the still pale face as Riki checked the navigator for broken bones. After a few passes of the sodden material Benten groaned quietly, unfocussed eyes flickering open, his gaze quickly sharpening as he looked up into the prince's face.
      "Benten?"
      The navigator moved slightly, catching his breath, flinching, as various bodyparts complained.
      "I... apologise for the manner of my landing."
      The prince gripped a bruised shoulder lightly.
      "You got us down alive. No-one could have anticipated that meteor shower."
      "I should have..." the prince helped the navigator up into a sitting position: Benten looked around, eyes widening. "Where are we? Where is the ship?"
      "Gone." Riki shook his head. "Destroyed. Blew itself up."
      A brief, startled silence, then Benten covered his face with his hands.
      "Highness..."
      "It couldn't be helped. But were you able to send off a homing signal before we crashed?"
      "Yes. Coded, so even if the Egopsid intercept it, they will not be able to decipher it."
      "Good work." The prince nodded approvingly, then glanced upwards. "Can you fly? Aerial reconnaissance would be useful."
      Benten tried to rise, whimpering and collapsing before he could get to his feet: Riki caught him and lowered him back to the ground. The prince sat beside him, one hand on a thin pale shoulder.
      "Lie still."
      Benten had paled and was gasping, struggling to stay conscious.
      "I... am... sorry... highness..."
      The prince nodded grimly.
      "You are more badly hurt than we thought. Very well. We are on our own devices for the time being." He glanced at the bodyguard. "We need to rest and recover: this is as good a place as any. First priority is a fire, and food. Some sort of shelter would help too."
      Riki saluted, hand flat over his heart.
      "There's plenty of wood, highness. And plenty of fruiting plants around us. Shelter might be a little more difficult."
      "I am sure we can manage."
      "I will see what I can find..."

Jigson called 'cut' and hastened to congratulate them - to everyone's astonishment the shot had gone flawlessly. Well, postprod would have to tweak a couple of things - shadows, a few flower colours clashing with the actors' costumes, and the stream was too loud - but that was nothing out of the ordinary. Overall everything was as near perfect as could possibly be hoped.
      Things were going well on the other set too.

The four flew in formation, Rei at the head, the coordinating force of the Aisu Kurimu team, her finely tuned telepathic skills focussed for guidance.
      *Can you *hear* anything?*
      Rei shook her head, glancing back over her shoulder at Sakura. She'd been *feeling* ahead, trying to search for sentience, hoping to find intelligence, but there'd been nothing. She rather feared that there was nothing to find.
      *How much further?*
      That was Emi. Always eager for action, Emi.
      *Another hour. Then we need to proceed with caution. We don't know what we're facing...*

A month into filming, and things were getting tense. They were still on location - on an idyllic tropical island that fulfilled the twin requirements of jungle and aquatic environment for the final battle - and while filming was going well, there had been enough hiccups and hassles that Criminal Intent, at any rate, were close to mutiny.
      That they'd had no sex in all that time wasn't helping...
      Goggles couldn't sleep. Their temporary homes had air conditioning, but he was still too hot, and restless, and stressed. Not to mention aching. He missed the buzz of the city. He missed Sarah. He missed having a sweet sexy body next to him - and under him, and above him - in bed. Growling, he hauled himself from his rumpled bed, wrapped a towel around his hips, and strode from the housing unit down to the beach.
      The night was still, the moon nearly full, and the water looked wonderfully inviting. Heh, if he couldn't fuck, perhaps a swim might help...
      He dropped the towel and waded into the water, sighing as the cool liquid lapped against his groin. It felt good, like a soft wet tongue... he groaned. Fuck it. Another night with just his hand for company.
      Movement in his peripheral vision had him turning his head sharply - to see Benten loping towards the sea: apparently the albino had had the same idea. He paused at the water's edge, slipping out of the loose white silk leggings and dropping them on the soft white sand. Goggles swallowed. Underneath the silk, Benten was naked. And looked fucking good right now. He tried to distract himself.
      "Can't sleep?"
      A sigh.
      "No. Too hot, and I'm too tense."
      "Join the club." Goggles lay back in the gentle surf, one hand pressing against his groin. Benten inclined his head, one eyebrow raised.
      "Ah. Yes. It would appear we have the same problem." One slender white hand slid down to stroke his own erection as he lowered himself to sit beside his colleague. "Perhaps we ought to do something about it."
      Goggles stared, then grinned.
      "What, you mean... do each other?"
      Benten's head jerked around, startled eyes peculiarly dark in the moonlight, then the albino frowned.
      "I meant, we should request that Hasegawa make good on his promise of... 'conjugal visits'."
      The drummer could feel his face reddening. He smirked, a little weakly.
      "Heh. Yeah, I guess you're right."
      Benten was silent for a moment, then glanced sideways at the big man.
      "Do you intend to stay here long?"
      Goggles shrugged.
      "Was plannin' on... takin' care of business, so to speak. You?"
      "Yes."
      Another slightly awkward silence. Goggles couldn't decide whether he should offer to leave, or wait to see what Benten did... Finally the albino lay back, ripples caressing his slender frame, and sighed.
      "This is very pleasant."
      Goggles rolled onto his side, head supported on one hand, the other wrapped around his cock, watching the bassist as... as...
      Benten had closed his eyes, both hands at his groin, stroking and teasing himself, long legs splayed widely and back arched. Goggles fought back a groan as he watched the albino, his own hand moving in time with the long pale fingers caressing the long pale cock in its nest of frosty curls. Itching to touch, to stroke, to play. But Benten had never shown any signs of welcoming such attention, such intimacy, and the drummer respected him enough to not push his luck. Besides, he didn't want to risk the probable repercussions.
      But fuck, the albino was beautiful to watch, moaning quietly as the slow waves washed over his groin, writhing in pleasure against the smooth sand... he gasped and froze as he came, both hands stilled as they held his pulsing cock tightly, and Goggles groaned as he too climaxed, eyes on Benten's face. As the albino slowly relaxed, stretching out in the sparkling water, he glanced at Goggles, smug little smirk on his lovely face.
      Fucking exhibitionist!
      But the drummer couldn't be angry. He didn't think it was possible to be angry with Benten for long. He sighed and hauled himself to his feet, reaching a broad strong hand to help the albino rise.
      "C'mon pretty boy. We need to shower, and we both need to sleep. Early start again."
      Benten allowed the big man to pull him up - then to Goggles' complete surprise stretched up to lightly kiss a dark cheek.
      "Thank you."
      The drummer grunted, privately ridiculously pleased.
      "Dunno what for, but yer welcome."
      Benten smiled, then bent down to pick up Goggles' towel and his own leggings: the drummer closed his eyes to the delicious sight of the pale tempting backside.
      "Now yer just teasing."
      A light, low chuckle.
      "You're right. My apologies. I miss Jade." He struggled into the leggings, the wetness of his skin making it a little difficult - and also making the silk almost transparent. Goggles hoped no-one else had insomnia: if any of the girls were awake and saw him like this Gina would have a fit. "It would be nice to see Daicha again, too."
      "Yeah..."
      Benten nodded pensively.
      "I will speak to Hasegawa in the morning."

"Oooh! Goggles and Benten! Wonder what they've been up to?"
      Chikako groaned and lifted her head to see Emi at the window, gazing out.
      "Come back to bed."
      The redhead grinned back over her shoulder.
      "You not tired yet?"
      "Yes I'm tired. I want to sleep. I can't do that if you keep waking me up!"
      Emi turned and leaned back against the wall, arms folded under her breasts.
      "It's too hot to sleep."
      Chika threw a pillow at her.
      "If you aren't going to be quiet, go back to your own room."
      Emi strode swiftly to the bed, sliding onto the rumpled sheet and pinning Chika's arms above her head. She leaned down, tongue flicking out to lick a nipple: the songwriter shivered, despite the heat, legs parting as a familiar warmth built in her groin.
      "You're incorrigible."
      "But you love me anyway..." Emi settled onto the bed, taking the nipple fully into her mouth as a hand moved down to stroke between Chikako's legs. The brunette whimpered and pressed up against her lover.
      "... just as well..."
      She moaned as Emi shifted, kissing down the length of her body, then gasped as the singer's tongue pressed against her clit.
      "Emi... we... we've got to get up... in a few hours..."
      The redhead nipped very gently at the sensitive little nub, making Chika wriggle, then lifted her head and grinned.
      "Just enough time then."

Sengoku glared at Benten over breakfast.
      "Where were you?"
      One white eyebrow lifted.
      "I beg your pardon?"
      "You weren't in your room last night. Where were you?"
      "And how did you know I wasn't in my room?"
      "I checked."
      Benten leaned forwards very slightly, elbow resting on the table, chin in one cupped hand.
      "Now why would you do such a thing?"
      "I wanted..." the singer suddenly shut up, his face darkening redly. "I just wanted to... check you were OK. See if you wanted to... talk."
      Benten smirked. Yeah, right!
      "Not that it's any of your business, but I went down to the beach." Crimson eyes twinkled briefly. "With Goggles."
      Sengoku twisted to stare at the drummer, his jaw dropping. When he finally managed to speak, his voice was an octave too high.
      "You... what?"
      Goggles leered.
      "Yeah. It was fun!"
      Sengoku looked so woebegone Benten almost felt compelled to set his mind at rest. Almost. He patted the singer's cheek.
      "But don't worry - we still love you."
      Sengoku grunted something that could have been "that makes me feel so much better", then Hasegawa entered, in conversation with Gina. Benten rose gracefully to his feet and caught the manager's eye.
      "May I have a word?"
      "Of course." Hasegawa nodded to Gina, then regarded Benten - with, it had to be admitted, a somewhat apprehensive look on his face. The bassist's 'words' were usually something to be feared...
      But not this time. Hasegawa breathed a quiet sigh of relief and smiled at the band.
      "You need some company. I quite understand." Which was absolutely true. With Okyo back in Oedo, he'd been suffering himself. And with the only available woman being Gina - his tastes not running to schoolgirls, no matter how nubile - and with Gina still acting like the Ice Queen, he'd been intimately reacquainted with his own hand, something that hadn't happened since... Oh, since he'd hit puberty... "I'll arrange matters for you." He paused for a second, then frowned. "How many... people are we talking?"
      Benten inclined his head. "Jade and Daicha - if you can find her - and Sarah. You will need to ask Sengoku yourself."
      "I'll do that..."

As it happened, Shoko was with Jade when the vidcall came through: Benten's pretty young lover was trying to learn to cook. Oh, he could manage the basics, but anything more complicated than maki zushi was beyond him. He'd mentioned it, in passing, to Shoko as they waited for their respective bedmates to finish a press conference, and the woman had - perhaps rashly - volunteered to give him some lessons. They'd have plenty of time while their 'boys' were filming.
      It might help Jade feel a little less lonely too. She could tell he was missing Benten badly.
      He was, she thought, cleaning up the latest disaster, not naturally inclined to skills with wok and cleaver. Charming, artistic and very pretty, yes - practical, no. Ah well. At least he made great tea.
      "It might be better, Jade-chan, if you order in anytime you want something more complex than sushi."
      His shoulders drooping, he nodded sadly.
      "I'm such a failure."
      She wrapped an arm around his shoulders and squeezed.
      "No. You just can't cook. Don't worry about it."
      He gazed at her, then jumped as the communit buzzed.
      "Excuse me..."
      She dumped the burnt and overly-seasoned mess into the recycler, only half-listening to the voices until she realised Jade was sounding excited. She glanced up when he called her name.
      "It's Hasegawa-sama. He wants to speak to you too."
      Frowning, she brushed off her hands and seated herself at the unit, smiling politely at the craggy face on the screen.
      "Can you fly out here for a couple of weeks?"
      She blinked. Sengoku had said his manager didn't waste words, but it was the first time she'd seen it in action. She thought for a moment, then nodded.
      "I can. But why?"
      She could have sworn he almost rolled his eyes.
      "Sengoku wants some company."
      "Oh." She grinned. "Mm. I'll just bet he does!" She paused for a second, then frowned. "Has Helena been invited too?"
      Hasegawa looked just the tiniest bit guilty, she thought. He nodded.
      "Yes. Does that change things?"
      Well, since she and Helena had become good friends over the last few months, she thought they could cope, and grinned.
      "No. I reckon we'll manage."
      "Good. Can you be ready tomorrow? I'll have a 'car pick you up from Revolution! HQ at noon."
      She bowed her head.
      "I'll be ready, Hasegawa-san!" As the call disconnected she smiled at the beaming Jade. "Well! A holiday on a tropical island! I hadn't expected that!"
      "Oh, isn't it wonderful?" His eyes widened, both hands flying to cover his mouth. "Oh, but I don't have anything to wear!"
      Shoko chuckled, then kissed his cheek.
      "I'm sure we can do something about that. Let's get cleared up - then you can take me shopping."

It was something of a disparate group waiting in the foyer of Revolution! Records the following midday. Shoko had greeted Helena with a grin and a hug, and waved to Sarah and Daicha. The leather-clad retro-Goth had a rucksack slung over one shoulder, a distinct contrast to Jade's two large carryalls - but they barely had time to exchange hellos before the roomy, luxurious 'car pulled up and they were on their way to the shuttle-port...

Shoko and Helena sauntered down to the beach, grinning happily. Sengoku had been so glad to see them...
      And they'd worn him out. He was sleeping the sleep of the exhausted back in his quarters, sprawled face down on rumpled, damp and somewhat sticky sheets. They'd need to be changed before the women would get back into bed - but that was for later. Right now, sated and slightly, pleasantly sore from the activities of the last few... well, eight, and wasn't that cockring just about the most useful thing they'd ever bought?... hours, they were looking forwards to a dip in the warm waters lapping the shore and a little nap in the sun.
      "This is nice."
      Helena grinned at Shoko as the two spread their towels on the warm white sand.
      "Oh yes. Great to get away from the city, just for a while."
      "Think we'll get to see them actually filming?"
      Shoko shrugged.
      "Depends on the director, I guess. And we probably shouldn't distract them while they're working." She smirked. "You know how easy it is to distract 'goku."
      "Heh, yes..." Helena stretched, then eyed the water lapping so invitingly over the sand. "Fancy a swim?"
      "Race you!"
      Laughing, they ran down to the sea.

Daicha, clad in ragged shorts and a black cropped top, was sitting on the sand beside their towels when they emerged, dripping and pleasantly weary from the swim. Helena grinned.
      "Everything OK?"
      Daicha nodded.
      "It's nice here."
      "Nice to see Benten, as well?"
      "Mmmm. He is... was... a little tense."
      Shoko laughed.
      "I think they all were!"
      The younger woman inclined her head.
      "Well, that's why we're here."
      "That and to have a holiday."
      "Ah, yes. That too..."

Jade nestled against Benten, head on a pale shoulder, one hand gently stroking a pale, slowly-engorging penis.
      "I've missed you."
      Benten kissed the top of his head.
      "I noticed."
      Jade kissed his shoulder.
      "I wish I could have you to myself."
      "When we get back to Oedo. But for now..." The albino shifted to kneel between his lover's knees, fingertips stroking the smooth golden skin of Jade's thighs, "we have a little time..."

Spielvan allowed them eight days without filming to spend time with their visitors - time which they all used to great advantage. With several miles of flawless white-sanded beaches, waterfalls and cool freshwater pools, the sea, and the tame jungle just minutes away from the film camp, much cavorting was accomplished (and several gymnastic records broken, had they but known.)
      Gina was frustrated as hell. Adam had taken time off while she was away, and was currently no-one knew where and uncontactable. The sight of Sengoku with a scantily-clad and laughing woman on each arm, and Okyo giving her smug little smirks when Hasegawa wasn't looking, was almost too much - as she realised when she caught herself gazing lustfully after Benten's personal assistant, a very pretty young thing who, she knew, had no interest whatsoever in women...
      Then there was Sakura...

"It's not fair!" The girl was sobbing inconsolably against her manager's shoulder. "We were just beginning to get really friendly and those two old cows turn up!"
      Gina patted her head, perfunctorily and a little harder than she'd meant: 'kura winced, then burst into fresh wails.
      "Sakura, he's too old for you, you know that."
      "He's not old!"
      Gina gritted her teeth.
      "Too old for you, kura-chan. And you can see what sort of man he is. Lewd and loud and unfaithful."
      "... don't care..." There was a definite sulk in the girl's voice, and Gina forced herself to sigh sympathetically. Or close to something that could be mistaken for sympathy, anyway.
      "He's not worthy of you. You deserve someone who will treat you like the princess you are."
      "Don't wanna be treated like a princess... I want to f..." the girl burst into a renewed round of sobbing. Gina, strongly tempted at this point to slap her across the head and tell her to get a grip, hauled her to her feet instead and led her to her room.
      "Come on. You need to rest. Otherwise your eyes will be all swollen and you won't be able to act tomorrow."
      At which Sakura wailed, then tried hard to stop crying. Gina settled her on her bed, draped a chilled eyepack over her face, then - gratefully - went in search of a drink.
      Next time - if there ever was a next time - she'd make sure she brought Adam with her...

At the end of the eight days Spielvan called everyone together, announcing that they were on schedule, but would have to keep working at the same pace in order to remain so. Then he dismissed them, warning them to be ready at five the following morning. It wasn't lost on either Hasegawa or Gina that he eyed up the visitors speculatively...

Riki frowned down at the advisor, one big hand resting lightly over the pale forehead under the feathery hair. The prince watched anxiously, eyes narrowing as the bodyguard shook his head.
      "He has a fever. And I can't rouse him."
      The prince - limping: a night on the ground had done nothing to help his injuries - rose from his position by the dying fire and crouched down by the wounded alien.
      "Benten? Come on, wake up. I need your advice."
      But there was no response from the pale, shivering figure on the ground. The bodyguard eyed the prince.
      "We need a medic, sire."
      "I know that!" The prince snapped, then sighed and lowered his head. "My apologies, Riki. I am frustrated and worried." He sank his head into his hands. "You have both supported me so staunchly, and I have brought you into danger - and possible death. And all for nothing. The Egopsid have most likely overrun our world by now."
      The bodyguard laid a heavy hand on his shoulder consolingly.
      "But you are alive. And while we have you, we have hope."
      The prince gazed down his advisor, eyes glistening with unshed tears.
      "But does Benten?"

Jigson called 'cut' - just in time as Sengoku burst into laughter, tears - of mirth this time - trickling down his cheeks.
      "Oh fuck, that was hilarious!"
      Benten growled up at him from his supine position.
      "Yes, that's right - destroy the moment..."
      Sengoku grinned.
      "Aw, c'mon! Like I'd ever say anything like that crap!"
      Goggles glowered at him through the small army of make-up assistants, dressers and general gofers patting at their costumes, hair and faces as they prepared for the next scene.
      "Yeah, we know that. But this is fantasy, right? Try to fuckin' stay in character." He grinned suddenly. "Just think what it'll do for your reputation!"
      "That's what I'm afraid of..." the singer muttered, taking a sip of the fruit juice he was offered.

The girls had landed at the edge of the vast green basin to decide on a course of action. Rei had picked up a very faint *trace*, which she thought might be their objective, but it was deep within the jungle, along with a wide variety of other creatures, many of them deadly. She wanted them to proceed with all caution. But Sakura was distracted, something, some inner compulsion, urging her onwards.
      "It's... I *feel* that someone is hurting."
      Emi eyed her narrowly.
      "You sure?"
      Fluffy dark hair fluttered as the girl nodded.
      "Yes. Hurting - and injured."
      Rei inclined her head.
      "You've never experienced anything like this before?"
      "No. You're the telepath. But I can *feel* it - them. There's more than one, I think."
      "Then we'd better go and find them, don't you think?" Chikako's smile was grim.
      And Rei was forced to agree. Perhaps between the two of them, she and Sakura could track down the alien visitors...

Sakura was positively wriggling with anticipation: the next scene they had was The Meeting with the 'aliens', and she couldn't wait...
      Regardless of how annoying that was to the others.

The prince was hovering beside his advisor, bathing the far too hot face with cool water from the stream. They'd tried to ease some of the liquid down Benten's throat, but the unconscious alien had coughed it straight back up - which had Riki very worried: Benten was now seriously dehydrated.
      He rubbed a big hand worriedly over his face. He was responsible for the prince's safety, and by extension Benten's, and he was helpless here...
      A low growl from the undergrowth had him tensing, switching his internal lenses to infra-red to peer through the vegetation surrounding them.
      There. Four - no, five - large animals, carnivores if the claws and fangs were anything to go by, stocky and powerful.
      Five. Against two, and those two trying to protect a third.
      He debated grabbing the others and running, but dropped the idea almost immediately. He'd not get far, encumbered by their weight, and he'd not have a hand free to fight. He glanced briefly at the prince, who wasn't yet aware of the danger, concentrating as he was on Benten: his liege could probably fight, although he too was feeling the effects of insufficient food, no medical treatment for his wounds, and sheer anxiety.
      Riki moved a little closer, keeping his lenses on the animals, fear growing as two moved away to circle around behind them.
      "Highness..."
      The prince glanced at him sharply, knowing that tone of voice only too well.
      "What is it?"
      "Animals. All around us. Big."
      Swallowing nervously the prince peered into the undergrowth, eyes narrowed.
      "I can't see them..."
      "Then be guided by me. I can tackle the three beyond the stream: can you protect Benten and yourself from the two now moving into position behind us?"
      The prince nodded grimly, rising to a combat stance, hands flexed ready for battle.
      "I have no choice."
      "Then the High Lords be with us..."
      It was all he had time for before all five animals, roaring with anticipation, attacked...

"Noooo!"
      Sakura stopped in mid-air, arms wrapping her body: the others halted, staring at her worriedly.
      *What is it?*
      "They're... they're being attacked... hurt... We have to get there, Rei, we just have to..."
      The leader nodded grimly - the time for caution was past. And with the fear and pain suddenly *emanating* from the trace she could now *find* their aliens without further delay.
      *Follow me...*

The scene that met their eyes as they approached was confused, fragmented...
      A... man?... who seemed to be made of rock had two of the big sabre-tooths by the neck; a third lay bleeding at his feet. A blood-streaked muscular form was down on one knee, fighting off another of the cats with what appeared to be laser blasts - not that dissimilar to their own innate weapons. Between the two a pale figure lay crumpled and bleeding on the ground. As they watched, the red-clad figure killed the animal he was tackling - then was knocked sprawling as the last beast leapt towards him, catching a strong bronzed arm in its jaws... As the man cried out, his head snapping back as a crunch implied broken bones, the girls dived to join the fray...

      It was over in seconds - there were only two cats left alive - leaving the two groups staring at each other. The prince, one bleeding hand supporting the broken arm, his face a grimace of pain, nevertheless gave the impression of authority. But they couldn't understand a word he said. Rei nodded - she'd expected this.
      "Chikako?"
      The red-clad woman stepped forwards, eyes narrowing as she concentrated, bringing her translator powers into play. And suddenly they could all understand each other. The prince's eyes widened.
      "We are appreciative of your help."
      Rei inclined her head.
      "You're injured..."
      The prince glanced back and down, indicating the figure on the ground.
      "My advisor... do you have medical supplies? He's hurt..."
      Rei smirked.
      "We have something better. Sakura?"
      The pink-clad young woman hurried forwards, eyeing the prince quickly, then frowning at the advisor.
      "He is more badly hurt. But I will tend to your injuries once I'm sure he's out of danger."
      The prince nodded, expression grateful, and Sakura knelt beside Benten, hand resting on his back. She shivered. The internal injuries - and bleeding - were life-threatening: she was surprised he'd held on this long. He must be stronger than he looked. She closed her eyes, focussing tightly, *feeling* torn tissue mend, *healing* broken bones, burst blood vessels, *closing* the deep gashes in the pale smooth skin... After a few minutes she sat back with a sigh, rolling the pale figure onto his back and brushing soft hair back from his face.
      "You can wake up now. You are going to live."
      Long eyelashes fluttered as the slender alien forced open lovely crimson eyes: he tried to sit up, collapsing back onto the ground with a hiss of pain. Sakura laid a hand on a thin arm, smiling reassuringly.
      "You're still very weak, and it'll hurt for a while. But you're out of danger now." She glanced up at Chikako. *Sit with him for a moment while I check the others?*
      The translator smiled and knelt down, easing the alien's head onto her lap. Benten eyed her curiously, then his gaze swivelled to the prince, who was gritting his teeth as the pink-clad female did... something... the deeper gashes on the prince's dark skin closed, and he stretched the now-mended arm, sighing with relief. Dark golden eyes regarded the group curiously.
      "Who are you? How did you find us?"
      Rei smiled.
      "We are Aisu-Kurimu, tasked to protect this world from danger."
      A grating chuckle came from the stone-like alien, who shimmered as his frame assumed more human features.
      "And we're the danger?"
      Rei inclined her head.
      "That's what we came here to find out." She eyed the dead animals with distaste. "Shall we move somewhere a little less... gory?"

      Between them, Chikako and the much-recovered prince helped support Benten a short way through the jungle to another pretty clearing, a little upstream, the bodyguard warily guarding the rear, lenses focussed on the surrounding jungle. Easing the gasping advisor down to the soft ground, his back resting against a mossy fallen tree, the prince crouched down at his side, frowning.
      "You're still in pain?"
      "Somewhat."
      The prince glanced at the drooping Sakura, then at Chikako.
      "Can your colleague not help a little further?"
      The translator shook her head.
      "It would be dangerous, for both of them. 'kura draws on her own life-energy to heal, but she also has to... alter the patient's body chemistry for it to work. Healing anyone more than once in any forty-eight hour period can make the changes permanent and malignant. Not to mention that it severely depletes her energy."
      The prince nodded thoughtfully.
      "I see..." He smiled at his advisor, laying a hand gently on a thin shoulder. "You are alive. That's the important thing."
      Benten lay back, eyes closing.
      "Yes. Pain I can deal with. Though I regret causing... 'kura?... any inconvenience."
      Chikako chuckled.
      "Don't worry, she's used to it. It's part of her sacred trust." She laid a hand carefully over the advisor's, smiling into opening crimson eyes. "But you should eat. It will help complete the healing."
      The prince shrugged, grinning wryly.
      "We were wary of eating any of the native vegetation. We have no way of telling what might be poisonous."
      Rei nodded thoughtfully.
      "Very wise." She considered the matter for a moment, then beckoned to Emi. "There's a village forty miles to the west. Go get provisions." She slid a hand into the hidden pouch in the top of her costume and pulled out several small gold coins, handing them to her colleague. "This should be enough."
      Emi grinned brightly.
      "Be right back!" She rose from the ground, paused for a moment, hovering, with her arms held wide - then was gone, a red-haired, green-clad comet streaking above the trees. The prince's eyes went wide.
      "Speedy."
      "Yes. It's a useful ability." Rei sat back on her heels and regarded the three aliens. "I suppose introductions are in order. I'm Rei. 'Speedy' is Emi. Sakura is our healer, and the universal translator there is Chikako."
      "Our greetings and thanks to you all. I am..."
      The big bodyguard stood, interrupting him.
      "His royal highness prince Syan, lord of Vithe, heir apparent to the throne of Hy-Famik and the Dinsan Protectorate."
      Rei blinked, then bowed her head.
      "Your highness..."
      The prince sighed and cupped his fingers under her chin, raising her face to his.
      "Call me Syan." His brief laugh was bitter. "I am in exile. And heir apparent to nothing if our enemies have been successful in their attempt to overcome my people."
      "So... why are you here?"
      Benten struggled a little more upright.
      "It was deemed wisest for his highness to be kept safe, so that the line might continue. We were heading for a neighbouring system, with which we have cordial relations, when we were... ambushed by an Egopsid squadron. In trying to escape through a wormhole, we were... sidetracked, and crashed here instead."
      Chikako frowned.
      "The Egopsid. They're the enemy?" Benten nodded, and she glanced uneasily at Rei. "Are we in danger of being invaded?"
      "Our last message was coded - but there aren't that many habitable planets in this vicinity. It's possible, likely, in fact, that they will eventually find us - and you."
      "Damn. How nasty are they?"
      "Deadly." Riki's gravely voice was sombre. "Ruthless. Implacable. They can't be reasoned with, or deterred. They just keep coming..."

"Great! It's going really well." Jigson was unusually enthusiastic, striding about purposefully, slapping shoulders and offering beers as they watched the rushes. A month and a half into filming, with no major disasters or personality clashes - other than the usual, at any rate: they were behaving like professionals. It helped, of course, that Revolution! were shipping the various Criminal Intent partners out from Oedo every other weekend for the by-now usual orgy...
      Though Gina was less than happy with the situation. Yes, Adam had now returned from his lunar trip and joined her on the island - but the girls, Sakura in particular, were growing restless when the women (and Jade) arrived and disappeared for long, noisy hours with the band-members. The bugger of it was she couldn't see any way around the problem. The men were an ever-present - temptation wasn't quite the right word: enticement, perhaps - and even though the two groups' working relationship was a surprisingly good one, there was still tension when they weren't acting.
      She couldn't decide what to do about it. Or even if there was anything she could do...

Emi had arrived back laden down with leaf-wrapped food in woven bags, which Sakura helped her lay out on a convenient rock by the stream. The speedster grinned at the group, then gestured to the mostly-unidentifiable comestibles.
      "Eat, do. I guarantee it's all edible. Well, for humanoid life-forms, anyway. Though I'll also bet some of it is an acquired taste..."
      Chikako glanced at Benten, then placed an assortment of foodstuff on a large leaf and seated herself beside him, proffering the biodegradable 'plate'.
      "I didn't know what you might like. I hope there's something here you can eat..."
      Rather to her surprise, the advisor opted for the meat, delicately picking out small, tender pieces in long crimson claws and swallowing with relish. She grinned.
      "I'd have thought you'd be vegetarian."
      He paused and raised an eyebrow.
      "And why is that?"
      "I suppose, because you remind me of a dove."
      He regarded her blankly, and she chuckled.
      "It's a pretty white bird on this planet. Very gentle and soft."
      He smiled, tightly, a little condescendingly.
      "My people are ascended from the hunters on my world. We eat the flesh of the kill."
      She nodded slowly.
      "Just goes to show you can't trust appearances." She helped herself to a small piece of flatbread and chewed thoughtfully. "What's your homeworld like?"
      Eyes half closed, face upturned, silky voice low, he began to describe a world of wood and plain, black and turquoise and frosty pale under a vast grey-blue sky...

      "They seem to be getting on well."
      Syan blinked at Sakura, who'd settled at his side and was gazing at Benten and Chikako, then nodded pensively.
      "Hm."
      "Is he... attached?"
      The prince blinked, then laughed.
      "Attached? You mean, mated? Partnered?"
      "I suppose so - if that's what they do on his world..."
      Syan thought for a moment, then smirked wryly.
      "Not... officially. As far as I know."
      "Oh." Sakura was silent for a moment, then, "Are you?"
      Syan took her hand and kissed the palm, making the suddenly breathless girl flush pink, then shook his head, grin fading to be replaced by sadness.
      "No. I have no consort. There has been no time. The war has taken all our thought, all our focus."
      Sakura laid a pretty hand sympathetically on his shoulder, big eyes concerned.
      "How did it start?"
      He sighed, half-closing his eyes, resting his hand over hers.
      "It was long ago, early in my sire's time. We were a peaceable people then, coexisting with the worlds of the Protectorate, a kindly guiding presence. Then the Egopsid found our rich and fertile world, its vast warm oceans and rich forests - though it was our water that attracted them most."
      "Why?"
      "They are amphibious. And their own world is dying, or so we have been told, its oceans disappearing, its atmosphere becoming poisonous." He closed his eyes, head rolling back, face heavenwards. "Yet we would have aided them, welcomed them, had they asked it of us. There would have been enough for us all to share. But they came with clusterbombs and toxic fiery liquids and dreams of conquest..."
      "I'm so sorry." Sakura's voice was soft. Syan lowered his head.
      "Thousands upon thousands died in that first onslaught, millions more as the days went by. We weren't prepared. How could we be? We had never known conflict more deadly than a trade dispute!" He shook his head. "We called upon our allies for help, and they came - flights of Benten's folk, warriors all, and Riki's people, strong and staunch, but even they weren't proof against the horror." Rubbing a hand over haunted eyes, he twisted his head to gaze at the rapt girl. "We fled, and hid, barely existing. We learned to fight back, to resist. To take life, which had been anathema to us." He leaned forwards, covering his eyes with his hands. "We became mirrors of the invaders. We sank that low. We had to, to survive."
      There was a moment's silence, while Syan recovered his composure, then Sakura gently touched his cheek.
      "You are so brave."
      He shook his head vehemently.
      "No. Not brave. If I had been brave, I would be on the homeworld, fighting and suffering with my people, instead of hiding here."
      "But there has to be someone for the people to rally to, a leader, a hope for the future, or there is no reason to continue!"

Sengoku wiped his eyes and managed to stop chortling.
      "What a crock of shit! I don't know how I kept a straight face, honestly I don't."
      Sakura was pouting.
      "But you say it so beautifully. Didn't it mean anything?"
      "Nah. Sorry kid."
      Gina sighed as Sakura's bottom lip wobbled perilously. When would the girl ever learn?

Emi rolled her eyes and grinned at Riki, who was wolfing down huge handfuls of food as though he hadn't eaten in weeks. The speedster gestured to her gesticulating partner.
      "She's off again. 'kura gets so... so..."
      The bodyguard paused in chewing.
      "Vehement?"
      "Yeah... yeah, vehement. I mean, sure, saving the world and all that is fun, but she gets carried away."
      "You don't take it seriously?"
      "Of course I do! I just think you can have a good time while you're doing it. I mean, don't you enjoy your job?"
      The big male chewed pensively for a moment, then inclined his head.
      "It carries a great responsibility. And his highness can be rash, at times."
      "You worry a lot?"
      "Yes. Yes I suppose I do."
      "Ever thought of doing something else?"
      Riki looked shocked.
      "It is the highest duty possible! To guard the heir from harm? How could I ever want to do anything else?"
      Emi smirked.
      "No time for women, then."
      Riki opened his mouth to reply - then paused and eyed the speedster appraisingly.
      "I wouldn't go that far. Though there's been no time for any... leisure activities in the last year."
      Her eyes went wide.
      "That's... a long time... I suppose..."
      He nodded sombrely. She glanced around the clearing.
      "All of you?"
      He smirked.
      "I can't speak for the others..."
      She shook her head, bemused, then smiled sideways at him.
      "But... leisure activities are very important to your health. So I've heard."
      He stared, then grinned.
      "Oh yes. Mental and physical."
      She moved a little closer.
      "Are you all coming back to the city with us?"

Hasegawa waved his hands.
      "Wait a minute. We're going to be filming back in Oedo?"
      Jigson nodded.
      "The maestro came up with the idea. Aliens in the big bad city. Seeing the civilised world through alien eyes. Oh, the opportunities for misunderstandings and confusion and fun!"
      Hasegawa shuddered. Misunderstandings? Confusion? Fun? Farce, more like.
      "And when is this going to be happening?"
      "We need to get the jungle sets recorded first. While that's filmed here, the location team will be organising the Oedo shoots."
      Sengoku perked up.
      "We're finishing up in Oedo?"
      "We're staging the final battle there. Squid in the city. Superheroes save the day."
      Benten suppressed a groan. How much more clichéd could this film become? Sengoku frowned.
      "So, no underwater battle then?"
      "No. Spielvan thinks the old Tokyo Tower draped with hordes of laser-wielding squid will be far more dramatic."
      The singer pouted, and Goggles smirked.
      "He was looking forward to seeing pretty boy all wet."
      Sengoku scowled at the drummer.
      "Thought that was your thing."
      Benten affected a yawn and drawled in a tone that managed to sound simultaneously long-suffering and patronizing,
      "No fighting, please, boys. The ultimate choice is mine."
      Goggles eyed him warily.
      "You mean you might choose one of us?"
      "That is not what I said."
      Perhaps fortunately, at that point a flunky handed them each the scripts for the morning...

Syan had caught the last of the conversation between his bodyguard and the speedster, and glanced enquiringly at the leader.
      "The city?"
      Rei frowned at her colleague and sighed: Emi never could follow protocol. She nodded.
      "Oedo has everything you might need. Access to the latest technology - transport, communication, weaponry... and you'll be more comfortable there too." She eyed Benten, who was slumped against Chikako and looked exhausted. "I'd like to have you checked over more thoroughly too - there's a doctor we know who's very discreet and trustworthy."
      Syan smiled gently and took her hand, gaze switching between Rei and Sakura, who was still draped over his shoulder.
      "You are very kind. We have nothing to offer in return."
      Rei shook her head.
      "We ask for nothing. We live to serve."
      "Such nobility..."
      "Defending the earth, keeping it safe, is reward enough." She gazed briefly at the sky, then turned to the others. "It is past noon, and we should make plans for returning home. The nearest transport is hidden several miles from here." She glanced at Benten, frowning for a moment, then nodded decisively. "If we flatten a little of the undergrowth there will be enough room to land it here - that will save us putting any of you under any more stress. Emi, if you please? But no aerobatics this time."
      "Awwww...." The redhead pouted, then grinned. "Roger, cap'n!"
      In a flash she was gone, and Sakura sighed, dragging herself away from the prince and joining her leader. Chikako hesitated for a moment - Benten was asleep in her arms - but Rei shook her head.
      *Don't disturb him. We can manage.*
      And indeed, with Rei and Sakura clearing vegetation, helped by Riki - and by the prince until the bodyguard told him to save his strength, he'd need it later - a landing area was ready by the time Emi returned with the small but efficient craft. Syan regarded it with interest, and Rei grinned.
      "We usually fly, ourselves, but sometimes - like now - we have need of transporting others. It's only a small craft, but powerful, and very fast."
      There was admiration in his gaze, and she blushed.
      "We have to be ready for anything."
      "It is most commendable."
      "Thank you... Shall we be gone?"
      Riki lifted Benten into his arms and marched onto the small craft, his bulk and height making it seem crowded for the others. Syan sat beside him, watching the advisor worriedly as Emi guided the transport into the air and input the coordinates for Oedo. Riki grinned.
      "He's tough, highness. All his people are a lot tougher than they look. Right now he's just conserving and regaining his strength. You'll see, once he's slept the night in comfort he'll be back to his usual super-efficient sweet self."
      "I hope you're right..."

      The transport landed atop the skyscraper and immediately descended into the secret hanger. Emi powered down the small craft and sat back with a smirk.
      "Welcome to Oedo!"
      Riki and Syan had spent the last hour staring out of the windows as the megacity came into view then rolled beneath them, mile after mile after mile of vast brilliantly lit towers, parks, and the deep canyons of the undercity. The prince turned to Rei, dark golden eyes wide.
      "It is... very big..."
      "You have nothing like it?"
      "Our... cities... are small, and sprawl amongst the woods and mountains as though part of the world itself. This..." he shook his head. "No. We have nothing even faintly resembling it."
      "Nor do we - and nor do Benten's people." Riki pulled the still-sleeping advisor further into his arms. "Mind you, they mostly live in trees..."

"CUT!" yelled Jigson as Benten pushed himself out of Goggles's arms and glowered at the drummer.
      "That is not in the script."
      Goggles smirked smugly.
      "Nah, I know. S'good though, ain't it?"
      Benten growled at his colleague, ignoring the director as the crew set up the scene again.
      "Can you imagine me living in a tree?"
      Sengoku patted his cheek.
      "No. You'd look cute in a gilded cage though..."
      Jigson bellowing "POSITIONS" in a tone that brooked no opposition put paid to what could have become an interesting scene, and Benten flopped back down into Goggles' arms, surreptitiously squeezing the drummer's genitals with strong, sharp-clawed fingers. Goggles winced, but didn't dare object...

Rei gestured to the craft's door.
      "If you'd like to come with us..."
      Aisu-Kurimu's HQ was a spacious penthouse apartment, beautifully decorated, but right now their visitors were too overwhelmed to really notice. It was close to midnight, and they were all exhausted. Syan bowed to the girls.
      "We thank you most sincerely for your hospitality and courtesy, but..."
      Rei nodded.
      "Of course. Do you think that Benten-sama will be alright, or should we call for the doctor?"
      The prince laid a hand over the pale forehead and smiled.
      "His temperature and breathing are back to normal. I don't think there's anything to worry about. But I'll sit with him tonight just in case."
      Chikako shook her head firmly.
      "No, your highness, you won't. You need to sleep too. Recover your strength. I'll sit with him. I promise I'll wake you if I think there's anything to worry about."
      Syan hesitated, but he could feel his eyes closing, exhaustion finally kicking in now they were - relatively - safe. He sighed.
      "I do not wish to ask it of you..."
      "You're not. I'm offering." She grinned at Rei. "Shall I show them to their rooms?"
      The leader nodded.
      "Yes, please. And I'll make tea."

      A short while later, with the aliens now acquainted with the apartment's facilities and each slumbering soundly in adjoining rooms, Rei called a conference - Chikako *joining in* from her seat at Benten's bedside.
      "Now we have them, what are we going to do with them?"

This question had been the cause of considerable - debate. Before letting them see the script Jigson had asked them all what they thought would be appropriate, and of course everyone had a different idea...
      Benten glared at Sengoku.
      "I am not going to a karaoke bar."
      "But we're a band. So far we haven't got to sing once!"
      "That's because we aren't a band in the film, moron."
      "Yeah, but they said we could write the music."
      "That happens afterwards, once it has been decided what music is required."
      "That's no fuckin' fun."
      "It is nevertheless the way things are done." Benten turned to Goggles in appeal. "Surely you are in agreement? As alien exiles karaoke is the last thing we should be performing."
      Goggles smirked at Sengoku.
      "Pretty boy's got a point. We'd be trying to find a way home, not out having fun."
      "Oh but you can't visit the city and not explore! At least see some of the sights." Sakura waved expressive hands. "There are so many exciting places to visit! And we'd want to show off a little of our planet."
      "I think we should take them to a movie." Chikako smiled at Benten. "Something classic, so they can see what culture is like on earth."
      Emi shook her head.
      "Nah. Let's take 'em skating. And for a local meal. And maybe a show."
      Benten sighed.
      "We should be exploring the possibilities of sending a message to the Protectorate, advising them that - " he flashed Sengoku a scornful look "- the hope of the realm is unharmed and safe. For now."
      "Thank you, everyone, for your input!" Jigson's loud voice interrupted the discussion as he gestured to the two scriptwriters hovering at his side: the pair hastily grabbed scribers and sat with notepads at the ready. "You have, in the main, echoed our own thoughts on the matter - so here's what we're going to do. The following morning after the doctor's visit you, Benten, will work with Rei and Chikako to cobble together an interstellar transmitter and get a message off to the Protectorate - a message which will be intercepted by the Egopsid. No," he raised a hand to halt the objection he could see the albino about to make, "that will not be your fault, it will be made clear that you did the best you could with what you had but the equipment wasn't fully up to the task. While you two are doing that, we'll switch to Emi and Goggles hacking into the Oedo Military database to check out the city's security, and Sengoku and Sakura... "he scratched his head pensively then brightened as inspiration struck "... will visit a rose garden."
      The singer stared at him.
      "What the fuck...? Why?"
      Jigson shrugged.
      "It's romantic. Syan is a tragic, romantic figure."
      "Oh fuckin' great." Goggled muttered under his breath to Benten. "There'll be no fuckin' living with him now..."
      "You mean I have to...? With a schoolgirl?" Sengoku smirked. Jigson shook his head.
      "No, you have to talk sweetly to her, pick her roses, and generally be a real prince."
      The singer slumped back in his seat, eyes narrowed in disgust. Sakura didn't look overly pleased either.
      "That's so... lame."
      Jigson eyed Gina, who was watching him, glittering eyes boring into his. Given the contractual details of the deal to film Aisu-Kurimu he had no choice. A chaste kiss was about as far as Dove would let things go when it came to their most successful product.
      "Sorry - that's what the story calls for. No permanent attachments - in this film, at any rate."
      This film? They were planning more of this lunacy? Hasegawa shuddered in sympathy with Benten as Sakura squealed and wriggled delightedly.
      "Oooooh... yes, Jigson-sama. I understand."
      "Good. Now, you'll all meet up early afternoon for some sightseeing, and end the day at a traditional restaurant, where much hilarity will ensue as the aliens attempt to use chopsticks, misunderstand the etiquette of noodles, and wash their hands with the jasmine tea."
      They stared at him in stunned silence, then Benten sat back, expression mulish.
      "I will do no such thing."
      Jigson sighed.
      "Very well - you will eat properly, though with your fingers, the others will have fun with the food."
      Sengoku smirked at Goggles.
      "Food fight?"
      The drummer pursed his lips.
      "And end up with us getting thrown out? 's a possibility."
      The albino closed his eyes in disgust...

Benten fumed, arms folded over his chest to stop himself from hitting someone. Anyone - right now it didn't really matter who...
      "Whose idea was it to employ the fans as extras?"
      Jigson shrugged.
      "We thought it might be a nice idea. Let a favoured few have closer access to their heroes..."
      As far as the bassist was concerned the day's filming had been a disaster, not to mention a personal affront: he wouldn't be able to sit down until tomorrow at the earliest. At least ordinary extras would have left his backside alone... He winced as Sengoku patted his rear lightly, then lashed out, slapping the singer hard across the face.
      "Touch me again and you'll be singing soprano."
      Sengoku held a hand to his face, expression comically shocked.
      "What'd I do?"
      "I have spent the whole... fucking... day... being touched, and groped, and stroked, and pinched..."
      Sengoku stared for a second, then guffawed.
      "And your arse is sore! Aww, honey-blossom, I'm sorry, I didn't realise." He smirked. "Just as well you didn't go out in that costume..."
      Benten shuddered. Jigson had wanted them all to wear their 'alien' costumes, but fortunately common sense prevailed: they'd want to keep a low profile in the city, so less - extravagant - outfits had been provided. Not that the three were any less conspicuous in the slightly more enveloping leather clothing, but the notion nodded vaguely in the direction of logic while still allowing the aliens to look, as Sakura said breathlessly, "soooooo tasty!"
      The fans had thought so too. The rushes looked good, though, and the food fight and subsequent ejection from the extremely up-market restaurant had been mildly funny, Benten admitted to himself. The scene certainly made human eating etiquette look ludicrous, at any rate. And he derived a smug satisfaction from watching Shunsuke 'hard ass' Sengoku having to act like a love-lorn idiot in the rose garden. He'd already decided on the music to accompany that little gem, something sickly sweet that would have their bad-boy singer squirming...

Rei woke early the next morning, to find Benten's door open and the advisor absent. Frowning to herself, and a little anxious, she made her way up to the rooftop garden - to find the alien, clad in his original clothing, standing at the edge of the roof, gazing out over the uppercity.
      "It is very strange to see no trees." He spoke quietly, aware of her presence although he did not turn to her. She moved to stand beside him, squinting against the reflection of the dawning light from a hundred thousand mirrored windows.
      "We have trees. In the uppercity parks."
      Benten glanced at her, crimson eyes solemn, sunlight shimmering on his jewelled chains.
      "That is not the same."
      Rei sighed.
      "I know. But I've never lived anywhere else. I can't imagine living anywhere else."
      "Your world is very noisy. Very full." The low voice sounded oddly melancholic, and she laid a comforting hand on a thin shoulder.
      "You want to go home."
      He turned to her, hands raised slightly in surrender.
      "I do not belong here. His highness might be able to... fit in, but I never could."
      Rei sighed and nodded.
      "I understand..." She gazed upwards for a moment, then smiled. "It's a beautiful morning. Would you fly with me? Just for a few minutes. The city looks pretty from a bird's eye view."
      Together they rose from the roof into the cloudless sky...

"That looks good." The tiny voice in his ear made him jump, but not noticeably. "Now, keep your legs together. Can you bend your right knee the tiniest bit? And point your toes? Yes, good, that looks great! Now, we're going to take you both up above the tower." A tiny pause, then, nervously, "Oh god. You aren't afraid of heights, are you? No-one's said anything to me..."
      This was going to become very tiresome very soon, Benten could tell. Just his luck to get a flight supervisor who insisted on asking questions when he had no way to answer...
      He raised his arms very slightly and arched his back - to the approval of the voice in his ear.
      "Yes! You're a natural. May I say what a pleasure it is working with you?"
      No you may not... Sometimes Benten wished he were telepathic...

It was quieter here, far above the city, though the everpresent hum of life still reached them through the still air. Rei watched Benten surreptitiously, admiring his graceful flight, and wondering how they would all manage if it proved impossible for the exiles to return to their own worlds. Syan would cope, she was sure - he seemed to take everything in his stride - and Goggles was as phlegmatic as they came. But Benten... She shook her head. Well, no doubt they'd find some way of coping.
      *Rei!! Get back here now! Emergency!*
      Startled, she paused in flight, hovering as she focussed.
      *Calm down 'kura. What's the matter?*
      *Emergency communication from MoonForce. Something's entering earth's orbit. They don't recognise it, and it's not answering any hails. They assume it's hostile.*
      Rei frowned. Benten dived towards her, halting and regarding her enquiringly. She sighed.
      "We need to return. We may have a problem."

They'd felt disconcertingly stupid for the duration of the final fight with the Egopsid. Jigson had had them all ferried to a vast warehouse specifically furnished for the event, the walls covered with soundproofed blue fabric, a huge bank of holographic projectors and computer imagers against one long wall. They'd been walked through the details of the fight, rehearsed in their individual parts of the battle, and been shown artists' sketches of how the whole section of the film should look.
      They then spent thirty days fighting nothing.
      Jigson assured them that the Egopsid would be inserted into the action later, using the computers, and the action would then be layered over external views of the Tokyo Tower. Goggles had been dismayed.
      "Y'mean we don't get to fight at the Tower?"
      Jigson shook his head.
      "We've been unable to get permission. Not that I expected to. And in any case it's too dangerous."
      The drummer sighed.
      "Yeah, I guess so."
      Jigson patted his back.
      "Trust me, it will look great..."
      He was half right. Where the two groups were fighting at a distance, using physical weapons or personal powers, the technicians had no difficulty inserting Egopsid warriors into the appropriate positions to be targeted. However, Spielvan wanted some hand to hand fighting between them all, and that had proved more difficult. In the end it had proved necessary to bring in some stunt experts, costume them in suits with tentacles and vicious fanged beaks, and choreograph the personal combat.
      Once they'd stopped laughing Sengoku and Goggles had quite enjoyed that part, especially since - of course - they won every fight. Benten had been less enthusiastic, and Jigson had eventually been forced to re-write the script to keep him at a distance and in the air, 'picking off' Egopsid with the slender reproduction laser rifle he'd been allocated.
      The final battle was to last half an hour of the film itself...

Riki glanced at his prince, concerned. Both Syan and Benten were still weary - the advisor not yet fully recovered from the crash and its aftermath - and now they were engaging what seemed like thousands of Egopsid warriors, armed to the beak, each handling at least two lethal weapons in their manipulative tentacles. Vicious, ruthless, when one fell another two seemed to take its place...
      He spared a thought for the girls, swooping and diving around the Tower, blasting the invaders with indefatigable strength, sending the Egopsid plummeting to the ground far below. Slimy grey bodies - and parts of bodies - were heaped around the Tower's base and splattered over the nearby buildings. And the Egopsid kept coming...
      Syan was flagging, his blasts now weaker and paler in hue. Riki manoeuvred himself closer with the aim of protecting the prince if necessary: Syan offered him a tired smile.
      "Are we winning?"
      The bodyguard smiled grimly.
      "Not yet, highness..."
      "Is Benten...?"
      Riki glanced upwards. The advisor was aloft, dodging Egopsid blasts and returning fire, but - the bodyguard focussed his lenses - his arms were trembling with the strain, his movements slower than normal, and going by the burned and bleeding skin of his shoulder and hip he'd taken two hits at least.
      No, they weren't winning. Nowhere near...
      "He is... holding his own, sire."
      Syan nodded as he cut apart another Egopsid, its entrails sliding to the platform then off the side, dripping to the ground far below.
      "Good. Can't do without my advisor..."

*It's not working.* Rei sounded stressed. *Even with the exiles we aren't powerful enough... No wonder Syan-sama's people couldn't stop them...*
      Emi was gasping, trembling with the strain.
      *What are we going to do, Rei? I don't know how much longer I can fight...*
      *We've no choice!* Chikako's voice held an edge of desperation. *We can't let them win! Think what would happen to the earth. The planet's mostly water - we'd be overrun in no time. Enslaved or exterminated...*
      Sakura glanced down at the prince, summoned up strength from somewhere, and fought grimly on...

We're going to lose. thought Riki despairingly. We can't defeat these numbers...
      Benten had landed on the platform beside his colleagues, dropped to one knee and was still, somehow, managing to fire on the invaders, although his strength was visibly deteriorating. Syan fought on one-handed, the other arm hanging limp and useless where the bone had broken. Riki was trying to protect them both, but they were surrounded now, only surviving because Rei was above them, killing Egopsid as they took aim.
      It was hopeless. They were all going to die, and then the Egopsid would have a clear path to this beautiful, complex, fertile world...
      A sudden retina-searing light above the Tower had them instinctively dropping to the ground. Seconds later Egopsid started falling from the sky like slimy grey autumn leaves.
      What...?
      Riki adjusted his lenses and peered upwards. There, in the centre of the light...
      One of their ships! A battle cruiser by the looks of it... He stood upright, gathered the other two to his armoured body and turned his back, protecting them against the onslaught from above.

It was over in moments. Earth's guardians landed close to the exiles, staring upwards at the large craft with wide, startled eyes. Riki uncurled but kept his grip on both the smaller males, supporting the exhausted Benten against his broad strong body as Syan found his balance and pulled away from the bodyguard, oblivious to Sakura healing his broken arm.
      All seven watched as the battle cruiser slowly, majestically and with the accompaniment of brightly pulsating lights descended to hover just off the Tower's upper platform.
      With a hissing, grinding noise a portal irised open in the side of the craft, while a ramp slid silently from below the blindingly-lit entrance, forming a bridge between Tower and vessel. A dark form stepped out onto the ramp - and lowered itself to one knee, head bowed.
      "Sire..."
      The voice was low and rich and sensual. They watched as the figure rose to its feet, and the light behind it dimmed as more... people exited the craft, bowing deeply before walking forwards onto the Tower. Syan stepped forwards, hands extended in welcome.
      "Greetings, Peoples of the Protectorate. You have our gratitude for your most timely action."
      The lead figure brushed back a heavy silky strand of corn-gold hair and smiled, blue eyes twinkling...

"Noooooooo!"
      Gina gritted her teeth and endured Sakura sobbing against her chest. This was the last thing she needed, salt tracks on her new pale coral tunic.
      "'kura, we've talked about this before..."
      "I thought we were going to save earth. Not... them... Not those old cows! It's not fair..."
      Fair enough, thought Gina, Jigson could have warned them. Come to that, so could the intruders themselves.
      As Jigson called 'cut', Helena had grinned, then given them all a twirl, the rich blue bodysuit with the straps and buckles down the arms and legs snug and sensuous against her tempting frame, the leather pushing her breasts together and up to display a delicious cleavage.
      "Isn't it fun? Spielvan thought, since we mean so much to the boys, we might like to appear in the film. Just at the end, in the rescue party."
      Gina - and Hasegawa - had to admit that it had been a shrewd move on the director's part: all five of them looked the part. Helena had become Ehle, captain of the Protectorate's newly constituted military force, with Shoko, in equally tight and revealing green leather, as her second in command. The makeup department had slicked Daicha's mohican into an even more startling crest than usual and sprinkled it with sparkling dust, and covered her eyes with a visor similar to Goggles', but silver and studded with tiny gemstones: her black bodysuit shone with a wet gleam that looked somehow as dangerous as the outrageously large laser-rifle she carried... Sarah, playing their pilot, wore yellow, the sides cut away, the arms and legs laced with rich amber fur. And Jade as communications officer and lesser hunter from Benten's people, was in jade green side-laced leggings identical to Benten's white, his long black hair woven through with green feathers, a gold chain linking his collar and nipple ring...

Rei's gaze swivelled between the newcomers and the exiles, confused.
      "Syan-sama, you know these people?"
      The prince nodded.
      "They are on our side, Rei. Our people."
      "Then we owe them our thanks." Rei bowed her head, hands held wide. "You have saved our planet."
      "For now, at any rate." Shoko smiled grimly. "We believe the Egopsid were able to transmit a communication to the homefleet before we arrived."
      "Which means they'll be here - though perhaps not until our war is over." Daicha had moved to stand beside Riki, their hands touching then parting again in a ritual greeting.
      Syan frowned.
      "Then we had best make sure we win the war. I would not see this world overrun." He turned to Rei, including her colleagues in his gaze. "We owe you a great debt."
      Ehle inclined her head.
      "Sire?"
      He smiled.
      "If it were not for these brave, self-sacrificing humans we would most likely have died here, lost and alone."
      Ehle's eyes widened, and she bowed deeply to the earth's protectors.
      "Then we are in your debt. Without the heir to the realm..." She shook her head. "I cannot bear to think of what might happen."
      Rei blushed.
      "It is..."
      "Our sacred trust." The others chorused. Rei chuckled.
      "Our sacred trust."
      The five newcomers pulled themselves upright and saluted, joined a second later by Benten, Riki and the prince...

The audience at the premier of Invasion Oedo had cheered, and ooohed and aaahed, and clapped and cheered again as the exiles took their leave of the girls - with considerable pathos on the part of Syan and Sakura - and there were a few surreptitious tears as the cruiser lifted into orbit and blasted off back to the Protectorate. And as the final credits rolled the whole theatre's worth of invitees stood, turned to the box where Aisu-Kurima, Criminal Intent, the guest stars and the directors were seated and raised glasses, lighters and clenched fists high into the air, screaming their appreciation. Sengoku, who'd spent most of the preceding three hours slumped in his seat squirming with embarrassment, looked shocked.
      "They... liked it?"
      Monglane raised his champagne glass and quirked an eyebrow.
      "Of course they did, dear boy. As I said they would."
      "But it was fucking awful!"
      Monglane smirked.
      "It doesn't matter. You were in it, that's the important thing."
      Sengoku shrugged helplessly, glancing around at the others for support, but Goggles was currently liplocked with Sarah, while Benten, Jade plastered to his back and Daicha looking on with interest, was deep in discussion with Chikako, apparently dissecting their soundtrack... Helena kissed his cheek.
      "Come on, sweetheart. It was fun, you were well paid, and you'll now have millions of ripe little girls, not to mention the fans, squirming in their seats every time they see you on the screen. It's an egotist's dream. Admit it. You love it!"
      Sengoku growled, then smirked.
      "If you put it like that... We didn't do too badly did we?"
      Hasegawa leaned forward and growled in his ear,
      "You did OK. Just. But don't think you can give up the day job..."

Four in the morning and the post-premier party was more or less over. Everyone had left, except for Hasegawa slumped on a sofa with Okyo's face buried in his groin, and a couple of fans, selected randomly to join the party, who had passed out on the floor. Benten lay on his back on his large luxurious futon, Jade curled up on one side, Daicha on the other, both dozing. Going by the noises coming from Sengoku's room it sounded as though he, Shoko and Helena were still at it. The bassist smiled to himself: earlier both the women had quietly asked him for the loan of several of his toys, and he'd noticed that Shoko had slipped two pairs of restraints into the back of her belt before disappearing into the singer's bedroom...
       It had been fun, thought Benten to himself. A fun experience making the film, fun writing the music with Chikako - from the orders already piling up for the film's soundtrack, even before it had been released, it looked as though they might have another best-selling disc on their hands - and the premier had been fun too. And he rather liked his character. It might be amusing to work Benten the bird alien into the act. He wondered if he could buy one of those anti-grav units, actually arrange to fly in their stage performance. He'd have to speak to Hasegawa, later, when their boss was... awake.
      It had also been a lot of fun watching Hasegawa and Gina interact this evening. The sniping had reached extraordinary levels of sophistication and acrimony: Benten had mentally noted some of the most barbed comments for later adaptation.
      But now - now he was tired. They'd left the party early, retiring to make love in the tub, then the bed, the three of them a beautiful combination of colours and propensities and skills. And none of them had anything planned for the next four days.
      He was going to enjoy the holiday.

Hasegawa moaned, rubbing his forehead as Okyo solicitously fed him painkillers and rehydration tablets. What the fuck had happened last night? He knew he hadn't drunk that much...It might have been a mistake accepting a cocktail from Benten. He winced as Chuck's goateed face appeared on his screen.
      "How's it hanging Juzo?"
      Hasegawa felt too wretched to respond, and eyed the E.O. sourly through half-open swollen eyelids. Chuck grinned.
      "Good party, eh? Well, got some good news for you."
      "I can hardly contain my enthusiasm."
      "I can tell." Chuck took a long drag of his cigar, exhaling noisily. "Monglane and Pagan want another meeting."
      Hasegawa groaned and closed his eyes.
      "What now?"
      At the sound of the E.O.'s malicious chuckle he forced his eyes open again. Chuck was smirking evilly.
      "They want you to read the script for the sequel..."