COMIC NO. 2
PROJECT A-KO 6 THE NEXT GENERATION - "SINGING THE TIME-WARP
BLUES"
OR "MY BABYSITTER WAS AN ALIEN"
Opening scene: Hikaru Daitokuji is sitting in his deluxe
swivel chair, fingers laced behind his head. He is very
content, and has fulfilled his agreement with Captain -- she
promised not to drink, and he promised to stop shafting
people in business. As a consequence, he has stopped
working altogether because he didn't know how to do it any
other way. A bumper sticker appears on the back of the
chair: "RETIRED - (kind of, sorta) -- no worries --- plenty
of cash ---". "You Ain't Nothing But a Hound Dog" is
blaring from the stereo.
Caption: "We start at the ridiculously opulent Daitokuji
(er, Napolipolita-Daitokuji) mansion, seven years after our
last adventure."
Hikaru: Ahh -- life is sweet. Think I'll hand the week's
work over to B-Ko and take the family to Tahiti -- that's
the ticket!
[N.B. Hikaru OWNS Tahiti.]
----------
Shot of Captain at her desk. Various awards and family
photos with about 1000 female family members in them hang on
the wall behind her head. She is frustrated, angry, and has
plainly had a dose of it.
Caption: "Life is less peaceful at the Central Astro Agency
for the Captain -- er, the CAA
Director-General --- "
Cap: Murder. This job is mur-DER!! I thought it was a good
career move to switch armies, but how in the galaxy did I
end up flying a desk?? Sigh! I'm going home.
----------
Caption: "Once home -- "
Captain's daughters #3, #4, and #5 are in a full-blown
slugfest in the living room. Captain immediately begins
shrieking to be heard above the din.
Cap: THIS PLACE IS CHAOS!!!!!! Can't I get any peace and
quiet ANYWHERE?
(looks at the object gripped in Arisa's hand) HEY ---- WHAT
HAVE I TOLD YOU AT LEAST HALF A MILLION TIMES????? NO PULSE
RIFLES IN THE HOUSE!!!
She is utterly ignored.
Arisa, around age 13 (it's difficult to tell with Cygnans),
grips her sister Atina's ponytail with the hand not occupied
with the pulse rifle and pulls.
Arisa: You owe me last week's allowance for those designer
jeans I bought for you!!!
You stink big time!!!
Atina is around 15 years old. All of the girls have Ma's
green hair and toughness.
Atina: GET OFFA ME PIGFACE!!!
Akana, around age 8 and once her mother's baby but long
since dethroned, stands by, howling.
Akana: MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
Captain (er, Director-General, but you get it, don't you?)
barrels into the room.
Cap: Arisa! Atina! Akana! What is going ON? I can't
STAND it!!!! Why can't you girls get along like you did on
Alpha Cygni?
Arisa and Atina, in chorus: We're bored.
Akana (gratuitously): And we hate each other, too.
Shot of Captain close-up. She is truly formidable.
Cap: YOU'RE ALL SPOILED ROTTEN!! TOO MUCH PAMPERING, TOO
MUCH MONEY!
If you're bored, GO PUMP SOME IRON!!!!
-----------
Shot of Hikaru's office. He wears the latest version of his
fur-collared green velvet smoking jacket. Captain wears the
white tunic-and-pants Director's outfit, accessorized with
black boots and belt. Of course, it is festooned with
medals and gold stars, and she is rarely without her Cygnan
shades.
Cap (sitting on his desk, waving her arms in agitation):
Hikaru-Sama -- I think they should WORK for their money.
Earth girls babysit -- so should they. I'll see to it.
Hikaru (thinking): Going to Tahiti sounds easier --
----------
Shot of the family room. Accompanying the three combatants
are their little half-Earthling sisters. They are adorable
and it is characteristic of all of them that they hang onto
their mother at every opportunity -- on her shoulders,
around her waist, arms, legs, etc. At this moment, Cap is
kneeling on the floor, holding baby Kazushi. Shiiko and
Mitsuko hang onto their mother lovingly. Atina, Arisa, and
Akana are plainly pissed.
Cap (lecturing them for their own good): Listen up,
sweeties -- things are going to change around here! You
kids have it so easy -- when I was twelve, I was an orphan
AND a cadet and believe me, I learned military discipline
EARLY.....
The girls roll their eyes. They have heard it all a million
times and know that 90% of it is crap.
Arisa: Here we go with the twelve-year-old war hero story
again.
Atina: It's baloney. D let it slip that Ma sneaked off the
ship when she was fifteen, got smashed, then barfed all over
her commanding officer!! They couldn't throw her out
because grandmother
had been the Commander --
Akana: EEEEeeewww Yuck!
Cap: AND YOU CAN START YOUR NEW CAREERS AS BABYSITTERS BY
WATCHING YOUR LITTLE SISTERS!! We won't have to impose on
poor D any more.
The three Cygnan daughters hang desperately onto each other,
attempting a show of force.
Atina: NO!!!!
Arisa: Ma, they are so OBNOXIOUS!
Akana: MUST BE THEIR EARTH BLOOD!!
Kazushi is cuddled in Ma's muscular arms, exuding adoration
and sucking her thumb.
Captain leaves the room. Since Shiiko and Mitsuko hang onto
her legs, walking is difficult.
Arisa (stunned): WORK? ME?
Hikaru, still in his smoking jacket, tiptoes in and sneaks
Atina a huge wad of greenbacks.
He enjoys pampering these girls, whose lives were hard until
they came to Earth.
Hikaru: (P-s-s-s-st girls -- here's $100 to tide you over.)
Atina (taking the wad): Thanks, Dad!
Akana (frowning at Atina, sotto voce): You're sharing that,
you know.
Captain overhears and barrels back into the room, livid.
She gets nose to nose with Hikaru, which is her favorite
domestic combat pose.
Cap: I SAW THAT!!! I SAW THAT!!! DO YOU THINK IT'S FUNNY
THAT THEY'RE LAZY AND SPOILED???? I WORKED for a living at
their age...busted my back for YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS----
!
Hikaru (smiles at her): Relax. We're rich. Let's go to
Tahiti.
The girls stand behind him, exultant.
Arisa: Heh heh heh -- clean her clock, Dad.
Atina: Break out the new swimsuits we bought last week!
Akana: I LOVE Earth!
----------
Caption: "Several weeks later.."
Captain is dressed up, ready to go out. She wears an off-
the-shoulder long gown (slit up the side, of course). Her
hair is very long and parted in the middle. She smiles
benignly at her six girls. Three are furious -- guess which
ones!
Cap: OK Atina darling -- here's the plan. You and your
sisters watch the little ones as well as A-Ko's, Princess C-
Ko's, and Mari's kids tonight. We'll be at a party in the
Princess's honor sponsored by the Cygnan/Earth Coordinating
Committee --
Atina (compliant, wearing a print bodysuit with matching
tunic): Yes, Ma'am.
Arisa (dressed in a cute Earth mini set with white boots,
her hair in a short punk shag): I hope Akana doesn't drop
the little Princess on her HEAD.
Shiiko and Mitsuko cling desperately to their mother's legs,
weeping.
Shiiko: BOO HOO!
Mitsuko: DON'T GO!!
Akana wears a poor-boy sweater, a daisy-print miniskirt, and
zoris. She is holding baby Kazushi.
Even though she is sucking her thumb, Kazushi struggles
valiantly to be free so that she can also cling to her
mother.
Akana (to herself): This rots. (To Kazushi) Don't drool
on my shirt, you litle puke.
----------
Caption: "The partygoers start arriving at the mansion..."
Shot of A-Ko, Kei, and their two kids. A-Ko looks about the
same; she wears a long evening gown and has her hair in an
upsweep. She holds their daughter, who strongly resembles
her.
Kei is going bald and is none to happy about it; nosireebob.
He holds their toddler son, who is wearing a motorcycle
helmet and is generally obsessed with Harley Davidson bikes.
Kei (to the babysitters): This is our little girl, Asami,
and our son, Kei.
Kei Jr.: Harley, brrrrumm, brrrrummm!
In walks C-Ko in full Cygnan regalia. Her hair is long but
done rather punk. She wears a crown and those damned
daisies. She holds her squalling brat as far away from her
clean gown as she can.
Cko: YA-HO! Here's little Princess Asamalita -- uh, I
think she needs changing.
Asamalita: BAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Arisa (to her sister): (Our princess or not -- she's
GROSS.)
Atina (to her sister): (PEW!)
Suddenly, the polished marble floors of the Daitokuji (er,
Napolipolita-Daitokuji) mansion quake and tremor. It is
either a massive earthquake or ----- Mari with her husband
Yuji Azawa, who is a mammoth Sumo wrestler. Hanging around
his bull neck is a large and frowning little girl, who wears
twin braids just like dear old Mom used to wear.
Yuji: This is little Rose.
Arisa: (Yikes! That's the biggest four-year-old I've ever
seen!!!)
Mari (beaming with pride at her little precious): Mwfff.
Rose: WHAT ARE YOU STARING AT, YOU CYGNAN GEEKS?
----------
Everyone is ready to depart. The girls are in the
foreground, all with hideous grimaces on their faces.
Arisa: SEVEN LITTLE TWERPS! GREAT MOTHER!
Hikaru: If you girls can pull this off, I'll DOUBLE your
money.
Captain is playing coochie with him but she frowns at this.
Atina: Sorry, Dad, but NO amount of money can adequately
compensate us for THIS.
Akana (pleading): Send us back to Alpha Cygni!!
Yuji (smiling): Mwfffff.
Mari (smiling): Grffff.
Ako: Bye bye hon-ees...
Kei: Oh!
Cap: Be good and remember -- NO offensive weapons where the
babies might get them.
Princess Cko (moronically) YA-HO.
Bko (older, with a more sophisticated look, eyeing her
stepmother with irritation): I can remember when Captain
thought I was a brat....ha! ha!
D (thinking): SO glad it isn't me!
----------
The great double doors slam shut.
Caption: "The kids are in charge!"
Arisa: Now what?
Atina (the oldest, asserting herself): I'm sick of being
the obedient daughter. We're not bad kids -- remember all
those years in Lepton military schools?
Akana (an evil smile forming on her lips): Want to "act
out", as they say? Let's do something FUN -- after all, we
have to keep the babies AMUSED...
The little charges are seated together in a lump. Captain's
three youngest girls are inconsolable.
Shiiko doesn't seem to care that she is wearing her new
Daitokuji T-shirt, the one with the dollar signs all over
it. Mitsuko is wearing a pair of her mother's Cygnan shades
to comfort herself.
Baby Kazushi stands motionless in her bib-alls, sucking her
thumb.
Asami (to herself, looking at Little Rose): That big kid is
weird.
Rose (only partly to herself): She's going to get her face
broken before the night is done.
Kei Jr.(holding his toy motorcycle): Harley? Vrrum?
Princess Asamalita: BAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Suddenly, Arisa has an inspiration. She grabs Atina by the
shoulders in triumph.
Atina: YUCK! Get offa me!
Arisa: I've got it!! Let's fire up Ma's ENDY!!!
[ENDY is the popular name for Captain's light-speed cruiser,
formally the "NAPOLIPOLITA-DAITOKUJI SILVER EDITION CLASSIC
LOTUS BLOSSOM SPECIAL" or "N.D."]
Akana (elated): BABIES WANT TO GO FOR A RIDE?
----------
Each of the three babysitters has a child under each arm.
All we see is little butts. Kazushi is facing the wrong
way, however, and distress is written all over her face.
Arisa: Do you know how to fly the thing?
Atina: No ... we left the Space Academy before I learned to
fly. But hey --
Akana (ever resentful of her little half-sisters): I used
to be the baby of the family, you Earth
brats!
Rose (standing behind all of them): I told them that if
they tried to pick ME up I'd send them back to their home
planet on the end of my FOOT.
----------
Shot of the family's personal aircraft hangar. The ENDY is
in view.
Atina: Ma's old chugger will go Warp l0 -- really, really
fast. Do you remember that rhyme she used to sing to us?
Arisa (wincing): Hardly. She was the worst singer on Alpha
Cygni.
Atina: I think it went "Go over Warp 3, you're as fast as
can be; Go over Warp 4, and you're
close to the door; go over Warp 5, and you're in
hyperdrive..."
Arisa: Oh yeah. "Go over Warp 9 and you'll find a new
time." Ma told us never, EVER to go over Warp 9 or we'd
alter time as well as space.
The girls face each other. Their grim expressions slowly
stretch into diabolical smiles.
Atina: DARE YA!
Arisa: LET'S KICK THAT SUCKER INTO HYPERSPACE!!!! KIDDIES
-- LINE UP AND FILE IN!
---------
Everyone is inside the ENDY's cockpit. Unfortunately, they
are all airborne. Some of the children are spinning
uncontrollably, while others are desperately trying to cling
to one other.
Arisa (floating above the left control panel) ATINA YOU
MORON! HIT THE ARTIFICIAL GRAVITY!!!
Atina: CAN'T FIND IT!!! MA WAS ALWAYS A LOUSY DESIGNER!
Asami: GONNA HURL!
Kei Jr.(observing toy): Wheeee! Harley flying!
Princess Asamalita: BAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Rose (upside down): I'll have my mom beat up their mom.
----------
Caption: "While the girls figure out the ENDY's controls,
Captain -- er, Director-General --
livens up the party by demonstrating the maneuverability of
her new prototype, the Napolipolita-Daitokuji Short-Hop Sky
Cruiser..."
Captain, hair flying, is truly a psycho pilot. Her hands
speed through the control sequences. She is obviously just
about as happy as she can be.
Ako (clutching Keisama, who is terrified): WE'RE ALL GOING
TO DIE!
Princess Cko: I COMMAND YOU TO LAND THIS BUCKET!
Hikaru (with his hand over his mouth): AYSHA! TAKE US DOWN!
I'M GOING TO BE SICK!
Cap (cheerfully): What's the matter, sweetie, don't you
like to fly? (observes flashing lights on the control
panel) Oooops, there goes my proximity alert light!
----------
Shot of the ENDY shooting out of the hangar and into the
Graviton City night sky.
It barely misses Captain's craft.
Cap: LOUSY ROTTEN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL IN THIS TOWN!!!
Hikaru: Earp-p-p-p-p-p!
Arisa: This is cool!
Akana: Hey, wasn't that Ma?
----------
Shot of the interior of the ENDY. The girls are clustered
about Arisa, who is manipulating the controls with a serious
expression.
Arisa: We're in geosynchronous orbit around Earth.
Cranking up Warp Speed....7..8..
Akana: Didn't Ma tell us that was dangerous?
Princess Asamalita: BAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Atina (with mouth wide open, looking suspiciously like Ma
herself): Wait!
Maybe we should rethink this!!
------------
There is a massive KA-BLAM! When everyone's head clears,
the girls look out the window at Planet Earth.
Atina: Yow! The continents look different!
Arisa: Ever hear of plate tectonics? Maybe we should land.
----------
The children disembark onto a tropical landmass. Cycad trees
are in full bloom. An active
volcano and a triceratops are in plain view before them.
Atina: GRAB THE KIDS! WE'RE IN THE CRETACEOUS!!!!!
Kei Jr. and Asami run delightedly toward not only the trike,
but also to a TRex which has just come upon the scene.
Asami: YIPPEEEE!
Kei Jr.: HORSIE!
Akana: TOO LATE!
Shot of Asami riding the triceratops. Kei Jr. has picked up
Rexy and is spinning him around in the palm of his little
hand.
Kei Jr.: Funner than Harley!
Arisa: Now we've done it! Looks like the passage through
the time-space continuum has triggered the latent
superpowers of A-Ko's kids!
Atina (pointing to a distant bright object in the sky): Uh
-- what's that up there?
Arisa looks. Her eyes bulge right out of her head in
terror.
Arisa: OH GREAT MOTHER!!! WE ARRIVED HERE TEN MINUTES
BEFORE THE K-T EVENT!!!!!! GET EVERYONE IN THE SHIP QUICK!
NOW!! MOVE IT!!!!!!
----------
Shot of outer space. A massive asteroid is colliding with
Earth, sending up debris from its huge impact crater off the
coast of Yucatan. The ENDY is barely out of harm's way.
Arisa: Whew, that was really close!
Akana: So much for the dinosaurs. Too bad -- I thought
they were cute. Punch it to Warp 10!
----------
Caption: "Meanwhile, back at the party..."
Captain and Hikaru are slow-dancing. She is plainly
worried.
Cap: Hmmmm. I have a funny feeling. I think I should
contact the girls.
Hikaru (dreamy, really into the music): No -- stay here.
They have an Elvis medley coming up.
----------
There is another enormous KA-BLAM!
The girls look out the window upon Earth and see a harbor
and mountains.
Arisa: Where are we? And WHEN are we?
Atina: Looks tropical...looks like a lot of airfields and
...gulp....battleships...OH NO!
Suddenly a Japanese fighter plane zips past the ENDY. The
AK AK AK AK of its machinegun fire echoes across lovely
Pearl Harbor.
Akana: HEY, WATCH IT!
Arisa (who knows her Earth history): It's a Zero torpedo
bomber, circa 1941! Forget landing here!! MOVE it!
The Zero makes a loop and circles the strange futuristic
aircraft. The girls, their faces pressed against the ENDY's
windows, see the pilot himself. He is wearing a leather
helmet, goggles, and a white banner with the Rising Sun
around his head.
Pilot: Is that a new kind of American bomber????
Atina (trying to scream through the impact-proof plastic):
DON'T DO IT!!!
Arisa (making the same effort): HEY DUMMY!!! YOU GUYS ARE
GOING TO LOSE!!!
(to herself) Why DID Kamikaze pilots wear helmets, anyway?
Shiiko: I want my mama NOW.
Rose (her arms in the air, triumphant): BANZAI
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
----------
The ENDY once again shatters the time barrier with a huge
KAAAAA-BLAM!!!
Caption: "After their visit to Pearl Harbor, the kids
inadvertently warp into Upstate New York, circa 1969--"
Shot of the girls huddled in terror as a group of hippies
approach them. These are typical of the age; i.e., tie-dye
tank tops, peace symbols, long hair with lots and lots of
split ends.
Atina (mystified): Who are all these thousands of people?
Hippie Girl (making peace sign): FAR OUT! (Speaking to
Akana, in reference to her daisy-print skirt) LOVE your
flower-power mini!
Akana (baffled): Flower power? It is only the Sign of my
Princess!
Hippie Boy (observing the Cygnan glasses): COOL SHADES!
Kazushi stands by patiently, sucking her thumb.
Princess Asamalita (trapped behind Atina's legs):
BAWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Hippie Boy hands the girls a bomber.
Hippie Boy: Want a toke? Good buzz.
Arisa: No thanks -- we're not into mood-altering chemicals.
Our mom is a recovering alcoholic.
Hippie Girl (to Atina): Do you iron your hair? And do you
swim a lot? It's REALLY green!
----------
Shot of the entire Woodstock festival. The speakers are
blaring "AND IT'S ONE---TWO---THREE, WHAT ARE WE FIGHTIN'
FOR?" The girls are on the shoulders of members of the
audience. Akana wears Hippie Boy's Op Art sunglasses.
Atina has flowers in her hair. All are clapping along.
Arisa: I say go with it --
----------
Caption: "Meanwhile, the adults return!"
Adults: Hello, we're home!
Silence.
Mari: GRRRRR!!
A-Ko (frowning): CAPTAIN. WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN?
Captain runs over to some equipment she keeps in another
room. Horrified, she clasps both hands over her mouth, but
even this isn't enough to keep her mouth totally shut.
Cap: NO NO NO NO NO!! My ENDY is missing!! And, according
to this monitor, they exceeded regulation Warp Speed and
went through the time-space continuum!! They're in 1969
America!!
(What do I do...UH....)
She addresses the other parents, feeling the noose tighten
as she speaks.
Cap (with phony optimism): I'll get them, using Hikaru's
ENDY. Don't worry...just let me throw on my old Cygnan
uniform...I always wear it for luck when navigating time
warps... (To herself) MY GIRLS ARE DEAD MEAT!
----------
She returns in her old captain's uniform, cheerfully humming
a tune. Everyone glares at her as she leaves the room for
the hangar.
D (always protective of her Captain): Oh no.
Hikaru: MY KIDS ARE WHERE?
Ako: I'll come too.
----------
Shot of Captain and A-Ko in the Endy. They are both
floating through the air. Captain's eyes are like saucers;
her cape flaps up toward the ship's ceiling. Ako has lost a
shoe and her upsweep is REALLY becoming upswept. The
control panel Location Board states: Destination:
Earth. Location: North America. Unit: United States. New
York. Woodstock. (Far Out!).
Captain: Sorry...forgot where the antigravity shut-off
lever is located. (To herself) THIS IS NOT
GOING WELL AT ALL GREAT MOTHER I AM SO EMBARRASSED THAT I
COULD DIE!
Ako: Gee, Captain, this is almost as much fun as that gut-
wrenching little jaunt you took us on earlier tonight...it's
a lucky thing for you that I have superpowers...or you'd
have to redecorate!
(To herself) Nice girl, but couldn't find her couch in her
living room with a map and a flashlight!
----------
There is a resounding KA-BLAAAM!
The women are at Woodstock. The giant speakers are blaring,
"Freedom, Freedom..."
There are people as far as the eye can see.
Cap: What IS this place? I'm too old for this.
Ako: I think they were called "rock concerts." Hey
Captain..how do we find the babies among half a million
people?
Shot of Captain's hand. She wears an ornate band around her
left wrist. On her finger is the massive wedding ring Hikaru
gave her, which is embarrassingly but delightfully
expensive.
Cap: It's easy -- I have a portable tracker that keys off
Lepton brain waves. They're over there by the Porta-Johns.
Ako (to herself): Think those diamonds are BIG enough,
Captain?
A-Ko begins running, an incongrous sight with her party
hairdo, her long gown, and her bracers.
Ako: It's fun to charge up, just like the old days!
Cap: Hey, wait for me!
Two hippies are gazing at the tall, green-headed jack-booted
soldier, with her futuristic uniform.
Hippie #1: Either that's dynamite weed we smoked earlier,
or Marvel comics are REAL.
Hippie #2: That cloak is SO COOL.
----------
Shot of Arisa and Atina. Their facial expressions reflect
shock and horror. Arisa's hands cover her face and Atina's
wave frantically in front of her, as if she pushing
something away.
Girls: OH NO!!!! HERE COMES OUR
MOTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Captain is seen from the back, as intimidating as only she
can be. The girls are trying to play it cool.
Atina: Ulp!
Arisa: Hi, Mama....we just warped around a little.
Cap: DON'T SMOKE ANY OF THAT STUFF!!!
----------
Captain sits on the ground, with Mitsuko on her lap, Shiiko
under her right arm, and Kazushi trying to muscle her way
onto her mother's shoulder. Akana is running toward her,
stricken.
Cap: Come on, girls. I'll program the endy to take you
back..then we'll all be home.
Akana (weeping): Make room for me, Ma!
A-Ko is also on the ground, hugging her two children.
Arisa: Uh, Mrs.Yuki -- turns out your kids DO have
superpowers.
Ako: Great, I'm glad!
Kei Jr.: Mama, dinosaurs!
Ako: Dinosaurs -- oh my God!
----------
Shot of Captain holding Akana, who is the neediest of her
children. She is stroking her head.
Akana's face reflects love and relief.
Cap: Akana, you'll ALWAYS be my little baby.
-----------
Shot of Atina and Arisa. The jig is up.
Atina: Well, it was fun while it lasted. Let's board
everyone up and head out. (To herself) Dead, dead, dead,
we are SO dead.
Arisa: Ma is going to ground us for the rest of our lives.
----------
Caption: "After some temporary commotion, the ENDY warps
home."
As in the earlier scene, the antigravity shutoff switch
remains unlocated and everyone is floating through the air.
A-Ko and her children are actually enjoying it.
Kei Jr.: Funner than Harley! Even funner than T-Rex!
Asami (held under her mother's arm): Wheeeeee!
Ako: Actually, this IS quite a rush...
The Napolipolita-Daitokujis aren't faring as well.
Atina: HEY MA! HIT THE ARTIFICIAL GRAVITY!
Captain has Arisa under her left arm and Kazushi (sucking
her thumb) under her right. Shiiko and Mitsuko are hanging
onto her long hair and each other.
Cap (embarrassed and upset): I CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE I PUT
IT!!!!
Arisa (to herself, and a good thing too): Atina was right
about Ma being a lousy designer.
Little Rose floats in front of the captain's chair, a scowl
on her face.
Rose: I'm really sick of this crazy Amazon and all of her
weird kids!
Akana (floating nearby, and pulling one of Rose's braids
nearly out of her head): I WOULDN'T TALK ABOUT 'AMAZONS' IF
I WERE YOU.....
Princess Asamalita is wrapped around the base of the
captain's chair.
PRINCESS ASAMALITA: BAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
------------
Shot of the interior of the Daitokuji mansion, where a happy
reunion is taking place.
D: I knew my Captain would succeed!
Bko: What a bunch of brats!
Asami (who is running into A-Ko's arms): I'm STRONG, Mama!
C-Ko is hugging Princess Asamalita, who is actually smiling.
Cko: Ya-Ho!
Mari holds her little darling.
Rose: Mother, I want all these weirdo aliens deported!
Captain, her nerves worn to a frazzle, collapses in Hikaru's
arms.
Cap: WHEW!
Hikaru (to himself): My life was a lot -- er, calmer --
before she crash-landed on my city...
Mitsuko and Shiiko (hopping up and down, arms waving
frantically): MAMA DADEE MAMA DADEE MAMA DADEE MAMA DADEE
MAMA DADEE MAMA DADEE MAMA DADEE!!!!!!
----------
With a sweep of her black cape, Captain seizes Atina and
Arisa by the hair on their respective
heads.
Cap (teeth bared): NOW, YOUNG LADIES!
Arisa: Great Mother, here it comes!!!!!
Atina: Fifteen is too young to die!!!!
Suddenly, Hikaru whips around the corner, gets between
Captain and the girls, and throws his arm around her
shoulder. Her fists are clenching - unclenching - clenching
- unclenching (shudder!).
Hikaru (pulling all the throttles out on his charm): You're
upset, Aysha... Why not let ME decide the punishment? After
all, we share the benefits AND burdens of parenthood...
Cap: Oh boy, what a CROCK. (She is, however, a sucker for
his sweet-talk....) Well...OK.
Atina (smiling): YES!
Arisa (smiling): SAVED!
Akana: SPARED! (After all, I AM her little baby...)
Shot of Hikaru's benign face. He addresses the miscreants.
Hikaru: Your punishment will be -- starting your own
business and making money at it! (Tell your mother that I
took away your allowance for a month, or something...oh
yeah! Here's an
extra $100 ----)
Girls: COOL!
----------
Caption: "Several months after the babysitting fiasco, Alia
and Alana...Captain's oldest girls...
visit from deep space and the War College, respectively.."
Shot of the three women sitting poolside. Captain is in the
middle. Her pride in these girls is obvious. Alia is now the
Cygnan commander and wears a uniform similar to the one her
mother wore years ago. Alana, stunningly beautiful,
attends military school in Kyoto.
Alia: We colonized three new solar systems this year --
Alana: I aced Armaments III, Ma ...
Captain (to herself, beaming): SUCH good girls!!
Alia: By the way, what are the Teenage Terrors up to at
Dad's office?
Alana (chiming in): Something about a time travel business.
Aren't they a little young for warping?
Captain: WHAAAT?
Captain bolts from the patio and races toward the driveway.
The girls look at her in astonishment.
Alia: Ulp...did I say the wrong thing?
Alana: Apparently.
Captain (raving): THAT'S IT!!! I'M ALWAYS THE LAST TO
KNOW!!! DAITOKUJI IS A DEAD MAN!!!! (To the chauffeur)
FIRE UP THE LIMO!!
------------
Shot of Captain in front of an office door which reads,
"TIME WARP TOURS, LTD. A Subsidiary of the Napolipolita-
Daitokuji Financial Group, Inc."
Cap: AAARRRGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!
----------
Shot of Hikaru, Arisa, Atina, and B-Ko in the office. They
all wear suits. Captain bursts through the door and towers
over them, fuming.
Cap: WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU' RE DOING, HIKARU????? TRYING
TO TURN MY GIRLS INTO EARTHLING INDUSTRIALISTS??? WHAT'S
THE STORY, SWEETIE?????
(Only partly to herself) I, on the other hand, have tried to
instill them with good, solid CYGNAN
values -- shooting straight, careening endlessly through
hyperspace, and having a zillion kids!
Hikaru (his old smooth self): Aysha my love. How good to
see you. (To himself) I'd call out the military to protect
me, but she runs it...
Atina: It's OK, Ma...we're only going over financial
statements.
Bko: Watch Father sweet-talk his way out of THIS one!
----------
Shot of Hikaru next to Captain, with B-Ko standing by.
Cap (sotto voce): This had better be good, babe.
Hikaru: Let me explain. Since babysitting doesn't seem to
be their strong point, the girls have created a business
offering time travel tours to the public...
Bko (being a bitch, and what a surprise!): And if the truth
be told, they weren't so hot at THAT, either...
Captain looks at the young ones, feeling rather ashamed.
Cap (thinking) Yikes, did I ever blow this one...! (Aloud)
Sorry, everyone...guess I just lost my head. You girls look
very nice in those suits.
Arisa: You WANTED us to earn our own money..once we did, we
spun off the travel agency and used the proceeds to fund our
own DAY CARE CENTER!
Atina: Surprise! Now you and your friends can find a
babysitter any time you want!
Bko (only partly to herself): AND -- Arisa and Atina WON'T
be the babysitters!
Captain hugs her two daughters: I'm so proud of ALL my
girls..
She gives B-Ko a loving pat. B-Ko shrugs her off.
Atina: Now -- the capper --- We made enough to buy toys and
presents for the family!
----------
Caption: "Well, Reader, how's THIS for a happy ending?"
Shot of the Daitokuji living room. The entire family is
sitting together on the couch. Of course, it is enormous.
Atina and Arisa are together. Hikaru hugs Aysha around the
neck. Shiiko is hanging onto her hair; Mitsuko is being
hugged on her lap, and Kazushi (sucking her thumb) is
balanced on her knees. Alana has her hands around the baby,
supporting her. B-Ko and Alia
(who are fast friends) are conversing. Akana is sitting on
the floor, hands folded, with a blissful expression on her
face.
Atina: Everyone loves their presents!! I've developed a
preference for bellbottoms, thanks to Woodstock!
Arisa: Kind of makes up for our bratty behavior, doesn't it?
Hee! Hee!
Cap (wearing a gorgeous new kimono): My girls are SO
thoughful.
Hikaru: Never underestimate the power of a bribe!!
Alana (thinking): Good thing this house has 120 rooms --
all these people are driving me weird!
Alia: Move over, B-Ko!!
Bko: Alia, how about a joint venture to mine iridium from
the core system asteroids? Hmmm?
(Thinking) Not EVERY Japanese executive has the Cygnan
commander for a sister!!)
Akana (singing to herself): Mama's baby, Ma---ma's ba----
by.....
THE END (for now!)
Stay posted for the next exciting adventure, "Project A-Ko 7
The Next Generation:
'Ain't Love Grand?' or 'How Can You Love Me when I'm Driving
You Crazy?"
Captain goes middle-age coo-coo and Arisa finds an Earth
boyfriend. Hikaru has a wonderful 36th birthday present for
Captain -- and she has TWO for him!!
(
geocities.com/tokyo/dojo) (
geocities.com/tokyo)