Mars watched, resigned, as Jupiter went down,
overwhelmed by Reini's ki attack.  Venus shifted beside her as
cheers went up from the crowd, who were really getting into the
fight.  And why not? Mars thought.  An intense battle, and at the
end, they get to see a gorgeous girl stripped naked.  A little thrill
for the troops.
     And in this case, a little something extra.  Sure enough,
Reini pulled the limp Jupiter into her arms and, as her fellow senshi
watched helplessly, delivered her own sensual coup de grace.
      The crowd went wild.  Mars noted that Jupiter didn't seem
to be resisting at all, and hoped their friend wasn't hurt badly.  Then
Reini stood, hoisting the limp Jupiter with ease.  Holding her from
behind, Reini stripped off Jupiter's dress, revealing her generous
assets to appreciative hoots and cheers from the crowd, both in the
bar and on the scene.  Reini circled slowly, giving everyone a good
look at the subjugated fighter.
     Mars couldn't complain about that, at least.  Any female
could be licenced under the VG system, allowing her to act as a
bounty hunter and general troubleshooter in Undercity.  You didn't
even have to give your real name, or reveal anything about yourself
or your past.  The potential for financial reward was great, the
potential for excitement and danger was greater, and many girls had
parleyed notoriety or riches from the VG system into bigger and
better things.
     In return, however, holders of a VG licence had to abide by
the rules of the system.  And one of them, of course, was that the
loser of a VG challenge match ended up naked.
     This was, of course, immensely popular with the populace.
As for the fighters, anyone who couldn't handle being on either end
of such an outcome didn't last under the VG system.
     "Hey," Venus said, leaning forward.  "What's she doing?"
Mars looked at the screen, frowning.  Reini had finished parading
her vanquished opponent, apparently.  Now, she was slinging the
naked girl, apparently unconscious, over her shoulder and carrying
her off.
     "That's too much," Mars snarled.  "What does she think
she's doing?"  They watched for a moment as the ecstatic crowd
parted to let Reini and her burden through.
     "Where the hell is Mercury?" she went on, beginning to worry.
"Why isn't she doing something?"
     "I don't know," Venus said anxiously.  "But maybe we'd
better get down there."  Mars cursed silently.  She wasn't certain
where the match had been held, and although they could find out
from any VG terminal, by the time they got there Reini was bound
to be long gone.
     There was no other choice, though.  It looked like Jupiter might
be in trouble.  She bolted from the table, with Venus close behind.
     Her week just kept getting worse and worse.


#####

     Warm.
     That was her first impression.  Warmth suffused her,
enveloping battered flesh in a plush cloak of well-being.  She
wanted to revel in it, like a kitten luxuriating in slow, soothing
strokes of her coat.  It was at once languid, soothing, and arousing,
and part of her wanted to lie there and cocoon herself in this
sensual delight forever.
     Her eyelids fluttered as she fought to rouse herself from that
intoxicating embrace.  It felt so nice, but something was wrong,
something she should remember.  Dimly, she was aware of aches
and pains, of something warm under one cheek, of a subtle yet
alluring perfume, of cool air on her naked skin ...
     Naked?
     Jupiter opened her eyes, fighting off confusion.  She'd lost
her challenge match, and then that witch Reini had KISSED her,
and ...
     And she was lying down with her head in someone's lap.
     That someone gently brushed her hair out of her face, and she stared up
to see whose lap she her head was pillowed in.
     Reini Jahanna gazed back, smiling.
     With a startled yelp, she bolted upright, flinging herself
away.  She rammed painfully into something hard, something that
turned out to be a door handle.
     She fought to control her pounding heart as she took stock
of the situation.  She was in the back of a limousine.  Naked.  With
a very amused looking Reini Jahanna.
     Things could be better.
     "Ah, Jupiter," Reini murmured, her voice caressing naked
skin like silk.  Jupiter shuddered in spite of herself, crossing her
arms over her chest and drawing her leg up.
     "What the hell's this, you pervert?" Jupiter snapped.  The
car wasn't moving, and she wondered if the cold door pressed
against her back was locked.  Reini smiled lazily, scooping a deep
goblet half-full of dark red liquid from it's padded cubbyhole and
taking an appreciative sip, her mesmerizing eyes lidded with
pleasure.
     "Ah, I see rumour of my ... appetites ... precedes me," she
purred.  "And you are quite lovely, Jupiter, but set your mind at ease.  I
did not bring you here to have my way with you."  She took another sip, her
icy blue eyes lingering on Jupiter's exposed body, and the tall senshi
blushed furiously in spite of herself.  Reini's appreciation of her naked
form was quite brazen, and although it usually took more than an appraising
stare to unnerve her this woman was really getting to her.
     "Let me out," Jupiter demanded.  She felt her power rising
with her temper, and wondered what sort of damage her lightning
would do in such close quarters.  Reini inclined her head slightly,
peering out at Jupiter from behind the silk screen of her hair.
     "You may go whenever you wish," she said simply.  "However,
the streets here are quite busy and you are ... shall we say, not
dressed for downtown."  Jupiter's lips pulled back in a snarl.  It
wasn't bad enough that Reini had beaten her, stolen a kiss, and
stripped her, now she was playing games?  There were all sorts
of rumours about Reini taking liberties with the girls she defeated,
but if the bitch thought Jupiter was going to sit still for any monkey
business she was in for a rude awakening.
     "Of course," Reini went on blithely, pulling a heavy black
cloak from a compartment in the console in front of her, "if you will
stay and listen to what I have to say, I'll give you this before
sending you on your way."  Teeth ground as Jupiter clenched her
jaw.  Blackmail.  Of course, half of the people out there had just
SEEN her naked, but that didn't mean she was going to go running
down the street starkers.  Not if there was some way around it.
     "You're not my type," she said sullenly, staring at the aloof
beauty from as far away as possible.  Reini just smiled.
     "As I told you, that's not why you are here," Reini said, her
cool composure maddening.  "I challenged you today because I
wanted to judge your abilities first hand."
     "Really?" Jupiter asked sourly.  "And how did I measure
up?"  Reini sipped her wine contemplatively.
     "Oh, I was duly impressed," she allowed.  "You show a
great deal of raw potential.  That is fortunate, since our destinies
are linked so closely."  Jupiter felt a sudden skittering chill that had
nothing to do with her lack of clothing.
     "What are you talking about?" she asked shortly.  "What
destiny?"  Reini's gaze met and held her own, and Jupiter
suppressed another shudder.  There was an air about the woman, an
indefinable aura of power that she wore with effortless confidence.
     "To those ignorant masses, you are Jupiter, VG fighter and
bounty hunter," Reini said, her voice quiet but compelling.  "But
you are more than that.  You are Jupiter, senshi of the Court of
Shadow Moon."  Shock knifed through her at the woman's words,
delivered so matter-of-factly.  Jupiter could only gape at the
woman, her thoughts reduced to utter disarray.
     "How?" she whispered finally.  "How do you know about
that?  It's impossible ..."
     "Come now," Reini replied, a half-smile curling her ruby
lips.  "Isn't it obvious?  Doesn't a part of you feel drawn to me,
Jupiter?  Don't you know why?"  Jupiter shook her head shakily,
but that gesture of denial was a lie.  Suddenly, it all made sense.  If
Reini truly knew her as more than just another high-powered VG
fighter, then there was only one explanation.
     "Come, Jupiter," Reini breathed, drawing herself up
regally.  "The White Moon Princess has appeared in our city.  Did
you imagine that the Queen of Shadow Moon would be far
behind?"  Jupiter's thoughts swirled chaotically as Reini held the
cloak out to her, then smiled.
     "Now, let us discuss the future," she murmured softly, eyes
sparkling.  "We have much to talk about ... my senshi."


#####



        Well, that was part two.  Now for a couple more notes:

        Most people are probably not familiar with the series Variable Geo, 
so I
should explain a little about it (although I have changed that series as
well in this story, and not having seen it probably won't affect your
understanding of this story in the slightest.)  It is basically a fighting
girl series about the struggle to find the strongest waitress (yes, I said
waitress).  These girls fight on something called the VG circuit using
different techniques and powerful ki attacks, usually in front of big
audiences.  The winner moves on while the loser has to ... strip naked (or
be stripped, depending).  Yes, it sounds weird, and I didn't think I'd like
it when a friend gave me the fansub and told me about it.  Strangely,
though, I did.  It had a sort of demented charm.  And the story had a mix of
elements I like, dark and sexy, with a hint of ecchi thrown into the mix
(okay, maybe more than a hint.)
        Anyway, many of the characters from VG will show up, although as I 
said the
circumstances will be changed.  For starters, the VG circuit is now, instead
of a tournament for battling waitresses, the organization that licences
female bounty hunters and troubleshooters in Undercity.  There is no real
tournament most of the year, except for the period leading up to licence
upgrades, but fighters can still challenge each other (and the loser losing
her clothes rule remains ... yay!)
        Without giving away too much about the series (someone now has the
commercial rights, I think ADV) I'll just say that Reini was my favourite
character, all mysterious and sultry, oozing languorous sex appeal and
effortless fighting skill.  Also, I've seen her name written as Reini and
Reimi, and I'm not sure which is right but I've gone with Reini.  Also, in
one scene in episode two, one character meets her and addresses her as
"Reini Jahanna", not "Jahanna Reini."  I don't know why she does that, but I
left that the same in here.
        Anyway, I just wanted to say a few words about that series since 
people
have been telling me they know nothing about it (although I don't think
ignorance of that series will be a problem for readers, since SM is the main
influence here.)
        Thanks to everybody who's responded to chapter one, and hope to see 
you
again for chapter three!

The Lunatic Knight

comments?  lunatic_knight@hotmail.com is the place to send 'em!



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