...and here it is, part two of my story.  Once again, any and all C&C is gratefully accepted.  Please let me know what you think.

Raja

                        ----  ****  ----

                        Obeying Destiny
                            part 2

                   An "Oh My Goddess!" Fanfic
                       by Robert Atendido


All "Oh My Goddess!" characters created by and property of Kosuke Fujishima.
Used with the greatest of respect and the best of intentions.

                        ----  ****  ----

Skuld frantically tried as many programming tricks and shortcuts as she
could remember, but nothing seemed to work.  She would look up after
each attempt, only to see the same image on the map screen above
her--Japan was still highlighted in flashing red, indicating trouble.
Skuld placed her head in her hands, tired and frustrated.  *Why should I
have to do this,* she thought, angrily.  *This is all Urd's fault
anyway.*

All around her, various indicators and alarms began calling for
attention.  Skuld looked up to see the crimson marks begin to grow
brighter.  *Uh oh...*  Frowning, Skuld let her hands hover over the
controls for a moment while she decided upon a course of action.
Finally, reluctantly, she reached down and activated her telephone.

"C'mon, c'mon, pick up..."  After a second or two, Skuld heard Urd pick
up the other end of the line.  "Urd...I think we've got some problems."

***

"No kidding," Urd replied, gripping the phone with her free hand.  She
had a protesting Megumi in a headlock with her other arm, hand clamped
firmly around her mouth.  "Look, Skuld, I've got something I have to
deal with immediately.  I'll call you right back."

"But, Urd--!"  Before Skuld could say another word, Urd dropped the
handset back onto the phone and hustled Megumi outside.  She didn't let
go of her until they had reached the steps of the temple.

"Urd, what are you doing?!" said Megumi, more confused than angry.

"I didn't want Keiichi to hear you," Urd replied, sitting down upon the
steps.

"What?"  Megumi planted her fists on her hips.  "Why shouldn't he hear
me?  I mean after all, Bell IS his girlfriend, y'know!"  Urd was making
urgent shushing motions, but Megumi went on regardless.  "In fact, where
is she, anyways?  I mean, you'd think that Bell would be over here
helping Kei--"  She stopped, puzzled.  "Oh, wait, I remember now.  Bell
had to go home, or something..."  Megumi raised a hand to her forehead,
trying to think.  "No, that's not right...Kei and I moved in with you to
save on dorm fees, right?  But...but Bell lived here, though...I, uh..."
Megumi had sat down next to Urd, head in her hands, now really
confused.  "I, uh...Urd...what's going on?  What's wrong with me?"

Urd sighed inwardly.  She could just erase Megumi's memory again.
That's what she should do.  Had it been a few weeks ago, Urd would have
done so without a second thought.  But, for some reason, it just didn't
seem fair to just delete the confusion and go on as if nothing happened.
And...Urd had to admit to herself, she really felt the need to share
her burden with someone else, even if she then had to make her forget
about it right away.

On the other hand, that would make that much more for Megumi to forget
afterwards.  No, better to take care of it now, when Megumi's confusion
was still fresh in her mind...and an easier target.  Urd grinned
ruefully to herself.  *With all this practice I've been getting on my
accuracy, I should be a goddess first class in no time,* she thought.
Urd turned a bit away from Megumi -- who was too lost in her own
confusion to notice -- and began to gather the energy she needed into a
glowing sphere in her hands.

***

"Well, of all the nerve...!" shouted Skuld, slamming the "disconnect"
button with excess force.  "Where does she get off, hanging up on me
like that!  I ought'a just let her deal with it on her own --"

Skuld took a deep breath, leaning her head against the screen.  "It's
not fair," she whispered to herself.  "You're down there, I'm up here,
we're both trying to do these huge jobs by ourselves...."

The screen image shifted beneath her head.  "Huh?"  As Skuld looked up,
a spark traced a glowing path across the screen.  "What was that?"
Manipulating controls, she rewound and watched again.  Before her eyes,
a bright spot suddenly appeared in the center of the red area.  After a
moment, it changed into a streak, launching its way eastward.  Skuld
rewound again and froze the display.  The path was now a line,
stretching from the red area across the ocean.  She could barely make
out the object causing the glowing trail.  Frowning, Skuld magnified the
image, until she could see it more clearly.  It was small and roundish,
with what appeared to be several arms or legs protruding from it --

Skuld's eyes widened.  "Oh no!  It couldn't be!!"

***

Megumi looked up suddenly.  "What's that?"

Urd followed Megumi's gaze and saw what looked like a rabbit crossing
the courtyard...but rabbits don't normally have six legs.  Even as Urd's
mouth dropped open in surprise, she launched the energy she had gathered
at the creature.  Megumi gasped as the ball of power soundlessly
detonated, causing the creature to disappear.  In it's place was a
meter-wide hole scorched into the ground.

"What was that?" Megumi said again, eyes wide with surprise.

"It was a bug, a system bug...it's a long story."  Urd stood, and began
to rush back to the house.

"No, I mean, what did you just do?  Hey, Urd...wait up!"  Megumi
scrambled to her feet, chasing after Urd.  She burst into the house to
find Urd dialing what appeared to be way too many numbers on the phone.

"Skuld, we've got bugs down here!" Urd shouted into the phone.

"Way ahead of you, sis," answered Skuld, hurriedly.  Urd could hear much
activity in the background.

"So what are we doing about it?"

"I'm trying to isolate the bug port on the surface world, but I can't
seem to pin it down -- I think I'm going to have to get Bell to help --
you're gonna have to keep a lid on things down there."

"What!  How am I supposed to do this by myself?"

"I DON'T KNOW!  I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN!"

Skuld's voice rode the edge of barely controlled hysteria.  Urd heard
this and took a deep breath.  *If I push too hard, she'll be no use for
anything.*  "Skuld...Skuld, I'm sorry.  I know you're doing your best."
She rubbed her head with her free hand.  "Give me the details."

"Umm...okay.  It looks like the bugs are appearing in the Tokyo
area...and from there after a little while they can launch anywhere in
the world.  There aren't many of them, but I think that the rate that
they are popping up is increasing."

Urd waited a moment.  "That's IT?"

"Well, what do you expect?  This all only just started a few minutes
ago..."

Urd mentally reined in her irritation.  "Okay.  Okay, how are they
getting the energy to appear here?  A bug exhaust port doesn't just
appear out of nowhere, you know."

"Hold on, let me see..."  Urd heard more computer activity in the
background.  "They seem to be tapping into the system force, somehow.
There's a leak in the system...."

"Okay, Skuld.  I'll nail the bugs that are already here, and you tie up
the power drain, right?"

"Yeah.  But Urd, one of them might have already left the area!"

***

Late evening, San Francisco.  Although rush hour was supposedly over,
traffic in the Bay Area was still slowed to a crawl.  The holdup seemed
to be around the bay area, as cars on the bridges crossing the bay
screeched to a halt. What looked like a tremendous underwater explosion
caused waves that rattled the deck of the Golden Gate Bridge.  At that
same moment, the lights illuminating the Golden Gate and the Bay Bridge
went out, some of them explosively.

Beneath the water, a bug crouched close to the bottom, slowly regaining
it's strength, wondering what mischief to do next.  It _liked_ this
game!

***

"Right.  Let me know if that one causes too many problems."

"Okay..."  Skuld's voice sounded tired and scared.  Urd sensed that she
was on the verge of shutting down.

"Come on, Skuld.  You and me against the forces of Chaos, right?  No
problem.  At least," Urd said in her best arrogant voice, "I'll hold up
my end.  I'd better make some plans just in case I can't count on you,
right?"

"What?!"  Urd smiled as she heard Skuld's voice perk up with anger and
injured pride.  "I bet I'll have this cleaned up before you make it out
of the house!"

"I hope you do, little sister.  I hope you do."  Urd decided to relent.
"Look.  Let the automatic systems try to track the exhaust port for a
while.  Get yourself some rest."

"But Urd, it looks like there's at least four or five bugs down there.
How are you going to catch them by yourself?"

"Who said I was going to do it by myself?

"It's not like I can go down there!  Do you want me to get Bell to help
you?"

"No, you need her more up there with you."  Urd looked up at the door,
where a still-confused Megumi was standing.  "I'm going to draft a
deputy."

"WHAT?!  You CAN'T!  Urd--"

Urd slammed her fist down.  "Do you have a better idea?"  Now Urd felt
herself skating close to the breaking point.  She paused for a moment to
calm down.  "We can discuss it with Father later," she continued.  "In
fact, why don't you mention it to him right now?  You can see him on
your way to your chambers."

"Thanks a lot," muttered Skuld under her breath.

"What was that?"

"I said..."  Skuld sighed.  "Good luck, Urd.  I think you're gonna need
it."

"Thanks, Skuld."  Urd heard a click as Skuld disconnected.  "Good luck
to you too."

As Urd put the phone down, the sound of a door opening made her look up.
Keiichi stood there, cold pack against his head.  "Keiichi!  How are
you feeling?"

"I'm feeling...better, thanks.  What's going on?"

Urd privately decided that Kei didn't look much better.  "Uhh...I need
to go shopping in town for a bit.  Is it okay if Megumi and I borrow
your motorcycle for a while?"

Keiichi looked from Urd to Megumi.  "Well, sure, I guess."  He fumbled
in his pockets, then handed his keys to Urd.

"Thanks!"  Urd ran into her room, ran out again with a backpack, and
grabbed Megumi's arm.  "See you later!"  She hustled Megumi out into the
courtyard.

The haze in Megumi's mind had finally begun to clear a bit, and she
found her voice again.  "Urd, hold it," she said, shaking her off.
"Tell me what's going on!"

Urd handed Megumi her helmet.  "Here.  It's a long story.  You're
driving.  I'll try to explain on the way."

"Where are we going?"  Megumi asked, as Urd climbed into the sidecar.

"I'm not sure yet," she replied, taking several objects from her pack.
"Just drive.  Oh, and you might need this."

Megumi looked at the object Urd handed her with some interest.  *A
hammer?*  She shrugged to herself as she got onto the bike.  *This
explanation had better be good...*  Aloud, she said, "Are you ready?"
Megumi looked over her shoulder to see Urd frowning at something on a
device she was holding.  "Hey, when did you start wearing glasses?"

Urd looked up, adjusting the scanners that Skuld had built into the
frames of her glasses.  "They're just for technical work."  The display
in the left lens flashed, causing Urd to look back across the
courtyard...where a certain tree was highlighted with an unhealthy glow.

As data began to scroll across Urd's vision, she murmured, "Oh, that's
not good."

Puzzled, Megumi followed Urd's gaze.  "What's up?  I don't--"  Megumi
stopped for a moment, and shuddered, as if a chill had come over her.

"Megumi?  What is it?"

"I...I don't know....  Something...."  She could feel the confusion
rising again in her mind.  "Something from that tree...something came
from there, and hit me...."

Urd placed her hand on Megumi's shoulder and concentrated.  Megumi's
shivering eased off.  "Don't worry.  Whatever was there seems to be gone
now."  Urd looked back at the tree, and at the information her
instruments told her.  It seemed that, although a bug exhaust port had
formed by the tree, it had...moved?  *This is NOT good,* she repeated to
herself.  To Megumi, she said, "Let's go."

Keiichi heard them go, the motorcycle roaring away.  The sound made his
head throb, but it seemed that his headache was receding.  *Well, I
can't let a headache put me behind in class, can I?* Keiichi thought to
himself.  He returned to his room, and sat down at his desk.  As he got
out his books for the class that he missed, Keiichi happened to glance
at a picture sitting in it's frame on a shelf.

*That's funny...what an odd picture,* he observed.  The photo was of
Keiichi, but for some reason he was on the left side of the shot.  The
space to his right was empty.  Keiichi paused, looking at the photo some
more.  *There should be someone...there....*  In his mind's eye, a face
began to appear, the face that was missing from the photo.  It was a
friendly face, with a gentle smile and eyes that were full of--

*OWWW!!*

The stab of pain came suddenly, the shock of it driving Keiichi into
unconsciousness.

***

Skuld was walking down a vast hallway, absentmindedly scooping fudge
ripple from a quart of ice cream carried under one arm.  She had just
left an audience with her father.  Skuld had been worried that her
father would be angry when he found out what she and Urd had been up to,
but, to her surprise, this was not the case.  First of all, Skuld didn't
really have to say anything at all, as her father had been monitoring
the situation closely.  Although he didn't approve of everything, he
understood the reasons behind their actions so far.  The Almighty one
granted his permission for them to continue, but warned Skuld in no
uncertain terms that he would be watching.  Skuld paused and shuddered
at the memory.  She shoveled some more ice cream into her mouth to boost
her energy a bit more, and kept going.

Skuld rounded a corner and approached the doors to Belldandy's chambers.
Her sister had been in seclusion ever since the recall notice had taken
effect, and Skuld hesitated to disturb her now, but...she needed her
help.  Even their father had said that this was a good idea.

Putting the spoon back into the ice cream and closing the container,
Skuld gingerly knocked on her sister's door.  "Um...Belldandy?"

There was no response.  Skuld knocked a little harder.  "Sister?"

Still nothing.  Skuld came to a decision, and gently opened the door.
She cautiously stuck her head in and looked around, her eyes slowly
adjusting to the dim lighting.  Bell sat in an overstuffed chair by the
fireplace, knitting needles in one hand, the beginnings of a scarf in
the other.  *Oh, she's asleep!* Skuld noticed.  *It'd be a shame to wake
her...*  Skuld sighed.  "Bell?" she said gently, so as not to startle
her.

Belldandy slept on.  Skuld tapped her on the shoulder.  "Belldandy, it's
Skuld.  Wake up, please, big sister, I need your help..."  Bell didn't
respond.  Frowning a little, Skuld tried again.  "Belldandy...BELLDANDY!
Please, wake up!"

By now, Skuld had begun to shout, but Bell didn't even twitch.  She just
sat there, deeply asleep.

*Geez!* thought Skuld.  Belldandy seemed to be really out of it.  She
was so deep in sleep that it seemed nothing could rouse her.
*Hmmm...Bell only sleeps this hard when she has to recharge her energy,*
mused Skuld, as she looked at her sleeping sister.  *Like when she's
totally drained herself... power... drain... Oh, no.  No.
Nononononono....*  Skuld backed up to the door, then turned and ran out
of the room, calling, "FATHERRRRR!!!"

***

Sayoko Mishima believed herself to be a very down-to-earth person.  She
didn't really go for a belief in luck or destiny or mystic powers or
things like that.  So, she didn't really have an explanation for some of
the odder things that seemed to be happening while she was around today.
It all started earlier, at the motor club, when the engine Tamiya and
Otaki was working on flew apart.  Next, she saw Megumi just fall over at
the entryway to the house she and her brother shared.  Since then,
Sayoko had noticed the campus clock had begun to spin backwards.  As she
walked past, the clock had frozen completely, just before the mechanism
popped out and fell to the ground with a crash.  Sayoko backed away from
the wreck of the clock and leaned against a metal sculpture nearby.
*Good thing I wasn't under that -- hey!*  Behind her, the sculpture had
suddenly collapsed under her weight, the steel framework bending as if
it had turned to jello.  *What the heck?!*

Suddenly, Sayoko saw what looked like a small animal hopping around the
base of the sculpture, trapped by the bent metal.  "Ohh, how cute!  Are
you a bunny rabbit?" Sayoko said in reassuring tones.  "Don't worry,
we'll have you out of there in a jiffy."

As she reached down to pick up the creature, she heard a shout.
"Sayoko!  Look out!"  Sayoko fell back in surprise, as something flew
past her ear and hit the "rabbit" square on the head.  She was outraged.
"Hey, what do you think you're --"  Before Sayoko could finish the
thought, the creature burst into white light, which bubbled and swirled
out of sight.  *Funny, I don't think I've been drinking today...*

"Nice shot, if I do say so myself," said Megumi, picking up her hammer
from where it had fallen.

"I could have taken care of it, if you hadn't gotten in the way,"
replied Urd.

Megumi remembered the scorched ground in the temple courtyard.  "Yeah,
but you probably would've taken care of Sayoko, too!"  Urd "hmphed" in
annoyance.  Megumi turned to Sayoko, only to see her in a faint, laying
on the ground.  Shrugging to herself, Megumi moved Sayoko into a more
dignified position against a nearby tree.

Urd had put on her glasses again, and was scanning the quad.  "So, do
you believe me now?" she said.

Megumi looked up.  "I don't know, Urd.  You've got to admit, that story
you told me was pretty bizarre."  Urd rolled her eyes.  Megumi went on,
"So you say that you're a _goddess?_  And that reality is a computer
program?"

"No, I just wanted you to _think_ of reality that way.  It's a
metaphor!"

"A metaphor for what?"

"Look.  I'm a goddess, and my job is to troubleshoot any glitches that
crop up in reality."

"Oh, and these glitches manifest as six-legged rabbits?"

"Hey, it was the most harmless thing we could think of!"

"Harmless?" asked Megumi, looking at the wreckage of the clock and
sculpture.

Urd smirked.  "Okay, mostly harmless."  The scanner in her hand pinged,
then pinged again.  Urd paled a little.

"Urd?  What's up?"  Megumi got to her feet and tried to see what Urd was
seeing.

Switching off the scanner, Urd grabbed Megumi by the arm and headed
towards the nearest building.  "We've got to go.  It looks like a few of
the bugs have teamed up downtown..."

"Hey, Urd," Megumi protested.  "We parked over _this_ way!"

"Not fast enough."  Inside the building, Urd found a classroom that was
currently vacant.  She switched on the television monitor hanging in one
corner.

"Urd, what are you do-- EEEE!!!"  Megumi's words dissolved into a
wordless shout, as Urd leapt into the screen.  Megumi was helplessly
drawn after.

***

Keiichi was roused by the sound of the phone ringing.  Mindlessly, he
crawled from his room to the entryway, and managed to answer it.

Before he could say a word, an extremely agitated voice came across the
line.  "Urd!  Urd!  Belldandy's in trouble!  She's fallen asleep, and
won't wake up, and I think it's got something to do with the power for
the bug exhaust port, and I'm not sure what to do HELP!!!"

"Bell...dandy?"

"Yes, Belldandy!  She's gone to sleep, and I can't wake her up, and --"
At this point, Skuld realized that her sister wasn't the one on the
other end of the line.  "Uh oh..."

***

Author's notes:

It looks like this story is going to go to four or five parts.  I'll have more soon, depending on how much revising needs to be done to this...

Raja
1st draft 2/13/00