introduction

INTRODUCTION:

 She
perked her head up as she heard the car approaching the beach and smiled, "Looks
like our ride's here Kake."

           
Rose Pax stood up and motioned to her friend to do the same. The white haired
girl Kake Dachi rose from the sand and walked up the incline to the road.
Sitting there was a cute pink and white sports car running at idling speed, of
a driver however there appeared to be no sign.

           
"Hey Arcee," Rose said, "I'm glad Roddy sent you. For a second I was sure he
was gonna send the twins just to tick of Dion."

           
Kake looked around to see if there were someone she hadn't spotted and then
looked back at the car in surprise when it replied to Rose.

           
"Oh he thought about it," A feminine voice issued from the vehicle, "But I told
him I'd help you scalp him if he embarrassed you in front of your friend."

            Rose smiled
again "Thanks."

           
That was when she noticed that Kake was wondering who she was talking to.

           
"Oh! I'm sorry Kake!!" She pulled the other girl over to the car, "I should
have introduced you."

            "Umm..to
who?" Kake asked.

           
"Arcee of course," She then turned back to the car, "Arcee this is my friend Kake,
Kake this is Arcee."

            The other
girl looked around and tried to figure out what was going on but just decided
to go with it. She had seen a lot stranger things than cars with voice boxes.

           
"It's very nice to meet you Arcee."

           
"Good to know you too," The passenger and the driver's side doors proceeded to
fly open and the car then told them, "Okay ladies… who gets to be the window
dressing?"

            "Wha?" Kake
blinked.

           
Rose had to grin, "She means who gets to sit in the driver's seat and pretend
they are driving. You want to?"

            "Umm.. No.
you go ahead."

           
Rose proceeded to nod and then sat down and the other girl followed suit. A few
moments later the car pulled away from the beach and the ocean began to fade in
the distance behind them.

           
A large range of mountains loomed up to one side and the car turned its self in
that direction and proceeded to take off at speed. Not breaking anything but
not going slowly either.

           
They all rode in silence for a while and then the car, Arcee made a noise like
she was clearing her throat.

           
"What's on your mind Arcee?" Rose asked.

           
"Are…well are you gonna be okay Rose? You haven't been to the city since…"

            Shadows
passed over the red heads face and she proceeded to shake her head.

           
"I can't answer that yet Arcee," She paused, "I … honestly don't know. There's
so much of him there. But I don't think Orion would have wanted me to
stay away for ever. Would he?"

            "No I don't
think so either." There was another pause, "Miss Rose Please don't be so angry
at my dad will you."

            Kake saw
Rose's face take on a far away look and she turned away from looking at where Arcee's
voice was issuing from.

           
"I can't promise you that Arcee." She blinked and swiped the back of one hand
at her eyes. "I can't promise any one that. But I will try to be civil."

            Kake
suddenly realized that going here might not be the best of things for Rose
because the city would remind her of her Lost Lover.

           
"Rose-san, if going here is going to cause you pain…"

           
Rose looked over at her and took hold of her hand, "I have to face this some
day Kake. What better reason than to help someone else I care about."

            Kake nodded,
"Just don't get upset ok, not because of me."

            Rose leaned over
and hugged the other mermaid in human form, "Not in a million years Kake."

           
There were a few more miles of silence and then the road began to descend from
the mountains into a river valley. Both of the girls had to shield their eyes
as the came around the corner and something large and white reflected the
afternoon sun.

           
"Here we go ladies," Arcee told them, "Welcome to Metroplex Miss Kake."

           
Sprawling across the valley was a city. It looked like a city, and it also looked
like something alive as it sat there and gleamed up at them. Rose stared down
into the valley with the same look on her face from moments before.

           
"It was Orion's dream that his people could live here free from war.  He
hoped that they could find away to save both this world and others, that they
could save both of their homes."

           
Kake reached over and put her hand on Rose's shoulder, "I'm sorry Rose-chan."

           
Rose shook her head, "Don't be, the dream is still alive. That's what he would
have wanted."

           
The road curved down and the proceeded to go over a bridge spanning the river
and lead into the main area of the city. A large park or court yard was there, where
in a pair of men stood. One of them was older; he had blue eyes and pale blond
hair and looked rather cross. The other was a young man with long red hair, a
few shades lighter than Rose's, pulled back in a loose pony tail.

           
Arcee pulled up and the doors opened as both girls proceeded to get out. The
younger of the two men came over and put his arms around Rose hugging her
greatly.

           
"Rose," he smiled warmly, "I'm so glad that you came."

           
Rose smiled back and hugged him in return, "Thank you for letting us stay here Roddy."

           
Rose turned and motioned to Kake, "This Is my friend Kake Dachi."

           
Kake smiled her self and came up to them, "Its very nice to meet you."

            Roddy's
mouth was hanging open and he was staring at the girl like he'd been hit from a
bolt out of the blue. Arcee giggled and the older man frowned deeper.

           
"Direct hit cupid," Arcee said under her breath.

           
The young man proceeded to recover, "Ahh.. ahem... welcome To Metroplex Miss Kake.
My name is Roddy. I sincerely hope that you will enjoy your stay here."

           
That was when the older man finally made a sound of disgust at the younger man
and two girls.

            Rose turned
and glared at him. From her reaction and the look Kake guessed that this must
be the person Arcee was talking to Rose about before.

           
"Are you finished Rodimus?" He snapped.

           
Now the younger man looked away from both of the girls and began to get angry
on his own.

           
"What is your problem Ultra Magnus?" He demanded.

           
Rose quirked and eyebrow at him and then chimed in, "Don't you know Roddy?
 Dion here hates me."

           
"Say wha?" Roddy looked at him, "No he doesnt."

            Rose
glowered back, "Yes he dose. He blames me for Orion dying."

            The older
man narrowed his eyes at both of the girls.

           
"Rodimus, you can ogle that girl as much as you want but you do realize when
they find out your hiding The EMPRESS of Kaiyou. We are going to have an
international incident on our hands."

           
Kake suddenly blushed deep red and looked away from Roddy in embarrassment. The
young man looked back from the girl to the other man.

           
"Is that true?" Roddy asked quietly.

           
Kake bit her lip and tried hard to keep the tears from coming to her eyes,
"Yes. It's true."

            Rose
suddenly shoved Magnus out of the way, "Roddy… they were going to make her
marry someone she didn't love. They were going to take away her freedom."

           
He stopped and considered that for a second and then looked back at the white
haired girl.

           
"Is that true too?" He asked.

           
Kake could only nod at this point and try to not completely break down.

           
"Then it would be my pleasure your majesty to offer you sanctuary here in my
city."

           
"WHAT?!!" Magnus roared, "You can't!"

           
Roddy turned to glare at the older man, "I happen to be the PRIME Magnus.
Its within my rights to grant who ever I please political refuge. You can like
it or not, but these girls aren't leaving. UNDERSTAND?"

           
The older man looked coldly at his Nephew, "You wanna start a war for the
fishtailed freak that got your father killed. Be my guest. Just don't come
whining to me when it blows up in your face young man."

           
Ultra Magnus then proceeded to storm off and Rodimus turned back to the two
girls.

           
"My father always used to say freedom is the right of all sentient beings Miss Kake,"
He smiled, "Your welcome to stay in my city until you find a way to get yours
back. I couldn't live with my self if I didn't."

           
Kake smiled, "I just have one question."

           
Roddy grinned, "How come we're human? Long story short... think "Avatar".

           
He grinned some more and then pulled the girls along.

           
"Lemme show you ladies around the city and then we can find some rooms for you.
I'm sure you'll be happy here until you're able to go home."

           
Rose looked behind his shoulder and grinned as Kake looked behind his other
shoulder and smiled back.  Both of the girls followed the young leader
deeper into the city, wondering what could possibly happen next.