Professor Washu's Sphere Factory:

Princess Ayeka was glad this wasn't another marriage meeting, at the very least.

Better still, Ayeka would get to spend time with her little sister, Sasami. Sasami had been doing a lot of growing up lately. The young girl in pink had given way to a tall and beautiful woman, very curvaceous—the spitting image of their mother, Misaki.

Ayeka wished she had looked more like Mother. Ayeka was a great beauty by any standard, of course. But the violet-haired Princess was definitely less curvaceous. Amidst her family, she'd always felt like the ugly duckling. And next to Sasami, she tended to fade into the background.

"Ayeka, why do we have to go to this Sphere Factory?" asked Sasami, as their ship pulled into the hanger.

"We have to, Sasami," said Ayeka, remembering the business of the day. "It was invented by one of Jurai's greatest scientific geniuses. Washu is temperamental and requested we look at how things are operating. So we must indulge her.

"One of our duties as Princesses is to ensure that all of our subjects understand we value their work. That sometimes means taking time out of our lives."

Sasami nodded.

A few minutes later, the Princesses emerged from their vessel. They touched down within the steel-gray hanger of the Sphere Factory. It was a place far from the ordinary trade routes within a distant asteroid. Just getting here had been a lot of trouble. It might have been impossible without the Asteroid Drift charts.

It was a place that had been chosen for isolation. Professor Washu was not one who liked interference.

Still, it was not Professor Washu who was waiting for them.

Instead, it was a beautiful blue-haired galaxy police officer, wearing an orange headband. She was clad in a blue and black jumpsuit with a white skirt around wide hips. With her was a dark-skinned blonde with innocent eyes. The blonde wore an orange jumpsuit that clung to her extensive curves. The blue-haired one was every bit the blondes equal. Yet she moved forward with the look of someone nervous.

"Princess Ayeka, Princess Sasami, I'm Kiyone Makibi of the Galaxy Police," she said.

"And I'm her partner, Mihoshi," said the blonde.

"We're going to be acting as your escorts for the duration of this tour," said Kiyone.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, of course," said Ayeka, nodding. She'd heard that Mihoshi Kuramitsu was somewhat infamously klutzy. She must have done something very serious to get sent all this way. That would make Kiyone her handler. "This is Sasami, my younger sister."

"Mihoshi, Kiyone, it's nice to meet you," said Sasami.

"It's wonderful to make your acquaintance, both of you," said Ayeka. Then she looked at the door. "Well, why don't we go to meet our host?"

"Please, right this way," said Kiyone.

"Yes, thank you, Kiyone," said Ayeka, following them through the halls with Sasami. "I truly appreciate having such talented detectives here to escort us."

"Well um, actually the Galaxy Police wanted a member of the Kuramitsu Clan. They didn't think we could handle anything important-" began Mihoshi.

"Mihoshi, do you want to get us fired?" hissed Kiyone.

"Sorry," said Mihoshi, before tripping. The movement bumped Kiyone and caused her to fall over. The two tumbled head over heels. Soon both detectives were lying face to face on the ground. Their breasts were pressed together, and their faces inches apart. Silence followed as both blushed.

Sasami laughed, and Ayeka found herself joining in.

Kiyone and Mihoshi stood up, though Kiyone seemed far more embarrassed than Kiyone. "Why don't we go to meet Professor Washu."

Professor Washu was, as the theme was going, very beautiful. She was a mature, spiky-haired redheaded woman wearing an outfit that showed off a lot of cleavage. At the moment, she was leaning down over a console with a look of fascination as she typed.

In front of her, Ayeka could see what looked to be an assembly line. There was a conveyer belt that led through what looked like vents. Then beyond them, there was what Ayeka recognized as a permenant shield generator. It was used to protect freestanding devices of importance. They could make shields that lasted for long periods of time. At the far end of it was a dome that looked designed to contain some kind of energy.

"Um, Professor Washu," coughed Kiyone.

"Oh, Kiyone, you're here," said Washu, standing up and turning to face them. "Princess Ayeka and Princess Sasami, huh? Welcome to the sphere factory. So glad you could accept my invitation."

"Well, you did promise a guaranteed solution to toxic waste. It seemed well worth looking at," said Ayeka. The Empire of Jurai was looking for ways to decrease the effect of unsafe energy sources. While Jurai had a green energy source, many other developing races were not so lucky.

"Of course it is," said Washu, laughing. "I am the single greatest scientific genius in the universe, after all!" Then she eyed Ayeka carefully and, as if on a whim, reached out and ran a finger across Ayeka's breast. Ayeka let out a cry and looked away with a blush.

"Oh!"

"Hmm, quite a collection of beauties, and so sensitive," said Washu.

Gutterbrain. Ayeka had heard of her... preferences. "Washu is this...

"Why don't we start the tour?"

"Yes, I think that would be wise," said Kiyone.

"Oh, alright," said Washu. "We can talk later."

The Genius led Ayeka along the assembly line. As she did, Ayeka reflected that Washu would never have kept her job if her mind was at all replaceable. As things stand, well, she was certainly very beautiful. All of them were, including Sasami.

Ayeka turned her mind from those thoughts. They were unbefitting a Princess of Jurai.

"So what is the nature of this factory?" asked Ayeka.

"Well, I've got other experiments running in this place," said Washu. "But this sphere factory has a single purpose. To take an object of any size, density or strength and compress it down into a two-foot round sphere."

"Any size?" asked Ayeka.

"Oh yes," said Washu, typing on her console.

An orangish portal opened above the assembly line. They watched as a gigantic steel block fell. It landed with a crash, but the tread didn't crack or shake.

"Observe this!" said Washu. "What you're looking at is a block of pure neo-steel. Six-foot tall and six-foot-wide. Strong enough to resist compression by most traditional factory devices." Washu pressed a button and a number of chompers appeared and crushed at it, yet were unable to change the shape. "As strong as they come.

"Now, watch this."

"But Washu, how will that even fit into the assembly line box?" asked Ayeka.

"A good question for a laywoman," said Washu, pressing a button. The block moved along the assembly line toward the vents. "So we'll talk about the first step in the process. First, we open a wormhole through time and space, which naturally stretches the device into it. As it goes through the wormhole, this device here naturally bends the space of the device.

"As space is bent, the device is reassembled into a sphere shape without actually damaging it in any way."

Before Ayeka's eyes, the vent activated, and a portal of black appeared. As soon as the block neared it, it began to be pulled inside. The entire shape began to thin as it did, being gradually drawn in. At the same time, the shield generator activated.

"Interesting," said Kiyone, who had apparently not been briefed. "But surely once the device moves through to the other side, it will revert to normal space."

"True Kiyone, you know your stuff," said Washu. "That's where my energy fields come in. You see, this shield generator has been altered. Rather than merely make a forcefield. This device goes a step further. It creates a miniature universe around everything that passes through it. The contents are sealed away within a universe. One designed to ensure their present state of operation."

"Wow," said Sasami. "That's amazing."

Before their eyes, Ayeka saw the block finish going through the wormhole and shield. It came out the other side within a sphere of translucent energy. It had been compressed and rounded and now floated off the assembly line toward them.

Reaching out, Mihoshi batted the sphere with one hand. To Ayeka's surprise, it flew upward, bouncing around.

"No weight at all," realized Ayeka.

"Well, technically, the miniature universe has weight," said Washu. "Comparable to a beachball. But the object inside it doesn't add anything."

"Think of the uses," said Kiyone. "This could be used to safely dispose of all kinds of pollution. To say nothing of storage capabilities." Kiyone had a very practical mind, didn't she?

"Hang on, how are these miniature universes maintained?" asked Sasami. "Doesn't um, that take a lot more energy than a forcefield."

"With the objects own innate energies, of course," said Washu with a smile. "They are effectively self-powering.

"Best still, since the miniature is custom-tailored to them. Objects within the field are immortal. They don't decay or alter in mass or function at all. Now watch this." Suddenly the miniature universe began to glow—a line of energy shot between it and the sphere Ayeka had seen before.

As it did, within the sphere is crackled with energy.

"The physical matter," said Washu, "has been turned into pure energy. Neat, huh?"

"...With this," said Ayeka. "We could transmute useless matter into a fuel source. It could ensure less fortunate planets have limitless fuel and no pollution at all."

"You're a genius, Washu!" said Sasami.

"I know, right!" said Washu proudly.

"What if something living were to enter it?" asked Kiyone, expression strange.

Washu looked up. "You are a wealth of useful questions, aren't you?

"Well, obviously, I have safety measures in place for that. The miniature universe around them were draw on their thoughts. They ensure they remained perfectly safe within it.

"Of course, they might get a bit bored.

"Unfortunately, one of the flaws in this device is that I haven't really figured out a way to unseal the universes. The only way to get the matter inside out is to deconstruct it into pure energy. Theoretically speaking, they might eventually decay, releasing the contents. But I haven't found a way to pop the bubble, so to speak."

"Even so, this machine could be of immense help, Professor Washu," said Ayeka. "I'll be sure to recommend funding."

"Now that's really unfortunate Princess," said a rough, familiar voice.

Ayeka whirled around and saw a familiar enemy.

Space Pirate Ryoko was leaning up against a wall, clad in her white, orange and red dress. Her ample bosom was shown off in the cleavage. Meanwhile, her shapely legs were clad in high-heeled thigh-high boots. And there was a familiar smirk on her face.

How had she gotten here? Had she followed them here?

"Ryoko?" asked Ayeka.

"Space Pirate Ryoko?!" said Mihoshi in shock.

"Well, this is a career opportunity," said Kiyone, drawing out a pistol.

"The one and only," said Ryoko, walking forward with arms upraised like a cross. "Here I was, planning to see if there was anything worth stealing, and instead, I run into you, Ayeka."

"Ryoko, I have no idea why you are here," said Ayeka, tensing. "But I have no intention of letting you leave now that you are."

"Ayeka..." said Sasami.

"Can we move this showdown along?" asked Washu.

"Oh, by all means, try to arrest me," said Ryoko.

Ayeka did not have time for this and motioned to the Galaxy Police detectives. "Kiyone, Mihoshi, arrest her."

"Now hold on, this equipment is very sensitive here," said Washu.

But Kiyone saw this as a chance and stepped forward. Rasing her pistol, she aimed it at Ryoko. "Space Pirate Ryoko! I hereby place you under arrest!"

"Yeah, um... surrender quietly, and you'll be given a fair trial," said Mihoshi, gun raised with her.

Ryoko put on a mock afraid appearance. "Oh my, I'm so scared?! Please, stop menacing me with your harmless guns!"

"...Wrong answer," said Kiyone.

Both of them opened fire. Even as they did, however, Ryoko phased through the floor. The energy blasts hit the wall, and then Ryoko surged up to stand breast to breast with Kiyone. Then, leaning in, Ryoko pressed a kiss against her lips. Kiyone scrambled back, colored scarlet as she drew out what appeared to a yoyo.

However, before she could act, Ryoko raised a hand and lashed out with a whip of energy. It surged around Kiyone, trapping her arms and legs together. Kiyone looked to Mihoshi, then. "Mihoshi, do something!"

Mihoshi never got the chance. Ryoko was on her in a second and pressing a kiss against her lips, before trapping her like Kiyone. "Listen, Ryoko," said Mihoshi. "If you give up now, I'm sure we can help you, you don't have to-"

"No thanks," said Ryoko, before motioning.

The energy bindings around the two policewomen sent out tendrils to grab one another. Mihoshi and Kiyone met in the middle, their lips locked in an unwilling kiss. Soon they were lifted up, Ryoko floated into the air, carrying them by a thread.

"You know, I gotta tell you, you're partner really cracks me up," said Ryoko. "Even so, this fight is mine. Now, what shall I do with my spoils?" Then she eyed the machine. "How about we arrange for some storage first!"

Spinning Kiyone and Mihoshi around on the string, Ryoko surged to the controls. Ayeka realized her intentions, but too late. The wormhole appeared, and Ryoko hurled them into it. With a final cry of distress, Kiyone and Mihoshi surged through the wormhole.

"Washu, shut down the wormhole!" said Sasami.

"I can't; if I do, it'll scatter their atoms across dimensions!" said Washu.

The shield generators activated, and the policewomen were sealed.

The miniature universe then appeared before them, floating into sight. Within, Ayeka could see Kiyone and Mihoshi. The two of them were still trapped, kissing one another. However, their bodies seemed to have bent as they touched the edges of the universe. Space had folded, coiling them around within it.

"Oh, that is hilarious!" said Ryoko, floating in front of them. "Hi Kiyone, Mihoshi, I'm glad you're tight with your partner."

"No..." said Ayeka.

"Hmm, so they are capable of continued thought and movement, despite being sealed. Hmm, that's interesting information for sure," said Washu, scanning it. "Oh, and they're not in any pain is the good news.

"It'll be an interesting project getting them out."

Ayeka suddenly felt angry, angrier than ever. Her powers surged around her as logs appeared around her. "Ryoko...

"You just don't know when to stop!"

"Aw, Princess, you look cute when you're angry," said Ryoko.

And then Ryoko was in front of her. Before Ayeka knew what was happening, Ryoko has pressed a kiss onto her lips. The humiliation made Ayeka want to lash out, but she was sent flying backward before she could. As she did, Ayeka landed on the conveyer belt, that began to move.

"Sister Ayeka!" cried Sasami, running forward.

Before she could get anywhere, Ryoko's head lowered itself down from above and pressed a kiss on her as well. This animal dared treat Ayeka's sister this way? She rose up as Ryoko grabbed Sasami, only to be smashed down as Sasami was thrown against her. Threads soon tied them together.

"Oh, don't worry, Princess Sasami!" said Ryoko. "You'll get to spend plenty of bonding time with her!"

"No, wait, don't do that!" said Washu.

Ayeka and Sasami's lips met, even as the wormhole opened. Then they were pulled in.

The sensation was... strange and not altogether unpleasant. Ayeka felt suddenly as if her entire being was only a thin upper layer. A sort of illusion maintained through the will of something far deeper than herself. As she and Sasami were folded into their universe, Ayeka wondered why she felt nothing.

Or only the perceptions of something greater.

"Oh, that is hilarious!" said Ryoko, her gawking face smirking down at Ayeka in dominance. A dominance that something was enjoying a great deal.

"Hang on, don't do that!" said Washu. "Putting entities with that kind of power into the sphere is overtaxing the systems! This is a prototype factory with no plans or backup! Only I understand how any of this technology works!"

"Oh well, then I guess Ayeka and Sasami are going to be in there for a while," said Ryoko with a shrug. And then she went after Washu.

Ayeka watched with an odd detachment as Washu was forced over to her own assembly line by Ryoko. Very soon, they'd all be transported into miniature universes, Ayeka knew. And she also knew Ryoko was no exception. That was the entire reason they had come to this place, perhaps the reasons they had existed at all.

Entertainment.

Ryoko not being sphered would be a waste, and they didn't like waste.

"No, wait!" said Washu. "Don't you understand, Ryoko! It took me centuries of nonstop study to even scratch the surface on this tech! If you seal me in, there is no way anyone is going to be able to-" And then Ryoko pressed a kiss on her. Breaking it, the Space Pirate shoved her into the wormhole. "See you, Washu!"

Then Ryoko realized one of her hands had gotten caught in the wormhole. Fighting against it, she thrashed, trying to get free. "No, no!"

And sure enough, Ryoko was pulled in two.

Washu and Ryoko were now trapped within the same miniature universe, just like them. Even now, they floated before them in an unwilling kiss.

"What..." Mihoshi's voice spoke, "What is gonna happen to us now?"

"Maybe someone will come and rescue us," said Kiyone. Apparently, they'd managed to break their kiss somewhat.

But then there was a crash, and Ayeka saw the machine malfunctioning out of the corner of her eye. The wormhole was shuddering. The barriers around their miniature universes were being pulled at. Little by little, they were being drawn in...

"I'm afraid not," said Washu. "The factory is overloading! With the wormhole generator overheating. The fabric of reality is going to implode in this place! The miniature universes should protect us. But with no destination for the wormhole, there's no telling what will happen!

"We could become stretched across an infinite number of universes. Or become part of the fabric of reality or get compressed into an infinitely tiny space!"

"So what do we do?!" cried Sasami.

"Nothing! We can't do anything!" said Washu. "Although...

"Given that we can communicate, we may be entering another dimension. It could be a place beyond the material universe with different rules. It's possible we may become part of the imagination of some higher being.

"Hell, it might even be them who determine what happen to us!"

Even as Washu spoke, the barriers between the worlds shattered. All six of them were drawn fully into the world beyond. And they beheld a face and a being around whom all their existence was wholly defined. All that had existed was for its entertainment and whims, and it alone determined their fate.

Ayeka doubted they'd go to waste.