Outlaw Star The Flower of Fate

Chapter 5: Secrets of the Springs

(Outlaw Star The Flower of Fate)

Though commonly believed to have been uninhabited upon its original discovery, one of the planet Tenrei's more popular local legends states that there was once a seventh, previously unknown alien race that called the world overflowing with hot springs their home. Thought to bear a striking resemblance to the Earth-based mammal species known as rabbits, some have nicknamed them the Usa. Some stories claim to that upon being discovered by Terran wizards over one hundred years ago, they demonstrated great hospitality to their visitors, offering them gifts of natural resources, the most notable being the planet's signature springs. These same stories go on to say that after years of living in harmony with the colonists, the native inhabitants sold the land to the wizards and then quietly faded away. For their part, the tourism bureau for Tenrei, while neither outright confirming or denying the Usa's existence, regularly employ rabbits mascots and imagery in various popular spots across the planet, far more than most other animals, as if to pay tribute to the legendary natives. However, over the years there have been a handful of historians and archaeologists who argue that the transition of Tenrei into a popular vacation destination and the supposed indigenous people's cooperation in the matter may not have been gone as smoothly as the more-popularly held stories imply...

(Outlaw Star The Flower of Fate)

"Are there really supposed to be wizards on this planet?" Jim asked incredulously. All six crew members were currently standing outside the Hagone Hot Springs space port, looking down into the town below.

"I heard there were, so here we are," Gene shrugged.

"Why's everybody dressed like that?" Jim followed up, referring to how every person, regardless of gender or species, were walking around in swimsuits. Little did he know they were all about to learn the answer firsthand.

"Greetings, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome!" a man in a haori shouted from behind them with uncomfortably forced cheeriness. Flanking him on either side were what could only be described as utterly bizarre bear mascots, with giant red heads and paws, yellow voluptuous bodies, and green and blue bath towels. "All the delights of Hagone Hots Springs await you!"

"Huh?" yelled the six crew members in perfect sync.

Before they knew it, Gene and company were being shoved and tossed through a series of five strange doorway by the man and a bunch of the bear mascots, with Gene and Jim being forced through the same door while each of the females were sent through one of their own. (Though to the group's overall credit, Suzuka managed to slap one of the mascots so hard their head span around before getting sent through as well.) After passing through the door, the group realized they were inside personalized changing rooms, with swimsuits awaiting each of them. It didn't take them too long to realize that they wouldn't be allowed any further until they had changed into the provided attire.

A few minutes later, the man in the haori and the bear mascots lifted the shutters on the other sides of the changing rooms, finally enabling the group to pass through.

"All right!" cheered the man. "Everyone ready for some in the sun?"

"'Immigration matters', huh?" snorted Jim.

"All we did was change our clothes," grumbled Aisha.

"Was tossing us beforehand really necessary?" sighed Hanmyo.

"Okay, please enjoy your visit here, everyone!" the man announced.

With a sigh of relief, the group made their way into town, passing a multitude of equally strange mascots ranging from purple dogs and yellow horses to pink cats and alligators with blue bodies and green boots. They were so distracted by the strange costumes that none of them heard the sound of a man with red hair even brighter than Gene's and a strange white mask with four slit red eyes and a creepy grin receiving the same welcome they just experienced, only his landing in the changing room included him hitting the back of his head on the stone floor.