In the castle of Azuza and Misaki, Ami worked tirelessly with the female Mercurian slaves, sewing and designing clothes for the royal family.
Sasami, Ayeka's sister, curiously entered the factory room to see what the workers were doing. Happily, the little princess skipped up to Ami while she worked on a piece of cloth, and Ami turned her attention to Sasami with a tired grin.
"Hello there little one," Ami said in a gentle voice, "How are you today?"
"I'm fine!" replied Sasami with a cheery smile. "I just wanted to see what you were doing."
"Oh, me?" said Ami, holding one of the dresses she made. "I'm just making some dresses for the royal family."
"May I take a look?" Sasami asked, looking at the dress in Ami's hands. Ami cheerfully held it up for inspection. The princesses' eyes roamed over the fabric in wonder. "It looks beautiful."
"Why, thank you!" replied Ami, smiling at her. "What is your name? I don't think I've seen you before."
"My name is Princess Sasami Misaki Jurai." she said as she smiled. "And you must be the human exile I heard about. Is it true that you're from Earth and not from Mercury?"
"You are correct little one!" answered Ami, "I am indeed a human being. With my friend Jerren, we travelled to Mercury by accident after our ship was damaged. We were looking for something we could not find on our home planet...The people of Mercury were friendly, teaching us their ways and culture, and they treated us as one of their own. But then your people attacked and destroyed everything. We were captured and brought here as slaves. Others...weren't so fortunate."
Sasamis' eyes welled with tears.
"My grandmother gave orders to Seina Yamada to destroy planet Mercury. I don't know why she did that."
"Grandmother...?" Ami was taken aback, "So it wasn't your mother or your father who commanded the attack on Mercury?"
"Oh no." replied Sasami "It was all done at my grandmother's bidding."
"What is your Grandmother's name?" demanded Ami. "And why did she do such a terrible thing?" But Sasami turned her attention back to Ami's designs.
"May I hold one?" asked Sasami. "They look so amazing."
"Certainly, your highness!" sighed Ami the fire dimming from her eyes. "Go ahead, the ones I've finished are in that pile over there." Sasami took a red velvet dress with a rose on it, and felt it.
"It feels so soft and warm!" said Sasami. "Who's this one for?"
"I believe that one was made with you in mind, little one." replied Ami, smiling softly.
"Wow! Thank you so much Ami!" said Sasami. "You're really nice." She looked at the other dresses that Ami had made in amazement.
"Wow, these are neat!" said Sasami, excited by the other designs. "My parents will love these clothes!"
"You think so?" asked Ami nervously. "I hope so, because I'm working very hard on them."
"How long have you been doing this?" Sasami asked in curiosity, "You must be a professional seamstress!"
"Not long." replied Ami as she continued to sew. "Just for six years on and off. It's my second favourite hobby next to math, and playing chess."
"You know how to do math?" smiled Sasami.
"Why of course!" answered Ami. "It is really fun and simple if you're into it. Why do you ask?"
"Well, I need help with my math homework." said Sasami. "And maybe you can…?"
A flustered Jurain guard bustled into the room, and found Sasami talking to Ami.
"There you are!" said the guard, as he put his hand on her arm. "I've been looking all over for you. The emperor gave me strict orders to bring you to your class."
"I have class today?" she grumbled. "Darn…"
The guard turned his attention to Ami.
"You, slave! Get back to work!" he said, placing a hand on his saber.
"Oh, yes sir, I will immediately!" she said, and quickly began sewing more clothes.
Meanwhile, Ryo-Oh, Princess Ayekas' ship, touched gently down in one of the GP headquarters main docking stations. The structure turning out to be a vast space station filled with hover cars and a large variety of beings all going about their own business. Galactic police officers littered every corner and street. They had teleportation pods for workers, and huge buildings that reached high into a simulated skyline. Jerren and Ayeka, followed closely by Azaka and Kamadakie, disembarked from Ryo-oh and took a huge breath of air.
"Well, here we are…." Ayeka said, stretching her arms, "Galaxy police headquarters.
So, this is the police headquarters huh?" Jerren said as he looked around. "It's huge!"
"Again you comment on size, truly you have a one track mind!" Ayeka shook her head.
As opposed to the more organic style of Jurain architecture, the GP headquarters were a mass of cold and sterile steel; efficiency precluded comfort, if not size, as space was lavishly allowed for. They went to the GP main centre where they were confronted by an officer on duty.
"Greetings, Princess Ayeka of Jurai." the officer said, bowing his head in respect before turning his head to look at a screen. "I see you have come to promote two police officers, yes?"
"Correct!" replied Ayeka, "And I have a very special surprise for them."
"And who is this boy?" asked the officer, looking at Jerren.
"He's my slave," said Ayeka, "Also my bodyguard. He goes wherever I go."
"Very well then," the officer said as he cleared his throat. "Follow me."
They followed him into the building; inside the interior was even larger than the outside had suggested. Cops dressed in blue and grey attire, stood around on coffee breaks while others were signing reports, or reviewing files.
The officer took them to an elevator, and they all got in, setting it for level six and ascending rapidly; on their way up they saw police officers outside doing battle simulations while the cadets ran laps around the court. The elevator stopped and everyone got out. While they were walking, they heard some officers arguing about random matters in their offices.
Turning a corner down the end of a hallway, the procession found the office they were looking for.
"Here it is; office number 204." the officer said, as he pointed at the door. "If you have everything you need Princess Ayeka I have other matters to attend to."
Ayeka nodded and the officer teleported away.
They entered the office and saw two women on their coffee break.
One officer was tall, about 5' 8", Caucasian in appearance with long flowing hair, a mixture of blue and green. Her eyes were topaz and spoke of focus and dedication to her duties. Her uniform was just like the other uniforms the cops wore, blue jacket and grey pants, and she was sitting at her desk drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. Her name was Kiyone Makibi.
The other one was sleeping on her desk with drool coming down her lips. She had food particles all over her uniform as she had been eating cookies. She was not as tall as her partner being only 5' 6", she had the same uniform as her partner, but her skin tone was different, a tan golden brown colour. Blonde with eyes of a piercing blue that spoke heavily of an anxious and innocent personality, her name was Mihoshi Kurimitsu.
"Greetings officers..." Ayeka said as she came in. "I have a very special surprise for both of you".
Kiyone saw Ayeka, and almost broke her coffee cup as she put it down on the desk.
"P…Princess Ayeka!" stuttered Kiyone leaping to her feet, bowing her head in respect, "To what honour can we attribute this royal visit to a pair of lowly GP officers?"
Kiyone patted the creases on her uniform self-consciously then turned her head and stared at Mihoshi contemptuously as she was still asleep with a puddle of drool pooling around her face.
"MIHOSHI," Kiyone shouted at her partner as she slept, "MIHOSHI WAKE UP! THE PRINCESS OF JURAI IS HERE!"
"Who? What!" Mihoshi said as she was startled awake. She rubbed her eyes and got up from her desk. She saw the princess and clumsily bowed her head in respect.
"Why hello there Princess, it's a pleasure to have you in our office." As she bowed her head, spittle and cookie crumbs that marred her uniform fell to the floor and on her desk.
"Mihoshi…" Kiyone said as she squeezed the ridge of her nose with her index finger and thumb, "You're completely hopeless! Just look at yourself. The Princess is here and you have spit dribbling down your chin and food falling from your jacket. Why did my superiors ever think that pairing me up with you was a good idea?"
"Sorry, Kiyone." replied Mihoshi as she looked at the ground in shame her face going a bright red as she twiddled her thumbs. "I'll try harder next time!"
"You always say that!" said Kiyone lecturing Mihoshi, "But you always end up embarrassing me! I'm the one always picking up after you and suffering for your mistakes!" Mihoshi's eyes welled with tears and she turned and squeezed Kiyone in a bear hug. Jerren thought he heard a cracking sound.
"I'M SO SORRY KIYONE! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
"MIHOSHI...!" shouted Kiyone, "YOU'RE EMBARRASSING ME!"
"Look at these two," said Jerren observing the two officers, "They're like roommates from a sitcom."
"Alright, you two! That is quite enough of that!" Ayeka said in a stern voice. "If you are quite done with this silliness, I have something very important to tell you, though I begin to wonder if I have the correct officers."
Kiyone and Mihoshi stopped bickering and stood to attention.
"Ooh! What is it?" asked Mihoshi. "Are we getting a free vacation somewhere? Or wait, wait! Let me guess….the GP headquarters is throwing a surprise party...for ME?"
Kiyone wearily rubbed her eyes.
"It is none of those things." replied Ayeka. "You two are being promoted to first class detectives of the GP, all of your….hard work….in successfully completing cases has paid off."
"WE ARE?" Kiyone squealed in excitement. "This can't actually be happening, after my career took such a drastic downturn by being paired with..." Kiyone looked at an oblivious Mihoshi. "...Things are finally looking up."
"That is not all..." replied Ayeka, "The two of you will accompany me and my servant to the treaty signing of the Ramzia accord, for the purpose of promoting the galaxies' greatest law enforcement agency to the federation. We will set the two of you up as the shining example of the class of officers the GP produces." Looking at Mihoshi, Ayeka became less and less certain of her words validity as she continued.
"You're joking!" exclaimed Kiyone as she got more excited. "This is a dream come true!"
"YAAAAAAY!" Mihoshi burst out in excitement as she leapt around. "This is the happiest day of my life!" Then she hugged Kiyone again, this time Jerren was sure he heard cracking.
"Y.…you're crushing me!" Kiyone said, suffocating in Mihoshi's embrace.
"Oh, sorry Kiyone..." Mihoshi said as she let go of her. Then she turned to Jerren and to his surprise hugged him too.
"W...w...why t.…thanks!" said Jerren as he suffocated. "T…..hats v….very nice of you!"
"You're welcome!" said Mihoshi as she beamed at him, then she turned to Ayeka.
"Touch me, and you will regret it!" said Ayeka as she put her palm in front of Mihoshi's face. Azaka and Kamadakie appeared from nowhere and focused their attention on Mihoshi.
"Yeah, you'll regret it!" they said in unison as they came closer to her.
"Okay then, no hug for Princess Ayeka." Mihoshi quickly backed away from them.
"All right, enough of this! We are on a tight schedule!" said Ayeka. "Shall we continue?"
They all exited the GP main headquarters, and walked up the ramp into Ryo-oh. Mihoshi and Kiyone were stunned at the inside of the ship.
"Nice place you have here." said Mihoshi. "It looks like a jungle!"
"So, this is the inside of a Jurain ship!" Kiyone said in amazement. "And I'm actually going to ride in one! Yes!"
Ryo-oh took off into space and set its sights for the Ramzia Federation.
Everyone was resting inside the ship. Mihoshi cheerfully blathered on as Kiyone put her head in her hands; wearily listening to her partner's excited ramblings about their new promotions while Princess Ayeka practiced her speech.
"Let me see..." she went over it again, "We, Jurai and the galactic union alliance and the Remzia Federation here by cease and desist all violent action so we can….so we can...no, that does not sound right!"
"May I try, Miss Ayeka?" Jerren said holding out his hand for the paper. The Princess nodded and Jerren stood up to read it.
"We, Jurai and the Galactic Union Alliance, here by cease all militant action against the Remzia federation, that we may both enjoy peaceful relations and trade within the boundaries of our respective borders in the hope of a harmonious and prosperous collaboration. Hence forth by the official decree of the holy council of Jurai and the galactic federation, we hear by admit the Remzia Federation as a full member of the empire!"
"How was that Miss Ayeka?" Jerren said as turning his attention to the princess.
"That was...well done!" Ayeka said in surprise. "That was very well done! Your timing and cadence were rhythmic and your voice…you sounded very natural."
"Thank you Miss Ayeka." Jerren flushed. "I did presentations like this on Earth all the time. The secret is to always look at the speaker and never lose your cool."
"Indeed!" said Ayeka blushing a little bit.
"Hey, don't be nervous Miss Ayeka," said Jerren as he held her hand, "Just believe you can do it and you'll do fine!"
Ayekas' face flushed bright red and she pulled her hand away from him, and then slapped his face.
"Thank you for the advice but I did not really need it….SLAVE!" she said as she put her hands on her hips, speaking in a condescending tone. "You will NEVER touch me in so familiar a manner again. In case you have forgotten...you are my servant and I am your master; the Princess of Jurai!"
"Yeah, you're welcome Princess!" said Jerren coldly, rubbing his mouth where he had been struck.
"I told you not to address me as Princess!" she said scolding him, "Next time it will not be a warning, you will be strictly disciplined! Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes Miss Ayeka!" Jerren sighed.
About half an hour later they arrived at the federation planet. The planet was surrounded by a beautiful green aura and was equally as large as Jurai. The planet was heavily industrialized, with many high speed hover vehicles crossing the skyline.
A nearby silver and bronze coloured city was the destination and Ryo-Oh set down smoothly at the appointed co-ordinates. Exiting Ryo-Oh, they all entered the city where they were met by the ambassador of the Federation flanked by a small contingent of armed guards.
"We've been waiting for you Princess Ayeka…" the ambassador said bowing gracefully, "This way, please! Everyone in the Federation is waiting for you." Ayeka nodded to the ambassador who turned to lead the way.
"Oh sure, HE can call you Princess….!" Jerren mumbled under his breath.
The group followed the ambassador as he led them to a royal hall and entered. Inside, a large crowd of people cheered them as they entered. People crowded together to watch the dignitaries enter, the news media at the fore front to record the events about to unfold. Jerren shivered at the sheer scope of the proceedings, people stood in front of the stage as far as the eye could see.
"This is anchor woman Sakuya here to report on this history making moment," The newswoman looked confidently at the camera, "A moment when the Remzia Federation; an independent coalition of planets, and the Galactic Union, which includes over two hundred planetary members, will sign a peace treaty and set aside a year of war and fighting."
"Wow, check this crowd out!" Jerren gawked at the people.
"Yes!" replied Ayeka with a little sneer, "These cheers are because they are expecting us to finally admit their little Federation into our Empire."
"These cheers…." Kiyone said surprised, "They're...for us? I don't know what to say….!"
"Yay! We're stars now!" said Mihoshi clapping, "They love us!"
The president of the Federation welcomed Ayeka with a bow.
"Welcome, Princess Ayeka, to the Remzia Federation. It is an honour to have you here in our humble Federation on this historic occasion."
"The honour is all mine." replied Ayeka, "And I apologise for the absence of my mother and father today. My grandmother is in a meeting with the holy council of Jurai right now while my father is quelling a rebellion on the planet Beta! My mother is engrossed in state affairs and my aunt funaho is in a top secret week long meeting unfortunately and could not be drawn away."
"I understand!" said the president, "Well, we shall not let it deter us from completing the treaty and being granted admission into the Galactic Union."
The president cleared his throat:
"Ladies and gentlemen, humanoids of all species, we are gathered here today to make history. This treaty between the Galactic Union and the Remzia Federation cements our admission into the Jurain Empire and brings an immediate halt to hostilities between our peoples."
The presidents' voice boomed to every corner of the hall. Everyone clapped and cheered including Jerren and his companions.
"Now we will introduce our representatives starting with Mikami of the Kurimistu family, who will be the first to sign the treaty."Mikami Kurimitsu was a middle aged woman with brown skin, blond hair wearing a robe that was a mixture of white and red. She walked regally to the table to sign the treaty which she did in a refined manner.
The crowd cheered even louder.
"Captain Balta of the Balta Guild…." He was also a man in his middle age with grey hair and a grey beard, wearing a theatrical blue cape, and he was clad all in white. He signed the treaty and everyone once again cheered.
"The High Priestess of Melma…" A little girl with blue hair and a blue robe walked onto the stage. She signed the treaty and the people just went wild.
"And lastly, the Princess of Jurai will sign the treaty making it a legitimate document. With this pen we give birth to a new era in peace and prosperity!"
The crowd cheered so loudly that Jerren, Kiyone and Mihoshi covered their ears. Ayeka took the pen, and a sudden explosion from the ceiling sent the guards scrambling to cover the dignitaries. Jerren moved to cover Princess Ayeka pulling out his Saber, while Kiyone and Mihoshi pulled laser pistols from their holsters. The once cheerful crowd gasped and screamed. Slowly silence fell as they saw a figure floating in the air. The figure was a girl. She had a Caucasian complexion, and spikey blue hair almost like that of a hedgehog. Yellow eyes glittered in malevolence at the crowd below her. Her suit was a mixture of red and grey and she looked like she was in her teens.
"Ryoko…it cannot be...!" Ayeka exclaimed as she saw her floating in mid-air. "What business do you have here spacepirate?"
"So this is how Jurai settles things these days, is it?" Ryoko rubbed her fist as she stared at the audience, "Admitting second rate federations into the empire? Pathetic...!" The floating woman laughed scornfully at the crowd.
"What was that you vulgar, disgusting criminal!" Ayeka said, crushing the pen in her hand. The people were silent as this new drama unfolded.
"Who is that?" Jerren gazed at Ryoko who was still floating in mid-air, "She looks like trouble!"
"That's the space pirate Ryoko," replied Kiyone, "She's one of the most wanted criminals in the galaxy. She is known for the destruction of hundreds of worlds and for once attacking the planet Jurai with her ship Ryo Ohki, almost destroying it. She disappeared soon after a bloody battle with Jurai's royal prince Yosho a couple hundred years ago, but resurfaced recently to continue her crime spree. It is rumoured that she runs her own gang of pirates which used to be from the Daluma Guild and has a bounty of 300 million on her head."
"Wow!" Jerren was surprised, "That woman sounds crazy!"
"Tell me Ryoko, what business do you have here that is so important that you would ruin a treaty signing?" Ayeka barely contained her ire.
"Simple princess, it's you…." replied Ryoko, "You're taking a ride in my ship as my...guest."
"You are joking? Take me, the Princess of Jurai, prisoner? Utter nonsense!"
"Space Pirate Ryoko, by the authority of the GP and the Union, you are under arrest!" Mikami, headmaster of the GP Academy, said materialising in front of Ryoko, surrounding her with a group of GP officers.
"Ha! You and what army lady?" sneered Ryoko, "A handful of cops won't stop me!"
"ME and this army Ryoko!" replied Mikami. Suddenly armoured GP soldiers uncloaked themselves all around the hall. The officers had guns locked straight on her as she floated in mid-air.
"There were tactical officers present all this time?" Jerren remarked in disbelief.
"Yes, they used cloaking devices to camouflage themselves into the background." Kiyone said softly.
"Now that's something you don't see every day….except maybe in movies."
"You see Ryoko, we have known about your arrival here, and your plans to sabotage this signing from the start, and this time we came prepared for you! Surrender...escape is futile!"
Ryoko just grinned at Mikami and chuckled.
"Go ahead and try!"
"Ready...AIM...FIRE!" Mikami repeatedly shot at Ryoko, the rest of the tactical officers quickly following suit. Lasers blanketed the area where Ryoko hovered, completely obscuring the space pirate from view. Mikami gave the signal to stop firing and as the smoked cleared, Ryoko's laugh rang throughout the hall. The pirate was completely untouched; a force field glimmered in the dissipating smoke.
Enough firepower to level a building had been used on the space pirate. Ryoko laughed as she looked at the stunned cops.
"Now it's my turn!"
Ryoko then expanded her force field and sent the GP officers and soldiers flying into the walls with sickening thuds. Ryoko laughed again and taunted them.
"Fools!" she confidently stated, "You're no match for me. I'm Ryoko, the most feared pirate in this sector of the galaxy! You have nothing on me!"
Ryoko generated a yellow energy blast from her hand and aimed for the audience in the front row firing the deadly pulse at them. The people ran out of their seats in time to dodge the blast and the front row was reduced to smouldering waste. Ryoko started blasting indiscriminately into the stands; the people started to panic and run for their lives.
"Hahahahaha...!" Ryoko laughed manically firing random bursts into the audience, "This is so much fun!
Hahahahaahhaha...!"
"This is getting out of hand!" Jerren covered his face from the flying debris in the midst of the chaos, "We need to stop her before she reduces this place to rubble!"
"Don't worry…." Mihoshi said, looking up at Ryoko, "I'll stop her! It's time to gear up!"
Mihoshi activated her battle suit which was a mixture of orange and black form fitting body armour, and started to shoot rapid fire energy blasts at Ryoko from her gloves. Ryoko teleported behind Mihoshi and shot a blast at her, but Mihoshi dodged it as the ground she had been standing on became a crater.
"Stupid cop...!" Ryoko laughed at Mihoshi.
"Mihoshi," Kiyone said turning her attention to her, "Do you have the thermal laser cannon with you?"
"It's in my control cube!" Mihoshi pulled out the pink cube and activated it. A huge laser gun appeared and Mihoshi ran to her partner handing the weapon to Kiyone.
"Alright space pirate…." Kiyone said as she got an accurate lock on Ryoko, "Time to taste thermal blaster!" The weapon powered up and Kiyone fired, but Ryoko deflected the blast with ease, knocking its trajectory towards the ceiling leaving a perfect circle of destruction in its wake.
"No….way! That's not possible!" Kiyone stammered, shocked, "I powered it at maximum and she deflected like it was a rubber ball!"
"I guess it's my turn then….?" Jerren said reaching for the light hawk sword.
In a sudden shift in the one-sided battle, Ryoko suddenly found herself trapped in a force field generated by Azaka and Kamadakie.
"L...Let me go! LET ME OUT!" She said as she struggled to get out of the force field.
Ayeka laughed at Ryoko, "Who is laughing now, space pirate trash!"
"Let me go you spoiled little brat!" Ryoko said in rage, hitting the walls of the field with enough force to pulverise stone but to no avail. Azaka and Kamadakie shocked her with volts of electricity and she screamed in agonizing pain.
"Oh my, did that hurt?" Ayeka grinned, "Well too bad, justice is finally being served!"
The remaining people in the audience stopped running and instead started to cheer at Ryokos' suffering. The media crew, who had recorded all the earlier action, filmed her misery as well.
"Whoa!" Jerren said wincing at every scream, "I actually feel sorry for her."
"Pl...Please….please stop! You can stop now….P….Princess!" she stuttered when she couldn't take any more.
"Stop? Are you still joking Ryoko?" Ayeka sneered, enjoying herself, "This is the most fun I have had all day!"
"Please stop, Miss Ayeka!" Jerren said pleading with her, "I know she's a criminal but she can't take much more of this, don't you think she's learned her lesson!'
"Silence, slave!" she snapped, "You do not get to tell me what to do. Five more minutes and then the GP may have what is left. But for now...Azaka, Kamadakie turn up the...?"
Just then a giant silver plated ship appeared, hovering over the hole in the ceiling, casting its immense shadow over the hall. Without warning blasts shot down Azaka and Kamadakie, leaving them severely damaged. A glowing green force field formed around a startled Ayeka.
Ryoko was freed from her confinement and clutching her sides in pain, floated towards the ship. Princess Ayeka dragged helplessly along in her new prison screamed in frustration.
"Mission accomplished!" Ryoko sighed in relief. "Before I leave, I would like to give all of you a going away present!"
A rowdy bunch of space pirates poured from above, bursting through the hole in the ceiling Ryoko had come through and also the entrance hall door. Hollering like maniacs they began shooting up the place with their laser guns, assaulting people in the audience as well.
"This is anchor woman Sakuya and it seems not only has the Princess of Jurai been kidnapped by space pirate Ryoko, but her blood thirsty gang of pirates have now arrived on the scene to cause absolute chaos and mayhem…."
One space pirate assaulted a camera man throwing him to the ground. He then threw his camera into the audience. The anchor woman's composure broke and she ran away screaming.
The remaining people in the stands fled to the nearest exit in their rows only to be blocked by more space pirates.
One space pirate in the top row about twenty feet up held a laser machine gun and started to shoot a barrage of laser fire point blank into the massed throng. The frightened people took cover as the mad pirate shot with wild abandon. Another pirate had a flame thrower strapped to his back firing gusts of flame; people fled from the searing heat before they could be burned.
The last few conscious GP officers were being swiftly overrun by the villainous horde of pirates.
The second row, now in flames; Jerren, Kiyone and Mihoshi helplessly looked on, trying to see a way to stop the madness.
To be continued...