A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE
Chapter 7: Something To Believe In
A Sailor Moon fanfic
By Bill K.
A limousine was waiting in the front courtyard of the Crystal Palace for the King and Queen to emerge. It was a more common sight than what had been in the courtyard a few hours earlier, that being thousands of squirming robot cockroaches. But that problem had been dealt with and operations around the palace were getting back to normal.
The door to the palace opened and King Endymion emerged, wearing his standard gray tuxedo. He turned and held the door for his wife, Queen Serenity, as he led her out by the hand. Serenity wore her usual white shoulder-less gown. A Palace security officer emerged from the limousine and opened the rear door to allow the Royal couple access. Endymion was about to help his wife in.
"Stop! Come back here!" came a sharp cry.
Endymion looked up, searching for trouble. His eyes locked on a young girl running toward the limousine. Serenity looked as well. Endymion was about to draw a rose from his jacket, for any potential threat to Serenity would be swiftly dealt with no matter the attacker's age. But Serenity was already around the car and bending to meet the girl. She was five and had silken shoulder length black hair. Then, fortunately for everyone, Endymion recognized the girl.
"Queen Serenity, please!" the girl cried. She stopped where Serenity was squatting and the Queen gently took her hands.
"You're the daughter of Dr. Heiwajima, aren't you?" Serenity inquired. "What was your name?"
"Madoko, ma'am," the girl replied. Serenity could see she was on the verge of tears. "I've been waiting at the gate, trying to see you! You have to let my Dad go! He didn't do anything!"
"How long have you been waiting?" Serenity asked, wiping a smudge from the child's face with her thumb. The girl shrugged. "Is anyone taking care of you while your dad is away?"
"Auntie," Madoko mumbled. "Please let my Dad go, Queen Serenity! He didn't do anything! He didn't!"
Helpless for an answer, Serenity looked up and silently appealed to her husband.
"I'm sorry," Endymion replied softly. "Until we can find evidence to clear him, Dr. Heiwajima has to be held. It's a matter of public safety as well as the safety of the palace."
Madoko's face twisted up and the girl began crying. Immediately Serenity pulled the child to her breast.
"Please don't cry, Madoko-Chan!" Serenity whimpered. "We'll find the evidence to clear your father! I promise we will! And the moment we do, I'll bring him back to you! I promise!"
As his wife continued to console the heartbroken child, Endymion looked on and wondered: What if Dr. Heiwajima was guilty? How would his kind and generous wife fulfill her promise then?
Finally Endymion waved over one of the security guards and instructed him to gently and respectfully escort Madoko back to her aunt's home. Then he touched Serenity's shoulder and eased her away from the child. He guided her into the limousine and they headed for their meeting with Arnold Beliveau.
"Isn't there a way we could . . .?" Serenity began.
"Not until we know he isn't a threat," Endymion maintained.
"But the attack today," Serenity argued. "He couldn't have been behind it! Not if he's in custody!"
"Do we know that? He's a master of cybernetic theory. Who says he couldn't control them from jail," Endymion told her. "Or who's to say he doesn't have confederates working with him? We have to be sure, to stop the attacks. Today's attack injured scores of people all over Tokyo. I know you want to believe him, for her sake. But your faith in him could endanger others and that's not fair to them."
Serenity looked down, crestfallen. Endymion reached over and grasped her hand.
"Leading isn't easy, is it?" he said. Serenity glanced up at him with misty sympathy. "Maybe you can sense something from Beliveau-San today that will turn the tide of this and allow you to help Madoko Heiwajima and the citizens of Tokyo."
Ichiro Ikegami walked with a sense of crushing helplessness to the limousine that would drive him and his sister home from school. The driver, a member of Palace Security, surveyed the area for signs of danger as the boy approached. Ichiro appreciated his presence, for stories of his sister's abduction a few years ago, told and retold with pride and reverence by his sister, lingered in the back of his mind and worried him.
But the security guard and the limousine were two more things that set him apart from the other kids at the school. Word had gotten out about who he was and more importantly who his mother was. Never much of a joiner, Ichiro had avoided the other kids. But he'd seen the looks and he'd heard the whispers and it brought up familiar feelings about being different and isolated. When he reached the limo, the driver bowed to him.
"Ready to go, Ikegami-San?" the driver asked. Yes, better to get home and to familiar surroundings. And maybe he could look up Setsuko-Chan and they could play some video games. Setsuko made him feel comfortable. Inside the car, Akiko was waiting for him.
"'Bout time you got here," she jabbed. "So what happened when the bugs invaded your class? All the girls in my class freaked! Some of the boys freaked, too! Hotoro-Kun even got bit!"
"Is he all right?" Ichiro asked anxiously.
"He's got a pretty bad welt on his arm where it bit him," Akiko shrugged. Then she grinned. "It didn't have a chance to get him too bad because I knocked it off with my binder. Then Kenichi-Kun and Tsuyoshi-Kun and I got push brooms and shoved them all back against the wall. Then they just ran off. Sensei said we were heroes." She nudged him. "Just like Mom, huh? So what happened in your class?"
Ichiro sighed. "Everybody was screaming and running. Sensei tried to keep everybody calm. There were bugs on several of the girls, so I took off my jacket and swiped them off, and then I stomped on them. And some of the others started stomping on them, too."
"They crunch real loud when you do that, don't they!" chuckled Akiko. "What did your sensei say to you?"
"Nothing," Ichiro shrugged. "She was too busy trying to get the other kids calmed down. I guess she didn't have time."
"Well that's no fair!" grumbled Akiko. Ichiro shrugged again. He actually didn't mind the anonymity. "Well you handled things just like Mom and Dad would have done. Good job, Ichiro. It shows that even a little pest like you can be a hero."
"You're the pest," Ichiro shot back. Akiko chucked her shoulder into him and the boy responded in kind.
"And how are you progressing with your 'borderline illicit' activities, Artemis?" Luna asked, walking with her tail in the air into the quarters Artemis shared with Minako. "Their Majesties will want a status update."
"Is something illicit if the government does it?" Artemis asked as he studied his screen. "After all, they make the rules."
"There are rules made by governments and rules made to keep governments from abusing power," Luna corrected him, as usual. "As well as rules of common sense social manners and deportment. And it's even more vital for large bodies of power such as governments to operate under such rules."
"Why is every conversation with you like my eighth grade civics class?" muttered Minako as she wandered into the room from the balcony.
"Have you found anything, Artemis?" Luna asked, completely ignoring Minako.
"Yeah," Artemis replied. "Akaruimirai is loaded. I'll bet their CEO alone is worth billions."
"Is he interested in adopting a daughter?" Minako asked.
"Nothing illegal that I can find," the cat continued. "They've got holdings that I didn't know they had. And their corporate demeanor is typical 'smile benevolently on the outside while trying to squeeze every last yen'."
"But no smoking gun?"
"No, I didn't find a secret corporate five year plan to rule Japan via terrorist robots," Artemis replied. "Which would have been Viluy's thing. But there's nothing to indicate they're doing anything other than making sophisticated electronic technology to sell to people at huge markups."
"Then why did that robot go berserk?" Minako asked. "And where did that tidal wave of robot roaches come from?"
"Perhaps we're attacking this problem from the wrong direction," suggested Luna. "Instead of looking for evidence that someone in Akaruimirai is plotting dire events, perhaps we should try to find where those wretched robot insects were manufactured. It has to be a large facility. Once we locate it, perhaps something there will lead us to our 'whom'."
"Works for me," Minako replied. "If we find the plant, there's got to be some disgruntled employee who'll rat out who made them make robot bugs."
"I'm scanning the company directory for a facility big enough to build 'nine million, two hundred and eighty-six thousand, three hundred and eight'," Artemis announced, then smirked at Minako, "plus the one I have."
"You're not funny, Cat," Minako scowled.
"And they have six locations in Japan that fit the search parameters," Artemis reported. "Two in Tokyo."
"We must check them both, just to be thorough," Luna stated.
"Hey, Fuzzy, you got a way to check how many people work at these plants?" Minako asked. Luna looked at her curiously. "Want to know how many I'd be running up against."
"You don't plan to wait for the police to obtain search warrants?" Luna asked.
"I'd kind of like to get in to see these places before they know we're on to them, so they can't destroy anything incriminating. Besides, search warrants are for sissies."
"Interesting," Artemis murmured. "The Shinjuku plant just has a skeleton work force. Just enough for security and maintenance. That tells me it's automated."
"Fewer loose lips that way," Minako added, an eyebrow arched. "Let me collect Ami and we'll go take a look at the place. See if there are any blueprints over there for robot bugs." She smiled suddenly. "Or five thousand foot robot Godzillas!"
"Focus!" Artemis said sternly. As Minako scooted out of the room, Luna emitted a tired sigh.
When Akiko and Ichiro hit the door, Akiko made a bee line for the kitchen. She knew that if her mother was home at this time of the afternoon, she'd be there cooking. And she wanted to tell her mom everything that happened the day the robot bugs invaded. Then she'd tell it again at dinner, but she first wanted her mother the Senshi to be duly impressed.
Ichiro was more calm. He hauled his backpack toward his room, figuring to try to get a little homework in before dinner. That would leave more time later for video games. And since Akiko always put her homework off until the last minute, he could have the satisfaction of playing while she had to work.
"Hey, Ichiro," his father said from his favorite chair. There was an action series on television, but Sanjuro was looking at him. He gestured the child over. "Just want to get a look at how that eye's holding up."
He gently put his massive hand on the top of the young boy's head and eased it back. Ichiro didn't enjoy being reminded of his beating, but knew his father meant well and endured it silently.
"Looks like its healing," Sanjuro said. "Eye giving you any trouble?"
"I still can't open it more than a crack," Ichiro shrugged. "But it only hurts when I touch it."
"You touch it a lot?" Sanjuro asked. Ichiro shrugged and his father knew that meant he was but didn't want to admit it. "So, any more trouble at school?"
"No," Ichiro said softly. It was another thing he didn't want to be reminded of.
"That boy leaving you alone?"
Him and everyone else; but Ichiro didn't go there. He didn't want any more attention on the subject. Because if his mom found out, she'd try to set things right again.
"Ichiro?"
"Yeah, he's leaving me alone," Ichiro assured him.
"Good," Sanjuro said, resting his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Look, I know standing up for what's right can be lonely sometimes. But we all have to do it, no matter what it might cost us, or else the world is that much worse of a place. And I know being special can be lonely, too. It's easy to be part of the herd. And the herd will sometimes resent you for standing out. But that's your burden to bear, son, because you are special. Don't let this get you down. OK?"
Ichiro nodded.
"Now you want a cold pack for your eye?" Sanjuro asked.
"I think it'll be OK," the boy replied. Sanjuro smiled.
"All right. Don't start anything involved. Your mom's going to serve in about twenty or thirty minutes."
Ichiro nodded and headed for his room. Inside, he hung his backpack on the back of the chair at his desk. Bringing out a book, he sat down and began to work on the first problem. But his mind began to wander.
Why? Why did doing the right thing always have to cost something? Was that why so many people didn't do it, or did nothing? His seven year old mind wanted easy answers and this problem didn't seem to have any.
There was a knock on the door of his bedroom. Before Ichiro could get up to open the door, it slid open. Standing in the doorway was Ami Fujihara.
"May I come in, Ichiro-Kun?" she asked. Her demeanor was pleasantly neutral. However, Makoto and Sanjuro were lurking behind her and they couldn't disguise the worry on their faces. Sensing he didn't want an audience, Ami politely closed the door on them. "I wanted to check on how your eye was healing, if that's all right?"
"Sure, Aunt Ami," Ichiro replied. She took a seat while he sat on the edge of his bed.
"I would have scheduled an office visit," she apologized, "but things are just happening much too rapidly. Still, I can't neglect a patient." Her hand gently braced against his forehead. Delicately she pulled the skin on his forehead up so the lid would part, then briefly focused a penlight into the eye. "Your retina and cornea are responsive and show no damage. Is the lid still sore?"
He nodded.
"Cold compresses will help with that. You really should continue with them."
"Yes, Aunt Ami," Ichiro responded. The doctor's hands dropped to her lap. She leaned in sympathetically.
"I know you feel depressed about what happened," Ami offered. "It's a natural response. Violence and the fear and regret that violence induces can be very difficult to deal with, particularly for someone as young as you. I understand what you might be feeling." Ichiro's lack of response struck a familiar cord in the doctor. "When I was your age, I often felt isolated from the other children and a target for bullies."
Ichiro frowned, but didn't look at her.
"Why do people do that, Aunt Ami?" he asked.
"In my case, it was because I was smarter than the others and worked harder," Ami replied. "The other children were intimidated by a comparison of our intellects and work habits. And they reacted in fear out of ignorance. They didn't understand that my being the top score in the class didn't make them worthless. And they didn't understand that lashing out at me wouldn't alleviate the perceived inequity of our status."
"So what did you do?" Ichiro ventured.
"The wrong thing, I admit," sighed Ami. "I withdrew further. By doing so, I missed opportunities for friendships that I wish I had today. Withdrawing isn't the correct response. Neither is retaliation."
"Then what?"
"Have you tried communicating? Some children react violently from fear. If you communicate with them and show them you're not a threat to them, they won't attack." Ami sighed again. "Unfortunately that doesn't work in every case. Some children have yet to learn that dominance of others is not a means to social status. Some never learn. In those cases, adult authority must be brought into play. It isn't seen as socially acceptable in some circles, but it could ultimately prevent a tragedy."
It didn't seem like the magic cure Ichiro wanted, but the boy nodded.
"And one more piece of advice," Ami offered. "This is a lesson your mother taught me: Never lead with your face."
In spite of himself, Ichiro smiled at that.
Arnold Beliveau's office door opened. He looked up and saw his executive assistant, Tetsuo Shinsuke, standing at the door. Shinsuke had buzzed him moments earlier, signaling that his four p.m. meeting had arrived. Beliveau glanced at the clock on the wall. It said four on the dot.
King Endymion was a man of his word, at this at least. The question was, did it signal eagerness, to settle perhaps, or an obsessiveness that would be difficult to negotiate with?
"King Endymion," Beliveau said, rising to greet him.
That's when he saw the woman holding his hand. She was amazing to see in person. Beliveau was familiar with Queen Serenity, having seen her on television and in print for years. You didn't live in Japan without knowing who Queen Serenity, and Sailor Moon before, was. But there was something about her in person that made it hard to take his eyes off of her. She seemed to glisten, like the gold coins in his collection.
"And Queen Serenity," Beliveau shook himself, realizing that he was staring. "This is unexpected, but an honor nonetheless. May I say that your pictures don't nearly do you justice."
"Thank you," she said meekly. She was nothing like he imagined.
"I asked my wife to sit in with us," Endymion spoke up, trying to refocus the discussion to business and establish a reason for her being there, "because our final decision on the Daiyaku Project will be a joint one. It's best that she hear your side of the project so as not to let the unfortunate accidents color her perception of it."
"Thank you for that," Beliveau nodded. "The Daiyaku Project is a potential quantum leap in science and technology. It's unfortunate that an accident has given it such a bad reputation. Purely the fault of our company and not that of the technology, I assure you, and a fault that we are working diligently to correct and safeguard so that it doesn't happen again. I realize that I've said this to you before, King Endymion, but I must reiterate that shutting the project down would be a blow to human progress and scientific discovery. Not to mention all of the workers dependent upon this project who will be negatively impacted by such a closure. This project will be both a gateway to other technological benefits and a potentially huge shot in the arm to the economy. And frankly, between the electronics collapse and the ravages of the disaster, this country's economy could use just such a boost very badly."
"You're very eloquent, Beliveau-San," commented Endymion, "and very passionate about this."
"I believe in it, King Endymion," Beliveau replied. "I see the future in this project and it excites me! Making history is exciting! And this project, if left alone to grow, will make history."
"And a tidy profit for your company," Endymion added with a cynical eye.
"I'm not purely an altruist," Beliveau shrugged. "I admit the potential for financial gain is quite enticing as well. My belief in this project is genuine. My belief in my company's bottom line is nothing to be ashamed of, either. Hopefully I can persuade you not to shut us down or to impose draconian oversight on us and wreck that potential."
As Beliveau spoke, Endymion momentarily glanced at Serenity to see if she had any impression of Beliveau and whether he could read it on her face. His glance surprised him. Serenity was blankly looking at Arnold Beliveau as if she were in another world. As Endymion returned his attention to Beliveau to continue their business and keep him occupied at the same time, he wondered what his wife was seeing.
Continued in Chapter 8
