Chapter 11
The headaches were getting worse.
Seiryo stared at his reflection in the mirror, scowling at the drawn face that stared back at him. He had not slept properly since he had returned to the Galaxy Police, and he knew that it was not just Suki who had observed it. Most people had put it down to the death of his father, and had tactfully not asked too many questions, but as the days wore on, more and more of what was going on around him began to seem like some kind of unreal dream.
If he was honest, he knew that the magic instilled in him by his new and sinister commander was the reasoning behind it. His body had never been built for magic, he told himself bitterly, and now that it possessed it, he had moments when it surged energy through him and other times when he felt too tired to even curl up and sleep. For one who had always been in such serene control of his emotions, he was unsettled by the change it had wrought in him. And yet he knew too that he would not let it go. Tokimi's magic had given him strength and drive beyond anything he had ever experienced and he knew that finally he was more than just a hard working agent of high status birth. He was equal to the Royal Line of Jurai, and could match them blow for blow.
If only he knew better how to master it inside of him.
He glowered at the Agent in the mirror once more, splashing water across the reflection as he turned his back on it, returning to his desk and the pile of work that was slowly accumulating around him. Many of the cases he had already delegated to lesser officers, using his connections within Headquarters to pass off his responsibilities without raising too many eyebrows. He knew from past experience that there were many agents and detectives willing to go the extra mile to have a good word put in for them with the Supreme Commander by Seiryo Tennan. But one file still lay open on his desk, the printouts mocking him every time he glanced at it.
"Father's murder." he murmured, dropping down into his seat and touching the cover sheet with a frown. "This is proving more complicated than I imagined. Masaki has connections in high places and in order to plant suspicion on him, I have to bypass all of that support network. Tokimi might think it's an easy way of getting Tenchi Masaki into her clutches, but the Galaxy Police have always been in Jurai's back pocket. To make too many forays into this area too quickly would be suicidal for the whole organisation, but more importantly, for me and for my family. It's one thing to pin the blame on that jezebel Ryoko - but Tokimi has absolutely no use for her and her defective gene pool. So I have to go back to the drawing board and implicate Tenchi-dono in this without causing war on Jurai."
He sat back in his chair, ruefully musing over the fact that, in all his time with the Galaxy Police, he had never tried to falsify evidence before.
"I never had to. I'm good at this job and I get it done right." He muttered. "But a lot rests on this."
As he sat there, an image of Kiyone Makibi flitted into his head, and a shadow touched his eyes. He'd killed in the line of duty before, but never had he slain an innocent. In the heat of the moment, every instinct had strained to do it, to exert his power and strength over her feeble form and prove to her that he was not someone who could be stopped, no matter what she tried. But now, once the rush had faded, he felt cold and empty at the memory. Like the corpse he'd left behind on Yagami, he told himself humourlessly. After all, he mused, you could be dead to the world in more ways than one.
"You're pensive tonight, Seiryo-san."
Her voice startled him and he glanced up in surprise as a hazy form began to shimmer in front of him, becoming more and more substantial with every minute. "Why so sad? You do know that everything is going exactly as we'd planned."
"How so?" Seiryo raised an eyebrow. "You're no nearer to grabbing Tenchi Masaki, and now you've made me kill a good Detective to keep Suki's secret. What else are you going to make me do?"
"You didn't seem so reluctant to kill Detective Makibi when I told you she had overheard your chat." Tokimi reminded him, amusement on her face. "You may have followed my command, Seiryo, but the desire to do it was all your own. I told you you were ruthless. You should believe me - I know your true nature better than you do."
"Let's just say it's not how I usually handle things." Seiryo said bitterly. "A coward kills behind closed doors. I kill in a fair fight. It's different."
"Not really." Tokimi spread her hands. "Was it fair that she eavesdropped on a private conversation? She wrote her own warrant, Seiryo. You shouldn't have remorse for carrying out a necessary act. Besides, she was just one detective. The Galaxy Police have more, and now any potential communication with Washu is severed completely. You did get to her before she made contact, I presume?"
"How would I know?" Seiryo demanded. "I went as soon as you told me. What is it about this Washu that makes you afraid of her, Tokimi?"
"I'm not afraid of her!" Rage flared in Tokimi's eyes and Seiryo glanced anxiously at the door, half expecting someone to come and complain at the raised voices at any moment.
"Shut up!" He hissed. "Or you'll give us both away!"
"Don't make stupid assertions, then." Tokimi said angrily. "I don't fear Washu. I would just rather not involve her. That's all. There is nothing she can do to defeat me or interfere in my plans. She would just delay the whole process with her tiresome logic and her pathetic mind games. And I have no wish to meet her again after all this time. Better she is kept out of it completely. That suits me far more."
"Okay. Fine. Whatever." Seiryo dismissed her words with a careless gesture. "So what happens now? Has that idiot Clay managed to get the genetic samples you wanted?"
"His droid is proving slower than I expected." Tokimi admitted. "But I intend to have him contact her this evening and make sure she knows she's not taking a holiday on that blasted planet. Besides, none of that is your concern. I'm relying on you to find a premise to bring Tenchi Masaki here for questioning. And do it soon, Seiryo. As soon as I have the data from Clay I can go ahead with my final plan to snare Tsunami - so be aware."
"This whole thing is seeming crazier by the day." Seiryo muttered. "Every time I fail you say we've made progress. What are you trying to do? Protect my family or drive me to ruin and disgrace?"
"Neither one." Tokimi told him bluntly. "I'm trying to hunt down a goddess who is responsible for the death of my world. That's all. You are useful to me so I help and protect you...so long as you continue to be useful, I will continue to do so. Your trip to the Earth was not a failure - it brought Zero into their midst. You dealt with the threat of Kiyone Makibi and you will find a way to add Tenchi Masaki's name to the most wanted list."
"And when all this is over? What will you do then?" Seiryo eyed her in trepidation. Tokimi laughed softly.
"Who knows?" She asked lightly. "But think, Seiryo, if Tsunami is no longer there...who protects the Royal House of Jurai then? Those who rely on magic to defend themselves will suddenly become weak. Those who have honed their skills through combat will have the power and the edge. There will be a struggle...and you are best placed to come out victorious."
She touched him with a ghostly hand and he felt a prickle of electricity flicker up his spine.
"For you have my magic to fill the void." She whispered. "Jurai will look to you as the new royal blood, don't you see that? The Tennan Family will be more than restored to their original status. They will be the Gods among men that the current Emperor considers himself to be now."
Seiryo stared at her, feeling the surge of magic well up inside of him, rushing through his senses and awakening every ounce of ambition that lay dormant inside of him. He nodded his head, bringing his hands up to examine them.
"You're right." He realised. "The Tennan family has always suffered because we weren't fortunate enough to be born to Tsunami's elitist line. But with your magic, that could change. Tokimi, in the absence of a deity, perhaps Jurai would take you in her stead."
"And you in Azusa's, my Lord of Jurai?" Tokimi sounded amused. Light flickered in Seiryo's eyes as he considered this.
"Perhaps." He acknowledged at length. "And I could bring Takeru Imada down to the level he deserves at long last."
"Him and that ungrateful Crown Princess who rejected your suit, no doubt?" Tokimi laughed. "The opportunities are endless. Destroy Azusa, denounce Ayeka and her soft-hearted husband...maybe take the Princess Sasami as your wife and become Emperor of all Jurai. She may not have Jurai's power, but soon none of her relatives will, either. They do say she will be pretty as she grows - pretty enough to suit even the most ambitious of overlords, and a convenient match to bring you to power in the chaos that ensues! Don't you see how much I can do for you, Seiryo? I can control people's minds. Influence their thoughts. All those Galaxy Police officers that serve...think of the ones you took to the Earth. You have an army at your fingertips, and with my help, there are no limits on what you can do."
"No limits." Seiryo clenched his fists, nodding his head. "You're right. Without Tsunami, Jurai is powerless."
"Now you see the bigger picture." Tokimi looked pleased. "You help me to defeat my nemesis, Seiryo, and I will more than help you see to yours. Your army will serve my purpose first. Then they will be yours to command as you please...into a new future where the Tennan family are revered across all of Jurai."
Seiryo was silent for a moment, digesting this. Then he raised his gaze to hers, a strange look in his eyes.
"When you put it like that, the death of one detective seems a small price to pay." He admitted. "To keep Suki safe, to guarantee her a good match and to rule supreme over a world that seems determined to laugh in our faces. Yes, Tokimi, I see the sense in your words. Perhaps you do know me better than I thought."
"Count on it." Tokimi agreed, her tone teasing. "I always reward those who are loyal to me. Look at Clay. He should have died half a milennium ago, but I have sustained him beyond his natural life. He should be rotting in the Academy's imprisonment system, but I pulled him out before they could lay hands on him. Yes, he has benefitted greatly from my power and patronage. You see now what it is to treat with a goddess?"
Seiryo's eyes flickered with a strange fire and he nodded once more.
"Yes." He said softly. "I do. Whatever it takes, Tokimi - I won't fail."
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"Tokimi?"
Washu echoed Mihoshi's words, eying the detective with a mixture of surprise and alarm. She grabbed her companion by the wrists, meeting her gaze with an urgent one of her own.
"Are you sure? Mihoshi, please, try to remember. This could be very important. Are you certain that Tokimi was the word that you heard Kiyone say?"
Mihoshi stared at her friend in confusion, nodding her head slowly as blond curls bobbed in all directions.
"Yes, that was it all right." She agreed. "I know it doesn't make much sense, but then I guess Kiyone wasn't feeling so good and she just, well, made a noise. I'm sorry it didn't help any, Washu. I mean, well, whatever blasted her must have confused her brain."
Washu bit her lip, watching as Mihoshi squeezed Kiyone's hand reassuringly.
"At least you can help her. I feel so much better knowing we're back here with you guys."
"No." Washu shook her head. Mihoshi looked startled.
"No?" She echoed. "But Washu, you just said that Kiyone would be okay!"
"And I think she will be." Washu nodded. "But what I mean is that you can't stay here. It wouldn't be wise. Not at the moment - not with everything that's already happened."
"Not...stay here?" Mihoshi's blue eyes widened in alarm. "But Washu, you said to Tenchi that I'd rather be with Kiyone! And I would, I really would! I mean, she's my partner and we do everything together! She'd want me to be near her and I can help you nurse her. Really I can! I might be a little clumsy sometimes but you can count on me!"
"Oh, Mihoshi, I know I can." Washu sighed heavily, putting a gentle hand on Mihoshi's arm. "But listen. Someone attacked Kiyone aboard Yagami. That someone expects to have disposed of her. If you suddenly disappear, then whoever it is are going to realise you had something to do with getting her away from Headquarters. Yagami is also missing, after all. And I have put the both of you in enough danger, quite evidently. No, the best thing is for you to go back to Headquarters at once and try and pretend that you don't know where she is. Really, Mihoshi. It's the only thing I can see for you to do."
"Go back?" Mihoshi's eyes could not get any bigger. "But there's someone trying to kill people there!"
"I know, and they must not suspect you're involved in whatever they think Kiyone was doing." Washu cast a regretful glance down at the stricken detective, every hoarse breath the woman drew nagging at her conscience. "This is the best thing you can do for her. Yagami is not your ship, after all."
"But you said that I probably disturbed them." Mihoshi's brows knitted in consternation. "What if they already know I know something?"
"Then you get in touch with me and I'll send Ryoko to get you out of there." Washu said grimly. "Ryo Ohki moves at speed, and you're the only Galaxy Police officer who's ever come close to catching her."
Her tone softened.
"Mihoshi, I already feel guilty about Kiyone being hurt." She murmured. "I won't have it happen twice over with you, too."
"Do you want me to spy, like Kiyone was?" Mihoshi asked curiously. "I mean, I could...I'm sure I could find out whatever it was Kiyone was looking into."
"No." Washu shook her head. "No, whatever it was almost got her killed, and I won't put you in that kind of danger. Mihoshi, you must go back to the Galaxy Police and pretend like everything is all right. I know it's hard, and I know you're worried about Kiyone. But if I know you're safe and out of this, I can focus much more easily on Kiyone's health. The Earth is not a safe haven at the moment, you have to know that. There has already been one raid, and with all the bits and pieces I'm starting to put together, I think that Headquarters is probably a safer place for you to be."
Mihoshi sighed.
"I want to help Kiyone." She said at length, looking defeated. Washu smiled sadly.
"By going back, you will be." She said simply.
"All right." Mihoshi glanced at her hands. "But what about Yagami? I blew out its engine. I can't fly it back broken - the thing won't move."
"I'll find a way to transport you back." Washu promised. "I've done a lot of inter-dimensional development since I began moving my lab around space, and I'm sure I can find a short-cut through a wormhole that would get you back to Headquarters without any trouble. But you must promise me to say nothing to anyone about Kiyone or where she is, all right? And under no circumstances repeat that word you told me."
"Which word?" Mihoshi's brow furrowed.
"Tokimi."
"Oh. That one." Mihoshi looked sheepish. "I'd forgotten it already."
"Well, forget it again." Washu advised grimly.
"Is it a rude word?"
"Not exactly, but saying it could get you into trouble." Washu said vaguely. "Just promise me you won't repeat it to anyone...no matter who they say they are or what they ask you."
"I promise." Mihoshi nodded her head, lifting her hand in a salute. "I won't tell a soul."
"Good girl." Washu looked relieved. "Then that's all we can do here. Kiyone is stable - she needs to rest and I'll know if there's any change in her condition through a signal from the computer system. Come to the lounge, Mihoshi, and get something to drink. You've had a long and stressful flight and if I'm going to send you back this evening, well, I want you to be calm and rested before I do. You can leave Yagami where it is. I'll worry about cloaking the ship if it becomes necessary that we do so."
"I trust you, Washu." Mihoshi dimpled. "And so does Kiyone. Only...if you can fix her ship? I mean, she likes it a lot and, well...she doesn't like it when I hit all the wrong buttons."
"I promise that if I have a chance, I'll try my best." Washu assured her, linking her arm in that of the detective's with a slight smile. "Although I doubt she'd be too mad at you, considering the reason why you did it in the first place!"
