Arc 1: Moon
Act 4: Moon Ball
Scene 1: Cin
Anzen, Poudrietteite, and Kai were all in Poudrietteite's penthouse at the top of the Moon Castle. They stood next to a wall, where a giant painting of a bowl of pink flowers had been raised into the ceiling, revealing rows of monitors that played the current surveillance feeds from both the Moon Base and the Moon Castle.
Anzen said, "We are sending Base Force Police Officers to every living pod on the Moon Base, questioning everybody and looking for clues."
"And?"
"And so far-nothing. Nobody has any solid information about the Guardian of the Moon or what she did with Peri!"
"She is a mysterious rebel who now has a powerful weapon in her hands! You must find them immediately!"
"We are doing everything we can, Princess."
"If you were, I would have her in custody right now!" Poudrietteite stomped her glittering pink heel. "Your position as chief is on the line, Anzen. Do not return without answers!"
"Yes, Princess," Anzen saluted and exited the room.
Kai said, "Your misuse of the djinn Peri nearly burned down your arena and seriously compromised the security of my daughter. Your family will be most displeased with my report once I return to Earth, Princess Poudrietteite."
Poudrietteite squeeze her pink-gloved fist, but kept her focus on the monitors.
Kai continued, "Listening to Chief Anzen was your biggest mistake. I highly recommend his immediate termination."
"I have kept peace on this Moon for 15 years, Kai!" said Poudrietteite. "We are experiencing a minor setback because of an unknown rebel. My family would handle this situation the exact same way!"
"There is more than one unknown rebel, Poudrietteite," Kai pointed out. "Your prisoner Takeshi managed to escape. And with losing control of Peri, the Alpha Lunar shield's strength is reduced by a third. The security of your entire Moon has been highly compromised."
"Which is why I have the Base Force Police working around the clock."
Kai took a moment to study the Poudrietteite, from her shimmering heels to her flushed cheeks. "Your attempted arrest of my daughter has left me in serious doubt of your grip on this whole situation."
"Everybody was a suspect, Kai, and most still are. For all you know about your daughter, she could have very well been the Guardian."
Kai straightened. "I need a day to complete my report, and then I'll be heading back toward Earth, and I'll be taking my daughter with me."
"Her training has not been completed here."
"Oh, I say it has."
Poudrietteite pursed her lips, turning her full attention to Kai. Her blue eyes met his, powder and midnight.
"I have a plan, Kai," she said with a huff. "If my police can't find answers, then I'll be extending invitations to the Moon Ball ceremony to all students who partook in the science faire."
"And what good will that do?"
"We know the Guardian is a student. She disappeared at the science faire, and only students exited from there."
"It seems very stupid to knowingly invite a rebel to your Moon Castle."
"Before last night, the last time the Guardian showed her face, she and her friends had broken into the Moon Castle. They are looking for something here! If I invite them to the Moon Ball ceremony, I know they'll show themselves."
"And what then? Why set yourself up for another humiliating defeat?"
"I will not be defeated, Kai," she said as she crossed the room to the golden tea service. It was incomplete without the creamer. She selected sugar pot, which had a round ball belly and a long, thick neck decorated with colorful gemstones.
"I'll set a trap for them, using Cin!" she said, daintily lifting the lid off of the sugar pot's long neck. A stream of pale blue mist wound out of the pot, curling around Poudrietteite and Anzen before swirling between them and becoming corporeal. A woman appeared before them, as tall as Anzen, her generous curves displayed with a two piece made of golden coins each dotted with a sparkling sky blue gem. She had sheer blue pants and curling golden shoes. Her blue eyes were pale and piercing against her bronze skin, and her jet-black ponytail floated weightlessly in the air behind her.
"I am Cin!" said the djinn, bowing and smiling with her pillowy pink lips. "Your wish is my command."
Kai chuckled mirthlessly. "So you plan on using another djinn so quickly! Your tactics are pathetic. Cancel the final ceremony, keep the Base on lockdown, and wait for me to return to Earth so that your family can send aid."
Poudrietteite narrowed her eyes at Kai. "I do not need aid, Kai. I need time. Give me a day or so to pull this off. This Guardian has barely scratched the surface of the power I have. She will be no match for Cin."
"She has Peri."
"She is only a student! She has no idea what she has or how to use it."
Kai said, "Fine. Prove me wrong, Poudrietteite. I'll give you two more days before I complete my report, and then I'm heading back to Earth."