She was amazing really, I could see there were dozens of questions she wanted to ask and yet she seemed content with following me with an occasional glance around. Considering her personality I wasn't really surprised, always very withdrawn, rarely showing emotion outside of battle. It's actually kind of funny when you think about it, I mean we're almost complete opposites and yet there's just something about her... I guess it's just sort of a comfort really, to have someone who treats me as an equal. Not like everyone else around here, they practically worship the ground I walk on, some even say I'm an angel sent to deliver this world from the Demon Lords. I never really tried to correct them because, if there's one thing I've learned in all the battles I've fought, it's that a single ray of hope can illuminate an entire world. I guess that's why no matter what Otousan always found a way to keep going. Everyone always thought he was naive, but when it really comes down to it I think he was the only one who really understood what life is really about.
We had been walking a good ten minutes down one of the larger corridors and up till now not a single word had been spoken. Finally we reached another courtyard, this one was much smaller and the people in it were obviously all at work. There were many tables and chairs scattered around, most covered in books or blueprints of unknown buildings. There were obviously many different groups sharing the space, because it seemed that as soon as one dispute ended another began. I couldn't help but smile in mirth as Iyana and Larou began their customary shouting match. However, now that Juu-san was here there were many important things that had to be done and many plans to be made, in which, there was no room for two arguing generals.
"Alright that's enough both of you." I didn't say it very loud, I didn't have to anyone who noticed me and who I was with, and possessed the good sense Kami-sama gave boulders, knew to quiet down and be at the ready for new orders.
"Gohan-sama, you found her, thank Kami-sama." Although Iyana Alexzanthara sounded innocent enough now I knew the kind of things she was capable of. When I first found her she was on the run from the Hell Hounds just like Juuhachi-gou. Only they had caught sight of her leaving the manor of the Demon Lord Shakama, right after his house had suddenly lit up like a Roman candle due to a very large mysterious explosion. Expolsives weren't her only forte eithier, she could pick any lock given enough time and I have personally seen her hack into the security system of Lord Golgotha's manor.
"Of course he found her, don't tell me you actually doubted our leader?" Ahh yes, then there was Larou Dour, my chief military advisor and strategist. Although we were hardly of a strength necessary to overthrow Lord Golgotha, there will be a time when we will meet him head on. Larou is the son of General Jarel Dour; the one who got his entire army killed attacking Cell, thankfully his son has much better judgement.
"I'm sure you two will find plenty of time to argue later, right now we need to get down to some serious work. As I'm certain you've all guessed this is Juuhachi-gou, I expect you've all seen her picture plastered all over wanted signs throughout the world. Golgotha is very hot to get her and though he won't say why, everyone knows it's because she's actually found something that he's afraid of. Now if someone would clear a table and get some chairs..." Even as I spoke my orders were being carried out, everyone was anxious to see what could actually cause the Lord Regent himself to fear, and quite truthfully I was probably the most anxious of all.
'If this is really as big as everyone keeps making it out to
be we may finally have found the key to victory.'
When at last a small table was compleatly cleared the four of us each
took a nearby chair and sat on different sides. Iyana was to my left, Larou
my right and Juuhachi-gou across form me. All the others either found a
set a few feet away, sat on the floor, or stood. It soon became obvious
that Juuhachi-gou was uncomfortable with all the extra poeple staring at
her, so I decided on a more private meeting.
"Tell you what," I said beaking the fragile silence. "Why don't we go to one of the private rooms that way we won't be disturbing everone's work."
"Hai, that would be good," although I could tell she was still a little flustered none of it carried into her voice.
"Don't worry minna-san I'll give you all the details later, just keep working till then." Iyana reassured the now disappointed crowd.
"We can use the Tribunal Chamber it should be empty right now" Larou raose reaching out to take Juuhachi-gou's hand. "Juuhachi-gou-san," he said trying his best to be gentlemanly.
Juuhachi-gou just stood up and looked his straight in the eyes."courtesy can get you killed if your not careful." With that she turned and began following me out of the courtyard and down a side passage.
I can't really blame her, I mean Larou was flirting even thogh he should have known better. I guess I even sypathise, Videl and I weren't any where near as close as she and Kuririn, we never got the chance. But still he fought and died to protect her and this world, there's no way she could just throw that kind of love aside for some flirt.
We finally reached the chamber, I opened the large oak door and flipped on the lights. they were a miricle of science, really the whole electrical system was. Bulma-san had be working on so many diferent projects before they came, one of which was a new way to make power, cold fusion. She even had a small working model, which she used to keep up with the high power demands of the gravity room. Luckily, it's plans along with a number of other projects, were in the special Capsule reasearch facillity which was very well fortified in case any acidents occured within. Of couse this also meant that when Satan City was destroyed it was one of the few building that survived. I went there, soon after I had created this place for these people to hide, in hopes of a way to help them survive longer, and I found it. Not only was there many food, supply and equipment capsules, there was also Bulma's prototype ki shield, which I modifieyed to hide the ki of all my people.
"So what is this place?" Juuhachi-gou inquired, derailing my train of thought.
"Hmm? Oh this place, I'm sorry to say is where Larou, Iyana, and I hold court, since it is the three of us it's called the Tribunal. I suppose it's a testament to the nature of man, after all, here we are subdjugated and enslaved by demons, and people still find time to argue and fight amounst each other."
We each found a comfortable place to sit knowing that it would be a
long meeting, and finaly Juuhachi-gou began her story.