A/N Tenchi Muyo! is owned by AIC and Pioneer and not by me. (ending dry and dull disclaimer)
The ideas in this story are mine though and if you'd like to use or borrow them, contact me first at ring_princess@hotmail.com or ring_princess2001@yahoo.com
Tenchi Muyo Saga One: Fate of Empires
"Interrogations Part 1"
By RingPrincess
*A Day Later*
Kiyone wasn't sure she wanted to know why Washu had a set of working cells in her lab. Nor was she certain she wanted to know why Mihoshi had insisted on keeping the bounty hunters here rather than escorting them at the earliest possible convenience to the nearest Galaxy Police station. Then again, Mihoshi had been action oddly ever since Duo Hamikasu had landed with his group of now mostly dead fellow bounty hunters and criminals.
Kiyone stopped before a solid metal door, twitching her turquoise Galaxy Police jacket into place. She pressed her hand to the doorframe, where a solid patch glowed bright red taking samples of her prints, DNA and alpha patterns. Washu was thorough. Nothing got in or out without her knowledge of it, especially after the MASU incident. Though Ryo-ohki had handled it rather well, assimilating the extra MASU and becoming a humanoid. Kiyone shivered, she had seen pictures of what MASU could do without an over mind. The door swung inwards, catching a copy of Washu's crab chime on its way in. Kiyone stepped through, boots clicking on the floor.
--
Washu picked at the edge of her cushion. Her eyes were half shut in needless concentration on this most simple of tasks. In front of her on the laptop the crab screensaver made blooping noises as the red crustaceans ran across the screen. She only looked at it from time to time not even having enough energy to dismiss the computer. Her fingers rolled a few fibers together. Her eyes returned to the computer for a few seconds, she didn't bother to even raise her head.
"Ack!" Washu shouted as she fell backwards and then she scrambled up off the floor peering over the cushion.
A boy, the same age as herself, about twelve had his head stuck through the screen. He laughed, golden eyes dancing merrily above freckled cheeks. He pulled his head out and looked over the screen, the fact he was floating mid air barely registered with Washu. Floating was a regular occurrence.
::Sorry,:: he grinned, not at all meaning the words. ::It was too good not to resist.::
Washu's mouth opened and closed, shocked that the boy had spoken to her mind to mind, breaking her mental shields as if they didn't exist.
::I really shouldn't have interrupted, but it was so easy to get in.:: He winked. ::Cause well, technically I'm not here.:: He spun around in the air, ending up with his head facing the floor, black hair dangling in short spiky locks. He hadn't stopped grinning since he arrived. The boy righted himself, flattening his hair with one hand. ::And no one can see and hear me but you. So, I thought, why not?::
::Why not what?:: Washu crawled back onto the floating cushion, answering him in the same way, mind to mind.
::Why not help you, of course?::
--
The prisoner looked up from the single metal table, the taupe paint on its surface chipping. A smile tugged on his lips. "You are more beautiful than I expected."
Kiyone stiffened, the ends of her fingers going cold. "Porfirio Lotoba," her jaws clenched.
Porfirio nodded, eyelids drooped to half cover his dark gray green eyes. "Duo said that you were a Herlus and beautiful, but he didn't have any pictures."
"Detective Kuramitsu is interrogating Duo Hamikasu." Kiyone refrained from clenching her fists. "Alone." She hid the fact this bothered her considering Mihoshi's ambiguous relationship with the Hunter.
"I bet she is, handcuffs and everything," Porfirio drawled, running his fingers through hair shorn just above his shoulders. It was the same color of his eyes.
Kiyone flushed at all the implications and strode to the opposite side of the table, ignoring the other chair. She slid a handful of dark blue folders across the table. Each folder was blazoned with the Galaxy Police seal.
"My criminal records, how enlightening." Porfirio opened one and grimaced. "My picture is terrible though. Could I get it redone?"
Kiyone exhaled through her teeth.
Porfirio raised both eyebrows and looked up at her. "I'll take that as a no."
"Lotoba, you have been caught by the Galaxy Police engaged in a criminal activity and you have several outstanding warrants against you. You could try to be more serious."
"Life isn't meant to be taken seriously." He leaned back and crossed his arms behind his head.
"However, the GP can lighten your sentence if you are willing to cooperate with us."
"I'd be willing to cooperate with you any time."
Kiyone took a deep breath. "By cooperating it is meant that you give us some information."
Porfirio looked disappointed. "Oh, well that depends on what type of information you want beautiful."
Kiyone glared at him. "Whomever came after Ryoko has been deemed a security risk to Jurai and especially to the Royal Family here on Earth. Any information regarding this matter, especially the identity of the bounty poster would be helpful. One of those folders needs your signature before we can proceed."
Porfirio held the folder up. "This one, Detective Makibi."
Kiyone nodded.
Porfirio dropped it back onto the table. "No."
"No?" Kiyone hissed.
"I wouldn't agree even if we were at Galaxy Police Head Quarters, which this isn't. We are still on Earth Detective, technically you have no jurisdiction here."
"Princess Ayeka of Jurai has given us full authority in this matter."
"Do you have that on record, audio or visual?"
"Not with me."
"Then I refuse to cooperate and I'll tell the others to refuse as well. I have questions that I want answered Detective Makibi."
--
Kiyone slid a piece of paper across the table. Porfirio hadn't moved far, his nose buried behind one of the previous folders, reading his record. He began to laugh.
Kiyone narrowed her eyes. "Your misdeeds make you laugh?"
"I didn't do that one job!" Porfirio chuckled, setting the folder down and picked up the piece of paper and read it over. "It was a very clever look a like. He later ended up dead."
"The authorization you requested." Kiyone gritted her teeth. "Should I add a murder to your list of crimes?"
"Innocent until proven guilty, love. And I didn't kill him, an assassin did."
"Don't call me love. I am not your love."
"You could be."
"I don't want to be."
"You need to relax more."
"You need to help us."
Porfirio sighed. "How about information for information?"
"You're dealing. You are on the wrong side of the table Lotoba to be dealing."
"You are already doing things outside of normal Galaxy Police behavior patterns." He stood up. "For example, you haven't taken us to Head Quarters. If you were, you would have taken us already. What is keeping us here?"
"Why does it matter?"
Porfirio was pleased to note that they were the same height. "I already told you why it matters."
"Oh, Galaxy Police behavior patterns, right." Kiyone crossed her arms, staring straight at him.
"Look, I'll tell you what you want to know about your security risk if you tell me why we are still locked in Washu Hakubi's lab." He reached behind him and picked up the folder with the deal inside. Kiyone looked between him and the folder. She bit her lip.
"Fine."
Porfirio grinned.
"Male Herlus, you're all the same."
"It isn't limited to just Herlus or just males." Lotoba noted as he signed the deal.
"Hormone ridden …"
"Nekoia," Porfirio interrupted.
Kiyone stopped mid diatribe. "The Cat Empire?"
"Don't let the Nekoians hear you call it that. Yes, the Nekoian Empire is the party who contacted us."
"Who exactly within the Empire?"
"I don't know."
"Who, Lotoba?" Kiyone grabbed his shirt.
"I don't know. Why are we still here?"
"Mihoshi, now who exactly contacted you?"
"I don't know. Duo was silent about that. He often kept such things to himself. He wants to protect us like a Captain should."
Kiyone let go and took a few steps back. "Mihoshi won't let me near him."
"I don't blame her, not that you are much a risk to that relationship."
Kiyone stalked to the door her hand on the doorknob.
Porfirio sighed and crossed his arms. "There's no need to conceal your status from me, Kiyone."
Kiyone turned the handle. "I guess not, but then again I'm not trying to conceal it from you."
--
Fuming, Kiyone made her way through the lab. The different planets and their peaceful settings weren't helping her mood. She ignored the slight tingling sensation of the lift as it took her to Washu. The small scientist was sitting on her cushion staring at the air above her computer.
Kiyone cleared her throat, it sounded harsh in the silence. Washu jumped and turned hastily. Her sixth sense about visitors in her lab wasn't in evidence.
"Oh Kiyone. I didn't hear you come up," she said, waving a hand.
Kiyone tried not to notice the dark circles under Washu's green eyes or her rumpled clothing.
"That's why I made some noise."
"I hope it's something important. I'm busy, very busy," Washu frowned.
Kiyone held back a smile. Thinking Washu was nowhere close to being busy, as her work was untouched before her.
"Porfirio has given me a clue about what is going on."
"Ahh yes," Washu hit a key and stared at it the live screen for a moment. "Nekoia wasn't it?"
Kiyone shifted and grimaced. "Correct, as Porfirio is Hamikasu's second this information should be reliable."
"Yet you're not counting on it." Washu nodded. "Wise decision, Detective."
"If it is, it will give me a starting point with the others, particularly this contact. I am going to assume it was a message. Anyways, all contacts would go through the communications officer."
"Cerulea, a Parbuteo," Washu bit her lip.
Kiyone nodded again.
Washu sighed. "There hasn't been any information that I know of about Nekoia in over seven thousand years, but then again, I've been in confinement for about five thousand years."
"That was the last war with Jurai, correct?"
"Yes, an ancient rivalry that I doubt has faded. I'll try to gain information from my end." Washu smiled. "I am the Greatest Scientific Genius in the Universe."
"And I'll go back to getting information from mine. Thank you, Little Washu."
"It will take time."
"I don't know how much we have." Kiyone sighed and retreated back to the prison level of the lab. Frowning, Washu watched her go, it wasn't until the Galaxy Police officer was out of sight that Washu turned around to face her computer again.
He was still there. The imp of a boy that had come to help her, or so he claimed. He wasn't making much sense. :I shouldn't call him boy either. He could be as old or older than I am.: Considering Washu's twenty-thousand years this was something hard to swallow.
::Calling me boy, probably isn't a good idea.:: He nodded and laughed.
::Don't snoop.:: Washu snorted and hopped off the cushion. She started to walk back and forth.
::You 'snoop' on Ryoko all the time.:: He shrugged.
Washu stopped at the mention of Ryoko's name. Her chest felt painful and heavy. She whirled on him. ::You said you came to help.::
::I did,:: the boy nodded.
::Then help me with my daughter.::
The boy sighed. ::My help is limited though.::
Washu frowned. ::I don't understand, explain.::
::I can't just tell you the answers. You wouldn't want to be told the answers anyway.:: The boy grinned again, crossing his legs Indian style in mid air. ::It is a catch-22. I can't tell you, but you wouldn't want to be told and round and round it goes. Makes life easier.::
::So, I'm supposed to figure it out myself?::
The boy nodded. ::I can push and prod, you have all the information or clues,:: he winked recalling the conversation earlier with Kiyone, ::you need. As you so frequently proclaim, you are the Greatest Scientific Genius in the Universe. I am sure we can figure this out. You like figuring things out.::
::Emotions aren't science!::
::Of course they are. You are just letting your emotions cloud your judgment.:: He snorted.
::I want my daughter back.:: Washu's voice was harsh and she crossed her arms.
The boys face lengthened in an expression of sympathy. ::If you want the daughter you remember from your memories. I can't help you, that's no longer possible. Perhaps if five thousand years hadn't passed and seven hundred of them for Ryoko weren't spent in a cold dark cave, and perhaps if those five thousand years you weren't locked in a giant crystal, perhaps things could have been returned to how they were.::
::But it happened that way.::
::Correct.:: The boy crossed his own arms.
::Meaning?:: Washu raised an eyebrow.
::You tell me.:: A corner of his mouth tugged upwards into a half smile and he shook his head, a lock of hair fell over one eye and he brushed it back.
Washu closed her eyes, brain racing. This very problem had been on her mind the week she spent in isolation and mourning for her lost daughter. It had simmered on the back burner of her brain while she though of other things and even of nothing. And the answers were back there, just out of reach. Understanding dawned and she opened her eyes, her shoulders relaxing for the first time in a long while. ::It means that I must accept Ryoko for who she is now and must accept myself for who I am now.::
The boy raised his eyebrows. ::Wish to rephrase your goal.?::
Washu nodded. ::I want to be Ryoko's mother again.::
He brightened and bounced up and down grinning from ear to ear. His good cheer back. ::You're still a fast learner, Washu.::
--
Leopold crossed his legs and rested his paw like hands on the top knee. His catlike face was composed and his mane fastidiously brushed. Kiyone was sure that his normal dress was much more gaudy than the plain cream coveralls that Washu had provided all the prisoners. Even so, there was not a wrinkle in the white fabric. :How did he get a hold of an iron?: Kiyone wondered for a moment. She looked down and rustled through her notes to cover her confusion.
"Leopold, your files say that you were offered a position within the Galaxy Police. An officer's commission and training at the academy yet you turned it down and became the navigation officer aboard Duo Hamikasu's ship."
"That it correct."
"Why? It is quite an opportunity."
"I desired to be different from my brethren that also have chosen to sail the sea of stars."
Kiyone nodded, making the note. There wasn't anything one like her could say to something like that and so she moved on. "When did you first me Duo Hamikasu?"
"Roughly ten years ago. It was shortly after he was exiled," Leopold frowned.
"Did he give you any hint to his past?"
"No. He doesn't talk about it much. Nor do I think he wants to."
"Did Duo have any contact with Nekoia prior to the message for capturing Ryoko?"
"Not in the last six years after he escaped from prison. I was not a member of his crew before that. He didn't have a crew before that, we were all good friends."
"What made you a crew then?"
"One ship, many people, a higher profit margin," Leopold shrugged. "Money is a grand lure. Duo encouraged our partnerships."
Kiyone scratched something down on her pad. "Did you have access to the ship's logs and records prior to Hamikasu's imprisonment?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"They'd been erased before his confinement." Leopold sighed.
"Why?"
"I have not been around the one who did it long enough to ask."
"You know who did it?" Kiyone's eyes widened and she leaned forwards. "I take it then, Duo didn't erase his own ship's records."
"No. However, the erasure was completed with his express permission and even support."
"Who erased the records?"
"I was told by Duo that Mihoshi Kuramitsu had done it for his safety."
"Yet, you've never heard this from Detective Kuramitsu?"
"No. Detective Makibi, I have not. Before this assignment I had not met Mihoshi before."
Kiyone chuckled. :That solves one mystery. No wonder the entire department didn't know anything about Duo's ship. There was nothing to know. Mihoshi didn't say a word either, which was clever of her. There are times she can't keep her mouth shut.: Kiyone picked up a piece of paper. "Very well, what was your reaction when you learned that the message Cerulea had received was from the Nekoian Empire?"
"Excitement, I looked forward to visiting a sector of space that few of my species had been too and meeting the fabled People of the Crystal. Alas, I wasn't to meet the war-like Nekoians, but I was able to stare upon their stars and technology and that was satisfying."
"How did you know you would visit?"
"It is standard operating procedure to visit with each client if possible."
"Why?"
"Duo has to make sure that the people are honest and that they will pay us after the job is completed. And often clients do not want to risk sending details through normal communication channels. It is too dangerous."
"Especially if the message was intercepted," Kiyone nodded. "After receiving the message, what happened?"
"He listened to it and forwarded the navigational information to me and I created a round about course to them."
"Where were they?"
"In Nekoian space near the Jurain border, other than that I couldn't tell you."
"Are the coordinates on file?"
"No, for the safety of all involved they were erased from our systems. It was a requirement of meeting the client."
"Understandable. After arriving at this meeting point what happened?"
"Duo visited the ship of crystal." The Qualeon looked like he was about to go off about the ship and so Kiyone interrupted.
"And what did he do on board?"
The Qualeon frowned, coming back to the plain room around him. "I don't know, I wasn't there, anything I tell you would be hearsay."
"Like with Mihoshi," Kiyone snorted. "Very well. Duo returns from the ship and then?"
"He ordered I lay in a course for the current location of the Nest. Don't ask for them, I can't tell you."
Kiyone ground her teeth. "Why not?"
"All navigators have been given strict," he paused, "therapy' not to release the course of the Nest"
Kiyone rubbed her temples. "Meaning you've been drugged, hypnotized, and so on and even under threat of death wouldn't be able to give it up."
"Correct."
"Fine, The Nest," Kiyone gritted out. "And then what?"
"We proceeded here."
"What happened at the Nest?"
"We spread the word, all four of us that we were holding a meeting for Bounty Hunters at the different Guild offices where we are members. Then when the hunters were gathered Duo laid out the parameters of the job."
"Which were?"
"Ryoko Hakubi alive or proof of her death if that was too difficult. The client preferred Ryoko alive and with a bounty of three-billion Nekoian or four-billion Jurain or 4.25 billion Galactic standard most of us weren't going to argue with the alive detail," Qualeon paused.
"Go on." Kiyone was remarkable calm, taking in stride that if the bounty wasn't high enough they would of killed Ryoko. They had already tried and failed.
"There was the expected uproar from the other bounty hunters. Crew included, this was the first time we had full disclosure as well. Then Nagi showed up and quieted the whole lot down. She doesn't say much," Leopold paused and shook his head. "I overheard her tell Duo later that she was coming with us because it suited her." He stopped completely for a few minutes, Kiyone didn't press as Leopold's green-gold eyes stared at the table. He looked like he could continue at any moment. He took a deep breath and growled. "She used us."
"Who?"
"Nagi used us as a means to an end," Leopold snarled glaring at Kiyone.
Kiyone leaned backwards. "What end?"
Leopold smiled, his needle sharp teeth glistened in the light. "The person we were all after, Ryoko Hakubi."
--
Rieshu twitched her emerald skirts into place and looked around the room. It was still empty. Nothing had changed since the last time she checked, thirty seconds ago. She took a deep breath and reached out curling her long fingers around a spear of red orange crystal.
:Take a deep breath through the nose into the stomach, that is how you support your voice to sing the crystal.: The voice was soothing, even if it was a tad nasally. The nasal sounds seemed a more an affectation than a representation of the true voice. Rieshu smiled softly at the memory and opened her mouth and sang. :Each crystal has a note, a resonance, and those that are matched are suited to give instantaneous communication throughout the universe.:
The note was clear and true surrounding the crystal. The crystal began to shiver and answered back a third under her note. There was a quick flash of light and Rieshu cut off her singing.
"Captain," she murmured, releasing her fingers from around the crystal.
The crystal projected the shrouded figure of the captain. The clothes the captain wore disguised any distinguishing features and even the captain's gender. "Goddess," it acknowledged.
"Demi goddess only," Rieshu reminded.
"A small detail," the captain made a passing motion with its hands.
"Time is limited, Captain. How are things?"
"Well enough, Ryoko lives." The Captain paused. "She has changed, demi-goddess. She remembers little of her time with Kagato and mostly the bad."
"That is a problem."
"A small one, I'm afraid. She hides it well, however she does have flashes of pain. We are sure that her brain is," another pause, "healing."
"Healing?"
"That is the only way it can be described. Over the small time I have known her. The readings we are taking with the crystals clearly show her brain changing. They are showing more consistency to the first scan of her brain that is on record in our files. I have great hopes that she will come back to herself."
"She won't ever be completely herself again."
"She'll be close, and that is good enough." The Captain ducked its head. "Even better, she has a child, not of blood but a child of her heart."
"This is the best news I have heard yet," Rieshu smiled. "I will be in touch, Captain Nagi."
The Captain bowed and the navy cloak shifted for a moment, showing lilac hair and red eyes. "As will I, Lady Rieshu."
--
END CHAPTER!
At last a new chapter!... and yes, I did have to repost from the beginning... it's a quirk. So, Next Time on Fate of Empires: The interrogations continue Ken-ohki incites Ryo-ohki to do something rash...
Questions and comments should be sent to one of the emails below! Check out my websites... and tell me what you think please.
RingPrincess
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The ideas in this story are mine though and if you'd like to use or borrow them, contact me first at ring_princess@hotmail.com or ring_princess2001@yahoo.com
Tenchi Muyo Saga One: Fate of Empires
"Interrogations Part 1"
By RingPrincess
*A Day Later*
Kiyone wasn't sure she wanted to know why Washu had a set of working cells in her lab. Nor was she certain she wanted to know why Mihoshi had insisted on keeping the bounty hunters here rather than escorting them at the earliest possible convenience to the nearest Galaxy Police station. Then again, Mihoshi had been action oddly ever since Duo Hamikasu had landed with his group of now mostly dead fellow bounty hunters and criminals.
Kiyone stopped before a solid metal door, twitching her turquoise Galaxy Police jacket into place. She pressed her hand to the doorframe, where a solid patch glowed bright red taking samples of her prints, DNA and alpha patterns. Washu was thorough. Nothing got in or out without her knowledge of it, especially after the MASU incident. Though Ryo-ohki had handled it rather well, assimilating the extra MASU and becoming a humanoid. Kiyone shivered, she had seen pictures of what MASU could do without an over mind. The door swung inwards, catching a copy of Washu's crab chime on its way in. Kiyone stepped through, boots clicking on the floor.
--
Washu picked at the edge of her cushion. Her eyes were half shut in needless concentration on this most simple of tasks. In front of her on the laptop the crab screensaver made blooping noises as the red crustaceans ran across the screen. She only looked at it from time to time not even having enough energy to dismiss the computer. Her fingers rolled a few fibers together. Her eyes returned to the computer for a few seconds, she didn't bother to even raise her head.
"Ack!" Washu shouted as she fell backwards and then she scrambled up off the floor peering over the cushion.
A boy, the same age as herself, about twelve had his head stuck through the screen. He laughed, golden eyes dancing merrily above freckled cheeks. He pulled his head out and looked over the screen, the fact he was floating mid air barely registered with Washu. Floating was a regular occurrence.
::Sorry,:: he grinned, not at all meaning the words. ::It was too good not to resist.::
Washu's mouth opened and closed, shocked that the boy had spoken to her mind to mind, breaking her mental shields as if they didn't exist.
::I really shouldn't have interrupted, but it was so easy to get in.:: He winked. ::Cause well, technically I'm not here.:: He spun around in the air, ending up with his head facing the floor, black hair dangling in short spiky locks. He hadn't stopped grinning since he arrived. The boy righted himself, flattening his hair with one hand. ::And no one can see and hear me but you. So, I thought, why not?::
::Why not what?:: Washu crawled back onto the floating cushion, answering him in the same way, mind to mind.
::Why not help you, of course?::
--
The prisoner looked up from the single metal table, the taupe paint on its surface chipping. A smile tugged on his lips. "You are more beautiful than I expected."
Kiyone stiffened, the ends of her fingers going cold. "Porfirio Lotoba," her jaws clenched.
Porfirio nodded, eyelids drooped to half cover his dark gray green eyes. "Duo said that you were a Herlus and beautiful, but he didn't have any pictures."
"Detective Kuramitsu is interrogating Duo Hamikasu." Kiyone refrained from clenching her fists. "Alone." She hid the fact this bothered her considering Mihoshi's ambiguous relationship with the Hunter.
"I bet she is, handcuffs and everything," Porfirio drawled, running his fingers through hair shorn just above his shoulders. It was the same color of his eyes.
Kiyone flushed at all the implications and strode to the opposite side of the table, ignoring the other chair. She slid a handful of dark blue folders across the table. Each folder was blazoned with the Galaxy Police seal.
"My criminal records, how enlightening." Porfirio opened one and grimaced. "My picture is terrible though. Could I get it redone?"
Kiyone exhaled through her teeth.
Porfirio raised both eyebrows and looked up at her. "I'll take that as a no."
"Lotoba, you have been caught by the Galaxy Police engaged in a criminal activity and you have several outstanding warrants against you. You could try to be more serious."
"Life isn't meant to be taken seriously." He leaned back and crossed his arms behind his head.
"However, the GP can lighten your sentence if you are willing to cooperate with us."
"I'd be willing to cooperate with you any time."
Kiyone took a deep breath. "By cooperating it is meant that you give us some information."
Porfirio looked disappointed. "Oh, well that depends on what type of information you want beautiful."
Kiyone glared at him. "Whomever came after Ryoko has been deemed a security risk to Jurai and especially to the Royal Family here on Earth. Any information regarding this matter, especially the identity of the bounty poster would be helpful. One of those folders needs your signature before we can proceed."
Porfirio held the folder up. "This one, Detective Makibi."
Kiyone nodded.
Porfirio dropped it back onto the table. "No."
"No?" Kiyone hissed.
"I wouldn't agree even if we were at Galaxy Police Head Quarters, which this isn't. We are still on Earth Detective, technically you have no jurisdiction here."
"Princess Ayeka of Jurai has given us full authority in this matter."
"Do you have that on record, audio or visual?"
"Not with me."
"Then I refuse to cooperate and I'll tell the others to refuse as well. I have questions that I want answered Detective Makibi."
--
Kiyone slid a piece of paper across the table. Porfirio hadn't moved far, his nose buried behind one of the previous folders, reading his record. He began to laugh.
Kiyone narrowed her eyes. "Your misdeeds make you laugh?"
"I didn't do that one job!" Porfirio chuckled, setting the folder down and picked up the piece of paper and read it over. "It was a very clever look a like. He later ended up dead."
"The authorization you requested." Kiyone gritted her teeth. "Should I add a murder to your list of crimes?"
"Innocent until proven guilty, love. And I didn't kill him, an assassin did."
"Don't call me love. I am not your love."
"You could be."
"I don't want to be."
"You need to relax more."
"You need to help us."
Porfirio sighed. "How about information for information?"
"You're dealing. You are on the wrong side of the table Lotoba to be dealing."
"You are already doing things outside of normal Galaxy Police behavior patterns." He stood up. "For example, you haven't taken us to Head Quarters. If you were, you would have taken us already. What is keeping us here?"
"Why does it matter?"
Porfirio was pleased to note that they were the same height. "I already told you why it matters."
"Oh, Galaxy Police behavior patterns, right." Kiyone crossed her arms, staring straight at him.
"Look, I'll tell you what you want to know about your security risk if you tell me why we are still locked in Washu Hakubi's lab." He reached behind him and picked up the folder with the deal inside. Kiyone looked between him and the folder. She bit her lip.
"Fine."
Porfirio grinned.
"Male Herlus, you're all the same."
"It isn't limited to just Herlus or just males." Lotoba noted as he signed the deal.
"Hormone ridden …"
"Nekoia," Porfirio interrupted.
Kiyone stopped mid diatribe. "The Cat Empire?"
"Don't let the Nekoians hear you call it that. Yes, the Nekoian Empire is the party who contacted us."
"Who exactly within the Empire?"
"I don't know."
"Who, Lotoba?" Kiyone grabbed his shirt.
"I don't know. Why are we still here?"
"Mihoshi, now who exactly contacted you?"
"I don't know. Duo was silent about that. He often kept such things to himself. He wants to protect us like a Captain should."
Kiyone let go and took a few steps back. "Mihoshi won't let me near him."
"I don't blame her, not that you are much a risk to that relationship."
Kiyone stalked to the door her hand on the doorknob.
Porfirio sighed and crossed his arms. "There's no need to conceal your status from me, Kiyone."
Kiyone turned the handle. "I guess not, but then again I'm not trying to conceal it from you."
--
Fuming, Kiyone made her way through the lab. The different planets and their peaceful settings weren't helping her mood. She ignored the slight tingling sensation of the lift as it took her to Washu. The small scientist was sitting on her cushion staring at the air above her computer.
Kiyone cleared her throat, it sounded harsh in the silence. Washu jumped and turned hastily. Her sixth sense about visitors in her lab wasn't in evidence.
"Oh Kiyone. I didn't hear you come up," she said, waving a hand.
Kiyone tried not to notice the dark circles under Washu's green eyes or her rumpled clothing.
"That's why I made some noise."
"I hope it's something important. I'm busy, very busy," Washu frowned.
Kiyone held back a smile. Thinking Washu was nowhere close to being busy, as her work was untouched before her.
"Porfirio has given me a clue about what is going on."
"Ahh yes," Washu hit a key and stared at it the live screen for a moment. "Nekoia wasn't it?"
Kiyone shifted and grimaced. "Correct, as Porfirio is Hamikasu's second this information should be reliable."
"Yet you're not counting on it." Washu nodded. "Wise decision, Detective."
"If it is, it will give me a starting point with the others, particularly this contact. I am going to assume it was a message. Anyways, all contacts would go through the communications officer."
"Cerulea, a Parbuteo," Washu bit her lip.
Kiyone nodded again.
Washu sighed. "There hasn't been any information that I know of about Nekoia in over seven thousand years, but then again, I've been in confinement for about five thousand years."
"That was the last war with Jurai, correct?"
"Yes, an ancient rivalry that I doubt has faded. I'll try to gain information from my end." Washu smiled. "I am the Greatest Scientific Genius in the Universe."
"And I'll go back to getting information from mine. Thank you, Little Washu."
"It will take time."
"I don't know how much we have." Kiyone sighed and retreated back to the prison level of the lab. Frowning, Washu watched her go, it wasn't until the Galaxy Police officer was out of sight that Washu turned around to face her computer again.
He was still there. The imp of a boy that had come to help her, or so he claimed. He wasn't making much sense. :I shouldn't call him boy either. He could be as old or older than I am.: Considering Washu's twenty-thousand years this was something hard to swallow.
::Calling me boy, probably isn't a good idea.:: He nodded and laughed.
::Don't snoop.:: Washu snorted and hopped off the cushion. She started to walk back and forth.
::You 'snoop' on Ryoko all the time.:: He shrugged.
Washu stopped at the mention of Ryoko's name. Her chest felt painful and heavy. She whirled on him. ::You said you came to help.::
::I did,:: the boy nodded.
::Then help me with my daughter.::
The boy sighed. ::My help is limited though.::
Washu frowned. ::I don't understand, explain.::
::I can't just tell you the answers. You wouldn't want to be told the answers anyway.:: The boy grinned again, crossing his legs Indian style in mid air. ::It is a catch-22. I can't tell you, but you wouldn't want to be told and round and round it goes. Makes life easier.::
::So, I'm supposed to figure it out myself?::
The boy nodded. ::I can push and prod, you have all the information or clues,:: he winked recalling the conversation earlier with Kiyone, ::you need. As you so frequently proclaim, you are the Greatest Scientific Genius in the Universe. I am sure we can figure this out. You like figuring things out.::
::Emotions aren't science!::
::Of course they are. You are just letting your emotions cloud your judgment.:: He snorted.
::I want my daughter back.:: Washu's voice was harsh and she crossed her arms.
The boys face lengthened in an expression of sympathy. ::If you want the daughter you remember from your memories. I can't help you, that's no longer possible. Perhaps if five thousand years hadn't passed and seven hundred of them for Ryoko weren't spent in a cold dark cave, and perhaps if those five thousand years you weren't locked in a giant crystal, perhaps things could have been returned to how they were.::
::But it happened that way.::
::Correct.:: The boy crossed his own arms.
::Meaning?:: Washu raised an eyebrow.
::You tell me.:: A corner of his mouth tugged upwards into a half smile and he shook his head, a lock of hair fell over one eye and he brushed it back.
Washu closed her eyes, brain racing. This very problem had been on her mind the week she spent in isolation and mourning for her lost daughter. It had simmered on the back burner of her brain while she though of other things and even of nothing. And the answers were back there, just out of reach. Understanding dawned and she opened her eyes, her shoulders relaxing for the first time in a long while. ::It means that I must accept Ryoko for who she is now and must accept myself for who I am now.::
The boy raised his eyebrows. ::Wish to rephrase your goal.?::
Washu nodded. ::I want to be Ryoko's mother again.::
He brightened and bounced up and down grinning from ear to ear. His good cheer back. ::You're still a fast learner, Washu.::
--
Leopold crossed his legs and rested his paw like hands on the top knee. His catlike face was composed and his mane fastidiously brushed. Kiyone was sure that his normal dress was much more gaudy than the plain cream coveralls that Washu had provided all the prisoners. Even so, there was not a wrinkle in the white fabric. :How did he get a hold of an iron?: Kiyone wondered for a moment. She looked down and rustled through her notes to cover her confusion.
"Leopold, your files say that you were offered a position within the Galaxy Police. An officer's commission and training at the academy yet you turned it down and became the navigation officer aboard Duo Hamikasu's ship."
"That it correct."
"Why? It is quite an opportunity."
"I desired to be different from my brethren that also have chosen to sail the sea of stars."
Kiyone nodded, making the note. There wasn't anything one like her could say to something like that and so she moved on. "When did you first me Duo Hamikasu?"
"Roughly ten years ago. It was shortly after he was exiled," Leopold frowned.
"Did he give you any hint to his past?"
"No. He doesn't talk about it much. Nor do I think he wants to."
"Did Duo have any contact with Nekoia prior to the message for capturing Ryoko?"
"Not in the last six years after he escaped from prison. I was not a member of his crew before that. He didn't have a crew before that, we were all good friends."
"What made you a crew then?"
"One ship, many people, a higher profit margin," Leopold shrugged. "Money is a grand lure. Duo encouraged our partnerships."
Kiyone scratched something down on her pad. "Did you have access to the ship's logs and records prior to Hamikasu's imprisonment?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"They'd been erased before his confinement." Leopold sighed.
"Why?"
"I have not been around the one who did it long enough to ask."
"You know who did it?" Kiyone's eyes widened and she leaned forwards. "I take it then, Duo didn't erase his own ship's records."
"No. However, the erasure was completed with his express permission and even support."
"Who erased the records?"
"I was told by Duo that Mihoshi Kuramitsu had done it for his safety."
"Yet, you've never heard this from Detective Kuramitsu?"
"No. Detective Makibi, I have not. Before this assignment I had not met Mihoshi before."
Kiyone chuckled. :That solves one mystery. No wonder the entire department didn't know anything about Duo's ship. There was nothing to know. Mihoshi didn't say a word either, which was clever of her. There are times she can't keep her mouth shut.: Kiyone picked up a piece of paper. "Very well, what was your reaction when you learned that the message Cerulea had received was from the Nekoian Empire?"
"Excitement, I looked forward to visiting a sector of space that few of my species had been too and meeting the fabled People of the Crystal. Alas, I wasn't to meet the war-like Nekoians, but I was able to stare upon their stars and technology and that was satisfying."
"How did you know you would visit?"
"It is standard operating procedure to visit with each client if possible."
"Why?"
"Duo has to make sure that the people are honest and that they will pay us after the job is completed. And often clients do not want to risk sending details through normal communication channels. It is too dangerous."
"Especially if the message was intercepted," Kiyone nodded. "After receiving the message, what happened?"
"He listened to it and forwarded the navigational information to me and I created a round about course to them."
"Where were they?"
"In Nekoian space near the Jurain border, other than that I couldn't tell you."
"Are the coordinates on file?"
"No, for the safety of all involved they were erased from our systems. It was a requirement of meeting the client."
"Understandable. After arriving at this meeting point what happened?"
"Duo visited the ship of crystal." The Qualeon looked like he was about to go off about the ship and so Kiyone interrupted.
"And what did he do on board?"
The Qualeon frowned, coming back to the plain room around him. "I don't know, I wasn't there, anything I tell you would be hearsay."
"Like with Mihoshi," Kiyone snorted. "Very well. Duo returns from the ship and then?"
"He ordered I lay in a course for the current location of the Nest. Don't ask for them, I can't tell you."
Kiyone ground her teeth. "Why not?"
"All navigators have been given strict," he paused, "therapy' not to release the course of the Nest"
Kiyone rubbed her temples. "Meaning you've been drugged, hypnotized, and so on and even under threat of death wouldn't be able to give it up."
"Correct."
"Fine, The Nest," Kiyone gritted out. "And then what?"
"We proceeded here."
"What happened at the Nest?"
"We spread the word, all four of us that we were holding a meeting for Bounty Hunters at the different Guild offices where we are members. Then when the hunters were gathered Duo laid out the parameters of the job."
"Which were?"
"Ryoko Hakubi alive or proof of her death if that was too difficult. The client preferred Ryoko alive and with a bounty of three-billion Nekoian or four-billion Jurain or 4.25 billion Galactic standard most of us weren't going to argue with the alive detail," Qualeon paused.
"Go on." Kiyone was remarkable calm, taking in stride that if the bounty wasn't high enough they would of killed Ryoko. They had already tried and failed.
"There was the expected uproar from the other bounty hunters. Crew included, this was the first time we had full disclosure as well. Then Nagi showed up and quieted the whole lot down. She doesn't say much," Leopold paused and shook his head. "I overheard her tell Duo later that she was coming with us because it suited her." He stopped completely for a few minutes, Kiyone didn't press as Leopold's green-gold eyes stared at the table. He looked like he could continue at any moment. He took a deep breath and growled. "She used us."
"Who?"
"Nagi used us as a means to an end," Leopold snarled glaring at Kiyone.
Kiyone leaned backwards. "What end?"
Leopold smiled, his needle sharp teeth glistened in the light. "The person we were all after, Ryoko Hakubi."
--
Rieshu twitched her emerald skirts into place and looked around the room. It was still empty. Nothing had changed since the last time she checked, thirty seconds ago. She took a deep breath and reached out curling her long fingers around a spear of red orange crystal.
:Take a deep breath through the nose into the stomach, that is how you support your voice to sing the crystal.: The voice was soothing, even if it was a tad nasally. The nasal sounds seemed a more an affectation than a representation of the true voice. Rieshu smiled softly at the memory and opened her mouth and sang. :Each crystal has a note, a resonance, and those that are matched are suited to give instantaneous communication throughout the universe.:
The note was clear and true surrounding the crystal. The crystal began to shiver and answered back a third under her note. There was a quick flash of light and Rieshu cut off her singing.
"Captain," she murmured, releasing her fingers from around the crystal.
The crystal projected the shrouded figure of the captain. The clothes the captain wore disguised any distinguishing features and even the captain's gender. "Goddess," it acknowledged.
"Demi goddess only," Rieshu reminded.
"A small detail," the captain made a passing motion with its hands.
"Time is limited, Captain. How are things?"
"Well enough, Ryoko lives." The Captain paused. "She has changed, demi-goddess. She remembers little of her time with Kagato and mostly the bad."
"That is a problem."
"A small one, I'm afraid. She hides it well, however she does have flashes of pain. We are sure that her brain is," another pause, "healing."
"Healing?"
"That is the only way it can be described. Over the small time I have known her. The readings we are taking with the crystals clearly show her brain changing. They are showing more consistency to the first scan of her brain that is on record in our files. I have great hopes that she will come back to herself."
"She won't ever be completely herself again."
"She'll be close, and that is good enough." The Captain ducked its head. "Even better, she has a child, not of blood but a child of her heart."
"This is the best news I have heard yet," Rieshu smiled. "I will be in touch, Captain Nagi."
The Captain bowed and the navy cloak shifted for a moment, showing lilac hair and red eyes. "As will I, Lady Rieshu."
--
END CHAPTER!
At last a new chapter!... and yes, I did have to repost from the beginning... it's a quirk. So, Next Time on Fate of Empires: The interrogations continue Ken-ohki incites Ryo-ohki to do something rash...
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