Mahoromatic – New Beginnings
By Dr. Memory
(AKA Carl A. Potaczala)
Disclaimer
Mahoromatic and all associated characters are the property of Gainax, TBS, Pioneer LDC and the character creators, Ditama and Nakayama. This story is not written for personal profit, but as a tribute to a wonderful story that I think ended poorly and knowing that as long as I write, Mahoro lives. Any other characters are property of their respective copyright holders, not me.
Episode 25: Treaty
Show opens with the regular theme
Suguru, Mahoro (in maid's uniform) and Kaito are sitting at the table for breakfast.
The door bell rings.
Suguru: I wonder who that could be?
Mahoro: (Gets up from table) I'll get it.
Mahoro makes her way to the door out of view from Suguru. Suguru can hear the door open and a sudden surprised gasp from Mahoro. Suguru stands as Mahoro again comes into view.
Suguru: Mahoro, is everything all right?
Mahoro: Yes, everything is fine. Suguru, (extending her arm toward the door. Enters a young lady about the age of Mahoro, wearing Vesper battle armor) I'd like to introduce you to my younger sister, Kanoko.
Kanoko: (Bowing low) Good morning, Misato-sama
Suguru: (Bowing) Good morning, Kanoko-chan. Please, there is no need to be so formal.
Mahoro: And this is Kaito-kun. He and his brother are from Saint.
Kanoko: (Bowing, but obviously not as deeply) Good morning, Kaito-san, I am pleased to meet you.
Kaito: (Bowing) I am pleased to meet you.
Mahoro: (To Kanoko) Come and sit. Would you like some breakfast?
Kanoko: (Moving to sit down) You haven't changed at all Mahoro-chan. Still cooking. Of course, I would love to have some of your breakfast.
Mahoro: So, what brings you here today?
Kanoko: This is my last official assignment before I am retired from active service. I am here to protect the Saint Commander for the remainder of her stay here on Earth.
Mahoro: Leesha-san isn't here. She is staying at a friend's house.
Kanoko: I know, but I wanted to talk with you before I went to see her.
Mahoro: Let me get you some breakfast. I'll be right back.
Kaito: (To Mahoro, just before she exits to the kitchen) Mahoro-san, may I be excused? Chizu-chan and I are going to Miyuki-chan's to help with the baths.
Mahoro: Of course. Suguru and I will see you there later.
Kaito: Thank you Mahoro-san
Kaito picks up his place setting and carries to the kitchen, following Mahoro. In a moment the both return from the kitchen; Kaito empty handed, and Mahoro with food for Kanoko. Mahoro puts the food on the table where Kanoko is sitting. Kaito walks toward the front door.
Kaito: Good bye, Suguru-kun… Mahoro-san… Kanoko-san
Suguru: Good bye, Kaito-kun
Mahoro: Good bye
Kanoko: Good bye, Kaito-san.
Kaito exits through the front door.
Kanoko: It is good to have you back. I'm sorry that I have not come to see you before this. None of us really understand what happened to you.
Mahoro: Suguru and I are just now beginning to understand.
Kanoko: The last we had heard was that you had died in battle and then word came back that you were still alive.
Mahoro: I did die, but I was given a second chance.
Kanoko: By Saint. I'm sorry. I just have a difficult time with that concept. After considering them my enemy for almost my entire existence, it is very difficult to think of them as our friends now.
Mahoro: So, you wanted to talk about Leesha-san with me?
Kanoko: That is among the things I wanted to talk to you about… but I wanted to talk to you about what to do after I am retired. I know you had your systems downgraded and entered into service to Misato-sama, but I don't have any idea what I should do.
Mahoro: I'm not sure I can give you any advice. I have truly enjoyed my service to Suguru.
Kanoko: Mahoro-chan, may I ask? You seem to be acting quite familiar with your master and I…
Mahoro: It is the way Suguru prefers it and I guess then you don't know… (Showing her ring) Suguru asked me to marry him and I have accepted. I thought that Commander Hayato or Professor Hokato would have told you.
Kanoko: I have not been to Vesper headquarters, so I had no idea. Congratulations are in order then. Retirement has been good for you.
Mahoro: (Cuddling up to Suguru) Actually Suguru and I are quite happy together.
Kanoko: Wait a minute. You two aren't doing anything perverted together?
Mahoro: Every chance we get.
Kanoko: Mahoro-chan, you know that doing perverted things is bad.
Suguru: (Laughing) You two definitely are sisters.
Mahoro: So what is exactly your assignment, Kanoko-chan?
Kanoko: I'm to stay with the Commander to protect her, but I need to be as unobtrusive as possible.
Mahoro: Well you won't do that wearing battle armor. Let me see what I have that might be more appropriate.
Scene shifts to Suguru, Mahoro and Kanoko walking together to the Sakura Baths. Kanoko is wearing a knee length skirt and a tee shirt. The tee shirt is obviously tight.
Mahoro: I'm sorry if the shirt is tight. You have significantly larger breasts than I have.
Kanoko: This will be fine.
Suguru: Maybe Rin-chan will have something that would work better. I can stop at the liquor store and find out.
Mahoro: Rin-chan seems to be spending quite a bit of time helping Kiyomi-kun.
Suguru: It's the only way until schools starts that they can spend time together. Kiyomi-kun's dad is paying her though.
Mahoro: Kanoko-chan, do you know what the others are going to do once they retire?
Kanoko: We haven't gotten together to discuss it. We were going to do that after this mission is complete.
Mahoro: How much time do you have left?
Kanoko: Without disarming, slightly over four years.
Mahoro: So ideally that could give you more than fifty additional years of functionality if your systems are downgraded.
Kanoko: But I'm not sure what I would do once my system are downgraded.
Mahoro: The only things you lose are the high powered weapon systems, like the particle beam, sonic disrupter, and laser. I found that external weapons can serve the need just as well. You will lose your automated targeting system as well, but without those weapons you really don't need them.
Kanoko: We will have to talk more about this later. I do have another question. What should be my attitude and behavior toward the Commander?
Suguru: Leesha-san is very nice, although I am somewhat biased.
Kanoko: I don't understand.
Mahoro: I'll explain later. There is no need to be formal with Leesha-san. And Suguru is correct. She is quite nice.
Mahoro, Suguru and Kanoko arrive at the baths. They enter through the main entrance.
Suguru: (Calling) Miyuki-chan… Miyuki-chan…
Voice of Miyuki: (Calling back) Suguru-kun, we're all on the men's side
They enter the men's side locker room. Miyuki, Riku, Chizu, Kaito, Minawa, Hamaji, Leesha and Eimi are all working on cleaning the floor and walls.
Miyuki: My sisters never got to the men's side yesterday before everything happened, so this is where we are starting. If you…
Kanoko: (Turns, facing Minawa) Potential threat detected… Threat verified… Kaemisa Repairer Cyborg… Identified… Serial number 370… Activating weapons systems… Locking particle beam on target… Assessing threat level…
Eimi: (Jumping up and standing next to Kanoko) V1046 R Kanoko… Stand down and stand by… Authorization Eimi Shina… 8675309.
Kanoko: Second authorization required.
Mahoro: V1046 R Kanoko… Stand down and stand by. Authorization V1046 R Mahoro… 720 Misato.
Kanoko: Automatic weapon targeting… Stand down and stand by…
Mahoro: She said that she had not been back to Vesper headquarters in some time. I'm assuming her automatic targeting list has not been revised.
Eimi: More than likely correct. V1046 R Kanoko… Disable automatic targeting system… Authorization Eimi Shina… 8675309.
Kanoko: Automatic targeting system disabled… Please explain. My targeting system detected a threat.
Mahoro: That threat is no longer a threat.
Hamaji: What was all of that about?
Mahoro: Please let me introduce to you one of my sister combat androids, Kanoko-chan.
Scene shifts to short time later. Everyone is gathered around after things have settled down.
Kanoko: I'm sorry about that 37… ahhh… Minawa-chan.
Minawa: It's OK. I could have jumped out of the way of the particle beam.
Suguru: But I don't think Miyuki-chan's father would appreciate a new entrance between the men's and women's locker room.
Miyuki: So they sent one of your sisters, Mahoro-san, to act as a body guard for Leesha-san?
Mahoro: That is the basic plan.
Leesha: I really do appreciate it but I really don't think it is necessary.
Eimi: (Putting her communicator back into her pocket) Unfortunately that is what Commander Hayato wants. He is concerned that since your anonymity has been compromised, you might have problems with crowd control and the occasional nut cases that show up every so often. On the other hand, Professor Hokato has permanently disabled the automatic targeting system on Kanoko-san and the other combat androids.
Chizu: Other combat androids?
Mahoro: My five sister combat androids… The signing of the treaty will be their last mission before they retire.
Leesha: Well if she wants to tag along with me, that will be fine. I hope she can keep up. I was planing on doing some shopping today. I really don't want to wear my uniform to the United Nations. It's too… ahhh… too…
Minawa: Form fitting?
Leesha: There is that, but too official. My staff if going to end up looking official enough. Oh! That's right. Sera-san will be back Wednesday with the remainder of the Saint delegation. We won't have to fly to New York. We can use the ship's transport system.
Chizu: That will be far better than spending all of that time on an airplane. We'll get to spend more time in New York. I'll have to get some more names of restaurants to try.
Voice of Shikijo: (Very, Very happy sounding) Good morning everyone.
Miyuki: We're in here on the men's side.
Saori enters the locker room. She looks so happy, she is almost glowing.
Shikijo: Good morning… good morning… good morning…
Chizu: My, Saori-san is really happy today.
Hamaji: She must not have gotten up with a hangover this morning.
Shikijo: That will be enough out of you. I am here to officially announce, Ryuga-san and I are an item. He slept over at my apartment last night.
Miyuki: You two didn't…
Shikijo: No, we didn't, but we spent the night cuddled up real close together.
Leesha: That sounds like real progress.
Kanoko looks rather shocked at the topic being discussed and the fact that Mahoro seems to be enjoying it also.
Kanoko: I think talking about ecchi things is bad!
Shikijo: (Looking first at Kanoko and then at Mahoro) So Mahoro-san, are you going to introduce me to your sister?
Everyone begins to laugh, leaving Kanoko with a puzzled look on her face.
Scene shifts to Wednesday afternoon. Gathered in Suguru and Mahoro's living room are Mahoro (in her Vesper school uniform), Suguru, Minawa, Hamaji, Rin, Kiyomi, Miyuki, Riku, Chizu, Kaito, Saori, Ryuga, Sera, Leesha, Eimi and Kanoko (also in her Vesper school uniform).
Sera: I just dropped off the Saint delegation at Vesper headquarters and Commander Hayato would like all of you to come for a briefing tonight. Leesha, I am assuming that you will need to meet with your delegation.
Leesha: Yeah, I suppose I have to.
Mahoro: You don't sound all that happy to be going back.
Leesha: It's just that sometimes they can be rather ahhh… stuffy. They really don't have much of a sense of humor
Suguru: They don't like your practical jokes?
Leesha: I don't think the delegation liaison office will ever forgive me for gluing the access seam on his uniform shut the time he fell asleep on watch.
Shikijo: Remind me never to fall asleep with her around.
There is a general snicker in the group.
Miyuki: Is there any news about my sister?
Sera: Your sister is doing very well. I saw her just before I left. Rehab is going well although she is still using a zero-G chair to get around. They are right on schedule to come home next weekend. Your mom and dad say hello and that they love you. Natsune-chan and Akine-chan had things to say that I won't repeat in polite company.
Miyuki: Thank you.
Sera: Harune-chan did have one other thing to tell you. She hopes that you are seeing as much action as she is.
Miyuki: What? My nine year old sister said that!
Riku: What is action?
Everyone laughs
Cut to mid-show break.
Scene opens with Mahoro, Suguru, Minawa, Hamaji, Rin, Kiyomi, Miyuki, Riku, Chizu, Kaito, Saori, and Ryuga sitting around the table at the Vesper lodge.
Rin: I hadn't expected to be back here so soon.
Kiyomi: The briefing went far quicker than I expected.
Mahoro: Commander Hayato kept it quite brief. Quite unlike him.
Suguru: Somehow I think Leesha-san had something to do with that. Her delegation seemed a bit uncomfortable.
Mahoro: I think you are correct. They went back to Sera-san's ship for the night. Leesha-san said something about needing to have a long talk with them.
Miyuki: I'm not sure that will make the delegation any more comfortable. Ahhh… by the way, where is Kanoko-san?
Mahoro: Kanoko-chan and the rest of my sisters are staying at their quarters at the headquarters building. I think they still have briefings and they wanted to meet to talk about their retirement.
Kiyomi: What will happen to them when they retire?
Mahoro: They will be offered the same options I was. They can remain fully armed and remain in standby service with really nothing to do for the few years they have remaining. Or they can be disarmed and live a much longer time, even doing as I did and become a civilian. They all have several years of lifespan even if they don't disarm. Kanoko-chan has over four years remaining and the other combat androids are younger then her.
Shikijo: May I ask a very personal question, if you don't mind Mahoro-san? (Mahoro nods) How much time did you have remaining when you retired?
Mahoro: If I had not disarmed, 37 days. After I disarmed I had 398 day.
Shikijo: (Somewhat shocked, as is everyone) Oh, my! I never realized… I'm so sorry.
Mahoro: There is no need to be sorry. As it turned out, I received a second chance. If my sisters choose to disarm, they will have many years to enjoy life living as civilians.
Chizu: I think that is enough heavy conversation for tonight. I think I will drag Kaito-kun to the hot springs for a nice soak.
Kaito: No need to drag. I will follow you most willingly.
Mahoro: That sounds like a good idea. That and a good night's sleep. Tomorrow is going to be extremely busy.
Everyone gets up from the table and in their natural pairings head toward the hot springs. Ryuga hesitates for a moment.
Shikijo: Come on, Ryuga-san. They all know. Let's go a soak for a little while and then we can get some sleep. Come on love, everything will be fine.
Saori takes Ryuga by the hand and leads him toward the hot springs. As they walk, Saori shifts her position to put her arm around his waist.
Scene fades to outside the transport chamber on Sera's ship. Standing and waiting are Eimi, Mahoro, Suguru, Minawa, Hamaji, Rin, Kiyomi, Miyuki, Riku, Chizu, Kaito, Saori, Ryuga, Kanoko and the four other battle androids. Mahoro and the battle androids are dressed in their Vesper service uniforms (as is Eimi). The students are dressed in their school uniforms (as are Kaito and Riku). Ryuga is dressed in his usual jacket and Saori is dressed in a rather conservative dress (she is even wearing a bra).
Voice of Sera: We will be over the transport site in about three minutes.
Mahoro: We will have time for formal introductions later, but quickly, I'd like to introduce my sister combat androids. You have all met Kanoko. (Indicating as she names them) May I introduce Nekoto, Chiako, Sanako, and Akiko.
There is a general acknowledgement of the combat androids by the group with greetings exchanged.
Eimi: Here is the plan. When we arrive at the transport site, we will make sure that the area is clear and then we will transport down our goodwill ambassadors. When Leesha-san and her delegation are ready, we will first transport down the combat androids, followed by the Saint delegation.
Hamaji: Speaking of Leesha-san and the Saint delegation, where are they?
Eimi: The delegation wrote a speech for Leesha-san and she didn't like it, so they have been locked in the galley and working on it all night to revise it.
Riku: They definitely won't be happy.
Shikijo: You can be sure that none of them fell asleep in there.
Sera enters the area around the transport chamber.
Sera: I have the ship station keeping over the transport site. As soon as we get a signal from the ground, it will be show time.
Suguru snickers at hearing the words "show time".
Sera: What is it?
Suguru: It's just that "It's show time" is something my grandfather used to say all of the time.
A beeping sound can be heard. At that same moment, Leesha and the Saint delegation enter the transport device area. Leesha is smiling, but the rest of the delegation looks extremely tired.
Sera: Right on time, Leesha san. I just got the signal that they are ready for us.
Leesha: Good, we just finished my speech, and we are ready to go.
Sera: (Smiling at Suguru) OK Goodwill Ambassadors, it's show time.
Scene shifts to outside of the United Nations, but is obvious that the image is that of a monitor showing a camera image.
Commentator #1: I have been told that the first group will be transporting down from the Saint ship in orbit in a moment. This will be the children and teachers who were part of the goodwill trip to the Saint Command Ship. Two members of that delegation are actually Saint youth who have been here for nearly a month as exchange students. For those of you who did not see the coverage of their return from that trip, a bright beam of light will appear and they will move down from the ship within that beam of light.
Commentator #2: They will be followed by a honor and security guard provided by the organization called Vesper. These five young ladies, and I am told they are quite young, are martial arts and combat specialist. The last group to transport down will be Commander Leesha and her delegation from Saint. I am told that once they arrive, they will proceed into the General Assembly hall where Commander Leesha will address the assembly.
Commentator #1: And what an assembly it is. Not only the United Nations ambassadors, but heads of state from almost every nation of the world. And… And… (Light beam appears on monitor as camera zooms in) I have been told that the first group, the goodwill ambassadors from Earth, are arriving now. (Light beam clears and there stands the first group who quickly step back from the locator beacon)
The image pulls back, showing the monitor that was being viewed. The image continues to pull back to show that the monitor is mounted in a rather complex "control panel".
Commentator #2: I have been told that it will be about a minute before (sound fades) the next group will transport…
Voice #1: (Over the top of the commentator) Well, it has started.
Voice #2: Yes it has… and far sooner than we expected.
Voice #1: It will be difficult to stop. We simply don't have the resources to do anything at this time.
Voice #2: We won't have to. Just the normal bickering between the nations of the world should be enough to slow things down until we have the resources to take action.
Voice #1: We were the source of much of that bickering.
Voice #3: Don't worry. We still have significant resources to do what we need to do.
Voice #2: I'm glad you are so confident, but where were you that night when disaster struck?
Voice #3: Working on those resources. Working on those resources.
The image zooms back to the monitor image and the voice of the commentator fades back up.
Commentator #2: … and there is the final group. Commander Leesha of Saint and the Saint delegation. Everyone is now moving inside to the General Assembly hall where this historic speech will begin in a few moments and now back to the studio.
Scene shifts to the General Assembly hall. The goodwill ambassadors enter first and take their places to either side of the podium. They remain standing while the combat androids enter and take their position behind the podium. Lastly Leesha enters and is greeted by the Secretary General. They shake hands first and then bow to each other. Leesha takes her position at the podium.
Leesha: Ladies and Gentlemen of Earth. When I first looked at the speech that the members of my delegation prepared for me, I told them that it sounded like something from a bad science fiction movie. Of course they really didn't understand, but they had managed to include almost every bad cliché from those movies and in fact, the only one they missed was "Take me to your leader".
(Pause) Now you may ask how I have such in depth knowledge about Earth science fiction movies. I will explain. (Fade to and pan the audience) On October 27, 1962, the people of Saint made their first contact with the people of Earth. For some of you, this is news, others know this date quite well.
Our first contact that day can be summarized in one word, disaster. (Fade to Leesha) I was the captain of that exploration ship and I had not taken into account how the people of Earth would respond to the appearance of a large unidentified object in the sky. Unfortunately, they responded just like the people in those bad science fiction movies would have responded. We were shot down.
Myself and the other sixteen members of my crew survived, but we were captured and eventually held by a group of people determined to gain knowledge of the technology we possessed. To say the least, our initial impression of the people of Earth was not positive.
One man though, changed my opinion. (Fade to Suguru and Mahoro) His name was Yuichiro Gonoe. He was a member of the group that held us, Kaemisa. But he did not approve of the way we were being treated by his own people and so he, at great risk to his own life, helped me and my crew escape. (Fade to Leesha) He also hid all of us for twenty years. No easy task, considering that his former organization had put all of their resources into finding us.
(Fade to and pan the audience) In that twenty years, I had the opportunity to observe life here on Earth. Of course, many of the things I saw were not particularly good, like those bad science fiction movies I mentioned before, that Yuichiro-san loved so much. On the other hand, the good I saw far outweighed the bad.
(Fade to the Saint delegation) When our Command Ship arrived nearly twenty years later, I returned to my people, but only with great hesitation. I had grown to love this place. From that time until now, the people of Saint have been working in close co-operation (fade to Commander Hayato and Eimi Shina) with the people of an organization call Vesper, that was founded by Yuichiro Gonoe, to establish a lasting peaceful relationship between the people of Earth and the people of Saint.
(Fade to Leesha) Standing in the way of that relationship was Kaemisa. They have been meddling in human events for longer than anyone can remember. They saw the coming of our people as a threat to that control and so to mask the progress that Vesper and Saint were making, we staged a war, a war many of you had no idea was going on. In name, this war was between Earth and Saint, but in fact the real target of the war was Kaemisa.
(Fade to and pan the combat androids) Saint shared a great deal of technology so that this war could be fought with a minimum of human intervention, using mechanical weaponry as much as possible. (Fade to Suguru and Mahoro) I regret that there was some lose of life on both the part of Earth and Saint, but none among the civilian population on Earth.
(Fade to Leesha) Earlier this year, that war came to an end, when Yuichiro Gonoe sacrificed his life to destroy the leadership of Kaemisa. This strike was not necessarily a fatal blow to the organization, but it has weakened it and made it's existence known to the world, the first step toward freedom from their control.
(Fade to Suguru and Mahoro; pan across the goodwill ambassadors Rin, Kiyomi, Miyuki, Riku, Saori, Ryuga, Chizu, Kaito, Minawa, Hamaji) With the end of war, the first steps were taken a month ago, toward normalizing relations between Earth and Saint, when the grandson of Yuichiro Gonoe, Suguru Misato came with his friends to the Saint Command Ship as goodwill ambassadors. That trip also served a second purpose. (Stop pan on Minawa and Hamaji) During the last days of the conflict, the youngest sister of a Vesper operative suffered heinous injuries at the hands of Kaemisa. The doctors of Earth could do nothing to save her life, but the medical technology that our people developed was able to save her life. Minawa Andou was able to return to her sister at that time. (Hamaji takes hold of Minawa's hand) I am happy to report that Minawa-chan is living healthy and happily and has even found a young man, who has asked her to marry.
(Fade to Leesha) I also wish to report that, a young lady, whose legs were injured severely in an accident, is currently a patient on our Command Ship and will return soon, with full use of her legs.
Many people of Earth ask what is the intent of this alien people. Although the total population of all of our ships represent less that half of the population of this city, we realize that our presence here, at least for the time being, would be at best unwelcome and at worst appear as an attempt to conquer. This was never our intent.
Our people though have found a planet, currently uninhabited, that will support life. It is close enough to Earth that we will be able to maintain friendly relations, but far enough away not to be a threat. This planet, which we call Silvaplanna, a name from our mythology will become our home.
The treaty we sign today, is a treaty of co-operation between our peoples. We have much to offer in the way of technology in the medical sciences and in space flight. You have knowledge we completely lack, having never lived on a planetary surface for as long as any of our people can remember. We ask your assistance therefore to help us make Silvaplanna our new home.
As time goes on, I believe that we will find there are few real differences between our people and that we will live together in harmony and peaceful co-existence.
To that end, I now sign, for the people of Saint, this treaty of co-operation, and pledge in the name of my people to do everything in our power to bring us to the day when we will walk side by side, in peace.
There is a tense moment of silence, but the sound of applause soon fills the hall as Leesha signs the document which is on a table next to the podium. Pan the General Assembly as all stand. Suguru, Mahoro Hamaji, and Minawa stand at the beckon of Leesha. Leesha whispers something to the three and after a moment of consideration, Suguru nods his head. Leesha beckon Kaito and Riku to stand with her and they are joined by Miyuki and Chizu. They all move back to the podium as a group.
Leesha: I wish to make several introductions. First, many of you know that when the delegation of goodwill ambassadors returned from the Command Ship, they brought with them two young men from Saint. I wish to introduce them to you now; Kaito-kun and Riku-kun They will be studying here on Earth, to help our people learn about your culture. I wish to apologize to the young ladies of Earth, but it seems that they have both already found girlfriends.
I also wish to introduce Minawa Andou, the young lady who came to us for medical aid and her older sister, Mahoro-san.
The last introduction I wish to make is the grandson of Yuichiro Gonoe. As it turns out, Yuichiro-san and I, over the period of twenty years I was on Earth, became quite good friends. Now this may be a shock to some, but, in fact, Yuichiro-san and I were married. And we had a daughter, Yuuka, who was the mother of Suguru Misato. Now if you haven't figured it out yet. Suguru-san is my grandson.
This time, the silence is a bit more strained, and lasts a bit longer, but there is again applause, that soon swells to fill the hall. Suguru turns and give his grandmother a hug and kiss, then turns to Mahoro to give her a hug and kiss.
Scene fades to the sound of applause to Mahoro, Suguru, Leesha, Minawa, Hamaji, Rin, Kiyomi, Miyuki, Riku, Chizu, Kaito, Saori, Ryuga, Eimi, Kanoko, Nekoto, Chiako, Sanako and Akiko, around a large table in a restaurant.
Rin: I can't believe that the Emperor was here.
Kiyomi: I can't believe that he spent time with us and thanked us for our efforts.
Hamaji: I'm not sure that I have the courage to take him up on his invitation to visit him.
Suguru: We all have an invitation to visit the President of the United States at the White House. Maybe we could do it over the winter break.
Eimi: I still don't believe that you made the announcement about Suguru-kun being your grandson. Commander Hayato was hoping that we could hold off on that becoming public knowledge.
Leesha: At some point, that information would have found it's way to the public, and more than likely at a very inconvenient time. Now, it's one less thing he has to worry about.
Eimi: If you say so. Where is the rest of your delegation?
Leesha: They went back to the ship with representatives from several major counties to go over the details of the treaty and to begin the process. Our people wish to start settling our new home planet as quickly as possible, but we have nothing to build even the most basic of shelters. One of the first groups that will be going to the new planet will be planetary resource people and engineers, just to see what is available for us to use on the planet.
Suguru: How about you, grandmother? What will you be doing now?
Leesha: The Command Ship will become the official embassy of the Saint people to Earth and I will remain in command of it, so I will be able to come visit on a regular basis and for that fact you can come visit me.
Chizu: Rin-chan, I wonder if they got a picture of you and the Emperor together.
Rin: Oh, I hope so. That will drive my father right up the wall.
The wait staff arrives with dinner, various types of sandwiches piled high with meat.
Chizu: These are the sandwiches I was telling you about.
Miyuki: (As her sandwich is set in front of her) I don't think I could eat all of this even if I hadn't eaten for a month.
Rin: There's more meat in here than Mahoro-san puts into one week of Suguru-kun's lunches.
Shikijo: I'm going to need another beer to wash this down.
Chizu: Just remember to save room for the cheesecake.
Everyone just turns and stares at Chizu as she starts to eat her sandwich.
Scene fades to Leesha, Mahoro, Suguru, Miyuki, Riku, Chizu, Kaito and Eimi sitting in the "living room" area of the hotel suite.
Suguru: Chizu-chan, I don't understand how you do it. I brought most of my sandwich with me. I'm glad that the hotel rooms have refrigerators.
Miyuki: I could never have imagined a hotel rooms like this. It's almost as big as my whole house.
Eimi: Vesper rented the entire floor for two nights.
Mahoro: Two nights. I thought that we would be going back home tomorrow.
Eimi: That had been the original plan, but the President of the United States wants to hold a reception tomorrow night and you are all invited to attend along with Leesha-san and the Saint delegation as the guests of honor.
Miyuki: I need to talk to Karen-san. She was expecting me back tomorrow.
Eimi: Already taken care of. In fact she has some help from the Vesper staff.
Miyuki: Thank you so much.
Eimi: There is one other matter that we need to discuss. It's a matter of having a surname for the twins. Commander would like to have an answer as quickly as possible, so he can finish processing the twin's school enrollment.
Leesha: It's kind of silly. On board ship, we've never needed a surname, although I can kind of understand the need for it here on Earth. Technically, I would have Yuichiro-san's surname, Gonoe.
Eimi: I know it's silly, but apparently the Commander stepped on some toes to get Saori-san re-instated. Now the principal is doing everything by the book.
Kaito: Why not just use "of Saint"?
Eimi: Tried that. The city registrar's office turned it down. I'm not sure why. In addition, the paperwork would need to come from the Saint government.
Leesha: Easy enough to do, I am the local government, or as much of it as we need. Kaito-kun… Riku-kun… what do you think?
Riku: I have no idea. I don't really understand the need for it.
Suguru: Actually, the girl you eventually marry would take that name.
Kaito: If that is the case, what do you girls think?
Miyuki and Chizu look at each other for a moment and then Chizu whispers something into Miyuki's ear. Miyuki smiles broadly and snickers a bit.
Miyuki: It does have a nice ring to it. I like it.
Kaito: What?
Miyuki: Go ahead, Chizu-chan.
Chizu: It was an idea I had when we were shipboard. But considering the events of the past month, the name I think would be perfect, and a name I would not mind having as my own, is "Shinkibō".
Suguru: New hope?
Chizu: Isn't that what they are? A new hope for the future?
Riku: Shinkibō … Miyuki-chan, would you mind having that as your name?
Miyuki: Not at all.
Suguru: This almost sounds like a proposal.
Miyuki: Not quite, but close.
Kaito: Leesha-san, what do you think?
Leesha: I think it will work. Eimi-san, let me know what kind of paperwork I will need to generate to get this done.
Eimi: I'll let you know in the morning. I think that is everything. I guess we can call it a night.
Chizu: Actually there is one more thing. Miyuki-chan… Suguru-kun…
Chizu, Miyuki and Suguru take jewelry boxes from their pockets.
Chizu: When we were shipboard, Riku and Kaito told us about a thing called the "Prophecy" and about it's reference to a thing called a blue pearl and about the fact that they really had no idea what a pearl was. The word pearl was not part of your language, except in the "Prophecy".
Chizu and Miyuki open their jewelry box. In each of them are a pair of identical rings, each set with a blue pearl. The girls each place a ring on Kaito and Riku's hands
Chizu: I asked my father about it and he had a jeweler here in New York make them up. They delivered it to the hotel today.
Suguru: (Opening his jewelry box which has a necklace set with five blue pearls) Grandmother, Chizu-chan had this made for you as a remembrance of today.
Leesha: Oh, my!
Cut to ending theme
Preview:
Scene opens with Miyuki, Riku, Chizu, Kaito, Mahoro, Suguru, Minawa, Hamaji, Saori, Ryuga on the roof of the hospital. Scene shows the arrival of Harune with her Mister and Missus Sakura, Natsune, Akine, Doctor Kagemori and Nurse Hanaki. Scene shifts to Miyuki and Riku with Harune (who is sitting in the zero-G chair). Scene shifts to Mahoro and Suguru talking with Kanoko, Nekoto, Chiako, Sanako, and Akiko. Scene shifts to Suguru, Minawa, Hamaji, Riku, Miyuki, Chizu, Kaito, Kiyomi, Rin (in school uniforms), Saori, Ryuga (in professional dress) and Mahoro (in her maid's uniform) in the principal's office. Scene shifts to image of the principal behind his desk. Scene shifts to an image of a very angry Mahoro
Voice Over
Voice of Shiori: My sister tells me that Miyuki-chan's sister Harune-chan is back from the hospital from the Command Ship.
Voice of Yaeko: Miyuki-chan?… Oh! She was one of the people that went into space with your sister.
Voice of Shiori: Yeah. Her little sister was hurt quite badly in an accident, but it looks like she is getting around pretty well. And it looks like Harune-chan and Miyuki-chan are getting along very well.
Voice of Yaeko: Who are all those women with Mahoro-san and Suguru-kun?
Voice of Shiori: I think they're Mahoro-san's sister combat androids.
Voice of Yaeko: They are all very pretty, just like Mahoro-san… but it looks like they all have bigger b…
Voice of Shiori: I'm not sure it would be a good thing to mention that. Well it's time to go back to school. My sister and everyone who went to the command ship have a meeting with the principal.
Voice of Yaeko: That's their principal? He doesn't look very friendly.
Voice of Shiori: Well, at the moment, neither does Mahoro-san.
Voice of Mahoro: I still don't understand why I have to be here.
Episode 26: New Beginnings