Chapter 7: Random Acts of Diplomacy

Faust floated in a sepia-tinted tube, pushing off the walls, propelling himself forward. Somehow, it didn't seem strange that he should be floating . . . he was in space, he realized, and that wasn't strange either.

What was strange was the conversation he could hear, somewhere ahead of him in the tube.

He recognized the woman's voice. She was Lorelei, one of the chief scientists on board and the woman responsible for the Mesopotamia's computer. She and Faust had spent quite some time talking before the launch, and he knew that she was everything he'd heard her to be, brilliant and beautiful. Just who she was talking to was still a mystery.

Faust continued to float. He turned a corner to see two others floating farther down the tube, looking out a window, out into space. Somehow, their words were muddled, and he wasn't sure what they were talking about. Both of them had their attention fixed on the window, but a moment later, they turned and started looking at each other. Faust could see something in the man's eyes, a kind of . . . affection? Attraction? Desire? Could he-

Somewhere inside, Faust started to feel hot, and he felt himself frowning. This wasn't the good kind of heat that he sometimes felt when around the marionettes, he could tell. It dimly reminded him of how he'd felt when he'd seen the marionettes watching Obiichi. There was something angry about it, something that made him hurry toward the two of them, wanting to know who the other man was and what he was doing with Lorelei.

The two of them turned at Faust's approach, and when they spoke, it was muddled, like they were talking while underwater. He watched as he talked to them, not understanding his own words either. Then, one word came out clearly, and he felt something spark inside himself.

"Ieyasu."

The other man was Ieyasu? How could that be? Ieyasu was an older man, not this long-haired kid floating before him. . . .

Faust turned against his will, and he looked out the window. Stars . . . there was almost nothing but stars, save for a cloudy blue-white sphere, a place that looked like Terra II but wasn't. That was Earth, Faust thought, that was the place they'd come from. . . .

Faust's reflection sneered at him, and said, "You're going to lose. This is what you've already lost, now turn and look at what you're going to lose again."

He turned, and saw Ieyasu holding Lorelei in his arms. She was looking at him the same way that Tiger, Luchs, and Panther looked at Faust, with that same kind of adoration in her eyes. Faust felt the heat starting to build in himself again, then glanced back to his reflection.

"You're going to lose her, you're going to lose everything," the reflection said with a sneer. As Faust watched, his face began to grow wrinkled, and his hair grew long and grey. "You don't remember, so it's all going to slip through your fingers. You're wasting your time. You will fail."

Faust tried to scream, but his voice came out garbled, and there was nothing he could do but watch the reflection as Lorelei and Ieyasu floated down the tube, hand in hand.

He came awake suddenly, crying out, trying to reach for something that was no longer there. He was breathing hard. Trying to calm down, he put a hand to his forehead, and muttered. Another dream, he thought, and stranger than the last one. But both times, he'd seen an older Faust, or maybe an older version of himself, and there was the warning that he was going to lose.

What was there to lose? He remembered the histories; the Mesopotamia had taken Lorelei hostage, and that was why his ancestor and the other five men had been forced to crash-land on Terra II. There was something about the Maiden Circuits, he remembered that much, something about them helping to return Lorelei to Terra II, but he still didn't know how that was supposed to happen. Was that what the dreams meant? And why did he keep dreaming about this? Was it leftover memories from the other Fausts, or something more?

"Faust-sama?"

Panther's sleepy voice came from the other side of the bed, and she raised her head to look at him. He had to laugh a little at the look on her face - she usually slept like the dead, and it wasn't often that something could wake her up. Also, just as Faust had thought when he first saw her, she snored. He'd gotten used to that; it had taken a while, but not nearly as long as it'd taken him to get used to the lingerie Luchs slept in. He still wondered where she got that.

"You all right?" she asked, blinking a few times in the dim light.

"Just another dream," Faust said wearily, then leaned back on his pillow. "It's been a while since I had one like that."

Panther sat up and leaned closer, and the one long lock of her hair brushed over Faust's forehead. "A massage would help you get back to sleep, Faust-sama. Do you want--"

The room's door opened, and Luchs stood there in silhouette. "Faust-sama? I heard you - Panther, he's trying to sleep!"

"Of course he is," Panther said, looking toward Luchs and moving over Faust possessively. "He had a bad dream, so I'm going to give him a massage to help him sleep again."

Faust tried to keep from muttering. This wasn't going to end well.

"You're just going to keep him up later with that," Luchs said, starting to walk to the bed. "Besides, my shift's up, so it's your turn to stand guard."

"That's not how it works," Panther said. "We each rotate, and the two left over trade off watching the door!" Faust could hear her starting to snarl. Maybe he should just get out of bed now, he thought.

"Yes, but you're not supposed to be rotating on Faust-sama when he's trying to sleep," Luchs said calmly, then gave one of her nowhere-near-innocent smiles. She kept walking toward the bed, then paused at the side and started to take off her coat.

"What do you think you're doing?" Panther hissed. She leaned over Faust, again, this time like she was trying to protect him. He had to admit, he was starting to wonder the same thing.

"Making sure Faust-sama gets his sleep," Luchs said. "Tiger's shift starts soon, she can watch the door." She looked down at Faust, and tilted her head so that her eyes became visible in the dim light. "Is this all right, Faust-sama?"

If he said no, Faust thought, he'd just be in for a world of regret. "You don't need to ask my permission," he said, trying to sound a little resigned. He and Panther scooted aside, and Luchs slid into the bed on his other side. It was strange, but he had to admit that he really didn't mind.

Maybe he'd been wrong about it not ending well. . . .

". . . Housing Projects 7A and 7B are moving along according to schedule," Murphy said, going down the long list of weekly reports, "but they're still doing stability checks on the areas for 7C. That's going to add another two weeks to the timeline, maybe a month depending on the results."

"I see," Faust said, leaning back in his throne. The various Housing Projects had been several months in planning; Faust was willing to do nearly anything to get his people out of the slums and into decent homes, but he wouldn't risk speeding things up if it just meant the new buildings were going to collapse. "That's fine, make sure I get the stability reports when they come in."

"Yes, fuhrer," Murphy said, then flipped a page on his report. "Construction on the new production facility for the G-Model marionettes is proceeding according to schedule, no problems there."

"Good," Faust said. He smiled, feeling rather proud. He could tell that, no matter what else came of his reign, the Maiden Chip Project was going to be what put him in the history books and brought Gartlant the glory it deserved. Orders for the new models were coming in faster than their factories could process, though there were still none from Japoness. Several days ago, Murphy had mentioned rumors of a black market for the G-Models in Japoness, but Faust had told him to stop, saying he didn't want to know. If he didn't know, then there couldn't be any pressure for him to do anything about it.

That, and a good name for marionettes with the Maiden Chip had finally come in earlier that week, one worth all the bizarre suggestions from the contest.

"And finally--" Murphy began, but he was interrupted as the doors of the throne room burst open.

The guards around the room snapped their guns out and pointed them at the door, but to Faust's sides, Tiger and Luchs didn't move. He gave them a curious look, then turned his attention to the room's door. He grinned.

"Stand down," Faust said, chuckling. "You have a good workout, Panther?"

The blonde marionette laughed loudly. She turned a handspring, then another, flipping into the room and down the red carpet that led toward Faust's throne. When she reached the staircase, she flipped up into the air, tumbled twice, and landed neatly in Faust's lap. Faust grimaced at the sudden weight, but tried hard not to show it.

"Of course, Faust-sama," Panther said, then leaned forward and put her arms around Faust's neck. "Obiichi's a great teacher, and--"

"Do you have to do that in the middle of the throne room?" Luchs said, yanking on Panther's arms. "Faust-sama is hearing the weekly reports!"

"He can be done," Panther said, grinning wickedly.

"He almost was, until you barged in," Tiger said with a small smile. Panther just glared at her.

Faust chuckled again, then did his best to look at Murphy without removing Panther from his lap. "What's the last thing on the list, Murphy?"

"Still no word from Japoness," Murphy said. He acted like nothing had happened, but Faust could see the small smile on his face, same with many of the guards and some of his other advisors. That, he thought, was the true beauty of the Maiden Chip - many of these men now had G-Model marionettes of their own, and could relate to sudden and awkward attention.

"I see," Faust said, then shrugged. "I'd hoped to hear from them before the week was over, but it looks like it might be time for more drastic measures."

"Fuhrer, if I may--" Hauser began, then caught himself. "What kind of 'drastic' measures are you thinking of?"

"Nothing yet," Faust said with half a smile. "But we'll see what happens. And if there's no new business, this week's meeting is adjourned."

As usual, there was no new business, so the advisors filed out of the room. As soon as they started leaving, Panther looked at Faust.

"Obiichi wants to talk to you, Faust-sama," she said.

"I thought he would," Faust said, then started to stand. Naturally, having Panther on his lap made this difficult. "Panther, would you mind getting up?"

"Yes," she said, then grinned at him. "Maybe you should start training with Obiichi, Faust-sama. It might make you stronger."

Before Faust could say anything, Luchs and Tiger pulled Panther off of his lap and started dragging her down the stairs. He called for them to stop, laughing and shaking his head. Some things never changed, he thought, not that he'd have it any other way. He met them at the bottom of the stairs for a four-way embrace, then walked with them to the rooms where Obiichi had taken up residence.

Obiichi's rooms were on the second-highest floor of the palace, as he'd requested a room with a balcony and those were rare. According to what Faust had heard from Panther and some others, Obiichi had been teaching classes in basic self-defense and unarmed combat, and quite a few people were showing up. Panther called herself his favorite student with no small amount of pride.

Faust knocked on the door, and Obiichi answered a moment later. He bowed deeply, then said, "Thank you for coming, fuhrer Faust. Please, come in."

Faust and the marionettes followed Obiichi through his sparsely furnished rooms and out to the balcony. Once they were there, Obiichi rested his arms on the balcony rail, and looked out across the city. The sun was starting to set, shining orange and red across the plasma clouds in the distance. Faust leaned against the wall and waited for the other man to speak.

"I'm old enough to remember the stories of your ancestor," Obiichi began. "When I was young, I read the histories and the modern studies, and wondered why anyone would want to live here."

Faust nodded, but said nothing. It was a sentiment he'd become familiar with over the past eight years.

"In Japoness, they act as though nothing has changed. News from or about Gartlant is rare. The Maiden Chip was the first news we'd heard from this country since your reign began. They say things about Gartlant in Japoness, calling it a dark place, a country where no one would want to live." He paused, and turned to face Faust. "In the week that I've been here, I have seen that almost nothing I have heard about Gartlant in Japoness is true."

Faust smiled. This, he thought, was a testament to what he had done. But he was not here to give a speech, so he simply said, "Thank you."

"I do have a question, Faust," Obiichi said. "The marionette who attends to my room, did you send her yourself?" His expression hardened. "Did you see to it that I saw what the Maiden Chip can do?"

Faust paused, and gave Obiichi an unsure look. "You have a marionette attendant?" he asked. "I didn't even know about that," he said, chuckling again. "Whoever it is that deals with guests in the palace must have assigned her."

Obiichi nodded, somewhat stiffly, and turned back to the sunset. "I have learned a great deal this week," he said, more quietly than before. "I have seen the difference that the Maiden Chip makes, and your own marionettes have shown me what this 'Maiden Circuit' is capable of. Panther in particular," he said, giving her a sideways glance. "It has also made me realize that I cannot live in the past."

Faust expected Obiichi to sigh, but the other man stood taller, and a light breeze blew his black hair back from his face. There was some sadness in his eyes, but he seemed strong, and somehow content.

"I will never forget Koyuki," Obiichi said. "But I cannot spend the rest of my life mourning her." He turned to look at Faust again. "I accept your offer, and I will accompany you to Japoness. If the shogun will have me, I will meet my country's marionettes. Anything more, I cannot promise."

Faust broke into a grin, unable to help himself. "I'll try to make contact again tonight," he said.

Once again, Faust stood in the room where he'd first spoken with Shogun Ieyasu, where he'd been making most of his attempts at communication with Japoness. Perhaps he should try somewhere else, he thought, he'd never had any luck here. However, it was one of the more regal rooms and didn't look like what people would expect from Gartlant, so it would do. For now.

This time, though, it was different. Yesterday, Faust had pulled his rank as ruler of Gartlant, and he now had an appointment to speak with Ieyasu's head aide, an older man known as Hikozaemon. Faust had also brought Tiger, Luchs, and Panther along with him. He wanted to show the other man what marionettes with emotions, marionettes who weren't just tools, could be like. He'd invited Obiichi to speak on his own behalf, but the humble man had declined, saying that matters of state weren't where he belonged.

"So," Panther asked, sounding like she was hoping for a fight, "what're you going to do if they say no, Faust-sama?"

"I have an idea about that," Faust said, glancing over his shoulder to her. "I don't think I'll have to use it, but if the advisor's anything like the shogun. . . ." He let that thought trail off, then looked back to the screen. If Hikozaemon felt the same way about Gartlant that Ieyasu did, then this was going to be pointless. He thought back to Obiichi's comments about how most people in Japoness saw Gartlant, and started to wonder.

The screen flickered, and Faust stood up straight. It was time to find out.

The man who appeared on the screen looked old enough to have served at least three shoguns. His jowls were sagging, most of his hair was gone and what was left was grey, and he was looking at Faust as though he wanted to put him over his knee and spank him. This, Faust thought, was going to be difficult.

"Good evening, Hikozaemon," Faust said with a bow. Just as he'd asked them, the three marionettes bowed behind him. He heard Panther snickering, and was glad that he'd instructed them.

"Good evening, fuhrer Faust," Hikozaemon said formally. He sounded as stiff as Ieyasu, maybe even more, Faust thought. "You've been bothering us a lot lately, and I want to know why."

Faust paused, raising an eyebrow at the old man. "I'd think I could try to contact Ieyasu without having everyone in the palace think I was plotting something," he said dryly.

"If you would," Hikozaemon said, "please, get on with it. The shogun will not listen to any demands, and neither will I."

"Good," Faust said. "I don't have any demands. Instead, I'd like you to meet someone." He glanced over his shoulder. "Tiger, Luchs, Panther, introduce yourselves."

Faust stepped back and watched Hikozaemon's face as the marionettes walked up to the screen and started talking to him. The old man was getting upset, he could tell, and Faust wasn't sure if there was any curiosity. At least the marionettes were being pleasant.

"Can you tell," Faust said after a moment, "what makes them different?"

"They're G-Models, of course," Hikozaemon said with a stern glare. "We've heard about what you've done over here. If you're trying to get me to set up a trade deal, we're not interested."

"Not quite," Faust said, stepping forward and draping his arms over the marionettes' shoulders. "You see, these three are the ones who made the G-Models possible. Tiger, Luchs, and Panther are the ones that the first Faust had made." He grinned at the look of dawning comprehension on the old man's face. "They have Maiden Circuits."

"Impossible," Hikozaemon said, his eyes wide. "You couldn't have--" He paused, as though catching himself, then cleared his throat. "What's your point, Faust?"

Faust's grin faded. The old man knew something, he thought, Hikozaemon knew something and had kept himself from saying it. He was just as bad as Ieyasu. "My point is that I know they're not the only ones of their kind," Faust said plainly. "The last - sorry, the only time I spoke to Shogun Ieyasu, he mentioned that Japoness also had developed the maiden circuit." He paused, trying to judge Hikozaemon's reaction, but the old man was just scowling. "He even said that Japoness had marionettes like these three, and that if he knew someone who could see them the right way, then he'd introduce them."

Hikozaemon spat, "The shogun would never say--"

"Don't call Faust-sama a liar," Panther snarled, her lip curling. "Maybe if you had your own marionette, you wouldn't be such a dried-up old--"

"Panther," Faust said in a low voice.

"Faust-sama is telling the truth," Luchs said calmly as Panther seethed. "I've seen the video, I can play it for you."

Hikozaemon muttered under his breath, but seemed to relent. "Then what's your point, Faust? Even you wouldn't ask us to send our marionettes to you."

Faust laughed aloud at that. Diplomacy be damned, he thought, the idea was just too funny not to laugh. Hikozaemon, of course, glared at him, but Faust just shook his head.

"Faust-sama doesn't need your marionettes," Tiger said, "but we know someone who wants to meet them."

"One of your own, in fact," Faust said at Hikozaemon's stunned silence. "A man named Soemon Obiichi, who came here in search of a Maiden Chip after his marionette was killed because he loved her." He paused, letting that sink in, hoping it wouldn't be lost on Hikozaemon.

The look on the old man's face made Faust reconsider ever hoping for anything ever again. "Leave our people alone, Faust," Hikozaemon said firmly, "and don't ask us about the marionettes again. Good night." A moment later, the screen went black.

The three marionettes looked back at him, and Tiger said, "That could have gone better, couldn't it, Faust-sama?"

"Much better," he muttered. "I'm surprised he didn't declare war."

"If he did, we'd win," Luchs said. "Japoness has never had a strong army, and our military sabers are several generations ahead of theirs."

Faust chuckled at that. "Good to know, but I don't think it'll happen in my time." He headed for the doorway, and the marionettes fell into step beside him as soon as they were in the hall. "I have to tell Obiichi about this, and then we'll see what we do next."

Obiichi took the news about how Faust expected him to, stoically and without showing much emotion. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised," he said quietly. "Thank you, fuhrer Faust."

Faust shook his head. "It's not good enough," he said. "You're the kind of person they're looking for, and the only reason they won't talk to you is because you're here with me." He started to glower. "I'm tired of this; it's time to try something different."

"You've mentioned that a few times, Faust-sama," Tiger said, then looked up at him. "I wish you'd tell us what you're planning, so we can prepare."

"Just a little something I learned from the history books," Faust said. He started to smile. "The other Fausts had their own names for it, but my favorite was the one that the Seventh used."

"What was that, Faust-sama?" Tiger asked, looking curious.

"Brute-force diplomacy." He broke into a grin. "Luchs!"

The blue-haired marionette snapped to attention. A second later, she sniggered, and she and the others burst out laughing. "Yes, Faust-sama?" she asked, giggling.

"Call the docks and have my sub prepared," he said, still grinning. "We're going to Japoness."