Chapter 6

"Dead?"

Suki raised horrified eyes to her brother, her hand flying to her mouth as the finality of his words sank in. "Oh...Oh no...Seiryo...I didn't...I didn't mean..."

She trailed off, fresh tears glittering on her lashes as she did so, and Seiryo crossed back across the room, hugging her tightly.

"There's nothing you can do about it now." He said quietly. "He was going to kill me, and you saved my life, Suki-chan. He took the consequences of that action, that's all. It was him or me."

"But..." Hopelessness flooded Suki's expression. "Seiryo-oniichan, what are we going to do? What are we going to tell people?"

"We're going to tell them exactly nothing." Seiryo said grimly. "Father is away on business. That's what the Council believe. He'll just have to not return, that's all. People go missing in Deep Space all the time - pirates and brigands are common and there's every reason why his ship could have been attacked out there. You're not to speak a word of this to anyone - least of all to Mother. Do you understand? Our family have enough troubles without adding murder to the list."

At this, Suki's tears began to fall once more and she pulled away from her brother's embrace, dropping down beside the still, cooling body of her father.

"I'm sorry, Daddy." She murmured. "I didn't mean this to happen. I really didn't."

Seiryo frowned.

"Pull yourself together." He murmured. "Suki, you must. What's done is done. We have to think rationally now...remove all the evidence before someone else becomes involved."

"But...someone else already is." Suki raised her eyes to her brother's once more, alarm flickering across her face. "You said Father brought one of his women back here this morning. Was she here when you arrived back home?"

"Yes...she was." Seiryo's expression darkened. "And I was so caught up with Father that I didn't see her leave. Did you see anyone, when you came into the solar?"

"No." Suki shook her head. "Just you and Father fighting, and Father with his sabre at your...your..."

She choked, unable to finish, and Seiryo sighed, rubbing his temples.

"Then she may have seen everything." He said at length. "And I don't know who she even was. Some local girl - a peasant from one of the villages, by her dress. Damn! What a complication. At the very least, she's a witness to the fact Father was home today, and not travelling like I told the Council. And at worst..."

"She might have seen me kill him." Suki's voice was barely above a whisper. "Seiryo, I don't want to go to prison!"

"And I'm not going to let you." Seiryo told her firmly. "So stop saying things of that nature. You know that I'll look after you - I wouldn't let anything happen to you, especially when you only did it saving my life. And I'm just as guilty as you are, my sister. I would have killed him, had I had the upper hand in the fight. You are not to blame...you're a victim of circumstance and that is what you must keep telling yourself. The outside world...they mustn't see you like this."

"I'll try." Suki drew a shaky breath into her lungs, glancing down at the scrapes on her fingers. "My hands are hurt, Seiryo. Shards of the china cut them when it broke...how will I explain that to people, if they ask?"

"Wear gloves." Seiryo said curtly. "You're a lady of breeding, and it's not uncommon for women of status to wear gloves in public. It's time that you adopted the habit - at least until your fingers heal."

He bent back down beside the body, a thoughtful look touching his face. Then he shrugged.

"Only one thing for it." He said at length. "He needs to be moved, in case we have visitors during the rest of today. Then, this evening, I'll find a way to transport him to the dock and summon his ship from the ether. Thankfully he always moors it in a secluded location, so noone will have noticed that it hasn't already gone. I'll take him up into space, and abandon his ship as soon as I'm well away from Jurai's atmosphere. My own ship is easy enough to summon, and I'll be back before breakfast. Nobody need ever know anything else happened to him. They'll just believe he was attacked by pirates."

"How can you be sure?" Suki asked hesitantly. "What about the girl?"

"I can be sure because I'm involved enough in the Galaxy Police to make sure." Seiryo said grimly. "And don't worry about the girl. I'll find her and I'll make sure she keeps her mouth shut about her little assignation this afternoon."

"You won't kill her?" Suki's eyes became big with alarm, and Seiryo shook his head.

"No. Enough blood has already been spilt." He said sadly. "But you needn't worry. I'll ensure that she knows talking to anyone about Father would be a very bad idea. If she's local, she might even live on Tennan land. That being the case...I can make life quite uncomfortable for her, should she decide to give anything away."

"I don't like any of this." Suki said tearfully. "I was so happy that you'd come home and now...and now..."

"And now I am effectively Lord of this manor." Seiryo said softly. "And as such, until Father's body is found and he's officially declared dead, I have a window of opportunity to get a hold of the family finances and see what I can't put back together. You have to know, Suki, that whatever the circumstances of today, something drastic had to be done. Our whole family's honour rests in the balance. How we act now could either save or condemn the Tennan name."

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"So what do you have to report to me, Dr Clay?"

In the soft light of the chamber, Tokimi's form flickered into view, growing gradually stronger and more vivid as she crossed the floor towards him, sending him a questioning glance. Clay swallowed hard, fumbling in his jacket pocket and pulling out a computer disk, holding it out.

"We went back to the Science Academy, Lady Tokimi." He said respectfully, bowing his head slightly as she took the disk from him, glancing at it. "And researched everything we could find on the Light Hawk Wings of Jurai, as you instructed."

Tokimi arched an eyebrow, tilting her head to look at him.

"Kurashida?" She murmured. "Did you succeed in finding her research on the subject, Clay? You know that I would hate to be disappointed."

"It's all on that disk, Tokimi-sama." Clay nodded his head hastily. "Zero infiltrated the Academy without being detected and she was able to access all of Minami-san's files on the Wings."

"I see." A slight smile flickered at the corners of Tokimi's mouth and she set the disk down on the top of the big organic machine in the corner, nodding her head. "Good. You have done well."

She raised her gaze, her eyes flitting across the room to the silent form in the corner. An amused smile touched her lips.

"Come forward." She said softly, raising a hand to the motionless droid. Zero did as she was bidden, moving to the centre of the chamber and standing beneath the light, meeting Tokimi's gaze with an opaque one of her own.

"So you are Zero." Tokimi looked thoughtful. She let out a low chuckle. "The woman with many faces, but without a soul. Is that not correct, Dr Clay?"

"Zero doesn't need a soul, Tokimi-sama." Clay observed. "She follows my orders and she does so implicitly. She has programming...that's all she needs."

"I do so despise this cold world of technology." Tokimi sighed heavily, shaking her head. "Bit by bit it encroaches on the whole of the universe, taking people's hearts and minds and turning them into droids as cold and empty as this one."

She flicked a finger in Zero's direction.

"She has her uses, I suppose...as do you." She added. "But the world was a better place before things such as her existed."

Clay wisely held his tongue, knowing that even now the subject of technological advancement could bring sudden rage to his mistress's pretty face. For a moment there was silence between then, then Tokimi spread her hands.

"Still, whilst I can manipulate these things to my own ends, I suppose everything must serve its purpose." She murmured. "Tell me, Clay. Did you manage to penetrate Jurai's defences successfully?"

"Yes, My Lady." Clay bowed his head slightly. "Zero's shape-shifting capabilities are one hundred percent accurate. When she duplicates a form, she does so down to the last detail...because of this, she was able to enter Jurai's atmosphere undetected. She retrieved samples from the remains of Souja's tree, and genetic analysis proves that both the tree and the man who owned him are long dead. Whatever force killed them, it was strong and brutal. Souja was destroyed - burnt to a charred stump - and there is no residual energy that could be connected to Kagato at all."

"This I know." Tokimi inclined her head. "I was hoping for something more...but I suppose if that's all you and your robot have been able to find out..."

She sighed, shaking her head.

"Jurai is a difficult planet to dig into, and even harder to break down, as I know to my planet's cost." She said darkly. "I never said that this would be easy, but I must know more. I must have a strategy...a way to bring Tenchi Masaki into my line of sight, and more...a way to drag Tsunami and her world to their knees, in the way they abused my world, so many years ago. But for that I need something else. Someone else. Someone buried so deep into the core of that planet that if we were to enlist them, they would be a most valuable tool indeed."

She shot Clay a derisive glance, as if to indicate she no longer viewed him as valuable.

"Do you not think so, Dr Clay?"

"Whatever you wish, my Lady." Clay bit back his apprehension, holding out his hands in a submissive gesture. "If Your Ladyship permits it, there is one final piece of information that we picked up on our trip to Jurai. Something that, in light of your last statement, may well prove of use to you."

"Oh?" Interest flickered in Tokimi's blueish eyes. "Do tell me, Dr Clay. I can't wait to hear this."

"Zero, make your report to Lady Tokimi." Clay instructed, and the droid stepped forward, a soft white shimmer enveloping her form as she began to speak.

"When I was on Planet Jurai I made the acquaintance of a man named Seiji Tennan." She said in her usual tinny monotone. "A high ranking member of the Council of Jurai."

"I see." Tokimi's eyes narrowed. "And what did you discover, soulless one?"

"Seiji Tennan was in charge of the Royal Treasury. He was in the trust of the Emperor Azusa." Zero continued levelly. "And he was murdered."

"Murdered?" Tokimi stared, then snorted. "What good is a dead man to me, Clay? Your droid is no good. What kind of information am I supposed to glean from that?"

"Tokimi-sama, if I may be so bold, Zero witnessed the murder first-hand." Clay said softly. "She was in Tennan's house, trying to elicit information from him on Tsunami and the battle with Kagato when there was an altercation. Zero's optical memory has digitised the entire scene ready for playback. She has video in her data banks which would incriminate Tennan's family in his death."

"Which means what, exactly?" Impatience edged Tokimi's tones and Clay bit his lip, aware that she was on the verge of losing her temper.

"Tennan-san was a very high status Juraian noble, and his death will raise many questions." He murmured. "Status is all important to people of the ruling class on Jurai, and I should think a good deal would be given in return for silence about the Lord's untimely demise. Zero's video footage provides a lever - a chance to bring the Tennan family into our web and use them as you see fit to further extend your plan. Tokimi-sama, if I may be so bold, I spent the trip here researching Tennan-san's son Seiryo and his daughter, Suki. It seems that Seiryo Tennan is a very proud man - unlikely to let shame slur his family name if he can possibly prevent it. He also has a weakness - his sister - the perpetrator in this foul deed. And one other thing."

"Yes, Clay?" Tokimi was now so close he could almost touch her, and Clay swallowed hard.

"Seiryo Tennan is an Elite member of the Galaxy Police." He managed. "Decorated and hailed a hero in his division."

"The Galaxy Police?"

Tokimi's eyes widened at this, and a slow smile spread across her face. She turned to Zero, placing a hand gently on the droid's shoulder.

"Perhaps I underestimate you, Zero." She said quietly. "You have video footage of this crime taking place?"

"It is stored in my memory banks, Lady Tokimi." Zero agreed. Tokimi's smile widened.

"And this can be retrieved, Clay? Onto hard disk, where it can't be corrupted and destroyed should misfortune fall your invention?"

"I have already taken that precaution, Tokimi-sama." Clay held out another computer disk, and Tokimi laughed.

"Then I see very clearly the path which we must now follow." She said thoughtfully, taking the disk and holding it tightly in her hands. "Seiryo Tennan can be of great use to me, if all you say is correct. Arrange a meeting with him, Clay. Send your soulless one to Jurai to entice him and warn him - but don't make the noose too tight. I want him in good shape to do my bidding. So long as he is willing to help me, we will protect him and his murdering sister from shame and persecution."

"As you wish, Lady Tokimi - but how can a Galaxy Police officer help one as powerful as you are?" Clay frowned. "What can he do that you cannot?"

"I don't wish to alert the universe of my plans to destroy Tsunami until there is nothing they can do about it." Tokimi said simply. "And a Galaxy Police officer can go wherever he needs to go, to arrest anyone that has contravened space law."

"And you're going to send him to the planet Earth, my Lady?" Comprehension dawned in Clay's eyes, and Tokimi let out a low chuckle.

"Yes, perhaps." She acknowledged. "You understand what it is I ask you to do?"

"Yes, Tokimi-sama." Clay bowed his head again. "Zero and I will not fail you. Seiryo Tennan will be yours...I guarantee it."