Chapter Three: Aftermath
The reports and paperwork went by in a blur for Kiyone.
There was no time for goodbyes with Tenchi either. The men who had died were taken off for an autopsy at the GP headquarters. As they left the orbit of Mars, Kiyone got a look at the wreckage of the Earthling ships. They looked to be made of steel and wires and were of a spherical appearance.
But she didn't have time for that either.
Then an exhausted Kiyone wolfed down lunch with Mitsuki across from each other. It had been a while since they'd done this, back before Kiyone had passed her in grades. Back before, Kiyone got Mihoshi for a partner. Though the janitor was new, a tall, blonde-haired guy with glasses. Somewhat weak looking.
"So, this Tokimi dimension, did you ever find out what that was about?" asked Kiyone.
"Well, I would tell you, Kiyone, but you know how it is when you're higher on the chain of command and all," said Mitsuki. The redhead had been a bit weird since the incident on Mars. The memory of the Earthlings wasn't fading nearly as fast.
There had been no puppets. All of those people had killed themselves to avoid capture.
"Okay, so what can you tell me?" asked Kiyone, who was very curious about all this. "What does one of the Chousin Goddesses have to do with those experiments."
Mitsuki shrugged. "It's pretty hush hush.
"But um, long story short, we think the Earthlings were trying to access the power of Tokimi."
"You're not serious," said Kiyone. "Nobody in history has ever managed to do something like that. There was a Jurai Emperor who tried it by sheer willpower, and he was obliterated."
"It's got something to do with their machinery," said Mitsuki, leaning back in her seat. "It seems like it's designed to create an energy field. It taps into some sort of extraplanar dimension. Our Earth tech experts think they used it to create Ultra Energy Matter."
"Ordinarily, the Chousin Goddesses only hand power out in critical situations," said Kiyone. "Do you mean that the Earthlings were trying to harvest energy from the divine? Without the consent of the Goddesses?" The idea was... well, impossible, or so she'd thought. "Is that even possible?"
"Well, they seem to have powered their ships with the stuff. So they must have been doing something right," said Mitsuki. "Although it got them all killed. Several times." She drank down more of her beverage and sighed. Both of them remembered the mass deaths before. "In all fairness, we don't actually know if Tokimi is the one they were contacting.
"That's why I've contracted the Greatest Scientific Genius in the Universe to come to have a look. Washu should be arriving soon enough."
"You're calling in Washu?" asked Kiyone, surprised at that. "She's uh... got a reputation, doesn't she?"
"Yeah, but she is the best, so it's either her or Clay. And he's got a reputation too," said Mitsuki. Dr. Clay was well-documented for having some... disturbing tastes in experimentation.
"And what has Earth said about all this?" asked Kiyone.
"Well, the people responsible for what happened were a rogue group. They are called Black Ops," said Mitsuki with a shrug. "Some sort of pirate organization that has been doing espionage for centuries."
Kiyone blinked and thought about what she knew of Earth. "I don't buy it."
"What do you mean?" asked Mitsuki.
"Well... even if there was some rogue Earth Black Ops group that hijacked control of Mars base," said Kiyone. "Why was I shut down completely when I tried to evac?
"It's like something rigged it, so I'd have to find out."
"You think that's weird?" asked Mitsuki. "Why did this Black Ops Space Pirate Gang attack you at all? They could have done nothing and gotten away. Maybe even kept their facility intact.
"Instead, they pick a fight with you and Mihoshi."
"Who were they anyway?" asked Kiyone. "These Black Ops."
"Oh, they were all former members of Earth government special forces," said Mitsuki. "Absolute top in their classes, peak physical condition. And you managed to beat most of them before we showed up.
"I kind of wondered if Mark was bluffing when he gave his credentials, but apparently not."
"With that kind of power imbalance... I wonder why humans want to even the odds," said Kiyone, feeling depressed on their behalf. "Anyway, these Black Ops Pirates, what's their history?"
"Well, apparently they've been really big in Earth since what they call the Cold War," said Mitsuki. "They were actually infiltrating numerous different nations and targeted a lot of-"
"No, no, no!" said the janitor, coming forward. "Black Ops is not a pirate gang! It's a generic term for a covert military operation. It employs tactics which have not been approved!"
"Uh, what?" asked Mitsuki.
"Look, sometimes a government has certain obligations under the law. Like 'don't arrest people without trial.'" said the janitor. "Or 'don't assassinate the head of state of a developing nation.
"But they don't want to follow the law.
"So politicians authorize funding to a military organization—one with no accountability and who they don't hear anything from. As a result, the Black Ops group goes around and does a bunch of illegal stuff. And if anyone finds out about it, the politicians just say, 'we didn't order him to do it; he acted without our knowledge.'
"As a result, a government can ignore the laws it is supposed to uphold. And at the same time do so with a clear conscience because they didn't know."
"But they did know," said Kiyone, processing this.
"Wait, Mark," said Mitsuki. "So, you think your own government did this?"
"I don't know, I'm a janitor," said Mark. "But it's not a Space Pirate Gang. My guess is that a lot of Earth governments didn't like the idea of Jurai being able to wipe them off the map in an instant. So they agreed to fund a clandestine operation to even the gap.
"Mars Colony was already being used for research, so why not use it as cover?"
"Well then, why attack us?" asked Kiyone. "I mean, we actually tracked them to their base, and they blew themselves up."
"They probably didn't want to fall into your hands," said Mark. "If you captured some of them alive, you could learn about their operations. As for why they attacked you, they're making weapons for a reason.
"They probably wanted to see how their tech would stack up against yours.
"Whoever did the conspiracy took notes on your after-action reports. He is probably coming up with possible strategies. They probably mark this as a victory, to be honest."
"What do you mean?" asked Mitsuki. "Hundreds of them died; we exposed their operation. How is that a victory? For anyone."
"There are literally millions of soldiers who are out of work on Earth, Mitsuki," said Mark. "They've trained to fight, and they've been made to look like saps by the weakest Juraian.
"It's a buyers market on soldiers.
"As for the equipment, seeing it in action gives them a chance to figure out what they need to improve. The next batch of ships will be better once they iron out the kinks."
"Yeah, but their operation is dust," said Kiyone.
"They probably have other operations," said Mark. "If I were in charge of Earth, I'd want as many colonies on different worlds as possible. And I'd want them whether or not Jurai was cooperating.
"In fact, Jurai taking over the Mars Colony could be considered a political victory.
"Human supremacists could use the hijacking of the operation. They could argue Jurai is destroying Earth's culture."
"Human supremacists?" asked Mitsuki. "Is that really a thing? I mean, no offense, but humans are kind of... disadvantaged."
"We're very good at self-delusion," said Mark.
Silence.
"So... you don't think they even care that they've lost over a thousand people? A dozen ships and had their bases destroyed?" asked Kiyone.
"We're in a post-Jurai era," said Mark. "The entire human race has become background extras in our own story. Everyone is expendable. As for the bases and ships, rebuilding them will help keep our industrial base intact.
"And the whole thing could be considered a valuable learning experience.
"I mean, I'm sure some people are sad. But the people in charge have probably written them off as acceptable losses. I kind of feel guilty, honestly. I mean, I gave up a position on Mars Colony so a friend could go.
"Lucky for me, he was the sole survivor, I guess."
"You know Tenchi Masaki?" asked Kiyone, remembering Tenchi had mentioned him.
"Yes, what of it?" asked Mark.
"Nothing, I just..." Kiyone paused, remembering the reports she'd pulled up earlier. It had taken a lot of legwork, but she'd found the truth. Even so, it wasn't something she wanted to talk about. "I read his medical reports, and he is way stronger than most humans."
"Yeah, Tenchi usually trained in martial arts," said Mark, pausing. He seemed to be looking for an excuse to extend the conversation. "So, have you ever read the Illiad?"
"That ancient Earth epic?" asked Mitsuki. "The one with uh... I'll remember it."
"Achilles and Hector, Odysseus and Paris," said Mark, adjusting his glasses.
"Right, the Greeks marched to war with Troy over a woman," said Mitsuki. "What about it?"
"I was just thinking about the choice of Achilles," said Mark. "He had a choice between staying home and living a long, prosperous, and happy life. Or going to war and fighting a glorious war that would be remembered forever, only to die young."
"He chose to go to war, didn't he?" asked Kiyone, who'd read a bit on the subject.
"Yes," said Mark. "I always found him something of a scoundrel. I far preferred Odysseus or Hector. Choosing your own glory over the well-being of your fellows is a disgraceful legacy.
"Though I suppose he was preferable to Paris."
"Paris of Troy?" asked Mitsuki.
"Yes," said Mark. "He was given a choice between world domination in becoming the wisest ruler in history. And in getting beautiful women. He picked the last one and doomed his entire nation. His whole city paid the price for his selfishness."
"Which would you pick?" asked Mitsuki.
"Hmm?" asked Mark.
"Well, if you had the choice of Paris, which one would you pick?" asked Mitsuki.
"I'd pick world domination, kill Menelaus and take his wife," said Mark simply. "Once done, I'd educate myself to become wise. Beautiful women are easy to get when you're all-powerful.
"What about you?" He looked at her.
"Me?" asked Kiyone. "Um, well, wisdom, I guess. I don't really want to rule an Empire, and I'm not very interested in marriage."
"So what about the choice of Achilles?" asked Mark. "Which would you choose? Glory or happiness?"
"Glory, definitely," said Kiyone. "I want to be remembered as one of the greatest GP agents of all time.
"What about you?"
"At this point?" asked Mark. "I'd settle for either."
"So you don't have a preference?" asked Mitsuki.
"Well, I don't really have options either way," said Mark.
Ah, right, he was an Earthling. "...I don't believe we've met. You're uh..."
"William Mark and I guess that makes you Kiyone Makibi," said Mark.
"You've heard of me?" asked Kiyone.
"I sometimes organize files and such for Mitsuki," said Mark. "And other things. So I've seen your file once or twice in passing. Also, your name has been around a lot, so you're more or less the woman of the hour lately."
"Oh really?" asked Kiyone, hardly able to control her smile. "So, how does an Earthling end up working at the GP HQ as a janitor anyway?"
"Oh, I came here two years and couldn't make the cut to be a GP officer," said Mark. "After that, I got a job as the janitor. I should probably continue with that, actually." And he went back to mopping it up.
"He does a good job, actually," said Mitsuki ."Really puts everything he has into the job. The floors have never been cleaner. Sometimes he gets really down for some reason, though."
"Can't imagine why," said Kiyone.
"Hey, you think maybe Earthlings were created to be a servant race?" asked Mitsuki. "Sort of cleaning and cooking and stuff like that?"
"That seems a little insensitive," said Kiyone.
"I'm just making an observation. I mean, it makes sense," said Mitsuki. "It would explain the low lifespan. I mean, the Goddesses created each species for some purpose. There has to have been some reason they exist.
"Some of their food is actually really good, though. I hear that Earthlings are sort of in-demand as servants."
"Will detectives Kiyone and Mihoshi, please come see me," said a voice over the loudspeaker.
"Well, looks like someone is moving up in the world," said Mitsuki.
"Thanks, Mitsuki," said Kiyone.
Kiyone quickly headed through the halls.
As she did, she felt a real sense of enthusiasm. Kiyone was finally getting the recognition she deserved. Now she just had to keep this up, and things would finally get back on track. Coming to the office of the Detective Sergeant, Kiyone entered and sat down across from him. Mihoshi was already there.
"Detectives Kiyone and Mihoshi, I'm glad you could make it," said the officer.
"No problem, Detective Sergeant," said Mihoshi. "I'd only just finished my show anyway."
"Mihoshi!" said Kiyone.
"Oh, sorry, Kiyone. I forgot to record it for you-" began Mihoshi.
"No, no, don't..." Kiyone felt all the more mortified. "How may we be of service?"
"Well, you already have been," said the officer. "You are to be commended for your excellent work on the Mars case. In fact, some very important people have taken an interest in you?"
"Really?" asked Kiyone.
"Yes, Queen Funaho has requested you act as her escort on a journey to Earth," said the officer.
Kiyone stood up in shock. "Queen Funaho?! Really?"
"Yes, we were somewhat surprised as well," said the officer. "It turns out that your investigation actually solved another longrunning mystery. You remember the story of Legendary Prince Yosho?"
"Yes, he disappeared before his wedding with Princess Ayeka, his half-sister," said Kiyone. "It was uh... after the Space Pirate Ryoko attacked Jurai, wasn't it?"
"Yes," said the officer. "Well, the information you dug up revealed your suspicions correct.
"Tenchi Masaki is a Juraian. More specifically, a Crown Prince of Jurai."
