Chapter Three
"Is that really as much as you can tell me?"
Ayeka pursed her lips, annoyance flickering in the depths of her ruby eyes as she glared at the unfortunate man on the other end of the connection. "Commander, I realise that you were at something of a personnel disadvantage, but did it occur to you that Jurai might like to be informed about something of that nature?"
"Princess Ayeka, once again, you have my sincerest apologies." The Galaxy Police commander ran an agitated hand through his thick hair, eying her apprehensively as he did so. "I assure you that we saw no reason to suspect the Sumire was in any danger. In fact, quite the opposite. The envoy ship arrived and was checked and cleared by personnel including myself and two of my most trusted agents. Three more of them were aboard when the incident occured...we did everything that we could to ensure security aboard the ship."
"And yet you failed to notify either myself or my Lord Emperor that two of your own agents had died in suspicious circumstances mere days before the Sumire arrived at Headquarters?" Ayeka snapped. "Did you not think that that might prove irresponsible, Commander? If we had known that unforseen events had occured at Headquarters, we might have been able to make other arrangements. As it is, my Lord Uncle is engrossed in assuring Kanemitsu that this was not a politically motivated attack and that the Imperial Throne had nothing to do with the unfortunate deaths of their leading diplomat and his posse. As I'm sure you can understand, we're not at all happy."
"As I said, Hime-sama, there was no way for us to connect the deaths of Agents Tsunetomo and Hirayama to the departure of the Sumire at that time." The Commander sighed. "But I take your point that we should have notified Jurai as to our current situation. With the short staffing and the chaos that we experienced, it was overlooked."
"Tell me again how your agents died, Commander." Ayeka's tone was dangerously low, and the Commander bit his lip.
"They had slit throats." He admitted. Ayeka nodded curtly.
"Kumashiro-san and his aide also had slit throats. And the captain of the vessel, too." She said quietly. "Would you like to see that as a connection? I realise I'm not a trained agent of the Galaxy Police, but surely even a child could make a correlation between them!"
"Ayeka-sama, what would you have me do?" The Commander sounded tired, and despite herself, Ayeka felt a flash of sympathy for the man who had now lost five of his best agents within a short space of time. She sighed, resting her hands on the unit as she considered.
"Since this crime occured within Jurai's space, and considering the political delicacy of the situation, Jurai will investigate." She said softly. "Neither my Uncle nor I are satisfied that the Galaxy Police are capable of resolving this matter without our help, so we are taking control of the case and our people will deal with apprehending a culprit."
"Ayeka-sama..."
"In the light of this, I am asking you to forward all relevant data to Jurai." Ayeka cut across him, holding up her hand to warn him against further interruptions. "And by all, I include the suspicious deaths of Agents Tsunetomo and Hirayama and anything that might possibly connect to it. In order to carry out a full and comprehensive enquiry, we will need that information and as soon as possible. Our people will be examining the Sumire for clues later today. If you could transfer the data before then, I would be most obliged."
She paused, then,
"Am I understood?"
"Yes, Princess. I understand." The Commander let out a heavy sigh. "I'll see to it that the relevant files are sent directly to Jurai."
"Thank you." Ayeka nodded curtly. "Then that terminates this transmission. Do not let me down with this matter, Commander. Enough lives have already been lost. Jurai, over and out."
She flipped her hand across the switch, sinking back in her chair as the monitor flickered to black, whirring and folding up out of sight as it did so.
"Damn the arrogance of the Galaxy Police." She muttered, rubbing her temples as she did so. "It's all very well saying that I speak with hindsight, but even so, two brutal murders should not have been concealed when we had entrusted them with such an important mission. And damn it, with Kiyone here on Jurai I don't even have anyone on base there who can find out some relevant information for me. Mihoshi's a lost cause in that department, unfortunately. We'll just have to make do with whatever that Commander sends us."
"Are you all right, Ayeka?"
Tenchi's voice cut across her musings and she glanced up, sending him a rueful smile as he approached the dais.
"You look like someone's just piled a load of work on your shoulders." The Prince commented, and Ayeka grimaced, nodding her head.
"That would be an understatement." She acknowledged. "I'm glad of a friendly face, if you want the truth. You always did have the best timing, Tenchi."
"Glad to be of service." Tenchi laughed. "Although I was actually looking for your Uncle."
"Well, if you are planning on discussing your news with him, I would find a better time." Ayeka sighed. "Have you heard about the ship from Kanemitsu? You must have. Rumours of disaster have spread all over the court already, even though all the members of the Holy Council have been sworn to secrecy where the details are concerned."
"I understood a ship had met with some kind of catastrophe, but I don't know the details." Tenchi shook his head. "What about it?"
"What about it indeed." Ayeka groaned. "Four months ago, Tenchi, my Uncle began negotiations of a significant kind with one of our outpost planets - a planet called Kanemitsu. It lies towards the boundary of Jurai's territory, and there have always been disputes about their right to free trade and independant government. A settlement had been reached, and so Kanemitsu sent a party of diplomats to Jurai to finalise the agreement. That ship was due to dock here on Jurai two days ago. Unfortunately, the ship became delayed...and yesterday my Uncle received word that distress signals had been picked up by one of our military centres. Upon further investigation, the crew and passengers of the ship were discovered to be dead...all except one young girl, who seems to have hidden from the events as they unfolded."
"Oh my." Tenchi looked horrified. "They were murdered?"
"So it would seem, although we don't know who by or why." Ayeka buried her head in her hands. "Tenchi, the military did a cursitory search of the ship when they retrieved the young girl and brought her to Jurai. They didn't find anything that was strikingly unusual - or any way a killer might have entered or left the ship. Kanemitsu are furious - they suspect Juraian complicity - and I've just discovered that the Galaxy Police concealed some very important information from us. Information that might have helped prevent this, at the very least. On top of that, in less than a week is our quarterly council Gathering, where the Palace will play host to pretty much every noble family for an evening supposedly of celebration. While we're knee deep in murder."
"Ugh." Tenchi came to sit beside her, putting a sympathetic hand on her arm. "You really do have your hands full."
"Well, I know." Ayeka raised her gaze to his, comforted somewhat by what she saw there. "And I'm sorry to burden you with it too, Tenchi, but right now I think I need to."
"It's all right. That's what friends are for, after all." Tenchi said simply, and Ayeka nodded, a wistful look entering her red eyes.
"Yes. It is." She agreed absently. "Any road, it now lies with us to resolve this case and find out what happened to those people. It occured within Jurai space, so it is effectively our jurisdiction...and judging by the botch the Galaxy Police have made so far, we need to become involved. That being the case, I've strong-armed the Galaxy Police Commander into turning the matter over to us in its entirety, including any and all records and evidence they may have correlated there in the meantime. After all, Kanemitsu need to see that we're taking action. But so far the young girl that the military rescued is too shocked to really speak to anyone seriously about this. In any case, she claims not to remember what happened and frustrating as that is, it seems probable. After all, the mind does have ways of concealing horrific moments."
"Poor kid." Tenchi said pensively. "What was she doing aboard?"
"Her father was the head of the diplomatic party." Ayeka shrugged. "It seems he brought her along as an indication of Kanemitsu's peaceful intent."
"I see. That makes it doubly tricky, doesn't it?"
"You said it." Ayeka agreed.
"And the Galaxy Police? They're involved?"
"Well, I don't think they're complicit any more than I believe Uncle ordered those people to be killed, but they did have an incident there some days ago that they failed to notify us of." Ayeka sighed heavily. "Not that it's normal practice to tell Jurai their every problem, but considering the nature of the Kanemitsu ship's mission, I still see this as an oversight. Two of the Elite agents were murdered in cold blood and dumped in one of the detective's offices. The style of murder was very similar to that aboard the Sumire...it occurs to me that this might be a much bigger conspiracy than it first appears."
"You mean that Kanemitsu sent agents to do this and then blame it on Jurai, so they had a springboard for further political demands?"
"Or a civil coup...I did think of it." Ayeka grimaced. "It's so muddling, knowing who is on who's side and which people are telling you the truth. Either way, though, the matter must be settled and it must be done so before anyone else is hurt."
"Is there something I can do to help?" Tenchi offered. Ayeka gazed at him in surprise, and he smiled sheepishly, running his fingers through his thick hair.
"Well, you seem so wound up, and I'd like to." He replied. "Ryoko and I are freewheeling here, really - aside from conveying our news, we're rather spare parts. There must be something we can do?"
"I don't know, although I appreciate the gesture more than you know." Ayeka groaned. "Right at this moment we're waiting for the Galaxy Police to transmit their data about the deaths of their officers. And of course, I must organise people to investigate the Sumire itself. Uncle is so wrapped up in pandering to Kanemitsu's irate parliament that he's had to delegate that to me...and I'd like to not mess it up, if possible. It might be stupid, but I do feel I'm a little bit on trial...after all, one day, this will be my job and noone else's."
"Well, then let me go and look at the ship for you." Tenchi suggested.
"You?" Ayeka stared, and Tenchi nodded.
"Sure. Why not? In fact, Ryoko and I could both go - I'm sure she'd like an adventure out in space, and she's not easily scared." He replied. "And you know you can trust the both of us to tell you the truth, right?"
"Yes, that is true." Ayeka agreed. "But Tenchi, it might be horrible aboard that ship. The military coroner has already claimed those bodies found aboard, to carry out post-mortem investigations and to arrange for the lost souls to be returned to their home planet. But they haven't cleaned anything up...there might be blood and...well, it probably won't be too pretty."
"Possibly not." Tenchi acknowledged. "But I'd still like to do something to take the pressure off you. Both Ryoko and I are strong enough to be prepared in case of any danger, you know that. And you said you were worried about who was on who's side...this way you know that people who are on your side are looking into things."
"Yes, I suppose so." Ayeka smiled faintly. "Very well, Lord Tenchi. If Ryoko agrees, then I accept your offer. It would be nice not to have to read between the lines of a report in case there's any hidden agendas lurking in the shadows. It would be much appreciated if you would take this task on."
"Then it's settled. I'll speak to Ryoko right away." Tenchi promised. "And she's bored, so I know she'll play along. You just let us know what you want us to do and when, and we'll be ready."
---------------
"Washu?"
Kiyone pushed open the door of the chamber, stopping dead as she registered the room's sole occupant. Cold fingers seemed to clamp themselves around her heart, and she drew breath sharply, her grip on the door handle tightening as she fought to retain her composure. Of all people she had expected to find on her pilgrimage to Washu's temporary, makeshift lab-base, he had been the last one on her mind and despite herself, she found herself annoyed for not anticipating his presence sooner. After all, she acknowledged bitterly to herself, Washu had asked him to look at her file.
"Detective Makibi." Seiryo, it seemed, was equally as startled, and for a moment he just stared at her in ungarded dismay. Then he seemed to get a firm hold of his emotions, shaking his head as he got slowly to his feet.
"I'll come back." He said quietly. "Clearly you have business to discuss with Lady Washu when she returns and I wouldn't want to intrude."
"No...no, wait." Kiyone forced another breath into her lungs, trying to control her shaking body as she stepped into the room, pushing the door shut behind her with more than a few misgivings. "Did you...have you managed to look at...Did Washu ask you...?"
"About your file?" Seiryo asked softly. Kiyone nodded mutely, and Seiryo sighed, rubbing his temples.
"I've taken a quick look." He said gravely. "Since Lady Washu seemed to think it was of some importance, although I'm not sure that I want to take it much further. It's heavily encrypted, and really not the kind of file you - or any of the regular division - should ever be trying to break into. If nothing else you would be in breach of security, and for another, you'd be contravening several space laws by even trying."
"So you won't help us?" Kiyone murmured. Seiryo eyed her keenly, and at his scrutinous gaze, Kiyone blushed, dropping her eyes.
"I don't think you really want me involved." He said matter-of-factly. "I know how you feel about me and I understand why. Besides, I'm sure that there is plenty we both have to do. You are - if I understand Lady Washu correctly - on holiday. And I have responsibility to my Emperor - even more so since he appears to be struggling to keep the colonists at bay."
Kiyone stared at him, her fear forgotten for a moment as she struggled to absorb his words. Then her eyes narrowed, as a sudden surge of anger flooded through her senses. This was the man who had driven her from her work, and who had haunted her dreams and her thoughts on and off since the attack aboard Yagami six months before. This was the cause of her problems, the reason why she had not felt the same about anything since that day - and suddenly rage replaced fear in her mind. She stalked forward, grabbing up the black box off Washu's desk and thrusting it out towards him, eyes glinting with indignation.
"No. That's not going to do." She said in low tones, her voice trembling slightly as her pent up emotions finally found an outlet. "You listen to me, Seiryo Tennan. You don't get out of this that easily. You're the main reason I'm stuck here, away from Headquarters, do you realise that? I'm not on 'holiday'. Because of you I can't carry out my job and I've been discharged of my duties under the suspicion of mental instability. I'm sick and tired of you dominating and dictating everything I think or feel and I'm not going to stand for it any more. And if you really are sorry for what you did to me aboard Yagami six months ago, you can damn well start by unencrypting these files!"
Seiryo gaped at her for a moment, but she gave him no chance to respond, banging the recorder down on the desk and advancing on him.
"I have spent far too long being afraid of you." She spat out, pushing him roughly across the chest and he stumbled backwards into his chair. "You took away from me my self control, my pride, and my ability to handle situations coolly and calmly. Because of you, I might never be all right again. They might never let me back into the force. Because of what you did to me, the chief now thinks I'm unstable enough to vandalise my own spaceship and this damn file is the only thing that might be able to clear my name! Nobody will listen to me, because you turned me into some kind of freak show and I hate it. I hate it! I'm fed up with it and it's going to stop right here and right now. Do you understand me? Right now!"
She drew a deep breath into her lungs, realising that she was physically shaking with anger and her companion eyed her in stricken silence, digesting her words. Then he sighed heavily, turning his attention towards the computer screen.
"I think you've been waiting to say that to me for quite some time, haven't you, Detective?" He asked softly.
Somehow the calm, almost penitent manner of his response broke through Kiyone's rush of emotion and as the anger and hatred seeped out of her she felt suddenly weary, sinking down into a vacant chair and burying her head in her hands.
"I'm fed up." She repeated. "Just that. Fed up."
"You're not the only one." Seiryo said simply. "Detective Makibi, I can't answer any of the charges you just levelled at me. Like as not they're all true, and I know that apologising to you would do nothing to change the things you're experiencing. Still, I am sorry. Even if you don't believe me, or if it isn't enough just to hear me say that. I was...not myself that night. However, that is no excuse. I compromised your safety and your position as well as my own and it was wrong. You're not the only one who remembers. It bothers me too."
"I..." Kiyone faltered, thrown off guard as she gazed at him uncertainly. Seiryo spread his hands.
"I'm deeply ashamed of what happened aboard Yagami." He said quietly. "You were burned by Tokimi's magic. I was scarred by it. We're not so different, really. We're both trying to forget."
Kiyone bit her lip, running her gaze over her companion as she did so. For the first time she saw the mixture of emotions in his sharp teal eyes, and the tired lines that ran across his brow. His complexion was paler than she remembered, and the realisation surprised her. Her eyes narrowed as she digested this new information, processing it as if she was eying up a suspect in a case. Then, at length, she let out a heavy sigh.
"Maybe Washu is right." She said softly. "That it has damaged you, too. I didn't think it was possible...for so long I've pictured you as a monster in my dreams. Someone who came to finish me...I've never been so afraid as I was that night, because I knew you came for me and I really thought...I thought...I thought that was it. But...but Washu said that you had suffered a lot since the magic was ripped out of you. I didn't really believe that you could have had it as bad as me. But maybe you have...haven't you?"
Seiryo smiled drolly.
"I did say you were a fine detective, Miss Makibi." He said ruefully. "I'm all right. I lived to tell the tale, and I kept my wits. I've been forced to swallow my pride and face my own weaknesses head on for the first time in my life. It has not been pleasant, no. But I've survived it. And so have you...since here you are, determined to crack a difficult case despite the attitude of your superior officer. I seem to remember that you're something of a rule breaker when it suits you, Detective. I'm going to assume that this is one of those times."
"Maybe it is." Kiyone admitted. "But I'm not crazy. Maybe I am stressed. Perhaps I have had post-traumatic incidents and maybe I do need to face up to that and deal with it head on. But I'm doing so, right now. I'm sitting in the same room as someone I've spent six months being terrified of. And I'm damn well going to make him help me, regardless of how freaked out it makes me to do so. Because I need this - I need closure on all of this stuff. Not just this case, but everything. I'm fed up of being a coward and a chicken and I'm not going to let this beat me any more. You're going to help us crack this file, Agent Tennan. And I'm not going to run screaming for cover this time. It's too important."
"I'm not Agent anything any more, you know."
"I know." Kiyone admitted. "But..."
She faltered, blushing.
"I don't want to call you Lord." She confessed. "You tried to kill me. I'm not sure I can give you that respect just yet."
"Then don't." Seiryo dismissed her discomfort with a flick of his fingers. "You know my name, and I have no objection to you using it."
He smiled ruefully.
"After all, as you say, Lord is a bit optimistic, considering our history. And I think I would feel all the worse for hearing it from you, in light of that."
Kiyone was silent for a moment, her gaze flitting to the small black box that sat on the unit.
"Do you think...is it something you can decode?" She asked quietly. "The file, I mean. Is it possible...do you know how?"
"I was trained in high level encryption and code breaking, yes." Seiryo agreed. "I was quite good at it, once upon a time. I'm fairly sure that I can break into the file - but you have to realise that you're taking a big risk by doing this. We both are, when it comes down to it. I'm no more authorised than you are to implement the skills I learnt in the Elite Forces and handle what is obviously top secret information."
"I know. But I want to know, anyway." Kiyone said frankly. "It's about more than top secret Elite protocol. It's about the safety of people's lives...and honestly, my sanity, too. Those things matters more to me right now. As it stands, I might never get back to HQ anyway. I've thought and thought and Washu and I have discussed it, too. The only thing that I took from that Seniwan ship were the files Washu recovered on my data recorder, so that must be what this killer was looking for, when they raided my ship. And that being so, it has to be important."
Seiryo shrugged, eying her thoughtfully for a moment. Then
"Honestly, I'm also of the opinion that it might be important." He agreed. "Though in what sense I think we've yet to find out."
He turned, keying in a combination on Washu's computer and sitting back as data digits filled the screen. Hesitantly, and not without misgivings, Kiyone came to stand behind him, staring at the mixture of letters and numbers with growing frustration.
"How can any of that make sense?" She demanded. "It's random and haphazard...it doesn't follow any pattern at all!"
"On the contrary, it does." Seiryo's eyes narrowed as he ran his finger thoughtfully across the screen. "A very clear, concise pattern, if a slightly unusual one."
"I don't see it." Kiyone objected. "I might not have had the Elite training, Tennan-san, but I know that to crack an encryption you look for most used letters and work it out from there. But there's no kind of logic like that in this. It just doesn't make any sense."
"That's because it probably isn't encoded from Common Galactic Tongue." Seiryo said quietly. "Most agents don't use that for coding, because it's so widely spoken and therefore so easy to crack."
He shrugged.
"This might be just a wild hunch, but there's only one language I know of that uses a vowel structure quite like this, and which could be logically substituted into this kind of a coding system."
"And I suppose it's a language you can read?" Kiyone demanded. Seiryo nodded.
"Every child from every noble family of this planet can read it." He said simply. "At first glance I'd say its basis is Old Era Juraian."
"Then can you read what it says?"
"No...not yet." Seiryo shook his head. "Even if I am right and that is the foundation, it's been encrypted and I still have to decode it. I told you, it's just my hunch. It looks vaguely like a couple of styles I once saw when I was still at the Academy - there's a similar design to the way it's been laid out. That's all...we're still a long way from knowing what it says."
"I see." Kiyone bit her lip, then, "Old Era Juraian? How sure are you of that?"
"I can't be one hundred percent, but it seems likely to me."
"But..." Kiyone frowned, shaking her head. "Wait a minute. This ship was Seniwan. Not Juraian. I know they are allies now, but that doesn't make any sense. Why would a top secret Juraian file be encrypted onto a Seniwan ship...and why would that Seniwan ship then claim to be from Shitori? Are you really that sure? Because I'm not seeing a connection here."
"That's your connection." Seiryo tapped a series of digits that made up the bottom row of the screen. "Agent Kuramitsu. Mihoshi-san's father, yes?"
"Yes, but I..."
"I knew Agent Kuramitsu once, when I was in my final year at the Academy." Seiryo mused. "He was brilliant - very successful and a role model that many Elite trainees aspired to. His record within the division was second to none. These characters here are his own particular logo - which also makes me even more confident I'm right about the language.He was the expert I mentioned - the one who trained me. Encryption was his speciality - he was the source of the other ciphers I studied that look rather similar to this one. It is unusual enough that a coincidence seems unlikely. Kuramitsu-san didn't train many Elite hopefuls - I was one of the lucky ones. There are very few people who would even begin to be able to decode his scripts, if he chose not to let them."
"Poor Mihoshi...she really didn't take after her Dad." Kiyone sighed. "Okay, so? What has that to do with a Juraian file and a Seniwan ship?"
"The Kuramitsu family are Seniwan. Presumably you know that, since you're closely aligned with Mihoshi-san." Seiryo said thoughtfully. "But Agent Kuramitsu did most of his specialist work in this sector - around and encompassing Jurai. He had the ear of the royal family, from time to time - that's why he trained only those of us who he felt had the highest potential for the discipline. He was very busy and didn't have time to spend flitting idly around the Academy. That being so, it seems perfectly logical to me that something which bears his stamp should be written in Old Era Juraian. There aren't many outside the noble class of Jurai who would be able to read it in its original format, so encrypted it makes it even more difficult to crack. He was fluent in it, of course, but then top level agents often do speak and read more than one language, for encryption purposes."
"And the Seniwans onboard the ship? What of them?"
"If it was something that the Kuramitsu family were involved in, no doubt there was some long term agreement that Seniwan representatives would remain involved so long as the case needed investigation or monitoring." Seiryo said with a shrug. "It's a fairly normal procedure when dealing with the messy machinations of high society, and Seniwa and Jurai have been diplomatic friends for quite some generations now. But whatever this file is, it's a big deal case. Something which Agent Kuramitsu went to a lot of trouble to keep a secret."
"Something involving Jurai?" Kiyone asked. Seiryo nodded.
"Seems that way." He agreed. "But the main page only says his name and the details of the case in terms of numbers and computer files and other documents it relates to. I'd need more time to get into the main body of the file because I suspect I'd need an Elite pass key and my own is no longer valid...providing it would even work on this kind of file. Kuramitsu-san would not have wanted just anyone to get into it. He would have made sure only the ones who needed to know could know."
"Wait a minute." Kiyone slid her hand into her pocket, pulling out the pass key she had taken from the woman aboard the ship. "Is this any use? I found it on the ship too, when I took that information. It belonged to one of the dead crew. I know there's no slot to put it in, but could you work with it?"
"If Washu-sama could pull a code from it, then yes." Seiryo took the small, flat device, glancing at it, then handing it back. "You really were bad on board that ship, weren't you?"
"I wanted to help those people." Kiyone said flatly. "They were murdered and I wanted them to get justice."
"You really should be an Elite, you know. You'd make a fine one." Seiryo observed absently.
Kiyone flushed red at the compliment, and her companion smiled.
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to make you more uncomfortable than you already are." He added. "But I do tend to speak as I find."
He sat back in the chair, folding his arms across his chest.
"I've almost missed this." He added ruefully, a sheepish expression flickering into his teal eyes. "Stupid as it seems, I've resented being so tied to Jurai since I resigned my commission and accepted that my future was here. The Galaxy Police has been a big part of my life and everything I achieved there, I did under my own steam. It seems a shame that it had to end the way it did."
"That's why I'm so determined to clear my name and overturn my Commander's opinion of my sanity." Kiyone said grimly. "Because the Galaxy Police is my world and I don't want to quit. It's where I belong and I won't let them take that away from me."
"Even if it means working with a monster like me?" Seiryo raised quizzical teal eyes to hers and she flushed again, nodding her head.
"Even so." She agreed quietly. "Just don't touch me, and we'll be fine."
"Contrary to your belief, Kiyone-san, I don't go around touching women without their permission." Seiryo said drolly. "I told you - aboard Yagami, I was not myself."
"Perhaps. But still, keep it in mind." Kiyone said stiffly. "Just because you're helping doesn't mean I entirely trust you yet."
"That's fair enough." Seiryo acknowledged. He frowned, rubbing his temples.
"I wish I had access to the Unko." He admitted. "This process would be a lot easier if I could get hold of my decoder keys and run this through the ship's own program. As it is..."
"As it is?"
"It may take me a couple of days to get through all of the diversions." Seiryo frowned. "I do have other duties too, and I can't just sit down here and stare at the screen for hours."
He rubbed his temples again.
"If nothing else, staring at it for too long is giving me a headache." He admitted.
Kiyone frowned.
"I guess the Unko is still in Imperial custody?" She asked softly. Seiryo nodded, turning away from the computer screen.
"Yes." He agreed, and Kiyone noticed a slightly bitter edge to his tone. "Indefinitely, until Azusa-heika decides I'm allowed to have it back again. It's in Takeru's custody, to be exact...and I have to pay for it's docking and upkeep although I have no right to set foot aboard it."
"Don't you mean Lord Takeru?" Kiyone asked, a little cattily. Seiryo grimaced.
"As you say." He acknowledged. "Lord or not, he has custody of my ship and therefore my decoder keys."
"And Headquarters didn't confiscate those when you quit?"
"Not theirs to confiscate." Seiryo shook his head. "Unko is a top of the line ship, Detective Makibi. It was made to fit my specifications and as I advanced in the Force, so I added bits and pieces as I needed them. It's probably the most powerful and the most versatile craft it could be, now. Its software is cutting edge - including the very latest in encryption and decoding programs."
"But there's no way you can get to it?"
"Not unless I want to be arrested and thrown into a cell." Seiryo said blackly. "I'm sorry, but that's not an experience I'm ready to repeat."
Kiyone frowned.
"I suppose not."
"I can work on them manually, but it will take longer." Seiryo sighed. "That's the best I can offer you. If you want me involved, then that's going to have to be it."
"I suppose that will have to do." Kiyone said heavily. "At least you can crack it, and that's more than I can do on my own. Washu said she would probably be able to get her way into it but it might take her even longer to discover the exact nature of the encryption and to get through each of the security codes. You've got through one or two of them just by opening it up, so I guess your way probably is quicker. I just..."
She hesitated, then,
"Well, this is important. So that's what we'll have to do." She added at length. "If...if you will."
"I will." Seiryo nodded solemnly. "If for no other reason than to see if my brain is still functioning on all cylinders. And besides, if you're willing to put your neck on the line to resolve this, well, it's probably worth resolving. I'm familiar with your case history and your own legendary hunches. I'm willing to go with this one, since you seem to be so keen on digging around."
"What do you mean, my legendary hunches?" Kiyone blushed, looking wary as he offered her a slight smile.
"Cracking a serial looter out of prison to help bring to heel one of the most notorious pirates ever known?" He said softly. "Following the Lady Ayeka and her sister even when her own planet had cast them out? I'm sure there are many more times when you've let your instinct override your orders, and that's a quality that the force needs to utilise more. That's why you need to undertake the Elite training, Detective Makibi. You'll find you can work far more off your own impulses, and far less to the orders of a superior officer. They trust you to undertake your duties without needing a chaperone. It's quite liberating."
"And it gives you the opportunity to attempt murder on your fellow officers." Kiyone said coolly, watching as her companion flinched at her words. He sent her a dark look, getting to his feet.
"Listen." He said quietly, distress flickering in his eyes as despite herself she took a step away from him. "I know you hate me and I understand why you do. But if you want me to work with you, you have to give a little ground here as well. You can think what you like of me. I don't care. But I can't focus on anything if you're going to constantly bring that up and throw it in my face."
"I'll remember that the next time I wake up in a cold sweat after having another nightmare." Kiyone shot back, and Seiryo's brows drew together in irritation.
"And if I sleep at all tonight, it will be little short of a miracle." He snapped. "I've already brought on one of my headaches to help you in your cause. I'm trying to assist you and I'm doing it because if I do, maybe I'll stop waking up in the morning with a bad taste in my mouth and evil pictures flitting through my mind. You're not the only one looking for closure, Detective Makibi. I think it's time you realised that, victim you may have been, but you weren't the only one who paid a high price for the events aboard Yagami."
Kiyone stared at him, speechless, and he shrugged his shoulders.
"I'll take the disk." He added. "I'll look at it and see what I can discover - it strikes me there's something more to this and I need to find out what it is. If you want to find me, speak to Lady Washu. She seems to be remarkably adept at tracking my movements, and it might be better for both of us if we don't spend too much time face to face. The last thing I want to do is cause you further distress, and for the sake of my own sanity, I think I'd rather deal with as few of your guilt trips as possible."
"Seiryo-san..."
"Good afternoon, Detective Makibi." Seiryo cut across her mildly, hitting a button on the computer and scooping up the disk in his hands. "I'll be in touch."
With that he was gone, and, as the door of the laboratory swung shut behind him, Kiyone found she was alone in the compact, dimly lit room. She frowned, chewing on her lip as she reflected on the conversation. To her dismay, she found that she felt somewhat guilty.
"But what have I got to be guilty about?" She wondered. "I was the one who almost died. Sure, he got burned by the magic and it's probably not been nice. But noone tried to kill him. I don't get it. Why should I feel guilty about speaking my mind? He's just another spoiled nobleman of Jurai and if he can't handle someone talking to him straight..."
She faltered, sinking down into the empty seat and pushing the disk drive shut with a half-hearted flick of her fingers.
"But he is helping me, and he doesn't have to. He could report me, and he's putting his own status even more at risk by doing this." She acknowledged. "Perhaps that's it. I don't know what to think of him any more. Whether to hate him as a monster, or pity him as a fellow victim or...or what. It's confusing. But at least I didn't lose control of my wits this time. I might have got a little mad and lost my temper with him, but at least that's better than crying like a little girl and running for cover. So I guess I've moved on. That's a good sign, anyway."
"Talking to yourself is probably less so, however."
Washu's voice made her jump and she swung around sheepishly, casting her friend a rueful smile as she nodded her head.
"True." She agreed. "But sometimes it's just not possible to reason everything out inside your head."
"No." Washu looked thoughtful. "Did I see Seiryo Tennan coming from this chamber? Or did I imagine that?"
"No..he was here." Kiyone acknowledged, and Washu raised an eyebrow.
"With you?"
"Yes. With me."
"And you were all right with that?"
"Not sure." Kiyone admitted. "I yelled at him rather. But he has looked at the file and he will help. You were right to ask him about it, Washu. He looked at the cover page and told me right away that it was encrypted from Old Era Juraian. More, that it was something to do with Mihoshi's father and therefore it probably is tied up with Jurai and not Seniwa at all. He's taken the disk copy with him, to try and work on it in his own time. He did say it might take a day or two - but that's better than nothing, right?"
"Yes." Washu looked pensive. "Well. And I thought keeping the two of you apart would be better, but obviously there's something to be said for facing your demons head on. You seem more yourself, my friend. Less on edge...less afraid. I'm glad to see it."
"I'm not sure what I am right now." Kiyone groaned. "I feel bad, Washu...like I said something to hurt his feelings. Which is mental, because I really don't care about his feelings. He tried to kill me and I can't forgive that. It's just...things he said..."
"You need to stop fixating on Seiryo-sama as a monster who only means people harm." Washu said gravely. "Listen, Kiyone. I wasn't kidding you when I said he was rehabilitating as much as you are. He's very good at concealing his emotions - from what his sister's said, he's always been good at that - so it's not always clear what he's thinking or feeling. But this business with you has him badly upset. When I saw him during Sasami's Seijin No Hi celebration, he was relaxed and in good humour. But the other night, after his encounter with you, he was on edge and agitated. He even snapped at me."
"That's the thing. I guess I am realising that, in some weird way." Kiyone admitted reluctantly. "It's been easier to hate him as the villain of the piece. But he's helping me, now. And I feel like I said something really wrong...even though I was the one who almost ended up dying."
"True. But in a sense, that's all you have to deal with." Washu said wisely.
"Meaning what, exactly?" Kiyone bristled at this, indignation flickering in her blue eyes.
"Meaning that whilst it was a horrible experience for you, you have nothing else to contend with." Washu spoke carefully. "You've been through a lot and I'm not undermining that. But in one way, you only have to recover from being assaulted. Seiryo has to recover from more than just a random, if violent attack on his life. He has to deal with the fact that he committed such a crime and he's a proud man - that doesn't sit well with him or his conscience at all. He's had to deal with the censure and ridicule of his fellow peers, some of whom still believe - erroneously - that he murdered his late father in his pursuit of Juraian influence. He's had to see his family tainted by his actions - when he only became involved with Tokimi with the intention of protecting that family from harm. And most of all, he's had to recover from what Tokimi's magic did to him. You were burnt by it once. He was infested by it continuously for days together - even weeks."
"And Kii magic can truly have that deep an impact on someone?"
"Kiyone, if Seiryo wasn't as strong a person as he is, I doubt he would have come through it at all." Washu said gravely. "And if you doubt me, you only have to see the childlike way my sister now views the world around her. Nothing but Kii magic did that to her. Besides, you know from your own experience that the emotional side effects are intense. He hasn't said as much to me, but I imagine that at times he walked a fine line between sanity and mental breakdown - even between living and losing the will to do so. It's a terrible thing, Kii magic, in the hands of those who cannot handle it."
Kiyone bit her lip, a stricken look touching her blue eyes as she considered this.
"He said I had brought on his headaches, and that it would be better for his sanity if he didn't spend too much time with me." She remembered softly. "Do you really think that what he went through was bad enough for him to want to, well, kill himself over?"
"No...not Lord Tennan." Washu said with certainty. "But a lesser man? Maybe."
Kiyone sighed.
"Now I'm even more confused." She admitted.
Washu frowned, a troubled look entering her green eyes.
"Me, too." She agreed absently. "Kiyone, if only Lord Tennan was the biggest problem we had to worry about right now. Tell me, do you know anything about a diplomatic ship called the Sumire?"
"No." Kiyone frowned, shaking her head. "Why? Should I?"
"No, probably not." Washu bit her lip. "It was sent from Kanemitsu on a diplomatic mission, with a Galaxy Police escort, but something happened to the people on board. Apparently some of the victims had slit throats...and the killer left no sign of entrance or exit."
"Slit..." Kiyone paled, putting a hand to her neck, and Washu nodded her head.
"Yes. I made the connection, too." She agreed. "Azusa and his Council have been in something of a flap about it, from all accounts."
"The Council?" Kiyone looked surprised. "But then...why didn't Ag...Lo...Tennan-san mention it? I mean, he must have seen the connection as soon as I mentioned the Seniwan ship!"
"Likely he did, and I suspect it probably explains his sudden attentiveness to your request." Washu said astutely. Kiyone frowned, clenching her fists.
"Then why didn't he tell me? He said he was helping me - why didn't he give me the whole truth?"
"I imagine the Council has been sworn to secrecy. It's a matter of some political delicacy."
"Then how do you know about it?"
"I was with Azusa when the news came in." Washu shrugged carelessly. "That's how."
"I see." Kiyone bit her lip. "So you think that there is a correlation?"
"Well, logic tells me there has to be." Washu agreed sadly. "Although I don't know what a Seniwan spy ship and a diplomatic ship from Kanemitsu would have in common."
"The Galaxy Police." Kiyone murmured. "You just said the Kanemitsu ship had a Police escort, didn't you? And Mihoshi and I boarded the Seniwan ship in the original instance, which must have sparked off what happened to my poor ship."
"But why? What possible purpose could that have?" Washu looked frustrated. "It doesn't make sense."
"Did you tell the Emperor about the Tsubasa?"
"No, not in so many words, although I'm wondering if I - or rather you - should." Washu admitted. "Since more people have died than just the three Seniwan officers aboard that ship. But it's up to you."
"I'll get into trouble, if people know I'm hacking files." Kiyone bit her lip. "I say we wait and see what...what he turns up, with his decoding. Hopefully then he'll bother to tell us the whole truth, instead of just bits and pieces. When we know what kind of file we're dealing with, then we'll think about Lord Azusa. After all, I really don't know anything about the Sumire...and I don't really know much else, either. Just that those people died, that's all."
"Yes, I know." Washu looked troubled. "All right, we'll play it that way. But let's hope Seiryo-sama picks something up quickly. Whatever this thing is, it's drawing closer and closer to Jurai, and it strikes me that that file of yours is the only thing it could possibly be looking for."
"I agree." Kiyone swallowed hard. "Nevertheless, we have to see this through, Washu."
"And we will." Washu eyed her keenly. "Let's just hope we can crack it before it - whatever it is - manages to reach Jurai!"