We had a fun time in Japan but it is time to get back to business.
As always, I do not own GATE or any other recognizable properties.
Please Read, Review, and Hopefully Enjoy!
The Janus Campaign
Chapter 34: Point of No Return
Fort Defiance, Alnus Hill
With a much relaxed Yeoman Locke at the wheel after her extended leave, Taylor's party returned to Alnus. While for the most part, they had enjoyed the visit, Aenaire, Nayu, Indras, and especially Aurelia had heard more than a number of 'guarded' comments thrown their way. Most of them were in Japanese and their exact meaning harder to parse but the inflections of loathing were hard to mistake. And there were a few spoken in English that were quite clear. Still, there had been some genuine curiosity as well and one waiter at the restaurant had been quietly reprimanded by his manager for refusing to serve the party. Another waiter had been brought over. His service had been impeccable, to the point that an extra round of dessert was ordered So in the end, the good outweighed the bad.
But it was time to return to their duties. Before heading back to Italica, they would meet up with a platoon of Marines from Fox Company. Also, Elder Bram would be joining them. He and Kyas, acting in her role as Matriarch of the Dushi Tribe intended to seek an audience with Countess Myui to request permission to settle the wooded mesa that comprised the north wall of Italica's current defenses, offering their warriors and craftsmen to the defense and expansion of Italica in exchange. For this reason, travel would be conducted using CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters in the interest of time. Fortunately, Merisa had taken both Imperator and Lexington back to Italica days ago.
Of course, there was still a little time for just a little bit of teasing. "I'm glad you were able to help Officer Nikaidou, mother," Nayu told Indras as her mother looked at her smugly. "But did you have to get her wanting to chase our fiance?" She asked looking over at Aenaire.
"I did no such thing and you know it," Indras smirked.
"You helped drive a Pouncer Cat into hunting mode when there were only three Wood Fawns in sight and she wasn't fixating on the other two."
I'm not hearing this, Taylor told himself. I'm not hearing this…
"Can I help it if she has similar taste to the rest of you?"
"Picked up another one, skipper?" Locke asked.
"I did not 'pick up another one'."
"You would break that precious girl's heart, my lord?" Aurelia teased as Panache grinned.
"I'm not going to win, am I?"
"No, my lord. But at least you are wise enough to realize it."
"She might be an interesting addition to the family," Panache mused. "We'll have to see if she follows through. That sort of determination would be quite useful."
"There are limits to this sort of thing, you know."
"Certainly, my lord," Aurelia agreed. "But if we were to entertain allowing another to join us, they would have to be motivated at least."
"Motivated...Hoo boy…" Taylor sighed. The flight back to Italica was uneventful, although poor Aurelia spent the flight folding and covering her ears. Taylor made a note to see if somebody could fabricate earplugs for bunny ears. At least Elves could use earplugs meant for human ears. Glancing over at the Marines, Taylor noticed three faeries huddled together in the lap of a Corporal named Pataki. The corporal grabbed a spare helmet to put over their heads while they huddled. Chief Richardson and Panache's deputy, Millet were waiting when they landed, as was Suissesse Co Mein.
"Enjoy your vacation, sir?"
"As a matter of fact, yes," Taylor replied.
"By the way, congratulations on killing Smaug. I hear the geniuses are swarming all over the carcass. The choppers were doing runs to dump snow on the thing just to keep it cold long enough to preserve the organs. They've got crews with chainsaws trying to cut it up into manageable sections and they're trying to figure out how to move the head once they get it severed."
"Good luck! What about the little ones?"
"The Blue One is actually on ice right now. I told the lab jockeys they could play with everything except the scales if they arranged to keep it cold."
"Nice work! Any luck finding that craftsman I asked about?"
"Lyudo has a man for you. The guy says if the scales and the gold are both real, then he can do it."
"Good. I want to see him in my office tomorrow."
"Do what?" Panache asked.
"Oh, just a little experiment." Taylor lied. He wasn't a natural liar but he didn't want to ruin the surprise. Of course, Aurelia probably knew but what she didn't know was that Taylor had slipped the chief a note to inquire about Warrior Bunny patterns as well.
Panache decided to humor him. She was certain that she would find out soon enough.
In the meantime, Taylor turned to Suissesse and Millet. "Ladies, please allow me to introduce Lieutenant Barnes. His platoon will be joining Lieutenant Meyer's people in assisting your patrols." He turned to the young Marine officer. "Lieutenant Barnes, these Ladies, Capital 'L', by the way, are Suissesse Co Mein and Millet Co Maltus. Lady Suissesse is Deputy Commander of the Company of the Red Rose and Lady Millet is Deputy Commander of the Company of the White Rose."
Barnes saluted them with the sort of crisp, precise salute one might expect of a young Annapolis graduate on the fast track. Promoted to First Lieutenant after only eighteen months, Barnes was already being earmarked as an officer with potential. His mastery of languages was only one of a number of reasons he had been assigned a platoon in Janus Theater of Operations.
"Lady Suissesse, Lady Millet," He greeted them with precise dignity.
Taylor then turned to Nayu with a smile and presented her to Suissesse and Millet. "My Ladies, also allow me to introduce Nayu Ro Nin, a warrior of the Uial tribe of the Burning Heart clan, her mother, Indras Ro Nin, her mother, Matriarch Kyas Ro Nin, Elder Bram Ro Drath, and warriors Yan Ro Dushi, Seymy Ro Kuth, and Met Ro Vel. Elder Bram and Matriarch Kyas are here to petition Countess Myui for the right to settle the forest on the north line. If approved, the Dushi Tribe has promised to add their warriors to the defenses of Italica."
Suissesse looked at the Uial consideringly. The prospect of having trained Uial archers at hand was certainly enticing. She hoped discussions would go well. The addition of another platoon of Marines was certainly welcome news for both Suissesse and Millet, although they both suspected a further increase in tension with the troopers of the Seventh Cohort. The Imperial regulars assigned to the 7th Cohort had already garnered a reputation for minor disciplinary problems and its officers only grudgingly accepted the orders of Panache and her deputies, even with the written commands of the Imperial Princess. The need to keep the Seventh on a short leash had garnered a fair degree of resentment in its ranks.
Of course, the fact that the Marines already in Italica had given the men of the Seventh Cohort the perplexing designation of 'F-Troop' had not helped matters. Millet expected the term was not meant favorably since the Marines always addressed the members of the Order with full courtesy, both singularly and as a whole. The Seventh Cohort might not get the joke but they knew they were the butt of one.
Still, the men of the Seventh performed useful services. Guarding the criminal population laboring in Italica was one of their roles even if they did not like or understand the policy of 'humane' treatment, they learned to live with it, especially once a couple of guards found abusing prisoners were threatened with joining their ranks. They also took sentry duty. This in itself was more for show as Panache and her knights soon came to understand that the tools of the offworlders were far more vigilant and perceptive eyes than normal human ones but it was for the morale of the city that a visible watch be kept. Also, Suissesse, Millet and Decimus, commander of the Black Rose, were becoming familiar enough with the officers and men of the Seventh to start sending some of them out on patrols again. While some men in the unit were disciplinary problems, there were others who had simply allowed a negative inertia to take hold. These men could and would be gradually sorted from the true shirkers and malcontents and retrained. Even a few of the junior officers were starting to come around and take a more proactive attitude, enough that Panache and her deputies had been able to completely reorganize one full centuria to their satisfaction. Although unofficial, since only the Senate or the Emperor could formally establish new units in the Imperial Army, these men were designated as First Century, First Cohort, 101st Legion at Lieutenant Taylor's suggestion. Since the Imperial Eagle had never fallen from use, these men did not object to being issued a new standard, featuring a golden eagle landing, and the Marines did not extend their disdain for 'F-Troop' to these new 'Screaming Eagles'. It was hoped that more soldiers of the Seventh would follow but for now, Panache only counted little over one-quarter of the Seventh Cohort to be reliable enough to use outside of Italica. Overall, the situation in Italica seemed to be shaping up nicely.
Of course, it was a common saying in the Empire that man can prepare for everything but the gods. The afternoon talks between Countess Myui and the Uial representatives had proceeded well since it was clear that the Uial had no aspirations to power in Countess Formar's lands, merely a productive co-existence and symbiotic autonomy. Myui greatly benefitted from her father's policies of racial tolerance that made Italica better suited to such an arrangement than any other indigenous community in Falmart, possibly any community, period. In the end, the countess, now showing signs of a savvy ahead of her years, agreed to the proposals of the Uial Elders with the added stipulation that she wanted at least one of the tribe Elders to sit on her council of advisers. By late afternoon, Myui affixed her seal to an agreement, with Elder Bram, Matriarch Kyas, Panache representing Princess Pina, Lieutenant Taylor representing the Pacific Allies, the ever-faithful Kaine, and at Myui's own request, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake in attendance.
There was one person who ought to have been there, Henry noted but was strangely absent. The Formar House Butler Bartholomew had been more and more notable for his absences which he blamed on exhaustion and a weak constitution but which Blake, as a trained doctor, did not quite believe. Rather, it appeared to Blake that Bartholomew seemed to be nervous about something. Henry supposed it was his discomfort with all the outworlders but that didn't make sense because he could swear he had seen Bartholomew at one of the local watering holes, buying drinks and chatting with Doctor Stevens and other members of the Science team. No, Henry wasn't certain what was going on but it made him uncomfortable.
What he did not know is that it was actually Henry Blake himself that Bartholomew was avoiding. Bartholomew didn't know how Blake had magicked himself into the Countess's trust but whereas even with Kaine in the picture, Bartholomew had managed to whittle away at Myui's confidence, finding ways to make her doubt her ability to succeed her father. But ever since Blake had gotten here, that outworlder had helped Myui get past many of her doubts and when Bartholomew tried to sew the seed of new fears, it was to Blake whom Myui went seeking reassurance. The more that she turned to Blake, the less she confided in the Butler.
Bartholomew was eager to be well away from Italica. He wanted to be away from Kaine and her fanatical maid staff, away from Pina's pet bitches who walked around full of their own importance, away from the off-world soldiers and their alien ways, and away from these damned academics spouting their incomprehensible blatherings! Why couldn't they leave a simple universe be? He had thought they would be a wonderful source of information with how academics liked to talk but they took even the tiniest of matters and talked it into the most minute detail. Unfortunately, theories about parallel evolution and wind patterns were hardly useful to his employers.
That evening, he was in his second favorite place, a tavern on the north side of the city. It was filled with smoke from pipes. Thornweed was the most popular pleasure but Batholomew preferred to drink. Even his most preferred spot in Italica had lost some of its charm now that the women were charging more in the thriving business climate.
Yes, a vacation would be nice.
He was still drinking when the warning sirens began to scream...
It was impressive how fast Panache could don her armor, a detached portion of Taylor's mind thought as Chief Richardson and one of Panache's knights, a very pretty but serious young blonde woman named 'Ambrosia' if he recalled, arrived at their chamber door at almost the same time.
"What's going on, Chief?"
"Radio room picked up an alert from Bletchley Park, sir. They're putting out an earthquake warning. Alnus has repeated the warning." Bletchley referred to the allied station in Akusho and was coined by Captain Harrington as a reference to the Top Secret British code-breaking unit in the Second World War. As cooperative and friendly as the Rose Order knights might have been, disclosing that the Pacific Allies had a covert base inside Sadera itself was definitely not a good idea.
"Earthquake?" Aurelia asked, paying careful attention as she strapped on the kukri Taylor had given her.
"Violent ground shakes. Depending on how bad, possibly very destructive in a city." He had everyone's attention now. "I'm assuming they think it's going to be big. Has anyone warned Colonel Blake?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good." He raised his voice. "Everybody needs to get outside immediately! Chief! Get the word out. Get the Hummers rolling. We have to get the people outside. Put out their fires and get outside. If they can't then go UP and get under a table, cover their heads."
Panache listened and turned to Ambrosia. "Waken Countess Myui and get her to safety!"
"Yes, ma'am!" The younger knight hurried on her way.
"I need to see to my mother and grandmother," Nayu put in.
"Um… Your mom…" Chief Richardson began
"I'm right here dear!" Indras called from out in the hall. "I'll go get your grandmother! You get Elder Bram and the others!"
Taylor looked at a slightly embarrassed Chief Richardson. "I don't want to know. Just get people moving!"
"Right skipper!"
Elsewhere, Colonel Blake wasted no time in checking on Kaine. They arrived at Myui's room at the same time as Ambrosia. Satisfied that the Countess was safe, Henry turned to Kaine. "We need to get all of your people outside."
The short warning undoubtedly saved many lives in Italica that night. The east wall suffered the most damage as the ground shook. Terrified citizens praying to be spared One particular religious sect called the Inferni were also praying but praying that their neighbors be spared. Katrine and Persia had been among many feeling odd in the past day or so, not understanding why until the shaking began and now, once outside the mansion, huddled together, crying for Kurata to be with them on what they thought might be the last night of the world. Myui was wrapped in the arms of Henry Blake as Kaine and Mamina held on to him In the meantime, Taylor held Aenaire as she held her son. Nayu, Aurelia and Panache also clustered around. As the ground shook, for those few minutes, there were no Imperials or offworlders or Warrior Bunnies or Medusae, only people clinging to each other for their lives.
Finally, the initial quake ended.
As the shock passed, people began to get to their feet and take action.
Henry Blake smiled at Myui gently and stood up. "Now I gotta go to work, honey. Kaine and Mamina will take care of you." He turned to Kaine. "There may be more shakes. Stay out here until we can be reasonably sure there won't and that the building is safe. Klinger!"
"Yes! Oh clustered one!"
"Get a headcount on our people and have Newsome, Able and Bayliss meet me over at the Dispensary. We're gonna have a busy night. Then call up the unit and see if they can spare any help. After that, check with the science team. Anybody with medical training of any kind, I need 'em!"
"Yes, your Colonelness! I'm off!"
Panache and Taylor then began assigning teams of two marines and two knights each to take whatever vehicles were available to start checking on the neighboring villages. Everyone left began a house to house check for trapped or injured people. The Inferni immediately volunteered to serve on rescue teams, to gather food and provide it to the victims and the work parties. After this night, the name of the Inferni would never be spoken in disdain within the walls of Italica.
407th Combat Support Hospital, Alnus
"No, we're alright, Klinger. Koire started getting the shakes real bad about an hour or so ago. So we knew something was up. Just didn't know what until the warning came in. So we're still here. The engineers and field medics are heading into the town first but it looks like we got lucky."
"It's gonna be rougher out here, Radar. Even though we got warning, we can already tell the southeast section of town took a beating. Figure cause it already took a beating. Look, Radar, Colonel Blake says we can use all the supplies and all the help we can get. He's trying to organize a three-ringed circus of our guys, a couple of Marine corpsman, some of the scientists with medical training and any local healers we can find."
"We'll send you everything we can, Klinger."
"Thanks, Radar. By the way, spend the quake snuggled up to anyone special?"
Radar blushed just a bit. He and Parna had actually ridden out the quake together mutually terrified. It wasn't as if Iowa was known for earthquakes after all. "Better than going through that alone! That's for sure. How about you?"
"Me? No love for Toledo tonight. Anyway, I'd better get going. Colonel Blake says to be ready if we need some of these people choppered back to you guys."
"Roger that, Klinger. And hey… Take care of yourself."
Imperial Palace, Sadera
Princess Pina stifled the fear inside her. When the ground began to shake, she was as scared as anyone, but the example of Itami and the others from beyond the Gate shamed her a little. For her, the shaking had been the vexation of gods whom she did not trust. For them, it was simply another event which they dealt with in a calm, rational manner. And that is what she needed to do. She first needed to rally her own people and then see to her father's safety. Initially, Itami, Sugawara, and Russell had been reluctant to accompany her to the palace, but Russell's Marine escort included a 'corpsman' who could treat His Majesty if he were injured. Also, her father might have questions if she went by herself and told him that more shakes might come.
Although Pina understood their point about armed hostiles entering the Emperor's presence in a time of war, she considered it a moot point as if these people truly wished to harm her father, they could easily do so, invited or not. Further, as she looked out over Sadera and saw fires burning in the city, the Empire simply had no more time to indulge in this pointless war. Hopefully, her father would see this.
Indeed, as she witnessed Imperial soldiers and even the vaunted Imperial Guards praying, cowering, and crying, Pina realized that the Emperor was in far greater danger from the chaos around them than the offworlders. The only thing currently standing between His Majesty and any who might wish to depose him was the fact that they too were likely in an equal state of shock.
Once more, however, the Order continued to swell her heart with pride. Hamilton, Bozes, and Vifita all quickly shaking off their own shock and fear and while Hamilton accompanied her liege, Bozes and Vifita, meanwhile, were quick to rally their companies to respond to Her Highness's orders as needed. Of course, while the Imperial Army was rebuilding, the Rose Order was also growing. The Order now had a designated training company: The Company of the Blue Rose was filled with patriotic young noblewomen who, being barred from the Imperial Army. sought other ways to defend their nation. Whereas it had taken years to recruit and train the six hundred mounted knights of the Red, Yellow, and White Rose, over four hundred young noblewomen had signed up to join them in the past six months. Of course, with shrewd reasoning, Pina had eased the entry qualifications. No longer would prospective knights be required to furnish their own horses. Since the Pacific Allies did not use horses, at least to the extent the Empire did, the significant number of horses captured by the Allies after the battles at Alnus represented more of a drain on their resources rather than an asset. So, Pina had arranged to repatriate some of those animals, allowing women from less wealthy families to join. She had her eye to promoting Suissesse to command the next company when it graduated but right now, she was too valuable in Italica.
But that was a matter for another time. Right now, she had to get to her father and she had to help get control of the chaos around them. Bidding Itami and the others to wait in the antechamber outside the throne room, Pina went to her father's room to find him dressing.
"Father! Where are your guards?"
He smiled, feeling the need to suppress his fear in front of her but also pleasantly surprised to see her having gotten to him this quickly. "They were too frightened to be of use as guards. I ordered them to find my manservant and also the Captain of the Guard. Perhaps when they come back, they can comport themselves like members of My Guard."
Pina put a hand on the hilt of her sword. "Until then, allow me to be your guard, Your Majesty."
Molt nodded his assent. "Very well, then." He finished dressing. "Shall we go?"
"Of course, Your Majesty." Pina led her father to his throne room and watched with satisfaction as he took his throne. She then addressed the handful of soldiers she had managed to gather to this point who had either kept or regained their composure.
"Send riders to every camp! Every Minister and General is to report immediately!" Not giving them another thought as she turned to the palace maids, whom Hamilton had thankfully gotten under control.
"Clean this hall at once!"
The maids hurried to obey Her Imperial Command and Emperor Molt studied his daughter with an appraising eye. He was pleased by her ability to handle herself and respond in a crisis. He was also mildly disappointed. Not in Pina, but in his sons. Well, that was a mistake too late to fix, he supposed.
"You've grown," He mused, the pride returning even as he spotted the eight people waiting discreetly to one side. He knew who they were, of course, at least in a general sense. Pina might be able to fool Zorzal but these were obviously the representatives of Japan… Well, except for the Dark Elf, of course. He was not sure how their kind fit into all this but it was a non sequitur. It was interesting that Pina trusted them enough to bring them into his presence in such a time as this. Well, it was better to get it all out into the open. He truly did not like secrets between himself and Pina.
"Introduce me to these people, Pina," he commanded.
Pina sighed. Of course, it had to happen eventually but she found herself still hesitant to speak it. "Yes, Your Majesty. Allow me to introduce Mister Sugawara, from Japan," she indicated a youngish man in his thirties. His careful expression and stance marked him as a bureaucrat. It was not an unfavorable thing to say. But this Sugawara was apparently a young man who had made government his calling. Then Molt turned his eyes to the older, taller man standing calmly a couple of feet away and perhaps a pace behind. Sugawara's mentor perhaps?
"And this is Special Ambassador Russell, from the United States of America," Pina answered the silent question. So, another country? Another miscalculation. They had failed to consider whether Japan had client states to bring into the fight as he himself had summoned.
"With them are Lieutenant Itami and Sergeants Kuribayashi and Tomita of the JSDF and Lieutenant Garrovick and Sergeant Kaminski of the United States Marines. Also, Yao Ro Dushi, of the Burning Heart tribe."
"And why are they here?"
"I asked them to come, father. They have much more experience with the ground shakes than we do. Also, Sergeant Kaminski is a healer, in case you were hurt, Your Majesty."
"I see," His voice had gone cold and stern. Molt may have had great affection for his youngest child but this was a serious matter. He stood up and addressed the representatives bluntly.
"Emissaries, I would like to welcome you but unfortunately, as you can see, we are in a bit of a crisis. So we'll have to hold your welcome party at some other time."
"Of course, Your Majesty," Sugawara replied. "We understand. As long as you will allow the opportunity for negotiations, that is more than enough."
The cool but cordial reception was as much as Pina could hope for. Unfortunately, the arrival of her brother, Zorzal strutting in with his retinue of thugs and a small detachment of soldiers quickly caused things to spiral out of control as he brusquely shoved passed the Allied delegation with the disregard one would give a stray dog.
"Father!" Zorzal called. "Father! I am glad you are fine. Now. Let's get out of here!" His words sounded like commands.
"Brother! Wait!" Pina wondered just exactly what her brother thought he was doing. While there was danger, They had to get control of this situation, not just flee from it! And why was Zorzal acting as if he had some special knowledge? "I just summoned…"
Zorzal cut her off. "This is NO time to dawdle Noriko says that another earthquake could come at any time!"
With the exception of Yao, who would have no cause to recognize it as such, the rest of the Allied party suddenly felt a hard chill at the mention of what was definitely a Japanese name. For her part, Pina wanted to know how Zorzal knew anything about the earthquake. She felt an icy pit in her stomach as she asked. "Who is this Noriko?"
Her worst fears were realized as at a gruff gesture, a young girl in chains and the ragged clothes of a slave was dragged forward.
"This girl," Zorzal said matter-of-factly. "This is Noriko. She is one of the survivors of those we captured from the other side of the Gate." He strode over to her like the Lord of Creation, kicking her and jerking her upright by her arm. "Tell His Majesty what you told me earlier! Hurry!" He demanded, grabbing her chin.
"Please... No more.." The girl cried weakly. She had told everything! But initially, Zorzal had believed she was trying to make a fool of him.
In another reality, Itami might have rushed Zorzal, so anxious he was to smash the arrogant prince for the blatant cruelty to this girl, this fellow Japanese. But here, his actions were more deliberate as he almost casually unholstered his sidearm and discharged it into the air above them. The loud report of the gun having the desired effect as all heads present turned to Itami.
"I think you should let her go," Itami said and aimed his gun at the lackey who grabbed the girl's chain as Zorzal turned to regard Itami with confusion and contempt.
"And who are you?"
"Itami Youji, Japanese Self-Defense Forces. And I think you're holding one of our people."
"I agree," Sugawara said. "We were aware that Japanese citizens had been abducted. But to find them here is very disturbing," he said coldly, looking not at Zorzal, but at Pina and the Emperor.
"Please!" Pina implored. "Forgive us for my sake!" Damn Zorzal! Flavius and Dyet had been making considerable progress on locating off-worlders taken captive by Imperial forces. At present, well over forty off-world citizens were now recovering safely at a private villa to the south. Pina had intended to gather as many as she could find and then present them safe and sound at a gala once formal talks were announced. But Zorzal had ruined that. She only hoped that she could at least somewhat salvage this.
Sugawara was about to reply when Zorzal's cruel laugh cut him off.
"I don't know how you got in here but it doesn't matter. You barbarians think you can command the Son of the Emperor? I think you need to learn your place!" He snapped his fingers and his thugs stepped forward menacingly.
Yao knew that she would give her life here if needed to protect Lord Itami. She tensed as Itami looked over at Lieutenant Garrovick.
"My play. Please see to the safety of Mister Russell and Mister Sugawara. "
"As long as no one tries to interfere, lieutenant," Garrovick replied.
Itami nodded. "Tomita! Kuribayashi! Fire at will."
Shino grinned. She would have preferred to gut some of these foul pigs with the cold steel of her bayonet but after the Battle of Italica, Lieutenant Taylor had torn a strip off her hide for recklessly endangering herself. She might be a close-quarters combat specialist, but the JSDF had kindly provided her with a gun and bullets for a reason and part of that reason was keeping Shino Kuribayashi from accidentally becoming a human skewer. So, she flicked the safety off her rifle and she and Tomita quite effectively made short work of Zorzal's henchmen.
Seeing his men fall, the shocked and angry Prince ordered the nearby soldiers to form rank and slaughter the barbarians. These men were cut to ribbons between Kuribayashi and Tomita's Type 64 rifles and Lieutenant Garrovick's .45 Colt M1911. Zorzal, seeing the carnage, dropped for cover in fear. Unlike his late half-brother, Zorzal had never faced a battle where the odds were not vastly stacked in his favor. The prospect of his own, personal death was a terrifying one. At the same time, Pina watched in horror, both for the soldiers dying before her eyes and for her plans for peace which seemed to be dying on these same floors. Only the Emperor, himself remained impassive.
Finally, the gunfire stopped. At least a score of men lay dead or dying on the floor of the Emperor's throne room. Only by obeying Kuribayashi's very clear instructions to drop their weapons did a few survive.
Of course, with the immediate threat to his own safety apparently abated, Zorzal called them for cowards even as Itami ordered Shino to see to the girl, Noriko, while Tomita kept his rifle ready. Sergeant Kaminski joined Shino and began a brief cursory checked for injuries. Itami stepped toward Zorzal, holding a level gaze on him.
"Now, Prince… You said she was ONE of the survivors. That means you know where there are others. Tell me where they are."
"I don't answer questions from barbarians," Zorzal snorted in contempt.
"I see," Itami said quietly and turned to Kuribayashi. "Explain it to him."
"Hai!" Shino grinned. She was going to enjoy this, she thought as she walked up to Zorzal, who stood at least a foot taller. To Zorzal, this apparent mismatch was more annoyance than a threat. The barbarian bitch had put down her coward's weapon and was daring to challenge him physically? He would beat her for her insolence and once his father had summoned more troops to kill the others, Zorzal would enjoy breaking the little bitch.
He swung at her but his technique was that of a bully, not a fighter and Kuribayashi was a trained hand to hand specialist, not a victim. She easily stepped inside his swing and punched him hard in the jaw, enough to draw blood and stagger Zorzal who fell to the floor, whereupon Shino leaped on him, keeping him pinned as she proceeded to savagely beat him in such a display of violence that many of the survivors swore that Shino was no woman born of flesh but a demon in human form. She beat him until he pleaded for mercy as Pina averted her eyes, unable to watch. Pina thought Zorzal crude and arrogant but he was still her blood. It hurt to see it come to this even as part of her mind reminded her that he had been given ample opportunity to avert this outcome. It was his choice. Strange that Zorzal would never recall the pain on his sister's face but would instead remember the silent, dispassionate look of the Emperor, who made not one sound of protest, uttered not one command to stop the savage beating, did nothing at all but watched.
Finally, it stopped. Kuribayashi stepped back as Itami stepped over and aimed his gun at Zorzal's head. "Now. Answer my questions." He ordered the terrified man.
Only to have a tall figure clad in the rags of a slave interpose herself. Yao tensed at Itami's side knowing how dangerous a Warrior Bunny could be.
"Don't kill him," Tyuule said. It was insane. The man she hated most, but Zorzal had to survive or her plans for vengeance would come to naught. That is until a fragile, delicate voice spoke in the silence of the throne room.
"Tyuule…" Noriko said, reaching a hand toward her. Itami looked over to Noriko and then to Tyuule.
"You took what didn't belong to you. Now I will take something of yours." Itami looked up at Tyuule. "Tomita, Kuribayashi, escort her and Noriko outside."
Tyuule looked stunned at Noriko's outstretched hand. She didn't understand what was happening as a firm hand guided her away from Zorzal. As she walked away, she heard Itami repeat himself.
"I won't ask again. Where are the other survivors?"
"The men were sold into slavery. I don't know what happened to them after that."
"We have ideas about that then," Itami said grimly.
Sugawara nodded. "We suspected that some of our people were here. Princess Pina, we do not hold you, personally to blame in this but we expect as full an accounting as you can soonest," He turned to Molt. "It looks like that party will have to wait, Your Majesty."
"Japan has strong soldiers, Mister Sugawara but also a glaring weakness," Molt told him.
"Oh?"
"Your arms are strong but your hearts are soft. That's a dangerous combination and a weakness that less civilized but hardier people will eventually turn against you. You would do well to remember that."
For the first time, Ambassador Russell spoke. "I think you'll find that we're strong enough to be both. In return, I submit that an Empire without people isn't much of an Empire, Your Majesty. You might consider that."
"Perhaps."
As Pina watched Itami and the others leave, two lives had reached irrevocable turning points. For Tyuule, the whisper of her Delicate Flower had delivered her from bondage and a personal madness that had begun to take hold in her heart.
For Prince Zorzal, the ties of blood had died in the silence of his father's voice as barbarians beat and humiliated him and in his heart, Zorzal knew his enemy, the bonds of affection had died to be replaced with a consuming hate.