A/N: Though the story of "Papa Bear" takes place three months after the Great Quake, this next chapter returns us to the immediate aftermath of the Quake.

As always, Constructive Reviews are always welcome.

Chapter 37: Reverberations

Palace of Prince Zorzal El Caesar

The Chamberlain was annoyed. Though he knew he should not allow his emotions to affect how he spoke to his Prince, it was his duty to remind His Highness that certain things were unbecoming of the next Emperor. He took the Prince's robe off the chair where it had been draped and pointedly presented it to Zorzal.

"Your Highness. Your guests are assembled and waiting."

"Yes, yes," Zorzal waved him off as he rose from atop Cassiopeia somewhat annoyed at having been interrupted. His body still ached and his face was still extremely sore and thank the gods that the new cook had been able to fix a palatable meal that didn't send him into agony with every mouthful. But Cassiopeia had been wonderfully skilled in bed, pleasing him in ways he had never considered and all the while revering him as she should. He knew the skill was hers but he never felt more powerful.

And this self-important functionary had completely spoiled the mood. And yet the Chamberlain was not done.

"Honestly, sire! Sullying yourself with a beast-girl!"

"I'm open-minded, Quirus. You should try it sometime."

Quirus looked disgusted. "What would the Senate and the people think if you sired by this… beast?"

Cassiopeia now got up and snatched hold of the man by his collar, sharp fangs showing as she advanced on him. "If I should be blessed by the gods to bear the child of the next Emperor, the Senate and the people should rejoice! For, whomever his mother would be, his father would be the greatest of all men! And THAT alone would make him, the Son of your next Emperor, far greater than a groveling PIG like you could ever be!"

"Cassiopeia," Zorzal said mildly, nodding for her to release Quirus. Still, even as she obeyed, he admitted to taking enjoyment at watching the Chamberlain's look of fear. Cassiopeia was quite correct. The son of the Emperor should automatically command respect, no matter what his bloodline. It was time some of these people learned their place.

Cassiopeia released Quirus. "You should kneel in thanks to his Greatness that he did not let me rip out your tongue." Quirus glanced nervously at the Prince. He decided not to chance his lord's temper and bowed low.

"Thank you for your mercy. I apologize for my words, Your Highness."

Zorzal smiled and straightened him up, clearly amused. "All is forgiven, loyal Quirus." He patted him on the arm. "Just remember that when you speak to her, you speak to me. Remember that and everything will be well!"

"Y.. yes my lord!"

Zorzal smiled and glanced at Cassiopeia. "Tell me, have you attended to the other matter I told you to take care of?"

"Yes my lord," the Chamberlain replied. "The Senator's wife and son are in the parlor."

"Good!" Zorzal replied, turning to Cassiopeia. "It seems we each have business to attend. I do hope we can rekindle the mood later this evening," he remarked as he dressed.

"As my Lord wills," she answered. Then after Zorzal and Quirus had departed for his private meeting room, she readied herself and headed for the parlor where she was looking forward to a family reunion.

Fort Defiance, Alnus

It had been an eventful return for Youji Itami as the helicopter carrying half of his team, along with Yao, Noriko, and Tyuule landed back at Alnus. Kurokawa was needed to see to Noriko and Tyuule's injuries and hopefully, between her and Kuribayashi, provide a couple of comforting female faces. The rest of Third Recon was still in Akusho, helping dig out from the earthquake. They would be released once Alnus was able to slip in additional manpower to help out. Rory, Lelei, and Tuka were waiting for him. So was Yanagida.

"You can't stay out of trouble, can you Itami? Seriously? You instigated a shootout in the Imperial Palace?" It was not a question. "You've put the General in a difficult position."

"I didn't mean to cause a problem." He bowed his head in the direction of Hazama's office. "I am so sorry, Lieutenant General!" He then looked at Yanagida. "But I couldn't leave her there."

"Of course not," Yanagida agreed. "The problem is that there are still going to be people who will think you should have said please and thank you, instead of ordering your Sergeant to beat up the Crown Prince." His glance at Shino was rewarded with a defiant smirk.

If anything, I went too easy on the bastard! But breaking his larynx wasn't an option.

"So, what's going to happen?" Itami asked.

"Well, the government is using the successful rescue of a Japanese citizen to raise their approval ratings, so they can't punish you. But… UN observers AND a pool of journalists are going to be arriving tomorrow. You will be giving an interview with a handful of carefully selected reporters. Then you and your people are going to be leaving on an extended mission."

"Doing what?"

"First, you'll help escort King Duran back to his Capital. The King of the Elbe has signed a separate peace with us. We've asked him to speak with leaders of some of the other smaller states."

"What else did we ask for?" Itami wondered uneasily.

"It's not like these people will miss any oil or rare earths," Yanagida said with a slightly defensive edge. "Japan needs those kinds of resources."

"And what do the Americans think of that?"

Yanagida frowned. "We haven't officially discussed it." He had fairly effectively maneuvered Duran over a barrel about it, hoping to present the General with a verbal fait accompli, only for Hazama to sternly remind his aide of the potential ramifications of making little private deals without either the consent of the Diet, the Foreign Ministry, or proper consultation of their allies… Especially allies that were literally down the hall. It had been a thorough rebuking that still stung.

"Ah," Itami said simply.

"At any rate, once you've returned Duran to his throne, you are going to do some exploring. You will naturally keep us apprised of your whereabouts. You will report on anything of possible interest. You will be FAR AWAY from the diplomats and the media, and you will stay out of trouble."

Itami sighed. It wasn't like he went looking for trouble. Trouble just always seemed to find him.

"You should also take them with you," Yanagida jerked a thumb at Lelei, Rory, and Tuka. "They've already caused enough of a stir in the media."

Rory giggled at that. Still, having Itami out in her world for a bit would be a nice change of pace for a bit.

Itami frowned. He was a bit concerned about Tuka. She had only just had her first session with Doctor Freedman. He didn't want to take her out too soon. "We'll see."

Yanagida shrugged. "One other thing," He cast his voice low. "About Miss Mochizuki… Don't tell her this but we believe her family may have been killed in Ginza."

"Oh?"

"She and her boyfriend went missing some weeks earlier. We now assume they were abducted as part of an early attempt to probe our side. Her parents and her brother were seen in Ginza that day passing out missing persons fliers."

"Are they confirmed dead?"

"Their bodies were never identified but…"

"I see."

"At any rate, we need to debrief her and the other slave you liberated as soon as possible. Take them over to the Hospital and get them checked out. We'll send over someone to debrief them later."

"Right," Itami acknowledged. "Anything else?"

"Sergeant Kuribayashi!" Yanagida directed.

"Hai?"

"Your sister is on the list of journalists arriving tomorrow. It would be advisable for you to meet with her and help her form the proper opinions of the JSDF and its mission."

Shino started to object but forced herself to remain silent. Nanami was a professional and prided herself on being fair and open-minded. She would undoubtedly resent any attempt to manipulate her reporting. But saying that to Yanagida would only cause problems for both Shino and Nanami.

"Yes, sir. I will make sure she understands everything clearly."

"Good," Yanagida nodded. "Well, again, welcome back, Itami. While it lasts."

Meeting Room of Prince Zorzal

As promised, Zorzal's guests were all waiting for him to arrive. These men represented powerful elements in Saderan Society and a way of life that was now under threat.

"I am glad to see all of you," Zorzal said, glancing around the room. There were those who said that the Crown Prince lacked skill in oratory and while it was true that he tended to be poor at debating, he was quite good at rhetoric. Especially when he had time to prepare his remarks. "Gentlemen… Everything we value is now in danger from the off-world barbarians and those who would fall on their knees either fearing or fawning upon them!" He looked around the room searching the expressions of his guests. "Unfortunately, both my beloved sister and even His Majesty himself are now prepared to throw away centuries of pride and dignity and faith in the gods and, indeed, in the very spirit of our people to kneel before the barbarians. If we do not act, then the Empire will be destroyed. Not by invaders from without! But by traitors from within!"

One of his guests, a slave trader who had supported Zorzal since the days of the Bunny Suppression leaned forward. "At least seven of my competitors have disappeared in the past few days. This 'Spartacus' thing has gotten the rest of us looking over our shoulders constantly. I can't do business if my buyers can't find me but I can't do business at all if I'm dead!"

"You see? Honest merchants living in fear," Zorzal looked to one of the Senators in the room. "And most of your colleagues are now willing to surrender to the cowards who are trying to undermine our society!"

"With no disrespect, your Highness," the senator answered. "Just what can we do?"

"We take back our country, noble Saderans," Zorzal replied. "Quietly, mind you or the sheep will panic. For a time we will pretend to bend to the barbarians. We need time."

"Certainly time to rebuild the army," another Senator noted sourly.

"Yes," Zorzal agreed. "But until we have fixed the Senate and until His Majesty finds his spirit again, we need our own army."

"This talk could be seen as treason," one man cautiously observed.

"Treason to save our beloved Empire? I think it would be treason not to act!" Zorzal replied. "But we act to protect the Imperial throne and all loyal Saderans. Remember that. In the meantime, we need fighting men."

"Mercenaries."

"Why not?" One of the merchants replied. "If we lose, these savages will take EVERYTHING we've worked to build! I, for one, am not going to be judged by barbarians and have everything taken from me without a fight!"

Zorzal nodded. "And of course, the Empire SHOULD reward those who have acted to save it. Just as those who so spinelessly sell us into bondage to these off-worlders should reap the price of betrayal."

Senator Septimus Del Marus looked uneasy. While he agreed that action needed to be taken, he was very concerned at the very open implications and threats to Saderan liberties. He suppressed a sigh. Just by accepting His Highness's invitation to be here, Septimus had already chosen his devil. "And what shall we in the Senate do?"

Zorzal smiled. "We will allow the negotiations to proceed. You need only follow along while voicing your understandable concern for the morale and dignity of the Empire and her people. In time, we will sway the rest of the Senate to see reason." He then eyed each of them in turn. "It is true that for the moment, we stand alone. His Majesty has become tired with the weight of rule. While I hate to even think it, let alone speak it, the fire and strength have faded from his eyes. His nerve is failing and his mind riddled with doubts. It is a question whether he can continue in such a broken state." He shook his head. "My beloved sister, Pina… We all know she has always been impressionable and, gods be praised, she has a soft heart, which is as a woman should be. But that has made her vulnerable to the lies of our enemies. I fear they will use her as a pawn. The Barbarians might even try to force her onto our father's throne where they will undoubtedly manipulate her. My own brother, Diablo… He is a man of clever words but not of deeds. I hope he will see reason and stand with us but I fear I cannot trust him. You Senators know that he is marked with ambition. He has been attempting to get himself named our Father's successor. "We cannot take a chance he will not act on his ambitions while we are beset by crisis."

Of course, this was political show, mainly for the politicians in the room. The merchants were already well and truly wed to Zorzal's cause. He knew he could squeeze them hard for money and resources. When caught between the possibility of a rich return AND political power or being killed or simply stripped of everything, they would gladly serve his plans. On the other hand, some of the politicians still pretended to have moral scruples that he needed to soothe.

"The Empire has never faced a crisis quite like this. We will have to resort to methods which may make some… uncomfortable. But if we fail, then I think you all can plainly see our beloved Empire will be broken and enslaved. Our children poisoned against their own heritage by the Barbarians. Stand with me and you will be hailed a thousand years hence! Fail me… Fail the Empire… and fall into dust."

Parlor Room of Prince Zorzal El Caesar

Vendetta had long wondered how she would feel about meeting her father's family. His acknowledged family, that was. She found that she was curious more than anything else. Certainly, she felt no animosity toward either her father's legal wife or their son. If anything, she wanted to know them. A rather lovely human woman with honey blonde hair and a slightly built boy with auburn hair. Funny that it was nearly the same as her own. The boy's mother seemed to be a little intimidated by the guards and spoke in a soft, tentative voice. How much like my own mother, Vendetta thought The boy, His name is Hadrian, she remembered, stood slightly protective of his mother but at the same time nervous himself. Vendetta looked at the guards in the room and dismissed them.

"I'm certain you have questions. I'll have some refreshment brought up for us. We have much in common. First, though, please allow me to introduce my mother, Andromeda."

Hadrian looked up as a much timider Vulpine woman entered the room. He glanced back at his own mother and then to the newcomer. Vendetta nodded. He had seen it too. Apparently, even if it wasn't strictly human, their father had a 'type'.

"Are you my sister?" Hadrian asked. Vendetta smiled. Her brother was very quick and perceptive.

"It is true. Your father, Septimus Del Marus also fathered me as well."

The boy's mother, Antonia began to look nervous. She considered outright denying what this girl was saying but in her heart, she knew it was the truth. Looking at Andromeda, the similarities were striking And their children… But why had they been summoned here? Were they here to be punished for her husband's choices. Other Senators had survived the scandal of having a 'mixed child'. It was rare, or at least she assumed it was, but it had happened. But Septimus had chosen to hide his past. Would his choices now come back to revenge themselves on her and her son?

Vendetta raised a hand for Antonia to pause. "I have no quarrel with you or my brother. It is clear that you see the truth the same as he does. I only find it tragic that we have not met before. Family should protect family and I would like us to be family." She looked at her brother and saw that even in his young mind, he was piecing things together. He would make a Great Senator one day, with the proper patronage.

"May I call you Hadrian?"

"Yes! What is your name?" He asked.

"It depends," she said mildly. "Most people call me Vendetta. These are the people that I have not given permission to use the name my mother gave me. My mother calls me Cassiopeia. I would be happy if you and your mother called me that." She tipped her head slightly to Hadrian's mother. "Lady Antonia, Brother… Please sit comfortably! We four have much to discuss!"

It was a bit later that Prince Zorzal informed Senator Marus that his wife and son were expecting him in the parlor. The Senator suppressed a sense of dread. Was Zorzal making a threat to assure he stayed in line? As he followed Zorzal's Chamberlain to the parlor, he did not expect to see his cast-off lover sitting and making polite conversation with his wife. It had been nearly twenty years but Andromeda had changed very little, except that some of the shine in her eyes had faded.

"Husband!" Antonia smiled the look of a cat who had finally caught the resident rat out of bounds. "I believe you've met Andromeda. It's simply amazing how much we have in common! Including bearing you a child."

His lips started to move but Antonia, driven by a fire which Andromeda could never dare, only glowered.

"Don't. Don't play us for fools." She looked to Andromeda and smiled encouragingly. "Andromeda is going to be a wonderful companion, I think! She's such a cultured woman. Thank you, dear. She's the sister I never had and Hadrian is also quite fond of his new Aunt and his sister."

Septimus noticed the critical look in his son's eyes even before his brain registered the fourth individual at the table. "Hello father," the young Vulpine woman said with a voice like steel wrapped in silk. "You have no idea how long I've waited for this day."

"Are you planning to hold my family hostage to make sure I behave myself?"

"Hardly," Vendetta said coldly. "Your arrangements with the Crown Prince are for you and him to handle. The fact that he finds me interesting merely allows me the privilege of meeting my brother and making certain I'm in a position to take care of my family. And I think Hadrian is going to go very far in this world."

"Oh!" Antonia remembered, her canines showing a bit. "You haven't been properly introduced." She glanced to the Vulpine girl with a dangerous twinkle in her eyes.

"Mother named me Cassiopeia. You can call me Vendetta..."

The Cerberus Tavern, Five Miles outside of Sadera

Bouro poured himself a drink from the bottle of Spice Wine. The Cerberus was one of a number of businesses run by Haryo. It was a place where Bouro could take care of the dirty details of his operations without attracting undue attention. Unfortunately, many of his businesses in Akusho were unavailable after the earthshake. Peculiarly, he hadn't gotten much word at all out of Akusho since the quake. No… To be honest, it had been weeks. Recruitment had dropped off and his contacts in the local underworld were telling him nothing. He suspected they were up to something but even if they were, it wasn't like his entire power base was in Akusho. It made for convenient recruiting and it was a place where shadowy dealing could go on without Imperial interference but Bouro had his claws in the underbelly of every city in the Empire. The situation in Akusho would sort itself out in time or once things calmed down, the new Emperor might just have to send in the Legions. Or simply burn the rats out, Bouro figured. He was certain that would be a popular move with the 'good citizens' of the Empire. It would also spur reactions in the slums of every city in Falmart. So, Bouro considered, if the residents of Akusho were up to something, then it would be a win-win for both himself and Zorzal to exterminate the scum.

But that was the concern of another day. Today he was planning a farewell for a 'friend'. His former 'partner' Tyuule was now a liability. His plan to put a Haryo on the Imperial Throne did not need the threat of any counter-claimants and unfortunately, that fool Zorzal had an urge to rut with any female he could get his hands on. Bouro wasn't concerned about the slaves still in Zorzal's palace. They were all where he could keep an eye on them and if necessary. Well, accidents happened. But Tyuule and Noriko were BOTH with the cursed enemies at Alnus. They were a complication to his plans, especially if Tyuule spilled her guts about their collaborations prior to her 'liberation'. Fortunately, it was fairly easy to use Zorzal's notorious temper to paint Tyuule and Noriko as having personally betrayed the Prince. Bouro then had to consider the best way to arrange for the two of them to die. There were a number of Warrior Bunnies who had sworn vengeance on Tyuule and through his tool in County Formar, Bouro knew of one well placed to carry out the job. Of course, getting Delilah to kill Tyuule would be as simple as pointing her at the target. Hatred would do the rest. The problem was that Delilah had no grudge against Noriko so that would require other motivation. Delilah was reported to be unswervingly loyal to the Countess of Formar. If Bouro could make it look like an order from the Countess… Or perhaps even someone above her?

Bouro smiled a cold, cruel smile. Of course, he had gotten silver from Zorzal to take care of the matter. Bouro would make sure the Prince's money was well spent!