The Pirate's Soldier

by operation meteor

Heero's career as a Preventers operative takes a strange turn when he gets caught up in a fight between a Juraian royal and a notorious space pirate. As the two alien beauties settle in with him on Earth and more soon follow, the former Gundam pilot soon finds himself to be the target of their affections, with a certain lovely outlaw at the front of the pack! M for some language.

30. Chapter 30

Author's Notes: Hello there, and happy new year! Sorry for the wait with this one, I actually had to go back and rewrite a good chunk of it, some of the scenes I'd written in the first draft really didn't work well upon closer inspection. They clashed a bit too much with what I was going for with this chapter. I'm much happier with the result now.

Enjoy!

Chapter Thirty: No Need For Ambitious Persuasion!

Sitting next to her partner's hospital bed, Kiyone placed the palm of her hand to Mihoshi's forehead before looking up at the attending physician. "She'll be okay, right?"

The doctor, an elderly Seniwan woman whose blonde hair had long ago gone silver and dark tan face had more than a few wrinkles in it, gave Kiyone a comforting smile. "She's been thoroughly checked, and I assure you that there will be no lasting damage. The shock from the bounty hunter's weapon was the worst of it. Mihoshi should wake up within the next hour or so at the latest."

Kiyone smiled in return, though hers was weak and tired. "Thank you."

The Galaxy Police Detective First Class then looked over her shoulder. The bed on the opposite side of her held Ryoko, whose forehead had a specialized cooling and swelling-reduction-pad secured to it over what had been a prominent bruise. In the bed beyond Ryoko was Washu, and while the notorious scientist had no visible injuries she was still just as out cold as her daughter and Mihoshi. Past Washu was Sasami, who likewise had no visible injuries and was, at least in Kiyone's view, the most curious case of them all. From what Kiyone understood, no one had attacked the princess, so what the hell had happened to her?

Following her gaze, the doctor spoke before Kiyone could even voice her question. "Ryoko, Washu and Princess Sasami will all be fine as well, Detective. Ryoko took a rather nasty blow, but all the scans we've performed indicate she's already healing nicely and will suffer no permanent harm. She'll likely be waking up in around the same timeframe as Mihoshi. As for Washu, it may take a bit longer; the chemical substance that she was forced to inhale is a very potent knockout drug. I would wager that she'll be out of it for another three or four hours at least. After that, she'll require some additional care to flush remaining traces of the drug out of her system, but that won't take too long to accomplish. Regarding Princess Sasami, I'll confess that she's the strangest case of the lot. No external trauma and no signs of drugging. She just seems to have been… overcome, in a sense. I believe this has something to do with her Juraian powers, though it's only a hypothesis. Perhaps something or someone at the gala triggered a reaction. I can only speculate for now. What's important is that she's stable, and her current state is simply sleep. I think she'll wake probably around the same time as Mihoshi, or perhaps a bit later. Either way, she'll be no worse for wear."

"Thank goodness," Hilde remarked from her position at the foot of Washu's bed.

"Small favors," Duo added, "Guess it takes at least some of the sting out from tonight."

President Moriko, standing on the other side of Mihoshi's bed, sighed wearily. "Only some. Don't mistake my meaning; I'm quite thankful that our four patients here will make a full physical recovery. Still… this is a disaster."

Funaho looked out a nearby window, her gaze falling on the damaged section of Seniwa City's dome. "Will the capital's residents be alright?"

President Moriko nodded, though her expression seemed to mirror Funaho's concern. "A climate containment field was activated mere seconds after the breach. Too late to keep Ken-Ohki trapped within the dome, but it'll protect everyone inside from the elements. Repair crews should already be assembling outside for emergency work, and a long-term fix will be organized before dawn. That being said, I don't envy the men and women who will be patching that hole. It's been a long time since one of our domed cities suffered a breach, let alone the capital. One more stain on a bad night."

Leaning against one of the far walls, his arms folded, Wufei gave President Moriko a hard look. "A bad night that had insider help in making it bad, Madam President. Security at the gala was compromised; that's the only explanation for how Nagi and her accomplices pulled this stunt off."

Moriko met his gaze with firm resolve. "Believe me, Chang Wufei, I am already operating under that assumption. Both Seniwa's Secret Service and the Galaxy Police are conducting their investigation as we speak. I assure you, we will uncover the truth of this matter, and those who are responsible will be brought to justice."

Sitting on the right side of Sasami's bed, Trowa shifted his gaze from the unconscious princess to the others. "When Sasami passed out, I heard her say a name. It was Tokimi. I think Sasami spotted her right before she fainted… actually, seeing her could've been the cause for her fainting in the first place."

Standing near Funaho, Yosho nodded sagely. "That would make sense. Tsunami probably recognized her and tried to speak out through Sasami. The strain from that would be too much for Sasami to bear as she is now."

President Moriko looked at Yosho in confusion. "Back up a moment, there. What's this about Tsunami being involved?"

Yosho winced, belatedly realizing what he'd let slip. "Ah, that… I'm afraid it's a bit complicated."

Funaho placed a placating hand on Moriko's shoulder. "I'd be more than happy to fill you in on that later this evening. It's something that we would be better off discussing in private."

Moriko's gaze flickered back and forth between Yosho and Funaho, and she momentarily looked at the unconscious Sasami as well before eventually inclining her head. "Very well, then."

"Tokimi," Ayeka said softly from her seat beside Sasami's bed, "That name… she's the being that Washu was trying to use Sasami to draw out at the second repository, right?"

"One and the same," Yosho confirmed with a heavy nod, "For her to come in person for this abduction along with Nagi… I suppose that just shows how seriously Kagato took this operation."

Standing behind Ayeka's chair, his hands on her shoulders, Quatre's eyes narrowed. "What's her role in all of this? What does Tokimi want here?"

"To answer a cosmic question," Yosho cryptically replied.

The old shrine keeper seemed to belatedly realize that Kiyone and the others were waiting for elaboration, because he then cleared his throat. "Tokimi is a being akin to Washu and Tsunami. She is not out for political power like Kagato; I'll wager that she would find such crude influence beneath her. Rather, her desire is to find the being that she believes can surpass her and her former compatriots. Kagato is her candidate, so she is acting in support of him. I never imagined she would take to the field as a personal combatant. This is a most disturbing development."

Kiyone saw President Moriko's gaze flicker to Funaho, and the First Empress shook her head. "I'll give you the details later."

"She's clearly good enough to fight alongside the likes of Nagi," Duo remarked, "That bounty hunter's got some moves, but I have a hard time seeing her soloing Heero as he is now. She had to have backup, and it sounds like Tokimi was it."

"She seems quite formidable," Azaka commented as he hovered alongside his comrade at the back of the room, "The state of our dear friends here is proof enough of that."

"How dreadful this is!" Kamidake lamented, "Prince Heero abducted, Princess Sasami, Washu, Ryoko and Mihoshi incapacitated… we have completely failed as Royal Guardians!"

"You're at least in good company," President Moriko quipped, "My own security forces were utterly abysmal. Corruption runs deeper than I knew. For there to have been no response until after the bounty hunter was exfiltrating with her prize… someone paid good money for this betrayal."

Kiyone turned away from Mihoshi for a moment, her gaze falling on the woman that Heero had made his sworn protector. "Ryoko's going to be devastated when she learns what happened. She'll never forgive herself for letting Heero get taken."

"Meow…" Ryo-Ohki murmured as she licked her unconscious partner's cheek.

"At least she put up a fight," Duo pointed out, "Her injuries and destroyed Key indicate that, anyway. The guards at the gala didn't do squat."

Kiyone returned her focus to Mihoshi, brushing a stray lock of blonde hair away from her face. "Hell, even Mihoshi did more… when we found her, she at least had her gun drawn. She was ready to fight, but Nagi got her first. She's going to take this just as hard as Ryoko when she wakes up."

"My poor girl," Mitoto murmured from the other side of her daughter's bed.

Misao sat next to his mother, looking down at the unconscious Mihoshi with wide eyes and an unusually pale face. He hadn't said a word since learning of the attack, and to Kiyone the boy seemed to be in a state of shock.

Poor guy, she thought, I know he's always cared deeply for Mihoshi, so for him to see her like this…

"Probably not nearly as hard as her father and grandfather are right now," President Moriko remarked, "Nakita and Minami were absolutely fuming earlier. I don't think I've ever seen either of them so furious. On the bright side, it's at least lit a fire under them. They'll be relentless in pursuing the investigation. The traitors in Seniwa, where the prince has been taken; they'll uncover all that and more. You can count on it."

"About that," Funaho interjected, "On the matter of where Nagi may be taking Heero, if she's working on behalf of Kagato, then I have a likely destination in mind."

Kiyone raised her head and arched an eyebrow. "Where would that be, Your Highness?"

"Kiryūin," Funaho answered, "That's Kagato's citadel world within the Empire of Jurai. I've had the system under observation for some time now, so if the ship Nagi was flying makes a reversion there, we'll know about it not long afterward. Of course, Kagato could anticipate this and have her drop off her prize somewhere else before having him shipped to his estate. He may have another destination in mind altogether. Still, at the moment, my money is on Kiryūin and his private estate, White Coven."

Yosho nodded. "That's a reasonable assumption. It is the heart of Kagato's sphere of influence, and it is very well defended. More so now, given that we know he's in the process of mobilizing the fleets loyal to him."

"Exactly," said Funaho, "If Kagato wants a secure place to hold Heero, it doesn't get more secure than the capital of his holdings."

"All well and good," President Moriko chimed in, "It's the most logical choice, but it will still require confirmation. As you said, Kagato could very well have planned on us reaching that conclusion. Leaving aside where the prince is being taken for the moment, I have to wonder this, though; why go through the trouble of taking him alive in the first place? Heero is a declared enemy of Kagato's faction and has fought against them multiple times now, right? Why not simply kill him? It would make more sense to eliminate such a clear threat outright."

"If I had to guess, I'd say a combination of curiosity and ego," Yosho answered, "My grandson's abilities and skills have drawn his attention. Kagato already tried once at the first repository to talk Heero over to his side. He failed back then, but he may well still think he has a shot."

Kiyone saw Ayeka scowl. "Lord Heero would never join Kagato!"

Yosho nodded. "I concur, but Kagato may see things differently. It is the only reason I can think of for him to take my grandson alive."

"If he's going to try sweet talking Heero into joining him, he's in for a rude awakening," Quatre remarked, "Once Heero fully commits to his mission, nothing stops him. His mission is taking down Kagato and destroying the Array, so anyone trying to persuade him not to do either of those things might as well be talking to a brick wall."

Duo chuckled. "Yeah, that sounds about right."

"If Heero outright refuses, though, Kagato may have him killed," Trowa pointed out, "I think Heero's smart enough to realize that. He'll have to find a way to convince his captors to keep him alive so he can buy time to figure out an escape."

"Which means we probably only have a limited window for helping him," Wufei concluded, "Once we have a lead on his location, we need to be ready to act at a moment's notice."

Trowa nodded. "Heero can handle himself, but we shouldn't stand idly by waiting for him to escape on his own. Wherever he's being held at, he'll be outnumbered and outgunned, and his captors are highly skilled combatants with potentially centuries of experience. No matter how you slice it, he'll be at a severe disadvantage."

"We should head back to Jurai as soon as possible," Quatre added, "If we're operating under the assumption that Kagato's having Heero brought to him, then we'll want to be as close as possible so we can launch the rescue operation quickly. Even if he's not being held on Kiryūin, Kagato's main sphere of influence is still within the Empire itself; it's logical to believe that any other base or facility Kagato may keep Heero at is within that sphere, at least until we get evidence showing otherwise."

"But he had help inside Seniwa in pulling this abduction off," Kiyone countered, "There's at least an outside chance that Heero may be brought to a location somewhere within the Domain."

President Moriko nodded, her brow furrowing. "Members of the hardliner clique within the Elder Associations and the Domain's wider aristocracy have their own citadel worlds, and I strongly suspect their involvement here. Most likely that involvement came in the form of information and possibly funding for bribes, but we shouldn't rule out the possibility that they may provide shelter within the Domain itself to Nagi and her accomplices. It would be incredibly risky for them to do so, but then again, they're already treading on fatal ground with this treachery; what's one more bit of treason in their eyes?"

"More ground for the search to cover, then," Duo groaned, "Damn it…"

"And time's not on our side," Hilde murmured.

"What can we do to help?" asked Trowa.

"You and your companions are my guests," President Moriko replied, "Respectfully, this is not your turf; let my people handle things. I understand if you don't have high confidence in them given how tonight went, but I promise that those who are loyal to me can do their jobs quite well."

"I'll have to put in a call to Azusa," Funaho chimed in with a weary shake of her head, "Though given how fast news travels these days, word of the abduction has almost certainly reached Jurai by now. This is really going to stir things up back home."

"Would it really be so severe?" Quatre inquired, "Not to make light of the situation, but Heero's a newcomer to the royal court in the eyes of the Empire. We take his abduction seriously, but I have a hard time seeing Jurai's aristocracy doing the same."

"Especially since some of them consider Heero to be little more than a barbarian from the galactic backwater," Wufei quipped.

"Only some of them have that view," Ayeka pointedly interjected, clenching her robe in simmering fury, "I can assure you that the majority will not take this lightly."

"Ayeka's correct," said Funaho with stern look, "Heero made a very good impression during his debut ball, and he's only continued to enhance his reputation within Jurai since then, although I don't think he fully appreciates that. More to the point, even if Heero is considered a newcomer, he is still part of the Royal Family's main line. That means an attack on him is viewed as an attack on the Royal Family and, by extension, Jurai itself. The fact that it took place in the Seniwa Domain's capital is going to cause… complications."

President Moriko nodded sagely. "I can well imagine. We'll both be pulling overtime to salvage things and ensure the continued relations between our respective states. Your empire's nobility will be howling on principle alone… and, in this situation, I can hardly fault them for it."

Funaho reached out to place a hand on her friend's shoulder. "You're not to blame for this. You did everything in your power to ensure our safety. It's not your fault that other elements undermined things tonight."

Seniwa's leader shook her head. "I appreciate that, but others will not see things that way… and with good reason. It doesn't matter how diligent I was in putting this gala together; all that matters is the simple fact that my preparations were not enough. This happened under my watch, and there's no getting around that. I'm going to be running damage control for the foreseeable future, and my rivals within the Elder Associations will see a chance to press their advantage. The hardliner clique must be drooling right about now."

"How much of a threat do they pose?" asked Trowa.

President Moriko's brow furrowed. "Difficult to say. My faction within the Associations has maintained a clear majority, but they could use this incident to start peeling away marginal support. With time, a trickle of defections can become an avalanche. The more time that passes without suspects being identified and apprehended, the greater the damage will become."

"Which makes a quick investigation all the more important," Kiyone chimed in, "The sooner we can identify the people who sold us out, the sooner we'll be able to reassert control over the situation. If treachery can be proven and the culprits caught, then you can bring the hardliners to heel again. I'd like to help with the investigation, Madam President."

President Moriko shook her head. "You're not on duty here, Kiyone. Minami and Nakita are heading up the case themselves, and they have ample assets at their disposal."

Kiyone shot her a fierce glare. "With all due respect, Madam President, my partner was attacked and her fiancé was abducted! If you want me to sit this out, you'll have to lock me up."

"And if you do, I'll bust her out," Wufei declared, moving forward to stand behind Kiyone's chair, "I should warn you; my friends and I are very good at prison breaks."

Duo chuckled. "Plenty of firsthand experience there."

"I'm sure Seniwa jailhouses would have better security measures than any back on Earth," Quatre added, "but we're nothing if not adaptable."

"You're not keeping Kiyone out of this, Madam President," Trowa concurred, "or the rest of us, for that matter."

"Heero would insist on helping with the investigation if any of us had been taken," Hilde pointed out, "It's only right that we do the same."

President Moriko looked at the humans for a long moment before smiling and inclining her head in concession. "A determined lot, aren't you? Well, far be it from me to stop you. We could certainly use all the help that we can get. For simplicity's sake, I would ask that you all agree to work under Kiyone; her position in the Galaxy Police means that she can serve as an effective intermediary for you with that organization as well as with Seniwa's security forces."

Kiyone looked up at Wufei and saw him crack a small smile as he met her gaze. "We can go along with that."

Kiyone smiled and nodded in silent gratitude before turning her gaze back to her unconscious partner. "Mihoshi will want to join in once she wakes up. I bet Ryoko will, too."

"A former pirate turned Royal Guard now acting as investigator," Yosho remarked as he cast an amused gaze at Ryoko, "Fate really does have strange turns in mind for her."

"Do not think for a moment that I will be left out of this," Ayeka declared, her eyes burning with determination.

"We wouldn't dream of it," Quatre assured her.

Funaho smiled proudly at her eldest daughter before turning to President Moriko. "It should go without saying, but Jurai will render an aid possible. Whatever information your personnel may need from the Empire, simply run it by me and I will forward the requests to Intelligence back home."

President Moriko nodded. "I'm sure we'll all be taking you up on that."

Funaho looked at her son. "Will you be joining in?"

"As much as I might like to, I don't really have talents that would lend themselves to detective work," Yosho answered, "I think it best that I stay here to look after the patients. No disrespect to your security personnel, President Moriko; think of me as simply another layer of protection."

Kiyone suspected that there was more to the shrine keeper's answer than he let on. Yosho had been relatively withdrawn by his standards since Heero's abduction. Kiyone recalled getting to the abduction scene just after Nagi had dropped her flash-smoke grenade, with the old man still shielding his eyes while his azure blade was pointed in the direction of where the bounty hunter had been. No doubt, Yosho was beating himself up inside over his failure to protect his grandson.

She could relate. True, Kiyone was not supposed to be on guard duty tonight, but she still believed that she had been ready for any eventuality, that she was prepared to protect Heero and Mihoshi should something go awry. Well, things had very much gone awry, and what had she accomplished? Nothing more than arriving too late to help.

I screwed up big time tonight, she thought, I let my guard down, and Heero and Mihoshi suffered for it. There's only one way to make it up to them now.

I'll find the bastards who sold them out to Kagato, then help Mihoshi save her fiancé!

….

As if swimming up from dark depths, Heero could see faint glimmers of light growing brighter with the passing seconds. The staticky haze enveloping his head gradually thinned, with the world slowly transforming from black to incoherent blurring to something vaguely resembling reality. Eventually, his senses returned enough for him to discern that reality, and Heero realized that he was in an infirmary, likely one aboard a starship given its relatively small size.

Oh, and that he was strapped to a bed.

His arms and legs were manacled, and there was a strange set of cold steel loops around his wrists just below the cuffs. They had strips of pale blue light emanating from them, and on closer inspection Heero realized that said light was coming from a strange fluid which was visible through a transparent surface. For a moment, Heero feared that the fluid was some kind of drug, yet he couldn't feel anything injecting his wrists from the steel loops that held the liquid. Still, he didn't want them on him a second longer than necessary. Thanks to the awakening of his Juraian powers, he had the perfect tool for getting rid of them.

Or so Heero believed. However, when he attempted to summon two Light Hawk Wings so that he could cut both the metal loops and the cuffs in one go, all he could manage was a few flickers of white energy, and those quickly died. A second try didn't even generate that much, though it did result in the blue light coming from the strange loops intensifying. It didn't take long for Heero to put two and two together; the fluid within the secondary cuffs was somehow preventing him from materializing the Light Hawk Wings.

"Try as much as you'd like to summon your Wings," a familiar female voice said, "but you'll have no success. Kagato spent a considerable amount of time and effort on those fascinating suppressors you now wear."

Turning his head to the right, Heero saw Tokimi's adult form sitting by his bedside. She was the medical bay's only other occupant, and her relaxed demeanor made it seem more like she was waiting for a friend to wake up rather than keeping watch over a dangerous prisoner. Then again, in Heero's current state, he supposed that he really did not pose much of a threat to her.

She leaned forward, and Heero saw that she was holding his Key in her left hand. Following his gaze, Tokimi smiled as she then balanced the Key in her palm just out of Heero's reach.

"The likes of Seiryo and other xenophobic nobles may dismiss you as a brutish barbarian," she remarked, "but I daresay that your new weapon alone proves them wrong. It's as much a work of art as it is a conduit for your powers. If this is your Key, then I can only imagine what your Royal Treeship will eventually look like. There really is much more to you than your origins beyond the fringes of civilized space would have others believe."

Heero said nothing, his eyes instead furtively darting around as he scanned his environment. It didn't escape Tokimi's notice, with the goddess shaking her head.

"I can admire your initiative in looking for a means of escape so soon after regaining consciousness," she stated, "but your efforts are wasted. Your present shackles aside, even if you could get out of this medical bay, you would still have to contend with myself, my smaller half, and Nagi, all while being unarmed and aboard a starship that's presently at lightspeed. You strike me as a fast learner, and since you've been spending so much time around Washu, I trust that you understand the potential consequences of an unplanned real space reversion. Besides, fighting in the close quarters of the ship could damage something vital. An escape hardly does you any good if it destroys the ship you're on in the process, don't you think?"

Heero remained silent, though privately he would admit that Tokimi's points were valid. Equally important was the fact that Heero knew absolutely nothing about what awaited him beyond the medical bay's door. Tokimi had made mention of herself, her smaller decoy body or whatever the hell that thing was, and Nagi, but for all Heero knew there could be other personnel aboard ready for the moment he tried to break free. An escape attempt was always a gamble, but the best ones were calculated gambles, and Heero didn't have enough information available to make that calculation. Not yet, at least.

Keep her talking, he thought, and she might let something important slip.

"Is that really all the threat that I pose to Kagato?" he asked, "I'm only worth him sending three people after me? Or would you and your child body together only count as one?"

Tokimi chuckled. "That last one's an interesting question. I'm honestly not sure myself. Both my adult and child bodies are capable of independent action, so in that sense you could consider them as separate entities, yet ultimately, I do wield and direct both towards one end. In this case, that end was helping Nagi capture you and now to keep you in our custody until the three, or two, of us can get you to Kagato. I suppose it's all down to your individual interpretation. Do you go by the number of physical bodies, or by the mind behind them?"

Heero shrugged, masking his satisfaction; her answer was not conclusive, but it did seem to point towards her two bodies and Nagi being the only opposition he had to worry about here, at least if he didn't count Ken-Ohki. "If it comes down to a game of hairsplitting and semantics, then it's a waste of time."

"Suit yourself," Tokimi replied, "In the end, I suppose you're right. From a practical standpoint, all that really matters is that these three bodies were enough to subdue you… though you certainly made us work for it."

Heero then saw Tokimi's right hand brush along her abdomen and chest. "You held nothing back, and it showed. My smaller body needed some time to recover from you impaling her with your Light Hawk Wings before she could administer the decisive blow. You may be Yosho's grandson, but you're a much harder man than Jurai's wayward crown prince. Such cold ruthlessness in your attacks, with regard only for putting your enemies down efficiently and quickly… you're hardly a typical Juraian noble."

"I wasn't brought up by their standards," Heero pointed out, "I grew up in warzones. You act quickly, or you die. There's no middle ground."

Tokimi smiled. "Well spoken. Were my smaller half a normal being, your attack would certainly have killed her. As it is, it hurt quite a bit. Even now, I can still feel pangs of it. You really know how to leave your mark, young man."

"I'd rather leave more than just a mark," Heero shot back, his voice a low and menacing growl, "Next time, I'll cut her head off. Yours, too. We'll see if that does the trick."

Tokimi laughed at his threat. "Resolutely defiant, even in captivity… oh, Kagato and his sister are very right to be intrigued by you! I am most looking forward to seeing how they handle you."

Her expression then became more serious. "As for myself and my other body… well, you're certainly free to try should the chance arise. Don't expect me to let you take your shot without resistance, though. You'll find that I can do far more than simply dance around your attacks."

"I'd be disappointed if you couldn't," Heero replied, "I figured that a Choushin would have more tricks than mere acrobatics up her sleeves."

Tokimi smirked approvingly. "Nice to see that Washu's given you an appropriate appreciation for our kind. Of course, if she's right about you, then perhaps I should be more worried about me underestimating you rather than the other way around."

"You don't share her sentiments, though," Heero noted, "Otherwise, you wouldn't be backing Kagato. That leads me to something I've been wondering for a while now; why him?"

Tokimi folded her arms. "Why him, indeed? Rather than answer that directly, I think I'd rather wait until you meet him."

"I've already met him," Heero countered.

Tokimi shook her head. "Only on the battlefield… and even then, you didn't see everything that he can do. One does not reveal all their cards to the enemy, after all. Then again, with time, you may move out of that camp. That's certainly his wish, and I must say, I'm starting to understand now why that is."

"I've fought him twice now," Heero argued, "Three times if we include him sending Nagi and the assassin twins to Earth at the start of this whole affair. Seeing as I've consistently opposed him up until now, what makes him think that'll change?"

"The offer he has, for starters," said Tokimi.

"He made his sales pitch at the first repository," Heero deadpanned, "I wasn't impressed."

Tokimi sighed. "Those were less than ideal circumstances. I did warn him that you would hardly be a receptive audience at the time; given that you'd just fought your way through Washu's defenses and were guarding her while she was absorbing the repository's data, you were already primed for confrontation."

"And abducting me and hurting my fiancé isn't going to prime me for confrontation?" Heero quipped, "I have to assume you also harmed my bodyguard before moving on me, otherwise Ryoko would have come to my aid. Your actions on behalf of Kagato have done nothing to improve my disposition towards him."

"I assure you that both Mihoshi and Ryoko will wake up little worse for wear," said Tokimi, "You personally are familiar with the effects of Nagi's main weapon; hardly pleasant to experience, but not fatal, and it leaves no lasting damage. As for Ryoko, I did give her a good hit to the head, but one that she'd be more than capable of recovering from even if she weren't created by Washu to be particularly resilient."

"Resilient or not, don't think for a second that I'm going to let it slide," Heero growled, "As soon as I get a shot at you, I'm taking it, for my sake and hers."

Tokimi smiled. "Devoted to her, aren't you? If I didn't know better, I'd swear it was Ryoko you were engaged to rather than Mihoshi. Then again, that option's still open to you. Bring the two of them around to our side, and Kagato would preside over the ceremony himself."

Heero's eyes narrowed. "Just what makes Kagato so confident that he can still talk me into joining him?"

"You're a bright young man from outside the Empire," Tokimi answered, "Surely, you've already noticed at least some of its many flaws. The strict and inflexible hierarchy, the decadent nobles more concerned with petty power games rather than improving the lives of their subjects, their outright hostility towards any outsider, even one that so diligently cared for and protected Jurai's princesses… you know that you're not truly welcome in the Empire, right?"

"I was always going to meet resistance and skepticism," Heero casually countered, "I've already demonstrated that I'm more than capable of meeting the aristocracy's challenges and contending on their playing field."

Tokimi chuckled. "Yes, your duel with Seiryo at the debut ball certainly showed as much. It sent a very clear message, but you must know that it was just an opening skirmish in the grand scheme of things. You may be an heir of the main line accepted and acknowledged by the Emperor and his wives and daughters, yet your struggles with the wider royal court have only just begun. You simply haven't paid that arena much attention. Understandable given the martial demands your situation presents, but that doesn't mean the politics of the Empire still aren't playing out around you. Even with all that you've done to thwart the threat Kagato poses to the main line and their supporters, the aristocracy still has not fully accepted you. They are still sizing you up, analyzing and judging, waiting to see if you'll prove to be an asset or a threat. Some have already decided on the latter, and more will follow. You must know this."

"And you think I wouldn't face such opposition under a Jurai led by Kagato?" Heero quipped.

"Any who voiced such opposition would not remain in a position of influence for long afterwards," Tokimi replied, "Kagato, his sister and I fully appreciate the value that you represent. Far more than the Imperial Fleet's top brass or the nobles that the Empresses and Lady Seto have wooed on your behalf."

The Choushin then stood up. "That being said, the task of swaying you into our camp is not mine. Kagato and Ragyō both eagerly await taking on that challenge, and far be it from me to deny them what they crave."

"What do you crave?" Heero asked pointedly, "What's prompted you to come down from the high plane you and your fellow Choushin once shared? I thought you had stayed behind to carry out the experiment according to your original plan."

Tokimi was quiet for a long moment. The look that came to her face was a strange one, and the closest feeling Heero could associate with it was nostalgia. Given how incredibly old her kind was, Heero had to wonder just how far back a Choushin's memory went. Did Tokimi, Washu and Tsunami have absolutely perfect recollections of the countless eons they'd experienced, or did much of it tend to blur together after a while?

"Washu told you about that, then," she finally said, her voice surprisingly soft and perhaps suggesting just a hint of vulnerability, "I had intended to remain above the material plane. For the longest time, I did so. So much more practical to look on from overhead, to watch the experiment play out from a dispassionate distance. Yet… it wasn't enough. Without the two of them… it wasn't like before."

"You were lonely," Heero ventured.

It was just a guess, yet it appeared to be right on the mark if Tokimi's wistful smile was anything to go by. "Lonely? Someone like me? Well… I suppose that could've been part of it. I'm not as soft and sentimental as Tsunami and Washu, and yet… I had to know. What it was about the universe we created that made them wish to live within it rather than continue observing and testing from on high… what they saw that I had missed. I'm still somewhat mystified, but I will confess that being a direct player on the game board rather than a spectator is quite thrilling."

"This isn't a game," Heero shot back, "People have already died thanks to Kagato's actions, and a lot more will follow if this madness isn't stopped. Countless lives are at risk even now."

Tokimi shrugged. "Do you know what the lives of sentient beings truly are in the grand scheme of the universe, Heero? A resource. Akin to wood, ore, oil or any other such commodity. The universe uses them all without feeling, without compassion, without remorse. Thus has it always been, and thus it shall always be. The lives lost in this conflict are simply resources spent towards an end."

"I think I have a better appreciation now for Tsunami and Washu coming down here rather than staying on your home plane for so long like you did," Heero remarked, "Their time down here showed them that sentient life is more than just the 'resource' that you see it as. If you'd come down at the same time with them, maybe you'd see it the same way… and would've realized the mistake you're making in supporting Kagato. I've seen his kind before; their ambitions are never realized without legions suffering for them. It's no different with him, save perhaps in scale."

"To achieve grand change, equal ambition is required," Tokimi countered, "I would expect nothing less of my candidate. Frankly, I'm surprised that you seem to completely lack that quality. Without it, I don't think you can live up to Tsunami and Washu's expectations."

"Maybe their expectations don't include egomania in their candidate," Heero quipped.

"Maybe," the goddess conceded, "The three of us all have our unique views of the universe and the beings that live in it. Perhaps they see other qualities in you that merit their support. I would very much like to confer with them sometime and find out."

"Take me back to Seniwa, and you three can chat to your heart's content," Heero offered, "I'll even request that President Moriko keep her security forces from arresting you. Nagi too, if that's what it takes."

Tokimi chuckled. "How magnanimous of you. Not the sort of joke I was expecting. When it comes to jests, you're not bad."

"I'm being serious," Heero replied, "There's still time to pull back from the brink. Take me back to Seniwa, share what you know about Kagato, and this whole affair can be resolved quickly. You might be backing Kagato, but you personally haven't killed anyone. A case can be made for amnesty in exchange for cooperation."

"Could the same be extended for the bounty hunter?" Tokimi inquired with a raised eyebrow, "Unlike me, she very much has shed blood directly in this affair. The Galaxy Police vessels she helped Kagato destroy at the first repository weren't unmanned, after all."

"In the name of preserving galactic peace, I imagine her actions could be buried and quietly forgotten," Heero suggested, "I doubt the Galaxy Police would be happy about it, but politics is as dirty a game in the wider galaxy as it is in the Earth Sphere; it wouldn't be the first time that angry and bloodstained parties hammered out an agreement to prevent further bloodshed. No one has to be happy about an arrangement for it to work."

Tokimi regarded him with a pensive gaze, and Heero had to wonder if maybe, just maybe, she was seriously considering his proposal. "Letting those officers' killer go free in exchange for peace… that's a deal you can live with?"

"Letting one of their killers go free in exchange for peace," Heero clarified, "Kagato's ship was involved in that battle too, and he's already well off the deep end. You and Nagi, though, still have a chance."

Tokimi smiled. "For a soldier-turned-royal, you're not bad when you try your hand at diplomacy. There's clearly more to recommend you than just your fighting skills and bloodline power."

Heero pointedly ignored the flattery. "Turn back, Tokimi, and help me end this. I've been through the hell of war, and that's what Kagato will inflict on countless beings in pursuit of the Array. Further bloodshed can still be averted, or at least minimized. It's not too late."

Tokimi was quiet for a long moment before ultimately shaking her head. "Refine your pitch when you meet Kagato, Heero. He's the one in the driver's seat, as you humans might put it. I'm simply along for the ride."

"Bullshit," Heero shot back, "You're one of the three beings that created the universe as the rest of us know it. You have the power to stop this madness."

"Then let me rephrase my response," said Tokimi, her expression hardening, "To stop now merely maintains the status quo, and I find that unacceptable. A stagnate galaxy cannot evolve, cannot grow, which means the question Tsunami, Washu and myself have sought for eons to answer can never be answered. The Empire of Jurai as it stands now is an overgrown and rotting forest. It chokes out all possibility for change and growth. As a wildfire may purge such a forest and allow for new life to come forth from the ashes, so must a conflagration be sparked for Jurai, and the galaxy itself, to change. Do I have the power to stop it? Yes. Do have the desire to stop it? No."

Heero let out a heavy exhalation as he met her gaze. "Tsunami and Washu would be so disappointed in you. I know that I am. For a being with eons of experience behind her, you're incredibly foolish. So many in human history have preached your message. It only ends one way; in an ocean of blood."

"That is the price of evolution," Tokimi replied, "Non-sentient life throughout the galaxy follows the same vicious and uncompromising evolutionary cycle. Sentient life is not immune to it just because it can think in a more abstract and complex manner than the creatures it considers itself so far above. Jurai has halted the cycle and placed itself at the top of the food chain in perpetuity, but it has failed to evolve so that it might continue earning its position at the apex. It is arrogant, fat, ossified and stifling to all others. The wheel of evolution must turn again before corruption and decay smother all hope of progress."

"Then work with us to remove that corruption through reform," Heero offered, "I may be a newcomer to the wider galaxy, but I can recognize Jurai's flaws. There are others who can as well, and who they are may surprise you. The Emperor's eldest daughter and first in line to the throne, for starters."

"Princess Ayeka Masaki Jurai is too much a child of the system," Tokimi countered, "Whatever awakening she had while with you on Earth may have convinced her of the need for change, but she lacks the will to follow through. When she challenges the Empire's status quo in earnest and tries to break it, she will break first."

"Ayeka's stronger than you give her credit for," Heero shot back, "I think she'll surprise you."

"Perhaps she will," Tokimi said as she headed for the door, "but the two of you will have to defeat my candidate before your faith in her can be put to the test. In the meantime, I suggest you concern yourself with what will happen when we reach Kiryūin. For now, my candidate and his sister are very much interested in keeping you alive, as am I. Continue to intrigue, and you'll improve your odds of survival. Should you become boring, though… well, you'll have to hope that you still hold value as a hostage."

….

Water was still dripping from Nagi's hair as she made her way towards the ship's medical bay. As good as it felt to have shed her disguise and cleaned up Ken-Ohki, the bounty hunter could hardly relax. Yes, the vessel was safe while at light speed and had proper clearance codes and a fake ID transponder that would allow it to make the return trip to Kiryūin without issue, but it wasn't the journey back to Kagato's lair that concerned her right now.

You don't need to go see him, she told herself, The medical bay's under surveillance, and there's no way he can escape his bindings. This isn't necessary.

By rights, she should be staying away from the young man. She had captured him, and now all that she needed to do was deliver him to Kagato. After that, once she confirmed the payout had cleared through to her account, she could get the hell away from this mess and never look back. This was just another bounty drop-off; she'd done countless of them over the course of her long career. She'd never gotten worked up before about the targets she'd retrieved for her clients before. That was a rule in her profession; don't get any more invested in the prey than the job requires. If you start sinking more in than what it's worth, pull back and reestablish objectivity. If worse comes to worse, cut your losses and take another contract.

"Job's almost done," she muttered under her breath as she came to a stop just beyond the medical bay door, "What the hell am I doing?"

She stood in place for a long moment before reaching out towards the small console next to the doorframe. Her finger hovered over the keypad for several seconds before she finally tapped the button that opened the door.

The moment she stepped inside, the fierce blue eyes of the man strapped to the bed locked with hers and gave her a piercing look. "What do you want?"

Nagi took a deep breath as the door closed behind her before taking a small hemispherical metal device from her utility belt and pressing it against the wall. The device latched on to the surface thanks to a magnetic underbelly, and a blue light began flashing. Stepping towards the bed, Nagi pulled out two sets of earplugs. After putting one in her ears, she then leaned forward to do the same for Heero.

"You'll thank me in a minute," she remarked, almost reflexively turning away from his withering glare.

Walking back over to the device she'd planted on the wall, she pressed down on its domed top. The blue light's flashing intensified, and then the device emitted a high-frequency pulse that still stung even with the earplugs. Nagi's eyes darted around the room as she saw three small spurts of sparks briefly appear, and then her gaze went back to the device. The blue light had returned to its normal level of intensity; the device had done its job.

"What was that?" Heero asked after the bounty hunter had removed both hers and his earplugs.

"A little tool that's designed to short out any monitoring devices within range," Nagi answered.

The young man's gaze softened as he looked at her in curiosity. "Using it under these circumstances would seem counterproductive for you. I presume those monitoring devices that you just neutralized were meant to keep an eye on me."

"An eye and ear," Nago amended.

"I wouldn't think it'd be in a bounty hunter's interest for her prey to go unobserved, even when bound," Heero noted as he flexed against his shackles.

"You're not going anywhere," Nagi replied, "The fact that you haven't used your Light Hawk Wings to cut yourself free means that Kagato's toys around your wrists work, and you don't have any other way to get loose."

"Even so, why take the chance?" Heero inquired, "For someone who operates at your level of professionalism, it's sloppy. You're off your game."

Nagi folded her arms. "I know what I'm doing."

"The fact that you're here disabling security devices indicates otherwise," Heero countered, "Finally having second thoughts about all of this?"

Nagi's eyes narrowed. "Don't think for a moment that you'll be able to sweettalk your way out of this. Your charms might work on Ryoko and the others, but when I take a contract, nothing stops me from completing it."

"You're very good at your job," Heero remarked, "Kagato wouldn't have hired you for this operation otherwise. Still, part of you must realize that Kagato is hardly a normal client. You're having doubts."

"I'm not," Nagi hissed defensively.

"You're a shit liar," Heero declared, "If you weren't having doubts, you wouldn't be here with me right now."

Nagi did not have a retort for that, mainly because Heero was right. She could bluster and play it cool all she wanted, but her captive was far too perceptive to go for it. It was rare for Nagi to encounter a bounty that could see right through her.

No wonder Ryoko fell for him.

"I can respect dedication to your contract," Heero continued, "For me, it's the same; when I take on a mission, I complete it no matter what. I'm sure that your commitment to honoring any contract you take has done wonders for your professional reputation. It's part of why you can command a high price for your services."

Nagi couldn't help but smile at that. "You have a good head for this sort of thing. Ever thought about getting into the bounty hunter game yourself? With your skills and smarts, you could make quite a name for yourself in this line of work."

"Can't say I'm all that interested in it," Heero replied, "I have other commitments in any case."

Nagi shrugged. "Shame. You'd be good at it. I normally operate with just Ken-Ohki, but I could see you being the sort of hunter that I'd team up with for a juicy score."

"I could say the same if you went into my line of work," said Heero, "Leaving aside your current employer, your talents are superb. You'd make a good soldier or operative. Even a good Royal Guard."

Nagi chuckled ruefully. "If I'm a shit liar, then you're the same when it comes to jokes."

"I wasn't joking about any of it," Heero pushed back, "We might be on different sides, but I can respect your abilities… and we don't have to be on different sides."

"Contract says otherwise, unfortunately," Nagi countered, "Can't say I'm happy about it, but that's just the way things are."

"You know what this contract is going to result in," said Heero, his eyes narrowing, "You've just abducted a member of the Royal Family, and you're delivering me to a noble who wants to put a gun to every planet in the galaxy. This is far from your typical contract, and you can't honestly tell me that any amount of money is worth the risk of planetary extinction. If Kagato comes out on top in this conflict, then he'll have the ability to wipe out all life in any star system he chooses at a moment's notice. No one should have that kind of power."

"Tell that to Washu," Nagi shot back, "She built that weapon for the Emperor to wield."

"That was a mistake that she's long since come to recognize," Heero replied, "and one that's she's been trying to make up for ever since."

"Then tell that to those her weapon killed," Nagi quipped.

"She's hardly the only one with innocent blood on her hands," said Heero, his voice growing noticeably softer, "I know what it's like to try atoning for that. It may be impossible, but we still make the attempt regardless."

Nagi studied the young man curiously. "Huh… didn't peg you as the type. Figured you were as straight-laced as they come. No endangering innocents or anything like that."

"That's always been the goal," Heero murmured as he closed his eyes, "but not always the result."

The room was quiet for a moment before Nagi sighed and leaned against the wall by the bed. "Well, you two are in good company, at least. My hands have plenty of innocent blood on them now. Before I started working for Kagato, I never would've turned Ken-Ohki's guns on the Galaxy Police. I did, though… and there's no turning back from that."

"I don't think you really believe that," Heero ventured as he opened his eyes and met her gaze, "Otherwise, you wouldn't be down here with me right now. I know a crisis of conscience when I see one, Nagi. Believe me, I know the feeling all too well."

Nagi grimaced. "It's too late. They're already dead. Nothing I can do brings them back."

"You're only partially right," Heero argued, "No, you can't bring them back, but it's not too late for you, Nagi."

She looked down at him for a long and quiet moment. Just what was she seeing in him, her latest capture strapped to the bed? A symbol of how far she'd fallen…

…or the chance to pull back from the brink?

If she didn't know better, his next words would've made her swear that Heero was telepathic. "There's still time to change course. It's not about washing the innocent blood off our hands; that's simply not possible for the likes of us. However, we can decide what we'll do to atone for spilling that blood in the first place, so that those lives needlessly lost become a lesson we take to heart. It might not be justice for the dead, but it can help us make peace with what we've done and find a better path forward. Nagi, you still have a chance."

Nagi was silent for several seconds before releasing a heavy exhalation. "I took the contract, and I'm completing it. I don't leave my jobs unfulfilled… no matter what."

She expected him to scathingly castigate her, and Nagi was prepared to accept it, but that wasn't what got from him.

Instead, he had a question for her. "What about after the contract's complete?"

Nagi's eyes widened slightly as she processed the implication. "After…"

After should have been easy; she was going to take Ken-Ohki and the money and run. That had been the plan from the start, and it still was…

…wasn't it?

It is, she forcefully reminded herself, and it's not changing. You're so close to the biggest payday of your life and finally getting out of the game. Don't let your personal feelings distract you when you're on the home stretch!

And yet…

After the contract was complete, who said she had to leave right away? It would take a bit of time to set her affairs in order, to figure out exactly which world she would make a run to and establish a new life on. Accounts and assets would need to be consolidated, additional research done before making a final decision on the planet where she would retire… and surely, given all that she had done to advance his cause, Kagato would have no issue with Nagi residing at his estate while she sorted all that out.

You idiot… you're not seriously considering this, are you? You need to complete the contract and then get the hell out.

That was the idea, but that first step was all it would take to satisfy her by-now compulsion to honor whatever agreement she took. That second step stemmed for personal desire, not a contract… which gave her a far greater degree of flexibility.

No! No, no, no, no, and no! You have a plan. Stick to it.

All while this conflict raged in her head, Nagi was keenly aware of Heero watching her like a hawk. Had he known that his question, his skillful attempt to exploit a loophole that her sense of honor and professionalism had unwittingly provided him, would trigger this sort of hesitation in her?

Much to her own surprise, Nagi found herself chuckling as she looked at him. "Clever boy… you really are a devious one. No wonder she likes you so much."

"I have my moments," Heero remarked.

"You certainly do," Nagi concurred as she headed for the door, "Better hope you have some good ones when Kagato and his sister get a hold of you. You're going to need it."

"I won't be in their hands for long," Heero claimed, "The stay might be even shorter if I had a bit of help."

Nagi's hand hovered over the device that she had used earlier to short out the bugs. "What makes you think any of that help will come from me?"

"Call it a gamble," Heero replied, meeting her gaze as she looked over her shoulder at him, "A bet that you're not entirely who Ryoko thinks you are… and that you're a bit more like me than you realize."

Nagi raised an eyebrow. "Rolling the dice on my better angels winning out? Hate to break it to you, but your odds aren't great."

Heero casually shrugged. "I've had worse. Besides, if there's one thing I've learned over the years, it's that people are full of surprises… and that they can even surprise themselves. So, yeah, I'll place a wager on you being a better person than everyone else seems to think you are… including you."

Nagi had to fight very hard to keep from smiling. There was a warmth in her heart that she wasn't accustomed to feeling, one that she was struggling mightily to dampen. In a line of work where she constantly had to filter through half-truths, lies and omissions, where she had to get her hands dirty with the worst scum in the galaxy in the pursuit of her prey, seeing someone have faith in another person's 'better angels' was a foreign concept. It was incredibly naïve, an outright fantasy.

And yet…

…there was something refreshing about it.

"You're being completely serious, aren't you?" Nagi asked.

Heero nodded. "I am."

Something else began tugging at Nagi's heart as she looked at the young man. She suddenly saw not just him, but Mihoshi and Ryoko standing on either side. One his fiancé, the other his bodyguard, both getting to be with him, getting to spend their lives with him…

And then it hit her. She was jealous.

Nagi forced herself to turn away, sighing heavily as she deactivated the bug suppressor and pocketed the device. She didn't need these emotions pulling her away from common sense. She had to stick to the plan, complete the contract. After that…

…perhaps she would keep her options open.

For a little while, anyway.

….

Swimming through a sea of black, Ryoko became dimly aware of a throbbing in her head as she slowly drifted back towards consciousness. That throbbing became more distinct as the minutes went by, and a jumbled mess of images flashed through her mind.

I didn't go on a bender, she groggily thought, did I? No… it's been a while since I've pulled one of those.

Light began filtering into the blackness, and Ryoko chased after it. The light slowly spread, pushing back the darkness to reveal glaring white with some indistinct blurs at the periphery of her vision. It took a few more minutes for things to clear up enough that Ryoko could guess at her surroundings. She felt pretty confident that she was lying in an infirmary or hospital, which didn't exactly bode well. Clumsily, she ran her hands up and down her body, not finding any injuries until she reached up and discovered the bandages wrapped around her forehead.

"Explains the damn headache…" Ryoko groaned as she winced against the glaring light, "Kind of, anyway. What… what the hell happened?"

"Finally coming around, hm?" said a familiar female voice, "Should've figured you'd snooze the longest."

The voice came from a reddish blur sitting to the right of her bed, one that was slowly revealing itself to be Washu. "You…"

"Hey, you're awake!" Sasami eagerly chimed in from the left as she leaned over the bed, "Ryoko, are you okay?"

"Meow!" cried Ryo-Ohki from her perch on Sasami's shoulder.

Ryoko grimaced; the princess's high-pitched voice was not doing her headache any favors. "Been better… damn it, I've had hangovers with less bite than this."

"You… you don't remember what happened?" asked a third female voice.

It came from the foot of the bed, and as Ryoko propped herself up on her elbows she saw Mihoshi sitting there. She was shocked to see the look of utter despondency on the cop's face; it was such a jarring contrast to Mihoshi's usual carefree cheerfulness, and it was all that Ryoko needed to realize that something really bad had happened.

"Can you… help me out a bit?" Ryoko nervously inquired, "My head's still pretty fuzzy."

"The party at the gallery," Washu chimed in, "That ring any bells?"

Ryoko shut her eyes in concentration. Fresh images began scrolling through her mind; the red-carpet arrival, watching Heero and Mihoshi dance, following them out into the gardens…

…and her hostile encounter.

Ryoko's eyes snapped open. "Tokimi!"

Washu sighed. "Well, at least you remember. If it makes you feel any better, she got me first. Drugged me and stuffed me away in a cleaning supplies closet, of all places. Not exactly my finest hour."

"I saw her in the gallery," Sasami added, her voice soft and distant as the princess relived the troubling memory, "I didn't know who she was, but… Tsunami did. I think she was trying to warn us, but I couldn't handle it… I passed out."

Washu gave the girl a gentle smile. "Not your fault, Sasami. Trowa said that he heard you speak her name before you lost consciousness, so at least someone got the message."

"It wasn't just her," Mihoshi murmured, "Nagi was there, too."

Ryoko's head snapped back. "Nagi? Seriously?"

Mihoshi slowly nodded. "I was trying to help Heero, but… she got me."

A chill went down Ryoko's spine as she looked around the room, only realizing now just who was missing. She saw Yosho standing against the far wall, but he was the room's only other occupant.

Meeting her gaze, the old shrine keeper shook his head. "The others left some time ago to help with the investigation."

As selfish as it might be, there was only one of the 'others' that Ryoko had in her thoughts right now. "Where's Heero? Is he okay?"

At the mention of Heero's name, Yosho grimaced. His wasn't the only alarming reaction; Mihoshi sniffed, and her bright blue eyes suddenly seemed like they were about to open the floodgates. Sasami's shoulders slumped, with the younger princess appearing on the verge of despondency. As for Washu, she could only hang her head in despair.

It was to her mother that Ryoko now turned. "Washu… where is Heero?"

Washu let out a heavy exhalation. "Nagi and Tokimi took him. Seniwa's Home Fleet tried to intercept, but they lost them. He's well on his way to Kagato now."

The news hit Ryoko like a gut punch. She forgot all about the throbbing pain in her head, instead staring numbly at Washu as the information set in. Heero had been taken…

…on her watch.

She was supposed to be his Royal Guard, his protector…

…and she had utterly failed him.

"Heero…" she hoarsely whispered as she felt a strange wetness at the corners of her eyes.

Ryoko wasn't a woman prone to tears, yet she couldn't stop them from dripping down her face now. The young man she had fallen head over heels in love with, who had shown her nothing but acceptance and kindness from the moment she'd been placed in his care, who had given her a chance at a life beyond that of a criminal, who had entrusted his very life with her, had been abducted. She had been on duty, was supposed to be vigilant and watching out for even the slightest of threats to him, was meant to be his strongest line of defense, and she'd gone down to a mere headbutt from a woman that she should have recognized as a threat.

Washu reached over to place a hand on her shoulder. "This wasn't your fault. You were attacked by Tokimi herself; you had no chance against her. Not as you are right now, anyway."

Ryoko heard the words, but they might as well have been gibberish. All she could think of was the fact that Heero had been captured when she was supposed to prevent exactly that sort of thing from happening.

Sasami tried to comfort her as well, leaning across the bed to hug her. "Ryoko… it's alright. We'll find Heero and save him. I know we will!"

"Meow…" Ryo-Ohki murmured as she leaned forward to lick Ryoko's cheek.

When Sasami eventually let her go, Ryo-Ohki hopped down into Ryoko's lap and looked up at her. Ryoko knew her furry friend well, and it was clear that Ryo-Ohki was desperately searching for a way to cheer her up. She could only reach down and scratch her behind her ears, but the gesture was numb and instinctive. As much as Ryoko might have wanted to give her living starship the genuine affection that she deserved, her heart just wasn't in it. In fact, it almost felt to Ryoko like she didn't have a heart at all right now, and where it should've been was an aching void… one with a whispering voice coming out of it.

It said the same thing, over and over.

This is your fault. You failed him.

You failed him.

You failed him.

You failed him.

The emphasis might have changed with each iteration, but the sentiment remained the same.

So caught up was Ryoko in the chorus of recrimination that she almost did not notice Mihoshi come forward, with Washu silently moving aside to let the Galaxy Police officer take her place. Looking up at her, Ryoko saw Mihoshi's eyes watering up, her anguish and sorrow clear for all to see. Without so much as a word, the normally clumsy and ditzy cop took Ryoko into a gentle embrace, pressing her cheek against hers so the former pirate could feel the tears falling.

Nothing was said, but the message was clear. In that moment it was Mihoshi, of all people, who truly understood the depths of Ryoko's despair.

….

April 3rd, A.C. 199

When consciousness found Heero again, he was no longer in the medical bay of a starship. Instead, he was lying atop what had to be at least a king-sized four-post bed, with white curtains dangling around him on all sides. The white covers beneath him felt like they were woven from fine silk, and the pillows were a perfect mix of supportive and yielding. Flexing his arms, he realized that was not shackled to this bed either; he had complete range of motion now, though the strange Juraian-power-suppressing cuffs were still on his wrists. At least those weren't bound together like traditional handcuffs. Sitting up, Heero pushed the curtains on the right side of the bed apart, and he slid off the bed into what turned out to be a very spacious and well-appointed room. Walking around, he found a nightstand on each side of the bed with a lamp, a small table in the back corner of the room with two chairs set around it, a wardrobe with a series of outfits that disturbingly looked like they were tailored to his exact size, and a door that led to a decent-sized washroom that all but sparkled with fresh cleanliness. White seemed to be the predominant color, which of course immediately brought to mind the white-haired cadet branch Royal that had ordered his abduction.

"When did I get here?" Heero murmured to himself as he headed over to a window with curtains drawn shut over it, "I remember Tokimi coming back in to drug me, but after that… damn it."

Pushing apart the dark curtains, Heero found himself staring out a series of gardens and fields with a long driveway cutting through the center leading right up to the structure that he now occupied. Looking past the greenery, Heero saw the driveway set a winding course away from the estate, which appeared to be nestled within a mountain range. He could see light snowfall just behind the estate grounds, and he noted the strange phenomenon of the flakes falling everywhere but the estate.

No dome like on Seniwa, he noted as he looked around, so they must have some other means of keeping the inclement weather out. A type of force field, maybe? I'll have to ask Washu after I find a way to get out of here and reach the others.

He spent a few minutes surveying the grounds, searching for potential security devices and guards. Heero spotted what appeared to be gardening robots plodding along on spindly legs, their six arms busy trimming, bud-nipping, or watering away as needs demanded. They seemed harmless enough, though he was not willing to rule out them possessing secondary programs that made them serve as disguised sentries, and for all he knew they could have hidden weapons tucked away in their chassis. There were several statues dotting the gardens, which translated to Heero as potential points where cameras or other sensors might be concealed, possibly even weapons. He would need to find a way to inspect the gardens up close and personal to determine if they had any nasty surprises in store for intruders or escapees. Assuming he could even get out of the building he currently occupied, anyway.

After studying what he could see beyond the window, Heero then turned his attention back to the room. He could not see any obvious listening devices or cameras, but that didn't mean they weren't present. Heero recalled just how tiny the bugs that Nagi had disabled in the medical bay had been, and given that Kagato had once been a colleague of Washu, it was more than possible for him to have developed surveillance devices that were extremely difficult to detect. No matter where he went in this room or beyond, until Heero knew for certain what sort of bugs to be on the lookout for he had to assume that his every move was being monitored.

He was still examining the room when a chime sounded from a small keypad atop one of the nightstands, and a familiar male voice echoed in the room a moment latter. "Good morning, Heero Yuy. Welcome to my private estate. I do hope that the accommodations are to your liking."

Heero bristled at Kagato's words but kept his cool. "Do all your enemies get luxurious rooms like this?"

"If they're truly my enemies, then they do not," Kagato answered.

"You saying I'm not one of them?" Heero asked, "Our interactions up to this point would indicate otherwise."

"On the surface, you would be correct," Kagato conceded, "but I do not think that such a state of affairs between us need continue. Quite the contrary, in fact. Now that you do not have any bothersome voices whispering in either ear, this is an opportunity for us to finally converse honestly and rectify the situation."

"And is this how a mighty cadet branch Royal conducts negotiations?" Heero deadpanned, "Behind a speaker, not even showing his face?"

"No, of course not," Kagato readily pushed back, "I have every intention of speaking with you face-to-face, though your new room is hardly the setting I'd prefer. If you'll please step back from the nightstand for a moment?"

Heero was puzzled by the request but complied. A soft buzzing sound came from below the nightstand, and a hole appeared in the surface a moment later. Out of that hole rose a mechanical stalk with a translucent blue bulb on the end, which quickly revealed itself to be a holo-projector. There was a flash of bright blue light which quickly resolved into a floor plan. Heero was quick to note that it only showed a single floor when this was clearly a multi-storied mansion; Kagato clearly wasn't about to show him the full estate blueprints. A flashing red light appeared in what Heero immediately identified as his bedroom, and a red line began tracing itself out the door and down the hallway before terminating at the far end.

"You'll find my study down the hall," Kagato explained, "It's the last door on the left. I look forward to your arrival."

Heero raised an eyebrow. "And you trust that I'll just walk straight there? What's to stop me from trying to leave?"

"Every other door on this floor apart from the ones to your room and my study are currently locked," Kagato replied, "I control them all from a console here. You could, of course, try to pick or hotwire them; given your background, I'm sure such skills are in your repertoire. However, I'm afraid that you'll find the mechanisms considerably more complex than what you may have on Earth or in your space colonies. Do feel free to try, of course; I would be most impressed if you managed to crack them. I do have my doubts, though. No disrespect to your abilities, mind you; I simply believe you would need more time to familiarize yourself with the inner workings of my abode's security systems before attempting to tamper with them. Am I wrong?"

"Won't know until I try," Heero offered in challenge.

Kagato chuckled. "Ah, such a bold and defiant spirit you have! If you insist, I won't stop you. That being said, you strike me as the sort who prefers getting right to the heart of the matter, and it would save us both time if you would simply come to my study. I promise that you won't be disappointed. I'll even offer you a deal; come straight here without attempting to breach any of the other doors, and I will have them all unlocked after our conversation is completed."

Heero was taken aback by that. "You'd give me free run of the floor and potentially other parts of the estate after a single face-to-face meeting? Why?"

"Consider it a gesture of good faith," Kagato answered, "A professional courtesy from one candidate to another. Only one of us can be the genuine article, but that's no reason for animosity. There is much that we both can offer each other if an understanding can be reached."

"And if we reach an impasse?" Heero asked warily.

"We'll have plenty of time to work past that," Kagato replied, "Now, how does that human expression go? The ball's in your court, or something along those lines, right? I've been brushing up on your civilization, and I must say, your people have coined so many charming idioms. Anyway, you know where to find me. I hope you to see you imminently."

There was a click suggesting an end to the audio transmission, yet the holo-image remained. Heero watched in thought as the translucent floorplan slowly rotate over the nightstand for a minute or two before turning and heading towards the door.

He's your enemy now and will still be so when your conversation is complete, Heero told himself, but don't slam the door on him here. Let things play out, give him the impression that you're open to an agreement. Above all, keep him convinced that you're worth more to him alive than dead. You might be stuck here for a while, and you'll need to play for time so you can work out an escape plan.

He sighed wearily. He was a soldier, not a diplomat, even if recent experience had granted him new appreciation and insight for how the latter role worked. Right now, it would be words keeping Heero alive, not fighting techniques or weapons. He found himself wishing that he could consult with Relena right now; regardless of their differing views on the world, Heero greatly valued her perspective and skills when it came to negotiation and rhetoric. This was just the sort of arena where her gift with words and moving the hearts of others would come in handy.

Stepping up to the door, Heero saw it slide open to reveal a gleaming if rather plain white corridor. Walking down the hall, Heero's gaze swept up and down both sides as he looked for potential surveillance devices. There were no guards visible, but that was no reason to assume the mansion's interior was undefended.

No staff present either, Heero mused, though they may just be attending to duties on different floors. Then again, maybe the cleaning and maintenance here is all done through automatons like those gardeners I saw. Actually, that would make sense. Kagato was Washu's chief collaborator for constructing the Judgement Array, and the repositories we've raided so far have all relied heavily on autonomous drones for their defenses. Automation probably played a huge role in building the Array itself, so there's a good chance that Kagato's well-versed in such constructs. It would be much simpler to build drones for mansion maintenance than ones designed for combat, after all.

It didn't take long for Heero to reach the end of the hallway. Pausing just beyond the door's sensors, Heero took a deep breath to center himself. He would have to fight his instincts here; he'd be constantly on the lookout for openings to strike at Kagato, and it was necessary to resist temptation. Heero was unarmed, and while he had freedom of movement and could utilize his considerable hand-to-hand combat prowess, Kagato would almost certainly be armed in one manner or another. This very invitation for conversation could just be the aristocrat hoping to bait him into an attack.

Bide your time. The moment will come, but not before you lay the groundwork for it. This isn't a strike; it's recon. Play it accordingly.

Heero then stepped forward, and the door slid open. Going inside, Heero was struck by just how much the room resembled what one might think of as a typical noble's study back on Earth. The cold and sterile white of the corridor was still present in the walls, but it was muted and mostly blocked by a series of shelves that lined the spacious chamber. Looking around, Heero saw that the shelves were organized to hold either books or scrolls, and thanks to Ayeka's instruction Heero could read the Juraian script of the labeling placards. The collection was divided much like a traditional library, with shelves devoted to subjects such as history, astronomy, political science, economics, mathematics, physics and much more beside present. A wide central section of the chamber had three tables in the middle of it, upon each of which was a scattering of tomes and scrolls, some closed and other left fully or partially open. Much more modern holo-computer consoles were also imbedded in the tables to assist the occupants with research. The bulk of the white floor was concealed beneath a wide circular rug consisting of a black base and a vast web of interconnecting silver lines that all spiraled towards the center. Meanwhile, the rather harsh lighting that Heero had seen in the hallway was replaced by a series of more subdued lamps jutting out from the walls and placed upon tables, which actually granted the room a warmer, more lived-in feeling than the almost inhumanely pale corridor preceding it, which had struck the young man as reminiscent of a sterilized surgical suite.

Walking through the central chamber, he briefly glanced at the tables and the varying research materials spread out atop them before continuing to the back of the room. There he saw a finely polished wooden desk set against a wide window lined with black curtains, currently pulled back to allow full view of the sprawling gardens in front of the estate. The desk was mostly clear save for a console and a holographic projector, along with a gleaming tray that held a kettle with steam wafting up accompanied by two cups. A tall-backed, almost scoop-like chair was behind the desk, its back currently to Heero, but it swiveled around as the prince approached to reveal its occupant; Kagato, of course. The cadet branch Royal was dressed almost casually compared to how Heero had seen other members of the Juraian aristocracy attire themselves, having clad himself in simple grey robes with white six-pointed star patterns embroidered in the silk.

He smiled as Heero approached and gestured to a smaller scoop-like chair which was hovering in front of the desk. "Welcome, Heero Yuy Masaki Jurai. I do hope you're well-rested. Please, take a seat. Care for some refreshment? If so, you're in luck; one of my servants just left me here with fresh tea."

The aristocrat gestured to the tray on the left side of his desk. Heero couldn't help but notice something else sitting on the tray besides the kettle and cups; the curved hilt of his Master Key.

Following his gaze, Kagato chuckled. "Oh, goodness, wherever did that servant find this? I'm pretty sure a prince's Key isn't supposed to be served up with tea."

"An honest mistake, I'm sure," Heero deadpanned as he sat across from Kagato.

"Perhaps, but there's no harm in taking advantage of it," Kagato remarked, pouring the tea and passing a cup to Heero before lifting his own, "To your health and a fruitful conversation."

Heero was pointedly silent, though he did allow Kagato the courtesy of clinking cups together. The former Gundam pilot watched as Kagato took a long sip, refusing to touch the contents of his own.

Kagato licked his lips before setting the cup down. "Ah, truly a splendid brew. You're not going to partake?"

"Perhaps in a minute or two," Heero replied.

Kagato sighed theatrically. "It's not poisoned, you know. If I was going to have you killed, you surely must know that you would not have woken up earlier. Besides, I had this brew made as closely to an Earth format as possible just for you. Are you really going to decline my hospitality?"

Heero was quiet for a moment, studying Kagato carefully. The aristocrat seemed to be in perfect health after the drink, though if it was poisoned then it was always possible that the man had given himself an antidote beforehand. Still, given the way events had played out so far, Heero would begrudgingly admit that the cadet branch Royal didn't appear to want him dead.

Not yet, anyway.

Eventually, Heero decided to gamble in the name of diplomacy and took a drink. His sip was smaller than Kagato's, but still enough for him to enjoy the tea. True to his word, the drink did remind Heero of cups that he had shared back on Earth…

…particularly with a certain shrine keeper.

"You and my grandfather have similar tastes," the prince noted when he set his cup down, "At least when it comes to tea."

"Well, I did pick it up from him," Kagato confessed, "Washu might have been my senior colleague and mentor in the scientific realm, but Yosho was my companion and teacher in the art of the sword… and in so much more."

The aristocrat's tone caught Heero off guard; Kagato seemed wistful, like a man remembering happier times long gone. It was rather jarring to hear coming from an enemy.

Heero was taken further aback by what Kagato said next. "How is he? Was he doing well on Earth?"

Heero considered his words carefully. "He was enjoying a quiet life as a mountain shrine keeper. As for how he is now… if you know him so well, then you don't need me to tell you that he's less than thrilled with being pulled back into Juraian politics. Still, he's healthy if nothing else. You found that out for yourself at the repositories."

"I did, indeed," Kagato remarked with a smile, "Even now, he's still got a leg up on me in swordsmanship, if only in pure technique. It was always like that back when we trained together. I can't say I'm all that surprised he picked a simpler life for his exile. He never did enjoy the power games and gossip-mongering at court."

"Well, who can blame him?" Heero quipped.

Kagato chuckled as he appraised his prisoner. "I see you share his sentiments on the matter. You know, you really do remind me of Yosho's younger days. He had more of an open air about him back then than you do now, true, always ready to smile and laugh at the simple things in life, but when he was serious… he was razor sharp and colder than a Seniwan blizzard. You didn't want to be on the other end when he decided you were a foe."

"Yet, knowing that, you and your sister still attacked him and forced his exile on Earth," Heero remarked, "If you were reluctant to make an enemy out of him, that's a pretty odd way to show it."

"An adversary," Kagato amended, "Not an enemy."

Heero arched an eyebrow. "How do you define the difference?"

"An enemy is to be destroyed," Kagato answered, "An adversary is to be fought, but also respected… and, potentially, brought into one's camp as an ally. I still have that hope with regards to Yosho."

"Is that why you wanted me alive?" asked Heero, "You want to use me to get my grandfather to side with you?"

"I would certainly like to accomplish that," Kagato readily admitted, "though it's not at the heart of this matter. Quite close to it, though."

"You have an uphill battle ahead on that front," Heero quipped, "He's hardly inclined to trust you at this point. I can't exactly blame him. From my perspective, what you're after is madness."

Kagato inclined his head. "I can see how it might appear that way at first glance. Now that we have time to talk in a civilized setting, though, I'm hoping to convince you otherwise. Allow me to start with an olive branch."

The aristocrat reached behind the desk, and Heero momentarily tensed in preparation for a surprise attack, but when Kagato brought his hand back up it held only a small grey remote. With the click of a button, the cuffs that had suppressed Heero's Juraian powers came undone and fell to the floor. Setting the remote aside, Kagato then gestured to the curved hilt of Heero's Key.

"Please, take it," said the cadet branch Royal, "A Juraian Royal should not be parted from their Key, let alone a Master Key."

Heero remained wary. "It'd be one thing if you offered it to me with the cuffs still on. With them off, though… you've seen what I can do. You don't think that I've been slacking off in my training since the last battle, do you?"

"Oh, of course not," Kagato replied with a confident smile, "I would expect Yosho's grandson to be diligent in all his endeavors, and mastery of the sword would most certainly be among them. The same goes for your efforts with the Light Hawk Wings."

"And yet you just gave me the chance to use them," Heero pointed out, "What makes you think I won't take the chance to end this farce by killing you right here and now?"

"Three things," Kagato casually answered, "One; you're a direct descendant from Yosho, and from what I've seen of you so far, I'm willing to bet that some of his sense of honor has rubbed off on you. I invited you to this room to converse in good faith and have offered you your Key and use of your powers back as another such gesture, and I'm willing to bet on you honoring it. Two; if you were going to attack, you would've done so the moment the cuffs dropped. You're certainly not the sort who would announce a surprise attack. How am I doing so far?"

"On the mark," Heero conceded as he reached for Achika and clipped the Master Key to his belt, "What's number three?"

Kagato closed his eyes for a moment, and Heero suddenly felt a surge in the aristocrat's Juraian power. There was a flash of white behind him, forcing the young prince to momentarily shield his eyes. When the glare subsided enough, Heero was confronted with the imposing image of no less than eight Light Hawk Wings slowly spinning behind the cadet branch Royal's seat.

"Washu and Tsunami are not wrong to consider you a potential candidate," Kagato noted with a sinister smile, "By the same token, you would be wise to understand that there's a very good reason why Tokimi considers me to be one."

"I figured she saw something in you," Heero replied as the circling Light Hawk Wings vanished a moment later, "If you've had that many at your disposal this whole time, why didn't you employ them at either of the repositories? They certainly would've made fighting against you more difficult."

"One does not reveal all his cards before the final hand is dealt," Kagato answered, "More to the point, up until now, it has been imperative for me that the royal court be in the dark as to the true extent of my power. The main line of the Royal Family has long been accustomed to being the most proficient in wielding the Light Hawk Wings, a tradition that you are well on your way to following. The power flows beyond the main line, though, and cadet branch Royals are more than capable of utilizing the Light Hawk Wings."

"But none have materialized as many as you just did," Heero surmised.

Kagato chuckled. "Yes, you're quite right about that. In fact, no Royal, main line or cadet branch, has materialized this many in a millennium at least. Just imagine the stir it would cause if the knowledge that I can accomplish such a feat were to get out. It would draw even greater scrutiny, and I had need to avoid that."

The past tense did not escape Heero's notice. "Had need… but no longer?"

"Consider yourself honored to be the first fortunate enough to bear witness," Kagato remarked, "Well, the first outside my immediate family, at least. My sister knows, of course. Training with her was vital to progressing my powers to this point. Tokimi likewise is aware. Otherwise, she would not be considering me as a candidate. The fact that Washu and Tsunami hold you in the same level of esteem suggests that you can reach this point too, Heero. From what I've seen of you so far, I have every reason to concur."

"Wouldn't that make me a threat to you?" Heero asked with a narrowed gaze, "If I have the potential that you and so many others claim I do, then I'm the only one that could actually challenge you in the future."

"You surely could," Kagato admitted, "I must confess that the idea of such a contest between us were your powers to develop further is a fascinating one. I have far greater experience on my side, but you have your own brand of combat prowess, and quite a formidable one at that. Your style of fighting is now a mix of Juraian and the various soldierly techniques you mastered back on your homeworld. That makes you a very unique combatant. How such a fight might play out… I honestly cannot say. I suppose that just makes the prospect all the more intriguing. Still, why fight at all when we could both gain immensely from cooperation instead?"

"This is where the sales pitch comes in, then," Heero deadpanned, "I hope you've worked out a better one than what you offered back at the first repository."

"Well, I've certainly had plenty of time to think it over," said Kagato, "Though, again, I would point out that the confrontational atmosphere of that first meeting did not exactly lend itself towards fruitful negotiations. I do hope that our current circumstances can be more conducive to working out an arrangement."

"Your study's nicer than the repository," Heero quipped, "I might appreciate it more if I hadn't been brought to your estate drugged and unconscious."

"Necessary precautions," Kagato replied with an air of contrition, "though regrettable all the same. Seeing as you now have your Master Key and can use your powers, I trust you'll consider us to be on more equal footing now?"

"Equal might be a stretch," said Heero, "but I'll consider it tolerable. Your move."

Kagato inclined his head. "Well, before anything else, I believe it's only right that I give you my deepest apologies. During our first meeting, I threatened your world with annihilation at the hands of the Array should you refuse to join me. Looking back, that was such a short-sighted threat for me to make, and counterproductive to say the least. The people of Earth and her colonies have much to offer the wider galaxy; you and your friends are proof enough of that. Despite our past and present differences, it would be the height of pettiness should I subject your world to the Array's might simply because we stand in opposition to each other. It would rob the people of Jurai and the broader galaxy of a bold example which they could follow into the future."

Heero wasn't fooled; Kagato might be striking a conciliatory tone now, but the threat to Earth very much remained. He remembered very well the cruel delight in Kagato's face when the cadet branch Royal had described Earth's fate in the event of continued opposition.

"Imagine your world… completely silent. Its cities remain standing, and its colonies continue to float above, but all who lived there would be gone. Targeted by a weapon that effects only biomass, leaving everything else intact. A scouring so clean and thorough that not so much as a trace of your species' DNA would remain. That is the power of the Judgment Array, and that is the sentence that shall be passed on those that would oppose me. It was the fate of the Emperor's enemies during the Imperial Civil War; I find it only fitting to mete it out in the other direction this time around."

Kagato could construct a convincing mask when he wanted to, but he seemed to have forgotten that Heero had already seen the aristocrat's true face, and it was an ugly one indeed. Heero would continue to play along for now, but if Kagato thought his apology would win the young prince over for real, then he was utterly deluded.

Accepting the apology immediately would have probably tipped off his host to the ruse, though, so Heero adopted a skeptical air. "You think an apology makes up for threatening my homeworld with annihilation?"

"In and of itself? No, of course not," Kagato conceded, "I can understand your wariness; were our roles reversed, I have no doubt that my sentiments would be similar. After all, I love this world as though it were my own flesh and blood, and I would be loathe to forgive anyone who threatened it. I do hope, though, that we can move past that rather low point in our relationship."

"That depends on what you say next," Heero prompted.

Kagato nodded. "Well, then how about this? I spoke once before of this being an opportunity for humanity to rise up and carve out a proper place in the galaxy before itself. I wish to accelerate that process. I would be willing to share technologies beyond your people's present imaginings, so that you may extend your reach far beyond your current star system. I have seen images of the space colonies that humanity has constructed, and they are most impressive given the relative primitiveness of your technology compared to that of the established galactic powers. Just imagine the engineering marvels that humanity could construct were it to be brought up to the standards of Jurai and Seniwa. Your people already have an established expertise in orbital habitats, and I don't think you have a proper appreciation for just how valuable that is in the galaxy."

Heero slowly nodded. "Go on."

"Habitable worlds are precious beyond measure," Kagato continued, "When Washu and I conceived of and built the Judgment Array, it was with the knowledge that it would be used to scour priceless worlds clean of all life; a crime against nature as well as civilization. Yes, its purpose was to end a tragic war that had gone on for far too long and had despoiled many worlds in its own right, but that does not change the fact that we committed a grievous atrocity in the name of ending it."

"Those worlds are starting to recover," Heero pointed out, "Washu said she had a preservation program in place to reseed life. It doesn't make up for what was taken away, but it at least provided a chance at long-term recovery."

Kagato smiled. "Yes, the memories that we recovered from her at the second repository indicate as much. I must say, my old colleague and mentor continues to impress me. My involvement in the Array was strictly geared towards the weapon system itself; I had no idea that Washu had life conservation and restoration measures in the works, though I supposed that I really shouldn't be surprised that she did. She always tried to take all possibilities into consideration… and I'll wager her guilt from knowing what the Array would do compelled her to undertake this side project. When this conflict is over, I would very much like to visit the reseeded worlds and assess their progress. Perhaps you'd be so kind as to join me?"

"We'll see," Heero growled, "I trust there was a larger point you were trying to make here?"

Kagato inclined his head. "Of course. While massive orbital constructs are certainly nothing new in the galaxy, the intelligence I've gained in recent times regarding Earth indicates that humanity has developed an incredible proficiency in this industry. Were that to be combined with the latest technological advancements of the greatest galactic powers, just imagine the possibilities. So many overburdened worlds could begin transferring their populations to new colonies, giving the biospheres in question a chance to recover. New deep space survey and mining stations could be established in untapped regions across the galaxy, and your world's incredibly industrious and prodigious population could spearhead such efforts. That's just one small sample of the impact that humanity could have on the galaxy in partnership with a Jurai under my leadership."

"I don't see why humanity couldn't make the same sort of impact in partnership with Jurai's current ruler," Heero countered, "In fact, I'm fairly certain that my government would prefer that over the instability that inevitably accompanies any form of regime change, and your plans promise plenty of instability even with the might of the Judgement Array backing you up."

Kagato shook his head and sighed. "If the current Emperor was half as intelligent as you, he would see the benefits of accelerating humanity's technological prowess and then allying with your species. However, His Majesty and those who support him are quite proud of Jurai's lofty perch at the apex of galactic power. They might make a show of welcoming humanity into the wider galactic community, but make no mistake; they would very much wish to control humanity's development and growth. Jurai under the current regime would only dole out technology in piecemeal form as a way of limiting your potential, of keeping you contained."

"You seem to think Earth would be limited to only dealing with Jurai," Heero pushed back, "Jurai's not the only game in town, and we keep our options open."

Kagato smiled. "You refer to Seniwa, then. Not without reason, either; I understand you've made a very positive impression upon the Kuramitsu Clan. Congratulations on your engagement, by the way. When this whole affair is behind us, I would be more than happy to bless the wedding ceremony once I've assumed the throne."

Heero arched an eyebrow. "You'd actually back the wedding? That's rather odd; you having me abducted from a gala honoring my engagement to Mihoshi would indicate you opposing our eventual marriage."

"Well, an alliance between Seniwa and those currently ruling Jurai is hardly in my interest," Kagato pointed out, "Sabotaging it was a necessary move. However, should you agree to support me, I would enthusiastically back your marriage to Mihoshi. It would go a long way towards smoothing things over with Seniwa once I take power, and you would in turn get to leverage that marriage to gain further technological aid from the Domain for Earth. You would even guarantee the protection of your bride-to-be in the process. A win-win, wouldn't you say?"

"Hell of an about-face," Heero quipped.

"Politics demands all sorts of accommodations and adaptations," Kagato remarked, "This would hardly be the strangest turn of diplomatic events Jurai and Seniwa have seen over their very long shared history, you know."

"I suppose that's true," Heero conceded.

Kagato pressed his hands together. "Leaving aside your potential marriage to the Kuramitsu Clan's heiress, you must know that seeking out aid from Seniwa will only get Earth so far should Jurai begin to fear humanity's growth. I assure you, Heero, that the Emperor and his court, regardless of the friendly reception they've graced you with so far, will turn on you and your people the moment they begin to perceive humanity as competition."

"Humanity has only conquered our own planet and its moon," Heero countered, "and our expansion beyond that is limited to space colonies, asteroid mining outposts, and terraforming efforts on Mars. Jurai is the single largest political entity in the entire galaxy; I have a hard time believing that they could see Earth as a threat."

"Not now, perhaps," said Kagato as his eyes narrowed, "but that would change. You must look through the eyes of history, young man. Jurai has long favored incremental development, and over the millennia those increments have been painfully stretched out. From what I've read so far about Earth, humanity's technological development and evolution has proceeded at practically lightspeed by comparison. In just a handful of centuries, humanity went from its first powered flight to orbital colonies and a nascent terraforming project on another planet. I'm hardly the only member of the Royal Family, cadet branch or otherwise, to recognize that. Lady Seto surely has taken it into consideration, and I imagine others have as well. Some may have an accepting and progressive attitude towards Earth's potential, like I do, but others will not be so open-minded. Hidebound conservatism has long ruled the Empire, Heero. The slightest hint of challenge to the status quo will provoke a harsh reaction."

"That's your belief," Heero pushed back, "The future's not set in stone. Not for humanity, not for Jurai, not for anyone in this galaxy. That includes you and me."

"Fair enough," Kagato conceded, "I suppose the Emperor could surprise me for once, though I have my doubts. Is that a gamble you're willing to take, Heero? Hoping that a man who has looked after Jurai's own power above all else will defy his own history and not see humanity's rise to galactic prominence as a threat?"

"I've defied history before," Heero firmly stated, "I have no problem with throwing the dice on doing so again."

Kagato chuckled. "You certainly don't lack for confidence."

A chime came from console mounted on the desk, and blue light flashed from the holo-projector. It showed a line of Juraian script, but it was inverted from Heero's viewpoint, and before he could try to read it Kagato waved a hand and it vanished from view.

"Ah, that's a pity," the aristocrat murmured before rising, "I had hoped for more time, but business calls. We can pick these talks back up tomorrow."

Heero blinked a few times in bemusement. "Wait… that's it?"

"For now," Kagato replied with a smile before gesturing broadly, "You'll have free run of the estate, though I'd recommend against going outside; the security measures I have in place won't react kindly to your presence."

Heero wasn't sure he'd heard him right. "You're going to let wander the mansion as I please… while armed?"

"Yes," Kagato answered with an amused smirk, "You'll have an awfully hard time potting your escape given the surveillance systems installed here, but please, don't let me stop you from trying."

"You seem awfully confident that your mansion can hold me," Heero remarked as he stood up.

"This is no mere noble's luxury hideaway," Kagato boasted, "It's my private redoubt, as much a citadel as it is a mansion. You have sharp eyes, so I'm sure you'll find that out for yourself as you explore. Before you do, though, someone else would like a bit of your time."

"And who would that be?" Heero warily asked.

A second chime sounded, but not from the console; it came from behind. Looking over his shoulder, Heero saw a red light blinking on a console set near the study's doorway.

Then a familiar female voice echoed through the room. "Is he ready, brother?"

Kagato's grin was a picture of malevolent glee. "I believe he is, sister."

"Excellent," Ragyō purred through the speaker, "I can't wait to get started."

"Get started with what?" asked Heero with more than a hint of trepidation.

"Her side of the negotiations," Kagato answered with a smirk, "You and I will speak again, Heero, and we will negotiate as responsible royals, cadet or main branch, should. For now, though, you will engage with my sister and negotiate as warriors should. Have fun!"

….

Once Heero was out of the room, Kagato brought the holo-transmission back up. Blue light swirled over the top of his desk until it resolved into the face and upper torso of a very upset young Seniwan man.

"This isn't what we agreed to!" Misao blurted out before Kagato could so much as offer a greeting.

For his part, the cadet branch Royal was genuinely confused. "I'm afraid I don't take your meaning, Lord Misao. If I'm not mistaken, I believe that I've accomplished everything you asked for. The prince has been abducted and is in my custody on Kiryūin, so the marriage between him and your sister can no longer proceed. That is what you wanted, is it not?"

"Mihoshi wasn't supposed to get hurt!" Misao snapped, "Your bounty hunter put her in the hospital!"

Kagato place a hand to his chest and respectfully inclined his head. "Ah, that. From what I understand, my agent had no choice; your sister had drawn a firearm and was going to defend her fiancé. Mihoshi had to be neutralized so that she could not interfere. The party I hired for this matter is a consummate professional, and she assured me that no lasting harm was done to your sister. I do sincerely apologize for her being injured, though. Has she at least regained consciousness? My understanding is that she was attacked with the bounty hunter's shock whip, so she shouldn't have been out for too long."

Misao took a deep breath. "She's awake now. Beside herself, but awake."

Kagato smiled. "That's good to hear. I'm sure she's upset that her fiancé was taken, but I know you'll be able to convince her in time that sinking this marriage proposal was for the best."

"That's the thing, though," Misao pressed, his calm proving to be quite short-lived, "The marriage hasn't been sunk. Not officially; my great-grandmother and her supporters have announced to all of Seniwa that the engagement remains in effect, and she's pledged the Domain's resources to rescuing the brute!"

"Well, that's hardly a surprise," Kagato countered with a shrug, "President Moriko staked a great deal of her political capital on this marriage serving to facilitate her long-term goals of bringing Jurai and Seniwa into closer alignment. You cannot expect her to give up on the plan overnight, even if it's faced with a setback as massive as losing the groom-to-be."

"She's launched an investigation!" Misao proclaimed, fear-stricken, "She and the First Empress are determined to find out how he was taken."

"A perfectly natural development," Kagato noted, "You surely saw this coming, did you not?"

"They've already started interrogating the guards at the gallery and checking the security systems," Misao elaborated, speaking rapidly and in clear panic, "Seniwa security forces and the Galaxy Police are taking part, along with that brute's friends!"

"Again, developments that were to be expected," Kagato commented, his patience wearing thin, "I understand your apprehension, Lord Misao, but what do you expect me to do about it? I am far from Seniwa space, and I have precious few assets within the Domain. My arrangement with the nobles who put you into contact with me is a sort of under-the-table gentlemen's agreement. I have no power to thwart the investigation into the prince's abduction. That's something you'll have to deal with yourself. I do hope you were smart enough to effectively cover your tracks."

"You have to help me!" Misao insisted, "If they figure out how things happened, they'll eventually trace the bounty hunter back to your world. They'll find Heero and have my sister marry him!"

It took every ounce of restraint on Kagato's part to keep from laughing at the sheer absurdity of the situation; the boy seemed more worried about his sister still being engaged to Heero than he did about his own very likely impending arrest. "I already have Heero in my custody, so I can't think of anything else I could do to thwart the marriage that I haven't already done. If you're seeking to force President Moriko to call things off officially, then I'm afraid you'll have to do so without my help. There's nothing further that I can do in this situation, Lord Misao. I fulfilled my end of the bargain. Seniwa is your political arena, not mine; you must be the one to fight in it."

"You're betraying me, then?" Misao accused, his eyes widening in dread.

Kagato sighed and rolled his eyes in exasperation; he was so done with this call. "I've done no such thing, boy. Contrary to popular expressions, political intrigue is not a game; it is survival of the fittest. If you lack the resourcefulness to look out for yourself, then your value to me is limited at best. Good luck, Lord Misao. It sounds like you're going to need it."

….

That Ragyō had been waiting outside Kagato's study wearing a practical white jumpsuit rather than any fancy attire was Heero's first clue as to what sort of 'negotiations' the woman had in mind. Her white hair being tied up in a simple bun was another clue, as was the fact that both of her Keys were prominently on display clipped to her belt.

What sealed the deal was where she had taken him. With nothing more than a mischievous smile, she'd led him back down the hall he'd taken earlier and into a lift which had dropped far enough that Heero was fairly certain they were underground by the time they came to a stop. A short jaunt down another hallway had eventually taken them to a wide-open training hall dominated by a broad steel-grey hexagon.

"No tea and chatting, then?" Heero deadpanned as he followed Kagato's sister into the arena.

"I enjoy tea as much as my brother," Ragyō remarked, "and I'm hardly opposed to good conversation. I'm not here for the former, though. As for the latter, I find that spirited exercise can really bring a good talk to life."

"What exactly to you want with me?" Heero asked.

Turning around, Ragyō's eyes swept him up and down as a hungry grin came to her face. "Oh, what don't I want with you? It's been a long time since I've gotten hot and bothered over an opponent, but you certainly know how to make an impression, young man. Having someone like you as an adversary has made my life exciting again. For that, I owe you a debt."

"You could pay it by letting me go and convincing your brother to stop this madness," Heero quipped, "but I suppose that'd be too easy, wouldn't it?"

"Easy and insulting," Ragyō added, "It's only right that you be forced to fight for your freedom. That's why I brought you here."

She reached for a pouch on her belt and pulled out a small black remote. "This device is keyed to the estate's security systems, along with an FTL-capable vessel in the mansion's hangar. Everything you need to make your escape is right here."

Heero sensed a trap. "Why show me this?"

"Consider it incentive for peak performance," Ragyō replied with a smile, "Here's the score; my brother can talk with you to his heart's content, but I want something more physical out of you. When you're not conversing with my brother, you'll be down here fighting with me, and you won't be holding back. I want nothing less from my sparring partner."

"If you want me to go all out, then you won't have a sparring partner," Heero growled, "You'll have an enemy out for your life."

"Exactly," Ragyō purred, "and with accompanying stakes. Each match will go until either I disarm or score first blood on you… or until you kill me. The former will give you some pretty scars for the ladies to fawn over, while the latter gives you the key to your escape. Almost a win-win, right?"

Heero was skeptical, to say the least. "There's a saying where I'm from; when a deal sounds too good to be true, it usually is."

Ragyō chuckled. "Paranoid, are you?"

"Not without reason," Heero deadpanned, "considering my present circumstances."

"True," Ragyō conceded, "You have every right to distrust me. It'd be strange if you took what I said at face value. There's only one way you can find out if I'm telling the truth. The fact that you're still walking around with your Master Key and without the power-suppressing cuffs would be a point towards me being honest, but you suspect a trap all the same."

She then drew her own Keys from the jumpsuit's belt and ignited their pure white blades. "So, why don't we let our actions do the talking instead? Fight me, and let the duel's results determine if I'm telling the truth."

Heero immediately activated Achika, glaring past the shaft of azure light at his foe. "Does Kagato know about this?"

"Of course," Ragyō answered, "I made the arrangement with him well before Nagi brought you here."

Heero raised an eyebrow. "Meaning he's fine with the possibility that I kill you and escape?"

Ragyō shrugged. "Well, 'fine' might be a stretch, but he knows that he cannot stop me. Besides, he has faith in my abilities. If he didn't, he would've gone out of his way to sabotage this by keeping your bloodline powers suppressed."

"I suppose that's a good point," Heero begrudgingly admitted, "Well, if this is really how you want to play it, then I'll go along with you. Just don't expect me to play fair."

Ragyō grinned as Heero activated his four Light Hawk Wings. "Oh, I wouldn't dream of it. Come at me with everything you have, Heero Yuy. Prove that you have the potential I think you do, and I'll show you the same courtesy. Now, have at you!"

She rushed forward, barely more than a white blur, her blades flashing like twin bolts of lightning. She led with her right, a swift thrust aimed at Heero's torso. Deflecting that opening strike, Heero then brought one of his Light Hawk Wings down to block a low slash from her left blade that was directed at his leg. At the same time, he surrounded her with the other three, one on each side and one behind. If she really was willing to put her life on the line here, then Heero wouldn't hesitate to take it.

He sent the three Light Hawk Wings in to impale her…

…only for all of them to be blocked as new sheets of white energy materialized around their target.

Heero bit back a curse as he pulled back and brought his Wings into a defensive screen around him, looking on as four new Light Hawk Wings floated around Ragyō. Remembering her brother's display from before, Heero wanted to kick himself for not having anticipated Ragyō possessing the Light Hawk Wings as well.

That she's showing them now means the gloves really have come off, he thought, and she no longer feels the need for discretion. This doesn't bode well.

Ragyō's smile was downright devious. "You didn't think it'd be that easy, did you?"

"I had my hopes," Heero conceded, "but I suppose that I really should've known better."

"Yes," Ragyō replied with a smirk as two more Light Hawk Wings appeared, with all six arraying themselves in a fan-like formation behind her and making her look like an oversized albino peacock, "You really should have."

She barred her teeth as lioness would her fangs before charging forward, and Heero soon found himself in the fight of his life.

….

Convincing Kagato to let her stick around after Nagi delivered Heero had not taken much effort. In fact, the cadet branch Royal had been positively thrilled, not-so-subtly hinting that he hoped to use the time Nagi remained at White Coven to talk her into accepting a new retainer. Nagi had politely declined, but Kagato insisted that the offer would remain open, and that in the meantime she could spend as much time at the estate as she needed to get her retirement plans in order.

I could settle things and fly out of here tonight if I really wanted to, she told herself as she patiently waited for the lift to complete its descent, I should settle things and fly out tonight. The money he promised has already been wired to the account, so there's nothing else to keep here.

"Meow…" Ken-Ohki murmured from his perch on Nagi's left shoulder.

Nagi reached over and scratched behind one of his ears. "What do you think, partner? We did the job. What happens to him now… it's not our business, right?"

"Meow…" Ken-Ohki growled in an almost guttural tone.

Nagi was taken aback; it was rare for her companion to voice disapproval. "What do you mean, it is? He's a bounty, and we delivered him, just like all the other ones. It's just another job. Our last job, and we've been paid for it."

"Meow!" Ken-Ohki protested as he shook his head.

Not that it was needed. If Nagi truly believed what she had said before, then she wouldn't be here right now. She and Ken-Ohki would already be in orbit and well on their way to leaving this star system behind. Instead, she was heading to the mansion's training ground to blow off steam and try to clear her head. Whether it would work or not remained to be seen.

When she eventually reached the arena, she found it occupied. It would've been one thing were it just Ragyō in the ring; she seemed to spend the bulk of her time at the estate there. Kagato's sister was indeed in the ring, but she wasn't alone or sparring with the assassin twins or combat drones.

Her sparring partner today was none other than Heero Yuy.

Nagi's jaw nearly dropped as she watched Ragyō attack him with not just her twin Keys but no less than six Light Hawk Wings. While her sabers lashed out in a non-stop barrage of lightning-fast thrusts and slashes, her Light Hawk Wings orbited around and overhead, swooping in as she directed. Heero was at a distinct disadvantage, possessing his single Master Key and four Light Hawk Wings, but in Nagi's eyes he was making a good accounting for himself. He kept the azure blade of his Master Key close and maintained a sideways stance to minimize the target profile presented to Ragyō, moving his saber just enough to intercept her strikes and make the occasional counter but mostly focusing on maintaining maximum defensive coverage. Likewise, his four Light Hawk Wings hovered just a meter or so above him, close enough so that he could rapidly deploy them to intercept the sheets of energy Ragyō was sending at him seemingly at random.

Even with his superb defense, Heero was clearly hard-pressed. Ragyō was relentless in her offensive, a graceful yet vicious predator mercilessly probing her opponent for the slightest hint of an opening. There was an unnervingly joyful elegance to her assault, almost as if this were a celebratory dance to her rather than a potentially lethal fight. Her silver eyes were ablaze with rapturous glee bordering on ecstasy, and she was constantly licking her lips in ravenous hunger.

"That's it, young man," she purred as Heero deflected her high and low slashes while forming a half-dome over himself with his Light Hawk Wings to fend off a sudden barrage from hers, "Stand against me for as long as you can, and bring everything to the table! I want all of it!"

"Meow…" Ken-Ohki whined.

Nagi took a deep breath as she watched the contest unfold. This wasn't her fight. She had dropped the young man off and had gotten paid for it. Her contract was complete, and what her former clients did with their prize was not her concern. At least, it wasn't supposed to be.

And yet…

For all his skill and growing power, Heero was obviously on the ropes. True, he was holding his own for now, but only by focusing almost exclusively on defense. Ragyō's unrelenting attacks and greater number of Light Hawk Wings gave the young man precious few windows to attack. It was all he could do right now to simply keep her at bay. At this point, it seemed like only a matter of time until one of Ragyō's attacks slipped through.

It's not your business, Nagi told herself, so don't get involved. Besides, they had you go through the trouble to bring him back here alive, so it's not like they'll kill him now… right?

She looked on as the young prince continued his valiant struggle, sweat building on his brow as he deflected and parried saber strikes while the four Light Hawk Wings overhead constantly shifted to new angles as they fended off the six sheets of light summoned by Ragyō. It was a spectacular show, yet the danger was very real. In sparring with Ragyō before, Nagi had seen how worked up Kagato's sister could get once she threw herself into a good fight. She fed off such struggle, thrived on it, even. From what Nagi could tell, the cadet branch royal sought out such contests as a nymphomaniac might a good lay. In fact, the longer that the fight went on, the more Nagi was convinced that Ragyō actually saw the fight as something more akin to flirting.

It was written all over the aristocrat. The flush in her face as lunged into the attack, the heavy breathing as her blades locked with Heero's, the teasing way in which she batted her eyes as she deftly evaded a counterattack, the covetous gaze she had for him as he continued to fend off her advances…

…and Nagi couldn't stand it.

She found the fingers on her right hand twitching, and she only belatedly realized that it had subconsciously drifted over to the hilt of her saber. In that moment, the bounty hunter wanted nothing more than to jump into the ring, to come to her former prey's defense.

Why?

Nagi already knew the answer; jealousy.

Idiot, she chided herself, keep it together. You're supposed to be above feelings like this. It's not your fight. Sit back, wait for them to wrap up, and then get into the ring so you can exercise and get your head back on straight. You're just here for that, nothing else.

Got that?

So, she stood back and watched the show unfold. If either combatant was aware of her presence, they gave no sign of it…

…and they were certainly unaware of how hard Nagi was fighting to keep herself from getting involved.

….

For all Heero's pride in his abilities, his ego wasn't so great that he couldn't recognize when he was in trouble. Between the viciously swift strikes of Ragyō's twin Keys and the constant onslaught from her six Light Hawk Wings, Heero considered himself lucky to have lasted this long without taking a hit. As far as delaying actions went, his was probably a good one, but it was just that; keeping her at bay for as long as he could. That hardly translated into a formula for victory.

And victory did not look like it would be in the cards. Having already experience Ragyō skill with her twin blades twice now, Heero had thought that he had a good understanding of what she could bring to the table, and only now did he realize just how badly he'd miscalculated. The need to conceal the true extent of her abilities seemed completely gone now; either she was going at Heero with full force, or her skill and power was so far beyond his that it hardly mattered whether she was going all out or not.

You knew she had the edge on you going into this, he told himself while frantically deflecting strikes from her white blades while desperately moving his four Light Hawk Wings above and around him to keep Ragyō's away, that she's had centuries, no, millennia to refine her abilities. You should've realized just what you were getting into here.

Of course, it was one thing to know something on an intellectual level, and quite another to experience it firsthand. Heero thought he had that covered thanks to their prior encounters, but now he knew the truth; she'd simply been testing him before. Now that she'd properly sized him up and apparently deemed him worthy, she was coming at him for real. While she'd said before that she was aiming to either draw first blood or disarm him, the ferocity of her assault and the almost euphoric bloodlust in her eyes made Heero seriously doubt her prior commitments. Either she'd been lying from the start, or the excitement of the duel was making her forget any semblance of restraint.

Continuing to fall back in a long arc, Heero had been tracing a broad circle around the arena to keep himself from getting cornered. Maintaining a single-handed grip on his Master Key, Heero was constantly weaving what seemed like a near-solid wall of blue energy in front of him, picking off Ragyō thrusts and cuts as precisely as he might snipe a target. It was the best defensive bladework he'd ever performed, and under other circumstance he'd be proud of it, but superb defense wasn't enough. The same went for his four Light Hawk Wings; the sheer viciousness of Ragyō's offensive had forced Heero to constantly refine his control over the sheets of energy that were keeping those of his enemy from swooping in to impale him, yet his ever-increasing finesse and proficiency in manipulating those mobile barriers was only keeping him from getting hit. It was proving supremely difficult to find or create windows in which he could attack, and that meant his foe was the one setting the pace of the fight.

That pace was only growing faster with each passing minute, with Ragyō ramping up her assaults to a fever pitch. As her twin white blades went high and low to keep him off balance, her six Light Hawk Wings now started descending in pairs as she tried to catch him in rapid consecutive pincer attacks. Two Light Hawk Wings short, Heero simply could not continue to defend himself when the attacks were coming from multiple fronts simultaneously. He was increasingly having to duck, role, leap, and dodge as the sheets of energy came at him relentlessly, evading often by uncomfortably slender margins.

One slip up, he thought, and I'm dead.

That knowledge drove him to frenetic new heights and desperate measures as he sought to reverse what felt like an inevitable tide. Leaping over two Light Hawk Wings that had come swooping down at his legs, he lunged forward, trying to stab Ragyō through the chest while using his four sheets of energy to keep the rest of his foe's Wings at bay. Ragyō had anticipated the move, though, for she crossed the white blades of her twin Keys in front of her and stopped his thrust dead. Robbed of his momentum, Heero had no choice but to fall back once more, and Ragyō pressed her advantage.

Her twin blades lashed out as all six of her Light Hawk Wings descended upon him, and Heero instantly knew that there'd be no way to block or evade them all this time. She had him caught, dead to rights. And yet…

…Heero refused to accept it.

Time suddenly seemed to slow as sparks of white light began dancing along Heero's arms. Fresh energy surged through him, driven by adrenaline and primal instinct. Faces flashed through his mind, with two standing out above all others; those of Ryoko and Mihoshi.

You're going to make it back to them or die trying.

That was the one thought in Heero's head as the sparks on his arms intensified….

…and then grew to become something more.

….

Ragyō's eyes widened in astonished delight as two new Ligh Hawk Wings sprung forth to defend Heero from what was should have been this fight's finishing blow. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end, goosebumps crawling down her arms as she sensed his Juraian power surge. She instinctively pulled back, and not a moment too soon, for she was just barely able to dodge a sudden thrust from Heero's Master Key while his six Light Hawk Wings batted hers aside.

I hoped he would rise to the occasion, she thought as she beheld the marvelous display of power, but I didn't imagine he'd do so in the first duel! Heero Yuy…

…your potential really could rival my brother's.

She did not have long to admire the show, though. Immediately arraying his Light Hawk Wings before him, Heero charged forward. All six of the energy sheets rushed ahead, with Ragyō immediately deploying her own to intercept. She had her twin ivory blades at the ready as Heero made a thrust at her neck with his Mastery Key, yet that move proved to be merely a feint as he suddenly dropped low and made a sweeping kick. Ragyō managed to leap over the strike with mere millimeters to spare, but as she came down Heero was already rising. Now he was on the offensive, launching into a sequence of stabs and slashes with his Master Key while his Light Hawk Wings constantly clashed with Ragyō's all around them.

Gleeful laughter slipped through her lips as Ragyō was forced to fall back. How long had it been since an opponent had truly tested her like this? The clashes at the two repositories had been decent workouts, but they felt like little more than warmups when compared to what her adversary was dishing out now. Her heart raced, adrenaline surging through her veins as she weaved the tightest possible defense with her twin blades while ensuring that each of her Light Hawk Wings could continue to counter Heero's.

Had he truly just started using them mere months ago? With the way he was manipulating them in the air, weaving them together in an intricate dance with Ragyō's, it felt more like she was up against a seasoned and experienced Juraian Royal rather than a newcomer to the Empire. An upstart from the Outland Sector was giving her the finest clash she had experienced since the Imperial Civil War, and this was still likely just a taste of his true capabilities.

No wonder her brother had insisted on taking him alive. If they could turn him to their cause, then victory would be assured long before they seized the Array.

"Magnificent…" she murmured while instinctively fending off a series of rapid strikes from his azure blade.

If Heero had heard her, he gave no sign of acknowledgement. His fierce blue eyes were locked on her, his expression one of implacable resolve. At this moment, Ragyō knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the sole thought in his mind was taking her life. Someday soon, he might very well possess both the power and technique needed to do so.

Someday, but not today. Not yet.

Unlocking new Light Hawk Wings did not come without a price. Ragyō knew from experience that the surge of adrenaline and energy would eventually give way to exhaustion; it would take time before the young man would be able to wield his now six Light Hawk Wings with the same level of efficiency as he had the previous four. When the toll began to make itself known, that was when she would strike and end this bout.

All the while eagerly anticipating the next round.

….

With his offensive beginning to stall, Heero changed tactics. As his sapphire blade continued to clash with Ragyō's twin white ones, he pulled back all six of his Light Hawk Wings. Arraying them in a circle, he then set them all spinning around him like a giant ivory buzzsaw. His opponent was momentarily taken aback by the move, but she swiftly countered by jamming her own Light Hawk Wings into the gaps between Heero's and brought their momentum to a firm halt. Reacting immediately, Heero disbanded the circular formation and pushed back his adversary's wings individually while going low with his Master Key, attempting to strike Ragyō's legs. He failed to land a blow, but he did succeed at keeping his foe in a defensive posture.

That was not good enough. As Heero continued to drive forward, he was keenly aware of a gradual heaviness seeping into his limbs. His breathing was becoming more labored, and sweat was dripping from his brow. He could keep fighting for perhaps a bit longer, but he was on borrowed time.

Six Light Hawk Wings might be better than four, he thought as flashes of light and sparks erupted all around him with the constant clash of Keys and Wings, but they're also harder to manage. More focus, more discipline's needed, and I have to maintain that while still fighting with my sword… and she's doing it all without breaking a sweat.

Sure enough, he saw a predatory grin on Ragyō's face as her ivory blades blocked his azure one, a knowing look in her eyes. "Splendid effort, young man… but how long can you sustain it?"

Heero glowered at her from behind his Key, his reply being a series of quick thrusts going both high and low while he brought his Ligh Hawk Wings in to encircle her, only for his opponent to deftly reposition her own and head them off. It was like engaging in both a fencing match and chess game at once, with instinct guiding the blade and intellect the Light Hawk Wings. Heero liked to think that he had learned how to effectively multitask over the course of his fighting career, but maintaining a balancing act like this was far more strenuous than anything else he had attempted before. Maybe with the help of something like the ZERO System it would be easier to manage the Wings and coordinate them more effectively, but Heero did not have access to that tool right now.

There was just too much to keep track of. The clash of his Master Key with Ragyō's twin blades, their respective Light Hawk Wings, their constantly shifting positions, balance, and footing; it was all nearly overwhelming. Heero almost preferred the chaotic battlefields of his past wars to this contest, because those involved weapons, technology, and tactics that he had long ago familiarized himself with and understood instinctively. Had the duel with Ragyō been just a clash of blades, it might be different, but balancing the already intricate and vicious art of the swordfight with controlling multiple sheets of energy that could just as easily cut their wielder in half as they could an opponent was another matter entirely. Given more time, Heero believed that he could become just as proficient as his foe in that complex art, but for the moment he would readily admit that she outclassed him.

Sure enough, the tide of the duel was beginning to shift back into Ragyō's favor. Far more versed in wielding many Light Hawk Wings in combat, she was steadily retaking the initiative, weaving her energy sheets through intricate patterns that served to parry the more straightforward strikes from Heero's Light Hawk Wings and create gaps that Ragyō could then exploit. She wielded them with the same ferocious elegance that she brought to her swordsmanship, and the results were as beautiful as they were dangerous. As Heero's single blue blade clashed with Ragyō's two white ones, an airshow of sorts played out above and around them as their Light Hawk Wings met again and again. Those at Ragyō's command slipped through the air with fluid grace, seamlessly swatting away advances from Heero's Light Hawk Wings before darting forward to strike and forcing the prince to pull back other Wings to block the attack. The result was Heero slowly but surely being forced to draw his Light Hawk Wings back in close to maximize defensive coverage, leaving Ragyō with much greater freedom to maneuver.

She was taking full advantage of that. More and more, her Light Hawk Wings were moving around to his flanks, evening threatening to get behind him. Countering that meant stretching out his Light Hawk Wings along a broad front, but doing that inevitably produced new gaps for Ragyō to exploit. All the while, Heero had to keep fending off vicious sequences of slashes and thrusts from Ragyō's twin blades. The strain was beginning to show. His earlier deflections and parries were now giving way to simple blocks that left little chance for a counterattack, while his Light Hawk Wings were increasingly resembling barely more than a turtle shell which could segment itself but do nothing more than temporarily push back the enemy's attacks.

Ragyō clearly knew that Heero was approaching his limit, if the smirk on her face was anything to go by. "Very well-fought, young man. I can't wait to see what you do the next time we fight."

"I'm not done here yet," Heero growled as he thrust his sapphire blade forward, only for Ragyō to casually swat it aside.

It was bravado, and they both knew it. As Ragyō struck back with her twin blades while her six Light Hawk Wings swooped in, Heero was all but certain that at least one of her attacks would get through. His opponent surged forward, certain of an imminent winning blow…

…only to suddenly leap back as a strand of violet energy suddenly came between her and Heero.

Retreating and taking her Light Hawk Wings with her as Heero did the same, Ragyō arched an eyebrow and cast a curious look towards their interloper. "Nagi? What is the meaning of this?"

Following her gaze, Heero saw the bounty hunter standing to the left, in the ring with the strand of her whip now curled around her on the floor. Her stony expression was difficult to read, yet Heero thought he detected just a hint of animosity when her gaze landed on Ragyō.

"Your brother paid me good credits to have him delivered in one piece," Nagi said after a moment, "Don't go ruining my hard work."

"You were paid upon delivery," Ragyō pointed out, "He's here now; the job is done. You aren't being paid to look after him here."

Nagi was quiet, prompting a smirk from Ragyō. "Well, now… how interesting. Tell me, bounty hunter; should I attack him again, what will you do?"

Nagi shrugged, though the focused look in her eyes indicated clear intent. "I'm not sure. There's only one way to find out."

A tense silence fell upon the training ground. Heero kept his Master Key at the ready, along with his Light Hawk Wings. He had no way of knowing if Ragyō was about to take Nagi's gamble, nor what would happen if she did. If the fighting resumed, he was inclined to give the bounty hunter the benefit of the doubt, but he would remain wary with her.

Her intervention here's a good sign, he told himself, but don't put too much stock in it. It's still early. She may have acted more on instinct than conscious thought. When the chips fall, what will her move be?

After what felt like forever but was probably no more than a minute or two, Ragyō deactivated both Keys and her Light Hawk Wings, smiling at Heero as she did so. "Well, I'm in a charitable mood right now, so why don't we call today's round a draw? My brother will be most interested in your actions here, Nagi… as well as your performance, Heero."

"Tell him whatever you want," Nagi huffed as she extinguished her energy whip, "He said I can do as I please while I'm here."

Ragyō eyed her for a moment before dismissing the matter. "So he did."

The cadet branch royal began walking towards the exit, thought she stopped at the edge and gave Heero a sultry smile. "I worked up quite a sweat thanks to you, young man. I think a nice long bath's in order. Care to join me?"

"I'll pass," Heero curtly replied.

Ragyō chuckled. "Suit yourself. The invitation remains open while you're with us. I do hope you'll reconsider it eventually. Until the next match, Heero Yuy."

Heero only put his blade away and extinguished his Light Hawk Wings when Ragyō was out of the room. He then turned to Nagi, with the bounty hunter's gaze lingering on the doorway for a few seconds before she looked at him.

"Thanks for that," he said, eying her in curiosity, "Why'd you step in?"

"Weren't you paying attention earlier?" Nagi quipped.

"I was," Heero confirmed as he held her gaze, "I just don't think you were being completely honest."

Nagi folded her arms. "You calling the woman who just saved your hide a liar?"

"Only one by omission," Heero elaborated, "Am I wrong?"

Nagi looked at him for a long moment before surprising Heero with a chuckle. "Probably not."

"Meow!" Ken-Ohki cheered as he ran forward, prompting Nagi to scoop him up.

Heero watched as Nagi smiled wryly at her pet. "This better not be the part where you say 'I told you so,' Ken-Ohki."

"Meow!" Ken-Ohki cried out, and Heero could have sworn the living starship was giving his master whatever passed for a shit-eating grin among his species.

Nagi smirked before reaching over to scratch behind his ears. "You cheeky little punk."

"Meow, meow!" Ken-Ohki replied, his gaze going back and forth between Nagi and Heero.

Nagi smiled as she looked first at her pet and then Heero. "Yeah… me too."

Heero was puzzled. "Am I missing something here?"

"He's saying he's glad I stepped in back there," Nagi explained, "Maybe now he'll finally shut up about it."

"Meow," Ken-Ohki interjected before licking Nagi's ear.

Nagi rolled her eyes. "Or not."

"If he's the one that prodded you into it, then I'm grateful," Heero remarked, "You still haven't answered my question, though. Ragyō had a point; your job's done. You have no further obligation here, especially towards me."

Nagi arched an eyebrow. "It almost sounds like you're trying to talk me out of helping you out again."

"If that's in the cards, I'm not about to turn you down," Heero replied, "I'm just trying to understand your motives."

Nagi exhaled heavily as her gaze turned towards the floor. "That makes two of us."

Heero waited for several seconds, but she didn't bother to elaborate. Rather than continue to press the issue and potentially drive her away, he decided to change course. He wasn't about to count Nagi as a friend anytime soon, but it seemed like there was a chance to pull her out of the 'foe' column.

"You're sticking around, then," he eventually said, "Any idea for how long?"

"Not sure," Nagi admitted, "Getting my retirement plans in order might take a while."

Heero was skeptical. "You don't strike me as the type to consider something like that at the last minute. Surely you've had a plan or two in mind for a while now."

Nagi turned away from him. "I need to work out the details."

"How much can there be to work out?" Heero asked, "I can only assume you got a huge payday for bringing me here. Combine that with whatever you've saved up from previous jobs, and you should have no problem setting yourself up for life."

"What makes you think I've got a big nest egg built up?" Nagi quipped, "Bounty hunting's an expensive profession to be in. Licensing renewal fees, equipment maintenance and upgrades, port fees and transit duties; it all adds up in hefty bills."

"For small-time bounty hunters, perhaps," Heero countered, "but for the best in the galaxy? Something tells me you're more than capable of growing a retirement fund, operating costs or otherwise."

"It'll be different now," Nagi replied, "I'm out of the game, so I won't have incoming active revenue. Need to make sure my assets are set up right."

"Is that why you're staying?" Heero inquired, "Getting investment advice from Kagato?"

"He's not involved," Nagi answered with a scowl, "I can work out my finances without his help… or you nosing around in them, for that matter."

Heero decided to back off. "Fair enough."

The two of them were quiet for a few seconds before Nagi spoke again. "I might stop in down here again from time to time. If you're down here when I do, maybe I'll join in."

"To help again?" Heero ventured.

Nagi hesitated for a moment. "Depends."

"On what?" asked Heero.

"On if I think you need it," Nagi replied before stepping towards the center of the ring, brushing Ken-Ohki off her shoulder before drawing and igniting her weapon again, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to blow off some steam."

"Care for a sparring partner?" Heero offered.

Nagi glanced at him for a second before shaking her head. "You should rest up. Ragyō came at you hard today, and she'll do it again next time. Save your energy for her."

"Not a bad idea," Heero admitted, "How long will you be down here?"

Nagi shrugged as she made a few warmup swings with her saber. "Maybe an hour. Why?"

"I'm still getting my bearings in this place," said Heero, "and Kagato hasn't exactly offered me a guided tour. You seem pretty familiar with the mansion."

Nagi smirked. "Hoping I'll show you around so you can probe for weaknesses? Good luck with that. This place might look pretty, but don't fool yourself; it's a fortress in disguise."

"Doesn't mean it can't be breached," Heero remarked, "from outside or inside."

"Well, you're on your own with that," Nagi said as she switched her weapon over to its whip configuration, "I already helped you out once today. Don't push your luck."

"Not today, then," Heero amended, "Tomorrow?"

Nagi rolled her eyes. "You don't give up easily, do you?"

"I wouldn't still be alive if I did," Heero pointed out.

Nagi briefly smiled before turning back to her practice. "No, I guess not… and you wouldn't be so interesting, either."

"Is that a 'yes' for tomorrow, then?" Heero prodded, only half-joking.

"I don't know," Nagi admitted as her energy whip weaved violet circles through the air, "Survive that long, and we'll see."

Heero nodded before heading towards the exit. "Alright, then. Until tomorrow, Nagi."

….

Leaning back in his chair, Kagato smiled in fascination as he listened to his sister's voice over the study's speakers recount her duel with Heero. He had hoped that Ragyō's signature enthusiastic ferocity would trigger a growth in the young prince's abilities, but the results his sister was describing now surpassed even his wildest expectations.

"Sounds like he put on quite a show," he remarked.

"Oh, brother, you should've been there," Ragyō replied, and Kagato could here splashing water in the background, "I'm tempted to go another round with him as soon as I'm done with my bath."

"Let's not press him too hard right off the bat," Kagato cautioned, "We want him to settle in comfortably here, after all."

His sister sighed begrudgingly. "If you insist."

"A pity you couldn't tempt him into joining you," said Kagato with a smirk.

"I took a shot, but he's not the type to succumb so easily," Ragyō pointed out, and Kagato could practically hear her smile, "We're both going to have to work at it with him."

Kagato chuckled. "I'd be disappointed if it were otherwise. Well, there's still time for us to ply him with our respective charms. I'll argue with him in comfortable civility, and you'll continue to engage him in the ring… and hopefully in a more intimate setting soon enough. Mobilization is still ongoing, and I still must talk a few hesitant houses into throwing their lot in with us."

"Of course," his sister said, sounding almost bored, "Diplomacy before war, even if war is inevitable."

"Diplomacy will help make it shorter," Kagato reminded her, "The more clans that we can sway over to our side, the less support the main house can bring to bear against us at the third repository and Gate of the Arbiters."

"I know, I know," Ragyō conceded dismissively, "but it also means less fighting for me. How am I supposed to properly enjoy myself if our foe's so weakened, brother?"

"It sounds like you'll have plenty of enjoyment with our current guest," Kagato countered, "As for when open war begins, we'll still have Yosho and his entourage to contend with. That should give us both a sufficient challenge."

"His followers, perhaps," Ragyō remarked, a dismissive note in her tone, "but Yosho? Brother, I know you regard him highly, and I'll admit he still has his skills, but let's be honest here; he's past his prime. His grandson's a better match now than him. I can personally attest to that."

Kagato scowled, even though the feed was strictly audio. "He's older now, yes, but don't underestimate him. Neither of us have beaten him yet, sister, and for a good reason."

"His time is coming," Ragyō replied confidently, "His power and that of his Royal Tree have surely weakened; why else does he appear so aged now? His technique remains superb, I'll grant him that, but exile did him no favors. The era has just about passed him by. You and I will close his book soon enough."

Kagato nodded, though he maintained his air of caution. "If we cannot bring him around through his grandson, then we will. We'll do it the right way, though. No sloppiness, no overconfidence. We give him the clash of blades that his end will demand, and we will bring everything for that final calendar."

"A proper sendoff for an old friend, hm?" Ragyō mused aloud, "I suppose he deserves as much."

Now, Kagato allowed himself a small smile. "He does."

"In the meantime," Ragyō continued, "we may have another worthy opponent closer to home."

"I think our guest has already proven to be worthy," said Kagato.

"I'm not referring to Heero," Ragyō corrected, "though that point's indeed been demonstrated. Before I could land my blow on him, the bounty hunter intervened."

Kagato raised an eyebrow. "Nagi? Why?"

"Said she wanted to keep him in one piece since she'd gone through all the trouble to deliver him in such pristine condition," Ragyō explained, "I don't think even she believed that excuse, of course."

"Interesting…" Kagato murmured, "Seems even our resident consummate professional isn't completely immune to the young man's charms."

"How do you want to handle this?" Ragyō asked, "Shall we evict her? She's no longer on retainer with us, and at this point may be more of a wild card than an asset."

Kagato considered it for a moment. "Her skills can still be useful to us if we dangle a sufficiently enticing contract. She's proven her commitment to a job, regardless of any personal discomfort. I'm not ready to write her off just yet. Still, she'll bear watching."

"As you wish, brother," Ragyō replied.

Kagato smiled. "Rest well, sister. I'm counting on you to keep our guest entertained when I cannot."

"Oh, rest assured, I will," Ragyō promised, and Kagato could picture the predatory grin on her face, "I shall give him all the 'entertainment' he and I could ever ask for!"

….

Night had fallen over White Coven, and quite a lovely one at that. The clouds and light snowfall from earlier in the day had cleared with the sunset, and now the open sky was illuminated with stars and the planet's single moon.

Heero had a spectacular view of it all as he walked through a hallway in the mansion's uppermost floor, periodically glancing out the windows at the night sky and grounds below. He could see why Kagato or his predecessors had picked this place to set up a private retreat; there was something to be said for the quiet and isolated beauty one could find in the mountains. Nevertheless, he had no time to enjoy the sights.

After resting following his energetic sparring match with Ragyō, Heero had taken it upon himself to explore as much of the mansion as possible. While Kagato had offered free rein, it quickly became apparent that Heero's 'freedom' to roam was limited. Most of the rooms he'd been able to access were the sort that one would expect to find in a mansion; guest bedchambers, living and dining rooms, lounges, and everything else a wealthy aristocrat might want. He had made note of each locked door encountered, using their locations to guess at what might lay beyond. Most of the restricted areas had been in the underground complex; the sparring arena was one of the few chambers down there that Heero could enter as he wished.

Makes sense, he thought, given Ragyō's plans for me. Can't say that I'm looking forward to our next round, even if the prize for beating her is potentially an escape. I really should go rest soon. I'll need all the energy I can get for the fight with her tomorrow. Still, I'm not done with my recon just yet.

Pausing by one of the windows, his eyes narrowed as Heero studied the grounds below. Over the course of the day, he had observed the extensive and well-maintained front of the estate from as many angles as he could without going outside. No defenses were visible, but that didn't mean they weren't there. He could imagine certain sections of greenery sliding away to reveal hidden weapons, perhaps even launch bays for drones. Washu had constructed many combat automata to guard the repositories; there was no reason why Kagato could not be similarly inclined when it came to protecting his private abode.

Escape on foot through the front yard would be a last resort, though. What Heero really needed was to gain access to the estate's hangar and find a ship. He'd been out cold when Nagi had brought him to White Coven, so he had no idea where she'd landed. There was no obvious landing pad or hangar entrance, so Heero's task was to narrow down possible sites where such things might be concealed. The cliff faces on either side of the mansion seemed like the most promising points of investigation.

Some of the underground corridors probably branch off in that direction, he thought, but my access down there is extremely restricted. I need to figure out how to access the security systems so I can fully map this place out. Kagato's probably not going to open those doors for me anytime soon.

Should he put on a friendlier face tomorrow? Pretend to be coming around after a night of natural sleep? Kagato might go for it, but it could also strike him as too soon and raise his guard. Perhaps playing hard-to-get for another day or two was the best approach, but time wasn't on Heero's side. Kagato had gained access to the second repository's data through stealing Washu's memories, which meant that he, like Jurai, was in the process of marshalling the necessary forces for storming the third. Heero was under no illusions; compared to the ultimate prize of the Judgement Array, he was merely an intriguing distraction for Kagato. At a certain point, Kagato would probably give an ultimatum, and Heero was willing to bet that would come sooner rather than later.

His deliberations were interrupted by the barely-perceptible sound of soft, almost delicate footsteps coming down the hallway from the opposite direction. Stepping out of the shadows and into the moonlight ahead of Heero was none other than Tokimi herself. Her child-like avatar was nowhere to be seen, leaving only the adult, this time clad in a black dress that clung tightly to her figure and shimmered in the moonlight.

"A nice night for a walk," she said by way of greeting, smiling as her violet eyes swept up and down Heero, "Would you care to accompany me for a bit?"

Heero's eyes narrowed. "Do I have a choice?"

"You aren't bound," Tokimi reminded him, "and I cannot compel your actions. Our prior conversation was under less-than-ideal circumstances. I would very much like to talk as equals. As Tsunami and Washu's candidate, you deserve that much."

"I'm still a prisoner here," Heero pointed out, "Can we really be considered equals?"

"You may hold the same potential as my candidate," Tokimi replied, "Until the matter is settled decisively, I can only say that yes, you are my equal. The choice of accepting that premise or not is yours."

Heero eyed her warily. "Where would we be walking to?"

Tokimi gestured down the hall behind her. "This floor has an observatory. Stocked with some very impressive instruments, I might add. You've never gone beyond your home star system before this whole adventure began, yes? Seeing as you finally have some free time on your hands, would you not like to see how the heavens move when viewed closely from a world that's so far from your own?"

Heero studied her carefully. "What are you really after with me, Tokimi?"

Tokimi's eyes bored into his. "I've had more than enough time to speak with Kagato since selecting him as my candidate. I understand him. You, on the other hand, remain something of a mystery to me. I wish to understand you, Heero Yuy."

"To know your enemy, you mean?" Heero quipped, "It's the oldest principle of warfare, after all."

Tokimi smirked. "Perhaps, but we may yet become something more than enemies. I propose an exchange; question for question. I ask you one, and you offer one for me in return. Back and forth. Strict equivalence, and only until you tire of my company. How does that strike you, young prince… or would you prefer to be known simply as a soldier?"

Heero considered it for a moment. "Question for question, one for one… and I decide when it's done?"

Tokimi inclined her head. "The moment you seek to disengage, you need only say so, and I will abide."

Best chance you'll get to interrogate her, he thought, find out what makes her tick, see if there's something you can use against her or Kagato. I just have to be careful with what answers I give her in return.

Heero nodded. "I accept."

"Excellent," said Tokimi before she spun on her heels, "Let's be off, then. You won't get much better conditions than tonight for the observatory."

Heero fell in to her left, keeping her at arm's length. His right hand never strayed far from his Master Key; if this was some elaborate ploy on her part to get him to drop his guard, Heero would not be falling for it.

If she noticed, Tokimi gave no sign of it. "I'll go first; when did you first set foot on a battlefield?"

Heero internally debated for a moment whether or not to lie, but he determined that the truth would be acceptable here. "Since I was 8 or 9, I think."

Tokimi looked at him, and her gaze seemed to soften ever-so-slightly. "I see… I suppose that alone explains a great deal."

"My turn," said Heero curtly; if the goddess who had helped abduct him was about to offer sympathy, he didn't want it, "When did you first make contact with Kagato?"

"I've had my eyes on him several centuries," Tokimi replied, "but I only revealed myself to him and his sister relatively recently."

Heero wanted to follow-up, but he restrained himself and allowed Tokimi her next question. "What do you think of the Jurai and her empire?"

"Jurai's a beautiful planet," Heero answered, "and her empire's powerful. I think it can serve as a guarantor of peace and stability under the right leadership."

Tokimi's violet eyes glimmered. "How would you define 'right' leadership?"

"That's an extra question," Heero quipped, glowering at her.

Tokimi chuckled, inclining her head like a chastised schoolgirl. "My mistake. Your turn, then."

"Was going after the Array Kagato's idea alone, or did you goad him into it?" Heero inquired.

"A bit of both," Tokimi confessed before bringing the two of them to a halt before a doorway, "He had his dreams of shaking up the Empire of Jurai and driving it along a new evolutionary course. I simply prodded him and his sister in the direction of the Array; seizing it represents the quickest way to accomplish their goals."

"Was that your plan from the moment you made contact with him?" Heero pressed.

Tokimi smiled and waved an admonishing finger at him. "Now you're asking extra questions."

"Fine, then," Heero conceded as the door before them slid open, "I'm waiting on yours."

Tokimi gestured at the room before them. "What do you think?"

As they stepped inside, Heero looked around. The observatory was a broad, circular, and very spacious chamber. The massive gleaming silver tube of a powerful telescope jutted down through the ceiling at a sharp angle, ending in a console set on a swiveling portion of the floor; Heero assumed that the room was designed to accommodate the telescope's rotation. Apart from that, the room was rather sparse. A few tables and chairs were scattered about, and Heero saw holo-projectors aimed at the white curved walls, likely meant to display images from the telescope to any guests that the host was entertaining. The ceiling surrounding the telescope had been cut away and replaced with glass, allowing a beautiful view of the night sky even without using the observatory's central device.

"That counts as your question," Heero quipped, "It's impressive, sure, but not something I'm unfamiliar with. Earth might be a backwater as far as the 'civilized' galaxy is confirmed, but we do have things like this."

Tokimi placed a hand to her chest. "I assure you, I mean no insult to your people or homeworld. I simply want to broaden your perspective a bit."

Heero followed her towards the middle of the room, and Tokimi waved her arm at the seat. "Go ahead. I'll calibrate it for you."

Heero eyed her cautiously before sitting down. "What exactly do you want me to look at?"

Tokimi smirked mischievously. "That counts as your question. As for my answer, it's simple; the beauty of worlds that you've never seen before."

Heero raised an eyebrow as she watched her work the console. "Washu made you sound like you're always aloof and above everything. Literally; she said you remained on the plane of reality that you three came from to carry out your original plan. I wasn't under the impression that you were the type to care about something like beauty."

"Choushin aren't heartless," Tokimi pushed back, "I'll admit to being far more detached from the physical universe than my colleagues until relatively recently, but that doesn't mean I cannot appreciate the wonder of our creation. In fact, seeing it from the perspective of beings like you, who have spent your entire lives in it, has raised my esteem of it. It's a wonder what can be accomplished from something as simple as a change in vantage point."

"Is that what this is all really about?" Heero inquired, nodding at the telescope, "If this whole thing's a metaphor, it's not exactly subtle."

Tokimi chuckled. "You just stole an extra question, so I really shouldn't answer. It wouldn't be right to reward such behavior. That being said… if you think it's a metaphor, then take it as you will."

A screen on the console flickered before resolving into a basic map of the Kiryūin star system. Out of the eleven planets that made up the system, only Kiryūin and two others, the first and second worlds, were 'rocky' ones, and Kiryūin was the only one that could support life. From the graphic on screen, the first world was a stone ball perhaps twice the size of Mercury in Heero's estimation, while the second appeared to be a hellscape on par with Venus, if perhaps a third or so larger than its counterpart in the Sol System. Planets three and five through eleven were all gas giants with assorted moons and ring systems, and the star system itself had an asteroid belt like Sol's, although in this case it was much wider, forming a band so broad that it nearly brushed against the sixth and seventh worlds and had probably contributed to both of those gas giants' rings and moon collections.

"Right now, we're angled outwards," Tokimi explained as she adjusted a few nobs on the console, "Tonight, the sixth, ninth and eleventh worlds will all be within viewing range. I'm adjusting the telescope to start on the sixth. Let's see… there, that should do it. Take a look."

She gestured at the eyepiece. Heero leaned towards it, but not before casting a glare in her direction. He did not like the idea of focusing his attention through a telescope when one of the women who had helped abduct him was sitting right next to him. Even as he turned his attention to the eyepiece, he slowly built up his Juraian energy, ready to activate both Achika and his Light Hawk Wings the second he sensed Tokimi trying something.

Clearly detecting his gathering energy, Tokimi rolled her eyes. "If I was going to try something suspect, Heero, I would've done it already."

"Forgive me if I don't take your word for it," Heero deadpanned.

Tokimi shrugged her shoulders. "Regrettable, but understandable."

Focusing on the eyepiece, Heero caught sight of the sixth world. It was a brilliant green and blue gas giant, and he spotted no less than four large and swirling dark blue dots; massive storms raging across the planet. An incredibly broad ring system circled the world diagonally, looking like a wide silver disk with a blue-green gem in the center. The planet's moon system consisted of scores of orbs in varying sizes; Heero ballparked the visible ones at seventy.

"That's Neridine," Tokimi elaborated, "Named after an ocean goddess once worshipped by one of the Empire's many client worlds in ancient times."

"Fitting name," Heero remarked, "Pretty world."

"Several of the moons are rich in precious metals and ores," Tokimi continued, "You cannot see from this distance, but there are mining facilities set up on them. Also, a few of them have glacial surfaces with massive oceans beneath. Those oceans are heated by geothermal vents, and complex lifeforms have been documented. I can show you some of the expeditionary footage later, if you'd like."

Heero turned away from the telescope and looked at Tokimi; although her expression remained cool, there was a slight undercurrent of enthusiasm in her tone. "I didn't think you'd be excited about that sort of thing. Your kind made our universe, after all; you must have seen just about every form of life by now."

Tokimi inclined her head while gracing him with a small yet surprisingly genuine smile. "It's true that after eons of existence and studying the universe from on high, you tend to see repeating patterns after a while. Even so, it's always fascinating to see how life finds a way in even the harshest of environments. Much like yourself. Your evolution as an individual was charted in unforgiving battlefields, and that resulted in the remarkable young man sitting beside me now."

Heero's brow furrowed slightly. "If you're trying to flatter me, it's not going to work."

"It's not flattery if my sentiments are genuine," Tokimi countered.

"If you say so," Heero quipped.

Tokimi nodded. "I do. Now, getting back to our exchange, I do believe it's my turn. Tell me something, Heero; what do you want from all of this?"

"To complete my mission," Heero answered, "To destroy the Judgement Array, denying it to Kagato and anyone else."

"Is that all you want?" Tokimi pressed.

Heero folded his arms and stared her down. "That's an extra question."

"You stole one earlier," Tokimi pointed out with a wink, "Turnabout's fair play."

Heero inclined his head. "Fine, then. I want to keep Earth and her colonies safe. I want to keep the Empire of Jurai from being ravaged by a new civil war. I want both Jurai and Seniwa to maintain stability and peace above all else. Your candidate's actions amount to a declaration of war. As you know, I've been through that hell. I want to keep others from suffering it. Too many have died already in this mess."

"Progress often comes with a cost," Tokimi argued, "Societal evolution, just like biological evolution, can be a messy process. Growth pains are to be expected, especially when the next step is revolutionary. When one means to implement such change on a galactic scale, the inherent costs in that endeavor will be commensurately high."

"Easy for you to say when you're not one of those paying the costs," Heero growled, "What give you and Kagato the right to use so many lives as currency for you plans?"

"That depends on which one of us you ask," Tokimi answered matter-of-factly, "I believe Kagato's already given you his perspective on the matter. As for mine, it's simple; to see if the question Washu, Tsunami and myself asked all those eons ago can finally be answered. It was the question that prompted us to create the universe as you know it in the first place. Everyone and everything in it have thus far existed for that purpose."

"So, you'll spend countless lives just to find out if there are beings that can surpass your kind," Heero replied as he glared daggers at her, "Washu and Tsunami were right to come down here; staying so far above creation, so removed from it, made you numb to the consequences of your actions."

Tokimi shrugged. "I won't deny that I'm 'colder' than my colleagues. I would argue that, in coming down to this plane and staying in it for so long, they lost sight of our ultimate goal. Now, in no small part due to their influence, creation itself has stagnated. Our grand design has ossified because those who benefited the most from Tsunami and Washu's gifts wish to preserve it as is rather than let it change and grow. They seek to preserve the status quo, and in doing so they deny the universe and those within it the chance to expand their horizons and realize their true potential."

"They also preserve peace," Heero pushed back firmly, "Something you clearly don't appreciate the value of."

She studied him for a moment. "From your perspective, perhaps it seems so. However… do you fully appreciate it?"

"If that's your next question, it's a dumb one," Heero quipped, "I've spent far more of my life at war than at peace. Of course,I appreciate it."

"You appreciate its value to those who don't wish to fight," said Tokimi, "and to those who are tired of fighting. I imagine you count yourself among the latter. Even so, who you are stems in no small part from your lifetime of war. It defined you, Heero Yuy. Is there not a part of you that doesn't still yearn for it?"

Heero glowered at her. "That's an extra question. Even if it wasn't, it doesn't deserve an answer."

"Because you find it foolish and foul… or because you fear what the honest answer to it might be?" Tokimi prodded.

Heero stood and headed for the exit. "I think we're done for tonight. Enjoy the stargazing, Tokimi."

Tokimi smirked. "Not going to claim one last question? I asked one extra, so you have the right to one."

Turning around, Heero met her gaze. "My last for the night, then; what would it take to kill you?"

Tokimi smiled tauntingly. "I honestly don't know. You're the first to try, and you made a strong attempt with my little avatar. Clearly, impalement by two Light Hawk Wings is insufficient."

"I'll try more next time, then," Heero declared, "We'll see if that does the trick."

Tokimi licked her licks, almost seeming excited at the prospect. "We'll see. Until next time, Heero Yuy."

….

April 4th, A.C. 199

It had been quite some time since Kiyone had last conducted a proper suspect interrogation. Fortunately for her, the middle-aged security chief of the Seniwa Domain Artistic and Cultural Exhibition had hardly proved to be a tough nut to crack. His formerly blond hair had already greyed, his tan skin had more than a few wrinkles in it, and his blue eyes had a very tired and stressed look to them. Dressed in a dark grey jumpsuit, his surprisingly tall figure was slumped in the chair on the opposite end of the table, and his brow was matted in sweat; nerves had taken their toll even before Kiyone had gone to work on him.

I just need to push a bit further, she thought, and I've got him.

The investigation into the security failure which had facilitated Heero's abduction wasn't even a full two days old, yet it was proceeding at a blistering pace. Washu and Heero's human friends were assisting local Seniwa security forces and the Galaxy Police in combing through surveillance records at the gallery along with probing the backgrounds and vulnerabilities of the personnel who had been on duty the night of the attack. With the greatest mind in the galaxy on hand, cracking encryption and security codes had been a breeze, and the communications and finances of the guards and their superiors were now under heavy scrutiny.

That scrutiny had proven well-warranted, for it had not taken long to discover sudden influxes of cash over the previous week that were far beyond anything that the recipients could've hoped to earn under their already-comfortable salaries. Work was underway to trace the funds transfers back to their source, and Kiyone was confident that the forensic accountants brought in for those efforts would hit paydirt sooner rather than later. Communications traces had revealed that the gallery's security chief was the focal point for the sabotage efforts, and that was why Kiyone had her focus fixed on him now. He could give them what nothing else had so far yielded; names.

The amount of bribes that got paid out limits the suspect pool, Kiyone thought, so tracing the funds through the various accounts should eventually get us our perps. Still, time is of the essence here. This guy was the focal point for the security sabotage; crack him, and we can get a jump on saving Heero.

The security chief, Yuichi Nakamoto, hadn't come across to Kiyone as the sort of man for whom betrayal came easily. She'd been given access to Seniwa's hastily-assembled dossier on him, and his career history before this point had been impeccable. He'd started out as nothing more than a humble grunt in the Seniwa Domain Army and worked his way up the ranks to the position of staff sergeant. After several consecutive terms of service, he had eventually left the military with an honorable discharge and had gone into private security. His sterling service record had caught the eyes of a high-profile firm focused on VIP and valuable item protection, and as a result he wound up working for the museum, where he had been employed for well over a decade now.

While his military and private security employment records had been clean, less could be said for his private life. The paycheck that came from working private security was a significant step up from what one could earn in the military, and with that had come temptation that a former grunt like Yuichi had not been prepared for. A few disastrous attempts at dating above his social class had left him with the impression that he needed to up his game in a hurry, and the rush for quick cash had taken him down into the gambler's trap. Over time, the debts he'd built up trying to become someone other than who he was had piled up, and through that had come vulnerability.

Had his debts been accrued during military service, Yuichi would've been discharged very quickly. Seniwa's military played no games with its personnel; the Domain recognized the exposure that came with debts and did not want that weakness infecting its ranks. When one joined the Seniwa Domain Army or any of the other service branches, it came with strict financial background checks to screen for exactly the sort of vulnerability that Yuichi had brought upon himself in the private sector. The firm that employed him supposedly had similar guidelines in place, but in practice enforcement of said guidelines was nonexistent past the entry background checks.

Private security firms are always more trouble than they're worth, Kiyone mused as she recalled past cases, I mean, between lax ethics enforcement, taking in dishonorably discharged service members, bribery scandals, civilian brutality complaints… I can't believe an institution as prestigious as the Cultural Exhibition went with them. Seniwa Domain's capital police would've been a much safer bet. Other institutions use them for a good reason.

Yuichi had gotten in over his head the moment he'd signed up with a private firm, and in that came opportunity for Kiyone. Just going by the man's ragged and worn state, it was beyond clear that he wasn't happy with who he had become. Kiyone didn't need to intimidate him; she needed to appeal to the honorable Seniwa Domain soldier he'd once been. That, combined with a plea deal, would get her what she wanted.

She put on a compassionate and understanding air, and hoped that she wasn't overselling it. "Mister Nakamoto, you're in a rough spot of your own making, but you still have a chance to make things right. You're not the only person who's fallen into a debt trap and had it used against them. Even in this case, we've uncovered multiple instances of it among your fellow security personnel. There are resources that can be made available to help you get out of the hole you're now in. It won't be easy, and it will involve you doing some time, but we can mitigate the worst of it if you cooperate. Some people may have been hurt, but no one died as a result of this attack or your part in facilitating it, and your cooperation will go a long way towards helping us undo the damage."

The man across the table looked down at the floor. "I never wanted anyone to get hurt… and I didn't know there would be an abduction. If I had, then I wouldn't have gone along with it."

"I know you wouldn't have," Kiyone affirmed, "You served Seniwa diligently and faithfully for many years before now. The abduction of the Juraian prince has dealt a serious blow to the Seniwa Domain's plans for future prosperity and security, but your nation and people still have a chance to reclaim the bright future that his betrothal to Mihoshi Kuramitsu represents. That can only happen, though, if you tell us everything you know about the party that bribed you. The sooner we can identify them, the sooner we can begin making things right, and you helping us with that will go a long way towards reducing your sentence and getting you the help you need."

Yuichi lifted his gaze. "How much of a reduction?"

Kiyone tapped her chin, recalling the deal that President Moriko and Galaxy Police Chief Superintendent Nakita had authorized her to make. "As of right now, you stand accused of aiding and abetting the abduction of a foreign dignitary, aiding and abetting the assault of a member of the Kuramitsu Clan, and gross negligence due to accepting bribes. There is sufficient evidence to convict you on all of those charges, and the combined sentence would be at least twenty years. With your full cooperation, that sentence can be reduced to as little as three years, with a chance at parole after one. In addition, full counseling services and financial assistance for dealing with your gambling problem and associated debts would be provided, along with new career counseling should you wish it. You'll never work in any form of security again with this on your record, but there are other career paths open to an individual with your level of experience."

Yuichi took a deep breath. "That sounds… far better than I deserve, Detective."

Kiyone smiled gently. "We all make mistakes, Mister Nakamoto. Yours was a big one, but my superiors and I believe that you deserve a chance to make things right. Compared to the true culprits here, you're simply an unfortunate man who they turned into a pawn. Your mistakes do need to be accounted for, but there are far bigger threats for us to go after here than you. Tell us everything you know, and your rehabilitation process can begin."

And we can get back on track to saving the galaxy.

….

Leaning back against the wall of the break room, Quatre took a moment to close his eyes and catch his breath. It had been some time since he'd undertaken any sort of investigative work, and he'd forgotten how tiring it could be. Combat might have been more physically exhausting, but spending hours on end combing through communication logs and financial records was mentally tiring.

At least Seniwa has good coffee, he thought, I wonder if I could get some bean samples before we leave. It'd be interesting to see if we can grow them on Earth or in the colonies. Could possibly start up an import line for them once diplomatic and trade ties are officially established…

He was not the only in the break-room; the rest of his fellow former Gundam pilots were present, as were Hilde, Washu, Yosho, Ayeka and President Moriko. Sasami remained in the hospital accompanied by Ryo-Ohki, Azaka and Kamidake, recovered from the incident but choosing to stay and support Ryoko and Mihoshi. The former pirate-turned-Royal Guard and Galaxy Police Detective First Class were both physically healthy, but the two of them had been utterly devasted emotionally by Heero's abduction and their failure to stop it. Quatre could sympathize; everyone felt like they'd dropped the ball and let Heero down. First Empress Funaho was currently at the Juraian embassy, constantly in communication with Jurai's intelligence services as well as the Royal Palace. Quatre didn't envy the Empress her tasks; she was juggling the roles of diplomat and Minister of Intelligence, and both were of paramount importance.

Word of Heero's abduction has been all over the Seniwa news broadcasts, Quatre mused, which means it's probably streaming all over Jurai, too. Heero might be a newcomer to the Empire, but he's still an Imperial Prince; an attack on him could be construed as a declaration of war against Jurai itself. The fact that it took place on Seniwa Domain turf means both sides are working overtime to avoid an escalation.

All while they investigated and managed the diplomatic fallout, their enemy would be marshalling forces and preparing to move on the third repository. Quatre had to hand it to Kagato; the traitorous cadet branch royal had played his cards well. Heero's abduction was not only a brazen strike on the Royal Family that challenged their prestige and strength, but it also damaged President Moriko's efforts at closer diplomatic ties and undermined her position within Seniwa.

Diplomacy and politics took a back seat for Quatre and his friends at the moment, though. The priority was the investigation, and there was a palpable tension in the breakroom air as everyone waited for Kiyone to finish her interrogation.

Duo was the first to give voice to it. "Come on, how much longer does she need?"

"She's the professional here, Duo," Hilde reminded her husband, "Trust Kiyone to get the job done."

Wufei nodded. "She knows what she's doing. She'll pull through for us."

"Hopefully sooner rather than later," Trowa remarked, "We've made plenty of progress with the records and communications searches, but a confession and names from the security chief would be a big help."

"I'm more worried about tracking down Nagi," Quatre confessed, "Her ship clearly has stealth capabilities, otherwise she wouldn't have slipped through the fleet. How are we supposed to pinpoint where she's taken Heero?"

"First Empress Funaho seemed confident in her resources filing in that gap for us," Ayeka noted with a hint of apprehension, "I do hope she's successful."

"Mother will have cast a wide net," Yosho reassured his half-sister, "If Nagi was working on behalf of Kagato, she'll most likely take him somewhere in his territory, with his home citadel being the most likely destination. I'm sure she has eyes in the Kiryūin star system and elsewhere, and I doubt Nagi's ship can remain invisible indefinitely."

"If it's a Kagato prototype, don't underestimate it," Washu admonished, "He's just as a good as me when it comes to designing ships."

"But even you could only do so much with the cloaking technology on Duo's fighter," Quatre pointed out.

"That's because I had a smaller hull design to work with," Washu countered, "The ship Nagi used to slip through the fleet was larger. Kagato could do quite a bit with that extra space."

President Moriko sighed and shook her head. "He did a lot with it as is. Nagi had no problem outflying our pilots with it. I swear, you geniuses and your toys offer unending headaches."

Washu folded her arms. "Seniwa had no problem with using my 'toys' for her orbital colonies or bringing the World Ring to life. You get the good and the bad when you hire mad scientists, Madame President."

President Moriko arched an eyebrow. "So, you admit you're mad?"

Washu shrugged. "A little bit. If I was fully sane, we wouldn't be in this mess."

Wufei chuckled. "Only 'a little bit' mad, eh? Says the woman who designed the superweapon holding the galaxy hostage."

President Moriko smiled wryly. "Points for self-awareness, I suppose."

"It's what separates me from someone like Kagato," Washu pointed out, "If I didn't at least recognize what I am, I might well have wound up joining his insane scheme."

Quatre looked at her in curiosity. "Would a lack of self-awareness be enough for you to throw in with him?"

Washu's eyes narrowed as she met his gaze. "What are you really after here, Quatre?"

The L4 native considered the question carefully. "I guess I'd like to know what would really be motivating you in that scenario. Would it just be ego and lust for power, like Kagato?"

Washu was quiet for a few seconds as she tapped her chin in thought. "Well… yes and no. Sort of. The political power that Kagato's after here has never really interested me."

"A fact that the galaxy is profoundly grateful for," Ayeka muttered under her breath.

Washu cast a sharp glance at the crown princess before continuing. "You mentioned ego, Quatre… and you weren't wrong to do so. When you've been around as long as I have, acquired so much knowledge across the eons of the universe, it definitely gives you an inflated sense of self. That's part of why Tsunami and I came down to the corporeal plane of reality; so we could experience the universe through the eyes of those who spent their entire lives in it. Even so, there have been plenty of times where I've looked on as the galaxy's inhabitants make cruel decisions and stupid mistakes, and I think to myself 'I could do so much better.' If I applied my knowledge to seizing power, using a weapon like the Array to threaten all sentient life into bowing before my will… I would be a tyrant worse than even Kagato."

"Hard to imagine how anyone gets worse than him," Duo quipped.

"Oh, I can," Washu shot back, "Kagato is acting from a mix of personal ambition and genuine belief that he can bring the galaxy onto the 'proper course' as he sees it. He wants to shake up what he sees as a stagnant status quo both for reform and in the name of his own ego. For me, ego would simply reinforce my belief that I, more than anyone else, truly do know what's best for the universe. I would be a true believer, and I've seen enough history to know that those are the worst kind of people to entrust with absolute power."

Hilde shuddered. "Well… that's a terrifying thought."

"She's not wrong," Trowa remarked, "Human history alone is full of instances where fundamentalists of various persuasions take power, and it never turns out well. Not sure if any of them have been utilitarian fundamentalists, but that's beside the point."

Washu chuckled ruefully. "There was a charming piece of literature I read a while back that sums it up nicely. Oh, how did that line go again? 'In place of a Dark Lord, you would have a Queen, not dark but beautiful and terrible as the dawn. Tempestuous as the sea, and stronger than the foundations of the Earth. All shall love me and despair.' Makes the point well enough, don't you think?"

Quatre's eyes widened slightly. "I didn't know you'd gotten into Tolkien."

"That line was in a movie Lord Heero showed us on Earth," Ayeka chimed in, "or a modified version of it, I think. A very good one, I recall… and quite a long one."

Washu smiled. "I sampled all manner of human literary works in my free time. The move adaptation of that one was well done, even with the alterations."

Ayeka sighed wistfully. "Those movie nights feel like a lifetime ago. What I wouldn't give to have them back…"

"I could host one back on my colony when this is all over," Quatre offered with a smile, "It would be a fun way to celebrate."

Ayeka nodded as she held his gaze. "I would quite like that."

Further conversation was curtailed by the break room door sliding opening. All eyes turned to see Kiyone stride through the doorway, and Quatre immediately noted the tense look on her face.

This doesn't bode well…

President Moriko spoke first. "Detective Makibi, was your interrogation successful?"

Kiyone curtly nodded. "It was, Madame President. Mister Nakamoto proved to be very attentive to detail in his dealings with the traitors. I have names."

President Moriko grinned. "Excellent."

Kiyone took a deep breath. "Madame President… you may not like what I'm about to tell you."

President Moriko's brow furrowed. "I'll be the judge of that, Detective. Speak freely. Regardless of what you have to say, you'll suffer no ill will here."

Kiyone seemed to steel herself before speaking. "According to Mister Nakamoto, his main point of contact was a representative for one Seiichi Kuramitsu."

"The leader of the clan's hardliner clique," President Moriko growled, "I suspected he would be involved in this affair. It'll be the last mistake he ever makes."

"He seems to be the main source of funding for the bribes," Kiyone continued, now looking somewhat queasy, "However… Mister Nakamoto spoke of a secondary point of contact within the Kuramitsu Clan who provided key details on the night's itinerary and other bits of information that would've been crucial to facilitating the abduction."

"And that secondary contact point would be?" President Moriko asked expectantly.

Kiyone closed her eyes for a moment before letting out a heavy exhalation. "Misao Kuramitsu."

….

Freshly deposited into the interrogation room, Misao struggled to maintain his composure. He thought that his tracks had been covered, but the combined Seniwa and Galaxy Police investigation had proceeded much quicker than he'd anticipated, and with incredible thoroughness. Sitting behind the table waiting to find out who his interviewer would be, Misao tried to steel himself.

You knew this could happen, he thought, and you accepted the risks. This was all for Mihoshi, after all. You've always said that you'd do anything to keep her safe, and you backed that up with your actions. She'll understand. Everyone will understand.

He had to make his case, but he also had to be careful. It was impossible to say just how much President Moriko and the others knew. Maybe his name had come up but without complete context, and if that were the case then it gave him room for denial. If they had concrete evidence, then his defense would be family and patriotism; protecting his sister and the Kuramitsu Clan from sullying themselves with marriage to a foreign brute, and guarding the Seniwa Domain against that brute's influence. Seniwan courts, particularly those with old-guard conservative judges, had accepted similar defenses before and used them to mitigate sentences. As a member of the Kuramitsu Clan, Misao could convince either his parents or his allies in the hardliner clique to get him a judge receptive to those arguments.

Worst case scenario, he'd do a bit of time. Maybe a few years or so, and with possibility of early parole for good behavior. The black mark on his record would probably see him expelled from the Galaxy Police, but he could use his family connections to land a private security job, maybe even get back into proper law enforcement later. President Moriko and some of the other clan members would be angry for a while, but eventually they'd come around. They would see that he was right. Mihoshi would understand, would see that he had kept her safe, and that was all Misao cared about.

There was a 'hiss' as the interrogation room door slid open, and Misao braced himself. Who would be questioning him? It wouldn't be just any officer; he was far too important for that. Could it be Kiyone? She'd be easy to deal with; Misao would just need to play up Mihoshi as his motivation, and she'd be sympathetic. Father or grandfather? Same strategy. An unrelated but still high-ranking officer? Be patient, see how much they knew, and if they had him nailed then Misao would go for the plea deal combined with patriotic motives as mitigating factors. No matter who they threw at him, he had this.

That's what he thought right up until the last person he'd expected walked through the open doorway.

Mihoshi herself.

Misao's jaw nearly hit the table, and it took him a moment to recover before he scrambled to his feet. "Mihoshi, what are you doing here? You should be back in the hospital resting! You shouldn't…"

The words that would've followed died on his tongue as Mihoshi laid into him with a powerful slap, the open palm of her right hand smacking the left side of his face so hard it almost felt like his head would twist off. Recoiling in utter shock, Misao limply fell back into his seat and could only look on in stupefied disbelief as Mihoshi slammed her hands into the table. Her normally warm and cheerful blue eyes pierced him with an absolutely furious look, even as tears gathered at the edges and threatened to fall.

Her gaze bored into him, yet she didn't speak, which for Misao just made things worse. She had the edge of the table in a death-grip, and Misao suddenly realized that her entire body was shaking. She looked at him through tightly-clenched teeth, looking like she might explode at any moment.

Misao watched in stunned silence as his beloved sister's breath came in ragged gasps, her nails threatening to gouge the table between them. His cheek stung and should have hurt a lot worse than it did, but his shock was so great that the pain barely even registered.

"Misao…" Mihoshi eventually rasped after a few eternally-long seconds had passed, "Tell me… why?"

The fury in her eyes seemed to recede slightly, but only because anguished betrayal was coming to the fore. Red rimmed her eyes, tears dangling but still not falling, and Misao was finally hit with a crushing realization.

He had fucked up.

Royally.

Yet even as comprehension set in, Misao couldn't help himself. "I did this for you, Mihoshi! That guy's too dangerous! Heero's…"

"He's my friend!" Mihoshi shrieked.

Misao blinked rapidly as Mihoshi's voice echoed in the interrogation room. His mind scrambled for words, but none came to his tongue.

Mihoshi had plenty to fill in the gap, though, even as she struggled to reassert her composure. "When I crashed on Earth, I attacked him, and do you know what he did? He stopped me without hurting me, and then he took me in. Heero protected me, Misao! He gave me a place to stay, made sure I had food, looked after me…"

"He… he was ordered to… wasn't he?" Misao stammered, "Didn't his superiors… say he had to keep you under observational custody? That was in Kiyone's report…"

"He did more than follow orders," Mihoshi continued, a bit calmer but still fuming at him, "He was kind to me, Misao! No matter how big of a mess I made for him, he never once got angry with me. He always helped me, told me it was okay… he accepted me, Misao. He gave me a new home, helped me make new friends… he wasn't 'ordered' to do that. He did it because that's the kind of man he is. He was never dangerous for me; he would never hurt me, Misao!"

She took several deep and ragged breaths. "When we came here… I wanted to repay Heero for all the help he gave me… for all the kindness he showed me before. I wanted him to be welcomed in my home, just like he welcomed me into his. I wanted him to feel as safe and warm on Seniwa as I felt on Earth with him. Mother, Father, Grandfather, Great-grandmother all welcomed him, and I wanted you to welcome him. I wanted you to be friends with him, Misao!"

Misao shook his head. "Heero… he's not someone that I could be friends with."

"Yes, he is!" Mihoshi roared.

Misao was once again stunned into silence, only able to watch as Mihoshi clenched her jaw and took another deep breath to rein in her fury. "He was curious about you… wanted to know more about you. I hadn't told him much about you… because I wanted him to get to know you for himself. I wanted him to see the kind little brother that I love. I wanted you two to become friends, and all you had to do was give him a chance!"

Mihoshi closed her eyes, and when she opened them again Misao could see reflected the true depths of his betrayal. "You didn't do that, though. He came to our homeworld asking for our help… and you sold him out to Kagato."

"But you were being forced to marry him!" Misao cried out, "I did this to free you, Mihoshi! You never asked for this, right?"

"I decided to marry him!" Mihoshi snapped.

Misao recoiled, and his sister took yet another deep breath before continuing. "It's true that I didn't know what Great-grandmother was planning… I wasn't expecting an arranged marriage when we came here. Still, I wasn't forced into this engagement, Misao. Great-grandmother told Heero about the proposal first, but he didn't make the decision for me. He came to me and let me decide, Misao. Neither of us were forced into this. It wasn't what we thought would happen when we arrived, but we talked it over together… and made our decision together."

Misao was speechless. None of this was playing out how he'd imagined it would. More importantly, he couldn't recall ever seeing Mihoshi so incensed, or passionate, over anything in her life. The closest he could think of was the celebratory joy she'd shown upon being accepted into the Galaxy Police, but even that paled in comparison to what he saw in her now.

Did she…

…actually love the barbarian prince?

Misao then saw Mihoshi clench her fists and shoot him an absolutely withering glare. "Now, here's what's going to happen, Misao. You are going to tell me everything you know about Heero's abduction and where Nagi might have taken him, or I will never speak to you again!"

….

Standing with her companions on the other side of the one-way window into the interrogation room, Ayeka could only marvel at how quickly Misao had started spilling the beans. "I must be honest… I did not think that this would work."

Standing to Ayeka's right, Kiyone had a smug smirk on her face. "I did. Misao's biggest weakness is Mihoshi; Kagato's not the only one who can exploit it."

Duo chuckled. "The guy really is crazy for his sister… well, at least we can make it work for us this time instead of against us."

"I actually feel a bit bad for him," Hilde chimed in, "I mean, he screwed us all over, sure… but he really was scared for Mihoshi. Now his feelings have cost him his future."

"Hardly," President Moriko remarked, her steely gaze focused on her great-grandchildren beyond the glass, "With what he's giving us now, it's more than enough for immunity. He will be suspended from the Galaxy Police for a time, but his career can still be rehabilitated."

"Awfully lenient, considering what he was a part of," Trowa remarked.

"Trying to keep things under wraps to avoid family scandal?" Wufei prodded.

"That's part of it," President Moriko casually confessed before smiling deviously, "The members of the hardliner clique involved won't be given such leniency; I've been waiting decades for the chance to neutralize their influence, and they just handed it to me on a silver platter. They've devoted so much precious time and resources to undermining me, so they very much deserve my government throwing the book at them. Misao, by contrast, is just a highly impressionable young man who's overly-devoted to his older sister. His borderline obsession with Mihoshi is more or less an open secret, and the hardliners naturally took advantage of it to rope him into their scheme. Everything that he's spilled today will help us not only rescue Prince Heero but finally remove the most regressive elements from the Kuramitsu Clan, clearing the way for Seniwa to progress into a prosperous future in cooperation with Jurai."

"So, in a way, Misao did you a favor here," Quatre surmised.

President Moriko nodded. "In a roundabout manner, yes. I would've infinitely preferred that favor to come without the cost that Prince Heero had to pay, not to mention the harm that came to Mihoshi and the others. All I can do now is try to make the most of this situation."

"The way Mihoshi handled him in there won't cause problems, right?" Trowa asked.

Kiyone shook her head. "Had she been acting officially as a member of the Galaxy Police, it might; we do have certain regulations regarding interrogation practices. However, strictly speaking, this wasn't an interrogation session. Mihoshi was allowed to see her brother here as a private citizen."

Washu grinned. "The fact that her visit has now prompted him to confess all is nothing more than happy chance, right?"

Kiyone smirked. "Just a bit of good luck."

"You ladies are scary when you put your mind to it," Duo muttered.

Hilde smiled as she playfully elbowed her husband. "You better believe we are."

"We have what we need, then," Yosho chimed in, "Misao's confession will give Seniwa law enforcement what they need to arrest the Kuramitsu Clan members who collaborated with Kagato, and he's also given us Heero's most likely location. As we suspected, Kagato had Nagi take him to Kiryūin, at least if he gave the boy accurate information."

Ayeka's brow furrowed in thought. "It makes sense, yet it also feels too obvious. I don't know about this…"

"It could be misdirection," Quatre suggested, "Kagato may have anticipated Misao getting uncovered as a collaborator and talking under interrogation. Giving him the name of his homeworld knowing he would pass that on to us would be a good way to send us after the wrong target location."

"Do we have any way to corroborate it independently?" asked Trowa.

"Empress Funaho claims to have eyes and ears in the Kiryūin star system," Washu noted, "We need to check with her and see if they have anything for us."

"If they do, great," said Wufei, "If not, then we gamble. Heer would do the same for us."

Duo nodded, grinning deviously. "Yeah, he would. Besides, after all the crap Kagato's put us through, I say us raiding his home mansion and making a real mess out of it would be karmic payback, and it's well overdue."

"Hopefully Empress Funaho can get us floorplans for the mansion," Kiyone chimed in, "Kagato's probably got all sorts of nasty surprises waiting for intruders. If we can at least get a general layout, even if it doesn't have any traps showing, we can better prepare."

President Moriko smiled. "Knowing Funaho, I'm sure she can get you something useful."

"Then we'd best begin preparations immediately," Ayeka declared.

Yosho inclined his head. "I'll go back to the hospital. Ryoko will want to hear of this."

Ayeka raised her hand. "If you don't mind, Lord Yosho, I would like to handle that myself."

Yosho looked at her warily, and he was not the only one. "Ayeka… Ryoko's…"

"Perfectly healed by now," the crown princess finished for him, "I know how fast she recovers."

"That's not the point," Hilde gently interjected, "She's still beating herself up over how Heero got taken on her watch."

"I'm well aware of that," Ayeka huffed as she headed for the door, "I gave her space before now out of respect for Lord Heero, but that ends today. It's about time she got out of bed and proved she still wants to be his Royal Guard!"

Self-pity will not save Lord Heero, Ryoko, Ayeka silently added as she left the room, action will! I refuse to see you continue moping about doing nothing…

…not after Lord Heero placed his faith in you!

….

Sitting in the hospital bed and gazing blankly at the wall while Ryo-Ohki was curled up in her lap, Ryoko barely even registered Sasami coming back into the room carrying a tray laden with cups and a small pot emitting wisps of steam. Then again, she'd hardly even noticed Mihoshi being called out of the room earlier by one of the nurses. That had been a couple of hours ago, and she wasn't back yet. Ryoko should've been worried, and a small part of her was, but it was outweighed by her depressive funk.

"I got tea from the nurses break room. Want some?" Sasami offered.

Ryoko glanced over at the princess and forced a weak smile. "Sure. Thanks, Sasami."

Sasami set the tray on Ryoko's bedside table and poured drinks for the two of them. "How's your head feeling?"

"Better," Ryoko answered, "It doesn't hurt like before. Well… not the throbbing, anyway."

"Meow…" Ryo-Ohki groaned as she stretched out in Ryoko's lap before looking up at her.

Ryoko reached down to scratch behind her little friend's ears. "You know what I mean, right?"

"Meow!" Ryo-Ohki cried, suddenly hopping up to her shoulder and licking her cheek.

Ryoko's frail smile grew just a bit. Ryo-Ohki had a language all of her own, and right now her concern for Ryoko was crystal clear. Ryoko did not like worrying her furry companion like this, and part of her knew that just staying in bed like this was only making things worse. Even so, she just could not bring herself to get out of it.

It wouldn't do any good, she thought bitterly, I'm no help to anyone. Not even the guy I was supposed to be protecting…

Sasami pressed a cup into Ryoko's hand. "Drink this, please. It'll help."

Ryoko doubted that, but she did not have the heart to turn down Sasami's help. Gingerly accepting and raising the cup, she took a long sip. The warm liquid flowed down her throat, offering a spark against the dull gloom that had hung over the former pirate ever since she had learned of her failure.

"Is it good?" Sasami asked hopefully.

Ryoko gave a slight nod. "It is."

Sasami smiled. "Good. Oh, Ryo-Ohki, I have something for you, too."

The princess reached into her robes and pulled out a small clear bag. Ryoko saw Ryo-Ohki's eyes light up when she saw the contents; a few small carrots.

"Meow!" she cheered.

Sasami giggled as she opened the bag. "One at a time, Ryo-Ohki. Don't be greedy!"

"I didn't think Seniwa had carrots," Ryoko remarked as she watched Ryo-Ohki lean forward to snatch the first one out of Sasami's hand and chow down.

"I asked one of the nurses," Sasami explained, "Seniwa calls them something different, but they're basically the same thing. Lucky for you, Ryo-Ohki!"

Ryo-Ohki was purring in delight as she annihilated the first carrot, prompting Sasami to pass her a second. The little furball went to town on that one with equal enthusiasm, prompting the princess to shake her head.

"What am I ever going to do with you?" Sasami muttered, "You need to control your appetite."

Ryoko surprised herself with a small chuckle. "She doesn't know the meaning of moderation. We've got that in common."

"You two need to work on that," Sasami declared, "When we rescue Heero, I'm going to tell him that he needs to make you and Ryo-Ohki go on a diet."

Ryoko knew that Sasami was trying to bolster her spirits, but the very mention of the young man that she'd failed to protect caused her to slump down in the bed. "Right…"

Realizing her mistake, Sasami leaned over to embrace her, stroking the back of Ryoko's head with a surprisingly motherly-touch given her outward youth. "We'll find him, and we'll save him, Ryoko. You'll see."

Ryoko leaned forward, resting her head on the princess's shoulder, barely registering the sound of the door sliding open. "I hope so. If we can't…"

"Do not finish that sentence," a familiar female voice snapped.

Sasami jumped as she released Ryoko, eliciting a yelp from Ryo-Ohki. Looking up, Ryoko saw Ayeka standing in the doorway, hands planted firmly on her hips and a scowl on her face.

"Still moping," Ayeka fumed as she strode forward, "I expected better of you, Ryoko!"

"Ayeka, back off!" Sasami protested, "Ryoko needs rest!"

"She has rested long enough," Ayeka snapped as she glowered at Ryoko, "and she knows it!"

Ryoko shut her eyes and slouched down in the bed. "What do you want, Ayeka? Come to gloat? If you're here to tell me that I'm not cut out to be Heero's Royal Guard, I've already figured that out."

"If you're going to wallow in self-pity, then you're most certainly not worthy of the position," Ayeka seethed, "Lord Heero gave you the chance to become something more than the wretched scoundrel you were, and what have you done with it? At the first failure, you curl up like a coward!"

"Ayeka, stop!" Sasami pleaded, "This wasn't Ryoko's fault."

"No, it was," Ryoko mumbled, not even bothering to lift her head, "She's right, Sasami. I screwed up. Heero deserved better than what I gave him."

Ayeka sighed in exasperation. "I cannot believe this. You were and are a rogue, Ryoko, but you've at least had backbone before now, and I could respect that. You're more than this pathetic wretch I'm seeing now! Lord Heero believed that even more than I do, which is why he elevated you in the first place. Does his faith mean so little to you?"

"What good did that faith do him?" Ryoko deadpanned, "It got him abducted."

"Nagi and Tokimi abducted him!" Ayeka shrieked before taking a deep breath, "You were caught off guard, which was sloppy to say the least, but the fact that you were found unconscious with a head wound means you at least tried to fight before they incapacitated you. You were defeated, but you attempted to do your duty in the process. Failure would be giving up entirely, and I've never known you to do that. If you do that now, then you don't deserve the chance to redeem yourself."

There was something in Ayeka's tone that caused Ryoko to lift her head. "Redeem myself?"

Ayeka inhaled deeply to center herself, her red eyes blazing fiercely as she met Ryoko's gaze. "While you were lying around here feeling sorry for yourself, the rest of us have been working on finding out who was involved in selling out Lord Heero to Kagato. Our investigation has borne fruit; we've found traitors within the Kuramitsu Clan who collaborated with Kagato. One of them turned out to be Misao."

Ryoko blinked. "Mihoshi's little brother?"

Ayeka nodded. "He was in direct communication with Kagato, and he told us where Lord Heero was likely taken; Kagato's citadel world of Kiryūin. The others are working on a plan to save him as we speak."

Ryoko's head was spinning as she processed everything. "We… we know where Heero's at?"

"Most likely," Ayeka answered, "There is some concern that Kiryūin's too obvious. It could be a false lead. Still, as of right now, it's the most logical location and the only one we have to work with. Unless we learn something new within the next day or so, Kiryūin is where we're going."

"I can't believe you found out where he was taken so quickly!" Sasami gleefully cheered before turning to Ryoko, "Now we can save Heero!"

"Meow!" Ryo-Ohki joyfully cried out.

Ryoko was silent as they celebrated, keenly aware of Ayeka's firm gaze still fixed upon her. Ever since she'd awoken and found out about Heero's abduction, Ryoko had felt as though she was sinking into dark depths. The weight of her screwup was a heavy anchor, one that Ryoko believed she deserved and could not bring herself to cast off. Now, though, she felt a stirring in her heart, as if Ayeka's news had cast fresh sparks over kindling, and now the barest flickers of flame were struggling to be born.

Ayeka seemed to realize it, or at least guessed along those lines. "We will be leaving Seniwa soon, but we cannot take any dead weight with us. That's what you are right now, Ryoko. You're fully healed physically, yet you've refused to act, instead stewing in defeat and self-pity. That's not behavior worthy of the woman Lord Heero picked as his Royal Guard. If you're going to come with us, you may only do if you remember why Lord Heero chose you as his protector in the first place. He did not do so because he thought you were as weak-willed as you appear now."

No, he hadn't. He had done so because he'd trusted her, because he'd wanted to give her a future beyond that of a pirate, and because he'd wanted her close to him. Most importantly, though, he'd done so…

…because he loved her.

Was the woman he loved a pathetic loser who couldn't get out of bed because she couldn't handle her mistake? Because she couldn't bear the thought of disappointing him?

No.

"I'm coming with you," Ryoko declared as she climbed out of bed, startling Ryo-Ohki and causing her to jump off her shoulder.

The pirate-turned-Royal Guard stared down the crown princess and folded her arms. "Just try and stop me."

Sasami looked back and forth nervously between the two of them. "Uhm… you're not about to fight… are you?"

The air between them crackled with energy, yet neither woman was about to attack or defend. It was one of their good old glare-offs, as they had done in simpler days not all that long ago.

That seemed to be enough for Ayeka, who smiled and inclined her head a moment later. "I don't think I could now. I expect you to make up for the time you've been sulking in here, though. You have work to do, Ryoko."

Ryoko nodded, her eyes narrowing. "I know, so let's get started."

The sooner we can leave this snowball of a world and go save Heero, the better.

Preview for next time!

Ryoko: Alright, what are we waiting for? Let's go save Heero and kick Kagato's ass!

Ryo-Ohki: Meow!

Ayeka: While I share your enthusiasm, Ryoko, a bit of discretion is required here.

Yosho: Kagato's citadel world is heavily defended. Stealth, not brute force, is the key here.

Duo: You want an infiltration? Leave it to us!

Trowa: Do we have anything that can get us past Kagato's forces undetected?

Funaho: As a matter of fact, yet.

Washu: Dipping into Imperial Intelligence's secret stash of toys? Oh, this is going to be fun!

Quatre: Maybe not. We have no idea what sort of defenses Kagato has set up at his mansion.

Wufei: If it's anything like the repositories, we'll have a fight on our hands.

Mihoshi: I don't care what we have to go through, I'm getting my fiancé back!

Kiyone: And after that, on to the third repository.

Hilde: Hopefully with Seniwa's fleet backing us up.

Sasami: Next time, in Chapter Thirty-One: No Need For A Rescue! Hey, I'm coming too!

Azaka: Oh, dear!

Kamidake: Princess Sasami, please wait for us!

Author's Notes: I meant to actually have this one completed a while ago, but the rewrite drew things out a bit. I had this whole escape attempt sequence with Heero busting right out the front door, really just trying to probe the estate's outer defenses and see how far he could get before he was stopped. I got pretty far into it before realizing that I was going about things completely the wrong way, and that it would be better to have Heero instead play the part of 'guest' with his hosts/captors while studying them and the estate, trying to learn what he can before making an actual escape further down the road. I wound up scrapping the whole thing and replaced it with the scene between Heero and Tokimi at the mansion's observatory, and I like that scene a lot better. Of course, little does Heero know that his friends are on the way to help speed things along.

Also, completely unrelated note; my younger brother got me a few gift cards for Christmas, and I used them to buy Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon. It's my first time playing an Armored Core came, and I'm loving it. Just beat Balteus today, a challenging and very fun fight! Also, I now have a sentient energy wave waifu in my head who may or may not call me studmuffin. No, I will not take my crazy pills, I want this pretty voice to stay!

Hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Feel free to review, stay safe, and see you all next time!