Light rain fell on the multitude of grave markers within Calvary Cemetery on 29 July 1997. In a secluded corner of the vast resting place, a small gathering held a moment of silence for the fallen. Few on the planet outside those present would ever know of the lives lost to Illirg and Mecha-Nerti earlier this month. Sadly, many of the tombstones being remembered today were only symbolic, due to the nature of the decedents' end. However, in this final gesture, each of the headstones were inscribed the agents' true name, including Major Zackary Zurich, formerly Chief Agent Z.
Unlike police or military funerals, there would be neither a bugler nor a flag presentation. No shots would be fired to announce the passing, and no band would perform to honor the deceased. No next of kin would be notified or be present. All of these sacrifices were part of the pact made with such a clandestine organization. Instead, only their colleagues would attend, and some select guests from the stars.
A contingent of six agents of the Men in Black paid respects to their fallen comrades. Newly ascended Chief Agent O stood stoically flanked by Agents J and L, the remaining three guards close at hand. Each member of the organization was uniformly garbed in their trademark black suit and sunglasses, though each wore a dark crimson rose blossom, a mourning flower. Raindrops pattered against the umbrellas held by the guards, the only ballad for the fallen this afternoon.
In the weeks since Mecha-Nerti's assault on their headquarters, Oh had been nobly continuing her work. Tirelessly, she had overseen every major decision regarding the reconstruction of the headquarters. She had recalled several senior field agents to help in recruitment so that they could rebuild their numbers. Due to the suddenness of Zed's assassination, a successor had not yet taken Oh's previous position as assistant chief, but a search was planned to start in the coming days. Then, the new leader could at last truly rest, and mourn her friends.
And, she has made "Liaens" a top priority.
Jay and Elle had been officially partnered once the reconstruction effort had begun and had been Oh's most staunch supporters. Since the gynoid's incursion, the two had finally found a moment to sit on a bench outside Castle Clinton, where they had just talked. Though the two still sniped at one another, they have become tight and synchronized as a unit. Tomorrow morning, their first case together awaited them.
Nearby, three Galaxy Police officers held vigil in solidarity with their Terran counterparts. Makibi Kiyone, Kuramitsu Mihoshi, and Matsu Mitsuki wore their formal uniforms, likewise adorned with a rose blossom each. Unlike their associates, the GP members did not wear shades to this event, leaving their eyes visible for all to see. Kiyone stood at attention while Mihoshi sniffled at her side, clutching her partner's hand. Mitsuki, on the other hand, allowed the rain to soak her red hair and mask the tears that rolled down her cheeks, having known the deceased better than her companions had.
As Mitsuki had recovered from the battle with Mecha-Nerti, Kiyone and Mihoshi had stayed with her and had repaired their relationship with her. Mihoshi, in particular, had been quite happy to have another friend from their academy days with whom to chatter. After fighting the gynoid together, Kiyone and Mitsuki had come to an understanding and a mutual respect once again.
As promised, Kiyone had resolved to submit a report on the temporal events in 1996 and 1970, and Mitsuki had likewise reported on the events caused by Illirg and Mecha-Nerti. Due to the nature of Kain's attack and the ties to the Jurai royal family, Kiyone's report had received the highest classification in the Galaxy Police Archives. Several classified hearings had been scheduled for all three women, which were scheduled to begin within the next few days. Not only were Kiyone and Mihoshi under scrutiny for neglecting to file the report initially, but their involvement with Jurai has raised attention.
Fortunately, Oh had several connections in the Galaxy Police, given her history of diplomacy with other planets and organizations. Considering the trio had helped in fighting back Illirg and Mecha-Nerti, the chief agent had little concern about their future.
Close to the GP officers, representatives of the Masaki household commemorated the honored dead. Masaki Tenchi held an umbrella over himself, Ryua Ryoko, Jurai Ayeka, and Jurai Sasami. Both princesses wore matte black kimonos, Sasami holding her older sister's hand as they quietly remembered their brief experience here in the United States. Tenchi also wore a black suit, not too dissimilar from the agents themselves. While Ryoko did not wear a kimono, she did wear a more modest black dress than her usual flamboyant attire.
In accordance with their agreement, Oh had negotiated with the Galaxy Police and the Jurai Empire to drop the warrants for Ryoko's past crimes. As the details of Ryoko's "community service" were intertwined with Kiyone and Mihoshi's actions in the past concerning Kain and Jurai, many of these meetings had become highly classified and would continue for some time yet. However, on Earth at least, Ryoko was no longer a wanted space pirate. She was a free woman at last.
Yet, as she stood there at Tenchi's side, Ryoko wondered what game was being played around her, and by whom.
The medical staff of the Men in Black, including Elle herself, had checked Ayeka's health after the battle with Mecha-Nerti. They had found nothing wrong with her physically and had written her moments of pain and weakness off as aftereffects from her injury by Illirg and stress from the ongoing battle with the gynoid. The former crown princess had been an allied voice to Oh as she had started to rebuild after Zed's death.
However, she still heard the occasional whisper behind her, questioning her judgment.
Sasami had weathered the conflict mostly well, though she still had the occasional nightmare from the ordeal. Both Tenchi and Ayeka have been supportive, talking her through her fears and concerns. Ryo-Ohki also kept next to her close friend, comforting her when the others were away.
But, a dread hung heavy over the younger princess's heart. She could feel a darkness coming, and her dreams showed her black fire and eyes of crimson and azure.
Tenchi had a different concern. When Mecha-Nerti had flashed the neuralizer in his face, it had stunned him, and he had felt a blankness overtake him. However, the moment had passed, and he had been able to refocus himself. Washu had examined him extensively, and she had concluded that his Juraian ancestry made his nervous system barely incompatible with the neuralizer.
And, that worried Tenchi. Was he Terran? Was he Juraian? Or, perhaps he was neither.
While the funeral came to a close, in a distant star system, Mecha-Nerti's head sparked and twitched. Will Pii furrowed his brows as he attempted once again to restart the gynoid's memory system, having wired it to a small terminal. Unfortunately, all he received was a feed of error messages, interspersed with "I'm sorry" and other digital artifacts.
With his Terran biology exposed, the bounty hunter had quickly decided to take his leave from the Men in Black, before they had claimed jurisdiction over his memory. He had taken the gynoid's severed head so that he might finally extract Nerti Ro's location from her data system. After extricating the remnant of the Grenhaus integrator's influence, he had set himself to copying and parsing the information held within the machine.
But, he stubbornly refused to give up.
Elsewhere in the galaxy, the Great Liaens folded his arms, his steel-gray eyes focusing on the display before him. Though incomplete, he had received some of the data transmitted by Mecha-Nerti from the Men in Black's database. In particular, he poured over the dossier of former Agent A, "Alpha".
From the shadows nearby, Jezibel Kimitan's jade eyes glowed before she came to his side.
"Find something promising?" she asked.
"A possibility," he replied.
She narrowed her eyes and inquired, "Then, what is your next step?"
Without looking away, he answered, "Have the girl start constructing my army, using her gynoid as the blueprint."
"As you may recall," Jezibel warned, "the creature used for her power cell is not so easily replicated."
His lip curled in disgust before he waved his hand to close the document windows. While he despised the Kimitan witch, the recent success allowed him to tolerate her nonsense.
"We would likely have another," he reminded her, "if you hadn't wasted one on your folly with the Ryoan pirate."
Her eyes burned viciously, her embarrassment twisting immediately into spite. Her mind reached out through the illumination of her eyes, but his brain utterly refused her entry, a natural defense and opposition.
"However," he continued with a smug grin, "the girl is quite bright. I have heard that Jurai's power can be mimicked artificially. Have her investigate doing the same for its negative."
She hissed between her teeth before bowing and exiting his presence, returning to provide young Nerti Ro her next task.
Soon, Liaens thought to himself, at the Reunion, Jurai will fall to me at last.