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.

21. Chapter 21

Author's Notes: Hello there! Got this one done in a much more timely manner compared to the past few. Not as long as the others, but I'd hardly call that a bad thing. Hope everyone's doing okay and surviving 2021 so far!

Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-One: No Need For A Royal Audience!

"Did you miss me?" asked AIDA as Heero and the others followed Suzume down the corridor.

"I didn't have my helmet off for that long," Heero muttered under his breath.

AIDA giggled. "True enough! I suppose you did need a little time to gather your thoughts. I have a feeling that you're going to be doing quite a bit of that while we're on this planet."

She's not wrong, Heero mused, Not that I'll actually admit that to her, of course.

"There's not much point in hiding your face now, you know," AIDA pointed out, "The Emperor's going to figure out where the new source of energy in his court is coming from pretty quickly."

"That's no reason for me to give any potential enemies an easy shot at my head," Heero countered, "If he wants to see my face, it can be somewhere other than a large throne room full of courtiers and hangers-on that could be spies for Kagato."

"The throne room is just for official introductions," AIDA argued, "I've already run through the floor plans for the palace; there's a conference room off to the side where the real business gets done. We'll wind up in there with the big man after a few minutes of excessive formalities."

Heero couldn't help but smirk. "And how do you have those plans? Doing a little snooping on our hosts?"

"Infiltrating and extracting information from other networks while out in the field is one of my programmed functions," said AIDA, and if she were able to project a hologram at the moment Heero was certain that she'd be smiling, "Do you want me to stop?"

"Not at all," Heero murmured, "Just don't get caught."

"Copy that, boss!" she chirped, sounding very much like a kid who had just been let loose in a candy store.

Looking up ahead, he saw Ayeka nervously pressing down on her kimono in order to smooth out what were surely imaginary wrinkles at this point. "Oh, I should've asked Mother to let me go to my room so I could find something more suitable for the occasion…"

"Ayeka, stop worrying," said Sasami, "Father's going to be happy to see us home again! He's not going to care about whether or not we dressed up."

"I'm sure His Majesty's joy at your safe return will be positively overflowing," Azaka added.

"He will not allow something as petty as a lack of formal wear for the occasion to stop him from giving you the warmest and most heartfelt of welcomes," Kamidake reassured her.

Kiyone smiled. "I've never actually met the Emperor myself, but everything that I've heard about him sounds promising. Of course, some of that might just be the official Imperial line, but even so… whenever I've seen images of him making public appearances with you and Sasami, he's always seemed like a happy and proud father."

"You've got nothing to worry about, Ayeka!" chirped Mihoshi, "He's going to be so happy to see you that it won't matter how you look!"

Ayeka sighed, but she still smiled. "I'm not sure if that last bit is really encouraging, but I will take it in the manner that you no doubt intended, Mihoshi."

Washu smirked. "Haven't seen old man Azusa in a long time. Who wants to bet that he has a heart attack when he sees me walk into his throne room after all these centuries?"

Ayeka gasped. "Washu! That is not even remotely funny!"

Yosho chuckled. "Don't be so hasty, Ayeka. My money might not be on a heart attack, but I have no doubt that our father's reaction will be an interesting one."

Heero saw Ryoko looking nervously at the guards that were flanking them. "He's not going to pull something once we walk in there, right?"

"Your safe passage has already been guaranteed," Funaho reminded her, "As long as you continue to aid our cause, no action will be taken against you. Should we succeed in averting a crisis, you will even receive a full pardon from the Emperor himself."

Misaki smiled. "So be on your best behavior, Ryoko! I wouldn't want to have to tell my mother that you were causing trouble for Jurai, and I'm sure you don't want that either."

Ryoko gulped. "Nope!"

"I'm more worried about how he'll react to us than you fine ladies," said Duo as he gestured to himself and the other armored humans in the group, "I know we agreed that safety wins out over appearances here, but even so, I can't help but feel like we might end up making a rather hostile impression on him."

Hilde shook her head. "He's the ruler of a galactic superpower; I'm sure we're not the first guests he's had that have been decked out in full tactical gear and ready for a fight."

"Let's just try to avoid starting a fight," said Trowa as he looked around at the guards, "I'm sure our current escort won't be the only security measure in the throne room."

"We just need to keep our cool and everything should work out just fine," said Quatre.

Wufei shrugged. "Well, if it doesn't, I'm down for a scrap."

Duo looked at him and shook his head. "Seriously, dude, you've got problems."

"No one's fighting anyone today," said Heero, "If all goes well, we'll only be in the throne room long enough for our hosts to get the pomp and circumstance out of their systems. After that, we take things out of the limelight and get down to business."

He saw Yosho turn to Funaho. "We're not expecting a particularly large crowd today, are we?"

Funaho shook her head. "Just the usual gaggle of advisors, guards, and overly ambitious nobles. Not much has changed since you disappeared."

Yosho sighed. "I was afraid you'd say that."

"Sounds like just another day in Brussels," Heero muttered.

"Not a bad way to put it," AIDA chimed in, "Swap out the business suits for flashy dresses and robes, and you've pretty much got it. Oh, and much higher stakes. No pressure."

"Because I didn't have enough of that already, right?" Heero quipped.

"Oh, right… I think I'll shut up for a bit," AIDA meekly replied.

"Captain Shoji, is ours the last meeting my father has for today?" asked Ayeka.

Suzume nodded and smiled. "Yes. His Majesty wanted to make sure that he could give you and Princess Sasami as much time as possible, so he worked hard to complete the rest of his official state business early. I know you were eager to see him earlier, and he does regret making you wait, but now there will be no time constraints here as a way to make up for it."

Sasami grinned as she tugged on Ayeka's sleeve. "See, Ayeka? Father really did miss us!"

Ayeka shook her head, but she still returned her little sister's smile. "I never doubted that, Sasami. I was simply concerned with the manner of our return and how he might interpret our appearance under the present circumstances. These things may sound silly to you, but as you continue to grow you will find that many seemingly silly things become serious affairs in the eyes of the royal court."

Yosho chuckled. "One of many reasons why I quite enjoyed my time marooned on Earth. Life was so much simpler there."

Funaho sighed. "As much as I missed you, I can definitely understand wanting to get away from all of this for a while."

Misaki smiled. "Once we're able to take some time off, you should show us where you were hiding out these past centuries! A nice and relaxing trip out to Earth where we can unwind in the countryside. What do you think?"

"I think you're going to give my boss a heart attack with your vacation plans," Heero quipped.

"We'll make sure to be utterly discrete," Funaho reassured him.

"Your government won't even know we're there!" chirped Misaki.

"That might be part of the problem," Trowa deadpanned.

"Uhm, maybe we should hold off on the vacation plans until later?" Duo interjected as he pointed ahead, "I think we're here."

The already-wide corridor had broadened considerably, and at the end of it were two massive wooden doors. Two-dozen guards lined the final stretch of the hallway, and Heero was certain that there were much more comprehensive security measures lying just out of sight. Studying the doors themselves, he saw that both had images of massive trees carved into them, which wasn't all that surprising given the nature of the palace itself.

"Ah, it's been far too long since we've last seen these doors," said Azaka.

"If I had the capacity to cry, I would be shedding tears of joy right now!" Kamidake chimed in.

Ryoko rolled her eyes. "Stow the mushy crap, you tin cans. We're not here for a nostalgia trip."

"Mihoshi, remember what we talked about," said Kiyone, "Admire the pretty throne room, but don't stare at anybody, and if they ask us any questions, let me do the talking."

"Okay!" Mihoshi cheerfully answered.

Washu folded her arms, looking both apprehensive and resigned. "This is going to be fun…"

"It's a mess that you bear no small part in creating," Yosho pointed out, "You were always going to have to face the music at some point."

Washu smirked. "Oh, I know. At least you'll be facing that music right there with me, old friend."

The group came to a stop in front of the doors, and Suzume turned around to face them. "The Emperor awaits. I would advise not to start any trouble. No matter how powerful you think you are, I guarantee that any fight you pick here is not one that you would win."

"None of us are here for a fight," Heero firmly replied.

Ayeka emphatically nodded. "The last thing any of us are here to do is cause trouble, Captain Shoji. I give you my word on that."

Suzume nodded at the guards closest to the doors. "You will be held to that, Princess Ayeka."

The large doors slowly opened, and as soon as there was enough room Suzume stepped through. "Your Majesty, it is my great honor to present Princesses Ayeka Masaki Jurai and Sasami Masaki Jurai, along with their retinues!"

Ayeka led the others inside, revealing a grand hall that would've put any within the aristocratic estates and castles that Heero had seen on Earth to complete shame. Trees and pools of water lined both sides, with several small interconnecting with footpaths over them forming a ring around the entire chamber. The wooden walls arced high overhead, eventually meeting in a vaulted ceiling that had so much space between it and the floor that Heero would've been comfortable walking a mobile suit down it. A broad purple carpet led from the entrance to a set of wide stairs ending in a broad dais with three chairs, the middle of which was noticeably larger than the ones flanking it. It was easy to tell that the two smaller chairs were for the pair of women who had greeted Heero's group down in the Gardens of Serenity, and it didn't take a genius to guess the identity of the man sitting in the middle chair.

Heero would say this much for the Emperor and his great-grandfather; the man certainly looked the part of a ruler. While he was of roughly average height, Azusa Masaki Jurai held himself with the regal bearing that one would expect of a monarch. His long and dark purple hair fell to both sides of his face, with one white tie restraining it on each side and a third keeping his already impressive beard from spilling out uncontrollably. A thick but trimmed mustache and equally prominent eyebrows rounded out the facial hair, and his dark maroon eyes bore into Heero and his companions with razor-sharp focus. For an Emperor, his choice of garb was much less ostentatious than Heero had been expecting, consisting primarily of a dark green kimono and a brown and tan cloak with a high collar. Indeed, compared to some of the much more brightly colored outfits of what Heero assumed were advisors and high-ranking nobles, the Emperor's attire came across as rather subdued. It was a touch that Heero appreciated; the man seemed less concerned with appearances than he had expected, which in his book was always a good sign.

Maybe we'll actually be able to work with this guy...

As Suzume led their group forward, Heero saw the Emperor's eyes dart back and forth as he appraised them. They lit up when they saw Ayeka and Sasami, and it wasn't hard to spot the flash of recognition in them when they landed upon Yosho too. Heero saw them narrow somewhat when the Emperor set his sights on Washu, but it was difficult to tell what his true sentiments were. He seemed to take in the rest of the group with amused curiosity, with not even Ryoko appearing to concern him.

And then his eyes landed on Heero.

Just like with his great-grandmother, Heero realized that the Emperor had instantly recognized his energy and knew who he was. Sure enough, the man's eyes went back and forth between Heero and Yosho, already connecting the dots. A small smile appeared on his face, and Heero imagined that he and Yosho would be in for a very interesting conversation with the monarch quite soon.

Looking around the throne room, Heero tried to connect the faces of the various advisors and nobles to figures that Ayeka might have mentioned in her lessons. None were particularly standing out to him, and much to his relief he didn't see any flashes of white hair that might signify a direct relationship to Kagato or his sister. Of course, given that Kagato's family was a cadet branch of the Royal Family and that aristocratic lineages had a tendency to get tangled regardless of what planet they were from, appearances would not be the sole indicator of blood connection and potential allegiance.

Think Europe under Romefeller, but worse, he told himself as he scanned the onlookers, and you've got blood ties to the lot… so, yeah, definitely worse.

The Emperor rose from his throne, and both Funaho and Misake moved ahead of the group. Heero's great-grandmother motioned for the others to stay where they were while she and her fellow empress joined Azusa on the dais. The Emperor smiled as his wives drew near, each kissing him on the cheek before they stepped back to stand behind him, Funaho on the left and Misaki on the right.

At the base of the stairs, Ayeka bowed, with the rest of the group following her lead. "Your Majesty… it is an honor walk amongst these halls once again and lay eyes upon you."

"It's been far too long, Your Majesty," said Sasami, slightly struggling to replace her normal cheerful and carefree tone with a more formal voice.

The Emperor and his wives descended the steps until they were right in front of Ayeka and the others. There was a long moment of silence, and then a broad smile appeared on the Emperor's face.

"Rise, Ayeka," he said, "Rise Sasami. Rise, both of you, and come to your father!"

The two did so, both smiling as they were taken into a warm embrace. The tension in both girls eased considerably as they kissed their father on the cheeks, likely as much affection as they were allowed to show in such a formal setting.

"Welcome home," said Azusa, still smiling as he looked upon his daughters, "You have been away for far too long!"

Ayeka smiled and bowed. "My apologies for our prolonged absence."

"We missed you so much!" cried Sasami, "You and mother and Lady Funaho! It's so good to see everyone again!"

Azusa looked both girls over, his brow furrowing slightly. "Are you both well? You at least appear to be healthy. It looks like your time away was spent in relative comfort, at least. Is that so?"

Ayeka's smile grew as she gestured at Heero. "Very much so, thanks in no small part to a very special friend I made on Earth. Lo… Sir Heero, if you would be so kind as to step forward?"

Heero breathed a silent sigh of relief at the last-second change in title. Ayeka calling him 'Lord' here would likely raise more than a few eyebrows, and while the Emperor likely already suspected his heritage and power if the look he'd given Heero earlier was any indication, the former Gundam pilot wanted to keep the details under wraps at least until they could discuss matters in a more private setting.

He joined Ayeka and Sasami at the front of the group and allowed the former to introduce him. "Your Majesty, allow me to present the man who played the role of both gracious host and steadfast guardian during my time on Earth. This is Heero Yuy, a member of the peacekeeping organization called Preventer that operates at the behest of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation. It was his organization that provided shelter to Sasami and myself, with the two of us being placed under his observational custody. He showed nothing but the greatest care and hospitality while watching over us."

"We were perfectly safe with him!" Sasami chimed in, "He's become a really good friend of ours, and he's really nice!"

As the Emperor regarded him, Heero gave a small nod. "It's an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. I've heard much about you from Princesses Ayeka and Sasami. They both speak very highly of you."

Azusa nodded, his eyes sharpening as he studied Heero intently. "If what my daughters say is true, then I owe you a great debt. On behalf of both the Empire of Jurai and myself, thank you for ensuring that Ayeka and Sasami were protected while they were on your planet."

"It was my government's pleasure to host them," Heero replied, "and mine to look after them."

There was a brief pause, and Heero was sure that the Emperor had more than a few questions he wanted to ask regarding his daughters' stay on Earth. However, the way that Ayeka and Sasami's father was looking at him made Heero wary; was the monarch going to inquire as to what he was doubtlessly sensing from Heero out here in the open?

The look in the Emperor's eyes softened after a moment, though; a potential crisis had been averted, at least for now. "I trust that they did not present you with any difficulties, yes?"

Heero shook his head. "Not at all. Concealing their vessels from the public was something of a challenge for my government, but that's above my paygrade. I was simply charged with looking after your daughters, and they've both been quite accommodating to the security needs of my superiors."

Azusa looked puzzled. "Why would your government see the need to conceal my daughters' Royal Treeships?"

"Ah, forgive me, Father," Ayeka interjected, "I should have brought this up before. You see, Sir Heero's homeworld is officially a pre-contact civilization. The reveal of our arrival and where we were from had the potential to cause considerable commotion and unrest, so precautions were necessary to keep our presence hidden. They were of no imposition on Sasami and myself, I can assure you of that. As I said before, Sir Heero endeavored to his utmost to ensure that we were well provided for over the course of our stay."

Azusa nodded. "I understand. The others who wear the same armor as you; they are also from your world, then?"

"Yes," Heero answered, "While they weren't involved in looking after your daughters, they have been recruited for the purpose of our new mission."

Sasami smiled and gestured for the others to come forward. "Come on, you guys! Say hello!"

The humans in the group turned to Heero, who simply nodded. "Our host wants an introduction. Oblige him."

Duo was the first. "Duo Maxwell, Your Majesty. Part-time pilot, part-time scrapper, full-time asskicker, at your service!"

Hilde gave him a sharp elbow. "He means full-time wise-cracker. Sorry about that, Your Majesty."

Much to Heero's relief, the Emperor actually smiled. "There's no need to apologize. My court is always in need of humorous individuals. Levity serves us well, though many fail to recognize it. What's your name, young lady?"

"Hilde Maxwell," she replied, and Heero was certain that she was smirking beneath her helmet, "The smartass you just met is my husband."

Duo folded his arms. "Is that really the kind of language you should be using in front of an emperor?"

"You're one to talk," she shot back.

Duo held up his arms in surrender. "All right, you win this round!"

"Forgive them, Your Majesty," Trowa interjected, "This is something of a routine for them, and apparently not even meeting an esteemed monarch such as yourself is enough to put it on hold."

Azusa nodded. "No such forgiveness is necessary, but I will grant it nonetheless if you desire so. Your name, young man?"

"Trowa Barton," the L3 native replied, "Former combat pilot, currently a circus performer."

Azusa raised an eyebrow. "Do all circus performers from your planet bear such armor and weaponry?"

Trowa shook his head. "No, these are tools I was given for this assignment."

"Oh, I still need to watch you perform!" Sasami chirped, "Father, when you visit Earth with me and Sasami, we have to go see Trowa's group put on a show!"

The Emperor smiled. "Oh, is that so? I shall make sure that we put that on our itinerary when we plan such a vacation. I trust your group would not mind a royal audience, Mister Barton?"

"I'm sure they'd be honored, Your Majesty," Trowa answered.

"I'll have to make sure I get a ticket for myself," Quatre chimed in, "It's been awhile since I've watched you and Catherine go through your routine, and it'd be fun to see it alongside Ayeka and Sasami!"

Ayeka smiled. "Perhaps you could play host to us, Lord Quatre. Father, you'd find that agreeable, wouldn't you?"

"I might," the Emperor replied as he turned to Quatre, "if I knew a bit more about the young man that you wish to host us."

The L4 native bowed. "Ah, forgive me for not introducing myself. My name is Quatre Raberba Winner. I'm the head of the Winner Family and an old friend of Heero's. It was thanks to that connection that I was able to meet your daughters, and I'm grateful for the opportunity. Getting to know both Princesses Ayeka and Sasami has been a pleasure."

"Lord Quatre's company is a major player in Earth's economy," Ayeka added, "He would be a valuable diplomatic and trade partner for Jurai once we've officially opened relations with the Earth Sphere Unified Nation."

"I'd welcome the chance to take part in such negotiations," said Quatre, "Of course, those will have to wait until after our current business has been attended to."

"Saving the galaxy should come before hammering out trade deals," Wufei quipped.

Azusa's eyes narrowed as he turned to the L5 native. "And you think the galaxy is in need of saving, mister…?"

"Chang Wufei," the former pilot of Altron answered, "Operative for Preventer, the same as Heero. As for your question, yes, it very much does."

Azusa looked at Kiyone and Mihoshi. "Does the Galaxy Police agree with such a claim, or is it as hyperbolic as it sounds?"

Both officers saluted, with Kiyone taking the lead. "With all due respect, Your Majesty, it's not hyperbole in the slightest."

"We're all in grave danger!" chirped Mihoshi.

Azusa scratched his chin. "Is that so? Would the officers making such bold statements care to put their names behind those words?"

Kiyone did so without hesitation. "I'm Detective First Class Kiyone Makibi, Your Majesty. I can assure you that the waning we bring with us today isn't one that we deliver lightly."

Azusa looked at Mihoshi. "And you, miss…?"

"Detective First Class Mihoshi Kuramitsu," the normally clumsy officer replied swiftly, "My partner is telling you the truth, Your Majesty!"

Heero saw the light of recognition gleam in the Emperor's eyes. "Mihoshi Kuramitsu… ah, you must be Grand Marshall Minami Kuramitsu's granddaughter. I heard he was rather worried about you when you went missing awhile back; I'm sure he's relieved to know that you're doing well."

Mihoshi smiled. "I hope so. I haven't been able to talk to him in a long time!"

"I'm sure we can remedy that after our business here is concluded," said Azusa.

His gaze then fell upon Ryoko, and Heero's eyes narrowed. He was sure that the Emperor already knew who she was, and while Ayeka had promised her safe passage, there was no guarantee that her father would honor that.

"I imagine your grandfather would be quite intrigued by the company you're keeping, Detective Kuramitsu," said the monarch, "It's not often that one finds a pirate as famous as Ryoko traveling freely with the Galaxy Police."

Ryoko folded her arms and stared down the Emperor in defiance. "What are you going to do about it, Your Majesty?"

"Meow…" Ryo-Ohki murmured nervously as she looked back and forth between her master and the Emperor.

Ayeka cautiously stepped between them. "Father, while I understand that this is unusual to say the least, Ryoko is now an ally of ours. In fact, she was with Sasami and I the entire time we were on Earth. Like us, she was under Sir Heero's care and protection."

Azusa turned to Heero. "Is that true? Your world has been harboring a fugitive from galactic law?"

"When last I checked, Earth had signed no treaties with the Empire of Jurai or the Galaxy Police that bound us to your laws," Heero firmly replied, "As far as my government was concerned, Ryoko crash landed on our world, and we took her in as our guest. She remains under my observational custody, and I will guarantee her conduct while she's here. Your daughter promised that Ryoko would be allowed to walk freely and safely while she's here working with us, and that her aid in this matter would result in an official pardon. Do the words of Jurai's crown princess carry weight, or does the Empire not hold itself to the declarations of its ruling family?"

Azusa's brow furrowed, and Heero saw his jaw clench. "Are you questioning the honor of Jurai's Royal Family?"

"Are you going to give me just cause to do so?" Heero shot back.

AIDA whistled in his ear. "Damn, those are fighting words! I hope you know what you're doing, Heero…"

That makes two of us.

There was a tense moment of silence, and for a second Heero feared that he might have gone too far. However, the Emperor surprised him by actually laughing a moment later, a booming and gregarious laugh that echoed throughout the throne room.

"Oh, Heero Yuy, you are a bold one!" he declared, smiling again, "So far from home, and so much at stake, yet you do not hesitate to defend one of your companions in the heart of my palace… you're clearly made of sterner stuff than most. Fortunately for you, there is no need to make such a stand. Word had reached us here that Ryoko was travelling with my daughters well before your arrival. Ayeka's promise of safe conduct will be honored, and a pardon is most certainly an option… provided that this threat you speak of is real and that Ryoko acquits herself honorably in the defense of Jurai."

Ryoko breathed a sigh of relief. "I won't be doing it for your Empire, but yeah, I'll 'acquit' myself as honorably as you want if it means getting your navy off my back."

"That goes for the Galaxy Police as well," Heero added, "Once this is all over, I want you to contact the Grand Marshall and convince him to dismiss the charges against Ryoko."

"That might be a little more difficult," Azusa replied, "They have chased her for a long time now, and not without just cause. Still, should you convince me that the scope of the danger here justifies working with such a notorious pirate, I will make the appropriate efforts."

Kiyone smirked as she looked at Mihoshi. "I think your grandfather's going to have a seizure when the Emperor makes that call."

"Oh, I hope not!" Mihoshi fretted, "He has enough stress to deal with already!"

"I'm sure the Grand Marshall will play ball," said Washu as she stepped forward, "It wouldn't be the first time the Galaxy Police dropped charges against someone when Jurai asks. Whether or not they'll do it for me is another question entirely."

The throne room went silent as the Emperor's gaze turned to the infamous mad scientist. Heero had to consciously struggle to keep his hands from drifting towards his weapons. This was one of the meetings he'd been worried about; the monarch and the scientist that he'd commissioned to build the weapon that they were now trying to destroy. The Emperor didn't know the true purpose of their mission yet, and if Heero had it his way, he wouldn't learn until they could take this conversation somewhere much more private. However, it was entirely possible that Azusa could force the issue here. After all, Heero and the others had told him that the Empire of Jurai was facing a grave threat, but they hadn't elaborated on the nature of that threat just yet. The Emperor would surely want more concrete information sooner rather than later; how much longer could they stall?

Heero relaxed a bit when he saw Azusa smile, although the gesture wasn't as warm as it had been for other members of his party. "I'm sure an understanding can be reached for such a prestigious figure as yourself. It's been quite a long time since you last graced this palace with your presence, Washu Hakubi."

Washu looked around the throne room. "It has… and the place hasn't changed a bit, I see. I know you're fond of tradition, old friend, but have you ever at least considered a bit of interior redecorating? You know, spice things up a little?"

The Emperor shook his head. "Your input is appreciated, but we have certain standards that must be maintained. We honor the wise rulers that came before by respecting the halls through which they once roamed and the chambers from which they governed."

Washu sighed. "Thought you'd say that. Well, it was worth a shot."

"My companion might not agree with the aesthetic," said Yosho as he stepped forward, "but I must admit to finding it quite comforting. While it is ill-advised to remain so attached to the past that one does not adapt with the times, it is also important to take solace from familiarity. Innovation and tradition both have their places. Wouldn't you agree, Your Majesty?"

Azusa turned to face the shrine keeper, and Heero saw that the monarch instantly recognized the long-lost crown prince. Of course, given what Yosho had demonstrated to the palace guard when he had activated Tenchi-ken earlier, his cover had already been blown. Doubtlessly, Suzume had already reported just what had occurred to the Emperor; it would've been her duty to apprise Jurai's ruler on just who he was meeting with. Had she informed the monarch in a public announcement before the entire court, or had she somehow managed to pass that knowledge along to him in private? As Heero looked around the throne room, he saw the advisors and hangers-on looking at the two men with mild curiosity, and the former Gundam pilot leaned towards Suzume having informed the Emperor discreetly of Yosho's return. The homecoming of a long-lost crown prince would've caused a major stir, after all, and none of the onlookers seemed to be reacting to Yosho's presence in a major way.

Of course, they could simply be masking their true feelings, he thought warily, as politicians are so fond of doing…

The Emperor smiled and nodded. "Such wisdom does indeed have merits. I would expect nothing less from you… my son."

Murmurs and whispers began rippling through the onlookers, and Heero's question was answered; they had been kept in the dark until now. They all looked upon Yosho with renewed interest and suspicion, doubtlessly calculating how this revelation impacted their current political situation and how best that they could take advantage of it. Those were looks that Heero knew all too well; he'd seen them plenty of times as he'd passed through the halls of power in Brussels.

Nice to know that some things are universal, he mused, I suppose I should've expected as much…

For his part, Yosho seemed more amused than anything else by the situation. "I suppose introductions here would be rather pointless, wouldn't they?"

Azusa laughed. "They would! Surely, though, you'd allow one for formality's sake. You know how the court record keepers can be."

Funaho stepped forward to stand beside her son. "Your Majesty, would you allow me to do the honors?"

Azusa smiled at his first wife. "Of course."

Funaho nodded at the old shrine keeper while making a broad encompassing gesture towards the various onlookers. "Your Majesty, esteemed members of the royal court of Jurai, it is my great pleasure to announce the return of our long-lost crown prince, His Highness Yosho Masaki Jurai!"

Polite applause rippled through the crowd, and Heero could tell that the advisors and aristocrats were only clapping as enthusiastically as they believed was required in order to avoid offending the Royal Family. Some seemed genuinely pleased at the development, but for others their smiles were clearly forced.

And that's them reacting to a royal that they've already known about by history and reputation, Heero thought grimly, I can't wait to see what kind of reception I get when the truth comes out…

Azusa clasped both of his hands on Yosho's shoulders; the monarch was practically grinning from ear to ear. "All those years… I knew that you weren't dead! Tell me, my son, what have you been doing all of this time? Could you not at least reach out to Jurai and let us know that you were safe?"

Yosho chuckled. "And interrupt my well-earned vacation with court gossip and intrigue? I think we both know how well that would've gone, Your Majesty. While my prolonged absence from the Empire wasn't entirely by choice, having the time and space required to properly reevaluate my life and start anew was a blessing in disguise. I have no regrets as to the path I walked to get here… although I did miss you and Mother dearly, as well as Lady Misaki and some of our dearest friends and family."

Azusa released his son and nodded. "As did we. You will tell us later what you were up to during your absence, won't you?"

"I will," said Yosho, "It would be a tale best saved for a more private setting, as would the business that we have come here to discuss. Now that the formalities are out of the way, perhaps we could take this meeting to a more secluded area? The prying eyes and ears of the court will not serve the Empire well here."

The Emperor's eyes narrowed slightly before he answered. "If that is what you wish, then yes. Quarters will be prepared for your entourage in the meantime, and there will be a proper feast tomorrow night. However, as you have clearly not travelled all this way just for a social call, let us retreat to the conference room. Whatever threat you claim is facing the Empire can be elaborated upon there."

Azusa's gaze briefly went towards Heero. A question was on the tip of his tongue, and Heero had a pretty good feeling that he knew just what it was. He gave a small shake of his head, hoping that his great-grandfather would understand the meaning; that what he wanted to ask wasn't something that should be discussed in the open. There was a brief pause before the monarch gave him the slightest of nods.

Crisis averted, thought Heero as the Emperor began leading them off towards the chamber that AIDA had mentioned earlier, for the moment, at least.

Of course, you're only delaying the inevitable.

….

It had been quite some time since Ayeka had last set foot in the Emperor's private conference room, but there was still a comforting sense of familiarity to it. The center of the chamber was dominated by a broad, circular table crafted from the wood of the Tenju itself, easily large enough for over two dozen people to sit around it. In the middle of the table was a holographic projector, and in front of each seat a small console was built into the gleaming surface to allow attendees to input data and make presentations. Ancient tapestries depicting idyllic scenes of nature were draped along the walls, and beneath them were assorted small trees surrounded by shallow pools of water. The idea behind the decorative scheme was to encourage a sense of calm, to put those in the chamber at ease and therefore lend itself to thoughtful deliberation and negotiation. Ayeka could only hope that it would do so today; there were delicate matters at play here, and none of them could afford to make brash decisions.

In addition to Ayeka and the rest of her party, the only other people in the room were the Emperor and both Empresses. Captain Shoji had momentarily protested Azusa's refusal to allow a security detail within the chamber, but a stern look from Ayeka's father was all it took to silence her. Ayeka had been relieved; while word of what was going on would doubtlessly get out eventually, for the moment discretion was crucial. The more time they had to make preparations for their expedition to the second repository in secret, the more that they could exploit the narrow lead they'd gained over their enemy.

Ayeka had worked together with Yosho, Heero and Washu to bring her father up to speed on the current situation. Although the four of them had tried to be concise in their explanations, it had still taken some time to properly go over everything. Ayeka felt a little uncomfortable about certain omissions they were making, particularly with regards to Heero generating a Light Hawk Wing, but she knew enough about how Juraian politics worked to understand that bringing it up right now would be the equivalent of tossing a hand grenade onto the table. It was better to wait until later to broach such a subject, especially given some of the troubling implications behind it.

She watched anxiously as her father leaned back in the chair once their long summary of the events leading them to her homeworld had concluded. His eyes closed for a moment, and when they opened again Ayeka was struck by something she'd never seen in them before; an incredibly heavy weariness. It lasted only for a second or so, and Ayeka was tempted to believe that she'd completely imagined it, but she knew better.

I suppose this has all brought up some rather unpleasant memories, she thought grimly, Our family's role in the Imperial Civil War, and what Father did to end it… I never thought that Jurai's glorious past could be considered a curse, but then again, it turns out I was misinformed about some key elements of our history. Now our sins come back to haunt us in the form of the weapon my father used to end the war… and one of the individuals that helped build it.

Rather than address Ayeka or any of her companions first, though, Azusa instead turned to Funaho. "It seems you were right to be concerned with Kagato's recent political maneuverings… he's playing a far more dangerous game than we could ever have imagined."

Funaho solemnly bowed. "Your Majesty, I can only beg forgiveness for my negligence in this matter. As your Minister of Intelligence, I should've been able to sniff out clues as to the true intentions of the Kiryuin branch and their allies. I suspected a play to alter the balance of power, but I never found any inklings to suggest that they were after something so horrendous as the Judgement Array. I have failed you."

"Sis…" Misaki murmured.

Azusa shook his head. "If there is negligence in this affair, then a share of it is surely of my own making. I failed to recognize just how deeply Kagato's ambitions run and what he was prepared to do in order to realize them. We can reflect on our blindness another time, though. It is our duty now to focus on defending our family and the empire from this threat."

Funaho nodded. "Of course, Your Majesty."

Ayeka cleared her throat. "Now that you understand the gravity of the situation, Your Majesty, surely you can see that we haven't a moment to lose. We must act decisively to thwart Kagato's scheme, moving against him personally and to eliminate the threat posed by the Array. Every planet in the galaxy is in danger, not just those within the empire. This threat comes from within the heart of Jurai, and it is our duty to extinguish it."

"We can't sit back and let Kagato get what he wants," Sasami chimed in, giving the Emperor a pleading look, "Father, he's not just going to threaten Jurai; he'll target Earth just to make an example out of them! They'd be completely defenseless against him!"

Misaki reached over to take Sasami's hand in hers. "We won't let him attack Earth or any other planet, Sasami. He's not going to win."

The Second Empress then turned to Azusa. "Your Majesty, perhaps it'd be best if I took Sasami to her room so she can rest? She's had a long journey, and sensitive matters like these might be too much for her."

Sasami surprised both Ayeka and their mother by vehemently shaking her head. "No, I'm staying! I might be afraid of what's happening, but I want to help however I can. You can't keep me out of this!"

Ayeka's eyes widened; this sort of defiance was not what she'd expected from her little sister, especially in front of their parents. "Sasami…"

Misaki looked back and forth between Ayeka and Azusa, clearly conflicted. "Your Majesty… I don't know…"

Azusa actually smiled as he looked at his youngest daughter. "Sasami… you've grown in the time that you've been away from us."

Sasami blinked in confusion. "I have?"

"Oh, yes," Azusa confirmed, "You understand what is happening, and you want to help despite being scared. You're growing into a fine princess, just like Ayeka. If you're sure that you want to stay, then we will not send you away."

Sasami slowly nodded. "Okay, then… yes, I'm staying. I might not understand everything, but I'm still going to stay, and I'm going to help."

Misaki smiled as she squeezed Sasami's hand. "Oh, my little girl has grown up so much… I'm so proud of you!"

Sasami smiled and looked down bashfully. "Aw… thanks, Mother."

"We'll certainly need everyone here to play their part if we're to weather this crisis," said Funaho, "With the delicate nature of the situation, whatever action we take must be both decisive and prudent. An incredibly tight balancing act lies before us. We must act forcefully, but also cautiously. Otherwise, events could very quickly spiral out of control."

Azusa nodded. "Moving directly against Kagato would be my first choice, but with the alliances he's been forging within the nobility and with members of the business community, the backlash from such an action would be considerable. It might serve as the spark for the powder keg he's been slowly transforming the Empire into."

"Can't you at least detain him?" asked Duo, "Put him under house arrest while we deal with the Array so he's out of our hair?"

"If you're worried about presenting evidence against him, our helmets all have built-in data recorders," Trowa pointed out, "We could provide you with all the footage we captured before and during our fight with Kagato's team in the first repository."

"He pretty much laid out his scheme for us right out in the open," Wufei added, "I'd call it a pretty damning confession."

"Whatever recordings you have would certainly be useful," said Funaho, "but I'm afraid there's far more to this than simply building a legal case."

"What do you mean?" asked Quatre.

Misaki looked at her fellow Empress. "Showing might be easier than telling here, sis."

Funaho nodded as her fingers began to dance along the console built into her section of the table. "Yes, I believe you're right. Please, allow me a moment or two to gather the relevant data."

Ayeka and the others waited as the First Empress did her work. A few seconds later, the holographic projector in the center of the table sprang to life while the surrounding lights in the room simultaneously dimmed. An image of the Milky Way Galaxy appeared above the table, slowly rotating clockwise over the attendees' heads. A significant chunk of the galaxy, between roughly thirty-five to forty percent, was highlighted in green.

"These are the current star systems either under the direct control of the Empire of Jurai or within our sphere of influence," Funaho explained for the benefit of their guests from Earth.

Hilde whistled. "Wow! I figured the Empire was big, but even so… that's a lot of territory."

"Where's Earth?" asked Mihoshi.

"Here," Funaho replied as a blinking yellow dot appeared in one of the outer spiraling 'arms' of the galaxy, a considerable distance to the 'south' of the territory marked in green, "As you're surely aware, Detective Kuramitsu, Earth is in what's known as the Outland Sector, a region of space that the Empire typically takes little interest in. That's why we normally leave patrolling it to the Galaxy Police. Of course, given who's been hiding out there these past few centuries, perhaps we should've been paying closer attention to it."

"No kidding," Kiyone muttered.

Funaho's fingers continued to tap away at the console, and the holographic map suddenly shifted, zooming in on the territory belonging to the Empire. Many of the green stars suddenly shifted to red, and more surrounding them became orange.

"The red on the map marks systems under the direct domain of the Kiryuin cadet branch family and their known allies within the Empire," Funaho explained, "while the orange represents territory under control of those we strongly suspect to be considering allying themselves with Kagato's faction."

Ayeka gasped as her mind processed the implications of what she was seeing. "This is almost thirty percent of Imperial space!"

"My goodness," murmured Azaka.

"An ill omen," Kamidake added.

"Sure, it looks bad," said Ryoko, "but you guys still control the remaining seventy percent, right? You've got the numbers and resources advantage by a wide margin."

Funaho sighed. "I'm afraid first impressions are a bit misleading here, Ryoko. Many of the systems under the sway of Kagato's faction are major centers of economic activity. Precious resources, heavy industry, shipyards and weapons factories, financial hubs; they've been most thoughtful with who they're targeting for potential recruitment. Officially, of course, all these worlds still pledge loyalty to Jurai and the Royal Family. Unofficially, they're a potential hostile power within our own borders."

Washu leaned forward, her eyes narrowing as she studied the map. "Kagato played his cards well. It's not enough for him to outright win an open confrontation, but he can make defeating him a costly endeavor."

Misaki nodded, and Ayeka wasn't used to seeing her mother look so grim. "We have the advantage in ships, troops, resources, logistical support… everything that would be needed to win a conventional war. However, if it came to that, we'd still be talking casualties in the millions, perhaps billions… and there's no guarantee that such a conflict would remain a strictly internal affair. Jurai might be the premier power in the galaxy, but the other nations amongst the stars are always watching and waiting for a potential moment of weakness. Kagato's in a position to give them just that."

"Has he made any recent contact with foreign ambassadors?" asked Yosho.

Funaho shook her head. "Nothing that would be considered out of the ordinary for his family's position. Of course, it's always possible that he's plotting with emissaries from rival powers behind the scenes. We can take nothing for granted here."

Ayeka saw Heero lean forward slightly. "Has there been any change in the patrol patterns or concentration of military resources in any of the major powers that neighbor Jurai? Recent buildups in staging areas near the border or flare-ups between policing units of the Empire and another nation when they cross paths?"

"Not that we've noticed as of yet," Funaho answered, "Military activity in our most prominent neighbors appears to be at normal levels, and there's been no disruption in cross-border cooperation. Of course, if Kagato does have foreign allies, it's possible that they're trying to lull us into a false sense of security. He might have requested that they refrain from any action that could potentially be interpreted as provocative."

Heero shook his head. "Earlier in his game, perhaps, but now? With his attack at the safehouse on Earth and his play for the first repository, he's moving into a much more proactive stage of his scheme. He's emboldened and taking risks; his confrontation with us at the first repository is proof enough of that. Now would be the time for him to start marshalling his forces in earnest. I'd keep an eye on the border regions if I were you; if he does have allies in any of your neighbors, then my money would be on a significant buildup of forces along your frontiers taking place within the next few weeks or so."

Washu nodded. "Heero's right. I think it's safe to say that Kagato's done keeping a low profile. I'm sure he knows that you'll have to be careful in going after him, especially if you want to avoid potentially kicking off a civil war. Unfortunately, that's going to give him the time he needs to rally whatever allies he's made. Of course, knowing him, any co-conspirators outside of his inner circle are probably just meant to soak up fire while he moves to seize the Array. He'll have them trade body blows with your fleet while he goes after the real prize."

Yosho sighed. "That does sound like him."

Ayeka was surprised when Ryoko spoke up next. "He might have friends in low places too, if you know what I mean. He had a pair of assassins from some death cult working with Nagi when she attacked us on Earth, and they were there for the fight in the first repository, too. Those might not be his only underworld allies."

"It's not often that I agree with Ryoko," said Kiyone, "but I think she might be right. Kagato's already brought on assassins and one of the best bounty hunters in the galaxy for this scheme of his. If he's in the market for pawns that are both cutthroat and expendable, the galactic underworld would be a prime area for recruitment, and he seems smart enough to recognize that."

"It wouldn't just be assassins and bounty hunters that he could recruit, either," Mihoshi pointed out, "Since he's a cadet branch royal, he's got the kind of money that would attract mercenaries and pirates too. With that kind of cash, he could convince them to take on even the mighty Imperial Fleet."

It was a disturbingly logical analysis from Mihoshi, which Ayeka could only take as a sign of just how dire the situation was. If even the normally airheaded and perpetually cheerful Galaxy Police Detective First Class was actually focusing on thinking clearly here, then they were really in trouble.

Funaho's response certainly didn't help matters. "He might already be doing so. While pirates and outlaws in general tend to tread carefully around our territory, there are always bands of raiders who periodically try to probe our defenses and look for openings. That sort of activity has remained consistent at the Empire's borders… except for within the space that the forces affiliated with the Kiryuin branch are tasked with patrolling. There, it has dropped considerably, almost to nothing. They haven't altered their patrol patterns or beefed up their frontier forces in any noticeable way, yet they're seeing far lower instances of pirate activity than in any other Imperial border region."

"I'd say that pretty much gives the game away, then," Duo chimed in.

"How much would having pirates and mercenaries on his side really help him in the grand scheme of things, though?" asked Trowa, "They might be useful as auxiliaries, but I doubt they'd last long in any major engagement."

Ryoko sighed. "You don't know space pirates very well. They're not all as cute and cuddly as me, and they don't operate solo like I usually do. The Crimson Talons, Nova Hounds, Black Knives… those are just a few of the pirate fleets that roam the galaxy, and they've all got major scores to settle with Jurai. I'm not just talking a scattered bunch of raiders with cobbled-together ships one weld failure away from the scrapyard, either; these are outlaw navies in all but name. They typically get by on older warships, but they've also got their own shipyards tucked away in the wild regions of space, and some of their homegrown designs are nasty pieces of work. If Kagato's looking to add an extra fleet or two and is willing to dole out the cash, he won't have to look too hard to find them."

"Great," Wufei quipped, "An insane aristocrat recruiting pirate armadas… now I've seen everything."

"We haven't confirmed that he's actually doing that just yet," Quatre reminded him, "All we have right now is a suspicious lack of pirate activity in Kagato's domain compared to other parts of the Empire. It bears further investigating, but it's not proof in and of itself that he's bringing these raiders into his employ."

Heero turned to Ryoko. "Do you have any contacts in the underworld that could look into this? We need every edge we can get here."

Ryoko's brow furrowed; Ayeka couldn't recall the last time she'd seen the pirate think so hard. "There's a few info brokers I could hit up. I've been out of the game for the past few months, though, and that might spook them. Word could've gotten out that I'm running with a different crowd these days. Being seen with royals and cops doesn't exactly help your street cred. Still, I can give it a shot."

"Do anything you can," said Heero, "We need to come at this problem from every possible angle."

"If you need to make any long-range communications, I can give you access to the proper equipment," said Funaho.

Misaki smiled. "With what we've got here in the palace, you can contact pretty much any sufficiently developed world in the galaxy!"

Ryoko actually smirked. "Using the Empire's setup to reach out to my black market contacts? This should be fun!"

"Countering Kagato's moves within the political and military sphere is important, but we are missing the much more immediate threat," said Yosho, "The greatest danger comes from the Array itself, and that is Kagato's ultimate prize. If we can destroy it, he will have lost the keystone of his entire plan. Any efforts we make to confront him within the Empire or its surrounding space should be secondary to taking out the Judgement Array, and we are here precisely because we need Juraian resources to do that."

Ayeka turned to the red-headed scientist at the heart of this mess. "Miss Washu, you specifically said that we would require a fleet to tackle the second repository. I trust you have data to present here that would illustrate why we need a considerable upgrade in firepower, yes?"

Washu smiled as she looked not at Ayeka, but Heero. "I do, but there's someone else who can make the presentation much more effectively than I can. Heero, do you mind letting AIDA off the leash?"

The Preventer operative turned to her. "Excuse me?"

Washu rolled her eyes. "Don't play dumb. I know you picked her up from my lab when you suited up. In fact, I was counting on that."

Azusa raised an eyebrow as he looked around. "Who is AIDA? I do not recall such an individual being present for our earlier introductions."

A female voice suddenly came from Heero's helmet. "Oh, I was very much present, Your Majesty. I'm AIDA, your friendly neighborhood artificial intelligence that just so happens to be sharing headspace with Heero. Nice to meet you!"

The Emperor looked less than amused. "You snuck an unauthorized artificial intelligence into my palace?"

Heero shrugged. "Didn't know that was against the rules. Isn't it your guards' job to catch stuff like that? Not my fault if they've gotten sloppy."

Ayeka nervously gripped her kimono beneath the table. "Father… I'm sure Sir Heero meant no offense, and it's my fault for not making him aware of the regulations regarding artificial intelligence within the Royal Palace. Please, forgive me."

Misaki smiled as she looked at Azusa. "Oh, we can let it slide this time, can't we? There's no need to raise a fuss over something like this, right?"

Azusa sighed. "Very well, then. We shall overlook it… this time."

Ayeka watched as Heero reached around to the back of his neck. There was a clicking noise, and when Heero's hand appeared a moment later it had what appeared to be a chip of some sort in it. There was a blue light emanating from the center of the chip, and Ayeka suspected she knew what it was.

"Sir Heero," she said hesitantly, "That's AIDA's core, correct?"

"Pretty much," Heero answered, "She says this'll be easier if she's plugged directly into the network… and she promises not to poke around anymore than she already has."

Ayeka looked at her father with no small amount of apprehension. Heero was already treading on thin ice just by bringing AIDA into the palace at all. Would the Emperor allow an outside artificial intelligence direct access to the palace network? Truth be told, while Ayeka believed in Heero, she did not have the same level of faith in AIDA; she was created by Washu, after all. How much mischief could the little electronic pixy get up to behind the scenes while she was making her presentation to the others?

She watched as her father turned towards Funaho. "Electronic espionage is your area of expertise, not mine. Tell me, would it be wise to allow her access?"

Funaho smiled. "With any other artificial intelligence, I would say no. However, given this one's allegiance, I believe an exception can be made."

The First Empress then turned to Washu, her smile hardening noticeably. "Of course, if my faith is misplaced, rest assured that I will find out one way or the other, and there will be consequences. Do I make myself clear?"

Washu simply nodded, not phased in the least. "Quite so."

Funaho looked at Heero and smiled. "Go ahead, Heero."

Ayeka watched as Heero inserted the chip into a slot built into the console. The image of the map on the central projector zoomed back out to show the galaxy as a whole. The territory of Jurai was still marked in green, along with the blinking yellow dot that was earth, but those were now joined by two more blinking dots, one orange and one red, both at practically opposite ends of the galaxy. Ayeka recognized the rough position of the orange dot, and suspected she knew what the red one was.

She got her confirmation a moment later as AIDA herself appeared, a blue pixy hovering over the map looking like a teacher about to give a lecture. "Ah, much better! If you'll pay attention to the map, the blinking orange dot represents the position of the first repository… or at least, what was the first repository. Not much left of it beyond a smoking crater now. Anyway, the red dot marks the position of the star system where the second repository is located."

"Well beyond our borders," Misaki noted as she studied the map, "However, the stretch of space between there and the Empire is mostly occupied by a collection of smaller nations rather than any of the major powers. The Galaxy Police patrols the region, but they should be willing to let any of our ships pass through, although they might insist on providing an escort."

AIDA shrugged. "I'll leave the particulars for Your Highness to work out. Anyway, the reason we need a fleet for this second repository will become apparent shortly."

The hologram shifted again, suddenly zooming in on the system marked in crimson. The single blinking dot was replaced by a large yellow orb that Ayeka assumed to be an average and unassuming star orbited by three planets, each one colored blue. The trio were large enough that Ayeka could immediately identify them as gas giants, and scores of smaller orbs appeared in orbit around each of them; the assorted moons of the planets. Countless smaller bits of orange were scattered all over the map, which Ayeka took to be asteroids or other assorted bits of interstellar debris.

"This," AIDA began, "is the star system designated RP-X249815. Like so many other systems in our galaxy, it was deemed so unremarkable as to not even be worthy of a proper name beyond its survey number. There were originally deposits of valuable minerals and ores scattered about the asteroids and various moons of the gas giants, but the Galactic Mining Guild exhausted those well before even the Imperial Civil War started. Since then, the system has been completely abandoned. It has no more wealth to offer, no habitable words to colonize, and it doesn't hold an even remotely strategic position to justify so much as a token military presence. As far as the galaxy's concerned, it's a complete dead end."

Azusa nodded. "In other words, it's as good a place as any to hide something important."

AIDA nodded. "Precisely, Your Majesty. Observe."

The hologram shifted again, this time zooming in on the middle gas giant and its assorted moons. Ayeka counted twenty-seven in total, and one of them was blinking red.

"The second repository is located on this moon," AIDA continued, "Composition is basic; not all that different from Earth's moon in size and material, actually. Terrain is a mix of craters, mountains, valleys and plains. No breathable atmosphere, and gravity is relatively low."

"Where's the target?" asked Heero.

"Here," AIDA replied.

The image zoomed in yet again, this time on the moon itself. The rocky sphere quickly rotated before the hologram settled on a large crater. Leaning forward, Ayeka could make out a structure similar in size and design built into the crater's wall. The outer frame was composed of the same six large triangles with the long continuous central triangle running through them, ultimately ending in the crater wall itself. There was a large landing pad out front, and Ayeka spotted four double-barrelled anti-air turrets, one on each corner of the pad.

"I'm assuming those guns aren't the only outer defenses," the crown princess ventured, "You'd hardly need a fleet to contend with those."

"Correct," said AIDA, "The first line of defense is considerably heavier than that of the first repository. Please, allow me a moment to organize the relevant data."

The map zoomed out to encompass the crater, and scores of crimson dots appeared along its rim and inside it. As the magnification adjusted yet again, Ayeka saw that each dot represented a cannon of the same size as those that had guarded the approach to the first repository, only this time there were a lot more of them.

Duo whistled. "That's a lot of firepower! Each one of those is an anti-ship cannon, right?"

"Yes," AIDA confirmed, "and I'm afraid the bad news doesn't end there."

"Of course it doesn't," Wufei muttered.

"How bad can it be?" asked Quatre.

Trowa looked at him, and Ayeka was pretty sure that the young man was raising an eyebrow beneath his helmet's visor. "Really? Don't you know better by now than to ask that, Quatre?"

"Well, now we're doomed," Hilde muttered.

Quatre folded his arms. "We will be with that kind of attitude. How about a little optimism here?"

"You might want to save that until you see the rest of the defenses," said AIDA, waving her finger at them like a teacher taking students to task for interrupting her lesson, "You're about to see just how bad it can get."

"Lucky us," Ryoko grumbled.

The moon suddenly became riddled with a series of crimson cuboids dug into its surface. Streams of very small red dots began to pour forth from them, and Ayeka very much did not like what she suspected they represented.

Her suspicions were confirmed by AIDA a second later. "In addition to the surface batteries surrounding the entrance to the repository itself, multiple hangars have been dug into the moon. This is what they'll be sending at us once we're detected."

The hologram shifted yet again, this time zooming in on one of the small red airborne dots. The 'dot' was revealed to be a small craft of a design that Ayeka had never seen before. Its central fuselage was cylindrical, tapering off into a rounded nose at the front while flaring out slightly at the rear to accommodate a pair of engines. Two strange arm-wing hybrid-like appendages jutted out towards the front of the fuselage before curving back along the main body and ending just short of the engines. There was a small cannon slung beneath each wing, and a third built into the bottom section of the craft's nose. A measuring scale appeared beneath it, and Ayeka's eyes widened in surprise; the odd machine was barely larger than one of the countless four-door sedans that the princess had seen in Brussels.

"These," AIDA continued, "are S/D-01 Combat Drones. The S/D designation stands for 'Sentry/Defender', and their role is to intercept any craft that attempts to approach the repository. They're very lightly armed, with only three plasma cannons to worry about, and they're not even shielded. However, they make up for that with sheer numbers, and they are also programmed to ram targets if that's deemed necessary to destroy them. In fact, they carry explosives for just such an eventuality in order to maximize the potential damage."

"All those hangars," Funaho murmured as she studied the map, "That moon must house several thousand of these drones at least."

"Oh, dear," said Azaka.

"I'm not looking forward to fighting out way through them," chimed in Kamidake.

"I'm starting to see why we need backup here," said Kiyone as her eyes narrowed, "Those things would swarm the Yagami and rip it apart before we even got close to the drop site."

"Poor Yagami," Mihoshi murmured.

"And poor everyone who'd be aboard her," Washu quipped.

"Meow…" Ryo-Ohki softly whined.

"No kidding," Ryoko grumbled, "Not even Ryo-Ohki would be able to fight her way through all of those! Washu, what the hell? Were you trying to get your friends killed when you set this all up?"

"I was trying to protect the galaxy from one of my greatest mistakes," Washu countered, "I couldn't afford to take chances."

"No kill like overkill, right?" Duo deadpanned.

"That's an understatement," Trowa muttered.

"I'm afraid the bad news doesn't end there," said AIDA.

Quatre sighed. "Good grief. What else do you have in store for us?"

"This," said AIDA.

The map zoomed out to encompass the star system as a whole. Ayeka gulped nervously as many of the assorted asteroids scattered around the system were now highlighted in red; that couldn't be good.

AIDA confirmed that a moment later. "Additional automated facilities full of drones were constructed and concealed within a good chunk of the asteroids in this star system. Also, many of the asteroids have heavy weapons built into them. Not enough for one to take on a major Juraian warship by itself, but there are a lot of rocks with hidden guns floating around out there, and plenty of them have overlapping fields of fire."

Wufei leaned forward. "That's one hell of a gauntlet to run."

"So many…" said Sasami, "How are we going to get through them all?"

"Short version?" Washu answered, "A combination of brute force and skilled flying. We need fleet support to fight our way through to the moon where the second repository's located. Once we've established air superiority and have neutralized the surface defenses, we can land a strike team to infiltrate the facility and retrieve the data."

"These are only the outer defenses," Heero pointed out, "What's waiting for inside, AIDA?"

AIDA shook her head. "I'm afraid that information was not included in the first repository's data."

Ryoko's eyes widened. "What? Washu, I thought you knew what we'd be walking into this time!"

"Only as far as the outer defenses are concerned," Washu replied, "I had hoped that my past self had included information on what lies within the second repository, but it seems the old me didn't want to be too generous with that data. As of right now, I can only assume that whatever interior defenses I prepared here will be scaled up from those of the first repository."

Ayeka sighed. "So, we can expect drones in greater numbers and likely more powerful variants than what we faced before… I can't say that I'm looking forward to fighting them."

"You won't be fighting them at all," Azusa said, "You will be staying behind. You have already put yourself in enough danger on the Empire's behalf!"

There was a time when Ayeka would've obeyed her father without question on this, but that time was gone. "No, Father, I will not! Sir Heero and the others will need my power to make their way through the second repository. My abilities are well-suited to giving them defensive cover. They were needed in the first repository, and they will be needed in this one as well. I will accompany them, Father… whether it be by your will or not."

"I forbid it!" Azusa shouted.

Ayeka winced but held her ground. "The Royal Family has an obligation to see this matter through ourselves, Father! We might not have built the Judgement Array with our own hands, but we commissioned Washu to construct it so we might wield it against our enemies. This horrific weapon exists because of us, Father! The entire galaxy is now in danger because of us!"

"Please don't fight, you two!" Sasami cried, "We need to work together here!"

Misaki put a hand on Sasami's shoulder. "It'll be all right, Sasami."

The Second Empress then looked at her eldest daughter. "Ayeka, are you sure this is what you want?"

Ayeka emphatically nodded. "It is, Mother."

Misaki gave her a smile that was both proud and sad. "I understand… you've grown up so much in such a short period of time."

She then turned to her husband. "Your Majesty, she will go whether we want her to or not. We can't stop her… and I think you know that just as well as I do."

"Princess Ayeka is willing to use her abilities to aid her friends and serve the Empire," Funaho added, "Her taking on a direct role in this operation might be personally dangerous, but it also demonstrates the Royal Family's commitment to protecting those under our rule."

Ayeka met her father's stern gaze and surprised herself by not flinching. "I understand your concerns, Father, and I appreciate them, but my mind is made up. The Royal Family must do whatever it can to thwart Kagato's ambitions, and my powers are well suited to aiding those taking the fight directly to the enemy. I will be taking part in this operation, with or without your approval."

There was a long pause before the Emperor relented. "I could order you to be confined, but your nerve has clearly grown in your absence; I have no doubt you would find a way to escape. Very well, then. If you wish to accompany your friends in their mission, then I will not stop you."

Ayeka sighed with relief. "Thank you, Father."

"I'm going, too!" Sasami chimed in.

"Absolutely not!" Azusa swiftly replied.

Misaki was equally opposed. "Sasami, I know you're brave, but this would be far too dangerous! Your powers haven't developed as far as your sister's; you can't fight!"

Sasami shook her head. "I can stay on the Yagami like I did when the others went down to the first repository. I wasn't in any danger, and I didn't get in anyone's way. Kiyone and Mihoshi kept me safe!"

"Sasami, we mostly kept the ship hidden after we dropped off the others," said Kiyone, "With the way that Washu's set up the defenses of the second repository, we wouldn't be able to handle things the same way we did here. The approach alone will be much more dangerous. It might be better if you stayed behind this time."

"But I already said that I was going to help you all!" Sasami protested, "That's why Father let me stay here!"

"I let you stay so you could learn," Azusa countered, "and because I wanted to respect your growing maturity. A meeting discussing affairs of state is one thing, Sasami, but a battle like the one that's coming is completely different!"

Funaho gave Sasami an apologetic smile. "Sasami, your father and mother are right. This would be far too dangerous for you. It really is for the best if you stay here where it's safe."

"If Kagato gets what he's after, nowhere in the galaxy will be safe!" Sasami argued, "I want to help stop him!"

"This is quite troubling," said Azaka, "I'm not sure what should be done."

"Indeed," Kamidake chimed in, "I want to encourage Princess Sasami's bravery, but at the same time it really would be for the best if she stayed at the palace where it's safe!"

Ayeka concurred with the sentiments of her guardians. She was proud of her little sister's growth and maturity, but she wasn't willing to put her in danger. Having her along for the ride in the Yagami when they'd gone after the first repository had been one thing; the ship had remained for the most part out of harm's way this time, so Sasami had been relatively safe. Based on the defenses that had been revealed to them today, though, the same could certainly not be said if Sasami came along when they went after the second repository. Ayeka didn't want to discourage her sister, but she found herself coming down on the side of her parents in this argument.

"Sasami," she said cautiously, "I understand how you feel, but Mother and Father are right. This will be far more dangerous than the adventure we just came home from, even if you remain aboard the Yagami. I know this is not what you want to hear, but it would be for the best if you stayed behind at the palace this time."

The betrayed look in Sasami's eyes drove a knife into Ayeka's heart. "Ayeka… you can't be serious!"

Ayeka sighed. "I'm afraid that I am. Sasami, I'm sorry, I truly am, but your powers haven't developed as far as mine; you don't have the means to protect yourself. I'm sure that Kiyone and Mihoshi would do their best to keep you safe if you were aboard the Yagami, but they'll have countless drones attacking them this time and won't be able to guarantee the ship's survival."

Kiyone gave Sasami a sympathetic smile. "She's right, Sasami. This isn't going to be like last time. Mihoshi and I are going to have to take some risks with the Yagami in this next fight, and we won't be able to do that if we have to worry about keeping you safe."

"We don't want you to get hurt," Mihoshi added, "We'd never be able to forgive ourselves if something happened to you because you were with us!"

Sasami turned to the young man who had hosted and protected her while she'd been on Earth. "Heero, you don't agree with them… do you?"

Heero slowly looked at her, and even though his face was hidden by his helmet, Ayeka had a feeling that the Preventer operative was having trouble meeting Sasami's gaze. "I'm sorry, Sasami… but I do. I know that you only want to help, but this is going to be far too risky for you. You need to stay behind this time."

Sasami frantically shook her head as she turned to the space pirate. "Ryoko, tell Heero he's wrong, please! I know he listens to you!"

Ryoko actually looked reluctant to meet Sasami's gaze. "Sorry kid, but… I'm with Heero on this one."

"Meow!" Ryo-Ohki cried.

Sasami blinked in surprise. "You too, Ryo-Ohki?"

"Meow," the living starship affirmed.

Ayeka was surprised by who Sasami turned to next. "Trowa… you think I can come along, don't you?"

Trowa slowly shook his head. "I'm sorry, Sasami, but the others are right. This is going to be far too dangerous for you. You need to stay here where you can be protected."

"I know it's not what you want to hear, kid," Duo added, "but it's for your own good. You're gutsy for a princess, but the kind of fight we'll be flying into is no place for someone like you."

"None of us doubt your bravery, Sasami," said Quatre, "You're not a fighter like us, though, and you don't have defensive powers like Ayeka."

"You'll get in the way," Wufei chimed in.

"Wufei!" Hilde scolded, "We're trying to let her down gently here! Try showing a little tact."

Wufei simply shrugged. "It's the truth. If it hurts, so be it."

Sasami closed her eyes for a moment and clenched her kimono. She looked on the verge of tears, but she held it in. She stood up a second later, took a deep breath, and then stormed out of the conference room.

"Sasami, wait!" Ayeka cried out.

She was about to follow her, but Misaki was already standing up and heading for the door. "I'll talk to her, Ayeka. She's just tired from the journey. I'll take her to her room and let her lie down for a while."

"Meow!" Ryo-Ohki whined as she sat on the table and looked at the door that Sasami had just fled through.

"I think we could all use a little rest," said Yosho as he looked at the Emperor while Misaki left the conference room, "You know the nature of the threat now, Father, along with the obstacles that we must confront next. Might we adjourn for now and hammer out the details tomorrow?"

"Not just yet," Azusa replied, and Ayeka felt a chill go down her spine as his gaze turned to Heero, "I would have one question answered first."

Oh dear…

Her fears were confirmed a moment later by her father as his eyes remained locked onto Heero. "Tell me, why do I sense the power of our bloodline coming from one of our guests from Earth?"

….

Heero didn't enjoy being the center of attention, and having all eyes in the conference room turn to him now was definitely uncomfortable. He'd known that this moment would come sooner or later, of course, but that didn't mean he was looking forward to it.

Ayeka looked back and forth between Heero and the Emperor, clearly trying to figure out the best way to deal with this particularly thorny subject. "Well, you see, Father… Sir Heero is… well, it turns out he's more than just the top operative of his world's peacekeeping forces."

Wufei folded his arms. "Top operative? I'd say he's at least got some competition for that spot."

"Not the time for that, Wufei!" Hilde hissed.

Turning to his great-grandmother, Heero saw that Funaho appeared more amused by the situation than anything else. "Your Majesty, you might find it interesting to know that while our son was on Earth, he actually did carry out one of his princely duties… although perhaps not in the manner that you would've preferred."

Yosho actually chuckled at that. "I suppose that's one way to put it."

The tension in the room eased as Azusa smiled. "I thought as much. So, this is your son, Yosho?"

Yosho shook his head, smirking as he looked at Heero. "Actually, I had a daughter. Heero is further down the family tree, Father."

Funaho smiled as she took Azusa's hand. "Your Majesty, Heero Yuy is Yosho's grandson, and by extension our great-grandson!"

The Emperor's eyes widened slightly as he looked from his first wife to Yosho. "Great-grandson? Tell me, where is your daughter, Yosho? Why is she not here for this unexpected and wonderful family reunion?"

Yosho closed his eyes and solemnly bowed his head. "I'm afraid she's no longer with us, Father."

Both Azusa and Funaho looked shocked at the news. Funaho gasped, and Azusa's eyes widened briefly before narrowing. Heero had a pretty good idea of where his mind was going, and if someone didn't act quickly then Earth could find itself in the crosshairs of a galactic superpower.

"What happened?" asked Azusa, his tone softer than earlier but carrying a clear undertone of suspicion, "If she was truly of your blood, my son, then I suspect that old age is not the culprit in her untimely demise."

Rather than answer directly, Yosho turned to Heero and nodded. Heero was relieved; his grandfather understood exactly what was at stake here and was willing to let him handle it before Earth became the target of an enraged monarch.

"If you don't mind, Your Majesty," he said, "I can answer that."

Azusa looked at Heero and nodded. "Go on."

Heero took a deep breath, wishing he had some of Relena's diplomatic expertise; this was going to be tricky. "My mother… she was in a similar line of work to the one that I currently occupy. Unfortunately, she was in the employ of the old regime that once ruled the Earth Sphere, and they eventually determined her to be a liability. She was murdered by their operatives, along with her husband, but not before ensuring that my biological father took custody of me."

Azusa's jaw clenched, and Heero could only guess at the fury that was clearly building within the Emperor. "Murdered? What regime ordered this crime?"

"The Order of the Zodiac, known colloquially as OZ," Heero calmly replied, "While the official ruling body at the time was known as the United Earth Sphere Alliance, OZ was the true power behind the scenes. They governed our world with an iron fist, and when they learned that two of their top operatives had sired a son, they wanted that son to be raised and trained as an agent. My parents would not allow that, so they took measures to keep me beyond their grasp. I don't know the identities of who killed her, but I can assure you that her death was avenged, if unknowingly, by my hands and those of my friends."

"How so?" asked Funaho.

"We were part of a resistance acting against OZ and their puppets," said Heero, "We waged war against them, and while we can't claim sole credit for their demise, our efforts did contribute to their fall. OZ and the United Earth Sphere Alliance are no more. The government that rules my world now is the Earth Sphere Unified Nation, and its rule is a repudiation of the authoritarian regime that preceded it."

Azusa closed his eyes for a moment. "The Royal Family should be the ones to mete out justice for her death… but if her son helped destroy the regime that took her life, then I can accept that."

Heero allowed himself to relax somewhat; the immediate threat had passed. "For what it's worth, I can assure you that the government I serve now would never have authorized the actions that led to her death. Truth be told, I'm not even sure if they're aware of it. The old regime went to great lengths to hide its black ops, and the exact orders regarding it are likely not preserved in any official record. If my government did become aware of it, they would act to arrest the perpetrators if they're still alive."

Azusa smiled. "You seek to protect your world from my wrath. That is not necessary. If my great-grandson says that his mother's death has already been avenged, then that is enough for me."

"We should have a private memorial for her at some point," Funaho suggested, "Perhaps more than one, actually. One here at the palace, and one when we are finally able to visit Earth."

Azusa nodded. "Yes, I think that would be appropriate."

Yosho smiled. "I think Achika would like that."

"That was her name, then?" asked Azusa.

Yosho nodded. "Yes. Earth's official records would have her listed as Achika Masaki, although she went by an alias when she was employed by the prior regime."

"Her memorial here will be as Achika Masaki Jurai," Azusa declared, "Nothing less well be accepted."

"Of course," said Yosho.

Azusa looked at Heero again. "I sensed the energy of my son and daughters as soon as they entered the system, but there was another presence I detected. It was quite unusual… partially alien, yet with an unmistakable element of Juraian energy. Now I understand that it came from you. Your power is still raw, yes?"

Heero nodded. "That's correct. I've begun training with my grandfather, but there hasn't been much time for lessons."

Azusa turned to Yosho. "How far has he progressed?"

Yosho smirked. "Would you like a practical demonstration?"

Azusa smiled. "Very much so."

Yosho reached into his robe and pulled out Tenchi-Ken before passing it to Heero. "I believe you know what to do."

Heero nodded as he accepted the weapon. Closing his eyes beneath his helmet, he focused his power, and the azure blade sprang to life.

….

It was a moment that Washu had been eagerly anticipating ever since they'd landed on Jurai. Sure, Heero had displayed his power to Funaho earlier in the same manner, but for him to do so now before the Emperor himself was another thing entirely. She was actually disappointed that the moment had come in a relatively private conference rather than before the eyes of the whole court; Washu would very much have liked to see the shocked looks on the faces of the various advisors and nobles once they learned that Yosho had an heir.

The glow provided by the central hologram projector now had competition in the form of Tenchi-ken's sapphire blade. All eyes in the room seemed transfixed as Heero held the weapon up, the blue shaft of light pointing towards the ceiling. It didn't matter that everyone in the room was familiar with the weapon by now; the knowledge that Heero, of all people, could wield it was still a lot to take in for those who knew just what it really meant.

"Is that enough?" asked Heero after a few seconds.

Yosho nodded, a small smile appearing on his face. "Yes, I believe so."

Heero extinguished the blade and passed the weapon back to Yosho. Washu turned her attention to the Emperor, who was studying Heero with very keen interest. She idly wondered how he might've reacted had Heero demonstrated his power by generating a Light Hawk Wing rather than simply activating the blade of Tenchi-ken; that would be worth paying to see.

Might actually give the old man a heart attack, she mused, especially once he connects the dots and realizes that Heero can do so without relying on a Royal Tree...

"You know, I'm still not used to Heero going all 'Jedi' on us," Duo mused aloud.

"Shut up!" Hilde hissed, "This isn't the time for pop culture references!"

"Don't Jedi usually wear robes rather than full armor?" Trowa pointed out.

Quatre put his hand to his helmet. "Not you too, Trowa…"

Wufei apparently couldn't resist getting in on the action. "Well, it's definitely an elegant weapon for a more civilized age…"

"Elegance and me never really went well together," Heero dryly quipped.

We're going to have to work on that, Washu thought with a smirk, I've got plans for you, Heero…

The Emperor didn't give the banter any heed; his gaze remained fixed on Heero. "Young man… do you know what it means that you are able to wield that weapon?"

"I've got a rough idea," Heero replied, "Don't go getting the wrong idea, though. I know my place in the Royal Family tree, but it's of only minor interest to me. I'm here on a mission, and that takes priority over all other concerns."

Azusa raised an eyebrow as he turned to Yosho. "Was your daughter as blunt as her son turned out to be?"

Yosho chuckled. "Not often. I think this is something he picked up from his father, although I never had the pleasure of meeting the man myself."

Azusa nodded as he looked at Heero again. "I see. Young man, I can appreciate your dedication to duty, but your bloodline is more relevant to your mission than you might care to admit. This whole affair is wrapped up in Juraian politics, after all, and our family is at the heart of it."

"I'm well aware of that," said Heero, "That doesn't change my responsibilities. I'm taking down Kagato and the Array because they're threats to the entire galaxy. The Empire's cooperation in the mission would be invaluable, but one way or the other, I will accomplish my mission."

Azusa smiled. "Determined, aren't you? Well, given the scale of the threat, it would certainly be in Jurai's interest to aid your cause. The Kiryuin cadet branch family has long been a valuable pillar of the Empire, but their ambitions have clearly grown beyond their already-lofty position. It's regrettable that things have come to this point. However, that does not change what must now be done. Your mission is intertwined with the security of both Jurai and the wider galaxy. Even if you were not of our blood, your cause would still be worthy of our support. The Royal Family of Jurai will help you in bringing Kagato and his followers to justice."

It was a good start, but Washu didn't fail to notice what was left unsaid. The Emperor had stated his willingness to stop Kagato, but his proclamation had conspicuously left out the matter of the superweapon that the cadet branch royal was chasing after. She had anticipated as much, of course.

Convincing him to help us take down Kagato was always going to be the easy part, she mused, I was never really worried about that. It's the Judgement Array that's going to be a bone of contention here. How's he going to play this?

Heero had clearly picked up on the omission as well. "And the Array? Would Jurai be willing to commit sufficient resources to neutralizing it as a threat?"

Azusa nodded, although Washu couldn't help but note that his smile was much less genuine now. "Of course."

It wasn't an ironclad commitment, and everyone present knew it. Washu wasn't sure what the old monarch was thinking, but she was more than a little worried. The was the same ruler that had commissioned the Judgement Array's creation and had ordered it to be used, after all. He'd commanded its awesome power once before, and Washu had no doubt that the possibilities of what Jurai could do with the Array should the Empire control it again were playing out in his mind. The matter wasn't anywhere near settled, regardless of how much they might pretend it was for diplomacy's sake.

One problem at a time, she thought, Kagato's the immediate threat, and we can't rock the boat with the Empire if we want to stop him. I'll just have to figure out a way to deal with him while denying Jurai its prize. Easier said than done, but I knew from the start that this wasn't going to be a cake-walk.

The tension in the air was eased somewhat by Ayeka trying and failing to stifle a yawn. "Oh, my goodness, forgive me! Perhaps we should wrap things up here for now and begin earnest preparations tomorrow? After our long trip here and all that's happened so far, I think we could definitely use some rest."

Ryoko stretched her arms over her head. "Works for me. I'm bushed."

"Meow…" Ryo-Ohki murmured as she arched her back.

Kiyone raised an eyebrow. "You two agreeing? I wonder if Hell's frozen over…"

Mihoshi yawned too. "Can we go back to the ship now? I think it's bed-time."

Funaho smiled as she looked at the Emperor. "I think we've spent enough time in here for one day, don't you? There's much work ahead of us, and we all ought to be well-rested before it commences."

Azusa nodded. "Yes, that would be wise. However, there is one last matter to attend to before we adjourn for the day."

"What might that be?" asked Yosho.

Azusa looked at Heero again. "I have seen three faces today that I have not seen in some time; those of my son and daughters. I have learned that I have a granddaughter whose face I will unfortunately never get to see in person, but her son is here now, and I would see his face before this day is done."

Washu's gaze and that of everyone else turned to the young Preventers operative. There was a brief pause before Heero unlatched his helmet, took it off and set it on the table in front of him. His piercing blue eyes didn't waver as they stared down the Emperor, the soldier clearly determined to prove that he was not the least bit intimidated by the monarch's authority and power. There was a long and poignant moment of silence as the two men regarded each other, and Washu was surprised to see the Emperor's eyes widen ever so slightly.

"You've seen much, haven't you?" Azusa finally said.

"More than I ever wanted to," Heero quietly replied.

Azusa nodded. "You carry the weight well."

"I do what I must," said Heero, "I always have, and always will."

The underlying message did not go unnoticed by Washu, and she suspected that the Emperor had caught it as well. His eyes momentarily narrowed, but what was going through his mind, Washu couldn't say. Azusa had spent centuries on end within the halls of power; when he wanted to, he could put up a poker face that was second to none.

In the end, the monarch simply smiled. "I have no doubt of that. I would most certainly like the chance to chat in private with you and get to know my great-grandson, but that can wait for a little while. Your road to get here was long, and the one ahead will be longer still. The hospitality of House Masaki and the Empire of Jurai is at your disposal. You will find peace and rest in our halls tonight and for as many other nights beyond it as you desire."

"I shall send word to the housekeeping staff," said Ayeka, "I will accept nothing less than the finest of rooms for our guests, Father."

Funaho smiled. "Leave the arrangements to me, Ayeka. Your room remains as it was before you left, and your bed awaits. I'm sure you've missed it."

Ayeka let out a weary sigh. "Indeed, I have. Thank you, Lady Funaho."

The First Empress nodded. "Think nothing of it, my dear. It's good to have you back."

Funaho then turned to Washu, her smile becoming a smirk. "You'd best get as much sleep as you can tonight, for I can guarantee that tomorrow will be most eventful… especially if a certain someone that we know all too well has anything to say about it."

Washu chuckled. "Can't keep her away for longer than one night? I suppose that's to be expected."

Heero Yuy and the Devil Princess, she thought as she looked at the young Preventer operative, Now that is a meeting I can't wait to see!

….

February 22nd, A.C. 199

"Still going with full armor? Really?" asked AIDA as Heero made sure his helmet was firmly latched.

"We were only introduced to our hosts yesterday," Heero pointed out as he checked his weapons, "Trust doesn't come that quickly. Besides, the potential threat of Kagato having operatives within the palace remains."

"Fair enough," AIDA replied, "but it's not exactly giving a favorable impression to our hosts. It worked fine yesterday for intimidation purposes, but the longer you keep this up, the more it's going to look like straight-up paranoia."

She had a point, but it wasn't one that Heero would concede easily. "We've only just arrived. We have potential allies on this planet, but they're not yet confirmed as such. Until concrete steps have been taken on their part to aid our mission, all we have from them is just words."

"That's an awfully cold way to look at your family," said AIDA.

"The fate of Earth and potentially every other inhabited planet in the galaxy is at stake here," Heero reminded her, "Family that I don't know beyond a kind introduction is not family that I'm willing to trust blindly."

"You trusted the First Empress enough to remove your helmet for her in the garden," AIDA argued.

Heero hesitated. "That was… she wasn't armed, and if the guards present were going to attack, they would've done so well before she showed up."

Like a shark that smelled blood, AIDA latched onto his hesitation and bit down hard. "Who are you trying to kid here? Me, or yourself? I was there with you, remember? You took your helmet off because you felt like you could trust her. You might have only taken your helmet off in the conference room for the Emperor as a courtesy, but you were under no obligation to do so with the First Empress. Yet you did so, and you kept it off until you and the others left the garden. You trust her, or at least, you want to. Why else would you be willing to answer a summons from her so soon after waking up?"

"It wasn't just from her," Heero countered as he went towards the door of the spacious guest room he'd been given, "Washu and Yosho were included as well. I trust them."

"Even in light of all that they kept hidden from you before the attack on the safehouse?" AIDA asked.

"Yes," Heero replied, "I might not be happy with their secrecy, but I can at least understand their reasons for it. More to the point, I still know them better than I do any of the people we just met yesterday."

He paused before the door as he suddenly sensed a presence standing beyond it. It was warm and energetic, like a crackling campfire. Heero instantly recognized who it was, but the manner in which he'd detected her was startling.

"How…?" he muttered to himself.

"What's wrong?" asked AIDA.

He looked at the door. "Ryoko's out in the hallway… coming this way. I shouldn't know that, but I…"

"You can feel her energy," AIDA finished for him, "Sound about right?"

Heero's eyes narrowed. "Yes… how did you know that?"

"The good doctor theorized that this would be a side effect of you awakening your power," AIDA answered, "Your training with Yosho is paying off already. As your skills progress, you'll be better able to sense the presence of many empowered beings, whether they be Ryoko, members of the Juraian Royal Family or any of the cadet branches, or even those that would be considered beyond mere mortals."

"You're referring to the Choushin," Heero surmised.

"Correct," said AIDA, "Of course, the three of them in particular are quite adept at concealing their powers, so it will be some time before you'll be able to properly sense them."

"Good to know," Heero muttered as he sensed Ryoko coming to a halt just outside his bedroom door.

Why was she here? Washu and Yosho had made no mention of her in their summons, and neither had Funaho. There was only one way to find out, so Heero opened the door.

Sure enough, there was Ryoko, her right hand formed into a fist raised to knock on the door. Her eyes widened as she saw Heero standing before her.

"Heero… well, good timing," said the pirate, looking a bit taken aback, "Uhm… you sleep okay?"

"Well enough," Heero replied, "Yourself?"

Ryoko shrugged. "I guess. Feels weird staying in a place like this, but the beds are comfy, so I guess I can't complain."

"Any port in a storm, right?" said Heero.

Ryoko chuckled as she looked around. "Yeah, I guess so."

She was uneasy being here, something that Heero could definitely relate to. The two of them were out of their element in this kind of environment, although Heero's experience on Earth meant that he at least had some form of practice in places like a palace. Still, he would've been much more comfortable in areas that Ryoko would've frequented as a pirate, like a seedy bar or shady port; at least the threats in those kinds of places were much easier to identify and deal with.

Heero didn't want to brush her off, but he had an appointment to get to. "If you're looking to grab breakfast with me, I'm afraid I'll have to decline. Washu and Yosho wanted me to meet them in the Gardens of Serenity. The First Empress is supposed to be there, too."

Ryoko nodded, and to Heero's surprise her apprehension became more pronounced. "I know… that's why I'm here. Washu said I should come with you."

That wasn't what Heero had expected. "Really? Did she say why?"

"Something about it being good for me to broaden my horizons," she answered, "I don't buy it, personally. She's got some kind of scheme in the works. Just can't figure out what it is."

"It is Washu," Heero reminded her, "Schemes and crazy inventions are kind of her thing."

Ryoko gave a nervous laugh. "Got that right! I don't know what she's playing at here, but I'll feel better facing it if I'm with you."

Heero nodded, smiling beneath his helmet. "Likewise. Shall we?"

Ryoko smiled as well. "Lead the way."

"By the way," said Heero as they set off down the corridor, "where's Ryo-Ohki?"

"I sent her to keep Sasami company," Ryoko replied, "Poor kid could use some cheering up after how yesterday's meeting went for her."

"That was thoughtful of you," said Heero, "I'm sure she'll appreciate it."

Ryoko sighed. "Royals aren't my kind of people, but I've got no beef with Sasami. She's way too sweet to be wrapped up in stuff like this. I know how she feels about being told she can't come along when we go after the second repository, but I also don't want her to get hurt."

Heero nodded. "That makes two of us."

Ryoko slumped her shoulders. "This is all such a damn mess… I don't have the head for this sort of thing. Royal intrigue, grand strategy… makes me dizzy just trying to think about it all. Give me a straight-up fight anyday."

"I'm a bit more accustomed to politics and high-stakes conflicts," said Heero, "but that doesn't mean I like it. The life of a pirate doesn't sound too bad by comparison."

Ryoko smirked. "Am I starting to rub off on you?"

"Maybe," Heero coyly replied.

"You'd be good at it, you know?" said Ryoko, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "Your skills combined with Washu's weapons and armor… if you and I blasted out of here and started raiding, we'd be unstoppable!"

"Not sure if I'm cut out to be an outlaw," Heero countered.

"You were one before, right?" Ryoko pointed out as they entered an elevator, "A revolutionary fighting against the old regime that used to rule your world, right? I'd say that counts as being an outlaw just as much as me being a pirate."

"I suppose so," Heero admitted, "I'm not sure how comfortable I'd feel plundering merchant shipping or robbing luxury liners, though."

"We wouldn't have to do that," Ryoko argued, "I've never tried it before, but I'd be willing to try privateering with you. Hitting some of the bigger and nastier pirate gangs, stealing their loot, freeing their slaves on the side? We could make some good money doing that, and you'd have no moral hang ups over it. I think you keep forgetting that I'm one of the nicer space pirates; there are some real ugly pieces of work out there that I wouldn't mind taking down."

Heero found himself half-seriously considering the notion. "It'd be an interesting career path…"

"Think about it," said Ryoko, "We hit a bunch of slavers, free the victims, take the pirates' cash and valuables to sell on the black market, then find a new target. We'd play by our own rules; no government red-tape like you had to deal with back on Earth. With the cash we'd rake in, we could even afford some vacation between jobs."

"We'd also be on the run from just about every crime syndicate in the galaxy," Heero pointed out, "I know you're used to a life of looking over your shoulder, and I've done it before, but it's not exactly a good way to live."

"It's the only life I've ever known," Ryoko admitted, "At least, it was until I met you."

"You don't have to go back to it," Heero argued, "When this is all over, you'll have a full pardon from the Emperor himself. That'll be a fresh start for you."

"It would," Ryoko conceded, "but why wait for it? Heero, this whole damn mess is because of royal politics. You and I shouldn't be wrapped up in it! We don't belong in it, and we should let Kagato and the Emperor fight it out themselves."

"If I could, I would," said Heero as the elevator came to a stop, "That's not an option, though. You know just as well as I do what Kagato's after, and what he'll do with his prize. This has escalated well beyond a simple aristocratic spat. We're all caught up in it whether we like it or not, and we have the power to stop him from taking potentially billions of lives. I couldn't live with myself if I ran away from this fight, no matter how tempting it might be."

Ryoko sighed as the elevator door opened in front of them. "I figured you'd say that. Heero… you're way too damn good for these people. First Earth, now Jurai… you're the one that always has to clean up the messes caused by people in power. Don't you ever get tired of it?"

"I do," Heero wearily replied as the two of them began walking down the corridor that led to the Gardens of Serenity, "but if I don't, how many innocent people could die? I don't do this to preserve the status quo and keep the people running the show in power; I do this because I've seen what happens to civilians who get caught in the middle of these conflicts."

"How much longer can you keep doing it, though?" Ryoko asked, "You've been doing it most of your life, haven't you? First the colonies, then the Earth Sphere Unified Nation, now Jurai and the entire galaxy… how far are you going to take this? You might be saving countless lives… but what about your own?"

The two of them came to a stop before the door to the garden, and Heero looked at Ryoko. She was genuinely worried about him, and Heero realized just how truly tempted he was to just say 'screw it' and bail with her. It wouldn't even be that hard. They'd just go to Sasami's room, get Ryo-Ohki, say a quick farewell, run out of the palace and take off. From there, they could go wherever they wanted. With Ryoko's experience, Heero was certain that she knew plenty of places where they could lay low and ride out the coming storm. Let the powers that ruled the galaxy sort out their squabbles while the pirate and her soldier carved out a new life for themselves in parts unknown.

It was so tempting.

Beneath his helmet, Heero smiled. "Maybe… when this is all over… I could at least take a vacation. Get away from it all, figure out a new course… saving the galaxy has to be worth that much, right?"

Ryoko smiled as well. "I know that you can't walk away from this now, no matter how much I might want you to. There are innocent lives in danger, and you're going to save them. I hate that you're going to be bailing out the royals that are threatening them in the first place, but… I'm also proud that you're willing to step in and save them. Still, when this is over… promise me that you will take that vacation… and take it with me. We'll go somewhere fun, lie back on a beach, and just forget about it all. We can worry about figuring out something new for you after that. Deal?"

Heero held out his hand. "Deal."

Ryoko took his hand and shook it, her grip surprisingly firm and tight even though Heero was wearing armor. "I'll hold you to that."

"Good," said Heero, "I'm counting on it."

The doors opened before them, and they stepped into the Gardens of Serenity. Heero immediately caught sight of Yosho, Washu and Funaho. All three of them were sitting at the table beneath the roof of the central gazebo, and several rather appetizing platters were laid out before them. However, they weren't the only ones present. Two more women were also sitting around the table with them. Heero instantly recognized Misaki, but the identity of the other woman was something of a mystery to him.

Judging from the way that she had suddenly froze, though, their identity clearly wasn't a mystery to Ryoko. "Oh… oh, shit."

Heero looked back and forth between Ryoko and the stranger. "What's wrong? Who is she?"

"Washu made a mistake," Ryoko replied hastily, "I shouldn't have come!"

She was about to turn around and head back the way they'd come from, but Heero grabbed her hand. "Ryoko, calm down. No matter who it is, I won't let them harm you."

"You don't know her, Heero," Ryoko argued, "Who she is, her reputation… it's not going to end well if I go up there with you and meet her! Just go ahead without me. You don't need me here!"

Heero wouldn't budge. "Washu and Yosho believe that we do, and I agree. Ryoko, do you trust me?"

She slowly nodded. "I do, but… Heero…"

"I don't care if she's an aristocrat or a goddess in disguise," Heero firmly replied, "If she's got something against you, she'll have to go through me. I'll keep you safe, Ryoko. I promise."

Ryoko took a deep breath as she looked back and forth between Heero and the others gathered in the center of the garden. "Okay, Heero… I believe you. Still… be damn careful with her."

"I will," said Heero as he turned to the gazebo, "but could you at least help me out a bit by telling me who exactly she is and why we should be worried?"

Ryoko slowly nodded. "Yeah. Her name… it's Seto. Seto Kamiki Jurai. The bane of pirates across the galaxy."

"The Devil Princess herself takes the stage," AIDA whispered in Heero's ear, "This should be fun!"

As he and Ryoko began walking through the Gardens of Serenity, Heero's gaze focused on the woman that had his companion so on edge. It was easy to see the family resemblance between Seto and Misaki. Both had exotic green hair for starters, although Seto's was of a lighter shade than her daughter's. She kept it held up in a ponytail, while the rest of it fell forward and swept around her face like a hawk's wings. Her dark red eyes had a sharp look in them, as if she was very much a bird of prey on the hunt. For a member of the Royal Family, her attire wasn't as gaudy or ostentatious as Heero might have expected. She had an odd set of earrings, with a purple sphere hanging from the left ear and a rectangular gold and silver bar dangling from the right. Apart from that, the rest of her attire seemed high-class but not excessively so, consisting of a light purple kimono with a black sash and white oversleeves.

At first glance, she didn't really look all that imposing, but Heeero had been around long enough to know that initial impressions weren't everything. As he and Ryoko approached the gazebo, Seto's gaze flickered towards them even as she continued to speak with Misaki and Funaho. Her eyes narrowed slightly when she saw Ryoko, and then considerably more so when her gaze fell on Heero. It wasn't his armor that was getting her attention; Heero could feel the Juraian energy emanating from her, reaching out to gauge his own as she evaluated him.

"You really shouldn't have bothered with the armor here," AIDA chirped, "Everyone here knows who you are, whether you like it or not."

"The armor's still a necessary security measure," Heero muttered, "Never know when we're going to have a fight on our hands. Besides, aren't you enjoying being out and about?"

AIDA giggled. "All right, you've got me there! Do me a favor; when you take your helmet off, at least put it somewhere that gives me a good view, okay?"

"We'll see," Heero replied.

As Heero and Ryoko entered the gazebo, Funaho rose to greet them. "Ah, Heero, Ryoko, thank you so much for coming! Please, join us and dig in. You must be hungry."

The two of them took the empty seats between Yosho and Funaho, with Heero picking the one closest to the First Empress. Despite the fact that they were on an alien world, the platters laid out on the table looked strikingly familiar. Rice dishes, assorted meats, what looked suspiciously similar to toast, various fruits; if Heero hadn't known better, he would've believed that he was sitting down for a meal at a five-star resort on Earth rather than in the palace at the heart of a star-spanning empire.

Take the familiar comforts where you can get them, he told himself, I suspect they'll be few and far between out here.

All eyes turned to Heero, and he knew what everyone was expecting. Taking a deep breath, he removed his helmet and set it down on the table beside his plate. AIDA couldn't complain about not having a good view, at least. Of much more pressing concern to Heero was the attention of the Devil Princess, who was making little effort to disguise her keen interest in him.

"So, this is the one that you lot won't shut up about, hm?" said Seto, smirking as she evaluated him, "I don't suppose I could get an introduction?"

Misaki took over. "Of course, Mother. Heero Yuy, I'd like you to meet Lady Seto Kamiki Jurai."

Heero gave her a polite nod. "It's a pleasure, Lady Seto."

Seto smiled. "Likewise. Well, if nothing else, at least you're polite and easy on the eyes."

Her gaze hardened noticeably as she turned to Ryoko. "As for this one… well, I'd say we hardly need introductions, do we? Your reputation is quite the wild one, Ryoko… and I'm sure you're well aware of mine."

Heero saw Ryoko stiffen slightly in her seat, but she wasn't about to back down. "Yes, I am. Nice to meet the Devil Princess in the flesh. I'll be one of the few pirates in the galaxy who can boast of that and live to tell the tale."

For a moment, Heero feared that Ryoko might've gone too far, but Seto actually smiled again before turning to Washu. "You weren't lying at all, then; she truly is your daughter."

"Where it counts," Washu replied, her eyes narrowing, "She's here to help, just like Heero. I trust you'll remember that she's on our side in this fight and leave her past out of this?"

Seto rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes. You've already apprised me as to the stakes of all this. I can overlook one pirate in the name of dealing with a far greater threat."

Heero allowed himself to relax somewhat; all things considered, this was actually off to a good start. "I'm grateful for your understanding in this matter. As Ryoko is under my observational custody per orders from Preventers, it would be awkward to have a jurisdictional pissing match with the Empire of Jurai."

Seto actually laughed at that. "Oh, my, look at the tongue on you, young man! You were right, Washu; I do like this one. Ten seconds into our conversation and he's already shown more backbone than half the Empire's aristocracy! The sense of humor doesn't hurt, either."

Misaki giggled. "I know you like entertainment with your breakfast, Mother, and I was hoping that Heero would be able to deliver!"

Ryoko raised an eyebrow, looking more than a little miffed. "Is that what we are to you royals? The courtly fools?"

"Hardly," Funaho reassured her, "You're both honored guests and allies in this endeavor. We simply appreciate a bit of levity to take some of the weight from these burdensome affairs."

"If a little humor is what it takes to secure your aid, then I see no harm in it," Yosho chimed in, "I must admit that I'm rather lacking in that department, though. My grandson may have to pick up the slack."

"If you wanted a comedian, you should've invited Duo," Heero replied, "He's got the attitude for it, at least. Not so sure about the wit."

Seto smiled. "Is this 'Duo' one of your friends from Earth? It sounds like I might have to meet him later if you're giving him that kind of recommendation. Goodness knows it would be good to speak with someone else from beyond the Empire. I love my countrymen, but all the ceremony and pomp that we're obsessed with can get rather dull after a while. Not to mention all the false politeness. Plainspoken young men like yourself are a breath of fresh air, and so much more entertaining."

Heero nodded. "I'd be honored to introduce you to all of my companions should you so wish. As to whether or not they'll be able to entertain you, I make no promises."

"We can arrange such a meeting later," said Misaki, nodding at the assorted plates, "In the meantime, why don't you eat up before we continue? You must be famished!"

Ryoko licked her lips as she eagerly eyed the food. "Don't have to tell me twice!"

The next few minutes passed relatively quietly as they all busied themselves with breakfast, although Heero couldn't help but notice that Seto was still keenly watching him. He kept his expression neutral, but truth be told he found her attention a little unnerving. What exactly was she expecting from him in this meeting? The fact that he hadn't been informed in advance that she'd be here meant that Heero was very much flying blind, and he didn't like it one bit.

"What do you think of Jurai so far, Heero?" the Devil Princess asked.

Heero shrugged. "Haven't seen enough of it yet to form an opinion. Your defenses are formidable, the palace is impressive, but I would like to see more of the planet and what its culture has to offer before rendering a verdict."

"Spoke like a well-travelled young man," she replied.

"I thought I was," said Heero, "At least by human standards. By those of the broader galaxy, not so much."

Seto smiled. "Perhaps, but the fact that you're willing to admit as much freely speaks volumes."

"How did you find your room?" asked Funaho, "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes," Heero answered, "It was very comfortable. Thank you for being so accommodating during our stay here."

Misaki smiled. "It's the least we can do. In time, we can arrange for one more fitting of your station."

Heero had been wondering how long it would take for his lineage to crop up in this conversation. "That won't be necessary."

"Oh, but it is," Seto insisted, her smile taking on a predatory edge, "It's your birthright, after all."

"One that I am not here to claim," Heero bluntly shot back, "I have enough on my plate as it is."

Ryoko smiled smugly. "He's got better things to do than play your royal games. We both do."

"Then why are you two here, then?" asked Seto, her eyes narrowing.

"For the food," Heero quipped in between bites.

Seto smirked. "Hardly. Do not get me wrong; I understand the gravity of the situation. This is not a matter that I take lightly. Kagato has always been ambitious, but he and his sister have gone too far this time. I fully intend to use every resource at my disposal to stop him from bringing his plans to fruition. However, doing so requires a deft touch. Alliances must be made or reinforced, parties must be persuaded through charm or other means, and support must be consolidated. You and Ryoko may not have come here for games, Heero, but you are very much in the middle of one whether you like it or not."

"I very much don't," Heero deadpanned.

"That makes two of us," Ryoko muttered.

"Perhaps it's a bit too early to talk politics," Funaho interjected, "Lady Seto, Heero and his companions have only just arrived on Jurai. More to the point, Heero's only recently become aware of his true heritage. Pulling him into our web of intrigue so soon is hardly fair."

Seto shook her head. "Since when has Juraian politics ever been about what's fair? Come now, Funaho; you know as well as I do that the aristocracy is already abuzz now that Yosho's returned. What do you think they'll do once they learn that he has an heir?"

"We'd like to limit the spread of that knowledge," Misaki chimed in, "At least for the moment."

Seto smirked. "I won't go shouting the news for all to hear, if that's what concerns you. Not at this moment, at least. I want to gauge our young prince's capabilities before he makes his official debut in royal society. In fact, I daresay we have an opportunity for just that."

Yosho looked concerned, which didn't bode well as far as Heero was concerned. "What do you have in mind?"

"You still carry Tenchi-ken, correct?" asked Seto.

Yosho nodded. "I do."

Seto then turned to Heero. "Young man, you seem like you're reasonably in shape. You'd up for a bit of post-breakfast exercise, yes?"

"Depends on the kind of exercise in question," Heero cautiously replied.

Seto looked back and forth between Heero and Ryoko before turning her gaze to Washu. "Your daughter… based on her reputation, would it be safe to assume that she's a good fighter?"

Washu actually smirked. "Why ask me when you already know how best to find out?"

Seto chuckled. "Indeed! Very well, then. Let's stop beating around the bush. Yosho, give your sword to your grandson. Heero, Ryoko; I want you two to fight each other."

Ryoko nearly choked on her food in surprise. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me, pirate," Seto said, "You and Heero; I want to see what you're both capable of. Finish eating, then fight."

Heero folded his arms. "For your entertainment? I don't think so."

Seto rolled her eyes. "Nothing so crass, I assure you. I simply want to gauge both of your capabilities for myself. Juraian politics aren't all sweet words hiding daggers, although there's more than enough of that to go around. There's very much a physical element to it, and I need to see how both of you measure up before throwing you into the meat grinder."

Ryoko looked at Heero and shrugged. "Well, it's not like you and I haven't sparred before. What's a match with an audience?"

"You don't have to fight me if you don't want to," Heero insisted, "I didn't bring you here so the royals that you despise could order you around for their amusement."

Ryoko smiled. "I know. Still, this is about more than what you and I want, right?"

Washu chuckled. "You, being selfless? He really is rubbing off on you, isn't he?"

Ryoko shot her mother a smug smirk. "I could have worse influences, right?"

Washu grinned. "You certainly could."

Ryoko stood up and held out her hand to Heero. "Come on, let's go a round. I prefer a good scrap to all this talking, anyway.""

"You're sure about this?" Heero asked.

A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. "What's the matter? Afraid that I'll kick your ass in front of your family?"

Oh, she was very much in the mood for it now, and who was Heero to turn her down? He accepted her hand and allowed her to pull him to his feet.

"Take your best shot," he challenged her.

Ryoko laughed. "Now that's more like it! Hey, old man! Feel like giving your grandson a fighting chance against me?"

Yosho smirked as he tossed Tenchi-ken to Heero. "I suppose I should. This should be good."

"Do try to exercise some restraint," said Funaho, "I'd like to avoid any damage to the Gardens, not to mention injuries or worse."

"Play safe, you two!" Misaki chirped.

Ryoko nodded at the table. "Want to grab your helmet?"

Heero shook his head. "Only fair if I give you a weak point to aim at."

"And mar that handsome face of yours?" Ryoko asked, "The last thing I'm going to take is a headshot at you, Heero."

Heero chuckled as he led her towards a clearing. "I appreciate the thought. Still, I'm leaving it open for you."

Ryoko shrugged. "If you insist. Let's keep this simple; hand-to-hand moves and energy blades only. If I start throwing energy blasts around, I'll burn up all the pretty flowers."

"Works for me," said Heero as he focused his power in Tenchi-ken and the azure blade sprang to life, "You ready?"

Ryoko smirked as a shaft of crimson energy materialized in her hand. "You better believe it. Let's do this, hotshot!"

….

I figured Seto would have something like this in mind, Washu mused as Heero and Ryoko started their match, She always has been one to enjoy a bit of spectacle.

As she'd come to expect from her daughter, Ryoko made the first move. Already floating off the ground, she charged Heero head-on and made a broad opening slash with her crimson blade. She was fast and powerful, but also predictable, and Heero had already assumed a guard stance. He stood his ground and deflected her strike before moving to grab her right arm with his left hand. She pulled back before he could do so, though, and she quickly took to the sky.

Heero followed her, leaping into the air and then triggering his armor's thrusters for a boost. It wasn't the true flight that Ryoko was capable of, but it did allow him to strike at her with a thrust aimed at her right leg. The space pirate brought her blade down to parry the attack, smirking as Heero began to descend.

"Maybe I'll just hang out up here and play keep-away, eh?" Ryoko teased, "It's kind of fun making you chase after me like this!"

Heero smirked as his feet touched the ground. "Maybe, but you don't have the patience to keep that up, and we both know it."

Ryoko laughed before dive bombing him. "You're right about that!"

"At least she admits it," Washu muttered as Heero blocked her strike, "That's a start."

Yosho nodded as Ryoko ascended again before coming around for another pass. "Before she met him, I doubt she would've conceded even that much. He really is changing her for the better."

Funaho smiled as Heero deflected yet another strike from the infamous pirate. "They seem to be enjoying themselves."

Misaki giggled while Heero leapt into the air to pursue Ryoko again, the two of them trading strikes before his armor's thrusters subsided and he had to descend. "They're actually kind of cute together!"

"They certainly are," said Washu, watching Seto out of the corner of her eye.

The Devil Princess hadn't spoken since the fight had started, but the small smile on her face as she watched Heero and Ryoko clash was definitely a good sign. It had been Washu's idea to have Ryoko come to this meeting, and she'd been well aware of the kind of gamble she'd been making. Seto's hatred of pirates was legendary, and Washu knew that Ryoko's presence could very easily have set her off and derailed everything. However, it had been a risk well-worth taking; what better way for Heero to demonstrate his abilities and prove that he was worthy of Seto's backing than by giving him the perfect opponent to spar with?

Seto was always going to ask to see Heero fight, Washu thought as she saw Ryoko swoop in and take a slash at Heero who expertly deflected it, and having Ryoko involved in our efforts to stop Kagato was always going to be a sore spot for her. What better way to kill two birds with one stone than this?

Seto didn't have to like Ryoko, but Washu at least wanted the Devil Princess to respect her. It wasn't just for the sake of making the mission run a bit more smoothly, either; Washu had plans for her daughter that involved a certain bastard Juraian Royal, after all. Whether Seto liked it or not, she was going to be seeing a lot more of Ryoko. At this point, her and Heero were basically a package deal, although not too many people were aware of that yet.

As Ryoko pulled out of her dive after Heero had blocked yet another strike from her, Seto's smile grew somewhat. "Patiently observing his opponent, studying her patterns and waiting for the right time to counterattack… he's good."

Washu smirked. "You have no idea."

Seto chuckled. "Is that so? Know him that well, do you?"

"I've had plenty of time to watch him since I was liberated from my stasis pod on his homeworld," Washu replied as Heero and Ryoko clashed in mid-air once again, sparks flying as azure and crimson energy blades met, "Trust me; what you're seeing now is just a taste of what he's capable of."

"Oh, I'm sure," said Seto, her eyes narrowing as she watched the fight, "I can feel the power flowing through him. Wielding Tenchi-ken is just the tip of the iceberg. I've never sensed such raw potential in any member of our bloodline before. Makes me wonder if there's something more to it than mere genetics…"

Oh, how tempting it was for Washu to spill the beans. That was the thing about keeping one of the biggest secrets in the galaxy; it was hard to resist the urge to let someone in on it, if only to see the look on their face as they grasped the full implications of it. For now, though, Washu knew that restraint would be for the best. Even then, though, she couldn't help but tease her old friend a bit.

"Perhaps," she coyly replied, "or maybe he's just that one-in-a-million heir that your bloodline gets every now and then."

Seto chuckled; she definitely knew that something was up, but she seemed willing to play along for now. "Maybe so. We'll see."

"In the meantime, why don't we spice things up a bit?" Funaho chimed in, a crafty smile on her face.

Misaki giggled. "I know that look, big sis! What do you have in mind?"

"A wager," the First Empress replied as she nodded at the ongoing duel, "It's been a while since we've all had a good bet, wouldn't you say?"

Seto laughed. "Oh, Funaho, I should've known! You've always been good at keeping me entertained. The usual stakes, then?"

Funaho nodded. "Losers owe the winners a favor, to be called upon at a time and place of their choosing. Who wants in?"

"I do!" chirped Misaki.

Yosho smirked. "It's been such a long time… I suppose I'll play along for nostalgia's sake."

"I'm in, of course," said Seto before turning to Washu, "What about you, old friend?"

Washu grinned as she watched Heero and Ryoko trade a flurry of slashes and counters. "Oh, hell yes!"

Funaho nodded. "All right, then. What'll it be? My bet's on my great-grandson."

Misaki studied both combatants intently for a moment. "He's good, but I think Ryoko has the edge. I'm going with her."

"I'll take Heero," said Yosho with a smile, "I owe my grandson at least that much faith."

"Ryoko for me," said Seto.

The others did a double-take, with Washu being the first to voice what they all were thinking. "Seriously? Not that I don't appreciate you betting on my daughter, but what happened to the whole 'I hate pirates' thing? Besides, I thought you said Heero was just waiting for the right moment to counterattack. Now you think that Ryoko has this in the bag?"

"Don't get me wrong," Seto replied, "I'd very much like for Heero to win. His potential power is undeniable, but right now it's merely that; potential. Sure, he has skill, but it's clear that he's relied on conventional martial prowess for most of his life. He's very new when it comes to wielding Juraian energy in battle. Ryoko has much more experience in wielding her powers, and even if she's holding back at the moment she still very much has the advantage over him. My personal dislike for her aside, the edge is hers, and I'd be a fool not to recognize it."

Washu chuckled. "Well, if you say so. As for my bet… I'm wagering on a draw."

Funaho laughed. "A draw? Washu, I know they call you mad, but you shouldn't aspire to live up to that reputation!"

"Cute joke!" Misaki giggled, "Now, for real; what's your bet?"

Washu smiled. "As I said; a draw."

Yorhos smirked as he shook his head. "You truly are serious, aren't you?"

Washu nodded as she watched Ryoko dive at Heero again and hammer away at him with her crimson energy sword. "Completely."

"Very well, then," said Seto with a grin, "An unusual choice, but when have you ever desired to conform to convention? We have our bets, my friends. Now, let's see who comes out the winner!"

….

Maybe I shouldn't be flying so much, mused Ryoko as she pulled back after another quick exchange with Heero, it really doesn't seem fair. Then again, Heero's a big boy; he knows how to handle himself. Besides, I'm a pirate. We're not known for fair play!

Not that she felt her ability to go airborne at any time and stay there was a decisive advantage. It certainly helped, but Ryoko knew better than to underestimate her sparring partner. Heero was a cunning and experienced fighter, and he'd already proven remarkably adaptable when it came to taking on opponents who weren't human.

She saw Heero give his blade a quick spin before he gestured with his left hand, making a beckoning motion. The message was clear; come at me again, if you dare.

Ryoko wasn't one to back down from a challenge. She swooped in, thrusting her blade forward once she got within range. Just like before, Heero deflected the attack, but he wasn't done yet. Angling his sword so that Ryoko would pass to his left side, he then grabbed her by the arm and pulled her down to the ground.

Twisting in his grip, Ryoko made a spinning kick. Her right foot caught Heero in the temple, but the impact barely registered; he truly was as hard headed as they came. Another swipe with her sword was enough for him to release his grip on her, but after parrying her strike he then hit his thrusters and tackled her. The two of them tumbled to the ground, fighting for leverage just as much as they were to keep from accidentally killing each other. Ryoko managed to get on top of Heero, but as she pointed her blade down she found his weapon angled up at her. The blue sword of Tenchi-ken was just centimeters from her neck, while Ryoko's crimson blade hovered over Heero's throat.

Ryoko blinked a few times. "No way… a tie?"

Heero actually gave her a small smile. "Looks like it. Nice moves there; I thought the match would be mine once I grabbed you."

Ryoko smirked and winked. "I'm a flexible girl, Heero. You know that better than most!"

Heero chuckled. "Yes, I suppose I do."

They deactivated their blades, and Ryoko got off of Heero before pulling him to his feet. "Well, that was fun!"

"A nice little bit of exercise," Heero agreed as he turned towards their audience, "Lady Seto, was that enough for your tastes?"

Ryoko saw the Devil Princess smile and clap. "Quite so! Not bad… although you did just make me lose a bet."

Washu grinned. "Called it!"

Yosho smirked. "So you did."

Funaho sighed. "And here I thought I had this one in the bag. Heero, you couldn't win for the sake of your great-grandmother?"

"Ryoko, what happened?" asked Misaki, "I thought you had him!"

Ryoko shrugged. "Sorry. He's not easy to win against."

Heero nodded at Ryoko. "Same goes for you."

She saw Washu turn to the others. "Now, about those favors you all owe me…"

Misaki sighed. "Oh, dear…"

Funaho looked more amused than anything else. "This should be good."

Washu looked at Yosho. "All right, you first. Train Heero and Ryoko's asses off. It's the only way either of them are going to survive what lies ahead."

Yosho smiled. "I suppose having another student alongside him will help my grandson sharpen his skills. Very well, then."

Washu then turned to Misaki. "I'm going to need a palace hangar to set up shop in; I've got some projects that need to get started ASAP, and the Yagami doesn't have enough space for them."

Misaki nodded. "I'll make the necessary arrangements."

"What do you require from me?" asked Funaho.

"Resources," Washu answered, "I'll have an itemized list sent to you within the hour. Don't worry, it won't be anything that's beyond the scope of your authority."

Seto smiled. "Saving me for last, then? Should I be flattered or insulted?"

Washu grinned. "The former. You have one of the most extensive networks of political contacts within the Empire, and we're going to put it to use."

Seto smirked. "Oh? How so?"

Washu looked at Heero, and Ryoko didn't like it one bit. "Jurai has a new warrior prince, and it's time for him to make his official debut."

Seto's eyes gleamed. "Oh, a grand entrance into high society… yes, yes, yes! This is going to be fun!"

Preview for next time!

Ryoko: Hey, whatever happened to keeping your heritage a secret for as long as possible?

Heero: Seems Washu has other ideas.

Ayeka: A grand debut ball! What fun that shall be!

Sasami: With grandma Seto hosting! It's been too long since we've been to one of her parties.

Kiyone: Is now really the time for such a thing? Don't we have a galaxy to save?

Mihoshi: Lighten up, Kiyone! We can take a little break and enjoy the party before going back to work.

Duo: A fancy shindig, and here I am without a suit and tie…

Hilde: I'm sure our hosts will take care of that for us.

Quatre: This will be a good chance to acquaint ourselves with the movers and shakers of the Empire.

Trowa: And find out just how far Kagato's influence spreads.

Wufei: Don't let your guard down. No telling who might be sneaking in here.

Funaho: Next time, in Chapter Twenty-Two: No Need For A Ballroom Blitz! So, ladies, what shall we gamble on this time?

Washu: How long will it take for someone to challenge Heero to a duel?

Misaki, Seto, and Funaho: You're on!

Author's Notes: Yay, Seto's finally entered the stage! Feels good to be bringing more of the Royal Family into the story, such a fun and colorful bunch.

Not a whole lot else to say right now, actually. A bit burned out by my job, to be honest, and trying to get something new lined up but it hasn't been easy. Don't go into auto insurance for a living, kids. Sure, it pays well and the benefit package is nice, but you won't have much of a soul left by the time you're done with it. Take it from me, I'm trying to get out while I've still got my last shred of sanity.

Hope you all liked the chapter. Please review, stay safe, and I'll see you all next time!