ShipTeaser

  As we moved through the crowds, more and more visitors being shown into the great hall, I noticed that Motoko and Natsumi had perfect, professional smiles on their faces. Every time they met the gaze of someohey would nod a little, aowledging the other person without dispying any io speak to them.

  “I guess you must be used to events like this?” I asked, and Motoko agreed.

  “Yes, as a daughter of Tsumura house I attend many parties, gas, balls and other festivities. Natsumi is with me as my bodyguard, of course. I safely say that few are on this scale though.” I gowards the dais. Princess Eleanor was still up there, talking to the Selkie and perhaps others who were still behind the curtain. She was drawing a lot of looks from the guests, and from what I could tell there were two types of stares she was attrag. The first was that of admiration, and they seemed to be from guests such as politis and businessmen. The sed was curiosity and a hint of wariness, perhaps. I believe it’s rgely other Chosen looking at her like that. Well, it makes sense…

  “I will do my best, however, not to be seen as an embarrassment for you, Akio.” Motoko promised, and I gently whispered in her ear that was not the case.

  “Hardly. Really, I should be careful not to embarrass you. I’ve only been mingling with the rid famous for a month or so.”

  Motoko flushed a little as my breath tickled her ear, but her smile was brilliant. “In that case, we shall not embarrass each other. That should satisfy. In all seriousness, I wish to be the oo guide you in these matters. I ot be your childhood or your uy friend, nor am I a powerful Fae such as Shaeu or Hyath. But this… this I do, and do it proudly.” Her hand in miightes grip, and I once more felt great affe for this ear girl.

  “I’ll be in your care then.” I said, and beside Motoko, Natsumi looked at us, her expression warm.

  “Me too. I want to help out where I as well.”

  While we talked, ut enough space between us and the dais, moving towards the back of the hall. As I looked around, my eyes met the woman in white, the strange nun, and for a moment her bright green eyes narrowed, before she smiled. It retty smile, definitely, but I felt no allure from it, only a chill. Looking away hastily, Natsumi teased me.

  “Cheg her out again, Akio? She’s very pretty, but don’t Western shrine maidens… I suppose you’d call them priestesses, maybe… take vows of chastity? You ’t seduce her like you did Kana!”

  “I didn’t seduce Kana, we just…” I stopped at Natsumi’s eyes went wide and Motoko’s grip on my hand tightened.

  “She’s ing over.” Natsumi hissed, adopting her position as bodyguard once more. Behind me, Hyath was gring at her, silver-violet eyes narrowed.

  “Good afternoon, would you be free to speak to… hmm, perhaps you don’t speak a civilised tohat would be a great shame.” Her tone was melodious, her voice extremely easy on the ears, but her words were harsh.

  Motoko and I exged a brief gnce before I turned. “No, as it happens we speak English perfectly well. And who might you be?”

  “I see. Well, Babel may have fallen and all God’s children ot uand each other, but it seems you have wisely learo overe such.” The woman said, her hair like spun gold and emerald eyes drawing my attention. Well, She’s definitely stunning, but Shiro and Yukiko-san are about as close to perfect as you get. Still, she’d be one of the most famous models worldwide if she was in that industry. Except for the eyes… her gaze redatory, like a sharks’, and her smile did little to hide that.

  Spoiler

  [colpse]“I believe that it is ary for you to introduce yourself, before demanding a name from others.” she tinued, and I couldn’t disagree.

  “How rude of me. I do apologise.” I said, mustering up what siy I could. “I am Oshiro Moonstone Akio, and this is my fiasumura Motoko. We are apanied by our bodyguard, Hori Natsumi, and our maid, Hyath.”

  “I see. Well, I am Mary Stuart, humble Cardinal, here to give my blessing to this auspicious event.” Her smile was ostensibly kind, but it made my seingle. “Fiancée, I see. gratutions, my dear.” she said to Motoko cheerfully. “After all, God did say to us to go forth and multiply. Sadly, being from far-off nds I do expect you are a heathen. A shame.” She looked at Hyath then. “Especially in the pany you keep. An iing choiaid.”

  Hyath‘s gre intensified, fiwitg, and I shared a go tell her to remain calm.

  “I’d agree Hyath is iing, but there’s no finer, more dependable maid. As for being a heathen, well, I’m more of a live a live person. Besides, my mother was a Christian.” I said, and at that, Mary Stuart brightened up.

  “I see. Good for her. Which denomination, if I may be so forward as to ask?” her eyes glittered like gems with curiosity.

  “Church of Engnd.” I replied, and immediately the glow in her eyes was extinguished.

  “A shame. Another one who doesn’t follow the true path. Well, I shouldn’t be surprised. Unusual to see a Japanese man, for that is where you are from, I believe, as an Angli. Besides, your try has hardly been good to those of the true faith.”

  “I think you’re a bit out of date.” I said, remembering my history lessons. “The ban was repealed ieey-three. Japan is one of the miously tolerant tries in the world.” I was a bit affronted by her tone. “As for my mom’s faith, well, it’s the same Ght? Why worry over it?”

  Her face twitched, but she smoothed it over with a smile. “True, I suppose having faith in the Lord is better than having hough I would argue perverting the true teags is a greater offehan mere ignorance.” She took a deep breath. “But, I fear we are getting off on the wrong foot. Dive me. As a Cardinal, I have a tendency to… preach.”

  “Excuse me for speaking out of turn…” Motoko said politely, fulfilling her role as a perfect partner for a such as this, quiet and attentive. “… but if you are a Catholic, I believe only men be of the clergy?”

  Mary smiled, impressed. “Motoko…” she spoke boldly without any distance. “… you seem to know a thing or two. Ordinarily you are correct. The mainstream Catholic Church is like that. But all serve the Lord, and our denomination allows for service without discrimination. We are small, but as old as the first church established by Emperor stantine.”

  “I see. Five my curiosity.” Motoko said demurely, and I was struck by how cute she was all ain. “One more question, if you will permit me?”

  “Of course. As a Cardinal, I live to teach as well as preach. If only everyone listeo me, but as, nobody said doing God’s work would be easy. I myself was quite the nonbeliever in my youth, so I sympathise.”

  “I thank you. So I would ask, what is it about Hyath that disturbs you so?”

  “You ask me that? You may be docile, but you hide your cws.” Mary’s smile turned wolfish for a moment. “You know very well I am speaking of the fact she isn’t human. Bringing her here is quite the statement.” She looked at us then. “You, Motoko, and you, Natsumi… you are not favoured by any of those false idols and would-be deities. No, but you have trained. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you attended a Choir or the lost Seminary. You however, Mr Moonstone.” She paused. “Quite the hey say moonstones are lucky, but I have no belief in luck, only the divine pn. Now, I shall get straight to the point. God hates liars almost as much as I do, so… which fake do you draw your power from?”

  “I’d rather not ahat.” I said. “After all, we’ve only just met, and your tone is a bit hostile.”

  “Really? You would refuse me, poor beautiful Mary Stuart?” she ughed, though there was little humour in it. “It does not matter, I would know if you served the Lord. But rejoice. I know talent when I see it, and if you ret your ways, you could be our friend. After all, there are more than a billion Catholics, and more who have malighe true teags but will still be our friends. That’s more than all the heathens in a, no?” Her smile was wicked and knowing.

  She’s ly subtle. “I’m sorry, but it would be ungrateful to turn my ba the power I was given. Japan is a try ious freedom. Though I am curious… you know of the Chosen, and I’m guessing you are one yourself, right?”

  At her gentle nod, I tinued. “So you know ods are real. Why call them fake?”

  “Just because someone calls themselves God, does not make it so, does it?” She smiled like a schoolteacher edug an idiot student. “A man who calls himself God would be sent to a sanatorium, rightly suspected of being mad. Just because these beings have some little power, and call themselves Divi does not make it so. The Devil has power, but you would not worship him, would you?”

  Motoko actually looked ied at the philosophical discussion. Seeing that, Mary let her speak.

  “So, what then makes a true God? Surely every faith could cim theirs is the only God by that definition? I am curious as to know your basis for asserting that your answer is the corree, when every answer holds equal merit.”

  “I do appreciate an inquisitive mind. But just like with Pandora’s Box, searg for what lies within be dangerous.” Mary scoffed. “The Divine is not sce, it ot be picked apart or uood through logic. It simply is. The power of the Ninth Heaven is true, all others are false. That is all there is to know. But… those who repent shall be saved.” She looked at Hyath then. “Even a devil who throws himself down in front of the Throne may find salvation.”

  “Akio, she is nooo good. I think she is dangerous. We shooould kill her.”

  I was shocked at her words, but before I could speak, Mary Stuart ughed happily, as though she had heard the fu joke of her life. Tears sparkled like gems at the ers of her eyes, and as she dashed them away, I realised we were drawing attention. Luckily she soon got herself under trol. “Oh, just what I would expect from such a creature. You should have stayed ba your faded ethereal realms and waited for the Final Judgement.” She snorted. “Well, more and more of your kio be crawling out of the woodwork tely. People do love to reject wisdom. If it wasn’t a slightly bsphemous parison, I would call myself Cassandra, my words always going unheeded.”

  That’s just annoyed Hyath more. Well, I get it, she’s damn rude… “If God made everything, didn’t he also make Hyath and her kind?” I saw no point in hiding what she was, sihis woman already knew.

  “Maybe so. I don’t cim to know the mind of God. Only what is right. But there are many creatures who turheir backs on the Creator, just as many people have. You hardly tell me this one is a pious believer?”

  “I believe in Akio and the mistresses. I dooo not o believe in those whooo have never helped me. Hyath suffered and cried ooout to the Queen, the Dark Queen, God, anyooone who could save her, but nobody ever did. Until Akiooo came!” Hyath’s scowl was brutal.

  “I see. Rejoice then. Suffering is holy, it purifies the spirit. And God heard your prayers. After all, did not this man save you? You should fall to your knees and thank God for sending him to answer your ear prayers.”

  “I dooo not know if it was a God. If it was, He shooould tell Hyath so she be grateful. If nooot, then I ooot believe it. Akio is the only ooone who helped me.”

  “If God speaks, there is no need for faith.” She shook her head. “Well, reasoning with such creatures as you is a waste of my time. I always try, and in the end… disappoi.” She shrugged. “Well, perhaps we shall talk ter. But I have many I must speak to. It was iing making your acquaintance, Akio, Motoko, Natsumi, Hyath. Should you realise you wish to follow the right way, feel free to seek me out.” She nodded, and one of the people in silver and grey suits who had been waiting for our discussion to end, handed me a business card.

  “Silver Hands Foundation, huh?” I said, as they swept off. “Not a very Christian name.” Pocketing the card I watched her go.

  “There are a number of people out of pce amongst the staff.” Natsumi said as soon as she was out of earshot. “I think they might be soldiers. They’re watg her carefully, warily. I think some of the others like you are too.”

  “Sometimes it is wise to keep your enemies close.” Motoko agreed. “I do not know her retionship with the Royal Family here, but her expression when she looked at the dais was not kind.”

  “Yes, well, good job gathering information while I talked. I really feel a lot better having you two here.” As the girls thanked me, embarrassed, Hyath snorted.

  “We shooould definitely have killed her. Hyath knooows madness when she sees it.”

  “Yeah, that would be one hell of a diplomatit. We might not get out alive.” I shook my head, Well, we would, but It’d involve some serious bioterrorism and a lot of indiscriminate casualties amongst the great and the good of the UK. It’d make the Kyoto battles look like a drunken bar brawl. “We should talk to someone a little less intimidating for now. Oh, I see Fujiwara-san and the girls. He’s with the Prime Minister.” In fact, as we met their eyes, the burly blonde man waved at us cheerfully, being us over. Not having a reason to dee, roached them.

  “Here es the man of the moment.” The Prime Minister called cheerfully. “I was just saying to Shige here I’d like to meet you. Penelope and Gerard had only good things to say.” He then turo Motoko. “And you must be Katsuro’s granddaughter. Cute little thing, aren’t you? Quite the pce to have yageme. I’d be more than happy to pose for pictures, show my support.” He wi me then. “I was a bit of a pyboy in my youth. Nothis a good woman. But I hear you put me to shame.” He looked at Natsumi then, who was a little nervous talking to such a bombastic, important fn figure, who seemingly knew raint. “From what I uand you’re quite the catch as well. And then there’s the girl from Nichibotsu Teologies, who has been adopted to Takatsukasa house? The politidscape of Japan is ging fast.”

  “It is. Though as always, Kira and I will shape it properly.” Fujiwara-san said. “But it is impossible to deny the tributions of Akio-san and his allies.”

  “Allies.” The Prime Minister ughed heartily. “His women, you mean? Maybe I should move to Japan, we could never get a w like that through here, the dear old Queen would have my balls.” His ugh grew louder. I could see Miyu was looking a bit nervous, so I patted her shoulder reassuringly. Seeing that, the man snorted.

  “He’s making a move on yranddaughters, Shige. I’m surprised you let him. Or is it to do with her status?” he asked shrewdly.

  “Yes, my Miyu is in Akio-san’s care. There is naught between them, and we have no need for further ties to the nobility. Hinata-, Motoko- and Natsumi- more than suffice. But if I wish my granddaughter to be safe, grow her talents and be of value to Japan, under his tutege is the best pce for her.”

  “I agree.” Miyu said stoutly. “He has been good to me, and is alrepared to listen to my worries.”

  “Miyu-sama is very happy tely.” Honoka-san said calmly, eyes sparkling. She was bolder than Miyu despite being younger, and wasn’t put off by the loud Prime Minister. Behind her, Koga-san looked a bit sour, but Michiru-san was nodding along, agreeing. “It is fun to get along with her, as well as Mayumi-sama, Hinata-sama and even Sakura-sama. Though I do feel left out, being the you. But Akio-sama has helped me out as well!” she said, callih respe supany.

  “So I hear. You have some wonderful granddaughters, Shige. Their English is so good too.”

  “If one wants to get ahead in the world, English is still a must. All nobility are taught it from the age they learn to speak.”

  “If only I could get the damn French to do the same.” The Prime Minister sighed. “After the vote, times have been turbulent. I could use a good deal on trade, to make up for our losses with Europe. You’ll not screw me on this, Shige? Not an old friend like me.”

  It was quite amusing seeing him so desperate. Shige told him that so long as what we wanted was agreed, then the Diet would surely fast-track the deal in short order, relieving him.

  “Good.” He pushed his sweat-slicked blonde bangs away from his eyes. “I need a win to get the damn tabloids and the Opposition off my back. I ’t say I’m overjoyed you’ve beeing with them, but I get that you never pick sides in politiow, baore fun matters.” He looked at me and Motoko. “So, tell me, how did you meet?”

  Motoko smiled, and unched into the tale of her and Natsumi’s initial clumsy attempts to persuade me to accept the arranged marriage, about how they had travelled to Nishimorioka and more. The Prime Minister nodded along, amused, and in the end, when we reached where I accepted them, he gri me. “You really are a bad man, making cute little things like these cry. A real man takes responsibility! Although, that might be why I have so many children…” he ughed ruefully.

  “Yeah, I get that a man should take responsibility. That I’ll do, and I’m not afraid to show the world I love them.” That made the three of them flush, though their happy smiles plimeheir red cheeks, Hyath cag a little offputtingly.

  “Good, well, I’m surely expeg an io the wedding.” He ughed.

  “That depends on you. If you lose the ele…” Fujiwara-san warned ominously, and the Prime Minister shrugged.

  “Low blow there, Shige. You know I always bounce back. Besides… putting aside the trade deal with Japan, much as I , you know it’s matters we are discussioday that will shape the world. Everyone here knows about the Gods’ Chosen, and the importance of them. It won’t be much longer before the entire world knows all about it too. Kyoto was bad. But there’s just as severe situations in a, South Korea, Russia… America…” he frowned, disappointed. “… and plenty of other pces. We’ve had one or two is ourselves that have been hard to cover up.”

  “Cousin Miyu-sama, are you worried about people knowing about you?” Honoka-san asked, and after a brief g me, she answered.

  “Yes, I may have abilities given to me by Ame-no-Uzume, but despite Akio-san’s aid, I am still weak. The soldiers here could easily subdue me, and a mob of angry rioters could…”

  “Isn’t that the truth!” a jovial voice said, auro see two people, both very opposite in appearance, having approached us. Natsumi immediately stepped between them and Motoko, while Hyath arched her back like a panther ready to strike. The speaker was a woman with a cascade of messy, poorly styled dark-blonde hair, wearing an expensive-looking pink gown that didn’t suit her iher style or colour. The strahing was that over the top of that, she wore a faded b coat, though it en, exposing her dress. She pushed up at the half-framed fashion gsses she wore, one eyebrow raised. Beside her was a man, t nearly seveall, with arms thicker than my legs. This giant of a man was Caribbean in dest, dark skinned and with dreadlocks, and he was wearing a suit, though his shirt, instead of being with a tie, was a garishly coloured Hawaiian one. Damn, these two are out of pce. And that guy is bigger than Treyvon! The woman isn’t small herself, she’s tall and has a det chest…

  Spoiler

  [colpse]“o panic, hon.” The woman said as she approached us guilelessly. “I’m not going to hurt her or you. Nice reas, right?” she said to her panion, who nodded, saying nothing, his eyes fixed on me and Hyath, his expression wary. “You’re not an asset, though you move like ohe thing is…” she said, not having introduced herself, or even g that she’d butted into our versations. “… I’ve grown able to tell just hoable someone is by the little signs. Muscle twitches, rate of breathing, eye movements… it’s not fwless, the sce is still in the early days, but it gets me in the ballpark. I suppose you could be effect types, they tend to have slower reas, weaker endurand lesser strength than a physical type, but I don’t think so, woman’s intuition…” she fided.

  “Step back. I’ll hahis.” I said, and everyo behind me, even the Prime Minister, who was ever alert to danger. Seeing that, the outed.

  “Really? I’m so hurt. After all, I put aside my researe all this way and apologise to our allies in the United Kingdom formally.” She snorted. “Oh, where are my manners?” she spped her forehead ically. “I’m Christina Bakker, researcher from Project Star Mirror. This here is Titan. That’s a ame of course, but he’s as strong as he sounds…” she paused, notig Titan was gring at me, sweat on his brow.

  “I see.” She looked at me, grinning. “So, you’re a Physical Type too. Fasating.”

  “Really? I thought…” the Prime Minister began, before a gre from Fujiwara-san shut him up.

  “Well, we were having a private versation, so you’ll excuse me if we are a bit wary.” I said.

  “The whole point of this event is to mingle, right? I’m just being effit. I’m still waiting for the Queen to appear, but I do have to speak to the Prime Minister as well. That’s yht?” she said, and he nodded.

  “Yes, I’m the British Prime Minster…” he began, only for her to cut him off.

  “I know. Well, you were born in the US, so we think of you warmly. Bear that in mind when ologise please!” she said without any preamble, her ck of diplomacy rather shog. They sent her here to apologise? That doesn’t make much sense…

  “So, want to share some data?” she gri me, before looking at Hyath. “You’ve got an embodied spirit here too, it seems.” She tapped on her gsses, and I could see a little flicker of light, like a camera, and faint words on her lenses. I thought they were just for show. “Now I’m curious. How about an answer for an answer?”

  “To what question?” I asked.

  “Simple. How about an arm-wrestle with Titan here? I’m curious if I was right. And then I’ll tell you how I spotted this cutie.” Her grin was somehow lewd, though there was nothiic about it.

  “I don’t think this is the time or pce for that.” I said, and Christina shrugged.

  “Well, how about this? You two have a handshake. First oo let go loses. But try hard, okay? Wouldn’t want Titao crush your hand!”

  I looked at Motoko who nodded, a the rudeness. She squeezed the hand of mine she was holding, and then traced something on my palm with her finger, which I could pick out with my senses. Yeah, I was going to.

  “All right.” I offered a hand to the massive dark-skinned giant, and he seized mine and began to squeeze. I returhe favour, though using only a fra of my strength. No need for Body Enha ht of the Furious Earth here. Titan grunted, increasing the pressure, and I judged his stats to be Grulgor css, which was certainly powerful. I put a bit more effort in, trying to look troubled, and the squeezing increased, until I let go, shaking my hand as though I was in pain.

  “So, Titan? How was it?” Christina asked, grinning.

  “He’s strong, woman. But I still have the edge. I be the stro!” He ughed loudly, pleased by his victory.

  “Yeah, I have to say you have a ton of power.” I said, meaning it. “I bet you could lift a car and throw it easily enough.”

  “Is that your limit? Well, since you indulged me…” she tapped her gsses. “When the spirits from this mirror world are inated, they are always too symmetrical. Nobody is born with perfect beauty, nature isn’t an engineer, more’s the pity. Yet if you look at your maid here…”

  She’s right. Hyath and Shaeu are incredibly regur. They don’t suffer from skin blemishes and the like either. Yeah, I think you could pick them out if you know what to look for. Though I wonder what she’d make of Shiro or Tsukiko-san. False positives, maybe?

  “You’re right.” I admitted. “But what does that matter?”

  “It matters a lot!” She was right up in my face, and her breasts knocked against me. Motoko gred daggers at her, as did Natsumi. Ign them both, she expounded on her desires. “We are only just ning over suitable numbers of them from the mirror world to America, and nobody will let us experiment on them. How we get the data without some… sacrifices? If you let me have her, I’ll give you whatever you want. Money, US citizenship, you . Anything!” she licked her lips.

  Anything, huh? Before I could refuse, Motoko surprised me by shoving Christina back. Titan looked ready to move, but he paused as my gre hit him, halting for a moment, and then the danger had passed. “I think Akio has no need of your shameless offer. He is here with me, his fiaoday. If he has desires, we will take care of them, as well as all his other needs!” Her face was red, but her gre was a match for any Eri could throw out.

  “Akio, you say? Oh, this is a lucky day, it’s Mr Double Vermillion, the ohat got away!”

  “Double Vermillion?” I asked, and she ughed, waving a hand.

  “Don’t worry about it. So, you were a physical type after all, huh? We had thought you were an ability type, or maybe even a mystery type. You seemed to know a lot. We’re still debating at Star Mirror whether to adopt the terminology those poor unfortunate meraries brought back from you. So, this must be Shaeu then?”

  “Nooo, I am Hyath!” she shook her head, and I could feel the prig of nature energy stirring, as Hyath was incredibly wary of this woman, even more so than Mary Stuart earlier. Not that I don’t get it, but this womao be a civilian. She’s just… crazy.

  “Marvellous? Another, it seems. I’m ever more ied now!” she looked at Motoko with a critical eye. “Well, you’re beautiful, if you like Asian woman, no doubt about it. Young too. Is that your thing? I mean, if it’s inexperience you like, I’m your woman. Never had time for romance, only research. I hear a woman’s first time is worth a lot more. Not sure why, it’s not like sex is a limited resource… I’ll let you bed me, if you give me the maid! Not a bad deal, and it even ts as an apology for the attempted abdu, no?”

  “I don’t think so.” I ughed in her face. “Hyath is far more precious to me than anything you give me.”

  “Am I supposed to be offended right now, Titan?” she asked, and he shrugged. “Oh well, the offer’s open. Though I ’t guarantee I’ll still be fresh.” She grinned. “There’s a lot of iing assets here today, and several like her.” she snorted, amused by her own humour. “Though oddly enough, you aren’t the first to turn me down…”

  Yeah, she’s an obvious ndmine. Sure she’s got a nice fad a good body, it seems, but she’s too much like Ixitt for my tastes. Hell, that’s doing Ixitt a disservice, at least he tests his own theories and gear.

  “Should you not have more pride?” Motoko said, affronted. “As a woman, you should desire to do that with those you love. And watch yuage, Honoka-sama is still young.”

  “You’re hardly old, girl.” she shot back. “As for love? I love research, finding answers. I’d experiment on myself if I could, to uhe mysteries around us, but sadly, uan here, I wasn’t chosen. So I’ve been making do. Criminals, volunteers… and… well, Adam did tell me to be careful hoologise, but… oh yeah. The US does not accept responsibility for the as of a few… extreme… operatives. Therefore we will be no further pensation, nor will t any bme for the ditions of the abducted citizens.” She was sweating as she tried to remember what she had been told. “We have stopped such operations, and it won’t happen again. In terms of repatriation of the citizens… well, don’t bme us for their mental states. We’ve givehe best medical care we , but…”

  “Speaking as the Prime Minister…” he began. “… I have to say, this is disgraceful. Bck ops on allied soil is enough to shatter any alliao say that you bear no bme…”

  “It is a polite fi.” Fujiwara-san said, irritated. “Obviously you knoill not accept those terms.”

  “Yes, but, with a ag up, you don’t want to burn bridges…” she said, and I jumped in.

  “I believe it was America who set fire to the bridges first. No, we won’t just ignore all this. As for a, we ha. You must be aware of that.”

  “Yes, but hardly fwlessly. You suffered losses.” She shrugged.

  “True. But you should be know we acquitted ourselves well. So cut the crap. I mean, here you are, with just a single guard. Or are you the sacrificial mb, to sate er? That’s not going to work.”

  She started to sweat, mopping at her brow, a slight smile on her face. “I see. Well, Titan here is a powerhouse. Maybe we wouldn’t get out unscathed, but he could crush all of you before the others here get him. I hardly think little Christina here…” she gestured to herself. “…is worth starting a war over.” She looked at Motoko then. “I think your fiancé is trying to get me for free. But t me won’t do anything. I’m just a stist and a humble messenger. I dret that it’s e to this. We probably should have stuck to abdug from our enemies. But that’s hard, you know?”

  “You are insane.” Motoko decred, disgusted. “Have you no sorrow in your heart at all?” That’s what I was thinking.

  As the doors to the great hall shut behind us, all the guests now having arrived, Christina looked at us sadly. “Sorrow? I did say I regretted it. But the price ress is paved on sacrifice. The Atomib tests, failed medies and surgeries, harmful chemicals such as CFC’s, deforestation, industrialisation and global warming… if the sacrifice of a few help the many, well, it’s simply numbers, right?”

  “Cut the bluster.” The Prime Minister demanded. “There’s no way that we accept a no harm, no foul solution to this.”

  “Well, I tried. I k wouldn’t fly. Obviously I have the real offer in my pocket. But for now… I should take my leave.” She gri me, and my furious face. “I’ve upset Mr Double Vermillion and his fiancée. If you want to e chat, feel free, but know that Titan here could break you like a twig. We’ve never seen a strorength type! You’re not his match, I tell.” She tapped her gsses.

  “Later, man.” Titan said politely, surprising Christina. As they headed bato the crowd, I let out a long sigh.

  “Well, she was totally insane. I feel even more pity for our stolen citizens now.” I let out a bitter sigh.

  “So, level with me? Was that Titan guy s? He beat yht?” The Prime Minister enquired.

  “Not at all.” “Nooo, have you got eyes?” “Akio pyed him.” “No, I believe not.” “My Ninjitsu knows the truth.” “He was faking weakness, a clever strategy.” Motoko, Hyath, Natsumi, Miyu, Michiru-san, and surprisingly Koga-san all dehat instantly.

  “I see. Everyone here has a lot of faith in you.” The Prime Minister said cheerfully. “Well, he looked strong to me.”

  “He was. Just in terms of raw strength and likely toughness, he’s top tier, though I expect his overall speed gs. But I didn’t show all my cards, rest assured.”

  “So, you’re not a physical type, are you?” he asked shrewdly, borrowierminology. “I know what you did for old Staveley’s wife. Good job on that, by the way, the man was a wreck, it was affeg the share price. Our ey is bad enough right now without that.”

  “I think sharing suformation is more than we tenance for free.” Fujiwara-san said, and he shrugged.

  “Fine. Ohing though. How did you fool her? She says she spot your strength by things that you shouldn’t be able to trol.”

  True, but… “You say that, but if you are dedicated enough, you trol automatic bodily reflexes.” Running one or two of my Split Thoughts to try and improve both them and the trol of my body is something I do whenever I’m not doing anything else. Got to grind those skill Ranks after all…

  “It be done in martial arts, too.” Motoko agreed. “Not to the extent Akio manage, but with proper breathing teiques, one quell muscle tremors and more. Perfe isumura Arts is disciplihat even the untrolble be tamed, and turth.”

  Before we could talk any further on that, the curtain on the dais was drawn back, and I caught my first sight of the Queen, sitting on a modest throne. Beside her stood Princess Eleanor, and a grey-haired man in his fifties or sixties, rather imposing and well-muscled, as well as a young man with grey hair, but not the white of age like the man beside him, but a blueish grey that was incredibly rare. Coupled with steel-grey eyes that looked rather like mine, and his handsome features, I could surmise he was not human. He was surveying the crowd, a stern expression on his face, and seeing that, Hyath ducked behind me, scowling.

  The older man was carrying a wooden staff, and he beat the bottom of it oage three times, the bangs eg through the room, stopping all versation, silence falling. As all eyes were upohe Queen spoke, her tone rid even, voice carrying effortlessly despite her great age.

  “Greetings all. I thank you for ing to this special ga once again. Especially those guests from far-off nds.” For a moment her gaze fell on roup, before it passed on. “I have called you here today, all of you who know the burden that my precious granddaughter Eleanor must bear for Britian and humanity, to share information and fortify ourselves…”

  All right then. My gaze was fixed on Eleanor. Time to be as ving as possible. I’ll not let Tsukiko-san’s visions go unheeded…

  ShipTeaser