Act XV: Another Encounter "Attention incoming ship," a voice announces over the ship's speakers. "State your name, registration number, and business." Naitsuu whispers to the Quintus Festinius Lutherius, "What's the ship's name and registration number?" Quintus answers, "Just use what you use to use." "Bikutori-Kyou, 356-4927-361. We are here on our own confidential business." "You are given a level 1 clearance. Please proceed to land on pad 6381." "Thank you." The ship lands on pad 6381. The crew leaves. "What are we going to do, Naitsuu?" Munenori asks. "I don't know." "You forget, Munenori-san, Keiji use to decide wherever we went." "Oh yeah." "So, who is deciding where we are going," Aritsune asks. "I will," Naitsuu says annoyed at the doubt of his leadership. "Let's try the bars and find the resistance officer of Venus." "Good idea," Quintus says. "Why don't we split up. We'll move faster," Naitsuu suggests. "Yeah," Munenori chimes in. "How about Qunitus and I lead two groups," Naitsuu suggests. "Okay," Quintus answers. "How about you go with Munenori, Aritsune and Chuuwa. I will go with Yamaneko and Akari." "Oh, you want to separate Yamaneko from his master, though," Akari questions. "Well, how about Naitsuu goes with Yamaneko and Akari. Chuuwa can come with his two masters-" "No, what you first decided will be okay," Naitsuu cuts in while giving a quick suggestive glance at Quintus. "Okay, let's go," Munenori says. The groups separate. Aritsune strikes up conversation with Naitsuu while Munenori travels a step or so ahead with Chuuwa. "You were quite eager to go with Quintus' first suggestion." "So?" Naitsuu asks. "Why?" "I think Quintus was setting the groups up like that on purpose to be with Akari." "Meaning?" asks Aritsune. "I just think they could get together." "I thought it was because you didn't want to be with her," Aritsune comments. "Well, not alone anyway." "Why not?" "Don't read into it too much, okay?" "Fine." The group enters the first bar. Naitsuu marches directly to the bartender and in an disturbed voice simply says, "Resistance officer?" "I don't follow the resistance." "Tough luck," Naitsuu says as he turns to the crowd, "Any of you know where I can find the resistance officer?" A man comes up to him and says, "Hey! I like the empire." "And that's your problem, not mine," Naitsuu says while the man draws out a switchblade. The man lunges at Naitsuu. Naitsuu steps to the side, grabs the man's wrist, and forces through pressure to make the man drop the knife. Then Naitsuu tosses him backwards through a table. The bartender shouts, "Get out!" Naitsuu, just being insolent, says, "And what if I don't?" Aritsune tugs on his arm forcefully and Naitsuu jerks away. She says, "What are you doing?" "Not taking sneers from anyone." The bartender sets down the glass he was washing and comes around from behind the counter. "Are you looking to start trouble?" Naitsuu glares at him eye to eye, "Can you guess?" "Get ou-" Naitsuu cuts him by grabbing the man's shoulder and throwing him into another table. The bartender gets back up unharmed and tries to tackle Naitsuu. Naitsuu dodges, grabs the man's arm and wrenches it behind his back. Naitsuu says to the man as he pins him stomach down on the floor, "Do you know of any place I can search for the resistance officer?" "Ah, the bar, two blocks down, five blocks over." "Thank you kind sir," Naitsuu remarks arrogantly as he lets the man up and leaves the bar with the others. Quintus, Akari, and Yamaneko are walking down a street towards a bar.Quintus attempts to learn more about Akari. "So, how did you get involved in this?" he asks. "I came along with the others from the beginning. I have been friends with Naitsuu since we were children." "Really?" "Yeah, but I have had some trouble with him lately." "How so?" Quintus asks interested. "We were getting a little intimate with each other. Then one day his attitude changed back to what is was before I attempted to make our relationship something more. We had a fight over it. He told me while we were fighting another ship, that he thought I should find someone else." "That's tough," Quintus comments. "Are you looking for someone else?" "If anyone comes along." "Hmm, well, good luck." "Thanks." The group enters their first bar. Quintus speaks first to the bartender, "Do you know where I can find a resistance officer?" At the sound of the resistance, three men stand up from their game of cards and walk over acting tough. The bartender reaches into the bar and pulls out a bat and says, "You walked into the wrong bar, buddy." "Is there something wrong?" Akari asks in a sweet and innocent voice. "Yeah, there is," One of the men announces. "We hate the resistance. Those bastards think they are so righteous." Another comments, "Now you're going down." Quintus eyes Yamaneko and Akari before saying, "Yamaneko, morph, Akari, work with Yamaneko against those three. I'll take the bartender." Yamaneko transforms into a panther. The groups stare at each other. Yamaneko leps onto the first man. The first man screams in pain as Yamaneko's claws rip through his skull. Akari has pulled out the itsue tsurai gijouhei. She quickly in a graceful spinning motion guts the second man and decapitates the third. The bartender comes at Quintus. He pulls out his sword and snaps through the bat. He then proceeds to drive the sword through the fat bartender's stomach while saying, "Need to lose some weight?" Quintus then rips the sword downwards. The bartender falls down next to the other three men. The people in the bar stand up. Some carry chains, some switchblades and others prepare just with their fists. A woman with a sword steps in front of the group. She says, "The whole bar is anti-resistance. You will have to take on all of us." Akari feeling indignant shouts at them, "That can be arranged." Yamaneko lets out a loud growl. The three charge in against the many. Most of the men fall quickly. Soon, either the men in the bar have died or have run away. Dodging the attack, the woman with the sword stares at their handiwork unfazed. "Good job," the woman comments. "They were all scum anyway." "And so are you!" Akari shouts at the woman. She charges at the woman with her weapon. The woman blocks each swooping attack with her sword. It a quick move, the woman adapts to the girl's unique weapons and manages to disarm it while knocking her to the floor. The woman aims the sword at Akari's throat. Yamaneko moves to pounce on the woman. She dodges and knocks the animal in the temple with the hilt of her sword. Yamaneko falls to his side unable to focus. The woman turns her attention again on Akari. She is just about to drive the sword through Akari's throat. Akari watches with horror as the woman nears. Just when she think she is going to die, she sees the woman slashed into two whole separate pieces, blood spilling all around and on her. Where the woman use to be, stands Quintus, breathing heavily, with his hands on his sword, now leaning on the ground. Quintus holds his sword with one hand and helps Akari up. Quintus wipes off his sword and sheathes it. Yamaneko has managed to focus and climbs to his feet. "Thank you," Akari says while picking up her own weapon. "No problem," Quintus answers. "Anything for a pretty girl like yourself." Akari just stares at him. Quintus answers her staring with a boyish smile. The group heads back outside. As they walk, Akari stays just a step or so behind Quintus, eyeing the side of his face. She thinks to herself, Well isn't this man interesting. Must find out more about him. Akari walks up to Quintus and asks, "Since I told you a bit about my past, how about some of yours?" Quintus laughs a little and says, "Where do I begin?" "Well, the first thing you said was that you are a prince of the Ankh ship." "Yeah, I make sure that the ship is used right and that it's purpose is fulfilled." "So, are you really a prince?" "I suppose so. I was just always told so. And I had that chain crown." "Yeah, okay." They stay silent as they search out other bars with no results. Naitsuu and his group enter the bar they were told to go to. Naitsuu walks up to the bartender and says angrily, "Do you know where I can find this planet's resistance officer?" The bartender motions with his head towards a table. Naitsuu looks over his shoulder and sees a man stand up and walk outside. Naitsuu looks back at the bartender. The bartender nods with his head towards the door. Naitsuu and his group leave. They find the man leaning against a wall outside. "Are you the resistance officer?" Naitsuu asks. "No," the man answers. "Then why did the bartender motion for us to follow you?" Aritsune asks. "Because I know where he is," the man answers. "Well, where is he?" Munenori asks. "Two more blocks down. The usual boarded up house those guys like to hang in. But what is your purpose?" the man asks as he with one hand pulls away the side of his coat revealing a ton of various weapons. "We are no threat to you," Naitsuu says. "We need to talk about arranging a rebellion against the empire." "Good," the man says. "Don't ask for him at the door. He won't tell you his name. Just say ‘the glory is dead.'" "Okay, thank you." The group leaves the man. Naitsuu speaks, "Let's go find the others." Quintus, Akari, and Yamaneko are continuing their search. Quintus and Akari has momentarily stopped their conversation. They both sense a liking towards each other, but neither pursue it. After awhile, Akari acts as her usual direct self, "Do you like me?" "Huh? You seem to be a nice person," Quintus answers. "Yeah, good, but anything more?" "Like?" "Like are you interested in me?" "What, is this about me calling you a pretty girl back there?" Quintus asks. "No, do you LIKE me?" "As a friend or something more?" Akari is getting annoyed and decides to be direct in a different way. She stops Quintus and gets close to him. She puts her face right directly in front of his and says, "Does this make you nervous?" "Ah, yes, but that can mean anything." "Nervous, yes, but do you like it?" She brings her lips closer to his, "Ah, ah, ah, perhaps?" She moves a bit back and smiles. She then playfully takes a few steps ahead of Quintus, who is now sweating a little. Yamaneko rubs by his legs. "Now what was that about?" Quintus asks. "Oh, nothing," Akari says while giggling a little. Quintus picks up Yamaneko. He says to Yamaneko in a skeptical voice, "Women." Yamaneko purrs and Akari hollers n a playful mad tone, "I heard that." "I don't care if you did," Quintus says and then sticks his tongue out at her. She walks back towards him and gets close again. She says, "Maybe you should." Then Naitsuu and his group come around the corner. Akari slowly backs away as Aritsune gives her a mischievous look, recognizing her new acquaintance. Naitsuu speaks, "We know where the officer is." "Good," Quintus says still nervous from Akari. "How about us guys take the lead." "Uh, okay," Naitsuu responds. Quintus and Naitsuu take the lead talking to each other. Aritsune and Akari stay a couple of feet behind them. Munenori and the haburi kedemonos stay in the back. "What's up with you, Quintus?" Naitsuu asks. "It's Akari." "What about her?" "Well, she, well, she, I guess she likes me and wants me to like her." "What?" Naitsuu questions. Quintus says frantically, "She came right p close and nearly kissed me to make me answer her as to if I liked her or not." "Do you like her?" "I think so. She's pretty, friendly, intelligent it seems." "Well, then give her a shot." "It's okay with you?" Quintus asks permission. "She told me of how you two were sort of together shortly." "You don't need my permission. Yeah, we had something for awhile, but I don't want one of those relationships." "So, I am free to go after here?" "Go ahead." "Okay." "What were you up to, Miss flirtatious?" Aritsune asks. "Now what do you mean?" Akari says back merrily. "A little close to Quintus, weren't you?" "Do you think he likes me?" "Naitsuu told me that he thinks he does." "Hmm, maybe I will give him a shot." "Go for it." "Fine." The group is within a block of the officer's house. At this point the group is together. Naitsuu walks foremost. Quintus and Akari stay a slight bit in the back talking to each other, getting to know each other better. As they pass an alley a voice calls out, "Naitsuu Hachimonguu?" The group stops and looks over. A man steps halfway out of the shadows. "I am Naitsuu Hachimonguu," Naitsuu answers. "I challenge you to face me," the man says. "Go on, I will catch up," Naitsuu says. "None of you need to be hurt." Amongst complaints, the group leaves him. The man steps out of the alleyway as Naitsuu walks towards him. "Who are you?" Naitsuu asks. "My name is Rakushoda. I have been ordered by the emperor to make sure you do not live." "The empire knows of me?" "They have known about you for a long time, and once I made contact with you in space, they knew roughly your location and ordered your destruction." Well, come on then," Naitsuu says setting into a stance. "But you have no sword?" "I will make due with what I have." "I won't fight you like that." Rakushoda pulls out his katana and then tosses his second sword to Naitsuu. Naitsuu, remembering what this man did to Jitsurou and Reibun when he was a kid, decided he best have a weapon other than just the kunai strapped to his wrist. Naitsuu notices Rakushoda's scar, "How did you get that scar on your neck?" "It appears to me in my memory from an extensive length of time ago. I was within a heartfelt duel with a rather gifted man. Although I prevailed, my throat happened to be profoundly lacerated. Due to my being one of the most favorably recognized disciples of the emperor, the land's foremost mechanical geniuses were efficient in recovering my chance for life through the implantation of a device that functions as both the bone that was shattered by my opponent's blade, and the passageway to permit me to breathe as usual." "Wow," Naitsuu exclaims under his breath. "And you have survived all these years?" "With my extensive weapons training, no one has touched me." They both continue to stare at each other. Rakushoda speaks. "Tell me, your name is Naitsuu Hachimanguu, was your father Tenkei Hachimanguu?" "Yes, he was. Why!?" "You ought to be proud, since your father is the one who delivered this disfiguration along my throat! But I...hehheh...had the inconceivable pleasure, of shredding the tissue of his throat to a point where mechanical genius could not even save him." "No!" Naitsuu, filled with anger, charges at Rakushoda.Their swords lock. Rakushoda overpowers Naitsuu and sends him backwards. Rakushoda pulls out his tanto. Naitsuu gets up and eyes Rakushoda. "I will avenge my father," Naitsuu shouts. Naitsuu charges once again. Rakushoda makes an X and catches Naitsuu's blade in it. Rakushoda overpowers Naitsuu again and knocks his blade into the air. Rakushoda separates his blades and comes slashing through the air to decapitate Naitsuu. But, upon realizing that he was going to be overpowered, Naitsuu let go off the sword. Rakushoda finds himself grabbed by the arm, flipped through the air, landing on his back and dropping his weapons. Rakushoda jumps back up to his feet, and throws a shaken at Naitsuu, who ducks and moves forwards to attack again. Rakushoda has pulled out a pair of nunchakus and lands a shot hard against Naitsuu's head, and he goes to the ground. Rakushoda places his nunchakus back in their place and whips out the naginata from behind his back. He moves to spear Naitsuu. Naitsuu moves around on the ground dodging the strikes. Feeling worried, Akari left the group and went back to Naitsuu. At this point she comes around the corner to see Rakushoda attempting to impale a defenseless Naitsuu. "Naitsuu!" Rakushoda backs off and stares at her. Naitsuu sees Rakushoda reach under his wrist for a shuriken. Naitsuu wraps his legs around Rakushoda's and knocks him to the ground before he can throw the spear. The rest of the group appears around the corner. Akari has ran towards the scene with her weapon drawn. Rakushoda is quickly back to his feet. By doing flips, jumps, and simply steps backwards, Rakushoda dodges all of Akari's graceful spinning attacks. Rakushoda does a roll after a close encounter and picks up one of the dropped swords. He gets the blade caught in Akari's weapon. The strong Rakushoda rips the weapon out of Akari's hands and throws it across the street. He then angles the sword at her. Naitsuu is on his feet and shouts, "Don't hurt her!" as he lifts his arm at Rakushoda. A strong gust picks up, everyone on the street has a hard time standing. Naitsuu shouts, "Run Akari!" Akari runs, nearly knocked over by the wind. Rakushoda fights the wind, slowly marching against it towards Naitsuu. Naitsuu wills the wind to be more powerful. Naitsuu gets an idea. With Akari out of the way, he wills the wind to pick up debris. The wind picks up trash cans, trash, glass, and rocks. They all head generally forward at Rakushoda. With arms still up against, Rakushoda fights it. Finally, a big rock slams Rakushoda in the knee, and he falls down on one knee. By this point, Naitsuu and his friends have left the street. "Grr, I will get you Naitsuu Hachimonguu. For the purpose of peace." The group makes their way to the building Naitsuu was instructed to go to. He walks up to the door, knocks on it, and says clearly, "The glory is dead." They hear some rustling and the seemingly boarded door is opened like a regular one. A bearded man appears. "What do you want?" the man says. "I am Naitsuu Hachimonguu. We would like to speak to you." "Hachimonguu? Come in." The group enters and sits at a big table with the man. "So your name is Hachimonguu?" the man asks. "Yes, my last name is Hachimonguu," Naitsuu answers. "Your father was a great revolutionary against the empire in the early days of space colonization." "Do you know anything about my father?" "Not much, other than when he died, so did most of the resistance. That is, unil now." "What do you mean?" Naitsuu asks. "We have been trying to find someone to tell us how to gather the people against the empire." "Lucky for you, that part of the challenge has been completed." "What!?" The group stares around confused at each other. "Europa, the firs open rally. Europa has been the resistance's biggest supporter. They were the first to establish a militia over two months ago. They are ready for battle. The air around the resistance is think with tension." "Well, that's great!" Akari remarks. "If you reach Europa in time, and know a resistance officer who will be there, you should have no trouble finding out all you need to know, with your name and all." "Will you be there?" Aritsune asks. "No, I am one of the original resistance officers. I am too old to be involved with the physical fighting. Do you know any other officers?" Naitsuu speaks up, "yes, Souritshusha of the moon." "I know of him. He will be there. Find him, and he will take care of the rest." The group seems satisfied and ready to go. They get up to leave, but Naitsuu stays behind. "I have one more question," Naitsuu says. "Do you know anything about Rakushoda?" "All I have heard is that he is some loose cannon who upon the enactment of the peace ordinance by the emperor, went on a killing spree of anyone who fought. I think there was something involving him and your father's death." "There was, he killed him." "He did?" "And not too long ago he tried to kill me." "I'm sorry for you, kid. Good luck, though." "Thank you." Naitsuu bows to the man who only gives back a nod. The group leaves and heads back to their ship. Everyone climbs into their ships. "Europa, captain?" Aritsune asks. "Yeah." The computer speaks, "Course set. Europa, miscellaneous settlement." The ship lifts off quickly and darts into space.