Act XVI: Rallying Through More Misery
     "Attention incoming ship," a voice announces over the ship's speakers. "State name,
registration number, and business."
     Naitsuu speaks, "Bikutori-Kyou, 356-4927-361, we are here on our own confidential
business."
     "You are given a level 1 clearance. You may land on pad 2363."
     "Thank you."
     The ship lands on pad 3263. The crew exits. They start perusing the local bars. Unable to
find Souritshusha in the first couple of bars, they stop in a diner to get something to eat.
     Aritsune, Munenori, and Naitsuu sit on stools by the counter. Quintus and Akari sit alone
in a booth.
     The group orders their meals and eat. Aritsune talks with naitsuu.
     "So, where do we try next?" Aritsune asks.
     "I guess we just keep looking through the bars," Naitsuu answers.
     By their feet, Chuuwa starts to stir. He starts sniffing around the floor of the diner. He
scratches at the door to the diner. Naitsuu gets up and opens it for him. Naitsuu follows Chuuwa
outside of the diner as the dog continues to sniff. The rest of the group come out too. Chuuwa
leads the group two blocks over and there is a hotel there. The group follows Chuuwa in through
the doors. Chuuwa stops outside a big door.
     "Must be the conference room," Quintus suggests.
     Naitsuu looks at the conference schedule. The room seems to be booked all day for a
group only labeled as ‘R'.
     "How much do you want to bet that the R stands for resistance?" Aritsune asks.
     Naitsuu kneels next to Chuuwa. Naitsuu whispers into his ear, "Do you smell Souro?"
     Chuuwa barks and the group decides that they have found him.
     Naitsuu knocks on the door. A voice comes on over a small speaker next to the door.
     "What do you want? We are not to be disturbed."
     Naitsuu asks, "Would this R happen to mean resistance?"
     "Who is this?"
     "Naitsuu Hachimonguu and his crew."
     "Hachimonguu? Please wait momentarily."
     The group soon hears a buzz and Naitsuu opens the door. The group enters and there is a
huge table. Naitsuu immediately notices Souro and he notices Naitsuu.
     "You were those kids who came to me on the moon, right?" Souro asks.
     "Yes, we were," Naitsuu answers.
     "You did not tell me you are a Hachimonguu."
     "I did not know of my father's involvement until just recently."
     "What is it you want?"
     "I have felt it is my mission to bring down the empire," Naitsuu comments. "I wish to
know how I might help."
     A man at the head of the table stands up and says, "Well, I guess you can join our
brigades and fight with us."
     "Well, I hoped their was something more important."
     "Like what?" the man asks.
     "I am the son of Tenkei Hachimonguu."
     The people around the table murmur. Quintus steps forward and speaks, "Also, we have
control of the Ankh class ship."
     This causes more murmur.
     "We know little about you. Your father did not give much information of your
whereabouts fearing a leak and harm coming to your family."
     "Know that I am worthy of doing anything you need done," Naitsuu sternly says back.
     "Confident are we?" the man asks.
     "Confident enough to believe that I can do anything you people can."
     The crowd is startled by Naitsuu's indignance.
     "I think it is just your boastful youth speaking," Souro comments.
     "I wish not to be of trouble to you," Naitsuu continues. "I just wish to fulfill my destiny."
     "Well, I do not know how to trust your high assumptions."
     Naitsuu thinks to himself. He then speaks again, "Do any of you recognize the term,
Prince of the Kintei?"
     The crowd murmurs some more and the lead man speaks, "Yes, your father was one."
     "And so am I," Naitsuu proudly states.
     "How can you be sure?" the man asks.
     "I trust what my sensei says."
     "And your sensei is?"
     "Kenji of Earth."
     "Ah, I knew him," the man comments. "A trustworthy man he was. Well, we are having a
rally today. Prove to us there that you are all you say you are."
     "That I will."
     "The nineteenth settlement's square. That is where it starts. Be there later today."
     "We will."
     The group leaves the conference room. Everyone except Naitsuu is confused at what just
happened.
     "Can you explain to me what just happened?" Aritsune asks.
     "We are going to prove we are worthy of command at the rally today."
     "Okay."
     The group heads back to their ship and heads to settlement nineteen. The day passes
slowly as the group stays within the ship. Finally, when Naitsuu feels the time is right, the group
leaves the ship heading for the colony square.
     They reach the square and meet with some of the first resistance officers that arrive.
Naitsuu immediately befriends one young officer from Charon. They start walking towards the
main leaders together.
     "Hi, my name is Kourou."
     "Hi, I'm Naitsuu," Naitsuu says. "Where are you from?"
     "I'm the resistance officer from Charon."
     Naitsuu comments, "Aren't you a little young to be an officer."
     "Yeah, I am the youngest one," Kourou answers.
     "How old are you?"
     "Fifteen."
     "You're younger than I am."
     "What are you here for?" Kourou asks.
     "To fulfill my destiny," Naitsuu answers.
     "What are you? Soldier? Only the leaders get back here. I lead Charon's militia."
     "I am not sure where I am."
     "Well, how did you get back here then?" Kourou asks.
     "Because I am Naitsuu Hachimonguu, prince of the Kintei."
     Kourou stops walking and stares at Naitsuu.
     Kourou says, "You are a Hechimonguu? A prince of the Kintei?"
     "Yes, I am."
     "Well, I guess you do belong back here."
     "Yeah."
     They continue walking until they reach the main leaders. 
     "Rally starts in fifteen minutes. Notify the militia."
     Five minutes pass and the Europan militia arrives. A stage is set up and the lead man
walks up on it with a microphone set up.
     The man says to the militia, "This is simple. We are going to show the empire that we are
ready to turn them over. You are the first militia to fight with them. I am sure that with this big a
gathering, the guards will be arriving shortly. When they do, unleash your fury."
     The militia cheers. No more than ten minutes more pass before the militia sees a brigade
of the Imperial guards marching towards them, weapons drawn. The militia has their drawn,
ready to face them.
     Naitsuu and his friends are grouped together near the back of the militia. The group
watches as Naitsuu stands, eyes shut, concenrating hard. They have no clue what he is doing.
The guards reach the militia and engage them in battle.
     The guards rather easily cut through the first line. The militia starts to rage against the
guards and they appear deadlocked. The numbers on both sides decrease as blood spills
throughout the streets. It soon becomes apparent that the guards are gaining an edge.
     The leaders are looking to find an escape route, believing they are going to lose the first
battle. Just as hope seems lost for the militia. Naitsuu opens his eyes. The group watches as
Naitsuu slowly raises his arm as he has done multiple times before. The icy grounds begin to
shake. The wind picks up tossing debris around. Naitsuu's destructive power totally kicks in and
the tide turns to the militia's side. The militia is able to beat back the guards.
     The battle momentarily stops as each side regroups. The militia has lost it's leader in the
battle. The main leaders have already left, deciding that they are not ready. With no one to turn
to, the militia fears it must give up. The militia starts to panic. Quintus seizes the moment and
runs up onto the stage and grabs th microphone.
     Quintus says, "You are not going to give up now, are you? You still have a chance! Come
on! Let's get going!"
     The militia receives Quintus gratefully as Quintus draws out his sword and waves it in
the air and points it forwards to the regrouped guards. The militia runs forcefully towards the
guards. They begin slaughtering the guards. It now looks as if the militia will win. Naitsuu's
power is helping them greatly. 
     Most useful is the wind stirred up by Naitsuu. But suddenly the wind dies down. The
ground stops shaking, and the militia starts losing their advantage. Naitsuu's friends turn to look
at him.
     Naitsuu looks confused at why his power has stopped. Knowing that without Naitsuu's
help, they are going to lose, Quintus grabs the microphone again.
     Above the clamor of weapons, Quintus shouts, "Reatreat!"
     The militia splits into small groups running in all directions, the guards chasing after a
few. Quintus jumps off the stage and joins his group. Naitsuu and his friends sneak away
amongst the confusing chaos. They get back to their ship. They lift off and charge into space,
trying to find where the leaders left to.
     Escaping the guard ships, they find their way back to the original settlement of Europa.
They land there and find the hotel they were at before.
     Once there, they enter the conference room to find the leaders. Quintus marches up to the
table and slams a fist down on it.
     Quintus shouts at them, "Cowards! Why did you leave all those men there!?"
     "It became apparent that we are not ready yet," the lead man answers.
     "Do you think that stopped us!" Quintus continues on his argument. "Until Naitsuu
started losing his power, we were winning."
     The crowd stares at Naitsuu. Naitsuu looks greatly upset and confused about the loss of
his power.
     A man stands up and says to Naitsuu, "I am the resistance officer from Earth, Naitsuu-
sama. I worked closely with your father."
     Naitsuu looks at the man as he continues, "I have not been too involved in the resistance
since your father's death. I still had hopes of overthrowing the empire, though. You have been
my hope. I was very happy to see you arrive here earlier today. I saved you once, against some
worthless smugglers."
     Naitsuu thinks back to the night in his village when three men tried to kill him and his
friends and how some man he did not know stepped in and saved them that night.
     The man continues, "I also know why you have that power, and how you lost it," Naitsuu
looks at the man with question on his face. "That power comes from the shrine and your father.
Your family is tied to it. That destructive force is from the Hachimonguu shrine, the Shrine of
the God of War."
     Naitsuu already half knew that the shrine gave him his power. The man continues, "And
now a sad part. For both you and your friend, Akari."
     Naitsuu and Akari make eye contact with each other as the man announces new
information to them, "I received word not long ago, that some of the Imperial guards set fire to
your village."
     Naitsuu and Akari look very worried, but let the man continue, "There were no survivors.
The shrine was also destroyed, that is why you lost your power. You will not be able to get it
back."
     Naitsuu bows his head in anguish. He takes a slow glance and see Akari's eyes filling
with tears.
     The man says one more thing, "The fire was meant to be a message to you Naitsuu, to
stop. The emperor knows you are the one to bring him down. Just as he knew your father was."
     Naitsuu, still with head bowed says lightly to himself angrily, "My fault."
     Naitsuu storms out of the room. The group momentarily leaves too. Except Quintus gets
called back in by the leaders. Akari chooses to stay also.
     The lead man speaks, "Quintus, we believe you hold abilities favorable to a leader. We
have heard how it was you who kept the militia fighting and almost winning. We would like it if
you would lead the Europan militia once it regroups again. We have heard that their original
leader died in battle."
     Quintus answers, "Yes, he did. That is why I had to get the militia to regroup then."
     "Willl you accept the command?"
     "Ye-"
     Akari cuts Quintus off by tugging on his arm. Quintus turns and looks at her. Akari says
softly so only Quintus can hear, "No, do'nt take command."
     "Why?"
     "We will get separated. The militia's original leader died in just that battle, I don't want
that to happen to you also."
     "I am sorry, Akari," Quintus watches as tears roll down her cheeks. "I know you need no
more suffering after your friend's death and then your village, but this is what I need to do. I do
not think we will last."
     Akari lets her head drop a little.
     "Cheer up," Quintus says. "Stay with your friends, you will find what you need. Just be
strong, our mission will succeed."
     Akari looks at Quintus, "But is it worth the trouble."
     Standing face to face, Quintus and Akari kiss each other lightly. Quintus reaches behind
his neck and takes off the chain he wore around it. He then hugs Akari and whispers into her ear,
"Wear this, it is an isis."
     While holding Akari in his arms, Quintus puts the chain with the isis pendant around
Akari's neck and whispers again, "For you to remember me by."
     Quintus backs up and lets Akari go. He takes a moment to look her in the eyes one last
time before turning around to face the leaders.
     Quintus says to them, "I accept command of the Europan militia."
     As he says this, Akari turns and walks out of the door to join her friends back at the ship.