Act V: The Revolution Lives Hitoshi, Akari, Fumi, and Yamaneko board a ship headed to Venus. "Here we go again," Hitoshi says mostly to himself as the ship's engines get started. "Another attempt to save the kingdom." Akari holds Hitoshi's hand to comfort the tired old man, "It's okay. I am sure we can do it right this time." Hitoshi looks at Akari who gives him a friendly smile as the ship takes off. "Where do we begin?" she asks. "Well, I know some places the general populace hangs around and the types who would spread the message that we're in town and we want revolt." "I'll leave the rallying up to you. You have the experience for it. But I want the final push to be in my control." "I'm sensing some vengeance in you," Hitoshi comments. "I'm just getting more into the spirit of it." "Sure." The ship travels through space and eventually arrives at Venus. They get off the ship and check into a nearby motel. "Do you need to rest?" Hitoshi asks Akari in the motel. "No, I want to get started on this now," she answers. "Are you leaving Fumiaki here?" "Yes, Yamaneko will look after him for me, won't you boy." Yamaneko sits next to where Fumi lies in his common guard posture. "Yup, he's a good animal," Hitoshi remarks patting him on the head. Hitoshi and Akari leave the room and enter into the night streets of Venus. "Let's try over there first," Hitoshi points to an old looking bar. "Yeah, bars always have the rough guys who would be willing to fight." "Well, yeah, but I just know that zealous anti-imperials always hang out at that particular bar." "Really?" Akari questions. "It doesn't look like a very rebellious hangout." "Oh yeah?" The two walk over. Hitoshi opens the door and peers in. He announces, "Long live the emperor!" Immediately everyone in the bar stands up and looks over at them menacingly. Hitoshi turns towards the scared Akari with a smile on his face. "These are our people," he happily says. A man walks over, "Who are you calling ‘your people'?" "All of you," Hitoshi states. "Don't you know who we are?" The man spits tobacco out on the floor and replies, "No." "That's Hitoshi!" some random person in the bar calls out. Suddenly everyone in the bar recognizes him. A collective cheer rises up, "Hitoshi!" The evil face of the man disappears, "Welcome back, Hitoshi! What are you doing shouting such slanderous things like that at us?" "I just wanted to prove to my friend here that this was the place to look for people who are against the empire," he responds. "And who is your friend?" the man asks and the entire bar listens intently to Hitoshi's every word. "Some of you may know who she is," he mentions. "She is Akari Jemu." "Yeah, I know her," the man says. He addresses her directly, "You were part of the Hachimonguu group, you were going to marry Naitsuu, weren't you?" Akari timidly replies, "Ah, yes, I was going to." "I'm sorry about what has happened to all your friends over the recent major events," the man tells her. "Thank you for your thoughts, but we have new matters to discuss." "That's right," Hitoshi cuts in. "I need all you fine people to spread the message. Hitoshi is back, and with Akari Jemu. We are going for it once again and we need to get organized. I know you people never liked any of the governments that have appeared in recent days, but with the Kano group taking over here I am sure everyone is on edge." "That they are," the man says. "We will help get your word across. In fact, a group of us were already trying to force the Kano group of this planet. We have been wanting to turn Venus into our own nation." "That's would be a good first step." "Um, now that you are here," that man begins. "I already the others would want it. Would you lead us in this battle to free ourselves? For your own home colony?" Hitoshi looks at Akari, "It's all relating to our overall goal. And I would do anything to release this planet I love from the clutches of oppression. I'll do it." "Great!" The bar goes up in cheers once again, "Hitoshi! Hitoshi! Hitoshi and Akari!" "Could you stay here to help us with some planning? We are meeting in the back room here tonight," the man asks Hitoshi. "Um... " he turns to see Akari's response. "I will go back to the motel to be with Fumi during the night. You stay here, Hitoshi, and make use of your knowledge." "Will you be okay?" Hitoshi asks her. "Of course I will." "Aw, no young lady should walk through these streets unescorted," the man says concerned. "It's okay," Akari says reaching over her shoulder into her pack she always carries with her these days, pulling out her weapon. "I can handle myself." The men who see her in the bar laugh a little and let her go out on her own. She walks back to the motel and up to her room. Fumi sleeps and Yamaneko remains awake on his duty. "Okay, Yamaneko," Akari greets. "I am back." Akari sets her pack down and lies down on her bed next to Fmui as Yamaneko curls up on the floor next to them. "Good night." Akari wakes with the morning sun. Yamaneko still lies sleeping and Fumi is awake crawling around on the floor. "I think I'll see what Hitoshi is up to, keep watch Yamaneko." The cat begins to stir and yawns in acknowledgment as Akari puts her pack on. She walks out the door. She heads out to the old bar they were at the previous night. She walks in and a tired out Hitoshi sits at the bar with a glass of water. "Rough night?" she asks him. He startles at her voice, "Aww, no. Just long. Lots of planning." "Any action going to be taken soon?" "Actually, yes, very soon, as in tonight." "That soon?" she questions. "Yes, they had most of it set and just needed an experienced opinion on all of it which is what I offered." "I see." "They have some powerful friends. And when I say powerful I don't mean politics, but friends with lots of firepower. Tonight they launch an attack on various points of Kano authority." "They spreading the word of the new upheaval?" "Oh I'm sure they will. I bet you will see responses spreading through the solar system within the next day or so." "How do you think it will be received?" Akari asks. "Well, obviously not well by the government." "I already knew that." "Yeah, but it seems that there are other places not liking Tsujimoto's rule. Earth and the moon settlement are against the empire, as they always have been against oppressive governments. And the colonies past Europa are against as well. The people out there were supporters of Munenori. As I found out, Aritsune killed her husband, Kourou, whom those people loved greatly as a leader. And as you know Munenori killed Aritsune, so the people liked him as well. Plus he had his whole ordeal being the so-called ‘prophet'. And of course Tsujimoto killed Munenori, so they have been against him all along." "Sounds like chaos is approaching the government on all sides," Akari comments. "That it is," Hitoshi responds. Akari leads Hitoshi to the motel room so that he may rest before the big event later that night. Hitoshi leaves Akari behind who stays with Fumi and Yamaneko. "I'll hopefully see you tomorrow," he says as he leaves. "Good luck," Akari tells him. As Hitoshi walks out of the motel, he thinks to himself, I've seen so many revolutions in my time. I hope, for the sake of those who deserve better, that this one brings peace. But peace can only be brought through war. "Those who deserve better," he quietly whispers to himself as he thinks about Akari, Fumi, and all the youth that has been harmed in one way or another from all the fighting. Outside the motel, Hitoshi is met by a small group of the other leaders in the revolt. "Let's do this," the same man from the bar says. "For the greater good, for the future, and as my years near their end, for the youthful generation." The group departs for a couple nearby ships. They take off and take orbit around Venus. Just past the atmosphere of the planet, a large group of strong ships await orders. Hitoshi takes the helm of his lead ship and announces into the communication system, "We are all ready to do this again. I will see you all, in one way or another, when it is all over. Good luck... now attack!" The engines of the ships erupt into action as the large group makes it's way into Venus aimed towards the various centers of Kano group authority. The ships rip through the clouds of the atmosphere. The large group divides into smaller ones as they get closer to the planet. Fighting begins. The ships use their guns as weapons stationed on the ground fight back. Hitoshi's ship goes charging forward towards a major establishment, firing everything it has. The ship veers away just before colliding. "Sir, it is going to take more than one round of fire to take these people out," a woman by a computer monitor tells Hitoshi. "Then circle around and attack again," Hitoshi orders. "Yes, sir," the woman responds. "But do note that it may not take more than a few hits for us to go down." "That's a chance we all took right from the beginning," Hitoshi tells her. "Some of us have undoubtedly already gone down. Be happy we're still here and complete the mission." "Yes, sir." The ship soars around heading back towards the establishment. The ship launches a missile that takes the leg of a tower that housed a large gun that was fighting them. "There goes one big threat," Hitoshi cheers. The tower comes crashing down, kicking up dirt into the air. The ship continues flying and goes blasting through the dust cloud firing away at a group of officers fighting them outside a building. A couple are taken out by the ship's guns. The ship turns up into the sky to avoid collision with the building. It makes a large arc in the sky to turn around. During it's turn it is finally hit critically. A shot strikes the main engine and it bursts in an explosion. The crew of the ship struggles to keep it in the air. "There is no hope left for this ship," Hitoshi calls out and then orders. "Steer it into that large building. We fight until the end." With speed picking up, the ship plows into the important center of Kano control. Flames break out brightly against the dark sky. The building begins to crumble under the extreme force of the crash. Soon it buckles, creating a cloud of dirt and debris that stays in the air for hours afterwards.