Act VII: Take Care

     Night falls and the time comes for the meeting. Akari and Miya arrive at the place.
     "Okay, I think we're all here," one man says.
     "What about Hitoshi?" someone asks.
     The first man answers, "He's in the hospital. He said that Akari is in charge now."
     The group turns to look at Akari who is slightly surprised, "Ah, well, let's get this thing
started."
     "Okay," the man begins. "This is our current situation. We have Earth and it's moon as
allies. The settlements past the Jupiter area are experiencing anti-government feelings. With a
little nudge, I believe they will join us. Our problem right lies with Mars. It and it's two moons
are setting up a blockade as best it can to keep anything from getting into or out of the inner
sector of planets where Earth and Venus are."
     "What are we going to do?" someone asks.
     Akari speaks up, "Easy. We get the planets on the other side to join us. This anti-imperial
sentiment is widespread. People respond to action being taken. Earth being an example of such
response to the Venusian revolt. They WILL join us. And then we attack on both fronts."
     "Exactly," the first man says. "Charon and Pluto and the surrounding area, has always
received little attention from the government because they are so far out. And the people there
are still upset that Tsujimoto killed their ‘prophet' Munenori who killed Aritsune who was the
one who killed their beloved leader Kourou Nouri. I know, it's a long chain, but it works in our
favor."
     "We just need to make that clear to everyone there," Akari begins.
     "And they need some symbol, some person to get behind," Miya speaks up.
     "Who is this, Akari?" the man asks.
     "This is Miya Adachi. She was with Munenori during his final days. She will be with me
in this final push."
     "Our stories could make us someone the people would be willing to get behind," Miya
suggests. "It's obvious why they would get behind Akari, but my story is fairly moving as well."
     "Well, we will use that to our advantage," the man says.
     "Then let's try and get the message across," Akari says. "We need some daring people to
be messengers who can get past the Martian barrier."
     Someone in the group speaks up, "We still have a good amount of firepower left from the
initial revolt. They could blast through a lightly guarded section and we can then make our way
to get the word out."
     "And once outside this inner sector, we can then set up communication," Akari adds.
     "And altogether we can launch a collective attack," the first man states. "That's our plan.
Let's get the message out and then deal with the specifics later."
     The group turns to Akari, "Okay, you know what you must do. Go do it."
     The group breaks up going their separate ways. Miya adds, "Good luck everyone."
     Akari and Miya leave to go back to their room.
     "You think they can do it?" Miya asks.
     "They are spirited individuals," Akari replies. "I have confidence in them."
     "I hope they do it."

     The days pass by and little word is heard from the multiple messengers who were sent
out. A third day passes when a faint signal appears over radio waves.
     "HQ, this is m9, come in...." the first words come out over the speakers.
     Akari and Miya who have been waiting desperately for a sign that all worked out snap to
attention as the operator replies.
     "m9, this is HQ, what is your position? Over."
     "Messenger Nine unit is on the settlement of Triton. Over."
     "How many units made it past the barrier. Over."
     "We know for sure that m2 through m4 as well as m6 have either been caught or
destroyed. The whereabouts of m1, m7, and m8 are unknown to us. And on the stationed on the
settlement of Oberon is m5. Over."
     "Two units are positively identified to have reached the outer colonies, correct? Over."
     "That is correct. Over."
     Akari goes over to the operator and tells him, "Ask them what the people's positions are
over there."
     "m9, what is the atmosphere of the populace on the outer settlements concerning our
cause? Over."
     "Out here it's the classic case of a bomb waiting to explode. The people have gathered
themselves and are ready on a moment's notice. Over."
     "Thank you. Over."
     Akari walks over to another person in the room and says, "Go tell the group leaders to get
ready. The resistance is about to erupt in the empire's face."
     Akari turns back to Miya, "Come on, Miya, we need to get ready."
     "How soon?" she questions.
     "As soon as possible," Akari answers. "We need to get Fumi and Ami to Hitoshi first,
and then join our crew as we get set for this fight."
     Akari turns to the operator, "Get a message out on a secure frequency to Earth and it's
moon to join us. Have them communicate to us when they will be ready."
     "Yes, ma'am."
     Akari and Miya leave the comm room and head back to the motel to get Fumi and Ami.
they walk into the room and as usual Yamaneko is there waiting for them. Akari grabs her pack.
     "We won't be needing much. Leave normal baggage here. And bring Ami's stuff with
you to Hitoshi. I need to bring Fumi and his stuff."
     "Okay."
     The girls pack what they need. Akari takes her bag and Fumi. Miya takes her bag and
leads Ami out. The two walk to a nearby building that Hitoshi is now living in. They walk in.
     "Hello, girls," the old man greets.
     "Hi Hitoshi," Akari responds. "It's time to drop the kids off."
     "Yes, kids, plural, I was told someone joined you who also needed my childcare."
     "Thank you so much for this," Miya says. "I don't want to be a bother."
     "Oh, its okay," Hitoshi replies. "Fumiaki is not that hard to take care of, and look at this
little girl..."
     Hitoshi attempts with pain to lean down to pat Ami on the head, "I'm sure this little one
will be no trouble at all."
     "She better not," Miya says and then talks to Ami. "You be good for this nice man, got
it?"
     "Got it, sister," Ami speaks up.
     "Well, we got to go," Akari says. "Thanks again, Hitoshi."
     "Once again, no problem. Goodbye."
     "Bye."
     "Goodbye."
     The two girls leave the young ones in the care of Hitoshi. Yamaneko follows the girls
out. Akari stops to look at him and says, "Maybe I should leave Yamaneko here to help protect
them."
     Miya states, "Hitoshi is an important figure. I am sure he will be protected, and the young
ones along with him."
     "I suppose you are right," Akari acknowledges.
     "Besides, Ami can take care of herself," Miya giggles. "Munenori taught her a thing or
two about fighting."
     "In that case, maybe I should leave him behind," Akari jokes.
     "Well, if there is any trouble, I am sure Fumi can take care of it," Miya says slyly. "I can
already judge he's got his mother's unyielding urge to protect life."
     Akari lightly comments, "No, that's not me that you see in him. That's his father."
     The two walk silently for a little while. Miya decides to break the silence.
     "I've heard a few stories about him, what was Naitsuu like?"
     "He was kinda the strong silent type," she says. "Except he didn't really look all that
physically domineering and he certainly could get loud sometimes in his anger."
     "Hmm."
     "His father, you may have heard of him somewhere in all this revolution talk, died when
Naitsuu was young trying to end the oppression of the empire."
     "Ah, so it runs in the family," Miya remarks.
     "Guess so," Akari replies. "It must have been a hard life for him."
     "And what about you?"
     "Huh?"
     "It does not seem to me that you have had an easy life either, am I right?" Miya asks.
     "I don't know," Akari responds. "I don't like to talk about my own problems."
     "Well then just tell me about your life."
     "Um, well, I grew up in the same village Naitsuu did. We were friends from a very young
age. Sometime when I was really young my father left us, that is, my mother and I. We were the
only family to each other, but the villagers more than made up for it."
     "Why was your family so small?" Miya asks.
     "I'm not precisely sure," Akari tells her. "Sometime, when my mother was still young,
there was some sort of fight in the already small family that broke it apart. Munenori seemed to
know more than I did at first. I gained some clues and went to Europa to talk to him about it.
But... well, you know."
     "I see."
     "Yeah, I guess everyone has a tough time every once in awhile."
     "Munenori and I heard a story, just before he died. By some old man in a small shop,"
Miya begins. "He talked about your family's past, or at least Munenori felt he did. By the time
the man's story had ended, and the fight that followed, Munenori had surrendered his weapons
to this possessive old man. He felt he... he felt..."
     "Felt what?" Akari questions.
     "He felt he would not need them anymore," Miya struggles to get out. "He said he was
ready to live a peaceful life. He was..."
     Miya stops walking and puts her chin to her chest., trying to choke back tears. Quietly
she says, "Why did we have to be robbed of life? I'm still here, but I just as well be dead."
     "Don't say that," Akari says softly, putting an arm around her. "You still have much to
live for."
     "I need to be there for Ami, but it's so hard," Miya sobs. "I wanted so badly just to be
with him. It was going to be the three of us. Him, Ami, and I. We were going to find you, and
your child that he once mentioned to me you were suppose to have. And we would live like a
family for awhile. And we'd just be together. I dreamt it so much. Both before and after his
death."
     "Dreams can be shattered," Akari says. "But you have to move on. Whether you like it or
not, even if you must live through sorrow, you must live for Ami. She has no one else."
     "Akari?"
     "Yes?"
     "Can you promise me something?"
     "I suppose so."
     "If something happens during the course of this mission, will you take care of Ami for
me? Make her a part of your family?"
     "Of course I will," Akari promises.
     "Thank you," Miya says. "Tell me, did you dream about what could be with Naitsuu?"
     The two begin walking once again as Akari thinks to herself.
     "I had my dreams too. But they are not worth talking about. Let's just say I have to live
for my Fumi. And all I need to know or dream about is being there for him."
     "Okay."
     The two finally reach headquarters again. The leaders of the groups await them.
     One speaks, "We are ready, the times are set, the ships are docked for our boarding."
     Akari speaks, "Good, then let us go."