Three Hundred And Sixty-Eight
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 ti they t the gaze of soone, they would nod a little, acknowledging the other person without displaying any intent to 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, galas, balls and other festivities. Natsumi is with as my bodyguard, of course. I can safely say that few are on this scale though.” I glanced towards 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 attracting. The first was that of admiration, and they seed to be from guests such as politicians and businessn. The second was curiosity and a hint of wariness, perhaps. I believe it’s largely other Chosen looking at her like that. Well, it makes sense…
“I will do my best, however, not to be seen as an embarrassnt 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 rich and 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 one to guide you in these matters. I cannot be your childhood or your university friend, nor am I a powerful Fae such as Shaeula or Hyacinth. But this… this I can do, and do it proudly.” Her hand in mine tightened its grip, and I once more felt great affection for this earnest girl.
“I’ll be in your care then.” I said, and beside Motoko, Natsumi looked at us, her expression warm.
“ too. I want to help out where I can as well.”
While we talked, we had put enough space between us and the dais, moving towards the back of the hall. As I looked around, my eyes t the woman in white, the strange nun, and for a mont her bright green eyes narrowed, before she smiled. It was a pretty smile, definitely, but I felt no allure from it, only a chill. Looking away hastily, Natsumi teased .
“Checking 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 can’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 coming over.” Natsumi hissed, adopting her position as bodyguard once more. Behind , Hyacinth was glaring at her, silver-violet eyes narrowed.
“Good afternoon, would you be free to speak to… hmm, perhaps you don’t speak a civilised tongue? That would be a great sha.” Her tone was lodious, her voice extrely easy on the ears, but her words were harsh.
Motoko and I exchanged a brief glance 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 cannot understand each other, but it seems you have wisely learned to overco such.” The woman said, her hair like spun gold and erald eyes drawing my attention. Well, She’s definitely stunning, but Shiro and Yukiko-san are about as close to perfect as you can get. Still, she’d be one of the most famous models worldwide if she was in that industry. Except for the eyes… her gaze was predatory, like a sharks’, and her smile did little to hide that.
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“No need to panic, hon.” The woman said as she approached us guilelessly. “I’m not going to hurt her or you. Nice reactions, right?” she said to her companion, who nodded, saying nothing, his eyes fixed on and Hyacinth, his expression wary. “You’re not an asset, though you move like one. The thing is…” she said, not having introduced herself, or even caring that she’d butted into our conversations. “… I’ve grown able to tell just how capable soone is by the little signs. Muscle twitches, rate of breathing, eye movents… it’s not flawless, the science is still in the early days, but it gets in the ballpark. I suppose you could be effect types, they tend to have slower reactions, weaker endurance and lesser strength than a physical type, but I don’t think so, woman’s intuition…” she confided.
“Step back. I’ll handle this.” I said, and everyone got behind , even the Pri Minister, who was ever alert to danger. Seeing that, the woman pouted.
“Really? I’m so hurt. After all, I put aside my research to co all this way and apologise to our allies in the United Kingdom formally.” She snorted. “Oh, where are my manners?” she slapped her forehead comically. “I’m Christina Bakker, researcher from Project Star Mirror. This here is Titan. That’s a codena of course, but he’s as strong as he sounds…” she paused, noticing Titan was glaring at , sweat on his brow.
“I see.” She looked at , grinning. “So, you’re a Physical Type too. Fascinating.”
“Really? I thought…” the Pri Minister began, before a glare from Fujiwara-san shut him up.
“Well, we were having a private conversation, so you’ll excuse if we are a bit wary.” I said.
“The whole point of this event is to mingle, right? I’m just being efficient. I’m still waiting for the Queen to appear, but I do have to speak to the Pri Minister as well. That’s you, right?” she said, and he nodded.
“Yes, I’m the British Pri 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 we apologise please!” she said without any preamble, her lack of diplomacy rather shocking. They sent her here to apologise? That doesn’t make much sense…
“So, want to share so data?” she grinned at , before looking at Hyacinth. “You’ve got an embodied spirit here too, it seems.” She tapped on her glasses, and I could see a little flicker of light, like a cara, 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 sohow lewd, though there was nothing erotic about it.
“I don’t think this is the ti or place for that.” I said, and Christina shrugged.
“Well, how about this? You two have a handshake. First one to let go loses. But try hard, okay? Wouldn’t want Titan here to crush your hand!”
I looked at Motoko who nodded, annoyed at the rudeness. She squeezed the hand of mine she was holding, and then traced sothing 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 returned the favour, though using only a fraction of my strength. No need for Body Enhancent or Might of the Furious Earth here. Titan grunted, increasing the pressure, and I judged his stats to be Grulgor class, 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 strongest!” He laughed loudly, pleased by his victory.
“Yeah, I have to say you have a ton of power.” I said, aning it. “I bet you could lift a car and throw it easily enough.”
“Is that your limit? Well, since you indulged …” she tapped her glasses. “When the spirits from this mirror world are incarnated, they are always too symtrical. 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. Hyacinth and Shaeula are incredibly regular. 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 . Motoko glared daggers at her, as did Natsumi. Ignoring them both, she expounded on her desires. “We are only just now bringing over suitable numbers of them from the mirror world to Arica, and nobody will let us experint on them. How can we get the data without so… sacrifices? If you let have her, I’ll give you whatever you want. Money, US citizenship, you na it. Anything!” she licked her lips.
Anything, huh? Before I could refuse, Motoko surprised by shoving Christina back. Titan looked ready to move, but he paused as my glare hit him, halting for a mont, and then the danger had passed. “I think Akio has no need of your shaless offer. He is here with , his fiancée, today. If he has desires, we will take care of them, as well as all his other needs!” Her face was red, but her glare was a match for any Eri could throw out.
“Akio, you say? Oh, this is a lucky day, it’s Mr Double Vermillion, the one that got away!”
“Double Vermillion?” I asked, and she laughed, 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 seed to know a lot. We’re still debating at Star Mirror whether to adopt the terminology those poor unfortunate rcenaries brought back from you. So, this must be Shaeula then?”
“Nooo, I am Hyacinth!” she shook her head, and I could feel the prickling of nature energy stirring, as Hyacinth was incredibly wary of this woman, even more so than Mary Stuart earlier. Not that I don’t get it, but this woman seems to be a civilian. She’s just… crazy.
“Marvellous? Another, it seems. I’m ever more interested 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 an, if it’s inexperience you like, I’m your woman. Never had ti for romance, only research. I hear a woman’s first ti is worth a lot more. Not sure why, it’s not like sex is a limited resource… I’ll let you bed , if you give the maid! Not a bad deal, and it even counts as an apology for the attempted abduction, no?”
“I don’t think so.” I laughed in her face. “Hyacinth is far more precious to than anything you can give .”
“Am I supposed to be offended right now, Titan?” she asked, and he shrugged. “Oh well, the offer’s open. Though I can’t guarantee I’ll still be fresh.” She grinned. “There’s a lot of interesting assets here today, and several like her.” she snorted, amused by her own humour. “Though oddly enough, you aren’t the first to turn down…”
Yeah, she’s an obvious landmine. Sure she’s got a nice face and 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 your language, Honoka-sama is still young.”
“You’re hardly old, girl.” she shot back. “As for love? I love research, finding answers. I’d experint on myself if I could, to unravel the mysteries around us, but sadly, unlike Titan here, I wasn’t chosen. So I’ve been making do. Criminals, volunteers… and… well, Adam did tell to be careful how I apologise, but… oh yeah. The US does not accept responsibility for the actions of a few… extre… operatives. Therefore we will be offering no further compensation, nor will we accept any bla for the conditions of the abducted citizens.” She was sweating as she tried to rember 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 bla us for their ntal states. We’ve given them the best dical care we can, but…”
“Speaking as the Pri Minister…” he began. “… I have to say, this is disgraceful. Black ops on allied soil is enough to shatter any alliance. To say that you bear no bla…”
“It is a polite fiction.” Fujiwara-san said, irritated. “Obviously you know we will not accept those terms.”
“Yes, but, with China acting up, you don’t want to burn bridges…” she said, and I jumped in.
“I believe it was Arica who set fire to the bridges first. No, we won’t just ignore all this. As for China, we handled it. You must be aware of that.”
“Yes, but hardly flawlessly. You suffered losses.” She shrugged.
“True. But you should be know we acquitted ourselves well. So cut the crap. I an, here you are, with just a single guard. Or are you the sacrificial lamb, to sate our anger? 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 for free. But torturing won’t do anything. I’m just a scientist and a humble ssenger. I do regret that it’s co to this. We probably should have stuck to abducting from our enemies. But that’s hard, you know?”
“You are insane.” Motoko declared, 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 of progress is paved on sacrifice. The Atomic Bomb tests, failed dicines and surgeries, harmful chemicals such as CFC’s, deforestation, industrialisation and global warming… if the sacrifice of a few can help the many, well, it’s simply numbers, right?”
“Cut the bluster.” The Pri Minister demanded. “There’s no way that we can accept a no harm, no foul solution to this.”
“Well, I tried. I knew it wouldn’t fly. Obviously I have the real offer in my pocket. But for now… I should take my leave.” She grinned at , and my furious face. “I’ve upset Mr Double Vermillion and his fiancée. If you want to co chat, feel free, but know that Titan here could break you like a twig. We’ve never seen a stronger strength type! You’re not his match, I can tell.” She tapped her glasses.
“Later, man.” Titan said politely, surprising Christina. As they headed back into 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 ? Was that Titan guy so strong? He beat you, right?” The Pri Minister enquired.
“Not at all.” “Nooo, have you got eyes?” “Akio played him.” “No, I believe not.” “My Ninjitsu knows the truth.” “He was faking weakness, a clever strategy.” Motoko, Hyacinth, Natsumi, Miyu, Michiru-san, and surprisingly Koga-san all denied that instantly.
“I see. Everyone here has a lot of faith in you.” The Pri Minister said cheerfully. “Well, he looked strong to .”
“He was. Just in terms of raw strength and likely toughness, he’s top tier, though I expect his overall speed lags. But I didn’t show all my cards, rest assured.”
“So, you’re not a physical type, are you?” he asked shrewdly, borrowing her terminology. “I know what you did for old Staveley’s wife. Good job on that, by the way, the man was a wreck, it was affecting the share price. Our economy is bad enough right now without that.”
“I think sharing such information is more than we can countenance for free.” Fujiwara-san said, and he shrugged.
“Fine. One thing though. How did you fool her? She says she can spot your strength by things that you shouldn’t be able to control.”
True, but… “You say that, but if you are dedicated enough, you can control automatic bodily reflexes.” Running one or two of my Split Thoughts to try and improve both them and the control of my body is sothing I do whenever I’m not doing anything else. Got to grind those skill Ranks after all…
“It can be done in martial arts, too.” Motoko agreed. “Not to the extent Akio can manage, but with proper breathing techniques, one can quell muscle tremors and more. Perfection in the Tsumura Arts is discipline, that even the uncontrollable can be tad, and turned to strength.”
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 handso features, I could surmise he was not human. He was surveying the crowd, a stern expression on his face, and seeing that, Hyacinth ducked behind , scowling.
The older man was carrying a wooden staff, and he beat the bottom of it on the stage three tis, the bangs echoing through the room, stopping all conversation, silence falling. As all eyes were upon them, the Queen spoke, her tone rich and even, voice carrying effortlessly despite her great age.
“Greetings all. I thank you for coming to this special gala once again. Especially those guests from far-off lands.” For a mont her gaze fell on our group, 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. Ti to be as convincing as possible. I’ll not let Tsukiko-san’s visions go unheeded…
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