PRELUDE Blackness. IN THE YEAR 2937 Establishing Shot: The vastness of space, looking towards the Galactic Core. Slowly, our view rotates to take in a section of the Sol System's Asteroid Belt. It is one of the most densely occupied regions of the system, surpassed only by the so-called ARM (an obsolete term referring to the space between Earth and its moon, inclusively) in population. MATTISE DALCASSIO (V.O.) Log entry 2 of the Salvage Ship Alita; June 23, 2937. W.O. Matisse DalCassio recording. BEAT My life sucks. Ever since they kicked me off Earth, it's been one lousy thing after another. Our view slowly encompasses the Salvage Ship Alita, an ugly thing that looks like one of the work pods from the film "2001" grafted onto the body of a rocket. Its gripper arms dangle unused. MATTISE DALCASSIO (V.O.) It's not right! Why should I be expelled from Earth, just because I think that bitch Serenity should be taken out of office, by force if necessary? Just because the group of dissidents I belonged to just happened to be being run by an old robot? BEAT Just because I planted a few bombs? I mean, no one *important* died. Hell, those sorry twerps hadn't contributed to the Realm's well-being since maturity! I removed a drain on our resources! Those ungrateful sods should be enlightened by my actions! SHOUTING I SHOULDA GOT OFF! PAUSES. POUTINGLY Instead, I get exiled to the Asteroids for the rest of my natural life. And these morons out here have *no* artistic sensibility whatsoever! Why else should I, one of the greatest authors of my generation, be reduced to working as a pilot on a crappy salvage ship like this? Cut to the inside of the cockpit of the Alita. We see the rear of DALCASSIO's helmeted head (he is wearing a space suit). A red light begins to flash on the control panel. MATISSE DALCASSIO Huh? Oh! Computer, overwrite log entry, beginning at date. Have encountered drifting ship. LOW WHISTLE Wow! It's a big one! I wonder why Space Command let it get this far in? Ah, bunch of beareaucrats ... well, their loss is our gain. Cut to exterior shot of the Alita approaching the drifting ship. The Alita matches velocities, before extending its waldoes to grip the sides of the ship. This accomplished, the Alita's retrorockets fire, slowing both ships down to a relative stop. MATISSE DALCASSIO (V.O.) The name on the ship is ... well, it sounds familiar, but I can't place it. BEAT Scanners show no life signs ... but there's an odd power flux showing. I think I'd better go in and check. A door opens up on the side of the Alita, and a metal ladder descends to the drifting ship. DALCASSIO climbs down, and works his way across the ship to an airlock. This opens after a few seconds of work, with only a little escaping air. DALCASSIO enters. Series of shots of DALCASSIO exploring the ship. As the scanners indicated, it's an empty ship. The air quality is more or less nil, and it seems that any of the furnishings of the ship's rather sumptuous living quarters have disintegrated due to old age. DALCASSIO's search finally leads him to the ship's dead reactor chamber. Therein are two coffin-like constructions, connected to a large battery. There are opaque windows on top of each coffin, and metal scribed writing beneath each window. DALCASSIO inspects the writing on one of the "coffins". He reacts as if greatly shocked. MATISSE DALCASSIO No WAY. He inspects the other "coffin." MATISSE DALCASSIO Oh. MY. GOD! Cut to exterior shots of DALCASSIO rapidly exiting the ship, making his way to the ladder, and climbing up to the Alita. Cut to DALCASSIO climbing into the command chair, and flipping on a switch. MATISSE DALCASSIO Control? This is the Alita. I've made an extremely important discovery, and I think you'd better get the chief on the line! Cut to an exterior shot of a larger vessel now accompanying Alita and the drifting ship. The airlock of the drifter has been replaced. Cut to the reactor chamber, now brightly lit, and occupied by the CHIEF, two large BODYGUARDS standing on either side of DALCASSIO, and a SCIENTIST who is occupied with some diagnostic computer, examining one of the "coffins". The CHIEF is a cold-featured man, who doesn't seem to be listening too carefully to DALCASSIO's speech. MATTISE DALCASSIO BABBLING Anyway, I get on board the ship, and I find these things. I can remember learning about some sort of experiment that the Galactic Union -- no, sorry, the United Galactica, always get those two mixed up -- that they tried an experiment using transmat tech as a life preserving method. The idea was that in an emergency, the crew would get put in a transmat tube and be converted into an energy pattern, to be reassembled when they were rescued. Of course, you ran the risk of something causing an interrupt in the power supply to the matrix, or the juice just plain running out ... But that didn't happen, you can see for yourself that the battery is still running. But I'm figuring, no way are they gonna be intact, that experiment was in the late 2140s, but I might as well get the names, for history if nothing else, and boom. It all comes together. Their names, the dates, the ship's name ... it's THEM. The SCIENTIST stands up, and turns to speak to the chief. SCIENTIST I've run every test I can imagine. These two are still stable, and can be revived whenever you're ready. The CHIEF nods, and turns to look at DALCASSIO. CHIEF Mr. DalCassio, you're quite right, this is a momentous discovery. I would like to congratulate you personally. DALCASSIO bows, grinning widely. CHIEF Unfortunately, we can't allow you to live with the knowledge that you have. TO THE BODYGUARDS Toss him out the airlock. Each BODYGUARD grabs one of the stunned DALCASSIO's arms, and bodily carries him out of the room. Cut to the exterior of the airlock. The door opens for a moment, and DALCASSIO shoots out, obviously trying to hold his breath. This is a terrible mistake to make in space -- the drop in external pressure causes a scene that would be distasteful to describe. Cut to the reactor chamber. The CHIEF is looking at the coffins, and smiling evilly. CHIEF This is incredible. After those idiots on Earth screw things up, we have the perfect weapon to correct their mistake! SCIENTIST I wouldn't categorize them as a weapon ... CHIEF Why not? After all, when we point them at Neo-Queen Serenity, what happens won't be ... THEIR fault, will it? Cut to shots of the name plates on the coffins. One reads "KEI". The other reads "YURI". Cut to an exterior shot of the space ship ... the name on its side is "LOVELY ANGEL". An Inevitable Outcome Feature Written and Directed by C. Richard Davies TOGETHER AGAIN 2937 Chapter Based on the works of Naoko Takeuchi, Rumiko Takahashi, Suzuki Toshimichi, Haruka Takachiho, Hiroki Hayashi, Yuuki Masami, and various interpretations therof. Dedicated to Gryphon, MegaZone, and ReRob. ACT ONE Establishing shot: A panoramic view of Crystal Tokyo from a great height. The city combines the architecture of a city of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries with a unique crystalline style. We see a booted foot tapping against a carpeted floor. Our view moves up the red synth-leather pants to a red synthleather jacket, until we reach the head of PRISCILLA S. ASAGIRI. She is staring at a window, and we can only see her face in a reflection. Her expression is irritated. Suddenly she flushes, and we hear the tapping noise stop. PRISS What the heck is taking her so ... Our view changes to include a wider take of the waiting room, including the couch opposite the large picture window in front of which PRISS is standing, on which RAYE (aka LADY MARS), dressed in a Roman style toga with various pieces of red jewelry, is sitting. Even the eyepatch over her left eye is red-tinted. RAYE Serenity's probably just making sure that everything's in order with the *last* person that she spoke with -- determining the feasibility of his petition, etcetera ... PRISS turns to look at her. PRISS What I don't get is, why do I have to go through all this *public* crap so I can do *secret* work for you? RAYE SIGH I *thought* we'd gone over this before. You *won't* be working for me, you'll be working for Crystal Tokyo ... but I will definitely try to get the most work out of you. There aren't many who have *half* your experience in piloting human-scale mecha ... but anyway, Serenity has to approve ... PRISS turns to look out the window again. PRISS FLATLY I've only got something like three years experience, Raye. RAYE Consciously, yes. But unconsciously you've got nearly *TEN*. All we need is unlock your memories -- PRISS *Which* were locked up without my permission. RAYE lets out a deep sigh. We close in on her eye. MUSIC VIDEO FLASHBACK #1 As a slow, gentle instrumental (piano and saxophone) version of "Konya wa Hurricane" plays, we see snippets of the life of Priscilla S. Asagiri, in sepiatone. Being run off the road by a car, out of which steps Sylia, smiling. Looking up at her with distrust. ("Asu e Touchdown") Suiting up in a blue hardsuit. ("Blow Up") Standing on top of a building with her visor open to a rising sun with the other Knight Sabres -- Linna, Nene, and Sylia. ("Red Eyes"). Tapping Nene's hardsuit on the shoulder, seeing it fall over and reacting to the horrific sight of Nene's crushed face. Seeing the Sailor Soldiers appear to destroy a group of boomers. Lifting her railgun arm to ward off Sailor Jupiter when she comes too close. Sailor Jupiter breaking her arms with a cold expression. Screaming. Lying down in a tube that slowly fills with cryogenic fluid, her expression all but dead. Floating in suspended animation. Awakening violently, and having to be wrestled down and sedated. Working at a dull, pointless task. Attending a meeting that suddenly turns violent when it is revealed that Raye is present incognito. Helping Mars to escape into the sewers, then turning a stolen gun on her, which Mars takes away easily. Breaking down in tears suddenly. Mars removing a device from her back, that produces a hologram of Neo-Queen Serenity which restores her memories of some of these events in a flash. Looking as hopeless as she had when she went into suspended animation. Firing the gun at an approaching boomer. Leaping at it as it prepares to fire its particle beam, shoving the gun down the emitter, and leaping back as it explodes, being caught in the explosion. Looking up at a statue of the Knight Sabres standing in the position that we had seen them in earlier. Watching Raye walk away in the rain, and calling out to her. Raye turns, and smiles. Priss hurries to catch up to her. ("Best of All The Years") END MUSIC VIDEO FLASHBACK #1 We pull back from RAYE's eye, and see that there is a look of fondness on her face. She shakes her head RAYE Priss, all I can do is promise that as soon as we have you signed up, I'll see to it that you're examined by the best neuropsitechs that we've got. It shouldn't be too hard to recover your memories ... I mean, after all, you *have* them, they're just locked up. It could be much worse, there are ways to permanently burn memories out of a mind ... PRISS HEAVY SARCASM Great ... RAYE is forming a reply to that as the doors to the throne room open, and a short woman with black hair and red highlights (IZUMI NOA II) wearing a Crystal Tokyo Police uniform walks out, muttering to herself with a furious expression. She looks up at Raye suddenly, and gasps. NOA Lady Mars, I need to speak with you at once! RAYE BLINKS Ah ... you're ... Chief Izumi, correct? Of the Patrol Labor Brigade? NOA Yes! Well, Chief Izumi the Second, if you want to get technical, but in any case, your Excellency, I need to speak with you right away! RAYE Unfortunately, I have to speak with her Majesty right now, but this probably shouldn't take much more than a few minutes ... can whatever it is wait that long? PRISS stands back and watches as NOA visibly gets herself under control. NOA I ... yes, I guess so. But it really is urgent! RAYE I won't be very long. With a nod of her head, RAYE gestures for PRISS to follow her into the throne room. NOA gives PRISS a strange look as she walks past. It is almost as though she recognizes her, but not quite. The Throne Room of NEO-QUEEN SERENITY, Savior of the Earth, Defender of Humanity, and Soldier of the Light, is fairly small as such structures go. It is a hexagon, with the throne itself at the center, and a single path leading to the main entrance. The walls are polished mirrors, except for the one with the door, which is a gleaming silver. SERENITY is sitting on her shining throne polishing off a dish of unrecognizable pasta when we see her. She looks up while chewing, swallows, and smiles broadly. SERENITY We meet once more, Ms. Asagiri. I would offer to share my lunch with you, but there is not much left, as you can see ... RAYE SARCASTIC Wow, lunch was served ten minutes ago, and there's still some left? You're improving ... SERENITY raises her eyebrows. SERENITY BORED TONE Wah. Raye, you are always so mean to me. And you set a terrible example for Ms. Asagiri in doing so ... after all, she cannot expect to insult me and escape the headsman's axe, as you do ... PRISS Say what? Serenity smiles even more broadly. SERENITY In any case, Mars, you should be aware that Chief Izumi was kind enough to share my chuz'engiatti, despite being rather anxious. I would ask that you please at least give what she has to say to you a fair hearing. RAYE NODS Right. SERENITY Thus, we should get on with it. SERENITY sets the plate down beside the throne, stands up, and gestures. Pink light fills the room, concentrating around Serenity's outstretched hand and her eyes. PRISS is visibly unnerved by this, but not as much as you might think -- or at least, she does a good job of hiding it. PRISS So, do I kneel or what? SERENITY Only if you so desire. WHISPERED Repeat after me: "I ..." PRISS I, Priscilla Serena Asagiri ... SERENITY BLINKS THEN CONTINUES TO WHISPER "... do swear to uphold and defend the Realm of the Crystal Kingdom of Earth from threats within and without, advised by those whom the people of the Realm have chosen as their governance, and by their sworn deputies." PRISS repeats the words, and the pink light glows even more brightly with every passing second. SERENITY "This I swear by ..." PRISS Uh ... this I swear by ...THINKS by ... myself. SERENITY's mouth quirks up in a half-smile. SERENITY And I, Serenity, do swear to never advise you to act contrary to the laws of the Realm of Crystal Tokyo, to never advise you to act contrary to your safety without your granted permission, and to never advise you to do what you will not do. This I swear by the One whose Name is at the Heart of Time. SERENITY gently touches PRISS' forehead, and the pink light pulses becoming blindingly bright, overwhelming all else. VOICE #1 (male) BE THOU TRUE, PALLADIN OF CRYSTAL TOKYO. The light level returns to normal. PRISS blinks repeatedly, while Serenity settles back into her throne with a pleased sigh. SERENITY Now, Mars, I have certain things to discuss with Ms. Asagiri, and Chief Izumi is waiting on you. RAYE NODS Right. Priss, come talk with me when she's done bending your ear, okay? PRISS nods with a certain degree of uncertainty in her expression. RAYE walks out of the throne room, and out the door. PRISS turns to look at SERENITY. PRISS Palladin? SERENITY That is the term that is used for those who have sworn what you have sworn. PRISS seems a bit annoyed by this. PRISS So now I'm supposed to go about smiting the unholy forces of darkness? SERENITY BLINKS No, actually, that is *my* task. The term means "great warrior". I do not think that you are humble enough to attempt to deny that describes you? PRISS Uh ... SERENITY Rest assured, Ms. Asagiri, you have not been given any supernatural powers by this oathswearing. It is merely a ceremony, that is all. BEAT Unless you violate your oath, but I don't believe you'll do that. PRISS So now what? SERENITY Now you are free to do whatever you so desire, until such time I or one of my allies calls upon you for your services. Perhaps Lady Mars will have need of you in the matter that she is discussing now with Chief Izumi ... or perhaps not. Is there anything that I can do for you? PRISS Can you fix my memories? SERENITY looks very sad, and hesitates for a long while before answering. SERENITY I cannot, personally. I must confess a thing, Ms. Asagiri. We erred grievously when we had your memories edited in the way that we did ... PRISS No shit? SERENITY Please, Ms. Asagiri, hear me out *before* you condemn me. BEAT You realize, of course, that even before your memories were interfered with, you suffered from a form of post-traumatic amnesia, arising from the shock of the Great Kanto Earthquake? PRISS looks distinctly uncomfortable. PRISS Yeah, so? A lot of bad stuff went down that day ... SERENITY I know, Ms. Asagiri. I was there. BEAT Unfortunately, the techniques that we used to seal away many of your memories seem to have paralleled the damage that -- PRISS This is leading up to telling me that you don't have a clue as to how to get my memories back, isn't it? SERENITY appears deeply apologetic and embarrassed. PRISS Terrific. Ter-rif-ic. SERENITY It is not *that* severe ... after all you are capable of remembering some ... PRISS VIOLENTLY I can remember a really fucking *lousy* hour in 2041, and that's it! You morons cost me seven years! SERENITY I am sorry, Ms. Asagiri. PRISS Don't say you're bloody sorry, *fix* *it*! SERENITY SIGHS We will certainly try to do so. I encourage you to make an appointment with Lady Mercury to have her give you a more expert diagnosis. PRISS flinches at this. PRISS SOTTO VOCE Great, she hates my guts. SERENITY Actually, she does not. What gave you that impression? PRISS Well, she insisted that I not be allowed within ... SERENITY Oh, that incident. I would ask that you remember that you were, although unaware of it, embarked on a covert operation on our behalf -- and that much of the deniability of that operation rested on the fact that you had not received any instructions from any of the `Royal Circle', as a psychic probe would have revealed. But had Lady Mercury chanced to meet you, it could have been argued that she activated deeply buried psychic programming which wouldn't have shown up on a normal scan. Therefore, she avoided that possibility. PRISS Uh. I guess that makes sense ... sort of. So she's not angry about the time that I broke her nose? SERENITY Not any more. At the time she desired to have you ... ahem, in any case, Lady Mercury is not the sort of person to hold grudges. PRISS LONG PAUSE Right. I ... guess I'll go see her first chance I get. SERENITY Well, then, if there isn't anything else you would care to talk about -- PRISS Nope. Nothing. SERENITY stares at her, blinking several times. Finally she shrugs. SERENITY Then permit me to bid you good day. PRISS gives a brusque wave, and heads off towards the doors. SERENITY watches her go, and we hear the doors close. SERENITY Ah, Raye. You will not have an easy time with that one. SMILES But when have you ever wanted an easy job? Cut to PRISS closing the door behind her, and pausing for a moment, to look out at the view of Crystal Tokyo. LADY JUPITER (off) What are you doing here? PRISS turns rapidly, to look at LADY JUPITER, who is wearing a toga with green jewelry. She gazes at PRISS with a flat, hostile expression. PRISS I was in a meeting with the Queen. JUPITER says nothing, stares. PRISS She gave me permission to be one of her agents. JUPITER turns from her, and heads towards the doors to the throne room. PRISS Uh ... listen. I'm sorry that I hit your friend. JUPITER pauses, but does not look back. PRISS I ... overreacted a little. I'll go apologize to her. JUPITER speaks without looking back at PRISS JUPITER It is hard, however, to apologize to the dead. PRISS reacts as though she's been slapped. PRISS I ... what? JUPITER Where will you be in the moment of crisis, Priscilla Asagiri? When we need you, as others have needed you, will you fold on us, as you did on them? PRISS' jaw drops. PRISS W-where the fuck do you get off ... No. Screw this, I don't have to stand here and take this shit from you! PRISS turns and heads for the doors leading out of the waiting room. Her hand is on the doorknob. JUPITER Coward. PRISS' hand tightens on the doorknob. We see her face. She is furious, her eyes are almost glowing red. She speaks without looking at JUPITER. PRISS If I didn't know it'd be the most lopsided fight since ... JUPITER Whenever you're ready, Priscilla Asagiri. I am at your immediate disposal. JUPITER opens the doors to the throne room, and goes in, shutting (not slamming) them behind her. PRISS stands where she is for a second, almost quaking with rage. She finally opens the door, steps through, and slams it behind her. The slam reverberates. Cut to a shot of KEI's face. Her eyes are closed, and she is apparently sleeping peacefully. Suddenly, her eyes flash open, and she looks around without moving her head. KEI WHISPER Yuri? BEAT Yuri? YURI (O.S.) HALF ASLEEP 'N a minute. KEI turns her head to look at YURI, who is sleeping with a giddy smile. KEI's face expresses her extreme disgust and exasperation with her partner. She lifts her head to look around, and we see that both of them are lying down on metal beds in a circular, undecorated room. They are dressed in their standard uniforms, although unarmed. KEI MOCK TERROR Eek! Run, Yuri, it's the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal! I'll try and hold it off! YURI wakes up fully, and lets out a shrill shriek. YURI Yaaagh! Beast? Where? Wh- BEAT Kei, I'm going to get you for that. KEI You're gonna have to get in line after whoever's got hold of us. YURI takes in their surroundings. YURI Doesn't look like what I'd have thought a Planet Pirate's brig would look like ... KEI Uh uh. If the Planet Pirates had been able to catch up to us after the warp drive went out of control like that, they'd have blown us to atoms. YURI Maybe they decided to hold us for a big ransom from the 3WA. YURI and KEI share a long look. YURI & KEI (sim.) Yeah, right. The door slides open, suddenly. KEI and YURI assume fighting stances, as the CHIEF steps in. CHIEF Ah, good! You're awake. KEI Mister, you've got ten seconds to tell us what's going on. CHIEF My goodness. The stories don't do you justice. You *are* very intimidating ... KEI FLAT Flattery will ... CHIEF But I assure you that I don't mean you any harm. Could I interest you in some refreshment? Cut to a table with several exotic looking dishes set on it. KEI and YURI watch as the CHIEF demonstrates that none of the dishes are poisoned. Then they dig in. CHIEF I take it that you *are* in fact, Kei and Yuri, the famous `Lovely Angels'? YURI SWALLOWS That's us. SMILES Thank you for not using that other name. And who are you? CHIEF My name is ... not really important at the moment. I run the salvage company that chanced upon your vessel as it drifted through space. We brought you out of timefreeze a few hours ago, but you seemed to be comatose as a result of your lengthy ... disjunction. YURI Lengthy? Just how lengthy are we talking, here? CHIEF History records that the Lovely Angel was reported as lost with all hands, on or shortly before May 12, 2147. BEAT That was nearly eight hundred years ago. YURI and KEI react to this as one might expect. YURI Eight ... *HUNDRED*? CHIEF NODS The accounts that we have are confusing. It appears that a massive operation was mounted against the so-called Planet Pirates some months later, and when their leader was captured, he boasted of `having blown the ...' uh, here he used that rather uncomplimentary nickname -- `out of space' ... but he subsequently elaborated his claims to describe various lewd and obscene sexual acts that he had performed on both of you ... I apologize ... YURI Eight ... *HUNDRED*? The CHIEF appears a bit put out that they are both still reacting to that, and not to his other comments. CHIEF Yes. Eight hundred years. It is the year 2937. And I bid you welcome to the accursed, tyrant governed world of ... Earth. There is a long silence. YURI Eight ... *HUNDRED*? Cut to a hallway. A young woman with bright red hair tied in a long French braid down her back and gunmetal gray glasses (SHEILA TENKAI) is walking down a crystal hallway, leafing through a thick pile of papers. She is dressed in casual clothes -- a sweatshirt (sleeves rolled up to her elbow) and jeans. SHEILA Dammit, where is that stupid thing ... Treaty of Hong Kong, Pact of the Seven Kingdoms ... argh. Cut to PRISS walking through the hallway, her face still angry. Suddenly, she slows down, takes a look at her surroundings, and comes to a complete stop. PRISS Where the hell am I? SHEILA (o.s.) ... personal letter from the Two Princesses of Roshtaria to the Great Queen of Tokyo ... Roshtaria? Is that some pre-Union country? Never mind ... SHEILA rounds a corner into PRISS line of sight, and walks past her without noticing her. PRISS Uh ... 'scuse me. SHEILA pauses, and turns to look at PRISS. Her eyes bulge. Her arms loosen, and she is in danger of dropping her papers. PRISS, who by her expression has seen this sort of hero worship several times already, sighs. PRISS Yeah, I'm her. Don't ask for an autograph, it pisses me off when people do that. Listen, could you point me in the direction of the Royal Infirmary, or wherever Lady Mercury would be found? SHEILA works her mouth silently for a few moments, then points down the direction she came. SHEILA Uh ... g-go down this corridor, and take a right at the third four way junction. You can't miss it. PRISS Thanks. PRISS heads off. SHEILA follows her with her eyes. SHEILA Hoooooo. Cut to PRISS walking briskly down the corridor. Suddenly, she pauses and looks back the way she came. PRISS Now where the hell have I seen her before ... PRISS shakes her head, and keeps going. Cut to a laboratory, a very advanced laboratory, with every sort of instrument imaginable, and a few that aren't. We see LADY MERCURY bent over a microscope. She is wearing a lab coat and has a pair of glasses perched on her forehead. PRISS (O.S.) 'Scuse me? MERCURY lifts her head to look up at PRISS who is standing on the other side of the lab table from her. MERCURY blinks, then realizes who this person is. MERCURY Oh. Ms. Asagiri, it's nice to see you again. PRISS Glad someone thinks so. Uh ... I've been meaning to apologize for ... MERCURY (laughs) Not at all, Ms. Asagiri. After all, I wasn't overly injured by your actions -- being immortal means healing very quickly. I was more startled than anything else. In any event, what can I do for you today? PRISS Well, I was told that you could maybe get me started on the road to fixing my screwed up memory? MERCURY's face falls. MERCURY Well, first I should explain what exactly is the source of your difficulties. I'll give you a layman's version ... A musical interlude follows, in which a bit of mood music that describes Mercury overlays a series of still shots of Mercury lecturing to Priss, pointing out areas of a brain on a hologram, and Priss obviously not understanding any of it. MERCURY So you see the problem. PRISS LONG PAUSE Nope. Didn't get a bit of what you just said. It sounded very impressive, but ... MERCURY SIGH I will simplify. We can't fix your memories because you seem to have sustained physical damage to your brain at some point. PRISS PAUSE That much, I understood. MERCURY As yet, we are unable to fix brain damage through standard medical technology. There are alternatives. The first involves nanotechnology -- we would inject tiny robots into you which would be programmed to fix the damage. Our view changes to look at MERCURY and PRISS from a few yards away. A woman's hand begins to pick up a number of devices that have been left lying on a table nearby. PRISS VERY DUBIOUS Robots. MERCURY The drawback of the operation is that we don't have an exact idea of what your brain was like before the damage was done. So the nanobots would be working blind. Fortunately the artificial intelligence of the current generation of nanobots is very adaptive -- The woman steps into view. She has pale lavender hair, golden eyes, and a youthful demeanor and air of innocence. Her name is, of course, CATTY. PRISS *VERY* UPSET You want to inject frickin' *boomers* into my brain?! *Micro*-boomers?! CATTY reacts in shock to PRISS' words, dropping the instruments she is holding with a clatter. Both PRISS and MERCURY turn to look at her, PRISS looking confused, MERCURY looking concerned. MERCURY Caterina? Is something wrong? CATTY turns, her face calm and composed. CATTY No, Lady Mercury. It was only that I just now recognized your patient. It is a bit of a shock to realize that one is standing in the presence of a demigod. PRISS flushes, while MERCURY smiles grimly. MERCURY According to the cult of Serenity, Caterina, you're `in the presence of a demigod' whenever you're with *me*. I wasn't aware that you were a venerator of the Knight Sabres. CATTY I am. In particular, Ms. Asagiri, I have often admired your work ... PRISS Uh ... thanks, I guess ... I didn't think it was all that well known. CATTY It became so within the last forty years, when Lady Mars released her interpretations of a number of your unproduced songs. PRISS is a bit surprised by this. PRISS She did? Huh. I knew she was a singer, but ... BEAT Wait a minute, forty years? You're not -- CATTY SMILES BRIEFLY I am older than I seem, as are you, Ms. Asagiri. I was particularly fond of the song `What A Fool I Am'. BEAT It was very beautiful. CATTY begins to gather up the instruments she dropped. CATTY QUICKLY Well, you doubtless have many other things to be concerned with, good day, Ms. Asagiri. CATTY walks away, stiffly. PRISS follows her with her eyes, while MERCURY gives PRISS a very disapproving look. We hear a door slide open and shut. PRISS What ... what the hell was her problem? MERCURY It's never nice to realize that one's idols are as flawed as ... PRISS *What*? MERCURY I don't think Caterina was aware of your prejudice against boomers. PRISS stares at MERCURY for a few seconds, clearly not believing her. PRISS How the hell does she think I'm gonna act?! I lost people I cared about to boomers, dammit! MERCURY I am aware of that. I am also aware that at least one of those people -- one Anri -- *was* -- PRISS holds up a finger. PRISS Anri and Sylvie were human! BEAT In every way that mattered! They felt things, they bled, they -- You know, the lot of you are really pissing me off! Where do you get off laying guilt trips like that on me? What does she care about -- MERCURY I see. Without agreeing, I can see your point. I apologize. PAUSE You are unable to remember anything past August of 2033? PRISS is startled by this sudden non-sequitur, but is clearly glad to get off a painful subject. PRISS Uh ... it's not so much that I can't remember them, it's more like it's a blur, everything just a big mass that I can't understand. MERCURY Not unlike the memories of your childhood, prior to the earthquake? PRISS NODS Yeah. And I *can* remember a few specific incidents from that too ... just like I can remember how it all wound up. BEAT I remember the first time that I watched `Blade Runner'. BEAT I was six. MERCURY I see. PAUSE I take it that you absolutely refuse nano-treatment? PRISS nods forcefully. MERCURY Then I'll have to do some research before I can make any suggestions, other than the final alternative. PRISS What's the final -- MERCURY Magic. BEAT I prefer not to use arcane practices whenever there are other options. PRISS Geez. I thought everyone in this town believed in magic. MERCURY Oh, I believe in magic. If I didn't I'd have to consider myself to be dangerously delusional. I just don't *trust* magic. PAUSE I will contact you in a week if you don't get in touch with me before then, Ms. Asagiri. Good day. MERCURY goes back to looking through the microscope. PRISS stares at her for a few seconds, shrugs, and heads off. We hear a door slide open and shut. MERCURY stands up, and heads in the direction that CATTY took, through a sliding door into a darkened corridor. CATTY is leaning against the wall, the instruments she was carrying fallen to her feet. MERCURY Catty ... CATTY It is ironic, is it not, that one whom I have considered to be the greatest poet about my kind would hate me if she knew what I am? BEAT It would be like a lesbian meeting Sappho and learning that she is in fact homophobic. MERCURY For what it's worth, she considers Bu-33S types to be `human in every way that counts'. And you are structurally closest to that line. CATTY is silent for a few moments, and then slowly lifts a fist to hit the wall. MERCURY Please don't, we still haven't fully repaired the damage from when you lost your first patient. CATTY holds the fist, then drops it. CATTY I would weep, except that my maker neglected to incorporate tear glands into my design. MERCURY I'm sorry, Catty. MERCURY embraces CATTY, who gradually returns the hug. Cut to a street in Crystal Tokyo at dusk. This particular street, lacking any crystalline structures, is not that much different from a street of Tokyo in the twentieth or twenty-first centuries. Our view draws towards a butcher shop. Cut to the interior view of the butcher shop. A hand taps the bell on the service counter. The OWNER of the butcher shop comes out, he is a robust man in his mid forties with a scraggly beard. He is cleaning his bloody hands on his apron with an annoyed expresion ... but his face freezes when he sees his customer. We see him shortly therafter. It is HIBIKI RYOUGA, wearing his traditional headband ... and a heavy trenchcoat and mirrorshades. OWNER Oh! I ... I wasn't expecting you. How ya been? RYOUGA Fine. Do you have what I need? OWNER NODS Yeah, we've been setting it aside for awhile now. You haven't been in, though, and I wuz starting to think that you mighta found another supplier or ... RYOUGA vaults over the counter without visible effort. He closes the distance to the OWNER in an eyeblink, and seems to loom over him even though they are about the same height. RYOUGA `Or'? OWNER SWALLOWS Or somethin' else. Look -- it don't make no difference to me that you are what you are. It's one o' those things, y'know what I'm saying? So what? Big deal. RYOUGA steps around the OWNER, heading for the door that the OWNER emerged from. The OWNER turns to keep talking to him. OWNER An' hey! You're probably my best customer. `Come to Crystal Tokyo and open up a butcher shop,' they told me. They didn't tell me that damn near everyone in town's a firckin' vegetarian! Me, I like guys like you, what don't do the veggie thing. CAR-nivores. RYOUGA pauses, and turns to look at the OWNER, lowering his mirrorshades for a moment. We see that his eyes are very bloodshot. RYOUGA I try to eat a balanced diet. Too much meat is bad for you. The OWNER stares at him in confusion. RYOUGA turns and heads into the back of the shop ... into the large, walk-in freezer. The freezer door closes most of the way behind him. Cut to RYOUGA stepping out of the butcher shop sometime later (a couple hours, judging by the nightfall). He absently wipes away a trickle of blood running down his chin from his mouth while he looks towards the great Crystal Palace at the center of the city. RYOUGA Soon. Cut to a set of steps leading upward on a hill. PRISS walks up the steps, arriving at the gate to a temple. Specifically, the Hikawa Jinja. (Or an incredible likeness therof.) PRISS heads over to the house, noting that there is a note on the door. She picks it up and examines it. MARS (V.O.) Priss: Come on in, make yourself at home. I'm in the shower right now, and that's one of the few times in the day that I absolutely insist on having to myself, so please don't interrupt, okay? Raye. PRISS opens the door, and walks into the house, taking off her boots at the entrance. She ambles through the spartan kitchen into the living room. The living room is homily cluttered. A couch is set against the wall, under a painting by Yumeno Yumeni of a prince and a princess embracing. PRISS notes the resemblence of the princess to SERENITY at once, and spends a moment looking at it confusedly, then shrugs, and walks past the poker table to the compact sound system -- incorporating a CD player, a tape deck, and several other less recognizable devices. PRISS picks up one CD case, and stares at it. The picture on the cover is that of RAYE, in shadows, wearing a blonde wig that hides her right eye, looking out at the world with a glowing red left eye. RAYE (O.S.) I thought I heard you come in. PRISS looks up, a bit startled. RAYE has walked into the room, wearing a heavy white bathrobe with a pink towel around her shoulders. Her long black hair is still wet, which brings out her unusual purple highlights, and she has her red eyepatch on. PRISS holds up the disc for her to see. PRISS You didn't mention this. RAYE Ah. You found that, did you? I did that a while back when I was very bored. PAUSE Is there something wrong? PRISS sets the C.D. down. PRISS Nah ... well, not really. I ... I met this girl who's apparently a fan of my songs while I was at Lady Mercury's to see about my memory. I wasn't expecting to meet fans of my *music*, I guess. RAYE Good music is eternal, Priss. It speaks to every age. PRISS Uh ... there's something I've been meaning to ask you about your eye, and the picture kinda reminded me of it ... when did you lose your -- RAYE My eye? I lost it ... before you were born. I was using a cybereye when you saw me in the club that night. PRISS Then ... why don't you now? RAYE's face tenses, and she speaks reluctantly. RAYE I would rather not discuss that, if you don't mind. Suffice it to say that I have my reasons, but they are very personal. When protocol demands that I wear an artificial eye instead of a patch, I will ... but I greatly prefer not to. PRISS isn't sure what to make of this. PRISS Okay. Whatever. RAYE So tell me what good news Amy had for you. PRISS BLINKS Amy? RAYE Lady Mercury. She didn't tell you her real name? PRISS Well, I didn't really *ask* ... RAYE WORRIED Oh dear. She must be *furious* with you. PRISS What? RAYE She generally reveals her real name to everyone she consults with ... like I do. Jupiter generally holds her secret a little closer, while Venus ... uh ... I don't think she's ever told anyone ... PRISS What about Serenity? RAYE is silent for a very long moment, and she stares straight ahead. We get the feeling that she isn't looking at PRISS. Finally, she blinks and looks at her. RAYE That *is* her real name. The tension has shot up again. RAYE lets out a sigh. RAYE I'm sorry, Priss. You seem to have a talent for inadvertantly walking into my emotional tripwires. PRISS Right. I ... RAYE holds up a hand. RAYE Don't apologize, it's not your fault. PRISS Wasn't planning on it. So ... what is she gonna do, now that she's furious with me? FLASH OF INSIGHT She wouldn't ... lie about a patient's condition to a patient she was furious with, would she? RAYE No, probably not. Her fury is generally limited to a single act. PRISS And that act is ... RAYE She refuses to tell the person her real name. PRISS stares at RAYE for a second. RAYE nods. PRISS Petty, isn't she? RAYE looks like she's about to explain something, when there's a knocking at the door. RAYE Hold that thought. RAYE heads out of the living room, and we hear the door open. RAYE (O.S.) Oh! Hi you two. SHAMPOO (O.S.) You not ready for game. RAYE (O.S.) Ack! It's poker night, tonight! I completely forgot! AYEKA (O.S.) Obviously. Can we at least come in, or would you rather we wait outside while you dress and clean in a mad frenzy? RAYE (O.S.) No, come on in ... I actually was thinking about the game yesterday ... I think I found a new fourth player. RAYE leads AYEKA and SHAMPOO into the living room. AYEKA is wearing her usual kimono and hairpiece, while SHAMPOO is wearing a gray military- seeming uniform, and has her two cords of hair tied back around her neck. (It makes her look a bit like Madigan.) Neither of them notice PRISS initially. SHAMPOO Who you find? It long time since we had ... NOTICES PRISS; UNACCENTED Oh my. AYEKA is also visibly startled, but doesn't say anything. RAYE Priscilla Asagiri, may I introduce Lady Masaki Ayeka, Ambassador to her Majesty's Court from the Stellar Empire of Jurai, and Major General X'ian Po, Special Forces. There is a long pause. PRISS JAUNTY WAVE Yo. SHAMPOO imitates her gesture perfectly. AYEKA bows politely. RAYE Well, I'll let you get acquainted while I get dressed. RAYE heads off in the direction of her bedroom. There is a long, uncomfortable silence. SHAMPOO looks from PRISS to AYEKA several times, noting their similar hairstyles and eye colours. SHAMPOO You sure you really from Jurai? Not changeling? AYEKA BRITTLE We don't *do* that sort of thing. SHAMPOO Interesting co-inc-idence, then ... PRISS Stellar ... Empire. You're from space? AYEKA In fact, yes. Are you really *the* Priscilla Asagiri? The musician and freedom fighter? PRISS `Freedom fighter'? SHAKES HEAD Whatever. Yeah, I'm really the real article. Haven't you been watching the news recently? AYEKA I've been a *bit* busy of late. PRISS They pulled me out of coldsleep a few weeks back. SHAMPOO You not clone? Shampoo had heard tell of clone ... PRISS stares at SHAMPOO, who blinks innocently. PRISS No, I'm not a clone. They let me *think* I was a clone, but ... SHAMPOO Ah so. PRISS Hell with it. You know that you talk like an old, *dumb* stereotype of how the Chinese talk? Are you gonna start finishing your sentences with `no da'? SHAMPOO grins broadly. SHAMPOO UNACCENTED It's always a relief to meet someone discriminating enough to see through stereotypes. PAUSE No da. AYEKA gives SHAMPOO a weary look. PRISS tries to suppress a smile, and fails. SHAMPOO It was a very useful disguise when I first came to Japan ... well, the second time, at least. AYEKA Useful for getting people to treat you like a twit? SHAMPOO `Act stupid. Be smart.' PAUSE I forget which number, `A Book of Stratagems'. Must reread that one of these days. RAYE comes out of the hallway wearing a set of sweats and barefoot. RAYE Alright, let's play some cards! They settle around the table. RAYE pulls out a fourth chair, between her and AYEKA, amd gestures for PRISS to have a seat. PRISS slowly sits down. RAYE TO PRISS The three of us have been playing poker irregularly since 1996. PRISS' eyes go wide. PRISS Nineteen ninety -- you two are immortal, too? SHAMPOO is about to say something, but is cut off by AYEKA AYEKA SINGS SOFTLY `I have inside me blood of kings! Yeah!' NORMAL I've always wanted to say that ... in my case, I'm not actually immortal. My people are very long-lived, and we have ways of extending our life spans even further -- but we can die. SHAMPOO Unlike one whose soul partakes of the Tao. A golden aura surrounds SHAMPOO, and she begins to quote Lao-Tsu in the original Chinese, with a look of utter bliss and tranquility. RAYE and AYEKA stare at her irritatedly. RAYE Cut it out. SHAMPOO's aura disappears, and she looks crossly at the others. SHAMPOO Hmph. Shampoo tries to bring them enlightenment, and then they mock Shampoo. Shampoo show power of Tao by take them for all they worth. PRISS is staring across at them as if she has stumbled into a den of lunatics. AYEKA produces a deck of cards from her kimono and begins to deal out a hand of draw poker. PRISS TO AYEKA Could you explain some- thing to me? How does an alien come to know about the Knight Sabres? AYEKA continues to deal as she replies. AYEKA Well, I've been living on Earth for the last two hundred odd years. In that time I developed an interest in the legends of the twenty first century. It was a long-lasting interest -- I finally became bored with the research ... oh, about ten years ago. I spent a lot of time reading accounts of the Knight Sabres activities. BEAT The most recent addition to the University's collection on the subject, the memoirs of Leon McNichol, were donated by me, after I found them in the Imperial Library back home. BEAT Was he as much of a twit as he comes across in the book? PRISS LAUGHS I dunno. I haven't read it yet. He was definitely annoying ... had his moments, but they were few and far between. PAUSE You're the ambassador from Jurai? AYEKA Yes. I'm also his Imperial Majesty's great aunt. PRISS BLINKS Oh! "Blood of kings". I get it. AYEKA nods. PRISS So ... does Jurai have a lot of trade with Earth? AYEKA Not really. My embassy isn't for trade reasons though. PAUSE It's for sentiment. PRISS Huh? RAYE His Imperial Majesty, Tenchi I, Lord of the Jurain Stellar Empire, was born on Earth. He's also three- quarters human. BEAT Sorry, thirteen-sixteenths ... AYEKA Precision to that degree is hardly required, Mars ... MARS grins at her over the cards. AYEKA At any rate, he feels a considerable degree of loyalty to his birth world and has been Queen Serenity's firmest ally among the stellar powers since the Realm's foundation. AYEKA looks malevolently towards RAYE out of the corner of her eye. AYEKA In fact, it has been argued by students of galactic history that had Tenchi not personally enforced the Galactic Union's quarantine of Earth following the Apocalypse, Queen Serenity would not have had the chance to rebuild Earth to her specifications ... RAYE FLATLY It would have taken a little longer, that's all. AYEKA proceeds as though she hadn't heard RAYE. AYEKA ... and that in in accordance with the tradition of TINSTAAFL, Queen Serenity should acknowledge that debt by declaring that Earth is a vassal of the Empire ... RAYE SHARP AYEKA. They stare at each other with mutual hostility shining brightly in their eyes. PRISS looks between the two of them with a confused expression. SHAMPOO looks bored. SHAMPOO SIGH Might as well put down your cards, Priss, they're gonna be on that topic alllll night. SHAMPOO's words seem to calm AYEKA and RAYE down. After a moment, they smile wryly at each other. RAYE I apologize, Ayeka. AYEKA As do I, Mars. BEAT Those protest rallies have made me nervous. I've come to love this world. I don't want to have to leave it. PRISS holds up her hands in a "T" gesture. PRISS Wheet! Time! Would someone bring me up to speed? RAYE gestures to AYEKA to go ahead. AYEKA sorts her cards as she speaks. AYEKA There *are* students of galactic history who argue as I have said. Their arguments are, understandably, *very* unpopular on Earth. BEAT As a result, the forthcoming visit by the Emperor has -- PRISS He's coming here? AYEKA MOCKING Don't you read the news? NORMAL Yes, Tenchi should be arriving any day now. And the fact of his coming has been seen as "proof" of Jurai's imperialist intentions. BEAT; ANGRY Idiots! Our imperialist age ended with my *grandfather's* reign. I'm beginning to understand why the Great Bard of your species advocated the death of the legal profession -- those *morons* at the Imperial Academy should just take their legal proofs and shove -- RAYE Easy! It's not all their fault. Like you said, a bunch of people with nothing better to do took a dry, academic idea about Jurai's right to Earth and blew it out of proportion. They're calling for an end to any ties between our governments. They'll probably have an even larger protest rally when the Imperial ship arrives. We're all a little on edge by this, as you might guess. PRISS flashes back. JUPITER (V.O.) In the moment of crisis ... RAYE Priss? PRISS snaps back. PRISS Huh? Um, yeah, I could tell that you were all walking around on eggshells, but I couldn't see why. SHAMPOO is studying her cards intently. SHAMPOO We're not *all* on edge. Not *all* of us came to talk about politics. Some of us came to play cards. AYEKA and RAYE give her a disgusted look. SHAMPOO returns it with an inscrutable one. SHAMPOO ACCENTED Shampoo know better than worry about what will be. When one can *act* to change what *is*, one should. Worry only make act harder, have spent all energy worrying so no can act. SMILES Besides! Not affect Shampoo one way or another! AYEKA That is a *horribly* self-centered world view that you've picked up somewhere. SHAMPOO SIGH; UNACCENTED Ayeka, you're something like eight hundred years older than I am, so I shouldn't be telling you to grow up. You just said now that you're most concerned because you'll be forced to leave Earth if Jurai and the Crystal Palace break off relations. If you go, I'll miss you. I'll miss these sessions. But they are not the focus of *my* life, so while I sympathize, I refuse to get worked up over it. RAYE is obviously annoyed by this attitude. PRISS doesn't look too happy about it either. RAYE By that logic, we should have left your people to get liquidated by the Chinese. SHAMPOO But you didn't. RAYE But maybe we should have. SHAMPOO SMILES Any views I have on that would be coloured by my loyalty to my people, Mars. And you've benefited directly from doing so, you'll admit. How many of the Battle Angels were of Amazon descent? RAYE SIGHS We won't go into that one, or we really will be here all night. SHAKES HEAD I just can't bring myself to understand how you can just not be concerned with anything that doesn't affect you personally. SHAMPOO SOFT It's how I cope. You, your friends, and your queen cope by becoming control freaks. I cope by admitting that I can't control the world, or even a small part of it. We'll see who loses her mind first, okay? PRISS With that kind of an attitude, why do anything? I mean, why not just take yourself away from everything, go where nobody can find you -- so that their problems *can't* impact on your life? SHAMPOO Many followers of the Tao do just that. I can't. As I said, I feel an obligation towards the people who saved *my* people in their moment of crisis, a bit over nine hundred years ago. PRISS TO RAYE You were really busy back then, weren't ya? RAYE More than you know. SHAMPOO I sometimes think that's what my husband has done. AYEKA and RAYE let out a long-suffering sigh. RAYE This is your revenge for us starting up that old argument again, isn't it? PRISS You're married? SHAMPOO NODS Yes. I was married at the age of sixteen to the greatest martial artist who has ever lived. BEAT Now, if he'd acknowledge the fact of our marriage, we'd be all set. AYEKA I believe it's my turn to point out that a marriage based on defeat in battle is not valid under Crystal Kingdom law? SHAMPOO ACCENTED It valid under Amazon law that form basis of most of Martian legal code. All Shampoo need is get husband to Mars, and -- RAYE The odds against your ever getting him to go willingly to Mars are so astoundingly poor that the bookies on Nuevo Vegas wouldn't touch them. PRISS So who is this guy, anyway? RAYE Her husband, poor wretch, is named Ran-- RAYE and AYEKA suddenly stiffen. They are very still for a second. Then they exchange a look, and a nod. RAYE & AYEKA (sim) They're here. SHAMPOO Already? RAYE, AYEKA, and SHAMPOO stand up, leaving PRISS alone at the table with a confused expression on her face. PRISS Hey ... SHAMPOO Where? AYEKA Monument Park. BEAT He's planning on visiting her monument. Oh Guide, I hope he can take this. AYEKA touches her hair piece. AYEKA Ambassador to Transport. Need pick up. See you there. AYEKA is surrounded by a glowing green bubble, which fades, taking her with it. SHAMPOO Handy. PRISS Hey. Can I get clued in on what's happening? SHAMPOO Can I catch a ride with you? RAYE Right. TO PRISS Priss, the Emperor has arrived in orbit. He'll be making his official arrival at Monument Park, and I have to be there to greet him ... I'd take you there, but I can only carry one passenger when I 'port ... PRISS Okay, okay. I've got my new bike. Monument Park is the place that they put up the statue of ... RAYE nods, draws in a deep breath, and is consumed by fire. When it subsides, she is wearing her sailor fuku and high heels. SHAMPOO steps in close to her. RAYE See you there. SHAMPOO and RAYE turn into horizontal columns of light, which dim. PRISS checks each of the hands of cards that they left behind. PRISS Shit. I'd've won, too. PRISS heads out the door of the house, down the stairs to a paved road. There is a machine that looks like a heavy motorcycle, minus the wheels, parked near the stairs. The letters "BAT" are painted across the side of it. PRISS hops on, pulls on the helmet that is resting across the handles, and starts to flip switches on the control panel. The "bike" begins to hum. PRISS pulls back on the handles, and the bike rises up until it is about two feet off the ground. PRISS smiles her trademarked `I don't really care if I live or die, so please get out of my way' grin. She hits the accelerator, and the hovercycle takes off. Cut to a stretch of deserted oceanside freeway. PRISS zooms along at 120 kph (about 75 mph), reveling in the power of the hovercycle. Cut to the gates of the Crystal Palace, at the heart of Crystal Tokyo. The 40 feet tall gates are guarded by a pair of 28 feet tall humanoid mecha. Each has its hand on a very large firearm in a side holster. PRISS pulls up to the gates, flashes her identicard at one of the mecha, and is waved in. The roads of the Palace grounds are congested with people, a disturbingly large number of whom are carrying signs which say "JURAI MUYO!" and make similar pithy commentaries against the Jurains. PRISS brings her cycle to the ground in a parking lot, gets off, and starts walking toward the gates of Monument Park. The gates of the park are "guarded" by two carvings -- one of a young girl in a sailor fuku carrying a large glaive, the other of a startlingly similar looking young girl in a battered trenchcoat and skin tight body suit. The park is even more crowded than the rest of the palace grounds. Several small groups of protesters are gathered and singing obviously rousing songs that are, thankfully, not audible. PRISS pauses for a moment before a large monument to get her bearings. The monument reads "To the Sleeping Hero Within Us All". Atop the monument is a hologram of Sailor Moon in her "I'll Punish You" stance. PRISS does not notice this. PRISS finally arrives, pulling through a crowd to reach the edge of a cordoned off area. Inside the area, SERENITY is seated on a less ostentatious version of the throne that she was seated in earlier. LADY MERCURY, LADY MARS, and LADY JUPITER are standing on Serenity's right side while AYEKA stands on her left. A small detail of Crystal Tokyo's armed forces is standing at attention nearby. LADY JUPITER is smiling at something that MERCURY has just said, then picks out PRISS' presence in the crowd, and her face goes rigid. At that moment, the entire ambience of the crowd seems to dim. Silence quickly spreads across the area, and everyone's eye is drawn almost involuntarily upward -- to the great, vast bulk of the Jurain Imperial Flagship. The starship is truly immense, matched only by the size of the Crystal Citadel itself. A glowing ball of green light descends from the ship to arrive in the cordoned off area, and materializes a man in his mid thirties with dark hair wearing a lavender tuxedo and cape. SERENITY's face lights up, and she rises from the throne to rush down and embrace her husband, ENDYMION. After a very passionate embrace, they take a step back from the area that Endymion was transported into. Cut to a shot of a man's hand reaching into his jacket and producing a piece of chromed metal. Another green ball of light descends from the ship to just in front of SERENITY and ENDYMION, materializing a pair of women. SERENITY moves to greet TSUNAMI and WASHUU (who is in her "adult" form, and remains so for the duration of this story), the Imperial Wives of Jurai. She seems genuinely happy to see TSUNAMI (and vice versa), while her greetings to WASHUU seem more formal. TSUNAMI and WASHUU step back from the landing area, standing on either side of SERENITY and ENDYMION. AYEKA comes forward to stand beside TSUNAMI -- again, there is a very happy reunion. Cut to a shot of the man's hand producing another piece of chrome, this time from his pants pocket, which he adds to an assembly of pieces that he holds in his hand -- which are beginning to look like a firearm. Still another green ball of light descends from the ship, this time materializing RYOUKO. She spreads her arms as if she intends to take in all those standing before her in one big hug, smiling beatifically. Nobody moves to come into the embrace. AYEKA is holding her right hand over her face as if the sight causes her pain. RYOUKO shrugs, and heads over to stand beside WASHUU ... then pauses. Cut to a shot of the man's hand about to insert another piece of chrome into what is definitely a firearm of some sort. He freezes, suddenly. RYOUKO appears to be considering something ... The man's hands are quivering slightly ... RYOUKO shrugs, and takes her place beside WASHUU. The man's hands relax, and he inserts the piece into the firearm, which is practically complete. A final green ball descends slowly from the ship to the landing area. It materializes TENCHI (who has grown a moustache) clad in the white robes of the Emperor of Jurai. SERENITY steps forward to greet him. She bows. He bows. The man's hands add the final part of the firearm to the whole. Cut to PRISS. There is a sudden whispering noise to her left. PRISS jerks her head away from the sight in front of her to look to her left. She sees the GUNMAN, staring viciously at TENCHI and SERENITY. In a slow motion sequence which is accompanied by the sound of a heart beat, the GUNMAN raises his weapon up, and begins to shove it forward. PRISS SHOUTED GUNNNNNNNNNNNN! The GUNMAN pulls the trigger. A long bolt of metal shoots forward towards TENCHI ... and embeds itself in a cane that has been lifted to block it by ENDYMION. ENDYMION Not today. Not today. The GUNMAN attempts to flee through the crowd, but runs right into RYOUKO, who smiles malevolently down at him. RYOUKO Going somewhere? The GUNMAN turns to run. RYOUKO teleports in front of him. RYOUKO Guess not. RYOUKO generates her sword, shoves the GUNMAN to the ground, and holds the sword at his throat, smiling all the while. TENCHI (O.S.) Ryouko. That's enough. RYOUKO doesn't move for a moment, then turns to look at TENCHI with an exasperated expression. TENCHI is staring at her firmly, his arms folded across his chest. RYOUKO You're gonna be an idiot about this and insist that we turn him over to the Earthcops, aren't you? TENCHI Yes. RYOUKO lets out a deep sigh, and deactivates her sword. She reaches down, lifts the GUNMAN to his feet, and hands him over to a pair of waiting police, who proceed to handcuff him. Suddenly, the GUNMAN -- who has seemed to be in a state of shock until now -- begins to shout. GUNMAN Abomination! You will not triumph! The stars belong to us, so it is written! Go forth, mankind, and populate the universe ... As he is pulled away, SERENITY arrives to stand with TENCHI. TENCHI Do you have any idea what he's talking about? SERENITY None whatsoever. TENCHI Not quite the reunion we planned, is it? SERENITY It was worth a try. TENCHI I think we'll postpone the visit to her monument until tomorrow. BEAT Is that young woman part of your security team? SERENITY SHAKES HEAD No. That's Priscilla Asagiri. The last Knight Sabre. TENCHI Asa-- TENCHI turns to look at PRISS, who is being debriefed by RAYE. PRISS is explaining what happened, when she feels TENCHI's eyes on her. She turns to look at him. They stare at each other for a few moments. Cut to a shot of the Earth from space. FEMALE VOICE It begins. The voice starts to laugh, maniacally. To Be Continued. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Together Again: 2937 Chapter, 04/21/97