INTERLUDE  

Establishing Shot:  TENCHI's sleeping face, in dim lighting.  He awakens  
slowly, and yawns, before blinkingly sitting up in bed.  He is wearing a  
pair of pyjama bottoms and no shirt, showing off his muscles.  His  
expression grows bland as he notices something.  Our view changes to  
include a bleary eyed RYOUKO who is sitting cross legged on the edge of  
his bed, staring at him.  Slowly, TENCHI smiles, leans over, and kisses  
RYOUKO between her eyebrows.  RYOUKO blinks, and comes to full  consciousness.  She blushes a bit.

                                    RYOUKO
                    `Mom' is gonna kill me if she finds
                    out you did that.

                                    TENCHI
                    I don't think your mother is quite
                    that vindictive.  BEAT Ryouko, you
                    don't have to stay up all night
                    standing guard over me.  We're in
                    the most secure fortress on Earth --

                                    RYOUKO
                    You'll forgive me if I don't have a
                    high opinion of Earth `security' at
                    the moment.  

TENCHI gives a weary sigh, and stands up, stretching.  There is the sound  
of joints cracking.

                                    RYOUKO
                    Sleep well?

                                    TENCHI
                    SHRUG More or less.  I'm feeling
                    my age this morning, though ...  

RYOUKO is instantly concerned.

                                    RYOUKO
                    Should we have stayed at the shrine,
                    like Ayeka wanted?

                                    TENCHI
                    SHAKES HEAD No ... even the Funaho
                    wouldn't make me feel young this
                    morning.  

TENCHI walks over to the bedroom window, and looks out over Crystal Tokyo. 
Reversing the view, we pull back to show that he is in a room high in the 
central tower of the Crystal Palace, and that it's a rainy day, with 
clouds covering everything.  Back in TENCHI's room.

                                    TENCHI
                    It would have been her birthday,
                    today.  

RYOUKO's face takes on its rarely seen sympathetic look, but TENCHI  
doesn't look back.

                                    TENCHI
                    I'd always call her.  Every year.
                    She always took the time to talk to
                    me, even when things were hectic at
                    Headquarters ... she was always so
                    ... happy.  Happy to hear from me.
                    Happy to be alive.  BEAT I don't
                    remember what I said the last time,
                    though.  I remember ... I remember
                    the time after the last time. BEAT
                    I called her office, and the new
                    fellow answered.  I apologized, and
                    hung up.  And then ... then I called
                    her home.  BEAT  And nobody
                    answered.

                                    RYOUKO
                    Tenchi ...

                                    TENCHI
                    The next thing I knew, Washuu was
                    waking me up.  I was back in bed.
                    I remember somebody pulling me
                    away from the communicator after I
                    had tried for the fortieth time ...
                    it must have been Washuu. She
                    denies it though.  

RYOUKO appears to be EXTREMELY embarrassed to hear this.

                                    TENCHI
                    I'd give just about anything to hear
                    her laughing one more time.  BEAT
                    No.  Anything.  

We pull back from TENCHI's window again, coming down to look at a memorial  
in Monument Park.  On the monument we read:

                               KURAMITSU MIHOSHI
                                  1974-2078
                      "Be to her faults a little blind,
                        Be to her virtues very kind."

                         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 TWO  

Establishing Shot: A view from above of PRISS asleep in a double bed.  The  
covers are messed up enough for us to see that she's wearing a tanktop and  
a pair of boxers.  Her hair is spread all over, and she looks like she  
isn't sleeping peacefully.  Her eyes suddenly flash open.

                                     PRISS
                    GROGGILY The hell it will ...  

She gets out of bed, and shuffles out of the bedroom, going into a  
bathroom.  We hear the shower running.  Our view holds firm on the bedroom  
for a few minutes.  The running water stops, and PRISS walks back into the  
bedroom, looking much more coherent.

                                     PRISS
                    TALKING TO HERSELF `It's going to
                    be all right.'  Where the hell did
                    that come from?  Sylia never said
                    *anything* like that when she came
                    after me.  

PRISS shakes her head and walks out of the bedroom.  She arrives in the  
living room, and stares at what is going on there.  

Dressed in a white blouse and red skirt, RAYE is practicing with a  
katana.  The kata she performs are eerily familiar (especially if the  
viewer has seen "The Road We Walk" or "Apotheosis"), but would be very  
unorthodox to a practitioner of traditional kendo.  They involve the use  
of her superhumanly fast reflexes to accomplish things that an ordinary  
fencer could never hope to achieve.  Even so, some of the moves seem just  
a bit ... off.  RAYE's face, while completely focused on the training,  
seems slightly troubled all the same.  Finally, after completing an  
incredible maneuver -- involving a flying cartwheel across the length of  
the living room -- she halts, holding the katana in a ready position.

                                     PRISS
                    Yo.  

RAYE turns to leap across the room and point the sword at the base of  
PRISS' neck before she realizes what she's doing.  A look of shock crosses  
RAYE's face, while PRISS seems fairly unimpressed -- or at least she hides  
it well.

                                     PRISS
                    And good morning to you too.  

RAYE embarrassedly puts down her sword, making it vanish without any  
special effects.  Perhaps she hides it in the folds of her skirt.  Perhaps  
not.

                                     RAYE
                    Very sorry.  But it's not wise to
                    sneak up on someone in the middle of
                    a --

                                     PRISS
                    Interesting form ... I think I saw
                    some familiar elements, but there
                    were more I didn't recognize.

                                     RAYE
                    WIDE EYED You astound me.  I
                    didn't expect you to be a conoisseur
                    of sword styles.  

PRISS heads for the kitchen, with RAYE following close behind.

                                     PRISS
                    Well, I'm not.  Linna practiced
                    a bit of kendo, and she liked to
                    show off.  BEAT So'd Sylia, but
                    she never showed off ... where'd
                    you learn yours?  

PRISS starts hunting breakfast in the kitchen cupboards.

                                     RAYE
                    Well, some of it's Jurain fencing,
                    some maneuvers I picked up from the
                    Mano clan --

                                     PRISS
                    Who?

                                     RAYE
                    Nobody you'd have heard of.  BEAT
                    Most of it's ...  

PRISS finds what she's looking for, gets a box of "Overly Sugared Crisps"  
out of the cupboard, blinks as she realizes that RAYE hasn't said anything  
in a few moments, and turns to look at her.  RAYE's eyes are very far  
away.

                                     PRISS
                    Most of it's what?

                                     RAYE
                    SLOW Most of it is a style that
                    was developed by someone I wronged a
                    long time ago.  Before --

                                     PRISS
                    WEARY Before I was born ... You're
                    starting to make me think the world
                    turned boring in 2013 ...  

RAYE chuckles a bit while PRISS gets a carton of milk out of the  
refrigerator.

                                     RAYE
                    I wouldn't say that.  BEAT It was
                    a slow year, but ...  

PRISS sighs as she pours herself a bowl of cereal, the cereal box in one  
hand and the milk in the other.

                                     PRISS
                    Want some?

                                     RAYE
                    I already ate.

                                     PRISS
                    So ... thanks for letting me crash
                    here last night.  My new digs aren't
                    s'posed to be ready 'til later
                    today ...

                                     RAYE
                    Want help moving in?

                                     PRISS
                    Moving what in?  I don't *own*
                    anything yet.  Besides, don't you
                    have stuff you're supposed to be
                    doing?

                                     RAYE
                    Not really.

                                     PRISS
                    What about that Izumi thing?

                                     RAYE
                    Oh.  *That*.  A simple case of what
                    happens when people get exaggerated
                    ideas about their importance.

                                     PRISS
                    I refuse to say `Huh'.

                                     RAYE
                    Noa Izumi II is the chief of Crystal
                    Tokyo's Patrol Labor Batallion.  She
                    is in charge of all the mecha --
                    labor is the term used for any mecha
                    used on planetary surfaces --

                                     PRISS
                    SOTTO VOCE Where've I heard that
                    name before ...

                                     RAYE
                    -- while any spacefaring mecha are
                    called mobile suits.  Anyway, she's
                    in charge of the mecha that the
                    police use.  They're mostly used for
                    ceremonial functions these days --

                                     PRISS
                    Like the ones that were guarding the
                    gates of the palace last night.

                                     RAYE
                    Right.  Anyway, last week somebody
                    broke into police headquarters and
                    stole a few of the patrol labors
                    there.  Including Chief Izumi's
                    `personal, private labor' -- to
                    which she displays a degree of
                    attachment that borders on religious
                    devotion.

                                     PRISS
                    STRAIGHTFACED A real labor of
                    love, huh?  

RAYE stares at PRISS, open-mouthed.  Finally, she groans like one mortally  
wounded, and collapses into a chair, thumping at her heart.  PRISS grins.

                                     RAYE
                    Run for the hills, she's got a sense
                    of humor!  That was awful ...

                                     PRISS
                    So what are you gonna do about it?

                                     RAYE
                    I'm contemplating tickling you into
                    submission.

                                     PRISS
                    FLUSHES NOT ME, BAKA!  What are
                    you gonna do about this labor
                    problem ... no pun intended.

                                     RAYE
                    I'll probably contact one of the
                    local private investigators -- it's
                    really too unimportant to use one
                    of our own agents on it.

                                     PRISS
                    Okay, whatever.  

RAYE looks at PRISS consideringly for a few moments.

                                     RAYE
                    Priss ... do you *want* the job?

                                     PRISS
                    What gives you that idea?

                                     RAYE
                    Well, you seemed to be showing an
                    interest in it.  If you want it, I
                    can't order you to *not* investigate
                    matters, and I'll back you up one
                    hundred percent ...

                                     PRISS
                    Well ... Serenity mentioned it to me
                    when we were talking, and it seemed
                    like she was stressing it for some
                    reason.  I --  

RAYE holds up a hand.

                                     RAYE
                    A word.  Never ever try to second
                    guess Serenity.  Nobody understands
                    how she thinks.  BEAT I learned
                    to not do that the hard way,
                    recently, if you'll remember.
                    Anyway, if you want the job, it's
                    yours for the taking -- I can't
                    order you to do anything, I can
                    only advise you.  And my advice is
                    that this isn't really worth a lot
                    of effort.

                                     PRISS
                    SHRUGS It'll keep me off the
                    streets.  I'll go see Izumi later
                    today ...

                                     RAYE
                    Oh, that reminds me ...  

RAYE gets up from her chair and heads over to a message board on the wall.  
She takes a note down from it, and reads it.

                                     RAYE
                    Dr. Bairessey, the Dean of History
                    at the university, gave you a phone
                    call this morning, inquiring as to
                    whether or not you'd changed your
                    mind about consulting with him.
                    LOOKS UP What's this about?

                                     PRISS
                    Oh, some fanboy-turned-scholar found
                    out that you'd brought me back and
                    asked whether or not I'd like to
                    give my version of events so he
                    could make his book on the `Crisis'
                    as accurate as possible.  Offered to
                    let me see Sylia's journal if I did.

                                     RAYE
                    Really?  BEAT  You know, taking a
                    look at that journal might help you
                    with your memory ...

                                     PRISS
                    You think so?

                                     RAYE
                    I don't know much about psychology
                    or neurology, but it only makes
                    sense that if you find a reference
                    to events that you experienced in
                    the journal, you might be able to
                    make sense out of your memories of
                    them ...

                                     PRISS
                    I guess.  BEAT Hell, what's the
                    harm?  It's just a little time, and
                    I got plenty of that, right?

                                     RAYE
                    True enough.  Want a lift to the
                    palace?  

PRISS swallows audibly.

                                     RAYE
                    It's *perfectly* safe.

                                     PRISS
                    Gimme a few minutes to get dressed,
                    and we'll talk about it.  

PRISS gets up and heads for the living room.  She pauses as she's about to  
exit, and turns to look back at RAYE.

                                     PRISS
                    Why are you heading to the palace?  

RAYE's face grows somber.

                                     RAYE
                    I have a memorial service to attend.  

Cut to a cramped room with bunk beds.  YURI is lying on the top bunk, her  
eyes distant.  By her side lies a device similar in size and shape to a  
walkman, the cord running up into her hair.  The door to the room slides  
open, and KEI walks in, ranting.

                                      KEI
                    --s the point?  I mean, what IS the
                    point?  Video games do NOT teach you
                    how to fire a gun, so WHAT IS THE
                    POINT of using video games for
                    target practice?  THERE'S NO RECOIL,
                    DAMMIT!  

KEI notices YURI's expression, hops up onto the top bunk, and waves a hand  
in front of her face.  YURI blinks, picks up the `walkman', and taps the  
side of it.

                                      KEI
                    Whatcha doin?  

YURI pulls the cord out of the datajack under her ear with an faintly  
audible pop.

                                     YURI
                    Catching up on the last eight
                    hundred years.  BEAT  Some bad
                    shit has gone down ...

                                      KEI
                    But it wasn't our fault.

                                     YURI
                    SHAKES HEAD I don't know about
                    that, Kei.  I think ... anyway, do
                    you wanna see for yourself?

                                      KEI
                    Gimme the synopsis.

                                     YURI
                    Okay.  BEAT  After we got `killed'
                    and the Planet Pirate Ring got
                    broken up, things started to change
                    in the WWWA.  First of all, Goulet
                    had a nervous breakdown when the
                    report about us came in.

                                      KEI
                    He did?  Gee, I guess he really did
                    like us all the while ...

                                     YURI
                    The disc said something about
                    `convulsions of joy', Kei.  BEAT
                    Anyway, the fight against the Planet
                    Pirates was pretty draining on WWWA
                    manpower -- heavy casualties.  There
                    was a major recruiting drive started
                    around 2150 that used our image
                    extensively.  

A series of still shots follow, illustrating Yuri's commentary.  First, a  
bunch of posters with Kei and Yuri's images in the familiar "I want YOU!"  
pose of Uncle Sam.

                                  YURI (V.O.)
                    What this produced was a lot of new
                    T.C.'s that wanted to be just like
                    us.  

Various shots of Trouble Consultants in battle bikinis -- some of whom are  
male -- possibly including the "Kei" and "Yuri" of Dirty Pair Flash.  They  
are all rushing into danger with no care for their own safety.

                                  YURI (V.O.)
                    The problem was, they weren't us.  

The Trouble Consultants from before, but much worse off.  Injuries,  
dismemberments, and fatalities abound.

                                  YURI (V.O.)
                    They wound up getting into as much
                    trouble as we did, but didn't come
                    out of it as good as us.  Actually,
                    it was almost like a sick, twisted,
                    nihilistic parody of us.  

Various buildings, cities and planets get blown up real good.

                                  YURI (V.O.)
                    And the scary thing is, the Central
                    Computer kept on ruling that it
                    wasn't their fault.  BEAT Just
                    like it always had for us.

                                  KEI (V.O.)
                    I don't like the sound of this ...  

A number of shadowy figures -- one of whom resembles Tenchi -- approach  
the bulk of the Central Computer.

                                  YURI (V.O.)
                    Anyway, by 2160, United Galactica
                    had had enough, and ordered a
                    complete diagnostic of the Central
                    Computer.  

The Central Computer begins to fire energy blasts at the shadowy figures,  
and the one that looks like Tenchi generates a force field to defend  
himself.

                                  YURI (V.O.)
                    The Central Computer didn't take
                    well to having its wisdom questioned
                    I guess.  Ultimately, they had to
                    shut it down.  

The Tenchi-like shadowy figure -- by now the only one left -- slams an  
energy blade into the side of the Central Computer.

                                  YURI (V.O.)
                    Permanently.  BEAT  That was the
                    end of the WWWA.  Some of the
                    surviving T.C.'s founded new groups
                    to pick up the slack, but none ever
                    really measured up.  

Scenes of people yelling at each other across a parliamentary or  
congressional hall.  Some of them are even coming to blows.

                                  YURI (V.O.)
                    United Galactica kept right on
                    growing, but without the -- the disc
                    used the term `immune system' -- of
                    the WWWA to solve problems before
                    they got big enough to threaten
                    multiple planets, the U.G. had to
                    start interfering in the internal
                    politics of the member planets.
                    BEAT Which was a violation of the
                    U.G.'s constitution.  BEAT Which
                    led to the collapse.  

Scenes of interstellar war.  Dozens of starships clash at once.

                                  YURI (V.O.)
                    There were several wars already
                    started by the time the United
                    Galactica formally disolved in 2188,
                    and they just got bigger afterwards.
                    Others started up.  But put simply,
                    it was a state of affairs that just
                    couldn't last.  Interstellar warfare
                    is too expensive to maintain for
                    any length of time, but a lot of the
                    newer colonies had to go to the
                    point of economic collapse before
                    they realized it.  A lot never
                    recovered ...  

We cut back to KEI and YURI, sitting on the bed.  KEI has curled up with  
her chin on her knees, and has an "Oh boy are we in trouble" expression.

                                     YURI
                    Of those that did, they formed small
                    confederations of maybe a few dozen
                    worlds each.  Maybe the largest was
                    the `new' Jurain Empire -- the
                    Jurains had always maintained a lot
                    of influence over their old colonies
                    and they managed to reform and even
                    expand on their holdings, until
                    they're larger today than they were
                    when the Empire was formally broken
                    up in 2100. BEAT Kei?  Are you
                    thinking what I'm thinking?  

KEI looks up angrily.

                                      KEI
                    NO!  Dammit, none of this is *our*
                    fault!  NONE!

                                     YURI
                    BLINKS I was about to ask you if
                    you wanted to go get something to
                    eat.  I'm hungry.  Actually, I'm
                    more thirsty than --  

KEI groans and gently hits her head against her knees.  

Cut to a room with a bank of monitors against one wall.  The center four  
show KEI and YURI from a variety of angles.  The rest show various news  
and entertainment programs.  The CHIEF is watching the monitors with a  
cold smile.  Beside his chair is a YOUNGER MAN.

                                     CHIEF
                    So now they know ...

                                  YOUNGER MAN
                    Sir, just how accurate is that disc?

                                     CHIEF
                    Oh, perfectly accurate, as far as it
                    goes.  But it was made around 2300,
                    and neglects to elaborate on how
                    much Galactic society was actually
                    improved by the collapse of the
                    U.G., since they didn't realize just
                    how good things were getting.

                                  YOUNGER MAN
                    Then it also doesn't mention Earth's
                    re-entrance onto the Galactic stage
                    two hundred years ago.  Should I
                    have another one prepared with
                    sufficiently accurate lies about
                    Serenity's reign?

                                     CHIEF
                    No ... no, I think we'll go for the
                    emotional appeal, rather than the
                    rational one.  We've got them right
                    where we want them ...

                                  YOUNGER MAN
                    Excellently done sir.

                                     CHIEF
                    Oh shut up, Smithers.  

Cut to Mihoshi's monument.  Five rows of chairs have been set up in front  
of the stone obelisk, and a portable lectern beside it.  They are mostly  
unoccupied.  LADY JUPITER, LADY MERCURY, ENDYMION, and RAYE have all taken  
up positions in the second or third rows.  TENCHI sits in the center of  
the first row, with TSUNAMI and WASHUU on either side of him.  AYEKA is  
seated beside RAYE.  RYOUKO is sitting immediately behind TENCHI.   
SERENITY suddenly materializes a few feet to the side of the lectern, and  
walks to stand behind it.

                                   SERENITY
                    I have been asked to speak today.
                    BEAT I did not know Kuramitsu
                    Mihoshi as well as some of those
                    present.  I met her only a handful
                    of times between 1996 and her final
                    passage more than eighty years
                    later.  But anyone who met her, even
                    for a moment, could not help but be
                    impressed by her tremendous love of
                    life ...  

TENCHI bows his head momentarily, and WASHUU gently caresses his cheek.   
Behind them, RYOUKO flinches.  We close in on her eye, as SERENITY's  
speech slowly fades out.  

Cut to a cathedral like structure, which is the throne room of the Emperor  
of Jurai.  The throne itself is raised up above a large court, which is  
currently crowded with Jurains.  RYOUKO is casually leaning against one of  
the pillars, grinning broadly.  Several Jurain nobles pass by and give her  
sharply disapproving looks, which only make her grin wider.  MIHOSHI comes  
stumbling into view.

                                    RYOUKO
                    Hey!  Mihoshi!  Over here!  

MIHOSHI comes over to RYOUKO.

                                    MIHOSHI
                    Wow, Ryouko, I never expected to get
                    invited to a big party like this ...
                    I don't know how to act!

                                    RYOUKO
                    GRINS EVILLY Just be yourself,
                    kid.  SOTTO VOCE That should scare
                    the hell out of 'em.

                                    MIHOSHI
                    Ano?

                                    RYOUKO
                    I said, if you think *this* is a
                    party, you should see the one I'm
                    gonna throw when me and Tenchi get
                    hitched.  Just as soon as Azusa
                    and him work out the details ... I
                    can see it now ...  

We start to close in on RYOUKO's eye.

                                MIHOSHI (O.S.)
                    But ... Ryouko, when Tenchi becomes
                    emperor, doesn't he have to marry a
                    Jurain?  

RYOUKO's eye clenches, and we return to a full view of the two of them.   
RYOUKO turns to look at MIHOSHI.

                                    RYOUKO
                    Do you sabotage weather control
                    devices before parades?

                                    MIHOSHI
                    Huh?

                                    RYOUKO
                    Yeah, I know I'm gonna have to ...
                    *share* him.  But.  I.  Can.  Deal.
                    With.  That.  BEAT I can even deal
                    with it being ... you know who.

                                    MIHOSHI
                    Who?

                                    RYOUKO
                    ARE YOU JUST COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS OR
                    WHAT?  

MIHOSHI flinches away from RYOUKO's fury.  Tears begin to pool in her  
eyes.

                                    RYOUKO
                    BEATEN Don't ...  

MIHOSHI starts to wail.  Everyone is now staring at RYOUKO, but it's not a  
"why-is-that-creature-here" stare, instead a "look-at-what-horror-that-  
creature-has-unleashed" stare.  RYOUKO is profoundly embarrassed.   
Suddenly, the large double doors at the back of the hall open, and AZUSA  
marches in, his face even more of a storm cloud than it is normally.  He  
is followed by MISAKI and FUNAHO, a discreet distance behind, who stand on  
either side of white-robed TENCHI (FUNAHO is on his right).  Behind them  
are SASAMI -- who has entered early adolescence (roughly fourteen years  
old, in human terms) and AYEKA, who has obviously been crying.  Last to  
enter before the doors are closed is WASHUU, with a serious expression.   
The royal train proceeds through the court, stopping all conversation,  
with WASHUU stopping to stand with RYOUKO and MIHOSHI (whom she silences  
with a gesture), and the others proceeding up the stairs.  FUNAHO, MISAKI,  
AYEKA, and SASAMI stop at the second landing, while AZUSA and TENCHI  
continue up to the throne.  AZUSA sits on the throne, and when TENCHI  
looks like he is about to take the final step that will bring him up to  
AZUSA's level, AZUSA glares at him.  TENCHI stays one step below AZUSA's  
throne, standing to one side and facing the crowd.  AZUSA stares at his  
back almost angrily for a moment, then turns to face the court.

                                     AZUSA
                    Due to the recent ... final passing
                    of my son -- Yoshou -- I have been
                    f-- I have *chosen* to declare that
                    my heir -- the heir to the throne of
                    Jurai and the Empire -- is Tenchi.
                    BEAT Of Earth.  

There is a moment of silence ... and then the whispering starts.  Some of  
the nobles in the crowd are staring with open hostility at TENCHI.  RYOUKO  
is smiling wickedly.  WASHUU's face is flat.

                                    WASHUU
                    Daughter.  

RYOUKO turns to look at WASHUU, who doesn't meet her gaze.

                                    WASHUU
                    In the days that are to come,
                    remember.  I did not want things to
                    be as they are.  

RYOUKO blinks, and opens her mouth to ask what WASHUU means by that, when  
TENCHI breaks in.

                                    TENCHI
                    Since the dawn of our people, the
                    Emperor has had two wives.  One to
                    represent his eternal binding to
                    the people of Jurai.  The other to
                    represent his committment to the
                    Universe of which Jurai is a part.
                    BEAT The Princess Sasami has
                    consented to represent, for me,
                    the people of Jurai.  

TENCHI smiles down at SASAMI, who smiles back up at him.  Our view tilts  
to include AYEKA, who is looking up at him with tear-filled eyes.   
TENCHI's smile fades.  Cut to a close shot of RYOUKO's face.  She is VERY  
happy to hear this.

                                    RYOUKO
                    WHISPERED All right!  

TENCHI pauses for a long moment, his eyes looking across the room.   
Finally, he settles on the trio of MIHOSHI (who is excited), RYOUKO (who  
is also excited), and WASHUU (who is downcast).  He takes a deep breath.

                                    TENCHI
                    Hakubi Washuu, will you consent to
                    represent the Universe?  E

verything goes into very slow motion.  RYOUKO blinks.  She stares up at  
TENCHI.  He's serious.  She begins to shake.  WASHUU slowly steps up to 
stand between RYOUKO and TENCHI.

                                    WASHUU
                    SOFT I will.  

RYOUKO is shaking violently now.  Tears are flowing from her eyes, which  
are glowing.  Electricity is crackling from her hands.  WASHUU slowly  
turns to face her daughter.  Her face is in anguish.

                                    WASHUU
                    WHISPER Do it.  

RYOUKO's face is clenched in utter hate.  She lets out a horrid cry of  
rage, and shoots straight up, through the roof, and up into the  
atmosphere, where there is a sudden discharge of energy that is almost  
blinding in its intensity.  

Cut back to TENCHI, whose expression is nearly as downcast as WASHUU's.

                                    TENCHI
                    SOTTO VOCE She took that better
                    than I thought ...  

Cut to an exterior shot of the royal palace.  RYOUKO is sitting on the  
edge of the roof, sobbing.  She is utterly devastated.  A trapdoor behind  
her opens up, but she takes no notice.

                                 TENCHI (O.S.)
                    Ryouko?  

RYOUKO's sobbing abates a bit, and she turns to look at the open trapdoor,  
her expression seeming more outraged.

                                 TENCHI (O.S.)
                    Can we talk?  

RYOUKO generates her blade.

                                    RYOUKO
                    IF YOU COME UP HERE YOU'D BETTER BE
                    READY FOR A FIGHT THAT'LL MAKE OUR
                    FIRST GO-ROUND LOOK LIKE A FUN GAME
                    OF TAG, YOU BASTARD SON OF A BITCH!  

There is a momentary pause.

                                 TENCHI (O.S.)
                    Ryouko, please let me try to explain
                    why ... just give me ten minutes.
                    If I can't explain things to your
                    satisfaction by then ...

                                    RYOUKO
                    What?!  You'll say to that pack of
                    overbred shits, `Changed my mind,
                    I'm marrying the demon pirate'?

                                 TENCHI (O.S.)
                    No.  I'll let you kill me.  

RYOUKO stares at the trap door, breathing heavily.

                                    RYOUKO
                    You expect me to buy that?  They'll
                    just let me go after I kill the
                    crown prince?  What sort of an
                    idiot ...

                                 TENCHI (O.S.)
                    They will.  I've just given orders
                    to that effect, and Azusa's backing
                    me on it.  BEAT  Which probably
                    means he wants you to kill me ...
                    but anyway, I give you my word that
                    you'll be free to go.  And you know
                    that I always keep my word.  

RYOUKO stares fixedly at the trap door for a few seconds.  Then she looks  
away.

                                    RYOUKO
                    Get up here.  And this had better be
                    one hell of an explanation.  

TENCHI emerges from the trap door.  He is wearing his usual outfit (the  
one he wore in the OAVs), and the Master Key is conspicuously absent from  
his belt.

                                    TENCHI
                    I'm sorry that I hurt you ...

                                    RYOUKO
                    NOT LOOKING AT HIM Cut to the
                    chase.  

TENCHI sighs and looks at Jurai's setting red sun.

                                    TENCHI
                    Azusa didn't want to make me his
                    heir.  He demanded that I be giving
                    Jurai something more substantial
                    than whatever gene or something that
                    allows me to ... anyway, the only
                    thing that I had to bargain with
                    was Washuu.  BEAT  When she first
                    met great-grandmother, Washuu said
                    that she wouldn't help develop
                    anyone's technology.  That satisfied
                    some of the cooler hotheads on the
                    council -- if they weren't going to
                    get improvements to Jurai's ships,
                    at least nobody else would get any
                    either.  Stalemate.  It satisfied
                    some of them.  But not all.  BEAT
                    I managed to talk Washuu into it.
                    It was surprisingly easy.  BEAT
                    She loves me, Ryouko.  

RYOUKO chokes back a comment.

                                    TENCHI
                    She said something about how she'd
                    sworn to make me hers ... and I'd
                    wound up making her mine.  I didn't
                    know what to say to that. BEAT
                    Ayeka was nearly as broken up as ...

                                    RYOUKO
                    I don't give two shakes of a shthazi
                    ass how Ayeka feels, or why you're
                    marrying Sasami instead of her!  

RYOUKO turns to look at TENCHI, her sword still out and blazing.

                                    RYOUKO
                    WHY THE FUCK IS THIS SHITTY EMPIRE
                    SO GODDAMN IMPORTANT TO YOU, THAT
                    YOU'D *MARRY* THAT *HAG*?!

                                    TENCHI
                    I don't care about the Empire!  But
                    Ryouko, they *know*.  Those overbred
                    shits, as you called them, know that
                    there's something unusual about
                    Earth, now.  They know that a child
                    of Jurain and human extraction can
                    be potentially more powerful than a
                    full-bred Jurain.  The only way I
                    can protect Earth from them is to
                    take the throne.  BEAT  I don't
                    want this, Ryouko!  I don't want to
                    marry Washuu!  I don't even want to
                    marry Sasami ... at least not *now*.
                    BEAT  But ... it's my duty.  

TENCHI looks away from RYOUKO's anguished face.

                                    TENCHI
                    Washuu isn't happy about it either.
                    She loves me, but she wanted me to
                    *choose* her.  That's why she was
                    going to let you kill her ... she
                    thought it might leave the way open
                    for you ...

                                    RYOUKO
                    This isn't how it's supposed to be!
                    Why isn't this going like a love
                    story should?!

                                    TENCHI
                    It is, Ryouko.  Many Japanese love
                    stories have unhappy endings ... and
                    if this isn't an unhappy ending ...  

RYOUKO looks like she's about to start sobbing again.  TENCHI speaks  
without looking at her.

                                    TENCHI
                    Well, Ryouko?  Did I convince you?
                    Or will you kill me?  

RYOUKO pushes herself up to a standing position.  Her sword is still  
"unsheathed".  She walks slowly to where TENCHI is standing, his back to  
her.

                                    RYOUKO
                    Turn around.  

TENCHI slowly turns to face her.  His face is bleak.

                                    RYOUKO 
                   Tell me that you don't love me.

                                    TENCHI
                    No.  I won't do that, Ryouko. BEAT
                    I do love you.  

RYOUKO deactivates her sword.  She closes her eyes.

                                    RYOUKO
                    Damn you.  I could never hurt you,
                    Tenchi.  I hate you.  I love you.
                    SHOUTED  WHY COULDN'T YOU HAVE
                    LEFT ME IN THAT CAVE?

                                    TENCHI
                    I'm sorry.  

RYOUKO turns away from him as he reaches out towards her.

                                    RYOUKO
                    Go away.  Just.  Go.  AWAY!  

TENCHI, his head bowed, walks back to the trapdoor, and heads down.   
RYOUKO returns to her perch, holding her face in her hands for a long  
moment.  Finally, she lifts her head up, and looks down at the grounds far  
below.  She sees someone gazing up at her, but can't quite make the figure  
out.  

Cut to AYEKA, standing alone in a park holding a pair of binoculars,  
staring up at the palace.  From her point of view, we can see that RYOUKO  
is sitting in the same place and much the same position as when she raided  
Jurai (as revealed in Ayeka's flashback in OAV #3).  AYEKA silently looks  
up at her with a hopeless expression.  

We pull back from AYEKA's eyes.  She is watching RYOUKO watching TENCHI.   
She sighs, and shakes her head.

                                   SERENITY
                    ... sadly for us all, her first
                    major operation as the Commissioner
                    of the Galaxy Police, supervising
                    the evacuation of the ARM during
                    the so-called Nanoclysm, was also
                    her last.  BEAT  During a recent
                    computer upgrade, a recording of her
                    final transmission was uncovered.
                    BEAT Unless there is an objection,
                    it will be played now ...  

There is no objection, although TSUNAMI looks a bit concerned.  The  
recording emanates from the memorial.  MIHOSHI sounds a bit more mature  
than she usually does -- this is a MIHOSHI who has grown up.  A little.

                                MIHOSHI (V.O.)
                    ... repeat, all Terran ships are
                    requested to proceed in an orderly
                    manner through the checkpoints we
                    have set up, so that we can ensure
                    that no traces of the Nodachi
                    virus are escaping ... any ships
                    attempting to evade the checkpoint
                    will be fired upon ...  

There is a sudden explosion.  MIHOSHI lets out a screech.

                                MIHOSHI (V.O.)
                    OWIEOWIEOWIE!  What was ...  

There is a long silence, punctuated by bumping noises.  They stop.  When 
MIHOSHI's voice returns, it is very sad.

                                MIHOSHI (V.O.)
                    If Queen Serenity is recieving this,
                    could you please respond?

                                SERENITY (V.O.)
                    Yes, Commissioner?

                                MIHOSHI (V.O.)
                    Ano ... I've got a little problem.

                                SERENITY (V.O.)
                    We will be glad to render you any
                    assistance --

                                MIHOSHI (V.O.)
                    Well, I don't think there's going to
                    be anything you can do ... ano, one
                    of the Nodachi-infected ships fired
                    a torpedo at my ship.  And it sorta
                    ... hit.

                                SERENITY (V.O.)
                    Then ...

                                MIHOSHI (V.O.)
                    ... my ship's main computer has been
                    taken over by a copy of the virus.
                    BEAT It's going to be okay,
                    though.

                                SERENITY (V.O.)
                    Really?  

SERENITY is right on the verge of tears.

                                MIHOSHI (V.O.)
                    Yes ... when the situation was
                    explained, the Galaxy Police made
                    sure to put a ... a backup computer
                    on board each of our ships, in case
                    something like this happened.

                                SERENITY (V.O.)
                    Then you retain control of your
                    vessel?  

There is a long pause.

                                SERENITY (V.O.)
                    Commisioner?  Mihoshi?  

It becomes obvious that MIHOSHI is crying quietly.

                                MIHOSHI (V.O.)
                    I ... I'm sorry, Your Majesty.  No.
                    The backup controls communications
                    and ... another system.

                                SERENITY (V.O.)
                    Could you clarify, please.

                                MIHOSHI (V.O.)
                    BAWLING It's true.  All the time,
                    they told me what a screw up I am.
                    And here I am, screwing up this ...
                    oh, Tenchi is going to HATE me!  

TENCHI closes his eyes and sucks in a shuddering breath.  TSUNAMI looks at  
him alarmedly.

                                SERENITY (V.O.)
                    No!  You have not screwed anything
                    up, Mihoshi, really!  And ... his
                    Majesty does not hate you.  Why would
                    you --

                                MIHOSHI (V.O.)
                    TINY You really don't think so?

                                SERENITY (V.O.)
                    No.  No, of course not.  BEAT
                    Mihoshi, what systems do you have --

                                MIHOSHI (V.O.)
                    Thank you, your Majesty.  SNIFF
                    Please tell Tenchi that I hope he
                    and Tsunami and Washuu have lots of
                    children ... oh, and please tell
                    my husband to remarry, to give our
                    children a new mother.

                                SERENITY (V.O.)
                    Mihoshi?!

                                MIHOSHI (V.O.)
                    Backup, Self-Destruct, pl--  

The transmission disintegrates into static, which fades after a moment.   
Everyone present is visibly affected.  SERENITY clears her throat.

                                   SERENITY
                    Recently.  Recently I said to ...
                    someone, that I would give my life,
                    if it were mine to give, to restore
                    anyone who has ever given their life
                    for Crystal Tokyo. BEAT  Mihoshi
                    and the other Galaxy Police Officers
                    who perished on that wicked day are
                    not the least among those ...  

SERENITY can't seem to go on.  She presses a button on the lectern, which  
causes a hologram of MIHOSHI, waving and smiling, to arise from the  
monument.  

Cut to PRISS, who is standing some distance from the monument, looking  
down on the gathering from a hill.  Finally, she walks off.  

Cut to an office -- a rather disorganized one.  Papers cover a desk in a  
jumble, several discs are scattered on top of a disc player, dust covers a  
section that hasn't been used in some time.  Behind the desk sits the  
DEAN, who is reading a book whose spine indicates that it is entitled  
"Bubblegum Crisis:  Megatokyo 2025-2045" by K. Shonnora.  There is a  
knocking at the door.

                                     DEAN
                    Enter!  

PRISS walks into the room, notes her surroundings.  The DEAN looks up, and  
does a double take before suddenly coming to his feet.

                                     DEAN
                    Oh!  Uh, Ms. Asagiri!  I ... I was
                    expecting you to *call* first, and
                    so ...

                                     PRISS
                    Yeah, well, I didn't.  You mentioned
                    Sylia's journal.

                                     DEAN
                    Right.  I had it printed and bound
                    just this morning ...  

The DEAN starts searching his desk, muttering to himself as he does.

                                     PRISS
                    `Had it printed and bound'?

                                     DEAN
                    Well ... (Romanova's Grimoire, no)
                    you didn't think that we had a hard
                    copy, did you?  (Romanova's OTHER
                    Grimoire, no)  After nearly nine
                    hundred years?  (Quincy: Portrait of
                    a Demigod, no)  And in any case, Ms.
                    Stingray's journal was originally
                    published (AD Police Files:  The
                    Transcripts, no) in the format of a
                    word processor document and released
                    to the network in that manner.  So
                    (Ye True Grimoire of Romanova ...
                    haven't read that one ...) it isn't
                    that unusual.  (A Journal ... AH-
                    HAH!)  Here it is!  

He holds up a thick volume, about the same thickness as a typical  
introductory university science textbook, and hands it to PRISS.  The  
cover is labelled "A Journal: 2011-2041, by Sylia Stingray".  PRISS almost  
seems to tremble as she holds it.

                                     PRISS
                    Thanks.  I'll read this and get back
                    to you in a bit.

                                     DEAN
                    BLINKS You don't have any comments
                    at the outset?

                                     PRISS
                    Like I kept telling you, I don't
                    remember anything ... well, hardly
                    anything, after 2033.  And I'm not
                    ready to talk about that part yet.

                                     DEAN
                    Damn.  I was hoping that had cleared
                    up enough for you to discuss the
                    ADAMA incident ...

                                     PRISS
                    The what?

                                     DEAN
                    Read the journal.  You'll find out.  

PRISS shrugs, and is about to leave, when SHEILA TENKAI comes into the  
room, carrying another large arm load of papers, which she promptly sets  
down on the desk with a triumphant grin.

                                    SHEILA
                    EUREKA!

                                     DEAN
                    You've found it?

                                    SHEILA
                    Proof positive that the tenth senshi
                    *was* active during the years of
                    Silence.  I'm going to need a better
                    translator -- the dialect of Greek
                    they were using in the twenty-fifth
                    century resembles Modern about as
                    much as Modern looks like Classical,
                    but the term for `pink-haired' was
                    unmistakable.  She was apparently
                    involved in some sort of adventure
                    with the Inverted Wizard ...  

SHEILA realizes that PRISS is looking at her, and turns to meet her gaze.   
She blinks.

                                    SHEILA
                    Oh.  Uh, hello again.

                                     PRISS
                    WAVES Yo.

                                     DEAN
                    Sheila?  You've ... met Ms. Asagiri
                    already?

                                    SHEILA
                    Uh ... sort of.

                                     DEAN
                    TRAGIC EXPRESSION And ... you
                    didn't tell me?  FACE IN HANDS Oh
                    God I'm depressed now.

                                     PRISS
                    Get a grip.  

The DEAN lays his head on the desk.  SHEILA appears very embarrassed.

                                    SHEILA
                    Well, we *met*, but it's not like we
                    were introduced.  BEAT I'm Sheila,
                    by the way.  Sheila Tenkai.

                                     PRISS
                    Pleased to meet you.  I guess you
                    already know who I am?

                                    SHEILA
                    NODS I'm pretty well-acquainted
                    with your story ... comes from being
                    someone's research assistant for a
                    while.  

There is a gentle knock at the door.  It opens, and AYEKA is standing on  
the threshold.

                                     AYEKA
                    Ah!  Ms. Asagiri, I'm glad that I
                    caught you.

                                     PRISS
                    What?

                                     AYEKA
                    Lady Mars informed me that you were
                    going to be here, and I was hoping
                    to find you ... VERY FORMAL His
                    Imperial Majesty, Tenchi, Lord of
                    Jurai and the Empire, craves your
                    presence, that he might properly
                    give you his thanks for your efforts
                    on his behalf, recently.

                                     PRISS
                    He wants to see me about that bit
                    with the assassin last night?

                                     AYEKA
                    That *is* what I just *said*.

                                     PRISS
                    Okay, I guess I can fit him in.  

AYEKA raises her eyebrows at PRISS' flippancy.  SHEILA's eyes have grown  
large listening to this exchange.

                                    SHEILA
                    Wait ... then it *was* you who let
                    Lord Tenchi's bodyguard know that
                    there was an assassin in the crowd
                    last night?

                                     PRISS
                    Yep.  

SHEILA turns to AYEKA

                                    SHEILA
                    In that case, Lady Ayeka, I ask
                    you for permission to record the
                    audience between His Majesty and
                    Ms. Asagiri, for our archives of
                    Knight Sabre footage.  

She looks back at the DEAN, who still has his head on the desk.

                                    SHEILA
                    Uh ... that is unless someone with
                    seniority objects ...  

The DEAN doesn't look up, but lifts a hand to wave them all away.

                                     DEAN
                    Go on ... scoop me ... my life is
                    already meaningless ...

                                    SHEILA
                    Oh, how nice.  BACK TO AYEKA Well?  

AYEKA considers.

                                     AYEKA
                    I think it can be arranged.  We must
                    reserve the right to censor the tape
                    if any information critical to our
                    security is revealed in the audience
                    however.  

SHEILA nods quickly.  PRISS has been watching this with a confused  
expression.

                                     AYEKA
                    Well, Ms. Asagiri, I will conduct
                    you to Lord Tenchi's rooms ...  

AYEKA leads a bored PRISS and an excited SHEILA, who is carrying a  
minicamera, down the hallway.

                                     PRISS
                    Would you please tell me what the
                    big deal about this is?

                                    SHEILA
                    You ought to know that the Knight
                    Sabres are considered major heroes
                    among a broad spectrum of Crystal
                    Tokyo's population -- there's been
                    movies made about you, fictionalized
                    novels about your exploits ...

                                     PRISS
                    Okay, so?

                                    SHEILA
                    So, a meeting between a major power
                    like Lord Tenchi and the last Knight
                    Sabre is *historically* significant.  

SHEILA lifts up the camera and trains it on PRISS.  Our point of view is  
through the camera lens.

                                 SHEILA (O.S.)
                    Do you have any idea why, apart from
                    your recent actions, he might want
                    to speak with you?  

PRISS avoids looking into the camera.

                                     PRISS
                    Nope.  He was staring at me for a
                    while after it all came down, but
                    I don't know why.  BEAT I just
                    hope he doesn't hate my guts for
                    no clearly defined reason ...

                                 SHEILA (O.S.)
                    Oh?  Have you encounted people who
                    are hostile towards you in Crystal
                    Tokyo?

                                     PRISS
                    I've met a lot of people who seem
                    to not really give a shit about
                    me as a person, a few people who
                    wanna lay a guilt trip on me for
                    some things, and one person who
                    apparently wants me dead.

                                 SHEILA (O.S.)
                    Care to tell us who it is that
                    wants you dead?  A relative of one
                    of the people you injured during
                    the Daeden affair?  Or ...

                                     PRISS
                    It's Lady Jupiter, all right?  

PRISS keeps on walking, but our camera view of her stops.  PRISS goes on  
for a few moments, then realizes that she's walking alone, and turns back  
to look at the camera.

                                     PRISS
                    Hey?  What's the matter?  

Cut to a shot of SHEILA lowering the camera with a shocked expression.

                                    SHEILA
                    Lady Jupiter ... wants you dead?

                                     PRISS
                    She certainly seems to be upset that
                    I'm still alive. BEAT Aw, don't
                    tell me.  You're a friend of hers.  

SHEILA grins sheepishly.

                                    SHEILA
                    Um ... not exactly.

                                     PRISS
                    Huh?

                                    SHEILA
                    She's ... sort of ... my mom.  

A brief, awkward pause ensues.

                                     PRISS
                    `Sort of'?

                                    SHEILA
                    She kind of adopted me when my
                    parents died when I was little.

                                     PRISS
                    FLAT Oh.  

Another brief, awkward pause ensues.

                                    SHEILA
                    Uh ... we'd better hurry up ...  

She heads off down the corridor, leaving PRISS standing where she was.

                                     PRISS
                    FLAT Shit.  

PRISS starts walking again, at her normal pace.

                                     PRISS
                    MUTTERED Why am I so upset?  So I
                    just bad mouthed her to her kid.  So
                    what? BEAT Where the hell have I
                    *seen* her before?  

Cut to an shadowed office with a desk and a picture of SERENITY on the  
wall.  At the desk, an orange-haired woman is slumped, her face flat on  
the desk.  The door to the office opens, and SHAMPOO walks in, reading a  
clipboard.

                                    SHAMPOO
                    Jeheniah, I hope that you've got
                    that report typed up.  

SHAMPOO looks up from the clipboard and notices that her secretary is  
lying with her face down on the desk.  Immediately, SHAMPOO drops the  
clipboard, and assumes a fighting stance.

                                 RYOUGA (V.O.)
                    Stop that.  

SHAMPOO looks warily around the office without abandoning her stance.

                                    SHAMPOO
                    What did you do to my secretary?  Do
                    you have any idea how long it'll
                    take to get a new one broken in?

                                 RYOUGA (V.O.)
                    I didn't do anything lasting.  I'm
                    glad to see that you're still the
                    same ruthless --

                                    SHAMPOO
                    How are you doing this?

                                 RYOUGA (V.O.)
                    Do you actually think I'm going to
                    tell you how I learned the shinobi
                    techniques?  

SHAMPOO is shocked.

                                    SHAMPOO
                    Shinobi?  *You*?  Ryouga ...

                                 RYOUGA (V.O.)
                    *He* doesn't let scruples get in the
                    way of his training.  Neither can I.
                    BEAT Tell him I'm coming.

                                    SHAMPOO
                    I don't even know where he *is*.  

There is a long silence.  SHAMPOO's eyes dart from side to side.

                                 RYOUGA (V.O.)
                    He will be visiting her grave this
                    evening.  Tell him then.

                                    SHAMPOO
                    If you know that he'll be there, why
                    not attack him then?  

There is another long silence.

                                 RYOUGA (V.O.)
                    You'd have me violate her resting
                    place?  

SHAMPOO's eyes close in concentration for a moment ... then they flash  
open as she pivots, striking backwards in a powerful kick that hits  
*something*.

                                 RYOUGA (V.O.)
                    That was dumb.  

SHAMPOO's leg twists in ways that a human leg is not meant to twist, and  
she lets out a hollow scream.  RYOUGA begins to materialize, his hands  
gripping her foot.  The last part of his body to become visible is his  
head ... and his cold, lifeless eyes.

                                    RYOUGA
                    Be glad that I need you, Shampoo.
                    Otherwise, I'd probably kill you.
                    BEAT Instead of your secretary.  

He lets SHAMPOO's leg drop, and she falls to the floor.  RYOUGA begins to  
walk towards the desk.

                                    SHAMPOO
                    FRANTIC Ryouga!  Don't do that!
                     She's not involved!  Don't!  

RYOUGA pauses, and turns back to look at her.  His fangs show as he  
speaks.

                                    RYOUGA
                    Yes.  That's the worst part.  Isn't
                    it?  

We cut to the exterior of the door leading into the office, which has a  
sign that says "Do Not Disturb".  We hear a tearing noise, and SHAMPOO's  
scream.  

Cut to a living room.  TENCHI is seated on a couch, staring ahead.  Our  
view changes to include PRISS, seated on a couch on the other side of a  
table, sipping at a cup of tea.  SHEILA is standing off to one side,  
recording everything.  PRISS eventually returns TENCHI's stare.  It is an  
awkward moment.

                                     PRISS
                    Ah ... Lord Tenchi, you really don't
                    have to thank me for pointing out
                    that assassin ... it's ... sort of
                    in the job description.

                                    TENCHI
                    True enough.  That's not the real
                    reason that I invited you here.  You
                    see --

                                     PRISS
                    Uh, just a minute.  Before you go
                    any further, you should be aware
                    that my memories ...

                                    TENCHI
                    I've been briefed on your situation,
                    Ms. Asagiri.  However, my knowledge
                    of you -- I gather that you have
                    guessed that I knew of you before
                    yesterday?  

PRISS nods.

                                    TENCHI
                    My knowledge of you is not derived
                    from any encounters we had during
                    the period of your memories that is
                    inaccessible to you.  BEAT In
                    the autumn of 2032, you befriended
                    a young boy, named Sho, and his
                    mother --

                                     PRISS
                    Yeah ... so?

                                    TENCHI
                    In 1995, my father's elder sister
                    gave birth to a son ... my cousin.
                    The line of Jurai was weak in my
                    father's family, and my cousin aged
                    and lived like a Terran, unaware of
                    his heritage ... until he died, in
                    2030.  BEAT Leaving a widow and
                    son.  

In a moment, PRISS grasps what TENCHI is saying, and looks shocked.

                                     PRISS
                    W-wait a minute, you're saying that
                    Sho was ...

                                    TENCHI
                    My second cousin.  BEAT  Whose
                    life you saved, Priscilla Asagiri.

                                     PRISS
                    What ... what happened to him?  I
                    kept track of him at the orphanage,
                    but ...

                                    TENCHI
                    We retrieved him from that place two
                    years later.  He spent the rest of
                    his life on Jurai.  BEAT  He spoke
                    of you with a great deal of respect,
                    which I find myself sharing.  If
                    there is any service I or the Empire
                    of Jurai can offer you, Ms. Asagiri,
                    name it.  

PRISS settles back into the couch, wide-eyed.

                                     PRISS
                    Whooooooo ...  

Cut to another office, behind which NOA is filling out some paperwork.   
NURIKO, a seemingly young woman whose hair is tied in a long pony tail  
that is slung over the shoulder, enters at a run.

                                    NURIKO
                    Chief!  The word just came down ...  

NOA doesn't look up from her paperwork.

                                      NOA
                    Yes, the Senshi are sending one of
                    the Palladins to assist us in our
                    investigation into Alphonse's k--
                    COUGH theft.

                                    NURIKO
                    That's great!  Do you happen to
                    know which one?  BEAT It wouldn't
                    be that gorgeous guy Allen, would
                    it?  

NOA looks up amusedly.

                                      NOA
                    They didn't specify, but I don't
                    think it's going to be him.  He's
                    under Lady Jupiter's supervision,
                    not Lady Mars.

                                    NURIKO
                    Damn!

                                      NOA
                    Nuriko, could you please control
                    your hormones?  This is a serious
                    affair.  BEAT  I didn't tell her
                    the whole story.  

NURIKO's eyes widen.

                                      NOA
                    Close the door.  

NURIKO obliges, and comes over to stand in front of the desk.

                                      NOA
                    As far as the Palace is concerned,
                    the labors that were stolen were
                    purely ceremonial ones; a bit
                    better maintained than the patrol
                    labors.  They don't know that they
                    incorporated the TC technology we've
                    been experimenting with.

                                    NURIKO
                    Chief ...

                                      NOA
                    And the Palladin cannot be allowed
                    to find this out either!  If the
                    circumstances behind the theft are
                    what I *think* they are, the brown
                    stuff is about to hit the fan.

                                    NURIKO
                    So what is the plan?

                                      NOA
                    Play up the theory that the labors
                    were stolen by one of the Anti-
                    Monarchy groups that didn't get
                    broken up for terrorism.  If the
                    investigator suggests that they
                    may have had contacts inside, get
                    angry ... but if they can come up
                    with proof, go with it -- and if
                    they start to focus on one of the
                    Anti-Serenity moles that we know
                    about, pounce on 'em.

                                    NURIKO
                    Right.  BEAT  You're pretty good
                    at this sort of thing, Chief.  

NOA smiles wearily.

                                      NOA
                    I learned from a master.  SIGH
                    I never thought I'd be sitting in
                    his chair though.  BEAT I always
                    ... never mind.  Remind everyone to
                    cooperate with this person, when he
                    or she shows up.  BEAT As far as
                    it goes.  

NURIKO nods, and heads out, closing the door behind.  NOA leans back in  
her chair, looking up at the ceiling.  She pulls open the top right desk  
drawer, and pulls out a framed photo, looking down at it.  It's a photo of  
herself, looking at least a decade or more older, standing beside a tall,  
serious faced man about the same age (SHINOHARA ASUMA).

                                      NOA
                    I miss you.  I wish ...  

NOA closes her eyes in a sudden spasm of pain.  Sound effects of a battle  
play.

                                 ASUMA (V.O.)
                    Noa!  NOA!  DAMN YOU YOU BASTARDS,
                    YOU KILLED MY WIFE!  

An explosion.  NOA's eyes jerk open.

                                      NOA
                    I wish you'd made sure ...  

Cut to a balcony high on the Crystal Palace, facing the setting sun.   
PRISS leans on the railing.  SHEILA approaches, carrying a pair of cans.

                                    SHEILA
                    Here you go.  

She tosses one to PRISS, who catches it easily.

                                     PRISS
                    Thanks.  

She opens, and sips it.

                                    SHEILA
                    Are you okay?

                                     PRISS
                    I guess.  Just a little ... weird.
                    BEAT First I find out that half
                    the jobs we pulled that I can't
                    remember were given to us by *them*,
                    and now I find out that I saved a
                    kid that was part alien royalty.
                    It's just so ... it's like I'm
                    wondering whether or not it's gonna
                    turn out that when we took out the
                    Griffon, we accidentally saved
                    billions of people's lives.

                                    SHEILA
                    BEAT The Griffon?

                                     PRISS
                    Pumped up supercar.  Before your
                    time.

                                    SHEILA
                    SOTTO VOCE Wouldn't count on that.

                                     PRISS
                    What?

                                    SHEILA
                    Sounds to me like you're starting to
                    consider the consequences of your
                    actions.

                                     PRISS
                    Yeah ... yeah, I never really gave
                    a lot of thought to what was gonna
                    happen afterwards.  Largely because
                    I never really figured on being
                    there, but ...

                                     SHEILA
                    It's not all that different from the
                    way that the Senshi behaved in their
                    youth.

                                     PRISS
                    They were passively suicidal?

                                    SHEILA
                    I wouldn't go that far, but they
                    were reactive, rather than pro-
                    active.  They'd learn about an
                    `enemy' and then wait to see what
                    it'd do before responding.  It took
                    a serious blow to their morale to
                    get them to start actively working
                    to benefit the world.

                                     PRISS
                    Lemme guess -- Serena's death,
                    right?  

SHEILA stares at PRISS, astounded.

                                    SHEILA
                    You *know* about Serena?

                                     PRISS
                    Raye mentioned --

                                    SHEILA
                    That's incredible.  BEAT  Anyway,
                    you're right.  After Serena died,
                    and Neo-Queen Serenity took over,
                    they began to pursue an agenda for
                    the first time -- that of staving
                    off the Apocalypse.  They managed,
                    for a long while.  They chose agents
                    and made alliances; they gave it all
                    they had.  BEAT  And it still
                    wasn't enough.  Which only made them
                    even more concerned with ensuring
                    that their actions as few negative
                    consequences as possible.  That's
                    really what Crystal Tokyo is -- an
                    attempt to create a society that
                    can withstand another Apocalypse,
                    and rebuild afterwards.  

SHEILA notices that PRISS is hanging on her every word, and flushes,  
before she takes a sip of her soft drink.

                                     PRISS
                    Uh-huh.  Lemme guess, you're the
                    official Historian of the Senshi.  

SHEILA grins sheepishly, and rubs the back of her head.

                                    SHEILA
                    Not yet, but I'm working on it.  I
                    guess it's only natural ...

                                     PRISS
                    From being raised by one of them.  

SHEILA hesitates for a moment.

                                    SHEILA
                    Actually, my natural parents were
                    both Senshi.  

PRISS pauses in lifting the can to her lips.

                                     PRISS
                    Your mom and dad were Senshi?  I
                    don't remember hearing any legends
                    about male Sailor Soldiers ...  

PRISS drinks.

                                    SHEILA
                    Well ... I didn't actually have a
                    dad.  I had two female parents.  

PRISS starts to choke.  

Cut to the THRONE ROOM.  This time, however, it is filled with people,  
standing in line to speak with SERENITY, who is seated on her throne,  
listening to each petitioner politely.  JUPITER stands behind the throne,  
while standing nearby and observing are WASHUU and TSUNAMI.

                                 WASHUU (V.O.)
                    Not quite like home, is it?

                                TSUNAMI (V.O.)
                    No, indeed it's not.  The evening
                    court is usually much larger -- but
                    those who come to speak to our
                    husband are rarely of Jurai's non-
                    noble castes ...

                                 WASHUU (V.O.)
                    Stupid elitist sons of ...  

TSUNAMI eyes WASHUU wearily.

                                TSUNAMI (V.O.)
                    Let's not start that argument again.
                    As I recall, the last time we got to
                    talking about the system We set up
                    on Jurai, we wound up not speaking
                    for a decade.

                                 WASHUU (V.O.)
                    You will at least allow me to
                    express my contempt for hereditary
                    government?

                                TSUNAMI (V.O.)
                    You just did, Sister.  

WASHUU gives TSUNAMI a flat glare.  Finally, they both smile at each  
other.

                                 WASHUU (V.O.)
                    How is he?  He hasn't spoken to me
                    since the service this afternoon.

                                TSUNAMI (V.O.)
                    He was very hurt by the recording.
                    BEAT He had always known that even
                    after her marriage, he remained in
                    her heart, but ...  

TSUNAMI shakes her head.

                                 WASHUU (V.O.)
                    Yeah ... there have been moments
                    when I'd wished that he'd taken the
                    other option ...

                                TSUNAMI (V.O.)
                    Sister!  We would not be separated
                    from you for --

                                 WASHUU (V.O.)
                    He loved her far more than he'll
                    ever love me, Tsunami.  BEAT  I
                    knew that going into this.  He
                    chose me because he knew that if he
                    didn't, I'd have to be exiled to
                    the depths of space to appease
                    Tokimi -- and he's far too soft-
                    hearted to do that.  BEAT Which
                    may be one of the reasons that I
                    love him so much ...  

TSUNAMI gently touches WASHUU's cheek.  They look at each other, deep red  
eye to green.

                                 WASHUU (V.O.)
                    I cried my last tears eons ago,
                    Sister. BEAT Now cut that out.
                    You'll give all these people the
                    idea that we spend our nights with
                    Tenchi in wild bouts of polyamatory
                    sex.  

TSUNAMI snorts gently.

                                TSUNAMI (V.O.)
                    He hasn't come to Us in nearly a
                    decade.  If I didn't know him so
                    well, I'd suspect he has a concubine
                    somewhere.  

They appear to consider the idea, then giggle.  

Our view changes to include SERENITY, who is watching TSUNAMI and WASHUU  
giggling and not really paying attention to the person adressing her, a  
young man in Renaissance garb.

                                   YOUNG MAN
                    ... and so, Your Radiant Majesty, I
                    submit unto you the petition, signed
                    by all four thousand residents of
                    Neo-Stratford, that we be granted
                    permission to make a holiday of our
                    annual Shakespearean performance.  

SERENITY blinks, and turns to look at him.

                                   SERENITY
                    All four thousand residents signed
                    your petition?  There were no voices
                    of dissent?

                                   YOUNG MAN
                    None whatsoever.

                                   SERENITY
                    Most extraordinary.  We needs must
                    have your petition examined by our
                    Department of Examinations ... but I
                    am certain that we can tentatively
                    approve it.

                                   YOUNG MAN
                    Thank you, your Majesty!  BOWS
                    And may we extend the invitation to
                    attend our day of revelry to you and
                    your court?

                                   SERENITY
                    SMILES I am certain that there are
                    those among my allies who will be
                    glad to witness it ... my own
                    schedule may not permit, but we may
                    arrange things otherwise.  

The YOUNG MAN bows again, and backs away.  A personable gentleman in a  
black suit (MICHAEL ORDENE) steps forward.  SERENITY blinks, VERY  
surprised.  JUPITER scowls.

                                   SERENITY
                    Mr. Ordene.  I did not think that I
                    should ever see you come to court.

                                MICHAEL ORDENE
                    Your Majesty.  Recent events have
                    convinced me that I have been ...
                    ill-advised to seek your removal
                    from the throne.

                                   SERENITY
                    Indeed?  I would very much like to
                    know what they were -- you have made
                    no secret of your outright contempt
                    for monarchy, although you are to be
                    credited with never once having been
                    implicated in a rebellious or
                    treasonous act, unlike many who
                    share your views.

                                MICHAEL ORDENE
                    Those ... *overzealous* comrades are
                    in fact the reason that I have come
                    tonight, your Majesty -- instead of
                    having a messenger deliver a petition
                    calling for your removal, as was my
                    wont.  I have come to apologize --

                                   SERENITY
                    We gladly accept your apology, Mr.
                    Ordene, even though there is no need
                    to apologize for having held a view
                    opposite to our own.  

ORDENE continues as if SERENITY had not interrrupted him.

                                MICHAEL ORDENE
                    And to deliver *this* petition.  

ORDENE snaps his fingers, and a girl in an office dress comes forward  
carring a thick folder, which she hands to him.

                                MICHAEL ORDENE
                    It, like each of my five petitions
                    calling for your resignation, has
                    been signed by one million persons
                    of legal age -- one percent of our
                    world's total population.  BEAT
                    The minimum number needed to demand
                    a referendum.  BEAT  "We, the
                    undersigned, aware of the opressive
                    and burdensome yoke that has been
                    laid upon the people of the one
                    hundred worlds of the Jurai Star
                    Kingdom ..."

                                 WASHUU (V.O.)
                    Sister, where are You?  Right at
                    this moment?

                                TSUNAMI (V.O.)
                    We are currently playing with Ryo-
                    oh-ki just inside of Pluto's
                    orbit.

                                 WASHUU (V.O.)
                    Get here.  *Now*.  We may need to
                    make a fast getaway.

                                MICHAEL ORDENE
                    "... call upon her Majesty, Serenity
                    of Earth, to end all diplomatic
                    relations with this foul mockery of
                    a government, and expel all Jurain
                    citizens within the Realm."  

There is a long silence.  SERENITY's voice, when she speaks, is  
deceptively mild.

                                   SERENITY
                    One million names.  That is ... very
                    remarkable.

                                MICHAEL ORDENE
                    Your Majesty will wish to have them
                    investigated, off course ... and you
                    will find that each of them is
                    sincere.  BEAT Just as with each
                    of my previous petitions.

                                   SERENITY
                    May I have a copy of this petition?  

ORDENE smiles, and hands it to her.

                                MICHAEL ORDENE
                    I have already forwarded a copy of
                    it to your Department of Exam--

                                   SERENITY
                    Thank you, Mr. Ordene.  We will
                    begin to check these names at once,
                    in the interest of dealing with
                    this matter quickly.

                                MICHAEL ORDENE
                    Of course.  

He bows, and steps back.  A young woman is about to come forward and take  
his place, when SERENITY speaks.

                                   SERENITY
                    In light of the massive task that
                    the Department of Examinations must
                    undertake this evening, I call an
                    early end to this evening's court.
                    Unless there are any petitions that
                    are a matter of life and death ...  

There is nothing from the crowd.

                                    JUPITER
                    Court adjourned.  

The Throne Room is cleared, quickly.  WASHUU and TSUNAMI are the last to  
head out, accompanied by JUPITER.

                                   SERENITY
                    Lady Washuu.  

At the doorway, WASHUU turns to look back.

                                   SERENITY
                    Please inform Lord Tenchi that I
                    would like to have a private meeting
                    with him at his earliest convenience
                    -- if not sooner.  

WASHUU nods.  The door closes behind them, and SERENITY is alone in the  
darkened throne room.

                                   SERENITY
                    I will not let you win.  

There is only silence from the shadows in response.

                            To Be Continued.  


Together Again: 2937 Chapter, 04/21/97