Here's chapter 3...  I'm taking summer courses right now, so there are only
a couple more things that I'm likely to be able to put out- namely, the
things which I've already completed a significant part of the next chapter
for- before classes end on the 12th.  There are only two left- Language
Lessons, Book 1, Chapter 2 (It's delayed while I do a little bit of
research- oddly enough, about cooking, though even most cooks of Japanese
foods wouldn't know the answers to what I'm asking, because it's about the
making of an ingredient that even most cooks purchase premade) and the
first part of an Ushio and Tora fic I started in the couple of days after
Otakon (I bought the set of Ushio and Tora tapes, and was inspired...
however, I'm struggling a bit to get it going).  Oh, and you'll probably be
getting Patlabor: Personal Files, Episode 09 before too long- I'm just
waiting for someone (who's initials are JH) to get back to me with
prereader comments.  I'll give her until I start Episode 10, at the latest-
which means she has plenty of time.

Um, there are other, more personal reasons that may delay replies to
things... namely, my grandmother is dying (the doctors have given her 2 to
3 weeks) from cancer, and while that seems to have given me a lot of
nervous energy with which I'm writing, it also means I have to stay off the
internet most of the day so that we can get the phone in case anything...
happens.  I will try to get back to everyone who sends me comments, but it
may be a while.

Well, enough about my status... the last part of this got a number of
comments (though I did have a complaint about lacking comments in the
pre-chapter notes which seemed to inspire most of those- especially since a
lot of them included comments on the Patlabor fanfic, as well), so I guess
y'all like it.  Here's Chapter 3.  As a note, this contains many more
spoilers for the Tylor movie than both previous parts combined- if that
concerns you, well... I don't know what to say.  Just a warning.

Oh, well... Enjoy.

Chapter 3

Dom was sitting at his desk, looking through some intelligence on the
upcoming assignment, when there came a knocking on his door.

"Enter," he said.

Shia Has walked in, carrying an electronic message pad.  "Dom, sir.  I
bring with me the composition of the Earth force that will be joining us."

Dom nodded, smiling slightly.  "Good- it's about time the Earth joined us
in trying to stop these terrorists.  They've been on the move for the
entire year since the war ended, though they've mostly been striking
against us.  But now that they are being attacked, too, they feel it
'important' that we work together as a 'demonstration of our new
friendship.'  So, which ships are they sending us?"

Shia Has shrugged.  "I don't know, sir- the information was given to me
sealed by the Empress with your personal code on it."

Dom's eyes widened.  "Is that so?"  Setting aside the intelligence reports,
he took the data pad from her.  "Leave me for the moment," he said.

"Yes, sir," Shia Has said, bowing as she left.

Keying up his password, Dom pressed the button for playback.  Instantly, a
holo-image of the Empress appeared.

"Hello, Dom," Azalyn's image said, smiling nervously.  "It has been a while
since we last talked.  Many times, I wish that you had not transferred from
my personal service, even though I do know the reason why...."

Dom's face fell slightly.  It had been a rather painful decision, but after
his reaction to Tylor's last visit he knew he was too close to the Empress
to protect her objectively.  Thankfully, she was willing to fulfill his
final request before his retirement- removing Wang as her advisor.  Wang
was the man responsible for convincing Azalyn to start the war with Earth,
and Dom suspected he was also responsible for the death of her father, as
well.  After he had become the Empress's advisor as well, he was able to
keep Wang in check- at least partially.  But now that they were both gone
from her service, Azalyn had been running things fairly well on her own. 
Wang had been made viceroy over a colonial region on the far side of the
Empire, but he had himself transferred anyway, as captain-commodore of the
small squadron that had been dedicated to hunt down terrorists. 
Officially, it was just a two year rotation assignment, and he would be
returned to the Empress's Personal Service in time, but he expected to be
able to make the appointment permanent.... it would be too painful to
return to her side.

"I felt I should let you know," Azalyn's image continued, "Who, exactly
will be on your team.  If you wish a transfer after I tell you, just let me
know and I will place you wherever you want to be..."

'It couldn't be...' Dom thought.

"Dom, the man who has been put in charge of the Earth Task Force is Pako
Pa... is Tylor.  His old ship was decomissioned following your last battle
with him, but he has been given a new one- the Tsunami."

"Damn!" Dom cursed.  "Tylor again.  Why can I not get him out of my life?" 
Then he thought about it a bit more.  "Well, not this time- I'll just ask
to be transferred.  He is NOT my problem- he is not fighting against us
this time, so someone else can deal with him."

"There... there is more," Azalyn continued, her face showing old pain. 
"Our intelligence reports that the girl... the girl that had been his lov-
his living companion was caught in a terrorist attack and hospitalized. 
Initially, he was going to turn down the assignment, but after the bomb
went off, he changed his mind."

Dom blinked.  "What was that?"

"Some of my advisors feel," Azalyn concluded, "That this information may be
rather important.  So... so do I.  If you can take this assignment, let me
know.  A description of the Tsunami and the makeup of the other two ships
under Tylor's command is enclosed.  That is all... for now."

The holo faded out, but Dom didn't stop staring at the spot where the
projection of his empress had been.

"Tylor let something phase him?  Damn... this is VERY bad.  It looks as if
I won't be able to stay out of this after all."

*	*	*	*	*

The assembled crew looked especially happy to be there and great Captain
Tylor at the shuttle dock.  Yuri and Emi ran out, down the ramp, and joined
the others who had come from the Soyokaze.  The whole crew then raised it's
hands in salute... and then came down as he walked in, revealing a pair of
sun glasses in a particular style covering each pair of eyes.

"Morning, everyone!" Tylor called as he walked to the center of the raised
platform he was used to making speeches from.  "I should probably say a few
words, as this time I'm going to be doing a bit more captain-stuff while
commanding this ship."

Some took his words with surprise, but most were used to ignoring
everything he said anyway, and didn't notice anything wierd about him. 
Those that did, however, began pulling those that weren't into paying
attention.

"Well, on board the Soyokaze, I had 'Do Whatever You Want' as standing
orders.  I'm afraid I can't leave it at that here in the Tsunami.  With
Yuriko injured and not able to do what she wants, however, I have to do it
for her- and so I'll be making a couple of rules that will remain in effect
until she is well enough to join our crew," he said.

The doctor, drinking down some of his sake, did a spit-take at that. 
"Rules?!"

"Not many- I don't want to forget who I am, after all.  The main rule is-
'Don't do anything which will reduce our ability to fight.'  The reason for
this is that we are not fighting people we can trick or escape through just
luck- we need to do more than just run away this time."  Tylor frowned. 
"Unlike when we are fighting the Raalgon, our current enemy is not being
ordered to fight- these people WANT to fight.  They want to ruin the peace,
and they don't care who they hurt in the process.  They want everyone to
kill everyone else, regardless of whether they are innocent or not.  And
because of that, I don't care if they die, either."  He paused for a
moment, and something flashed in his eyes.  "That's all for now.  I'll see
you later, but right now I need to make a call.  Lt. Yamamoto, take the
ship out of dock and set us on course for the rendezvous at the Raalgon
border.  If anyone needs me, just knock on my door."

Without giving anyone a chance for questions, he left the room.  Everyone
immediately started talking about the speech, stunned at some of the things
he had said.

"Rules?"

"He... doesn't care if they die?"

"What happened to Yuriko?"

"More captain-stuff?"

"You didn't hear?"

"Since when does TYLOR issue orders or rules?"

"What does 'nothing which will reduce our ability to fight' mean, anyway?"

"No, what?"

"Yuriko was hit by a terrorist attack!"

"Why the sudden change?"

"Weren't they lovers?"

That shut everyone up.  Of course, people sort of knew this already after
having heard the recording of Tylor's secret orders on their last mission,
and seen Yuriko's response in the hospital room.  But the implication that
he might be effected by someone attacking the woman he loved surprised them
all- he never seemed even remotely phased when anything bad happened to
them- or to him.  Furthermore, he'd never cared before when HE'D been the
one to hurt Yuriko, so why did her being slightly injured bother him so?

Suddenly, a rumor started circulating- that Yuriko had been pregnant with
Tylor's child... and that he had lost that child to the terrorists.

They all both loved and hated Tylor.  And they all at least liked Yuriko. 
That the child of those two people might have been hurt angered them all
terribly.  At that moment, they all began to feel something which could
best be described as the same stuff which inspired many crusades and holy
wars.  Those terrorists would have to answer to them.

*	*	*	*	*

Dom looked around.  It had been a while since he'd been aboard his
flagship, the Doraeme.  The last time, he had been trying to destroy the
man who he was soon going to be working closely with.  The last time, he
had been in a rage- more at himself than at anyone else.  But it was all
his fault that situation ended badly.  He had nearly destroyed the peace
before it had even started- and why?  Because he was jeal- because he did
not like seeing his empress treated that way?

Whatever the reason, he deeply regretted it now.  He was determined to make
it up to Tylor, and then to work with him to preserve the peace, and atone
for his mistakes.  Mistakes which he should never have made.

The elevator stopped, and the door opened.  He walked onto his bridge,
closed his eyes, and took in a deep, calming breath.

When he opened his eyes again, he nearly had a heart attack.  "Y-your
highness!" he stuttered.

"Hello, Dom," she said, smiling sadly.  "Long time, no see."

She was not dressed in her usual outfit- instead, she wore the uniform of
an officer- a luitenant, in fact.  She still carried the royal staff,
however, and had obviously not given up the throne.  In fact, her chair had
been installed into a corner of the room.

"What are you doing here?  And why are you dressed like that?!"

"I'm going with you- as both your Empress and your first officer," she
said.

"Wh- what?!"

"You heard me," Azalyn said indignantly.  "I have assigned myself as your
first officer for this mission.  I also had my throne installed on the
bridge so I could remain Empress- I do not want to have to deal with the
wild designs of another regent."

"But... why?"

She smiled playfully.  "Well, I'd think that would be obvious, after what
Wang did when he was last in charge..."

"No, I mean, why...."  He couldn't find the words to finish- why would she
want to be near him after all that he had done?

"Why just as your first officer?  Well, I've never been in command of a
ship before, so obviously I'm not ready to be that yet.  Still, as Empress
I need SOME rank with authority, so I had to make myself your luitenant,"
she said, still smiling.

Dom recovered slightly.  "No, my Empress.  You know that's not what I'm
asking."

Azalyn's smile fell with a sigh.  "This is important to me, Dom....  I know
that Pak- that Tylor is involved with that WOMAN, but... well, I still care
about him.  Also, this is important to my people- I've given them peace,
but the peace hasn't been stabilized yet.  My job as Empress is to change
that... and this time, I'm not going to be hiding behind the lines.  I'm
going to be out there, risking my life alongside our people, to show them
that I am commited to the peace.  If I... if I die, then I may become a
martyr for peace... just like my father became a martyr for war when he
died."

"I do not think you should risk your life just for that-

"There is one more thing...  I miss working with you.  You were always a
good advisor, my best captain, and a friend.  Perhaps things didn't quite
work out for the best last time, but if it weren't for you we'd never have
been in a position to ASK for peace."  She smiled at him again.  "Besides,
you need me- only together will we be able to understand Tylor.  You're the
best there is at guessing Tylor's next move, and I'm the only person still
on her feet who's walked through his mind."

Dom blinked.  "Walked through his mind?"

"When Tylor was captured the first time, Wang ordered an implant be placed
in his brain to make him more docile and controllable.  The crew of the
Soyokaze, after rescuing him, used an expiremental procedure to rescue him
that involved a device which allowed someone to walk through his mind. 
Yuriko and I volunteered to take that risk, and so we went in.  It was
very... confusing... but I learned a few things about him which may come in
handy.  For example, apparently one of his life's philosophies- one he
doesn't ever tell anyone- is 'Appear weak where you are strong.'  I really
don't understand how it fits into his life, but I recall it being from an
ancient Earth text known as 'The Art of War.'  I've never read it myself,
but it's supposed to be still relevant today despite being written
thousands of years ago..."

Dom nodded.  "I've heard of it... and I fully understand how it applies to
him.  His whole crew believes he's a dolt, but he's the most perceptive man
I've ever known- he figured out Wang after only a day as your pet, and he
knew you were on vacation from just the fact that you wouldn't see him the
moment we captured the Soyokaze the last time.  He knew the only solution
to the mass battle we had been planning during the first phase of the war
that would not resolve in one or both of our forces being utterly
destroyed.  Yet still, few people realize the extent to which his plans go-
he hides his brilliance by appearing to be unintelligent."  He frowned. 
"But there's another part to that quote... I wonder."

"Wonder what?"

"Empress, would you say that Tylor was unaffected by what goes on around
him?"

Azalyn nodded enthusiastically.  "Of course- no matter what happens, he's
always cheerful.  It's one of the things I like... liked... about him."

"The other part of that quote is 'Appear strong where you are weak.'  He is
very clever at hiding his mental strength... I wonder if he's just as
clever about hiding his pain when something effects him?"

Azalyn's eyes widened.  "Well, there was a part of his mind which was very
conflicted... saying that it hated both me and Yuriko, then that it loved
us, then...  Oh, my god.  He's never let anything phase him before, except
for Admiral Hanner's death.  But he couldn't do anything then.  He's
already shown that this attack on Yuriko has affected him- but now he can
do something about it!  Dom, what... what is he going to do?"

Dom nodded sagely.  "I know that if it were me, I would become totally
obsessed, and not even allow those I care about or respect get in the way
of exacting my revenge.  That is why-"  He stopped, not wanting to finish
that sentence.

"Why what?" Azalyn asked.

Dom shook his head, his eyes closed.  "It's not important, Empress."  He
looked up at her.  "Well, if you want to be my first officer, there's
nothing I can do to stop you.  I still believe you are taking a foolish
risk, and for all the wrong reasons, but... it is your choice."

"Thank you, Dom," she said, smiling.  "If you'll excuse me, I need to
supervise my servants as they finish up with my room."

"Of course, Empress," Dom said, bowing.

As Azalyn left, she thought about the one time she'd known Dom to become
even close to being obsessed- and that was during Tylor's War.  And
suddenly, she knew something else about him, too- and finally understood
the real reason he had himself transferred.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sir Desaix, member # 116 of the Knights of the True Fiancee
                     desaix@sysnet.net
    http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/7872
                           fanfics available at 
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