"Yes, Gakusei of my mate. It is obvious that you have a great hatred for this female. You are my mate's greatest Gakusei, therefore I suggest that you kill her now, so you can continue training." Oni said calmly.
"Kill me? I'm not so sure the Emperor would like that. I am one of his general's daughters, also a ship captain of one of his ships. I..." Callie was saying shock in her voice.
Oni was waving her hand in a dismissive manner, "It matters not, we need the great student back. Since the both of you refuse to talk, to end this emotional conflict, you should end her therefore the conflict."
Greeson's mouth dropped open as he could only stare at Oni, then at an even more astonished Callie.
"Well?" Oni breathed out, "what are you waiting for? We need the Gakusei, not a useless Orokamono (idiot)."
The look of shock, then growing anger on Greeson's face, had Oni hiding her smile.
"NO! I refuse! I did not learn the art to kill one who does not merit nor deserve it." Greeson growled.
Oni gave a half-hearted sigh, "fine then I will end her. We cannot have a Orokamono dishonoring the art nor the clan. In this way we can regain face, I am sure that the exalted one will forgive this. After all, we are at war at the moment, in war there are sacrifices that must be made."
Oni flipped up, then rapidly advanced upon Callie. Again, she hid a smile as Greeson moved even faster to block her way. "I cannot permit this," Greeson growled out.
"Ha! You have no choice, move so that we can regain the great Gakusei of my mate, restore honor." Oni said calmly. "As I said, it is obvious that you harbor great hate for the female. Once she is no more you can return to your training."
Oni went to move past Greeson, only to be blocked again, then Greeson attacked. Oni nodded as, she saw that her plan was starting to work.
Callie could only watch as the both of them vanished. Slowly she tried to creep to the door, only to have a loud thud land in front of her. She'd only managed to move two feet, when there was a loud thud. Both Greeson and Oni appeared flying in opposite directions.
They both bounced off the walls towards each other, both stopping short in front of each other.
"So, why should I allow her to live? What possible reason can you have to stop me?" Oni said to Greeson this time her voice heavy with anger. "Not those pitiful reasons you gave before, the real reason, now, or I will continue."
"I can not allow it, I love..." Greeson started then stopped a look of extreme surprise on his face.
A curious look came to Oni's features, "you love... what?"
"I...I...I love," here he turned toward Callie. "I love you." Surprise turned to shock on Greeson's face as he tried to move to Callie. Try as hard as he could Greeson found he couldn't move a muscle. Greeson's head lowered as he almost whispered, "I lost control, when I thought that she only cared for the image of what I am, not who I am. I thought that she only wanted to use me, control me, destroy who I am."
Oni looked toward Callie who had a look of horror on her face. "You thought that I was trying to control you? What I said about deciding, that was me, I decided that you were the only one that I wanted. I am sorry you thought, that I had decided for you with no thought to what you wanted. I had hoped that it was me, I was so glad when YOU said that you wanted me."
Greeson was nodding still in thought then his head snapped toward Oni as a smile started to grow on his face. "Well, it took you long enough. You are very much like your master, so good at the art, so slow with life." Oni said with a wide smile, "though if you tell him I will deny any word of this conversation."
Greeson bowed low, "I would not dishonor you nor master Kimon."
Oni smiled slightly as she moved toward Callie, who was backing away from her as fast as she could.
"I am not going to harm you, I only did that to bring out the real Greeson. I had to get the real one to the front so that he could regain control." Oni said as she stopped still seeing a look of fear on Callie's face. With a sigh she backed up then nodded to Greeson.
Greeson nodded back then moved to Callie, whispering in her ear.
_______________________________________________________________________
Derrick was relaxing, possibly the first time he'd been able to since not long after all this started. Mary's plan to update the Ranger fleet was going far better and faster than he hoped.
Even as his body relaxed, he was still expecting all hell to break loose. He'd actually fallen asleep for an hour when all the coms. went off at the same time. A sigh left his lips as he stared at the Holo-grams of Mary, Thomas, Hartwell, his Gram, Dempsey, Oni and both Shelbys.
"Alright, Thomas you first." Derrick's slightly frustrated voice said.
"It appears that we stopped a coup by Emperor Kandra's brother. Should I still observe or get involved?" Thomas asked.
Derrick looked over the data Thomas sent, nodded then said, "you can help though I suggest that you display as little power as you can unless asked. Only to assist not destroy."
"Thank you, sir," Thomas responded then his Holo-gram vanished.
Derrick then turned toward his Gram, "Grams? Is everything all right?"
"I think you need to see your mother soon. I am afraid that she thinks that you blame her for what happened." She said.
"Yes, Gram I'll speak to her..." Derrick started.
"No, you need to see her personally, this isn't something that you can just talk to her about. She needs you son, more than you realize." The Holo-gram of Milley O'Toma said.
Derrick's eyes opened wide as he realized what his Grams was saying. "I will go as soon as I finish with all here Grams."
"Thank you, son." His Grams said, then her Holo-gram vanished.
Derrick then focused on Kimon; I take it you need more time still? "
"Yes sire, though I was thinking, perhaps a day or two off to let her go home then return? It might put a damper on the civil unrest, especially if she can explain." Kimon said to which Derrick was nodding.
"I'll bring it up with Emperor Kandra as soon as I can. It appears he just stopped a coup of his empire, that and he was challenged." Derrick said as Kimon nodded then his Holo-gram vanished.
"I take it everything went well?" Derrick asked Oni.
"Yes sire, they are both better, especially Greeson." Oni reported.
"Good, again you have honored us and your clan with this service to the empire." Derrick replied.
"Thank you sire, father will be pleased." Oni said as then her Holo vanished.
This time Derrick turned to both the ship Shelby and Mary's holo-grams. "You have everything ready for the Rangers." Derrick watched as they both nodded, though noticed a perplexed look on Mary's face. "What's wrong Mary?
"The newest area that has been opened; I have been getting anomalous readings from just past the new area. I wasn't going to say anything 'til I had more data, then I remembered you said to report anything odd. I am continuing to gather data; I am doing as you ordered." Mary said.
Derrick looked over the data so far then nodded, "keep on it Mary, let me know. I am sorry I have had you so busy Shelby."
Ship Shelby smiled, "I am glad that I can be as useful as I have been Derrick. I will inform you when the next emerges."
"I thank the both of you, I depend on you two greatly." Derrick said, both Holo-grams smiling then they vanished.
Derrick turned with a heavy sigh; he'd seen the look of extreme anger on Hartwell's face. "You want to attack the Tendraxians, you have since you found Bee. You do remember that a hell of a lot of them were destroyed by the thermic missiles, right?"
Hartwell took a deep breath trying to calm "that was only the ones here. There are still a bunch of the morons on the planet. They need, NO! They have to be punished!"
Derrick was about to say something when he saw all the data that Hartwell had gathered. "What the hell?! They actually did this to the female population?" Derrick's face twisted into a look of rage. Taking a deep breath Derrick shook his head. "I know you want revenge, but if you do this, are you any better than them?"
