It was getting late. As the scientist made his way slowly and carefully through the hallowed, arched hallways that connected different wings to each other, he paused for a moment, glancing up at the ornate carvings and delicate paintings that decorated the walls. This, he mused, was a planet like no other - a planet with power and force. A slight smile touched his face as he remembered the nature of his meeting. Some of that power, he knew, would be on his side. At last, he had found a way to get rid of the biggest blight of his career.

He placed his hands on the door of the final chamber, pushing gently and slipping inside as the room became bathed in a soft, amber light. He faltered for a moment, taking in the form of the one who he had come to see. Then he stepped into the glare, bowing his head respectfully.

"You've taken your time."

The man was young, barely more than his early twenties, but there was a cold ruthlessness in his sharp amber eyes which told of something much older. The scientist raised his head, and his companion gestured for him to sit, settling himself more comfortably in his own elaborate chair as he did so.

"Well, Dr Clay? What have you to report to me?"

The man's voice was soft and genial, but Clay knew his contact too well to know that the younger man was possessed of a fearsome temper and that it was best not antagonised. Even now, in repose, the chamber flickered and danced with energy of an alien nature, and Clay had no mind to be at the receiving end of one of the Prince's whims. His companion seemed to recognise the man's reticence, for he offered a rueful smile, flexing his hands as the amber light faded into one more natural.

"I am scaring you, Doctor."

"No...no, Lord Kagato. That is not it." Clay hastened to excuse himself, seeing the look of the hunter cross his ally's face. "No. I am just reviewing the information I have for you. Regarding...regarding our mutual enemy."

"Ah." Kagato pursed his lips, a look of dislike entering his golden eyes. "The Lady Washu. What have you to tell me about her, Clay? All attempts I have made to slay this woman appear to have met with failure. Are you going to tell me that you have also failed me in this regard?"

"I don't understand Washu-sensei's life force, but it seems to be strong." Clay said soberly. "All my attempts to analyse her genetic data have met with failure, Prince Kagato. But no matter what force I subjected the material to, it did not seem to easily break. I do not believe that Washu-sensei is of normal blood at all. Truly, she might be a demon, for all the information I can glean from her DNA. It tells me nothing. Nothing at all."

"I see." Kagato drummed his fingers absently on the arm of his chair. "And you have been thorough, in your search for her weakness? I do trust my scientists do to their work fully and completely."

"Most thorough, my Lord. I have no love of this woman either, and if I had found a way to kill her, I would have done so by now." Clay's lips twisted with derision. "Her methods are unconventional and dangerous, and her influence just the same. She is trouble for many people, not just me. But she does not seem able to be killed. No known element seems able to penetrate her cell structure."

Kagato was silent for a moment, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he considered this.

"That is unfortunate." He mused. "Your investigations tell me that we have underestimated her in some respect. Mikamo-sama had me believing that she was some low-born colony outcast, but I see now that that was nothing more than a lie - a ruse to cover her tracks. Whatever she is, she is more than just an orphan from an invaded outpost. I should have questioned him further on these things, before his unfortunate passing. I should have taken more advantage of one who knew her as well as he did...but still, that option is closed to us now."

The amber eyes glinted strangely for a moment, and Clay knew that Kagato had had some involvement in the death of his former Academy colleague. He frowned.

"Are you regretting the loss of Niwase-sensei, Kagato-sama?" He asked quietly. "He was a second rate scientist...he is no loss to the universe."

"No." Kagato shook his head, though light flickered briefly around his form as he spoke. "Mikamo's death was unfortunate, but necessary. I regret when I am forced to kill people who are useful to me - that's all. Nothing more."

Clay eyed his companion carefully, seeing that the Prince was not entirely speaking the truth. Remembering that the dead scientist had once been a close ally of the Prince, he took an apprehensive step backwards. This was a man, after all, who had resorted to killing his own dearest friends in his pursuit of power and influence over Jurai. It would do him no harm, he reasoned, to keep on his guard even when the Prince was in a good mood.

Kagato met his gaze with a quizzical one of his own, raising an eyebrow.

"Something troubles you, Clay-sensei?" He asked quietly, and Clay shook his head hurriedly.

"No. I was just contemplating what Mikamo-sensei might have known about Washu. That's all."

"Likely, everything that he failed to disclose to me when we first spoke of bringing her to Jurai." Kagato sighed. "Oh well. As I said, the door is closed. The matter is at an end - and we must not dwell on it further."

"On the contrary, my Lord, it might yet be useful."

"What do you mean?" Kagato looked confused. "Mikamo is dead, Clay. I may have powers beyond your imagining, but raising the dead is not among them!"

"I just meant that love for that man made Washu weak. She is not in her right senses at the moment - everyone knows it." Clay said slowly. "She grieves for Mikamo Niwase. If there is any chink in her armour, Lord Kagato, that is it."

"I see." Kagato's expression became one of interest. "And do you think that this weakness can be exploited, Dr Clay? How do you eliminate one who resists all attempts to end her existance?"

Clay's lips spread into a slow smile.

"With your permission, Lord Kagato, I have an idea in that department." He said softly. "Washu has lately been developing technology of a dangerous and controversial nature. A little nudge from me and perhaps the Elders might be looking into Washu's activities with a keener eye. If she was to, say, get the attention of a powerful force like Jurai..."

Kagato's eyes lit up with comprehension, and he smiled, inclining his head slightly.

"Yes." He said softly. "I see what you are getting at. If she was to inadvertantly use such dangerous technology to offend the royal house of Jurai, then the Academy would be forced to take steps?"

"Yes, my Prince. It's Academy procedure. No lives must be threatened in the pursuit of technological breakthrough." Clay agreed. "All who work there take an oath to use their abilities only to pursue peaceful endeavours. Washu's technology already contravenes that, but until she uses it to do harm...and she does not seem inclined to do so at present. But if I was to interfere..."

"Indeed." Kagato's eyes narrowed as he contemplated the possibilities. "And in that respect, I can also help you. My Mother has significant dower territory in which there are a number of depopulated planets. If one of those were to suddenly be obliterated, my Mother would have to become involved, and the Academy would act."

"Is Lady Aiko complicit in our schemes, Lord Kagato?" Clay looked startled. Kagato laughed, but there was a cold edge to the sound and Clay stifled a shiver at hearing it. He shook his head.

"Okaa-sama is not keen on the shedding of blood. Not even in the cause of her son's success." He said simply. "But I can persuade her. She is afraid of me, now...and I can use this to my advantage. She knows that I have grown in strength and stature, over the past few months and that if she dares to step against me, I will kill her beloved brothers and her as well. She will not object. She will do as I instruct her, and then Lady Washu..."

"Will be exiled into deep space for perpetuity." Clay concluded. "If you can't kill her, then surely that is the next best thing?"

"Perhaps better, that she should suffer forever for the trouble she's caused me." Kagato's eyes became little more than gleaming slits as he remembered his past encounters with the scientist. "I still have not discovered whether it was she or whether it was Mikamo who took the gems I was studying from me, but in light of what you've said about her genetic material, I must consider that she might have been involved yet. And if so, she must have hidden them somewhere...somewhere which I would dearly like to discover. With her out of the way, you will have free access to her work and her department, whereas I will be able to pursue further research into the woman and her true motives. I will find those gems...I have done too much to let them slip through my grasp!"

"And with that arrogant wench out of my hair, I can finally have control of my department, just as I should have had when she slipped in and warped the Elders' opinions." Clay said firmly. Kagato nodded.

"You will be rewarded, and I may yet have further use of you." He said thoughtfully. "But for the time being, this is what I wish. Ensure that Washu Hakubi is no longer a threat to what either of us do. That done, we can begin to pursue our paths more thoroughly without that woman standing in our way!"