Kaori Jo (Kaori Takeda) emerges from the palace, in her rush using the main door...hastily she sidesteps the official party on the terrace and dashes down to be with the crowd.
Kaori Jo smiles at John on her way past...despite the suit, his stance still speaks more of the security chief than the parent and ambassador. She takes up a position on the landing just behind High Priestess Jenai Sung.
John Sholakh gazes out over the gathering crowd and smiles, seeing Kao.
Ennios Vargos walks up the stairs, but not quite all the way to the landing where most people are gathering - he's never been a fan of front rows, or even of this sort of event, but his brush with the Empress two weeks before has left him with an oddly paternal feeling of interest in her. He thinks about the bravado the young woman now standing crowned and gowned on the terrace showed the night she bought out his sake stock. Something about her movements now suggests to him that the evening's bravado was hiding a lot of frazzled nerves.
Empress Yun-Hee looks over at the crowd and stops to look a little longer at the grey bearded man. then looks at the High Priestess and then over at the shuttle as it starts to take off.
John Sholakh steps forward, looking out over the people, "Thank you for attending. This will begin soon."
Yun-Hee steps forward a moment later, and the crowd quiets to hear her. She smiles but it appears a bit forced. "I have much to say but if I miss anything the rest will be sent over the broadcast. I am honored to have all you here today." She looks to her right at Baroness Touson, then over at her Father John Sholakh, and takes a deep breath.
"I will begin with what I believe to be the big news. The Emergence Farms will be no more in five cycles. The practice of genetic modification before birth will end as of today. All genetic modifications will require the consent of the individual and the individual will be required to be a minimum of 17 cycles old to give consent."
((that is about 21 earth years))
Gama exchanges looks with her crew...
Kaori blinks - not so much with regard to genetic modification rules, but with the end of the emergence farms. "So parents will have to start parenting?" she murmurs to Jenai. "That will be...a considerable shock."
Jenai Sung whispers to Kaori. "The ones doing it in hiding will not need to hide anymore." Intentionally, she does not use her telepath skill, and the whisper is of the stage variety. It is meant to be heard by those around them.
Kaori nods and gives back the same kind of whisper. "I suppose part of our duties, now, will be counselling parents who were happy not to raise their own children through the adjustment."
Empress Yun-Hee pauses to look around the crowd to see some expressions on their faces
Ennios chuckles quietly. "I wonder if they're bringing back pregnancy, morning sickness and 2 AM feedings, too?" he whispers to a woman standing at his elbow - a Cyhnon citizen who's looking a bit shell-shocked.
Empress Yun-Hee catches the angst among the murmurs from the crowd. "Yes this may be a shock for some but we will bring teams from Roadie 5 and other worlds to assist in the transition." She scans the crowd with a slight stern look, then turns and looks at her Father for a moment John Sholakh smiles as he looks back at his daughter.
Kaori is feeling positive excitement from some corners of the crowd, but a lot of dismay, too, and even some anger. Realizing that she's almost dangerously open these days, she hastily builds a barrier in her mind to tamp down the invasion of emotions into her mind. From behind it, she pushes out a tendril of communication to Jenai. <<Five years isn't much time to teach a whole planet how to parent,>>
<<There has been more going on in hiding than many would admit.>>
Kaori: <<Parenting is crazy-making, but also a good thing! A satisfying thing.>>
Jenai Sung smiles.
Gama glowers at her crewmember Eve the Homeless, who is looking embarrassed as her stomach growls. Kelsy chuckles to herself.
The Empress signals for silence and speaks again. "Next, the male seed colonies are being disbanded immediately. All that live there will be granted a small cargo ship with 15K credits to help there transition. We estimate that be about 20 million males. They will be trained to pilot small space crafts or be accepted into the Olenji Cycrim military, whichever they choose. Other options will also be considered."
Kelsy whispers to Eve... "I want one of those. Personal slave."
Eve gently elbows Kelsy and sneers at her.
Gama whispers to her crew, "Will you two behave?! I can't take you anywhere!"
Kaori applauds approvingly at the end of that particular barbaric practice.
Ennios smiles broadly and can't quite smother a cheer. The place of men on Cyhnon, or rather their lack of place, has often led to difficult situations for him. If not for the economic need, he'd have returned to Roadie almost as soon as he'd arrived on Cyhnon. His neighbour, on the other hand, looks scandalized, and she edges away from him as though pregnancy might be contagious.
Empress Yun-Hee: "Moving on, we have some needs for Palace staffing. We are urgently looking for a Jailer to manage the Palace Jail. We would prefer a male for this role but will accept a female if she shows she can handle herself well with prisoners that are maybe twice her size. This job will report directly to John Sholakh, Captain of the Guard."
Ennios thinks about his younger brother, and makes a note. It's more reliable work than bounty hunting Rogal's been doing...though maybe without the occasional windfalls that seem to have turned Rogal's head.
Kelsy says, "Hey boss. Do you think she will give us a tax break?"
"Kelsy just just just...shhh...quiet."
Empress Yun-Hee: "Other positions we plan to fill include a Science and Technology specialist. For this one we like them to them to have skill in Cyber Medical. If they have surgical skills even better. This is the Advisor 3 role that has been set on the advisory council."
Kelsy whispers. "I wonder if they give all the donuts you can eat."
A large burst of irreverence filters through Kaori's shield. She looks around, and isn't surprised to see Kelsy just a handful of paces away.
Gama whispers. "That's enough! Your media privileges are suspended for 24 hours Kelsy!"
Empress Yun-Hee: "The next position is the Advisor 4 role. This is for someone skilled in finance and economics who will manage trade agreements and be one of my advisors on the council." She pauses for a moment, looking around.
Gama looks apologetically as Empress Yun-Hee's eyes rest momentarily on her.
Kaori smiles up encouragingly as Yun-Hee's gaze crosses her own.
High Priestess Sung smiles, seeing that the Empress seems to be doing well. She has not forgotten the practice sessions they've done over the past few days
Empress Yun-Hee: "Now we have some announcements related to the Space Corp. The replacement ships that were destroyed by the infamous Captain Kahn will be ready soon. Admiral Shae Kim will be adding them to her fleet. She will have a brand new Flag ship."
Empress Yun-Hee: "As of today, Capt Kahn has made the most wanted list. The bounty on Capt Kahn will be significant. The amount is still being decided. Somewhere around a million creds or more. Enough to purchase a small cruiser is what I understand."
Now it's Gama who claps enthusiastically. She can't help but smile...
Kaori automatically glances in Gama's direction.
Kelsy mutters, "That will buy a lot of donuts."
Empress Yun-Hee slowly looks around again, appearing as if she is trying to think if she has forgot something. FInally she says, "There are reports that the android population is going down. The reason is unknown. Some suspect it may be related to a ship that has been seen over the past few weeks. It appears for brief moments then it is gone. We believe that Captain Kahn may know more about this ship. If anyone finds any information on this ship, contact Baroness Touson or the Captain of the Guard John Sholakh."
Gama exchanges looks with her crew.
"Androids missing - That sounds like a major economic issue," Kaori whispers to Jenai. "Don't they carry out most of the real production?"
"Yes, that is one of the driving issues for some of the changes," Jenai whispers back. "Give some thought to the impact."
Kaori shifts to telepathy. <<And if citizens are being taken out of the workforce at the same time as androids are disappearing, because they're now doing their own infantcare...>>
Empress Yun-Hee: motions to the crowd indicating she is done. She slowly turns to go into the palace.
Baroness Touson "May you find Unity in the Chaos" _/||\_ She turns to follow the Empress. John, however, remains on the terrace, observing.
Gama's clapping enthusiastically, as is Ennios. There are others doing the same - but also others who are clapping barely enough to be thought polite.
As the applause peters out, to be replaced by a steady hum of conversations, Kelsy says, "That's a big palace. Wonder what their heating bill looks like."
"Okay that's it!" Gama explodes. "Eve, take Kelsy over to the shuttle and wait for me. And if she says one more word stick a donut in her mouth."
Kelsy: "Aww boss..."
Ennios checks the time, flinches, and races for the shuttle.
"It seems like an awful lot of social change in a very short time," Kaori murmurs to no-one in particular as the crowd and its emotions thin. "All good - but hard to manage. And very hard to manage peacefully."
"Kaori..." Gama waves to catch her attention.
Kaori turns as she hears Gama's call, and maneuvers past a couple of slow leavers to get within easy listening distance."Gama! Smelling the profit potential in the announcements?"
"Shhh what are you trying to do, get me killed?? Do have a minute to chat?"
Kaori glances around; the palace steps have almost emptied. "Yes."
Gama waves for Kaori to follow her, somewhere out of John Sholakh's direct line of sight. Kaori complies.
Gama plunges in. "Okay, so what news do you have on Kahn?"
Kaori shakes her head. "A report here, a report there...she'd have to be triplets to be everywhere she's supposed to have been."
"Blast! She's taking evasive action and putting out false reports then. I should have realized she wouldn't make it easy. Has she hired spotters?"
"She'd be foolish not to."
"Well I'll cut you in for a portion if I can pull this one off with your help."
"I'd be glad to," Kaori answers. "She needs to be handled. And a portion would be welcome. I'll have my own farm yet."
Gama grins. "You and me both. Oh well I better get over to the shuttle before Kelsy and Eve break the thing. We'll chat again."
"Myeong Mai be with you," Kaori says with a polite bow.
"And you..." Gama waves and turns to leave. Catching sight of John as she steps out from behind the statue, she bows to him as she turns to go down the stairs.
John Sholakh calls to her, "May you find Unity in the Chaos" _/||\_
"And you sir.."
Kaori smiles; Gama seems to have given in, at least on the surface, to the challenges of living in an empire overtly tied to a spiritual path.
The acolyte climbs the steps to John's side. John sports a warm smile for her.
"I like the program, basically," she says to him, without preamble. "But can so much transformation happen in five years, without someone starting revolts and revolutions?"
John Sholakh muses, "will have to see what happens. I do hope for a smooth transition."
"And...what about these...seed farms?" She utters the unfamiliar label with obvious distaste. "All those men...have they ever done anything else? How did they get there?"
"That transition might be a little rough at first, will have to see how they adapt."
"Did they go there willingly in the first place?"
John says, "I do believe so at first, then they might have become addicted to pharmaceuticals used to increase production of seed."
Kaori closes her eyes, imagining her brothers being pressed into such narrow lives. "Well, I'm glad they'll be gone," she says. "But rehabilitation won't be easy. It won't be easy for Cyhnon's women, either, not being able to rely on creches for all the infant and childcare. And...is the plan to revive the practice of pregnancy for creating children?"
"That does remain to be ....practiced." John thinks over the question, wondering.
Kaori finds herself chuckling. "I know a lot of women on Genji who've found themselves wishing, while pregnant, that it was all being done in a lab." Her chuckle ends. "Here, where few people have any real notion of what carrying a baby's like...well, there was a certain amount of disgust coming from some of the women in the crowd."
John says, "I do think they would have to work up to it, then maybe regret the discomfort."
Kaori shakes her head. "I think there will be a place for lab-based child creation for a long time. Otherwise, the population will crash. You can't force people to choose pregnancy." She reconsiders. "Well, I suppose you can - but I don't think it's likely to happen here."
John says, " I do agree, and labs can still be used without doing gene therapy."
Kaori says thoughtfully, "I wonder if this is part of the reason Jenai decided to take a chance on bringing a foreigner into the Myeong Gai? The whole population of Roadie won't be enough to orient Cyhnon to parenthood. There will have to be a broader educational component."
"A curious thought."
Kaori sighs, then smiles. "But so far, your daughter seems to be coping. Better than I thought she might, after the wild life she was leading."
"I do agree with that. She is taking her role seriously."
"Purpose is what she needed, perhaps?" Kaori asks gently. "That, and a parent who cares?"
John smiles, and Kaori smiles back. "Someone that listens," John says.
"It suits you."
"With a little guidance, it does seem she grew out of it."
"Early days yet," Kaori says cautiously. "But she has some good support."
"When she is tested during a crisis, we shall see."
Kaori nods soberly. "There will be some of those. Hopefully not too soon - but today she dropped a couple of large bombshells. Social change is scary. Even when it's good."
"I do agree."
Kaori looks to the west, where the sun has hidden itself behind the skyscrapers. "I suppose it's time for evening meal."
Glancing to the west, John agrees, "It is time. May you find Unity in the Chaos" _/||\_
"May you find Unity in the Chaos" _/||\_ Kaori responds.
"You have a nice evening and meal, Kao."
"You too, John."