Back to episode list

Episode 21 -	Introduction, Development, Conclusion
	ki - shū - ketsu
Dub title -	Reckoning
First aired -	21st August 2002

Life at the Galaxy Police Academy, at least for poor Airi, is a fraught affair at present. Thanks to the exploits of Seiryo and his band of pirates she is practically buried in paperwork and hasn't slept in six days! As Principal Mikami delivers the latest bundle of papers to her desk, she cries out for Seina to return to duty and sort out the pirate problem.

Meanwhile, on Jurai, Seto takes Seina and his crew (sans Kiriko) to see Kiriko's new royal tree ship, a second-generation unit named Mizuki. At the docking bay they meet Kiriko, who is dressed in the traditional garb of the Juraian royal family. Seina is somewhat taken aback by her appearance, not to mention her status as a Juraian royal, and he seems nervous even to look at her. As they inspect the new ship, which is still just a core module without the wooden hull usual to Juraian ships, Kiriko tells Seto that the Mizuki is in fine health. Seto invites Seina and the crew aboard, a proposition which causes an astonished reaction from the crew. The workings of Juraian ships are a closely-guarded secret, and very few non-Juraians are ever allowed inside. However, Seto points out, it is up to the tree to allow people to enter the ship. The ring on Kiriko's finger, the key that controls the ship, glows to confirm that Mizuki is ready and willing. Amane goes to speak to Kiriko but wonders how to address her now, calling her Kiriko-sama* at first. Kiriko assures her that despite being accepted into the Juraian royal family she is still the same person, and Amane gleefully switches to some rather over-familiar backslapping!

The crew board the ship pod to inspect the new royal tree. Neiju observes that the new ship is markedly different from the Mikagami. Seto explains that Juraian ships are made to suit the owner, so each one is different. At the centre of the ship's bridge stands the tree Mizuki itself, still barely a sapling. Kiriko introduces the tree to Amane, and the tree responds by playing beams of light over her and repeating her name.

Later, Seto takes the crew on a tour of the rest of the ship. They are all amazed by the vast wooded landscape inside, a trans-dimensional living area, Seto explains, created to allow the tree's powers to flourish. She goes on to explain that while the core alone has great power, the outer hull of a finished Juraian ship is designed to limit the energy release of the tree; unrestricted, it could be capable of destroying a planet in a single stroke. Amane observes that such power could be used to rule the universe, but Seto points out that Juraian royal trees are not there to start wars. The subject changes to Kiriko once more, and how she has not yet built a home inside the ship. Amane and Neiju soon start to fantasise about the kind of palace they would build if given the chance. Meanwhile, Seina is deep in thought. Seto guesses that he is thinking about Kiriko, and with a joyful meow Fuku runs off to find her. Seina follows close behind.

On the bridge, Kiriko tends to her tree. She is glad that Mizuki has already grown to like her friends, but she is still worried about how distant Seina has been acting. Just then, Fuku charges onto the bridge, and Mizuki greets her by shining light beams on her. Seina soon follows Fuku onto the scene, but stops short when he sees Kiriko. The two stand in awkward silence for a moment. Seina finally speaks, asking her about her Juraian robes. Throughout their conversation Seina seems embarrassed to be near Kiriko, and they barely make eye contact.

Some time later, the second stage of Seto's plan, merging Mizuki with the Kamidake, gets underway. Minaho and Seto's attendants are on the bridge to oversee the operation. As the Mizuki's core approaches the Kamidake, the ship begins to shudder violently and the whole operation appears to be running out of control. However, this is simply because Fuku and Mizuki are both overexcited, and Kiriko gets Fuku to calm down before they continue. At last, the core unit embeds itself in the prow of the Kamidake. Sprouts grow from the unit and spread throughout the Kamidake's crystalline body. The merging process is pronounced a complete success, and Seto remarks that by growing up together, Fuku and Mizuki have the potential to become more powerful than even a first-generation Jurai ship.

As the remodelled Kamidake is preparing to depart on its maiden voyage, Seina ponders Kiriko's new appearance; her Juraian robes and hairstyle. He is surprised, then, when Kiriko arrives dressed in her usual Galaxy Police uniform. She explains that when she is working, her uniform is the only comfortable way to dress. Seina smiles, feeling at ease with Kiriko once more.

Just before departure, Seina discovers that his crew will be temporarily larger than usual. As well as Seto, Airi and Mitoto will be joining them, along with Hakuren, Karen, Suiren and Gyokuren, Seto's attendants. Amane is annoyed that the usual crew is being usurped, but Seto insists on their presence for this mission. NB, who is still rocked to the very core by his encounter with NaBiko in the previous episode, is glad to be leaving Jurai behind, but NaBiko eagerly awaits his return!

The Kamidake launches on its mission to engage the Good Luck Fleet. Kiriko wonders for a moment how they are to find the pirates, but Seto reminds her that they have a natural pirate radar on board in the form of Seina! The Kamidake performs a hyperspace jump, emerging right in front of the Pirates Guild's base, the Great Da Ruma. The crew are stunned; even after years of searching, neither the Galaxy Police or Juraian fleet have been able to locate the pirate HQ, and Seina has found it without even trying! Only Mitoto, with her innate ability to get into places others cannot, has been there before.

General Da Ruma is furious that the Kamidake, the greatest threat to their activities, has found them. He orders the base to go on the offensive immediately, and they fire at the Kamidake with laser cannons. However, even this ferocious barrage cannot harm the upgraded ship. Seto gleefully orders Fuku to counterattack. Seina reminds her that he is supposed to be the captain, but she persuades him to let her take command for the time being. Airi sympathises with Seina; she knows that once Seto gets her bloodlust on, there's no stopping her!

Meanwhile, news of the Kamidake discovering the Great Da Ruma base has reached Seiryo on his latest raid aboard the Unko. Furious, he decides to head back to base and engage Seina. However, his usual good luck fails him, as he drops out of hyperspace nowhere near the battle. Every attempt to get back to the base fails, and one of the crew suggests that the Unko may now be too lucky to leap directly into the midst of a raging battle. Seiryo orders some of the good luck charms be dumped overboard. They perform another hyperspace jump, only to emerge right in front of a massive fleet of heavily-armed Galaxy Police ships! The Unko fires back, but every shot misses — it seems that dumping their good luck charms has now rendered them the unluckiest ship in the galaxy!

Under Seto's command, the Kamidake's attack on Great Da Ruma is a tour de force of its new abilities. The ship dodges every attack, fires back with incredible accuracy, and unfurls its Light Hawk Wings. The Da Ruma fleet doesn't stand a chance, as ship after ship falls to the power of the Kamidake. With the Light Hawk Wings on full power, the Kamidake charges towards the Great Da Ruma base. Seto launches her signature attack, the Triple Z, Seto's so-called "Genocide Dance", and the base is engulfed in flames.

At long last, the Unko, battered from its encounter with the Galaxy Police, arrives to a scene of utter devastation, the Great Da Ruma base reduced to a shattered husk.

Meanwhile, on board the Mizuki section of the Kamidake, the girls take a hot bath to relax after the battle. Amane ponders why, when they set out to find the Good Luck Fleet, they stumbled onto the Great Da Ruma base instead. Seina, meanwhile, confronts General Da Ruma, who is imprisoned in a blob of a jelly-like substance. Da Ruma laments his capture at the hands of Seina and his crew, devastated that his mighty empire has been brought to ruin. Seiryo, still puttering about in the damaged Unko, swears vengeance on Seina for the destruction of the Da Ruma Guild.

<< Episode 20 - The Ship That Brings Luck

Episode 22 - Showdown Between Good Luck and Bad Luck >>

* In Japanese, applying a -sama honorific to a person's name is an expression of respect and humility. See the culture guide for more information on name honorifics.

Back to episode list