Disclaimer: No I do not own Tenchi Muyo or any of the characters in the show. I do, however, own the idea to this story and the original chars in it so if you try to steal them...I may have to break ya.
Author's Note: This is set in the OVA continuity just so you know. And there maybe be some grammer mistakes because my Word is messing up on me and I had to use Notepad to write it in. I caught all the major spelling mistake with Hotmail's spellchecker, but not sure about grammer. So just take it with a grain of salt, OK? Thank.
Threat From A Haunted Past
Chapter One: The Invitation
Washu sat on her floating cushion in front one of the many computer consoles in her lab. For weeks now she had been picking up sporadic rips in the space/time continuum and she was determined to find out what was causing them. A red light flashed on the screen as another tear opened up and immediately her fingers flew over the keyboard. She was determined to track down the source of these disturbances this time come hell or high water. Or even Mihoshi! A small "ping" sound emitted from the machine and she let out a triumphant shout.
"Aha! Gotcha!" she exclaimed proudly. "Now let's see where you're from."
A few more quick successions of keystrokes revealed that the source of the rips were originated from a small shrine in Tokyo. She ran the location through the city's directory and soon enough the precise answer to the question that had been nagging at her all this time was finally answered.
"Higurashi Shrine, eh?" she mused, rubbing her chin. "Why is these supposedly holy and sacred places seem to be magnets trouble? Eh that's another question for another time. Right now I'm going to investigate this place and find out what's really going on there."
She got up and started to go about collecting the equipment she would need for her outing when a beeping from another part of the lab caught her attention.
"Oh what now?" she asked in an irritated tone as she walked towards the offending sound. "Knowing my luck that bubbled headed blonde probably came in here and of course pushed something she shouldn't have and by the time I get to it, it'll explode right in my face."
She continued to mutter under her breath as she walked through the twisting corridors of her lab. She stopped only when she released she entered a section she had not been in in a long time. It was furnished to look less foreboding and technological than the rest of the lab and more like a warm, welcoming living room complete with couch, recliners and something that resembled a television. Washu stared at the simulated room in a bit of disbelief. She had completely forgotten about this part of the lab and the few happy memories it held. Upon seeing it, though, some of those memories began to come back to her. Memories of a simpler time, a happier time. A time she may never be able to get back to.
She shook her head to clear her reminiscent thoughts and brought herself back to the present. More specifically, the beeping sound that seemed determined to annoy her today. She walked over to a small table where a device consisting of a levitated screen and a panel of numbered buttons sat. She quirked an eyebrow as she stepped over to it.
"This is..." she gasped as she reached out to the device. "I haven't used this thing in...well centuries I suppose. Hell, I forgot this whole room was here. So then who and how would someone be calling me on this thing? Anyone who should know about shouldn't know I'm free from Kagato. Maybe it's some old recording that was somehow reregistered on thing. Guess I'll never know unless I play it."
With a slight shrug she reached out and pressed the play button.
"You have one new message, audio only," a computerized voice informed her.
There was a slight pause before the message started.
"Hello Washu," a voice droned from the machine.
Washu froze and a cold shiver ran down her spine.
"No. It can't be him," she told herself, trying to keep her body from trembling.
"It has been far too long since we have seen each other. Of course you better than anyone would know the reason for that. However, I am not calling to speak about the past. No, I am calling about the future and what I have just contributed to the world of science. And I know you would be the first one that would want to see my creation. So I am inviting you to come to my...exclusive location. The coordinates to which will be displayed after this message. If you would please do me the honor of coming alone so that we may talk scientist to scientist. And I would so hate for a member of that charming family of yours to be hurt in an...unfortunate accident. So please, come see what I have created. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. I eagerly await your visit."
Washu barely noticed the coordinates displayed on the screen as a numb feeling washed over her body. Her legs gave out on her, but before she could hit the floor another floating cushion appeared beneath her. It fell a bit under her weight but remained floating, not that she would have noticed had she had fallen anyway. The outside world had completely faded away and the only thing she could focus on was the voice in the message and more importantly its owner. How could he have survived? How did he know where to get into contact with her? How did he know about the others? How could any of this be happening?
*It isn't,* her mind reasoned. *Yeah that's it. This is all just some horrible dream brought about by falling asleep in the middle of my experiments. So all I have to do is wake up and everything will be fine. Yep. Just need to wake up.*
She sat in silence for a moment, expecting to wake up at any second. Unfortunately the seconds continued to tick away and she was still sitting on her cushion staring at the interstellar map on the small screen.
"Come on Washu! Wake up already!" she suddenly shouted in frustration.
"Washu?" another familiar voice asked, this one much more welcoming than the other.
"Over here Tenchi," she responded.
"Uh...where?"
She sighed then brought up her holo-computer, and pressed a button. The lights hanging over the furnished space flickered to life, revealing its presence to the rest of the lab.
"Over here," she repeated.
She continued to try to force herself awake as Tenchi made his way through the rest of the lab to her location. She was only aware that he had arrived when he placed a hand on her shoulder which caused her let out a surprised shriek and jump off the cushion. This naturally cause Tenchi to have the same reaction, except that he feel to the ground.
"Geez Washu you nearly gave me a heart attack!" Tenchi said as he stood up and dusted himself off. He then noticed the look on the diminutive scientist's face. "Is there something wrong Washu?"
"No! Nothing!" Washu answered quickly, too quickly.
This time it was her turn to look into the concerned face of her friend. She tried to keep up her resolve that nothing really was wrong, but something about those carrying eyes of his made her breakdown. She hung her head with a sigh and composed herself before lifting her head again.
"Actually Tenchi there could be something very wrong. I just need to make sure of something," she explained and then held out her arm to him. "Pinch me."
"What?!" Tenchi shouted in confusion.
"I said pinch me. Just do it and I'll explain everything. Maybe."
Tenchi quirked an eyebrow but then shrugged and did as Washu requested, giving the small redhead a pinch on the arm. She let out a slight yelp of pain and pulled her arm back. As she rubbed the newly sore spot on her arm she glanced around the immediate area and found Tenchi, the small room and most importantly the screen still displaying the coordinates.
"Dammit," she muttered.
"What it is? What's wrong Washu?" Tenchi asked again, becoming more unnerved by the second.
"I take it you came in here to tell me that lunch is ready, right?"
"Uh...yeah."
"Good. Then tell the others I'll be out in a minute. There's something I need to explain to everyone and I'd rather do it at one time."
"OK. So...I guess I should go then."
Washu nodded. Tenchi opened his mouth to ask her another question, but then stopped and simple turned around and left to tell the others. He knew it was no good to try to dissuade Washu once her mind was made up. He just wish he knew what it was that made her so nervous. And just the fact that there was something, or someone, out there that could make *Washu* nervous was starting to get to him as well. He just hoped he was making a bigger deal out of this then it really was, but he just couldn't shake this feeling that something was terribly wrong
***
A short time later, the rest of the family was gathered around the dinning table and making guesses as the what Washu's announcement might be. While Tenchi was still concerned about tone and mannerisms, Ryoko and Ayeka were making lighthearted comments about how great it would be if she said she was going to leave and of course Mihoshi was worried that she might yell at her for unknowingly breaking one of her inventions. Sasami seemed to be the only one that had picked up on Tenchi's concern.
"Tenchi, is something wrong?" she asked, looking up at him.
"I dunno Sasami. It's just something about the way Washu was acting is all. It was just...weird. And not her usual kind of weird," Tenchi tried to explain.
Sasami was about to ask another question when the sound of the lab's door opening caught their attention. They turned and watched as Washu stepped into the living room, the usual air of mischievous about her gone. She walked over to the table, picked up a tea cup then held it out to Sasami.
"Sasami, may I have some tea please," she asked without looking down at the young princess.
"Of course," Sasami replied and poured some tea into the presented cup.
Once the cup was full, Washu gave a small nod of head then walked over to the couch and sat down. She drank a bit of the tea while the rest of the family simply stared at her. After a second, they all stood up and moved over to the couch as well and situated themselves around the small scientist. Even with this move she still continued to drink her tea and ignore them even as they stared at her expectantly. There were several uneasy seconds of silence as they all either waited for her to begin speaking or for someone to be brave enough and ask her was wrong. Fortunately, Ryoko took the incentive and called attention to herself by standing up and slamming her hand on the coffee table.
"Alright Washu, just what the hell is this announcement you got everyone worked up about?!" she demanded.
Washu lowered her tea cup back to down to the small plate then slouched forward with a heavy sigh. She scanned the faces of the people she had come to know as her family, and one that actually was, and mentally prepared herself for what she had to tell them.
"I'm going to be leaving for awhile," she told them.
"Ha! Told ya!" Ryoko gloated, pointing a finger in Ayeka's face.
"What do you mean you told me?! I agreed with you!" Ayeka shouted back.
"Girls please!" Tenchi spoke up to make them stop.
Unlike previous the previous times he had made this statement, it was a determined demand this time not a weak willed request. Surprised by his sudden change in attitude, Ryoko and Ayeka stopped fighting and sat back down, giving him a "scolded puppy" type look. Tenchi fought back a smile and made a mental note to himself to try that trick again when needed. Right now, however, there were more pressing issues that had to be dealt with.
"Why are you leaving Washu?" he asked, getting the conversation back on track.
"Just before you entered my lab I received a message from someone that shouldn't-couldn't-be alive," she said, starring down into her tea cup.
"Wait. You don't mean-" Ryoko tried to say, but was too afraid to finish her sentence.
"No, it's not Kagato. It's someone much worse."
At this statement the others let out a series of simultaneous shocked gasps and once more feel into silence as they tried to process the new information. Though the battle with Kagato has been a little more than a year ago they each still carried a painful memory from the experience. Though it was far from rare for Washu to make outlandish claims, they knew that she would never kid around about something like this. A shudder went down Ryoko's spine as she tried to imagine anyone that could be worse than the monster that had captured both Washu and herself and turned her into a mindless puppet for his to do his dirty work. She fought to keep her body from trembling as painful memories began to surface from that chapter in her life. She shook her head and let out a slight growl in frustration of her lack of self control. When it built up to be too much she again slammed her fist on the table and leaned towards Washu.
"Dammit, Washu if you're joking about this!" she warned.
"I'm not joking!" Washu shouted back, staring up at cyan haired woman. "I would NEVER joke about something like that. *You* more than anyone here should know that."
"Yeah...well..." Ryoko faulted and shrank back into her seat.
"Who is this person then Miss Washu?" Ayeka spoke up, asking the question the others wanted to.
"Maytrek."
"And who is Maytrek?" Sasami asked.
"He *was* one of my professors from when I was a student in the Science Academy. Now...now he should be stuck on some asteroid somewhere in the Dark Zone."
"Wait. Exiled on an asteroid somewhere in the Dark Zone? I think I know that place. Yeah it was an old Galaxy Police prison built for the most brutal and depraved criminals," Mihoshi spoke up. "Was he really that bad?"
The sound of the tea cup clanking against the plate filled the air and the others could see Washu's hands, as well as the rest of her body, shaking violently.
"Yes, he was," she answered in a trembling voice. "He *more* than fits the requirements for that place."
"How do you know?" Tenchi asked.
"Because I was the one that found out what his true work was. Believe me, it wasn't pretty. I was the key witness into getting him expelled from the academy and sentenced to that rock."
"And after all this time he's calling you, huh? Somehow I doubt it's to come over for tea and cake," Ryoko snorted.
"You're right. He said he wanted to show me some new invention of his. And wanted me to come alone."
"If that isn't a step up I don't know what is."
"It most likely is. But...I have to go."
"Why? Why can't you just stay here and forget about him?" Sasami asked as she began to tremble as well.
"I wish I could Sasami but..." Washu paused and scanned their faces again. "There's more to this. The communicator he's called me on hasn't been used since Kagato kidnapped me and Ryoko. And that was long after he was imprisoned, so there's absolutely no way he could have known the frequency for it. Not only that but," she swallowed nervously, "he knows about the rest of you as well."
Again a unified gasp of shock went through the group.
"How?" Ayeka asked, still in shock.
"I don't know. I don't know how any of this is possible. I *do* know that if I don't show up he'll mostly likely send whatever it is he made here for me and kill the rest of you in the process. I can't-I *won't*-take that risk. I'm going to go meet him, but before I do I need a favor from you Ryoko."
"What kind of favor?" Ryoko asked in a suspicious tone.
"I need to burrow Ryo-Ohki for a bit."
"So let me get this straight. You want to burrow *my* partner to run off alone into a situation your probably won't be coming back from?"
"Believe me Ryoko, if there was another way I wouldn't be asking, but there isn't."
"Well, I could fly you there in my ship and that way you wouldn't have to go alone," Mihoshi suggested.
"I appreciate that, but having a GP cruiser fly in there would just complicate this matter more. No, I have to go in Ryo-Ohki. So Ryoko, what will it be?"
"Hey it's not really my decision. You have to ask her," Ryoko said, pointing to the cabbit perched on top of Sasami's head.
"Miya?" Ryo-Ohki meowed as she lifted her head.
"Yeah I guess so," Washu gave a smirk. "So will you help me out Ryo-Ohki?"
The cabbit let out another miya then jumped down from the princess' head and into the arms of the diminutive scientist. She gave a grateful smile then set down the tea cup and plate before standing up.
"Well I guess I'm off then," she said reluctantly, then started to head for the door.
"Now wait just a minute!" Tenchi shouted, standing up to block her path. "Washu we can't just let you go off on your own like this. There's got to be a way the rest of us can help you."
"Lord Tenchi is right," Ayeka added, standing as well. "We may have our differences with you at times, but you still a part of this family and we simply won't allow you to do something as fool hearty as this. Right Ryoko?"
"Yeah well...I do need to make sure that Ryo-Ohki will be alright," Ryoko muttered, rising to her feet.
"Yes. And if this man really is using a Galaxy Police prison as his base of operations than it is a matter for a top GP detective to investigate," Mihoshi entered the conversation.
"See? We're all here to help you Washu. I'm sure we can find some way to get there in Mihoshi's ship without being spotted," Tenchi suggested.
"Look I appreciate this, I really do. But I HAVE to do this alone. Like I said I'm not going to risk any of you getting hurt on account of me. So please, just stand aside and let me do this," Washu requested.
"Fine. But we're at least seeing you off."
At Washu's nod of confirmation, Tenchi stepped aside and let her walked outside. The rest of the family followed her and watched as Ryo-Ohki transformed into her spaceship form and hover above the house. Washu turned back to the assembled group and tried to give some form of a farewell or at least some assurance that she would be back, but her voice caught in her throat. Instead she simply waved them off and gave Ryo-Ohki the signal to beam her up. The others continued to watch helplessly as the blue light enveloped her form, teleporting her into the cabbit ship and then watched as it streaked across the sky and out of view. They continued to stare at the sky for several long moments before any of them spoke up to break the silence.
"Do you think she'll come back Tenchi?" Sasami asked.
"Well...this is Washu and you know how she's good at getting herself out of dangerous situations. So...yeah I think she'll be back soon," Tenchi answered, hoping he was doing a good job of masking his own doubts. "Come on, we still have a meal on the table that's getting cold. We should at least try to finish it."
A round of muffled sounds of agreement followed the statement and they began to walk back into the house, save for Ryoko who kept starring up at the spot Ryo-Ohki had disappeared.
"Ryoko?" Tenchi asked. "Aren't you coming in for lunch?"
"In a minute Tenchi," Ryoko answered, not looking back at him.
"Alright."
Ryoko heard him turn and walk back into the house but continued to stare at the point in the sky. She stared at it for several more seconds before finally speaking up.
"You *better* come back," she muttered then finally turned and went to join the rest of the family for lunch.
To Be Continued....
Author's Note: This is set in the OVA continuity just so you know. And there maybe be some grammer mistakes because my Word is messing up on me and I had to use Notepad to write it in. I caught all the major spelling mistake with Hotmail's spellchecker, but not sure about grammer. So just take it with a grain of salt, OK? Thank.
Threat From A Haunted Past
Chapter One: The Invitation
Washu sat on her floating cushion in front one of the many computer consoles in her lab. For weeks now she had been picking up sporadic rips in the space/time continuum and she was determined to find out what was causing them. A red light flashed on the screen as another tear opened up and immediately her fingers flew over the keyboard. She was determined to track down the source of these disturbances this time come hell or high water. Or even Mihoshi! A small "ping" sound emitted from the machine and she let out a triumphant shout.
"Aha! Gotcha!" she exclaimed proudly. "Now let's see where you're from."
A few more quick successions of keystrokes revealed that the source of the rips were originated from a small shrine in Tokyo. She ran the location through the city's directory and soon enough the precise answer to the question that had been nagging at her all this time was finally answered.
"Higurashi Shrine, eh?" she mused, rubbing her chin. "Why is these supposedly holy and sacred places seem to be magnets trouble? Eh that's another question for another time. Right now I'm going to investigate this place and find out what's really going on there."
She got up and started to go about collecting the equipment she would need for her outing when a beeping from another part of the lab caught her attention.
"Oh what now?" she asked in an irritated tone as she walked towards the offending sound. "Knowing my luck that bubbled headed blonde probably came in here and of course pushed something she shouldn't have and by the time I get to it, it'll explode right in my face."
She continued to mutter under her breath as she walked through the twisting corridors of her lab. She stopped only when she released she entered a section she had not been in in a long time. It was furnished to look less foreboding and technological than the rest of the lab and more like a warm, welcoming living room complete with couch, recliners and something that resembled a television. Washu stared at the simulated room in a bit of disbelief. She had completely forgotten about this part of the lab and the few happy memories it held. Upon seeing it, though, some of those memories began to come back to her. Memories of a simpler time, a happier time. A time she may never be able to get back to.
She shook her head to clear her reminiscent thoughts and brought herself back to the present. More specifically, the beeping sound that seemed determined to annoy her today. She walked over to a small table where a device consisting of a levitated screen and a panel of numbered buttons sat. She quirked an eyebrow as she stepped over to it.
"This is..." she gasped as she reached out to the device. "I haven't used this thing in...well centuries I suppose. Hell, I forgot this whole room was here. So then who and how would someone be calling me on this thing? Anyone who should know about shouldn't know I'm free from Kagato. Maybe it's some old recording that was somehow reregistered on thing. Guess I'll never know unless I play it."
With a slight shrug she reached out and pressed the play button.
"You have one new message, audio only," a computerized voice informed her.
There was a slight pause before the message started.
"Hello Washu," a voice droned from the machine.
Washu froze and a cold shiver ran down her spine.
"No. It can't be him," she told herself, trying to keep her body from trembling.
"It has been far too long since we have seen each other. Of course you better than anyone would know the reason for that. However, I am not calling to speak about the past. No, I am calling about the future and what I have just contributed to the world of science. And I know you would be the first one that would want to see my creation. So I am inviting you to come to my...exclusive location. The coordinates to which will be displayed after this message. If you would please do me the honor of coming alone so that we may talk scientist to scientist. And I would so hate for a member of that charming family of yours to be hurt in an...unfortunate accident. So please, come see what I have created. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. I eagerly await your visit."
Washu barely noticed the coordinates displayed on the screen as a numb feeling washed over her body. Her legs gave out on her, but before she could hit the floor another floating cushion appeared beneath her. It fell a bit under her weight but remained floating, not that she would have noticed had she had fallen anyway. The outside world had completely faded away and the only thing she could focus on was the voice in the message and more importantly its owner. How could he have survived? How did he know where to get into contact with her? How did he know about the others? How could any of this be happening?
*It isn't,* her mind reasoned. *Yeah that's it. This is all just some horrible dream brought about by falling asleep in the middle of my experiments. So all I have to do is wake up and everything will be fine. Yep. Just need to wake up.*
She sat in silence for a moment, expecting to wake up at any second. Unfortunately the seconds continued to tick away and she was still sitting on her cushion staring at the interstellar map on the small screen.
"Come on Washu! Wake up already!" she suddenly shouted in frustration.
"Washu?" another familiar voice asked, this one much more welcoming than the other.
"Over here Tenchi," she responded.
"Uh...where?"
She sighed then brought up her holo-computer, and pressed a button. The lights hanging over the furnished space flickered to life, revealing its presence to the rest of the lab.
"Over here," she repeated.
She continued to try to force herself awake as Tenchi made his way through the rest of the lab to her location. She was only aware that he had arrived when he placed a hand on her shoulder which caused her let out a surprised shriek and jump off the cushion. This naturally cause Tenchi to have the same reaction, except that he feel to the ground.
"Geez Washu you nearly gave me a heart attack!" Tenchi said as he stood up and dusted himself off. He then noticed the look on the diminutive scientist's face. "Is there something wrong Washu?"
"No! Nothing!" Washu answered quickly, too quickly.
This time it was her turn to look into the concerned face of her friend. She tried to keep up her resolve that nothing really was wrong, but something about those carrying eyes of his made her breakdown. She hung her head with a sigh and composed herself before lifting her head again.
"Actually Tenchi there could be something very wrong. I just need to make sure of something," she explained and then held out her arm to him. "Pinch me."
"What?!" Tenchi shouted in confusion.
"I said pinch me. Just do it and I'll explain everything. Maybe."
Tenchi quirked an eyebrow but then shrugged and did as Washu requested, giving the small redhead a pinch on the arm. She let out a slight yelp of pain and pulled her arm back. As she rubbed the newly sore spot on her arm she glanced around the immediate area and found Tenchi, the small room and most importantly the screen still displaying the coordinates.
"Dammit," she muttered.
"What it is? What's wrong Washu?" Tenchi asked again, becoming more unnerved by the second.
"I take it you came in here to tell me that lunch is ready, right?"
"Uh...yeah."
"Good. Then tell the others I'll be out in a minute. There's something I need to explain to everyone and I'd rather do it at one time."
"OK. So...I guess I should go then."
Washu nodded. Tenchi opened his mouth to ask her another question, but then stopped and simple turned around and left to tell the others. He knew it was no good to try to dissuade Washu once her mind was made up. He just wish he knew what it was that made her so nervous. And just the fact that there was something, or someone, out there that could make *Washu* nervous was starting to get to him as well. He just hoped he was making a bigger deal out of this then it really was, but he just couldn't shake this feeling that something was terribly wrong
***
A short time later, the rest of the family was gathered around the dinning table and making guesses as the what Washu's announcement might be. While Tenchi was still concerned about tone and mannerisms, Ryoko and Ayeka were making lighthearted comments about how great it would be if she said she was going to leave and of course Mihoshi was worried that she might yell at her for unknowingly breaking one of her inventions. Sasami seemed to be the only one that had picked up on Tenchi's concern.
"Tenchi, is something wrong?" she asked, looking up at him.
"I dunno Sasami. It's just something about the way Washu was acting is all. It was just...weird. And not her usual kind of weird," Tenchi tried to explain.
Sasami was about to ask another question when the sound of the lab's door opening caught their attention. They turned and watched as Washu stepped into the living room, the usual air of mischievous about her gone. She walked over to the table, picked up a tea cup then held it out to Sasami.
"Sasami, may I have some tea please," she asked without looking down at the young princess.
"Of course," Sasami replied and poured some tea into the presented cup.
Once the cup was full, Washu gave a small nod of head then walked over to the couch and sat down. She drank a bit of the tea while the rest of the family simply stared at her. After a second, they all stood up and moved over to the couch as well and situated themselves around the small scientist. Even with this move she still continued to drink her tea and ignore them even as they stared at her expectantly. There were several uneasy seconds of silence as they all either waited for her to begin speaking or for someone to be brave enough and ask her was wrong. Fortunately, Ryoko took the incentive and called attention to herself by standing up and slamming her hand on the coffee table.
"Alright Washu, just what the hell is this announcement you got everyone worked up about?!" she demanded.
Washu lowered her tea cup back to down to the small plate then slouched forward with a heavy sigh. She scanned the faces of the people she had come to know as her family, and one that actually was, and mentally prepared herself for what she had to tell them.
"I'm going to be leaving for awhile," she told them.
"Ha! Told ya!" Ryoko gloated, pointing a finger in Ayeka's face.
"What do you mean you told me?! I agreed with you!" Ayeka shouted back.
"Girls please!" Tenchi spoke up to make them stop.
Unlike previous the previous times he had made this statement, it was a determined demand this time not a weak willed request. Surprised by his sudden change in attitude, Ryoko and Ayeka stopped fighting and sat back down, giving him a "scolded puppy" type look. Tenchi fought back a smile and made a mental note to himself to try that trick again when needed. Right now, however, there were more pressing issues that had to be dealt with.
"Why are you leaving Washu?" he asked, getting the conversation back on track.
"Just before you entered my lab I received a message from someone that shouldn't-couldn't-be alive," she said, starring down into her tea cup.
"Wait. You don't mean-" Ryoko tried to say, but was too afraid to finish her sentence.
"No, it's not Kagato. It's someone much worse."
At this statement the others let out a series of simultaneous shocked gasps and once more feel into silence as they tried to process the new information. Though the battle with Kagato has been a little more than a year ago they each still carried a painful memory from the experience. Though it was far from rare for Washu to make outlandish claims, they knew that she would never kid around about something like this. A shudder went down Ryoko's spine as she tried to imagine anyone that could be worse than the monster that had captured both Washu and herself and turned her into a mindless puppet for his to do his dirty work. She fought to keep her body from trembling as painful memories began to surface from that chapter in her life. She shook her head and let out a slight growl in frustration of her lack of self control. When it built up to be too much she again slammed her fist on the table and leaned towards Washu.
"Dammit, Washu if you're joking about this!" she warned.
"I'm not joking!" Washu shouted back, staring up at cyan haired woman. "I would NEVER joke about something like that. *You* more than anyone here should know that."
"Yeah...well..." Ryoko faulted and shrank back into her seat.
"Who is this person then Miss Washu?" Ayeka spoke up, asking the question the others wanted to.
"Maytrek."
"And who is Maytrek?" Sasami asked.
"He *was* one of my professors from when I was a student in the Science Academy. Now...now he should be stuck on some asteroid somewhere in the Dark Zone."
"Wait. Exiled on an asteroid somewhere in the Dark Zone? I think I know that place. Yeah it was an old Galaxy Police prison built for the most brutal and depraved criminals," Mihoshi spoke up. "Was he really that bad?"
The sound of the tea cup clanking against the plate filled the air and the others could see Washu's hands, as well as the rest of her body, shaking violently.
"Yes, he was," she answered in a trembling voice. "He *more* than fits the requirements for that place."
"How do you know?" Tenchi asked.
"Because I was the one that found out what his true work was. Believe me, it wasn't pretty. I was the key witness into getting him expelled from the academy and sentenced to that rock."
"And after all this time he's calling you, huh? Somehow I doubt it's to come over for tea and cake," Ryoko snorted.
"You're right. He said he wanted to show me some new invention of his. And wanted me to come alone."
"If that isn't a step up I don't know what is."
"It most likely is. But...I have to go."
"Why? Why can't you just stay here and forget about him?" Sasami asked as she began to tremble as well.
"I wish I could Sasami but..." Washu paused and scanned their faces again. "There's more to this. The communicator he's called me on hasn't been used since Kagato kidnapped me and Ryoko. And that was long after he was imprisoned, so there's absolutely no way he could have known the frequency for it. Not only that but," she swallowed nervously, "he knows about the rest of you as well."
Again a unified gasp of shock went through the group.
"How?" Ayeka asked, still in shock.
"I don't know. I don't know how any of this is possible. I *do* know that if I don't show up he'll mostly likely send whatever it is he made here for me and kill the rest of you in the process. I can't-I *won't*-take that risk. I'm going to go meet him, but before I do I need a favor from you Ryoko."
"What kind of favor?" Ryoko asked in a suspicious tone.
"I need to burrow Ryo-Ohki for a bit."
"So let me get this straight. You want to burrow *my* partner to run off alone into a situation your probably won't be coming back from?"
"Believe me Ryoko, if there was another way I wouldn't be asking, but there isn't."
"Well, I could fly you there in my ship and that way you wouldn't have to go alone," Mihoshi suggested.
"I appreciate that, but having a GP cruiser fly in there would just complicate this matter more. No, I have to go in Ryo-Ohki. So Ryoko, what will it be?"
"Hey it's not really my decision. You have to ask her," Ryoko said, pointing to the cabbit perched on top of Sasami's head.
"Miya?" Ryo-Ohki meowed as she lifted her head.
"Yeah I guess so," Washu gave a smirk. "So will you help me out Ryo-Ohki?"
The cabbit let out another miya then jumped down from the princess' head and into the arms of the diminutive scientist. She gave a grateful smile then set down the tea cup and plate before standing up.
"Well I guess I'm off then," she said reluctantly, then started to head for the door.
"Now wait just a minute!" Tenchi shouted, standing up to block her path. "Washu we can't just let you go off on your own like this. There's got to be a way the rest of us can help you."
"Lord Tenchi is right," Ayeka added, standing as well. "We may have our differences with you at times, but you still a part of this family and we simply won't allow you to do something as fool hearty as this. Right Ryoko?"
"Yeah well...I do need to make sure that Ryo-Ohki will be alright," Ryoko muttered, rising to her feet.
"Yes. And if this man really is using a Galaxy Police prison as his base of operations than it is a matter for a top GP detective to investigate," Mihoshi entered the conversation.
"See? We're all here to help you Washu. I'm sure we can find some way to get there in Mihoshi's ship without being spotted," Tenchi suggested.
"Look I appreciate this, I really do. But I HAVE to do this alone. Like I said I'm not going to risk any of you getting hurt on account of me. So please, just stand aside and let me do this," Washu requested.
"Fine. But we're at least seeing you off."
At Washu's nod of confirmation, Tenchi stepped aside and let her walked outside. The rest of the family followed her and watched as Ryo-Ohki transformed into her spaceship form and hover above the house. Washu turned back to the assembled group and tried to give some form of a farewell or at least some assurance that she would be back, but her voice caught in her throat. Instead she simply waved them off and gave Ryo-Ohki the signal to beam her up. The others continued to watch helplessly as the blue light enveloped her form, teleporting her into the cabbit ship and then watched as it streaked across the sky and out of view. They continued to stare at the sky for several long moments before any of them spoke up to break the silence.
"Do you think she'll come back Tenchi?" Sasami asked.
"Well...this is Washu and you know how she's good at getting herself out of dangerous situations. So...yeah I think she'll be back soon," Tenchi answered, hoping he was doing a good job of masking his own doubts. "Come on, we still have a meal on the table that's getting cold. We should at least try to finish it."
A round of muffled sounds of agreement followed the statement and they began to walk back into the house, save for Ryoko who kept starring up at the spot Ryo-Ohki had disappeared.
"Ryoko?" Tenchi asked. "Aren't you coming in for lunch?"
"In a minute Tenchi," Ryoko answered, not looking back at him.
"Alright."
Ryoko heard him turn and walk back into the house but continued to stare at the point in the sky. She stared at it for several more seconds before finally speaking up.
"You *better* come back," she muttered then finally turned and went to join the rest of the family for lunch.
To Be Continued....