THE RACE FOR TENCHI:
Heaven and EarthDISCLAIMER: I don't own Tenchi Muyo or any of the characters. The events in this story are of my own imagination. The 3-G racer and racing concept is borrowed from the game WipeOut.
FOREWORD: The Race For Tenchi is a racing theme-based alternate universe fic. Seeing as this is an AU, there are few differences between this and the other Tenchi universes. Hopefully, if I've done a good job, everyone who reads this story will understand that. Some of the characters from Tenchi in Tokyo will be used. Feel free to hate the TiT characters, but, please, don't hate me for using them.
AUTHOR: Dreamr
LAST REVISION: 07 June 2003
EMAIL: TrueDreamr@Hotmail.com
BEGIN.
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"I had a dream to bring great foods to Japan from all over the world."
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"Oh, no, Mr. Seina! That just wouldn't be proper!"
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"It's lap four ninety seven of five hundred..."
"Dad! Come here, quick! I found it!"
"All right, Nobuyuki. I'm coming."
Katsuhito Masaki reluctantly joined his son-in-law in front of the television. A 3-G race was on at the moment. Likely this was the race that Tenchi had called them about yesterday. Much to this old man's disappointment, his grandson had somehow become interested in anti-gravity racing while he was away at college. The racing itself was dangerous enough. But in 3-G, the vehicles were both armed and armored. An unseen commentator was listing the current race standings for those watching.
"...and our new-comer, Tenchi Masaki, is secure in twelfth place, in what is for 3-G, a very uneventful race."
"Yeah, go, Tenchi!" Nobuyuki cheered his son on.
Katsuhito grumbled to himself. This was not the path he had envisioned for his grandson. College was supposed to have been an enriching experience for the young man. Instead, Tenchi had taken up with a woman who had convinced him to enter into this 3-G racing circuit. Zipping around in armed vehicles and shooting at people was not to this man's taste. But, to Tenchi's credit, he had publicly stated he would not use any of the available weapons. At least he still had some values. Flashes of light on the TV screen announced a change in the status of the race.
Ryoko tried unsuccessfully to stifle her laughter as her head mechanic's voice came over the radio in her helmet.
"Hello! Crazy girl! Are you listening to me?"
"Yeah, yeah, Washu. I hear you. Whadda ya want?"
"That was a pretty move. But the race isn't over just yet."
"Relax! It's in the bag."
"Tell that to the new guy."
"Eh?" Ryoko glanced at the rearview display that was being projected onto one corner of her wind-screen. Rounding the corner she had just navigated was an older model racer. The only thing odd about that was how fast it was gaining on her.
"What the..."
A low growl began to rattle in Ryoko's throat as she realized that the "new guy" was moving fast enough to overtake her.
"Oh, no, you don't."
Although there were various ways to install a weapons interface in a 3-G racer's cockpit, her preference was a simple thumbwheel on the directional stick, which stuck out from under the instrument console in front of her. Flipping through the different selections available to her, she found what she was looking for. As Ryoko guided her racer through the next turn, she cut the corner tight and mashed the fire button, dropping a string of mines across the track. As soon as she was out of the turn, she looked in the rear-view again. The trailing racer suddenly swerved back into view.
"What the Hell?"
Ryoko began swerving left and right across the short straight-away before the final turn to keep the aggressive new-comer in the center of the display. As long as she could see the racer in the middle of the screen, it meant he was directly behind her, and therefore unable to pass.
The last turn was one of the easiest. As Ryoko exited the curve into the final stretch, she looked for the new racer again. He was no longer in the rear-view. Ryoko looked around. There he was, blazing up on the inside.
"No fucking way!"
Ryoko jerked the control stick to the right, causing her racer to collide with the older model to her right. Her opponent smacked into the circuit wall and spun out. Ryoko continued to look around, dangerously neglecting her forward view. Not until she crossed the finish line did she breathe a sigh of relief.
"Hey, Washu." Ryoko called into her microphone. "Who was that guy, anyway?"
"Number three, Tenchi Masaki. Word is that he runs without any weapons, which would explain why his racer's so fast."
Ryoko thought about that as she took her victory lap.
"Tenchi Masaki. Hmm..."
There would, of course, be the traditional celebration at the winner's circle. But before that, Ryoko wanted to meet the person who had nearly embarrassed last year's defending circuit champion. As she pulled into her pit space, she popped the hatch before her racer was completely stopped. All around, her pit-crew was shouting congratulations for winning the first race of the season. They were of the generic sort of race-junkies and grease-monkeys that enjoyed tweaking cars, drinking, and having a good time. Washu was also there, impatiently tapping her foot. Ryoko flipped her a victory sign.
Washu Hakubi, the team's manager and engineer, was a tall red-head with bright green eyes who appeared to be in her early twenties. She was just a bit taller than Ryoko. They were referred to officially as Team Hakubi, since they shared the same family name. Most people thought they were sisters. Even though it was untrue, neither Washu nor Ryoko ever disagreed with the assumption.
Ryoko turned the release knob for the safety harness. Free from her restraints, she jumped up on the needle-like nose of her red and black tiger-striped racer. All along the pit road, people from various teams were milling around in their form-fitting racing suits. The colors and sponsor patches were as varied as the people wearing them. But the suits were a designated style of jumpsuit that identified the team members to security personnel. Anyone not wearing an official racing suit would theoretically be quickly escorted to a briefing room where they would have to answer to proper authorities. At least it kept the stalkers out.
Ryoko waited until she saw the new-comer pull into his pit area. Then she started hopping from racer to racer, eliciting yells of annoyance from the other drivers, which she completely ignored. What she did not ignore was the hatch of racer number three popping open. She got there just in time to haul out the driver by the collar of his racing suit. She turned around and set him down on the nose of his racer.
"Where'd you learn to drive like that?"
"Um, who are you again?"
With a start, Ryoko remembered she was still wearing her helmet.
"Heh. You really are new if you don't know who I am."
Casually, Ryoko reached up and pulled her helmet off, allowing her waist-length emerald hair to fall free. With golden yellow eyes and a sleek, sexy frame to go with her hair, Ryoko had the sort of attention getting beauty that made men ache with desire, and women glare with jealousy. She was extremely confident in her looks, and not afraid to show off what she had to offer. With slow grace, Ryoko reached up to her collar and grasped the zipper of her suit. She pulled it down to its usual post-race position between her breasts, revealing a generous portion of cleavage.
"So?" She asked, smiling suggestively. "Now you. I show you mine, and you show me yours. That's the way it works."
Her competitor's lack of an immediate response indicated her little show was having the intended effect.
"Eh? Oh, right."
Ryoko couldn't help feeling a little bit of anticipation. The new guy had a good build and a sexy voice, even if his head was obscured by his helmet. As her opponent's face was revealed, Ryoko suddenly felt like a school girl again. Tenchi Masaki had the typical dark hair and eyes of a normal Japanese man. But his skin and features spoke of years of hard work in the sun. His short hair had lost its sheen from too much outdoors work. Here was a man who was not afraid to get his hands dirty. Unless she missed her bet, he probably helped the mechanics with their work. What she liked the most was how he was looking in to her eyes, rather than skimming over her entire body.
"Was there something you wanted to say?"
Ryoko blinked in surprise as she realized she was being spoken to.
"Yes! I mean, yes, there is. Um... shit." She scratched at the back of her head with her free hand for a moment as she tried to remember why she was standing where she was. "What was it? Oh, yeah! You drive pretty good. Since you only lost because I ran you off the track, and I don't want you to think I have anything personal against you, why don't you stop by my team trailer later? We'll be having a little victory celebration."
Tenchi's gaze narrowed a bit with suspicion at Ryoko's intentions. But before he could answer, a girl called his name.
"Tenchi-kun! Come down here so I can congratulate you!"
"My girl-friend." Tenchi explained to Ryoko.
It took a second for the term to click in Ryoko's mind. She looked down to see who the competition was. The woman Tenchi claimed as his girl-friend looked fairly typical at first glance. But a longer look showed that she was thin and quite pretty. She had short, dark hair, and green eyes. Since green eyes on a person of any Eastern race was unusual, she could see how Tenchi might be interested in her. But, then again, Ryoko's own looks were even more exotic. She would not be difficult to overcome.
"Right. Well, door's open." With that, she began her return trek across the roofs of the other racers.
Tenchi stared at Ryoko's retreating form until she arrived back at her own pit. When Ryoko turned and waved, he half-heartedly waved back.
"Tenchi-kun!"
"Okay, Sakuya. I'm coming."
Tenchi leapt down from his racer, carefully avoiding the heavy gravity field that kept the vehicle floating above the ground. His girl-friend was quick to embrace him.
"Hey, Sakuya. I just got invited to a party. Why don't we go together?"
"Really? That would be great!" Sakuya's eyes shone up on Tenchi with love and adoration. "We can celebrate your first race."
"Something like that." Although Tenchi was amendable to a party tonight, something about this Ryoko person set him on edge. It was not a bad feeling. In fact, it reminded him of when he had met Sakuya. Besides that, it might pay off to learn a little more about the other competitors.
According to the 3-G commission's marketing research, the viewing audience for this year's opening race was expected to number over five million. This was very pleasing to the commission's executive committee, as well as the person who had conceived of the project. First Princess Aeka Masaki, daughter to the Emperor of Japan, and the circuit's founder, was watching the race with her younger sister, Sasami, from their private booth.
The 3-G project was Aeka's brain-child. The nation of Japan had been going through a prolonged recession. Many people were out of work, and the stress on the welfare system had been taxing the entire nation. Construction of the tracks required for this kind of racing generated many jobs, taking people off the welfare system. Those who went to the races generated tax revenues, further easing the economic burden placed on the government. Now, as 3-G gained in popularity, the racing teams were attracting big-name sponsors. In only its third year of operation, the 3-G racing circuit was looking to be a major cash-cow for all involved.
In addition, it made Sasami happy. Aeka watched as her sister gleefully stared at the racers. The 13-year-old loved going to the races. She could sit for hours watching the competitors zip around the closed track. Even with all of the fancy high-tech monitors in this room, Sasami still preferred to watch from the huge window. Aeka preferred a little more information about what was going on behind the scenes. So she paid more attention to the video feeds, with their attendant data links. As this first race of the season neared completion, Sasami began jumping up and down, and pointing out the window.
"Sister Aeka! Look! Look! Ryoko's making her move!"
Aeka grimaced at that news. Ryoko Hakubi was reputed as the dirtiest driver in the circuit. It was a reputation she deserved, for Ryoko often caused multi-vehicle pile-ups with her wanton use of weaponry. Even worse, she was a show-off, and a braggart. Her post-race antics in the winner's circle were legendary. Unfortunately, her aggressive behavior made her very popular with the general public. She was the competitor everyone loved to hate; a real bad-girl. Now, if only someone would emerge to oppose her.
"Hey, Aeka, who's number three?"
"Why do you ask?"
"He's catching up to Ryoko."
"What!?" Aeka quickly glanced down the list of competitors for today's race. "Number three, Tenchi Masaki."
"Masaki like us?" Sasami actually spared a moment to look back at Aeka for confirmation.
"I don't know." Aeka got up from her seat to join her sister at the window. "Perhaps... hey!"
"Ah! She got him!"
The two sisters watched Tenchi's racer pinball from wall-to-wall as a result of Ryoko's side-swipe maneuver. Fortunately for him, momentum kept him moving forward so that he was still able to finish in second place.
"That cheater!" Aeka shouted.
"Not she's not." Sasami disagreed. "It's perfectly acceptable to run somebody into the wall."
"But it was still dirty."
"Well..."
"And now I have to give that woman a trophy. How revolting."
"I could give Ryoko her trophy." Sasami offered.
Aeka was tempted to accept the offer. But, if she did, it might seem like she was playing favorites.
"No. I have a duty to fulfill, no matter how distasteful it may be."
Sasami lifted her hands from the window sill and stood up to her full height. She was a growing teen-ager, and very soon she would be nearly her sister's height. Though eleven years separated them, Sasami was only a couple of centimeters shorter than her sister. It was likely she would exceed Aeka's height when she grew older. For the moment, the only part of her that was higher from the ground than Aeka was her ponytail. Previously, she had her blue hair tied into twin tails that arced all the way to the ground. But, now that she was growing into a young lady, the style no longer suited her. Combined with her big, pink, doey eyes, it had been nearly impossible to get people to stop calling her a cute little girl until she had taken the tails out and redone her hair into it's current single ponytail. Now she looked very much like her mother, Misaki.
Aeka, on the other hand, looked nothing like her sister. She was the child of the Emperor Azusa and his first wife, Funaho. Her own dark auburn hair was cut to a flat edge in the back, with twin tails that hung down her back almost to the floor. Her deep red eyes commanded instant attention from any who saw them. Fortunately, her kind demeanor shown through in her face, lessening the severity of her gaze.
"Time to get official." Sasami sighed. "Shall we?"
"Yes."
Aeka held her distaste in close confidence as she ascended the steps to the raised dais where Ryoko was waiting to receive her prize, along with Washu. There were reporters galore in attendance, and each seemed armed with an entire squad of cameras and microphones, each itching for a scandalous remark from either of them. Of course, Ryoko was always happy to oblige them. Her racing suit was unzipped halfway down, giving those watching a scandalous view of her womanly assets. What really galled Aeka was that this woman's assets were larger than her own. Ryoko had a way of making her feel somehow less than what she knew she was. It was a very disagreeable feeling that Aeka went out of her way to avoid. But, on days like this, it was impossible to escape. Aeka stopped at an arm's reach from Ryoko and eyed her warily. Ryoko said nothing. She only leered at her, knowing what was about to occur. Turning to the audience of reporters and onlookers, Aeka cleared her throat, indicating she was about to begin. Once they were quiet, she pasted her best political smile in place.
"Congratulations to Team Hakubi for yet another well fought win. On behalf of the 3-G Executive Commission, I wish you luck in the future."
Ryoko reached out with one hand to receive her "well fought" trophy from Princess Aeka. They glared at each other, despite the false smiles they both wore. She knew full-well that Aeka hated her guts. In her opinion, the princess was just jealous of her. Ryoko was living a good life, having fun and getting paid for it. Aeka, while she enjoyed a great deal of political power, had a great deal of responsibility attached to that. It was plain to Ryoko which of them was enjoying herself more, despite the difference in social standing. In her sweetest, sugariest voice, Ryoko gave her standard sarcastic response.
"Thank you, so much for your kind words, Princess Aeka. I'm thrilled to know you care so much about my career." Ryoko pulled on the trophy, but Aeka seemed to be holding it a little tighter than last year. Ryoko's false smile faltered a bit as she pulled harder. Aeka relented, allowing Ryoko to have her public reward. Of course, the real reward was the 1.2 million yen (about $10,000) cash prize for taking first place. At least the circuit was making enough money to pay for the prizes, unlike the first two years. Now that the official ceremony was concluded, Aeka turned around and stalked off the stage.
Washu peered over Ryoko's shoulder to examine the trophy.
"Not bad. I'll trade you for the champagne."
Ryoko was quick to accept that offer. She held the trophy up to Washu and snatched the proffered bottle from her. Giving it a good shake first, she stuck her thumbs under the plastic stopper, and gave it a push. The stopper flew from the neck of the bottle with a pop. It struck the shaft of a microphone boom, then struck a camera right in the main objective lens, cracking it. The stopper continued on it's crazy flight, striking a metal support rod for the stage, an overhead lighting fixture, and then the back of Princess Aeka's head. Thrown completely off-balance, Aeka did a face-plant at the foot of the stage steps. People rushed to assist the First Princess. They were so engrossed with Aeka that no one noticed Ryoko snickering at her misfortune.
"How the mighty have fallen."
END.
AFTERWORD: Next up, Tenchi and Sakuya go to Team Hakubi's victory party.