Doctor

"You may make your report Doctor," D3 said fading away as the shadows of the goddess appeared. Eight shadows filled the long fall rising from the abyss below, summoned by the goddess. Now the Lady appeared herself along with two more shadows. Unlike the rest however these shadows did not serve the goddess but appeared to remind her she was not alone in the universe. To Tokimi however they meant nothing, her sisters had chosen their path a long time ago.

"Lady Tokimi," Clay said reverently falling to his hands and knees in praise of his mistress, "I am honored that you would hear my report in person."

"Speak your report doctor, that my time on this plane is not wasted," The goddess prompted, "Is the Gem Bearer suitable for my plans?"

"Yes and no," Clay began and gulped as the powerful beings eyes narrowed, "She is not at her full power. While she has survived the tests I doubt she be of much use beyond the bounds of the experiment."

"Kagato had no problem making a weapon out of her, how did she come to be so weakened," Tokimi asked with a hint of frustration.

"The loss of all but one of the Gems and seven hundred years of imprisonment have caused her current condition," Clay explained and then added, "The power of Jurai's royal family exceeds even hers, it was the crown prince that defeated and imprisoned the Bearer and his grandson whom defeated Kagato."

"Very well then if she is useless to us as a weapon so be it," Tokimi proclaimed, "However the experiment must not fail Doctor Clay."

"It will not mistress," Clay promised lowering his eyes once more.

"I have made the samples of my emissaries available to you, have you found a proper match yet," Tokimi asked getting back on track.

Clay slid his hand down his newly styled beard and thought for a moment before answering. Melding Washu's technology with Tokimi's strange powers was the purpose of this experiment, to make a living weapon that was a match for the Jurai royal family. While Ryoko was powerful she had yet to prove a match for a wielder of the Light Hawk Wings. Clay's job was to make a being who was. His memories had been restored to him so he could evaluate the things he would need to accomplish this task. That and to rekindle his desire to one up that damnable Washu. His creation would far out do this so called Gem Bearer.

"I am still in the process of reviewing the data," Clay answered coming out of his thoughts back to the present.

"Very well doctor. Notify me when you have your results," Tokimi said dismissing the scientist.

As Clay faded from view a shadowy portal opened on the audience platform causing the goddess the narrow her eyes in anger. None would be impudent to some before her unannounced. Then Tokimi remembered her newest 'servant' and not without a bit of disgust. Still this one would useful in dealing with the dangerous Gem Bearer and her formidable friends. The dark gate closed as the tall woman stepped onto the polished floor her boots clicking loudly in silence.

"Your Emissaries are a poor choice for pairing with Ryoko," the regal woman said glancing away into the endless river that led to this place, "You should choose someone who has defeated the Prince of Jurai."

"You refer to this Lord of yours again," Tokimi said somewhat agitated. The goddess had granted her mortal form to protect Clay and aid in Ryoko's capture, however the dark haired woman was too powerful for Tokimi to fully control. She had demanded in return for her help her one desire, the Guardian that had recently arrived on Jurai.

"Matt is more than a match for Ryoko and your Emissaries," the former ghost said flipping her long tresses back over one shoulder, "Melding his essence with Ryoko's will create a being of unlimited power."

"I will take it under consideration," Tokimi said noncommittally.

"You will come to see it my way Goddess," she said with a smirk, "After all, we will have him in our clutches soon. He comes."

"What," Tokimi instantly regained control and composed herself looking into the infinite for the answer, "You told him. Giving hope to Guardian is a poor plan, he has defeated you before."

"He has lost his focus," the former spirit explained, "Like your Gem Bearer he is a shell of his former self. Matthew Aaron Carson is no longer my equal."

"You had best not fail," Tokimi said implying a threat.

"We cannot fail Tokimi," Sor-ra-eyu promised an evil smile coming to her perfect lips, "All the big guns the Juraians have are out of the way on Earth, only Matt comes to rescue his precious Demon. Only this time he'll see the truth of his soul and realize only I belong to him."

Ryoko awoke with a splitting headache a thousand bottles of saki couldn't cause, slowly her vision began to clear although her head still pounded. Two long panels of lights stared back at the former pirate for several long moments as Ryoko worked up the strength to sit up. Working her way into a sitting position Ryoko felt the coldness of metal on her bear skin and it was only then that she noticed she was naked. Looking around at the sterile lab room Ryoko tried to remember why she was here, a rush of images flooded through her mind. Strapped to a table with Azusa grinning down at her evilly, pain, torture, and finally darkness. But no this wasn't the same place, Tenchi had rescued her. Tenchi, maybe this was Washu's lab on Earth. No that couldn't be right Ryoko thought as reality sunk in, Tenchi had left, and she had let him go.

"Awake are we," The voice startled Ryoko out of her contemplations and the truth of where she was set in with terrifying reality. Ryoko covered herself more in defense than modesty as Clay walked into the accompanied by another dreaded face. The sight of Sor-ra-eyu made Ryoko hope nothing bad had happened to Matt, but it also drained the blood from her face. The ghost had the ability to drain away her powers at will and those knowing eyes pierced her soul making the proud woman fell even more naked. Ryoko then turned her attention to Clay, the doctor had changed dramatically since she had last seen him. His gaunt appearance emphasized the look of cruel hunger that burned in his one good eye.

"We have a lot of work to do Ryoko my dear," Clay started moving towards her, "There are still many more tests to run before the project can begin."

"If you think I'll cooperate with you Clay, you've got another thing coming," Ryoko said with false bravado as she summoned up her battle suit. The black and red body suit appeared covering her from neck to toe as an orange ball of light formed in her open palm. Closing her hand into a fist Ryoko caused the small bit of light to extend outward forming her powerful energy foil. Ryoko rushed forward determined to at least get Clay before Sor-ra-eyu stopped her, she would not be part of any experiment. A sheet of crystalline energy threw her back against the wall, hard. Ryoko wanted to go forward again, determined to get past the barrier but found herself face to face with Sor-ra-eyu.

"Accept your fate Demon," the ghost whispered before placing a hand over Ryoko's heart and ripped her essence away in an instant of unbearable pain. Ryoko screamed as her life force was drained away dropping her to the floor, the battle suit fading away.

"Is she damaged," Clay asked as Sor-ra-eyu laid a comatose Ryoko back on the examination table.

"No, only weakened," the ghost responded, "I merely took away the power she got from the Gem, it will return shortly."

"Amazing," Clay whispered in disbelief, "To think that just a single Gem can replace that amount of power in so short a time. Imagine what all three are capable of."

"If you have no further need of me doctor I have a welcome to prepare for my Lord," Sor-ra-eyu said not caring for the topic of conversation.

"Yes you may go," Clay waved the tall woman away, "I'll summon you if she wakes up again before schedule."

Clay turned to his instruments as Sor-ra-eyu stepped through her gate eager to begin. Analysis of Ryoko's genetic coding was almost complete, but figuring out the energy pathways was going to take time. How she reacted with the Gems was a complete mystery, the results were obvious, but the basic how of it was confusing. A scan of Zero's memory cells had given him the long list of Ryoko's abilities but once again analyzing each was going to take time. He was lucky that he could still access Zero's programming as it gave him a key into Ryoko's brain. An account of Ryoko's recent memories introduced Clay to this Guardian that Sor-ra-eyu talked about endlessly. Clay was impressed with the young man's powers but it was a images of Washu's guinea pig , the boy Tenchi, that interested him. In fact Clay's first suggestion had been to use the Light Hawk boy as the other donor in the experiment but Tokimi had forbade it stating taking Tenchi would tip off Washu, something which neither wanted.

So Clay was left with trying to find a suitable donor out of Tokimi's emissaries. They were powerful to be sure, but none of them was near as strong as Ryoko. He needed a being that was potentially as strong as Ryoko if the project results were to turn out as his mistress wanted them. Maybe Sor-ra-eyu's Guardian would work after all. Clay rubbed his hands together and smiled, the only way to find out was to test him.

Matt stared at the sword for a long time, marveling at the perfection of it's crafting. Once it had been the symbol of his mastery, now it was an emblem of pain. He continued to look at the hilt, the nuances in the snakes skin handle, the serpents battling which formed the hand guard. It was a beautiful weapon, beautiful and deadly. Like Ryoko, he thought, conjuring an image of the cyan haired woman to strengthen his resolve. Finally he pulled his eyes away from the sword and walked away. If he was going to succeed it would without relying on the katana.

He made his way back to the bridge of Salvation trying to come up with a plan. After Ryoko's kidnapping there had been a short argument with Ayeka followed by a hasty departure. Too hasty Matt realized now. Flying through the graveyard of battle cruisers that surrounded Tokimi's lair the Guardian began to worry, his ship had no weapons. Salvation was designed as a transport ship, it was fast and could store massive amounts of cargo but little more. Still he doubted the ship would be attacked, Sor-ra-eyu wanted him alive.

When his ghost had come to him two days after the attack Matt had been shocked to say the least. What she told him was like taking a dagger through the heart. Ryoko was to be used as part of an experiment to create an even more powerful genetic weapon, one that would be used to destroy the Jurai Royal Family. She then gave him the coordinates of where Ryoko was and disappeared. Matt knew he was walking into a trap. Sor-ra-eyu knew everything he did, knew him better than he knew himself. It didn't matter he had to rescue Ryoko. Without her he was hollow, nothing in his life was worth anything if she wasn't at his side.

"Salvation have you found us a landing site yet," Matt asked the ship as they began their final approach.

Yes master, the ship communicated bringing up an image of what appeared to be a decaying city, This site has the least activity from my sensor scans and there is an ideal location to put down.

"Make it so," Matt said with a chuckle trying to lighten his mood.

I see nothing to laugh at here, Ses sent miffed.

"You wouldn't get it if I explained it anyways Ses," Matt told his companion still smiling.

That being said what's your plan, the winged cat asked.

"Find Ryoko's essence, free her, and break the neck of this doctor that took her," Matt said succinctly.

That's it, Ses replied dumb founded, You have to have more than that.

"I plan to make Sor-ra-eyu pay while I'm at," Matt finished matter-of-factly. Ses's response was the equivalent of a mental sigh. So much for subtlety.

The landing was smooth as Salvation set down amongst the ruins of the strange city. They landed in the remains of an open park, dust and bits of dried grass whipped through the air as the massive stone ship settled on the ground. If he weren't so preoccupied with his rescue attempt the Guardian might have taken a moment to marvel at the place and what it once must have been like. Giant domes and circular towers rose hundreds of feet into the starry nothingness of space. Roadways arched between buildings at various levels though many of them had crumbled and fell away. The air was stale and dry, there was no sign of life.

As he exited Salvation Matt quickly moved into the shadows of decaying building his loose gray clothes melding well with his surroundings. He ran quietly down the cracked street trying to get as far from the ship as possible before he was detected. Little did he know there were eyes on him already.

Ryoko lay in the darkness of her room staring up at the ceiling. She was exhausted but sleep would not claim her this night, thoughts of pain and loneliness kept her mind active. She had been brought to this small room after Clay retired for the night promising her more torment on his rising. She should have been able to rip the locked door off it's hinges and walk away, or phase through a wall and make it to safety, but she couldn't. That damnable ghost had reduced her to the strength of a child and every time her power began to return Sor-ra-eyu was there to take them away again.

She had stopped crying an hour ago her tears spent for the time being and all that was left was raw emptiness. It wasn't supposed to be like this she thought. She was Ryoko the Demon of Jurai, a power beyond mortal comprehension. She was independent and free, she didn't need anyone. Tenchi, the tears returned as he thought about her kind prince. Only he wasn't her prince anymore, she had scorned him and he had left with out a word after. Tenchi wasn't going to rescue her this time. Ryoko hoped Ryo-ohki would be ok without her, Sasami would take good care of her. There wasn't anyway out this time, not unless Matt found her. But what good could the Guardian do? His powers were weakened, his confidence shattered, Ryoko wasn't even sure he was in love with her anymore. Too much had changed since they had gone to Jurai. This wasn't the dream they had shared together.

Just then Ryoko sat up, she knew this feeling. Her thoughts went flying back to the first night she had been with Matt near her cave, a tingle along he neck. He was here! Matt had come for her after all, and was trying to find her 'essence' as he called it. A glimmer of hope sparked deep in her mind, if only she could communicate with Matt like Ses did. Sill he was here, and dread rushed through Ryoko at the thought. What chance did he stand against Clay and Sor-ra-eyu? Ryoko had to find a way to help him.

Her Guardian had come, the question remained though. Could he rescue her and then escape?

Author's notes

I'm writing this while being sick as a dog so please excuse any poor writing, I'll probably come back later and edit some but for now I'm going to post so You know I haven't forgotten this story. I have so little time these days to write for pleasure so I'm using my sick time to catch up a little. Anyways from teh reviews I've gotten it seems that people really want Ryoko and Tenchi to reunite and don't worry it's going to happen but not in this story look for it in A Dream Lost which will be up after this story is complete. I only expect this to go for about 5 chapters total but then again Midnight was only supposed to be 8 so we'll see what happens. Anyways this story is here to explore some things I left opened ended in Midnight. Can Matt rebuild his powers without the use of weapons? Should he? and the big one, did Ryoko make the right choice? The other thing I wanted to bring back was Sor-ra-eyu, I never got much feed back on her so here I'm going to give her a more prominent role and allow her to interact with Matt more. Of course it muddles the whole Matt Ryoko relationship more but that's the point. As always thanks for your reviews and keep 'em coming

Smack54