Chapter Four: No Need for a Lab Rat
Ryoko returned to the house with Ceal's unconscious body, flying at full speed. The moment she landed, Sasami ran outside.
"What happened? Is everyone all right? Who's that?" Sasami looked at the limp figure that Ryoko carried.
"This lump of garbage is Ceal," Ryoko snorted, and dropped him face down in the dirt. She then used her foot to flip him over on his back.
"Why did you bring him here?" Sasami came closer to get a better look.
"It was Washu's idea. I'd have left him in the woods, but at least this way we can keep an eye on him."
Tenchi, Ayeka and Washu soon joined them.
"Miss Washu? I must insist that as long as he is here, one of the guardians be stationed in your lab."
"I don't know about that...well, maybe outside the door to my lab." Washu said, when she saw the look on Ayeka's face. "I've got a lot of sensitive equipment inside, and I don't want them in my way."
"We would never get in your way," said Azaka.
"Of course not," Kamidake insisted.
"Hey, you guys, it's almost lunch time." Sasami interrupted. "Why don't you all get cleaned up? Especially you, Ryoko...What is that in your hair, anyway?"
"It's all this idiot's fault." Ryoko jabbed her toe into Ceal's ribs.
"Stop that, Ryoko. Ceal isn't a threat right now. Help me get him into the lab."
"Let someone else carry him," Ryoko snapped. "I need a bath."
"As hard as it may be to admit, I agree with Ryoko on this matter." Ayeka sighed.
Tenchi grabbed Ceal and hoisted him over his shoulder. "I'll do it. Washu, you go in and get started."
"All right. Sasami, can you give me a hand?"
"Sure," Sasami agreed, and followed after Washu.
"Washu, are you sure this is safe?" Tenchi worried.
"Yes. Ceal was only after me." Washu pried open one of Cael's eyelids and peered at a pupil. "Besides, he's still out cold."
Tenchi carried Ceal into the lab and laid him on the table that was usually reserved for experiments on him. Washu tied Ceal down, and even used extra restraints she had used a short time ago on Ryoko, and began her work.
"Washu, do you think Ceal will want to eat when he wakes up?"
"No, Sasami. I've put a neural wave blocker on him. He'll sleep through the rest of the day, and most of the night. But I could eat. What's for lunch?"
"I've made some steamed vegetables, nigiri meshi, satsumaima, and some ika, and yakisobe."
"Let's go. I'm starving." Washu smiled.
Sasami looked nervously down at the unconscious man. "Washu, is Ceal evil like Kagato?"
"No...I don't think so. Ceal was ordered by Lady Tokimi to take me to her. For some reason, he couldn't bring himself to do it. But he just couldn't let me go, he had to be defeated by Tenchi and the others. He said is was the right thing to do." Washu signed. "Come on. I bet Ryoko is already on thirds."
"I bet you're right," Sasami agreed, and they left Washu's lab together.
Tenchi, Ryoko, and Ayeka were placing the last food dish on the table when they came out.
"Hurry up, Washu. Tenchi wouldn't let us eat until you two were finished." Ryoko took up her chopsticks and began shoveling noodles into her mouth.
"Do you think Ceal is secure?" Tenchi asked.
"Snug as a bug in a rug." Sasami smiled.
Ryoko stopped eating for a minute. "Washu, why did we have to bring him here?"
"Yes, Miss Washu, I wonder the same thing. We should have left that miscreant in the woods."
"You'd leave him weak and hurt? Is that fair?" Tenchi asked.
Washu hid her smile. "That's the spirit."
"Sasami, please pass the soy sauce, would you?"
Sasami handed him the bottle. "Here you are."
"Tenchi, I was wondering...when is that fair we went to last year? You know, the one with the cotton candy?" Ryoko asked.
"Well, it's six weeks away. We don't we all work in one stall this year?"
"I'd like to help," Sasami offered.
"Maybe."
Ryo-oh-ki jumped onto Ryoko's lap, reached onto the table, and pulled some carrots to herself.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" Ryoko picked Ryo-oh-ki up by the scruff of her neck.
"Meow, mreow," Ryo-oh-ki replied.
"Fine, so eat them! I'm done anyway." Ryoko stood up. "Tenchi, I need some money to buy the sake for tonight."
"I'll chip in for that," Washu offered, and everyone stared at her. "What? I was nearly kidnapped. How about some beer too?"
"I'm all for that," Ryoko replied. "Hey...where's Mihoshi?"
"I haven't seen her since everyone left," Sasami said. "Washu, do you think Ceal did something to her?"
"No. He never left my sight."
"Maybe we should go and look for her?" Tenchi suggested.
Ryoko put an arm around Tenchi's shoulder and grinned. "Now, Ayeka, you know that Tenchi and I don't have any need for a chaperone. Do we, Tenchi?"
"Ryoko!" Tenchi protested, but Ayeka grabbed his arm and pulled him towards her.
"Tenchi you're not going to less little miss Sissy Princess separate us. Will you?" Ryoko grabbed his other arm and pulled in the opposite direction.
"That's enough, you two. I'll go alone." Tenchi glared first at Ryoko, then Ayeka. They were quiet for a moment, then broke into argument.
"This is all your fault, Ayeka!"
"My fault? It is clearly yours." Ryoko and Ayeka spoke in unison.
"I still have to go pick up the items after I find Mihoshi. Can I leave you two alone?"
"Lord Tenchi, if I may let me help."
"Tenchi, do you think Mihoshi got lost," Sasami said.
"No, I think she's just out for a walk. She probably lost track of time, that's all. We know how she is."
Washu stood up and stretched. "That was a great lunch, Sasami. I'll help you with the dishes. How does that sound?"
"Great, Washu, but aren't you going to check on Ceal?"
"In a little while. He's not going anywhere. Besides, I'd like to help out with dinner."
"Wow, Washu, it's been a while since you've helped me cook!"
"I thought that maybe I could make one of my favorites, something that I haven't had in a very long time."
"You should have asked me, Washu. I would have made it just for you."
"I know that, Sasami." Washu gave Sasami a sad smile.
After lunch was finished, Washu and Sasami cleaned up while Tenchi looked for Mihoshi. Once the dishes were washed and put away, Washu made tea.
"Sasami, if you'd like to see Ceal, he might be ready to wake now."
"Okay. Let's go."
When they got to Washu's lab, they could hear moaning. Ceal was thrashing around on the table. Washu could see the restrains beginning to fray.
"He's stronger than Ryoko," Washu mumbled.
Washu increased the strength of the neuro-wave blocker and Ceal stopped thrashing around. He kept moaning, though, and it was clear he was - somehow - still fighting the effects of the blocker. She took up a pair of scissors and began removing Ceal's face covering. She worked carefully. There were many alien races, and she wasn't sure which one Ceal belonged to; she didn't want to cut him by accident. Sasami watched from the other side of the table.
When Washu had cut the last of the fabric coils, she pulled them away from his face. She was surprised to see how young Ceal appeared, perhaps little older than Sasami. A jagged old zigzag scar marked his face. It began at his hairline, bisected his right eyebrow, ran parallel to his nose, then from his cheekbone to the jawbone to his right ear. How old is he? Ceal mentioned that he had fought with Ryoko more than a thousand years ago. Even with the scar, Ceal was an attractive man.
During the process, he kept fighting. Washu decided to change the restraints for stronger ones before the neural-blocker stopped working. I hope these will hold him. She switched off the blocker after the restraints were in place. Ceal's eyes fluttered open and he tried to sit up. The ties held him down without giving. Washu elevated the upper part of the table so that Ceal was sitting up.
"Lady Washu..." Ceal's voice was dry and cracked. He licked his lips. "Why am I here? The others...are they unharmed?"
Washu held up one hand. "What was the real reason you didn't want to take me to Lady Tokimi, Ceal?"
"Am I your prisoner or your patient, Lady Washu?"
"A little of both for now." Washu gave him one of her wicked smiles.
Ceal looked around at his surroundings, and then smiled at Sasami. "And is this my guard?"
Then he stopped speaking. For the first time since awakening, Ceal realized that his face was bare. He tried to turn away, as if to hide his face.
"It's all right, Ceal," Washu touched his right cheek.
"Lady Washu, my face has been covered in public for more than 7500 years."
"7500 years? How old are you?" Sasami asked, her eyes wide.
Ceal just smiled. "Probably a bit older than you are, miss."
"Her name is Princess Sasami," Washu said. "She's Princess Ayeka's younger sister. Now, back to my question. Why didn't you take me to the Lady Tokimi when you had the chance?"
"Lady Washu, I am very tired. I will answer any questions you or the others may have later, after I have rested." Ceal closed his eyes.
"Ceal? I'm not done with you yet." Washu's voice started to rise. "Fine, then." She placed the neuro-blocker back on his temple. "This will make sure there will be no more problems from you."
Washu switched the blocker back on and watched as his breathing changed and slowed, a close imitation of someone asleep. She took sensors out of a case and started to place them on his face, his chest, his limbs. Ceal had frustrated her - something that was difficult to do. She set up her monitors to take and record all sensor readings. Then she called up her computer and put in a request for any information on Ceal.
"All right, Sasami, let's go and get dinner started, shall we?"
Washu and Sasami left the lab, passing Kamidake guarding the exit.
"Is everything all right in there," Kamidake asked.
"Yes, we're fine, Kamidake."
"Very good, Princess Sasami."
Washu walked into the kitchen, followed by Sasami. The scientist opened the refrigerator door and stared inside. "The only problem I have in an Earth kitchen is that I can't find all the ingredients I need. Like hot fire-rose radishes."
"Yes, but sometimes with a little imagination, a dish can taste just as good." Sasami washed her hands and began preparing the food.