Tenchi Trek
By Galaxy1001D
Starring Tenchi Masaki as Captain James Jean-Luc Tenchi
Washu Hakubi as Science Officer Washu
Ayeka Masaki Jurai as Lt. Commander Lydia Ayeka
Sasami Masaki Jurai as Midshipman Sherry Lynn Sasami
Mihoshi Kuramitsu as Lt. Barbie Mihoshi
Kiyone Makibi as Tactical Officer Cassandra Kiyone
Katsuhito Masaki as Doctor Katsuhito Yosho
Ryo-oh-ki as Ensign Whiskers
Special Guest Star Ryoko Hakubi as the Space Pirate Ryoko
Tenchi Muyo and all related characters are © AIC/Pioneer. Star Trek and all related material are © Paramount Studios. This story has been written solely for entertainment. The views expressed herein do not necessarily express the opinions of AIC/Pioneer, the author, or this website.
Based on "Star Trek" created by Gene Roddenberry
And "Tenchi Muyo" created by Masaki Kajishima
Chapter 10: The Duel
"Captain's Log, supplemental. A highly advanced being of immense power has abducted the space pirate Ryoko and myself for reasons unknown. I have no way of knowing the fate of my ship or what the motives of the being who calls herself 'Tsunami' is…"
"That's really annoying," Ryoko said, "do you have to keep doing that?"
Tenchi put his miniature recorder back in his pocket and glanced around at the desolate surroundings. The bleak and desert landscape would be appropriate for the North American southwest back on Earth. Sheer rocky cliffs almost devoid of vegetation seemed to go on in every direction. Finally he turned to face the pirate. "If I don't make it, I'd like future generations to know what happened."
"What a pessimist," The pirate shrugged. She was still in what Tenchi liked to call her 'Vegas' apparel. A red bodysuit peaked out of a white dress and covered her legs. A jacket half forest green and half gold covered her torso, but was open to expose the cleaving of her ample bosom.
The wind picked up, and appearing in a blue shower of sparks was the enigmatic being who called herself 'Tsunami'. She appeared as a beautiful woman with long sky-blue hair and bubblegum pink eyes. She wore billowing robes appropriate for a queen. "Here on this world, you can continue your struggle without endangering innocents," she announced without preamble. "You can serve your savage impulses without regret. When a victor has been determined, you may return to your vessel."
"Hey," Ryoko interrupted. "You mean 'return to your vessels', don't you?"
"No," the omnipotent woman shook her head. "I mean 'return to your vessel'. As in singular. With beings of your savagery a conflict can only be resolved by the death of one of the combatants."
Tenchi and Ryoko both took an involuntary gasp and stepped backwards.
"Hey wait," Ryoko protested. "I don't want to kill anybody…"
"You already have," said a cold Tsunami. "Your battle caused deaths on Druidia. I was forced to act to end your conflict before any other innocents were hurt."
"Omigod, I'm so sorry," Ryoko was horrified. "I didn't realize. Were any children hurt?"
"I can't believe it," Tenchi shook his head. "If this is true I gladly submit to any justice system appropriate to your world and the Federation will extend its deepest apologies."
"Perhaps you are not as primitive as I perceived," said Tsunami softening at the show of remorse. "Maybe no deaths are necessary. The old growth forest was damaged, but the trees of life will grow again and…"
"Wait a minute!" Ryoko interrupted. "An old growth forest? As in a natural preserve? Were any people harmed by our space battle?"
Tsunami shook her head. "Not people in the sense of sentient mammalian bipeds but much pain and suffering happened to the native vegetation."
"You mean the only damage was in an unpopulated wilderness?" Tenchi's face grew red. "I was sick with worry!"
"You mean you dragged us all the way out here because of a one-time explosion to a bunch of plants?" Ryoko's voice became harsh. "You're a real nutjob!"
Tsunami's face grew hard again. "It is obvious that you do not understand. Very well, continue your pointless battle until one of you dies if that is all you can do. If you wish your opponent's death to be quick and painless, here are some weapons that I can provide for you."
Before their feet, two pole weapons appeared in a shower of blue sparks.
"Your computer lists them as 'lirpa' from the planet Vulcan," Tsunami continued as they examined the strange weapons. "You'll notice that one end of the short pole ends in a blade and the other in a bludgeon. That way you can stab, slash, chop or block with them. Goodbye." The enigmatic superbeing disappeared in a shower of blue sparks.
"Ryoko!" Tenchi shouted. "She was going to let us go! Why did you have to antagonize her?"
"Don't pull that with me!" Ryoko prodded the captain's chest with her forefinger. "You thought she was acting silly just as I did!"
"At least I didn't call her a 'nutjob'!" Tenchi yelled.
"You're the nutjob, Tenchi!" Ryoko threatened. "She left us here to kill each other or starve to death! Well I'm not going to come in second place!" She picked up the lirpa and twirled it like a cheerleader's baton. "Come on Captain, time for your whuppin'!"
Tenchi gulped, then rolled to the ground to retrieve the second weapon and leapt back to his feet. "Now wait a…"
Tenchi never got a chance to finish his sentence. "Yah!" Ryoko cried as she hurled herself at him, the lirpa held over her head like a sword. She slashed down at him but he rolled to the side. "Hah!" She swung the awkward weapon from right to left and Tenchi ducked and backpedaled to give himself some maneuver room.
Ryoko swung again at him and when it looked like she left herself open the young captain took a chopping blow at her. But she blocked the strike with the pole section of the lirpa, showing the true capabilities of the Vulcan melee weapon. He pushed forward, trying to overpower her, but she was stronger than her slender frame would show.
The two combatants were face to face, each pushing at each other with their pole weapons. Tenchi's face was a grim mask of determination, while Ryoko displayed a cruel smirk. Suddenly, Ryoko flicked him away as if he was a child.
As he rolled on the ground, Tenchi was thankful for his teenage body. Before the transporter accident that gave him back his youth, he would be sore for days after a tumble like that. What his puny teenage form lacked in strength, it made up for it in speed, agility, and endurance.
"Wha-what?" he stammered as he scrambled to his feet.
Ryoko let out a girlish giggle. "I'm stronger than I look. I guess I work out."
"Yah!" Tenchi ran away. "Got to think of a plan…"
He glanced to the right to see the space pirate's smiling face. She was keeping up with him without even running, her feet levitating only inches above the ground. "You'll have to run faster than that…Earthling," she smirked.
"Hee-ya!" Tenchi swung his weapon at her as he skidded to a halt. Instead of connecting, the weapon swished through empty air as the pirate vanished in a brilliant flash. She reappeared a few feet away, leaning against the archaic weapon like a Victorian gentleman with a walking stick. So that's how she got in his room without opening the door!
With a shout appropriate for a samurai warrior, Ryoko took a slashing blow at him. Rip! The sleeve of his gold Starfleet sweater was torn clean off. They exchanged blows a second time, and this time she slashed a glancing blow to his chest. His shirt tore open, exposing one of his nipples. He lunged at her, but she flew and somersaulted over his head as nimble as Peter Pan. She slashed at his back before he could turn around and soon he had only one gold sleeve to support the tattered remains of his shirt.
"Hey!" he exclaimed indignantly. "What are you trying to do, kill me or strip me?"
Ryoko put her hand over her mouth and giggled again. "Was I that obvious?"
Tenchi blushed so hard that even his back grew red. "I can't believe this! Are all alien women such perverts?"
"Just the cute ones," Ryoko teased. "So now what? Do we fight it out or do we look for food, water and shelter?"
"How do I know I can trust you?" Tenchi demanded. "You could kill me at any minute if I turn my back on you!"
Ryoko picked up a rock and crushed it with one hand. "I could kill you at any minute if you turn your front on me," she smiled. "Trust me, if I wanted you dead, I wouldn't have to trick you." She turned and raised her hand at a nearby cliff. Reddish orange bolts of energy collected at her hand and shot out, scarring the cliff face and causing small chunks of rock to spray out.
Tenchi gulped again.
Ryoko raised her forefinger to her lips and blew across it like a gunfighter in the Old West. "C'mon, Tenchi, you're separated from Starfleet, from your planet, from your ship, from everyone. As long as it's just the two of us, wouldn't you rather have a friend than an enemy?"
"Er, uh, all right," he nodded. What choice did he have? He gazed up at the sky.
"What's wrong now?" Ryoko asked, her face a mask of concern.
"I'm just thinking of my ship," he replied. "I hope they're okay."
"You're worried about them, aren't you?" Ryoko nodded. "Can't say that I blame you. Your first officer is a real space case."
"Commander Ayeka is a competent officer with a level head on her shoulders," Tenchi insisted. "I'm sure my ship is in good hands."
"Yeah right," Ryoko cruelly smirked. "I'll bet that idiot will run the ship into a sun just because!"
"No she won't!" Tenchi grumbled. "She is a mature, responsible officer!"
Meanwhile on the starship Pioneer, Ayeka had locked herself in a bathroom and was crying like a baby.
"Tenchi…" she whined as tears trickled down her cheeks. "Where is my Tenchi…?"
Next: Ayeka In Charge