Star Trek: Pioneer
Starring Tenchi Masaki as Captain James Jean-Luc Tenchi
Washu Hakubi as Science Officer Washu
Ryoko Hakubi as the Space Pirate Ryoko
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 KatsuhitoYosho
Ryo-oh-ki as Ensign Whiskers
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, CBS/Paramount Studios, the author, the readers, or this website.
Based on "Star Trek" created by Gene Roddenberry
And "Tenchi Muyo" created by Masaki Kajishima
Dagger of the Brain
By Galaxy1001D
Chapter Ten: Responsibility
"Tenchi…!" Ryoko called playfully. "Time for bed!"
"I don't feel like it," the boy grumbled.
"C'mon, Tenchi, you can't stay up forever," Ryoko teased. "Come on to bed. I'm waiting…"
Ryoko was wearing a filmy nightgown and reclining in the king-sized bed the Doctor Clay had thoughtfully put into the luxurious suite that was their cell. It looked more like an expensive hotel room than a cell in a maximum-security penal colony.
Tenchi, on the other hand was still wearing his uniform and was leaning against the wall and crossing his arms. His scowl could have frightened small children. "It's going to be a long wait," he grumbled.
"What's the matter, Tenchi?" Ryoko asked with the innocence of a child. "We've started two new therapy programs and had a lot of fun too. Doctor Clay moved us into a big room that we can share! I know that with your love and support, I'll be cured of my criminal tendencies in no time!"
"Who are you fooling?" Tenchi looked away. "I'm not going to make love to you, Ryoko."
"What?" Tears formed in the pirate's eyes. "Why not?"
"Why should I?" he responded coldly. "You are a party to my kidnapping. I would have escaped already if not for you. Do you honestly expect me to reward that kind of behavior?"
"But," Ryoko's bottom lip trembled as a tear trickled down her cheek. "I thought I was getting better…I thought you were proud of me!"
"Proud of you for what?" Tenchi shrugged as he looked at the door. "All you've done is take over the facility while Doctor Clay spends time on whatever his master plan is. I'm sorry, but how do you expect to convince me that you're getting better when you are holding me against my will?"
"I…I…" More tears trickled down her face. "I hoped that I'd grow on you. That I'd get better and then I would rescue you. Wouldn't that be nice?"
"How can I answer that when you don't give me any choices?" Tenchi retorted. "I love spending time with you, Ryoko, but when you kidnap me and put a robot duplicate on my ship you diminish me in ways you can't even think of!"
"I…I…" Ryoko sniveled. "I'm sorry! I just didn't want you to leave me here all alone!" She rose out of the bed to cross over to Tenchi and hug him. When he didn't hug her back, the pirate's knees buckled and she slid slowly down his body. "I'm sorry, Tenchi! I'll make it up to you! I'm sorry I've hurt you! Tell me what I've got to do and I'll do it!"
Tenchi looked away from the door and looked the pirate in the eye. "You know what you've got to do."
Ryoko hugged his leg and cried.
In the meantime, light-years and parsecs away, the starship Pioneer soared through space.
"Oh…" Washu groaned as she entered sickbay.
"Something the matter?" Doctor Yosho asked genially from his desk.
"I think I had too much to drink last night," the redheaded science officer put her hand on her forehead. "I don't feel so good… Do you got anything for a hangover?"
"I've been handing out a lot of these after Tenchi's 'birthday party' last night," the bespectacled doctor replied as he reached for a bottle of pills. "Here try some of this." He tossed the bottle to Washu, who caught it with one hand. "Very good," Yosho teased. "I see that your hangover hasn't dulled your incredible Chousin reflexes."
"I wish that my nervous system was as primitive as yours," Washu snapped back. "Then I wouldn't be able to tell exactly how much pain I'm really in." She tossed two pills into her mouth and swallowed them.
"That's right!" Yosho cried. "You're from the planet Chousin! Those hangover pills will kill someone from your planet!"
Washu's eyes bulged in horror. "What?" she shouted.
Yosho laughed. "I see those pills really do sober you up," he teased.
"Shut up," Washu growled. "So what did I take, anyhow?"
"Some harmless placeboes," the elderly doctor shrugged as he opened a drawer. "You're the fourth person I've got with that joke. You really were putting it away last night so I prepared an antitoxin for you ahead of time." He pulled out a futuristic hypodermic that did not need a needle. "Give me your arm." The hiss of the hypo let them know that the medication passed through Washu's skin and sleeve and into her bloodstream. "There you go. All better."
"Not quite," Washu groaned. "I really made a fool of myself last night."
"It could have been worse," Doc Yosho shrugged. "You could have ended up in Ayeka's quarters without any clothes like…er…but I digress. Did you do anything that you might be ashamed of?"
"I did things that would end my career if Tenchi wasn't our captain," Washu grumbled. "Last night I broke into the captain's quarters and ripped his pants off."
The elderly doctor tried to hide his laughter.
"It isn't funny!" Washu insisted. "I really went over the line last night! Your Terran liquor is too strong for my Chousin body. Tenchi had to flee the room wearing nothing but a smile! I even saw his tattoo." Washu scared Yosho by suddenly shouting "His tattoo!"
"What?" asked the startled physician. "What about his tattoo? He doesn't have a tattoo. I didn't know Tenchi had a tattoo."
"He doesn't," Washu was now all business. "At least, he didn't before he beamed down to Gehenna Two! Ayeka thought that something happened to him down there and now we've got proof!"
At that moment, on deck five, the door chimes sounded at Ayeka's quarters. "Come in," the girlish first officer called.
To her surprise, Captain James Tenchi was there. "Hello Ayeka," he said quietly. "May I come in?"
"Why of course, Captain," she stepped aside to let him in.
"James, please," he corrected as he entered.
"Wha?" gasped Ayeka. "Why of course…James. What can I do for you?"
"First Ayeka, I want to apologize for what happened last night," the captain said as he blushed and looked at the floor. "You were the only one I could turn to, the first one I thought of. I'm sorry."
"Well I suppose that I should be flattered," Ayeka smiled weakly.
Tenchi returned her weak smile. "I'm sorry that um, I entered your quarters under such circumstances. If at all possible I'd like a do over." He laughed nervously.
"Sure James," she nodded cagily. "Whatever you want." A do over? What did he mean by that? What was he talking about?
Tenchi rubbed the back of his neck and glanced away. "Heh-heh, uh…" He braced himself and faced his feminine first officer. "That fiasco last night makes what I have to say even harder. I don't know if the timing is right but I can't hold this in anymore. I've got to tell you."
"Okay," she said lifelessly. It was as bad as she feared. Tenchi was going to resign. She felt as if her life was over too. Somehow Ryoko had managed to reduce her beloved captain into a spineless jellyfish. Tenchi realized that his ability to lead was gone, and he was going to step aside…
"I love you, Ayeka," he said quietly.
The effect was as if someone had waked the first officer up using a bucket of ice water. "What?" she exclaimed.
"I love you, Ayeka!" Tenchi repeated, his eyes shining and his voice gaining strength and sincerity. "I've always loved you. I didn't want to admit it, not even to myself but I don't care anymore. I can't go on like this. I need you Ayeka. I need you bad."
"Oh…" Ayeka covered her face and started to cry. "Oh Tenchi…! What has happened to you?"
"Ayeka?" Tenchi asked in disbelief. "I just said that I love you. I thought that you loved me too. Sure it might interfere with our careers but other than that what's wrong?"
"Oh Tenchi…" Ayeka collapsed to her knees. "Tenchi…" she sobbed. What's happened to you?"
"Ayeka!" the captain grasped her by the shoulders and lifted her to her feet. "Are you all right? What's wrong? Nothing has happened to me!"
"Tenchi…Tenchi," sobbed the despairing woman. "I've failed you."
"You haven't failed me," Tenchi insisted, getting more of a 'captain' quality in his voice. "I love you and you love me! I would think that you would be happy!"
"No!" Ayeka turned away and tore herself out of his arms. "No!" She pressed her body against the wall as if she was trying to push her body through the bulkhead. "You said you loved me!"
"Yes!" demanded the confused captain. "What's wrong with that?"
Ayeka turned to face him. There was no tenderness in her face, only hatred and scorn. "The real Captain Tenchi would never say that!"
Next: No Need for Imposters