Chapter 11

(No this chapter will not be about bankruptcy although many of you won't get the joke. Anyways Tenchi Muyo, Vash the Stampede, Desert Punk also known as Kanta, and Nabeshin belong to their rightful owners while Morien belongs to me)

The light of dusk was all the remained as Nabeshin's black RV made its way out of the woods towards the Masaki home. As Nabeshin was about to pull up to the driveway he noticed two dueling individuals just outside the house.

Nabeshin: "Are you kidding me!? Another battle?"
Morien: "Seriously? These people seem to be huge targets for turmoil!"

Vash: "Guys wait! Isn't that Ayeka and Ryoko?"

Nabeshin: "Say…it is! That's a rather big relief!"

Morien: "But what is this fight about?"

Nabeshin parked and the 3 men left the vehicle. All eyes were on the two women fighting on the deck.

Ayeka: "Listen demon woman! You need to start picking up after yourself! Stop leaving open sake bottles everywhere. The living room smells like wine all the time!"

Ryoko: "Well someone will pick it up."

Ayeka: "We are not your slaves! You live here like the rest of us so you contribute like the rest of us! And stop using your seductive methods around Lord Tenchi!"

Ryoko: "At least I can get a man faster than you can…flat chest"

Ayeka: "….THAT IS THE LAST STRAW!"

Before Ayeka had a chance to summon her power Morien shot his gun into the sky. This startled the girls.

Morien: "Ladies. I apologize for intruding on your argument but it would be prude if this didn't continue. I'd really appreciate if supper tonight was tranquil."

Morien, Vash, and Nabeshin walked passed Ryoko and Ayeka as they entered the house. The 2 girls stayed outside a little longer thinking about what just happened.

Ryoko: "You know I had noticed it but never really gave it thought until now. Morien's rather handsome."

Ayeka: "Well there you go. Leave me with Tenchi and go after him instead."
Ryoko: "Not a chance in hell princess!"

Ayeka: "Enough! We'll continue this later. Just this once lets grant Morien his wish of a peaceful supper. After all we owe those 4 for defeating Kagato."

Inside the house the aroma of fresh seafood and miso soup filled the air. Sasami was putting the final touches on the evening meal. Morien, Vash, and Nabeshin waited in the living room.

Morien: "It's been a while since I've had Japanese food. I never thought I would have it right here in Japan."
Nabeshin: "Of course here they just call it food."

Vash: "I wonder where Kanta is."

Morien: "Oh I almost forgot about him. I'll ask Tenchi."

Kanta: "Don't bother, Finger Paintings."

All 3 looked by the stairwell to see Kanta looking down at them. He was wrapped in several bandages on his head and chest but was able to walk.

Nabeshin: "Well if it isn't the hero!"

Kanta: "Just doing my job. Does anyone know where my payment went?"

Morien: "You mercenaries really do only think about money." (He said with a smile)

Kanta: "And women. Don't forget Morien you're one of us."

Morien: "Maybe from external appearance. The payment my father gave you is back at the makeshift shelter."

Ryoko and Ayeka came inside and joined the other 4 in the living room.

Ayeka: "Kanta! Shouldn't you be resting?"

Kanta: "Like I tell these 3 clowns I will worry about my own health. Let me be."

Ayeka: (landing a light slap on the back of Kanta's head) "That's no way to talk to a princess!"

Kanta: "Hey that hurt! I'm injured!"

(Ryoko laughed)

Vash: "Princess?"

Ryoko: "Well Ayeka should we tell our story to these outsiders?"

Ayeka: "I don't think it will compromise anything."

Sasami: (popping her head out of the kitchen) "Save it you guys. Supper's ready! Oh and I added a few sections to the table to accommodate for our guests."

The dining room table was decorated with an assortment of sushi rolls, soft shell crabs, other various crustaceans, two pots filled with miso soup, and hot sake while sitting on top of a blue and white checkered table top.

Morien: "This looks amazing Sasami. It's more professional than anything I've ever seen."

Sasami: "Thank you!"

Ayeka: "My sister is the best cook you will find around here."

Vash: "Where are all the chairs at?"

Nabeshin: "Dude, in Japanese culture they eat on their knees."

Vash: "Oh…just pretend I didn't ask that question"

Ryoko: "I haven't seen Washu in a while. Days now come to think of it."

Sasami: "She's been really busy with her lab work. Typical Washu. I just wrapped her meal and left it on the countertop so she can pick it up when she wants."

Tenchi: (Just walking into the dinning room) "Alright. Glad you four could make it. Are you sure you can sit Kanta?"

Kanta: "I'll manage."

Tenchi: "Great. Dig in everyone."

Minutes passed when Morien decided to start the conversation.

Morien: "Earlier you asked us if we were Juraians. What are they?"

Ayeka: "It's what Sasami, Tenchi, and myself are. Jurai is our home planet several hundred light years away from this galaxy."

Morien: "Looks like that debunks the theory that life doesn't exist anywhere else in the universe. How did you end up on Earth?"

Ayeka: "I left to search for Yosho who is Tenchi's grandfather. He did not want any part in taking the throne of Jurai. As we got closer to Earth we intercepted Ryoko who was a space pirate at the time. In an attempt to capture her I chased her down to this planet. Over time things fell into place and we now live peacefully under this roof."
Ryoko: "Well we try. If you would just let me have my Tenchi."

Ayeka: "Grr…"

Tenchi: "Girls please. Not now."

Underneath the stairs was an orange-red closet door with a circular window in it. It opened up and a certain rather short woman with long spiky pink hair and green eyes walked out of it towards the kitchen unaware of the 4 guests in the house.

Washu: "This lab work is taking much longer than I thought. I wonder if Sasami left any food in the kitchen."

Washu walks into the kitchen finding a wrapped meal left just for her sitting on the counter. Sasami left a note on the wrapped dish reading "I made your favorite as usual. Enjoy and keep working hard. Oh if you aren't too busy maybe you could join us tonight. Haven't seen you in a while."

Washu: "Thanks kiddo but I really have to get back to work. At least I'll go say thank you."

Washu walked to the entrance to the dining room and was about to thank Sasami when she saw the 4 guests at the table conversing with Tenchi and the girls.

Washu: (Oh I didn't know we were having guests and….and who is that?)

She looked at Morien for a few seconds examining every part of him she could see from where she was standing. To his left she saw an open spot.

Washu: (On second thought I'll eat with them tonight. The darker cute guy seems interesting)

She walked the dining room catching the attention of Sasami.

Sasami: "Washu! You made it!"

Ryoko: "The freaking nerd finally decided to come out of hibernation!"

Washu: "Settle down now, Ryoko."

She took her place right next to Morien as he was engaged in a conversation with Ayeka still talking about Jurai and other planets as this information was new to Morien just now learning that Earth wasn't the only planet privileged to have life.

Morien: "This all seems like a science fiction novel. It was hard to believe that Vash here was from another world but now I've come to discover that the 3 of you (pointing to Ryoko, Ayeka, and Sasami) are also from a galaxy never discovered by us Earthlings."

Washu: "Actually make that 4 of us."

He turned and looked at Washu.

Morien: "Oh hello. Didn't see you covertly sit down. I'm Morien."
Washu: "And I'm Washu. If I knew that we were having guests I wouldn't have stayed locked up in the laboratory all day."

Tenchi: "Well we know how busy you can get so we just let you work in peace."

Washu: "From now on just let me know ahead of time if other people are coming over" She said looking at Morien. (Especially when they look like this man) thinking to herself.

Morien: "You're the one who tended to Kanta's injuries then right?"

Washu: "Yes but I wouldn't go as far as to calling them injuries. More like small bruises. If I didn't know any better I would say he's a pansy."

Kanta: "I can hear you!"

Tenchi: "Washu! Come on now. You barely know him and you're putting him down."

Kanta: "It's fine Tenchi. I can take it."

Washu: "So are you all Tenchi's friends?"

Nabeshin: "Hehe…hasn't been that long."

Morien: "We've only know most of you for a few hours now."

Washu: "Oh, then where did you come from?"

Morien: "Kanta, Vash, Nabeshin, and myself do mercenary work. That's how I made that much money in case you two were still wondering. (Looking at Tenchi and Ryoko) We were en route from Singapore to a city in Eastern Russia when we got shot down by intercepting aircraft. We think it was the work of the terrorist group we were apprehending. By sheer luck getting shot down landed us here."

Vash: "Then when we thought the worst of it was over some man by the name of Kagato decided to show up and wreak havoc upon you guys."

Washu: "What?! Kagato!?"

Tenchi: "Oh great. I was really hoping this part of the story would be left out especially in front of Washu."

Washu: "You all knew and didn't tell me?!"

Morien: "What's the big deal?"
Washu: "The big deal is that Kagato was a former student of mine! He imprisoned me on his ship for 5000 years! I was finally freed when Tenchi defeated him."

Morien: "5000 years!? Aren't you exaggerating a bit?"

Washu: "Umm…no. I mean literally 5000 years! I've lived a long time. I'm pushing just over 20,000 years old now." (Vash looked over at Morien remembering what he said about 20,000 year old women)

Morien: (Blank look on his face for a moment) "If you're really 20,000 years old how is it that you could pass for someone who's at least 20?"

Washu: "Because I'm the greatest scientific genius in the universe! You'll hear me say that a lot. Anyways how did you all defeat Kagato?"

Morien: "Nabeshin squared off with him for a few minutes. Then Ryoko joined him and I even tried to contribute but in the end it was Kanta who defeated him with what Ryoko calls a primitive weapon proving that it's still effective."

Kanta: "Your laser technology may be superior but it's almost impossible to halt a .50 caliber bullet once it leaves the barrel."

Washu: "Well then I take back my pansy comment since your injuries came from Kagato."

Nabeshin: "Well actually they came from the plane crash. He was in an RV with airbags in almost every wall."

Washu: "And my comment is reinstated."

Kanta: "Gee thanks Nabeshin ya jack-a… (Kanta refrained from swearing thinking that Ayeka may land another slap on him especially now that her younger sister, Sasami, was there). I'll get you later."

Morien: "Sounds kinky" (He said with a smirk)

Kanta: "You know what I meant!"

Vash: "It's okay Kanta. If there's anything you want to tell us that we don't know about…"

Kanta: "Ok. Why suddenly are your minds in the gutter?!"

Morien: "You're one to talk. How was it that you described Junko again?"

Kanta: "Touché"

Washu: "You guys are pretty entertaining. It's a nice break from the usual Ayeka/Ryoko bouts."

Ayeka: "Those are legitimate!"

Ryoko: "Since Tenchi belongs to me anyways I have to no choice but to give my 2 cents."

Ayeka: "You stay away from Lord Tenchi!"

Ryoko: "You won't win prissy princess. And speaking of two cents could I borrow some money Morien?"

Tenchi: "Ryoko, we talked about this."

Morien: "Borrow? I could just give it to you. No offense but you don't seem like the type who pays someone back."

Ayeka: "You have no idea."

Ryoko: "Stay out of this princess."

Tenchi: "Now wait a minute Morien. It's nice you want to help but we barely know you guys. It doesn't seem right to accept money from you."

Morien: "It really is okay Tenchi. Besides it seems we're going to be stuck here for the next few days. Heck it could be even longer so it would only be fair to help out in any way, shape, or form."

Ryoko: "Which means more sake for me" (She said with a smile)

Washu: "Is that all you think about, Ryoko?"

Ayeka: "That and sex" (with a low voice)

Ryoko: "What did you say!?"

Ayeka: "Oh nothing. It was the ceiling fan."

Ryoko: "Riiiight.'

Morien: "Do they always fight like this, Washu."

Washu: "Since the day they first came to Earth. Not a day goes by where my daughter and Ayeka don't have an argument."

Morien: "Ryoko is your daughter!?"

Ryoko: "Washu! If you tell him anything else he might have a nervous breakdown!"

Morien: "What a day this has turned out to be."

After an hour or two of conversations supper had ended. Kanta, Morien, Vash, and Nabeshin thanked Sasami for the meal and left the house for the shelter made out of the downed C-5 fuselage.

Washu: "How long did they say there were going to be around?"

Sasami: "I think a week at least. Something about staying put so the INSF wouldn't detect them."

Washu: "I would like to run a few tests on them…especially Morien."

Ryoko: "Good luck with that. I told them that you raped Kanta with your machines in there. (Laughing)

Washu: "I did no such thing!"

Back outside…

Vash: "How are we going to contact your father?"

Morien: "Washu did say she was the greatest scientist in the world or universe…something like that. She could probably help his communicate with him. I'll ask her tomorrow."

Kanta: "Just be careful. With the way she was eying you today you might become her next 'experiment'."

Morien: "Ryoko is her daughter so she probably has a husband or is at least dating someone."

Nabeshin: "I doubt that. She seems like a mad scientist. Most men fear those types of women."

Morien: "We need to focus on the task at hand here gentlemen. We're stuck here and the operation is still taking place in Vladivostok. If the INSF is physically enhancing human beings then we have a tough fight ahead. I still don't know how we would stop them. Everyone from ICE 493 is like me now. Still I haven't heard any reports of attacks."

Kanta: "It's only a matter of time. Here's what we'll do. In a few days I'll leave for Vladivostok. I know you're going to ask me how but remember who you're talking to. I'll scout the city and provide recon for you. If I really need assistance from any of you I will let you know.

Morien: "Playing the lone wolf I see. If that's what you want then by all means do it but the sooner the better. Anyways I'm going to set up my tent and call it a night. Later."

Morien, Vash, Kanta, and Nabeshin have to figure out soon how to stop a seemingly unstoppable force under control of a terrorist group. But within the next couple of days they will realize that help is a lot closer than they think.