Tenchi Universe: No Need for a Team-Up!
Rowan Seven
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters except for the original ones. The characters you do recognize are copyrighted by their respective companies. I'm not making any money off this fanfic. ^ ^ indicates thoughts. ~ ~ indicates telepathy.
Chapter 8: A Target Reached
Ken-ohki drifted through space, energy crackling on and off over the ship's surface and with several ugly looking and black scorch marks. Atmospheric gases leaked out into space, leaving a misty trail behind. Barely moving under the power of one engine and at a lopsided angle to boot, Ken-ohki looked like he had just barely survived a pitched and desperate space battle.
That was exactly what Nagi wanted any observer to think.
Having successfully crept past the Jurain border and patrols and currently hiding behind a large asteroid that was "conveniently" (meaning that they'd pushed it) heading towards the Hitno-rai system, Ken-ohki was now merely an hour away from his target. Soon he'd have to travel outside of the asteroid's shadow and head towards the actual planet itself, revealing their presence.
A fully functional Ken-ohki would be surrounded within minutes, hence the current charade. A damaged Ken-ohki that looked like he might blow up at any moment would only be cautiously followed as communication attempts were made. In reality, though, Ken-ohki was as dangerous as he'd ever been. The scorch marks were self-inflicted and didn't affect any of his more critical systems at all, the leaking atmosphere was coming from airlocks and cargo bays that were only open by a hair and closed off from the ship's core, and his other engines were merely turned off but could be reactivated at a moment's notice. Just to make things more convincing, artificial gravity and most secondary systems were deactivated to make it look like Ken-ohki was low on power too.
Tethered securely to the floor of one of the aforementioned airlocks and wearing a spacesuit, Ryouga meditated in mid-"air" and waited in silence for Nagi's telepathic signal to strike. His thoughts, though, were troubled. For the past 5 days Nagi had been even more cold and distant, his only real interactions with her being their training sessions, and even during these she usually only spoke to him to tell him when she saw something that could be improved or to teach him a trick with his laser-umbrella.
At first he thought he'd done something to offend her (Who knew what was considered taboo by an alien?), but after a nervous apology on his part Nagi had assured him that he'd done nothing wrong and then left without a backward glance. Now very confused and worried, he'd asked Ken-ohki what was wrong and finally learned about their shared dreaming. Though no longer occurring since Nagi had started sleeping at different hours than him, Ken-ohki had explained to him that Nagi wasn't comfortable about sharing anything with anyone, especially when it concerned her life and private thoughts.
Ryouga, now also vaguely disturbed and uncomfortable by what Nagi may have learned about his life and self, told Ken-ohki that he understood perfectly and had also closed himself off to an extent. It's not like he and Nagi were friends or anything, and their association would almost certainly end after they accomplished this mission. Another part of him, though, argued that he shouldn't let their relationship end on such a cold note, and that he was taking the easy way out just like he always had with Akane. Isn't zero g introspection grand?
******
Nagi was belted down in her command chair, hands steepled together, and waiting. Unlike many people who have found themselves in similar situations, Nagi didn't mind the waiting. As a bounty hunter, she'd learned long ago that waiting paid off and had honed her patience accordingly.
No, what bothered her were the unknown variables. With most of her assignments, Nagi knew exactly what she was up against and what would be required from her. This assignment, though, was completely different in those regards. Her target, Prince Kenj, possessed an unknown level of power, the planet was unfamiliar to her, and for the first time since her younger days as a bounty hunter she had a partner. These were not her prerequisites for a good mission.
Still, she was a professional and knew better than to expect life to always work out the way she wanted it too. She would perform her mission with the resources she had on hand, do her best, and hope that was enough. That didn't mean it still didn't bother her though.
~Everything's ready and waiting, Nagi,~ Ken-ohki informed her. ~We'll be disembarking from the asteroid in approximately thirty minutes, and if all goes according to plan it will only take us 20 minutes to weave through Hitno-rai's defenses and land you and Ryouga on the planet.~
"Thank you Ken-ohki," Nagi replied. Sensing that there was something else he wanted to say, she added, "And?"
~You know me too well,~ Ken-ohki said good-naturedly. ~I was just going to suggest that you have a talk with Ryouga when this is all over. He seems like a good person, and in case we ever need his help again it would be good for us if we all departed on amicable terms.~
"This is business, Ken-ohki, and nothing more. There's no reason for us to get all friendly with each other, and even if we ever did need Ryouga's help again it's unlikely that we'd be able to find him," Nagi replied dismissively.
~Still, you never know what the future might bring, and it wouldn't hurt anything if you did. I swear, you've been almost rude to him in your coldness, and I'd prefer his memories of us to be a little fonder than they currently are,~ Ken-ohki pleaded. ~Just because Ryouga might have seen a little bit of your past is no reason to ostracize him. About the only friends you currently have are myself and possibly Ryoko in that strange hunter/prey/ally relationship you two have got going, and in this cold and gigantic universe that's not very much. It might do you some good to open up slightly to someone else for a change.~
Nagi sighed. "Ken-ohki, if I agree to talk to him after we capture Prince Kenji will you stop lecturing me? I swear, ever since you fell in love with Ryo-ohki you've been sounding more and more like a psychiatrist by the day."
Ken-ohki chuckled. ~Well, they do say that love is supposed to make you wiser.~
"Or a fool," Nagi retorted acidly, remembering Ryoko and her possibly fatal sacrifice for Tenchi.
******
^Boring, boring, boring. This job is incredibly booor-ing!^ Lord Yamada, Commander in Charge of Her Majesty's Forces over the planet Hitno-rai, thought to himself as he sat in his white, metallic command chair and tiredly surveyed his command center on this space station, the nexus point between the planet below and all the forces assigned to protect it.
Emotionlessly he noted for the 50th time that shift that, as usual, Lieutenants Kiyo and Jabonian were manning the sensor and communication stations several yards in front of him. Farther ahead still was the giant viewscreen, currently displaying a view of the planet below them. Behind him Lieutenants Minoas, Alti, and Ban were, respectfully, manning the engineering, weapons, and tactical stations.
None of them, though, were really paying much attention to their consoles' readouts. Ban had an indiscreet earphone inserted in his left ear and was listening to various subspace music stations. Alti and Kiyo were gossiping over the communications link between their stations about whom in the current Jurai aristocracy was trying to kill whom, who was trying to marry whom, and who was trying to do both. Minoas was intently playing a game of chess against himself on his monitor, and Jabonian was watching a movie and trying his hardest not to cry. When Lord Yamada, a young officer seeking to make an impression, had taken command over a year ago he'd tried to do away with this informal and casual state of affairs, but after a month he'd become bored out of his mind as well and the diversions returned with an addition: Lord Yamada now usually brought an electronic book viewer with him when he was in the command center.
Today, though, things were different. Lord Yamada had overslept and, in his rush to make it to the command center on time (Computers noted whenever someone was late and given enough demerits would send a report to high command with a negative recommendation.) had left his electronic book viewer in his quarters. Now, after writing the daily report (All quiet on the Hitno-rai front. There is nothing new to report nor is there anything exciting or unusual happening. End report.), reading over the crew reports (Everything's running smoothly, no problems here, and we're all bored to tears with this daily and unchanging routine. If something interesting doesn't happen soon we're all going to go insane!), refusing several requests for early R&R (If I have to suffer so do you. Signed, your benevolent commander.), and humming practically every song he knew thrice he found himself with nothing to do but watch his bridge crew lazily go about their routines and entertain themselves as best they could. Hence his current thoughts.
Thankfully and refreshingly unexpectedly, a light on Lieutenant Kiyo's station began to flash. Every eye turned to it. Kiyo looked down at her station, read the readouts, with eyes widening noticeably rechecked them, and then rapidly stood up and turned around to face Lord Yamada, an excited expression on her face.
"Lord Yamada, sir, a seriously damaged cabbit ship which appears to be the Ken-ohki has just moved out from behind an asteroid that is passing near this system and is on a direct and somewhat wobbly course to Hitno-rai!" Kiyo repeated breathlessly, her green eyes flashing.
The excitement that had been apparent in Kiyo's frame now spread to everyone else, and Yamada felt himself grinning widely though he schooled his features a moment later. ^This,^ he thought to himself, ^is definitely something new.^
Standing up, he gave his orders. "Jabonian, try to open a communications link with that ship. I want to know what it's doing here. Ban, have the Gold Star Squadron surround that ship but tell them not to get too close. I don't want them to be damaged if there's an explosion. Alti, bring our shields and weapons to full power. Minoas, make sure we're ready for anything. Kiyo, keep your sensors trained on that ship. I want to know its every move."
"Sir, direct communications link established with Ken-ohki. Nagi wants to talk to you. However, the quality of the transmission is rather poor. It appears that Ken-ohki has suffered extreme damage," Jabonian reported, movie now turned off and intently watching his screens.
"Understood. Put it on the main viewscreen," Lord Yamada ordered.
The scene of the planet was immediately replaced by static that slowly resolved itself into a picture of Ken-ohki's green and crystalline bridge that flickered slightly every few seconds. Nagi, a look of intense anger and determination in her eyes, was fastened into her command chair and looking none too pleased.
"Bounty Hunter Nagi, you are in Jurai Space," Yamada said coolly. "I, Lord Yamada and commander of this space station, must insist that you depart immediately. If your ship is too damaged to depart we will assist you in making repairs, but-"
"I am not leaving, Yamada. Ryoko is on her way here, and I will not let her escape me again!" Nagi replied, her every word dripping with obsession.
Yamada felt every member of his command crew gasp and pale. Not letting his panic show, Yamada probed for more information. "You mean to tell me that the infamous Space Pirate Ryoko is on her way here? Why? She would know just as well as anybody that the planet's forcefield makes it impossible to rob."
Nagi grinned superiorly. "Nothing is impossible, Yamada, and apparently Ryoko has allied herself with an alien capable of disrupting forcefields. I managed to intercept her not too long ago, but with that alien's help Ryo-ohki easily brushed Ken-ohki aside and critically injured him in the process. It's a miracle I made it here before she did."
Yamada gulped. If this was true it could spell serious trouble later, but all he had to go on right now was Nagi's word, and she was obviously not one of the trustworthiest characters in the universe. He would have to play it safe.
"Be that as it may," he began, "I still must insist that you depart. If what you say is true, even with our forcefields down this fleet should be more than enough to handle Ryo-ohki without the help of an injured cabbit. We will bring Ryoko to justice ourselves provided she shows up."
"Ryoko is _my_ prey!" Nagi retorted, apparently not pleased with Yamada's answer.
"A 'prey' that you are currently unable to catch," Yamada noted dryly. "I think my forces will be able to take things from here. Thank you for the information, though. Regardless, if you continue to advance I'll have to arrest you for illegally entering Jurai space so I believe it would be best for all of us if you just left now. I can assign an 'escort', if you like."
Nagi glared at him. "Fine, I'll leave," she acquiesced at last, "but I think you'll regret your decision. You're underestimating the threat you face." With that ominous note, she severed the communications link.
Yamada released a breath he'd been holding. "Kiyo, is she retreating?" he asked.
Kiyo glanced up from her console. "Yes sir! Ken-ohki is beginning to turn- What in the world…Sir, a narrow beam has just been emitted from one of Ken-ohki's cargo bays. It's headed directly at Hitno-rai's forceshield!"
^What does she think she's doing? That forceshield is one of the strongest in the galaxy.^ Yamada wondered to himself, saying aloud, "Ban, order the Gold Star Squadron to pursue-"
"Sir, Ken-ohki has just sprung to life! Sensors indicate he's now functioning at full power and- Great Tsunami, no! Sir, that energy beam has just struck Hitno-rai's shield and somehow caused it to explode! We've got energy discharges heading outward in all directions!" Kiyo reported frantically.
"Order all hands to brace for impact and have our ships pursue and capture Nagi! We can't let her escape-" Yamada began but was cut off as the entire space station shook as a giant energy discharge slammed into it.
"Commander, I'm receiving damage reports from the entire fleet! Many of our ships were hit by that shield explosion, and-" Jabonian began but was interrupted by Kiyo.
"Sir, sensors are picking up a dissipating cloaking field. It's the pirate 2nd generation treeship Ruby! It's joined up with Ken-ohki and both ships are currently heading towards Hitno-rai!"
^I know I wanted a little excitement, but this is ridiculous!^ thought Yamada. Frowning, he gave new orders. "Ban, have every ship that can follow and attack Ruby and Ken-ohki. We can't let them invade the planet. Jabonian, send out a distress signal telling everyone that we're under attack by pirates and that they've knocked down the forceshield and considerably weakened the fleet. We need help and fast. Kiyo, keep your eyes trained on your sensors. If more ships decloak or appear I want to know about it immediately. Minoas, fix any damages caused to this space station by that energy discharge and try to figure out how they took down the shield, but don't bother reactivating it. Doing so would be pointless if they can just knock it down again. Alti, lock onto those two ships and fire as soon as possible. Oh, and someone contact the planet and alert the ground forces of the current situation and tell them to prepare for a pirate raid."
"Yes sir!" his crew responded, battle instincts and training returning after so many years of nonuse. ^But will it be enough?^ wondered Yamada, facing the viewscreen which now showed a picture of Ken-ohki and Ruby's progress towards Hitno-rai. He winced as he saw ship after ship of his being evaded and incapacitated. He only had 3rd and 4th generation treeships under his command, and against a 2nd generation treeship and a cabbit of Ken-ohki's maturity and power he feared the worst. A thought came to him then, and he couldn't stop himself from bitterly chucking once at it. ^Be careful what you wish for.^
******
"CHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWW!!!"
Ken-ohki and Ruby, with an effortless grace that would embarrass the Jurai Royal Navy in retrospect, glided to, thro, and past Hitno-rai's outer defenses and careened through the planet's atmosphere at speeds that most would call insane and suicidal. Crashing through the thick, white clouds Ruby and Ken-ohki pulled up at the last minute, leaving sonic booms in their wake. Quickly maneuvering past or just plain destroying the automated laser defenses that fired at them, the two mighty ships rushed towards the capitol city. Ruby's cargo bays opened and small shuttles hovered out, each one carrying a small group of pirates.
Once the pillaging crafts were all away, Ruby broke formation with Ken-ohki and launched herself back into the atmosphere and out to space to keep the main fleet busy. Ken-ohki continued on his path and continued to pick up speed as he shot past the capitol city and headed towards a royal tree palace several miles off. Not bothering to slow down as the giant tree, towering over all others, came into view Ken-ohki cried his famous and frightening battle cry and flew straight into it.
"CHOOOOOOOOOOO-"
BOOM!
Ignoring the alarms and klaxons that were now ringing from practically every direction, Ken-ohki slowly and sluggishly righted himself and turned around to face the glaring, impromptu entrance he'd just created with his collision. Not wasting a second, the doors of a cargo bay on his underside irised open and out jumped Ryouga (now out of his spacesuit and wearing his normal get-up) and Nagi. With one last "Chow!" Ken-ohki flew back out of the hole he'd created, widening it slightly, and proceeded to join Ruby in the aerial battle above.
"Follow me!" Nagi ordered, glancing over her right shoulder once to make sure Ryouga was okay and focused.
"Like I have any choice," Ryouga mumbled to himself, casually surveying the room and its alien design and architecture in silent wonder as he followed Nagi, keeping his senses alert for any dangers.
Ignoring Ryouga's sarcastic remark, Nagi quickly sprinted through rooms and hallways, trying to orient herself. Jurai palaces were typically all the same with a few variations here and there, and if she could discern the layout of this tree then finding the royal living quarters would be simple. Not everyone, though, was willing to make this easy for her.
"Stop right where thou art, vile invader! You have invaded sacrosanct Jurai land, and as a punishment-Aaaarghhhhhh…"
The Jurain guards who'd surrounded them soon found themselves taken out by a combination of Nagi's whip and Ryouga's bandannas. Nagi arched her left eyebrow slightly and somewhat questioningly afterwards as she noticed that Ryouga still had a bandanna around his head but decided to let it pass. Later, though, she decided that she would really have to ask Ryouga just how many bandannas he was wearing. Putting aside such mysteries for a later date, the two continued running through the Jurai complex, easily defeating and knocking unconscious any guards they came across.
Eventually their wandering gained direction and, with Ryouga following a step behind Nagi, they reached a large wooden door with intricate carved designs depicting various scenes from Jurai's history carved on it. Standing before this door was a blue-haired Jurain Knight, wearing the traditional ceremonial garb of his station and holding a wooden staff with a gem affixed to the top of it. Eyeing Nagi and Ryouga grimly with his serious green eyes, he lifted his staff from off the ground, titled it at a nearly 90 degree angle, and assumed a combat stance. Obviously, this guy wasn't a pushover like the rest of the security staff had been.
"Nagi and ally," he intoned coldly, practically emotionlessly, "I will not permit you to pass through these doors. It is my duty to protect Prince Kenji from all harm, and you two obviously qualify as such. Turn back now and try to escape from Hitno-rai or face the consequences."
"Sorry, but quitting even when it's the smart thing to do is something that I'm just not good at," Ryouga admitted, grinning mirthlessly and assuming a combat stance of his own. In front of him, Nagi tensed and prepared to spring into action. Before the battle could commence, though, the door slid aside, seemingly of its own accord.
"Ishitaka, stand down. I'll…deal with these intruders myself," commanded an old and tired male voice from beyond the doorframe.
"But sir," the Jurain Knight Ishitaka protested, turning around to face the door, "it's my duty and if you should lose-"
"Enough!" rasped the ancient voice. "Do not worry about me. I'll be fine, and in the unlikely event that I am captured you will be inculpable. I'm giving you a direct order to leave these premises and assist the security forces in the capitol city. I consider the pirates to be a more serious threat to the planet than these two. Understood?"
"Yes sir," Ishitake said through grit teeth, obviously unhappy with this course. Not able to disobey a direct order, though, he slowly turned around again so that he was facing Nagi and Ryouga. Glowering at them as he passed, he moved down the hallway and out of sight.
"You two can come in now," the old voice informed them, a tinge of weariness present.
Not wasting a moment, Nagi immediately accepted the invitation, prepared to lunge and jump should it turn out to be a trap. Behind her Ryouga followed. Stepping through the doorframe led them into a large (about the size of a small baseball field) and darkened room that was roughly 2-stories high. In the back left corner was an ornate bed curtained off with what looked like expensive violet velvet; a bookcase laden with actual books took up the entire right wall; next to the bookcase were numerous baroque tables, couches, and chairs; and the left side of the room was mostly vacant with one large, brown wardrobe, a smooth, curved, and somewhat conspicuous mirror, and another door which probably led to a bathroom.
In the very center of the room was half a sphere with a four-foot radius and glowing a faint gold coming up from the floor. In front of this sphere and with his back facing Nagi and Ryouga was a man of medium height and clad all in black, loose fitting, regal clothes and wearing a black cape. His long, gray hair was tied back by a dark blue ribbon in a ponytail that went down to his waist, and he had a lithe and powerful frame despite his obvious great age.
"Nagi the Bounty Hunter, I presume?" he spoke in an aged, almost ragged voice, holding his hands over the sphere as if warming them. "I'm honored that you would go to such great lengths to capture me, especially when the bounty on my head is such an insignificant trifle." He chuckled self-deprecatingly once and then slowly turned around and gestured vaguely at Ryouga, at last revealing his ancient, wrinkled face, his sharp but seemingly sad and weary eyes, large, bushy, and gray eyebrows, and neatly trimmed and short gray beard. "I'm afraid I don't know you name, however. Do an old man a favor and introduce yourself."
"Hibiki Ryouga," Ryouga replied, perturbed. This wasn't what he'd expected. The old man nodded and bowed slightly.
Nagi reached for her sword. "And you're the infamous Prince Kenji, correct?" she asked, hand over the sword's hilt and prepared to unsheathe it in a second. Likewise, Ryouga tightened his grip on his umbrella.
The old man grinned humorlessly upon hearing this. "That I am, and while I praise you for getting this far I'm afraid that I can't let you take me away. It would be a disgrace to Jurai if I was tried by the GP."
"What makes you think you have a choice in the matter?" Nagi asked evenly, a hunter's smile forming on her face.
Kenji flexed his left hand once and a Jurain tree sword appeared in it. A second later a long, thin, gray blade of energy projected out of the hilt. "My sword, for starters," he answered calmly, eyeing Nagi and Ryouga carefully as if judging how much of a challenge they'd pose. A crackling gray aura sprang into existence around him. "And my Jurai power for finishing!"
With that said, Prince Kenji, great-granduncle of Princesses Aeka and Sasami, 7th in Line to the Holy Throne of Jurai, and former Grand Admiral of the Jurai Royal Navy, attacked.
End Chapter 8.