Thirteen
The amber liquid is blurring out almost all of the figure of Jaaku. Only his beaten face really can be seen well and not a muscle in his body has moved. This is how it has been for the last hour in the tank in Washu's lab. Occasional bubbles rise from the bottom of the tank and run the length of his exposed body until they break the surface at the top. His green hair is swaying slowly in the liquid as some bubbles run up past it. The group of people in front of the tank stand and watch with eyes full of worry. Washu is busy keeping an eye on the panel but giving the tank sideward glances every once and a while.
"He's.....starting to look better."
Mihoshi's observations are met with an outburst by an angry Ryoko. "He looks better than when Kiyone dragged him in here after your buddies in the Galaxy Police did this to him! They almost killed him! Be thankful they have left because if they were still here I would be......"
"That's enough, Ryoko. This isn't Kiyone's or Mihoshi's fault. Besides, your brother is healing just fine in the Revo-tank." Ryoko looks at Washu and calms down a bit. "Jaaku is far more resilient than you think. After all, he is my son." Washu says with a smile and places her hand on the side of the tank.
"I am still a bit curious why all of the Galaxy Police left in such a hurry." Tenchi says and looks at Mihoshi. Mihoshi nods back and her face tightens up a bit in thought. This whole time, Kiyone is just staring into the tank at Jaaku in silence. She places her hand on the transparent surface and looks at his relaxed face.
"I wouldn't worry, Miss Kiyone. And I must thank you for bringing him back to me."
Kiyone's empty eyes move over to Washu and she smiles lightly. "Do you really think he'll be okay?" Washu smiles and nods, then looks down next to the tank. Kiyone follows her gaze to Shibo-Ken-bo leaning against the tank. The two orbs at the top are slowly starting to glow brighter and her face lightens.
"Kiyone! It's High Captain Landross!" Mihoshi suddenly yells and breaks Kiyone from her daze. She looks at Mihoshi, who is looking at a device on her wrist. Kiyone pulls back her own sleeve and looks down at the same type of device. The large man, Captain Landross, is on a small image projector and is screaming into it.
"I repeat! Mayday! Under attack by an unknown vessel in sector 529! This is the Special Operations cruiser Hajimoto! We have sustained great damage and cannot......more.....Galaxy Police Vesse.......help us! We......bac......everyth.....Hexu......."
The image slowly gets worse and worse until it finally turns to just static. "High Captain! Come in! This is Detective Kiyone!" Kiyone yells into the device but only static answers her. Suddenly lights all over Washu's lab start to flash and a computerized voice fills the air.
"Warning! Explosion at altitude of thirty-six by four seven. Large scale antimatter implosion source. Switching to visual." A large image appears in the air and everyone peers up at it. The black hull of the Hexum is reflecting huge explosions in the body of the Galaxy Police cruiser. The cruiser is still firing wildly at the Hexum but doing no damage.
"Oh no! That is the Hajimoto!" Mihoshi yells and points at the image.
"What is that other ship? I have never seen anything like it." Ayeka asks and places her hands on Sasami's shoulders softly.
"That is the Hexum. It was a ship Kagato was designing. It was based off the Soja but far more powerful. I didn't think he would ever build it." Washu says and crosses her arms lightly.
"Kagato? I thought Tenchi destroyed Kagato." Ryoko sneers at the image.
"Just because Kagato built it, doesn't mean he is in it. Perhaps the one who is in it is......" A loud hissing sound interrupts Washu and makes all of them turn back to the tank. The fluid has drained from it and the door slowly moves open, letting a mist flow out onto the floor. As the mist subsides, the figure of Jaaku stands breathing slowly. His soaked hair is still spiky and drips down to the floor as he slowly steps out. His orange eyes slowly open and have a cold look to them.
"It's Dargon." His voice is still a bit hoarse from recovering and they all stare at him. Ayeka finally notices that he is not wearing anything and slaps her hand over Sasami's eyes.
"Ah! Ayeka! What are you doing?" Sasami protests innocently. Ayeka closes her eyes and goes very red. Before anybody else can notice, Washu steps out in front of Jaaku and smiles up at him.
"How do you feel, Jaaku?" Jaaku's eyes slowly move down to her and a small smile curves his mouth.
"Much better. Thank you, Washu."
Washu reaches up and pat his cheek lightly, "Still won't call me mom, huh?" Jaaku sighs at her and scowls. "Just kidding. Are you strong enough to.....uhm, not show so much to these girls here?" Jaaku blinks, then shrugs. His skin starts to glow slightly and as it dies, his bodysuit is covering his body. "There you go." She steps away from him and he looks at Kiyone. Ayeka pulls her hands away from Sasami's eyes and Sasami looks around in confusion. Jaaku is about to say something to Kiyone when Ryoko jumps in front of him and throws her arms around him.
"Jaaku! I was so worried about you, you jerk! What were you thinking?!" She half yells at him and he smiles, placing his hands on her hips.
"Sorry, sis. Didn't mean to worry you. But I am okay now."
She steps back and growls at him, "Yeah, well next time don't be so dumb! Why did you want to go and kill yourself?"
He laughs lightly and looks back into her eyes, "Because I knew it would make you angry." She just looks back, angry and relieved at the same time.
"Oh no! The Hajimoto! Kiyone!" They all look back to the image and the cruiser is being crippled by explosions. Finally, a huge explosion in the middle tears the ship to pieces in front of their eyes. The debris starts to float by the Hexum and Kiyone falls to her knees.
"There were over a thousand people on that ship. All gone." Tenchi clenches his fist and looks towards Jaaku to see what he plans on doing. He is almost shocked when he sees Jaaku's isn't even looking. Jaaku reaches out and places his hand on Ryoko's cheek lightly, speaking softly to her. She just nods lightly with red cheeks. Tenchi blinks and rubs his head looking at the two. Unknowingly, he leans forward to hear a bit more and only hears the last thing they say to each other. Jaaku leans forward and kisses Ryoko's forehead very softly.
"I love you, my sister." Ryoko closes her eyes and just tilts her head back slightly against his kiss.
"I....love you too, Jaaku." Tenchi suddenly feels a deep sensation in his chest. A burning feeling he has never felt before. He couldn't believe it but he felt jealous. All this time and nobody has really been there to compete with. But seeing Ryoko and Jaaku, he actually was worried that he could lose Ryoko. And then, they both disappeared without warning in a flash of blue light.
"Uh, where did....." Tenchi begins to ask but looks at Washu. Washu is looking at her panel blankly, then slowly looks at Tenchi and the others.
"They went.....to go fight."
A slight breeze was making the trees wave above them and filling the air with a soothing sound. The clearing in the forest would be where he comes. Jaaku had no doubt to the otherwise. They stood there. Both of them looking at a column of light that rose up into the sky far above where they could see. Neither of them would look at each other. The only thing left was to end it. Jaaku stared into the column intently, holding his hilt loosely in one hand. Next to him, Ryoko sets her hand on her hip and stares at the same place. The slight breeze was waving their hair slightly and Ryoko sighs a bit.
"Making us wait a bit long, isn't he?"
"I think he is trying to be dramatic."
"Well, I'm not impressed. I wish he would just get down here so I can shove my fist up his....."
"Patience, my dear sister. He will come shortly. And we will be ready for him."
There is another long silence and yet still nothing from the column. Then the column starts to glow brighter and Jaaku grips his hilt in both hands, the yellow blades erupting from both ends. Ryoko holds her hand out and her sword appears also. In the other hand, an energy blast crackles to life. As they wait, Ryoko gets a tone of worry in her face.
"Hey Jaaku, you be careful, okay? Let's make it through this together, right?"
"Right, you do the same."
"After all, you are going to be Tenchi's best man when I marry him. Deal?"
"Of course. I promise."
"I am going to hold you to that promise."
"You really love him, don't you?"
"Yes. As much as I love you."
"Well, I won't disappoint you. I will be there when you get married."
"You bet your butt you will. And I'll be there when you want to marry Kiyone, right?"
Jaaku's lips turn into a smile but he doesn't respond. She grins also and keeps staring into the column. Suddenly, a huge shadow appears in the light and stares at them. It is a monstrous thing. The bulky curves betray the person's identity and Jaaku's eyes start to glow slightly.
"Dargon....."