Sorry it took so long to get this done, I have been busy. I will try to get the others out soon. I will tell you this, I am a bit writer blocked, so it might be awhile. I know this one is not as long as the others, and maybe not as well written, but I am trying. Enjoy it! Faerie Ravyne
Disclaimer: I do not own Tenchi Muyo or the characters. If I did I would probably be rich, but I am not. I am not even making money on this, so don't sue!!!
Tenchi Muyo! Lost Souls Ch. 9
Tenchi took the opportunity opened by her shock that his statement had cause to attack. He tackled her, rolling across the floor. He finally came to a halt straddling her on her stomach and holding her hands behind her back. She struggled, but he was stronger. "Aeka, I know you are in there, please, help me. You can not just give in," he pleaded. He was pleased when she stopped struggling.
"Tenchi," Aeka pleaded, "please." Tenchi was shocked. It was Aeka, not Andromeda, speaking to him. It had been a long time since he had heard her sweet yet regal voice. In his defenselessness, Andromeda struck.
A second later, he was skidding across the floor thrown off with a powerful burst of energy. He picked himself off the floor and found himself shielding himself as another blast came at him. When he lowered his shield, he saw Aeka's hands in front of her glowing with a golden aura. He was amazed at how powerful she was. He needed a way to disable her without hurting her, but that would be hard to do without raising his power level too high.
"You can't do it," she said reading the dilemma on his face. "Nothing short of your full power will stop me." She dropped her hands, but they still glowed at her sides. "You can not do it without hurting me, you love me too much to hurt me."
A high-pitched beeping was heard coming from Washu. Andromeda narrowed her eyes as the irritating beeping assailed her ears. Washu brought out the tracker to check if the alarm was working. As she checked the coordinated, her eyes widen with realization and shock. A few moments later the roof of the throne room fell in. Everyone ran for cover as a ship was seen in the large hole.
Andromeda looked up and smiled. "I am so sorry that I have to leave so soon, but—as you can see—my ride here," she said to Tenchi, "Goodbye." In a flash of green light she was gone. A second later, Andromeda's ship had also vanished.
The ship Olympus was moving at a fast pace, within minutes Andromeda and her crew were out of orbit of the planet Jurai. Within the hour, they should be reaching the outer parts of the Juraian galaxy.
Andromeda sat in her chair on the command deck, the Juraian Blossom Gem—which Hermes had given to her as soon as she was in the command deck—in her hands. She turned it over every which was, catching the light every-so-often. Her eyes held an eerie glow.
Beside her, Iris—in holographic form—stood watching her. She shivered with the aura that was being given off by her princess. Something was wrong, but she would not ask. She was loyal and would never question her princess.
"Andromeda," Aurora began, breaking the long silence, "where are we to go now."
Finally looking up, Andromeda answered, "Set a course to the coordinates, five-nine-theta-alpha-zero-zero-beta-one."
Everyone looked around at each other Atena finally spoke what everyone was thinking, "But that is a dead zone."
Getting up from her chair, Andromeda walked towards the door, "It is not a dead zone, there is something out there." The doors closed when she had said the last word.
Still unable to believe that there was something there, they all turned to ask Iris to clarify, but she could only shrug. She then promptly vanished.
That evening when they could get away, Emperor Tenchi, Prince Regent Yosho, Princess Sasami, Ladies Ryoko and Washu, Ryo-Ohki, and Captain Mihoshi sat in the Grand library once again. After the incident with Andromeda, everyone was quickly rushed out of the damaged throne room and sent into the Great Hall. That was where the noblemen and wealthy of Jurai were gathered now in celebration of the accession of the new emperor. Luckily for them, the Great Hall was situated across the palace from the library. The emperor did not feel like celebrating, but he would not deny his subjects it because he was in a foul mood.
"The tracker worked, it went off when Andromeda's ship was in the area," Washu assured the group.
"But if Aeka was here all this time, how come it didn't pick up the ship before," Ryoko brought forth.
"Ryo-Ohl," Tsunami said, "is the ship that got away."
"Exactly," Washu said.
"I don't get it, Mihoshi said, "I saw her standing next to Aeka when I spoke to them. She's a person."
"It was most likely a hologram of Ryo-Ohl," Washu reasoned. Mihoshi "oh"ed and went quiet. "But to explain the tracker. It only tracks trans-atomic emissions. She has no such emissions when she is in humanoid form. It is the same with Ryo-Ohki."
"I understand now," Ryoko exasperated.
"However, now it will be easier to track her," Washu said.
"Ryo-Ohl must be in ship mode in order for them to travel," Tenchi finished.
"Exactly," Washu backed, "If we hurry we can follow her. Every second that goes by, the ion trail fades."
"Then we must leave as soon as possible," the emperor ordered.
"I shall stay behind," Yosho declared, Tenchi nodded his approval. Everyone then began to file out of the library, leaving Tenchi and Ryoko alone.
"Tenchi," Ryoko asked quietly.
Tenchi reached into the bottom draw and drew out a small musicbox. As he opened the box, he turned to face the darkening sky. A sweet, melancholic melody traveled throughout the library, reminding Ryoko of Aeka. (Guess what the melody is.)
"I heard her, Ryoko-koishii," Tenchi recalled, "Just for a moment, but it was enough. She's in there trapped and I know she wants to be found, to be rescued."
Ryoko walked around the desk and bent down to her knees to be face to face with him. She brought her face to his and kissed his passionately. Tenchi returned the gesture of love.
Finally releasing him, she promised, "We'll find her, we'll save her, and we'll bring her back home. Our family will be complete once again."
She got up and left him there, listening to the music. After several minutes, he finally closed the box and looked out the window at the stars. "Yes, Ryoko, we shall bring her back home…or die trying."
Andromeda sat in her quarters with the lights out. Once again she held the Juraian Blossom in her hands. Tokimi's memory told her that it came from Tsunami. It was the first seeding flower. As it fell from her branches, its job done, it crystallized into an aguamarine gem. It had once adorned the crown of the Jurarian queens, symbolizing their ability to give birth. However, a long time ago—it's meaning forgotten—it was put away with the rest of the royal jewels. It's power of rebirth never used.
Andromeda's eyes glowed with an eerie golden black shine, "No more, its power will be used again. Just like the others." She lifted an object from the nearby table bringing it into the light making it shine with a brilliant crimson radiance.
With all the talismans now in her grasps, Andromeda could now complete her transformation. for years, she bided her time, waiting patiently for the right time. Ever since that day…
They had made it past him easily. the boy and Washu's daughter had been the main aggressors. The princess of Jurai, sister to the one held captive, didn't seem to be doing much except for providing defense. Once and awhile she herself got in some shots, but her blasts were weak compared to the boy and Washu's daughter. He was able to get the third woman before he himself was taken out.
They didn't even make sure he was completely gone, their main goal was inside in the main hall. With the little energy he had, he and stealthy followed the group.
He hid and watched as the battle unfolded. At one point the princess was blasted away against the wall near where he hid. He dismissed her as she slid to the floor. He kept his attention on the other two. And that was his mistake.
Like all, he was amazed when Washu's daughter began powering up. When she was done she provided help to the boy, but it still was not enough. Tokimi and the two battled for control, hoping to overcome the opposition. Then a green light shot from his direction. No one else, save Tokimi, noticed the help of power.
It's power was incredible, almost half of any of the other two. Even so, it did provide the boost needed to overwhelm Tokimi. He looked around to find its source. What he discovered shocked and amazed him. It was her…the princess.
She stood her hands clasped together above her heart in silent prayer, her hair blown back with the sear power. Her eyes were closed and the crown she wore glowed with that same eerie green glow.
Then it was over. Tokimi no longer was, her spirit bursting. the jewel that once adorned her head landing near the now powerless princess. She had cease glowing and was once again on the floor, trying to gather her strength. Then she spotted the jewel. She reached for it, and then he felt it.
Tokimi was not gone, weak yes, but not gone. She had given up her form, putting all her power into the jewel. He was not going to let her do it alone. She was weak and he could take this opening to gain control.
As the princess began to glow with new power, the black mist surged forward and surrounded the jewel. As the power was transferred, he took control of Tokimi. For some reason she did not fight, but the reason was of no matter. It took a greater effort to overcome the princess. she was stronger than she seemed, but that did not matter either. Soon he had control, and that's what mattered.
However, if he was not careful he could lose it all. He needed to bid his time once again, so he along with the powerless Tokimi retreated to the darkest regions of the princess's mind. He was in control, but he would let her choose her path. He could wait.
Now was the time, her waiting had paid off. Always hiding in the back of Aeka's mind, she had guided the princess to the tools that were needed to complete her master plan. but she no longer needed the princess or the goddess.
Andromeda pushed Aeka and Tokimi back, taking full control of both their powers. And now, she had everything she needed to complete the last stage. Andromeda walked to the table, placing the Juraian Blossom and Jewel of Knowledge (couldn't think of a better name, sorry). She reached her hand up to her throat and clasped the Power Stone of Tokimi, which she also placed with the other two. Smiling evilly, she ran a caressing hand over each.
In the far end of the room stood a mirror. Andromeda's reflection could be seen, but what was disturbing was the cloud of black mist that surrounded the reflection.
