+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
============================================
Chap 6 - A Smattering of Lies
============================================
They were aboard Ryo-ohki, flying in low orbit around the Earth as they watched Souja fall from the stars, burning brightly in the night. Every one of the surviving members had let their tears out in the last few minutes as they watched Souja enter and gleam against Earth's atmosphere, they all watched as they said goodbye to Ayeka and Sasami.
"Tenchi..." cried Mihoshi, now very sad. Instead on answering, Tenchi led the weakened Mihoshi to sleep abroad in one the space cabbit's back rooms. Tenchi was in extreme shock as well, but his hardened face did not show it.
Washu and Ryoko were now alone on the bridge of Ryo-ohki. Leaning down at a monitor, Washu was figuring numbers on the screen. "My projection is that Souja is not going to fully break up and burn in the atmosphere. That craft is too massive. He will survive."
"I don't care, Washu." shot back Ryoko. She turned away from her mother as she tried to concentrate on flying Ryo-ohki.
"Ryoko," as Washu put her hands on her hips while staring down her daughter. "How did you know I was your mom! I never told you."
"Ummm..." Ryoko just blushed. It was certainly not time to bring up her past now. Especially since the loss of Ayeka and Sasami had never happened in alternate timeline. Quite sad yet angry, she replied hastily back at her mother. "I just did. Tenchi told me."
Washu ignited her sword and snuck it under her daughter's chin. "That's not true." Washu was not completely sure that her own daughter was right in front of her. With three jewels, it would be a snap for Ryoko to take her out. At least it would tell her the truth right away.
"Who are you!" questioned Washu.
"I'm Ryoko, your daughter! Don't you believe me?!" Ryoko backed off, pacing away until she could go no further. She refused to strike back, even at this alternate mother of hers. Instead, she sweated beads on her forehead as she drifted away. Ryoko was desperately afraid to show her mother the truth.
"No! I don't!" Washu leaped suddenly onto her daughter, throwing Ryoko to the deck floor with Washu on top of her.
"w...What!" Ryoko was as surprised as ever as they both hit the deck.
"This is for your own good." as Washu took her hand and placed it on Ryoko's forehead.
Ryoko tried to unsuccessfully break the physical link. She could only put up a mental block to keep her mother out.
Ryoko stubbornly refused to answer Washu's question. Instead, she withdrew as much as she could, deeper into her soul.
But Washu knew Ryoko even better than the back of her own hand. Maneuvering around Ryoko's blocks, she beat into her daughter's mind rather quickly.
But in entering her soul she entered Ryoko's emotional core and thus shared her inner-most memories. Washu felt it all: the pain of Ryoko's plight over the last year. Guilt over the loss of Sasami and Ayeka. The memories began to surface, presenting themselves to Washu.
Of a memory of her with her mother. They were walking out to somewhere on a clear summer day. Besides them, Tenchi was carrying a large picnic basket in his hand and a sake bottle over his back.
The memories continued to play in Ryoko's mind. The three of them had arrived near the top of a grassy hill. Washu could see an image of herself spreading out a large blanket. Meanwhile, her daughter had easily stolen the bottle of sake with a simple slight of hand and was taking a few chugs from it. The image changed again to show Ayeka, Sasami, and Mihoshi also coming up the hill to join them. Ryoko coughed a bit on the sake when she saw the rest of the gang approaching.
Washu pondered her statement and continued.
Washu breathed.
Ryoko cried inside of herself.
Ryoke sighed.
Ryoko swallowed to Washu's latest thoughts.
I know how you feel about Tenchi, Ryoko. It must have broken your heart to find him here with Ayeka.
Ryoko, in her mind, shivered at the thoughts of history that had played in her mind over the last year. It had been nothing but nightmarish indeed. I can't live here anymore. I know this Tenchi...is not for me. I don't belong here.
To Washu's response, a series of more images flashed in Ryoko's mind. Of her and Ryoko in her lab. The Dimensional Tuner. Washu being erased from existence just before Ryoko was transported away.
Damn! thought Washu. I didn't think it was my fault!
asked Ryoko.
And Ryoko, with the last shred of hope she had, tore her hidden memories free to finally share them with her mother.
And Washu took in the history of her alternate Ryoko. Tenchi with light hawk winds, defeating Kagato. Of Zero. Of Washu taking care of Tenchi's baby. Of them all on a sunny picnic. Washu realized it was going to take some time to find the truth in Ryoko's mind.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It was literally a smoking mess. Sparks continued to fly everywhere, small fires lined the room that had once been intact. As he looked up, the ceiling was mostly 'gone', instead blue sky and yellow sun was able to shine through the huge gaping holes in the hull.
Kagato could only snarl. At least he had survived landfall.
Trapped on the primitive world, without the tools to rebuild his Souja, it would be years before he could get the ship off this forsaken rock. And he was sure by that time, the Galaxy Police would chase him down, trapping him on this backwards world.
The only thing that mattered now was revenge.
Washu and Ryoko would pay for destroying his beautiful craft. If he had to sacrifice the people of this planet, even if he had to give up his own life, that would be acceptable for retribution. He had once had the power of an immortal. Now, he was close to earthly as before and hated every second of it.
Exploring the engine room of the Souja was a slow and tedious process. He continued to move sheets of steel with his bare hands. He had to be sure if it was lost. However, when he moved the last fallen girder aside, he was surprised to find the energy containment field intact.
The readings from the monitor showed the small delicate power core still registered as active. There was only 4% shielding left, enough for a few hours of captivity, but it didn't matter. The taken power of Tsunami was still trapped inside.
Grinning like a ghost, Kagato examined most of the other equipment which proved to be fruitless. He was going to need some way to absorb the energy and regulate it. But most of the ship had been destroyed. There would be no way to temporary access the energy anymore.
But he spotted an energy capacitor, grabbed it and strapped the intake wires to the midsection of his body. Grabbing some free 2 inch shielded tubing, he attached the free ends to the capacitor and the power core. He then set values open and with one pull, reversed the magnetic polarity of the energy core.
"Aarrggh!" shrieked the pirate as raw, unfiltered might flowed down the tubing into his mortal body. Arching his back while almost falling to the ground, Kagato absorbed what the power core had once held.
As he detached his makeshift machine, Kagato could feel the new immense power that now resided in his soul. But he knew his living body would not be able to house the energy forever, it was already starting to deteriorate his cells and weaken his heart.
It didn't matter. Like addicted to a drug, Kagato could no longer live without it. Even if it only meant of few smattering days of life, at best. With his unending powers once more, Kagato set out on his mission of revenge.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Where's grandfather and my Dad?" asked Tenchi as they arrived through the front door. On top of his head was the resting cabbit form of Ryo-ohki. Behind him, Ryoko carried a sleeping Mihoshi in and placed her on the living room couch.
"Wow, nice place you have here, Tenchi." announced Washu as she came in with some equipment that was once aboard Ryo-ohki.
Ryoko turned away from the couch after she and Tenchi had tucked in the worn-out Mihoshi and Ryo-ohki. "Is Ryo-ohki going to be all right?"
"She's just very tired right now. Let her sleep."
Ryoko walked over to the door of the broom closet and opened it. Expecting Washu's lab, she saw the interior of brushes, mops, and brooms. "Umm, Washu...?"
"Yes, little Ryoko." as Washu came over to take a look. "Well. it looks like a broom closet to me. Let me take a look." as she stepped in and closed the door behind her.
Flashes and sparks could be seen and heard throughout the rest of the house as Ryoko and Tenchi watched the closet door. A moment later the door opened again, this time leading to complete darkness.
"Come in..." registered the echoing voice of Washu. Not daring to turn down the invitation, the two of them walked in. As they stepped down a few steps into the floor of the lavish lab, Washu came over sweeping away the last bit of dust. "So, wasn't that easy, huh?"
"Washu..." said Ryoko. "We haven't much time. Let's get started..."
"Ok, Ryoko." Nodding her head in approval, they walk to the far side of the lab that had been so etched in Ryoko's mind for so long – the Dimensional Tuner.
"It's nice to know this thing actually works. I guess I really should have tested it, huh..." said Washu, as she frowned.
"Umm...what's this for?" asked Tenchi, curious to say at least. Unfortunately, he didn't have much of a chance.
Several rapid explosions rocked to lab, dropping the three of them onto their knees. A brisk wind blew from their backs as they turned around to face their nemesis once again.
"How easy it was to track your energy signature down, Washu. So careless." shook Kagato with his finger. Behind him, the lab door had been literally forced open. The new crooked causeway was now twice as large as the uneven gateway sparked with instability.
"This is the last time, Kagato." as Ryoko stepped forward and flashed her wrists open, her gems glowing with anger once again.
"For who, my dear Ryoko." Kagato again morphed into his Dark Hawk Wing power, his brandished sword lighted his way as he strolled across the lab floor toward his opponents.
In response as she would only do, Ryoko charged with her own sword. They struck in the middle of the room, sending embers of energy flying and excess force sprawling everywhere. Kagato was again very surprised to find Ryoko holding up her end.
Holding onto the portable tuner, Washu knew she didn't have much time as she set to work. Their only chance was to force Kagato out of this dimension and into another one. It definitely would not be easy as she programmed in the calculations.
"What can I do?" Tenchi had resorted to hind behind a table while the two former pirates fought, destroying the lab in the process.
"Just stay out of trouble." yelled Washu as she ducked to avoid a few stray shots from the fight. "There, done." She turned to the action on the floor. "Ryoko!!!"
Ryoko was now having a very tough time. Kagato had her well pinned onto the ground as he forced his energy sword, touching her midsection. She screamed in frustration as the sword cut into her skin. Half expecting to see blood again, she instead leaked energy as it oozed out a bit.
Kagato shook and fell backwards as Washu shot him. She was holding in her hand a lethal looking energy cannon over her shoulder. The blast had managed to distract Kagato long enough for Ryoko to escape. Washu, on seeing her goal met, flung the used smoking cannon aside.
"Now Tenchi!" exacted Washu. Following orders, he pulled down several levers at once. Immediately, blue and green sparks ignited the air with energy. A hinting breeze began to pull Kagato towards Washu and her turner; it almost immediately reached a rather high velocity. Washu was not just a nuisance anymore, Kagato thought. Perhaps I should pick a new target. But he was careless and didn't think of the repercussions as a vortex hole pitched open in front of him.
Ryoko hit Kagato from behind with a couple of cheap shots, they were more than plentiful to drive his body forwards. "Don't you think you can go tramping off, Kagato," she rang.
A few more volleys from Ryoko pushed Kagato over the event horizon of the now larger vortex. He soon realized he was within the grasp of the gateway, and could not escape with his own immortal powers.
Turning on his dark hawk wings to full power, Kagato dived his own body around the whirlpool of space and time. Washu was shocked, she had expected Kagato to resist, she hadn't fully configured the gateway to zap him to another dimension.
Instead, Kagato was using the gravity well of the vortex as a slingshot to save himself. With his destructive energy set to overload in seconds, he knew he would not be able to survive, but with his sacrifice this lab and the ret of the Earth would not live as well.
Shutting down the tuner was her only chance. Running back to the far side, Washu reached for the lever. If she pulled it, it would overkill and stop all of her lab systems, ever her lights. Not even second guessing for a second, she heaved the switch down.
Ryoko looked from once was behind Kagato's back, now flying as fast as she could toward her mother and Tenchi. Explosions rang from everywhere as she avoided falling girders and plates of steel. The vortex in front of her stopped and disappeared as the still spinning form of Kagato raced upwards through the ceiling of steel, disappearing.
"Tenchi!! Mom!!" More sparks flew as tons of steel and aluminum fell of the tuner and on Washu and Tenchi. Ryoko's view of Washu quickly disappeared behind a large sheet of falling metal. She instead distinctively raced toward Tenchi.
Washu's brand new lab was in shambles. Small fires were burning to the left and right. Pieces and shards of glass and electronics covered most of the floor. The occasional sparks from lab monitors and dimmed overhead lights kept most of the room dimly lit.
Tenchi laid on the ground, unconscious from a large girder that had landed on top of him. A small fire was visibly close, it would soon engulf him as well. With the explosions finally dying down, Ryoko quickly flew over to Tenchi, pulling the excess scrap off of his body, dragging him away from danger and carrying his broken body onto a table.
No, not again. Ryoko could not live through another loss in such a quick time. She swore under her breath that this alternate timeline was out to get her. Again. With all her might, she had tried to protect Tenchi and her mother. But doubt crept in once again, her mind conflicted. With each and every loss, she sunk her emotional self lower and lower into the depths of her heart.
"Ryoko..." whispered the now conscious Tenchi. His new head badges that Ryoko had wrapped were already blood soaked, the damage was great because his wounds had never healed from his earlier excursions. With his shirt now torn to pieces, the Jurdain locket now hung torched, bloodstained and lifelessly from Tenchi's neck. Somehow, the neck clasp had broken from the last couple of minutes of action.
"I'm here, Tenchi..." She had just seen this before, as Tenchi had done with Ayeka. She could no longer stand the pain as her eyes dropped tears uncontrollably. It was the irony of it all that made it almost impossible to deal with. She tried to help him, but she knew it would be to no avail. She picked up the locket that had lost its way and placed it in Tenchi's hand.
Tenchi coughed a few times and spoke "I know how you feel about me, Ryoko." The stunned expression on Ryoko face had a confirming ring of truth to Tenchi.
"Only someone who loved me could kiss me like you did...a different time, a different place..." He tried to breathe, but his chest felt deflated. Tenchi's emotions kept his mind still awake and living.
Ryoko leaned closer to her love, looking deeply into his eyes. "Tenchi..." she whimpered. Ryoko could not do much else for him, it seemed that his time was to run out as well.
Reaching one last time, Tenchi dropped the hand with the locket back into Ryoko's grasp. "Please..." Ryoko could only hold on to it for dear life.
Tenchi looked back up at the ceiling as if to say something else. Maybe in some other time he was going to be with her, thought Tenchi. I should be so special...
And at last words came to be. "I love you, Ayeka..." whispered Tenchi as he finally closed his eyes for the last time.
Ryoko looked down at her love. Tenchi was one that truly understood her. He had had discovered life as well as love; even if he had never discovered his true Jurdain powers.
And without the will to live nor care, Ryoko leaned over Tenchi and cried like see had never done before.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Washu was lying on the ground, a few pieces of lab equipment had trapped her legs and other equipment had blocked her view. She had finally understood Ryoko's memories as they lastly impacted on her own life. And in turn, Washu understood her own existence and implicitly why she was here.
The last minute had finally given her the answers she had so long desired.
But she could see the answer in her daughter's crying eyes. Oh my god, there was no way to explain the depths of her sadness...
Washu smiled with pride. I now know the answer!
Ryoko's mind looked up.
Ryoko gulped.
Washu answered.
said Ryoko.
summed Washu.
asked Ryoko.
Ryoko took it all in for she was totally speechless in her mind.
Washu paused to take a look on what was out there.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kagato stumbled out of the ceiling, falling onto the cold floor of Washu's lab. His body hurt but he had lived, it was only the thirst for vengeance that had kept his body intact. Multiple green cuts bled from his body, but he did not bother to heal himself.
"Kagato! Face me like the man you are!" yelled Ryoko. She stepped into the center of the room, gems charged and ready to go.
Kagato was distracted as he recovered from the vortex. He turned around toward the space pirate, his dark hawk wings unfurled like giant sails, in his shadow they turned their energy onto Ryoko as well.
"Ryoko!..." Kagato sputtered as if they were his final breaths. "Are you finally ready to die!" He stared down his opponent for the last time. "I do not know how you keep dodging and escaping my grasp." Kagato powered up his numerous dark hawk wings to attack Ryoko, to strike for the last time.
"You cannot defeat me, Kagato, for I have created your existence." Ryoko felt her unconscious mind finally merging with her body and heart. "I can now take away what you call your life."
"Your words mock me, for I will make surely you breathed your last breath!" Kagato reached back with every ounce of energy that was contained in his body. And he released enough dark wing energy to destroy her and the Earth as well.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ryoko prepared herself for the deadly onslaught of power. The ball of energy licked of black, death and ultimate supremacy. You exist under my control, Ryoko imagined. You are a product of my mind. I will control you and take you down, Kagato. And her combined body and soul captured the fatal energy Kagato had raced to her.
said Washu.
All her emotion, all of her love, all of her hate, and all of her desires. All of substances from this nightmarish world. All of the false memories and pretenses, it was all created from her mind. No longer would she be prisoner to her own demons. No longer at the mercy of her emotions.
And with one swoop, Ryoko released the lethal shot back towards Kagato. Now white and pure, the power was unadulterated thought from Ryoko's mind.
"NOOOOO!!!" How can she have so much energy! thought Kagato. For if I am the creation of goddess, she must be my creator! If that is true, then my reality is truly sealed...
The raw energy stuck Kagato, completely engulfing his physical form. The dark hawk wings that had protected him from so much shattered like panes of glass. He screamed in agony as his flesh dissipated; his mind was torn away from the body he could no longer stabilize.
At last, Kagato was stripped from existence.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
============================================
Chap 6 - A Smattering of Lies
============================================
They were aboard Ryo-ohki, flying in low orbit around the Earth as they watched Souja fall from the stars, burning brightly in the night. Every one of the surviving members had let their tears out in the last few minutes as they watched Souja enter and gleam against Earth's atmosphere, they all watched as they said goodbye to Ayeka and Sasami.
"Tenchi..." cried Mihoshi, now very sad. Instead on answering, Tenchi led the weakened Mihoshi to sleep abroad in one the space cabbit's back rooms. Tenchi was in extreme shock as well, but his hardened face did not show it.
Washu and Ryoko were now alone on the bridge of Ryo-ohki. Leaning down at a monitor, Washu was figuring numbers on the screen. "My projection is that Souja is not going to fully break up and burn in the atmosphere. That craft is too massive. He will survive."
"I don't care, Washu." shot back Ryoko. She turned away from her mother as she tried to concentrate on flying Ryo-ohki.
"Ryoko," as Washu put her hands on her hips while staring down her daughter. "How did you know I was your mom! I never told you."
"Ummm..." Ryoko just blushed. It was certainly not time to bring up her past now. Especially since the loss of Ayeka and Sasami had never happened in alternate timeline. Quite sad yet angry, she replied hastily back at her mother. "I just did. Tenchi told me."
Washu ignited her sword and snuck it under her daughter's chin. "That's not true." Washu was not completely sure that her own daughter was right in front of her. With three jewels, it would be a snap for Ryoko to take her out. At least it would tell her the truth right away.
"Who are you!" questioned Washu.
"I'm Ryoko, your daughter! Don't you believe me?!" Ryoko backed off, pacing away until she could go no further. She refused to strike back, even at this alternate mother of hers. Instead, she sweated beads on her forehead as she drifted away. Ryoko was desperately afraid to show her mother the truth.
"No! I don't!" Washu leaped suddenly onto her daughter, throwing Ryoko to the deck floor with Washu on top of her.
"w...What!" Ryoko was as surprised as ever as they both hit the deck.
"This is for your own good." as Washu took her hand and placed it on Ryoko's forehead.
Ryoko tried to unsuccessfully break the physical link. She could only put up a mental block to keep her mother out.
Ryoko stubbornly refused to answer Washu's question. Instead, she withdrew as much as she could, deeper into her soul.
But Washu knew Ryoko even better than the back of her own hand. Maneuvering around Ryoko's blocks, she beat into her daughter's mind rather quickly.
But in entering her soul she entered Ryoko's emotional core and thus shared her inner-most memories. Washu felt it all: the pain of Ryoko's plight over the last year. Guilt over the loss of Sasami and Ayeka. The memories began to surface, presenting themselves to Washu.
Of a memory of her with her mother. They were walking out to somewhere on a clear summer day. Besides them, Tenchi was carrying a large picnic basket in his hand and a sake bottle over his back.
The memories continued to play in Ryoko's mind. The three of them had arrived near the top of a grassy hill. Washu could see an image of herself spreading out a large blanket. Meanwhile, her daughter had easily stolen the bottle of sake with a simple slight of hand and was taking a few chugs from it. The image changed again to show Ayeka, Sasami, and Mihoshi also coming up the hill to join them. Ryoko coughed a bit on the sake when she saw the rest of the gang approaching.
Washu pondered her statement and continued.
Washu breathed.
Ryoko cried inside of herself.
Ryoke sighed.
Ryoko swallowed to Washu's latest thoughts.
I know how you feel about Tenchi, Ryoko. It must have broken your heart to find him here with Ayeka.
Ryoko, in her mind, shivered at the thoughts of history that had played in her mind over the last year. It had been nothing but nightmarish indeed. I can't live here anymore. I know this Tenchi...is not for me. I don't belong here.
To Washu's response, a series of more images flashed in Ryoko's mind. Of her and Ryoko in her lab. The Dimensional Tuner. Washu being erased from existence just before Ryoko was transported away.
Damn! thought Washu. I didn't think it was my fault!
asked Ryoko.
And Ryoko, with the last shred of hope she had, tore her hidden memories free to finally share them with her mother.
And Washu took in the history of her alternate Ryoko. Tenchi with light hawk winds, defeating Kagato. Of Zero. Of Washu taking care of Tenchi's baby. Of them all on a sunny picnic. Washu realized it was going to take some time to find the truth in Ryoko's mind.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It was literally a smoking mess. Sparks continued to fly everywhere, small fires lined the room that had once been intact. As he looked up, the ceiling was mostly 'gone', instead blue sky and yellow sun was able to shine through the huge gaping holes in the hull.
Kagato could only snarl. At least he had survived landfall.
Trapped on the primitive world, without the tools to rebuild his Souja, it would be years before he could get the ship off this forsaken rock. And he was sure by that time, the Galaxy Police would chase him down, trapping him on this backwards world.
The only thing that mattered now was revenge.
Washu and Ryoko would pay for destroying his beautiful craft. If he had to sacrifice the people of this planet, even if he had to give up his own life, that would be acceptable for retribution. He had once had the power of an immortal. Now, he was close to earthly as before and hated every second of it.
Exploring the engine room of the Souja was a slow and tedious process. He continued to move sheets of steel with his bare hands. He had to be sure if it was lost. However, when he moved the last fallen girder aside, he was surprised to find the energy containment field intact.
The readings from the monitor showed the small delicate power core still registered as active. There was only 4% shielding left, enough for a few hours of captivity, but it didn't matter. The taken power of Tsunami was still trapped inside.
Grinning like a ghost, Kagato examined most of the other equipment which proved to be fruitless. He was going to need some way to absorb the energy and regulate it. But most of the ship had been destroyed. There would be no way to temporary access the energy anymore.
But he spotted an energy capacitor, grabbed it and strapped the intake wires to the midsection of his body. Grabbing some free 2 inch shielded tubing, he attached the free ends to the capacitor and the power core. He then set values open and with one pull, reversed the magnetic polarity of the energy core.
"Aarrggh!" shrieked the pirate as raw, unfiltered might flowed down the tubing into his mortal body. Arching his back while almost falling to the ground, Kagato absorbed what the power core had once held.
As he detached his makeshift machine, Kagato could feel the new immense power that now resided in his soul. But he knew his living body would not be able to house the energy forever, it was already starting to deteriorate his cells and weaken his heart.
It didn't matter. Like addicted to a drug, Kagato could no longer live without it. Even if it only meant of few smattering days of life, at best. With his unending powers once more, Kagato set out on his mission of revenge.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Where's grandfather and my Dad?" asked Tenchi as they arrived through the front door. On top of his head was the resting cabbit form of Ryo-ohki. Behind him, Ryoko carried a sleeping Mihoshi in and placed her on the living room couch.
"Wow, nice place you have here, Tenchi." announced Washu as she came in with some equipment that was once aboard Ryo-ohki.
Ryoko turned away from the couch after she and Tenchi had tucked in the worn-out Mihoshi and Ryo-ohki. "Is Ryo-ohki going to be all right?"
"She's just very tired right now. Let her sleep."
Ryoko walked over to the door of the broom closet and opened it. Expecting Washu's lab, she saw the interior of brushes, mops, and brooms. "Umm, Washu...?"
"Yes, little Ryoko." as Washu came over to take a look. "Well. it looks like a broom closet to me. Let me take a look." as she stepped in and closed the door behind her.
Flashes and sparks could be seen and heard throughout the rest of the house as Ryoko and Tenchi watched the closet door. A moment later the door opened again, this time leading to complete darkness.
"Come in..." registered the echoing voice of Washu. Not daring to turn down the invitation, the two of them walked in. As they stepped down a few steps into the floor of the lavish lab, Washu came over sweeping away the last bit of dust. "So, wasn't that easy, huh?"
"Washu..." said Ryoko. "We haven't much time. Let's get started..."
"Ok, Ryoko." Nodding her head in approval, they walk to the far side of the lab that had been so etched in Ryoko's mind for so long – the Dimensional Tuner.
"It's nice to know this thing actually works. I guess I really should have tested it, huh..." said Washu, as she frowned.
"Umm...what's this for?" asked Tenchi, curious to say at least. Unfortunately, he didn't have much of a chance.
Several rapid explosions rocked to lab, dropping the three of them onto their knees. A brisk wind blew from their backs as they turned around to face their nemesis once again.
"How easy it was to track your energy signature down, Washu. So careless." shook Kagato with his finger. Behind him, the lab door had been literally forced open. The new crooked causeway was now twice as large as the uneven gateway sparked with instability.
"This is the last time, Kagato." as Ryoko stepped forward and flashed her wrists open, her gems glowing with anger once again.
"For who, my dear Ryoko." Kagato again morphed into his Dark Hawk Wing power, his brandished sword lighted his way as he strolled across the lab floor toward his opponents.
In response as she would only do, Ryoko charged with her own sword. They struck in the middle of the room, sending embers of energy flying and excess force sprawling everywhere. Kagato was again very surprised to find Ryoko holding up her end.
Holding onto the portable tuner, Washu knew she didn't have much time as she set to work. Their only chance was to force Kagato out of this dimension and into another one. It definitely would not be easy as she programmed in the calculations.
"What can I do?" Tenchi had resorted to hind behind a table while the two former pirates fought, destroying the lab in the process.
"Just stay out of trouble." yelled Washu as she ducked to avoid a few stray shots from the fight. "There, done." She turned to the action on the floor. "Ryoko!!!"
Ryoko was now having a very tough time. Kagato had her well pinned onto the ground as he forced his energy sword, touching her midsection. She screamed in frustration as the sword cut into her skin. Half expecting to see blood again, she instead leaked energy as it oozed out a bit.
Kagato shook and fell backwards as Washu shot him. She was holding in her hand a lethal looking energy cannon over her shoulder. The blast had managed to distract Kagato long enough for Ryoko to escape. Washu, on seeing her goal met, flung the used smoking cannon aside.
"Now Tenchi!" exacted Washu. Following orders, he pulled down several levers at once. Immediately, blue and green sparks ignited the air with energy. A hinting breeze began to pull Kagato towards Washu and her turner; it almost immediately reached a rather high velocity. Washu was not just a nuisance anymore, Kagato thought. Perhaps I should pick a new target. But he was careless and didn't think of the repercussions as a vortex hole pitched open in front of him.
Ryoko hit Kagato from behind with a couple of cheap shots, they were more than plentiful to drive his body forwards. "Don't you think you can go tramping off, Kagato," she rang.
A few more volleys from Ryoko pushed Kagato over the event horizon of the now larger vortex. He soon realized he was within the grasp of the gateway, and could not escape with his own immortal powers.
Turning on his dark hawk wings to full power, Kagato dived his own body around the whirlpool of space and time. Washu was shocked, she had expected Kagato to resist, she hadn't fully configured the gateway to zap him to another dimension.
Instead, Kagato was using the gravity well of the vortex as a slingshot to save himself. With his destructive energy set to overload in seconds, he knew he would not be able to survive, but with his sacrifice this lab and the ret of the Earth would not live as well.
Shutting down the tuner was her only chance. Running back to the far side, Washu reached for the lever. If she pulled it, it would overkill and stop all of her lab systems, ever her lights. Not even second guessing for a second, she heaved the switch down.
Ryoko looked from once was behind Kagato's back, now flying as fast as she could toward her mother and Tenchi. Explosions rang from everywhere as she avoided falling girders and plates of steel. The vortex in front of her stopped and disappeared as the still spinning form of Kagato raced upwards through the ceiling of steel, disappearing.
"Tenchi!! Mom!!" More sparks flew as tons of steel and aluminum fell of the tuner and on Washu and Tenchi. Ryoko's view of Washu quickly disappeared behind a large sheet of falling metal. She instead distinctively raced toward Tenchi.
Washu's brand new lab was in shambles. Small fires were burning to the left and right. Pieces and shards of glass and electronics covered most of the floor. The occasional sparks from lab monitors and dimmed overhead lights kept most of the room dimly lit.
Tenchi laid on the ground, unconscious from a large girder that had landed on top of him. A small fire was visibly close, it would soon engulf him as well. With the explosions finally dying down, Ryoko quickly flew over to Tenchi, pulling the excess scrap off of his body, dragging him away from danger and carrying his broken body onto a table.
No, not again. Ryoko could not live through another loss in such a quick time. She swore under her breath that this alternate timeline was out to get her. Again. With all her might, she had tried to protect Tenchi and her mother. But doubt crept in once again, her mind conflicted. With each and every loss, she sunk her emotional self lower and lower into the depths of her heart.
"Ryoko..." whispered the now conscious Tenchi. His new head badges that Ryoko had wrapped were already blood soaked, the damage was great because his wounds had never healed from his earlier excursions. With his shirt now torn to pieces, the Jurdain locket now hung torched, bloodstained and lifelessly from Tenchi's neck. Somehow, the neck clasp had broken from the last couple of minutes of action.
"I'm here, Tenchi..." She had just seen this before, as Tenchi had done with Ayeka. She could no longer stand the pain as her eyes dropped tears uncontrollably. It was the irony of it all that made it almost impossible to deal with. She tried to help him, but she knew it would be to no avail. She picked up the locket that had lost its way and placed it in Tenchi's hand.
Tenchi coughed a few times and spoke "I know how you feel about me, Ryoko." The stunned expression on Ryoko face had a confirming ring of truth to Tenchi.
"Only someone who loved me could kiss me like you did...a different time, a different place..." He tried to breathe, but his chest felt deflated. Tenchi's emotions kept his mind still awake and living.
Ryoko leaned closer to her love, looking deeply into his eyes. "Tenchi..." she whimpered. Ryoko could not do much else for him, it seemed that his time was to run out as well.
Reaching one last time, Tenchi dropped the hand with the locket back into Ryoko's grasp. "Please..." Ryoko could only hold on to it for dear life.
Tenchi looked back up at the ceiling as if to say something else. Maybe in some other time he was going to be with her, thought Tenchi. I should be so special...
And at last words came to be. "I love you, Ayeka..." whispered Tenchi as he finally closed his eyes for the last time.
Ryoko looked down at her love. Tenchi was one that truly understood her. He had had discovered life as well as love; even if he had never discovered his true Jurdain powers.
And without the will to live nor care, Ryoko leaned over Tenchi and cried like see had never done before.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Washu was lying on the ground, a few pieces of lab equipment had trapped her legs and other equipment had blocked her view. She had finally understood Ryoko's memories as they lastly impacted on her own life. And in turn, Washu understood her own existence and implicitly why she was here.
The last minute had finally given her the answers she had so long desired.
But she could see the answer in her daughter's crying eyes. Oh my god, there was no way to explain the depths of her sadness...
Washu smiled with pride. I now know the answer!
Ryoko's mind looked up.
Ryoko gulped.
Washu answered.
said Ryoko.
summed Washu.
asked Ryoko.
Ryoko took it all in for she was totally speechless in her mind.
Washu paused to take a look on what was out there.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kagato stumbled out of the ceiling, falling onto the cold floor of Washu's lab. His body hurt but he had lived, it was only the thirst for vengeance that had kept his body intact. Multiple green cuts bled from his body, but he did not bother to heal himself.
"Kagato! Face me like the man you are!" yelled Ryoko. She stepped into the center of the room, gems charged and ready to go.
Kagato was distracted as he recovered from the vortex. He turned around toward the space pirate, his dark hawk wings unfurled like giant sails, in his shadow they turned their energy onto Ryoko as well.
"Ryoko!..." Kagato sputtered as if they were his final breaths. "Are you finally ready to die!" He stared down his opponent for the last time. "I do not know how you keep dodging and escaping my grasp." Kagato powered up his numerous dark hawk wings to attack Ryoko, to strike for the last time.
"You cannot defeat me, Kagato, for I have created your existence." Ryoko felt her unconscious mind finally merging with her body and heart. "I can now take away what you call your life."
"Your words mock me, for I will make surely you breathed your last breath!" Kagato reached back with every ounce of energy that was contained in his body. And he released enough dark wing energy to destroy her and the Earth as well.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ryoko prepared herself for the deadly onslaught of power. The ball of energy licked of black, death and ultimate supremacy. You exist under my control, Ryoko imagined. You are a product of my mind. I will control you and take you down, Kagato. And her combined body and soul captured the fatal energy Kagato had raced to her.
said Washu.
All her emotion, all of her love, all of her hate, and all of her desires. All of substances from this nightmarish world. All of the false memories and pretenses, it was all created from her mind. No longer would she be prisoner to her own demons. No longer at the mercy of her emotions.
And with one swoop, Ryoko released the lethal shot back towards Kagato. Now white and pure, the power was unadulterated thought from Ryoko's mind.
"NOOOOO!!!" How can she have so much energy! thought Kagato. For if I am the creation of goddess, she must be my creator! If that is true, then my reality is truly sealed...
The raw energy stuck Kagato, completely engulfing his physical form. The dark hawk wings that had protected him from so much shattered like panes of glass. He screamed in agony as his flesh dissipated; his mind was torn away from the body he could no longer stabilize.
At last, Kagato was stripped from existence.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
