I don't own Tenchi Muyo.
For Reasons That Escape Me
By The Great El Dober
Chapter Four
A galaxy is a very big thing.
Hundreds of planets.
Thousands of races.
Countless religions.
Innumerable customs.
Endless resources.
Unrivalled power.
Yes, a galaxy was indeed a very big thing. It was a portion of the
universe, an expanse so great that borders almost lost their meaning, it was horzionless,
it was a slice of eternity and soon it would be nothing more than his private playground.
Of course his employer didn't see it that way. To her a galaxy was just
a drop in the eternal sea of the universe, and she only gave it to him in one dimension of
the endless stream that existed, and besides for the capture of an eternal goddess a
galaxy seemed a paltry payment anyway.
But to him it was everything his limited understanding could ever
imagine and it would be his all in exchange for one feeble, worthless life. They say you
can't put a price on a human life but whatever it was he was sure it was less than the
price of a galaxy. He was completely unaware that his captive had once owned far more than
a single galaxy and in a time long forgotten, had once commanded more power and might than
any galaxy could ever muster.
Had he known that then he might have been more hospitable.
"You know Washu," he began, "it's funny that despite
being 20,000 years old you still look fit for kidnapping," and then
in the time honoured tradition of villains he laughed at his own joke, ignoring the fact
that it had been pathetically feeble.
His captive just glared at him from inside the glass, water-filled
prison that surrounded her. Had events played out differently it would have been Ryoko in
there, after all it was the most secure confines that Dr.Clay had and despites her best
efforts not even Washu could escape.
And had events played out differently then Washu would be very secure in
her superiority. Clay was an idiot and had she been anywhere on the ship except that glass
capsule she would let him know all about it, making fun of him, mocking him, not taking
any of it seriously like he was no threat to her at all.
But events hadn't played out like that and now he was a very big threat
indeed.
The old man sat back, savouring the victory. His plan had gone off
without a hitch. Soon all of his dreams would come true. He would be a king, a ruler, an
emperor, no, he would be like a god. And there was nothing or no one that could possibly
stop him now.
Explosion!
Dr.Clay turned around to see smouldering shards of a bust fall to the
ground. Not just any bust, the one that contained the ship separation console.
Explosion!
He turned his head again to see an ornament destroyed. It was the brown
and green fountain like ornament that disguised his self-destruct control.
Explosion!
The statuette that was a dummy console.
Knowing the only other place that contained hidden components he quickly
jumped out of his chair just before it was incinerated by a fourth blast. So much for his
concealed weapons. Only one other person in the universe had such intimate knowledge of
his bridge.
"Zero!" he screamed in rage while turning to be faced by a
most unexpected sight. It was Washu's daughter. How had she gotten here? No matter. He had
summoned Zero and she would be here in seconds to defend him. Ryoko's thoughts however
were consumed by something different.
Zero? He said your name. How does he know of you?
No answer.
Zero you better answer me! I want to know how he knows you and I
want to know right now! Ryoko thought at Zero angrily. It was hard to threaten a
voice in your head and Ryoko was doing her best but it obviously wasn't good enough as
Zero remained silent.
I want an answer right now or else . . . .
My little Ryoko! How did you find me?
What!? What the hell is that . . . Ryoko thought before
realising it had not been Zero who had transmitted those last thoughts. She turned to face
the containment unit that held her mother. She was staring back at Ryoko with a puzzled
and concerned look on her face.
It's okay Mom, Ryoko thought to her, trying her best to smile
and ease her mother's fears, I'll get us out of this.
With that Ryoko sealed the link to her mother once more. Ryoko needed
her mind clear and focused. She would have time to explain later but only if she earned
that time, only if she succeeded just now. But the question was, could she succeed?
Earth
"I honestly don't know if Ryoko can manage it," Ayeka
declared. She had regained consciousness some time ago much to the relief of the whole
house. After the others explained what had happened while she had been out cold, she had
to confess she wasn't as confident in the space pirate's chances. She feared Ryoko's
situation was far more grim and serious than the others thought.
"How can you say that?" asked Tenchi in disbelief. He had seen
Ryoko fight, he had even fought her once himself and although it hadn't been serious he
had seen her power and had been completely overcome by it. How could a robot possibly
defeat her?
"You don't understand," Ayeka explained, "That thing
completely overwhelmed a member of royalty and both of her guardians."
Tenchi's gentle, caring expression changed with those words and more
importantly what he sensed in those words. Detecting his disgust at her words, the
princess lowered her head and lowered her voice to a quiet, wounded whisper.
"I know I am a proud person," she conceded, "but I am not
being arrogant. I am well aware that Ryoko is far superior in strength, I have fought with
her many times but I have also fought this robot and I fear that it may be even stronger
than Ryoko."
Tenchi's expression changed again as he once again sensed something in
Ayeka's words, but this time it was a very different change.
"You're concerned," he exclaimed in a voice that didn't quite
believe what it was saying, but that was how it seemed. Ayeka was concerned, Ayeka cared
about Ryoko.
"Yes Lord Tenchi, I am concerned for her," Ayeka admitted,
"We have already lost one friend today and I fear that we may lose another . . .
."
She paused to look skywards through a hole in the roof, gazing up into
the darkening dusk sky. Her eyes caught sight of a bird in flight, graceful and elegant in
some respects but primal and basic in others. Her captivated gaze followed it fondly as it
soared stylishly and watched it regretfully as it slowly faded beyond the horizon and out
of sight. It was only then that she finished.
". . . I fear we may lose Ryoko."
Space
"Ah Zero, you are here," Dr.Clay greeted as the mechanical
kidnapper finally appeared on the bridge. Ryoko finally got to see her adversary for the
first time but more importantly she got the answer to one of her questions. She now knew
how that man was familiar with Zero.
Zero? Is that thing you? She asked mentally, although she all
but knew the answer already. There was no way it could be a coincidence, they couldn't
both be called Zero by chance.
Yes it is, Zero admitted, but
listen to me . . . .
Why the hell should I? Ryoko interrupted furiously, You
lied! I should have seen it coming, this is all one big set up isn't it. You planted
something in my head when I was asleep or something like that, all so you could lead me
here. It was all a trap!
No it isn't, Zero tried to convince Ryoko, That's
not really me that you're seeing. I've changed, just like you have, but that Zero hasn't.
What the hell do you mean by that?
I became like you Ryoko, I gained emotions and a conscience,
Zero explained, that Zero has none of those. It is devoid of compassion, it is
purified of emotions. It is Absolute Zero, it has no heart, where as I do.
Maybe it is worse than you, Ryoko admitted, but that
doesn't change anything. I still can't trust you anymore, you misled me.
You have to trust me Ryoko, Zero pleaded, I
never claimed to be anything other than a part of you, I never lied to you. I'm just
trying to help you.
Ryoko considered this. It was true, Zero hadn't actually steered her
wrong so far and there was no way Ryoko would have accepted help from someone she knew to
be her mother's kidnapper so it seemed reasonable to hide it from her. Okay, she
thought, What do you think I should do?
Kill it! Came the immediate reply from Zero.
What? Asked a shocked Ryoko.
Kill it, repeated Zero, If I could
subdue you in my time then I could do it in this time too and I don't want your blood on
my hands.
But it's you, Ryoko protested, she knew that Zero was trying to
sacrifice herself instead of Ryoko, she wanted Ryoko to kill for her own good but there
was still one fact about it all that troubled Ryoko, If you can change so can it.
We're not the same, Zero insisted, exasperated
that Ryoko didn't understand. Surely she must understand, Ryoko looked back at her days
under Kagato with disgust, the same disgust that Zero held for her former self. Ryoko's
life had been empty until she had been freed and given a new lease of life, just like
Zero's life had been meaningless until she met Ryoko and was given a whole new dimension
to her being. With all that Ryoko must surely understand how Zero felt.
For Ryoko was to Zero what Tenchi was to Ryoko. Ryoko had set Zero free,
taken her in and given her a second chance when it seemed she would be imprisoned and
forced to destroy for all eternity. Just like Ryoko would die to save Tenchi and never
have a single regret except for not being with him anymore, Zero would do similar for
Ryoko. Zero didn't care for Ryoko quite the same as Ryoko cared for Tenchi, but she still
cared. She felt torn between being a robot creation and a girl named Ryoko Hakubi, and in
a way she left responsible for both of them but she only cared for one. Why couldn't Ryoko
see that?
When Kagato had forced Ryoko to attack Tenchi on earth she had hoped and
prayed that someone would kill her. She begged whatever gods existed that they would let
her die before they let her hurt him. With all of Ryoko's emotions weaved into her being
that was exactly how Zero felt right now.
You must kill it before it's too late, Zero
begged, that's just an empty husk, a tool, it has no soul.
That comment was meant to convince Ryoko, it was meant to show her that
it was okay to attack, that she didn't have to worry because that thing didn't matter.
Instead it had a very different effect, instead it brought back painful memories of Kagato
and the things he had said to Ryoko while she was still under his control.
Thousands of years ago
On a distant planet a young Ryoko sobs on her hands and knees. Around
her a ravaged town lies in ruins. The buildings are ablaze and burn with such bitterness
that the blood quickly dries on her hands, leaving a stained red on her small delicate
fingers. The air was also stained, it was tainted by the stench of death, the horrific
smell of charred flesh.
The young demon lifts her face and through her tear soaked eyes she sees
some figures running off into the distance, running for their lives. At least they were
safe.
But he would be angry now.
As if on cue a tall imposing figure materialises by Ryoko's side. He
observes the crying child through his tiny glasses and uncaring eyes.
"What happened Ryoko?" Kagato asked in an emotionless voice,
"Why didn't you kill those people?"
"I killed their mother, they shouted at me," a trembling Ryoko
choked out between sobs. She continued in a shaken voice, lowering her face back down to
face the ground as she cowered in fear, "They called me things, they said I was wrong
to kill her. They said she was a good lady and that she would go to heaven now."
"Good for her," Kagato responded with cold sarcasm, "But
why did you not kill the rest?"
"I . . I want to be a good lady too . . ." she explained in a
quiet, small voice that sounded ashamed and afraid, "I want to go to heaven as
well."
"I see," Kagato said, "You want to go to heaven do you?
You're worried about your soul?"
The small girl nodded, still facing the ground, not bearing to look at
her enraged master. If she had she might have been able to dodge his hand as it came
swooping down and clamped around her neck.
Kagato sneered at the pitiful child as he lifted her by the neck to meet
his gaze, all the time squeezing the trembling life out of her. She thrashed about
desperately trying to free herself from his crushing hands, the piercing pain driving her
to desperation but deep down she knew there would be no escape from him.
"Listen to me for I will only tell you once," Kagato scorned
as he pulled her ear to his mouth making sure that she would hear every word he said. He
spoke in a fierce whisper that had more malice and venom than any shout could ever have.
"Don't worry about your soul," he told her, "Your soul
isn't yours to worry about, it belongs to me. You have no soul."
"Help me," Ryoko cried out with her last gasps of air, the
strained words coming out as an almost silent wheeze.
"No one is going to help you Ryoko," Kagato laughed at her,
"No one would want to save you even if they could."
He probably said more than that but Ryoko didn't hear it. The pain and
suffocation became too much for her and she lost consciousness.
Or at least she thought she did.
"Kill them," Kagato ordered pointing in the direction that the
people had fled. Ryoko nodded and went to hunt them down, searching for her victims
through misty green eyes.
Present Day
That was just one occasion, there had been many more and Zero's words
brought all those memories back.
'You are nothing Ryoko'
'You are just my tool, you don't have a say'
'You have no soul, you have no right to freedom'
'Why do you keep hope Ryoko? No-one cares about you'
'You are nothing! No-one would want to save you even if
they could!'
'No-one would want to save you even if they could!'
No! Ryoko thought defiantly, Maybe that thing is not like
you Zero, but it's like me and I refuse to kill it.
"Kill her!"
Dr.Clay's outstretched arm pointed to Ryoko as he ordered Zero to
attack, but for a moment, in place of his red tunic Ryoko saw the flowing pale green cloak
and gloved hand that stretched out in front of tiny glasses. Instead of the water chamber
that enclosed her mother she saw the crystal prison on the Souja. She recognised Dr.Clay
as being like Kagato, controlling a slave, taking her mother away, hurting people to get
what he wanted. It was all his fault, in her eyes the robot was innocent and despite all
that Zero had told her she refused to destroy it.
A very brave stance to take. Especially since the robot was now charging
at Ryoko with a featureless, threatening face that gave off the same vacant impression
that a pair of misty green eyes had thousands of years before.
End of Chapter Four
Next Chapter - Will Ryoko's compassion be her downfall? Can she really
defeat the powerful robot without destroying it? With the tables turned, being attacked by
a controlled tool of destruction, could this be a fitting end for Ryoko? Will Washu be set
free?
Note - If you aren't very familiar with Physics then you might not
understand the 'Absolute Zero' reference. Absolute zero (-273 C) is lowest temperature
that is physically possible and this was meant to show how a pure (or absolute) Zero would
be cold, heartless and unemotional, totally unlike the Ryoko form we all remember her as.
