====================
Flowering Potential.
====================
C&C can be sent to cobalt@elhazard.net . Flames should be writen down on pieces of paper
and burned. You'll feel a whole lot better.
Disclaimer: I do not own the series depicted within, but go buy it anyway.
Conventions:
~ ~ are used for thoughts and Telepathic communication.
The series is archived at http://www.lum.co.uk/cobalt/
#########
Chapter 4
#########
Tenchi awoke to the grey light of pre-dawn. One deep breath confirmed the lingering fear.
~ I'm still a girl. ~ She thought sadly.
She had half hoped that the memories floating in her mind were part of a feverish
nightmare. Another breath made her hope that she was still having that nightmare.
~ Ohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseohplease let this be a bad dream. ~
Sasami was half laid on top of her. Even worse was the fact she could feel a hand on her
breast.
~ It's a nightmare. It has to be. I'm having a very bad nightmare. Yes, that's it. ~
Tenchi carefully slipped out of bed, suppressing the shudder as the hand moved across her
chest. She carefully backed away from the bed, but she hadn't got far when she felt the
presence behind her. Spinning, she found the picture perfect Tsunami standing there. She
took a step back the way she had come.
"Feeling better after a nights sleep?" The image asked quietly.
"Not really." Tenchi told her, adding under her breath "It's a nightmare."
"At least you have your health."
"Do I? I'm not sure."
Tsunami drooped, sighing. "Are you usually like this when you wake up?"
"I'm awake? I was under the distinct impression that I'm having a nightmare."
Tsunami groaned slightly. Obviously the little plan they'd thought up had failed miserably.
"Yes, you are awake. And yes, you do have your health. Get dressed, I'll meet you out in
the fields."
The image dissolved.
***
Jurai is a nice planet. Think of the beauty of the rainforests coupled with the splendour of
the African plains and the quiet peace of the great forests. That will just about give you the
right impression. Add the benevolent people of the planet and the wonderful natural looking
architecture and you could have a very nice resort.
There were two reasons why this is not so. The first is the almost hereditary disdain the
people had for other races. This was a simple consequence of their immense life spans and
the people of Jurai worked very hard to bury that part of themselves.
The second and most important reason was that it was the home world to the largest empire
in the galaxy. Home to the Jurai Royal family and seat of the Holy Council, the ruling body
for the empire. Thus the planet was just about the most protected place known, second only
to the subspace prison the Galactic Police used to hold the most powerful criminals. Before
the attack of Ryoko 700 years ago, the planet was behind the GP HQ as well. As a
consequence of that act security had been beefed up considerably. Tourism is simply not
allowed, although any visitors are treated very well.
The most stunning sight on the planet is the palace. Seeming to have grown out of the
largest tree anybody can think of, and sat under its branches, the palace is a work of pure
genius.
But as the home for an empire that has lasted so long it seems...new.
That's because it is. Major portions of it were damaged in Ryoko's attack and the
rebuilding work finished a paltry 130 years ago.
The refurbishment finished soon afterward, about 80 years ago. One of the great triumphs
of the work was the restoration of the Great Hall. The work had been overseen by Funaho,
the first Queen of Jurai, at the moment enjoying the sight. She was a regal presence, pale
skin contrasting with her jet-black hair to set off her beauty wonderfully. The quiet calm she
projected hid a mind raging with thoughts, information and knowledge. She was also the
Inspector General of Information, the intelligence branch (She thought it was a sapling
herself) of the government.
Beside her sat Misaki, her sister by marriage and second Queen of Jurai. Where Funaho
was an ocean of calm, Misaki was a bundle of emotion and it was clear she was the mother of
Sasami. What you would never guess was that she was the Supreme Commander of the
Royal Bodyguard. She had the appearance of a cheerful beauty prone to sudden mood
swings, but her mind was as sharp as a steel trap. Personally, she had foiled several
assassination attempts on members of the Council, fought three duels to the death and had
trained the young Yosho in the basic arts of war.
Never, EVER get on the bad side of these two people.
Although now the Sisters were as close as could be, at the start they were worse than Ayeka
and Ryoko. People still talked about the times they almost started major wars fighting over
their husband. The change had come when the two of them single-handedly fought off an
invasion on one of the outer colonies long enough to evacuate the planet.
Exhausted and nearly spent, they had been convinced they would die and confessed their
feelings for each other.
Then the Juraian battle fleet had arrived. Azusa, an angel of righteous wrath and Death
Incarnate, tore the opposing forces to shreds to reach them and confessed his undying love for
them.
Funaho had believed that the restoration of the Great Hall would be the accomplishment that
would set her in history when she had arrived those thousands of years ago, a child chosen by
the gods. So to speak, anyway. That modest hope had faded over the centuries, as she and
her sister carved their names in stone. Now, the two of them had a single goal.
"Sister," She said, "I believe we should pay our children a visit. Stay a few days."
"What a wonderful idea Sister!" Misaki enthused. "We haven't seen them in months."
Although this was nothing compared to the seven centuries they had gone without seeing
them. When Mihoshi's report had arrived, Funaho's heart had jumped for joy to find out
their children were alive and well. But the report had contained other things, thinks so
extraordinary and dangerous that she had clamped down as hard as she could to suppress the
information. Only one person, Mihoshi's superior officer, knew of the report's content
outside of the Holy Council and HE knew he would disappear if one word of it got out.
Although he would have the honour of vanishing at the hands of Mihoshi's Grandfather, The
Galaxy Police Marshal if he did. That man was the best at that sort of work.
"But we will be away from our husband for a week." Misaki added sombrely.
They both knew that their husband didn't really like Tenchi, and that they were a restraining
force on him.
"He will be busy with the Annual review." Funaho meant the fortnight long military
review. Azusa always went alone, hoping to spare his wives the pain he, as King, must bear
on his shoulders as the leader of the Men.
"Don't worry." She continued, "We will back before him."
Misaki put her arm around her Sister and held her in an intimate embrace.
"Good." She said. "He comes back so wonderfully tense."
The two women couldn't help but giggle like schoolgirls about the prospect of relaxing him.
***
Sasami awoke in Tenchi's bed alone. The sense of disappointment she could feel from her
other half told her the plan they had thought up hadn't worked. As she got up and stretched
she couldn't help but feel a bit smug. She'd told her so. It was just past dawn so nobody else
would be up. Sasami absently wondered if being assimilated with a tree was why she always
seemed to get up around now. She heard a door close heavily.
~ Tenchi leaving. ~ She noted. ~ I hope she gets back in time for lunch. ~
That thought reminded her of her chores and she quietly left to get dressed.
***
The red sky of dawn had changed to the pale blue of early morning. Tenchi had walked out
to fields and was quietly tending them. They didn't need much work at the moment.
Autumn was arriving with a vengeance, and Ryo-Ohki was probably the best scarecrow in
existence. No birds dared mess with these crops.
Tenchi felt the familiar presence, but it took her a few seconds to work out what was wrong
with it.
"Why are you floating above me?" She asked, not looking up.
~ Much better. ~ Tsunami thought as she reoriented her image to the ground. ~ She can
sense my position. ~
"I didn't want to get in your way." She lied.
"Can I ask you something?"
"What?"
Tenchi stood up. "How do I take these off?" She said, fingering one of the ear studs. "I
didn't think I should sleep with them in, but couldn't find a way to remove them."
Tsunami grinned. "It was my way of making sure that you didn't take them off and 'forget'
to put them back on. They are very special."
Tenchi had a very tired look on her face. "What's so special about a pair of gold ear studs?"
"They are not gold. They are star forged Xionite, one of the rarest materials in existence. It
is a combination of quantum matter and Hielzen Super."
Tenchi groaned. "You've given me sentient jewellery?" She said despondently.
The image nodded. She didn't tell Tenchi that she used part of herself, a small splinter each
from a root, to attach the studs as well.
"Yes. They will help you deal with the changes you are going through. I knew you were
upset..." She trailed off as something new came to her attention. "It appears Lady Funaho
and Lady Misaki are coming for a visit."
"Oh no." Tenchi had dropped from despondency to disbelieving horror. "When will they
arrive?"
"In two days."
~ Two days? ~ Tenchi thought. ~ Why does that...? ~
Something smashed a memory into Tenchi's mind.
"That's when Dad is due back." Tenchi started crying in despair.
The sight tore at Tsunami's heart. She found she wanted to hold Tenchi, to kiss her, to
make her happy, to please her in any way. She...
... Stopped that train of thought. She was beginning to realise that with Sasami's
acceptance of who and what she was, each half had opened up more to each other. Tsunami
had more access to the emotions of Sasami, while the little girl had gained access to the
intelligence and knowledge of Tsunami. They had become closer; physically, emotionally
and intellectually.
Tenchi felt a gentle arm around her shoulders.
"It will be ok Tenchi." Tsunami soothed the girl. "You've faced worse."
"Not much." She sniffed. "Getting blasted by the Soja is just worse. That will probably
give a hint of how I'm feeling right now."
She smartened up, but a new thought hit her.
"Um... Tsunami? You've been around a lot recently. I get the feeling you'll be keeping a
close eye on me until I change back. That means you might be turning up while Funaho and
Misaki are here. So I was wondering... Do they know?"
"Know?"
"About you and Sasami?"
A tingle of trepidation ran through Tsunami. "No, they don't. I see why you are worried."
"I was thinking more about Sasami."
Trepidation turned to cold fear. "Oh dear. I get your point. It could potentially be..."
"Disastrous?" Tenchi hazarded.
Tsunami nodded darkly.
"Go have a talk with her." Tenchi suggested. "Then the two of you talk to Washu.
Between the three of you it should be no problem. I'll bring it up at lunch with the others,
ask them not to mention it."
***
The sight that would have greeted anybody who entered the main room of the house without
knowledge of the inhabitants would have seemed normal.
Kiyone, Ayeka, Minagi and Ryoko were playing a board game. It looked a lot like
Monopoly.
"Ryoko, you're on Krenin with three stations. That's 320 credits." Kiyone said.
"You've bankrupted me." Ryoko admitted, handing over the last of her cash. She leaned
back and put her hands behind the back of her head. "Washu says she adapted an Earth game
to make this?"
Minagi nodded. "She says that they have lots of the things." The young pirate frowned.
"She also says that this world holds the galactic record for a few things."
"Oh?" Ayeka asked. "I've never heard of a planet holding more than two."
"Yardinia." Kiyone said. Ayeka nodded.
"Well, I can only remember four." Minagi admitted.
"Only 'four'?" Ryoko said, amazed.
"Which ones?" Kiyone asked.
"Most violent weather on an inhabited planet." Minagi began ticking them off. "Most
languages in use in a culture. I think she said about 300."
"How does a world survive with three hundred languages in common use?" Ayeka asked
perplexed.
The others shrugged.
"Longest time to develop Fusion power on a developed world. They passed the previous
record last year."
"Come on." Ryoko was disbelieving. "This planet doesn't have fusion power yet?"
"No. It doesn't even have a unified power grid. There are a few fission plants around, and
environmentally based power generators are still in their infancy. The rest is hydrocarbon
based."
"That's insane!" Ayeka exclaimed.
"Which probably explains the last one, Most wars in the shortest time."
"Ouch." Kiyone winced. "No wonder this system is a non-interference preserve. The
planetary culture is unique. I think I'll ask Washu to set up a planetary observation system."
"And why would you want me to do that?" The redhead's voice came from the door to the
lab.
Kiyone looked embarrassed.
"I...er...have a degree in xeno-anthropology." She admitted.
Washu looked puzzled; the others looked shocked.
"And what's so wrong with that?" Washu asked.
"If the Galaxy Police found out I'd be reassigned to the First contact division. It's sooo
boring!"
"Join the Galaxy Police. Live the adventure!" Washu quoted the recruitment slogan. "So
what did you get?" She asked.
Kiyone really didn't want to tell. She clamed up.
Washu sighed. "I'll do it the hard way." Her computer appeared and she typed away.
"Hum... No trace of it in your record. Your personnel file says you have a diploma in
criminal psychology, no real surprise there. Ok, I'll just back track through your schooling."
Washu typed so fast her fingers blurred.
"Well what do you know? Someone hacked your school records. I wonder who that could
have been?"
Several more screens popped into existence. Washu whistled.
"No wonder the GP didn't pick it up. Everything on it is correct."
The numbers of possibilities appeared in one corner. It dropped rapidly, hitting single digits
in 30 seconds.
"Now then, what do we have left?" Washu muttered.
Kiyone gave in. "It was a pass."
Washu was about to look up when her computer beeped.
"You want to know your mark?"
"No thanks. I'm sure I only squeezed past."
Washu looked anyway. A slow mysterious smile formed on her lips.
"You had Professor Tri'alc? I'd wondered if he was still around."
All the screens vanished.
Kiyone sighed. "Was he always so lean with the marks?"
"Oh yes." Washu told her. "I had no end of discussions with him about that. 'Wasting the
potential' I told him. He never listened."
The smile was still on her lips when she said, "I'll set up the grid." and disappeared into her
lab.
Once she was safely away from the others Washu called up the file again.
"Well, well, well. Tri'alc, you old softy. I wonder what your reputation would be like if
they knew you hacked Kiyone's school records for her."
On the screen was Kiyone's record. Her mark was 98.6%. Washu knew, because she had
made the regulation, that a mark like that made Kiyone a Professor by default.
Washu grinned. She liked having a half-decent scientist about.
***
Tenchi came back in through the kitchen door.
"Hi Tenchi!" The cheerful Azure-hared imp that had tormented her all through yesterday
greeted the young woman.
"Hi Sasami." Tenchi replied, dumping the bag of carrots on a counter.
"I haven't had a chance to speak with Washu yet Tenchi." The young girl got straight to the
point. "I've been too busy making lunch."
Tenchi sighed and made sure the Master Key was in easy reach.
"I'll go fetch her." ~ And avoid Ryoko and Ayeka. ~ She added silently.
Tenchi entered the main room ready for the two.
"Tenchi!" The two women called out, racing towards her from just about opposite sides.
Tenchi knew she had to time this just right. Now.
She stepped back out of the onrushing pair's reach just before contact. They didn't notice as
they had just a moment before closed their eyes.
Splat.
The two girls crashed into each other and enveloped the person they believed to be Tenchi
in a vice like embrace.
"You two look really good like that." Tenchi told them.
The shock was evident on their faces as they opened their eyes and looked into each other's.
Tenchi felt a little sorry and put her arms around the entangled pair.
"Now if only you did this more often. You might not fight as much." She teased, giving
them a light squeeze before heading off to Washu's lab with a grin on her face.
***
"Washu!" Tenchi called. "It's lunch time!"
She rounded a corner to see Washu sitting at a console.
"Wha...? Oh right." She said with a disarming tone, reaching for a button.
Tenchi felt the device appear behind her. There was a glowing blue streak as Tenchi
moved. Washu found the blue glowing energy blade pointed towards her, and the capture
device falling to bits behind the woman.
"Don't try that ever again Washu." Tenchi growled.
Washu dumbly nodded.
"Good. I'm taking your word on that." The blade vanished and Tenchi relaxed. "Come
on," She told the stunned redhead, "we've got something to talk about."
***
The phone was ringing as Tenchi and Washu exited the lab. Tenchi heard the click as
someone picked the receiver up, and quickly noted the absence of Ayeka.
"Hello, Masaki residence?"
Pause.
"Oh hello Mr Masaki." Ayeka was always respectful to Tenchi's father.
Pause.
"No, He's not here at the moment." Tenchi winced at that.
Pause.
"I'm sorry to hear that."
Small pause.
"Well I'll be sure to tell Tenchi. Goodbye."
Click.
Ayeka came back into the room.
"Be sure to tell me what?" Tenchi asked, causing Ayeka to jump.
"Tenchi! Don't scare me like that." She had a little acid in her tone. "Your father just
called to say he won't be able to get back this week. A big client is here and he has to show
him around."
Tenchi felt relieved. "Well, it's probably for the best. I don't think I'm ready to tell my dad
he has a daughter."
Sasami entered with lunch. "It's ready!" She called out.
Lunch went quickly, with Ayeka and Ryoko throwing Tenchi some dark looks. Washu
accessed Ryoko's memory and tried to keep from laughing.
"Well, I've got some news guys." Washu said, just keeping from laughing. "We'll be
getting some guests in two days."
"How do you know Miss Washu?" Mihoshi asked.
"A little bird told me." Washu replied.
"Oh, that's alright then." Mihoshi returned to the meal.
"I've got to remember to do a full spectrum search for her IQ." Washu muttered.
"Did this 'little bird' tell you who's coming?" Kiyone asked tiredly, as per usual after one
of Mihoshi's inane comments.
"Lady Funaho and Lady Misaki."
Ayeka eeped and Sasami looked pained, although not as much as Ryoko.
"Will they be staying?" Ayeka asked timidly.
Washu nodded.
"What's wrong?" Kiyone asked. "Who are these people?"
"The Queens of Jurai." Tenchi told her. "Misaki is Ayeka's and Sasami's mother, and
Funaho is Grandfather's." She sighed in despair. "And I was just relaxing about my dad not
coming home."
"Any idea how long Mother and Auntie Funaho will be staying?" Sasami asked.
Washu shrugged.
Tenchi sat bolt upright with a look of terror in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Minagi asked the distraught young woman.
"I don't think they know."
"Well of course not, we haven't told anybody about your change."
"It's not that." Tenchi said, looking at Sasami.
Washu looked from Tenchi to Sasami and back a few times. "Oh dear."
"What?" Sasami sounded scared.
"What Tenchi is trying to say is they don't know about you and Tsunami." Washu
explained.
"And with Tsunami visiting so regularly at the moment..." Tenchi left it hanging.
The rest of the room got the hint.
Tenchi looked around and sighed. "I hate to do this but..." She drew herself up. "I'm
ordering you all not to discuss this with them."
Ryoko blinked. Mihoshi and Kiyone saluted. Minagi, Ayeka, Sasami and Washu bowed.
Ryo-Ohki miya'ed.
***
A ship entered the area of space that Tokimi's realm entered into. The unfortunate crew
quickly found all communication with the outside blocked, before they and the ship
disappeared into a black void.
The ship re-emerged three hours later a total wreck and barely functional. The crew's
memories had been altered, as had the ship's records.
When found, all the information would point to a volatile area of space that would be
avoided from now on.
D3 does his work well for Lady Tokimi.
Flowering Potential.
====================
C&C can be sent to cobalt@elhazard.net . Flames should be writen down on pieces of paper
and burned. You'll feel a whole lot better.
Disclaimer: I do not own the series depicted within, but go buy it anyway.
Conventions:
~ ~ are used for thoughts and Telepathic communication.
The series is archived at http://www.lum.co.uk/cobalt/
#########
Chapter 4
#########
Tenchi awoke to the grey light of pre-dawn. One deep breath confirmed the lingering fear.
~ I'm still a girl. ~ She thought sadly.
She had half hoped that the memories floating in her mind were part of a feverish
nightmare. Another breath made her hope that she was still having that nightmare.
~ Ohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseohplease let this be a bad dream. ~
Sasami was half laid on top of her. Even worse was the fact she could feel a hand on her
breast.
~ It's a nightmare. It has to be. I'm having a very bad nightmare. Yes, that's it. ~
Tenchi carefully slipped out of bed, suppressing the shudder as the hand moved across her
chest. She carefully backed away from the bed, but she hadn't got far when she felt the
presence behind her. Spinning, she found the picture perfect Tsunami standing there. She
took a step back the way she had come.
"Feeling better after a nights sleep?" The image asked quietly.
"Not really." Tenchi told her, adding under her breath "It's a nightmare."
"At least you have your health."
"Do I? I'm not sure."
Tsunami drooped, sighing. "Are you usually like this when you wake up?"
"I'm awake? I was under the distinct impression that I'm having a nightmare."
Tsunami groaned slightly. Obviously the little plan they'd thought up had failed miserably.
"Yes, you are awake. And yes, you do have your health. Get dressed, I'll meet you out in
the fields."
The image dissolved.
***
Jurai is a nice planet. Think of the beauty of the rainforests coupled with the splendour of
the African plains and the quiet peace of the great forests. That will just about give you the
right impression. Add the benevolent people of the planet and the wonderful natural looking
architecture and you could have a very nice resort.
There were two reasons why this is not so. The first is the almost hereditary disdain the
people had for other races. This was a simple consequence of their immense life spans and
the people of Jurai worked very hard to bury that part of themselves.
The second and most important reason was that it was the home world to the largest empire
in the galaxy. Home to the Jurai Royal family and seat of the Holy Council, the ruling body
for the empire. Thus the planet was just about the most protected place known, second only
to the subspace prison the Galactic Police used to hold the most powerful criminals. Before
the attack of Ryoko 700 years ago, the planet was behind the GP HQ as well. As a
consequence of that act security had been beefed up considerably. Tourism is simply not
allowed, although any visitors are treated very well.
The most stunning sight on the planet is the palace. Seeming to have grown out of the
largest tree anybody can think of, and sat under its branches, the palace is a work of pure
genius.
But as the home for an empire that has lasted so long it seems...new.
That's because it is. Major portions of it were damaged in Ryoko's attack and the
rebuilding work finished a paltry 130 years ago.
The refurbishment finished soon afterward, about 80 years ago. One of the great triumphs
of the work was the restoration of the Great Hall. The work had been overseen by Funaho,
the first Queen of Jurai, at the moment enjoying the sight. She was a regal presence, pale
skin contrasting with her jet-black hair to set off her beauty wonderfully. The quiet calm she
projected hid a mind raging with thoughts, information and knowledge. She was also the
Inspector General of Information, the intelligence branch (She thought it was a sapling
herself) of the government.
Beside her sat Misaki, her sister by marriage and second Queen of Jurai. Where Funaho
was an ocean of calm, Misaki was a bundle of emotion and it was clear she was the mother of
Sasami. What you would never guess was that she was the Supreme Commander of the
Royal Bodyguard. She had the appearance of a cheerful beauty prone to sudden mood
swings, but her mind was as sharp as a steel trap. Personally, she had foiled several
assassination attempts on members of the Council, fought three duels to the death and had
trained the young Yosho in the basic arts of war.
Never, EVER get on the bad side of these two people.
Although now the Sisters were as close as could be, at the start they were worse than Ayeka
and Ryoko. People still talked about the times they almost started major wars fighting over
their husband. The change had come when the two of them single-handedly fought off an
invasion on one of the outer colonies long enough to evacuate the planet.
Exhausted and nearly spent, they had been convinced they would die and confessed their
feelings for each other.
Then the Juraian battle fleet had arrived. Azusa, an angel of righteous wrath and Death
Incarnate, tore the opposing forces to shreds to reach them and confessed his undying love for
them.
Funaho had believed that the restoration of the Great Hall would be the accomplishment that
would set her in history when she had arrived those thousands of years ago, a child chosen by
the gods. So to speak, anyway. That modest hope had faded over the centuries, as she and
her sister carved their names in stone. Now, the two of them had a single goal.
"Sister," She said, "I believe we should pay our children a visit. Stay a few days."
"What a wonderful idea Sister!" Misaki enthused. "We haven't seen them in months."
Although this was nothing compared to the seven centuries they had gone without seeing
them. When Mihoshi's report had arrived, Funaho's heart had jumped for joy to find out
their children were alive and well. But the report had contained other things, thinks so
extraordinary and dangerous that she had clamped down as hard as she could to suppress the
information. Only one person, Mihoshi's superior officer, knew of the report's content
outside of the Holy Council and HE knew he would disappear if one word of it got out.
Although he would have the honour of vanishing at the hands of Mihoshi's Grandfather, The
Galaxy Police Marshal if he did. That man was the best at that sort of work.
"But we will be away from our husband for a week." Misaki added sombrely.
They both knew that their husband didn't really like Tenchi, and that they were a restraining
force on him.
"He will be busy with the Annual review." Funaho meant the fortnight long military
review. Azusa always went alone, hoping to spare his wives the pain he, as King, must bear
on his shoulders as the leader of the Men.
"Don't worry." She continued, "We will back before him."
Misaki put her arm around her Sister and held her in an intimate embrace.
"Good." She said. "He comes back so wonderfully tense."
The two women couldn't help but giggle like schoolgirls about the prospect of relaxing him.
***
Sasami awoke in Tenchi's bed alone. The sense of disappointment she could feel from her
other half told her the plan they had thought up hadn't worked. As she got up and stretched
she couldn't help but feel a bit smug. She'd told her so. It was just past dawn so nobody else
would be up. Sasami absently wondered if being assimilated with a tree was why she always
seemed to get up around now. She heard a door close heavily.
~ Tenchi leaving. ~ She noted. ~ I hope she gets back in time for lunch. ~
That thought reminded her of her chores and she quietly left to get dressed.
***
The red sky of dawn had changed to the pale blue of early morning. Tenchi had walked out
to fields and was quietly tending them. They didn't need much work at the moment.
Autumn was arriving with a vengeance, and Ryo-Ohki was probably the best scarecrow in
existence. No birds dared mess with these crops.
Tenchi felt the familiar presence, but it took her a few seconds to work out what was wrong
with it.
"Why are you floating above me?" She asked, not looking up.
~ Much better. ~ Tsunami thought as she reoriented her image to the ground. ~ She can
sense my position. ~
"I didn't want to get in your way." She lied.
"Can I ask you something?"
"What?"
Tenchi stood up. "How do I take these off?" She said, fingering one of the ear studs. "I
didn't think I should sleep with them in, but couldn't find a way to remove them."
Tsunami grinned. "It was my way of making sure that you didn't take them off and 'forget'
to put them back on. They are very special."
Tenchi had a very tired look on her face. "What's so special about a pair of gold ear studs?"
"They are not gold. They are star forged Xionite, one of the rarest materials in existence. It
is a combination of quantum matter and Hielzen Super."
Tenchi groaned. "You've given me sentient jewellery?" She said despondently.
The image nodded. She didn't tell Tenchi that she used part of herself, a small splinter each
from a root, to attach the studs as well.
"Yes. They will help you deal with the changes you are going through. I knew you were
upset..." She trailed off as something new came to her attention. "It appears Lady Funaho
and Lady Misaki are coming for a visit."
"Oh no." Tenchi had dropped from despondency to disbelieving horror. "When will they
arrive?"
"In two days."
~ Two days? ~ Tenchi thought. ~ Why does that...? ~
Something smashed a memory into Tenchi's mind.
"That's when Dad is due back." Tenchi started crying in despair.
The sight tore at Tsunami's heart. She found she wanted to hold Tenchi, to kiss her, to
make her happy, to please her in any way. She...
... Stopped that train of thought. She was beginning to realise that with Sasami's
acceptance of who and what she was, each half had opened up more to each other. Tsunami
had more access to the emotions of Sasami, while the little girl had gained access to the
intelligence and knowledge of Tsunami. They had become closer; physically, emotionally
and intellectually.
Tenchi felt a gentle arm around her shoulders.
"It will be ok Tenchi." Tsunami soothed the girl. "You've faced worse."
"Not much." She sniffed. "Getting blasted by the Soja is just worse. That will probably
give a hint of how I'm feeling right now."
She smartened up, but a new thought hit her.
"Um... Tsunami? You've been around a lot recently. I get the feeling you'll be keeping a
close eye on me until I change back. That means you might be turning up while Funaho and
Misaki are here. So I was wondering... Do they know?"
"Know?"
"About you and Sasami?"
A tingle of trepidation ran through Tsunami. "No, they don't. I see why you are worried."
"I was thinking more about Sasami."
Trepidation turned to cold fear. "Oh dear. I get your point. It could potentially be..."
"Disastrous?" Tenchi hazarded.
Tsunami nodded darkly.
"Go have a talk with her." Tenchi suggested. "Then the two of you talk to Washu.
Between the three of you it should be no problem. I'll bring it up at lunch with the others,
ask them not to mention it."
***
The sight that would have greeted anybody who entered the main room of the house without
knowledge of the inhabitants would have seemed normal.
Kiyone, Ayeka, Minagi and Ryoko were playing a board game. It looked a lot like
Monopoly.
"Ryoko, you're on Krenin with three stations. That's 320 credits." Kiyone said.
"You've bankrupted me." Ryoko admitted, handing over the last of her cash. She leaned
back and put her hands behind the back of her head. "Washu says she adapted an Earth game
to make this?"
Minagi nodded. "She says that they have lots of the things." The young pirate frowned.
"She also says that this world holds the galactic record for a few things."
"Oh?" Ayeka asked. "I've never heard of a planet holding more than two."
"Yardinia." Kiyone said. Ayeka nodded.
"Well, I can only remember four." Minagi admitted.
"Only 'four'?" Ryoko said, amazed.
"Which ones?" Kiyone asked.
"Most violent weather on an inhabited planet." Minagi began ticking them off. "Most
languages in use in a culture. I think she said about 300."
"How does a world survive with three hundred languages in common use?" Ayeka asked
perplexed.
The others shrugged.
"Longest time to develop Fusion power on a developed world. They passed the previous
record last year."
"Come on." Ryoko was disbelieving. "This planet doesn't have fusion power yet?"
"No. It doesn't even have a unified power grid. There are a few fission plants around, and
environmentally based power generators are still in their infancy. The rest is hydrocarbon
based."
"That's insane!" Ayeka exclaimed.
"Which probably explains the last one, Most wars in the shortest time."
"Ouch." Kiyone winced. "No wonder this system is a non-interference preserve. The
planetary culture is unique. I think I'll ask Washu to set up a planetary observation system."
"And why would you want me to do that?" The redhead's voice came from the door to the
lab.
Kiyone looked embarrassed.
"I...er...have a degree in xeno-anthropology." She admitted.
Washu looked puzzled; the others looked shocked.
"And what's so wrong with that?" Washu asked.
"If the Galaxy Police found out I'd be reassigned to the First contact division. It's sooo
boring!"
"Join the Galaxy Police. Live the adventure!" Washu quoted the recruitment slogan. "So
what did you get?" She asked.
Kiyone really didn't want to tell. She clamed up.
Washu sighed. "I'll do it the hard way." Her computer appeared and she typed away.
"Hum... No trace of it in your record. Your personnel file says you have a diploma in
criminal psychology, no real surprise there. Ok, I'll just back track through your schooling."
Washu typed so fast her fingers blurred.
"Well what do you know? Someone hacked your school records. I wonder who that could
have been?"
Several more screens popped into existence. Washu whistled.
"No wonder the GP didn't pick it up. Everything on it is correct."
The numbers of possibilities appeared in one corner. It dropped rapidly, hitting single digits
in 30 seconds.
"Now then, what do we have left?" Washu muttered.
Kiyone gave in. "It was a pass."
Washu was about to look up when her computer beeped.
"You want to know your mark?"
"No thanks. I'm sure I only squeezed past."
Washu looked anyway. A slow mysterious smile formed on her lips.
"You had Professor Tri'alc? I'd wondered if he was still around."
All the screens vanished.
Kiyone sighed. "Was he always so lean with the marks?"
"Oh yes." Washu told her. "I had no end of discussions with him about that. 'Wasting the
potential' I told him. He never listened."
The smile was still on her lips when she said, "I'll set up the grid." and disappeared into her
lab.
Once she was safely away from the others Washu called up the file again.
"Well, well, well. Tri'alc, you old softy. I wonder what your reputation would be like if
they knew you hacked Kiyone's school records for her."
On the screen was Kiyone's record. Her mark was 98.6%. Washu knew, because she had
made the regulation, that a mark like that made Kiyone a Professor by default.
Washu grinned. She liked having a half-decent scientist about.
***
Tenchi came back in through the kitchen door.
"Hi Tenchi!" The cheerful Azure-hared imp that had tormented her all through yesterday
greeted the young woman.
"Hi Sasami." Tenchi replied, dumping the bag of carrots on a counter.
"I haven't had a chance to speak with Washu yet Tenchi." The young girl got straight to the
point. "I've been too busy making lunch."
Tenchi sighed and made sure the Master Key was in easy reach.
"I'll go fetch her." ~ And avoid Ryoko and Ayeka. ~ She added silently.
Tenchi entered the main room ready for the two.
"Tenchi!" The two women called out, racing towards her from just about opposite sides.
Tenchi knew she had to time this just right. Now.
She stepped back out of the onrushing pair's reach just before contact. They didn't notice as
they had just a moment before closed their eyes.
Splat.
The two girls crashed into each other and enveloped the person they believed to be Tenchi
in a vice like embrace.
"You two look really good like that." Tenchi told them.
The shock was evident on their faces as they opened their eyes and looked into each other's.
Tenchi felt a little sorry and put her arms around the entangled pair.
"Now if only you did this more often. You might not fight as much." She teased, giving
them a light squeeze before heading off to Washu's lab with a grin on her face.
***
"Washu!" Tenchi called. "It's lunch time!"
She rounded a corner to see Washu sitting at a console.
"Wha...? Oh right." She said with a disarming tone, reaching for a button.
Tenchi felt the device appear behind her. There was a glowing blue streak as Tenchi
moved. Washu found the blue glowing energy blade pointed towards her, and the capture
device falling to bits behind the woman.
"Don't try that ever again Washu." Tenchi growled.
Washu dumbly nodded.
"Good. I'm taking your word on that." The blade vanished and Tenchi relaxed. "Come
on," She told the stunned redhead, "we've got something to talk about."
***
The phone was ringing as Tenchi and Washu exited the lab. Tenchi heard the click as
someone picked the receiver up, and quickly noted the absence of Ayeka.
"Hello, Masaki residence?"
Pause.
"Oh hello Mr Masaki." Ayeka was always respectful to Tenchi's father.
Pause.
"No, He's not here at the moment." Tenchi winced at that.
Pause.
"I'm sorry to hear that."
Small pause.
"Well I'll be sure to tell Tenchi. Goodbye."
Click.
Ayeka came back into the room.
"Be sure to tell me what?" Tenchi asked, causing Ayeka to jump.
"Tenchi! Don't scare me like that." She had a little acid in her tone. "Your father just
called to say he won't be able to get back this week. A big client is here and he has to show
him around."
Tenchi felt relieved. "Well, it's probably for the best. I don't think I'm ready to tell my dad
he has a daughter."
Sasami entered with lunch. "It's ready!" She called out.
Lunch went quickly, with Ayeka and Ryoko throwing Tenchi some dark looks. Washu
accessed Ryoko's memory and tried to keep from laughing.
"Well, I've got some news guys." Washu said, just keeping from laughing. "We'll be
getting some guests in two days."
"How do you know Miss Washu?" Mihoshi asked.
"A little bird told me." Washu replied.
"Oh, that's alright then." Mihoshi returned to the meal.
"I've got to remember to do a full spectrum search for her IQ." Washu muttered.
"Did this 'little bird' tell you who's coming?" Kiyone asked tiredly, as per usual after one
of Mihoshi's inane comments.
"Lady Funaho and Lady Misaki."
Ayeka eeped and Sasami looked pained, although not as much as Ryoko.
"Will they be staying?" Ayeka asked timidly.
Washu nodded.
"What's wrong?" Kiyone asked. "Who are these people?"
"The Queens of Jurai." Tenchi told her. "Misaki is Ayeka's and Sasami's mother, and
Funaho is Grandfather's." She sighed in despair. "And I was just relaxing about my dad not
coming home."
"Any idea how long Mother and Auntie Funaho will be staying?" Sasami asked.
Washu shrugged.
Tenchi sat bolt upright with a look of terror in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Minagi asked the distraught young woman.
"I don't think they know."
"Well of course not, we haven't told anybody about your change."
"It's not that." Tenchi said, looking at Sasami.
Washu looked from Tenchi to Sasami and back a few times. "Oh dear."
"What?" Sasami sounded scared.
"What Tenchi is trying to say is they don't know about you and Tsunami." Washu
explained.
"And with Tsunami visiting so regularly at the moment..." Tenchi left it hanging.
The rest of the room got the hint.
Tenchi looked around and sighed. "I hate to do this but..." She drew herself up. "I'm
ordering you all not to discuss this with them."
Ryoko blinked. Mihoshi and Kiyone saluted. Minagi, Ayeka, Sasami and Washu bowed.
Ryo-Ohki miya'ed.
***
A ship entered the area of space that Tokimi's realm entered into. The unfortunate crew
quickly found all communication with the outside blocked, before they and the ship
disappeared into a black void.
The ship re-emerged three hours later a total wreck and barely functional. The crew's
memories had been altered, as had the ship's records.
When found, all the information would point to a volatile area of space that would be
avoided from now on.
D3 does his work well for Lady Tokimi.