Disclaimer
Tenchi and all associated characters are the property of AIC and Pioneer LDC. I don't own any rights to them. Any other characters are property of their respective copyright holders, not me.
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Newlyweds
Chapter 6
Adventures in Kidnapping
Part 2
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Tenchi stopped his pacing to answer the knock on the hotel door. Looking out through the peephole, he saw a young man holding up a GP ident card. He opened the door.
"May I help you?" he asked politely.
The GP stepped into the room and quickly glanced around. Seeing no one else he asked, "Are you Tenchi?"
Tenchi affirmed that he was.
"Is the princess here? I'm Special Investigator Kintara, assigned to the kidnappings here. I'll be your GP contact."
"She's napping. I'll go get her. Should I get Ryoko as well?"
"Ryoko? Oh. Yes, of course. Ryoko should be here too."
Tenchi went into the bedroom to wake Ayeka. As he did, he opened a link to his other wife. Ryoko honey. The GP are here and want to talk to us…
Ryoko suddenly appeared and threw her arms around his neck. "Oh Tenchi! I missed you sooo much. And the princess too, of course."
Jeez, this is just like old times with her. He gasped for air. "Not… quite… so… tight… please… Can't… breathe…"
She released him. "Oh. Sorry."
"It's only been a few hours Ryoko." Tenchi took a few deep breaths.
"It's been an eternity for me darling."
*****
"Ok, here's what well do," Kintara explained. "Ryoko, you contact this Ferdtyz person and tell him you've made the snatch. From what you say and from what I've been able to find out, I don't think he's the mastermind behind this so try to get him to set up a meeting with the boss. After all, the princess here is quite a catch for them. Their biggest yet. After all the arrangements are made, contact Tenchi and let him know. He'll let me know where it's going to be and I'll set things up with the GP."
"And then what will we do?" Tenchi asked.
"'We' will do nothing. You stay here where it's safe. Ryoko and the princess show up for the meeting, the GP crashes the place, takes everyone into custody and that's it. Hopefully no one gets hurt. From what I understand, these two can defend themselves pretty well."
"That's it?" Ryoko wondered. "That's an awfully simple plan."
The investigator smiled at her. "Well, simple usually works best. Besides, the GP knows what it's doing. Trust me. If we can catch the whole gang it would make my day."
*****
Tenchi? Ryoko broadcast.
Yes Ryoko? came his reply.
I just got done talking to that slimeball Ferdtyz. It's all set up for this afternoon at four in a big red warehouse by the spaceport. It's the only one there, so it should be easy to find. she beamed back to him.
The big boss will be there? he wondered.
Ferdtyz guaranteed it, lover. she responded.
Ok, I'll notify Kintara and have Ayeka get ready. It's after noon now. We don't have much time. Love you. He cut the connection.
*****
His wives had left for the meeting at the warehouse. The plan was for Ryoko to carry the princess in as if she were unconscious, then at the proper time they would both help the GP round up the gang. But he was nervous. Very nervous. Something just wasn't quite right here. Ryoko had been correct. The plan was too simple. He had to do something besides just sit and wait. An idea hit him. He twisted the ring on his finger that created his Juraian armor, then contacted the cabbit-ship.
Ryo-ohki, I need your help, he sent.
Ryo-ohki replied immediately. Yes Tenchi? What do you need?
He quickly formulated his own plan. Ok, Ryo-ohki, here's what I want you to do…
*****
Ryoko strode into the warehouse like she owned the place, with the princess slung over her shoulder. "Keep still now," she whispered to Ayeka.
"I am, you demon," came the quiet reply.
As she passed a large shipping container Ryoko felt, rather than heard, the buzz of a sonic stunner. Ayeka truly went limp on her shoulder. Damn! she thought. So much for honor among thieves.
"Just insurance," said Ferdtyz as he stepped out into the light. "I'm sure you see the need."
"Yeah, whatever," she said, gently laying Ayeka's unconscious form down on the floor. "Where's the boss? Like I said before, I don't deal with peons."
A voice came from the shadows. "Heh. She's got you pegged, doesn't she Ferdtyz? I'm right here my dear." A tall human stepped into the light carrying a small electronic device. "And just in case you've something planned…" He gestured and a small army of goons appeared to surround her.
She looked around, her energy sword hissing into being. Shit! Whadda they do? Clone these guys or something?
The Boss turned to Ferdtyz. "Ferdtyz my good man, you really should check references before hiring outside help." He gestured again to one of the goons.
A beam of coherent energy spanned the gap between the two, leaving a large hole in the green humanoid's abdomen. Ferdtyz had a startled look on his face as he crumpled to the ground.
Blaster! Ryoko thought.
The Boss turned his attention back to her. "I really can't afford mistakes like this. It won't happen again." He looked at the pirate through slitted eyes. "Unlike poor Ferdtyz here, I don't underestimate anyone." He pressed a button on his control pad; Ryoko's sword fizzled out and she was overcome by weakness. "It's an energy dampening field. I think you'll find that your teleporting and energy blasts won't work anymore either. It also serves to cut off Jurai power, so when the Princess comes to she'll be helpless as well."
Ryoko gave him a cold stare. "Explain one thing to me, how did you know it was all a setup?"
Kintara stepped out from behind a shipping unit. "Because I told him. You didn't really think they'd been so successful on their own did you? Oh, and you can forget about the GP saving the day, I never told them about this meeting."
She growled at the GP officer, "I see. You've been able to point the investigation in other directions. I think I'll kill you first, traitor."
"Tut, tut. Such talk from someone who can't even defend themselves without special powers. I really don't see that there's a lot you can do about it right now Ryoko."
"How are you going to explain our deaths then?"
"Your death. The princess hasn't seen me here so she can still be ransomed. You on the other hand… Well, your ego is well known, so you just decided that you could handle this without any help. Unfortunately you couldn't."
"Bastard."
"From you, I'll take that as a compliment." He pulled out a GP blaster and pointed it at Ryoko. "Goodbye." He pulled the trigger.
A shimmering light appeared in front of the pirate, blocking the blast. Tenchi, in full Juraian battle armor, stepped out of a spacial fold holding an activated tenchi-ken. He looked at Kintara. "Somehow I don't think today is going to be your day."
The Boss looked at the GP officer. "Who's that? And why is his sword working? You told me this device would drain all power except GP blasters."
The officer was shocked. "It's the boy! Look at his uniform; he's a Juraian Guardian. And I don't know why the sword's working. It shouldn't be."
Tenchi smiled at them. "It's because there are things about the three of us that you can't possibly comprehend." He opened a link to Ryoko, allowing her to tap into his power. She made a fist and her own sword flared back to life.
She gave her husband a feral grin, revealing both fangs. "Ready," she stated, then turned to the GP, "Let's play."
Kintara took another shot at her, which she easily blocked, then turned and ran. The Boss was rooted to the floor. Things definitely weren't going according to plan. He pulled his own blaster and took a wild shot at the pirate, hitting her in the chest.
"Aaarghh," cried Ryoko, flying backwards into a wall.
*****
Ayeka's eyes flew open in time to see her friend hit the wall with a sickening thud, then tumble to the floor in a heap. "Nooooo!" she screamed. She reached for her Jurai power but couldn't tap into it; the dampener was still on. Trying again she felt… something else, another, native power deep inside, waiting… no, wanting to be released. She touched it, felt it flow into her. She could use it.
Unseen by all, an orangeish glow began to seep from under her tiara.
*****
Ryoko hadn't been seriously hurt by the blast, but she'd been stunned by the impact with the wall. She watched helplessly as a firefight broke out between the kidnappers and Tenchi. She sensed a new power entering the fray. There was a familiar taste to it, but it'd been a while… she didn't quite remember. She watched Ayeka's form shoot up into the air and an orange fire played about the princess' hands. Something familiar about that too… Energy bolts began to shoot from Ayeka, incinerating kidnappers wherever they were hiding. Jeez, Ryoko thought, I didn't know she had it in her. I'll have to remember not to really piss her off in the future. She reached out to Tenchi for power and felt him grant it. She tapped into her own reservoir as well, releasing her inner power, much as Ayeka had done. A faintly glowing triangle appeared on her forehead and two marks shown dimly on her cheeks. She levitated and flew off in search of the GP traitor. She had a promise to keep.
*****
Tenchi easily blocked the blasts aimed at him as he stalked the boss around the building. Given that they had been ready to kill Ryoko and probably himself as well, he felt no guilt for what was happening behind him. He called out, "If you give up now, I'll turn you over to the GP. As far as I know, you haven't actually killed anyone important yet, but I suggest you decide before one of my wives gets a hold of you. I know I can't control them and I won't be responsible for their actions."
The Boss threw down the blaster and raised his hands. "I give up! I give up! Don't let them kill me! Please!"
Tenchi opened a mental link to Ryo-ohki. Ok, you can send in the GP now.
Is Ryoko ok? I sensed her being hurt, then nothing, the cabbit asked.
As far as I know. She was shot, but I saw her fly off looking for the traitor afterwards, he replied to Ryoko's partner. I'll look for her once the GP are here.
Ryo-ohki gave a worried sigh, They say they'll be there in five minutes or less.
Thank you Ryo-ohki. We owe you one. He cut the link.
*****
Ryoko caught up to Kintara near the exit. She zoomed down to land in front of him. He shakily pointed his blaster at her. "D… don't move."
She indicated the charred spot on her chest. "Go ahead and shoot. All it'll do is sting a little."
He saw the glowing marks on her face and dropped to his knees, blaster clattering on the floor. "Oh goddess!" he moaned.
Ryoko raised her sword above her head. "No, that would be my mother," she replied in a monotone voice. The energy weapon swung down sharply.
*****
"So, the only one left is the head honcho, eh?" asked the GP detective in charge. "And Kintara was a part of it all along. Well, that explains a great deal. I just wish you'd left some of the others alive."
Ayeka surveyed the carnage surrounding them. "They didn't give us much choice. Besides, they shot first."
"And yet none of you even have a scratch. Amazing."
Ryoko rubbed the sore spot between her breasts making them jiggle. She smiled at the detective. "Hey! They shot me! It hurt too."
The detective averted his eyes causing Ryoko to grin at him. "Um, yeah, well, I suppose I'd better call in a forensics crew to start identifying some of these beings. The Marshal says that he really appreciates all you've done to help too. And something about not forgetting the invitation. I'd like you all to hang around for a few days in case we have any more questions, otherwise, enjoy the rest of your vacation. We'll be picking up your hotel tab as a way of saying thanks."
Thoughts of gourmet meals delivered by room service and massage treatments caused Ryoko and Ayeka's eyes to sparkle.
Tenchi saw this and laughed. "Thanks," he told the detective, "but I don't think you realize what you've just promised."
The detective laughed back and displayed a wedding band on his finger. "Oh, I think I do. And so does the Marshal. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have quite a job in front of me and I need to get started." He nodded goodbye to them and walked off to where two patrolbeings were holding the head kidnapper.
Tenchi turned to his wives. "Hey you two, we're on vacation, remember? We've got a honeymoon to finish."
"Yes Tenchi," Ayeka said.
"Ok honey," Ryoko replied. She took each of them by the arm. She purred to Tenchi, "Let's get back to business. I promised you some fun later and now it's later."
The three disappeared in a flash of light.
*****
To be continued
*****
Author's Notes
Whew! I just had to finish this one quickly. A short break to get some actual work done, then on to the next. BTW, Chapter 4 of Conversations II takes place immediately after this episode.
