The boy woke up in a strange place. He looked around to find himself in a lab of some sorts on a table. In the shadows he caught slight movement. And then he heard an assured female voice. "Welcome back to the land of the living. I don't think you were truly in as much danger as you had us believe." Washu came out of the shadows as she spoke to him. He gasped when he realised who it was. "You! You're the mad scientist. It's your fault Ryoko plagues the galaxy, Washu!" He tried to stand but he felt too week. "So those are the ideas Kagato has been planting in your head. Yes, I am Washu, the said smartest scientist in the galaxy. Yes, Ryoko is my daughter. Yes, she does sometimes reek havoc on others. But I am not evil. I also did not raise Ryoko. Kagato took her from me and basically froze me in time." She stopped talking as she walked to him with warm tea that she had been making for him. She let him absorb this information and smiled at the distrusting look he gave her when she offered him the tea. "It's just herbal tea. It will make you feel better. I promise. Besides, if I wanted to kill you, I've had plenty of opportunities to do so and I still can if I so wish, which I don't. You have been knocked out here, in my lab, for several hours now." Seeing the truth in her statement and figuring he had nothing to lose, he took the tea and cautiously sipped it. "You know my name, now why don't you tell me yours?" He set his tea down beside him on the table. "My name is Michael. What has happened to Kagato? He betrayed me and it's time I pay him back for everything he has been so kind do to me these past years." Washu shook her head. "He is dead. Ryoko and Nagi saw to that." Michael looked slightly disappointed yet relieved at the same time. "So, where is your husband?" Washu's eyes looked like a fire had suddenly been lit behind them. An anger-filled emptiness showed. "Excuse me?" she asked, daring him to continue. "Your husband? Tenchi?" he asked nervously. She blinked "Tenchi?" The anger disappeared from her face and was replaced by a humored look. "You have got your stories way mixed up. Tenchi is not my husband! He never has been and never will be." Michael looked obviously confused. "But Ryoko is your daughter?"

"Yes."

"Then how…?"

"Oh come now! Surely you're not so young that I have to explain THAT to you!"

"No. I was just wondering…"

"…who the father is?" she cut him off. "No one." She saw another blank look come across his face and realized just what a mystery this really was to him. "Perhaps one day I shall explain things to you. But for now, my past is none of your concern. Just know that you have nothing to fear unless you are against us. Then there is no place you can hide that you will be safe. I don't think there will be any problems, though. Sasami saved some dinner for us. Why don't we go eat now? You must be hungry after all of today's activities." Michael nodded and followed Washu out of the lab and into the kitchen.

Michael looked all around the kitchen as Washu heated up the food then served them both. "It seems everyone has gone to bed for the night. Perhaps that is for the best." She looked across the table to see him barely touching his food. "Ms. Washu?" he asked after a couple minutes of quiet.

"Hmm?"

"Maybe this is rude, but you look kind of young to have children."

She knew that was coming. "Kagato told you we studied science together?"

"Yes, that's another reason I thought you'd be older."

"I have learned many things in my 20,000 years of life."

"20,000 years?!?!"

Washu nodded and in an instant, she was in her adult form. When he just stared at her without saying a word, she went back to her child form. "See? I can turn into what I want as well as turn anyone or anything into what I want."

"That must come in handy…" he said a bit nervously.

"Yes, it does." She cleared away the empty dishes. Ryoko came down through the ceiling.

"You haven't tortured him yet?"

"He is on our side."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Ryoko, are you sleeping on the roof again tonight?"

"Probably, why?"

"Can Michael stay in your room tonight, then?"

"My room?? What's wrong with your lab?"

"Come on, Ryoko. You know there is too much he can get into in there."

"Fine…" She went back through the ceiling, mumbling.

Washu lead him up to Ryoko's room. "If you wish to live, I suggest not messing with her things. I will be waiting for you downstairs in the morning. Do not worry about the others."

He nodded to her. "Good night, Ms. Washu.

"Goodnight." She said as she closed the door.