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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The Great Cabbit Search

Chapter 9

Here We Are Again

Part 1

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Once again Yagami was hovering over the Reality Hopper's portal, ready to enter an alternate reality that the scientist Washu had determined contained multiple cabbits.  The problem was that this reality was so far distant from their own that she hadn't been able to get a good look at it through her viewer.  About all she could find out was that this was the farthest reality from their own that still had cabbits.

Washu was again in position between the seats in Yagami's control room.  She tapped Kiyone on the shoulder and nodded, indicating that everything was ready for the transfer.  As Mihoshi brought the engines up to power, Kiyone once again killed the Yagami's anti-grav field.  As the field collapsed the ship fell slowly into the portal.

*****

Kiyone awoke with a blinding headache.  Looking over at her partner, she saw that Mihoshi was still unconscious; however Washu was beginning to stir from the floor between the seats.

As the red headed scientist sat up holding her head, the GP Colonel asked, "What just happened?  The last time we didn't feel a thing."

Washu was puzzled, "I don't know, we shouldn't have felt a thing, just like last time."

"Remember, Minagi said that she was knocked out by her transfer.  Could something like that have happened to us?" Kiyone wondered.

The sometimes goddess shook her head. "The machine Xellos used to send Minagi to us wasn't designed for anything as large as Hinase, that's why the feedback knocked her out and damaged Hinase's power converters," she explained.

Kiyone looked at the viewscreen, "Could this Xellos have done something similar to us?"

Washu stepped forward.  "Hmmm.  Maybe…  Let me see," she looked at the instruments on Kiyone's panel.  "Nope, we're right where we're supposed to be.  It's probably because this reality is a lot farther away that the last one.  When we get back I'll check it out, maybe I can make an adjustment in case this reality doesn't pan out either."

The GP looked Washu in the eye.  "You sound like you don't hold much hope…"

"Yeah, that's me, the patron Goddess of Optimism," Washu said in a cynical tone.  She noticed Mihoshi starting to come around.  "I'd better go see how the others are doing."

*****

Princess Ayeka Jurai sat on the deck outside the Masaki home watching the sun set over the mountains.  She reflected on what her life had been like ever since she and her sister had been exiled to this remote place after a coup on Jurai.  Life wasn't so bad, she thought.  There was plenty to keep her and Sasami busy: housework, shopping, helping Tenchi.  Ah, Tenchi.  Such a nice person.  Without Tenchi to keep her company, life would be boring.  It was nice to have someone her own age to talk to.

A roaring coming from the sky interrupted her musings.  Looking up, she saw the great silver form of a starship descending over the lake.  The type was unfamiliar to her; at least it wasn't Juraian.  With great dignity she got up and entered the house to get her sister and change into something more formal to greet these visitors.

The princess wasn't the only person to hear the incoming craft.  Up at the shrine Katsuhito interrupted Tenchi's training session.  Turning to his student he said, "Go.  You must prepare yourself to greet your guests."

Tenchi bowed and sprinted for the steps leading down to the house.

*****

Washu again sent Kiyone out first to speak with the residents.  Kiyone had wondered why she was always chosen, but after the affair on the dead planet she understood.  She greeted the two princesses at the bottom of the ramp, "Princess Ayeka, Princess Sasami, I am Colonel Makibi Kiyone of the Galaxy Police.  I don't know if you've ever heard of me here, but I know you two somewhat."

"Colonel… Kiyone was it?  What would the Galaxy Police want with us?  We have broken no laws and this solar system is a bit out of your jurisdiction, isn't it?"  Princess Ayeka said.

Kiyone smiled at her, "You misunderstand.  We're not here to arrest anyone, all we want is Jurai's permission and perhaps help in conducting a scientific inquiry."

The princess frowned, "Ah.  Then you have wasted your time.  Since the coup and revolution, my sister and I no longer have any standing in the Jurai government.  We are lucky that we weren't imprisoned like our parents and Aunt Funaho.  Instead we were sent to this place and forbidden any contact with any other space-going peoples.  You shouldn't even be here.  But you said 'we'.  I don't see any others."

"My partner Lieutenant Mihoshi and the others are still in the ship.  Perhaps we could talk to Washu?" Kiyone asked.

"Washu?  Who's Washu?" Princess Sasami spoke for the first time.

Kiyone was stunned.  No Washu?  The Jurai Royal Family out of power?  This was a strange reality.

She quickly collected her wits.  "Um, er…  Perhaps we'd better proceed with the introductions and explanations," she said, gesturing back at the ship.

Ayeka's eyes got wide as the first person appeared in the hatch.  Sasami tugged on her sleeve and she bent down so the little princess could whisper in her ear.

"Yes indeed.  It is the Space Pirate Ryoko.  So monster, have you come to gloat over the fallen?  To finish what you started seven hundred years ago?" Ayeka's eyes smoldered with suppressed hatred.

Ryoko snickered, "No Princess, it is Princess this time, isn't it?  I'm here with some others for another purpose entirely."

Ayeka briefly wondered what Ryoko meant.  "I will not…" her voice trailed off as three others descended.  One was a young man and holding his hand was… herself.  Behind them was Sasami.  She looked down at her sister who was standing speechless.

"I would like to introduce my husband, wife and sister-in-law," said Ryoko.

"I… I… I…" was all that came out of Ayeka's mouth.

I'm gonna like this one, thought the ex-pirate, she's fun, but not as cute as mine.

Last to exit the ship was Washu, still in child form, and Mihoshi.  Washu was carrying Ryo-ohki and Ay-ohki, one on each shoulder.

Just then a pretty girl with long brown hair came flying out of the house to skid to a stop next to Ayeka. 

"I… I… I'm sorry I'm late.  I h… had to change…" she gasped, out of breath.

Kiyone noticed she was a bit taller than the princess and slightly bigger in other areas as well.

"That's all right dear," said the princess, putting her arm around the girl in a friendly way.  "These people were just going to come into the house and explain everything.  Weren't you?" she cast a sidelong glance at Kiyone.

"Yeah, I guess we were," the GP responded.

Right then the girl caught sight of the other Ayeka and Sasami.  She turned to the princess, "Ayeka!  That… that's you s… standing there.  With different hair.  And is that Sasami?"

"I know.  That's what needs explaining."  Ayeka stole a glance at the group.

Kiyone held up her hand to stop Ayeka, "Princess, before we go, can I ask who this girl is?  I know you and your sister and there's something familiar about her, but I can't quite place her."

The princess turned back to the GP officer.  "Yes, I suppose an introduction is in order.  Colonel Makibi Kiyone, this is Masaki Tenchi.  Her father owns the house here and her grandfather is the priest of the shrine up the hill there."

The girl, still out of breath from the run, bowed politely to the officer then to the rest of the group.

Kiyone was speechless.  She heard a soft thud behind her but was afraid to turn and look.  Princess Ayeka was looking past her at the group.

"Oh my.  It seems that the young man has fainted," she said.  "I wonder what caused that?"

*****

To be continued

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Author's Notes

Ok, why is this one so short?  Well, I was originally going to have them visit the TinT continuity.  But I've only seen that series once, so I sat down to watch it again (I have it in RM format on my PC).  After about five minutes into the first episode (Separation Anxiety) I gave it up as a lost cause, there was no way I was going to come down to that level.  I apologize to anyone who liked the series, I don't really hate it myself; it's just… not really Tenchi.  If I wanted a real Tenchi parody, I'd watch Magical Project S (Pretty Sammy); I have all those episodes too and they're much better than TinT because they're meant as a parody.  (I love Crabbie, the submarine manned by all the little Washu dolls in Ep. 25.)

As to the fic itself, this reality was inspired by a fic I read on TMFFA a long while back where Tenchi was a girl and the person trapped in the cave was Kagato.  I don't remember whom the author was and I'm too lazy to search for the fic right now, so let's just leave it at my giving him or her credit for the inspiration.  But it's not Kagato trapped in the cave here, it's Ryoko (that was a spoiler, sorry).

Review Responses

DennisuD – That's it, stroke what little ego I have.  Although I'm pleased to be mentioned in the same paragraph as Krin Dreamweaver and Roas Atrades, they both write with a lot more depth and detail than I could ever hope to achieve.  And they've both been doing it a lot longer than me too.  I'm just happy that people are actually reading my ramblings.  That aside, I won't be using Pretty Sammy in this series, perhaps she'll make an appearance if I write about the Joke War between Xellos (Slayers for those that don't know who he is) and Washu (Tenchi for those that haven't realized it yet – and if you haven't why are you reading this?)  And I'm trying to stick to anime characters or variations of them.  Speaking of Star Wars though, our local art museum is currently showing the Smithsonian exhibit.  Has been since July or August and I still haven't made it there.  I've only got two more weeks before it leaves so I'd better get my ass in gear, eh?

Priest – And Happy Holidays to you too.

BobR

12/18/2001