CHAPTER TWELVE
Tenchi and Aeka's battle was now over. They could relax, knowing that the biggest threat to their happiness was gone. In the next few days, they were rarely out of each other's company, and everyone who saw them felt their own spirits lifting.
The greater threat to the universe, and, by extension, Jurai, still remained, however. The emperor, having formally acknowledged Tenchi as the next heir to the throne, included his young son-in-law in the preparations for the coming army. Sasami removed herself from all of this, though her father tried every method that he could think of to bring her to his side. Sasami always listened to him patiently, keeping her mouth shut and her powers locked away. It hurt her to see the power-lust in his eyes, so she eventually learned to just avoid him altogether. Instead, she hid in the one place that her father would never go: the main cargo bay of the palace. Sasami would climb into the cockpit of her ship, where she could remain in peace and solitude.
About a week after the wedding, a tingling along her spine interrupted Sasami's meditations. Sasami smiled and slid the hatch of her ship aside. She climbed down, ecstatic to see Washu's pink-haired form. Surprising them both, Sasami gripped Washu in a hug fierce enough to make her mother proud. When Washu finally regained her composure and ability to breathe," she grinned up at Sasami's taller form.
Before Sasami could even open her mouth in a verbal greeting, Washu said, "Some wedding, wasn't it? You did a really 'bang up' job, Tsunami."
Sasami grinned back. "I just helped a little, that's all. Tenchi really did all the work."
Washu's eyes narrowed, and she protested, "Yes, but who trained the boy? Who taught him to call on his powers?"
Sasami shrugged dismissively. "I only did for him what the first Tsunami did for the original Sasami."
Washu considered her sister-goddess' words as they left the cargo bay. "I never did understand why Tsunami insisted on training Sasami. I mean, if those two were going to merge anyway, wouldn't Sasami automatically know what Tsunami did?"
Sasami's face became thoughtful. "Not necessarily. Even after our merge, Tsunami managed to keep some things from Sasami, things that would just hurt her. Tsunami wanted to give the merged version of them both a second chance. She trained Sasami because that half of them still didn't understand everything. Tsunami had to make sure that every single particle of them understood their power. She didn't want to leave anything to chance."
Washu grunted cynically. "Very wise, was our Tsunami." The pink- haired goddess glanced at her sister. "She gave you that wisdom, at least."
Sasami sighed tiredly. "If I was truly wise, I would leave Jurai right now. I don't want anymore of my loved ones to get hurt, Washu. I don't want Tokima to get hurt, either, but she will."
Washu gazed at Sasami with a thoughtful, surprised expression on her face. "Even after all she's done, you still care about Tokima? Don't you hate her?"
Sasami shrugged. "I could never hate her. She is my sister, and I would spare her, if I could." She stared down at her feet. "I just wish that I didn't have to destroy her. I know that deep down she is still the sister we used to know. She is still one third of our trio."
Washu wrapped a gentle arm around Sasami's shoulders as they walked. "You are wrong, little one. She is no longer that sister. She has changed, and she will kill you if she can. Don't let your guard down, Tsunami, especially now."
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The weeks passed, and Sasami started to get antsy. She knew that Tokima was in the labyrinth, waiting for her. She also knew that she could not start this fight prematurely. Sasami had to wait for the army to arrive, since Tokima would be investing that much more of her power to control her minions. If Tokima's attention was divided, the plan growing steadily in Sasami's mind might just succeed. All she could do was wait patiently for Tokima to make the first move. Sasami ceased to plan, and just waited for the inevitable confrontation between herself and her elder sister.
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One bright, sunny morning, klaxons rang through the palace. Sasami had been sitting on one of the garden benches, contemplating the chaos of her life, when the bells thundered out. She gazed at the labyrinth, and she could almost hear Tokima's throaty chuckle. Her eyes saddened as she remembered all of the times her sister's chuckle had warmed Tsunami's heart. Now, though, the laugh was dark and malicious. Sasami shook off the memories and headed for the cargo bay.
She stumbled into sheer anarchy. Cadets and knights were running everywhere, trying to find their planes or loading ammunition. Some senior officers were trying valiantly to organize their underlings, though they were not having much success. Sasami was shoved into a corner, pushed by the hands of a careless soldier. She protested loudly, but her cries were drowned out by the general cacophony around her.
Suddenly, lieutenant Wyldon entered the room. Even in the fear of the moment, he stayed calm and collected. He lifted his cupped hands to his lips, sending such a loud whistle into the room that all movement abruptly stilled. The soldiers stared at him, waiting for guidance and clear instructions. Wyldon started calling orders, quickly organizing the men around him into groups. Within moments, every soldier and cadet was ready for takeoff. As the planes left the cargo bay, Wyldon finally spotted Sasami. She smiled warmly at him, and was rewarded by his fierce grin.
Knowing that the soldiers were in good hands, Sasami headed for the throne room. Though the situation was a great deal calmer here, Sasami could clearly see the frightened anticipation on the faces of her father and brothers. Aeka and the queens were not present, since they were in charge of the medical aspect of the war. Sasami knew that they'd be in the medical bay, arranging beds and bandages for the future wounded. As she stood in the doorway, Sasami's father glanced up and saw her. He grunted, granting permission for her to enter. Sasami sauntered over to the men, glancing at the map of their system as she passed. Her eyes darkened momentarily as she noticed just how many of the enemy there were, and just how slender their own forces were in comparison.
The men around her father parted momentarily to let her through. She neared her father's person, but he ignored her for the moment. Instead, he turned back to his assembled generals. "The enemy is approaching in three groups," he said, pointing to each of the groups in turn. "According to our lookouts, their weaponry is not as advanced as ours. In fact, their ships are basically being held together by will alone. If we attack them in a frontal assault with our own vessels, they will not stand a chance."
Sasami shook her head. True, the enemy's ships were nowhere near the same level as those of Jurai. However, Sasami doubted very much that Tokima would leave her minions defenseless. Not that the dark goddess cared about them, of course, but she wouldn't want to fail on any level.
As her father continued to plan their attacks, Sasami shook her head slightly. "No, father, your plan will not do."
Every head swiveled around to stare at her, and her father's eyes darkened with anger. She continued before he could dress her down for contradicting him in public. "I have seen these ships before, father. They may look like they belong in a junk yard, but they carry powerful weapons."
Her father glared at her, but Tenchi and Yosho looked thoughtful. Sasami pulled out the data chip that Washu had so generously provided. She plugged it into the viewer, and a diagram of an enemy ship appeared. "See these?" she asked, pointing to several bulges on the ship. "These bulkheads contain very specialized, very powerful weapons. One blast, and our entire fleet could be destroyed."
Her father crossed his arms over his chest. "How did you come by this information, daughter?"
Sasami shrugged, meeting her father's shrewd eyes with her own, straight gaze. "I come by my knowledge honestly, father. That is all you really need to know. Now," she said, turning back to the screen, "I know this enemy. Their weapons are strong, but difficult to maneuver. If our forces surround them quickly enough, they will not even be able to fire."
Yosho stared long and hard at the information before him. "If this data is correct, our ships would have to move at a speed far beyond their current capabilities. How do you intend to get around our own limitations, Sasami?"
Sasami nodded briskly. "The Galaxy Police have been experimenting with a new system," she explained. "These new ships are faster, better armed, and almost impossible to control."
One of her father's older generals stared at her, giving a dismissive wave of his hand. "No offense, princess, but perhaps you'd better leave. Your ideas, though full of merit, are impossible. Even if the Galaxy Police were willing and able to lend us some of these newfangled ships, we don't have time for them to arrive. This battle is hopeless."
Sasami glared angrily at the pompous old man, but her father beat her to the lecture his general so richly deserved. "My daughter has come this far, general. I am willing to let her finish." He nodded to Sasami, who smiled gratefully at him.
"When I returned to Jurai, I was accompanied by an entire unit of the new ships. As we speak, the pilots of these fighters have joined our own forces. They only await your command, father, to begin."
The emperor nodded once, and a messenger was immediately dispatched with the orders. Within seconds, the cadets had engaged the enemy. Sasami watched the dots representing their own forces on her father's viewer. They surrounded the enemy markers, which were suddenly gone. Sasami allowed herself a single, satisfied smile. None of the people in the room could read the thoughts behind that stony mask of hers, and they certainly couldn't see the way her emotions were roiling within her.
Sasami abruptly turned to her father. "Papa," she whispered, keeping her voice as low as she could. "I have to go, now." She smiled sadly, and her eyes became even more sad. "I love you," she murmured as she started to leave.
Her father nodded, perhaps sensing the farewell in her words.
If Sasami was successful, her father would never know the magnitude of what she was about to do. If she was not¦he'd be dead anyway. Either way, she would not return as his daughter. From this point on, she would always be the goddess, never his youngest child. That part of her life was over for good.
Sasami slipped outside, never looking back. The greatest challenge of her life was before her, and she still wasn't certain that she was ready. The next few moments would determine the course of the universe itself, but Sasami was more concerned with the fates of her loved ones. She ran toward the labyrinth, where her own fate awaited her.