Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Tenchi characters Pioneer does. Matt is my character however and if you would like to use him please obtain my permission first

Wherever You are There You Go

I still think this is a bad idea, Ses sent with a slight tremor.

"You think everything is a bad idea," Matt retorted pulling vines away from the entrance.

After clearing away the overgrowth the two looked down the long dark stone hewn passage. The corridor twisted away deep into the darkness of the earth. Matt took a step forward into the passage, the first person to do so in over a thousand years. Dust rose around his feet and the echo of the step resounded deep in the darkness.

"See Ses nothing to worry about," Matt said turning to his companion. His friend however stayed where he was looking past him into the darkness. Slowly Matt turned around and looked into the gloom curiously, the silence was broken as a deep hum came from the depths. Suddenly lights raced along the walls illuminating the darkness in a flash. At the same instant Matt fell to the floor with a crash holding his head as if in pain. Ses rushed to his host's side wanting to help but all his frantic messages were blocked out by whatever had felled the swordsman .

"Get out of my head," he screamed still clutching his head tightly. The pain raced through his mind like an inferno burning away his formidable defenses with ease. Unable to give up Matt fought back, looking past the pain he sought the calm center of his being. Slowly the pain began to reside as he used the power to push back whatever was trying to invade his mind. Weakly he rose to his knees and gave Ses a reassuring pat on the head.

I told you this was a bad idea, the flying cat reiterated landing on Matt's shoulder.

"I didn't travel half way across the globe to walk away just because of a light show and a headache," Matt said with resolve shaking off the last vestiges of pain, " Aren't you the least bit curious as to what's down here?"

Not really, Ses grumbled adjusting his gossamer wings, But at least this time it's more than empty stone.

Tenchi went about his morning routine like it was a normal day, but it wasn't. Three months had passed since Matthew Aaron Carson had disrupted their lives and in the interim things had continued to change. Not in major ways at first but slowly they had been transformed, his grandfather called it growing up. Now though things were about to change in a major way again. Ryu-Oh was finally strong enough to make the journey to Juria, which meant that Ayeka and Sasami had to return home. It would still be several weeks before they left, but still Tenchi felt as though there wasn't enough time. Sure they still had to tow the main unit into space and then wait while the hull of the ship formed, but instead of it being an ambiguous moment set in the future the departure of the two princesses was set in stone. That left Tenchi in a quandary, should he go with them or not?

"Breakfast is ready," Sasami called drawing Tenchi from his thoughts. He opened the door to his room and stepped out into the hallway finding Ryoko and Ayeka glaring daggers at each other until they noticed him. Both did an about face and smiled at Tenchi, they spoke in unison as they greeted him.

"Good morning Tenchi," purred Ryoko.

"Good morning lord Tenchi," Ayeka smiled.

"Morning," Tenchi answered them with a yawn.

Together the three headed down stairs to breakfast, which Sasami had already set out in an elaborate display. Mihoshi was already at the table staring wide eyed at the spread before her, while Washu waited patiently for the others to sit down. Tenchi took his customary seat between his two suitors and dug into the fabulous meal. The other followed suit and in short order the meal was consumed down to the last rice ball.

"That was great Sasami," Mihoshi said patting her stomach as she stood up, "Well I'm off for patrol."

"Don't forget Mihoshi I'll need your help later to help tow Ryu-Oh into lunar orbit so we can began hull structuring," Washu reminded the blonde.

"Ohh, I almost forgot," Mihoshi giggled, "I'll tell Yukinojo to remind me."

"I can't believe this is really happening," Tenchi said to Washu once Ayeka and Sasami had cleared the table and Ryoko phased away to wherever, "That advanced growth plan you used really worked fast."

"I'm such a genius," Washu patted herself on the back a moment before getting serious, "But you know I was Ayeka the suggested the idea."

"What," Tenchi spit out his tea in shock, "Why would Ayeka do that, I thought she wanted to stay here on Earth longer."

"I asked her the same question," Washu said looking Tenchi directly in the eye, "She told me that she couldn't ignore her responsibilities any longer. With that she turned and left, but I heard her crying as she walked out of the lab."

"Maybe I should go talk to her," Tenchi said excusing himself as he rose.

"Tenchi I not trying to influence your decision by telling you this," Washu spoke in a quiet voice, "But think hard before you make your mind about going with them."

"I know little Washu," he smiled back, "I think I've already made my decision about this."

Washu sat there alone for a few minutes after watching Tenchi leave. Has he really made a decision? Washu thought to herself looking at the empty living room. Deciding that she couldn't do anything about it she headed to her lab to finish up the final preparations for getting Ayeka's ship into space. She shut the door behind her and was walking towards her floating cushion when Ryoko phased in landing lightly in front of the diminutive scientist. Judging by the serious look on her daughter's face Washu knew this was going to interrupt her schedule.

"What is it little Ryoko," Washu asked politely. She smiled as she saw Ryoko's face twist up as the former pirate tried to control her temper.

"I need you help Mom," Ryoko said through gritted teeth, then getting her anger under control she started over again, "I need your help to find Matt, I feel bad about how things ended between us. I want to talk to him again about what happened and why I attacked him."

"Ryoko," Washu said soothingly, "I'm sure Matt understands how you feel, after all he is a mind reader. Are you sure you just don't want to run to him because of Ayeka going home and the possibility that Tenchi might go with her?"

"I don't know," Ryoko sighed plopping down on the cushion, "It's just that Tenchi has been spending so much time with Ayeka recently I don't have anyone to talk to anymore."

"You could always talk to me," Washu suggested warmly.

"It's just not the same Mom," again she emphasized the last word which stung Washu, "Matt, And Tenchi for that matter, have this way of making me see thing differently when I talk to them. They make me feel as if I'm not so alone. I know I'm not, but I kinda feel detached from everyone else, both of them understand what that's like. Matt because of his powers and Tenchi because he always has to be on guard against me or Ayeka trying to put the moves on him."

"Well Ryoko I wish I could help you," Washu began, "But tracking down Matt is nearly impossible, his powers shield him from most of my instruments. I don't know why but for some reason his powers have a way of disrupting my technology, remember he even blocks the link between us."

"But you have some kind of clue as to where he went right" Ryoko asked a hint of desperation in her voice.

"I wish I did Little Ryoko, but I don't," Washu lamented seeing her daughters crest fallen look, "You just have to be patient, he said he's come back. He gave you his sword so he had a reason to return."

"I know mom but I really wish I could talk to him right now," Ryoko said sadly, "I just know Tenchi's going to go with Ayeka back to Juria. I don't think I can find the courage yet to go back after what I did there."

"Nobody is making you go Ryoko," Washu smiled trying to help, "We all understand if you need more time."

"But if Tenchi goes Ayeka will have all that time alone with him," Ryoko sobbed into her hands, "I don't want that to happen."

"You can't be sure Tenchi will go or not," Washu said draping a comforting arm over Ryoko's shoulders, "And even if he does it doesn't mean he's chosen Ayeka. He might just be curious about Juria, he is the crown prince after all."

"Maybe your right," Ryoko sighed looking at her feet uncomfortably, "I just wish thing's weren't so uncertain."

"Life is full of uncertainties Ryoko," Washu said vaguely.

Is this what you were expecting, Ses managed once his awe at the sight before the two waned slightly.

"No," Matt grinned wickedly, "This is much better."

Standing on the platform the two were gazing into the huge hanger buried deep below the earth in awe at massive ship within. After the incident above Matt had moved unerringly through the complex guided by an unseen hand. His powers reacted to the almost everything in the complex from the glowing symbols on the walls to the various doors they had passed to reach this point. Knowing what to do was instinctive and Matt now knew why. His ancestors had built this place to house this ship for the future. Voices whispered into his mind giving tiny bits of information as to the history of this place. The ship had carried outcasts from another world to Earth, and when they arrived they built this place to hide their origins and store the ship for future generations. Only now there was just one, Matthew Aaron Carson. Everything he had been searching for his whole life was here, the past he so desperately sought.

I took several minutes to traverse the hanger and find away to enter the ship. Standing before a glyph covered hatch Matt held up his hand and then gestured for the door to open. Silently the doors parted and allowed entry to the massive craft. With a deep breath Matt steeled himself and stepped inside. The doors slid shut behind him, but the swordsman seemed unconcerned. It was what was ahead that mattered, not what had already gone. The irony of the thought was not lost on either Matt or his companion.

Tenchi stood looking out of Ryo-Ohki's dome into the blackness of space. Turning around he saw the moon looming huge before him cold and gray in the infinite darkness, for some reason Tenchi totally sympathized. Also on the control deck Ryoko deftly handled the controls while Washu coordinated the efforts of the other two nearby craft. Tenchi looked forward and watched as Yukinojo came into view along with the unit that would soon become Ryu-Oh reborn. The two mighty craft had pulled the unit from subspace over the lake and into orbit, from there it had taken several hours to maneuver Ayeka's ship into lunar orbit on the far side of the moon where detection from Earth was least likely.

Tenchi turned back to looking at the void while trying to make a decision on what to do. He still had time of course before Ryu-Oh was fully formed, but he didn't want to make a rushed choice, he had to think this through carefully. He knew no one was really happy with the two princesses leaving, even Ryoko was somewhat depressed, more at missing Sasami's cooking than the missing her rival. This of course was off set by the fact that Ryoko knew Tenchi was considering going with them. In fact she had come to him and begged him not to go. Her heartfelt admission had touched Tenchi, but he wasn't going to let Ryoko sway him one way or the other. The more Tenchi thought about it the more he leaned towards going, that was until Ayeka warned him that if he was named heir he might not be allowed to return home. That scared him, but now it came down to the fact that his life was going to change either way. The days of the house filled with beautiful alien women were fast coming to an end, somehow to Tenchi it felt as if it would never end but here he was watching as his world came crashing down.

"Now that's odd," Washu's curious voice shook Tenchi from his thoughts and he turned towards the diminutive scientist questioningly.

"What's odd little Washu," Tenchi asked.

"Do you feel that Ryoko," Washu asked her daughter ignoring Tenchi for the moment.

"No Washu I don't," Ryoko was cut off by the shrill cry of the proximity sensor alert. The whole ship shuddered for a moment and then fell quiet. Tenchi thought he saw a streak of light flash by the ship but couldn't be sure.

"Everyone ok," Ryoko asked reflexively as the sensor alarm died down. Mihoshi's and Ayeka's faces popped up moments later on individual screens .

"What was that," Mihoshi asked, "We almost lost the gravity beam there."

"According to my readings it was an object from Earth," Washu said typing rapidly at her keyboard, "Some sort of spacecraft, but they activated their warp engines to early and the shock wave set off the proximity alarm."

"But miss Washu no one on Earth has that kind of technology besides us," Ayeka looked perplexed as she spoke, "And we are all here."

"I agree Ayeka but the fact remains that it was a ship that passed us and who ever it was didn't know exactly what they were doing.," Washu said firmly, "But I think I know who it was."

"Well don't keep us in suspense," Ryoko growled, "Who was it?"

"This is only a guess mind you," Washu explained to her eager audience, "But right as it passed us I felt the link with Ryoko go dead for a moment, and I know only one person who can do that."

"You don't mean," Ryoko had a hard time finishing the sentence.

"No way," Tenchi exclaimed coming to a similar conclusion as Ryoko, "Are you saying Matt found a spaceship?"

"Yep and a fast one too," Washu grinned, "I guess this means he's getting closer to finding his answers."

Matt woke up groggily shaking off tiring effects of his nap, sleep had done little to help how he felt. Slowly he sat up and looked around the large cabin, it was empty except for the large bed a desk and empty bookcase, whoever had made the ship had cleared out everything before leaving it. It had been a week since he and Ses had left Earth unexpectedly, upon entering the bridge the ship had come alive and began a lift off sequence which neither of them had been able to stop. The ship reacted to Matt that they knew but he little control over it. The problem stemmed from the fact that Matt didn't know the language that the ship was programmed with. He got the feeling that the ship was just as confused as he was about it all at was merely reacting on his thoughts that required little translation, Matt's overriding desire to find home. It also provided food and water Matt knew not how but hopped it would last until they reached their destination.

The most unpleasant part of it all was that Matt discovered he got extremely space sick. His head spun and he quickly lost his energy when trying to move about the ship. Ses helped by exploring the craft for him and reporting back on what he had found, which up to this point had yielded up precious little in the way of figuring out how to control the ship.

Good morning Master, the thought swirled into his mind brining up an image of the bridge.

"What in the world," Matt frowned looking around at nothing and groaned, "Ses this isn't funny."

I beg your pardon Master but I am not your familiar, Again the voice brought up the image of the bridge, and then a thought of Ses curled up in the next room.

"Then who or what are you," Matt asked trying to focus his thoughts through the dizziness.

I am Salvation, the voice continued, I am pleased to be able to speak with you now and to know your wishes.

"Your the ship's computer," Matt said catching on, "But how come you're talking to me now?"

While you slept your essence gave me the translation program, Salivation explained.

"Essence," Matt asked confused, and then thinking, "You mean Sor-ra-eyu don't you?"

Yes master, the ship replied.

"Well then that sure makes things easier," Matt said smiling for the first time in days, "About time. Well it seems we have a lot to talk about."

Matt conversed with the ship for several hours during which time he learned much. First and most importantly he learned the basics of controlling and commanding the various systems onboard. Next he was delighted to find a cure of his space sickness which consisted of a small pill and refocusing of his powers. Matt was rather disappointed when he discovered Salvation's memory backs had been wiped clean, the ship only recognized him as it's owner and nothing else, the course they were on was the only one remaining in the star charts. It would be several weeks until they reached their destination, but Matt really didn't mind it would give him the time to learn more about the ship now his ship and hopefully pick up the language of it's builder's.

Ryoko didn't take the news well. She had blasted a small crater into the yard when Tenchi had told her of his decision to go with Ayeka and Sasami and then phased away in tears. Now she was above her cave trying to gather her thoughts but all that she focus on was Tenchi telling her he was sorry but he wanted to go to Juria. He wanted to leave her, after all they had been through he was just leaving her. Oh he had said he was coming back, but Ryoko knew better, he just wanted to get away from her. No one wanted her around. Ayeka hated her, Sasami was sweet but they little in common, Mihoshi was a ditz and Ryoko cared not to associate with her, Washu was too consumed with her work. That left Yosho, whom she felt uncomfortable around, and Tenchi's lecherous father who she hardly knew. No she was alone again, even Ryo-Ohki had deserted her in favor of Sasami. There wasn't anything left here for her Ryoko decided in that instant. There was only one person who she was reasonably sure still wanted her, now all she had to do was find him.

She wasn't there when Tenchi and the two girls shuttled up to the now complete Ryo-Oh and that made Tenchi nervous. He felt bad about leaving Ryoko, but he had made up his mind to see the home world of his grandfather. She hadn't even given him the chance to invite her along. In the subsequent days before the launch she refused to talk to him, Ryoko had even refused to take them up to Ryo-Oh. Tenchi let his nervousness fade as they cleared Earth orbit and Ryu-Oh came into the site.

Around the unit wooden beams sleekly curved into space forming the mighty hull of the powerful Jurian cruiser. Tenchi had only ever seen the ship once before and at the time he had been aboard Ryo-Ohki getting shot at, so he didn't remember much. It was an impressive sight to behold, Tenchi understood why Juria was an intergalactic empire just by looking at the ship. That he was prince to the same empire was daunting to Tenchi, but he had to do this or he might regret it the rest of his life. He could only hope that Ryoko would understand that and wait for him. Tenchi shook off his regrets and looked ahead towards to inky blackness of space dotted with the light of millions of stars. Somewhere out there lay his destiny Tenchi knew it now, the time had come to embrace the future.

Authors Note

I started this chapter shortly after finishing chapter ten but I has taken me forever to finish it, I hope it's been worth the wait. Anyhow I'll try to get the next one up sooner. Also the side story titled; Dreams Together will also be out soon(I hope). So what do you think now that everyone is leaving Earth? Where is Matt headed and will he get his answers there? Did Tenchi make the right choice in going to Juria or will he discover leaving Ryoko was a horrible mistake? Will Ryoko find Matt and happiness? These questions to be answered in the next chapter. Please review, I love to read your thoughts on my writing it inspires me to keep going. Keep 'em coming :-).