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

Escaping Destiny

Ryoko sat up groggily rubbing the sleep out of her eyes as her mouth widened into a gaping yawn. Soft light streamed into the room through a lightly curtained window bathing the room in soft illumination. Shaking off the effects of her heavy sleep she tried to figure out where she was. The room she was in was lavishly furnished and decorated, most of it was carved from wood into a sweeping style. Ryoko recognized the architecture instantly as Juraian. Memories of the crash came back to her in rush causing her to lay back down in despair. But how did I get here, she wondered sitting up again. Looking down she noticed some one had had slipped a long night gown over her before placing her in the bed. Then she remembered.

"Matt," she called to the still room flinging away the blankets that covered her. Just then the door opened and someone walked into the room carrying a pile of folded clothes. Blinking the blurry figure came into focus as he walked across the large room towards her. For the first time in her life Ryoko was disappointed to see Tenchi. He was dressed in the traditional garments of a Juraian prince which gave him a more commanding presence which Ryoko really didn't like. Still as he bean to speak Ryoko was pleased to find it was only his clothes that had changed.

"Oh Ryoko your awake," he greeted with a smile, "You've been asleep since the accident."

"Where's Matt," Ryoko cut him off before he could continue, "I have to see him."

"I brought you some clothes," Tenchi said holding out the garments he held in his hands trying to change the subject, "Most of yours were burned up in the crash."

"Where is Matt Tenchi," Ryoko demanded again starting to get angry.

"Here Ryoko get dressed everyone's been worried about you," He gestured with the clothes again which Ryoko promptly swatted out of his hands.

"Tenchi stop changing the subject," she yelled at him and then in quieter tones, "Where's Matt I have to see him. Tenchi he's the one that saved me I have to see him. Please?"

"Ryoko," he began helplessly trying to find away to break the news to her gently, "You can't see Matt right now."

"He wasn't hurt was he Tenchi," Ryoko said grabbing a fist full of his robes, "Tell me he's alright."

"Ryoko please let me explain," he said gently taking her hands into his, "Matt's been arrested for crimes against the royal family."

"What," she wailed pulling her hands away from Tenchi and staggering backwards towards the bed, "Matt's from Earth how could he have done anything to the royal family on Jurai? Besides you know he wouldn't do anything like that."

"Ryoko that's what he's being held for," Tenchi explained dreading her response, "For attacking Ayeka and I on earth."

"But that was a misunderstanding," Ryoko protested, "Matt was defending himself, you know that."

"There's nothing I can do about it Ryoko," Tenchi explained holding his hands up as the former pirate began to stalk towards him, "Azusa gave the order to arrest Matt neither Ayeka or myself could do anything about it."

She slapped him hard, the sound of the smack echoed in the room as Tenchi stood there staring at her in disbelief. Bending down she picked up the clothes he had brought her and stripped off the night gown not caring that Tenchi watched. Quickly she stepped into the loose fitting pants and wrapped the gi like top around her. Giving Tenchi one last withering glare she phased through the floor. A million questions pounded through her head as he descended to the palace dungeons but she swept them all aside in her need to make sure Matt was alright.

Drawing upon her memories of the palace layout Kagato had made her memorize all those centuries ago she moved like a wraith through the magnificent structure descending farther down into the bluff that originally housed the palace. Cut deep into the rock the dungeons were the only part of the palace not formed of wood. Becoming corporeal once more she moved down the rough cut passage which was lined by what appeared to by simple cells. Ryoko knew better though, powerful force fields counteracted most forms of energy rendering even the most powerful people helpless. Looking down the long corridor she saw a light coming from a lone cell. Quickly she floated towards the light source and peered into the tiny cell where the light originated.

The sight before her broke her heart. He was sitting in the back of cell his head resting on his knees one arm lying limply on he cold stone floor. His clothes, a black shirt and cargo pants, hung from his lean frame in tatters making his many cuts and bruises obvious. He looked up wearily when her shadow blocked fell across him, she gasped in horror looking upon his normally handsome face. One eye was black and puffy, making it hard for him to focus on her, a half dozen cuts marred his smooth skin. He opened his mouth to say something but his cracked lips began to bleed causing him to wince in pain.

"Matt," she called horrified at his condition, "What happened to you?"

He shook his head indicating he wasn't able to speak. In obvious pain the swordsman tried to use the wall to rise to his feet but halfway up he lost his balance and fell forward on his face. Ryoko cried and gripped the bars wishing she knew how to deactivate the shield and help him. He reached one arm out towards her and used it to drag himself along the stone floor, it was then Ryoko saw his knuckles were caked in dried blood. Inch by heart breaking inch he pulled himself towards her. Reaching the bars he tried to grab her out stretched hand but the energy field repelled him keeping her from touching him.

"Oh god, Matt we have to get you out of here," Ryoko said looking around desperately for a way to release him. Not finding anything she was about to admit defeat when a thought entered her mind.

"Hold on Matt I'm getting you out of here," She said stepping back and holding out her hand. The energy of the Gem responded to her call and an orange ball of light formed in her hand.

"You will do no such thing Demon," came a familiar voice from the shadowy corridor.

"Ayeka," Ryoko let the energy disperse at the sound of the princess's voice, "Help me, he's dying in there."

"I will not," Ayeka snapped, "You still have your own crimes to answer for, I wouldn't worry about this criminal if I were you."

"Ayeka," she pleaded but noticing the hooded glare the ruby eyed princess held on her Ryoko knew she was getting no help here.

"What is wrong with all you people," Ryoko cried bringing up her hand and reforming her energy blast. pointing it at Ayeka the former pirate ordered her back. When Ayeka made no move to comply Ryoko swung her hand back towards Matt's cell and fired. The force of the blast knocked Ryoko hard against the wall driving the breath from her lungs. Alarms sounded as the dust began to clear and Ryoko saw that her gamble had paid off. The bars had been turned into twisted scrap and the force field overloaded. Ryoko rushed into the tiny stone room and pulled Matt's wounded form into her arms before phasing away. Left behind was a coughing Ayeka who growled in rage discovering weapon's master and Ryoko were gone.

Ryoko laid Matt's unconscious form out on the bed in the small room she had found in the far reaches of the immense royal palace. With as much care as she would manage Ryoko removed the tattered rags of Matt's clothes and slowly used a wet cloth the clean away the blood and soot that covered most of his lean frame. Some one had beaten him badly after he had rescued her from the ruins of her ship. She saw her tears falling unto his chest and it was only then she discovered she had been crying all this time. Embarrassed she wiped her eyes and rose to go look for a first aid kit. A hand gripped her wrist causing her turn back to the wounded swordsman. A smile appeared on his cracked lips.

"Don't leave yet," he croaked in a hoarse voice, "We just go here."

"Matt," she shuddered and dropped to her knees beside the bed and put her arms gently around him, "Thank the stars your ok."

"Well, I wouldn't call it ok," he groaned looking up at the ceiling, "But it's better than being alone in a cell. Thank you Ryoko for coming to my rescue."

"I couldn't leave you there like that," she sobbed into his pillow, "What happened, why were in there in the first place."

"I'll explain later," Matt hissed in pain taking her arm off his chest, "Right now though I need to heal myself."

"Ok," she said moving away from the bed when he asked her to.

Taking a deep breath Matt found the calm center and willed his powers forth hoping he had enough energy to complete the job in one shot. Luckily most of his wounds were superficial, it was only the amount that kept him down. Drawing on the power a soft blue glow began over his heart and in moments covered his entire body. His many cuts began to close and the burns he had received disappeared leaving healthy skin behind. His bruised eye faded away and for the first time in two days he saw clearly. The glow receded as Matt sat up and looked to Ryoko. She rushed into his embrace and began placing frantic kisses all over his face. After a minute Matt got her to calm down and gave her a long lingering kiss before holding her out at arms length the inspect her and make sure she was alright.

"Thank you Ryoko for not leaving me in there," Matt whispered pulling her back into his arms.

"It's ok Matt," she whispered back hugging him fiercely.

Funaho wasn't overly shocked to learn that Ryoko had freed the Guardian and escaped. She knew from the outset that Ryoko wouldn't stand for his continued captivity and had tried to impress that upon her stubborn husband. She had argued to allow the young man to be given a suite and kept under heavy guard but Azusa would have none of it. Now they were reaping the rewards of his angry poorly conceived orders, the Guardian was free and with him was the equally dangerous Ryoko known as on here as the Demon of Jurai. She blamed herself partly for the situation, it seemed lately no one could reason with Asuza not even those closest to him.

Of course he was upset that the Guardian had returned they all were, especially with Tsunami's refusal to aid them in dealing with the situation. After learning about Matt from Ayeka and Tenchi the two queens had gone immediately to the goddess hoping for a resolution to the problem but Tsunami had refused to so much as tell them when the Guardian would arrive. Then two days ago in a horrible reminder of the past Ryo-Ohki had crashed into the palace killing almost a hundred people and wounding nearly a thousand more. The timely arrival of the Guardian had helped the rescue teams to save many lives that would have otherwise been lost in the fires, another argument she had pressed on his behalf to her irate husband. Still he'd ordered the young man arrested. Of course Matt had resisted what he called an unlawful arrest and during the ensuing fight he wounded half a dozen royal guards including her sister-wife Misaki.

Now after talking with Ayeka about her encounter with Ryoko Funaho was on her way to try to put a stop to the king's continued pigheadedness. Walking into teh throne room she found her husband surrounded by his advisors and various other officials discussing the damage caused by the crash and the host of other issues it brought up. Funaho worked her way through the tangle of bodies to kneel beside her husband's throne and try to gain his attention.

"Azusa please reconsider what you are doing considering the fugitive," she said after he turned towards her.

"Leave us now," the king called above the general din of the various conversations going on around him, "I would speak with my lady wife in private."

At the king's harsh command the many people in the room quickly left leaving Funaho alone with her obstinate husband.

"My husband please don't go through with this plan of yours," Funaho said trying to gain his sympathy first, "You can't blame the young man for what he did, he has no idea who he really is."

"I can't believe you still continue to take his side in this matter," Asuza responded angrily, "Misaki may never regain full use of her arm after what he did."

"A wound she never would have received if you had not given the initial order to have him arrested," the dark haired woman reminded him sharply.

"Why do you refuse to see him as the threat he is," Azusa raged, "He poses to much of a threat to be allowed to run loose."

"May I remind you he risked his ship and his life to help rescue your subjects after the accident," Funaho said laying down the facts in Matt's defense.

"Be that as it may he is still a threat to the throne," Azusa declared loudly, "His ancestors were traitors and terrorists and I have little doubt he is any better."

"How can you say that," Funaho argued helplessly, "You never even gave the young man a chance to say one word in his defense."

"We already have damning evidence against this man," Azusa stated, "Just listen to Ayeka about what happened on Earth."

"I refuse to believe he had any ill intentions when he was on Earth or by coming here," Funaho retorted becoming angry now.

"The matter is finished," Azusa cut her off with a tone of finality, "The hunters will find him and he will be brought before the council on charges of attempting to kill members of royal family."

"The boy will resist capture," Funaho warned, "How many more lives will be lost because of your intractability?"

Sasami was wandering through the palace halls when she found the creature huddled beneath the leaves of a tall potted plant. She recognized the creature instantly remembering three months ago when Washu had given the winged cat to Matt right before he left. Right now though the creature was tucked into a small ball of golden fur and shivering violently against the stalk of the fragrant plant he was under.

Nervously Sasami reached down and stroked a finger across it's golden fur. In the blink of an eye it's head darted out and sharp tiny teeth embedded themselves in her finger causing the princess to yelp in pain.

Startled from his uneasy sleep Ses reacted without thinking and bit what he assumed was an attacker. Now standing there with his back arched and wings stretched taunt Ses got a clear look at whoever had touched him. He blinked twice before sitting down on his haunches and staring up questioningly at Sasami, he knew this girl. Damning his lack of ability to communicate with anyone but Matt Ses tried to come up with someway of getting the girl to help him find Matt. For two days now he had been cut off from Matt's sustaining mental energies and he was starting to show the symptoms of prolonged lack of the life giving essence his host provided. He had been ok until a few hours ago when the shaking had started followed by a massive loss in energy, at this pace he would be dead before the next sunrise.

"I'm sorry," Sasami mumbled sucking on her bleeding finger, "I didn't mean to startle you. But why aren't you with Matt?"

Ses cocked his head to one side and stared at her with his intelligent rainbow colored eyes hoping she knew he could understand her.

"You know what I'm saying don't you," Sasami guessed by the intent look in his eyes, "You shouldn't be alone out here some one is bound to find you sleeping there. Come with me, I'll find you something to eat. Do you like carrots as much as Ryo-Ohki?"

If Ses could frown he would have at the mention of the uncouth cabbit, well if he was going to die at least it wouldn't be in the same place as that irritating creature. Spreading his wings Ses took to the air in an unsteady hover and landed rather clumsily on Sasami's shoulder still trying to figure out how to communicate his need to find Matt to the pink eyed princess. He was just too weak to follow the faint feeling he got from Matt and even if he could there was little chance of actually finding him in this endless maze of a palace. His only hope was that Matt would find him before it was too late.

Matt was worried about Ses as he sat in the dim room waiting for Ryoko to return. The two had been holed up in the small bedroom for several hours taking turns sleeping trying to recover from the ordeal of the past few days. Now fully healed and rested Matt was trying to decide what to do to get out of teh mess both he and Ryoko were in. Ryoko had left several minutes ago to find Matt some suitable clothes, his had been reduced to rags after his fight with the royal guards. Alone in the small room Matt suddenly remembered Ses and hoped his friend was ok. Matt had been unable to contact him during his time in the cell but now with his power working properly he was still unable to reach the small flying cat. He didn't know how long Ses could survive without him but Matt was determined to find his companion before that happened.

Ryoko returned a short while later with an outfit similar to her own, light gray pants and a simple gi top. Dressed as such Matt felt like he was back in his master's dojo waiting for the days lesson to begin. Shaking his head in frustration Matt wished they hadn't taken all his weapons from him, even a knife would make him feel better. He could fight bare handed well enough but it lacked the precision and efficiency of a blade. He was glad Ryoko was with him, her abilities to teleport short distances and knowledge of the palace would be invaluable as he tried to find Ses and then make it back to his ship. He could only hope Salvation was still able to fly.

"So what's the plan," Ryoko asked watching Matt stretch in preparation for what they both knew wasn't going to be an easy day.

"We have to find Ses first," Matt said and continued when Ryoko nodded in approval, "Then we get to Salvation and say Sayonara to this stupid planet."

"But what about your answers," Ryoko asked, "Isn't that why you came her in the first place?"

"I've decided I don't need them anymore," Matt said with determination, "I know who I am even if I don't know what I am."

"You've come so far," Ryoko protested for his sake, "Don't you owe to yourself to at least try to find something out?"

"Ryoko," he said stepping up to her and taking her deceptively delicate hands in his, "I've come to understand that the future is more important than the past, I've been so blind. I could have given up this stupid quest anytime if I thought about, you showed that to me Ryoko."

"This is something you've worked your whole life for," Ryoko continued to object, "Don't give up your dream because me. Your dedication to reaching your goals is one of the things I admire most about you."

"Alright," Matt conceded letting go of her hands, "But we have to find Ses first."

"And Ryo-Ohki," Ryoko added stepping out into the hall, "She's my friend just as much as Ses is yours."

"Ok," Matt agreed following her, "Together then."

Author's Note

I'm only stopping here because I don't want this chapter to carry on too long, I plan to have the next one up soon. I understand if this chapter isn't all that fulfilling but it allows me to set up the action in the next as Matt and Ryoko try find their animal companions and escape Azusa's hunters. Also prepare to see Tenchi forced to choose sides between Ryoko and Matt or Ayeka and the other Royals. Thanks for all your encouraging reviews it fuels me to keep going.

Smack54