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
The Greatest Plan's
Matt was beginning to think this was a stupid plan as he ducked around yet another corner to avoid being spotted by as patrol group. Deciding it would be better to split up Matt had sent Ryoko to look for Ryo-Ohki and discover what happened to Salvation. In the meantime he would find Ses and investigate portion of the palace that Ryoko said had been sealed for an unknown reason thousands of years ago. However things were not working out as well as he had planned, it had taken him nearly two hours to cover half a mile of corridors with many more to go.
Another minute passed before Matt emerged from hiding and moved quietly down the corridor. Reaching out with his powers Matt reached out again in a vain attempt to reach Ses. Mumbling in frustration when he again failed to get a response Matt turned down another long hall and ran swiftly to the next intersection where he came to a sudden halt at the sound of foot steps around the corner. With nowhere to hide Matt plastered himself to the wall and hoped for the best.
"I'm really thankful your helping us," came a male voice from down the adjacent hall, "We haven't had much luck tracking down the terrorist."
"Oh, it's no trouble at all," Matt's ears perked up at the sound of the familiar female voice, "I mean it's my job to help catch criminals."
"Yeah, I heard you were the Galaxy Police Officer who captured Dr. Clay," said the male voice Matt guessed must be some Juraian guard looking for him.
"Yeah but he wasn't half the trouble Kagato was," Mihoshi said absently as they approached the intersection where Matt was.
"You helped defeat Kagato too? Wow I'm impressed, you must be really good at your job," said the Juraian in awe, "I bet you find that terrorist in no time then this should be easy for you."
"I won't let a criminal like him get away," Mihoshi said determined, "Not after what all the damage he caused and attacked the queen."
"That's not exactly the way it happened," Matt said calmly stepping into the corridor before the surprised pair.
"That's him," the Juraian shouted fumbling for his weapon.
"Who," Mihoshi said looking around in confusion.
"Him," the man screamed pointing at the swordsman before reaching for the sword belted on his waist, but his constant shaking made it impossible for the poor man to draw the blade.
"Him," Mihoshi asked incredulously to which the Juraian nodded profusely, "But that's just Matt he's not a terrorist, he's Ryoko's friend."
"That's the terrorist officer arrest him or something," the guard said finally freeing the blade from his scabbard he pointed it at Matt still shaking, "Surrender now."
Those were the last words the poor man got out before Matt calmly stepped up to him. In s same movement Matt disarmed the guard and rammed the heel of his hand into the poor man's face dropping him to the floor. Matt took a quick measure of the straight bladed sword, finding it to his liking he turned to a bewildered Mihoshi.
"Why did you do that Matt," Mihoshi asked confused, "We were trying to find a terrorist."
"I am the so called terrorist," Matt replied taking Mihoshi's arm and moving her swiftly down the corridor, "I had a slight mix up with the people here after I helped them during a crisis they think Ryoko and I caused it."
"Well did you," Mihoshi asked.
"No," Matt said giving her a look.
"Then we'll just go tell them it's not your fault," Mihoshi reasoned.
"I don't think it's that simple," Matt frowned, "But that's not the point right now. I need to find Ses have you seen him?"
"You mean that flying little cat thingy," Mihoshi smiled remembering Matt's pet.
"Yeah that's him," Matt said hopefully.
"No can't say that I have," Mihoshi smiled at Matt while the swordsman covered his face with his hand and grumbled.
Serendus moved around the outskirts of the throne room trying to remain unnoticed and still listen in on the conversation before the throne. He recognized the small red haired woman as Washu, his mistress had desired and audience with the scientist before and had even gone so far as to send an emissary to bring her before his mistress. If Serendus managed to capture Washu along with the Gem bearer his mistress would be most pleased. There was no reason to think he could not, thus far everything had gone better than he could have hoped. After causing Ryo-Ohki to crash into the palace, gathering all the key players in one place the Guardian had played right into his hands by attacking Misaki. While he needed to investigate the relationship between the Guardian and the Gem bearer Serendus was thrilled they had escaped together. The search for them and the continuing clean up from the crash gave him the time to complete his plans.
"I don't think you understand how dangerous he is lord Azusa," Washu said to the king drawing Serendus's attention back to the conversation at hand, "He is equal in power to Ryoko and most likely a match for Tenchi, especially if what Lady Funaho says is true about his connection with Tsunami."
"I know how dangerous the Guardian is Washu," Azusa responded, "However we captured him once there is now reason to believe we can't do it again."
"But at the time he had already expended much of his power helping your rescue teams find survivors," Washu argued, "I have seen first hand his normal strength and I have reason to believe that is not his full power. Think about this exhausted he managed to kill two of your royal guards and severely wound Queen Misaki and this was unarmed. Powers aside he is trained in a style that is the equal to your families sword techniques, once armed none of your palace guards will be able to stop him."
"Don't you think you are giving this young man a bit too mush credit Lady Washu," one of the council members spoke up.
"No I'm not," Washu glanced at the man before turning back to the king, "I urge you your majesty to call off your hunters and allow him to leave your world in peace."
"And what makes you think he'll leave," Azusa asked.
"As Tenchi and Ayeka must have told you by now Matt came here looking to knowledge," Washu explained, "He has no idea that he is a Guardian or about his ancestors. He is not a threat to your throne or your people. However he will defend himself and I doubt he'll surrender to you again after how he was treated before."
"Regardless," Azusa proclaimed standing, "He has attacked a member of the royal family and killed defenders of the crown along with escaping prosecution. He will be brought into custody and made to stand trial for his crimes."
Serendus grinned wickedly as he watched Washu turn on her heel and march angrily from the throne room. He waited several more minutes to listen to the council's plans on finding the Guardian and Ryoko before he slipped out of the grand hall and went off in search of Washu. After what the genius had said Serendus was intrigued by the Guardian even more. If he could find him first and convince the Guardian to attack royal family the ensuing chaos would allow him to finally complete his plans and make good his escape. His mistress would get the Gems, Washu, and Tsunami all in one fowl swoop, and he would have his desire.
Quickly he marked the room where the recently arrived Washu was staying before he headed off to find out the progress of the hunt. Hopefully that GP that brought Washu would prove useful, her record showed her to be rather good at dealing with these types of things. Walking into the information center he found the room in chaos. Men in guard uniforms were scrambling for weapons while those at the terminals had pulled up a map of a little used sections of the eastern palace grounds. In the middle of everything a bearded man shouted orders but it was obvious he wasn't nearly as capable as Misaki who normally coordinated the palace forces during times of crisis.
"What is going on here," Serendus asked the commander.
"Oh councilor," The man said turning towards the lean robed figure, "The terrorist has struck again, he attacked a guard and kidnapped Officer Mihoshi an hour ago in the eastern section to the palace. I've dispatched a squad to search the area and alerted his majesties hunters as well."
"You fool," Serendus spat, it would be far easier to convince the Guardian if he was imprisoned once more, "He will have left that section of the palace by now, your sending your men on a wild goose chase."
"I'm sorry sir but after the guard was found I though ti prudent to sweep that section of the palace," the officer explained under Serendus's cold glower.
"Never mind," Serendus sneered, "Where did they find the body?"
"What body sir," the bearded man asked confused.
"What body," Serendus repeated his anger growing by the second, "The body of the guard you idiot, where exactly did they find it?"
"The man is with the sweep team now sir," the commander replied, "The terrorist merely disarmed him and knocked him out before capturing the GP officer."
"Regardless commander your wasting man power," Serendus took control of the situation and began to issue orders ignoring the commanders objections, "I want teams posted at all major routes out of the eastern sector. Allow his majesties hunters to sweep the area quickly before returning to their full palace search. I want the man attacked brought here for questioning, he may have useful information."
Humbled the officer stepped aside and allowed Serendus to take charge of the situation seeing that the robed councilor was better at this than he was. Damning the man for his incompetence Serendus hoped that too much time hadn't been lost and that the Guardian would be unable to make it into the palace proper or worse yet to the sealed section near the edge of the southern range. If the Guardian found his ancestral home first it would be harder to convince him to attack the royal family. Of course there was still Ryoko to deal with, but with her powers of flight and teleportation only Serendus himself stood a chance of finding and capturing her.
Ryoko was shifting through the ash of her ship when she saw a bit of light glint off the shell. Brushing away the thick soot she pried the egg loose from the rubble and ran her hands over the glossy shell.
Delighted at her find Ryoko was saddened at the same time, when she lost Ryo-Ohki the first time it hadn't been so bad because all the cabbit had ever seen was death and destruction. Now though tears fell down her face and over the smooth egg in her hands as she thought of all the good times Ryo-Ohki had spent on Earth with everyone, especially Sasami. The little princess would be heart broken when she found out, but at the same time at least Ryo-Ohki wasn't gone forever.
Ryoko shook away her depression and sunk into the floor evading a work crew. moving insubstantially through the walls Ryoko made her way to Matt's ship. The massive rune covered ship was still where it had landed several days before. A ring of guards surrounded the Salvation while the work crews went about the business of cleaning up the mess she had made. The cause of the crash was still a mystery to her and would most likely stay that with Ryo-Ohki's memory banks destroyed. Phasing inside the ship Ryoko looked around at the strange structure. Everything was carved of stone, runes adorned almost everything like the outer hull. Ryoko had seen some weird ships before, after all she flew around in a cabbit, but this ship looked more like an ancient labyrinth than a star cruiser.
Greetings Gem bearer, Ryoko froze as the voice permeated her mind, What is it you seek?
"Who the hell said that," Ryoko called out looking around at the empty hall. Only Washu could impart thoughts to her but the voice in her head was definitely masculine.
I am Salvation, the voice echoed in her mind, What is it you seek?
"Salvation," Ryoko repeated the name before she made the mental connection, "You're the ship."
Yes Gem bearer I am Salvation, obviously the ship had a limited thought process Ryoko would have to say the right things to get the information she needed, What is it you seek?
"Are you capable of taking off," Ryoko asked the empty air hoping it responded to voice commands.
I am at full operational capacity Gem bearer, the ship answered.
"Why do you keep calling me that," Ryoko griped, "My name is Ryoko."
"It keeps calling you that because that is exactly what you are my dear," Ryoko spun on her heel at the sound of the voice behind her.
"Who are you," Ryoko demanded glaring hard at the man before her. He was dressed in Juraian battle armor which led Ryoko to guess he was some kind of soldier but the glint of steel in his hand told her he was something else. Juraians used energy weapons for the most part and anyone capable of forming the powerful armor would never have need of a material weapon. Looking closer at the sword Ryoko gasped, this man had Matt's sword, but how?
"I'm afraid that is inconsequential at this time Gem bearer," the dark haired man answered, Ryoko noticed then that his face bore no markings typical of a Juraian noble in combat gear, "But if you must know my name is Serendus."
"Afraid I don't really care," Ryoko shot back, "However I would like to know how you got that sword?"
"This," he said holding up Matt's katana for her to see, "When I saw it in your room I wondered why you would have need of such a blade when you command the Gems so I borrowed it for inspection. A marvelous weapon I rather like it, thus it is mine."
"I don't think so," Ryoko said igniting her energy foil, "It doesn't belong to you give it back."
"This coming from a space pirate," Serendus scolded mockingly, "Besides the blade doesn't belong to you either."
"I was left in my trust," Ryoko snarled, "You have no right to touch his sword."
"Take it if you can Gem bearer," Serendus grinned as he took up a fighting stance.
"Stop calling me that," Ryoko screamed leaping to the attack.
Rushing towards the smug man Ryoko and brought her energy blade down over her head in a viscous chop. Serendus calmly blocked the blow and knocked the glowing blade aside ramming his shoulder into the hovering Ryoko sending her face first into the wall. Unharmed Ryoko spun back to opponent with a snarl bringer her glowing sword across his mid section. Serendus sucked in his gut and hoped back avoiding disembowelment. Drawing upon the skills locked within his borrowed sword Serendus sliced downward with blinding speed. The blade his Ryoko's force field knocking the dark haired man away and giving Ryoko time to take stock of her opponent.
He moves like Matt, but how, Ryoko thought as the two came together again. It was then that she noticed the crackling arcs of electricity running down the length of Matt's blade. Somehow this man was using the power stored in Matt's sword. Then she remembered the bar and the men she had killed using that very same sword. Forced to use her force field to block the curved blade again Ryoko hoped she was up to the challenge of defeating someone of Matt's skill. If she didn't she knew the sword wouldn't allow her to escape alive. Concentrating on the task ahead Ryoko brought her energy foil up in a defensive stance.
Serendus swatted aside Ryoko's orange blade again with a smile of contempt. He thrust ahead and smiled wider watching her scramble to block the attack. Without the sword he was a competent warrior but the skills this sword gave him nothing could stand in his way. Taking advantage of a hole left in the Gem bearers defense Serendus drew first blood and knew at the same time she was beginning to weaken and had dropped her force field. It was only a matter of time before she lost and the Gems would be in his possession.
Ryoko cursed herself as the crackling blade opened a shallow cut along her side. It was like replaying the fight with Matt when he had defeated her on Earth, the minor wounds would add up slowing her down until she was too hurt to fight anymore. Swallowing her fears Ryoko fought on hoping she could change the ending this time. If only she had all her Gems Ryoko would have to power to keep her force field in place allowing her to fight offensively but now it took all her strength to keep her energy foil in existence. A minute of furious battle followed in which time Ryoko received two more long shallow cuts slowing her down and causing pain with every movement. Ryoko knew her time was short and could only hope to hang on long enough for some one to come to her aid. Matt, Tenchi, she mentally cried hoping someone would here her.
Serendus grinned with glee as Ryoko fell to one knee before him wounded and exhausted. He drew back for the killing blow and swept the sword downward. It was only when his weapon was stopped did Serendus realize what he had almost done. He looked up and blinked in surprise as if coming out of a daze. He would have killed her if something hadn't stopped him, all his plans would have been ruined if the Gem bearer died. His vision came back into focus and he stared blankly at the young man before him.
"Leave Ryoko alone," Tenchi said stepping between the armored man and a wounded Ryoko.
Serendus recognized the recently arrived crown prince standing before him armed with the Master Key. Serendus backed up a step and was about to make good his escape when Tenchi pointed his blue glowing weapon at him. Faced with an opponent Matt's sword reacted and knocked the sword from Tenchi's hand. Serendus could hardly believe what he was doing as he turned around and thrust the sword backwards and through the soft flesh of Tenchi's stomach. He let go of the sword the moment it's tip burst through Tenchi's back. Woodenly Serendus turned around as Ryoko screamed out Tenchi's name. Looking into the dying man's eyes Serendus lost his composure, he hadn't met to kill the prince. The sword, it had been the sword. Flinging away the scabbard Serendus ran, the rune covered wall passed by in blur. His plans ruined, his hands stained with royal blood.
"Ryoko," Matt whispered hearing her desperate call for help.
With Mihoshi's help Matt had managed to make it back into the palace proper. A borrowed hood and the GP's security clearance had made travel much smoother. Matt had decided to find Tenchi and the others and explain what had happened and hopefully find Ses before it was too late. For the past hour Matt had been trying to locate his flying friend but Ses had yet to respond. Now though the call from help came not from his companion but Ryoko.
With a sudden burst of speed Matt raced away from Mihoshi damning the consequences. Reaching out with his powers Matt located Ryoko's essence and followed it back to Salvation. The ship was still where Matt had landed during the fire and stood out in strange contrast with the destruction around it. A ring of guards surrounded the green rune covered ship but Matt paid them no heed as he ran past them. Two tried to get is his way as he ran up the entrance ramp. They hardly slowed him, Matt leapt into a spin and caught one in the face with kick and swept the legs out from the other on landing. Matt pushed aside another man who had been running from the ship knocking him hard into the wall, but Matt paid him little mind as he ran on. He came to a halt before Ryoko who was crying over an ashen Tenchi. Nearby Matt saw his own blood covered sword and the engraved scabbard rested a few feet away.
"Ryoko what happened," Matt said kneeling before the hysterical woman and grabbing her shoulders.
"He killed Tenchi," Ryoko cried breaking down once more she sobbed into her hands.
"Ryoko I'm here," Matt said shaking Ryoko trying to snap her out of her misery, "Tell me what happened."
"Matt," she spoke up looking at him her eyes shining with tears and madness, "Help him, you can save Tenchi."
Matt looked down to inspect Tenchi's wound. The blade had gone right through him and severed the lower spinal cord, a perfect strike. He would suffer horribly before he died but there was no chance of recovery, at least normally. He was still conscious but unable to talk because of the pain and damage done to his diaphragm. Matt didn't know if he could heal this much damage and even if he could he doubted his chances of surviving the backlash of taking Tenchi's pain as his own.
"Please help him," Ryoko's simple plea sealed it for Matt, his decision was made.
"I will," he said simply and began the task of healing the dying prince.
Ayeka came to the scene backed by dozen royal guards along with Mihoshi, Sasami, and Washu. What she found horrified her. There was Ryoko holding a struggling Tenchi while the traveler had his blood soaked, glowing hands sunk deeply into Tenchi's stomach. Her horror doubled when she saw the blood covered sword. Swiftly she ordered her guards to help Tenchi. Ryoko screamed something unintelligible as one man roughly pulled Matt away from the wounded prince but they ignored her. Senseless from Tenchi's pain Matt could do nothing as two more guards restrained him. Ryoko was another story, she held on to Tenchi with a death grip refusing to let go.
"Ayeka what are you doing," Ryoko cried seeing the guards dragging Matt away, "You have to let him help Tenchi, he's dying."
"Silence Demon," Ayeka spat full of rage, "You and that terrorist will not torture Tenchi any longer."
"We're not trying to hurt Tenchi," Ryoko explained desperately, "He was stabbed trying to save me and then Matt found us and started to heal Tenchi. Ayeka you have to believe me."
"As if I would believe a word you say pirate," Ayeka sneered, "All I see is that terrorist's bloody sword and hands trying to kill lord Tenchi while you help."
"But sister maybe she's telling the truth," Sasami spoke up coming to Ryoko's defense, "Matt healed her before I think he was trying to help Tenchi too."
"Be quiet Sasami," Ayeka snapped, "Besides look there, his sword covered with Tenchi's blood. What more evidence do you need Sasami."
"Umm, I agree with Sasami," Mihoshi smiled as Ayeka whirled angrily on the blonde GP.
"And why is that," Ayeka said through clenched teeth the vein in her forehead near bursting, "You're a police officer look at the evidence."
"I am," Mihoshi responded and then put a finger to her chin thoughtfully, "It seems to me that after I met Matt in the palace he was unarmed. He knocked out the nice man I was with, and while I don't think he should have done that , I remember he took that man's sword. Why would he do that if he had his own sword?"
"Never mind that," Ayeka yelled still angry.
"Don't you care about Tenchi at all," Ryoko asked sadly cradling Tenchi's head in her lap.
"I, that is," Ayeka stammered for a moment.
"Let me help him," Matt spoke for the first time slumped in the arms of the two men that held him, "I'll surrender with out a fight if you allow me to finish what I started."
"Very well," Ayeka conceded, "But you will still have to answer for your crimes."
Wearily Matt nodded and dropped to his knees before Tenchi and Ryoko as the guards let go of him. Matt sensed Ses nearby as he reached for the power once more and was glad his friend was still alive. Turning back to the matter at hand Matt braced himself for the pain once more. The other watched in awe as Tenchi's horrific wound close and his skin turned a healthy color again. When it was done Matt fell to against the wall exhausted. The last words he heard were Ayeka's, "Take the terrorist away."
Author's Note
Been a while since I posted a chapter I apologize but reality has been in the way recently. I'll have the next chapter up sooner hopefully. Anyway, I hope you like this chapter and it answers some questions. Just in case you haven't figured it out Serendus is the person who caused Ryo-Ohki to crash. So what do you think, please review After 13 and 14 got so few reviews I wondered if I did anything wrong. Thanks for your continued support.
Smack54
