When the Smoke Clears by Val
[Chapter 2: How Will They Stop It?]
The dark cloud that had engulfed the sky for the last 3 days, grew larger. A horrible storm started overnight, showing no signs of stopping. Washu's fears seem to grow with each crash of thunder and flash of lightening. She knew it wouldn't be long before Tamusino would appear. Maybe within the next 12 hours according to her calculations, but she couldn't be exactly sure. A knock at her door made her jump.
"Well you seem kind of jumpy," Ryoko said entering the lab.
"....."
"Washu...," she was cut off by a sharp glare from her mother. "I mean, Mom. I just kinda noticed that you seemed worried."
Washu sighed and looked at the moniter that showed the raging storm outside. Ryoko approached her mother, wanting to know. Normally in the past, Ryoko could've cared less about her mother's emotions. But lately she seemed more concerned. An unseen bond was beginning to bring them closer as time went on. Ryoko had noticed the strange way Washu had acted the night before. Almost as if she was suffering inwardly. The thing that bothered her the most was when Tsunami had said that if Tenchi couldn't beat the evil and Washu simply sighed.
"Washu...eh...I mean Mom, what's gonna happen if Tenchi can't beat the evil?"
"Then... I'll after to do it..."
"You? Why you?"
"Don't worry, little Ryoko. Hopefully you won't have to find out. But if worst comes to worst, then you'll find out."
Ryoko opened her mouth to ask something else but she was cut short by the sound of Washu's crab bell. They both turned toward the door and watched as Tsunami stepped in. Her face was caped in worried and she seemed to have something urgent to say.
"Washu! That menace will strike tonight!"
"How do you know?"
"Look at your moniter."
Washu did as she was told and at first saw nothing but the pouring rain. A flash of lightening crossed the dark sky. That's when she saw it. A faint smiling face seemed to be peering from the cloud, almost mocking them. The smile was that of pure evil. Washu cursed under her breath as she realized that Tsunami was right. It had been many years since they dealt with Tamusino but she still knew the tell-tale signs of her arrival. Within minutes everyone in the household, was gathered together.
"We're sorry to inform you all. But the enemy will strike tonight. Probably around midnight. Those who believe they can help in any way, please step forward," Washu said.
No one moved. Suddenly Tenchi yelped out in pain and jumped forward. Looking back, he saw his grandfather whistling and looking around. Tenchi was just about to say something when Washu tugged at his sleeve. He looked down to see the scientist smiling at him. He gulped as he suddenly realized what happened.
"How nice of you to 'jump' at the opportunity, Tenchi. You're such a good boy! Come with me now," she said and dragged him into her lab.
Everyone sweatdropped. Tsunami then cleared her throat.
"Ryoko. If all fails, you might have to help you're mother in this fight."
"....."
"So the nasty old space pirate is afraid to fight and possibly lose? Or even worst: die?," Aeka taunted, feeling the need to help ease Ryoko about the fight.
"Grrrr... No! I'm not afraid! I'm not gonna die because I'm not gonna lose!," Ryoko shouted.
"If you say so."
"Humph! You just wait and see!"
The two turned away and refused to look at each other. Tsunami sighed, wondering how this rude woman was her niece. But something about Ryoko reminded her of her sister. Was it her arrogance? Or her determination to prove others wrong? Hm... something for her to think about later after this was all over. Supposing they won, that is.
Somewhere far away, Lady Tokimi watched the events on her special orb...
"Lady Tokimi?," a masculine voice from almost out of nowhere asked.
"Yes?"
"Are you really going to go through with this? After all, those are your own flesh and blood that you are willing to sacrifice."
"Sometimes we have to sacrifice are own blood to achieve greatness," she simply answered.
"But...!"
"Do you dare oppose my decision, Jin?"
"No ma'am.," he said.
"Very wise. Now is that the only reason you've decided to disturb me?"
"N-no."
She finally turned toward him. His hair was a light blue mess that hung messily about his head. He wore a white long-sleeved shirt under a gray cape. His black pants were slightly baggy to allow him freedom to move comfortably or quickly, if in battle. And his combat boots shone strangely for the color of mud brown. The butt of his gun stuck out of his pants, gleaming with a bright metalica shine. He bowed down in front of Tokimi to show his respect and fear of her. On one knee and his head hung down, he stated his business.
"Word was spread about you releasing Tamusino from her confinement. We at first hoped it not to be true but now I clearly know that it is."
"And?," Tokimi asked growing impatient.
"We wanted to make sure that you put her back again. Otherwise we will be forced to take drastic action against her."
"You really think you puny mortals will be able to stop her? I have no control over her! Let her roam the universe destroying one planet after the other for all I care. But remember one thing, Jin. She can't be stopped."
Jin looked up into the cold and emotionless eyes of Tokimi. Standing and straighting his 6'1" size, he walked away. Pausing only to say, "But she can be concealed and confined."
**To Be Continued**
[Chapter 2: How Will They Stop It?]
The dark cloud that had engulfed the sky for the last 3 days, grew larger. A horrible storm started overnight, showing no signs of stopping. Washu's fears seem to grow with each crash of thunder and flash of lightening. She knew it wouldn't be long before Tamusino would appear. Maybe within the next 12 hours according to her calculations, but she couldn't be exactly sure. A knock at her door made her jump.
"Well you seem kind of jumpy," Ryoko said entering the lab.
"....."
"Washu...," she was cut off by a sharp glare from her mother. "I mean, Mom. I just kinda noticed that you seemed worried."
Washu sighed and looked at the moniter that showed the raging storm outside. Ryoko approached her mother, wanting to know. Normally in the past, Ryoko could've cared less about her mother's emotions. But lately she seemed more concerned. An unseen bond was beginning to bring them closer as time went on. Ryoko had noticed the strange way Washu had acted the night before. Almost as if she was suffering inwardly. The thing that bothered her the most was when Tsunami had said that if Tenchi couldn't beat the evil and Washu simply sighed.
"Washu...eh...I mean Mom, what's gonna happen if Tenchi can't beat the evil?"
"Then... I'll after to do it..."
"You? Why you?"
"Don't worry, little Ryoko. Hopefully you won't have to find out. But if worst comes to worst, then you'll find out."
Ryoko opened her mouth to ask something else but she was cut short by the sound of Washu's crab bell. They both turned toward the door and watched as Tsunami stepped in. Her face was caped in worried and she seemed to have something urgent to say.
"Washu! That menace will strike tonight!"
"How do you know?"
"Look at your moniter."
Washu did as she was told and at first saw nothing but the pouring rain. A flash of lightening crossed the dark sky. That's when she saw it. A faint smiling face seemed to be peering from the cloud, almost mocking them. The smile was that of pure evil. Washu cursed under her breath as she realized that Tsunami was right. It had been many years since they dealt with Tamusino but she still knew the tell-tale signs of her arrival. Within minutes everyone in the household, was gathered together.
"We're sorry to inform you all. But the enemy will strike tonight. Probably around midnight. Those who believe they can help in any way, please step forward," Washu said.
No one moved. Suddenly Tenchi yelped out in pain and jumped forward. Looking back, he saw his grandfather whistling and looking around. Tenchi was just about to say something when Washu tugged at his sleeve. He looked down to see the scientist smiling at him. He gulped as he suddenly realized what happened.
"How nice of you to 'jump' at the opportunity, Tenchi. You're such a good boy! Come with me now," she said and dragged him into her lab.
Everyone sweatdropped. Tsunami then cleared her throat.
"Ryoko. If all fails, you might have to help you're mother in this fight."
"....."
"So the nasty old space pirate is afraid to fight and possibly lose? Or even worst: die?," Aeka taunted, feeling the need to help ease Ryoko about the fight.
"Grrrr... No! I'm not afraid! I'm not gonna die because I'm not gonna lose!," Ryoko shouted.
"If you say so."
"Humph! You just wait and see!"
The two turned away and refused to look at each other. Tsunami sighed, wondering how this rude woman was her niece. But something about Ryoko reminded her of her sister. Was it her arrogance? Or her determination to prove others wrong? Hm... something for her to think about later after this was all over. Supposing they won, that is.
Somewhere far away, Lady Tokimi watched the events on her special orb...
"Lady Tokimi?," a masculine voice from almost out of nowhere asked.
"Yes?"
"Are you really going to go through with this? After all, those are your own flesh and blood that you are willing to sacrifice."
"Sometimes we have to sacrifice are own blood to achieve greatness," she simply answered.
"But...!"
"Do you dare oppose my decision, Jin?"
"No ma'am.," he said.
"Very wise. Now is that the only reason you've decided to disturb me?"
"N-no."
She finally turned toward him. His hair was a light blue mess that hung messily about his head. He wore a white long-sleeved shirt under a gray cape. His black pants were slightly baggy to allow him freedom to move comfortably or quickly, if in battle. And his combat boots shone strangely for the color of mud brown. The butt of his gun stuck out of his pants, gleaming with a bright metalica shine. He bowed down in front of Tokimi to show his respect and fear of her. On one knee and his head hung down, he stated his business.
"Word was spread about you releasing Tamusino from her confinement. We at first hoped it not to be true but now I clearly know that it is."
"And?," Tokimi asked growing impatient.
"We wanted to make sure that you put her back again. Otherwise we will be forced to take drastic action against her."
"You really think you puny mortals will be able to stop her? I have no control over her! Let her roam the universe destroying one planet after the other for all I care. But remember one thing, Jin. She can't be stopped."
Jin looked up into the cold and emotionless eyes of Tokimi. Standing and straighting his 6'1" size, he walked away. Pausing only to say, "But she can be concealed and confined."
**To Be Continued**