Disclaimer
Tenchi and all associated characters are the property of AIC and Pioneer LDC. I don't own any rights to them. Any other characters are property of their respective copyright holders, not me.
*****
A Scientist's Tale
Chapter 7
Betrayal
*****
For the next few weeks Kagato's presence was barely felt by the motley group that had become Souja's crew. I spent most of the time reviewing the results of the project in addition to taking a few hours a day to be with Ryoko and to try to get her to bring out her latent abilities. I also tried to teach her about Ryo-ohki's abilities but she was more concerned with making sure her newfound friend was content. It wasn't unusual to find them wandering about the ship, Ryo-ohki perched on her master's shoulder, both sets of golden eyes bright with wonder at the world around them. I had to chuckle sometimes; if they thought Souja was so wonderful, wait until they made planetfall in a couple of months. Or saw my real lab, the one in subspace.
Yakage wasn't idle either. He spent many hours a week coaching Ryoko in combat moves and although she was still far from his level, she did manage to make him break a sweat occasionally. He told me at dinner one day that Ryoko had the potential to be a master swordswoman if she put her mind to it. He even suggested that he would like to continue her training after the end of the project. I told him I'd consider it.
Ryoko had the appearance of a fourteen-year-old girl at this point. I had been hoping to keep her in the tube until her apparent age was a couple of years farther along, but even I had to agree that it was probably for the best that she'd been released when she was. Her social skills were another matter. For some reason she'd taken to throwing tantrums when she didn't get her way and let me tell you, trying to keep a super-powerful being with the inherent ability to lay waste to planets and the apparent attitude of a spoiled nine year old under control was no mean feat. I spent a considerable amount of time delving into my own latent abilities just to clean up after her. And some of those abilities astounded even me. I found that I had the ability to form a sword very similar to Ryoko's, something I never expected. I also found that I had the power to affect the minds of those around me, to make them see things that weren't actually there. Of course this ability was useless against a strong mind that was prepared for the deception; still, it was nice to know that I could do it if I had to. Some latent telekinesis also manifested itself, possibly tied to the telepathy that Ryoko and I shared. But it was very weak compared to Ryoko's ability. At one point I also discovered that I could gather impressions and sometimes deeper things from Ryo-ohki as well. This was truly a surprise since as far as I knew Ryo-ohki had none of my genetic material in her make up. Perhaps it was another side effect of mine and Ryoko's link.
*****
Late one evening ship's time, Yakage screened me in my room. This time he didn't catch me in the shower and I could read the disappointment on his face. Pervert. Anyway, I was sitting in bed and reading when he called.
"Professor, we may have a problem," he said calmly. Couldn't have been much of a problem if he was that calm. I sighed and set my book down on the bed. Yes, I still actually read real books sometimes. You know, the ones with paper?
"What is it?" I asked, giving him a stern look.
"The Academy just commed us, the Juraian Council wants a status report on the project."
I waved him off with my hand, quite a feat through a video screen. "So, just send them a report. The usual stuff, you know, things are progressing smoothly, the subject is learning at an advanced rate, la-de-da. The usual."
He shook his head. "That won't work this time. As Project Head they're demanding you come and give the report in person. In two days."
Two days? I had to be back at the Academy in two days? Yakage could tell from my expression that I wasn't pleased. "I'm sorry Washu," he said mildly.
"Not your fault," I told him. "Reply that I'll be there." He nodded and switched off the screen. What to do? I didn't trust Kagato anymore and I didn't want to leave him alone with Ryoko. Not that Yakage wouldn't be here, but I knew that he still considered Kagato his friend and might not see trouble if it stood up and slapped him. For a moment I considered sending Kagato in my place; as my First Assistant he could give the report. But no, the Council had asked for me specifically, I had to go myself.
I sighed and sat back down on my bed. Ok, if they wanted a report I'd give them a report. I'd collect all of the data I had on Ryoko; her training, her current abilities and her potential. Throw in some video footage of her and Ryo-ohki and they'd be happy as bivalves in mud. Hell, some of the shots of Ryo-ohki were so cute that if they were ever publicly released Juraian kids'd be clamoring for stuffed plushies of her. Hmm, not a bad idea, while I was at the Academy I'd have to look into copyrighting her image. I'd make a killing in toys alone!
A day later I was ready to leave. I had all of my material gathered, including the most precious thing of all. With some protests I'd managed to get a bit of Ryoko's genetic material by taking a blood sample. The small vial was safely stowed in my case; if they asked for it I'd give it to them. They most certainly weren't going to get the original model! But I'd feel guilty if I didn't give them something for their money and their scientists were bright enough to analyze it and create their own super soldier. The thought didn't bother me too much because whatever they created, it wouldn't be my Ryoko.
We all stood in Souja's shuttle bay saying our goodbyes. Ryoko was there, Ryo-ohki perched on her head. Cute. She gave me a hug and told me she'd miss me. Yakage handed me my case and told me to knock 'em dead. I considered it for a moment then dismissed the thought. Even Kagato had come out of his self-imposed isolation to see me off. He said a few bland words of encouragement then shook my hand. I noticed him surreptitiously glancing at my daughter when he thought I wasn't looking. It sent a shudder down my spine but I'd only be gone for a few days so what kind of trouble could he get into in that amount of time?
Time to go. As much as I wanted to stay, I also didn't want the Juraians to come looking for me. Yet. With a last jaunty wave I climbed aboard the small ship and it lifted off the deck and made it's way out the force wall that kept the atmosphere in. Once clear of the main ship, the computer set a course for the Academy and engaged the hyperdrive. I sat back in my seat and cleared my mind, determined not to let my fears get the best of me. By the time I arrived at the Academy several hours later it had almost worked too.
*****
"And that is where the project now stands My Lords," I finished my presentation with a flourish. The Council's representatives talked amongst themselves for a few minutes while I stood there fidgeting, anxious to get this over with and get back to Ryoko. I'd been back at the Academy almost a full week before the Juraians condescended to see me. Pompous bastards.
"Professor Washu," spoke up one of the Juraians. "You say your prototype will be ready to demonstrate in about a month?"
"Yes My Lord," I agreed.
"But in your video it looks like it's ready now."
"No My Lord, all of her abilities have not yet manifested," I replied.
"Her abilities. Ah yes." They started conferring again. "Professor Washu," another one drew my thoughts back from Ryoko to the present. "You know why we asked you for your report in person, don't you?"
"No My Lord," I answered, starting to become really annoyed with them. Couldn't the idiots see that I had better things to do?
"Doctor Clay has disappeared with his prototype, Zero I believe it was called. We had to make sure you didn't have similar ideas."
I was surprised but not really shocked by the news of Clay's disappearance, still, it was nothing more than what I myself was planning to do. I looked at the gathered Juraians with a steady eye. "No My Lord," I lied. "As you can see, I am here. As a gesture of faith I also brought a sample of the prototype's genetic material." I pulled the vial from my pocket. "If you wish it, it's yours to take with you."
All of them stopped talking and turned to look at me. "Tell me Professor, do you expect something to happen to your prototype?" one of them asked.
I swallowed hard. Had they seen through my ruse after all? "No My Lords, I don't," I responded.
The Juraian who had asked nodded. "Then we won't need the sample. We'll have the prototype itself in a month, as you've promised us."
"But… Yes My Lords, you will. In a month." Idiots.
"That will be all Professor Washu. You may return to your project." I was dismissed. Just like that. I tucked the vial back into my pocket, bowed politely and turned on my heel and walked out of the room. As far as I was concerned, Jurai wasn't going to see any piece of my creation. Ever.
*****
I arrived back at Souja in the middle of ship's night. Even given the late hour it was odd that no one was there to greet me, not that I was expecting a major ceremony or anything. Souja's shuttle bay echoed emptily at the sound of my footsteps as I stepped of the small ship's boarding ramp. "Hello!" I called out. "I'm back. Where is everybody?" Nothing. "Ryoko? Mommy's here! Ryo-ohki? Yakage!" No answer. "Kagato?" Nothing but the sound of my own voice bouncing back from the far wall. I left my baggage on the shuttle, gifts for Ryoko, new research material for Yakage and Kagato to pursue and a few other sundry items I'd picked up, and made my way out into the main part of the ship. I couldn't quite place it but Souja seemed different somehow.
I crept down the corridor, looking for anything out of place but finding nothing. I sensed rather than heard an odd melody wafting through the still air of the ship. The door of a long unused storeroom shushed open behind me and I almost screamed as a cold hand grabbed my arm. Another hand covered my mouth and I was dragged into the darkened room, too startled to struggle.
"Professor, I'm going to uncover your mouth," Yakage's voice whispered in my ear. "Don't make a sound, ok?" I nodded and he removed his hand. "I suppose you want to know what's going on?" he asked in a low tone.
"That would be a correct assumption," I whispered back. "Just what the hell is going on around here? Why are you sneaking about like a fugitive?"
Yakage sat down on the bare metal deck and covered his face with his hands. "That's because that's just what I am. And now you are too."
"Explain please," I commanded in an over-exaggerated whisper.
Yakage looked up at me, eyes brimming with tears. "I'm sorry Washu. I tried to stop him but he was too much for me. And now he's got Ryoko and Ryo-ohki as well."
I reached down and grabbed him by the collar of his soiled tunic. "What the hell are you talking about; who did you try to stop and who's got my daughter?" Yakage tried to cower away from me and my anger but I held him too tight. I heard him whimper with fear. "Oh stop it." I gave him a shake and let loose of his collar. "You know I'm not going to hurt you. Now calm yourself and explain what's happened while I was away."
My erstwhile assistant gathered himself together and straightened himself up. He ran a hand through his matted hair before speaking. "It's Kagato, Professor. He's taken control of Souja. I don't know how but…"
"What about Ryoko," I broke in. "You said he had her. Is she a prisoner? I find that hard to believe."
He looked away from me, unable to meet my gaze. "Not a prisoner. Not exactly. I'm sorry Washu but he's found some way to influence her programming. It's like she's become another person, vicious, violent. And Ryo-ohki follows her lead."
I sat down heavily on the floor and looked up at him. He still wouldn't meet my eyes and I knew he blamed himself for what had happened. "It's not your fault," I said in a weak voice. "I saw this coming and chose to ignore the warning signs. I thought he'd wait until the project was complete; that I'd have a bit of time left to plan.
"But all isn't lost," I continued and saw him look at me with interest. "I doubt if he's corrupted her programming. He may have suppressed some of it and taken control of other functions but Ryoko's a tough cookie. It may take a while but her true self will break through. In the meantime there's something I want you to do." He looked at me eagerly, wanting to redeem himself for his perceived failure to stop Kagato. I pulled the vial of Ryoko's genetic material out of my pocket and tossed it to him. He caught it and examined it with interest. "I want you to see that the Juraians get that. They already know what it is. Explain what's happened here; maybe they can use it if I fail."
Fear crept into his expression. "Fail in what Professor?" Understanding dawned on him. "No! I won't allow it! He's too powerful and now that he has Ryoko obeying his every whim…"
I stood up and dusted myself off, ignoring his pleas. Walking to the door I looked back at him standing there, tears beginning to form in his eyes again, the all-important vial held tightly in his hand. "Don't worry about me, I still have a trick or two up my sleeve. The shuttle's still hot and if I made it this far you should be able to get to the shuttle bay with no problem. Now get that material and your report to Jurai!" The door opened and I stepped into the dimly lit corridor. As the door closed behind me I sagged against the wall. For all my brave talk I really had no idea what I was going to do next but I knew I had to do something to save my daughter from her fate.
*****
Kagato was waiting as I walked onto Souja's command deck. This part of the ship certainly looked different, it resembled a cathedral, complete with giant pipe organ. I suddenly knew fear. If Kagato could make these changes in less than a week then he was far more powerful than I'd originally thought. In this room the music was very audible and would've been hauntingly beautiful if it hadn't been so ominous. I stood on the gangway waiting to be noticed and in a few moments the music faded away. Kagato faded into view before me.
"Ah, Washu. I thought it was you leaving in the shuttle again but I see now that it was my erstwhile associate. Probably headed for Jurai. Too bad, I really felt that I could, ah, persuade him to join me in my little venture. I don't suppose…? No probably not." He turned away and gestured for me to follow. "So, what do you think of Souja now? I think it suits me much better than the antiseptic version you maintained."
I stood there, frozen in place by my anger. "You bastard," I spit. "I trusted you completely and this is how you repay me." I formed my energy sword and lunged at him, fully knowing that although he wasn't at Yakage's level, even on his worst day he was far better with a sword than I could ever hope to be. He laughed as he faded out only to reappear behind me.
He chuckled as he reached over my shoulder and touched a spot near my elbow. My arm immediately went dead and my sword fizzled out. He moved around to stand in front of me again before speaking. "I see I'm not the only one who's discovered a new potential in themselves. Impressive. Did you know that my species is mildly telepathic?" I glared at him, massaging my dead arm. He shrugged. "No, I guess not. I didn't realize it either until very recently." He turned and walked away from me, back towards the immense organ at the front of the room. "But come, allow me to show you what I have accomplished."
I followed behind him, careful to keep my distance and trying to note any escape route that might be available. I stalled. "Kagato, I have to ask you, why? Why are you doing all this?"
He stopped and turned back towards me. "Surely you know? After all, they've been in your possession for millennia." I gave him a blank look, having no idea what he was talking about. His jaw dropped. "The gems Washu. The three gems you gave to the prototype."
I shook my head and gave a weak smile. "Those? They're nothing more than storage devices of some sort. Even I've never found another use for them, nor have I been able to get any data from them." I didn't tell him that something, some inner force, had stopped me every time I'd tried; I thought it best to keep a few secrets.
He snapped his fingers and Ryoko appeared before us, hanging limply in the air. A small sound escaped my throat and I started forward only to be stopped by some invisible force. "She is uninjured for the moment, but that might not be the case if you don't give me what I want."
"And that would be the gems?" I asked. He smiled wickedly. "Can't do it my boy. They aren't mine to give anymore. Ryoko has to give them up consciously and willingly. You can't take them by force and even if you kill her they still won't be yours to control."
His eyes narrowed and his gaze shifted back and forth between Ryoko and myself. "Those gems contain the power of a god. I must have them! Tell me how I can take them!"
I laughed at his discomfiture. "I said I couldn't help you. But since the gem's powers are similar to the power of the Juraian Royals, why don't you ask them for help? I'm sure they wouldn't mind."
"Juraian power? Interesting. If I can control a Royal Tree then maybe this still might work."
I laughed again. "You get a hold of a Royal Tree? That's the best thing I've heard all day. You ought to go on the road with your act, it's a riot." Anger flared in his eyes and he gestured to my daughter. Her eyes began to glow green and she floated forward. I reached out with my mind and tried to touch hers. I found her intellect buried so deeply that I almost couldn't reach it. Ryoko, mommy's here. Don't worry.
Mommy? Her mental voice was very weak and childlike. Mommy, I'm scared.
Tears filled my eyes as I struggled against the force that held me. I know little one, I know. I'll do my best to help you but I don't think I can right now.
"You know, you're right Washu." Kagato's voice startled me and broke my concentration, making me lose contact with Ryoko for a moment. "If the gems have the same power as Jurai then there must be other sources as well. Taking possession of a Tree is still a plan but by no means the only one. One way or another I will control the gems."
I snarled at him as I fought against whatever held me. Ryoko, I'm sorry baby, I don't think mommy can help you right now, I repeated apologetically. You need to keep fighting him yourself. Grow strong and know that I'm always with you.
For a moment her eyes returned to normal as she fought his will. "Mom…" she managed to gasp before he once again asserted control.
"Washu, Washu, Washu. I don't know why but I feel some sort of affection for you so I won't kill you. Besides, I might just need some of the information you have tucked away in that unkempt little head of yours." He signaled to the automaton that had been my daughter. "Take her and put her in stasis and perhaps as a reward for following my instructions so well, I'll give you some measure of freedom later. Much later."
Ryoko's grip never loosened as she took me to the room where she'd been 'born' just those few weeks before. Still paralyzed by Kagato's power, I couldn't even struggle as she placed me in the stasis chamber. As the crystal formed around me I felt a tear roll down my cheek; I'd never even gotten to truly know my daughter and now, like my son those oh-so-many years ago, she too was being taken away. And I didn't even have the comfort of knowing that she was being raised in a loving family. My last coherent thoughts as the stasis field overcame me was that at least Yakage had gotten away and that someday, sometime in the future, Kagato would be made to pay for his treachery. I just hoped I would be there to see it.
*****
Epilogue
*****
For 5000 years I remained in stasis while Kagato used my daughter to commit vile acts. He never ceased coveting Ryoko's gems but since they were effectively out of his reach he found another way to make use of them, the whole time searching for the secret of the Juraian Royal power so that he could take them for himself. For all those years I was never truly out of contact with Ryoko. Oh, I was in stasis all right, but occasionally I would catch glimpses of her or Ryo-ohki through our mental link. I could feel the torment in her soul as she killed and destroyed and took the blame for Kagato's actions. I did my best to soothe her by trying to dull the emotions she was feeling and to dim the most horrible of the memories. I'd like to think I made a difference, helped her stay sane but most of the credit has to go to her, her strength of will.
I was overjoyed when Yosho decided not to kill her but placed her in stasis herself. Her time there was like mine; awake but not awake, aware of events but unable to interact. I knew that the Juraian prince had plans for my daughter but I didn't know what they were. Eventually he decided it was time, that Ryoko had been punished enough, and he allowed his grandson to free her from her imprisonment. He must have also known that Kagato would sense her and track her down and that with Ryoko, Tenchi and Ayeka together, all of the necessary players were in place to finish Kagato at last. I'd also like to think he knew about me too, but that would be pushing it. I have a feeling that Mihoshi freeing me was a side benefit of his plan, an unexpected bonus. But if Tsunami had a hand in guiding him, who knows? Not even I, her sister, can guess at her motives. Of course, she has little clue as to mine as well.
*****
Little Keiko gave a huge yawn and cuddled against her mother's shoulder. It was well past the three-year-old's normal bedtime but she'd insisted on staying up for the entire story. "Mommy? Is Gramma Washu true? Is that how you were borned?" she asked Ryoko.
Ryoko had a faraway look in her eyes as she answered, "I don't know dear. I have no memory of any of that." Ryo-ohki, cuddling in cabbit form with Ay-ohki at the end of the couch, miya'd softly. She remembered parts of it anyway.
Juro looked at his Mommy Ryoko then at his Grandma Washu and saw the sad expressions on both their faces. "Well, I think that's what happened," he stated in the matter-of-fact tone of a four-year-old. "Mommy Ryoko couldn't a ever of done those bad things on her own. She's too nice."
Ayeka snorted, suppressing a laugh. Juro punched his mother on the shoulder. "She is mommy. She plays with us all the time and she never hurts us."
The princess patted her son on the head. "I know darling, it's just that Mommy Ryoko and I have been rivals for a long time and my early memories of her are a bit different than Grandma Washu's." She set the boy on his feet and turned to take the sleepy Keiko from Ryoko. "It's time for little ones to go to bed," she said as she cuddled Ryoko's daughter and took her own son by the hand. As they reached the bottom of the stairs Ayeka looked back over her shoulder. "Ryoko, I'll be going to bed now too. Don't stay up too late, you know I don't enjoy sleeping alone anymore and Tenchi won't be down from the shrine for at least two more hours, maybe more." Ayeka gave her co-wife a sly wink and the trio disappeared up the stairs leaving Ryoko and Washu sitting in an awkward silence. Ryo-ohki looked at her master, then at her creator. She poked her mate with one paw to wake him and the two cabbits hopped off up the stairs themselves to join the children in their beds.
After avoiding each other's gaze for a few moments, Ryoko couldn't hold it in any longer. "Is that really how it happened? Why don't I remember any of that?" she asked then thought of something Washu had said and raised an eyebrow to her mother. "And just what kind of gifts were you bringing me?"
Washu sighed deeply. "Yes, that's exactly what happened. I may have missed a few details here and there but still… I'm not sure why you don't remember but I suspect the trauma of what Kagato forced you to do has something to do with it. Those memories are probably locked so deep that you'll never find them. And the gifts?" Washu shrugged noncommittally. "Just the normal things a teenage girl might like; makeup, clothes, magazines, stuffed animals, books on close combat techniques, stuff like that."
Ryoko snorted at this but she wasn't quite done yet, she still had a couple of questions that needed answering. "What about Yakage? What happened to him? Minagi doesn't exist in this Reality, so what happened to the DNA sample you gave him?"
Washu bowed her head. "I don't know," she said in a small, tired voice. "I can only assume that he was waylaid by pirates on his way to Jurai or that Kagato caught up with him before he could create her." She lifted her head and smiled crookedly at her daughter. "Or, he did get away and went into hiding. Even though he was a member of one of the lesser noble houses, he didn't trust the Juraian government any more than I did. If he's still alive, he's well over 5000 years old; that's a long time, even for a Juraian. In that case he may or may not have done anything with that sample. Who knows? We might just run into our own Minagi some day; it's a big universe out there." The little scientist yawned hugely herself. "Now goodnight Mommy Ryoko, go join your family and sleep well. We'll talk more about your past some other time."
Ryoko watched her mother disappear into her lab and the pirate's lips twitched into a soft smile as she too faded from view.
*****
The End
*****
Author's Notes
Whew, it's finally done. Sorry it took so long but I can't blame writer's block this time, just a lack of time to finish it up (or maybe I was just too lazy). It took a not-so-gentle shove from Ministry Agent to get me off my butt and make the time to complete this piece. I would also like to thank Meekachu for being my sounding board and for remembering what Ryoko's daughter's name was going to be. Since my memory has more holes than Swiss cheese it's good that I have someone else paying attention. And of course a big thanks to all of my other readers for being so patient and not storming my home and demanding recompense for their pain and suffering.
Oh, and if your wondering, I do have an explanation as to why Washu couldn't access her own lab from aboard Souja. I think it requires a fixed point in space and fairly constant gravity to form an entrance. It may also require a core-tap to power it (now there's a scary thought, I wonder if Tenchi knows what he has in his closet…) These conditions won't exist aboard a free-flying spacecraft.
*****
Review Responses
Tail-luver – Sorry, Washu's not strong enough, or at least she thinks she's not, to kick anyone's butt.
Wharpt – Yep, you got it. Ryoko has/had a mental block on the full capabilities of her powers. I'm working on getting copies of those tapes too, but after 5000 years they're a bit hard to find.
Ministry Agent – Oh really? I've always thought the Rockies were in the west and the Smokies in the east. Sorry, my mistake. Anyway, thanks for the push that got me jumpstarted on this.
Smack54 – Kagato waited until Washu was away to move. I think he was still a bit afraid of her.
Vsdefender – His journey to the Dark Side is now complete. He was tempted by the power of the gems and proved weak and easy to corrupt.
Rel – Yakage has disappeared. Maybe he or this universe's Minagi will reappear in a later story. Having the two Minagi's meet might be fun, especially if Yakage's still alive somehow.
Alighthawk – Actually, Kagato started out as pretty nice guy in this story and as for Washu being over the top, I think that her 5000 years in stasis, almost but not quite conscious, kinda pushed her over the edge.
Taxzombie – I hate killing off good characters so I gave Yakage an out, hope you don't mind.
Lizzy Hakubi – Ryoko is an innocent. She's a victim of fate.
*****
BobR
9-9-2002