Sorry for the long delay, but I've been busy. Try as I might, I was unable to add any Tenchi\Ayeka moments in this short episode. But I promise there will be some romantic interactions between the crown prince and the princess. To Metallic Wedo you may want to skip this part since little has changed.
Chapter 37--I Know Where They Are
Back on the Nozomi, Tenchi breathed a sigh of relief as the strange glow of Ryan's eyes and body faded. The air around him returned to normal and the machine clicked back on.
Tenchi watched as Ryan, still lying on the bed, began to stir. The kenshin blinked several times and turned his head from side to side. When he spotted Tenchi, he smiled. "Hey Tenchi." Ryan said groaning as he slowly sat up, his head straining against the wires attached to him. He made a waving gesture with his hand, the white tentacles retracting back into the monitor, obeying his telekinetic command. The kenshin swung his legs around and slid off the bed. The kenshin rolled down the sleeves of his sweater and began to stretch. When he noticed and felt Tenchi's apprehension Ryan stopped his movement. "What's wrong?"
Tenchi shrugged. "Nothing really. Just that a few minutes ago your body and eyes were glowing and I could barely breathe from all the energy that was surging about the room. Other than that everything's peachy." He said dryly.
Ryan gave a small smile. "I'm sorry about that Tenchi. I'll explain myself after we leave Galan." Ryan said, straightening his frame before heading slowly for the door.
"Wait!" Tenchi cried as he followed Ryan out the door. "We can't leave yet. The others are still on board the damaged ship." He said.
Ryan ignored Tenchi and headed straight for the cockpit. In a few moments he reached his destination and sat down in the pilot seat. He initiated the propulsion system, the engines roared to life, lifting the Nozomi off the ground.
"Didn't you hear me Ryan?" Tenchi asked as he too entered the cockpit.
Ryan nodded his head sadly. "I heard you Tenchi, but you're wrong. The only people aboard that ship are the twelve dead crew members laid to waste by Kylia and Bagon."
He answered, his voice a mixture of grief and anger.
"If that's true, then where are my Grandfather and the others?" Tenchi asked, already knowing the answer.
Ryan turned away from the rapidly approaching space to Tenchi. "On the crystal ship. Plucked up from the damaged vessel then encased in crystal without much of a struggle."
Tenchi sunk down in the copilot seat, his face ashen. "But how is that possible. They must of fought back. How could they have been taken so easily?"
Ryan focused his attention back to his control panel, pressing several different buttons. "There was no need to physically retrieve them. Instead a transporting beam was used to capture them." He explained, stopping his commands and leaning back in his seat.
"Then how come we were left alone?"
Ryan continued to stare straight ahead. "Because I would not let them take us."
Tenchi frowned. "What do you mean?"
Ryan faced him. "What happened in the infirmary, that tremendous amount of energy you felt, my body glowing and all that stuff.." He began.
Tenchi nodded.
"That was me. I tapped into their power source and started to free those imprisoned by the dark kenshins." Ryan continued.
"But how? You were comatose at the time." Tenchi exclaimed.
Ryan looked away, his features thoughtful. "I was in between worlds Tenchi." He answered, closing his eyes in remembrance. He began to speak, his voice low and smooth. "The state I was in while unconscious was peaceful, Tenchi. It was like paradise. Time lost all meaning for me in this place. I could be wherever, with whomever I chose." He said, pausing to catch his breath.
Tenchi sat silently, absorbed in Ryan's tale.
"Outside my mind, I could hear what was going on. I could hear you Tenchi. You and the others. But I couldn't sense what was going on around me. I was lost you see. Lost in this new realm full of exciting possibilities. I saw my parents Tenchi." Ryan said small tears falling from his closed eyes.
"My parents who had been dead for almost ten years. I got to spend time with them again. I got to tell them all the things I wanted to say but was unable to tell them because they were no longer with me. I wanted to stay with them in this new world. But they told me it was impossible. I had work yet to be done. I didn't understand at first. The pain of their words blinded me to the truth. Then I felt it and my heart was torn asunder. I heard Ryoko's plea for my help. Her cries became a chorus of pleas from countless others. I even heard your grandfather Tenchi. I began to see through their eyes. I felt their pain and their fear. Soon all the emotions came crashing down upon me. The pain became unbearable and I lashed out at the source of all this suffering. I tapped into this energy and reversed it, causing the crystal ship to lose the very thing that kept it going." Ryan said pausing.
He opened his eyes and turned to Tenchi. "This very incident is the reason Bagon wanted me comatose. He knew if I were awake and active I could conceivably destroy his ship." Ryan concluded sighing heavily.
Tenchi looked skeptical. "If this is true why didn't you destroy the crystal ship. Why is Bagon still roaming free?"
"I couldn't destroy Ryoko or any of the thousands of people trapped on that ship, Tenchi. There has to be a better way to free everyone. I know there is. And even though Bagon is still alive, I did manage to scare him." Ryan said with a small smile.
Tenchi gave a smile of his own. "So he got scared did he? Good." He said happily. Ryan smiled. "He should be." He answered. "Because I know his power signature."
Tenchi gasped. "How did you figure that out?" He asked.
Ryan smiled brightly. "Because I saw what Washu saw. Because of her and her wonderful machine we can pinpoint exactly where the crystal ship is."
"Where is it now?" Tenchi asked excitedly.
Ryan consulted his star chart. "Right now he is heading straight to Jurai, but he will not make it." The kenshin added, his voice full of conviction.
"Why?"
Ryan turned towards Tenchi. "Because we will stop him."
"But doesn't he need us to complete his plans? You told us that he needed each of our powers to destroy Jurai." Tenchi said, puzzled by Ryan's comments.
Ryan shook his head. "We are no longer needed. With the capture of the others they now possess enough power to destroy Jurai twice over. But before we begin our little quest I need to do something." He explained as he turned on his communicator. He typed in the Galaxy police frequency and began to speak. " This is a message for the Galaxy Police. The missing supply ship, Kafta, has been found in section 2.95 on the planet Galan. All hands lost. Advise investigation." He finished, switching to a different channel.
"Now who are you contacting?" Tenchi asked.
"The Juraian council and then the Juraian Territorial checkpoint." He answered.
Tenchi waited patiently as Ryan finished speaking with each group then asked. "How far away are we from the checkpoint?"
Ryan checked his screen. "About a week away. From there, Jurai is another week away." He answered.
Tenchi frowned. "There's no way we can get to Jurai before them, they have a head start on us and the most power in the universe. Their ship must run faster than ours."
He said in futility.
Ryan smiled. He changed the Nozomi's course abruptly, causing Tenchi to grip his seat. "Hey what are you doing?" He said in irritation.
"We're heading for Jurai's checkpoint." He answered with a bemused expression on his face. He released the controls, drew a seat belt across his chest and strapped himself in. He turned to Tenchi. "Strap yourself in."
Tenchi, noticing a mischievous look on the traveler's face, did as he was told.
Ryan opened a small compartment that lied beneath the control panel and pushed the blue round button that sat in the center of the box . The Nozomi shuddered briefly then zoomed through space so quickly, that the stars became a blur. Tenchi held on for dear life, turning his head to look at Ryan. The kenshin matched his stare and smiled. "Great isn't it.!" He yelled above the roar of the engines then laughed when he saw Tenchi's worried expression. "Don't worry it will stabilize in a few moments." Ryan added in encouragement.
True to his word, the Nozomi slowed down. Outside the ship, space had returned to normal. Tenchi gasped when he saw what lay before him. A massive spaceport floated about twelve miles away. Ship sensors stretched up, down and all around the port. Several ships pulled in and out of the white metallic shelled port that gleamed brightly in the darkness of space.
"But this is impossible, it's.." Tenchi exclaimed, too stunned to finish.
Ryan nodded. "But it is." He said, turning on his communicator. "Juraian check point. This is the Nozomi. Come in please."
A young masculine voice boomed through the system, full of excitement. "Greetings Nozomi. Councilman Meiko sends his regards and awaits your presence in the main office." The young man answered.
Ryan smiled broadly, glancing sideways at his friend before replying, "I take it then we may proceed forward for docking procedures."
The young man's tone became serious. "That is affirmative. Proceed to docking station one slowly and safely."
"Instructions confirmed. Nozomi out." Ryan answered, shutting off his device and steering the ship to dock one.
Ryan noticed his friend's silence. "Everything okay Tenchi?" He asked trying not to laugh at the crown prince's confusion.
"What just happened?" Tenchi asked after a moment of silence.
Ryan waved his hand. "The Nozomi just initiated a space jump that's all." He offered, pulling into a massive dock and attaching his ship to the dock's gravitational locks.
"And just what is a space jump?" Tenchi asked, frowning.
"A space jump is a newly developed but highly dangerous procedure of space travel. It can only be performed in short bursts, since the power needed to perform it drains the engines quickly." Ryan explained, studying his air pressure waiting for the red warning light to turn off.
"Could you explain in more detail what you mean." The crown prince said, unsatisfied with Ryan's explanation.
Ryan sighed. "There are several dimensions that exist in space. To execute a space jump, you must first enter quantum space where one could conceivably jump from one section of space to another in mere minutes rather than days." He began.
"Okay. So why is it so dangerous?" Tenchi asked.
Ryan avoided Tenchi's gaze. "Because when you initiate the system, all power to your engines is converted and used by the quantum space accelerator. Doing this, you run the risk of your ship exploding before you ever reach your destination." He answered hesitantly. "Besides, no one's ever done it before." He added.
Tenchi frowned. "What do you mean, no one's ever done it before. You just did . So how did you get such a device installed on this ship?" He asked.
"What I meant was that no one other than myself has been able to successfully complete a space jump. As to the device, Michael installed it for me." Ryan answered. "With a warning never to use it except in case of an emergency." He added.
"Why didn't you use this device to jump to the Devon system?" Tenchi asked.
Ryan sighed. "My mind was consumed by the loss of so many lives. I was too wrapped up in my emotions that I couldn't think straight. That is a mistake I must not repeat again." The kenshin answered, looking away from Tenchi to the control panel. The red light flashed off. Ryan stood up. "Okay Tenchi. The ship has been depressurized. We can now enter the station on foot." He said, heading out the cockpit.
Tenchi followed close behind. The two direct decedents of Jurai strode through a small tunnel that connected the ship to the dock and were met by a security guard.
The guard, dressed as a Juraian Soldier, led them through the various checkpoint desks and stopped in front two large metallic doors. He pushed a button to his right. The two doors swung inward exposing a large wooden desk and several cushioned chairs. The guard posted himself to the side as Ryan and Tenchi entered the room. He bowed to the middle aged man that sat in the desk seat then closed the doors behind him.
Ryan also bowed slightly in deference to the man and said "Councilor Meiko. It's been sometime since we last met in person. I am honored by the opportunity once again." He finished, righting himself again.
The elder man nodded. "Perhaps it is I who should be honored kenshin." He said in genuine regard. He turned his attention from Ryan to Tenchi. "And you as well, Lord Tenchi. For, without your help those many years ago, our planet would have been ruled by a tyrant."
Tenchi nodded bowing slightly. "Thank you." He said.
"Now gentlemen." Meiko replied. "I take it that our once grave circumstances have been lifted somewhat by new developments." He stated , staring at Ryan.
The kenshin cleared his throat. "Yes sir. I have a plan to stop the crystal ship from ever getting beyond the Juraian checkpoint."
"But no ship could ever slip through defenses undetected. Any attempt at unauthorized entry through our sensors would be destroyed immediately." Meiko interrupted.
Ryan shook his head. "Your wrong councilor on two counts. One, the crystal ship employs a cloaking device that makes it invisible to any sensor of any kind. And two, the crystal ship could easily slip through any of the defense perimeters that surround the checkpoint. However we do know the precise location the ship with attempt to bust it's way through." He answered.
Meiko raised his eyebrows. "And how did you come about with this information?" He asked.
Ryan looked to Tenchi then to the council member. "By his power signature." He answered.
"Power signature?" Meiko replied, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion.
"It's a long story councilor. Suffice to say we can meet the enemy at this checkpoint and stop him from getting any closer to Jurai, which is what Bagon and Kylia want. But I will need the full cooperation of the entire checkpoint personnel. I also need their trust. Without it, I will fail." The kenshin said.
Meiko nodded. "Be assured. We will do all that you ask of us." He said faithfully.
"Now, tell me what you have in mind." He added motioning the two weary kenshins to sit down. Tenchi and Ryan complied resting themselves before Meiko. Tenchi and Meiko listened closely as the kenshin began to outline his plan.
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