All characters are property of AIC and Pioneer LDC. This story line is based on the Tenchi Muyo OVA and Tenchi Universe. It is not my intent to rip off other peoples' work so, if this story resembles another, it does so inadvertently.
Ryoko's Degradation
Chapter 2
Ryoko looked at the large display in front of her. The Planet Beta Prime was drawing closer. It looked like a healthy planet with its dark green tint broken up by white clouds.
"This is it Ryo-Ohki. Are you ready?" Ryoko asked her ship.
"Miaaahh!" Ryo-Ohki replied at an almost deafening volume. Ryoko grinned. Red flames burnt over the surface of Ryoko's arms and legs of her battle suit as she drew from the power of her three gems. Ryoko laughed to herself as she felt the power coarse through her body. Ryo-Ohki sped up to attack speed as soon as she felt Ryoko power up. Small orange lights flickered about the green planet as Ryo-Ohki aprroached. The lights grew brighter and steady until the ships that created the lights could be seen. The ships formed ranks and opened fire. Plasma and particle beam weapons were nothing but a nusance to the crystaline ship.
"Silence them!" Ryoko ordered. Ryo-Ohki's reply echoed throughout the star system. Ryo-Ohki banked so that the focal point of her high-energy beam aimed at the left side of the floatilla that blocked her path to Beta Prime. Ryo-Ohki started to glow red as she charged her beam.
"Fire." Ryoko laughed. Ryo-Ohki let loose her beam and pivoted from left to right and ruthlessly cut a crisp line through the defending ships' ranks. Most of the ships that were struck exploded instantly. The few that survived were severely damaged and burning.
"HAHAHA!" Ryoko howled with delight.
"That was great Ryo-Ohki. Let's get a closer look." Ryoko offered. Ryo-Ohki sped to one of the ships that survived. The untouched ships in the formation regrouped and opened fire once again. Ryoko didn't pay them any attention. Ryo-Ohki pulled along side the heavily damaged battleship. The ship was starting list.
"Do you think there is a prize inside, Ryo-Ohki?" Ryoko asked. Her ship replied her usually answer.
"Cut it open." Ryoko ordered once more. Ryo-Ohki rammed the battleship with one of her crystaline spikes then sped alongside. The battleship was split open effortlessly.
"Quick! Zoom in before it explodes!" Ryoko yelled with excitement. The main monitor zoomed into the slashed section of the battleship. Ryoko witnessed crewmembers of the battleship being blown into the vacuum of space. She watched as they contorted with pain as the nitrogen in their blood began to boil. The battleship then exploded in a flash of light. Ryoko fell back onto the floor and laughed hystericly.
"HAHAHAA! Did you see that, Ryo-Ohki?! Did you see their faces?!" Ryoko continued to laugh. Ryoko regained her composure and stood again.
"It doesn't get any better than that. I don't want to waste any more time here. Let's see how fast you can take care of the rest." Ryoko chuckled. Ryo-Ohki powered up to maximum then dashed about the remnants of the formation until no ship remained intact.
* * *
Washu furiously typed on her keyboard. She was in such a hurry that she occasionally missed a key, which is something that almost never happens.
"Damn!" Washu cursed when she missed another key. Tenchi had already placed Ryoko on the same bed Ayeka was lying on earlier. He fetched a heavy blanket and tucked it snuggly around Ryoko's body. Tenchi stepped away from the bed and continued to look on in shock at what had happened to Ryoko. This was the worst that Tenchi had ever seen Ryoko. Washu's typing came to an abrupt hault. Her head snapped towards Ryoko. Ryoko's eyes opened. Washu's eye's started to tear and her mouth opened. Tenchi saw something that he never thought he would see. Washu, for a split second, looked completely surprised. Her hands were frozen above the keys of her keyboard. Ryoko turned her head. She looked past Tenchi and focused on Washu. Ryoko's mouth moved but no words came out. Tenchi looked back to Washu. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. Washu snapped out of her trance and continued to type but with renewed determination. As soon as Washu's finger completed it's last stroke, Washu darted to Ryoko's side and looked down at her. Ryoko's eyes were closed again. The green field that incased Ayeka earlier now incased Ryoko. Washu placed her hands on the field as she continued to look at her daughter. Tears were still streaming down her cheeks.
"Little Washu?" Tenchi asked.
"She called me momma." Washu whispered.
* * *
Ryoko left Ryo-Ohki and headed for the temple where the manuscript that Kagato wanted was kept.
"Stop! Stop, right there!" Voices yelled from behind Ryoko. Ryoko turned to see several dozen armed men in uniform. Ryoko turned back towards the temple and drifted towards it.
"Fire!" The leader of the group ordered. The uniformed men fired their weapons at Ryoko. An invisible shield that surrounded Ryoko deflected their beams. Ryoko stopped then turned slowly towards the men. She wore a vicious grin.
"So you want to play." Ryoko stated. She flew at blazed towards the men. Before the leader had time to react, Ryoko threw a feirce punch into his gut, which ripped him nearly in two. Blood covered Ryoko's right arm and spackled her face and body. The other men stood in horror. Ryoko produced an orange burning blade and started to slash at the men mercilessly. Only when her blade met another did she stop. The last of the guards drew a yellow sabre that prevented Ryoko's last strike from falling on her intended victim. Ryoko was pleasantly surprised. The look of determination mixed with anger was a look she had never seen before. She drifted back a few feet and lowered her blade to her side.
"What is that?" Ryoko asked joyfully.
"What is what?" The young guard replied.
"What is that look on your face? It's funny." Ryoko clarified.
"What?" The guard asked increduously. Ryoko rushed in and grabbed the the wrist of the guard's sword fighting arm then she threw a hard right that landed flush on the guard's jaw. The guard stumbled backwards then fell onto his back. He looked up in disbelief at Ryoko's strength. He knew that Ryoko pulled her punch. Had she not, his head would have been separated from his body.
"I asked what's that look on your face?" Ryoko questioned again. She was starting to lose patience. The guard knew he had to think of something quick. He stood slowly then retracted his yellow edge. He rested the hilt of his sabre on his left shoulder then he looked to the ground like he had been defeated. He was hoping to confuse Ryoko. Ryoko was intrigued. She had never seen this before and she couldn't understand why the young guard was standing the way he was. Ryoko lowered her blade and teleported behind the young man. He didn't respond. He just stood there. Ryoko continued to scrutanize the boy as she walked around in front of him.
"What are you doing?" Ryoko asked with genuine curiosity. The boy didn't look up.
"Forgive me." The guard murmured. Ryoko was about to ask the signifigance of what the boy said but the boy lashed out with great speed. The guard had placed the hilt on his shoulder to save a split second in speed. He whipped around as fast as he could and smashed Ryoko's teeth in with the hilt of his sabre. He might have been able to decappitate Ryoko if he would have produced a blade but he chose to daze Ryoko with a fast nonlethal shot rather than waste another split second by producing his blade. His plan worked. Ryoko was caught off guard and reeled backwards in pain. The guard didn't waste a moment to admire his handiwork. He generated a blade and used his momentum on follow through to sweep backwards and low with his sabre. Ryoko tried to evade his attack but she was off balance and distracted with pain. As she jumped, the guard's blade sliced through Ryoko's right leg just below her knee. Ryoko screamed in pain as she fell backwards. The guard needed to finish Ryoko quickly before she had a chance to regroup, so he brought his blade down at Ryoko's head. Unfortunately for the guard, Ryoko raised her shield and caught the guard's blade moments before it would have ended her. Ryoko was seething. The pain that coarsed through her face and the fury she directed towards the guard made her face contort with hate. Ryoko created a ball of green light in her left hand. She raised the light to her face. Ryoko's teeth regenerated. She then brought the ball of light to just below her knee on her right leg. Her leg regenerated as well. Ryoko stood, still holding the guard's blade in place with her invisible shield. Her newly formed teeth were gnashed together like white steel spikes. Her golden irises had vanished, leaving only the burning white of her eyes to glare at the guard. Ryoko took a step closer to the guard.
"I know now why you make this face." Ryoko hissed. She brought forth her orange blade and quickly sliced off the boy's sabre weilding arm. The boy yelled as his arm and blade fell to the ground. Ryoko quickly grabbed the boy by his neck and flew about twenty feet into the air. The boy kicked and punched as hard as he could with no effect. Ryoko paused for a moment to enjoy her victim's panic. She raised the boy over her head then hurled him to ground with great force. The boy hit the ground so hard that the white bricks that paved the path to the entrance of the temple broke beneathe him. The guard remained motionless. Ryoko drifted to the ground but remained a safe distance away. The guard started to stir. He lifted his face to reveal it was covered with blood. He looked around for a moment then started to drag himself along the ground with his one good arm. The bones in the boy's legs shattered from the fall. He was bleeding severely from where his right arm used to be and from where the bones were petruding from his legs. Ryoko slowly followed. The blood from the boy streaked the walkway red as he moved along. Ryoko looked up and saw what the boy was crawling for. His right arm and sword were only a short distance away. He crawled until he reached them. He pulled his right arm to his side. He then grabbed his sabre. The guard rolled over onto his back and looked skyward. The sky was crystal clear and the two suns were shining brightly. A gentle breeze blew the boy's hair out of place. The boy let out a quick strained laugh.
"This isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. It really isn't." The boy mumbled with a smile. Ryoko started to drift towards the temple. The boy whispered something then he was silent. Ryoko stopped to hear what the guard said then she continued on quickly into the temple.
* * *
Tenchi looked exhausted as he leaned back on the couch. Ayeka and Mihoshi sat across from him and remained silent. Mihoshi's eyes were watery but she managed to keep her emotions at bay. Noboyuki sat quietly at the end of the same couch Tenchi was sitting on. He looked like he wanted to say something but was having trouble. Tenchi continued to stair at the ceiling. He wondered how on earth Ryoko could get in such terrible shape in such a short amount of time. The door to Washu's lab opened and Washu stepped into the living room. She looked almost as tired as Tenchi. She walked past the group in the living room then stepped through the kitchen door. Everyone in the living room looked at each other as if to ask what Washu was doing. Noboyuki picked up the plate of rice crackers and started to snack. Washu walked back through the kitchen door and into the living room. She plopped down between Noboyuki and Tenchi.
"Rice cracker?" Noboyuki offered. Everyone gave Noboyuki a dirty look but he didn't notice.
"Don't mind if I do." Washu replied as she took a cracker from the plate and started to snack as well. A minute passed before Washu spoke again.
"By the way, Sasami said that dinner would be ready in about half an hour." Washu stated. The whole group fell over.
"What is wrong with Ryoko, Little Washu?" Tenchi demanded. Washu looked at Tenchi. Tenchi felt as though he misspoke. He quickly looked to the ground.
"I don't know, Tenchi." Washu answered.
"Don't you know everything, Miss Washu?" Mihoshi asked.
"I wish that was the case, Mihoshi. Every reading I have taken confirms that Ryoko's body is in perfect working order." Washu explained.
"How can that be?" Ayeka questioned.
"The problem is that she is simply not getting enough energy to substain herself." Washu said.
"Doesn't her power come from the gem?" Tenchi asked.
"Yes." Washu replied.
"Can there be a problem with the gem?" Tenchi offered.
"Good guess but no. Don't ask me to explain but there is nothing wrong with the gem. Apparently, Ryoko's body is refusing to draw power from it." Washu said.
"Why is that?" Noboyuki asked.
"If I knew that, I would be able to fix the problem now wouldn't I?" Washu snapped. Noboyuki looked frightened. Washu recovered quickly.
"I'm sorry. If the problem isn't physical then it has to be psychological. Unfortunately, Ryoko is unconsciencous right now so I can't ask her anything. I don't want to go barging into her head in her current condition. I may make things worse than what they already are. All we can do is wait for her to come to." Washu finished. She grabbed another cracker off the plate and bit it in half. Washu looked at the remaining cracker as she chewed noisily.
"Vis iv, wiff outa dot, vee beff cacker i hev ever ad." Washu said with her mouth full.
* * *
Ryoko materialised in Kagato's chapel aboard Souja. She walked down the path towards Kagato's pipe organ. Kagato sat on his throne. His eyes were closed but Ryoko knew he wasn't asleep. She stopped at the steps before Kagato's throne. His eyes opened and he looked at Ryoko. Ryoko stood with the manuscript in her hand.
"I see you were successful in getting what I wanted, my dear." Kagato said with a slight smile. He stood from his seat and reached out for the manuscript. Ryoko released it and it drifted to Kagato. He looked at the manuscript thoughtfully for a few minutes. The smile disappeared from Kagato's face and his eyes closed once again.
"I hope getting this wasn't too much trouble. I wouldn't want to think of jeopardising your well being for something completely useless." Kagato finished with an angry tone. He carefully folded the manuscript then burned it to ashes in the grip of his hand. Ryoko looked stunned and Kagato noticed.
"Is there something troubling you, Ryoko?" Kagato asked.
"He tried so hard." Ryoko said.
"Who tried so hard?" Kagato replied.
"The guard gave his life to keep me from getting that." Ryoko said as she pointed to the ashes at Kagato's feet.
"Anyone with such misplaced values doesn't deserve to continue in this reality." Kagato sighed as he took his seat once more. He raised his left hand to his chin and looked as though he was in deep thought. His gaze returned to Ryoko who was still standing at the base of the stairs to his throne.
"You may go." Kagato said. Ryoko remained.
"It doesn't seem right." Ryoko said. Kagato's left hand moved to the armrest of his throne. His eye's narrowed as he looked at Ryoko inquisitively.
"Life's not fair, Ryoko." Kagato answered. Ryoko remained unchanged.
"There are two types of people in this world, the strong and the weak. It doesn't matter how much you desire equality. Sooner or later, a higherarchy will form. You must take your place at the top if you want to survive. If you try to become anything less than what you are meant to be, you will lose your right to live and it will only be a matter of time before someone enforces that unwritten law." Kagato concluded.
"What is my place?" Ryoko asked.
"Can't you tell by your design? You were made to draw from the three gems you posses. The different attacks you are able to wield are the only force capable of rendering the wings of the light hawk useless. It is painfully obvious that you are a primal engine of destruction. The day that you stop being that, someone else will take your power from you and cast you down." Kagato assured. Ryoko looked at her wrists. She then turned and walked down the walkway, away from Kagato. A grin came to Kagato's face. Ryoko stopped. The smile disappeared once more as he looked at Ryoko.
"Do I have a mother?" Ryoko asked. Kagato thought for a short while.
"What?" Kagato questioned calmly.
"He asked for his mother. I never really thought about it before. Do I have a mother?" Ryoko asked again.
"You seem to have forgotten that you weren't born, you were created. Since I was the one who created you, I'm the closest thing to a parent you have. But if it is a straightforward answer you want, then no. You don't have a mother." Kagato answered coldly. Ryoko exited Kagato's chamber.
* * *
"Well, there's an improvement." Washu said as she read the latest results of Ryoko's tests.
"She's getting better?" Tenchi spouted.
"I wouldn't go that far but at least her brianwave readout is more active." Washu responded.
"What does that mean?" Tenchi asked again.
"It means she's more mentally alert. However, she is still barely drawing anything from the one gem she has. As far as I can tell, she's only drawing enough to keep her mind going. Her body is consuming way too much energy. That's why she's so cold. It's like everything has shut down." Washu commented.
"If she needs energy then why don't you just get her something to eat." Mihoshi offered from the other side of Ryoko's bed.
"I wish it was that simple. You have to remember Mihoshi, Ryoko may look normal but she isn't built the same way we are. Her body consumes much much more energy than ours do." Washu explained.
"Then why don't you just make her an extra big helping." Mihoshi tried again. Washu smiled at Mihoshi's attempt to help.
"I'm afraid there isn't enough energy in all the food in all of Japan to tie her over until breakfast, Mihoshi." Washu concluded.
"Wow! Really?" Sasami asked. Washu nodded.
"Do you think giving her the other two gems would help her?" Tenchi asked.
"It may. But then again, maybe not." Washu added.
"Are you sure you want to do that, Lord Tenchi?" Ayeka asked with a little concern.
"If it will increase her odds at recovery, then I'm all for it." Tenchi smiled. Washu returned the smile. Tenchi stepped out of the lab to get the master key.
"Why now?" Ayeka asked.
"What's that?" Washu asked back.
"I don't know why something like this has happened now. She seemed normal for the last few days. It doesn't make since for her to change all of a sudden." Ayeka said.
"Who knows, princess? Science has been able to tell us many things but it has never been able to decipher how and why we feel."
* * *
Ryoko opened her eyes slowly. She shielded her face from the bright sunlight that shined down from the sky. Ryoko sat up slowly and looked around. She was sitting on top of a large hill blanketed with short grass. Ryoko looked over her shoulder to see a large oak tree behind her. The oak's leaves russled and its bows creaked as a cool breeze rushed over the hilltop. Ryoko looked in front of her and saw a land of rolling hills stretching as far as she could see. The carpet of grass that she was sitting on was the same shade of green from horizon to horizon except for an occassional patch of white flowers. Aside from a few whisps of clouds, the sky was flawless and an unusual shade of dark blue. She had nearly forgotten about the nightmare she had just been through. Ryoko laughed and fell backwards onto the soft grass.
"It was just a bad dream." Ryoko laughed.
"Not quite." A familiar voice spoke. Ryoko jumped to her feet and turned towards the large oak tree. A figure stood and moved from the far side of the tree. Only when the person drifted from beneath the shade of the oak did Ryoko confirm that the voice belonged to someone she knew.
"You look surprised to see me." Ryoko's mirror image stated calmly.
* * *
Tenchi held the master key in front of himself. He closed his eyes and concentrated. Washu extended her right hand towards Tenchi and opened it. The two remaining gems on the hilt glowed white for an instant before disappearing from the key. The two gems reappeared in Washu's open hand. Ayeka watched on nervously.
"Are you certain this is a good idea?" Ayeka asked.
"This might be the only way we can save Ryoko, Ayeka." Tenchi commented. Ayeka understood but she still didn't like the thought of Ryoko at full power. Sasami grabbed her sister's hand. Ayeka looked at Sasami.
"Don't worry. Ryoko isn't the same person that attacked the palace." Sasami noted with a smile. Ayeka managed to force a smile but she didn't feel any better. Washu walked over to the bed Ryoko was lying on. She hit a button on the side of the bed and the dim green field that surrounded Ryoko vanished. Washu looked down at Ryoko. Ryoko was asleep but her eyes were clamped shut and her mouth was drawn tight as though she was in pain. Washu extended her open hand towards Ryoko. Once more, the gems turned white before they disappeared. One gem appeared on Ryoko's right wrist and the other appeared on her neck. The painful expression on Ryoko's face relaxed but didn't completely disappear. Washu pressed the button on the side of Ryoko's bed and the dim green field encased Ryoko again. Washu sat on her floating cushion and started to type on her keyboard.
"How long until you know it it worked?" Mihoshi asked.
"It won't be long." Washu affirmed.
* * *
Ryoko stood her ground. Her twin was clad in her black and red battlesuit. Her right arm was covered in wet blood. Her hair and face were still spackled as though she had just come from Ryoko's nightmare.
"Who...what are you?" Ryoko asked.
"Isn't it obvious. I'm you. Or at least, the you that existed before you were imprisoned in that cave by Yosho. If referring to me as 'Ryoko' is too much trouble for you, you can simply call me 'Me." Me explained.
"You don't belong here."Ryoko challenged. Me didn't have any expression on her face as she continued to gaze at Ryoko with unblinking eyes.
"If it is true that I may not belong here, then it is equally true that you may not belong here either. Whichever is the case, we are both here now. I think we need to have a talk." Me said as she sat down in front of Ryoko. Ryoko remained standing. She was having trouble understanding what was happening. She needed answers. As unrational as it sounded, Ryoko might get her answers by having a conversation with Me. Ryoko sat and looked at Me who was sitting calmly in front of her. The wind blew again and russled the leaves of the tree behind her duplicate. Ryoko looked around and tried to understand the signifigance of where she was. Her surroundings were familiar but it didn't remind her of anyplace she had been.
"You don't know where we are?" Me asked. Ryoko's head snapped back in Me's direction. Ryoko remained silent.
"That doesn't surprise me. After all, you have forgotten all about me so why should this place be any different." Me commented.
"Am I going crazy?" Ryoko asked.
"You are having a conversation with yourself. That could be grounds for labling you 'insane.' But in an insane world, wouldn't the rational appear to be crazy?" Me challenged.
"This is no time for philosophy, damn it! I want answers." Ryoko yelled.
"What do you want to know?" Me replied.
"Where are we?" Ryoko asked.
"We are in a place of my design. I made this place a very long time ago. It was shortly after that incident on Beta Prime. Don't you remember?" Me asked. Ryoko couldn't remember.
"You have been here before and at the same time I was. Only then, I was the the Ryoko that could leave this place for the real world and you were the one who belonged here." Me explained.
"I don't understand." Ryoko admitted.
"What do you think of this place?" Me asked.
"It is very beautiful." Ryoko answered.
"I agree. The sky is always blue. The wind is always gentle. The grass is always soft." Me added.
"Do you know what is in that direction?" Me asked as she pointed to the east. Ryoko was at a loss for a moment then a memory flashed through her mind. Her eyes widened as the truth sank in.
"Mountains." Ryoko said.
"Why the east?" Me asked.
"That is where I put them so I could see the sun rise over them in the morning." Ryoko said.
"What about over there?" Me asked as she pointed to the west.
"The seashore." Ryoko answered.
"Why did I make this place?" Me asked.
"It's the only place I could escape from Kagato..." Ryoko sobbed.
"And?" Me pressed Ryoko.
"...and...the killing." Ryoko finished.
"You really didn't need my help at all, at least in that reguard." Me stated. Ryoko remained silent. Me stood. Her eyes closed but her face remained emmotionless.
"After you were imprisoned in that cave by Yosho, you didn't need this place anymore. Earth was just as good as this dream except for one minor detail...Earth is real. For 700 years you didn't need this place because you had escaped from Kagato and the killing. And truthfully, Earth was much better than this place." Me explained as she looked down at Ryoko. Ryoko looked back up at Me with tears in her eyes. Me still had no expression on her face.
"What's more is that you were freed and had a very real chance at obtaining a normal life. You even fell in love with Tenchi." Me continued. Ryoko followed Me with her eyes. She was unable to keep her tears from flowing. She knew what was coming next.
"However, Tenchi doesn't seem to share your affections. He doesn't seem to value your feelings any more than Ayeka's or anyone else for that matter. You are now a very normal part of his normal life and I'm sure he would like to keep it that for as long as he can." Me paused.
"And then there's Washu. She's your mother or so she says. Mother's are supposed to raise and protect their children. I don't recall her ever doing either. As a matter of fact, she let you fall into Kagato's hands and be forced to commit the most obscene of offenses. I guess you could give her the benefit of the doubt because she was imprisoned but she hasn't even offered an apology for letting you down. The man you love and your mother are suppose to be a little nicer to you aren't they?" Me questioned.
"Yes." Ryoko answered through her sobs.
"Is it any wonder why you started to question whether the the world you live in now is any gentler to you than the last?" Me asked again.
"No." Ryoko answered again.
"Is this life any gentler than the last?" Me questioned.
"No." Ryoko whispered.
"Maybe we should start over. Maybe we should live in a place where we decide our own happiness." Me suggested as she offered her hand to Ryoko. Ryoko looked up at Me. She took Me's hand and stood. Ryoko's sobs stopped. Ryoko closed her eyes and bowed her head. Me did the same. The two Ryoko's both started to fade and then the two merged. Ryoko opened her eyes. She had no expression on her face.
* * *
Washu was so happy to see that Ryoko was now drawing nominally from the gems that she ran around the house and woke everyone from their sleep. It was three a.m. but Washu was wide-awake. Tenchi was a sleepy but he was glad that Washu woke him up. Sasami was pleased as well. Ayeka was still rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she stood next to Ryoko's bed. Mihoshi had dozed off again and was asleep on the lab floor.
"What happened?" Tenchi asked.
"I really can't say. One minute she's on the brink and the next she is recovering rapidly. Look at this. It will only be a few minutes before she is back to normal." Washu said as she pointed at a view screen that graphed Ryoko's recovery.
"That's great!" Sasami spouted. Ryoko shifted position in her bed. Everyone looked down at Ryoko. Washu pressed the button on the side of the bed and the field surrounding Ryoko dissolved. Ryoko let out a brief sigh. Her eyes remained closed as she sat up. She teleported from her place in bed and reappeared right next to Washu.
"I see you are full of energy." Washu said with a smile. Ryoko didn't reply. Her eyes opened. Ryoko was still didn't look like her normal self.
"Are you alright, Ryoko?" Tenchi asked. Washu's eyes widened as she felt Ryoko summon a massive amount of power from all three gems. Ryoko pivoted and fired a devastating energy attack into Washu. Washu tried to put up a field to protect herself but it shattered on contact with Ryoko's blast. Washu was blown across her lab and into a large metal table.
"WASHU!" Tenchi yelled.
More to come.