All characters are property of AIC and Pioneer LCD. This story line is based on the Tenchi Muyo OVA. It is not my intentions to rip off other people's work so if this story resembles another, it does so inadvertently.
Chapter 6
Me stepped through the corridor that led away from her cell. Her hands, arms and her hair were drenched in blood. Small droplets of blood dripped from her finger tips and the ends of her hair onto the floor. She wore a wide sadistic smile as she walked slowly through the passage towards the bridge. A blast rocked the hallway just in front of Me.
"That tickles." Me snickered. Me launched herself down the hallway with amazing speed. She blasted right through a group of guards. Me stopped and looked back over her shoulder at the guards she had just run down. Two of the guards were laying face down and didn't move. The third was trying to stand. Me jumped up and landed with both of her feet smashing the final guard's head to mush. Me paused and savored the moment before she continued down the hallway. Me looked out of one of the windows and saw escape pods blasting away from the sides of the ship. Me frowned at her game trying to run from her. She teleported to just outside the ship and chased down one of the pods. She caught the large elliptical craft then punted it like a ball. Her foot crushed one side of the craft and it spun uncontrollably into space. Me held out her right index finger like it was a gun.
"Bang." Me said. The damaged ship exploded in a flash of silver sparks. Me turned her attention to the rest of the ships trying to flee. She was about to pick off another ship when Me was blasted backwards by a shot fired from the side of the GP Frigate. The ship unleashed a massive salvo but Me easily dodged each shot. She brought her hands together in front of her as she summoned energy for a devastating attack. Me raised her hands until they folded behind her head. Me's wicked smile was replaced by a scowl. She threw her hands forward and unleashed a large orange bolt of burning energy that pierced the hull and detonated deep within the innards of the ship. The ship leaned away from Me as secondary explosions ripped through the skin of the ship. Me was satisfied with the damage she inflicted on the frigate and turned her attention back to the pods. When she looked back to find the ships, they were too far apart to attack as a group and chasing them down would be more trouble than fun. Me looked disappointed. She summoned a large mass of energy once more but this time, the ball blasted into hundreds of small darts that found every escape pod and sliced them to pieces. Me looked around to see that there wasn't much left to do. She turned towards the ship's original course. Jurai was still a small green dot in the blackness of space.
"Oh well. I might as well get to it." Me sighed upon realizing she wasn't as close to Jurai as she originally thought.
* * *
Washu pulled up various video screens and watched as report after report of Ryoko's twin's brutality appeared on civil, police, and military news. Washu rubbed her eyes and turned off the view screens. There was no apparent motive for Me's destructive behavior. She seemed to kill or destroy as she pleased. The only pattern that emerged from her deeds was her destination. Me was going to Jurai, but for what, Washu didn't know. Washu stood up from her chair. She had been sitting there for hours as the reports came in but there was nothing she could do from so far away. She made her way towards the lab door when a video screen popped up by her chair. Washu turned to see Lady Seto's sour countenance staring at her.
"Yes, Lady Seto?" Washu asked.
"I was hoping you would tell me." Lady Seto replied.
"That isn't my daughter. Ryoko is here with me." Washu said.
"Do you know what we will do?" Lady Seto asked.
"I don't really care what you do to that thing but, yes, I have an idea." Washu answered.
"I'm not talking about the present. What we are going to do about that thing should be painfully obvious. I'm talking about the future." Lady Seto said coldly.
"I don't care about anything Jurai does. But, if you think that Jurai will interfere in my life, especially where my daughter is concerned, you had better think again and think real hard." Washu said bitterly.
"Well, I guess you have made up your mind." Lady Seto said with no expression.
"I have found the reason for this being's existence and it isn't Ryoko's fault. That will have to be good enough for the high council." Washu answered.
"We'll see." Lady Seto said.
"I guess we will." Washu agreed. The video screen disappeared. Washu turned towards the lab door and made her way towards the living room.
* * *
The sun was shining bright outside as the noon day sun climbed to its highest point. The weather was beautiful. It was pleasantly warm and only a few clouds dotted the sky. A cool wind blew through the valley by the Masaki house but Ryoko wasn't outside to enjoy it. She didn't feel like enjoying too much of anything. After hearing about and remembering what she had done, she didn't feel any reason to be happy. When she tried to leave, she was kept from going. Now she was a prisoner in a house that she didn't want to be in. Ryoko looked down into the sink and stared at the point where the water running out of the tap splashed onto the aluminum surface of the sink. Ryoko didn't stare too long. There was work that needed to be done. Ryoko wanted to get her mind off of what she had done so she subjected herself to as much manual labor as she could find. She volunteered to help Sasami with lunch. Her task was to wash the vegetables that Sasami was going to cook. Ryoko reached into the basket next to the sink and pulled out a carrot. She placed the carrot under the tap and rinsed it off as best as she could. Sasami stood at her place by the cutting board and watched Ryoko. Sasami was usually happy about getting help with cooking but she felt so sad for Ryoko that she was having trouble concentrating. Ryo-Ohki usually sat at Sasami's feet during the preparation portion of cooking but today Ryo-Ohki didn't even come into the kitchen. She just sat in the doorway and watched. Ryoko finished washing the carrots then she reached for a towel and dried her hands. Ryoko stopped and looked at her hands a little longer. She stuck them under the running water and washed her hands. Ryoko continued to wash but she wasn't satisfied with job she was doing. Her hands didn't feel clean. Sasami watched Ryoko and tried to figure out what she was doing.
"What are you doing, Ryoko?" Sasami asked. Ryoko looked to Sasami then back to her hands. Ryoko reached up and turned the water off then dried her hands again.
"I'm sorry, Sasami." Ryoko apologized. Sasami was confused.
"What are you sorry for?" Sasami asked.
"Do you remember when we first met?" Ryoko asked. Sasami remembered all the way back to when Ayeka had taken Ryoko prisoner.
"Yes." Sasami admitted.
"I wasn't going to hurt you, but that is no excuse. Only a monster and a coward would hold a naked blade to a sweet little girl's neck. I'll never be able to apologize enough but I'm sorry anyway." Ryoko finished.
"Oh Ryoko. I had forgotten all about that." Sasami said with a half smile. Ryoko turned to Sasami and kneeled so that the two were the same height. Ryoko leaned forward and hugged Sasami.
"I didn't forget." Ryoko said with a choked up voice. Ryoko released Sasami. Sasami's eyes were watered but she didn't cry. Ryoko stood up and looked at Sasami. Ryoko reached down and patted Sasami's head.
"I don't think I'm going to be of much use to you in here." Ryoko said as she walked for the door. Sasami wanted to help Ryoko but she just didn't know how. Ryoko walked out of the kitchen and into the living room. Ayeka was sitting on the couch reading a magazine. Ryoko walked over to the couch next to Ayeka and pulled all the cushions from the seat. Ayeka watched as Ryoko carried the cushion outside onto the wooden deck. Ryoko held up a cushion and hit it with her hand in an attempt to beat the dust out of it. Ryoko hit the one cushion a few more times then placed it on the deck and picked up another. Ayeka put down her magazine and stepped out onto the deck beside Ryoko and continued to observe. Ryoko picked up another cushion and beat it the same way she beat the first. Ayeka picked up the last cushion and beat it in the same fashion Ryoko was beating them. Ryoko turned to Ayeka.
"I appreciate you trying to help me but I would rather do it myself." Ryoko said with sincerity.
"I know but I'm rather bored and I would like to help you." Ayeka smiled. Ryoko forced a fake smile and picked up two of the cushions and walked back inside. Ayeka followed with her one. Ryoko placed her cushions on the couch and Ayeka replaced hers. Ayeka was about to grab the cushions on the other couch when Ryoko made her way to the front door.
"What about this one?" Ayeka asked pointing at the couch she had been sitting on. Ryoko stopped for a moment then continued out the door. Ayeka would normally yell at Ryoko for not finishing her work but the fact that she started to clean on her own without someone hounding her was a definite sign of change. Given what Ryoko had been through, Ayeka resigned herself to finding her original place on the couch and picked up where she left off in her magazine.
* * *
Ryoko walked up the steps that led to the shrine. She paused as she took each step. Ryoko didn't usually walk up the steps. She usually just flew up or teleported to where she wanted to go. However, Ryoko didn't want to use her power anymore. Ryoko was determined to never use her power again, if she could help it. If she was a truly primal engine of destruction then maybe she could curve the damage by giving it significantly less power. Ryoko stepped slowly but she eventually found herself at the top. When she got there, she found Tenchi's grandfather waiting.
"Good afternoon, Ryoko. Beautiful day, isn't it?" Lord Katsuhito stated.
"I guess." Ryoko replied.
"Do you have any work that needs to be done?" Ryoko asked.
"As a matter of fact, yes. You can help me sweep the stairs." Lord Katsuhito said with a smile as he produced two brooms from behind his back.
"Don't you usually save that for Tenchi?" Ryoko asked with a bit of suspicion.
"Yes I do but Tenchi is in school right now and I want to practice with him a little longer this afternoon. So, doing this now will free up time for me later." Lord Katsuhito finished. Ryoko took the broom and started to sweep the top of the stairs. Lord Katsuhito started to sweep on the other side of her.
"This would go by faster if one of us started at the bottom." Ryoko pointed out.
"I would rather have your company." Lord Katsuhito suggested. Ryoko shrugged and continued to sweep.
"You don't typically volunteer for work." Lord Katsuhito stated.
"No I don't." Ryoko confirmed.
"I see." Lord Katsuhito answered.
"It sure is a nice day isn't it?" Lord Katsuhito said again.
"Yes." Ryoko said while not looking up from her work.
"I remember shortly after I came here, I thought that I could never be happy in this place or back on Jurai.
"Why is that?" Ryoko asked with no interest.
"Because of all the troubles my mother had to endure." Lord Katsuhito explained.
"Did your mother murder countless hundreds of people then laugh about it?" Ryoko asked.
"Yes she did." Lord Katsuhito said with a somber expression. Ryoko looked up.
"Well…no she didn't, actually, but neither did you?" Lord Katsuhito said matter-of-factly.
"How can you say that? You have seen it twice." Ryoko said.
"You know when I arrived here, no one back home knew where I was. The only way that they could know that I was here was if my ship sent out a message explaining that I was here. Now keeping you imprisoned rather than killing you provided a risk that I would some day be discovered." Lord Katsuhito said.
"Maybe you should have killed me. You might have been able to keep a lot of people alive if you would have done so along with keeping your location a secret." Ryoko said.
"That's true but that would have provided me with three greater problems. I knew that you were under control by someone else and you weren't wholly responsible for what you did. You didn't deserve to die. I also knew that one day I would have to tackle my problems head on rather than run from them. Lastly, I'm not a killer. A killer does the foulest of deeds and feels no remorse. In fact, natural killers are so proud of their work that they try to think of new and exotic ways of killing. When they do, they pat themselves on the back and congratulate themselves on a job well done. I could never do that. Because I'm not someone who draws delight from making other's suffer, I cringe at the thought of anyone doing such things. Killers don't feel remorse. Good, honest people are the ones who feel bad for doing the wrong thing.
"Is that so?" Ryoko asked.
"That's my opinion anyway." Lord Katsuhito said as he moved down to the next step. Ryoko continued to sweep. The two didn't say another word to each other for the rest of the day.
* * *
Lady Seto sat back in her chair and gazed out into the blackness of space. She clicked a button on her arm rest.
"Status Admiral?" Lady Seto inquired.
"Third fleet is moving into position now. Seventh and fifth fleets are standing by. The Galaxy Police flotilla will be here within an hour." The Admiral replied.
"Excellent work." Lady Seto said before she closed the channel. Lady Seto had made all preparations for Ryoko's twin's attack. All force that could be mustered was moved or moving into position. The only thing left to do was wait. Lady Seto brought her fingertips together in front of her face and tried to think of anything she might have missed.
* * *
Washu paused before she walked out of her lab door. She looked down at the small white box in her hand. Washu drew in a deep breath then let it out. She stepped through her lab door and into the hallway. Washu made her way into the living room to see Ryoko sitting on the couch and looking out the window.
"Feeling better?" Washu asked. Ryoko didn't reply. Washu left the living room and made her way to Tenchi's room. She walked up to the door and knocked.
"Come in." Tenchi called out. Washu walked into Tenchi's room. Tenchi was finishing up his homework. He turned to see Washu walk in.
"Hello, Little Washu. I wasn't expecting you." Tenchi said happily as he put his pencil down.
"I'll be leaving soon." Washu said bluntly.
"What? Where are you going?" Tenchi asked with obvious surprise.
"The fake Ryoko is going to Jurai. I don't know for certain but I think she is bent on destroying it." Washu said.
"What makes you think that?" Tenchi asked as he swiveled around in his chair.
"This incarnation of Ryoko doesn't do anything but break and kill. I don't think she is capable of much else. If Kagato couldn't capture Tsunami then he wouldn't want anyone else to have it. That might have been his goal with putting those programs in Ryoko." Washu surmised.
"What do you plan on doing?" Tenchi asked.
"I'm going to help Jurai stop her." Washu said as she opened the small white box and revealed its contents. Tenchi immediately recognized what was inside.
"But I thought…" Tenchi started.
"You're right. Far from the originals but it should be formidable if wielded by someone with experience." Washu stated.
"I might need your help." Washu said. Tenchi looked serious and stood up.
"When do you want to go?" Tenchi asked. Another knock came to Tenchi's door.
"Come in." Tenchi said. The door opened and Ayeka stepped in.
"When do we want to go?" Ayeka asked.
"I don't think your parents would approve of you being in this fight." Washu pointed out.
"I am the first crown princess of Jurai. I can't think of any situation that would warrant my presence more than defending my home and my people." Ayeka said. Washu smiled.
"Let's go. Right now, Lady Seto is waiting on the fringes of Jurai's system for that thing to show up." Washu said as she stepped out of Tenchi's room.
"Time is critical. We need to get there before she does. Fortunately for us, she destroyed her own means of transport to Jurai when she wasn't even half way there." Washu concluded as she stepped off the last step and walked towards the living room. When she stepped in, Ryoko was in her same spot. Sasami sat on the couch next to her with Ryo-Ohki in her lap.
"Sasami." Ayeka called. Sasami stood up and walked over to her sister.
"Lord Tenchi, Washu and I will be gone for a few days." Ayeka said.
"Where are you going?" Sasami asked. Ayeka didn't want to lie to her sister so she stopped and tried to think of a good excuse.
"We are running an errand on a planet that is pretty far from here. We would want to take you with us but it is going to be a dangerous trip." Washu explained. Sasami was about to object. Ayeka reached down and put her finger to Sasami's lips. Ayeka leaned over and whispered in Sasami's ear.
"I'm counting on you to take care of everyone in the house. It is a very big responsibility. Do you think you can handle it?" Ayeka asked. Sasami looked disappointed but she nodded her agreement. Washu looked back over to Ryoko.
"We'll be leaving soon." Washu said. Ryoko didn't move or respond. Washu walked up behind Ryoko and hugged her from behind. Ryoko continued to look out the window. Washu backed away from Ryoko. Washu looked to Sasami's feet where Ryo-Ohki was sitting.
"Let's go, Ryo-Ohki." Washu said as she walked towards the door. The cabbit followed Tenchi and Ayeka. Once into the front yard, Ryo-Ohki jumped into the air and transformed into her spacecraft form. Washu, Tenchi and Ayeka were teleported aboard then Ryo-Ohki sped skyward towards Jurai.
* * *
"I brought you some tea." Sasami spouted as she carried a small ceramic cup into the living room. Ryoko sat in the same place that she had been in all afternoon. Ryoko looked up at Sasami as she offered her the cup. Ryoko took the cup with both hands and held the glass in her lap. Ryoko looked to the floor and her eyes started to tear.
"It's all my fault." Ryoko whispered.
"What did you say Ryoko?" Sasami asked. Ryoko didn't reply. Noboyuki stepped in through the front door.
"I'm home." Noboyuki said with glee.
"Welcome home." Sasami replied.
"Where is everyone?" Noboyuki asked upon noticing how quiet the house was.
"Mihoshi was called back to work earlier today and Tenchi, Ayeka, and Washu all left for a little while." Sasami said.
"Where did they go?" Noboyuki asked as he started to undo his tie.
"They went to Jurai." Ryoko said without turning.
"Is that where they went? Why wouldn't they let me go with them?" Sasami asked incredulously.
"They have gone to kill the other me." Ryoko said.
"What?" Sasami yelped.
"I overheard them talking about it on their way out the door." Ryoko admitted.
"Why didn't you go?" Sasami asked. Ryoko looked over to Sasami then looked back out the window.
"I wouldn't be of much use to them." Ryoko answered.
"Yes you could. You are one of the strongest people I've ever seen." Sasami said.
"I don't want to hurt people anymore, Sasami. I'm through with it. I just want a normal life." Ryoko said.
"What about Tenchi, Ayeka, and Washu." Sasami said raising her voice.
"What about them?" Ryoko asked back.
"The other you is really mean. They might get hurt." Sasami almost yelled. Ryoko didn't answer.
"You need to help them!" Sasami yelled again. Ryoko remained silent. Sasami stepped up to Ryoko and grabbed Ryoko by the shoulders.
"Please Ryoko. I know if you don't go they will get hurt. You have to help them!" Sasami yelled.
"I'm sorry, Sasami. I don't want to fight." Ryoko said.
"Do you think Tenchi wants to fight, or Ayeka or Miss Washu?" Sasami asked. Ryoko didn't answer.
* * *
"But I already told you about her!" Mihoshi complained.
"I don't care how big, bad or scary this person you told me about is. You have your orders to support the destroyer Jubilation." The commander instructed.
"But I don't want to!" Mihoshi complained again.
"I'll talk to you again when this is all over." The commander commented before the video screen disappeared. Mihoshi started to feel sorry for herself.
"I guess I have no choice. I might as well do what I can." Mihoshi said in a not so confident tone.
"Yukinojo." Mihoshi said.
"Yes, Mihoshi?" The ship's main computer replied.
"What's the biggest gun he have?"
* * *
It didn't take long for Ryo-Ohki to reach the Armada of ships aligned in ranks just inside the Jurai System. Ayeka was at a loss when she the complete might of Jurai all gathered in one place and augmented with the bulk of the Galaxy Police fleet.
"I've never seen so many ships gathered in one place." Ayeka said.
"That goes for me as well. It is doubtful that we will ever witness such firepower localized like this ever again." Washu added.
"They are really taking the imposter's threat seriously." Tenchi said.
"When Ryoko attacked seven hundred years ago, she broke through the outer defense perimeter virtually untouched. They won't make the same mistake twice." Ayeka stated. Washu hit a button on her arm rest and a video screen appeared on the forward glass on the bridge. Lady Seto swiveled in place to face the screen.
"I am glad that you have come." Lady Seto said.
"It is partly my fault that this has happened. It is only fair that I help fix this mess." Washu replied. Tenchi gave Washu a strange look.
"Good evening, Princess Ayeka. It is doubtful that your father would want you here. I must admit that I would rather you not be here as well." Lady Seto made clear.
"But I want to help." Ayeka complained.
"Since you father and mother are not here, there is nothing I can do to make you leave. Where is Sasami?" Lady Seto asked.
"We left her back on earth. A battle is no place for her." Ayeka said with a little uneasiness.
"Having Tsunami nearby would have been handy but I understand your rationale. It makes little difference though. Tsunami can arrive whenever it pleases her." Lady Seto finished. Ayeka forgot that Sasami can use Yosho's tree, Funaho, as a transport whenever she wants and felt embarrassed for letting such a detail escape her attention. Ayeka then realized Sasami would do as she was told unless the situation looked like her help was needed.
"Where is your daughter?" Lady Seto asked.
"She is on earth as well." Washu answered.
"Don't you think she could have contributed to our cause given her role in all this?" Lady Seto asked.
"Ryoko's part in this was just being an innocent victim. She has nothing to do with what happens today. There is little Ryoko could do without her gems anyway." Washu stated. Lady Seto nodded her understanding.
"It is good to have you here as well Lord Tenchi." Lady Seto said with a mischievous smile.
"I'll do whatever I can." Tenchi replied nervously.
"What do you know about her whereabouts?" Washu asked Lady Seto.
"The last thing we heard was she was responsible for the destruction of the GP Frigate Tanaka. That was two days ago." Lady Seto concluded.
"She should be here very soon." Washu noted.
"That is our guess as well. I still have preparations to make. I'll let you know more as soon as we know more." Lady Seto said before the channel closed.
"What do we do now, Little Washu." Tenchi asked as he turned from the glass wall to face Washu. He was shocked to not only find Washu in her adult form but she was wearing a black skin-tight battle suit almost exactly like Ryoko's minus the flame-like pattern. Washu's hair was not tied up as it usually was either. It arched away from the back of Washu's head and nearly touched the floor. Washu's physique was slightly more robust than her daughter's but otherwise looked very similar. In fact, Tenchi imagined if Washu's hair was cyan and shorter, she would be nearly identical to Ryoko. Washu closed her eyes and nodded. A moment later, she lifted her head and looked at Tenchi. Washu raised her left hand and opened it revealing the same small white box she showed Tenchi earlier. She opened the lid and reached in with her right hand and removed the contents before dropping the box to the floor. Washu then opened her right hand to reveal three red gems. Ayeka gasped upon recognizing the stones.
"But I thought the other Ryoko had those." Ayeka offered.
"She does. I made these replicas many years ago just for such a situation as this. They aren't nearly as powerful as the true gems but they will help a great deal." Washu said. She lifted her right hand slightly higher in the air. The three gems levitated above her open hand. They started to glow white before they vanished. They reappeared in both of Washu's wrists and in her neck. Red flames etched themselves onto Washu's battle suit the same way they would on Ryoko. Even Washu's ears and parts of her face her shaded black. Washu let out a sigh.
"I was hoping it wouldn't come to this." Washu said.
* * *
Ryoko turned her attention to Sasami who was asleep on the couch next to her. Sasami was apparently very upset about Ryoko not going to Jurai. Sasami tried to argue her case but Ryoko wouldn't listen. Sasami tried so hard to convince Ryoko to help that she became quickly fatigued. Ryoko looked back outside and saw the sky starting to light up slightly just above the mountains. Ryoko knew it wouldn't be long before the moon came out. She made her way outside. Ryoko walked all the way to the small pond surrounding Funaho. She sat and tried to think about what the future would hold. Ryoko looked down into the water at the moon's reflection. Ryoko was in such deep thought that she didn't notice a figure approach her from behind and barely noticed the figure's touch as it placed its hands on her shoulders. The touch was strangely soothing.
"You have been through a great deal." A voice spoke softly from behind Ryoko.
"I know." Ryoko replied.
"Why don't you want to go?" The figure asked.
"If I win, someone will die. If I lose someone, someone will die. In the end it is all the same so there is no reason to go." Ryoko explained. The figure released Ryoko's shoulders and drifted around Ryoko until it floated over the pond and obscured Ryoko's view of the reflected moon. Ryoko lifted her head to see Tsunami.
"I know you know that is not true. The others believe that without your gems, you will be of little use. However, we both know that is not true." Ryoko's eyes narrowed at Tsunami's accusation.
"What can they do to defeat a destroyer? This incarnation of your power is bent on complete destruction. Her power, with the gems, is equal to my own." Tsunami said.
"Then why don't you go help." Ryoko responded.
"A confrontation between the two of us would be a draw. Only the two of us would survive. Since her goal is destruction, she would ultimately be the victor." Tsunami said.
"And you think I can do any better than a goddess?" Ryoko asked rhetorically.
"I don't think, I know. You have an ability that I do not and using that ability is the only way I know of winning against her." Tsunami said.
"I don't want to fight." Ryoko asserted. Tsunami drifted up to Ryoko and hugged her.
"Life is a fight. The day you stop fighting is the day you die. When you fight, you can either be a destroyer or a savior." Tsunami concluded. Ryoko closed her eyes.
"Which are you?" Tsunami asked.
More to come...