Previously on Continuum T:
Two princesses, a demon and a Galaxy Police officer have moved in with Tenchi. Tenchi has learnt that he has royal blood in his veins, belonging to the Royal Family of the Empire of Jurai, which controls over nine tenths of the galaxy. Tenchi has also been left fairly helpless, having renounced his Saiyan powers and all his abilities. He only has one weapon: a light sword over which he doesn't seem to have any control. I think the regression to this plot line is just tacky, don't you?
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Continuum T, Part V – Aboard the Soja
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A month and a half later, it was September. This meant that Tenchi had to go back to school, to start his last year of learning. It was about this time that Tenchi showed the girls the portal to his house in England. He knew that Ryoko and Ayeka's constant fighting would almost certainly spill over into the other country, but there really was no other way to keep it hidden from them. Besides, Tenchi would now visit them every weekend, or vice versa. Questions were asked as to its origin, about how it was created, and Tenchi said that a woman with special powers had put it there to help Tenchi, as she was friends with him. Tenchi was quick to add that he hadn't seen this woman for several months now, and that he thought she wasn't going to visit him again.
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A month or two after this, half term came around. Tenchi secured his house and slipped through the portal to Japan. He was greeted by a party to welcome him home, even though he was only staying for a week. Since Japan is nine hours ahead of England, when he stepped through the gateway in England at nine in the morning, it was six in the evening later that day when he emerged a split second later in Japan. The party proceeded nicely, with a few minor fights between Ayeka and Ryoko, and one or two large ones. Tenchi sighed as he watched the fourteenth hole appear in a wall, knowing he'd be spending most of his holiday repairing them. When he wasn't doing that, of course, he was planting carrots.
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"Myah!"
"Hello, Ryo-Ohki," Tenchi greeted as the little cabbit came bounding up to him. He kneeled down to stroke her, and plant a carrot seed at the same time. He looked up at the vast field of which he occupied a small corner. "You see this, Ryo-Ohki? This entire field has carrots planted in it. And they're all for you. You eat so many of them that we had to do this."
"Myah!" Ryo-Ohki jumped around excitedly at the mention of carrots, and started burrowing. Tenchi managed to grab her ears and tug her out before she disappeared completely into the hole she was digging.
"Not yet!" Tenchi said. "They need to grow first. Oh, now don't cry."
He picked her up and put her on his shoulder, where she nuzzled against his head. Something else nuzzled against the other side of his face as two arms wrapped around him from behind. Tenchi's eyes darted sideways, to see Ryoko.
"Hello, Ryoko," Tenchi said, slightly tediously.
"Hi there, Tenchi," Ryoko said. "Why are you out here all alone, when you could be inside with me? It's too cold out." To demonstrate this point she removed her arms from Tenchi's waist and rubbed her arms vigorously.
"I guess I'm used to it," Tenchi said. "Hey, I hope it's going to snow soon. The place looks so nice when there's snow. Maybe the lake will even freeze over, so we can go skating."
"What is skating?"
"You've never skated?" Tenchi asked. Ryoko shook her head. "Well, basically, you wear these special boots with thin pieces of metal stuck to the bottom of them. Then you kind of glide along over the ice. It's a lot of fun, and very relaxing."
"You're going to have to show me, then," Ryoko said, clinging to Tenchi once more. She drew closer to him to share his warmth. Tenchi tried to pull away, but quickly remembered that it was no use. Instead, he bent down and picked up his trowel and seed basket, hindered somewhat by Ryoko, and straightened up.
"Aren't you going to protest?" Ryoko asked. "Aren't you going to try and get me off you?"
"Would that do anything?"
"No," Ryoko grinned.
"Do you want to get off?"
"Of course not." Ryoko snuggled up even closer to him.
"Then what's the point? As long as you don't bother me, I don't really mind."
"You mean, bother like this?" Ryoko asked. She gently blew onto the side of Tenchi's face, just in front of his ear.
"Yes, like that. It's cold enough already."
"Alright then," Ryoko said, continuing to blow. "But I thought you didn't mind the cold."
Tenchi sighed, knowing he wasn't going to win. He started to walk home, Ryo-Ohki bounding along behind them, Ryoko half-floating, half-clinging to his neck.
Tenchi watched the ground as he went. There were a lot of sneaky roots around here, just waiting to trip some hapless person up. He noticed a tiny white fleck of something fall onto the ground just in front of him. He looked up at the sky. Grey clouds filled his vision, interspersed with hundreds of tiny white flecks.
"Hey, I think it's snowing!" he announced. Ryoko looked up at the snowflakes. Ryo-Ohki, on the other hand, didn't seem to like the snow that much. In fact, she hated it. She scampered home fast, in search of somewhere sheltered to hide.
Tenchi watched as she went off. "I guess she's never seen snow before." He looked back up. "The first snow of the season. They say that if you make a wish during it, it'll come true."
"Well, I know what I'm wishing for," Ryoko said, squeezing Tenchi's chest. Tenchi just smiled inwardly.
"If you wish hard enough, you may just get it," he said to himself.
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The first snowfall of the season lasted a while, covering the entire landscape with a white blanket thick enough to absorb a person's feet. Sasami stared at the scenery as it changed in amazement. Mihoshi also watched, occasionally glancing at a comic book she was reading. Ayeka sat on the sofa, regarding the scene through the big windows with mild interest. Ryo-Ohki had found herself a nice spot on Tenchi's bed, where she curled up and slept.
Tenchi entered the house, with Ryoko closely following him. They shook off the snow and went into the main room.
"And just where have you been, Ryoko?" Ayeka asked.
"I've just been helping Tenchi sow his seed," Ryoko replied, managing to make it sound rude without much effort.
"Carrot seeds," Tenchi said. "And you didn't really help, you know."
"It's not my fault I got there just as you finished, is it?"
"I'll bet you were just waiting until he was finished, just so you didn't have to help," Ayeka said.
"How much do you wanna bet, princess?" Ryoko threatened.
"Please don't fight," Tenchi said. He had said it many times before, but had never actually gotten them to stop. "I mean it."
The tone of that last sentence stopped the two women. Tenchi had never said anything with that tone of voice before.
"If you fight, you'll only make holes in the wall, and it's cold out," Tenchi said. "Don't bother. If you did fight, it would only end like every other fight."
"You tell them, Tenchi!" Sasami cheered.
"I don't care which of you is the strongest," Tenchi said. "I don't like it when you fight, especially because you're fighting over me. Just don't, or if you have to, fight outside, far away from the house."
Ryoko and Ayeka looked outside. The snow-covered landscape didn't seem that inviting.
"Forget it," Ryoko said. "Besides, I've made a wish, and I need to be with Tenchi for it to come true."
"What kind of wish?" Ayeka asked.
"That's for me to know, and Tenchi to find out. It's a secret," Ryoko said, winking at Tenchi.
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It was later, maybe three in the afternoon. Everyone was playing outside, including Ryo-Ohki, who was persuaded to join them. Once she had gotten used to the snow, Ryo-Ohki didn't mind it.
Three snowmen stood side by side. Once had been made by Sasami and Tenchi. It was the vision of the perfect snowman, complete with a kindly facial expression. Ayeka had made the second. It was slightly misshapen, and the stick arms poked out slightly too low, but it was good nonetheless. The last one was Ryoko's. It had been made in response to Ayeka's, and was yet another outlet of their dislike for each other. This snowman was, well, odd. It was more realistic, in a demented sort of way. The face was shaped to resemble Ayeka. It was actually a recognisable likeness, but the way it was distorted completely countered this. The snowman looked more demonic than was probably thought possible. The top half had actually disappeared, knocked off by Ayeka. Nearby, simmering holes pitted the snow-covered garden.
Everyone but Tenchi was messing around, throwing snowballs at each other. Tenchi himself had gone inside to get everyone warm drinks. Of course, Ryoko and Ayeka were a bit more competitive than the others, but Tenchi was glad they had at least stopped properly fighting, at least for now.
Ryoko was ducked behind a small hedge, packing another snowball. She stood up and swung back to throw it, then stopped. Off guard, Ryoko was hit square in the chest by one of Ayeka's snowballs. Ryoko stepped back, dropped the ball and clenched her fists. Her outfit changed to a tight-fitting red and black fighting suit. Black framed the sides of her face to about the middle of her eyes.
Everyone else looked at her. They were confused as to what she was doing. Ryoko looked intently at a spot near the lake. Everyone turned to look there.
A bright green ball of light appeared, large enough to absorb a person easily. A figure emerged from it. He wore black clothes and had slightly long hair. A small pair of glasses with green lenses rested on his nose.
"Kagato," Ryoko said.
"Ryoko, how nice to see you again," the man apparently called Kagato said.
"I'm not your slave any more, Kagato," Ryoko said, moving into a ready stance.
"But how can you say that, when you have brought me the three things I so desire?"
"What do you mean?"
"Princess Ayeka, the first crown princess of Jurai, and Sasami, the second crown princess. Also Yosho, the first crown prince of Jurai's Royal Family."
Ayeka gasped. "Yosho? Where is he?"
"You don't even realise it, do you?" Kagato smirked. "Never mind. Ryoko, you're coming with me."
"Forget it," Ryoko said. "You can't control me any more."
"Oh, but I can. I created you, Ryoko," Kagato said smoothly. "It was me who chose your form. It was chosen merely because it was convenient. Your original form could have been anything I wanted it to be. Like a stone. Would you like to be a stone, Ryoko?"
"I'm not going with you," Ryoko said, her voice wavering.
Tenchi had emerged from the house, carrying the hot drinks. When he saw what was going on, he dropped the tray and started running towards the group.
"I'm not giving you a choice here, Ryoko," Kagato said. He raised his arm towards her. Ryoko's body went limp, held up as if tied by the waist to something. She drifted towards Kagato, and they both went back inside the green ball, which vanished.
Tenchi arrived at the others. "What's going on?" he asked.
"It's Kagato," Mihoshi said. "The eternally most wanted criminal. He's responsible for countless destructions, and he even kidnapped a student from the Jurai Academy, along with a professor. He's very dangerous."
"And he took Ryoko," Sasami said. "He said he made her, and took her away."
"Well, we need to rescue her," Tenchi said. "But how?"
"My locator watch can tell us where Kagato is hiding," Mihoshi said.
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They followed Mihoshi's watch to the large tree Tenchi and Ayeka had stood under some time ago. They were at Funa-Oh's core.
Mihoshi aimed her standard Galaxy Police gun at a point in the air. "You are under arrest, Kagato," she said. "Come out now, or I'll be forced to shoot you, and it'll really hurt."
Another green sphere appeared, and Kagato emerged, carrying Ryoko.
Tenchi stepped forwards, his sword hilt firmly in his grip.
"Ah, so you have the master key," Kagato said. "Bring it here, there's a good boy."
Ryoko stirred. "Tenchi, don't let him have it," she managed, before green lightning crackled across her. She slumped again for a second, and then rose. The whites of her eyes were now green.
"Tenchi, use the sword!" Ayeka called.
Tenchi swung it into an aggressive stance, expecting the blade to appear, but nothing happened. He started shaking it and hitting it. "Not now! What a useless piece of junk!"
"Tenchi, remember your training!" Ayeka shouted.
Tenchi lowered the sword and became calm. The blade came into being. He charged forwards and jumped, swinging the sword straight down at Kagato. Kagato raised his clenched fist and a large green light sword appeared in his hand. He used this to block the blow. Tenchi hopped backwards and got into an aggressive pose. Kagato stretched his hand out at him, and a strong wind blew Tenchi back a few steps. He regained his ground.
"You're strong, Tenchi," Kagato said. "It makes sense."
A stronger blast of wind threw Tenchi back and sent him skimming across the nearby water until he hit a large root, which nearly knocked him out.
"Tenchi!" Ayeka, Mihoshi and Sasami called.
Kagato approached the fallen Tenchi. "I would have thought you would be a more competent opponent, Tenchi, but I see I was wrong. You probably couldn't find your strength. Now the master key is mine." He reached down to get it, but it flew off. Kagato turned to see it fly into the hand of Katsuhito.
"So, the first crown prince has joined the fight," Kagato said.
"Are you playing with something that doesn't belong to you?" Katsuhito said.
"Tell me, what is the secret of the ultimate power of the Universe?" Kagato asked. "It is said that those who wield that sword can use it."
"Ultimate power of the Universe? There's no such thing. And even if there was, it couldn't be controlled by the likes of you."
Kagato snarled and pointed at the old man. A beam of energy shot forwards at his head. Katsuhito moved very slightly, allowing it to pass safely. Kagato charged at Tenchi's grandfather, his green sword again in his hand. The blue blade of the master key also appeared, and Katsuhito charged as well. They fought, exchanging blows well, until Katsuhito jumped back. He threw his sword at Kagato, slicing his hand off, before sticking deeply into the large tree.
Kagato looked at his sleeve, and a new gloved hand appeared from within. He moved towards the sword. "Fool. This sword does belong to me. And now it's mine." He grabbed the hilt.
Blue lightning cracked around his hand, hurting him. He pulled away. "You've won for now. But if you want Ryoko back, come to my spaceship, the Soja." He and Ryoko flew into another green sphere and disappeared.
Katsuhito went and helped Tenchi up.
"Grampa?" Tenchi asked.
"Tell me, is it true?" Ayeka demanded, grasping the old man. "Are you my brother Yosho?"
"I am," he said. "I'm sorry to have kept it from you."
"But your looks," Ayeka said. "You used to be handsome. You've grown old."
"Hey, we can still get married, though," Yosho said.
Ayeka pushed her brother away. "Don't be silly. It's not right."
"Okay, okay. What about Tenchi?" Yosho asked, taking his hand. He placed Ayeka's hand in Tenchi's. "You two would make a lovely couple."
"Grampa," Tenchi muttered. He let go. "I need to save Ryoko." He walked towards the sword.
"Are you leaving so soon, Tenchi?" Yosho asked. "Without finishing your training, and with a sword you can't control?"
"Grampa, I have to do it."
"Very well. I will give you that sword, Tenchi," Yosho said. "But you must be strong to use it."
Tenchi grabbed the sword. Blue lightning crackled around his hand. Tenchi grimaced at the pain, but held on. He pulled the sword out of the tree. The lightning stopped.
"Tenchi-ken has recognised you as its new master, Tenchi," Yosho said. "It is yours now."
Ryo-Ohki started snarling. Suddenly she darted off to the lake. Everyone followed her, thinking she could smell something. She stood by the lake, screeching. The water started bubbling, and a large round object emerged from the cold water. Ayeka gasped. It was the core shell of her spaceship, Ryu-Oh.
Ryo-Ohki jumped high. Her body changed shape rapidly and grew a lot, until it looked like Ryoko's spaceship. The core of Ryu-Oh rose and merged with Ryo-Ohki, phased into the middle of it.
"Well, I guess we have a ship," Tenchi said. "Miss Ayeka, are you coming?"
Ayeka looked hesitant. Ryoko was her enemy, after all.
"Come on, Ayeka, go," Sasami urged. "Please save Ryoko."
"I'm coming too," Mihoshi said. "As a Galaxy Police officer, it is my duty to help protect the people."
"Thanks." Tenchi looked at Ayeka. She nodded slightly. "Thank you, Ayeka."
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Ryo-Ohki emerged from the atmosphere of Earth and started flying towards the large ship nearby, obviously the Soja. It was made out of metal, a huge irregular thing, with many visible weapons.
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"So, they're coming to rescue you, Ryoko," Kagato said. He was standing in the middle of the large main platform of the Soja. Nearby was a giant hourglass. All the sand was in the bottom section, and half buried in that was Ryoko. "They must think highly of you, even though you don't deserve it."
"You leave them alone, Kagato!" Ryoko shouted. "If you harm a hair on Tenchi's head, you'll be sorry. I swear it. You'll be sorry!"
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The Soja opened fire. Ryo-Ohki managed to avoid some of the energy attacks, but some others hit, causing damage.
Inside Ryo-Ohki, everyone was being tossed about, like a leaf in so much wind.
"Can't this ship do anything?" Ayeka called. "Can it at least fire?"
"Maybe this crystal does something," Mihoshi pointed. The crystal in question was the same as the others, but it had two red dots in its centre.
"I order you to figure out what it does," Ayeka said. Another explosion rocked the ship.
"Believe me, I'd like to try," Mihoshi said. "But I really don't know what I'm doing."
Another explosion sent the floor angling steeply. Ayeka and Tenchi slid down to the wall in a heap.
"The stabiliser must have been hit," Ayeka said.
"Is there anything on your ship that can help?" Tenchi asked.
"There is," Ayeka replied. "We could summon the Light Hawk Wings."
"What are they?"
The stabiliser reset. They stood up. "It is primarily a defence weapon," Ayeka said, "but it can also be used to attack. I'll need to activate it from my ship though." She moved towards the core, but Tenchi stopped her.
"I'll go," he said. "It's too dangerous. You'll have to direct me, though."
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Ryo-Ohki was trying everything she could think of to dodge the incoming blasts.
"Fool!" Kagato said. "I created that ship. I know every manoeuvre it can make. They don't stand a chance against me."
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"Okay, I'm here," Tenchi said.
"Right." Ayeka was on a view screen in front of Tenchi, on the main control centre of Ryu-Oh. "You need to activate the defence mechanism. Place your sword hilt in the podium."
Tenchi did so, and concentrated.
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Outside, the Soja started to power up a large energy cannon.
"Now to finish this," Kagato said.
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Three flat beams of white light appeared in front of Ryo-Ohki. They rotated and absorbed the last of the small blasts, before folding up and focussing into a bright ball of white energy.
The Soja released its ball of green energy. The white ball shot towards it. They hit each other and merged, twisting with each other. The white disappeared and the green continued towards Ryo-Ohki.
The occupants of the ship widened their eyes in fright.
The ball impacted, destroying the core of Ryu-Oh. The fragments drifted out from the centre of the explosion.
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"What have you done?" Ryoko yelled. She powered up, shifting all the sand into the top section. The glass broke and she disappeared.
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She reappeared outside. She flew around the wreckage, looking for Tenchi. She spotted something near a large tree. She flew closer, and grabbed the cloth. It was Tenchi's, stained with blood.
Ryoko clutched the cloth to her face and sobbed into it. She gradually stopped.
"Kagato," she said in a low tone. "You have stolen the one that was most precious to me. And I will make you pay." Her calmness cracked. "You will pay!" she shouted.
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Ryoko appeared in Ryo-Ohki and walked silently to the controls.
"How did you escape?" Ayeka asked.
"It doesn't matter. All that matters now is destroying Kagato."
"But we should be searching for Tenchi," Ayeka protested.
Ryoko threw the cloth towards her. Ayeka caught it and looked at it.
"No!" she screamed.
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Back on Earth, Sasami stood watching the sky. She had seen a small explosion. Somehow, she knew something was terribly wrong. She could feel it. She started to cry.
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Ryoko, Ayeka and Mihoshi appeared on the Soja. Ryoko was in her battle outfit as before. Ayeka wore a pink and black Juraian battle suit. Her face had gone paler, and three black stripes went across either cheek. Mihoshi was wearing a Galaxy Police battle suit.
Three corridors led from the opening they were in.
"So which one do we go down?" Ayeka asked.
"All of them will lead to Kagato," Ryoko replied.
Unspoken, Ryoko and Ayeka split off down the left and right passages. Mihoshi went down the middle one a few seconds later.
Each passage was guarded by automated robotic sentry units. Ryoko blasted them with her energy attacks, Ayeka crushed them with her force field and Mihoshi shot them with her energy cannon.
Ryoko and Ayeka arrived in a large room. Ahead of them, the wall slid open to reveal the main control centre.
"Seems like he's inviting us in," Ryoko said.
"Let's not be rude," Ayeka replied.
They walked through, just as Mihoshi appeared.
"Hey, wait for me!" she called as the wall started to close. She started to run forward, but realised she had dropped her pink control cube on the floor. Unknown to her, it had accidentally activated a command. She picked it up and ran through the closing wall, not noticing certain changes about her surroundings.
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Kagato was playing the large organ when the princess and the pirate entered. He stopped his recital and turned to face them.
"Here so soon?" he asked.
"Ayeka, stay back," Ryoko cautioned.
Ayeka took no notice. She darted forwards, ready to hit Kagato, but was stopped by a shield. It crackled and sent her flying back across the room, where she collided with one of the many stone pillars, nearly seriously hurting her.
Ryoko disappeared and reappeared besides Kagato, a red light sword in her hand. She swung it straight through him, but it didn't cause any damage. Realisation dawned.
"A shadow."
Kagato grabbed her neck from behind. "Seven hundred years has been a bit too long for you, Ryoko," he taunted. "You can't even tell the difference between me and my shadow."
Ryoko struggled, and sliced his hand off with her sword. Another one grew back. Ryoko flew back and stopped hovering in the air.
"You're becoming too troublesome," Kagato said. "It's time for you to become a statue."
Ryoko's feet started solidifying, becoming stone. The changing spread, morphing her body and arms, and finally her head. She dropped to the floor, her solid expression one of fear and surprise.
"Has anyone ever told you that you look quite nice in grey?" Kagato laughed. He turned his attention towards the princess lying on the ground. He lifted an arm and Ayeka drifted across to him.
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"Wow, where is this place?" Mihoshi wondered. The place in question was a lot like the main room where Ryoko and the others were, but instead of pipe organs, a large crystal stood on a podium. Inside was a young red haired girl, wearing a very old Jurai Academy uniform. Mihoshi wandered towards her, unwittingly tripping an alarm.
Two large stone snakes moved, darting towards Mihoshi. The woman dodged and tried to shoot them with her cannon, but the blasts were ineffective. In desperation she pointed her glove at them, which emitted ice beams, freezing the snakes in place, all the while quoting the standard speech of arrest, as determined by the Act of Galactic Preservation and Protection, Article number 309. Her nervous voice tailed off as she saw they were no longer a threat.
A seal embedded in the front of the large crystal cracked, breaking the images of the two snakes from the rest of it.
The ice started cracking around the snakes. Mihoshi started backing away. One of the snakes broke loose and lunged forwards. Mihoshi brought her arms up in a futile defence gesture and screamed.
"Hey, don't worry," a voice from behind her said. It sounded young and slightly mocking. "You're safe now."
Mihoshi opened her eyes, to see the mouth of the snake, now stone again. She whimpered and backed away slowly, bumping into the young girl who had been trapped in the crystal.
"Thanks for saving me, by the way," the girl said. "I'm Washu, the Greatest Scientific Genius of the Universe. I'm also a cutie pie."
"Is that right?" Mihoshi said. "Your outfit seems to be a Jurai Academy uniform from a long time ago. Were you the student that Kagato kidnapped?"
"Hey, no. I am the number one scientist in the Universe, you know. You think I'd go around being a student?" Washu waved her arm dismissively and the large stone snakes crumbled into nothing. "Kagato was the student. He managed to capture me, and locked me up in that crystal."
"Really?" Mihoshi asked. "Well, where are we?"
"This ship has two layers. A top and a bottom. The space between these layers is one way, so once you come here to the bottom layer, you can't go back up unless Kagato is destroyed."
Washu walked towards the centre of the floor and waved her arm. The stone Ryoko emerged from the floor. Washu tapped it once and the greyness faded, revealing the animate Ryoko. Ryoko shook her head clear as Washu circled her, inspecting her body.
"Well, there doesn't seem to be any physical damage," Washu commented. "The nerve of Kagato, turning you into stone. He doesn't even know what you can do."
"Who are you?" Ryoko asked.
"I'm Washu, the Greatest Scientific Genius of the Universe. I may not look it, but I'm also your creator."
"But I thought Kagato made me."
"No, he lied. Actually, I used my ova for you, so I guess I'm more like your mother than your creator. I also created Ryo-Ohki, this ship and countless other things. Although really, I do look a bit too young to be your mom."
"How did I get here?" Ryoko asked.
"Tell me, Ryoko," Washu said. "Who is this Tenchi?"
"What?" Ryoko said. She summoned her light sword and held it against Washu's neck. "How do you know Tenchi?"
"Because, as you are connected to Ryo-Ohki, so am I connected to you," Washu replied. "So I know. I know how you feel about him. I know he fills you with happiness. You've never felt like this for anyone before."
"Shut up," Ryoko said.
"Ryoko, please," Mihoshi called. "She's not the one you should be pointing your sword at."
"She's right, you know," Washu said.
Ryoko hesitantly lowered her sword. "So how do I get out of here?" she asked.
"For you, it's no problem," Washu said. "Only your astral body was brought here, so you can go back. Oh, and Ryoko?"
"What?"
"Do you think that, please, could you call me mom?" Washu asked.
Ryoko just turned away and vanished.
"But what can we do?" Mihoshi asked.
Washu waved a hand around her. A large circle of the floor turned into an image of the battlefield.
"Oh wow, Washu," Mihoshi exclaimed. "How did you do that?"
"It doesn't matter," Washu said. "What matters now is that we're supporting Ryoko." To prove this point, Washu pulled out two hand fans from her clothes and started to dance around with them, chanting Ryoko on.
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Tenchi's body slowly drifted through space. At his head and feet the two guardians Asaka and Kamidake were projecting a forcefield, keeping Tenchi protected from the harsh conditions of a near perfect vacuum. Tenchi himself was nearly dead and very unconscious. The guardians were concentrating on maintaining the field, and at the same time sensing how the battle aboard the Soja was progressing, so no-one noticed the woman appear, standing on Kamidake's back. She had long light blue hair and two small green gems on her forehead. Her clothing was very lavish, decorated with fine detail. On reflection, she looked like an older version of Sasami.
The woman walked to Tenchi and drifted up to him. She rested her forehead on his for a second, before pulling away and lying down inside Tenchi. They, and the guardians, glowed and disappeared.
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"Lady Ayeka, please tell me about the Jurai power," Yosho said.
Ayeka looked at her brother. He was how she remembered him before he left. "Brother?" she asked.
"Ayeka, I need to know about the power only the Jurai Royal Family can control. Tell me." His voice was becoming more forceful.
"No. You're not my brother," Ayeka said. "No. Get away!"
Yosho pulled back, the masking illusion revealing Kagato.
"So, I see Tsunami watches over you as well," he said, annoyed. "If I cannot deceive you into telling me what I need to know, I'll have to force you."
Kagato gripped Ayeka by her throat and held her at arms length. Ayeka couldn't struggle out of his grip.
"The rest of your family wasn't cooperative, so I disposed of them. Please don't make me lock you up in a room as well. Now, Lady Ayeka, tell me what I need to know," Kagato said.
A red bolt of energy shot through his wrist. Kagato released Ayeka and looked at Ryoko. He clenched his hand and the bolt vanished.
"Ah, Ryoko," he said. "You're late. But then again, your timing was never perfect."
"I'm not under your control any more, Kagato," Ryoko said. "I can do what I like." She summoned her red light sword.
Kagato summoned his green sword. "I guess I'll just have to get rid of you first. No problem."
They flew at each other, repeatedly delivering strong blows, causing shockwaves that caused damage to the surroundings. Ryoko blasted a large stone pillar behind Kagato, which then collapsed on him. Ryoko flew over and stood on the pillar. Kagato emerged from the stone behind her and hit her downwards. He plunged his sword down at her, but she phased into the stone.
A large hand took shape from the stone around Kagato. Ryoko had bonded with the stone pillar, and now a large statue of her was appearing. It tried to squeeze Kagato, but it crumbled.
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"Why isn't Ryoko using her full power?" Washu said.
Mihoshi stopped dancing. "You mean that isn't her full power?"
"No. If it was, she would have destroyed Kagato by now." Washu looked around the main room through the floor. Ayeka was struggling to maintain her forcefield while large blocks of rubble fell from above her. Ryoko collapsed nearby.
"Ah, so that's why," Washu said.
" 'Ah, so that's why' what?" Mihoshi asked.
"That other girl is still there," Washu said. "Ryoko's not using her full power because it's very likely that girl will get fried by the enormity of it."
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Tenchi stretched out from his curled position. He opened his eyes and looked around. He appeared to be on the main deck of a Juraian ship, like the one Ayeka had, the Ryu-Oh. Asaka and Kamidake stood dormant on two pedestals near the centre. A woman stood between them, the woman from before.
"Who are you?" Tenchi asked. "Where is this?"
"I am Tsunami. I am the treeship of Jurai. We are inside of myself."
"You're the goddess Tsunami? But what do you mean, inside of yourself? You're a person."
"I have two forms, my human form and my ship form. We are inside of myself."
"What are Asaka and Kamidake doing over there? Weren't they helping the others? Oh no. The others. I need to get back to them. Please, take me to them."
"The two guardians are fine. I will take you back, but I must tell you something first."
"What?" Tenchi asked.
"I cannot leave this place. You must go alone. It is your path to follow."
"That's alright," Tenchi said. He held up his sword. "As long as I have this sword, I know that I can manage somehow."
"Tenchi, do not rely on the sword alone. It is only a tool to access my power. You must trust in your own power."
"Trust in my own power?" Tenchi said. "My power."
"Yes."
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Ryoko fell to the ground near Ayeka. She was out cold.
Kagato drifted over to the princess. Ayeka was curled over and very weak. Kagato removed his glove to reveal nothing. The place where his hand should be was filled with air.
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"Hey, Mihoshi," Washu said. "Give me your control cube."
"Um, sure Washu," Mihoshi said, handing it over. "But why?"
"You'll see," Washu said, twisting the pink cube.
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"Now it's time for you to tell me about the power only the Jurai Royal Family can use, Ayeka," Kagato said.
Ayeka vanished through the floor and emerged in front of Mihoshi. Mihoshi grabbed the weak princess as she fell.
Kagato appeared, materialising between the group and a large window, outside which was the Earth. Kagato was semi-transparent, though.
"So I see," Kagato said. "Making it easier for Ryoko to fight, eh? Very clever, Professor. Even I can't do anything to the princess once she's in another dimension."
"Ryoko and I aren't your slaves any more, Kagato," Washu said evenly. "Just let us go and you can live."
"Professor, I'd like to show you a little experiment I've been conceiving," Kagato announced. He swept around and gestured to the Earth. "Even as I speak my ship is powering up. It easily has enough energy to destroy this planet."
"I forbid it," Ayeka said in a shocked quiet voice.
"Princess Ayeka, you are in no position to forbid anything," Kagato said.
"What do you hope to accomplish by doing this?" Washu exclaimed.
"Maybe the princess will talk once she sees the destruction of Earth," Kagato said. "Not to mention her brother and sister."
Ayeka gasped. "Yosho!" she yelled. "Sasami!" Her voice quietened. "Tenchi."
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The energy released itself into a large beam towards the planet. The blue and white blast shot through the vacuum directly towards the blue and white marble of a planet.
Something materialised in its path. Ten somethings, fanned out. They absorbed the blast and neutralised it. They disappeared and reappeared a lot closer to the Soja, now joined together into what looked like a ship.
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Washu gasped. "The ten wings of the Light Hawk. It's Tsunami, the ship of Jurai. Incredible."
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Kagato reappeared on the main deck, just as Ryoko, having regained strength, flew at him with an energy sword. He summoned his own and knocked Ryoko out of the way. Ryoko blasted him several times and Kagato glided towards her. He knocked her back.
Ryoko was caught by something. Tenchi. He was stood there, holding her, wearing a Juraian battle outfit similar to Ayeka's.
"Tenchi?" Ryoko whispered. "Are you alive?"
"I'm no ghost," Tenchi replied. He lowered Ryoko to the ground and faced Kagato.
"So it's a happy reunion, is it?" Kagato asked.
Tenchi frowned. He charged forwards, wielding his sword. He leapt high, swinging the blade down at Kagato. Kagato's forcefield stopped it from reaching him, instead throwing Tenchi back. The blade on the sword fizzled out.
"Oh man," Tenchi said. "Just when I need it the most." He shook it, trying to start it again.
"It's just a rusted old piece of junk, Tenchi," Kagato said. "The Master Key is only a tool to access the power of Tsunami. It's useless when cut off from the source of its power."
He thrust a hand towards Tenchi. Tenchi flew backwards, crashing into the base of a pillar.
"Tenchi!" Ryoko shouted. She tried to go and help him but she couldn't move. She turned to Asaka and Kamidake. They had appeared at the same time as Tenchi. "Hey, stop standing there and go help Tenchi!" she shouted at them.
"We can't," Asaka said, his voice strained.
"We are using all our energy just to counteract Kagato's forces," Kamidake said, his voice similarly strained.
Kagato approached Tenchi. Tenchi tried to swing his sword at him, but the blade wouldn't appear. Kagato grabbed his arm and held him up.
"Your sword isn't helping you now, Tenchi," he said. "If only you had left these women behind, you could have remained alive."
"I would rather die," Tenchi said struggling, "than forsake any one of them."
Kagato laughed, casting Tenchi aside into another pillar. "Oh, that's alright with me because I have all the gems," he said.
Electricity crackled up from the floor towards Ryoko's gem in her wrist, and the other two in Tenchi's sword.
"Marvellous power!" Kagato shouted. "Splendid! Come to me now, Tsunami!" He turned towards the other ship, and watched it slowly drift towards the Soja.
"It can't be over already," Tenchi said. "I'm sorry, everyone. I'm sorry to have failed you."
Then he remembered his conversation with Tsunami. "Tenchi, do not rely on the sword alone. You must trust in your own power."
Tenchi gripped his sword more tightly. "I have been relying on this sword too much," he said. He stood up.
Kagato caught sight of him and turned to face Tenchi. "How can you have any power left?" he said. "No matter. I was going to finish you later, but why not now?"
Tenchi threw his sword away.
"So, you're giving up?" Kagato asked, surprised.
"Tenchi, run! Get away!" Ryoko yelled. She struggled towards him but collapsed. "No, please. You've got everything you want. Please, spare him," she whispered.
"Can this boy really mean that much to you?" Kagato asked. "Don't worry. Very soon you and princess Ayeka will join him. Very soon indeed. You won't be alone in death."
Ryoko screamed as Kagato formed an energy attack in his hand. Tenchi just stood there, engrossed in his own thoughts.
I should trust in my power, Tenchi thought. But how? What can I do? I have no powers I can use.
He looked up at the energy blast heading straight for him.
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The explosion completely destroyed the pillar Tenchi was standing in front of. Kagato turned to face Ryoko.
"Now it's your turn," he said.
Three beams of light appeared in the dust cloud where Tenchi was, splayed out in front of him.
"What?" Kagato exclaimed. "Impossible! I thought the power from Tsunami was completely cut off!"
Tenchi raised his arms and let the top two wings pass through him, changing his clothing. It was now mostly pink and white, with two bands of cloth going back around his shoulders. The third wing rose up. Tenchi grabbed it with his right hand, and it changed into a sword.
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"The transformation of objects!" Washu exclaimed. "The wings of the Light Hawk! Unbelievable!"
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"It's you!" Kagato shouted. "You! You're creating all this!"
Kagato shot a beam of energy at Tenchi. Tenchi raised his left arm, and a light shield appeared on it, deflecting the blast.
Kagato summoned six large blue crystals, like the ones in Ryo-Ohki, through the floor. "Get him!" Kagato ordered.
Tenchi's sword transformed into a bent blue beam, which he threw at the crystals, destroying them. Kagato charged forwards through the smoke, his sword in hand.
"I have you now," he said.
Tenchi raised his arm with the shield, and grabbed the end of it. The light shield transformed into another sword. He leapt forwards as well.
A flash of light spread out as the two collided. When it dissipated, the two fighters were standing apart, facing away from each other, in a stance suggesting that they had just swung their sword.
A slash mark appeared across Tenchi's chest, from his side to the opposing shoulder. It disappeared.
Kagato stood up and turned around. "Tenchi," he said quietly. "Same name as the Master Key. Well done Tsunami. Tenchi cannot be copied. Splendid."
Tenchi turned round to face Kagato.
"You've won, boy," Kagato said. A slash appeared across his chest, before spreading, destroying him.
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Later, on Earth, everyone was relaxing. After defeating the eternally most wanted criminal and destroying the Soja, they had decided that what they needed was a break. So there they were.
Washu had invited herself to live with Tenchi, and had converted an old cupboard under the stairs into a dimensional portal that led to her laboratory. The lab itself spanned an area of about five Earths. She stayed there for a while, probably sorting out her things.
Ryoko was resting. She lay on the couch, regaining her strength from the fight she was in. Ryo-Ohki lay next to her, also regaining strength. She had been hit several times by the Soja quite hard.
Sasami was tending to the two injured people. Mihoshi had also tried to help with this, but ended up setting fire to the wet towels somehow, so she was now wandering around aimlessly.
Ayeka was troubled. She was forgetting something, but she didn't know what. Every time she came close to remembering what it was, she lost her trail of thought, thinking instead about how Tenchi had defeated Kagato.
Tenchi was also thinking. Was this Washu person the same Washu that Tokemi had told him about? And how would using his Juraian powers affect him? At least he hadn't used his Saiyan powers, which was good, even though he had sorely been tempted.
Ayeka stiffened as she remembered. She leapt to her feet and shouted.
"My family!" she said. "Kagato said he'd locked them up somewhere. We must go and rescue them!"
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In the next episode of Continuum T:
Tenchi and his friends set off to Jurai, in order to release the Royal Family. Tenchi will learn many new things in "Journey". Is Washu indeed the goddess Washu, symbolic of the mind of all living beings? Where is the Jurai Royal Family being held captive? And what is this strange television programme, 'Tenchi Muyo!'? Find out in the next episode of Continuum T.