Previously on Continuum T:
Two Sliders, the second most powerful beings in reality, have come to Tenchi for help. An evil Slider was determined to destroy all of reality, and Tenchi ended up being the last hope. Tenchi became a Supreme Saiyan, before evolving three times to his God form. He sacrificed himself by being swallowed by K'oko, in order to save existence. Now, Tenchi's friends have separated, no longer held together by his presence. I thought it was all very sad. I congratulate the author for his work over these last ten episodes. It's just a pity this is the last one.
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Continuum T, Part XI – Because Every Story Needs a Happy Ending
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It was two weeks after the battle for reality. Yosho was practising his sword technique in the back garden. Nobuyuki sat outside, watching him. They had both heard of the news of Tenchi. In fact, everyone had, as the fight had been broadcast telepathically into the minds of every single living creature in reality. No-one was ever so well known as Tenchi, and his sacrifice had been seen by all. While everyone agreed that it was the most noble and selfless act they had ever known, this brought little comfort to his family.
"Two weeks," Nobuyuki said, more to himself than Yosho.
"Yes," Yosho replied.
"It seems so quiet without them, doesn't it?"
"It does."
Yosho returned to his training, swinging the wooden sword around, slicing at opponents that weren't there. Then he leapt forwards, bringing it down in an arc.
It hit something. Tenchi's head. Tenchi collapsed onto the floor, half unconscious. Yosho dropped his sword in shock, and Nobuyuki leapt up and darted over to him.
"Oww," Tenchi said weakly. He blinked and saw his father. "Dad? What happened?"
"Tenchi?" Nobuyuki's voice quivered. "Is it really you?"
"I think so," Tenchi replied slowly. "But then again," he reached up to his head, where a large bruise was forming, "I'm not sure."
"Tenchi..." Nobuyuki trailed off. He grasped Tenchi and hugged him hard.
"Dad, stop it! I can't breathe!" Tenchi exclaimed. He was released, and stood up. He looked around.
"Home." He frowned. "Where are the others?"
"Tenchi, they've gone," Yosho said. "They thought you were dead. We all did."
"Dead?"
"Once K'oko ate you, we thought you had died," Yosho said quietly.
"K'oko? How do you know him?"
"Washu told us that a telepathic view of the battle was transmitted to everyone. Everywhere."
"Everyone? They all saw me?"
"Yes."
"Then they all think I'm dead. I need to tell them otherwise. Where are they?"
"If you're referring to the girls, they left about a week ago. Ayeka, Sasami and Mihoshi went to Jurai, Ryoko somewhere else and Washu sealed the door to her lab. There's no way we can contact them."
"I can. One of the many things I learnt when I evolved to my God form was the instant translocation technique. I can travel anywhere instantly with it."
"Wait, Tenchi." Nobuyuki put a hand on Tenchi's shoulder. "What happened? How did you survive?"
"Well, when K'oko swallowed me, I found myself in a place full of black spheres..."
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The virus. It was all around him. Tenchi looked around as he continued to sink through it.
Something was up ahead. A shadow, vaguely familiar. The haze became clearer. It was K'oko. More precisely, it was his first form, the one that had since digivolved twice to the creature he was now inside.
"K'oko?" Tenchi asked. K'oko nodded in response. He gestured to his chest.
"Is there something inside you?" Tenchi asked. "The virus! But what do you want me to do?"
"Destroy," K'oko said, waving an arm to the side of him. Tenchi turned and looked. What looked like a DNA molecule comprised of black spheres spun slowly next to him.
"Destroy the virus? That's all I have to do?" Tenchi asked. K'oko nodded.
"Time to heal." Tenchi reached an arm out at the molecule and formed a small energy ball. He released it and obliterated the virus. The surroundings turned white...
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"...and the next thing I knew I was here, being hit on the head," concluded Tenchi.
"Oh," Nobuyuki replied. "Then, are you really a God?"
"Only when I evolve. And I can do that at will now. So, effectively, yes."
"My son, a God," Nobuyuki reflected.
"If you'll excuse me, I have to go to Jurai. I need to tell everyone I'm still alive." Tenchi stood up. "Unless you want to come with me, of course. Do you?"
"No," the two men said in unity.
"This is your task. You must face it," Yosho said.
"Go get those girls back, Tenchi," Nobuyuki said. "Just don't be too long."
Tenchi smiled and nodded. He raised a hand to his face and pointed two fingers straight at his forehead in a contemplative stance. He concentrated for a few seconds, and then dissipated.
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Tenchi reappeared in a large corridor. It was very high, so it was a part of somewhere important. In fact, it was a corridor of the Imperial Palace of the Royal Family of Jurai. Huge doors sparsely lined the walls, each leading to a large room. Exquisite gold and blue trimmed tapestries lined the bare walls, interspersed with oversized portraits of previous notable royalty. The ceiling disappeared into shadow, infrequently dotted with pools of light from intricate chandeliers, although the detail couldn't be distinguished from all the way down on the floor. The carpet was a rich noble red, soft and deep, absorbing slightly the feet that treaded on it.
Tenchi looked around for a few seconds, surveying the corridor. No-one was around to see him, so he turned to the nearest door. He raised his fist and knocked three times, the crash of sound absorbed by the surroundings and seemingly small in the vastness. He heard sound from behind the door. It opened to reveal Lady Ayeka wearing a formal royal dress. Her expression was of complete shock as she stared at the impossible sight before her.
"I'm sorry," Tenchi apologised.
Ayeka stammered. "Wha, what?"
"I'm sorry for causing you so much distress. Please forgive me, but I couldn't do anything about it."
Ayeka hesitated, then shot forward and grabbed Tenchi and hugged him, crying out the tears she had held for the past two weeks. Tenchi put his arms around her for comfort, and kissed her on her head.
"I'm back."
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"How did you survive? We all thought you were dead." Ayeka had regained herself.
"I know, and I'm sorry for making you think that. But before I tell you, I think I should get the others." Tenchi raised two fingers to his forehead and concentrated.
"I'll be back very soon. Don't go anywhere." He dissipated.
"Tenchi..." Ayeka started, but then she realised that Tenchi had gone again.
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Ryoko and Ryo-Ohki were sitting in a bar. Ryoko had ordered a very alcoholic drink, which would hopefully help her to forget about how she came to be there, and was just about to start getting drunk, when she vanished. Not gradually, but instantly. Ryo-Ohki also disappeared. The drink Ryoko was just about to have fell from where her hand had been onto the seat, before falling and smashing on the floor.
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Mihoshi was in her bedroom aboard the Yukinojo. She was trying to resume her normal work, but was obviously distracted by her thoughts of Tenchi. She stood up and went to get a snack. Unfortunately, while she was doing so, she bumped a large stack of comics. They would have fallen on her, but she instantaneously faded.
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Sasami lay on her back in her bedroom, occupying herself with her boredom. Still, it was better than thinking about what had happened to Tenchi two weeks ago. Only the indent in her thick bedcovers remained as Sasami disappeared from her room.
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Washu placed the molecular detonator on the surface in her lab. The bomb, designated Omega 13, was nothing more than a small round red ball, similar in size and appearance to a cricket ball. She turned and walked towards another experiment, an organic decompressor, when she immediately faded.
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They all appeared in Ayeka's bedroom. Ayeka stared as they all appeared together.
"What the..." Ryoko started.
Tenchi materialised. There was a collective gasp from the girls as they caught sight of him.
"As you can see, I'm not dead. I'm sorry for making you think so," he said. He braced himself as they grabbed him and cried.
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"I wanted you all here," Tenchi said, "before I told you how I survived." He looked round at the girls. "Do you remember a few days ago?"
The girls looked puzzled. Tenchi corrected himself. "Well, for you it was a couple of weeks ago. There was that whole incident with the heart disease. If you remember, after I was healed I told you I was sorry for scaring you. I also made a promise. I promised that I wouldn't die again. And I haven't. And now that I'm God, I can't die."
"That's not it," Washu said. "How did you really survive?"
Tenchi smiled. "You're right. When K'oko swallowed me, I went into him. I found the core of the virus, and destroyed it. The next thing I knew I was back home on Earth."
"How?"
"I'm the Chojen One. I said I knew everything, that I was omnipotent. I have control over all dimensions. I also have control over time. Because I was new to it, I didn't fully know how to control time, so I ended up slicing two weeks into the future."
"Well," Sasami said, "we need to tell everyone that you're alright. Everyone else still thinks you're dead."
"And no doubt there's going to be a parade in your honour," Ayeka added.
"Great," Tenchi said. His animé counterpart would have a large sweat drop about now, but since this was real life he didn't. "I can't wait."
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Ayeka looked into Tenchi's room. She wore a very formal elegant gown of purple, with red highlights. Tenchi was fidgeting with a bow tie.
"You know, you would have thought that since I became God, I'd be able to work one of these things," he complained. "But I can't. Why is that?"
"Tenchi, hurry up," Ayeka urged. "The ceremony is about to begin. If you're late, my father won't care if you're God or not. No-one, not even you should be late for this event."
"But I can't decide, Ayeka," Tenchi said. "Should I go like this, or Supreme Saiyan, or what? What do you think?"
"I don't know," was the reply. "Just choose quickly."
"Alright then." A white sphere appeared around Tenchi, causing him to vanish in the glow. It pulsated slightly, and then vanished to reveal Tenchi in his God form. He looked at Ayeka.
"This way I don't have to mess around with clothes," he said. "And don't worry about the 'homo sapien evolved to...' part. It's just for show. Besides," he grinned, "this'll be much more effective, don't you think?"
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The city was full of people, despite the enormous size of it. It was literally packed. Everyone wanted to glimpse the man who saved reality, the most powerful man ever, their God. Balloons, streamers, flags and the like filled the remaining space. The royal band was playing the Juraian national concerto. The event was at least as special as crowning an Emperor of nine tenths of the galaxy, and had just as big a crowd.
The Emperor of Jurai emerged from the palace. A huge uproar surged like a tidal wave and spread out from the centre. He approached the podium.
"Citizens of Jurai," he announced, his voice amplified greatly to overcome the crowd's own noise. "Today is a very special day in Universal history. Today you will see, for the first time since his triumph, the man who has single-handedly saved reality from complete destruction. You all saw what happened, and so you all know why this man is so special. He has achieved the highest state of being, and now he is here to accept our most sincere gratitude and everlasting congratulations. I present to you," he said, gesturing towards the opposing building, "Mr Tenchi Neo Masaki!"
The crowd erupted in an enormous cheer. The sound was completely deafening. The pitch rose even higher as the doors of the building opened and Tenchi stepped out. His wings were spread in a virtuous pose as he walked along the path between the building from which he had just emerged and the palace, the only visible bit of ground for many miles around. He proceeded slowly, accepting the applause graciously. He reached the palace steps and climbed them to the podium and the Emperor. To the side of them, Tenchi's friends applauded, Mihoshi, Ayeka, Washu, Sasami and Ryoko.
"On behalf of the Galactic Empire of Jurai, I award you with this." He lifted up a medal, intricately and infinitely carved. He attached it to Tenchi's chest. "I also give you my promise that I shall do anything and everything I can to fulfil your requests, no matter what they may be. You may demand anything you want, and I shall grant it."
He stepped back from the podium and Tenchi took up the position. He cleared his throat.
"People..." he started, but was cut off by the huge pandemonium this word caused. He waited several minutes for them to calm down. "People," he started again. "I thank you for your gracious applause." He motioned for quiet as another upheaval started. "I thank you for this medal, and for everything you have done for me. And I thank my friends. I couldn't have done this without them."
Tenchi paused. "A month ago I would never have guessed that I had this kind of power. Just over two weeks ago I was forced to use it. I could never have become a fraction as strong as I am today without my friends." He gestured towards the girls sat near him. "Mihoshi, the bravest person I have ever met. She helped us face Kagato a few months ago, even though she was by far weaker than him, no offence." Mihoshi smiled and shook her head, signifying that none was taken. "Sasami, by far the best cook I know." Sasami giggled. "She sometimes delivered some very good advice, often painfully." Sasami giggled again as she remembered several times when she had hit people with a frying pan to help make a point. "Ryoko, the most carefree person I have met." Ryoko just winked at him. "But she is also surprisingly sensitive and caring. Then Washu, probably the strangest person to exist." Washu wriggled her eyebrows at her 'guinea pig'. "We have both shared some 'interesting' times together, but they were still wholly enjoyable. And finally, Lady Ayeka. The kindest and most gentle woman I could know. Despite trying to kill me the first time we met, she is still one of my very closest friends." Ayeka blushed at this.
"I know in my heart that any one of them would readily sacrifice themselves for me, and I also know that I would do the same for them. My friends are the most important thing to me in my life, and I know they like me just as much."
Tenchi changed tack. "Becoming a God wasn't my greatest achievement. I wasn't even trying to do so. Indeed, I never imagined such a thing was even possible. No, my greatest achievement is surviving, day after day, year after year, even when things all seem to be going the wrong way. I have resisted the temptation to give up many times, and that is what I consider to be my greatest achievement. It is also yours," he said, referring to everyone there. "Every day is a new adventure, even if it may seem otherwise. And every night you complete that adventure, and a small part of you is immortalised in what you have done. You are your own greatest achievement. Remember that, and live long and prosper." Tenchi knew how clichéd that was, but he realised that no-one would notice, as they would never have heard of Star Trek.
Tenchi stepped down from the podium to enormous applause and went over to his friends. He got them all to hold hands in a line and bow to the crowd.
"So what are you going to ask for from the Emperor?" Ryoko shouted at Tenchi, all but drowned out by the cheering.
"I can't think of anything," Tenchi replied. "I have everything I could want right here."
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Tenchi was God. Not 'a' God, or 'some' God, or even 'our' God, but just God. If a prefix was wanted, try 'the' God. But he wouldn't want to be called that anyway. His name is Tenchi.
The end, and after. He will always be there. Neo, the Choujen One. Tenchi.
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In the next episode of Continuum T:
There will possibly be a bonus episode, to explain some things, as well as stating missing facts. I'll also throw in some closure, such as Tenchi's final decision, and the ultimate end of the prophecy, but I think Tenchi's choice should be obvious from what is written. It's the author's belief as well, but everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. And that's what will happen in the last episode of Continuum T, "Loose Ends". Until the next time, may the Goddesses guide you to your destination.