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An End of Dreams:
A Prologue
Planet Golandor, Kania System
The Knights of Jurai ran.
Hollow wind shrieked menacingly as it scorched the rickety metal beams that supported the ancient platform while nipping viciously at the faces of all who were present. Towering skyscrapers from the sprawling metropolis protruded from the skyline and surrounded them tacitly.
Overhead in the obsidian clouds, rain poured mercilessly downward making the night all the more blacker. Bolts of lightning erupted frequently, drawn instinctively to the metallic old docking port, sending amber sparks dancing wildly into the wind.
The detachment of Jurian Knights scrambled to take up positions as another dance began to unfold before them.
Each drew their alabaster cloaks tighter to their soaked bodies. Staves by their side, they maintained their positions a considerable distance away from the center of the landing pad in a lose circle formation. Their faces were painted grim, with the occasional look of awe and shock appearing here and there.
A heavy explosion slammed the adjacent control tower sending shards of glass flying everywhere. Two lone figures in the center of the platform became one with the chaos surging all around them.
Their moves were fluid as the water -- their strikes were quicker than the lightning itself. They were a blur, never in the same for even a single second. Each maneuver, each blow the two combatants struck occurred in eerie synchronization. It was a terrible dance, one whose climax would result in the unmistakable fate it was destined to bestow.
One of these figures, the woman whose eye's shone bright amber, screamed in rage as she activated a second fiery red energy sword, identical to her original, and amplified her attacks.
Directly across from her, less than seven feet away, the opposing man narrowed his russet eyes sharply while rain mixed with sweat and poured freely down his face. He steadied his own energy sword, blazing in an unmistakable blue aurora, and braced himself.
The air around permeated them with the smell of charred and mutilated destruction. Smoke and fire; the addition of the unceasing rain compounded both elements summoning a stinging steam of air that reached everywhere.
Misery and pain sang from every droplet impacted against exposed flesh and hardened metal alike.
Yards away the knights watched on.
"Master Kamidake," the youngest of them spoke urgently, "why are we not engaging?"
The downpour muffled most words before they even escaped the lips.
The old knight to his side, his long gray hair limping drenched and sticking to his face, considered his subordinate as his face became even grimmer. "It was never our intent to interfere," he answered, voice tinged in sorrow. "We are here merely to assist if the need be."
Shocked, the knight could only stammer, "But why? There will be nothing left of this place by the time those two have killed one another!" Other knights nodded and murmured in agreement.
"Baka!" The master knight hissed angrily, eclipsing the deafening sound of the rain itself.
All knights snapped to attention immediately, confusion and worry plainly visible on even the most experienced and hardened of knights.
"All of you look at what you see," Kamidakie ordered, his crimson eyes radiating in holy anger. All faces returned to gaze at the sweeping destruction before them as energy sword clashed against energy sword. He turned to stare at the youngest knight. "Do you think you could survive against that – against them?" he barked.
The young knight did not gulp nor did he return his master's gaze as he continued to follow the order which he was given. "No master," he declared, "they could kill us all where we stand if they so desired."
Thunder cracked overhead as the rain somehow managed to increase in tenacity.
"Yes, they could," the older knight murmured in agreement. "Hold your positions!"
"Hai!" they shout as one.
Chilled to the bone, the Knights of Jurai stood their ground and waited for the inevitable to break.
They did not have to wait long.
The man suddenly charged and quickly took the offensive making several clean swipes and throwing the woman off guard. She hovered in midair unleashing bolts of energy chaotically. One would have hit the man save for the energy shield that sprung to life to deflect it
Pushing his black cloak aside, he took aim using his left hand and sent a ripple of translucent energy flying toward the lithe woman.
It hit her dead center.
She wailed out in pain as her body fell back to the platform, the embedded lights circling the docking pad illuminating her descent all the way. A section of the dock's plating collapsed entirely when her body collided on top of it in full force.
And then she lay still.
Her adversary, the man garbed in black, began approaching her cautiously -- taking slow and deliberate steps -- waiting to see what she would do -- waiting to see how bad her injuries were.
Before he had come ten yards from the spot she had fallen, another sound shot out in the dark. A howling penetrated both the wind and the rain and screamed past them all. The dark man recognized it instantly; barely summoning his energy shield back before a blast of hot, streaming red plasma engulfed him.
More blasts from above rained down from some unseen force. The knights ducked for cover bringing staves to bear. Some shot back, aiming wildly and spewing Jurian energy into the black sky.
Moments passed before the smoke and dust cleared from the place where the man had been unexpectedly attacked. He took two steps toward where his quarry had fallen and stopped dead in his tracks. She was gone.
He scanned the area quickly, eyes darting trying to penetrate the darkness, until at last he found her.
She was now at the far edge of the platform, a two hundred meter drop below her. Overhead, lighting clash against sky giving form to a strange jagged vessel floating above.
He remained still, eyes never retreating from his opponent.
She took a few steps toward the edge before looking back at him, their eyes meeting in a hostile embrace of one another. Even in the rain they could see one another with unparalleled clarity.
A heartbeat later, a flash of light burst transporting her away as the ship screamed and took flight.
Deactivating his blade, he returned it to its place on his belt as he stared into the night sky, the rain pelting him all the more.
When he had returned his gaze, he discovered the knights had gathered around him silently. He nodded curtly as he approached Kaimidake, "Thank you, old friend."
The elder knight bowed deeply before speaking, "It is an honor above all honors to serve thee, Lord."
Kaimidake wasn't sure, but he thought for one fleeting moment that a faint smile appeared on the man's face before he turned and started walking away. Shadows enveloped him completely as he faded from sight and disappeared into the night.
Minutes passed silently as Kaimidake survived the scene before him. Molten fire burned brightly from several spots around the main surface of the landing pad. Buildings all around the platform blazed frantically and smoldered like an aggravated wounds that bleed smoke which become one with the night sky.
The same young knight who had first spoken raised his exasperated voice to be heard once more, "Master, who were they?"
Soaked and sickened to the bone, the old knight sighed deeply as he shut his eyes from the world and the howling wind.
"That man you just saw, my young knight," he began sorrowfully with eyes still closed, "was Prince Tenchi Masaki Jurai."
A collective gasp arose from several the knights, but the youngest of them persisted.
"And the woman?"
"His former wife," the old knight replied slowly, his eyes snapped opened to expose the hate and disgust they reflected, "the demon Ryouko."
A Fan Fiction by Sebayn
Excerpts from Galaxy Police File #J-154934-Alpha
...pursuant to the events leading up to incident 5041-DA2-0A, subject was last seen 1921 years, 4 months and 12 days ago in an armed skirmish in the vicinity of Port Kane. Current rationale for recent activities is unknown. Profilers have no viable theories to present at this time.
Historical records contain only additional information mission-critical to this assignment. Summary contained within.
Special Note: While nothing is known about A-Class Criminal Ryoko Masaki's actions whereabouts for the last several centuries, the same must be observed for Prince Tenchi's. Intelligence reports random sightings, rumors and hearsay. Within the underground he has become an urban legend -- the lost prince. Whether his lifestyle is nomadic or not, Prince Tenchi's motives and behavior of late are suspect and impossible to objectively assertain.
Covert action authorized by High Command. Special Survaliance Unit 105 activated.
Mission Parameters: Shadow and observe any and all subjects related to the incident 5041-DA2-0A. Interference with subjects prohibited.
So ordered.
Col. Horati Kuramitsu
Commanding Officier, SSU 105