Previously on Supplement DB:
Two more DragonBalls have been collected, and Tenchi now has most of his powers back. Actually, that's about it. There hasn't really been much else that has happened, has there?
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Supplement DB, Part IV – And Then You Get to Burning
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Tenchi was busy working in the carrot field. It was a hot late June day, and Tenchi was sweltering. He had removed his shirt a while ago, but was still overly warm. He paused yet again so wipe his forehead free of sweat.
Ryo-Ohki was there to help Tenchi. Unfortunately she couldn't do anything. Tenchi was just watering the carrots, and waiting for them to grow, ready for picking in the autumn.
Tenchi just happened to glance at Ryo-Ohki. He really had to admire the cabbit for trying. He reached down and pulled out a carrot.
"Just this one, okay?" Tenchi said sternly.
"Myah!" Ryo-Ohki was delighted. She proceeded to nibble at it, while Tenchi finished the last of the watering and went back to the house.
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He entered, just as Ryoko was about throw an energy attack.
"Ryoko, how many times have I told you not to fight with Ayeka?" Tenchi said tediously. He turned around to her opponent. "You're not Ayeka, are you?"
Aki shook his head. "What gave me away?" he asked, grinning. "What d'ya want?"
"Maybe an explanation?" Tenchi suggested. He turned towards Ryoko.
"Ah, now, you see, we were bored, and Ayeka wasn't playing, so we decided to play with each other," Ryoko said.
"And fighting is your idea of fun?" Tenchi said. "Aki, I thought you were a pacifist?"
"I am," Aki said indignantly. "Look at me, not even a Saiyan. I'm giving her a chance."
"Just take it outside," Tenchi said. "And Aki, no hurting her."
"Hey!" Ryoko said. "Aren't you worried about me hurting him?"
"No." Simply.
Tenchi went to the kitchen and poured himself a drink, popping the last several ice cubes in while he was at it. He heard a beeping. The Dragon Radar.
Tenchi rushed back to the drawers next to the front door, where he had left it. He picked it up and looked at it.
Nothing. The beeping had stopped. There was no signal of a DragonBall temporarily fully on Earth anywhere. Tenchi tried shaking it, but that didn't do anything. He slapped it back down and went into the main room, thoroughly annoyed.
"What is it, Tenchi?" Ayeka asked. It was just too hot for her to maintain her princess image, so she was wearing white shorts and a light blue shirt. She too was sipping an iced drink.
"Oh, it's the DragonBalls," Tenchi replied. "There was one, but it's gone. And it's not coming back for eight months."
"Oh no," Mihoshi voiced her concern. "I'm sorry."
Mihoshi was wearing something like what she usually wore, only less of it. It worked, though, while at the same time looking very airy and cool.
"Hey, it's actually no big deal," Tenchi replied. "So what if it's eight more months? It's not as if I was planning to do anything with my God form. I can still do pretty much everything important."
"Well, if you're okay with it," Mihoshi said.
Tenchi sighed and sunk into the chair between Ayeka and Mihoshi. "It's too hot to talk. Just drink."
Even with the combined efforts of three electric fans and a cold drink each, they were still too hot.
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Ryoko and Aki came back inside a few minutes later. Ryoko didn't immediately go at Ayeka for lying on Tenchi's lap, as she was, instead opting to cool herself down in front of a fan first. Aki did likewise.
"So how was your fun?" Tenchi breathed, the heat somehow taking most of the volume from his voice.
"Awful," Ryoko replied, rather out of breath.
"Great," Aki said, the only sweat on his brow due to the heat, which was still a lot.
"I can't believe he beat me so easily," Ryoko muttered.
"Aki beat you?" Ayeka asked. "Ryoko, the most feared pirate in the Galaxy? That's nice."
The heat has a habit of making everyone not care about anything.
"Hey, do you reckon Washu can do anything about this heat?" Mihoshi asked.
"Well, she did say she was going to spend the day in her private ski resort in her lab, but we weren't invited," Tenchi replied. "Actually, that's not a bad idea," he said with more enthusiasm. "Let's at least ask Washu if she can do anything."
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So they did. Washu didn't have a ski lodge to hand, but her lab was very well air-conditioned. It happened to be the main part of her lab. It was reminiscent of a country field in full bloom, stretching on for miles. Washu was perched, as often she was, on a large floating red cushion in front of a holographic computer display and keyboard. The entire scenery was actually only a projection, made solid by complex light manipulation methods, but this was lost on the others. They were quite content to lie around and relax, or run around fighting.
Which is what Ryoko and Ayeka were currently doing. It wasn't nearly as hot as outside, so the two were more like their usual selves, which meant lots of explosions.
One particular explosion occurred a bit too close to Washu for liking. She was trying to work, and did not like even the intrusion by the others, let alone the fighting.
"Tenchi?" Washu called. Tenchi, lying nearby and staring into the false sky, sat up and looked over.
"What is it, Washu-chan?" he asked.
"Those two," Washu replied, a fair bit of anger stored in her voice. "This is supposed to be my place. First of all, you lot invade my private place, but now those two are fighting. I really don't want them in here if they're going to do that."
"Don't worry, Washu," Tenchi replied. For old times sake, a small garden gnome landed on his head. Tenchi shook it off. "I'll sort it out."
Tenchi heaved himself up, and walked over to the fighters, standing in the middle of them.
Ryoko was busy forming an energy blast when she spotted that her line of fire was blocked. "Hey, Tenchi, what are you doing?" she asked. "We're trying to fight here."
"Precisely," Tenchi replied. "Look, Washu really isn't liking this, so I'm putting a stop to it now."
"What do you mean, Lord Tenchi?" Ayeka asked.
"What I mean is that Washu may well kick us out if you carry on fighting," Tenchi said. "Do you really want to go back outside? It's just gone lunchtime. Everyone knows that's the hottest part of the day. Pack it in, or we'll all be back there."
"But Tenchi..." Ryoko began.
"But what?" Tenchi asked. "Why are you fighting now?"
Ryoko opened her mouth, and closed it again. It was just an unwritten way of life. Fight with Ayeka. There was no reason, she just did.
"Why don't you two just lie down?" Tenchi suggested. "Come on. We'll all just relax together. Do it, or I'll ask Aki to give you another lesson about true power."
Ryoko didn't like that threat, so powered down. Unfortunately she was still holding her energy ball. Without warning it shot towards Ayeka.
But Tenchi was in the way. It hit him full on, causing smoke and dust to billow out all around.
"Tenchi!" Ryoko and Ayeka both called.
"Ryoko, look what you've done!" Ayeka shouted. "You've shot Tenchi!"
"Well, it's not like I meant to," Ryoko shouted back. "I forgot I had the ball, that's all!"
They both ran towards the clearing smoke. They stopped suddenly as they saw that Tenchi was quite fine. His clothes weren't even singed.
"Now, either I'm very strong, or that attack wasn't very powerful," Tenchi said. "I think it's probably both."
"Tenchi!" both girls called. They grabbed him and hugged him tightly.
"Well," Tenchi gasped. "At least you're not fighting."
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And they didn't. Instead, they lay down in the short grass, each of the girls using one of Tenchi's arms as a headrest. They were watching the clouds go by.
"Tenchi, what did you mean when you said my attack wasn't very powerful?" Ryoko asked.
"I should think it was quite clear," Tenchi replied. "Your attack didn't have much power in it, did it?"
"Why don't you think so?"
"Because I can tell what you're thinking," Tenchi said. "I know how you feel about each other, and I know Washu can sense your feelings for Ayeka, Ryoko."
"What feelings?"
"Yes, what feelings?" Ayeka asked.
"You both at the very least respect each other. I know you like each other, and consider the other to be one of your closest friends," Tenchi said. "I just don't get why you constantly fight, seeing as how you're best friends."
"Me, friends with her?" Ayeka asked, no visible attempt at hiding her shock.
"That's right," Tenchi replied. "And don't bother trying to lie. You know how much I hate that."
"Well, that may be true," Ryoko said. "But it's kind of an unspoken agreement. We're supposed to hate each other."
"Yes," Ayeka agreed. "I am a princess, and she is a pirate. It just would not be right if we were to be friends."
"But you are friends, and you both know it," Tenchi said tiredly. "Just think about the Earth for a second. What is it?"
"Beautiful," Ryoko said.
"Like Jurai," Ayeka said.
"Primitive."
"A protected planet."
"Right," Tenchi said. "It's a protected planet. Technically it's not a part of the Jurai Empire. Once Earthlings develop interstellar travel, then maybe, but at the moment it isn't. Do you really think everyone on this planet knows who either of you two are?"
"No," they both replied.
"No," Tenchi said. "If you walk down the street, would anyone notice you? Apart from the hair thing, of course."
"What's wrong with our hair?" Ayeka asked sharply.
"Nothing. It's just not like what Earthlings consider normal, that's all. Blue and purple hair doesn't grow naturally on Earth. Anyway, no-one would recognise you. Do you really think anyone cares about whether you're friends or not?"
"No."
"Precisely. So why not be friends? Everyone on this planet couldn't care less. Look, put it this way: if you stop fighting, I can stop repairing things. If I do that, I'll have more time to spend with you. Sound good?"
"So it's blackmail now, Tenchi?" Aki asked. He had walked over without being noticed, and now he lay down, pointing the opposite way to the others, his head close to the others'.
"Absolutely," Tenchi replied.
"So we're just looking at the clouds?" Aki asked.
"Can do."
"What d'you think of that one?" Aki asked, pointing at one.
"It's a duck's head," Tenchi said.
"No it's not," Ayeka said. "It's a rabbit."
"Wrong," Ryoko said. "It's clearly a cloud."
A moment passed.
"Maybe you should just go to sleep," Aki suggested.
"Only if I'm with you," Ryoko said, turning over and resting her head on Tenchi's chest, listening to his heartbeat.
Aki tilted his head to look at her.
"She means me," Tenchi whispered to him.
"Thought as much."
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They were rather rudely awoken about half an hour later by Sasami. As is customary, they moved slightly, opened their eyes, stretched, rubbed their eyes and stumbled to their feet. Such is the custom of the tired.
"What is it, Sammy?" Tenchi asked.
"Tenchi, do you know where Ryo-Ohki is?" Sasami asked. "I thought she was just playing somewhere here, but I can't find her anywhere."
"Maybe she's outside," Tenchi suggested.
"She probably is," Ryoko said. "Ryo-Ohki can handle any kind of temperatures. Space is really cold, you know."
"I know, but I was worried about her," Sasami said.
"Oh, she'll be fine," Tenchi said. "I know what she's like. She can scrounge a carrot from anywhere."
"Yes, that cabbit is very resourceful," Ayeka said. "She can manage."
"Tell you what," Aki said. "I'll go and look for her."
Aki stood up and went for the exit, while the others sat on the ground. Tenchi looked around.
"What's Mihoshi up to?" he wondered.
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Mihoshi, as it so frequently happens, had stumbled her way into the laboratory part of Washu's workspace. There was metal all around, most of it various machines and contraptions. She wandered between them until she reached a desk. A couple of control panels were at either end, and in the middle was a recessed space. A small device was resting there. Mihoshi picked it up.
It was a small rectangular plastic box, for want of a much better description. On one end were a variety of small multicoloured lights. A small pressure button was on the side, which Mihoshi pressed. This caused most of the top to fold open, hinged at the end. Once it was open the lights inside turned on. A graph screen flickered on in the middle of the base, and underneath was a message.
TRICORDER ON, it read.
"How strange," Mihoshi said. She gave it the benefit of the doubt, and pressed one of the buttons. Immediately every alarm in the place went off, and several screens appeared all around her, showing a picture of herself with a red circle and a bar overlapped on it.
Washu came sprinting up to her, and snatched the device from her grasp.
"What in Tenchi's name do you think you're doing?" Washu exclaimed.
"I'm sorry, Miss Washu," Mihoshi apologised. "I was just seeing what that thing does."
"Well, don't," Washu said, closing it and putting it back in its place. "It's a very delicate and powerful sensory device. It can detect pretty much anything within a really big radius. And I don't want you touching it!"
"But what is it?" Mihoshi asked.
"It's an idea taken from an Earthling television show," Washu said. "It's called a Tricorder. It's a handheld scanning device, and it's really good, if I say so myself. I think it's one of the best... Why am I telling you this? Get out!"
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"What do you think Mihoshi's broken this time?" Ryoko asked.
"I don't think she's actually broken anything," Tenchi said. "She just got into the wrong place."
"Figures."
Aki came back in at this point, sweating heavily. He slowly made his way over to the others, before slumping down on the grass, panting hard.
"You been chasing bits of light again?" Tenchi asked.
Aki shook his head, sweat droplets shaking off him. "No," he gasped. "It's hot."
"No kidding," Ryoko said.
"I made it all the way to the kitchen door," Aki said. "The heat was incredible. I tried cooling myself under the tap, but steam came out. The thermometer had melted."
"Really," Ayeka said.
"Yes, really," Aki replied, pulling something out of his pocket. It was the thermometer, badly warped and twisted. Everyone gaped at it.
"Hey, will Ryo-Ohki be alright if it's this hot outside?" Tenchi asked.
"I hope so," Ryoko replied.
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When it gets hot, it really gets hot.
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They eventually came out of the lab. It had cooled down somewhat from before, as it was now early evening. Sasami went to prepare dinner, while the others went into the main room.
"Myah!" Ryo-Ohki greeted. She hadn't been seen all day, but the fact that she had survived the heat wasn't why everyone was so surprised.
Ryo-Ohki was perched on a DragonBall.
Tenchi quickly looked over to the shelf where the others were, and counted three. He looked back at Ryo-Ohki and saw another one. Ryo-Ohki had the seven-star DragonBall.
"Ryo-Ohki, how d'ya get that?" Ryoko asked.
Ryo-Ohki started to explain. Unfortunately no one understood what she was saying, except for Ryoko and Washu. Ryoko translated.
"She says she was in the field this morning, just after Tenchi had left. She was eating a carrot when the DragonBall appeared in front of her. She touched it, and brought it back home."
"That's amazing, Ryo-Ohki!" Tenchi praised. "The fields are really far away, especially for you. You mean to say you brought the Ball back all by yourself?"
"Just for you," Washu said. "Ryoko missed that bit out."
"I was just about to say that, mom," Ryoko growled.
"Well, I'm very proud of you, Ryo-Ohki," Tenchi said, picking her up and cuddling her. "I can't believe you did that just for me."
"Myah!"
Sasami came in. "What happened?" she asked.
"Ryo-Ohki got the fourth DragonBall," Ayeka replied.
"Oh, you did? Well done, Ryo-Ohki!" Sasami praised.
"Yeah, nice one, Ryo-chan," Aki said, giving her a little stroke as he passed Tenchi. He went to examine the ball.
"Which one is it?" Mihoshi asked.
"I don't know," Aki replied, turning the ball round in his hands. "I can't find the, ah, there it is. Hey, Ten? What is seven round circles, each one round one of the stars?"
"I don't know," Tenchi replied. "I haven't a clue."
"Hey, maybe it's a picture of the DragonBalls," Mihoshi said. "There are seven of them."
"Ah, that's right!" Tenchi exclaimed. "The DragonBalls are only on the Earth. This must be the Earth DragonBall."
"Yes, that sounds about right," Washu remarked. There are only three other elements, and none of them fit the seven circles thing at all."
"Hey, maybe this was the DragonBall you detected this morning," Mihoshi said. "But when Ryo-Ohki touched it, it stopped being detected."
"You know, I think it was," Tenchi said.
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Indeed it was. The Ball joined the other three on the shelf. It was quite an impressive collection so far. Just three more DragonBalls were needed, then the magical dragon Shenron could be summoned and Tenchi could have his powers returned to him.
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The heat wave that day was not completely due to the weather. While it may get hot in Japan, it doesn't get near hot enough to melt glass. In fact, it was Washu's fault. She had had an upset with her latest experiment, and it ended up altering the thermal conductivity of different patches of space in different ways. This led to the end result that it became extremely hot in some places, and cooler in others. The kitchen, where the thermometer had been, and where Aki had walked around earlier, was extremely hot, while in other areas, like the main room, the temperature was much lower. Luckily, nothing else was affected by the heat or cold except the thermometer, and the effects dissipated before anyone noticed. Washu was safe.
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In the next episode of Supplement DB:
Everyone relaxes outside. It may not sound like much, but Tenchi and Sasami do something special together, and the evil wizard that put the spells on Tenchi gets a mention. There's everything to play for in "The Phantom Menaces". Any resemblance of these menaces to Gollum from "Lord of the Rings" is purely coincidental. Indeed it is. Yes.