Forever Masaki
By Starhopper
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DISCLAIMER: *sigh* couldn't own them even if I tried. No one can possibly own a Space Pirate or a Juraian Prince. I'm thankful the characters haven't risen up in a revolt to what I'm doing to them. *snickers* Sorry guys.
Wow, 21 reviews?!
THANKS!
Once again, you keep my crazy moods from swinging too low with every compliment or criticism you guys give me. Here's some more that I hope will live up to your expectations!
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Chapter 12: Dissecting Adam's Rib
The great ARC as Washu called it was exactly as the anonymous officer had described it as. Dark, mysterious . . . and yet strangely alive.
"What is it with this place?" Ryoko wondered aloud, hand in hand with her beloved. They looked about their surroundings, which reminded Tenchi and the rest of the group of the abandoned ship they had encountered while in space just three short years ago. The hall supports were old and rusting. Occasionally there would be a glint that caught an eye, but would turn out to be but a streak of unabridged metal in all its unrusted glory. Quiet sounds like one's normal patterns of breath were amplified; one's whisper turned into a shout; footsteps fell like thunder. Still, persisting through the dank and unappealing surroundings was the constant feeling that they were being watched.
"So, no need to drag them into battle. They just come to me themselves." The Master snickered as he watched the seven wander around in the first line of defense for his ship, the ADAM'S RIB: the spiral staircase. It gradually descended, (Though so slightly that you could have never guessed that you were actually traveling down without turning on the center light as a frame of reference.) into a massive docking bay. It was a simple flip of the dimensional switch then another flip of the bay hatch to dispose of Ryoko.
His attentions were directed away from the futile efforts of the Space Pirate and her crew to the smaller docking bay near the top of the acropolis from where the command consul was. Sure enough it was Cell 1, Odosuoni's ship, defeated.so to speak.
"Ah, my poor creation. You can't function without daddy's assistance, can you?" He questioned sadistically, putting on a fake pout.
She suddenly appeared before him, stripped of her outfit, floor-length red hair clung to her body, accentuating her every curve that was endowed to her.
"Master, I have failed," the ember eyes glowed sadly, their light suddenly doused as she bowed her head in forgiveness. "I see that they have come to you despite my efforts. -"
Reaching a hand out, he tucked it beneath her chin and raised her head to face his. "Now, now. You were impatient Odosuoni, and I must say that that does not bode well in your profession."
"I never asked for it." The woman replied in monotone, defying her Master with insolence.
Expressions making no transition from anger to hope, they switched from one to the other in the blink of an eye. "My dear, you have not failed.I will give you one more chance. If you fail, then and only then will I pronounce your failure to your sisters."
"I understand they've been waiting for me to lose this battle."
"Yes, and patiently at that." His hand still leading her chin, he lifted it until the whole naked body followed it into the air. "Their efforts will soon be rewarded."
"I swore I would kill Ryoko." Odosuoni spat out, her eyes desperately seeking his, but at the angle she was held at, it was utterly impossible to do so. "I will continue as planned." As if to prove her claim, she let the free-flowing energy drip off the tips of her fingers and grow to two red plasma balls in each hand. "I'm just as powerful as she is."
The Master grinned appreciatively. "I appreciate your optimism. Really I do. But as of now they are in the third dimension, wandering about that corkscrew."
"I see, you want me to attack now."
"No." Setting her feet back on the cold metal floor, he went back to stand in front of the pool. "No. Let's have some fun first."
"Fun?" Odosuoni asked, hands on bared hips. "Shall I begin?"
"To make the most of your time left in this dimension I insist."
Strolling leisurely over to stand next to The Master, Odosuoni smiled wickedly and let the glowing orbs rotating in her palms drop into the pool. Landing without a splash, they watched as the seven scattered. The ball barely missed its intended target by a matter of inches, then continued to fly down the hallway. As soon as he saw it drop out of sight, the Master knew they had made a disastrous mistake. The light had been turned on.
* * *
"Where the hell did that come from?" Ryoko cursed under her breath as Tenchi helped her up.
"It came out of nowhere!" Kiyone answered, still shaken, (As they all were) from that first blast.
"Are you sure you're all right?" Tenchi asked the millionth time, (At least to Ryoko's ears) brushing away some accumulating beads of sweat off his love's forehead.
"Yes, I'm fine." She reassured him calmly, annoyed with his questions, but endeared by his devotion. "I'm sure Tenchi."
"Did you see that fireball?" Washu yelled out, straining on tiptoe to see why the ball was directed in that direction as opposed to where they had just come from. "It streamed down there and turned what appears to be a corner."
"A corner?" Kiyone looked over to where she thought Washu was pointing. "I don't see anything."
"Exactly," excited, the scientist ran down to where the ball had curved. She continued beyond it and turned a very slight corner. "Now can you see me?"
"No, but turn on your head light and then maybe we can!" Mihoshi dumbly called out.
"Shhh. No, I can't see you!"
Washu popped back out and delivered a bright blinding light to the whole group, sitting bewildered and confused by what had just happened. "See me now?"
Ignoring her partner's request of 'shhh', Mihoshi chirped, "Well of course we can, you just turned on the head light!"
"Will you both keep it down!" Aeka shouted, her hands over her ears. "With this echo effect we have to speak in whispers if we don't want to go deaf!"
Taking cue from the First Princess, Kiyone turned back to where Washu stood and whispered, "Yes I can!"
"Good, now run to me and continue until you can see the light." As she said this, the light vanished as Washu once again turned the corner and began to run. She wanted to test her theory with an impartial party. The exasperated officer was as good as a guinea pig as anyone.
After passing five corners, Kiyone caught up with Washu and suddenly understood why Washu wanted her to follow at a run.
"Now I get it. It feels like I've been running down-hill." Reaching down to feel her shins, Kiyone began to rub them.
"Yes. This hallway is going around in a circle. If it had been a level hallway, the fireball's light would have disappeared as it wound its way around the corners. However, if you continue to follow it, you can still see the light, coming from the descent below."
Sure enough, as Kiyone followed the genius down the many twists and turns, there began to develop a pattern. This was indeed a corkscrew, slowly.very slowly descending into the depths of the ship.
"So, if my guess it correct,"
"As it's been so far,"
"We should retrace our steps back the way we came. Up is where the acropolis is and up is where the red beacon of a control center is."
"Right. Let's go back and tell the others."
* * *
"Wow. Ingenious." Aeka muttered breathlessly, as they started back up the slow incline that would bring them to their goal.
"So explain this dimension tuner again," Ryoko started, as she flew above the others. She lay out on the air, lounging almost. Hey, she could be rescuing her own life, but she was now and forever Ryoko, proclaimed 'lazy' but a certain purple haired princess. After beginning to feel the incline grow steadily faster, and having consulted Tenchi about leaving him out of the walk, Ryoko had decided to resume her old past time of flight.
"It's really quite simple," the genius replied. "EVIL created a separate dimension, like I did with my lab. All he has to do 'jump' from his created one to ours, the 'Third Dimension', with the help of a transplant, switch, and a pool."
Arching her back and throwing her arms behind her, Ryoko flew down to Washu's side. "And we need to destroy all of them?"
"Exactly."
"Locking them in, or locking them out." Sasami repeated her theory to which Washu nodded in agreement.
"Powerful," The cyan-spiked woman flew up to the ceiling, falling back into her lounge position above the heads of her comrades.
"A little too powerful for my taste," Her fiancé barely mouthed the words, trying to achieve a whisper for his love's ears only in this echo chamber.
Long, large ears perking at the sound of his voice, Ryoko phased out and reappeared walking aside him. "I agree."
Tenchi did a double take then sighing, put his right arm about her shoulders. "It will be alright. We've faced worse."
"Kagato, who I heard you defeated," She snickered, the first sign of smile he had seen since they had boarded the ship. Suddenly, the smile faded and her gold eyes lowered in reminiscence. "Haruna . . . "
Giving the shoulder a quick squeeze, he smiled reassuringly. "Now I heard that you defeated her all alone."
The farthest corner of her mouth rose up in half a smile. "Why do you always have to cheer me up?" she grumbled playfully. "Every time, without fail?"
Shrugging, Tenchi was about to explain, but she planted a kiss on his cheek and phased out to the ceiling before he could get a word in.
* * *
"Damn!" The Master slammed his fist in an open palm. "Why did you do that? Now they're heading up here, Washu has figured it all out with the exception of why we need Ryoko dead."
Odosuoni was still in shock that the seven had come to the conclusion so fast. Standing in the shadows, listening to her Master rant and rave about her stupidity, she cursed her own stupid ambitions. To be free. To be free of a life that had been created for her before she herself had been created. Two years had passed since her assignment to survey and watch the Space Pirate and her lover, Ryoko and her friends and her close bond between the man she loved. Two years of sitting in front of the pool, planning for the day when they would meet and face off; a mirror image to the image itself.
"Master, they are on their way up anyway. Tenchi will most likely destroy the switch and we'll use the pool as defense until then. It really isn't that bad."
His back turned to his creation; The Master heaved a heavy sigh and turned to face Odosuoni. "No, sympathetic as you always were, you were always optimistic as well. It isn't that bad. You'll just have to engage in battle much more quickly than was first anticipated."
"Fine. If it's as you wish."
"And it is."
Odosuoni smiled briefly, imagining her victory; standing triumphantly over Ryoko's lifeless body, both princesses, Galaxy Police Officers, and one meddling scientist wounded and mourning the death of their friend. And poor Tenchi, their lives will end as they both wished . . . together.
"Why the smile?"
Her thoughts shaken from their dreamy grounds, she threw her head up to face his. "I feel the optimism that you mention so much."
He nodded, then returned back to the pool, watching the group proceed up the ramp and finally come to the real second floor of ADAM'S RIB. If only they knew just how close they were to their second goal . . . the dimension tuner.
* * *
The second floor was strange to say the least. With low, buckled ceilings, Ryoko was grounded. From their hallway, the path branched out into three different halls. Lights emanated from each doorway: one red, one pitch black, and the other blinding white. It was here, at the crossroads, where the seven stood.
"Do you think we're lost?" Mihoshi squeaked, crowding Kiyone from behind.
Coming up through the crowd, Washu grinned and replied, "No, I think we are very much found." And continued to take the lead.
"What do you mean Miss Washu?" Aeka asked through a yawn.
"Well," she summoned her laptop from one of her own created dimensions and started typing in the coordinates of where they were. "According to the account taken by the anonymous officer that discovered the other ship; Cell I; this floor is identical to the one in it. So," Fingers flying furious over the keys, the scientist bit her lip and after some silence shouted, "the tuner should be that way!" her finger pointed to the blackest, almost abysmal light.
"I think we should split up." Kiyone blurted out, shoving her flashlight into her blue sash.
"You don't trust me?" Washu confronted the teal haired GP officer with a glare.
The bright pink eyes of the second princess started to tear at the notion. "No, we can't . . . "
Hands up in defense, Kiyone smiled and said, "No, no it isn't that I don't trust you, it's just that . . . "
"Now Sasami, don't be rash to judge from past experiences," her sister scolded, giving her a stern look.
"Well if we split up, me and Tenchi are together," Ryoko shouted above the growing din.
"WE KNOW!" They yelled back before returning to their own predicaments.
"What makes my judgements untrustworthy?" The curt little nose of the genius flared in indignancy.
"They aren't untrustworthy, Washu, that's not what I meant."
"Aeka, history repeats itself, I don't want to get lost!"
"Fine Sasami, but please, don't worry."
"Well, when has my data every led you astray?"
"This is getting tedious." Tenchi mumbled under his breath, running a hand down the front of his face. "We're falling apart."
Leaning her head against his shoulder, Ryoko closed her eyes. "The events of the day are wearing thin on everyone's consciences." Before Tenchi could comment on the sudden growth spurt of her vocabulary, she squeezed her eyes tighter and groaned through a smile, "I know, it's from a day of Washu."
"But you're right Ryoko," Tenchi stood, knocking her head off its place on his soft, comforting shoulder. "EVERYONE BE QUIET!"
The bickering stopped abruptly as it had begun to hear the young man that had always been their hero, the victorious.
"Let's just split up and explore, not demeaning anyone's judgements," his brown eyes sought the green and blue eyes. "And no one will be lost. In half an hour, we'll all return to this spot, and tell each other what we've found." Sasami smiled as Aeka did so. Mihoshi, the odd one out on the argument nodded.
"Good. Let's just get on with it then. Washu, you and Aeka go down the white hallway, since you both can shield yourselves from the glare." Even as he spoke, the pair were securing the strapless, multidimensional goggles and summoning the Juraian energy orb.
"Mihoshi and Kiyone go down the red one." Ryoko directed, close by her love's side.
"And Sasami you come with us." He held out a hand and the twelve-year-old grabbed onto it with hope in her wet eyes. Disappointed, Ryoko soon cheered up as Tenchi took her left hand in his free one.
With that, they all departed down the halls.
* * *
"They got smart."
"Apparently EVIL always was." Ryoko sighed at Tenchi's mumble. "Why else would they deliberately switch dimensions so they could get in contact with Nagi?"
Sasami's eyes shone like beacons in the very dark corridor, along with reflective gold and brown ones. "What about the attack on Jurai's three main battleships? That had to be a part of the plan as well."
"You're right Sasami, EVIL certainly knows what they're doing and who they're doing it to." Tenchi stopped and scanned the area. Running fingers along the narrow hallway was the only way to detect exactly where were they in the abysmal, artificial night . . . well; even night was lighter than this. In fact, the light from the main floor was a mere pin prick behind them, casting no light or shadow of its own.
"I just want to find the tuner, fire a couple fire balls at it, leave and be on our way with meeting 'Mister EVIL'." Ryoko slammed a fist into her open palm. "Show that guy not to mess with the greatest Space Pirate in the Universe."
Placing a tentative hand on her left shoulder, Tenchi whispered, "And try not to get killed in the process."
Before Ryoko could respond to that most enlightening comment, Sasami shouted, "There! Light up ahead!" For off in the distance was what seemed to be an open door, a natural light spilling out into the hallway from behind the security of the walls.
* * *
Standing at the entrance of their assigned hall, both Galaxy Police officers worked on getting their 'intensive infrared' suits on; of which Washu had pulled from her lab back at the Masaki broom closet via the laptop. Kiyone hadn't argued with Washu's generosity, and even praised the genius for her forethought. She was not getting into another fight about the little scientist's logic or judgement.
"Kiyone?"
Teal tresses pulled back to allow for the helmet; Kiyone looked over to her partner, who was vigorously pulling on the slick red gloves hemmed at the elbow and continuing with the foil undersuit. "What is it now Mihoshi?"
"Well," the blonde stopped for a moment and looked over the pile of materials that comprised the entire safety suit. "I was just wondering," again another pause to pull on the thigh high red boots over the foil tights.
"Wondering," her partner urged her to go on with the thought before it fell out of that pretty little head with hand motions. And for a second, a serious look plastered on the tanned face, Kiyone actually believed that there might be an equally serious question emerging from the bits and pieces of reality that was Mihoshi's concept of life.
"Does this suit make me look fat?"
Kiyone stumbled in surprise. Then, with a look of utter horror at how such stupidity could run so rampant in one person, so often, yelled, "WHAT?!"
"I mean red really isn't my color, I wonder if that could be it . . . "
"MIHOSHI!!!"
"What?"
Fingers grotesquely twisted in the strangle position, Kiyone lunged at the bubble-head, the ditz, the stereotypical blonde with a perfect waistline and skin tone that had stolen one too many perspective husbands or even boyfriends away from her partner before Kiyone could even say something to win them over. No, this was the last straw.
The bright blue eyes shrunk like a deer's when caught in the headlights. Except this time, the two-ton pile of metal was a 112 lb. Galaxy Police officer. Mihoshi squeaked a frightened, "Kiyone?" then went down on the floor, rolling under the weight of a furious partner.
They rolled until the blonde lay pinned by a knee on her stomach. Hands around the tanned flesh of Mihoshi's throat, Kiyone briefly entertained the notion of strangling her annoying little friend right then and there. But, there it was. Staring her straight in the face was that word, 'friend'. She couldn't do it - not even under these circumstances. No, Mihoshi was the way she was; her behavior couldn't be helped. Just as Kiyone was high- strung and quick to raise the volume of her voice, Mihoshi was just as easily apt to jump into a situation, then continue along on another trail without any transition whatsoever.
Suddenly aware of the situation Kiyone had put herself in, she backed off, letting her knee slide off the flat stomach and come under its respective thigh. Her fingers let go of her partner's neck simultaneously as she withdrew from the attack position.
* * *
"Well, I'll say one thing about Ryoko,"
"Only one?" Aeka looked away from within her floating orb, "I, myself can think of a hundred at least."
Youthful little features hidden by the monstrous pair of black goggles, Washu couldn't give the princess the glare that she hoped for as she went on despite the interruption. "That girl doesn't give a damn whose ship she pillages, even if they have enough power to create dimensions."
Aeka smiled politely and nodded her head in agreement. She should've known that as soon as they were paired up, Washu wouldn't stop deducting and examining if her life depended on it. She was, after all, a born genius who could never sacrifice the boredom of a friend if it meant the pursuit of discovery in the name of science. Sighing, she averted her gaze from the continuously blaring light and down to the floor. Biting her tongue, as she was about to point it out to Washu, she looked quickly back up and blinked her eyes. The floor wasn't a regular floor; it was a long, thin mirror, which reflected the light back ten times more brightly. Of course, she was protected and becoming accustomed to it, that Aeka barely noticed the higher intensity.
"This really is fascinating Princess Aeka," Washu chattered on, touching her left hand to the side of the hall. "The light burns so brightly, but the walls don't burn. In fact they're cool to the touch . . . just as a mirror would be."
"We're walking on them."
"The whole hallway is made of them."
Suddenly, the entire concept of the light-way, as Washu had coined it, became simple and sensical. "One light illuminates the mirrors."
"It reminds me of the funhouses on planet earth . . . don't you agree Miss Washu?"
"Yes," the scientist leapt forward in anticipation and realization. "Which means that their principle will be the same."
The electrifying whir of discovery started to draw Aeka in just as it had always engulfed Washu. "And that means, that far ahead is only one light or set of lights. Aside from that, it's all tricks with mirrors."
"Right!" With a resounding howl of agreement, she took off, towards the direction of the end of the hallway, Aeka hovering after her.
* * *
"Some control room," Ryoko observed unenthusiastically.
Tenchi brushed by her with Sasami as they made their way through the doorway to stand in the spacious and humid, dimly lit chamber. "Well, this is where the tuner should be located, let's just find it and get out of here."
"Could that be it?" Sasami pointed to a cylindrical contraption, capped with a settings bar and a lever laying horizontally affixed to it. The pole itself was set onto what appeared to be a surgical flatbed/platform.
Ryoko phased out and over across the room beside the machine. "Looks like Washu's description," Squatting, she examined the underside of the flatbed, "But I'm not sure about this platform."
"Reminds me of Frankenstein's table," Tenchi told her, coming across the room with Sasami in tow.
"Well, if this is what it's supposed to be, then," Ryoko jumped into the air, drew her arms together, locked elbows, shouted, "Get down!" and shot a fireball directly into the pole. Seeing the fire go out in a wisp of smoke, she forced three more out and onto different areas around the machine, but to no avail.
"Damn it," she swore under her breath, touching down beside her fiancé and little friend, both laying on their stomachs to avoid the potential blast. "Four should've done it."
"Mind if I give it a try Ryoko?" Tenchi asked as he rose from the floor, withdrawing sword-Tenchi from his belt.
"Be my guest,"
The Juraian energy surged forth through the hilt, hitting the ceiling in a bolt that could rival Achika's. But, there was no time to admire his growth for the blade went out in a whisper as it struck the dial's surface.
"What the-" Before Tenchi could finish the room was engulfed in a bright luminous light, evil cackling filling the air.
"That's right young prince," Odosuoni appeared out of the spotlight, floating in front of them, her hair completely free of its triple bun binding, fanning the sides of her body. With a wink, she turned to the wide-eyed Ryoko, the whites already thinning into pure golden rage. "Pleasure to meet the famous Ryoko," she bowed almost sincerely then shot back up in jest. Eyeing the glaring Space Pirate, Odosuoni continued, "I still can't see why the Master says you are,"
"I'm what . . . "
"Silence!" Curling herself into a fetal position in midair, the creation shielded herself from the creator's blow to her back.
"Ryoko!" Tenchi screamed as he landed in front of her, protecting both women with the sword and his body. Yet, all eyes turned to the beating that was ensuing right before them.
"Damn fool!" The Master yelled as he pounded her in the small of her back with his clenched fist. "You are good for nothing Odosuoni!"
"Please," she started to beg, even throwing a glance in the direction of her sworn enemy and her kin. She coughed and blood spattered the floor, "Master, I meant no harm. It's almost the end anyway."
The blows coming to an abrupt halt, he turned and the shadow that had hidden his face was lifted. He had the face of Kagato, pale and deceitful. His eyes were every color and yet had no color of their own . . . a dull gray that could assume the tint of any color in the rainbow, or the storm.
Seeing her chance as the Master lived up his glory, Ryoko grabbed for Tenchi's arm and pushed Sasami against her side, trying to make a go for it. But familiar electric pulses sunk their dangerous fingers into her flesh before she could get to the ceiling.
The Master stopped his reveling to see his prey fall like a wounded pigeon, bodies that had held tight now pried loose as Ryoko lay there sputtering and gasping for air after the shock.
"My, my, my . . . what do we have here?" he floated effortlessly over the floor and raised Ryoko's limp form with a flick of his finger.
It was about that time that the lids finally twitched open to reveal the entrancing golden eyes of the Space Pirate. Blinking to regain perception she suddenly stared straight into his gaze, boring through his skull to see what made this Master of Creation tick.
"I take it you're the one," she snickered as he felt heated plasma emanate from her fingertips, forming the precious defense system that he had longed to study up close. "Who wants me dead . . . but just can't get his wish,"
"Your confidence is impressive Ryoko, one comparable with your stature."
"Yeah, that reminds me, just what is my stature?"
The Master smiled and cocked a gray brow. "Do you think I'd tell you before I kill you? Do you think I would let you have the pleasure of knowing just how promising your life and self would have been? Do you honestly think I am that compassionate?"
"Do you think," Ryoko started off in the perfect impression of his tone, "That I would let you have me without a," With a sudden spasmodic move, her feet came together, pressed against his chest, and sprang away from his mental grasp, "Fight?" A flip in the air and she was landed by Tenchi's unconscious side.
"Tenchi?" she patted his cheek softly with one hand, forming an energy ball in the other. "Tenchi?" The Master's shadow drew nearer, illuminated by her first shot. "Tenchi?!" her voice was as shrill as Ryoko-ably possible. "TENCHI!"
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And yet another cliffhanger.
Kukuku. I am so evil. ^_~
Please REVIEW and let me know what you think about this story. I'm having trouble finishing the trilogy.
Arigatou mina!
By Starhopper
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DISCLAIMER: *sigh* couldn't own them even if I tried. No one can possibly own a Space Pirate or a Juraian Prince. I'm thankful the characters haven't risen up in a revolt to what I'm doing to them. *snickers* Sorry guys.
Wow, 21 reviews?!
THANKS!
Once again, you keep my crazy moods from swinging too low with every compliment or criticism you guys give me. Here's some more that I hope will live up to your expectations!
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Chapter 12: Dissecting Adam's Rib
The great ARC as Washu called it was exactly as the anonymous officer had described it as. Dark, mysterious . . . and yet strangely alive.
"What is it with this place?" Ryoko wondered aloud, hand in hand with her beloved. They looked about their surroundings, which reminded Tenchi and the rest of the group of the abandoned ship they had encountered while in space just three short years ago. The hall supports were old and rusting. Occasionally there would be a glint that caught an eye, but would turn out to be but a streak of unabridged metal in all its unrusted glory. Quiet sounds like one's normal patterns of breath were amplified; one's whisper turned into a shout; footsteps fell like thunder. Still, persisting through the dank and unappealing surroundings was the constant feeling that they were being watched.
"So, no need to drag them into battle. They just come to me themselves." The Master snickered as he watched the seven wander around in the first line of defense for his ship, the ADAM'S RIB: the spiral staircase. It gradually descended, (Though so slightly that you could have never guessed that you were actually traveling down without turning on the center light as a frame of reference.) into a massive docking bay. It was a simple flip of the dimensional switch then another flip of the bay hatch to dispose of Ryoko.
His attentions were directed away from the futile efforts of the Space Pirate and her crew to the smaller docking bay near the top of the acropolis from where the command consul was. Sure enough it was Cell 1, Odosuoni's ship, defeated.so to speak.
"Ah, my poor creation. You can't function without daddy's assistance, can you?" He questioned sadistically, putting on a fake pout.
She suddenly appeared before him, stripped of her outfit, floor-length red hair clung to her body, accentuating her every curve that was endowed to her.
"Master, I have failed," the ember eyes glowed sadly, their light suddenly doused as she bowed her head in forgiveness. "I see that they have come to you despite my efforts. -"
Reaching a hand out, he tucked it beneath her chin and raised her head to face his. "Now, now. You were impatient Odosuoni, and I must say that that does not bode well in your profession."
"I never asked for it." The woman replied in monotone, defying her Master with insolence.
Expressions making no transition from anger to hope, they switched from one to the other in the blink of an eye. "My dear, you have not failed.I will give you one more chance. If you fail, then and only then will I pronounce your failure to your sisters."
"I understand they've been waiting for me to lose this battle."
"Yes, and patiently at that." His hand still leading her chin, he lifted it until the whole naked body followed it into the air. "Their efforts will soon be rewarded."
"I swore I would kill Ryoko." Odosuoni spat out, her eyes desperately seeking his, but at the angle she was held at, it was utterly impossible to do so. "I will continue as planned." As if to prove her claim, she let the free-flowing energy drip off the tips of her fingers and grow to two red plasma balls in each hand. "I'm just as powerful as she is."
The Master grinned appreciatively. "I appreciate your optimism. Really I do. But as of now they are in the third dimension, wandering about that corkscrew."
"I see, you want me to attack now."
"No." Setting her feet back on the cold metal floor, he went back to stand in front of the pool. "No. Let's have some fun first."
"Fun?" Odosuoni asked, hands on bared hips. "Shall I begin?"
"To make the most of your time left in this dimension I insist."
Strolling leisurely over to stand next to The Master, Odosuoni smiled wickedly and let the glowing orbs rotating in her palms drop into the pool. Landing without a splash, they watched as the seven scattered. The ball barely missed its intended target by a matter of inches, then continued to fly down the hallway. As soon as he saw it drop out of sight, the Master knew they had made a disastrous mistake. The light had been turned on.
* * *
"Where the hell did that come from?" Ryoko cursed under her breath as Tenchi helped her up.
"It came out of nowhere!" Kiyone answered, still shaken, (As they all were) from that first blast.
"Are you sure you're all right?" Tenchi asked the millionth time, (At least to Ryoko's ears) brushing away some accumulating beads of sweat off his love's forehead.
"Yes, I'm fine." She reassured him calmly, annoyed with his questions, but endeared by his devotion. "I'm sure Tenchi."
"Did you see that fireball?" Washu yelled out, straining on tiptoe to see why the ball was directed in that direction as opposed to where they had just come from. "It streamed down there and turned what appears to be a corner."
"A corner?" Kiyone looked over to where she thought Washu was pointing. "I don't see anything."
"Exactly," excited, the scientist ran down to where the ball had curved. She continued beyond it and turned a very slight corner. "Now can you see me?"
"No, but turn on your head light and then maybe we can!" Mihoshi dumbly called out.
"Shhh. No, I can't see you!"
Washu popped back out and delivered a bright blinding light to the whole group, sitting bewildered and confused by what had just happened. "See me now?"
Ignoring her partner's request of 'shhh', Mihoshi chirped, "Well of course we can, you just turned on the head light!"
"Will you both keep it down!" Aeka shouted, her hands over her ears. "With this echo effect we have to speak in whispers if we don't want to go deaf!"
Taking cue from the First Princess, Kiyone turned back to where Washu stood and whispered, "Yes I can!"
"Good, now run to me and continue until you can see the light." As she said this, the light vanished as Washu once again turned the corner and began to run. She wanted to test her theory with an impartial party. The exasperated officer was as good as a guinea pig as anyone.
After passing five corners, Kiyone caught up with Washu and suddenly understood why Washu wanted her to follow at a run.
"Now I get it. It feels like I've been running down-hill." Reaching down to feel her shins, Kiyone began to rub them.
"Yes. This hallway is going around in a circle. If it had been a level hallway, the fireball's light would have disappeared as it wound its way around the corners. However, if you continue to follow it, you can still see the light, coming from the descent below."
Sure enough, as Kiyone followed the genius down the many twists and turns, there began to develop a pattern. This was indeed a corkscrew, slowly.very slowly descending into the depths of the ship.
"So, if my guess it correct,"
"As it's been so far,"
"We should retrace our steps back the way we came. Up is where the acropolis is and up is where the red beacon of a control center is."
"Right. Let's go back and tell the others."
* * *
"Wow. Ingenious." Aeka muttered breathlessly, as they started back up the slow incline that would bring them to their goal.
"So explain this dimension tuner again," Ryoko started, as she flew above the others. She lay out on the air, lounging almost. Hey, she could be rescuing her own life, but she was now and forever Ryoko, proclaimed 'lazy' but a certain purple haired princess. After beginning to feel the incline grow steadily faster, and having consulted Tenchi about leaving him out of the walk, Ryoko had decided to resume her old past time of flight.
"It's really quite simple," the genius replied. "EVIL created a separate dimension, like I did with my lab. All he has to do 'jump' from his created one to ours, the 'Third Dimension', with the help of a transplant, switch, and a pool."
Arching her back and throwing her arms behind her, Ryoko flew down to Washu's side. "And we need to destroy all of them?"
"Exactly."
"Locking them in, or locking them out." Sasami repeated her theory to which Washu nodded in agreement.
"Powerful," The cyan-spiked woman flew up to the ceiling, falling back into her lounge position above the heads of her comrades.
"A little too powerful for my taste," Her fiancé barely mouthed the words, trying to achieve a whisper for his love's ears only in this echo chamber.
Long, large ears perking at the sound of his voice, Ryoko phased out and reappeared walking aside him. "I agree."
Tenchi did a double take then sighing, put his right arm about her shoulders. "It will be alright. We've faced worse."
"Kagato, who I heard you defeated," She snickered, the first sign of smile he had seen since they had boarded the ship. Suddenly, the smile faded and her gold eyes lowered in reminiscence. "Haruna . . . "
Giving the shoulder a quick squeeze, he smiled reassuringly. "Now I heard that you defeated her all alone."
The farthest corner of her mouth rose up in half a smile. "Why do you always have to cheer me up?" she grumbled playfully. "Every time, without fail?"
Shrugging, Tenchi was about to explain, but she planted a kiss on his cheek and phased out to the ceiling before he could get a word in.
* * *
"Damn!" The Master slammed his fist in an open palm. "Why did you do that? Now they're heading up here, Washu has figured it all out with the exception of why we need Ryoko dead."
Odosuoni was still in shock that the seven had come to the conclusion so fast. Standing in the shadows, listening to her Master rant and rave about her stupidity, she cursed her own stupid ambitions. To be free. To be free of a life that had been created for her before she herself had been created. Two years had passed since her assignment to survey and watch the Space Pirate and her lover, Ryoko and her friends and her close bond between the man she loved. Two years of sitting in front of the pool, planning for the day when they would meet and face off; a mirror image to the image itself.
"Master, they are on their way up anyway. Tenchi will most likely destroy the switch and we'll use the pool as defense until then. It really isn't that bad."
His back turned to his creation; The Master heaved a heavy sigh and turned to face Odosuoni. "No, sympathetic as you always were, you were always optimistic as well. It isn't that bad. You'll just have to engage in battle much more quickly than was first anticipated."
"Fine. If it's as you wish."
"And it is."
Odosuoni smiled briefly, imagining her victory; standing triumphantly over Ryoko's lifeless body, both princesses, Galaxy Police Officers, and one meddling scientist wounded and mourning the death of their friend. And poor Tenchi, their lives will end as they both wished . . . together.
"Why the smile?"
Her thoughts shaken from their dreamy grounds, she threw her head up to face his. "I feel the optimism that you mention so much."
He nodded, then returned back to the pool, watching the group proceed up the ramp and finally come to the real second floor of ADAM'S RIB. If only they knew just how close they were to their second goal . . . the dimension tuner.
* * *
The second floor was strange to say the least. With low, buckled ceilings, Ryoko was grounded. From their hallway, the path branched out into three different halls. Lights emanated from each doorway: one red, one pitch black, and the other blinding white. It was here, at the crossroads, where the seven stood.
"Do you think we're lost?" Mihoshi squeaked, crowding Kiyone from behind.
Coming up through the crowd, Washu grinned and replied, "No, I think we are very much found." And continued to take the lead.
"What do you mean Miss Washu?" Aeka asked through a yawn.
"Well," she summoned her laptop from one of her own created dimensions and started typing in the coordinates of where they were. "According to the account taken by the anonymous officer that discovered the other ship; Cell I; this floor is identical to the one in it. So," Fingers flying furious over the keys, the scientist bit her lip and after some silence shouted, "the tuner should be that way!" her finger pointed to the blackest, almost abysmal light.
"I think we should split up." Kiyone blurted out, shoving her flashlight into her blue sash.
"You don't trust me?" Washu confronted the teal haired GP officer with a glare.
The bright pink eyes of the second princess started to tear at the notion. "No, we can't . . . "
Hands up in defense, Kiyone smiled and said, "No, no it isn't that I don't trust you, it's just that . . . "
"Now Sasami, don't be rash to judge from past experiences," her sister scolded, giving her a stern look.
"Well if we split up, me and Tenchi are together," Ryoko shouted above the growing din.
"WE KNOW!" They yelled back before returning to their own predicaments.
"What makes my judgements untrustworthy?" The curt little nose of the genius flared in indignancy.
"They aren't untrustworthy, Washu, that's not what I meant."
"Aeka, history repeats itself, I don't want to get lost!"
"Fine Sasami, but please, don't worry."
"Well, when has my data every led you astray?"
"This is getting tedious." Tenchi mumbled under his breath, running a hand down the front of his face. "We're falling apart."
Leaning her head against his shoulder, Ryoko closed her eyes. "The events of the day are wearing thin on everyone's consciences." Before Tenchi could comment on the sudden growth spurt of her vocabulary, she squeezed her eyes tighter and groaned through a smile, "I know, it's from a day of Washu."
"But you're right Ryoko," Tenchi stood, knocking her head off its place on his soft, comforting shoulder. "EVERYONE BE QUIET!"
The bickering stopped abruptly as it had begun to hear the young man that had always been their hero, the victorious.
"Let's just split up and explore, not demeaning anyone's judgements," his brown eyes sought the green and blue eyes. "And no one will be lost. In half an hour, we'll all return to this spot, and tell each other what we've found." Sasami smiled as Aeka did so. Mihoshi, the odd one out on the argument nodded.
"Good. Let's just get on with it then. Washu, you and Aeka go down the white hallway, since you both can shield yourselves from the glare." Even as he spoke, the pair were securing the strapless, multidimensional goggles and summoning the Juraian energy orb.
"Mihoshi and Kiyone go down the red one." Ryoko directed, close by her love's side.
"And Sasami you come with us." He held out a hand and the twelve-year-old grabbed onto it with hope in her wet eyes. Disappointed, Ryoko soon cheered up as Tenchi took her left hand in his free one.
With that, they all departed down the halls.
* * *
"They got smart."
"Apparently EVIL always was." Ryoko sighed at Tenchi's mumble. "Why else would they deliberately switch dimensions so they could get in contact with Nagi?"
Sasami's eyes shone like beacons in the very dark corridor, along with reflective gold and brown ones. "What about the attack on Jurai's three main battleships? That had to be a part of the plan as well."
"You're right Sasami, EVIL certainly knows what they're doing and who they're doing it to." Tenchi stopped and scanned the area. Running fingers along the narrow hallway was the only way to detect exactly where were they in the abysmal, artificial night . . . well; even night was lighter than this. In fact, the light from the main floor was a mere pin prick behind them, casting no light or shadow of its own.
"I just want to find the tuner, fire a couple fire balls at it, leave and be on our way with meeting 'Mister EVIL'." Ryoko slammed a fist into her open palm. "Show that guy not to mess with the greatest Space Pirate in the Universe."
Placing a tentative hand on her left shoulder, Tenchi whispered, "And try not to get killed in the process."
Before Ryoko could respond to that most enlightening comment, Sasami shouted, "There! Light up ahead!" For off in the distance was what seemed to be an open door, a natural light spilling out into the hallway from behind the security of the walls.
* * *
Standing at the entrance of their assigned hall, both Galaxy Police officers worked on getting their 'intensive infrared' suits on; of which Washu had pulled from her lab back at the Masaki broom closet via the laptop. Kiyone hadn't argued with Washu's generosity, and even praised the genius for her forethought. She was not getting into another fight about the little scientist's logic or judgement.
"Kiyone?"
Teal tresses pulled back to allow for the helmet; Kiyone looked over to her partner, who was vigorously pulling on the slick red gloves hemmed at the elbow and continuing with the foil undersuit. "What is it now Mihoshi?"
"Well," the blonde stopped for a moment and looked over the pile of materials that comprised the entire safety suit. "I was just wondering," again another pause to pull on the thigh high red boots over the foil tights.
"Wondering," her partner urged her to go on with the thought before it fell out of that pretty little head with hand motions. And for a second, a serious look plastered on the tanned face, Kiyone actually believed that there might be an equally serious question emerging from the bits and pieces of reality that was Mihoshi's concept of life.
"Does this suit make me look fat?"
Kiyone stumbled in surprise. Then, with a look of utter horror at how such stupidity could run so rampant in one person, so often, yelled, "WHAT?!"
"I mean red really isn't my color, I wonder if that could be it . . . "
"MIHOSHI!!!"
"What?"
Fingers grotesquely twisted in the strangle position, Kiyone lunged at the bubble-head, the ditz, the stereotypical blonde with a perfect waistline and skin tone that had stolen one too many perspective husbands or even boyfriends away from her partner before Kiyone could even say something to win them over. No, this was the last straw.
The bright blue eyes shrunk like a deer's when caught in the headlights. Except this time, the two-ton pile of metal was a 112 lb. Galaxy Police officer. Mihoshi squeaked a frightened, "Kiyone?" then went down on the floor, rolling under the weight of a furious partner.
They rolled until the blonde lay pinned by a knee on her stomach. Hands around the tanned flesh of Mihoshi's throat, Kiyone briefly entertained the notion of strangling her annoying little friend right then and there. But, there it was. Staring her straight in the face was that word, 'friend'. She couldn't do it - not even under these circumstances. No, Mihoshi was the way she was; her behavior couldn't be helped. Just as Kiyone was high- strung and quick to raise the volume of her voice, Mihoshi was just as easily apt to jump into a situation, then continue along on another trail without any transition whatsoever.
Suddenly aware of the situation Kiyone had put herself in, she backed off, letting her knee slide off the flat stomach and come under its respective thigh. Her fingers let go of her partner's neck simultaneously as she withdrew from the attack position.
* * *
"Well, I'll say one thing about Ryoko,"
"Only one?" Aeka looked away from within her floating orb, "I, myself can think of a hundred at least."
Youthful little features hidden by the monstrous pair of black goggles, Washu couldn't give the princess the glare that she hoped for as she went on despite the interruption. "That girl doesn't give a damn whose ship she pillages, even if they have enough power to create dimensions."
Aeka smiled politely and nodded her head in agreement. She should've known that as soon as they were paired up, Washu wouldn't stop deducting and examining if her life depended on it. She was, after all, a born genius who could never sacrifice the boredom of a friend if it meant the pursuit of discovery in the name of science. Sighing, she averted her gaze from the continuously blaring light and down to the floor. Biting her tongue, as she was about to point it out to Washu, she looked quickly back up and blinked her eyes. The floor wasn't a regular floor; it was a long, thin mirror, which reflected the light back ten times more brightly. Of course, she was protected and becoming accustomed to it, that Aeka barely noticed the higher intensity.
"This really is fascinating Princess Aeka," Washu chattered on, touching her left hand to the side of the hall. "The light burns so brightly, but the walls don't burn. In fact they're cool to the touch . . . just as a mirror would be."
"We're walking on them."
"The whole hallway is made of them."
Suddenly, the entire concept of the light-way, as Washu had coined it, became simple and sensical. "One light illuminates the mirrors."
"It reminds me of the funhouses on planet earth . . . don't you agree Miss Washu?"
"Yes," the scientist leapt forward in anticipation and realization. "Which means that their principle will be the same."
The electrifying whir of discovery started to draw Aeka in just as it had always engulfed Washu. "And that means, that far ahead is only one light or set of lights. Aside from that, it's all tricks with mirrors."
"Right!" With a resounding howl of agreement, she took off, towards the direction of the end of the hallway, Aeka hovering after her.
* * *
"Some control room," Ryoko observed unenthusiastically.
Tenchi brushed by her with Sasami as they made their way through the doorway to stand in the spacious and humid, dimly lit chamber. "Well, this is where the tuner should be located, let's just find it and get out of here."
"Could that be it?" Sasami pointed to a cylindrical contraption, capped with a settings bar and a lever laying horizontally affixed to it. The pole itself was set onto what appeared to be a surgical flatbed/platform.
Ryoko phased out and over across the room beside the machine. "Looks like Washu's description," Squatting, she examined the underside of the flatbed, "But I'm not sure about this platform."
"Reminds me of Frankenstein's table," Tenchi told her, coming across the room with Sasami in tow.
"Well, if this is what it's supposed to be, then," Ryoko jumped into the air, drew her arms together, locked elbows, shouted, "Get down!" and shot a fireball directly into the pole. Seeing the fire go out in a wisp of smoke, she forced three more out and onto different areas around the machine, but to no avail.
"Damn it," she swore under her breath, touching down beside her fiancé and little friend, both laying on their stomachs to avoid the potential blast. "Four should've done it."
"Mind if I give it a try Ryoko?" Tenchi asked as he rose from the floor, withdrawing sword-Tenchi from his belt.
"Be my guest,"
The Juraian energy surged forth through the hilt, hitting the ceiling in a bolt that could rival Achika's. But, there was no time to admire his growth for the blade went out in a whisper as it struck the dial's surface.
"What the-" Before Tenchi could finish the room was engulfed in a bright luminous light, evil cackling filling the air.
"That's right young prince," Odosuoni appeared out of the spotlight, floating in front of them, her hair completely free of its triple bun binding, fanning the sides of her body. With a wink, she turned to the wide-eyed Ryoko, the whites already thinning into pure golden rage. "Pleasure to meet the famous Ryoko," she bowed almost sincerely then shot back up in jest. Eyeing the glaring Space Pirate, Odosuoni continued, "I still can't see why the Master says you are,"
"I'm what . . . "
"Silence!" Curling herself into a fetal position in midair, the creation shielded herself from the creator's blow to her back.
"Ryoko!" Tenchi screamed as he landed in front of her, protecting both women with the sword and his body. Yet, all eyes turned to the beating that was ensuing right before them.
"Damn fool!" The Master yelled as he pounded her in the small of her back with his clenched fist. "You are good for nothing Odosuoni!"
"Please," she started to beg, even throwing a glance in the direction of her sworn enemy and her kin. She coughed and blood spattered the floor, "Master, I meant no harm. It's almost the end anyway."
The blows coming to an abrupt halt, he turned and the shadow that had hidden his face was lifted. He had the face of Kagato, pale and deceitful. His eyes were every color and yet had no color of their own . . . a dull gray that could assume the tint of any color in the rainbow, or the storm.
Seeing her chance as the Master lived up his glory, Ryoko grabbed for Tenchi's arm and pushed Sasami against her side, trying to make a go for it. But familiar electric pulses sunk their dangerous fingers into her flesh before she could get to the ceiling.
The Master stopped his reveling to see his prey fall like a wounded pigeon, bodies that had held tight now pried loose as Ryoko lay there sputtering and gasping for air after the shock.
"My, my, my . . . what do we have here?" he floated effortlessly over the floor and raised Ryoko's limp form with a flick of his finger.
It was about that time that the lids finally twitched open to reveal the entrancing golden eyes of the Space Pirate. Blinking to regain perception she suddenly stared straight into his gaze, boring through his skull to see what made this Master of Creation tick.
"I take it you're the one," she snickered as he felt heated plasma emanate from her fingertips, forming the precious defense system that he had longed to study up close. "Who wants me dead . . . but just can't get his wish,"
"Your confidence is impressive Ryoko, one comparable with your stature."
"Yeah, that reminds me, just what is my stature?"
The Master smiled and cocked a gray brow. "Do you think I'd tell you before I kill you? Do you think I would let you have the pleasure of knowing just how promising your life and self would have been? Do you honestly think I am that compassionate?"
"Do you think," Ryoko started off in the perfect impression of his tone, "That I would let you have me without a," With a sudden spasmodic move, her feet came together, pressed against his chest, and sprang away from his mental grasp, "Fight?" A flip in the air and she was landed by Tenchi's unconscious side.
"Tenchi?" she patted his cheek softly with one hand, forming an energy ball in the other. "Tenchi?" The Master's shadow drew nearer, illuminated by her first shot. "Tenchi?!" her voice was as shrill as Ryoko-ably possible. "TENCHI!"
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
And yet another cliffhanger.
Kukuku. I am so evil. ^_~
Please REVIEW and let me know what you think about this story. I'm having trouble finishing the trilogy.
Arigatou mina!