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In this chapter, Kiyone learns how history has taken a shocking turn.
Again, I do not own Tenchi or its characters, or certain other recognizable characters in this story
No Need For Kiyone and Mihoshi:
Chapter 2:
Kiyone looked at her guide, stunned and in disbelief. "Wait!" She objected. "What do you mean I'm 'dead'?... As I recall, I was very much ALIVE this morning."
"That is the history you remember." Her guide informed her. "In this timeline, you've been dead for three years now."
"How?" Kiyone wanted to know
The orb in her companion's staff glowed again and they were transported to a lonely and deserted street. It was nighttime. Kiyone recognized the location on planet Mura.
"You know this place." The guide said. It was a statement, not a question.
"Yeah..." Kiyone said. "I remember it...
"This is the city of Freeport on Mura... Mihoshi and I were assigned here shortly after we were made partners."
"Take a close look detective." She was instructed. "Do you remember this night?"
Kiyone studied her surroundings. She knew this street well. It was part of her normal patrol zone at this time. There was an all night diner on this street and she and Mihoshi would usually finish their shift there. She looked and saw a familiar unmarked GP hovercar turn onto the street. It was easy to recognize because of a few dents she remembered Mihoshi putting into an otherwise brandnew hovercar...
As it drew closer, Kiyone could see that only one person was in it. Herself. As the vehicle passed, she followed it with her gaze and then she saw another hovercar coming from the opposite direction. Somehow it too looked familiar, though Kiyone could not yet place it.
The two vehicles passed and then her memory clicked as she watched herself wheel around the unmarked cruiser and turn on her lights. "I remember this now!" She exclaimed. "I... I mean she's stopping him for not having tags on the vehicle."
"Tell me." Her guide said. "Where is your partner on this night?"
"She was supposed to be back at our apartment studying." Kiyone answered. "She had a pilot's certification exam the next day and I told her that she needed to study. I would take care of this shift myself."
"What happened?"
"It was the end of my shift and I was heading to the diner when I stopped this guy for his tags and just as I was asking him for his license and registration, Mihoshi popped out of nowhere, calling over to me and startled the hell out of me! I almost didn't notice the blaster he had tucked next to his seat..."
"It turns out that this man had committed an armed robbery earlier that day..." Kiyone's companion noted. "His capture was quite a feather in your cap, wasn't it?"
"Yeah." Kiyone agreed. "I'm just lucky that when Mihoshi startled me like that, I didn't end up getting shot instead."
Her guide nodded. "Let's see what happens."
As Kiyone watched, her past self stopped the suspect vehicle. She approached the driver's door and tapped on the window. The driver rolled it down. She asked him for his license and registration...
The next thing Kiyone knew was that she was watching herself be shot by the suspect at point blank range. It was surreal as she saw her own body fall and the suspect gun his engine and race off into the night.
"But..." How? Kiyone cried in her mind. This can't be happening!
"There's something missing, isn't there Kiyone?"
Kiyone pulled her shocked stare away from her own fallen form and looked around as she tried to make sense of any of this. Then her eyes widened as it hit her...
"Your partner Mihoshi isn't here, is she?"
Kiyone shook her head 'No'.
"Memory is a very elusive and tricky thing sometimes... Think back to this night Kiyone. When exactly did you see the blaster?
Kiyone frowned in thought.
"In truth, you didn't see it until after your partner arrived...
"You see, he was even more startled than you were. He froze, giving you a chance to notice the danger."
"But then... Where is Mihoshi this time?"
"She's back at your apartment studying for her exam in the morning. Just like you told her to."
"All this, just because she was doing what she was supposed to?" Kiyone said in disbelief.
"This and much more I'm afraid. It only gets worse from here..."
To Be Continued: