Previously in Apex AZ:

The crashed spaceship was revealed to belong to a highly evolved collective of drones called the Borg. Tenchi, with the only available knowledge of the Borg in the galaxy due to his evolution ability, was terrified by the prospect that a Borg cube was on its way to the Jurai galaxy. He immediately set about compiling his knowledge of the species, and subsequently coming up with ideas with Washu on how to defeat them. Tenchi was pessimistic, until Washu thought of the OB gunship. OB for Omega Blaster, of course. Who knows why it's called that. Interestingly, the ship's name is never mentioned in the main story.

Apex AZ, Part III – Victory Under Construction

"Set temporal dampeners to maximum."

"Affirmed."

"Redraw dimensions to maximum."

"Affirmed."

"Map grid lines and access ports as standard."

"Affirmed."

Washu looked at the workspace. It was big. It was her private dimension, with its own special rules. She called it null space, but others would call it empty, which indeed it was. Only a cubical matrix of walkways and control panels spread throughout the interior of this dimension, mapped out according to Washu's measurements of spatial grids, each bar of walkway being a mile long. The largest ship in the galaxy, the Titan-class vessel, of which type the main flagship of the galaxy was, would fill one and a half of these cubic mile areas in terms of length, and two thirds of one in the other two vectors, so occupying a space of two thirds of a cubic mile. But according to Tenchi's data, a Borg cube was five miles each side, occupying 125 cubic miles.

Obviously their own ship would have to be built to compare.

--------------------

Tenchi found something. A program in Washu's database. Curious, he activated it.

A man appeared, created of light, in the room behind him. "Please state the nature of the medical emergency," he said. It was the Emergency Medical Hologram, the EMH.

"Hi there," Tenchi said. "Who are you?"

"I'm offended you don't remember," the man replied, walking up to Tenchi and inspecting him. "I'm the person who saved your life from those energy holes you received from some guy called... Sel, is it?"

"It was, yes," Tenchi replied. "Well, I probably don't remember you because I was nearly dead and unconscious. Don't take it personally."

"Very well," the man said. "An interesting body, I must say, but I still recognise you. Why have you activated me?"

"No reason as such," Tenchi replied. "I just saw your program in the database, and wondered what it was."

"So that's all I am now, is it?" the man asked. "A novelty, a curiosity? Please deactivate me until you have a real purpose for me, other than to entertain yourself."

"Actually, I may have something for you," Tenchi said. "With your permission, I want to download all the information I have on the Borg into your memory. You might come up with something."

"I suppose you can do that," the man replied. "Who or what is the Borg?"

"You'll see..." Tenchi trailed off. "What's your name? It would help if we could call you something."

"I don't have a name," the man replied. "I am merely the EMH program created by Washu-chan. I don't know what you could call me."

"As long as it's not 'hey, you', right? Okay, what about this? Doctor, for now, but if you come up with a name, we'll use that, okay?"

"Very well," the doctor replied. "That is why I was created, anyway. You may proceed with your download, whatever it is."

Tenchi tapped a few pads and the download started. "Oh, by the way. Can you go just anywhere, or is there some restriction?"

"I cannot go outside the range of the holographic projectors in this lab," the doctor replied. "So, I can't leave here."

"Right." Tenchi thought for a moment. "I'll try and come up with some sort of mobile holographic emitter, then. I'm sure you want the freedom."

"But why?"

"We may need you in the upcoming battle."

"Battle?"

--------------------

"Nice place you have here, Washu," Tenchi said, looking round at the walkways. "We should be able to come up with something good here. Is the time dilation on now?"

"Yes," Washu replied. "Want to get started?"

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And so they did. Thanks to Washu's computer and the inventions she had created, they were able to start construction immediately. They would import the base elements and arrange them together into large structures, mainly support beams and panels. Once the main frame was completed, the complex circuitry and power source would then be designed and assembled. The subsystems would then be created, which were things such as the life support, propulsion, weapon trigger mechanisms and so on.

On the door under the stairs of the Masaki house, which led to Washu's lab, was hung a notice. "Do Not Disturb. Busy creating weapon to save the galaxy." It was fairly straightforward.

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A day later, and the basic ship had been built. It had taken nearly seven months, but due to the time dilation, the Borg were only a day closer, and none the wiser. It was a huge ship, three miles in length and half a mile across. It was shaped like a giant cylinder, with most of it being the largest gun barrel to exist. The basic layout of the rest of the vessel, the few levels and the generator, were already in place, but the detail was needed. That detail would take another year to sort out.

Tenchi and Washu emerged from the lab somewhere very close to dinnertime. Tenchi was now back in his normal form, and they were both very hungry. They had to give the mega-computer a rest anyway. It was close to melting due to the enormous workload the two had exerted on it over the past half year. They thought it best that they got some rest for themselves, too. To them, they had been working constantly for about seven months, and there was very little to do while waiting for the mega-computer to process orders.

"Tenchi," Ayeka greeted as the two entered the main room. "How are your plans coming along?"

"They're fine, so far," Tenchi replied. "It's extremely boring, constructing a huge spaceship from scratch."

"At least the time dilation gives us enough time to do everything," Washu said to Tenchi. "You've made the Doctor's mobile projector and designed I-Mods for pretty much every class of ship out there, not to mention using your powers to ease the workload on my computer."

"Wow, so much info," Aki asked, walking in. "What time dilation?"

"Well, there's an area in my lab that's separate from other dimensions, one which I can control the time stream of. We can fit about seven months of work into a day here."

"But you don't look any older," Ayeka said.

"Washu can choose her appearance, and my evolution means I don't age in the form I was in most of the time," Tenchi replied. "But now we're just having a break. Mind if we join you?"

So they sat down, resting for a while. They met Ryoko and Sasami, along with Ryo-Ohki after a short time.

"That's a point," Tenchi said, seeing the cabbit. "Ryo-Ohki is organic, right, with spiritual weapons instead of artificial ones?"

"That's right," Washu said. "I should know. I created her."

"Well, I think Ryo-Ohki should be out there to face the Borg when they come," Tenchi said. "The Borg are more vulnerable to spiritual attacks, after all."

"Spiritual attacks?" Sasami asked. "Then, what about Lady Tsunami? After all, she is a goddess."

"Good idea," Tenchi replied. "The goddess of the soul should be able to help a lot. Thanks, Sasami."

"Then how about Tokemi?" Ryoko asked. "She's a goddess too, apparently. Can't she help?"

"I'll ask them both a bit later," Tenchi replied. "They should still come when I want to talk to them, even if I'm not God at the moment."

"I'll sort out a visit, if you like," Washu said. "I know they'll listen to me. I am the second most intelligent person in the universe, after all."

"Thanks, Washu. Wait, second? I didn't think you'd admit that." Tenchi, of course, was the first.

They sat in silence for a bit longer. Tenchi and Washu didn't have anything to do for the next few hours while the mega-computer cooled down, as well as completing some minor tasks. The others, as usual, had nothing to do.

Mihoshi came in, back from patrol. Her ship, the Yukinojo, had parked itself around the back of the house, out of sight from everyone around. Mihoshi sat down and looked around.

"What's everyone doing?" she asked.

"Not much, as you can see," Ayeka replied. "We haven't anything to do."

"I was just thinking about the Borg," Tenchi said. "This coming battle won't be easy."

"But it's only one ship, right?" Mihoshi asked. "If fighting against one ship will be hard, wait until fifty come along afterwards, wondering what happened to the first one."

"Oh crap," Tenchi remarked. "I forgot about that. Even if we defeat the first, there's still thousands more in that other galaxy to worry about, and they will be coming here soon."

"So what's the point?" Aki asked. "If we're not done by the first one, it's going to be the next one, or the next one. You said yourself, they're relentless."

"What are we going to do about it?" Ryoko asked.

"We could blow them all up," Mihoshi said. "You know, go over there and destroy them."

The others looked levelly at Mihoshi, their eyes narrowed and the voices of their minds saying things to the effect of "idiot.". All except Tenchi.

"Fantastic!" Tenchi said. "A bomb! I could take a bomb over there and blow them all up."

"What kind of bomb?" Washu asked. "With their speed, they could escape from anywhere within a black hole, so that wouldn't work."

"How's about an instant explosion bomb, one that'll obliterate anything in the blast area?" Tenchi asked. "We'd need one big enough to destroy an entire galaxy, with a big margin of error."

"I think I could make one of those," Washu said. "That should be easy enough, but what about getting it there? No ship can get there and back before the Borg arrive."

"Instant translocation," Aki said. "That would work, wouldn't it, Tenchi?"

"It certainly would," Tenchi replied. "So that's the plan. I go over there with a bomb and blow up a galaxy. I'll come back, ready to fight the last of the Borg."

"But why don't you do the same thing with that ship that's coming here?" Sasami asked. "Just use a bomb to destroy them as well?"

"I have no idea," Tenchi said. "I guess I'll do that, then."

"But what about all the other people in that galaxy, Tenchi?" Mihoshi said. "Are you going to blow them up too?"

Tenchi paused for a moment, then sighed. "There are no other people, Mihoshi. The galaxy's population is eight hundred thousand trillion. All Borg. That's all there is to it. They must be destroyed."

"I guess it's back to work for me, then," Washu said. "Order of two bombs capable of destroying everything with the radius instantly. I can't really see how that's going to happen."

Tenchi sagged back in his chair. "I don't know about you guys, but I've had it with the Borg for a long time. I just want to get some rest and have some fun. Anyone joining me?"

--------------------

Tenchi spent the next few hours sleeping on the couch downstairs, while the others pretty much did nothing. Once he woke up, he went outside and had a play fight with Sasami, which resulted in the house being nearly destroyed. Once that was over, Washu's computer had cooled down enough to work properly again. Sighing, Tenchi returned to the lab to continue his work.

For the next seven hours, Tenchi and Washu worked for two months, fitting the gunship with all the vital control systems, and some luxury items, like carpets. In between all this work, Tenchi kept himself busy with Washu, trying to come up with suitable designs for the two bombs he was going to use. He also sent a message to Jurai, informing the officials there to gather every single ship, to be ready for upgrading with the I-Mod weapon systems and new defence systems. They would go over shortly and install them.

They came out later for another rest. Tenchi jumped over to Jurai to do some preliminary analysis of the ships already gathering there. When he came back, he and Washu spent the next twelve hours in her lab, finishing everything off.

The gathered ships were evacuated of all living beings, and brought by Washu to the part of the lab the gunship was. Offensive and defensive systems were installed on each one, and sent back into the galaxy, where the crews reboarded.

--------------------

"Again, we meet."

"What is it we can do for you?"

Tenchi looked between Tokemi and Tsunami. "You may know of the danger this galaxy is about to face," he said. "We have little hope of winning, but I believe that your help can increase those chances. Will you help us?"

"Washu, what do you think?" Tsunami asked.

"I'm already helping," Washu replied. "I'm doing all I can at the moment, but as Tenchi says, we need more help. The Borg are vulnerable to spiritual energy, and us lot are the most spiritual in the galaxy."

"But I cannot help with my spirit," Tokemi said. "And if I remember correctly, neither can you, Washu."

"She can't," Tenchi said. "But she is helping by building a spaceship that stands a really good chance against them. She's using her attribute, her knowledge. Can you offer yours?"

"I shall gladly help in any way I can," Tsunami said. "As goddess of the spirit, I think I can offer much help."

"Thank you," Tenchi replied. "Lady Tokemi, yourself?"

"My attribute is the body," Tokemi replied. "I fail to see how I could help."

"We can't think of a way either," Washu replied. "But if we do, can we count on you?"

"I do not think so," Tokemi said. "I apologise, but I cannot help in any way."

"So be it," Tenchi said. "Thank you for coming, anyway."

Tokemi nodded and disappeared.

"What can I do?" Tsunami asked. "My form is a treeship. It is only capable of so much without an owner, like all Jurai treeships."

"Then I think we should get you an owner," Tenchi said.

"Anyone in mind?" Washu asked.

"Someone strong," Tenchi replied. "Someone brave and loyal."

--------------------

Tenchi emerged from the lab, leaving Washu to talk with Tsunami for a while. He sensed around and found Sasami. He walked up and sat down on the couch beside her.

"Oh, hey, Tenchi," Sasami replied.

"Hello, Sasami," Tenchi said. "Sasami, I have a question."

"What is it?"

"I think we should go for a walk."

--------------------

"Sasami, the Borg are coming," Tenchi said. "The Borg are vulnerable to spiritual attacks. Tsunami is capable of immensely strong energies."

"So, what is it, Tenchi?" Sasami asked.

"Tsunami has said that she is willing to help us fight," Tenchi said. "She is willing to merge with someone to help her do so."

"Who?"

"I can think of none better than you, Sasami," Tenchi said.

"Me?" Sasami exclaimed, stopping abruptly. "You want me to merge with Lady Tsunami?"

"Yes," Tenchi replied. "This is where it becomes your decision. I can't force you to do this, and neither can anyone else. You alone must decide what you must do."

"Is she here?" Sasami asked.

"Close," Tenchi said. "She's waiting with Washu. Do you want to talk to her?"

Sasami nodded slowly, shaking a bit. Tenchi noticed, and kneeled down and hugged her.

"Don't be nervous," he said soothingly. "She's a nice person. She looks kind of like you, actually. She can explain everything. Shall we go see her?"

--------------------

Tenchi and Sasami entered the lab, the nice countryside part of it now. Tsunami and Washu were standing in the middle of the courtyard area there, just finishing a conversation with each other. They turned to look at the newcomer.

"You mean Sasami?" Washu exclaimed. "She's the one you want Tsunami to fuse with?"

"I have every confidence in her," Tenchi said. "She's very strong, and I know she could do excellent things."

"Sasami," Tsunami said slowly, walking up to her. "You're uneasy. What is it?"

"L... Lady Tsunami," Sasami stuttered. "I... I ..."

"She's nervous," Tenchi explained. "She doesn't know what's going to happen. Neither do I, actually. Could you explain it?"

"Of course," Tsunami said. "When I merge with a person, we become one. Our body is the same, and our minds are combined. We would become a new person, a culmination of the two individuals. This new person would have both the memories and the personalities of both."

"So it's a lot like fusion, then," Tenchi said.

"It is, yes," Tsunami replied. "We would be able to do together anything we each could do separately, but possibly better."

"What would happen to me?" Sasami asked. "Would I die, just to have some other person exist in my place?"

"If you are worried about this," Tsunami said, "then we could join ourselves temporarily. One of us would remain dormant in our body, and one dominant at any one time. It would be a mutual existence, but it wouldn't be a complete unification."

"That sounds good," Washu said.

"Maybe," Sasami trailed off.

Tenchi walked up to the little princess and rested his hands on her shoulders. "This must be a lot to think about," he said. "Just take as long as you want to think about it, okay? It's completely all right if you don't decide to do this. As long as you're doing what you really want to do, that's all that matters to me. Don't think about anyone else. Just think about yourself."

Sasami just stood still.

--------------------

After some more work in the time-dilated dimension, Tenchi and Washu finally finished pretty much all of the construction. Some things were still left to do, but nothing major, such as vacuuming the carpets and cleaning the windows. Many more ships had already been fitted with the modifications Tenchi had designed, temporarily getting rid of the queue of ships around Jurai. More would come along soon, but for now there was nothing left to do.

Tenchi looked round for Sasami, sensing her energy signal. He found it a great distance away, and high up. Tenchi pulled on his thermal coat and flew off to find her.

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A blue sky, because all the clouds were below this peak. It was the highest peak on the planet Earth. Mount Everest. A lone figure sat on the top, gazing around at the surrounding environment. An invisible aura rested around it, keeping the warmth in. The figure was huddled over, grasping her knees and resting her chin on her arms. Her long green hair rested on the snow behind her, while her pink eyes looked over the few other mountain peaks protruding from the blanket of clouds that shrouded everything else.

Tenchi landed behind Sasami quietly, and took a step forwards. She knew he was there, but she didn't move.

"Do you mind if I sit with you?" Tenchi asked.

"Sure. Go ahead. Pull up a mountain."

Tenchi smiled inwardly at this comment, and sat down on another mound of snow, looking at Sasami.

"There's hardly any weather here," Tenchi said. "It doesn't change much." He got no response. "You know, you're sitting in pretty much the exact spot I was a while ago, just after I first became a Super Saiyan."

Sasami shifted, listening to this, but offering no response.

"Lady Tokemi came, just like I've done, and sat down here," Tenchi continued. "She told me..." he trailed off as he remembered what she had told him. "She told me about my past, about how there was an original me and a clone. At first, I thought I was the copy, but I realised I was the original when Aki came along."

"So?"

Tenchi moved slightly. "So I'm saying that this spot here is special to me," he said. "It's where I first found out the full truth. Tokemi helped me, and now Tsunami is willing to help us."

"Tenchi..." Sasami trailed off, looking up at him.

"Whatever you decide is fine with all of us," Tenchi said. "I know you're scared, but it is your life."

"If I merge with Lady Tsunami," Sasami said, "will I still be able to become a Super Saiyan?"

"I'm sure you will," Tenchi replied. "But it sounds to me like this partial fusion she talked about would work just as well. Better, in fact, as it's only temporary."

Sasami blinked a few times and nodded her head slightly. "Okay."

"You'll do it?"

"Yes." Sasami smiled. "I'll do it. The partial fusion. I just want to help people however I can."

"So do I," Tenchi said, smiling back. "And if my helping works, everyone will be saved. If not, I can't think of anyone better suited than you to back me up."

Sasami stood up, as did Tenchi. Tenchi reached out and took her hand, squeezing it tightly.

"You may not be my true love," he said. "But you're the most like me. And for that, I love you the most."

Sasami smiled and rested her head on Tenchi's side. Tenchi wrapped his arm around the princess.

"Come on," he said. "Let's go."

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"It's just a good thing you and Sasami look so similar," Washu said to Tsunami. "That way, when you fuse, you won't look too different. You have pretty much the same physical form, only yours is older."

"Perhaps it was meant to be," Tsunami replied. "Now that Tenchi has come, maybe we can ask him of the answer."

"He did create us, didn't he?" Washu asked. "Even if we don't remember, we all know that. He gave us these forms for a reason. In fact, we can't have any other form."

"Why not?"

"Because he's seen us," Washu replied. "He knows what we look like, so when he creates us in his future, he has to give us these forms. Otherwise, we wouldn't look like how we do, and he wouldn't have any memory of these bodies. It's all causality. Back in the past, you can do anything, because you've already done it. It won't change the future at all, because the future has already happened. It's just the way it goes."

"Perhaps," Tsunami said. "But I would still like to know exactly why Tenchi gave me this form."

"It's because you're going to fuse," Tenchi called, entering the lab with Sasami.

"You are?" Washu asked.

"Not a whole fusion," Sasami said. "I still want to be me after."

"Of course," Tsunami said. "That would be the best option."

"So what do we do?" Tenchi asked.

In the next episode of Apex AZ:

Sasmi and Tsunami fuse together, and Washu is delegated the task of completing the galactic defence force. Tenchi, meanwhile, finally reveals his heart to everyone, and soon sets off with the two bombs for Borg space.

All this and more in the next episode of Apex AZ: "One More Final 'I Love You'".