CH 17 - No need for Nightmares (Part II)
Ayeka's eyes fluttered a moment. A light seemed to shine softly from above her bed. Her bed...She sat upright in a flash. Sasami was standing next to her. She smiled warmly.
"Ah, your finally awake, Ayeka!" She said. "Are you feeling better now? You seemed to be having some kind of nightmare. Sounded awful to me."
"Huh..wha.. A nightmare?" Ayeka rubbed her face. What was she dreaming about. Something horrible, but she couldn't remember what.
"Ayeka?" Sasami said, noticing that Ayeka's eyes seemed to be looking faraway, searching for something.
"Huh..oh, yeah... a nightmare." Ayeka said, realizing she was spacing out. "Yes, thank you, Sasami. I feel better."
"That's good to hear!" Sasami said, happily. "I've decided to make breakfast this morning, so hurry up, all right?"
Ayeka nodded, and with that, Sasami left. Ayeka sat there for a moment in her bed. (A nightmare...) She thought. She shook the thought out of her mind and got out of her bed and opened her well adorned wardrobe and proceeded to get dressed. A picture of Tenchi was pinned to the inside of the Wardrobe itself. She smiled at it warmly, happily, but for a reason beyond her, her heart felt empty and cold all of a sudden. She dismissed it quickly and closed the wardrobe door and proceeded out.
The dining room on board the Ryo-Oh was a fairly ornate. Ayeka sat herself at the long end of a white table. Water trickled gently around her from small waterfalls and little rivers, as miniature gardens covered the walls and surrounding corners. Sasami had prepared a wonderful breakfast, and Ayeka enjoyed it. She finished eating and helped her little sister clean up the dishes. After a few minutes of chores, she went up the bridge.
"Where are we heading?" Ayeka asked, now curious where her ship was going and why she wasn't on Earth.
"Our current course is set for Jurai, my Empress." the computer responded.
(Empress?) Ayeka thought, not sure if it was an error or not. But she did not bother to correct the computer, after all, it was a meaningless error and she would eventually be queen anyways. "Why are we heading for Jurai."
"For your marriage." The computer played back, curious if Ayeka was alright or not. She looked shocked at the response. "Marriage? Marriage to whom? Lord Tenchi?"
"No, my queen, you are to be married to Lord Kazula." the computer responded. "Queen, are you feeling alright?"
"No, Im not feeling alright!" Ayeka yelled. Sasami came to the bridge.
"Shall I get you medical attention?" the computer questioned.
"Why am I not marrying Lord Tenchi!" Ayeka said, not answering the previous question.
"You have been proposed to by Lord Kazula and you accepted." the computer responded. "Your father agreed to the arrangements, before passing away.
"Passing away...?" Ayeka repeated. "Father was in an accident, but he should be getting well soon!"
"Negative, my Empress. Emperor and Empress of Jurai were killed in a ship accident above Jurai 4 months ago," the computer repeated. "Do you not remember?"
"..No..I don't..." Ayeka said, still shocked about such news. "But that'd make Lord Tenchi the heir."
"Lord Tenchi gave up his rights to the throne," the computer responded.
"What? Why? When?" Ayeka questioned, a bit hysterical now.
"When Lord Tenchi married Lady Ryoko 5 months ago, he gave up his position to the throne." the computer responded.
"...he...chose...Ryoko...?" She was wide eyed and tears rolled down her cheeks. She fell to her knees. "...he..."
Sasami rushed over to her, and hugged her, as she began to sob. "There, there Ayeka."
Ayeka looked up, tears still in her eyes, and said determined. "Y-you lie! Tenchi would never choose her!"
"I am a computer, my empress. I cannot lie. But if you do not believe me, you can review my recordings, and even ask your sister yourself, if you wish." the computer responded.
"..Sasami, it's lying, right? The computer is lying, right?" Ayeka sobbed. Sasami's eyes were dark and sad.
"When Tenchi announced that he would marry Ryoko, you had a fight with him." Sasami began. "It eventually lead up to him saying that if you could not accept his choice, then you should leave. And you did. That was about 7 months ago."
"No, no, no, no..."Ayeka said, beginning to rock herself back wards and foward. Tears splashed on the floor of the bridge. "No, your lying...he would never...would he?"
"He did. I left too, because I couldn't just let you be by yourself." Sasami said, hugging her older sister again in comfort. It didnt bring any, as Ayeka pushed her off and backed away.
"No...no...no..." Ayeka rambled on through sobs and tears. "..Y-your lying too, Your LYING!"
"Sister, why would I lie to you?" Sasami said standing up now. She seemed tall and ominous. "Im not lying to you, just believe me."
She held out her hand to the empress, but Ayeka stared at her in horror. "YOUR LYING!"
Wind...
Flash of light...
"...nightmare..." said a familiar voice.
Ayeka saw an elevator. She saw Sasami still standing in front of her on the Ryo-Oh, holding out her hand. Her eyes, they were dark, almost black. Something cruel and sinister lay behind them.
"NO! YOU LIE!" Ayeka said standing up and hitting the hand away from her.
"Damn you, you little WHORE!" Sasami said turning back to her with anger. She charged Ayeka, her voice now twisted.
"Your not REAL!" Ayeka screamed closing her eyes tightly. The earth rumbled about her and everything went silent. She opened her eyes slowly. She was on the floor in an empty corridor. She looked about herself and got up slowly. She could see a light at one end of the corridor and walked to it.
She ended up in a small room, with a half dome shaped side, which was transluscent. The sea of stars could be seen. A high rising structure could be seen if one were to look up, black in shadow, only visible as a gap in the stars and a few stray lights. Ayeka noticed a figure sitting on the floor against the wall as she entered the room. Red eyes glowed softly into the depths of space.
"...Did you have a nightmare too?" Ayeka asked Zack. He didn't reply. She could see that he was somewhere else mentally, pent up rage and hate in his eyes, as well as fear and sadness. A sound came from the hallway behind Ayeka. She turned to see Ryoko carrying Tenchi. He looked fatigued and worn, but Ryoko seemed much worse, almost as if the ageless pirate had turned old in one go. Ayeka rubbed her eyes, and saw it was only her imagination, but indeed Ryoko looked like she was worn thin. Ayeka went to help Ryoko and they helped Tenchi sit down. He was panting.
"I hate this place.." Ryoko said quietly. She glared at Zack, who didn't seem to register their presence. But he did and stood up. He looked over to the others, now with a deeper loneliness in his eyes then anything.
"I do too.." Zack whispered. He seemed to shake off whatever was eating away at him, and looked down the hall and then turned back to the others. "Where's Washu?"
A door slammed shut, sealing them off from the hallway which they came and the half dome seemed to rise up the towering dark structure. The quiet noise of machinery moving underneath them as they scaled the structure softly hummed. They became wary again as the elevator pulled to a soft stop and a door opened up again into a large a narrow hallway. Zack called forth his saber of flames, while Ryoko summoned her own. Tenchi drew his master key and charged it, and Ayeka gathered some energy in her hands. Half way down the hall, light came from a door being opened, revealing the faint traces of the purple haze and the black steel walls. They proceeded with caution, startled a bit when the elevator door slammed shut behind them, and continued until reaching the opened door. They paused a brief moment. The room in them was simple enough. Much like a somewhat large dome, with water running in circles around the room in intricate little canals. They emitted a soft blue glow that seemed to pierce through the dark haze that crawled about the ground. In the center, on an elevated circular platform, sat a large chair. A man sitting in the chair could be seen.
He was tall, broad, and somewhat old. His hair slicked back, he had a thick bushy mustache that was well combed. His eyes were a pale grey, and seemed to have some what aged and worn features on his face. He wore a monocle and smoked a pipe calmly. His sit was a pure white, with red vest and tie underneath it. He wore gloves and his shoes were shined obsidian. Holding his pipe in one hand, he stood up.
"Ah, welcome my guests. I take it you did not have to much trouble coming to this place?" the man said, jovially. As if he was a good friend of theirs, and they were his guests of honor. Zack glared at him with a extreme sense of hate. "Welcome to my humble palace, the Angel Executioner! But I must say, where is that last fellow of yours? The young violet haired lady?"
"You tell me," Zack said from across the room, not dropping his guard.
"Ah, now now, no need to sound bitter. You've finally arrived, so all is well!" the man said delighted.
"Cut the crap! Where's our friend and why are you holding our ship?" Ryoko yelled.
"My dearest Ryoko, there's no need for to shout and be angry!" The man said, still acting pleased that they came. He smiled a warmly, but his eyes did not.
"H-how do you know my name?" Ryoko asked stunned.
"The party's just started!" the old man continued. " Please enjoy yourselves first! Sing, eat, dance! Have your fill of fun! Then questions and talk!...I insist."
His smile turned wicked and he seemed to fade away into smoke.
"You bastard, come back here!" Ryoko yelled and charged forward towards the 'throne'.
"Ryoko, wait!" Tenchi called out, but was cut off. Ryoko stopped dead in her tracks as a violent crash from right where the throne was rumbled through out the room, kicking up the haze. They shielded their eyes from the blast of haze and debris, and then looked towards where the crash had originated. A strange spherical like object had apparently dropped from the ceiling. It looked steel, but was pitch black in color and didn't seem to have any seems. "What's that?"
The sphere began to turn and twist. Mechanical arms erupted from its body. Eight of them, as a new sphere emerged from one side. Small ocular devices covered the top portion of the new sphere, and pincer's appeared as well from nowhere. A hole opened up, like a hatch, a deep hole into the beast, which rings of razors began to spin in all sorts of directions. Small under arms sprouted as well. The ends of the arms turned into needle points, and the beast rose above the others.
"Oh no.." Ryoko said, looking up at the ferocious mechanical arachnid. It charged and she dove out of the way from the thing. Zack immediately charged with Tenchi, while Ayeka stood farther back and started firing off charged shots of energy. Zack and Tenchi split up as the creature swiped at both of them with deadly accuracy. Tenchi used his mastery key to block the attack, and then pushed off and took a heavy slash at the leg. It cut clean through, and backed off quickly. He noted Zack had something similar and had a look of accomplishment on his face. Ryoko came up from behind and charged through mechanical monstrosity while flying her fastest. A hail of energy came from above from Ayeka, as she finished off the machine. It spasmed and fumbled as it could not gain balance from its front legs. The behind attack and volley of energy seemed to finish it off. It hemorrhaged and collapsed.
"Easy enough," Ryoko said landing gracefully on top of the ruined machine. She gave it a kick and smiled broadly in victory. "Now where is that old timer."
She started to look about when all of a sudden, the ground she was standing on became unstable. It rolled and tossed violently. A dark light began to emit from the places which the group had dealt damage to. The spider came back to life slowly, pushing itself off the ground, regrowing lost parts and closing open wounds. Ryoko backflipped off the vile machine.
"No way! I guess Ill just have to put it down again!" Ryoko said as she drew her energy blade once more and charged it. "Eat this!"
She came, brandishing her blade, but was stopped. An arm had blocked the attack. The spider was no longer a pure black, but grey seemed to dot its surface now in what appeared to be some form of armor.
"Uh oh...AH" screamed Ryoko as another arm swatted her to the ground. Pinned down by the leg, the machine attempted to impale her on one of its legs. She wriggled left and right, barely missing the needle like leg. The other's took action. Ayeka charged the spider from the side, knocking it off balance, allowing Ryoko to escape, while Tenchi and Zack tried to pull off their previous attack again. It did not work though, as with Ryoko, the spider blocked their attacks and sent them flying with a swat of its powerful arms. An arm rose up as Ayeka came back for another strike. A small glow of black energy began to build, but Ayeka quickly turned to brake off the attack. The monster fired a beam of black energy from that claw, searing past Ayeka. She fell, as she was only quick enough to evade the direct it. She rubbed her leg where it stung, and got up to move again. The spider quickly charged and rammed her against a wall, ignoring the fruitless attacks of the others. Pinned between the wall and the spider, Ayeka gritted her teeth in pain and tried to push off the spider with all her might. Ryoko returned the earlier favor that Ayeka had done for her by pulling out forcefully one of the legs of the spider, causing it to fall again. In the brief moment she was freed, Ayeka quickly moved to safety, but the mechanical spider quickly rolled itself upright. The other's stood facing it as a pack.
"It's no use!" Tenchi said, now becoming tired from the attacking and evading. " I cant even scratch it now."
"There's a way to hurt it, there has to be!" Zack said in frustration.
"There is," Ryoko said confidently. "It's got one fo those orb's on its bottom side. Saw it as I flipped it over!"
"Thats it then, we just have to break that and it's powerless, right?" Ayeka said, wiping the sweat from her brow.
"Geez, you two are psyched," Zack said, a bit taken back from the two girls. "But thats it alright. Break the orb and it wont have dark energies."
Ayeka and Ryoko started to spread out slowly. The spider scanned both of them, making small attempts at swiping at them. The other two in the room just slowly backed, drawing the spider into the center of the room. When it was near it, Ryoko and Ayeka took off as fast as they could, while Zack ran to the right of the beast. The spider swung at Zack, but he dodged out of the way. Ryoko and Ayeka came up from behind and charged full power past its legs, tripping up each one as it did. The bug slammed to the ground. Zack stuck his flame sword deep into the floor and emitted a red glow, followed shortly by an explosion that flipped over the bug. Tenchi sprang into action and quickly ran across the belly of the spider while it was stunned to the small orb on its back end. He lifted up his sword, and thrust down hard on the orb. The sword pierced and it cracked. Tenchi wiggled the light saber, causing the cracked orb to shatter. A loud violent squeal rang out and the spider slowly curled up and disintegrated.
Clap,Clap,Clap.
"Bravo, Bravo!" came an unwelcomed voice. "Good Show. Jolly good show, old fellows."
Ryoko gritted her teeth and spun around to face the old man. Ayeka and Zack glared at their vile host, and Tenchi was holding back some of his rage.
"We've had enough of your fun and games! Now where is Washu?" Tenchi said seriously.
"I havent got the faintest clue as to what your talking about." came the old man.
"Im going to ask you one more time. Where's Washu?" Tenchi warned.
"Hmm, how bout this, old sport," the old man said putting his pipe to his mouth and taking a puff. "How about I just kill you, and that will be that. Quite good, it's a smashing plan actually. I think thats what Ill do!"
With speed faster then that of Ryoko's, the old man charged Tenchi. He evaded the lightning fast swings that barely missed Tenchi. Zack and Ryoko ran forward to assist while Ayeka charged another energy ball. But neither of them could come to Tenchi's aide. A force field of some kind had been thrown up around the two, preventing Zack and the others from helping. Ryoko banged on the force field with might. It rippled like water but did not buckle.
"Not bad, old chap, not bad at all" the man said through his swings. "But you've got to be prepared for everything...like this!"
Tenchi evaded another swing but fell as the old man kicked out his feet from under him. He hit the ground hard and rolled instinctively as a fist smashed the ground next to him. The man shook his fist to ease the pain and then resumed his attack. He began to push Tenchi towards the edge of the barrier. He once again stumbled and fell, once again rolling instinctively as another fist rocketed for him. His garbs touched slightly with the edge of the field, but fell to cinder as they did.
"Ah, better not get to close to that, or you'll be burned." said the old man again. He charged Tenchi fiercely. He was beginning to get hit occasionally by swings, that sent him flying, but would quickly recover.
"Damn!" Zack said in frustration, unable to help his friend.
"If Tenchi does not finish him off quick, he will tire and be done for." Ryoko said, noticing Tenchi was slowing down.
"Tenchi! Don't give up!" Ayeka called out to him.
Tenchi gave a brief smile of acknowledgment and ducked and wove around the old man. He took a hit, fell and got back up. He held off his attacks.
"Whats that matter, old chap? Afraid to hit an elderly man?" taunted the man as he continued to swing and kick violently. Tenchi watched and waited. The man took a hard right swing. Tenchi moved. He blocked the attack, and while still open, thrust forward and out with his master key. The man stumbled. "She's up ahead...Jolly good show, m'boy"
He fell over dead, and he disintegrated like the spider. The force field faded away and Ayeka and Ryoko ran to join Tenchi. He was tired but smiled warmly for them.
"Nice fighting there, Tenchi." Zack said to him. "Where's Washu at though."
"I don't know." Tenchi said now, getting to his feet. "But he said she was uphead."
"Whats that supposed to mean?" Ryoko said, not happy with such an answer. But within a moment she was levitating, but not under her own power. "What in the world?"
The others were also levitating, and began to slowly rise to the ceiling. A white light engulfed them. Another light, blinding them, followed. When they opened their eyes, they were in a large room. It was the bridge.
The room was large and cylindrical. The control consoles and most other aspects were amethyst in color. Canals of the blue luminescent water ran through the floors and up thorugh the levels of rows, seats and consoles. Wood made up the floor, instead of steel and plants and overhanging brush covered the ceiling and some of the side walls. A flight of stairs lead to the top most level, where a command chair, much the same one Zack's ship had, resided. Behind it, a large obsidian circular tower that seemed to go straight into the ceiling sat, a rainbow of colors glowing upon it.
"This is...This is a bridge of a Juraian ship." Ayeka said, recognizing the set up.
"What do you mean?" Zack said looking to her. "This ship is Dracadian, though Im not familiar with any of its design."
"The ship is designed like a large Juraian battle ship, and this is the bridge of such a ship. Except, there'd be a sentient tree where that column stands." Ayeka said, having a bad sinking feeling about the place.
"That's the Syphon Cylinder, but its huge." Zack said recognizing the obsidian tower. "No way this could be a Jurian ship..."
Ayeka walked over to a console. She touched it and the screen lit up. She began to type things and after a moment a large screen appeared in front of the bridge. Juraian lettering followed by Dracadian lettering began to display its self.
"What in the hell?" Zack said in disbelief.
"What is that?" Tenchi asked, unable to read Juraian or Dracadian.
"It's the ship's designation information..." Ayeka said.
"But it's strange, a lot of the required information and a lot of unknown stuff is listed." Zack added.
"Who cares! Lets just find Washu and get out of here." Ryoko said running up the steps. "But first, let's get rid of this thing."
Zack still stared in disbelief. The ship, now that he truely thought about it, was similar to a Dracadian design, but not close enough to be Dracadian. A zapping noise erupted behind him and he turned around to see Ryoko fallen backwards and rubbing her head, as the black lightning trailed up the tower. His eyes opened wide with a sense of dread. "Oh no... Its in USE!"
"Look out!" Tenchi yelled as he pushed Ayeka out of the way from an attacked. The console in which she had been using shot sparks as a dagger stuck out of it.
"Hehehe..." hissed a laughing voice. Ayeka and Tenchi slowly rose from where they were rising. Ryoko and Zack were already facing the direction the laughing came from. "I must say, Im a bit impressed that you managed to bust up that spider and even beat my doppleganger... Though I wouldn't call him much of one."
"Who's there!" Zack called out. A smile and a pair of eyes appeared in the shadows.
"I am Silth, captain of the Angel Executioner." the smile replied.
"Why not come into the light where I can see you?" Ryoko said sinisterly. "I want to see the face that such a lovely smile belongs to..."
"Oh, dearest Ryoko, you would enjoy that, wouldn't you?" the smile taunted. "Maybe I shall, but y'see, shadow's are where I belong."
A bolt of fire erupted on a wall, illuminating it. There was nothing there and Zack clenched his fist in anger.
"Be patient, Emissary, patient!" the voice said, now from a different place.
"Keep on your toes, it's a shadow dracadian..." Zack said in disgust and fury.
"A what?"
"A dracadian that has learned to live in the shadows, sweetest Ayeka," the voice taunted. She shivered when it said her name. "You are stronger then my weakest doppleganger, but are stronger then yourselves heheheeeee..."
The eyes and smile disappeared. Ryoko scanned the room suspiciously. The shadows flickered in the dark cold light. The pirate summoned her beam saber and gripped it tightly. Zack, Tenchi, and Ayeka armed themselves the same.
Swift movement caught Ryoko's eyes and she rolled out of the way. The other's turned towards her to see another one like her, only it was black, with no color or features. It was a shadow.
"Ayeka! Tenchi! Behind you!" Zack called out, as two more shadows sprung beneath them and attacked. They guarded the attacks. A fourth shadow crept up behind Zack, but he was expecting it. He rolled away from it as it swung at him.
"Damn, our own shadows being used against us!" Ryoko said, as she continued to fight with her double.
"Remember, copies are always weaker then the originals," Zack yelled aloud to everyone for encouragement. They battled fiercely with their dark selves. The shadows could easily parry their attacks, making them difficult targets. Ryoko was becoming frustrated as well as tired that her dopple ganger would pull cheap shots and hits, and had the same quickness and abilities as her.
The others also were beginning to grow tired of their fighting. Zack was backed into a corner as his own dopple ganger lunged forward at him. He blocked and countered attack with a fatal slash. The shadow him disappeared into air. Ryoko soon dispatched her own, and both of them ran to aid Ayeka and Tenchi, who were having difficulties with theirs, since the dopple gangers could use logs and the master key themselves.
Tenchi countered the attack from his own and dispersed his shadow before Ryoko or Zack could arrive, and swung around, nailing Ayeka's shadow from behind. It to fell and dissolved. Tenchi panted in relief.
"This is getting ridiculous. Every damned owner of this ship is a coward." Zack said, propping himself up with his arm.
"No kidding..." Tenchi agreed.
"Come out and play, now why don't ya, Silth!" Ryoko called out into the darkness. There came no response. They waited a moment. Ryoko finally lost her patience. "Fine, lets just waste this place."
The others got up as she flew up to the Syphon Cylinder.
"Ryoko wait!" Zack called out, but she swung and her sword came crashing down on the Cylinder. She cut it deep, and bolts of black spewed from the wound. The ship rocked violently. Alert signals started to appear all over the bridge.
"Time to finish it off!" Ryoko said preparing for another swing. But the bridge rocked heavily. The command chair then moved foward, as the floor opened up from below. The cylinder quickly rose from the ground, tubes and wires hanging loosely from its base as it climbed into the ceiling.
"What's going on..." Zack said in disbelief. The bridge rocked heavily again. Bubbles of energy surrounded everyone and they found themselves in the blink of an eye in a large clear dome. They could then see the ship and its horrible magnificence. The ship must have easily been larger then anything around. It looked like it went on forever, with Turrets, silos, launch bays and other parts stretching on and on it its black and amethyst splendor. Veins of light and energy sprawled across its surface.
"This would destroy us all..." Zack muttered. A gasp of horror caused him to turn around. In the center of this very large dome room sat a huge tree. The syphon cylinder had split up into 6 smaller segments and was situated all around the tree. Dark energies flowed to and from the tree. The leaves of the tree seemed to be twisted and sharp, darker in color.
"I-I-It's a sentient tree..." Ayeka gasped, shocked at what she was looking at. "But its been deformed."
"The syphon...its gathering energy from it..." Zack said.
"This warship, it isnt Jurai's or Dracadia's, is it." Ryoko questioned.
"This is the Angel Executioner. The first of its type, Ryoko." A young women with pail skin and shoulder length jet black hair stepped out from the shadows. Her eyes were dark and deep as space itself. She was athletic and young in build, probably as old as Zack or Tenchi, and her height was no more hten 5'7" at most. Her uniform was form fitting and simplistic, which was made up something of black shorts and a tight black tank top that shined in the low light a. A sash hung at her waist and a small design was woven over her heart on the black fabric. A small clip or brooch of a red feather was pinned slightly above the chest design, the only thing on her that seemed to be a color other then black. She had some kind of dark blade summoned in her right hand, and a gauntlet on her left. A pink jewel shimmered on it. "This magnificent warship, combined with the power of both Jurai and Dracadia, will give birth to a new era. The era which my master hopes to achieve. The era when we shall conquer everything, even god himself."
"You fool!" Zack seethed. "You will destroy both our people!"
"No, only those unworthy of our immaculate future shall be destroyed, Emissary." the young woman said. Her eyes showed cold.
"I'll see that this ship is destroyed, so it cannot be used for whatever vile purposes you or your master have in store for it!" Zack said, standing in a fighting stance.
"So will I!" Ayeka followed after, getting into a fighting stance.
"It's people like you that cause suffering!" Tenchi said, also taking a stand. "Your going to kill a lot of innocent people for your dream."
"That's right." Silth agreed. "It wont matter, for our dream will lead to true happiness. Perfection in ourselves, and in our universe. Unity! No more space strife!"
"Look, I usually wouldn't care, but after the hell you put me and my friends, through, and you have Washu, Im going to have to put you into a world of pain." Ryoko said, now drawing her own energy sword.
"Oh is it Washu you want? Is that all really? Then have her!" Silth yelled. She snapped her fingers and Washu appeared before then. She was being held up by a floating device with chains tied to her wrists. Her eyes were empty of life, but a tear gently rolled down her face. She snapped her fingers again and she fell from the device and it disappeared. Ryoko ran out and caught her before she hit the ground.
"W-Whatd you do to her?" Ryoko screamed, noticing Washu's eyes were empty of all feeling.
"Physically, I've done nothing." Silth smiled wildly. "The soul is a most powerful source of energy, y'know..."
"...You wreaped her, didn't you." Zack said, anger built up in his voice. "You used forbidden techniques of ether and you STOLE HER SOUL!"
Silth smiled even wider and held up her left hand and its gauntlet. The pink jewel in its center shimmered. "The power of one's soul is imaginable. I can feel it's energies coursing through me, giving me power beyond my wildest dreams! The average soul is strong, but hers...hers is almost overwhelming! I cannot even begin to tap its strongest energies, as her soul seems like an endless ocean. Just like her fears. Her memories..."
"..Zack...What's wrong with her exactly." Ayeka asked worried, not understanding this.
"She took her soul..." was all Zack could say.
"Oh no, I did more then just that. When you passed up that elevator, I set a trap. If your fears conquered you, you were weak enough to have your soul ripped away from you! The powers of dark ether can do such things. But those damned fools in the council feel that such power is never to be used!" Silth said with rage. "But you 4, you 4 are strong, unlike that pitiful women. Her fear of being lonely conquered her. She feared being all alone. That's why she researches constantly, isolates her self. She wants a taste of what she's afraid of, thinking it will protect her. That is why she made you Ryoko! To compensate for the loss of her once only child! To protect herself from her own loneliness! How pathetic!"
"...Im...going...to KILL YOU!" Ryoko said laying down Washu and with lightning fast speeds raced across the long empty platform to Silth. Rage filled Ryoko's eyes, but Silth just smiled even wider. She swung to kill, but hit nothing but empty air. "WHERE ARE YOU! SHOW YOURSELF! WHERE ARE YOU, YOU COWARD!"
"Right here, my dearest..." Came a voice from behind. Ryoko spun around to see Silth lunge at her with her shadow blade. She missed but quickly came back with a wide slash. Ryoko blocked with her own sword, but was launched back to where Tenchi and the others were. Ryoko struggled to get up after such a blow. Silth just laughed. "Hahaha. Pathetic. After merely 3 fights, your all worn out already? It does not matter, anyways, for with her soul, I am infinitely strong!"
She was right. It was obvious that for everyone there fighting her, she was powerful enough without the Washu's soul, and everyone's fatigue was making them run short. The ship rumbled from beneath. One of the 6 parts of the syphon cylinder behind Silth that had split up sparked blue energy, but the shadow dracadian did not notice it.
"With one lost loved one, I wonder how you will deal with the loss of another?" Silth taunted. The looked at her with dire questioning. Something swirled beneath Ayeka. The shadow dopple ganger rose up from behind and impaled her.
"Ah...ah..."Ayeka managed out as the hand which passed through her like a ghost, leaving no wound, seemed to cause her immense pain. Her eyes dimmed, and they too fell lifeless. The shadow swirled about her and disappeared.
"AYEKA!" Tenchi said running over to her and cradling her in his arms.
"They say keep your friends close, and your enemies closer, you know." Silth said quietly. Tenchi's eyes went wide with shock as he flew across the room and landed against the wall. He tensed up in pain. Ayeka slowly rose to her feet, her eyes dead of life."I could reap her soul, just as well, but then I cannot use her body against you, now can I?"
Ayeka sprinted off towards Tenchi with speeds of quick silver and back handed him when he was stunned from it. Tenchi fell to the floor. Ayeka bent down and got close to him.
"...hah...Tenchi, would you like a kiss?" She whispered into his ear seductively. Tenchi was stunned by her actions. She drew herself near him, her hands feeling his chest and body. Her lips close to his. He was stunned, locked in this state of strange fear. She broke away from him quickly as an energy ball crashed beside him from Ryoko. "Damn you Ryoko, always treacherous as ever. Ill make Tenchi mineee. Only mine."
Tenchi quickly got to his feet, as Ayeka rushed passed him and engaged Ryoko. The two fought hard, not holding back anything, even though Ayeka was being manipulated like a puppet by Silth. Tenchi drew his master key again and stumbled for a moment. He couldn't willingly attack Ayeka, and she seemed to be getting the upper hand with Ryoko.
"Go ahead! Attack her Tenchi, Save Ryoko. Who needs a bratty princess anyways?" Silth taunted.
"Shut it!" Tenchi said, still trying to figure out what to do.
"If you wont kill her, I will!" Silth yelled. A swirl of shadow appeared at Tenchi's feet, and his dopple ganger popped up from underneath him and struck out at him. Tenchi blocked and destroyed his double. He turned around to face Silth again, who was charging him. He did not have enough time to defend himself.
CLASH!
Swords locked together. One fire, one shadow. Zack stood in front of Tenchi, sword against sword with Silth. "Tenchi...GO! DESTROY THE SENTIENT TREE!"
Tenchi ran from those two towards the sentient tree and the 6 spires from the Syphon Cylinder.
"Hehehe...Your not a light breed, Emissary, and your sword shall soon fall into darkness against me." Silth taunted as she broke away from the lock and charged. Their swords clashed again.
"As long as I have my willpower to live, you shall die!" Zack said back in rage, dodging a swing from his left and a punch from the right. She kicked him off his feet with amazing force, however. He hit a wall hard and fell down. He spat up his hot blood and it sizzled the ground. Gritting to his teeth, he re summoned his energy weapon of fire and stood in an attack stance. "Im not going to lose to you."
"Very bold, Emissary. But there's nothing you can do." Silth replied. She sped up, slashing hard and hitting him without mercy. His fatigue was wearing him down. She wailed on him, giving him blow after blow from both her shadow brand and from her physical hits. He was soon taking hits, unable to block because of all the bruising. Zack looked to Ryoko. She was in no better condition. "Time to finish this!"
Silth held her blade up, point down, to finish off Zack. She drew it up and prepared to lunge down when she jolted forward. She clutched her chest in pain. She stumbled backwards from him, still in pain. Zack hoisted himself up and drew his blade. She turned to see pulling his sword from the Sentient Tree. Silth gasped for air as the Sentient tree glowed and died, finally freed of its prison.
She fell to her knees, an invisible force crushing. Zack watched as Ayeka stopped fighting Ryoko and went limp and fell to the floor, Ryoko catching her on the way down. They watched Silth squirm in pain, her face etched with fear.
"...He-help me...Zack...please..." She cried, tears of pain coming forth before her body seemed to contort and twist it self. A sickening crunch could be heard and she fell limp to the floor, her body twisted unnaturally. Blood blacker then space seemed to seep from her eyes and mouth, and from torn flesh and muscle. It stained the floor black like ink.
Ayeka began to come to and Tenchi ran to see that she was alright. Zack limped over to his fallen enemy and removed the small pink gem from her gauntlet. He walked over to where Washu lay, the others joining him.
"Will she be alright?" Tenchi asked Zack. He smiled, tired and dogged, but smiled anyways. He kneeled down next to her, and placed the small gem on her chest. It glowed bright and seemed to then sink into her skin. Ryoko cradled Washu close to her. Her eyes still appeared lifeless. They waited.
"Come on, Washu..." Ryoko said, gently stroking her mothers forhead. A minute passed and nothing changed. She hugged her mother close, tears filling her eyes. A hand gently touched Ryoko's cheek.
"There, there Ryoko, Momma's here..." Washu said quietly, smiling weakly. She too had tears in her own eyes. They hugged each other close. Tenchi and Ayeka smiled. Zack had walked back over to Silth and bent down near her. He closed her eyes. Tenchi happened over to him.
"...What happened to her?" Tenchi asked.
"The ship started syphoning from her only, as soon as the tree was dead. The simple pressure of the whole ship sucking her ether for energy was to much..." Zack said. There was a small little brooch on her clothing. It was a small red feather. Zack gently took it off her and squeezed it in his palm. He sighed sadness. "..Why didnt you come with me...Silth..."
The ship rumbled underneath him and Zack looked up and stared out at it. A wave of darkness began to cover the ship.
"Oh shit." Zack said, quite worried. He ran over to Ryoko and Washu, who were talking. "Sorry to break up the lovey dovey moment, but we have to go. Right now."
The ground rumbled again. A deafening explosion could be heard. Tremors began to shake the foundation they stood on, and flashes of light illuminated sections of the ship. A star of light shot from the Angel Executioner as a transmission from the Zenith appeared.
"Washu! Your finally back. Where've you been?" Kiyone said. She smiled weakly at her. "The Zenith is free and were out, but some falling debris has damaged this ship even further! You guys gotta get out of there. The ship is coming apart!"
"She's right. The ship is losing power fast. With no sentient tree or syphoning, it was only a matter of time before it devoured all the available dark ether. Now its collapsing! We've got to go Now!" Zack said in agreement. The Transmission cut out. Ryoko took out Ryo-Ohki and threw her.
"Let's go Ryo-Okhi!" Ryoko yelled.
"MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWHHHHH" the cabbit yelled as it transformed into a space ship before them. Those on the bridge that were there glowed bright and disappeared as the Ryo-Ohki smashed through the glass in the dome and flew into space with speed.
Behind them, disappear from view, sparkles of light danced across the goliath. Then everything went silent, and within moments, a bright ball of light consumed the ship in an explosion. The Ryo-Ohki headed headed for the Zenith, which was now cruising slowly towards them. Zack looked down into his hand at the small feather shaped brooch, and looked back to where the Angel Executioner was. He clutched the small brooch tightly in his hand.