Disclaimer: The characters of Tenchi Muyo are the property of
their respective copyright holders.
Tenchi Muyo: The People's Prince
Part 2: Twelve Angry Men
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! Not a word from any of you!" Sue had had enough of the staring, pointing, and laughing until a person could no longer stand it and lost conscious due to the lack of oxygen, on her way back from the press conference. From servants, to palace guards, to passers by on the street, to little babies in carriages, they all seemed to be laughing at her. It was if, the whole of Jurai had watched the press conference, seen her journalistic integrity castrated by the First Queen of Jurai, and were reveling in it.
'Okay, maybe I'm being a little paranoid,' she thought to herself. Surely the planet wasn't against her. The trees on the other hand, were another story. Sue swore one snickered at her as she left the palace grounds. In any case, she was in no mood for it now that she was back at the office.
"Oh come on, Sue. We think you did great!", said a rather tall man as he put his arm around her shoulders. She let out her thirty-fifth sigh of the day, as she was once again reminded of the fact she was the only female working here. There were five men in her department, she had never bothered to learn any of their names, since she hadn't planned on staying this long, instead she called them, 'Jerk off', 'Pig', etc.
"I don't need your sympathy," she said in an exhausted voice. "Or anything else you claim to have," she added removing the man's hand from its perch on her rear.
"Awwww! I was just being friendly in your hour of need."
"Yeah, right. What do you know about a woman's needs?"
"Wanna know?"
"Not really, lech."
"Hey, wait a minute, I thought that I was lech," said a man who could be considered handsome, until you got to know him. He got up from his desk and wandered over to take a seat on Sue's desk. He gave her a smile that would make most women fall over with their legs in the air. Sue, thankfully, had been warned about him before he could properly use it on her.
"No, no, you're Whore monger, he's Lech and I'm Butt pirate," said a third man, who was also quite good looking. He too joined the inquisition against Sue. "Hey, Sue, maybe you and I could get together later and discuss your theories on royal reproduction."
"In your dreams."
"Ah! Speaking of dreams," said Whore monger, "You were in rare form last night, Sue. Roowrrr. I had no idea you did that sorta thing. Can't wait to see what you have in store for me tonight."
"Hey, I thought you scored with whatshername last night?" Lech asked.
'What was her name?' Whore monger wondered to himself. "I may have been with her in body, but I was with Sue in spirit," he said winking at Sue.
Sue groaned, putting her head into her hands. What had she done in a previous life to deserve this?
"Sue!! Get that sweet derriere of yours into my office, NOW!"
"The editor bellows, Sue," said Butt pirate.
"Remember Sue, your saving yourself for me!!!"
"What do you mean, 'you'! You got to have the last girl who worked here. It is my turn now!"
*Sigh number thirty-six*
Slowly, she got up and made her way to the editor's office. She had been expecting a chewing out. No respectable editor would let a reporter drag their paper's name through the mud like she had. Now, she was going to be forced to prostrate herself before him in order to keep her job. No one would hire her after what she had done. Her head was cast down as she entered the editor's office.
"Sorry, Chief, I didn't mean to..."
"Shut your trap and sit down."
'Oh boy, here we go,' Sue sighed again, losing count to what number sigh she was on. She sat down on the rather large couch the Chief had pointed to when he spoke. He had removed the chairs in his office soon after she started working there. Why? She had no idea. She nervously watched the rather muscular man before her pace back and forth.
'What's he thinking? I'm afraid to find out,' she thought, a small pout coming to her face. Actually, she REALLY didn't want to know.
"Sue!" he said turning abruptly to face her. "You were marvelous! Just marvelous!" He went to down on both knees in front of her and took both of her hands in his. Sue was too shocked by what he had said to notice.
"Eh?"
"The Jurian Enquirer is on the lips of every schmoe on the street! Evening sales have gone through the roof! They all want to know what you'll come up with next. You're a sensation! All the empire was watching you and the First Queen."
At hearing that, Sue recovered from her shock and yanked her hands from the Chief's. Her voice was indignant, "Hmph, they won't be laughing long. I've got the report and it proves I'm right! You'll see Chief! The Queen never did answer my question! Her laughing like that was just a ploy!"
The Chief let out a chuckle, unfazed by Sue ripping her hands from him. "Suzzie, Suzzie, Suzzie," he said smiling, his teeth glistening.
Sue began to pout again, he called her 'Suzzie'. Her mother had called her Suzzie. She shook herself of the thought. 'Why doesn't anyone take me seriously?'
"Right... Wrong.... Who cares??!! As long as you sell!" He said getting up from kneeling on the floor. "Speaking of selling," he added sitting down next to her on the couch and putting his hand on her thigh.
Practically screaming, Sue stood up and stormed out of the office. She had been prepared to prostrate herself, not prostitute. She fairly threw the man, who was still sitting on her desk and rather enjoyed the rough contact, out of her way, and made a quick call for her friend to meet her at the usual place. Before exiting though, Sue spun on her "colleagues" with a final proclamation.
"With this," she said repeatedly patting her chest, "I'll make everyone take me seriously. No one will laugh when they see what I've got! YOU'LL SEE!" and then left the building, more irate and even more determined then when she came in.
The men weren't laughing. They took what she said VERY seriously. THEY WANTED TO SEE HER CHEST!!
"Later then?" the editor and chief called from his office, still smiling. It was fun having female employees. He wondered why they never stayed very long.
*******************
Washu tried desperately to catch her breath, in all her years (those she could remember anyway), she had never been caught this off guard. Okay, maybe once, but Kagato's dead. She put a hand over her racing heart as if that action would slow its mad pace.
"Breath in." "Breath out." "Breath in," she repeated the mantra over and over. "I don't know what was funnier, the idea of Ryoko being Tenchi's mother or the sight of Funaho nearly laughing to death," she said before erupting into yet another fit. It was starting to become painful.
Then she stopped laughing, as if slapped, HARD. She cursed under her breath; she should be used to this sight by now.
"Hey, little Washu, what's so funny? I could use a good laugh," said Tenchi recalling his thoughts of this morning as he descended the stairs.
She closed her eyes. It was a scene she had witnessed repeatedly, time and time again. It was an everyday occurrence. Totally expected and perfectly natural behavior. You could see it anywhere. Nothing to get excited over. Merely a father, feeding his infant daughter, while descending some stairs. Or, so she told herself. She opened her eyes. Unfortunately, her heart hadn't listened to her mind's reasoning. It was not Tenchi holding Mayuka, that she saw. It was her husband, gone these twenty-thousand years, holding their infant son, that filled her vision. It wasn't logical. It had no basis in science, yet if asked, that is what she would have sworn to have seen. A smack to her face broke the spell.
Tenchi had watched Washu enter a sort of catatonic state, and had become concerned. He quickly descended down the stairs and walked over to where Washu was sitting on the couch. He stopped in front of her and placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking her gently. He failed to notice the newscaster on the television picking himself off the floor with tears in his eyes.
"Then... then... she said... she said that this Tenchi guy was.... was I can't say it again. HAHAHAAHHAHA."
"Washu? Washu?"
The twenty-six month old Mayuka looked at her father as he tried to wake Washu from her stupor, and then at Washu. She decided to help out.
*SMACK*
"Wha... Where.... Oh, Tenchi," Washu said coming around.
"Uh... sorry about that," Tenchi apologized sitting down on the couch next to Washu.
'It worked didn't it!' Mayuka pouted. It was tough having the mind of a 14 year old in a two year old body.
"You looked a little out of it for a minute, Washu." He said, adjusting Mayuka in his arms, turning to face Washu, and looking her in the eyes.
The blush didn't creep to her face, it crash landed there. The hue to her face quickly matched the color of her hair. Twenty-thousand years are a long time.
Tenchi scooted a little closer to Washu, so he could place a hand on her forehead. She had gone from maniacal laughter (for her normal), to sitting stock still in silence.
"Washu, are you sick, your face is a bit flushed."
Nothing.
"Washu, are you okay? Washu."
Mayuka cocked her hand back
"Umm, Yes. Yes, I'm fine thanks for asking," Washu said recovering somewhat. 'This is not how a woman your age behaves,' she chided herself. She removed Tenchi's hand from her head and then reached for Mayuka, her eyes asking Tenchi for permission. He leaned toward her slightly, allowing Washu to take hold of Mayuka. Washu took her and held her in the air in front of her.
Tenchi was watching Washu play with Mayuka, when something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention.
"Dad"
Noboyuki gave his son a thumbs up, while he continued to record the three from the archway of the kitchen.
"WASHU!!!"
All eyes turned to Ryoko, who just appeared at the bottom of the stairway. She looked none to pleased.
"WHAT do you think you're doing, Washu?"
Ever since the infant Mayuka joined the Masaki family, Washu had been spending less and less time in her lab, and more and more time fussing over Mayuka. Of course, Mayuka was rarely out Tenchi's company, soooo...
"NOT in front Mayuka, Ryoko. Washu could you watch Mayuka for a second? I want to talk to Dad," Tenchi asked standing up from the couch.
"Sure thing, Tenchi!"
Tenchi walked over to where his father was standing, while Ryoko took his place on the couch next to Washu. When she believed Tenchi out of earshot, she began a heated conversation with her "mother".
"Washu!"
Washu ignored her, continuing to play with Mayuka. Mayuka for her part was wondering where her father was going, and why he hadn't taken her with him.
"Washu! How dare you flirt with Tenchi like that!" She quickly looked in Tenchi's direction, to see if he had heard her outburst, then turned back to Washu.
Nothing.
"MOTHER!" she hissed through clenched teeth.
"Oh, when did you get here my little Ryoko?"
"Just what were you doing with Tenchi just now??"
A grin began to form on Washu's face as she recalled what she had just seen on television. Ryoko didn't like the look one bit, and prepared for the worst. Her preparations came up far short.
"Ohhh! I see. You're worried about your son getting burnt by and older woman. I never realized you were such an attentive mother! I admit, that I AM a FEW years older than your son, and that I HAVE been married before, but our love transcends these minor obstacles."
Ryoko's mask of anger was replaced by one of puzzlement .
"Huh???"
Washu placed Mayuka down on one of the couch cushions, and stood to face Ryoko, who was still sitting on the couch. She looked Ryoko straight in the eyes. Ryoko, never having seen Washu look so serious, adopted a similar expression. Washu then dropped to her knees, and placed both hands flat on the floor in front of her.
'Well, its about time you apologized for all the things you've done to me,' Ryoko thought pleased. Next Washu bowed placing her forehead on the back's of her hands.
"Ryoko-san," Washu said solemnly.
Ryoko nodded for her to continue, adopting an expression she had seen Yosho use, eyes closed and a slight smile on her face. Oh, how she would savor this moment.
"Ryoko-san, please, I wish to start a family with Tenchi. I ask your permission to court your son," Washu finished.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT???????" Ryoko screamed bolting up right.
No longer able to contain her mirth, Washu began rolling on the floor, laughing.
Staring at Washu, Ryoko figured she had sniffed one chemical too many.
Recovering somewhat, Washu retrieved Mayuka from off the couch and headed towards her lab.
"Ryoko dear, come into my lab, there's something you should see."
Ryoko, hopelessly confused, followed her mother. Before entering the lab, Ryoko gave one last look in Tenchi's direction and was greeted with the sight of Noboyuki grasping Tenchi up in a bear hug, nodding his head rapidly. She paused to hear what he was saying.
"Of course son, you take all the time you need. I'll run cover for you!"
Entering the lab, Ryoko filed away what she had just heard for later analysis. Right now, she had to figure out whether or not it was time for a retirement home for her mother.
Funaho put two fingers to the left side of her temple, trying to will the idiocy away as she stood, (she thinks better standing up) listening to one of the regional governors ramble. Soon after the press conference, an emergency meeting of the Jurai Royal Council was called for. The Jurai Royal Council consisted of the ten regional governors of the empire, the two Queens, and the Emperor. Also on the council are the High Priest of the Sect of Jurai, and its only elected member (elected, in that the post was filled by selection of the Science Academy's Board of Trustees with the Emperor's approval), the Head of the Royal Science Academy. The Head of the Academy also held the distinction of being the only member not related to the Royal family by blood in some way. In Funaho's view the meeting was a stupid idea. Though in no way had she planned it, an overwhelming majority of the populace now thought Tenchi Masaki, a fabrication of a delusional reporter. This was both, good and bad. Bad, in the fact that Tenchi Masaki truly existed, and that Funaho had every intention of bringing him to Jurai as a prince, for both his benefit, and that of Jurai. Now, with the people distracted, which had been the whole intent of the press conference in the first place, she had time to coordinate a proper stratagem to achieve her ends. This was good. The prudent move now, would be to continue as if all were normal, as not to attract suspicion, but no, someone had to push the panic button.
The only reason she hadn't tried more fervently to have the meeting postponed, was that something had been brought to light in the press conference which disturbed her greatly and demanded immediate attention. Despite her misstep concerning Tenchi's lineage, that Mrs. Graham was far too accurate in her information. This led to several questions. How did she find out about Tenchi and the others? At first, Funaho surmised that Mrs. Graham had somehow come to possess a copy of the Mihoshi Report, as most of her questions had centered around the Kagato incident. If that were true however, she should not have bought into the widely held misconception that Washu was a student at the Academy, when in fact she was a professor. It is clearly stated in the Mihoshi Report, that Washu was a professor, not to mention her other... accomplishments. Of course, Mrs. Graham may have asked her a question, she well knew the answer to, a test of whether or not the Queen would answer truthfully. Was that whole love child thing a ploy as well? This leads to an even more important question, what exactly does Mrs. Sue Graham know? Either she has a source on Earth (unlikely), or somewhere there is a leak, and a leak was something the Chief Minister of Information was not going to tolerate.
As the normal factions began to form, Funaho studied the faces seated around the large wooden table. The name Tenchi Masaki and the happenings on Earth made a lot of people nervous for a lot of various reasons, all of which were now on display. If nothing else, the meeting was providing her with a great deal of insight into the anxieties of certain members of the council. Weapons for later use.
Damien damien_searight@msn.com ICQ: 24113246
Tenchi Muyo: The People's Prince
Part 2: Twelve Angry Men
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! Not a word from any of you!" Sue had had enough of the staring, pointing, and laughing until a person could no longer stand it and lost conscious due to the lack of oxygen, on her way back from the press conference. From servants, to palace guards, to passers by on the street, to little babies in carriages, they all seemed to be laughing at her. It was if, the whole of Jurai had watched the press conference, seen her journalistic integrity castrated by the First Queen of Jurai, and were reveling in it.
'Okay, maybe I'm being a little paranoid,' she thought to herself. Surely the planet wasn't against her. The trees on the other hand, were another story. Sue swore one snickered at her as she left the palace grounds. In any case, she was in no mood for it now that she was back at the office.
"Oh come on, Sue. We think you did great!", said a rather tall man as he put his arm around her shoulders. She let out her thirty-fifth sigh of the day, as she was once again reminded of the fact she was the only female working here. There were five men in her department, she had never bothered to learn any of their names, since she hadn't planned on staying this long, instead she called them, 'Jerk off', 'Pig', etc.
"I don't need your sympathy," she said in an exhausted voice. "Or anything else you claim to have," she added removing the man's hand from its perch on her rear.
"Awwww! I was just being friendly in your hour of need."
"Yeah, right. What do you know about a woman's needs?"
"Wanna know?"
"Not really, lech."
"Hey, wait a minute, I thought that I was lech," said a man who could be considered handsome, until you got to know him. He got up from his desk and wandered over to take a seat on Sue's desk. He gave her a smile that would make most women fall over with their legs in the air. Sue, thankfully, had been warned about him before he could properly use it on her.
"No, no, you're Whore monger, he's Lech and I'm Butt pirate," said a third man, who was also quite good looking. He too joined the inquisition against Sue. "Hey, Sue, maybe you and I could get together later and discuss your theories on royal reproduction."
"In your dreams."
"Ah! Speaking of dreams," said Whore monger, "You were in rare form last night, Sue. Roowrrr. I had no idea you did that sorta thing. Can't wait to see what you have in store for me tonight."
"Hey, I thought you scored with whatshername last night?" Lech asked.
'What was her name?' Whore monger wondered to himself. "I may have been with her in body, but I was with Sue in spirit," he said winking at Sue.
Sue groaned, putting her head into her hands. What had she done in a previous life to deserve this?
"Sue!! Get that sweet derriere of yours into my office, NOW!"
"The editor bellows, Sue," said Butt pirate.
"Remember Sue, your saving yourself for me!!!"
"What do you mean, 'you'! You got to have the last girl who worked here. It is my turn now!"
*Sigh number thirty-six*
Slowly, she got up and made her way to the editor's office. She had been expecting a chewing out. No respectable editor would let a reporter drag their paper's name through the mud like she had. Now, she was going to be forced to prostrate herself before him in order to keep her job. No one would hire her after what she had done. Her head was cast down as she entered the editor's office.
"Sorry, Chief, I didn't mean to..."
"Shut your trap and sit down."
'Oh boy, here we go,' Sue sighed again, losing count to what number sigh she was on. She sat down on the rather large couch the Chief had pointed to when he spoke. He had removed the chairs in his office soon after she started working there. Why? She had no idea. She nervously watched the rather muscular man before her pace back and forth.
'What's he thinking? I'm afraid to find out,' she thought, a small pout coming to her face. Actually, she REALLY didn't want to know.
"Sue!" he said turning abruptly to face her. "You were marvelous! Just marvelous!" He went to down on both knees in front of her and took both of her hands in his. Sue was too shocked by what he had said to notice.
"Eh?"
"The Jurian Enquirer is on the lips of every schmoe on the street! Evening sales have gone through the roof! They all want to know what you'll come up with next. You're a sensation! All the empire was watching you and the First Queen."
At hearing that, Sue recovered from her shock and yanked her hands from the Chief's. Her voice was indignant, "Hmph, they won't be laughing long. I've got the report and it proves I'm right! You'll see Chief! The Queen never did answer my question! Her laughing like that was just a ploy!"
The Chief let out a chuckle, unfazed by Sue ripping her hands from him. "Suzzie, Suzzie, Suzzie," he said smiling, his teeth glistening.
Sue began to pout again, he called her 'Suzzie'. Her mother had called her Suzzie. She shook herself of the thought. 'Why doesn't anyone take me seriously?'
"Right... Wrong.... Who cares??!! As long as you sell!" He said getting up from kneeling on the floor. "Speaking of selling," he added sitting down next to her on the couch and putting his hand on her thigh.
Practically screaming, Sue stood up and stormed out of the office. She had been prepared to prostrate herself, not prostitute. She fairly threw the man, who was still sitting on her desk and rather enjoyed the rough contact, out of her way, and made a quick call for her friend to meet her at the usual place. Before exiting though, Sue spun on her "colleagues" with a final proclamation.
"With this," she said repeatedly patting her chest, "I'll make everyone take me seriously. No one will laugh when they see what I've got! YOU'LL SEE!" and then left the building, more irate and even more determined then when she came in.
The men weren't laughing. They took what she said VERY seriously. THEY WANTED TO SEE HER CHEST!!
"Later then?" the editor and chief called from his office, still smiling. It was fun having female employees. He wondered why they never stayed very long.
*******************
Washu tried desperately to catch her breath, in all her years (those she could remember anyway), she had never been caught this off guard. Okay, maybe once, but Kagato's dead. She put a hand over her racing heart as if that action would slow its mad pace.
"Breath in." "Breath out." "Breath in," she repeated the mantra over and over. "I don't know what was funnier, the idea of Ryoko being Tenchi's mother or the sight of Funaho nearly laughing to death," she said before erupting into yet another fit. It was starting to become painful.
Then she stopped laughing, as if slapped, HARD. She cursed under her breath; she should be used to this sight by now.
"Hey, little Washu, what's so funny? I could use a good laugh," said Tenchi recalling his thoughts of this morning as he descended the stairs.
She closed her eyes. It was a scene she had witnessed repeatedly, time and time again. It was an everyday occurrence. Totally expected and perfectly natural behavior. You could see it anywhere. Nothing to get excited over. Merely a father, feeding his infant daughter, while descending some stairs. Or, so she told herself. She opened her eyes. Unfortunately, her heart hadn't listened to her mind's reasoning. It was not Tenchi holding Mayuka, that she saw. It was her husband, gone these twenty-thousand years, holding their infant son, that filled her vision. It wasn't logical. It had no basis in science, yet if asked, that is what she would have sworn to have seen. A smack to her face broke the spell.
Tenchi had watched Washu enter a sort of catatonic state, and had become concerned. He quickly descended down the stairs and walked over to where Washu was sitting on the couch. He stopped in front of her and placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking her gently. He failed to notice the newscaster on the television picking himself off the floor with tears in his eyes.
"Then... then... she said... she said that this Tenchi guy was.... was I can't say it again. HAHAHAAHHAHA."
"Washu? Washu?"
The twenty-six month old Mayuka looked at her father as he tried to wake Washu from her stupor, and then at Washu. She decided to help out.
*SMACK*
"Wha... Where.... Oh, Tenchi," Washu said coming around.
"Uh... sorry about that," Tenchi apologized sitting down on the couch next to Washu.
'It worked didn't it!' Mayuka pouted. It was tough having the mind of a 14 year old in a two year old body.
"You looked a little out of it for a minute, Washu." He said, adjusting Mayuka in his arms, turning to face Washu, and looking her in the eyes.
The blush didn't creep to her face, it crash landed there. The hue to her face quickly matched the color of her hair. Twenty-thousand years are a long time.
Tenchi scooted a little closer to Washu, so he could place a hand on her forehead. She had gone from maniacal laughter (for her normal), to sitting stock still in silence.
"Washu, are you sick, your face is a bit flushed."
Nothing.
"Washu, are you okay? Washu."
Mayuka cocked her hand back
"Umm, Yes. Yes, I'm fine thanks for asking," Washu said recovering somewhat. 'This is not how a woman your age behaves,' she chided herself. She removed Tenchi's hand from her head and then reached for Mayuka, her eyes asking Tenchi for permission. He leaned toward her slightly, allowing Washu to take hold of Mayuka. Washu took her and held her in the air in front of her.
Tenchi was watching Washu play with Mayuka, when something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention.
"Dad"
Noboyuki gave his son a thumbs up, while he continued to record the three from the archway of the kitchen.
"WASHU!!!"
All eyes turned to Ryoko, who just appeared at the bottom of the stairway. She looked none to pleased.
"WHAT do you think you're doing, Washu?"
Ever since the infant Mayuka joined the Masaki family, Washu had been spending less and less time in her lab, and more and more time fussing over Mayuka. Of course, Mayuka was rarely out Tenchi's company, soooo...
"NOT in front Mayuka, Ryoko. Washu could you watch Mayuka for a second? I want to talk to Dad," Tenchi asked standing up from the couch.
"Sure thing, Tenchi!"
Tenchi walked over to where his father was standing, while Ryoko took his place on the couch next to Washu. When she believed Tenchi out of earshot, she began a heated conversation with her "mother".
"Washu!"
Washu ignored her, continuing to play with Mayuka. Mayuka for her part was wondering where her father was going, and why he hadn't taken her with him.
"Washu! How dare you flirt with Tenchi like that!" She quickly looked in Tenchi's direction, to see if he had heard her outburst, then turned back to Washu.
Nothing.
"MOTHER!" she hissed through clenched teeth.
"Oh, when did you get here my little Ryoko?"
"Just what were you doing with Tenchi just now??"
A grin began to form on Washu's face as she recalled what she had just seen on television. Ryoko didn't like the look one bit, and prepared for the worst. Her preparations came up far short.
"Ohhh! I see. You're worried about your son getting burnt by and older woman. I never realized you were such an attentive mother! I admit, that I AM a FEW years older than your son, and that I HAVE been married before, but our love transcends these minor obstacles."
Ryoko's mask of anger was replaced by one of puzzlement .
"Huh???"
Washu placed Mayuka down on one of the couch cushions, and stood to face Ryoko, who was still sitting on the couch. She looked Ryoko straight in the eyes. Ryoko, never having seen Washu look so serious, adopted a similar expression. Washu then dropped to her knees, and placed both hands flat on the floor in front of her.
'Well, its about time you apologized for all the things you've done to me,' Ryoko thought pleased. Next Washu bowed placing her forehead on the back's of her hands.
"Ryoko-san," Washu said solemnly.
Ryoko nodded for her to continue, adopting an expression she had seen Yosho use, eyes closed and a slight smile on her face. Oh, how she would savor this moment.
"Ryoko-san, please, I wish to start a family with Tenchi. I ask your permission to court your son," Washu finished.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT???????" Ryoko screamed bolting up right.
No longer able to contain her mirth, Washu began rolling on the floor, laughing.
Staring at Washu, Ryoko figured she had sniffed one chemical too many.
Recovering somewhat, Washu retrieved Mayuka from off the couch and headed towards her lab.
"Ryoko dear, come into my lab, there's something you should see."
Ryoko, hopelessly confused, followed her mother. Before entering the lab, Ryoko gave one last look in Tenchi's direction and was greeted with the sight of Noboyuki grasping Tenchi up in a bear hug, nodding his head rapidly. She paused to hear what he was saying.
"Of course son, you take all the time you need. I'll run cover for you!"
Entering the lab, Ryoko filed away what she had just heard for later analysis. Right now, she had to figure out whether or not it was time for a retirement home for her mother.
Funaho put two fingers to the left side of her temple, trying to will the idiocy away as she stood, (she thinks better standing up) listening to one of the regional governors ramble. Soon after the press conference, an emergency meeting of the Jurai Royal Council was called for. The Jurai Royal Council consisted of the ten regional governors of the empire, the two Queens, and the Emperor. Also on the council are the High Priest of the Sect of Jurai, and its only elected member (elected, in that the post was filled by selection of the Science Academy's Board of Trustees with the Emperor's approval), the Head of the Royal Science Academy. The Head of the Academy also held the distinction of being the only member not related to the Royal family by blood in some way. In Funaho's view the meeting was a stupid idea. Though in no way had she planned it, an overwhelming majority of the populace now thought Tenchi Masaki, a fabrication of a delusional reporter. This was both, good and bad. Bad, in the fact that Tenchi Masaki truly existed, and that Funaho had every intention of bringing him to Jurai as a prince, for both his benefit, and that of Jurai. Now, with the people distracted, which had been the whole intent of the press conference in the first place, she had time to coordinate a proper stratagem to achieve her ends. This was good. The prudent move now, would be to continue as if all were normal, as not to attract suspicion, but no, someone had to push the panic button.
The only reason she hadn't tried more fervently to have the meeting postponed, was that something had been brought to light in the press conference which disturbed her greatly and demanded immediate attention. Despite her misstep concerning Tenchi's lineage, that Mrs. Graham was far too accurate in her information. This led to several questions. How did she find out about Tenchi and the others? At first, Funaho surmised that Mrs. Graham had somehow come to possess a copy of the Mihoshi Report, as most of her questions had centered around the Kagato incident. If that were true however, she should not have bought into the widely held misconception that Washu was a student at the Academy, when in fact she was a professor. It is clearly stated in the Mihoshi Report, that Washu was a professor, not to mention her other... accomplishments. Of course, Mrs. Graham may have asked her a question, she well knew the answer to, a test of whether or not the Queen would answer truthfully. Was that whole love child thing a ploy as well? This leads to an even more important question, what exactly does Mrs. Sue Graham know? Either she has a source on Earth (unlikely), or somewhere there is a leak, and a leak was something the Chief Minister of Information was not going to tolerate.
As the normal factions began to form, Funaho studied the faces seated around the large wooden table. The name Tenchi Masaki and the happenings on Earth made a lot of people nervous for a lot of various reasons, all of which were now on display. If nothing else, the meeting was providing her with a great deal of insight into the anxieties of certain members of the council. Weapons for later use.
Damien damien_searight@msn.com ICQ: 24113246