Chapter Three: Left To My Own Devices
It was yet another beautiful Wednesday at Sigma House. Keisuke awoke to breathe in the fresh morning air, it was about 2:30 PM. He sat down at his computer for a few minutes before a bout of frustration took ahold of him. He began to click his mouse furiously and smash at the keyboard in a fit of rage and desperation. „Piece of junk! You're gonna do this to me?" He growled at the inanimate object.
After a couple more clicks of the mouse and strokes of the keys, Keisuke gave one final growl before he shot up out of his chair, grabbed the computer tower, yanking it from its plugs and carried it over to his window. „I'll teach you to freeze on me, you piece of junk!" He said, as he opened the window and tossed the computer out.
The success of launch sent the tower hurdling down the two-story drop and crashing into the ground, leaving every piece entirely demolished. Keisuke looked down on the wreckage with twitchy eyes and a scowl. "Shit!" He shouted to himself.
Meanwhile, Washu was busy in her laboratory working with her computer on God knows what.
Keisuke let himself in, cradling the remains of his once computer. "Hey... Washu?" He spoke nervously.
"What can I do for you, Keisuke?" She replied without ever turning her attention away from the computer.
"I threw my computer out of the window again, could you fix it for me?" He asked.
Washu replied with an irritated sigh and paused for a few second to wipe the sweat off her brows. Then, with a couple of key strokes, set off an automated reaction within the room. Two of her miniature robot helpers came down from the ceiling, snatched the computer from Keisuke's arms, took it to what appeared to be an operating table and began work on it.
Washu got up from her computer to stretch her legs, apparently she had been working for hours.
Keisuke just stood still in silence, until he attempted to engage Washu in conversation; "So... what'cha doin'?" He asked with childlike curiosity.
"Trying to figure out the mystery of our little Rock friend..." Washu replied.
"Oh really, and what have you found?" Keisuke asked.
"Quite interesting, if I do say so myself..." Washu replied, going back to her computer. "You see, the nano-scanners I've sent down there show that the Rock isn't composed of electrons or any other subatomic particles that are present in all other matter, but it's somehow responding with everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING. Do you know what this could mean?"
"Um... yeah?" Keisuke said, a little out of his league.
Washu backed up from her computer and sighed, "You don't know what I'm talking about, do you?"
"Uh... you said electrons, so that mean it has something to do with electricity, right?" Keisuke asked.
"Have a seat Keisuke..." Washu said as she materialized a chair for him. "Are you familiar with quantum entanglement?" She asked.
"Well, I, uh-"
"Okay, okay, dumb question." Washu interrupted. "Lemme try and explain: this universe was created when the Big Bang occurred billions of years ago. Since then it was discovered that all electrons throughout the universe have this ability to communicate from anywhere. Faster than light, faster than anything, without the use of time travel. Do you understand?"
"Not a word, but go on..." Keisuke replied.
"Well, Keisuke, in the end it was discovered that 'space' is only an illusion created by our obscured perception, when really it's all matter held together by gravity, the bi-product created by our expanding universe. I was one of the first to discover this phenomenon, twenty-thousand years ago, sorry to say your planet hasn't caught on quite yet. But it's the reason we have space-time travel, it's how I materialized that chair you're sitting in." Washu went on, before turning her attention back to her computer. "But in twenty-thousand years, no one has been able to find the God particle which sparked the flame to existence in this and every other universe... I think this Rock of Beryllos might hold the answer, and GOD DAMN IT, I intend to find it!" Washu began a crazed tangent, "As the greatest scientific mind ever to have lived, it's my duty... no, my purpose! I will succeed!"
Keisuke snuck away as Washu gestured around like a tyrannical dictator.
Tenchi was busy in the kitchen fixing himself a snack in-between classes. "I wish people wouldn't leave the milk out..." He grumbled to himself as he took a carton of milk that had been laying out back to the fridge. As he closed the fridge door, he was startled to see Keisuke standing there in front of him, as he let out a subtle gasp of surprise.
"How's it going, Tenchi?" Keisuke asked, with a smile upon his face.
Tenchi took his snack and walked over to the table to eat, "Bad, I've got a biology exam in fifteen minutes and I haven't eaten a thing all day." He replied. "Say, aren't you suppose to be in class right now?" He then asked.
"Um... what day is it?" Keisuke asked.
"It's Wednesday." Tenchi sighed. "We've only been here for three weeks and the admission's board is already talking about putting you on academic probation."
"How would you know that?" Keisuke asked.
"Akura told me, he's been watching you pretty closely, you know." Tenchi replied.
Keisuke took a seat at the table. "Bah, I'm not afraid of that asshole." He grumbled. "So Tenchi, what do you say about cutting this exam and you and me go cruise the campus for babes?"
"Are you crazy? Look, you may not care about your education here, but some of us would like to get their money's worth. Besides, I'm not about to waste all this studying I've done." Tenchi replied.
"Hmm... so what is the test about?" Keisuke asked in a deceivingly enthusiastic tone.
"Well, we're supposed to put together various forms of traits Mendel was using in his studies of-" Tenchi began to explain before his watch caught his eye, "Gah! I'm gonna be late." Tenchi wolfed down his snack, grabbed his book bag and went running for the exit. "Gotta go, see ya later, Keisuke!" He shouted as he ran out the door.
Keisuke remained seated at the table in a fit of disappointment.
In the living room, Maiya was found curled up on the couch reading a book. Keisuke snuck up behind her and snatched the book from her hands, "What's up, egghead?" He asked rhetorically.
"Hey!" Maiya exclaimed in response to his rude behavior.
Keisuke examined the book, "Ayn Rand? What are you, some kind of communist?" He asked.
Maiya sighed with her hands buried in her face, "Don't you have an extra-large pizza you should be shoveling into your face right now?" She asked.
Keisuke ignored her insulting comments and took a seat on the couch next to her, "Hey, what do you say we get out of here and go do something?" He asked.
Maiya scoffed, "Like I'd ever go out with you, butterball."
Keisuke scoffed in response, "Don't flatter yourself, poindexter, nobody else is home."
Maiya grabbed the book back from Keisuke, "I don't have time for your bullshit today." She got up from her seat. "Just because you're too stupid to show up for any of your classes, doesn't mean the rest of us have to suffer." She finished as she left the living room, leaving Keisuke alone once again.
Much to the annoyance of both parties, Ryoko and Ayeka had ended up taking the same advanced physics course together. Their professor, Ms. Ito, was currently copying an equation down on the board, "Okay, so we've discovered gravity, we understand how it works, but we don't know why. Being human, the next logical step is to kill it." She finished copying down the equation and pointed to it. "Let's see if any of you read your chapters last night, who can tell me what this is?" She looked around the class for volunteers.
Ayeka, who had taken herself a seat front and center, was the first to raise her hand.
Ms. Ito acknowledged, "Yes, Miss Ayeka?"
Ayeka stood tall and proud, "That is the gravitational potential energy equation, ma'am. It's the equation used to calculate escape velocity."
"Very good, Ayeka. At first I thought you were a little young to be taking this class, perhaps I might be teaching the next Hawking." Ms. Ito commented.
Ayeka blushed profusely in a fit of flattery, "Oh, professor..." She laughed.
"Since your on a roll, can you explain this equation to the rest of the class." Ms. Ito asked.
Without hesitation, Ayeka began on a long and detailed report of the equation and its functions.
Meanwhile, Ryoko hid in the shadows, seated top-left in the classroom. She was less interested in the class and more concerned with doodling caricatures of Ayeka as a hideous monster with numerous stinks lines protruding from her person.
Class ended and the exhausted students stampeded out the doors, except for Ayeka who carefully packed away her school supplies into her book bag. Ryoko waited just outside the door for her, ready for an ambush. As she walked out the door, Ayeka saw Ryoko out of the corner of her eye, but ignored her and continued on her way, Ryoko followed in pursuit, "Hey, Ayeka!" She spoke in a suspiciously friendly tone.
"What do you want?" She answered, openly annoyed.
"So, our first test is next week and I was just wondering..." Ryoko inquired.
"No, you may not copy my notes!" Ayeka promptly replied.
"Oh, c'mon Ayeka, you can't let me fall behind now." Ryoko whined.
"Maybe if you'd pay attention instead of using the class as naptime, you'd have your own notes to study." Ayeka snarled.
"I wasn't sleeping, I was just resting my eyes." Ryoko said.
"We could all hear you snoring from the front row." Ayeka responded.
Ryoko put her arm over Ayeka's shoulder in a friendly manner, "Okay, okay... how bout this; you let me copy your notes for this test and I'll let you copy mine next time." Ryoko dealt.
Ayeka scoffed, "I'd be better off copying the notes of a chimpanzee. Now stop wasting my time!" She said as she shrugged Ryoko's arm off, then stormed away without noticing the large, bold Kick Me now taped to her back.
Sasami's calculus class was in the middle of its first exam. The teacher was using this opportunity of silence to catch-up on some crossword puzzles, which had the majority of his attention at the time so he failed to notice half the class was peaking over Sasami's shoulders. She didn't seem to notice.
After a few minutes or so of diligent work, Sasami put her pencil down and stood up. "Professor! I'm finished!" She exclaimed cheerfully.
Everyone who had been copying off her frantically shot back to their own seats before the teacher's eyes were off his crossword puzzle. "Oh... uh, very good Sasami, you may go now." The professor replied placidly.
Sasami smiled, gathered her things and left.
"I tell you, Fumiko, this whole thing is driving me crazy." Denise said to her dear friend as the two walked the hallways of the mathematics building.
"Well, it is just one class..." Fumiko replied, hesitantly.
"How could you say that? You and I have been in the same classes together since we were freshmen in high school, how could this happen?" Denise whined.
"Um... just lucky I guess." Fumiko replied.
The two stopped at Denise's classroom, "It still really sucks, though, do you have any idea how boring this class is?" Denis pouted.
Fumiko smiled, "Look at the bright side, we only have two semesters until our requirements are met, then we'll be back on schedule." Fumiko consoled her friend. "Plus, since I'm taking the class this semester, it'll be a breeze for you when you get in next semester." She added.
"That is a good point." Denise agreed. Afterward, she caught her friend in a strong embrace, completely catching Fumiko by surprise and practically squeezing the life out her. "Oh Fumiko, you're my best friend in the whole world!" She exclaimed as she squeezed tighter. She let go then went into her classroom. "Meet you back at the house, love you!" She added as she disappeared into the room.
Fumiko stood by for a few moments before heading around the corner. She stopped when she noticed a barrage of students walking into another classroom. She seemed surprised, but followed them all inside. She stepped through the door and looked around to see that most of the seats had been taken already until her eye was caught by Daisuke, who waved her over to an empty seat next to him. She paused for a few moments, then hesitantly made her way to the vacant seat next to Daisuke.
"I didn't know you were in this class, good thing, I couldn't stand being trapped in here alone with all these math geeks." Daisuke tried to engage with conversation.
Fumiko acted oddly towards Daisuke, she spoke in an annoyed and defensive tone, "I hope you didn't offer this seat just to copy off of me."
Daisuke paused with confusion for a second, before he tried again to lighten things up again, "Well, actually I offered the seat because there's no babes in here, but I guess you'll do." He joked and snickered until he quieted down, sensing that she didn't find this funny. He cleared his throat, "Can you believe this? The professor didn't show up for the first two weeks. If any of us pulled that, we'd be cut."
"Are you one of those jocks who love to hear themselves talk?" Fumiko asked.
"Sorry, just trying to lighten you up a bit." Daisuke defended himself.
"And what makes you think that I need to be lightened up?" Fumiko asked, defensively.
"Well, no offense. I just mean – uh – you know, it must suck not being with your friend Denise." Daisuke said.
Fumiko scoffed, "It's not like we're siamese twins."
"Well, I didn't mean it that way or anything... so... did you at least get to sit in on Denise's class these past couple of weeks?" Daisuke asked.
"Not that it's any of your business, but I do enjoy doing other things in my spare time." Fumiko replied.
"Really? Like what?" Daisuke asked.
Fumiko didn't get to answer as the professor finally arrived, "Yeah, I know, I'm the worst teacher ever, because of my absence, you've all missed out on invaluable information. But even if you haven't learned any math, you at least now know to never eat at Bobobo's Sushi." The class had a good laugh at this.
After her class, Denise walked through the campus, headed back for Sigma House. As she walked, she began to hear a loud, obnoxious sound, which was growing and growing in volume. The sound was of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle engine as Junichi and his bike pulled up next to Denise. "Goin' my way, babe? How bout' a lift?" Junichi asked.
Denise kept walking, refusing to make eye-contact, "Take a hike, daddy-o." Denise replied.
"Ah, don't be that way, we share a pad, why not share a ride?" Junichi reasoned.
Denise stopped and finally made eye-contact with Junichi, she flashed him a deceiving smile, "Look, I can understand how being born among the most submissive people on the planet would lead you to this 'rebel without a cause' act, but as an ambassador of the US, I can tell you the whole thing is 'played'."
Junichi snickered, "Meh, we all got our poison. I dig on the classics. How bout you and your magic mirror, what's her name? Fumiko?"
Denise shot Junichi a quick sneer, "And just what do you mean by that?"
Junichi lit himself a cigarette, "Why don't you ask her? And don't forget to pull the string on her back."
"Listen, I don't know what you're trying to say here, but I do know that I don't have to pay attention to the ramblings of some wannabe greaser who can't get his bop lingo straight!" Denise replied.
"Watch the red, babe, bad for the complexion." Junichi finished as he burned out, kicking dust up into the air as he sped away.
Meanwhile, Kiyone and Mihoshi were attending their world history class. Today the teacher kept the students busy through book work while she was busy grading papers, keeping the noise in the room at a minimum.
Kiyone and Mihoshi sat side by side, Mihoshi seemed to be struggling with the assignment as told by the sweat running down her brow and the distraught, frantic look she expressed. She tapped Kiyone on the shoulder with her pen, "Psst, Kiyone..." She whispered.
Kiyone tried to ignore her, concentrating on her own work.
Mihoshi again attempted to get Kiyone's attention, this time by grabbing the sleeve of her shirt and yanking it, "Kiyone, I can't find the answer to this question. Do you know it?" She asked.
Kiyone sighed, "No..." she replied in a solemn tone.
"How bout this one?" Mihoshi asked again.
"No." Kiyone replied again, this time sounding more agitated.
"What about this one?"
"Quiet Mihoshi!" Kiyone exclaimed, garnering the attentions of the teacher.
"Hey, silence in the classroom, I said!" The teacher exclaimed, scowling at Kiyone.
Kiyone laughed nervously, "Sorry about that, ma'am." She stuttered.
Once the commotion calmed down, Kiyone threw Mihoshi a dirty look, "See what you did?" She snarled.
"I'm sorry, this is just so hard..." Mihoshi whined.
"Just be quiet." Kiyone ordered.
Silence once again took over the room, but Mihoshi continued to struggle with the assignment. She began to whine and moan to herself, much to the annoyance of Kiyone, but since she wasn't directly speaking to her, she just tried to endure and ignore. But unfortunately it wasn't long before Mihoshi requested Kiyone's assistance again, "Um... Kiyone?"
"Whaaaat?" She grunted.
"I need help with this question."
"Look it up in the index, Mihoshi!" Kiyone exclaimed, once again catching the teacher's eye.
"Miss Makibi, is there a problem?" She asked.
"Um... no. Sorry, ma'am. It won't happen again." She assured her, flustered.
"It'd better not!"
Kiyone turned her attention back to Mihoshi, "Damn it, Mihoshi. Stop getting us in trouble." She scorned.
"I'm so sorry, Kiyone!" Mihoshi cried.
The two finally turned back to their own work. Things seemed to be going smoothly for a few moments before Kiyone's Galaxy Police watch went off, sending an obnoxious, high-pitched beeping noise soaring through the classroom. Kiyone scrambled to switch it off. She looked around only to notice the teacher along with the entire class staring her down. Perspiration began to fall down her brow, she looked over to the teacher, "Ma'am, could Mihoshi and I please be excused?" She asked.
The teacher sighed, "If that means there'll be no more disruptions, then by all means." She replied.
"Thank you, very much." Kiyone bowed, then gathered her things.
Mihoshi, apparently oblivious to the events around her, had her nose buried into the textbook. "So... that means the answer is somewhere on page seventy-four..." She said to herself before being yanked out of her seat and dragged out of the classroom by Kiyone.
Keisuke strolled through campus with his head held low and solemn look on his face, kicking a small rock as he walked. "This sucks, everybody's working today, nobody wants to play with me..." He moaned to himself. He stopped and sat down on the curb. "I'm so bored..." He sighed. He looked around noticing the campus library just across the street, he studied the building for a few seconds before shooting back up to his feet, as if an epiphany just hit him. "That's it! It's time to stop screwing around, I'm never going to accomplish anything by sitting here like a bum!" He ran across the street into the library, bursting through the doors and taking a look around. He saw one of the librarians at the front desk, stamping slips for returned books and marched up to her.
She looked up to him, "Hello, young man, is there anything I can do for you?" She asked.
He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a few bills, "Could I get some change?" He asked.
After the librarian broke his bills, he left campus for the entertainment district, where he found a video arcade. He had the place mostly to himself seeing as most of their costumers were in school at this time. Most of his money had been sunk into this overhead space shooter game, "Oh yeah, baby... you like it like that, don't you?" He spoke suggestively to the machine as fired away at alien space cruisers set on destroying the Earth. "C'mon, baby, show me the magic, say my name! Say... my... name..." He said before his ship was destroyed by a stray photon beam prompting the Game Over screen to flash and the sound to chime: "Loser, loser, loser..." repeatedly.
Keisuke turned out his pockets. Finding he was out of money, he left the arcade and wandered around the entertainment district until he found a manga store, to where he strolled in and began to read some of the store's merchandise.
Akura entered Sigma House and looked around the manor to find nobody home, he stood in the hallway, "Hello? Anybody home?" He called out to no answer.
Tenchi came through the front door a few moments later, finished with his classes for the day. He saw Akura standing there, "Hey, Akura, what brings you around?" He greeted.
"I'm looking for Keisuke, you seen him lately?" Akura asked.
"Well, he was here earlier." Tenchi replied.
Ryo-Oki came hopping down the stairs to greet Tenchi, hopping into his arms and letting out an enthusiastic "Meow!".
"Hey, Ryo-Oki." He laughed.
Maiya then entered the house through the front door, "Hey Tenchi, hey Akura." She greeted them.
"Maiya, have you seen Keisuke around? Akura's been looking for him." Tenchi asked.
"Did you check the kitchen?" She joked.
"Yes, he's nowhere in the house. Do you guys have any idea where he could be?" Akura asked.
"Well, he doesn't have any money, or a job, or friends, or a life. You've got me." Maiya replied.
Ryo-Oki jumped out of Tenchi's arms and onto the bottom newel post of the stairs, drawing attention to herself. "Meow!" She said.
Akura looked at her, "Ryo-Oki, do you know where Keisuke is?" He asked.
"Meow!" She replied, before leaping off the newel post and hopping to the front door.
"I think she wants you to follow her." Tenchi said.
"Okay, lead the way Ryo-Oki." Akura said.
"Meow!" Ryo-Oki responded, then leaped through the front door as Akura followed her.
Keisuke was still busy helping himself to some light at the manga store until the shop owner was finally annoyed enough to approach him. She grabbed the book from his hands, "Hey, bum, this ain't no charity, ya hear?"
"Hey, I was gonna buy it!" He reasoned.
"Bullshit, you've gone through ten books already. Do you have any idea how hard people work to get these things published only to have punks like you take advantage of them? Of course, you don't. You wouldn't know the first the about work, would ya?" She scorned him.
Keisuke just stood back and snickered, "Listen, lady, just because you chose to sell a product only an idiot would pay for, doesn't give you the right to talk to me like that." He scoffed.
"Why, you! That's it, get out of my store and don't come back!" She exclaimed.
"Why don't you make me, grandma?" Keisuke challenged.
"Fine!" She replied. "Dano, get over here!" She called over to a boy who was busy sweeping on the other side of the store. The boy set aside his broom and immediately walked over to the scene. The shopkeeper pointed out Keisuke to the boy, "Get his fat butt out of my store!" She ordered.
"Please come with me, sir." Dano asked politely.
Keisuke examined the young man who was decked out with a pair of thick Coke-bottle glasses, was about 5'5" and couldn't have been more than 120 pounds. He began to crack up at the site, "Okay, okay, but before you try anything, just know I happen to be a level fifty elf with invulnerability to pixie dust." He said then went into a fit of uncontrollable laughter.
Dano and the shopkeeper stared at Keisuke for a few moments before they looked back at each other and the shopkeeper nodded her head at Dano. Dano took a step forward towards Keisuke and sent a quick jab to his left kidney.
"Gah!" Keisuke grunted as he fell to his knees.
With Keisuke now groveling on the floor, Dano grabbed his right arm, twisted it around his back and dragged him to the back door. The back door lead to an alleyway where all the stores kept their trash cans. Dano threw open the door and tossed Keisuke into a group of garbage cans, knocking most of them down in the process.
Keisuke laid there for a few moments, still feeling the pain in his side. He struggled back to his feet before taking a seat on top of a still standing trash receptacle. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and lit one up, "Sucker punching little dork..." He mumbled to himself.
He took a few drags of his cigarette before hearing a quite "Meow." echo in the alleyway. He looked up to see Ryo-Oki standing on the edge of the dumpster.
He took another drag off his cigarette, "Well, hey there, Ryo-Oki, what brings you out here?" He asked, rhetorically. He sat smoking his cigarette for a few minutes, examining Ryo-Oki. He shot up from his seat and grabbed her, causing her to let out a slight grunt. "You're coming with me." He said.
Next thing Ryo-Oki knew, she was being crushed by a group of high school girls who were holding her, petting her, and generally tossing her around like a rag-doll. "Oh! I wanna hold her!" One girl exclaimed. "No! I'm next!" Another one replied. "She likes me the best!" Yet another one argued.
Keisuke cut in and took Ryo-Oki into his arms, "Now, settle down ladies, I think she needs a break." He said.
"So what is it called again?" One of the girls asked.
"A cabbit." Keisuke replied.
"Oh! How cute!" The group of girls exclaimed.
"Yes, she's one of the last her kind. I found her in the Siberian forest while working for the Peace Corp. She was the runt of her litter. Her mother had to leave her behind in order to save her bigger siblings from poachers. But when I found her, she was just so small, so frightened... I couldn't leave her there, so I took her in myself." Keisuke squeezed Ryo-Oki tightly in his arms and began to shed crocodile tears as he sold his sob story.
The girls all began to tear up, buying Keisuke's tall tale, "Oh, you're so kind!" One of the girls said as she gazed into Keisuke's eyes.
Keisuke was basking in his glorious idea before the rest of his plan was cut short by Akura snuck up behind him and yanked him up by his shoulders. "Does your depravity know no bounds!" Akura scorned Keisuke before dropping him back on his feet. He snatched Ryo-Oki from his arms, then proceeded to address Keisuke's crowd, "Sorry, girls, show's over."
"Aww!" The group of girls whined before Akura dragged Keisuke around the corner to a less populated area.
"What the hell has gotten into you, don't you realize Ryo-Oki is a Jurian state secret?" Akura continued to berate Keisuke.
"Hey man, what's there to being a prince if you can't enjoy some of the perks? Hey, if you promise to play along, I'll let you take first pick!" Keisuke bargained.
"That's it! I've had enough of watching you make a mockery of my home world! I'm not about to let the next heir of the Genissant Royal Crown become... well... YOU!" Akura exclaimed. He then turned his attention to Ryo-Oki. "Ryo-Oki! Take us to Yosho!" He commanded before tossing her into the air prompting her to become her spaceship form.
Keisuke looked on in awe as Ryo-Oki transformed, "I didn't know it could do that!" He exclaimed before he and Akura were teleported into the innards of the ship and flown across Japan back to Tenchi's grandfather's shrine.
Yosho was in the middle of teatime when he heard a ruckus forming outside. He sat down his cup and went outside to find the wind blowing profusely and Ryo-Oki approaching in the distance. Akura appeared, via teleportation, landing eloquently on his feet. Keiskuke still hadn't quite got the hang of this whole new age space travel thing and was teleported upside down, landing on his face. Ryo-Oki was the last to change form, she immediately ran up to Katzuhiko to greet him. "Why hello there, Ryo-Oki." He said cheerfully.
Akura approached Katzuhiko and bowed before him, "It's been a long time, Master." He greeted him, respectfully.
"It has." Katzuhiko replied as he gave Akura permission to rise.
Keisuke was still stumbling to get on his feet having suffered from a bump on the head and lack of exercise. "Where in the hell are we?" He asked.
Akura looked over to Keisuke, "Keisuke, I would like you to meet Lord Yosho of Jurai. He is Tenchi's grandfather and the swordsman who first instructed me." Akura said.
"You may call me Kazuhiko, everybody here does." Kazuhiko addressed Keisuke.
"Uh, nice to meet you." Keisuke replied.
Kazuhiko approached Keisuke, "So this is the royal heir to Genissant, eh? I'm honored." He said as he bowed before him.
"Don't overdo it, sir." Akura commented.
"So what exactly are we doing here?" Keisuke asked.
Akura chimed in, "Keisuke, if you're going to be the keeper of The Rock of Beryllos and wear the Genissant Royal Crown, we're gonna need to add some structure into your life, which means we need to get you busy. Kazuhiko is known throughout the galaxy as the greatest swordsman who ever lived, he will teach you discipline, respect, and the art of war." He lectured.
"You mean he's gonna teach me how to fight?" Keisuke asked.
"Don't be such a simpleton, he's going to teach you how to be a man! And if you don't start paying him proper respect, I'm going to kick your ass!" Akura augmented.
Kazuhiko interjected himself, "Yes, you carry a great responsibility on your shoulders, Keisuke, and in order to fulfill those responsibilities, you must earn the right to wear the Genissant Royal Crown and protect this universe. It's your birthright and I'm here to help you unlock your full potential."
"But I don't have any potential, ask my Grandpa." Keisuke argued.
Akura walked over to Keisuke and smacked him over the head, "Shut up and unlock your full potential, damn it!" Akura shouted.
Keisuke sighed, "Fine..." He said reluctantly.
"Good, we'll start right away." Kazuhiko said. "Let me just head into the shrine and fetch a few things."
"We're starting right now, but it's so late in the day!" Keisuke whined.
"But if we wait until morning, it'll be even later in the day." Kazuhiko responded then continued into the shrine.
Keisuke glared over at Akura, "I hate you..." He sneered.
"I know." Akura replied.
Kazuhiko came out of the shrine a few minutes later carrying a long wooden stick and another object which was wrapped in a sheet. "I have something for you, Keisuke. Akura left it to my care the day you were born and it was given to him by none other than your mother and father. It's your treasure, your birthright, keep it sacred." Kazuhiko said as he handed the sheathed object to Keisuke who promptly unraveled it to find a very finely crafted cutlass sword. "It was forged in the Genissant Royal Palace especially for you. This will be your weapon, it will be your greatest ally-"
"Yeah, yeah, I know, this weapon will replace my tongue, from now on my poetry will be written in blood... so when do I get to stab some people?" Keisuke interrupted while pulling out cigarette and lighting it.
But before he could get the entire tip lit, he was interrupted as Kazuhiko snatched the cigarette from his mouth and threw it on the floor. Keisuke was in shock and awe, "What the hell did you do that for?" He demanded to know.
"Smoking can be very detrimental to your health, you must be in tip-top shape if you ever want to become a great warrior." Kazuhiko replied.
"But you trained Akura and he smokes like a chimney!" Keisuke argued.
"Do as I say, not as I do." Akura replied as he lit himself a cigarette.
Kazuhiko smiled at Keisuke, "Now let's get started with your first lesson. Do exactly as I tell you: grip your hand tightly over the handle of your sword, then I want you to stretch your arm out to a ninety degree angle."
Keisuke let out an obnoxiously dramatic sigh, then did as he was told.
"Good, now hold it there." Kazuhiko said.
Keisuke held the blade at its ninety degree angle for a few moments, it wasn't long before his arm began to shake, "Uh... how long do I have to do this?" Keisuke ask.
"Until I say to put your arm down." Kazuhiko replied.
Angered and frustrated, Keisuke's arm fell to his side, "Oh, c'mon, what the hell does that mea-"
whack
Before Keisuke could finish his sentence, he was blindsided by a smack across the face ,dealt by Kazuhiko and his wooden stick. Keisuke went mute for a few moments in disbelief, "...Did you just hit me with that fucking stick?" He asked.
Kazuhiko snickered, "Correct. This is my disciplinary stick. Every time your arm moves I'm going to whack you in the head with it. Now you'd better hurry and get your arm back up there before I whack you again." He replied.
"Listen, old man, I don't have to take this kind of shit from you, do you hear me-"
whack
Keisuke was hit again. But still stubbornly refused to put his arm back up, "If you whack me with that thing one more time-"
whack
"OKAY! OKAY!" Keisuke cried, finally putting his arm back into the air. "Are you happy now?" He asked, rhetorically.
"Yes, now just keep it there and we're golden. The purpose of this exercise is so you can learn to perceive your weapon not as a simple tool, but as a part of you. You must master it as you have mastered your own body over the years." Kazuhiko said.
"But I have trouble making it into the toilet sometimes!" Keisuke argued.
Ignoring Keisuke, Kazuhiko turned his attention over to Akura, "So, old friend, how would you like to come into the shrine and have a nice cup of tea?" He asked.
"It'd be a great honor, Master." Akura replied, then the two made their way to the shrine.
"Wait, you're gonna leave me out here alone?" Keisuke asked.
"Swordsmanship is more of an outdoor activity." Katsuhito replied.
"You know I'm just gonna put my arm down as soon as you guys get inside." Keisuke assured.
"If that's what you think." Kaztuhiko replied. Before the two entered the front door of the shrine, Katzuhiko picked up a bucket that was sitting next to it. The inside was filled with smooth, symmetrical stones. Katzuhiko picked one out from the rubble, "These stones will be filling in for the stick while Akura and I have our tea. We'll be sitting next the window, right there; if I see your arm move, I'm gonna chuck one of these stones at you." Katzuhiko said, then threw a demonstrative stone at Keisuke's head, hitting him square between the eyes. The two then continued their entrance into the shrine.
"And don't think you can pull a fast one, this man has eyes like an eagle." Akura added before he shut the front door.
While Keisuke stood outside in the cold, Katzuhiko and Akura made themselves nice and cozy at the table over a hot pot of tea.
"So, you think it was space pirates, then?" Katsuhito asked Akura.
"Must've been, nobody else uses drones like that." Akura replied.
"Perhaps they're being employed by somebody, then. No mere swashbucklers could have uncovered the boy's true identity. At least not this early in the game."
"Either way, it's a big problem. If there's a conspiracy here, I doubt we're going to find a source, especially when we're dealing with pirates." Akura took a sip of tea.
Katsuhito looked out the window to Keisuke, "Funny, all this fuss over one boy."
"Yeah... funny." Akura replied sarcastically.
Katsuhito took a sip of tea, "His true identity was kept a secret from every soul in the universe except his parents, the Juraian royal counsel, and you. Must've been a great honor to have had that responsibility given to you."
"Oh, yeah..."
"Hmm... I sense a hint of conflict in your tone." Katsuhito inquired.
Akura looked Katsuhito in his eyes, "About what?" He asked.
"I've never fancied myself psychic. I was actually hoping you'd tell me." Katsuhito replied.
Akura leaned back and stretched his arm, "Okay, you wanna know my problem?' He asked, rhetorically, then pointed outside the window at Keisuke. "That's it."
Katsuhito looked out the window, perhaps an obligatory act, then looked back to Keisuke. "I don't understand."
"It's that kid out there. He's the son of the Emperor and Empress of my home planet... which means he's in line for the throne... which means he may be MY Emperor one day." Akura explained, emphasizing the morbidness of his foresight.
"C'mon, the boy's not so bad. And after all, you've never been very patient with people yourself, that's why you dumped his training onto me, wasn't it?" Katsuhito commented.
Akura scoffed, "Wait till you've known him as long as I have and see what you think then." He replied
"Well, I'll admit he can be a bit... stubborn sometimes and hasn't got much confidence... but then again, he's young." Katsuhito said, in his more sympathetic nature. He took another sip of tea, "I remember how you were during your adolescence..."
Akura continued to sip his tea as he and Yosho were taken back to their past...
"Now remember, boy, you're meeting with the future Emperor of Jurai... you will not look him directly in the eye, unless otherwise instructed by him... you must always refer to him as 'Lord Yosho'... and you will not speak unless spoken to... have I made these instructions perfectly clear?" High General Kado, the Head Of The Juraian Royal Guard at the time spoke firmly and intently to a young boy standing before him.
The young boy was Akura, age 12 (in Tenchi space years). Though much younger, his perpetually gloomy mug was still a major characteristic. He was completely bald, as well, his head shaven (as made by decree, no male entering the Juraian Royal Palace was to have long hair, unless a member of the Royal family) and hadn't yet grown facial hair. "Yes..." He spoke in a passive aggressive tone, still looking at the floor.
High General Kado backhanded Akura across the face, causing the boy to hit the ground. "YES, WHAT!" The Guard asked furiously.
"Yes, High General..." The boy grunted, still laying on the floor.
"You'd better not be so forgetful when speaking to the future Emperor!" The High General shouted as he picked Akura off the floor and stood him up straight. "I've heard about you boy... the Emperor and Empress of Genissant recommended you personally for this Honor. But I've also heard you have some bad habits; bad habits that could get you executed if you try to pull them here."
One of the members of the Royal Household materialized himself into the room. "I trust the boy understands how to behave in front of Lord Yosho?" He asked.
"Yes, we've made things clear." High General Kado assured him.
"Good, let's proceed, then." The Royal Household member said, before materializing himself, Lord Kado, and Akura to Yosho's Throne Room in the Royal Palace.
The trio found themselves at the towering front door of Yosho's quarters. They entered in one by one, Akura being forced to lead them as they approached the throne where Yosho was to sit. The room had an audience of Yosho's personal guards who stood in attendance. They arrived at the throne and stood, awaiting the Prince's arrival.
Yosho, followed by an entourage of his personal subjects, entered the room. The entire room bowed as he made his way to sit on the throne. High General Kado, pulled Akura to the floor in order to make sure he didn't "forget". Akura attempted to look up at Yosho, before being granted permission, his head was hastily forced back down by High General Kado.
Yosho, at the this time, was the mirror image of Tenchi, only with long, well maintained hair.
One of Yosho's subjects made his way center-stage to address the room, "We will begin this official audience with Lord Yosho, the Prince Of Jurai. You will all remain bowed unless you are being personally addressed by His Majesty." The subject announced, then promptly returned to his position alongside the others.
"I wish to address: Akura Setogawa of Genissant." Yosho spoke.
High General Kado nudged Akura to rise, practically lifting him off the ground.
"So, boy, I understand you wish to be admitted as a student of swordsmanship under my personal apprenticeship?" Yosho asked Akura.
Akura remained hesitantly silent, unsure of what to say.
After a few moments of this, one of Yosho's subjects marched over to Akura and struck him across the face, though not quite as powerful as High General Kado's lick, it still left a red mark across the boy's face, "You will answer His Majesty's inquiries!" The subject shouted.
Akura composed himself, quickly, "Yes, Lord Yosho." He shivered.
The subject walked back to his position.
"The Emperor and Empress of Genissant are very good friends of mine and they gave me their personal recommendation to accept you into my program. You should feel honored, you're the first non-Juraian to have ever had this opportunity put before you. The chance to train under a member of the Juraian Royal family is usually only reserved for other family members and high title prospects for the Royal Guard." Yosho explained. "The only question is... will you accept my personal invitation?" Yosho asked.
Akura stared at his feet for a few moments, "I accept, Lord Yosho..." Akura answered, in an emotionally blank tone.
The memories flashed forward to Akura's first day of training.
"So I hear the new kid's not a Juraian." Another child who was training under Yosho was chit-chatting with the other students in the program.
They were all stood around in a Yosho's personal dojo. Being that it was a Royal establishment, it was much bigger and more extravagant than your average dojo was.
Yosho entered the dojo with Akura walking beside him. Akura was noticeably nervous about his first day. He kept his eyes pointed at the ground. The rest of the students assembled and bowed before Yosho. "Rise." Yosho told the students. As the students stood up, Yosho put his hand on Akura's shoulder, "This is your new classmate, Akura Setogawa. He comes here from Genissant. I want you to treat him like you would treat any other one of the students here; as an equal... from now on, he's your brother."
"But Master, he can't be our brother, he's not even a Juraian!" One of the students quipped.
Yosho laughed, he seemed to have a more personal relationship with his students than with his subject, "And just how boring would things be if all of us were exactly the same?" Yosho replied.
The next stop on Memory Lane brought them to a later time in Akura's training with Yosho.
Akura stood in the middle of a circle of the other students he trained alongside, "I don't know why the Master would even consider letting a foreigner try and learn the art of Juraian swordsmanship." One of the boys asked.
"Me either. We Juraians are the most powerful beings in the universe, what makes you think you'll even survive training?" Another boy taunted.
"Why are you even wasting our Master's time? You'll never make it to any position of power, being from Genissant." One of the girl students added to the teasing.
Akura clenched his fists, trying to hold back his anger, "I don't want anything to do with Jurai, my allegiance is to the Emperor and Empress of Genissant!' He exclaimed.
"Genissant is nothing anymore, your whole planet's one big joke now, and your Emperor is just our Emperor's puppet." Yet another student chimed in.
At this point, Akura couldn't take it anymore, he jumped at the nearest student and began mercilessly beating on him. It wasn't long before the other students pulled Akura off and began to gang up on him.
The quarrel was found out by Yosho, who took Akura into his chambers and had a talk with him. The adolescent Akura was crying because of the event, "They insulted my Emperor, they said Genissant wasn't even a real nation. It's not true, is it!"
Yosho embraced Akura and let the boy cry in his arms, "Some people are born with certain ideals about their superiority. It's a very terrible practice perpetuated among Juraians, and even though I don't agree with it, it's something that even I can do nothing about at this time." Yosho comforted Akura, then stood him back up and began to address him more sternly. "Now the question is, what to do about it? Are you going to accept your inferiority, or are you going to prove them wrong?"
Akura looked up at Yosho, his attitudes towards himself, somehow changed by Yosho's wisdom.
During his training on Jurai, he would often be found practicing his swordsmanship by himself, using it as an opportunity to exercise his own demons. During this particular event, he was caught by a few of his fellow students.
"Get lost Setogawa, we need to use the dojo now. We need your foreign stench screwing us up." The supposed leader of the group demanded.
Akura stared the group down, unwilling to leave.
"Well, are your legs broken? Do you need us to help you find the door?" The leader said, getting in Akura face.
Akura shoved the leader away, "You Juraians really need to watch your mouth, you weren't always so powerful, we used to own you. And if you're really stupid enough to think you or your Emperor are gonna last forever-"
"What did I just hear from you, boy!" One of the keepers of the dojo caught Akura by surprise and promptly drug him before superiors...
After word got out about what Akura had said, it was decided that immediate disciplinary action should be taken. Yosho unwillingly attended Akura's flogging. "You really don't have to do this." Yosho said to one of the Emperor's Advisors, who was to be the overseer of the punishment.
"I'm sorry, Lord Yosho, but your father gave me specific orders to see this through. He's quite lucky the Council decided against charging him with treason..." The Advisor replied.
His Master and his classmates stood and watched as Akura was publicly flogged for his words. Yosho was noticeably affected by this exhibition, he could barely watch.
Further into the memories, they found themselves at Akura's return to Genissant after finishing his training. He was now in his twenties, he began growing out his signature goatee and long hair. His return to Genissant was met with immediate celebrity. To the public eye, he was seen as a sort of national hero, reigning in a new era for Genissantian and Juraian civil relations. But in private, things were a bit different.
He began his Genissant Military career in the highest regards. A position as Captain was tossed at him with little to no hesitance. Once again, he found himself an outcast among the other soldiers of his age group, who were just starting out.
A group of soldiers were chit-chatting among themselves on the first day of Akura's arrival at his stationed military base. "So this new Captain really trained with the Emperor of Jurai?" One of the soldiers asked.
"Yeah, and they practically gift-wrapped him a Captain's title." One of the other soldiers replied.
"This is just great! Reminds me of the time my parents brought home my baby brother. I'm an adult now, I shouldn't have to take this kind of crap." Another soldier added.
Their talk was interrupted as the Akura, their new 'Captain' came walking by, escorted by another officer. The soldiers all stood at attention as they walked. Akura glanced over at the group of soldiers, who appeared to have their allegiances in order, but he could tell what that really thought of him...
Back to the matter at hand, Akura sat sipping his tea, reminiscing of times past...
"Nothing was ever easy for me, I was ridiculed by the Juraians and then when I returned, my own people wouldn't accept me. Then when you disappeared, I had no friends left. But I never gave up and I earned my title as Head of the Royal Guard. This... kid... he's had everything handed to him since he was born, but he just... doesn't care about anything. As hard as I try, I can't see the Emperor and Empress in him." Akura spoke, with unadulterated melancholy.
Katsuhito took another sip of his tea, "Perhaps your hesitance to accept him as your Lord, stems from his ability to be true to himself."
Akura raised his eyebrow and looked at Katsuhito, "Would you like to elaborate?"
Katsuhito laughed, "Well, old friend, I never wanted to have to say this, but you have this... thing about you. Something always seems to be bothering you... in the many years we've known each other, I've heard you complain about everything from the tea being lukewarm to openly criticizing the Emperor and Empress's decisions. Yet, when all's said and done, you finish the tea and you babysit their son for twenty years."
"So you're saying this kid's somehow got it all figured out and I'm a sucker. You sure know how to cheer a guy up." Akura replied, sarcastically.
"I'm saying that life is a constant struggle to understand one another... in all my years, I'd like to think the one thing I've learned is that you never stop learning and everyone has something to teach you. You may not know this, but when I was instructing you and all my other students, you taught me just as much and helped shaped me into what I am today. Who do you think was a main influence in my decision to leave Jurai?" Katsuhito continued to converse.
"Well, I've always secretly wanted to get into the competitive eating circuit, maybe he can teach me a thing or two there." Akura quipped, then threw back some more tea.
Katsuhito snickered, "Well, just remember, he is the Prince of Genissant... And maybe it's just me, but I have faith that the Emperor and Empress have sent us the right man for the job." Katsuhito sat his tea cup down. His eyes quickly shifted to the window. "I saw that." He said, before grabbing a rock from his basket and chucked it at Keisuke's head.
Whack
"Ow!" Keisuke yelped. "You bastard! That's not fair, the wind blew my arm to the side!" He yelled at Katsuhito from the outside of the shine.
"A warrior must learn to overcome any obstacle, this includes the elements." Katsuhito said before picking up another stone from the basket and chucking it at Keisuke again. "That's two for flinching!" He added, then began to laugh. "I sure love training new pupils."
A little while after, Katsuhito and Akura emerged from the shrine. Keisuke was dead on his feet, but still holding his arm in the ninety degree angle.
"Alright, Keisuke, you may rest now." Katsuhito said.
Keisuke put his arm down, overjoyed.
"Now, we'll expect you here every day at around this time. We need to get you in shape fast, lad." Katsuhito informed Keisuke.
"So is this training thing gonna take over my school work, or what?" Keisuke asked, hoping for a free excuse.
Akura laughed, "If only if it were that simple, I think the Emperor and Empress wouldn't approve of all this class-cutting you've been doing. Starting today, it's gonna be work, work, work, and that includes your studies. Think of me as your own personal dean."
"Wait, so now I have to go to class and do this stupid training thing every day? When do I get a break?" Keisuke cried.
Katsuhito began to scratch his chin, "Now that you mention it..." He began.
"What?' Keisuke asked.
"You see, you boys chose to start this whole training thing during an awkward time. I forgot to mention it, but me and some old friends of mine are going to be taking a trip to Kyoto tomorrow and we won't be back until Sunday. I guess that means you're gonna have the next seven days off from your training, Keisuke." Katsuhito explained.
Keisuke's face lit up with joy, "Oh, really?" He asked in excitement.
"Which, in turn, means that when I get back, your training will have to be eight times as difficult." Katsuhito added.
Keisuke frowned.
Akura turned to Ryo-Oki who was sitting on his shoulder, "Well, Ryo-Oki, you'd better get Keisuke home, he needs to get to bed early, cause he's got a class in the morning."
Ryo-Oki replied with an enthusiastic "Meow!" before hopping off Akura's shoulder, transforming into her spaceship form and taking Keisuke home.
As the two flew off back to Sigma House, Katsuhito and Akura could hear Keisuke screaming from the top of his lungs, "You jerks aren't gonna get away with this!"
Akura said his farewells to his master before returning to his own ship orbiting Earth. Katsuhito went back inside to finish his daily shrine duties.
Back at Sigma house, everyone was sitting around the table preparing for dinner. Sasami and Maiya came out of the kitchen carrying the food. "Here it is, everybody, enjoy!" Sasami said enthusiastically. Everyone helped themselves to a plate and began to eat.
"Wow, so Keisuke and Ryo-Oki still aren't back yet?" Ryoko observed.
"Nope, they've been gone for a good four hours now." Tenchi responded.
"I sure hope they get back soon." Sasami said in a worried voice.
"Yeah, or else we're gonna have a lot of leftovers." Daisuke joked. Everyone at the table laughed.
The laughter was suddenly halted when everyone heard the door slam open. They all peaked around the dining room doorway to see Keisuke struggling to take his shoes of and grumbling to himself "Stupid Akura, stupid training, stupid school..."
Ryo-Oki ran passed him and jumped onto Sasami's shoulder letting out an enthusiastic "Meow!"
"Welcome back, Ryo-Oki!" Sasami laughed.
Keisuke stomped his way from the front door into the dining room, everyone seemed too nervous to speak to him. He took a seat next to Maiya and Junichi, he looked over to Junichi who was on his left side, "Junichi, can I get a cigarette off you?" He asked.
"Don't you have your own cigarettes?" Junichi replied.
Keisuke shot up from his chair and grabbed Junichi by his shirt collar, "No! Tenchi's crazy grandpa took them from me! Now are you gonna let me have a cigarette or am I gonna have to kick you in the nuts and take one?" He exclaimed with extreme ferocity.
"Alright, man, take it easy." Junichi said in a worried voice, he then reached into his coat pocket and gave Keisuke a cigarette. Keisuke wasted no time lighting it up and taking a few drags.
"So, you met my grandpa today, huh?" Tenchi asked.
"Yeah. Old bastard made he hold a sword in the air for three goddamn hours!" Keisuke replied.
"Oh, that exercise, huh? Yeah, it's a tuffy the first few times-"
Keisuke suddenly banged his fists onto the table, shocking everyone, "Wh-whatever, I don't want to talk about it." He stuttered, wiping the sweat off his brow. His hands and arms shook furiously as he attempted to scoop some curry onto his plate from the table. After a few seconds of this, he gave up and slammed his plate onto the table in what appeared to be a nervous breakdown, "You know... fuck it, I'm not hungry..." He said, in a tone on the edge of insanity, then excused himself from the table.
The congregation around the table watched and listened as Keisuke made a hasty exit from the dining room, ran up the stairs, and into his bedroom, slamming the door behind him.
"Well, could someone pass the udon noodles and the soy sauce?" Washu asked, prompting the everyone to continue with their feast, ending yet another eventful day at Sigma House.
Meanwhile, Akura was held up on his spaceship, seated asleep in the ship's cockpit. His expression while asleep was very similar to the one he held while dealing with Keisuke; squinty with hint of perpetual irritation. His body began to convulse and his face became twitchy as he dreamt of his past.
His dream saw him with a squad of Gennisantian soldiers, standing before a burning town. A plethora of bloodied corpses laid before Akura and his platoon. The corpses were those of other soldiers who appeared to have been slain by some unknown entity.
The other soldiers stared fixated at the chaos in apparent horror. Akura, being the commanding officer, tried to remain calm and collective, though he too was secretly perturbed by the grizzly sight.
"There's no way the rebels could have done this!" One of the soldiers inquired, in startled amazement.
"What should we do, Sir?" Another soldier asked Akura.
Akura stood hesitant for a moment, "Secure the area, we have to find out what happened here." He answered, still trying to hold on to his haughty persona.
The soldiers began to spread out in all directions, determined to find the cause of their slain comrades.
Little did they know, a figure stood hiding in the shadows, watching the platoon as they scurried to find answer.
Akura and a few other soldiers remained at the original site, studying the corpses. Akura stood over a particular group of bodies. He examined the area thoroughly, he came to the conclusion that no trace of the perpetrator had been left, "This was either done by a small squad or well trained rogue... whoever it was, they did it very quickly..." He inquired.
The figure who remained in the shadows, heard this and smiled.
The soldiers reported back to Akura, "What do we do now, sir?" One of the soldiers asked.
In an instant, the figure emerged quickly from the shadows and cut two soldiers down and disappeared again. The remaining soldiers formed a quick phalanx to protect themselves. By now, they were all scared out of their wits, except for Akura who walked out into the open, "Show yourself, rogue!" He demanded. A tense silence took over the crowed for a moment before an ominous laughter rang out.
Akura looked to the shadows where he saw eyes and a mouth staring and giggling. Akura remained silent. The figure slowly emerged from the shadows. As more light shined upon the figure, Akura's expression suddenly changed from a confident fixture to full on horror. He looked deeply into the figures eyes in disbelief, unable to grasp a sentence, "...You." He said in a petrified quietness.
He jolted awake in a cold sweat. He took a few deep breaths, then stood and stretched, in an attempt to collect himself. After shuffling around for a few moments, he grabbed a smoke from his pack and lit up.
He walked to the cockpit window, looking out at the vastness with an uneasy gaze.