MASAKI TALES Vol. V - QUEST...
Author: Daferge
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Disclaimer: Tenchi Muyo! is a copyright AIC/Pioneer Ltd...
All respective characters are property of their original owners...
All original characters and ideas are property of the author...
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Chapter 08... Home troubles...
( A cliff facing East... )
The spot was secluded behind the small shrine known as the Masaki shrine or Demon's cave...
Through the centuries that it had existed it had been called many things...
The 'shrine' had originally been built to protect the countryside from a terrible demon said to have been sealed deep within a nearby cave...
Cast Iron bars had been installed centuries before to prevent the demon from getting out and idiot treasure hunters from getting in...
As time and generations passed, stories about the demon and the cave had become more legend and child's tales than fact...
It was still a religious shrine, but was now also a local historical tourist site...
There was much to visit and see, besides the famed shrine and the mysterious cave...
There was the amazing stone steps that had been carved into the hillside, that led up to the hill top shrine...
Thou carved almost 700 years before, they were not only a sight for the eye, but a true challenge to any one who believed they could climb them in one go, not stopping...
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The spot was known to very few, mostly the shrine priest and his family...
It was where they would come, early in the morning to sit on the flat rock and watch the sun rise in the east...
Some times, due to certain conditions to the East, the first beams of light would give off a beautiful display of lights...
A scientist, living with the family, had set up detection devices which could usually indicate when conditions for a light show were favorable...
And then there were a few extra special times when rare conditions were just right for a very special show...
This was one of those mornings...
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A young couple was sitting on the rock, holding hands, waiting...
Tuskiko Hoshiki and Rogon Masaki weren't related to the shrine keeper's family, but the family considered them as such...
The scientist, one Washu Hakubi, had let them know that this morning would be a good time to stop at the hill site during their rounds...
For the two, it was not only a duty, but an honor to patrol the area around the shrine and protect those living in the home in the woods below with their lives...
For they were members of an ancient warrior sect that practiced a technique called Ninjutsu...
As such, they were most commonly known as Ninja, but some called them Shinobi (to steal away), another name, almost always used in historic records...
Since most warriors in feudal Japan, the Samurai, observed strict rules about honor and combat, the ninja were considered specially trained covert agents, spies or mercenaries, whose functions included infiltration, espionage, sabotage and even assassination...
Female ninja were called Kunoichi...
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Due to more modern forms of entertainment, movies, anime (cartoons) and manga (comics), tales of ninja life had become extorted and more legend than fact...
However, as these two showed, Ninjas did exist...
And not just on this world...
Although Tuskiko Hoshiki's family had a long history on the island nation, Rogon Masaki however had only been living at the shrine a short time, having come from far away...
He'd come from a world so far away that the largest telescope on earth couldn't see the sun it was orbiting...
And out in deep space, ninja were every thing the Earth legends made them out to be...
Feared, like the plague in human form Kagato had been...
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Right now they were both holding hands and watching, their eyes wide as a tiny dot of light appeared to the East...
The light ran through the spectrum of colors before exploding into a wide multi-colored rainbow...
Then, as quickly as it appeared, it shrank back to a small dot as the sun appeared...
They both sat there for a while, staring...
Nether had ever seen any thing like it before...
" Beautiful, isn't it... "
Quickly releasing each others hand, the two move apart before turning to the voice...
Both were upset, they'd allowed some one to approach them unseen...
Katsuhito Masaki, the shrine priest, knew this spot well, he'd been coming here to watch the sun rise for the past 700 years...
Only in the past hundred or so had the light show started, thanks to chemicals in the air above cities to the East...
It had been he who had mentioned the effect to Washu one day, just after she'd moved in...
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( Distant world... )
A world along one of the major routes between Jurai and Airia was in an uproar...
It seem that members of the Juraian military had caught the eye of a member of the Royal family and NOT in a good way...
In fact, they had just escaped being executed for their 'offence'...
Now, just about every member of the outpost was present, at attention, as those same members of the Royal family inspected them before leaving...
Lady Tennyo Masaki ( the crown prince's sister ) took her time walking down the lines of Juraian military...
The two co-commanders of the out post, one Juraian and one Airaian, were doing their best to give a good impression...
Members of her entourage watched from a distance...
She'd told them that they didn't need to attend her, she could handle it...
Very few people could say they'd 'seen' a member of the Royal family, much less had them seen them...
Especially those below the upper class of Jurai, even with their long lifespans...
Most of those present would have been lucky to see them on a comm screen of some sort...
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As they came to one of the officers Tennyo stopped and smiled at him...
" It good to see you again... Sub-lieutenant... "
While every eye was on him, he managed to find his voice...
" You too... My Lady... "
Not too long ago she had ordered his execution, for an offence by men under him...
Thou he'd had no real control of them at the time, he had been technically responsible at the time and had excepted the consequences...
The next few men in line were those to have been executed with him...
After the incident, he had been put in charge of them...
" I hope to hear good things about you in the future... "
The young officer's voice almost broke as he replied...
" By you command, My Lady... "
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As she continued down the line she noticed a look of relief on one of the men involved and stopped...
She didn't turn to face him or the other involved...
" I have not forgotten you ether, gentlemen... Am I understood?... "
A number of voices replied as one...
" Yes, My Lady... "
Continuing on Tennyo stopped several more times, to button a button or adjust something on one of the men in line...
Returning to a spot before those assembled, she looked them over before commenting with a smile...
" WHAT'S THE BEST UNIT IN THE JURAIAN MILITARY?... "
The reply was quick and loud...
" WE ARE, MY LADY!... "
To the cheering she lead the commanding officers back to her entourage...
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Over to the side two figures watched...
One smiling, the other with his mouth open...
" If you think she's some thing, you should meet her brother... "
Retire space pirate Ackton shook his head as ex-pirate Fragga smiled...
" Seems you've been moving in higher circles these days... Did you really meet your savior, the demon pirate - Ryoko?... "
Fragga chuckled...
" Princess Ryoko and her husband happen to be half owners of my tavern... "
Fragga thought Ackton's jaw was going to bounce off the ground...
" They drop by when they get the chance... "
Ackton's eyes were so wide, Fragga thought they would fall out of his head...
" Believe me, this a whole new generation... Did our stop over take care of that little problem you and the other non-Juraians were having?... "
It was Ackton's turn to chuckle...
" For the moment... As they say - tomorrow is a different story... "
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The two watched as Tennyo and her entourage started towards a star ship...
" Got to go... Me and some of the boys doing escort duty... "
Ackton stared at Fragga...
" You still flying that old crate you use to pirate in?... "
Fragga smiled, after the Zanata six incident, Washu had gotten him into the Juraian Deep Space program as an auxiliary...
In other words, his ship the Goddess, was maintained as standby for Royal Family use...
And like Mihoshi's Yukinojo, Washu had done some work on it...
Up-grading it's engines, it's sensors and it's shields, as well as installing an AI that it had never had before, to help with the newer systems and security...
The interior had been remodeled into a Royal yacht with several private cabins, a galley and common/rec room...
His ex-crew members took great pride in maintain the ship...
Washu and the Royal family had recently given permission for the youngest to spend his honeymoon in one of the private cabins as a favor to Fragga, with the ship's cook providing 'room service' as a wedding present...
Every now and then, Fragga and crew members took her out, just to keep from getting rusty...
" I doubt you'd recognize her now... "
Shaking hands, Fragga hurried off to join the others...
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( Washu's Lab... )
A light starts blinking and a comm screen appears above Washu's desk...
At the moment only a sleepy Ayeka and snoring Mihoshi were present...
On the screen a pair of red-headed puppets appeared...
" We're sorry... The great Washu is out at the moment... At the sound of the bell, please leave a message and she'll get back to you within the next year... "
On a large bed, a sleepy Ayeka smiled...
A year was far less than the decade that use to be on the recording...
Next to her Mihoshi smiled and hugged her stuffed animal...
A female voice was heard...
" Lady Washu... This is Princess Nihoshi Seniwa... I must get in touch with Mihoshi... "
Ayeka watched as the sleepy Mihoshi began to stir...
" Please have her contact me as soon as possible... It's very important... Thank you... "
As the screen disappeared Ayeka watched as Mihoshi sat up, still holding her stuffed animal...
" Ni... Ho... Shi?... "
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Ayeka had known Princess Nihoshi Seniwa for quite a while...
She knew that Mihoshi had known her all her life, having been born only a few minutes before the princess...
Both being born in the Seniwa Royal Palace in the middle of a Royal Ball...
They had been like sisters since...
Princess Nihoshi, like the members of the Masaki family, seem immune to Mihoshi's bad luck...
However, when Mihoshi and the others had recently visited Seniwa, Princess Nihoshi had been away on a diplomatic mission for her father...
It must be important if they were asking Washu for help...
Ayeka saw Mihoshi's eyes open and then she looked around...
" It seems you're needed back home... "
They both looked at each other and then the desk...
The comm came on and Washu was smiling at them...
" I understand you need some help... "
Just behind her Tenchi smile at his two wives...
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( A dark room... )
Shadows sat around a cold stone table...
No one spoke, no one wanted to draw attention to themselves, that could get you dead...
The shadow at the end leaned forward, but not into what little light there was...
" Any word from Seniwa?... "
THAT was a question and some one HAD to answer...
" Rumors are reaching the right ears and voices are being raised... "
There was mumbling...
" Memories are long and grudges are always held tight... "
More mumbling...
" The last major conflict was caused by far less... "
The shadow at the end of the table leaned back, into the darkness...
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( Avalon... )
Closing the screen, Washu noticed Tenchi standing nearby...
As usual, there was a touch of worry in his eyes...
She smiled, Tenchi was now a young husband and as such easy to worry...
" Don't worry... She's an experienced Galaxy Police officer... "
She noted that he looked at the floor and smiled...
" I wasn't as much worried about Mihoshi as I was Seniwa!... "
Washu chuckled as she saw Tenchi give her his innocent look...
She had to smile, none of the Masaki family females was immune to that look...
Not even her...
She put on a serious look and waved her hand at him...
" Don't just stand there... Get back to work!... "
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( The Masaki house... )
Exiting Washu's lab, Ayeka and Mihoshi found the others waiting...
Just entering the house were the ninjas Rogon and Tuskiko, along with Ayeka's brother Yosho...
It wasn't a surprise, as Washu had informed them that she had contacted the three already...
Yosho (Katsuhito) would remain behind to watch over the lab, while Rogon and Tuskiko escorted them to the sub-space transfer world...
Washu had informed them that arrangements had been made to get Mihoshi, Rogon and Tuskiko on their way to Seniwa...
Ayeka would then take time to check on her tree, Ryu-Oh before returning to the house...
When she did, a dozen trained ninjas from Rogon's clan would return with her...
Washu had decided that there were far too many people away from the house at the moment...
Tenchi and his grandfather had agreed...
Better to be safe than sorry...
Her step-daughter, Minagi Hakubi was in the sub-space star ship 'garage' running a detailed scan of her ship the Hinase, as she'd been standing in for Ryoko for a while...
Just step back through a door and she'd be back, if needed...
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( Jurai Palace... )
On a plot of palace lawn, a number of young children had a Juraian lord with pink hair pinned to the ground...
To the side a number of females were cheering on the children...
Two of the females were the Queens of Jurai, but the third was Lady Kyo Tennan, the wife of the male on the bottom of the pile of children...
While normally one to avoid contact with the young, Lord Tennan was indulging his beloved wife...
It seem that he was going to have to get use to young children, as he would soon be a father himself...
He drew great comfort when dealing with married life...
After all, he only had one wife...
The Crown Prince had three very powerful wives and that other 'Earther', Seina Yamada had eight...
Just thinking about it tended to cheer him up...
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1st Queen Funaho was enjoying the break in her work day...
Taking a short break to watch the children play always helped her get through the day...
She smiled as she heard 2nd Queen Misaki ask Lady Tennan the question she herself was curious about...
" So, how did he take the news?... "
The ex-space pirate captain smiled...
" As expected, for any pure blooded male of the Juraian upper class... "
Both Queens chuckled...
" But a bucket of cold water had him back on his feet in no time... "
All three females looked at the pile and smiled...
The subject of the conversation could make out the three females looking his way and smiling...
And something told him that he really didn't want to know what was being said...
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( Sub-space... )
The ninja clan leader met the four when they stepped from the doorway leading back to the house...
After all the proper greetings, Ayeka walked across the island to the small bridge leading to a smaller island and her tree...
The leader then led Mihoshi and the other two to a second door a short distance away...
Gesturing to the open door he spoke to Mihoshi...
" I was informed that this doorway should help you get where you want to go... And there will be transportation on the other side for the rest of the way... "
He then handed the two escorts buttons that they put on their ninja garb...
Tapping the buttons the two were suddenly wearing uniforms of the Juraian Royal Guard...
" A Juraian Princess should have the proper escort... "
He handed Rogon a small box with a button under a plastic cover...
" In case of an emergency, just press the button and an assault squad will be dispatched... "
Rogon looked at the box, then the others...
" As I said, in case of an emergency... Both lady Washu and Lord Tenchi agreed... "
Rogon carefully put it in his pocket and nodded his head...
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As Mihoshi started to pass through the doorway, the female ninja, Tuskiko held up her hand...
It was their duty to protect her, with their lives if need be...
She would go first, to make sure the way was safe...
Mihoshi sigh, but nodded her head...
Ayeka had told her she couldn't take chances like she use to when alone...
She may still be a GP officer, but she was also a Juraian princess too...
Even Ryoko and Tenchi had agreed...
So far she managed to restrain herself because Tenchi had asked her to...
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Moments later Tuskiko's head reappeared, she nodded her head and disappeared again...
Mihoshi stepped through followed by Rogon...
After a moment, the door closed and disappeared...
The clan leader smiled, the door was to have been a surprise and still needed adjusting...
So, for the moment, only Washu could reopen it...
The clan leader stepped over to the bridge, to await princess Ayeka...
The others had already gone to the house using the emergency 'door' and would be setting up security, after reporting to Lord Yosho...
Rogon had once told him about a motto he'd seen on colony 0315 once...
We live to serve...
In a galaxy full of dangers, he liked it, especially the LIVE part...
It had become the clan's motto...
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( Across the Galaxy... )
A young Juraian male in a military uniform was sitting in his command chair, the large bridge comm screen on...
Most first duty assignments were some shore duty, but, as he has top grades at the Academy, and family connections ( of the highest Juraian upper class ), he could at least request ship duty, which was granted...
To serve on a Juraian tree-ship was far too much to hope for, but there were still lots of regular metal warships needing officers...
Even so, to get a posted as commanding officer of a ship and a light cruiser at that, came as a surprise to every one...
The temp rank of 'captain' raised an eyebrow or two...
It seem that due to the need for older, more experienced officers to serve on the new heavy star-ships joining the fleet to battle the growing Raider problem...
This left opening for new officers in command positions...
Both 'Captain' Xanata and his executive officer were fresh from the Academy...
Over half his crew were new to ship duty too...
Men that had been on shore duty had replaced those on ships, also needed for the newer ships...
It was the biggest shakeup of the fleet since the rebuilding of the home guard 700 years before after space pirate Ryoko's visit to Jurai...
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So it was that he found himself in charge of a small task force with 'green', mostly untested crews...
Security Patrol Number 6215 consisted of a light cruiser ( several centuries old ), four medium escorts destroyers and half a dozen small scout/patrol cruisers, all at-least 75 years old...
The chance for fast promotion had him walking on air...
But his brother brought him back to earth by reminding him it was also a fast way to END ones career too...
And now those words of warning had come back to haunt him...
They had been prepared for the dull guard duty in this distant isolated star system, but what they were not prepared for was at least a dozen Raider ships who showed up...
The newer types of Raider ships had become more 'Hunter Killer' ships than 'Raider', with the firepower of larger class ships in their smaller 'hit and run' frames...
In fact standing orders were that even large ships were not to engage more than one Raider ship at a time...
This must be how his older brother had felt a while back, while on guard duty above Jurai, when that huge Pirate fleet suddenly appear in orbit...
There wouldn't be having a famed and feared Space pirate to come to their rescue...
What they did have was the young female with long light blue hair, smiling down from the screen, the 2nd princess of Jurai, princess Sasami...
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The image was being broadcast to all the other ships of the small task force, at her request...
He had no idea why or how a member of the royal family was in the area, but it helped to maintain calm among the crews of his small task force...
She calmly informed them of the situation, the powerful Raiders vs their small task force...
All indications were that the Raider's original plan had been to return to real-space near the unsuspecting task force and wipe them out quickly...
However, the Raiders had lost the element of surprise and the task force was still intact...
And that in it's self was a victory...
Also, as the task force has taken up defensive positions within the asteroid field, it would be harder for the Raiders to get at them...
It also meant that the Raiders were having to redeploy across the system to get at them...
And this would all take time, time that favored them, the defenders...
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And there were other factors in their favor too...
First, was news that, although this system was out of normal contact with the rest of the galaxy, word had been gotten out...
And a number of nearby units were on their way at full emergency, but even so, it would be a while...
Sasami smiled as she told them that even as they talked, her escort was preparing a surprise for the Raiders
Most of the fleet was aware of the GP cruiser who's sudden appearance had caused them to move from the system's real-space buoy to investigate, thus saving their lives...
They also knew that members of the Royal family could access the 'Powers of Jurai'...
Every one had seen the crown prince and his wives in action, in recent months, shouldn't they believe in princess Sasami...
The others with Sasami smiled as the members of the task force cheered Sasami...
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( Jurai... )
1st Queen Funaho was studying reports just delivered...
There was an old Earth saying...
Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer...
While Seniwa wasn't as much an enemy as in the past and was on friendlier terms, they weren't real friends ether...
Recent rumors had some old grudges being opened by the marriage of a member of Seniwa's Royal upper class to a member of Jurai's Royal upper class...
In other words some one was trying to use GP officer Mihoshi Kuramitsu's marriage to crown prince Tenchi Masaki to cause trouble...
With countless years of conflict between the two, it didn't take much heat to get a fire going...
And as Minister of Intelligence, it was her job to put out those fires, before they became larger blazes...
And she knew just the firefighter for the job...
She would pass the information on to Washu...
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( Elsewhere... )
Mihoshi trusted Washu, but her eyes widened as she stepped out of the doorway...
As the door closed behind them, she knew exactly where they were...
They were in her private bedroom, in the family estate, on her home world of Seniwa...
" Surprise... "
Her private comm unit, on the wall was on, a smiling Tenchu and Washi watching her...
Washu managed to speak while Mihoshi wiped tears from her eyes...
" It was to be a birthday present from the family... But it seems it was needed early... Due to it not being fully charged yet, another route is being created for your return back... "
Mihoshi managed to smile and nod her head...
It was a smiling Tenchi who spoke...
" Washu downloaded what little we could obtain about the situation to your GP bracelet... There's transportation waiting out front and you can study it on the way to the palace... I believe you'll understand when you read it... "
As the screen closed, in the back of her mind she could hear several voices...
We're with you Mihoshi...
She smiled at Ayeka and Tenchi's voices...
As Rogon held the door to her room for her, she led the way out...
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( Masaki home... )
Ayeka finished warming some of Sasami's popular tea and fixing two cups...
Sitting across the kitchen counter from her, her older brother had finished receiving the first report from the ninja in charge of the special guard unit...
Every one was in their assigned areas, reporting that the area around the house and shrine was now clear and secure...
The emergency security drill that had been created shortly after the clan swore it's loyalty to the Masaki family was now in place...
" How did our little surprise go?... "
Ayeka chuckled at the gleam in his eyes...
After all the times Mihoshi had 'surprised' members of the family, one way or another, it was nice surprising her...
" She's on her way to the palace... "
A wicked smile then appeared on Ayeka's face...
" And THEN the fun begins... "
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( Seniwa... )
Mihohi had led her 'Juraian Guard' through the house and out the front door...
She had smiled and nodded to the members of the staff who stared at her as she passed them in the halls...
This was only the second time in several years that she'd been home...
They'd gotten use to her mother suddenly showing up, but Mihoshi?...
A vehicle with the family crest on it awaited, an elderly driver standing next to it...
The surprised driver quickly opened the rear door and held it for the three of them...
Closing it, he quickly got into his seat and started the engine...
" The Palace?... My Lady?... "
At a nod of her head, they proceeded...
As it would be a while to get there, Mihoshi touched her GP bracelet and called up the data Tenchi had mentioned...
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Sitting across from Mihoshi, Tuskiko and Rogon observed every thing around them, the best way to prevent unwanted surprises...
While Rogon's attention was on every thing outside the vehicle, Tuskiko's was on the inside...
She had checked it for any unwanted devices as soon as they got in, her job...
Thus it was that she noticed how quiet lady Mihoshi had gotten, after reading the data...
Her eyes were shut and there was an odd look on her face...
As she started to reach over and get her attention, Rogon caught hand...
Looking at him, he shook his head, she saw there was concern in his eyes...
When he saw the questioned look in her eyes, he reached up with his free hand and touched his forehead...
Not quite understanding, Rogon smiled and gestured with his head...
Turning back around, her eyes went to Mihoshi's face and her mouth fell open...
For there, in the middle of her forehead was a small spot that seem to be glowing...
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( Avalon... )
Washu was concentrating on the latest data when she got a sharp headache...
She just sighed as it passed, but then she noticed that Tenchi was holding his head...
As she turned to see what was the matter, she noticed that quite a few people were now looking at her...
Merlin was standing there, his eyes wide, his mouth open...
As he saw her looking at him, he lifted a hand and touched his forehead...
Reaching into one of her many sub-space pockets, Washu pulled out a small mirror and looked at it...
And there, quite clear and sharp was her emblem of power...
Turning, she was able to see Tenchi's forehead, there was his...
WHAT'S GOING ON?...
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( Masaki home... )
Ayeka almost dropped the plate she had started to wash as she felt a sharp pain in her forehead...
As it subsided she took a deep breath and starter to finish washing the dish...
However, as she looked at the dish, a light seem to be reflecting back...
Looking behind her, she could see nothing...
But as she held up the dish again, the glow was still there...
As she continued to look, her eyes widened and she turned to the glass cabinet next to the sink...
There was her reflection and the source of the glow...
Her emblem of power...
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( Seniwa... )
No one had said a word and the glowing went away...
When Tuskiko started to inquire, Rogon had indicated LATER...
They had reached the palace and the driver had taken them to a special gated entrance...
The guard there started to check their IDs, but seeing Lady Mihoshi he quickly passed them through...
The vehicle traveled a short distance before stopping near a door with armed guards...
They exited the vehicle, Mihoshi in the lead, her escort trying their best to keep up with her...
The armed guard at door snapped to attention when he saw who it was and opened the door for her...
Beyond the door was a long, narrow, well lite hallway...
As they moved down it Rogon gestured to small globes high on the walls...
They were being watched...
Tuskiko assumed that if need be, defensive devices ( weapons ) would appear...
At the other end of the hall they came to an unguarded door...
As Mihoshi opened it, they could hear loud and very angry voices beyond...
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( Avalon.. )
Tenchi tried to watch as Washu's fingers flew across her keyboard...
After a few quick calls and an upset Ayeka contacting them, Washu had a starting point...
It still took a while, but from Washu's smile she had an idea...
However she also had her 'Let's see how this goes' look on...
It was only after another female appeared did things begin to get back to 'normal'...
Tsunami had appeared and assure them that every thing was fine...
Ayeka, Tenchi and Washu had sighed and returned to what they'd been doing...
Washu's chuckling, when she heard Tenchi said he hoped it didn't effect the family, didn't help...
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To be continued...
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Please feel free to comment and review for any errors...
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