Preparations and Flight

"We need to get to Jurai, and quickly." The suggestion's impact varied from person to person, but the most visibly shaken were the princesses of Jurai. That only made sense, they had just fled from the planet with their lives barely intact.

Ayeka was brooding darkly at the notion, what would a return to Jurai entail-more bloodshed? Ayeka envisioned the beautiful royal trees covered in blood, possibly hers or Sasami's. She could see no other alternative to such a turn of events. Who would protect them? Ayeka had no idea how her power compared to Kagato's, she only knew that he terrified her and here was a lost Juraian prince was suggesting that she bring herself and her sister back to that deathtrap. He had no idea, this man had no idea, and Ayeka must let him know.

As if reading her mind, Katsuhito said, "Princess Ayeka, please tell me more about the situation back on Jurai. I do not know everything and we cannot go into this blinded." Ayeka's eyes glistened with her roiling emotions and she turned away.

With her back still turned, Ayeka said, "There had been reports of another lost Juraian prince who was supposed to be the next in line for the Juraian throne. As you know, we Juraians are long-lived but we are not eternal. Our father had gotten ill recently, and there was much speculation on whom he would name as his successor."

"Father had to choose someone, because there was no clear successor. He needed to make the judgement that would be best for Jurai. He was in the process of rendering his decision, I believe he had chosen a member of the Amaki clan, but we cannot really know for sure, as he is now dead." Here is became choked up, she coughed to clear her throat and cleared her mind of her many fond memories with her father. She thought, We've lost so much, but they lost their lives. How wretched a universe is this.

Once shaking off her pain, Ayeka continued saying, "Anyway, father was nearing a decision between the eldest sons of the three clans when a man named Kagato showed up at the proceedings. He claimed to be of the House of Tatsuki and that he had been unfairly exiled because of his power and the fact that he was to be next in line for the throne. He said that we feared him and, if we did not, we should."

"Without any further warning he laid waste to the Juraian assembly, killing father, mother, and the remnants of the Masaki clan. He also killed nearly all of the Amaki and his own supposed clan."

Here she paused and gathered herself once more as she had to conclude her story, "Sasami and I were on vacation at the time and were arriving on Jurai at the time of the massacre. We went to see what was going on in the assembly and were greeted by what was left of the Amaki and Tatsuki. I am pretty sure that only three people survived in the Amaki clan and 4 survived in the Tatsuki clan."

"They warned us what was coming and we all escaped to our ships as fast as we could. Sometime during the exodus, Kabuto found a way to get the Galaxy Police into his pocket and make myself, Sasami, and the other survivors complicit in the murders of our family members," here her hackles began to rise and she continued, "Now, we are wanted by the Galaxy Police for murders we could not have possibly committed and the remains of our family are all over the universe now. We are not even sure where our grandmother, Lady Seto, is and have no idea as to her state of being."

Ayeka finished this speech in a low, angry voice as Katsuhito took all of this in. It pained him to hear about all they had went through and he silently wondered if this was all his fault. If this Kabuto was his Kabuto then this might very well be his fault. Katsuhito looked back on those days and remembered what it was like being known by his birth name, Yosho. The guilt of the past and the state of the elder princess lead him to keep that fact about himself secret as well.

As it was, Katsuhito was one of the few Masaki to ever return to Jurai. In fact, he had quarreled with his own father about it. Katsuhito's father was the epitome of how far the Masaki clan had fallen. He loved their degenerative habits and hated Jurai. He was completely against any attempts at reconciliation and hated Katsuhito for contact Lady Seto. Katsuhito was not strong enough to completely end Ryoko's imprisonment, but he did have strength enough to reach out. Perhaps, that is why Tenchi had become so strong. Perhaps, Katsuhito-Yosho-should not be so hard on himself.

While this monologue went on internally, Katsuhito said to Ayeka, "I see. That is indeed quite terrible. I am sorry that such a thing has happened, but we can set things right. Kabuto sounds formidable, but we can figure something out. Now, where is your ship?"

"...attached to a Galaxy Police ship underwater in the city." Ayeka said quietly. Upon hearing this, Katsuhito broke into a short laugh, despite the severity of the situation. "Well, I guess we better go get it. My own ship has long since become rooted on this planet. I have not been to Jurai since I got married," he said. Ayeka nodded silently in response.

Appearing seemingly out of no where, Washu exclaimed, "Oh, a Juraian ship!? A Galaxy Police ship? Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!"

"I can fix those ships in a jiffy! Though, I would caution against taking Ayeka's ship out to Jurai. They surely will be looking for it."

Everyone just stared at the miniature scientist. "What," she deadpanned, "never seen a scientist excited to play with technology before?" Tenchi started to say something in response, but felt like he had been struck dumb. He, and everyone else just shook their heads in response.

Capitalizing on her mute audience, Washu continued, "Look people, we clearly need to take Tenchi's grandfather...erm," she paused as she realized that she had no idea what Tenchi's grandfather's name was, he had no even introduced himself.

This prompted a chagrined laugh from the elder Juraian prince. "Oh, forgive me, everyone! I have forgotten myself!" He bowed deeply and said, "I am Katsuhito Masaki Jurai, the head of the Masaki line and apparently one of the last Masakis."

Clapping her hands together, Washu then stated, "Ah, now that we got that out of the way. Mr. Katsuhito's suggestion is a good one, particularly for the princesses. We would be wise to take it, and a Galaxy Police ship (if you do not mind, officers) would be the safest transport we have."

Sasami chose this moment to speak up, she asked quizzically, "the safest transport we have? What do you mean by we, Ms. Washu?"

Moving over to where Sasami sat, Washu said in a conspiratorial voice, "I'll tell you what I mean, but I have one itty-bitty request before I do so."

"Sure, what is it," said Sasami innocently. Washu struck a pose that had her pointing up at what would have been the sky if they were outside. As it was, her posture was not very impressive under the rooftop as she said, "Please, call me Little Washu!" Her eyes shone with tears of joy and mirth as two tiny, robotic versions of Washu popped up around her shoulders, singing her praises, "You're the greatest, Washu!" "What a genius you are!"

Everyone, except for Tenchi and Ryoko who had been privy to this behavior before, nearly fell over in shock. Was this woman, this girl serious? Little Washu? That's hardly the name for a scientific genius, especially a respected and feared one.

After the moment had settled, this prompted laughter from the entire group. It was still rather nervous, but it was laughter nonetheless.

"Okay, the robots are new," said Ryoko with a chuckle, rather thankful that the mood had lightened a bit. If that was Washu's goal, she certainly achieved it.

Having successfully bringing some levity into a grave situation, Washu then continued to Sasami, "Young princess, suffice it to say that I have my own stake in the matter and I simply could not pass up a chance to soup up a Galaxy Police vehicle. I mean, REALLY SOUP IT UP!" She laughed and snorted a bit as she did so, wiping a tear from her laughing eyes.

Internally, Washu knew she had other reasons for doing as she was, but the others need not know that just yet. She was also quietly grateful that Ryoko had not yet awakened to their telepathic link, her daughter might just have ruined the whole thing. There was something seriously wrong on Jurai, and it went much deeper than Kagato's coup. She was sure of that. Furthermore, Washu felt some sort of vague attachment to the place, like one would have for a sibling. She found that odd and immediately vowed to figure out why she felt that way, as soon as the feeling hit her.

Slowly, but surely, everyone began to look over at Tenchi, who had not left his seated position. He had closed his eyes, as if he were in a meditation trance. Tenchi had been taking most of the proceedings without comment, and he wondered just what he wanted to do. Like Washu, he had come to feel some sort of vague longing to see Jurai, though he had only just heard of the planet. Tenchi was struck by how normal all of this seemed when, not long ago, he would have balked at the notion of demons or aliens. How had his world changed so fast?

Sighing inwardly, Tenchi thought, I guess it cannot be helped. These princesses are in trouble and grandfather has been keeping things from me. I need to help, and I need to get more information on just who I am. Clearly, I cannot think of myself as a mere Earthling anymore.

While musing, he slowly became aware that he was in everyone's line of sight. He took the time to make eye contact with each person, settling on his grandfather with a fiery stare and said, "Washu and Grandpa are right. Something has got to be done, and there are many unanswered questions. I say we go."

With that, this band of strange humanoids left the house and began their preparations.