Chapter 22: No Need for Abductions


A few ships took off after Dr. Clay and Kagato after they kidnapped Sasami. Inside Ryo-Ohki was Ryoko, Tenchi, Ash and Pikachu. In another ship was Ayeka, Azaka and Kamidake. In the Galaxy Police ship was Mihoshi, Kiyone and Washu. In the last ship was Misaki and Funaho. It wasn't long ago when Clay and Kagato attacked the royal family to kidnap Sasami. Ryoko managed to connect to the Galaxy Police ship and have Ash talk to Washu. "Do you know about those two?" he asked.

"I do," Washu confirmed. "Like myself, Dr. Clay is a philosopher. In fact, he was my senior who made his approach to the Director's Chair of Galaxy Academy which I won out. He still has a grudge against me but used his robotics to create Zero to attack us to kidnap me for my intellect. We defeated him and got him arrested."

"But that would mean that he got out at some point," Kiyone pointed out.

"But what for?" wondered Mihoshi. "If Dr. Clay was arrested for his crimes, shouldn't he be locked up at the Galaxy Jail around a faraway sector?"

"Did you forget that he had to have been broken out by someone?" reminded Kiyone. Contacting from her ship, Ayeka had questions of her own.

"What about Kagato?" she spoke up. "Wasn't he killed the last time he attacked us?"

"I was about to say," Tenchi believed. "You don't believe Dr. Clay was able to revive him, right?"

"Not likely," Washu refused. "Even after 700 years of suspended animation, I can clarify that we're in no way able to revive the dead." It left questions on everyone.

"But if that's true," Funaho spoke up. "How is he alive?" Washu cupped her chin, pondering methods to Kagato's revival.

"That's a good question," she thought. "There are three possibilities that I can come up with: Either Kagato who's with Dr. Clay is a clone, turned into a machine like an android or cyborg, or Dr. Clay saved him before he expired." The possibilities didn't help Misaki who was on the verge of tears.

"But why!?" she cried. "Why did they take my Sasami!?" To Ash, recalling her moment with Tsunami gave him an idea.

"Tsunami revived Sasami by assimilating with her," he started. "I'm willing to bet that Dr. Clay is looking to steal the goddess's power to revive someone."

"That, or he seeks immortality," Ryoko guessed.

"Regardless of the reason," Ayeka focused. "All we need to do is rescue Sasami."

"As you command, Princess Ayeka!" replied Azaka and Kamidake. Others agreed to the mission. A radar in front of Mihoshi had several dots flashing.

"Multiple fleets appearing on radar!" she alerted. Others seemed surprised to the force that were coming into view.

"They can't be all Dr. Clay's forces, right?" wondered Tenchi.

"Wow, we're getting the major security treatment!" cheered Mihoshi. Washu and Kiyone smacked Mihoshi in the back of the head.

"NOT THE TIME TO CELEBRATE!" they scolded. Some of the vessels began firing laser blasts at the royal family and friends. They took evasive action to avoid the laser shots. Ryo-Ohki angrily snarled at the attack.

"It seems Dr. Clay wants to do everything to keep Sasami," Funaho assumed. "We must fight back, but we can't hit Dr. Clay's flagship."

"You got it!" agreed Ryoko. Energy gathered above the glass dome on Ryo-Ohki. It fired a beam that vaporized several fleets, some exploding just being near the beam.

"Nice shot, Ryo-Ohki!" cheered Ash. Ryo-Ohki proudly mewed to the compliment.

"Don't leave me out of the battle!" sounded Azusa. Everyone noticed as Azusa's ship on monitors approaching from behind.

"Father?" gulped Ayeka.

"Funaho, Misaki, regroup your ship to mine and take control while we try to establish contact with who has taken my daughter," Azusa ordered.

"Yes, dear!" his wives agreed. As the battle raged on, Clay and Kagato watched from the back.

"Such simpletons," Clay mocked. "If they think this minute force is going to stop me, all they're doing is making their death more entertaining."

"At least for us," Kagato scoffed. In a large glass cylinder, Sasami was held in the air, unable to move.

"Ash will come and rescue me!" she proclaimed. Clay heard Sasami and came to her cell.

"Your Ash will not be able to get close," he taunted. "But even if he did, he won't be able to stop the complete restoration of Kagato and myself before the galaxy." Quickly, Sasami realized what Clay was after.

"You can't!" she cried. "You can't take her away! I need her!"

"It wasn't yours to begin with, Princess. The goddess Tsunami had been missing for many years. Of course, that was during an attack from space pirates and a certain girl falling into the Tsunami-no-ki."

"Then you know what Tsunami and I have together!"

"All you are is someone on borrowed time. Besides, by assimilating the goddess with Kagato, he will be Juraian again than a mere machine while I use his power to conquer everything and everyone."

"Is that any way to talk to a child!?" snapped Washu. Clay turned and faced Washu on his monitor.

"Washu Habuki…" he scoffed. "The philosopher that I want to succeed over."

"Kidnapping a Juraian Princess, Clay!?" reminded Washu. "Do you want to lose your title of philosopher in the worst way possible!?"

"You don't understand the real intention. The Goddess Tsunami's disappearance has desolated Jurai's ecosystem. With the power of Tsunami back in its rightful hands, I can repair the damages caused by her self-exile."

"And in the process, you're willing to commit murder on a member of the royal family!?"

"This girl has been dead for years and is still alive because of the goddess's will."

"Tsunami's decision was to give her a chance! Who died and made you God?"

"Like you're one to talk with how you persuade the council on your multitude of philosophies that were nothing but hearsay." Clay disconnected the conversation, but everyone else heard it.

"For a Juraian Philosopher and one of the brightest out there, that was one of the dumbest arguments possible," Ash mocked.

"And one of the most dishonest cases to make," Ryoko added. "He's doing it to empower himself."

"Not like you'd do it as well, right, Ryoko?" called out Ayeka.

"No, I'd rather do it with my own strength, your whininess!" argued Ryoko.

"Regardless, we need to remain focused," Mihoshi spoke up. Azusa had an idea after his wives emerged on the bridge with him.

"Ayeka, regroup with me and your mother," he ordered. Ayeka seemed surprised to her father's command.

"Father, what for-" she spoke up before Azusa interrupted.

"Return this instant, my daughter!" he roared. Ayeka gritted Azusa's rule but caved.

"Yes, father…" she surrendered before regrouping. Seeing the retreating vessel, Ash sensed Azusa's concern.

"I get it, you don't want to lose your other daughter," he muttered. "But there's got to be another way…" Stepping to the front as the ships continued to light space violently.

"What now?" murmured Ryoko. "We can't continue fighting like this! Ryo-Ohki may wear out before we can get close to Clay and Kagato!"

"I know," Tenchi gulped. "But this blockade is trying to exhaust our efforts." In the Galaxy Police ship, a notification came on the monitor.

"Additional fleets approaching from the side!" reported Mihoshi. Ryoko growled at the news.

"Damn, just what we don't need!" she growled.

"Except they're my personal fleet," Azusa assured. The new fleets blasted and engaged in combat.

"Great!" grinned Ash. "We can get to Clay's ship!" He turned to Azusa. "How long can your fleet last?"

"As long as necessary," Azusa offered. Ash nodded.

"Give us a minute to get to the flagship," Tenchi calculated. Listening, Azusa nodded.

"Can your forces last that long, father?" wondered Ayeka. Azusa turned to the screen.

"I saw his eyes," he remarked. "He has the focus of a warrior. While I do acknowledge his feelings about Sasami, don't hold your breath that I may change my views on who either one should love." Azusa's forces began to clear a lane for Ryo-Ohki.

"Does Azusa have these forces everywhere?" asked Ash.

"He probably brought them since they're his royal guards," Ryoko assumed. "Same with Funaho and Misaki."

"After all, they are royalty," Tenchi added. Azusa's forces blasted away Clay's forces for Ryo-Ohki to reach the lead ship. They soon arrived at the large ship. "Alright, we made it." Washu came on the screen.

"Ash, I know you're doing this to rescue Sasami," Washu recalled. "I just worry that you may get hurt along the way."

"Washu, all I want is Sasami to be safe," Ash promised. "Besides, if she dies, I won't be able to forgive myself... as would her parents." Ryo-Ohki entered the ship from the underbelly.

"Luckily, Washu can hack the controls to slip us in before she disconnects," Ryoko informed. Ash didn't listen while all three exited Ryo-Ohki. She reverted back to her cabbit form.

"We're in," Tenchi sighed as he brought out the hilt.

"You have the Tenchi Sword?" guessed Ryoko.

"You have your energy swords," Tenchi reminded.

"Let's stay on-guard," Ash warned. "Who knows what we're up against."

"You mean other than Kagato and Dr. Clay?" teased Ryoko.

("We suspect more,") Pikachu advised. In Azusa's ship, Ayeka, Azaka and Kamidake return to Azusa and his wives' side.

"Father, you know how near and dear Sasami is to me," Ayeka started. "I shouldn't have let Kagato get near Sasami! I should've been-"

"AYEKA!" snapped Azusa. Ayeka stopped. "If it all works out, everyone is going home. I have a task for you, involving the guardians." Azaka and Kamidake blinked as they came forward.

"Your Highness?" spoke up Azaka.

"What is your plan?" questioned Kamidake.

"I will protect Princess Ayeka on this vessel," Azusa plotted. "I want you two to assist in rescuing Princess Sasami." Azaka and Kamidake felt honored to participate in the mission.

"Yes, your majesty!" agreed Azaka.

"We will help at once!" added Kamidake.

"Please, be careful," Ayeka wished. Azaka and Kamidake left and entered space, finding a path through the carnage and reaching Clay's vessel. Inside the vessel, Tenchi, Ryoko, Ash and the creatures arrived at the bridge where they spotted Sasami in the container.

"Sasami!" shouted Ash. Sasami gasped and reached the side of the container.

"Ash!" she replied. "Tenchi! Ryoko!"

"Hang on, we're going to get you out of there!" promised Tenchi.

"That's why you're staying back," Clay sneered. He and Kagato emerged to face Sasami's rescuers.

"The power of Tsunami should not be in possession of a little girl," Kagato commanded as he brought a sword out made of light.

"Tough talk for someone picking on the weak!" snapped Ryoko. "Besides, we've beaten both of you before!"

"We can offer a repeat performance!" bragged Ash. With Azaka and Kamidake approaching, can Sasami be saved?


TO BE CONTINUED…