Okay. Last time I posted, I promised an explanantion along with the next
chapter. Well, this is the next chapter, so here's the explanation.
Basically, this fic builds off of the concept put forth in 'Cold Depths', A
short fic which casts Sasami as a Space Pirate out to get revenge for Ayeka's
murder. However, she was stripped of her titles because of what she did and
so was left to be alone in the cold depths of space with only Ryo-Oki for
company.
After reading it, I put forth the notion of a similar fic only with Mihoshi
getting revenge. But having thought about it, I couldn't come up with
anything plausible. So instead, I decided to take Cold Depths one step
further. Full circle, if you will.
Again, I apologize for the shortness of the chapter, but I'm running late.
This Fic uses the TV series continuity with a bit of Tenchi Forever thrown
in.
Remember,
Compliments warm the heart......
Criticisim Strengthens the Soul.....
Flames Shall Be Used As Target Practice. :-)
--Komodo
Q: How many gamers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
A: L1, R1, L1, L1, up, up, cirle, square.
**************
An asteroid will collide with Earth, aliens are invading, Washu has a new
invention.
Since witnessing a pair of falling stars, which had turned out to be a Space
Pirate and the cop who had been pursuing her, Tenchi had thought he'd pretty
much heard every possible pronouncement of doom.
So when Washu told him that said Space Pirate was the same person as the
young princess of who's arm she currently held, well naturally, the impact of
what he had just been told rang in his imagination like a thunderclap.
However, being the sort of person that he was, he could only stare in
open-mouthed amazement.
Sasami's older sister, the aforementioned Ayeka, was more vocal.
"How can they be the same person?" she shrieked. "I demand that you tell me!"
"I don't know, I'm working on it."
"You don't know? You don't know?!" Ayeka's voice went up several decibals
with each word. "The greatest scientific genius in the whole universe and
she. . .doesn't know?" The princess started forward, hands outstretched in
the direction of Washu's neck. "Find, OUT!"
"Now calm down Ayeka," Tenchi said, grabbing her arm. "Washu is doing the
best she can, we just have to be paitent."
"Right," Ayeka said, suddenly sounding very tired. "give her time. Time is
all she needs." She let out an insane sounding chuckle.
"Ayeka, why don't we go have some tea while we wait?" Tenchi asked as he
began to lead her away towards the kitchen.
"Yes, tea is good. That's why Ryoko and Sasami can't be the same person.
Sasami likes tea, Ryoko doesn't." She smiled, it was not the smile of an sane
person and her eyes were wild. "You don't lose your taste for tea you know."
"Nope," Tenchi agreed. But he looked over his shoulder at Washu, a silent
request in his gaze as their eyes met.
Washu could only nod.
**************
"Sasami sat on the edge of the bed, swinging her legs as she watched Ryoko
sleep.
"I still don't get it Miss Washu," she said as the scientist entered. "How
can she be me all grown up and still be here?"
"The how is easy, she traveled through time." Washu said as she peeled back
Ryoko's eyelids to check her pupils. "As for why, I'm still working on it."
"She used a time machine, right?"
"That's the most likely explanation, but there's a host of others. There's
also why she came back in time in the first place." Then she said something
else under her breath that Sasami couldn't quite make out but she thought she
heard the word "Mobius"
It was at that point that Tenchi came in, carrying a shivering Ryo-Oki. The
cabbit's eyes were wide with fright and she kept trying to burrow into the
crook of Tenchi's arm.
"Ryo-Oki!" Sasami exclaimed. "What happened?"
"Ayeka got it into her head that Ryo-Oki knew the truth and chased her all
over the house." Tenchi said as he set Ryo-Oki down on Sasami's bed.
Immeditly, the furry little creature leapt into Sasami's lap and huddled
there, shaking furiously. "Grandpa had to step in to stop her. Then she
retreated into her mind so far its like talking with Mihoshi." He sighed and
looked over at the slumbering Ryoko. "I left them with Kiyone. They're
watching the Moldiver Marathon."
"Well that should keep them occupied for a while." Washu noted clincally as
she made some notes on a pad. "Sasami, can you keep an eye on Ryoko? I need
to talk with Tenchi."
"Sure."
"She's not a clone," Washu said as soon as they were out of range of Sasami's
hearing. "None of the genetic markers are present. Physically, she is Sasami."
"Well if she's from the future, maybe its some kind of new cloning process?"
He asked. Washu gave him a flat look.
"No matter how good or how advanced a cloning technique is, there are certain
basic procedures that must be followed. These procedures leave certain
imprints in the DNA and none of those is present. Furthermore, there is signs
of physical trauma consistent with the Juraian birthing process. She's
physically Sasami, no question about that."
"'Physically' Sasami?"
"Her brainwaves are radically different. Something will happen to Sasami,
something so tramautic that her psyche will do a complete. . ." She paused
for a moment. "What's the word? One-eighteen."
"One-Eighty," Tenchi corrected. The girls could all make themselves
understood in Japanese, but slang and other subtle nuances had escaped them.
When she first awoke, Washu only knew Japanese from seven hundred years ago
and both Ryoko and Mihoshi's translators had been damaged. New translators,
based on Kiyone's, had been passed out to everyone, but all of them were
trying to speak it without the little earring shaped devices.
"One-hoity," Washu said.
Some with greater sucess then others.
"What could do that?"
"Ryoko is the only one who can tell us.""
**************
Another two hours passed before Ryoko finally began to stir. Groaning, she
opened her eyes and raised herself up on her elbows to see Washu, Tenchi,
Sasami and Ryo-Oki staring at her.
"Wha-what happened?"
"You tell us," Tenchi said as he crossed his arms, "Sasami."
Ryoko opened her mouth to deny it when the door to the lab banged open and
there stood Ayeka with Kiyone and Mihoshi hanging onto her.
"Sorry Tenchi," Kiyone apologized. "But she just suddenly became her old self
again and took off for the lab."
"As Queen of Jurai, I command that this farce cease!" Ayeka screamed, her
voice shrill. "There is no way that-" She broke off as Washu showed her a
printout "-oh my. . ." She looked at Washu. "And these are accurate?"
"Of course." Washu said, sounding smug.
"W-w-well even so," she said, glaring at Ryoko. "I cannot believe that
something would change Sasami into. . .into. . ." She jabbed a finger at
Ryoko. "that!"
"Something happened alright. . ." Ryoko said as she looked at the ceiling, a
slight smile playing about her lips. "What would you like to hear about
first? The woman who, at the time, I knew as Ryoko, marrying Tenchi and
getting pregnant, or . . ." The smile left her face and her gold eyes became
hard as agates. "You getting murdered?"
"Tenchi? Married? Pregnant?" Aykea shrieked then her face paled as Ryoko's
words sunk in. "M-mudered? I'm. . .dead?"