[Previous Chapters Are Available At:
http://dogbert.simplenet.com/Tempest/fiction.html]
INTERLUDE
Opening Shot: Darkness.
WASHUU (O.S.)
Okay, that brings us up to the last
reality.
Fade into WASHUU standing beneath the spotlight in the darkness. She
has her head down as if staring into her shadow.
WASHUU
<shakes head> Perhaps the worse one
of them all. <beat> I don't know why,
but I felt good after the last one. I
thought I had a pretty good handle on
things.
As she talks, the scene fades to show WASHUU fiddling with the
control matrix with ADAM pacing around behind her.
WASHUU
I had figured out most of the problems
and my data indicated that there was
only one reality left: Prime. The first
reality entered into the matrix, <beat>
of course I know whose it was.
WASHUU looks up from the control matrix at the shadowy computer
in front of her then back down at the control matrix. ADAM
stops pacing and looks over to WASHUU.
ADAM
I wish there was something more I could
do. I feel so useless.
WASHUU
<absent-mindedly> Uh-huh...
ADAM
I mean, I jump into the realities and
get shot at, swung at, and generally
get to swashbuckle around, and that's
all important and stuff...
WASHUU
Uh-huh...
ADAM
But now all I do is sit around and
wait for you to finish fixing that
thing.
WASHUU
Uh-huh...
ADAM
I mean, as much time as I have been
as your assistant, I still know next
to nothing about all this ... uhh,
stuff. I didn't even finish High
School, let alone pick up a galactic
intelligence such as you have.
WASHUU
Uh-huh...
ADAM
Uhh, Washuu?
WASHUU
Uh-huh...
ADAM
Are you even listening to me?
WASHUU
Uh-huh...
ADAM clutches his teeth and balls his hands.
ADAM
Arrgg! Say something other than 'uh-huh!'
WASHUU stands up suddenly.
WASHUU
<shouts> YES!
ADAM
<startled> You don't have to get so
excited...
WASHUU
I fixed it!
ADAM
Huh? -- Oh! Well, that good.
WASHUU
That's right, just gotta activated it
and tear this whole charade down.
ADAM
Well then, lets do it. Time to get
back our true reality.
WASHUU sets the control matrix down and steps back a bit. Creating
her shadowy keyboard she taps a few times and the globe lights up. As
she continues to type, the matrix begins to float and spin.
WASHUU
Circuts ... check! Bio's ... check!
Mechanisms ... check! Intergration ...
check! Systems online.
ADAM
All right, back to the normal world.
WASHUU
Activating ...
Cut to black.
WASHUU (V.O.)
Now!
Twisted Plot Productions
Presents
In Association with Tempest Creations
A Division of Starlight Pictures
FULL CIRCLE
By Adam Chris Leigh
Based on "Tenchi Muyou" created
by Masaki Kanajaki
Episode 7: Time And Space Adventures
ACT III
Establishing shot: Darkness. Letters slowly form on the screen in
white:
R Y O U K O
Fade to show a city street before a majestic looking building. A few
cars are scattered along the sides of the road, all old Ford Model-T's.
The scene is relatively quiet, and from the small soft sounds of birds
chirping it seems like it's early morning.
The screen suddenly shakes and the sound of a large explosion is heard
at the same time as all the windows in the building flash white before
exploding outwards. The sound of a siren is heard coming from the
building before RYOUKO runs out wearing brown pants, a white shrit,
and a brown vest, carrying a bag slung over her shoulder. She looks
around frantically then runs over to one of the cars and speeds off.
A few seconds later a group of police cars arrive. Several stop in
front of the bank while two chase after RYOUKO. Cut to the inside of
RYOUKO's car. She looks between the rear view mirror and the road.
She wipes her brow once from sweat.
RYOUKO
Damn, how'd the coppers get here
so damned fast? <beat> I'll have
to loose them in the city.
She swerves the wheel to the right and sharply turns a corner going
into a side alley. One of the police cars follows suit, the other
smashes into one side of the alley before tipping over and crashing,
blocking off the way she came. Cut to RYOUKO.
RYOUKO
Ha ha! One down, one to go.
Cut to first person of RYOUKO as she swerves around garbage cans and
through busy streets. Cut to the outside as she comes out of the
alley onto a main road and turns onto it. A second later the police
car comes through and smashes into a few garbage cans but continues
to follow. Cut to RYOUKO.
RYOUKO
Hmm... he's good.
Cut to an exterior shot beside RYOUKO as the cop car begins to catch
up and pull along side RYOUKO. As the car pulls up you can see that
it's being driven by KIYONNE.
KIYONNE
<yelled> Ryouko! Pull over at once!
RYOUKO
No way! I don't brake for anyone,
not even the commissioner of police!
KIYONNE
You'll brake or I'll take you down!
RYOUKO
Try me!
RYOUKO's car speeds ahead and KIYONNE steps on her gas to catch up.
Cut to RYOUKO as she looks in her rear view mirror, watching KIYONNE
gain on her.
RYOUKO
Damn, her car's much faster than mine.
She's going to get me unless I can
lose her.
RYOUKO's attention is caught by an up coming department store with a
very large side window displaying all sorts of fancy woman's dresses.
RYOUKO
Hmm...
Cut to KIYONNE. She's talking on a very large radio.
KIYONNE
We're heading down 4th street. I need
someone to get in front of her and
block her off!
DISPATCHER (V.O.)
<static> Ooh... Kiyoonnne... all the
cars are at the bank. What am I
supposed to do?
KIYONNE
Damn it Mihoshi! Can't you do anythi�
oh my god!
Cut to exterior of KIYONNE's car as she watches RYOUKO swerve off
the road and plow into a department store through it's side window.
She gapes in surprise for a second then bares down on her car and
takes it in. Cut to RYOUKO. She's being tossed around inside of
the car while she tries to wave people out of the way.
RYOUKO
<yelled> Come on people, MOVE!!
Cut to the opposite side of the department store. The window
explodes outwards and RYOUKO drives through with her car and turns
to drive down the road. A few seconds later KIYONNE drives through
but slides on the debris and smashes into a car across the street.
Cut to RYOUKO.
RYOUKO
Heh heh.
Cut to KIYONNE as she climbs out of her car. She looks down the road
and exhales as she see's RYOUKO's car driving away. She slams her
fist into the top of the car.
KIYONNE
Damn!
Cut to show RYOUKO driving down a long road away from the camera.
Fade to show a wooden end table with a lamp and a pocket watch on it.
A hand reaches over for the watch and picks it up. As the camera
follows the hand, we see TENCHI in a nice suit, stuffing the watch
into his pocket. In the background we can hear AEKA yelling. TENCHI
looks towards the voice and the camera pans back from TENCHI, through
a doorway to show AEKA yelling at KIYONNE and MIHOSHI dressed in
black police duds.
AEKA
I can't believe this! You let her get
away when you even knew she was going
to rob that bank, THIS MORNING!
KIYONNE
There were complications, Ms. Aeka.
AEKA
Complications?! What, you had to
actually THINK for a change?
KIYONNE
Now, Ms. Aeka...
AEKA
Now you listen to me, first!
Cut to show a long hearth with a bunch of pictures propped up on it.
Pan across the pictures as AEKA yells. The first few are of either
TENCHI dressed up in some occasion and posing for a picture, or AEKA
doing the same.
AEKA
That ... criminal has stolen over
two million dollars from my family
assets and doesn't seem to have any
intention of stopping.
Further pictures show AEKA with bunches of finely dressed people and
TENCHI off to the side looking slightly unhappy. A few pictures show
AEKA standing amidst wealth while TENCHI seems secluded in the corner.
KIYONNE
All of our resources have been put
into catching Ryouko and any associates
she may have but it's going to take
time, Ms. Aeka.
AEKA
Time?! You're saying I should just sit
here and wait for my fortune to be
stolen from me?
Another picture that stands out from the rest is one of AEKA in farm
clothes standing with two rather old and unsightly people before a
large farm. A picture right next to it is a picture of TENCHI in a
simple suit, in a portrait picture with his parents looking rather
happy.
AEKA
You cops may have never seen money
with your meager pay, but I have, and
even if you don't know what it means
to lose millions, I DO. I will not
let you leave here without some
assurance that you'll catch this criminal
and make her pay back everything she's
taken.
KIYONNE
I don't think you have to be rude, Ms�
AEKA
That's exactly your problem, you DON'T
think!
One of the final pictures is a large portrait with AEKA and TENCHI.
AEKA seems rather content while TENCHI is frowning. Beside that
picture is a small picture taken at some party that has TENCHI smiling
largely while shaking someone's hand that seems to be obscured by the
frame. Pause on this picture for a few seconds.
KIYONNE
On behalf of the police department I must
protest this treatment. We are trying
best to find this criminal, and even if
you do not provide regular contributions
to the police department, other people
do and it is those people we need to see
right now.
AEKA
Fine. Get out of my sight! And don't come
back here unless you have news of Ryouko's
capture!
Cut to show AEKA forcing KIYONNE and MIHOSHI out of the house and
firmly shutting the door. She looks out the small window on the
door and watches the two officers leave.
TENCHI(O.S.)
Aeka...
AEKA jerks her head over, startled.
AEKA
Oh, Tenchi. You startled me.
Pan back to show TENCHI walking over to AEKA.
TENCHI
You shouldn't be so harsh with the
police like that. They're just doing
their job.
AEKA
<growls> They're not doing it well
enough.
TENCHI
I guess...
AEKA
What's the matter, Tenchi?
TENCHI
Its... nothing.
AEKA
Tell me so I can help.
TENCHI
In ... I mean. Since we've been
married ... what I mean is� why
did you marry me?
AEKA is taken aback.
AEKA
Wha -� because I love you. Why are
you asking me?
TENCHI
It's just... sometimes it seems like
you--
He's cut off by the sound of something breaking. They both turn
towards the source of the noise.
TENCHI
What was that?
AEKA
It's probably Sherry breaking another
dish. <growls> I'll take care of her.
TENCHI grabs her arm as she moves away.
TENCHI
No... why don't you let me handle it.
I'm it's nothing big. I'll get a
drink for you while I'm in there.
AEKA
Oh, alright.
TENCHI walks off as AEKA moves over to the hearth and looks at the
pictures. As she moves down the line she notices one of the pictures
missing and looks around the ground for it.
Cut to the kitchen. TENCHI walks in and looks around.
TENCHI
Sherry? <beat> Hello?
As he steps forward he hears a faint cracking noise. He looks down to
see the broken plate on the floor.
TENCHI
Oh, must have been the wind.
He bends down to pick up the pieces as the camera moves with him we
see beneath the counter, RYOUKO crouched up next to the cabinet.
TENCHI begins to put pieces of the plate in his hand then he suddenly
pauses and looks over to RYOUKO. He jumps back, startled.
TENCHI
Ah!
The pieces drop to the floor and RYOUKO quickly moves out to put her
hand over TENCHI's mouth.
RYOUKO
Hush!
AEKA(O.S.)
Tenchi? Tenchi, what was that?
RYOUKO motions her head towards the door and removes her hand from
TENCHI's mouth.
TENCHI
Uh ... nothing Aeka. I just cut my
hand on a piece of broken plate.
AEKA(O.S.)
It isn't any of the fine china is it?
TENCHI
Uh.. no it's just some Faberware.
AEKA(O.S.)
Okay.
RYOUKO listens for a few seconds then gets up off of TENCHI and helps
him to his feet.
TENCHI
What are yo�
RYOUKO
Shhh!
TENCHI
<whispers> What are you doing here?
RYOUKO
I came to see you.
TENCHI
Is it normal for you to visit the
people you're stealing from?
RYOUKO
No, but I made an exception for you.
TENCHI
You can't be here, Aeka has the police
looking all over for you.
RYOUKO
I know, that's why I'm going to head
west.
TENCHI
Good, just run far away and don't look
back. You're in too much trouble as
it is, I don't want to see you get
hurt.
RYOUKO
I want you to come with me.
TENCHI
You �- what?!
RYOUKO
SHHHHH!! <beat> Come with me out west
Tenchi. Run away with me, live the
real life like we did when we were
kids.
TENCHI
I can't do that. I'm married to Aeka,
I have an obligation to her.
RYOUKO
Ahh, screw your obligation. Does she
have any obligations to you, or just
your money?
TENCHI
What are you saying?
RYOUKO
Come' on Tenchi, I know it and I'm not
even married to her. When she looks
at you, does she see you or your
solid gold sunglasses? When she holds
onto you, is she holding you or your
Armani suit?
TENCHI
I �- I don't know what you're talking
about.
RYOUKO
Come on, Tenchi, you don't have to
keep on living with her, run away
with me.
TENCHI
This is crazy Ryouko, why did you
come here, to rekindle your feud
with Aeka?
RYOUKO
I came here because I want to be with
you. Because I can't imagine a day
rising without the ability to see
your face.
Cut to AEKA. She's adjusting the pictures for better viewing. The
sound of a door shutting hard is heard from outside. She frowns and
moves over to the door just in time to see RYOUKO shoving TENCHI
bound and gagged into his car and hopping in herself. She stares on
in shock as the car starts and guns away.
Cut to the inside of the car. RYOUKO is watching the road intently,
constantly checking her rear view mirrors. Meanwhile, Tenchi is
removing the gag and ropes from around his arms.
TENCHI
This is crazy.
RYOUKO
You've said that already. Try something
new.
TENCHI
Okay, you're going to get caught and
thrown in jail. I'm sure Aeka saw us
leaving, she's probably called the
police already.
RYOUKO
Nah, I doubt it.
TENCHI
Why's that?
RYOUKO
It's not the right time yet, she's
probably waiting for the proper light
or to get in the right mood before
calling the police. She also has to
construct the proper speech to give
so that she sounds high and respectful.
TENCHI
You really think she's that shallow?
RYOUKO
I know she is. <beat> But just in case,
I cut the phone lines.
RYOUKO grins evilly to TENCHI who merely swallows in response. Cut
to an exterior shot as they drive off past a sign that says 'CITY
LIMITS.' Fade to white.
Fade to a cloudless night sky. The stars shine brightly as the camera
pans downwards to show a large bridge stretching over a long bay from
one beautiful arrangement of lights to another. A star streaks across
the sky.
TENCHI (O.S.)
Will you look at that...
RYOUKO (O.S.)
Hmm... shooting star. Wanna make
a wish?
TENCHI (O.S.)
I'm not that superstitious.
Pan downwards to show RYOUKO's car parked along the coastline a ways
from the bridge. She's lying on top of the car and watching the sky
while TENCHI sits leaning up against the car, also looking up into
the sky. RYOUKO gets on her arm and looks down to TENCHI.
RYOUKO
What superstition? Just a little
hopeful feeling. A prayer that
somewhere out there, someone is
listening and maybe the have the
magic to make it come true.
TENCHI
Hmm...
They watch in silence for a while. RYOUKO reaches down around the
roof and pulls out two apples from the front seat of the car.
RYOUKO
Hungry?
TENCHI looks up as RYOUKO tosses an apple to him. He catches it in
his hands and rubs it on his shirt. RYOUKO takes a crispy bite out
of hers.
TENCHI
So much talk.
RYOUKO
<swallows> Huh?
TENCHI
You asked how it happened. It was a
lot of talking and debating. I think
I was just a little caught up in the
business of the matter, things were
said and done before I'd even realized.
One day I was just coasting along the
next...
RYOUKO
The next you were shackled to Aeka.
TENCHI
I don't know about that, but I was
married to her quite suddenly.
RYOUKO
But now you see the truth, right?
TENCHI
Now ... I see I've made many mistakes
in my life and I'm not sure who or
what I love anymore. Except maybe..
RYOUKO
<eager> Maybe? Maybe what?
TENCHI
Maybe I love the silence. The time
without decisions, when all is tranquil
and quiet.
RYOUKO
I guess I could love the silence, if
I was with you...
TENCHI looks up at RYOUKO who smiles warmly back. He turns his head
back to the stars and closes his eyes. RYOUKO lays down but hangs her
head over the edge of the roof so she can watch TENCHI. They lay in
silence for a while longer.
ADAM (O.S.)
Aha! Found 'em!
TENCHI and RYOUKO look up towards the water to see a shimmering hole
in space from which ADAM's head is sticking out of. The hole grows
larger as he pushes it open and WASHUU can be seen behind him holding
the large, spherical, control matrix.
WASHUU
There you are.
TENCHI and RYOUKO stand up.
TENCHI
Miss Washuu!
WASHUU
Hmm, glad to see you still remember me.
TENCHI
What's going on, where are we all?
WASHUU
I managed to fix my control matrix that
SOME people graciously destroyed on me,
but when I tried to shut down all the
remaining realities I discovered that only
the prime creator of the realities can
truly shut the program down. So we had
come looking across half this simulation
before we found you ... Ryouko.
RYOUKO
Me?
WASHUU
That's right, you were the first one to
get to the control matrix, so you have
host information to shut it down.
TENCHI
Of course, only Ryouko could come up
with something this weird.
RYOUKO takes a step back and looks obviously hurt.
WASHUU
Well, now that we've found you, we can
end this. Lets go Ryouko, shut down
this program so we can all go back to
our normal lives.
RYOUKO
No.
ALL
Huh?
TENCHI
Ryouko, come'on lets get out of this
crazy world.
She looks like she on the verge of crying.
RYOUKO
<sniffs> No, I don't want to go. <beat>
Tenchi... you really want to leave?
TENCHI
Well, of course.
RYOUKO
Well I... <starts crying> I don't want
to!
RYOUKO jumps off the top of the car and flies off into the city.
Everyone watches as the flies away.
TENCHI
What was that all about?
ADAM
I think she's upset you're so eager to
leave.
TENCHI
Why?
ADAM
<sighs> Because...
Cut to RYOUKO, standing atop a semi large building looking off into
the ocean crying.
WASHUU
Ryouko...
RYOUKO looks behind herself quickly then moves to jump off the
building.
WASHUU
Wait!
RYOUKO stops in mid motion and slowly turns to WASHUU.
RYOUKO
I'm not leaving.
WASHUU
<serious> Tell me what wrong, Ryouko.
RYOUKO
I �- this is my world, these are my
dreams, but <beat> no one shares
them with me. I'm alone here.
WASHUU
Ryouko, you're not alone, not everyone
understands yet. They share your
dreams, they just see them from a
different perspective.
RYOUKO
No they don't, they think I'm weird,
Tenchi ... Tenchi doesn't care...
RYOUKO turns away from WASHUU and silent cries some more.
WASHUU
I know you're free spirited Ryouko.
Some people see that and they think
you're reckless and dangerous to be
around. <beat> But Tenchi doesn't
see that. He sees the emotion you
keep inside of you, he sees the free
spirit and smiles when you express
that.
RYOUKO
Then <sniffs> why won't he stay?
WASHUU
Because he cares for a lot of people,
and if he stays, they all must stay
here against their will. He can't see
pain to anyone, especially you, but he
has been forced into this, if he's going
to choose to be with you, it must be
voluntary.
RYOUKO
I ... I guess...
WASHUU
Come, my daughter, let us end the
charade.
RYOUKO turns to WASHUU and nods silently. Then she flies off towards
the harbor.
WASHUU
<soft> That's my girl.
WASHUU looks down.
ADAM(O.S.)
Deep in thought?
She turns around to face ADAM surprisingly. He's standing about a
foot in front of her.
WASHUU
Adam. <beat> Stop sneaking up on
people!
ADAM
It seems to be the only thing I can
do well. <beat> Are you all right?
You seem a little distraught.
WASHUU
I'm fine. <turns> Lets get out of
here.
WASHUU storms off screen, ADAM shrugs and follows. Fade to white.
Fade into a view of the sun. Pan downwards to show the giant lake
before the Masaki household. Pan towards the house.
AEKA (V.O.)
She's asleep.
Cut to AEKA and SASAMI's room. AEKA is standing just inside the
doorway and TENCHI is standing in the hall behind her. They are
both looking at the sleeping form of SASAMI.
TENCHI
She must be exhausted.
AEKA
She's been that way ever since we came
back from Washuu's reality generator.
TENCHI
A few of those worlds ... they were
pretty rough on her.
AEKA turns slowly to face TENCHI and gently grabs his hands and
holds them in her own.
AEKA
They were rough on all of us.
TENCHI looks calmly between his hands and AEKA's face before backing
up further into the hall causing AEKA to break her grasp. She looks
down at the floor.
AEKA
What do you think of me, Tenchi? <beat>
Do you think ... <beat> do you think I
am a little too self centered, a little
too egocentric?
TENCHI
Gosh, no Aeka.
Cut to just around the corner of the same hall. RYOUKO is leaning
against the wall and listening with an expressionless face.
AEKA (O.S.)
What do you think, Lord Tenchi?
TENCHI (O.S.)
What I think is ...
Cut back to AEKA and TENCHI.
TENCHI
I think you have a lot of pride in
your people, and sometimes you get
all caught up because you think that
people are trying to disgrace you
and when they're doing that, they're
disgracing all of Jurai for having
you as a princess.
Pan backwards down the hall.
TENCHI
But Aeka, you needn't defend your or
your planet's honor. I know you have
it, and I think that deep down, Ryouko
knows it too.
AEKA is silent for a few seconds. The camera pans back until you
can see RYOUKO leaning against the corner as well as TENCHI and
AEKA talking down the hall.
AEKA
Why do you think you left me in those
worlds?
RYOUKO raises her head.
TENCHI
Those were just crazy worlds, Aeka,
who knows why anyone did anything in
those worlds. It's the real world
that counts.
RYOUKO lowers her head and moves off screen.
AEKA
Of course, Lord Tenchi, you're right.
Cut to the walkway up to the shrine. RYOUKO is sitting on the steps
looking out over the lake at the setting sun. She sighs as she
watches.
TENCHI(O.S.)
It's beautiful isn't it.
RYOUKO doesn't move, but the camera pans back to show TENCHI on the
steps higher than her. He's looking at her at first then looks up at
the horizon.
RYOUKO
<flat> It's nice.
TENCHI
I used to love coming down here in
the evening when I was a kid. I
would just sit here and watch as the
sun dipped below the cloud line. <beat>
These days I don't get much of a chance
to do it.
RYOUKO looks down for a moment, then stands and turns to TENCHI.
RYOUKO
Tenchi...
RYOUKO(V.O.)
<echo; overlapping> Why do you think
I'm crazy? You love Aeka don't you.
Why can't you understand me? Why
do you hate me? You want me to
leave don't you? I �-
TENCHI
Ryouko?
RYOUKO looks up to see TENCHI holding an apple to her.
TENCHI
Hungry?
RYOUKO looks at the apple and slowly reaches up to take it.
RYOUKO
Share the silence with me?
TENCHI nods and sits on the steps. RYOUKO watches him with a tearful
look in her eyes. She sits on the step right in front of him and
looks off into the sky. After a few moments she closes her eyes
determinedly and leans back into TENCHI. TENCHI looks surprised for
a moment as he holds her then blinks the look away and looks back out
into the sunset. Pan backwards away from the steps showing RYOUKO
and TENCHI sitting together, smiling, and watching the sunset. Fade
to black.
WASHUU (V.O.)
<deeper voice> It all came out all
right in the end I suppose.
Fade into WASHUU's lab. She's standing in her aquarium-like
laboratory while hundreds of strange creatures from all over the
galaxy swim in water filled tanks and tubes. WASHUU looks much older
now, appearing to be a fully grown adult and talking into her shadowy
computer. She looks sad.
WASHUU
Well, except for Sasami. She's been
asleep ever since we came back, I don't
know why yet, I haven't had a chance to
do some tests. <beat> But I guess we're
all alive.
She paces around a bit before coming back to her computer.
WASHUU
As a scientist, I must determine what
caused the outcome of an experiment.
Which means, basically, I must place
blame so that the same results don't
happen again. <beat> If I were shallow,
I could place the blame on Ryouko and
Aeka and everyone who used the machine
without my permission. But I know, that
they wouldn't have ever used it if I
hadn't told them about it before it was
calibrated. <beat> It's not their fault.
She sighs and puts her hand to her face.
WASHUU
It must be mine. <beat> Everything since
I opened my mouth has been my fault. The
malfunction of the machine, the near
death of Aeka at the hands of the Black
Knight, the problems with Sasami, the
emotional turmoil I've thrown Tenchi
into, the havoc I've caused Adam...
She closes her eyes and whispers slowly.
WASHUU
My fault. <beat> I've hurt people before.
I won't dance around the subject, but
the things I've created have caused not
only death, but have been responsible for
the destruction of entire planets and
systems. <beat> My hands are red already.
Why does it disgust me now? <beat> Should
I give it up? Will everything I invent
be used for death and destruction? Or is
the occasional misuse worth the lives I
can save if I continue? <beat> Sometimes
I envy my daughter. She knows her path
and would gladly give everything in this
universe for the one she loves. I have
no such guidance, no such directive. I
have to make the difficult decisions of
day to day.
She looks up and presses a button on her keyboard.
WASHUU
This could possibly be my final entry.
End experimental log, and close file.
She watches the screen for a few seconds without moving then turns on
her heel and walks away. Cut to the roof of the Masaki household. It
is night and the sky is filled with billions of stars. WASHUU is
lying on the roof and looking up. A star shoots across the sky.
WASHUU closes her eyes slowly then opens them after a few seconds.
WASHUU
Your steps are like an elephant's, move
more quietly.
A pair of legs walk into view and stand beside WASHUU. The figure
bends down and lies next to WASHUU and we see it is ADAM.
ADAM
Sorry.
WASHUU
Why are you up here?
ADAM
I could say the same for you.
WASHUU
I needed some fresh air, that's all.
ADAM
Well, then that's what I needed too.
WASHUU sighs and closes her eyes. ADAM peers upwards.
ADAM
Are one of those yours?
She opens her eyes and looks up again.
WASHUU
You can't see it from here. Not even the
strongest telescope on Jurai can see my
planet.
ADAM
So you're pretty far from home?
WASHUU
Yup.
ADAM
Must be lonely out here in the middle of
nowhere. Do you miss your home?
WASHUU
Do you miss *your* home town?
ADAM
I don't have much of a home to miss.
Anyone who I ever cared about is long
gone.
WASHUU
It's the same for me, my planet was
destroyed when I was still young.
Someday the light from it will reach
Earth, and for a few billion years,
I won't be able to look in the sky
without crying. Then, in a few
milliseconds, it will disappear
again, and the planet will be lost
for good.
ADAM
I'm sorry.
WASHUU
Don't be. It was over 20,000 years
ago, I've gotten over it.
ADAM
Well you sure seem caught up on
something. <beat> Washuu, I heard you
in your laboratory, you can't blame
yourself for this. It was ...
unfortunate circumstance, don't beat
yourself up over it.
WASHUU
You don't understand ... it's not
the first time --
ADAM
And it won't be the last. <beat> You
are a scientist, Washuu, and the
awful truth about science is that
sometimes people get hurt, but life
only progresses if we learn and move
on.
WASHUU
In twenty thousand years, I've made a
lot of mistakes.
ADAM
So you've made one more. It's good
not to lose your humanity about it, but
you can't torture yourself for life
because of it as well.
WASHUU
I can't keep hurting the people I love,
I just can't do it.
ADAM reaches down and holds WASHUU's hand.
ADAM
Then, don't. <beat> Learn from this and
be more careful in the future. Prevent
accidents from happening, but don't
forget that the very meaning of the word
means that it's unexpected. You can't
keep them all from happening, and it
isn't worth it to try.
WASHUU is silent for a long time. Then she stands and pulls ADAM
with her.
WASHUU
Come on.
ADAM
Where are we going?
WASHUU
To my lab, I'll need your help with
the dimensional calibrators.
ADAM
<shrugs; smiles> All right.
ADAM starts moving across the roof with WASHUU when he suddenly stops
and looks up into the sky. He frowns.
WASHUU
What's wrong?
ADAM
I �- I don't know. Something doesn't
feel right.
Pan backwards into the sky from the roof. Into the sky, through the
atmosphere, and back into space where a large metal ship is slowly
moving through space towards Earth. Flash to a hooded face that hides
the upper half with shadows. Blue markings can be seen on the cheeks
just below the shadow and a frock of blue hair hangs in front of the
face. Flash from there to of Earth from orbit, then a picture of a
large explosion, then a black screen that gets splashed with blood.
Cut back to ADAM and WASHUU on the roof. He grips his head and
suddenly collapses.
WASHUU
What's wrong?!
ADAM
Aarrraagghh! <pants> Something is coming,
and ... it's dangerous ... its... going
to kill Tenchi!
WASHUU's eyes widen and she places a hand on ADAM's shoulder who's
still gripping his head in pain. She looks up into the sky almost
with a look of fear.
Fade to black.
END
(TIME AND SPACE ADVENTURES)
Authors Notes:
You'll have to excuse the tardiness of these two parts of Full Circle,
I have this very blatant and horrible habit of starting things with no
intention of ever ending them. This series is a prime example of this,
The Heroes We Love is a better one. We're talking about series I've
started and then left to die for over a YEAR. It's not even like I'm
Zen or anything and what I write is good enough that it takes a year to
write. I'm just some guy with an insatiable desire to write, and no
skill to write correctly. Look, even these authors notes have terrible
grammar, I'm cursed!
Anyway, a few things: Pretty Sami is weird. I mean, there are
strange things in the world of anime, and many of them weirder than PS,
but I still think it's incredibly weird. So you have to take things
dealing with Pretty Sami with a grain of salt, since it's not really
worried about things like continuity and stuff, just 'Magical Pretty
Girl' action. Ah, just cope.
There is one person that I'd like to mention right now however, since
he is the one who encouraged (used loosely) me to write more of Full
Circle and to torture all of you on the FFML with it. He is none other
than Jeff Novotny, aka Batman. Yes, the same Jeff who helps me with As
Dark As Knight also liked Full Circle. Go fig. Anyway, thanks Jeff.
The future of Full Circle? Uhh, I've got episodes 8 and 9 planned
out, but who knows when I'll have the initiative to finish both, since
they are a two part story. If you've read Endless Nights or that
devilish fic called Honor Bound, I've accidentally let it slip what's
going to happen in FC 9. Once again, cope.
Found an interesting thing about copyrights the other day.
Apparently, writing a continuation to any story is perfectly legal as
long as you credit the story as being a continuation and don't claim
any of the ideas from the first as your own. Hence...
"Tenchi Muyou" was created and is owned by Masaki Kanajaki, and
was released by Pioneer Entertainment in association with AIC. All
references and characters from this series is held under copyright
by its respective owners. Adam Leigh was created by himself, and
is under fully copyright of Tempest Creations. While this work
is conducted in the spirit of and utilizes the characters of works
held under copyright by others, the original ideas of this author
are Copyright 1998 by Adam Leigh.
All Rights Reserved.