Heaven and Eternity
by K'thardin
Standard Disclaimer: If you don't know what these say by now, you
probably never will, but here goes. You will never win!
Muhuhahahahah! Sorry. Anyway I don't own Tenchi Muyo! I do own
my characters! There! Oh, by the way; feel free to reprint this,
just remember to credit me.
Authors Forward: Now this is how it should be. For it has begun!
MORTAL KOMBAT! Sorry. Well in case you haven't guessed this one
is where the shit hits the fan. Oh this is going to be so fun!
And now it's time for...
Heaven and Earth. Love and Honor. (Movie)
"Universal conquest is achieved through cunning and subtlety, not
by how big your army or guns are."
-Thanos of Titan
In the beginning the one above all created all that is.
Within this universe he set aside four caretakers of reality; the
four pillars of all that is. He also created an 'organization' to
defend our reality against those who would destroy it or take it
as their own. That organization was composed of individuals that
have come from all over the realm, and given the power and the
mission: protect that which you hold dear. It was not until
recently that I found out why only this realm, of all the realms
in the universe, was the only one where we were found...but I
shall explain later.
At first they were as babies, blank slates that needed only
to be filled with knowledge. Over many trillions of years these
four gained their knowledge as all gods do, and went about their
individual pursuits. They also took names or perhaps they only
became aware of them: Tsunami of nature; Washuu of science;
Achika of the Races; and Tokimi of power.
It seems strange to me they all four took on the persona of
women. Though if you know about the one above all; this probably
wouldn't surprise you much. As their names suggested they devoted
all their times to what captivated their interests.
Tsunami was captivated by all things natural and devoted her
time to the pursuit of life. In effect she became an embodiment
of life, and still is. Of course, at times that has warped her
perceptions, but that's another story.
Washuu was captivated by science and technology, and all it's
various applications. Though I wonder if it was more she liked
all the cosmic jokes she could play with the machines at her
disposal. Hmmmm.
Achika of the Races. Here is something of a revelation.
Achika was captivated by the peoples of the universe and helped
them in their struggles early in their existence. Without her
compassion many a race probably would have destroyed themselves.
Many were the races she helped; among them were the Yoma, the
Todainians, the Tetranians, and a few of the races who went on to
spawn the Jurain star empire surprisingly enough. Coincidence? I
long ago gave up believing in coincidence, but that is off the
subject.
Tokimi was captivated by power and how it filled the cosmos.
She bent all her energies to figuring out how the universe
operated. How she could better use her energies. But like all
beings who are interested only in power, she became corrupted by
it. The more she gained the more she wanted; until finally she
wanted all that is. And she knew just how to get it.
I was there when the war was fought. None of the others
knew, but I did. How could they have known? It was almost
completely fought in other realms. Only I was given the knowledge
by the being called G. To this day I do not know why. Only that
is was 'suggested' that I do this myself.
So I fought with the goddesses of light, against the dark
goddess Tokimi. But even a being of my power magnitude could not
prevent the events that have transpired from coming to pass.
At the end of the war we had finally fought our way to Tokimi
herself. Achika, the oldest of the sisters got to Tokimi first.
She did not fare well. I was barely able to get there in time to
save her life. It is fortunate that Tokimi herself thinks Achika
dead.
I had paved the way for Tsunami and Washuu to get to Tokimi
in my haste to get there to finish her. Tsunami and Washuu's
forces, the Yoma and a few others, kept Tokimi's forces busy
in the mean time. It was awesome, truly awesome to behold, the
two goddesses of light fight their sister of darkness. The
energies unleashed that day rocked the very fabric of creation.
Many were realms that suffered from that; including ours for an
entire galaxy in this realm was destroyed.
In the end, I had thought Tokimi dead and gone for all time.
I wish I could have prevented what else happened, but my energies
were spent saving the life of Achika and could do no more.
Tsunami's higher level physical form was destroyed, and she was
forced to take a state of being resembling pure energy (though
recently she has been able to take another physical form that,
strangely enough, looks very similar to her original).
Washuu was injured even worse than Tsunami. Her being was
deteriorating, and her mind was badly damaged. So with what
little strength she had, Tsunami she...Hmmm. How to explain this.
There was a passing starship close to where they appeared in our
realm. On that ship was a family who had recently been blessed
and cursed. Blessed with a child; cursed to watch her die due to
a deadly cosmic virus. The father and mother were both scientists
(Coincidence again? Not likely.) and had done everything in their
power to try and save her, but in the end it was utterly futile.
Yet sometimes things happen that are for lack of a better term
miraculous, and so it was now. Tsunami saw their plight, and saw
in it a way to save her own sister. She caused Washuu and the
nearly dead child to assimilate; saving the child and Washuu as
well. Since that incident I don't know if she has recovered
anything of what she was before (besides her looks); but in any
case, without her knowledge, her power will remain unknown to her.
This taxed Tsunami's strength to it's near limit. She barely
reached a world that had become, in effect, her garden. For she
had created the star system, and had been guiding it's evolution
over almost a billion years. Jurai. There she was forced to
assimilate with a tree, her first tree, to save her own life as
that last little bit she did for Washuu took more from her than
her life would allow. After; she collapsed and went dormant to
heal what wounds she could.
I could do nothing. My powers were spent, and I was forced
to discorporate for a time to save my own life. But at least
Achika lived.
Later I found that the energies released had released many an
evil in the universe. Evil that by all rights should have never
been able to get here. Those were some dark times.
Only I know that our realm is also known as the central
realm. There are things here that could change the course of the
universe for all time. There are things that can be done here
that cannot be done anywhere else. This is why we are here and no
where else.
One of the things we do is protect this realm. So we fought
those evils and won.
But we could not fight the Djinn. God why couldn't you have
better prepared us for them? We were not nearly enough. They
were too many and too powerful. We were nearly destroyed, and if
we died so would the universe.
God did not abandon us as I thought. An ex-student, nay, a
prodigy of mine, Cyraqs K'thardin, was the first of us to suggest
that we seek help. We had never needed help before, but it could
not be denied we needed it now. The decision was made to reveal
our existence to whomever could help us. Many and varied were the
beings we found. They ranged in power levels from almost nothing
to many times ourselves.
What was surprising was the person Cyraqs found to help us.
Tsunami. I said nothing, what could I say? As long as she didn't
know me (I had changed a lot since she last saw me, don't ask.),
and as long as the others didn't realize her significance there
would be no problem. Besides we needed help, and she later
provided us with an entire fleet of Warships that could wield the
light hawk wings.
The light hawk force. A power, in it's weakest form, that
can kill even us. A power that for some reason, only two of us
have been able to master. Some reason I said? Considering
where they came from I would have been very surprised if they
couldn't wield the radiant hawk wings. Of course that's assuming
we let it get close enough to us. It proved the edge we needed
against the Djinn.
Still, while the others did not know her significance, they
felt something very special about her. All fell in love with her
to one degree or another. But none so hard as Cyraqs, though he
couldn't admit it; even to himself; for he carried a pain inside
that would have made the devil weep. Tsunami...Tsunami I could
tell had never felt like that about anyone in her very long life.
It would take them both a very long time to figure it out, but I
knew they would. It almost seemed like it was fated to happen.
Actually it kind of was, but that's a story for another time.
The Djinn had not been idle during this time, and had
gathered allies of their own. There are always fools out there
who will trade others lives for power. Though if the Djinn had
won; their 'allies' would have been the first to die.
It took many thousands of years, destroyed many worlds and
civilizations; even whole galaxies, but finally we destroyed every
one of them and their allies. After the war we all went our
separate ways again; Tsunami and Cyraqs always kept in contact to
one degree or another. Even when...heh, now I'm digressing.
The universe remained peaceful for the next few millennia
(other than the occasional problem we had to take care of; such is
our fate). However, almost fifteen years ago I was tracked down
by the goddess Achika (she was always a little more perceptive
than Tsunami) who told me that Tokimi was not dead merely
banished, and that she would be coming again and soon.
Remembering my original instructions I chose not to tell
anyone, and began quietly making preparations on my own. But
something did not ring very right about all this, something
had a hint of...no I said it best before; something was not right.
So I spent the time I was not preparing on searching for
information on the sisters. Some of which I've shared here and
now. Some of the stuff I had found would curdle the blood to know.
Yet Tenchi and Cyraqs must know these things. Why they are the
only ones of us that can call the light hawk wings (even
though Cyraqs has adapted and changed it to suit his own use).
Why they alone have been drawn into this like they have. What
they really are, and what needs done after. And worst of all what
could have happened had things not gone the way they did.
Assuming we win, of course. My favorite saying recently.
Assuming we win.
Heaven help us.
Last Entry Personal Journal: Odin; May 5, 1998
Here we are!
Born to be Kings!
We're the Princes of the Universe!
And here we are!
Fighting to survive in a war with the Darkest Power!
<Opening Theme-Princes of the Universe-Queen>
"I once read a story about beings who wore shells to disguise
who they were. Inside they were warriors without compare, but
only by casting off those shells were they able to show their
true power. One wonders why they did that to begin with."
The fact that a Terran holy man had recognized them as
something alive and sentient did not strike them as odd. It had
happened more than once on this world; the holy men just taking
them for what they were; guardians and beings who they saw as
needing some guidance like everyone else they encountered. This
one was different however. He seemed to hint at a lot of things
that no one of this world could possibly know.
Somehow he knew. Knew what they really were, and what their
true purpose was. That meant he was more than just a simple
priest. It could be he was just psychic and concerned for
their well being, or perhaps he could have some other motive.
Prudence was called for in this situation.
"It could be said that they did it for others sake. Perhaps
because their appearance was hideous or just too different from
others. Perhaps because they were too good, and needed to limit
themselves. Perhaps they do it for subterfuge, to surprise their
enemies." Azaka suggested.
"Or perhaps they were great warriors who protected a mistress
through all things though that mistress was stronger than they
ever thought of being. Maybe that mistress got into a struggle of
incredible magnitude, and those warriors were nearly killed
protecting her. Maybe she put them in those shells to save their
lives, knowing over time they would heal. Perhaps she has been
using them to guard those she loves; instructing them to never
show their true power until the time is right."
Azaka and Kamidake studied the smiling features of the
priest, trying very hard to register what they had just heard.
Azaka had to amend his previous thought, this priest wasn't just
beyond ordinary; he was beyond belief! He was possessed of
information NO ONE could have!
"Who are you?" Kamidake asked in wonder.
"A friend." He tipped his hat that partially hid his face
and bowed. "I bid you good morning, loyal guardians." He could
almost feel their dumbfounded expressions as he turned and walked
toward the shrine.
He smiled as he contemplated another day.
The priest had been waiting for months on the world of Earth.
Slowly he had been gathering information about those he had
previously gone up against. What he had seen was mind boggling
even to him.
Cyraqs is here! And he is training Tenchi. From what I can
tell now, Tenchi is a being on the same level as my old master.
That could prove interesting.
Sasami and Tsunami are the same. Surprising, and fascinating
at the same time. If I had known that, taking her would have been
much easier. Now the reason I needed them has become moot. As an
observer on the outside of things I can see what is clearly going
on, and the plan I have formed still seems like the best bet.
"Katsuhito-san, how goes it on this fine day?" the man asked
shifting himself slightly in his priestly garb.
"Oh same as always." he smiled knowingly from his seat on the
shrine stairs. He always did know more than he let on, the priest
thought. "So what brings you here today?"
"Hoping to see if something would happen."
"Who knows?" he grinned, "There is something in the wind. We
both might just get lucky today." The two priests grinned at each
other in anticipation. Yes, he thought, we just might. And if
not, I'll come back tomorrow, or the next day, or the next.
However long it takes.
Tokimi surveyed the expanse of her personal dimension.
Small, safe, and secure; everything a reflection of her dark soul.
No one could get in unless she wanted them to. Here she was God.
Or Goddess in this case, she thought with a faint smile. Soon it
shall be like this everywhere; everything will conform to my will.
There was only one flaw with her dimension.
That being the two others presently there.
Since it has been revealed that we have been being watched
this is the only place we can speak freely. She frowned in
annoyance, this is the last time, she thought to herself.
<<Now?>> Tokimi asked the younger looking one.
"Yes." Tetran replied.
<<D3 give the order to attack.>>
"As you will my lady." Tetran smiled at the tone of D3's
voice, no I do not envy your position. I wonder what will happen
after we are done. Probably kill yourself. He laughed to
himself, that will be high comedy.
<<And when...>> Tetran raised his hand forestalling her.
"Do not worry yourself milady. I will know."
True this man was arrogant, but he had every right to be. He
was a master schemer, and a mighty powerhouse in his own right.
Not only that, but he could beat even D3 in combat; and this was
despite the fact D3 was stronger. The only other being to have
done that was herself almost 17,000 years ago. The poor fool had
pledged his loyalty, and (she really got a kick out of this) his
heart to her after his defeat. It gave her some small sadistic
satisfaction to watch him squirm imperceptibly to always be near
the object of his desire, but to never be allowed anything more
than a servant's position. Except on rare occasion when she was
feeling...anxious. That only tortured him all the more. Still he
was only going from the heart; while it made him more powerful, it
also made him unpredictable. Well she would use him 'til she no
longer needed him. Which would be very soon, as soon as the
objects of her desire was in her hands.
She shuddered in anticipation. Tsunami and Washuu. You
will go the way of our dear departed sister Achika, but this time
I won't loose the power. You as well Tenchi. Tsunami made you,
but it is I who shall have you. You and that lovely power, AND
that very strange quality that attracts all manner of beings to
you. You will make a perfect compliment to me (properly modified
of course) after I achieve my goal.
And you Tetran. You seek your revenge against the one who
has brought you low. The one that now forces us to converse here.
You will get that, perhaps even in the way you wish assuming
Tsunami survives long enough. She smiled at the mental image that
came to mind Tsunami struggling and helpless as Tetran did things
to her that most wouldn't wish on their worst enemy; while the one
named Cyraqs, broken and bloodied could only helplessly watch. Yes
that would be perfect; perhaps unfeasible though; you will have to
simply content yourself with his death. Once I am done you fancy
yourself a god in my new universe. You may be of use in that
respect, you definitely have the qualifications. It will save me
the time of making new ones after I dispose of the old order.
Just as long as you don't overstep your bounds.
<<Very well.>> she smiled. <<I leave it in your hands.>>
D3 couldn't help but shudder at the insane glee that appeared
on Tetran's face.
Minagi looked out at the blue sphere of the earth as her ship
encircled it. She sighed. Damn, this worries me. With these
reports of Juraian vessels and GP ships being destroyed I'm really
scared for these people. She grimaced at the pain that lanced
through her shoulders and back as the muscles tightened of their
own accord. I never used to get these before. Damn. Skilled
hands griped her shoulder and begin to kneed the tension out of
them.
"Damn, but you're good at that." she murmured.
"Well you looked like you could use it." Y'mir commented
wryly. "You need to learn to relax more."
She turned in her chair, rose to full height and kissed him
full on the lips. "I'm just worried about them is all." (Camera
pans to focus on her left ring finger, and on that finger a
simple gold circlet).
"Well we'll go down in a few minutes," (Camera pans on him:
same finger, same hand, same type ring). "so you shouldn't worry
yourself too much."
She pulled back in his arms a bit and smiled mischievously
at him. "Why a few minutes?"
"Because I know a perfect way to relieve some of that
stress." he grinned.
"Oh really?" she asked as she was pulled to the floor.
It took them a little longer than a few minutes to teleport
down to the surface.
The prey moved large boulders from one side of the mountain
to the other. No reason apparent for this activity. Once done
the prey studied the large pile. Apparently satisfied at what he
saw, he stopped momentarily, then began breaking them into smaller
rocks with his bare hands; separating the fragments into separate
piles as he worked. The huntress cared not why he was doing this;
only that he remained as he was.
The huntress crept up slowly, stealthily on her prey. He
moved slowly, silently, oblivious to everything. She licked her
lips in anticipation. It wouldn't be long now.
She let her eyes wander back and fourth across her domain
making sure nothing could possibly interfere. She saw nothing,
and kept going. Her mind lost itself in a euphoric fog as she
considered what she would do with her prey when he was caught.
She grew close, but stopped when the prey stopped. He looked
around for a moment almost as if he had sensed her presence.
There was no way he could know where the huntress was, but just to
be sure she stayed motionless as the prey's gaze passed over the
domain. Eventually the prey shrugged and went back to what he was
doing before. Now is the time, a voice deep within instructed.
In a blur, She pounced.
WHAT THE HELL?! Drakhenn yelled as, well I guess you could
call it loud, as he could. He pulled back and found Ryo-ohki in
her adult form as the being who had pinned him to the ground.
"Gottcha!" she grinned. He grinned along with her; not a
site for the timid.
It had become something of a game between the two of them
now; catching each other off guard. Something they both enjoyed.
He reached up and smoothed one of her bangs out of her eyes as he
contemplated the new feeling that had become part of their play.
It scared him, but he was a warrior. A warrior never runs from
what he fears. He was going to enjoy this challenge.
He suggested they go get some carrots.
Her eyes grew into little stars and she Miyaed softly in near
orgasmic pleasure at the mere mention of her beloved vegetable.
To anyone who knows; this is the best way to get in on Ryo-ohki's
good side. He had a pretty good idea what he was setting himself
up for, but for some reason he couldn't find anything remotely
wrong with that idea.
Washuu had been busy these past couple of weeks reeducating
the best student she ever had. Though he would probably kick the
daylights out of anyone who dared mention the fact he was a
student again. Other than his instructor that is. God I forgot
how boring school was sometimes he thought between his lapses of
consciousness.
It had been over 20,000 years since he had devoted himself to
this, so he had massive catching up to do. Which was an
understatement of the grossest sort. Not like he cared,
considering who it was that was catching him up. Still boring as
hell.
A painful weight settled on his head accompanied by a loud
thudding sound which knocked him back to consciousness.
"Hayes-san!"
"Hai Hakubi-sensei!"
"Pay attention!" she growled.
"Hai!" He shifted his head and found the statue firmly fixed
on his head. It was just not physically possible! Every rule in
existence said it shouldn't stay there. How does she do that?
He never had been able to figure that out. No matter how hard he
tried.
Either getting it off or figuring out how she kept it there.
Which in all actuality amounted to the same thing.
Not relishing the idea of getting hammered again, he paid
attention for another few minutes. At least 'til the pain faded
and the boredom set in again. What could I do that will keep me
at least semi-intherealmofwakefulness, he wondered. Ah! I know!
His expression turned from one of strained concentration to
one of...well let's just say he had a really big smile and wasn't
paying attention to the holoscreen.
"Hayes-san?"
"Hai." he acknowledged quietly.
"What are you..." she suddenly realized his gaze had focused
on the lower half of her (well developed) anatomy. Her nicely
formed bottom to be precise. And the way, his gaze was now
beginning to rove the rest of her...
With an indignant cry threw her pointer at him. Smirking he
caught it between his index and middle finger. Yes! I am so
go...He was crushed in the middle of that thought by a statue
that weighed about a ton. "Serves him right! Insatiable
sonofabitch!" she said with a self satisfied smile.
"More mistress, please." cried a weak voice from the splatter
under the statues.
"OOOOH!" she yelled in frustration. Three more statues piled
on top. RIP Hayes; we knew you well.
The eggs were burnt, the toast was singed, and the rice was
best left unmentioned. Breakfast was going to be a disaster.
Good thing I don't need to eat anymore, Tenchi thought in
relief. He looked on as Sasami tried diligently to teach Ayeka
and Ryouko both how to cook. He loved them dearly, but he knew
for a fact this was a task beyond even the abilities of any
kami in existence.
Sasami included.
"Sis, the egg shells don't go in with the rest of the egg."
Ryouko looked at Ryuken in annoyance. "I don't need your
running commentary."
"Well someone needs to keep you from making too many
mistakes."
"That goes for you too Cyraqs." He smiled in reply.
She picked up a salt shaker and started to salt her food. A
lot.
"You know that amount of salt is not good for you Ryouko."
Ryuken told her. She deliberately ignored him, and started
putting massive amounts of chopped onion in her omelet.
"You should put the cheese in before the other stuff, sis."
Cyraqs told her.
Ryouko gripped her spatula in rage. It was bad enough that
Ryuken had adopted her as a younger sister(actually she kind of
liked that part), but now both her 'older brothers' were amusing
themselves by tag team teasing her about her performance in the
kitchen. It wasn't like she needed their criticisms; she knew
perfectly well that her skills here were less than exemplary.
Something she was trying to remedy now, and they were not making
it easy for her. She shot a murderous look at Tenchi who was
trying very hard to keep from laughing.
Ayeka didn't bother to control herself. "You know I didn't
think monsters could cook, and I guess this goes to show it."
Ryouko turned her rage on Ayeka, but before she could
respond..."I don't know, it was pretty bad that you put the
cinnamon in BEFORE the toast, Ayeka." Ryuken grinned.
Ryouko gave Ayeka a look that spoke whole volumes. I'm not
the only one who's going to feel the pain now.
Sasami brandished her weapon of choice and gazed angrily at
the invaders to her illustrious and well ordered domain. "Enough!
Out! All of you, OUT!" Sasami commanded most imperiously. The
three grown men fled in terror and fear (though you wouldn't know
it as hard as they were laughing) of the little girl wielding a
frying pan. Which just goes to show; which is more scary, facing
cosmic menaces that could wipe out entire galaxies or women?
Women, definitely women.
"Bugging Sasami in the kitchen, you ought to be ashamed."
Mihoshi chastised Ryuken as he exited the kitchen. Getting up on
her tip toes and grabbing his ear she dragged him over to the
couch and sat him down. "Now sit here and be good! Sheesh men
are children." that last part she said under her breath.
Cyraqs gave his brother an evil grin as he sat down across
from him. <Now I know who's going to be wearing the pants.>
He ignored what his older brother was implying. Not that he
wouldn't have found the situation pleasant, but they hadn't even
progressed to that point. Still he had to get him back. <And
you're not going to be in the same position?> Ryuken asked in
amusement.
<Not likely.>
<Oh that's right, she's got to grow up first.>
Cyraqs glared at him. <Don't go there.>
<Oh I won't.> he laughed. <Pedophile.>
"YOU LITTLE..." Cyraqs flew over the table and started
choking his younger brother.
"Just...kidding...just...kidding..." Ryuken gasped as his
brother cut off his oxygen supply.
It took a considerable amount of strength for Tenchi to
separate the two brothers. In the end it was Sasami who ended it
by whacking Cyraqs upside the head with her frying pan.
Not that it could hurt him, but the message was made very
clear.
"Quit being a pain." she admonished.
Ryuken laughed at his brothers misfortune, until Mihoshi
thumped him one as well. Both looked down in shame.
The two ladies looked at each other. Babies, they both
agreed. What did I tell you?
Women are scarier.
The front door opened and Kiyone and Yoshou walked in.
"Hey everyone, look who we picked up on the way here." Kiyone
announced. Minagi and Y'mir entered on cue.
"Hey everyone what's going on?" Minagi asked. They welcomed
them warmly; shouting their individual greetings.
"Minagi!" Sasami shouted, "Come on in the kitchen; you can
help us cook!"
Minagi smiled and followed Sasami into the kitchen. She
paused momentarily when she noticed a wisp of smoke floating
through the door; then continued on very cautiously.
"I was wondering when you were going to come down." Tenchi
commented. "I mean, you've been hovering up there since very
early morning."
He put his hand behind his head in embarrassment. "Yeah
well, we had a couple of things that needed done." he laughed
nervously. Tenchi caught the glint of gold on Y'mir's finger, and
grinned from ear to ear. "I'm crushed Y'mir."
"What about?"
"You didn't invite any of us to the wedding."
His father and uncle took a good look at him, saw what Tenchi
was referring to, and started grinning like they were about to do
something really terrible. Y'mir started backing out of the room
slowly. He didn't make it.
"I don't think that the eggs are supposed to be that shade of
brown mom." Minagi said with a perfectly straight face.
"NOT YOU TOO!" Ryouko yelled, "AND DON'T CALL ME THAT!"
"No problem mommy."
Ryouko started advancing on Minagi.
"Don't you two start!" Sasami admonished them.
"Sorry." they both said bowing in shame. It just goes to
show who is really in charge around here.
So they all went back to the disaster in progress. During
this time Minagi idly played with the little gold circlet on her
left ring finger. She wondered how long it would be until one of
them notice.
It was Ayeka who saw first. "What is that ring on your
finger?"
"Huh? What ring?" Sasami asked. Minagi showed them, a
secretive smile on her face. "It's pretty."
"That looks almost like..."
"Almost like what Ayeka?" Ryouko asked.
"Almost like..."
"A wedding ring!" Sasami yelled proud of her deduction.
"Yes that is what it...A wedding ring?!" Ayeka blinked. Then
stared at Minagi in shock. She couldn't believe it.
"MMMHMMM." Minagi smiled blissfully; confirming Sasami's
assessment of the situation.
Ayeka grabbed her hand. "Congratulations!"
Sasami had thrown herself into Minagi's arms, "I'm so happy
for you!"
"Well what about you, Ryouko?" she smiled.
Ryouko tried to look like she didn't care. Minagi just
looked on and watched as Ryouko's face twitched a little. Then a
little more. Suddenly it lost all control and broke into a happy
grin. She couldn't restrain herself; and was hugging Minagi along
with them.
Washuu walked out of her lab to the scene of Ryuken and
Cyraqs twisting Y'mir into painful positions.
"Hey c'mon...owww, quit it!" Y'mir cried in pain.
Cyraqs sat on his back twisting his arm behind him tighter
"Like hell!"
"Yeah really, doing something like that to your own father!"
Ryuken said twisting his legs into a painful position.
"What's going on out here?" asked a very amused Washuu.
"Oh nothing mom, just chastising my nephew here for eloping
and not inviting us."
Washuu, of course already knew, in that strange way of hers.
Then again, maybe it was just Minagi calling her two weeks ago
after they were married. "Just don't do anything too permanent.
I really don't feel like doing any major reconstruction today."
"No problem mom." something occurred to Cyraqs, "Hey where's
dad?"
She grinned maniacally. "Oh I gave him a few TONS of work."
He considered this for a moment. "Cool." He went back to
torturing Y'mir.
Keeping that smile she proceeded to the kitchen to find out
what in the universe was causing so much smoke to emanate from the
kitchen.
Tenchi had willed a bag of extra salty extra buttery (death
to all Political Correctness, Muhuhahahahah!) popcorn into
existence and was sharing it with Yoshou, Mihoshi, and Kiyone.
"Entertaining."
"Yeah." Mihoshi agreed.
Today was a typical day at the Misaki home. Sadly it would
not remain so.
Buru captain of the GP warship, GPSV-54 Deathasaurus,
waited. Had been waiting for weeks, and it was beginning to set
her teeth on edge, not to mention what it was doing to her crew.
There had been three fights that week and almost ten false alarms
concerning the enemy.
There had been five more attacks, and despite the standing
orders that they were supposed to pull back if these beings were
encountered, few survivors had been reported. They seemed to
know every move we might make and every place we might go. They
also seemed to know our strengths and our weaknesses; especially
our weaknesses. They possess the technology to call upon the
wings of the Light Hawk. Truly a more worthy adversary has never
graced this galaxy. But now, she thought with a smile, now we
have amassed our forces where we know they are going to strike.
We have the advantage this time.
She still had that smile as an X carrier burst out from
hyperspace and obliterated her warship.
"Admiral Godai, they're here!"
"Show me." he commanded.
Various holoscreens appeared around him.
"Twenty jump points in alpha quad, ten in bravo, five in
charlie, and only two in delta. GP, Juraian, and other ships
moving to intercept."
Why so few in those sectors?
"Sir. We have incoming reports from our forces in the alpha
and bravo sectors, they are being outmaneuvered and chopped up.
Recommend we send reinforcements from the Charlie and Delta
quads."
They're trying to make us pull out of the charlie and delta
quads. Not likely. They probably want the outposts there to
solidify their powerbase here. Logical seeing as how those
starports have the most room and advanced equipment. Can't let
them get such a foot hold. From there it would be an easy reach to
the homeworld. "Commander, tell a single battle group from the
charlie and delta to proceed to the alpha and bravo quads
respectively."
"Admiral, that isn't even close to being enough!" protested
the Grand Marshall.
"I know. They are trying to divide our forces; we cannot let
that happen." He sighed, Kami-sama if you have any blessings for
us now would be the time. "Tell those in the Alpha and Bravo
quads to fight. Do not back down and do not surrender. We must
stop them." he sighed again for he knew he had just consigned
many of his own people to their deaths.
"They're not buying it." D3 stated as he observed the
progress of the war in his viewing globe.
"They don't have to buy it. It must seem like there is some
semblance of strategy to throw my former comrades off guard. Now
they just have to continue to die."
D3 looked at Tetran, "And you are sure this will bring them."
Tetran smiled cruelly in reply.
"Alright. You are sure you will know when they all are
present?"
"Of course." he replied confidently.
"Fine. By the way why are we bringing those four? I would
think you, me, Azmodeus, and Abel would be enough."
Tetran glanced behind him at the four members of Tokimi's
personal bodyguard. "The lady felt it prudent to send a little
more power along. Though I have to agree with you; these guys
will likely just get in the way." Then again, he thought after a
moment, they may come in useful; as a distraction if nothing else.
"You're sure about the rest of it?"
"You worry too much my lovestruck friend. The lady will get
everything she wants." And so will I, he thought as his eyes
glowed red behind his glasses. He stood up from his perch on the
moon and looked up through his cloaking shield to the blue marble
in the sky that was earth and his face grew almost deranged with
rage. Soon, Cyraqs, soon.
The fighting was, for lack of a better term, bloody. The
Juraian and GP war ships had upgraded their targeting and weapons
systems as well as maneuverability in response to the new threat.
This enabled them to take out the small nimble individuals flying
freely through space much easier than other wise possible, but for
everyone they killed a thousand more took his place and for every
one of those X shaped ships destroyed ten more appeared out of
hyperspace.
The lesser ships fell in droves and even the Juraian War
ships couldn't take the constant pounding they were receiving.
Slowly the defenders were forced back, but they didn't give
ground easy. Every ship fought to last bit of power they had.
Despite the most serious blows. Despite the fact they were dying
in space. And when even that failed; the ships themselves became
weapons; crashing into the enemy vessels destroying them both.
Those of Tokimi's forces had to pay dearly for every inch of space
they took.
Admiral Godai and Grand Marshall Karimitsu looked at the
holoscreens on his command ship and cursed. They were losing. It
would be a matter of days or maybe even weeks, but they were going
to loose. At least a good portion of the population has been
taken out of the general area. The Royal family and senate has
been secretly relocated. Too bad we have to leave a lot of our
colonies unprotected; like the one the princesses are on. I only
hope Tsunami can protect it all by itself if they decide to attack
Earth; as they will be the only one of us still in this galaxy
when we pull out.
He looked at the view screen again, and ordered more
reinforcements from the least oppressed quads; ordering the
remainder to entrench themselves deeper around the systems
surrounding Jurai. No they won't take us easily.
Ships of Jurai are sentient, and their deaths did not pass
unnoticed.
Washuu looked upon the ruins of breakfast forlornly. At
least it didn't burst into flames this time.
"The eggs are fine I'm telling you!" Ryouko yelled.
"Maybe they're fit for YOUR consumption, but I don't think
any of us could handle it." Ryouko frowned at Ayeka's implication.
Like I'll get a real response from you, princess. She
hurumphed and thought, I'll ask someone else. "Minagi, what do
you think?" Minagi remained silent and slightly green.
"Something wrong, Sasami?" Washuu asked suddenly. Everyone
stopped.
Sasami was startled out of her preoccupation, and looked at
Washuu a little strangely.
"N..No nothing is wrong." she went back to staring blankly
at the wall belying her last statement.
Washuu started getting concerned. "Are you sure?" Sasami
didn't respond. "Sasami." Still no response. "Sasami!" She
wilted to the floor. "SASAMI!" Everyone gathered around her.
Those in the living room had had heard and rushed into the
kitchen.
Tenchi and Cyraqs scanned her, as did Washuu using her
holoboard. Nothing was wrong physically, but they all saw massive
fluctuations in her psychopattern and massive neurological
activity. What is happening to her?
"I'll get her to your lab." Ryouko told Washuu bending down
to gather Sasami into her arms.
"NO!" Sasami came awake, but it was not Sasami who was
speaking. "Cyraqs, help me!" she pleaded from Ryouko's arms.
He bent and took her hand "How?"
"She's killing them!" she sobbed.
"Who? Who's killing them? Who are they?"
"My children! They're dying! Please save them!" she cried.
Cyraqs rose and his entire focus changed. So she has finally
revealed her hand. You're going to pay for hurting her. "I will
Tsunami." he promised. She smiled up at him. <Tenchi, I've got
to go. Drakhenn.> His clothing shifted to a black outfit similar
to Noob Sabiot's except for he had boots with shin guards and no
mask. Drakhenn and Ryo-ohki flew into the house and took in the
situation immediately. Drakhenn settled himself on Cyraqs'
shoulder; Ryo-ohki settled herself onto Sasami.
"Deneign battle garb." Ryuken whispered.
<I'll go with...> Tenchi started.
<No. Stay here. Something...> Something...
Tenchi felt it too. The cosmic awareness they had was
telling them that something was not right about this situation.
<I understand. Good luck.> Cyraqs nodded in acknowledgment
as he disappeared. <I will protect them.>
Cyraqs reappeared aboard the Ranger. Raiden was waiting for
him.
"The ones that Tsunami was so concerned about are attacking
Jurai." Raiden stated.
"I know."
"The others are waiting."
"Then lets go." The two shifted their presence to where the
others held their position unseen outside the battle front. "How
are they doing?"
Raiden gave him a level gaze. "Not good." The others were
edgy as they waited for the last one that could come. "Hurry up
old man."
"Fuck the geeze." Cyraqs said. He held out his hand and
Drakhenn jumped off his shoulder. He elongated and changed;
sliding into his hand Drakhenn became a golden-red fighting staff
that, when combined with Cyraqs' power, was many times more
powerful than his original. Cyraqs' Dragon Staff. He grasped it
tightly, an electric power was discharged as his hand came in
contact, and made a decision. "Let's just go." The others, tired
of waiting, agreed.
"What the hell are those?" Admiral Godai asked as various
points of intense power appeared all over the battle lines.
"I don't know." answered one of the techs.
Commander Sarnd looked at one of the others on the bridge.
"Give us a visual." One of the screens changed from a tactical
display to a starfield that homed in and magnified on one of the
points of energy to reveal a..."Is that a person?" Incredible. I
have never seen power like this from anything, not even Kain. It
goes completely off our scales.
He watched in awe as that person began methodically
obliterating the incoming warriors with both power blasts and a
weapon which appeared to be a war hammer. Reports began flooding
in from all over of similar occurrences coming from these strange
beings. They were counted to be 3,624. "What are they?" he asked
in wonder.
"Legends." was all the Admiral could reply. I remember
hearing stories about these beings in my youth and how we helped
them. Now they come to help us in our time of need. Thank Kami-
sama!
"Sir we have over a thousand warp holes opening all over the
system."
"WHAT?!" A thousand?! How is that possible?
"The count is...we haven't got an accurate count."
"Tell our ships to help these beings where they can." It's
almost like the enemy was expecting them to show. Otherwise why
didn't they just overwhelm us to begin with? Suddenly the
Admiral, the Commander, and the Grand Marshall felt very small as
they arrived at the same conclusion, and looked at each other in
silent communication.
We are being used as pawns.
"Tenchi did not leave with him." Tetran stated.
"So do we still attack?" D3 asked.
"Yes, we should be able to handle him and any others that
might be down there."
"What about your brethren?"
"Do not worry. They are all currently busy now." he bore his
teeth in a feral smile.
"Then should we..."
"Not yet. They must be completely focused on the task at
hand. Then it will be safe to continue."
"And when will that be?" Abel asked.
"Soon. Very soon." Yes, soon ultimate victory will be mine.
They lapsed into the gestalt mindset. Slowly, methodically
they cut a swath of destruction through the ranks of the invaders.
This was no battle; this was more of a slaughter. It was obvious
who had the power advantage, but they still kept coming. Even the
gestalt had to be weary of them.
They wield Light Hawk wings.
Then we must not let them get too close to us.
Easy enough.
Suddenly the gestalt felt massive warp hole openings all over
the system.
What the hell?
More ships and people than could ever be imagined poured
through the holes, and just when it seemed that there couldn't
possibly be any more, more poured through. No matter what
the gestalt did; more and more kept coming.
It was enough to give even the gestalt pause. And they
hesitated long enough for groups of around two thousand or more
of the enemy to gather and focus their energies on the beings of
power.
All dodged or managed to get a shield of some sort up in
time. All but one.
RUMIA! they cried. It was too late, but he managed to dodge
the brunt of it at the last second. He bore a shocked look, then
concentrated and vanished.
He will live. But it will take him time to put himself back
together.
We must be careful! They nearly killed one of us!
We should close off this sector of space.
Tried that. Something is blocking us.
What could have the power?
More than likely they have even more than we are seeing now.
Enough to force through anything one of us could shield.
No time to confirm that. We have to protect Jurai.
Then we tough it out.
For hours they fought back and fourth across the outside of
the sector. The enemy fell by the millions, but they just kept
coming. And coming. And coming.
Many more of their number fell. While it was fortunate they
still lived; if this kept up they were going to be whittled down
and wiped out. It almost made Cyraqs laugh. I underestimated
her. Definitely.
He sent out a power bolt that could have crushed a star and
obliterated a couple million of the invaders. 5 times as many
took their places.
She did have an army. We won't back down; not while the lady
of light's home is in danger. Problem: it's possible they will
destroy even us. Destroy even us? He couldn't spare the time to
complete the thought process.
He flew through the ranks of the cloned soldiers destroying
thousands as he went. He couldn't risk too many of those power
blasts; that could cause irreparable damage to the universe.
So he had to do this personally; and they just kept coming.
Occasionally even they would miss a gathering of them and
they would be able to pull off that weird gestalt Light hawk force
blast. It made for some hazardous flying, but no one ever said
this job was safe.
Grimly he kept going; idly wondering how many could there
fucking be?!
Tokimi watched the progress of the battle. She had thrown
only a fraction of her total forces at them. A large fraction,
but nothing that couldn't be easily replaced. Though with
ultimate victory so close in her grasp, she wouldn't need them.
That caused her to smile. Yes, so far Tetran's strategy has
proved most effective. Tsunami's forces, these 'star gods', and
the GP are all occupied. No one will be able to stop me once I
start.
<NOW!> she heard a psychic scream directed at her. Tetran
has begun. Good. Soon, she thought; shuddering in anticipation.
Tetran had been watching the battle in his minds eye, and
though his link with his former comrades was weak it was still
there. Now he, thought, now they are concentrating completely
on the fight.
"D3." D3 looked at him in anticipation.
"Now?"
"<NOW!>" he yelled.
The eight of them streaked to the Earth breaking through the
Dampening field being maintained first by Cyraqs and now by
Tenchi.
It was late in the evening; all had been pacing back and
fourth worriedly.
"Damnit I hate waiting!" Tenchi complained.
"You and me both. But sometimes it must be so." Hayes told
him.
"This is an unfortunate truth, Tenchi. Quit pacing it will
do you no good."
Tenchi looked at his grandfather and Hayes in irritation.
How can they sit there and meditate while there is a war going on
out there that could prove the downfall of everything. He fumed a
little more till his attention was drawn back to Sasami who was
resting on the couch. She looked a little wan, but otherwise she
was still smiling at them trying to reassure them that she was
alright.
Ryouko was in a similar state as Tenchi. She smelled all
their frustrations and fear. One scent of fear stood out from the
others, and she recognized the scent. It was the scent of her
own.
At first it had been a foreign smell. For most of her life
she had been under the control of another until she was imprisoned
and cut off from that being. She found that to be one thing she
couldn't handle, not the being cut off that was a relief. The
imprisonment. Long days of nothing, but yourself to keep you
company. Each second seeming like an eternity. She went insane
many times, only to come out of it no better off than before, but
at least during those times of madness the time blurred by.
Sometimes it lasted days, sometimes years; but at least it was
time she didn't know about. During one of those times she found
herself looking at a cave, hillsides, trees, grass, the moon so
beautiful and full. The scene so lovely it made her cry out in
joy. Then she realized that she was not lost in her own mind
anymore; she was really seeing this. She had made a fantastic
discovery. She had found out how to separate her astral self from
her physical body.
Freedom. Maybe not the freedom to be physically out, but
freedom none the less. She began to experiment. She couldn't
affect things physically, but she could still pass through them
without effort. She could also move around the general geographic
area relatively easily, but the farther she went from her body,
the harder she found it to move. She also had to return to her
body occasionally to maintain her link to it. So she would not
die.
That was fine she could take that.
She wandered her new domain like this for many years. Most
of the time she had nothing planned out; just needing the
experience of being away. Sometimes, though, with a purpose; a
need to see something that had grabbed her attention. Like
the activities of the people within the house that was close by.
One night she had wandered close by the house and felt an
incredible psychic emanation from it. It was...pleasant to put it
mildly. Curious she wondered what could be causing it. When
she first saw the act of love she was captivated by it. She could
feel their feelings of love, lust, and pleasure emanate from them.
So strong were they; she was feeling them as if they were her own.
She went back many nights, and learned a great deal about it.
She wondered what Yoshou would think if he knew he had taught
her the facts of life.
Eventually that lost it's appeal when she realized she would
never likely be able to do this herself; trapped in the cave like
she was. Depressed she took to wandering the country side again
for many years.
Then, one day, she saw him. He was little more than a
yearling, but he turned to look in her direction; and saw. He SAW
her! No one had ever seen her. No one. Yet this boy; this
baby had acknowledged her existence. At first she didn't know
what to think, or feel. Her confusion didn't last long, as the
lady came by with her son often, and she began smiling and talking
with the infant, who giggled and smiled back. It was then that
she began to first feel the stirrings of the love that is now her
life within her breast. It was a foreign almost forgotten
sensation, but not one she wanted to get rid of.
As he grew he lost the ability to see her. This made her
very sad, but for some reason he always came back; as often as he
could. She relished the way her love would swell within her
every time he would come to play in the cave. No matter where he
was she could feel him through the wards; could almost taste his
living force; so powerful it was. She treasured every moment he
was there.
Then one day he came again, but not as before. He collapsed
upon the stones of the cave, an umbrella in his hand. And the
wail he uttered...she had never heard such pain. Not even when
she destroyed whole worlds had she heard such utter total
consuming despair that now issued forth from his soul.
The scary thing was; she could barely hear it. "Mother..."
she heard him sob. His mother had died that day, and there was
nothing she could do about it. Nothing she could help her love
do. Nothing she could do for him; comfort him. Nothing.
That had to be the first time she remembered smelling that
scent. She found she was now afraid that he wouldn't ever know
how much she loved him. That she would never be able to tell
him so. Be near him, really hold him. Perhaps even do the things
she had watched his grandfather doing with his grandmother;
sharing those feelings with him.
She made a decision right there. I have to escape. After
that she began using what small store of energy she had gathered
through the wards to construct a new gem, but there was not enough
there. How to do it? Only one way she could think to do it.
There was another source, it was the small amount of energy the
wards allowed through to sustain her life. It was dangerous
and would take some time, but she had learned patience in the
cave. She could do this.
One day however, he had come and released her, before she had
completed her work. The rest of the story is known.
Since then she has found others to care for. Every time they
were in danger she smelled that scent. That had happened a lot in
the recent times, causing her to become very familiar with that
scent. She couldn't bear that smell and the feeling that
accompanied it. So she would lay her life down for these others.
This pretty little magical blue-haired girl especially.
She had a quality that touches the soul and makes you want
her to smile. Every smile looked like heaven; every frown
like...there wasn't a comparison to the way it made her feel.
You could feel the love she holds for you just by being near her,
and she was so open and honest with it. It was just not in her
nature to hate anyone; even the one who had nearly killed her one
time.
Every time she thought about that incident; she smelled that
scent.
Now something else was hurting her, and again like with
Tenchi before, there was nothing she could do about it.
Fear, frustration all piled up; she wanted so badly to get up
and smash something she had not even noticed her battle garb
settling around her. They are hurting my best friend! My brother
could be hurt or dead now too! Damnit! I don't even know what's
going on! She walked over and sat down beside Sasami for about
the fifteenth time.
"Hey there little Sasami."
"Hi." she smiled weakly. "I'm alright."
You're brave. Much braver than me. But whatever is
affecting Tsunami this bad is affecting you too. I can do nothing
for you. Well nothing is going to get to you. I swear it
on...she smiled when she remembered the phrase that Cyraqs had
once used...I swear it on my life and on my soul; nothing will
harm you.
"Thank you Ryouko." It wasn't Sasami who spoke. But it was
Sasami who smiled at her.
"Don't worry you two. It'll be alright." Ryouko wasn't sure
who she was trying to convince though.
Ayeka had watched the exchange from the foot of the couch.
Ryouko was her rival that was true. At times that had caused some
of the most bitter insults to pass her lips, and fights that would
destroy sections of this house. There was one thing that Ayeka
couldn't deny was that Ryouko loved her little sister and would
fight to the death (and possibly after), to make sure she would be
safe.
Ryouko looked up at her and their eyes locked for a minute.
Yes, they both agreed, only over our dead bodies.
Washuu was busily typing into her holopad sitting on the
floor; until Hayes finally came up beside her and forcibly shut
the screen down. She looked up at him in irritation momentarily
before he crushed her in a hug worthy of any Misaki ever gave her.
It almost sounded like she let out a small sob, or it could have
been the rustling of her in his shirt.
"Should have asked to go with him. I hate feeling useless."
Kiyone said to herself pacing opposite of Tenchi. Occasionally
wisps of green energy would fly off her form as she lost
control of her feelings for a second.
"You said it." Minagi had been pacing with Kiyone; cracking
her knuckles over and over. It was strange how they seemed to get
along.
Y'mir was outside practicing Katas. His way of dealing with
this.
Mihoshi sat on the floor beside Sasami; trying to comfort a
worried Ryo-ohki. And a worried Ryuken too.
A sudden beeping startled them all out of their mood. Except
for Tenchi who began staring out into space.
"What is it?" Ryuken asked Mihoshi.
She looked down at her microcomputer on her wrist. "Something
is coming toward us."
"And fast." Kiyone added.
"INCOMING!" Tenchi threw up a shield.
Nobiyuki was trudging toward his house; back from another day
at the office. Y'know this long distance commuting really sucks.
Only a few more years to retirement though.
"Hello, my son. How goes it?"
He looked at the owner of the voice. "Oh not too bad. Could
use a break from work." he chuckled.
"I think at times we all could."
"Say, aren't you the priest that's been visiting dad
recently?"
The priest shrugged slightly in his garb. "Yes."
"What's up? Something going on in the spiritual community?"
He barely restrained a laugh. "You could say that." A
beeping sound only he could hear made him pause his interrogation.
What's...he looked up at the sky...that?
Nobiyuki suddenly heard a high pitched whistling sound coming
from overhead. He looked up with the priest, and saw what
appeared to be a meteor heading right toward his house. "That's
not too good is it?" he asked.
"No, it's not." the priest grinned.
Oh Shit! Here we go again. For some reason though he felt a
strange foreboding when he saw this one. Which was confirmed a
moment later as it crashed into and destroyed his house.
He changed his pace from a slow walk to an out right run.
The priest faded from view; seeming to disappear into nothing.
Tenchi's field held. Barely. What could have such power?
His senses focused on the eight beings that had materialized
in the front of the group. They bashed through the dampening
field and nearly took out my force field.
"See, I told you he could take it." The younger looking one
said to the taller white haired one.
They definitely knew what they were doing. That means they
meant to destroy my house and quite possibly kill all those
inside. Rage flared inside him momentarily and his light hawk
sword and battle gear flared to life. A sentiment quickly
followed by the rest of them.
"Who the hell are you?" he asked through gritted teeth.
"Ah." the younger looking one proffered a bow, "Tenchi I
presume. I guess I'll skip the formalities and other speeches
from bad guys I know you've grown to love over time." Tenchi
tapped his foot on the ground patiently. "Yes well, I bring
greetings from lady Tokimi." Their mood turned even more dark if
at all possible. "I see you have heard of her. Then again that
idiot Dr. Clay was always fucking things up." Tenchi had heard
enough and decided not to wait for them to get any other possible
advantage. He had sized up the two standing together as being
the most dangerous. He just hoped that the others would be able
to take the rest once he committed himself.
He moved and was almost immediately blocked by the younger
one. "Names Tetran. How you doing?" Tenchi bashed the long
sword out of his way only to have to duck under the swipe of D3's
broadsword. These guys are fast and tough.
Tenchi pulled back quickly so he could more easily defend
himself.
"I thought we were supposed to take this one alive?" Tetran
asked.
"Accidents happen." he responded flatly.
"Yes they do; don't they?"
Tenchi moved again; faster than light, he was blocked,
parried, and slowly forced back; forced to fight a defensive
battle. I hope the others are having a better time.
Azaka and Kamidake had been blown back from the initial
blast. Quickly recovering they launched themselves at the first
two they came to.
The nearest one; a young man with black clothing smiled
mockingly. "Pathetic." He raised his staff and sent out a force
bolt that stopped the guardians, but did not destroy them as he
had hoped. "More powerful than I expected." One of the others; a
man clothed in black clothing and a midnight beard, added his
power to his comrades. The two guardians fought back, but they
never stood a chance. They were blown to pieces by the combined
power blast.
The princess Ayeka saw this. They had just..."AZAKA!
KAMIDAKE!"
Yoshou and Hayes wasted no time an attacked the ones clad in
black like the others that had destroyed the guardians. Hayes
willed his weapons; blade bracers (think Guyver folks), onto
his arms and the Tenchi-ken sprang to life in Yoshou's hand. The
two moved fluidly and struck at the two members of Tokimi's
personal body guard with the skill of centuries of combat
experience and training. Unfortunately so had the two they were
fighting.
Yoshou took the younger of the two. He took the offensive
and pushed his opponent away from Ayeka, Sasami, Ryo-ohki, and
Washuu. This guy is good! He's matching me blow for blow, and
I'm not holding back, he thought as he dodged a swipe of the
falcion to the side. He locked blades with him momentarily and
smiled. "You're not bad. What's your name?"
The man returned the smile. "Malroth."
"You cannot beat De'saad that easily!" His two short swords
reflected the setting sun as he waited for the one who had taken
him by surprise.
Hayes had flown at the man initially launching him far away
from the fight. He hoped that had taken most of the fight away as
he flew toward where his enemy fell. It did not.
His face remained neutral as he landed. "Talk less; fight
more."
De'Saad leapt at him their blades striking back and fourth
faster and faster; looking a lot like a fight scene from Dragon
Ball Z. Neither could seem to gain an upper hand. It was going
to be a long night.
Y'mir was having problems. Tenchi had taken his fight to the
air and as far away as he could to minimize the chance of any of
them getting killed in a power backlash. His father, Mihoshi, and
Kiyone were busy with the moving blob. Ryouko and his wife were
circling the black cloaked one; battle outfits on and swords in
hand. His father and Yoshou had taken two of the others out of
the fight. Ayeka, Ryo-ohki, and Washuu had set up some sort of
field around the little one. As for him...he pulled back and
fourth between these two in front of him. They had destroyed the
guardians and for that they would die. But they had destroyed
them so it would do to be cautious.
"May I have the names of those who are about to die at my
hands?" he asked with a flair.
"Tetta." the bearded one said gruffly.
The younger one kept his amused expression when he answered.
"Tessei."
The two flew at him, and it was all he could do to keep ahead
of them. He wasn't going to win this fight like this. In fact,
he thought as he was led into a series of blows that weakened
him greatly, I'm not going to win.
The one that would finish him came from Tessei. He was
stopped in midstride.
The three combatants looked in shock as Tessei couldn't move.
A blade blacker than any night appeared, blocking the staffs
downward thrust. A man appeared after.
"Hello, name's Kagato. Don't suppose I'm intruding any?" the
priest grinned.
Mihoshi looked at the mass of energies in front of her. Kain
a voice said in her head. "We killed you!" she shouted.
The energy mass appeared to stiffen then grew angry. "So you
were the ones who killed my brother."
"And we're going to do the same to you!" Kiyone shouted. Her
vision turned red; the rage she had felt since she had found out
about Kain had been dampened, but never truly squelched. Now
faced with this being who claimed to be Kain's brother, who had
tried to kill them all, the rage had flared to new heights; and it
had a target.
Twin stars of power formed on either hand. Wordlessly she
projected the energy at him in a beam of intense power; causing a
massive explosion in his general vicinity. A smile of
satisfaction formed on her lips. Rot in hell.
"Uh, Kiyone?"
"What?" she turned in toward Mihoshi.
"Umm...I don't think you quite know what your facing."
Say what? Out of the corner of her eye she noticed the dust
and debris swirling away from the epicenter of the blast; not due
to any wind.
"Here let me show you what power is!" Abel rumbled as he came
into view. Lightning flashed from his arms pinning them both to
the ground. Kiyone's cosmic energies flared around her, but try
as she might she couldn't break free. Suddenly the being screamed
in pain as a figure jumped from behind him, twisted in mid air,
his sword cutting through the beings face. She was free and
wasted no time in converting her form to something that would be a
little more useful in the fight. A woman of green energy stood
now where Kiyone once did.
Ryuken grinned, "Seems even someone like you can't take a
Deneign's Soul Sword and walk away unscathed." Abel growled and
let his humanoid visage dissolve; his mass growing into that of
the demon he truly was. Ryuken's grin faded. "Oh shit."
This guy just doesn't quit! Minagi threw another lightning
blast at the cowled being and nothing seemed to be getting through
to him. And his own blasts, while powerful, where just barely
missing her. Ryouko was having similar luck.
Ryouko had had enough; forming her beam saber in her hand she
charged him. Only to have her forward momentum stopped as a hand
blacker than midnight came from inside the cloak and grabbed the
sword before it could descend on him. He backhanded her toward
the mountain.
He's just playing with us, Minagi realized. Grimly she
formed her own sword and hoped that Ryouko had distracted him
enough for her to move. She shifted herself to right beside him
and cut him in a downward spiraling arc. Her sword went right
through him, and she gasped as the cloak fell away as that was the
only damage it had done.
A vaguely humanoid form made of some kind of inky black
energy turned toward her eyes glowing red. And though it had no
facial features and no mouth; you could tell it was smiling.
I'm dead; she thought. Until a Kitana of light hawk energy
attempted to cut through him. He dodged but not in enough time to
prevent all damage. He jumped back and stared in shock at
the fact his arm was no longer there.
"Fucking Djinn!" Tsunami spat at him.
Minagi could only stare at her. She had seen Tsunami before;
she was always so happy and heartwarming to be around. Now
clothed in her battle gear; hair tied into one pony tail, a dark
green skin suit that flared out around her legs loosely, her
breast plate that began at her shoulders and went down between her
legs and around her back was multi-colored, her face having five
'leaves' tattoos on either side, green metallic bracers on her
arms, and a strange head band (similar to what Tokimi's looks
like) on her head; she looked nothing like that. She looked
pissed as hell and ready to kill! Especially with the two
Kitana's she held in either hand. The one she had labeled as a
Djinn backed away. He did not want to face the one that had
killed so many of his brethren personally in battle, especially
not wounded.
Suddenly she looked away. "Shit!" She glanced at Minagi;
still keeping the Djinn in her sights. "I've wounded him; try to
keep him busy. Tenchi needs help." Tsunami vanished. Alright!
thought Minagi. Ryouko appeared next to her and they charged him
again.
Tenchi parried a blow from D3's broad sword and delivered a
counterstrike that sent D3 careening into a nearby mountain. He
barely pulled around in enough time to dodge a forward thrust that
would have given him a new body cavity. He pulled his sword
around to knock Tetran's long saber-sword down and pulled around
him in mid air; kicking him in the back with enough force to plant
him a few feet into the ground. Keep in mind these guys are
absorbing blows that would shatter worlds; the property damage is
simple backlash.
Tenchi jumped out of the crater he had used Tetran to make
and was nearly decapitated. I've got to keep them going like
this. If we start with the power blasts we could well
accidentally destroy this planet, he thought flipping back
gracefully. At least until Tetran phased out from under him;
tripping him with enough strength to send him spiraling to the
ground. He rolled out of the way of D3's follow through jump and
pound him into the ground. But he didn't avoid Tetran's two
footed flying kick that sent him rocketing into the nearby
mountain.
This is not good. Don't know how much longer I can keep this
up.
D3 and Tetran rushed to face him. He backed off warily.
The one he knew as Tetran smiled at him. "You are an
incredible fighter, Tenchi. Seems Cyraqs has taught you well."
He also knew that this 'Tetran' was one of them. A traitor?
How is that possible?
The quiet one continued to advance on him. This guy was
almost at his power level, but was not one of them. Didn't matter
he was out to kill, and Tenchi treated him accordingly. Problem
was with the two of them there he was the one most likely to die.
<Cyraqs!> he called, but felt himself...blocked.
Tetran chuckled as he felt Tenchi's mind try to pierce the
barrier over his world. "As you can see; between D3 and myself
you can't call for reinforcements." he lost his smile, "And as I
really can't stop my friend here I don't think you have long to
live." Tenchi smiled back. Well, I guess I'll have to take you
two with me then.
"Can anyone join this party or is it a private gathering?" a
melodical voice rang out from behind D3 and Tetran.
Tetran turned and began to sweat. "Tsunami." She'd be a
problem all by herself, now with both her and Tenchi...I need an
edge. He remembered something he had seen earlier. I didn't want
to start with this; the chances of killing one of the ones we need
it very great. But when backed into a corner, get desperate.
Without warning he threw a bolt of star force at Tsunami.
She barely got her light hawk shield up in enough time to disburse
the energies into something harmless, but it wasn't completely
transmuted; the rest of it, enough to destroy around ten Earths,
she had to soak up personally and sent her flying into the
mountain behind her.
Tenchi hit Tetran with a power blast of his own; knocking him
to the ground. He moved to finish it quickly. Not quickly enough
as D3 managed to interpose himself between the two.
Have to move now, Tetran thought. That power blast was
potent, and well controlled. It also screwed my power up a
little, but not enough to keep me from getting to the initial
blast site.
Tsunami desolidified herself and dropped to the ground as she
witnessed Tetran taking off toward the others. Oh great Father,
he's going after Sasami! She tried to move, but fell to the
ground. She tried to get up but found herself a little too groggy
from his unexpected attack; that must have taken a lot out of him
too, but not enough. I can't get to him in time...CYRAQS! HEAR
ME PLEASE! HELP US!
"What the?" Cyraqs barely dodged out of the way of one of
their blasts before he sent out an multibanded energy spike;
obliterating the group that attacked him. Tsunami! I hear you!
You see, there are connections in the universe that cannot be
severed; they share one such connection. He tried to reach out to
the Earth but found his way...bared.
GO! he heard the gestalt say. It is apparent now what is
going on. Those here should be enough to prevent them from
destroying Jurai. GO!
Like you could stop me! he replied.
Nor would we want to. Be warned we will discuss this later.
He shifted himself as close as he could to the Earth, but
whatever was blocking him before was preventing him from shifting
closer.
Outmaneuvered. Only way she could have done that is if she
knew about us, knew I was watching. How? Worry about that later.
Time to even the score. He pulled his power around him and
descended to the earth at near light speed.
Tetran had sped as fast as he could toward the few holding up
the field. Damnit! Have to do this carefully or I risk hurting
both Washuu and the girl. Washuu won't bend, but if I take the
girl they'll all back down.
Then he felt his barrier pierced. Cyraqs so good of you to
join us.
Cyraqs scanned the scene in a nanosecond and wasted no time
in finding the strongest enemy energy signature he could find.
That would probably be the one who will give them the most
trouble. D3 almost didn't' see it coming.
He hit D3 with the force of an exploding planet; staggering
him. Cyraqs moved in a blur punching him in the gut, the face,
and rib cage. D3 grabbed at the smaller man only to find his
arm already put into some kind of lock and, with a mighty heave,
Cyraqs threw him towards outer space. He quickly followed.
Tenchi looked toward the camera. "Uh...yeah."
There are times when I am glad I'm not as powerful as D3,
Tetran commented to himself. The first one he goes after is the
most powerful around. Typical Cyraqs. He had approached the
barrier without much interference, as everyone else was otherwise
occupied. They saw him getting closer, and began throwing
everything they could muster at him through the barrier.
Cyraqs had met D3 in space; striking him with a force of a
star being born which sent them shooting toward Mars. Still
fighting they crash landed on the surface with like an exploding
comet and continued fighting underground, causing explosions all
along the surface. Soon the planet started feeling the effects,
fissures began opening, Volcanoes long dormant became active
again, and polar ice caps began to melt. Finally, with an
explosion that put a couple of other noticeable craters in the
planet, they resurfaced in a mountain range some distance from
each other.
D3 began throwing energy blasts at the smaller man. Nimbly
Cyraqs dodged, twisted, and jumped from mountain to mountain in
ways that would be impossible for anything that couldn't warp
reality. D3 finally got frustrated with his lack of effect and
after sending one more volley at him (the surrounding mountains
had already been obliterated in case you were wondering) willed
his sword in existence and shifted himself closer to Cyraqs. Only
to find he wasn't there. What the?!
Cyraqs had anticipated this and had moved himself just a hair
out of the way and right behind D3. D3 barely turned before he
received a staff upside the face; breaking his nose, and a side
kick that pushed him back. Cyraqs had underestimated the
endurance of D3 however, and came in on the receiving end of a
back hand strike that sent him flying into another part of the
mountain range. This was unlike the fight he had with Tenchi who
had been holding back and trying to outmaneuver them so he
wouldn't accidentally hurt his friends. This being had removed
that obstacle by removing them from the main battle area. Tenchi
probably could have done this himself, had he thought of it. Such
is the consequences of youth and inexperience.
Cyraqs picked himself out of the mountain and ran his hand
over the trickle of blood that came from his lip. This guy can
give it as well as take it. He smiled in anticipation as D3 came
into view; his nose broken and bloodied on his face. "Let's
rock!" Cyraqs yelled.
Washuu had been a problem throwing all those weird weapons
and explosives at him after he had battered down Ayeka and Ryo-
ohki's shield. Still it only took him a couple of seconds subdue
her too.
He reached for Sasami only to have something try to stop him.
He paused momentarily as it seemed a man, nothing special about
him, was actually attempting to restrain him from behind. He
grasped the man and flipped him over his shoulder and ran him
through on the ground. He took note the man had no fear in his
gaze only determination as he weakly tried to pull himself up, and
get to Tetran. "You won't get th..." he trailed off as his life
fled his body. Be proud, Tetran told him silently. You have a
warriors soul, and have received a warriors death.
Sasami screamed.
He paid it no mind. Grasping her roughly, he put his sword
up to her throat just as Tsunami and Tenchi appeared nearby.
"*SURRENDER NOW!*" So powerful was his statement those locked in
combat stopped. Then saw what was happening.
Tenchi looked at the man next to Tetran. Already dead.
"Father." he said quietly. HE KILLED MY...Anger, seething anger
was all he felt. His vision went red, and only the fact that
he held Sasami at sword point prevented him from attacking.
"And if you don't wish the same fate to befall this girl, I'd
suggest you surrender now!" Tetran called to him.
"You bastard! The hell we will!" Tenchi yelled, "Don't
worry Sasami, we'll get you out of there!" <Can't you do
something Tsunami?>
<No. He would feel it instantly, and then who knows what he
might do.>
Tetran had his sword pressed very close to her young throat,
effectively cannexing any further offensive action. "You will
give me what I want. Or this young girl you've been protecting..."
he pressed the blade closer to her neck causing her to gasp in pain
as a little trickle of blood flowed from the wound, "gets a new
smile!" he sneered.
"You're going to die slow and painfully!" Ryouko promised
him darkly.
"Maybe," he conceded, "but not today. Now give me what I
want."
"What do you want?" Hayes asked.
"I want what Tokimi wants; I want Tsunami," her gaze burned
through him, "Washuu," who stiffened, "and I want those gems of
Ryouko's; as well as the one's on that sword of yours Warrior." he
glanced at Yoshou.
Tenchi looked at him with murderous intent. "Tokimi wants me
too; why haven't you asked for that?"
"You think I'm suicidal?" he grinned, "Now, what's it going
to be? I don't have too much time because I don't think D3 can
take Cyraqs. Decide!" He commanded as the blood flowed a
little faster from Sasami's throat.
As predicted D3 wasn't doing too good. They had been
throwing each other across the nearly dead world, but it seemed he
had been taking the worst of it. He was more powerful, but for
some reason he couldn't match this smaller man in fighting skills.
He was putting too much of his power into these blows and it was
beginning to take it's toll.
He tried a leg sweep followed by a downward slice of his
sword; quickly jumped, avoided, and countered as Cyraqs' dragon
staff broke another of his ribs. Too weak to heal himself; he
ignoring the pain.
He tried to spin and block the next strike; which was just
to knock his sword arm out of the way and much faster than D3
could move anymore, Cyraqs back flipped kicking D3 nearly a mile
into the air, and before D3 could recover Cyraqs flew up and
struck him in the face with his staff driving him into the ground.
D3 groggily pulled himself from the from the impression he
had made in the mountains and watched as Cyraqs settled himself on
the ground about half a km away. He smiled. So I am defeated.
Better to die; than to see my love win, and be forever without
her.
He got up and charged the smaller man screaming like a
madman.
Cyraqs stood his ground as D3 approached. Still he did
nothing the closer D3 got. It wasn't until D3 was almost within a
few feet of him that he moved. And when he did it was only to
take his glasses off; to reveal eyes that were glowing bright
white with power.
D3 kept running; his scream changing to something else as he
ran full on into the death blast. He laughed.
"Well?" Tetran asked.
Tsunami let her swords disappear, and went up to him. Her
head was bowed, but the promise of death was still in her bearing.
He wisely kept the sword at Sasami's throat. It almost seemed to
him there was a slight wound on Tsunami's neck. Strange; he
didn't remember doing anything, but hitting her very hard.
Yoshou and Kagato both managed not to grin when Yoshou threw
the Tenchi-ken to Tetran. He grabbed it; and as predicted, it
started trying to destroy him. For all the good it did; it WAS
hurting him, but obviously not enough to distract him much.
"Turn it off, Tsunami!" The sword quit it's power discharge.
"Better." he smiled mockingly. He raised the sword
telekinetically and forcibly took the gems from the hilt allowing
the sword to drop to the ground. Ryouko completed the act by
tossing him hers.
Washuu had been creeping up behind him; hoping to catch him
by surprise. She knew it was a small shot, but it was all they
had. He felt her moving again, and sent another force bolt her
way. She reflexively protected her middle as she was knocked out.
Why did she...he grinned as he pulled her over to him with his
power. That's funny. "Let's go! We have what we came for!"
Azmodeus asked him about D3. He frowned a little. "Casualty of
war." he disappeared taking Tsunami, Washuu, and Sasami with him.
Tenchi could only think of one way to sum up the situation.
"FUCK!"
D3 lay back in the same impression he was blown back into;
his life leaking all around him. So this is death? And welcome
to it. He smiled as his enemy, the one he knew as Cyraqs, came
forward and stood over his broken form.
"So *cough* you were the one who *cough* was spying on us?"
he gasped weakly.
"Yes."
"Finis*cough*...Finish it."
Cyraqs considered the fallen god. "You and I are a lot
alike. We both would do anything for the ladies we love. Only
difference is yours wants to screw up my realm. Mine just wants
her and her family left alone."
D3 laughed weakly, "AND mine wants *cough* another. I don't
th*cough* think that I could live with that. Finish *cough*" he
couldn't get up the strength.
Cyraqs said nothing. He reeled back and punched through D3's
chest. Lifting him, he felt for the source of D3's life and
separated it from him. With a flash of light D3 was dead.
Cyraqs held the body there for a moment, seeing the last thing D3
felt mirrored in his eyes. A strange kind of peace.
Maybe the one above all will grant you another chance.
Forgive me for not paying you proper respects my honored foe, but
I must continue the fight. He lowered the body to the ground,
bowed and shifted himself from the planet.
Cyraqs reappeared on Earth moments after Tetran left.
Something wasn't right. "What the hell's going on?"
"He killed Dad! He took Sasami, Washuu, and Tsunami!" Tenchi
yelled at him.
"SHIT!" Only one place they would have gone; wordlessly he
shifted himself to her galaxy.
"Well now this is getting interesting; don't you think
Tenchi?" Tenchi knew that voice, and he didn't welcome it.
Tenchi kneeled over the body of his father as he answered.
"I killed you Kagato, but somehow I knew you weren't gone!"
"Well now I'm glad you are at least that perceptive. I did
hope you weren't just another tool."
Hayes had heard this mans name and his vision turned blood
red. This guy had imprisoned his WIFE for the past two thousand
galactic standard years. Worse he did it by playing her for a
fool; as she had confided in Hayes; the reason she had went with
him in the first place. She had loved Kagato. Hayes stalked up
to Kagato; who simply smiled back at him unafraid. "Give me one
good reason I shouldn't plant you six feet under!"
"Well for starters; how 'bout the fact I saved your
grandson." He looked over at Y'mir who reluctantly nodded his
head. "And for my next reason; the fact that only I know where to
go to rescue the lady we both love; Hayes K'thardin." Hayes' eyes
bored into him for a moment; before he finally turned away.
Kagato grinned a little more.
Tenchi sealed the body of his father in a crystal construct.
I'm sorry father; it's all I can do for you now. "So where did
Cyraqs go?" Tenchi asked.
"I'm not too sure, but I bet they know." He pointed in the
direction of Ryouko and Minagi who were bent on the ground;
soundlessly clutching their heads in pain.
"Ryouko! Minagi!" The collective cast shouted as they
rushed toward them.
"Here they are. A little shaken up, but unharmed for the
most part. As promised Lady Tokimi."
Tokimi herself stood above Tetran and looked upon his
handiwork. Tsunami glared at her with undisguised hatred and
Washuu, now in her adult form, was unconscious, but not harmed.
Yet there was something strange about her. I'll scan her in
detail later. She idly noticed that he had both the gems she
couldn't figure out, as well as a girl he held at sword point.
<<Why have you brought her?>>
"Insurance."
<<Very well.>> Tokimi took a closer look at her. <<There is
something about her...something different...I shall have to look
into that.>> She suddenly felt something impact the barrier she
had placed around her galaxy. Something powerful. <<Someone is
breaking through my barrier.>>
"It's him." By the way he said it, she knew who he meant.
"Shall I take care of it?" he asked.
<<No.>> She gestured and both Washuu and Tsunami were
suspended in a globe of pure force. She smiled slightly, I think
I wish to meet this being who has been watching us. <<Give me the
gems and leave us. Prepare a suitable strike force to distract
any others that come. Leave this 'Cyraqs' to me.>>
He bowed to her. "Of course." He smirked at Tsunami as he
vanished.
<<And now we have some business to discuss dear sister.>>
Tsunami continued to glare at her sister, but underneath she
was deathly afraid. Cyraqs, Tenchi hurry!
Pain; clarity. That's what Ryouko felt as she clutched her
head. Through the pain she saw Minagi in a similar state. All
because of the last thing Washuu had said; almost subconsciously
to her; no it was subconsciously.
WOTLH batch.
A command file inside of her.
Information was being released within her mind. History,
equations, coordinates, and power! She knew everything about
Tokimi now; where to find her, and what she was after. Minagi
knew this too, she was Ryouko's daughter. Sort of. It had
carried over to her.
Mom has given me what we all need. She has been unconsciously
preparing for this for awhile, and now...pain faded. Both she and
Minagi rose to full height and glowed with their new power. Four
wings of the light hawk flared around each of them. Flowing around
them, it changed their physical forms.
Ryouko looked mostly the same, however her hair had grown
longer and thicker; almost touching the ground behind her, and her
battle outfit was altered. It was a black Kimono type garment
with gold leafy designs all around and blue and red streamers (yes
that picture, slightly modified) at the sides. The inner garment
was a loose free flowing near body suit that was almost the same
color as her hair. Her boots were the same design as the outer
kimono and extended to her knees; As were her gloves, which
extended to her elbows and trailed off in a flared point. She
looked somewhat older; more mature as well.
Minagi's change while not as drastic, was just as profound.
Her battle outfit was no longer that. It was of the same general
design and color scheme but now looked like true body armor
instead of skin tight body suit. Her hair color had changed from
cyan to bright orange-red in hue, and her eyes, now a crystal blue
color, almost glowed. She also appeared to have matured.
WOTHL ended, they both heard inside of them. Now they were
complete. Though still children.
I don't believe this! She knew all along. But she didn't
know she knew, and she gave me...us the information; all of it!
"Follow me!" Ryouko said. She turned to Ryo-ohki who had
undergone a transformation of her own, but they had not seen it
over the light show of the other two. The crystals that had been
part of the Ryo-ohki ship had risen from the lake. They had
merged with her, as had the ship itself. She was taller; around 8
ft tall, and her fur was longer thicker, so straight and rigid it
looked like it could punch through nearly anything. Not to
mention it was a grey-black color with a large red gem nestled
between her breasts.
"Before we go, I think we need to check the guardians."
Kagato smiled.
"What? But..." Ayeka stammered. They were killed. What
does he mean?
"Observe."
They all looked to see two figures of blue energy coalescing
from the wreaked forms of the guardians. Slowly they elongated
and changed; over the next few minutes gaining more and more
definition. Arm, legs, hands, feet, began forming. Once finished
they looked completely human. If you have seen the TV series you
know what they look like.
She couldn't believe it. Not only alive, but..."Azaka?
Kamidake? How..?"
"Long story. We'll tell you later." Azaka stated.
Kamidake smiled at them. "First we kick Tokimi's ass across
the galaxy!"
"Alright then! RYO-OHKI!" Ryouko called.
Ryo-ohki's gems flared red fire, and she screamed in that
inhuman wail as she went through the familiar change. Her
starship form was relatively unaltered except for the large red
jewel on what could now be called the front.
Kagato walked up to Tenchi. "Let's go. I'll follow you in
my own ship."
"I'll go with you then."
Kagato's eyes lit up. "What? Don't you trust me?"
Tenchi jaw tightened slightly.
"I see."
Ayeka had been conferring with the two now humanoid
guardians. Now they approached Kagato and Tenchi.
Azaka spoke. "We wish to accompany you personally, Lord
Tenchi."
Kagato chuckled. Heh, now it gets fun! He concentrated;
sending a mental command to his ship which beamed the four of them
up. Ryo-ohki followed suit and grabbed those assembled.
They found the Ranger waiting for them in orbit.
So what do we do?
We wait here.
But Tokimi has my sisters!
Yes, but as long as she stays where she is we can't do
anything to her.
I can.
You'll die. Tip her off. And she'll win.
So what would you have me...
PATIENCE! I realized something a little while ago; this goes
far beyond even what you think it does. I have faith in those
that have been chosen. Cyraqs and Tenchi will provide us an
opportunity.
So the barrier prevents me from teleporting inside. No
problem, Cyraqs thought. He drew in his power and focused it on
the pink energy in front of him. A hole began to open, and
as soon as it was large enough for him; he stepped through. You
think that's going to stop me you're wrong! he smiled grimly. He
started flying through the space of her galaxy many times the
speed of light, the analytical part of his mind wondered how the
hell he expected to take her down this way; when there was a
reason he didn't do it the first time.
His smile turned from grim to smartass. When you're out of
options; get nuts.
A holoscreen appeared on the bridge of Kagato's ship as they
sped through a hyperdimensional wormhole that Ryo-ohki had set up.
"Listen, if she assimilates both Washuu and Tsunami; she will
have supplanted the very consciousness of the universe. She will
become all that is." Ryouko explained. "Everything will be
subject to her whim."
"How is that possible? Why those two?" Tenchi asked.
Ryouko looked about ready to answer, but Kagato cut her off.
"It would take too long to explain. Let us plan instead on
taking her out."
"But we can't touch her!" Tenchi protested.
"At the moment of triumph the enemy will be most vulnerable.
That's when we strike!"
Ryouko looked at him with undisguised scorn. "That doesn't
sound too scientific to me, doctor!"
Ah my daughter, still impetuous as ever I see. "Ryouko;
don't you know by now that there comes a time when you just shut
up and take things on faith?" Kagato grinned mockingly.
Tokimi had assumed more human proportions, to better interact
with her captives. She was going to enjoy torturing those that
had defeated her in the past before she took their power. Too bad
Achika is dead, but I might still complete the process with
Tenchi's aid. Yet her curiosity about the small blue-haired girl
was piqued. What is it about her? She approached the terrified
girl and cupped her chin in her hand looking deep within her eyes.
<<Relax child, you have nothing to fear from me, as of yet.>>
Sasami continued to quail as she felt Tokimi stare into her soul.
"Leave her alone!"
Tokimi paused her examination and walked up to Tsunami; held
within her force globe. <<My dear sister, you are in no position
to make demands.>> She reeled back and casually backhanded
Tsunami. She noted that Sasami was sent flying to the ground a
trickle of blood ran down from her lip onto her cheek. She turned
and studied Sasami momentarily, then turned back to Tsunami. A
trickle of multicolored liquid energy (energon?) was running down
from her bottom lip onto her chin. Tokimi grasped Tsunami through
the forcefield by the chin; not unlike she held Sasami before.
<<So that's it. That little girl is you.>> Tokimi turned and
held out her hand. Sasami's was raised from her position and
floated towards them. Fear still very evident on her face.
Sasami stopped in front of Tokimi, and she grasped Sasami's
bloodied face yet again. <<Yet I see she doesn't know it. But
why...>> she smiled as she discovered something within the girl,
<<I see. Once an adult; your powers will increase by a factor of
four, won't they? I must have this young girl.>>
"Tenchi and Cyraqs will come!" Sasami told her. "They'll
stop you."
<<My dear girl, I'm counting on it.>>
Washuu began to stir.
<<Ah I see, my other sister is awake now.>>
Washuu groggily came out of it and began to stare at her.
"Lady Tokimi, I presume."
<<Yes.>>
Ryo-ohki brought the three ships out of Hyperdimensional
space (a little different from normal hyperspace). "We're here!"
Ryouko smiled. Yes we are! "Good Job, Ryo-ohki!"
"So what do we do now?" Hayes asked.
The Ranger, by far the largest of the three ships, formed his
crystal shard shield and rammed the pink energy. Right where a
hole was already conveniently provided; courtesy of Cyraqs
K'thardin's previous entry. It took it a few seconds, and one
hell of a light show, but eventually broke through, leaving a hole
big enough for all three ships to pass.
Hayes looked at the Ranger strangely. Yeah, alright, sure.
"I guess that solves that problem."
"What do you mean 'other sister'?" Washuu asked.
<<You don't know do you?>> she smiled, <<But of course you
wouldn't. I've finally figured these gems out.>> the three gems
appeared within Tokimi's outstretched hand. <<They're where you
have put your recovering powers and memories. To hide yourself,
even from yourself, you gave them to your daughter, who
unknowingly has been using your power. A true stroke of genius.>>
"What do you expect from the greatest scientific mind in the
universe?" She grinned as Tsunami groaned at the familiar phrase.
"So what are you going to do about all this?" Have to buy time.
Time enough for the gang to get here.
Tokimi let the bubble around Washuu fade. <<Oh I think I'll
just do this.>> Her hand deliberately closed over the gems and
squeezed hard. With a grating sound accompanied by a flash of
light she crushed them. Ten lighthawk wings sprang from her hands
and sped toward Washuu. They rushed inside of her filling her.
Power and memories came at her in a flood. <<Invigorating isn't
it?>>
Fast too fast. She screamed and fell to the floor holding
herself. Tokimi smiled; enjoying the sight. It thankfully ended,
very quickly. She expected Washuu to do something like look at
her in anger; perhaps even hatred. Instead Washuu rose, and
clutched her lower abdomen. It appeared she was mouthing
something over and over after a moment.
Thank God.
Thank God.
To say Tokimi was puzzled would be an understatement. Until
she rewrapped Washuu in her force bubble, and scanned her more
thoroughly. Her eyes widened; today is a day just full of
surprises isn't it, she thought to herself. <<My, my sister.
That could have damaged the little one couldn't it have?>> Now
Washuu gave her a look that promised she would track her down to
the ends of the universe and kill her a thousand times over.
Tokimi simply laughed. <<I do hope you have your memories back.>>
"Tokimi, you just put my unborn child in danger. That's just
one more thing you'll be sent to hell for!" Washuu said slow and
deadly.
<<I think not.>>
Tsunami had been struggling against her bonds as had Washuu.
To no avail. Tokimi had always been stronger, and they weren't
quite as powerful as they once were. Not to mention it appeared
that she had found a way to augment her already incredible
strength. They had no way to break free.
<<This may take some time, and will be quite painful for
you.>> she smiled. <<Also fatal. But don't worry Tsunami, I'll
take good care of Sasami here.>> Streams of energy began pouring
from them both, and into Tokimi. As promised pain accompanied the
process. The pain of having your very life stripped away; yet
neither gave Tokimi the satisfaction of screaming. The same could
not be said of Sasami who screamed at the top of her lungs, before
the pain became too much, and she lost consciousness. <<After
all, with you dead she will need a connection to a higher power to
stay alive. I will be that connection, and our collective might
will be increased even further. Together with Tenchi we should be
able to replace the consciousness of all.>>
Suddenly a sound, not unlike the sound an atomic bomb makes
when it explodes, echoed inside the fortress.
So you're finally here, Tokimi thought. I have a warm
welcome already prepared for you.
Cyraqs had reached the general area outside the fortress
without incident. As much as he may have wanted to cause a few
problems on the way; he knew he had to conserve his power for
the confrontation with Tokimi. With that in mind, he had been
masking his presence from all scans.
He flew toward the fortress, and once he reached it tried to
phase through the structure. He found himself to be blocked, just
like his ability to teleport anywhere in the universe. That will
not stop me. Need to take some precautions before I start.
He released his staff. "I need you to stay behind; wait for
the others. They may need help, if...when they track me down."
But...Drakhenn began as he flowed back to his smaller drake
form.
"No 'buts.' I need an ace in the hole and you're it. Now
hide for a minute." Drakhenn reluctantly did as told.
He chuckled a little as he watched Drakhenn fly off. That
kid is too much like me. Oh well, time to finish this. He pulled
himself back slightly, and with the force of a super nova,
destroyed the wall in front of him. That probably got someone's
attention, he thought. He peered inside and saw the passage ways
crowded with those cloned warriors waiting. Yep, thought so. He
grinned in anticipation. "Let's have some fun!"
The power drain continued, yet occasionally Tokimi would look
away for a moment as blast after blast got closer to them.
"Your dead now." Washuu mocked Tokimi.
<<I seriously doubt that.>>
"Ah, but you don't know who your dealing with. When Cyraqs
and Tenchi get here you're going to wish you had never been born."
<<We'll see.>>
<Paranoid-Black Sabath>
Cyraqs faced another and grabbed the man's sword arm in one
hand and hit his face with the other. He went flying back and
exploded before he even hit the wall; body parts flying
everywhere.
Another came at him. Too slow. He backhanded him through a
wall.
Three more came for him, their light hawk wings protruding
from their armor. Doesn't work if it don't connect. He swatted
them aside as if they were insects.
Another came from behind and he elbowed him THROUGH the
face.
Two came from the sides, and he grasped them both by the
chin; breaking their necks in one smooth motion.
They came at him from all sides; in groups of however many
could attack him at once. They couldn't form their gestalt light-
hawk blast here without causing serious damage, maybe even the
destruction of something important. He couldn't use any of his
full powers for the same reason, so it came down to who was better
at fighting close quarters. That answer was obvious. Cyraqs
looked like nothing more than the Fist of the North Star as he
walked through the halls. Any who came in contact with his blows
either died immediately or disintegrated seconds later. Any walls
that were in his path received new doors. Nothing would stop him
on his way toward the center of the structure where he felt the
lives of his loved ones.
Azmodeus was worried, and suggested something to Tetran.
"No we were told only to stop any others that came. The lady
has something special planned for Cyraqs."
"Well then I don't think we have long to wait; look there."
Abel pointed. All saw the three ships streaking towards their
fortress.
Tetran's eyes lit up. "Call in the super X carriers."
The explosions had stopped. Tokimi wondered if that meant
that the one Tetran had named as Cyraqs had been beaten. That
line of thought didn't even have time to take root in her mind as
the wall in front of her blew inwards, as one of her soldiers was
sent careening through it. Her eyes traced his flight path as he
exploded before he hit the wall behind her; splattering his blood
over the area.
She stared in shock as a short white-haired and bearded man
clothed all in black came strolling in through the hole. Idly he
dusted himself off, and looked around an inane grin on his face.
"Hmmm. Mildly amusing." she heard him say to no one in
particular. His gaze then seemed to focus on her. Especially her
chest. For a good two minutes. "What's up Tokimi? Nice tits."
Tokimi barely heard Tsunami's indignant cry as she facefell.
Kagato looked at the scan results of the two ships on his
holoscreen. "Their power level appears to be a little excessive.
They could destroy this ship easily, probably stop us here, even
kill us." He thought for a moment. "Well all us non-cosmic god
types anyway."
"So what do you suggest?" Tenchi asked him through gritted
teeth.
"Suggest? Why that's simple my dear boy; something they
would never expect." A panel opened up on the control rack to
reveal something that suspiciously looked to Tenchi like a
standard stick shift. "Head on attack!"
<Blurr-Song 2>
He punched the throttle button; aiming the ship straight at
the fortress; shifting gears every so often and dodging power
blast as they came close to the ship.
Azaka and Kamidake clutched their chairs in terror;
screaming at the top of their lungs, "WE'RE GONNA DIE!"
Tenchi started backing away from Kagato, because he was
beginning to grin like a maniac. Everyone I meet is insane!
Hell, with it, he figured. He started grinning too.
"What the hell are those guys doing?" Minagi asked in
disbelief as Kagato's ship crashed next to the larger hole already
in the structure.
"What needs done." Yoshou said simply. "You sure these new
gems will sustain both Ayeka and my life if we step outside of
Ryo-ohki?" Yoshou indicated the one on his sword, and Ayeka
absently touched the one implanted on her tiara key.
"Definitely." Ryouko replied. "You guys be alright?"
Y'mir answered. "We can stay out there for about a day if we
need to."
She nodded. "Send us out Ryo-ohki!"
Ryo-ohki did as bid. "Kick some ass Ryouko!" she said before
turning her attention to the two super X carriers and three
hundred plus soldiers that had targeted her, the Ranger, and
the small group of warriors that had teleported outside.
Four light hawk wings extended and she started targeting the
incoming ships. You'll pay for hurting my friends, she thought in
rage. She powered up and opened fire.
What the hell?! Tokimi thought as she picked herself up.
This is the guy Tetran was so scared of?
Tokimi was in a state of shock, if it can be said goddesses
go into shock. She had heard some amazing things about this man
from Tetran. How he could single handedly take on four or five of
his own kind at once. How many of the universes heroes he had
trained. How he had taken Tetran himself down. She had expected
him to be around 100 feet tall, looking like some kind of humanoid
monster, and radiating power that would flatten a galaxy (though
she felt this guy could do that if he wanted).
Instead she was looking at five foot nothing young man, with
a white hair (I wonder why it's spiked up like that, she wondered)
and beard grinning evilly at her. That and he had just
complimented her on her bust size! What kind of enemy does that?
(Idly she was rather gratified to know they were nice enough to
elicit positive comments from her enemy) Is he nuts? Or does he
know something I don't?
Caution she decided was called for.
Problem was it took her a minute to figure out what she was
going to say.
Brilliant! Washuu thought. She's completely off balance.
Then she noticed Tsunami's slightly miffed expression. Oh are you
gonna have some explaining to do, son.
<<You are the one called Cyraqs, I assume.>>
He looked himself over. "Last time I checked."
<<You have caused me...>> She trailed off as he ignored her
and walked to the force globes she held the three in. She watched
as he traced the lines of power running from them to her.
"You alright Tsunami?" A nod. "You mom?" Another nod.
Mother?! Tokimi's mind blew up right there. Washuu is Cyraqs'
mother? That would mean he's my...
He reached out and felt the barrier. "Not bad." He studied
Tsunami and Sasami a little more. He frowned when he noticed the
blood on their lip. A strange absence of light appeared around
his eyes; roiling almost like a kind of smoke. He turned to look
at Tokimi. "I'm going to give you one chance here. Let my
Tsunami, Sasami, and mother go. Withdraw your forces. Get out of
my realm. Never come back, and I'll let you live." He finished
grinning.
She laughed. He is insane! <<I'm afraid I can't do that,
nephew.>> His eyebrows perked up behind his glasses. He turned
to look at Washuu a questioning look on his face. She reluctantly
nodded. He looked away for a moment. The original report ran
through his head...'sisters of an old race'. Something clicked.
You could almost hear it.
He turned to look at Tsunami. "Aunt Tsunami?" Her eyes
looked away for a moment before she bowed her head sheepishly.
Did he..? Did they..? Tokimi looked at the way the two were acting
and almost grinned. Apparently so. This situation would be
highly amusing if it wasn't so serious. "I see. We'll discuss
this after I get you guys out of here."
A female awareness' hand went to her mouth. Oh my, that
could be a problem.
See what I meant about a mess; A male awareness commented.
Yes, now I do.
"Well anyway. Offer stands aunt Tokimi; take it or die. Or
take it and die; that's up to you." he told her asamatteroffactly.
<<I think I take the third option.>>
"That being?"
<<Killing you.>>
Four of the shadows that normally stood in front of where she
resided detached themselves and coalesced in front of him.
He studied them for a moment before he realized what they
were. Gods of the realms. The care takers, and points of view.
"I take it she has somehow mastered your realms."
"For the most part." one of them replied, "She still needs us
to maintain her link to the power there."
"Why can't you fight her?"
"She's a part of the all. Much more so than us. She has
defeated us and as such gained mastery. She therefore has the
ability to completely obliterate our dimensions if we do. They
will be as if they never were."
Cyraqs sighed. "Then I am left with no choice." He assumed
an open hand fighting stance. He didn't will his staff into
existence as he didn't want her knowing the full extent of his
power yet. Good thing I left Drakhenn outside to wait for the
others. A lot of things were making sense now, and he definitely
didn't want to give her too much info on such things. In any case
his plan to knock her off guard while it worked; worked too well
and hit him too. Shit happens.
Ryouko and Minagi were casually flying through the ranks of
the warriors. Lots of power, and no fighting skill Minagi
thought. She dodged every blast sent at her; taking the
occasional one out with her new lighthawk enhanced sword. They
seem to be picking their shots carefully so as not to hit that
fortress. I just hope we can keep these guys occupied long enough
to let Tenchi and Kagato get to Tokimi unimpeded.
Ryouko had a different view on things.
Damnit they're keeping us occupied so we can't help Tenchi!
Everyone is busy! We can't break through! she thought angrily
chopping through another of the soldiers. She turned to look
at Ryo-ohki and the Ranger. Those two were taking the brunt of
the assault being the two biggest targets out there. Fortunately
Ryo-ohki was now well protected by her light hawk wings, until she
noticed that the two larger ships were also protected by the
wings, and were managing to soak up every one of Ryo-ohki's shots.
Between the two X carriers they seemed to be concentrating a
power blast between them. A blast far stronger than even
something the Soja could produce. <Ryo-ohki get out of there!>
Too late! The power blast already tore loose and struck her.
There was a definite weakening of her shields, but it didn't stop
her. <Good! Keep pounding them they've got to go do...> She was
cut off as something painfully grasped her neck from behind. She
was turned to look at who had done it. Only to see it was the
Djinn they had fought earlier; the limb that was cut off was now
back. Minagi saw her situation and attempted to intervene. Only
to wind up in grabbed by his other arm.
I am through playing now, it seemed to say to them. They
both screamed in pain as he began to siphon off their powers. I
will enjoy sucking you dry.
Tenchi, Kagato, Azaka, and Kamidake appeared outside the
wreaked form that was once Kagato's vessel. "That was fun."
Kagato said to no one in particular. Azaka and Kamidake
glared at him.
He turned to look at down the passage way near where they
had crashed. There was quite a bit of devastation, but one line
of it looked different than the rest. It was in straight line and
led to the heart of the fortress. Not to mention had a lot of
dead people up and down it. "Which way do you think Cyraqs took?"
Kagato asked.
"I wonder." Tenchi replied sarcastically.
The four of them took off running down the passageway Cyraqs
had left, running almost directly into two warriors obviously
waiting for them. Tetta and Tessei.
Azaka and Kamidake fixed them with a deadly glare. "Go ahead
you two. We'll take care of these guys." Kagato and Tenchi went
ahead while the four fighters circled each other warily.
"Do we know you?" Tessei asked.
"Oh yes, we're the guardians you destroyed before. Be warned
it will not be as easy this time." Kamidake replied.
Tetta smiled. "Good."
Kagato had left Tenchi to hold back a group of warriors that
had come upon them from the side. The last he had seen of him he
had willed his new sword into his hands, and had been methodically
taking them out. If nothing else could be said about the man; he
was one hell of a fighter. Tenchi had no love for him but he
truly hoped Kagato survived.
He ran down the path absently wondering why this seemed
too...he barely rolled under a long sword swipe that would have
made him around a foot shorter...easy? He came to his feet to see
Tetran step from the shadows; sword in hand.
"Cyraqs truly did teach you well. I wonder just how good you
are."
So you want to fight huh? Good. Now you're going to die for
killing my father! "Cutting your own throat would have been
quicker."
"You think so?"
"And less painful."
Ayeka, Y'mir, Kiyone and Ryuken quickly found the one called
Abel and had been flying around him; letting loose with their
power; almost like stinging gnats around an elephant. It was
quite apparent who was stronger, but they were just too damn fast
and agile for him to adequately attack.
Still it was only a matter of time before a mistake was made.
Hurry up you guys; we need HELP! Kiyone cried out silently.
Yoshou had flown down to the structure to see what he could
do about helping those that had already gone in only to find a few
soldiers waiting for him. Easily dealt with, he thought as he
finished the last one.
"Shall we finish it then?"
Yoshou turned toward the owner of the voice and smiled.
"Yes, I don't see why not, Malroth."
"Come Yoshou, at least show me your true form before we do
battle."
He let the illusion under his battle outfit fade, to show the
visage of a young man. "How did you know?"
Malroth willed his falcion into being and answered. "You
didn't move right."
Hayes and De'saad had found each other immediately and had
been fighting using every weapon, move, and power in their
disposal. Flying nonstop through the space of the battle field,
neither letting up for a microsecond.
Cyraqs' hands moved faster and faster, past the beings
defenses; striking him repeatedly with blows that could rip
through reality. Finally he weakened him enough; the next blow,
he passed his hand through the being; feeling for his life, and
destroying it; causing him to die in a flash of light.
That's the last of them, he thought grimly. I didn't want to
have to do that.
Tokimi smiled, highly impressed. <<Excellent! You truly are
everything that Tetran said you were.>> she paused for a moment,
<<I did think you would be more...imposing, however.>>
He turned his attention back to her. "Well what did you
expect? A twenty foot tall red and blue mechanoid driving in
here; taking out your soldiers; and then facing you, dramatically
stating (mimicking Peter Cullen here) 'One shall stand. One shall
fall.'?" He grinned as he heard Tsunami's groan of protest.
Please great father, spare me from the puns; Tsunami prayed.
Anything, but the puns.
Tokimi looked at him with grudging respect; though she did
not understand his words the meaning was quite clear: looks are
usually deceiving. Still it would avail him little. <<It appears
that I can't kill you, but you cannot stop me either.>>
She had him there. As long as she was what she was there was
nothing he could do to her. Still there must be a way. I can't
interrupt the power transfer either. I've got to save them...but
only one way I can think of to do it. I don't want to do that.
It would ensure her ultimate victory, but at least they will live.
"True. Hows about we make a deal then?"
<<A deal? What could you possibly offer me that I would
want?>>
"This." He held out his hand a sphere forming within his
palm, and two long diamond like constructs appeared to either
side.
<<You can wield the light hawk wings!>> she gasped, <<You
have also been able to adapt them to your purposes, but I can't
see what that is.>> She smiled at him. <<Perhaps we can make a
deal. State what you wish.>>
Tsunami couldn't believe he would actually consider..."Don't
do it, Cyraqs!"
He pretended to ignore her; though her words cut his very
soul.
"Here's what I want, and what you get..."
Drakhenn killed another one of these mindless puppets as he
proceeded toward the level where he felt the power to be
strongest.
He had entered (try ripping a hole through it's hull) one of
the ships as soon as he had seen them enter this space. So far he
had felt them fire three shots; all of which he had felt been
soaked up by his beloved Ryo-ohki. She was stronger, much
stronger than before, but he still wasn't sure if she was up to
taking them both. The Ranger was no help; he was busy taking on
the brunt of the warriors that these ships carried. So, he
reasoned, it is up to me.
He flattened three more as they came at him. These guys have
armor that can produce light-hawk wings, he thought to himself.
That had forced him to reveal something that Cyraqs had only said
should be used in dire emergencies. It doesn't get more desperate
than this!
He reached what he saw to be a turbo-lift, but found it
locked as he tried to open it. His fangs twitched as he bared his
teeth. I will not be thwarted! He ripped into the lift as if it
were paper and flew down the shaft; destroying what internal
defenses that activated as he passed.
Closer, he thought feeling for the main reactor,
closer...There! He bashed through the bulkhead to find what he
expected; and at the same time not. His eyes widened at what he
saw. A lot of dead engineers, and Mihoshi playing with the wiring
on one of the consoles.
WHAT THE...HOW THE..?
"Oh hi, Drakhenn. How you doing? Wow, I didn't know you
were a rainbow star dragon! Aren't those kind of like Super
Saiyans? Anyway think you could help me? I'm trying to mess with
the targeting systems." She held up a green wire, blue wire,
yellow wire, and red wire. "What do you think I should work with;
the green ones or the blue ones?"
He ignored the fact she knew what he had become for this
fight. He ignored the fact she somehow got in before him AND had
killed everyone here. He ignored the fact she was messing with
something, and he had no idea what she was doing. The only thing
he didn't ignore was the fact when it came to Mihoshi; one should
just go with it.
He told her that green worked for him.
"Oh, O.K." He kept a straight face as she started messing
with the red wires.
The Ranger had finally finished the last of those that were
attacking, only to see Ryo-ohki badly injured as she tried
valiantly to keep up the fight against the two ships. She wasn't
doing too hot, and they were already powering up for another
last.
One chance then. Those still fighting paused momentarily to
behold something truly awesome. Ranger began shifting and
changing it's outer and inner components. Panels on the front and
back slid open; arms and legs folded out from the openings. The
center began folding in on itself; elongating to form the upper
and lower torsos. The head rose out of the shoulders; eyes
glowing blue with power. This is the Ranger: robot mode.
Ranger didn't bother to pause for effect as it flew toward
one of the ships and grasped it tightly crushing it in a bear hug.
In this form it was a little more vulnerable, and the ships
defense systems began pealing chunks out of the Ranger. It
ignored the pain tightening it's grip. Unfortunately the blast it
had been trying to prevent was at critical levels. "Ryo-ohki LAND
NOW!"
"Got it!" Mihoshi yelled in triumph.
The beam streaked out, but not toward Ryo-ohki.
"Oh shit!" Kiyone yelled; dodging out of the way; to be
quickly followed by Ryuken, Y'mir, and Ayeka.
Abel was puzzled. They were so eager to fight me, but what
are they doing..? He felt an energy coming toward him and turned
to see the white light coming toward him. "Oh F..." The beam
struck him; blowing him to atomic particles.
"What the hell...?!" Ryuken asked dumbfounded.
Kiyone smiled at Ryuken. "Can't you guess?" He looked at
her strangely, "Only Mihoshi could do that!" She laughed.
He looked down and mumbled to himself. "Great, and I just
happen to really like that lady too." She started laughing
harder.
O.K. then, Ranger thought. He continued crushing the ship
his crystal shard shield and their light hawk wings fighting
against each other 'til it finally imploded, then exploded;
blowing pieces of itself and the Ranger all over the place.
Well shit, he thought as his head floated through the
wreckage unscathed. That was totally uncool. Now I have to hope
that Cyraqs survives to put me back together.
Mihoshi started jumping up and down as she witnessed Abel's
destruction on the holoscreen. "Oh boy! That worked great!"
Drakhenn nodded keeping a straight face. He looked around
and suggested that they really needed to destroy this place before
any more security forces got there.
"You worry too much. They're still looking for you on the
other levels, and it will take them some time to track down why
their targeting went haywire." What are you, Mihoshi? "Still I
suppose you may be right."
Good then step back and I'll...
"You think this will do it?" His jaw dropped as she pulled
THE Fusion Cannon from somewhere (where did she get that?) at
least twice as large as she was, and holding it easily. He nodded
yet again. "Good." She walked up to him and grabbed his arm.
"This is going to be so pretty." she commented as she aimed her
gun at the reactor, and pulled the trigger.
Azmodeous absently noted the other X-carrier exploding
soundlessly in a flash of light. So it looks like your friends
have destroyed both of our super ships. Not to mention Abel. You
two will not be so fortunate.
Ryouko and Minagi continued to struggle against Azmodeous as
he kept slowly draining their lives away. There has got to be a
way! He shifts his substance away from our lighthawk swords every
time we use them. What can we do? Then something came to Ryouko,
something from her new information; the light hawk force is an
energy, not just a physical like construct, and can be treated
accordingly. And the Djinn was definitely not siphoning that part
of them. Well if he doesn't like the Light Hawk energy, maybe I
should introduce it to him first hand.
She reached up and grasped his arm and began pumping the
light hawk power into him. He stared at her in shock as she began
actually hurting him. He tried to pull away, but her grip with the
power was too strong. Now the other one was doing the same thing
and there was nothing he could do about it. His own energies were
being eaten by the Light Hawk force. He began thrashing around in
panic, desperately trying to break free as there energies tore
through and consumed him; disbursing his very being all over the
place.
"So how does it feel to be slowly eaten alive?" Minagi asked
him cruelly.
He started screaming, and screamed all the way to the end.
They had been flying and fighting for what seemed hours. Yet
they were too evenly matched for either of them to gain the upper
hand. We'll both die this way...Hayes spied something in the
distance...unless... He steered them towards what he was looking
at. De'saad never saw Ryo-ohki's lighthawk wing as flew into it
at a very high speed, cutting himself in half.
"Remember," Hayes' voice took on a lecturing tone, "always
watch where you're going." Hayes took off toward the fortress.
Yoshou and Malroth danced. Beautifully, rhythmically,
deadly. Each movement countered, each thought anticipated, each
stance matched. They jumped, twisted, flipped, dodged in all the
ways you see in the movies, only they did it for real. The
difference was beyond anything that could be described. Suffice
it to say, it was truly awesome to behold.
They grew close; twisting their weapons around and around
each other; striking blocking, the first one to make a mistake
would die.
So it was no surprise when their blades struck each other at
the same time. Malroth's in Yoshou's shoulder; Yoshou's in
Malroth's heart.
Malroth laughed. "Today WAS a good day to die." His head
slumped forward, and his body fell to the floor as Yoshou withdrew
the Tenchi-ken.
Yoshou backed up against a wall and slid to the floor in
exhaustion.
Ryo-ohki had collapsed her form to her old humanoid one in
exhaustion, and was drifting helplessly through space. She felt
strong arms encircle her as well as wings. Wait a minute...wings?
She opened her eyes to see the worried visage of Drakhenn, and he
looked...beautiful, shimmering all colors of the rainbow moved
over his skin which now looked more like plate armor instead of
scales.
He was still as warm as he always was.
"Hi."
He answered the only way it seemed appropriate. Hello,
beloved. She felt her middle go soft at his words; and despite
the pain, smiled at him as he brought them down toward the
structure.
Tetran never expected the sheer fury and power that was being
directed at him now. I underestimated him. Tenchi's attacks were
faster and much stronger than before, pushing him back, barley
dodged and blocked. I've got to find some way to beat him. He
barely stopped Tenchi's downward swing, and was forced back as he
Tenchi brought his sword down to attack Tetran's legs. Every blow
kept getting stronger and faster than the one before.
He realized something: Cyraqs had let him live a very long
time ago. Tenchi would not.
Tetran weakly pulled his sword around to strike only to find
Tenchi's broad sword at his throat. Tetran let his sword vanish.
Time for one last gambit. "You could have it all you know.
All you have to do is surrender to Tokimi." he grinned.
He kept that smile as Tenchi's sword severed his head from
his neck.
"I don't want it all. I just want my people to be left
alone. And you killed my father you sonofabitch!" He spat on the
corpse as he continued on. For some reason he felt a little
better.
<<And that is your offer?>>
"That's about it." Cyraqs answered. He tried really hard to
ignore the looks that were being directed at him by Tsunami and
Washuu. The look of utter betrayal. Another couple of scars on
my soul, he thought wryly. Oh well, I'm about to sell it, so I
guess it doesn't matter, but for some reason it did.
She considered it momentarily. <<So I get you in exchange
for them.>> she pointed toward her sisters, <<Body, mind, and
soul, of your own free will?>>
"Yes. That should give you whatever power you need for
whatever you wish to do."
<<You believe this?>>
"I do." he replied without emotion.
<<Your offer is...acceptable.>> she smiled. You must be
stupid to think me so honorable.
A voice echoed all over the amphitheater, "NOT GOING TO
HAPPEN."
"Go away Tenchi." Cyraqs told him quietly.
"You know I can't do that."
"Leave. Everything has been taken care of."
Tenchi's eyes started to glow red behind his glasses. "At
the cost of the universe?"
Cyraqs turned to look Tenchi in the eye; his bearing one of
regret. "But you'll all live."
"You call what will happen to us life?!" Tenchi asked in
disbelief.
"A sealed off realm where you are all free to engage your
pursuits free of her; is as life."
"What about everyone else?" Tenchi barely got his sword in
place before Cyraqs was on top of him; Cyraqs' staff straining
against Tenchi's sword.
"LEAVE!" Cyraqs shouted desperately.
"NO!"
Cyraqs' staff twirled behind him and down and knocked
Tenchi's sword down. He tried to get his sword back into guard
position before Cyraqs struck again, only to have his arm
knocked to the side and a kick planted in his stomach. He reeled
back trying to out maneuver the smaller man. He knew he was
stronger, much stronger than Cyraqs, but Cyraqs was both faster
and a whole hell of a lot better. He was using it to his
advantage. He felt the butt of Cyraqs' staff on his ribs, which
he barely managed to roll with. Still he was pushed back further
still right into...Tokimi's waiting arms?!
Yes Tenchi. Let us see how correct Tetran was. <<Come
Tenchi...come to me...You are the one I truly wish...>> It was
seductive, too seductive, like all the sunlight and warmth in the
universe. Every good promise wrapped into one shining package.
He could barely keep himself conscious; to refuse. <<Come...>>
"Yes..." he felt himself say.
Oh Christ, I just played right into her hands. Tenchi can't
deal with that yet! I. AM. A. FOOL! Cyraqs raged to himself
helplessly as he saw Tenchi wrapped in her power.
Tenchi felt her arms; really felt her arms now. She had come
down to a point where she could really touch him.
It felt so good.
She has made herself vulnerable, we must act now!
Tenchi hold her! the female awareness shouted.
And he heard. "Tenchi hold her!" That voice. He hadn't
heard that voice, really heard that voice, in so long his soul
cried out! It cut through the fog she had put him in. He obeyed.
He held Tokimi; held her tight. As tight as he could while
watching two spheres of power that had appeared above; descend on
their position.
She felt them too, and recognized one in particular. <<I
KILLED YOU!>> She struggled as hard as she could to get out of
the way, but Tenchi kept a hold; not allowing her to shift back to
her higher level form.
They struck, and when they did, the area around Tenchi and
Tokimi went white; lightning striking all over the place
destroying everything it touched. Then darkness. The universe
shuddered.
"You coming Yoshou?" Kiyone asked as she shouldered the
fallen priest.
"As much as I can." he laughed weakly.
"Hurry up! We've got to help those guys!" she looked at him
a moment, "And after we win, I'll ask you about that illusion of
yours."
He felt a chill when he considered that.
The collective crew ran down the hall pausing only long
enough to Tetta and Azaka continue their fight as they crossed in
front of them. Off in another corridor they heard Kamidake and
Tessei still locked in combat.
Hayes paused momentarily himself to help Kagato to his feet
(he was sitting in the midst of many dead bodies, trying to regain
some of his strength), before they continued on.
They reached the center, to see Tokimi and Tenchi hit by two
globes of power and everything to go dark.
"*WE'VE GIVEN YOU A CHANCE!*" an omnipresent voice screamed,
"*MAKE IT COUNT!*"
A crystal shard appeared in the darkness; the two force like
constructs on either side of the globe broke off and shattered
into fourteen wings of the lighthawk. They surrounded what
seemed to be a humanoid form; then went black. A hand appeared
and grasped the globe causing it to elongate then disappear.
The lights flashed once showing gold boots that rose into
shin guards and flared out at the knees(Samurai Troopers?). The
lights flashed again showing gold gauntlets. The lights flashed
showing a gold V type breast plate. The lights began flashing
faster showing green armor connecting all the gold. A green
dragon helmeted head, with eye and mouth guards looked up.
The staff he held in his left hand was twirled behind him, his
stance going into one of battle ready. The omnipresent light ceased
flickering.
His battle armor was something to behold!
Tokimi was in a daze, but she now existed on the lower level
dimensions.
He noted that Ryouko and Minagi had gotten Tsunami, Washuu, and
Sasami out of the way. The old man was in a far corner of the room
shielding someone.
This Bitch is MINE!
His staff was raised, and a blast of power tore loose. It
struck her blowing her completely through the walls of her
fortress and into deep space. He flew after her; striking her
across the face with his staff; his feet coming around in one
smooth motion striking her face again. She flew back, but not
far. As his staff came around for another strike, she dodged back
letting it fly harmlessly past her. Before he could recover she
had grasped his arm and threw him into a near by planet with
enough force to send him into it's molten core.
<<You don't seem to realize the power you're dealing with!>>
she told him.
Ryo-ohki saw the lights around them go out and trembled.
"What's going on?" she asked; very afraid.
Drakhenn looked up and watched the sky for a time; until the
lights of the stars reappeared. He grinned at what he saw.
"Look Ryo-ohki!" he said out loud. out loud! He spoke!
His voice was deep, rumbling. Almost comforting. "And behold my
beloved, as only those of us with the eyes to see can behold!" He
pointed to the stars and she saw. She saw the battle against
Tokimi's mirrored there. "Behold either SALVATION OR ARMAGEDDON!"
He picked her up, shielding her with his wings. "Now let us go
join the others and do what we can."
The battle had ceased. All combatants gazed on the stars;
the universe reflecting the struggle that would decide it's fate.
Only thing that could be done was pray. Raiden was doing
this now. "God help us."
Azaka looked down at the bloodied form of his enemy. Finally
defeated. "You may kill me, but my mistress will still win."
Azaka smiled, "Maybe, but you won't be around to see it."
Kamidake and Tessei were locked in a battle of strength.
Their powers straining against each other; they broke apart seeing
that this fight was getting them nowhere, and rushed each other
one last time. They passed each other, and stood still for a
moment.
Tessei fell clutching his chest as blood poured from it. He
fell moments later.
"That was for what you did to us before." Kamidake told him
quietly.
"*TOKIMI!*"
She turned to face the owner of the voice. Tenchi stood
behind her in the void of space; his eyes glowing black. Three
wings extended in front of him; branching off in rapid succession
until Sixteen light hawk wings surrounded him. Each one flew
around him; forming a different piece of his new armor in light.
Each part restructured itself into a new armor; symbolic of his
new power. It was almost the same as before; minus the streamers.
The additions were obvious; as it looked more like chain mail than
cloth that surrounded the nonarmored portions of his body. His
legs now had some kind of leather looking boots complete with shin
and knee guards, and he had gauntlets of black that went to his
elbows. Instead of the wood head guard that once adorned his
head; he now had a blue metallic looking piece that rose out from
the shoulder; hugging his neck and face. It left his face and top
of the head open, and flared out into four points on the back; two
on either side. His breast plate was a little more ornate than
before. His left hand reached out and grasped the remaining wing
to form his Light Hawk Sword.
<<You wish to fight; come for me then.>>
She grinned slightly as he streaked toward her. She blurred
as he came close. He knew where she would have gone (he had been
a big fan of DBZ after all). He pulled his arm around to strike
behind him. She caught it and the follow through back hand.
<<You are powerful, but no match for me.>> she whispered in
his ear. She started pulling his shoulders apart painfully. He
gritted his teeth; straining, but he couldn't seem to get strength
enough to break her grip. <<But don't worry. There are other
ways to gain your UNGH!>> He was suddenly freed. Falling free he
rolled to a ready position to see Cyraqs using every skill and
move he could think of against her.
She hit him with a blast that pushed him back about half a
light year, then as D3 did before her she began throwing blast
after blast at him. Grinning he began...He's flipping out of the
way?! Problem was every shot that missed him hit something else;
a planet or even a star. Destroying star system after star system
within her galaxy.
She's going nuts. If we keep this up the universe itself
could suffer. Tenchi rushed her again only to be sent back toward
her fortress via lightspeed delivery service. He managed to slow
his descent enough so he only impacted with enough force to put a
large crater in it.
He groaned and opened his eyes. Yoshou was staring down at
him.
"How am I doing?"
"Needs work."
The others by this time had found their way out of fortress
again. They stood on it's outskirts in awe of the power that they
was being used.
"I've got to help them!" Ryouko cried.
Washuu placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "You
wouldn't last five seconds out there." She turned her attention
back toward the fight. "I'm too weak to help too. We have to let
them handle it."
"You can keep firing and I can just keep avoiding...OOOF!"
She had blurred again punching him in the gut with enough force to
destroy a collapsed star. He reeled back as she began lobbing
blast after blast at him again. Only this time he couldn't
compensate fast enough, and on the fifth one was forced to use his
shield to protect himself.
She watched his crystal shard shield soak up the power, but
not disburse it. What did it do? She received her answer
momentarily when a globe of power formed in his hands and was
projected at her in a beam of light. She barely managed to dodge
it, the binary star system twenty light years away was not so
fortunate.
So that's it. His adaptation of the shield; instead of
disbursing the energies harmlessly; it transmutes it to a form of
energy he can readily use. She smiled; how absolutely
fascinating. Still it will do him no good. Twin sword bracers
appeared on her arms; the blades extending three feet in front of
her hands. Since this way seems to be most effective; let's see
how long he can withstand me.
His staff appeared in his hand again, as he began blocking
and striking as fast as he could against her twin swords. Power
backlash from their blows began rocketing all over the galaxy
destroying everything it came into contact with.
Somehow she wormed her way past his defenses and cut through
the armor on his side. Though he sustained no damage to his body
the force used sent him a few hundred light years away where he
impacted into a planet. At the speed he was traveling the planet
simply crumbled, but it did slow him down enough so he could stop
outside of that star system.
That hurt! I'm outmatched here. Better see if I can take
her by surprise. He cloaked his form and waited while Tokimi
quickly caught up with him. She stopped around two million Km
away and started scanning the area for him. She started smiling
in his direction. Damn. Using too much power; she saw me.
He then saw a beam of energy impact her with explosive
results. The energy backlash blew most of the remaining planets
in the system apart even before the star self destructed. The
energies of it's death washed over him harmlessly as he tried to
discern what effect it had on Tokimi. A little bit singed; and a
whole hell of a lot pissed. That is not good.
Tenchi had engaged her and was doing about as well as he
had. Only problem was he could throw a little more power into the
fight; causing even more of the galaxy to be destroyed. I can't
land a blow on her! Tenchi thought in frustration. Which was an
understatement; not only could he not land a blow on her, but she
was busily cutting through sections of his armor, though it
regenerated almost instantly, he felt every bit as if she had cut
him.
Cyraqs took this moment to intervene and almost got through
to her. Almost, she pulled back at the last second, and planted
both elbows into his back as he passed. Tenchi tried to take
advantage of her distraction. She was too fast, and caught his
sword in the midst of it's downward arc. Smiling she pulled
herself around and kneed him in the gut; sending him another
couple of light-years away.
<<Is this the best you two can do?>>
Ryouko grimaced behind her light-hawk shield. She had been
forced to set this up to protect the group from the incredible
power that was raging through this galaxy. She had some help in
the form of Washuu and Minagi. But why only..?
"Where's Tsunami?"
"And Kagato and Drakhenn for that matter?" Y'mir asked.
She barely avoided the diagonal cut and follow through
backhand strike to her midsection of Kagato's sword of darkness.
So this fool wants to play? <<I don't think I've met someone who
could use that kind of power. What do you call it?>>
"The Raven's Talon. Your death." He attacked again only to
be stopped, almost before he began.
She held his sword back, and grasped his throat with the
other hand, <<You poor misguided scientist. Do you think even
THAT can destroy me?>> He kicked up on her arm, breaking her
grip. Not pausing to savor even momentary victory he tried to
press his attack. For all the good it did. She hardly seemed to
move as she put her swords through his chest. He didn't give her
the satisfaction of screaming in pain as her blades pushed
completely through him. She pulled him close and looked into his
eyes. He grimaced feeling her probe his soul. <<How does it feel
to know your life's work is wasted?>>
She threw him off her swords negligently, toward a piece of a
planet that floated by. But before; just before, he left her
arms, he let his sword fly. He impacted hard, but he hardly felt
it over the pain in his chest. Whatever she had done wasn't
healing. He still managed a smile. "Seems your blood flows as
freely as mine."
Despite the distance and vacuum, she heard. She looked
puzzled 'til she saw a couple of glowing drops of energy float
past her eyes . She put her hand to her chest and felt the wound,
barely a cut, but the most dramatic injury she had thus far
experienced. Her eyes blazed; this wasn't even the most powerful
of the fighters! And he had injured her! She raised her hand
forming a globe of power to obliterate him. Instead she found her
face on the receiving end of Cyraqs' staff.
"Rule #5: Never become so angry you loose your edge."
She felt something liquid run down her lip. He had just..!
AGAIN! She growled, attacking him much faster than he could
compensate for. He managed to block the first couple of strikes,
but the third cut him deep through his armor across the chest.
<<You will die slow!>> she promised him as he floated helplessly.
Her blades moved down, but something deflected her strike. She
reeled back. Who could..?
"You'll have to face me now; sister!" Tsunami stood there
defiantly; both Kitana's at the ready.
<<It took all three of you, at the height of your power, to
beat me before. You should know you have no hope now.>>
Tenchi tried to decapitate her. While ineffective, it did
force her to give ground. "As long as someone exists to defy you;
there is hope!"
Drakhenn in his drake form pulled Cyraqs a distance from the
fight.
You can't quit now, he told the prone form of Cyraqs. She
isn't beat yet! He changed himself back to the Dragon Staff and
merged himself with the original fighting staff. We can
still win! The staff slowly pulled the wounded cosmic being to
his feet. You must get up!
"Yes."
At last an answer, he thought. Alright!
She had hit Tenchi with a power blast that staggered him and
an elbow to the face; effectively removing him from the fight.
Tsunami on the other hand was being toyed with.
Our two most powerful fighters are down, but I can't fail
now! She was no slouch when it came to fighting. She had been
fighting on and off for the past 30,000 years. Even so she was no
match for Cyraqs, and here was her sister who had bested him.
This did not bode well for her.
She had initially attempted to gain an advantage after she
had taken Tenchi down, and for awhile she had pushed Tokimi back.
Using every iota of power she had she began raining blows on her
sister; causing even more chaos in the galaxy, as the fabric that
held it together was becoming destabilized. Such is what happens
when pieces of the universe are at war with each other. It did
not last long; Tokimi quickly regained the advantage and had begun
chopping at Tsunami's limbs as she dodged her sword strikes.
Nothing major yet; just 'flesh' wounds that hurt like hell.
Tokimi also shortened her long hair by a foot; adding insult to
injury. Just enough to slowly chew away her hope of winning.
I've got to end this now! Impatience will get you killed a
wise man once said. Tsunami should have been paying more
attention. For in her next blow she over extended herself
allowing Tokimi under her defenses. It took Tsunami a moment to
realize that Tokimi had impaled her on her blades. The universe
itself seemed to cry out in agony.
<<I told you. No match.>> she sneered <<It will be so easy
to take your power as you die!>> Tsunami staggered back and
floated helplessly; clutching at her mortal wound. <<A much less
painful fate than what I had planned initially.>>
Ayeka was mesmerized. The battle was...there was nothing she
had ever seen to compare to it. Her Tenchi, Cyraqs, Tsunami
Drakhenn, Kagato. The entire fight mirrored across the field of
stars. Stars that were being subjected to energies most couldn't
handle, and began destabilizing; self destructing all around.
Then she saw Tsunami lock swords with Tokimi, and fight her
with all she had. For all it was worth, it was apparent she had
no hope of winning.
She saw every injury that Tsunami sustained appear on her
sister. Sasami valiantly tried to ignore the pain as best she could.
Especially the haircut she received. Still Ayeka held her as cut
after cut appeared on her sister. Every whimper of Sasami's anguish
tore through her, as Ayeka held her sister helplessly.
It seemed almost slow motion when she saw Tokimi's blades
rammed into Tsunami's gut. Sasami cried out in pain.
Her heart almost broke. Within the small form of her sister
was a wound that mirrored Tsunami's.
"No." she pleaded quietly. "Please no." She grasped her
sister to her trying to will some of her Juraian energies into her
wounded body. Hopeless. Whatever Tokimi had done she couldn't
undo. Her life continued to flow slowly away.
"Why isn't she dead?" Y'mir asked.
"How can you be so cold?"
Stupid girl. "That's not what I meant. She should be dead.
She's not."
She looked at him almost startled. "Tsunami must still be
alive."
Tokimi didn't even feel it as Cyraqs moved; implanting his
staff in Tokimi's midsection. She was sent careening a thousand
light years into, and through a quasar. Her body was so awash
with disruptive energies the blue giant never had a chance. It's
end was breathtaking, and managed to stun the hell out of her.
She recovered herself in enough time to see both Tenchi and
Cyraqs come upon her. Absently she clutched her midsection. That
had caused some serious damage! <<There is no way you should have
been able to get up!>>
"I heal quick; though I feel like I've been hit by a runaway
Black hole."
"And you shouldn't underestimate our desire to protect our
family. That will always overcome any force sent at us." Tenchi
had recovered and stood defiantly with Cyraqs.
She sneered at the two gods who had the gall to continue to
challenge her. <<Come then to your deaths!>>
<Techno Syndrome-Immortals>
Cyraqs went first; quickly put down. She didn't even have
time to recover before Tenchi took his turn; cutting her across
the shoulder. She sent him flying with a hurricane kick. Only
to have to start dodging Cyraqs' staff thrusts; a whole hell of a
lot faster and stronger than before. They were now on the
outskirts of her galaxy; the energies no longer taking out stars
in droves, but disrupting the self sustaining barrier she had set
up around the galaxy. It rolled with the energies; reflecting
multicolored light as it strained to maintain integrity.
She managed to put him down again with an gut-punch; knee to
the face combo, but barely managed to pull back from Tenchi's
swipe that would have cut her in two.
They were attacking like madmen; as soon as one was put down
the other would take his place. They didn't even act like they
were feeling pain. No matter what she did to them they just
kept coming, and coming, and coming!
Nothing was stopping them. Nothing could stop them! Every
thing she did only served to rile them on.
She suddenly found her hands knocked up by Cyraqs' staff and
a double footed kick planted in her chest. If she had ribs; they
would have been broken. She was forced back only to have to duck
back from Tenchi's sword strikes, and though she managed to avoid
that, she didn't avoid his recovery. That being his sword hilt in
her face.
She fell back a light year away. She recovered her balance
weakly only to see both Cyraqs and Tenchi fly at her from either
side. She barely got into a stance of ready; as they approached.
They passed her; both weapons down as if finishing a strike.
The universe stopped, everything stopped for just a moment.
Tenchi broke it first by rising from his slightly bent position,
and turning to face her. Cyraqs did the same; half a second
later.
Tokimi stood stock still for a second longer; then fell to
into a fetal position; clutching at her abdomen as it started
spilling liquid like energies everywhere. She tried to talk; only
blood came out. Pain! Oh merciful Father let it end! she wailed.
She barely noticed the two warriors; armor broken; limbs and
bodies bloodied, stroll up to her from either side to gaze at her.
<<Why..? How..?>> she asked.
"How many times do I have to explain this? I don't want it
all. I just want you people to leave me and mine alone." Tenchi
answered.
"It's real simple Tokimi. We had the love and the will. The
love for our family and the will to protect them. You just found
out the singular truth of our existence. There was no way
you could win because no force could overcome us then." He
glanced up at Tenchi.
Tenchi nodded. She will not come back from this.
Together they struck Tokimi a final time. Their hands passed
into her body and felt for her connection to her power and life.
They grasped it once found and began to pull it asunder;
severing it from her.
She screamed as she felt her life being torn away. Fight as
she might they would not relax their grip, and continued to pull.
<Sisters help me!>
Achicka, Washuu, and Tsunami looked upon her sadly.
<We can't.> Washuu replied.
Achika nodded. <This is the fate you have chosen for
yourself.>
<The same fate you had in store for the universe. We could
not let you continue.> Tears began tracing Tsunami's cheeks.
<Why Tokimi? Why did you have to make it be this way?>
Cyraqs looked upon Tsunami as he did this. Even through the
pain she was feeling; he could tell she now wept for her sister
who was about to die.
<Tenchi...>
<I understand.>
With a mighty tug, a scream, and a flash of light Tokimi life
was severed. She disappeared; her substance dissipating across
the universe that spawned her. The universe shuddered again; then
fell silent. Tenchi glanced about him. This galaxy won't last
but maybe a few weeks, the damage done was too great. I don't
think any of us will bother restoring it. Too bad.
They looked at each other for a moment and nodded at the same
time.
"Let's go do what we can for the others."
"Yes." Tenchi agreed.
The others, while wounded, would live. Only Tsunami/Sasami
and Kagato were not in that equation.
The old man and the young woman he had been protecting
appeared next to him on the asteroid that had miraculously
remained unscathed in the conflict.
"Kagato." The older man spoke.
"No, go help the others. They need it more." he spoke
weakly.
The old man bowed his head; the young woman shed a tear for
him as she left to join the others who were hovering around the
broken forms of both Tsunami and Sasami now together at the broken
remains of Tokimi's fortress. The old man did do one thing as he
left; he brought Kagato with him to the ruined structure.
Sasami's body had mirrored everything that had happened to
Tsunami's energy form, and now both lay dying on the ground.
Cyraqs was doing everything in his power to heal them, but it
was no good. It seemed even he didn't have that kind of power.
Let me help. He smiled; his mother had said those words.
Yes, together we may be able to do it. He felt his powers
amplified by Washuu, then through Washuu Tenchi (they can't
combine their powers without a medium; a goddess would serve that
purpose admirably), then Ryouko, then everyone else. Still not
enough!
DAMNIT! Why isn't this working? As soon as one is brought
back the other deteriorates; causing the other to go back down,
and both of them to GET WORSE!
It doesn't work because she is a goddess and a dual being, he
heard a voice tell him. A goddess should not die, but if it does
come to pass that she is killed her death is much more profound
than a mortal's death. Her link to the girl makes it that much
worse.
He suddenly felt two more powers enter him now. Achika he
knew to be the woman. Odin, the old man, he knew to be the second.
<There is a way to save them,> Achika told him, <but only if
you are willing to do two things.>
<What?> he asked.
<The first is something I know you were debating about doing.
She will forgive you for it.>
Cyraqs bowed his head. <If they don't I won't care. They'll
live. What is the other?>
<A life can give you what you need to bring them back. You
must sacrifice a life.> The old man told him.
<Then I will...>
<NO!> he was interrupted by Odin, <I will be that life not
you!>
<But...>
<Cyraqs I have lived long enough. Longer than you could ever
possibly imagine. It is my time. This is the way I choose it.>
<Old man, you make me forever in...>
<Save it! You want to repay me, YOU DON'T FUCK IT UP WITH
HER! YOU HEAR ME!>
<I hear you, and I obey.>
<Halcyon On, On-Orbital>
Cyraqs collected the energies around himself pulling, pulling
in as much power as he could; as much life as he could, and
focused it at the two figures in front of him. Bits of light
began flying around the two; lifting them up; entering and
infusing them with new power.
<Old man...>
<Yes.>
Odin reached deep within himself; to the very core of what he
was, and surrendered it all to Cyraqs; who took it, and gave it to
the figures now lost in the light.
His last sight as he died, was the figure of a young girl;
around fourteen or fifteen years of age descending into Cyraqs'
arms.
Cyraqs smiled as he saw her; a little beaten down, but
otherwise alive. Her eyes fluttered open to see him; weeping
openly. Thank you old man. Thank you.
"Welcome back." he smiled.
"Oh my that was strange...Why am I...Who...Tsunami? Sasami?"
They were switching back and forth quickly as they struggled to
make sense of what was going on. It was so comical it made him
laugh. Though very weakly.
"I had to combine Tsunami's energy form and Sasami's physical
form. It was the only way. Of course you're now around fifteen
physically. A side effect of the power transfer, nothing can be
done about it." he told them sadly.
His eyes grew heavy. He suddenly keeled over into her arms.
She shifted slightly and now it was he that was being cradled.
<Death of Optimus Prime-Vince De'cola>
"Cyraqs!" they cried. "Cyraqs!"
"hmmm?" he smiled weakly.
"I just now got you! I don't want to loose you!"
"S'okay. Don't worry." He reached up and traced the outline
of their face. "Too badly hurt. Used a little too much power is
all. Just have to go away, discorporate for awhile." He brushed
aside her bangs. "I'll heal. You've seen me do it before. Be
patient, huh?" She...they sobbed a little as they bent down and
kissed him on the lips as he began to fade. They held him in this
embrace until he vanished completely.
She was barely aware of Achika sitting down beside her;
holding her as she cried.
He looked at the woman who held Sasami as she cried. No Way!
No Fucking Way, he exclaimed to himself. It can't be! But he
remembered the time he had died, and her message then. 'I am not
part of this light.'
"Mother?" she heard a voice ask.
"Yes Tenchi. Yes." she said softly, in the way he always
remembered.
He stared for a moment. "How..?"
She looked up at him regretfully. "I promise all will be
revealed in time. Now other concerns must take precedent." What
could be more..? She inclined her head in the direction of Kagato.
He reluctantly nodded his head.
"Kagato..." he heard a voice call him.
His eyes fluttered open. "Did we win?"
"Yes. We won." He smiled as he recognized his loves voice.
"That's good. It'd have been a screwed up universe she would
have made." She could hardly hold back her tears as Hayes put his
arm around her.
Tenchi shifted himself next to Kagato, "I can still..."
He grabbed Tenchi's hand in fury. "No! No." He smiled
again, "No this universe hates me for what I have done. It's
better this way." He turned back to Washuu and Hayes. "Take
care of her alright?"
Hayes looked upon his foe; no not foe; kindred spirit, and
answered the best way he could. "With my life."
"How did you find out?" she asked.
He chuckled. "All your answers will be found on the Science
Academy computers. You know where I hope." A thin stream of
black blood trickled down his chin as his lips formed a smile. "My
little red head, please don't think too badly of me, huh?"
She caught her breath and barely collapsed in tears when she
heard his old pet name for her. Before he changed. Now, however,
she knew why. Somehow he had found out what she really was, and
the danger both she and the universe faced. He had taken it upon
himself to protect her, and gather the power he would need to take
on Tokimi himself. My poor misguided love. You never asked for
help, until the very end. "Yes." She looked on sadly, "I see now
why you did what you did. I forgive you for it."
"That's good. I don't think I could die right if you didn't.
Hey Tenchi?"
Tenchi blinked. "What?"
"Lighten up will ya? You gotta learn to have some fun while
you're doing this." His head fell to his shoulder; the smile
still on his face.
Tenchi reached out and closed Kagato's eyes. "I'll try."
Achika felt them all around. In her minds eye she could see
them as they appeared all around the stronghold in flashes of
multicolored light; each one radiating power unimaginable.
One had appeared almost right next to them, and had placed a
comforting hand on Sasami's shoulder. She looked up at him, tears
streaming down her face, directly into his eyes that reflected
this universe.
"Rest assured, Cyraqs will be back." Raiden smiled.
She bowed her head still crying.
"What happened to the beings attacking Jurai?" Tenchi asked
as he picked up the body of Odin.
"Without their controlling force; they just stopped."
"Good." Tenchi said. Hayes walked up to them; Kagato's body
draped over his shoulder; the rest of them gathered around Tenchi.
"Let's go home."
Tenchi looked around the cave that was once Ryouko's prison,
and let his mind wander over the events that had transpired just
two days ago.
Just to think that we did all that, it's mind blowing. We
quite literally saved the entire universe.
Clean up is taking awhile; there were many zillions of those
mindless soldiers that needed taken away. Not too sure if I agree
with just destroying them like the others did, but I don't see
too much alternative. We hastened the incineration of the galaxy
Tokimi recreated. Somehow that gives a sense of closure to the
entire thing.
Then there is what happened next. His mind went to events
that transpired just after the Tokimi incident.
He was the one that was asked to go to Jurai as the Emperor
had personally wanted to thank those that had saved their
starsystem from the scourge of the dark goddess. He had
readily agreed, as he had something he needed to say to the
emperor...personally.
Azusa had expected the lot of them to come to his receiving
hall, not this singular solitary figure, beaten down and bloodied
as bad as he was. It took him a moment to recognizing who it
was; and when he did, the blood drained completely from his face.
His two wives on either side of him looked on; knowing smiles on
their faces.
"You said you wished to see us. I am the envoy." Tenchi said flatly.
He tried to recover himself; how could...how? Can't worry
about it now. "Yes we wish to extend thanks. According to legend
the Juraians were the decisive factor that helped you turn
away a great evil a long time ago. So we wish to say if you feel
you owe us a debt..."
"Do not flatter yourself. We owe you nothing." Tenchi glared
at him, "We owed someone else. Even if we didn't owe her; we
would always defend she who has the innocence of heaven and the
wisdom of eternity." Misaki smiled in pride at the mention of her
daughter. Only she could elicit such a devotion from anyone.
"That is all I have to say." He turned to leave as he heard
murmurs of "Outrageous!" "How Rude!", and the like from the
assembled nobles.
The emperor's face turned red in anger. Not only does this
upstart have a claim to the throne, but he treats me like I'm
some...
"Listen Azusa." the nobles gasped as this being had used the
emperor's name, "I don't care about your fucking throne. I don't
care about your fucking sense of protocol. The only thing
I care about is keeping my family safe." He turned his head to
face Azusa, "So if you ever try another stunt like you did awhile
ago with that pretty boy noble you got for Ayeka..." he grinned a
perfect imitation of the smile Cyraqs used to scare the shit out
of people.
"You'll kill me?"
"No. I happen to adore your wives too much for that."
Funahou actually blushed, and Misaki...well she grew even more
Kawaii than she already was. Definitely the right thing to say at
that time. "I'll just do what you most fear I'm going to do."
"What's that?"
"I really will take your throne." Looking from side to
side; he smiled at the shocked expressions of the nobles
assembled. Overbread shitbags. He willed himself back to Earth.
Azusa looked in askance at his two wives. He found no
sympathy in their faces.
That guy is going to cause problems for me later. Oh well,
problems come anyway. At least now I can plan for one of them.
He looked around at the cave. It was something he had been
planning to do for awhile, now was a good time for it. He reached
out around him, and crushed the area in a cave in. Destroying the
prison for all time. So long to a lot of bad memories.
He walked through the rock, and outside into the light.
Ryouko was waiting for him a smile of thanks on her lips. He
grasped her hand, and nodded in acknowledgment.
"The others are waiting, now." she told him.
"Then let us bury our dead, and pay them the respects they
deserve."
She teleported them back to where his family was gathered at
the small graveyard by the shrine. Ayeka came up beside him and
took his other arm.
The ceremony lasted for the first part of the day; the wake
would last for probably a couple of days after. Tenchi stopped
them before they could retire to the shrine to start their
remembrances.
"Listen all. I don't want to know what went on during the
past howevermany thousand years to bring all this about. I don't
want anything like that discussed," he glanced at the younger form
of his grandfather and Ayeka who was deliberately not speaking to
him; Washuu and Hayes; and Sasami. They got the message. "It's
not that I don't care; it's that until we are all truly together,
it should not be done." They wordlessly nodded. Not until Cyraqs
got back. "Good. Then let's go to the shrine and remember those
that are gone."
Around the evening he found himself back at the small grave
yard behind the shrine staring at the three new head stones.
The first one read: 'Kagato: Though his methods were
questionable, the end was what he sought.' Kagato you bastard.
Everything you did you did for Washuu. If only you hadn't
thought you needed to do it yourself this might have been
prevented. Might have beens are dust in the wind as they say.
He turned his gaze to the next one. 'Odin: How long does a
waterfly live?' Tenchi mentally completed the quote. A day in
the life of man? A blink of an eye for the gods? And still his
life is better spent than one who denies his destiny. Raiden said
that was your favorite quote. How very apt. Odin. Never knew
you, but you gave life to my little sister. I thank you for it.
I swear nothing will ever happen to her. So would Cyraqs were he
here.
The last one he could hardly bear to look at. 'Nobiyuki:
Beloved father and husband, We'll miss you.' Dad. Brave fool. I
never told you I loved you enough. Mom's not dead, but now you
are. She disappeared just after the funeral. I'll try to keep
her from doing something stupid, but I don't know if I can. It's
just not fair that one of you is dead while the other is not!
It's not fair!
"No it's not fair Tenchi."
"Sasami."
"Not quite, she's letting me talk now."
He turned and smiled at the; he couldn't call her a little
girl anymore that was for sure. Still his little sister no matter
what she may think. He was still trying to get used to the way
Sasami wore her hair now. After Tokimi had shortened it a bit she
simply let it hang loose; free of any decorations. She claimed it
was easier to manage that way. "Tsunami." he acknowledged.
"This won't do you any good you know."
He frowned. "I'll get over it. It'll take some time." She
appeared like she was going to say something else, but she stopped
as Tenchi walked over to her. "There is a lot that's going to
happen over the next few months. A lot of stuff is going to come
out that's going to cause a lot of nasty things to be said. I
want you to know, no matter the outcome I still love you, little
sister and always will." She couldn't say anything; so she
settled for hugging him roughly. "And before I forget..." She
looked up at him questioningly. He pushed her back and place her
hands in a receiving position; his on top. He closed his eyes for
a second and a ball of light appeared in her hand.
She studied it and gasped when she recognized it. "How..?
You have no control over the soul. How..?" she asked again.
"One of us no. Two or more of us, yes. It's the only thing
we can combine our powers for, and we must be in total agreement.
In this case Cyraqs and I were."
She looked at it again in amazement. Tokimi. Not as she was
later in life, but completely devoid of her life experience;
everything stripped away. As she was in the beginning. She
looked up at Tenchi in gratitude, "I don't know how..." he placed
a finger on her lips.
"Don't worry about it." he smiled and walked away.
She smiled again. Well what do you think Sasami?
I? I think we should do exactly what you're thinking.
Tsunami smiled, and brought the glowing light into her womb
where it would remain until it was needed. They would have to
talk to Cyraqs about it, that was true. Still they were
absolutely confident about the outcome. A combination of her
soul, ours, and his. Yes that should do it. And this time dear
sister, no, my daughter; we will do it right.
Nobiyuki didn't know how long he had been waiting at the end
of this tunnel. Time had ceased to have meaning. Suddenly he
felt two more presence enter this 'waiting' area.
"So this is it?" Kagato asked his companion.
"Looks like it."
How did he know his name? For some reason it didn't matter.
Two figures seemed to step from the light. As they got closer it
could be seen one was clothed all in white, the other in black.
"G. Louis. What's going on?" Odin asked.
"Nothing. Ready for the big ride?" The one in white asked.
"Yeah, I suppose."
"Head on up." The one in black invited. To which Odin took
him up on the offer.
"Hey Nobiyuki, what tortures you think they have waiting for
me in hell?" he asked grinning.
"Don't know. Looks like you may get your answer in a
minute." The ones called G and Louis approached the two souls.
"Kagato. Not bad. Not too bad at all." said Louis.
"I know what I've done, and am ready for the consequences. I
achieved my goal. She's safe. Whatever else happens...." he
trailed off as the two started laughing. "What?"
"Oh man, you think you're going to hell? No, how about
something else?" G asked.
"Something else?" He obviously wasn't expecting this.
"Yes. How about a chance to live a good life. One where you
won't have to do what you did. One free to engage in whatever
pursuits you want. Not like before where you're whole life
was to help restore balance. This one just for you. Don't worry
about the fact it sounds pretty selfish. Believe me you've more
than earned it."
Kagato laughed. "Why not?"
They smiled as he faded from view.
"Have a good life Kagato."
"And now on to you." Louis looked at Nobiyuki.
"I'm ready for whatever fate I have earned."
They both chuckled. "Are you?" Louis asked; very amused.
"We need someone to fill a position in the universe Nobiyuki."
He looked strangely at Louis. "A position?"
"Yes. You see when Tenchi and Cyraqs took down Tokimi, they
took away one of the pillars of reality; though she is still
alive, she is no longer that. We need someone to take her place.
Otherwise the universe will eventually collapse on itself. Your
family will not survive."
Nobiyuki sighed to himself. I can't let that happen. Looks
like we will never meet again my wife. "I have no choice."
"Don't look so glum." Louis smiled, "After all, there are
certain compensations to the job."
"What do you mean?"
He didn't reply in words, but his eyes focused on something
behind Nobiyuki. He turned and saw..."Achika." His wife. His
beautiful, beloved wife.
She ran to meet him and threw herself into his arms. He
grasped her and twirled her around in the air; both laughing in
happiness. "How is it poss..." she kissed him silencing all words
he tried to speak.
"Don't worry she'll explain everything. You two take care."
He wasn't sure which one had spoken, but he didn't care. He was
too busy otherwise.
Tenchi paced around the house in the middle of the night. It
was something he had been doing a lot of recently. He was told
that Cyraqs did this at times too; now he knew why.
"Tenchi." Great now I'm hearing my dads voice. Goddamn
ghosts can't keep from haunting me can you? He took a couple of
more steps. Another voice stopped him.
"Tenchi."
"Mom." He turned to look; to see both his dad and mom
standing there; holding each other and looking at him. He shook
his head. Closed his eyes; opened them after a few seconds. Took
his glasses off. Scanned the area. Yep, definitely there. He
was hardly aware of crossing the distance to hug them both. He
supposed it would be logical to ask how, why and all that. He
really didn't care, only one thing he did care about. "You're not
going to leave are you?"
"No, my son." Nobiyuki replied, "We're not going anywhere."
Tsunami, Sasami, and Washuu watched teary eyed as they saw
their sister, the new pillar, and Tenchi holding each other;
reunited at long last.
"Does this count as a happy ending?" Tsunami and Sasami
asked.
"I don't know. But it's the best definition I've ever
witnessed." Tsunami handed Washuu the kleenex she was using. She
gratefully accepted and dabbed her own eyes. "I take that back.
This has got to be a happy ending."
<End Theme-Hero-Crosby and Collins>
Authors Afterward: First thing I would like to do is thank Chris
"God-boy" Angel for his prereading and helpful comments on this
chapter. Thanks man, it means a lot. No this is not the end.
So what all did I do so far? Let's see reuunited the entire
extended family of the Tenchi universe. Set up most of the
characters. Killed a bad god; replaced her with a good one.
Killed all the bad guys and a few good (or at least semi-good)
guys. Typical action adventure, but then it was meant to be.
The next one is entitled 'Aftermath', and will wrap up this story
line. I have a few side stories I wish to write to fill in a few
gaps, and I will write them as I write the sequal to this story.
That one has the tentative title of 'War of Succession'. It starts
around 6 months after 'Aftermath'. As always I'm at
kthardin@geocities.com. All comments and critisisms are welcome
and appreciated. Flames are laughed at and ignored.
Oh, before I forget
Starring the voice talents of (Extended Cast):
Cyraqs K'thardin - David Nolen (Heh)
Hayes K'thardin - Peter Cullen
Y'mir K'thardin - Charlie Sheen
Drakhenn - James Earl Jones
Ryuken K'thardin - Keifer Sutherland
Tetran - Frank Welker
Abel - Leonard Nimoy
De'saad- Jack Angel
Malroth - Everett Denney
Admiral Godai - Kasey Casem
Minagi - Susan Blu
Asahi - Juliet Cesario
Raiden - Christopher Lambert
Odin - Patrick Stewart
G; Louis Cypher - Bruce Willis
Other voices done by cast as needed.