-*-
FULL CIRCLE:
The Final Episode
-*-
PART II
-*-
Establishing Shot: Space, an unfamiliar section. A row of
three Juraiian ships fly overhead at high speeds. They bank
in unison and the camera follows them as they face down a
long red colored ship that has obviously seen better days.
They slow down as they face them, red dots glowing on all
three ships as their weapons charge. The caption appears in
the lower left-hand corner of the screen.
CAPTION
Imperial Year 33838
(AD 2009)
Cut to the bridge of the red ship. It's a fairly large room
with several stations in shadowy pits below a central
walkway that goes up the center of the room to a swiveling
chair that's currently occupied. There is low chatter going
on as the people talk and relay data verbally. One person's
screen changes color and he stands and faces the central
chair.
OFFICER
Captain! Incoming transmission from the lead ship.
They identify themselves as Juraiian Empire border
patrol. Captain Devon is the name of the transmitter.
A man in another of the pits shakes his head and responds
with a gruff voice.
MAN
Border patrol, that's the last thing we need. May I
remind the Captain that we are short on time? Their
arrival is predicted in less than twenty minutes.
The camera pans around the bridge to show who's sitting in
the Captain's chair. It's Kiyonne. She wearing clothes of
dark brown instead of her GP uniform, and she looks to have
aged a bit, her hair is longer and darker and she has most
of it tied behind her except for the small frock that hangs
over her eye from her headband.
KIYONNE
Yes, I know. Lets finish this up quick. Put them
onscreen.
A section of the ceiling opens up and a projector pops out.
A large holographic screen comes from it, centered before
Kiyonne. On the screen is the face of a young woman with
light purple hair and wearing a fitted cut robe that hugs
her body like a suit (DEVON).
DEVON
Identify yourselves and your business in Juraiian
space.
KIYONNE
This is the independent trade ship Gordias en route to
Traxius IX.
DEVON
What is your manner of business there?
KIYONNE
To trade, of course! What else would a merchant do on
a planet?
DEVON
Don't get funny with me and I won't detain you.
KIYONNE
Terribly sorry.
DEVON
And where was your point of origin?
KIYONNE
We just lifted from Daibus X.
DEVON
Your ship doesn't look like most Trade ships that come
through this area.
KIYONNE
Well, sometimes when you're down on your luck you take
whatever ship the Star Gods bless ye with. This old
clunker was all I could get a decade ago.
DEVON
Very well. Transmit your visa and you can be on your
way.
The screen goes blank, then vanishes, the projector recedes
into the ceiling. Kiyonne sighs.
KIYONNE
Such a pain. Transmit our code.
OFFICER
Aye.
The officer sits down ad begins typing. The man with the
gruff voice shakes his head again.
MAN
Now we'll find out how good a job the Chief did on it.
KIYONNE
He knows what he's doing.
MAN
He may, but don't believe for an instant that these
Juraiians are going to be pushovers. If our fake code
is off by a decimal, you know they're going to cause a
fuss.
KIYONNE
Did you notice the badge on her?
The man nods.
MAN
Yes. Her earring has Laran's symbol on it. I'd gather
she feels compelled to keep it on all the time. Poor
girl probably doesn't know the lengths to which the
Emperor controls her.
KIYONNE
We'll put an end to all that.
MAN
I know, that's why we had to find them.
Kiyonne looks down at the man.
MAN
They're the only ones who can make things right again.
OFFICER
Code transmitted.
KIYONNE
All right. Set course for-
OFFICER
Incoming communication from the lead ship. It's Devon
again.
MAN
Here it goes. Preparing main gun for firing.
KIYONNE
This is really going to keep us if have to fire. I
wonder if they'll wait for us.
MAN
We've waited for 12 years, they can wait for a few
hours.
KIYONNE
Put her on screen.
Cut to space, again, an unfamiliar portion of it. A bluish
light appears, then swells to a large sphere. The insides
begin to crackle with energy and bolts of white light shoot
across it. It explosively expands once, the twice, and on
the third time, a ship comes flying out of the sphere,
charred black from damage. As it flies past the screen the
camera follows it to see it heading towards a predominantly
green planet. The ship shimmers one and then changes shape
into what we remember Ryo-ohki looks like. After changing
shape, some of the damage is gone, but a lot of it is sill
present.
Cut to the bridge of Ryo-ohki. The crew is just as we left
them before except they are all unconscious.
Simultaneously, however, they begin to stir.
RYOUKO
Gnn... what caused that?
WASHUU
The gravity... pocket... collapsed prematurely.
TENCHI
Is everyone okay?
AEKA
Sasami, how are you feeling?
SASAMI
I feel really tired, but I don't hurt anywhere.
Ryouko gets up and looks at the main screen.
RYOUKO
Where are we?
WASHUU
I'm triangulating our position now.
RYO-OHKI
(half-hearted) Myaaa....
WASHUU
Yes, I know. Wherever we are, we're going to have to
land, Ryo-ohki is exhausted.
AEKA
That doesn't look like Jurai.
WASHUU
Most likely it isn't, with that sort of malfunctioning
wave-form I'll be surprised if we're anywhere near our
projected destination. I think the duplidium ore in
the asteroids caused it to happen. If we try that
again, it should work properly.
AEKA
Should?
WASHUU
It's all probability out here.
AEKA
Hrmm...
WASHUU
Here we go... hm... not that far from Jurai.
RYOUKO
Where are we?
WASHUU
Venroi, it's a small planet not too many light years
from where we need to be. There isn't any catalogued
sentient life on it, should only be forest and animals.
RYO-OHKI
Myaa...
WASHUU
Okay. I'm putting us into a descent. We should be
surface in a few minutes.
RYO-OHKI
Myaa, Myaaaa!
WASHUU
You're welcome.
Sasami stands up and starts walking around. She freezes
when she gets a few steps from her seat and gasps. Aeka,
concerned, looks where Sasami is and looks similarly
shocked.
AEKA
Miss Washuu... look.
Washuu turns and looks down where Aeka and Sasami are
staring. We see shards of crystal all over and Azusa lying,
face down, in the middle of it.
Cut to the exterior of Ryo-ohki as she descends down to the
planet. The camera descends with her as she flies down
through a channel in the trees before emerging into a large
clearing with a stone slab on the ground. Ryo-ohki lands on
the slab. The camera pans back from the ship into the sky
and we see the stone is on the edge of a group of temples
constructed from stone and woven into the trees.
Cut to show a close up of Ryo-Ohki again. A panel slides
away and a long ramp descends to the ground. We assume this
is how they exited the ship at the space station. Washuu
and Sasami emerge first, followed by Ryouko and Aeka who are
carrying a stretcher with Azusa on it, and finally Tenchi
limps out, his leg apparently rebandaged. Once they are out
of the ship, it quickly shrinks down to the compact form of
Ryo-ohki.
RYO-OHKI
(weakly) Myaa...
She falls onto her back in exhaustion. Tenchi moves over
and picks her up, cradling her in his arms as he moves over
to the others.
TENCHI
Poor thing.
AEKA
What is this place?
RYOUKO
Looks like a temple of some sort. I thought you said
this planet was uninhabited.
WASHUU
I didn't think it was. It looks like whoever was here
left long ago.
SASAMI
It looks like Freena.
AEKA
Freena?
SASAMI
Yes, that old Juraian fairy tale. I remember mommy
telling it to me a long time ago. She said its where
the ancient Juraiians came from.
AEKA
But that's just a fairy tale, there's no truth to it.
SASAMI
It looks just like this, though, this is exactly what
mommy told me.
TENCHI
Well, they say that most legends are grounded in truth.
This could be where Juraiians lived before they were
space faring.
AEKA
But, that can't be true. The historians all say that
we've lived on Jurai since the beginning. That the
tree of life grew there with it's energizing nectar
that allowed us to evolve into what we are today. It's
grounded in scientific evidence.
RYOUKO
How do you have evidence that you grew from the
'nectar' of Tsunami on Jurai?
AEKA
We can tell by the roots and the growth of Tsunami that
she's always been on that planet and has never been
transplanted.
RYOUKO
That doesn't prove that YOU were there since the
beginning.
AEKA
But ... um...
AZUSA
Nnng...
SASAMI
Daddy?
WASHUU
Lets go to that structure over there and give Ryo-ohki
a chance to recover.
They start walking towards a nearby building.
Cut to the inside of a plain stone room with an opening to
the outside and a corridor on the opposite wall heading
down. Everyone slowly files into the room and Aeka and
Ryouko put Azusa down against one of the walls and Aeka
tends to him carefully. Ryouko moves over to Tenchi to help
him in and sit him down. Washuu sits in the center of the
room and summons her holographic terminal.
TENCHI
How are you feeling, Ryo-ohki?
RYO-OHKI
Mya...
RYOUKO
How about you, Tenchi? Feeling okay?
TENCHI
Yeah, it doesn't hurt as much anymore. Whatever Washuu
gave me seems to be working.
RYOUKO
Don't worry, Tenchi, I'll make sure nothing else comes
to harm you.
TENCHI
(laughs nervously) Uh... that's not necessary...
WASHUU
(to Aeka & Sasami) It seems that the wave disturbance
resonated through the bridge while we were folding
through space. It reacted harshly with organic matter,
causing sudden rapid constriction of blood veins
leading to unconsciousness, but apparently when it hit
the crystal it began to vibrate until the stress lines
fractured. He's lucky the sudden exposure to real time
conditions didn't kill him, as it is, I think he'll be
all right.
AEKA
Can you wake him up?
WASHUU
Yes, I guess I could. Medical science isn't exactly
what I specialize in.
AEKA
Please Miss Washuu.
Washuu taps on her terminal and a small black circle opens
in space beside her and a cup of liquid floats out of it.
Washuu grabs it as it starts to fall.
WASHUU
Try to get him to drink this. If he's only suffering
from hibernation sickness this should help bring him
about.
Aeka takes the cup and lifts Azusa's head slightly to pour
the liquid down. She slowly empties the cup into his mouth
and holds his head up so that he swallows it.
WASHUU
It should take a few minutes to be fully absorbed.
She tips onto her back, looks at the ceiling and sighs. We
hear past conversations as distant echoes in her mind.
ADAM (V.O.)
If I'm left behind, you leave me. Don't come back.
WASHUU (V.O.)
I can't promise that.
ADAM (V.O.)
Remember you promise.
WASHUU (V.O.)
I never made that promise.
ADAM (V.O.)
You have to...
SASAMI
What are you thinking about?
Washuu blinks and sees Sasami beside her. She looks towards
the ceiling again.
WASHUU
People.
SASAMI
Adam?
WASHUU
(frowns) People.
SASAMI
Oh. Well, I'm thinking about people too. What about
people are you thinking?
WASHUU
I'm wondering if people can forgive me.
SASAMI
I see... I'm positive people can forgive. I mean, no
body can ever know everything that's going to happen
before it does, so, you have to make mistakes every
once in a while. If you know that, then you have to
forgive, because it isn't their fault.
WASHUU
Are you sure?
SASAMI
Pretty sure. I mean, when you make mistakes you get
better so you don't have to make the same mistakes
again. If people didn't forgive, they would be telling
you that you can't learn anymore or they'll hate you,
and that isn't right.
WASHUU
Hm... (nods) But are you sure that nobody can known
what's going to happen before it does?
SASAMI
I don't know. But if you knew what was going to
happen, then you wouldn't make mistakes and you'd never
change. That would be terrible!
WASHUU
Yes... I suppose it would be.
AZUSA (O.S.)
Uhh... Aeka...
Washuu and Sasami look up to see Azusa stirring on the
stretcher with Aeka holding onto his hand. They get up and
move over. Similarly, Tenchi and Ryouko crowd around.
AEKA
Father! Father, can you hear me?
AZUSA
Aeka...? Couldn't ... be...
AEKA
No, it can be, it's me, Father!
Azusa tries to look around but his eyes dart about too fast
to see anything. He closes his eyes and opens them slowly
to try to focus.
AZUSA
He... hasn't... hurt you... has he?
AEKA
Who, father?
AZUSA
That... bastard... Laran...
Aeka looks between Tenchi and Sasami.
AEKA
Who's Laran?
AZUSA
Royal ... advisor Laran... of Enki.
Washuu's eyes widen.
WASHUU
Enki...
AEKA
What did he do?
Azusa takes a deep breath and raises his hand to his
forehead, rubbing his temples. He blinks several times and
tries looking around again.
AZUSA
Where am I?
SASAMI
We're in Freena, Daddy.
AZUSA
Sasami? Is that you? You're both all right, that's
good. What did you say? Freena? Impossible, it's
just a myth.
AEKA
We're on Venroi, Father, a planet not far from Jurai.
AZUSA
The Temple Moon? Why ... am I here?
AEKA
You were encased in a crystal, forced into suspended
animation. We found you for sale at a pirate colony
and we were going to bring you back to Jurai but we had
to stop here.
AZUSA
Suspended... animation? How long?
Aeka looks up to Washuu.
WASHUU
I don't know. There's no way of telling how long ago
he was encased. What's the last date you remember?
AZUSA
Twenty-second Day of Falling, 33826.
SASAMI
It's been a little more than a week, I think.
AZUSA
You must take me back to Jurai. I have to stop him.
AEKA
What did he do?
AZUSA
He's taken over the throne.
Aeka puts a hand to her mouth and gasps. Sasami and Tenchi
look equally as surprised.
AZUSA
He was strong, and penetrated our defenses as easily as
the Demon Ryouko did.
RYOUKO
Hey!
AZUSA
He was assisted by a woman... she was the one who
fought for him. As strong as twenty of my best
knights. He walked right through my men and up to me.
(scowls) That bastard child of a Enki, ungrateful race
for what we've done for them. (looks up) I need to go
to Jurai, I have to take my Empire back!
AEKA
I know, we need to get to Jurai as well, but ... this
Laran, how can we face him? We can't just take him
alone.
AZUSA
It's only a week, he couldn't possibly have everyone
serving him, there must be a way in so we can surprise
him and-
RYOUKO
And what? Ask him to give you back your pretty chair?
Listen to yourself speak! He walked through all your
men last time and put you into a crystal for the
trouble. Do you really believe anything different will
happen this time? Maybe he'll bow to your divine
begging.
AZUSA
Who do think you are, speaking to an Emperor like that?
RYOUKO
I'm the 'Demon Ryouko' you keep talking about, and I'd
appreciate it if you'd NOT call me that.
AZUSA
Who are you people and why are you travelling with my
daughters?
AEKA
(laughs nervously) It's a long story, Father.
AZUSA
Wait, you were on your way back to Jurai? Did you,
tell me Aeka, find Yousho?
Aeka looks uncomfortably to Tenchi.
AEKA
Well, yes and no. Um, father, I'd like you to meet
Tenchi Masaki of Earth... Yousho's grandson.
Azusa turns to Tenchi and frowns. Tenchi waves nerviously.
Azusa looks back to Aeka.
AZUSA
(loudly) Yousho had children on Earth but never
bothered to send word to me?
AEKA
Well, Father, it's a little difficult to explain...
AZUSA
Where is he now? Doesn't he realize his duty to his
kingdom!
AEKA
Well, he, uh, does realize, which is... um... why he
sent Tenchi in his place!
AZUSA
What?
TENCHI
What?
RYOUKO
WHAT?
AZUSA
But he is an Earth boy, he no place on Jurai.
RYOUKO
Hey, currently you don't seem to have a place on Jurai
either, so I shouldn't worry myself with where Tenchi
should be!
AZUSA
(to Ryouko) Take one step on Jurai and I'll lock you up
like the demon you are!
RYOUKO
You mean you'll beg Laran to do it.
Azusa and Ryouko seem to be on the verge of a full out
fight. Aeka jumps in between them and pushes them apart.
AEKA
Father, please!
AZUSA
Aeka, I don't approve of the company you keep yourself
in.
AEKA
Father!
AZUSA
Furthermore, you're giving a bad role model for your
sister Sasami.
AEKA
(disbelief) I'M being a bad role model?
AZUSA
Once we sort this out I'll see to it that you have some
proper friends.
AEKA
Father!
AZUSA
They'll be no more discussion on this matter.
Aeka blinks, aghast. Ryouko leans over to Tenchi.
RYOUKO
(whispers) They're father and daughter all right.
Cut to space, Venroi takes up half the screen. The large
red ship that Kiyonne captain's flies past the camera and
settles in orbit of the planet.
Cut to the bridge of the red ship. The man with the gruff
voice is still in his pit, but he's standing and talking to
Kiyonne. The shadows still fall heavily on him and we
cannot define any of his features. An officer from another
pit announces.
OFFICER
We're in orbit of Venroi now. The ion trail left by
the fold indicates a descent into this planet.
KIYONNE
How long ago do you estimate?
OFFICER
Probably four to five hours ago.
KIYONNE
(sighs) Those border ships took longer than I'd hoped.
MAN
I'm sure they're just down on the planet resting.
KIYONNE
Or they crashed there because we weren't around to wake
them up.
MAN
Nah, the ion trail means that the engines were on, so
at least Ryo-ohki was piloting, I'm sure they're safely
intact. I could only have dreamed things would go so
smoothly.
KIYONNE
I'll be happier when they're onboard.
MAN
Well, I can't say that wouldn't be true for me as well.
KIYONNE
(to the officer) Prepare a shuttle for a surface dive.
(to Man) I assume you're coming with me?
MAN
I don't know, it's been a long time.
KIYONNE
It's been a long time for me as well, you know,
although I didn't know them as well as you.
MAN
I just ... I don't know. I'm afraid that she won't
want to see me again, and then, I'm also afraid she'll
be too happy to see me.
KIYONNE
(smiles) If she gets too close, I'll just tell her to
back off my man and that'll be the end of it.
MAN
(chuckles) I wish it was that easy to discourage her.
Kiyonne stands and holds out her hand.
KIYONNE
Come on, Adam, let's welcome them to the future.
He looks down, then up, and takes her hand. As they touch,
we notice a gold band on his ring finger clink with a
similar band on Kiyonne's. She gives him a quick pull and
he steps up onto the deck and we get our first view of the
older Adam. He's still tall, six foot at the least, with
very long brown hair now, that he has tied into a long
ponytail behind him. He's got a thick stubble across his
face that is mostly covering a short scar across his left
cheek. He's wearing what looks like a brown leather jacket
over a dark blue collared shirt and black slacks. He has an
oddly looking metal circlet around his head as well that
disappears in the back under his hair making it similar
looking to Kiyonne's headband. They walk down the deck and
through the doorway in the back.
Cut to the planet, showing a view of the temples from above.
It's dark out now and one of the temples glows eerily from a
light inside. The camera pans towards that temple then
fades to show the inside where the group is resting. Azusa
has his back against a wall with Aeka and Sasami nearby
resting. At the opposite wall, Ryouko and Tenchi are
sitting, awake, with Ryo-ohki on Tenchi's lap, and just
staring out the doorway to the clear sky above. Washuu has
her back against the wall that has the doorway out and is
typing on her terminal.
RYOUKO
Tenchi?
TENCHI
Yes?
RYOUKO
Are you going to Jurai to be Emperor?
TENCHI
(blinks) I don't think I have that option, Ryouko.
RYOUKO
But what if you did? I mean, Aeka said you could go in
Yousho's place and be Crown Prince. Would you do that?
TENCHI
I don't know, I've never been to Jurai before, I don't
think I can decide on that right now. I know that I've
never wanted to be an emperor before. Why?
RYOUKO
I don't want you to stay on Jurai. After this is over
we should go back to Earth.
TENCHI
You don't like Jurai?
RYOUKO
No ... the last time I was there I ... it's bad
memories.
TENCHI
(nods) I know what you mean. (beat) Don't worry, I
don't think Azusa's going to be offering me the kingdom
any time soon, and even if he did ... I'm not ready for
any of that yet.
RYOUKO
Oh ... (beat) Tenchi, did you mean what you said to
Aeka?
TENCHI
(frowns) What did I say to Aeka?
RYOUKO
That it didn't matter what happened in those other
worlds ... that they didn't count?
TENCHI
(sighs) We couldn't control ourselves in those worlds,
Ryouko, so anything I did doesn't necessarily mean I
would have done them in the real world.
RYOUKO
(depressed) Oh...
TENCHI
But...
Ryouko looks up at him.
TENCHI
I can't say that all the choices I made on those worlds
were bad ones.
Ryouko makes a half smile and leans against Tenchi.
RYOUKO
I've my whole life being alone. I was an emotionless
tool for a madman and then a ghost at a shrine who
couldn't even touch the person I was watching. I don't
want to go back to that.
TENCHI
I won't leave you alone, Ryouko. Until the day you
tell me to go, I promise.
RYOUKO
Tenchi...
Pan over to Washuu who's tapping rapidly on her terminal.
We see the semi-transparent data being displayed on the
screen. She appears to be going through a database of
people, glancing at each display momentarily before moving
on. At the top of the display is the consistent symbol of
the Science Academy. After a few seconds she pauses on one
display of a light green haired man with small glasses. She
stares for a moment before pressing a button and the image
alters, simulating aging. After a second, we realize that
the picture is of Kagato when he was younger. Quickly the
hair turns gray and the skin gets pale and we see the
familiar image of the man who tried to destroy the Earth.
Washuu looks at the image impassively then glances down to
the bottom of the screen and the camera zooms in to show a
heading that reads 'PLANET OF BIRTH'.
WASHUU
Enki...
She presses a button and the display changes to show a
picture of a planet and a list of information on it. The
planet is purplish in color and appears to exist in a system
with two other planets.
WASHUU
Enki... second planet in the Guilia system, oxygen-
nitrogen atmosphere, rating 16 gravity, dominated by
purple leafed plants and trees. Dominant species is
the Enkians, humanoid in appearance, possessing of
advanced intellect and increased dexterity. Research
conducted in 25114 indicates a possible latent ability
for telekinesis. Follow-up research scheduled for
30320 but by that time ...
Washuu blinks.
WASHUU
By that time Guilia had already gone supernova and Enki
was destroyed. Remaining Enkians refused to
participate in study. (beat) That's why he refused to
tell me about his world.
She puts her hand to her chin.
WASHUU
I wonder why their star went supernova...
KIYONNE (O.S.)
They triggered the reaction themselves.
Washuu jumps and spins to see Kiyonne standing in the
doorway. Ryouko and Tenchi look up and get to their feet.
They all do a double-take, however, when they notice her
appearance.
TENCHI
(cautiously) Ki-Kiyonne?
KIYONNE
(nods) Yes. A little worse for wear but still the same
old me.
RYOUKO
What happened to you?
KIYONNE
Nothing that everyone else hasn't gone through, the
real question to ask, however, is what *didn't* happen
to you all.
TENCHI
What do you mean?
KIYONNE
It's a long story, and I think he'd rather explain?
Kiyonne looks to her right at someone still outside the
doorway.
RYOUKO
He?
Kiyonne steps inside and off to the side and Adam slowly
steps into her place.
ADAM
Hey all.
RYOUKO
Adam?
ADAM
Uh-huh.
TENCHI
You're alive!
ADAM
(smiles) Amazing observation. (nods) Yes, I survived
that firefight on the station. (beat) I'm sure you're
all wondering-
He's cut off when Washuu dives into him and starts hugging
him. He looks surprised down at first then wraps his arms
around her.
WASHUU
I thought you were dead.
ADAM
I thought I was too, but sometimes things don't work
out like you expect.
They hold each other for another few moments as everyone
watches contently, except for Kiyonne who seems a little
uncomfortable. Eventually Washuu pushes from the embrace
and then slugs him in the stomach.
ADAM
Uhhff... (wheezes) What was that for?
WASHUU
For making me worry like that when you were fine!
ADAM
I didn't know this was going to happen, I thought that
they were shooting to kill!
WASHUU
You wouldn't listen to me when I told you to ignore
those visions!
ADAM
I can't believe you're bringing this up again after all
this time.
WASHUU
What time? Last time I saw you I said you were crazy
and now I'm saying it again! (beat) Hey, why do you
guys look so strange all of a sudden anyway?
KIYONNE
Actually, we look normal. It's you guys who are
strange.
RYOUKO
What do you mean, strange?
ADAM
As I was trying to explain before, there's a reason we
look different than we did to you guys last time we saw
each other.
WASHUU
And that reason would be?
ADAM
Well, it has to do with that Jump Drive you used to
escape the asteroid field. I don't know if you noticed
but all the duplidium ore in the nearby rock caused you
to form an imbalanced gravity form. Whenever you fold
with an irregularity you get unpredictable results. In
this case there were two strange occurrences. First,
and obviously, you didn't arrive at Jurai. You were
several degrees off course and ended up here, near
Venroi. And secondly...
He glances to Kiyonne for a moment then continues.
ADAM
You showed up twelve years later.
Everyone looks shocked.
ADAM
It's now the year 33838. We've been waiting for you to
resurface for some time now. It must have been...
geeze, five years ago that we predicted when you'd fall
out of the gravity well, and it's been a very anxious
five years, I can tell you. But now that you're back,
we stand a chance at ending everything.
TENCHI
Ending everything? What do you mean?
KIYONNE
It hasn't been and exactly pleasant twelve years, you
know. Since Laran took over Jurai, it's become an
interstellar nightmare out there. Juraiian border
guards patrol between all the systems, everything that
doesn't fit into the Emperor's ideal is destroyed, it's
terrible. There's so much happening, but we can better
explain it if you come back to our ship.
ADAM
There's so many things we have to tell you.
He looks at Washuu, who has an odd look on her face, before
turning towards the doorway.
ADAM
We have our shuttle out on the landing grounds that'll
take us up to the Yagami.
Steps out of the room and is follows shortly after by
Kiyonne. Tenchi and Ryouko look at each other.
TENCHI
This is weird.
RYOUKO
I know, he seems very... different.
TENCHI
Her too.
WASHUU
We can still trust them, though.
Tenchi and Ryouko look to her.
WASHUU
We should follow them.
Tenchi and Ryouko move over to Aeka, Sasami, and Azusa and
start to wake them up.
Cut to show the shuttle lifting off from the surface of the
planet. The camera follows it as it makes a vertical ascent
to several thousand feet then begins flying forward and
pitching up.
Cut to the inside of the shuttle. It's very cramped, with
two seats in the front where you can see out of the shuttle,
and a long compartment with bench seats. Kiyonne and Adam
are in the front seats, piloting the shuttle, while everyone
else is on the benches. Azusa leans forward and looks at
the two in the front.
AZUSA
So what's happened on Jurai itself?
Adam glances over his shoulder once.
ADAM
Our information is sketchy on surface activity, it's
hard to get our people in without the Guard finding
out. But we'll tell you everything we know in the
briefing room, Azusa.
AZUSA
That's Emperor Azusa.
ADAM
Eventually... we hope so.
Cut to space as the shuttle flies up to the large red ship
in orbit (Yagami). The shuttle comes up behind the ship and
docks along a ramp on the bottom of the craft, so that the
bottom of the shuttle becomes a section of the bottom of the
ship.
Cut to a darkened room with a long table and several bright
lights shining down on it. Ryouko, Tenchi, Aeka, Sasami,
Washuu, and Azusa are sitting at the table. There aren't
apparently any other people in the room.
TENCHI
It seems like a lot of these people have been counting
on us specifically for something.
RYOUKO
Yeah, I wonder what they're going to make us do.
AZUSA
I don't trust these people, they seem too desperate.
AEKA
What do you mean?
AZUSA
Desperate people tend to make foolish choices because
they believe in an all or nothing solution to their
problems.
SASAMI
But we can trust Kiyonne and Adam not to do anything
wrong, can't we?
Sasami looks around but the rest of the table looks
nervously away from her. A door opens in the darkness,
shedding light from the corridor behind it into the room. A
figure stands in the doorway, silhouetted by the light, but
definitely male. He steps into the room and the door closes
behind him. He steps up to the head of the table and into
the light. We see he's wearing a maroon shirt and dark blue
slacks and has an old Galaxy Police hat on his head. We
realize that this is the section chief that Kiyonne and
Mihoshi used to report to (Full Circle, Ep.6).
CHIEF
Hello.
There are scattered replies.
CHIEF
My name is Takumi Reeve, I used to be the chief of the
Galaxy Police detectives in the Omega section of space.
I'm sure you're all confused about what's been
happening, but I'll do my best to get you updated as
quickly as possible. I'm not sure exactly what you've
been told and what you haven't so if you just ask me
questions, I'll try to answer them as best as I can.
AEKA
Who are you all?
REEVE
Oh, of course, I'm sorry for not saying it earlier.
We're what remains of the Resistance.
TENCHI
The Resistance?
REEVE
It all started the day Laran attacked Jurai. The
galaxy police were called immediately to assist Jurai,
but by the time we'd arrived everything was finished.
AZUSA
What do you mean, finished?
REEVE
You'd already surrendered.
Azusa looks aghast.
AZUSA
I DID NO SUCH THING!
REEVE
We know, at least, now we know for sure, but I
suspected from the beginning.
TENCHI
You're confusing me.
REEVE
Okay, then, I'll tell you it appeared to be like.
Fade to the inside of a Galaxy Police ship. Reeve is on the
bridge, looking much younger, standing beside a man sitting
in the captain's chair.
CAPTAIN
How much longer?
OFFICER
At least ten more minutes until we're within range to
drop the shuttles.
CAPTAIN
Come on!
OFFICER
We're receiving a broad band hail from the Royal
Palace.
CAPTAIN
Lets hear it.
A screen appears on the bridge and we see Laran standing
besides Azusa before the assembled houses in a large semi-
circular room.
AZUSA
Attention people of Jurai. Just a few minutes ago, I
signed the terms of surrender for myself and on behalf
of the joint houses before several of my advisors.
The sounds of several thousand talking people flutter in
though the transmission as the people he's addressing
respond to the announcement. Azusa continues above the
sound of the crowd.
AZUSA
I have only ever thought of the good of Jurai in my
decisions, and it's been my belief, as well as that of
my advisors, that a strong Emperor can only make his
empire stronger. Today, I stood in the face of a
stronger man who before the might of my combined guard,
seemed like a god. His rule can only make the Empire
stronger. (beat) Good day.
The crowds yells get louder as Azusa backs away and Laran
takes his place.
LARAN
As of today, I am your Emperor. Learn to live with
this change, or you will die.
He turns and walks off while escorting Azusa away. The
screen turns to static then vanishes. The captain and Reeve
look at each other gravely.
CAPTAIN
My gods...
REEVE
Send command to all ships ... return home.
Fade back to the conference room. Reeve has the same grave
look on his face as he did when he was younger.
REEVE
It was shortly after that that the 'reorganizations'
took place in the Galaxy Police and the warrants were
issued for Azusa's children and their friends. I knew
that my knowledge about the affairs taking place on
Earth would soon make me a traitor or worse so I erased
all the information I could access on you and escaped.
(beat) It wasn't soon before there was a warrant on my
head as well.
AZUSA
I never did such a thing!
REEVE
Yes, we figured the 'Azusa' who gave that speech was a
stand in.
AZUSA
Of course it was.
REEVE
We knew that the real Azusa was too much of a hot head
and an egotist to ever admit someone was stronger than
him.
AZUSA
How DARE you say-
REEVE
Quiet down... we're trying to help you here, don't
forget. (beat) Anyway, it was at least a couple of
years before enough of the rebels found each other to
form the resistance. I, of course, went to Earth
immediately to warn you, but I only found Kiyonne and
Mihoshi there. We tried to organize all of the people
we found who were against Laran, but there were only
three of us. Then we found Commissioner Kuramitsu and
things really took off. Everyone got organized and we
started planning missions, and things started looking
bright for a change.
Reeve was starting to smile near the end, but now it fades.
REEVE
Then Laran caught onto us and sent his soldiers, his
elite guard, after us. We thought we could continue to
run from them but they were better than we thought.
They hunted us down so easily. We were about to give
up again. (beat) We were starting to think that you
all were dead, not just hiding like we'd hoped.
Additionally, at that time we held that if we could
make a strike against Laran, we could rally the public
against him and then put Azusa back on the throne.
Then we found out that you'd been missing lately as
well, and with the way Laran handled things, we
wouldn't have been surprised if he'd killed you, so
we... lost hope.
TENCHI
What happened then? Why are you all fighting again?
REEVE
Things turned around again when Kiyonne found Adam.
WASHUU
How did Adam help?
REEVE
He knew all the things we were only hoping were true.
He knew that you'd all been together and what exactly
happened the day you disappeared. He also knew that
you (points to Azusa) were with them and had been
secured into a crystal of some sort. At first we
didn't think all this was important, we kind of treated
it as the last nail in the coffin because we thought
you were dead, but then he became adamant that you all
had to have been *somewhere* so we tried to get all the
minds we could find to figure out what happened when
you used the jump drive in the duplidium field. Then
we calculated your arrival and all we had to do was
wait for you to come back.
RYOUKO
So now that you have us, what do you want?
REEVE
Your help.
AEKA
To do what?
REEVE
To defeat Laran. We've been working on this plan for
years, and there won't be a better time than now to
execute it. We can get you to the throne room before
Laran, then it's up to you to defeat him or make him
stand down.
Everyone notices where he's staring.
TENCHI
Me?
RYOUKO
Why do you think Tenchi can do anything?
REEVE
Because we know how you defeated Kagato.
AEKA
Kagato?
RYOUKO
What does that bastard have to do with any of this.
WASHUU
Kagato was from a planet on the fringe of our galaxy
called Enki. The same one that Laran comes from.
TENCHI
They're the same?
WASHUU
Same race anyway, and I wouldn't be surprised if this
guy is just as smart as Kagato was. The Enkians are
brilliant.
REEVE
We believe that he shares at least a biological
similarity with the terrorist Kagato and that you stand
a chance at defeating him.
RYOUKO
He nearly killed him the first time!
AEKA
I agree, this is too risky!
WASHUU
Not to mention that he used the Light Hawk Wings to do
it and he hasn't been able to recreate them even ONCE
since then.
AEKA
I won't allow this-
AZUSA
Aeka!
She looks to him in shock.
AZUSA
(to Reeve) What makes you believe that this one boy has
the power to succeed where my BEST MEN failed?
REEVE
He has the power to do it, Adam can confirm.
AZUSA
So this is his plan?
REEVE
No, it's a collective plan based on the report that
Mihoshi submitted on the battle with Kagato and
everything we've been able to find out about Laran.
It's going to work, and if it doesn't, our cause is
lost anyway.
AZUSA
You see what I told you about desperate people?
AEKA
Father, please...
TENCHI
I don't understand.
Everyone turns to him.
TENCHI
You want me to fight Laran on behalf of Jurai, by
myself? And this is the only way?
REEVE
It's the only plan with a moderate success rate. We
need your help to bring peace back to this galaxy.
Laran's reign of oppression and terror will only
continue if we don't stop him here. You have a chance
to make history, can you really turn it down?
RYOUKO
What if Tenchi doesn't want to risk his life for your
little planet?
REEVE
It's not just our planet though. Every planet will
feel the pressure eventually... even Earth. You can go
back, we can slip you past the blockades, and deposit
you back on your planet, but I can't guarantee that
you'll see more than ten years of uninterrupted
isolation. Laran will eventually force your planet to
his rule, or he'll destroy it, and if we don't stop him
now, he'll only get stronger. It may seem like you
have a choice but you really don't, this is our last
chance.
TENCHI
(looks down) I just wish I had such confidence in my
own abilities.
Cut to a lounge on the Yagami. It's a room shaped like a
half circle, with windows all along the circumference and
couches and chairs littering the room, most facing out
towards the stars. The room is almost completely empty and
has been darkened. The camera pans around the room and we
see the remaining two residents are Adam and Kiyonne. Adam
is sitting on one of the large plush chairs and Kiyonne is
sitting on his lap on the chair, with her legs hanging off
one of the arms. They have their arms casually around each
other and they're both looking out into the stars.
ADAM
(sighs) There are just too many. I'll never get to
them all.
KIYONNE
Hmm?
ADAM
Stars. Too many. Must speak. In short phrases.
She laughs and Adam smiles.
KIYONNE
You know, I haven't seen you smile like that in a long
time.
ADAM
I'm always smiling, what are you talking about?
KIYONNE
I know, but the way you're smiling, it just seems so
much brighter. Too often I see you with this nervous
grin, like you want to be happy, but you know something
else is about to crop up and ruin your fun. It was
cute, but I like this much better.
ADAM
Well I don't know about any nervous smiles, but I do
feel better right now that I have in a while.
KIYONNE
You're happy to see them again.
ADAM
(nods) When I watched them from the window of that
station ... I thought they were gone for good. I
thought that I'd killed them by forgetting to tell her
about the dulplidium field. I didn't care about
anything anymore, I'd lost my purpose. You know, I
was sent to them to protect them from harm. A real
good job I did on that.
KIYONNE
If you look at it from that perspective, then maybe you
failed. But then, you actually kept them safe for
twelve years by them being trapped in that gravity
pocket. So from one perspective you did some good.
ADAM
But if they'd been around, we might have been able to
stop Laran then, instead of now, after years of damage
has been done. (hangs his head) I'm the cause of
billions of suffering.
KIYONNE
No, you're not, and don't even start thinking that way.
You can't keep playing this second guess game, because
the truth is you can't go back and change things, you
can only keep moving forward, so looking at what
*could* have been is pointless. Besides, if they never
disappeared, I wouldn't have found you on that colony
ten years ago and we never would have gotten together.
ADAM
(smiles) I guess so. Maybe if they hadn't disappeared
I wouldn't have been so desperate for comfort with the
first familiar face to come along.
KIYONNE
(mock disbelief) Are you saying that it was just
convenient that I came along when I did?
ADAM
Maybe. I might have shacked up with anyone.
Kiyonne adjusts her arms so that they're around Adam's neck
and roughly pulls him closer.
KIYONNE
Oh, really? Maybe I would have gone with anyone who
could have gotten me away from Mihoshi.
ADAM
She's your best friend, and you know it.
KIYONNE
And you like to stir things up for no reason.
ADAM
Can't hide anything from you, you know all my secrets.
KIYONNE
Feh, I'm going to put you back on that colony someday.
They lean closer and kiss. It's a brief embrace, but one
definitely shared by seasoned lovers.
ADAM
You couldn't stand to be without me.
KIYONNE
That's my line.
They laugh and look back out the windows out to the stars.
ADAM
I wonder if they're taking it well. The gang, I mean.
KIYONNE
It's a lot to get in one sitting, I'm surprised they
acted so well from what we told them on the planet.
ADAM
It's not like they have a whole lot of choice, this is
the world and they have to accept it. I just hope
they'll understand and comply with our plan.
KIYONNE
I think it'll be difficult getting Azusa and Aeka to be
patient enough to follow through with it. And
Sasami... well, if all the data is right, she should
still have a couple days left.
ADAM
This will be one hell of a fight. Nothing compared to
what we've seen before.
KIYONNE
I know ... it's going to be dangerous.
ADAM
I have a feeling everything is going to work out all
right in the end though.
KIYONNE
(frowns) You didn't have a vision did you?
ADAM
(taps a finger to the circlet on his head) Not since I
started wearing this. No, there's nothing supernatural
about my feeling, just a gut instinct. (beat) Maybe I'm
just trying to be optimistic though, I really don't
want to conceive of anything going wrong tomorrow. I
don't want to think of having to be away from you
again. I couldn't stand that.
KIYONNE
Then we'll make a promise.
ADAM
Ugh, I hate promises, you usually have to keep them.
KIYONNE
(laughs) This will be one you'll want to keep. (beat)
We promise that tomorrow, we'll go together. No matter
what happens, we follow each other to the end, agreed?
Adam pauses for a moment with a frown, then his face
softens.
ADAM
Agreed, I promise.
KIYONNE
Good. (beat) But just in case we really do have to
follow each other to our ends.
She pulls him into another kiss.
Cut to the conference room. Reeve is holding up a piece of
paper with, what appears to be, a picture of an intricate
Celtic weaving.
REEVE
This is our most recent discovery that give us even
more confidence as to the future if we succeed. This
is the symbol of Laran. We thought at first it was
just his herald, but we've discovered another more
sinister usage of them.
He holds up an earring that we recognize from the opening
scene on the ear of Devon. It glints in the light and we
can see Laran's symbol deep inside of it.
REEVE
This jewelry, when worn, subverts the wearer's mind to
Laran's cause. Basically, he's using mind control to
get his navy to obey him. Since this discovery, we've
uncovered various assorted jewelry with his symbol on
it only the people who've stood against us. Some of
them are still loyal to Laran when we take it off of
them, but most are, or were, neutral or against Laran
and the gem took away their choice. It makes our
battles a little harder, because we know we're fighting
potentially innocent people, but we've saved hundreds
of people so far by removing items such as this. (beat)
During the attack tomorrow, during man-to-man combat,
this is what you'll be aiming for.
RYOUKO
Wait a minute, we haven't even agreed to this yet and
you're prepping us for combat?
REEVE
I'm sorry if this sounds forward, but if you make your
decision in our favor, you will need to know these
things. The fate of our galaxy rests on this battle
tomorrow, and we have no time to waste. Our forces
already stand just beyond the reaches of the system
Jurai is in, waiting for the word on the attack. If
you help or not, I'm becoming more and more convinced
that we'll have to go through with this battle anyway.
Reeve stands and stacks all of his papers together.
REEVE
The latest time we can move is tomorrow at nine hundred
hours. I'm going to have to demand an answer by the
end of tonight so I can arrange transport to Earth or
wherever you feel you wish to wait for Laran's troops
to come for you.
He turns and starts walking into the darkness. Just as he
disappears from the light, a door opens and we see his
silhouette in the doorway. He doesn't look back as he steps
through and into the corridor. The remaining people in the
room look to each other.
RYOUKO
So what do we do?
AEKA
I can't leave my planet like this, and we still have to
get to Tsunami for Sasami's sake, anyway.
RYOUKO
You heard what they were saying, right? This is
practically a suicide battle, unless, for some reason,
we provide some ultimate power to tip the scales.
WASHUU
From his description, it sounds like they could easily
get us into the palace.
RYOUKO
What do you think, Tenchi?
TENCHI
I don't know, I have to think about this.
He gets up and walks out of the room.
AZUSA
I don't know about that boy Yousho sent, he doesn't
seem to care enough about the Empire.
AEKA
Father, you can't expect him to feel as strongly as you
do about a planet he's never seen.
AZUSA
What are you talking about, Aeka? Jurai is the galaxy,
that importance alone should be enough for him to make
up his mind.
WASHUU
And that's reason enough for him to choose not to help
as well. It's not all black and white out here,
Emperor.
AZUSA
I know that, I had to deal with all sorts of people who
all thought differently about the world. I know all
the shades of gray, but to keep on the public's good
side you have to make every decision seem like it was
black and white. When you wallow on your choices,
people stop believing you can do your job. Being
Emperor of Jurai is a duty more difficult than any of
you probably imagine, even you two, Aeka and Sasami.
Not anyone can do it, and this Laran certainly doesn't
deserve it.
WASHUU
If it's such a grand scope, then give him TIME to care
about it. He'll make the right choice, and the rest of
us will follow him on it. (to Ryouko) Isn't that
right, daughter?
RYOUKO
I'll help him on anything he decides.
AEKA
Then a decision has been made. We'll decide to do
whatever Tenchi decides.
SASMAI
(sweatdrops) That's not really a decision...
Cut to Tenchi as he walks into a room with a large sphere
circled by a railing in the center of the room, a few panels
on the walls, and a domed ceiling. He walks up to the
railing and leans on it and sighs.
TENCHI
Can I really do it all again? I never wanted to hurt
anybody but I still had to fight Kagato to the death.
Now they want me to do it again.
He hangs his head. The door he came though opens with a
hiss and Adam steps through.
ADAM
Oh, Tenchi.
TENCHI
(looks up) Hi Adam...
ADAM
Didn't expect to find you here, what's going on?
TENCHI
I'm just thinking. What are you doing?
Adam walks over to one of the panels on the wall.
ADAM
Just hiding. (chuckles) I saw the whole group heading
towards the lounge and I thought I'd get elsewhere for
a while. I though you were with them, actually.
TENCHI
Hiding from us?
ADAM
Oh, no offense, I don't mean to say I'm not glad to see
you all again. I'm just... well, I'm hiding from
Washuu for a little while, that's all.
TENCHI
Why?
ADAM
Uh... a lot happened in twelve years and I'm not
exactly ... ready to talk to her about them. You
understand.
TENCHI
A bit (beat) Sorry to ruin your hiding spot.
ADAM
Nonsense, anyone's welcome here. There are times this
is the best room in the ship.
TENCHI
(glances around) Looks pretty plain.
ADAM
That's because it's off.
TENCHI
Off?
Adam touches a button on the panel and the room quickly
darkens to completely blackness before it's suddenly dotted
with hundreds of spots of light. The sphere in the center
of the room glows warmly as the room fills with stars,
constellations, nebula, and other cosmic occurrences. The
simulation is so complete that it looks like Adam and Tenchi
are standing around a floating sphere and drifting through
space. Tenchi looks around, impressed.
TENCHI
Wow.
ADAM
Better than any Earth planetarium, huh?
TENCHI
By far. It's like the real thing.
ADAM
(nods) Yes, sometimes I come in here when the real
thing isn't available.
TENCHI
Why wouldn't it be available?
ADAM
Well, our base, where the Resistance gathers, is in a
nebula so that Laran's patrols can't find us. But
inside the nebula, you can't see the stars, sometimes
for months at a time. So I come in here and remember
what it was like outside.
TENCHI
Oh.
ADAM
(sighs) I've really come to love it out here. Never
did I imagine I'd ever spend so much time in space
before but now ... I don't know how I managed being
tied down to the Earth. It's so beautiful out here...
I just wish I could visit them all.
TENCHI
There's still a lot of time.
ADAM
Unfortunately not. Maybe you can't see it yet, but the
stars don't shine as brightly anymore. Laran's twisted
hand snuffs out their warm glow.
TENCHI
He's that bad?
ADAM
I don't know what he's like in person, I've never met
him... but I know what his influence has done to the
galaxy as I know it. It's been a long time since I've
been to a planet that hasn't felt his touch.
TENCHI
What about Earth?
ADAM
Well, he hasn't touched that gem yet, probably because
it's so far out in the fringes of space, but he'll get
around to it. I'll fight him until I die before I let
him corrupt it, however.
TENCHI
Do you ever ... you know, go back?
ADAM
To Earth? No, I haven't seen it since we left twelve
years ago. I guess things are more advanced now...
maybe everyone has the internet wired through their
homes now, who knows? I ... I can't say I don't care,
but I don't want to go back yet.
TENCHI
Why not?
ADAM
Because I'm out here to do something... and until it's
finished, I can't go back. (beat) Besides, I left
Earth with you guys, I would feel like a rotten man if
I came back without ya.
Tenchi leans on the railing he knows is there although he
can't see it and stares off into space (literally). After a
few moments he looks back over to Adam.
TENCHI
Is it worth it?
ADAM
Is what worth it?
TENCHI
This battle you've given your life to. Won't it fix
itself eventually?
ADAM
I ... don't know. Twelve years may seem like eternity
to you and me, but to some of the people I've met out
here, it's nothing. I still don't know how things work
exactly, and my direct experience has all be under the
watchful eye of Laran so I don't know what the free
galaxy used to be like. But, I've seen enough to know
that this is something that needs to be done. So, is
it worth it? For me, knowing that I might have some
role in protecting Earth, knowing that I'm helping to
make the galaxy safer for Kiyonne, yes, it's very worth
it. You'll have to come up with your own reasons to
fight though, I can't give those to you.
TENCHI
(nods) Thanks.
ADAM
No problem.
He moves over to the panel again and presses a button that
only appeared as he was pressing it.
ADAM
I know it hasn't been as long for you as it has for me,
but sometimes I'm comforted by seeing it again. So,
here.
Adam turns and starts walking past Tenchi. As he moves, the
stars dim and the sphere in the middle takes on a bluish
color and a large holographic replica of Earth appears above
it and spins slowly. A door appears in the darkness as Adam
nears it and he steps through it back into the corridor.
Cut to the lounge. Everyone that was in the conference room
before is here now with the exceptions of Tenchi and Reeve.
Kiyonne is here as well sitting in the chair she was in
before (alone this time, however).
SASAMI
So what happened to Mihoshi?
KIYONNE
She's fine, we're going to meet up with her at the
attack perimeter. She's the captain of the Yagami.
AEKA
I thought you said this ship was the Yagami.
KIYONNE
Oh, no this is the Yagami II, we got this ship a bunch
of years back off some grateful traders. It was in
sorry shape but we banged it into something we could
use. I insisted we paint it red and it was christened
the Yagami II and I became captain. Mihoshi stayed on
the original Yagami.
SASAMI
But weren't you partners?
KIYONNE
Of course, back in the Galaxy Police that is. When the
Resistance formed we had separate duties to do and she
was mostly caught up with errands for her Uncle, former
Commissioner Kuramitsu.
WASHUU
Mihoshi's uncle was the GP Commissioner?
KIYONNE
Yes. Although she never really asked for any favors
because of it, and she even turned down a few that he
willingly offered. She wanted to be known on her own
accord.
WASHUU
Well, have to say that worked out like she wanted.
I'll always remember Mihoshi for what she did.
KIYONNE
That's what most people say we encounter. (beat)
Anyway, she has her ship I have mine. We still need to
stay in contact, though, the Resistance has to be
tightly woven or it's susceptible to corruption.
SASAMI
So who's your partner now? Or don't you have one in
the Resistance?
KIYONNE
Oh, I'd say I definitely have a partner now.
AEKA
Where is he? He isn't that guy Reeve is he?
KIYONNE
(laughs) No, it's not the Chief. My partner for most
things is Adam.
AEKA
Oh? Is that because he knew most of what happened to
us?
KIYONNE
Not particularly, although that information helped him
get in a good enough position that he could chose his
assignment. We just work together well.
WASHUU
I'll bet. So how did you find Adam anyway? All Reeve
said was that you'd found him and things changed for
the Resistance.
KIYONNE
I don't know everything about how he got to where I
found him, you can probably ask him about that, but I
came across him on a salvage colony.
SASAMI
What's a salvage colony?
KIYONNE
It's like this large barge that moves through space
collecting debris of destroyed ships and selling the
raw parts to ship manufacturers. Really shady folks,
though, it's not often that the workers are there by
choice.
AEKA
He was just on the ship?
KIYONNE
Well he wasn't a passenger, he was one of the slaves in
the lower holds, cutting apart the bulkheads of ships
for storage. As chance would have it, the barge flew
right into a fight between us and Laran's soldiers.
The sluggish thing would have been destroyed if we
didn't protect it.
SASAMI
How did you find him on the ship?
KIYONNE
After the battle was over, the colony sent out its
slaves to salvage the remains. Adam was one of them.
As he was leaving the barge he kept staring at our
ship, which, back then, was still the original Yagami.
Eventually, I wanted to know why this guy was
continuously staring at us and that's when I noticed
who it was.
WASHUU
Adam...
KIYONNE
He was a mess when we picked him up. The 'ruler' of
the colony said that we could have him for helping him
survive the fight with Laran's soldiers, but we would
have taken him despite what he said. Anyway, he was
really disjoined, years of being a slave had been
thoroughly beaten into him, it took us a long time to
get him to remember anything about you guys, let alone
the specifics of the incident. But we tended him back
from the brink and now he's just like he was before he
left earth... if not a bit bulkier from all the
physical labor he did.
SASAMI
Wow.
WASHUU
Where is Adam right now, anyway?
KIYONNE
Uh, (looks away for a moment) I don't really know, he
left before you guys came in.
WASHUU
Well, this isn't a very large ship, where could he be?
KIYONNE
In his quarters, maybe? I'm sure he'll be back
shortly, we can wait for him.
WASHUU
I think I'll go look for him anyway.
She gets up and walk out of the room. When she's gone
Kiyonne sighs.
KIYONNE
(mutters) I tried.
SASAMI
What?
KIYONNE
Oh, it was nothing. So, uh, Emperor Azusa, you've been
silent, what's on your mind?
AZUSA
When is that spineless descendant of mine going to make
up his mind and get back here?
RYOUKO
Hey!
AEKA
Father!
KIYONNE
(under breath) Oh boy.
Cut to show a corridor in the Yagami II. Washuu is walking
around glancing at all the doors as she passes them. The
sound of a door opening ahead is heard and she looks up to
see Adam step out of a room and freeze upon seeing her.
ADAM
Oh.
WASHUU
(points) Found you!
ADAM
(nervously) Lucky me.
Awkward silence.
WASHUU
So it's been twelve years for you since we've seen each
other last?
ADAM
No, I saw you a couple hours ago when I brought you to
the ship.
WASHUU
You know what I'm talking about.
ADAM
Um, that would be an affirmative. Almost exactly
twelve years from the day the incident occurred.
WASHUU
Is that your word for it?
ADAM
Yeah, that's what everyone in the Resistance calls it.
WASHUU
You've changed a great deal since I saw you yesterday.
ADAM
Twelve years does a lot to a man, especially what I've
been though.
WASHUU
I heard, a slave on a salvage colony.
ADAM
That was actually only the end of it. I was a lot of
places before then. Ore mining, load lifting,
refining, wherever they felt like trading me to. I
don't even remember half of them because of my ... uh,
condition.
WASHUU
I see you're doing fine now, what ever became of that?
ADAM
It took a long time, so at first I didn't realize how
much of my life was simply slipping through the cracks
in my brain, then as soon as I realized the extent of
it, it started to get worse. I think those sons of
bitches had more fun using me when I couldn't remember
the day before let alone anything before that.
Adam reaches up and traces his finger along the scar on his
cheek.
ADAM
I have this injury here and I don't even know how I got
it or if I received any care for it at the time.
Things got really blurry at the end, but for some
reason, however the hell I did it since I don't
remember, I knew that the word Yagami was something
good. It's strange, because I couldn't have
recognized the ship, I'd never seen it before, I only
knew the name, but brain dead me still stared at it
like it was sign from the heavens.
WASHUU
So I guess it got better eventually.
ADAM
(shakes his head) No, I have the advanced form of the
disease, it was on a trip through my head that would
only have stopped by itself by my death.
WASHUU
So how-
Adam touches his finger to the circlet around his head.
ADAM
This keeps me aware and collected. It's actively
stimulating my cerebral cortex and promoting synaptic
formation. It's pretty much doing the remembering for
me. Kiyonne snuck me into the Science Academy one day
and someone studied me for a entire week before putting
this on my head. It didn't all come back, either, I
had to work at it, try to remember things so that the
severed synaptic pathways would reform. It took a
while, and I couldn't have done it without Kiyonne's
help.
WASHUU
Oh, she fixed what I broke, I understand now.
ADAM
No... I still ... I still don't blame you for anything,
Washuu. I made all those choices myself and it's ME
who should take responsibility for all of it. Nobody
controlled me to do anything, so no one else could be
at fault. (beat) I spend a lot of my youth blaming
others for my problems, it never got me anything but
guilt. This is better, trust me.
WASHUU
So... what happened after you got your memory back?
ADAM
Everything, really. After I remember the incident I
told Reeve and the Commissioner about it and they got
really excited, and I got kind of swept away in a lot
of political nonsense, which is pretty funny, I must
say, considering we're just a rag-tag bunch of rebels.
But eventually, I managed to make myself more useful
than just reciting information that was years old
already. I got myself on lots of information gathering
missions and saw a lot of combat, I became like ... you
know, a jack of all trades, learning this or that. I'm
a pretty good science officer these days, but I don't
want to sound too uppity, the computers on these ships
do most of the work, I just push the buttons. Then,
uh, (sighs) I did a really long tour on the Yagami with
Kiyonne and Mihoshi, which was really fun, since I
hadn't seen them since my recovery, and we did a lot of
work scouting out people who might want to join the
Resistance. Kiyonne taught me about all these planets
we visited, we got into some pretty rough binds during
that time, and we found these really crafty people and
formed a crew out of them and... well, we got the
Yagami II and...
WASHUU
Problems?
ADAM
Yes a bit ... I ... (sighs) I have no problems when
it's just the crew and us but as soon as you add others
... I just have problems showing my feelings openly. I
know it gets her angry sometimes, but she's been real
great about it.
WASHUU
You're speaking gibberish.
ADAM
I know, because I'm not good at being open to people I
haven't seen in a decade. (beat) It's like this...
Mihoshi was always really gung-ho about being Kiyonne's
partner, she thought that nothing in the world could
stop them because they were the perfect team. Then...
well, I didn't even notice it, but when we were
staffing the Yagami II, Mihoshi backed out and said
that "she'd only get in the way from now on." I mean,
we thought that she meant how she's a little... well,
you know how Mihoshi is.
WASHUU
Yes, I know how Mihoshi is.
ADAM
So we tried to talk her back in when we realized what
she meant. She ... she thought that Kiyonne and *I*
had become the perfect team and she couldn't fit in
anymore. So we took a step back and we thought about
it for a while and... I'm not going to lie to you
because it'll just cause trouble later.
WASHUU
You realized she was right.
ADAM
More to the point, I realized how I cared for Kiyonne.
I love her. I guess years of working together kind of
left an impression for her in my heart. Wait a minute,
I guess that sounds bad. I don't know how to explain
it except by saying what I already have, I love her,
and I want to be with her for as long as fate will let
me. (beat) She feels the same way.
WASHUU
(flat) How touching.
ADAM
Don't get that way, please.
WASHUU
Don't get WHAT way? What do I care about your true
loves?
ADAM
Come on, Washuu, don't make me say it all.
WASHUU
I don't know what you're talking about.
ADAM
I know that you do. (sighs) I'm telling you this
because, back then, twelve years ago for me, yesterday
for you, I cared a great deal for you as well.
WASHUU
And you don't feel that way anymore.
ADAM
I didn't say that.
WASHUU
Oh, what? You love both of us? Equally?
ADAM
I --- no, I don't.
WASHUU
See?
ADAM
Just listen. I'm not going to apologize for what I did
in the twelve years you were missing, I made choices
and I believed they were the right ones. I still
believe they are. I just ... I had the feeling that
you felt similarly for me back then.
WASHUU
Don't flatter yourself.
ADAM
I know your lying. The fact that you're angry right
now proves to me that I was at least half right. But
what I want you know, is that no matter what happened
between us back then, it's over. Yes, I did care for
you, I might have even fallen in love with you, but I
love Kiyonne, and nothing compares to that anymore.
(beat) I want to know that there are no hard feelings
between us or between you and Kiyonne.
Awkard silence yet again.
ADAM
Washuu?
WASHUU
You're such a jerk.
Adam blinks.
WASHUU
You couldn't just shut up about it all and let me stew
in my feelings, could you? Do you know why I look like
this? Why I appear this age?
ADAM
(shakes his head) No.
WASHUU
Because I had a lover once as well, and he left me
because he was in a higher social caste and it wasn't
proper for him to be with a woman like me. I found out
first hand how it feels to be betrayed by your one most
loved. I made the choice back then. Children were so
carefree, so innocent, they never worried about caste
and they didn't have heartfelt lovers. I didn't want
to have any part in the adult world anymore, so I made
myself a child so that I wouldn't have to deal with it.
And look what I did, (she brings up a hand to Adam's
face) I started to fall for you anyway. (beat, softly)
I forgive you for moving on. No hard feelings.
ADAM
Thank you, Washuu.
She smiles weakly and looks down.
WASHUU
Damn, and I was looking for a really good reason to
hate you, too.
They laugh.
ADAM
Come on, lets go back to the others.
Cut to Tenchi in the room with the space simulation. Earth
is no longer in the center of the room, instead another
planet is being shown and those who have been here from the
beginning will recognize it as Jurai. Tenchi is sitting on
the floor leaning against ... nothing. We know there's a
wall there, but the hologram is hiding it well. A doorway
appears in the darkness and Ryouko steps in.
TENCHI
Hey Ryouko.
RYOUKO
Hey Tenchi, what are you doing?
TENCHI
I was thinking before, now I'm just getting familiar.
Ryouko tilts her head and walks over to Tenchi.
RYOUKO
Familiar?
TENCHI
(points) This is Jurai ... or at least what the
computer thinks it looks like. It keeps remind me that
the information is outdated and that I need to perform
a survey or something. I thought I'd find out where we
were going.
RYOUKO
(sits beside him) I remember this planet, I'm not
eager to return, but... (beat) You seem happier.
TENCHI
I made up my mind, I feel a little better now that I
have.
RYOUKO
Decided to go through with it?
TENCHI
(nods) I suppose you knew I would.
RYOUKO
I had doubts. No one else did. I guess they just know
you better than I do.
TENCHI
I'd never expect to hear you say that.
RYOUKO
Why?
TENCHI
I don't know, I just never imagined it.
RYOUKO
Oh. (beat) I've been watching you your whole life and
I still don't understand everything you do.
TENCHI
I think you understand me better than you admit. You
were right to have doubts, I had doubts that I would do
it. There were moments that I wanted to hide in the
corner until it was over.
RYOUKO
What changed your mind?
TENCHI
I think it was when I thought about the way you kept
defending me at that table. I was really starting to
feel I was being forced into doing something I didn't
want to do, that even if they *said* they were giving
me a choice, they really weren't. Everyone else seemed
to think the same way as well, that I had better do
this or they would hate me forever.
RYOUKO
How did I help?
TENCHI
I didn't get that feeling from you. When you kept
standing up and telling people that this wasn't my
affair and that I should be able to choose what I want
to do before people starting counting on my help I
realized that everyone wouldn't hate me if I turned
them down. I got the feeling that no matter what I
chose, whether to stand or run, you would never think
less of me because of it. You'd always be there. I
didn't want to do this, but I was afraid of being alone
if I didn't.
RYOUKO
So why are you going through with it if you don't want
to?
TENCHI
Because knowing that my fears were ungrounded gave me
the option to choose to go, not based on how my friends
will react to me if I don't, but on whether I really
wanted to help the Resistance. And when I thought
about that ... I did want to go. So I will.
RYOUKO
Whatever you choose, I'll always be with you.
TENCHI
I know that now. I think I'm finally beginning to
realize how important that has been. (beat) What it's
meant to me. What you mean to me.
RYOUKO
Tenchi...
Tenchi looks into her eyes, eyes that are clearly longing,
and allows himself to be lost in the moment. A second
later, he glances away.
TENCHI
I should tell the others.
He starts to get up but Ryouko pulls him down.
RYOUKO
Don't go yet, there's still time.
TENCHI
The floor is cold.
RYOUKO
Is it? I'm not.
Tenchi sits back down next to her. The camera pans towards
the hologram of the planet.
Fade to show the actual Planet Jurai from a great distance.
The camera pans back to show a beat up ship painted blue and
red but heavily charred black. The ship is still, pointed
towards the planet. The camera pans in towards the bridge
of the ship slowly.
Cut to the bridge of the ship. It looks similar to the
bridge of the Yagami II. A large man with thick, curled,
blonde hair and a beard sits in the captain's chair wearing
a long black cloak over a bluish suit-looking outfit. This
is COMMISSIONER KURAMITSU, and he looks like he should be in
command of the Galaxy Police, his very presence demands
respect from those around him.
KURAMITSU
The time approaches. (beat) Signal the ships.
OFFICER
Aye, sir!
Cut to the original shot of the ship. The camera then
rapidly pans backwards as we see a fleet of ships behind it,
of various shapes and sizes and degrees of damage. The
fleet waits patiently in space behind the ship of their
leader. The camera then pans around and we see the Yagami
II approaching the edge of the fleet from the rear.
Cut to the bridge of the Yagami II. Kiyonne is back in her
chair and Adam is in the pit that we first saw him in.
Azusa, Aeka, Sasami, Ryouko, Tenchi and Washuu are all
standing on the deck behind Kiyonne. Reeve is sitting on a
raised console in the rear of the bridge.
REEVE
I'm transmitting the encrypted signal to the
Commissioner.
KIYONNE
All right.
ADAM
Whew, they sure came out of the woodworks today. I
didn't know we had this many ships in the Resistance.
KIYONNE
This is the day of judgement, everyone's in line.
ADAM
Too true.
REEVE
Return signal from the lead ship.
KIYONNE
On screen.
A screen comes up showing the face of Commissioner
Kuramitsu.
KURAMITSU
Welcome to the party, Captain.
KIYONNE
I wouldn't miss it for the world. I brought along some
friends though.
KURAMITSU
Good. I assume they've agreed to play our game?
KIYONNE
Every one of them.
KURAMITSU
Excellent. (looks past Kiyonne) Before this begins, I
just want to thank you all for deciding to help us. If
all goes well, we'll keep the Juraiian navy occupied
while you go for the key assault on Laran. We've
prepared a special ship that should be able to land
undetected on Jurai so you'll encounter minimal
resistance from surface units. Your objective is the
head of this serpent, remember that.
KIYONNE
(nods) Understood.
KURAMITSU
Is the Emperor there right now?
Azusa steps forward.
AZUSA
I'm right here, old friend.
KURAMITSU
(smiles) I hope you don't mind getting your hands a bit
dirty, if I could have it any other way I'd keep you
out of this, but... desperate times.
AZUSA
Desperate measures, I understand. I hope to see you
after this is all over. Hopefully this hasn't damaged
any relation between the House of Jurai and the Galaxy
Police.
KURAMITSU
If it has, it won't be my doing. These are my last
days in command.
AZUSA
You're far too young to retire.
KURAMITSU
I beg to differ, these last few years have been the
roughest. I'm ready to turn in my hat. Maybe my niece
will stand in my shoes someday.
AZUSA
I hope to see a Kuramitsu back in the Commissioners
chair before I'm forced to step down.
KURAMITSU
If we all survive this, that is.
AZUSA
Quite right.
KURAMITSU
(smile fades) We're preparing for the final assault,
launch in one hour, thirty-two minutes. (beat) Prince
Tenchi?
TENCHI
(looks up) Yes?
KURAMITSU
I don't mean to put any pressure on you, but... we're
all counting on you. I wish you good luck and
Godspeed.
TENCHI
Thank you.
KURAMITSU
That will be al-
KIYONNE
Sir! There's one last matter I wished to inform you
about.
KURAMITSU
What is it, Captain?
KIYONNE
I'm ... it's my intention to leave command of my vessel
in the hands of Chief Reeve ... and to join the assault
party.
KURAMITSU
This isn't what was planned. What your reason for the
change?
KIYONNE
(glances towards Adam) I need to stick with my partner,
who knows what might happen to him if I'm not watching
his back. The chief is an excellent captain sir, and
the shuttle might need my piloting skills as well
should we come across some trouble.
KURAMITSU
Very well. Then good luck to you all. Kuramitsu out.
The screen vanishes and Kiyonne turns her chair around to
face the group.
KIYONNE
Well, that's the word, let's head out.
She stands and starts ushering them out. Adam climbs up the
side of his pit and joins them as they leave the bridge and
Reeve steps up to the captain's chair and sits.
REEVE
As soon as Captain Kiyonne is a safe distance from the
ship, bring shields up to maximum and charge the main
batteries.
OFFICER
Aye.
REEVE
Good luck you all.
Cut to show the exterior of the Yagami II as the shuttle
detaches itself from the hull and then speeds off towards
the lead ship.
Cut to show the interior of the shuttle, looking similar to
what it did when they arrived to the Yagami II from Venroi.
Tenchi no longer has any bandages on his leg, apparently
having had it healed some time earlier. Ryo-ohki is also
resting on the bench next to Ryoko. Sasami is resting her
head against Aeka with a lethargic look on her face.
AEKA
How are you feeling now, Sasami?
SASAMI
I'm tired, it's hard to see things.
AEKA
(looks down) It's all right, Sasami, we'll be there
soon.
Aeka strokes Sasami's head.
TENCHI
Did we cut it too close?
WASHUU
She'll make it.
They look to Washuu.
WASHUU
We just don't have forever anymore.
Adam glances back from the cockpit then looks forward again.
He speaks so only Kiyonne can hear him.
ADAM
How much time left?
KIYONNE
It begins in thirty minutes. We'll have to hold back a
bit, however, so that we're not exposed in the initial
rush. Then we'll have to look for an opening to slip
through.
ADAM
She's right, we don't have forever. We'll have to get
her to Tsunami as soon as possible.
KIYONNE
We'll try our best, but Laran has to be our ultimate
objective.
ADAM
(nods) I know.
KIYONNE
There she is.
Adam looks up through the window and sees a long sleek,
silver colored ship, apparently docked between two other
ships.
Cut to the exterior of the shuttle. It flies past the
silver ship then arcs around and stop beneath it. A long
tube extends from the top of the shuttle and connects into a
matching port in the underbelly of the silver ship.
Cut to the inside of the silver ship. Everything looks
brand new and reflectively shiny. The inside is one room
with large windows going from the nose to halfway across the
top of the ship. A console rests on the left hand side of
the bridge surrounded by monitors while a reclined seat with
a set of controls lies at the front of the room with a
perfect view out the main window. Several other swivel
chairs are in the room but feature no consoles or other
controls with them. A section of the floor slides away and
reveals a large metal dome with a screen on the top of it.
The screen turns green and says 'UNLOCKED' on it and the
dome swings open, showing Kiyonne behind it. She glances
around once then climbs up onto the ship followed by the
rest of the people in the shuttle. She seems impressed at
first then quickly shakes that as she goes to the front of
the ship and sits in the reclined chair. As soon as she's
in it, a series of screens appear around her and two
joysticks rise up to her hands. A low hum begins to be
heard. By this time time Adam has taken the other console
an the rest of the crew is in seats.
KIYONNE
I'm detaching the shuttle, the Yagami can come by to
pick it up later.
ADAM
Confirmed. Engine readouts are nominal, energy
emissions in stealth mode. Controls are at your
disposal.
KIYONNE
Okay, lets take her out.
She moves a joystick forward.
Cut to the exterior as the red shuttle drifts from the
silver ship. The rear of the ship glows blue then it begins
to propel the craft forward smoothly. It continues the red
shuttle's original path to the head of the lines.
Cut to the bridge of the silver ship.
ADAM
We'll reach our position in thirty-seven seconds.
KIYONNE
Got it. (beat) This is it guys, last chance to back
out.
TENCHI
We're here to stay.
RYOUKO
We're ready to rock.
AEKA
No point in coming this far to just turn away, lets go.
ADAM
That's good to hear. Especially since the last chance
to back out would be BEFORE we detached the Yagami's
shuttle.
KIYONNE
Eh, I just a little late on my statement.
ADAM
Riiight...
Kiyonne looks back with a grin.
ADAM
Approaching position. We're receiving the synchronized
countdown: T minus two minutes and counting.
Slow fade to show a pan of all the ships ready to attack
Jurai.
ADAM (V.O.)
One thirty.
Slow fade to show Commissioner Kuramitsu watching with his
steel-like expression the numbers on his screen count down.
The crew around him are agitated but it doesn't keep them
from their duties. (It should be noted he isn't hearing
Adam's voice, the voice over is for effect only.)
ADAM (V.O.)
One minute.
Slow fade to show the surface of Jurai. It's stunningly
beautiful, the perfect mesh of nature and machine. Even
more magnificent than the wreckage's we saw during Ryouko's
attack. People are milling about, looking at trees,
admiring architecture. It's almost entirely serene. Adam's
voice is a harsh contrast to it all.
ADAM (V.O.)
Thirty seconds.
Slow fade to the palace from the outside. The camera pans
around the huge, sprawling structure, then up to the towers
and finally towards the top of one of the tall, domed
buildings. The top is made of glass and we can see the
throne room inside. The camera goes through the glass and
descends until we can see Laran, looking almost no different
from when we saw him last. Zero is standing at his side,
again, looking almost no different. Laran is staring at a
electronic notepad in his hand, going over some document.
Suddenly he looks up with an angry look on his face.
Instantly the camera pans at light speed back to the silver
ship.
ADAM
Zero.
Cut to space. It's a dark, starry expanse with few features
except for what looks like a distant nebula in the lower
right and corner. Instantly, the screen is full of passing
ships. The wave continues for several moments, before they
pass and the camera pans to show them heading towards the
planet. As they start to get some distance from the camera,
we see shots being fired between the ship and other,
undefined things nearer to the planet.
Cut to show the inside of the Yagami II. Reeve is hanging
onto his chair as the ship is rocked by fire. He leans
forward after one hit and yells down to the pits.
REEVE
What are we being hit by?
OFFICER
It looks like there are automated firing satellites in
place, augmenting the approaching ships' fire. Shields
are weakening.
REEVE
Evasive maneuvers, break away from the fleet.
OFFICER
But sir, we'll be a sitting duck!
REEVE
We've got to make an opening for the shuttle!
The officer nods and turns back to his console.
Cut to show the inside of Commissioner Kuramitsu's ship.
It's also being hit pretty hard.
OFFICER
The Yagami II is heading off at a direction thirty
degrees to center of the attack pattern.
KURAMITSU
What is he doing?
OFFICER
Several enemy ships are pursuing him and he's drawing
additional fire from the satellites. I'm not sure how
much longer he'll survive.
KURAMITSU
But he's breaking up the enemy formation. Send command
to all ship to break up and divert fire from the
shuttle!
OFFICER
Aye!
Cut to show the inside of the silver ship. Kiyonne has her
teeth gritted as she wildly yanks the joysticks from side to
side. The rest of the people on the ship are holding
tightly to their chairs.
KIYONNE
These guys are good.
AEKA
How much further do we have to go?
ADAM
We're coming up on halfway, but our escort is thinning.
KIYONNE
Shields!
ADAM
What little we have are holding. They didn't exactly
build this ship to take a beating.
KIYONNE
Find us a way though!
ADAM
I'm trying but the tactical computer is having a
hemorrhage from all the ships out here.
KIYONNE
Come on!
ADAM
Umm... Okay! I think I see a way though, but we'll
lose the rest of our escort. If we can pull ahead,
though, I think it'll be clear all the way up to the
planet.
KIYONNE
Lets take it.
AEKA
But we'll be unprotected!
KIYONNE
Gotta take the risk.
ADAM
I'm routing the path to your navigational computer.
KIYONNE
Okay, hang on everyone!
She pushes a lever beside her forward.
Cut to the raging battle. We see the silver ship weaving in
and out of the carnage, occasionally getting hit by a random
shot. Eventually it approaches a heavy section of fire that
is so dense it almost looks like a wall. The camera pans
around to show the ship approaching it on the other side of
the fire. The ship tilts slightly then narrowly squeezes
between two ships and bursts through the fire, getting
slightly charred in the process. The camrea cuts to show
the silver ship emerging and distancing itself from the rest
of the battle.
Cut to the inside of the silver ship.
RYOUKO
Whoohoo!
KIYONNE
Thank the gods...
ADAM
Sensors show a clear path to the palace.
AEKA
That wasn't so tough.
KIYONNE
Heh, you weren't driving.
A beep sounds at Adam's panel.
ADAM
Uh-oh.
TENCHI
What is it?
Adam looks up and points through the main window.
ADAM
That.
Cut to distance away ahead of the silver ship's path. As it
approaches a section of space close to the screen shimmers
and a ship decloaks in it's place.
Cut back to the bridge of the Silver ship.
KIYONNE
Oh boy.
RYOUKO
Fire something at it!
KIYONNE
We have limited weapons.
ADAM
It won't be enough against their hull.
VOICE (V.O.)
Give up now, and I won't destroy you.
KIYONNE
That's arrogant of him.
ADAM
He's not far off.
AZUSA
I know that voice...
ADAM
Putting him on screen.
A screen appears midway through the ship and one of
Kiyonne's and Adam's monitors change to show the face of a
man that we recognize as GRANS. He's wearing a headband
with Laran's symbol on it. Azusa stands slowly.
AZUSA
Grans!
GRANS
This is your last warning, surrender at once.
KIYONNE
Not a chance, I suggest you give up before that fleet
back there turns it's guns on you.
AZUSA
Grans! Stop this nonsense-
GRANS
This shall be my final transmission.
The screen disappears.
ADAM
Headband.
KIYONNE
Yup, that one was obvious.
AEKA
(nods understandably) He was being mind controlled.
AZUSA
You can't kill him!
KIYONNE
We weren't planning on killing anyone if we could, not
that we even have that choice with these weapons.
ADAM
Grans is powering up his weapons and engines.
KIYONNE
It'll be a miracle if we get out of this one.
She grips the joysticks tightly.
ADAM
I'm diverting any extra power to the shields. (beat)
Maybe we shouldn't have left our escort.
RYOUKO
Isn't there ANY weapons that will do anything to him?
ADAM
Not really.
Ryouko frowns, then looks determined. She stands and turns
to face Tenchi.
RYOUKO
Kick his ass for me, will you Tenchi?
TENCHI
What?
RYOUKO
(looks away) Come on, Ryo-ohki.
RYO-OHKI
Myaa!
She starts moving to the back of the ship while Ryo-ohki
hops after her. Tenchi stands and moves to stop her.
TENCHI
What are you doing?
RYOUKO
I'm going to distract that guy so you can make it to
the planet.
TENCHI
That's crazy, you'll get killed!
RYOUKO
Well, I admit my track record with you Juraiian noble
types hasn't been so good, but hey, my luck's got to
change eventually.
TENCHI
I won't let you! You don't have to do this!
RYOUKO
(smiles) I know, that's why I can *choose* to do it.
Don't worry about me, finish what you chose to do and
I'm sure we'll be together again.
TENCHI
How can you be sure you won't get hurt?
RYOUKO
I can't be totally sure. But just knowing for ONCE,
that you're feeling for me the same way I feel for you,
makes it all better.
TENCHI
Ryouko...
She steps forward and kisses him on the cheek.
RYOUKO
(whispered) I love you.
She turns and picks up Ryo-ohki. Stepping forward towards
the bulkhead she disappears. Tenchi is frozen for a moment
then he turns and heads back to his seat, silently.
AEKA
(warningly) Tenchi...
ADAM
He's coming within weapons range. Ryo-ohki now shows
on my display, she's moving to intercept.
The OLD Ryo-ohki, the original shape (from episode 4), flies
past the windows and moves in front of the ship.
Cut to the inside of Ryo-ohki, again looking the same as it
originally did. Ryouko is sitting at the controls and
looking forward at Grans' ship. She pause, then glances
once behind her at the silver ship.
RYOUKO
When did I become such a love-love girlish romantic?
RYO-OHKI
Myaa!
RYOUKO
You said it, Ryo-ohki. (beat) This sure brings back
memories, though. I'd forgotten how big Jurai looked
when you were this close.
Cut to inside of the silver ship. Everyone looks ahead as
Ryo-ohki encounters Grans ship. The first shots are
exchanged.
KIYONNE
Okay, changing our course to take us around their
fight.
TENCHI
Good luck, Ryouko.
ADAM
I don't detect any other ships in our way, but if
they're cloaked like Grans was, I wouldn't be able to
see them anyway.
KIYONNE
Just got to hope for the best.
ADAM
That's right.
Cut to the battle between Ryo-ohki and Grans. The ships
make large arcs and exchange fire. At first Ryo-ohki is
pressing Grans for an attack, but quickly they change places
and it's Grans chasing Ryo-ohki around. She leads the
battle into the larger fleet-wide battle occurring higher
up. The two ships try to lose each other in the flurry of
ships but both are way too skilled. At one point they pass
the ship that Commissioner Kuramitsu is on and the camera
stays on their ship.
Cut to the inside of the ship. Kuramitsu is sweating and
several panels in the bridge of blown out leaving a thin
haze of smoking silicon in the bridge.
KURAMITSU
Execute evasive plan Omega-4 and try to bring us around
those satellites.
OFFICER
Sir, the shuttle is entering the upper atmosphere of
Jurai!
KURAMITSU
They made it through!
The various officers on the bridge, either working controls
or trying to repair controls, cheer.
KURAMITSU
Now we just have to hold out until they can complete
their objective.
Just then the ship is rocked by another shot and Kuramitsu
nearly falls out of his chair.
Cut to show a large landing pad with a doorway into the
lower levels of the palace. The light appears to be waning
outside as it appears near dusk. The silver ship is parked
on the pad and the people inside are running up to the door.
Kiyonne moves up to a panel besides the door and connects a
small rod into an interface in the center of it. She twists
the rod and eventually the door opens. They groups stands
to one side of the door with Kiyonne and Adam in front.
Kiyonne pulls out her gun, which looks like a large
'blaster' from one of the Star Wars movies. Adam pulls out
a smaller gun and readies it.
WASHUU
Hey! That's the gun I gave you!
ADAM
Yup. A marvelous devices for non-lethal combat, hasn't
failed me in all the years I've used it. Somebody at
the Science Academy up'd it's strength however.
KIYONNE
(looks around the corner) All clear lets go.
The group runs through the doorway into a sloped corridor.
They look both ways, then turn to head to the right(up).
ADAM
I'm surprised there's nobody here. We couldn't have
landed on that pad without anyone knowing.
AZUSA
There aren't usually a lot of people in the palace.
ADAM
But this is an attack, there should be people here in
case folks like us make our way to surface.
WASHUU
Maybe they're just waiting at some critical point to
ambush us.
They turn a corner and run right into a room that has just
that. A bunch of soldiers waiting for them. As soon as
they're seen they open fire. The gang dives back into the
hallway for cover.
ADAM
Washuu!
WASHUU
Hey, you were the one complaining that this wasn't hard
enough!
Adam and Kiyonne duck into the doorway every few seconds to
fire off some shots.
KIYONNE
They've got this protected pretty well. So much for
getting to the throne room easily.
SASAMI
Nngg...
Sasami, who up this point was running with Aeka's help,
collapses into Aeka's arms unconscious.
AEKA & AZUSA (sim)
Sasmai!
WASHUU
She needs to get to Tsunami right away.
KIYONNE
(fires around the corner) A little problem with that.
ADAM
Emperor, do you know any other ways past this room
here?
AZUSA
That's a critical hall, you need to go through there to
get almost anywhere in the palance from the hangar.
Adam sighs.
AZUSA
But, there IS another way to the throne room that only
I should know about.
KIYONNE
Great, how do we get there?
AZUSA
You have to keep going up this spirally hallway. I can
show you.
WASHUU
What about Tsunami?
AZUSA
Getting to the Holy Gardens is only possible though
this hall.
ADAM
What about the passage?
AZUSA
That will bring us beyond this hallway, but we'd have
to come back here from the throne room to take the hall
to the Holy Gardens. All the critical areas branch
from here.
ADAM
Damn.
AEKA
We MUST hurry to Tsunami!
KIYONNE
I'm not sure how long the fleet up there is going to
last though.
WASHUU
We'll have to split up then.
Everyone looks to her.
WASHUU
Half of us go to Tsunami, half to the Throne room.
Adam and Kiyonne look at each other.
ADAM
I'll go to-
KIYONNE
I should sta-
ADAM
No, the best is-
KIYONNE
Splitting like this is bett-
They stop and give up.
ADAM
I hate to break promises.
KIYONNE
Me too. Got no choice, though.
ADAM
(nods) Agreed.
They turn to Washuu, Azusa, Tenchi and Aeka
KIYONNE
Tenchi and your Highness, we'll continue to the throne
room.
ADAM
Aeka, you and Washuu will come with me and we'll try to
get to Sasami to Tsunami.
Kiyonne and Adam turn back to each other. Adam takes her
free hand with his.
ADAM
To the end, my love?
KIYONNE
To the end.
They briefly kiss. Then Kiyonne turns and fires down the
doorway as she wave Azusa and Tenchi past. Once on the
other side they quickly disappear around the corner. Adam
looks through the doorway again and fires several times,
turning soldiers into gelatin cubes. He breathes deeply
with his back to the wall as the soldiers fire though the
doorway.
ADAM
This is going to be easier said than done. I don't
know how we're going to get through this.
AEKA
I don't know how much longer Sasami has.
ADAM
(looks down at Sasami) Try to hold on, Sasami, I'll
find a way to Tsunami.
He glances around the corner and nearly gets his head shot
off, as it was, his hair was singed. He looks a little
nervous after that one.
ADAM
(to Washuu) I don't suppose you've got any big ideas?
WASHUU
How much of the palace do you want to left intact?
ADAM
(blinks) All of it!
WASHUU
Well I don't have anything that'll do THAT!
ADAM
Why do I even bother asking!
He leans around the doorway and fires a few times, one of
the soldiers falls into Jell-O heaven.
WASHUU
I'll tell you one thing, though.
ADAM
What's that?
WASHUU
At your current rate of progress, we'll only be here a
year.
ADAM
I wish this was the time for jokes.
Cut to the space battle. Kuramitsu's ship turns slowly then
fires a large beam that strikes down an enemy ship in one
hit. The explosion creates a cloud that quickly joins the
large mist around all the ships currently fighting. A pair
of ships fly past and the camera follows them as they cut
though the cloud. We notice that it's Ryo-ohki and Grans.
They are still moving through the other crafts trying to
cause the other to either crash or get lost.
Cut to the inside of Ryo-ohki. Ryouko is gritting her teeth
and staring intently as she makes the splitsecond turns
necessary to navigate this constantly moving gauntlet.
RYOUKO
(under her breath) This guy is good.
A screen appears off to the side with Grans' face on it.
GRANS
You're very good, and you've done an excellent job at
letting your friends escape to the planet... or rather,
I should say, you've played to our plan perfectly.
RYOUKO
What?
GRANS
You don't think I'm that stupid to let one ship
distract me from my goal if it was in fact to destroy
your friend's shuttle? I guess you did.
RYOUKO
You bastard! Why did you let them though?
GRANS
Because it was our plan. Of course, we never expected
it to take so long for you to show up, but now that you
have, all our preparations have paid off.
RYOUKO
Us? What did you want with US that you did all of
this?
GRANS
I don't question Emperor Laran's plans. My duty is
simply to follow orders, at least this time I'm getting
some satisfaction from it.
RYOUKO
Damn you!
She spins the globes at her hands and Ryo-ohki pivots
drastically and races through a specifically tightly nestled
combat zone.
GRANS
Still trying to lose me that way, you're pathetic how
many times you try the same trick!
Ryouko sweats as she carefully directs the ship in between
the danger zones. Glancing behind her she can see Grans
following easily. Continuing through the ships she suddenly
sees her opening and dives for it, making an almost hundred
degree turn on a dime. She exits the mess of ships and
immediately pivots around to face where she came out of
while still drifting backwards. She fires with all her
weapons into the opening until she sees an explosion and a
cloud of smoke come out of the hole. She grins.
RYOUKO
Pompous ass.
Grans ship suddenly flies out of the cloud right towards
Ryouko. She looks shocked but cannot react quick enough to
move out of the way. Grans rams into her and she is thrown
literally across the bridge. She picks her head off the
ground just in time to look out where Grans was pushing her
to and turn white as she watched the satellite impact on her
ship.
RYOUKO
Tenchi...
Cut to space as Ryo-ohki, Grans, and the satellite impact
and become a bright explosion off to the side of the raging
firefight.
Cut to a dim tunnel through which Azusa, Tenchi and Kiyonne
are walking. Tenchi suddenly stops and glances around.
KIYONNE
What's wrong?
TENCHI
I don't know, I got this bad feeling all of a sudden.
KIYONNE
Don't let it bother you.
TENCHI
I hope everyone is all right.
AZUSA
This is it up ahead.
They come to a wall and Azusa puts his hand to it. After a
moment he gently pushes on it and it starts to slowly swing
outwards. Kiyonne slips in front and looks around, holding
her gun out. They appear to be on one side of the throne
room on the lower floor.
KIYONNE
There's nobody here.
Azusa strides out of the tunnel and looks around. Tenchi
walks out last.
AZUSA
He's not here, where is he?
KIYONNE
I don't know, I guess we just expected him to be in the
throne room, I suppose he really could be anywhere.
AZUSA
(sarcastically) Great plan, all this work to find
nobody.
KIYONNE
Calm down, I'm sure he's in the palace, we'll just have
to look for him.
LARAN (V.O.)
You won't have to look too hard.
The secret door swings shut behind Tenchi and seals itself.
Kiyonne holds her gun out again and scans the room looking
for the source of the voice. Azusa just tries to look
imposing.
AZUSA
Come out and show yourself, traitor.
LARAN (V.O.)
That was years ago you well trodden fool. The traitor
today is you. You who has fought his way into MY
kingdom of Jurai.
AZUSA
This was my Empire before it was yours, and you took it
unjustly.
LARAN (V.O.)
How else can you change the rulers of a dictatorship?
The people of Jurai are far too spineless to stand
against you, so the only way is by a forceful takeover.
As you adequately demonstrated then, you couldn't
protect what you cared about so I took it away from
you. (beat) You can stop looking around like some
worried bug, I'm up here.
They look up to see Laran floating near the top of the dome
on the Throne room. He floats gently down in a transparent
bubble. Kiyonne fires her gun twice at him but the shots
ricochet off it and hit the walls.
LARAN
That's not how one greets their Emperor.
KIYONNE
I'll never respect you as an Emperor.
LARAN
Fine, I'll never respect you as being worth more than
dust. (beat) I was told there were more of you. I, at
least, wanted the red-headed one as well. I suppose
she's off somewhere in the palace making trouble, I'll
make sure my servant finds her.
AZUSA
You were expecting us I assume.
LARAN
Of course, well, not exactly YOU, former Emperor Azusa,
but I was expecting the rest of them, much earlier as
well. But that mess with the jump drive in the
duplidium field delayed things a bit.
KIYONNE
How did you know about that?
LARAN
I know everything about what happened on Amesbury, my
servant was there as soon as she found out that's where
you'd gone. I've been waiting for their return just as
long as you have been, Detective, or should I say
Captain Kiyonne?
KIYONNE
If you're so brilliant then why haven't you ever done
anything about us?
LARAN
Because you served my purpose. I knew that you'd do
this someday and bring the people I wanted right to me,
so all I did was wait. Of course, I'd be lying if I
didn't admit I had a bit of fun toying with your Empire
while I waited.
AZUSA
You demon.
LARAN
Hah! Is that you label all of your enemies?
KIYONNE
So you did all of this, took over Jurai, made it look
like a surrender, changed the way the galaxy was
balance, all so that WE would someday come to YOU? Why
didn't you just come to US if you knew where we were
all the time.
LARAN
Let me let you in on a little secret. (beat) I am
infinitely more powerful than you. Maybe what you
called 'all this' seems like a lot of work to you but
for me, it was simple. It was, in fact, easier to sit
here and wait for a rebel group like you to attack me,
then to have searched for you myself and gotten what I
wanted. (beat) I care nothing for this pathetic world
or those it governs, I only wanted two people. (he
points to Tenchi) You, and the red-head, Washuu. I've
got half of what I want, now I just need to find the
other half. Come with me boy so we may complete the
pair.
Laran floats towards a stunned Tenchi and reaches out to
grab him. As his hand nears Tenchi's face a bolt of energy
flies towards him and impacts on Laran's arm. He retracts
it immediately and looks towards the source. Kiyonne stares
him down coolly. Laran smiles and floats back up into the
air.
LARAN
I see, you wish to do this the hard way. Well, I'm up
for a little bit of fun at your expense, lets see you
try to do anything against me.
He floats over and lands about ten yards away from them, his
bubble vanishing as soon as his feet touch the ground.
Kiyonne levels her gun at him and glances over at Tenchi.
KIYONNE
Come on, Tenchi, snap out of it.
Tenchi shakes his head and looks over at Kiyonne and nods,
then looks at Laran. He holds out his hands, which are
grasping something. An instant later a blue blade is before
him and we see the Tenchiken in his hands. Azusa steps in
front of him and his blade and reaches into his robes and
pulls out a sword hilt of his own. Holding the hilt
horizontally before him it emits a soft green glow before a
larger, broadsword-looking blade appears at the end of it.
Laran grins.
LARAN
This will be more fun than I planned.
Cut to show Adam as he fires through the doorway then ducks
back again.
WASHUU
We've made absolutely no progress, in case you didn't
know.
ADAM
Thanks for the update.
AEKA
They seems to have received reinforcements.
ADAM
Okay, we have to move now or we'll be here forever.
I'm going to run through the doorway, okay, and fire as
I 'm running to the left. You guys duck through just
after they start firing at me and run right. You might
make it to the corridor in time.
WASHUU
That has got to be the stupidest plan I've ever heard.
ADAM
What? It's a simple distract and escape plan.
WASHUU
In case you haven't noticed there are enough of them so
that they can firing at you AND us at the same time.
No way, your plan sucks.
ADAM
I'm still waiting for your incredible idea.
WASHUU
You keep telling me you want the whole palace intact
when I'm done, how am I supposed to work with that?
ADAM
I don't know, improvise!
VOICE (O.S.)
Cease fire!
Adam frowns and perks up. Washuu and Aeka look to him.
ADAM
Who's that?
VOICE (O.S.)
Rebel fighters! Surrender now and you death will not
come today.
AEKA
I've heard those terms before.
ADAM
(yelling) No way! That's a stupid request and you know
it!
Washuu hits him in the arm.
ADAW
(to Washuu) Ow... what? It is! (yelling) This attack
is about winning or dying, no surrenders today, I'm
afraid.
VOICE (O.S.)
All of you, get out.
MALE VOICE (O.S.)
But, Ms-
VOICE (O.S.)
GO! I will handle this. Find out if there are any
other surface intruders. This is something between me
and him.
MALE VOICE (O.S.)
Yes, ma'am!
The sounds of lots of feet shuffling are heard, then the
sound dies away.
ADAM
(softly) What's going on?
Adam turns and pokes his head out for a moment to look in
the corridor. When he looks in he sees that the soldiers
are in fact gone, and the only person in the room is a woman
with blue hair. We recall that she is Zero.
ADAM
They're all gone, she ordered them all away.
The camera pans so that we can see Zero and Adam at the same
time. Adam has his back against the wall to the side of the
door and though the door we can see Zero standing in the
hall.
ZERO
Very well, I'll be fair, if you can beat me I'll let
you go.
ADAM
Why would I want to fight you?
ZERO
Because of what I just said, I'll let you go if you can
beat me. It's very simple, perhaps it's not something
that comes easily to your damaged mind, Adam.
ADAM
What do you know about that?
ZERO
Oh... we have a long history together, Adam. Or don't
you remember?
ADAM
(thinks) Sorry, I don't remember ever seeing a woman
like you before.
ZERO
Oh, but you didn't.
ADAM
See, there you go.
Zero glows for a moment and her features change into that of
the character formerly known as Shadow.
ZERO
But you saw a man like me.
Adam looks up suddenly and glances in the hall, his mouth
opening as he does. Eventually he remembers to duck back
behind the wall.
ADAM
How... did you...
ZERO
I guess you recognize me now. If not, how about now?
She glows again and this time she looks like a grey skinned,
small eyed, lanky alien woman. Adam glances in again.
ZERO
I was the second person who you had to call master.
After selling you to that trader, I felt unfulfilled,
so I thought I'd get you back and work you overtime.
ADAM
Okay, so you're a shapeshifter. What? Have you been
torturing me my whole life?
ZERO
It was hard to do once you joined the Resistance, but
up to that point, pretty much, yes. I especially liked
it when I knew you as this.
She becomes a large, muscular, furry man with dark skin and
an orange color fur. Adam glances in.
ZERO
You probably don't even remember knowing me like this.
ADAM
'Fraid not, you sure it was me you were messing with?
ZERO
Oh, absolutely sure, this was when your mind was really
starting to go, so I'm not surprised you don't
remember. I remember this form the most because of
what I did to you.
ADAM
What was that?
ZERO
I gave you that marvelous scar that you're failing to
cover with that beard of yours.
Adam reaches up and traces the scar on his cheek. Zero
glows again and returns to her original form.
ZERO
Of course, that's all in the past now. I just thought
you should know who you're fighting. (beat) So you
going to take me up on my offer? Like you said, you're
here to succeed or die and this will certainly speed
that along.
ADAM
(to Washuu and Aeka) You guys have to get to Tsunami
while I take care of her.
WASHUU
You don't even know who she is, what she can do.
ADAM
She's a shapeshifter, I can handle that.
WASHUU
This seems to be the phrase of the day but, you're
going to get yourself killed.
ADAM
Hey, you can only live one.
He starts to get up.
WASHUU
What about Kiyonne?
He freezes.
WASHUU
Going to leave her alone by dying here?
ADAM
I think I would feel worse if Sasami died because I
didn't take a chance when it was offered. No, you can
manipulate me by saying things like that. I know how I
feel and I know how she feels. There are no regrets
between the two of us, we lived life as rebels and we
might as well die like them.
He stands.
ADAM
As soon as this starts, you run, understand?
AEKA
Yes.
Adam steps into the doorway.
ADAM
Okay you changeling, lets rock.
Cut to the throne room. Despite the fact that they're
triple-teaming him, Laran seems to have the advantage in the
fight. He moves quicker and is easily keeping up with the
pincer attacks Tenchi and Azusa keep trying to use. Tenchi
tries to sweep Laran's legs but he blocks it with his
energy sword, then turns in time to generate another energy
sword and defend against the series of swings Azusa is
taking on him. Occasionally he's caught of guard by the
shots from Kiyonne, but they don't affect him and he simply
shrugs them off. After a particularly long string of
parries, Laran makes a sweeping swing at Tenchi that impacts
against his blade but still sends him flying. Kiyonne then
fires several times but Laran holds up his hand and they
strike it, doing no damage. Azusa takes this opportunity to
press his attack, but Laran is easily able to fend him off
with one hand and one beam sword. Laran strikes Azusa with
a particularly strong hit that even wrenches his hilt out of
his hand. Azusa hits the ground and his sword slides away.
LARAN
This was fun, but it's quickly getting tiring. Since I
really don't need you anymore than I did when we first
fought, I think I'll dispose of you first.
Laran raises his sword in the air and swings it down to
strike at Azusa, but moments before it reaches him, Azusa
closes his eyes tightly and a faint shield comes up.
Laran's sword stirkes it and it nearly gives.
LARAN
Crafty, aren't we? But that shield won't last for
long.
The field looks very weak, especially compared to others
we've seen. Every now and then it starts to fade and
Laran's blade gets closer to Azusa. Kiyonne runs up behind
Laran and is about to tackle him when he looks over and puts
up a hand. A beam of energy shoots out and strikes her
down. He looks over at Azusa as the sword gets even closer.
AZUSA
Why isn't it holding...?
LARAN
Because ultimately your strength comes from Tsunami,
and, the poor potted plant hasn't been doing very well
lately. It might be way I'm poisoning the little water
I give it, but who knows.
AZUSA
You can't kill that tree, it's the lifeblood of all
living things.
LARAN
I beg to differ, I CAN kill that tree, I'm doing it
right now.
The field weakens again.
LARAN
Not long now.
The field flickers again and it looks like Laran's sword is
going to hit Azusa this time. For one last time the field
flickers, then disappears. As the sword starts to cross the
distance to Azusa's face another beam shows up and deflects
it. Laran looks up, shocked, just in time to see Tenchi
swing his sword again at him. The blade impacts his
personal shield but it's a surprise enough to knock him off
guard, which Tenchi uses to press a series of strong
attacks.
Cut to the hall. Zero and Adam are staring each other down
across a twenty yard distance. It looks like an old western
shootout, they both are simply staring, waiting for the
other to make the first move.
ADAM
We going to stand like this all day?
ZERO
Feel free to start when you're ready.
ADAM
I'm ready already!
ZERO
Then start.
ADAM
I will.
They continue to stare at each other. The camera pans
around to get different angles. One of them is through the
original doorway where we can see Washuu and Aeka are gone.
ZERO
You haven't saved your friends anything, I'll just go
after them next.
ADAM
Maybe, but for now you're fighting me, so each second I
delay you, is a second they live longer.
ZERO
Perhaps. I guess that means I should make this quick.
ADAM
Yes, so feel free to start when you're ready.
ZERO
I'm ready.
ADAM
Then start.
ZERO
I will.
They stare.
ADAM
I think I can feel myself getting older.
ZERO
Just waiting for you to start.
ADAM
I'm getting to it.
ZERO
All right.
Adam doesn't move. A few moments later, a large blue beam
about three times the size of Adam in diameter shoots
through the hall, smacking Zero and going through the wall
and, as the camera pans over, at least a hundred other walls
in a nearly horizontal direction. Adam's eyes are wide as
he steps over to see exactly how many other walls Zero was
sent through.
ADAM
Took you long enough.
Washuu walks in from another doorway.
WASHUU
I had trouble calibrating it into a fine beam.
ADAM
That's a FINE beam?
WASHUU
I tried my best to maintain the structural integrity of
the palace, it's difficult when you're working with
such broad brush tools.
ADAM
Come on, lets move.
They run off back though the doorway Washuu had just come
from.
Cut to the throne room. Tenchi is still beating away at
Laran who is starting to actually look something less than
smug as he's continuously pushed back. Tenchi was moving
rapidly at first, but now he's starting to slow down as it's
obvious he's getting out of breath. Eventually he takes a
winding swing and hits Laran hard enough his field shatters
and he falls back onto the ground. Tenchi breathes deeply
as his blade shimmers and disappears. Azusa comes up behind
him.
AZUSA
That was impressive, Tenchi.
TENCHI
Thanks...
Azusa bends forward and reaches his hand out to touch the
collapsed Laran, who hasn't moved since he fell. Kiyonne
walks up behind them as he reaches out. Just as Azusa
touches the body it crumbles rapidly into dust leaving only
the clothes behind. Azusa blinks.
AZUSA
Was that the end of him?
LARAN (V.O.)
Not quite.
A blue wave of energy sweeps across the throne room,
throwing all of them up into the air and landing various
distances away. Laran fades in from a blue cloud in the air
above the throne itself.
LARAN
That was a very impressive example of stamina, but it
was hardly enough to kill me. Just caught me off
guard. As you might guess, playtime is over.
He raises a hand and Tenchi, Kiyonne, and Azusa lift off the
ground like marionettes. Blue electricity snakes around by
their feet then leaps up and starts electrifying them. All
three begin screaming as the pain rises. Laran looks on
impassively.
LARAN
I was not supposed to kill you, but I'm starting to
think that maybe I don't mind not getting everything I
wanted if it means putting an end to this all.
He smiles, then starts laughing maniacally.
Cut to show Aeka, Washuu, and Adam standing together with
their mouths open in shock. Sasami is on Aeka's back, still
unconscious. The camera pans around then back to show that
they're all looking at Tsunami, the tree of life.
Its leaves are brown and it's branches mostly bare.
AEKA
It's dying!
WASHUU
Impossible...
ADAM
He's been killing the Tree of Life...
AEKA
Why! To what end does it serve? Tsunami is the life
of all things, if she dies...
ADAM
What will happen to all of us?
WASHUU
Quickly, bring Sasami to her.
Aeka moves closer to the tree, stepping into the murky
waters and wading across to the trunk. As she walks she
looks up and sees all the trees above... wilting. Dying.
She reaches the trunk and steps up onto the small piece of
land it's rooted on and lies Sasami down at it's roots and
places the young girls hands on the wood. Aeka's robes are
covered in brown and look filthy.
AEKA
Please Tsunami, save my sister's life.
The trunk of the tree starts to glow but it flickers and
dies out.
WASHUU
She doesn't even have enough energy to join with her.
Adam walks over to the pool and kneels beside it. He puts
his hand in the water and pulls it out. It's covered in a
brownish gunk. He wipes it off on his pants.
ADAM
This water is terrible. She's probably thirsty, trees
thrive on fresh water.
He looks up.
ADAM
Those trees don't look half as bad as Tsunami.
AEKA
It's usually raining in here.
WASHUU
How? This is a covered structure.
AEKA
There's a fountain at the top, I guess it's been turned
off.
ADAM
Then lets turn it on.
He glances around and notices a glowing lift in the corner.
He runs over to it and stands on it. It glows for a moment
then rapidly takes him up.
Cut to the throne room. Laran is still laughing while
Azusa, Tenchi, and Kiyonne float and writhe in pain.
LARAN
I could never understand why my race embraced such
pacifism, it's so much more gratifying to see your
enemies die before you eyes than to encase them in
crystal for eternity! I'll have to remember that when
I deal with the rest of your group.
Cut to show Tenchi's face as he opens his eyes a bit to look
at Laran with scorn. His forehead glows for a moment but it
quickly fades.
Cut to the Holy Gardens. Adam is running across the same
walkway that Sasami was when she fell. He reaches the end
of the walk and finds a spout for the water but nothing
coming out of it. He looks inside then reaches far inside
but comes back with nothing. He glances around then looks
back at the spout. He rubs his brown as he thinks.
Cut to Tenchi's face. He grits his teeth harder and for a
moment his forehead glows with a green symbol. It fades
again.
Cut to Adam. He shakes his head then reaches into his
pocket and pulls out his gun. He pushes a button on it and
it whirrs loudly. Aiming at the spout, he fires and a large
section of it explodes into dust. He looks back at it and
can see that the spout goes bends to go vertically up. He
looks up along the wall then notices a scale on the wall.
It's a single slot in the wall running vertically with
various markings on it and a stick with an arrow on it
coming out of the slot and pointing at one of the markings.
Adam steps forward and stares at the marker. It gently bobs
up and down as if floating on something. Adam narrows his
eyes and raises his gun to aim at the scale.
Cut to show Tenchi's face again. He grunts heavily and the
green symbol appears on his forehead brightly.
Cut to show Adam. He pulls the trigger on his gun and blow
away a large portion of the wall the scale is on. Clear
water comes gushing out of the hole, spraying out a good
distance before falling. Adam grins, then pales as he sees
the pillar of water heading towards him.
Cut to show Laran's face as he suddenly stops laughing and
glances down at Tenchi and sees the glowing mark on his
face. Laran's eyes go wide.
Cut to Adam as the water strikes him dead on, lifting him up
into the air with the current then dropping him ... over the
railing. The water begins flowing off of the walkway and
raining down over the gardens as Adam falls.
Cut to show Tenchi's face. He suddenly levels his head
towards Laran. Cut to show his arm as he makes a fist and
electricity around him vanishes. He falls to the ground
immediately and when he stands again, three large, white,
Light Hawk Wings appear between Laran and three, and absorb
the electricity. Azusa and Kiyonne fall to the ground.
LARAN
(serious) What are you?
Cut to the Holy Gardens where Tsunami is. Washuu looks up.
WASHUU
Its raining!
Water begins falling all around, soaking Tsunami, Aeka,
Washuu, and Sasami. As soon as the water touches Tsunami's
branches, however, they start to brighten and buds appear on
them.
WASHUU
He did it!
ADAM (O.S.)
Aahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
WASHUU
(glances up again) Huh?
Cut to show Tenchi, staring at Laran intently. The
electricity is gone now, and the two wings have shrunk down
to normal size before Tenchi. Two of the wings wrap around
him forming his white outfit. The last wing floats in front
of him. Tenchi reaches out and it becomes a sword.
LARAN
Impossible.
TENCHI
That's what he said.
LARAN
I won't be denied my wish!
Laran lunges at Tenchi with his sword. Tenchi holds out his
blade. As Laran's energy blade comes in contact with it,
the blade shatters into a thousand shards of light. Laran
looks at his hand in shock. Tenchi steps forward
purposefully.
TENCHI
I won't let you hurt any more people.
LARAN
You can't do this to me!
TENCHI
I will.
Laran steps back and generates another sword, but Tenchi
dismisses it just as easily as the first.
Cut to the Holy Gardens. Washuu and Aeka are looking up and
see Adam's form falling and screaming. Aeka turns her head
in fright but Washuu can only stare. Cut to show Adam's
view as he falls, the ground approaching every closer at
blinding speeds. Just as he's about to hit the ground, cut
to show Tsunami. Sasami starts glowing brightly and she
opens her eyes, which are now two glowing spots of light.
She quickly stretches out her arms and the branches of
Tsunami move and grow forward and catch Adam before he can
become a splat on the pavement.
ADAM
Woah...
The rain continues to fall.
Cut to show the throne room. Laran has backed up to the
throne and is holding another energy sword.
TENCHI
Return this empire to Azusa.
LARAN
Forget it!
Laran surrounds himself in a bubble again and starts
floating up. Tenchi watches him impassively. He gets high
above Tenchi and then holds one sword forward and one to the
side and begins to dive. He descends with all possible
speed towards Tenchi, who looks at Laran for a moment before
bending his knees and leaping up at him. The two sail
through the air towards each other at impossible speeds.
Then, with a flash of greenish light, they meet, and the
battle is over. Tenchi lands on the ground with his sword
glowing in his hand and Laran lands in a heap on the
opposite side of the room.
LARAN
No... I ... couldn't complete my ... mission.
Laran disintegrates rapidly eventually dissolving into
nothing. Tenchi quickly moves over to Azusa and Kiyonne and
gets them to their feet.
TENCHI
It's over.
They both look at him and nod knowingly.
KIYONNE
Lets find out what happened to the others.
AZUSA
I have to straighten this out now. There's a lot of
work ahead of me. Please find out if my daughter is
all right for me.
KIYONNE
(bows) Yes, your highness.
Kiyonne and Tenchi turn and walk towards the doors out of
the throne room. As they move, Kiyonne whispers.
KIYONNE
Look at that, not even a minute after defeating Laran
and he's already acting like the stuffy emperor again.
TENCHI
It's a tough job, what he does. With power of that
magnitude there is a lot of obligation.
Cut to show Tsunami in the Holy Gardens. Sasami is still
sitting up with glowing eyes and her hands out stretched.
She begins to slowly part her hands and Tsunami's branches
mimic her motions. Eventually Adam falls to the ground
along with assorted leaves and twigs. He tries to brush
them off as well as possible. Aeka looks to her sister with
a bit of terror in her eyes.
AEKA
Sa.. sasami?
Sasami turns her head to her in an almost machine-like
fashion. Then, she seems to deflate and she closes her
eyes. When she opens them again, they are no longer
glowing.
SASAMI
Aeka?
AEKA
Is that you?
Sasami smiles and hugs Aeka.
SASAMI
Thank you, sister.
AEKA
Oh, Sasami...
Adam and Washuu walk up to the edge of the pond.
ADAM
What happened?
SASAMI
She, Tsunami, she went into my body and fought with the
darkness inside and eventually destroyed it. But it
took a little while. While she was inside of me, she
saw you falling and she tried to control both me and
her tree body and got a bit confused, but she did
succeed in cushioning your fall.
ADAM
I don't know about cushioning, but I didn't die.
AEKA
Is she, I mean, did you join with her.
SASAMI
(looks down) No, she's very sick and she used the last
of her power to save Adam and I.
WASHUU
So what happens now?
SASAMI
She's dying and I don't know what I can do to help her.
AEKA
What happens if the Tree of Life dies?
SASAMI
She doesn't know.
ADAM
We've got to do something!
ZERO (O.S.)
You can stand very still and don't make any quick
movements.
Adam turns and Aeka and Sasami look to see Zero, standing
behind Washuu with an energy blade to her neck. Zero is in
pretty sorry shape, her outfit torn in several places (none
very revealing, sorry) and one of her arms is hanging limp
at her side and bleeding.
ZERO
Especially you, Ms. Meddling scientist, no fancy guns.
WASHUU
(disappointed) Oh...
ZERO
My master's plan *will* succeed!
KIYONNE (O.S.)
Your master is dead.
Zero turns to see Tenchi and Kiyonne approaching from
behind. She immediately yanks Washuu back and pulls the
sword closer.
ZERO
Don't come near me!
They stop approaching.
KIYONNE
Didn't you hear what I said? He's dead, it all means
nothing now.
ZERO
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME HE'S DEAD! (beat, softly) I
know he's gone ... I could feel his life end. (beat,
loudly) But it won't matter if I carry out my master's
plan for him!
TENCHI
How won't it matter?
Zero looks to Tenchi. Adam, on the other side of Zero,
raises his head and begins slowly reaching for his gun.
ZERO
My master's plan will turn everything back, make it so
it all never happened. Time will flow backwards for
years, back to the day it happened.
TENCHI
The day what happened?
ZERO
(looks down) The devastation of his people. (beat)
He'll go back and stop the experiment that caused the
sun of Enki to go supernova. He'll give the Enkians a
place to live again so they won't be prosecuted
throughout the galaxy and forced to die for you
heartless Juraiians! (beat) There were billions of
Enkians before... now, they're all gone. With the
death of my Master, their race as been extinguished in
the universe. I'll complete his plan to save his kind,
I'll make him happy he created me.
KIYONNE
He doesn't exist anymore! He can't be happy!
ZERO
(smiles faintly) I won't exist anymore after the plan
goes through. Neither will most of you. But I know
he's watching me somehow, and I'll make sure that for
once... (she shutters) for once he's happy he created
me.
WASHUU
Created you?
ZERO
(nods) He's my father as well as my master.
TENCHI
But if he's your father, doesn't the Enkian race live
on?
Adam has his gun out now and is gently stepping to get
closer to Zero.
ZERO
(shakes her head) I wasn't created from him, I was
created by him. He used Kagato's data left behind at
the Science Academy to give me life birth from the Masu
and some cells left behind.
WASHUU
Kagato? My gods... (beat, shocked) You're not Laran's
daughter, you're ... mine.
TENCHI
What?
ZERO
(yelled) What?
WASHUU
I did those experiments with Kagato, they eventually
led to the creation of Ryouko. Those cells ... they
were mine. You're ... Ryouko's sister!
Everyone blinks for a moment, in shock. Zero quickly
regains her angry composure.
ZERO
So what? Do you think that gets you any sympathy? So
I share a gene or two with you, so what? My father is
my master because he was with me from the beginning!
He took care of me, he gave me purpose! I'm prepared
to die for him, in fact, I AM going to die for him.
(looks to Tenchi) Now you, come here now or I'll detach
Washuu's head from her body!
Now that he's close enough, Adam presses the butt of his gun
into the back of Zero's neck.
ADAM
I think it's time you stop giving orders, Zero. Now,
you release Washuu.
Zero smiles evilly.
ZERO
Is that what you think? You forget, we've been
fighting for years, I know your weakness.
ADAM
Oh? What's that?
Zero throws Washuu to the ground and ducks in blinding speed
then turns on her knees and arcs her blade towards Adam's
head. The shot from his gun goes high, impacting on the
ground next to Washuu. Zero continues swinging her blade
and Adam tries to jump back desperately but it's too late.
The blade cuts across his face, leaving a small cut on his
cheek and cutting the circlet on his head in half.
Everything slows for a moment as the circlet begins to fall
from his brow. We see Adam's shocked look at the metal
falling before his eyes then the painful contortion of his
face as he feels his life draining from him. Unable to
coordinate his landing he slips and starts falling onto his
back. We see Zero's evil grin and her soft chuckles at his
pain. Finally, before time goes back to normal, we see Adam
open his eyes to catch one final glimpse before they gloss
over.
Adam's body hits the ground with a thud as Zero quickly
moves over to Washuu and lifts her body up again.
KIYONNE
ADAM!
ZERO
I *said* don't move!
She grabs Washuu's chin and pulls her head to the side to
show everyone how close her blade is to her neck. Washuu
stares forward and tears.
WASHUU
Adam...
ZERO
Now! Tenchi, come here!
Tenchi looks between Adam, Washuu and Zero then hangs his
head as he steps towards Zero. Zero makes an effort to move
her bloodied arm and pulls out what looks like a y-shaped
divining rod. She pushes a handle into Washuu's hand and
points the single end towards Tsunami.
ZERO
(to Tenchi) Do you have the Tenchiken?
TENCHI
Yes.
ZERO
Hold it in your hand!
Tenchi reaches into his pocket.
WASHUU
No! Tenchi, don't let her do this!
ZERO
Shut up!
TENCHI
I'm sorry, Washuu.
WASHUU
Zero! Don't do this! You can't just alter time like
this, it'll destroy everything!
ZERO
Both Kagato's and my master's research indicated that
Tsunami has the ability to do this without adverse
affects. (to Tenchi) Good, now with your other hand,
grab the channel.
Tenchi reaches out his hand and, after a moment's
hesitation, he grabs one of the ends of the rod.
Immediately the rod begins to glow. Zero quickly releases
Washuu as she and Tenchi begin to glow. The channel quickly
turns red then, after pulsating red for several seconds,
lets off a beam of energy out of the end of the rod that
strikes Tsunami.
SASAMI
(clutches her head) Aahhgg!
AEKA
Sasami!
SASAMI
You're ... HURTING her! Make it stop! She can't take
the pain!
Tenchi and Washuu have their eyes closed now and are
pulsating opposite that of the channel as energy flows
through them towards Tsunami. Zero looks on with a smile.
ZERO
It's all a matter of time, now.
Tsunami's leaves and buds begin to glow and swirls of energy
gather around them. Aeka looks up in tears from her sister
in pain and focuses her eyes on Zero.
AEKA
You... you... you, BITCH!
Aeka takes several steps and lunges at Zero, tackling her to
the ground. Sasami collapses in pain as Kiyonne steps
forward and pulls out her gun and points it at the wrestling
Zero and Aeka.
KIYONNE
Zero! Freeze!
ZERO
(glances at Kiyonne) Yeah, right.
Zero begins glowing as she fights with Aeka. Quickly the
glow becomes too bright for Kiyonne to see and she covers
her eyes. When she lowers her hand she see TWO Aeka's
fighting each other, both looking identical.
AEKA
Shoot her!
AEKA (2)
No shoot her!
KIYONNE
Oh boy...
They continue to wrestle as the energies around Tsunami
become larger and Tenchi and Washuu glow brighter.
Cut to show Adam on the ground, looking blankly up into
space. His eyes are foggy which accurately reflects his
current mind state. Suddenly, his blinks and turns his head
to the side. He sees Aeka fighting her doppleganger. He
turns his head the other way. He sees Tenchi and Washuu
feeding energy into Tsunami. He slightly tilts his head up
and he sees the shoes of a woman standing beside him. The
shoes move slightly and the woman bends down to look into
Adam's eyes. We see she is Pluto, holding her staff but
still dressed in her green business suit. She glances over
at Tenchi and Washuu then back at Adam. Adam blinks again.
She mouths the words "Your duty" to him. Adam turns his
head the other way toward Aeka and Aeka but looks past them
to see Kiyonne looking nervously between the two Aekas
trying to tell which one to fight. His eyes clear for a
moment.
ADAM
(softly) Ki..yonne...
His eyes become foggy again and he turns his head toward
Pluto again. She mouths "Tenchi."
ADAM
(softly) Ten...chi...
Again, Pluto mouths "Tenchi."
ADAM
(softly) Tenchi...
Pluto nods. Adam's eyes close, then open. He starts to get
up.
Cut to show Washuu and Tenchi. Suddenly they stiffen and
their glow fades as does the color in their skin and hair.
They fall to their knees and collapse to the ground, looking
sickly and dead. The channel remains floating in the air
still feeding energy to Tsunami. She starts to turn black
and the energies around the leaves begin to explode
outwards, flying about the whole Holy Gardens. We see
Kiyonne looking around at the flying energies and looking
even more nervous. Then she freezes and she sees Adam
walking zombie-like towards the channel.
KIYONNE
Adam!
Both Aekas stop their fight to look at Adam. He steps
towards the channel and looks at it curiously. Then he
reaches out.
KIYONNE
Adam!
AEKA
NO!
Adam's hand grasps the end of the channel pointing towards
Tsunami. Immediately he begins glowing. He continues to
step in between the channel and Tsunami so the beam strikes
him. The swirling energies in the room dissipate quickly as
the channel continues to push its energy into Adam. One of
he Aeka's reaches out and yells.
AEKA
No! You can't do that!
Kiyonne's attention is immediately focused on the Aekas.
She looks at the one who just yelled out and levels her gun.
With a moments hesitation, she fires and the one Aeka falls
over, unconscious. The second Aeka breathes heavily and
looks to Kiyonne and nods.
We see Adam holding onto the channel with one hand as he
holds out his other hand and points his palm toward Tenchi
and Washuu. Pan to see the gem embedded in his hand glow
brightly. The channel's glow dies and stops projecting
energy towards Adam. A moment later, the gem on Adam's hand
begins emitting energy in the form of two beams towards
Tenchi and Washuu. As the energy flows, Washuu and Tenchi
gain their color again but Adam begins to fade as he becomes
first translucent then transparent. The beam continues
until Tenchi and Washuu look like normal except for their
now gray hair. As the beam stops, Adam is almost gone and
looks like the faintest of specters. Kiyonne runs over to
him.
KIYONNE
Adam! What were you doing? What's happening to you?
Adam blinks and his eyes are no longer glossy, he looks down
to Kiyonne and smiles.
ADAM
I'm sorry. I can't keep our promise.
Kiyonne starts to cry.
KIYONNE
What do you mean? We're going to go home together,
right? It's okay we had to split up in the palace,
we're together now.
ADAM
I want you to know, that I've never known love, like I
did with you.
KIYONNE
Don't say that! To the END! We made this promise!
ADAM
We did... but I have to break it.
KIYONNE
No!
ADAM
We had years of love that some couples never get to
have. We braved the world together, we explored our
galaxy. That's more than anyone on my planet has ever
done. They say that the light that burns twice as
bright, burns half as long. My love for you burned a
billion times brighter, so I should have expected it
would have been shorter.
Kiyonne breaks down in sobs. Adam kneels and holds her in
his fading hands. His fingers interlock with hers and he
holds her close.
KIYONNE
What am I supposed to do now?
ADAM
I ... I don't know. Live. I guess that's all I can
say.
KIYONNE
I'll never forget you.
ADAM
And I'll never forget you. Also, if love means
anything in this universe, which I know it does,
someday, we'll be able to embrace again. But until
that time...
Adam leans in and kisses Kiyonne. It lasts only as long as
Adam is physical, which is only seconds. The channel hits
the ground as Adam's hand is no longer able to hold it, and
Kiyonne's hand closes where it had once held his. She falls
forward and continues crying. Aeka comes up behind her and
kneels, putting a hand on her shoulder. Kiyonne tries to
stop crying, but fails. Finally, she opens her hand and
manages to stop her sobs to stare. Resting in her hand is
the gem that used to be in Adam's. She picks it up with her
two fingers and stares at it.
Cut to show Sasami getting up and putting a hand to her
head. Aeka moves over to her as Kiyonne stands and looks
over at Tenchi and Washuu.
AEKA
Sasami, are you okay?
SASAMI
Uhn... I'm all right, but Tsunami is almost dead.
AEKA
What can we do to help her?
SASAMI
I don't know. She doesn't know.
AEKA
Is this the end?
The sound of trees rustling is heard from above. Aeka and
Sasami look up to see the trees on the higher levels of the
garden swaying back and forth.
AEKA
What's going on?
Sasami tilts her head and listens.
SASAMI
They're talking to each other.
AEKA
What are they saying?
SASAMI
They're concerned about Tsunami ... they're afraid of
what might happen if she dies.
AEKA
Can they do anything about it?
A leaf falls onto Aeka's head. She reaches up and grabs it
with her hand and looks at it. Another leaf falls nearby,
followed by several others. Aeka looks up and it's raining
leaves from the higher trees. She looks to Sasami, who's
got a tear on her eye.
SASAMI
They're sacrificing themselves to Tsunami. They're
giving her their energy through their leaves.
AEKA
The whole of the Holy Gardens? But then they'll all
die.
SASAMI
They say it's all right as long as Tsunami lives. They
are her children, and they have to take care of her.
AEKA
But this will change everything on Jurai! We depend on
the Holy Gardens.
SASAMI
They say that it must be.
Aeka watches as the leaves rain down on Tsunami, each
turning to brown after touching her branches. Several
leaves fall into the pool around Tsunami and the water
around them begins to clear. As Tsunami takes the energy of
each leaf, parts of her turn greener and the black mark left
behind by the channel returns to its normal color.
SASAMI
This is life, they say. Death... and rebirth.
Pan backwards as Tsunami starts growing new leaves and
branches sprout out from where only stumps remained. As the
trees above die, Tsunami grows stronger.
Cut to a pan back from the planet as we see the fighting in
orbit has stopped. Pan across the beat up Yagami II then
inside onto the bridge. Reeve is sitting in the captain's
chair while people are fixing blow up consoles all over the
bridge. A screen is up and Azusa is on it.
AZUSA
I thank you all again for your work, but what we've
done today isn't the end of the struggle. Laran is
dead, but turning Jurai back into the paradise empire
it was will take a long time. I can only hope that
I'll have all of your help in the coming months and
years, both those rebels who stood up against Laran,
and to you who remained loyal to Jurai even though your
emperor was removed. But for now, breathe easy, the
first step is over. Thank you for your attention.
The screen goes blank then disappears.
REEVE
He knows it, and it'll make the coming changes even
easier on the people.
An officer in the forward pit turns and looks up to Reeve.
OFFICER
What does he know, sir?
REEVE
He knows that there really wasn't a wrong or a right
side in this battle. Just people, following orders.
If he maintains that attitude, it'll be so much easier
to keep those that lost today from turning against us
in the future. He really is a good emperor.
OFFICER
The right one?
REEVE
The one that won today, that's all.
Cut to show Jurai from space again. The camera slowly pans
towards the planet.
TENCHI (V.O.)
It's time, my Lord.
Cut to show the throne room. The damages incurred during
the battle with Laran have been repaired and Azusa is
sitting on the throne with his wives sitting to either side
of him. Tenchi is kneeling on the steps up to the throne
wearing the robes of a Juraiian noble. His hair is mostly
gray but his roots are black so we can see the original
color is returning to them.
AZUSA
You're leaving us so soon?
TENCHI
I have to return to Earth. I'm sure my family has been
worried about me. After that, I don't know what I'll
do.
AZUSA
What will you tell them?
TENCHI
I don't know yet.
AZUSA
We have a non-interference law concerning Earth, you
know. Only specific people are even allowed to be
contacted.
TENCHI
I know. I'll make sure the word doesn't get out.
AZUSA
Very well then. You have impressed me, Tenchi Masaki.
I can see now how Yousho might choose to send you in
his place.
TENCHI
Thank you, Emperor. But I have no desire to be his
stand in.
AZUSA
Perhaps now you do not, but someday, perhaps, if Jurai
should call upon you to serve as it's emperor, what
will you do?
Tenchi glances away for a few seconds.
TENCHI
I will serve with pride, my Lord.
Azusa smiles.
AZUSA
Go then, Prince Tenchi, return to Earth, but know that
someday we will meet again.
TENCHI
(bows) Thank you.
He stands and walks down the steps, across the floor, and
out of the throne room.
Cut to show the hall leading away from the throne room.
Washuu, Aeka, Sasami, and Kiyonne are standing there.
Washuu, similarly to Tenchi, has gray hair except for her
roots which are red.
AEKA
Tenchi, is it true?
TENCHI
I'm leaving.
AEKA
Oh... I would have -- I was just hoping that you were
going to stay on Jurai.
TENCHI
I can't, I have to go home, and after that ...
AEKA
You're going to look for Ryouko.
TENCHI
(nods) I know she's out there.
AEKA
She could be dead.
TENCHI
Ryo-ohki wasn't among the wreckage, and several of the
ships said they saw something flying away from the area
after the end of the battle. She must be alive.
AEKA
(looks down) I wish ... I just wish I could come.
TENCHI
I wouldn't mind if you did.
AEKA
I know you wouldn't, but I can't leave anymore. Jurai
needs me, they need to know there is a strong family in
charge again. Since Tsunami's children are all dead,
we are a weak planet again. But Tsunami lives on, both
in the Gardens and in Sasami, so someday, we'll be
strong again. But until then ... my place is here.
TENCHI
Feel free to visit any time you like. You're always
welcome.
AEKA
Thank you.
WASHUU
Good luck on your trip.
TENCHI
I guess you're staying as well.
WASHUU
(nods) Well, someone's got to protect these whining
Juraiians now that they've lost their trees, I guess I
could lend a hand. The Science Academy also indicated
they'd like me to return, maybe as a Dean. So I'll
keep myself busy. But whether you like it or not,
you'll be getting visits from me from time to time, so
don't expect any privacy.
TENCHI
(laughs) Okay, I'll remember that.
WASHUU
Oh, and could you do something for me when you get
home?
TENCHI
What's that?
WASHUU
(awkward) Could you... set up, a memorial or something?
TENCHI
A memorial?
WASHUU
I don't know, something in his honor.
TENCHI
(nods understandably) Oh, okay, I'll put something up.
WASHUU
Thank you.
TENCHI
No problem.
SASAMI
Bye, Tenchi!
She runs up and hugs him.
TENCHI
Good bye, Sasami. You can come visit any time as well.
SASAMI
I will! Tsunami wants to see Earth as well, so we'll
be along.
TENCHI
Is everything working out between Tsunami and you?
SASAMI
We're okay, it's just taking us a little while to get
used to it all. It's not like we expected, but we'll
be all right.
TENCHI
Okay, then, I'll be expecting your visit.
SASAMI
Bye!
Sasami jumps back into line.
KIYONNE
Ready, Tenchi?
TENCHI
(nods) Lets go.
Tenchi and Kiyonne walk down the hall away from everyone
else who is waving as they go.
Cut to show a landing platform that has the Yagami II's
shuttle on it. It takes off and flies off into space.
Cut to show Earth as the Yagami II settles into orbit. The
shuttle detaches from the bottom of the ship and descends
into the atmosphere. Pan in to show the inside of the
shuttle. Kiyonne is piloting while Tenchi is sitting in the
seat beside her, where Adam used to sit.
KIYONNE
Oh, I suppose I should give this back to you.
She reaches into her pocket and pulls out the red gem and
holds it out for Tenchi.
KIYONNE
I know that it was yours before Adam had it, so I guess
this belongs to you. It's the only thing left of Adam
now.
TENCHI
I think, maybe you should keep it.
KIYONNE
Why?
TENCHI
Because I think they need to be separate. Too many
things have happened because of those gems being
together. It's better if we keep them apart. So hang
onto it, especially since it's your last memory of him.
KIYONNE
I-Okay... thank you.
TENCHI
How are you feeling? I mean, now that he's gone?
KIYONNE
I feel better now that I did before. I'm glad I was
able to talk to him before the end, it was painful at
the time but it made things better in the long run. I
don't know if I'll ever stop missing him.
TENCHI
I don't think you're supposed to. After all, if you
could just forget about him like that, you probably
weren't in love.
KIYONNE
I suppose not. I just wish... something else remained.
I wish we'd had a child. I know we both wanted one,
but at the time... it just wouldn't be right with the
Resistance. Now... it's too late.
TENCHI
You never expected to outlive him.
KIYONNE
Exactly.
TENCHI
I've got the opposite problem. I don't know if I've
inherited Juraiian longevity or not. If I have, I may
outlive my partner, if not, she might outlive me, or
who knows what might happen.
KIYONNE
Don't worry about it.
TENCHI
Huh?
KIYONNE
I know I'm pouting right now about how short our time
was, it's horribly not myself to even do so, but the
truth of the matter is that if you love each other
enough, any time together makes it worth while. If you
do outlive her, maybe you'll be like me for a while,
but I know that, at the time, I was glad just to be
with Adam. Nothing else mattered.
TENCHI
I guess you're right.
KIYONNE
So you're going to look for Ryouko, right?
TENCHI
(nods) Yes.
KIYONNE
What will you do if you find her?
TENCHI
If I find her... I'll tell her how I really feel. I'm
ready to try with her now. No matter how long I may
live, it really isn't worth it to wait any longer.
KIYONNE
I hope you get to tell her.
TENCHI
(nods) Me too.
Cut to show the lake before the Masaki house. The shuttle
is descending above it, landing just on the shore. Pan back
to see a woman wearing a long, light green dress, and spiky
cyan hair standing with her back to the camera before the
lake watching the ship land. The winds from the engines
cause her dress to pillow and her hair to gently drift.
Cut to show the inside of the shuttle as Tenchi looks out
the window and looks down at the woman. His eyes go wide.
TENCHI
It's... quickly, spin the ship around.
He gets up and runs to the back of the shuttle.
Cut to show the view from behind the woman looking up. The
shuttle turns so the rear of the ship is facing us.
Suddenly the back of the shuttle opens up and Tenchi is
standing in the opening. He waves and the woman holds her
arms out to him.
Cut to the inside of the ship from where Tenchi is standing.
He waves at the woman on the ground then looks back towards
the cockpit of the shuttle.
TENCHI
Thank you, Kiyonne! Good luck!
KIYONNE
Bye, Tenchi!
Tenchi turns back to the opening and jumps out of the
shuttle. The camera follows him as he falls with his arms
out. The woman on the ground jumps up and flies toward
Tenchi. They meet in mid air and hold each other in their
arms as they float. Ryouko smiles warmly, unlike we've ever
seen her before. Tenchi smiles back.
Cut to right above the shuttle as the rear hatch closes and
the ship flies past the camera. After the ship is past, we
can see Tenchi and Ryouko a ways down, kissing.
Fade to show a house in a wooded area. It's a rather small
house with a long dirt driveway to a paved road. We pan in
towards the house, through the roof, until we see a room
with a wooden table and a chair, and a man sitting on the
chair with his head resting on the table. Before him is a
typewriter with a blank sheet of paper on it. The camera
settles on him. The man moves slightly then suddenly sits
up from the table with a wide eyed look on his face. We see
the man is actually Adam, young again, like when he first
appeared in the series. He looks around strangely.
ADAM
What...
PLUTO (V.O.)
Thank you.
Adam looks behind him and see Pluto sitting on a chair in
the corner of the room.
ADAM
Was that... was it all a dream?
PLUTO
Oh, no, of course not.
ADAM
But look at me... I'm young again, how did that happen?
PLUTO
I've just brought you back to your world at the same
time you left it. Well, give or take a few hours.
ADAM
I don't understand.
PLUTO
You completed the task I'd sent you there for.
ADAM
Save Tenchi? That's the only reason I was there?
PLUTO
That's the only reason I sent you, you can come up with
your own reasons to have been there.
ADAM
Is it over, I mean, can I go back?
PLUTO
(shakes her head) Not right now, the time isn't right.
ADAM
Well, when, then?
PLUTO
Not for a while. I haven't predicted the time yet.
You need to spend some time here, in your real world
first.
ADAM
But what about everyone, don't they need me anymore?
What about Kiyonne?
PLUTO
You died in their world. It will take them a while to
get used to it, but they will. Life continues without
you, you know.
ADAM
Yes, I've noticed that. But, well then, what about me?
What happens next?
PLUTO
You'll live your life here now. Eventually, I'll come
back when I need you again.
ADAM
I miss them all.
PLUTO
Nothing I can do about that. That's your problem to
deal with.
ADAM
Couldn't I have at least brought Kiyonne here?
PLUTO
This field of questioning will get you no where. There
is no room for second thoughts in my work.
Pluto stands and starts to leave.
ADAM
Thank you.
Pluto turns.
PLUTO
What?
ADAM
(looks down) I know I've been a real ass and that I was
extremely rude to you when you first brought me there,
but... this is something really special, and I'm glad
you let me be a part of it.
PLUTO
Even though you had to leave your love?
ADAM
Even the first hour that I knew I loved her and she
loved me back was worth it. I'd never known anything
like that before, and I never would have if not for
you. So... thank you.
PLUTO
And that's why I chose you.
She turns and fades away through the doorway. Adam is left
staring at the doorway for several moments. Then he turns
in his chair and looks at the typewriter before him. His
hands return to the keys instinctively and he begins to
type. The camera pans in to see what he writes:
A PROMISE TO PLUTO
By Adam Leigh
The camera pans away, back through the ceiling and into the
sky and then rests, staring at the setting sun. A caption
writes itself across the bottom of the screen.
CAPTION
The greatest adventures begin with the heart.
Fade to black. The final words write themselves onto the
screen.
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Adam Leigh is a second year student at Rochester Institute
of Technology, where he is pursuing an undergraduate degree
in Computer Science. He began writing when he was nine
years old with a two page long Self-Insertion fic into
Legend Of Zelda: Adventures Of Link, which was illustrated
by his friend and published at his local library. He's been
writing anime fan fiction since 1996 with his first work,
`Adventures of Darien.' Adam attributes his current skill
in tale crafting to a lot of previous failures and hours of
AD&D games as the DM.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Further notes from the author as well as cut scenes and
general information about the Full Circle series and this
final movie can be obtained at:
http://dogbert.simplenet.com/Tempest
DISCLAIMER:
"Tenchi Muyou: Ryo-ohki" was created by Masaki Kajishima and
was published by Pioneer Entertainment. "Sailor Moon" was
created by Naoko Takeuchi and was published by Toei in Japan
and DiC and Buena Vista Entertainment in North America.
While this script contains characters copyrighted by others,
this work itself is copyright (c)2000 by Adam Leigh. All
rights reserved.