AUTHOR'S FOREWORD:
As a man grows older, he tends to desire certain things that
before mean little to him. The satisfaction of completion,
which before was merely the columniation of a series of
efforts, becomes a warming, lingering feeling of
accomplishment that leaves one with the desire to continue.
In opposition, half completed, barely started projects begin
to drag on a man until they have securely anchored him in
one place.
At this point, there are two options available to the man.
First, and obviously, the man gives up and learns to live as
a stationary object. Or, he can go back to where the anchor
began to drag and try to cut the links of the chain.
It is for the reason above, as well as the pressing interest
of those who enjoyed the work when it was being produced,
that I present the following conclusion to one of my oldest
pieces of fiction. I am aware that many people did not care
for this series and in fact, were rather repulsed by it.
For those people I have but one piece of advice: ignore
this. I'm no longer writing this for you in some distant
chance that I could change your mind about me, I'm writing
for my fans now, who have asked for this and I have been, to
this point, a bigot and have ignored.
Be warned, however, the future holds no further works of
this world. It's over and by far time to move on. I hope
you've had fun along the way, your encouragement has helped
me develop into a better author and continues to push me to
achieve even to this day.
Normally, I would dedicate a work in this series to Chris
Davies, who's writing inspired me over five years ago, but,
while I still hold him in the highest regard (despite his
rather tempestuous attitude occasionally) the person
directly responsible for this episode, is a person called
'War'-something, on GenSao's #TenchiFF on DALnet. My peanut
sized brain cannot even remember his full name, only that he
asked me to finish this series. So, to you, thank you.
Adam C. Leigh
Pasadena, California
June 2000
(ed. 8.8.00)
-*-
NOTE:
This work was originally completed on August 8, 2000 and has
been divided into two acts for release with a one week
spacer in between parts. Previous episodes of Full Circle
can be obtained at:
http://dogbert.simplenet.com/Tempest
-*-
Tempest Creations Presents...
A Twisted Plot Productions Fanfic
Tenchi Muyo TV / Tenchi Muyou OAV / SI Fusion
-*-
Establishing Shot: Space. A hundred constellations and
thousands of stars dot the inky blackness of the beyond.
The camera begins a slow pan downwards as the monologue
proceeds.
TENCHI
Seven hundred years ago, the planet of Jurai faced a
crisis. Ryouko, the viscous space pirate, controlled
by the entity known as Kagato, attacked the Royal
Houses on Jurai and attempted to steal Tsunami, the
Tree of Life. This attack was foiled by the actions of
a single man, the Crown Prince of Jurai, Yousho.
Single-handedly, he turned back the invading demon, and
chased her off into space. What happened to them is
history. However, the fates of those left behind on
Jurai is another story...
The camera settles onto the planet of Jurai. It's a large
blue-green orb with a pair of crossing rings of ships,
stations, and other artificial satellites. A caption fades
into the bottom of the screen.
CAPTION
Planet Jurai
700 Years Ago
Imperial Year 33125
(AD 1296)
A small portion of the planet suddenly turns red and short
after the screen is bombarded with ships who are rapidly
fleeing the double rings into deep space. The caption fades
away.
Cut to the surface of Jurai. A slow pan establishes the
amount of destruction that has taken place. All of the
buildings are damaged or caved in and several are on fire
giving the early evening sky a reddish hue. A cackle is
heard in the distance.
Cut to show Ryouko, casually sitting on the edge of a
burning building. She surveys the damage casually and is
the source of the hideous cackling. Her eyes are glowing
green and leave a brief trail when she turns her head.
YOUSHO (Off Screen)
Demon!
Ryouko jerks her head to look down off the house. Pan back
and behind Ryouko to show a young Yousho standing on the
earth beneat her. He is dressed in the clothes of a royal
and holding Tenchiken, the Master Key of Funaho, firmly in
his hand.
YOUSHO
Come down here and fight me you witch! You'll only get
to the trees over my dead body.
Ryouko smirks evilly.
RYOUKO
Your terms are acceptable.
She pushes herself off the roof and dives towards Yousho.
In a moment, her green energy blade is in her hand and
pointing at her opponent. Yousho quickly raises his sword
and generates a long blue blade. When the two finally meet
they flash with a blinding light.
As the light fades we see a YOUNG BOY with short brown hair
and wearing a green and light brown outfit. He seems to
have recently been crying. He's walking across a connecting
bridge between two tall, green platforms while in the
background we can see a good portion of Jurai on fire.
YOUNG BOY
Mommy! Daddy!
The boy wanders across the platform slowly. A large section
of a building falls from above and lands on the platform in
a fiery wreck that causes the boy to lose his balance and
fall. The bridge shakes slightly as the boy tries to stand
again. He glances forward and sees a conservatively dressed
woman (AIDE) with shoulder length hair and an aged face
walking along the railing towards him.
AIDE
Princess Sasami! Princess Sasami! Where are you?
The young boy stumbles over to her and grabs the end of her
dress.
YOUNG BOY
Where's my mommy?
The Aide seems to be deliriously panicked and looks down at
the boy only long enough to determine that he's not who
she's looking for then pushes him aside and yanks her dress
from his grasp.
AIDE
I have to find Princess Sasami. (calls) Princess
Sasami! Sasami!
The boy starts to cry again.
MOTHER (O.S.)
Laran!
The boy looks up just as a woman with bluish, shoulder
length hair and a green tunic runs up to him and picks him
up in her arms. The boy looks relieved and wraps his arms
around the woman as tightly as he can.
YOUNG BOY
Mommy!
MOTHER
Thank goodness I found you! (She hugs him tightly.)
We've got to get out of here before this whole
structure collapses.
YOUNG BOY
Where's daddy?
The Mother gets a far off look in her eye and shakes her
head.
MOTHER
Don't worry about him now, this is neither the time nor
the place to grieve.
The mother holds onto her child tightly and begins running
across the bridge in the same direction the Aide was moving
earlier. Several times, falling pieces of debris threaten
to crush the woman and her child and each time they narrowly
slip past them. Eventually they go through a large archway
and emerge into a plaza where several large, organic
appearing buildings reside with ornate weavings on their
roofs that are beginning to char in the oppressive heat. A
few men dressed in Royal clothing are here and seem to be
fretting before a burning building that has the crest of a
Hawk in flight blazoned across it.
As the woman is running through the plaza, one of the men
turns and sees her.
ROYAL
Lady Verbeia!
The Mother stops and looks to the man. She turns away
several times before she sighs and reluctantly runs over to
him.
ROYAL
The Princess is trapped inside! You have to go in and
save her!
The Mother (Verbeia), blinks in disbelief, then frowns.
MOTHER
There are three of you *standing* here, why do I have
to go in?
ROYAL
You're wasting time, every second you delay is another
second our Princess could be hurt.
MOTHER
(yelled) What about MY safety?!
ROYAL
Your kind owes everything to the Crown, so stop being
selfish and get in there!
MOTHER
(mouthed) My kind... (spoken) You haughty bigot.
ROYAL
Don't make me force you...
The Mother kneels down and puts her child down. She looks
up to the Royal with venom in her eyes.
MOTHER
Watch over my child.
She turns to the boy with a tear in her eye and hugs him one
last time. She turns her head and whispers into his ear.
MOTHER
I love you, don't ever forget that. I never wanted
anything but the best for you. I thought I could find
it here ... but ... I guess I was mistaken.
YOUNG BOY
Mommy?
She begins to stand.
MOTHER
Stay here.
She starts walking into the house.
YOUNG BOY
Mommy! Wait, mommy!
The Young Boy starts to chase after his mother but the Royal
reaches down and grabs him firmly. The boy continues to
struggle.
YOUNG BOY
Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!
The boy continues to yell for several minutes after the
Mother has disappeared into the house. Eventually, he gets
out of breath and begins panting on the ground. There is a
sharp snap and a large portion of the house begins to cave
in, spewing out fire from the cracks and holes. The sound
of the wood snapping and creaking is almost deafening and
the Royals hold their hands to their ears.
A large plume of smoke is expelled from the doorway that the
Mother entered. In the thick haze, we can hear a woman's
cough, then a single shadowy figure emerges from the
doorway. The figure coughs several times before rushing
into the Royals who were standing around the house. The
form resolves into that of Princess Aeka, who's got her hand
to her chest as she tries to get a fresh breath of air into
her lungs.
ROYAL
Princess!
AEKA
That woman ... (she coughs) she got trapped beneath the
wreckage. I couldn't see anything, what happened to
her?
ROYAL
Don't worry about her, the good thing is you're safe.
AEKA
But what-
ROYAL
This shouldn't last much longer now that the Prince is
involved.
AEKA
My brother? Where is he? What is he doing?
ROYAL
He left with Tenchiken to battle the demon.
AEKA
Is anyone with him? Who's protecting Yousho? We have
to get to him!
ROYAL
It's too dangerous m'lady!
Aeka frowns at the Royal and pushes herself away from him,
running from the plaza. As she runs, she calls out to her
bother.
AEKA
YOUSHO! YOUSHO!
The Royals quickly scamper after her, leaving the young boy
behind on the ground, crying. He reaches out to the
building but can't seem to bring up the energy to stand.
YOUNG BOY
Mommy! (he sobs) Mommy!
He peers through tear soaked eyes at the burning wreckage
and frowns angrily. His face slowly fades into that of a
much older man, with the same hair and eyes, and an equally,
if not more so, angry look. There are faint lines of age
across his face making him appear to be in his late forties.
The camera pans back slowly and we see he's wearing a
Royal's robes colored dark green and brown and has long
black leather gloves on his hands. As we continue to pull
back we see he's standing in a long, wide hallway, and there
are char marks and craters in the floor behind him giving
the whole area a generally disheveled look.
The camera pans around and we see that he's staring a large
door with the symbol of a crown across it. A caption
appears across the bottom of the screen again.
CAPTION
Imperial Year 33826
(AD 1997)
He reaches forward slowly and tugs on the handles but they
don't move.
LARAN
(calmly) Zero, break it down.
A woman steps up to his side. She stands about a foot
smaller than the towering Laran, with short but spiky deep
blue hair and a small frock that falls over her left eye. A
series of dark blue streaks run across her cheeks below her
vibrant green eyes. She's wearing a long, tan cloak with a
hood that is currently down. She bows her head sligtly.
ZERO
Yes, my Lord.
Reaching out with one hand she grasps one of the handles
firmly. With a flick of her wrist, the door bends open
revealing a large chamber beyond. Continuing to pull, the
door comes off it's hinges and she tosses the several story
tall piece of wood behind her. She dusts off her hands with
a brief smirk of amusement.
Confidently, Laran strides through the now open doorway with
Zero following close behind. Proceeding through the doorway
ourselves we see that they are in a Throne Room. A long red
carpet stretches from the doorway down a flight of stairs to
a large floor, possibly fifty yards wide and seventy five
yards long, to another, taller staircase leading up to a
platform upon which a large chair sits with two smaller
chairs beside it.
Currently, the floor is filled with about a hundred and
fifty Royal Guards armed with glowing energy weapons.
Behind them are a row of more regal looking individuals who
have glowing, wedge shaped distortions hovering before them.
Finally, behind that row, lies a man with long dark hair and
a beard wearing several extravagant looking robes, with two
women with him, one with long black hair and the other with
vibrant blue, also dressed majestically.
Laran stares at the man in the back.
LARAN
I say for the last time, turn over your Empire to me.
The man in the back, who's currently gritting his teeth with
anger, turns to one of the men in the row in front of him
(GRANS), and nods. Grans nods in return then turns forward.
GRANS
Attack!
The men in the forefront surge forward towards Laran and the
woman with him. Laran, not amused, slowly moves forward
towards the man in the back. Zero quickly jumps to
attention, however, and tosses her cloak over her shoulder
revealing a red and blue bodysuit beneath showing off her
rather curvaceous body. She balls her fist and a long green
energy sword appears around it. She leaps forward and the
approaching soldiers, staying a few steps ahead of Laran as
he advances.
The men, at first, are confidant and furiously rush forward.
They are the first to be dispatched by Zero's agile
swordplay. Those who do manage to bog down Zero enough to
get to Laran encounter a bubble-like field around him,
preventing anyone getting close.
It doesn't take long for most of the men to fail and the
remaining soldiers to pull back around the second line.
Grans, watching the battle with a worried look on his face,
motions to the men beside him. The second line steps
forward and groups together, merging several of their
distortions into one field. A few of the men at the edges
of the group grab their field and transform them into
weapons. A few swords appear as well as a pike and an axe.
Grans himself holds a long broadsword.
Zero jumps forward in front of Laran and charges towards the
men. Her green sword glows brightly as she stabs it into
the middle of the field. After a microsecond of resistance
it slides through effortlessly and stabs a man directly
behind it. The man falls and a hole is opened in the field.
The remaining men quickly break off into pairs, a man with a
field standing before an armed man. They move toward Zero,
who is quickly jumping between battles with the shielded men
and the remaining soldiers. Again, those who make to Laran
encounter a field that impenetrable. There is only a brief
amount of fighting before Laran is standing before the man
in the back with the two women.
Laran speaks softly but purposefully.
LARAN
Call this off now.
Then man, still staring angrily at Laran, opens his mouth
and speaks loudly.
MAN
Grans, call it off!
A man in the thick of the battle screams something and the
men quickly pull away from their respective battles and the
hall goes silent. Zero pushes herself into the air and
flies over to land beside Laran.
LARAN
An excellent decision, Azusa.
AZUSA
That's Emperor Azusa to you.
Laran smiles.
LARAN
Not anymore. You will now announce to the whole of
Jurai, as well as the Galactic Consortium, that I am
now the Emperor, and those who don't obey me, die.
Understand?
AZUSA
You were a respected man, Laran, why did you go and do
this?
LARAN
You'd do better to extend your lifetime if you stop
asking stupid questions and start doing as your Emperor
demands.
AZUSA
The people of this planet will never recognize a leader
tha-Urkkk!
Laran quickly grabs Azusa by the throat and lifts him into
the air. He flails about helplessly as he tries to get
enough air to breathe. Zero suddenly vanishes from where
she was standing and appears behind one of the two women and
holds her energy sword to her neck. Laran looks back to the
guards.
LARAN
If you don't want to see these people die here today,
leave this room at once. Get out, every one of you.
The soldiers look around for orders.
LARAN
NOW!
Shocked by the sudden volume of the subdued Laran, the
soldiers quickly begin filing out of the room. When they
are outside, Laran looks to Zero who releases her hostage
and teleports over to the exit and replaces the broken door.
Feeling Azusa's weakening struggle, Laran releases his hold
on him and the man drops to the ground, heaving. Laran
turns away from the three and takes a few steps onto the
floor.
LARAN
You're a very stubborn man, Azusa, I've known it for a
long time. How your nobles put up with you in council
I'll never understand. You've droned on long enough,
your Highness, its time to step down to the new
generation.
He turns back to face them.
LARAN
Unfortunately, since you've done a wonderful job at
driving away ALL of your heirs, I have no choice but to
replace you. It's terrible, really, how you must have
treated your children for them to have abandoned you,
but it simply shows that your governing skills are
lacking and it's time to step down.
Azusa coughs as he gets back his breath.
AZUSA
You ungrateful refugee. I showed your kind mercy and
allowed them a place in my court, I gave YOU the status
of a noble even though no such blood flows through your
veins. You have the gall to criticize my actions?
LARAN
You gave 'my kind' a chance to serve your unending
stupidity. You gave us a chance to die for you when
you were in danger. You granted the wonderful
prejudice and racism towards us inherent in your
political system without the 'protection' you gave your
wife and son. We were the scum of your 'houses' and
you treated us no better than that. We could have
destroyed you and your people at any time, but we chose
to live lives of pacifism. Well, I've had enough of
it.
AZUSA
If you're so powerful, how could you so recklessly
destroy your home planet, forcing your race into being
homeless bums? How come in the years that followed
your population has dwindled to less than a HUNDRED in
the known galaxy?
LARAN
Even the greatest of us make mistakes.
AZUSA
Yes, mistakes that you should be taking responsibility
for and not blaming us. We did nothing to encourage
your people into destroying themselves.
LARAN
This isn't about my planet or my people off of Jurai.
This is about what goes on here, and what's going to
happen in the future.
AZUSA
Don't flatter yourself, this is about power, plain and
simple. Everyone wants it, and you found yourself a
chance. But you know what? I'll never turn my kingdom
to you. I'll never turn my kingdom to anyone!
The ground below Azusa glows briefly then explodes upwards
in a green liquid that solidifies around him quickly,
forming a large crystal with him inside.
LARAN
Your mistake. (turns) Zero.
Zero looks over from the door and teleports over to her
master.
ZERO
Yes, my Lord?
LARAN
See about making Azusa change his mind.
ZERO
Yes, my Lord.
Zero steps over to the crystal and places her hands on it.
The areas around them glow briefly. The woman with the long
black hair moves over to Laran.
WOMAN
What are you going to do now that you've gotten here?
LARAN
I'm going to rule this Empire as I see fit. I see no
reason to discuss the matter thoroughly with you, Lady
Funaho.
FUNAHO
You don't really believe that you're fooling anyone
with that speech, do you?
LARAN
I have no idea what you mean.
FUNAHO
What is your REAL reason for being here?
LARAN
Even if I did have an ulterior motive, it would do no
good to you now to know it. (looks past Funaho at
Zero) Ready?
Zero removes her hands from the crystal and turns to Laran.
As she moves, her features blur for a moment. When they
clear, she looks identical to Azusa, down to the clothes he
was wearing.
ZERO/AZUSA
Ready, my Lord.
LARAN
Azusa would never say that.
ZERO/AZUSA
I'm sorry, Laran.
LARAN
Ladies Funaho and Misaki, you'll understand if I insist
that you stay quiet for the time being. Oh, and
dispose of that while you're at it Zero.
He turns and heads for the doors as vines snake up from the
ground and hold Funaho and Misaki in place. Zero/Azusa
steps up to the crystal that has Azusa inside and takes a
firm grip on it. Adjusting her grip, she pitches the large
rock straight up through the ceiling of the throne room, out
into the sky and into space.
The camera follows the rock as it exits the atmosphere and
continues with it as is streaks across space. The titles
fade onto the screen periodically.
FULL CIRCLE
The Series
By Adam Leigh
Final Episode: 'A Love Eternal Lasting'
The camera slows and lets the rock move ahead. When the
stone is little more than a speck in the distance, the
camera pivots and shows the Earth. The camera pans in very
slowly.
Cut to shows the exterior of the Masaki household. Azaka
and Kamidake are standing at the perimeter of the property,
framing a path that leads into the woods and up to the
Shrine. It appears that they've been there for a little
while now because a bird's nest is now prominently displayed
on Azaka's head.
A slight rumbling is heard, then one of the windows on the
right hand side of the screen opens and gray smoke comes
pouring out and up into the sky.
MIHOSHI (O.S.)
Aiiyeeeee!
Cut to the living room/dining room/den of the house. A thin
stream of smoke is coming from the sides of the door and
through the shutters on the window into the kitchen. The
door slides open suddenly and Mihoshi comes stumbling out
into the room coughing up a storm. Inside the kitchen is a
thick layer of smoke, making it impossible to see in.
Tenchi comes running down from upstairs to see the smoke
drifting into the room.
TENCHI
What happened?
MIHOSHI
I was trying to cook some lunch, but then there was all
this smoke and things got really dark and something ran
into me in the smoke and I didn't know who it was so I
hit them and then I came out here into the living room
but the smoke isn't going away.
She breathes.
TENCHI
I thought you were giving up on cooking.
ADAM (O.S.)
My fault! (he coughs loudly)
Adam comes walking out of the kitchen holding a smoking fry
pan and sporting a nice red mark on his left cheek in the
shape of a hand. He walks over to Tenchi and Mihoshi.
ADAM
I thought I could help her make something that wouldn't
explode. Things kind of got out of hand anyway
though...
TENCHI
Are you two okay?
ADAM
Oh yeah, no harm done. Well, maybe all this smoke, but
nothing a little breeze can't take care of.
He waves his hand over the pan, disbursing the smoke. He
reaches in the pan and pulls out a small black piece of food
and smiles unevenly.
ADAM
Stir-fried ... Uhm, charred carrots anyone?
Tenchi laughs.
Cut to the Shrine. Kiyonne is standing in front of the
central house wearing a sweatshirt and pants and sweeping on
the ground. She pauses for a moment and wipes the sweat
from her brow.
KIYONNE
Whew...
She turns and looks at the house. The camera pans slightly
up to show Ryouko lounging on the roof with sunglasses on.
KIYONNE
Think you might want to do something to help out at
all?
RYOUKO
(lifts the glasses) Nope.
Kiyonne frowns.
KIYONNE
Don't you do anything productive around here?
RYOUKO
Relax, Kiyonne. The sun is out again, the weather is
getting warmer, it's a great day to just lounge around
and take in some sun.
KIYONNE
(nonplussed) Uh-huh. And before it was too cold to do
any work like shoveling the porch or stairway, and of
course, before that you were far too tired.
RYOUKO
Hm... good point. Every day is a good day to lounge
around.
She lays back down and pushes her sunglasses in place.
RYOUKO
If you're so concerned about work, why don't you scare
up that partner of yours. She seems like a worker.
KIYONNE
Oh, she's a worker all right. She just never
accomplishes what she's working at.
RYOUKO
Funny, that one is.
KIYONNE
No, not funny. Depressing.
RYOUKO
Heh.
Cut to Washuu's laboratory. She's standing before a large
machine that stands roughly twenty feet tall and has a
slightly conical shape to it. Various wires and cables hang
from the sides and a large device that looks like an eye
hangs from one side looking over the unit's only control
panel. We recognize it as the machine from the Time and
Space Adventures. Washuu approaches it slowly.
WASHUU
This thing sure was a bust. I'm not sure I really want
to salvage it. Oh-hum, another failure.
She raises her arms and the device is slowly consumed by the
darkness.
WASHUU
I just wish I could figure out how to reverse it's
effects.
She turns from the area the machine once stood and walks
through a doorway that appeared as she got near. On the
other side is a large sqaure room with a wooden floor and
large paper walls. A closed door stands in the middle of
the room with no frame, nor a matching wall for it to allow
entrance to. To the side in front of the door is a large
pillow before one of Washuu's holographic terminals that
seems to be active even through she isn't at it. The door
that she just came from, on the wall to the left of the
door, closes and disappears as she moves towards the
terminal.
When she reaches the terminal, she sits on the pillow that
immediately rises to provide the perfect typing height and
starts tapping on the lower holographic screen. Several
images come up depicting what can only be described as vital
statistics on a person. A screen comes up that is
monitoring the heart rate, blood pressure, and brain
activity of the person, and lists current organ statuses.
Washuu taps a few more buttons and a picture comes up
showing a room in the house. A futon is laid out on the
ground and has Sasami lying in it while Aeka, looking rather
haggard watches with a bucket nearby and a wash cloth
resting on the rim.
The camera pans in towards the image until it has entered it
and is now in the room that it was showing. Now that the
camera is closer, we can see that Sasami has a painful look
on her face and has several beads of sweat on her brow.
Aeka reaches down with a zombie-like look and picks up the
washcloth. Wetting it with the water in the bucket, she
brings it to Sasami's brow and wipes it gently. Sasami
turns and groans in reponse.
The camera turns towards Sasami now, panning closer and
closer towards her closed eyes. Then, just before the
camera is threatening to hit the young girl, she gasps
loudly and her eyes open, displaying a bright bluish light
that blinds the camera.
When the light fades we see an endless sea that is deep blue
and perfectly clear. The camera pans backwards and we see
Sasami is standing on the surface of the water, tiny ripples
extending from where she stands, and is looking around
cautiously. The sky is reddish with the light of a setting
sun and the stars above are just beginning to poke though.
SASAMI
Where am I?
A voice drifts over as if carried by the morning mist and
nearly as soft.
VOICE
The ... beginning.
SASAMI
The beginning of what?
VOICE
Life.
Sasami blinks and glances around again.
SASAMI
Life on Earth?
VOICE
Life ... everywhere.
SASAMI
Who are you?
VOICE
Tsunami.
SASAMI
The Royal Tree?
TSUNAMI
Tree ... of ... life.
SASAMI
Why are you talking to me?
TSUNAMI
I ... am ... trapped.
SASAMI
Trapped?
TSUNAMI
Cannot ... explain ... further ... unless...
SASAMI
Unless what?
TSUNAMI
You ... must ... remember.
SASAMI
Remember what?
TSUNAMI
Us...
Sasami is silent for a moment.
SASAMI
Us?
A wind picks up suddenly, tossing Sasami's hair about her,
breaking from her ties at either side of her head and
whipping wildly up into the air. The camera is suddenly
carried off with the wind over the water. With each second
it's speed triples before it turns around and runs straight
into Sasami who can only gasp before she is struck.
Cut to an above view as Sasami pitches backwards like a log
and falls backwards into the water. This time she breaks
through the surface and begins sinking into the depths
below, which are suddenly much darker than before. She
sinks without moving and the camera follows at her side for
a second. We hear a distant heart beat.
The beat continues as we cut to Jurai, again during Ryouko's
attack. We see a young Sasami walking down a long hallway.
The ground rumbles every so often and it throws off her pace
but eventually she makes her way to a pair of large doors
that seems to be composed of old dried vines. She pushes
open the doors and is suddenly standing on a long walkway
above a tiered garden of trees that have leaves so vibrant
green that it seems like they're glowing. We hear whispers
of words being spoken but we cannot tell what they are
saying.
SASAMI
Oh ... hello. (pause) I'm Sasami.
She begins walking down the walkway. To either side of the
walk way are long overhangs that ramp down and away from the
path. A constant stream of water blankets these overhangs
then falls below making it look like it's raining on the
lower tiers. Sasmai giggles as she watches.
SASAMI
I see. (pause) Doesn't that bother you? I think it
would bother me. (pause) Oh, okay.
The room rumbles slightly and Sasami looses her balance and
falls on the path. She lets out a slight grunt as she
pushes herself up again.
SASAMI
There's lots of fighting outside. (pause) I don't like
it either, people are getting hurt. (pause) What do
you mean?
Sasami stops walking and looks over the railing and down.
SASAMI
What do I want to see? Well ... what I want is-
The room rumbles again but much more violently this time.
She slips and falls under the railing onto the overhang.
She starts screaming as she slides down with the water and
finally is thrust out over the garden. Time slows for a
moment as gravity takes a hold of her and starts to pull her
down. Time resumes it's pace as she plummets down into the
gardens beyond the range of the camera. A sick thud is
heard and the heart beat gets louder but less regular.
Cut to the floor of the garder, which is a large floor with
a single huge tree and a pool around it. Sasami is lying at
the edge of the pool, her body surrounded in blood. She
isn't moving. The heartbeat slows.
The sound of leaves rustling is heard and it gets louder
with each moment. The camera pans back and up to see
hundreds of limbs of trees, growing on their own, reaching
down to the bottom of the garden. All the other trees join
their stretching branches together to form a single long
stalk that touches the floor just behind Sasami. The end
then snakes out and spreads into a thousand twigs and gently
lifts Sasami into it's nest. They then move towards the
large tree at the bottom, carrying her towards the large
pool. They stop when they are over the water, before the
central tree.
A soft noise that sounds like birth of a new day fades in as
a shadowy woman with long blue hair and wearing robes of
light colors appears, standing in the nest next to Sasami.
We recognize her as the human form of Tsunami. She looks
sad as she bends down and touches the body of Sasami. She
retracts her hand immediately after making contact. The
heartbeat stops. Sasami's body glows for a moment then a
ghostly image of her climbs out of the boy. The two
specters look at each other and a keen eye will notice their
resemblance.
SASAMI
Where are all the sounds coming from?
TSUNAMI
They're coming from everything. The trees, the water,
the ground, the stars above.
SASAMI
It's very loud.
TSUNAMI
It's the music of existence.
Sasami looks down.
SASAMI
What happened?
TSUNAMI
You got hurt.
SASAMI
Am I okay?
TSUNAMI
You can be, if you want. I can imbue life into your
body again.
SASAMI
What's 'imbue'?
TSUNAMI
It means I can make you live again. But after I do
that, I would to ask a favor of you.
SASAMI
Trade?
TSUNAMI
No, I'll give you back life no matter what.
SASAMI
Why?
TSUNAMI
Because you're a kind young girl and you deserve to
live.
SASAMI
Oh, thank you. Um... okay, I'll do it.
TSUNAMI
Do what?
SASAMI
I'll do a favor. You're very nice too.
TSUNAMI
Thank you, Sasami of Jurai. When you wake up, you'll
forget this happened, but someday, when you're older,
we'll become one.
SASAMI
One?
TSUNAMI
I want to see the world as a person and I need to be
joined with someone to do that. That is the favor I
ask of you, to join with you someday.
SASAMI
Okay.
TSUNAMI
Until that day, I'll give you this, a mark of my
protection over you, and of your promise to help me,
one day in the future.
Tsunami bends down and kisses Sasami's forehead. A moment
afterwards, a small mark that looks like a pair of similar
right triangles appear in the center of her forehead.
Sasami giggles.
SASAMI
That tickled.
TSUNAMI
Now, go to sleep, Sasami. Awake again in the world of
life.
Tsunami waves her hand over the ghost Sasami and she
disappears. Tsunami then closes her eyes and the trees
beneath her open up and they fall into the pool below. The
water glows a bright white that encompasses the whole view
of the camera.
When the white fades, we're back in the endless ocean. The
older Sasami is lying on her back on top of the gently
drifting waves. Her eyes open slowly, then she rolls onto
her stomach and is about to stand when she sees the
reflection in the water. Tsunami is in the reflection,
standing over Sasami's reflection. Startled, Sasami turns
back around and sees Tsunami suddenly standing there.
Tsunami reaches out a hand and Sasami takes it, being lifted
to her feet.
TSUNAMI
You remember me.
SASAMI
I - I didn't remember at all.
TSUNAMI
You weren't supposed to.
SASAMI
It makes sense now, though. Like when Tenchi was in
trouble and I ran to Funaho for help but I blacked out
... I wasn't, I was with you.
TSUNAMI
That's right. You were panicking and were about to do
something rash, so I helped you.
SASAMI
Is it time ... for us to ... join?
TSUNAMI
(nods) Yes. But it has come much sooner than I
expected.
SASAMI
What's wrong?
TSUNAMI
You are injured, your life is in danger.
SASAMI
It is?
TSUNAMI
Yes. I do not know how to accurately describe it, but
it is similar to an infection. Something has poisoned
your spirit and I am unaware of how to effectively
combat it. For now, I have slowed it's progress, but
it is strong, and it will soon break free of my grasp.
SASAMI
How much time do I have?
TSUNAMI
Five earth days, however, you will not be conscious for
all of it.
SASAMI
What do I have to do?
TSUNAMI
I need you to come to me so we can join.
SASAMI
To Jurai?
TSUNAMI
Yes. Until you arrive, I will try to keep back the
poison from here. During that time I cannot protect
you or Tenchi otherwise. You must be careful.
SASAMI
But what-
TSUNAMI
I'm sorry, there isn't time.
She reaches out and touches Sasami on the forehead before
she can say another word. At the moment her finger makes
contact with Sasami's skin, everything shatters away and
leaves behind the quiet, darkened room in the Masaki
household. She takes a deep breath, as if it's the first
she's taken in days, and then coughs hoarsely as she tries
to get up.
Hands reach out and grab her shoulders and she struggles
against for a few moments.
AEKA (O.S.)
Sasami! Calm down!
Sasami looks up at the origin of the hands, sees Aeka
kneeling above her, and breathes a sigh of relief, before
quickly choking on that breath as well.
AEKA
Lord Tenchi! Miss Washuu! Come quick!
Cut to the living room some hours later. Sasami is sitting
in a large chair with her eyes closed, apparently sleeping.
She has a blanket wrapped around her that moves slightly
with each of her breaths. Tenchi and Aeka are standing to
either side of her while Washuu sits on the couch, sitting
on her holographic terminal.
TENCHI
I think she's gone off to sleep again.
AEKA
This must be very rough on her. (beat) What do you
think, Miss Washuu?
WASHUU
I'm not sure I can scientifically verify the poisoning
of her spirit, but there is definitely some sort of
battle going on in her body that is periodically making
her a bit healthier then a bit sicker.
TENCHI
Is she... is she really in trouble?
WASHUU
Like, I said, I can't tell what's wrong, but from the
effects I can see... well, she won't last long against
it. I think five days was being generous.
AEKA
No!
TENCHI
Calm down, Aeka.
AEKA
There must be something you can do for her!
WASHUU
There's nothing I can do to help. I'd put her into
suspended animation, but I'm not even sure that would
help. No, I think her best option right now is to do
like she said, take her to Jurai and hope that Tsunami
has some idea of how to help her.
AEKA
But you heard what the price of that was! She's going
to replace my sister!
WASHUU
Now, that's not what she said...
AEKA
But what if that's what she meant?
TENCHI
Aeka. (beat) Do you really think that Tsunami wants to
hurt Sasami in any way?
AEKA
But ... but, she won't be my sister anymore.
TENCHI
You don't know that for sure, and if we don't bring her
to Tsunami, she'll die for sure. I know I don't want
to see that happen, Sasami is very important to me.
AEKA
Lord Tenchi...
TENCHI
And I've met Tsunami before, she's never do such a
thing to Sasami.
Aeka seems on the verge of crying.
AEKA
I - I don't want to make these choices... (she starts
to cry) I want to save my sister; she means the world
to me. But... I--I don't know what's going to happen
if I return to Jurai with her.
She turns to Tenchi and cries onto his shoulder. He
hesitantly holds her.
TENCHI
What's going to happen if you go back?
AEKA
It's ... my father. He wants to prepare me to be
Empress.
TENCHI
(Awe) Empress... (beat) But isn't that what you wanted?
Don't you want to rule Jurai someday.
AEKA
No! Well... yes, but... I don't know. I'm not ready.
TENCHI
Is he ready to step down already?
AEKA
Not for probably years now.
TENCHI
Then you don't have to be ready yet, you've got lots of
time to prepare
yourself.
AEKA
(she shakes her head against his shoulder) You don't
know what it's like.
TENCHI
No... I probably can't imagine. (he pushes her back a
bit to look at her face) But I know that you're one of
the most resilient women I know. If there is any
hardship ahead, you're the one who'd be able to handle
it the best.
AEKA
Tenchi...
TENCHI
You don't need to cry. Sasami will be all right and so
will you.
Aeka sniffles once then tries to compose herself again.
AEKA
I - I guess it would be nice to see Mother again. From
her perspective it's been over seven hundred years now,
I suppose.
TENCHI
I'd like to meet her too.
AEKA
You'd come with me?
TENCHI
Of course, I'd love to see this Jurai everyone's been
talking about.
He chuckles.
AEKA
I'm sure you'll love it. It's very beautiful ... and
I'm sure Mother and Funaho will be thrilled. Oh!
We're going to have to get you proper clothes! I have
some things of Yousho's, maybe you'll fit into them.
I'm going to have to pack! I wonder what I should get
for Sasami, she ...
She trails off as she looks down at Sasami again.
TENCHI
It's okay, I'll watch over her, you can get your things
together.
AEKA
I don't really want to leave her.
TENCHI
I know, and it hasn't done you much good. I'll get you
if she wakes up again.
AEKA
Um. Okay, Tenchi.
She reluctantly starts up the stairs and disappears around
the corner. Tenchi watches her go, then sighs when she's
gone. Washuu walks up to him.
WASHUU
That was rather strong of you.
TENCHI
I was just trying to make her feel better.
WASHUU
I think that did the job, at least for now.
TENCHI
I don't understand what's wrong with going to Jurai. I
thought everything was okay on the planet.
WASHUU
The current Royalty of Jurai runs back a long ways.
They are incredible leaders, but have the worst family
life.
TENCHI
Why?
WASHUU
Being the leaders of at least half of the explored
galaxy is a rough job. I don't believe an Emperor has
passed yet without a huge debacle regarding his
successor.
TENCHI
Shouldn't it just be the oldest living descendant.
WASHUU
Perhaps that would make things easier for them. But
half of the time, there aren't any direct, legitimate
children of the Emperor available to take over. Then
add to that the fact that almost all of the Royal
Houses on the Emperor's consul have blood lineage tying
back to the Emperor and you have what can only be
described as a political war for the throne. The
Imperial Wives of the Emperor don't often help in this
feud either.
TENCHI
(blinks) Wives?
WASHUU
That's right.
TENCHI
As in more than one?
WASHUU
(laughs) All of those in the Royal Houses have two
wives.
Tenchi blinks then gets this deer-in-the-headlights look to
him and gazes off for a moment. Washuu reaches up and gives
him a light slap in the check.
WASHUU
Hentai.
She turns and starts walking away.
TENCHI
Where are you going?
WASHUU
We'll have to secure a ship if we're going to leave the
planet.
Cut to the Shrine. Kiyonne, Mihoshi are sitting on the top
of the steps looking down at the lake and the setting sun.
They appear to be beat, and Ryouko comes up behind them
holding three cans of some beverage. She drops a can each
in Mihoshi and Kiyonne's lap then sits down beside them with
her own can.
RYOUKO
Well, that was some tough work we did, wasn't it?
MIHOSHI
Yeah.
KIYONNE
What are you talking about? WE? You didn't do
anything.
RYOUKO
I coached you on; it was tough work.
KIYONNE
We could have managed without it.
RYOUKO
Well, see if I offer my encouragement services next
time.
Kiyonne shakes her head and looks down at the lake.
KIYONNE
This is quite a nice planet. I'd heard rumors but,
well, I didn't think there were many places that could
compare with Jurai in looks.
MIHOSHI
Isn't it beautiful, Kiyonne?
KIYONNE
I believe that was what I was saying, yes.
RYOUKO
Ahh, Jurai was a dump, this place is much better.
KIYONNE
Maybe it was when you were through with it, but these
days it's magnificent.
RYOUKO
It wasn't so hot before I showed up either.
KIYONNE
You've probably never seen the new Royal Gardens or the
Paal Cathedral. Was the Silver Ring even up seven
hundred years ago?
RYOUKO
The Silver Ring has been around for thousands of years.
I've seen it, not impressed.
KIYONNE
What makes this place so much better, then?
RYOUKO
It's...
She looks down to the valley below and raises her eyebrows.
KIYONNE
Yes?
RYOUKO
It's Earth.
KIYONNE
It's A031X-3, according to GP records.
RYOUKO
Maybe working for the Galaxy Police has turned your
heart as cold as that pithy designation. All of the
planets are just serial numbers until you come down and
live on one.
KIYONNE
I'm still waiting for an explanation.
RYOUKO
What do you want me to say? It just seems more alive.
Sure, Jurai has taller trees and their structures are
larger, but, they're dead compared to here. On Earth,
people are so proud of what they've done. When they
build something they think they're turning lead into
gold and are so happy when it's done. On Jurai... it's
expected of them to have the things they do. There's
no emotion in it.
KIYONNE
(doubtful) And that makes this place more beautiful?
RYOUKO
Sure.
KIYONNE
(raises an eyebrow) Why don't you just say 'Because
Tenchi is here' and get it over with.
RYOUKO
(frowns) What?
KIYONNE
Oh, come one, I've only been here for a week and even
I've seen how you drool around him. You like this
planet because it's his home.
RYOUKO
Tenchi has nothing to do with this. Jurai simply
doesn't stand up.
KIYONNE
(grins evilly) Sure he doesn't.
Ryouko stands.
RYOUKO
You know-
RYO-OHKI (O.S.)
Myaaa!
Ryouko glances down and sees Ryo-ohki at her feet.
RYOUKO
What is it, Ryo-ohki?
RYO-OHKI
Myaa, Myaaaa! Mya!
She turns and hops down a couple steps then turns back to
Ryouko again.
RYO-OHKI
Myaa!
KIYONNE
What's going on?
RYOUKO
I dunno... I guess something is going on at the house.
MIHOSHI
Maybe Sasami woke up?
KIYONNE
Good point, lets check it out.
Kiyonne and Mihoshi get up and start down the stairs while
Ryouko pushes off into the air and starts flying down to the
house.
Cut to show the side of the staircase in the house. The
door to Washuu's lab is center screen. It opens inward,
disappearing into the blackness, as Adam walks out into the
house holding some papers in his hands. The camera pans to
show Tenchi and Aeka in the living room watching Sasami
sleep.
ADAM
I've got the most recent data on Sasami here.
AEKA
How does it look?
ADAM
(shakes his head) I'm sorry. The computers predict
that, at the current rate of deterioration, she has
about a hundred and fifteen hours left before final
system collapse. How it figured that out, I'm not even
remotely sure, but that's what it says.
Aeka gets an even more worried look on her face. Adam's
face falls and he glances around the room nervously. He
notices the large wooden cases behind Aeka and Sasami's
chairs.
ADAM
Is something going on?
TENCHI
We're going to go to Jurai and bring her to Tsunami.
ADAM
Tsunami? That big ship we saw from the Souja?
TENCHI
(blinks) You never met Tsunami?
ADAM
(shakes his head) No, why?
TENCHI
Tsunami is the most powerful tree on Jurai. All of the
other trees and ships are descended from her.
ADAM
Oh, so, like Ryo-oh and Funaho are just children of
this larger tree?
AEKA
Yes. Tsunami is the tree of life, and is the source of
all the power on Jurai.
ADAM
Okay, I remember something about this now. I guess I
never got the whole story after that Kagato incident.
(beat) So we're going to Jurai?
TENCHI
Yup. We need to leave right away in order to save
Sasami.
ADAM
I guess I should back then, is it a long flight?
AEKA
It shouldn't take very long. Juraiian ships can
usually make it in two days.
ADAM
You mean they can do a comparable distance in two days.
AEKA
No, I mean they usually make it from Earth to Jurai in
two days.
ADAM
(blinks) How many times have Juraiian's visited Earth
anyway?
AEKA
The last I heard, father had emissaries working with
several of the dominant governments on Earth.
ADAM
W-whu-what? Jurai has been working WITH people from
Earth?
AEKA
For a long time now.
ADAM
How come ... why didn't ... how is it...
AEKA
You're babbling.
ADAM
I never heard this! You must be joking!
AEKA
I'm doing no such thing. It's not exactly common
knowledge either. Even those on Jurai scarcely know
it. They've probably guessed it by now, what with my
father's Earth born wife.
ADAM
Your mother was from Earth?
AEKA
No, not my mother, my father's other wife.
ADAM
Other wife? Like, divorced or something?
TENCHI
Nope, Juraiian royalty apparently all have two wives.
(beat) At once.
AEKA
I suppose it's a bit different here.
ADAM
Oh, a *bit*. (shakes his head) By the way, where's
Washuu?
TENCHI
I thought she was with you.
ADAM
No...
TENCHI
She went back into her door.
ADAM
You've never been through that door, have you? You
could put the entire population of Japan in there and
still think you're alone.
TENCHI
Well, that's where she went, said she was going to get
a ship.
ADAM
Doesn't Ryo-ohki still fly?
TENCHI
I dunno.
Adam shrugs.
ADAM
I guess I'll -
A high pitched whine starts. Adam winces at the sound.
ADAM
Ugh.
TENCHI
What's wrong?
ADAM
Where is that sound coming from?
The whine grows in volume.
TENCHI
What sound?
ADAM
What do you mean, what sound, the loud one going on
right now.
TENCHI
I don't hear...
The sound totally eclipses Tenchi's voice, and anyone elses
voice for that matter. A second later, there's a sudden
flash of light and we cut to see a ship speeding through
space, a large crystal crashing into a large metal space
station, a man with a scowl grabbing Aeka's neck, a shadowy
figure igniting an energy sword, and finally Tenchi backing
away as someone cuts him down with that energy sword. All
of the scenes play back in quarter second flashes before,
all at once, the light and sound go completely away and we
see Adam, standing in the room again, with Tenchi and Aeka
looking at him sympathetically.
Adam blinks.
TENCHI
Are you okay?
ADAM
I - I don't know... was that...
AEKA
Maybe you should lie down.
TENCHI
Perhaps all that smoke from this morning is getting to
you.
ADAM
It was weird... so vivid, but I can't remember much.
TENCHI
Maybe you should examine yourself in that machine in
Washuu's lab.
ADAM
No... I'm okay now... I just, I just got this sinking
feeling about going to Jurai. I don't think we should
go.
AEKA
We have to go!
ADAM
I don't think it's safe.
AEKA
I am not about to let my sister die!
ADAM
We may all die if we go!
AEKA
You just got a bad feeling, what does that prove?
ADAM
I don't know, I've never felt this way before. I don't
know what it means.
AEKA
You don't have to come.
ADAM
Will you stop being so damned conclusive and listen to
me for a second? You're right, we need to help Sasami.
I'm sure even if we faced almost certain death if we
went you'd still want to know, I'd feel the same way if
it was my sister, but I'm saying that we should
exercise a little caution. I just have this feeling
that if we leave for Jurai, something is going to
happen.
WASHUU (O.S.)
It happened again, didn't it?
Adam turns abruptly to see Washuu standing by the door to
her lab.
ADAM
What?
WASHUU
You got a feeling again for Tenchi's safety, right?
ADAM
Something like that... wait, again?
TENCHI
Again, Miss Washuu?
WASHUU
Do you remember when that happened last? When we were
on the roof just a couple of days ago?
ADAM
I remember being on the roof ... no, I've never had
this happen to me before.
WASHUU
Yes, you did. When we were on the roof you clutched
your head and said that somebody was coming for Tenchi.
TENCHI
What?
ADAM
I don't remember that at all, are you sure you're
remembering things correctly.
WASHUU
Yes, I'm positive. (she sighs and look saddened) I was
afraid this was going to happen.
ADAM
Damn it, what's going on?
WASHUU
Its... it was the machine.
ADAM
What machine?
WASHUU
The Multidimensional Time and Space Manipulator.
ADAM
What about it?
WASHUU
You and I were the only ones at the nexus of the
distortion. I know I can survive it without problems,
but ... I wasn't sure about you. I thought, after a
while inside, when I saw no side effects, that humans
were able to withstand it. But...
ADAM
What are you saying? That something is wrong with me?
WASHUU
The control matrix was constantly manipulating
dimensions around us, and some of the effects bleed
into the nexus. Various fabricated realities were
trying to write themselves into your brain the whole
time we were in there. The conflicting memories are at
first, edited out, but after a while... there's some
synaptic damage.
ADAM
Synaptic damage? BRAIN damage?
WASHUU
It's possible that you're suffering from some lingering
effects of the nexus. Whether the effects are
temporary or permanent, I'm not sure.
ADAM
So, I might just be forgetting things forever or just
for a while? And you never thought about telling me?
WASHUU
I thought you were okay, I've only been worrying about
it recently. I guess my concerns were justified.
ADAM
You're damned right they're justified! It could have
been much worse!
WASHUU
Well... actually, it will get worse.
ADAM
WHAT?
WASHUU
Whether it's temporary or permanent, it'll get worse
before it gets better.
ADAM
(gratingly) How worse?
WASHUU
(quietly) Much worse.
ADAM
I can't believe this! I'm going to be a goddamned
invalid!
TENCHI
Adam, calm down.
Adam turns and storms out of the house. Washuu is shaking
as she watches him leave. When he's gone she turns to the
others.
WASHUU
W-well, he took that well.
She turns and shudders as she goes though the doorway into
her lab. Tenchi looks to Aeka.
TENCHI
I wonder if things like this wait so that they happen
all at once or if it's just coincidence.
AEKA
Maybe Tsunami can do something for him after we take
care of Sasami.
TENCHI
Maybe...
He trails off, then turns to look at Sasami.
Cut to the outside of the Masaki house facing the lake.
Adam stomps out of the house and heads off down the road.
Ryouko flies down and pauses for a moment when she sees
Adam.
TENCHI (V.O.)
Telling the others about what was happening was
slightly less aggravating. They were all eager to help
Sasami, and had few qualms about going to Jurai, with
the exception of Ryouko of course, but once she was
sufficiently assured that no one would try to kill her
for her attack on Jurai, she reluctantly agreed to
help.
She shrugs and disappears as she nears the house. Shortly
afterwards, we see Ryo-ohki, Kiyonne and Mihoshi get to the
foot of the steps. They turn towards the house and start
walking briskly in that direction.
TENCHI (V.O.)
Kiyonne and Mihoshi wanted to come, but even they
couldn't go chasing around the cosmos whenever they
wanted. Actually, Mihoshi wouldn't think twice about
it, but with Kiyonne around now, she kept her from
forgetting her duties.
Cut to the inside of the living room again. Tenchi, Aeka,
Sasami, and Ryouko are there and Kiyonne and Mihoshi walks
in shortly after. Ryo-ohki is with them and she turns and
hops towards Washuu's door. The door opens briefly and the
little cabbit is pulled in. Turning back to the group, we
can see Aeka and Tenchi explaining something, but the sound
has been muted out.
TENCHI (V.O.)
We didn't see Adam again until the next day, he'd
claimed he was off thinking while he still could, and
only saw Washuu sparingly to set a precise time to
leave. They obviously hadn't seen each other during
that time because by the time we were ready to leave,
they were still being rather standoffish.
Cut to the side of the lake where the whole gang has
gathered. They're standing generally like this: Aeka Sasami
Tenchi Ryouko Mihoshi Washuu Kiyonne. A fair amount of
luggage is here, mostly thanks to Aeka, but Tenchi and Adam
each have a bag as well. They're all staring at Washuu,
who's typing at her holographic terminal.
TENCHI
Um... awkward time to ask, but, how are getting to
Jurai now?
WASHUU
Just be patient, I'm just getting to that. (beat) Ah,
done! Ladies and Gentlemen, BEHOLD!
Washuu raises her arms as a large black portal appears over
the lake and a large grey ship rises from it. Everyone
watches in awe for several seconds before Ryouko frowns.
RYOUKO
Ryo-ohki?
The large ship turns towards Ryouko.
RYO-OHKI
Myaaa!
SASAMI
It is! It is Ryo-ohki!
AEKA
But... she looks a bit different than usual.
WASHUU
(grins evily) Heh. That's because I've upgraded her.
She's the Ryo-ohki Mark 2 now!
ADAM
Can you just ... do that, to a living thing?
WASHUU
I can do it to anything if I have the time!
ADAM
(deadpan) Wonderful...
SASAMI
Are you okay up there, Ryo-ohki?
RYO-OHKI
Myaa!
WASHUU
She's fine, of course! She looks exactly the same in
animal form, but I've upgraded her ship design to
implement more speed and better maneuverability. Heh,
not to mention a few 'extra' features. But you're not
going to get any secrets out of me.
KIYONNE
(points) That big gun on the front wouldn't happen to
be one of them?
WASHUU
(sheepishly) One of them, maybe...
AEKA
Lets get going.
TENCHI
Right.
RYOUKO
Ryo-ohki! We're ready to head out!
A large red light shines down over the whole group. Kiyonne
grabs Mihoshi when she realizes what's happening and walks
out of the red circle. The others are swiftly lifted into
the air, luggage and all, and are pulled up into the ship.
The red light retracts behind them. Kiyonne and Mihoshi
wave to the ship as it starts ascending into orbit.
MIHOSHI
Goodbye everybody! Come back soon!
KIYONNE
(softly) Good luck.
Cut to space as Ryo-ohki flies past leaving a brief gray
wake.
Cut to the inside of the ship. Much different from the
single large room with a chair and a pair of control orbs it
used to be, the bridge is now tiered with a couple of seats
before jutting control screens and panels, all tilted at an
angle to watch the 'front' of the bridge and to better face
the central control station in the center of the room.
While most of the panels are plain with elaborate controls
on the tiers, the central chair is elevated, has a circle of
controls around it, and has a dome of holographic displays
on top. Washuu is currently sitting in this chair while the
rest of the gang is sitting at various stations below but
there is obviously room for more. The 'front' of the room
has a screen from floor to ceiling, which is now showing
stars as they streak past the ship.
Tenchi looks around from his station.
TENCHI
Wow, Washuu, this is quite different. I'm impressed.
RYOUKO
Eh, it seems a little complicated all of a sudden.
ADAM
Do you really NEED all these controls? Before all you
had was a pilots seat.
WASHUU
Well, of COURSE it can all still be run from here, but
the rest makes it look cool.
Several people on the bridge sweatdrop.
AEKA
How long will it take us to get there?
Washuu taps on her control circle and a section of the
screen turns gray then displays a clock counting back from
31 hours.
WASHUU
About thirty-one hours, give or take a few minutes or a
few hours if we have to stop somewhere.
TENCHI
Why would we have to stop?
WASHUU
Um... (she laughs nervously) I forgot to bring food.
TENCHI
(sighs) We can probably turn back, we haven't gone very
far yet--
AEKA
We'll be able to manage, I'm sure. (she turns towards
her screen) Is there anyway I can send a message to
Jurai, Washuu? So I can tell my father and mother to
expect us?
WASHUU
There is Inverse transceiver there, you should be able
to access it to contact the Royal House.
AEKA
Okay.
ADAM
A *what* transceiver?
WASHUU
An Inverse transceiver.
ADAM
What does inverting a transceiver do?
WASHUU
It's not an inverted transceiver, it's a transceiver
that can send messages through the Inverse.
ADAM
Okay, lost me again.
WASHUU
It's really simple, actually. There are two sides to
the Universe, the Outverse, where we exist and live
normally, and the Inverse, where our shadows exist.
The Inverse is a separate dimension but it matches this
one almost entirely except that everything is inverted.
Things act strangely there, opposite what you'd expect.
Therefore, a fast transmission here, such as sub-matter
waves, is incredibly slow in the Inverse while a
normally slow transmission here, radio, moves
incredibly fast in the Inverse. So an Inverse
transmitter creates a signal, moves it to the Inverse,
transmits it, then recieves the response, and moves
back to the Outverse.
ADAM
So this Inverse transceiver goes and talks in the
Inverse and some other transceiver really far away
receives it and brings it back to reality?
WASHUU
Well, it doesn't actually use audible sound, there are
some exceptions in the Inverse world, or more likely
it's not correctly understood what the opposite of one
thing is. You can actually talk normally to people in
the Inverse, and it's not dark there when it's light
here, and the air is still nitrogen-oxygen and not
something crazy like carbon-boron, but at least for the
Inverse transceiver, some things are what we expect.
ADAM
Odd.
WASHUU
It is the Inverse...
AEKA
Arrghhhhh! I can't seem to reach the royal house!
TENCHI
What's wrong?
AEKA
I can get Jurai, but when I ask for my father they
start deferring me to other places. It's like they're
purposefully delaying my call! I'm a princess, I
shouldn't have to put up with this!
TENCHI
I'm sure they're not doing it on purpose, Aeka.
They're just probably confused or something.
AEKA
I have never had this problem before.
RYOUKO
Maybe you've been gone so long they think you're dead,
your highness. You must be scaring some weak willed
switchboard operators with your ghostly voice.
AEKA
(growls) RYOUKO!
WASHUU
Hm... (she types) There does seem to be something
wrong, I can't seem to contact the direct line, either.
AEKA
There's a direct line to my parents?
WASHUU
Um.. well... yes.
AEKA
How come I don't know about it?
WASHUU
Hm... I can't seem to contact anyone suddenly... Oh! I
got it.
TENCHI
What's wrong?
WASHUU
We just came under the affect of Solgran, one of the
largest suns in our galaxy. We'll be feeling the
effects of it's gravitational energies for a while now.
TENCHI
What does that mean?
WASHUU
The intense gravity of a nearby star causes the Inverse
transceiver to jam. Once we leave it's radius it'll be
all right again.
AEKA
How long will be in it?
WASHUU
A couple of hours, I'd imagine.
AEKA
(sighs) I guess I'll have to wait on talking to my
parents.
ADAM
There doesn't happen to be any lower decks, are there
Washuu? Maybe some personal quarters?
WASHUU
Of course! There's a door in the back of the bridge to
them.
ADAM
I'm going to lay down for a while, if someone needs me
I'll be below deck.
He goes to the door in the back and it opens as he
approaches. He looks surprised at it at first then
continues down the short hall as the doors close behind him.
Washuu watches him go, then presses a button on her console
and is lowered to the ground.
WASHUU
I have to take care of something, Ryouko, you can take
care of things.
Ryouko cracks her knuckles.
RYOUKO
All right. Get to use mom's keys.
WASHUU
Just stick to the autopilot, okay?
RYOUKO
No promises.
Washuu sighs then moves down and walks out the rear door.
When she's gone Aeka turns to Sasami.
AEKA
How are you feeling?
SASAMI
I'm fine... kind of tired but okay.
AEKA
We're going to get you to Tsunami as soon as possible,
I'm not going to lose my only sister.
SASAMI
Thank you, Aeka.
Ryouko teleports from her station over to Tenchi's.
RYOUKO
(softly) Hey Tenchi.
TENCHI
Hmm...
RYOUKO
What do you think they're going to do when we get
there?
TENCHI
Well, Sasami needs to see Tsunami right away, so I
guess Aeka will bring her there and then... who knows
how she'll settle things with her father. It seems
like he really wants her to prepare but she doesn't
want to.
RYOUKO
I mean, what do you they're going to do to me?
TENCHI
What?
RYOUKO
I blew up a good deal of their home last time I was
here.
TENCHI
The Juraiians? It wasn't your fault, Ryouko, I'm sure
they can't blame you when they know the truth.
RYOUKO
But they did blame me, Tenchi, for seven hundred years.
Just because the bounty for my arrest is over doesn't
mean they've given up on my head.
TENCHI
We'll explain the whole thing to them if they don't get
it. We'll tell them how you were controlled by Kagato
and how you fought to help defeat him later. You don't
deserve to be hated, it wasn't your fault.
RYOUKO
Sometimes people don't care who's fault it is. I don't
want to be locked up again, Tenchi. (beat) I don't
want to be away from you.
Tenchi pauses and seems unsure of what to do next. Various
emotions flutter past his eyes before he finally smiles
warmly and puts a hand on Ryouko's shoulder.
TENCHI
Don't worry, I'll protect you. If they won't
understand then we'll just leave. I won't let them
lock you away for something that's not your fault.
Ryouko brightens and then lunges at Tenchi into a full out
hug.
RYOUKO
Thank you, Tenchi!
This lasts for about half a second.
AEKA
Ahem.
RYOUKO
(narrows her eyes) What do you want, Princess?
AEKA
What do you think you're doing?
RYOUKO
I'm hugging MY Tenchi.
AEKA
Oh, he's YOUR Tenchi, is he?
RYOUKO
Damn right.
AEKA
Well, I have news for you, he is NOT your Tenchi, and
you'll be kind enough to stop strangling him before I
make you.
TENCHI
Aeka...
RYOUKO
Oh yeah? I'd like to see you try that.
AEKA
Just watch me!
Aeka slams her fist into her palm as several small floating
logs of wood appear and circle around her. Ryouko ducks
into combat mode, lifting Tenchi and holding him with one
hand behind her.
TENCHI
Hey, put me down!
RYOUKO
Bring it on, Aeka!
AEKA
Yaaa!
Aeka lunges at Ryouko and begins a fast a furious battle
that is better left not described.
Cut to a dark, narrow room with a door on one short wall and
a window on the opposite one. A bed is against the left
wall facing the window and a small desk is next to it at the
head with a chair resting a few feet from it. By the light
of the stars into the room, we can see Adam lying on the bed
staring up at the ceiling of the room which is, remarkably,
plain. There's a soft tone from the door but Adam remains
still except for turning his head towards the wall. The
tone repeats.
ADAM
Go away!
The door opens anyway showing Washuu.
ADAM
Damn, you don't follow directions well. Turn around,
and leave, I have no desire to talk to you right now.
Washuu steps into the room and the door closes behind her.
Adam continues to stare at the wall but he looks irritated
now.
ADAM
Heaven forbid for you to do a single thing I say. Or
maybe it's because I'm too lowly a life form to merit
your attention. Far be it for me to find any room on
Washuu's almighty podium.
Washuu clenches her teeth and steps forward to the side of
Adam's bed. Surprised by the sudden movement, Adam looks to
her. When she gets to the bed she raises her hand and slaps
him across the face as hard as she can. Suffice to say the
noise is sharp and slices through the silence of the room
rather suddenly. Adam is effectively shocked.
WASHUU
How DARE YOU act to me this way? I didn't tell you to
touch that matrix, you did it of your own damned will!
I didn't force your brain to suffer through this, I had
nothing to do with any of your problems!
ADAM
Oh didn't you? (he stands to face her) It was YOUR
machine that did this to me!
WASHUU
It was everyone else who made it malfunction!
ADAM
But they wouldn't have known if you didn't decide you
wanted to tell them about it.
WASHUU
If I recall, you were just as eager about that device
as I was, so you're just as guilty.
ADAM
You sure as hell didn't go to any lengths to tell me I
was in danger either. Not even after the fact. Hell,
you didn't even tell me you were suspicious after I had
my first vision!
WASHUU
Not like you would have remembered if I did! I thought
I was just being paranoid, I thought it was nothing and
I didn't need to make you worry about something you
didn't have.
ADAM
Well guess what Miss Genius, I got it! A lot of good
knowing about it after the fact was.
WASHUU
Nothing I would have told you could have changed
anything anyway! There is no treatment to administer,
no procedure to reverse the effects, if you had it,
that was it and nothing would have stopped it.
ADAM
You're telling me that the greatest scientific mind in
the galaxy can't do anything to help me?
WASHUU
I can't fix a broken mind!
ADAM
Then you shouldn't have broken it!
WASHUU
What would you have me do then? Say I'm sorry? I'M
SORRY! I wish I'd never tried to make the thing! You
think I enjoy knowing you have a condition that might
cripple your mind for life?
ADAM
Possibly! It'd be your great chance to experiment on a
human like you've always wanted to. What did you call
me? A guinea pig? Well, here I am! You got what you
wanted! You might be able to supplement that lacking
knowledge in the area of human medical conditions so
maybe the next person you experiment on you can keep
from becoming a vegetable!
WASHUU
I didn't want that!
ADAM
I should warn Tenchi about you.
WASHUU
I ... I would never do that to Tenchi.
ADAM
Of course not, he's to *precious* to you. But not
Adam, of course. He's been used as a tool his whole
life, why not just put him out of his misery? Stop
standing there shaking and tell me the truth, why would
you honestly pass up an opportunity like this?
Washuu's mouth opens and closes in utter inability to speak.
WASHUU
I ... I ... I-I .... oh gods...
She turns and flees out of the room. Adam takes a few steps
after her as exits. When he reaches the door he his a small
button beside it which causes it to close tightly. Even
though the door is closed he keeps staring at it, unmoving.
Even his hand is still covering the button.
Cut to outside Adam's room. Washuu moves several steps down
the all before rapidly slowly and leaning against the wall.
Cut to Adam's room. He's still staring at the door. He
rests his head against the door. He starts to shake
slightly.
Cut to the corridor. Washuu tilts her head down as tears
well up in her eyes. She slides down the wall and, holding
her knees to her chest, she starts sobbing.
Cut to Adam's room. His eyes are closed know but he's still
standing against the door. His voice is strained as he
speaks.
ADAM
What am I doing?
He falls to his knees and continues to rest his head against
the door, his arms now limp at his sides. With the lack of
bright light in the room, it's impossible to see his face
now, but we notice a glint as a tear falls onto his lap.
Cut to the corridor. Washuu is still crying against the
wall. She mutters between sobs.
WASHUU
Damn him ... for making me ... feel this way ...
Cut to Adam's room. It's the same as before. He raises a
fist and slams it against the door.
ADAM
I'm destroying what little life I have left. I ... I
have to tell her--
He starts to stand and glances once toward his window and we
can see his tear streaked face. Just as he reaches for the
button, we hear the high pitched sound again. Adam grips
his head and stumbles backwards.
ADAM
Not again...
The sound gets louder then, we see a series of images again.
These images seem to focus around a man in a blue uniform
with short dark hair. In the first image we see a brief
confrontation between Ryouko and this man that ends in them
crossing swords. Then we see a shadowy man encased in a
large stone and the man in the uniform standing before it
smiling. We then see a firefight between Ryouko, Tenchi,
Aeka and Adam and a bunch of uniformed men. Finally we see
the four of them running down a corridor towards a door
that's closing. Ryouko flies through and Aeka dashes in
afterwards. Ryouko puts herself in the doorway and starts
pushing against them as they close, waiting for Tenchi and
Adam. She's really struggling as Tenchi makes it to the
door and slips past. Adam is moments behind, but as he gets
near the door laser fire erupts around him and Ryouko is
shot and then a few other shots get through as the doors
resume closing. The camera follows one bolt as it slips
through the slot in the door and strikes Tenchi's chest.
The images disappear and the sound stops simultaneously.
Adam collapses to the ground again, holding himself up with
one hand as he pants deeply. Sweat pours down over his brow
as he struggles to merely breathe. Eventually he falls onto
his back and resigns to merely stare at the ceiling.
ADAM
What ... does it ... mean?
Suddenly there is a loud bang and the whole room shakes
violently. The stars outside the window spin wildly out of
control.
Cut to the bridge of the ship. Aeka, Ryouko, and Tenchi are
charred for obvious reasons as the scramble to various seats
on the bridge. Ryouko flies up to the central control and
sits down.
AEKA
What's going on?
RYO-OHKI
Myyaaa!
The main screen changes view to behind them. Several ships
are pursuing them, occasionally firing off a green laser.
The ships are long and angular, painted in blue and grayish-
white, and feature the Galaxy Police logo on the sides of
their hulls.
AEKA
The Galaxy Police?
RYOUKO
I told you they'd never give up on me!
TENCHI
There's an awful lot of them to be coming for just you.
RYOUKO
You didn't see what I did to that planet.
AEKA
Ryouko!
RYOUKO
I'll try to lose them.
AEKA
Wait! Let me just try to explain to them what's going
on, I'm sure they'll understand when the hear the
Princess of Jurai is aboard.
RYOUKO
The Galaxy Police don't tend to be the most
understanding people.
AEKA
Do you know if there is anything else to talk with
besides this Inverse ... uh, thing?
RYOUKO
Yes, I think so. There seems to be some controls up
here... let me just find them...
TENCHI
I got it.
The screen changes to show the face of a man with short
blond hair, green eyes, and small glasses resting on his
nose. The beginnings of a blue and white Galaxy Police
uniform can be seen, similar to the one Kiyonne is often
wearing.
RYOUKO
How did you do that?
TENCHI
There's a button marked 'Inter-ship Communications'
here that was flashing.
RYOUKO
Oh.
Ryouko turns back towards the screen as the man on the
screen (QUARREN) begins to talk.
QUARREN
My name is Detective Quarren Tale, halt your ship
immediately and prepare to be boarded.
RYOUKO
To the point, aren't you?
QUARREN
I can't imagine any other way of doing this.
RYOUKO
Good point.
Aeka stands and moves towards the screen.
AEKA
Excuse me? By what right have you fired upon our ship?
If it is regarding the Dreaded Space Pirate Ryouko...
RYOUKO
Hey!
AEKA
Then you should be informed that the warrant for her
arrest has expired.
QUARREN
You are mistaken, that warrant was renewed.
AEKA
Renewed? Can that be done?
QUARREN
It was done so by Royal Decree.
AEKA
Royal Decree?
QUARREN
Yes, in the same decree that the warrants for Aeka,
Sasami and Yousho, former Princesses and Prince of the
House of Jurai and Mihoshi and Kiyonne, formerly GP
Detectives First Class, were instated.
Aeka drops to her knees.
AEKA
How... a warrant for me? What do you mean, 'former'
Princess?
QUARREN
Are you claiming to be Aeka, former Princess of Jurai?
AEKA
I'm not claiming anything, I AM Princess Aeka, daughter
to the Emperor of Jurai.
QUARREN
Emperor Laran has no children, and he had decreed that
you and your cohorts are traitors to the crown. Turn
yourselves over at once.
AEKA
What... what has happened?
QUARREN
You have thirty-five seconds to comply.
The screen returns to showing the ships in pursuit of them.
They have stopped firing for the time being. Ryouko looks
down to Aeka.
RYOUKO
What is this all about? I thought you told me the
Statute of Limitations was IT! That it couldn't be
extended beyond that!
AEKA
It is! I've never heard of such a thing! What's going
on? Why did they call father Emperor Laran? Why is
there a warrant for my arrest?
TENCHI
We're running out of time!
AEKA
What do we do?
RYOUKO
We sure don't turn ourselves over, that's for sure.
TENCHI
I don't think we can fight them off though.
RYOUKO
Why do you say that, there can't be any more than-
The bridge shakes violent as the ships begin firing again.
TENCHI
Twelve of them.
Ryouko looks up at the screen as it shakes from the repeated
hits.
RYOUKO
How can you tell?
TENCHI
My screen here is telling me. I guess it's a tactical
display.
AEKA
I don't want to be a fugitive!
RYOUKO
Does have any weapons on it?
TENCHI
I think so...
RYOUKO
THEN FIRE THEM!
Cut to the battle. Ryo-ohki is travelling swiftly, but the
twelve ships behind it are keeping pace with it. Following
several green shots from the ships, Ryo-ohki fires a reddish
beam towards them, striking four ships but only mildly
damaging them.
Cut to the bridge.
RYOUKO
That's it? Fire it again!
TENCHI
Um... I don't think I can.
RYOUKO
Why not?
TENCHI
It says it's charging. I think it's going to be like
that for a few minutes now.
RYOUKO
What a useless gun, are there any others?
WASHUU (O.S.)
Plenty.
Washuu comes walking onto the bridge. Her eyes are slightly
red from crying, but there are no other signs of such
activities. She moves over to the main controls as they
lower to the deck. Ryouko jumps off and disappears,
reappearing next to Tenchi.
RYOUKO
Where have you been?
WASHUU
No time for that now.
She climbs into the control and it starts rising up.
WASHUU
Tenchi, lock weapons on the lead ship.
TENCHI
How do I do that?
WASHUU
Just press the blue button that says 'Definition' and
then select the lead ship on your display.
TENCHI
Um... (beat) Okay. This red button is flashing now.
WASHUU
That means it's ready to fire.
TENCHI
But it said it was charging just a moment ago.
WASHUU
That's a different weapon, I've routed different
controls over to your station.
TENCHI
Oh.
WASHUU
Prepare to fire.
She taps on her panel and the ship seems to shift a bit as
the stars start trailing of to the side. After a sudden
jarring from a hit Washuu leans forward towards the main
screen.
WASHUU
Fire!
On the screen we can see a beam arcing out towards the head
ship and striking it directly across the bow. The ship
starts smoking and drifts to the left where it impacts
against another pursuing ship. The two ships fly off away
from the group, uncontrolled.
WASHUU
Got em!
AEKA
This isn't going to look good afterwards.
WASHUU
Why are they attacking again?
AEKA
There's been warrants placed on all of our heads... for
treason.
WASHUU
Treason?
AEKA
I don't know what's going on.
WASHUU
Well, we certainly can't take this direct route
anymore. We're going to have to detour to lose this
crowd.
AEKA
As long as we can still help Sasami.
WASHUU
We'll still have plenty of time. I'm setting a course
through the asteroid pockets of Gammael, we should be
able to lose them in there.
Cut to the exterior of the ship. Ryo-ohki banks sharply and
heads off in a different direction. The pursuing ships take
a few more moments to adjust their course, but eventually
they are behind them again.
Cut to the bridge. Washuu looks at several of the displays
in her dome. She points at one of them and starts pressing
buttons on her control circle.
RYO-OHKI
Myaa!
TENCHI
What's wrong?
WASHUU
Time to show you one of the special additions I made.
(beat) Ryo-ohki! Stealth mode!
Cut to the exterior of the ship. Ryo-ohki begins changing
shape. Where as before where it was a more bulky design,
reminiscent of what she used to look like, now the ship
becomes more streamlined, a thin vessel with a tapered tip.
Only two large engine blocks interrupt the almost bullet-
like form of the ship. After the change is done the engines
fire and the ship darts off faster than before. The
pursuing ships struggle to catch up, then, suddenly, the
engines cut out and the ship shimmers, then disappears.
Cut to the inside of one of the larger Galaxy Police ships.
The bridge is much smaller than that on Ryo-ohki, tending to
only three auxillary seats located in front of the captain's
chair. The interior is very shiny and chrome looking. The
captain is Quarren and he looks around with a frown.
QUARREN
Where'd they go?
A man to the left and forward of his chair turns in his
seat. He has short dark hair and is very young looking.
MAN
They're just gone, sir. I can't detect them on any of
the images.
QUARREN
Cloaked?
MAN
If they are, it's a very sophisticated one, it's not
leaving any of the usual distortions.
QUARREN
Damn! Search all of the bands, it must be emitting
some signal.
MAN
We're approaching the Gammael Asteroid Pockets. If
they continued in that direction we'll never be able to
find them.
QUARREN
Why not?
MAN
The asteroid pockets are composed of Duplidium ore.
All of our sensor readings would reflect around in
there for millennia before coming back out to us. Even
passive scanners won't be of any use because of the
high broadband radiation coming from it.
QUARREN
Are you saying this is the PERFECT hiding spot?
MAN
For everything except visual identification, and
they're effectively cloaked.
QUARREN
(looks down) All stop. Transmit to the other ships...
set up a thin perimeter, six ships should be enough,
and the rest head back to base. (beat) Any idea where
they were heading?
MAN
If they were planning on a direct course, their heading
indicates they were going to Jurai.
Quarren scratches his chin.
QUARREN
Jurai, huh? Maybe we can wait for them there. Set
course for Jurai, and try to bring up headquarters on
the Inverse.
MAN
We're still feeling the effects of Solgran, sir, it'll
be another hour before we can transmit across the
Inverse.
QUARREN
That's fine.
Cut to the bridge of Ryo-ohki. Washuu, Tenchi, Ryouko, and
Sasami watch as the main screen shows the ships behind them
begin to scatter. Shortly after, asteroids come into view
as the ship undoubtedly enters the field.
TENCHI
(sighs) They gave up.
WASHUU
No... it looks like they're setting up a border guard.
AEKA
Can't we still get past them while we're cloaked.
WASHUU
We could get a short distance away, but they'd detect
us once we got to far out. Not to mention we can't use
the main engines unless we decloak. Nope, I'd rather
we found a way out that didn't involve a subsequent
posse.
RYOUKO
Where are we again?
WASHUU
The Gammael Asteroid Pockets. They're scattered about
the Gammael sector of space, excellent resources, but
they play havoc on sensors. Has something to do with
Duplidium, it has the oddest characteristics. It
reflects almost everything, but the reflected energy is
always warped in some way. It's the best hiding spot.
RYOUKO
Yeah, I know, I think there's a station in this field.
WASHU
What?
RYOUKO
Yes, I'm almost positive there's a space station here.
A rough place, but somewhere we can get some food and
plan a way out. As you can guess, it's mostly going to
be pirates here. I have a sort of a legend here, I
think. We'll be okay.
AEKA
How did you know that?
RYOUKO
I haven't been locked up in a cave my WHOLE life, you
know, Princess. I was flying around before I had the
luck to fall back onto Earth after being freed the
first time.
TENCHI
(nervously) A-heh.
WASHUU
There'd be no way to detect this station in this, so I
assume you know how to find it?
RYOUKO
Oh sure, this field isn't that big anyway.
Ryouko moves over to one of the stations and sits. Washuu
taps on her control circle and a pair of orbs float over to
Ryouko, duplicating the original Ryo-ohki controls.
WASHUU
You have directional thrusters only, be mindful of your
momentum.
RYOUKO
(sarcastically) Yes, mother...
The main screen changes to show the front of the ship. The
asteroids drift down and left and fly past as Ryouko
navigates the field. She continues to move through the
large space rocks for several minutes before finally coming
around a fairly large asteroid and spotting the station.
The station was apparently built into the face of an
asteroid with a central transparent dome and probably
hundreds of sprawling metal connecting tubes to smaller
hangars. There are several ships drifting above the station
as well as a few in the process of launching and landing.
TENCHI
Wow...
RYOUKO
Welcome to Amesbury.
The ship moves slowly into group of ship above the station.
AEKA
Without communication ability, how do we know when and
where to Land?
RYOUKO
You have to know the visual code. (she points) You see
that tower on top of the dome? It's got this bright
light on it and it flashes to tell ships messages.
It's like that Morse Code thing on Earth.
TENCHI
They're probably going to have to see us to send us a
message, won't they?
WASHUU
Are you sure this is safer than going with the Galaxy
Police?
RYOUKO
Considering the GP was about to kill us on the spot,
I'd imagine anything would be better.
WASHUU
(sighs) Decloaking now.
Cut to the exterior of the ship. We see several smaller,
drifting ships nearby. The assumed empty space in between
them suddenly shimmers and Ryo-ohki appears. Briefly
afterwards, it changes back into the previous shape. Some
of the nearby ships fire their thrusters in panic to back
away. The camera pans to the station where the light on the
dome moves to point towards Ryo-ohki.
Cut to the bridge.
RYOUKO
There we go.
The light begins to flash.
SASAMI
What are they saying?
RYOUKO
Hold on, they just started.
TENCHI
I've got a bad feeling about this...
WASHUU
Don't you start too.
TENCHI
Speaking of which, where's Adam?
WASHUU
(uncomfortably) He's in his room, probably sleeping or
something.
TENCHI
Through THAT firefight?
WASHUU
(irritated) Maybe he's a heavy sleeper, how should I
know?
AEKA
We'll get him up when we dock.
RYOUKO
Okay, I need to send a message back.
WASHUU
I'll get one of the forward lasers to emit a light.
I'm giving you the control.
A beam of light stretches down to the dome, then begins
flickering at Ryouko's control.
SASAMI
I wonder what's going on on Jurai.
AEKA
Something bad, probably. Maybe we'll be able to find
information at this station.
RYOUKO
I wouldn't count on it. No signals means the only
source of incoming news is word of mouth. I bet these
guys know even less than we do about recent events.
AEKA
There's a chance that SOMEBODY knows something!
RYOUKO
Yeah, just like there's a chance at finding a bead of
gold in a beach of sand. (beat) Okay, we can land at
the pad marked 24-440A.
TENCHI
That was quick.
RYOUKO
I told them I had some loot to unload on the craps
tables. They love lousy gamblers. More money for
them, I suppose.
WASHUU
Taking us down.
Cut to the exterior as the ship starts to descend to the
station.
Cut to show the inside of what appears to be a futuristic
indoor strip mall. Everything seems to be made of metal
instead of stone or wood, but aside from that there are rows
of shops and alleys and various buildings replicating a very
large mall. The camera comes down to show a large pair of
double doors on one of the few walls to reach of the top of
the expansive, transparent dome above. The doors open
slowly and we see Tenchi, Ryouko, and Aeka. When the doors
are sufficiently open enough, they step through into the
station.
TENCHI
Wow! This place is huge.
AEKA
So much metal... it's very unlike Juraiian Space
stations.
RYOUKO
That's because this is a pirate station, most of this
stuff was probably constructed from the remains of
ships, drifting into the field. Pirates don't often
have the luxury of an endless bankroll. Well, at least
those not in the guild.
TENCHI
The guild?
RYOUKO
The Pirate Guild. A very old organization that
predates even the Juraiian Empire. Actually, rumors
have it that the Pirate Guild created the Juraiian
Empire in order to have a more legitimate face for
their power.
AEKA
Yes, yes, and rumors say my father is actually a
Welbenan Shapeshifter Dragon that created the empire by
disguising himself as the various diplomats of the
planets in the empire and tricking them into joining.
I can tell you for a fact that my father is no Dragon.
There's no truth to rumors.
RYOUKO
Sometimes no... but sometimes...
AEKA
That's enough out of you!
RYOUKO
Come here and make me be quiet.
TENCHI
Girls! Why don't we look for some... uh, food and
things.
The girls stare venomously at each other. Tenchi sighs. He
starts walking down a 'road' between stores. The girls
follow while still staring at each other.
They pass various stores as they walk, stepping into a few
of them and very quickly stepping out. Eventually Ryouko
and Aeka stop their fussing and just walk with Tenchi.
TENCHI
This doesn't look like what I imagined a Pirate space
station would be. It's very... commercial.
RYOUKO
It's just like your usual promenade on any space
station, except that you can almost bet that all the
goods here were stolen. You can't sell these things
elsewhere without the Galaxy Police busting you so they
bring the things here. Usually you'll find some good
stuff at an incredible cost here.
AEKA
Yeah, you just can't show it to anyone off the station
or you'll be arrest. A wonder place ... really.
RYOUKO
You're just a pessimist daddy's girl. Half of the
entrepreneurs in the galaxy rely on black markets to
supplement their collections. You'll see them around
here all the time.
Tenchi's stomach rumbles.
TENCHI
Lets just see if we can find some food.
They continue walking and eventually find a store they can
get food in. Trading some goods, they buy some instant
ramen, rice, and some other unidentifiable goods. They
start walking back to the ship taking a different route.
TENCHI
I'm surprised they have this stuff here, I'd never
expect to find it off of Earth.
RYOUKO
Earth foodstuffs are rather popular, although these are
probably imitations. Since the Juraiian quarantine on
Earth, the only place you can find anything near the
real thing is on stations like this.
AEKA
I'm going to have to have a talk with the Galaxy Police
regarding their blockade of Earth. It doesn't seem to
be working very well.
RYOUKO
Hah, assuming your say means anything anymore. From
the way that cop was talking, your father has been
replaced.
AEKA
No! That's not possible, it must have been a mistake.
RYOUKO
Princess, they were about to kill us over that mistake.
AEKA
It can't be it ---
She stops dead and stares off.
RYOUKO
What can't be what? Helloo? Aeka?
TENCHI
What's wrong, Aeka?
Aeka puts a hand to her mouth then runs off towards a rather
large store.
RYOUKO
Shopping instinct?
Tenchi ignores her and runs off after Aeka. Ryouko
reluctantly follows. When they catch up with her she's
standing in front of a barred doorway behind which is a
large room filled with odd, but large goods. A huge replica
of panda balancing on a tight rope is here, what looks like
a fresco of Jupiter rests in the corner, and resting in the
center, beneath a smaller, class dome, is a large crystal
with Azusa frozen inside. Aeka's eyes are huge and her
mouth is hanging.
AEKA
F-father?
RYOUKO
What are you talking about?
AEKA
Tha ... that's father!
She points through the bars at the crystal. Tenchi and
Ryouko stare ahead and see the crystal.
RYOUKO
Hm.. he has a certain likeness...
TENCHI
That's your father?
AEKA
What... what is he doing there? (louder) What is he
doing here?
She falls to her knees while still staring through the bars
at the crystal.
AEKA
What's going on...
TENCHI
Aeka, are you sure this is your father? I mean, your
real father?
AEKA
It... it has to be him! It looks just like him, it's
too close for it to be fake! MY FATHER IS TRAPPED IN A
CRYSTAL!
Aeka is on the verge of hysterics. Tenchi holds onto her
shoulders and tries to calm her down as a large man with
green skin and wearing brown overalls sort of waddles up to
them. The man reaches into his pocket and pull out what
appears to be a cigar and lights it.
MAN
Is there anything I can interest you in?
TENCHI
You own this store?
MAN
Yup, I do. Name's Veen, Polog Veen. I trade in
various large paraphernalia. So what's got yer eye?
AEKA
That...that... the ... my...
Tenchi tries to quiet her.
RYOUKO
The big crystal thing with the guy in it, what's the
deal with that?
POLOG
Ahh, just got that one in today. A bunch of Duplidium
miners came across it while they were working in the
southeast hemisphere. Said it was just drifting in
space in the field. Can't imagine how long it's been
out there.
TENCHI
What about the man... is he... real?
POLOG
The miners said he is. I did a scan myself and
detected a faint life reading, the type usually
associated with people in suspended animation. But I
dunno, he looks awful like the Emperor, an' I can't
imagine how he could end up like this, so I'd reckon
it's a fake. (he chuckles) 'Lest something's happened
to the old codger, I really wouldn't know out here.
(he puffs out some smoke) So how about it, you
interested?
RYOUKO
How much?
POLOG
Hm.. well, that's the trick isn't it. I mean, I'm
really negotiable an' all, but I can't see letting it
go for less than.. oh.. half a million credits.
RYOUKO
WHAT? But you said yourself, you thought it was a
fake!
POLOG
Yeah, I did say that. But I didn't say it wouldn't be
a collectors item if it was. Maybe it ain't the
emperor o'Jurai, but there's definitely a person in
there looking mighty similar to him, so I figure the
cost goes up.
RYOUKO
Half a million credits? Forget it.
AEKA
No! We have to get it! He's...
RYOUKO
Oh, an where are you going to come up with half a
million credits?
AEKA
I... we...
RYOUKO
Right, well, lets get going then.
Ryouko starts to go but Tenchi stops her.
TENCHI
We can't just leave him here.
RYOUKO
We don't have the money or the barter, Tenchi. If you
insist on getting that thing we're going to have to
find something worth that much and we don't have it
right now.
POLOG
You don't want to wait too long, ya know. It's a
collectors item like I says.
Tenchi helps Aeka to her feet and brings her with him as
they move away from the store and head back towards their
ship. Tenchi glances once over his shoulder at the man as
they're leaving but the man just smiles and waves.
Cut to the bridge of Ryo-ohki. Washuu is typing on one of
the lower consoles instead of in the central control.
Sasami is sitting nearby looking around, obviously bored.
SASAMI
What are we going to do now, Washuu?
WASHUU
We're going to get out of here, as soon as I can figure
out a way to get past that border guard.
SASAMI
Why don't we just fly out?
WASHUU
We could get past them that way, cloaked that is, but
they'd detect us too quickly afterwards and we'd be
chased by them all the way to Jurai. No, we need to
find a way to leave while letting them think we're
still in here.
SASAMI
Oh. So we need to teleport to the other side of them?
WASHUU
Heh, that would be useful, but I doubt even Ryouko has
the ability to teleport us all. Hm... but maybe a jump
drive would.
SASAMI
A jump drive?
WASHUU
It's a very basic quantum theory that you could travel
to anywhere you wanted if you could create a wormhole
between the two places and travel through it. A jump
drive does exactly that, bending space so that it
touches and then travelling through the hole. The
process is called Folding I believe. It's only
recently been developed, I doubt we could find a drive
here though, and we don't have enough time for me to
try to build one.
SASAMI
Maybe Ryouko knows where to get one.
WASHUU
That would really surprise me. (she thinks) Hm... I
should at least look for one, it would certainly make
thing easier.
SASAMI
I'll come!
WASHUU
No, you won't.
SASAMI
I'm a kid you know.
Washuu raises a skeptical eyebrow.
SASAMI
Okay, I'm not that much of a kid. I can at least take
care of myself.
WASHUU
I don't know, besides I wouldn't want to leave the ship
empty.
SASAMI
Ryo-ohki can come with us!
RYO-OHKI
Myaa!
ADAM (V.O.)
I'll go.
Washuu and Sasami turn to see Adam stepping onto the bridge.
WASHUU
Adam...
ADAM
You're right, it's dangerous out there, I'll go find
out about the jump drive. You two stay here.
WASHUU
Stop being foolish, do you even know where we are?
ADAM
Amesbury, a space station in the Gammael sector.
Washuu blinks.
ADAM
There's a computer terminal in all the rooms, it was
difficult to find out what's been going on.
WASHUU
Where have you been anyway?
ADAM
I had... some problems.
WASHUU
(frowns) What problems?
ADAM
I had another vision and I collapsed, you happy?
WASHUU
Are you okay?
ADAM
Don't even start down that train of thought. I'll worry
about me. Who you should be worrying about is Sasami,
this is about her after all.
SASAMI
No, you shouldn't be worrying about me.
ADAM
(shakes his head) Regardless, you need something from
the station, I'll go look for it.
WASHUU
Oh, what makes you so better equipped to go out there
than us?
ADAM
(sighs) Okay, you're right, there's nothing. I just
don't want anyone getting in danger more than they have
to.
WASHUU
Which should include you!
ADAM
I'm fine.
WASHUU
No, you're not, you're-
ADAM
I'M FINE. (beat) I won't have you treat me like an
idiot just because I'm sick.
WASHUU
You know, you'd have to find an engine that works on
Ryo-ohki.
ADAM
Yes.
WASHUU
Do you even know the specifications to look for?
Adam freezes and looks up.
ADAM
Ahh... no.
WASHUU
So of course that makes you the best choice for this.
Adam sighs.
ADAM
Sasami, can you excuse us for a minute.
SASAMI
Where am I going to go?
ADAM
I don't know, elsewhere on the ship. This place is
pretty big.
SASAMI
Ookay.
She hops off her seat and runs out the door. Adam watches
her go, then when she's gone he turns back to see Washuu
typing at her console facing away from him. He moves
towards her with a glum look on his face.
ADAM
Listen Washuu ... I'm ... uh, I'm an idiot. I never
think things through and I very often act on my first
instinct, which... isn't always reflective of what I'm
truly feeling. I know I'm terrible with people, I... I
never think about how they feel. I'm very selfish.
I'm... afraid of what's happening to me. I'm in
pain... and... and the only thing I could think of to
deal with it was to hurt those around me so I'm not the
only one feeling this way. But... that was stupid. I
know that. I should never have tried to blame any of
this on you. I'm ... I'm sorry.
WASHUU
I have never used a sentient being in an experiment
without their consent. I would never do such a thing.
ADAM
(nods) I know that Washuu, I never thought you would do
that. I was just talking out of my ass before.
WASHUU
I never wanted you to get hurt, I just...
ADAM
Don't even think about it, it's in the past.
She turns her chair to face Adam who was right behind her.
WASHUU
But... it's not in the past. It's here and now.
You're being affected every moment of the day.
ADAM
And it's something I'll have to deal with because
whether I like it or not, it's going to happen.
WASHUU
That's easy for you to say.
Adam tilts his head in confusion.
WASHUU
I'm the one who has to watch it happen to you.
Adam looks away with a saddened look on his face.
ADAM
Washuu, you have to promise me something-
WASHUU
Oh no, I've heard things start that way before...
ADAM
It's very important that you do this.
WASHUU
I don't care, I'm not going to make any promises like
that.
ADAM
If it happens it's already too late, you have to
promise me to what you'll do afterwards.
WASHUU
NO! Don't you understand, I know what you're going to
say... or rather I know what it's going to be like and
I'll have nothing of it!
ADAM
I'm going to tell you anyway because I might forget
later.
WASHUU
(warning) Adam!
ADAM
If something happens and I'm left behind somewhere-
WASHUU
I don't want to hear this.
ADAM
--you have to leave and continue on to help Sasami. No
hesitation. If I'm left behind, you leave me, don't
come back.
WASHUU
Is this Pluto's doing? Is she telling you this?
ADAM
(shakes his head) No this is all me.
WASHUU
Why, then? Why are you telling me this?
ADAM
Because in my last vision I saw what's going to happen
on this station.
WASHUU
Those visions aren't real, they're a side effect of the
disease.
ADAM
My mind has never tried to tell me something so
adamantly before, I have to believe it. I know this is
going to happen, I can feel it, and I'm going to be
lost. Just forget about me though, if you hesitate,
people will die.
WASHUU
If something is going to happen to you then don't go!
ADAM
I have to go, or it's Tenchi that will die.
Washuu hesitates.
ADAM
You see, you can't make that choice either, can you?
Just those few moments of pause can be enough. Tenchi
is so much more important than I am.
WASHUU
How can you say that? How do you judge importance?
ADAM
Don't be silly, just think about it. He's the crown
prince of Jurai now, he's holding the heritage of his
people. He can summon the Light Hawk Wings from
nothing! The only thing I can do is be an ass and tag
along.
WASHUU
You used the Light Hawk Wings yourself!
ADAM
Yes, well, I have a theory about that, but it'll have
to wait for now. It just doesn't compare, Washuu. I'm
not going to sacrifice Tenchi and I know that you don't
want to. I'm dying inside anyway, what's a few months
earlier anyway?
WASHUU
I can't make this promise.
ADAM
I know you can't, at least now I do. Just keep it in
mind for when it does happen.
WASHUU
(shakes her head) Adam...
The door to the bridge opens suddenly and Aeka comes running
in with Tenchi and Ryouko close behind. Tenchi appears to
be carrying all the foodstuffs now, barely that is. Aeka
runs over to Adam and Washuu, who separate quickly and try
to look casual. Sasami follows shortly after the group.
AEKA
Miss Washuu! We need half a million credits!
Adam blinks.
ADAM
Lost big at the poker table, huh, Ryouko?
RYOUKO
(waves her hands back and forth) This has nothing to do
me.
AEKA
My father is in a crystal in a shop and the owner would
only give it to me for five hundred thousand credits!
WASHUU
Hm... five hundred thousand might be hard. I don't
know if I have anything lying around worth THAT much.
AEKA
Please, Miss Washuu! I have to save my father!
WASHUU
Come up with half a million credits then!
ADAM
Maybe if we can come up with a schematic for the
station we could find a way to 'borrow it' for a while?
Washuu looks at him with a raised eyebrow.
ADAM
We've all ready got the GP after us, how much worse can
it get?
RYOUKO
We could have the pirate guild after us.
ADAM
Oh yeah...
RYOUKO
Still... (cracks her knuckles) it might be fun anyway.
TENCHI
Maybe we could do something for Polog in exchange for
the crystal. Like, work for him or something?
AEKA
We don't have the time! We'll have to take it, we can
give him money later after we've straightened all this
out.
RYOUKO
That's diplomatic.
AEKA
Miss Washuu, can you find a way in?
WASHUU
Hm... with all this distortion from the asteroids all
my scans would be distorted ... unless I used a limited
beam scan that is. Unfortunately I'd only have a .5
degree scan width. I need to know exactly where this
shop is in relation to us.
RYOUKO
I can tell you the direction for that.
Adam starts moving away.
ADAM
While you guys sort that out I'm going to look for that
jump drive.
WASHUU
You said you didn't know the specifications!
ADAM
I'll guess. If I got any problems I'll come back and
ask you.
He moves towards the door and slips out. Washuu adjusts her
position at the console and taps a few buttons.
WASHUU
Okay Ryouko, which why from here?
Cut a corridor in Ryo-ohki. Adam is walking along steadily.
PLUTO (O.S.)
Now you know-
Startled, Adam jumps and turns around to see Pluto standing
behind him. She's wearing a dark green, pinstripe business
suit and standing with her arms loosely folded.
PLUTO
--the responsibility of thinking you know the future.
ADAM
Jesus! Don't do that!
PLUTO
I hope you better understand my position now.
ADAM
'fraid not, actually, I'm rather angry at you.
PLUTO
Me?
ADAM
Was it your intention to have me slowly suffer when you
sent me here?
PLUTO
I've already informed you as to your duties.
ADAM
Yes yes, Protect Tenchi. Unfortunately that's the only
thing I can think about these days. Especially since
every day I get a vision of Tenchi dying.
PLUTO
How you fulfill your obligations is not my concern.
ADAM
Nothing seems to be your conern. Am I really going to
become a vegetable from this?
PLUTO
I doubt your physical appearance will change as a
result from brain deformities.
ADAM
You know what I mean!
PLUTO
Perhaps.
ADAM
You know, I was entirely wrong to blame any of this on
Washuu. What I should have been doing is pointing my
fingers at YOU! You dragged me into this mess, you
told me to stick with Washuu during the malfunction, as
far as I know you could have orchestrated this
'disease' that Sasami is dying from.
PLUTO
I have had nothing to do with that.
ADAM
(not believing her) Uh-huh.
PLUTO
Additionally, until you learn to stop blaming others
and start to take responsibility for your own actions,
you are going to accomplish nothing except hurt those
you care for.
ADAM
I'm sure you've had ages of experience in this matter.
PLUTO
Of course.
ADAM
Heh, yeah, well, I believe that as soon as I get a hint
that I have any control of my own destiny.
PLUTO
No one controls your fate.
ADAM
You're such a hypocrite! YOU'RE controlling my fate!
PLUTO
I merely made a location change of it.
ADAM
(sighs) I've got work to do and I don't need to be
wasting time talking with you. Just tell me one
thing... these, visions, I've been having... is there
any truth to them?
PLUTO
Do you believe them to be true?
ADAM
Yes.
PLUTO
Then they might be.
ADAM
ARGH! That's not helpful at all.
PLUTO
Another one of the obligations of knowing the future.
ADAM
(snorts) I'll bet.
Cut to the store that the gang saw Azusa in. It's dark with
the exception of a few dim lights at the far end fo the room
and a strong spotlight shining on the crystal. Polog is
standing next to it and staring at the angry face of Azusa
trapped inside. A shadowy figure stands walks towards him
in the dim light beyond the crystal. He stops just at the
edge of the spotlight.
POLOG
They showed up earlier today. The princess, the
pirate, and the young boy were actually here, and as I
understand there are three others in their ship.
SHADOW
Excellent.
POLOG
I assume they'll make the attempt shortly, I'll have
everything ready for them.
SHADOW
Very well. They cannot get away from us.
POLOG
They won't, and then we'll be rich. (beat) Any news on
the other two yet?
SHADOW
The Galaxy Police is looking for them, but they don't
know where they've been assigned. Their superior
officer, the former Chief, went missing after the
warrant was issued. All records of their location had
been erased from the database.
POLOG
Perhaps these six know where to find them.
SHADOW
I'm sure they do.
POLOG
Well, you'd best prepare your men, we can't make this
place look secure or they might not even try to steal
the crystal.
SHADOW
Of course.
The shadow pulls out a small metal disc and holds it in his
hand.
SHADOW
When they come again, use this to alert me.
The shadow steps forward and holds out the disc. We see the
Shadow is actually a man in a blue uniform and short dark
hair.
POLOG
Okay.
SHADOW
Don't fail me.
POLOG
Don't worry so much. Get out of here.
The Shadow turns and leaves. Polog looks at the statue one
last time before turning and walking into the dark, opposite
the direction of the Shadow.
Cut to the bridge. Everyone is in various stages of eating
either Ramenesque products or rice and vegetables. Washuu
is sitting at the central controls again working rather
quickly at something. The rest of the people on the bridge
are sitting in a little circle on the main deck. Adam is
still gone. Under closer examination, we can see Aeka is
more playing with her food than eating it, and shortly after
we see her push her food away from herself and stand.
AEKA
Excuse me.
TENCHI
You hardly ate anything Aeka.
SASAMI
You really should eat some more, Aeka, they did a very
good job making this taste like the real thing.
AEKA
I'm just not hungry, I'm sorry.
She bows and leaves the bridge. They all watch her go
(except for Washuu who is still enveloped in her work). The
camera follows Aeka as she steps outside of the bridge and
sighs as she starts moving down a corridor to the left. The
bridge door opens as she takes a few steps away and Sasami
comes out.
SASAMI
Aeka.
Aeka turns and looks at Sasami.
AEKA
What is it, Sasami?
SASAMI
Are you feeling okay?
AEKA
I'm fine. You shouldn't be worrying about me. How are
you feeling?
SASAMI
I'm just a little tired but otherwise I'm fine. You're
the one that looks the worst.
AEKA
I just have a lot on my mind.
Aeka starts moving away but Sasami walks with her.
SASAMI
I'm worried about Father as well, but you really need
to keep your strength up.
AEKA
I just wasn't hungry. It happens sometimes.
SASAMI
But you've been gloomy and depressed every since you
came off the station. I know you're concerned about
what happened to Father--
AEKA
I just don't understand it! How could this have
happened? Everything was fine when we left. I mean,
we were still fixing some of the more extensive damages
but nothing major. What could have changed the balance
of power on Jurai?
SASAMI
Seven hundred years of time?
AEKA
But Father was a strong emperor, and he has Tsunami on
his side, what could have defeated him? He couldn't
have been usurped, he lived for the people of Jurai,
they'd never turn against him.
SASAMI
We've been asleep for a long time, sister. Maybe
things are different now.
AEKA
It's just that... sometimes I feel... (shakes her head)
What if it was us, Sasami?
SASAMI
Us?
AEKA
What if this happened because ... because we left?
SASAMI
How could we have done anything?
AEKA
Remember when we left, Sasami?
Sasami nods.
AEKA
I told you what might happen while we were gone. I
knew it could possibly be a long period of time and we
might return to Jurai to find that father had gotten
old or that we had new brothers and sisters. But...
what if father had no more children and... there was no
apparent heir anymore? They might have been looking
for us and we weren't available to be found. What if
father NEEDED an heir?
SASAMI
What could have happened?
AEKA
I'm not sure... we do some dealings with the Kanzivbi,
and they believe that a strong Emperor is one who is
training an even more powerful successor. But I can't
see why that would lead to a war or any reason for
father to be in trouble. But there are so many
cultures that might have been offended... and what if
the Royal Houses demanded he name his heir? I... I
just can't shake this guilty feeling.
SASAMI
I'm sure whatever it is we can sort it out on Jurai
before going back.
AEKA
Ju--What?
SASAMI
I don't think it'll be that much trouble.
AEKA
No... Sasami... how to say this? I don't know if we'll
be able to go back to Jurai.
SASAMI
Why not?
AEKA
Well, if we still are Princesses of Jurai, it might be
time that we fulfill our obligations.
SASAMI
But I don't want to say on Jurai, I want to go back to
Earth.
AEKA
Why?
SASAMI
That's where our home is.
Aeka's eyes widen.
AEKA
No... Sasami, our home is on Jurai. At the Royal
Palace.
SASAMI
I like Tenchi's house better.
AEKA
But on Jurai you're a princess!
SASAMI
I don't need to be a princess on Earth. I can just be
me there, and not what everyone else wants me to be.
On Jurai, Father and Mother were always trying to make
me into somebody they wanted, but they never asked what
would be fun for me. (beat) Tenchi always asks me
what I want before making a decision.
Aeka is shocked for a moment, then her face softens and she
kneels down to hug Sasami.
AEKA
Oh, Sasami... I know. (closes her eyes) It we make it
through this Sasami... I promise I'll find a way to get
you back to Earth. Even if I can't come with you.
SASAMI
But it won't be as fun without you.
AEKA
Sometimes you have go without a little bit of fun.
The camera pans back.
WASHUU (V.O.)
I've got a plan, everyone. Get back to the bridge!
Cut to the bridge. The central controls are lowered but
Washuu is still sitting in them. The holographic dome is
off right now and the main screen is showing a wire-frame
with shaded walls schematic of a section of the station.
Tenchi and Ryouko are standing beside Washuu as Aeka and
Sasami come in and walk down to stand next to them.
WASHUU
Everyone here?
TENCHI
Adam isn't.
WASHUU
He won't be back for a while, we'll just have to do
this without him.
RYOUKO
(grins evilly) So what do I have to blow up?
The main screen fades as a section of the map brightens. It
enlarges to fill the screen.
WASHUU
Here is where the shop is located. It's been secured
rather well from all obvious entrance points. Main
doors are barred and at times force field reinforced,
ventilation shafts are small and shielded, and there
are no side or back entrances. The place is a
veritable fortress from every entrance point on the
level. So, of course, your point of entry will be
through here.
The current wire-frame fades and the area beneath the store
enlarges and brightens. A small circle in the center of the
floor beneath flashes red.
WASHUU
The floor below, which, lucky for us, is a utility
crawlspace from the hangar. The floor is three inch
thick steel, so a precision cut by Ryouko should get
you in. Be sure only to cut where I specified or
you'll hit one of the service lines running through the
floor. Now, once you get in--
The screen zooms back out and shows the store again.
WASHUU
--you'll probably be in this area. From what I was
able to get from my scans, there's a lot of junk in
this room, but he crystal stood out well so I know
where that is.
The screen zooms in to show a close-up of the crystal and
its display case. The screen pans around it at a regular
speed.
WASHUU
The crystal itself is also secured, first by a narrow
plexisteel transparent dome and then by a pressure
sensitive panel. The dome is secured in six places on
the floor and the braces can be easily removed. After
the dome is gone-
The screen follows with Washuu's plan, the dome lifts and
moves off screen.
WASHUU
--you'll have the plate to deal with. The plate is
looking for a degree change in pressure of at least 4
degrees, which means to remove the crystal it needs to
be lifted perfectly up. It doesn't weigh very much
more than three hundred pounds so a personal anti-
gravity device should suffice. I can supply you with
one. After it's been lifted you need to move it off
the panel slowly, keeping your relative velocity low to
reduce air disruption, then bring it to where you
entered and come back to the ship.
The cyrstal on the screen moves to the hole then flies off
into the ship. Once it reaches the ship a big thumbs-up
sign appears and the words 'GOOD JOB' appear on the bottom.
WASHUU
Piece of cake.
RYOUKO
What about a backup plan in case all your careful
planning goes to hell.
WASHUU
I'll be providing you with a backup from here. The
main controls for the front door can been overridden
ONCE though the command tree in the station security
network that I found. During that time there's at
least a 75 percent chance I'll trigger the alarm, and
after it closes again I can't open it the same way
again.
RYOUKO
How much time would it be open for?
WASHUU
Ten seconds max.
RYOUKO
Great.
TENCHI
Hopefully it won't come to that.
WASHUU
Right, so you're primary concern is not to trigger the
alarms. If you encounter any additional problems, you
can ask me through this.
Washuu holds up a small earpiece.
WASHUU
It's a two-way radio. I've got a narrow beam lock on
it so should still work even though we're in this
asteroid field.
Ryouko snatches it up and stuffs it in her ear.
WASHUU
Keep in mind that if the alarm is triggered and this
station has any sort of response time they'll be
chasing you right up into the hangar and we'll have to
not only take off but leave the asteroid field putting
us right into the hands of the Galaxy Police.
RYOUKO
We don't have a way out of that business yet?
WASHUU
I'm still working on it, and Adam may come back with
something that'll help.
AEKA
I hope he gets back before we do.
SASAMI
He could be stranded on the station!
Washuu gets an odd look for a moment then shakes her head.
WASHUU
Don't worry about that right now, just get what you
need done. My last scan showed that the shop was empty
so whoever runs it is probably sleeping but he could
come back at any time so make this quick.
RYOUKO
Right. (balls her fist) Lets go!
AEKA
Sasami-
SASAMI
I know, you want me to stay.
AEKA
Please?
SASAMI
Okay. But you better come back.
AEKA
(smiles) I will.
Washuu walks over to the front of the bridge and pulls up a
floor panel revealing a ladder beneath. She climbs down it
and comes back up a few moments later holding a few pieces
of small electronics. She hands them to Tenchi.
WASHUU
These are a pair of personal anti-gravity units for the
dome and the crystal, and this is an auto-map to guide
you to the right place.
Tenchi nods and turns to leave. Aeka and Ryouko follow
shortly behind.
Cut to show a grimy, single room shop on what looks like a
large marketplace. A pale skinned, thin and lanky man with
light blue hair and yellow tinted glasses wearing a red vest
with no undershirt and brown slacks (FERUU) stands leaning
against a glass display case with a small device that looks
like a remote control. Various other mechanical oddities
litter the story, some in elaborate display cases and others
simply in piles. Adam is in the store talking to the man.
FERUU
Hm... (rubs his chin) Space folding technology, yes,
yes. Only one can supply you is me. Definitely the
only one.
ADAM
(cautious) Yes, I know, that's what the other merchants
said. So are your goods quality?
FERUU
Hm.. yes, yes, quality good. Salvaged off of pirate
ship. Supplied to me a great cost.
ADAM
Pirates stealing from pirates, eh? Not a warm family,
are you all?
FERUU
Hm... I perceive ignorance in you. Perhaps new to
space travel your species is?
ADAM
A bit.
FERUU
Ahh, well, I not take advantage, know well when I just
left planet. Many strangers, many mistakes, nearly die
many times.
ADAM
Oh... I see. I'm sorry. I'm glad you came out of it
okay.
FERUU
Yes, yes, learn quick. Big merchant help me, bring
here, set up shop, not remember what name is.
ADAM
He... what? Your name or his?
FERUU
No, no, my name I say, Feruu is I. Name of help
unknown.
ADAM
Oh.
FERUU
But to return to said, I not pirate, simply merchant.
Pirate sell to me and I sell to pirate. Of course, you
not pirate.
ADAM
I was told not everyone here was.
FERUU
Yes, yes, not pirates all, but many, *perhaps* most.
Everyone know pirate if get in.
ADAM
Well, I know a pirate.
FERUU
Ahh, perhaps this pirate steal you from planet? Slave
are quick riches here.
ADAM
No, she didn't steal me from my planet.
FERUU
Yes, yes, female she is. Perhaps compatible species?
ADAM
Hm... I guess she is, I never really thought about it.
FERUU
Perhaps she steal you and you not realize?
ADAM
No, I definitely went willingly.
FERUU
Yes, yes, body go willingly to where heart taken.
ADAM
What are you- (blinks) Oh! No, no, no, it's not like
that at all.
FERUU
Yes, yes, all say that at first.
ADAM
No, really, she's taken... VERY taken with someone
else. She's actually helping HIM get off planet but
I'm going along for the ride.
FERUU
Yes, yes, sorry for confusion. Many times people leave
planet in search of another, I read you wrong.
ADAM
(grimaces) Maybe not too wrong... (shakes his head)
Anyway, about the Jump drive?
FERUU
Yes, yes, quality drive, only one problem, but minor.
ADAM
What's that?
FERUU
Hm... difficulty using in asteroid field. Reflecting
energy make gravity wave unstable, dangerous for use.
Perhaps not end up at destination? Perhaps in
different dimension? Perhaps in different time? No,
no, not good for use in field. Leave field then use
for good results.
ADAM
That... might be a problem. There's absolutely no way
to use it in the field, huh?
FERUU
Yes, yes, use in field is fine, but result is bad. I
not engineer, I not know. No, no, perhaps Academy
Scientist figure something out, but not find one on
station.
ADAM
(sighs) I don't suppose I have much choice, it might
still work.
FERUU
Perhaps work for you and pirate friend. I not know
specifics on how work, but know danger when near. Take
care with drive, pioneer.
ADAM
Pioneer?
FERUU
Yes, yes, pioneer you say you are. You leave planet
ahead of race, are pioneer, see?
ADAM
I suppose I am.
FERUU
Now we discuss cost.
ADAM
(chuckles) Of course.
Cut to show a tight dark crawlspace. Ryouko, Tenchi, and
Aeka are shuffling through it with a bit of struggle on
their hands and knees. Ryouko is in front and has a small
energy sword extended to light up the way. Tenchi is behind
her and Aeka behind him.
AEKA
Are we near the place yet?
RYOUKO
Quit complaining, princess.
AEKA
I'm not complaining, I'm asking a question!
RYOUKO
Well, you were going to complain afterwards so I just
saved the time.
AEKA
I'm NOT going to complain!
TENCHI
Not so loud, Aeka.
AEKA
Sorry, Lord Tenchi.
RYOUKO
Another few meters to go.
They continue shuffling through the space. Ryouko watches
the small automap carefully as the green dot in the center,
representing their location, nears the red dot on the map.
RYOUKO
It should be right around here.
They stop crawling.
TENCHI
Ready?
AEKA
(nods) I'm ready.
RYOUKO
No complaints here.
TENCHI
Lets go.
Cut to a relatively empty plaza. Most of the stores on the
strip are closed so the amount of people around is at a
minimum. Adam is walking past pushing a large green
canister that is floating a few inches above the ground. He
glances over at the strip and notices a group of dark
clothed people dash from behind a corner to stand to the
side of one of the larger closed stores in the strip. Adam
tilts his head and stares at them as he walks. The men
appear to be wearing black utility suits and helmets and are
toting a couple of weapons each. One of the men is dressed
different from the others, wearing a dark blue uniform and
nothing on his head. He says something quietly to the men
and glances around.
As he looks back where Adam is, they lock eyes for a moment
and both get a good view at the other. Adam immediately
looks shocked and realizes where he's seen him before.
Flash to the last vision Adam had. We see this man fighting
with Ryouko again and then we see a flash of him standing in
front of the crystal laughing.
Back to reality, the man turns his head and continues
looking around as Adam continues walking.
ADAM
(mutters) D,j. vu.
Adam continues walking back towards the hangars. As he
leaves, we get a good look at one of the stores in the plaza
and we see it's Polog's store.
Cut to the inside of the store. A yellowish beam of light
erupts from the floor and traces out a circle, then
vanishes. Moments later, the circular section of floor
lifts up and Ryouko sticks her head out. She glances around
then, satisfied she sees nobody, flies up out of the hole
and places the disc on the floor.
RYOUKO
(whispering) All clear.
TENCHI
Okay.
Tenchi and Aeka climb out of the hole and stand beside
Ryouko. She turns on her energy blade and the store is
brightened by a gentle yellow hue. In the center of the
room we can see the large crystal.
AEKA
There he is.
They walk over to the crystal and Ryouko makes her blade
longer to light it up more. Aeka stares into her father's
face, one of anger and mixed pain.
AEKA
I wonder what he saw before this happened.
RYOUKO
You can ask him when we thaw him out, right now lets
just deal with getting him out of here.
Tenchi kneels at the base of the glass dome. He rubs his
fingers over the edge of the glass and pushes away some dirt
and dust to uncover one of the latches.
TENCHI
Here's one of the braces.
Ryouko knees down and touches her beam to it and is gently
melts. She pulls her blade away and examines the latch and
pushes away some slag.
AEKA
Hurry up!
RYOUKO
I'm working on it.
She and Tenchi trace the edge of the dome, uncovering and
then melting all the latches respectively. After they
finish Tenchi stands and pulls out a small black colored
device with three buttons on it. He pushes it against the
dome and it sticks securely. Pressing the center button on
it the device begins to whir slightly.
TENCHI
Okay, it should be active. Ryouko, get ready to catch
it.
RYOUKO
No problem.
She flies up to hover over the dome. Tenchi reaches forward
and presses the left button on the device and the dome
starts drifting upwards. When it's above the top of the
crystal, Ryouko catches the dome and moves it off to the
side, resting it on some other large oddity. Tenchi sighs.
TENCHI
So far, so good.
Cut to the bridge of Ryo-ohki. Adam comes walking in
pushing the large green canister.
WASHUU
You're finally back.
ADAM
Yup, with success as well. Took me a while to figure
out how to pay the guy who owned this, but I came up
with something.
WASHUU
'Came up with something'?
ADAM
Well, it occurred to me what someone said about there
being a good deal of collectors here, you know, like
people who deal in rare goods. Since Ryouko said there
was a quarantine on Earth, I figured that anything from
Earth could be sold at a high price. So I pawned off
everything I had with me that was from Earth to some
collectors. I even stopped off at this restaurant and
jotted down some Chinese and Polish recipes and sold
them to the head chef. I think those cashed in higher
than anything else.
WASHUU
And with that money you bought...?
ADAM
Oh, yeah, this. It's a jump drive for space folding,
the only one on the station as far as I could tell.
He presses a button on the canister and its lowers to the
floor. Then he grips the handle on the top and twists it
causing the sound of escaping air to be heard. Lifting the
lid, he revealed a silvery device resting in the center of
the well-padded tube.
ADAM
Voila!
Washuu reaches in and pulls out the device. She examines it
visually for several moments before bringing it over to a
console and plugging a cord into it.
WASHUU
Hm... this just might work... it seems to be simulating
correctly.
ADAM
Oh, before I forget, the guy who sold it to me said--
TENCHI(V.O.)
Okay, Ryoko, you ready for the crystal now?
Adam looks up and frowns.
ADAM
What's that?
WASHUU
Tenchi. You should know that by now.
ADAM
I know it's Tenchi, I mean, where is that coming from?
WASHUU
The others are getting Emperor Azusa from that store.
ADAM
They're stealing it now?
WASHUU
Do you really think they were going to wait? It's not
like you could have raised half a million credits by
selling any more of your stuff.
ADAM
No, I suppose not.
He looks at the main screen and notices a small rendered
mockup of the store slowly spinning in the corner of the
screen giving periodic updates. As the front of the store
pans around Adam turns pale as he notices the name and the
look of it.
ADAM
Is THAT where they are?
WASHUU
Yeah, it's the store that Aeka-
ADAM
THIS store?
He walks up and points at the spinning diagram.
WASHUU
Of course!
ADAM
They're in trouble!
WASHUU
What?
ADAM
There's this team of men watching that shop from the
outside. They looked just ready to pounce on someone,
they must have been waiting for them. Not to mention
one of them looked just like the guy from...
He trails off.
WASHUU
What?
He grits his teeth and gets a determined look on his face.
He turns and starts walking towards the exit.
WASHUU
Where are you going?
ADAM
I have to help them! They're in big trouble.
WASHUU
Wait! You don't even know how they got in! What do
you plan on doing?
ADAM
I'll ... (beat) I'll distract the men while they get
away.
WASHUU
That's suicide.
ADAM
I don't know, I'll come up with something. Just stay
here and get that drive working so we can get out of
here when we're done.
He turns to walk out again.
WASHUU
Wait!
ADAM
Washuu-
He stops as he sees her holding something out to him. He
steps forward and sees the futuristic looking gun.
WASHUU
You'll probably need something to distract them with.
He picks up the gun and grips it tightly in his hand.
ADAM
Thank you. (beat) Remember your promise.
WASHUU
I never promised.
He turns and leaves anyway. She goes back to the console
and glances up at the screen before pressing a button on the
panel.
Cut to the shop. The crystal is slowly drifting up out of
it's stand up to Ryouko's arms above.
AEKA
Careful, you don't want to set off the alarm.
RYOUKO
No kidding.
TENCHI
Just a little further and you can grab it.
RYOUKO
I'm waiting.
The crystal starts to get a little faster as it rises. It
nears Ryouko's hands and Tenchi's eyes widen.
TENCHI
Ready... just a second longer...
WASHUU (V.O.)
IT'S A TRAP!
RYOUKO
Huh?
She glances away.
TENCHI
Now!
RYOUKO
Wha-
Ryouko glances back just in time for the crystal to smack
her in the chin. She flies back instinctively as the
Crystal quickly descends from the impact with Ryouko.
TENCHI
Gak!
He steps forward and leaps at the Crystal. He grabs onto it
like a koala as it flies with him over the panel and
crashing into another display case. The Crystal lies on top
of him but he easily pushes it back into the air.
AEKA
Lord Tenchi!
Ryouko, floating in the center of the room, is rubbing her
jaw.
RYOUKO
What do you mean it's a trap?
WASHUU (V.O.)
Adam was just here, he said that there are guards
waiting outside for you.
Ryouko grits her teeth.
RYOUKO
Damn.
All hell breaks loose then. A klaxon goes off and a red
light shines down from the center of the room and force
fields appear over the door and windows. Aeka helps Tenchi
up and the scramble for the hole in time to see it seal over
with a force field.
TENCHI
Ack.
He grabs his leg which features a nice shard of glass in it.
He pulls it out and lets out a short grunt. Aeka rips off
some of her robes and wraps it.
AEKA
What happened, Ryouko?
RYOUKO
Bad timing. (glances around) Washuu says that it's a
trap and we're being surrounded right now.
TENCHI
We have to get out of here.
Ryouko flies over to Tenchi and Aeka. She puts one hand to
the ear with the radio in it.
RYOUKO
That backup plan would be great right about now.
WASHUU (V.O.)
I'm working on bringing the field down right now.
TENCHI
What did she say?
RYOUKO
She's working on it. Can you walk?
Tenchi shakily stands and takes a few painful steps.
TENCHI
I'll be all right.
RYOUKO
We're going to have to make a run for it.
The sound of metal moving over metal is heard. They look up
to see the main entrance lift it's metal shutters. The
force field is still up however. Outside, at least twenty-
five men in full combat gear are standing with weapons at
their sides. The man known as 'Shadow' is standing in front
of them all.
SHADOW
We have you all trapped, if you come quietly I can
assure that you won't be killed immediately.
RYOUKO
That's no deal.
SHADOW
You have no choice. There is no way out of that store
unless I shut down the fields, and if I do, you're
either going to walk out of there and surrender, or I'm
going to order these men to shoot you. As you can see,
you must do as I say if you value your life or those
with you.
WASHUU (V.O.)
I'm ready to shut down the fields.
RYOUKO
(mutters) Shut it down in ten seconds.
TENCHI
(whispering) Ryouko?
RYOUKO
(whipers) Ready to run in ten. I hope you have a good
grip on that crystal, Princess.
WASHUU (V.O.)
Two seconds...
RYOUKO
Ready.
SHADOW
What's your choice?
Cut to the bridge of Ryo-ohki. The camera is on the ceiling
looking down. It zooms down over Washuu's shoulder until a
single white button fills the whole screen. Washuu's finger
depresses it and it turns blue for a moment.
Cut back to the plaza. The field shimmers for a second then
goes down. Shadow steps back with his eyes wide.
SHADOW
What the-
RYOUKO
Go!
Ryouko flies forwards as fast as a bullet and rams right
into Shadow and consequently, into several of the soldiers
as they scramble to get their weapons ready. Tenchi and
Aeka, holding the Crystal, dash to the left as Ryouko pushes
herself off of Shadow. The men look confused as to who to
aim at as Tenchi and Aeka move quickly away. Shadow gets an
angry look on his face as he makes a fist and an energy
sword appears from it.
RYOUKO
How-
Shadow lunges at her and she ignites her own sword just in
time to block. They become locked in combat, trading blows
at an incredible speed. Shadow glances over as they battle
and yells.
SHADOW
Get the ones escaping!
The men raise their weapons and begin firing at Tenchi and
Aeka. They start zigzagging as they run to avoid shots.
RYOUKO
(struggling) What ... are ... you?
Shadow presses another attack and it's obvious they are
evenly matched.
SHADOW
(seething) The same as you.
Ryouko's eyes widen and Shadow takes the opportunity to
knock her back. She scrambles on the floor to lunge back,
but Shadow is just as quick and kicks her back. He
brandishes his sword and raises it above his head and steps
forward to cut her down.
Over with Tenchi and Aeka, they duck behind another shop for
cover as the shots barely miss them. They breath deeply and
Tenchi looks past the edge of the wall to see Ryouko below
Shadow as he's about to bring the sword down.
TENCHI
No... Ryouko!
Zoom in on Shadow as the sword starts arcing down. As he's
halfway down to her a green bolt of energy shoots out from
off-screen and hits Shadow's arms. They are suddenly
encased in a green gelatin-like cube. The energy sword is
snuffed out.
SHADOW
What?
He glances over, as does Ryouko and Tenchi, to the side of
another building where Adam is standing with the gun in his
hand. He looks at the weapon.
ADAM
(disbelief) What is this? A Jell-O gun?
Ryouko takes the opportunity to punch Shadow in the jaw,
which sends him flying back.
ADAM
(levels the gun again) Run!
He begins firing at the soldiers. Ryouko disappears and
reappears several feet away, flying towards the hangar.
Adam turns and heads in that direction as well. Ryouko
begins passing the building that Tenchi and Aeka are hiding
behind when they step out and she flies over to them.
TENCHI
Ryouko!
RYOUKO
Tenchi! Come on, lets get out of here.
They start running, amidst the shots from the soldiers.
TENCHI
Who fired that? I couldn't see.
RYOUKO
It was Adam.
TENCHI
Adam?
AEKA
Did you leave him there?
RYOUKO
He's on his way.
They turn down a corridor, then several seconds later the
soldiers come running up and start filing around the corner
after them. As Shadow reaches the corner he stops and
smashes the cube against the wall but it simply bounces
back. He grumbles and uses his nose to push a button on the
panel by the wall.
SHADOW
Shut down access to the hangars! I don't want them
leaving here!
Cut back to the group, they pass a junction and Adam comes
running up through it and joins up with them. They continue
running towards the hangar.
ADAM
Hey all. Quite a big mess this turned out to be.
TENCHI
Good thing you showed up or Ryouko would have been in
trouble.
RYOUKO
I would have taken him.
ADAM
I was a bit late, actually, I would have liked to have
zapped that guy before the fight started.
AEKA
Look! The hangars just up ahead!
They all glance forward to see the large opening to the
hangar.
ADAM
Not much farther to go.
The firing starts back up again after a few moments of
nothing. Adam points his gun arbitrarily behind him and
fires.
ADAM
I don't know about this thing, it seems to be shooting
Jell-O.
AEKA
It's working, whatever it is.
TENCHI
Ack.
Tenchi's leg suddenly stiffens and he collapses. They all
stop.
AEKA & RYOUKO
Tenchi!
They all move over to him. He clutches his leg and we see
the bandage is completely red now, blood dripping from the
ends. The firing starts up again. Adam grimaces and lifts
Tenchi's arm and puts it over his shoulder and stands him
up.
ADAM
Come on, man, not much farther to go.
TENCHI
I know, it was just a moment, lets go.
Adam and Tenchi do their best to run with Ryouko and Aeka.
AEKA
The door's closing!
They look ahead to see the two doors of the hangar sliding
shut. Ryouko pushes off and flies ahead to the door.
RYOUKO
I'll hold it open, hurry up!
ADAM
Aeka, get the crystal through!
Aeka starts running ahead as well. Adam looks back and can
see the encroaching soldiers. He tries to pick up the pace
and fires a few shots back with his free hand.
At the door, Ryouko reaches and walks over to one of the
doors and tries to push against it. The amount it slows is
marginal. Shortly after Ryouko gets though Aeka ducks past
he door with the crystal. She pushes the crystal to the
side and tries to pull on the doors to slow them down, it
doesn't affect the rate of closure at all.
AEKA
Come on!
Adam stares ahead as he runs with a distant look on his
face.
Flash back to the last vision that he had. Ryouko is
standing in the doorway trying to hold open the door. After
Tenchi ducks through she holds it open for Adam. As she's
waiting a pair of shots are fired that strike her then
Tenchi. The scene fades to black and a splash of blood is
thrown on the screen.
It all disappears as we flash back to the present. Adam
turns to Tenchi as they run.
ADAM
Think you can walk by yourself?
TENCHI
Yeah, you don't need to struggle to hold me.
ADAM
Run to the door and get through, okay?
TENCHI
(nods, determined) Yes.
ADAM
When you get through, let the door close, understand.
Do NOT wait for me.
TENCHI
(shocked) Wha-
Adam ducks out from under Tenchi's arm and pushes him
forward. He turns around immediately and, standing in the
middle of the corridor, begins firing down at the
approaching men. He glances over his shoulder.
ADAM
Go!
Shots impact on the ground near him but he continues to fire
forward with a determined look. In the distance we can see
him strike a couple of men and have parts of them become
encased in green gelatin.
At the door Ryouko is struggling heavily as the doors are
almost closed. Tenchi reaches them and Aeka helps pull him
through.
AEKA
What is he doing?
RYOUKO
Tell him to hurry, I can't hold this much longer.
Pan so we see Adam through the opening in the door. He
glances over his shoulder again.
ADAM
What the hell are you waiting for, RUN! Get out of
here before yu---Urk.
Adam is struck by a yellow beam that throws him slightly
back. A second beam his its side and he spins 180 degrees
and collapses to the ground with a sick thud.
RYOUKO
Adam!
Cut to show Adam's point-of-view. He looks up from the
ground at the door in front of him. Everything is blurry
and sounds are muffled. He sees the door still being held
open and Ryouko in the crack.
Cut to show Adam as the soldiers approach from behind. He
pulls his arm around to hold his gun up, pointed at the
door. The camera pans around him to look over his shoulder.
ADAM
(weak) Go...
He fires the gun and the green beam strikes Ryouko in the
chest, flinging her back and out of the way of the doors.
The doors slam shut immediately afterwards.
Cut to Adam's POV. He watches the door close then a pair of
yellow shots hit the wall where before it had been opened.
The image fades to black.
Cut to the hangar. Ryouko is lying on the ground with a
large green gelatin cube around her torso. Tenchi is at her
side trying to help her up.
RYOUKO
That bastard ... what was he ... doing?
WASHUU (V.O.)
Ryouko? What happened to Adam? Where is he? What's
going on?
Aeka is standing by the door.
AEKA
We have to get back in!
RYOUKO
The soldiers are through there. We have to get to the
ship before they find another way in here.
AEKA
We can't just leave him!
TENCHI
He told us to. (beat) He told me that we should go
without him.
AEKA
So what? He might still be alive!
RYOUKO
And we'll be DEAD if we don't go. We don't have a
choice here.
Tenchi helps her to her feet and she stands awkwardly.
RYOUKO
Lets go.
She walks as fast as she can (hardly at all) towards Ryo-
ohki. Tenchi looks between the door and Ryouko and drops
his head has he limps after Ryouko. Aeka lingers a bit
longer, and looks at the crystal with her father inside.
AEKA
Is what I did right? What that what a Princess would
do? Sacrifice a friend to save an Emperor?
Receiving no answer, she pushes the crystal along toward Ryo-
ohki.
Cut to the bridge of the Ryo-ohki. Washuu is sitting at the
raised central controls podium. She glances once over her
shoulder when Tenchi, Ryouko, and Aeka walk in gloomily.
Her face gets clouded and she looks ahead again.
WASHUU
Ready to go?
TENCHI
Washuu, Adam was-
WASHUU
I know. (looks down) I never imagined him the self-
sacrificing type. As selfish as it sounds, he always
seemed to worry about his own safety first. But ... I
guess saw him wrong.
AEKA
Miss Washuu...
WASHUU
We'll see about freeing your father after we get out of
here. Before he left, Adam got us the jump drive we
needed. Everyone take a station.
Everyone files down into the chairs. Sasami looks over to
Aeka when she sits down.
SASAMI
(sad) Aeka...
AEKA
I know, Sasami.
WASHUU
Lifting off.
Cut to the hangar. Ryo-ohki lifts off the hangar deck and
flies off towards the hangar doors. Moments later, soldiers
file into the hangar from a port hole in the floor a few
yards from the door. They begin firing immediately, but
their shots are easily absorbed by Ryo-ohki.
Cut to the hangar. On the main screen, the closed hangar
doors loom every closer.
AEKA
You are going to open those, aren't you?
WASHUU
Of course, just not the way they were designed to be.
Cut to the hangar. Ryo-ohki approaches the doors with
increasing speed. As it flies it changes shape again into a
thin, sleek ship, but it doesn't cloak. The nose of the
craft glows red for an instant before a beam arcs out of it
and destroys the hangar doors.
Cut to the outside of the station. There's a thick cloud
around the hangar that disperses into space just as Ryo-ohki
comes flies out of it and into the field. As soon as it's a
few hundred meters away from the hangar guns on the station
begin to open fire on it.
Cut to the bridge. Everyone is being rocked about as the
ship is hit by scattered shots.
AEKA
Can we take this for much longer?
WASHUU
I'm priming the Jump Drive right now. According to the
simulations, as soon as it reaches the critical point,
it should activate.
RYOUKO
Simulations?
WASHUU
No time for a real test, just have to work on my data.
Cut to a dark room with a large window showing space on the
outside. Ryo-ohki appears in the corner and is flying away.
A shadowy figure is sitting in a chair before the window. A
light comes on suddenly in the room and we see it's Adam,
tied to the chair, and unconscious. Shadow walks over and
slaps him hard in the face, awakening him.
ADAM
Ungghh...
SHADOW
Wake up now, you have work to do.
ADAM
Whu-what's going on? (blinks) Why aren't I dead?
SHADOW
You actually think we were firing lethal shots at you?
The Emperor wanted you alive.
Adam's eyes go wide and he groans as he hangs his head.
ADAM
They were stun shots... he would have lived...
SHADOW
Everything is all okay, however, because you are going
to send a message to them now, telling them to come
back, or I really will kill you.
Adam frowns.
ADAM
Not a chance. Just kill me, I'd already prepared
myself for it.
SHADOW
I don't suppose you've had much experience with true
torture?
Adam swallows.
ADAM
O-of course I have.
SHADOW
If your tone of voice didn't convince me, my research
into your planet tells me you haven't. I know how
things work on Earth, you've abolished the art almost
completely. The only way you'd know the pain is if you
lived on one of the few lands that still abused it's
people. But your pale skin that has never baked under
the hot sun and soft hands that have never worked the
tools of a land proves you probably live in one of the
more ... restrained areas. I believe you call them ...
civil?
ADAM
Your deduction skills are very good. But like I said,
I'll die before helping you.
SHADOW
(grins evilly) You lie. (beat) I'll see to it, that
you're tortured until your very mind crumbles, and
you'll tell me everything I need, without consent.
Adam looks worried and turns to look out the window as Ryo-
ohki moves further away.
ADAM (V.O.)
Move quicker then them, accomplish what you need to
before they get what they want. I'm counting on you to-
-
Ryo-ohki crackles with energy and parts of the ship begin to
turn white.
SHADOW (O.S.)
What's going on? Why is that happening?
Adam stares confused at first and then realization dawns on
him.
FERUU (V.O.)
No, no, not good for use in field. Leave field, then
use, for good results.
ADAM
NOOOOOOOO!
Cut to the bridge of Ryo-Ohki. Washuu stares at one of the
holographic screens in her dome.
WASHUU
That isn't right, the gravity waveform is unbalanced.
RYOUKO
What does that mean?
WASHUU
I think ... of course! It's the reflective properties
of the-
Cut to the room with the window. The ship glows completely
white then explodes in a bluish ball of energy that engulfs
a large portion of the field in its area before dying down
and becoming a cloud of Duplidium ore. Adam is shaking in
shock. Shadow stands nearby, talking into a phone on the
wall.
SHADOW (O.S.)
What the hell happened? (beat) Is there any chance they
survived?
Adam's head falls and closes his eyes tightly, trying to
hold back the tears.
He isn't successful.
SHADOW (O.S.)
Damn! The Emperor will not be pleased.
The camera pans in on Adam as Shadow continues to talk.
SHADOW (O.S.)
I guess I don't have much more use for you now. I
guess I could sell you for a nice fee, slave labor is a
hot commodity around here.
Fade to black.
END PART I
(To Be Concluded...)
---------
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