Tenchi Muyo: Honor and Glory

Disclaimer: I do not own Tenchi Muyo, its characters, or any
paraphernalia associated with it.  I do own any made up characters and
this story.  So please, do not sue me.

Part 7: The Gathering of Forces

They shall come at the death of a goddess, to herald the final battle of
the Goddess War.  The waves are still, the wind ceases, and the stars
dim in their wake.  The come to protect and to nurture; to aid, and to
guide; they are the chosen warriors.  The Protector: Son of a fallen
Goddess.  The Risen Goddess: Product of the ultimate sacrifice.  The
Guardian: Guide and emperor.  The Guides: Love binds their fate to the
Guardian.  The Fallen Goddess: Mother and nurturer.  The Daughter of
Darkness: product of darkness, her love shines the light for the true
path.  And finally, The Lost: consigned to damnation, he shines the
light of revelation.

The Tarellian Oracles: Book III, Chapter VII

	He became aware to the feeling of a warm body beside him.  The skin was
like silk, her breasts were against his shoulder.  He could feel the
worry emanating from her thoughts.  He projected his thoughts to her,
calming the chaotic mind.  He could feel the relief coming from it.
	He opened his eyes, seeing the form of a young woman.  It took him a
second to regain his full train of thought, as he recognized her. 
Sasami, his fiancee.  She was asleep next to him.  He noticed that she
was not fully on the bed, but on a chair.  He mentally chuckled at the
thought of her slumping over from exhaustion.  Though he had to admit
that he liked her there, slumped over like that.
	"Sasami," he said. "wake up." He kissed her to emphasize his meaning.
	She stirred and muttered something under her breath.  Opening her eyes,
she saw that he was awake.  She finally got up, noticing that there were
several sore muscles due to how she slept.  She masked her pain for his
benefit, and managed a smile. "Teran, you're awake." She suddenly
collapsed into his arms, weeping openly. "I thought that I lost you. 
You were out of it for two weeks, and it looked like you would never
wake up."
	"I am all right now.  Sasami, you know that I'll never leave you, so
don't worry." He tightened his embrace.
	"Dammit, I know that!" she shouted. "It's just that, you looked like a
corpse." She continued to weep, but it was calmer now.
	Teran knew what she was talking about.  The amount of power he used in
his battle with D3 caused his body to undergo some serious changes. 
After waking up from the initial shock, his body soon went into a state
of hibernation to adapt to the new demands put on it.  The Calling, as
it was called, represented total control of one's powers.  Every aspect
of him has changed.  His senses were extremely acute, for one.  He also
noticed that his power was now a part of his entire makeup and could be
called upon without conscious effort.  That included his Juraian powers
and the powers that he inherited from his mother.
	"Sasami, it was necessary for me to do that.  If I didn't go into
hibernation, the power would have eventually killed me." He smiled at
her as she looked up at him. "Fortunately, I will not have to go through
that again." He began to grin. "You don't have to worry, everything is
still intact, and I doubt that certain functions have been hampered." He
smiled at Sasami's indignant cry as he blocked the poorly aimed punch
directed at his head.
	"Teran, be serious for a change."
	"I am serious, but when I'm not busy fighting, it helps to have a sense
of humor.  Otherwise, I'd become a heartless killer or worse."
	"What do you mean?" She looked at him in concern.
	He took a deep breath. "Sasami, I have been trained to fight.  In fact,
I have been a warrior since I was eighteen.  I was drafted into the
United States Army to fight a pointless war."
	"Teran, I knew that you served time in the army, but I didn't know that
you were drafted."
	"Yes, the bonding didn't show everything.  There are parts of both our
lives, that the other doesn't know about.  Now please, don't interrupt."
	Sasami bit back the retort that came to mind and nodded.
	"The war was in the Arabian Peninsula on the Earth that I grew up on. 
Everyone was led to believe that the Iraqi leader was preparing to
launch several nuclear missiles at us.  We attacked and brutally crushed
his army in several battles.  After a month, we were in control of his
capitol, Baghdad.  We didn't realize the stupidity of the war until an
army of over ten million men besieged the city.  We were played for
fools all along.  We did what was considered impossible.  We united
every Arab in the Middle East against a common foe."
	"Dear God, why?" Sasami asked.
	"We overstepped our bounds.  No single Arab nation could stand up to
the United States Army, but several could.  The nuclear threat was a
farce that was designed to rally the people's support against a thorn in
the side of the politicians.  No one expected this.  We faced an army
larger than any ever seen in Earth's history.  That is when the war
became savage.
"We fought in Baghdad for two weeks, running low on supplies and
ammunition, but we fought on.  Finally, we were able to break free.  We
did a night assault on their eastern perimeter and punched a hole
through their forces.  I would not see such savage fighting until the
end of the war.  When the losses were tallied, we lost almost a hundred
thousand men.  While the Arabs lost twice our number, they were able to
spare the troops.  We weren't.  Thus began a large scale desert campaign
that ended in nuclear fire.  The Arabs lost the will to fight when they
realized that there was nothing left.  But they were enraged at us for
the indiscriminate killing that just happened.  They formed up their
lines and charged.  It was a slaughter.  In the end, they were wiped
out.  Five million Arab men were killed in battle that day.  Twenty
million civilians were killed in the nuclear fire.  The war was over." 
After saying this, he broke down and wept.
Sasami sat down next to Teran and held him.  She understood why he
wept.  No one should ever have to do or see what he has already done and
seen.  He has been in a war, and was responsible for many of the
deaths.  He never liked killing, nor will he.
She was still holding him when Washu came in to check on her son.  What
she saw, surprised her.  She had only seen her son weep once, and that
was after he killed thirteen soldiers and a woman committed suicide,
dying in his arms.  He must have told Sasami about the war. She
thought.  She then realized that although her son was strong, he could
not fully handle the emotional strain that came with killing.  Now she
understood the meaning of a certain passage in the Tarellian Oracles.

Risen through war and strife; he comes
Called by the Goddess; loved by the Risen whom he protects
Held up by the light of her heart; held down by the darkness of his soul
His heart and body are strong; his soul is burdened by guilt
When the final battle comes, he will stand by her side
His guilt lifted; his darkness banished
He is for whom will be destined to battle
Thus stands the Protector, strong and proud

	He will fight on, his guilt increasing.  But soon, he will be released
from that guilt, and he will be the greatest fighter in the galaxy,
possibly the universe.  He will stand by Sasami's side in the coming
battle with Tokimi.  Washu couldn't figure if it would be he who
defeated Tokimi or not, but she didn't worry about it.  Time would tell.

	Tenchi was in the practice yard, running through the forms the Misaki
has been putting him through.  He looked over at his daughter and saw
her matching him, move for move.  He counted his blessings that he was
not sparring with her at this moment.  She would easily rival Teran in
skill, if not speed.  And while he was also good, Teran beat him half
the time, a testament to their collective skills.
	"Tenchi!" came a woman's shout
	"Hai Misaki-sensei!" he shouted.  Tenchi didn't understand why Teran
didn't use the terms of honor that he did, but considering that Teran
was raised as an American, very little was held against him.
	"I want you and Mayuka to spar." She smiled when she saw Tenchi's
expression.  He looked like a man facing his execution. "Don't worry
Tenchi, she won't hurt you."
	"Then why don't you spar with her, Misaki-sensei?" he asked sourly.
"I'm sure she would provide you some entertainment, if not sport." He
grinned.
	Misaki flushed with anger, but she kept it hidden.  The fact that
Tenchi knew of her little idiosyncrasies was annoying in itself, but she
didn't like him to rub it in  like that.  What riled her was that Teran
and Sasami, in that knowing way of theirs, were going to make it a
public joke during their wedding.
Damn them!  The entire world did not need to know, however obliquely,
that she happened to like girls as well as guys.  So fucking what!? 
Funaho was like that as well.  She was so busy getting angry at her
daughter and future son-in-law, that she almost missed Tenchi's
acknowledgment of readiness.
	"Begin!" she shouted with a little more force than intended.
	Tenchi and Mayuka faced off, and began to spar.  They moved with such
grace, that it was like a dance.  Misaki was paying scant attention to
this as she contemplated her revenge.  She and Funaho had talked to
Washu about it.

	"Damn them!" Funaho shouted. "What gives them the right to humiliate us
in front of all the nobles?"
	"At least they are going to be humiliated like everyone else." Replied
Misaki.
	"All right you two, knock it off." Washu called. "Here, this will
help." She grinned, evilly. "This substance will cause abdominal
distention for a week and it will make them impotent for about two
weeks.  Trust me, they will be very uncomfortable, and very pissed when
they find out."
	"Where did you come up with this stuff?" Funaho asked.
	"Oh, I made it during my days at the Science Academy on Todain.  I was
one of the most notorious pranksters there.  Would you like to hear the
story?"
	"Why not." Misaki replied.
	"I had a serious rival there by the name of Clay.  One day, for no
reason, he really pissed me off.  We weren't even doing anything to
warrant pranks and spanners.  Oh well, I created this, because he
happens to like little girls, a lot."
	"He's a pedophile." Funaho stated.
	"Yes, a pedophile." Washu replied. "He's lucky that I sent him to
prison before you guys came along shortly after.  He really screwed
around Earth for a while.  Anyway, I created this and gave it to him."
she began to laugh, a raucous laugh. "You should have seen the look on
his face when he realized what I did to him.  Oh he was pissed!"  Washu
began to laugh even harder.  Funaho and Misaki joined in.
	"I think I will go to the GP station and talk to this Clay." Funaho
remarked.
	"Yeah, I think we'll all go." Washu replied. "I want to embarrass him
further.  Hell, maybe I'll do a strip tease, since he likes little girls
so much."

	Misaki began to grin at the memory.  They would go see this Dr. Clay
and talk to him.  He had a lot of explaining to do.  Fortunately for
him, Washu mentioned that he didn't harm her daughters in a sexual
manner.  Meaning, he will live with his reproductive organs intact and
not floating in a jar next to him when he wakes up the next morning. 
Unfortunately, that did not include the injuries he is bound to suffer
at both Misaki's and Funaho's hands.
	"Misaki-sensei, why are you smiling like that?" came Tenchi's voice.
	She then realized that she must look like a fool grinning like that.
"Noting Tenchi," she replied. "nothing at all." She noticed that Tenchi
didn't buy it so she told the story, minus the revenge part.

	"You have some visitors Doctor." Came the voice of the shift guard.
	Visitors?  This was new.  He hasn't had any visitors since D3 came and
told him what a fuck up he was.  That memory rankled, but he suppressed
it.  He came to the visitor's lounge and entered.  When he saw his
visitors, his blood went cold.  There was Washu, that boy Tenchi, a blue
haired girl that he didn't recognize, and two women in the garments of
the Juraian nobility.  He repressed a chuckle when he saw that one of
the women was not Juraian.  Impostors are dealt with very harshly by the
Juraians.
	"Hi Clay." Washu stated in good humor. "How's life treating you?"
	"Better since you sent me here." he grumbled. "So tell me, what brings
you here."
	"Oh, I came here to torment you." she began to grin, wickedly.  The
grin was mimicked by all the other women present.  Tenchi was busy
studying the scenery outside the small window, trying very hard not to
laugh.
"What are you going to do?" Clay asked. "Kill me?"
"No, that's too easy, but before we begin, let me introduce you to my
companions.  You already know Tenchi, so I'll skip him."  Clay's eyes
widened in shock when he learned that Mayuka was Tenchi's daughter. 
When he was introduced to Misaki and Funaho, he almost dropped dead.  He
knew, by the grins on the ladies faces, that he was in for a trip to
hell and back, probably worse.
"Something tells me that I'm going to live to regret this day." He told
no one in particular.
"No shit Clay, for what you did to my father and friends, you are in for
some serious pain." was Mayuka's answer.  Without further ado, the
ladies began their work.
Tenchi left the lounge right after the torment/torture/oh hell you get
the idea, began.  He knew what was going on, but he did not want to see
it.  He walked through the halls of the station, staying near the
lounge, when the heard a massive explosion.
	"Attention, attention, we are under attack.  All personnel report to
designated areas.  Repeat we are under attack.  All personnel report to
designated areas." Came a voice off the PA system.
	Tenchi didn't think about what he did next, he just acted.  Running
into the lounge, he saw a dark cloaked man in front of the ladies. 
Washu had a frightened look on her face that spoke of betrayal.  Tenchi
looked at the man's face an saw why.
	The man looked very much like Teran, except that his eyes were darker. 
Black instead of green.  He recognized the man as Teran's father from
the incident with Tetrel so many months ago.
	"Tenchi Masaki, I presume." He said.
	"Althair ai Ki'Tarel en Orlain.  I thought you were dead."
	"I know, it's not hard to make it seem that way, although I am no
longer able to hide it from my son anymore." He chuckled. "That fool
Kagato has probably told him by now.  Anyway, I give you greetings from
Lady Tokimi."
	"So, you're working for Tokimi, why?  Your cousin works for her as
well." Tenchi was having a hard time taking this in.
	"True, but I have other reasons."
	"What?"
	"You'll see.  You'll see." He laughed.
	"Why are you here?" Tenchi asked.
	"To get that piece of shit, Clay.  Tokimi seems to have a use for him. 
I'll be seeing you again, Tenchi Masaki." He disappeared, with the
echoes of his laughter still in the room.
	Tenchi looked at the women present.  Washu's face was ghost white,
while Mayuka's was as hard as stone.  Misaki and Funaho showed anger and
more than a little fear in their eyes.  They knew that Althair is not
someone to fuck around with.  He looked inside himself and found fear
present, but he realized that he was lucky.  Althair only came to get
Clay, not to fight.  No matter how twisted or evil he becomes, he won't
fight unless necessary.  He also knew that they would meet again before
long.

	Lady Tokimi watched the meeting between Althair and Tenchi.  Something
about it troubled her, but she didn't know what.  Oh well, it will come
to her.  She turned her head as she felt a presence enter.  It was her
seneschal, Terak.
	"My lady, D3 wishes to speak with you." he said.
	"Send him in, Terak." she replied.
	"Yes my lady." his presence left, but she didn't care.  D3 was not
happy with her bringing Althair in.  He has probably worked up the
courage to tell her that she made a mistake.  Not that she really
listens, but she had to admit this.  For once, he may be right.  She
turned to look at a globe in the center of the chamber.  She called up
the image of Tenchi rescuing his friends from a black hole, and replayed
the scene.  It still astounded her that a mortal could possess so much
power, but she did not underestimate him.  She recalled what happened
when she underestimated her sisters…

	She saw devastation all around.  Her forces were decimated by the
combined fleets that Tsunami and Washu threw at her.  Now it was down to
this, a direct confrontation with her sisters.  Although she was the
most powerful of the three, she had no illusions.  Together, they would
be able to match her, and most likely defeat her.  She was consigned to
defeat, but she would not make it easy…

	D3's presence brought her out of her thoughts.  She still had her back
turned, but she could sense his agitation.  Something was bothering him,
and she had an idea what it was.
	"D3, how goes the analysis on that boy, Teran.?" She asked.
	"It is as you believed, my lady." he said. "The further he uses his
power, the more powerful he becomes.  As of now, he is near to becoming
a higher level dimensional lifeform."
	"He is close to becoming WHAT?" she shouted. "Two months ago, he would
not have equaled you in combat.  How could he have come so far in such a
short amount of time?"
	"The Calling." Was D3's answer.
	"The Calling?  What do you mean?"
	"It is a trait that is unique to those of Kirallian blood.  After they
reach the point that their powers fully manifest themselves, they go
into a state of hibernation that lasts an indeterminate amount of time. 
Most of the time, it lasts for about three days, but there have been
cases of it lasting weeks.  It's all in the amount of power in the
individual."
	"In the amount of power?" she asked.
	"Yes, the more powerful the individual, the longer it lasts.  If Teran
was a full blooded Kirallian, he would be out of it for at least a
month, if not more.  But since he's only a third Kirallian, the amount
of time will be shorter.  I give it about two to three weeks before he
recovers."
	"What does it do?" she was really curious about this.
	"It enhances the individual's power and allows him, or her, to increase
to higher levels than before."
	"So you're telling me that Teran has just been through this calling and
is now almost as powerful as I am?"
	"Yes."
	"Interesting.  He is almost what some would call a god, but he still
has a ways to go.  Keep a close eye on him D3.  It looks like we have a
potentially dangerous enemy here.  Now, what about the others?"
	"The girl, Sasami is as powerful as Tsunami, but due to her lack of
experience, she is a minor threat right now.  Tenchi, Ayeka, and Ryoko
are relatively unchanged, but it would not hurt to watch them.  I have
finally been able to get a analysis on Tenchi's daughter.  She is
powerful and due to her nature, she has contradictory powers."
	"Contradictory powers?"
	"Yes, she has the combined powers of the spirit of the Tree of
Darkness, and the essence of Tsunami.  Both powers counteract each
other, but she seems to be in full control of both.  With that idiot
Clay's help, I will hopefully be able to understand how she is able to
utilize both forces simultaneously.  That is all at this time."
	"Good, now you forgot about Washu, but she is relatively unchanged if
I'm correct.  Since the war, she has gradually regained her powers, but
she will not be able to fully use them for quite a while yet." She
smiled. "You are the only one left, sister."
	"My lady, by your leave."
	"Go D3, report after you have a full analysis on that girl.  Then, we
will prepare for the coming confrontation."
	"Yes my lady." he was about to leave when he remembered something. "My
lady, about Althair."
	"Don't worry.  I don't fully trust him either, but he is useful.  As
long as it is convenient, he will live.  After that, we will see."
	"Yes, my lady." with that, he left.
	"Soon, all will be complete.  I have not forgotten my sisters." She
began to laugh, as the pieces were falling into place.  She will not
make the same mistake again.  She will not underestimate her enemies.

	In a place of infinite dimension, a presence stirred.  It was
everything and nothing at the same time.  It has seen the birth of
countless ages, and the creation of the universe.  It knew not of its
own creation, but it was always there.  It remembered not of its own
birth, as it was meaningless to comprehend that.  It was the essence of
creation.  It was the essence of life and death.
	It felt it, the gathering of forces.  It felt the shifting of the
Balance.  It knew, in its own way, that the fate of all was about to be
decided.  Feeling that the time was right, it reached out, and felt for
the beings that represented balance.  Unfortunately, it felt emptiness
where there should be Tsunami.  It noticed the weakness of Washu. 
Still, it noticed something.  Two beings were nearing the point of the
infinite.  One, had Tsunami's marks, while the other, bore Washu's
trademarks.  It felt their energies flow, and it guided them.  The
balance shall be maintained.
	It looked at the work accomplished.  They will come into their power
soon.

Darkness.  Throughout the dimension, there was darkness.  A being of
unimaginable evil stirred.  It opened its eyes and surveyed its realm. 
It felt them, servants, victims, demons.  All under its control.  It
projected a thought to them.
I am Kain, your master.  Come to me, my minions.
It felt them come, and it commanded them.  It considered its position
and decided a course of action.  It was a manipulator, and Tokimi was
its unwitting servant.  The time for war was on.

Author's Note:  Nothing to say, except that it's almost over.  See 'ya.