Author’s Note: Most of the characters in the following story are not mine and in no way do I claim them to be. Nor do I claim that I created the universe that the characters are placed in. The characters and the universe remain the property of Hitoshi Okuda, Pioneer LDC, INC and Kadokawa Shoten Publishing CO. Please do not sue. This is a fanfic and is nothing more than a show of my appreciation to the creators of Tenchi Muyo. No Need for Dark Warriors Chapter 7 Silence had fallen in the Masaki household. Everyone had gathered in the living room at the moment but no one was talking. The only people absent from the gathering were Washuu, still in her lab, and Katsuhito, who had apparently gone off to be alone. Tenchi was very nervous. He had been having horrible feelings all day but then, just a moment ago, he had had a sensation that left his body drained. It was as if billions of souls had been suddenly snuffed out of existence by an incredible force. The princess Aeka was asleep with her head on Tenchi’s shoulder. Ryoko, who normally would not stand for such a thing, was currently passed out on the floor and it would be some time before she was sober enough to wake. Tenchi sighed and looked down at the small object in his hands. It was a blue ball with two antennas that looked like dogs ears. Washuu had given it two him saying that it would let him know when the Juraian ships were arriving. Just when he was wondering if the ships would ever arrive the little ball began to buzz and then, surprisingly, bark just like a little dog. The noise woke Aeka and she was quickly standing. “That must be them!” Aeka was out the door rather quickly and was followed by Sasami. Soon the others found their way out, save for Ryoko who was still incoherent on the floor. The group gathered outside just in time to see the sky turn to a purplish hue as a Juraian ship slowly came down and then stopped at a hover over the Masaki residence. A yellowish beam shot forth from the ship and then two figures slowly descended. When the two figures reached the ground and the beam disappeared their faces could then be witnessed. The two figures were Azusa and Misaki. Sasami ran forward. “Mommy!” Aeka quickly followed and the two princesses embraced Misaki tightly while Azusa seemed content to stare off at the sky. “Oh mommy its so good to see you!” Said Aeka with tears in her eyes. Misaki began to pet her daughters feverishly. “Oh its good to see you too my darlings!” Azusa ignored the scene of his wife and daughters for the moment and began to stride slowly in Tenchi’s direction. Tenchi took several steps back until his foot caught a branch on the ground causing him to fall flat at Azusa’s feet. The king of Jurai glowered at Tenchi for a moment and then spoke. “Stand up.” Tenchi did as he was instructed. “Um, hello your majesty I-“ Azusa silenced Tenchi with a hard look. “Where is Yosho?” Before Tenchi could answer Katsuhito came onto the scene and nodded toward Azusa. “Hello father.” Azusa nodded distastefully. “Yosho. I see you’ve been keeping yourself busy here as usual.” “Ohhhh darling?” Azusa visibly cringed, but only slightly. “Yes Misaki?” “Come and see your daughters!” “Yes…” * * * Washuu was still staring at her computer screen in complete disbelief. She was shuddering violently as sweat poured down her face. “No.” She thought. “This can’t be… Jurai… gone…” Slowly the scientist stood and walked out of her lab heavily. She was running a hundred ideas though her mind, but there was nothing that would work. How was she going to tell the others? Upon reaching the living room she stepped over Ryoko without a hitch and headed for the door where she almost bumped into Tenchi who was coming in, no doubt in order to inform her of the arrival of the Juraian ship. Upon seeing the shattered look on Washuu’s face Tenchi became concerned. “Washuu… what’s wrong? You look terrible!” She sighed and wiped her eyes. “Um, yeah. Listen Tenchi you better come with me. I have to tell the others something and I want you to be there.” “Washuu-“ “Just come on Tenchi.” Tenchi followed Washuu out the door with a sick feeling forming in his heart. When Washuu and Tenchi joined the others, Azusa was just finishing his explanation of the affairs plaguing the galaxy. They of course were all positive views; views that had the Juraian navy taking care of the threat. Washuu waited until he was finished and then cut in. “Um, there’s something you might want to know, all of you.” Azusa was acting well considering how he usually reacted when he was cut off. “Yes?” Washuu took in a long breath and then let it out. “Jurai is gone.” “What!” Azusa roared. “You’re lying!” Washuu shook her head. “No, its been blown clear off the galactic map.” Things happened rapidly after Washuu said the words. First Aeka fainted and fell into Tenchi’s arms, second Misaki fainted and landed in Azusa’s arms. Then Sasami fell to the ground and began weeping. The others were in various states of shock as they stared at Washuu and Ryo-Ohki was mewing pitifully. Azusa was glowing red. “How dare you say such a thing! You have no proof! How could you? None of our sensors work right now and-“ Washuu shook her head. “Mine do and Jurai is gone.” “Stop saying that!” Washuu wiped the hair out of her eyes and began typing on her keyboard that had appeared beside her. “This is a map of the galaxy and here is where Jurai should be.” Azusa stared at the screen. “My god…” Washuu shook her head. “Oh no, not god, something evil and my sensors show that its headed right for us, for Earth.” Tenchi had set Aeka down gently and was at Washuu’s side. “What do we do? I mean if everything’s gone!” “There is one thing.” Said Washuu. “I could modify a ship for time travel and then we could go back and stop this thing before it has a chance to do what its done. It’s our only hope. One things for sure, we can’t beat it in an open fight now.” Tenchi closed his eyes. “How long is it going to take for you to do that?” “What? Mesh a time machine into a ships computer and engine drives? Not long, but we don’t have much time! That thing is coming right for us so I have to move fast. We should use Ryo-Ohki, I know her better than any other ship.” Washuu stood and headed back for the house. “I’ll get started. Tenchi, you better take care of everyone and be ready to head to space in ten minutes and do wake Ryoko when you have the chance.” Washuu was stopped by Tenchi’s hand on her shoulder. She turned to face him. “Washuu. Is this going to work?” He said. “I hope so. If we blow this one there’s nothing between that thing and Earth. Its already taken out two fleets that I know of, this is our last chance to stop it.” Washuu shrugged off Tenchi’s hand and began running for the house leaving Tenchi to deal with the others and try to wake those that had passed out. Azusa watched Washuu depart. The king sensed someone behind him, and then felt a hand grip his shoulder. He turned to see his son Yosho looking at him with a solemn gaze. The king nodded slightly and then turned away and stared sadly up at the sky in the direction where he knew his home planet had been as a single tear rolled from his eye. Time was of the essence now, as precious as life itself. They had to fix this somehow otherwise there would be nothing left, nothing seemed to be spared by the wave of emptiness spreading all over the galaxy. To be continued...