Story c 2001 by Buggyness Tenchi and co are the property of Pioneer and AIC Comments? Reviews? Buggyness@hotmail.com Chapter 5: Battles on Earth and in the Heavens The sound of Yugami and Ryo-ooh blasting through the portal to Jurai space shakes Ryoko awake with a shudder. She almost rolled off the top the Masaki house. "Damn, Mihoshi! Can't you fly that thing?" She thought, rubbing the elbow she had just banged on a shingle. Ryoko then notices the tail end of Ryo-ooh as it enters the portal and disappears. "What? Ayeka's leaving!" She said out loud. "Time for celebrating." Ryoko phased through the roof, passing through the upstairs of the house, and finally settling in the living room. No one was around. "Hello?" she asked. "Hey! Where is everyone?" "Right here!" Answered Sasami coming in from the kitchen. "Where have you been, Ryoko? We couldn't find you." "I didn't think anyone else was up.where's Tenchi?" She scanned the room for him. "Ryoko, something terrible has happened." "What?" "Jurai is being attacked." Inserted Washu as she stepped into the room. "Tenchi left to protect the planet Jurai." "AND NO ONE CAME TO LOOK FOR ME!" Screamed the pirate. "Ryo-ohki! Come here!" "No! Ryoko!" Washu said with authority as the furry animal popped her head from around the corner. "Ryo-ohki, let's go to Jurai." "Miya?" Questioned the cabbit. "No, Ryoko. You have to stay here to protect us and for the battle ahead.." Washu realized she had gotten ahead of herself. "Just what are you talking about, Mom!" she screeched. "Ryoko, Tenchi and the others have a battle they must face alone. You must trust me." "Trust?" Anger welled up in her golden eyes. Ryoko's fists clinched. The gem in her left wrist glowed and a yellow spark traveled from it, up her arm and down the rest of her body. As the spark flowed down, her casual pink kimono transformed into her red and black battle suit. Ryoko had but one gem embedded in her left wrist. The sleeve of that hand carried the gem's red stripes. The sleeve of her right hand remained garbed in black until reunited with its missing gem. "I can't trust anyone, but myself!" Enraged, the pirate hurled an orange energy blast into the far wall, destroying it. When the smoke cleared, the occupants could see a very calm view of the lake just outside. Ryoko's eyes narrowed. She brought back her weapon hand and let out a cleansing sigh. "I, I can't believe he left without me.without talking to me, about." She collapsed to her knees and started to cry before she could finish. "Ryoko! Please don't cry. They will win and be back soon." Sasami knelt down and hugged the pirate. "Ryoko?" Washu asked Ryoko telepathically. "Leave my head, Washu." Snarled Ryoko back using her own psychic link to the scientist. "Ryoko, I see by your remarks our plan was successful." Again in Ryoko's mind. "Damn it, Washu!," Ryoko said out loud. "I said get out of my head!" She stood up, ignoring Sasami and marched outside through the hole in the wall. "What was that about, Washu?" Asked the girl. "Sasami, ask Tsnunami. She may be ready to open up to you about some things. I'm not entirely sure what she has in mind now." Washu retreated to her lab leaving Sasami cuddling Ryo-ohki in the rubble of the living room. *** "Lord Zephr!" A booming voice came from outside the bridge of the command ship of Mirai. "Enter, General Kenji.." answered Zephr, still seated in his command chair as the battle played forth on the enormous screen before him. "What is it." "We have captured 1.5 million civilians, 4000 Galaxy Police and a few Royals. They are being processed as we speak. The non viable ones are being housed on fleets 3 through 29 for gasing." "Kenji! You were instructed to leave no casualties if possible!" answered the boy. "But sir, we cannot conquer an empire without decimating its population!" "No! Tokimi does not want us to conquer Jurai, she said nothing about KILLING everyone. We will have casualties of war, I understand and regret that, but I am not letting any of these captured people die just because our ships cannot use them. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?" he threatened the grizzled old general. "But Lord Zephr!" "Not one of the un-viable ones are to die! Transport them back to the planet as close as where they were taken!" He got out of his chair and faced the General eye to eye. "Yes, I will carry out your orders." Kenji answered sarcastically. The hardened war veteran turned his back to the young man and began to exit. Just before he left the room, he spoke. "Zephr, just what do you think the extracting facilities do to the viable ones. I wonder if their souls remain in hell forever." He exited. "Damn him." Whispered Zephr. He shrank back down into his chair and ran his hands through his hair. He knew exactly what his ships, the magical ships Tokimi created as a gift to his people to conquer their own space, did - they brought pain and horrible death. "Sir!" The seated lieutenant pipped in. "There is a disturbance in sector three." "Expand screen." He answered. The command screen changed from the massive battle to a smaller, obscure corner of the action. There was a bright flash of light and a hole in space materialized. The two ships carrying Tenchi, Ayeka, Yosho, Mihoshi and Kiyone entered the battle and soon began blasting the Mirai battle ships. "This is who you really want me to fight, isn't it Tokimi." Zephr uttered. "Bring the command ship to rendezvous with the two intruders. Disable their weapons, I want the occupants transported to my gallery." He raised himself up and exited the bridge.