Perfect Circle Chapter 1: Circular Light By Karlmarks --------------------Notes-------------------- First, the standard disclaimer. I don't own any of the Tenchi Muyo characters or universe elements. These are the intellectual property of Pioneer. That was pretty simple. Additionally, I'd like to thank everybody in the #tenchiff channel on IRC, especially Davner and Zyraen, for providing ideas that helped my write my first "everyday life" scenes; without them this story wouldn't have worked at all. "Perfect Circle," the series which you are currently reading, takes place in something similar to the TV version of the Tenchi Muyo universe, before the main characters have leave Earth. Assume the plots of the official TV universe and that of "Perfect Circle" to have diverged at that point. I've employed a small bit of poetic license, but nothing too major. "Nightmare," the prologue of "Perfect Circle," took place 3 years before this, the first chapter. It's essential to have first read "Nightmare" for "Circular Light" to make any sense. Conventions--"*"s around a *word* or *a phrase* indicate emphasis. represents a character's thoughts. A line of three "*"s *** such as this represents a time change or major scene change. Infrequently I've intentionally not capitalized the first word in dialogue; this denotes a sort of lack of emphasis or attention. Characters here don't always speak with correct grammar and such, but neither do most people in real life. Just making sure I'm understood-- And, the standard Karlmarks disclaimer: In the words of Matt Collins of Eve 6, "I promise not to try not to fuck with your mind." And we begin! ----------------End Of Notes----------------- Gray-blue hair swirled across the universe like a destructive supernova. Tenchi's dark eyes fixed on it in a trance as he stepped out of a star and walked toward the demon. She smiled cruelly as he stepped into her welcoming embrace. "Ryoko. Ever since I first saw you I've known I loved you. Please, just be with me. Be with me forever! Make my life complete!" "I will, my love. I will!" Ryoko laughed to herself as she held Tenchi to her chest, carefully positioning her breasts for maximum effect. Lord Tenchi would be her slave forever. "The first thing we need to do is tell Aeka," she suggested, exposing her fangs in a predatory grin. Aeka gasped as she woke up. Sweat drenched her violet hair as the princess sat upright. Why did these nightmares persist? Tenchi could not possibly be attracted to that woman! She glanced at the clock to her left; it was 3:30 in the morning. Shivering, Aeka closed her eyes and tried to go back to sleep. *** The sky was a shade of pale gray-blue nearly that of her hair. Ryoko, pirate, adventurer, and houseguest of the Masakis shook that hair back from her face as she stared at the sunrise. She wasn't lost in thought or contemplation, she simply watched the scene in silence. It seemed that every day there was less time. Ryoko found herself sleeping twelve hours or more each day. When she was awake, everything was...different. Faraway. Her link to Ryo-ohki was increasingly difficult to pay attention to. It seemed the only time she could focus on life was when she was with Tenchi. His face, his voice, his eyes; everything about him demanded her complete attention. It had been a week since the trouble started. At first Ryoko had decided that the strain of the need to appear constantly perfect with Tenchi around was responsible for her lack of energy. The more she thought about it, the less that made sense. She, the greatest pirate in the universe, worn out by this? It was probably time to get help. Perhaps Washu could give her something for it. Ryoko turned to walk back to the Masaki house. *** "I wonder where Ryoko is," Tenchi mused aloud. She hadn't shown up for breakfast, which was, well, odd for one who ate as she did. Aeka's thoughts answered. But before she could speak it aloud footsteps clattered on the wooden floor behind her. Tenchi's eyes widened as he saw Ryoko standing in the doorway. "hey," she spoke without intonation, "has anyone seen....washu?" The room wavered slightly as it turned a deep purple. She held her left hand against the wall to keep her balance as the purple deepened towards black. She fell toward the door frame she was using for support. Aeka turned around in her chair in time to see Ryoko slump to the floor. "She--Somebody get Washu!" Tenchi shouted. Sasami jumped to her feet and ran from the room, presumably to summon the scientist. Tenchi knelt by Ryoko and tried to check for a pulse. She didn't seem to have one, but that was probably just her alien physiology. Looking closer, he could tell she was breathing. "Ryoko! Can you hear me? What's wrong?" he shouted desperately. "no...let me sleep...go away..." she muttered. Her face was soaked in sweat and her breath was rapid and shallow. Aeka joined them on the floor, a look of concern twisting her face. "What's wrong?" Washu asked, standing with the wide-eyed Sasami above the three on the floor. "What happened to Ryoko?" "She just...collapsed!" Tenchi answered. "Well, we should get her to my lab," advised the scientist. Various specimens, pieces of equipment, and other objects were strewn around Washu's lab in seemingly random fashion. Ryoko was stretched out on a scannning device close to the main computer terminal, a holographic readout rotating above her. Washu herself was typing rapidly on a gray keyboard that had materialized beneath her fingers. "Ahhhh...I see...mmm-hmmm...taking into account the halflife..." Her fingers flew across the device as she stared intently at the scanner readouts. Displays popped up in front of her face, with fast-scrolling text accompanied by pictures of Ryoko, a vast chain of chemical bonds, and a 3d projection of a living cell. Finally, Washu turned to face the group. Nobuyuki and Katsuhito had followed the others into the lab; all the residents of the Masaki household watched the scientist attentively. "Well?" Tenchi asked the scientist. "Ryoko is suffering from a dangerous local virus responsible for killing millions of you humans. I believe it's referred to as "influenza" or "the flu," Washu said gravely. "The flu?" Tenchi exclaimed, incredulous. "Little Washu, you can't be serious! What's *really* wrong with her?" "Tenchi, I'm serious. Her physiology is totally unequipped to deal with Earth diseases. If it weren't for how powerful she is, she'd never survive it. Still, she can probably heal herself within a week or so." Washu seemed unconcerned, but, for Washu, that was normal. "What about everyone else? Why aren't they sick, too?" Tenchi asked. "Aeka and Sasami have had their immune systems re-engineered to prevent assassination attempts. I've tweaked so many parts of my physiology I'm no longer technically myself under some legal systems. But Ryoko's 'job' as a space pirate doesn't require her to be on planets without normal medical facilities for long periods of time, so she never needed to worry about this. Until now, of course." Washu explained. "Well, isn't there something *the greatest scientist in the galaxy* can do to help Ryoko?" Sasami asked hopefully. "Universe," corrected Washu. "And I'd like this opportunity to study her weakened state, as well. We never know when this data might come in handy. It's best just to let the disease run its course." *** Detective First Class Kiyone was not in a good mood. Even disregarding money (specifically, the lack thereof), boredom, and employment problems, today was not working out. By now, she expected Mihoshi to make at least two or three major mistakes each day, but a general sense of futility had been hovering over her life lately, and she simply lacked the patience to deal with such things. "But Kiyone, it said all you had to do was microwave it! I swear, there wasn't anything in the directions about taking it out of the can! How do you expect me to know about all this local technology?" Nearly the last of their money had been spent on the instant cooking machine. The once-gleaming primitive electromagnetic heating device was now a bubbling ooze of black plastic and soup centered on an empty, burst, metal can. "We can't afford another one of these "microwave" units! What are we going to do for food?" Kiyone yelled at her partner. Mihoshi began to cry. "I was just trying to make us dinner and now it's ruined and we won't have anything to eat!" Mihoshi wailed. "Look--don't get upset! I'm sorry; it was an understandable mistake," Kiyone pleaded with her colleague. "I've just been stressed out lately; I didn't mean to yell at you like that." While Washu had the capability to replicate human money, accepting counterfeit money would be a violation of local law, something the GP avoided whenever possible. "Well...ok, Kiyone," Mihoshi decided, calming down. "I'm *really* sorry about the oven; I'll ask you before I try out any more Earth technology, I promise!" The detectives eyed their former microwave suspiciously as it began to emit small bubbling noises. "I guess I better throw this away or something," Mihoshi decided. The only item of any value in the officers' apartment was their Commsys. The GP-issue communications device and personal computer, featuring advanced, compact speakers and high-resolution display, was used mainly as a home entertainment system by the two detectives. Now, however, it was fulfilling its original purpose; the officers' link to the rest of the galaxy buzzed piercingly, announcing an incoming message. At the press of a button a holographic display flickered into life before the pair. A face floated in the air; its expression was not pleasant. "Detectives First Class Mihoshi and Kiyone," acknowledged the face's owner, a humanoid man. "This is a Priority Two Alert to all personnel in your area. Approximately one hour ago, prison asteroid MaxSecure 3 suffered its first escape in history. Reelan Karst, the escapee, is still at large. He is believed to be headed outward toward the galactic rim, and may pass through the Sol system. This is a publicity disaster; the galaxy has always relied on the GP as 'The unstoppable tide of law and order'," he quoted from a GP slogan. "I am sending his file over; review it well. All officers will be on alert; if he enters your jurisdiction notify HQ immediately. A response team will be sent to deal with the criminal." "I copy, sir," Kiyone replied in clipped tones. "Very well. Headquarters out." The display flickered out. Kiyone thought excitedly. Finding Reelan and calling for the response team would earn her an official commendation, but that wasn't what Kiyone had in mind. "Mihoshi! If we capture him ourselves, we'll be promoted for sure! Get your stuff together and take the rest of the canned soup; we're taking Yagami back into orbit!" Oddly, Mihoshi didn't seem to share her enthusiasm. "That doesn't seem like such a good idea, Kiyone," she said earnestly. "What are you talking about?" Kiyone demanded. "This is our big break!" "It sounds...dangerous," Mihoshi replied unconvincingly. "Anyway, we need to stay on Earth a while longer. We can't afford to miss work; we're just about out of Earth money. And no earth money means no ice cream! No karaoke!" "When we capture Reelan, we won't need Earth money! We won't need *Earth*! We'll be reassigned! Promoted!" Kiyone wasn't going to let monetary concerns keep her from achieving her goal. "I'm...not going," Mihoshi whispered in a quavering voice. Beautiful silver eyes flashed coldly through her mind. "You can go...take Yagami...I'll stay with Tenchi." The blond detective walked to the door, ready to leave. Kiyone was at a loss for words. There was something Mihoshi wasn't telling her. After a quick comparison (), Kiyone knew her partner meant more to her than an immediate career boost. Besides, it would take Reelan Karst at least a week to reach the Earth solar sytem from MaxSecure 3. That gave her enough time. Once she figured out why Mihoshi was reluctant to leave Earth, she could think of a way to persuade her colleague to come along after Karst. "Don't go. I guess, if it's that important to you, we can stay on this planet a few more days." Kiyone called to her partner standing at the door. "Really? Thank you, Kiyone," Mihoshi replied, sounding inordinately relieved. *** "Ryoko?" Tenchi called through the door to his room. He had given his room to the cyan-haired pirate so she could rest and fight her sickness, sleeping in the living room himself. "Dinner," he continued. A moment later, Ryoko answered. "Yeah, come in," she said. Tenchi walked in, placing the miso Sasami had prepared on the bed next to Ryoko. Ryoko held her hand over the soup. "Nice and hot," she commented. In these circumstances, the words lacked any trace of innuendo. Tenchi observed. "Let me tell you a story," he began. "The first time I got the flu was 7 years ago, when I was 10. It affects us humans differently than you; but it wasn't exactly fun for me, either..." *** Aeka sat alone in her and Sasami's room. Ryoko had spent the last three days in Tenchi's room (though Tenchi himself was staying downstairs, thank Tsunami) and was clearly receiving his full attention. she reasoned. Though her enhanced immune system would keep such an illness from affecting Aeka, there were other ways she could find herself in a situation similar to Ryoko's. Aeka wondered. She sighed and slumped forward on her mattress, face held up by her hands, eyes closed. "Aeka--I don't know how to say this...Seeing you here has made me realize, that is, I've felt this way for a while now, but, I suppose--Aeka, I...I want you to know that I--I love you." Aeka fantasized. "Oh, Tenchi, I know. I've always known," she replied aloud. Aeka remembered. she assured herself. Even as she repeated that phrase she found herself questioning its truthfulness. she thought, determined. *** "You--you didn't!" Ryoko laughed, some of her usual vigor showing through. "The women's locker room?" "Like I said, I really had to throw up! The entrance looks just like the men's, and I didn't have time to read the sign on the door!" Tenchi answered indignantly. "You didn't see any of them naked, did you", Ryoko asked, her voice taking on a serious tone. "I...of course not!" he responded. Blood began to trickle from his nose. "Relax! I was just gonna ask you how badly they compared to *me*!" The flow of blood increased dramatically. Tenchi observed. The word suddenly flashed through Tenchi's mind. he remembered. Resolved to do so at his first opportunity, he leaned down to face Ryoko. "Good night, Tenchi," he heard as he rose to leave the room. "Good night, Ryoko," Tenchi replied. The voices drifted through the floor to the room below. A quiet figure sat alone at the window, bathed in the moon's silver light. "Good night, Aeka," she whispered to herself. *** "Fascinating." Washu stared intently at the holographic display. A three- dimensional projection of Ryoko's body rotated before the scientist, colors pulsing across her body in chaotic patterns. Numbers flashed into existence and scrolled through the air before the holographic pirate's currently purple face. "Acetamine Diphosphate spikes 48% fewer than yesterday. Correlate that with the mitochondrial growth factor and..." her fingers flew across a translucent gray keyboard. The display focused close and closer upon Ryoko until the "camera" appeared to be positioned insider her bloodstream, observing the cells flow past through the plasma. Washu glanced up at the display and-- "Washu?" The greatest scientist in the universe jerked upright in shock. "I didn't mean to startle you like that, but I have to ask you something." Washu, recognizing Kiyone's voice, turned around to face the detective. "How did you get in through all the electronic locks?" Washu asked, genuinely puzzled. "Oh, Mihoshi told me how. It's fairly simple to route the command circuit *past* the conditional memory and cause the decision circuit to open the door without checking if access is authorized," Kiyone answered. Noticing the red- haired woman's incredulous face, she continued. "Well, how do you think she kept getting in here? Phasing through the walls?" "Well, now that *that* mystery's solved, let's hear the next one. What is it you want from me?" Washu replied after quickly composing herself. "I know I probably shouldn't be asking you this, being GP and all, but...can you help me with...can you give me an infiltration program to...break into someone's files?" Kiyone asked in a thin voice. "Uh huh. Right. *You* want to do something illegal?" Washu said, unconvinced. This had to be some kind of trick. "I--well, it's really just a misdemeanor under these conditions--I wouldn't have asked, but I'm really desperate--it'll help in the capture of a dangerous criminal--I really need to find out what's making her so stubborn!" Kiyone stopped, realizing she'd given away more than she'd intended to. The scientist's mind made the connections quickly. "Why are you so desperate to spy on Mihoshi that you came to lil' ol' me?" Washu asked in an imitation of a child's voice. "Tell ya what. I give you something you want, you give me something I want." Reverting to her normal tones, she continued. "I give you the programs you need to hack Mihoshi's files, you give me ten minutes of time on your transmitter. I promise I won't use to do anything *too* illegal." After a moment's thought, Kiyone decided. "I suppose that works." No matter what methods she was forced to employ, her career wasn't about to end because of Mihoshi's attachment to Earth. *** Aeka hummed brightly to herself as she ran the brush though her amethyst hair. *** With her partner safely away buying groceries, Kiyone could finally the answers she needed. Her initial theory, that Mihoshi had fallen for Tenchi just as everyone but Kiyone herself had done, hadn't quite stood up under close examination. If she was so obsessively attracted to the boy, why hadn't she moved into the Masaki house with all the others? Why hadn't she done *anything* about her attraction to him? No, this idea wasn't quite plausible. Kiyone wondered. No matter; she would soon find out. The detective inserted the datachip Washu had funished into the Commsys. The invasive program contained on the chip began to take effect. Barriers surrounding Mihoshi's private logs were brushed aside into nothingness by the computerized manifestation of Washu's genius. Unfortunately, Mihoshi's journal seemed to consist of an incredibly in-depth narrative of her daily life. No "How I wish Tenchi would declare his true love for me!", no "If I don't get to see the next episode of Dukes of Hazzard my life will be over!", no "We can't leave Earth now! What will I do without ice cream?" And this meant no easy answer. "What could it be?" Kiyone questioned aloud. the detective remembered. She shifted the program's focus into the GP database contained in the Commsys memory. Calling up Mihoshi's file, she scanned for any details that would normally be hidden. That record was linked to a file marked "Removed from public domain". Kiyone wondered. She opened the file. Words stabbed into her mind, leaving clips, fragments, broken phrases spinning in disarray. "Oh...my...god..." Kiyone whispered. She slumped slightly forward, unable to tear her eyes from the screen. *** "L...leaving?" Tenchi spoke the question more to himself than anything. Panic built as he scanned the note in his hands. "She accepts 'mine and Ryoko's love?' ... already on her way to the nearest spaceport on Yagami ... leaving with Sasami in order to 'continue her life as First Princess?' ... 'Perhaps, one day, we shall see each other again. But I sincerely doubt it?'" Tenchi wondered. "Yagami -- we should talk to Kiyone and Mihoshi!" Tenchi realized. "Sounds like a job for the number one greatest scientist in the universe," remarked a familiar voice. "Washu! Can you let me talk to them? Rewire the television to be a communications system? Hook the computer into the GP network? Turn the microwave into a transporter? Anything?" Tenchi begged. "Well, I suppose I could, but I really don't feel like it," the red-haired genius answered. "Arrgh! Washu!" Tenchi protested. "But, this may be of some help," she continued, handing Tenchi a scrap of paper. "What is it?" he asked. "Their phone number. White pages," the universe's greatest scientific mind replied smugly. Ten frantically dialed digits later, he was on the phone with Mihoshi. "Oh, Kiyone took her to rendezvous with a shuttle to her connection flight. She got back a couple minutes ago. When do you suppose she'll be back, Tenchi?" the woman inquired in an unworried voice. "Never," Tenchi replied flatly. *** The piercing hum of the Commsys came for the second time in as many days. Mihoshi nearly tripped over a pile of dirty clothes in her haste to activate the machine. Kiyone, reaching the system first, pressed the blinking "Receive Message" button, blinking to focus on the flickering holodisplay. She glanced briefly to her right but could not bring herself to meet Mihoshi's eyes. "Priority One Alert for Detectives First Class Kiyone and Mihoshi!" barked the two's superior. "Priority One! Karst was the first escape in decades and even *he* didn't qualify as Priority One!" Kiyone breathed to her partner. A glare from the disembodied face floating before them cut off any further whispered communication. "Approximately five minutes ago a small shuttle was reported hijacked in your area." Inside Kiyone's mind the details fell into place. All color drained from Kiyone's face in anticipation of her commander's next sentence. "Aeka Jurai, First Princess of the Jurai Royal House, was almost certainly on board that shuttle, as was her sister, Second Princess Sasami Jurai. Worse still, the hijacking was most likely a successful kidnap attempt on her person by escaped convict Reelan Karst. Having read his dossier, I'm sure you understand the gravity of the situation. We have every reason to believe he will not hesitate to kill her should the need arise. "You are the officers 'on the scene.' You must find and contact Karst immediately. Your task will be to set up negotiations for Lady Aeka's safe return, and above all to prevent her death. GP-Juraian are already strained; a failure in this mission could mean disaster. Depart from Earth as soon as possible. Headquarters out." Thoughts raced through Kiyone's mind. Mihoshi's mind contained not thoughts but a singular image: the cold flash of beautiful silver eyes. --------------------Notes-------------------- "Perfect Circle" is my first major work of fan fiction. I've been reading FF for quite some time, but I never really got around to creating my own until about half a month ago. If you liked this, check out Single Serving Tenchi, my short Fight Club crossover; it's written in a very different style. Please give me some comments. Say anything. If you want to send 'fan mail,' as such, go ahead and write! If you want to flame me, please include specific problems, but go ahead and write! Even "I read your story," would work, though specific comments are nice; go ahead and write! Basically, just go ahead and write! Let me know someone saw this. --< markskarl@hotmail.com is my email address. >--