Disclaimer: Hello again folks, thanks for continuing your support. Once again Tenchi and his crew along with the GP and Jurai are the property of Pioneer. The Keno Alta Draka, Father Steel aka Brain Hadthorn and his crew are my own creations. I'm not being paid to make this story, so please don't sue me. Tenchi Muyo Possibilities A Dark Future's Past Song: I Think I'm Paranoid (Garbage) Time: Present Location: Okayama, Japan, Masaki Home Taro looked over at Washu's collapsed form, a slightly sheepish look on his face. He moved over to her prone body and easily picked her up. "Why, don't we continue this inside. Out of the rain. I'm sure there are a lot of questions..." Taro said. "Right... Good idea. Yeah..." Tenchi said a little shell-shocked. The group with various expressions of shock and disbelief follow Taro into the house. Sasami opened the door for Taro, she looked backed and squinted at him. "Thank you... What?" Taro said. "You kinda look like him but..." Sasami said. "Like who?" Taro asked confused. "Like baby Taro!" said Sasami as if it was plain as day. "I'm 20 years old, Aunt." Taro answered. "Aunt!" Sasami cried. "It's what I always called you before." Taro said moving past Sasami into the house. Taro headed toward toward the living room and laid Washu on the couch, ignoring the wet stain she made. Mihoshi and Ayeka hurried up the stairs to get towels for every one. Taro took off the unnoticed pack he had been wearing and set it down at his feet. At Tenchi's gesture Taro took a seat. "Aunt could you make us some tea. This is going to be a long story..." Taro said. The other sat down around Washu and Taro. It was at this point Mihoshi and Ryoko returned with the towels. Mihoshi started patting Washu's face, with a large pink, fluffy towel, trying to bring her around. "Okay," Sasami agreed, turning and heading to the kitchen. "She's much happier now, than when I remember..." Taro observed. "What did you mean? You came to save my life?" Tenchi asked. "Yes! Who wishes Lord Tenchi harm?" Ayeka asked. "Where are they and how do they die?" Ryoko asked. "Wait. Let Washu wake up first. I only want to run though this once." Taro said holding up his hands. A blue towel dangling from his left hand. It was then that Washu groaned and began to stir. Pushing Mihoshi away from her face. "Whoa! What a nightmare! You wouldn't believe..." Washu trailed off as she caught sight of Taro, her small face going pale. "Feeling better?" Taro asked gently. Washu just leaned back in disbelief. "You can't be Taro, I just held him in my arms a week ago..." Washu whispered. "I'll explain. There are some things I don't wish Sasami to hear..." Taro said "Where to begin... Yes. What's the date?" Taro asked. Ayeka told him. "So much for Father Time's aim... Well then, Tenchi, in one year, Night Prince Kassa, in front of Sasami, will assassinate you. That scarred her for life... Your death was the opening event in a massive invasion of our universe, by a group of beings who call themselves the Night Children." Sasami entering with the tea interrupted taro. The tea was quickly passed out and Sasami was profusely thanked as she took a seat. Taro took a drink and moved ahead in his story. "About a month after your death, Terra is hit. The Night Children hit us hard. They reduced the Eastern United States to radioactive slag. They do the same to London, Tokyo, Moscow, Beijing and other large cities. They land troops everywhere. Two Americans, who you will meet in about 2 or 3 months, flee to this house. About a week after they arrive, my father is butchered by those who believe themselves our masters. Father Steel and Washu found me in the wreckage of my former home... Washu brought me back and she and Yoshou raised me along side Mayuka. Father Steel, or at this point, Brain Hadthorn began to strike back. He was infected with a virus you see. The virus was a leftover from an ancient civilization called the Keno. The Keno went extinct about 230,000 years before the Jurain rise to power. They left the virus behind to preserve their memory. The virus rewrites portions of its host genetic code. It gave the host body memories of the Keno, along with enhanced strength, speed and regenerative abilities, to increase the host's chances of survival. Add Washu's knowledge and Ryoko powers and well... Things got bad for the visitors. Father Steel and the others took alias’s to protect their identities. At first they’d just called him, Steel. The other American, David Curry, was given the name Matrix; he had gifts when it came to computers. Europe fell quickly, so did Asia. In Africa it was hard to tell. South America just rolled over. In Australia most retreated to the bush. In North America and Japan things were... messy. Ryo-ohki was completely destroyed in an attempt to aid the Yukinojo, which was shot down. Ryoko survived, Mihoshi didn't." Taro pause for a breath. Mihoshi collapsed into a nearby chair, her hands gripping and releasing the armrest sporadically. She could see her death, smell the scent of an injured ship, and hear the alarm sirens... Song: What if (Creed) Time: 1.7 years in future Location: outer solar system, Neptune solar orbit The Yukinojo bucked as enemy weapons fire slammed into its metal hull. Plasma from the Yukinojo's cracked energy transfer conduits hissed into the various compartments, creating searing clouds of heat. The engines screamed, pushing the battered ship forward toward Sol, the Earth's sun. Mihoshi piloted her ship in an erratic course zipping back and forth, up and down, trying desperately to stay alive another 10 minutes. Tears of panic, fear and heart rending sadness poured down her tanned face. She had been fighting this running battle for almost 3 weeks. Ever since the Galaxy Police fleet she’d been a part of had been destroyed in a terrifying battle with the Night Children. The battle had taken place in orbit over the remote planet of Deneb. She, as far as she knew, was the sole survivor of that engagement. She had seen the flagship go up in a fusion explosion; it's central power source detonating. The command to retreat had blared over the COM and the fleet had scattered before the dark invaders. She lit out at first toward GP Headquarters, but her 7 pursuers had done a good job of herding her away from there. Mihoshi smiled grimly through her tears. It was 4 pursuers now. She had gotten a jump on them at Alpha Centauri and if she could get to the asteroid belt or at least the Jupiter Moons... There would be fewer of them in this universe. She would make her dear, departed partner Kiyone proud of her yet. She grunted as the Yukinojo shook under another barrage. First she had to stay alive another 7 minutes. Galaxy Police pilots are trained for zero g maneuvers. As part of their training, they are taught to assign direction, even in the trackless void of space. Down was always toward the nearest gravity well, Neptune in this case. Up was of course away from the gravity well. The Night Children ships were 'below' her at the moment, firing into Yukinojo's belly. As Mihoshi realized this she bared her fangs in a predatory snarl. Those dark ships, looking like sharp bladed flower blossoms with a spike growing from the center, had just made a mistake. Mihoshi hit her brakes, cutting engine power to 15%; she began to lose speed almost immediately. One of the ships moved slightly in front of her, its engines still at 100%. With a howl Mihoshi hit her maneuvering thrusters, swooping on the Night Children ship like an avenging angel. Yukinojo's forward lasers blazed into its opponent spine, breaking it. The Night Children's ship broke in two. Mihoshi barreled rolled thought the wreckage. Confusing enemy sensors, allowing her to change course and break away toward the asteroid belt. "Yukinojo, report!" Mihoshi yell over the alarm sirens. The Robot dropped down it's eyes lighting up has reports were fed to it from the ships systems. "Shields down. Hull integrity at 58%. Energy bleed in compartments 17 through 31. Power draining at .173% per minute. Estimated repair time necessary-" "Skip that! Give me weapons and countermeasures report." Mihoshi commanded, her head strangely clearing under the extreme pressure." "Weapons at 87%, EMP countermeasure enabled in 3.156 minutes," was the reply. The EMP had been knocked out early in the battle, Yukinojo had been convinced it could repair the system, it had been right. "Are we out of their jamming field?" Mihoshi asked. "Yes, Ma'am, Communication window of 13.734 seconds remaining." Yukinojo answered "Open channel to Ryo-Ohki and Washu." Mihoshi ordered. "5.724 seconds required. Opening channel." Yukinojo obeyed Mihoshi poured on speed trying to keep distance between her and her pursuers. The idea was not to stay out of their weapon range, but their aiming sensors range. Lasers had a massive range, depending on the amount of power invested in them. The sensors to aim them however were more limited. It wasn't enough to 'sense ' the ship to get a lock on it. Thus the tactical sensor had lower range then normal sensors but great definition. The Night Children ships had a range of 240 million kilometers. Mihoshi was about 290 million km away from them; they were closing at great speed, perhaps 178 million km, a second. Yukinojo was damaged and was going at 75% speed at best. Which was 120 million km a second if Mihoshi remembered correctly. Mihoshi frowned as she did the math. She had 5 seconds before they started shooting, 8 seconds before they jammed her COM. "Connection made." Yukinojo announced. "This is Officer first class Mihoshi, on Patrol cruiser Yukinojo. I am under attack by 3 enemy vessels, request aid. Hurry Washu, Ryoko! I can't-" Mihoshi screamed out before static burst from the COM, signaling jamming. The ship shook again under enemy fire. This time they stayed above her taking positions slightly at an angle. "Yukinojo, hurry on the countermeasures!" Mihoshi screamed. "Mihoshi any rush could lead to lesser effectiveness." Yukinojo protested. "Delay could mean death! Just do it!" Mihoshi cried at her robotic co-pilot. "Yes Ma'am!" Mihoshi spent the next minute and a half dodging with all of her skill, barely keeping the enemy ships at bay. The Night Children, frustrated at this long chase and the deaths of the others smelled the kill at last. They surged forward jockeying for position, determined to fire the fatal shot, as the wounded Yukinojo flew franticly from them. "Countermeasures available." Yukinojo reported, Mihoshi could almost believe she heard dark satisfaction in the robot voice as she deployed her last defenses. Electro Magnetic Pulses shredded the enemy tactical sensors, dropping their hit ratio from 45% to 12%. Bright metallic chaff was release into the space around Yukinojo. Blocking the few hits that would have scored on it. Mihoshi could see the asteroid belt ahead. The floating debris of rock and ice made the place a navigational nightmare, a deathtrap waiting to happen. Mihoshi knew the belt well. She had patrolled through it often in her time here. No one could beat her there. No one, no matter how many of them there were. Yukinojo roared into the asteroid belt. Mihoshi cut her engines to 20% power, any faster would not help her. Her opponents cut their speed even lower in the strange environment. Mihoshi ducked behind a large asteroid, the enemy following her. They came head to head with Ryo-Ohki. Ryo-Ohki opened up blowing the enemy ships to hell. The other two spilt diving away. Ryo-Ohki followed blazing away. The Yukinojo followed, its wounded form bleeding air and plasma. Mihoshi had seen friends die, been hunted like a wild animal. She had had enough and wanted only vengeance on these twisted creatures. She targeted one of the ships, eager for victory at last. It turned to face her, looking its killer in the eye. It fired a barrage of projectiles, escape pods perhaps, but traveling to fast and right for her. Mihoshi ignored them; everyone knew that only energy weapons could harm a space ship, projectiles were worthless in space combat. Mihoshi was wrong for the final time in her life. The missiles smashed into Yukinojo’s hull. The explosions tearing huge gaping holes in the hull. But that was not the worst. The missiles had been carrying a strain of nanobots, nanobots designed to eat away at the enemy's ship. "Hull integrity at 21% dropping 2% per second, weapons down, total power at 46% power bleed at 17% per second. Abandon Ship, Mihoshi!" The robot screeched as its power died. The bridge was in tatters. Mihoshi dragged herself up. The explosion had knocked her out of her chair; shrapnel had torn out her belly. She could feel her entrails sliding out. She activated the COM. "Run, Ryoko! Run!" She gasped with her last breath as her ship disintegrated around her. "How in all the universe..." Ryoko whispered watching Mihoshi's ship being...eaten. Mihoshi's face appeared on a screen that sprung to life in front of Ryoko. Mihoshi didn't look so good. She bled from several cuts on her face, her hair disheveled, a bloodstain the size of a dinner plate spread across her torso. Mihoshi clung weakly to her command chair. "Run, Ryoko! Run!" She gasped out collapsing as the bridge fell apart around her. "Mihoshi! NO!!!" Ryoko never had really thought much of the scatter-brained detective, but she had always been a friend and unjudging ear especially after Tenchi's murder. To see her spend the last seconds of her life trying to warn a space pirate... A space pirate who had mocked her so many times... It wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair! "Ryo-Ohki! KILL THEM! ALL OF THEM!" Ryoko cried, she was Ryoko, she had burned Jurai and countless other planets. She was not going to run from two ships, she was going to reap revenge! Ryo-Ohki sang out her agreement, assaulting the enemy ships. Ryo-Ohki was the most agile ship ever created, bar none. That was the secret of her success. Ryo-Ohki danced around her foes, raking them with her weapons. Easily avoided their pathetic attempts to hit her. The Night Children ships were tough, so Ryo-Ohki was slowly cutting them apart. Ryoko goaded her ship on. Tired of being made a victim Ryoko wanted pay back. These two would be a good start she believed. The duel raged out of the belt and past Mars, they were in Earth orbit. Ryo-Ohki plunged down between the two ships blasting away at both of them. The Night Children's ships' hull twisted and buckled over the feral raking. Ryo-Ohki swooped to the right, under the belly of one of the ships. Ryo-Ohki shifted on her central axis presenting her main guns to the underside of her opponent. She opened fire, ripping though the foe. The ship bucked like a wild animal. It's insides blown out all over the place. Wallowing in it's own guts, the Night Children's ship tore itself apart in a fury of secondary explosion. Yowling in triumph, Ryo-Ohki rose up through the death of her foe to confront its companion. That had been the lethal mistake. For the last of the enemies, had turned correctly predicting Ryo-Ohki flight. The flight that brought undeserving Ryo-Ohki into a barrage of the Nano-Bot missiles. The unforgiving missiles crashed into Ryo-Ohki skin, rending into her. The nano-bots were not as effective against Ryo-Ohki as Yukinojo. Ryo-Ohki, in pain, still functioned. Ryoko scream and pleaded with Ryo-Ohki to escape, to live and fight another day. Surly Washu could heal even this. Ryo-Ohki knew that the odds were against her surviving reentry. So, instead Ryo-Ohki charged her killer, at ramming speed. Her main lower spike punched through the other ship's hull with ease. Locked, Ryo-Ohki fired her main engine heading right toward Earth. Ryoko tried everything to convince Ryo-Ohki to avert herself from this suicidal action. Ryo-Ohki just swooped connected with her murderer, burning in Earth atmosphere, waiting for the correct range. It happened all at once. Hitting what she knew to be her max teleport range, Ryo-Ohki teleported her mistress to safety, and fired her main gun into the depths of the foe, the detonation destroyed both ships. Brain rigidly stood outside of the house. Ayeka stood imperiously in the doorway. Brain Hadthorn cut a dark figure; he stood at 5'9 and wore a long black riggers coat (a trench coat with a flap that covers the shoulders). Under his coat he wore a gray shirt and a pair of long black jeans, on his feet he wore steel-toed work boots. On his waist was a pair of hi-tech looking pistols, larger then GP blasters, and meaner looking. Ayeka was a sharp contrast in white and purple kimono. She wore soft slipper on her feet and her headpiece on her forehead. They had been arguing loudly. Ayeka wanted Brain to wait until aid from Jurai arrived before starting his campaign on the invaders. Brain was not willing to wait, not by a long shot. These things were dirtying his planet by their very presence. They were crushing his species under their boots. He intended to strike back, while there were still enough free humans to fight. He refused to allow his race to die on the order of an alien princess! Ayeka told him that without weapons of equal power that any such fight was doomed to failure. Best to wait, her father would send aid, she would see to it. It would only take a few weeks at most. Surely it was worth at least 2 or 3 weeks! If he would just see reason! They heard an explosion and looked up, seeing flaming wreckage diving toward the Pacific. Tracing a fiery trail across the mid-afternoon sky. "What the..." Brain said the argument forgotten. Ayeka walked out standing behind him staring at the sight. "Nnnnnnoooooo!!!!" They heard a cry from the lakeside. They to look seeing Ryoko wavering on her feet, tears forming in her eyes. They both rushed to her catching her as she fell into the both of them. Ryoko began to sob uncontrollably. "Ryoko what happen? Where's Mihoshi? Where Ryo-Ohki?" Ayeka asked. "Dead… Th-They k-k-killed them both. Damn monsters!" Ryoko sobbed "Oh, God in heaven, not this. Please, not this." Brain whispered bowing his head to Ryoko's level. "It's not fair! Mihoshi never did anything wrong! Neither did Ryo-Ohki! Why did they have to die?? It’s not fair!!!! Not Fair!!!" Ryoko screamed in grief. Brain and Ayeka looked at each other helplessly. All they could do was hold the grieving Ryoko in silence. Song: None Time: Present Location: Okayama, Japan, Masaki Living room The GP were routed inside of 2 years. Jurai did better. The Night Children's ships used a strange weapon, a missile carrying nano-bots that ate though opposing ships hulls. Light Hawk Wings could defend against that, barely... Jurai began supplying Terran rebels, when Ayeka refused to leave. I believe the phrase you used was 'not before I have the murderer's head on a platter. You spent a lot of energy trying to find Kassa... But, 12 years after the war started, Azusa, was poisoned. Ayeka and Sasami returned to Jurai. That was when we started construction on an underground base in San Diego. The Jurain weapons kept coming and we used them well, very well. At this point Steel and Washu discovered 'Chi' energy, a latent power in some humans. Using cybernetics implants that were dubbed 'Chi amplifiers' certain humans were granted powers. Creating a corps of the warriors Steel, Ryoko, Washu and Yoshou took the offensive. The Night Children brought their own super powered beings. It was a blood bath. San Diego was torn to pieces in one such battle. As was Hiroshima and other cities. This all took place within 4 years, 16 years from now is when Ryoko dies." Taro explains. "I die???" Ryoko whispers. As Washu moved almost automatic toward her daughter, Ryoko gestured her away. With a hurt look Washu sat back down. Taro nodded and begun to tell the tale, Tenchi eyes grew wide as he could almost see it. Song: Last Resort (Papa Roach) Time: 16 years in future Location: Masaki Home Ryoko poured herself a drink, humming quietly to herself. Today they had hurt the Night Children, and that always made her feel better. Those bastards had caused a lot of pain in her life; the least she could do was return the favor. She wondered into the living room where Taro was asleep on the couch, Brain lay in a chair and Mayuka was asleep in her room. Ryoko knew because she had tucked Mayuka in herself. Taro of course wanted to stay up and listen to "Steel's" stories of the battles. Ryoko just hoped they didn't give young Taro nightmares. "Oh, my Tenchi, I miss you more than I can say...." Ryoko whispered taking a drink of the sake. She looked at the T.V., tuned to a Night Children controlled news channel. It was a story about the new capital city they were building in Central Europe. It's Gothic spires clawed ungracefully at the air, its gargoyles infested every corner sneering down at the human slaves laboring on the dark city's construction. A figure stepped out to a podium in front of the gathered reporters. He was tall, thin, dressed in pure white, with shoulder length, white-blond hair... "You..." Ryoko snarled, remembering the events of 16 years ago, in a dim shed... She stood, the glass dropping to the floor. Her dress disappeared as her red and black battle uniform came into being. Power swirled around her. The murderer, he was there. This time he would not escape her vengeance! "I'll kill you..."Ryoko snarled a feral light coming into her golden eyes, as she disappeared. She reappeared above the Masaki house, she blazed across the sky toward Europe, and someone was going to die... Washu walked though the front door little over an hour later. She had just come from the shrine, where she had been speaking with Yoshou. They had been hatching a few plans to do greater damage to the Night Children. As she stepped into the living room she saw Taro lying on the coach, Brain across from him in an old chair. She shook her head, they all knew better. Ryoko and Brain should have gotten the kids to sleep. She turned to look at the T.V, still on, how careless, and stopped cold. She saw a city in flames. Dark spires fell burning, vehicles were overturned, streets melted... Above all Ryoko in her black and red battle suit, eyes glowing red, battled a white clothed blonde. "No... NO!!" Washu screamed. She’d lost one child, she’d be damned, if she lost another! She spun and ran to the lab, a battle suit of gold and blue forming around her. She slammed the lab door. That woke Brain Hadthorn, Steel. "What the..." He said groggy, he stared at the television and saw Ryoko smashed a blonde man to the ground, a city afire around the two fighters... "SHIT!!!!" Brain cried, coming fully awake. He scrambled up, waking Taro. "Huh, what the..." The boy said. Looking down Brain made a decision that would always haunt him... "Wake up!! Ryoko's in trouble and we’ve gotta to bail her out! You’ve got 3 minutes to wake Mayuka and get ready, then I'm leaving." He said sternly. Taro nodded and ran to obey. Ryoko flew low and hard above the plains of the Ukraine, 19 Night Lords behind her. She’d killed Kassa and destroyed that ugly city, but the fight and the flight had drained her. She was dead tired, as she was being chased by some the most powerful creatures in the universe, this could be a bad thing. An explosion knocked her to the ground. As she struggled to get up, they materialized around her. Tall, humanoid, and bursting with power. The leader a slender redhead dressed in green flowing robes, he smiled at her. In the same way Kagato smiled. "Ryoko...That was foolish, did you think you could get away with it? Did you think you could escape? Or is one you of your compatriots going to rescue you?" He asked "Go to Hell, Marsons." Ryoko growled as she attacked, her light-saber flaring to life. Marsons easily blocked with an outstretched hand creating a force field. With a negligent gesture, he knocked Ryoko back to the ground. "You first, I think, Ryoko. Kill her, quickly." Marsons said that, same smile on his face. The other Night Princes swarmed Ryoko, energy weapons cutting into her as they trampled and stabbed in an orgy of violence. They slammed Ryoko’s body with bursts of power, again and, again, ripping her apart likes a pack of mad dogs. "NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOO!" An injured scream pierced the scene. A young redheaded girl appeared from thin air dropping, beside a broken and battered Ryoko. The Night Princes pulled back, surprised by this sudden appearance. Washu cradled her daughter, Ryoko bloody and mangled form barely recognizable as human. "Momma?" Ryoko croaked. "Momma's, here baby, it will be alright." Washu answered rubbing a hand over Ryoko's blood-soaked, cyan hair. "I see him Momma." Ryoko choked out. "See who baby?" Washu sobbed. "Tenchi....” With a sigh Ryoko said her last word and died. "Baby?? Ryoko??? Please??? NOOO!!!!" Washu howled in eternal grief. She wept torrents of tears pouring down her cheeks as she bent over her dead daughter. ."How touching..."Marsons said with a chuckle. Washu turned to look right at Marsons, her green eyes simmering with hatred. Washu’s right hand opened, forming a Light saber. "Die!" Washu screamed, throwing herself at Marsons. Another Night Prince a purple skinned, squat creature moved to intervene. Washu cut him off at the knees. Marsons begun to fade away like a puff of smoke. The other Night Princes gathered behind Washu to charge. Washu stopped when she saw she could not reach Marsons. She turns and gazed at the others. With her left hand she beckoned them on. They fell on her like the tide, and despite all her efforts, her defenses are over whelmed. She felt hands grasping her, lifting her up and smashing her down again and again. A sword hovered above her, held by a pale, bald twisted thing. She watched as it arced down to strike her neck, felt her blood stream out, felt herself weaken as she drifted slowly in darkness... The 17 stood around the two bodies preening in their triumph. They never saw him coming. Steel flew right at the one who struck the finial blow against Washu. He burst apart in a fine red mist as Steel flew right though him. A tall bearded, red skinned creature stopped Steel’s flight, grabbing him hand to hand. Steel roared, channeling his Chi, the bright blue power swelling in his hands, bleeding from his silver glowing eyes. The Night Prince's hands exploded. The Night Prince bent over screeching in pain, Steel leveled a kick that separated his head from his shoulders. Mayuka had been carrying Taro, she dropped him like a bomb. Taro cut right though his unsuspecting target with Tenchi-ken. He turned and slashed at the nearest one to his left. The Night Prince, a dark bone covered nightmare, blocked with it's own weapon. Mayuka buzzed by cutting off its head, and plowing into anther one. Steel turned to face the Night Princes, his skin had turned bluish green, his eyes glowed silver, and his hair took on a reddish tinge. With a roar, Steel fired a chi blast tearing a nearby Night Prince in half. Steel dropped to the ground snarling, pulsing blue fire burning around him. "Keno Alta Draka...." whispered a lizard like Night Prince. His form blurring like smoke he disappeared. One by one the surviving Night Princes fled. Taro stumbled up to Washu’s broken body. In blood covered leather armor, he knelt, his left hand reaching out to touch the body. He gave it a tentative shake. "Mother? Mother... MOTHER!!!!" He screamed, as Steel looked on, his face grim. Mayuka knelt by Ryoko, trying to find a pulse, she looked at Steel and sobbing shook her head. "Come Taro, Mayuka.... Let us bury our dead. Nothing can hurt them anymore... Nothing...."Steel whispered, as he gathered them up to return home.... Defeated.... Song: Who wants to live forever? (Queen) Time: Present Location: Okayama, Japan, Masaki living room "How is that possible?" Ayeka asked. "Father Steel told me it was because they had expended their power chasing and killing Ryoko and Washu... This left them open to revenge. If we had given them time to rest, they would have destroyed us." Taro answered. "What happened then?" Tenchi asked in a hard voice. "For a year, they chased us and we chased them. Chi-Warriors died in spades as did Night Children Champions. We had thought it could get no worse, but it had. Then after the year had passed, they assaulted the house, razing it to the ground from orbit. No one was home, but it was a blown away all the same. Steel moved Washu‘s lab to Nagasaki, one of the few cities left standing in Japan... Anywhere in the world for that matter... He wanted to keep it separate from the base in San Diego.” “The lab was found. The Night Princes sent 3 legions of troops to secure it. Father Steel, as he had become known at this point, de facto leader of free humanity, set off a Cobalt fusion bomb next to a matter/anti-matter reactor in the lab. The bomb breached the core, and the chain reaction destroyed Washu lab, The Night Prince’s legions and all of Nagasaki. Father Steel would consider it his greatest sin... But he couldn't allow Washu’s knowledge to fall into enemy hands. So he downloaded Washu’s files into himself. He had created a cyborg part called a data jack to allow that...” “Using Washu's data he hooked Father Matrix up to the Night Children's database, rendering him immobile. Father Matrix found out that the Night Princes were constructing a satellite system to track and destroy us. We couldn't allow that. So Father Steel took Mayuka, now named Sister Dark, the Chi-Warriors and I on a raid into space. " Taro stopped to smile , he lifted his head to look each of them in the eye. "We destroyed the network. We killed most of their super powered solders. We killed 9 of the Night Princes. I killed 2 myself. Then for the next 3 years... Stalemate... A constant grinding war of attrition. A war we can't win. Because for every one of the Night Children we kill, there seem to be a hundred more...." Taro stopped, taking a sip of his tea. No dared to speak. Taro took a breath and continued. "In a raid to free some slaves, Sister Dark and I were called out to reinforced the troops. A super soldier named Ishka surprised us. He had been enhanced somehow and beat the both of us. Father Steel saved us. He killed Ishka. When we opened the cargo hold, an old friend of Father Steel stumbled out. He became Father Time. The Night Children experimented on him. They ended up giving him the ability to send things through time. Seems that they wish to rule both time and space... That is when they sent me here. Those things appeared as Father Time was sending me back. I have no idea what those things were...." Taro finished. "Eld Wraiths." Ayeka answered. "What?" Tenchi responded. "They are supposed to be spirits of the dishonorable dead, murderers and such. The rites to summon those demons are unspeakable. Such practices have been outlawed on Jurai, and elsewhere, for as long as anyone can remember..."Ayeka explained. "So it is true...I did not want to believe..." Taro whispered. "What's true?" Mihoshi asked, her voice trembling. "There have always been rumors... Stories... Of whole towns disappearing. Of people being sacrificed to dark gods. Of demons and things in the night. Whispers of why our enemies named themselves The Night Children... Father Steel and our other leaders always denied it, but it seemed has if they were hiding something.... May Tsunami have mercy on us all!" Taro said. "Demon worshippers." Ayeka snarled. "Nonsense." Washu replied. "What do you mean?" Ayeka demanded. "I have lived for 20,000 years. I have seen no proof that mere mortals can control demons. It's just old superstition." Washu replied haughtily. "Explain the Eld Wraiths." Was Ayeka's statement. "Most likely natives of a negative energy universe that vaguely resemble the Eld Wraiths of your stories. No need to panic Ayeka. The boogie man won't get you, I promise." Washu answered. "Tell that to Tulsa." Taro said. "Huh?" Washu said. "Tulsa was a city in the American Midwest. All its inhabitants disappeared without a trace in a single night. We had 34 operatives in the city. None of them got word to us that anything strange was going on. They just disappeared..." said Taro. "There's always a explanation." Washu replied stubbornly. "Is there, Washu?" Tenchi said softly. "These 'Demons' are just beings native to a different universe. They use advanced science and powers comparable to the Jurain's. You're allowing your fear to run away with you. Real 'Demons' would not be subtle and every being with a scrap of decency would fight them if they appeared on the mortal plane. No mortal has ever summoned or dealt with supernatural embodiments of evil like demons! It is impossible! And call me Little Washu!!!" Washu exclaimed standing up. The effect was ruined as at that moment the power went out, plunging them into darkness. Everyone jumped to his or her feet in fright as thunder boomed overhead. "I'm scared!!" Mihoshi screamed latching onto the closest person, who was in this case Ayeka. "Help, air!" Ayeka gasped as she was crushed by Mihoshi's fright driven hug. "How could we be in the dark, we're running off a independent generator!" asked Tenchi. "Let's find out." Washu responded and started moving toward the back of the house. The group followed her, and Taro activated his Tenchi-ken. Its bright blue beam cast an eerie half-light as they moved though the kitchen. "Do you have to have that out?" Ayeka asked, breaking out of Mihoshi's death grip. "Something feels wrong... Don't you sense it?" Taro whispered. Ryoko handed off Mayuka, who slept quietly, to Sasami. As soon as Mayuka left her grasp Ryoko ignited her own sword. "He's right. Something is... Not right." Ryoko snarled and floated ahead of the group, phasing though the kitchen door. "Ryoko! Wait! She’s so impatient." Tenchi said, trying slow down Ryoko. Tenchi pulled out his Tenchi-ken and willed it to life. It's beam leapt into life [existence may be a better word], a twin to Taro's blade. The sword felt...nervous. Taro and Ryoko were right, something was wrong. Ayeka gasped in fright. She pointed to the kitchen door. "I feel it! It is out there, waiting." Ayeka gasped. Sasami moved closed to Ayeka clutching Mayuka tight, her face pale. "I feel it to..." Sasami whispered. "Feel what?" Washu asked. "Evil." They both answered. The sounds of battle split the silence that followed, Ryoko could plainly be heard. What she was fighting could not be identified. Tenchi and Taro rushed the door Tenchi-ken's in hand. They burst through the door, and saw a sight that made their knees weak. Ryoko was 4 or 5 meters above the floor, battling three bat winged monsters that seemed to be made completely of claws and teeth. Looking on this contest was a young blond man in a dark robe behind him stood a pair of man like beings with stone gray skin and chiseled muscles and dead red eyes. Ryoko was battling furiously but was sorely outnumbered. Her opponents used massive claws to slash at her. It was only because of her teleport ability that she could hold them off. One of them veered off to attack Tenchi, while the other two trapped her in a clench of bone claw and energy sword. Or so they thought. "No you don't!" Ryoko, shouted teleporting right in front of Tenchi, intercepting the thing. A ball of energy flared to life in Ryoko's left hand casting an orange light. Ryoko smiled as she threw the bolt of energy right into the thing's face. The energy blew a hole through it, but instead of falling to the ground the body disappeared like smoke caught in a strong wind. "What are you?!?" Screamed Ryoko, as the other two plowed into her. "Ryoko, teleport!" Ayeka commanded, as small logs formed up around her. Ryoko teleported herself behind Ayeka. Ayeka gestured and the logs surrounded the two bat-winged creatures. Energy crackled and hissed as a shield of Jurain energy flowed around the bat-wing creatures. The things screeched a high pitched sound that grated on the ears. Their edges began to fray, like a picture set on fire. Bit by horrifying bit the bat winged things disappeared, without trace. "No demon can withstand the touch of Jurain power." Ayeka said regally, her eyes cold with hatred as she stared down the black-robed, blond man. "Tree kissing bitch." The blond man hissed. "Demon worshipping sorcerer!" snarled Ayeka back haughtily "I know the rest of these Jurain lapdogs, but who are you, boy?" The blonde man spoke to Taro, snubbing Ayeka, who fumed at such an insult from common trash. "I am Brother Light, soldier of Father Steel, remember those names, pawn of Night, for they will bring you much pain in the future. To you, traitor, and the accursed Children of Night." Taro replied drawing himself up straight in a stiff, formal manner, eyes blazing. "Ha, I think not. You die tonight, Brother Light, you, the bearer of the accursed Light Hawk wings, and the rest of the tree kissing scum." The Blond sneered as he moved back into the shadow. He spoke in a harsh, dirty sounding tongue to his two guards. With snarls that sounded like cracking stone the huge, menacing creatures moved forward. Tenchi and Taro raced forward to engage the gray monsters. The monsters lunged forward with wickedly clawed hands. Tenchi ducked under his enemies' attack, the Tenchi-ken cutting into its knees severing that leg. The monster went down with a groan and Tenchi finished it off with a slice to the base of the neck. The body crashed to the ground, splintering it. Taro's opponent swiped at him with a clawed hand. Taro cut the arm off at the elbow and plunged the Tenchi-ken into the things chest. It slowly toppled backward slamming into the ground. Taro began to advance on the dark robed blond man, who merely smiled. Tenchi looked down at the body puzzled. Why hadn't it gone up in smoke like the others? Something was wrong here, besides the wrongness of the whole situation. Tenchi realized just what the problem was when he saw the hacked off knee of the monster begin to twitch and grow. The damned thing regenerated, worse it was growing into two separate new monsters. This was bad, very bad. "Everyone, run! These things are growing back, get to the shrine!" Tenchi yelled, his plan should work. Should.... Seeing four monsters rise up where there had been two convinced everyone to follow Tenchi. They ran around the house. Ryoko swooping down to pick up Sasami and Mayuka. They ran up the steps leading to the shrine. Mihoshi pulled up to run along side of Tenchi, who was ahead of the group. "Why are we running to the shrine?" Mihoshi asked. "Trust me." was all the out of breath Tenchi would say. They reached the top of the steps and darted into the shrine. The creatures ran straight towards it only to stop so suddenly if was if they had slammed into a brick wall. "How?" Ayeka gasped out of breath. "Can't enter holy ground." Tenchi explained. Everyone stopped and stared at Tenchi. "Where’d you get that one?" Ryoko, asked floating to the ground. "Old stories mostly. It made sense." Tenchi shrugged. "Yes, but we are stuck here. Unless you have a exit in mind?" Taro asked. "Never got that far." Tenchi replied. "So, huh, Tenchi? What do we do when your Father gets back from the overnight job he was pulling?" Washu asked. "Dad! Oh No!" Tenchi cried. Everyone began to speak at once arguing over the best solution. The argument got louder and more heated until a glowing portal appeared over their heads. "Hold on, this will be an unpleasant experience." Taro sighed as the portal rushed down on them swallowing them up. Moving them though time. End Part Two End Notes: Comments? Questions? Death Threats? Send them to frigidmagi@hotmail.com. Thanks once again to my pre-readers, Zervon and Drak. Thanks also to my little bro Thunderrage for the song suggestions. Thanks for reading, hope it was worth your time!! Next: A Hero's Oath. Tenchi and crew get a first hand look at the nightmarish future that Taro has described. Can they survive? Also even more hand-to-hand combat and death!!!