Update Log: command executed Time Stamp: Washu Year 21,138: March 15th, 13:34 Last Update Was: Washu Year 21,138: March 7th, 18:44 Log Recording: You can speak when you are ready, Washu Well, here I am again. I used to update my log once a month, maybe, and now it seems like I’m doing it just about every week. I guess I just have more I want to remember now days... So much has happened since we fought Seliph and the KalMor in space. Since the day I reclaimed my power as the Middle Goddess of the Sisters. I don’t feel any different really, except that now I can do pretty much what ever I want to... I must say, being omnipotent and knowing all the secrects of the universe certanly does take away from being a scientist. I’ve spent only three whole days in my lab since the my last update. Only three. The rest I spent with Tenchi and Sasami and Ayeka, helping them clean up the dead leaves left from winter, and making the shrine presentable for visitors when they start coming. Sure, I’m a Goddess, but I still get pleasure from working with my hands, doing some honest work instead of just making things the way I want them. My Daughter and my soon-to-be Son-in-law moved away from the Masaki home almost two months ago now. They’re happy living in Hiro’s old place in town, and the wedding plans are going smoothly. I hope they have a splended wedding and honey moon. Well, knowing Ryoko, they’ll have a hell of a honeymoon.... he he.... Any way, so they’re happy. Brice keeps Mihoshi and Kiyone busy by feeding them cases for their PI buisness, and the two GPO’s are still doing regular patrols. It seems they’ve started they’re own little family, also seperate from ours. Tenchi and Ayeka are getting on just fine. They haven’t planed any weddings yet, becasue they still want to confirm plans for sucsestion to the thrown of Juri. Tenchi doesn’t want that kind of responsibility, and Ayeka wants to stay with him. Neither of them want to push it on to Sasami though, so another soulotion must be found. That will develope further I’m sure. What else? Ah! Nobuyuki has finnally come to terms with the fact that I’m the same old Washu. I felt that he needed to know if our relationship was going to continue. He stamered around it for a few weeks, but I think he can see now that I’m not going to change and become a Goddess full time just because I remembered that I was one. Other then him, I’ve told Tenchi and Kiyone. Tenchi because I wanted to reasure him about Yosho’s happieness, and Kiyone because she was smart enough to figure out that I hadn’t fiered any kind of weapon at Seliph in space. She knew that I had done something weird, and so I told her. She took it rather well, and just shook her head and mumbled something about not ever being able to write an honest report. I’m going to go eat lunch now. I’ll have to keep it small. Sasami always prepares a feast for family dinner nights once a week. Everyone should be comming home in a few hours. I’ll have to remember to get Ryoko in to my lab so I can fit her dress for the wedding. And Hiro’s tux will be next week... oh I’ve always wanted to plan my daughters wedding and now I get to! It’s a blast! Computer, end. Log Update Compleat Saving.... done. Power of the Gods A Tenchi Fan Fiction by Jacob McDonald Chapter 1: The Power of The Earth Note: I don’t own any of the characters in this story, nor did I make any of them up (well, except for Hiro....) I just decided to write a story about them. I’d say that’s one of the biggest forms of flattery out there, to have such a great story that other’s want to write about it. So please, this is a fan appreciative story, don’t sue me for using your stuff OK? (Believe me, you wouldn’t get too much any way....) Author’s notes: This fic picks up where my first series, Tenchi Muyo! What Happens Next?, left off. You should read that series before you read this one. Spring was a great season at the Masaki shrine. Acually, every season was pretty great at the Masaki shrine in one way or another. Spring was an especially nice season though, because it brought a sense of re-birth with it, and this year, re-birth was a most wealcome thing. Tenchi swept the steps of the shrine with a whistful far off look in his eyes. It seemed like so long ago now that they had fought Seliph and Washu had remembered her God-hood. She had said that she would battle with Tokemi eventually, and Tenchi was sure they couldn’t help with that, but he worried some times that the evil elder sister of his ‘Auntie Washu’ might send more minions like Seliph to destroy the family her wayward sibling had gathered about her. For now though, things were peaceful. Hiro came by three times a week to train with Tenchi, so they could both keep in shape. Without Yosho around to train the young Masaki, he feared he might never advance any further. Washu had assured him that he was no where near his full power, and that he’d adavance further if he trained hard enough, but Tenchi found it difficult to train with out getting sentimental. Ryoko and Hiro had moved out of the house soon after the battle in space, and it had seemed so mundane without them around. As much as he hated to admit it, Tenchi acually missed their non-stop arguing and blantent displays of affection. They gave an air of comic relife to the place that it just hadn’t had since they left. Ryo-Ohki had left with her mistress, so not even she was around to engage in her normal cabit anctics. Mihoshi still lived with Kiyone, and now Brice as well. The three of them got on quite well, though Tenchi did feel sorry for Kiyone, who had to live with her friends constant make-out sesstion, and the sounds they made at night (she had discribed them to him as animilistic and sickening.) The new priest of the Masaki Shrine chuckled at the GPO’s bad luck. Ayeka had seemed worried for several months now. She feared what her father would do about neither her nor Yosho’s grandson wanting to take the thrown. Sasami definetly didn’t deserve that fate, and she would be a Goddess when she grew up any way. So who would take the thrown? Tenchi had sat up with her long into the night several times discusing it, and so far they hadn’t reached a soulotion. They didn’t want to leave Earth, and the empire couldn’t be ruled from where they were. Tenchi sighed. They would figure it out eventually, he was sure. His thoughts then wandered to Washu. The diminutive woman who used to live in the broom closet in a sub space lab, now had a regular bed room in the house, and acually used it more then four times a week. She had seemed so distracted from her work lately. Tenchi chalked it up to her being a Goddess, and already knowing everything there was to know, but still, she should still get the rush of inventing something new, shouldn’t she? He shook his head. That woman had become a compleat inigma to him and the rest of the family. Except for one person, he quickly reminded himself. His father, Nobuyuki, had taken it quite well when Washu had told him about her true nature. He just brushed it off, and had said, “Well, as long as you’re still the same Washu I fell in love with, then I don’t care what you are.” Washu had of corse then jumped on him and asked if he truely did love her, and if so, could they get married and have children and a little cottage with a white picket fence and a cat and a dog and..... Tenchi smiled at the thought of his poor father realing from the verbal assult of the short red headed girl. The smiled faded though, and then vanished. Something was close... Quick as a flash, Tenchi dropped the broom and darted to one side. The ground he had been sweeping was blasted by a rush of air as something touched down there and then jumped again, faster then the eye could track. The Tenchi-Ken was out and ready in a split second, and Tenchi had rolled to his left before the attack came at his new location. Standing and spinning about, Tenchi held up his sword in a defensive pose, and a green energy saber crossed it with a flash and a strong impact that hurt his arms. He concentrated for a moment, and his Jurian battle uniform appeared on him. Hiro appeared at the same time, dressed for battle as well. “You have damn quick reflexes, bud.” Hiro grinned, his sword still crossed with Tenchi’s. “And you’re getting better at sneaking up on me.” Tenchi smiled back. Suddenly, they flew into a flurry of strikes and blocks that would have made a normal person dizzy just watching. They seperated and panted for breath. “Don’t hold back now, Tenchi....” Hiro said. “I don’t want to use the Light Hawk Wings on you yet... I don’t know if you can take that kind of abuse....” “Well, we wont know until we try will we?” Hiro smiled and lost his sword, “Dodge this, punk.” he said, and started to hurl energy blasts at his friend. Tenchi jumped back and started to dodge the blasts. “Not this close to the shrine!” he yelled as a stray blast ripped a huge hole in the ground. “Better figure out how to move the fight then!” Hiro yelled back and powered up a huge blast. He threw it with a scream, right at Tenchi, who stood before the shrine. The blast hit and exploded, but the explostion was contained. When the dust cleared, Tenchi floated off the ground a few feet, and his uniform had changed to the white and blue of the Light Hawk Wing outfit. The glowing sheild before him seperated down to the three glowing wings, and he grasped one. It became a sword, and the other two flew about him, acting as protective sheilds. Hiro grinned and started his attack again, throwing blast after blast. Tenchi simply floated where he was and the shields blocked all of the energy balls. Hiro put both hands together and pointed them at his friend, palms out, and a beam of green energy streaked forth, hitting one of the shileds, but not going any further. Tenchi took on a grim exprestion, and bellowed out a battle cry suddenly. Hiro’s beam fed back on it’s self, becoming blue white as it did, and blasted into him. He was thrown back into the woods, and took out several trees as he tumbled down the hill. Tenchi flew after him with his sword in hand. Hiro blasted up out of the small crater he had made when he finnally stopped and flew at his friend with a cry of blood curdeling anger on his lips. He crossed swords with Tenchi, and was pushed away. They engadged in battle in mid air, fighting until they both seperated and were panting. Hiro knew he was fighting a losing battle though. They came back together, and this time Tenchi had a definet upper hand. He shoved Hiro back and kicked him in the chest. A green glow surrounded Hiro and he blasted back at Tenchi with all of his might. They met again, but Tenchi caught hold of him this time, and pounded his fist into Hiro’s face, sending him spining to the ground. Tenchi nodded, sure that his friend wouldn’t get up after that blow, and started to decend slowly. His sheild suddenly spun about to block a huge blast of red energy. He was knocked back from the blow, and when he looked up, Ryoko was already on top of him. They exchanged a few blows, but he wasn’t any where near as fast or as strong as she was. With two gems and a better understanding of her powers, she out classed him by a long shot. He put up a good fight, but soon found that he was pulling himself out of a crater right next to one that Hiro still lay in. He looked down at his friend and heard him grown. “You okay in ther Hiro?” Tenchi called. “I’m fine.... waiting for my leg to heal up.” Tenchi noted the blood staining his frineds pant leg, and looked over at Ryoko as she landed next to him. “You hit my baby...” Ryoko said to him with a smirk, “And I wanted my revenge!” “Well, if Hiro can’t increase his power much more, I may have to start training with you any way.” Tenchi looked back at Hiro as he pulled himself out of his hole. “I’ll get better... just let me train a bit more... I’ll be as powerful as the two of you.” he nodded at them. “Hiro,” Ryoko said, “Maybe we should talk to Mom and see if you can get more powerful. We don’t even know if you’ve maxed out your power level without more then just one gem.” “I know I can get better.” he replied, “I can feel it. I just have to train harder.” “Well... just don’t push yourself too hard...” Tenchi said. “Let’s get back to the house.” Ryoko smiled at the two young men, “I’m hungry and Sasami should have dinner ready soon.” “Hey Mom?” Ryoko asked as she stood on a stool in the middle of a room in Washu’s lab. “Yes Little Ryoko?” Washu replied as she stuck another pin in the hem of the flowing white dress that her daughter wore. It really was a lovely dress. They had picked it out from a window of a little shop in Venice, where the owner sewed everything by hand. It looked wonderful on Ryoko. “Is it posibal for Hiro to push his power further then what only one gem would normally give him?” “Why do you ask?” Washu made a mental note of the height of the hem, and stuck another pin in to hold it. “He seems to think that he can push his power level up to where Tenchi and I are...” she said with a fair amount of concern in her voice. “And you’re worried that he’ll push too far?” Washu looked up at her and smiled, “Don’t worry about it. He can increase his power a little, but not to where you are. That would take another gem, or... something else...” “Well he’s going to kill himself if he keeps up the way he is.” Ryoko sounded slightly angry now, “I don’t want to be widowed after two months because he feels the need to fight against Tenchi and the Light Hawk Wings.” “He wont. He’ll come to terms, or he’ll find that something else. That’s all there is to it.” Washu stood back and looked Ryoko up and down, “You’re breath taking, Daughter.” Ryoko spun in a slow circle, and let the dress billow out a little. She stopped and let it swirl around her legs, “You think so?” “I do. You’ll make a lovely bride.” Washu walked over and hugged her daughter’s legs. Ryoko put a hand on her mother’s head and smiled, “Thank’s Mom.” Hiro pushed himself up again. Working out every day had become a habbit he couldn’t seem to break. Even on days when he was sore from a long afternoon of fighting Tenchi the previous day, he still got up in the morning and worked out. 1,500 push-ups. 2,000 sit ups. He ran five kilometers a day, and went through several fighting manuvers in the yard behind the apartment complex he and Ryoko lived in. The little kids from around the area came and watched him, and they even tried to mimick him now and then. He had doctored more then one skined knee or bumped head as a result, but he tried to show them how to do some things every now and then. He was now getting ready for his run, just finishing his push ups. There had to be a better way to work out then to just do all of this every day. Some way to make it harder, so that he would get more out of it. He thought about that the whole time he was running, and then it was at the back of his mind as he taught several kids how to do a simple kick and punch combo that he engaged in for a warm up. All that day at his job at a day care facility, he thought about soulotions. He finnally just commited to going and talking to Washu about it. She would be able to give him a device of some sort that would help. After he had seen all of the children off, and cleaned up, he told his boss good bye, and walked home. There, he changed his cloths to his normal street clothing, and teleported to the Masaki home. He appeared in the living room, floating above the couch. Looking down, he saw Ayeka taking a nap, so he floated over to the door to Washu’s lab silently. Sasami walked out of the kitchen and crossed the room on tip toes. She looked over and saw him as she passed, and waved. He smiled and waved back, and then she went up the stairs, and he ducked through the lab door. “Washu?” he called as he walked in. “Over here!” she called back. Hiro wandered through the dense foliage that was the diminutive woman’s garden, and found himself in a room full of sewing suplies. Washu stood in front of a stool with a grin on her face. “What’s this?” he asked. “Your fitting for your tux.” he opened his mouth to protest, but she cut him off, “No arguing. I’ve been trying to get you in here for a week and a half now, and you keep comming up with some excuse or another. Up on the stool now.” she pointed and he hung his head. Dejectedly he took up his position on the stool. Washu waved her hand and his clothes instantly changed to the tux he would be wearing for the wedding. It seemed to fit him perfectly. Washu blinked. “Oh... well,” she smiled, “I guess I got it right on the first try!” “Well, you did mesure me down to the nanometer...” Hiro replied. “I supose I did...” Washu tossed her pins aside and waved her hand again. Hiro’s normal clothing returned, and he stepped down from the stool, “Now what brings you to my lab today Hiro?” she asked him. “I wanted to ask a favor or you.” he replied. “What would you like? Anything for my son-in-law.” Washu smiled. “I need a better way to train. I want to work out, and to be able to power up with out blowing half the area I’m in to little bits. Do you have any spare sub-space rooms sitting around I could use or something?” “Um....” Washu thought for a moment. She snapped her fingers, and shouted, “Ah ha!” She had not snapped her fingers because she had a bright idea, she had done it to activate her powers. She found it easier to make something when she made a motion or snapped her fingers. She was still getting used to her powers again. In this case, she had created something in another part of the lab. She grabbed his hand and pulled him along, “I have just the thing for you!” she shouted, and laughed manicly. “Oh boy...” Hiro said as she pulled him to a teleporting pad. “With this device,” Washu said, motioning to a 40 foot tall, 50 foot wide, 60 foot deep box, “You will be able to train like you’ve never trained before!” “How is that?” Hiro asked. “Well, when you enter it and turn it on, it slows time down for you.” she said. “Really? So I could stay in there and train for hours and then come out only a few minutes latter?” “If you wanted. It has variable setting, so you could acually stay in for 20 years and come out maybe a day or two latter if you wanted.” “That’s amazing. When can I start?” Hiro looked at the huge box with a dreamy look in his eyes. “Right now if you want. I’ll set it to end at dinner time,” she looked at her watch, “in two hours. How long do you want to spend inside?” “What will I do about food?” Hiro asked. “There’s a food replecator on the inside, as well as a mat for you to sleep on.” she said. “Then I’ll stay in for a month.” “Are you sure? It’ll get pretty lonely in there...” “I’m sure.” Hiro nodded and walked over to the door in the side of the thing. “Oh, Hiro! I almost forgot!” Washu walked over and started punching in commands on the controler next to the door, “Inside, there’s a gravity controler. You can make yourself weigh more to increase your acually strength if you want.” “Cool. I’ll see you in a month.” “And I’ll see you in two hours.” she smiled as he walked in. The door shut behind him, and Washu sighed. Ryoko would not be happy with her. She was positive though, that if there was a way to gain power beyond what the gems gave him, Hiro could find it. “Has anyone seen Hiro?” Ryoko asked as she walked into the kitchen of the Masaki house. “Oh Ryoko!” Sasami said as she dumped a plate full of carrots into a boiling pot, “I didn’t know you two would be over for dinner!” “Well, we weren’t planing on comming, but it smells so good that I think I might stay. I just haven’t seen Hiro all day, and I was wondering if he came over here...” Ryoko frowned. It wasn’t like Hiro to just up and vanish. He should have been home from work almost three hours ago. “I don’t know Ryoko,” Tenchi said from the table where he sat balancing the family’s spendings for the month, “I haven’t seen him.” “I have.” Washu said from where she was rolling out dough for cookies she and Sasami were making. “Well why didn’t you say so?” Ryoko flew over to her mother, “Where is he?” “He’s in my lab, in a Hyperbolic Time Chamber.” Washu replied. “A what?” Ryoko asked, going pale. “A room that lets him train for a month in two hours. His time is almost up though, so if you want to go with me to get him out...” “Mom!” Ryoko yelled, “How could you?” she growled at her mother. “He asked me to! I wasn’t going to tell him no! Listen Ryoko, I think he can do this...” “I don’t care what you think! He’s going to kill himself trying to get more powerful! I don’t care how powerful he is! I just want him to be alive!” tears streamed down Ryoko’s face. Tenchi frowned. She was being really emotional about all of this. Maybe it was just the stress from the weading starting to get to her... “Come on then...” Washu said, taking her daughter’s hand, “Let’s go get him out, and I’ll take it apart tomarow.” “Okay...” Ryoko sniffed and let Washu lead her to the lab. “That was really weird.” Sasami said after they had gone, “What’s wrong with Ryoko?” “I don’t know Sasami...” Tenchi said, “I don’t know....” Ryoko and Washu stood before the door to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber watching the timer. It ticked down the last few seconds and stopped with a ‘bing!’ “Nice,” Ryoko commented, “make’s him seem like a microwave dinner....” “Let’s see how he’s doing.” Washu said as she shut down the time dampening effect. She punched a button and the door to the chamber slid open. Hiro stood on the other side, and Washu and Ryoko both gasped when they saw him. His hair had grown slightly, but that was normal when he let it go for a month. His facial hair had grown in too, and he looked scruffy. Most noticeable was how bulked up he had become. His muscles bulged from under his ripped and torn colthing, and he wore a exprestion of grim satisfaction. A strange quirky smile played across his features as he stepped out of the chamber. He hugged Ryoko, and she felt how strong he was. “You’re squeazing a bit hard dear...” she gasped out. “Oh, sorry...” he stepped back and rubbed his neck, “I guess I’m just used to a different gravity level...” “A different gravity level?” Ryoko threw a withering look at Washu, “He really could have killed himself!” she said, “How much gravity do you have on in here?” Ryoko asked as she stepped into the chamber. “Ryoko, no!” Hiro shouted and grabbed for her, but it was too late. She stepped into the chamber and immedietly fell to her hands and knees. She growled and strugled against the gravity. “What the hell?” she growled as she stood slowly. The gems in her wrists were glowing fiercely. “I have it set to 50X gravity....” Hiro said. Ryoko fell back to one knee. “Help me....” she growled at him. Her jaw was pushed open by it’s own great weight. “You should really check the display before you step in here.” Hiro scolded her as he stepped into the chamber like it wasn’t any different inside. He helped her up and out of the chamber. She gasped as the air came back to her lungs. “50X gravity is quite a lot, Hiro.” Washu said with interest, “How high did you set it?” “Well, 50 was my normal level for the past week or so, but I had it on 75 or 100 when I was acually training.” he replied. “That’s nuts!” Ryoko said, “You’re going to kill yourself!” “I can do back flips in 100X gravity,” Hiro said with a smile, “I don’t think I’m going to hurt myself.” “You should rest for tonight.” Washu said, “Stay here so I can moniter any side effects.” “Are you expecting any?” Hiro asked as he yawned. “No, but it’s a precationary thing.” Washu waved her hand in dismisal of any thoughts of the chamber being harmful. “I want to go again tomarrow, for longer.” Hiro said. “I’m going with you then.” Ryoko said. “No, Ryoko, you don’t need this like I do.” “I wont be out done Hiro,” she said with a devilish grin, “Besides, I want to keep an eye on you...” “Alright, but how long shoud we go?” “A day would be a year.” Washu said, “If you keep the same amount of time to time ratio.” “Then let’s bump it up a bit, and say 6 months in 4 hours. That should be a good morning work out....” Hiro grinned. “Fine by me!” Ryoko said. They smiled at each other, then at Washu. “You guys are nuts.” Washu said as she turned around and walked away. Ryoko and Hiro burst out laughing. Tenchi swept the steps of the shrine with the determination of one who was totally commited to what they were doing. Ayeka sat near by and watched her lover. She smiled at his figure moving in such a graceful,and repeditive pattern. The princess was suddenly awear of another presence behind her, and turned to see Ryoko rubbing her neck. “Rough night with Hiro?” Ayeka asked with a giggle, poking her in the ribs. Ryoko winced, “Ow... more like a rough morning...” “Don’t you two ever stop?” Ayeka covered her mouth to contain her laughter. “What?” Ryoko looked at her, confused for a moment, then realization dawned on her, “Oh! No! Not like that... we’ve been training...” “In Washu’s new invention?” Ayeka asked. “Yeah. Six months in four hours....” “You two were in there for six months?” Ayeka almost fell over, “Why?” “Hiro wanted to train that long. I hate to say it, but he beat the crap out of me a few times. I wasn’t even used to the gravity until the third month. I swear he has some determination...” “What level of gravity were you training at?” Ayeka was confused. “Well, we trained most of the time at 150X gravity, but we lived at only 50X.” “You’re kidding right? That would crush you...” Ayeka laughed a little. “Nope. You have to remember that neither of us are exactly normal humans or Jurians here Princess. We’re both pretty tough, and just getting tougher. I never knew anyone could take as much abuse as I dished out to Hiro...” “How baddly did you hurt him?” Ayeka looked concerned. “Nothing he couldn’t heal, and don’t feel to sorry for him! He busted a few of my ribs and blasted a hole in me once!” Ayeka gulped. Only Ryoko and Hiro could almost kill one another and then get married a month latter. Maybe it would be best to change the subject to that topic.... “So how are plans for the wedding coming?” she asked quickly. “Great!” Ryoko seemed to perk up quite a bit, “We had tons of time when we weren’t training to talk about it in the chamber!” Ayeka sighed. That blasted time chamber would be all she heard about for a while, she was sure of it. Hiro lay in the floating baths, just soaking. He was sore all over. Ryoko sure let him know who was still more powerful... The sound of foot steps came to him, and he opened his eyes with out moving. Kiyone walked into the baths and looked around. He was compleatly still and had stopped breathing, so her eyes passed right over him. She nodded, sure that there was no one else there, and dropped her towl to the floor. Wading into the water, she walked over and sat not five feet from Hiro, still not noticing him. She hummed a tune while she splashed a little water around, then sighed and sank down to her chin. Hiro suddenly moved rapidly and dunked her under the water. She gurgled and came back up with a gasp and a look of pure anger on her face. She saw him floating in the air in front of her, rolling around like he was on the floor, and laughing like a hyena. Kiyone scowled as she stood up and sluged him in the side. Her fist hit him and stopped. It felt like she had just hit a brick wall. “Yow!” she yelled and stummbled back. She held her hand and looked up at her friend, “What the hell was that?” she asked. “What? Oh! You’re hand... I’m sorry... here,” Hiro teleported over to Kiyone’s towl and grabbed it, then teleported back to her with it in his hand. He was wearing his when her reappeared, “Cover up before Ryoko comes in here...” he glanced over his shoulder fearfully. Kiyone laughed as she wrapped her towl around herself, and then inspected her hand. It seemed to be fine. “How’d you make your body so hard?” she asked. “I trained for a long time.” “Must have been every waking moment since I saw you last Tuesday...” she said with half grin. “Washu invented a Hyperbolic Time Chamber.” “Wait... so you can train for several weeks in just a few hours?” “Six months in four acually. At 150X gravity.” “You’re nuts.” Kiyone shook her head. It acually came as no suprise to her that Hiro was able to do something like that, or that he had. “So how’s things?” he asked, floating a little ways away and sinking back into the water. “Not bad... Kiyone looked about again, then quickly tossed her towl aside before sinking back down herself, “I just wanted to get away from Mihoshi and Brice for a little while...” “I can see that.” Hiro grinned. “No doubt.” Kiyone sighed, “Hiro, I need a man...” “Yes, you do. Sorry, I’m taken.” “I know, I know.... I need a man though... badly.” she sank up to her hair line, then sat back up. “Have you tried looking in singles bars?” “All over town...” “Maybe you should start a galaxy wide search...” “Maybe...” “I know! We could have Washu find you the perfect man!” “Huh,” Kiyone laughed, “Washu could just make me the perfect man...” “Yeah, but genetic growing is so unpredictable...” “Wha-” Kiyone caught herself. Hiro didn’t know.... “Wha...?” Hiro looked at her quizicly. “Oh, nothing.” Kiyone dismissed it with a wave of her hand, “I’m just not up to snuff on my genetic growth of male partners I guess...” she laughed. Hiro chuckled as well, “Well, I guess you’ll just have to keep looking...” “What’s up in here?” Ryoko asked as she fazed into exictence above them, compleatly nude. She caught sight of the Galaxy Police officer, “Hey Kiyone,” she asked with a suductive edge to her voice, “Trying to put the moves on my man?” “Uh.... no?” Kiyone more asked then ansawered, “That is, unless you’re in to that sort of thing, in which case I’d be more then happy to-” “Oh just shut up!” Ryoko said and splashed Kiyone. The teal haired woman yelped and laughed as she splashed water back and soon the three of them were in a splashing contest to see who could get who with more water. The days seemed to float by to Tenchi. Was this what life was going to be like for the rest of time? His days had become just blurs, one flowing into the next, the same events repeated over and over. He got up, trained, worked the fields, did up-keep on the shrine, argued with Ayeka, made up with Ayeka, ate meals, trained.... When was something going to happen? Tenchi found himself hoping for an intergalactic crisis to arise so he could get off the planet again and do something. The life of a Shinto Priest was just too dull for a nineteen year old. It was these thoughts that Tenchi was contemplating when Hiro jogged up the path to the shrine. He saw Tenchi’s far off gaze and slowed down as he came up to the steps. “Hey Tenchi....” he said softly. “Hey...” Tenchi didn’t stop staring off into space. “You, uh... busy?” “Not really...” Tenchi shook his head and turned to his friend, “What can I do for you?” “I was just wondering if we could talk for a bit. We haven’t in a while, and... well, I’m getting married in a few weeks Tench! I’m all stressed and I need a guy to talk to!” he grabbed Tenchi and shook him like a rag doll, “These woman are all driving me nuts!” Tenchi laughed, “So they finnaly got to you too huh?” The two of them sat in the branches of Fanaho and talked about their lives. They both agreed that things had become quite dull lately. “I just can’t see setteling into a normal life...” Hiro said. “You and Ryoko could always go off and be space pirates...” Tenchi laughed. “And you could be the Emperor of Juri if you wanted...” Hiro shot back. “I still don’t know what we’re going to do about all of that...” Tenchi sighed. “Well, I’d like to help, but you know I can’t. It’s none of my buisness....” “I know...” They sat in silence for several minutes. Tenchi suddenly frowned, then Hiro did too. They looked at each other and then around the clearing. “What is that?” Hiro asked. Tenchi had the same feeling in his gut, “It’s Dr Clay...” he said with and edge to his voice. Ryoko was sun bathing on top of the house with Mihoshi when the shadow dropped across them. She took off her sun glasses and looked up just in time to see the energy build up in the ships main cannon. “Shit.” she said and grabbed Mihoshi’s arm. Washu looked up from where she was playing cards with Nobuyuki and Brice. She frowned. “Damnit.” she yelled jumping up, “Why can’t she just leave us alone!” Ayeka and Sasami were taking a load out of the laundry when the rumble started. “Ayeka...?” Sasami looked worried. “I don’t know...” Ayeka said, standing up and touching her crown. She gasped. Kiyone looked up at the huge ship as it’s main weapon gathered energy. She had seen the symbol on the side and knew who it was. “Clay!” she screamed, yanking her blaster out. She started to empty the energy cell at the ship in a display of defience. Dr Clay laughed evilly as he punched the large red button that said, ‘FIRE.’ The blast from the cannon hit the house and drove into the earth with an intencity not seen on earth ever. He would just destroy the whole planet, and then pick Washu out of the mess that remained. Tokimi had assured him that her powers as a Goddess weren’t fully developed yet and that she could be knocked out by a big enough blast. As the red light faded, Dr. Clay looked out at his handy work. The house was gone, and there was a large blast area around where it had been, but other then that, the planet had been unharmed. He zoomed the veiw in and saw the reason. Princess Ayeka stood at the center of a large blue dome, holding the force feild that had just absorbed the blast from his super weapon. “How in the hell did she do that?” he yelled. Ryoko appeared in the clearing with Tenchi and Hiro, who were already starting for the house, “Hey guys!” she yelled as she dropped Mihoshi to the ground. “What just happened?” Mihoshi asked, looking around franticly for Kiyone. “I’ll tell you,” Washu said as she and her two card partners appeared, “Tokimi sent another laky to try and real me in!” “Damnit!” Hiro yelled, “Doesn’t she ever give up?” “Guess not...” Tenchi said, “Washu, where’s Ayeka and Sasami?” “They were doing laundry...” she said, suddenly turning very pale. Tenchi’s eyes got wide and he took off at a dead run for the place where the house had been. Hiro followed him, and Ryoko was right on their heels. Kiyone stumbled over a blackened chunk of tree stump as she ran to where Ayeka had just fallen to the ground. Sasami held her sister’s head in her lap and looked up defiently at the huge ship above them. The Galaxy Police woman skidded to a hault next to Sasami and scooped up Ayeka. “Come on, Sasami!” she yelled as she ran for the single door that still stood in the area. Washu’s lab was their only hope... The cannon started to charge again. Kiyone screamed as she tossed Ayeka through the door and shoved Sasami through. The cannon fiered. Hiro heard Kiyone scream and vanished mid-flight. “Hiro!” Ryoko yelled, and flew faster. Tenchi jumped into the air and formed the light hawk wings on command. They took on the form of huge feathered wings on his shoulders, and the third formed into a sword in his hand. He flew off after Ryoko. Hiro appered in front of Kiyone just as the beam from the cannon was about to hit. He shoved his hands up into the air and screamed out as loud as he could as he formed a huge blast of energy. Green fire burst up all around him as his beam collided with the one from Dr. Clay’s ship. Dr. Clay looked on dumbfounded as this boy’s energy beam acually stopped his and was battleing it for ground. He increased the power, moving energy from the drive system. He started to win the battle. Hiro was losing. He dug down deep into the core of his being, looking for the power he had tapped into only once while he was in the time chamber. He had done it while Ryoko was asleap one night, and it had scared him too much to try again. He had reached a new level, and didn’t know if he could control that kind of power yet. The gem in his wrist burned green as his power suddenly jumped. The beam was still gaining ground against his, but not as fast now. A short distence away, Tenchi and Ryoko stood and looked on in utter amazement as Hiro acually battled the energy blast from Clay’s ship. The green fire seemed to engulf him and crumble the ground around him. Hiro knew he was fighting a losing battle. He thought about Kiyone, who he had to save, Tenchi, his frined and commapanion, who he had to stay alive for, and Ryoko, his lover and wife to be, who he had to marry... “I will not be defeated!” he screamed as he found the power inside of himself. His power. Not the power Washu had given him, or the power of the gem in his wrist. This was the power that was the core of all the hearts of all the people of earth. The power of life and the power of love. He screamed as the power came in full. Dr. Clay looked on as the green energy engulfed his beam cannon and blew it to small glowing chuncks. He growled and pounded the com button on the control panal before him, “Washu!” he yelled out to the large forest surrounding the area, “I know you can hear me! If I can’t find you, then you’ll come to me! I’m going to Juri now, and if you want these people to not lose the Emporer or his wives, then you had best come and get me!” with that, he flew up into space and blasted away. Ayeka burst out of the door to Washu’s lab, “What did he just say?” she demanded in a franctic tone. “That he’s going to assasinate the Emporer if we don’t stop him...” Kiyone replied from where she sat on the ground behind Hiro. Hiro for his part was slumped forward and breathing hard. Green energy still surged up and down his body, and he had his eyes squeazed shut so tightly that tears were starting to form. “Hiro!” Ryoko yelled as she felw up to him. She wrapped him in a huge hug and he fell into her, “Don’t you ever do anything like that again!” she scolded him. “Hey!” Kiyone said. “Oh,” Ryoko looked down at her, “Sorry... I didn’t mean it like that...” “Don’t worry about it...” Kiyone looked to her left just in time to see Mihoshi. She screamed as the blond slammed into her and hugged her, bawling her eyes out. “Oh Kiyone! I was so worried that I’d never see you again and that you’d be blown up and that Hiro wouldn’t be able to stop the blast and then I’d be all alone and I’d never see you again and-” “Mihoshi!” Kiyone bellowed, “Get a grip!” As Mihoshi calmed down, Tenchi ran up with the rest of the group, “Did Dr. Clay say what I thought he said?” he asked. “Yes he did.” Washu replied, “And we’ll have to get a move on if we want to stop him.” “Then we need ships...” Ryoko looked around, “Where’s Ryo-Ohki?!?” she cried suddenly and dropped Hiro, who fell to his knees. She began to run around franticly calling for her cabbit. Hiro stood slowly and walked over to Washu. “Hey...” he said, “I wouldn’t have been able to stop Clay if you hadn’t let me train in the Time Chamber... thank you...” “I’m proud of you for being able to become so powerful. You found power of your own... you may not even need the gems any more...” Washu pinched his cheek, “But why don’t you hold on to it for now any way...” Hiro smiled down at her. Ryoko suddenly spun him around and yelled in his face, “Hiro! I can’t find Ryo-Ohki anywhere!” she burst into tears. “Ryoko!” Sasami said as she limped out of Washu’s lab, “Ryo-Ohki is with me!” the cabbit jumped down from atop Sasami’s head and hopped over to the space pirate. She jumped up into Ryoko’s open arms and nuzzled her mistress with a meow. “Ryo-Ohki! Don’t hide from me like that!” Ryoko squeazed her compainion and Hiro smiled. “Are you okay Sasami?” Tenchi asked, kneeling next to her, “I noticed that you’re favoring your right ankle.” “I just twisted it when Kiyone threw me in through the door. It’s better then being blasted to little bits...” “Yeah, I guess so!” Tenchi laughed. “Enough sitting around and regrouping! We have an Empire to save!” Washu yelled. Suddenly floating above them were the Yagami and the LowRider, and much to everyone’s suprise, Ryo-Oh, Ayeka’s tree ship. “How’d you do that?” Hiro asked in wonder. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me yet Hiro...” Washu said softly, “Now let’s get going. Kiyone, Mihoshi, and Brice, you three take Yagami, Ryoko and I will go on Ryo-Ohki, Tenchi, Ayeka, and Sasami will go on Ryo-Oh, and Hiro and Nobuyuki will go on The LowRider.” “But I want Hiro with me!” Ryoko protested. “And when did I become part of the fighting bunch?” Nobuyuki asked, backing away. “Hiro is the best at operating LowRider, so that’s why he’s not going with you Ryoko,” Washu replied, “and you, dear,” she pointed a finger at Nobuyuki, “are going to be safe, and the safest place in the Universe is on LowRider with Hiro. You’re smart enough to figure out how to opperate it, so start learning!” “Yes Dear...” Nobuyuki said, looking at the ground. A smile played across his lips how ever. He was going to be able to help for once. “Let’s get going then.” Hiro said, and grabbed Nobuyuki’s arm. The fadded out of exictence, and Hiro’s voice came as the went, “We’ll see all of you out by Saturn...” Ayeka nodded, and she and Tenchi and Sasami all glowed bright blue for a moment, then vanished, up to Ryo-Oh. Kiyone touched her earing and she, Mihoshi, and Brice were all beamed abourd Yagami. The three ships all flew up into space, and faded from view. Ryoko turned to her mother, “Now why did you REALLY want to go alone with me?” she asked in a somewhat cross tone. “We have much to talk about....” Washu said as she took on her adult form. Ryoko raised an eyebrow at her. “You decide to grow up for this little adventure?” she asked. “I don’t think I should hide behind a mask any more Ryoko... and you’ll find out why while we track down old Octopus Head....” Washu nodded to Ryo-Ohki, who jumped up into the air with a miyow! and transformed into her huge black space ship form. Ryoko and Washu both teleported to her bridge and stood facing one another. “Ryoko,” Washu said taking a deep breath, “you’ve always been a special girl...” “Yeah?” Ryoko said, “I kinda’ like who I am...” “Yes, but now you’re going to find out just how special you really are....” Washu said in a deadly serious tone. Ryoko listened.