TENCHI MUYO! RYO-OHKI +1 --------------------------------------------- EPISODE 2 "Here Come Ayeka And Sasami" Chapter 3 "The Princess And The Pirate" Ryoko opened her eyes and found herself suspended upside down between the two Guardians of Jurai. No big deal for her. If Ayeka thought that hanging her upside down was going to be effective, then she had a lot to learn about interrogations. "It's been a while, hasn't it, Ryoko?" Ayeka asked. "Yeah, it sure has, little Princess," Ryoko replied, "I can tell just by counting all the grey hairs and wrinkles you've got since we last met." Ayeka made her mad-little-princess sound and nodded to the two logs holding Ryoko. A charge of energy surged through the pretty pirate. It should've caused terrible pain, but instead, Ryoko was laughing hysterically. "Oh my," Ayeka mused, "that's not the effect this is supposed to have. Ryoko, you're behaving just like a... a.... what is that called?" "A masochist?" Azaka offered, helpfully. "Yes, that's it." "Actually. I'm more of a sadist," Ryoko grinned, like a cat eyeing a very choice-looking bit of canary. Ayeka felt herself blushing. "Oh my," she gasped, demurely, "does that mean you like to...?" Ryoko's grin widened and she took on a predatory look. "Never mind!" Ayeka blurted out, scolding herself inwardly for her momentary lapse.It would not happen again. "That's completely unimportant. Now, tell me two things. Why did that boy you were with have this sword," she pulled the hilt of the sword from her belt, "and where is my brother Yosho?" "First off, stupid," Ryoko retorted, "he had the sword because it's his and second Yosho is only your half-brother." "How dare you call me stupid!" Ayeka huffed. "You're the stupid one. This sword doesn't belong to some Earth boy, it belongs to my Yosho!" Ayeka struck Ryoko's lower abdomen with the sword. Ryoko screamed as the sword's energy coursed through her body making every muscle contract spasmodically over and over. The over-all sensation was a bit painful. But since every muscle was effected, it hadn't been without pleasure. Still, it was possible to have too much of a good thing. "STOP! STOP!" Ryoko called out. "You can stop now!" "Answer me," Ayeka stopped the surge, "were is the owner of the sword." "Ask Tenchi, he knows more about Yosho than me." "Why would the sword know where Yosho is?" "Oh that's right. I forgot the sword was called Tenchi. I meant that boy. He's also called Tenchi." "Wow! That's some coincidence," Ayeka was impressed. "Yeah, right," Ryoko smirked. The silver sphere that had earlier summoned Sasami for her cooking lessons now hovered into the interrogation chamber. "Lady Ayeka," it spoke, "it is time for bed." "Not now," Ayeka snapped at it. "I'm busy. Now go away." "I cannot allow that." The sphere told her. "The queen has given me strict orders." "Bedtime, little girl." Ryoko taunted. "Sweet dreams." Ayeka made her mad-little-princess noise again. "Very well." She snapped. "And take her off to jail." "Come, Ayeka, this way." the sphere summoned. *** The miniaturized Nobuyuki regained consciousness. He looked up at the giant spaceship he was in, looked back at his house, and decided he could deal with the ceiling far better than the sky for the moment. He walked back into the house and was relieved to see that it was intact, except for a few windows that were easily replaceable. Inside, he hit the power button for the TV. It was dead. Of course it would be, up here he was away from any cables or electricity. That meant the VCR wouldn't work either. He went into the kitchen to get something to eat. It would have to be something he could eat cold, since the stove wouldn't be working either. He found a package of cookies he'd stashed away. Pulling it out, he was dismayed to find half of them eaten.Well, at least there were some left, he reasoned. He selected one of his old manga comics and brought it into the kitchen. As he munched on cookies and read the manga, he found himself laughing. "Aliens with shrink-beams snatching up people and their houses!" he chuckled. "Oh that's rich! I can't believe I actually believe in that stuff." He smiled, to himself. "Of course, believing in it didn't really do me all that much harm. I mean look at where I am now." *Four inches tall n a shrunken house aboard an alien spaceship.* Nobuyuki suddenly realized where he was and started laughing even harder. *** Tenchi woke and noticed that he was standing in a circle of trees. He started to move forward, but they blocked him. He tried another gap. As he reached it, it closed up, blocking him again. After a few tries, he took out his pocket knife. "Take that! He said, carving the tree. "What are you doing?" A little girl's voice asked. Sasami stood there with her pet now resting serenely in her arms. "Well, I'm just try to escape from..." Tenchi paused. "Who are you?" "My name is Sasami." She bowed "Who are you?" "My name's Tenchi." Tenchi replied. Sasami half-remembered the name from her dream and she looked upon him with curiosity. "Sasami?" Tenchi asked. "Have you been kidnapped also?" "No, silly, this is our ship." "This is your ship?" Tenchi tried to work it out. "Then you're an alien from planet Sasami?" Sasami laughed. "No, you silly, I come from the planet Jurai." "What about those logs?" "Oh, those aren't logs. Those are guardians. They're our servants." Tenchi relaxed. "Sasami, I was brought her by mistake. Could you get me out of here?" Sasami unlocked Tenchi's prison with a sword-handle similar to the one he'd acquired in the cave. Tenchi stared at the sword the little girl was holding. "Hey, that looks just like..." he searched his pockets and came up empty. "Hey! It's gone!" "What's wrong?" Sasami asked. "I had a sword like that, and it's gone." Tenchi gasped. "Hmmm." "You look just like us," Tenchi observed the child who had freed him. Sasami smiled. "What a cute pet," Tenchi added, leaning to get a closer look, and getting his face licked. "Mmm hmm." Sasami agreed. "Tell me what were those weird logs?" "They aren't really logs. "Sasami smiled. "They're guardians. Our servants." Tenchi was a bit relieved. He stared at the sword-hilt the little girl was holding. "Hey, that looks just like..." he searched his pockets and came up empty. "Hey! It's gone!" "What's wrong?" Sasami asked. "I had a sword like that, and it's gone," Tenchi explained. "Hmmm," Sasami mused. "Sasami, can you get me home?" Sasami considered it. "Well, I'll do you a favor if you do a favor for me." *** The brilliant scientist who had created the escape pod the Protector was in had equipped it with everything: Scanners for viewing deep space, or TV programs from any planet in a two hundred light year range. Food replicators with a rather impressive array of culinary options. A very nice shower with an endless supply of hot and cold water. A computer which could interface with any online network in the universe. And, much to the Protector's chagrin, an alarm clock. "Okay, okay, I'm up," he muttered as he climbed, blearily, out of bed and stumbled into the shower. When he walked into the ship's main cabin, he was a bit more awake. He poured some fresh coffee and settled in at the terminal to read the daily news. "Would like to see the local news?" The computer asked. "In todays local news, the occupant of the escape pod woke up, made coffee and was asked a very stupid question by a highly sophisticate piece of ultramodern technology," the Protector replied, sarcastically. "I was referring to the part of the Galaxy we are currently traversing." the computer pointed out. "Any inhabited planets?" "No." "Any spaceships?" "One." "Lifeforms." "One." The Protector raised an eyebrow. "Computer give me full data on ship and lifeform." An image of the escape pod and a note that it was occupied by a single Draalthi appeared on the screen." The Protector sighed. "Are there spaceships or lifeforms around besides us?" He asked. *** Nobuyuki sat and watched a video. He hadn't been able to start his VCR. Instead, he was using the playback function an old video camera, the kind that took the full size VHS tapes. and looking into the viewfinder. The downside of this was that he had to watch it as a silent movie, but at least he was able to watch it. "It's a good thing I didn't throw that old camera away," he told himself. *** "My sister's room is right over there." Sasami pointed across what looked like a moonlit field at what appeared to be a tree that had been elegantly crafted into the shape of a small summer palace. Tenchi looked at where she was pointing. He could see one window had a light on. As he watched, the light went out. "She's asleep now," Sasami told him. "You know what to do right?" "Get her head ornament." Tenchi nodded. "But why. Isn't it hers?" "Just get it." "Okay, I'll get it. Just don't forget your promise." Tenchi made his way to the arboreal abode. Behind him, remaining where she was, Sasami quietly giggled. *** Ayeka rolled over in bed. Her hands clutched the pillow and drew it close as she softly whispered Yosho's name. Tenchi stared at her. Yosho was his distant ancestor, and here was a girl his own age who seemed to be having a very intense dream about him. He moved closer, trying to get a better look. Ayeka rolled over again and Tenchi got a good look at her head ornament. It fit flush against her brow, under her hair, with part of it clamped around some of her hair, forming a set of unbraided pigtails just in front of her ears. "Oh man, how am I supposed to get that off her?" Tenchi sighed. He was about to leave when he saw the sword clutched in Ayeka's hand. "The sword." He whispered. "Well... first thing's first." He went to the right side of the bed, to grab it. Entirely by chance, Ayeka rolled to the left side. Tenchi moved to the left side, and the same thing happened. Tenchi decided to heck with it. He climbed onto the bed, climbing on top of Ayeka and using his knees to stop her from rolling over, and tried to dislodge the sword from her surprisingly strong grip. Of course when Ayeka woke up, she got entirely the wrong idea. She screamed. Azaka and Kamidake appeared at her side. "I want you to put that scoundrel to death!" She shouted, pointing at Tenchi who was now running like bat out of hell. "Oh my," she remarked to herself, "how quickly he runs." *** Tenchi scooped up Sasami as he ran. She laughed, happily. "Ha! Ha! Very funny! Your logs are trying to kill me!" "They're my sister's! There's nothing I can do." She pointed to a opening in a tree. "Quick! Go in there!" Tenchi did not expect it to be a transporter pad. Within moments, he was in the detention center. "Yoo hoo!! Tenchi!" A familiar voiced called. "Oh great. Her," Tenchi muttered. He went over to Ryoko's new prison. "You got me into this mess. You get me out," Tenchi remarked, pointedly. "I'd really love to help. But without the other gems, I can't. So why don't you stop talking and get me out of here." "You know I can't open this thing." Tenchi pointed out. The sword glowed and the cell opened up. Ryoko drifted out and hovered over by Tenchi. "Who's this?" She asked, looking at Sasami. Sasami bowed. "Hello. Nice to meet you. My name is Sasami." Ryoko had never been treated so politely and it surprised her. Sasami looked over at Tenchi and pointed at Ryoko. "Tenchi? Who is this older lady? Is she a friend of yours also?" Ryoko fumed. "OLDER," she barely kept herself from turning Sasami into a charred pile of bones. That would not look good in front of Tenchi. And besides, she liked the girl, despite what she'd just called her. She relaxed and patted Sasami on the head. "Yes, I'm his friend, but not an *older* lady. You know what I mean, little girl?" She gave Sasami a very firm noogie. "Ow, you're a strong lady," Sasami winced. "that hurts." Sasami stared at the sword hilt in Tenchi's hand. "I wonder why this opened." Tenchi mused. "Hey," Sasami mentioned in a perplexed voice, "that sword belongs to Yosho." "Yosho?" Now that he had a moment to catch his breath, he wondered how they knew about his ancestor. "Mm hm." Sasami nodded. "So why were you able to use it?" "Oh, yeah... show me that sword of yours." Ryoko clasped Tenchi's hand and moved closer to him, almost close enough to kiss him. "Hey! Wait! You can't touch this!" "Trust me. Relax!" "Ryoko!" "Be quiet." Ryoko whispered. The gems began to fade from the hilt of the sword and reappear on Ryoko. "STOP!" Ryoko's concentration was broken, the two gems solidified on the sword. "And here comes the Princess." Ryoko pontificated. "Sasami! I see it was you who released him." Ayeka sounded cross. "You shouldn't have done that." "I was bored." Sasami explained. "That's no excuse." Ayeka told her little sister. She turned to Tenchi. "You, Tenchi. I believe that is your name?" Tenchi nodded. "Where is the owner of the sword you are now holding?" Tenchi considered. "Well, I believe he died a long time ago." "You're lying!" Ayeka blurted. "And what was his name?" "I believe his name was Yosho." Ayeka's face fell and she looked almost ready to cry. "No. It can't be true. You're only trying to trick me! Azaka! Kamikake!" Ryoko grabbed Sasami and held her light-staff in front of her. "Order your blockheads to pull back." "You play dirty to the end." Ayeka snarled. Ryoko was suddenly wrapped in sturdy vines and lifted away from Sasami by Kamidake. Sasami rushed to stand between Azaka and Tenchi. "Azaka! No!" "Get back!" Tenchi raised his hands in a gesture of warding. Kamidake released Ryoko and Azaka backed away. "I gave you an order to attack!" Ayeka told her guardians. Then she saw the sword. "The sword. The Master Key is in synch with him. But it shouldn't react to anyone except those of royal blood. So then why... no it can't be true!" Ryoko turned to Tenchi. "Call Ryo-ohki. You want to go home, right?" "Yeah, if you return my house, too." Tenchi replied. "I can't believe it! I won't believe it!" Ayeka denied. "Suit yourself," Ryoko told her. "But you might want to get out of the way." Ryo-ohki crashed through Ryu-oh a moment later. "Don't say I didn't warn you." Ryoko told Ayeka as she teleported herself and Tenchi back onto Ryo-ohki. "Bye bye, lady." Sasami waved as they vanished. "Azaka! Kamidake! Do something!" "Yes, ma'am." Kamidake replied, from under a bit of rubble. "I will never forgive that woman." Ayeka vowed. *** Nobuyuki busied himself cleaning up the mess in the kitchen. A good deal of the crockery had fallen out of the cupboards when Ryo-ohki had crashed into Ryu-oh and he didn't want himself, Tenchi, or his father-in-law stepping on broken shards and cutting their feet. He supposed he should've done it before watching a video, but one couldn't be blamed for a lapse in judgement when faced with such a odd situation. In the last hour or so, he'd managed to get most of the stuff that hadn't broken safely secured. A straight-edge ruler from his tool kit was holding the cupboard doors shut. Nobuyuki nodded to himself once the task was finished, and leafed through one of manga comics he had collected in his youth. *** "I'll make her follow us down to Earth." Ryoko decided. "If she's allowed to fly around up here, she'll just cause trouble." "You'll hurt her!" Tenchi protested. "So what?" "She's just a girl!" "You like her so much, why don't you go join her?" Ryoko grinned, wickedly. *** "Ryo-ohki's mass is growing abnormally." Azaka announced. "Why aren't they under are control?" "They seem to have used the Master Key." Kamidake pointed out. "What are you doing? Why must attack!" Ayeka commanded. "If we fall to Earth, even Ryu-oh will be damaged." "That woman is simply unreasonable." Ayeka scoffed. "Ryoko! Stop it! I command you!" Her commands went unheard all the way down. Only the command for the outer shell of Ryu-oh to explode was heeded. Ayeka hoped the force of the explosion would act as a type of airbrake and slow ship a bit. Ryoko's concentration was thrown and the ship tumbled over the bay, through the Great Seito bridge, and continued into mountains just beyond... ...in the lake behind the Masaki Shrine. *** "Eat this stew." Ryoko placed a bowl of it in front of Tenchi. "Its good. You're lucky. You don't have a scratch after all we've been through." "Mmm." Tenchi grunted, sounding bored. "You really should thank me." Ryoko told him. "After all, I took care of you and protected you at my own personal risk." Sasami swallowed the food she was eating and turned to Ryoko. "But most of the energy of the crash was absorbed by our ship. That's why you're okay." "Oh. So that's why our landing point was off." Ryoko shuddered. "I nearly landed back in that damn cave." "Where's the other young lady?" Nobuyuki asked. "She's over there." Ryoko pointed to the lake. Ayeka was trying, singlehandedly, to get Ryu-oh out of the lake. "Sasami! You have to help me! We have to save Ryu-oh, my ship!" "Its too big!" Sasami told her. "We'll never get it out of there!" "No... I can't get stranded on such a remote planet as this. I just can't! I have save my ship! My Ryu-oh!" the last syllable turned into a yelp as she tripped and fell. The broken board she was carrying hit Ryu-oh's hull and moved it just enough to sink the entire vessel to the bottom of the lake. Ayeka sank to the ground and sobbed in frustration. *** "Location of Ryoko confirmed." The computer told the Protector. " "Set course and give ETA." The Protector replied. "Course set and locked. " The computer replied. "ETA nine hours, twenty two minutes mark." The Protector watched the sparkling blue jewel as it drew nearer. "I'm almost there, Ryoko." He whispered. -------------------The End of Part 2----------------------