Copyright 2002 by Steve Robinson, All existing Tenchi characters are copyright Pioneer AIC. The character Ryeka is copyright 2002 by Steve Robinson (me) Disclaimer - Look, it's a fan fic, so don't get bent out of shape. I thought up this idea a while ago, so I'm unabashedly pirating the Tenchi universe and bending it to my own nefarious purposes. I haven't read the millions of lines of existing a fan fic, so I can't say for sure that no one else has written this story line, but if so, well great minds and all that. I am sure that if Pioneer and company refrains from suing me, so should you. Besides, I wouldn't be listening anyways, la la la.... This fic is posted in its entirety at http://www.viciousbunny.net/ ------------------------------------------------------------- Thicker than Blood Chapter 7 "... And when you fought back, the gel congealed into the crystal compound that holds you now." Commander Tomokon gloated over his captive. He had finally given in and told Ryoko how they had captured her. "Each time you exerted your energy, the crystal simply stored it, growing stronger and holding you that much tighter. For years, you have humiliated us by flaunting your great power. Well, now the greater your power, the greater your prison." Tomokon glared smugly at Ryoko, daring her to say something smart. She did. "That's nice, I have to pee." "Aaaarrrgh!!!" Tomokon ripped off the transducer and stalked out of the cell, leaving Ryoko alone again. That was okay, because she was very hungry and a little disoriented. She couldn't remember the exact number of days she had been in the cell, but it seemed like forever. Fortunately, the crystal seemed to be air permeable, so at least she could breathe, but she would have killed for a cheeseburger. And she really did have to pee. Tomokon stalked through the corridors towards his stateroom. He wished he could kill the demon now, but unfortunately for him, the crystal that held her also protected her. They couldn't penetrate it enough to attack her without leaving themselves open to attack. Still, at least she was contained. Now it was time to work on the next part of the plan. Ryoko's friends would be coming for her, that much was certain. In fact, the computer simulation had given a 35 percent probability that they would have been here by now. In another two days, the probability would be one hundred percent. Tomokon entered his stateroom and keyed the communications console. The officer of the day on the bridge appeared. "Lieutenant, listen to me carefully. I have received intelligence that some separatist renegade forces from the Earth will try to infiltrate Senzo within the next two days. I want all scanners on full, all non-scheduled traffic held at a distance and searched, and I want around the clock patrols on all decks. Commander Tomokon out." There, Tomokon thought, that should hold them off for a while. In his mind, Tomokon tried to foresee how to catch the next victim of his Lady's ire. They would be well guarded and certainly capable in their own right. Washu, the trickster, was never what she seemed. Using illusion, lifelike decoys and her powerful intelligence Washu had made Doctor Clay look like a senile old fart. Washu also casually invented massively destructive weapons and then discarded them when she grew bored. Then there was the Ambassador, Tenchi Masaki, who could generate Light Hawk wings and the Light Hawk sword. He had led a charmed life, defeating opponent after opponent. His power would certainly be a problem. The Demon Ryo-ohki was a problem much like Ryoko had been, except her power was far more limited. When she was in humanoid form, though, many of her powers were suppressed. The Galaxy Police were ... not a problem in the least. Tomokon snorted. GP technology was barely superior to that of the squabbling Earthlings. The wild card, and the ultimate prize, was Tsunami. The computer had only given even odds that she would appear to take some role. She must, if Tomokon was to receive his reward. The console beeped for attention. It was the officer of the deck. "Sir, sensors detect a Galaxy Police cruiser approaching. It classifies as Yagami." "I'll be right there." Tomokon lurched of his bed and headed to the bridge. "They've seen us," Kaji reported. He was flying casually towards the giant Jurai battleship Senzo on a standard approach vector. Almost immediately, they were hailed. "Galaxy Police vessel, you are violating a Juraian military security perimeter, please hold your position and state the nature of your business." Kaji brought Yagami to a stand still while Tenchi keyed the console. "This is Ambassador Masaki. I request permission to come aboard. Galaxy Police has made an official request for liaison with Jurai Military Intelligence regarding an investigation they are pursuing." There was silence for a while, then, a heavy jowled man appeared in the viewer, scowling. "Ambassador, this is highly irregular. We had no advance warning that you were coming. I must insist that you go back and apply through channels." "Commander Tomokon, I presume? Look, you and I both know this case involves a missing person, namely my wife. I am stunned by your lack of cooperation. Please, allow us to come aboard." "Request denied, Ambassador, goodbye." Tomokon cut the connection. "How rude," Washu commented. "One second," Tenchi said dialing up another connection on the communications viewer. Empress Ayeka must have been expecting the call because she appeared almost immediately. "Hello, Ambassador, how can I be of assistance?" "Hello, Your Highness. I am sorry to bother you, but I seem to be having trouble with one your military commanders." "Let me guess, Tomokon, right?" Ayeka nodded. "A very rude individual. I don't think he approves of my reign. Some people are like that, self-righteously believing the can disobey rules they don't agree with. Very well, Tenchi, I'll deal with it." Ayeka disappeared. Tenchi mentally envisioned her calling Tomokon and politely reminding him that he served the Jurai Royal family and not the other way around. At the end of Tenchi's imagined conversation, the viewer reactivated and Tomokon's ugly face appeared. He didn't like at all angry, though. In fact, he looked as if he had won some kind of battle. "Ambassador, you may come aboard now. I'm glad we are both aware of our respective chains of commands. It will make for more clear communications." "I agree, especially since both chains of command end at the same place. Of course, my chain of command is much shorter than yours, but I hope that won't make you uncomfortable." Tomokon seemed unable to disguise his hatred for Tenchi and hung up without answering. "So, that was what it was all about. He wants to know that anytime he feels like it, he will refuse our requests and I will be forced to go to Ayeka for every little thing." "I don't like him," Mihoshi said. Kaji brought Yagami along side of Senzo and extended the docking tube. Once secured and pressurized, Tenchi, Kaji, Kiyone and Washu all went down. Ryeka accompanied her father, but only to the edge of the ramp. There, she looked around the docking area, kissed him and ran back up the ship to where Mihoshi was waiting for her. Yagami's docking tube retracted and a Juraian crewman sealed the port. In the docking area, there were four armed guards and Commander Tomokon. "This is quite a reception for a representative of your own government, Commander," Tenchi said coolly. "The reception is for the criminal Washu, Ambassador, and I'll thank you to keep your opinions of my decisions to yourself while you are on my ship, however briefly." Tenchi was surprised at the venom of his words. Although many in the Jurai military considered Tenchi only marginally a Juraian, and disapproved of his wife, most of the other officers he had met in his term as ambassador had been very polite to him. Tomokon, however seemed to delight in sniping at him. "Of course, Commander," Tenchi said conciliatorily "I recognize your right to run your ship as you see fit. I am grateful that you took the time to meet with me." "Very well, Ambassador, this way." Tomokon turned and led the way out of the room. The group traveled down some corridors and entered into a lavish conference room. Tomokon motioned to some chairs and seated himself first at the head of the table. "What is this all about? We received a request from Galaxy Police for information from our intelligence sweeps and we have already replied that we found nothing unusual." "Since you were most certainly surveiling the ambassador's wife, didn't you think it unusual when she vanished?" Kiyone challenged. Tomokon scowled. "Naturally, but since our purpose was only to observe, we took no action. Our review of the data showed no trace of where she went or how." "I don't suppose we could view the data." Tenchi inquired. "Absolutely not," Tomokon shook his head. "Our collection methods must not be compromised. Even if you went to the Empress, I would have the Supreme Military Council intercede to prevent this. I'm sorry, you just have to trust us when we say we know nothing more than you." Tomokon smiled. He looked a bit like a fat cat watching a canary. Washu cleared her voice. "Ah, commander, we have filtered our own data and we found some interesting readings." Washu slid a data crystal across the table. Tomokon didn't even look at it. Washu continued. "Perhaps if you cross reference it with your data, you might find something you missed." Tomokon glared at Washu with evident hatred. After a few seconds he answered. "It would be unlikely." "Humor us, Commander," Tenchi said placidly. "Surely not even the Supreme Council would object to getting their hands on any of Professor Washu's research." Tomokon knew he was boxed in and he didn't like it. He swiped up the crystal and stood. "Fine! Stay here, this won't take long." He left the room. In the empty docking area where Yagami's landing tube had been, the air shimmered and Ryeka and Ryo-ohki materialized, holding hands. "Good job, Ryeka, now go back to the ship." "No," Ryeka said stubbornly. "You may need me. I'm not a defenseless little girl, I can help you." Ryo-ohki knew what it was like to want to prove one's worth, so she relented. Besides, Ryeka had a point. She could teleport and Ryo-ohki couldn't. "Alright, but stay behind me." Ryo-ohki and Ryeka peeked out the door. The corridor was empty in both directions. Ryo-ohki stepped back and closed her eyes. Ryeka watched as Ryo- ohki's fur slowly changed color. It was growing shorter and turning to a light peach color. As the color changed, the hairs began to thin and lay down. The hair on Ryo-ohki's head turned darker, almost black. Her black scarves expanded and seemed to ooze out over the surface of her skin, forming the high-necked blouse of a Juraian military uniform. The fur on her legs seemed to flatten and merge, forming trousers. The ankle length cloth boots stretched up and took on a slight sheen, mimicking polished military boots. Ryo-ohki opened her eyes and breathed slightly heavily from the concentration. At first glance from a distance, she would pass as human or Juraian, but anyone who got within five or six feet would probably notice the fur. "Wow," Ryeka breathed, "I wish I could do that." Ryo-ohki flashed her fangs in a smile. "Yeah, it's great at parties, no come on." The two went out into the hallway, and began walking. Ryo-ohki had no idea whether or not there were other children on board, but it was possible. Juraian ships occasionally transported diplomats and their families. Fortunately, Ryeka happened to be wearing one Sasami's old outfits that day and would pass for a diplomat's child. They were a little out of vogue but, hopefully, it would defray suspicion long enough. Ryo-ohki had memorized a schematic of Senzo that Washu had hacked from the Juraian central computer. Ryo-ohki knew her way around Juraian warships well enough, but each was hand crafted by masters, so each was subtly different. It was guessed that any prisoners would be held aft, in a converted cargo space. "Do you think we'll find Mommy there?" Ryeka asked. "I don't know. Washu scanned as far as she could on Earth and the Solar System, and this ship was the only one that returned a similar reading to the crystal we found. But, this ship is heavily shielded, it could have been an anomalous reading of the ship's Juraian tree core." Ryo-ohki didn't want to get Ryeka's hopes up. Ryeka was a sweet kid, and Ryo- ohki was going to hate dropping the bomb that they wouldn't be taking Ryoko with them even if they did find her. In Senzo's Combat Information Center, Tomokon poured over the contents of the disk Washu had given him. He had decided it would be necessary to let the little group on board, and the scene with Ayeka had only lent the charade authenticity. He hadn't counted on Washu giving him a disc that would probably tell him everything he wanted to know about their abilities. Was this the act of the greatest scientific genius in the Universe? Tomokon's computer specialist put the data into the computer and ran a simulation. "There is a 3 percent chance they were able to detect the prisoner based on this data, Sir." the technician provided. "Hmmmm," Tomokon thought. "Do a complete search of the surrounding space and Earth using the parameter's that Professor Washu provided." "Sir?" the technician was confused. "What are we searching for?" Tomokon glared at the tech. "Nothing, you imbecile. Washu wants us to scan for Ryoko, so we'll scan. It will make them doubt their conclusions." He left to return to the conference room. He dismissed the guards so that he would appear conciliatory, like a snake that smiles just before it strikes. But, who was the snake, he wondered, and who was the mouse? Washu really was a genius and she was the most dangerous opponent of the lot. The Ambassador, for all his fantastic power, was an Earthling, and given to sentiment. All available intelligence on him indicated that he would be slow to act, preferring to try to talk his way through situations. Plus, he was only forty or so Earth years old, and Tomokon doubted that he had even come close to mastering the fantastic Jurai power that it took Juraian monarchs centuries to be able to control. But, Washu ... there was a dangerous animal, always plotting, always conniving. If she wanted him to know she could find Ryoko, then she wanted him to know she had already found Ryoko. "I wanted him to know that I had already found Ryoko." Washu was explaining to Tenchi while they waited for Tomokon to return. "Doesn't that give away an edge?" Tenchi asked, gravely. Kiyone raised an eyebrow and waited for Washu's response. "Tomokon is an idiot," Washu whispered conspiratorially. "No way he came up with the crystal and the plan to capture Ryoko on his own. Someone is running him. I want to disrupt his plans, to force him to call for instructions. I set the sensors in my lab to record all emissions from Senzo as soon as I pinpointed Ryoko. If he calls out, we should be able to trace the transmission and find out who is really in charge." "I see," Tenchi said. Just then Tomokon entered. "I have passed your data to my computer technicians and asked them to scan our recorded data, as well as to use Senzo's superior sensors to re-scan this area of space. It will take some time, but if we find anything, we'll let you know." Tenchi and the others stood. "Thank you, Commander, that is most gracious of you." "If you'll follow me, I escort you back to the docking bay." Tomokon led the way out and back to the docking bay where Kiyone signaled Mihoshi to bring Yagami back along side to extend the docking tube. Once they were gone, Tomokon stood, frowning, not leaving the area. Why had Washu wanted him to know she had found Ryoko? It would focus Tomokon's attention on Washu as the greatest threat. Why did Washu want to draw attention to herself? She had worked in secrecy for centuries. Unless ... she was trying to deflect attention from someone else! Tomokon started. That was it! He keyed the communications panel on the wall. "Security, this is Tomokon. We have intruders on board. Find them and apprehend them."