Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. He stood there with his arms folded and his cape blowing in a gust of air. He starred down at her with a cold calculating look that made her shiver. Who was this man to knock her to the ground with a single blow and then stand there as if to mock her? He stood over her like a parent who just punished a fragile child. That's what he made her feel like, a child, a beaten girl who was too afraid to stand up to her abusive father. Who was this man to do this to her? Who was he? He was Doom. She saw that now. She saw into his eyes that held no compassion, or remorse or any splinter of gentleness. She knew this man for only a minute and she already felt a bitter hate for him that she couldn't describe. No one did that to her. No one. Tenchi: " Ryoko! Are you alright?" Tenchi was kneeling beside her with a worried look on his face. Ryoko: "*cough* yeah, I'm fine. He just got lucky. *Cough*" Tenchi: "I don't care who you are!" he was talking to Doom now. " You can't do this to people! This is my home, and I won't allow you to hurt anyone!" Dr. Doom: " Brave words boy, and spoken true. They are directed to the wrong target however, for if you do recall, it was not I who attacked her, but the other way around." He unfolded his arms and pointed at the fallen Ryoko who was beginning to stand up. "I was not the aggressor in that transaction of blows, and I will not instigate battle any further as long as you tell me what I want to know! Now, Answer my question!" Tenchi thought for a moment remembering his words about someone with advanced technology, then stood up and faced the metallic monstrosity that was Doom. He prepared to speak. Ryoko: " Tenchi! You don't have to tell him anything!" she interjected Tenchi: " Ryoko!" he snapped back." go get Washu, tell her someone's here to see her." Ryoko: " but Tenchi." Tenchi: " Go! It'll be alright." He softened suddenly and looked her straight in the eyes " I promise." Ryoko nodded and teleported away leaving the two men, in an almost western stare down. Dr. Doom: " wise decision boy. I can see that you are not as simple minded as you appear." Tenchi: " Thanks 'Doom' but if you try to hurt anyone again you'll learn I have a lot more surprises in me then just that." Tenchi stood strong ready to defend his friends against this menace. Dr. Doom: " Very protective of your, loved ones perhaps?" Doom paused as if inquiring if it where true. "Bah! Foolish sentiments. There is no need for your theatrics however, I have come in search for some answers and if I get them without dilemma, then I shall depart and you will never hear of me again. But if I don't get what I have come for, than you shall see the surprises that I hold as well! It is as they say 'entirely up to you.'" Before Tenchi could counter with his own statement a large window popped up in-between them. It was facing Tenchi, and in the window formed the face of Washu! Washu: " Hello Tenchi! I heard you've been having trouble with some metal wearing weirdo! So where is he?" the picture in the window jokingly looked around. Dr. Doom was obviously annoyed. He could hear the shrill voice from behind the window, but could not see the face because the picture was facing Tenchi. Tenchi looked at the window then back and lightly pointed towards Doom. The window suddenly twirled around to reveal a young girl with an incredible mane of red hair. Washu: " so your Doom then? What's the deal huh? Got some kind of beef against super cute geniuses or what?" she touched her fingers to her cheeks and made the cutest face she could manage. Dr. Doom was not amused. He starred at the window in front of him like a bad joke. You could almost see his snarl through his faceplate. After the briefest of silences, he walked past the window and stood in front of Tenchi and put his face directly before Tenchi's. Dr. Doom: " Take me to her." he demanded. The window zipped beside them unable to get in-between, and Washu was about to speak up, probably to say something about not fighting, when Doom lifted his gauntleted hand and a brilliant yellow pulse shot out from his fingertips and destroyed the window. Dr. Doom: " I will either find my way there through force or you will take me to her. Again choices." Tenchi: " okay, okay, she stays in my house. You don't have to force your way anywhere." At first Tenchi wanted nothing more than to take out his sword and give this man the beating of his life, but then he remembered what he said, about how all he wanted was some answers then he'd leave for good. And if there was a chance to settle this without anyone getting hurt than that's what Tenchi will try to do. Besides, he thought, if we're in Washu's lab we have the advantage. After all she was the greatest scientific mind in the universe, no one could be smarter than her. Tenchi then led Dr. Doom towards his house. ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` `````````````````````` Washu was not happy, not happy at all. Even after the man blew up her com-window she still monitored their movements from a satellite she had "barrowed" orbiting the earth. Well she was monitoring Tenchi anyway, the other guy she couldn't pick up. The armor he was wearing must be some kind of stealth suit she figured. She knew upon his arrival that he was technologically powerful and she didn't like the idea of him leading around Tenchi, or how he had knocked down Ryoko. This guy was bad news she could tell. But at the same time, she thought as she leaned back in her chair, this could be a lot of fun! Ryoko was standing next to Washu. She was furious. She couldn't wait for that guy to come down here so she could pummel him. Ayeka was with her. She had been told about what happened and was ready to go running to Tenchi's aid but Washu insisted that they stay in her laboratory. It was Washu's plan that, if this guy decided to fight, they would all be together and ready for him. They all stood there watching the dot on Washu's monitor representing Tenchi, move towards the house. It was an anxious and uneasy wait for the two men to arrive. It was only a couple of minutes before they heard the door to the lab to open. Tenchi stepped in first giving a concerned look towards Washu; he quickly moved beside his friends and stood facing the door. Then came in Doom. His presence was known throughout the laboratory. Even the creatures kept in cages started to act frantically. It was as though they could feel the evil ambience protruding from Dr. Doom. The cloaked man stood there in a pompous stance, and looked about the large area, before laying his gaze upon Washu. Dr. Doom: "I presume that you are the self proclaimed genius, that the boy had told me of." Washu: " and I presume that you're the big jerk who's been barking orders like you own the place." Dr. Doom: " how shrewd," he said mockingly " I have come to speak with you, and you alone. If you would be so kind as to excuse your 'friends'." Doom gestured towards the group. "I have no business with them." Tenchi was about to refuse and insist on them staying but Washu decided to humor this guy. She wasn't afraid of having to fight on her own; she was after all, the greatest mind in the universe. Washu: "Tenchi, Ryoko, Ayeka, change of plans, you guys go wait in the house, it'll make things move a lot faster and maybe we can settle this." Tenchi nodded. He had faith in Washu and understood why she wanted them to go. Tenchi grabbed hold of both the girls' hands and led them out into the living room. They didn't protest. As they passed Doom they all gave him cruel looks but Doom was oblivious to them. He was focused on Washu. The two where starring at each other until Tenchi and the ladies were gone. Washu: "So, Tin head, what brings you to the neighborhood?" Dr. Doom: " I was detained from moving to my dimension by some kind of force shield. I traced its origins here. Explain yourself." Washu was stunned. Why didn't she realize it sooner! This guy is here because of the DTD! He must have come wanting her to turn it off. That would explain his disposition. Washu: " would you believe it was an accident?" Washu said, "I had built an emergency force shield but it was defective and the coordinates were sporadic. It was mistakenly turned on and must have blocked you. Since the machine was malfunctioning, I was forced to destroy it before it could cause further damage." Dr. Doom: " hmm, I see. And how will the shield be removed from my path?" Doom asked authoritively Washu: " the field should debilitate and disappear on its own. It should only take a couple of days for it to go away permanently." Dr. Doom: " two days then? Very well, I can wait two days." Doom paused before continuing " however, during that time I expect you to compensate me for my losses." Washu: " What! What do you mean? How so?" Dr. Doom: " you will permit me to stay here with you and give me access to your laboratory." Washu: " you have got to be kidding." " Dr. Doom does not 'kid'." Author's note- that's the end of chapter two, I hope you like it. Any comments, suggestions, or even any flames, you are more than welcome to E-mail me.