Warning! This Story was part of a Halloween Pack. It is graphic, and anyone who remebers the John Carpenter Version will know what I mean...
Now with that all said and done, this story got me internetly flambe'd. I did not realize how many Sasamiites there were out there. My backside was scared for weeks after the deluge of floggings I endured.
Oh well, nobody said the job of a writer was going to be easy...
No Need for a Thing
(Tenchi Muyo)
Stars drifted lazily on the view screen of Yagami
as the Galaxy Police ship made its way from Juraian
Space towards Earth. At the controls, Detective First
Class Kiyone Makibi monitored their flight, checking
indicators has was her normal routine as pilot of the
ship.
Everything looked normal, no surprises, no
indications that any sudden `disasters' would steal up
to plunge them into another adventure. Them meant the
rest of Yagami's passengers/crew; Tenchi Masaki, his
father Nobuyuki, grandfather Yosho, Ayeka and Sasami;
both princesses of Jurai, Washu; Greatest Mind in the
Universe, Ryoko; supposed class A1 criminal, and her
ever so annoying partner Mihoshi.
Incidentally, it was time for her shift to end,
but as usual there was no sign of Mihoshi to relieve
her. Probably playing around in the lounge again with
the others, thought Kiyone drawing in a deep sigh. She
activated the intercom calling to her wayward partner.
"Mihoshi."
A long moment of silence followed, Kiyone smirking
at the consol. She called again getting the same
response.
"Damn! Hello, is there anybody down there?"
The speaker crackled, then a young voice answered.
"Hi, Kiyone!" said Sasami.
"Sasami have you seen Mihoshi?"
"She in the lounge playing Charades with the
others."
Charades!
Kiyone clenched her fist. Too angry to continue,
she checked off the circuit and undid her restraints.
Ordering Yagami into full defensive mode, Kiyone
stormed angrily through the ships corridors thoughts of
lingering pain for her misbegotten colleague.
The hatch to the lounge slid open, Kiyone stepping
in ready to tear off some heads, but instead she
stopped staring shock at what she saw.
Mihoshi stood face twisted in rage, fist clenched
with arms held up before her. The rest of the group
sat staring in confusion, trying to figure out what she
was doing.
"It's organic," commented Washu narrowing an eye.
"Beast or Monster?" asked Tenchi.
Mihoshi waved her arms at either suggestions.
"Okay, then it's a person, humanoid and very mad,"
said Ayeka.
Mihoshi clapped her hands, nodding excitedly.
Ryoko, hovering above them, rubbed her chin
thoughtfully. "Hmm, I'm afraid we're going to need
more hints there, Mihoshi."
Mihoshi's eyes went wide, brain trying to think up
something. She smiled, crooking her right arm to her
hip, left arm slightly held out. Everyone smirked,
trading looks trying to figure out this one.
"A tea pot?" said Ayeka.
Mihoshi clapped her hands. Taking a new stance,
she clenched her eyes and mouth tight hiding her head
behind her arms. With a sudden jump, she popped up,
eyes and mouth wide open.
"A jack-in-the-box!" exclaimed Washu.
"No, this is a living thing," Tenchi's father
reminded her.
"Hold on, hold on, hold on," Ryoko said hovering
down to the deck. "I think I got it. She's doing
Ayeka!"
"She is not!" cried Ayeka shooting to her feet.
"She's got to be. Angry face, always loosing her
temper, blowing her top. Yeah, am I right Mihoshi?"
Mihoshi looked down cast at the deck tapping the
tips of her forefingers together nervously. She shook
her head; Ayeka letting out a laugh.
"See! Once again you've made a silly conclusion."
"Well if it's not you, then who is it?" asked
Tenchi.
"She's doing me," Kiyone said placing a hand to
her forehead.
"Kiyone!" exclaimed Mihoshi, dashing over to her
partner.
Kiyone pushed her away. "Mihoshi, I didn't come
down here for fun and games!"
"But we're having so much fun playing games,
talking and singing, and--."
"Mihoshi!"
That caught her attention. Kiyone's face twisted
in rage, cheeks flushed red.
"Gee, Mihoshi. That sure was a good impersonation
you did," said Ryoko.
"So, you want to play games," said Kiyone. "I
have one for you."
"Oh you do!"
"Yes, it's called `Where is Mihoshi Supposed to be
Now?'."
Mihoshi cocked her head to one side. "Wow,
Kiyone. I've never heard of that one before."
"Mihoshi, your supposed to be up on the bridge
relieving me!"
"Huh?" Glancing at her watch, Mihoshi let out a
gasp. "I'm late!," she cried scrambling for the door.
Kiyone caught her by the collar before she could get
away.
"No need to hurry now. I'm right here."
Mihoshi grimaced. "Ooopsie," she uttered low.
Kiyone hung her head.
"Well now that you're here, both of you can have
dinner with us," Ayeka said.
"No, somebody has to be up monitoring the ship,"
answered Kiyone glaring at Mihoshi again.
The beep from Yagami's computer system chose that
moment to go off drawing their attention. Quickly
Kiyone went over to the communication panel.
"What is it, Yagami?"
[We are receiving a distress signal. Sector 459,
Quadrant G88.]
"Right on our route," said Washu.
"Can you I.D. the source?" asked Kiyone of Yagami.
The computer ran a quick analysis on the signal.
[Registration is Qunatra, a research vessel listed
to be on assignment out near the Pelages Dust Marche.]
"That's way out near uncharted space," said
Mihoshi.
Kiyone nodded. "How long to intercept?"
[Two hours at max speed.]
"Alright, set a course. We'll be up in a moment."
"I guess that's going to delay out trip home,"
said Ryoko, grumbling to herself as she drifted back up
to the overhead.
"Galaxy Police rules are quite clear on this,"
Kiyone said. "And besides, somebody needs help.
That's more than enough justification for me."
"Let's just hope it's nothing too serious that we
can't handle," replied Washu.
"It might be wise to call for back-up," suggested
Yosho.
Kiyone agreed with him. "Good idea, Grandpa.
Mihoshi call Headquarters. Let them know what's going
on, and ask if they can send us some support."
"Okay!" said Mihoshi.
She ran out, and Kiyone flopped down into the
nearest chair.
"Almost made it," she said.
"Almost made it where?" asked Tenchi.
"Back to Earth with no abrupt distractions. Spoke
to soon."
Sasami announced dinner was ready over the
intercom, everyone but Kiyone rushing off. She let out
a low sigh.
"Yep, spoke to soon."
* * * * *
"Activating reverse thrusters," reported Mihoshi
pushing the controls forwards.
Yagami slowed to a stop before a dark and silent
ship that hung in space like a wounded animal. Twice
as long as the policeship, the Qunatra's oblong
cylindrical hull had several large holes close
amidships, another one close to where the ships bridge
would have been.
Kiyone frowned slightly studying the damage. Next
to her, Washu sat looking over the scanners trying to
determine what had happened to the ship.
"I'm not picking up any residual particle
emissions," she said.
Tenchi's grandfather leaned over her shoulder for
a closer look at the information. "Hmm. That means
they were probably not attacked."
"Doesn't look that way."
"Then why all the holes?" asked Kiyone. She
turned one of the exterior searchlights across the
nearest hole for a better look. "Say . . . wait a
minute."
"You find something?" said Washu.
"These holes were caused by explosions from the
inside. Just look at the way the metal is forced
outwards."
Washu saw what she was looking at. "A malfunction
maybe?"
Kiyone arched a brow. She got up out of her seat.
"Well we'll find out once we get onboard. C'mon,
Mihoshi let's suit up."
Mihoshi cheerfully followed her out the doors.
* * * * *
Down at the air lock, Tenchi, Ryoko, and Ayeka
were waiting already suited up and ready to accompany
the two detectives over to the stricken research
vessel. Up in the control booth, Sasami held Ryo-Ohki
in her arms as Tenchi's father prepared to extend the
boarding tube. She was nervous, sensing that something
was not right about this situation. Her gaze was fixed
on her sister standing calmly next to Tenchi, fixing a
seam on her brown and tan jumpsuit. Kiyone and Mihoshi
appeared joining the three.
"Okay, we don't know what exactly is or has gone
on, but from initial scans, it appears that the ship
had some sort of internal problem," Kiyone explained to
them.
"No comms with the ship?" asked Ryoko.
"Doesn't appear to be anyone onboard, at least
onboard alive," answered Mihoshi. Kiyone swatted her
arm.
"Then why are we going aboard?" Ayeka said.
"Still have to investigate the scene to determine
what happened. This ship also has to be either towed
or destroyed if not salvageable."
"Makes sense," Tenchi said. "And who knows, the
scanners might be wrong."
A red light flashed above the air lock, Nobuyuki
Masaki signaling to them that Yagami was coming
alongside. Force fields flashed on, and the lock was
decompressed. From the side of Yagami, a metal
umbilical tube extended out latching onto the airlock
of the Qunatra. Once it made a tight seal, Sasami
activated the mechanical tendrils on the inside,
opening the ship up.
[Okay, you can go in now,] she told them. [Be
careful.]
[We will,] replied Ayeka.
Kiyone opened the hatch and the five drifted down
the tube. Sasami bit her lip, the nervousness in her
increasing. "Please, be very careful," she whispered
as the hatch slid back down into place.
* * * * *
The red glow from the emergency lights offered
limited views along the corridors, the boarding party
trying to get their bearings.
[Washu,] called Kiyone on her comlink.
[What's up?]
[You have us on the scanners?]
[Yep.]
[Give us some directions to Engineering and
Auxiliary Control if there is one.]
Washu called up the Galaxy Police ships database,
running the schematics for this class of research
vessel.
[Okay. From your position, engineering is
straight back. Looking at the current status of this
ship, most of the central section is a mess, so
whoever goes that way watch your step.]
[What about Auxiliary Control?]
[Located on the starboard side about four decks
below the bridge.]
Kiyone thought a moment. [Mihoshi, Ryoko, you
guys head back aft and see what the status is of the
engines. We'll go forward and check out the ships
records.]
[Give me the dirty work. Why can't you send
Ayeka?] Ryoko complained. She glanced over at the
princess then grinned. [Sorry, stupid question.]
[You loathsome creature!] growled Ayeka.
[Later, girls,] Kiyone cut in. [Let try to make
this quick. Mihoshi when you get down there, call and
tell us what you two find, understand?]
[Got it! Let's go, Ryoko.]
Mihoshi moved excitedly down the corridor with
Ryoko. Tenchi chuckled lightly.
[You know, sometimes I envy Mihoshi's silly
innocence.] he said.
[Believe me, you would not be saying that if you
had to work with her on a permanent basis,] answered
Kiyone.
* * * * *
Washu's mind mulled about the information she was
reading on the front monitor, trying to come up with
some answer to the mystery. It did not make any sense
to her. Why would a crew shut down their engines, blow
holes in their hull, and not escape in any of the
escape pods? And where was the crew for that matter?
She smacked her lips, letting out a long sigh.
"I'm stumped," she said to the elder Masaki seated
behind her.
"Are we still trying to find answers to the
unknown?" he asked her.
"Yeah. I mean they shut down their life support
systems, blew out their bridge, then activate the
distress beacon? It looks to me like somebody did not
want this ship to return to known space ever."
"You think so? Hmm, that's interesting. I've
been thinking the same thing."
"Oh. What'd you come up with?"
Yosho moved up into the copilots seat. "Look
here. A majority of the holes are located low
amidships. Now examining the basic schematics, I've
noticed that this area is mainly cargo storage space."
Washu found this interesting. She narrowed an eye
while formulating a hypothesis. "So then maybe
something in their hold forced them to damage the
ship."
"That or they were trying to destroy whatever it
was."
"Okay. So let's look at the bridge. Based on
what you have said and from what I can gather, the
fight wasn't confined just to the cargo hold."
"I would say not. Just as a guess, I think their
cargo tried to take over the ship."
"So that means it's intelligent."
"Right."
Yosho slowly looked up staring at the Qunatra.
The sudden realization of his words hit him, and he
adjusted his glasses, looking calmly over at Washu.
She on the other hand was quickly reaching for the
communications panel.
[Kiyone!] she called desperately into the mic.
[You don't have to yell, Washu. I hear you.]
[I think we should abort this like right now!]
[What's got you spooked all of a sudden?] Ryoko's
voice cut in.
[Grandpa Masaki and I have been trying to piece
together the reason why this ship is in the state its
in now.]
[So what are two coming up with?] asked Kiyone.
[We think something they were carrying in their
hold got lose in the ship. From all indications, it
might have been intelligent.]
[Oh wonderful, this is a fine time to come up with
information like that,] snapped Ayeka.
[Hey, even genius's have to have time to study a
situation,] answered Washu.
Kiyone spoke up. [That's irrelevant though. All
the life support systems are down. Right now we are in
hard vacuum, and unless this mystery being can survive
in that harsh of an environment, I would suspect it is
as dead as the ship.]
[Did you find any bodies?] asked Yosho.
[Nothing yet,] replied Kiyone.
[Ditto,] added Ryoko.
Washu frowned, shifting around in her chair. "No
bodies, no sign of alien life. Strange. I still don't
like it."
"This is odd. We could call them back and wait
for a full team to arrive form Galaxy Police."
[Did you hear that, Kiyone?]
[I heard. Mihoshi, did you get in touch with
headquarters?]
[Yes.]
[So did they say anything about sending out a ship
to help us?]
[They said they'd send somebody as quick as they
could.]
[We can't wait forever,] said Tenchi.
[We can if we don't know what we're up against,]
answered Washu.
[Look, if you're worried about what's in the cargo
area, I'll go down and take a look,] said Ryoko.
[Okay, but watch yourself, Ryoko,] said Kiyone.
[If you run into any trouble--.]
[The blast of my energy burst will let you know if
I'm in trouble.]
Washu laughed. [We'll be listening for you.]
She sat back, gazing up at the overhead a worried
expression on her face.
"Still doesn't sit well with you," commented
Yosho.
"No. Not at all."
* * * * *
Down at the hatch leading to Auxiliary control,
Kiyone worked on what was left of the control panel on
the wall, trying to reconnect the circuits so they
could get inside. Tenchi stood examining the hatch
itself, noting the deep imprints all over its surface.
Something with extremely large fist tried to force it's
way inside, Washu's theory of an alien onboard looking
more and more like fact.
[I can only imagine what we'll find inside,] he
said to Ayeka standing behind him.
[My goodness. What could cause such markings?]
[I don't know.] Tenchi looked fearfully around.
[I hope it's still not alive.]
A spark flashed, Kiyone pulling her hands back as
she made the cross connection. [There, that should be
enough for us to crack the hatch back.] she said to
them.
[That panel wasn't destroyed for nothing, Kiyone,]
said Tenchi. Are you sure we should be opening this
up?]
Kiyone drew her pistol. [Ayeka, take the
controls,] she said moving up to the side of the hatch.
Tenchi unslung the rifle he carried from his shoulder
powering it up. On the count of three, Kiyone nodded
to Ayeka.
The hatch slid partially back and from the opening
a dark thick mass boiled up. Ayeka let out a scream
jumping back; Kiyone and Tenchi pressing up against the
sides. The stuff floated up into the center of the
corridor forming several round globes mixing and
bouncing off each other.
[Hey, that's smoke,] Kiyone said.
True enough, it was the remnants of some fire that
had occurred inside the Auxiliary Control room. Tenchi
prodded one scattering it into several smaller parts.
[Okay, so what was burning?] he said.
[We can't go in there and expect to see anything
if this stuff is still bubbling around,] replied
Kiyone. [Mihoshi!]
Down near the hatch leading into Engineering,
Mihoshi jumped surprised by the call of her name. [Uh,
yes?]
[Are you in Engineering yet?]
[I'm just about to go inside. If I can get this
door open.]
[Say does it look like something was beating
against it?] asked Tenchi.
Mihoshi peered at the hatch. There were some
dents in the metal, but not anything to talk about.
[Doesn't look like it.]
[Hmm, looks like our friend didn't get that far.]
[You think this alien got caught here, Tenchi?]
said Ayeka.
[Possible.]
Kiyone called Mihoshi again. [When you get in
there, try to get at least life support systems back on
line.]
[Okay.]
Mihoshi stared at the controls, wondering which
button was the right one to push. Shrugging, she
pushed the first button that caught her fancy. The
Mihoshi luck held true to form and the hatch slid
halfway back.
[Hello?] she called shining her light around.
Several consoles lined the wall, buttons and indicators
winking as if things had never gone wrong. Stepping
in, Mihoshi found nothing unusual and headed over to
the nearest console.
[Kiyone,] she called.
[You find something, Mihoshi?]
[No. This is kind'a creepy. There's nothing
wrong with Engineering.]
[Nothing?] said Washu.
Mihoshi panned her light around some more. [I
don't see anything wrong with the controls, or--,
AAAYYYYIIIIIEEE!]
[MIHOSHI, MIHOSHI!] cried Kiyone. [Mihoshi,
what's going on? Answer me!]
[(Huff, Huff) I'm okay.]
[Then why did you scream?]
[I . . . I found a body.]
Centered in her light on the floor lay the figure
of a humanoid. It was the closet thing Mihoshi could
relate to it because the body looked to be stretched
out and twisted in places where normal joints would not
be. She grimaced staring at the disfigured head. The
skin appeared stretched smooth, part of the skull
melted down to one side, face held in a hideous mask of
pain.
[Oh, can somebody come down here with me,] she
pleaded.
[Get a hold of yourself, Mihoshi,] Kiyone told
her. [Look on that body for an identification.]
[Where?]
[What do you mean `Where'? On the body's shirt,
pockets, a purse.]
[It's not wearing any clothes. It's just all
arms, or something like them.]
Kiyone smirked. [Any ideas, Washu.]
[Skip it for now. Stay away from it, Mihoshi.]
[Okay,] replied Mihoshi.
Giving the thing one last look, Mihoshi stepped
around to the next set of consoles. Washu guided her,
and she quickly found the one they were looking for.
[Boy these guys were messy,] she said, commenting
on the frozen puddles of translucent green liquid
spattered on the wall. [Looks like there might have
been a coolant leak, or maintenance was very sloppy.]
Kind of reminds you of your work, doesn't it?
mused Kiyone to herself. [Hurry it up, Mihoshi.]
Mihoshi examined the panel for a moment. Breaking
away a small puddle of frozen liquid, she traced the
labels until she found one marked `ON', and pressed it.
The overhead lights flickered to life, then from
the engines, a blue glow appeared through one of the
monitoring windows.
[I did it, I did it!] exclaimed Mihoshi, jumping
around ecstatically.
[Yeah, yeah we hear you, Mihoshi,] said Washu.
[Now find the button that controls atmosphere and
increase recovery time so we can speed this up.]
Mihoshi did as instructed, watching as the
temperature readout began to climb. [Okay, what do I
do now?]
[Nothing. Just monitor the controls,] Kiyone told
her. [Once were inside Auxiliary Control, we'll try to
bring the engines up from here.]
[Okay.]
Mihoshi pulled herself into a chair and strapped
in. Gravity controls would not be stable for at least
another five to ten minutes, that left her with nothing
to do until ships pressurization returned.
Innocently, she sat whistling a tune to herself,
twiddling her thumbs staring at the controls. Boredom
finally set in, Mihoshi looking around. Some of the
liquid on the walls already began forming into floating
spheres as the temperature increased.
"I know!" said Mihoshi snapping her fingers.
"I'll clean this place up. A Galaxy Police Officer
should always help out civilians in times of need, and
I am a good police officer!"
Unstrapping herself, she floated off in search of
a utility closet, pausing just long enough to glance
down at the strange body on the floor.
"Better find a bag," she said moving off with a
shudder.
* * * * *
Finally the undamaged sections of the
recirculation intakes kicked in, drawing out what was
left of the smoke trapped in Auxiliary Control.
Gravity was just starting to return, Tenchi feeling the
pull. He made short hops across the deck, leaping up
to catch hold of a crossing structural support.
Drawing his flashlight, Tenchi panned it around the
crawl space above the consoles.
[Nothing up here,] he said to Kiyone.
At the primary control panel, Kiyone and Ayeka
were looking over the damages to the ship, routing and
rerouting power to the vital systems.
[That's strange,] she replied. [Somebody had to
be in here. There's no way those doors could have been
locked otherwise.]
[Maybe the door was set to be locked, and then the
exterior panel destroyed to prevent someone else from
getting in,] Ayeka suggested.
Tenchi bounced lightly on the deck behind her.
[Hmm, that's not a bad theory, Ayeka.]
[Question is why?]
[We'll find out in a moment,] Kiyone said.
Bringing the computers back online, the main screen
flickered to life showing a forward view of Yagami.
Working the controls, Kiyone shook her head.
[Only view I can get up. Looks like all the other cams
are O.O.C.]
[Damaged from the explosions?] asked Tenchi.
She called up a record, starting at what she read.
[All the internal and most of the external circuits
have been obliterated. So's much of the main computer
core.]
[That means no ships records to tell us what
happened,] Washu said over the circuit.
This wasn't right to Kiyone. Disabling the
computer was a blatant act of sabotage. But to destroy
the primary computer meant suicide for all onboard.
Why do it?
[Let's see what Ryoko has found. Ryoko.]
A short pause, then Ryoko spoke up. [Yes?]
[Where are you at?]
[I'm peering through a porthole on one of the
emergency bulkheads into what's left of the cargo
hold.]
Ryoko hovered in Null-G staring at the debris
floating around the shattered cargo bay. It looked
like there might have been something large in there,
something mixed in with ice or other frozen substance,
jagged chunks suspended about the space. Turning her
light down towards the hole, she caught sight of a body
tethered to one of the pipes.
[I got one of the crew here. Hey . . . what the
hell?]
[What's wrong, Ryoko?] asked Kiyone.
[I dunno what to make of this. Either this guy
was a prisoner, or maybe he was having some kinky sex
with somebody else.]
[Cut the comedy, Ryoko!] shouted Washu.
[I'm not joking! His hands have been tied behind
him.]
Washu smirked at the speaker. Could there have
been a mutiny on the ship? Maybe the surviving crew
used the hold as a prison cell. That did not explain
why all the damage though.
[You see anything else?] she asked.
Ryoko played the light around. [Lot's of junk,
bits of metal, tubing and what not.]
[This is getting stranger by the minute,] said
Ayeka.
Kiyone had to agree with her. It was going to
take a full investigation team with a fine tooth comb
covering every inch of this ship to figure out what
happened. A beep from the console alerted her to the
change in atmosphere. Oxygen levels appeared to be
stable, and she shut off her life-screen. Tenchi and
Ayeka followed suit.
"Okay, so what now?" asked Tenchi her.
"We wait for whatever ship HQ is sending out here,
report our findings and move on."
"Sounds good to me."
Gazing at the controls around them, Tenchi shook
his head, a troubled look on his face.
"You know, Kiyone. That fire set in here seems
deliberate to me. I can't find what exactly was
burning though."
"Nothing left at all?"
"Some greasy black deposits, but nothing else I
could identify."
"That's odd," said Kyione walking over to the
burnt spot on the floor. It spread out in an oblong
shape, the deck scorched as if an intense heat had been
applied to it. She knelt for a closer look.
Pulling a pen from her pocket, she probed at a
lump of goo near the center. Part of it stuck to the
end, reminding her of used chewing gum that had been
left out in the sun.
"Yeeuck," she sneered letting the pen drift.
Glancing at the surrounding equipment, Kiyone stood up.
"There was a fire, but I would say that was an
after effect."
"You mean who ever was in here committed . . .
suicide?" said Ayeka.
"I'm afraid so, but it must have been that or face
what was trying to bash it's way through the doors."
Kiyone scratched her head. "That goo though. Humanoid
life forms would leave some kind of ash even if they
were using a chemical toxin. If not from that, then
the fire would have burnt up the clothing, but I don't
see any residual particles."
"If so, then for it to be so limited then that
means that there was hardly any oxygen left in the
space." Tenchi surmised.
Kiyone's brows rose slightly. She tapped her
comlink.
[Mihoshi.]
[Uh, uh, yes?]
[Tell me. How did you restart environmentals?]
[I just push the buttons.]
[So there was no damage to the panels?]
[Everything looks fine except for this green
coolant drifting all over the place.]
[Look for the leak, Mihoshi. Once you find it,
let us know and I'll be right down.]
Cutting the link, Kiyone stood thinking. "Life
support had to have been shutdown on purpose. Except
for that coolant leak, there's no major damage in the
engineering sections."
"Then one of the factions aboard took over
engineering and, dare I say this, began shutting down
life-support around the ship," guessed Ayeka.
"And to stop them, whoever was left first
destroyed the bridge, then came down here and destroyed
the computers," added Tenchi.
"You could be right. However; that still leaves
the cargo hold," said Kiyone. She tapped a finger to
her chin, running theories through her mind. "What was
in the cargo hold?" she finally said. [Mihoshi, we're
heading down to the cargo area. Meet us there.]
[Why?]
All three of them started, surprised by the
question.
[Because I might need you to run a bypass on the
locks. Now get your butt moving!]
[But I've almost got all of the coolant bubbles
picked up and--,]
[Did you find the leak?]
[No.]
Kiyone clenched her teeth, shaking hard trying to
control her anger. Tenchi and Ayeka hid their smiles
reminded of Mihoshi's impersonation earlier that
evening.
[Mihoshi! Forget the coolant, forget the leak and
get down to the cargo hold.]
[Okay.]
Kiyone started to shut off her comlink, paused
then spoke again. [And make sure your life screen is
on before you get down there!]
[Wow, almost forgot. Thanks, Kiyone!]
Smacking her head, Kiyone let out a frustrated
sigh. Tenchi patted her lightly on the back smiling
cheerfully. "Ah, guess the children need more care,"
he joked.
"Please, somebody take her off my hands," moaned
Kiyone as she headed for the hatch.
* * * * *
Entering the damaged section of the ship, the trio
glided down the corridor to the emergency bulkhead
sealing off the opened side of the ship. Lighting was
still out in this area, and Tenchi panned his light
around.
[Ryoko?] he called but got no response.
Nervously, Kiyone slowly reached for her pistol,
looking around for any sign of her.
[Now where could she have gone?] Ayeka said moving
up to the porthole. Shining her light in, she could
see the debris Ryoko reported to them earlier, then her
light caught the body tied to the pipe.
[Oh my!] exclaimed Ayeka drawing sharply back.
[What's wrong?] asked Kiyone moving up next to
her.
Ayeka's breath was shallow, shock written on her
face if she had just seen a ghost. [That body inside.
It has no head.]
Kiyone looked in. True enough the tethered body's
head was gone, cut clean from the neck.
[Murdered,] she said. Her trained eye noticed no
rips or gouges in the frozen flesh. [Something razor
sharp and fine edged.]
[Let's worry about that after we find Ryoko,]
Tenchi said.
[That irresponsible woman,] growled Ayeka.
[Picking this time to--,]
ZZZOINK!
The hiss from conflicting life-fields carried over
their comlinks, a dull flash appearing over Ayeka's
shoulder. She squealed in fright, leaping towards
Tenchi and they both drifted back against the far
bulkhead. Kiyone's pistol flashed from her holster as
she turned, shining the light around.
Hovering with a slow glide towards the bulkhead
was Ryoko. For a moment she held her hands to her
face, then looked up.
Kiyone relaxed. [Ryoko,] she said.
Ryoko stared at them, then let a slow smile come
to her face.
[Boo?] she said.
[Not very funny, Ryoko,] replied Tenchi. [Where
were you?]
Slowly Ryoko drifted over reaching out to hug him,
but the hiss of the life-field stopped her.
[I was up on the next level getting some fresh
air, and looking for another way into this cargo hold.]
[Find anything?] asked Kiyone.
[The circulating vents started to look good, until
I ran up against another emergency bulkhead. You know
these things are starting to annoy me.]
[They served their purpose, unlike you,] snapped
Ayeka.
[Unlike you,] mocked Ryoko. [Your reaction was
worth it.]
[Later, ladies,] said Kiyone. [Right now I just
want to get in here and get a look around before we
leave.]
Ryoko touched down to the deck. [Well forget
trying to gain any access through the doors,] she said
pointing to the control panel. It was shattered, the
faceplate bent inwards as if hit by a strong blow.
[More sabotage,] said Tenchi. He peered closer,
then rubbed his chin. [Or maybe done to keep whatever
it was inside from getting out.]
[We won't know until we get in there and see if we
can find anything that will give us a clue what the
cargo was,] replied Kiyone.
Ayeka shuddered. [This is all getting very
strange to me,] she said, peering around. [I think it
might be better if we let the back up unit conduct the
search. After all, they will be better equipped to
handle any difficulties that might arise.]
[Listen to you!] exclaimed Ryoko in a huff.
[Chicken-shit princess all afraid to go and see what's
behind door number one. Feh.]
[Chicken-shit!] cried Ayeka. She rounded on the
pirate, fist clenched to either side of her body. [I
am not chicken, or, or afraid of anything, Ryoko!]
[Ha ha! Could have fooled me!]
Before Ayeka could unload on Ryoko, Kiyone
interposed herself between them.
[We don't have time for bickering, ladies!] she
shouted at them.
[Tell that to the `Sensitive' princess over
there,] mocked Ryoko.
[Why you--,]
[Okay, ladies,] Kiyone said in a terse tone. The
two backed away from each other, trading dark looks.
Kiyone let out a low huff, shaking her head. She
looked at the locked doors again. [You might be right
though, Ayeka.]
Ayeka stuck her tongue out at Ryoko.
[You want to wait for the back up unit?] asked
Tenchi.
[We can't get in there right away.]
[How `bout going in through the outside?]
suggested Ryoko.
[Maybe. I'm curious, but I'm not that curious.]
[I second that motion,] Washu added.
Her decision final, Kiyone suggested they head
back to Yagami. They were just about to leave, when a
low rumble coursed through the ship.
[What was that?] asked Ayeka.
[Sounded like a thruster going off,] answered
Ryoko.
Tenchi gazed nervously around, eyes searching for
trouble. [Ah, let's like get out of here. Now.]
[Yeah, let's,] said Kiyone, and they began to
hastily head back up the corridor.
Meanwhile, Washu, and Yosho reviewed the scanners
searching for the cause of the noise. A beep sounded
on one of Yagami's sensors, and she quickly called up
the display. Washu let out a short gasp, dashing back
over to the comm panel.
[Hey, Kiyone! Did anyone hit any switches
inadvertently while you were all down in Auxiliary
control?]
[Nothing that seemed to work. Why?]
[Because I'm picking up an energy reading from
back aft. It looks like one of the secondary drives
has kicked in.]
It only took a brief second for Kiyone to figure
out who the culprit was. [Mihoshi!] she shouted into
her comlink.
[Yow! Do you have to be so loud?] cried Tenchi,
holding his ears.
Kiyone ignored him. [MIHOSHI!]
A light snapped on from ahead, startling and
blinding them all in the same instant. Mihoshi turned
her light up towards the overhead and stared quietly at
her friend for a moment.
[I can hear you, Kiyone,] she answered in a level
voice.
In a flash, Kiyone was on her.
[Mihoshi, did you turn on one of the engines!?]
[No.]
[Why you... No?]
[No.]
Stepping back, Kiyone glanced briefly back at the
others, slightly embarrassed by her accusations.
[Uh..., well I guess I'm wrong then,] she said.
[Of course, silly. Why would I just turn one on,
when we need all of them,] said Mihoshi.
[Yeah that would be... ALL OF THEM!]
[You did WHAT!] cried Washu across the net.
[I turned them all on. Isn't that what you
wanted, Kiyone?]
[I told you not to touch anything!]
[Oh, great!] said Ryoko, throwing up her hands in
exasperation. [Mihoshi strikes again.]
Another shudder passed through the Qunatra,
stronger then the last.
[Is this thing going to start moving?] asked
Tenchi.
[No,] replied Washu. [The scanners show all the
thruster cores have been severely damaged.]
[Which means, I'm afraid to ask?] said Ayeka.
[That means that all of you are standing in a time
bomb, and if my calculations are correct, its about to
blow in... SEVEN MINUTES!]
[GGGYYYYAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!]
A flurry of bodies pushed themselves down the
Qunatra's corridor in a mad dash for the safety of
Yagami.
In the control room, Washu and Yosho hurriedly
prepared the ship for a rapid disengagement, each
praying they would have time to clear the area before
the upcoming blast.
[Sasami, stand by to help the others in through
the airlock. Nobuyuki, break the connection as soon as
the last person hits our deck!]
Sasami and Ryo-Ohki dashed out of the control
booth; Tenchi's father sitting himself down behind the
console.
[We'll be standing by,] he said, looking nervously
over the myriad of buttons and levers.
Inside the Qunatra, the boarding party finally
reached gravity again and were thundering towards the
airlock. Kiyone's angry grumbles could be heard above
their cries, every syllable a sharp barb directed at
Mihoshi.
[Oh, when we get out of this mess, Mihoshi! I'm
going to throttle you until that marble of a brain
comes rattling out onto the floor!]
[I'm sorry!] cried Mihoshi.
[Stop your whining and run faster!] cried Ayeka
behind her.
They rounded a bend, then another sharp rumble
shook the ship. Tenchi tumbled, rolling head first
into the open airlock; Ryoko sailing over him. Kiyone
and Mihoshi both leaped over him, then Ayeka darted
past.
[Hey, wait for me!] he cried, scrambling to his
feet.
Washu monitored their progress, nervously eyeing
the chronometer.
[Hurry it up! We've only got three minutes left!]
she shouted.
[We're almost there, Washu,] Kiyone answered.
[Start disengagement sequence!]
Nobuyuki tapped a button, hoping it was the right
one. The umbilical tube attached to the Qunatra's hull
started to retract, but another sharp shudder wrenched
the connecting probes against the sides, bending them
at an odd angle.
Kiyone reached Yagami's airlock doors and began
beating furiously on them.
[Open up, OPEN UP!] she cried, fist pounding
against the metal. Sasami frantically activated the
pressure seals, watching the red gauge inching its way
to green. The rest of the boarding party joined Kiyone
at the hatch, peering in with eyes full of terror.
[Almost!] cried Sasami.
[Two minutes, folks! Nobu, why is the umbilical
tube still attached to the Qunatra?]
[I-I-I hit the disengage button, I think,] he
answered.
Yosho quickly brought up a status screen, letting
out a hum as he looked over the readouts. [We've a
malfunction on the seating probes,] he told Washu.
She rolled her eyes. [Great! Sasami--,]
[I'm opening the hatch now!]
A loud pop and hiss carried across the bay; Tenchi
and company sprawling out onto the deck.
[They're in, they're in! Get us out of here!]
[I can't. The tubes jammed up somehow!]
[Do an emergency breakaway!] Kiyone shouted.
Nobuyuki anxiously looked over the console. [H-
How do I do that?] he said.
Letting out a growl, Kiyone started to rise, but
Mihoshi sprang past her, rushing up into the control
booth. Nobu toppled out of the chair to the floor as
she pushed her way in, tapping a series of buttons with
lightening speed.
[Cover your ears,] she said, and with a loud clang
of metal, the armored hatch slid down sealing the side
of the ship.
Several small explosions shook Yagami as the tube
was blasted away from it's mounts.
[We're free!] cried Washu. She threw the frigates
throttles forward, and the engines lit up propelling
them out into the void.
Down in the bay, everyone held on to what ever
they could as the force of their departure pressed
against them. The bulkheads vibrated as the ship
picked up speed, then another bright flash lit up the
darkness outside.
The Qunatra was enveloped in a burst of
incandescent red, yellow, and orange sheets of flame as
her powerplant finally gave way. Bands of shockwaves
radiated out into space; Washu turning up Yagami's
shields as high as they would go. It hit, shaking them
around; cries and screams joining the loud din that
accompanied the blast.
Finally, it was over.
Tenchi slowly sat up and looked around. He rubbed
his neck as he crawled over to Ayeka's inert form.
"Ayeka?" he said, giving her a light nudge.
The princesses head snapped up sharply, Ayeka
letting out a gasp. "Tenchi?" she said, looking over
at him.
He smiled. "Good to see you're alive."
A moan sounded form the corner; Ryoko slowly
sitting up. "Oh boy is my back screaming for a long
soak in the hot tub!" she said, stretching her arms
above her head. She paused upon seeing Tenchi next to
Ayeka, lips curling back into a sneer.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"We didn't do anything!" Tenchi said in their
defense.
Ayeka wrapped an arm around one of his. "Leave
Lord Tenchi alone, Ryoko," she said. "Can't you see
his concerns are only for me, and not you."
"WHAT!"
Tenchi grimaced. Gently, he pulled his arm free
of Ayeka and stood up. "I, I better go and see how
Sasami is doing."
Kiyone stood up and brushed her uniform off.
"What a mess," she said while resetting herself. A
step in front found Mihoshi staring at her. There was
a strange look in her eyes, and Kiyone suddenly felt
afraid.
"What?" she asked her.
"Oh, KIYONE!" exclaimed Mihoshi.
The dizzy blond threw out her arms to embrace her
partner, but Kiyone quickly scampered out of reach.
"Stay off of me, Mihoshi!" shout Kiyone.
"But I'm so happy you are alive!" replied Mihoshi.
"No thanks to you!"
Ayeka broke from her squabble with Ryoko. "I must
say, Kiyone, that if Mihoshi had not acted, we might
all be dead right now."
"I'd have to second that," added Tenchi; helping
Sasami to her feet. Ryo-Ohki let out a meow in
agreement.
Kiyone had to admit she was wrong. "Well... I
guess you actually did something right for a change.
Even though you did cause the Qunatra to blow up."
"YIPEE!" cried Mihoshi, moving towards her again.
"But don't you hug me!" shouted Kiyone, a hand
held out before her.
Tenchi laughed. "Say, dad. Are you alright in
there?" he called up to the control booth.
Several short scuffing sounds were heard, and
Tenchi frowned.
"Dad?" he called again.
"Huuuhu... uh... I'll be right down,... son,"
Nobuyuki called down in a shaky voice.
Tenchi took several steps towards the steps.
"Dad, are you okay?"
"I'm fine... Tenchi. Just looking for my...
glasses."
"I'll come up and help you."
"No, no, no! You and the others go on ahead. I'm
sure everyone could use a little rest right now."
Tenchi stopped. "Are you sure?" he asked.
"Go on, I'll be with you as soon as I find them."
He shrugged. "Okay."
"Yeah, that's a great ideal!" said Ryoko. She
gave Tenchi a sly, seductive look. "Wanna join me,
Tenchiii, hmmm?"
"Despicable cur!" growled Ayeka, stamping an angry
foot on the deck. Stomping over, she grabbed Ryoko by
the collar, dragging her away towards the far hatch.
"Come along, you misbegotten witch. I too need a
bath, and since I can't trust you alone, it will be
better if we stay together."
"Aw, I don't want'a go with you. I WANT TENCHI!"
"Be silent!"
As the two disappeared through the hatch, Tenchi
and Sasami traded snickers.
"Well that's a break for a while," said Tenchi.
"Yeah, now maybe we can finally get some rest,"
replied Sasami.
"Good idea. Coming you two?"
Kiyone shook her head. "Naw. I'm going to head
up to the bridge and go over some of the data we took
on the Qunatra."
"Oh? Something bothering you?"
"Everything about that ship is bothering me.
Besides, its already time for my shift again."
"Oh, I'll stand in for you, Kiyone. Please,
please, please, please, please?"
Mihoshi excited to stand double watch? Kiyone
gave her a wondering look, not sure where her crazy
partner's mind had gone now.
"Okay. I'll be up to relieve you in a few hours."
Mihoshi snapped to attention. "You got it,
partner!" she said cheerfully.
With a brisk salute, Mihoshi headed off to her
post. Kiyone shook her head.
"Never thought I'd ever see that," she said,
walking over to the nearest wall communicator. [Washu,
Kiyone.]
[Yes?]
[Can you and Grandpa Masaki meet me in the lab.
I'd like to go over the Qunatra data.]
[Sure, we'll be down in a sec.]
"Since you're going to be busy, I think I'm going
to work out a bit. All of that excitement has put me
on the edge," said Tenchi.
Kiyone laughed. "And working out is going to
help?"
"Hey, relieves tension. Later."
Tenchi and Sasami left, leaving Kiyone alone in
the bay. She could hear Nobu still scuffling around
the control room floor, and started to go and help him.
"Ah, at last," she heard him say.
"Guess he found them," Kiyone said, and with that
headed for the hatch.
* * * * *
An odd silence filled Yagami's interior, the late
solar hours that simulated night passing with an eerie
slowness. Light steps were made down the central
corridor; Tenchi heading towards the training room for
some long overdue kendo practice.
As the door slid shut behind him, Tenchi let out a
long sigh. Great, he thought, laying his towel across
one of the benches. Drawing in a breath, Tenchi began
making slow sweeps with his arms through the air,
moving in consummate grace, stepping gingerly and with
refined poise though the required motions.
A sudden leap; Tenchi curling up in a ball as he
sailed across the room, landing next to a rack of
bokken. His hand pulled one off, turning it around in
one fluid motion until it rest down at his side. The
bokken flashed up, and Tenchi went into a series of
stances, weapon shifting and darting through the air in
a rapid blur.
He came to an abrupt stop, kneeling to one side,
the bokken level with his body before him, then shifted
drawing up into a defensive stance. Tenchi snapped the
bokken up and spun on one heel, letting out a cry.
"Ggggyyyahhh... AHHHH!"
Tumbling back, Tenchi wasn't expecting the
presence of his father standing at the hatch behind
him. They stared at each other, then Nobuyuki began
laughing.
"What's so funny?" growled Tenchi, rising back up
to his feet.
Nobu chuckled, turning to shut the hatch. He
tapped a few buttons on the controls, then sat down on
the bench.
"Sorry about that, Tenchi, my son," he said.
Tenchi picked up the bokken again. "Geesh, dad.
You could have given me some heads up you were coming."
Nobu laughed again. "Tenchi, Tenchi, Tenchi, come
over here and sit down next to your father," he said,
patting the spot next to him.
"Dad, I'm in the middle of training."
Nobuyuki's brows twitched. For a moment Tenchi
thought he saw a look of anger cross his face, but it
was brief, fading away behind a smile.
"Yes, yes, but I want to talk with you for a
moment."
"Can't it wait?"
"No! Now come here."
Tenchi sighed. Just no breaks, he thought as he
walked over. Suddenly he stopped, frowning at Nobu.
"What's wrong, Tenchi?"
Tenchi turned his head slightly to the side,
eyeing his father. "Dad, you saw me all the way over
there?" he asked.
Nobuyuki's brows furrowed together. "Yes, Tenchi.
Who else could I be seeing in this room?"
Taking several slow steps back, Tenchi smirked.
"So where are your glasses then?"
Silence passed, an awkward silence that was
suddenly cut by Nobu's chuckles. He stood up, head
shaking from side to side.
"Oh, Tenchi, Tenchi, my son! I broke them when I
fell out of the chair in the control room."
That would make you as blind as a bat then...
dad," replied Tenchi, inching even further back.
The chuckles stopped. "What are you saying,
Tenchi?"
"I don't know, but I think I'd like you to leave
now. Please?"
Nobuyuki hung his head, sighing deeply. "Tenchi,"
he said, then his voice dropped into a lower tone.
"Yoouuuu doonnn't tttrustt yourrrr ooowwnn
fffaaaathhherr?"
His head came back up, and Tenchi gasped.
Nobuyuki's eyes were blood red in color, black pinpoint
pupils set in the center. His mouth opened filled with
shark-like teeth.
"D-d-dad?!"
The Nobu/Thing spread it's arms wide, moving
towards Tenchi. "Cccooommeee tooo mmeee,
Ttttteennnchhhhiiii!" it said.
Tenchi let out a cry dropping back into a
defensive stance. Immediately, the Nobu/Thing leaped
for him, powerful legs propelling it rapidly through
the air. A quick roll by Tenchi saved his life and a
hard smack followed. Springing to his feet, Tenchi
rushed over to the doors and hit the open button.
Nothing happened.
"Hey, what the?" muttered Tenchi. Several more
hard presses produced the same result, then a raspy
laugh brought him around.
"IIIttt woonnn't oopennn, mmyyy sssooon, heh, heh,
heh, heh, heh," said the Nobu/Thing as it stood up.
Tenchi stepped back and thrust his bokken out
towards the creature. "You stay back!" he cried. "I'm
warning you!"
The creatures eyes glanced down at the wooden
sword. "Thhhatt will nnnoot hharmmm mmeee," it said.
The crisp sound of snapping bone and cartilage
could be heard, Tenchi grimacing as a dark spot of
blood and other assorted juices stained the front of
the Nobu/Thing's chest. A tearing of cloth, then a
series of sharp mandibles ripped out into view. The
new set of jaws slavered, snapping at him. Two pink
colored appendages snaked out writhing menacingly in
the air.
Tenchi's jaw sagged open in shock. The creature
made a step towards him, and he recovered, stepping
back.
"What have you done to my father?" he shouted.
"Dddeeevououred hhimmm, lllike III'mm aabout tooo
dooo tooo youuu nnow!"
The thing attacked, but Tenchi was not about to
wait around to be eaten. He leaped, streaking by the
monster, his bokken smacking hard several times about
the creatures head and shoulders. It let out a growl,
staggering up against the far wall, then turned.
Nobu/Thing's hands began to transform into long
sharp claws. It gnashed both sets of teeth together
and charged Tenchi again.
Once again, Tenchi side stepped, his weapon
deflecting the heavy swipes over his head. Each limb
swished menacingly through the air, and Tenchi dived
crawling swiftly around to the other side. Suddenly,
one of the tendrils shot out aiming for a leg. Tenchi
let out a yell, blocking the move with the bokken. The
vile appendage wrapped itself around the wooden sword,
and it was jerked violently out of his grasp.
"Hahahahaha Haaaa!" exclaimed the Nobu/Thing. "I
havveee yyouuu nnoww, Tenchii! Accept your
fffattteee!"
"Never!" Tenchi shouted in defiance.
The creature began stalking towards him, Tenchi
frantically looking around for a anything to use as a
weapon. His eyes briefly stopped on the emergency
override panel on the wall just above the bench. That
might be his only chance of escaping this monster, but
first to gain some time.
He picked up the bench, and heaved it at the thing
with all of his might. Nobu/Thing's head jerked back,
the thick crack telling Tenchi that he had broken it's
neck. It flopped back onto the mats, thrashing
violently about.
Not waiting to see if it was dead or not, Tenchi
ran over to the emergency switch. The glowing red
button flashed slowly behind a pane of permaglass, but
several desperate tugs found it jammed tight.
"Ttthere isss nnooo essacppe, Tenchiii," he heard
the Nobu/Thing say.
A grating sound filled the air, Tenchi glancing
over to see his father's mangled head extending up like
the eye of a snail. It leered at him, letting out a
long hiss.
"Oh, no you don't!" he said. Reaching down,
Tenchi grabbed the end of the mat. As the thing rose
up on it's haunches, he jerked back toppling it over,
then covered it with what he had in his grasp.
Loud roars filled the training room, but Tenchi
ignored them, rushing back over to the emergency
button. He reared back and punched the glass, cracking
it in places.
"OW!" he cried, clutching his hand, fighting back
his pain. No time too waste, Tenchi repeated his
action. The glass was a spider-web of cracks, but it
remained intact over the button.
"Come on!" Tenchi shouted.
A rip sounded, one of the Nobu/Thing's hands
thrusting up into the air through a rip in the mat.
"No!"
Tenchi drew back, and with a sturdy, painful punch
shattered the glass, activating the button. An alarm
sounded, and the door slid up. By then, the thing's
snake-like head and torso had pulled through the ripped
mat.
"Yyyuuooo ccann't escape meeee, Tenchiii!" it
raged at him.
"Oh no? I'm outta here!"
Tenchi leaped, diving through the open door way,
several tendrils just barely cutting past the soles of
his feet. He was quick to his feet, yelling at the top
of his lungs as he bolted down the corridor.
* * * * *
Sasami awoke with a start, hearing a long cry
echoing from outside in the corridor. She looked down
at Ryo-Ohki, then gathered the cabbit up running to her
door. Looking out, she saw Tenchi charging helter-
skelter her way.
"Tenchi?" said Sasami, stepping out into the
corridor.
"Sasami, RUN!" he cried.
"Huh?"
Tenchi knew there was no time to explain. In a
smooth grab, he snatched Sasami up by the collar,
ushering her along.
"TEEENNNNNCCCHHHIIII, HAHAHAHAHAHA!" called the
Nobu/Thing from behind.
Sasami heard the chilling voice and looked back.
What she saw made the blood coursing through her veins
go cold. Tenchi's assistance was suddenly not needed,
her legs shifting into full stride to open the distance
between them and whatever it was in pursuit.
Tenchi and Sasami's cries brought Ryoko and Ayeka
out from their room.
"What is going on?" asked Ayeka, shrugging into
her robe.
Ryoko yawned, stretching her arms. "Whatever it
is, it's causing me to loose sleep... huh?"
They both started as Tenchi and Sasami closed,
then let out terrified squeals as they joined them in
flight away from the Nobu/Thing rumbling up the
corridor.
"Tenchi, what happened to your dad!" asked Ryoko
as she caught, then passed him.
"That's not my dad!" he answered, stepping up his
pace.
The four rounded a turn, desperately crying out
for help. As they raced for Washu's laboratory, the
double doors suddenly slid open. Washu, Yosho, and
Kiyone stepped out, wondering what was the matter.
They drew back in surprise upon seeing the creature
lumbering after the four racing up the corridor towards
them.
Kiyone reacted first. "GET DOWN!" she cried,
drawing her blaster.
"Like hell!" replied Ryoko. The rumbled past,
sliding to a stop behind them for protection.
Kiyone opened fired, hitting the Nobu/Thing square
in what was left of the chest area. The blast forced
it to stop dead in its tracks, a hideous moan of pain
hurting their ears. Kiyone clenched her teeth tight,
fighting back her cries, and fired again and again.
The creature staggered back with every burst,
deformed skin scorching away from the energy. Finally,
it hit the far wall and collapsed. It's limbs and
appendages writhed about for a few seconds more, then
abruptly stopped.
Tired breaths were the only sounds heard as they
all stared at the thing searching for any signs of
life. Finally, Kiyone lowered her pistol and turned
around.
"What the hell is that thing, and what is it doing
on my ship?" she asked to no one in particular.
Tenchi shuddered. "Th-that was my d-dad," he
replied.
"What?" exclaimed Washu. "Your father--,"
"Nobuyuki?" gasped Yosho.
Tenchi nodded. "He... that thing came into the
training room and tried to... devour me."
"Oh, how disgusting!" exclaimed Ayeka.
"Whatever disgusting things it was, how did it get
here, and what happened to your father?" asked Ryoko.
"It said it ate him," said Tenchi. He swallowed
hard, blinking back tears he wanted to shed. "I think
my dad is... dead."
Sasami let out a moan, pressing her face into the
side of Tenchi's leg. He placed an arm around her
shoulders, wishing his words were not true.
"I don't want that, that thing onboard a second
longer," said Kiyone. "Let's find something to stuff
it's carcass into and shoot it out the garbage tube."
"Hold on, Kiyone," Washu said, stopping her.
"What? Its dead, Washu."
But Washu ignored her. Her eyes remained locked
on the slimy mass, then a beep sounded from the
elevator lift off to the right. The doors opened and
Mihoshi stepped out.
"Hey everybody," she said in a cheery voice. "I
heard something that sounded like shots. What's going-
-,"
"MIHOSHI GET OUT OF THERE!" they all cried out in
unison.
A hiss sounded, the body of the Nobu/Thing
shuddering violently. Several of the tentacles around
Mihoshi's feet rose up to grab her, but they met
nothing but empty air. Mihoshi was a swift blur,
leaping out of harms reach. The detective landed
almost at their feet, rolling to a stop at before
Tenchi.
"Are you alright, Mihoshi?" asked Tenchi.
Mihoshi let out a cry, shooting to her feet.
"OOOHHH, OOOOHHH, what is it, what is it!" she
frantically said, hugging him tight.
"Mihoshi will you get off me," growled Tenchi,
fighting to break from her grip. Kiyone grabbed her
dizzy partner by the scruff of the neck, pulling her
away.
"Stop crying and act like a galaxy police
officer!" she scolded her. "Shoot this damn thing!"
Mihoshi drew her pistol, and together they opened
fired on the thing.
It writhed and groaned, but it was apparent that
all they were doing was angering it even further.
Every shot was being replaced by some sort of claw,
tentacle, or mouth attempting to stretch out and grab
any of them.
Washu finally told them to stop firing.
"Well what do we do now?" shouted Kiyone, staring
fearfully at the mass inching its way towards them.
Washu smirked. She stepped to the front and
pointed a finger at the thing. A small globe of orange-
yellow light appeared, streaking out in a bright flash
through the air. It impacted against the creature, and
in a second the monster was engulfed in flames. A long
moan pierced the air, then Yagami's computerized voice
sounded across the PA system.
[Warning! Fire detected in the starboard
amidships corridor. Activating anti-fire system.]
"No, no Yagami!" exclaimed Washu, but it was too
late.
A small probe extended from out of the overhead,
bathing the flaming creature in a stasis field. With
the air cut out, the fires began to diminish.
"Kiyone, deactivate Yagami's emergency system!"
cried Washu.
The detective rushed over to the nearest
communications panel. [Yagami, override code four two
two, now!]
[Acknowledged.]
The stasis field disappeared, freeing the thing
trapped inside. It's many limbs shot out towards
Washu, but she launched another globe, and it was re-
engulfed in flames.
This time they watched as it sizzled loudly,
ranting and gnashing, unable to do more than that. The
smoke began to grow thick, and Kiyone instructed
Yagami's environmental system to draw it out before
they were overcome.
Finally, the flames flickered down to a small glow
of bubbling goo, the deck around it scorched black.
Nobody dared to move, waiting to see if this was the
final end.
As the last ember died away, Washu placed her
hands to her hips and turned around.
"Once again, I am the greatest," she said.
Tenchi, still wiping away Mihoshi's tears from his
face and neck, shook his head.
"Greatness or no greatness, Washu," he said. "We
still have a much bigger problem to face."
"What's that?" asked Ayeka.
Yosho answered for him. "I think Ryoko said it
before." He pointed a finger at the remains lying in
the corridor. "Where did that come from?"
It was a good question that needed to be answered.
Washu rubbed her chin in thought for a second.
"Right. I better scan what's left and see what I can
find."
"Scan it?" asked Ryoko. "Pffth! I'm not touching
anything, nor am I going near it!"
"Here, here," added Kiyone.
"I don't want anyone to go near it at all either,"
said Washu. "Just give me a minute to invent something
to scoop that mess up, and I'll start examining it
right away."
She headed back into her laboratory, pausing
briefly at the doorway.
"Don't anyone go anywhere, okay?"
Letting out a humph, Ryoko sat down on the deck.
"Believe me, you don't have to tell me twice," she
said.
Washu arched a brow, giving them all a strange
look before going inside.
* * * * *
Troubled eyes stared into the clear container
holding what was left of the Nobu/Thing inside. It was
nothing more than a thick glob of black goo, a
sickening sight to the see, intermixed with small bits
of bone and other unidentifiable parts.
Kiyone drew in a breath, sighing deeply as she
walked over to the table where Washu was running a
small bit of it through a bioscanner.
"Find anything?" she asked.
Washu let out several hums, eyes narrowing at the
readout before her.
"Cell and DNA structure is highly fluid. A
remarkable piece of construction and evolution if I may
say so," came her answer.
Over on one of the far stools, Tenchi sat with
head held in his hands. He looked to be grieving over
his father's death, brief sniffles and sighs coming
from him. Hearing Washu's remark, his head snapped up.
"Remarkable piece of construction?" he said in
disbelief. "Washu, this thing killed my father. How
can you be admiring it?"
"I'm sorry, Tenchi," replied Washu. "I didn't
mean to make it sound that way, but it is an amazing
lifeform."
Ayeka stepped in then. "It is a murdering beast,
and we should be jettisoning this `thing' out into deep
space."
"Yeah, let's get rid of it!" added Ryoko.
Washu turned off the scanner and turned around.
"Yes, that's what we should do, along with whomever
brought it aboard."
Stunned silence followed.
"W-what do you mean, Washu?" Kiyone fearfully
asked.
The tiny scientist stood up, eyes cutting from
side to side. "It's very obvious where this came from.
The Qunatra."
"No," said Sasami with a low gasp.
"Yep. And since we know who went over to the
Qunatra, we know where to start looking." She crossed
her fingers, flexing them evilly. "Don't we?"
Ryoko stood slowly up. She looked down upon Washu
warily. "Saaayyy... are you thinking that one of us
might be one of these creatures?"
"Ah ha," trailed Washu, returning the stare.
"That is absurd!" shouted Ayeka.
Kiyone chewed on her bottom lip nervously. She
paused, then turned back around looking at the stuff in
the container.
"Tenchi, does this stuff look familiar to you?"
Tenchi peered over at the container. "Yeah, now
that you mention it, it sure does."
"Looks like that goo we found in Auxiliary
Control."
"Did anyone touch it?" asked Washu.
"No. We used a pen to probe it," Tenchi replied.
"Where's the pen?"
"I left it in the goo. Hey, Washu, I don't think
I like your tone."
Yosho cleared his throat. "So you are saying this
creature that killed Nobuyuki is a shape-shifter."
"Yes," replied Washu. "I don't know what level of
intelligence it has, but it was smart enough to get
aboard Yagami undetected. That makes it intelligent
enough to be dangerous."
"How do we figure out if anyone else has been
shifted?" asked Mihoshi.
Washu smirked. "Shifted," she muttered. Washu
glanced around at the others, then walked over to one
of her dimensional lockers. She rummaged through one,
pulling out a small, white colored pistol with blue
trim, and flask which she attached to a connector just
under the barrel.
"What's that for?" asked Kiyone.
Washu did not reply. She walked slowly back
through them, eyes cutting from side to side, then
stopped in front of Sasami.
"Here," she said, handing the pistol to her.
Sasami frowned.
"Incase you have to... burn someone," answered
Washu.
"What are you saying!" shouted Ayeka. "My sister
is not going to burn anyone!"
"She will if she's attacked!" snapped Washu,
spinning around. "Or do you want her to be absorbed,
hmm, Ayeka?"
"Don't be absurd!"
"Alright, Miss know-it-all!" said Ryoko. "Your
jokes gone on long enough."
Ryoko took a step towards Washu and the scientist
stepped back, a finger held protectively up before her.
"Don't come any closer, Ryoko," she said.
"Why? Scared that I'm might be some creature from
one of those `Overfiend' OAV's?"
"You could be. I suggest all of you that went
aboard the Qunatra surrender your weapons."
"No," declared Kiyone. "No, no, oh no. I'm not
about to become helpless in light of all that has just
been said."
"Here, here," chimed Mihoshi. She started to move
over to Kiyone's side, but the sudden draw of a pistol
stopped her.
"Kiyone?" Mihoshi said sadly, peering at the
barrel pointed at her face.
"Sorry, partner," Kiyone said. "I can believe
Washu's analogy. I don't know who to trust right now,
so let's just keep our distance, shall we."
"K-K-Kiyone, you think I'm a monster?"
Kiyone gazed into Mihoshi's innocent eyes,
whishing she could say no, but the pistol remained in
her face. Mihoshi lips turned out in a pout, and she
stepped slowly away.
"Washu, does that mean Tenchi too?" asked Sasami.
"I'm afraid it does for now, little one."
Tenchi could see how hurt Sasami was. She gave
him a sad look, then slung the pistol's strap over one
shoulder.
He sighed. "Can't say that I blame you." Tenchi
stood up. "Okay, Washu. What's next."
"Let's jettison these remains out into the nearest
star we can find. Then, we'll address our current
problem."
"Finally something sensible," quipped Ryoko.
"Hmm," grunted Washu. "And since you're so much
in agreement with the idea, you get to carry the stuff
down to the airlock."
"De-lighted," replied Ryoko.
She went over to the container; Ayeka and Kiyone
stepping aside. She paused to give them both a short
huff, then picked the container up.
"This thing won't leak, will it, Washu?"
"It will be a blessing if it does," muttered
Ayeka.
"No it will not," answered Washu.
"Outta my then. I want to get this thing off and
on it's merry way to hellfire and oblivion!"
"Might I suggest we all stay together," said
Yosho. "Just incase anyone has any `surprises' for the
others?"
Kiyone re-holstered her pistol, but made sure the
safety remained off. "Had every intention of doing
just that, Grandpa. Shall we?"
Ryoko laughed, trundling off through the doors to
the elevator, the rest of the group following right
behind her.
They were soon down in Yagami's main cargo bay,
and Ryoko placed the container down next to the inner
doors of the airlock.
"Once we get this thing off the ship, why don't we
all go back to the lounge and have something to eat,"
she said, tapping the controls on the wall.
"You're hungry?" questioned Tenchi. "How can you
be thinking about eating at a time like this?"
"That's all she ever thinks about, Tenchi," Ayeka
said. "Eating and sleeping, sleeping and eating. Lazy
woman."
"Oh, and like you do much more than I do,
Princess," retorted Ryoko. The doors slid back. "Well
I'll tell you, Miss Perfect Wonder, Sometimes you can
be... (gasp)."
Ryoko's face was turned down in a sharp wince,
peering at something inside the airlock.
Immediately, Kiyone's hand dropped to the butt of
her pistol. "What is it, Ryoko?"
"Oh man... oh gosh... oh no, no, no!" stammered
Ryoko.
"Ryoko! What's in there?" shouted Washu.
Ryoko looked fearfully back at them, then stepped
aside, allowing then to see the two disfigured husk
lying at the center of the airlock floor.
* * * * *
The grim duty of clearing out the disfigured husk
that were once their family or friends went without
incident, sucked out into the vacuum of space on their
way to the nearest star.
Once that was over, everyone remained in the cargo
bay sitting somberly around in a loose circle
reminiscent of their outings into the forest that
surrounded the Masaki grounds. Only there was no
singing or friendly banter between them, just a
heightened sense of tension and fear; even the
slightest move eyed with suspicion.
After several minutes, Tenchi looked over at
Washu.
"This has got to end," he said.
Washu agreed, then Ryoko stood up and began
stretching the kinks out of her back.
"Well you all can sit here like frightened
children," she said heading for the hatch.
Kiyone's pistol snapped out of it's holster,
stopping the pirate in her tracks. "And where do you
think you're going?"
"I'm going to bed!" replied Ryoko, eyeing the
barrel nervously. "If you can recall, I was trying to
get some sleep before our surprise guest from `Wicked
City' made its appearance."
"We said we were all going to stay together,"
Tenchi reminded her.
"But I'm tired!"
"Sit," ordered Kiyone.
The grim look she gave Ryoko conveyed the
seriousness of the situation. Reluctantly, the space-
pirate returned to her spot on the deck.
Kiyone eyed her, then slowly replaced her pistol.
"Okay, now we have to figure out who it was that got
absorbed, as Washu calls it, besides Tenchi's dad."
"How are we going to do that?" asked Sasami.
Washu shook her head. "Well, I can try conducting
a tissue scan of everyone. That will definitely
identify our thing."
"Sounds good," said Tenchi. He thought a moment,
a dark thought briefly crossing his mind. "But if it
thinks it's about to be exposed, it might try to kill
us all before we can gain the upper hand."
"Huh?" questioned Washu.
Tenchi shrugged. "In the elevator where it's
cramped, or maybe in one of the corridors. After all,
since we don't know which one of us is a thing, it
might be one of us that's armed."
His reasoning made the rest of the group shudder.
The tension increased, suspicious looks passing between
them all.
"Why don't we just go back to when this all
started," Yosho suggested.
"You mean back to the Qunatra?" asked Washu.
"Yes." The elderly man stood up and walked to the
center of the group. Taking a moment to organize his
thoughts, Yosho calmly adjusted his wire-rimmed
glasses.
"The creature was obviously the cause of the
Qunatra's plight," he began. "It somehow overpowered
several of the crewmembers, then attempted to takeover
the ship."
"Without success," said Tenchi. "What remained of
the crew managed to disable the ship, stopping it
cold."
"Right. So instead, and this is only my theory,
it sent off a distress signal to attract another
vessel."
"What?" exclaimed Ayeka. "You mean it wanted us
to come there?"
"Yeah," Washu said slowly, with a nod of her head.
"Yeah. It wanted somebody to find the ship and come
aboard."
Yosho let out a hum in agreement. Placing a hand
to his chin, he paced a for a few minutes, then
continued.
"I suspect also, the survivors of the crew
realized what was going on. So they destroyed the
bridge, and attempted to demolish their auxiliary
station as well."
"But the thing managed to stop that," Kiyone cut
in. "Tenchi, that's why we found that puddle of goo.
The person it was absorbing torched themselves to keep
it from gaining another body."
"Okay, but what has that got to do with us?" asked
Ryoko.
"Without propulsion, or a way to effectively
navigate the ship, this monster had no option but to
shut off all life support. Apparently it can survive
extreme cold as well as hard vacuum."
"And froze itself until we cam along and thawed it
out," said Washu.
Mihoshi yelped, a shudder visibly shaking her
body. "Ooo, Kiyone. This is beginning to remind me of
our last camping trip we all took on Halloween,
remember? Telling ghost stories and spooky tales.
Boy, I was so scared!"
Kiyone stared at her partner, then pointed to the
box in the corner behind Sasami. "Go!" she directed
Mihoshi.
Mihoshi trundled off to sit in the corner, pouting
and tapping the tips of her index fingers together.
"Ghost stories," muttered Kiyone, rolling her eyes
to the overhead in disbelief.
Yosho found it difficult to hide his smile from
Kiyone. "Uh, yes. Anyway, to answer how this concerns
us, we have to reduce all of the options on when the
creature gained contact with our boarding party."
"We can rule out Sasami, and Ryo-Ohki," said
Washu.
"Yes, my sister could not have been taken by that
monster," said Ayeka.
"Ah-ah," Ryoko said, waving a finger at the
princess.
Ayeka spun angrily around. "What do you mean `Ah-
ah'?" she shouted. "Sasami was here on Yagami!"
"And so was Tenchi's pop too, princess."
"Wha--, are you saying that my sister is a
monster?"
"Could be. It seems to run in the family anyway."
"Why I never!"
Mihoshi called out to them. "Oh, can we please
talk about something else!" she whined timidly, fingers
tapping faster. "I'm getting real scared now."
Sasami pulled Ryo-Ohki up closer to her chest.
"So am I."
"No!" shouted Ayeka. She planted her fist on her
hips. "And now that you have conveniently destroyed
what sounded like progress, maybe we should start
thinking about testing, starting with you, Ryoko!"
Ryoko shot to her feet. "Oh, yeah? Well, I'm not
scared to have a test done on me, Ayeka. Why don't we
all just skip this speculating and go to the lab and
test ourselves. You first!"
"You, you, you... I am not a monster!"
"Says who?"
"STOP IT!" shouted Washu. Her angry glare made
the two women turn away from each other in with a huff.
Silence returned to the cargo bay.
"Okay," continued Washu. She ran a hand nervously
through her hair, letting out a sigh to settle her
down. "We will test ourselves, but Ryoko is correct
about Nobuyuki not being on the boarding party."
"I'm getting really scared now," said Mihoshi.
Washu ignored her. "What happened when you guys
returned to Yagami, Tenchi?"
"A lot," answered Tenchi.
"Details, we need details."
Tenchi scratched the back of his head. "We were
all running through the boarding tube back to the ship.
Somehow, we all managed to fall to the deck after a
sharp jolt."
"I'm getting rrreeeeally scared now," Mihoshi said
again, more urgently.
"But nobody was near your father then, right?"
"Yeah. He was in that booth working the
controls."
Kiyone gasped, body stiffening. She stood ridged,
eyes wide in fear. "Yes," she said in a low, trembling
voice. "Yes, he was in there trying to disengage the
tube from the Qunatra's hull, but he couldn't."
Slowly, very slowly, Kiyone turned to face her
partner seated in the corner. "I was about to get up
and help him, but, but--." She took a fearful swallow.
"Mihoshi ran in there and did it."
All eyes locked on Mihoshi, the prevailing silence
carrying the stunned realization hanging in the air.
Mihoshi stopped her nervous tapping and looked up.
"W-w-well," she began, gazing briefly back down again.
"I guess I've been exposed."
When Mihoshi looked back up, both eyes were blood-
red. Her mouth opened, the teeth spiked and razor
sharp. A long hiss sounded as the Mihoshi/Thing stood
up.
"AAAAAAAAIIIIIIEEEEEE!!!!!" cried Sasami. She
stumbled back, falling to the deck; Ryo-Ohki spilling
from her grasp.
"GET UP, SASAMI!" shouted Kiyone.
She drew her pistol, but the Mihoshi/Thing grabbed
a corner of the box she'd been sitting on, flinging it
towards her. Kiyone dived but a corner hit her back,
pistol knocked loose from her grasp.
Both Ayeka and Ryoko were screaming now, backing
away for the furthest part of the room. Mihoshi's
pistol flashed from her holster, several shots driving
Tenchi and Yosho for cover. Washu pointed a finger at
her ready to incinerate the creature that had been her
friend, but it spun and opened fire on her. Letting
out a cry in surprise, Washu dived out of harms way,
scampering for the cover of a archway.
With all immediate threats dispelled for the
moment, the Mihoshi/Thing turned it's attention back to
Sasami.
"Coommmmmeeee tooo mmmeeeee, Sssaasssaaammiii!" it
said, moving towards her.
Tenchi looked up from his place on the deck.
"Leave her alone!" he shouted, crying out as he rolled
to avoid the blast fired at him.
Sasami inched back; Ryo-Ohki hissing at the
monster. She cried, hands fumbling for the pistol
Washu gave her earlier. Mihoshi hissed at her again,
then a rip sounded several tentacles extending up
through the back of Mihoshi's uniform.
"I won't hurt yoouuu, Ssaaasammiiii,
hahahahahahah!"
Washu leaned around the corner of the archway,
snapping off a burst of energy at the thing. It saw
her, jumping back out of its path. As the blast shook
the cargo bay, the Mihoshi/Thing unleashed a furious
barrage at Washu.
Off to the side near the airlock, Kiyone grimaced,
pain wracking her gun arm. Seeing what was happening,
she searched for her pistol, spotting it lying just
ahead. "Sasami... shoot it before it gets you," she
said as she crawled across the deck.
Sasami finally found the trigger of her weapon and
lay with it pointed up at the monster coming for her.
She began to cry, looking a Mihoshi's altered face,
hesitating.
"But it's Mihoshi!" she called out. "Ayeka!"
"Shoot it, Sasami!" cried her sister. "Shoot it
before you are eaten!"
"MRRROOOOWWWW!" Ryo-Ohki yelped, ducking it's head
into the bosom of Sasami's tiny chest.
The Mihoshi/Thing approached again, unafraid by
the apparently useless weapon this child wielded.
Sasami moaned again, drawing another laugh from it.
Finally, Sasami's cries dimmed. She whimpered
lightly as the thing stood poised, ready to entwine her
in its grasp. "I'm... I'm so sorry, M-M-Mihoshi!" she
said, pulling the trigger.
A solid stream of flame engulfed the
Mihoshi/Thing. It's eyes went wide, surprised by the
burst. It let out a steady wail; the pistol in it's
grip firing briefly before falling harmlessly out of
its hand. Another burst forced it back into the
corner, and there it writhed in hideous agony as the
flames melted away its skin.
The rest of the group stepped out of their hiding
places, watching as what had been called Mihoshi, and
their friend, passed through it's final through on its
way to death. As they watched in stunned silence, from
the middle of the gooey mass Mihoshi's head extended up
on the end of a stalk and looked sadly upon them.
"...thank, thank you... s-s-sasami...," she said
in a gentle voice. "...thank youuuuuu--."
The head and stalk slumped back into the fire.
Tears erupted from Sasami, the young girl slumping
over in grief. Ayeka walked sadly over to her sister.
"There, there, Sasami," she said, reaching out for
a shoulder.
Sasami whirled, aiming the pistol in her hands at
Ayeka. The Princess drew back, shocked by the terror-
stricken look her sister gave her.
"Sasami, its me, Ayeka," she said.
It was no good, Sasami keeping her weapon trained
on her sister.
Meanwhile, Tenchi and Washu went over to help
Kiyone with her injuries. That was not to be, Kiyone's
shaking hand pointing her pistol on them as well.
"Don't you touch me!" she snarled.
"But you're hurt," Tenchi protested.
"I don't care! I'm not about to take the chance
of ending up like Mihoshi." Her eyes drifted over to
the smoldering mound of ash and goo. "Mihoshi," she
muttered sadly, a tear streaming down one cheek.
Washu and Tenchi traded looks, then they both took
several leery steps away from each other.
"So what now?" asked Ryoko.
Washu thought a moment. "Let's get this mess
pushed into the airlock, then we all go up to the
bridge." She finally answered.
"Why, what's up there?" asked Tenchi.
Her brows furrowed together.
"We've got to stop Yagami."
* * * * *
"Yes, just as you thought, Washu," said Kiyone
from the pilots chair of Yagami's bridge. She turned
the chair around to face the rest of her friends.
"Mihoshi... that thing locked us on a course to Earth."
"Damn!" muttered Washu, clenching a fist angrily
in front of her. "Kiyone, can you shut down the
engines from here?"
Kiyone turned back to the controls, tapping in
commands to Yagami's computer system.
"No, it locked us out here too."
"Guess that means we have to take a trip down to
the engine room and do it manually," said Tenchi.
Ryoko, seated in one of the chairs to the left of
the room, played nonchalantly with Mihoshi's pistol,
twirling it about on one finger. When she heard
Tenchi's comment though, she stopped and sat up
straight.
"Why?" she asked him.
"What do you mean why?" questioned Ayeka.
Ryoko shrugged innocently. "I mean why. Isn't
that where we want to go anyway?"
"Yes."
"So why stop? Look, we found two husk. Two husk,
two creatures destroyed. It's over!"
"Not true, Ryoko," said Yosho, getting up out of
the copilots chair. "Mihoshi was taken on the Qunatra,
Nobuyuki here. That leaves one creature left
unaccounted for." His eyes cut from side to side,
stopping on each of the astonished faces around him.
"Someone is not who they appear to be."
"Nooo!" wailed Sasami, bursting out into tears
again.
"He's right," said Washu. "And with us heading
towards Earth, we've got to stop Yagami and fast."
Kiyone pursed her lips tight together, deep in
thought. She turned and tapped a button on the armrest
of the pilots chair. A panel opened exposing a keypad
and readout. Kiyone tapped in a few commands.
"What are you doing, Kiyone?" Washu asked, her
voice filled with suspicion.
Kiyone finished, the panel closing shut once
again.
[Self-Destruct Activated] Yagami's voice announced
to them all.
"What have you done!" shouted Ayeka.
"I've set Yagami's self-destruct to activate the
second I utter the final command," answered Kiyone.
Drawing her pistol, Kiyone tossed it over to Tenchi.
He frowned, wondering why she did that.
"Just incase you all have doubts about my
sincerity," she told them.
"Harrumph," sounded Washu. She crossed her arms,
narrowing an eye at the detective. "Still does not
clear you, but it is a good step in the right
direction."
"I don't think so!" shouted Ayeka. "Now we will
all be killed because Kiyone, if you are Kiyone, can
just utter some magical word and blow us to
smithereens!"
"What are you so worried about?" asked Ryoko.
"Can't you see if this thing gets to Earth, nobody will
be safe?"
Ayeka threw up her hands in frustration. "I do
not want to die in space! Nor do I think it logical
for us to sit by and allow Kiyone to wield such a
threat over our heads!"
"So what would you like us to do?" asked Yosho.
"Make Kiyone turn the self-destruct off!"
Tenchi's brows slowly rose up. He tilted his head
back, regarding Ayeka curiously.
"Yeah, you would want us to do that," he said.
Kiyone's pistol came up.
Ayeka felt the accusing stares around her. She
began stammering, realizing what it was they were all
thinking.
"Now just hold on one minute," she said, a tremor
in her voice. "I am not a monster!"
"That is debatable, Prin-Cess!" quipped Ryoko,
standing up.
Ayeka realized the trouble brewing around her.
"You can't honestly believe I am one of those things!"
"You are doing an awful lot of bitching
considering our situation," said Washu.
A frown appeared, Ayeka spinning around to Sasami.
"S-Sasami. You believe me, don't you?"
Sasami drew fearfully back; Ryo-Ohki's voice
rumbling in a deep growl.
"Absurd!" cried Ayeka, facing the others again.
"You all cannot accuse me without accusing the other.
Why, why it could be Ryoko, it could be Kiyone. It
could even be you, Washu."
"What! Me?"
"You were alone with Kiyone in your laboratory,
along with Grandpa Masaki."
Tenchi gazed down at Washu. "Ew, she's right
about that," he said.
"Tenchi, you would think that I am one of these
things?" said Yosho.
"One left, and facts are facts."
"Wait a minute, wait a minute," said Kiyone,
waving her hands. "We were all together on the
Qunatra, Tenchi. You, Ayeka, and I. So there's no way
we can be a thing."
"Yes, yes true!" added Ayeka. "Only Mihoshi and
Ryoko were alone. Isn't that right, Ry-Oko?"
"Don't even try it, bitch!" snarled Ryoko. She
pointed the pistol in her hand at Ayeka. "The husk
were found here, not on the Qunatra. Nice try."
"Why don't we all just head on down to the lab and
let me conduct my test," said Washu. "That will clear
things up right quick, no pun intended."
"Yeah, and I think you should be the first, Ayeka.
That is if you have nothing to hide," added Ryoko.
Tenchi agreed. "If you are innocent, Washu's test
will--."
He paused, a strange expression coming to Tenchi's
face. They waited for him to finish, but Tenchi just
stared at Ryoko for a long moment.
"What, what is it, Tenchi?" asked Ryoko.
The pistol in Tenchi's hands turned towards her;
Ayeka flinching aside as the shot hit Ryoko square in
the chest. She dropped her weapon, slamming back up
against the bulkhead, and then crumpled down into the
corner.
"MMMMRRREEEOOOOOWWWW!!!!" cried Ryo-Ohki,
struggling in Sasami's grasp.
Meanwhile, Washu stood with her gunning finger
pointed up at Tenchi; Ayeka, Yosho and Kiyone staring
at him, shocked.
"You better speak and speak fast, Masaki," said
Washu.
Tenchi's gaze never left Ryoko. "Since when does
Ryoko ever use a hand weapon?" he asked them.
The answer was never, and they all turned to look
at Ryoko's inert form. Ryo-Ohki suddenly broke free
from Sasami's grasp, rushing over to her fallen owner.
"Ryo-Ohki, come back here!" called Sasami, rushing
after the cabbit.
Ryo-Ohki ignored her, climbing up onto Ryoko's
chest. She sniffed around at the smoldering hole, then
mewed lightly at Ryoko's face.
Suddenly, Ryoko's eyes snapped open, but they were
blood red, the dark pinpoint pupils centered on the
cabbit. Ryo-Ohki hissed and drew back. The crack of
bone sounded, Ryoko's chest splitting open beneath Ryo-
Ohki's feet. One last cry, then the cabbit disappeared
into the gap, and it closed up around her.
Sasami screamed, hands held to her mouth in
fright. The Ryoko/Thing's head looked over, mouth
opening to spit a large glob of pea-green goo that
splashed into the child's face and chest.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!" cried
Sasami as the writhing mass began to absorb her. She
fell back, quivering on the deck.
Tenchi and Washu stepped aside, ready to pour it
into Ryoko, when Ayeka let out a yell. She interposed
herself between them, glaring angrily at Ryoko.
"YOU IDIOT!" she cried.
Shock covered Tenchi, Washu, Yosho, and Kiyone's
faces as Ayeka's hair came alive, rising eerily up
around her head.
"I told you I would do that!" she hissed
furiously.
The Ryoko/Thing looked up at it's companion.
"Well, you're too late, Prrincesss," it hissed back.
Yosho stood trapped between the two monsters.
"Kiyone, do it now!" he cried.
SWISH!
Kiyone's voice was cut off in a gurgle of blood as
the Ayeka/Thing's hair sliced her head neatly away from
the rest of her body. It bounced to a stop at Tenchi's
feet, then a cry from Yosho startled him.
A mass of tendrils were rooted into his back,
Ryoko/Thing's hair snaking it's way up through the
surface of his skin. He dropped to his knees, tears of
pain streaming from his eyes. They opened, and Yosho
let out a groan.
"Run!" he told them, before Ayeka/Thing's hair
pushed it's way into his stomach.
Washu stepped back and pointed her finger at them,
but suddenly Tenchi stood blocking her shot. She
looked up at him, wondering what he was doing, then
Yosho called for them to run again.
There was a reason why, and with quivering hands,
the old man pulled an oval shaped object out from a
sleeve. Washu immediately recognized it to be a
firebomb from one of her dimensional lockers. There
was nothing they could do for Sasami; her whole body
stretching and shifting as the goo covering her did its
deadly deed. Trading looks, Tenchi and Washu dashed
for the hatch.
The blast rocked Yagami hard, supports and other
parts of the ship violently breaking free from their
mounts. Smoke enveloped the corridor, then Washu felt
something hard hit her across the back of the
shoulders.
She fell as a crossbeam pinned her to the deck,
and for a second lay in a stunned stupor, pain running
down the length of her body.
As the shock passed, Washu managed to regain some
semblance of her wits and looked up. The emergency red
lights were on, a thick haze clouding her vision.
"Uh... ooohhhh... Tenchi!" called Washu.
Slow steps could be heard, then out of the gloom
Tenchi appeared. He walked over and stopped, staring
down at Washu's prostrate form.
"Oh, oh, Tenchi, am I glad to see you."
Tenchi remained silent. He knelt down, examining
her injuries for a moment.
"I think, I think I might have some spinal injury,
Tenchi," said Washu. "If you can get this off me, my
medical machine in my lab can have me back in one piece
before you know it."
Tenchi smiled. "Sure, but one thing first," he
said gazing briefly back down the corridor.
"What's that?"
He looked back, eyes blood-red, dark pupils
trained on her.
"What makes you think I'm Tenchi?" the
Tenchi/Thing said in a deep, warbled voice.
Washu screamed loudly as Tenchi's hand reached for
her face.