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The Challenge 11
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These characters do not belong to me and no profit is being made. The Research Ryoko was smiling as she woke up. She was warm, she was comfortable, and it was quiet... *Sqaunnnkkk* Ryoko sighed. And Tenchi, her beloved husband was snoring again. Funny, he had never done this when he was in a bed by himself. She nudged him a bit and he woke up. "'morning," he mumbled. "Good morning!" Ryoko bounced out of bed and bounced over to the closet. She threw on her clothes with reckless abandon and then bounded over to her husband who was watching her with wide and fearful eyes. "Did Washu alter your chemical intake?" he asked. "Nooo," Ryoko shook her head. "I'm just happy!" She flung her arms wide. "Oh," Tenchi said and stumbled out of bed. She grabbed his arms and spun him around in mid-air. "Ryoko!" he yelled. She flew up into the air, grabbed him around the waist, and kissed him until he couldn't breath. "Woken up yet?" she asked seductively. "Float down to the bed and I'll show you exactly how awake I am." Tenchi grinned at her. Ryoko grinned back and they started to float downward. *** Washu blinked open her eyes. That damn phone again. Rolling over on her back, she said, "Hello?" "Hello, Washu." Funaho's voice came over the speaker. "Funaho, I'm going to tell you something and I do not want you to take it the wrong way. The next time you call here with bad news I'm going to bomb Jurai and wipe out the whole problem." Washu said seriously. "It might be better that way." Funaho muttered. "It's not exactly bad news this time." "Oh?" Washu said, a question in her voice. "Azusa's gotten to a point where he says he can hand it over to Tenchi in fairly calm waters. The trade agreement treaty's going to end in three days, some other minor stuff will be cleared up, so he's hoping that the four of the children can have the coronation in five days." Funaho finished. Washu stared at her ceiling. Five days? "You know Funaho, someday we're going to have to do something slow. Like having a wedding that'll be planned in a year." "That's what you have pregnancies for." Funaho told her smiling. "Babies don't hurry." "That's true enough." Washu said. "So could you please tell the children that I request their presence on Jurai for a small press conference about the coronation. We wrapped up the government sectioning off yesterday. The military was concerned about having Ryoko in charge of it until they found out that it would be Balar. Then they calmed down." Funaho sighed. "And ask Sasami if she'll come along, too. Misaki wants to talk to her and the press keeps calling asking if she'll make a statement about yesterday's rally." "Rally?" Washu said angrily. "That was no rally. They burned the future empress's garden!" "But for diplomatic reasons we're calling it a rally." Funaho said quietly. "The crown of Jurai's opinion is very disapproving of it, if that helps at all." "Heaps," Washu said sarcastically. "Well, I've got to go fix breakfast for the young ones so I'll tell them over that." "Thank you Washu." Funaho said and the phone clicked. Washu sat in bed staring at the ceiling for about three more seconds, then sighed and started getting ready for the day. *** Ryoko and Tenchi came down the stairs for breakfast. Washu didn't look up at them. She only said, "Funaho called." Washu tried not to grin at the sudden intake of breath from both of them. "She wants you both on Jurai after breakfast." She said, making the torture last longer. "For what?" Tenchi asked very hesitantly. "Press conference on the splitting of government." Washu told them. "Relax, she says it isn't any big deal." Ryoko flopped down on a stool. "But whenever she calls it turns into a big deal." Washu rolled her eyes. "I know. So after breakfast go and find Ayeka and Balar and tell the Juraians that you've got everything under control." Washu flipped the pancakes over. "Oh, and one last thing..." Ryoko covered her ears and closed her eyes. "You're taking over Jurai in five days." Washu grinned at her daughter. Tenchi gulped loudly. "Five...days?" he whispered. "Yup. So be a man, Tenchi. Put on the ermine robe. Stroll down red carpets for the rest of your life. Be Your Majestied to death." Washu grinned at him. "But if you expect me to bow and scrape to you when you get home or even in the palace, don't go there. I am, after all, a goddess." "And you never let us forget it." Ryoko sighed. Washu paused. "Oh, I forgot. And the greatest scientific genius in the universe!" Ryoko and Tenchi groaned and ate their pancakes. *** Washu walked calmly out of her lab and into the living room. Sasami was just finishing her breakfast and Ayeka and Balar were at the table talking. Ryoko and Tenchi followed her, discussing what they would say. "Guess what, kiddies?" Washu asked. Kiddies? Sasami mouthed to Ryoko. Ryoko shrugged. "What is it, Little Washu?" Balar asked. "You're going to Jurai for a press conference again. This time it's on the splitting of the government." Washu told them with glee. "And you're taking over Jurai in five days." Ayeka's jaw dropped. "Wh-what?" she said stammering. Sasami laughed. "I'm glad it's you and not me." "Why thank you Sasami." Ayeka said pleasantly. "I get to rule a planet for a few hundred years. You get to oversee it until the end of time. Fair bargain." Sasami grimaced. "You do have a point, sister." Sasami said. Washu pointed at her. "And your mom wants you to talk about the temple burning and what you did in the garden to the nice press people." Sasami groaned. "And what am I going to do?" Mihoshi asked eagerly. Washu shrugged. "I don't know. I'm staying here and working on why Tokimi's name seems to be on Jurai these days." "Isn't it supposed to be?" the blond asked. "I mean, she is Tsunami's sister." "No, her name isn't supposed to be there. My name and Tokimi's aren't in the galaxy anymore. At least not written down. So it had to be passed by word of mouth. But I'm checking the records anyway." Washu sighed. "Maybe the academy library will have something." "Sure! We'll go there and I'll help you!" Mihoshi said eagerly. "Okay," Washu surrendered. "I can use some help." They all went off to their assigned destinations. *** Washu lead Mihoshi into the Academy library. "Oooh!" Mihoshi said. "This is even bigger than your library!" Washu shrugged. "They've had longer to amass their collection. Plus they get donations, I don't." "What are we looking for?" Mihoshi asked. "Any mention of Tokimi, Tsunami, or Washu." She said shortly. Mihoshi surveyed the collection. "It's going to take a long time." She said slowly. Washu looked at the all the books as well. "And this isn't even the largest room." She sighed. Then a wicked grin came over her face. "Why don't you go find Lirras and see if any of his friends could help us?" "Sure!" Mihoshi said bubbly and trotted off. Washu surveyed the library and pulled up the schematic of it. They'd made a few changes since she'd been here last. Her library had what she needed and if it didn't, then she went and bought it. "Little Washu!" Mihoshi caroled. "Lirras came with me." "I'm sorry, Dr. Washu, but all of my friends are in classes." He shrugged. "No problem." Washu winked. She went from twelve to twenty-two in seconds. "I'll go and find some...helpers." She walked toward the door, grasped the handle, and pulled the door open. She leaned up against the wall to wait for her prey... *** "Good morning, everyone." Funaho said cheerfully. "I'm happy that everyone was able to come." They began to walk down the hall. "What are we supposed to say about the government?" Tenchi asked. "There's not that much to go over." Funaho nodded. "That's right. The press want a short session to disprove the rumors that Jurai will be split up permanently." Funaho paused in front of a door and the guards by its side opened it for her. She strode confidently into the room, the five of her children walking behind her. They took their seats and Funaho calmly said, "The public has questions about the new government which will switch over in five days. Tenchi, will you please explain?" Tenchi nodded to her. "The new government will be split into four, one for each of us. Balar," he gestured to the blond haired man, "will be taking over the military branch. Ayeka will be in charge of the nobles' comments. Ryoko will be concerning herself with the whole of Jurai." Tenchi paused. "I will be available to all of them at any time. Decisions that are to affect more than one branch of Jurai will be placed through me." "Could you explain that statement?" one of the people called out. "Sure. If Ayeka comes to me and one of the nobles wants more weapons on their estate, then I'll contact Balar and they can talk it over. Choreography is mostly what I'll be doing. I'll also get most of the highlights of the proceedings." Tenchi ended. "There are rumors that the government will stay this way." One reporter said. "Any comment?" "No, the government will not stay this way permanently. It is split this way so that the four of us will not have to stay on Jurai day and night. All meetings of military, Jurai, and nobles will take place in the morning. As soon as noon chimes, the four of us leave. Special circumstances such as a treaty or a war will require us to be on Jurai for afternoons including mornings. There isn't any reason why the four of us can't split up the workload. Even the average person only has to work eight hours a day." Tenchi smiled. Ryoko spoke up. "It doesn't mean that we won't still be on Jurai in the afternoons. We may go walk in the marketplace, rest in the garden, visit museums. It just means that we won't be accessible for pitching ideas to." Ryoko shrugged and smiled lightly. "We're trying to make ruling Jurai a pleasure instead of a heavy responsibility." The press turned its attention to Sasami. "Sasami, would you care to comment on the rally yesterday?" Sasami snorted. "The "rally" as we call it was to protest my declaration that I am the goddess Tsunami." "Are you?" one man asked. "The next person who asks that shall be responsible for the trees of Jurai singing "Lord Rantly's Lament to Lady Songsby" for the next twelve hours." Sasami smiled at him dangerously. Over half the room winced at the name of the song. It was one of the most drawn-out songs in Jurai's history. One brave reporter asked a question. "Would Tsunami make these threats to us?" Sasami hesitated. "Tsunami has done much for Jurai. I've told the truth about assimilating with her and received much doubt. In response to this doubt, someone attempted to burn down my temple. I was called from Earth in the middle of the night by my priestess's cries of anguish at two acolytes dying at her feet. When I got there, the man shot my priestess. I froze everyone who was involved with this act and moved them outside. The priestess wept over the two young people. I smiled at her and healed the two young ones and her." She continued. "When I walked outside, the men who had set the fire and hurt the ones in my care were set free. No one saw them set fire to my temple. No one was dead so no one was charged with anything. The next day, they burned a garden that was beloved of one of my friends. I healed it and still they doubted me." Sasami smiled. "There is one thing that Juraians don't doubt and that is the trees that Tsunami created. They sang for me and lit the skies with their song. Now some people believe in me." "So you are Tsunami?" one reporter asked. Sasami sighed and looked her straight in the eye. "Yes, I am." A brief rendition of the song ran through the sky. "That was just a taste. Tsunami's not vengeful and neither am I. But while she may have goddess patience, I don't." Sasami grinned. *** Washu was surrounded by young male students. "Oh, I don't know anything about reports." She said demurely, eyes cast down. "Do you think you could help me?" The tide of males swept her into the library and began hurriedly talking about proper research methods and other things of vague importance. Washu nodded eagerly to them all. Mihoshi looked confused and then she grinned. "People to help us?" she asked. Lirras narrowed his eyes at the crowd of students and walked closer to Mihoshi. "Yup," Washu said. She grinned at the boys. "Sorry, guys, but-" Washu seemed to melt down into a younger form. "You've been recruited as the researching team of Washu, the greatest scientific genius in the universe!" The men looked at her. Their eyes goggled. One ventured, "You're going to teach us how to research?" "Yup. Got a problem with it?" Washu asked. They all shook their heads violently. "Wow, the scientist Washu showing us how to research!" one said enthusiastically. Washu rolled her eyes. "The only place I get recognition and I don't come here enough." The map of the library rolled up. "Okay, here's what we're looking for. Any mention of Tokimi. That's it. You find that name, you come and see me. Here are your assigned areas." They clustered around her. *** Hours later in the library, everyone was exhausted. The students had tentatively come to Washu one at a time and said that they had a class to go to or a meeting with a teacher. They seemed very surprised when Washu let them go immediately. She gave the chosen student a look and very plainly told them that how were they to learn anything if she kept them from their studies? Washu collapsed on a chair. She had searched twice as many books as one of the students alone. Mihoshi still flipped through a book idly. Washu considered her. Even Mihoshi's luck hadn't brought her the prize she sought. Her head turned as someone entered the library. She kept her eyes from lighting up and her mouth from grinning. Washu turned polite eyes to the young man coming into the library. "Oh!" he said startled. "No one's usually in here." Washu waved a hand to him. "I'm just doing a little research. Come out of the doorway. I don't bite students, just crusty old teachers." Arian cautiously smiled at her. "What are you looking for?" he asked politely. "Any mention of someone named Tokimi." Washu said wearily. "I've had ten people in here looking with me and we haven't found a thing." Arian tilted his head to one side with a puzzled look on his face. "Tokimi," he muttered. He closed his eyes and squinted his eyes together as if straining to see something in the distance. "I saw that somewhere." He murmured. "It was a yellow piece of paper...I was sitting down reading it...now where was I?" He snapped his fingers and ran out of the room. Washu considered him. "Studious, good memory, half in/half out of this world... He's perfect." "Perfect for what?" Mihoshi asked. "Perfect for Sasami." Washu grinned. "Oh!" Mihoshi exclaimed. "But after that thing with Travan I don't think she'll want to date for a while." Washu smiled. "So let's not call it dating, let's call it Washu says this is good for you to be around this guy and that's what you're going to be doing." *** The crew from Jurai had just come back a few hours ago. Sasami was making dinner, Ayeka and Balar were sailing on the lake in a small boat, Ryoko and Tenchi were on the roof talking to each other, and Mihoshi and Washu weren't back yet. Sasami thought about the past few days. Becoming a goddess, that mix-up with Travan, telling the Juraian people she was a goddess, them torching her temple and destroying Ryoko's garden... She smiled half-heartedly. "But it isn't all bad." She told herself. "They believe now." She sighed. She should have known better with Travan. Goddesses aren't meant to have relationships. Look at Washu. She snorted. The most inconsequential thing in that whole list and that's what she was focusing on. Not becoming the goddess or people being hurt on account of her, but her heart! Tsunami's voice whispered to her. But isn't that what I am about? And you are one of my children even though I reside in you. Oh, Tsunami! Sasami cried. It doesn't hurt that badly. But- I know, the goddess whispered soothingly. *** "Here it is!" Arian said triumphantly presenting it to Washu. "I knew I had seen it somewhere." Washu held the piece of paper and read it thoroughly. She looked up. "This is it." She whispered. "Now who makes these?" Arian shrugged. "No one I asked knows. They just appear." Washu folded it carefully and placed it in her pocket. "I'll analyze it tonight. Unless you need it for anything?" She asked with a carefully upraised eyebrow. Arian shook his head. "No. I'll be leaving now, Dr. Hakubi." He turned to leave. "You have a class to go to?" she asked quietly. Arian turned around. "No, Dr. Hakubi." Washu smiled at him. "You're nervous around me, aren't you?" Arian looked down. "Pardon, Doctor, but I'm nervous around most people." Washu nodded serenely. "It's not a bad thing you know. A bit hard to work around some of the time, but not a horribly bad thing to be nervous." Arian looked up at her. She grinned. "I was probably nervous sometime in my life." Washu frowned. "Can't remember when it was for some odd reason..." Washu shook her head. "Mihoshi, why don't you go find Lirras and invite him to dinner?" Mihoshi cheered up and she walked out of the room. Washu looked at Arian calculating. "Would you be terribly nervous if I invited you to dinner?" Arian's eyes turned frightened. Washu laughed. "I usually don't date students." She teased. Seeing the whites of his eyes increase, she calmed down her usual tone. "No, I wasn't asking you out on a date. I was asking if you have any classes. The reason I was asking that was if you don't have classes, then you can come and have dinner on Earth. After dinner, you can see my lab if you so choose. You're a very nervous individual, I can tell that. It would be interesting to see how you act around royalty and such." "Uhhh..." Arian stammered. Washu sighed. Her laptop appeared in front of her. She tapped a few keys which brought up the academy logo. She hacked into the system with ease and found his class schedule. "You do not have any classes for the rest of the evening." Washu raised an eyebrow. "You do however take after me in studies. Simple things bore you so you go after the difficult ones." She shut down the laptop. "You had a problem with a plant, I believe? I have some things to show you in my lab." Mihoshi walked back through the door with Lirras. "Here we are!" she caroled. Washu winked at her. "Arian was just saying how he'd love to join us for dinner." Arian stared at her open-mouthed. Washu contained her giggles and frog-marched him through the portal. *************************************************************** |
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