Ep 16 – Violent Heart

 

This is it!  The Final Battle will take place in this chapter.  Beware,

there will be colorful language, a lot of violence with involved

descriptions, and the rating on this chapter will be somewhere

around PG13.  I hope you enjoy it, as there will only be 1 or 2

chapters after this, and this story will be concluded.  Tenchi Muyo

and Dragonball Z are copyrighted via Pioneer and Funimation

respectively.  If you like (or even hate) the story, feel free to send

me fanmail at russael@tmia.net.  I absolutely love getting mail

having to do with the fic, and it continually motivates me to do

more.  Anyway, enjoy the battle!  Oh, and a very special thanks to

the REAL Zorpheus for role-playing his dialog.  I couldn't have

done it without ya!

 

Feel free to come visit my website @ http://russael.cjb.net or

http://www.tmia.net:81.  It's a massive Tenchi website consisting

of MP3s, video clips, over 19,000 screenshots, character

descriptions, and much more, including additional fanfics by other

authors.

 

            "Aeka?  What is wrong with Russ?"

            Sasami, the little blue haired princess, was sitting quietly

on the porch looking out toward the lake, watching the ripples on

the water.  It was already late in the day, but the weather was very

pleasant.  A stiff breeze came from the west, moving the eighty-

degree air around swiftly, causing her long ponytails to flap lazily

in the wind.  Reaching up to move one of her bangs out of her face,

she swept it behind her ear and sighed softly, feeling at peace with

the world around her.  Looking absolutely beautiful and more

mature since last year, she turned her eyes away from the lake and

toward her sister, who was sitting next to her.

            It had been almost exactly one year since Russ had

arrived at the Masaki home, and it had been one hell of a ride for

everybody.  He was so much fun to be around and so easy going

that she felt that he was her big brother, who always looked out for

her and always was there for her, no matter what.  On a few

occasions, she felt down, sad, and lonely, but Russ would stop

whatever it was he was doing and wouldn't leave her alone until

she smiled and felt herself again.  He cared for her like no other,

and almost surpassed the attention and care she received from her

mother.

            Surprisingly, he was an excellent teacher as well. 

Whenever she had a question and Washu wasn't available, he

would help her with it and assist her in finding a correct answer,

whether it was with cooking or trying to fix something that broke. 

He was easy to understand and had simple explanations for even

really complex problems.  On many occasions, she would sit with

him on the organ bench and watch him play for hours, and several

times she commented that she wished she could play as well as

him.  Russ smiled, and began to teach her some very basic songs

on the organ, showing her how to keep time, how to create the

instruments and rhythms along with various other things, including

reading the sheet music.  On multiple occasions, they played duets

together on the organ.  She would sit on Russ's lap and he'd play

two of the keyboards, and she'd play on the third.  They'd sing

together, and the entire family would congregate in the living room

to listen, and on occasion, join in with the two.  It was a blast to

have him around, and he was the most fun person she had ever

known.

            But lately, somewhere around for the last week or so,

Russ seemed to be more withdrawn and reclusive than he had been

in the past.  He'd disappear for hours on end without a trace, and

when he'd come home, it would be very late at night and he really

didn't have much to say.  He'd head up to his room without

visiting with the family and not play the organ anymore. 

Everybody had begun to take notice and start worrying, but he

never told anybody what the problem was.

            At present moment, he was sitting up in his tree, being

very silent and withdrawn.  He almost looked like he was asleep,

but his eyes were open and very distant.  His hair moved in swirls

with the wind and his clothes flapped with the gusts.  Even though

he looked at peace, she knew he was very worried and concerned

about something.  She felt that it had to do with Zorpheus's

impending arrival, but she didn't know exactly when he'd come. 

Trying not to let it bother her, she debated that it could've been

something else, but it still worried her, and was looking for some

reassurance.

            "I don't know, Sasami.  It's the first time I've seen him

like this," the first crown princess of Jurai responded, resting back

on her hands, letting her summer clothes flutter with a gust of

wind.  It had been a while since she wore her kimonos, and had

since then switched to Earth clothing.  She was currently wearing a

comfortable short sleeve t-shirt with a logo of the three saber

marionettes on the front and a pair of jeans shorts.  Her long,

purple hair was bound behind her back in one long ponytail, tied at

the end with a small blue ribbon.  She had a set of three bangle

bracelets on her left wrist made from polished marble stone,

colored blue and black, and a dragon armband that went around the

top of her bicep, the same one she wore with her training gi, which

was a gift from Russ.

            She too had gotten more ladylike and adult, as her figure

had filled out a little more, just as she hoped.  Since training with

Russ, she became more defined as well.  Small muscles showed

themselves in her arms and legs, and she looked positively

stunning.  Remarkably, she still maintained her gorgeous, soft,

alabaster skin, and she had tanned slightly as well, and she felt

more confident in her appearance because of it.

            Breathing deep, taking in the scent of freshly mowed

grass and the smell of clean, pure air from the surrounding forest,

she too felt at peace with the world, and it helped her let all of her

cares go away for the time being.  That is, all except for one.  She

too had noticed Russ's reclusiveness and was wondering why his

behavior had become the way it was.  Unfortunately, he was too

stubborn to tell the family what the problem actually was or why

he was worried, and it drove her crazy.  He kept way too many

secrets to himself and was very bad at hiding them too.

            Nevertheless, the past year that he had spent with the

family was nothing short of breathtaking and wonderful.  He was

so amazing and fun to be around that she had gotten to the point

where she couldn't stand it when he was apart from her.  She knew

that she was obsessed with him, but far more with him than she

ever was with Tenchi.

            Looking back on her lost love, she became more and

more skeptical over the way she used to be with him.  Tenchi was

stiff, inflexible, and really not much fun to be around.  He always

pushed both her and Ryoko away at the time, and refused to do

anything with either of them.  Even now, as she looked at Tenchi

and Ryoko's relationship, she didn't see that much of a change in

him.  True, he did show more affection, but he really didn't DO

much with Ryoko.  He was always home, training, going to school,

or doing other things besides enjoying life with his sweetheart. 

The only time he really spent with her was at night, when they'd

both go to bed.  True, they did spend some time together when

Tenchi was doing his other activities, but only because Ryoko

basically followed him around like a little puppy dog.  She'd

always ask to go do things, but he continually turned her down,

saying that he had other things that he needed to take care of.  For

the most part, Ryoko just contented herself to be near him, as her

love for him was absolute and unwavering.  Ryoko began to

understand the way things worked on Earth, and she accepted it

easily enough.  She would do anything for Tenchi.  On multiple

occasions, she trained with him in much the same way she trained

with Russ, but Tenchi wasn't really that much of a match for her,

and it didn't satisfy her to go up against him.  There was more than

one occasion when Tenchi was at school and Ryoko was feeling

very bored and lonely, that she invited herself out to train with

Russ.  Both Ryoko and herself would go up against the super

saiyan and have a great time, especially with Russ's easygoing

sense of humor.  Russ loved fighting against both Ryoko and her,

and it made her feel good that he was so accepting to the both of

them.

            Aeka wondered how she would've found Tenchi if he

chose her over Ryoko.  Would he have been the same way, or

would he have done even less with her?  The only reason Tenchi

really did anything with Ryoko was because of her pleading.  Since

she wasn't like Ryoko and didn't really pressure anything onto

anybody, they probably wouldn't have done much of anything at

all.  She knew that she wouldn't have been satisfied with that, but

because he was willing to sacrifice himself for anybody, she

would've dealt with it.  He was far too honorable and heroic to just

turn away, but how long would that have been enough?

            She shook her head, reorienting her thoughts back to

Russ.  Now there was a man who would do anything for anybody,

just to make them happy.  Many occasions, she saw how Sasami

and him would do things together and how it made her sister feel. 

Because of it, she felt at peace and very contented to be around

him, as he was the same way with her.  He didn't hold back much

and would flirt with her on occasion, teasing her about her

appearance or making fun of himself, but all in good humor.  He

almost never got mad or angry, but if he did, he'd go outside and

work it off, rather than take it out on anybody.  Since the Startica

festival, he never yelled or got mad at anybody, no matter what

happened.  He'd calmly explain to her that he was upset over what

was done, and then he'd go outside to blow off his steam. 

Knowing that, she'd go out and apologize to him, even if it wasn't

her fault, just to see him smile and make him feel more

comfortable.

            Looking at him sitting on his limb, she knew that he felt

more at ease around her since she had stopped chasing him. 

Remembering her conversation with her mother, her advice

seemed to be working.  He didn't run away from her ever since

Christmas Day, and he was even more open with her than he ever

used to be.  He told her about several secrets that he kept buried

and rarely talked about, like his parents' death and his lack of

family.  After finally cracking open his safe of secrets, he finally

revealed to her that he was lonely and had missed Laurie deeply,

and that he still wasn't over her, even after so many years. 

Whenever he'd get on that subject, she'd listen quietly and comfort

him, and she felt so close to him that it almost didn't matter that

they weren't an actual couple.  She could feel that it was only a

matter of time before he'd open himself up once again and accept

the love of another, but she hoped it would be soon.

            "He hasn't come out of that tree since he got up there this

morning," Sasami said quietly, sharing the tranquility with her

sister.  "I know he's troubled by something, but I don't know

what."

            Aeka nodded her head.  "Yeah, and it is making me

worried too.  He's been meditating for a long time, but I don't have

the slightest idea what could be running through his mind."

            "What if we invite him to do karaoke or something?" she

asked, stroking Ryo-Ohki, who was sleeping soundly on her lap,

purring quietly.

            Sighing again, she shook her head.  "I don't think he'd

want to.  He has a lot of things to sort through and think about right

now, and I think the best thing we can do for him is to leave him

alone.  He's been a lot of fun and he has done far more for us than

anybody has ever done, never asking for anything in return, and I

think the least we can do is leave him alone for now."

            Sasami's face became downcast as she looked at Ryo-

Ohki, still gently stroking her soft fur.  "I know, but I miss having

him play with me."

            Turning toward her, Aeka nodded her head.  "Me too."

            "Where are Tenchi and Ryoko?" Sasami asked, changing

the subject.  "I haven't really seen them much today.  What have

they been doing?"

            Her face becoming thoughtful, she shrugged her

shoulders.  "I don't know.  I think they're out weeding the carrot

patch or out by the shrine."

            Upon hearing the word carrot, Ryo-Ohki woke up out of

her quiet doze and looked up at Aeka, questioning her with a

meow.

            Aeka smiled and patted her on the head.  "Do you know

where Ryoko is, Ryo-Ohki?"

            The cabbit closed its eyes for a moment, and then

meowed once, lifting her paw to point to the training ground.

            Giggling quietly, Sasami patted the little animal and

stroked her back.  "So they're training together," she mumbled

quietly, looking off toward the area near the top of the mountain

where Tenchi regularly sparred with is grandfather.  It was too

high up to really see anything, as the trees were very full and thick

with leaves, and the wind was brisk enough to muffle any sounds

that would've come from a confrontation up there.  Her eyes

wandered back to Russ, who still hadn't moved from his seat in the

tree.  She smiled and started giggling.

            "What's so funny, Sasami?" Aeka asked, looking over at

her sister.

            "I was just thinking about how that tree supports him.  He

has gotten far heavier since he first arrived.  Wasn't he like around

two hundred twenty two pounds originally, and the last time he

told me his weight, he said he was around two hundred ninety

pounds.  I'm surprised that branch hasn't cracked and made him

crash to the ground."

            Smiling contentedly, she nodded her head.  "He looks so

peaceful up in that tree.  It's so crazy that he's so strong and

powerful and it's even more amazing how gentle he usually is."

            Looking at her sister, Sasami started laughing again. 

"MOST of the time.  Do you realize that he's crushed more than

ten playstation controllers?"

            Aeka started laughing along with her sister.  "That's

because he can't stand losing to you."

            "It's always fun how he tackles me after I beat him.  He's

so much fun to be around, and I hope he stays here forever with us. 

I'd be so upset if he ever left."

            Both princesses fell silent, considering the possibility that

after his mission was complete, what his next move would be. 

Would he leave, or would he remain here?  They didn't know, but

they both strongly wanted him to stay… more than anything,

really.  He was the greatest thing that ever happened to both of

them, and they both didn't want to give him up.  Ever.  They were

both to the point of even telling all of their parents to kiss off if it

meant staying with him.  However, Russ didn't know how deep

their feelings for him had gone.

            "We shouldn't worry about that, Sasami.  I think he wants

to stay with us as well.  We're the best company he's had in a very

long time, and I don't think he'd be very quick to give it up.  He's

stubborn like that, you know," Aeka said, smiling.

            "Yeah, you're right.  But anyway," she said, gently

moving Ryo-Ohki off of her lap and standing up, lazily stretching

her arms over her head.  "I'm going to go get Russ a glass of

lemonade.  I'm sure he's thirsty and probably hungry too.  He

never came in to eat today at all."

            Aeka stood up too, mimicking her sister with her

stretching, causing her bracelets to slide down her arm, tinkling up

against each other.  "I'll make him a sandwich for you to take to

him as well.  I hope he tells us why he's so concerned."

            "I think he will today.  But we'll have to wait and see,"

Sasami said, sliding back the door and stepping into the house,

which was uncomfortably warm.  "Whew, it's hot in here."

            "Yeah.  But it isn't as bad as it was last year.  Remember

those hundred-degree days we had?  That was unbearable."

            Sasami and Aeka both made their way to the kitchen,

passing through the living room.  Nobuyuki was seated on the

couch, silently reading his newspaper.  He didn't look up from the

two who intruded into the living room, but kept reading, as

whatever was in the paper had kept his attention for quite a while

already.

            Reaching the kitchen, Sasami went to the refrigerator to

get the lemonade, and Aeka went into the pantry closet to get the

jar of peanut butter, and afterwards, went to the fridge to get the

butter and jam.

            Aeka looked at the ingredients and smiled.  "This stuff is

so simple but he loves it.  I've never seen someone eat as much

peanut butter as him."

            Nodding in agreement, Sasami reached into the cupboard

and produced a tall glass.  She went back to the fridge to get a tray

of ice while Aeka took a small plate from an adjacent cupboard

and set about making a sandwich.

            Grunting while twisting the ice tray from side to side, two

ice cubes came flying out of the tray once they broke free and

landed on the floor.  Sasami reached down and picked up the two

rogue cubes and tossed them into the sink, then filled the glass to

the top with all the ice cubes she could fit into it.

            After buttering four slices of wheat bread, Aeka then

spread the peanut butter on two of the pieces, very thickly, and

after cleaning off the butter knife, she dumped a decent amount of

strawberry jam onto the peanut butter, and then put the other piece

of bread on the top.  Afterwards, she sliced both sandwiches in

half, and placed them all on the plate.  Sasami poured the

lemonade over the ice in the glass, causing the ice to crack and pop

from the drastic temperature change.

            "Here you go, Sasami," Aeka said, handing over the plate. 

"Even though this is only a light snack to him, it should make him

a little happier."

            "Mmmm, yes.  Why not come out with me?" she

questioned, looking out the window and then at her sister.

            "Even though I don't pry anymore, he'd probably feel

uneasy with me going out there like that.  He'd expect it from you

and me, but he'd probably feel more comfortable talking about it

with you."

            "Don't be silly, Aeka.  It doesn't matter who it comes

from, does it?"

            Aeka thought a moment.  "Maybe not, but anyway, don't

you dare tell him I made the sandwiches, okay?  He still thinks that

everything I make is toxic, and I don't want to scare him away

with my food."

            Sasami giggled quietly and nodded her head.  "I'll tell

him after he finishes it."

            "Okay.  I'm going to go water my garden now.  It's been

a couple days since it has rained and the plants could use a nice

drink," she said, heading toward the back door, putting on a pair of

gardening gloves she kept on a shelf that was on her way out.  The

door clicked shut after she walked though it.

            Sasami went back through the living room, glancing at

Nobuyuki who was still reading his paper, and she went outside,

being careful to close the door behind her.  Lifting off into the air,

she slowly flew over to Russ's tree and came up behind him.

            "Hey, Sasami.  What's going on?" he asked, without even

seeing her.

            "I love how you do that," she said, coming around the

tree.  "I brought you some food since you missed dinner, and a

cold lemonade."

            Russ smiled at her and nodded his head.  "Thank you very

much.  That was very thoughtful of you," he said, as he began to

devour the sandwiches.  He stole a few drinks from the lemonade

in between bites.

            "You should thank Aeka too, since she was the one who

made the sandwiches."

            Russ stopped chewing for a moment, giving Sasami a

worried look, but he smiled and continued eating a moment later. 

After swallowing a large chunk, he let out a small burp.  "Not bad. 

You sure your sister made these?  They don't taste funny or

anything," he teased, watching Sasami's face become cross.  "I'm

only kidding."

            Smiling now, Sasami sat down on a nearby branch,

watching Russ eat at a normal, human pace.  "You've been up here

for quite a few days now, and you haven't been very social either. 

Is something bothering you?"

            "Am I that transparent?" he asked, after swallowing

another bite.  "Yes, something is bothering me and has me worried,

but I don't want to worry you guys about it."

            "Could you at least tell me what is wrong?" she asked,

swinging her legs back and forth.

            Shoving another chunk of PP&J into his mouth, he took

his time eating it and swallowed, then washed it down with more

lemonade.  Sighing to himself, he looked over at her, and nodded

his head.  "I think you already know what I'm worried about, but

it's about Zorpheus.  I meditate for a long time to mentally prepare

myself for battle.  I'm worried about what he might do, but I'm

excited about the prospect of combat again."

            "You're excited?" she questioned, surprised at his

revelation.

            Russ nodded.  "Yes.  Saiyans are a warrior race, as I've

told you before.  We were born to do battle and to fight.  It's one

thing that gives us a tremendous amount of joy and satisfaction,"

he explained, taking a quick sip of his drink again.  "But lately,

I've found joy in something else, but the idea of fighting again is

very exciting to me.  I don't expect you to understand since it isn't

your nature or how you were brought up, but that is the way it is

with me and even Zorpheus."

            Nodding her head, she smiled.  "What is that other thing

you find joy in?"

            Russ was about to take another bite out of his sandwich

but froze in surprise instead.  His face began to turn red, and

Sasami could see a few beads of sweat appear on his forehead. 

Tilting her head to the side, she smiled, then started giggling,

getting a pretty good idea of what was going through his mind.

            "It wouldn't happen to have to do with my sister now,

would it?" she teased.

            His face growing redder by the minute, he swallowed his

bite in a deliberately loud gulp and filled his mouth with lemonade

again, draining over half the remaining liquid.  "If I tell you the

truth, will you keep it a secret?"

            She nodded her head and smiled, kicking her feet back

and forth.  "Yes."

            If Russ's face could've gone any redder, it would have. 

"Yes, it has to do with your sister."

            "You like her?"

            Russ paused, then let out a huge breath.  "Yes.  Yes I do."

            Sasami's face lit up as bright as the sun.  "I knew it!  I

knew it!" she sang, giggling the whole while.  "You've got a big

crush on her."

            "Cut that out!" Russ pleaded, looking away shyly.  "Don't

tease me about that."

            Sasami continued to smile widely as she looked at Russ's

far off grin.  "Then how come you won't go out with her or go

steady?"

            The grin on Russ's face melted away and became

downcast.  "I can't."

            "But, why not?  You're both single, you're both free, and

you're definitely both attracted to each other, so why not?" Sasami

asked, looking concerned.

            "It's a long story."  Russ shoved the last of the sandwich

into his mouth and swallowed it, then washed it down with more

lemonade.

            "Could you give me the short version?" she asked, sliding

a little closer to Russ.

            Sighing quietly, Russ turned toward her again, looking on

her with lonely eyes.  "Only Aeka knows about it right now, but I

almost had a girlfriend a few years ago.  We were good friends for

over a year, in much the same way it is between your sister and

myself.  But something happened and she was killed, ironically,

one day after we agreed to go steady.  I tried to help her, but I was

outnumbered and she died.  I never want to feel that kind of pain

again, so I distanced myself from all women, never allowing

myself to become attracted to another.  However, your sister is

similar to my former girlfriend, but I don't want anything to

happen to her, so I won't become involved with her.  I'm too

dangerous to be around."

            "That's not true!  You've lived with us for almost a year

now and every problem that has ever arisen, you've conquered

easily.  You overcame Kain, my parents, and any other obstacle. 

Why can't you date with my sister and make her the happiest

person alive?  She really wants to be with you for the rest of her

life, and I want to see her with you too.  You're my big brother and

I don't want to see you go."

            Feeling a growing lump in his throat, Russ shook his

head.  "I know how it feels.  You guys became attached to me, but

when the time comes, I may have to leave.  I originally only came

back here to do what I did with the Dragonballs, and face

Zorpheus.  Once that was done, I was going to leave."

            "NO!!!" she shouted, looking like someone jammed a

knife in her back.  "You can't!"

            Russ looked at her, feeling a great many emotions boiling

in his gut and in his mind.  "I didn't say I was definitely going to

leave, but that was a part of my original plan.  Plans change and

people change.  I kind of felt that you and your sister wouldn't

want me to go, since I thought that I've been a good friend to you

guys.  I did my best to make you and your sister happy and

carefree, but I didn't want to become involved in any kind of

relationship when I saw her.  She was very emotional and unhappy

when I first met her, and I felt sorry for her, so I befriended her and

you.  But I swore to myself that I wouldn't become attracted to her

or ask her out.  All I wanted was friendship, but your sister wants

more, but I can't give it to her, and it hurts to tell her no."

            "Then stop telling her no!" she cried, crushing the branch

in her hands.  "You can go out with her if you want to.  Even my

mother wants to see her become involved with you!  That's

extremely rare, and it's even more rare when she fights with father

over it."

            "I know, Sasami.  That's the other thing I've been

thinking about since I've been up here," he said, finishing off the

last of the lemonade and letting out a small burp.  "Everybody is

all for it, but all of you fail to realize what it could mean to your

safety.  It is true that I'm very, very strong, but there are still others

out there that are stronger.  Strong people who are warriors tend to

attract trouble wherever they go.  Trouble is already on its way

here in the form of Zorpheus, and I don't want you people having

anything to do with it.  I'd go insane if any of you got hurt."

            "But that's our choice!" she argued.  "It's up to us if we

want to stand by your side."

            Russ smiled.  "But that's what I want to avoid.  You may

want to help, but you'd be a liability.  I can't have that while I'm in

a fight.  Someone could threaten to harm you or hold you hostage,

and that person would be able to force me to do whatever he or she

wanted, because they know I couldn't let anything happen to you. 

I know you guys are strong, but you people can't defend

yourselves up against villains that I fight with," he calmly

explained.  "I know it sounds like a lame excuse, but it is for your

own good and mine as well."

            Sasami shook her head, becoming more worried by the

minute.  "We don't care about that!  We…"

            "I know you don't care," Russ interrupted.  "But I do.  I

will not let you guys come into harms way, and the only way I can

figure on doing that is to not be a part of your family.  It sounds

very weird and selfish, but I know that's the way it has to be."

            Again, the princess shook her head.  "No, no, no!  Please,

Russ, you have to…"

            "Enough," he interrupted again.  "I'm very sorry to

disappoint you, Sasami, but I cannot, and I'm inflexible about it. 

Right now, I have some very important things to worry about.  I've

developed a new technique and I've been working on a way to

make it work right.  I've just about got it figured out, and just in

time too.  Zorpheus arrives tomorrow."

            Stopping herself and looking horrorstruck, her pink eyes

bored into Russ's.  "What?"

            Nodding his head and rubbing his temples with his free

hand, he said what she feared the most.  "Yes, he will be here

tomorrow."

            She fell deathly silent and her face spilled over with

worry.  "What's going to happen?"

            "I don't know.  I plan on getting him into that special

room and having us beat the living hell out of each other, but I

don't know what frame of mind he'll be in tomorrow.  Usually,

he'll listen to me calmly, but he may still get upset over my

destroying his dream of immorality.  Playing with immortality is

something I don't do nor let anybody else screw with.  In my

opinion, it is the root of all evil.  It can turn good people bad, like it

did with Zorpheus.  He really didn't become bad or evil in the

villainous sense, but he became very obsessive and we went our

separate ways," he described, remembering how pissed off he felt

at what Zorpheus was becoming.  "But anyway, once we get in that

room, everything should be fine.  Before he became obsessed with

immortality, he was a great friend.  He had a sarcastic sense of

humor about him, but he was very funny.  He was a little more

dare devilish than me, and loved drawing attention to himself. 

Being a nutcase and having a good time were some of the best

qualities about him.  I do miss him, but I'm very nervous about

seeing him again tomorrow."

            "I hope he doesn't do anything drastic.  Are you two

really going to fight?"

            "Not very likely, but possible.  If all goes well, he'll just

give up on it.  For the most part, he was pretty easy going and

wouldn't mind if something went belly up.  He'd just laugh it off

and come up with a new obsession.  But no obsession ever went as

deep as this one.  If we do fight, one of us may even die if it gets

too out of hand," he said, watching Sasami's face go from horrified

to absolute terror.

            "NO!!!  You can't lose!  You CAN'T die!  What will we

do if you die?  We'll never see you again!" she cried, sniffling,

letting the tears drip out of the corners of her pink eyes and run

down her freckled cheeks, to drip off of the bottom of her chin to

the ground below.  "I won't let you!"  She leapt off her branch and

flew at Russ, burying her face in Russ's purple karate ki, her body

wracked with sobs.  She continually repeated to herself, "Don't

die!"

            Russ held her tightly.  "I won't die, Sasami.  Just hope for

the best, okay?  But once we go into that room, I want you guys to

stay out of it until it is over.  If Zorpheus tries to start something

out here tomorrow, run as far away from here as you can.  I won't

have you hurt over something that is my fault."

            "No!  I won't!  I want to stay with you!" she cried,

hugging him more tightly.

            Russ slowly closed his eyes, and then reopened them,

breathing a sigh of relief.  "Thank you, Sasami.  It makes me feel

really good to hear you say that.  Even though you're faced with

impossible odds, you still want to be with me, and I know your

sister would be as well, but I can't have you with me.  It's too

dangerous.  I know you don't understand that, but I cannot have

you with me tomorrow.  It is something that I have to do alone. 

I'm the only one who can."

            Russ wasn't sure if Sasami heard him or not, but she

remained like that for a long time afterward.  After she finally

stopped crying, she rested her head against Russ's shoulder and

dozed off, worn out from the day's activities and the worry that

Russ had put her through.  He felt bad about doing it, but he

decided it was better to be truthful rather than let her see a bunch

of surprises tomorrow.  'Knowing what to expect was better than

being surprised in circumstances like this one,' he always said.

            Continuing to hold her close, despite the very warm air,

he felt very comfortable, secure, and happy having her with him. 

It felt good to have another close to him, and he did feel that she

was his little sister and it was his job to protect her.  He made a

silent vow to himself, swearing that he'd vanquish his enemy, and

if all went well, he would ask Aeka to go steady with him.  It was

about time to move on, and even though he just finished telling

Sasami that he'd never do it, he did feel very good when he was

around both Aeka and Sasami, and he wanted that feeling for the

rest of his life.  They were the ones to do it for him, and he felt

good about it.

            "What am I thinking?" he suddenly said to himself, aloud,

changing his mind again in a heartbeat.  "I must be insane."  He

looked down at the sleeping princess, smiled, and shook his head. 

"I can't do it.  Yes, Sasami, I'd be willing to spend the rest of my

life with you and your sister, but I can't, even though you two are

the most perfect things to happen in my life.  I'd love to have fun

with you every day, and I will, but only as your friend."

            Closing his own eyes, he too drifted into a half sleep,

keeping himself and Sasami balanced on the branch, wasting the

passage of time.

            "Russ?" Sasami whispered, snuggling a little closer to the

saiyan, after about a half hour of sleep.

            He glanced down at her peaceful form and smiled.  "What

is it, Sasami?" he asked quietly.

            "Promise me you won't die tomorrow," she whimpered,

looking into Russ's visage.  "Promise me that you'll survive."

            Reaching up and rubbing her arm gently, he nodded his

head.  "I promise."

            Letting out a sigh of relief, she smiled and hugged Russ,

feeling very safe and secure next to him.  "Thank you."

            "You're welcome," he whispered.

 

            "Come on, Tenchi!  I thought you improved since fighting

with Russ!" Ryoko taunted, rapidly punching and kicking toward

her fiancée.  Most of her offense was being blocked and dodged,

but a few punches and kicks found their way through his defenses.

            Growling quietly to himself, Tenchi continued to block

her vicious offense, doing his best to stand his ground.  "I have

gotten better, and you know I'm holding back right now.  If I used

the lighthawk wings, you wouldn't stand a chance!" he yelled

back, flipping backwards.  He landed on his feet and sprinted

forward, leapt into the air, and tried to behead the space pirate. 

However, he missed as she ducked under it.  Landing on his feet,

he put up his defensive stance and waited for her next move.

            "I still think you're a pushover, Tenchi," she teased,

baring her fangs in an evil grin.  "Show me how much of a MAN

you've become!"  Racing forward, she held her wooden bokken

high but swung it at Tenchi's ribcage.  Wood met wood as his own

bokken blocked her shot, causing a loud crack to echo around the

trees and surrounding area.

            "Don't just stand there, boy!  Attack her!" Katsuhito

ordered, who was watching the event unfold before him.  He had

been watching them for the past hour or so, and he could see a vast

improvement in Tenchi's abilities since he started using his energy. 

But even though his body was ready for the next step, his mind

wasn't fast enough.

            "I'm doing the best I can, grandpa…!" he yelled, but he

was cut short as Ryoko kicked him from behind, causing him to

skid across the grounds.  He leapt back to his feet almost

immediately, but he was too far away from Ryoko to mount an

attack.

            Ryoko looked at his clothes, which were now covered in

grass stains, and she started laughing, pointing at his shirt.

            "Yeah, yeah.  Jolly Green Giant now, is that it?" Tenchi

muttered, glaring at both Ryoko and Katsuhito.  "If you didn't

distract me, she wouldn't have gotten that shot in," he growled.

            "You must be prepared for everything, Tenchi," Katsuhito

returned.  "You must learn to pay attention to everything around

you.  You cannot focus on just one thing.  You'll lose if you do."

            Tenchi rolled his eyes.  "How often am I going to be

fighting with someone while you're giving advice to me?" he

argued, but he was cut short as Ryoko snuck up behind him and

clubbed him over the head with her bokken.

            "Pay attention, Tenchi!" she yelled, growing irritated. 

"You have a one track mind."

            "You're all picking on me," Tenchi snarled, swinging his

own sword at Ryoko, who teleported away.  Looking above him,

he saw her floating casually, her hair being whipped around from

the wind, and she almost looked like a tigress, ready to pounce on

her prey.  "Yeah, THAT's real fair, Ryoko."

            "Quit your whining, boy!" Katsuhito snapped, getting to

his feet.  "I think you've had enough training for one day.  We'll

continue tomorrow."

            Wiping the perspiration off of his brow, Tenchi sat down

on the ground, breathing heavily.  "Oh man, what a day," he

mumbled to himself.

            Ryoko returned to the ground and sat next to Tenchi, and

she kissed the bump that she caused on his head.  "Sorry about

that, but you weren't paying attention."

            Wincing in pain, he ducked out from under her affection. 

"You and grandpa are two of a kind.  You both love distracting me

and then pounding me afterwards.  It's getting annoying."

            "Tenchi, listen.  We only do that to make you improve. 

Once you finally start overcoming that obstacle, we'll move on to

your next weak point and improve that too," Ryoko explained,

gently rubbing Tenchi's head with her right hand.  "But you're too

easily distracted and you only pay attention to one thing at a time. 

You need to learn how to focus on everything in your

surroundings."

            Sighing quietly to himself, he hung his head.  "I'm sorry

for yelling at you.  I guess I'm just a little tired.  I haven't slept

very well over the last couple of nights for some weird reason."

            "Would you like to go to the mall or something?  I think

you need to take your mind off of your troubles and relax for a

while," Ryoko suggested.

            Tenchi shook his head.  "Sorry, Ryoko, but I have to do

laundry today.  Kiyone and Mihoshi will be coming over tomorrow

too, and I have to clean the bath.  I'm just too busy to relax right

now."

            "Aw, but Tenchi!  You need a break too.  You're going to

wear yourself out if you keep this up.  It'll only be for a couple

hours.  What harm is there in that?" Ryoko begged, giving him her

best pitiful look.

            "Come on, Ryoko.  These things won't get done on their

own."  Tenchi grunted as he got to his feet, rubbing his sore calves.

            Sighing quietly to herself, she floated dejectedly next to

Tenchi as he made his way down the shrine steps.  "If I help you

get done faster, then will you go with me to the mall?"

            "Aw man," Tenchi muttered under his breath.  "Yeah, I'll

go," he said, but not sounding enthusiastic about it at all.

            Now smiling, Ryoko hugged Tenchi.  "Thank you,

sweetie.  One of these days you and I are going to have to go on a

trip together.  You know, just the two of us.  There are many

wonders out there in the universe, and I'd like to show you some of

them, if you'd let me.  It would be very romantic and fun.  You did

say you'd go with me, Tenchi."

            Tenchi didn't seem to be paying attention to her as he

made his way down to the last step and onto the walkway to the

house.  "Maybe one day we will," he finally said.  "But I don't

know when."

            "What about now?" she said, appearing in front of him,

looking dead serious.

            "Ryoko!  Don't be ridiculous.  I have school to attend,

things to do around here, and practice with Grandpa.  I just don't

have the time right now.  I have too many responsibilities around

here already," Tenchi growled, getting irritated.

            "Don't you want to go with me though?" she asked,

clasping her hands together in front of herself.  "Is there another

reason you won't go?  Is it me?"

            "What?!  Whatever gave you that idea?" Tenchi said,

looking very annoyed and surprised.

            "It's just… oh, I don't know," she finally mumbled, and

she hung her head.  "I'm sorry, Tenchi."

            Sighing to himself again, he shook his head.  "Come on,

Ryoko," he said, lifting her face gently with his hand and smiling. 

"Let's do the laundry and then I'll see if dad will let me borrow the

van so we can go shopping.  Okay?"

            Her visage brightened up a bit.  "Okay, Tenchi.  But we

better hurry.  The mall closes at nine, and it's already six."

            "We'll have plenty of time if you help me with that stuff."

            Thinking to herself for a moment, she came up with an

idea.  "Why don't we just have Russ do it?  He hasn't done much

of anything around here."

            "Yeah right," he retorted.  "He cuts the grass every

weekend, cleans the shrine steps, cooks, and does a variety of other

things around the house.  He's far more ambitious than even I am,

and the only reason it looks like he doesn't do anything is because

he's so fast.  What would take me an hour only takes him five

minutes.  But right now, something is wrong with him, and I think

we should leave him alone.  Besides, I can't have him bare all the

responsibilities around the house."

            "Why not?  He EATS more than all of us combined!"

Ryoko countered, landing on the ground in Tenchi's way.  "He's

the most expensive stomach here!"

            Scratching his head, he looked over toward the lake and

saw Russ and Sasami in the tree, leaning together, snoozing. 

"That's true, but for some very weird reason, he actually pays for

some stuff around here.  I don't know where he has been getting

the money, but it isn't like he doesn't help out financially.  Maybe

it was an inheritance from his parents or something.  Besides, I

wouldn't want to disturb him right now.  He looks so peaceful up

there in that tree with Sasami."

            Ryoko also looked toward the tree, watching the twosome

nap together.  "Yeah, they do look cute, don't they?"

            "Come on," Tenchi said, taking her by the hand.  "Lets go

to the mall first.  The laundry can wait until we get home, okay? 

But you'll have to help me with it."

            Instantly wrapping her arms around Tenchi, she giggled

happily.  "Thank you, Tenchi.  Let's go right now."

            Entering the living room through the sliding glass door,

Tenchi spied his father on the couch, his nose still in his

newspaper.  He didn't even notice when Tenchi called his name.

            "Dad!" Tenchi said, making his voice quite loud.

            "Ack!  Oh, what is it, Tenchi?" Nobuyuki asked, peering

over his paper, finally noticing his son and soon-to-be daughter in

law.

            "May I borrow the van to go to the mall?  Ryoko and I

would like to go shopping together," he requested, folding his

hands behind his back.  The space pirate smiled too, resting her

chin on Tenchi's shoulder.

            "Did you do the laundry yet?" he asked, digging into his

pocket.

            Tenchi shook his head.  "Not yet, but I'll be sure and do it

when I get back, if that is okay."

            "Sure.  Just make sure you don't forget.  I need some

fresh clothes for tomorrow," he said, tossing the keys over to

Tenchi, but he missed and they fell on the floor.

            "Thanks dad," he said, kneeling down to pick up the keys. 

"We'll be back in a couple hours."

            "Have a good time!" he called after them, as they went

outside.

            Ryoko held onto his arm as they both made their way to

the van.  "Your father is so nice," she said, feeling the muscles in

Tenchi's arm.

            Nodding his head in agreement, he unlocked the door at

the same moment Aeka came around the house.  She was about to

wind up the hose, but she saw the two of them out of the corner of

her eye.  She smiled and waved.

            "Where are you guys heading off to?" she called, making

her way over to them.

            "We were going to go to the mall.  I'm bored and Tenchi

is tired, so it's just something for us to do and relax for a while. 

Want to come?" Ryoko invited.

            Smiling, but shaking her head, she politely declined. 

"Thanks for the offer, but no.  You two have a nice time and relax. 

Especially you, Tenchi," she said, looking seriously at him. 

"You've been working quite hard and I can tell you're getting

fatigued.  Have fun, I demand it."

            "Yes ma'am," Tenchi responded, smiling.  Ryoko looked

at Aeka a little strangely, but she smiled and got into the passenger

seat.  Tenchi closed the door for her and went around to the other

side and got in.  Putting the key into the ignition, the van started up

and he put it into gear, rolling away from the crown princess. 

They both waved to her, and Tenchi pulled onto the road, heading

to the mall.

            Ryoko looked out of the rear view mirror at Aeka, who

turned and went back to the hose.  "She seems to be back to her

normal self, but I think something is bothering her.  But what's up

with Russ?  He's been meditating for almost a week now."

            "You noticed it too?  It's been really quiet for the past

week.  I was used to the loud crashes and constant noise from him,

but lately, it's almost been too quiet.  It is very unusual to see him

meditate like that.  I have no idea what it could be.  But it's making

me nervous."

            "Me too.  I've never seen a person concentrate like that in

my life.  It almost scares me more with him being the way he is

now rather than showing us his incredible strength."

            Tenchi reached over to the radio and turned it on, finding

the band set to AM.  "Ugh, there is never anything on AM besides

talk shows and news," he said, flipping it over to FM and tuning it

to a station that played anime songs with various other hits done by

the vocal artists.  "That's better."

            Ryoko continued to look out the window at the passing

countryside.  "Something is going to happen.  There has to be a

reason Russ is meditating like that," she mumbled to herself.

            "I think so too, Ryoko, but he won't tell us what.  I hate it

when he does that.  It's almost like he likes teasing us with his

secrets," Tenchi said, rolling down his window and resting his

right arm over the ledge.  "But anyway, it has been very peaceful

and tranquil around the house for quite a while.  I believe this is

the longest it has gone without some sort of confrontation."

            "You think it is about time for another one?"

            Nodding his head, Tenchi glanced over at Ryoko.  "Yeah. 

Actually, I do.  I have a feeling that something is going to happen,

and Russ is getting ready for it too.  You don't suppose…" Tenchi

trailed off, his face becoming fearful.  "You don't suppose that it

has to do with Zorpheus's arrival?"

            Sharing a moment of the same thought, Tenchi looked

back toward the road and became very quiet, and Ryoko did too. 

Neither said another word until they reached the mall.

 

            "No, Akaki, that's not how it works!  No wonder it

exploded!" Washu scolded over her phantom laptop, looking at

charred remains of what used to be a plasma injector.  "Who taught

you how to handle equipment like that?  You should know finger

oils cause major mishaps!  Those devices are worse than halogen

bulbs here on Earth!  You're not supposed to touch them!"

            Akaki looked back at his invention and then back at his

mother, but then started laughing.  "I'm sorry, mom.  I didn't

know.  Nobody tells me much of anything, so I have to learn it all

the hard way."

            "You should've called me first, rather than after the fact,"

she continued.  "How much did that thing cost you?"

            "Not much, actually.  They're pretty cheap on this planet. 

I'll have to go buy a replacement, but it isn't that big of a deal," he

said, wheeling away from the monitor to a table nearby, which had

an elaborate electronic device with many blinking lights, a set of

tank treads for mobility, and had a variety of probes sticking out of

it.  He pressed a button on the side, and the lights went out.

            Washu leaned back in her cushion, placing her hand to

her forehead.  "I'm getting too old for this stuff," she mumbled. 

Reaching into her lab coat pocket, she withdrew a pen and started

drawing on a piece of paper that was on her desk next to her

computer.  "Give me a few minutes and I'll draw up a quick plan

to show you how to connect it up, okay?"

            "Mom, you don't have to…" Akaki began, but was

interrupted by one of his associates.

            Narrowing her eyes at the young lady who was discussing

something with him, she turned up the volume of her computer,

trying to make out what they said to each other.  At the same

moment, Akaki turned toward the camera, narrowed his own eyes,

and then muted the microphone.  After which, he shook his index

finger back and forth, knowing what his mom was doing.

            Looking into her own camera with a look of shock and

surprise, she folded her arms over her chest and looked away,

embarrassed that she was caught eavesdropping.  Glancing over at

the plans she started, she immediately resumed drawing them,

patiently waiting for her son to finish.

            "What do you think you're doing, mom?  That's so rude,"

Akaki growled, turning his microphone back on.  His voice blared

over Washu's sound system, as she had forgotten to return the

volume to normal.

            Startled by the sudden loud noise, her pen went straight

across her paper, putting a nice, curved line right through her

plans.  Veins started protruding from her forehead while she turned

back toward her computer, an evil, psychotic look on her face. 

"I'm going to turn you into a water sprite!" she yelled, hitting a

variety of keys in rapid succession, trying to target her son.  "How

could you do that to me!"

            Typing as fast as his hands could go, Akaki put up a

personal forcefield just before Washu's scanners acquired a lock. 

"It's not MY fault you tried eavesdropping on me!" he yelled,

glaring at his mother.  "It was a private conversation, so there!"

            Her computer had the words, 'Target Unattainable'

written on the screen, as the targeting scanners lost the subject. 

"You're pretty good.  You're definitely my son," Washu said,

proudly.

            Akaki breathed a sigh of relief.  "That's the second time

you've tried to do that to me, mom.  What's with you and water

sprites anyway?"

            Chuckling quietly to herself, she remembered the first

time she turned both Ryoko and Aeka into water sprites.  It was

absolutely hilarious, as they both waddled around, resembling

penguins on Earth.  Sasami and Mihoshi both found the little

creatures completely adorable, so Washu made it a point to turn

both Aeka and Ryoko into the little animals whenever their

behavior got completely out of hand.  However, as of late, she

hadn't turned either one of them into a water sprite, and she was

getting a little anxious to do it again.  She tried to do it to Russ, but

he didn't take to it well and was very angry toward her for even

suggesting it.  Of course, she was being rude at the time and she

knew it, so she backed off.  She wasn't interested in rebuilding her

phantom laptop.

            "Well mom, I guess that's about it for today, unless you

can think of something else you'd like to talk about," Akaki said,

resting in his seat.

            Washu smiled.  "I'm very happy you keep in touch so

frequently," she said, taking off her glasses and resting them on her

desk.  Leaning forward, she rested her elbows on the table and put

her chin in the palms of her hands.  "Who was that girl, anyway?"

she blurted out.

            "She's… my lab assistant," he explained, looking back

toward the door.  "She's been working with me on the side for

quite a while.  She's a brain, like you, and loves to tinker with new

inventions and stuff.  I do this on the side, when I'm not at work. 

It's just something to do besides clean the house every day and it

helps me learn more."

            Washu grinned, the light from the computer screen

accentuating her facial features.  "Only a lab assistant?" she

queried, getting a little closer to the screen.

            Akaki squirmed uncomfortably in his seat.  "Yes."

            Cackling evilly, Washu put her finger to the monitor. 

"You may be very smart, but you're a terrible liar," she taunted. 

"Who is she, really?  I've seen her around ever since you called me

the first time, but I never bothered to ask."

            "Just forget about it, mom," he returned, glaring at the

display.

            "She's your girlfriend, is that it?  What's wrong?  Can't

introduce her to your old, dried up mother?" she teased.

            Akaki's green eyes widened considerably.  "No!  That's

not it!"

            "Then what is it, son?" she asked, not intending to back

off.

            "Oh, forget it!  I've got to go, mom," he said, reaching

behind him to lift a textbook that was on the table next to his robot.

            Sticking out her tongue, Washu gave Akaki a raspberry. 

"So she's your girlfriend.  What's her name?" she asked, gently.

            His face began to turn as red as a tomato.  "Her name is

Yui.  Satisfied?" he grumbled, glaring hard at his computer screen.

            Of course, she wasn't.  "Yui?  That's a nice name.  How

long have you two been together?"

            "MOM!!!  Stop prying!" he begged, wringing his hands in

front of him.

            "I'm just trying to get to know a little bit about her, son. 

There is no harm in that.  It's just some simple questions," she

said, trying to get him to open up.

            "You're impossible!  We've been together for about a

year now.  Okay?  I bet you want to know her three sizes too!"

            "Couldn't hurt," she said, keying a few commands to

archive the data.  "I'll just set up an entry for her in my database

and…"

            "STOP THAT!!!!!" Akaki roared, looking petrified.

            Washu looked at him, a slight smile on her lips.  "What? 

There's nothing unusual about keeping physical data on another

person."

            "Would you cut that out!" he yelled, now fully

embarrassed and emotionally scarred.  "You're killing me!"

            "I guess I have to go over there and meet her for myself,

right, son?" she said, standing up.  The camera followed her

movements and kept her centered on the screen.

            Akaki looked like he was about to have a heart attack and

die.  "NO!!  Come on, mom!" he whined, looking like a little kid.

            "What's the big deal?" Washu retorted, putting her hands

on her hips.  "How come you don't want to talk about her?  Every

boy wants to talk about their girlfriends 'n stuff."

            "To their friends, yes, but not to their parents!" he

returned, looking like he was about to explode.

            "This is definitely grounds for turning you into a water

sprite," she warned, holding a finger over a particular key.  "I

guess this is a bad time to tell you that my computer has found a

back door to your forcefield and has acquired a lock."

            "ALRIGHT!" he yelled.  "You win.  Sheesh, you're so

manipulative."  Akaki sat back in his chair, defeated.  "What do

you want to know about her?"

            "Well, how did you guys meet?" Washu asked, sitting

down on her cushion again.

            "Actually, we met at work.  I was working on a project

that I was behind on, and the deadline for it was the next day, but I

had about two days worth of work to get finished.  I asked for help,

and she answered my call.  We both just… clicked, and that project

was finished in only three hours.  It was incredible, and she was

very nice and sweet.  To be nice to her and return the favor, I

invited her out to lunch, and things picked up from there," Akaki

explained, smiling.  "I couldn't believe how much alike we are. 

We both enjoy the same hobbies, same music, same foods, same

activities, and we are both very intelligent.  It is almost like finding

a soul mate.  Frankly, I think I did with her."

            Smiling widely, Washu nodded her head.  "That's so

wonderful.  So you two have been together for a year now?"

            Akaki nodded.  "Somewhere around there, yeah.  She's

the perfect girl for me."

            "I guess this is a bad time to say that I was bluffing about

acquiring a target lock on you," Washu said, tapping the key with

her finger.

            Staring incredulously at her, he ground his teeth.  "I hate

you," he snarled.

            Washu laughed, and sat back.  "Anyway, where is she

now?" the red haired super genius inquired.

            "She's upstairs, working on her thesis for school.  She had

a question to ask me, which is why she came down here," he

answered.  "She's working on a new way of traveling through

space.  It's supposed to be very, very fast."

            Washu grinned.  "She may have to give up on it."

            Giving her a blank stare, he scratched his head.  "Why?"

            "Well, one of Russ's friends, Tom, has a ship that can

travel from Earth to Jurai in about twelve hours.  Using that value,

it can travel from one side of this galaxy to the other in less than

four days for an estimate," Washu explained.

            "That's impossible.  No ship moves that fast."

            Washu shook her head and put up a picture of the Gray

Wolf on the screen.  "See this ship here?"

            "What the hell kind of vessel is that?  It looks like a big

triangle," he said, getting a perspective view of the Starwars

destroyer.

            "It's from an Earth science fiction film called Starwars. 

It's an imperial class star destroyer.  It's about sixteen hundred

meters in length, but it can enter something called hyperspace.  It's

a very weird form of faster-than-light travel, but it is incredibly

fast.  What would take a week now takes less than half a day," she

explained.

            "A ship that size can move that fast?  How?"

            "I don't know.  I wasn't allowed access to that

information."

            "You were ON that ship?" he asked, stunned.

            Washu nodded her head.  "Yes.  We went to the Jurai

Startica Festival on it.  Tom was nice enough to chauffeur all of us

there.  It's wall-to-wall computers.  You would've been in heaven

onboard that ship."

            "What kind of power source did it have?"

            "That was extremely intriguing.  The ship is actually

powered by a small star controlled in a special containment area

with forcefields and specially designed walls.  They're able to

artifically create a star and harness the energy from that star and

turn it into power.  The vessel is horrendously complex, and

because of that, full of bugs and glitches.  It's very new and so

advanced that they're literally pioneering that technology, and they

are not willing to share it yet."

            His face a mask of complete awe, he became excited. 

"What other specifications do you know about that ship?"

            Grinning, Washu hit a few keys on her computer,

bringing up a list of specs that she was able to collect from the ship

itself and from Earth sources.  "Well, aside from its mile-long

length, its hull is made of several meter thick durasteel plating,

capable of repelling nearly any kind of energy or explosive weapon

for a good span of time.  But you'll probably never get there,

because the shields on that ship are insanely powerful.  The Jurian

military couldn't dent that ship, even if they tried.  It could

probably take on a small fleet and come out unscathed.  It has a

compliment of sixty turbolaser turrets, which in fact aren't lasers at

all, but packets of super high-energy plasma.  On top of that, it has

sixty ion cannons, capable of disrupting electrical systems on

opposing ships to render them defenseless.  It has a crew capacity

of over thirty five thousand individuals, however, they're almost at

their maximum with only ten thousand because their crew quarters

are much different than the ones in the movie.  The movie version

was actually a destroyer class combat vessel, and a massive crew

of that many was required.  Anyway, it also has about forty-six

starfighters, a variety of transports and shuttles, and some other

wild bits and pieces of technology, including something called a

holodeck.  It's more advanced than the holographic technology we

use, in the sense that everything appears real.  It can even fool my

computer's scanners.  That is called particle synthesis, and was

very new and advanced.  And to top it off, that ship can cloak too."

            Akaki listened intently, becoming more and more

interested.  "Do you think that one day I can see that ship?"

            "Maybe.  Believe it or not, Tom has a small fleet of ships

already of various classes.  He told me that other ships were in

construction, but they should be finished by now.  He constructed a

Nebulon B Escort Frigate, a Victory class Star Destroyer, a

Blockade Runner or Corvette, a Dreadnought, a Strike Cruiser, a

Carrack Cruiser, a MC80a Mon Calamari Cruiser, and some other

ships.  He's still working on another ship, called an Executor class

Super Star Destroyer, which is the biggest jalopy I've ever seen. 

It's somewhere around seventeen point six kilometers in length, or

about eleven miles long.  It's covered in turbolasers and it's

shielding is supposedly impenetrable.  I always say that smaller,

more mobile ships is the way to go, but in his case, he'll fill that

entire ship with people and because of that, the size is necessary."

            "My lord, that's insane.  What is Jurai going to do about

it?  You know how they get when they see a potential threat," he

said, worried.

            "Everything is being built in secret.  The only vessel that

has been seen so far is the Gray Wolf, which is his personal ship at

the moment.  Jurai didn't really do anything about it because they

weren't able to get any definite readings on it.  Tom was pretty

stupid though, because he staged a big furball with Russ, and the

rest of the ship got involved.  Even though their weapons were

only in practice mode, the output of those weapons was enough to

make the Jurians worry.  When the Jurians went up against Tom's

forces, their shields took a beating, and the output of the weapons

was so low that they barely maintained coherency.  I've never seen

them at full power, but apparently they're so strong that they can

vaporize a decent sized asteroid in one shot, and a fleet of those

can lay waste to the surface of a planet in a short amount of time.

            "Very impressive.  You'll have to introduce me to him

sometime.  But anyway, how is the rest of the family doing?  You

never really talk about them much."

            Sighing to herself, she reached behind herself to scratch

her back, and then rested her arm on the table next to her.  "Well,

Ryoko and Tenchi are still together and are getting ready to be

married.  The date for that is about a year away, so they still have

plenty of time to plan and prepare.  Ryoko is very, very excited,

but Tenchi doesn't seem to be all that enthusiastic about it.  He still

has a lot of responsibilities around the house and Ryoko still

doesn't understand them, and he hurts her feelings without even

realizing it.  Poor girl," she said, looking at a photograph of her

daughter that was taken about a month ago.  She looked so happy

and contented with Tenchi by her side.  "She's always wanting to

do stuff with him, but because he's so busy, he really can't get

away and do what she'd like to do.  Ryoko has come in here a

couple of times in a depressed mood, wondering why Tenchi won't

really do anything with her, even if she begs and pleads from time

to time.  I try explaining it to her, but you know how children

behave," she said, winking at her son.  "It's always in one ear and

out the other."

            "Hey, present company accepted here," he said, pointing

to himself.  "I won't be touching plasma injectors anymore, okay? 

You've made your point."

            "Good.  But anyway, she seems to be accepting it a little

more, but she still gets her feelings hurt.  She gets bored at times

and actually goes to do things with Aeka and Russ to pass the time

away.  I've talked to Tenchi about it, but he's worse than she is

with letting things go right over his head.  Sometimes I wonder

why I waste my time."

            "Because you're a good parent and a wonderful mother,"

Akaki said, grinning.

            "Flattery will not get you anywhere with me, young

man," she said, and then laughed.  "But thanks.  I just wish Tenchi

wasn't so uptight about everything.  If he was more like Russ, he

might enjoy life a bit more."

            "Are Russ and Aeka a couple yet?" he asked, curious.

            Shaking her head, Washu sighed.  "No.  I've never seen

someone as stubborn as Russ before.  Once his mind is made up,

that's it.  There is no changing it, no matter what the circumstance,

especially when it comes to relationships.  It's crazy.  I swear, he

must be castrated or something."

            Akaki exploded laughing, leaning forward and putting his

head on the desk, trying to catch his breath.  "Anal retentive to the

max, right mom?"

            Now it was Washu's turn to laugh.  "I don't know what it

is, but he just will NOT go out with Aeka or any other girl.  I don't

know why," Washu said, rubbing her eyes.  "But in reality, he has

gotten closer to her on a personal level.  Aeka told me that she

talked to her mother about it, and that her mother's suggestion was

to stop chasing him.  Thing is, it worked.  I wasn't sure if it would

or not.  There are just too many variables to determine the outcome

of love.  Anyway, Russ and Sasami are like big brother and little

sister.  They stick together like glue and always support each other. 

They look so adorable and cute when they doze off outside under a

tree or something.  I think I have a few pictures here," Washu said,

opening her archive and finding multiple images.  She loaded one

for Akaki to see, where Russ and Sasami were leaning together

underneath Russ's tree, sleeping soundly.  They were both dressed

in overalls, and they both almost looked like farmers after a hard

day of work.

            Chuckling quietly to himself, Akaki nodded his head. 

"Yeah, that IS cute," he said.  "How are Kiyone and Mihoshi?  Are

they still going crazy with their jobs?"

            "No.  The Galaxy Police have been providing them with

funding for living expenses, so there really hasn't been a need for

them to work any odd jobs.  However, Kiyone still works, just to

keep herself busy.  She is one of those people who refuse to take a

break," Washu said, looking toward the ceiling of her lab.

            "Just like you, right?"

            Smiling warmly, she nodded her head.  "Yeah, like me."

            Looking at her with a bit of concern, Akaki shifted

positions in his chair, trying to get more comfortable.  "When was

the last time you've taken a break or done something fun?"

            "Whew, I think that was way back during the Startica

festival.  That's the only vacation I've had in a long time.  It felt

good," she answered.

            "Mom!  You're going to wear yourself out.  You should

get out a little more.  Actually go out and see some sunlight from

time to time.  You're becoming a hermit in that lab of yours," he

encouraged, grinning.  "I'm surprised you even leave your lab to

go eat something."

            Blushing slightly, she turned away.  "Most of the time I

even miss meals."

            Akaki shook his head.  "That's terrible.  Do you plan on

taking any vacations in the future?"

            "No, not really.  I've got so many experiments to work on

that I just don't have the time."

            "Yeah right.  You're not on any kind of deadline except

your own.  Give yourself a break and go out and do something for

a change.  You're going to become unsociable from not talking

with people frequently enough," he argued, worried for his mom.

            Letting a small smile creep onto her lips, she came up

with an idea.  "Well, what do you suggest I do for a vacation?"

            "Well, how about coming to visit me?" he asked, smiling.

            "I'd love that," she answered, as that was the suggestion

she was hoping for.  "I'll get to meet your girlfriend too and run

my experiments on her."

            "DON'T YOU DARE!" Akaki yelled, growing flustered

at his mom's way of amusing herself.  "You'll get to meet her, but

you're not poking, prodding, or scanning her in any way, shape, or

form if you come here."

            "I'm only kidding.  Sheesh, you're sure uptight about

her," Washu teased.  "She looks nice, but she doesn't have

anything on me."  Washu struck a pose, thrusting out her ample

chest.

            "Ever since you let yourself be an adult again, you've

certainly become more… less shy with yourself," he said, looking

away.

            Washu let out a yawn and stretched her arms over her

head.  "Well, I'll try to make plans to come visit you in the near

future, okay?" she asked, scratching the back of her head.  "I need

a bath," she mumbled.

            "I'd like that a lot, mom.  I've come to visit you twice and

I think you'd like to see where I've settled in too.  I'll check my

schedule and let you know when the best time to come by will be."

            "Sounds good to me, son," she responded, smiling.

            "Great.  I'll talk to you tomorrow mom.  Same time?" he

asked, getting ready to switch off his computer.

            "Anytime is a good time, Akaki.  Talk to you tomorrow."

            "Bye mom.  I love you!" he said.

            "I love you too, sweetie.  Bye now," she said, turning off

her laptop and banishing it back to subspace.

            Getting up from her seat, she slowly made her way to the

doorway to exit her lab, and she removed her lab coat, hanging it

on a peg that was nearby.  Opening her door, nearly all the lights in

her lab automatically turned off, leaving just a few on to see her

way to various parts of her lab.

            Upon entering the living room, Aeka was seated quietly at

the organ, looking out the window.  Nobuyuki was nowhere to be

seen.  Letting her door click shut behind her, Aeka turned around

and smiled.

            "Good evening, Washu.  I haven't seen you for a few

days.  How are you?" she asked, smiling warmly.

            "I'm in a good mood," she responded lightly.  "How

about you?"

            Aeka laughed.  "Actually, I'm bored out of my mind. 

There's nothing to do.  No cooking, no cleaning.  It's driving me

crazy."

            "Where's Russ?"

            Pointing her finger outside, she glanced back at Washu to

see her expression.

            "What does he think he is?  A bird?" Washu muttered,

keeping an eye on the saiyan perched on his branch.  A moment

later, she noticed Sasami was up there with him.  "Are they

asleep?"

            Nodding quietly, Aeka then placed her chin in her palm

and sighed to herself.

            Looking back at the crown princess, she knew something

was up.  "Um, how long has he been up there?"

            "Actually, he's been meditating for almost a week

straight.  He hasn't done any physical training for that long and he

hasn't said much of anything.  It's almost like he's a different

person," she said, wistfully.  "I miss him."

            Washu's expression changed to one of concern.  "I know

a lot of martial artists begin to meditate when they're confronted

with an upcoming event.  They mentally prepare themselves for a

major conflict.  Russ has already physically prepared, but now he

must mentally prepare.  If you remember, Zorpheus is supposed to

arrive sooner or later."

            "I know that, but I don't know when," she said, taking her

eyes off of Russ.  However, she watched Sasami pull away from

him and being to re-approach the house, flying slow and careful.  

She was carrying both the plate and Russ's empty glass.  "Maybe

she knows."

            Both Aeka and Washu waited for Sasami to come into the

house, intending to ask her what she learned from him.  She landed

on the porch gently, put the glass on the plate, and slid open the

door carefully, and after walking through it, she shut it behind her.

            "So did he tell you anything, Sasami?" Aeka asked,

nearly plowing over her sister in anxiety.

            Producing a little sweatdrop, she nodded her head.  "Yes,

actually.  Zorpheus will arrive tomorrow," she said simply.

            Suddenly, things seemed to get much quieter.  It was

almost as if everything in the world knew of the impending doom

and had become nervous and quiet from it.

            "Is that why he's been up there for so long?" Aeka finally

asked.

            Sasami nodded her head.  "He's been meditating for a

long time, preparing himself for Zorpheus.  He's nervous, but very

excited."

            "Excited?  Why?" Washu asked.

            "He explained it to me, but it didn't make much sense. 

He says that because he is a warrior, he gets excited over the idea

of fighting again.  He loves fighting."

            "I remember him telling us about that before," Washu

said, summoning her laptop and keying in her confirmed findings. 

"But he knows that Zorpheus will be here tomorrow?"

            Sasami nodded.  "He's completely sure of himself."

            "I wonder…" Washu said, linking her laptop to her main

computer, which in turn, accessed multiple satellites that she kept

in orbit.  Scanning for vessels, it came up blank.  "I just scanned

the solar system and I don't see any ships," she said.

            Aeka thought a moment.  "Remember the ship Russ

originally arrived in… that little space pod?  Did you scan for

something that size or were you looking for something bigger?"

            Scanning again, she extended the range of the sensors,

trying to detect any incoming debris or other items of that

particular size.  Five small blips showed up on her screen, so she

scanned again, narrowing her search parameters to rule out any

kind of asteroid.  Once the scan completed, one blip remained. 

Looking up from her monitor, she gave an emotionless look to

both Aeka and Sasami.

            "He's coming.  His ship is still beyond the solar system,

but he's coming.  At his current rate of travel, he'll arrive on Earth

sometime around noon or one."

            "What are we going to do?" Sasami asked, looking

frightened.

            "There is really nothing we can do," Washu said, keying a

few more commands on her keyboard.  "I suppose we could try

blowing up his pod while it is still in space, but we can't destroy

anything until he does something wrong, or the Galaxy Police will

be all over us for murder."

            Standing tall, Aeka took on her regal appearance, despite

her Earth type clothing.  "I can order you to destroy that ship,"

Aeka said, seriously.  "If it comes from a member of the Jurai

Royal Family while in our territory, it can supercede the Galaxy

Police."

            "You will do no such thing," a deep voice behind them

said.

            All three women turned toward the door to see Russ

standing there, his face a hard glare at both Aeka and Washu.

            "But Russ, if we get rid of him, you won't have to fight

him," Washu explained.  "Everything would be…"

            "Absolutely not.  I will not have anybody killing anybody

for something they haven't even done yet.  It's true that he may

fight with me, but it is also possible that he'll just blow it off as if

it were nothing.  He's like that.  I'd rather take the chance and save

a life rather than do something sneaky like killing him off before

he even gets here.  That's dishonorable and cowardly and I won't

do it," he growled, stepping inside.  "The answer is no.  Do not

argue with me over it because the answer will remain the same."

            Washu and Aeka both looked at each other, and then

shrugged their shoulders.  "If that's what you want, Russ.  We

won't do anything," Washu said, sending her computer back into

subspace.  "Zorpheus will be here between noon and one tomorrow

afternoon.  Prepare for his arrival," she said, turning toward the

bathroom and going inside, letting the door click shut behind her.

            Russ let out a deep sigh.  "I'm sorry for sounding upset,"

he apologized.  "But doing things like that, especially to someone

who was a very close friend of mine, doesn't work for me."

            Nodding her head in understanding, Aeka put her hand on

his huge shoulder.  "I understand and I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to

make you upset."

            Letting a small smile creep into his lips, he reached up

and took her hand in his.  "It's okay.  I guess I'm just a little tired. 

I've been concentrating for so long that my head hurts a little."

            "It's been about a week.  Are you ready now?" she asked

quietly, looking into his eyes.

            "As ready as I'll ever be.  All I have to do tomorrow is get

Zorpheus into that room and then I'll tell him what I did with the

Dragonballs.  I know he'll get pissed at me for that, and he may

take out a bit of his frustration on me, but he may overlook the

whole thing too.  I just hope nothing goes out of control

tomorrow," Russ said, worriedly.  "The last thing I need to have

happen is to have one of you guys hurt."

            "We'll be okay as long as we stay outside of the room,

right?" Sasami asked, looking up at him.

            Nodding his head, Russ then let out a sigh.  "I hope so. 

Washu says that the world is in an entirely different dimension, but

the dimensions are connected through a doorway.  I sincerely hope

that nothing gets through it."

            Aeka and Sasami both looked at him with worried eyes,

and without giving it a second thought, they both approached Russ

and hugged him, as it could be the very last time they'd see him

alive.

            "Do good, Russ.  We're counting on you," Sasami said,

holding back her tears.

            "We'll be watching you.  Washu set up a special room

where we can see everything that will happen.  It'll almost be like

the holodeck, but it'll be a direct link to your battlefield.  You

won't see us, but we'll see you," Aeka said, holding him tightly.

            Russ smiled, feeling his own body shake slightly from his

nervousness.  Resting his left hand on Sasami's head and wrapping

his other arm around Aeka, he gave them both reassurances that he

was there and would do anything for them.  "I'll do my best. 

Don't worry about me.  But whatever happens, do not go into that

room.  It could wind up being extremely violent and either of you

could be hurt quite easily."

            "Okay, Russ," Sasami said, hugging him tightly, feeling

his muscles through his clothes.  "Remember your promise."

            Aeka remained silent, not agreeing nor disagreeing to

interfere in his fight.  She knew she was outmatched and

outclassed, but it didn't matter.  She loved Russ, and she'd do

anything for him.  It didn't matter who his adversary was or what

he told her was best for her.  If it meant she had to die to save him,

she'd do it without regret or a second thought.  He was just too

important to her and she was not willing to let him go for any

reason.  Hugging him even more tightly, letting out a few tears

squeeze their way out of the corners of her eyes, she refused to let

him go.

            "Um, Aeka?  Are you okay?" Russ asked, noticing a

teardrop running down her cheek.  "It's alright.  Don't worry.  I

think everything will go okay tomorrow."

            "I… just want to hold you for a while longer," she

whispered.  "I may never get to do it again if you…" she trailed

off, sniffling.  The late sun was just about ready to disappear

behind the far end of the valley, still flooding the living room with

intense, orange light.

            Feeling that lump in his throat return, he told himself that

even though she loved him, she was far more important than he

was, and he would not risk her life for something that involved

him.  Ever.  She was so vulnerable, but so beautiful, that Russ felt

a conflict of emotions roaring in his head.  One side was telling

him to follow his heart, the other side telling him to follow his

head.  Unfortunately for both him and her, his head was winning.

            Very slowly making his way over to the couch, he sat

down in the middle of it, and Aeka sat down next to him, still not

releasing her hold on him.  Sasami took a seat next to him on the

other side, resting her own head against his shoulder, but holding

tightly onto his arm.

            "I'll never forgive you if you die," Aeka said, wiping her

eyes with her shirt.

            "He won't die.  He promised me he wouldn't," Sasami

said, looking over at her sister and smiling.

            Russ looked over at Sasami, and then at Aeka, looking

contented and surprisingly happy.  "That's right.  I did promise

that, didn't I?" he said, keeping his voice very low.

            Sasami nodded her head.  "Yes you did."

            Looking out toward the lake, watching the ripples on the

surface of the water, Russ felt at peace with himself.  The feeling

he had inside couldn't be described merely by words or actions,

but as an emotion that he had felt only once before.  But he already

knew what it was, and the heartache it caused.  That uncontrollable

rage that he felt when Laurie was killed was insurmountable and

unparalleled, and he never wanted to feel that again.  But he did

want to feel the contentedness and love that was flowing from the

two girls who sat next to him on the couch.

            His mind went to war again, fighting to keep them or to

turn them away.  He took that chance once and it went up in a huge

fireball, and he never wanted to take that chance again.  Knowing

the risk involved to the two girls was extremely high, he debated

on whether it would be worth it or not.  Did he want to feel that

sense of love for the rest of his life, but risk the heartbreak that

could be caused by one of their deaths?  Or, should he turn them

both away, and deny himself both the love and the chance of

heartache?  Was it really worth it?

            That wasn't the only problem too.  Aeka's stature was a

major blow to their chances of a relationship, despite what her

parents had said.  Both Misaki and Funaho approved of their

relationship, but her father was vehemently against it, and he could

understand why.  Remembering what he told Aeka on Christmas

Day, "You live here with us, for now.  One day, you will go back

home to rule the most powerful empire in this galaxy."  He knew

he'd never fit in with the Jurai Royal Family and he knew a

marriage between Aeka and he was impossible.  "That would

never work, and you know it.  I am a man from a race thought to

be extinct, and he just waltzes in to become the Princess's groom? 

No, that couldn't happen," he had said.

            "Well, it's past nine," Russ said gently.  "I should go to

bed and get a good night's sleep so I'm good and refreshed for

tomorrow."

            "Russ?"

            "Yes, Sasami?" he responded, glancing down at her.

            "Can I sleep in your room with you tonight?" she asked,

looking at him with frightened eyes.  "I'd feel better if I can stay

with you."

            "Me too," Aeka said, looking up at him with the same

worried eyes.  "Please?"

            Sighing to himself, he debated on what he should tell

them.  "I won't be going anywhere tonight and I'll still be here in

the morning…" he began.

            "Please?" Sasami begged, not caring about his reasons.

            "I… uh…" he started, but closed his eyes and then let out

a deep breath.  "Yeah.  You can sleep in my room with me."

            "What about me?" Aeka asked, looking like she was

going to cry.

            Russ nodded his head.  "Yes, you too."

            "Thank you.  You're my big brother," Sasami said, letting

go of his arm and making her way up the stairs.  "I'm going to go

get my futon and put it in your room, and then we can go to bed."

            Aeka got up as well, heading toward the stairs.  "I'll do

the same.  I'm going to get into my nightclothes and then join you

in your room."

            Getting up, he slowly followed them up the stairs, the

steps creaking under his tremendous weight from his added muscle

mass.  Reaching the top and heading to his room, he slid back his

door and went in, making sure his floor was still clean.  Hardly

ever in his room to begin with, he was only in it just to sleep or

listen to his stereo when it was raining.  All he ever had to do was

make his bed, which he rarely did anyway, and make sure the

furniture wasn't dusty.

            Tossing back his covers, then reaching over to turn his fan

on, he laid down on top of his bed, awaiting the intrusion of the

two princesses.  He wasn't sleepy, but he was tired from the mental

stress he was putting himself through.  The arrival of Zorpheus, the

prospect of having Aeka as a girlfriend, the potential for all of his

friends to be killed, weighed very heavily on his mind.  Even

though he said that it would all work out, he was still having

trouble convincing himself of that.

            It wasn't very often, but Zorpheus had blown his stack a

few times and had gone ballistic, killing off armies of people by

himself.  He could only stand there and watch in amazement at the

sheer amount of power and will to win that he had possessed,

especially while he was enraged.  However, he was very difficult

to make upset, as he was himself, but still, would revealing to him

that the Dragonballs could not grant immorality cause him to open

up a can of whoop-ass?  Hoping that Zorpheus would keep his

cool, Russ closed his eyes, listening to the chirping birds that were

still awake outside, then glanced out his window.  Twilight was

setting in, making the sky gorgeous shades of orange, red, blue and

violet.  The sun reflected off of the clouds, turning them orange,

making them look like dyed cotton balls… or fireballs.  His

concentration was interrupted at the sound of his door opening.

            "I'll be down here," Sasami said, spreading her futon

about a foot away from his bed.  Dressed in her nightclothes, she

looked very cute.  An oversized Ryo-Ohki t-shirt was all she had

on, except for her undergarments.  The shirt was almost long

enough to touch the floor.  Ryo-Ohki had followed her in, patiently

waiting for Sasami to tuck herself in so she could sleep next to her.

            Smiling and nodding his head in acknowledgement, Russ

remained silent, his mind going back to Sasami and Aeka.  He

replayed dozens of significant events in his mind, remembering the

enjoyment he felt over the past year, and also the heartache of

refusing Aeka again and again.  She was the most stubborn woman

he had ever known.  Doing a quick mental count, he would've

sworn he told her no on at least forty occasions, but each time,

she'd rebound and go after him again.

            The door slid open once more, this time revealing Aeka in

her purple nightgown.  She had her futon and pillow rolled up

under her arm, and she smiled upon entering his room.  "I'll sleep

next to Sasami," she said, kneeling down and carefully spreading

her bed onto the floor.  "And no, I will not take your bed," she

said, winking at him.

            Russ's face began to turn red, but fortunately, the setting

sun hid it well.  "I was just about to ask you if you wanted it," he

said, his voice low, deep, and smooth.  "But I also knew you'd

refuse it."  He chuckled quietly.

            Both princesses tucked themselves in using the last of the

remaining daylight to see.  It wasn't long before the room became

dark, but it never got dark enough to where they couldn't see. 

Strong, radiant moonlight pierced through the window,

illuminating his room in pale moonlight.  Crickets were chirping

their nightly chorus outside the window, but the fan on Russ's desk

was enough to silence them.

            "Russ?"

            "Yes, Aeka?"

            "What are you going to do after your fight?" she asked,

keeping her voice low.  Sasami's breathing was slow and peaceful,

and they could both tell that she fell asleep quickly.

            "Sasami asked me that earlier," he answered quietly.  "I

was only supposed to come here to stop Zorpheus, and afterward, I

was going to leave and go somewhere else.  Maybe go see Tom

and stay with him for a while.  He could use a good pair of strong

hands to help build his fleet of ships."

            "I… see."  Turning over on her side to face Russ, she

tucked her arm under her pillow, raising it up enough to keep her

head level.  "Are you still going to do that?"

            Russ also shifted positions, getting a clear view of her

from the moonlight that blanketed the floor.  "I don't know."

            "You don't want to stay with us?"

            'I knew that was coming,' he said to himself.  "To be

honest, you'd be better off without me."

            "So you're going to leave, even after all of this time, even

after winning over all of our hearts, and becoming a part of our

family?" she whispered.

            "Tom still needs help.  I've been his friend for a very long

time, and he could use a person like me," he answered lamely,

wishing she didn't bring that subject up.

            "Then I'll go with you," she answered.  "I'll go with you

into Hell, to the end of the universe, or beyond," she said, her

voice squeaky from the lump that was caught in her throat.  "I

don't want to be apart from you."

            "Stop it," he whispered.  "It isn't right and it won't work. 

How many more times will I have to explain that to you?"

            "When will you understand that I've fallen for you?" she

replied, her soft voice wavering.

            Tossing back his covers, Russ sat up.  "Come on," he

whispered.  "If you want to argue again, we should do it where we

won't wake Sasami up."

            Sitting up, being careful to be as quiet as possible, she got

to her feet, but Russ could see two streaks of light that went from

the corners of her eyes down to her chin, courtesy of the tears that

he caused once again.

            Russ grimaced, but fortunately the darkness hid his

reaction.  Lifting off the floor, he floated over to his door, slid it

back, and went outside, followed by the crown princess, who

mimicked his movements.  She quietly let the door close, and she

followed him down the stairs to the living room.  The moonlight

was so intense that they could both see clearly and didn't need any

extra light.  It was still comfortably warm and relaxing.  Landing

on the floor, Russ looked back at Aeka, and then outside. 

Gesturing with his index finger, he opened the glass door and

stepped out onto the porch, a very light, cool breeze ruffling his

clothes.  Following obediently, she shut the door behind him, and

they both sat down, not having said a word since leaving his room.

            The sky was crystal clear, littered with thousands of little

stars, twinkling their everlasting light.  The moon was big, round,

and full, casting its light on the landscape, changing it and making

it look like a whole new world.  The crickets were loud, but not

deafening, and it sounded nice and pleasant.  An owl hooted

somewhere in the forest, letting the night bugs know that it was

hungry.

            Turning toward each other, Russ and Aeka both said each

other's names at the same moment, and they both sighed.

            "Go ahead," Russ invited, still keeping his voice low, but

not a whisper.

            "Please tell me… is it because you don't like me?" she

began, looking into Russ's eyes.

            Russ smiled, and then shook his head.  "No.  I already

told you why.  I'm sorry you don't want to accept that answer, but

it's the truth."

            "I understand everything about you, except this," she said,

looking down at the soft grasses at the end of the porch.  "There

has to be another reason behind it.  Is it because you find me

unattractive?"

            "Here we go again.  No, that's not it either.  You're one of

the most beautiful girls I've ever had the pleasure of knowing or

even associating with," he said, but stopped.  "No… you're the

MOST beautiful girl I've ever seen," he answered, blushing.

            Aeka blushed as well.  "You're not just saying that?"

            "Do you think that I could say otherwise?" he countered. 

"I told you this a long time ago, but I do not like telling lies or

hearing them.  There is a time and a place for it, and I have lied in

the past, but never to you."

            "You told us you were going to be here on vacation when

you first arrived," she said, frowning at him.  "And you also said

that you were never in a relationship.  Those were both lies,

weren't they?"

            Sighing and hanging his head, he nodded.  "Yes.  I lied

about my relationship with Laurie because I wanted to keep that a

secret for the rest of my life, but it could also be considered the

truth, because we never officially went out with each other. 

Secondly, I didn't know how long I'd actually be here, but it

turned out to be much longer than I thought.  Technically speaking,

when I do leave, my vacation here would be over.  I have enjoyed

myself here as if I were on a vacation, but as with all trips and

breaks, they all must come to an end.  And it will come to an end

after the fight tomorrow," he said, turning his eyes away from her

and looking at the lake.

            Brushing a stray hair out of her eyes, she too looked at the

water, which resembled a sheet of glass.  "I see.  How much longer

will you stay after your work is done tomorrow?"

            "I don't know.  Once I'm sure Zorpheus has given up on

the Dragonballs and immortality, then I'll probably leave."

            "You know, I can make it difficult for you to do that.  I'll

stop you, if I have to.  I do not want you to leave me and I do not

want to be apart from you.  Do you realize how crushed I'd be? 

You're already hurting me beyond words, telling me that you want

to leave," she said, her voice wavering again.  "It's almost like

nobody wants me.  Tenchi didn't want me.  You don't want me.  Is

there something wrong with me?  What is it?" she said, turning

toward Russ, the tears free flowing.  "What is wrong with me?"

            "Stop it," he said, his voice strong and steady, but gentle

at the same time.  "There is nothing wrong with you.  It's me who

has the problem, and it's me who does not want to resolve it."

            "What?  Why?  Why don't you want to be with me?" she

cried, trying to keep herself under control.  "I just don't understand

it."

            "I told you before.  It is far too dangerous to be with me. 

Besides, your stature is the major blow to a relationship.  You're a

leader and the crown princess of a planet that I've been to only

once.  I'm from a race that is supposed to be extinct.  And we're

just supposed to just jump into each other's arms?  You know as

well as I that it couldn't happen that way," he explained, trying to

be as gentle as he could.  "We're from two different planets with

two very different cultures and different views on the outlook of

life.  I cannot be the prince of Jurai and you could not be the

princess of my home world.  We'd be shunned at one place or the

other.  We'd be miserable at either place."

            "Then we'll go somewhere far away, or we could stay

here on Earth," she said, wiping her face dry.  "All I want is to live

out my days with you, Sasami, and nobody else."  Wrenching her

hands in front of her, it took all of her restraint to keep from letting

all of her frustrations out all at once.  "I…" she began, but

hesitated.  "I…  I lo…"

            "Shhh," Russ said.  "Don't say it.  Please don't say it," he

begged.  "I already know how you feel, but you don't really know

how I feel."

            Looking up at him, her eyes reflecting some of the light

from the moon, she shook her head, hesitating.  "How do you

feel?" she finally asked.

            "My mind has been at war with my heart ever since I met

you," he revealed, looking at the moon.  "My heart tells me that

everything will be okay, but my brain thinks it knows better.  The

only reason I tell you no, is because I do not want to take a chance

at love again and the potential heartbreak I could have if something

happened to you as a result of my actions.  I've never told you this

and I've kept it hidden well, but I'm crazy about you.  I love how

you make me smile, treat me nice, train with me, and all around,

will do anything with me or for me," he revealed, his face on fire,

trying to keep his voice steady.  "You are my embodiment of a

perfect girl.  You're beautiful, intelligent, and happy.  You love to

have fun and go do things with me.  You have a good sense of

humor too.  If I were from Jurai rather than from a world that

nobody knows about, then yes, I probably would have… no, I

know I would have gone on a date with you, and further still,

married you."  Russ stopped for a moment, looking toward the

shrine, catching a glimpse of Aeka's awestruck expression.  "You

think you have me all figured out, but you have no idea how much

you've been on my mind.  I'm always thinking about you at nearly

all times of the day.  When I'm training, eating, meditating, or

anything else, you enter my mind like an unstoppable wave of

emotion.  I can't get my mind off of you and it ruins my

concentration, even during my most intense meditation sessions. 

It's unreal.  I've never had someone who had this affect on me

before.  Not even Laurie was like you, in the sense of keeping my

mind occupied."

            Watching him quietly, her face showed nothing but

surprise and wonder.  "You're lying," she finally said, her

expression changing to depression as she turned away from him. 

"If that is really true, then you've hidden it far better than you do

with your secrets."

            Sighing quietly to himself, Russ nodded his head.  "It's

true.  I'm crazy about you and want to be with you more than

anything, but when my brain looks at the bigger picture, my head

tells me that it wouldn't work, and I agree with my head, especially

after the last tragedy.  I do not want to feel the heartbreak that I felt

when Laurie died, and I'm afraid the same thing will happen to

you, and I'm not willing to take that chance."

            "But… I'm not like Laurie.  You said that she wasn't a

warrior and couldn't defend herself.  I'm from an empire that was

the strongest in the galaxy, until you showed up.  There is almost

nothing in this galaxy that could touch the power of the Jurai Royal

Family," she said, her pride surfacing, but the last scraps of self-

control she had over herself were beginning to give way, as her

hands began shaking.  "I can take care of myself, and it's my

decision if I want to be with you.  I wish you would change your

mind.  What will it take for you to change your mind about me?"

            "There is nothing in this universe that could force me to

change my mind.  It is a decision that I have to come to on my

own," he said, looking over at the princess, who looked even more

beautiful in the soft moonlight.  "On hundreds of occasions, my

mind would fight with my heart, and at times, my heart would

almost win, and I almost had the courage to ask you out or to be

with me for the rest of my life.  I'd tell myself, 'To hell with her

parents, her stature, and the risk that something would happen to

her.  I want her to be mine, forever.'  But of course, my head

would always counter with the same thing.  'Remember what

happened to your first love.  Remember Aeka's parents and the

empire she will control.  It won't work.'  And that battle has been

raging in my head ever since I met you, but never as intensely as it

has during the past several months.  Neither side wins for very

long, nor it has stressed me out more than it ever has before.  I

wish you weren't the crown princess of the most powerful empire

known.  If you were just a normal girl without any royal ties, then I

probably would have asked you to stay with me for the rest of my

life.  But unfortunately, it isn't meant to be."

            "If I renounce my throne, will you change your mind?"

she asked, her hands balled up into tight fists, her eyes closed, as

she fought with herself over what she was thinking of.

            "What did you say?" Russ said, knowing full well what

she said, but was shocked at the suggestion.

            "If I give up my throne and my royal ties to the planet

Jurai, will you accept me?" she asked again, looking at him with

tear-streaked eyes and an unhappy face.  "I'll do anything for you. 

Even this."

 

            "Come on, Russ," Ryoko whispered from the side of the

house, eavesdropping on the two.  "Do it.  Make her happy."

            "Damn, she really put him on the ropes with that one.  I

can't believe she's so in love with him that she'd actually do that,"

Tenchi whispered back, also very drawn into their conversation.

            They had made it back just after Russ and Aeka had gone

out onto the porch.  After they had gone to the mall, they both went

to a dairy queen and had a dessert, and then walked around for a

while, just to pass the time away.  Tenchi knew he had to do the

laundry, but it wouldn't wake anybody up, since the washer was

outside.

            Ryoko shook her head.  "What is it going to take to make

him realize that he can't get rid of her?  I know that much because

I couldn't get rid of her when she was chasing you," she

whispered, not taking her eyes off of the couple.  "I'm still very

surprised that she did give you to me."

            "Shhh, I can't hear what they're saying.  Make sure to

keep your power suppressed to nothing.  I don't want him catching

us," Tenchi whispered, straining to hear Russ and Aeka.

 

            Russ remained silent, completely blown away that she

was willing to break ties with her home so she could be with him. 

Nobody had ever offered to do anything like that for him in the

past, and it felt almost like it was out of a romance novel. 

However, he already knew what it would mean if she did.

            "No," he answered, shaking his head, his arms trembling. 

"Your father would be so infuriated he may try to destroy this

world and me.  He wouldn't be able to touch me, but I couldn't

guarantee the safety of my home," Russ said, hanging his head.  "I

know how much you want to be with me now.  I would've never

thought you'd be willing to give up your home, your life, and your

title, just to be with me.  I'm completely at a loss at what to do

now.  But, do not break ties with your home.  I can't let you do

that, as that would be very selfish of me to force that upon you."

            "I don't care," she said, sniffling.  "All I ever wanted was

to be loved by someone, as a person and not as a figurehead.  You

and Tenchi were the only ones who ever saw through my façade

and saw the real me underneath it all.  But both of you turned me

away," she said, crying.  "I'm not wanted by the two people I've

fallen for, and I don't know what to do anymore.  I'm almost a

broken shell of a woman, as I have nothing to live for.  I don't

want to live for my planet, but for someone to love me, to care for

me, and to be with me for the rest of my life.  Everything else can

go to hell, and I don't care about any risks involved.  My happiness

and the happiness of the person I love is paramount, and I won't let

anything else get in the way of that."

            His jaw hanging open, Russ looked at her in complete

astonishment.  The voices in his heart started screaming at him to

take her in his arms and tell her that he loved her, and would spend

the rest of his life with her, no matter what happened.  The voices

in his head raised their own voices, yelling at him that it would

never work, despite what both he and she wanted.

            Clenching his head in his hands, Russ wrapped his fingers

around several spikes of his hair and gave them a good tug, as he

strained to keep himself under control.  Standing up and walking

out a couple paces, he turned around and looked at the princess,

who watched him with sand, longing eyes.  Clenching his fists

together, his hair stood on end, and in a brilliant flash of energy, he

transformed himself into a super saiyan.

            Aeka sat back in surprise, but she didn't run away, even

though a tinge of fear entered her heart.

            "Does this scare you, Aeka?" he finally asked, letting his

energy fade away, the pulsing sound dying off, the moonlight

returning to occupy the space his yellow energy had a moment

before, but his hair remained yellow and his eyes green.  "This is

the other side of me that comes out when I fight.  Do you feel

frightened or intimidated by it?  Because this is what you'd live

with."

            Unable to sense his outrageous power, she remained silent

for a few moments, but she got to her feet and approached Russ,

her expression depressed, sad, and lonely.  "No," she said, standing

in front of him.  "It doesn't scare me.  I want you, Russ, and

nobody else.  And it doesn't matter what you become, whether it

be a golden haired warrior or a gigantic ape, you're the one for

me," she said.

            Russ's face pulled into surprise.  "How did you know

about that?" he asked, stunned.

            "Huh?  How did I know about what?" she asked,

confused.

            "How did you know that I could turn into a gigantic ape?"

he asked, as he went through his mind, trying to find an instance of

where or when he mentioned to anybody that he would turn into a

huge ape when exposed to moonlight while he had a tail.

            "What are you talking about?  I said that as an analogy,"

she replied, still confused, but then she became surprised.  "You

mean that you can turn into an ape?"

            "Crap," he muttered, as he was hoping to keep that a

secret too, but he nodded.  "Yes.  Saiyans are born with a tail that

allows us to transform into an ape in full moonlight.  We make

King Kong look like a miniature monkey after our transformation."

            "You're kidding," she said, turning away.  "You're trying

to make me laugh, but I'm too depressed right now."

            "Argh!" Russ growled to himself, shaking it off.  "Aeka,

please give me up," he said, moving to stand in front of her. 

"There are other people out there who would be better for you in

comparison to me."

            "Like that piece of shit Serio that my father wants me to

marry?" she snapped, becoming angry.  "Oh yes, I really want to

love and marry an arrogant creep like that.  I do not get to choose

my fiancée when I'm at home.  My father chooses the one best

suited to the empire and sticks me with him, whether I approve of

him or not.  All they expect me to do is be obedient and to produce

an heir to the throne.  My life is a living hell there, and I do not

want to go back to it.  I never want to go home!  I want to stay

here, with you!  You just don't realize how much I've fallen in

love with you!" she yelled, balling up her fists and pounding on

Russ's chest.  "I love you, god dammit!"

            After letting out her feelings and frustrations, she

collapsed onto Russ's chest and cried uncontrollably, not able to

bring herself to terms with her life.

            "Maybe I should just commit suicide and end it all!" she

yelled, slamming her fists on Russ's chest again and again.  "I've

got nothing to live for anymore!"

            His expression changing to extreme hurt and pain, he

wrapped his arms around the crying princess and held her, just as

she almost lost her footing to collapse onto the ground.  He held

here there until she stopped crying, as he fought to hold back his

own emotions.

 

            "You son of a bitch, Russ," Ryoko snarled, ready to kill

him for putting her friend through such torment.  "You asshole of a

man!"

            "Ryoko!  Calm down!  He'll sense you if your energy

goes too high!" Tenchi hissed, putting his hands on her shoulders,

trying to hold her back.  "Just wait!"

            "No, god dammit!" she shot back.  "I'm going to tear

Russ apart if it's the last thing I do!"

            "Calm down!" Tenchi snapped, still not releasing his cast

iron grip on her.  "Do not interfere with either of them!  They'll

work it out on their own!"

            "Bullshit!" she swore, turning around to face Tenchi with

an inferno burning in her catlike eyes.  "He's had over a year to

accept her and he still hasn't!  What the hell is wrong with him?!"

            "It's not our place to interfere!  We can support them, but

we can't force them to do something that one or the other doesn't

want to do!"

            "But why must Aeka suffer like this?  It's so obvious that

she is willing to do ANYTHING for him.  Anything!  She's so

hopelessly in love with him and he still rejects her!  I don't get

why!" Ryoko hissed, baring her fangs.  "Maybe if I beat some

sense into him, he'll realize what he's missing!"

            "Knock it off!" Tenchi growled, his face contorted with a

deep, penetrating anger, which surprised Ryoko to the point where

she calmed down almost instantly.  "Just wait."

 

            "Aeka?  Do you think your sister, your parents, or any of

your friends would forgive you if you did that?" Russ said,

frustrated and angry.  "That's the cowards way out of life.  Life

isn't fair, as it hasn't been with me for most of my life.  I need you

as my friend, Aeka, as you're the best one I've ever had," Russ

said, trembling.  "I'd go insane if I ever lost you or your sister."

            "I have nothing to live for," she cried, resting her head on

Russ's chest.  "What do I have to live for?  There is nobody out

there who wants to love me for the real me!"

            "That's not true," Russ said, closing his eyes, his heart

screaming at him.

            Aeka continued to cry, but she looked into Russ's face, a

streak of hope in her eyes.  "Who then?" she whispered.

            "You have your sister to live for, and for me too.  I've

never had a friend like you, and your sister needs you.  What do

you think will happen to her once she goes home to take your place

if you die?  Do you wish that on poor Sasami?" Russ said, rubbing

her back gently.  "That isn't being fair to either her or me, or

anybody else who knows you and loves you.  Your family is

HERE, not on Jurai," he said, looking into her amethyst eyes. 

"You've taken the planet Earth, this house, this place, and made it

your home.  Do you want to just throw it all away?"

            "But like you said, my parents will eventually come to

take me away from all of this," she sobbed, still not able to regain

control over her emotions.  "They don't care about how I feel, just

about what will benefit that damned planet of Jurai!"

            "Your mother and your aunt Funaho both care," Russ

countered.

            "But even they have to take a backseat to my father.  My

father's word is final, no matter what they say.  They can try to

influence his decision, but ultimately, what he says is absolute.  If

he never approves, then I have to obey him."

            Taking in a deep breath through his nose, Russ released it

through his mouth in a deep sigh.  "But if I were with you, I could

stop him?"

            "Yes," she whimpered, sniffling again.  Wiping her tears

away with the back of her hand, her tears were quickly replaced by

fresh ones.  "If you were with me, there wouldn't be much he

could do."

            "I…" he started, but hesitated.  Hanging his head in

defeat, he prepared himself to say something that he swore he'd

never say again.  "Aeka?"

            She didn't answer him, but squeezed him tighter.

            "If…" he said, swallowing the huge lump in his throat. 

"If everything goes well tomorrow and the fight ends without

casualties, I will…" he hesitated, squeezing his eyes together

tightly.  "I will…"

           

            "Say it, dammit!" Ryoko whispered, squeezing her hands

together in anticipation.  "SAY IT!"

 

            "I… will go out with you," he finally said, feeling faint

over what he just proposed.

            Letting out a quick gasp of utter surprise, Aeka raised her

head to look into Russ's eyes, which had the same, lonely feel that

she had.  "You will?"

            Grinding his teeth and telling his brain to shut up, he

nodded his head.  "Yes.  I will be your boyfriend, if you would be

my girlfriend, but only if things go okay tomorrow."

            "You will?" she asked again, her face filled with hope and

a renewed sense of being.

            "Yes."  Russ gazed into her eyes, felt her warmth, and

could feel her entire body relax, releasing all of its tension in less

than a second, as he could feel a wave of emotion wash over his

mind, filling him with peace.

            Aeka looked at him, her tears streaming anew.  "You

will?" she asked a third time.

            Russ grinned and started chuckling, then nodded his head.

            "Oh Russ!" she cried, sobbing all over again, burying her

face in his chest, feeling a happiness and fulfillment that she never

felt before.

            "Please stop crying, Aeka," Russ begged, stroking her

silky, soft hair.  "You know how I feel and I know how you feel,

and it may finally be time for me to move on.  What's lost is lost,

and I have a chance to start something fresh and new once again."

            Aeka didn't answer, but continued to cry, overwhelmed at

the sensation that her lifelong dream could finally be fulfilled.

 

            "God damn, after all of that, he finally said yes," Ryoko

whispered, feeling a tremendous amount of joy for her friend. 

"That hard headed, frosty saiyan actually does have a heart."

            "Ryoko, it all depends on what happens tomorrow.  If

Aeka dies or he dies, this all goes away.  They could be setting

themselves up for the biggest heartbreak either of them will ever

feel."

            "Everything will be okay.  Russ is the strongest warrior

we've ever seen.  I don't think anybody could match him, no

matter what he says," Ryoko said, smiling.

            Tenchi looked back toward the front of the house.  "Come

on, Ryoko," he whispered.  "Let's go before they find us."

            Ryoko nodded.  "Okay."

            Sneaking back to where the washer was kept, they both

set about filling the machine from the basket of dirty clothes.

 

            "My lady."

            "What is it, D3?"

            "The second saiyan, Zorpheus, has just entered the solar

system," he reported, watching the small, white spacepod hurtle

through the cosmos.

            Tokimi, one of the three goddesses, turned her attention to

the viewscreen.  "He is Russ's friend?"

            D3 cleared his throat, checking a log file that was kept

from a conversation in the past.  "They haven't been together for a

couple years, but they didn't split up on either bad or good terms."

            Tokimi closed her eyes and concentrated, trying to see

into the future.  After several minutes, she came to, and opened her

eyes.  "They still have the potential to become allies once again.  If

Tsunami or Washu uses them against us, it could be catastrophic."

            "Yes, milady."

            "This cannot be allowed to happen," she said, raising her

left hand in front of her, palm upward, as she began to concentrate. 

A small, white ball of energy formed in her hand, and within the

ball, an image of Zorpheus, sleeping in his pod, became visible. 

"Russ is too aware and too powerful right now to alter, but

Zorpheus is in stasis, and his mind is very vulnerable.  I will

modify him."

            "What shall you do, Lady Tokimi?" D3 asked, watching

his goddess perform one of her miracles.

            "I shall enhance his feelings of anger, and intensify his

hatred for Russ by two orders of magnitude.  He will become what

everybody fears most, that being a killing machine.  If all goes

well, both saiyans will destroy each other."

            "A brilliant idea," he praised, watching Zorpheus glow

intensely for a few moments in the ball of energy, and fade to

normal. 

            "It is done," she said, taking a deep breath.  "I must rest

now."  And with that, she disappeared from view.

            Looking back at the data he collected from Russ, they

were still unable to calculate his energy level.  His goddess,

Tokimi, could generate a significant amount of ki, but she didn't

need it.  She was immortal and could manipulate whomever she

pleased, aside from those with strong minds.  However, against an

opponent such as Russ, he could not predict an outcome.

            Changing the viewscreen to look at both Washu and

Sasami, he smiled upon the two other goddesses.  "Sleep well,

sisters of Tokimi.  Soon, we shall all be re-united, and the universe

that you all occupy will be eradicated."

 

            "You were completely serious about that?" Aeka

whispered from her bed, still finding his decision almost

unrealistic.  After so many refusals, after so many tears and so

much heartbreak, he had finally come to a decision, and he finally

caved in and agreed to become a couple with her.

            "For the last time, yes!" Russ hissed from his bed,

completely worried and sweating profusely from the stress of his

choice.  His head was screaming at him and had completely

silenced his heart, and he began to question his decision.  He knew

he was going to be in for a rough ride, especially when it came to

her parents, in particular, her father.  "I must be insane."

            Aeka giggled quietly.  "I think that is the most logical

choice you've made since you've been here," she countered, her

mind, body, and soul, finally at peace.

            "Come on," Russ whispered, fretting.  "I have to get some

sleep and be well rested for tomorrow.  It's going to be a long

day."

            "Yes.  I'm just so happy…" she said, but stopped.  Sasami

had begun tossing and turning on her bed, the little triangles on her

forehead glowing intensely.  "Sasami?"

            Russ sat up in his bed, looking worriedly at the little

princess.  He could feel a strange energy coming from her, but he

had felt it once before.  "That's the same energy I've felt at the

Startica Festival when she had a nightmare," he said, getting out of

his bed and kneeling on the floor.

            "Sasami, wake up!" Aeka said, shaking her sister back

and forth.  "Come on, Sasami!"

            "Wake up," Russ encouraged, also shaking her.  "Come

on, Sasami!  Wake up!"

            Continuing to toss and turn, she began to mumble

incoherent phrases to herself, and at one point, almost began

shouting into the darkness.

            "What is happening to her, Russ?!" Aeka said, becoming

panicked.

            "I don't know!  Something is affecting her, but I don't

know what!" he growled, still shaking the little princess back and

forth.

            After a few more moments, her eyes snapped open and

the little symbol on her forehead faded back to normal.  Sitting bolt

upright in her bed, she was breathing heavily and sweating like

mad, shaking like a leaf in a hurricane.  A second later, several

tears began running down her cheeks, her face completely blank

and devoid of life.

            "Sasami!" both Russ and Aeka said, putting their faces

directly in front of Sasami's, trying to get her attention.

            "Aeka?  Russ?" she said, the tears still streaming

uncontrollably.  "RUSS!"  Lunging forward, she grabbed Russ

around the neck and caused him to fall to the floor.  She landed on

top of him and buried her face in his chest, crying almost like Aeka

had earlier.

            "What's wrong, Sasami?  Please tell me!" Aeka said,

trying to pry her sister off of Russ, but she had a death grip around

Russ's neck.  Fortunately for him, since he wasn't a normal man,

he didn't suffocate from her viselike grip.  It was amazing that

arms so little possessed such strength.

            "It's Aeka!" she cried, not letting go.

            "What happened?" he asked, not having moved since he

was tackled.

            "I just had a dream where she died!" she cried, squeezing

as hard as she could.  "Zorpheus killed her, and she died!"

            Aeka's jaw dropped, listening to the revelation in

complete astonishment, awe, and horror.  "No.  That isn't

possible."

            "Sasami, she won't die.  I promise you she won't," Russ

said, holding her gently.

            "It was horrible!  There was blood!  There was just so

much blood!" she cried, shaking uncontrollably.  "I don't want her

to die!"

            "I won't die, Sasami," Aeka said, forcing herself to be

calm.  "I have more sense than that."

            Sniffling and trying to get herself under control, she

slowly stopped crying, but she continued to shake, very afraid of

the horrid nightmare she just had.

            Russ stroked her hair, being extremely gentle with her as

he rested his cheek on her head.  Ryo-Ohki was on the floor,

watching her in deep concern.  "Shhh.  It'll be okay, Sasami.  Just

relax and let it all out," he said, his voice a calm whisper.

            "I'm so scared, Russ," she said, her voice still wavering,

but she stopped crying.  "Zorpheus is a monster!  He was so

powerful that even you couldn't stop him!"

            "Do not worry.  I was always more powerful than he was,

and there is no way I'll let him touch any of you if he gets out of

control," Russ said, keeping his voice deep, calm, and reassuring. 

"But I don't think we'll need to worry.  He is just as cool, calm,

and collective as I usually am, and I think everything will be okay

tomorrow."

            "Are you sure?" Sasami squeaked, looking up at him.

            "He's sure, Sasami," Aeka responded, smiling.  "There is

nothing to worry about."

            "Are you okay now?  Do you want a glass of warm milk

or something?" Russ asked, feeling the clamp around his neck be

released as Sasami withdrew.

            Sniffling, she tried her eyes with her t-shirt.  "No, I'm

okay now.  Let's go back to sleep.  I know you need your rest for

tomorrow."

            Russ sighed, and then patted her on the back.  "Okay. 

We'll both be right here if you have another nightmare," he said,

climbing back into his bed.  "Goodnight, you two."

            "See you in the morning," both Aeka and Sasami said in

stereo, causing Russ to grin.

            Russ fell asleep in about a minute, but Aeka and Sasami

both took a lot longer.  Aeka felt shivers go up and down her spine,

as she was frightened of the revelation that Sasami had told her

earlier.  However, she reassured herself again and again that Russ

wouldn't let anything happen to her, but Sasami continued to

watch that dream again and again in her mind, growing scared

again, but keeping it to herself.  She was the last to fall asleep,

almost an hour after Aeka had dozed off.  She glanced over at

Russ, and she felt a little better, thinking of all the fun times she

had with him.  But something kept nagging her in the back of her

mind about Zorpheus.  There was just something weird about that

dream, as Zorpheus was far, far meaner than Russ had ever

described him.  She knew something was wrong, but she didn't

know what.  Finally closing her eyes, she forced herself to go into

slumber, continuing to worry about tomorrow.

 

            The day of reckoning finally arrived, as the light of day

brightened the gray sky, which was overcast and gloomy.  Birds

were chirping, the temperature was pleasant, and the air smelled of

rain, even though the ground was still dry.  A light breeze ruffled

the leaves and moved the blinds in Russ's room around, however,

the saiyan remained asleep, and it was after nine in the morning.

            Both Sasami and Aeka were awake, laying quietly in their

futons, not wanting to get up.  Both princesses had an extremely

rough night of very light slumber, as they woke up multiple times,

a cause of their worry and concern.  Still groggy with sleep, neither

wanted to get up, but they lay there, unable to doze off.

            "You awake, Aeka?" Sasami whispered, rolling onto her

side to face her sister.

            Rolling her head over to Sasami, she smiled and nodded. 

"Yeah," she whispered back.

            "It's past nine.  Do you think we should get Russ up?" she

asked, keeping her voice very low.

            Aeka shook her head, closing her eyes, and slowly

reopening them.  "No.  Let him get up on his own.  He needs all

the sleep he can get.  Besides, I want to sleep a little longer too."

            Glaring at Aeka, Sasami frowned.  "You're getting lazy,"

she scolded, causing Aeka to grin.

            "So what," she replied, still grinning.  "There isn't a rule

here that we have to be up at a certain time.  Besides, we had a

rough night and I could use another hour or two of sleep." 

Grinning a little wider, she giggled quietly.  "You could use the

extra sleep too."

            Now smiling, Sasami closed her eyes.  "Yeah, you're

right."

            Both princesses fell back into a light slumber, trying to

make up for the lack of rest from the night before.  Russ never

stirred or moved from his sprawled position on the bed.

 

            "Good morning, Akaki," Washu said, standing at one of

her lab tables, working on an experiment.  She stopped a moment

and looked at the viewscreen, smiling widely.

            "Mother.  Do you know what TIME it is?" he growled, as

his face, hair, and visage looked like something that would've

crawled out of Hell itself.

            "It's morning, according to standard time on your planet,"

she responded, grinning.  "It's nice that both Earth and Bikinawa

have the same axial rotational speed, and it's even better that you

live almost in the same time zone."

            "Mother.  I did not go to bed until after three in the

morning.  It is now nine.  I am still very sleepy and I have today

off, so I planned on catching up on a lot of Z's I missed out on," he

muttered, glaring at his mother through the telecommunication

channel.  "I'm going back to sleep for another couple hours."

            Washu grinned.  "You're lazy."

            "I am not lazy!" he shot back, rubbing the sleep out of his

eyes, mumbling incoherent phrases to himself.  "I'm just sleepy."

            "Then go to bed earlier," Washu returned.

            "Says the one who pulls all-nighters routinely."

            Letting out an exasperated sigh, Washu set back to work,

soldering several wires to a multi-layered circuit board on her

latest invention.  "What time do you usually get up anyway?"

            "This is the earliest you've called me, mom.  I usually get

up around eleven or so," he said, then let out a huge yawn.

            "Eleven?!  You sleep your entire morning away?" she

asked, surprised.

            "Well duh.  I work the late shift at my job, so I sleep

almost the entire morning away.  On weekends or on other days

when I don't have to go in, I sleep until almost one."

            Washu frowned at him, shaking her head.  "Well, you

should get up in the morning instead of wasting it.  It's a good time

to get things done around the house."

            "Feh.  I really don't care at this point," he growled, still

very tired.  "Call me back later when I'm more awake, AFTER I

get more sleep," he said, laying back down, burying his face in his

pillow.

            "One water sprite, coming up!" Washu taunted, holding

her hands on her hips, wearing a huge grin.

            "Bite me," he mumbled, trying to get comfortable again.

            Washu's jaw dropped, as she was completely stunned that

he didn't even seem to care.  "Excuse me?" she asked, unsure if

she heard him right.

            "Go away.  Sleeping."

            It wasn't often that she got a surprise, but Akaki had

given her one of the biggest shocks of the week.  Still unable to

believe what she heard, she continued to look at the image of her

son, trying to fall back to sleep in his bed.

            "See you in a little bit, mom," he said, rolling over and

turning off the communicator, leaving a baffled Washu staring at a

now blank computer screen.

            "Now THAT was unexpected," she said to herself.  "Oh

well.  I'll bother him later."  Hearing her stomach croak, she put

her invention aside and made her way out of her lab.  Upon

entering the living room, she heard a knock on the front door. 

Sliding it open, it revealed both Kiyone and Mihoshi, both smiling

and in wonderful spirits.

            "Hi Washu!" Mihoshi greeted in her usual ditz-like way. 

"We're here!"

            "Yes you are," Washu returned, grinning.  "Hey,

Kiyone."

            "Hello," she said, smiling.  Handing over a bag she was

carrying, she stepped inside after Washu moved out of the way. 

"These are for everybody," she explained.

            "Thank you very much," Washu said, peeking into the

bag of goodies.  "What did you bring us?"

            "Sweets!" Mihoshi said, giggling.  "There was never

enough here, so Kiyone and I decided to give you some.  They're

very good."

            Washu grinned.  "And very fattening, no doubt.  But

anyway, come on in and have a seat.  I was just about to make me

some breakfast.  Do you girls want anything?"

            Kiyone sat down at the table and sighed, relaxing.  "Some

tea would be nice, please."

            "And I want tea too," Mihoshi chimed in, sitting next to

her partner.  "I'm so thirsty!"

            "Tea, coming right up," Washu sang, going into the

kitchen.  "So girls, how are things going?  It looks like you're

enjoying the weather."

            Kiyone, dressed in a light blue t-shirt, knee-length jeans

shorts, and canvas shoes, took in a deep breath, tossing her head

from side to side, letting her long, green hair flap back and forth. 

"Yeah.  It feels really nice today.  We have today off, so we're

enjoying ourselves."

            Mihoshi was dressed a little more risqué, with a loose

fitting tank top and shorts that were extremely short, with a pair of

sandals.  It almost looked as if her bust would spill over the top of

her shirt.  "Yeah, we haven't had much time to do anything.  Even

though we are getting funding from the Galaxy Police, they seem

to make us work a lot more than we used to."

            "I'm not surprised.  They usually do that to offset the

added drain on their budget," Washu explained, heating up the

water on the stove.  "But how busy can it be up there anyway?"

            "It's not busy," Kiyone said, looking at Washu through

the window in the wall.  "A lot of times, we wind up doing nothing

the whole day.  We sit and play games, watch TV, or play with the

radio, talking with a few of the other officers who don't do much. 

It's boring, but at least it is an easy job most of the time.  But there

was a person last week who led us on a chase, but we caught the

perpetrator easily enough."

            Washu smiled.  "Kiyone always gets her man!" she said,

pouring the hot water over the tea strainer, letting the green liquid

pour into the cups.

            "Actually, it was a woman this time," Mihoshi explained. 

"It was a lot of fun!"

            Glaring at her partner, but letting it go, Kiyone smiled. 

"Well, it was the most excitement we've had in a very long time. 

It was stupid though, since the lady didn't have any kind of record

previously.  Sometimes the stupidity of people astounds me."

            Holding back a rude comment she could've made about

her partner, Washu just continued to smile as she brought the tea

out to the girls.  "Here you go," she said, sliding the cups over,

then returning to the kitchen.  "I still have to get something to eat."

            "We already had breakfast," Kiyone said.

            "Yeah, the usual instant miso soup and ramen noodles,"

Mihoshi described, grinning.  "Nobody makes instant food better

than Kiyone!"

            Groaning quietly, Kiyone shook her head.  "Must you

always say how cheaply we live?"

            "Oh, but Kiyone!  There's nothing to be embarrassed

about.  Instant food tastes good!" she said, cheerily, smiling

widely.

            "Good morning, Kiyone and Mihoshi," Tenchi said,

coming down the stairs, followed by Ryoko.

            "Hey!  How are you?" Kiyone said, turning around to see

him.  Mihoshi giggled and waved.

            "We're doing really well, thanks," Tenchi said, reaching

the bottom step, and then made his way over to the table, sitting

down in his usual spot.  Ryoko sat next to him, looking happy and

relaxed.

            "You two seem to be in a good mood," Kiyone observed. 

"Something happen last night or this morning?"

            "Actually, yes.  We had a nice time last night, as it was

the first time we've gone out to do anything in about a month. 

Poor Tenchi is always so busy that he has a hard time making time

for us to do things, but it was very nice," Ryoko said, rubbing

against him.

            "It's still so amazing that you two are getting married!"

Mihoshi exclaimed, blushing.  "I can't wait until I find the man of

my dreams."

            "Heaven forbid if he's anything like you, Mihoshi,"

Kiyone said, patting her on the shoulder.  "I don't think the Earth

is big enough for someone who's just like you."

            "Hey!  I'm not all that bad!" Mihoshi whined, looking

pitiful, her blue eyes sparkling.  "I haven't broken anything in at

least two days!"

            "A personal record, I might add," Kiyone argued.  "It

wouldn't be problematic if the person you find isn't as clumsy or

prone to breaking things as you."

            "Oh, don't be so hard on her," Washu interjected from the

kitchen.  "I'm sure she'll find someone wonderful, just like Tenchi

has."  Returning from the kitchen with toast, rice, and miso soup,

she set her stuff down on the table and began to devour the food.

            Smiling, Tenchi nodded.  "Everybody has a match for

him or her in this universe," he agreed.

            "I don't know, Tenchi.  Another Mihoshi just make this

universe collapse in on itself.  Remember how Mihoshi almost

caused that from inside Washu's lab about a month ago?" Ryoko

said, causing a bunch of glares to surface around the table.  "Well,

it's true!"

            Shaking her head and giggling, Mihoshi started blushing. 

"Well anyway, I really hope I find someone soon.  Speaking of

which, where are Russ, Aeka, and Sasami?"

            "They're all still asleep," Washu said, looking at the

landing on the second floor.

            Tenchi and Ryoko both looked surprised.  "Wow.  I've

never known Sasami to sleep past nine before.  She's usually up

and making breakfast by the time we come down here."

            "Well," Washu began.  "It's because of what is supposed

to happen later today.  Russ has to be fully rested for it."

            "Spit it out, mother.  Quit building suspense," Ryoko

snapped, glaring at her mother.

            Washu looked up at her, her face cold, emotionless, and

unwavering.  "Zorpheus will arrive today.  In fact, in about three

hours."

            Tenchi, Ryoko, Kiyone, and Mihoshi all stopped what

they were doing and looked at the scientist in a mix of surprise and

terror.  However, Washu resumed eating, as if it were old news.

            "He's supposed to be here, TODAY?" Ryoko said,

becoming very nervous.  "Why didn't you say something to us

yesterday!?"

            "How would it have changed things?" her mom returned. 

"We cannot stop him from coming here.  Russ is going to have to

deal with him when he arrives, and he wants to be at his maximum

when it comes time to crunch."

            "You still should've told us about this, Washu!" Tenchi

snapped, his face a large frown.  "This is very important!"

            "It's important to Russ, not to the rest of us.  He has

repeatedly told us that we will not be involved in their dispute.  All

we have to do is stay away from them when they arrive, and leave

them alone once they get into the separate dimension," Washu

explained, sipping her miso soup.  "They're far beyond our wildest

dreams, and the smartest thing to do is to stay out of their

business."

            "Maybe we shouldn't have come today," Kiyone said,

looking very nervous.  "But it is our job to make sure the citizens

of this planet are safe from harm."

            "Are you insane, Kiyone?" Mihoshi said, looking

absolutely petrified.  "You saw what Russ could do!  What do you

expect to do against another person just like him?  Arrest him?"

            Tucking her hands in her lap, Kiyone looked at the table

and remained quiet.

            "Do Aeka and Sasami know?" Tenchi asked, his face

downcast.

            Washu nodded her head.  "Yes.  Russ told Sasami, and

Sasami told Aeka and myself.  I scanned the area around the solar

system and I did detect the spacepod that is carrying Zorpheus." 

Summoning her laptop once more, she rescanned the solar system,

using the same parameters from the day before.  A single blip

appeared on the screen.  "He's currently passing Jupiter.  At his

current rate of travel, he will enter Earth's atmosphere in about

three hours.  Exact time of arrival will be twelve thirty seven."

            "How are they taking it?" Ryoko asked, worried.

            "They're all sleeping together.  Both Aeka and Sasami are

deathly afraid of losing him, and they've stuck to him like glue

yesterday and even slept together overnight," Washu revealed,

eating a clump of rice and then washing it down with soup.  "I

really hope everything goes okay today.  I have a lot of confidence

in Russ, but even he seems unsure of himself over this one."

            Mihoshi smiled.  "I think he'll be just fine.  I mean, look

how much he's trained while he's been here!" she said, cheerily.

            Her happy mood wasn't contagious, and everybody

continued to sit in silence, until they heard some thumping from

upstairs.  "Sounds like he's woken up," Kiyone said, quietly.

            Hearing the bedroom door slide open and shut again, they

heard the sound of heavy footsteps coming toward the living room. 

Everybody looked toward the stairway and waited.  A moment

later, Russ started walking down the steps, his hair the usual mess,

still dressed in the clothes from yesterday.  He didn't even notice

everybody sitting at the table until he turned toward the bathroom. 

Looking up at the family, he smiled and nodded his head.

            "Good morning, everyone!" he said, cheerily.  "How is

everybody on this fine morning?"

            Five thumps greeted his ears as everybody facefaulted to

the floor, completely stunned that he was so happy, cheery, and

easy going this morning.  They were figuring on seeing him

completely stressed out.

            "Um, did I say something wrong?" he asked, scratching

his head.

            "How can you be so relaxed?" Ryoko asked, overcoming

her surprise.  "Zorpheus is supposed to come today!"

            Russ looked over at Washu, who returned a guilty look. 

"I take it our little professor has told you of our impending doom?"

he asked, snickering.

            Tenchi's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets that he

was being so casual about it.  "What is with you?  How come

you're in such a good mood?"

            "Why not?  In a few hours, I'm going to be involved in

the 'butt kick-o-rama.'  I may as well be in a good mood now

because I'm going to probably be in a foul mood later.  Oh, hi

Kiyone and Mihoshi.  How are you two doing?" he asked, taking

notice to the other two women seated at the table.

            "We're fine," Kiyone responded, trying to smile.

            "Good.  Now if you'll excuse me, I need to take a

shower," he said, heading over to the bathroom.  He slid open the

door, which led to the women's bath once again.  After shutting it,

he reopened it to the men's bath.  Turning around for a moment, he

looked at the five still seated at the table, whom were all staring at

him.  "Washu, is there a reason that half the time when I open the

door that it goes to the women's bath?"

            "Ask Aeka about that one," she said, grinning.

            Russ nodded his head.  "I thought so," he said,

disappearing into the bath.

            "What the heck just happened?" Ryoko asked, still trying

to figure out Russ's charade.  "He didn't look nervous at all!"

            "It probably has to do with all that meditating he's done

over the past week," Tenchi described.  "He's mentally prepared

for the confrontation, so he's not letting it bother him until the time

comes."

            "Still, that was creepy," Kiyone said, still looking at the

bathroom door.  "I wonder if he's gone beyond nervous and has

just gone crazy from the stress."

            "No, he was completely calm, cool, and collective.  He's

back to his normal self for the time being," Washu confirmed,

finishing off the last of her food.  "He may feel that this could be

his last day on Earth and he's just trying to live it up."

            "I don't know," Tenchi said, resting his head in his hands. 

"I'm nervous as heck and I'm not the one who will be fighting."

            Mihoshi giggled.  "I think he's happy to see Zorpheus

again!"

            The other four people at the table stopped to look at her,

causing her to blush.

            "Well, he hasn't seen him in a long time," she said,

becoming withdrawn.

            "That's true," Ryoko said.  "The thing is, Russ has

described him as being very similar to him in terms of his calm and

collectiveness, but he's still worried about what could happen if

Zorpheus blows his stack.  I'm really worried too."

            "There's really nothing to worry about," Washu said,

sitting back on her hands.  "Russ will take care of everything.  The

room is complete and will be sealed once they get into it, and

anything that goes on in there will not affect this world.  We can

even broadcast it to the rest of the universe if we wanted."

            "If they fight, what are we going to do to heal their

injuries?" Kiyone asked.

            "The regeneration tank that Russ provided plans for is

complete.  It'll heal a man of his size in about a half hour.  It's

really an incredible piece of medical technology.  It works by…"

            "I don't care how it works, as long as it heals him

quickly," a voice above them said.

            Everybody looked up to see Aeka standing there, dressed

in her traditional blue and purple kimono.  Regally making her way

down the stairs, she held herself high and proud.  "Besides, he

probably won't need it."

            "Good morning, Aeka," Tenchi greeted.  "How do you

feel this morning?"

            She looked at the group and tried to smile, but failed. 

"I've never been so scared of anything in my life," she responded.

            "I think that goes for everyone at this table," Washu said,

looking at everybody.  "Anyway, I have a few things I must take

care of in my lab.  I'll be out around twelve thirty to escort both

Russ and Zorpheus into the battle chamber," she said, making her

way to her lab, opening the door and turning to look at the group

again.  "But do not worry.  Everything should be fine," she

reassured, stepping through the portal and closing the door behind

her.

            Aeka took her usual seat at the table, next to Tenchi. 

Everybody remained quiet and tried to not look at the princess, but

she let out so many little nervous habits that they couldn't help but

glance at her.  She straightened her kimono, smoothed her hair,

picked at something under one of her nails, continually shifted

positions, and then repeated the whole process again and again. 

She could not sit still.

            "Aeka, you need to relax," Mihoshi said, cheerily, causing

her to jump.

            About to explode on her, Aeka bit her tongue and held

herself back.  "I'm sorry, everyone.  I'm just really worried for

Russ."

            A moment later, Sasami bounded down the stairs in a pair

of coveralls, a pink undershirt, and canvas shoes.  She had on

multiple, small string bracelets that went around her right wrist,

and she looked drop-dead adorable.  Her freckles were very

pronounced, and she looked exactly like a little farmer girl.  She

smiled when she saw everybody at the table.

            "Hi Kiyone and Mihoshi!" she said, skipping over and

hugging them both.  "It's very nice to see you again."

            "Hi, Princess Sasami," Kiyone greeted, smiling warmly. 

"It's always nice to see you."

            Mihoshi hugged her tightly.  "I brought a bunch of sweets

for you guys to eat later," she whispered to her, who started

giggling.

            "Has everybody eaten?  Can I get anybody anything?" she

asked, walking over to the kitchen door, and then turned around.

            "I'm fine," both Kiyone and Mihoshi said in stereo, and

everybody else just shook his or her heads.

            Turning around, she went into the kitchen to get herself a

glass of milk.

            "I wonder what Zorpheus looks like?" Aeka muttered to

herself, still staring at the empty table in front of her.

            "Russ says he looks very similar to him, but different

too," Tenchi recalled, scratching his head.  But we'll see for sure

later today.  I better go tell grandpa."  Getting up from the table, he

moved over to the glass door, being followed by Ryoko.  "I'll be

back in about ten minutes."

            "Okay," Kiyone said, turning her attention back to the

crown princess.  "Anyway, I don't think you need to worry all that

much.  Russ is unlike anybody I've ever seen.  I find it hard to

believe that someone else exists that is exactly like him."

            Aeka shook her head.  "But he does exist, and he's

coming here," she answered, her face downcast and worried.

            "You're going to wrinkle up like an old maid," Mihoshi

said, happily.  "You shouldn't worry."

            About to explode, Aeka's face became a mask of fury and

rage.  "I am NOT an old maid!" she shouted, slamming her fist

down on the table.

            "Aeka, please calm down," Kiyone said, trying to head

off the carnage and to protect her partner.  "She didn't mean it that

way.  She just means that you should relax."

            "How can I relax when a planet destroyer is coming

here?!" she retorted, her knuckles becoming white from the intense

pressure.

            Kiyone stopped and looked at her, the worry becoming

very apparent on her face.  "Russ will stop him if it is the last thing

he does."

            "I just hope that ISN'T the last thing he does," she said,

the anger and rage suddenly gone, replaced by a mentality of a

young child who was scared of something horrible.

            Sasami came out of the kitchen, holding her milk.  "Come

on, Aeka.  Have a little faith in Russ."

            Looking at her sister, she nodded her head.  "You're right

of course, Sasami, but it is so hard to not be worried about him."

            "I know.  Let's just forget about it for now and wait," she

suggested, sitting down next to her sister.  "Everything will work

out in the end, you'll see."

            Aeka sighed.  "You make it sound so simple, Sasami. 

You'll realize what it's like once you get older," she said, resting

her chin in the palm of her hand, looking outside at the scenery.

 

            Standing outside by the lake, Russ stood fast, patiently

awaiting Zorpheus's arrival.  He had sensed him almost a half hour

ago, and he knew he'd head straight for the highest power level on

the planet, which would be him.  Looking toward the sky, he could

feel Zorpheus's presence get stronger each and every second, and

it made him feel something that he hadn't felt in a long time. 

Swallowing a growing lump in his throat, his hands began to

shake, both in anticipation and excitement.

            Looking back toward the house, the entire family, not

realizing that Russ was actually waiting for Zorpheus, all remained

inside, talking with each other and relaxing, as if they had

forgotten that danger was heading straight for them.  Sighing to

himself, he listened hard, waiting for the sound of Zorpheus's

screaming spacepod, as it would hurtle toward the ground and

crash-land.  Zorpheus was never one to be discrete.

            It didn't take long, and the sound of the spaceship became

apparent.  Sounding like a thousand nails being drawn over a

chalkboard, it was loud, deafening, and made the skin crawl.  A

long, red streak drew a line from the horizon, straight to the point

of origin.  Russ watched it with a mix of excitement, worry,

anxiety, and hope.  It has been nearly two years since he saw

Zorpheus last, and he sincerely hoped this reunion would be good.

            Watching the pod make its final run, it finally crash-

landed, right in the lake.  A huge tidal wave erupted from the point

of impact, splashing water everywhere and making it rain for a

moment.  The loud noise brought the whole family out of the

house, as the noise and impact was earthshaking.

            "What on Earth was that?" Aeka yelled, running over to

where Russ was standing.

            "Get back!" he shouted, turning toward the oncoming

group.  "Get away from here!  NOW!"

            Stopping their advance, they slowly began to backtrack

toward the house.  Everybody went back, except for Aeka.

            "I told you to get back," Russ snarled, eyeing her.  "I'm

not kidding."

            "But…"

            "NO BUTS!" he yelled, thrusting his finger toward the far

end of the house, where the rest of the family had gathered.  "Get

back there and stay there until we're escorted to the room!"

            Caught completely off guard by his sternness and anger,

she slowly backpedaled to the house, never taking her eyes off of

him.

            Russ turned back toward the lake, watching the surface of

the water calm down.  A moment later, a huge rush of bubbles

broke the water's surface, causing Russ to grin.  He knew that

Zorpheus opened the hatch while he was underwater and it made

him feel a little better.  Not only that, but he himself had done that

once before.

            Sensing a huge energy over his head, Russ looked toward

the sky and saw his opponent floating in mid-air, his blue cape

flapping in the wind, his black hair being stirred about, and the

light of day being reflected off of his cybernetic arm.  Quickly

returning to the ground, he stood about twenty feet from where

Russ was, his visage contorted with disgust and anger, his red eyes

burning with an inferno of hate. 

            "Long time, no see, Zorpheus," Russ greeted, his green

karate gi flapping lazily in the light breeze.  What brings you here,

as if I didn't know?"

            "I'm after the Dragonballs, of course.  But right now, I'd

just like to know which of you losers I'm going to slaughter for

putting that damn lake there," he growled, folding his arms over

his chest.

            Russ grinned.  "That lake was always there.  You never

could pilot a ship, even if your life depended on it.  I wouldn't

even trust you with a Tie Fighter."

            "Kiss my ass.  It's never my fault.  It's always the stupid

navigation computer screwing up," he snapped.  "You should

know that, since you routinely crashed through houses!"

            "Humph.  It's never your fault is it," Russ sneered,

glaring at him.

 

            "That's Zorpheus?" Ryoko whispered, looking at him

from around the corner of the house.  "He looks almost identical to

Russ!"

            "You're not kidding.  Look how huge his arms are,"

Tenchi said, listening carefully.  "I really hope Russ knows what

he's doing."

            "Don't worry.  Russ will be fine," Aeka said, putting her

best foot forward.  "There is nothing that he can't do."

            "But still, that guy is going to be one heck of a challenge

for Russ, and besides, he doesn't look exactly happy to see him,"

Tenchi observed, looking at Zorpheus's scowl.  "I'd be afraid if I

were in Russ's shoes."

            "Shhh!  I can't hear," Washu hissed, straining to listen in

on their conversation.

 

            "Who're they?" Zorpheus asked, sensing the group on the

other side of the house.

            "Leave them alone," Russ muttered.

            "Ain't that cute.  Letting the weaklings cower on the other

side of the house, like that flimsy piece of trash will protect them. 

Feh.  I don't see why there has to be any trouble.  Just give me the

Dragonballs and maybe I'll only maim you," Zorpheus taunted,

letting an evil grin slip onto his lips.

            Russ's expression became neutral, but his pride was

wounded.  "You'd like that, wouldn't you?  That's too bad though. 

If you want to talk about this further, I have a place where we can

continue this discussion.  Follow me," he said, turning toward the

house.  Waving with his hand, Washu came out from behind the

house and went inside.

            "Yeah right.  And I'm supposed to just waltz over to

where you want me so you can blow me up with a bunch of ki

balls that you placed before I got here?  No thanks," he answered,

not having moved an inch.

            Russ turned around and glared at him.  "I'm not like you. 

I don't play dirty, I'm not as sneaky, dishonorable, or as pinheaded

as you.  You want the Dragonballs?  Follow me."

            "No.  You give them to me now, assmaster.  Or I might

decide to make a lunar landscape out of this lovely Japanese shrine

right here and now!" he growled, giving no indication that he

intended on following through on Russ's plan.

            Squeezing his hands into fists, he thought a moment. 

*This isn't like him at all,* Russ throught to himself.  *Most of the

time he'd just go through with it, but something is very different

about him this time.*

            "That would be a very bad idea, especially if you want to

convince me to give you the Dragonballs.  You should know me

well enough to know that I don't respond well to threats," Russ

returned, giving him his usual poker face, trying to hide his

emotions. 

            Zorpheus turned away slightly, looking at the corner of

the house where the family was hiding and eavesdropping.  "How

do I know you even have them?  You seem pretty eager to have me

follow you around like some kind of lap dog when all you need to

do is get your sorry ass in there and come out with my

Dragonballs.  You're not exactly in the position to make

conditions, you know."

            Russ smirked, folding his arms behind his back. 

"Actually, I am.  I'm holding what you want, and if you want

them, you'll do as I say.  I've got the bargaining chip here, not you. 

If you don't want them, I'll get rid of them for you."

            Zorpheus's face contorted to an absolute mask of rage. 

"Destroy them and I'll make sure that I'll turn this entire pathetic

little country into guacamole.  No, I've got a better idea.  I'll turn

this entire planet into rubble!"

            Feeling surprise but hiding it well, Russ didn't move.  "If

you want them, defeat me for them.  There is a place where we can

fight unobstructed," he said, grinning.  "I'm not turning my home

into what you so quaintly call, 'A lunar landscape,' and destroy

this place.  Not even you used to be that cold."

            Calming down almost instantly, he smirked, enjoying

himself.  "THIS is the home you decided to vacation to?  This

place is a dump!  I thought you had better taste!  This is low, even

for you!"

            His face becoming a disgusted frown, Russ then glared at

Zorpheus.  "Says the one who goes to titty bars and slum hoses to

get drunk and laid."

            "This coming from a man who has no sex drive at all!" he

snarled, clenching his real hand into a fist.  A soft, blue glow

surrounded his hand, a testament to the amount of energy gathering

there.

            Drawing a breath through his teeth in a hiss, Russ

remembered that the family was very close by, eavesdropping on

the two of them.  "I've just about had enough of this.  If you want

those damned balls, follow me.  If you don't, then leave.  I've got

no time to screw with some hotheaded former friend who now gets

pissed at every little thing!"  Clenching his own fists at his sides,

he raised his own energy to counter the gathering blast in

Zorpheus's hand.

            The glow disappearing, Zorpheus tossed his hand into the

air like some stuck up girl who just brushed off another guy.  "Fine

then.  I don't care if you choose the battleground.  I just want to

kick your ass and get it over with.  It's part of the reason I came

here anyway."

            "You're still on dream street, as always," Russ muttered,

turning back toward the house, keeping all of his senses locked on

Zorpheus, making absolutely certain that he wasn't going to plant a

ki blast into his back before they got to the house.

            Sliding back the glass door, Russ entered then turned

around, letting Zorpheus into the living room.  He looked around,

his face still a scowl.

            "This place could give Martha Stewart a heart attack. 

Who's the decorator, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?" he

sneered, poking one of the chairs with his real finger.

            Russ cracked a slight grin, trying to keep from laughing at

Zorpheus's sarcastic sense of humor.  Taking notice at a bit of

movement in his peripheral vision, he glanced at the rest of the

family coming around the front of the house, heading for the door. 

Feeling his heart beat a little faster, he hoped that Zorpheus

wouldn't do anything violent.

            Washu was standing next to her lab door, and she opened

it, gesturing for the two super saiyans to enter.  Russ went in first,

followed by Zorpheus, and Washu followed them in.  A moment

later, the rest of the family filed into her lab, keeping their distance

and being very quiet, hoping that he wouldn't do anything.

            Turning around from the noises behind him, Zorpheus

looked at the rest of the family.  Noticing the purple haired

princess, he flashed her a lopsided grin.  "And who're you

supposed to be?  The housekeeper?  You can keep my house

anytime you want to, if you know what I mean," he said, tucking

his thumbs into the lower part of his body armor, shifting them up

and down.  He started snickering at seeing her look of surprise,

turning back to follow Russ to their battlegrounds.

            Aeka became so enraged that her face turned red and a

vein protruded from her forehead, after he turned around, letting

his words sink into her mind.  Balling up her fist and drawing it

back to clobber him, Ryoko grabbed her from behind, holding her

tightly, but Aeka had become much stronger than she used to be,

and it was very difficult to contain the princess's rage.  Ryoko

shook her head back and forth like crazy, giving her an emphatic

'NO WAY,' Aeka calmed down enough to stop trying to hit him,

but she still seethed at his rude comment.

            Out of sight, Zorpheus grinned, knowing what Aeka was

trying to do.  He loved to tease other women from time to time,

and she WAS very beautiful.  Even the blue haired woman was

gorgeous.  In fact, all the women who followed them into the lab,

including the lab attendant herself, were good looking.  Wondering

how Russ fell into a household of women, he scratched his head,

but kept quiet.  What a waste of beautiful flesh.  He knows what

HE would've done.

            Making their way around the lab, squeezing between

computer units, shelves of test tubes, much larger glass tanks, rows

and rows of books, and various other equipment that Washu kept

in her lab, Zorpheus couldn't help but marvel at everything that

was in the lab.

            "Now THIS place has potential.  Add a fridge, a comfy

couch, maybe a few Borg alcoves in the corner for effect and this

would be a whole lot better place to live than that old shack we just

walked through," he commented, temporarily forgetting about why

he was in there.

            Upon hearing his comments, a vein in Washu's head

began thumping as she quietly ground her teeth, burying her pride,

knowing better than to anger someone that was far more powerful

than she could handle, even with all her lab equipment at her

disposal.

            After nearly a minute of walking, Russ turned around and

faced the group, but focused his attention only on Zorpheus.  "Our

destination is here," he said, reaching out into space.  However, a

moment later, a door appeared out of nowhere, which Russ

opened, revealing a bright, cheery place, which was a complete

contrast to the rest of the lab.  Walking through it, he turned

around and waited for Zorpheus.

            Glancing over his shoulder, then turning to face the

group, Zorpheus bowed, his cape flowing smoothly around him. 

"Don't worry, folks.  I won't be long, and I'll bring back some raw

meat for your dinner as well," he said, his red eyes reflecting the

light from the adjacent room.

            Looking at him in horror, Aeka stepped forward, getting

ready to tear him apart.  "Don't you dare hurt him!" she shrilled,

glaring at him with her own amethyst eyes.  "If you do, I'll…"

            "You'll do what, pray tell?" Zorpheus interrupted,

grinning.

            Continuing to glare at him, she remained silent and didn't

move, and the rest of the family looked at the two of them

nervously.

            Flashing her his most charming smile, Zorpheus turned to

step through the door.  "Oh yeah, she digs me," he said, and then

laughed cruelly, mocking her.

            Lunging at him again, Aeka looked like the Tasmanian

devil, and sounded almost as coherent.  Tenchi grabbed her from

behind, doing his best to restrain her, as she screamed various

insults and obscenities at his retreating form, not realizing that

Sasami and everybody else was nearby.

            Russ's fists were clenched tightly enough to crush a piece

of steel, but he held his tongue and watched Washu slam the door

behind Zorpheus, and saw it disappear.

 

            "I can't believe the nerve of that guy!" Aeka yelled, still

seething at Zorpheus.  "I hope Russ tears him apart!"

            "Aeka!  Are you nuts?  That guy could've turned you into

vapor had he wanted to, and there would've been nothing we

could've done about it!" Washu yelled, getting into the princess's

face.  "Calm down now, or you can leave!"

            Falling silent, but still breathing heavily, Aeka's face

returned to its normal color after a few moments as she forced

herself to cool off.  Sasami rested her hand on Aeka's arm and she

calmed down further, finally getting herself to relax.

            Tenchi and Ryoko looked at each other for a moment,

wondering what to do about Aeka.  She had become far stronger

than she used to be, as they could tell when they tried to hold her

back.  If she lost her temper again, they thought about what they

could do to hold her back.  Maybe having her talk to her mother or

something would keep her mind off of trying to kill someone.

            "Aeka?" Tenchi began, following Washu over to the

viewing room.

            Turning around, she looked very upset and distressed. 

"Yes?"

            "Maybe we should contact both Tom and your mom and

broadcast the battle to them.  You can talk with them too, if you

wish."

            "We should at least contact Tom," Ryoko said, resting her

hand on Aeka's tense shoulder.  "He is Russ's friend and I'm sure

he'd want to see him after the fight."

            Aeka nodded.  "Please do so.  Contact both my mother

and Tom and offer to broadcast the battle to the two of them, and

put me in direct contact with my mother."

            "I'll do that once we get into the observation room,"

Washu said, entering a part of her lab that looked like a big sphere,

about twenty feet in diameter.  The floor was flat, but the rest of

the room was round, complete with yellow gridlines not unlike the

holodeck onboard Tom's Star Destroyer.

            "This place will give us a holographic representation of

what will be going on in the other dimension," Washu explained,

summoning her computer and keying in several commands.  The

air around everybody shimmered, and then focused in the middle

of the field.  They were standing about five feet behind Russ, and

about twenty-five feet from Zorpheus.  They could both see and

hear everything that went on in there, but they couldn't feel

anything like the wind or the ground.  "The volume will be

reduced once the battle begins," she explained further.

            Aeka ran up to Russ and tried to grab him, but she passed

right through him as if he were a ghost.  Regaining her footing, she

looked at him in a mix of awe, hope, and fear.  It was the second

time she saw him look the way he did, and that look of his

frightened her.  It was the same look he had when he fought

against Kain, and mopped the floor with him.  However, this

opponent of his was going to be a far greater challenge.

            Slowly making her way over to Zorpheus, she stopped

about a foot away from him, looking him up and down, hate

burning within her.  The rest of the family followed, getting a

closer look of him too.

            Neither saiyan had said anything or even moved up to this

point, as they were just staring each other down, waiting for one or

the other to make the first move.

            "This is amazing," Tenchi said, walking around Zorpheus,

trying to poke him.  Each time his finger went into the hologram,

the image pixilated around his finger until he removed it.  "It's

almost like I'm actually standing next to him.  Look at that bionic

arm of his," he said, admiring the cables that were attached to it.

            "That's really a sad piece of workmanship," Washu said,

also checking out Zorpheus's arm.  "I could make something much

better looking, stronger, and more able than this piece of garbage."

            "I wouldn't do him ANY favors," Aeka growled, her eyes

trying to burn holes into the hologram.  "Russ is going to pound

you into the ground!" she yelled, getting into Zorpheus's face.

            "Aeka!  That's enough," Washu said, staring at the

princess.  "He can't hear or see you."

            "I really hope Russ can beat him," Kiyone said, looking

concerned.  "Zorpheus has just about the same amount of muscle

mass as he does."

            Everybody became silent, watching and waiting for the

two saiyans to get busy.

 

            The battlegrounds were identical to the place where they

just were, minus the house and shrine.  The lake was still there, the

trees were all here, but the place was uninhabited.  No buildings,

no nothing.  There weren't even any birds or other wildlife there. 

It was just a clear blue sky, a light breeze, and dead silence.  The

sunlight was bright and intense, and the air temperature inside the

room was at a pleasant seventy-four degrees.

            "So this is your digital playground, eh?  Where are the

swing sets?" he asked, looking around.

            Russ glared at him.  "Stuff it, wise guy.  This place is real,

but in a different dimension."

            Pointing at his eye that had a scar running over it, he

grinned.  "The eye implant pretty much tells me that this entire

environment is hardly more than Astroturf."

            Thinking a moment, Russ started chuckling.  "Then you

need to have it checked.  You're becoming more and more like

Darth Vader every time I see you."

            "Although I can't say that I'm your father, I can still kick

your whiny farmboy ass," he said, throwing off his cape and

crouching into a defensive stance.

            "The only asskicking that will be done here is by yours

truly," he shot back, putting his fists out in front of himself,

preparing to fight, letting his grin fade back into his blank stare.

            "When the devil turns the A/C on in Hell, maybe!  In case

you never noticed it when we last split ways, I was far more

powerful than you, and on top of that, I'm willing to bet a million

that I still am."

            "You're full of it," he returned, suddenly feeling a tinge

of fear, but he quickly buried it.  "You and I were almost always

equal.  Nothing has changed.  I knew you were training and I have

been too," he said, relaxing a little.  "It's a shame you set your

mind on immortality.  It's the dumbest obsession that you've ever

come up with."

            Zorpheus let out an emphatic yawn, enhancing it by

waving his hand in front of his mouth.  "Your idealism about

mortality is soooooooo trite.  Boundaries were meant to be broken,

and who better to do it than I?  Death is just another enemy to be

defeated, and the Dragonballs will give me the power to do it."

            Cracking a slight grin, Russ kept himself under control. 

"That's what you think."

            Narrowing his eyes, Zorpheus's visage changed to a cold,

hard stare.  "You're up to something.  Spit it out."

            "Since we're behind closed doors and locked away, I may

as well spill the beans.  I found the Dragonballs and did something

to them that you're not going to be happy about," Russ said,

drawing a curious, but angry look from his opponent.

            "I grow tired of your jabbering.  You better say what you

did to them while you still have a working jawbone to talk with,"

he growled.

            Becoming concerned, Russ scratched his head.  "What's

wrong with you anyway?  You've become a major jackass since

the last time I saw you.  What's going on with you?  Why the

impatience?  I at least thought you'd be more cool, calm, and

cooperative like you used to be."

            "Hello?  Anybody home?  I'm not going to waste my time

by answering your stupid questions.  You are answering mine. 

Now here's all you have to tell me, and I'll spell it out for you. 

What.  Did.  You.  Do.  To.  The.  Dragon.  Balls?"

            Sighing to himself, Russ folded his arms over his chest,

drawing himself up to his full height.  "You may as well kiss your

dreams of immortality goodbye.  The Dragonballs cannot grant

that anymore.  Not since I modified them."

            His eyes becoming an inferno, his hair rising slightly from

his anger, his eyes bored straight into Russ's.  "You did what?" he

said, his voice silent and full of deadly intent.

            Looking back at him, Russ cocked his head to the side. 

"Do I need to spell it out for you, stupid?  The Dragon can NOT

grant immortality anymore.  I banished that ability.  And you can

forget about wishing for him to regain it too, since I made sure that

wouldn't happen.  You lose, Zorpheus," he said, triumphantly.

            Zorpheus's eyes went to the land in front of him, his teeth

clenched together with his veins bulging out of his forehead.  His

arms went slack and dangled at his sides, but his fists were balled

up into fists so tight that crimson began to drip from his gloves and

fall to the ground.

            "Sorry.  Cheating destiny and fate is something that I

don't dare do, or let anybody else play with.  It is not right and

shouldn't ever be done.  Immortality is an evil thing.  Frieza

wanted it.  Garlic Junior wanted it.  Even Cell wanted it.  Every

single villain that ever existed wanted it, and you're becoming a

part of it.  Is that what you want?" Russ asked, feeling his

adrenaline rise.

            Suddenly going completely limp, Zorpheus looked like he

was going to fall over, until he started laughing.  It came softly at

first, steadily increasing to the point until he almost started rolling

around on the ground, laughing.  Putting his cybernetic hand to his

forehead, he used it to support himself, trying to overcome his

laughing spasms.

            Looking at him in complete astonishment, Russ's eyes

became very wide.  "Have you lost your mind?  What the hell is

wrong with you?"

            Finally calming down, a huge grin on his face, Zorpheus

looked at Russ with the most insane visage he had ever mustered. 

"I'll be just fine… when I skin you alive and feed you to the

vultures!" he screamed, flying wildly at Russ, letting loose a

hailstorm of punches at his head.

 

            "My god, look how fast he is!" Tenchi yelled, watching

Zorpheus sail over to Russ.  In nearly an instant, Zorpheus was

planting fist after fist into Russ's body, causing him to stumble

backwards.

            "Fight back!" Aeka screamed, watching Russ get

pummeled, Zorpheus's fists going back and forth relentlessly. 

Every punch he threw landed, nailing Russ in the face, his chest,

his legs, arms, and stomach.

            Watching Russ fall to the ground, the entire family looked

at the spectacle in horror, totally blown away that someone was

able to do what they just did to a man who has never even been

touched, or seemed incapable of harming.

            Zorpheus stood over him, his real fist glowing with

energy as he drove it toward Russ's face, but Russ saw it coming

and nodded his head to the side, letting his fist slam into the dirt,

causing the ground to explode from the impact, making dirt, dust,

gravel and rocks go everywhere like shrapnel.  The ground inside

the sphere shook, and the sound of rattling metal became apparent.

            "What the hell was that?" Ryoko asked, feeling it too.

            "I don't understand!" Washu yelled, summoning her

laptop.  After keying several commands and taking various

measurements, she looked up at the massive crater Zorpheus just

caused, the dust clearing.  "These guys are so strong that the

shockwaves of their battle are able to pass through the sealed

doorway!  This was not expected."  Typing several additional

things into her laptop, he sighed.  "It shouldn't get any worse than

that though.  The regular Earth dimension won't feel any of this,

but my lab will."

            "Russ is gone!" Sasami said, peering into the crater. 

However, she looked up and saw a faint image of another man

standing at the edge of the crater.  "Whew, he's safe.  Man, he's

fast."

            "We haven't seen anything yet," Aeka said, folding her

arms over her chest, standing tall.  "Russ wasn't even hurt by all of

that.  Everything will be fine.  You'll see," Aeka said, feeing very

confident.

            Everybody else quieted down and watched the battle

unfold.

 

            "Did you see that?" Misaki said, in complete awe.  "I've

never seen anybody move that fast before.  Not even Russ did

those kinds of moves while he was here."

            The King of Jurai sat back in his throne, his eyes locked

on the viewscreen, completely taken aback over what he just

witnessed.  "That is impressive," he said at last.

            "I hope Russ can defeat him.  They're both just playing

with each other right now," Kamidake said, looking at both Russ's

and Zorpheus's expressions.

            Azaka nodded.  "They're testing each other, probably to

see how far each of them has progressed," he added.  "This is far

from over."

            Funaho remained silent, watching the battle.

 

            "Sir!  We're ready to go into hyperspace on your mark,"

Sakuya said, sitting behind the helm of the Imperial Star Destroyer

Gray Wolf.  "Course laid in for Earth."

            Tom saw what Zorpheus did to Russ, and it was only a

matter of giving the order to move out.  "Inform the rest of the

fleet to stay here and protect the super star destroyer."

            The communications officer relayed the message to the

remaining ships, getting a response from each of them in turn.  "It

is done, captain!" he said, looking at Tom.

            "Good.  Sakuya, take us out.  Once we're clear of the

gravity well, enter hyperspace, normal cruising speed."

            "Yes sir!" she said, keying the commands into the

console.  The ship shuddered slightly and the sound of the engines

coming to life could be heard, as the ship lumbered out of orbit of

Tom's home planet.

            "How long until we reach Earth?" Tom asked, sitting

down in his chair.

            "Approximately three hours, twenty five minutes."

            "Keep a clear signal on the battle between Russ and

Zorpheus.  Re-broadcast it through the rest of the ship.  Everybody

knows him and they'll want to see the outcome of this battle," Tom

ordered, drumming his fingers together.  "You better not lose,

Russ," he muttered under his breath.  "That woman is still waiting

for you."

            Upon reaching the edge of the planetary system, Sakuya

gave a countdown and upon reaching zero, the ship entered

hyperspace, heading toward Earth.

 

            "Do you feel better now?" Russ asked, standing at the

edge of the crater that Zorpheus caused, his arms folded over his

chest, standing tall.  He looked completely unscathed, except for a

little dirt on his clothes.

            "The fun is just beginning, dog meat.  I hope you're not

counting on mercy, because I am offering none.  You will never

again see real sunlight," he threatened, raising his arms in a

protective stance.

            Russ frowned.  "I don't get it.  You used to listen to

reason.  Why are you acting like this?"

            Zorpheus narrowed his eyes slightly.  "You know,

immortality would've saved Laurie."  Seeing Russ's surprised

expression, he grinned, launching himself at Russ, trying to

dropkick him in his jaw.  However, Russ saw it coming and he

caught both of Zorpheus's feet, and then redirected his momentum

straight into the ground, causing a huge crash.

            "You leave Laurie out of this.  Fate can be a cruel thing,

but cheating it is even worse!" he yelled, looking at the hole

Zorpheus just created.

            Flat on his back, Zorpheus's face became a disgusted

frown.  "What a load of bull you're shoveling!  You mope around

for years after the fact, yet you claim that giving her the ability to

live through your act of negligence would make you want her less. 

You're full of it.  You hate death, but you hate life more!" he said,

flying out of his crater and landing a good distance away.

            Russ felt his emotions begin to boil at his attacks on his

first love.  "The only bull that's being said is what is coming out of

your mouth!  I loved Laurie, and at the time, I would've died in her

place!" he yelled, charging Zorpheus, sticking out his knee, trying

to nail him in his gut, but Zorpheus zanzokened away, and

vanished from sight.  Stopping his advance, he landed on the

ground, using his senses to try to find Zorpheus, but he lowered his

power to almost nothing and he could just barely make out his

energy.  Looking off toward the trees, he could faintly feel

something there, but he couldn't pinpoint it exactly.  Crouching

down into a more defensive stance, he patiently awaited for

Zorpheus to make another move.

            "Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Russ yelled,

becoming impatient.

            Appearing to his left, Zorpheus rocketed straight at his

opponent, his fist outstretched, trying to plow into Russ's face. 

Feeling it coming, Russ leaned back to avoid the punch, but he

wasn't fast enough and it caught him high on his cheek, snapping

his head to the side and nearly knocking him over.

            "You're better than I remember," Russ said, turning back

to face Zorpheus, who stood about two feet away.

            "Am I?  Or did living with these weaklings make you

soft?"

            His eyes directed straight into Zorpheus eyes, he relaxed

slightly.  "Not at all.  Actually, I've grown quite accustomed to

their way of life, but it has by no means made me soft.  Allow me

to demonstrate," he said, pulling back his fist at such a high rate of

speed that Zorpheus didn't see it, until it smashed into his mouth,

causing him to stagger backward and spit out a mouthful of blood,

a large shockwave emanating from the force of the impact.

            Caught off guard, he growled something to himself and

unleashed a small, blue ball of ki at Russ's chest.  He saw it

coming and put up both his hands to block it, but as soon as the

ball touched his hands it exploded, enshrouding him in smoke. 

The wind was brisk and the smoke blew away quickly, but Russ's

hands were singed and smoking.

            "Oww," he muttered, letting a slight grin creep onto his

lips.

            "You like that?  Here's a few more!" he yelled, pushing

his hands back and forth like pistons, unleashing a barrage of small

ki blasts.

            All the balls screamed toward Russ, but just before they

contacted him, he blurred to the side, just far enough to let all the

balls sail harmlessly past.  Cupping his hands to the side, blue

energy gathered and glowed intensely, ready to be released.  "Eat

this!  Kamehame… HAAAAA!" he yelled, releasing the built up

energy in Goku's signature move, letting the blue beam roar

toward Zorpheus.

            Watching the beam head for him, he leapt into the air a

short distance and let the beam sail under him, then pushed off of

the beam as if playing leapfrog.  Twisting his body and spinning,

he let off four small yellow ki blasts, but only one out of the three

got anywhere near Russ.  He ducked under it to avoid it, but

Zorpheus grinned, as that was exactly what he was hoping for.  All

four balls stopped for an instant, until Zorpheus closed his hand,

causing all four to focus on central point.

            Seeing two out of the four balls head at him, Russ put out

his hands and blocked the ones in front of him, but the two that

were behind him smashed into his back, exploding on impact,

knocking him to the ground, burying his face in the dirt.  After a

moment, he struggled back to his feet and felt something hot and

sticky on the side of his face.  Reaching up to feel it, his fingers

became covered in a small amount of crimson.  "I've just about

had enough of this warm-up," he growled, wiping the blood off the

side of his face.

 

            The entire family watched in awe, and was in complete

shock that Russ was actually injured.  It was the first time they had

ever seen him shed a drop of blood, no matter what had happened

to him.

            "He's… hurt," Aeka said, her face pale and filled with

worry.  "I've never seen him hurt before."

            Washu also looked at him in concern.  "Those energy

balls had enough power in them to blow up a mountain.  Frankly,

I'm surprised a small cut is all he got from that explosion," she

said, her hand shaking very slightly.

            "They're using homemade fireworks!" Mihoshi said,

remembering the ki blasts.  "But how come they're not pretty like

the ones we saw at the Startica Festival?"

            "Shut up, Mihoshi!" Kiyone yelled, looking fearfully at

Aeka, who looked about ready to kill her.  "This isn't the time for

your stupidity!"

            Ryoko and Tenchi both watched the event in amazement. 

They had both been trying to follow their movements around, but

at points, they moved too fast, even with their enhanced senses. 

Seeing more and more of what these two warriors were capable of,

they began to wonder if there were still others that were just as

powerful as they were, if not stronger.

            "Can you believe this?" Tenchi asked, looking at Russ,

who finally returned to his feet, his visage a mask of anger and

impatience.

            "I'm scared, Tenchi.  I'm really, really scared.  People

used to cower in fear over me when I was a space pirate, but these

guys make that look like a grain of sand on the beach," she said,

holding onto Tenchi.  "I'm so glad Washu made that separate

dimension for them to fight in."

            Tenchi nodded.  "Even with them being in that separate

dimension, some of their energy is bleeding through the sealed

doorway and affecting this dimension.  Just their punches are

enough to slightly shake the floor in here, and their energy blasts

almost feel like a small earthquake, and they're not even warmed

up yet!"

            "When I sparred against Russ, he'd only use his energy to

distract me, and he'd never attack me with it.  This is the first time

I've seen him turn that energy on another man," she said,

worriedly.  "He's really serious about stopping him, and Zorpheus

is bent on killing him!"

            "Second time, actually.  Remember what he did to Kain? 

Remember the size of that energy blast?" Tenchi said, his eyes

growing a little wider.  "I don't even think that was the peak of his

power either.  Even though the blasts that he's thrown so far have

been smaller, they're almost as powerful.  Look at the ground

where the Kamehameha wave went over," he said, pointing to a

bare strip that went from Russ's former position to where Zorpheus

was standing a little while ago.  "His energy never even touched

the ground, but look what it did to it."

            "Russ will win," Aeka said again, eavesdropping on both

Tenchi and Ryoko.  They turned around and looked at her, and she

had nothing but an aura of confidence around her.  "He will not

fail.  He promised us that everything would be okay."

            "That's right," Sasami said, standing next to her sister, her

face determined.  "He promised me that he wouldn't die and he

promised me that all of us will be safe.  I've never known him to

lie so I believe him," she said, clenching her small fists together.

            "But it wasn't supposed to be this way!" Ryoko said,

pointing at Zorpheus.  "He's supposed to be almost like Russ, or so

he said.  He's far meaner, more callus, and evil than even Russ

thought he was!"

            "I don't understand it," Aeka said, shaking her head. 

"But Russ will stop him.  I have faith in him, and not only that, he

has a second reason to win."

            Looking at Aeka in curiosity, the family waited for her to

explain herself.  Misaki and Funaho were also listening in on their

conversation, wondering what Aeka was going to say.

            "Russ will be my boyfriend if he wins," she finally said,

drawing awestruck expressions from everybody around the room.

            "You're kidding!" Misaki yelled, her face filling the

viewscreen, but Asuza frowned deeply.  "He finally said he'd date

with you!?"

            Aeka nodded, blushing, and smiling.  "Yes.  He told me

last night.  I almost didn't believe it at first, since he has done

nothing but reject me up until now, but it came as the most

pleasant surprise I could've ever had."

            Sasami gasped, looking at her with renewed hope.  "He's

going to stay with us?" she asked, tears at the corners of her eyes. 

"Is he really going to stay here and be my big brother?"

            Nodding her head, Aeka smiled.  "Yes.  My wish has

finally been realized, and I couldn't be happier."

            "That barbarian has no business…" Asuza began, but

wound up finding a pair of hands over his mouth, and two very

stern glares aimed at him.  Glancing back at the viewscreen, both

Misaki and Funaho grinned.

            "Good luck with him, Aeka," Misaki congratulated. 

"We'll come to visit you and vacation with you for a little while,

and to properly congratulate you two and give you our blessings,"

she said, smiling, tears at the edges of her amethyst eyes.  "My

little girl is growing up so fast…"

            "Mother!" Aeka yelled, becoming embarrassed.

            "It looks like they're ready to begin fighting again,"

Washu indicated, watching Russ clench his fists at his side, glaring

at Zorpheus.  "Round two."

 

            Zorpheus started laughing.  "This is getting amusing!"

            "You sick little monkey," Russ spat, raising his fists. 

"You always were a slightly better fighter and I can see you

learned a few new tricks, but I am still the stronger one."

            Shaking his head, Zorpheus spat out a small amount of

leftover blood from Russ's punch.  "And you're always quick to

throw around your raw power, but you never take the time to learn

how to fully use it.  Too bad for you, because I still remember me

being the stronger one before we parted ways, and unless flower-

sniffing gave you some added strength while you were here, you're

a very far cry from where I am now," he sneered, proudly.

            Russ narrowed his eyes, deciding to call Zorpheus's bluff. 

"You have no idea how far I've progressed.  I'll take that

arrogance of yours and shove it where the sun don't shine in a

minute."

            "Talk, talk, talk.  Do it already," he shot back, folding his

arms over his chest.

            As if turning on a light switch, a huge golden flash

erupted around Russ, causing chunks of the land to break apart and

float up into the air, creating a whirlwind of dust, dirt, and debris. 

The sky darkened slightly, turning an eerie shade of green.  Yellow

lightning danced around Russ, striking the ground and arcing

through the air like a tesla coil, until the earthquake started.  More

of the ground broke apart and began to crater under Russ, where

the intenseness of his energy forced the ground under him to give

way.  The sound of Russ's voice echoed for miles around, as his

aura expanded a little more, completely engulfing him in golden

flame.  His hair flashed an aura of yellow for an instant, and then

changed over completely, all the spikes of his hair now standing

upright, except for a few which dangled in front of his face. 

Completing his transformation, his black eyes changed to a

beautiful shade of green, which looked exactly like the sea on a

sunny day.  His transformation now complete, his aura contracted

back to normal, still pulsing around him, causing his clothes to flap

in the wake of his energy.

            Russ glared at Zorpheus, ready for round two.  "It's time

to show you what I've learned."

            Zorpheus smirked, clenching his own fists.  A gigantic

explosion erupted from where he was standing, also surrounding

him in bright, gold energy.  The sound of his voice carried as far as

Russ's, the cry of pain, excitement, and rage.  Pebbles rose off of

the ground, surrounding Zorpheus, and then disintegrated.  More

chunks of the Earth broke apart and rose up, racing away from his

position, sandblasting the landscape, turning it rough, barren, and

lifeless.  Even the mountain was being eroded away from the force

of Zorpheus's energy, and the resulting earthquake was causing it

to crumble.

            Standing tall, not flinching in the slightest, Russ patiently

waited for Zorpheus to complete his transformation.  Feeling his

energy climb above his own, he remained steadfast, wondering

when he was going to stop. 

            His energy pulsing around him, his hair tall and golden,

his one good eye a sea green and his bionic eye still red, Zorpheus

stood fully transformed, an arrogant smirk on his face.  "Bring it

on, fanboy."

            Russ grinned as well, the excitement of battle coursing

through every fiber of his being.  'Got to end this quick,' he

thought to himself.  His energy expanding around him, he leapt off

of the ground and poured a huge amount of energy into flying,

causing the ground he stood on to explode from the incredible

force, and raced at Zorpheus.  Stopping directly in front of him, he

brought his foot up directly between Zorpheus's legs with all the

force he could muster.

            Sounding like a bomb went off, Russ's foot stopped short

of Zorpheus's crotch by about an inch, his foot suspended in

midair, a result of his foot colliding with a ki barrier.

            "What the hell?" he said, stunned that his surprise attack

failed.

            Zorpheus didn't flinch.  Casually raising his bionic arm,

he swung it at Russ's head, trying to backhand him away. 

However, he missed as Russ vanished, just in the nick of time.

            "You didn't just attack there," Zorpheus said, sounding

like Booker T.  "TELL ME, you didn't just attack there!"

            "And you talk about me being a fanboy!" Russ sneered,

appearing a dozen paces away in mid-air and rubbing his ear, a

result of windburn from Zorpheus's swing.  "When did you start

doing that anyway?"

            Grinning to himself, Zorpheus brought his arms up in a

boxer's stance.  "Women, like underhanded little pukes such as

yourself, can be a tad unpredictable, so it's a little reflex I've

developed."

            Landing on the ground, Russ shook his head.  "Why am I

not surprised?  You've been kicked there quite a few times, right?"

            "Exactly thirty seven times…" he muttered, holding up

his index finger on his good hand.

            Russ's eyes bulged at hearing the number, and then he

started laughing.  "Speaking of which, you would've achieved

number thirty eight if Aeka wasn't restrained by both Ryoko and

Tenchi."

            Frowning, Zorpheus didn't find any of it funny.  "I don't

recall ever asking you for your opinion on my love life, castrate

boy."

            "I just care more about a girl's feelings, pervert.  I don't

let my crotch do the talking, unlike some people," Russ sneered,

crouching down.

            "Instead, you let your ass do the talking, you son of a

bitch!"  Vanishing then re-appearing off to Russ's left, he raced

toward his target, his elbow outstretched, trying to nail Russ in his

jawbone.  However, Russ saw it coming and he ducked, letting his

momentum carry him over Russ's head, but then Russ tried to

plant his fist in his own face in a vicious uppercut.

            "At least it doesn't stink like your crotch!" Russ shouted,

following through.

            Leaning back to avoid it, he redirected his momentum and

streaked back at Russ, trying to knee him in his stomach.  "That's

the smell of a man!  No wonder it stinks to you because you only

have yourself to compare to!"

            Zanzokening out of sight to avoid the knee, he reappeared

behind Zorpheus's back, his fists clenched together as he brought

both his hands down toward his opponent's head in a double axe-

handle.  "Your crotch gets kicked far more than mine does," he

shot back.  "I'm still at zero and I intend to keep it there!  My way

is far more comfortable to me, you pervert!"

            Strafing out of the way of Russ's fists, he feigned an

attack at Russ's knees, and then changed his leg's direction into a

snap kick at his head.  "You're also at zero in your sex life, so

that's not surprising!"

            "I'm saving myself for the woman of my dreams!" Russ

yelled, leaning back, feeling the wind of Zorpheus's foot sailing

past.  Spinning around in reverse, he swung his own leg at

Zorpheus's feet in an attempt to knock his legs out from under him

in a leg sweep.  "I hold a much higher value on love and sex than

you ever will!"

            "How can you find a woman at all if all you do is avoid

them like a pansy!?"  Flipping backwards and away from Russ's

attack, he stopped himself in mid-air, and then flew at Russ,

spinning with both his feet directed at his opponent's chest.

            Seeing it coming, Russ blurred out of the way, just as

Zorpheus would've made contact, and re-appeared in the same spot

just as Zorpheus cleared the area.  His yellow aura expanding

around him, he took off after Zorpheus, trying the same spinning

heel kick.  "Who says I avoid them?!  Just who do you think I've

been living with for the past year?!"

            "That doesn't matter!  You're still at zero!"  Flipping

backwards and performing several handsprings to get away from

him, Zorpheus righted himself and sent a small ki ball back at

Russ, trying to catch him off-guard.  "You're hopeless!"

            "There is a reason I'm still at zero, you pervert!" Russ

shouted back, watching the ki ball sail at him.  Using his left hand,

he swatted the ball away like a bug, where it exploded into the

mountainside, sending debris everywhere.  After a moment, Russ's

energy exploded around him and he hurtled himself toward

Zorpheus, throwing a small ki blast just in front of him.  He then

twisted himself to dropkick his former friend in the chest, sailing at

him at an insane speed.

            "Yeah!  It's because you're a castrated wuss with zero sex

drive who can't handle one unfortunate twist of fate!" Zorpheus

yelled, putting his hands out to stop the ki blast.  Catching the ball,

he rebounded it and sent it screaming back at Russ.  Seeing the

surprised look on Russ's face, he watched him abort his kick, but

his forward momentum kept him coming at him.  Grinning, he

simply placed his fist out in front of him, waiting for Russ to

simply run into it.

            Quickly throwing his arm out to the side, Russ let loose a

large beam that changed his direction to the left a little.  Cutting off

the beam but keeping his arm outstretched, he changed his folly to

a clothesline attack.  "You think you've got me all figured out,

don't you, smartass!?"

            Dropping himself to the ground, he completely avoided

the clothesline.  "Maybe it's because you're so damn predictable!" 

Flipping himself into a vertical handstand, he launched himself at

an angle to hit Russ with his feet.

            Looking behind himself, he saw Zorpheus's feet coming

straight for him.  Speeding himself up to avoid the kick, he blasted

off into the sky, climbing several hundred feet in a matter of

seconds, where he stopped, spun around, and waited.  Putting his

arms in front of himself, he blocked the dropkick, also stopping

Zorpheus's advance.  "Like you have any room to talk, you jerk!"

Russ shouted, grabbing hold of Zorpheus's feet, spinning around

like a top, and then launching him back toward the ground. 

Powering up his energy, he released a hailstorm of ki balls from

his hands, all of which followed Zorpheus's descent.

            Still spinning toward the ground, he heard the launch of

the many little blasts.  Quickly righting himself just before

impacting the ground, landing in a crouched position, he turned

himself around, now holding a large, broad blade.  It was around

three feet long, but it was about four inches wide, and the blade did

not shine like most, but instead, was a dull, gray color.  The hilt

had a violet jewel, and it looked like the Demon Sword out of

Record of Lodoss War.  Spinning the blade once, he proceeded to

deflect every single ki blast that came near him, each of them

careening off in some wild direction, all of them exploding once

they hit the ground, causing a massive earthquake.  Several of the

blasts were deflected straight back at Russ, and he had to

discontinue firing them to avoid his own ki balls.  The final blast

heading at Zorpheus, he positioned himself in a familiar baseball

stance, holding his sword over his shoulder.  "BATTER UP!" he

yelled, slamming the blast with the broad side of his sword,

sending it screaming back at Russ at outrageous speed.

            "What the hell?!" Russ yelled, putting his hands out in

front of him.  The ki ball exploded upon impacting upon his hands,

enshrouding him in smoke.  The wind was still blowing briskly and

it cleared the smoke quickly, and it revealed Russ who still

remained unscathed, aside from his smoldering palms.  Looking

down on Zorpheus who was still holding his sword, he slowly let

himself back down to the ground, checking out the blade.  "I see

you got a new Schwartz," he said, touching down.  "How the hell

did it block a ki ball?  Any normal sword would've been

vaporized!"

            "Well, in traveling across the galaxy, you can find some

pretty amazing stuff.  Things such as cortosis ore are one of the

many finds on my journey here.  You know what it is, don't you?"

he asked, grinning.  "It makes for a great ball game.  I'd let you try

it out, but you're liable to trip over and kill yourself with it with

your embarrassing inexperience at using weapons."  He then

chuckled.  "I should still let you try it.  It'll make my job a lot

easier."

            Now grinning himself, Russ brought his right hand out in

front of him.  "I too have learned some new tricks since we last

parted," he said, a green ball of energy forming within his palm. 

Squeezing it, the ball deformed and flashed into a six-foot staff,

letting out a hum not unlike a Jedi lightsaber.  "It's time to show

you how good I've become with a staff," he added, swinging it

around his body, and then bringing it to rest in front of him, his

green eyes staring straight into Zorpheus's face.

            Rolling his eyes, Zorpheus slapped himself on his

forehead with his free hand.  "Oh give me a break.  Why don't you

pull your pants down so I can see your Jar Jar Binks underpants

now, you fanboy," he said, assuming a guard stance with his

sword.

            "Laugh it up, pervert.  Let's see how your sword stands

up against this!" Russ yelled, heading straight for Zorpheus, the

staff over his head to make a decapitating swing at Zorpheus.

            Batting out of the way as if it were a fly, Zorpheus

redirected his sword directly at Russ's throat, intending on giving

him a whole new hole to breathe out of.

            Spinning the staff with the force of the blow, Russ was

able to block the sword shot at his neck, causing a shower of

sparks from the ki staff contacting the cortosis sword.

            Zorpheus pulled his sword back, then drove it forward,

straight at Russ's chest.  Thinking that Russ might see it coming,

he changed directions at the last nanosecond and went for putting

the blade into Russ's side.

            Moving to block the sword shot at his chest with his staff,

he saw Zorpheus change directions at the very last moment, and it

forced him to strafe out of the way, his staff too far out of position

to be of any use.

            Quickly seizing a moment, Zorpheus moved forward,

making dozens of little jabs with his sword, all of which were

being blocked skillfully by Russ's staff.  It moved so fast that all

that could be seen was a green blur, and it could've passed for a

solid shield of color.  Using the jabs as only a distraction, he

blurred to another spot and restarted his fast offense, again, making

many little jabs at various parts of Russ's body.  Just as he thought

Russ was suckered into the pattern, he pulled his sword back and

let it go, full force, into Russ's face.

            Seeing the sword coming, Russ could also see Zorpheus's

face contort with added strain, a testament to the force behind the

blow.  Nodding his head to the side, letting the blade almost give

him a shave on the left side of his head, he spun his staff around

and took a swing at Zorpheus's feet.

            Zorpheus saw it coming and swung his sword to block it,

causing another loud clang and a big shockwave from the impact. 

After each weapon contacted each other, Russ used the opposite

side of the staff to try to club Zorpheus in his head, but Zorpheus

was too fast and blocked each of those shots too.  Trying it again

and again, then altering his offense slightly to try to jam the end of

his pole into Zorpheus's head, he forced him to retreat into the air. 

Grinning slightly, he swung the staff around his body once, pointed

the end at Zorpheus, and chuckled.  "Powerpole, extend!" he

yelled, as the staff expanded in length, heading straight for his

opponent at amazing speed.

            "Heh, Heh, Heh.  He said, 'extend!'"  Taking his sword

with both of his hands, he swung it hard against the staff at just the

right moment, throwing Russ off-balance from the sudden

pressure.  His energy glowing about him, he shot back down

toward Russ, his sword pointed directly at him.

            "You're such an IDIOT!" Russ yelled, jumping to the

side, letting his staff fade into oblivion.  Just as Zorpheus touched

the ground, missing with his charge, he reformed the staff, and

then took a shot at Zorpheus's chest.

            "Yes, I am an idiot, and I worship stupidity.  You are my

new god!"  Bringing the sword in front of him, stopping the staff

with the broad side of his blade, he swung around and brought his

foot up to kick Russ in his head.

            "A stupid is, a stupid does!" Russ shot back, grinding his

teeth at all the insults, ducking under the roundhouse Zorpheus was

attempting.  Before he finished his follow-through though, Russ

took his staff and swung it at his leg that was still on the ground,

trying to trip him.

            Glancing down, Zorpheus saw what he was trying to do,

and with a technique worthy of Rob Van Dam, he lifted his other

foot, just as the staff whizzed by, and positioned his foot for

another kick at Russ's face.  However, instead of actually kicking

him, he took both of his legs and tried to grab Russ around the

neck, using a leg scissor technique that he had seen once before on

TV.

            Watching both legs head straight for his head and neck,

Russ blurred out of the way, narrowly missing the chokehold. 

Reappearing directly in front of Zorpheus, his face no further than

three inches from his opponent's, he clenched his right fist and

went to bury it in Zorpheus's gut.

            Shuffling to the side, he wound up his cybernetic arm and

punched Russ's fist, the impact of both hands causing a gigantic

shockwave that rumbled the ground, stinging Russ's fingers.  "The

spirit is willing but the flesh is weak," he said, grinning

sadistically.

            "Says you, Vader," Russ returned, shaking his hand from

the pain of the impact.  Spinning his staff, he began to take many

short and fast swings at all parts of Zorpheus's body, all of which

were being speedily blocked by Zorpheus's sword, showers of

sparks erupting from each and every impact.  Thinking he finally

got Zorpheus distracted enough with the many quick jabs and

swings, he wound up and swung his staff like a baseball bat,

directly at Zorpheus's head.

            Seemingly not put off by Russ's change in speed, he

ducks the staff, hearing it whip over his head, and in a heartbeat, he

clenched his sword with both hands once again, bringing the sword

down in a hard slash directly at Russ's exposed shoulder.

            Splitting the staff into two halves, Russ quickly put one of

the swords in between his shoulder and Zorpheus's blade, blocking

it in the nick of time.  Taking the second half of the staff, he swung

it upward, intending to slice Zorpheus in half from the ground up.

            Leaping into the air, he spread his legs wide, as if inviting

Russ to split him in half.  However, as the green sword came close

to contacting him, a loud shockwave erupted from colliding with

his groin shield.  "That had a nice tingle!" Zorpheus taunted,

bringing his sword up and slashing downward at Russ, as he began

descending from his leap.

            "Oh, you are SO dead," Russ snarled, using his other

sword to block Zorpheus's overhead shot.  At the same time, he let

go of the sword caught between Zorpheus's legs and gathered up a

significant amount of energy in his now free hand, pointing it at his

opponent's chest, just as Zorpheus came down and contacted his

second sword.  "Masenko, HAAAA!" he yelled, releasing the

yellow beam.

            Bringing his sword down in front of him, he angled his

blade off to the right, creating a forty-five degree angle in between

himself and Russ.  The beam slammed into the sword and

ricocheted off, careening off into the horizon, where the beam

finally dropped to the ground and exploded, creating a gigantic

mushroom cloud and shaking the ground in an Earthquake that San

Francisco could only dream about.  Grinning, Zorpheus didn't

even look like he put any effort into deflecting the beam.  "Give it

up.  As long as I have this sword, your ki attacks are effortless to

deflect."  Pointing the edge of the blade back at Russ, he swung it

forcefully at Russ's side using both of his hands.

            "Then I'll just have to get rid of it!" Russ yelled,

reforming his second sword and blocking Zorpheus's offense with

both blades, forming an X to catch his opponent's sword within

his.  After all three blades impacted, a power struggle ensued, with

Zorpheus putting a tremendous amount of pressure on his blade,

trying to make Russ give way, but Russ wouldn't back down and

he pushed back, neither gaining any ground on the other.  After a

moment, Russ's face contorted into a lot of strain, and with using a

tremendous amount of strength, he threw Zorpheus off of him,

sending him into the air.  Russ quickly followed, his swords at the

ready.

            Stopping in midair, about a hundred feet above the

ground, he saw Russ coming up to him.  Grinning, he swung his

sword in a circle once, grabbed the hilt with both hands once again,

and brought it down toward Russ using all of his strength,

intending to slice him in half.

            Expecting this, Russ took both of his swords, placed them

against each other, and then made a horizontal slash, putting all the

force he could muster against the broad side of Zorpheus's blade. 

A massive shockwave exploded from the point of impact, and

Zorpheus's sword broke in two, unable to withstand the force that

Russ put into his swing.  Only a mere quarter of the blade

remained on the hilt.  "How's that?" Russ taunted, breathing

heavily.

            Backpedaling a few meters, Zorpheus looked at his

broken sword in disbelief.  After a moment, his face became a

cold, hard stare that could've frozen Haiti  "Nrrrggggg… YOU

IDIOT!  Do you have any idea how long it took me to find enough

Cortosis to make a sword?!  And how far away the planet that has

it is?!"

            Letting his own swords disappear, Russ shrugged his

shoulders.  "Nope.  Don't care, really.  You told me that your

sword could deflect ki attacks and it did do that well, so you

basically told me what I had to overcome.  Wasn't too difficult,

actually," Russ taunted, grinning.

            Tightening his fists, Zorpheus let out a roar of frustration,

his yellow ki now burning brightly around him.  Taking what was

left of the sword, he hurled it at Russ at breakneck speed with the

aid of his cybernetic arm.  Russ swatted it away easily, but then

realized that the technique was merely a distraction as Zorpheus

split himself into four separate entities.  All four rushed him at

once and then began zanzokening around him in a frenzy. 

Everywhere Russ looked, there were dozens of afterimages of

Zorpheus and it was impossible to tell which one was real and

which one was not.  One of the real Zorpheus's emerged from the

storm of images and slammed Russ on the head, hard, with a

double-axe handle, sending him down to the ground, creating a

devastating impact that left another large crater, with Russ directly

in the middle of it.  Satisfied, all four duplicates of himself merged

back into one, and the one was breathing heavily, a show of how

much effort he put into his attack.

 

            "That's the first shot either of them have scored on each

other since becoming Super Saiyans," Tenchi said, looking down

at Russ, who wasn't moving.  "They've been going at it for almost

a half hour.  Incredible."

            Aeka looked like she was ready to faint, her face very

pale and wrinkled with worry and concern.  She knew in her heart

that the blow Zorpheus dealt Russ wasn't enough to put him down

for good, but it was scary to know that Zorpheus got in the first

shot.

            After all that training, all that exercising, straining,

meditating, and concentration, Russ looked to be losing the battle

at present moment.  She could see that Zorpheus was a slightly

better fighter, in the sense that he didn't expel as much energy as

Russ had during their scuffles, and he limited his movements as

much as possible, at least, as far as she could actually see.  At

points, the two warriors moved so fast that they couldn't be seen

by the naked eye or even with her enhanced senses, and the only

telltale signs of battle were the incredibly huge shockwaves that

exploded seemingly out of nowhere.  Each punch, blast, kick, or

other physical contact between the warriors triggered a minor

earthquake within the lab, and when Russ shot his Masenko beam

at Zorpheus, the lab felt like it was going to fall apart.  Washu was

very concerned, as she never expected both warriors to expel the

seemingly endless supply of energy and strength that they had. 

Their strength, speed, and power, was nothing short of

preposterous and godlike.  Not even Washu, who had been around

for over twenty centuries, could recall a pair of warriors who

displayed such radical strength and speed.

            The ki attacks both warriors were very new and different,

as Aeka recalled some her past experiences, remembering some of

the battles she had seen.  This was the first one that she had

witnessed where someone made an attack that was an actual beam

of energy.  Most of the time, when she watched two people fight

out their differences, the attacks were short, small balls of energy

that would explode on contact.  Once it left their hand, they had no

control over it, and nobody had enough stamina to keep their

energy focused into a single, prolonged attack.  But Zorpheus and

Russ were able to do it effortlessly.  It was nothing short of

incredible… and scary.

            Looking back down on Russ's broken form, a tear came

to her eye.  She looked down to see the pain on his face, and how

he didn't seem to want to move.  She had never seen him hurt

before, or even scratched.  She almost wondered what color his

blood was, since she had never seen it.  Clenching her fists

together, she tried to keep from collapsing in on herself, her heart

falling into a pit of despair and worry.

            "Aeka?  Are you alright?" Sasami asked, looking into her

sister's forlorn face.  "Aeka?"

            Blinking her eyes, she looked into Sasami's face, and

nearly lost all of her self control.  "Russ is losing," she cried,

falling to her knees.  "He's losing!"

            "It was just one shot, Aeka," Ryoko said, coming up to

her.  "He's a hell of a lot tougher than that.  Have some faith. 

He'll pull through," she said, resting her hand on Aeka's shoulder,

smiling down into her face, doing her best to give her hope.

            "How could someone be just as powerful as Russ?  This

is insane!" she yelled, burying her face in her hands.  "We Jurians

went unchallenged for thousands of years, and these two just show

up out of the blue and have basically set our impenetrable standard

to waste.  This almost seems impossible.  They're not even gods

and they're stronger than anything I've ever seen or even heard

of!"

            Watching her and listening to her outburst, Tenchi knelt

down next to her, resting his arm on her shoulder, in much the

same way Ryoko was doing.  "He'll be okay, Aeka.  Look," he

said, pointing at Russ, who was now dragging himself to his feet,

shaking the cobwebs out of his head, blood trickling out of the

corner of his mouth.

            What Aeka saw sent chills down her spine.  He was

actually grinning and looked like he enjoyed the attack Zorpheus

made on him, and he was wanting more.  "Why is he smiling?" she

asked, her eyes wide, her hands shaking.

            "I'm scared!" Mihoshi yelled, grabbing Kiyone around

the waist, squeezing with all of her might.

            "Let go of me, Mihoshi!" Kiyone shouted back, trying to

push her partner off of herself, but Mihoshi shook her head and

held on tightly.  "Stop it!  I can't breathe!"

            "No, no!" Mihoshi whined.  "I'm too scared!"

            "They can't hurt us here!" Kiyone grunted, straining to

break her partners iron grip.  Finally getting her arms to slide off,

she started to backpedal, but Mihoshi grabbed her around her right

leg, holding on for dear life.  "Give me a break!"

            Shaking her head, Ryoko turned her attention back to

Russ, who stood tall, looking up at Zorpheus with a chilling grin. 

Having been in many, many battles in her life, she had never

known anyone to smile after being pounded like that.  "Is he

masochistic?"

            "HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT?!" Aeka shouted,

standing up, her fists clenched tightly at her sides.  "He is most

certainly NOT masochistic!"

            "You called me that when you were torturing me onboard

your ship, your highness," Ryoko reminded her, as she recalled

how she laughed when the Guardians had tried to electrocute her.

            "This isn't the same thing!" she yelled back, thrusting her

finger in his direction.  "He explained it to me and everybody else,

but it's still unsettling to see it."

            Tenchi nodded his head.  "Yeah, that's true.  But at least

you're back to normal for the moment.  But, maybe you should

leave.  I think this fight is upsetting you a lot, Aeka, and the best

thing I can recommend to you is to actually not watch…"

            "I'm staying," she said, staring directly into Tenchi's

eyes.  "There isn't a damn thing you can do to make me leave

either."

            "But I'm only…"

            "I don't want to hear it," she returned, walking away from

Tenchi and toward Washu.

            Tenchi stood there, blinking his eyes in surprise.  "What

just happened?"

            "She just brushed you off.  But you know, I would've

done the same thing if it were you in there," she explained, keeping

her voice low.  "Actually, I'd probably be in there with you."

            Looking at her, Tenchi smiled.  "I know.  It doesn't

matter what we're up against, but I know you'll be by my side

against any foe."

            Coming close to each other, Tenchi wrapped his arm

around Ryoko's waist, and she put her arm around his shoulders,

as they both watched Russ and Zorpheus prepare to fight once

again.

 

            "Heh.  Funny how you're still grinning even though your

favorite toy has been busted," Russ said, looking at his opponent,

who floated about a hundred feet up into the air.

            "There will always be new toys to play with, but the look

on your face when you were smashed down to the ground was

priceless and irreplaceable.  Speaking of toys, allow me to show

you another one!" he yelled, pointing his cybernetic arm at Russ. 

A latch unhitched itself from within the wrist and the hand

swiveled out of the way, grabbing hold of the arm with its fingers. 

Inside, eight small holes presented themselves from behind the

hand, matching the pattern of a gatling gun.  A glow appearing in

the top hole, a tiny ki blast raced out of it and screamed toward

Russ at an alarming rate, and a second ball followed it up from the

hole going clockwise.  Shoving a generous amount of energy to his

arm, Zorpheus opened up and began spraying the area with

thousands of tiny ki balls, perfectly resembling Android 16's own

blasters.

            His eyes widening in surprise, Russ jumped out of the

way just as the first ki blasts slammed into the ground, building up

explosion after explosion.  "When the hell did you get THAT

installed?!" Russ yelled, flying back into the air, doing his best to

avoid the super high speed, miniature blasts.  Keeping the distance

between himself and Zorpheus almost constant, he made a mistake

of moving in a direction that Zorpheus predicted and he wound up

getting pelted by dozens of the blasts, causing burn marks all over

his clothes.  Cracking a grin and laughing, Zorpheus intensified the

tiny blasts, enjoying himself, watching Russ run away like a rabbit. 

Getting irritated at avoiding all the blasts, Russ charged up and

fired a small green ball of ki at Zorpheus, in an attempt to distract

him.  Faltering for a moment, the distraction worked, and it gave

him an opportunity to start a barrage of his own, making his

fingers into makeshift pistols, and then firing purple beams out of

both of his fingers and his eyes, the same attack Frieza used

against Goku.

            Instead of making a move to dodge them, Zorpheus

reattached his hand, put his hands together to form a triangle, and

centered the hole on Russ.  "Right on target.  KIKOHO

HAAAAAA!" he yelled, letting loose a huge, yellow beam.  It

hurled its way directly at his goal, absorbing the smaller blasts

from Russ as if they were fleas.

            Seeing this, Russ quickly put two fingers to his forehead,

watching the beam come closer and closer, charging his energy at a

dangerous rate.  Blue sparks came from the tips of his fingers and

then glowed yellow with a purple outline.  With the Kikoho beam

almost on him, he thrust his fingers forward, grinning. 

"Makenkosappo!" he yelled, Piccolo's signature move blasting out

of his fingertips with radiant purple and yellow energy,

corkscrewing straight into the Kikoho, the impact of both beams

creating a massive explosion worthy of the first nuclear bomb

dropped on Hiroshima.  The entire area became blinding yellow

light, trees were being blasted away like toothpicks, and the ground

was being sandblasted bare and lifeless.  The craters that were

made were replaced by one huge depression, going some five

hundred feet deep.  The mountain was blown clean away, leaving

only large boulders spread as far as the eye could see, the path

going away from the blast site.  Rumbling nearly a minute after the

impact, the noise from the original contact was nothing short of

deafening.  The entire area of what used to be a beautiful Japanese

shrine now looked like a barren desert, dead and without life.  As

the last of the noise went away, it became deathly quiet, aside from

the sound of the wind blowing the dust about.

            Russ was thrown down to the ground from the shockwave

of the blast, his face, arms, legs, shirt, and pants all loaded with

cuts and abrasions.  He almost looked like he went through a

carwash, without a car.  Crimson seeped from many of the wounds,

stinging pain coming from each and every one of them as his salty

perspiration ran into the wounds, becoming red itself.  Dragging

himself to his feet, his chest hurting from the blast impact, he

coughed once and spat up a mouthful of blood, spitting it off to the

side.  Clearing his throat, he stood silently, and waited.

            On the other side of the crater, Zorpheus picked himself

up out of his depression, and he didn't look too much better.  His

body armor was torn in many places, the armor plating was all but

gone, and crimson seeped from many of the cuts and contusions. 

He had a gash on his cheek under his real eye, and his nose was

running red blood.  Straining and grinding his teeth against the

pain, he returned to his feet at the same moment Russ stood up,

then both looked at each other in the eyes, and grinned.

 

            Washu, Aeka, Ryoko, Tenchi, Sasami, Kiyone, and

Mihoshi all picked themselves up off of the floor, unable to keep

their footing from the earthquake that resulted from the explosion

of the two beams.  Washu's lab was starting to look like a

battlefield itself, as glass jars fell off of shelves and shattered on

the floor, books and other text that were kept neatly in filing

cabinets were now laying in chaos on the hard concrete, and even

some of her aquariums were cracked, seeping water.

            Getting on her feet, Washu looked at her lab in a mixture

of shock, horror, and frustration.  "GOD DAMMIT!" she yelled at

the top of her voice.  "My lab is a total wreck!  That earthquake

has ruined months, no, YEARS of work!  And I can't close the

door down permanently, or they'll be sealed in there forever!" 

Collapsing back to her knees, she looked at the ground, tears at the

corners of her eyes.  "Why?"

            "Oh Washu…" Sasami whispered, coming over to the

scientist.  Without another word, she wrapped her arms around

Washu, holding her tightly.

            Gasping in surprise, Washu looked up into Sasami's

sincere face, and then broke down.  Grabbing the little princess,

she buried her face into her overalls and began to cry, letting out

all of her frustration at once, not caring who was watching her. 

The rest of the family stood by quietly, waiting for her to come to

her senses and become the strong woman that everybody knew.  It

was indeed a rare spectacle to see Washu show any kind of soft

emotion, such as sadness.  She quickly regained her strength and

made it back to her feet, looking at the holographic representation

of the separate dimension, gasping in horror.

            "I can't believe they're still alive after that," Ryoko said,

her eyes wide, looking at Russ and all of his cuts.  "This is insane."

            "Both blasts had enough power to destroy a planet,"

Washu said, keying in a few commands on her laptop.  Their

power levels were too high to measure, but she was able to

program the computer to make a good estimate.  "Since they pretty

much cancelled each other out, only that explosion was the result,"

she explained, wiping her eyes dry.

            "That was a huge impact," Tenchi said, rubbing his

bottom.  "This borders on surreal and fake, but if I weren't here to

see it, I would've never believed it."

            Aeka was standing off to the side, her visage locked on

Russ, and she could see the pain he was in.  Walking over to him,

she reached out to touch his face, but her hand passed right through

him, pixelating around her hand.  Quickly withdrawing it, she

clasped her hands together and looked into his green eyes, sadness

and despair entering her heart.  "He's losing," she whispered to

herself, turning around and looking at Zorpheus, who also looked

to be in a tremendous amount of pain.  "This can't be happening."

            Noticing Aeka, Kiyone came over and stood in front of

her, sternness on her face.  "Pull yourself together Aeka.  This

fight is still far from finished."

            "I don't care.  I want it to end now," Aeka responded,

wiping the tears away from her eyes.  "I don't want to see

Zorpheus hurt Russ anymore."

            "I know, but we can't do anything about it.  They have to

finish this on their own."

            Watching Russ lift off into the air, he hovered about fifty

feet above the ground, clenched his fists, and took up his favorite

stance, ready to continue.  Zorpheus said nothing, as he too, lifted

off of the ground, ready to continue.  Without another word, both

warriors flew at each other, punching and kicking at such a rapid

pace that it was nothing but a blur to everybody.  Numerous

shockwaves exploded from each blocked punch or kick, and it

continued to shake the floor they stood on.

            Washu just shook her head and continued to focus on the

battle, not caring about her lab anymore, but now more interested

in the outcome of this confrontation.  Eyeing Aeka, she knew that

something was building up inside of the princess like a bomb

waiting to go off.  Knowing the princesses feelings toward Russ,

she sincerely hoped she'd listen to her head rather than her heart.

 

            "Isn't this exciting, Funaho?" Misaki asked, watching the

battle continue.  "He's so incredibly strong, and so is Zorpheus. 

I've never seen anything like it before.  Aeka really picked a

beefcake this time, didn't she?"

            Giggling quietly, Funaho nodded her head.  "Russ looks

so strange with his yellow hair and his green eyes.  That's one of

the wildest things I've ever seen."

            "Yeah!  He does look rather odd, but very handsome in

his current form.  But that's the transformation into a Super

Saiyan.  Did you see how much his speed and power increased

since turning into that?" she asked, her eyes sparkling.  "Aeka

deserves someone who can protect her like he can.  There isn't

another man alive that could harm her with him by her side."

            "Except for that man," Asuza pointed out, thrusting his

finger toward Zorpheus, who continued to punch and kick at Russ. 

"He seems to be doing a pretty good job of pounding Russ into the

ground."

            "They're pretty much equal, actually," Azaka pointed out,

doing his best to keep his attention on their movements, trying to

learn some new moves from the battle.  "After that blast, they're

basically on the same fighting ground."

            "I agree," Kamidake said, also watching the battle in

complete concentration.  "Their power, energy, and strength are so

preposterous that they'd probably be more likely to kill each other

than have a single victor."

            "I doubt that," Funaho said, glaring at Kamidake.  "There

will be a winner here, lest he break his promise to Aeka and

Sasami, and I do not believe he will."

            Asuza remained quiet, but he secretly hoped that Russ

would lose and parish.  It would make his job a lot easier to bring

his daughter back home to help rule the empire.  Besides, she was

to assume her duty and marry the man he chose for her, who would

best benefit the empire.  If, for some unknown reason that he did

survive, he began wondering what he could do to force her

daughter to come home.  Perhaps assassination?  No, that couldn't

work.  Who in their right mind would go and try to kill someone

like him?  He'd most likely see it coming, and even if he didn't,

any kind of weapon that currently existed probably couldn't affect

him.  But perhaps, maybe if he threatened the planet that was their

current home, Earth.  Maybe if he said that he'd destroy the planet

if she didn't return home.  Maybe that would sway her decision. 

Besides, there would be no way that one warrior could do anything

to several hundred ships positioned around the planet.

            Grinning to himself, Asuza settled on an alternative.  He

wouldn't destroy the planet, as he didn't have the heart to do that,

but perhaps making it a bluff.  Already knowing how Russ felt

toward him, he'd probably convince himself that he was being

truthful and would follow through on his threat.  If that were the

case, he may be able to lure him off the planet and destroy him in

space.  There is no way a single fighter, even if it was the most

powerful one in existence, could take on a fleet of Jurian warships

by itself.

            "What are you thinking about, dear?" Misaki asked,

noticing his inattentiveness, as Russ just plowed Zorpheus into the

ground, following it up with a huge beam that exploded around

Zorpheus.

            "Aeka should come home to assume her duties as the

Crown Princess," he muttered, glaring at the screen, irked that

Russ seemed to rebound from the beating he took seconds before.

            "She'll come home, eventually.  But she'll probably bring

Russ with her," she responded, smiling.

            "That man has nothing to offer Jurai!" he shouted, his

face very cross.  "I will not hear another word of him coming

here!"

            "Actually, he does have something to offer.  He is the

most powerful being in this galaxy.  He is kind, considerate,

caring, and has enough power within his body to defend this entire

planet by himself, and there isn't another empire around that could

challenge him.  Bringing him here would be one of the smartest

things we could do," Funaho explained, unable to spark any kind

of response out of her husband.  "He is everything that a prince

should be."

            "Hogwash!" Asuza returned.  "He's a playboy, worthless,

and stupid.  He wouldn't know how to even begin to handle our

issues without the use of his fists!"

            "I do not agree with that at all, husband!" Misaki yelled,

getting mad.  "Sasami has told me that he is a good teacher and

listens to people's problems.  Russ could figure out our system in

no time, and he'd be a great leader too.  He listens and knows how

to talk to people, unlike you," she sneered, tired of his meanness

and inflexibility.

            The king turned his head completely towards Misaki, his

face a cold scowl, and Funaho's face was a look of shock.  "You

will speak to me with more respect, Lady Misaki," he growled, his

voice low and serious.  "My decision is final.  That man will have

no ties with this planet and our daughter shall come home to do

what she was meant to do, WITHOUT HIM!" he decreed, looking

at the screen, where Zorpheus caught Russ in the middle of a

punching spree.

            "Are you really so cold as to ignore your daughter's

feelings?" Misaki asked, very hurt.  "Doesn't what she wants

matter?"

            "We are the royal family and it is our duty to serve this

empire.  It's time she learned duty over her trifle feelings," he

returned, sitting back.  "We shall go visit them after this battle.  It

will take us a week to get to Earth, and we will bring an escort fleet

with us.  We will settle this once and for all.  I will make our

daughter come home with us."

            Funaho and Misaki both looked at him in a mix of shock,

surprise, and disgust, but they both knew that they couldn't do

anything about it, except go along with it.  It hurt Misaki very

deeply, as this was the first time he had ever turned down someone

so vehemently.  He basically ignored Tenchi, but he was very

vocal and very against Russ's relationship with her daughter. 

Never listening to her pleas about Aeka, he was completely

focused on enhancing his empire.  It almost didn't seem like Asuza

was himself, but bewitched in some way.  Nevertheless, the only

thing they could do was to continue trying to change his mind. 

Really hoping that Russ would stick by Aeka's side, there

wouldn't be a whole lot he could do if he was adamant about

staying with her daughter.  There wouldn't be a thing he could do

about it, actually.  Threatening him with force wouldn't get him

anywhere, because Russ could lay waste to even their best

warriors, while he was in his normal form, without even breaking a

sweat, while he'd be under intense gravity.

            Thinking about it further, she wondered why he wanted to

bring an escort fleet.  They didn't do that the last couple of times

they visited Earth.  Perhaps he felt safer with many ships

surrounding him.  She knew that he was afraid of Russ and what he

could do, but it still didn't explain it entirely.  There had to be

another reason behind it all.

            Turning her attention to the viewscreen, Misaki watched

Russ with a mix of hope, fear, and determination.  She could see

his will to fight and win, and it was strong.  However, Zorpheus's

was equally as strong, and she couldn't predict an outcome of their

continuing battle.  Thinking back to when Russ visited everybody

during Startica, she remembered an explanation that he had given

her over why he didn't want to become involved with Aeka, and

she could begin to see why.  "She was able to make a difference

with Tenchi.  She'd just get herself killed if she got involved with

one of my issues," he had said.  And now she had the proof she

needed.  Yes, she could parish at Zorpheus's hand, easily, but one

thing she had learned about many warriors is that they won't attack

those who are weaker than them… at least, very infrequently.

            "What are you going to do if Aeka still refuses to come

home, husband?" Misaki asked, becoming withdrawn.  "Are you

going to drag her here, kicking and screaming?  Will you ruin

whatever shred of dignity that she has left?"

            "I will not explain it again, Lady Misaki," he growled,

eyeing her.  "She belongs here, with us, to serve as the Crown

Princess of Jurai, as she was destined to be."

            Looking away, ashamed, she unconsciously clenched her

hands into fists, seething at his stubbornness.  There just had to be

a way to change his mind, and in reality, there was.  Russ could

change his mind.  All he had to do was say that he was going to

stay with their daughter for the rest of his life, and no matter what

they did, he would never forsake her.  That would do it.  The King

could bluster and threaten until he was blue in the face, but she

knew that he wouldn't tango with a Saiyan, even if he were the

most powerful Jurian alive.  Picking up her face, the corners of her

eyes moist, she looked at Russ and put her last bit of hope onto

him.  *You're the only thing standing in between Aeka and her

father.  I hope you fall in love with her and take her as your own

for the rest of your life,* she thought to herself, glaring at her

husband.  *I know you'd be miserable here, as you've found

something far more important to you than anything else in this

universe.*

            Funaho looked over at her, reading her changing facial

expressions, and realized that she was hoping against hope that

Russ would be the one to stop him.  Saying a silent prayer to

herself, she too, put all of her hopes for Aeka onto Russ, entrusting

him with her.  *Win, Russ.  All you have to do is win and take

their daughter into your arms and love her like no other.  That is

what she wants, and that is what both your mother and myself want

for you.  This planet can survive without you, but I hope you come

home and bring Russ with you, as the empire would become

invincible with the two of you.  You'd take this empire to even

greater heights than we have established.  That is your destiny.*

            Looking at both of his wives curiously, he knew they

were thinking to themselves, but he had no idea what could've

been running through their minds.  Deciding to ignore it, he

continued to scheme, developing and perfecting his plan for

bringing his daughter home.

 

            Landing on the ground after a vicious fistfight with

Zorpheus, Russ was breathing heavily and sweating profusely. 

Having many cuts, abrasions, contusions, and bruises, he looked

positively horrible, but Zorpheus looked exactly the same way. 

Neither warrior gained any ground on the other, as they continued

to fight to kill.  Zorpheus got in more hits, but Russ hit a lot harder.

            Reaching up to wipe a trickle of blood from the corner of

his mouth, he stared at Zorpheus from across the huge crater. 

"What the hell is wrong with you?  You're fighting to kill me! 

Why?" Russ yelled, still unable to figure out why Zorpheus was so

adamant about destroying him.

            "Because there is something about you that just pisses me

off," he returned, folding his arms over his chest, his bionic arm

containing several dents.

            Scowling, Russ shook his head.  "And what would that

be?"

            "Oh, there's a load of things, I'm sure.  Not just one

single reason.  Maybe it's your goody-goody attitude.  Maybe it's

the fact that you never bother to refine your fighting style.  Or

maybe it's the fact that you lead the ladies on like a pack mule with

a carrot dangling in the front of it."

            "Yeah, sure.  How do I lead the ladies on, bigshot?  Is it

because I don't take advantage of them like you do?  Is it because

when one approaches me about a relationship, I tell them no, but

they insist on pursuing one with me anyway?" he asked, shaking

his head.  "Even if I'm cold, they won't go away!  It's not my fault

they can't take no for an answer!"

            Zorpheus grinned, then scowled.  "Ha!  You are so selfish

that it's sickening.  Even if a lady were desperate for someone to

love, you'd turn her away anyway!  Don't tell me that you've been

living with a house full of women for a year and not ONE has

started coming on to you!"

            His face becoming downcast, Russ hung his head. 

"Actually, yeah.  One has been chasing me for an entire year so

far…"

            "It's the one with the purple hair, isn't it?" Zorpheus

interrupted.

            Looking up at him, he nodded his head.  "That's the one. 

Her name is Aeka, and she is the crown princess of Jurai," he

explained.  "A relationship with someone like that would be

impossible, and you know it."

            "Yeah, it would be impossible because of your selfish

desires to keep yourself from getting hurt again," he spat.  "I've

seen the way she looks at you.  I had to listen to her pathetic plea

to spare your miserable hide.  You don't deserve her love, Russ!  I

commend her for chasing you for so long, putting up with the fact

that your head is stuck up your ass so far that you can't see the

light of day when it comes to women!  You claim to know what's

best for them, but all you're doing is dragging them through the

mud and the briar bushes.  You DISGUST me!" Zorpheus roared.

            Russ's face becoming a mask of fury, his ki snapped

around him from his emotions getting the better of him.  "Shut

your face, you bastard!  You think it's worth putting her life in

danger at every turn?!  How many women have you been with that

are still alive?  Huh?"

            "Actually, they're all still alive and, Heh, satisfied," he

responded, grinning.  "I've never been able to hold onto one for

very long, but I make sure they never forget me!  Ha ha!"

            "Now THAT'S disgusting," Russ snarled, his eyebrows

furrowing together.  "People should choose one love and stay with

her!  I'd still be with mine because I loved her like no other, but

she was killed, and I never want to feel that kind of pain EVER

again!  What about Aeka?  What happens to her if I die?  You

think she's going to smile and jump with joy?"

            "Listen to yourself.  'What if this happens?'  'What if that

happens?'  'Oh, boo hoo, I'm such a loser.'  Who the hell freakin'

cares about that?!  I'm quite sure that girl back there in the real

world would prefer dying in your company than living the rest of

her life alone, without you.  The fact that you can't understand that

sickens me even more," Zorpheus explained, growing angry again. 

"And that is why I must kill you.  She'll have no choice but to

move on.  Maybe she'll find someone who doesn't hurt her as

much as you."

            "Argh!  It's not like she can't go find someone better

suited for her!  Yes!  I am a loser!  I'm a risk, a liability, and I

know I wouldn't be able to take it if she died because of me like

Laurie did.  It's for her own good and my own!  Besides, her father

would never allow it, and he's the king of a huge empire!  How the

hell am I supposed to compete with something like that?!" Russ

yelled back, frustrated.

            "YOU'RE NOT EVEN WILLING TO FUCKING TRY

TO MAKE IT WORK, YOU JACKASS!" Zorpheus bellowed,

clenching his fists together, his eyes a raging inferno of built up

emotion.

            "I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE, STUPID!  You don't

understand how a kingdom works, you pompous, arrogant

bastard!"

            Calming down a bit, Zorpheus took on a more caring

demeanor for a second.  "Why don't you stop thinking about

yourself for one second and think about someone else's feelings

for a change?  You think she cares about royalty?  Look where she

lives, for Christ's sake.  You think she cares about making her

father happy by marrying some putz with a stupid British accent

and a load of money?  Hell no!  She cares about YOU!  She'll go

through hell or high water to make it work because she's probably

that much in love with you.  But you don't care about her feelings,

do you?" he sneered, grinding his teeth.

            Russ shook his head, becoming more irritated by the

minute.  "Of course I care," he answered, his voice low and

defeated.  "That's the same argument she uses to try to make me

change my mind."

            "If you truly cared, you would return her affections and

forget about all of your silly apprehensions and fears.  But you still

can't think of anyone but your own dumb self and push her away

like she's some kind of pest!"

            "YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!" Russ screamed,

launching himself at Zorpheus, starting another flurry of punches

and kicks, his energy level continually rising by the minute. 

Staggering back, Zorpheus managed to parry most of the blows,

letting a few slip past his defenses, his face and chest getting nailed

several times.  Backflipping away, he avoided a ki-enhanced fist

that Russ planted into the ground, creating a gigantic explosion,

making rocks and other debris go flying everywhere.  "You freak,

I'm going to tear you apart!"  Withdrawing his fist, he again raced

at Zorpheus, making his offense far more intense than he had

before, but Zorpheus still managed to block and avoid most of the

onslaught, zanzokening away to the other side of the fifteen

hundred foot crater.

            Grinning, but breathing heavily, Zorpheus's eyes flashed

a gleam of evilness that Russ hadn't seen before.  "Don't fly off

the handle when you know you're full of shit."

            "You're no telepath, stupid.  You haven't figured out that

technique yet, so quit fooling yourself," Russ growled, his fist

shaking with intensity, ready for another go.

            "Hah.  You mean that old thing?  Who needs it?  But

about the purple-haired bitch… Aeka?  Why don't I just save you

all the annoyance and kill her for you?  You don't seem to love

her, and you say she's annoying you, so I'll be doing you a favor!"

            His eyes widened in shock as his jaw dropped in complete

surprise, but it quickly went to a rage that Russ had burning inside

of him for a long time.  Letting out a bloodcurdling scream, Russ's

aura engulfed him, causing the ground he stood on to disintegrate,

then caving in as he hurled himself at Zorpheus at a speed he never

anticipated.  "YOU'LL NEVER TOUCH HER, YOU SON OF A

BITCH!" he yelled at the top of his voice, burying his fist into

Zorpheus's gut, cracking and shattering the remaining bits of

armor he had.

            Doubling over in pain, Zorpheus dropped to a knee and

hurled, spitting up a mouthful of blood, and then howled in agony. 

However, he didn't have much time to concentrate on the one

aching part of his body as Russ's fist found its mark underneath his

jaw, sending him high into the sky.  Before he knew how far he

had gone, he felt another impact on his chest as Russ smashed both

of his fists into his chest in a double axe handle, sending him back

to the ground.  He impacted and created yet another depression in

the ground, and he let out a scream of anguish, surprise, and pain.

            Russ floated over him in mid-air, breathing heavily, his

arms shaking from the rage he felt a moment before.  "Don't toy

with me," Russ said, his voice low, icy, and deadly.

            After a moment, Zorpheus started laughing like a jackal, a

joyous grin on his face, mixed with strain, as he pulled himself up

and back to his feet.  "Who's toying?"  I'm merely offering my

services in disposing of unwanted trash.  Maybe I'll give her a

good time before I send her off to the next dimension," he said,

then started laughing harder, dropping back to his knees, and

clutching his chest in pain.

            If Russ could've become the devil, he would have at that

moment.  Gathering up a full head of steam, screaming like a

banshee, he headed straight for Zorpheus, his face contorted into a

look of pure hatred, rage, and determination.  Both of his fists were

outstretched, making him look like Superman as he hurtled

downward.

            Just before Russ hit him, Zorpheus took one step to his

side and stuck out his knee.  Seeing it, Russ couldn't stop in time,

and he wound up folding himself in half over his knee from the

impact.  Seizing another opportunity, Zorpheus quickly removed

his knee, dropped back a step and punted Russ into the sky,

satisfied that he found a worthy distraction to throw Russ off of his

game plan.  Instantly reaching his height by zanzokening multiple

times, he slammed Russ in the back of his head, hard enough just

to stop his ascent.  Quickly getting under him, he began punching

Russ in his face, chest, arms, legs, and any other surface that didn't

look damaged.  Blood flew off of Russ's body like water as

Zorpheus continued to pound him into hamburger.  It almost

looked like Russ was floating there, but the force of all of

Zorpheus's impacts was keeping him airborne.

            Russ never even tried to mount a defense, as he was being

pummeled like a punching bag.  Satisfied that he caused enough

damage, Zorpheus appeared above and behind him, pointed both of

his feet at Russ's back, then flew at top speed into his spine.

            Letting out a yell of agony, Russ flew at the ground at

incredible speed and impacted, his body creating a huge, hundred-

foot deep trench as his momentum was very, very high.  After a

quarter mile of skidding, he finally stopped, upside down, with

only his calves and feet sticking out of the dirt.  It took nearly a

minute, but he finally pulled himself out of the ground, his face a

complete mess of dirt and abrasions.  His left eye was swollen shut

and puffy, but he pulled himself back to his feet, ready to continue.

 

            "How much longer until we reach Earth?" Tom barked

from his command chair.

            "Two hours, thirty three minutes, sir," Sakuya returned,

watching the countdown meter.

            "Increase power to the engines to nine out of ten," he

ordered.

            Sakuya looked at him fearfully.  "We've never gone that

fast, sir.  We don't know if the ship can handle the stress."

            "This ship was built to handle this sort of thing.  May I

have nine out of ten please," he returned, his eyes never leaving the

monitor that showed the fight between Zorpheus and Russ.

            "Yes, sir.  Accelerating," she said, feeling the ship

shudder slightly as it increased its speed to near maximum.  "We

will arrive in fifty five minutes at this speed."

            "Good.  Monitor the engine power output and make sure

it stays within acceptable tolerances."  Glancing out of the large

windows, the colors of hyperspace raced past the hull at incredible

speed, as this was the first time he had taken his ship to this level

of velocity.  A very light vibration was present in the deck plating,

but it wasn't bad.  The inertial dampeners were the best that were

ever built, and he was very proud of everybody who helped build

his monstrosity.  He knew that it was probably the fastest ship in

the galaxy, as he had yet to encounter a race that could match his

technology.  However, the Jurians had quite a military as well.  It

was the first time he had seen a ship made out of wood that could

survive the rigors of space travel.  Nevertheless, even though his

ship was technically a warship, the weapons on his hull were to be

used for defensive purposes only.  He instilled that to all of his

crewmembers when they came onboard, and he told them outright

that he'd invite them to leave if they ever considered otherwise.

            Watching the battle recommence, Tom watched both of

their faces with concern.  It had been quite a while since he had

seen Zorpheus, as both he and Zorpheus were also good friends. 

Russ and Zorpheus were the best of friends as well, and they

always had a good time, or knew how to start having one. 

Zorpheus, at times, was funny as hell, and Russ would somehow

make everything he did even funnier.  He could recall times when

he literally rolled around on the floor, laughing to the point where

tears were flowing out of his eyes and his sides ached.  It had been

over two years since he had seen those two together, but what he

was witnessing was far from what he would've expected from a

reunion between those two.

            Having been friends for so long, he couldn't figure out

why they were trying to kill each other.  It just didn't make any

sense.  Sure, Zorpheus and Russ had quite a few disagreements,

argued a lot, and at times, got into fistfights with each other, but

not to the point where they'd try to kill each other.  He could tell

just by the looks on their faces, that they were not fighting to stop

each other, but to destroy each other.  Listening to their

conversation, he could tell that Russ was his normal self, but

Zorpheus had changed and had become… hateful.  Angry.  Mean. 

Callus.  They were all traits that Tom had never seen Zorpheus

portray; especially the way he addressed Aeka.  He was NEVER

cold to a woman.  Never.  He was very respectful, except when he

was being perverted, and he'd always keep his tongue in check. 

Ever since he had known Zorpheus, he could never recall one

instance where he had used the f word.  In fact, he swore about as

commonly as Russ, and that amounted to almost never.  But in

watching the fight between the two warriors, he could see a

definite change in Zorpheus.  It almost looked and sounded like an

entirely different person.  Tom knew that both Russ and Zorpheus

had split ways, but it was on neither good nor bad terms, but how

could two years change a man that much?  It didn't make any

sense.

            Drumming his fingers on his chair, he glanced around the

bridge, taking in each of the crew's interest in the battle. 

Everybody was focused on it, wondering who the victor was going

to be.  None of the crew rooted for one or the other, because they

were both equally liked, and a feel of worry was present

throughout the room.

            One thing Tom was certain of is that they were both going

to be severely messed up after their battle.  Russ looked to be in

worse shape than Zorpheus, and that made his mind wander to

Aeka.  Remembering her smile when Russ walked into a room,

when she waited for him on the bridge after she first arrived, and

how excited she felt around Russ, was enough to tell him that she

was probably going crazy if they were still living together.  He did

notice that Aeka and her family were nowhere to be seen, so they

must've been somewhere safe.  Washu gave him a brief

explanation of what was going on and where both Russ and

Zorpheus were having their battle, but it still blew his mind that

they were in another dimension.  That woman was nothing short of

genius, and he gave her a lot of credit for coming up with that idea.

            But he knew that Princess Aeka must've been going

through a very hard time, especially if she was watching the

confrontation.  She seemed delicate, emotional, and very worried

that one day Russ would leave her, even though at the time they

weren't a couple.  It made his own heart ache a little, as he

remembered what Russ told him on many occasions.  "Do you

think that a woman could even survive with me?  Do you think she

deserves to watch her love be pounded and beaten up all the time? 

Do you think it's fair to her to make her stand by and watch as I

parish in battle, if I do?  Of course not.  I'm not looking for love

anymore.  It just hurts too much," he had said.  "In a way, I had a

girlfriend, but I was never allowed to be intimate with her.  If I

were, I probably would've committed suicide after I defeated all of

those bandits, who raided her planet, just to be with her.  I never

want to feel it again.  That rage, that pain, was just far too much for

me to handle.  I know you had a wife, Tom, but she passed away

from natural causes, but it's far more difficult to learn that

someone was killed or murdered, as their life was taken away not

by the hand of God, but by the hand of another mortal, even if you

see it coming."

            Tom shook his head, thinking about Russ's way of

avoiding women.  He had so many girls come on to him that he

was almost on par with Zorpheus.  His cool, calm, caring

demeanor went very far in making himself attractive to the

opposite sex.  Of course, his buff body also did wonders for

bringing in the ladies.  Zorpheus was more outgoing and liked to

have a good time, sometimes, going a little too far, but they were

always respectful to everybody and especially the girls that wanted

them.  Some girls wanted a one-night fling while others were

looking for a more long-term relationship.  Zorpheus would always

turn away the ones who wanted the relationship, as he knew he

couldn't take a girl with him on his journey, but Russ would avoid

all of it.  He'd always politely decline, and a lot of times, would lie

and say he was already spoken for.  Even then, some of the women

after him would really pour on the pressure, just wanting a little

fun with him, but he'd always pointedly refuse, and walk away. 

He almost was a heartbreaker.

            Watching on the video monitor, Tom saw Russ remount a

desperate offense, showering the area Zorpheus was in with a

barrage of blue ki blasts, causing explosion after explosion. 

Watching them, Tom could also see that each of them had become

stronger, faster, and better at their fighting techniques.  Zorpheus

was always the one to carry a weapon, but mostly for show.  "It's

cool!" he'd say.  "What better way to have a guy keep his distance

without a fight than to have a big sword with you?  All the cool

people carry them!  Lina Inverse!  Gourry!  Hell, even most of the

giant mecha anime had swords for their robots!  What would they

be without their weapon?"  But still, this was the first time he had

actually seen Zorpheus use his blade.  But what blew his mind is

when Russ formed a staff out of thin air, resembling a lightsaber,

and how Zorpheus's sword was able to stop it.  When he was

testing different armor for the star destroyer, he had Russ throw

small ki blasts at various types of durasteel, and he picked the one

that resisted his blast the best.  But still, not even that could've

held up to a sword slash like the ones Russ had dealt.  He heard of

the name cortosis ore before, but he had never seen it, or believed

that it existed.  If he could find a chunk of that metal, he may be

able to have his staff analyze it and make a whole new armor

plating for his ships.  Armor plating that would be capable of

withstanding a battle even without shields.  That would be cool.

            "Tom?"

            Snapping out of his random thoughts, he glanced down at

his science officer.  "Yes, Larry?  What is it?"

            "Why are they fighting like that?  Aren't they supposed to

be good friends?"

            Nodding his head slowly, his eyes wandered back to the

screen.  "Yeah.  They were friends for as long as I can remember. 

They split ways due to the difference of an opinion, but I never

dreamed they'd want to kill each other at this point.  I wish I saw

the beginning of the battle," he muttered.  "They probably had said

what they were tearing each other apart for."

            "Do you think his girlfriend is watching the battle?"

            Tom grinned.  "Unfortunately, she wasn't his girlfriend at

the time.  I don't know if that fact has changed or not, but I can

guarantee that she is completely focused on this fight."

            "I hope that this outcome gets resolved soon.  I'd really be

upset if Russ or even Zorpheus parishes due to their injuries."

            "Yeah.  I still have Zorpheus's special customized fighter

in the hanger bay as well.  I never had a chance to give it to him

yet," Tom said, keying a command on one of his consoles,

bringing up an image of Zorpheus's favorite type of fighter.

            Larry sat back in his chair, scratching his head.  "This

should be over with soon.  They're both looking very fatigued."

            "I have a feeling that it's still far from over," Tom

returned, focusing back on the fight.

 

            Aeka was on her knees, crying, at seeing Russ get hit

again and again by Zorpheus.  He definitely wasn't gaining the

same amount of ground Zorpheus was, but they both were almost

equally worn out.  Having fought for over an hour, throwing more

punches, kicks, and jabs than all the karate matches combined for

the past year, she felt as if she were in there as well, her heart and

soul aching from seeing her love losing his life.  It was almost

more than she could bear.

            Sasami, Tenchi, and Ryoko were all around her, doing

their best to comfort her, but even they were beginning to worry

about Russ, as they too, could begin to sense that he was going to

lose.  They were hitting each other with enough force to destroy a

small planet in one shot, and their ki attacks were enough to

vaporize anything that was in its path, except for each other.  But

they could see that Zorpheus was getting in more shots than Russ,

and his hits were right on target.

            "Aeka!  Pull yourself together!" Tenchi said, shaking her,

trying to break the mental shell she put around herself.  "They're

not done yet!  Russ can still win this thing!"

            "Come on, sister!  Please try to relax.  Russ is still going

strong and he promised us that he wouldn't lose, remember?"

Sasami said, hugging her.

            "I'm afraid I can't concur with that, Sasami," Washu said,

banishing her laptop back into subspace, hanging her head.  "He

has been taking a beating far more than Zorpheus has, and even

though Russ is more powerful, Zorpheus is the better fighter.  Russ

will lose this confrontation.  It is only a matter of time," she said,

quietly.

            Ryoko looked at her mother in hatred while Sasami

looked at her sadly.  "What the hell is wrong with you?  How the

hell could you be so cold to Aeka and Sasami?!"

            "I'm only stating a fact, Ryoko.  At this rate, Russ will

lose.  His chances of pulling off a victory keep getting slimmer and

slimmer with every blow," Washu said, clenching her hands into

fists.  "I wish I could do something!  But even in their weakened

state, they're still far too powerful for even my most powerful

weapons.  The only thing that I could do is to destroy the both of

them, and that is unacceptable.  We have to wait for the battle to

end before we go in there."

            "That's beside the point!  You're basically telling Aeka

that he's going to die!  Don't you have any feelings for her?"

Ryoko snapped, seething at Washu's coldness.

            "Yes I do!" Washu yelled, tears at the corners of her eyes. 

"That man has found my son for me, and there is no way that I

could even begin to repay that.  Do you think that I don't want to

go in there and annihilate Zorpheus myself to save Russ's life? 

No!  But if there was a way for me to do it, I WOULD!"

            "I think you're full of it, Washu!  Even after he found

your son, you continued to be arrogant to him and push all of his

buttons!  You were mean to him on more occasions than I can

count!  And you expect me to believe that you like him enough to

lay down your life for him?  Bullshit!"

            "I behave like that to him because I like him!  You've

taken only a half dozen examples of where I tease him and you've

blown it far out of proportion.  If Aeka didn't want him, I'd be all

over him like greased lightning!  I've never met a man who was as

kind, generous, and easy going as him, not to mention handsome. 

He knows I tease him because I like him.  He's not dense and he

figured that out pretty quick, unlike my daughter who jumps to

conclusions!" Washu returned, her eyes angry.

            "Stop it!" Tenchi shouted.  "Stop it right now!  That's

enough!  This isn't the time for this!"

            Washu shot Tenchi a look that almost silenced him.  "I'm

sorry Tenchi.  She may be your bride to be, but she is still my

daughter!"

            Biting his tongue, Tenchi only glared at Washu, but the

argument had stopped.  Strangely, it had gotten very quiet in the

room, except for the sobs from Aeka.  Both Russ and Zorpheus

were down, barely moving.

            Slowly getting to her feet, Aeka's face wet with tears,

anger, frustration, and despair, she clenched her jaw, watching

Russ and Zorpheus get back to their feet, resuming their fight. 

"I…"

            "Aeka?" Sasami asked, looking at her changing

expression.  "Aeka, what's wrong?"

            "I…" she said again, her arms beginning to shake.  "I…"

            "Aeka!  What is wrong?" Ryoko said, standing in front of

her, looking into her eyes, which were ablaze in rage.

            "I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!!!!!!!!!" she

screamed, her green aura flashing around her.  "I'VE HAD

ENOUGH!"

            Backing off several paces from surprise, Sasami fell on

her bottom, looking fearfully at her sister.  Both Ryoko and Tenchi

also backed off, very worried about Aeka.

            "Don't do anything hasty, Aeka," Washu warned,

stepping over to her.  "There isn't anything you can do for Russ

right now."

            Not even hearing Washu, Aeka continued to energize

herself, and then she let out a scream that echoed around the entire

lab as she squeezed her eyes shut, the sound of her voice

reverberating again and again, resonating off of the walls, the

ceiling, the floor, and everything around the room.  Becoming

engulfed in white light, her clothing changed into her Jurian battle

armor, complete with the black streaks on her face, the brown,

pink, and purple armor complete and ready.  Reopening her eyes,

she slowly turned toward the doorway, making her way to the

other dimension.

            "STOP HER!" Washu shouted, watching both Ryoko and

Tenchi change into their battle clothing.

            Ignoring the pleas from both Ryoko and Tenchi, she

continued to make her way over to the doorway, ready to do battle,

or die trying.  "Do not stand in my way.  This is my choice, and

mine alone.  That is where I want to be, and there is nothing that

you can do to stop me," she said, coldly, her voice the equivalent

of ice.

            Washu stepped in front of her, challenging her.  "I will

not let you do something foolish.  Listen to your head, not your

heart," she said, standing her ground.

            Narrowing her eyes at the red haired scientist, Aeka shook

her head.  "Step aside, or I'll move you myself," she growled.

            "I will not."

            "Then I will move you," she said, raising her fist, letting it

go straight across Washu's face in a powerful backhand, knocking

her nearly ten feet away to crash through a shelf, causing the

beakers and the wood to fall to the floor in a loud clatter.  Glass

shards went everywhere and the shelving broke apart from the

force of the blow.  Looking back toward the door, Aeka continued

to advance.

            "AEKA!" Tenchi roared, getting in front of her.  "You've

gone too far!  How dare you hit Washu!  She's only trying to

protect you!"

            Her face wavering only slightly, tears still streaming out

of her eyes, she shook her head.  "Please move Tenchi.  I will do

the same to you as I did to Washu if you force my hand."

            "Listen to yourself!  Are…" he started, but Aeka put her

hand in front of his face.

            "I'm going to join the man I love.  I want to be with him

more than anything, and not even you will stop me," she said, her

other hand still clenched into a fist at her side.  "Please move,

Tenchi."

            Tenchi looked hard into her eyes, seeing the fire that

burned there, the passion that existed there, and the love that

flowed from her.  Listening to his head, he shook his head.  "Russ

can still win this on his own.  If you go in there and Zorpheus takes

notice of you, he may kill you.  That's not fair to Russ.  He would

want you to live, no matter what happens.  He's told you that so

many times that I don't think it could've been counted."

            "It doesn't matter," she said, looking down at the floor. 

"That is what I want.  I'm tired of listening to people tell me what

is best for me.  It's like people don't believe that I can think for

myself.  I'm tired of it.  I'm going to do what I want, this time." 

Dropping back a step, she took up a fighting stance.  "Stand aside,

Tenchi."

            Ryoko phased beside him, her orange sword humming

quietly.  "You'll have to get past both of us to get to Russ, Aeka. 

We love you and will do anything to protect you, and this is a part

of that love," she said, her face determined.  "There is no way in

hell I'm letting you in that room without a fight."

            "You'd be in there if Tenchi was the one fighting, isn't

that right?" she asked, looking at Ryoko.  "What would you do if I

were the one stopping you?"

            Hesitating for a few moments, Ryoko lowered her sword. 

"I'd do the same thing you are, Aeka."

            Tenchi looked at his fiancée in surprise.  "You're not

seriously thinking about letting her in there, are you?" he asked.

            Looking over at him, she smiled.  "It's her turn to do what

she wants.  Who are we to stop her?"

            "I will not let her in there.  She's just as important to me

as you are," Tenchi said, still standing ready.  "And what of her

sister?  The circumstances are way different at this point."

            "It doesn't matter.  Aeka loves him.  That's more than

enough for her," Ryoko returned, letting her sword disappear.  "I

will not stand in your way, Aeka, but I will try one more time to

talk you out of it."

            Aeka looked at Ryoko, the tears still flowing.  "Thank

you for understanding.  I never would've thought that you'd be the

one to encourage me to follow my heart," she said, taking a step

toward the door.

            Tenchi once again got in front of her.  "Stop, Aeka," he

warned.

            Reaching out to him, Aeka grabbed his clothes, lifted him

effortlessly off of the floor, and moved him aside, tossing him

about five feet away.  Tenchi had landed on his feet, but he was

utterly surprised at the strength the princess now possessed.  She

was powerful before, almost powerful enough to be the strongest

Jurian alive, but now, she was far beyond that.  Her strength had

gone much further than what it used to be, and he knew that it was

her training with Russ that had done it.

            Again, running in front of her, Tenchi stood firm,

preparing to fight, ready to do whatever it took to stop Aeka from

going into that room.  "Look at what you did to Washu," Tenchi

growled, thrusting his finger over to the scientist, who had finally

gotten back to her feet.  She had several cuts on her arms from the

broken glass and a large bruise on her face, but she looked very

worried and unhappy.  "This isn't you at all!" he yelled.

            Looking over to her, Aeka then looked back at Tenchi,

her facial expression remaining unchanged.  "I'm not the same,

Tenchi.  I'm in love now, and as you know, love changes a person. 

You're trying to stop me from being with the man I love, and I

won't allow it.  There is only one man who can make or break me

at this point, and he's there in that other room, getting the life beat

out of him.  I will not watch this any more.  I will stop it myself,"

she said, regally, maintaining a high level of pride and dignity.

            Tenchi shook his head.  "Aeka, you're…"

            "Let her go, Tenchi."

            Looking off to the side, Tenchi's face went to surprise. 

"Washu?"

            "She is a grown woman, able to make her own decisions. 

We've been treating her like a child, making decisions for her and

other things.  It's not fair to her to keep her from what she wants

most," she explained, rubbing her bruise.  "Let her go, Tenchi."

            "She'll die if she goes in there!" Tenchi yelled.  "Is

that…"

            "Knock it off.  It's not our decision to make if she wants

to go in there or not, to be with the man she loves.  To be honest,

I'd do the same thing."

            "Me too," Ryoko said, looking at Tenchi.

            "Me three," Sasami said, smiling up at her sister.  "Be

careful, Aeka."

            "I would as well," Kiyone said, stepping up to Tenchi.

            "Same here," Mihoshi said, looking dead serious.

            "Are you all nuts?" Tenchi said, finding himself at odds

with all the girls in the room.  "It'd be different if it were someone

else besides Russ in there!"

            "How would it be different?  Would it be that our chances

of victory being higher?  That doesn't matter to us, Tenchi,"

Washu said, laying a hand on his shoulder.  "It could be the most

powerful being in the universe, and we'd face it to be with the one

we fell in love with.  Love is one of the most powerful and

unpredictable emotions of all.  Let her go, Tenchi."  Washu smiled,

and then nodded her head at Aeka.  "Please be careful."

            "I will, Washu.  Thank you, and I'm sorry for hitting

you," she said, hanging her head shamefully.

            "It's okay.  You know that I always keep something in the

lab for little injuries.  But I needed that to realize what he meant to

you.  I now know there is nothing that will stop you.  But, please,

be careful."

            Aeka stood tall, looking at the holographic room one

more time.  "I'll be back soon," she said, smiling.

            Sasami ran up to her, looking into her eyes.  "Don't get

hurt, Aeka," she said, grabbing her sister in a hug.

            Resting her hand on Sasami's back, she gently rubbed for

a few moments, until Sasami pulled away, smiling, but having

tears run out of the corners of her eyes.  Marching the rest of the

way to the doorway, she opened it and stepped through.

 

            "Just seeing you is making me hungry for a nice, juicy

steak."

            "If they had a bun big enough, you could pass for

hamburger yourself," Russ said, grinning, standing a dozen yards

away from Zorpheus, waiting to restart the fight again.

            "Maybe I'll go out for one of the two when I'm done

pulverizing you," Zorpheus said sarcastically, letting an arrogant

grin creep onto his lips.

            "Hah.  Says you.  I'd say we're at a stalemate, since it

seems that I'm still stronger than you."

            "You should take a look at yourself in the mirror, pal.  I'd

hate to feel how you look right now.  If this is such a stalemate,

then why have you, for the most part, been my personal punching

bag?"

            Russ shook his head.  "I haven't been, and besides, you

look half naked right now due to your lack of body armor.  I still

can't figure out why you even use it, since it doesn't seem to do

anything against someone like me."

            "It's a pity that one of your limited fashion sense cannot

appreciate my wild and sexy combat armor," Zorpheus said, trying

to keep himself from laughing.

            Rolling his eyes, Russ then shook his head.  "Alright,

Fanboy.  Whatever you say," he said, looking away for a moment. 

Out of nowhere, Russ threw his palm at Zorpheus, releasing a

large, green ki ball.

            Blurring out of the way, the blast smashed into a large

boulder from what remained of the mountain, disintegrating it and

causing a small explosion.  Floating in midair, he noticed that Russ

didn't see him right away.  Grinning, he began to charge up a new

type of ki blast that he had been practicing on rare occasion. 

Rotating his arms around in circles, looking like the wax on, wax

off move out of The Karate Kid, blue lightning bolts zapped

around him, gathering in intensity as many white balls of pure

energy seemed to appear out of nowhere, instilling Zorpheus with

their power.

            Looking up, Russ could see him doing something strange

and could feel his power build higher and higher, but the move

looked strangely familiar.  "I've seen this before…"

            Cupping his hands to his side, an evil grin on his face, he

thrust his hands forward, releasing a pure white beam of powerful

energy.  "HADOUUUUUUU-KEN!" he yelled, sending it toward

Russ.

            Widening his eyes, Russ put his arms up to block the

Hadouken, and when it came into contact with his arms, it

exploded around him, pushing him back about three hundred feet. 

If it weren't for a ki shield he put up around himself, he would've

been burned to a crisp, as the technique was radically different

from any normal ki attack.  His feet left skid marks from where he

stood a moment ago, and a massive depression created a big bowl

from where the attack detonated.

            "Okay, this is taking fanboyism to a whole new level," he

mumbled.  "But I have my own fanboy attacks too.  Watch this,"

he said, bringing his hands in front of him, cupping them together,

and relaxing his body.  Glancing up at Zorpheus, he grinned. 

"Darkness beyond blackness, deeper than the deepest night…" he

recited, black energy coming seemingly out of nowhere, mixing

with Russ's yellow aura, the pulsing sound increasing as the wind

picked up, blowing away from him.

            "Not only are you stupid enough to make a ki technique

out of a spell from an anime show," Zorpheus yelled, looking

concerned.  "But you have the nerve to model it after THAT

spell?!"

            "…King of darkness who shines like gold upon the sea of

chaos.  I swear allegiance to thee, and I call upon thee!  Let the

fools who stand before me be destroyed by the power you and I

possess!" he yelled, a huge black ball gathering in his hands that

were now positioned over his head.  His face was contorted with

strain, as he fought to keep control of the enormous amount of

energy that gathered there.  "GIGAAAAAAA SLLLLLLLLAVE!"

he yelled, throwing the huge ball at Zorpheus.

            "Unlike that clod Shabranigdo, I'm not going to just stand

here and take this!" he yelled, moving out of the way.  However,

he misjudged the speed at which the ball was heading at him and it

clipped the edge of his real arm, burning away some of his

encounter suit and melting the rest of it to his skin, causing him to

yell in pain.  "Ah shit!  That HURTS!"

            The Gigaslave spell continued off of the planet and into

space, traveling unobstructed all the way to the asteroid belt. 

Finally losing cohesion, the blast detonated, resulting in an

absolutely colossal explosion that rocked the cosmos.  The blast

radius continued to grow in size until the point where it could be

seen from Earth.  The shockwave from the blast completely

destroyed both Jupiter and Mars, and the edge of the blast

continued to make its way toward the planet.  Finally reaching it,

the entire Earth shook from the explosion, knocking Russ off of his

feet, sandblasting the side of the planet, peeling away every bit of

living organic material, leaving nothing but a dusty, lunar-like

surface.

            Zorpheus didn't waste any time from Russ's

disorientation.  Flying at Russ, yelling like a savage, he stopped

directly in front of Russ's face.  Instead of pulling back his fist or

foot for a punch or a kick, he grinned, letting out a large globe of

blue energy, expanding from where he stood, blowing Russ back

several dozen meters.

            Skidding to a stop, Russ dropped to one knee, breathing

heavily.  "I hate that damn bugzapper technique of yours," he

growled, wiping away a gash on his forehead.

            "Heh.  And wouldn't you know it, after all this time, I still

have wonderful new things to show you!" he yelled, charging up a

small ball of highly concentrated energy.  Thrusting both of his

hands out in front of him, he pushed a small, red ball at Russ at a

low speed.

            Watching the ball head toward him, Russ didn't bother

checking the energy output of it.  "This isn't very impress…" he

started to say as he slapped the ball, trying to send it out of the

way.  Going up with the force of the Gigaslave itself, the tiny red

ball detonated, completely engulfing both Russ and Zorpheus.  The

radius of the blast expanded out to about a mile, remained for

nearly a full minute, changing from red, to orange, and back again. 

After a minute, the ball finally started to dissipate, revealing all the

damage that was done.  Russ was lying in the middle of a huge

bowl, the heat of the Itsumashazelukuno bomb melting all the sand

and clay in the ground into dirty glass.  Almost not able to move

anymore, Russ started to get up, and then collapsed again, rolling

onto his back.  "I LOVE this," he muttered, looking at the dusty

sky.

            Zorpheus wasn't much better off, as he too was caught in

the explosion, lying flat on his back, smoking.  Trying to drag

himself to his feet, the glass crunching under his weight, he got

himself up to one knee, breathing heavily, trying to shake the

disorientation out of his head.  "Dammit, I forgot how big the blast

radius was on that thing," he muttered to himself.  Reaching his

full height once more, he grinned.  "And can you believe it?  I still

have more stuff to show you!"

            Forcing himself to stand up to get out of a venerable

position, he remained slouched over, keeping his left hand over his

thigh, which had a deep gash, seeping red with crimson through his

fingers.  "What more could you possibly have to show me?" Russ

asked, not really caring.

            "Aw, what's the matter?  Is it nap time for you already? 

Maybe now you realize that raw power doesn't mean diddly squat

if you don't have many colorful ways to use it."

            "I still have more techniques to use, but not all of my

abilities have been refined solely for battle.  There are other uses

for ki."

            "Humph.  What kind of Saiyan are you, anyway?  I'm

half human, and I have more battle lust than you do.  Heh, well, I

have more of ANY kind of lust than you do."

            Russ rolled his good eye, as the other one swelled shut

again.  "Stop talking about the size of your penis, you pervert.  I'm

not interested in hearing about it."

            "Oh, so it's penis envy now, eh?!" he yelled, running

forward once again, looking about ready to plant his fist in Russ's

gut.

            Watching Zorpheus head at him, Russ positioned himself

to block the shot, but he wound up feeling something smash into

the back of his head, causing him to pitch forward and fall flat on

his face in the dirt.  Dust and gravel flew out from under him from

the impact, and Zorpheus slowed down to stop in front of him. 

Groaning in pain, he took about ten seconds to return to his feet. 

"Oww.  What the hell was that?  You have someone else here with

you?" Russ snapped, looking behind him, and then back at

Zorpheus.  "I didn't feel anything behind me except for that blow."

            "Another present from the planet Xnafu.  That bomb

technique was the other one, from my latest female companion,"

he said, bouncing his eyebrows.

            "You screw up another one?" Russ said, chuckling.  "I'm

not surprised."

            "Nah.  I told her I had to come here and kick your ass. 

She understood."

            "Yeah, she's really screwed up.  You have that effect on

people," Russ returned.  "I may look like crap, but I still have

enough fight left in me to beat you and return to the family."

            "Says you.  This is hardly fun anymore.  I've worn out my

favorite toy, it seems.  You can barely fight back the way you are

now."  Quickly jumping forward, he brought his foot up in

between Russ's legs, nailing him in the mean bean machine.  As

Russ's knees knocked together, his face turning purple from the

intense pain, Zorpheus shrugged his shoulders.  "As if you ever

really used it.  Maybe you could piss out of your butt instead," he

taunted, picking up Russ and throwing him into the air like a

volleyball.

            Regaining his bearings just as Zorpheus got to his height,

they began to exchange a flurry of kicks and punches as they

spiraled upward, their flight paths marked by yellow streaks and

sonic shockwaves from all the blows.

            Down on the ground, the phantom door opened, letting in

an incredibly bright burst of green aura.  Standing there at ground

level, letting the door close behind her, Aeka, fully dressed in her

armor, stood ready, her face showing nothing but hatred and rage

toward Zorpheus.

            "AEKA?!" Russ shouted, stopping his offense and turning

his attention to her.  "What the HELL are you doing in here?!"

            Grinning, Zorpheus answered Russ's question.  "Giving

me an opening, of course!"  Clapping his fists together, energy

glowing intensely around both his hands, he brought them over his

head and then down on the back of Russ's neck.  The energy in his

fists exploded on Russ, making his descent downward much faster

than it normally would have.  Russ crashed into the ground and

made another large crater on the lunar landscape.

            Seeing this, Aeka's energy exploded around her in a

brilliant green aura.  "DON'T YOU HURT HIM ANYMORE!"

she screamed, leaping off of the ground and heading straight at

Zorpheus at top speed, her fist glowing with energy as she drove it

straight at Zorpheus's face.

            Zorpheus grinned, watching her with interest.  "What is

this?  A girl scout trying to sell me cookies for a merit badge?" he

teased, easily leaning out of the way of the punch.

            "I'll kill you!" she yelled, withdrawing her fist and

sending it again and again at Zorpheus, going as fast as her body

would allow.  "How could you do that to him?!"

            Weaving in and out of her blows effortlessly, he

continued to grin.  "Because the guy is a selfish cocktease, little

prissy princess."

            "I LOVE THAT MAN!" she shouted, sending a small

green ball of energy at Zorpheus.  "He loves me too!  He told me

he does!"

            Slapping the ball into orbit, Zorpheus shook his head. 

"He's never told you that.  I know him well enough to know that

he'd never say, 'I love you,' to another woman.  And even if he

has, it was probably only to keep you from pestering him.  That

man can't bring himself to love anyone anymore.  How many

times has he shrugged you off Princess?  Hmmm?"

            "It doesn't matter!  He said he was crazy about me and

that's all I need!" she yelled, getting in close again, restarting a

flurry of punches and kicks.  Zanzokening behind Zorpheus, she

tried to bury her fist in his spine.

            Dodging all of her punches and kicks, he whirled around

and caught her fist with his bionic hand.  "Sheesh, it's no wonder

you're still after him.  You're too stupid and stubborn to give up. 

Maybe a good slap will knock some sense into you!" he yelled,

opening up his real hand and letting it go straight across Aeka's

face, his hand leaving a dark red imprint of itself on her cheek.

            Screaming from the shock, she put her hand over the

imprint of Zorpheus's hand.  "How DARE you!" she snarled,

bringing her foot up in between Zorpheus's legs.

            Watching her foot collide with his ever-present ki barrier,

Zorpheus frowned.  "You know, you really know how to take the

fun out of things."  Still holding onto her hand, he doubled up a fist

and let his real hand go across her head in a backhand.  Jerking her

forward, he buried his knee in her gut, and then released her hand. 

Doubling up his hands together, he moved over Aeka's hunched

body and let a double axe handle go in the middle of her back,

sending her down to the ground.

            Impacting on the ground, she bounced off of it, flying

back into the air about ten feet, then hit the dirt again, remaining

motionless.

 

            "AEKA!" Misaki shouted, jumping right out her throne.

            "Get my ship ready for departure, NOW!" Asuza boomed,

also rising out of his throne.  "We're leaving immediately to Earth! 

Ready my personal escort fleet!"

            Two guards ran out of the room to relay the message as

Funaho, Asuza, and Misaki all made their way out of the throne

room, heading to the transporter pad.  Azaka and Kamidake

followed, flanking the royal family on either side.  A computer

screen floated with them, continuing to display the ongoing battle

between Zorpheus, Russ, and now Aeka.

            Misaki looked very upset, as she saw how Zorpheus

disposed of her without even trying.  She was very worried as to

what was going to happen next.  She tried not to think about her

daughter losing her life, as that was far too traumatic for even her

to handle.

 

            The phantom door reopened, letting in the rest of the

family.  They all ran up to Aeka, and both Tenchi and Ryoko

placed themselves in between Zorpheus and Aeka, intending to try

to protect her.  Somehow, after a few moments, Aeka managed to

return to her feet, a trickle of crimson running from the corner of

her mouth.

            "Heh, Heh, Heh.  The ants try to mount a defense against

my crushing heel.  This is just sickeningly noble, heroic, and

disgustingly futile.  You know, I was originally going to give her

the good time Russ never would, but I wouldn't want the kids to

see it, so I'll just cut to the chase right here," he said, raising his

finger and pointing it at Aeka.  "Goodbye, annoying pest.  You

should be thanking me.  I will save you from a miserable break-

up."  His fingertip began to glow purple as the energy charged up,

and he gave them all a sadistic grin.  "BANG!"

            Russ, lying in his crater, saw Zorpheus point his finger at

Aeka, and he instantly knew what he was doing.  Exploding out of

his depression as fast as he could go, he raced against the speed of

the beam, trying to head it off.  He could see it getting closer and

closer, as he too, got closer and closer to the beam.  Reaching out

as far as his arm would go, extending his fingertips to stop the bulk

of the blast, he saw it pass by, missing it by the width of a

millimeter.  It singed his fingertips and his expression when to pure

horror, as he knew he didn't make it in time.  Looking down

toward the family, Russ could only watch, as he didn't have

enough time to focus for the instantaneous movement ability. 

"LOOK OUT!" he screamed, seeing Tenchi put up his lighthawk

wings.

            Tenchi didn't stand in the way of the blast itself, but he

put one of the wings in between the beam and Aeka.  In almost an

instant, the beam reached him and contacted the lighthawk wing,

and it passed right through it, as if it wasn't even there.  The

lighthawk wing broke apart like a piece of glass, shattering on a

hard floor.

            Continuing on, the beam reached its intended target and

found its mark on the right side of Aeka's chest, blowing a hole

through her about an inch in diameter, just over her right breast. 

Her face was frozen into shock, as was everybody else's.  Russ

stared at her, his jaw hanging open, and the rest of the family

looked at her as she looked down on herself, seeing the blood pour

forth from the open wound, and then she collapsed to the ground,

flat on her back.

            "Ding, dong, the Queen is dead.  LONG LIVE THE

KING!" Zorpheus yelled, striking several poses reminiscent of

Hulk Hogan.  However, something clicked inside of his head, as

realization had set in over what just happened.  "What the fuck did

I just do?" he asked himself, his eyes and face in utter shock and

horror.  A moment after saying that, a headache unlike one he ever

felt before crashed through his mind, causing him to scream in

agony.

            Sasami looked up at him, feeling a change beginning to

take place.  "Something is wrong with Zorpheus!  Look!" she

yelled pointing at him, however, everybody was ignoring her as

they were tending to Aeka.

            Floating in midair, Russ saw Aeka fall to the ground,

blood dripping from the gaping hole in her chest, and upon seeing

the horrid spectacle, something inside of his brain snapped.  His

aura flaring around him, he turned around and sped at Zorpheus

faster than he had ever moved before, surrounding his fist with

golden energy, letting it go straight into Zorpheus's face.

            Still screaming from the battle going on in his mind,

Zorpheus's head snapped back and came forward, blood gushing

out of his nose.  He opened his eyes and looked into Russ's face,

which was contorted into a look that he had never actually seen

before, as he wasn't there when Laurie was vanquished.  Russ's

eyes were on fire, and he could see an incredible amount of

emotion built up within them.  Seeing Russ put his fists over his

head, he didn't even have the strength to mount a defense, and he

saw both fists crash down onto his chest, getting caught in a huge

Masenko beam, sending him to the ground and burying him from

the impact.

 

            "Lady Tokimi?" D3 asked his goddess, who looked to be

straining herself.  "What is wrong?"

            "This is amazing," she said, concentrating hard, sweat

beading on her forehead.  "Zorpheus is resisting my mind

enhancement."

            "How is that possible?  Nobody has ever been able to

undo something you've done."

            "I know.  It doesn't seem possible, but he's overcoming

it.  But it doesn't matter now anyway," she said, smiling.  "They

will destroy each other in a few minutes."

            D3 nodded his head as he turned his attention back to his

monitor.

 

            Turning around, Russ flew to the ground at top speed,

stopping only a foot above the dirt, then landing hard.  Racing over

to Aeka and the family, they all looked up at him with fear in their

faces and despair in their hearts, as they knew Aeka was dying.

            "Aeka!  Oh my god, Aeka… why the hell did you come

in here?!" Russ asked, trying to keep his emotions buried under his

poker face as he knelt down, taking Aeka's hand in his own, gently

caressing it.  Washu was over Aeka, putting pressure on her

wound, trying to stop the bleeding, saying nothing, completely

focused on trying to save Aeka's life.

            She coughed, spitting up a mouthful of blood.  "I…

wanted to be here with you," she said, softly, and then smiled, a

happy, satisfied smile.  "I want to be with you for the rest of my

life, and I came here to help you."

            "You stupid girl," Russ said, his hands shaking violently

from the mental stress.  "I told you to stay out of here."

            Still smiling, Aeka reached up and caressed Russ's face. 

"I know.  I just wanted… to be with you," she said, her eyes

getting heavy.  She moaned in pain, the tears running down her

cheeks, the blood running down her chin.  "That's all I ever

wanted."

            "Not again!  Not this again!" Russ yelled, his hands

shaking so violently that he looked like he was being electrocuted. 

"Don't die, Aeka.  Don't die because of me!"

            Smiling, she sniffled.  "I'm so happy… that the last thing

I'll get to see… is you," she whispered.  "I love you, Russ."  Her

hand going limp, Russ felt it slide out of his own hand and fall to

the ground.

            "Aeka?!  AEKAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Sasami screamed,

horrified that her sister, who she had known for her entire life,

which was her mother when her real mom wasn't there, her sister,

and her best friend for the many years of her life, was now lying

lifeless in front of her.  "NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"

            Tenchi grabbed Sasami and held her tightly, tears running

down his own face.  "Oh my god, Aeka.  This can't be real.  IT

CAN'T BE!"

            Mihoshi and Kiyone both started crying hysterically,

scarcely able to believe that the Princess of Jurai was now lying

dead in front of them.  They had known her for the last several

years, living with her and visiting with her as if she were a normal

person.  They had the best time of their lives with her, and the

thought of never spending another day with her was too much to

bear.

            Washu stepped back, her green eyes wide, as she shook

her head back and forth, her face a mask of horror.  "No…" she

whispered.  "Come on, Aeka."  Getting down on her knees, she

connected up a special life support cable to her computer, that she

withdrew out of subspace.  Typing at a speed that would've made

Data from Startrek envious, she tuned it to Aeka and tried to make

it revive her.  Each shock, each test, each and every attempt to

bring her back failed, and after nearly a minute of trying, she

backed off, shaking her head.  "I CAN'T DO ANYTHING!" she

screamed, tears pouring out of her eyes.

            Standing by, completely in shock, Ryoko seemingly had

no reaction.  Her face was pale and devoid of life or any kind of

sense, as she could not believe that her lifelong rival and most

recently, her best friend, had just passed away.  Collapsing to her

knees, she buried her face in her hands, crying uncontrollably,

pounding the ground in frustration.  "IT'S NOT FAIR!"

            Some distance away, Zorpheus finally managed to dig

himself out and he took off into the air once again, looking down at

the scene he just created.  The throbbing pain was still in his head,

but he felt strangely disgusted from killing her.  But another

feeling was pulling at him even harder, and it made him look down

at Russ.

            Getting to his feet, keeping his movements very slow,

Russ looked at each of the family members, burning their looks

into his memory.  Each of them turned to look at him in turn, some

mixed with rage, some with the look of despair, and some that

looked on him with pity and hatred.

            "Tenchi," Russ said, keeping his voice low.  "Stay here

with Aeka.  Protect them until this is finished.  It will only take a

minute.  I guarantee it."

            Looking at Russ, they could see his energy start burning

around him, much like when Goku first approached Frieza for the

first time.  White flames marked his outline, and when the family

saw his eyes, they knew that he was slowly losing his mind, his

sanity, and the remaining shreds of his humanity.  He was

becoming what everybody feared most, that of a true Super Saiyan. 

A ruthless, heartless, radically efficient killing machine could only

remotely describe what Russ was becoming, and it scared the hell

out of the entire family.  His fists were clenched at his sides, so

tightly that blood was seeping from them, as his fingernails dug

holes into the palms of his hands.

            "What are you going to do?" Tenchi said, his voice

wavering, as he clutched the little princess, who was still crying

heavily.

            "I will finish this, once and for all.  I will be back in a

moment.  Use your lighthawk wings to shield everybody from the

blast.  There is one final thing I will do once this is over," he said,

walking away, making a slow, purposeful walk toward Zorpheus.

            "You just can't get enough of me, can you?" Zorpheus

asked, grinning.  "Perhaps it is time to end this.  You, the Brady

Bunch over there, and this ridiculous excuse for a battle room will

be annihilated shortly."  Clenching his fists, he began to power up

to his absolute maximum, howling and screaming as the earth

below him shook in the wake of his energy.  However, Russ didn't

seem to be fazed at all, as he continued to slowly put distance

between him and the family.  Suddenly feeling a tinge of fear, he

knew something was wrong, because he had never seen Russ look

like that before in his entire life.

            "…Fine.  Don't leave any famous last words.  Prepare to

feel my wrath!" he screamed, bringing his hands in front of him,

making two fists, putting one on top of the other, as if holding

something.  Several flashes later, a white outline of a sword

appeared, the blade facing upward about three feet, and Zorpheus

began focusing all of his energy into his signature move.

            Still walking, his yellow aura exploded around him,

destroying the ground he walked on, burning bigger and brighter

than it ever had before.  A blue lightning bolt crossed his vision,

but it never returned.  Driving his energy up to his maximum, he

continued to walk forward, slowly, methodically.  Finally coming

to a stop, he looked up at Zorpheus with a look that could've

frozen all seven layers of hell at once.  "You.  Are.  DEAD!"  Russ

roared, his aura doubling in size, causing the entire planet to begin

to break apart, as it was barely able to stay together from the sheer

amount of energy Russ was producing.

            "This is wrong," Zorpheus said, feeling Russ's energy

reach his level, and then blow right by it, effortlessly.  "He was

never this strong!"  However, he knew that his signature move was

more powerful than Russ's, and he perfected it a long time before

Russ made his.  "Prepare yourself, Russ!" he shouted.  A white

ball of energy began forming in front of the white sword, with little

white balls of energy coming out of Zorpheus and infusing itself

into the ball.

            Tenchi stood in front of Aeka, his lighthawk wings

shielding the family from their auras.  He was straining hard, his

forehead dripping with sweat, his eyes stinging from all the tears

he had shed.  Grunting and straining against the tremendous

pressure, he almost gave way, until he felt a hand touch his

shoulder.  Ryoko looked into his face, tears streaming out of her

eyes, but she smiled.  Nodding his head, he knelt down and

allowed Ryoko to stand behind him, infusing him with her power. 

The lighthawk wings tripled in size, blocking out everything that

was happening, allowing Tenchi to relax a little from the massive

rush of energy he received from Ryoko.

            The rest of the family was watching Russ, watching him

push himself beyond his limits and beyond anything they've ever

imagined, even in their wildest dreams.  There was just so much

energy coming from the two combatants that it overwhelmed them.

            Placing both of his hands out in front of him, Russ began

focusing his energy into his own signature attack, letting the

yellow ball grow and expand in size very quickly, blue lighting

dancing around the outer diameter of it, until it was ready.  "You

son of a bitch!  NOW DIE!  BUSTER CANNON FIRE!" he

screamed, his voice going to the far reaches of the planet, as the

yellow beam shot out of the ball, surrounded in blue lightning.

            "I'll SEE YOU IN HELL!" Zorpheus yelled, shoving his

sword forward.  "HOLY RAZE!"  A brilliant, pure white beam

exploded from in front of Zorpheus, heading straight for Russ's

cannon.

            Both beams met in the middle, slamming into each other

with enough force to destroy the surface of the Earth, causing

volcanic eruptions for miles around.  The shockwave impacted

against Tenchi's lighthawk wings, causing them to blink from the

incredible amount of energy that slammed into them.  Both Ryoko

and him strained, trying to keep the blades from collapsing, and

they just barely recovered, letting a little of the blast through,

kicking up the dust around them.

            Both Russ and Zorpheus screamed at the very top of their

voices, straining to overcome their opponent's beam.  The sound

from the two weapons was deafening, as they could barely hear

themselves yell.  Raising his power just a little more, Zorpheus

made his beam a little bigger, sending a pulse down the length of

his blast, slamming into the buster cannon and forcing it back a

little.  "You will not survive!"

            Forcing his energy higher, Russ pushed back against

Zorpheus's attack, keeping both beams equally spaced.  However,

little by little, Zorpheus's beam was gaining ground, forcing him

back.

            "COME ON, RUSS!" Ryoko screamed, straining to just

hold back the force of their energy.  "YOU HAVE TO WIN!"

            "I believe in you, Russ!" Sasami yelled, choking back her

tears.  "I forgive you!"

            Screaming louder, Russ shoved more energy out of his

hands and into his beam, forcing a huge bulge of energy down the

length of his blast, forcing Zorpheus's attack back, regaining some

ground.  His face was nothing but a mask of fury, as he looked like

a lion preparing to kill his prey.

            Zorpheus felt the added strain on his own beam, and he

again raised his power beyond his maximum, forcing Russ's beam

to stop advancing, and turning the tables again.  "I WILL NOT

LOSE!"

            Watching the beam get closer and closer, Russ could feel

himself slipping away.  "You took the only woman to ever capture

my heart away from me!" he shouted, fighting on.  "It doesn't

matter what happens to me now.  I WILL STOP YOU!" he

screamed.

            Sensing something going crazy inside of his opponent,

Zorpheus felt that rush of fear enter his mind again as he recovered

from the mind enhancement.  "What the hell?"

            Continuing to scream in pain, agony, and despair, Russ

began to glow a brilliant golden color.  Not his aura, but his body

as a whole.  The buster cannon's ball began to come apart, forming

into something entirely different and new.  After a moment, it

formed into a parabolic dish, about thirty feet in diameter, with

Russ at the very back.  Strangely enough, the buster cannon

continued to erupt from the center of it, keeping Zorpheus's beam

at bay.

            "What the hell are you doing?!" Zorpheus yelled, feeling

Russ's energy shoot way up.  "You're going to explode if you keep

that up!"

            Not hearing him, or not caring, Russ continued to build up

every joule of energy his body had left, preparing to force it out all

at once.  The dish finally formed and banged into place, and a blue

outline streaked around the outer edge of it, forming four, bright

blue points, evenly spaced around the dish, still connected by the

solid blue line that traced around the outer perimeter.  "My life

doesn't matter anymore," Russ said, looking at Zorpheus through

the beams.  "I will kill you.  That I promise, even if it kills me

too," he said, the blue lights becoming brighter has his body

became almost pure energy.  "Violent Heart."

            The fabric of reality seemed to bend and fold around the

explosion that erupted out of the circular dish.  The four points of

blue light shot out four small beams to a central point, about

twenty feet in front of the bowl, and a tremendously powerful,

solid yellow beam exploded out of the center of the dish, meeting

the blue points, and combining.  The buster cannon discontinued as

the Violent Heart attack took its place, the head of the beam a blue

circle, attached by the four smaller streaks of blue light that rode

alongside the yellow blast.  It looked like a miniature death star

superlaser, except with blue and yellow instead of green.

            "SUPER KAIOKEN!" Zorpheus screamed, his aura

changing from yellow to red, feeling a massive upsurge of energy

and a radical amount of pain as his attack tripled in size and power. 

The extreme bulge of the beam raced down and met the Violent

Heart head-on.

 

            Katsuhito looked up from his paperwork on his table, his

cup of tea showing vibrations in the liquid.  "This is it," he said,

aloud.

 

            What happened next nothing short of impossible.  The

Violent Heart didn't even slow down when the bulk of Zorpheus's

beam slammed into it.  It forced it back at such a radical speed that

it may as well not even have been there.  Russ's scream was

drowned out by the incredible amount of noise, shaking, and power

that was being produced from his body.  His hands began to burn

and blister, unable to withstand the sheer amount of energy he was

forcing through them.  His body began to disintegrate, blood

bursting out of his veins over several parts of his body, squirting

into the ground and then vaporizing, not able to exist so close to

the attack.  The sky parted, revealing outer space through the blue

atmosphere, and all the clouds seemed to retreat all the way to the

horizon and beyond.  The ground in front of him became a canyon

nearly a mile wide, and a mile deep.

            "This can't be happening!" Zorpheus screamed, seeing

the beam come straight at him.  "IT'S COMING TOO FAST!"  All

he could do was watch the bulk of the beam reach him and

overtake him, feeling such an incredible amount of pain from the

blast that he could feel himself coming apart.  His scream was

silenced as the beam hit him, his Holy Raze vanishing from sight.

            The entire surrounding area became a blinding light,

causing everybody except for Tenchi and Ryoko to shield their

eyes, turning away from the scene.

            About a minute later, the rumbling ceased, the light

returned to normal, and it became deathly quiet.  Dust was still

blowing about where the final attack had taken place, and nobody

could sense anything.  The battle between the two most powerful

warriors in existence had finally concluded.

            Letting his lighthawk wings vanish, Tenchi dropped to

one knee, breathing heavily.  "That was incredible," he choked out,

trying to catch his breath.

            Ryoko fell onto his back, also breathing very heavily. 

"It's over."

            "Yes."  Standing up again, he slowly turned around and

looked at Aeka's fallen body, her face peaceful, but covered in

violence too.  She looked asleep, but she also looked tortured. 

Leaning down, he carefully put his arms under her, lifting her up to

carry her out of the room.  "We… should tell her parents," Tenchi

said, softly.

            Nobody cried as they looked at Aeka, feeling the sadness,

but unable to act on it.

            "What's that?" Sasami said, feeling something odd,

looking toward the dust cloud.

            "What do you mean, Sasami?" Washu asked, looking lost

and hopeless.

            "Look!" she said, pointing at a silhouette of a man.

            "No way…" Tenchi said, his eyes wide.

            Russ remained standing, his arms still outstretched, as if

he were a statue.  Letting his arms drop to his sides, he slowly

turned around, no longer a super saiyan.  His hair and eyebrows

had returned to black, and his eyes did as well.  He looked much

smaller and frailer than ever before, as he limped his way over to

the family, dragging his foot that had the gouge in it, blood

dripping from nearly every surface on his body.  His clothes were

tattered and shredded, and his blue undershirt with his pants was

the only pieces of his gi that remained.

            Tenchi and Ryoko both looked at him in surprise and

terror, as they couldn't believe what they were seeing.  "Russ?"

Ryoko said, not sure if it was really him.

            Ignoring her, Russ slowly made his way past her and

stopped in front of Tenchi.  "Put her down, please," he requested,

breathing heavily.

            "Why?" he asked, not sure why he asked that himself.

            "Please put her down," Russ asked again, barely able to

stand as he swayed from side to side with the wind.  He almost

looked like he was going to fall over at any second.

            Trusting him, Tenchi knelt down and very gently, laid

Aeka back down on the ground.  Looking into her face once more,

Russ closed his eyes, raising his blistered hands, palms outward,

toward Aeka.  "Now get back."

            "What are you going to do?!" Washu yelled, looking at

him.  "You're in no shape to do anything!"

            Again, ignoring her, Russ concentrated.  Everybody held

his or her breath collectively, watching, waiting to see what he was

going to do.  After nearly a solid minute of concentrating, he began

to glow, a soft white glow that seemed to emit a holy light, but not

like Zorpheus's attack.  Opening his eyes, he looked down at

Aeka's form, and released his energy in a soft beam that entered

Aeka's body, causing her to glow along with him.  Small bubbles

of color rode the beam into Aeka's body, coming from Russ's own

tattered body.

            Sasami gasped, watching her sister.  The gaping hole over

her chest was slowly disappearing, as were the bruises she suffered

at the hands of Zorpheus.  It was slow, methodical, and

miraculous, but her sister was being put back to normal somehow. 

The noise was a very quiet and peaceful hum, as they watched

Russ pour the last of his energy into Aeka's body, healing her, and

trying to revive her.

            "Come on," Russ said, after the last of Aeka's wounds

disappeared.  Continuing to put his energy into Aeka's body, he

did not stop until he knew that Aeka would live.  Finally

discontinuing the beam, he still stood over his forbidden love, his

hands still outstretched, has he held his breath and waited.

            Sasami, Tenchi, Washu, Ryoko, Kiyone, and Mihoshi all

looked at Russ and Aeka, a mix of fear, hope, and disbelief on each

of their visages.  They each remained silent, hoping against hope

that Russ performed yet another miracle.

            Lying down on the ground, Aeka remained motionless

and lifeless for a few moments, until her mouth opened to take in a

huge breath of air.  Her eyes fluttered open as she looked into the

sky, wondering where she was, as she was unable to figure out

why she was back on Earth and not in Heaven.

 

            "Oh my god!" Misaki yelled, onboard the king's ship,

now heading toward Earth with an escort fleet of three hundred

ships, tears pouring out of her eyes.  "She's ALIVE!  How the hell

did Russ do that?!  That's IMPOSSIBLE!  Only a god can do

that!"

            "He is no god," Asuza said, looking at the viewscreen. 

"But he has performed a miracle.  That is nothing short of

incredible.  He has saved our daughter's life, but he was the one at

fault for having it taken away too."

            "I don't care!" she yelled.  "Our daughter is alive!"

 

            "AEKA!!"  Sasami yelled, pulling free of Tenchi and

running up to her sister.  She dropped to her knees and looked into

her sister's eyes with the tears pouring out of her own.  "You're

alive!"  Throwing her arms around Aeka, she buried her face in

Aeka's chest, squeezing with all her might.  "You're alive!"

            Still stunned, unable to come up with an explanation,

Aeka looked down at her sister, then back at the family.  Slowly

reaching up, she touched Sasami, as if she were a ghost, but she

then hugged her, pulling her close, letting a smile creep onto her

lips and letting the tears flow from her eyes.

            Washu stood by, completely awestruck and baffled over

what she just witnessed.  No modern miracle could've done that

and it still seemed almost surreal that it did happen.  Tears welling

up in her eyes again, she continued to look at Aeka, and then at the

hole in her clothes, which was now bare, clean skin. 

"Unbelievable."

            Both Tenchi and Ryoko smiled warmly, holding each

other close, very, very happy that Aeka was back with them. 

"Welcome back," they both said in unison.

            Aeka took each of their expressions and set those

memories in stone within her mind.  She smiled, tears streaming

down her cheeks, as she continued to hold her crying sister. 

Finally looking to her other side, she saw Russ standing there,

breathing heavily, and looking like an absolute mess, but he was

smiling.  Nevertheless, she sensed something was very wrong with

him as she watched him.  "Are you okay?" she asked, hearing the

sound of her voice once again.

            "Welcome back, Aeka," he said, quietly, his voice

somewhat garbled from the fluid gathering in his throat.

            Looking up from her sister, Sasami watched Russ, a mix

of worry and concern on her face.  "Russ?  What's wrong?"

            Glancing down at Sasami, Russ smiled, a happy,

contented, and fulfilled smile.  "I'm sorry, Sasami, but I have to

break a promise that I made to you," he said, lowering his arms to

his sides.

            "What do you mean?" she asked, the tears still streaming

from her eyes from being overjoyed.  "You brought my sister back

to life!"

            Shaking his head slowly, Russ continued to smile.  "Not

that one, Sasami.  To bring Aeka back, I had to use up all of my

energy, and my life force.  I gave her everything I had left to let

her live," he said.  "I gave up my life to let your sister live."

            "What are you saying?" Aeka asked, concerned.  "You're

here, I'm here.  It'll all work out!"

            Again shaking his head, Russ still smiled.  "I'm sorry,

Aeka.  I never meant for any of this to happen, especially letting

you die.  But I feel strangely at peace with myself, and fulfilled.  I

don't know what it is about you, but there was something in my

mind that insisted that you had to live.  As I always said, you're far

more important than myself, and I guess that is what gives you the

right to live."

            "Stop talking nonsense," she said, her voice skipping like

she was laughing.  "You're going to be just fine, aren't you?" she

asked, but gasped as she saw a couple of tears at the corners of

Russ's eyes.  It was the first time she had seen a man like him cry,

and it was then that she knew what he had done.

            His black pupils slowly began to fade, lightening to a

gray, and then nearly disappearing altogether, Russ raised his right

hand, giving her a thumb up.  "I'm sorry, Aeka.  I wish I could've

been your lover," he said, his voice shaking, but he still maintained

that warm, fulfilled smile.  "No need for Dragonballs."  Feeling the

wind over his battered skin, he felt himself falling onto his side,

but he never felt the impact of when he hit the ground.  The wind

continued to stir his hair, his face still smiling, his thumb still

pointed upward, as he let himself go, his entire life playing before

his eyes, but the most tender moments of it playing again and

again, and that being the final year of his life.  Russ, one of the

most powerful warriors the family had ever had the pleasure of

meeting, knowing, and loving, passed away.

            Again, the entire family watched him fall and thud against

the ground, their jaws hanging open, completely blown away that

one of his caliper was now lying dead in front of them.  Their

emotions were thrown into absolute turmoil again, as they

witnessed the death and rebirth of one of their most loved ones,

and now, witnessed the death of another.

            "Russ?" Aeka said, still not able to believe that he could

be dead.  "Russ?!  RUSS!?  RUUUUUSSSS!!!" she screamed,

throwing her sister off of him and crawling over to him, putting her

hands on him and shaking him.  Screaming to the heavens, she

covered his body with hers and wept like she never had before, all

of her frustration pouring out of her like an uncontrolled river of

rage.  The rest of the family all stood by, feeling the lump in their

throats, thinking of all the happiness he had give them since

coming to live with them.  But as he said, "But when the time

comes, I may have to leave."  They never imagined that he'd be

leaving in this way.

 

            Elsewhere, about a quarter mile away from where Russ

and the family were, a hand grabbed a fistful of dirt, listening to

everything that had happened…

 

Chapter 17

 

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