--------------------------------------------------------------------- These characters are owned by AIC and Pioneer. So please don’t sue me. Open to C&C at tmf23@hotmail.com. This is my first fanfic for fun so I can see how good/bad I am at writing. These is a whole different/new thing for me so I will start out a new series. (that’s the best way I can describe it) I will try my best to re-introduce you to each of the characters but then make a couple of twists in the story plot so hope you have fun reading it.. ^_^ <> *things between these marks are actions/sounds/accents certain words* *************************************************************** A New Beginning “Why does this have to happen to me?” said a man. As he thought to himself there sitting in his chair starting at the absence of space. He had been taking his regular daily path around the sol system but found some time to think by the window to space.As his mind went deeper into his thoughts he noticed his reflection in the window and grinned slightly. <> He then left the window to do his routine inspection of the ship when suddenly he fell to the ground by the sudden impact of the crash. His scanning device would have warned him of an incoming ship but since the hyper-space portal had transported him right smack dab in front of the cargo ship, he crashed into it. He immediately addressed his computer “Computer what the hell was that?” Shortly it responded by telling him that he had just crashed into a class one cargo ship. <> But he couldn’t help but wonder how he could have crashed since his ship had one of the best navigating computers on it. Unknown to the man was that at this very moment the owner of the cargo ship was yelling their heads off. (Woman's voices) “Damage report...computer what did we hit?” (Computer) “It seems that we have hit the Marshall's flag ship Vertigo” “By the way weren’t we supposed to rendezvous with it?” added the computer. “Please don't tell me that's true” said the woman's voice to herself. <> she thought. As he was just about got to his ships controls the other ship started to hail him. He got the usual beep on the com-link and pushed the red button with reluctance. To his surprise though it was a woman's voice and not a man’s . He was just about to ask her who she was and why she crashed her ship into his, but was interrupted in mid-speech. The first thing she said had paralyzed him. “I’m greatly sorry for this accident Marshall and will do what ever it takes to repay for it.” He thought what Marshall? Utterly confused with who she was calling Marshall in his ship, even though he knew better than anyone that he was the only one on board his ship. Just as he thought this though the woman said again, “I’m very sorry Marshall but, you just came out of nowhere.” <> (Meanwhile.....on another ship) “Flying through space is so much fun isn’t it Ryo-oki.” A cabbits voice responds “Nyahhhh.” *bleep*, *bleep* A window popped in front of the woman telling her the coordinates of the crashed cargo ship. “Well, well, what do we have here.” With a slight grin the woman then says, “Ryo-oki direct the ship in the direction that distress call came from.” “I think we’ll give Ayeka a visit now.” Thinking about the last time when she almost caught. “She’s too dumb to ever catch me though quickly correcting herself.” (back to the two crashed ships) <> “Sir, I am waiting your commands...” This startled him, as he regained him composure asked, “Why do you keep addressing me as a Marshall?” “Sir, is this supposed to be some kind of joke” said the woman. “I don’t know who you think I am, but you better have some good insurance plan, cause the damages on my Vertigo don’t come cheap you know.” He brought up the computers damage report and analyzed how much the repairs would cost. Unknown to them both, the other ship was gaining speed quite rapidly. (other ship) “Nyaa!!” “What’s wrong” said the woman seeing as the ships control gems were flickering red and moving awkwardly. “What we can’t stop!” <> she thought. She finally managed to self destruct her ships engines saying “I know it hurts but try to put up with it for a while” <> “Nyahh” said the ship in a grief response. But it was too late the momentum of the woman's ship was too much and she crashed right into the Vertigo. *Wham!* “NO NOT AGAIN!” , he screamed just to see the oddly black ship speed crash into him. Ok calm down you just got trashed by two ships in one day. Still getting up from the blow to his ships main helm he finally managed to get up and addressed the other ship. <> The girl thought. I didn’t see anything about the Marshall’s ship being here. <> she though as she hit her chairs side. “My life’s pretty much ended I guess” she sighed. “Damage report” he asked the computer with engrossed look. Upon this command the computer displayed a pop up window in front of him. (AI voice) “Shields zero percent......energy core beyond repair......engine and boosters, structural integrity compromised. <> as he was breathing in deep from the sudden impact. He joined a com-link between the two ships that were to the sides of him. “I DON’T REALLY CARE WHY YOU PEOPLE CALL ME A MARSHALL, BUT YOU TWO BETTER HAVE GOOD EXPLANATION FOR THIS!!!” With all this stress he fainted and everything around him soon went blank. He awoke on a cold surface and knew some how instinctively that it wasn’t in his ship. How he awoke though was a different story.... “RYOKO!!!!” The other one screamed. While blasts of some sort of energy weapons could be heard in the distance. He thought that this ship was being attacked so he tried to get up but soon noticed his whole body was suspended by metal restraints that seemed to come out of nowhere in particular. He finally managed to get out if the restraints and immediately tried to move to an exit looking door. Just as he opened the door he was transported to a room and this sudden change in the environment startled him as he me the floor closer than he wanted to. *thud* “Ouch!, <> he thought as he look at his surroundings partially with awe and fright. Still trying to focus on the sounds he heard earlier he began to walk in one direction. His boots clanked against the metal grid on the ground as it lit up. He noticed a computer pad nearby and went to it. Each step illuminating as his weight fell upon it. <> Surprised at the interior of the ship he look through on of the maps on the screen and it told him where he was. Though the ship was big as he saw on the 3-D map that popped up he figured he was on the cargo ship and instantly new where to look. The bridge would probably be where they were. who ever those people were. (Meanwhile one the bridge) There were orange lasers flying past objects and leaving scorch marks where they hit the wall. Through all of this the two women were fighting, one with purple hair and red eye’s who the other called Ayeka. And the other one with cyan hair called Ryoko by the other. They each exchanged charges at one another while making remarks like: “Well Ryoko you’ve really out done yourself this time attacking the Marshall’s ship.” “Wonder what your punishment will be this time eh?” “Maybe 700 years in a cave will give you time enough to think things through.” “I’ll kill you first Ayeka!!” Ryoko screamed. Returning her attack with a swift retaliation with a energy bolt, but missed. As he neared his destination he could just make out the sounds of a battle on the bridge. The door opened and what he saw made him gape. There were two women wearing battle suits one red and black, the other brown and white with some other colors mixed in. The two girls noticed the door opened and quickly noticed someone was standing there. Through each of their minds they noticed something different about him this time but did not dare saying anything, since they had angered him already once before. Just then Ayeka see that as a chance to make up for her mistake said, “With her capture I will make amends for what I have done.” “What are you talking about?” he said. This made her stop and rethink what she had just hear from him. <> <> Last thing she remembered of him was that he ordered her to rendezvous with his ship immediately and to not question him about it. <> During this duration of time Ryoko noticed her opportunity and seized it. She quickly grabbed Ayeka by the neck head locking her, with her energy sword just under her victims chin. He saw this and immediately knew what could happen if he didn’t do something now. “STOP!” he yelled. Ayeka surprised by his action in turn said, “Don’t waste your life over mine, Marshall go ahead and kill her. “With what?!” “You mean you came all the way here without a weapon?.” Looking kind of dumb said “Yeah?” both women face faulted. “Wow, your really not yourself today are you” Ryoko said. “What do you mean by that?” in reply. “You’re joking right?" she said in return. But noticed a mark of confusion on his face and decided that something was wrong with the Marshall this time and saw a opportunity to strike. She threw Ayeka down and grabbed him by the arm, “Your coming with me” “Hey let me go, where are you taking me?” as he was saying this she dematerialized on to her ship. “Your going to be useful to me before I get rid of you” not knowing what this meant he swallowed a lump in his throat and said, “W-what do you mean by that” “What happened” two log looking things materialized supporting her as she got up. “Where’s the Marshall?” she asked in a dazed tone. “We are very sorry for not getting here sooner, but now Ryoko the space pirate has him.” said the log with the red symbol on it. “How did she get him....didn’t he fight back?” “Nope” said the log with the blue symbol. “Why not?” she said There was something drastically wrong with the Marshall this time because Ryoko knew as good as Ayeka that he was one of the best fighters in the universe well with his power’s and all. And it wasn’t like it for him to just give up at a demand especially since he was the Marshall of their sector. (On Ryoko ship) “Hey wake up sleepy head” said a sultry voice. “W-where am I” he said while feeling his forehead. Seeing this she grabbed him by the wrist and flew him to a room with one bed and said, “Wait here I need to take a shower ok” She then dumped him on the bed and began to walk to a light blue door. “Oh yeah sure” he replied in tired voice. He then froze as he became fully aware at what she just said. “S-shower?” <> He turned to see Ryoko head off to another door while undressing herself. He quickly closed his eyes. As he clutched at his nose while it started to bleed “uhhh.....” he said barely manage to mutter <> Ryoko suddenly turned around and said. “No peeking now” with a slight grin and then vanished inside the other room. As he heard this he felt a familiar nose bleed coming on <> He knew he had to escape, so once he saw her enter the room he decided to have a look around the ship. He had to admit though she knew how to live. The ship was not as big as his but was still *very* spacious. He looked around the place wondering where his ship was. As he approached a small window near the room he decided to take a look outside. As he did this he heard a loud beep. Then all of a sudden a “nyahhh” came out of nowhere. <> He had never been on one before and realized it was trying to warn him of something but he didn't know what it was. He felt a sudden slight wind and scented bath soap. He turned around to find Ryoko still wet with suds covering *certain* parts of her body. Quickly he had backed a way and could feel his nose started to bleed. <> “uhh...maybe you should get dressed first?” “Something the matter Tenchi?” she said with a grin on her face. As she said that she phased into her battle suit all dry and *fully* clothed. <> Tenchi thought Both were soon interrupted by a hit to the ships hull. This made them almost fall. As Ryoko regained her composure she said, “Ryo-oki lets get out of here! fast!” soon as she said that the ship started to weave and dodge the laser volleys. “Shoot she recovered faster than I expected, but I should have guessed that from the way she nags at everyone like a.....” “Like a what!, Ryoko” Ayeka voice and picture popped out of nowhere to right in front of them. Ryoko grabbed Tenchi standing next to her and dematerialized to the bridge. “So what brings you here after me” she said. “You know what the hell I mean” she responded. “Oh so your still trying to get your promotion from the Marshall by sucking up to him.” almost laughing. “T-that’s absurd you-you monster woman” “Wow such harsh words, I‘m hurt..*really*” Thinking of some kind of comeback she couldn’t and they just glared at each other sparks flying between their eye’s. “I’m coming over there Ryoko,” With this a Ayeka teleported on to Ryo-oki and prepared to do battle once more. Tenchi barged into the bridge saying, “Can someone please tell me what the heck is going on here?” This made them both stare back at him. Feeling kind of nervous he scratched his neck, with sweat starting to bead on his forehead. “You really don’t know where you are do you?” not knowing anything Ryoko else to say. “Don’t talk to the Marshall like that” said Ayeka. “I’m sorry sir but she doesn’t know what she’s saying” some how she too wondered what was wrong with him so she had no authority behind her voice. He paused but then seeing their confusion said “Yes, I *really* don’t know where I am” This shocked both women till Ryoko once again broke the silence. “I knew there was something wrong with you the first time I saw you on that cargo ship” “The only thing that I remember he said was that I was searching for a new part for my ship when I got here” “So who are you?” both women asked with a confused look on their faces. <> Besides he wanted to get on with his life and forget that this ever happened. During this both girls had their jaws opening till he finished. <> Ryoko thought to herself <> This made her grin. Tenchi noticing this wondered why and became a little scared at what Ryoko was *thinking* Ayeka thinking herself didn’t notice. Where did he come from then if he wasn’t the real Marshall And what about the *real* Marshall, what had happened to him. She desperately needed an answer so she decided idea to ask the one person that knew almost... everything. She blinked and shook her head to wash all her thoughts away and apologized to Ryoko for her actions. Ryoko surprised at the officers action didn’t say a thing. Tenchi feeling lost in this new world knew nothing of what to do next. <> All of a sudden he blurted out, “How do I get out of here?” Ayeka seeing his worried eyes decided this is what she could do to make up for what had happened to him in this one day. “Tenchi I would like to make it up to you by finding out how to get you back home.” “Would that be alright?” She added Ryoko knowing that she had to act fast said, “Tenchi do you want to stay with me till she finds a way to get you home?” He appreciated both of their hospitality but...some how he had a bad feeling about this. <> thought Ryoko. “Aren’t you tired, I bet you are, why don’t you spend the night on my ship” Tenchi felt a synapse surge through him but his body just kind of froze there. He suddenly remembered that there was only *one* bed....well that he only saw one bed while there. “Can’t I just stay on *my* ship while you two figure something out?“ he said as he slowly started to move backwards. He almost tripped from the unfamiliar surroundings. Ryoko then caught him before he fell any further than requested that Ayeka do her part as well. Ayeka all the time in shock at how fast it had happened. <> she thougt to herself. She sighed in disgust and went back to her ship, but also at the same time felt saddened at Tenchi not being with her. She caught herself thinking this and quickly said to herself “Don’t be so carefree, you know that you have a even greater responsibility to find the real Marshall now. Even after reassuring herself though she couldn’t help but think what Tenchi was doing now..... alone with that *woman*. She shuddered and beamed back on to her ship. She searched for the person she knew had the answer to all their questions. (Back on Ryo-oki Ryoko’s ship) Tenchi and Ryoko rematerialized into the same room they had been in only a couple of minutes ago. This made him worry even more, if there *was* only one bed in this entire ship. Noticing his reaction Ryoko grinned. “So Tenchi what do want to do with your *spare time* here” she seductively whispering into his ear. “Well um...don’t you think that other girl Ayeka will find that person she’s looking for and get me out of here.” replied why scratching the back of his neck “You don’t want to go that eagerly do you Tenchi.” almost begging in her saddened voice. Felling sudden swept of remorse he said “No I guess... not yet at least” <> <> Quickly that thought faded as he knew he could never do anything like that to *anyone* That was his weakness being to kind sometimes that it hurt others around him. Ryoko face brightened as he said this even though she had just met this guy she felt she had known him from another life and felt closer with ever word he said. <> <> <> she thought smiling/blushing to herself She then had an interesting idea. “Tenchi why don’t you take a bath and relax, it looks like you really need one after today.” He though it would be a good idea too but then remembered that she would probably.....as she put it *peek* inside somehow. He couldn’t just say no however since he felt that a bath *would* help. <> <> So he agreed and once inside closed the door and locked it. <> He was amazed at how nice the bath was inside. It was circular with blue trimmings of tile that reflected their color into the pools lightly lit surface. Once he was in he felt his joints start to relax finally after a very weird and stressful day. (On board the other ship) Ayeka found who she was looking for. “Washu?” she said knocking on her door. Before she could enter though she was teleported by some unknown means and when she could see found herself in a lab. An angry red haired girl (looks around 12 years old by the way) sat in the middle of the lab staring at her. “Miss Washu could you please help me with something?” Ayeka asked The little red hair girl just stood there with her arms folded in front of her chest. Ayeka saw this and started to fume. She caught herself though before she said anything. “*Little* Washu could you please do something for me?” <> she thought angrily to herself. “By the way you should really do something about that door, I don’t like it” “But its one of my greatest inventions.” retorted the redhead. “*Perfect* in every way.” she added. “Well anyway you didn’t come to talk to you about my door so lets get on with it.” “What do you need Ayeka?” said the scientist. “Well *Little* Washu” she began knowing that if she ever wanted help from her she needed to get on her good side. “I was wondering if you could tell me if there was any unusual activity within the past couple of hours?” “Now that you mention it Ayeka, there has been.” “You see there was a shift in the time continuum.... as she went on she noticed Ayeka getting confused with every word.” “Ayeka to put it short there was a portal and there seemed to be a momentarily shift in time which something could have happened like say the switching of two places, you know that sort of thing.” “Um yes, that’s what I was wondering since the Marshall or the real one at least was switched with another one from a different dimension or something.” “What really?!” <> <> “*Little* Washu please can you help me to find the missing Marshall.” “I will see that you get rewarded greatly.” “Since of course is the ruler of this sector and all.” “Oh that's even better more money so I can finally get that space defragmenter I have been wanting to use on my latest invention.” “Ok I’ll do it but it won’t come cheap, and you have better be ready to pay up when your share is due.” “Of course Washu, anything.” (Back in the bathroom) Tenchi almost fell asleep in the warm water when *knock, knock, knock* “Tenchi you’ve been in there kind of long is there something wrong?” Startled by the sudden noise he almost jumped out of the water making a slight splash around him. “No I’m fine” feeling relieved that he had remembered to lock the door. “Oh don’t you need clothes to change into?” Ryoko asked innocently Tenchi had forgot since he was so tired that he had no clean clothes to change into. <> <> Now kind of regretting the bath. “Don’t worry I’ll get something for you to wear.” He saw her shadow leave from the door then a few moments later return. “Tenchi please let me in” he pause for a moment then figured he had to at least for a couple of seconds. To get his clothes of course. Ryoko new her plan was about go into action so she got ready to give him *his clothes* Reluctantly he said “Ok, I guess” but before he said that had already made sure he was at least wearing a towel below his waist then unlocked the door. Ryoko turned the knob and pushed the door open. Tenchi tried to grab his clothes from her before the door opened too much. Soon he noticed that she had *her* clothes not his. “Ryoko” he said getting worried. “W-where are *my* clothes” sweat slowly starting to bead up all over his body. “Oops, wrong ones” she said trying not to smile. Once he heard this he started to close the door but she was too strong for him and soon the door slammed wide open. He was going to run but to where he thought. “Ryoko what are you doing?” he asked knowing the answer already. <> She was looking at the top part of his body and noticed from the steam in the room he looked pretty good, for he was built slightly and looked good in just a towel. This made her almost lunge at him. She held her hormones back but still managed to blush and take a step closer. Tenchi seeing this took another step back. They did this for a while until he hit the wall behind him and realized there was no where left to run. Ryoko started to move closer and closer till Tenchi tried to in horror flee. Seeing this she blocked his way with her body and Tenchi just bumped into her chest making him kind of dizzy. After recovering he noticed that he wasn’t in the bathroom anymore and was slightly relieved. Only now he found himself lying on the bed with something next to him. Suddenly a soft hand grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him around. He turned to see Ryoko’s beautiful yellow eye’s piercing his own. He then noticed that they were both under the blankets him wearing only his towel not counting what she wasn’t wearing. “Wait a minute...what are you doing?” he said while blushing Seeing this made him blush which just made Ryoko even more interested in him. “mnpfff” was his next word as Ryoko muffled him with a kiss. He was in shock for a couple of seconds and then when came back to reality, quickly pushed himself back with his hands on her shoulder for support. He saw where his hands where and the other *things* around that area, and felt almost like fainting but his mind said to flee and kept him conscious if not at least semi-conscious. Saddened by his sudden move Ryoko sat up and turned around facing away from Tenchi. <> she thought, but then realized she had also said it aloud. Fully awake now Tenchi realized what he had done and felt a wave of guilt wash over him. “No...its not you” he said to the figure with cyan hair across from him on the bed. He held his head low still closing his eyes when he heard...