Episode 6: We Need Tenchi
- of the 1st OVA series -
Synopses by John 'Furball' Yung
Editing by Scanner
Invaluable help from Takumi Hawa
Out in the wreckage, Ryoko sits crying upon the roots of the Ryuu-oh. Seeing Ryo-oh-ki drifting nearby, she teleports in its direction. Upon the bridge, Mihoshi and Aeka still ca not believe what just happened. When Ryoko appears, Aeka asks the former pirate what she is doing and why she did not return earlier to prevent what just happened. Ryoko removes her earring and changes her costume, replying that she intends to go into close combat with Kagato. "What are you saying?" asks Aeka, "We have to find Tenchi first." Ryoko throws Tenchi's headband to the Jurai girl, who start to say something when she notices the bloodstains on the cloth. Ryoko shares her plan to destroy Kagato. She may get killed, but she will have her revenge. With a battle cry, she rams Ryo-oh-ki into the Souja in a boarding manuever that can noticed for some distance.
Back on the Earth, Sasami, who had been left behind, runs on a forest path at night. She cries, "Don't die, Tenchi." Arriving at the tree shrine, Sasami chants some words and sends her essence into the remains of Yousho's ship.
The girls board the ship all dressed for battle. Mihoshi wonders which way to go, and Ryoko answers that all paths aboard the Souja lead to Kagato. Aeka declares that she'll take one way, and Ryoko says that she'll take another way, leaving Mihoshi confused about which way to take. The trio demonstrate that they are formidable, as they take on the Souja's internal defenses separately. Kagato is aware of their approach and decides to play his pipe organ while he awaits their arrival.
Tenchi was not atomized in the Ryuu-oh's explosion, but his body floats unconscious out in space, protected by the two Jurai guardians, Azaka and Kamidake. A woman appears, caressing Tenchi's face before merging with him. The guardians and Tenchi are wrapped in a cocoon of energy and disappear.
Ryoko passes through a break in a wall, knowing that there should be another entrance in this room. The wall across from her opens up. Aeka arrives, and they both stride toward the portal. Mihoshi appears and notices the open side closing up. In her hurry, she drops her control cube and slips into a mirror dimension. Running back and forth until she retrieves her cube, Mihoshi does not notice that anything is amiss as she rushes through the black curtains.
Aeka and Ryoko follow the strains of organ music to Kagato's throne room, with Mihoshi making similar progress on the other side. After Ryoko steps across the threshold, Kagato stops playing and welcomes the two ladies. Aeka takes the initiative and charges Kagato. He observes that Aeka is very powerful and that he would be dead if it were not for the protection of Souja's internal defenses. Kagato makes a counter-attack and knocks Aeka unconscious. Ryoko phases in behind Kagato and drives her sword through his throat. However, she is surprised when he grabs her by the throat. He taunts her, "700 years has been a long time for you. You used to be able to tell the difference between shadows and real things." Kagato turns her into stone and turns to Aeka, "Show me the secret of the Tsunami-unit."
Mihoshi finds herself alone in the throne room on the mirror side. Wondering where Aeka and Ryoko are, she speculates about the possibility that they may be dead. If she is the only one remaining, she will avenge their deaths and Tenchi's by killing Kagato, she says when she notices the snake guardians. Her Galactic Police training takes over as she warns the snakes not to come closer. After kicking one snake, she shouts, "If you resist, your charges will be more severe!" As the snakes continue their attacks, Mihoshi starts reading them their rights! When they are encased in ice, she implores them to stay still. As the ice starts cracking, she frantically tries twisting combinations on her control cube in a desparate effort to summon another weapon. When the final strike doesn't hit, Mihoshi looks up and lets out a whimper as she sees how close she was to becoming snakefood.
"Thank you for releasing me," says a young red-haired female, who bears more than a passing resemblance to Ryoko. While Mihoshi tries to ask some questions, the female destroys the snakes with a simple gesture. The Galactic Police officer can't get a word in edgewise as the stranger explains her annoyance with Kagato for imprisoning her and for almost breaking her creation. Ryoko is brought over to the other side by the stranger and changed back into flesh with a snap of the fingers. The redhead walks around Ryoko, giving her a close visual examination, "Your body is shaped a bit different. The hips are a little too low."
Ryoko grabs grabs the stranger, insisting that her body hasn't changed for 700 years. The redhead also observes that Ryoko has also become grown-up. "What are you talking about? You're just a kid," says Ryoko, becoming more confused and agitated by this strange female.
The redhead responds, "Why not? I'm your mother." As Ryoko looks on in shock, the stranger continues, "I made you, Ryo-oh-ki, and the Souja, also. Since I used my ova to create you, you should call me mother." Mihoshi expresses that she now understands why the girl is wearing an ancient Science Academy uniform and asks if she was Kagato's student. The redhead corrects Mihoshi, introducing herself as Wasyu, Kagato's professor, "But since my looks are cute and young, you can call me a student. Right, Ryoko?"
Ryoko has other matters on her mind and asks where they are. Wasyu explains that the Souja has two sides: a front side and a back side. Right now, while Kagato is still alive, they can only travel one-way from the front side to the back. It doesn't seem to concern Ryoko who announces that she's going back to kill Kagato. Wasyu asks if her child is going back for Tenchi. Surprised, Ryoko threatens Wasyu with her sword, asking how her creator knows about Tenchi. The scientist explains that just as Ryoko has a link with Ryo-oh-ki, the same kind of link exists between Ryoko and herself. "You like him," reveals Wasyu, impressing Mihoshi. Wasyu adds that she won't stop Ryoko from leaving, but she has one last request, "Before you go, would you call me 'mama'?" Ryoko is too upset to be civil as she phases away.
Mihoshi wants to follow Ryoko, but Wasyu informs her that it's not possible. The Ryoko that they were talking to is an astral projection, and the two of them are stuck here on the mirror side of the Souja. The Galactic Police officer then asks, "So where are we?"
Aeka awakens to find herself floating in a void. Her brother Yousho appears to her in his prime, asking her about the secret of the master key. He also asks her about why only the Jurai royal family can wield the master key and what is Tsunami. Aeka resists from answering, sensing that this is not really Yousho. Looking down, she lets out a cry at her unraveling body as Yousho says that since she will not tell him what he wants to know he will just use her instead. Yousho is repelled and is revealed to be Kagato, realizing that Aeka is under Tsunami's protection. He is about to try a different approach when his arm is pierced by Ryoko.
Tenchi regain consciousness and asks where is he? The woman reappears, introducing herself as the Jurai ship Tsunami and tells him that he is inside her. Tenchi is confused since she looks human, so how could he be inside her? Tsunami explains that she is the spirit of Sasami's ship and that she is just using human form. "Oh, just like Ryo-oh-ki," says Tenchi, "Where are they?" Tsunami shows him the image of the Souja, replying that the group is inside that ship. When he tells her that he wants to join them, Tsunami answers that she can send him there but she cannot accompany him.
Kagato and Ryoko fight as Wasyu explains to Mihoshi where they are and how they got there using lots and lots of diagrams and equations just like a professor teaching a difficult concept to a student. As she finishes, Wasyu asks if Mihoshi, who has been nodding at each point that the scientist made, understood, and the Galactic Police officer takes a moment before confessing that she doesn't understand at all.
Ryoko and Kagato continue fighting as Mihoshi and Wasyu continue their discussion about the mirror side. The Galactic Police officer finally understands that they are trapped on this side, but she also starts, "You made this ship..." Wasyu responds that is why it is that way.
As the fight rages on the other side, Mihoshi asks if there is anything they could do. Wasyu answers that they could do two things. One thing is that they could watch the battle. When Mihoshi asks about the other thing, Wasyu gives her something that turns out to be a fan. Wasyu cheers for Ryoko.
Kagato seems tireless as Ryoko and Aeka take turns at attacking him. He throws Ryoko into a column and tries to impale her with his sword, but she phases into the structure. Aeka tries to catch Kagato off-guard with a blast, but he shrugs it off as if it were nothing and returns the favor, knocking Aeka down. Ryoko demonstrates another power as she uses the material of the column to create a giant body and attempts to crush Kagato in one giant hand. Kagato is able to crumble Ryoko's stone body to pieces. As Ryoko falls, she hears Aeka's scream and rescues her from the falling boulders.
Wasyu notices that Ryoko is not using her full strength against Kagato and wonders why. She watches on as her creation gets thrown back into a wall by Kagato. Wasyu realizes that Ryoko is holding back out of concern for Aeka. When Mihoshi asks what they could do about that, Wasyu tells the Galactic Police officer to give her the control cube. Kagato approaches Aeka and extends a hand to her, but she is brought over to the back side by Wasyu with the help of the control cube. Kagato sends an astral projection to talk to Wasyu.
As the two scientists talk, Ryoko gets up from the wall and stalks across the throne room floor. Unfortunately she triggers a booby trap which leaves her too weak to stand. Wasyu knows about this through her link with Ryoko, and she questions Kagato. He replies that during the 5000 years she was imprisoned, he made certain modifications to the Souja. Wasyu was able to harness a lot of power within Ryoko's compact form, and Kagato was not able to duplicate Wasyu's accomplishment, so he did the next best thing: he fixed the Souja to collect Ryoko's power. With that power, Kagato will destroy the Earth, unless he is told about Tsunami. Since they had plenty of chances earlier to tell him, he does not wait long before firing upon the Earth. Aeka gasps, thinking about her brother and Sasami.
Before the beam reaches the planet, it is caught by something. Kagato sees this, but he is not concerned until he sees that beam has been asorbed. The Souja comes under fire by something invisible (perhaps using the energy that it collected from the Souja) which soon reveals itself. Aeka recognizes the ship as Tsunami, the most powerful ship of the Jurai.
Knowing that he is no match for the Tsunami, Kagato tries to drain power directly from Ryoko, but his hand is blown off. Regenerating his hand, Kagato (and everyone else) sees that Tenchi rescued Ryoko. "So you're still alive. What are you doing to do now, kid?" Tenchi steps forward, but he realizes that his leg is still stuck in mid-teleport. The Jurai guardians appear and try to keep Kagato occupied until Tenchi can free his leg. They are immediately cast off, but Tenchi is able to attack soon afterwards. He does not prove to be a better match since his last battle with Kagato, and he is also fighting on the evil scientist's home territory. Ryoko yells at the guardians to help Tenchi, but they reply that they are unable to help.
Wasyu's former assistant realizes the power of the master key. The Tenchiken is a way of controlling the energy of the ships. With this realization, Kagato taps into the power harnessed by the Tenchiken through the power gems in its handle, the same way he is draining Ryoko. Laughing at the power coursing through his body, Kagato plans to destroy Tsunami with its own energy.
Knowing that it would be futile to fight with the Tenchiken against an opponent that can wield its own power against it, Tenchi apologizes to Sasami that there is nothing he can do. Then he is reminded about something that Tsunami said to him. Before he came aboard the Souja, he was asked if he was ready. Tenchi replied he would be okay, since he had the sword with him. Tsunami corrects him, saying that he does not need the Tenchiken. Touching foreheads, she informs him that the power he has to use is within him, not the sword.
With renewed determination, Tenchi steps forward. Kagato notices this and asks if Tenchi wants to die first as a test of his new power. When the boy throws aside the sword, Kagato responds that Tenchi will just die quicker. Ryoko, still too drained to stand, pleads with Tenchi to not throw his life away. Noting her compassion, Kagato tells her not to worry, for he will take care of her and Aeka right after he is finished with Tenchi. The villain sends a blast at the boy, but when the smoke clears, Kagato is surprised to see Tenchi still alive and using the Kou-oh-yoku. "Impossible! I'm using Tsunami's power! Where is this energy coming from?" When Tenchi uses two blades of the Kou-oh-yoku to transform his costume, Kagato realizes aloud that Tenchi can shape his power. As the evil scientist moves in to finish off the boy in the old-fashioned way with a sword, Tenchi transforms the last blade of the Kou-oh-yoku into a sword of his own. Wasyu is impressed with Tenchi's new abilities. The two swordsmen move past each other, making a single swing.
Tenchi holds his pose as Kagato's attack dissipates across his Kou-oh-yoku armor. His opponent realizes that Tenchi and the master key have the same name. Turning around, Kagato starts dissolving from where Tenchi slashed him, making observations as the dedicated scientist he is until he dies, "I cannot regenerate from this wound. How fascinating."
The Souja changes, to reflect a change in ownership, and Tenchi puts away his Kou-oh-youko. Ryoko starts to get up to run to him, but Wasyu brings Aeka and Mihoshi with her to the front side. The Jurai queen and Galactic Police officer look at Tenchi with dreamy eyes and call out his name. They both start running to him but are tripped by Ryoko who claims the honor of greeting first Tenchi for herself. Turning around, she does a take when she sees Ryo-oh-ki on Tenchi's shoulder. Grabbing her pet and taking it aside for a word, she overhears Wasyu introducing herself to Tenchi, asking if he would like to be her guinea pig. Ryoko grabs Wasyu instead for a few choice words, but she overhears Sasami comforting herself against Tenchi. More and more voices are heard behind Ryoko as she goes into a jealous rage. Spinning around, she shouts, getting their attention, and in the silence that follows, the throne room splits in half. As everyone gasps, Wasyu suggests that Tenchi overdid it when he cut Kagato. The rest of the Souja splits, and they shout in a panic before it blows up.
It is some time later on Earth, and a postman delivers mail to a compound. After putting mail into a slot, the postman is shocked as he receives thanks from Azaka and Kamidake who have new positions as gate posts. When the postman flees in terror, Azaka asks Kamidake what was the man's problem. Kamidake pleads ignorance. They both hear calamity behind the wall just before breakfast is served. Azaka comments that it looks like it will be a nice day. Kamidake wishes that breakfast would be quieter.
Epilogue:
Azaka asks, "That's all? The story's over?" Kamidake replies, "No, since our characters didn't die, there are more stories."
Scene of Aeka in the garden with Ryo-oh-ki digging up the spot where she's regrowing Ryuu-oh (her ship).
Scene of Washyuu playing doctor with Tenchi.
Scene of Mihoshi answering the phone. Sasami observes that Mihoshi's face has turned red and asks coyly who is Mihoshi talking with.
Scene of Ryouko sneaking into Tenchi's room.
Scene of Aeka and Ryouko locked in battle, both looking at Sasami walking by.
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