Chapter 7
Kenshi approached his parents. Naoko wanted to reach out and embrace this child of her’s from the future, but her senses told her something was wrong. She felt it even before Ryo-ohki started hissing angrily at Kenshi, and even before Washu cried out in warning.
“Look out! He’s….!”
Before another word could be uttered, Kenshi’s skin instantaneously changed and took on the substance of liquid metal. Soon, his appearance completely changed to that of a humanoid machine with a skull-like head.
Instinctively, Ryoko jumped up and fired energy bolts at the robot. In less than the blink of an eye, the robot vanished from her vision. Before she knew what happened, she felt a thud against the back of her head as the robot knocked her unconscious from behind.
One by one they stood to challenge it. Tenchi, Yosho, Haruna, and even Aeka and her parents, all prepared to fight the attacker. They soon found, however, that this robot was more than a match for them all. It seemed that this machine knew all about Juraian combat techniques, but was able to take them to a whole new terrifying level. As each individual attacked him, he was able to not only match their moves, but to even brush off their attacks. Even when Tenchi attacked with the Tenchi-ken, the robot simply grabbed a hold of the energy blade like it was solid matter, and then tossed Tenchi aside.
When the last Juraian fell, the robot moved in for the kill. However, Washu erected and energy barrier around her fallen friends to try and prevent the robot from harming them further. But, even this seemed futile. The robot started tearing into the barrier at an alarming rate, and soon would break through it completely.
“Stop!!!” Naoko cried. The robot turned to face her. In the heat of battle, it had forgotten why it had come here in the first place. “I know you came here for me! So, I’ll go with you if you leave them alone!” she told it.
Without hesitation, the machine strolled over and lifted Naoko up and carried her over its shoulder as Noboyuki and Sasami could do little more than watch. Soon, in a burst of green energy, they were both gone. The household was then left in the wreckage.
* * *
Later, after everybody licked their wounds, there was much discussion over what had just occurred. Washu tried to explain what she had learned in the short time she took readings of the attacker.
“It was very unusual. He was both human and machine all at once. But, he wasn’t a cyborg in the traditional sense. No, it was more like the organic cells within his body had somehow fused with mechanical cells, like he was the perfect blending of a man and machine. I’ve never seen such advanced technology before”
“He said he was my son.” Noboyuki said glumly. “Was it a lie?”
“No, I don’t think so.” Washu answered. “You see, according to my readings, his flesh and blood aspect was indeed a mixture of your and Naoko’s DNA.He really is your son. It seemed to me that the non-organic elements of his body may have been added sometime later in his life. Meaning someone, or something, transformed him into this entity.”
“Gaia.” Tenchi uttered aloud, realizing certain physical similarities between Kenshi’s robotic form, and the machine they saved Naoko from earlier. Washu nodded.
“So, what do we do now?” Haruna asked. “If our Juraian combat techniques and the Jurai power is no match for this entity, what or who can stop him?”
“I think I know somebody who might be able to help us.” Sasami spoke up. Washu and Zyggi grumbled in unison as they realized who she spoke of.
* * *
Naoko watched with a mixture of fear and wonder as the being that called itself her son worked at a console. She could sense her own blood flowing through the being’s veins, so she understood that he was indeed her son. She also knew exactly who turned him into this monster.
“Tell me, Kenshi, how did Gaia do this to you?”
“Well, it’s certainly a long story. Going back to the beginning, when you and Dad conceived me, you had this belief that I would be some type of champion for your homeworld of Geminar. As I grew up, you and everyone else groomed me to be such. With my inherited bioroid abilities, combined with the Juraian combat and survival training I got from Grandpa and Big Brother, it really did seem like I would be the champion you dreamed of.
“So, upon my fifteenth birthday, Washu finally figured out a way to reach Geminar, and coincidently it seemed as though I was ready through all my years of training. I was sent away to this strange world to fulfill your hopes. And, for awhile, it seemed I would. Even though it had changed much since your time, hundreds of years having passed since you were sent away in your stasis pod, I not only adjusted to life among the people of Geminar, but I actually became a great hero to them all just as you had hoped. I was better than all of them at everything they knew how to do. I had many adventures with new friends I had made. And I had even gained my own battle harem of women who were head over heals in love with me.
“It turns out that that last example would be my downfall. There was one girl in my harem, Yukine, who always seemed a little off, though I was too naive to pay attention to it at the time. She displayed a very inhuman lack of emotions and a lack of presence. Most assumed she was just shy, but I would soon find out otherwise.
“It turned out that Yukine’s inhuman mannerisms were because she indeed was not human. She was a minor mechanoid of Gaia, sent to acquire me. Eventually, she struck. In the dark of night, she killed all the girls in my harem in their sleep, and then took me captive before I knew what was going on. I don’t remember much after that, but I know that I was taken before Gaia, and Gaia….changed me.
“However, I know now that it was all for the better. Now, in my new body, I understand Gaia’s superiority, and I understand my destiny to help my god achieve his power over the universe.”
Naoko looked at her son with unfathomable sadness. Not only for what had been done to him, but the realization that it was her fault.
“Kenchi, what I don’t understand is, why have you come back in time now?
“Well, you see, Mother dear, Gaia sent me back for two purposes. The first is to prove my loyalty by bringing back your head. The second is to acquire an item that exists in this time period.”
The first one perplexed Naoko. “So, if you are suppose to kill me, why haven’t you done so yet?”
A sudden sense of hesitation hit Kenshi, the first Naoko had seen from him.
“Because….I now believe that Gaia will prefer that I bring him a live trophy!”
Naoko nodded. It was as she suspected. Kenshi couldn’t kill her because he still has a lingering love for her. Meaning some part of her son was still alive within the machine.
“As for the item I spoke of,” he went on, “it’s an item of great power that Grandpa Yosho has hidden away. So far, two other individuals have come to this time period seeking it. But, unlike those two, I know exactly where Grandpa hid it….”
* * *
The Masaki clan stood at the doorway of a rather ordinary house. Sasami eagerly rang the doorbell. The front door opened, and a familiar face greeted them. Sai smiled as he saw Sasami. He was about to run up to embrace her, when, in the blink of an eye, somebody else ran up to give him a big hug.
“Oh, Sai! I missed your adorable face so much!” Aeka I said as she pressed Sai’s face against her bosom, causing the others to sweatdrop in embarrassment.
“Little fucker.” Zyggi muttered under his breath.
* * *
Everybody was gathered in the living room of Sai’s house as Sai’s mother offered them all snacks and drinks. Sasami explained the situation to Sai, and the boy considered her words.
“Gee, I would like to help, but I don’t know if my nanites will be any good against such advanced technology as what this cyborg is made out of.” Sai said.
“You have to at least try!” Sasami pleaded, “You’re the greatest scientist I know!”
‘Screw you, Sasami.’ Washu thought to herself.
“I agree with Sasami.” Sai’s mother chimed in. “I have the highest faith in your brilliant mind and your inventions. I’m sure you have what it takes to help your friends against this robot monster.”
His mother’s encouragement was all Sai needed to hear. “I’ll do it.” he said.
“I’m glad you can help.” Tenchi told him with a smile. “Now, Ryoko, are you still able to track Kenshi’s ship?”
“Yes.” she answered. “He’s not even trying to cover his tracks from us. Probably because he believes we can’t do anything to stop him. He’s on course for Catian, planet of the cat women. Why would he be going there?”
Yosho turned pale. “We have to stop him right away!” the elder Masaki announced.
* * *
Naoko looked out the ship’s window as a planet came into view. Not having much knowledge about the Milky Way galaxy, she had no idea what planet this was, or why her son had come here.
“Wait her, mother.” Kenshi ordered her, sarcastically, knowing she couldn’t actually go anywhere. Without any further words, Kenshi teleported away before Naoko’s eyes, leaving her alone.
* * *
Down on the planet below, there was a special shrine below one of Catian’s greatest cities that was dedicated to the great cat goddess of the planet’s people. The shrine was very mysterious to most. Legends and rumors abound speaking of various manner of demons and ancient abominations that were supposedly imprisoned in this shrine. One of the more interesting rumors was that a little over a decade ago, a Jurain prince secretly gave the shrine masters some mysterious artifact of unknown power for safe keeping. Of course, most people on the outside dismissed such urban legends.
Whatever lie inside the shrine, it was heavily guarded. Not so much to keep what ever was inside in, but to keep curious individuals from going in and disturbing whatever was inside (there was an old saying about cat people who were too curious). The two cat women who guarded the front entrance weren’t expecting anything big to happen that night. They certainly weren’t expecting somebody to teleport in front of them from out of nowhere.
As Kenshi appeared before the two guards, they immediately held up their weapons and were about to tell him to halt. They didn’t get a chance. As the guards opened their mouths to talk, Kenshi rushed towards them. He punched the one on the left in the head, causing her skull to cave in. The other guard fired her weapon at Kenshi, but the energy bolt simply bounced off of him. He turned around and grabbed her by the neck. Slowly, he crushed her throat, smiling the whole time.
As he made his way through the shrine, more guards appeared. And, one by one, Kenshi slaughtered them. He marveled at the sheer cruelty of what he was doing. Since he knew exactly where the item he was looking for was located, it would have been a simple task to teleport right to that spot. However, the idea of getting to kill the shrine guardians just for fun thrilled him.
With everyone in the shrine, from armed guards to helpless shrine maidens, all dead, Kenshi soon found his way to the heart of the shrine. A huge metal door blocked his path, but it was nothing for him to just kick it in. Right then, he beheld it. A large jewel floating in midair at the heart of the chamber, glowing a dull gray color. The aptly named Graygem of Gargauth. This is where Yosho made his feeble attempt to hide the the gem after it had caused him and his family so much grief. And now, Yosho’s failure would be realized, as Kenshi would soon have the gem and present his master with its power.
He took a step forward, and then paused. Something wasn’t right. He could feel inhuman eyes watching him.
“Show yourself, goddess!”
A spectral image appeared above the gem. It took the form of a cat with light orange fur. The cat soon changed form into a human-like girl with light orange hair, and with cat ears and a tail. Eris, the cat goddess of Catian, had appeared to keep the gem from Kenshi’s hands.
“The Graygem must not be disturbed.” the goddess told him. “I cannot allow you to take such a dangerous object to the outside.”
Kenshi’s reflexes were lightning-fast, but that didn’t help him here. His attempt to dodge Eris’ strike failed, and he found massive claw marks across his chest. The nano-technology that should have healed his wounds was not working. He had to think fast, because he doubted this goddess was going to show him any mercy.
He soon had an idea. He was no match for Eris, but there was someone else very close by who was. It was only a matter of getting Him to awaken. He let Eris come at him one more time. He allowed her to strike him once more, and as she did so, he threw a small blade at the Graygem. The blade made a tiny, barely visible scratch in the gem.
Kenshi fell to the ground from his wounds. Eris was prepared to finish him, when her attention was turned towards the gem. Something was seeping out through the scratch Kenshi had made. A small black oozing shape dripped to the ground. Eris watched with a mixture of horror and wonder as the shape grew larger and larger. She knew that this must be a fragment of Him. She had to do what she could to prevent this fragment from escaping out into the universe.
But, it was no use. Her divine claws, which could tear apart the mightiest of devils, simply went through the growing mass as if it wasn’t actually there. The goddess screamed as the mass enveloped and consumed her.
Kenshi stood and faced the mass, which left him unharmed. He bowed towards it, as if to honor it.
“Nameless One. Void. Chaos. Father of All and Nothing. I shall soon grant you freedom if you join with my master. Until then, I understand that the people of this planet have done you wrong by holding you prisoner. I offer them to you as a sacrifice. Be free to eat your fill.”
As the mass continued to grow rapidly, Kenshi vanished.
* * *
In Kenshi’s ship, Naoko continued to watch the planet below with great concern. She had no idea what her son was doing down there, and didn’t know whether she should hope for his safety, or pray that whatever evil plot he had to be thwarted.
Something caught her attention. A small black speck on the continent below. Small to her vision, but she figured that it had to be at least the size of a city. Then, much to her alarm, the black mass began to grow larger. It kept expanding until it was no longer small to her eyes, and soon it covered the entire continent.
Kenshi reappeared aboard the ship. Naoko turned her attention to him as she saw him stumble. She rushed towards him and noticed that he was bleeding. She tried to help him up, but he only smirked at her.
“Heh, you wouldn’t be helping me or feeling any pity for me if you realized what I had just done.”
Naoko wondered what he could be talking about, and then she thought about that expanding mass she saw. She ran back to the window and looked outside. She gasped in horror as she saw that the black mass had now completely enveloped and consumed the planet. Just as horrifying were the tentacle-like tendrils that reached out and squirmed for miles. The mass was alive!
“Now that I’ve got what I came for, it’s time to return to Geminar!” Kenshi announced.
Before he could return to the controls, the ship quaked. Something had just struck it. Kenshi looked at the viewing screen and saw something he was all too familiar with. A ship that was shaped like Ken-okhi, but colored dark grey like Ryo-ohki. Ren-ohki. The screen then switched to an angry face which glared at Kenshi.
“Alright, asshole, hand over the Graygem!” Tenko growled.