Tenchi Muyo Fan Fiction ❯ Ah My Tsunami Muyo! - The Human Sphere Saga ❯ Part Five - Shall Not the Pillars of Heaven Quake? ( Chapter 5 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Two eventful years pass, as Al and Tsui prepare for their graduations at Tekomi, but with friends and family watching, a long planned, dark assault is finally unleashed upon reality.

Anime/Manga: Tenchi Muyo Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Comedy / Adventure / Action / Sci-fi / Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 01.29.2008 | Pages: 31 | Words: 30.6K | Visits: 189 | Status: Completed

'One man by himself is nothing. Two people who belong together make a world.'

~ Hans Margolius.

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(Ah My Tsunami Muyo: Part Five - Shall Not the Pillars of Heaven Quake?)

"*Humming a simple tune.* La la lala la laa la.. *badly.* ..la.lal..ala.allla."

Aleaic the horrid tenor, is contentedly sweeping the shrine area in front, within a semi-cool June afternoon. (got to love those Climatizers.) The sun is high and yet not harsh, helped by a storm that passed by, on program, earlier that morning. It's a simple, enjoyable matter for this soon to graduate Senior of the Academy. Speaking of, it said, later that night actually, thanking all gods (and goddesses) that all the Senior activities have finally passed. *whew*

"(Wow.. I can't believe it's finally come. No more late night studies, no more politically minded professors. And YES, that Tasha won't keep bugging me anymore about races. *thinking thoughtfully* ..when `IS' she going to graduate anyway!?)"

Aleaic only shakes his head, and is suddenly ataken by the lovely image of Tsui across his mind. Quite so.. =^^= So much so that he doesn't hear the tell tale patter of Hex Blasts heading his way. =Xx=;;;

"{~ TAKE THAT!! AND THAT!! AND THAT!! ~}" A certain belligerent demon/goddess yells for snide effect. Ayeka swerves around all the shots, and gives a few back herself. "~ Not this day you demon!!! ~"

"{~ Says you Heaven's PRISS!! ~}"

Apparently the exercises aren't as effective anymore.

Ayeka then shoots a pair in retaliation for the barb, and swerves again to avoid three more strikes. They don't see their route, nor Al, still in a heaven of his own.

But Tenchi does.. "~ AL!!! LOOK OUT!!!!! ~" Tenchi hollers from the main residence hatchway!!

“Eh......?” But it's a touch too late, as Al only has time to realize his horrendous predicament when three Hex shots NAIL all around him!

The Demon/Goddess and Goddess stop in 'supposed' horror. “~ Look what you DID!!! ~” “{~ HEY!! This is YOUR fault too!!! ~}” This as a smoldering mortal emerges from the dust/smoke cloud.

".....................................ow...............*TH UD..*....." ..and falls back into it.

Tenchi runs up as Ryoko and Ayeka begin to berate who's at fault, neither forthcoming with taking responsibility. And then fireworks promptly light up again, just before a pair of strange sounding booms occur as Washu uses a 'solution' to the fight. Ayeka and Ryoko end up quite unconscious within a blaster like shot electric net. “~ Bug heads. ~”

Washu calls for, and Tsui emerges outside quickly after, and helps Tenchi carry Al to the Lab for healing.

Another typical day in Tekomi's most famous spot. (infamous more like..)

--------------------------

Journal Entry - 15th May, 3419

*Recording Terminal / Module 1023C*

I think I'm alive

I'm ALIVE!!! *cackling.. coughing..* ...ahem.. and all in one piece, though knowing Washu, that's not necessarily how I was during my 'sleep'. *shudder* I won't go there, I'd just give myself nightmares. Wonder how long I was actually out for.

As it is, I ,again *ugh*, become the center of attention, though I thought that was for the Graduation Ceremony tonight. As I speak, Washu is watching some terminals of scans of my body, and still keeps saying I'm a-ok. But I bet the little genius goddess is also using this as an excuse to take more scans of my body, using all those weird descriptive terms, as well as the usual physical formats.

The fact that Tsui and Sasami are here as well only helped to heighten my anxiety. At least they are letting me use my journal while I'm stuck on this medical table.... um.. thingy. The primary concerns seem to be physical burns, as well as getting myself fit well enough for tonight.

Gods, I can't believe it's finally here. What after four years of heck, including about a quarter and a half being run over, the rest in a fantasy world that continues even now. What a ride it's all been, not including Races.

It's been two weeks since I finished classes, yeah I keep saying that in these entries, but I have to say it to make sure it's real. The Combined Services Finals, which was my only actual class outside of heavy real world experience, took so much out of me, I had to all but lock myself in my room for two days to recover. I even had the meals ported to me by an understanding Tsui. (This campus knows how to tortu.. uh.. test graduates.)

Thank gods for all the tutoring these special gals and guys I live with had me all crammed and set in my mindset. Got a Special Recognition achievement from the Academy Council for all my efforts. One of five this year apparently, and one I make sure to thank everyone in the household constantly for. (I think they're getting sick of that too.)

Then there's those darned Senior special events, including a well organized, at least from a technical standpoint; two day trip to the Disney Universe Theme Park on New Earth Beta, which included a Prom to boot, and guess whom was my accompaniment. To say the least, Tsui turned `every' head at the Prom with the sapphire fire number she laden herself with, with a innocent satin white sash as the killer portion. (Mine sure needed to be reset after first sight.)

At the very least there, we've become excellent dancers. To say most, Tsui's still better than I am.. =^^= If I must say, and I still do constantly, students let loose after four strenuous years has a certain.. ..flair.

And all this barely describes all the attempts the guys from my Dojo created to get Tsui and I alone during that trip. I can't believe the number of places we got 'trapped' in. (How did they do that!?)

Needless to say, it all was for naught, for 'something' would always happen to prevent us from going further than a deep kiss. The story of our, um, 'life' for the past two plus years. *sigh.*

Man, I know I love her, and Tsui to me without fail. But how we can have such bad luck in even getting past that preverbal first base, using the archaic ancient tongue, barbaric actually, but all too appropriate. I even talked to Father about this, and got the third degree about tradition, character, bla bla bla.. yada.. yada.. yeah yeah.. Some help he was.

Still, I am at my literal wits end, as I'm beginning to see a hint of uncertainty in our relationship because of all the weird things that seem to keep finding ways of interrupting us when we try to get... well. It's been like this ever since she came, these strange occurrences. I mean they're nice people and all, the Dimensionals, my friends, and such, Ryoko not withstanding, but I can sense this is all taking a toll. I think Tsui is as 'curious' as I am, but, but..

I'm just not.. sure. I don't know......

Oh sure, we have an amazing platonic relationship, but the guys at my Dojo, as of late, and longer than that, keep pressing me constantly about `more' than just that. And it too is also beginning to have a strain, said because apparently after the Outer Systems Competition a month ago, (which we won, thank you, thank you Tsui,) the guys after the awards ceremony even went as far as to 'shove' us both into a side room to change, knowing it was all alone. (Good lords!)

Well, we tried to 'start' something, and the next thing we know, a paparazzi bursts in and holo-pics us half naked. Needless to say, it didn't go well with the family, friends, Academy, etc. (Washu was amazed how fast the pics hit the Network feeds. Ugh!)

That's when for the first time I had to ask Tsui if we were deliberately being...... `interfered' with, and.. all. ..*sigh..* And for the first time, we had an argument, mostly out of hopefully unfounded fears, but we're both scared as hell by all this.

I'm getting worried. What if we are actually cursed or something? Or....or. gods, gods I hope not. *silence for 7.2 seconds, Tsui's voice passing by.*

Well, I guess the only `way' to resolve all this is by the traditional means. So, tonight, after the Graduation Ceremony, I intend to finally ask for her hand.. *silence for fifteen seconds while Tsui speaks to him again.. { memory save. }*

Eeep ..man, that was close, *ahem* ah.. yes, I do indeed intend to propose, as I truly cannot risk losing her before I ask, and place the ring (hopefully) on her finger. Can't do it anymore. And oh yeah, it's a doozy too, one of Father's best ever used favors, and trust me on that. My heart is dropping like a lead weight through a stone floor, just by thinking of all this. But another reason for this tact, is that I'm becoming very scared that Tenchi's Inspection is starting to conclude, noted by the more recent absences from the Residence of our resident Hand, explained by Washu as `Reporting duties', Lords I wonder.

And with what all the way things have been happening, I'm seriously terrified the result will be not good. I.. I don't want to lose her, but.... if I do, I want a ring on her finger, at the very least to remind her of all we've had for two and a half years. If I get even `that' much, then everything will be worth it.

If not, .............I......................I don't know WHAT I will do.

*Silence for a minute twenty-seven.*

Well, that's another task, after the Ceremony, and it's going to be embarrassing of course, what with the entire family being there, as will.. well, my adopted family added, I guess. Eh? Yeah you heard that Washu, quiet already. (`Little' twit.)

Everyone of Dimensional note agreed, in words anyway, to be on their best behavior, which probably explains the fight I ended up being the center of. (Defusing steam apparently, I guess.) Ayeka and Ryoko are 'apologizing' by finishing my duties.

Another duty done alone by the way, apparently another sign things are not 'well'.

As it is, after tonight, everything will really change. (The part of my life that is normal. Sorta.) I've already been offered positions with several well placed technology firms and companies on many worlds besides Terra. On top of that is a new, well not really `new', pressure: Father. Now I have to apparently live up to the Kerensky name.

Apparently fun time is over.

Everything will change, but the problem is, will it be a burdened one alone, or not?

Well, um.. first, the Graduation.

If I survive the Washu torture chamber. (You can let me GO now Washu! I.. eh? What's with that probe? Eh? My Padd! Sasami! I... EEK!!)

*End datarecording... 1622.12..*

----------------------------

*Tekomi Academy. Graduation highlights.*

One can go into the sordidly boring details of a graduation ceremony, rather extended at that, but suficit to say, it was a sleep festival, with long speeches from Academy staff, a few from the ranking members of the student body, such as graduating valedictorian and saludictorian. Even Aleaic is forced to make a speech, and thankfully opts for the short and mentally poignant route. This draws the appropriate cheers of course, more for the duration. Much of the Kerensky and Dimensional families watching get a good chuckle from this.

Ceremonies could put insomniacs to slumber, don'tcha know.

But the time 'thankfully' came for the handing out of diplomas, or in actuality, a holo-scroll with the appropriate name, degree earned, date, yada yada. Even Tsunami actually earns a genuine degree, a two year diploma in Database Studies, while Al gets his full four year in Supernet Infrastructure, with a Options in Holocomm Communications and Technical Management. (No wonder Al's door has been banging with offers.)

But the fact that the diplomas are handed to Tsui and then Al in order, no real reason other than popular choice both suppose, pales in comparison with the immediate celebratory kiss Tsui gives a FLATFOOTED following Al 2.3 seconds later, one slightly admonished by the Headmaster, but cheered heavily by the family, and Dojo sections, and even much of the rest of the gathered. Then diplomas are given to Tora and Sora, as well as a suprising 'submission' diploma given to Tasha, done probably just to get her out of the Academy Council's frazzled hair, (apparently Technical Management, though an option, counts as a true degree. Sounded reasonable enough anywho.)

After the expected closing comments and such about being good citizens of the Human Sphere and all the crotchety expectations in the real world (yeah right,) and the ancient act of thrown caps in the hair, the real party begins, as everyone moves to the reception Ball, where all the usual post graduation party events take place, parents hugging embarrassed kin, teachers drinking themselves silly, (a 'celebration' of their own,) even spiked drinks for the students. (By guess whom..) “{~ Hehe.. ~}”

But much attention here is reserved for the Kerensky circle. Many people, students, well-wishers, and faculty surround a bewildered Al and Tsui, as they receive many well wishes for their accomplishments. Tasha also gets into the act, dragging Tora and Sora with her, but the duo don't mind, helping to drain attention away from them.

But it's family that gets the primary attentions here, as far as this story goes. "Congratulations son, I really am proud of you." The two, Al and Terrai, hug to Tsui's appeased smile, and Al further chuckles heavily. "Thanks Father, I'm actually glad this is all over with.. and.. well, another part isn't as glad, even sad I guess." Terrai looks his son in the eye, but knowing full well that Tsui will be listening too.

"I can relate. I felt much the same when your Mother and I graduated together, from MIT some five hundred or so years ago, and I still hold onto those memories. They helped build the future we now share today with you son."

Aleaic gets again and gives back a good hug, which makes Tsui sigh contentedly, as much as she is able to. "(~ They look so handsome like that, I hope I'll be around to see more of them two. They are a interesting pair. ~)" Tsunami then feels something within, as she then looks over at Jeain, whom is speaking to Sora about something future employment related. "(~ And her, so much a harmony with her chosen. How she allows her feelings to flow like water, I wish I could get myself to be similar for Al..

I hope.. I hope Al feels the same about me. That I want so much to give him. ~)" ..she thinks to herself, not knowing she actually has no idea what is to come later. (She remembers she reduced her snooping of Al's mind as of late. The stress of the `situation' made her introverted some.

"Tsui?" Tsunami blink turns around and looks at Keturia, who is handing her a small glass of punch (unspiked, she checked.) "You okay girl?" Tsunami slightly recomposes herself. "~ I'm fine, I must have been more affected by the ceremony than I thought. ~”

"Oh?" Ket bemuses under her glass. "And I thought it was something `else'." Ket laces with a sip. Tsunami takes the signal more poignantly than Ket suspects.. "~ Please excuse me.. I.. ~" Tsunami politely hands a half empty glass to Ket, and excuses herself before Aleaic can notice.

But a second later, he does. "Tsui?"

Terrai looks at Al, a retreating Tsui, and then at Ket. The last gets a stern stare, which returns with a defensive 'I didn't do anything' look. The former.. "Son, I suspect your rendered services are needed."

Aleaic looks suprisingly at his usually monolithic Father. "Dad?"

Terrai chuckles and shoves Al away a bit. "Go on, I can help hold the fort here, so to speak." A second slight 'suggestive' shove makes Al set a intercept course. Terrai then looks over at a certain... "Daughter.." A less than bemused Father says untoward.

"Father, I didn't say anything, I just.. well.."

"I think it's time for a 'discussion' daughter dearest." Whit unto Keturia cringes reflexively.

Her night is shot. *Sound of Taps from the background.*

----------------------------

*BONK!!* “~ MISS WASHU!!! ~” (Ayeka)

“~ OW!!! Okay okay, no more `dramatic messing around' music. ~”

“~ Some genius.. ~” (Ayeka)

“(~ This chapter anyway. Heheh. ~)”

“~ I heard that. ~” (Ayeka)

*Sound of genius level cursing/grumbling.*

----------------------------

*Tekomi Auditorium. Outside, starry night.*

"Tsui WAIT!! Wait up!!”

Aleaic runs seriously hard past many passersby, to reach an apparently running Tsunami, both whom pass as a blur to many of the students and guests, and at some point end up near the adjacent shore overlook. "TSUI!!!"

Tsunami finally looks back, and nearly has to catch Al, he's running so fast, but he skids to a halt just in time, only a few feet away. "B... Beloved.. *pant.. pant* ..wh.. what's wrong?" Aleaic stammers through ragged breath.

Tsunami, whom has been harboring strange and unusual emotions, not to mention a state of confusion she can't put a finger on, finally lets it start to pour out. As tears suddenly hit the ground in front of her. "~ I'm, I'm sorry.. I.. ~"

Aleaic sees the crying, and tries to step up, but Tsui steps back. "Wha.. Tsui?"

"~ I.. I.. don't.. I'm so confused. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause you to worry. ~"

Aleaic looks softly at his benefactor.. "Girl, everything about you makes me worry, so much I sometimes can't stand it." Tsunami looks at, suddenly ready to fly away, all before... "And that's a burden I wish I could have more of!" ..and then she's firmly planted in place like granite!

Aleaic just puts forth, his heart racing with fear. "I don't know what just happened, or.. or what's been going on lately.. but.. whatever happened, you can always tell me, even if it hurts. I... I just.. can't let go of you. And I'm finally starting to truly see what that entails, and that includes burdens. And I can only guess what's been burdening your mind as of late." Al then passes Tsui to the overlook edge. Tsui only watches and listens in her same spot.

Aleaic then sits upon an overlook bench, as the apex-high full moonlight plays such a glow over everything. Al then speaks without looking at Tsui. "I wish I could, even with how you can read my mind all the time. I'm just surprised.." Tsunami finally closes and kneels in front of Al quickly, catching him off guard. "~ I don't do that to know everything about you, I learn better about you with how you do things, the way you speak, and the way you carry yourself everyday. ~"

That's not enough for Al to hear now, as he leans forward and stares deeply into those rose colored pink hues. "But I want to know more about you." Al says level and softly. Tsunami shouldn't be looking in surprise, Al's said things like this hundreds of times before. But there's a strange edge in Al's voice, something that's covering something hidden. She continues nonetheless. "~ I.. I know you do. But not everything about me is pretty, or even moral. There are dark things within me, things I've had to do as a Administrator for Jurai Core, things I don't know even you could forgive me for. ~"

"But that's why I 'want' to know. I too have many ugly things, and I've already surmised a sliver of that has come out in us both recently."

Tsunami really looks in surprise, what's he talking about? "~ Al. ~"

Aleaic looked down at the ferrocrete past her façade. "I had to think, that, well... with everything that's happened, preventing us from... well, you know." Aleaic groans/sighs before Tsui can respond to this. "Maybe.. maybe, and I mean this in a light, not as an end, that we haven't proved our love in some way. Some way that allows us to take the final step, and one that stops all these weird things from stopping us. I love you so much, it's true torture with everything that's interfered."

Tsunami becomes embroiled in even more emotions, if.. if what he said was true, then we.. "~ What if there is something stopping us, a Hex or something like? ~"

Aleaic has to force himself from embracing Tsunami's perfect logic, because it's finally a mirror to his own thoughts. Probably longer, but he couldn't know until now, or so he thinks. “...m.. may.. be. I.. I don't...”

"~ ...if that is true, then........... then............... *increasing sobbing.* ~"

Aleaic is caught off guard, as Tsunami pulls away. "( OH DAMN!! You royal twit Al!! )" Aleaic then reacts from pure instinct, and catches Tsui's arm before she can get too far. "Tsunami wait!"

Tsunami tries to pull harder away, but Al can't allow himself to let go, and pulls her fully to him, his hands on her shoulders. "TSUI PLEASE HEAR ME!” Aleaic screams this with his own tears, Tsunami notes this, and of all things, all of a sudden after a silent moment, both suddenly starts laughing out of emotional release.

When it eventually subsides. "~ We're both a mess love. ~" Both are still a vortex of emotions, it all seems not to make sense somehow, but it does.

Aleaic, knowing it's now or never, looks Tsui in the eyes (gods they are beautiful,) as he also notes the simple dress she has displayed once more, now without the graduation robes to cover it a deep blue with white highlights along all the cuffs and linings, he notes for the trillionth time how beautiful she is, and musters up the most intent tone he can.

"Tsunami. I.. I don't know if there is actually something stopping us, but even if there is, I see that as a challenge to overcome; because however you were sent to me, I know, somehow I know.” Tsui's heart flutters.. “I know that we were `meant' to be together, and be dammed that the world or the Heavens stop us. Because I intend to be at your side, no matter what history is behind, or future is in front of us. I want you there at my side, and for me at yours.” ..her heart skips..

“You are my future, and I want you there in it, at ALL costs." About half the words in that mini-speech feel slurred to Al, but Tsui hears them all crystal clear. As are her next tears. "~ Aleaic. ~"

Aleaic feels like he's risking the hand of God (literally,) to wrench her away from her as he lets go, and in doing, begins to slide down to one knee. Tsunami almost doesn't need to read Al's mind to sense his motive. Her heart races like pulsar about to explode.

"~ Oh... my. ~" ..and then stops.

-------------------------

*Reception..*

"{~ MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! *HIC* ..SORRY!!!!! ~}"

A seemingly drunk Ryoko hovers upside down over a group of wide eyed students and guests, as they can only assume it's a gadget of some kind holding her up. (If only.) Washu meanwhile, is groaning in the background, Yosho then pats her shoulder. "~ There there, daughter is in the spirit. ~"

“~ I feel like yanking her's out. ~” Washu teardrops. Yosho does not say anything to that.

Meanwhile, Mihoshi is of course as if on a program spell, making a mess of things. In one long sweeping move, she drains/dumps a drink on a instructor, gets yelled at, tries to get a cloth to wipe up the same mess she slips on, causing her to go crashing into the nearby punch table, which of course causes a mini-punch storm to rain in a twenty-five foot radii.

Kiyone foolishly, (and she knows it,) tries to extricate Mihoshi for everyone else's safety, only to trip when said deity of chaos grabs her leg, and accidentally uses a Strength Spell to YANK Kiyone down to the floor, causing `her' to go sliding! Kiyone ends up on the other side of the auditorium after her bowling style slide, complete with many 'pins' knocked down, yelling and screaming!

This fracas all ends with Mihoshi trying to reach Kiyone, slips again, and oh so gracefully mimics her partners unwilling slide, with a few extra 'pins' added.

Ryoko of course by the end of this is laughing so hard, fire is seen actually coming out her nose, with the expected results from the now butt-scared students!

Washu SMACKS her hand into her face. "~ Would Father condone me if I actually turn her into a spirit, along with Mihoshi too? ~" Washu says with washboard dragged intent. "~ Now now. ~"

"~ Washu? Yosho? ~"

Both inferred turn to see Sasami, with two rather 'hissy' cabbits on her head, both 'hissing' towards the west side of the building. "~ What is it Sasami? ~" Washu asks, before training her eyes in the direction in the area the cabbits are bemoaning.

"~ Washu? ~" Yosho asks a second later, as a look of PURE dread shoots though her. "~ WASHU!? ~"

"~ Yosho, where is Tsunami? ~" Washu asks with a deathly meek tone. "~ Huh!? ~"

Yosho looks at the area the Kerensky's inhabit, but don't see them, then looks back to see Washu, but notes something wrong. "~ Where's RYOKO!!? ~"

Washu turns even COLDER, as she sees Ryoko has disappeared. "~ Find Tenchi and the others, FAST!! ~"

Yosho bolts.

Washu looks at a scarred Sasami, whom does not feel what she does.

Imminent immortal danger.

“~ Let's go Sasami. ~” Washu commands, and the two depart though the crowd immediately.

-------------------

*A moment prior.*

Tsunami's heart is racing in all the emotional directions. She knows full well what is about to happen, as a certain velvet enclosure comes out from a pocket, hidden by Al's graduation robes, a sly trick to be sure.

Aleaic can only stifle constant fear waves, as he seems to take forever to pull the box out, one containing the one gift he always meant to give. When Al finally clears the box into the open, it seems like time is literally frozen.

Then Murphy strikes, or.. "{~ AL!! TSUI!!!!! ~}"

Tsui and Al nearly jump in their skins!! "~ Ryoko?! ~/Ryoko!!!!!!!!!!!"

----------------------

*Kerensky Residence.*

The now well vacant home of Mortals and Gods, and a Demon half-breed, as well as a pair of celestial carrot vacuums, now sees the hover 'steps' of a pair of intruders. Not all that serenely either, as apparently they are quite affected by the darkness. "{~ OW!!! ~}"

"{~ Quiet you octopus head!! ~}"

The latter, a demon with a welted foot, and a nasty tongue connected to it, uses the same tongue on his 'partner'. The last part is used 'very' loosely. "{~ Oh shut up demon-hoser, we have to hurry. Master said it was almost time! ~}" Both trade quips back and forth, but manage to reach the upstairs, despite another hard fall. They then manage to reach the appropriate doors, one with a sign on it saying: 'Computer Core', and the other labeled with: 'Chef's Academy'.

"{~ I'll get this room DC, you get the mortal's.. ~}"

The latter mentioned bristles again.. "{~ That's CLAY to you dretch!! And why do I have to get the mortal trash!? That's your department! ~}"

“{~ WILL YOU JUST DO ALREADY!! BOSS IS WAITING! ~}”

The one named Clay seethes though his fanged molars, but enters Al's room anyway. The other bypasses the weak Lock Spell in place on Tsunami's and Sasami's archway. Both soon emerge with seeming unimportant items, that other than for sentimental value.

They then barely manage to escape back into the Demon Core before the `event' begins to shatter mortal reality.

-------------------

*Reception.*

A pair of drinking students end up with the drink in their faces, as Washu BURSTS by them. Washu ignores the yells directed at her, more intent on finding Tenchi! "~ YO, Tenchi!! TENCHI!! ~"

"~ Washu! ~" Washu stops as Tenchi appears with Ayeka and Achika near him. "~ I felt the reaction just now! ~"

Washu gasps hard, now that after they all felt a massive flare of some kind of spiked energy, more than easily noticeable by the Dimensionals, at least those not distracted by other things. "~ I was afraid this was the case. HUH!? ~" Washu says with senses peaked.

The Dimensionals suddenly then note that the presence of reality is suddenly becoming... fuzzy.

One like a old style television reception signal going bad. The effect begins to worsen by the second. "~ Washu!? ~" Tenchi yells in a panic.

Washu doesn't answer, but instead throws several devices from her blouse-shirt cuffs, they land around the floor around the Dimensionals and throw a field of some kind around the Dimensionals. The devices float up to rotate around them.

Washu then looks dead at Tenchi and Achika.

"~ We have to find Tsunami NOW!!!!!!! ~"

---------------------

*Overlook..... a moment before..*

"RYOKO!?"

"{~ WHOOPS!! ~}" Seeing the ring.. "{~ I know this a bad time, but........ HUH!?!!!!! ~}"

Before Tsunami and Aleaic, or even Ryoko can react, a large glowing staff SLAMS down in between the immortal/mortal pair, from out of nowhere!! A split second later, a severe surge of golden energy lances between them both, and `that's' when everything begins to blur and deskew, like reality was being twisted and warped by a strange kind of typhoon!!

The expected screams of pain are powerful and hoarse, as Aleaic and Tsunami experience the beginning of the rape of their minds. Yet the screams are disparate. Tsunami, quite quickly, despite the intense pain, begins reacting to the attack and initiates her internal Safeguards with a flick of her mind! Tsui, whom had been forewarned some two years before of Trakalin's breach from the Luna dungeon, immediately recognized the Spell Program energy that was unleashed, and the several previously placed Safeguard Program Shields initiate within the Datalink of Tsunami, as well as protecting most of the memory archives she's stored, and thankfully for her, her memories of Earth and everyone, Al included.

It doesn't however prevent the attack from it's secondary function. A Program Network Link. At the basic level to the Great Computer of Jurai Core. There, a vicious new Virus is unleashed through Tsunami's momentarily venerable Network access lines, through her assaulted mind!

But worse, the attack has a third function, and one that makes the next event even more painful to bear, even as knowing that she was forced by Oath Program from Heaven to keep this untold secret from all mortals, even Aleaic most dear, now she sees the terrible effects of this enforced promise, as Aleaic bears full brunt of the energy ravaging his mind! Tsunami tries to throw a desperate Shield Program over Aleaic, but the Safeguards in place are taking too much energy to allow Tsunami to cast a second Program out!

Tsui can only look in horror as apparently Al is doomed! Ryoko tries to act, but the initial force of the energy the Staff unleashes keeps her at bay, forcing her to erect her own Safeguards! The intensity of the assault forces them to see they can do nothing for him!!

It's just as worse, everywhere around them, as the landscape begins to turn from a fuzzy nightmare, to one of a growing gray inebriated death, as the buildings, foliage, sky, even the water and moon, all of it begins to seemingly solidify into a gray-horror, ashen state. That's when Ryoko and Tsunami begin to note the impossible, as reality is literally being torn asunder. Literally decomposing at every and all foundation, right down to the atom!!

There's no possible explanation, but there are things done to try and counteract the closest damage, Ryoko recovers just enough from the slightly lessening energy flash, to deliver a MAJOR Hex Bolt, as the Level 15 Demon/Goddess Program energy all too easily shatters the Staff, and then the energy arcs emitted from it.

Tsunami finally is able to catch a most unconscious (mercifully) Al, but.. "~ NO!!!!!! AL, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!!! RYOKO, HELP ME!!!!!!!!! ~" Ryoko flies over to the Alpha Goddess, in time to see. "{~ Oh no.. it's too late. ~}" Tsunami looks in horror, as Al's form starts to slowly turn ashen in color as well!

"~ No! NO!!!!!!! YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME NOW!!!!!!!!! *Heavy sobbing* PLEASE NO!!!!!!!!!!!! ~" Tsunami cries uncontrollably, as they both almost miss the sound of objects plunking on the ground all around them. “{~ What the!? ~}”

Suddenly, all Tsunami and Ryoko see is darkness.

-------------------

*Jurai Core, Primary Systems Administration Center.*

The heavenly scene is shattered. "~ That's IMPOSSIBLE!!!!! ~"

"~ Reading a Type Seven Shutdown in effect!!!! ~"

"~ But the Safeguards!! ~"

"~ Level 12 Retro-Virus now breaching Line Four-Delta, the Firewalls are collapsing everywhere!!! ~"

"~ Terra is going into Cold Crash Shutdown!! twelve percent, seventeen percent, nineteen.. ~"

"~ Where's the Back up Archives?!! ~"

"~ No good, the Virus is attacking that area as well!!! ~"

"~ Wha... What ISN'T affected!!!?!?!?! ~"

Pandemonium seems to have invaded Heaven, as the Core is under the most widespread and subversive Viral attack ever recorded. Systems all over the place are crashing, and their oversight Plane of Mortals, on many worlds all over the universe are shutting down like a big fat switch was suddenly turned to off!

Worse, Heaven is actually being actively affected to a similar degree, as several sectors have literally went into Existence Decomposition! The initial stages of the Viral attack has slowed, mainly from the size of the spread, but it's only begun, and Earth is already half gone.

"~ Where's the Class Two's?! ~" A honey-brown haired Alpha Class bellows in commandment of the massive pedestal, filled with super-strange and ivory majestic terminal displays of all of the major functions of the Core. All of which are seemingly in harmony, of a tragic hemorrhage in progress.

"~ All shut down due to the Virus Ma'am, Bugs are running loose in the low priority areas, the combined chaos is putting additional strain on the OS, Administrator Tokimi! ~"

The mentioned Administrator rubs her hand across her chin of emerald green tattoos. She then orders in a broad voice. "~ San, Brentai, Byte, begin a back up of all remaining unaffected systems at least five sector degrees unaffected by the Virus, anything closer may be already infected at a subsystem level.

Prewern, begin several Dummy Simulations to test the primary pathways the Virus will take, begin leading the infection into these set Programs and Cut-Off where you can to Isolate.

Gohegi, work with Sesi to begin a compete System wipe of the memory blocks where redundant Programs are not needed, and clear all the buffers in the System you can for the Primary Processor, since we need to get it as much capacity as we can get to fight this Virus.

Initiate! ~” ..the named Operators scramble to their tasks.

The Alpha Goddess and Current Chief Administrator of Heaven, under the eye of Father Himself, only adds to herself the pressure, that this thing... this Virus........ thing could end up affecting even Him! The prognosis so far looks so drastic at the moment. She swears however to herself, very literally, to not allow thus to occur!

She looked down at her own robes, flashy, colored in glamorous browns, whites, and blacks, the blacks, all of which are constantly filled with sparkling stars and majestic galaxy fields, of those which move with her every movement. Even the silken booties she wears display this trait, but the preference for much skin and cleavage is more her personalized trademark. This as Tsunami and Aleaic once found out a year-and-a-half ago, as a well ill-timed cellular call by an all too hungry Aleaic for rare take out, caused this celestial bombshell to appear, out of her transport medium of choice! (One of the Comm-Scanner Antennas, of which there were aplenty in the Aleaic Kerensky Residence!)

To keep a brazenly long and funny/testy story short, all that was just to help Tsui's and Al's romance along just a 'tad', and all for naught, as they both somehow managed to resist her attempts, along with Ryoko's devious assistance, to create one mayhemic adventure after another for a month! A month that finally drove Keturia off the residence, though not for too long, but not until also at least Tokimi dragged Al's Wish out.

One that Tsunami had admit that their love had surpassed the original Wish Contract. Oh sure, made Aleaic as happy as that squirt Sasami with Class Two's all around and about her, but it sure lost him out on one 'fine ride' if Tokimi could make Input, and she did so thickly and sultry inform. She still giggles at the meek reactions Aleaic had had, in each of the many `attempts' the Admin attempted during this same span of time.

But now it seems, they again were the center of something, this time with a possibility of the ruin of Heaven. Tokimi just seethes, also knowing fully better, shocked the attack still got past their preparations. "~ Damn, how could Trakalin have known the OS Shell THAT well? What's he trying to pull?

.If it's like the original transgression. ~” Tokimi then look slit eyed thoughtfully. She then snaps.. “~ BRENATI!! BYTE!! Shutdown access to the protected archives! No one, not even Father is allowed access!! ~"

"~ Already done. ~" A pensive Brentai announces, going on the established protocols and the tone of a huffy Admin. “~ Not even Father? ~” Byte still quips to a shrugging Brentai.

"~ Nice work Brentai, now get me a System update of the overall look of the Virus verses Core landscape. Real time if possible. ~" Brentai, a Level Three Gamma System Moderator, complies, and then wishes he hadn't.

Even Tokimi gasps at the severe, and speedy progress of the Virus, the overall display with the updated info, included with the Datalink Superstructure, combine to show a 'sobering' picture.. "~ Oh Father. ~” Tokimi stammers, then she looks at the projected timeframe of the current System infection rate and ratios. And then she wishes she had been a Goddess Dental-hygienist.

“~ Father be merciful. We only have sixteen hours of Core Time to find a solution.... or.. ~"

Or Core disappears, with the Earth far before that!

"~ Get me an audience with Father, I need to discuss Tsunami's Network ASAP!! ~"

---------------------

*Tekomi, a city ashen and disintegrating slowly.*

Looking over at the decaying husk that was once a thriving city of the future, even the life of it's populace now scarred away tragically. The sight seems unfazing to the ones looking at, seeing where their actual targets went, after their Staff attack. One of them still has enough reservations to speak of. "~ Master. Are you sure? ~"

A deep and disemboweled voice, stronger in spirit than that it was Two years ago when he was released. One that utters a deep remorse but resolution as well, replies.. "~ There was no alternative, it's all corrupted by the touch and existence of the Gods. Celestine had the idea, but the wrong tools to do it. The old adage of mortals still holds true.

To create an omelet, you must break a few eggs. And here, we must break them ALL! ~"

"~ But, what about the Foundation? It won't escaped undamaged either. ~"

"~ I detect worry in your voice. ~"

A pause... "~ I would be less even than mortal to do otherwise, even with my Goddess blood. ~" A soothing feeling comes over this blue haired woman, calming those, or even suffocating those feelings in a haze of content. It is not of her willing.

"~ It is because that legacy, is why we are doing this. Not even the kin of the Gods is allowed to share in the future that which only these same selfish deities have wrought only for themselves. But I.. I can help you with your dream, or should I say dreams. ~

The blue haired woman, marked along the cheeks with small scar like daggers of black, and a skin tone equal to her title of Gray Angel. "~ Love was a very poor choice of emotions, I prefer justice and satisfaction now. ~" ..said with a seething tone.

The lifeform disagrees in his own tone. "~ No Mayuka, if that was so, then you would not have come for me, when I asked two mortal years ago. Love is a honorable intent, and it will be part of your just reward when the Universe is remade in my final image, an image where your tragedy, and that of many other mortals are reborn to see life without limits.

We. We the chosen have the gift, the choice, the drive. If we can't do it, no one else will. ~"

Mayuka flutters her ashen colored wings and then looks towards the darkening area where the Tekomi Auditorium one held so much life. One she finds no resolve to put remorse towards such fools.. "~ I only want one shot at my 'Father', and then, then we will see to your dream master. ~"

“~ So be it. ~”

Just then, two forms Shadow-phase in, making both these traitorous Dimensionals stand on guard quickly enough. One, a Demon dressed in well rounded robe, fashioning an even more well rounded façade. The second, a lithe female with strange eyes, like in a permanent maniacal gaze, her hair set in three ponytails of weird meshed colors, her suit of choice a simple flock skirt and blouse mesh.

"~ Ah, Lord Clay and Lady Yume. ~" Trakalin speaks through Mayuka.

"{~ We found them, though I say this trash gives me the creeps. ~}" Clay snarls through his equally fat demon teeth. “{~ And it smells disgusting at that! ~}”

"{~ Will someone tell this useless hell spawn to SHUT up!!!!!! ~}" Yume exasperates towards the sky, finally fed up with being near this fat lard of primal matter.

"{~ I'll help you shut up, with a permanent HEX!!!!!!! ~}" Clay's about the same vein too.

"::~ SILENCE!!!!!!!!!! ~::"

Yume and Clay suddenly look fearfully at Mayuka, her voice iron-laced with the roar of Trakalin. The Gray Angel's benefactor then seethes further. "~ If you two are through hosing existence with your Demon pheromones, those two objects you possess hold far more power than all of us combined, and that includes my compatriot in Hell Core.

Lose them, and we may lose our shot to get all our desires, so..... do not lose THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ~"

By the time the two Demons recover from the Holy Shout Program used, they can both only meekly nod. A moment later, both the objects disappear with their current owners.

Not long after, Tekomi utterly disappears.

---------------------

*Somewhere, dark. *

It doesn't seem possible, but Tsunami can feel herself alive, as well as Ryoko.

..and........ "~ ALEAIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ~" Tsunami immediately wraps her arms around the unconscious mortal she fears above all else to lose! But it seems only a shell, no signs of actual sentience is notable. "~ Oh....... Oh no.......... ~" Tsunami utters in meek horror.

"~ Come on. ~" Both the Goddess and the Demon/Goddess look around for the source of the voice, but it finds them, as a pair of hoverstools pop up below them, making them sit, and then a large `hovertable' made of light, takes Aleaic, and places him into an examination position.

"{~ Mom? ~}" .. "~ One and only, don't ever forget that. ~" .. “{~ Whatever... ~}”

Washu appears, with a slew of holo terminals all around her, displaying everything Core sees and does, as well as for Earth and existence (what left there is,) and.... to Aleaic's honor, if he were awake to realize, one that is specifically centered on his readouts. At the moment, it's bad. Real bad.

But Washu isn't fazed one bit by this. Tenchi, Sasami and the rest of the Dimensionals appear shortly after as Washu works slavishly.

"~ Washu. ~" Tsunami can only mutter weakly. "~ You know, you two are damned lucky. I had not decided to stay here with Ryoko and Yosho, I doubt you both have a relationship to repair. ~"

Tsunami half smiles, as her heart is still torn. "~ Washu. ~" Tenchi then asks.. "~ What happened? Was it Trakalin? Is it as we feared? ~"

Washu lets out a heavy sigh, one meant for overstating the obvious, and then some. "~ You win the Naughty program chip. Yep, Trakalin sure pulled a beauty. ~"

"{~ Mom, this isn't exactly the time for appreciating another's work!! What about Al, the world, the........ ~}"

"~ Hold on you twity daughter of mine. ~” ..this Washu chides, and Ryoko raspberries back with. “~ First we have to restore Aleaic's Archives. ~" Tsunami suddenly seems to explode with resolve, as she almost jumps out of her seat. "~ Are you SERIOUS Washu!? You mean he can.. ~" Washu STABS a hand in Tsui's face. "~ Partially babe. I can restore most of his mental program functions, but it's going to have to be linked through a special private network, and that is a process only a deity can do, one with a large Network to share. The deity that does this will have to share the dataload of Aleaic's Program Existence until either Core and Reality are restored and repaired, or.... well, we're all celestial waste matter. ~"

"~ You can do that Washu? ~" Sasami is the source this time. Washu nods simply.

"~ I'll do it. ~" Tsunami outright speaks with a powerful resolve, hardly unexpected though, and despite her form being the source of the infection destroying her family's world and existence, she has no qualms about supporting this one extra task.

“~ Daughter. ~” Achika half attempts to stop this, but caves in under her daughter's intense stare. (A rare moment even Achika admits to.) Washu though doesn't argue. In fact, she was counting on this.

Washu smirked, as Tsunami was a genius as much as the next Programmer in the Core, but like her sometimes rival Tokimi, they lacked sometimes the tactical sense, preferring the emotional tact much too often. Everything and one had strengths and weaknesses, and Washu was using her tactical strengths to use Tsunami's emotional weakness. Heck, something told Washu that it would turn into a strength sooner or later, but one thing at a time.

They had to know what they were dealing with, and linking Tsunami and Aleaic together may help drive out whoever else was helping Trakalin, since the Virus wasn't of Heaven's make alone. Too much of it acted of a Demon Program Class, and if Trakalin was allied with whom Washu feared most, then they all were in serious danger, since so many here was connected to this one Demon in more ways than was conceivable.

"~ Alright. If you really want to. ~" Washu finally `relents', though even Ryoko could tell the falseness of the reserved statement, but she also as much as anyone realized what was at stake, because she could also feel the force behind the Virus. Everyone else just looked on helplessly, more taken to emotionalism of the moment. Achika however chided Washu. “~ You're not earning points towards Alpha reinstatement. ~”

“~ Down sides to everything. ~”

Tsunami meanwhile stood at the head of the table, and looked at Aleaic's stale format once before looking at Washu once, and nodding the same number of times to each. Then she closes her eyes and opens a special area of her Network, one she severs from other main areas for support and individual emergencies, in case of a normal Core shutdown. (If such a thing is called 'normal' that is, as most such areas of her Network are redundant as it is, and can hold such a `mere' task she now is about to take upon.)

Washu senses this, sees the readouts, and then pulls the stored data she had obtained from the multiple scans of Al over the two and a half year period she'd been collecting. It was more than enough, as it is a simple matter to work with mortal agency minds when wanted. Mortals are such simple constructs to Dimensionals.

And in a sense, Al was Rebooted.

"~ I feel him. ~" Tsunami says, as she immediately links Al's consciousness to her mini-Network, creating a special cyclic program separate from the reality he was supposed to be attached to. Course, that Plane was all but gone now, and only a full restoration would fix that.

One miracle at a time Tsunami thought.

"WHO, WHA, WHERE, WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!" *smack!!* "..ow.. thanks."

Tsunami also anticipated the reboot flareout, with a nice smack to the temple. Everyone else, including Washu cringes, even a usually strong willed Ryoko. "~ Anytime love. ~"

“{~ They ain't normal. Really they ain't. ~}” ..Ryoko twitters her eye at.

Aleaic then begins to realize his bearings, and the fact that a lot of warm and fuzzy feelings are flooding his mind, as well as strange recipes he never even knew of. "How come I have a craving for Tusk-Walrus Sashimi?" Tsunami then gasps, and tones down the amount of data Aleaic can access, less he goes crazy or something. If he knew the truth. (A bit late anyway.)

"~ Later Sensei, we got bigger problems. ~"

"Yes Lady Washu dear....... eh........? =@@=!!! WHA THE!?!?!?!?" Al screams, not realizing what's going on!

"~ Oh dear, this will be interesting. ~" Tsunami giggles, not letting Al onto the cause quite yet. "~ It suits him for now. Now, we have to find out who we are dealing with. ~" Achika imparts, as Aleaic hears this and looks totally bewildered.

He should be so lucky.. =^^=

--------------------------

Over the next two `very' precious hours, as Tsui finally relents in telling why Al has all these strange feelings, Washu and the rest of the Dimensionals go about making a plan to figure out this mess, and hopefully a possible solution, but without direct Network access, the planning is erratic in nature.

“~ This is very weird. ~”

“~ What's the difference with every other day Sis? ~” Kiyone just quips over to Mihoshi, as she rubs her own skin, as if it too was affected by the Network shutdown. While Tsui just plays with Al's `mind', Washu just offers openly. “~ Looks like the attack is a total Viral assault. Even I can't access my own Network like I should. ~”

“~ There is only one place we can go. One thing we can do. ~”

Ryoko groans at the suggestion. “{~ Do we `have' to go there? ~}”

“~ Oh do please demon, do stay and perish in this wasteland of reality. It would save us all much trouble as it is. ~”

Ryoko just looks at Ayeka.

“{~ I can make the trip. ~}”

“~ Yeah you would for.. HEY! Get off of Lord Tenchi!!! ~”

“{~ I need a tour guide. Heaven is so big, isn't it Tenchi love? ~}”

“~ Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... ~”

Ryoko's accosting of Ayeka's meat, just both makes Tenchi nervous as always, as much as Ayeka nuclear. As they fight over their Hand, Mihoshi just tries to step in fruitlessly! “~ Hey now! Tenchi should be treated like that at a time like this! Hey...! Hey I said! Stop.. stop fighting! Please stop.. EEK!! ~” ..as suddenly Ryoko nab throws Mihoshi's arm at.. “{~ save Tenchi from Ayeka! I'll just save Tenchi! ~}” ..with Ayeka getting a full blond facial! “~ Ack! Don't help Ryoko you twit!! ~” .. “~ Being thrown makes me sick you know! ~”

As the small ruckus ensues, Sasami and Achika just teardrop.

“~ Even with the end of Existence, they still fight over Brother. ~”

“~ Unto the breaking of the Universe, it shalt be so. ~”

Both just sigh and teardrop. Washu finds some reason to chuckle, as she looks at Yosho, before they both then turn their thoughts on how to even begin dealing with this extravagant mess.

Unfortunately, others have much more sinister plans. And more have more severe solutions to this crisis.

Ones already in operation.

--------------------------

*Hell Core. T-minus: 12 hours, 23 minutes.*

A titanic world-reality of harsh blood-red darkness, a landscape of utter corruption, where all is snuffed into the greed of this end of all ends. Programs that corrupt, deities and demons of greed and amoral conspire and seek glory for only themselves.

And here, the great black Tree of Mulhorand stands, seeing over all and over to the end of time and space, domineering as an effidice to the institution of Evil in all it's myriad forms and functions. It emits a signature, lethal black flame, as it spouts commands for the lesser slave programmers to code and send off, complex and ugly, yet a sense of one minded order: ABSOLUTE.

This is the realm of the great dark machine, and a place of all ended hope and dreams. And only of nightmares unwanted by normalcy. Here, it is where, within a special chamber of the Dark Tree, one of viscous evil, a special task endowed-Servant gives the initial report on the final assault against the great Core of Heaven.

"{{{~ Speak Lord of the Dark, know my cursed blessing with your words, know my wrath with less than what I bless. ~}}}"

The Servant, clad in deep black and silver robes, as silver as his hair and fanged teeth, the eyes are a mix of gold and blood, the red linings glow red of the power of Hell itself.

The Hand of Annihilation: Lord Supreme Dark of Hell Core Administration, Kagato Akara.

As he most reverently bows in a kneel of submission, he speaks of his dark deeds. "{{~ My Lord and Master, the Retro-Virus operates better than the Traitor or myself expected it to. The invasion of the Alpha Goddess's OS Shell Network is proceeding on schedule.

In less than twelve system hours, the Core will be weak enough for the next Phase. I have already sent agents to retrieve the last tools we need to activate the Final Program. ~}}"

The Dark Tree gives off no sentience of glee or anything such remotely. Instead. "{{{~ Fine work Servant, at last the time of Heaven will utterly fall, and I will see the hand of my Brother bleed in my palm. Before I cut it off.

Vengeance is your primary Command, all other priorities pale and fall before this. ~}}}” Kagato bows his head as Mulhorand continues. “{{{~ Even Annihilation by Command itself. The Superstring will be spared, or my will cannot be continued. Ensure all parties understand my Will, or I will envision a devastating fate to such trespass. Is my Will understood Servant of Hand. ~}}}"

It is not a question. The tone is lethal in force is `not' misunderstood. "{{~ Of course Master, I exist for you alone, my will is yours.. ~}}"

A mental force give suggestion of departing. Darkly at that. "{{{~ Return at the time of Vengeance, not before!! ~}}}"

Kagato Akara bows a last, and then exits the chamber of Hell's Center, stepping over the spontaneous spewing of unthinkable slimeforms, 'created' by the very Will of this Evil incarnate. Escape is very much welcomed by this Demon Lord. "{{~ Incredible, even more vile than last I spoke to...... It. ~}}"

Kagato then takes the short route, as dallying is not a luxury now with time short, even by celestial standards. A silver green flame marks the journey of this Demon, as he enters his private sanctuary, a room at least a thousand kilometers deep in the Dimensional Plane of Chaoslife.

In it, terminals as intricate as Jurai Core's own, except for the fact they ooze a constant evil black pitch, display every smidgen of data that it feels worthy of attention, and with a trillion terminals to be seen being literally slaved over, this place does not miss very much. Only a flat marble black and silver table breaks up this morbid monotony, glossy black with the corrupted blood of trillions of heathens and victims just underneath, but yet quite solid, unless a failure needs to be 'sacrificed' to the pet living within.

On the table, is the two objects Lady (sort of) Yume and Lord (fat) Clay procured, the very imprint of the love of two beings is literally burning at the table's surface. Kagato dares not even consider touching them, and only the power of a Protection Program from the Traitor Trakalin even allowed Kagato's Demon servants to even touch the simple items. And even at that, they got as far away from the items as they could, as only the good of souls can touch these items, hence why a certain creation was made.

"{{~ Status. ~}}"

A similar silver haired demon emerges, and Kagato can only thank the Hells that it's not his Mother, or worse his sister. This one, is a short, stubby, mean spirited nymph, one with only hatred of positive emotions and love that drives her machinations. Ones that drive her to corrupt the best of Lights when allowed, ones such as now. "{{~ Mayuka is performing splendidly, since not even she suspects her truth. And nor does the Traitor, everything is excellent as expected. ~}}"

Kagato slits his eyes. "{{~ Will be, or you will be fed to the Shadow Hexbeasts Lady Yuzuha, and you know it. ~}}"

Yuzuha only smirks, a second in the hierarchy of Hell Core, below Kagato in this vein (no one `dares' chain themselves under the Dark Tree directly as Kagato allowed currently.) It wasn't so much that she need to fear her superior, just be efficient until her time came, and she knew she would see a chance, assuming this plan of their Overlord's of the Great Hell Tree failed.

And she wasn't about to be the one under that Hellish breath when it happened, as even the Fates of the Plane of Neutral Graylight whom helped with the Great Balance Program upkeep and upgrades could see this. Something would end, but not what Kagato hoped for, nor either this Traitor Trakalin. But she could wait, she's taken a million epochs just to get this far, and it took Kagato many, many more to get his from his predecessor, some chump named Palatine.

She just had to watch her step until the proper time.

But time was not a luxury for her either. The Fates can be wrong as well. This could be it for Real too. For them `all'!

Yuzuha then turns, as two new figures enter, one a construct of Kagato's, and another a yet third Dark Lord. Yuzuha just snaps. "{{~ Report. ~}}" This imposing Lord of War, Master of the Hell Sword of Perfect Death. This is the second Lieutenant of Kagato the Administrator: Lord Yakage. One whom responds in a steady voice. "{{~ Mistress Minagi is now in position. All that is required is to await the final signal, and then.. ~}}" Kagato interrupts for the sake of brevity.

"{{~ My warning extends to you as well Lord Yakage, this has to be done perfectly, and no harm must come to the subject. And the location of the Traitor and Vessel. ~}}" Yuzuha bristles at her creation being called such, but dissuades from reacting as Yuzuha responds for Yakage. "{{~ She/They are now at the edge of the Virus advance at Level Trasius Four. ~}}"

Kagato then turns his hateful gaze upon the creator of the child of light and dark. "{{~ Keep them away from that... `mortal' disgrace. If they were to meet, the plan will most certainly fail. ~}}” Kagato turns back to them all, unto the landscape of black fire below his sight. The Administrator then adds in steely a tone. “{{~ The Traitor has done his damage, remove him if required. In fact a preference I would add. ~}}"

Yakage and Yuzuha both bow sharply at this, this they all had agreed upon from the very start. After the Celestine Incident in the Separate Dimensional Heaven Plane of Yggdrasil, the one thing that was clear was the effect a single mortal had upon a god. A repetition of such an event here most certainly would cause a Rift Cosine in this Dimension, A Rift a point in space and time where all possibilities were possible, and under only the control of one force. And it CERTAINLY wasn't a Hellish Program that could be it to have chance of control. The Rules of such a Cosine barred Infernal access for some reason. The thought riled Kagato like nothing else. Trakalin was therefore an obstacle that was now seeing time come to a quickening end.

If they had to, Mortal Decomposition was an authorized option. “{{~ Agreed..... ~}}” Yakage and Yuzuha then sharply respond. Kagato then brusquely dismisses them both from his sanctum. After they depart, Kagato then thinks darkly to himself. (If only `he' could rid the mortal from the equation, and forget the needs of the Plan.)

He began to consider more than just thought in quick progression.

----------------------

*Jurai Core, Council Chamber: T-minus 12 hours, 23 minutes.*

Mirror opposite, the only true definition verses Hell Core.

Here, the Will of Life and All interconnected, a majestic attempt to rule with serenity, kindness and justice.

Here, all was white and glorious, ivory's, gold's, silver's, jewel's, crystal's, more's, all which embedded with the mesh of water, greenery, large Trees, majestic structures governed to the System, or even the subprocessors of the great OS Shell. Even fine soft grass covered where marble and ivory didn't. The sky also, at least usually, crystal of blue and angelic clouds, all supposed to enrich the glory of for those that serve.

Today however, nothing above ruled.

Only cold steel resolve against encroaching death incarnite.

Their combined existence, these Nine sovereigns that assisted the Father upon the Great High Council of Heaven, a name settled as common here, though all sorts could equal. Here, the Great Tree of Jurai Core, the one pillar that sustains, sends the information of Hell's new War of Transgression against it's eternal adversary; as the Core Programs are shuttered and shunted more and more inside the Great Tree of Light itself.

But here also sent is disturbing news, as the mortal agency partially at the center of this crisis still lived. And in regards to these ten, a major transgression, and one that a pained Overseer is trapped into a cycle of decision. One that tried to keep the same fairness, but also sensed a tragic decision forced to be made.

“^~ This is unheard of!! A mortal agency kept viable after his mortal Foundation is totally erased!! ~^" Bellowed one voice.

"[~ But more, now actually connected to the infected Network, it is total blasphemy!!! ~]"

These two voices were the main voices of objection, another four sound both in chord and discord in tune to the tone of the argument, more and more, chord was the tone used. But one pair of voices strike the discord against. "(~ You all act if this mortal is the Slayer itself! Dare you all not see that the agency had no will or ability to prevent this himself? I for one dare not use the ancient term of scapegoat to use as you all would.. He could never had been prepared for this magnitude of strife. The situation at hand is greater than the need to look upon the salvation of one soul.

Or are we that truly small to not look past hence? ~)"

"[~ Goddess Misaki. As you are only a recent inclusion into the Council, may it not be furtive of you to speak as a voice that is heeded? ~]"

"(~ I expect it, or I would not speak of it. ~)" The goddess retorts most harsh.

"(~ The emotions of my Sister kin reflect my own, as I will my speak of this Father. ~)" The second steely supports Misaki's will. One much more experienced in this arena. "^~ You as well Goddess Funaho? You both tread in a situation, not suited for discussion. Our world, even existence stands at the brink!! ~^"

Funaho bellows even louder. "(~ But at the cost of possibly our one tool left to us?! ~)"

The argument varies back and forth for a short time.

That time swiftly dissolves however. "::[~ Enough. *all argument silences cold.* I, for the life of our existence, cannot see that this decision could force me to take the life and will of a beautiful institution, one that was with hope that such institutions would create the harmony that very situation could be avoided with..

But this is not a time where such can be justifiable. ~]::”

“(~ But how can we simply throw it all away Father?! How can we possibly see all consequences of doing that!?! ~)” Misaki continues, trying in vain to gain validity, unfortunately. “::[~ I can see much, and there is a time to see redemption, as in most all things. But this is not a time where such can be justifiable as I said. This is too far unique a case to consider the normal measures.

Therefore, what is justifiable, and that which I Command,, is to begin measures for both Vaccination, as well as Severing. ~]::”

Misaki and Funaho, horror struck, try to speak against this, but are held breathless.

“::[~ .When `They' arrive, allow them one chance to plead their words, before I force what will tear them, and I fear us all apart. ~]::”

That enough is gut wrenching, but worse..

“::[~ I announce the Contract Null..

..this is my Word, make it Will. ~]::"

Misaki and Funaho try to plead a change of Decision, but for naught. The discussion steers to the main situation at hand, and attempts to steer it back are scuttled quickly. Apparently normal tolerances no longer apply in these times most unknown.

As simple as a complex decision seems to have been made out, not one can utter a word of agreement, as they were in fact, destroying the one thing that might save them all. Father could, but had to bide his infinite time, the others couldn't and tried to turn to the task of saving their existence.

And then, They do arrive.

-------------------------

*Gate of Heaven: T-minus 11 hours, 40 minutes.*

Aleaic is terrified of what he's about to encounter, not in a frozen sense, but in an honest, honorable one. It went beyond his reason, much less his sanity, supported as it is by his goddess benefactor (now more than ever), to enter as a mortal, into the realm of Heaven. As much as everyone tried to calm him, it was naught. And then they actually entered, and Aleaic nearly FREAKS!!

"Ah........a...a........a........a.............ah......a...a..... ..........h..........a..................h....." So to speak.

"{~ He's sure taking it well.. ~}"

"~ Al dear, it's not as bad as you think.. ~"

Aleaic looks AWE/DUMB struck at Tsunami! "T... Tsui, one does not enter Creation ITSELF with a poor mindset. I think this is PERFECTLY acceptable behavior!

And why do I feel the need for debugging something!????!!!!!!!!!" Al yells, pulling at his melon.

Tsunami only kisses the client's hand, as quite actually, he's acting much better than she feared and expected. That and the fact that she is using her Will to help calm Al, but not in a controlling manner, (a truly foreign idea for her,) helps to bolster Al's confidence in this severely trying time.

.But still, who wouldn't wilt just a tad under this sheer amount of power and majesty. (Not to mention this self-convinced unworthy type. VERY VERY self-convinced at that.)

"You.. you're sure I have to come?"

"~ Sensei, come on, this place won't bite your head off. ~" Sasami says in a half truth., actually that has happened, but nine deities on hand, had the ability to help dispel actual such attempts.

It doesn't work though.... "YIEEEEEEE!! There IS something that will bite my head off!! *TOMP!* Ow.......... S.. sorry." .. “~ Better be beloved... ~”

"~ Washu, why must we all return here? ~" Kiyone blurts out in apparent uncertain annoyance. Washu looks matter of factly back at the System Detective. "~ Remaining on the Mortal Plane is way too dangerous now. We wouldn't have a `physical' place to operate down there from quite shortly as it is.

And.... ~” Washu adds.. “~ ..I feel our adversary is already here. We must confront him here, not on Earth. ~"

"I still don't get it, how the heck could I be a cause for all this mess?" Al says with a great deal of honest logic for his part. (Aleaic meanwhile is also engrossed in the scenery as he wait for an answer.)

They pass through a series of arc-tunnels, all with viewports looking out over a partially true Heaven, and an area assailed by the Virus, acting to literally blanket the Heavens in a thick, black shadow. The contrast is not lost on them all. Al just sees everything in the same veins.

Incredible.... Impossible....

Washu finally answers back. "~ Trakalin must have somehow created a program that would utilize your and Tsunami's emotional waves. I've seen this done before, but the attack was coupled by a Virus of unmeasurable replicating ability! Heck, the thing seems to have been made to feed off of anything connected to Heaven.

I bet it's only slowed down because it's taking so long to assimilate the thicker surrounding layers of Heaven, a lot of stored data and substance to go through, not to also mention replicate what is needs to crack the final layers of Jurai Core.

Quite a thorough Virus, quite ingenious, quite. ~" .. "~ Washu!! ~" Tenchi chides. Washu winces and chuckles, "~ Sorry. ~"

"~ But Washu.. ~" Mihoshi begins to ask.. "~ ..a mortal has no network. ~"

Washu just pounces to answer back.. "~ AH!! That's the key! Tsui has the Contract, and because of that, has been meshing her emotional waves with Aleaic's for a long while now. They've become so in tune with each other, that a Spell of the proper operational frequency and code string, could bypass Tsunami's Network Firewalls, and breach into the System to unleash the Virus.

And, in a sense, Al did have a Network. Inert and all, but all mortals do have one since evolution is the goal of Heaven after all. That's how Jurai Core came into existence after all. Evolution will determine when that set of Networks are activated and all. I could write a million scrolls on the topic. ~"

“~ You haven't? A shocker. ~” ..this Washu just dryly eyes Yosho with.

"You guys were mortal once?" Al asks, the nods Tsui and Sasami give Aleaic in response make him shudder. "Holy."

"~ Close, were not quite that holy, at least some of us anyway. ~" Ryoko raspberries Washu from the back. Ayeka tries to quip but is tripped up by Ryoko oh so innocently. A fight ensues behind them all.

"Even at the end, they still fight." Tenchi only groans, head in hand. "~ Tell me about it.. ~" Washu mimics easily. "~ Ah, ignore them. The real problem is that there's nothing to stop the Virus from spreading into all the other Dimensions of combined reality. And that will no doubt tick off the other Relief Offices in Over-Existence. I'd rather hang myself on the Superstring before we lived that down! ~" Washu says with a certain dead ring to it. Al just wonders how he isn't so already.

Mihoshi then quips Washu again. "~ But if we are all gone, how could you do that? ~"

"~ Because I'd find a way! That's WHY!! ~"

"~ Mihoshi, stop asking stupid questions!!!!!!! ~" Kiyone huffs in disgust.

"~ Okay, how's this then, why not force this Trakalin to merge with Al here, and........... what? ~"

"~ This isn't Ah My Goddess! the Movie you blond idiot!! Trakalin already has the damage he wanted, Tsunami wasn't his goal, only his end. Enough cross over talk! ~"

"~ I know! And you know what I actually mean Washu. ~"

Washu looks ready to strangle Mihoshi as a gift to Kiyone. "~ Trakalin is DONE with those two. What more would he want with them!! ~"

"~ That's what we're here to find out. ~"

Everyone turns to the new voice, but not really shocking at that.. "~ Tokimi! ~" ..many utter.

"~ Tsunami, nice to see you home again. ~" Tsunami nods in kind, Al just tries to feel small beside his goddess. Ayeka most certainly groans at this intro.. "~ Not Sis again. ~"

"~ Oh, hi Sis-Priss, Ryoko got your license in a bind? ~"

Ayeka is about to attack her Sister instead, when Tenchi grabs her, and notes Tokimi is not alone. About seven Seraphim are with her, with each holding an Amplifier Tree Staff, the silver-blue rounded heads highly charged. Everyone notes this, and a sense of doom befalls them. Ayeka immediately demands on realization. "~ Sister! What's the meaning of this! ~"

Tokimi looks actually pensive and sad, but.. "~ My profuse apologies. But the mortal agency and Tsunami are to be taken to Father immediately, I have my orders. ~"

"Oh crud." Al says, feeling suddenly too venerable for comfort, one sentiment shared.

"~ Goddess Tokimi!! ~" Tsunami echoes in said sentiment with Aleaic. "~ We can explain...! ~"

"~ Those words are better served by and spoken to Father, I am deaf to them. ~" Tokimi says reserved, before nodding to the Seraphim.

"~ Tokimi.. ~" Tenchi steps up, halting this, as Ryoko, Ayeka and Mihoshi watch sternly close by. "~ As a Chosen Ascension to the Council, I wish to be their counsel to any judgment. ~"

"~ That is already too late, but you may do as you wish. Time is short, come now. ~"

The gathered recoil from the not one, but now two rings of armed Seraphim that begin to herd them. "{~ Gee Ayeka, what'd you do to piss you Sister off, huh!? ~}"

"~ Ohhhhhhhh, do be quiet demon! This wasn't my doing! ~" .. "{~ Make me!! ~}"

The short second tussle that begins is stopped cold by a pair of Ice-electrical shocks from the Staffs. "{~ EYYYYY!!!! ~}/~ OWWWWW!! ~"

"{~ That tickled. ~}" .. “~ Sadist. ~"

"{~ Actually I'm both. ~}"

"~ Will you two core dump heads CLAM up already!?!! ~" Causing both Tenchi-Hand suitors to groan submission unto Washu.

The journey through Core is painfully short, as the use of teleportation rushes the trip.

---------------------

*Sinsine Six Area. 'Front Line'.*

"~ There they are Master. ~" Mayuka notes for her embedded vessel, Trakalin though sees through the same set of eyes as she does. He only chuckles snidely. "~ As I predicted, the Gods are forcing the inevitable. Shortsighted fools. ~"

Mayuka, with Trakalin looking through her eyes, see the progress of the heavily guarded group from mortal Earth.

"~ Master, is it time? ~" The Gray Angel asks within. "~ No. They will try to force their flawed logic on them, before they more than probably will separate them in a futile attempt to fix a situation they cannot understand. Maybe Father understands, but the rest are as flawed as I am.

Their solution will destroy everything. All as foreseen. ~"

Mayuka looks within deeper of herself, and sees only confusion. "~ But you said... ~"

"~ Indeed. We will know the proper time, when the Severing is initiated, this at the same time as Vaccination, this we or our `allies' will know the time for us.

Then we act. Only then. ~"

"~ You are foolish to trust them so. You know they seek to destroy you now that the Virus is initiated. We are chaff to them now. ~"

Trakalin is silent for a moment, but not in worry. "~ I know. Fully. They actually gave me the tools necessary, they do not understand how precarious their 'effort' actually is.

They too are now too late to stop it all. ~"

Mayuka now becomes confused for her own pure sake.

----------------------

*Jurai Core: 10 hours, 13 minutes.*

They have been waiting for a quite awhile in this plain, nearly formless `waiting chamber', a wait Tsunami very much dreads, and through her, Aleaic as well. Tsunami can only think of one thing that is ahead of them, and it's not to engage in a simple discussion. She already feels her thread with Aleaic slowly being cut away. The very feeling is tearing her apart within.

Aleaic is sensing these feelings, and begins to wonder if this was inevitable all along, as he doubts his own sense of reality, having been treated as a common program of some kind. It's made him lose his sense of self worth, unintentionally, and the feelings now vibrating from his supposed beloved, only adds to the fuel of fear building up. The mulling cauldron begins to burn as a fuel inside him, the pressure building.

Everyone else has basically left the two alone, as it's no secret to them either. But someone, whom has been silent due to her own loss of late, finally is fed up with the defeatist attitude.

"~ ALEAIC! TSUNAMI!! ~"

Everyone JUMPS a meter, the named a bit moreso! "~ Mother? ~"

"(Now what?)"

"~ Now what indeed 'Sensei', I'm ASHAMED of you two! ~"

Aleaic and Tsunami look bewildered suddenly. "~ Ashamed Mother? ~"

"~ Everyone here knows what is about to occur, and you both are LETTING them do this to you!! ~" Achika scolds the two as a mother usually does. Al just stutters back.. "But we can't go against. I mean, Him, his Will, thing.. I mean.. and.."

"~ Father has already decided. I can't go against his will. ~" Tsunami half responds back. Achika doesn't buy into this at all!! "~ Then you forget the Infinity Clause. ~” Achika gets the two to pique their attention with. “~ Anything is possible if you really want it bad enough. It is a given right as living beings that have a choice! ~"

Aleaic looks at Achika in a stupor. "You mean, face God and tell him to shove off and leave us be?!"

"~ Um.. in a sense, though not so crass. ~" Achika semi corrects. Aleaic nods and chuckles quickly. "Oh, yes of course, but.."

"~ Do you two love each other enough to face even the wrath of Father if you disobey him? ~" Achika continues, her own will rather stiff. Tsunami though can't believe what's she's hearing, this from her own Mother?! She was the one that loved to follow heaven's example to a cool T! Tsui was stunned to say the least. "~ But, it's because of us, that all this happened! ~"

"Yeah, it's kinda selfish to only think of our feelings for each other, I mean.. compared everyone on Earth and beyond are gone because of us. I..... I can't live with that burden, not if our supposed love caused it." Achika fumes a bit more at this, but is cut-off suddenly...

"::[~ Then you understand clearly. ~]::"

Everyone turns suddenly, to see the source of the One voice. "~ FATHER!! ~" Out comes the chorus of surprise.

They also note they are all suddenly in the Council Chamber, the voice of Father coming from an Alcove very high afar and on high. Apparently transported enmasse, almost like the argument Achika started was a trigger, and in whatever case. As soon as they register this, the think one thing, almost as one.

Here it all comes.

"Uh boy."

"~ Father, please hear us out. ~"

"::[~ We have already engaged in much of that over the past two mortal years, a great deal of time in our terms mortal. ~]::" Aleaic senses he's directly being spoken to, a slight shudder hits unto this of mortal ego.

"~ But Father. ~"

"~ If I may. ~"

A feeling of a groan lets out, as Washu's voice interrupts Achika's. "[~ Goddess Washu, we not need your 'explanations', the decision has been made. ~]"

"~ Oh, then you already know `all' about it. ~" Something akin to a 'cough' is let out a few seconds later.

"[~ Elaborate. ~]" ..as if needing `reminding'. Washu just plays the game back.. "~ I don't need to. You Council types already must know everything about the Port. Oh... I said too much, go ahead and.. ~"

"[~ Washu, Elaborate!! ~]"

"~ Washu, what's going on? ~" Ayeka stammers out. Aleaic and Tsunami look in supposed shock, Tsunami however feels there is something to hear now. (Al's still confused by all rights.)

Washu just looks at the two crossed lovers. "~ Al, Tsui, did it ever occur to you, why you both could never 'express' you relationship the way you both wished? ~" Aleaic looks at Tsui, and both nod back. "~ Yes, we had both come to presume something is interfering, too many things have stopped us from.. um.. well.. ~"

"~ Exactly. ~" Al hears from the resident goddess genius, as he suddenly looks like he's having a stroke!! "You mean we were RIGHT!? Something is actually physically stopping us?!"

"~ In a roundabout sense. It took awhile to pinpoint the source, but with the number of times you kids tried to fool around, I finally determined the cause. ~" Washu then steps between Al and Tsui, and place their hands into each others. Then, she enchants a Spell of Discovery.

"~ BY FATHER!! ~" Ayeka shouts, when the presence of a dark red mini-vortex is revealed out of thin air between the two lovers.

"[~ A Hex Port. ~]" One Council god announces for the rest knowing. (Save Al.)

"~ Indeed, it's been there ever since the Inner Systems Race two years ago. It grew strength from their very emotions, and probably was the source of the data they, our collective enemy, used to create the effects of this Virus invasion. And you know of only one entity that has the power to interfere with a Contract, besides Father that is. ~"

"~ Kagato Akara. ~"

Washu gives a thumbs up to Kiyone.. "~ Bongo. ~"

"~ That's 'Bingo' Washu.. ~" Tenchi corrects. "~ Whatever. ~"

"We've been used................. WE'VE BEEN USED LIKE A FLOPPY!!!!!!!" Aleaic registers more than enough from experience, and seethes with rage, feeling a thousand degrees of remorse, depravation, all the above, enough that he tears away from Tsunami and feels his insides envelop in a mass of revile.

The words 'I've been used' rings in his head endlessly. The thoughts stun the chamber silent for a moment. But the discussion isn't over. As much as Tsui wants to reverse the trend set back at the ceremony earlier that day/night she is centered upon by the Council suddenly.

"<~ Then it is shown as evidence that the Contract is at the core of this devastating situation. It was wise that it was Sundered before our just counsel. ~>"

"~ Whoa! Hold on a sec there! ~" Washu stabs back. Despite. "[~ We decided the course of this discussion even before you arrived. Added that you deliberately disenfranchised the spirit of the prime Law, one that no mortal is special above the mantle of Heaven's own! ~]"

"~ But it's because of them we violated the law! You know as well as we do they are at the HEART of the solution to all this! ~" Achika imparts, joining Washu in defending their cherished kin's unknowing actions. Despite further... "}~ Apparently, too much contact with the Mortal Plane has skewered your logic, the Contract caused all this!! ~{"

"(~ I object to that!!! ~)"

"~ Mother? ~" Ayeka looks around the massive chamber, and sees a sliver of teal in one of them, with a meek hand being waved. "~ Oh my. ~"

“{~ Oh great. ~}”

"[~ Counsel Misaki, again you.......... ~]"

"(~ You all base your blames on what you think was preordained! If that was true, then ALL the mighty works of human evolution is a fabricated lie, and we are unto the same as well!!! ~)"

Funaho's voice joins Misaki's, and Ayeka wilts further.. "~ Tenchi, why me? ~" Tenchi only shakes his head. "(~ My Sister is correct! You bring judgement Fate, and then to talk of it as a set object, one that we should be able to touch, craft, and do as we please.

That is FOLY!! No Program acts that way, and neither does the Will of All The same Will Father set in It's magnificent Wisdom!. ~)” Funaho then swathes her arms towards Tsunami and Aleaic. “(~ And making these two souls scapegoats is beyond unfair!! ~)"

"::[~ It is moot.. ~]::"

All voices silence before the One, as Father speaks once more. A repetition of earlier now play out, to the agony of the elder Sisters defending.

And a couple under threat of absolution's permanence feel the noose tighten even WORSE.

"(~ No Father.. ~)" Tsunami pleads inside.. “(~ ...please. ~)”

"::[~ The Fates of All is at stake, far more than mere talk and individuals can contemplate. And though the decisions are painful, and at length far too reaching to comprehend normally, there is one known fact: The souls of these two was used to seek a final solution upon this existence. Though all events have yet to play out, it is certain that a risk remains as long as these two remain viable to the All.

I am sorry my hand of Happiness, but this is a time where a test is not for mortals. You are therefore enforced to be separated. ~]::"

Aleaic's world suddenly explodes in flame!! "Tsui NO!!!!!!!!"

"~ Aleaic please wait!!! ~" Tsunami throws a hand up to halt Aleaic, and speaks then, turning to Father in utter desperation. "~ I say now, we are treading upon waters that are being unwilled. Les we drown from a regretful decision, please reconsider, our time has not passed yet! I can feel it Father!! ~"

"::[~ I am sorry my daughter of light, but this is my Will. ~]::"

Tsunami stands frozen, as Aleaic sensing the worst nightmare about to come fruition, suddenly roars his last chance at resolution.

"WHAT GIVES YOU ALL THE RIGHT TO DECIDE OUR FATE!! CAN A HEAVEN THAT DECIDES ON THE EASY WAY OUT BEGIN TO SETTLE IT'S OWN HOUSE IN ORDER?!!!!!!!!!"

"~ ALEAIC! NO!! ~"

"~ Sensei!!! ~"

"No! NO!!! Washu, Achika, I know full well what's at stake, I'm not that blind. But if what we stand for is destroyed, is everything else not far behind!?” Al strikes his gaze back at the council podiums far abreast of him. “We were used for this very situation that was created, I understand that now! But don't we also have a choice in how to resolve it?!??!!"

A all too short space of silence before.. "::[~ And a statement I feel in my heart. But do you mortal understand how much your Wish has created in the way of disruption? Can you accept the damage you both have unwittingly caused? ~]::"

Aleaic manages to wrestle some logic functions out of his angered state, and quickly mashes together all the statements and situations, minces everything that barely is comprehendible, and thinks them somewhat through.. But then he thinks of two things with all this.

One: His own Father's words of wisdom, about a world where the individual shapes the same, and that without the individual, there is no world, much less civilization. And that he was one of the final remains of his civilization. That all of this began off of original thoughts he felt all along, but that he believed in them, as much as he wanted to see Tsunamu smile, which became a pillar of `his' place in the civilization his father mentioned.

And Two: His promise that he would hold, keep and protect his professed love, even if he had to storm the gates of Heaven to do so, now, he would storm those very gates as he promised. And to do so, he would create his own leap total of faith; his embrace of responsibility, and to face death for what he believed in.

Heck, he wasn't sure he was actually alive, but he was sure of what his heart, eyes, and mind saw that comprehended before him.

All this he thinks in a raging storm of thought, which the others all can sense, in a `thin' timeframe (about a ten-second), as then he locks his answer in a vice as he comments back. "Yes. I `will' accept this.” He speaks looking at the various around him as he does so. “And through that, fight to keep what we all have lost. You mean to take from me, the last thread of a world I lost, one far more than you all could fathom, other than you noble Father. Knowing this all, I say this now.

You want to take her, you have to get past me to do it!"

And yes, that is utterly ridiculous a statement, but ask this mortal if he cares about that. He sees a woman in danger, that's all that matters at the moment. His world is gone, he has only one thing he can care about to fight for left. His heart makes that decision as fast as his words can come out.

Tsunami meanwhile is torn between joining her defender, and just protecting him from his own chivalry! Everyone else is plain awed and shocked, flabbergasted and insulted, terrified and jealous.

Other than Father that is. (Who knows what He's thinking within!)

For a moment, the Gods see a soul aflame in determination, but only for a second, as reality intrudes.

"[~ What can you, a mortal do? ~]"

Almost as on cue, first, a host of Seraphim appear, and seem ready to carry out the Will.

Aleaic immediately sees this and forgets the larger picture to then simply reach Tsunami. The Alpha Goddess tries to both warn him off, and reach him, which only adds to the confusion. The Dimensionals with the two are still stunned by what they are seeing, and are about to act in one way or another.

Before then the real chaos begins!

*INCREDIBLY THUNDEROUS SMASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*

All eyes/senses turn upwards, as a powerful Hex Gate literally smashes into the air above them, with the sounds of smashed glass to go with it!! Seraphim immediately turn towards this new threat, as the Council Chamber of Jurai Core is under attack by Hell Core directly!!

"TSUI!!!!"

Aleaic skids to a halt, just in time as a large number of Abyssals begin attacking the Seraphim, a large area open is created between this battle all around the Mortal and Dimensionals. A battle where the main antagonists land, with effect. Added, a large discharge of some kind flares within the chamber, apparently catching the elder gods and goddesses off guard, for just long enough as this all occurs!

"~ MINAGI! CLAY!! ~" Tenchi shouts upon immediate recognition of whom leads this assault, brandishing a special beam sword of some kind, joining with Yosho's; while the Goddesses and Demon-Goddess hybrid prepare various Spells and Hexes. Only Tsunami, Sasami (who is too scared,) and Aleaic are stuck floundering.

"{~ You, Chosen. Can you face our powers little boy? ~}" Minagi spits at the Ascendant. Tenchi bristles, both with insult, and fear. Clay however bellows.. "{~ Enough! Claim them!! ~}"

Tsunami cringes, but even more Sasami, as Aleaic can do the only thing his body is capable. He THROWS himself in front of the two!

"You want them?! Try ME first!!"

"{~ Impudent slime. ~}" Clay says, all the while laughing at this insult to his abilities. "{~ I suppose you can be Decomposed now, and save us any trouble LATER!! ~}" Clay then readies a powerful Hex, one that would easily crisp Al's shell, Tsui senses this and is about to throw up a Shield. When...

"~ STOP!! ~"

Clay curses loudly as he looks up, and sees.. "{~ Trakalin you MORON!!!!!! ~}"

"(That...... thats him? WHAT THE?!)"

The sight of the female Gray Angel, rather than a God form stuns Al, but this is the start of revelation. "~ The boy is not to be harmed!! ~"

"~ Do as Master says!! ~"

"~ That's not Trakalin!!? ~" Washu yells in both surprise, as well as from furious shock. All the goddesses know his form was sealed in a non-lifeform, but this wasn't his active form! Now in use of a Gray Angel, more like siphoning off one, the sight is distressful in replete! "~ Correct Lady Washu, I am not the true form! This is my accompanying vessel, and I think she has something to tell you Lord of the Chosen Seat. ~"

Tenchi turns back from staring down Minagi, and looks into the eyes of this Gray Angel. And immediately tells there both something both familiar and plain WRONG!!

"~ Oh, I'm sorry. ~" ..the `host' begins speaking sultry like, the then Turned subuccus looks at Tenchi dead in the eye, and delivers the hammer blow. "~ It's nice to finally meet you..

....Daddy. ~"

The last struck word is left to poison the air, while.. "~ DADDY!?~/{~ DADDY!? ~}" Comes four voices of Tenchi, Ryoko, Ayeka and Mihoshi, the rest a split moment later! The other three stare back at Tenchi, whom reacts with more than usual candor. "~ I'm NOT your Father!!! ~"

Mayuka mockingly acts hurt. "~ Oh, how cruel to say so of your child. It's too bad, I would have like to play with you Daddy, but we have a task to complete. ~"

"~ How could... could SHE be you daughter Tenchi!? ~" .. "~ HOW WOULD I KNOW AYEKA!?!?!? ~"

The stunned revelation gives the Demons time to enact their motive. "{~ Stand aside Mortal chaff. ~}"

"Make me you fat twit!!" Al snarls back, at whit Clay goes into a conniption, but Minagi moves to act first. "{~ As you wish Mortal!! ~}"

All Al feels next is his body crumpling some good distance away, sight sliding all number of directions. Any number of things could be broken, but apparently not his eyes, because Al then sees not only Tsui... but...

"{~ Time to rejoin your original form little one!! ~}" Tsunami hears, but Sasami does as well!

Tenchi tries to stop the attack, but Mayuka shoves him aside with a STORM of razor sharp Gray Angel feathers. Clay uses a Hex Stun Field to take down most the others, but misses Yosho, whom attacks him head on! This leaves Minagi wide open, as she uses a Recombine Trap Hex to force Tsunami and Sasami back into their original shell form!!

Aleaic can't believe what's happening, but his white rage takes over his still functioning motor functions, as he catches Minagi by surprise, RAMMING his body into hers, sliding her a decent space back. "YOU LEAVE MY BELOVED AND SASAMI ALONE!!!!!!!!"

Minagi recovers, with a wipe of her surprised bloodied lip. "{~ So, you wish to challenge me, eh Mortal? ~}"

"~ ( NO!! PLEASE AL!! ) ~" Tsunami's and Sasami's voice meshes out in a rapt, excruciating pain. "~ ( PLEASE, JUST GET AWAY!! ) ~"

Aleaic surprises himself with how calm he responds without looking. "I can't, I love you."

"{~ Oh how sweet. At least you'll have that to die with!! ~}"

Aleaic just can't stand to match the power of Minagi's next attack. He's mercifully blacks out, because the wound is severely aggregreous. A massive cleave of a Hex Whip has slashes almost down to the bone, along down from his left shoulder, to his right waistline.

"~ ( ALEAIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ) ~"

The shock of such a vicious attack seems to hit also everyone else, even Trakalin, who immediately labels the attack as excessive. "~ I TOLD YOU NOT TO HURT HIM!!!!!!!!!! ~"

"{~ SHUT UP AND HELP ME FINISH TRAITOR!!!!!!!!!! ~}"

With Yosho occupied by Clay, Mayuka makes short work of the others, her powers augmented by those of an Alpha God of the Council, even frozen, are still a good match for the combined Dimensionals. They all watch helplessly as Tsunami and Sasami are forced into a Seal Crystal, Power Sealed to prevent escape, and then.

"~ Trakalin! This is beyond even you!!!! ~" Tenchi hollers with intense rage!!!!

"~ Indeed youth. But this is `only' the beginning. ~" This as Minagi begins removing the Crystal, Trakalin has Mayuka turn to the now damaged and pitted Council Chamber. "~ The beginning of the end of your existence! And the pure beginning of my Final vision!!!!

Pray for yourselves. No one else is left to help you do that!!!!! ~"

“[~ TRAKALIN STOP THIS NOW!!!! ~]” Trakalin hardly flinches at the Council's intense voice. He orders the retreat.

In a flurry of Hex Shock Waves, the Abyssals cover the retreat of the Three, leaving a wake of the touch of Hell in the now ruined Chamber, only it's bare shape remains of the recognition that is. Mutilated form of Seraphim and Abyssal litter the once majestic flooring in a bloody cacophony. The Dark enemy leave with their prize.

The Dimensionals still alive are in not much better shape.

"{~ DAMN HIM!!!! ~}"

"~ SOMEONE HELP ME!!!!!!!!!! ~"

Achika is the first by Aleaic's horrendously wounded form. “~ If he dies now... ~” Achika cries, more for Tsunami's sake of absence. "~ I'm here!! ~" Washu shouts as they both try to stabilize the Mortal. Washu instantly judges.. "~ Oh Father, the wound is deep! There's Demon Infection. I.. I can't stop it in time!! ~" .. "{~ I can!! ~}"

Achika and Washu look back in surprise at Ryoko, floating despite a nasty tear in her White-Gray Demon Wings.

"~ Do it!! ~" Achika snaps without further thought.

"{~ Okay!! After I draw the Infection out, do it ASAP!!!! ~}" Achika and Washu only nod.

Ryoko's expertise only requires her to take a microsecond to identify the Infection Code String, and then the proper Extraction Code to use to extricate. A second later, Ryoko draws the Infection out into her internal Network, and converts it to a passive energy Datastream her body then consumes. The very moment it's gone, Achika and Washu literally POUR their massive energies into Al's shell, almost instantly healing the wound. But even despite. there's more to it now than just that....

"~ He's physically fine, but the Astral and Network Layers are crashing!! ~" Washu stammer in a spent tone. The tone is also failing.

"~ But HOW!? ~" Achika screams!

"~ I can still feel Tsunami's Network in him, but it's far too weak! He's data-suffocating! We need to use a new host quick, or.. ~" Washu looks around for a solution in a near panic. "~ But none of us are compatible! Tsunami and maybe Sasami were the only ones Washu!! ~" Achika speaks with a throat filled with terror.

"~ But Tenchi or you.. ~" .. "~ We lack the attuned frequency necessary! I.. I can't.. ~"

"~ Then WHO!!? ~"

That's when the most incredibly unlikely of events occur, as a simple haloed point of light floats down from above, from.. "~ Whhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaa......? ~" Washu queeps WIDE eyed!!!!!!!!!!!! "~ F...F...F....Father!????????? ~" This the rest of the Dimensionals onlooking don't feel some form of incarnite shock!!

It happens almost as soon as it occurs, all of it simply, the light phases into Al, and his eyes literally SNAP open, first glowing white, and then back to their usual color and such. "...ah... ahhhhhhh..... hhhhhhhhhhhhh... " Achika and Washu feel their hearts leap, as does their FEAR!!

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!" Aleaic suddenly screams, as the feel of ETERNITY shouts within him. Tsunami was 'bad' enough, but.. but.. but......... .................but HIM/IT/ALL!?!??!!?!?!?!?!?! Al seems to scream, but no sound is uttered, making it all the more intense in emotion.

"[~ FATHER OF CORE!?!!!! ~]" The previously harsh Council member yells, now disbelieving even his shocked senses, as is everyone else present. All except....

"::[~ I have seen his true Will, it is stronger than mine. My One Will is Spoken. ~]::"

"^~ Father, you can't!!!!!!!!! ~^"

"}~ You cannot be the one to support this MORTAL!!? ~{" the gods literaly cry out against this change of events. There is silence, dead silence...... "[~ FATHER!! RECONSIDER!!!!!!!!!! ~]"

The thunderous echo is not responded to.

"~ Oh my Father. Oh my Father. ~" Achika keeps uttering over and over for a good ten minutes. Washu just then remarks, at the edge of her own very real sanity. "~ Well, I.. uh.. guess.. you have a new Network support Al. ~"

Aleaic, still trying to fathom what he feels inside of him, looks at Washu with wide eyes and speaks simply. "THIS IS NO TIME FOR A JOKE WASHU!!!!!!!!!!!"

Aleaic then promptly faints.

"~ Oh Father, how much more complicated can this become? ~" Ayeka ekes out. Ryoko looks at Ayeka blandly and silently, at Washu longingly, and then Al.

With fear. Dead cold raw fear. “{~ Who the Hell are you mortal? ~}”

-----------------------

*Hell Core: 8 hours, 34 minutes.*

Tsunami/Sasami, still completely unconscious, still encased in Crystal, is looked upon longingly by the Dark Supreme Lord of Administration of Hell Core. He caresses the surface, as if trying to caress the skin of the most beautiful Goddess in Heaven, or existence itself. Of at least Jurai Core anyway.

And as a Dark Lord, a number of less than 'healthy' thoughts cross his twisted mind.

But then he turns his warped mind to related news, one that no one could have predicted, and possibly not even The Master itself! "{{~ Inconceivable. Beyond inconceivable. ~}}"

Kagato turns to face his Lieutenants, and a snarl is let out. "{{~ Now the Mortal is joined with the Father Itself!! HOW could you all be so IMPOTENT!!!!!!!! ~}}"

"{{~ Don't blame us Kagee bub! You think we could have predicted this!? ~}}"

Kagato almost acquiesces to his desire to sunder the little Dark Lady, but forces himself control, as Yuzuha is still needed, (for the moment.) He instead then turns to the Lord in charge of the one that allowed this to happen. So Kagato blames as such. "{{~ This is your blame Yakage. Yours alone. ~}}"

Yakage only bows his head. "{{~ Minagi is being 'dealt' with. As it is, she could not foresee.... ~}}"

"{{~ AND IT'S THAT STUPIDIY THAT MAY DOOM OUR CAUSE, WRETHCED SNAPE TRIPE!!!!!!! ~}}"

Yakage only blinks, flinching is not his style. (But it came close there.) "{{~ My apologies Milord. ~}}"

Kagato snarls his silver teeth, and spits black blood at Yakage's feet, the acid in it waifing melted `vapor' into Yakage's unmoving head. Kagato then turn back to the Crystal. "{{~ As it is, the Master Lord now wishes us to proceed. Begin Phase Two. ~}}"

Yuzuha and Yakage both bow sharply and turn, just before Kagato's construct enters, with Mayuka/Trakalin in tow. The very presence of the Traitor causes all of the Demons to cringe, as a Gray Angel is bad enough in of itself. They only managed to get this far in the Plan, from a long distance type of conglomeration of ideals and intents, and rather NOT from close knit teamwork.

"~ Kagato, all is ready? ~" Trakalin speaks through his Vessel.

"{{~ Nearly Trakalin. All that is required is to Initiate the Program, and then, the Core will fall at long eternal last to Hell Core. We can then gain what we all desire. ~}}"

Mayuka sees the Crystal, and slightly pangs for the occupants, and for some reason, for the one that lost them. Trakalin hides a far, far deeper emotion, the same, but horrendously magnified. But that doesn't dissuade his cause, as the Gods are wrong, he knows they are!

"~ In case you are wondering, the Virus is passing halfway into it's assault now. ~"

"{{~ Yes yes, very good and all. Tell me, what did it feel like to look into the eyes of those you betrayed. And the eyes of those you once called brethren? ~}}"

Trakalin considers briefly, then... "~ I felt nothing. ~"

Both Kagato and Trakalin know this is a lie, but each lets go of probing further for their own respective reasons. "{{~ And you Mayuka, how did it feel to see you Father in the flesh, so to speak, for the first time? ~}}"

"~ Pafh, the boy stinks of the Gods. ~"

Kagato smiles, the conditioning still holding hard. He didn't put it past Trakalin to not realize this by now, but that didn't matter either. This would help very soon indeed. Kagato then speaks without looking at the wretched vessel listening. "{{~ I have one last task for you both, before the rewards of our hard work is relished. ~}}" Kagato turns the commanding charm up a notch, and uses a most friendly and 'convincing' tone, as he looks back finally. Mayuka is captivated, hardly though an expected effect on Trakalin.

"{{~ You know that the Mortal and Father have joined, your worst nightmare come to pass. ~}}"

"~ I know of it. ~"

"{{~ Then you won't mind 'dealing' with the Mortal for us. ~}}" Yakage and Yuzuha hear this and nearly freak!! "{{~ But MASTER!! ~}}"

Kagato continues, Sealing the two discordant tongues with a Silence Hex. "{{~ I ask of this, because this will allow you to help deal with another thorn, as the Chosen of the Council is quite the powerful threat to us.

You must seal and sew enough discord and confusion within the Chosen, as well as keep the Mortal off base, if not Decompose him. All at least long enough for the Final Phase to begin, by which then it will be too late!! ~}}" Kagato cranes his neck to the side and asks. "{{~ Is this possible by the Great Dimensional and his Powerful Angel? ~}}"

Mayuka instinctively speaks for her Master. "~ Yes Lord Kagato! ~"

Trakalin says nothing, apparently spoken for.

"{{~ Very well, I give access to the Titan Programs to accomplish this task. Be well and safe on your mission. ~}}" Kagato respectfully bows to the vessel and Traitor.

The two parties depart all too quickly as a scarred Minagi escorts Trakalin away. After, Kagato puts a mental reminder to shear his tongue clean off.

"{{~ Are you CRAZY Master!!? ~}}" Yuzuha speaks beside herself!!!!!

"{{~ .............*silence...........* ..................hahaha......... rahahahahaha....... Waaaaaaaaahahahahaha!!! ~}}"

"{{~ What's so funny Milord? ~}}" Yakage asks, rather disturbed.

"{{~ MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! ~}}"

Both Demon Lieutenants slide backwards at this raise in volume. "{{~ Have you lost it Kagee? If they get close to the Mortal... ~}}"

Kagato, in between his laughter. "{{~ Who...... hahaha..... who says he'll get the chance! ~}}"

"{{~ Huh? ~}}" Both Demons stutter.

Kagato then snaps his fingers, and brings forth his construct. The very tall being set within cloak and masked of some facial covering, bows on arrival. "{{~ Are the Titan's programmed properly Hishima? ~}}" Kagato speaks to his creation. (Actually his and Yuzuha's, but Kagato never shares anything.) "[{~ They are creator. ~}]"

"{{~ Carry out my Will. ~}}" The construct of black, multiple spikes and limbs, as well as nasty Demon wings strides away to do his Master's bidding. Kagato keeps laughing into the dark air, as Yakage and Yuzuha look on.

"{{~ *As the Dark Demon finishes laughing.* This is what Traitors deserve. A mutilation unto their failure. ~}}" Kagato bursts into more laughter, echoing off the surface of the Crystal.

Inside, a single tear is shed.

"(~ = Al................. =~ )"

-----------------------------------

*Heaven, a resting chamber.*

Aleaic rests in a separate room, albeit a immense chamber, this as most of the Dimensionals, minus Washu, Tenchi, and Yosho, but with Tokimi included, wait within the equally large living quarters.

"~ What a day. ~"

"{~ Are all graduation ceremonies like this on Earth? ~}" Ayeka just groans at Ryoko's stupid question. Ryoko snarls back.. "{~ Hey, loosen up Priss, it's a joke. ~}"

"~ We don't need your brand of jokes Demon. ~"

"~ Oh hush up you two, Al's resting. ~" Kiyone threatens with her tongue. "~ Indeed, he's going to need it. ~" Tokimi laces in for effect. Ayeka and Ryoko submissively comply, more from fatigue than anything else. Except for this, and some light small talk, it's quiet.

Inside Al's mind, it's much much different.

Because a part of him isn't there. And that `where' is where ALL the real fun is.

A place without limits and an end.

(End Part Five)

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