part 22:The final battle for Jurai begins

Jerren reached to push the door, but before his hand could touch it, the doors swung open. Startled, Jerren stepped back, looking around. Shrugging to Ami and Washu, he accepted the unspoken invitation, entering the chamber. His companions followed on his heels.

Kagato sat playing his organ, a dark creepy symphony reverberating around the chambers corners.

Ayeka huddled, still and small in her force field prison with a sad expression, evidence of the harrowing time spent as Kagato’s captive. She had given up all hope until she saw Jerren stride into the chamber.

"Jerren!” Ayeka exclaimed, joy lighting up her face “I cannot believe it, you are alive!”

Her glance flicked over Ami dismissing her as unimportant. Then Washu stepped forward.

"Who is that small lady? Could it be…?”

“KAGATO…!” Jerren boomed over the music, “I’M BACK AND THIS TIME I WILL FINISH WHAT I STARTED!"

Kagato’s hands froze over the keys, and he rose from his chair. Gliding down the small steps he turned his attention on Jerren, Ami and Washu. 

"Well, I see that you have been spared destruction, boy.” Kagato smirked. “Ah, I see you brought friends with you this time, and if my eyes do not deceive me; Washu my old teacher, I thought perhaps you had died in your little prison.”

"You should know well enough by now that it is not so easy to get rid of me, Kagato.” Washu spoke easily but an underlying anger tinged her words, “Your plans stop here and now, if you give up I promise you that these two won't hurt you too badly.”

Kagato laughed at Washu.

"I see you have retained your sense of humor at least. But…I have had enough of this foolishness; I have neither the time nor the patience to deal with worthless children. Soon I will be ruling the entire universe...” Kagato made a small signal.

Ryoko materialized in front of Kagato in an aggressive battle stance. She turned to Jerren a toothy smile spread across her face.

"I see that my blast did not kill you,” Ryoko grinned, “No scars, burns…nothing! I will have to rectify that little over sight; you will not escape me again human!" Her yellow eyes found Ami’s. 

"Heh, this is hardly the place to bring your little girlfriend for a romantic getaway…but at least you’ll die together…!” Ryoko summoned her energy sword to her hand and prepared to attack.

"Oh my poor, poor Ryoko,” Washu lamented. “I thought you were less pathetic than this…ah, but you were deprived of a mother’s wisdom to guide you, I suppose some of the blame must be mine.” She nodded to herself.

Ryoko pointed the tip of her blade at Washu’s head.

"What was that, you pint sized piece of garbage!” Ryoko snarled.

"What, you didn't hear me?” Washu shrugged her shoulders, “Deaf to boot, boy I really messed up when I made you…PATHETIC!” Ryoko disappeared then reappeared with her blade at Washu’s throat. Jerren moved towards them, hilt in hand, but Washu signaled him to back away.

"Say that one more time,” Ryoko whispered in her ear, “and find out what happens to that little neck of yours!”

"You know when I made you; free will was one of the extras I threw in just for the heck of it. Thinking and making your own decisions. Ah, an ambitious experiment, but I can see that you are just a tool bent to Kagato’s will, obeying his every command without a thought of your own. It saddens me to be honest.”

Washu raised her hand in front of Ryoko’s face. Uncurling her fingers, three small gems glittered in the light. Ryoko could not take her eyes off them.

"Are they…what I think they are?” Her voice was hoarse with emotion.

"That’s right Ryoko; your power gems that you lost so long ago. Fortunately, they very recently came back into my possession.” Washu smiled looking at the light hawk sword in Jerren’s hand, three gems the lesser. “The only reason you haven’t turned on Kagato yet is because you lacked your gems to overpower him. Here…they are yours!”

Ryoko hesitated but only for a second. Snatching the gems from Washu’s outstretched hand; she absorbed them into her skin.

"I am complete again…” Ryoko crowed, “Yes, I can feel the full extent of my power flowing within my body!" Turning her attention to Kagato, Ryoko flung Washu away into Jerren’s waiting embrace as he plucked her from midair, and pointed her sword in her old masters direction.

"I’m no longer your whipping girl, Kagato! Now I’m the one giving the orders around here.”

Kagato laughed; the sound echoing from the walls and making it seem like the sound came from everywhere. Ryoko slashed at the air in annoyance.

“Foolish girl, I will always be your master…!" Suddenly with no transition, he had Ryoko’s head in his grasp. “However…in light of recent transgressions, your services are no longer required!”

Kagato drained the power kept in her body as she screamed and writhed in pain. The energy discharge forced the three helpless witnesses to keep their distance. The three gems, so recently returned to Washu’s daughter, were unceremoniously ripped from her body, embedding themselves into Kagato’s wrists, and after she was completely drained he tossed her body to the ground as if he were discarding rubbish.

"MARVELOUS!” He shouted in ecstasy. “WHAT EXTRAORDINARY POWER! NOW I AM THE STRONGEST BEING IN THE GALAXY…NOTHING CAN STOP ME NOW!”

Jerren and Ami prepared themselves to fight Kagato as the battle for Jurai and the entire universe now rested in their hands.

To be continued.....