Jerren and Ami on Jurai Part 21

Part 21: The Scientist called Washu

“Hello there…!” the small girl said impishly waving a casual salute.
"Um, hello…? Ami replied a little puzzled by this turn of events.
"You've been in there who knows how long and your first words are ‘hello there’…?” Jerren scratched his head.
"I’ve been locked up in that prison for quite a while. You could be nicer to me, you know? Manners cost nothing.” The girl pouted.
“Look, little girl…” Jerren said walking over to her and patting her head, “We have bigger concerns than worrying about social niceties right now.”
Washus’ eyebrows twitched with each pat, and her smile locked tight.
"Why…I am little,” she said grinning, “Call me little Washu. What’s your name?”
She stretched her hand to Jerren in a friendly gesture. Ami raised her hand to warn Jerren something wasn’t right, and Washu spun around him in a playful twirl drawing his eye line and effectively cutting Ami from sight.
“My name is Jerren Ryo Gregory,” he said taking Washu’s hand. “But you can just call me…”
Washu then gripped his hand so hard that she almost crushed it.
“Ow...Uh, W…Wa...Washu…!” Jerren said as he tried to free his hand from her grip, “Yo...you’re...c....crushing...m...my...hand! You c...can let go NOW!”
Washu let go of his hand, still grinning.
“That was for calling me ‘little girl’ and patting me on the head like I was some kind of pet! A little respect, huh?” She said giving him a cold stare, the smile never leaving her face.
“I am Professor Washu of the Royal Space Academy…the greatest scientific mind in the ENTIRE universe!”
Miniature Puppets of Washu that looked exactly like her popped into existence and stood on her shoulders.
"Yes! Washu is the best of the best, the greatest genius the universe has ever known!” The puppets said in unison before all three Washu’s laughed a little manically, unnerving Jerren and Ami.
"Hello Miss Washu…” Ami began.
“Please…call me ‘little Washuuu’!” Washu put a finger to each cheek in a cute pose.
“Er…little Washu, my name is Ami Anderson and I have to say it is a pleasure to meet a superior intellect such as yourself!”
"It’s a pleasure to meet you too Ami.” Washu offered Ami her hand, making Ami back away defensively. Washu grinned at the young woman’s caution. “I have to say I love the way you articulate. You have a flair for wordplay young lady…"
"Why thank you little Washu,” replied Ami, “I always try to brush up on my vocabulary and sentence structure so that…wait a second; a minute ago you mentioned the Royal Space Academy…is that the one on Todain?”
“What other Royal Space Academy is there?” Washu walked around the chamber looking at her surroundings in better detail.
“I researched Kagato before we came here, and the only person taken from Todain was a female student, about five thousand years ago.”
"I see!” Washu looked amused. “The researchers probably got their information from my…colleagues. They never were willing to admit to my brilliance. Saying a student was taken sounds like something they’d say. I have a question for you two now; what are you doing on this ship?”
"Well you see,” said Ami, “We’re on a mission, or quest if you like, to save the princess of Jurai from Kagato, who plans to kill her and destroy Jurai unless they hand over something called Tsunami.”
"I see,” replied Washu, “So my old student is up to no good again. Some people never learn…and you say he's attacking Jurai?”
"Yeah…!” Jerren said still holding his hand.
"I understand!” Washu looked more amused than concerned at the news. “But you look so ordinary, what can the two of you hope to do?" Washu fixed her attention on Jerren’s hand.
“You ARE strong, I’ll admit…every bone in your hand SHOULD have been crushed into powder…but your strength is nothing against Kagato…”
"Well, we do have this to help us…!” Jerren reached into his pocket and brought out the light hawk sword.
"Amazing…!” Washu who was kneeling in the rubble jumped to her feet in surprise, “The light hawk sword! The most powerful weapon in the Jurain Empire! But…you are not Jurain…are you?”
"I have no idea why it works…I'm just glad it does.” Jerren sighed.
"Very interesting…” Washu turned to Ami. “What about you, Ami? You are quite intelligent but otherwise, not particularly remarkable.”
"I have water based abilities that developed not too long ago. It's funny…I played a character called Sailor Mercury on Earth for a television show. I never knew why I was drawn to the role, but strangely I’m gaining my characters powers, here and now.”
"Mercury…Earth…Sailors? Ha, of course it’s obvious; you are an Earth born descendant of the Mercurian kingdom…a part of the Silver Crystal Imperium that faded into obscurity millennia ago. This ‘television show’ must be based on legends of the kingdom that must have somehow survived…and if you are developing water powers, then you are descended from a noble Mercurian line indeed. But…what could have activated your birthright? Such abilities in so diluted a line should have remained dormant...” Washu looked thoughtfully at Ami.
“Well, I did live on Mercury for a year…!” Ami thought out loud.
"Well, Well, this IS getting interesting, puzzles, conundrums and enigmas abound with the two of you!” Washu said with an even bigger grin.
"Now we have a question for you,” said Jerren pointing at her with the sword. “Where are we and how do we get out of here?”
Washu chuckled.
"You can’t!” She said smiling at him. “You see, this ship has two dimensional layers and you two are now in the reversed section. A top and a bottom layer, mirror opposites if you will, separated by an intersection which sadly, is only one way; the only way out I know of would be to destroy Kagato.”
"You...you mean were stuck here...FOREVER…” yelled Jerren, “…unless that beast is destroyed? What kind of idiot would build a reverse world you couldn’t get out of? That is so stupid!"
"That…would be me!” replied Washu, grimacing, “It was I who built the magnificent Soja after all.”
"You mean…you built all this?” Ami gasped.
"Of course,” said Washu proudly, “everything you see here I made using my own two hands. I built other ships as well; I’m particularly proud of Ryo-Ohki. My greatest achievement however, is my, er…daughter, Ryoko!”
Jerren grabbed a nonplussed Washu by her jacket lifting her face to his.
"You’re the one who made that demon beast?” Jerren yelled, “What is wrong with you lady? She’s a monster!"
"So Ryoko is causing trouble as well,” Washu sighed, “probably Kagatos doing…that doesn’t surprise me at all. He always wanted to use Ryoko for her destructive power. I warned him that I would intervene if he tried anything, but he somehow managed to lock me up in that crystal.”
Ami yawned, the excitement and adrenalin of the last few hours finally taking their toll on the young woman as her body began to unwind. She stretched out to bring herself back into focus.
"Well according to my research, Kagato did attack Jurai some 700 years ago along with Ryoko. Their reign of terror only stopped when Yosho, a blood Prince of Jurai’s royal family engaged them in battle.”
"So this isn’t the first time he attempted this?” Washu’s voice appeared behind Ami making her jump. Jerren also jumped and looked at what he was holding. A Washu puppet leered at his shocked expression. “Ryoko helping him attack Jurai 700 years ago convinces me that he was spear heading his plans for universal domination…and he almost succeeded."

Just then something started beeping in Jerren’s pocket.
"What’s that sound?” Jerren patted his pockets finally pulling out the cube Mihoshi had given him almost a week ago. Washu grabbed it from his hand before he had a chance to look at it.
“HEY…!” Jerren protested.
"And what can this be?” Washu examined it. "Hmm, if I’m not mistaken, this is a GP storage cube.”
“What are you doing with a storage cube Jerren?" Ami turned to her friend.
"Oh yeah...I remember now,” Jerren said as he scratched his head, “A GP officer called Mihoshi gave it to me when I came here to fight Kagato the first time. She thought it might help rescue the princess. She was nice, and had the same colour skin as me…what are the odds, huh? I guess I forgot I had it…”
"So what you are saying is that a female officer gave it to you?” Ami demanded her face flushing with emotion. “Why, pray tell, would she do that?”
“To help rescue the Princess…!” Jerren reiterated, confused by Ami’s sudden tone.
Ami then turned her back on him, putting her hands on her hips.
"I see now…you love those tough, confident female types. I guess I’m no match for her professional demeanor and exotic beauty.” Ami’s imagination was running wild with imagined trysts between Jerren and the capable police agent.
Jerren burst out laughing, startling Ami.
“Mihoshi…y…you’re talking about Mihoshi?” Jerren said between guffaws. “Oh Ami, she’s a nice lady but you’d have to meet her to understand why that is so funny.”
Caught up in Jerrens mirth, Ami couldn’t help but giggle a little herself as her suspicions melted away. On the other side of them, Washu shivered and her stomach knotted at the mention of Mihoshi for a reason she could not determine.
"I promise you Ami,” Jerren stated, “I would never trade you for anyone else!”
Ami blushed at Jerren’s assertion.
"If you two are done having one of your "episodes' then I can now say that this cube is our ticket out of this place,” Washu held the cube above her head. “This cube can warp dimensions, all I have to do is find the right match and...”
She twisted the cube a final time and they warped out of the room and were back outside next to a huge door.
"We’re free!” Jerren crowed, “We're free from the mirror side, it’s a miracle!”
"Hardly! Here’s the door to Kagato’s control room,” said Washu. “I’m sure we can all hear the organ music. Darn, 5000 years and he hasn’t improved a bit…”
"Yeah that’s him all right.” Jerren confirmed.
"Well I guess this is it,” Ami nervously twitched her fingers, “the final battle for Jurai and the fate of the universe begins now.”

To be continued.....