Issues: 1-6
This story begins with the introducing of a new character, a girl named Asahi. Meanwhile, Minagi who is in persuit of something, runs into Asahi, and opens communication lines. When Minagi’s face appears on the screens of Asahi’s ship Hinase, she mistakes her for Ryoko and makes a run for it. Minagi finds this hilarious, and decides to follow Asahi to try and clear up the misunderstanding. On earth, the gang is watching a TV show, but are interrupted when Asahi crash lands on the planet, still being persued by Minagi. She soon wakes to learn that her long time friends, Ayeka and Sasami are there. Everyone else is completely confused by all of this, and when Asahi turns to explain, she freaks at the sight of two Ryokos (her and her daughter Minagi of course), but soon apologizes for her reaction, saying she had no idea.
She then explains that her father, Takebe, a wood sculptor of planet Ryuten (the sister planet to Jurai) has been imprisoned by a rival sculptor named Tatetsuki. The master sculptor Houran named Takebe as his successor before he died, and Tatetsuki became jealous. Asahi was headed for Jurai for help, but Tatetsuki had closed all the routes, then she ran into Minagi. She can’t call Jurai for help, because her father is accused of murdering Houran. Ryoko decides that they can help; just like Ayeka’s TV program, and bring the bad guys to justice, only it’ll be real!
Minagi doesn’t know what’s going on, so she watches the videos to catch up (The Mito Vice-Shogun drama series 1-7). They then head to Ryuten. Minagi decides to take the role of a character named Yahichi, and she takes it very seriously. The gang then finds out that Asahi is allergic to men (litterally), which is news Ryoko takes happily.
Later, while the others were amusing themselves, (playing cards – Ryoko loses again and has to wash dishes…again) Mihoshi was napping, and woke to a start seeing that nobody was around. Mihoshi assumes that the others just ditched her, and decides to have a drinking bout with Mimasaka, the spaceship’s main unit. The computer goes completely berserk, and sends the gang to Yatsuka, a planet halfway between Ryuten and Earth. Washu and Asahi decide to stay back to repair Mimasaka while the others go explore. They come across a village and discover that everyone there has been forced to work in the mines by Lord Ohsa. Guards show up saying that the invaders (Tenchi and co) are to be bound and taken to him.
Minagi makes a brief appearance, letting the gang know she’s there, and Tenchi decides to submit to the guards. They force him to go to work, since “heavy physical labor” is for the men, while the girls stay back and be assigned “appropriate jobs”. (Must I say anymore?) Ryoko disagrees with the “heavy physical labor” crack, and cuts the guard’s staff with her fingers. They then assign her to work with Tenchi, and punish her with no food, an empty threat since they’re petrified of her superhuman strength. The miners are digging for the semi-precious mineral known as Hielzen, and the ultra-rich high purity Hielzen Super. Tenchi and Ryoko meet a monk named Gohgei while on the dig. He volunteers to try break through the ground to the vein of Hielzen S, but is unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the girls are entertaining Lord Ohsa.
Ryoko decides to give it a shot, and easily breaks through the barrier, exposing the Hielzen super. Thanks to Minagi, the girls drug Lord Ohsa, and are able to escape. He snaps out of it though, and comes after Tenchi and Ryoko at the mine, just as Ayeka, Sasami, and Mihoshi show up. He sends his guards to attack, but Ryoko and Tenchi make mincemeat out of them, and Minagi shows up as well to join them. But Ohsa interferes, and isn’t taken lightly. He’s been exposed to Hielzen S, and transforms into this big powerful being. He’s eventually taken down by Tenchi. Washu finishes the repairs, and the gang is finally able to leave. Gohgei decides to travel with Tenchi’s crew, having known Asahi since childhood as well (small Galaxy, and all that). This monk is a lot more than he seems though.
A warrior working for Tatetsuki named Mushima suddenly arrives. He injures Asahi, and Tenchi and Ryoko are forced into battle, but are stopped suddenly by Gohgei. He’s actually a Gagutian (some kind of alien species), and begins transforming to fight Mushima. He seems to be losing at first, but has actually been holding back and defeats Mushima in a single hit. He isn’t finished though, but Gohgei decides to spare him. Mushima admits defeat and leaves. Gohgei decides to keep his transformation a secret to Asahi, so she wouldn’t freak out or anything. The gang then continues on to Ryuten!
