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Episode 8 -	No Need for a Genius!
	Tensai muyō!
First aired -	21st May 1995

The episode opens on a flashback featuring Washu. We see her being exiled from her science academy 700 years previously for producing extremely dangerous inventions. She is imprisoned in a crystal pod and fired out into space.

Washu is woken from her dream by one of her mechanical dolls. After her much-needed rest, the unstoppable genius is back at work, and her latest invention is almost complete; a robotic duplicate of herself. All that is needed is the brain...

Meanwhile, life goes on as normal in the Masaki home. Ryoko and Ayeka are watching their favourite soap-opera until they are interrupted by Mihoshi, who wants to watch the children's programmes. Mihoshi has come over from her apartment to have lunch with the family, but lunchtime is already over. Sasami, however, is worried about Washu, who has already missed two meals, and asks Tenchi to check in on her.

When Tenchi locates Washu in her lab, he finds her eager to show off her new invention, which she has dubbed "Mecha-Washu". As she explains that her robot will act as her lab assistant, they are interrupted by the arrival of Mihoshi, who has against all probability blundered into the lab. The ever-curious Mihoshi takes a closer look at Washu's invention, but Washu shoos her away and steps into the transfer chamber, ready to copy her brain patterns into Mecha-Washu's brain. She asks Tenchi to press the switch on the console, but Mihoshi tries to help, pushing all the wrong buttons and causing an explosion that shatters the two chambers. Fortunately, both Washu and Mecha-Washu have survived, and even more miraculously, Mecha-Washu is now in possession of a complete brain and is fully activated. Unfortunately, not all is well. Instead of taking on Washu's mind and personality, Mecha-Washu has somehow picked up Mihoshi's brain waves, and is imitating the air-headed officer exactly! The real Washu soon finds the source of the problem; one of Mihoshi's hairs caught in the transfer pod. Worse still, in the confusion, Mecha-Washu has vanished!

Washu tracks the rogue robot outside the house and orders her to return to the lab. However, the robot believes that it is a Galaxy Police officer, and is determined to fulfil its duty, which includes stopping anyone who obstructs it. Mecha-Washu is even fitted with a powerful rocket-punch, although with Mihoshi's mind running the show, she can't even fire it straight! However, Washu already has a counterattack planned; a game of volleyball, using an atomic disrupter bomb as the ball. Unfortunately, having been out of practise for 700 years, Washu's aim is a little off, and the ball almost lands on Ryoko and Ayeka instead. They hit the ball back, and Tenchi punts it to Washu, who launches it at Mecha-Washu. However, Mecha-Washu is a good volleyball player too, and sends the ball flying into Tenchi's vegetable garden, destroying the whole harvest of carrots (much to Ryo-Ohki's distress). Her plan foiled, Washu has to resort to desperate measures; Mecha-Washu's self-destruct mechanism. With a tear in her eye, Washu presses the self-destruct button on her computer, and Mecha-Washu explodes. However, the head survives the explosion, and as it rockets into the air, it calls for the spare body from Washu's lab, which obediently rushes onto the scene, catches the head before it hits the ground and reconnects it. Mecha-Washu resumes its attack!

Just when they think they are done for, Kiyone turns up looking for Mihoshi. After Tenchi explains that Mecha-Washu has received Mihoshi's brain patterns, she assures them that it should be easy to beat, and reminds Mihoshi that she is about to miss her favourite television show. In a panic, Mihoshi runs back to the house, and, realizing what time it is, Mecha-Washu follows her. With the robot finally pacified, Kiyone presses the deactivation switch on the back of her neck and the robot falls silent.

Some time later, Washu is ready to show off her improved version of Mecha-Washu, which she has guaranteed will be free from rogue brain patterns this time. However, this promise turns out to be pretty hollow, as the new Mecha-Washu is now acting like Ryo-Ohki!

<< Episode 7 - No Need for a Carnival!

Episode 9 - No Need for Memories! >>

Mihoshi's favourite TV show, as featured in this episode, is Moldiver, an animation show made by AIC, the same company that makes Tenchi Muyo. Pictured is the heroine of Moldiver, Mirai Ozora, in her powered battle suit. The cry of "Metamorforce!" is the voice command used to activate the Mol Unit and transform its user into a superhero.

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