Hi, y'all. A relatively short segment this time. It was
supposed to go up on Friday, but nasty ol' RL intruded. Anyway,
here it is--also, up in alt.binaries.pictures.anime Paul has
posted two illustrations from the fanfic--one of Silver and one
of Kasumi The Ninja Slut. Tell us how you liked them, if there
were any problems downloading/decoding, etc.
--Paul & Kenny
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RANMA 1/2--ABORT, RETRY, ESCAPE
Pt. 5
by Paul Herring and Kenny Blackwell
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Ranma 1/2 is & 1997 Rumiko Takahashi/Shogakukan, Inc. Used
without permission; this fanfic is NOT intended to be resold or
used for profit in any way, shape or form. The Clan Justice, The
Tribunal, The Threat, and The Chronomancers are & 1997 Kenny
Blackwell. Any other characters are & their respective owners.
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"All is fair in love and war."
--Proverb
Arsenal approached the crowd of Amazons, casting about for a
way to get through to the center.
"Um, excuse me," he said in Chinese. "Can I, ah, get past?"
Many of the Amazons just ignored him, while one with dark blue
hair looked back at him with a scowl.
"Humph--males," she muttered.
<Oh-Kay, I guess I can't go through,> thought Arsenal. <So I
guess I'll go over!>
Arsenal took a few steps back and then dashed towards the
crowd. Leaping over the gathred women, he landed near the first
row.
He stood, his eyes focusing on the fighters' arena.
One of the competitors, he saw, was a very beautiful woman,
possibly in her mid-teens. With very long purple hair and brown,
doe-like eyes, she was waring some sort of Amazonian battle regalia.
She was locked in combat with an equally beautiful woman with green
eyes and dark green hair.
The violet-maned girl. . .her fighting style. . .mirrored someone
Arsenal met in his street fighting days. A Chinese girl named Shae
Lao Tu. In truth, he hardly knew her, but once he had tried to save her
life against his arch-enemy, the big man known only as Kageryn. But no
matter Arsenal could do, it was too late to save Shae Lao, an
unfortunate victim of the Eternal Sleep nerve strike--another a young
woman gone too soon.
The purple-haired girl, bonbori in hand, struck her opponent hard,
sending her flying off of the log, eliminating her from the competition.
"See, Li Kuan?" the victor gloated. "After all that time of
'studying,' I STILL win over you! I guess I'm the better warrior!"
The crowd roared for the purple-hair girl as Arsenal nodded in
approval.
"Awesome," he thought. "That girl has got some serious power!"
And then suddenly she was right in front of him.
"You," she said, pointing her bonbori at Arsenal. You are a
martial artist, aren't you?"
"Yes," Arsenal answered. "Why do you ask?"
"I am X'ian Pu, the champion of Joketsuzoko. And I am curious
as to your fighting skills. . .if any. Will you accept my challenge?"
Arsenal crossed his arms over his chest, smiling.
"Curious, hm? You know what they say about curiosity."
"Maybe so," X'ian Pu replied. "But I am not a cat. Well? Do you
accept my challenge or not, mere male?"
"Why not?"
Arsenal leapt a full twenty feet into the air, flipped, and landed
on one end of the log.
"I haven't had a full contact one-on-one match in quite awhile,"
said Arsenal. "This should be fun!"
X'ian Pu grinned approvingly as she jumped up onto the far end of
the log. Arsenal placed his feet together and spread out his arms with
the palms up.
"Senshi no chikara!"
Arsenal clapped his hands together, honorably bowing to X'ian
Pu. The Chinese Amazon returned the bow, with her bonbori at her side.
Both competitors drew themselves in their battle stances as the
crowd looked on.
"So, you were once Joan of Arc, King Arthur, and many others even
*before* you were Kim Lei," Ku Lon said.
"Yes," Silver replied. "Many other incarnations came after Kim Lei,
as well. Ultimately, this--" he pointed to his silver metallic body"--is
the end result. A perfect lifeform who is justice incarnate."
"Fascinating. Utterly Fascinating," Ku Lon exclaimed. "Well, it's
too obvious to me that you're here for a reason. Would any of you like
some tea?"
"Oh, certainly!" Moonhowl accepted.
"No, thank you," Technique said. "I don't want my senses dulled."
"Suit yourself," said Ku Lon. "Silver?"
Silver's visage remained unchanged. "I do not drink."
Ku Lon looked confused. "There's no alcohol in tea, you know."
"True, but still, I do not drink. I do not possess a digestive
system."
Silence overtook Ku Lon's cabin.
"And you call yourself 'perfect?'" she finally asked.
X'ian Pu launched herself at Arsenal with a jump kick. He managed
to block it, but was knocked backwards. In retaliation, he attempted
a roundhouse kick. X'ian Pu ducked but suddenly--
"Supidokaiten Keru!"
--Arsenal flipped over onto one hand and began spinning about with
both legs outstretched. X'ian Pu tried to block him and was pummled with
numerous blows that nearly broke her arms. A bit dazed, she withdrew,
and then swung her bonbori at her opponent, who dodged, ducked under--
"Chikura Pisnton Kobushi!"
--and suddenly X'ian Pu found herself struck numerous times by
super-speed uppercut punches, the final blow turning her end over end
as she flew through the air--
>WHUMP<
--landing face-first on the log.
Quickly the Amazon Warrior leapt to her feet, blood running from her
nose and a badly cut lip. Taking the offensive, she dashed at Arsenal,
trying for a slide kick. But he saw it coming, leapt up over her--
"Misairu Keru!"
--and, descending upon her with an outstretched foot, kicked her hard
in the chest.
"The Threat, hmm?" Ku Lon reflected, furrowing her brow. "As a girl,
I've read about legends of demonic beings that plagued the world during
the Middle Ages. Never did I think they could be real."
"They're very real, your Majesty," Moonhowl said, sipping her
tea. "We're dealt with The Threat before, and I can tell you from
experience, they are extremely powerful."
"But you defeated them," said Ku Lon.
"We got lucky," Technique added. "We sealed up all but one of
them in their home world. Now we got to deal with the possibility that
they'll get out and wreak havoc like it's the apocalypse."
"Sadly, not all of our team is available for this fight," said
Silver.
"That is why we come here. We need some of your warriors. Your best warriors.
It is imperative that you join us."
"Imperative, huh?" Ku Lon sipped her tea. "What're the chances of
my people coming out of this alive?"
Silver's sudden silence, Moonhowl's unsure look, and Warhunter's
whining answered Ku Lon's question eloquently.
"Humph. Just as I thought."
X'ian Pu caught Arsenal's fist. Then she thrust a bonbori at his
chest, knocked him back, and delivered a second blow to his jaw. He
staggared. Sensing victory, she leapt, then dove down on Arsenal
feet-first. Seeing her coming, Arsenal fell backward onto the palms of
his hands in a kippup, connecting his feet with hers, drawing inward,
then kicking out, flinging her back into the air. Arising, Arsenal
watched as X'ian Pu landed on her hands, then flipped up to her feet.
But by that time, he had built up a ball of bluish chi energy in his
hands--
"Senshi Hokyn!"
--taken aim and fired, sending the crackling globe right at her.
X'ian Pu easily jumped over the chi blast and kicked Arsenal in the
nads, almost knocking him off of the log.
"You're right," X'ian Pu said. "This IS fun. But the fun's over.
And now you lose!"
With Bonbori and feet, X'ian Pu thrust Arsenal closer and closer
towards the far end of the log. But suddenly, her opponent flipped
right side up, jumped into the air--
"Misairu Keru!"
--and once more dove down upon X'ian Pu. The Chinese woman was
quick to dodge, however, and Arsenal struck the log instead, shattering
it in half.
The crowd gasped as both X'ian Pu and Arsenal jumped backward onto
the posts that held the now splintered log up.
"You don't know when to quit!" X'ian Pu shouted at Arsenal. "Fine!
I'll finish this now!"
Arsenal said nothing as he stood immobile in his fighting stance,
eyes focused on his opponent.
"Very well, Silver," Ku Lon decided as she and the others exited her
cabin. "If this whole Threat business is as serious as you say, then we
Amazons will help you deal with it."
"Sheishei, my queen," Silver replied.
Moonhowl sniffed the air, catching a familiar scent. "Tyr's hand,"
she muttered.
"What is it, Tyra?" Silver asked Moonhowl.
"Arsenal--he's still here!" she reported. "in fact, he's over there!"
Moonhowl pointed towards the crowd of Amazons.
"Isogukazo Keru!"
Arsenal flew at X'ian Pu with outstretched feet. She blocked, but
was knocked off of the post. Quickly, she grabbed onto the edge just
as Arsenal landed. Undaunted, X'ian Pu pulled herself up and leapt at
Arsenal with both fists outstretched. Acting quickly, Arsenal shot a
second chi-blast at her.
"Chosenshi Hokyu!!"
This time, it connected. X'ian Pu was suddenly launched thirty
meters into the air and fell to the ground a fair distance from the
arena. Undulating ambient chi from Arsenal's Super Warrior Fireball
crackled about her body.
"Senshi no chikara," Arsenal, still on the post, clapped his
hands in front of him and bowing.
"She's. . .she's not moving!" one Amazon gasped.
"The male! He killed her!!" another screamed.
"You!" Ku Lon called out. "Did you kill my great grand-daughter?"
"Huh?" Arsenal looked towards Ku Lon. "Oh, no ma'am! She's still
alive!" Arsenal leapt from the log and ran towards X'ian Pu. "I may
have overdone it with the chi blast, though. I'll help her."
Kneeling down, Arsenal clapped his hands twice, bluish energy
flowing from his palms. Placing his hands on X'ian Pu's shoulders, he
concentrated, projecting his chi into her body. Moments later, X'ian
Pu's eyes fluttered open.
She sat up, rubbing her head.
"What happened. . ?" she muttered. Then her eyes widened at the
memory, and she turned towards Arsenal.
"You. . .beat me?"
"Yes," Arsenal replied. "You did put up quite a battle, though.
I was honored."
"As was I." X'ian Pu got up to her feet and bowed toward
Arsenal.
"If I may ask, what is your name?"
"Michael," Arsenal answered. "Michael Bridewell."
"Shai shen, Michael Bridewell," X'ian Pu said. "We will meet
again someday."
As X'ian Pu got up and walked away, Arsenal turned towards Silver.
"So, um, how'd we do?" Arsenal asked.
"We will receive the aid we need," Silver said. "But what that
Amazon did. . .was odd."
"Odd? I don't under--"
"Oh, *Michael!*" X'ian Pu called out behind him.
"Hm?" Arsenal turned. . .just in time to be glomped by X'ian Pu.
"I forgot to tell you," she said with a smile. "Wuo ai ni. Nuoda
airen." Arsenel went pale.
"S-say *WHAT*?!" he exclaimed. "Waitaminute, I can't--"
His words were cut off as X'ian Pu kissed him full on the lips.
"Tyr's Hand!" Moonhowl exclaimed.
"What's going on?" asked Technique.
"It was what I was implying," Silver explained. "An Amazon
defeated by a man must marry that man."
Ku Lon nodded proudly. "It is our law that we must marry a strong
male, so as to replentish the earth with healthy Amazon warriors."
As X'ian Pu continued to pepper his face with kisses, Arsenal had
but one thought on his mind.
". . .Why me?"
* * * * *
"The Shape of Things to Come."
-- H.G. Wells
<Someone should really get her body out of there,> thought
Epoch.
The Chronomancer was staring down into the newly created Spring
of Drowned Kendo Girl.
<Seems like such a waste,> she continued. <She had her whole
life ahead of her. Then she gets captured by Saffron, and now
she's a bouillon cube for a cursed spring.
<If Saotome Ranma had existed, things would have gone much
differently.
<But he doesn't--not anymore. Thanks to me.> She tried to steel
herself, to look at the big picture. <Well, fuggit; I knew the
consequences before I started. And it's all for the greater good--
what's two people's lives next to that? But. . .I never thought I'd
feel so much remorse.> Her face became a study in melancholy.
"Well. I thought I'd find you here."
Epoch looked up to see Saffron and one of his followers, a
beautiful bird-woman called Kijima. Saffron crossed his arms about
his chest and smirked, as Kijima placed her hands on her hips.
"Paying your final respects, Epoch?" Saffron asked.
<Time to get things started,> thought the renegade Chronomancer.
"As a matter of fact, Saffron, I was," said Epoch. "For
you."
"What?" Kijima drew her sword. "Are you threatening--"
"Kijima, seathe your weapon," Saffron commanded. "Epoch, what
are you implying?"
"The future," explained Epoch. "As you know, I'm a Chronomancer,
and as such, I can see into the entire realm of time, forward, backwrd
and sideways. Even as I speak, Tendo Soun is amassing an army to
invade Mt. Phoenix and wreak bloody havoc upon you! I--I can see--
your death at the vengeful hands of the elder Tendo!"
<A *possible* future,> Epoch thought. <I CAN'T lie about that.>
Saffron was nonplussed--he had Epoch on his side, after all.
"How how can I prevent this from happening?" he asked.
<This is *not* gonna be nice,> thought Epoch.
"There IS a way," Epoch intoned. "I have. . .friends, who are
trapped in another dimension. If you could help me in creating an
interdimensional transportal, I COULD convince them to come through
and help you."
Saffron loked skeptical. "How powerful are your friends?" he
asked.
"How powerful ARE they?? Saffron, my friend, they ARE power!"
"Hmmm," Saffron stroked his chin. "Very well, Epoch. I'll
help you in freeing your friend and in return, they'll help me kill
Tendo and his army!"
"Sounds like a plan! Now, if you'll excuse us, Akane's corpse
and I got some unfinished business."
"Of course," Saffron smiled. "Come, Kijima."
As Saffron and Kijima left, Epoch turned back towards the Spring
of Drowned Kendo Girl, a sad look on her face.
"I don't think the Spring needs Akane's body anymore," Epoch
surmised.
Epoch raised her hands, and Akane's body burst forth in a shower
water. Wet and lifeless, it hovered in mid-air like a gruesome,
bloated rag doll.
Epoch smile warmly as she brought Akane towards her. Taking her
into her arms, Epoch floated gently to the ground, kneeling, staring
into the unseeing eyes.
Epoch felt tears welling up. She allowed them to stream down over
her face, dripping down onto the Tendo girl's blue skin.
"Oh, Akane," Epoch said. "I wish I could've saved you when I had
the chance. I-I could go back in time and undo all this or I could
time-heal you back to life, but I'm in too much trouble with the High
Council as it is."
Epoch reached over and brushed Akane's eyelids shut.
"But there's is one thing that I can do for you."
Epoch and Akane's surroundings began to warp and liquify around
them.
"I can take you home."
The two girls disappeared in the folds of reality as Saffron and
Kijima looked on from a distance.
"Such power," Kijima said. "I still can't believe you actually
trust her."
"I don't," Saffron assured the bird woman. "I never did. Epoch
has her uses, but she also has an ulterior motive. I'm sure of it."
Saffron turned to Kijima.
"Her 'friends' seem too good to be true," he continued. "If
Epoch looks like she's gonna betray us to Tendo OR to her 'friends,'
don't hesitate to killing her."
Kijima bowed her head in acknowledgment. "It will be done, my
Leader."
Epoch, with Akane's corpse in her arms, stood before the
gravestone of the youngest Tendo daughter.
"Whom the gods love, dies young" Epoch spoke. "You know who said
that, Akane-san? Masander. A fourth century Greek dramatist. I met
him once--an absolute genius, that man was. The world lost much when
he died." A sigh. "But at least you'll be in good company."
Unseen by Epoch, Kuno Shitori looked on from behind a monument,
making no move to confront the mourning Chronomancer. Soun, clad in
his broungi, walked towards the White Rose, not yet seeing Epoch and
Akane.
"There you are, Shitori! I was looking all over for y--" He
glanced towards Akane's grave and froze in shock and horror.
"A--A--Akane!" he craoked, when at last he found his voice. "What
is she doing with my Akane?! I'll--"
Shitori placing a hand on his chest. "Don't," she said. "Just
watch."
"But Shitori--"
Soun was silenced by the White Rose's deathly serious look.
Sighing, Soun turned back to watch the strange tabeloux.
Laying Akane on the ground, Epoch removed her black duster,
letting it cover the dead girl's face. Closing her eyes, Epoch
raised her arms and concentrated.
For a few seconds, nothing. Then six feet of Earth exploded from
Akane's gravesite high into the air, spinning about in a twirling ball
of earth.
Calmly, Epoch picked Akane's body up into her arms and descended
into the newly dug hole. Then she leapt out, took a couple of steps
back, then looked back at the grave.
The airborne soil lowered down into the hole, filling it
completely.
Then the fabric of reality bent and warped about it's surroundings,
morphing into a gravestone.
The craftsmanship was commendible: a life-size white marble statue
of Tendo Akane as an angel, standing on a three foot base.
"Rest in peace, Akane," Epoch said, smiling warmly.
Gathering up her duster, Epoch walked into the shifting background.
Seconds later, all was calm.
Shitori and Soun walked slowly toward Akane's grave, both speechless
at what they just seen. Shitori looked upon the gravestone's base,
reading the inscription:
"HERE LIES
'TENDO AKANE'
1980-1997
WHOM THE GODS LOVE DIE YOUNG"
"Who--or what--was she?" asked Soun. He was crying again, softly
now, for the first time in weeks.
"I don't know, Tendo-san," The White Rose answered. "But whoever
she was. . .I've got the feeling she misses Akane as much as we do."
___________________________________________________________________
Part 6 next week.
Paul Herring
Warrior Monk, Church Of The Black Rose
Keeper Of The Sacred Flame Of Phoenix
Artist Supreme, Clan Justice