Finally...
I got The Complete Vocal Collection pt.1 this morning. It spurred me on
to finish this chapter. I had to divide it into two parts, due to size.
Part 3 will contain Priss' return to Hot Legs and a romantic encounter at
a certain okonomiyaki shop. Part 4 will contain the reintroduction of the
Knight Sabers...and a few reunions, too.
Here we go...
Nightelf (nwl9354@tamvm1.tamu.edu) presents...
The Circe Project
Part 2
****************************************************************************
The dark form of the Knightwing cruised slowly toward MegaTokyo, its
silent running keeping it from the watchful eyes of radar towers. Its lone
occupant, a young, raven-haired woman, sat in fromt of a computer screen,
her crying eyes trying to find some sense of the tragedy in the mission's
data logs, occasionally mumbling to herself as she absorbed bits and
pieces of information.
"Okay...let's see...here's the readings from Nene's suit...no
problems...here's where...what the..." She stopped as the readings suggested
the impossible. Disbelieving, she replayed them in slow-motion.
Somehow, in an instant, Nene...disappeared. One second, it was reading
her blood pressure and neural readings, the next there was...nothing.
"Hmmm...Nene and Priss showed the same malfunction...I wonder..."
Priss' information was nearly identical. There one second, gone the next.
A determined sigh escaped from her lips. "Okay. So the same thing
happened to Nene and Priss. But what about..." She pulled up Mackie's
readings. "Here's where he gets caught...here's where...ohmygod..." Sylia
was dumbstruck. In an instant, Mackie's heartrate and neural readings...
changed. It was as though another person had put on the suit. Sensing the
interloper, the suit anesthetized the unwanted occupant and flew back to the
Knightwing.
Her metallic fingers raced across the keyboard to pull up Linna's
readings. She, like Mackie, changed, but something else happened...
Somehow, the systems were being destroyed...crushed from the inside...as
though the occupant of the suit was too large? Only one thing could do
that...She pulled up the lifeform readings in the security hold.
A smile creeped across her tear-streaked face as the monitor confirmed
her suspicions. Three heat sources, one in each of the hardsuits. The
ones in Nene's and Priss' suits were small and squirmed around in the body
space. The one in Mackie's was human, but smaller than his size.
After commanding the computer to take water samples on each of the
hardsuits and establish a medical quarantine, Sylia clasped her hands
together tightly, hopeful, praying beyond all reason that she was right.
***************************************************************************
Mackie woke up...in the security hold of the Lady's 633 HQ. A small
groan escaped as a hand rose to wipe the drowsiness from tired eyes. It
took a few seconds for the circumstances of the situation to sink in.
She sat up, slowly, every movement a little piece of agony from several
days of lethargy. She stopped for a moment, eyes blurred, but fixed as she
looked down at her body, her fogged mind trying to figure out what the
internal warning bells were for. The eyes widened as she realized...Hands
reached around, groping through the fabric, hoping beyond hope that somehow
touch would contradict sight. Screams were frozen in her throat as she
staggered over to a mirror on the wall, her eyes hesitantly shifting from
one view to another. A younger version of Sylia stared out from the
looking-glass: Short black hair, smooth, noble face, well-endowed body...
"Ahhh. You're awake."
A monitor screen in the corner flickered on in the corner. Mackie
turned to look at her sister, then back down at herself, a sinking feeling
of dread spreading throughout her body. Words tried to find their way to
her throat. "Sis...what...how..." she stammered, surprised at the voice's
pitch.
"Mackie...it's...it's a long story. Unfortunately, I have to identify
you first."
"Huh?"
"What did I do to get revenge on you after you were caught using the
security cameras to peek in on us as we were changing?"
Mackie didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This was too ironic...
"You installed a camera in my room, invited the others over, and made
comments over the intercom as I changed."
Sylia smiled. "Okay. Sorry." The door to the cell opened, leading
to the living room. Mackie walked out, hesitantly, as though learning to
walk for the first time. She gasped as she surveyed the living room.
Sylia Stingray had seen better days. So had the room. Her hair,
normally combed neatly and styled, was completely disheveled. Her face,
with sagging eyes and wrinkles, suggested several sleepless nights. She
wore a flimsy lavender nightgown, of the type that, under normal conditions,
would give Mackie nosebleeds. Around her were reams of computer printouts,
on subjects ranging from chemistry to genetics to magic. Garbage, primarily
drink containers, littered the normally immaculate floor around her. In
her lap was a toy poodle, white with strange pink accents on the head, feet,
and tail. It eyed Mackie suspiciously as Sylia stroked it gently. She
invited her to take a seat.
Mackie sat down, a storm of confusion in her eyes. "The last thing I
remember, I was at the Genom lab...(unable to contain her anxiety) What the
hell happened to me? I'm...I'm a girl!"
Sylia raised her hand, in an effort to calm her down. "Take it easy,
Mackie..."
Mackie blew up. "TAKE IT EASY?!? I go through an overnight sex
change, and you tell me to take it easy?!?"
Sylia looked down, unable to meet her fiery gaze. "When we got to the
springs, a trap sprang up. You were caught by one of the tendrils and
dunked into a spring."
"So? How does that explain this?" she yelled, gesturing expansively.
Sylia looked ready to cry. "I...I messed up. I didn't research the
area enough. I recently looked up an old Chinese legend, of a 'Training
Ground of Accursed Springs'. According to the legend, falling in a spring
curses the victim with the body of whatever drowned there. The place's
name...was Jusenkyo."
"There are chains of DNA in each spring, protected by hydrogen
bonding...When you are soaked with water from it, the chains enter your
body and attach themselves to your own DNA. In other words...when you fell
in...you gained the DNA of a woman. There...there are a few other things,
but I haven't figured them out yet...It could be black magic, for all I
know."
"Somehow, when the DNA affected you, your body changed to match the
DNA. When the suit sensed a strange person inside, it anesthetized you,
then headed for the Knightwing. You've been out for the past few days."
Mackie looked down, startled, as a black cat suddenly leapt into her
lap, purring softly. She picked up the cat, snuggled her, then instantly
pulled her away. The cat stared back at her with an almost human
curiosity. "Sorry...I'm not used to these," she stammered, gesturing
downward. She then gently brought the cat in closer to her chest.
"By the way, sis, what's with the pets?"
Mackie saw something not seen since Father's death: Sylia's broken
heart. Tears welled in her eyes as the pets began to whine mournfully.
She bit her lip, trying to find the right words to say.
"It's...it's time I introduced them to you. Mackie...this is Nene.
The alley cat in your hands is Priss."
Mackie fainted.
***************************************************************************
Personal Log April 12, 2034
It is with a heavy heart that I write this entry, as it is the last
that I write as a member of the Knight Sabers. With this message, I
officially disband the group - for all time.
Twelve years ago, Father enlisted me in a war to stop Genom's continued
rise and abuse of power. Three days ago, that war ended...badly. We
accepted a job to break into a Genom bioengineering laboratory, with the
intention of stealing the information from its computers. The job, as
it turned out, was a trap...and we fell right into it. I escaped unharmed.
The others...changed. Somehow, the place transformed them into something
(or someone) else. As yet, I do not know how to reverse the process - and
fear I never will. Their situations are as follows:
Priss - Priss was changed into a black cat by the springs there. Her days
of dazzling the Hot Legs Club are now replaced by days of lounging around
the apartment, staring mournfully outside, perhaps thinking of the days when
she danced across the skies...
Nene - Nene has the form of a toy poodle now. Her days of electronics and
computer wizardry are done. Still, she seems to be taking it better than
Priss - she seems as energetic and cheerful as ever, though that may be
just to cheer me up.
Mackie - Mackie will never have a girlfriend, never become a father, never
become the man that Father and I always knew he'd become. You see, Mackie
fell into the Spring of Drowned Girl. My younger brother has become my
younger sister. And, I fear, she will never forgive me for it.
She woke up this morning, for the first time since the incident. The
look on her face...the fear, the anger, the frustration...the betrayal...
I will carry with me to my dying day. It was a stranger who stared back at
me...a woman I'd never met...with only the slightest hints of the young
man she once was. When Mackie changed...something...died...inside of
him/her...something that can never be replaced: her innocence.
Linna - Linna was the lucky one. She is missing, presumed dead. Her
change damaged her hardsuit, causing it to malfunction in midflight. If
the fall didn't kill her, the boomers did. Wherever you are, Linna
Yamazaki, I pray you are at peace...for I can never be.
***** END FILE *****
Sylia laid her head down on the desk, unable to hold her tears any
longer. She'd fought so hard...for so long...used every bit of her
life-blood to thwart Genom's plans...and lost. Lost everything.
"Rowr?"
"Priss..." The cat stared at her from atop her desk, her yellow eyes
staring at Sylia with concern. A weak smile spread across Sylia's face
as she picked Priss up, placing her on her lap. She stroked the cat
gently as she stared out into the rainy night, finding comfort in her
friend's company. Tears continued to pour down her face, though, as
she looked at the shadows in the darkness.
"What am I going to do, Priss...the Sabers are gone...Mackie's a
girl...You and Nene...I can't fight anymore. Not after this..." Sylia
whispered hoarsely to her friend, purring softly on her lap. "I don't
know anymore...I just don't know..."
"SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Sylia snapped to attention at the voice: A young tenor, not yet fully
mature...Mackie?!? It couldn't be...
The door to Sylia's room burst open, revealing Mackie for all to see.
He was wet, naked...and definitely masculine. Sylia smiled for a moment,
laid an equally ecstatic Priss on the desk and threw him a blanket.
"So...how..."
"I..I don't know", Mackie blurted, wrapping the blanket around himself.
"I was in the shower...I felt...something...I looked down...and..."
She walked over and hugged her brother, tears of anguish replaced by
joy. "It's...it's good to have you back, Mackie." Releasing her hold,
she led him out of the room and back to the bathroom. They stopped just
before entering as they saw...
Nene knelt on the floor of the shower, holding herself as the hot water
caressed her human form. All of the bottled-up frustration of the past few
days was being released uncontrollably, her body shivering in spasms, her
face contorted with every imaginable emotion known to man. Not wishing to
disturb her, Mackie quietly reached in and grabbed a towel, then began to
dry himself off. Finishing, he turned to Sylia, a sober expression on his
face.
"Sis...I know right now you want to check me over medically...to make
sure I'm all right...but could you let it wait a few hours? There's
something I need to do first."
Sylia raised an eyebrow. "And that is?"
A mischievous glint caught Mackie's eye, a remnant of the Mackie Sylia
knew. "Go out, find a nice hooker, and lose my virginity while I still
can."
"Uh...Mackie...are you sure you want to do this?"
"Do you blame me?"
Sylia smiled gently. "Just...be careful, okay? And if you start to
feel a little...strange, head back immediately. Got it?"
"I got it. And Sis...thanks."
Sylia turned around and headed back to her room. Making a cup of
coffee, she sat in front of her computer and began to type.
Personal Log (supplemental) April 12, 2034
Perhaps...perhaps there is hope after all. Mackie and Nene have
both changed back to their natural forms, and I am confident that Priss
will shortly. Still, I'm not convinced that this is over...if the springs
could be cured that easily, why even mention them? I'm certain that the
return to normal is only temporary. After all, the DNA should still be
bonded to them...the transformation may be triggered by something else,
or may happen slowly over time. There's no way to tell...until it happens.
At least there's hope. With Priss and Nene back, the Knight Sabers, given
time, can be back in business.
***** END FILE *****
Sipping her coffee, she turned around and stared into the night,
dreaming of a time when the Knight Sabers would fly once more. She just
shook her head and sighed as a high-pitched scream came from the rain
outside.
**************************************************************************
Mackie sat cross-legged on his bed, piles of disks, pictures, tapes,
and magazines strewn about. The look on his face was one of...horror...
as he glanced from picture to picture. "What's happening to me...I...
I don't want these anymore...Am I...(his face twists further) Am I becoming
a girl...in mind...as well as in body?"
"No. You're just viewing things from a different point of view."
Sylia entered the room and leaned against the wall, a gentle smile adorning
her face. She held a glass of water in her hand.
"Huh?"
"Mackie...I need to talk to you...*SPLASH*...woman-to-woman."
"What about?" Mackie asked, annoyed at the change.
Sylia sighed. This wasn't going to be easy..."Would you be willing to
train in your cursed form and fight as a member of the Knight Sabers?"
Mackie's eyes grew wide at this. "Me...a Knight Saber? You mean..."
Sylia's face darkened for a moment. "Because of Linna's...death, it'll
be months before the Knight Sabers will be able to go back out. I plan on
using the time to build new suits...train you...and Linna's replacement."
"You've selected a replacement for Linna?"
Sylia nodded. "Come with me."
****************************************************************************
It was a side of MegaTokyo that had seen better days...then again,
most of MegaTokyo had seen better days. Offices and shops dotted the
streets, selling everything from food to antiques to boomer parts. Mackie
watched all this from the passenger side of the Benz, store flashing against
store and person flashing against person until it all became one panoramic
blur. She was seriously uncomfortable...she hadn't really been out since...
"Sis, why do I have to go out like this? I mean...I don't really feel
comfortable going out in public as a girl..."
"Then you'd better get comfortable - fast. Any inhibitions you may
have about your girl-body will have to disappear once you put on the
armor."
"But...the dress?" She gestured to the business attire she was wearing.
"As I said, you'd better get used to it quickly. Besides, we need
to make a good impression on our prospective Knight Saber."
Mackie wrinkled her nose. "What's so special about her, anyway?"
Sylia sighed. "She's heir to one of the finest martial-arts schools
in Japan. The dojo that had been in her family for generations was torn
down by Genom two years ago. Also...I have reason to believe she knows
about Jusenkyo."
This got Mackie's attention. "What?!? How?"
"Her grandfather...apparantly was cursed...judging by records and
photos."
"In what way?"
A wicked smile spread across Sylia's face. "Let's just say you have
someone to talk to."
The boy/girl's eyes lit up. "He's still alive?"
Sylia nodded. "Yes, and runs the dojo with his granddaughter."
The car came to a stop in front of a fairly large office building.
On the front was written the words, in both old-style kanji and modern
English:
Hibiki School of Anything-Goes Martial Arts
The two got out of the car. Mackie adjusted her outfit slightly, then
followed Sylia inside, her high-heeled steps wobbly and uncertain.
A most unusual sight awaited them inside. Two combatants flew all
over the dojo, their moves a blur of attacks, counters, and blocks.
Noticing the visitors, the pair flew into place, then stepped forward.
The younger of the two was a woman, about 18 years of age, with
haunting sky-blue eyes, smooth, expressive face, and jet-black hair tied
back into a pigtail. She stood barely five feet in height, her karate gi
a few sizes too large for her small, though muscular frame. The other one
was an older man, in his fifties, with graying hair tied back into a
pigtail and unusual Chinese clothing over his still-muscular frame. The
girl warmly approached the two, extending her hand in greeting, as the
old man shifted uncomfortably.
"Hi. I'm Nodoka Hibiki. Are you the ones who contacted me about a
job?"
Sylia accepted the hand with her usual diplomatic grace. "Yes. My
name is Sylia Stingray, and this is...Mackie."
"Mackie? Isn't that a boy's name?" the old man whispered, almost to
himself.
"Uh...It's a long story." Mackie didn't quite know how to explain
herself.
"Oh. I'm sorry. Forgive my manners. This is my grandfather, Ranma
Saotome. He helps me run the dojo. Come on back, I'll make you some tea."
Ranma rolled his eyes. "Uhhh....Nodoka-chan? Do you think that's
wise?"
Sylia and Mackie covered their eyes as they saw the frightening power
of an unfocused battle aura. "Are you saying I can't even MAKE TEA?!?"
Ranma, unconcerned by his granddaughter's anger, whispered softly,
"Nodoka-chan...there are many things you do well...but cooking isn't one
of them."
"GRANDFATHER NO BAKA!!!" Pulling a mallet out of nowhere, she hammered
Ranma into the wall, creating a sizable dent in the in it. Remembering her
visitors, she turned beet red and tried to hide the mallet behind her. Eyes
wide in amazement, the two approached Ranma's broken form, full of concern.
"Sir...are you okay?"
The old man smiled weakly. "You know, Nodoka-chan...you remind me a
lot of your grandmother..." Once he fell unconscious, Nodoka pried her
grandfather off the wall, hefted him over her shoulder, and walked to the
living area, setting him down in a chair. The Stingrays meekly followed,
sitting down quietly. Nodoka filled up a pot with water, filled a tea
strainer with some substance that vaguely resembled tea, and put it on the
stove. She then sat down, a curious look on her face.
"So...what's this job you want me to do?" She smiled as Ranma woke
up from his forced slumber.
"The job is twofold. First of all, I would like you and your
grandfather to give private training to Mackie."
She looked over Mackie suspiciously. "How much training have you had?
Not much, by the look of it."
Mackie shrugged. "True enough."
Sylia coughed, then continued. "Before we talk about the second, I
have a few questions to ask you. First of all, sir, have you ever been to
China?"
The old man looked surprised by this, then answered, "Sure...a couple
of times when I was younger and in training."
A predator's smile spread across Sylia's face. "Did you ever come
across a training ground called Jusenkyo?"
Both of them looked like they'd been slapped in the face. Nodoka
jumped up, a blue corona of battle aura emanating from her body. "Listen,
if you intend to blackmail us..."
Sylia raised her hand calmly. "No...It's just...so have we."
Needless to say, this was not a response that they's been expecting.
Nodoka's jaw hung down to the floor in shock. Ranma, at least, was taking
it well. "So...Mackie is..."
"A man, yes."
Ranma got up, walked over to the sink, and stuck his head under the
tap. The others watched as his features shifted...She then grabbed Mackie
by the hand and led her out into the dojo. "Come on, kid. We need to talk."
Nodoka turned to Sylia after they left. "Is she really..."
Sylia laughed. "Uh-huh. Believe it or not, he's my younger brother."
"How did it happen?"
Sylia locked eyes with her, her face suddenly sober. "That's the other
job I wanted to offer you...tell me...have you ever heard of the Knight
Sabers?"
****************************************************************************
Mackie silently stared down at her feet as Ranma led her into the
dojo, her tongue held by the multitude of questions in her mind. Before
her was someone...like her...a man, cursed into half-womanhood...who had
apparantly lived with it for years. Someone who knew all the pain, hardship,
and problems she was going through, and had apparantly lived a normal life
despite it. What do you ask someone like that...
"So..how long have you been cursed?" Ranma stared at her, a wry
smile on her face.
"Uh...about a week. How about you?" Mackie asked sheepishly.
"Well...I was about your age when it happened, if that gives you any
idea. Sorry if I'm being a little forward, but it isn't everyday you
meet...someone like yourself."
Mackie nodded. "I know. This may seem a little personal, but...what
was life like for you after the change? I mean...was it easy for you to go
on dates and have relationships...even with _her_ around?"
It started with a small burst of laughter, a bit that Ranma could no
longer contain. In seconds, she was doubled over, her laughing
uncontrollable. Needless to say, this did not ease any of Mackie's
tensions. Seeing the horrified look on her face, Ranma staggered over to
her, put her hand on Mackie's shoulder, and tried to catch enough breath
to explain.
"Four...four fiancees...at once..." she blurted out, trying to ease her
companion's worry.
This helped...a bit. "All female, I hope?"
Ranma straightened up, in mock indignation. "Of course. Let's see...
there was Akane, Nodoka's grandmother...a childhood friend named Ukyou...
this Chinese Amazon named Shampoo, of all things...and a psycho gymnast
named Kodachi."
"How did that happen?"
Ranma shook her head. "Loooong story. Give me enough sake sometime,
and I'll tell you. So...how'd it happen?"
Mackie looked nervous. "Well...I don't know if I can tell you yet...
If Sylia lets me, I'll tell you later. How'd you end up cursed?"
A nostalgic sigh escaped from Ranma's lips. "Pop was...Pop was an
idiot at times. He dragged me all over Japan and China to teach me martial
arts. One day, we came to Jusenkyo to train, and..." She gestured
expansively down at herself.
A long moment passed as Mackie looked down at the floor. There was a
question she'd been wanting to ask, but...
"What am I? I mean..." she blurted out, instantly regretting she'd
said it, covering her mouth in embarassment.
A look of sympathetic understanding appeared on Ranma's face. "Ahhh.
You're worried that being a woman will make you less of a man."
Ranma locked eyes with Mackie, making sure she had her undivided
attention. "Listen to me, Mackie. I've been where you are now. Manhood
isn't in the flesh. It's in the soul. Believe in yourself, and you'll
be fine." She looked down at Mackie's less-than-manly attire and shook
her head. "Just...don't make it a habit of dressing up like that, okay?"
"Why did you wear that, anyway?"
Mackie groaned, shifting uncomfortably. "Sylia wanted me to get used
to it."
"Trust me. If your life ends up half as strange as mine, you'll get
used to it. As for girlfriends...be patient. There's someone out there
even for people like us."
Mackie shook her head, doubting her words. "I dunno...this is all too
strange for _me_ to take in. How can I expect someone else to?"
Laughter escaped from Ranma's lips - laughter tinged with sadness.
"You'd be surprised. There will be difficulties, but nothing that can't be
worked out. Akane and I...we had a lot of fights in the early years...
but...we looked out for each other. Eventually, we got past the stubbornness
and admitted how we felt."
"Gee, Grandfather, do you think it had anything to do with the fact
that you thought she was dead for awhile?" Nodoka entered the dojo,
followed by Sylia.
"Hey, now...we would have admitted it eventually..."
Nodoka walked over to Mackie, looking her up and down. "So...you're
supposed to be a guy? I'm envious."
Mackie blushed. "Please. It's hard enough without the comments."
Nodoka turned around to face her grandfather, an excited look on her
face. "Grandfather, I've accepted a most...unique...job offer, on behalf
of the dojo. Part of it will be training...er, him. The other part...
the other part the four of us will be discussing over dinner tonight. Uh...
do you mind if Mackie borrows some of your clothes? I think he should
change before we go out."
*****************************************************************************
"Rain sucks," Mackie thought as the Benz roared through the wet
streets of MegaTokyo. "To have the evening end like that...oh well.
She's going to be working with my girl-body anyway...it's just...I wish
I could have said goodbye as a guy." She looked out her window into the
night...occasional shadows racing past...lights...Mackie started to lose
herself in the blur of the city.
*beepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeep*
Sylia pushed a button on the car's computer, punching up a most
disturbing sight.
***** SECURITY ALERT 001 *****
On the screen, Genom agents and boomers stood in the lobby of the Silky
doll, trying to get through the armor and ceramic of the back door. The door
would hold for awhile, but not forever...
Sylia looked sad for a moment. She had invested a lot of time in that
shop..."Computer, activate computer core 002 at Raven's Garage and transfer
all temporary memory currently at computer 001 there. Initiate Security
Protocol 009 to destroy the suits. Upon completion, initiate Security
Protocol 001. Authorization code: Sigma Upsilon Lambda Iota Alpha 633."
***** COMMAND ACCEPTED *****
***** COMMAND ACCEPTED *****
***** COMMAND ACCEPTED *****
***** COMMAND ACCEPTED *****
"I hope you don't mind losing your collection, Mackie," Sylia whispered,
changing course toward Raven's Garage.
****************************************************************************
At the dojo...
"So...what do you think of Mackie?" Ranma chimed, smiling at her
granddaughter.
"What do you mean, Grandfather?" Nodoka blushed, trying unsuccessfully
to look innocent.
"You know perfectly well what I mean, Nodoka-chan. I saw the way you
looked at him."
A goofy smile spread across Nodoka's face. "Well...he's so cute when
he's embarassed...he's so afraid of what the world thinks about his curse...
I dunno...He's..."
"Enough said, Nodoka-chan. Enough said."
*****************************************************************************
Okay. This is the end of Part 2. Part 3 will have Priss' return to Hot
Legs, and a dinner date...as well as an Ukyou cameo. Part 4 will unveil
the new hardsuits, and some familiar bathroom produ...er, faces. Any
C&C is appreciated.
Nightelf
April 19, 1996