Well, here's another one...

Nightelf (nwl9354@tam2000.tamu.edu) presents...

The Circe Project 

Part 3

Bubblegum Crisis characters created by Kenichi Sonoda.
Ranma 1/2 characters created by Rumiko Takahashi.
Nodoka Hibiki created by me, with serious Ranma 1/2 influences. 
 
"Konya wa Hurricane" lyrics by Tomoko Aran.

As always, don't do anything stupid with this fanfic without the author's 
permission.  If you want to, ask.  I'm not unreasonable...usually.

enjoy...

************************************************************************

     Sunset approached over the mountains as the Knightwing cruised 
slowly over the Chinese countryside, its light providing a beautiful 
sight for Mackie to enjoy.  As he looked over the area surrounding the 
Jusenkyo laboratory, he'd had scant few sights to enjoy.  All he'd seen 
was scorched village after scorched village...better living through 
Genom.  He sat back and sighed, quietly wishing for Linna's return...dead 
or alive.  At least a body would provide some assurances...

     *..beep......beep......beep..*

     He reached for a button on the communications panel.  

     "Hello, Mackie..."  Nene appeared on the comm screen, her smiling 
face beaming through the cockpit.

     "Hello, Nene."  Mackie's voice sounded anything but cheerful.  
"What's up?"

     "Sylia wanted me to check up on you."  She tilted her head to the 
side and widened her eyes, hope spreading on her face for....  "Any 
luck?"

     Mackie shook his head slowly.  "No signs of life anywhere.  I still 
have a few places to check out, but I don't have much hope in them.  It's 
all mountains.  

     Nene shrugged.  "Well...think about this:  If you were hiding from 
Genom...where would you choose?  An open plain...or rugged mountains?"

     "Good point."

     "Anyway, hurry back home.  Priss is performing tonight."

     Mackie's eyes lit up.  "Really?  Cool!  I'll see you there."  He 
suddenly turned a bright shade of red.  "Uh...do you know if Nodoka's 
coming?"

     "I don't know, but I'll be sure to ask her."  Nene's smile turned 
mischievous.  "By the way...I left a little surprise for you beneath the 
console.  See ya!"  She signed off before Mackie had a chance to respond. 

     "A surprise?"  Mackie reached under the console, a perplexed look on 
his face as he stared at the search's results:  A thick paper envelope... 
pink...scented with Nene's perfume?  "Oh my...this couldn't be..."

     He opened the envelope, staring at the contents inside: A letter, 
and...something...wrapped in opaque white plastic.  He read the letter 
softly to himself:  

     Mackie - 

     I heard that you lost your little "collection" when the Silky Doll 
went up, so I thought you might need some help in starting a new 
collection.  Enjoy!

                                   Nene.

     He cautiously ripped open the package.  His eyes widened as he 
flipped from picture to picture...

     "Her" self, unconscious, being undressed by Sylia shortly after 
the Jusenkyo raid.

     Herself, undressing in the bathroom shortly before a certain hot 
shower...

     Herself, undressed and gingerly drying herself off after running 
out into the rain.

     Herself, carefully (some might say provocatively) putting on lace 
undergarments shortly before going out to meet Nodoka.

     "Nene..." Mackie groaned, tossing the pictures in question in a 
trash bin.  He sat back, his mind filling with images of revenge.  A 
cold shower and a visit to the veterinarian...or perhaps a delivery of 
milk-bones to ADP headquarters...

     Mackie was so absorbed by his thoughts of revenge that he didn't 
notice the slightly damaged castle...or the warrior practicing, her 
agile moves a graceful ballet against the mountains and sunset.

**************************************************************************

     "One minute, Priss."

     Priscilla S. Asagiri looked at the stranger in the mirror as the 
stage manager made his call.  It had been "only" two weeks...two weeks 
of losing a friend...and losing herself.  She clenched a fist as she 
shifted her gaze to her attire, a standard come-out-and-rock outfit:
black leather bustier, miniskirt, gloves, and thigh-high boots.  She 
absently fingered the black lace cuff on her left arm...There was one 
other noticeable difference about her concert attire: her blond wig was 
gone.  If she wanted a disguise, she'd take a cold shower.

     She opened the door to the room and walked out onto the stage, 
making sure to notice the presence of her friends before...A tear 
formed in her eye as the crowd roared her return.  God, she never 
thought she'd live to feel this again...the adrenaline soared through 
her, the rush more powerful, more addictive than any drug, firing her 
to near oblivion, though it felt different...tempered.  No longer was
it a mere explosion within her.  It had an edge...a focus.  Loss.  Pain.  
Death.  Rebirth.  She had run the circle and come back, the blade 
forged anew...stronger and sharper than before.     

     Then the music started.

     A familiar chord came from the guitarist, pricking something in the 
base of her skull...she let the music flow through her, letting it become 
a part of her.  The music started meshing, melding with her until the 
two were one and inseperable, each molding and shaping the other into 
something more powerful than the two.  She took a deep breath, opened her 
mouth, and let magic happen.

     "Arashi no Highway...hasiritsuzuketa...Togireta yume no yukue 
sagashite..."

     The crowd marveled at the change wrought in the dark angel on 
stage.  Priss' heart, always shrouded, always hidden, shone through now,
its fire and brilliance tempered by sorrow.  No longer was she a simple 
retrothrash singer, but a true performer...her words drifted out into the 
crowd, its spell-weavings enrapturing all those within the sound of her
voice.  She finished the session, thanked everyone, and walked back to 
her dressing room.

     Thirty minutes later, Leon knocked on her door.  "Priss?  Priss, are 
you in there?"

     The voice that answered was far from angelic.  "Go away, Leon!"

     This was not quite the response that he'd been expecting.  She'd 
given the performance of a lifetime...and she was crying?  "I...I liked 
the show.  It...It was unbelievable."

     "Th-Thanks, Leon."

     "Do...Do you want to talk about it?"

     "Take it easy on her, Leon."  A hand rested gently on his shoulder. 
He turned around to face Nene, her sober face indicating her sincerity.
"We lost a good friend...and we're still coping."

     Leon raised an eyebrow.  "Nene?  You've known Priss all this 
time...and you never told me?"

     "Yes."

     Priss exited from her dressing room, her eyes red and puffy.  A 
small, brave smile was fixed on her face.  

     "Priss...are you okay?"  A wave of sadness went through Leon as he 
saw the pain in her...

     "Yes.  It's just..."  She rested her head on his chest, her head 
turning to face Nene.  "I'm so tired.  The past two weeks...Linna's 
death...our problems..."

     "Still, you have to admit what happened to Mackie was funny..."  
Nene was desperate to cheer her up.

     It worked a little.  "Poetic justice..."  She raised her head, 
locking eyes with Nene.  

     "Nene, I've decided...we're a family...it's time we admitted that.  
Even more so, after Jusenkyo.  We need to talk to Sylia about it.  She 
refuses to admit things have changed so much."

     "Are you sure?  You saw the look on her face when she thought..."

     "Uh...excuse me, but what are you two talking about?  Don't tell me 
little Nene's a..."  Leon didn't finish.  He didn't have to.  

     "Oh my god...you know?"  Nene couldn't contain her surprise.

     "About Priss?  Sure..."

     Nene just rolled her eyes.  "Oh man...Sylia's gonna kill us when she 
finds out..."

     "Let her.  Things have changed.  It's time we changed with them.  
Come on, Leon.  We need to talk."  Priss grabbed Leon's hand and dragged 
him out the back door...into the pouring rain.     

     "Priss?"  Leon stared, dumbfounded, at the black cat digging her way 
out of Priss' clothes as he absently rubbed the scratch on his hand.  Nene 
stood at the doorway, afraid to approach, looking at the rain as though it 
were battery acid.  He picked up the cat, then looked back at Nene, 
disbelief written all over his face.  His mouth twitched in the attempt to 
form words.  "How...why..."

     Nene cast her eyes to the floor, unable to meet anyone's gaze.  
"We...ran into a Genom bioexperiment."  She raised her head, comforted by 
his compassion for her friend.  She smiled weakly.  "Bring her inside.  
I'll bring her back to herself."

     "Priss...ohmygod..."  Leon numbly stood, still cradling Priss in his 
arms, and walked back inside. 

**************************************************************************** 

     Mackie sat in a corner booth of the restaurant, making an intense 
study of his soda as he wondered at the changes in his...her...being.  
Three months ago, he'd been your average computer geek, lost in his 
virtual world of data units, mecha, and Gpegs.  Then...then _it_ 
happened.  Life forced change.  She changed with it.  It had had 
some...unexpected side effects.  His body was now muscular...developed...
because of her.  He had developed a healthy respect for women...their 
ideas and feelings...knowing those feelings all too well.  He was now far 
more of a man than he'd ever been...and far less.

     "Yen for your thoughts, kiddo."

     He looked up at the source of the voice.  An older woman, about 60 
physically, though still fit, with gray hair tied back in a bun, laughing 
dark eyes, and a warm, friendly smile.  A blue okonomiyaki cook's outfit 
fit over her slender frame.  "Mind if I sit?"

     "Go ahead, Ucchan.  I can use the company."  He then went back to 
his intense study of carbonation release.  

     Ukyou grabbed his hand, trying to get his attention.  "So...you want 
to tell me what's bugging you?"

     Mackie bit his lip for a moment, trying to figure out how to get his 
worries across..."What did you think when you found out about Ranma's 
curse?"

     "Huh?"

     He sighed.  "I mean...were you repulsed by it, fascinated by it, 
indifferent...what?"

     "Hmmm...I never really thought of it like that..." Ukyou sighed, 
then stared at the scared young man before her.  "When I first found out 
about Ranma's...other half, I thought it was cool at first.  Then...then, 
after awhile, I saw how much it was hurting him."  She chewed on her 
thumbnail for a moment, lost in thought, then continued.  "You've heard 
about all of Ranma's fiancees, right?  Personally, I think the reason 
why it continued like it did was because the great Ranma Saotome was 
afraid...afraid that Akane wouldn't accept him with his curse.  He 
loved Akane...but couldn't admit it...even to himself...until that 
Mount Phoenix mess, when everyone thought she'd died.  That...put 
things into perspective for him."

     "So...you weren't turned off by it?"

     She laughed for a moment.  "Turned off?  Heck, no...geez, Mackie, 
you're as bad as he was.  And..." a secretive smile crept up on her 
face, "...if you don't watch it, you'll make the same mistake he did."

     "Huh?"

     "Oh dear...more customers.  Konatsu's gonna need help...I'll see 
you later, Mackie."  She winked once at him.  "Oh, and Mackie...good 
luck."  She then leapt out of the booth and joined her husband 
behind the grill, kissing Konatsu on the cheek as she returned.  

     "What's with her today?" Mackie thought, bewildered at Ukyou's 
exit.  

     Then he saw...       

     Nodoka stood at the doorway of the restaurant, looking very 
different from the martial arts instructor he knew.  Her pigtail was 
undone, allowing the jet-black hair to flow freely around her.  She had 
put on some makeup, accentuating her already exquisite features.  A 
stunning black evening dress flowed over her small frame.  The overall 
effect was (literally, for Mackie) breathtaking.  His jaw dropped to the 
floor, the only sound in his ears the thundering of his own heartbeat.  
She walked over to him, flashed a warm smile, and said one word:  
"Hello..."

     "Uh...hello."  Somehow, Mackie had found the ability to speak.

     "So...mind if I join you?"  Those blue eyes seemed to swallow him 
whole...

     "Um...sure.  Take a seat." he stammered, unable to take his eyes off 
of her.  "So...what are you dressed up for?"

     "Do you like it?  I...I normally don't dress up like this."  She 
blushed slightly.  

     "YES!  I mean...you look stunning."

     "Thank you, Mackie."  She reached across the table and kissed him 
seductively on the cheek.  

     Mackie didn't remember anything after that.  

***************************************************************************

     The ruins of the Lady's 633 store had been cold for months now, its 
fires long since dead, its charcoal gray exterior adding to the skeletal 
gloom of MegaTokyo.  It stood, untouched from its final position, as 
nobody had bothered to claim the property or to repair the damages...
Like a small ghost-town it stood, a reminder that life is fleeting and 
short...and often has its surprises.  The rain added to the gloom 
permeating the atmosphere, giving a solitary message to all who gazed 
upon her:  Death resided here.

     Two figures stood in silence outside the building, their forms 
hidden by cloaks blowing in the wind, taking in the the ruins of the 
building without a whisper passed.  The larger of the two turned to the 
other and removed the hood from his cloak, revealing a long, rough face 
contorted by sorrow.  Tears formed in his sky-blue eyes, only to be 
washed away by the rain.  His soft baritone voice cracked as he spoke to 
his companion, still shielded from the rain:

     "Come on.  Let's go."

***************************************************************************

End part 3

***************************************************************************


Nightelf (nwl9354@tam2000.tamu.edu) presents...

The Circe Project 

Part 4

Bubblegum Crisis characters created by Kenichi Sonoda
Ranma 1/2 characters created by Rumiko Takahashi
Nodoka Hibiki created by me, with serious Ranma 1/2 influences.

Don't do anything stupid with this fanfic without the author's 
permission.  If you want to, ask.  I'm not unreasonable...usually.

Well, let's have some fun here...

***************************************************************************

     Nene sipped her beer at the Hot Legs bar as Priss performed her act, 
her mind absorbed by thoughts of her life since donning the pink and 
purple armor of a Saber.  In her travels, she had met the best of 
humanity and its worst, gone through hell and back several times over, 
lost everything, and gained it back.  She had watched a boy change 
magically into a woman, then just as magically into a _man_.  She had 
watched the last moments of a friend, cried as the tape showed her dance 
through fire one final time, then fall to earth, broken.  She had seen a 
friend lose her humanity, be reduced to the level of an animal, only to 
gain her humanity back, with interest.  Another, who had lost her 
humanity years ago with the death of her father, gained it back...with 
the temporary loss of her family.

     The family had expanded over the past few months, from four up to 
seven.  Sylia, as always, was the matriarch of the clan, the dark 
guardian in blue and white.  Ranma, Nodoka's grandfather, had slipped 
into the patriarchal role, guiding and training the others for the return 
into the night.  Nodoka...Nodoka was the new fire dancer, her moves a 
blur against the clumsy mass of MegaTokyo.  Priss was the hammer, the 
punisher in blue.  Mackie...Mackie was duality, man and woman, fighter 
and technician...Then there was her.  Nene, the baby of the group, the 
wicked witch of the computers and radio waves. 

     Tonight...tonight would be the return.  Sylia would be revealing the 
new suits tonight...waterproof, this time.  She looked down at her hands, 
a shudder coursing through her as she imagined paws...God, how could she 
live like this?  Watching for rain, being extremely careful with every 
drink in her hand...Who could ever care for her like this?  Priss had 
Leon.  Mackie and Nodoka were an item now.  Who was there for her?  She 
started crying, sobbing at the wreckage of her life.

     "What's wrong?"

     She turned around to face the source of the voice.  A young man, 
clothed in black Mandarin-style clothing like Ranma tended to prefer, 
stood before her, his sky-blue eyes showing a world of compassion.  He 
had a rough, weatherbeaten face framed by long, flowing black hair.  He 
was muscular, in a wiry sort of way.  Nene dried her eyes and tried her 
best to smile.  

     "It's...it's nothing."

     He shook his head slowly.  "Don't lie to me.  People don't cry over 
nothing."  He sat down next to her, taking one of her shaking hands into 
his.  "Do...do you want to talk about it?"    

     "N-Not right now."  She looked him over, then glanced at the dance 
floor.  "Do you want to dance?"

     "I dunno....I can't dance very well..."

     "Please?"  She flashed the most pleading look she could think of at 
him.  

     The stranger looked at the floor for a moment, then reluctantly 
agreed.  He stood, offered her his hand in a genteel manner, and 
led her onto the dance floor.  He wrapped his arms around her neck, 
then quickly shifted them down to her waist.  

     "Thank God Priss is singing a ballad", Nene thought, trying to 
absorb herself into him.  She rested her head on his chest, taking 
comfort in the feel of his warm skin...his soft heartbeat...The young man 
looked extremely uncomfortable for a moment, then moved a shaking arm to 
the top of Nene's head.  The two melted into each other...

     *beep..beep..beep..beep..beep*   

     "Damn.  Not now...please not now..."

     Nene raised her head and looked into his eyes.  He was so 
beautiful...his soft, baby-blue eyes would haunt her dreams for weeks...

     "I'm sorry.  I have to go."

     His voice was shaking.  "I...I know.  Be careful out there."

     "Huh?  Uh...what's your name?"

     The young man smiled gently, then turned to walk away.  "Don't 
worry, Nene.  I know where to find you."  He then disappeared in the 
crowd. 

     Nene stared for a few seconds at the empty space where he had been, 
then turned to walk away.  The night was calling her, and it was time for 
her to answer.

**************************************************************************

     A few minutes later, the subject of Nene's dreams sat at a table, 
numb, watching the dancers as they moved, overcome with shock from the 
events that had just transpired.  He mumbled to himself, his thoughts too 
powerful to be contained in his head.

     "She...she tried to hit on me...and...and...Ohgod, I can't deal with 
this...I can't return like this..."

     "What wrong?"

     He looked over to find an old woman, in her mid-fifties, with 
purple-streaked gray hair, predator's eyes, and a muscular build.  She 
stared at him curiously.

     "I...I saw an old friend...Nene...and she...wanted me.  I...I didn't 
know what to do.  Now she's gone...to do her duty..."

     "Follow her."

     "Huh?"

     "You hear me.  Follow her.  I come."

     "I dunno...They may not want me anymore."

     She smiled at her pupil's lack of faith.  "Trust me.  You good 
fighter now.  They want."

*************************************************************************

     Everyone had a little bit of anxiety inside of Raven's Garage.  
Months of training, of research, of soul-searching...finally some results 
were coming in.  No more waiting, no more doubting, just fire and 
metal... 

     The Knight Sabers were returning, to take back the night.  

     The family was there, all seven of them, their eyes occasionally 
glancing over the modules like children eyeing the presents under a 
Christmas tree.  Sylia, clad in a slightly modified bodysuit (as the 
other Sabers were), was looking over the suits, making last-minute 
checks.  Mackie and Nodoka were together, holding hands, comfortable 
despite his being in girl-form.  Priss and Leon were making small talk in 
the corner, while Ranma just watched in contemplative silence.  
Nene...Nene stood by herself, trying to hold the feeling of a warm 
heartbeat...

     A loud warning bell went off, snapping the group to attention.  
They all crowded around Sylia, who stationed herself at one of the 
monitors.  

     *****     SECURITY ALERT 073     *****     

     The monitor then showed a strange sight:  A young man was banging at 
the doors while an older woman stood, watching.  A commotion came from 
the group as they looked at the unlikely pair.

     "What's with them?"
     "Gee, he's pissed..."
     "Hey, it's him..."
     "They know about us..."
     "Shampoo?!?"

     "One at a time, one at a time..."  Sylia raised her hand for 
silence.  "Does anyone recognize any of them?"

     Nene and Ranma raised their hands.

     Nene sighed.  "He's this guy I met at Hot Legs earlier tonight.  He 
was so..."

     "Ranma?"

     Ranma frowned thoughtfully.  "Well...It has been over thirty 
years...and I could be mistaken...but the woman looks like an old friend 
of mine."

     "Okay.  You two go down there and talk to them.  We'll wait."

**************************************************************************

     "Open up!  I know you're in there!  Open up, dammit!"  The young man 
was getting hoarse as he banged his fists against the doors.

     "You sure this is right place?"

     He looked up at her, the fire in his eyes unmistakeable.  "Of course 
it-"

     *CRASH*

     He stared, wide-eyed, at what...had been...the door.  It was just 
gone, with small pieces of rubble lying here and there.  "Been long time I 
no do that," she said contentedly.  They walked through the hole and out of
the cloud of debris.  

     "Shampoo?"

     The old woman stiffened at the sound of her name.  She stared, 
disbelieving, at the man before her.  "Ranma?  That you, Ranma?"

     "Waitasec..._this_ is the Ranma you've been telling me about?"

     "I see you still know how to make an entrance.  What are you doing 
here?"

     "I bring her home."  She gestured to the man next to her.

     Nene begged to differ.  "Her?!?  Trust me, this is a guy."

     The young man smiled as he turned to Nene.  "Pardon me, Nene, but 
could you bring me some hot water?"

     "Sure...what do..."  Realization hit her.  "...ohmygod...linna?"

     "Mm-hmm."

     "So...Ranma...why you here?"

     Nene reached a shaking hand toward the comm panel.  "Uh...Sylia...
you'd better get down here.  Now."

***************************************************************************

     The group sat around in an uncomfortable silence in the main room 
above Raven's Garage, snatching glances at each other or looking down at 
the floor in embarassment.  Nobody knew what to say...Shampoo glanced 
around, and noticed the obvious:

     "So...where Akane?"

     Ranma shook his head.  "She's...she's gone."  Shampoo looked ready 
to ask further, but thought better of it when she saw the look in his 
eyes..."Mousse?"

     This time it was her turn to mourn.  "Genom..."  Ranma held up a hand, 
indicating he didn't need to hear any more.  

     Nene shot a wary glance at a now-female Linna.  "What happened to you?"

     Linna sighed.  "It's rather difficult to explain...I got dunked in 
Nannichuan...my suit got messed up...I fell.  Shampoo found me, then 
started to train me.  I am now her heir, whatever that means."

     Ranma just rolled his eyes.  "Oboy...Have you learned the Kashuu 
Tenshin Amaguriken yet?"

     Linna's face darkened.  "Yes...that purple-haired witch kept me in 
guy-form for three weeks...By the way, what happened while I was gone?  
And who are these two?" she asked, gesturing to Mackie and Nodoka.

     Sylia tried to repress her laughter.  "Well...the one with the 
pigtail's Nodoka Hibiki, Ranma's granddaughter.  The other one...(giggle)
well...you remember how Mackie always liked to look at girls?"

     Linna looked at Mackie, realizing.  "Yes...ohmygod...(giggle) Mackie?"

     "Hey, I wouldn't laugh too loud, Linna.  Until you showed up, Nene 
was having fantasies about you."

     "Was not!"

     "Okay, enough...Shall we open the hardsuits?"

     Linna's eyes went wide at this.  They had gone on without her... 
"The...hardsuits?"

     Sylia smiled.  "Don't worry, Linna.  I built one for you, just in 
case."

     Sylia went to a console, where she typed a few commands.  The modules 
opened with a hiss, revealing the suits inside.  The first four were 
easily recognizeable: Sylia's blue-and-white, Priss' blue with pink 
pinstripes, Linna's lime-green suit, and Nene's red and pink outfit.
The last two were new designs.  One was red, with black pinstripes.  The
overall design was for agility, with slightly less armor thickness than 
usual, but with far more flexibility and maneuverability.  This was 
designed for a fast, agile warrior...like Nodoka.  The other was 
matblack, with nonreflective paint.  The overall body design was similar 
to Sylia's, with the small wings in back, though it had additional radio 
and computer equipment in it.  This was for a good fighter who happened 
to be a good computer and radio operator...like Mackie.  The six women 
quickly put the hardsuits on, eager to test them out and take them into 
battle.  Sylia turned to look at the group, a tear forming in her eye.  
She'd waited a long time to say this...

     "Knight Sabers...Sanjo!"

************************************************************************

For those who've read this before, I've fixed a few of the glaring 
mistakes, and that's about it.  Leon is staying right where he is.  
However, Nodoka is no longer Ranma's grandfather.  (The ML will 
understand.)  Also, Nene's suit has been changed to the more modern red 
and pink, rather than the pink and purple of the early parts of the 
series.

As for Nodoka...I know she seems rather two-dimensional right now.  In 
the previous stories, I've been primarily concentrating on the old 
Sabers, and how the curse has affected them.  Nodoka will be developed 
more in future chapters, as the new Sabers take on some new enemies...and 
some old ones.

Thanks to Kenichi Sonoda and Rumiko Takahashi...for their amazing 
imaginations. 
Thanks to the folks on the ML and all those who have sent their comments.
Thanks to my roommate, Doug, for the use of his computer.

Take care, all.  

Nicholas W. Leifker
"Nightelf"
nwl9354@tam2000.tamu.edu
May 8, 1996