Eric: waahoo we made it to part II of our review of

                                ______


"Sir... Sir, I tried that... Sir...."

Nabiki sat in the lunchroom at the UCF corporation, nibbling at
the sandwich she had bought, trying to ignore all the noise. She hoped
she could get home soon. Her new investments would pay off, but only if
she played it just right.

It had been Professor Mason's brilliant idea to take the class
to UCF for a field trip. It was so that they could see how a real world
business really works, he had said. He evidently hadn't realized that
the company wasn't about to tell anything really important to a bunch

of

students. So all they got was a lot of speeches on how they were a
dynamic company, with lots of opportunities for dynamic team players
with positive attitudes.

A blond-haired man in an expensive-looking suit next to Nabiki
spoke into a cellular phone. "That's correct, sir. The strikers still
haven't changed their demands. Yes, sir. We're doing everything we

can."

Eric: grrr... god she's going to take advantage of the situation and
screw the strikers... i just know it.

*snip*

If only the man on the cellular phone would shut up so she could
think. "Sir, we did bring in scabs. But we had to bus them in from New
Pudsey. By the time we got them there, and got them past the strikers,

Eric: New Pudsey?!

Sarah: is that west of West Chester

half the work day was gone."

*snip*

"Sir, we're doing everything we can, but it looks like we may
lose this one."

Nabiki turned to the man. "Look, it's simple!" she said
impatiently. "You rent trailers and have the scabs sleep on the
premises. Now would you please be a little quieter so I can think?!"

Eric: Grrrrr..... screw good honest people.  Mental note, cancel date
with Nabiki Tendo.

She stopped, as she noticed several other people turn their eyes
toward her. *Should've gotten him to pay you first,* an inner voice
said. She went nonchalantly back to eating her sandwich. She could
faintly hear the voice on the other end of the phone, asking who that
had been just now.

Later that night, memories of what she had done haunted her
dreams. Thoughts of people who were desperate for a little more money,
or health coverage for their children, and were now not going to get

it,

thanks to her.

Eric: thats right you heartless monster.

As a child, Mother had called Nabiki "too clever for her own
good." It was meant as a compliment, of course. But she later found out
that there was more truth in it than mother had known.

It was her first year of Junior High school, and she had already
started making a little money on the side. She sold the phone number of
Seiuchi Saruko to every boy in school. Saruko was the captain of the

Sarah: just like the good times virus.  It gives your new phone number
to your ex girlfriend

girls' volleyball team, and had been one of the first girls in school

to

develop really large breasts. That she hated boys even worse than Akane
did hadn't concerned her suitors much. That she was even more violent
than Akane hadn't concerned Nabiki much. After all, Tendo Nabiki was a
clever girl, so if she got into trouble, she'd be able to figure out

how

to handle it.

Saruko happened to meet her one day on the way home from school.
There was no threat that Nabiki could use against her, no running away
or talking her out of it. On that say, Tendo Nabiki did the only thing
she could: she took a beating.

Eric: ha good for her!

Sarah: condoning violence against women Eric?

Eric: umm now...

Sarah: *flashes green and power blasts Eric*  Violence against imbeciles
is another thing.

It was a lesson learned: no matter how smart you are, some
situations don't have solutions. Sometimes there's no way out.

Eric: isnt that right Kevin Costner.

Since then, she'd always been careful about what she took from
whom. She'd taken money from Kuno-chan, who had more than he knew what
to do with anyway; and Ranma, who never seemed to have any use for it
himself. She'd sold pictures of Akane, whom she was absolutely certain
wouldn't attack a non-fighter who hadn't attacked her first, and who

had


Sarah: ahh but then your taking advantage... tsk...

Ranma to take her frustrations out on anyway. It was all penny-ante
stuff, never anything that could've caused anyone any real hardship.

Sarah: unless you consider what Kuno had done with those pictures.

Until now. And as she lay on her bed, she kept one sleepy eye on
the dorm room's door, half-expecting the strikers to break it down.
*That's her! Let's get her!* And maybe she would deserve it.

She didn't sleep well that night.

Eric: good.

                                ______


"I'm Greg Jackson." He shook her hand. "I've been anxious to
meet you, Ms. Tendo." Jackson was a slightly thin middle-aged man, with
black hair that was balding on top.

Nabiki leaned back in the big comfortable chair. The office was
bigger than her whole dorm room. She kept her expression carefully
neutral, letting him make his entire piece before her reaction.

Jackson sipped from a *World's Greatest Dad* coffee mug; the
cartoon face molded into the side of the mug was actually a fairly good
likeness for him. "The division that I'm head of functions as a sort of
designated problem solving team. When someone at UCF needs a little
extra help in handling a situation, whatever it is, they can call us."

Nabiki stared at Jackson quietly, not letting on that she
already knew perfectly well what he did. She wasn't one to go into an
important business deal without doing her homework first. Through
conversations and company records, she had built a pretty good picture
of who Gregory T. Jackson really was. He had a history of reprimanding
his staff as if they were elementary school children, for unimportant
procedural things, or for "overstepping their authority" -- acting
without checking with him first. It painted him as the type of person
who was insecure about his own worth, afraid deep down that people

could

get along perfectly well without him. Which they usually could.

Eric: yep shes a witch.


*snip*

Someday it would have a head, and its name would be Tendo
Nabiki. That was her dream, and someday she would make it a reality.
Someday she would get into a position of real power and influence, and
make sure that things were done right. No more pumping toxic waste into
the air and water. No more forcing people to waste their lives working
in sweatshops building junk that no one would even want if not for the
persuasion of advertising.

Eric: pop quiz hot shot: whats television?

Sarah: commercials with television programs interspersed?

Eric: yep

It was staggering even to think of; but Tendo Nabiki was as good
as what she did as Saotome Ranma was at fighting. If anyone could do

it,

she could. And someone had to.

Sarah: and youre just as arrogant.

                                ______


Nabiki set the plate down on the picnic table and wiped her face
with her napkin. She leaned back, her stomach humming with contentment.

"So, is there some special young man in your life?" Kasumi
asked, half-teasingly.

"Nope. I know a lot of boys, but none of them could be called

Eric: boys?  sheez, intersting use of terminology.

'special.'" Nabiki smirked. "How about you? Y'know, there was a time
when I'd have bet almost anything that you'd be married with at least
four kids by now."

"I would've too." For an instant, Kasumi's smile faded into a
pensive, almost melancholy stare. Then her usual cheerfulness resumed.
"But life takes some strange turns sometimes."

"Yeah, that's sure true. Don't tell anyone, by the way."

"Don't tell what?"

"That I made a losing bet. It'd ruin my reputation." Both
sisters grinned, and laughed as if they were back in elementary school.

Eric: see i bet you she spends whole weekends in AC

*snip*

"There's an ancient technique, known only to myself and a few
others. It involves summoning a powerful fighting spirit, and binding

it

to a physical object. In this case, the robes wear.

Eric: the robes <I> wear

"You mean...."

"I mean that I don't fight, my clothes do."

"Oh! I've seen something like that before!" Kasumi remembered
how Father brought back the battle gi from the Monkey Mountain Temple,
and all the terrible things that happened because of it. "But I think
that it must have been cursed. It made Ranma and Akane both do the most
dreadful things to each other. Are you sure that yours is safe?"

"Positive. I made it myself." Kaede smiled proudly. "Ranma and
Akane must have gotten a suit that was animated for someone else.

That's

asking for trouble. The only way to get a reliable one is to make your
own like I did, or at least have someone make it specifically for you.
Someday you'll be able to make one for yourself."

"I'm not sure I'd want to." Kasumi thought back to all of those
times people had sought out Ranma to attack him. Being good at fighting
had its drawbacks.

The man dressed in black moaned, attracting the two women's
attention as he began to move. Kaede and Kasumi bent down, kneeling on
opposite sides of the man. Kaede reached over and removed his mask.
Kasumi gaped in disbelief at the familiar face.

"Doctor Tofu?" Kasumi struggled for something to say. "You're a
ninja now?"

"Kasumi, please let me explain!" Tofu said desperately as he
struggled to his feet.

"Go ahead, young man," Kaede said. "And it had better be good."

Kasumi just stared wide-eyed at the doctor, waiting to see what
he would say. Despite his odd behavior, she really couldn't believe

that

an old friend like him would ever mean her harm.

"Kasumi, look at me!" Tofu said. "I'm finally cured! Remember
how I always used to act around you? I can finally stand right next to
you now and still be normal!"

Eric: oh oh this is going to be painful... *closes his eyes* wake me
when its over.

Sarah: wimp.

"That's wonderful, Doctor. But why did you...."

"I had to test myself. I had to see whether I was really better.
If not, I would've left without you knowing that I was here. I needed

to

be sure before I saw you again."

"Why was that, Doctor?" Kasumi asked, her voice blase, as if it
were a simple matter-of-fact question. She didn't want to either
encourage or discourage him. Whether or not there was still any chance
of anything coming from it, she wanted him to say whatever he had to
say, and he had to decide that on his own.

"Kasumi, I have something to ask you. Something important.
Will-- will you--"

Something imperceptible floated at the edge of Kasumi's senses;
a feeling that she was suddenly being watched by something she couldn't
quite focus on. Kaede seemed to notice it too. Her gaze slowly began to
scan the darkened courtyard, fixing on something Kasumi couldn't see.

Sarah: oh wake up its over, its just not meant to be apparently.

Eric: humm?  Oh... destiny type of thing huh?

*snip*

"Yes. I know," Kasumi replied. "I know that I couldn't have
accepted, but...." It would've been so good just to have been asked.
Just to know that she was worth enough to him that he could overcome
whatever personal demons of his were getting in the way. Then, if he
were willing to wait for her, they could be married someday, after her
training was over.

"You know that I would not keep you here against your will." She
smirked. "Surely a handsome, if eccentric, young doctor would be a
better companion than an old woman?"

"It doesn't matter. I'm here for a reason. Mother told me that.
She's trusting me to do what needs to be done. I can't dishonor that. A
mother's trust. There's nothing more important than that." She smiled

at

Kaede, then turned to walk into the temple.

Sarah: there you go again, doing it because someone else thinks it for
you.

*snip*

                                ______


"I very much appreciate your coming to work for us, Ms. Tendo,"
Jackson said. "I'm enthused to have an outstanding young person such as
yourself joining my staff."

"Thank you, sir." Had it been someone else, Nabiki would have
told him to stop wasting her time and just tell her what he wanted her
to do. But she needed to put up with Jackson, at least for now.

Sarah: what a sweet young girl.

"I've got your first assignment right here." He took a manila
folder from his desktop and handed it to Nabiki. "There's a factory
about a half-hour west of town where they make candy bars. 'Sweet
rewards,' they're called. They're quite popular, as I understand. My
kids are always after me to buy them some."

Sarah: isnt that hershey?

Eric: i think so, Hershey is about 2 hours away coincidentally.  *shrug*

"Don't know it," Nabiki said. "Never been much for sweets."

"UCF wants to buy out their company," Jackson continued, "but it
seems that Conglomco had the same idea that we did. The factory owner

is

negotiating with them now, and apparently won't listen to any
counter-offer from us."

Eric: its always a problem.

"So you want me to get this factory owner to change his mind,
and sell out to you instead of your competitor?"

"That's exactly what I'd like you to do."

Piece of cake, she thought. She smiled as she stood up. "I hope
I'll be able to come to you for help and advice on this, Mr. Jackson."

She laughed at what she had just said as she left Jackson's
office; it was called diplomacy, otherwise known as a lie through the
teeth. The truth was, Nabiki had never really benefited much from
anyone's "help and advice." Everything good in her life, every bit of
progress that she had ever made, had been made by her and her alone.

She laughed when she thought of all the people she had left
behind in Nerima. They were some of the best martial artists in the
world. Collectively they could probably out-fight an army. But they
always wasted all of their power and skill on useless, never-ending
arguments -- things that they could've settled anytime just by being
honest about their feelings toward one another.

For all the magic and all the superhuman strength that her
friends possessed, it would be Tendo Nabiki who would go on to
greatness. Tendo Nabiki, who knew what the real power in this modern
world was. Money. With it, someday she would be able to set things

right

in this idiotic world.

Sarah: lofty plans, ones that sound strangely diabolical.

But she had to get into a position of power first. And for now,
that would start with a phone call to a certain factory owner.

                                ______

*snip*

                                ______


"Nice place you picked here, Naniki."

The Gold Sovereign was one of Philadelphia's more expensive

Eric: i suppose it ranks right up there with TGIF

restaurants.  Waiters in dinner jackets delivered silver platters onto
softly lit white-clothed tables. A window occupied an entire wall,
giving a splendid view of the city lights. A pianist played in the
background.

Sarah: philly has a view?

Eric: well sort of...

"That's Nabiki, Charlie. And why not go for the best, I always
say." *Especially when I won't be the one paying,* she added mentally.
"Better than your idea of us going to a football game."

Sarah: and as we all know Philly has a great football team.

"Don't like sports? I thought everybody did." Charles Brandon

Eric: boy this guy is clueless.

was a tall, muscular man who looked to be in his upper twenties. Neatly
styled jet black hair framed a youthful face with large brown eyes. His
only unattractive feature was an unusually prominent forehead.

Sarah: i'm perfect except for my giant forehead.

"I grew up in a family of martial artists. I've seen enough
pointless physical competition to last a lifetime. Why on Earth should

I

care which group of people are better at getting a ball across a

field?"

"Well, a lot of us do." He paused, probably trying to think of a
better response. "For someone who says she doesn't care about football,
you picked a funny way to decide who's going to pay for dinner."

Sarah: what she tacked you?

"The bet still stands, unless you want to back out. The envelope
I gave you has my predictions for the winners of all of today's games.
If I'm wrong on any of them, I pay, otherwise you do."

Eric: humm.... you know i never even get half on those things.

"Sounds good to me. I don't think even the biggest football fan
could win that bet. They must not be teaching you right at that

business

school of yours, Nabiki."

"Says the junior executive himself. What's your big
responsibility over at Conglomco, Chuck? Arranging desks?" she asked
teasingly.

"Only my own. Actually, I'm involved in a deal that'll make the
top dogs themselves take notice of me." He smiled self-approvingly.
"Ever hear of 'Sweet Rewards?'"

"The candy bar?"

"Yep. I'm nearly finished negotiating the purchase of the
company for Conglomco."

"What's so great about a candy company?" Nabiki asked, feeling
like the angler about to land the big one.

"It's perfect. A debt-free company with hundreds of millions in
saleable assets. Why, the pension fund alone...."

Nabiki interrupted him with a cold, hard stare. "You're planning
to shut down the factory?" she said, with a touch of feigned
indignation.

"Of course. Don't worry, you'll still be able to buy your candy
bars. We're shipping the operation to Mexico. Those people down there
will work for just a few dollars a day."

Eric: sheez just heap indignation upon indignation on me.  Problem
taking advantage of my relatives... go get em Sarah.

Sarah: ummm... no.

"Have you ever considered that the owner of the factory might
not *want* it closed down?"

Brandon laughed. "The old college idealism. Welcome to the
twenty-first century, Nabini. Like I always say, it's the bottom line
that matters. That's the only thing that's important, how much we're
paying. Old man Probright knows that, otherwise he never could've
succeeded in business."

Eric: Grrrrr i really hate the business elite.  MORONS... i hates em...
kill em all... screw lawyers these people are better off dead.

"If you say so, Chuck. The only thing that's important? You
really believe that?"

"Yup. You better learn it too, if you want to be any good at
this game."

The waiter approached the table. "Was everything all right
tonight?" The two patrons nodded. "Thank you, please visit us again
soon." He laid the check on the table.

Charles tore open the envelope that Nabiki had given him, and
his eyes scanned over the paper inside. It read: *The winners of

today's

games will be the team owners. They get to pocket the ticket money.
After all, the bottom line is all that matters, right, Charlie?*

Eric: hahahah...

Sarah: ha he truly is an idiot.

He reached into his wallet and pulled out his credit card.

Sarah: seems vaguely anti climatic

                                ______


"Excellent work, Ms. Tendo," Jackson said. "I don't know how you
managed to convince him, but Probright is now more than willing to
listen to our offers."

Nabiki smiled. "Just a little friendly persuasion." Actually,
one cassette tape through the mail is all it had taken. Good ol' Chuck
never suspected that he was being recorded. He also evidently couldn't
conceive of the fact that some people weren't as shallow as he was --
that there were some things that some people wouldn't do for money.

"Well, in any case, they're very happy about this upstairs.
They've already got a spot in Reynosa lined up to move the operation

to,

and they're working on how to best liquidate the pension fund."

Sarah: yeah didnt you see that coming, for a girl who waNts to
eventually head up the world you seem remarkably short sighted.

Oops. Nabiki mentally kicked herself. Hadn't even considered
that. How could she be so smart and yet so stupid? Or had it just been

a

case of willful blindness? Had she deliberately overlooked the possible
consequences of her actions?

"Something wrong?" Jackson asked.

"Ah... I was just wondering why Probright isn't insisting on a
legal promise not to shut down his company."

"Oh, he is. But our lawyers assure us that there are enough
loopholes in the agreement he's proposing that it won't inconvenience

us

much. It's too bad about the people who work at that factory; still,

I'm

sure someone else will hire them."

Eric: ahh its always nice to be left on the street, here's a guy that
deserves to be booted out.  I hope when Nabiki takes over this job,
she'll say I'm sure someone will hire you.

*snip*

                                ______


Nabiki returned to the picnic area to find Kasumi sitting
cross-legged under a tree, quietly staring blankly ahead. She knelt
down, wondering whether it would be a bad idea to disturb her sister.

Abruptly, Kasumi's gaze focused, as she smiled. "Hello, Nabiki.
It's so good to see you again after all this time."

Eric: uh huh... awfully reptitive.

Nabiki stared at her sister through her sunglasses. "I was only
in the bathroom five minutes, Kasumi."

*snip*

AUTHOR'S SPAM: Somehow this ended up being the longest chapter
of the series -- both in terms of size, and in terms of how long it

took

to get the thing written. How did it happen? Dunno. I just work here.

:)

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this story. Whether you did or not, I'd
like to hear from any of you who've made it this far.

An answer to the oft-asked "What does UCF stand for?" can be
found on George Carlin's "An Evening With Wally Londo". You don't need
to know this for the story, of course -- for our purposes, UCF is just

a

generic multinational corporation.

NEXT: Saotome Ranma finishes up the Preludes!

Eric: so why didja pick Philly?  its not an especially magnificent city,
theres really not much here, i suppose cuz i live here i'm a little
biased about the geographical aspects of it.  A huge tower in philly
would definitely stand out.

Sarah: a couple of points on the characterization, Truly Kasumi is an
interesting character, unfortunately Nabiki seems rather flat.  She
hasnt changed one bit and most of the characters in your stories seem to
have gone through some significant changes.  nabiki is just the same old
nabiki, except you gave her a rather inane dream.  Also its rather
amusing on one point because to her the bottomline is all that matters
to her as well.  The ends justify the means.

Eric: i'm forced to agree her as well, Nabiki is dull she hasnt changed,
she never learns her lessons even being beat up when she was young hasnt
changed her one bit.  Also shes dull cuz shes too perfect in her own
world, no rivals, no one to match her.  In her you have created a truly
contemptible character.  Hell i dont even dislike her, i just think shes
contemptible.

Sarah: kasumi is still an interesting side story and she has some depth,
although i'm curious about the part on free will.  and i wonder if thats
an aspect of the story you intended or just accidentally stumbled
across.  Even she says to Nabiki that she seems honor bound to do it and
wouldnt want to disappoint her mother.

Eric: bundling these two characters together seems like a good idea.
Though Nabiki could probably stand a bit more development.  *shrug*
Overall its a good story with Kasumi, unfortunately the Nabiki part
comes up short.

Sarah: well thanks for letting us rant and rave about Philly anyways.
Later!