Subject: Re: [FFML] [fanfic][ranma][LIME] The Death of a Dream - Part 3
From: Scott Jamison
Date: 8/1/1998, 11:13 AM
To: Coutuva
CC: fanfic@fanfic.com



On Tue, 28 Jul 1998, Coutuva wrote:

As promised, here's Part Three.  I'll be releasing
so noted....

The Death of a Dream - Part 3                   <WARNING - LIME>
----------------------------------------------------------------
And this time, he *means* the warning...

	It was cold and dreary in the streets of Nerima, the
morning atmosphere matching closely the state of Hitomi's heart.
Before her were the gates to the Tendou Dojo, and beyond them the
first steps to the 'new future' Joy had spoken of before she
disappeared.
Thus avoiding actually explaining anything.

	She looked at the doors sadly, knowing that she had to
open them to begin the journey preordained for her, but something
kept her from moving.  Something deep inside her soul; an emptiness
the likes of which she had never experienced before.
uhoh.
	After returning to the remains of her house to check on
Shampoo, and then finding the Amazon and most all of her personal
effects missing, she had become even more depressed than she had
already been.  Suddenly, she faced the prospect of life without
both the woman she loved and her best friend, which left her feeling
lost, sad, and terribly, painfully alone.
Wait a minute, so where did she and Joy go between the time they 
disappeared, Joy saying they were going to Tokyo, and the time Hitomi 
returned to see how Shampoo was doing?  It obviously was at least an 
hour... 

 > 	Joy had sent her on ahead, stating that she needed to
consult with higher-ups about some details, and had instructed her
Yeah, right....
	Hitomi looked up at her abruptly, about to issue a suitable
epithet.  As soon as she made eye contact however, a strange feeling
swept over her.  It felt almost like being wrapped in a big, comfy
blanket, bringing with it a great sense of peace and contentment.
The sensation seemed to literally emanate from the woman before her,
drawing her like a moth to a flame.
Awww....

	Her lower lip starting to tremble, she rose slowly and
stepped right up to the shocked Kasumi, then looked up at her with
reddened, shimmering eyes.  "Okaasan... " she breathed in a soft,
?  As far as we know, Hitomi never had a mother.  If she felt attracted 
to anyone as a mother, wouldn't it be Nodoka?


	"You're kidding me... destroyed?  When?  Hmm... Well, keep
it under surveillance anyway.  I want to be sure - <beep>  Kuso...
wait a minute,"  Nabiki cursed, lifting the cell away from her ear
and stabbing the send button.  "Hai.  What?!?  Where is she now?
Masaka...!  Get some more bodies and keep that place buttoned down!
If someone so much as changes their mind, I want to know about it!
Great work Tanaka-san... you just bought yourself a raise.  Ja,"
she smiled, closing the phone with a wicked giggle.
	Just as she put it down to look up another number, it
trilled insistantly, reminding her of her other call.  Snatching it
from the desk, she flipped it open sheepishly.  "Gomen... I just
found out that she's here in Tokyo, so stay with that place for
about another week, and see if the girlfriend or the Amazon show up
again.  If nothing happens, cut back to occasional checkups.  Yeah,
that's it.  Ja,"  she stated, again closing the phone quickly.

Hmm...presumably Nabiki started surveilling the Toronto address again 
when Shampoo bought information on Kikyo...and then never checked in 
again.  (We know she wasn't having the place watched between the return 
of Ranma and then, because she was surprised to learn where Shampoo 
was.)  

	Digging out her little black electronic organizer, she
scanned through it to find a number she hadn't used in over a year,
and then wasted no time in punching it into her phone.
	She could barely contain her excitement as she waited for
the call to go through, hardly able to believe how things were
falling into place.  When the other end picked up, her face
darkened momentarily as she listened to the greeting.
	"Yeah, Yeah... save the sales pitch, koneko... I need to
talk to 'her majesty' pronto.  Tell her it's Kuno-san," she
droned, then rolled her eyes as the hold music came on.
Fortunately for her sanity, she didn't have to wait long.
	"Ahh... Konnichiwa.  I have a matter... oh, that figures.
How soon?  Good, I'll be here.  Ja,"  she smirked, hanging up the
phone.  Shaking her head bemusedly, she pushed a button on her desk
console and waited for a response.
Wonder who she was talking to....

	"Yes, mistress.  I can amuse your husband, and mistress
Kodachi is away today.  You will not be disturbed," he replied
emphatically, anxious to keep the only member of the household
that treated him like a person happy.
See, Nabiki isn't so bad.

        "Arigato, Sasuke.  Your assistance is invaluable," she
noted, smiling.
        "I can only hope, mistress Nabiki.  Thank you very kindly,"
he stated, the tone of his voice bespeaking the truth of his words.
Nabiki secretly felt sorry for the hapless ninja, and made it a
point to reward his work for her well, but discreetly.  She knew
it would only make his life more miserable if either of the Kuno
siblings had a clue about that practice.
Oh dear.
	Putting such thoughts aside for the moment, she rose from
her desk and walked to a filing cabinet a few feet away, there to
take down a framed picture of herself and her sisters from days
gone by.  Touching her younger sister's face with her finger, her
face darkened a bit as she thought about her next move.
	"I promise you imotouchan... you'll have him back,"  she
whispered, evenly.
  
Umm, but she knows Akane does have Ranma back, for all intents and 
purposes... 
	And "imoutochan" is used improperly here, but what the hey."

 > 

	"Something's wrong... she should have been here half an
hour ago,"  Joy frowned, looking over at Ranma.
You were the one who abandoned her.

        "Kasumi's late too... and that's not like her,"  Akane
interjected, looking out the window toward the gates.
	"Maaa... I don't like this... They've made one attempt on
her already, and in her current state she'd be an easy target,"
Joy warned, drawing stares from both Akane and Ranma.
Especially Akane who no one has ever bothered explaining anything to.

	"So that's why I had that 'episode' last night... what
happened?"  Ranma asked, walking up to Joy and looking her in the
eyes.
	"An assassin tried for her yesterday... it missed her,
but got Kikyo and their baby.  Kikyo's in a regenerative cell right
now, and Shampoo left, probably figuring they were both dead,"
Joy explained, then her eyes suddenly widened.  "Masaka... Hitomi
has nobody to 'regulate' her... If she runs into the wrong person,
it could be catastrophic...!"
Perhaps this could be explained, hmm?

	"Then why would you leave her alone?" Ranma abruptly
snapped, startling both Joy and Akane.
She's a 12-year old, for crying out loud, and a snot!  Making her 
responsible for Hitomi was not a particularly bright idea in the first 
place...
	 Joy shrank under Ranma's outburst, but still 
managed a > reply.  "I... misjudged how upset she'd be... I thought she'd
follow my instructions and come here while I spoke with the Fates.
Had she done that, everything would have been fine," she stammered,
unable to fathom making such a greivous error in judgement.
"grievous"
	"I'll try too..." Joy replied, closing her eyes.  "Ha!  Got
her.. She's not far away... and she's amazingly calm.  We better go
get her *now*,"  she emphasized, opening her eyes and looking at
Ranma expectantly.
	"Hai.  Akane-chan, I'll be right back.  I have to go get
her,"  he explained, then kissed her forehead and vanished from
sight.
	"Gomen..." Joy bowed quickly, then vanished herself.
	Akane simply stood in the empty room for a moment, then
sighed resignedly.  She then turned and walked toward the kitchen,
figuring she would have to make a fancy breakfast now that they
had all this company.  Abruptly, she stopped in her tracks and
shook her head.
	"Masaka... I'm turning into my older sister..." she
groaned, frowning.
The one no one ever explains to, or apologizes to about things that 
really matter...
	"No need to trouble yourself, Seirei-san,"  Kasumi
deflected with a grin, squeezing Hitomi's hand.  "And I was glad
to help.  One thing troubles me though... do I really look like
a 'mother' to you?" she asked, worriedly.
	Hitomi flushed slightly.  "No... It's... kinda hard to
explain.  That's just... what I felt when I looked up at you." she
indicated, softly.
Will this be explained?

	Kasumi didn't quite know how to react, especially since she
didn't see any means of getting the 'lift' in question.  "Lift?
Whatever do you mean, Seirei-san?"  she finally blinked, only to be
further confused by Hitomi's knowing smirk.
We just had a new British elevator installed.

	Once fully materialized, Kasumi let go of Hitomi's hands,
stepped back and made a face, fluttering her hands before her.
"I... I'm not entirely sure I like that, Seirei-san..." she
stammered, much to Hitomi's unconcealed amusement.
"Especially the brimstone scent."

	"Gomen, Kasumi-sama... I just didn't want to leave you
there alone."  Hitomi smiled, bowing.  As she rose from her bow,
her face dropped as she caught sight of Akane standing a few feet
away.  "Kawaii...." she breathed, unable to take her eyes off of
Akane's trim, shapely form.
	She could feel her cheeks flush as her heart rate rose,
especially once she met Akane's powerful brown eyes.
	At that moment, Ranma reappeared beside Akane, and
immediately noticed the look on the redhead's face.  Before he
could help himself, he burst out laughing.  The act snapped the
two women out of their eye-lock, and instantly incurred the wrath
of Akane.
	"What's so funny?!?" she demanded, getting up in Ranma's
face.
	"Ano... Kasumi-sama...!  Who is that?"  Hitomi whispered
urgently, clasping Kasumi's arm tightly and pulling the woman down
toward her.
	"Why... that's Ranma's wife, Akane."  Kasumi responded,
suprised at Hitomi's reaction to her.
	"Masaka..."  Hitomi replied quietly, slumping into a
nearby chair.
	Meantime, Ranma had ushered his fuming wife into the
kitchen, and finally managed to stop giggling.
	"Okay, Saotome... explain yourself,"  she growled, setting
her hands on her hips.  "Why was she looking at me like that, and
why are you laughing?"  she repeated, evenly.
	"Baka ne... Remember how she was created?  From my body
and essence?  It's obvious, especially when you look at her face...
she loves you," he sniggered, losing the battle to stifle his
amusement.  "She loves you exactly the same way I do,"  he added,
taking her shoulders and trying to look her in the eye with some
semblance of seriousness.
	"Oh, Gad..." Akane whispered, her face both falling and
flushing as she remembered where she had seen the look on the
redhead's face before.
	Ranma lost it.
She's a pervert!  And it's still not clear how much of Hitomi is 
left-over Ranma/Mu Lin, and how much is an actual person...

	Nabiki leaned back in her chair, toying bemusedly with the
pen in her hand.  A wicked smile still parted her face as she
considered the words of her guest.
	"Are you *sure* it's that easy?  According to my sources,
she's supposed to be some kind of goddess or something..."  she
inquired, regarding her guest levelly.
	"Hai, Kuno-san.  It is.  The difficulty lies in creating
the circumstance.  Both of them are well aware of this, and neither
of them will permit it to occur,"  the hooded woman responded, her
sloe-eyed gaze downcast slightly.
	"Let me worry about that.  And what else was it you said
you found out... something about a 'plan'?"
	"Hai.  In my session this morning, I picked up some
rumblings about her being part of a master plan, one concieved by
the Fates to battle a threat from a faction tied to the Dark Realm.
Interference in this plan will not be looked upon lightly.  I feel
I must advise you against any such action... for your own safety."
	"MY safety doesn't matter,"  Nabiki abruptly snapped,
startling her guest slightly.  "Sorry... I get a little excited
when I think about all this.  Anyway, thanks for the assist,
Miyo-san.  I do appreciate it, and I believe this should cover it.
Oh, and as always, we never had this conversation,"  she continued,
sliding an envelope toward Miyo.
	"Arigato, Kuno-san.  I wish you luck; fortunately, the cards
are with you,"  Miyo smiled under her dark hood, and then rose to
take her leave.  "Be warned... you seek to alter a course set by
the Fates - there will be a price."
	Nabiki simply smirked wryly.  "I can afford it,"  she
intoned, resting her elbows on the table and entwining her fingers
under her chin.
	Well, your husband already broke the Wheel of Destiny once, and 
look what happened...
	As Miyo closed the door behind her, Nabiki reached 
for her
phone and punched up a familiar number, still grinning as it rang
through.
	"It's me.  Yeah.  I have a job for some of your friends...
someone is going to have an accident,"  she indicated, her grin
fading quickly.
	Careful, Nabiki...

	After breakfast, Hitomi slipped away from the family and
headed for the bath, feeling uptight and somewhat grungy after her
experiences.  Since Joy had still not returned, she felt she had
plenty of time to indulge herself.
Wait a minute, where'd Joy go?  And why?
to toe, happily anticipating a good, warm soak.
	Rinsing off, she stepped into the tub and settled into the
seat, groaning as the heat worked it's way into his weary bones.
"its"
	Hitomi didn't know what to do.  One side of him wanted to
speak up and tell Akane who he really was, but another, more
powerful side wouldn't let his mouth do anything more than gape
open soundlessly.  Slowly but surely, urges he couldn't control
began to rise as he watched the woman moving under the water
stream, alternately soaping, washing and rinsing her trim, athletic
body.  Making matters worse was Akane's habit of flashing him a
sultry look when she would be turned toward him.  He honestly
thought he was going to have heart failure.
Sublimate, you idiot!  Sublimate!

	"Mmmm... then we'd better not waste the opportunity, ne?"
Akane responded, grinning letcherously as she swung astride Hitomi's
legs.
"lecherously" and this scene squicks me badly...
	"Oy... thank the Fates.  I was worried she might fall
apart, or worse yet run into someone or something 'unscrupulous',"
like Nabiki, maybe?
	"I know... she's always been like that,"  Ranma seconded,
thoughtfully.  Turning his gaze back toward Joy for a moment, he
caught a look in her eye that he hadn't noticed earlier.  "Something
wrong, Joy-sama?"  he asked, concerned.
	"Ya... just thinking about some things." Joy replied,
appearing to Ranma to be slightly caught by his question.
	"Hm." he nodded, not quite convinced by the reply.
Your wife's betraying you with your former body!
	Akane flashed a knowing grin over her coffee cup.  "It was
*wonderful*..." she said, turning and walking out the door.
ick.

	"We need to talk, Akane-chan." she indicated quietly, then
reached out and took Akane's hands in hers.  Before Akane could
react, the two of them vanished from the hall.
This had better be a real explanation...



	"We need to talk about some things, Akane-chan... and this
felt like the best place."  Hitomi replied, looking about the roof.
Drawing a long breath, she turned her gaze to Akane and looked deep
into her still slightly wide eyes.  "I love you, Akane-chan... even
though I've never met you.  I assume it's because a lot of who I am
came from your husband, and since he loves you so deeply..." she
trailed off, a small frown crossing her face.
And that makes it all right?

	Akane didn't respond, still considering Hitomi's words.
The entire concept of a woman being in love with her still didn't
sit well, especially since that woman was Hitomi.
	Actually a woman *using* her that way is more the issue here.

"All I want... all I ever wanted... is a nice, quiet life...
living with Kiko-chan and raising our child; working with my kids
at the Centre.  I don't want to go chasing mamuno all over the
Spirit World, or whatever the Fates have in mind for me," she
"Mamono"

continued, dropping her chin to her knees.  "What happened in
there... happened because I couldn't resist what I was feeling for
you.  I don't *want* to be in love with you... I didn't *want* to
make love to you... but this body... this soul that I have... just took 
over and loved you for all it was worth," she
indicated, her voice starting to waver slightly.  Closing her eyes
tightly for a moment, she sniffed once and cleared her throat.
"It feels awful to have that little control over who and what you
are, Akane-chan.  Especially when it hurts innocent people...
um, yes.
like Kiko-chan, our baby... and you," she sniffed, starting to
lose the battle to retain her composure.  "I've tried to accept
the fact that I'm little more than your husband's girl-side come
to life, but I can't.  Something inside me keeps shouting that
there *must* be more... I live... I love... I have children...
Dammit, I have a *life*!" she almost yelled, clenching her fists
and jamming her eyes closed.  "Yet... when things like that
episode in the bath happen... I realize that I'm just kidding
myself.  I'm *not* a person... just some convenient collection
of used parts.  Hell, I can't even be sure I've ever had an
independant thought!"  she sobbed bitterly, finally breaking
down in tears.
Neither can the reader, quite frankly, especially with her constant brain 
lapses in earlier stories.

	"Don't apologise... *you* did nothing wrong.  Truth be
known, it was incredible." she rebutted, flashing a wry grin
through her tears.  "I should have... spoken up."  she sobbed,
wiping her face on her kimono sleeve.  "L-Like I said... It's my
fault." she sniffed, brokenly.  Suddenly, she burst out in a
tear-soaked, humourless laugh.  "Kuso... Saotome-sama was right
all along... this body *is* a damned curse..!" she blurted, flashing
Akane a look she couldn't fathom.
Well, yes, but it's not really your fault it is...Thank Mu Lin and the 
Fates for that...


	"Hitomi-chan... I..."  Akane began, but the words wouldn't
come.  She felt sorry for Hitomi, but at the same time she realized
that a deeper part of her was actually happy - happy to see the one
who took her husband's body so miserable.  She tried chiding herself
for being so vengeful and heartless, but it didn't work.  After all
she had been through, she *liked* seeing Hitomi suffer.
And none of the women who *really* hurt her will ever acknowledge it... 

	Joy's face darkened slightly.  "I don't like the sound of
this..." she remarked, and faded from sight.  Reappearing on the
roof, she frowned when she discovered Hitomi wasn't there.  She
could still feel the redhead's presence, which relaxed her a little,
but the fact that Hitomi was acting so odd concerned her deeply.
Well, you have a better idea why than most...

	Finally, everyone had managed to gather in the family room,
and Joy paced back and forth before them gathering her thoughts.
"I had this nice little speech prepared to fill all of you in, but
the plans have been changed.  It's made things a lot more cut and
dried, but it's also made them a lot tougher," she began, her face
taking a serious set.
So we won't get an actual explanation, Hm?

	Joy, noting the tense responses, sighed quickly.  "Well,
here goes.  As you know, Mu Lin was to put a stop to a conflict that
threatened to escalate into a war.  While she accomplished her goal,
Creating a bunch of new problems in the process...

those responsible for the escalation in the first place haven't
given up.  They've started a new campaign to gain control of the
Triumvirate Realms for themselves, using very similar tactics,"
she explained, resuming her pacing.  "One thing we have in our
favor is that they don't have the direct support of the Dark any
more, since they got booted out after their failure.  That means
that if we strike now, before they can stir up more support, we can
mop it up fairly quick," she indicated, stopping and facing
everyone with her pixie-grin firmly in place.
	Umm, could we have a little more information on who "they" are, 
and why this had anything to do with Mu Lin's family in the first place?  

	Ranma and Akane looked at each other wordlessly, but before
either of them could speak, Hitomi took control of the floor.
	"So what are you saying, Joy-sama?  What *exactly* do they
want us to do?"  she asked pointedly, her eyes slightly narrowed.
And WHY?
	"Cliff notes version, they want us to take them out... for
good.  The attack on you reinforced the Fates' notion that 'they'
won't take a hint, so there's no other way to ensure the balance
of power,"  Joy replied, looking her in the eye.
	"Hai... if that gets disrupted, then the whole thing
collapses on itself,"  Ranma noted, solemnly.
Whole what?

	"For lack of a better explanation, that's it in a nutshell.
Okay, now comes the complicated part.  Hitomi here came about as a
way to keep your body around until Mu Lin gained enough strength to
take it over.  It was then that the Fates decided she would remain
as a separate being after Mu Lin did her thing, just in case they
needed her for something.  Since she's primarily a creature of
the Spirit World, they knew they could activate her at any time,
and also take advantage of her presence on the Mortal plane," she
expanded, alternating her gaze between Hitomi and Ranma.
	"You mean like a marionette..." Hitomi sneered, drawing a
look from Joy.
It sure seemed like it.
        "No... that was never the intention.  I think 'Secret
Weapon' would be more like it,"  Joy shot back, concerned by the
vibes she was getting from Hitomi.
	"Secret Weapon...?"  the redhead echoed, her face falling.
Like a deadman switch.

	"Hai.  When that 'Anita' kidnapped Kikyo-san, you made a
wish, remember...?  Well, that sort of accelerated the unlocking
of your capability.  You also had a bit of an awakening in here,
didn't you?" she noted, pointing to her own forehead.  "You just
'knew' how to use your powers... and that you were destined to
protect the world you lived in.  That, Hitomi-chan, was your
'activation',"  Joy indictated, nodding for emphasis.  Noting
Hitomi's blank stare, she walked up to the redhead and looked
her in the eyes directly.  "Anita basically gave you cause to
And I'd still like a little more on Anita's role...

hand the Fates an excuse to bring you up to full power early,
so you'd be ready when the stuff hit the fan," she reiterated,
breathlessly.  "Get it?"
	"I guess..." Hitomi responded, thoughtfully.
I don't.

	"Good.  The 'Secret Weapon' part was that you have all
these powers, and were supposedly unknown to the faction that's
raising all the 'you know what'.  That's pretty much out the window
now, though.  They know you're around, and won't stop attacking you
until either they get you, or you get them.  You have the power to
take them out all by yourself, which is why they want you out of
the picture."
	Hitomi's eyes narrowed slightly as she looked back at the
Spirit-Child.  "Let me guess... Their desire to get me is at all
costs, right?" she asked, darkly.
	Joy, sensing where Hitomi was going with her remark,
replied hesitantly.  "H-Hai.  They don't care what it takes... they
want you out of the way,"  she agreed, watching the redhead's eyes
carefully.
No matter who gets hurt.  Which makes them really very little different 
from the Fates.  Except that they're *open* about their deals.

	"You... you're the other third of the team.  Hitomi is like
the 'raw power', you're the 'aiming control', and I'm the 'mission
coordinator' so to speak.  Your battle experience, tactical
This mission is doomed.

expertise and your 'connection' with Hitomi-chan will make you two
unstoppable.  In fact, you should be able to literally function as
one,"  Joy explained almost happily, thankful for the change of
subject.
	"That explains a lot..." Hitomi abruptly droned, sighing.
	"I guess it does..." Akane noted thoughtfully, surprising
everyone by speaking.
	"Hai... well, that's the story, such as it is... all we do
now is wait for the word, then we go.  And in case you're wondering,
this is a one-shot deal.  When it's over, it's over.  If we don't
strike fast and get the job done, then other methods will have to
be used... they'll be too powerful for just us to stop,"   Joy
added, seriously.
Of course, the "just one" line has turned out to be a lie before from 
agents of the Fates.

	"We'll do it... with you and Hitomi-chan together, they
don't stand a chance.  We'll wipe the ether with them."  Joy grinned,
confidently.
	"I hope so..."  Ranma replied, shaking his head.  After a
moment of thoughtful silence, he abruptly raised a serious gaze at
Joy.  "Joy-sama... I have to ask you a few things... will you guys
excuse us for a minute?"  he stated, flashing a different look at
the Spirit-Child.
The real explanation?
	Rematerializing in the middle of a large feild, Ranma's face
"field"

	"Everything you just told us was bullshit, wasn't it?"  he
snapped, eyeing Joy levelly.
yes.

	The Spirit-Child's face promptly fell.  "What..?" she
stammered, stunned.
	Ranma huffed knowingly, then glared down at Joy.  "Let me
put it this way... Hitomi is the one with all the power, and I'm
supposed to be the strategist.  I take it there was a *need* to
separate those functions, instead of just giving me the powers?"
he asked, his voice almost accusatory.
And avboid this whole death mess in the first place?

	Joy's face sobered.  Drawing a deep breath, she lowered
her eyes and answered in a subdued voice.  "Hai.  A very definite
one.  First, you didn't even figure into this until after you came
back.  Second, 'Spirits' can't use this power because it's nature
requires a body... for a 'conductor'.  And third, the amount of
power needed to do this 'job' is massive... if any normal human,
as in one without any regenerative ability, were to be given it,
it would literally fry them the first time they used it," she
explained, slowly.
Ranma's body heals real fast...

	Ranma's eyes narrowed.  "Hitomi has a normal body... it's
only her being that's 'supernatural'.  Does that mean what I think
it means?"  he growled, clenching his fists.
	Joy sighed heavily, then raised her gaze to Ranma.  He was
only slightly surprised to see the tears that had gathered in her
eyes.  "Hai..." she replied, sadly.  "That's what I found out when
I was called away to talk to the Fates.  When they told me about
the 'one-shot' mission, I got to thinking.  Then, I went back and
asked what was to become of Hitomi if it failed... I was sure they
wouldn't want to let someone with that kind of power just wander
around," she began, her voice wavering slightly.  "Well, I was
right.  They told me that this operation is the only reason Hitomi
exists.  The Fates knew from the beginning that even if Mu Lin
succeeded, the 'bad guys' wouldn't just give up." she continued,
her voice choking off.
	Ranma continued to stare at Joy for a few moments, torn
between offering her a hug and lighting into her.  Suddenly, he
wished he hadn't asked.
So Hitomi is likely to burn her body out if she uses her full power?

That's painful, and actually makes the Fates look *worse* than the "other 
side".


SKJAM!