Hello all.

The author will now speak... :)

I honestly wasn't expecting confusion as to what happened, but here is what
went down.  They WERE drug needles that hit both Ranma and Shampoo,
flechette darts made of polymers designed to disolve quickly in the
bloodstream.  Ranma got a dose of a mild sedative, enough to slow his
reflexes down.  To make matters worse, Shampoo got a dose of stimulants, a
sort of "battle drug" cocktail that is designed to increase aggression and
stimulate the adrenal glands.

It wasn't an automated system that did it, but a pair of snipers that could
be assumed to be part of Arena Security.  The current Director has used
drugs to fix fights before, but nobody has cared enough to take a look as
long as things were profitable for all the zaibatsu that get any money out
of Arena-related matters.  However, the Arena Director has made an error in
who he chose to play dirty tricks with this time, and it will come back to
haunt him.

As to what the future holds.... Well, I don't want to spoil the surprises.
:)  I am working on chapter 11 "The Path of The True Martial Artist..."
right now, and I hope to have it done by Sunday.   Expect to see more of
Cologne, more of Shampoo, and more action next chapter.  I also get to have
fun introducing Ranma to Tarou and Mina, and their reactions to him.

Jurai Knight