Wild Boot
by Rarstarr

Reboot and Ranma 1/2 are the property of Mainframe Entertainment and
Rumiko Takahashi respectively and used here (respectfully) without
permission.

I'd like to thank my prereaders: Jin, David Johnston and Shane Burton

I welcome any Comments, Criticism or MSTs. All parts to this and other of
my stories may be found at:
	http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~djfarr/

-----

Kuno: I came from the net,
	through systems, peoples and cities,
	to this place. Mainframe.
	My format: Virus, to possess and conquer.
	I searched for the perfect system,
	a system with the perfect sprite.
	Here I found it.

v 1.7 : Infected!

	Ranma angled his zip-board down towards the oriental pagoda that was the
Nekohanten. As he approached he spotted Nabiki and Shampoo standing
outside. Mainframe's Indexer was directing a group of binomes who were
shifting large boxes around the restaurants parking lot. The Nekohanten's
manager stood watching the group with deliberate hostility.

	Ranma swooped down next to Shampoo, startling the cute sprite.

	"Ranma!" Shampoo cried happily and glomped onto him. Moments later the
Guardian was smashed to the ground by a large mallet.

	From the ground, her arms still wrapped around the stunned Ranma,
Shampoo glared at his attacker. "Why mercenary Indexer sprite hit
Guardian?"

	Nabiki shrugged. "Akane wasn't here so someone had to do it."

	"Geeze, thank Nabs," Ranma returned sourly, dragging himself back to his
feet. "How's things?"

	"Everything's running on schedule, but I haven't heard from either RyoGA
nor Ukyo."

	"Ucchan said she had some business outside Mainframe, something
important that needed to be done now." Ranma glanced down at the cute
sprite still attached to him. "Shampoo, could you let go of me?"

	"Won't she have a problem with the game code alias on her Icon?"

	Ranma shook his head. "She said she can just restore it when she
returns."

	"Oh, good. Any idea about RyoGA?"

	"He's lost again. I looked for him, but he could be anywhere and the
upgrade is scheduled soon."

	At that moment, in Kodachi's lair, Mike the TV and Mr Turtle stopped
caring for the virus for a moment and watched as a determined RyoGA
charged through the room. They glanced at each other, Mike shrugged, and
went back to playing commercials.

	Nabiki nodded. "Okay, you'd better get over to the Principal Office,
Akane and Kasumi will be waiting for you."

	"Right." He looked down at Shampoo. "Could you please let go of me!"

	"Shampoo no want to."

	Ranma rolled his eyes. "Glitch, crowbar." The keytool shifted its form
until it looked like a long bar with a hook.

	Shampoo sighed and released him. "You come see Shampoo after upgrade."

	"Ah... I better be going, see ya!" Ranma leapt back onto his zip-board
and shot into the sky.

	"Smooth Ranma, very smooth," Nabiki commented sarcastically.

*****

	The sub-sphere floated above Principal Office, blocking the top of the
Core. Kasumi and Akane stood on a hexagonal platform inlaid in the top of
the white globe. Mainframe's Command.com stood patiently waiting while
her youngest sister paced.

	Akane stopped and turned to her sister. "Where is Ranma?!" she demanded,
throwing up her hands.

	Kasumi smiled sweetly at her and watched as Ranma popped up behind
Akane.

	"Talking about me?" Ranma inquired, causing Akane to jump.

	Akane spun and slammed her fist into his face. The Guardian somersaulted
backwards from the force of the blow, but landed on his feet.

	"Ow. Akane why'd you do that?"

	"You JERK! Don't sneak up me!!"

	"Well--"

	Ranma was interrupted by a pleasant sounding klaxon "Warning: Incoming
File!" the soft female voice announced from above. The three sprites, and
many others system wide, looked up to watch as the blue of the sky
shifted to a rich gold colour. Directly above the platform a whirlwind
developed, revealing a large hole in the dome above.

	"That's strange,  its ahead of schedule," Kasumi murmured.

	"Warning: Incoming File!" A column of golden energy fell down to land
with a crash between Kasumi, Ranma and Akane. The column coalesced into a
single large barrel, the metal lid bolted on by large metal rod attached
to the base. Above them the sky returned to its normal serene blue.

	"That's it?" Ranma asked, looking at the file container in surprise.

	"What did you expect?!" Akane snapped.

	"This isn't the supercomputer, Ranma. The User sends what he can to help
us when he can."

	Ranma shrugged. "Whatever. Let's get it inside before sword boy shows up
to hijack it."

	Kasumi gave Ranma a smile. "Of course." She looked up into the sky.
"Pinnacle Descent please."

	The sub-sphere shuddered once before descending into the main section of
the principal office. Lights flashed past as the sphere moved down the
tunnel towards Mainframe's core.

	Deep beneath the city the tunnel finally ended, admitting the trio and
their strange vehicle into a large domed room. The only sources of light
were the glowing green energy conduits that led from the core below up to
the city.

	Beneath the sphere the massive leaves of the final lock yawned open,
admitting them into the very core of Mainframe's processes. The
sub-sphere jerked once as it came to a halt.

	Ranma look at the room around then. The lock above had once again
sealed, leaving the sphere trapped again. The hexagonal platform had
fitted into a series of gates, one on each edge, and through the gates,
across empty air, Ranma could see doors leading out into the bowels of
the Principal office. A strange green light shone up below and Ranma knew
without looking that beneath them lay a deadly web of energy beams
connected to the core.

	Akane pulled out her PDA and pressed a file. Almost immediately the
screen blinked and Nabiki appeared. "Is everything ready for shut down?"

	Nabiki nodded. "Populace is secured and I have units watching the Tor
and G-Prime."

	"Okay, we'll power down the system then. See you in a few nano."

	"See ya then." Nabiki cut the connection.

	"Nabiki's ready," Akane reported to her sister.

	With a smile Kasumi acknowledged her, then look up at the roof again.
"Activate Principal Office outer defences please." She was acknowledged
by a beep. "System shutdown please."

*****

	"Warning: System shutdown." The computer voice announced. Nabiki,
Shampoo and Mousse looked outside as the sky darkened. The vehicles
floating in the parking lot outside slowly lowered themselves to the
ground. In the distance the lights of buildings could be seen winking
off. The power loss rushed through the system, leaving the sprites
standing in gloom.

	Nabiki looked at the Mousse and Shampoo. "So, what do you two hope to
get with the upgrade."

	With a wave of his hands Mousse indicated the space beneath his box.
"What else? A new pair of legs. It'd be nice to be mobile again."

	"Shampoo want new parser, so she talk right."

	Nabiki gave them a light smile. "I should have guessed."

*****

	"Hey, this is stuck!" Akane complained. Ranma and Kasumi turned to find
her trying to pull the lid off the file container.

	"Here, let me," Ranma walked over. Akane rolled her eyes and took a step
back. "Glitch crowbar." The keytool reshaped itself and Ranma inserted it
under the lid, straining to pry it up. "Hey this is tough."

	"Weakling," snapped Akane.

	Unnoticed Kasumi reached down and hit the release catch. Unfortunately
this sent the lid flying and Ranma sprawling. Moments later the lid
crashed down on the Guardian.

	Before either Akane or Kasumi could react to help Ranma, a large dark
blue figure rose from out of the container. He grinned maniacally and
then threw back his head to laugh.

	"KUNO!!" Akane cried in shock.

	Continuing to smile the Virus turned to look at the two Tendo sisters.
"Ah, my dear Defender, I'm so pleased you're here, and of course the
Command.com." He nodded to both.

	The lid of the file container crashed into Kuno's back, causing the
virus the stumble forward. "Don't forget about me!" Ranma cried.

	Turning, Kuno faced Ranma. "Ah, Guardian, I was hoping you'd be outside,
but then I guess I wouldn't have the pleasure of killing you myself!"
Kuno leapt from the container at his foe, swinging his glowing sword.

	Ranma jumped over the thrust, legs bent, then pulled himself over the
virus. "Glitch, cricket bat." With all his strength the Guardian swung
the morphed keytool into the back of Kuno's head. The clang echoed off
the walls as the virus stumbled forward.

	Hissing, Kuno spun around his sword arcing towards Ranma's head. Ranma
dropped under the swing, "Glitch, bar!" and threw himself between Kuno's
legs, holding the bar. The keytool snagged the virus' legs, jerking him
off his feet, sending him crashing to the ground.

	Ranma rolled and flew to his feet in a fluid movement, he spun to face
Kuno, only to see Akane jump in from the side. "Akane! No!"

	Sneering, the virus picked up the Defender and threw her at her sister.
The pair crashed to the ground not far away.

	"That wasn't a nice thing to do, not to someone you love," Ranma pointed
out.

	"She is tough and understands the value of strength." Kuno swiped his
sword through the air. "Prepare to quit file!" Kuno charged.

	Ranma held up his arm. "Glitch..." his mind went blank," anything!" The
keytool leapt off his forearm and flew through the air between him and
the virus. Part way there it morphed into a large hanging stop sign. As
Kuno approached the sign started swinging and ringing, and as he ran
beneath it, he was struck on the head. Ranma shrugged. "As easy as
falling off an analogue."

	Kuno reeled from the attack as Glitch returned to Ranma. "Think that
will stop me?!" Once again the virus started his charge, this time
reaching the Guardian and lashing out at him. Moments too late Ranma
dodged and he caught the flat of the blade. The force of the blow sent
Ranma flying over the edge of the platform.

	"Glitch, LINE!" Ranma cried as he fell toward the lethal energy. The
Keytool immediately shot out a line and Ranma swing to the safety of the
wall.

	Meanwhile, back on the platform, Kasumi pulled out her broom and held it
before her like a sword as Kuno stalked towards her.

	"Please my dear, do not be a fool. You are no fighter." Kuno grabbed the
broom and sent a charge through it causing Kasumi to convulse and
collapse to the ground.

	"KASUMI!!" Akane yelled, dashing forward to punch the virus.

	"Ah, your blows are like love-taps." He back-handed her, send her flying
across the platform to lad before one of the gates.

	"Be nice to the lady!" Ranma cried, having once more returned to the
platform. "Glitch, energy bola!" Glitch, on his forearm, beeped sadly.
Glancing at the keytool Ranma noticed it display an empty power bar. "Oh
spam!"

	Lying on the ground Kasumi stirred. "Activate transport gate please,"
she muttered. The gate behind Akane crackled into life.

	"Thanks Kasumi!" Ranma yelled, and charged past Kuno to tackle Akane
into the gate. The energy of the gate carried them across the space to
the door. "We'll be back!" The pair disappeared through the door.

	Kuno strode over to the prone sprite. "Ah, Command.com, such a brave
act, helping your friends escape." He reached down and picked her up by
the head. "But ultimately, futile. Now, give me the codes."

	"Never!" Kasumi replied weakly.

	"As you wish." His hand glowed and a flash of light travelled along his
arm. Kasumi crashed to ground, not moving, as Kuno turned away from her.
"First to deal with the problems inside the Principal Office. Activate
Principal Office internal defences, capture mode." Nothing happened. Kuno
sighed and glanced down at the Command.com. "Please."

*****

	Deep in the maze of corridors beneath the Principal office a door slide
open. A bunch of robots, all wielding brooms, mops and other household
tools, trundled out of a small room. As they travelled they sang "Hi ho,
hi ho, it off to work we go..."

*****

	In another part of the maze Ranma stopped for a moment to rest. He
placed Akane on the floor, then glanced at Glitch.

	Akane punched him. "Why did you abandon Kasumi jerk?!"

	Angrily Ranma spun to face her. "Because we need to regroup! You and I
can't defeat Kuno in a straight out fight, we need a plan and I need to
recharge Glitch!"

	"Who says we can't beat Kuno?!"

	"Look you low-res Guardian-wannabe--" Whatever pearl of wisdom Ranma had
to offer was cut off by voices in the distance singing.

	"What the hell?"

	"Kuno's activated the internal defences!!"

	"And they're singing 'Hi ho, hi ho, its off to work we go?'" Ranma asked
incredulously.

	Akane shrugged. "Talk to Kasumi."

	The two sprites turned and ran in different directions down the
corridor. Moments later they returned.

	"There's a bunch down that way!" declared Ranma.

	"Same."

	"If those things catch us we're as good as dead."

	"Worse," Akane added, glancing about worried.

	Ranma looked down at Glitch sitting on his wrist. "Waitaminute, does
your PDA have a jumper cable?"

	"Yes, but if I lose power I'll lose all my cooking recipes!"

	Ranma looked at the rapidly approaching robots. "Would you rather be
Kuno's bride?"

	Like a flash Akane had her PDA out and was offering the unattached end
of the jumper cable to Ranma. He blinked a few times then grabbed the
lead, attaching it to the keytool.

	The robots got closer and closer, singing badly the whole time, as Ranma
watched the powerbar on the PDA. Closer and closer they came. Closer.
Closer.

	"GLITCH, DOUBLE HEADER!" Ranma yelled. Fields of energy surrounded the
two sprites and they shot into the distance.

*****

	"Citizens of Mainframe!" Kuno's voice boomed across he city. Large
windows appeared above the Principal office, showing the virus' face.
"Prepare to face the dawning of a new day. I will remake our system into
a fitting tribute to my beloveds."  The windows blinked closed.

	Nabiki shared a glance with Shampoo. "That's a disgusting image."

	"Shampoo wonder what virus talking about?"

	Nabiki's eyes went wide. "He's in the core with Akane, Kasumi and Ranma!
He can reformat the entire system!!"

	"That bad, very bad!"

*****

	Within the Principal Office of Mainframe Kuno looked at the array of
windows before him. They showed the sectors of Mainframe as well as some
of the important buildings, like the Nekohanten, where the Indexer was.

	"System command, full deletion!" Kuno waited. Nothing happened. He
looked over at the Command.com. "I hate you." he told the unconscious
lady. "System command, full deletion, please!"

	In the windows around him buildings started shaking as the sky darkened
still.

	"Excellent."

	Almost immediately a window popped open. Nabiki glared out, the room
behind her quivering. "Kuno, what in the code do you think you're doing?!
If you delete the system Akane and your pig-tailed goddess will quit
file!!"

	"Do not try to trick me Indexer, Akane is safe here in the Principal
office and the pig-tailed girl is not in Mainframe. I have researched
this plan."

	"YOU CORRUPTED RANDOM VIRUS!! I HOPE YOUR SUB-PROCEDURES THROW
EXCEPTIONS!!"

	Kuno closed the window on the raging sprite. "Ah, not long now and they
will be mine!" He smiled wistfully

*****

	Nabiki spun to face Mousse. "Get you're processes working on energy
shakes! We need to keep everyone's energy up until Ranma and Akane can
stop him!"

	Mousse saluted. "Yes Ma'am!"

	Looking out the window Nabiki watched as the skyscrapers of Mainframe
shook. "If they're able to..."

*****

	Akane grumbled as she walked along the corridor. "Trust Ranma to send us
flying like that."

	She walked past a door marked "Mecha Workshop."

	"'We need a plan,' I show you a plan Ranma, just as soon as I--" Akane
stopped suddenly, then turned around. Quickly she ran back down the hall
to the door she had just passed. "Mecha Workshop? Kasumi, what have you
been doing?"

	She pressed against the door, and it swung open, revealing a dark room
beyond. Reaching out she fumbled for the light switch for a few moments
before flicking it. Instead of the room fulling with light, a single
spotlight came on, illuminating a large red machine in the centre of the
room.

	It look like a red bug of some description, with four thick legs holding
it up. A pair of manipulator arms hung limply from the front beneath a
complex optics system. The body of the mecha was segmented into two large
ovaloids, the forward dome having the seams of what looked like the
cockpit.

	Akane walked around the machine, examining it. "What are you?"

	The mecha suddenly came alive and stretched out a manipulator. Akane
could see a the barrel of gun recessed into the metal palm. "Hi," it
squeaked in a voice that reminded her of Shampoo, "I'm Fuchikoma!"

	"Er, Hi. Where did you come from?"

	The mecha paused. "Ghost in the Shell?" it hazarded.

	Akane stared at it in confusion, then it clicked. They'd played a game
by that name a few micros before, but had never seen the User, the game
sprites had gotten him first. Obviously Kasumi had grabbed the Fuchikoma
from that. "I don't suppose you're armed."

	"Yes ma'am! I have two automatic cannons set into each manipulator arm,
a missile launcher in my rear section, and a grenade launcher fitted
beneath the optics system."

	Akane smiled. "Okay Fuchikoma, pop the hatch. We're going to do some
anti-viral action."

	"YES MA'AM!" The mecha cried happily.

*****

	The door to the readme room was open. Thankfully the intruder into
Mainframes store of knowledge was Ranma. He lent over the table like
window, looking at the displays.

	"Access Principal Office Map," he ordered. "Locate nearest recharge
point."

	The window beeped, and a second window open to the right. A strange bell
shaped object emerged from the fuzz to stop before Ranma.

	"Excellent." He unclipped Glitch from his forearm and held the keytool
in the charger. A field enveloped it, letting Ranma remove his hand.

	Suddenly Ranma felt a presence behind him. He spun, landing ready to
fight, and found a ghostly figure floating before him.

	"Bob! Bob! Use Megabyte's greed against him!" the translucent figure
told him in a wise old voice. It looked like some kind of wheeled robot
with a long pole for a neck and a flat head.

	"Who are you old sprite?" Ranma demanded. "And who's this Bob?"

	The ghost raised its thin fingers to adjust a pair of glasses on its
nose. "Oh, sorry, wrong sprite!" The ghost vanished.

	Ranma blinked. "What is it with this system? Game sprites escaping from
games, perverted software pirate, glomping sprites, violent
guardian-wannabes, love obsessed viruses and wrong numbers from
ghosts..." Ranma's lit up and he gave a wicked grin. "Love obsessed."

*****

	Shampoo wearily trudged over to the booth and dropped the quantum shake
before the binome. He looked up gratefully and took the drink. Like
everyone in the restaurant the colours in his bitmap was fading, making
it possible to see the seat through him.

	Trying to ignore the scene the cute sprite turned and stumbled over to
Nabiki's booth. Unlike the binomes, the Indexer's bitmap loss was uneven,
leaving some portions of her form only sightly faded while others had
almost disappeared. It was a disgusting sight and Shampoo knew she didn't
look any better. Nabiki was slumped on the table, looking her PDA and
slowly touching controls.

	She placed a shakes before the Indexer, then fell into the seat opposite
her. "Here is... last of... supplies." Speaking was difficult, and other
than a few moans and groans, her's was the only voice in the room.

	Nabiki reached out and took a sip. "Thanks."

	Shampoo looked at the dark city outside. "At least... Ranma...
escape..." she sighed.

	"Into... Kuno's... system..." Nabiki pointed out.

	"Yeah..."

	Nabiki sipped her drink again as Mousse chugged past. "Not... much...
longer..."

	"Ranma..?"

	"He's... trying..." Nabiki gasped. "Just... have to... hold... out..."

	"Ranma... hurry... please..." Shampoo murmured, then fell into silence.

*****

	Kuno chuckled as he watched the scene in the Nekohanten. Nabiki and her
planning had often been a thorn in his side, and now she was simply
fading, hoping to be saved by their cowardly Guardian. If only they knew.

	"KUNO!!!" The virus turned to find the source of the voice. Sitting on
the wall of the chamber was a large red bug, yet it sounded like Akane.

	Fuchikoma pointed its manipulators at the virus and spat out a hail of
bullets. The bullets struck the virus, leaving him unaffected.

	"Missiles!!" Akane yelled. Her mecha hummed for a few seconds, then
released a volley of six missiles at the virus. Kuno threw himself to the
side, but the missile tracked him and exploded as they impacted.
Mainframe's Defender reflexively closed her eyes as the virus was
consumed by the glow of her explosion.

	Almost immediately she reopened them, just in time to see the glow
vanish. Kuno glanced down at himself in confusion. "And that was supposed
to do what?"

	Akane stared at the virus in shock. "What in the code is the matter with
these weapons?"

	"They're in test mode. Miss Kasumi was working on them!" The Fuchikoma
reported.

	"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?"

	"You didn't ask."

	"GRRR. Right, we take him on hand to hand." Akane started fiddling with
the controls. Kuno watched with interest as the Fuchikoma scuttled across
the roof, then dropped down onto the platform.

	"Geronimo!!" the small mecha cried as it charged forward. Kuno sneered
and stepped to one side, sweeping his sword at the mecha as it flew past. 
His sword bit into the mecha's rear, lifting the mecha up and sending it
spinning and bouncing away. With a crash the Fuchikoma came to a halt,
lying on its back. "Danger! Danger, Akane Tendo! Danger!" it cried, arms
failing for a few nanoseconds before slumping to the ground.

	Inside the mecha Akane tried to pop the hatch, but discovered it trapped
shut by the machine's weight. She watched, helpless as Kuno strode
towards her.

	"Ah, my dear--what the?"

	The entire platform started shaking and a large chamber started rose
from a section of the floor. The chamber was constructed from twelve
pentagons, and all but one of then were opaque. Both Akane and Kuno could
see inside Ranma-chan stood. She brightened when she spotted the virus
outside and waved hello.

	"Ah, my pig-tailed goddes, at last you have come to your senses." Kuno
strode up to the chamber and yanked open the see through door. He climbed
the steps up to the platform on which Ranma-chan stood, but instead of
leaping into his waiting arms, Ranma-chan dove past him and somersaulted
out the door.

	"Glitch, seal and activate chamber!" The keytool flew from his wrist and
slammed shut the door, trapping the virus inside. Moments later beams of
light shot from the centres of the pentagons to envelope Kuno.

	Ranma-chan got to her feet and ran over to the still prone form of the
command.com. "Kasumi, wake up!"

	"Wha..?" She stirred and looked up at the Guardian. "Oh, Ranma, is
something wrong?"

	"Kuno's started a system wide delete command. You've got to undo it!"

	Kasumi nodded and used Ranma-chan as a crutch to get to her feet. "Oh
my. Okay, you help Akane, and I'll do it."

	Nodding Ranma-chan walked over to the small mecha. With all her strength
she managed to lift the Fuchikoma just enough for Akane to slid out the
hatch.

	Mainframe's defender got to her feet and looked at the chamber holding
Kuno. "What is that?"

	"It's the chamber the Principal office uses to break down viruses."

	Inside the chamber Kuno sneered. "I will not let that coward Ranma have
you!!" He reached over, obviously in pain, and touched a small button on
his arm.

	Ranma's eyes flew wide as the virus started beeping and glowing. "He's
activated a self-destruct mechanism!! Glitch, return!" The keytool shot
back to Ranma's arm and the Guardian lifted the disc to reveal a small
control panel. As Kuno's beeping increased in pitch and speed he typed in
a command and the chamber and virus exploded out of the Principal Office.

	Outside the chamber flew through a now brightening sky, and crashed into
the Silicon Tor.

*****

	Ranma, the three Tendo sisters and the Nekohanten staff sat around a
booth at the restaurant. The room was once more full of the sound of
dinner conversation and the clinking of cutlery on plates.

	"Ranma like leaving things to last moment," Shampoo commented.

	The Guardian shrugged. "Builds up the dramatic tension. Akane, where did
you find that mecha?"

	Kasumi smiled. "I took it from a game."

	"How is it?" Akane asked, worried.

	"I'm sure I'll be able to get it processing again."

	"This time, give it working weapons!" Nabiki commented.

	"And a better personality," Akane added.

	The door to the restaurant crashed open, causing Mousse to groan.
"RANMA!!! HOW DARE YOU ABANDON ME!!!" screamed RyoGA.

	The Guardian sighed. "Here we go again."

-----

Author's Note

	FUCHIKOMA!!! Hehe :). You'll only find them in the Ghost in the Shell
manga (a very good read and in my opinion better than the video) and the
game (lot of fun). At least I don't remember there being one in the
video. Interestingly Fuchikoma is, in fact, the name of the AI, not the
mecha. In all likelihood it will show up again later.

	And, of course, the Fuchikoma's last comment is paraphrasing the robot
from Lost in Space.

	Well, fast running out of parts now. Only three more to go, and they're
all one arc. Hehe.

-----------
Rarstarr,
David Farr
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~djfarr/
djfarr@ihug.co.nz