Dear Listmembers,
Here IS chapter 13 B
IT IS DRAFT!!
THANK YOU ALL! There has been so much mail that I can't
answer all of you individually (I am trying though). Not and finish
this thing. :) So a Collective THANK YOU!!!
I am looking for comments on creative content (plot,
characterization, etc.).
I am by no means an expert on Asian culture or language so I would
also appreciate suggestions on correcting major faux paux. This
Chapter 13 is being sent in two parts
13a 58kb
13b 82 kb
I am not subscribed to the list so please send C&C
to samr@my-dejanews.com (samr was the name of my first Irish
Wolfhound.)
Please do NOT send e-mail to janne. I am using this e-mail
(temporarily) until I can get a system that will allow me to
send larger packets at one time.
I AM NOT JANNE@MINDSPRING ^_^
If anyone is interested I have posted two fanfictions on the RAAC.
"Love is a Battlefield" and "Bloodfist" under the name Allyn Yonge.
I would like to thank my three present pre-readers KazamaJun,
Thiemo and Ken Wolfe for their
patience and invaluable assistance. They have made this fanfiction
immeasurably better. Any omissions and mistakes are entirely mine.
(And another big thanks to two NEW pre-readers David Eddy and
H-Packrat.)
BEGIN CHAPTERS 10 11 AND 12
The characters of the Ranma � universe are the creation
and possession of the brilliant Rumiko Takahashi. They belong to
Rumiko Takahashi and her licensees (Shogakukan Inc., Kitty-Fuji
TV, Viz Communications Inc.) No copyright infringement is
intended.
The characters of Sailor Moon are the creation and possession of the
brilliant Takeuchi Naoko.
They belong to Takeuchi Naoko, Bandai, Toei Animation, DIC,
and all others associated
with rights. No copyright infringement is intended.
[fanfic][sailormoon/ranma] [dark/waffy]Furies
BEGIN CHAPTER 13 B
Usagi patted Sailormercury on the arm.
"Tell me, what's wrong with your computer." she grimaced. "I won't
understand of course."
She flashed a gamine grin. "But I can stand here looking all princess like
and nod wisely while you
talk." Usagi struck an exaggerated pose that she imagined was regal but
resembled acute
indigestion. Sailormercury stifled a laugh.
"It's silly, really. I've just been so frustrated by an intermittent
fault in the operating
system." At Usagi's blank look she elaborated. "I've been getting something
like a burst of static
when using the sensor suite." Sailormercury took her computer back from
Sailormars. "Look." she
turned the screen so that Usagi could see it. "Here it is again."
"Ohhhh. Kawaiiii! It looks just like a spider spinning a web out of
rainbows."
"What!"
Sailormercury turned at the faint cry to see Ranma trying to support a
feebly struggling Akane.
"Let me see that."
Sailormercury rushed forward, alarmed by Akane's pallor as she exhausted
her strength with her
efforts.
"Please, Akanesan. Lie still. You must . . ."
Akane waved away Mercury's protest, showing more energy than she had since
returning from the
Time Gate.
"Let . . .me . . .see . . ." she panted, pointing to Mercury's
computer. Doubtfully she handed
the computer to Akane and was amazed when a broad smile spread over her face.
"W . . .w . . .hat . . .do . . .you . . .know?" Struggling she began
to input commands and to
Sailormercury's amazement the swirling pattern faded to be replaced with
what looked like an
alpha-numeric pattern in some unknown language.
"H . . .ha. I knew it." Akane pressed a function key and a voice began
to issue from the
computer.
@@ . . .tash Rstn'kkl invectr. Nass Rs'pnd. Nass Rs'pnd. Tishlaq na
sett . . .@@
Akane grimaced and hit another series of keys.
"Sorry." she wheezed. "Forgot to initiate a transla . . ."
With an electronic squeal the alien tongue twisted into Japanese.
@@. . .nal approach. Please transmit SitRep and coordinates for
insertion. Combat Support
Unit ONE on final approach. Please transmit Situation Report. Please
transmit location coordinates.
Combat Support Unit ONE calling Weapon 4. Please respond. CSU1 calling.
CSU1 on final app . .
.@@
"My transmitter's . . .not working." Akane grinned at her
understatement. "I need your
computer."
Dumbly, Sailormercury nodded her acquiescence to whatever Akane needed. She
watched
astonished as a burst of filaments erupted from Akane's wrist and buried
themselves in the
computer. The harsh electronic screech of a burst transmission assaulted
their ears.
@@ Acknowledged. Targeting upload accepted. Initiating remote
emergency repair."
"AKANE!" Ranma screamed, clutching Akane's body to him as it suddenly
collapsed in on
itself like an empty paper bag. Almost instantly the process reversed
itself and Ranma could feel . .
.things . . suddenly growing and moving under her skin. The shifting and
crawling of new implants
being "ported" into her body from deep space stopped and Akane jack knifed
out of Ranma's lap
like a spring loaded toy.
"Ahhhhhhh!" Akane clutched her belly gasping. "That TICKLES!!" She
glared at the sky.
"You did that on purpose." She screamed at the cloudless sky, shaking her
fist.
"Ummm. Who are you talking to Akanechan." Usagi asked timidly.
"Oneesama!." Akane stood glaring at the empty sky, hands on hips. "She
think's she's soooo
funny."
"O . . .oneesama? Who . . ."
Sailormercury was interrupted by the sound of a train rumbling in the
distance. She did a double
take as she realized that; one: the nearest track was twenty kilometers
away and two: there hadn't
been a train running in days. She looked around in confusion and saw her
sister senshi twisting
around in confusion. The rumbling grew louder shaking the ground.
"Actually it's 'Rnl'ta sa vree na te lassnz'n'k" Akane suddenly
interjected. "It literally
translates to 'Elder sister who watches over me from the clouds'. But Big
sister is close. She's my
combat support unit. "
Sailormercury suddenly realized Akane was answering her earlier question.
Then it was too late for
conversation as a ball of fire rumbled across the sky with a thunder that
sent the senshi staggering
like one legged drunks on ice.
"WHAT'S . . .HAPPENING!" Jupiter screamed over the roar, trying to
keep Usagi on her
feet.
"ONEESAMA!" Akane shouted back, standing erect on the rolling ground
with the ease of
a life time of martial arts. "SHE'S ABOUT A HUNDRED KILOMETERS OUT ON HER
FIRST
BRAKING PASS."
"WHAAAAT!"
Suddenly light streaked from the fireball toward the ground.
"WHOOOOOPS!" Akane screamed gleefully.
"EVERYBODY DOWN!"
"WHAAAAT!"
Akane abandoned the futile attempt to scream over the thunder of the
passing fireball and instead
grabbed Jupiter/Usagi under one arm, Mercury under the other and dove into
a ditch. Out of the
corner of her eye she could see Ranma, who had been even less disconcerted
by the shaking ground
snatch up Mars and Venus and follow her into cover. Neptune covered Akane
with her own body
while Uranus did the same for Ranma. Fire fountained from the earth as
alien structures vanished in balls of plasma. Shockwaves from kiloton
explosions tumbled JSD armored vehicles across the ruined landscape
like autumn leaves.
Akane started to dig herself out of the rubble that had landed on her
when a hand appeared in front of her face. She looked up to see
Neptune bending over her in concern. At Akane's hesitation she
started to withdraw her hand. Akane gave a sigh.
"We've got to quit meeting like this."
Neptune looked startled then chuckled. Suddenly she stiffened.
"The Princess! How is . . ."
"She's fine." Akane reassured Neptune. "I can feel her
through my link. And through my sensors."
"I'm fine too, thank's for asking." Jupiter groaned as she
erupted from the rubble like a broaching whale pulling a coughing
spitting Usagi with her.
Akane patted Jupiter on the back consolingly.
" Hey, I didn't need sensors to tell you were all right. I could .
. .er . . .feel. . .that you were . . .uh. . . in good shape." She grinned
wickedly and Jupiter suddenly blushed as she recalled how tightly she
had been sandwiched between Akane and Usagi.
"Makoto, you need to loose some weight. You too Akane.
You guys nearly squished me to death."
"What!"Jupiter sputtered "Are you calling me fat? I'll have
you know . . ."
"Ryouga! Where are you man?"
Akane spun sharply at Ranma's call. Ryouga! She'd forgotten all
about him. She started to do a sensor sweep when the earth burst open
in a spray of dirt and rock as the eternal-lost-boy blasted his way from
under a collapsed building.
"WHERE IN THE WORLD AM. . ."
"It's OK Porky." Ranma put a calming hand on Ryouga's
shoulder. "You're still where you started from."
"HUH! WHAT DID YOU SAY!" Ryouga's face screwed up
in fear. "AHHHHHHH! I CAN"T HEAR. I'M DEAF! RANMA!
THIS IS ALL YOUR FAUL . . ."
"Ahhh man!" Ranma twisted Ryouga's head sharply down
and to the left, rapping him sharply just above his ear with the heel of
his hand. A plug of dirt fell from Ryouga's ear. Ranma repeated his
actions for the other ear.
"OK Bacon Breath. Can you hear now?"
"I'm cured! It's a miracle."
Ranma rolled his eyes heaven ward.
"Yeah, Yeah. Whatever. Yo, Akane. You all right?"
"Fine Ranma."
"What was all that?"
"Kinetic weapon strike. Super-dense slugs at about sixty KPS.
Took out all of the big alien emplacements. Oneesama's going to hit
as many of them as she can in a single pass before she orbits back over
Japan."
"Uh . . .yeah." Ranma had no idea what Akane was talking
about but it sounded really neat.
"Guys! Hey! YOU GUYS!!"
"WHAT!" Ranma and Akane turned as one to look at
Ryouga.
"I think we may have a problem." He pointed into the sky
which was black with alien craft.
Ranma gave Akane a sour look.
"I think 'Oneesama' may have missed a few."
Sailorvenus looked at the oncoming horde in disgust.
"Ok, Jupiter, Mars . . .you take the left flank. Neptune . . ."
"I'll take it."
Venus looked at Akane in surprise.
"I appreciate the offer but . . ."
"Just watch me."
Akane stepped several paces away from the others. Before she could
do more Ranma grabbed her by the shoulder and spun her around.
"Are you crazy! What do you . . ."
Soft warm lips pressed against his and a tiny feminine tongue darted
playfully in and out. Ranma froze as his mind went into emergency
shutdown under the sensory overload.
"He's soooo Kawaiii when he does that." Akane grinned
fondly at her shell shocked fiance. Akane walked away from
the senshi toward the oncoming war-craft. A hissing tinny voice erupted
from Mercury's computer
and she suddenly realized that it was still, somehow, connected to Akane.(
Or was this Weapon 4?)
@@Initiating power transfer. @@
##Configuring for Power Tap.##
The small group watched in amazement as a golden nimbus appeared around
Akane's body.
"##Accumulators at 100%. Primary Weapon at 100%, phase generator
spooling up. Full
power to all systems. Containment shield nominal. Initiating transfer to
zero-space.##
With a triumphant roar Akane/Weapon 4 burst into zero-space at full power
for the first time in over
a hundred thousand years.
##Threat priorities assigned. Locking Energy weapon on first target.##
"Forget that!"
**What are you talking about? We've got to kill those things!**
The senshi looked at each other then back at Mercury's computer.
"Who IS that!" Jupiter asked Mercury " It sounds like. . ."
"There's someone else . . .uh . . .IN there with Akanesan." Venus
finished.
Mercury ignored the babble around her and hastily input commands into her
computer.
"There's a definite change in theta rhythms. And the voice patterns
are different. It IS just as
if there were two . . ."
"& i don't like it here. it's scary. &
"Three." Mercury added weakly as the little girl voice came from her
computer. "It's as if there
were three people . . .three DIFFERENT people inside of Akanesan."
"But WHO are they?" Mars wailed.
"It's ok sweetie."
"THAT'S Akane!" Ryouga shouted excitedly.
"We know who Akane is." Ranma growled, worry overlaying his
exasperation. "It's the
OTHER two we need to know about."
"Oh." Ryouga blushed and shuffled his feet embarrassedly. "Uh . .
.sorry 'bout that."
"It's ok sweetie."Akane repeated. "Why don't you and Auntie Misty play
quietly while I
make these mean old things be quiet."
& 'kay & lisped the small voice.
** What are you doing! Let's just kill every . . .**
"I"M a MARTIAL ARTIST TOO!!"
Ranma groaned
"Akane you DUMMY!"
**Are you INSANE! This is a war. There's no place for . . .**
"I can take these guys. A REAL martial artist doesn't need a cannon or
. ."
**OK, OK. The two of us will play quietly while you . . .do whatever
it is you do. Come on
little one, let's let Grannie Akane alone.** The voice faded to static.
"Do you have any idea what that was all about?"
Mercury shrugged helplessly at Neptune's inquiry.
"That's Misty." Usagi said positively. "I recognize the voice."
"But . . .isn't Akanesan . . .I mean . . .I thought Misty was . . ."
Jupiter broke off in
confusion. "I don't understand."
"INNNNNNCOMMMMING!"
The senshi scattered at Venus's cry. Looking up from where they'd taken
cover they saw what
looked like thousands of black armored figures, squat beetle-like flyers
bristling with guns and
swarms of sleek needle nosed craft descend like a school of barracuda who
smelled blood in the
water.
"MARS FLAME . . ."
"LOVE AND BEAUTY . . ."
"DEEEP SUUBMERG . . ."
"OAK EVO . . . oh darn."
Jupiter sounded so disgusted that Mercury laughed involuntarily even as she
watched Weapon 4 (or
was it Akane?) render the senshi completely superfluous.
A staff snapped into existence in her left hand quickly forming itself into
a naginata. Supported by
her contra-grav system, Akane placed herself in a classic "chudan-no-kanae"
positioned directly in
front of the onrushing invaders.
"Akane you dummy."Ranma hissed "This isn't 'engi'! Don't show off how
good you are at
forms, just finish them."
Oblivious to her fiance's concern Akane awaited the first armored strike.
Two massive flyers fired
blast cannon in one synchronized barrage. Akane caught the blasts on her
sori, sweeping the bolts
down and away from her. The blade of her naginata flashed white hot under
the strain of diverting
several megaton-seconds of energy then went up and over in a savage
"men-uchi". The over hand
strike split the first attacker down the middle spilling fire, metal and
unsavory bits of chopped alien
over the landscape. She immediately followed with a "ishizuki-tsuki to the
second flier. The butt end
of the naginati burst the armored vehicle like a rotting corpse. Akane's
"spirit shout" rocked the
heavens as she joyfully charged into battle.
"Ah man. No, no. "nuki-waza, NUKI . . .you dummy."
Mars moved over to Ranma who was muttering under his breath as he watched
the fight far
overhead.
"NO, NO! You idiot. Distance, distance. "Jodan-no-kamae not . . ." he
groaned like a man
in severe pain as he watched Akane charge a cluster of the needle-nosed
flyers with a wildly
offensive "waki-gamae" furious horizontal strikes slicing through the
formation with brutal
efficiency.
"Ummm, what's the matter? I mean other than your fiance is fighting
alien monsters, and is
a reincarnated super-weapon and . . ." Mars mouth snapped shut as she
realized what she was
saying.
"Never mind. What I meant was, what are you muttering about?"
"Dammit." Ranma's eyes never left the battle. "She's fighting stupid.
She's showing off the
'Tendou Ryu' the dummy! DUMMY! Did you hear me!" Ranma screamed to the sky.
"DUMM. .
."
'Excuse me, but what . . ."
"IDIOT! . . . Not you" he hastily apologized to Mars. "Akane. Tendo
Ryu 's one of the most
ancient jutsu forms of naginata. And HER family's branch of the school is
known for being the most
AGGRESSIVE. And NOBODY CARES!!" he screamed again. "Ya hear me. NO ONE
CARES, so
CUT IT OUUUUT!"
"Ummm. Excuse me, what . . ."
"Ohhhh. When you get back down here I'm gonna . . ."
Sailormars could hear Ranma's teeth grinding.
"'I'm a martial artist too'" he mimicked nastily. "That's no excuse
for . . .Ahhhh. Nononono
you dummy. Nuki . . .nuki . . .avoid the . . ." he groaned again. "Well
miss 'Martial Artist' after I
get through with you you'll have to eat standing up for a month . . Then
.I'm gonna' break your
arms . . .no first I'll boil you in . . ."
"Heh heh heh." Mars chuckled nervously as Ranma continued his blood
thirsty catalogue. "I
have to begoingnowseeyou."
"He really loves her." Venus sighed as Mars zoomed in behind her.
"It's soooo romantic."
Mars stared at her friend as if she were a lunatic.
"Are you crazy! He talks like . ."
"Like he's afraid for her." Venus continued. "I hope I can find
someone who cares about me
that much."
"I hope he gets medicated . . .real soon." Mars muttered sheltering
behind Venus.
The attackers were completely outclassed. Their seemingly overwhelming
numerical advantaged
melted like snow in a furnace as Akane attacked at will, phasing out of
zero-space to launch an
attack then vanishing again. Then she got careless. As she phased into
normal-space to attack one of
the largest of the armored fliers six of the "barracuda" fliers fired their
warp-cannon at a single point
in the center of her body. Akane screamed as her containment shield
shredded under the assault. She
could feel her flesh rip and bones crack as space was twisted and warped
inside her body.
##Warning! Shield failure in 5.00 seconds.##
**Lock energy weapon on nearest target** "Misty" suddenly thrust
herself into Akane's
consciousness.
##Negative function. Weapon power diverted to maintain Shield. Shield
failure in 4.32
seconds.##
One second Akane was writhing in flames as dimensional stress stripped the
flesh form her bones ,
the next she floated in a sea of relative calm. Distantly she could feel
"Misty" standing between her
and the soul ripping pain.
**OK hot shot. ** "Misty" panted with strain. **What do we do now?**
& i don' ike it here. bad place. i want to go. &
"I'm sorry honey." Akane said sadly. "We can't . . ."
& now. go now & the child ish voice insisted.
##Shield failure in 0.22 seconds.##
&now. go now. gogogo . . .&
Suddenly Akane realized . . .
**CUT POWER. . .** "Misty" shrieked.
"TO CONTRA- GRAV" Akane finished the command
Suddenly bereft of lift "Weapon 4" dropped like a stone . . .out of the
field of fire.
&go now& the child's voice said in satisfaction.
Weapon4/Akane flashed into zero-space and reappeared behind and above her
attackers. Riding the
cusp of dimensional coherence she reached THROUGH armored walls to rip the
guts out of alien
craft. Ghostly hands pinched out nuclear fires like candle flames and
suddenly powerless armor
spiraled to earth like dead leaves. The sky was filled with explosions and
fire and an expanding
yellowish grey mist of alien blood and bone.
************************************************************
"Look out!"
Sailormars snatched her friend by one arm and heaved her from the path of
the deadly beam. She
was just that least millisecond slow getting out of the way herself.
Between one heartbeat and
another her right arm vanished at the shoulder as the warp field ripped
flesh and bone into another
dimension.
"REICHAN!"
Sailormoon screamed her friends name and sprinted toward her. The rest of
the small party also
dashed toward Sailormars, except for Sailorjupiter who lay half stunned
where Sailormars had
thrown her.
"Reichan, Reichan!"
Usagi grabbed at her friend but was roughly thrust aside as Sailormercury
dropped to her knees
beside Sailormars. Mercury made a thick pad of cloth from the bow she
ripped off her fuku and
jammed it against the ghastly wound. Usagi watched in horror as Rei's life
dribbled from the
saturated cloth and puddled on the ground.
"Ami, do something!"
"I'm trying, I'm trying!" Her breath came in short choppy gasps as she
struggled to stop the
warm sticky flood.
Strong hands came down over hers and pressed into pressure points. The
awful torrent slowed but
didn't stop. Ami jerked in surprise and looked over her shoulder to see
Saotome Ranma.
"Just relax. Breath naturally."
Ami clamped a firm hand on her emotions as she realized she was
hyperventilating.
"I can't stop the bleeding. I can't . . .she needs a
hospital . . .Minako!"
The golden senshi looked up from her communicator.
"No good. There's not much traffic on the JSDF or emergency
frequencies. The few stations
that I can get say that there's nothing flying within three hundred
kilometers of here." Her jaw
muscles bunched in frustration. "There's no way we can get a helicopter,
not even a light plane."
She waved a hand at the surrounding rubble. "Even if we could clear a place
for it to land. And the
roads are even worse. No ground traffic at all is moving."
"There's got to be something we can do!"
Usagi pressed both hands to her breast and the Crystal began to glow.
"Stop it Usagi!" Minako ordered sharply. "You can't grow Rei a new
arm, and you'll just
hurt yourself trying." She looked around . "Michiru you and Haruka take
position on that rise over
there. We screwed up by the numbers, watching Akanechan and letting our
guard down. It's not
going to happen again."
Michiru and Haruka shared a look then Haruka limped off toward the hill.
"Akanechan, can you or your Oneesama do anything?"
@@I'm sorry Minakosan.@@ Oneesama's voice came from Mercury's
computer. @@ I
am not configured to carry passengers. Or for atmospheric flight And my
repair and medical
facilities are specific for dealing with battle damage to Weapon 4. It will
take some time to convert
them to heal another entity.@@
Minako's shoulders slumped in defeat.
"Alright. Now try that cold thingy you do."
Minako swung around to stare at Ranma and Ami who were both hunched over
Rei's body.
"Cold . . . OH!"
Ami's brow furrowed in concentration as she tried to force her power in
channels she'd never
thought of before. Slowly a rime of frost formed over the gash in Rei's
side and thickened into a
bandage of ice.
"I've lowered her core temperature." Ami whispered staring in
disbelief at what she'd done.
"That will extend the time she
has . . .but we HAVE to get her to a hospital."
"What hospital?" Minako asked wearily. "There's nothing standing . .
.no electricity . . .no
roads . . .I don't even know if the aid station is still intact."
"It's still there." Usagi said confidently. "Hotaruchan wouldn't let
anything happen to it."
"Even if it is still there" Ami interjected. "Rei needs a hospital . .
.surgeons . . .blood . . ."
"Hotaruchan can help her."
"I know she would try but . . ."
"I can get her to the aid station, your Highness."
Usagi spun around at the unexpected voice, hope blossoming in her face.
"And how would you do that?" Makoto said sarcastically. An edge of
something fierce and
ugly simmered beneath the surface. Something that had been there ever since
Rei had sacrificed her
arm, and perhaps her life to save Makoto.
"I'm fast, Highness." Neptune said, ignoring Makoto's tone. "With
Haruka injured, I'm the
fastest here. I can carry Reisan."
"Carry her? Over a hundred kilometers?" Makoto laughed harshly. "Rei
needs help today
not next week."
"I can do this, Highness." Neptune's voice was low and urgent.
"Please, let me do this
thing."
Usagi looked into Neptune's eyes and whatever she saw there decided her.
She gave a choppy nod of
agreement and something very like hope lit the former senshi's face.
************************************************************
"This should keep you on course."
Sailormercury strapped a small flat case, about twice the size of a wrist
watch on Neptune's right
wrist.
"It's an inertial navigation unit. Not as accurate as GPS but most of
the satellites are down."
She pressed a small earbug into Neptune's ear. "I've programmed it with a
map and the last known
location of the aid station. It will give you verbal directions as you go.
It's also programmed to pick
up signals from Hotaruchan's communicator. If. . .when you get close enough
to break through all
this interference the unit will automatically call for help and guide
Hotaruchan to you."
"Thank you, this is . . ."
Ami waved off her thanks.
"Oneesama did most of the fabrication. I just helped with the design.
It's my duty to make
sure the sailorsenshi are properly equipped."
"Hey, she can't run on an empty stomach."
Neptune looked up to see Sailorjupiter approaching with what looked like a
small backpack
dangling from her hand.
"This is a water carrier. I salvaged it from all that JSDF stuff
that's laying around." She
swept the area with her hand to indicate the mass of broken and scattered
material that had once
been a small military outpost. Makoto fastened the harness across
Neptune's chest and adjusted it
until it hung comfortably.
"You drink from this." Makoto indicated a small black tube. "And
here's some trail mix, for
energy." She fastened a small pouch to the top of the harness.
"What's in it?" Ami asked curiously.
"Oh . . .ah . . .just some stuff . . .I found."
"What sort of stuff." Ami reached for the pouch, her curiosity fully
aroused.
"Nothing much . . .really. Just chocolate, raisins, malt, dextrose . . ."
Ami dug out a pinch of the mixture and brought it to her lips.
"Aaaaccc . . .phhhhht." Ami spit reflexively as a small thunderbolt
exploded in her mouth.
". . .and a little Dexedrine for flavor." Makoto finished in a small
voice.
Mercury and Neptune stared at her in amazement.
"Well, she might need a little edge!" Makoto put in defensively.
"Thank you Makotosan." Neptune said with the suspicion of laughter in
her voice. "That . . .
that was very thoughtful of you." She took the pouch from Ami's hands and
refastened it to her
harness.
"How does that feel? Can you move all right?"
Neptune twisted at the waist and shrugged her shoulders.
"Ahh . . .it's a little tight around here." She indicated a spot below
her left arm. Sailorvenus
passed her hands over the golden web that held the unconscious Sailormars
against Neptune's back.
The mass of eldritch energy subtly shifted at her mental commands and
Neptune's face lightened in
relief.
"Thank you. That is much better." Sailorvenus remained cold and
unresponsive. Neptune
wondered if Venus was sorry she had missed with her Crescent Beam when
they's met earlier. The
thought hurt . . .it hurt more than she thought possible. As she turned to
go Sailorvenus stepped in
her path.
"You took Usagi's heart crystal."
Neptune's heart withered at cold flat statement.
"Usagi forgave you."
There was no forgiveness in Venus eyes that Neptune could see.
"You betrayed us to Galaxia. And Usagi forgave you."
Neptune was frozen in place. There was nowhere to hide.
"And then . . .you finally pushed Usagi too far. She banished you.
Wiped you from her life
like dust from her shoes. And it hurt you . . .like you'd hurt so many
other's . . .I could see it in your
eyes. I could see . . ."
Neptune closed her eyes as the pain threatened to overwhelm her. Tears
leaked from her eyes and
she shuddered from the effort of holding them back. Strong hands grabbed
her by the shoulders and
her eyes flew open in surprise.
"I could see you were hurting. And I didn't like it. So don't screw it
up again. It's not like
we've got senshi dropping out of the trees like cherry blossoms."
Neptune blinked in amazement as Venus winked at her and turned away in a
swirl of golden hair.
"Wait."
A soft voice stopped her as she took the first step on her journey.
"I have something for you."
Neptune looked down as Usagi pressed a tiny hand to her breast. A warm
silver light pulsed and
began to flow from Usagi into Neptune. All doubts, fears and pain washed
away in the silver flood
and Neptune felt a rush of power almost lift her from the ground
"Highness, I swear to you, on my life, that I will . . ."
A gentle finger pressed to her lips silenced her.
"I know that you will do your best." Usagi smiled sadly. " I hope . .
.I . . ."She looked down
at the ground then back up at Neptune who sucked in an involuntary gasp at
the pain she saw there.
"If anything happens . . .if Reichan doesn't . . .if Reichan . . . I won't
blame you. I want you to come
back to me. No matter what . . .I . . .Just don't do anything stupid."
Neptune could feel those innocent, infinitely wise eyes strip away her
years of armor to look directly
at her soul. To see that she had planed to pay with her own life if Hino
Rei died. She had seen that as
atonement, as noble. But under Usagi's gaze it seemed foolish and cowardly.
"I . . I promise, Highness. I promise . ."
"Usagi. My senshi should call me by name."
Joy burst in her heart . . . a flush of power that dwarfed the silver
energy. Sailorneptune bowed once
to her liege then sped off toward the distant aid station with a speed that
a cheetah would have
envied.
The small group watched as Sailorneptune quickly vanished into the distance.
"Well, now what do we do about the rest of the enemy." Venus jerked a
thumb at a few
black specks that could be seen in the distant sky. "Should we go after
them, or let the JSDF take
care of them?"
"We've got bigger problems than that." Mercury put in before anyone
else could speak.
"These . .time storms, for lack of a better term are getting worse. And
more frequent."
"What do you mean?" Jupiter asked.
"The Trans-Atlantic and Trans-Pacific cables are still functioning . .
.at least a little bit. And
I've still got at least a partial link with the Americans." She looked down
at her computer display.
"The Titanic has docked in New York, the Persian army is advancing on
Athens, half of Paris has
been replaced with what looks like a city from a thousand years in the
future. And that's the good
news. Most of these storms leave dead areas behind, molten rock, methane
and hydrogen gas."
"It's Pluto. She's broken the wards on the Time Gate." Sailoruranus
limped over, leaning
heavily on her crutch. "She's making changes in the past, trying to bring
back the Silver
Millennium. But she can't do it. All she'll get is chaos and death. That's
why the gate was warded.
The time stream is so complicated, there are so many ways the time stream
can diverge with even a
small change." Sailoruranus looked at the assembled senshi and shook her
head in disbelief. "Pluto
knows this better than anyone. It's simply not possible that Pluto could
restore the Moon Kingdom .
. .bring back Queen Serenity. It would be easier to roll dice and get seven
a million times in a row. "
"Pluto must be using her own dice then." Sailoruranus spun at Minako's
voice and followed
her gaze to the moon hanging low on the horizon. Enormous cloud formations
could be seen
swirling in what looked like a tropical storm over an amazingly azure
ocean. And in the shadows
that formed the interior of the crescent moon, the lights of a enormous
city blazed.
************************************************************
"She'd DONE it!"
Pluto's eyes flamed with an unholy light as she gazed through the portal
at the Imperial City . . .a
city that had died two hundred thousand years before in black fire and
blood and pain. Feverishly
she spun the portal through space until she found the Royal Gardens, the
wild areas that Serenity
loved so well.
"There!" Through the tangle of bushes, vines and wild flowers Pluto
could see the flash of
silver and purple, the colors of the Moon Kingdom, Serenity's colors. She
stepped through the portal
and pushed madly through the wild tangle of brush. Vines snatched at her
clothes, branches caught
at her hair and scratched her face as she forced her way through.
"Serenity . . .Serenity . . .ah Goddess I've missed you . . ." Pluto
reached out to pull the
slender figure to her. Hissing with alarm, the robed figure drew back in
fright. Even in the gathering
twilight Pluto could make out the golden cat slitted eyes and the
bifurcated tongue nervously tasting
the air.
************************************************************
"Dammit tomboy! Why'dya have to be th' one ta go? If these senshi 're
so good . . .let them
go . .not you."
Ranma was being unfair and he knew it. But he didn't care. He only cared
about Akane.
"Because I'm the only one that can get to the Time Gate."
"What about that 'Key" thing . . .why don't they use that?"
"Because Saotomesama . . ." Sailoruranus started, then flinched back
as Ranma rounded on
her with a snarl.
"Listen you . . .this is all your fault. If you hadn't helped that
bitch . . ."
Akane placed a calming hand on Ranma's shoulder.
"Not now. We don't have time. The key's don't work anymore. We already
thought of that.
But I can . . .make my own door. I go in, smash Pluto's machine, get out.
Fast. I'm not going to fight
her. We can deal with her later."
Ranma looked at Akane as if she were an especially stupid person who would
have to work hard
just to be an idiot.
"And you think she's just going to let you walk in and break her Time
Gate . . .after all she's
done already? After all she's done to YOU! She's gonna be all over you . .
.and on her own turf."
Ranma grabbed Akane and shook her. "STUPID! At least take me with you . .
.take one of the
'senshi'. . . hell . . .take Ryouga. Someone to watch your back."
"I'm not equipped to carry passengers. And while, theoretically, I
could extend the
containment shield to carry someone . . .the stress of crossing dimensions
would probably kill them.
Why do you thing I didn't carry Reichan to a hospital? Now let me go. I've
got to go." She brushed
her lips briefly across Ranma's and turned to leave. He surprised her by
reaching out and pulling her
to him.
"Not this time!"
Before Akane could move he covered her lips with his own and she was
drowning in a warm sea that
tasted of spice and musk and . . .Ranma. He released her abruptly and she
stared at him stupidly as
her scattered wits flew around like a swarm of bees.
"Don't fool around playing 'Best Warrior'. Just do what ya gotta do
and get the hell out.
An' if ya see that Pluto bitch. Shoot her. In the back if ya can. An' if
you get your stupid self killed
I'm
gonna' . . .I'm gonna . . .I just am, that's all."
Ranma stomped off a few paces, then turned to glare at her.
"WELL! Get goin'. An' come right back."
Akane stared at Ranma for a moment, then with a grin she vanished in a
flare of light and a sound
like a distant rumble of thunder.
*********************************************************
Akane staggered and almost went down as she breached the barrier to the
Time Stream.
&don' like it here. go home. go home . . .now&
"You and me both sweetie." Akane whispered peering nervously through
the pervasive
mists. "But first we have to do this one little thing. Then we'll go home.
OK?"
&i'cream?&
"You can have some ice cream when we get home, OK?"
& kay' &
##Accumulators at 42%. Communications . . .null function. Power tap .
. null function.
Active sensors . . .degraded. Function at 0.53. Passive sensors . .
.degraded. Activating fractal filter
program.##
"What's going on?"
**The Time Gate. It's affecting our sensor capability. And we're cut
off from Oneesama.
No more power tap. We're on our own.##
"Primary Weapon to standby."
**WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!&** Misty screamed as Akane's body twisted down
through
dimensions to normal space.
"You just said that the power tap was gone and I don't see anyplace
to recharge our
batteries. We ought to save our power until we need it."
** You do remember Pluto? You know . . .Tall, dark, homicidal?**
"Ha. I can take care of her." The air shimmered and a staff appeared
in Akane's hands.
Akane's eyes narrowed in concentration and the staff shifted and flowed,
forming a heavy war-
hammer topped with a wicked triangular spike.
"This should take care of things." Akane said, hefting the heavy
hammer with satisfaction.
**You do realize that the staff isn't a weapon, don't you?**
"Then what is it?" Akane asked absently, swinging the hammer through
the air, thoughts of
smashing and bashing dancing in her head.
**It's a multi-phasic, thought responsive force application device.**
"HUH?"
**It's a tool kit.**
"Uhhhhh. Well, any way. Where should we go now?"
**Just a guess, but why not in the direction of that tremendous
glowing shape?**
"What glowing . . .Oh."
**Some Martial Artist!** Misty chuckled. ** No wonder your boyfriend
worries about
you.**
" HE'S NOT my BOYFRIEND!"
**Then can I have him?**
"!!!!!!!!"
&i think he's nice. i wish i had a friend like him&
**See, even the squirt likes him.**
"Well, I guess he's not ALWAYS so bad." Akane reluctantly admitted.
"But he's such a
pervert. Always sticking his big nose where it's not wanted."
** Well if you asked nice, maybe he'd stick . . .**
"Ahhhhhhh. Nonononono" Akane sputtered frantically as she tried to
hush Misty.
& why's akanechan so red? &
Akane fumed as she stomped toward the fiery glow and tried to ignore
Misty's smug laughter. .
Suddenly the mists parted to reveal stone walls, benches and . . .
** I recognize this! It's . . .**
". . .the garden!" Akane snarled. Knuckles whitened on the hammers
grip as Akane charged
howling through the maze.
"PLUTOOOOOO!"
Akane battered her way through ornamental hedges and stone walls that had
been old before the
pyramids had been built. Gasping from her effort Akane found herself in the
center of the maze.
Before her she could see the table where Pluto had used her to smash the
wards. And behind that and
to one side she could see an open portal. Moving closer she looked through
it, and from it's
perspective down into a large garden complex filled with noise and rushing,
searching . . . figures
"Well, Pluto was . . .close."
**Yeah.** Misty agreed, looking with enhanced vision at the scene.
**It IS the Moon
Kingdom. Well A Moon Kingdom.**
Akane spun suddenly at a noise and Misty was momentarily disoriented at the
sudden movement.
When the scene stabilized she could see, huddled in a corner . . .
##Kinetic weapon active. Energy weapon active. Target selected.##
Misty wasn't even aware shed summoned her weapons.
**KILL THE . . .**
"Check Fire. Abort . . .Abort . . ."
**NOOO! KILL . . .**
##Command conflict. Please . . .**
**WHAT ARE YOU DOING. LET ME GOOO . . ."
"NO! You can't kill a helpless person." Akane panted with the effort
to keep control of her
body and the weapons systems.
**JUST WATCH ME** Misty's mental scream almost shook Akane's control
. . .almost.
But a life time of martial arts had given her a tremendous mental toughness.
&hello. my name is lash'ra. do you want to be friends?&
Akane and Misty stopped their mental struggle to find themselves kneeling
beside the huddled figure
of Pluto. A gentle hand reached out to brush aside tangled matted hair to
show a dirty face, etched
with the tracks of tears.
&don't cry. we're goin, for i'cream. you can come too.&
"I tried so hard." The raspy whisper was old and tired. "I tried . .
.so hard." Pluto looked up
and Akane/Misty flinched at the shattered emptiness they saw there.
"Go ahead. . .kill me. I don't care. I've never been able to die
before. Maybe this time. .
.maybe . . .I just wish I could see her . . .say goodby . . ." Pluto
wrapped her arms around her middle
and rocked back and forth. "Serenity! I'm sorry . . .I'm sorry . . .don't
leave me. Don't leave me. . .
alone. Please . . .please."
**Now what?** Misty sounded genuinely bewildered. A powerful,
confident, cruel Pluto she
could deal with. This lonely broken woman made her uncomfortable.
"Pluto. Pluto." Akane shook Pluto by the shoulder. "Pluto. How do we
fix the wards? Pluto!
Listen to me!"
Pluto continued to rock back and forth. Now carrying on conversations with
people long dead, now
humming a happy tune as she looked at long vanished vistas.
"DAMMIT." Akane's hand cracked across Pluto's face, rocking her back.
Pluto looked at
Akane with bewildered eyes.
"Why did you do that?"
"The wards. We have to fix the wards."
**Why not just blast the machine, like we planned?**
"Because the machine's already smashed. Something else is causing the
problem."
Misty shifted her perception and saw what she'd missed the first time
because of her anger. The
machine was indeed smashed and blackened. Misty thought she recognized the
signature of a "Dead
Scream" attack. Probably Pluto, after she found out the Moon Kingdom wasn't
exactly as she'd
remembered it.
"What do the wards matter." Pluto rasped bitterly. "What does anything
matter. Let it go.
Let it all go. Maybe I can find peace . . ."
"What about Serenity?"
"She's dead. That's the problem. She's dead and nothing . . ."
"She's NOT DEAD." Akane screamed. "Not unless you kill her. She gave
her life to save
her people, to send them to a better life in the future.. Serenity gave her
life to build a future. Are
you so selfish you'll let it all be for nothing? And her daughter! A piece
of Serenity still lives in her.
Are you going to let her die?"
Pluto looked at Akane with dazed eyes. Then, slowly, painfully she started
to her feet.
"You really are annoying." The time staff appeared at Pluto's command
and she used it to
pull herself erect. " I understand why Ranma runs off all the time. Nag,
Nag, Nag."
"What! What did you say! I do not . . ."
Akane broke off blushing at Pluto's rough chuckle.
"Let's try to put things back . . .while I'm still . . .able."
Akane looked at Pluto suspiciously.
"Right now . . .everything you just said . . .makes sense. So much
sense that I don't know
why I didn't see it myself. But soon I'll start listening to the voices
again . . .I can't help it. Serenity .
. .I couldn't hear the voices when I was with Serenity . . .I could hear
myself when I was with her . .
."
Pluto shook herself, like a dog shaking off water and straightened to her
full height. Raising the time
staff before her she began to spin it in a complicated pattern. Lightning
flashed in the mist and
thunder rolled. Akane could see sweat beading on Pluto's brow as she
exerted her will on the time
stream.
"X'han NA'TAR SHAAA." Pluto's voice intoned commands in a language
that had been
dead half a million years before the birth of the Imperium. "X'HAN . .
.NA'TAR . . .SHAAA."
Akane could see muscles bunch and cord in Pluto's arms as she took one step
. . .then another and
another . . .forcing back the mist. The Time Staff was glowing now, and
evil hellish red. It screamed,
like a dying woman, as it cut through the mist's of time . . .forcing
"Time Was","Time Is"
and"Time Will BE" to Pluto's will. Akane thought Pluto was going to
succeed. Right up to the
point when a wall of fire and thunder smashed into Pluto like the fist of
God.
**Primary Weapon Active.**
Akane felt her body warp and twist as the containment shield firmed up. A
life time of training
launched Akane into the inferno that claimed Pluto. Even as the raging
chaos storm stripped away
her flesh and sanity like acid she grasped the twisting, burning figure of
Pluto and pulled her into the
dubious safety of the containment shield.
**This is stupid.**
"I know."
**We don't have enough power for a passenger.**
"Almost."
**The shock of transition will kill her.** Misty said with a mixture
of hopeful doubt.
"I can't leave her to burn."
**Do you think she . . .**
& i'cream! i'cream! go now!!"
Misty turned her attention from her argument to see another , larger chaos
storm rushing toward
them.
**OHHHH FUUUU . . ."
************************************************************
" . . .KKKKKKK." Akane finished as she stumbled and fell on the uneven
ground.
Instinctively she twisted to cushion the unconscious Pluto with her own body.
& bad bad word. wash you mouf out wiff soap.& the small girl voice
said with gleeful
anticipation.
Akane groaned and struggled to drag her bruised and abused body from under
Pluto's dead weight
when it suddenly vanished. Strong hands jerked her into a rough embrace.
"Are you OK. Is any thing broken?" Ranma ran his hands frantically
over his fiance,
searching for blood and broken bones. "Well, what's wrong?"
"C . . .can't b . .reath." Akane gasped.
"Ooops." Ranma released his grip and Akane sucked in oxygen like a
"Richard Simmons"
escapee sucking down twinkies.
"What's she doing here?" Jupiter pointed coldly at the unconscious Pluto.
"She tried to put back the wards." Akane panted, sinking to the ground
as reaction set in.
Ranma went to the ground with her, and for once Akane didn't resent his
strong comforting
presence. "Couldn't do it. A . . .almost kill . . .killed her . . .us too.
Brought her . . .couldn't . . .let
her die."
"We have to do something." Sailormercury looked at the small group.
"The time storms are
getting worse. And there's something funny about the power emissions from
what's left of those
alien structures."
"Funny. How so?" Sailoruranus asked.
"Just . . funny. They shouldn't be active at all . . . not after what
Oneesama did to them. But
. . ."
"Hilbert-Space."
Sailormercury looked down at where Pluto lay sprawled on the ground.
"What did you say?"
"Hilbert-Space. They're Hilbert-Space shunts."
Sailormercury went white and swayed on her feet. Sailoruranus shot out a
hand to steady,
overbalanced on her crutch and would have gone over with Mercury if Ryouga
hadn't been there to
catch them.
"What is it! What's wrong Amichan!" Usagi's worried voice came dimly
to Sailormercury
as if from a distance.
"Oh, God. Why did you do it?" She stared down at Pluto. "You've killed
us. You've killed
us all."
************************************************************
Leap, turn, leap, leap. Sailorneptune's entire world was focused on the
ground beneath her feet, and
the voice whispering through her ear-bug. In Amisan's voice. She wondered
briefly at that. But only
briefly. She didn't have energy for anything but running.
^Eighty seven kilometers to aid station. Bear to the right. Present
velocity is seventy three
KPH. Pulse 195. ETA to aid station 1 hour 54 minutes.^
Not good enough. Faster. She had to go faster. Without breaking stride
Sailorneptune took a sip of
water from her chest pack and dug in. Stretching each leaping stride to
thirty meters, increasing her
already impossible speed . . .
^Velocity 108 KPH. Pulse 223. Continue straight. ETA to aid station
is 47 minutes. ^
************************************************************
"What is it Amichan." Usagi's pleading voice went unheaded as
Sailormercury entered
commands into her computer. And the answer was the same as it had been
moments
before . . .Gotterdammerung . . .Ragnarok . . .death.
"Why . . .why did you do it?" She asked, not expecting an answer.
"I needed the power . . .power to change . . .time . . .to cheat . .
.death."
"Would someone please tell me what's going on?"
Sailormercury turned at Jupiter's pleading voice.
"Hilbert-space is a theoretical concept . . .the source of creation.
Only it's not theoretical.
Pluto figured out how to access it to get power from it."
"Uhhh. And that's bad?"
"Only if you think plugging an extension cord into God is bad."
Sailormercury snapped shut
the cover on her computer and shoved it away with an awful finality.
"Pluto's torn open a hole into
the very source of creation . . .it's an INFINITE source of power. The time
storms are nothing, just a
side effect at this point. . The tear is just going to get wider and wider
. . .until the surface of the
earth boils away. Until it consumes the earth, the moon, the inner planets
. . .the sun."
"It . . .it can't just go on forever . . .can it?" Usagi asked in a
small voice.
"No . . .eventually the hole will collapse in on itself . . .in about
a million years or so. I doubt
it will destroy more than a third of our galaxy before then."
"OK, so how do we stop it."
Sailormercury rounded on Ranma with a fierceness born of terror and
helplessness.
"Stop it? You can't stop i!" Mercury laugher harshly. "You cretin.
This isn't some street
fight . . . some little . . ."
"That's enough Ami" Usagi's voice stopped Mercury's diatribe. "
Ranmachan is right. We
need you to tell us what to do . .. How to stop it."
"I don't know HOW to stop it."
"Well, can't we plug the hole?"
Mercury's shoulders slumped in despair at Jupiter's naive question. How did
she explain . . .
"We have to disrupt the flow . . .before it stabilizes at this level."
Mercury looked down in surprise at the weak voice to see Pluto trying to
sit up. She dropped to her
knees beside the guardian of time.
"What do you mean?"
"You had the answer yourself. Remember? You said that it would
collapse in on it self."
"Well, yes in about a million years."
"Why?"
"It creates mass and energy. The mass is slightly ahead of the energy
output . . .eventually
gravity will collapse the opening. Eventually. But that doesn't help us . . ."
"Yes it does. The opening is unstable. It want's to close. Only the
flow of energy is keeping
it open. If we input enough energy . . .too much energy . . .too fast for
space to
tear . . .the flow will be dispersed. Just a little, but enough to collapse
the hole."
Mercury's face lit momentarily . . .then fell.
"Even accepting what you say , we don't have that kind of energy. Not
even H-bombs would
be enough to affect the energy that's pouring out of that thing.'
"I can . . ."
"NO!"
"NO way Usagi!"
"I can not let your Highness do such . . ."
"That will not work Princess. The energy must be released directly in
the heart of the
confluence of time, space and energy. You would never survive the journey."
Pluto struggled to her
feet. I . . .on the other hand can easily enter the time stream and . . ."
"You don't have enough energy to blow out candles on a birthday cake,
let alone snuff out
the fires of creation."
Akane rose from the ground with a joint popping stretch. Ranma looked on in
helpless horror as his
fiance twisted at the waist in a limbering exercise, and spoke calmly to
her princess and the senshi.
"I, on the other hand, have LOTS of energy."
************************************************************
"I've checked the calculations, again."
"And?"
"You are correct." Ami answered Akane reluctantly. "If you were to . .
.translate up several
dimensional levels . . .then breach the containment shield . . .the sudden
. . .release of energy should
be enough to destabilize the Hilbert-space breach."
"That settles it then."
"Like hell." Ranma spun Akane to face him. "That's it? You're just
gonna go and . . ."
"You'd go. If you could. You'd go. Because it's the right thing to do.
The only thing."
Akane stopped Ranma as he started to protest.
"You know you would. You're always rushing off to save the world . .
.to save me. Now
it's my turn." She brushed the hair out of his eyes and tucked her arm in
his.
"Let's walk a little."
She led him away from the group, talking as they went.
"I haven't always treated you very well." She started.
"That's not true. You've been swell. I'm the jerk . .I'm the pervert .
. I'm . .."
"Yes."Akane laughed a little. "You are. But I'm just as bad. But you
scared me. I mean . .
.first I thought you were a girl. Then you were a boy. And I hated boys."
She wrinkled her nose in
memory of those day. "They were always . . .looking . . .and whispering and
. . .and trying to grope.
I hated it. And suddenly there you were. A strange boy. And I was supposed
to MARRY you. Give
up my life. . .my plans for you."
Ranma looked uncomfortable at these revelations and started to speak. Again
Akane stopped him.
"You're a jerk, and a pervert. Arrogant, egotistical, stubborn. Won't
listen." Akane stopped
her litany suddenly and punched Ranma lightly on the shoulder.
"But you're MY jerk. And I guess I like stubborn, egotistical
perverts. Our marriage would
never have been dull, that's for sure."
"Please, Akane. Don't do this. I can't lose you. I . . .I . . .oh god.
Akane I love you. Please.
Don't die!"
Akane pulled Ranma into her shoulder. She could feel warm tears soaking her
blouse.
"Dummy." She whispered into his ear. "Dummy. I'm a martial artist
too." Akane pressed
her face into Ranma's hair and breathed deeply, trying to memorize his feel
and scent. " Take care
of Usagi and the rest for me. I'll wait for you by Hachiko.." She
whirled away from him and
quickly mounted the air on her contra-grav. Seconds later she vanished in a
flash of fire and a crack
of imploding air.
************************************************************
^Velocity 106KPH. Pulse 275. ETA aid station 12 minutes.^
A giant hand squeezed her chest and her legs felt like wooden stumps from
the knees down. Neptune no
longer knew why or where she was running. Blackness narrowed her vision to
pinpoints and blood
thundering through her veins made her deaf to everything except the small
voice in her ear.
^Velocity 103KPH. Pulse 283. Bear left. Bear Left. Bear . . ." ETA
aid station . . .^
Blind, deaf and dying Sailorneptune forced her failing body through the
ruined city, desperate to win a
race she no longer knew she was running.
*************************************************************
"I think we can manage a 'Sailor Teleport', for one person."
"What good will that do?" Venus stood looking over Mercury's shoulder
while she worked. The
other senshi and Ryouga sat in a huddle, talking quietly. Ranma just
stood, silently staring at the spot
where Akane had vanished.
"We need to get Usagi out of here. I think we can send her as far as
Australia. That should be
safe."
"Safe? From what?"
Mercury looked at her friend then dropped her eyes.
"When Akanechan disrupts the . . .ah . . .'tear' in space, there's
going to be an . . .event. That is .
." She paused for a moment, then pointed to the alien ruins, just visible
in the distance.
"That's what's left of one of the Hilbert-space shunts the aliens
built. They used them to make a
'tear' in space. They thought they were stopping Pluto from . . .well, it
doesn't matter what they thought.
The point is, they tore a hole, or holes. And the weakest spot is in Japan
. . .right over there in fact. And
when Akanechan . . .well there's going to be a . . .leak . . . a BIG
leakage of energy." Mercury laughed
softly. It was not a happy sound. "Listen to me. A leakage. It's going to
make the surface of the sun feel
like D-point. There won't be enough left of the Home Islands to put in a
shoe box."
Venus stared at her Mercury, stunned.
"Don't you think you could have mentioned this earlier? I mean . . ."
"There was no point. The longer we waited the worse it would be in the
end. And I wasn't sure . .
.really sure how bad it would be. And at least now, most of the world will
survive. Japan, Taiwan, the
Chinese coast . . .they're all gone. But not Australia, I think. And we can
send Usagi. If we combine our
powers I'm almost sure . . ."
"I'm not going anywhere."
They hadn't heard Usagi approach.
"Usagi! You have to go. You're the . . ."
"I'm not going. I love you guys too much . . ."
"HEY!"
They all spun at Makoto's shout.
"HEY!" She repeated. "LOOK! Something's happening!"
"Too late. We're too late." Mercury whispered as she watched the sky
over Tokyo burst open like
a rotten corpse and vomit fire and chaos. Automatically she keyed her
visor into existence and began
feeding data into her computer. The familiar, futile activity helped keep
the fear at bay. She despised her
self for her fear, never realizing that she had atomically stepped in front
of Usagi at Makoto's shout. The
other senshi gathered, placing their bodies between their princess and
death. Off to the side Ryouga moved
to shield the still unresponsive Ranma. Heavy chi boiled from the infinite
well of Ryouga's sorrow and
despair like puss from a rotting limb.
"CRISIS . . . MAKE UP!"
"Uagaiiii . . .NO!"
Hands snatched impotently at her garments as the radiant winged figure
stepped past the gathered senshi.
>From her breast she took a blazing crystal and held it in front of her.
"IMPERIAL . . . SILVER . . . EMBRACE!"
*************************************************************
##Warning! Containment shield at 30% overload. Warning! Entropic sump
at saturation point.
Warning! Catastrophic . . .##
**This is promising.** Misty chuckled. **All these warnings . . .I
think we should have a big
boom.**
"Master Happosai would approve."
**Who's . . .oh the little pervert.**
"He liked explosions. Maybe this would classify as a masters technique."
**Let's do it. We're not likely to be able to translate any higher.**
Akane agreed with her ghostly sister-self. Already she felt a burning
twisting in her gut as dimensional
shear threatened to tear her apart. The containment shield flickered and
flared under the stress of nearly
sixty more up gradient dimensional transfers than ever it's designers had
anticipated. After all, Weapon 4
has been designed to stay BETWEEN dimensions in zero space, not travel
upward to higher planes. But
the higher she went, the greater the potential energy difference between
her new state and her native n-
space. And soon, all that potential energy would be actualized in a release
rivaling the Big-Bang.
"Disengage safety interlocks." Akane commanded the computer implant.
##Negative. Anti-suicide protocols forbid . . .##
**IMPERIAL OVERRIDE!!! . . .you stupid fu . . .**
##Override accepted.## Came the calm, prim voice of the computer.
"Getting a little testy, are we?"
**It's not fair! Every time I start to be happy . . .I can't . .
.Usagi . . .and now. . . I'm going to . . .
Dammit!! Why aren't you angry! What about Ranma! What about . . .**
"I'm a martial art . . ."
**DON'T GIVE ME THAT . . .**
"That's what I believe. How I was raised. 'Death is lighter than a
feather, duty heavier than a
mountain.'. And you believe it too, . . . .'Blood Guard!'."
Misty was silent a moment. Then sighed.
**Program crash translation. Set containment field to rupture with
maximum energy release.**
##Working##
**I guess we'd better pick our spot.**
They dropped down through dimensions like a hawk stooping on it's prey.
Faster and faster skipping in
and out of realities like a stone across water.
##Energy difference at 5546. Increasing exponentially.##
"Translate into Time-Stream."
With a no more effort than body surfing in boiling acid Weapon 4 punched
through the barrier into the
one dimension that was common to all the others . . .Time.
Down . . .and down. Gathering speed and power they raced through time.
Through the twisted geodetic's
they could see the earth above them . . .could see continents melt like
snow on a summer day and grow
like shadows in the twilight. Volcanoes blossomed and sparkled like
fireflies."
&pretty.&
Turning lazily they could see the Milky Way galaxy spread out below them
like a carpet of diamonds. As
they watched new born stars spun off into space and nebula danced and
played like frisking colts.
&pretty.&
**Yeah, it is pretty.**
##Target in sight.##
Turning, they could see it now. A raw wound in the side of eternity that
bled the fires of creation.
##Time until impact is . . .##
"Stop! Cancel time to impact update."
**I agree. Let it be a surprise.**
Rotating slightly Weapon 4 turned away from inferno ahead and instead
watched the stately dance of
renewal as galaxy's birthed new stars, fresh worlds, teeming with life.
&i know a song.& The small voice announced.
"A song?"
&i see the moon. the moon sees me . . .&
*************************************************************
The fire hit the silvery shield with a shock that drove Sailormoon to her
knees. She cried out in pain as fire
leaked through her shield scorching her hands and igniting her long blond
hair.
"NOO!" Makoto bellowed. "JUPITER POWER!"
"VENUS POWER!"
"URANUS POWER!"
"MERCURY POWER!"
Jeweled bands of power streamed from the senshi to support their princess.
All that they were, all that they
would ever be. All of their love, and pride and duty. And it wasn't enough.
*************************************************************
*take care*
He could hear her voice like she was standing right next to him.
. *take care of usagi*
That was the last thing she asked of him
*take care of usagi and the rest for me.*
Saotome Ranma rose to his feet. Ryouga looked back startled, as Ranma began
a slow spiral dance.
*dummy . . . dummy*
She'd never call him that again. Never hit him, never cook for him, never
love . . .
He was so cold . . .so cold . . Cold enough to steal fire . . . He
remembered that lesson. Remembered
Akane sticking her arms in the fire to try and help him train. Remembered .
. . He was cold . . .cold as ice .
. .as death.
*i,ll wait for you at hachiko*
*************************************************************
^Aid station 100 meters ahead. Aid station . . .^
Where . . .was. . .it? Neptune couldn't see . . .maybe they'd moved . .
.maybe the enemy . . .Neptune
couldn't think. Her dazed mind couldn't comprehend the missing aid station.
They must have moved. She
had to keep going. She'd promised the princess . . .she'd promised . .
.Even a Sailorsenshi had her limits . .
.heart and courage could only push flesh and blood so far . . .and no
further. Between one soaring stride
and the next her body collapsed like a broken doll sliding along the rubble
strewn ground.
"Michiru-mama! Michiru-mama!"
The golden webbing dissolved and gentle hands removed her precious burden.
Tenderly other hands
turned her face to the sky and began to tend her exhausted and battered body.
"r. . .reisan."
Hotaru had to lean close to hear the faint whisper.
"It's OK, Michiru-mama. We have Reichan. She's safe. I'll take care of
her."
"good." Neptune breathed the word and closed her eyes. As darkness
claimed her a pillar of fire
ripped the sky apart .
"haruka . . .i love . . ."
*************************************************************
"HIRYUU!!"
Ranma stepped outside the silver shield turning the ancient spiral dance
directly into the hell fire.
************************************************************
**I once had a heart Called mine you see
But now it has gone
From me to you** Misty's husky contralto joined the
little girl in song.
*************************************************************
"SHOUTEN!"
Ranma should have died instantly. Burned to ash and less than ash by the
fires that God had used to forge
eternity. Impossibly he caught the fires . .. Caught them in the last
promise he'd made to Akane.
*************************************************************
"So take good care
As I have done
For you have two
And I have none" Akane's sweet alto swept into the chorus
as they dove into the fire.
*************************************************************
"HAAAAAA!!!"
Ranma screamed his loss as he stabbed his fist toward the sky, blasting the
torch of fire harmlessly toward
heaven and away from those he'd sworn to protect.
*************************************************************
& i see the moon and the moon sees me and the moon sees &
*************************************************************
Ranma fell, even as he succeeded in pushing aside the fire, overcome by the
forces of eternity. He could
feel his body shred, bone and muscle unravel, as the merest fraction of
that unimaginable power seeped
past his guard to rip him apart like wet rice paper. For the first time in
his life he gave up. He didn't fight
death . . .he welcomed it. Akane had promised to wait . . .by Hachiko. That
was a promise for lovers . . .to
be faithful forever . . .He could almost see the bronze statue of the loyal
akita, still waiting for his person
at the train station . . .Could almost see the yellow sun-dress . . .when a
silver power rushed through the
darkness and swept him back into the light.
"Over here. HERE! I found him . . .uh HER!" Sailoruranus looked
dazedly down at the petite red-
head. "MERCURY!" Uranus screamed again. "I FOUND RANMA!"
Stumbling and lurching over the rubble Sailormercury scrambled to
Sailoruranus side and dropped
gasping beside the unconscious red-headed girl. Hastily she pulled out her
computer and began scanning
for injuries.
"How is he ?" Venus gasped, scrambling up the other side of the rubble
mound. "Uh . . .she . .
.whatever. How is . . .?"
"Extensive bruising. Some burns. Fractured . . ." Mercury trailed off,
mumbling to her self as she
use her visor to search for hidden injuries.
Gasping for breath Sailorjupiter pulled herself up the rubble, dragging
Sailormoon behind her.
"Y . . .you . . .n . . need to . . .cut . . .out the bean-jam . .
.buns . . .Usagi . . ."
"B . . .ut . . .they . . .they're . . .so . . .goooood!"
The stealthed attack unit had been waiting for this moment. It's targets
were exhausted . . .in disarray.
Alone of it's fellows it survived to fulfill it's function. Powering it's
weapons it burst from the rubble like
a monstrous cybernetic scorpion. Enhanced vision could see it's foes
turning slowly . . .slowly. Targeting
systems locked on the two nearest . . .the one that used lightning and the
small one next to it. Those two
first. Then the cripple and then . . .
Sailoruranus cursed as she swung around clumsily on her crutch. Out of the
corner of her eye she could
see Hibikisan leap desperately forward . . .see Jupiter's face twist with
rage and dawning horror as she
realized Usagi's danger . . . Mercury starting to turn away from her
patient . . .She could see . . .the black
segmented torso explode under a storm of . . .ROSES!!!.
"Mamo-chan!!"
Sailoruranus followed Usagi's gaze to see a tall young man in top-hat and
tails just flaring out his para-
sail for a landing. Overhead, invisible in the smoke filled gloom ,she
could hear the drone of a plane.
"Mamo-chan . . .Mamo-chan." Usagi leapt into her beloved's arms just
as he stepped from the
parachute harness. He gathered her to him as she lifted her sweet face to his.
"Mamo-chan . . .what did you bring me from America!"
"Aaaahhhhhh!"
Mamoru, Usagi and the rest turned at Sailormercury's cry.
"What . . What is it!" Venus dropped to her knees beside her friend.
Mercury looked at her
computer . . .looked at Venus . . .looked at Ranma . . .then back at her
computer.
"He . . .he . . . He's PREGNANT!!!"
EPILOGUE
"Do I look fat?"
"Fat?" Chiba Mamoru thought. "Fat. . .my god woman . ..you're HUGE . .
.COLOSSAL . . .Imperialist
nations are going to colonize you . . .you should be orbiting a distant
star . . .you could BE a distant star."
Millions of years of evolution . . .survival instinct stored in the
reptilian brain leapt to the defense.
"Fat . . .no,no,no. Of course not. YOU'RE not fat. The BABY is fat.
You . . .you're just skin and
bone. Here , have another bean-jam bun."
Haruka's lower lip trembled.
"I . . .I . . ." she burst into tears. Mamoru cravenly looked for the
door.
"I wanted . . .ice creammmm!"
"Uh . .uh . .uh. . ."
"Cravings. They'll get you every time."
Mamoru turned at Nabiki's voice. She noted the desperate look in his eye
and made some swift upward
calculations.
"I can help . . .for a small . . .fee."
Mamoaru's hand dove for his wallet just as the front door opened.
"WE'RE BAAAACK!"
Nabiki grimaced at Usagi's cheerful voice and consigned another profit to
oblivion. Her fears were
confirmed as Usagi, Michiru and Setsuna entered laden with bags of
groceries. Setsuna held out a ice-
cream cone to Haruka.
"Here Harukachan. Just what you asked for. Chocolate, strawberry and
vanilla. I kept it cold for
you."
Haruka looked at the proffered treat and burst into tears.
"What . . .what is it." Setsuna looked desperately unhappy at Haruka's
tears.
"It, it,it's supposed to be strawberry, VANILLA, chocolate."
"Don't's worry, Harukachan." Came Makoto's cheery voice. "I can fix it."
"You can?"Haruka sniffled.
"Sure. EVERYONE knows you have to put the chocolate last. And the
Vanilla in the middle to
take away the taste of the strawberry. Come on into the kitchen."
Delighted to find someone who understood the importance of ice cream Haruka
happily followed Makoto
into the kitchen. Michiru rolled her eyes to heaven, shifted her grip on
the groceries and trooped into the
kitchen followed by Usagi and Setsuna. Usagi reappeared moments latter.
"Where's Reichan?"
"Where she's been all day." Nabiki replied. "Lying on the couch."
Usagi frowned on hearing that and turned to head for her friend.
"You didn't tell me about THIS part of it!"
Mamoru frowned at the husky , complaining voice. It sounded familiar . .
.yet not. He followed Usagi and
Nabiki into the next room to see three women standing in a knot. A small,
silver haired girl that he
recognized as Hotaru was standing nose . . .er . . .to nose with a taller
girl. The sailor-fuku worn by the
newcomer was gold and scarlet that showed off her impressive muscles to
advantage. Long golden Shirley
Temple ringlets framed a delicate face and brilliant jade green eyes.
"You NEVER , NEVER, EVER told me about . . .this!"
The girl jerked the edge of her skirt angrily.
"But you said you wanted to be a senshi . . ." Hotaru started to say.
"Yeah. And that color looks really good on you!"
"Here it comes." Nabiki thought gleefully at Ranma's remark.
surreptitiously she slipped the
small camera out of her pocket. Senshi cat-fight pictures should be worth a
bundle.
"You think!"
"Yeah, Ryouga. It brings out the color of your eyes. You're lucky.
With this hair." Ranma
fingered his red pig-tail. "I can't wear stuff like that. Make's me look
all orange."
"Well I think you could. . ."Ryouga suddenly seemed to remember his
previous grievance and
rounded on Hotaru.
"You never told me that I was going to turn into a GIRL . .
.PERMANENTLY!"
"And just what's WRONG with girls?" Hotaru asked dangerously.
"Uh . . .well . . .uh it's just that . . ."
"It's just that you didn't want to get lost any more . . .and you
don't. It's just that you wanted your
problem with water solved . . .it's solved. It's just that you wanted to
belong somewhere . . .and you do."
Hotaru stuck her finger in Ryouga's . . .direction. "Now come on. It's time
for more training." She turned
and stalked out of the room.
"Uh . . .training?" Mamoru asked.
"Yes. Hotaruchan says it's very important to keep in training . . .for
any situation. Right now she's
training me to get away from kidnappers."
"RYOGAAAA!"
"Oooops. Coming Sensei." Ryouga turned to them briefly. "She's VERY
strict about training. She
says she's going to keep training me until she's satisfied . . .."
"RYOOOOOOOGA!!"
Nabiki briefly contemplated Ryouga's vanishing form and wondered if she
should try to place another
camera in the dojo. Before she could come to a decision Shan Pu came into
the room, holding a baby in
her arms.
"Aka-chan fussing. I change diaper. But she still cry."
Nabiki opened her mouth to correct the big Amazon's use of nicknames. Then
she looked again at the
infants . . .unhappy expression and closed it again. Aka-chan indeed.
"Of course she's crying."Ukyou smiled down at the infant and made
silly faces. "Who wouldn't
cry . . .with your ugly face staring . ."
"UGLY. Spatula girl got some nerve." San Pu fingered the puckered scar
than ran across her face
with the steel hook that replaced her left hand. "This Amazon beauty mark.
>From single combat with
enemy. Give Akanechan GOOD example to live up too. She grow . . ."
"She'll grow up with a complex is what." Ukyou countered as Ranma
deftly lifted the suddenly
cooing infant from Shan Pu's arms.
"She's just hungry. That's all."
Nabiki was distracted from this domestic scene by a low humming sound. She
turned around to see
Kasumi appear in the garden in a ball of sparking light. She was wearing a
forest green robe and carried a
potted plant under one arm.
"I'm not late am I?"
"No, they haven't shown up . . ."
Makoto stuck her head out of the kitchen.
"Anybody seen Ami. She was supposed to . . ."
"This wont hurt a bit. Please Saotomesan. You promised."
The elder Saotome rounded the corner of the garden at flank speed followed
closely by Sailormercury who
was clutching a fist-full
of . . .interestingly sharp steel instruments. "Now Saotomesan . . .we had
a deal."
"Son . . ."Saotome the elder darted behind his less-than-masculine
progeny. "Son, you've got to
help your father. That madwoman wants to vivisect me. "
"Please don't exaggerate Saotomesan." Mercury appeared suddenly behind
the elder Saotome. "I
only want a little brain tissue." She held up a cranial burr. "Just a teeny
. . .tiny . . .piece. Why you'll
hardly miss it." She pressed a button and the saw whined into life. Saotome
turned white and dashed off,
Mercury in hot pursuit.
"Well, she did give him that fish." Nabiki opined.
"With rice and THREE pickles." Ranma added.
Sailorvenus suddenly stepped through a door that didn't exist from a place
with no name with a cat draped
over both shoulders.
"OH!" Kasumi exclaimed. "I'm so sorry I'm late. The queen kept me for
such a long time over
tea. And she gave me this." Smiling brightly Kasumi held out the potted
plant, which hissed and drew
back in alarm.
"It's all right." Kasumi cooed. "These are friends. Let me get you
settled." She hurried into the
kitchen and Nabiki could hear her talking with Makoto.
"Reichan. You've go to do your exercises if you're going to get better."
Distracted, Nabiki turned from the kitchen to see Usagi kneeling by the
couch where Hino Rei lay with
her face to the wall.
"Come on Rei. Laying around all day isn't good for you."
"You don't understand. None of you do."
"I know you've got some silly Shinto thing about being unclean or
unholy or un-something if you
die without all you parts or something like that."
"Silly!" Rei rolled over, clumsy with only one arm and faced Usagi.
Her eyes were puffy from
crying and her unwashed hair lay land and greasy across her face.
"It's not silly. Just because YOU are too stupid to . . .why didn't
you just let me die?" Rei's voice
was filled with self-loathing and despair as she fingered the empty sleeve
pinned across her chest.
Usagi looked at her friend for a moment, then her lips thinned as her face
took on a hard, set look.
"OK, HINOsan. I didn't want to do this. But you leave me no choice."
Rei looked up, shocked by the cold tone and was doubly shocked when two
strong arms grabbed her. With
only one arm, and weakened by weeks of inactivity, she was no match as
Usagi thrust her against the back
of the couch, ruthlessly kissing her, 'till she was cross-eyed and breathless.
"Now then" Usagi continued in the same cold tone. "You ARE going to do
your exercises."
Numbly, Rei nodded her assent.
"And you ARE going take your medicine."
Rei nodded.
"AND" Usagi continued awfully ." You ARE going to let me read your
new manga." Usagi
snatched the unread bundle of magazines that were laying beside the couch.
Rei nodded automatically, then stopped. "HEY! I haven't read those yet."
She glared after her retreating
friend. "Usagiiiiii!" She scrambled clumsily off the couch and lurched
after her friend.
"Well, that's one way to motivate . . ." Nabiki stopped in mid thought
as Kasumi called to her.
"Yes Oneesama?
"Nabiki, if the Moon Queen calls . .. "
Nabiki stepped quickly into the kitchen.
"Oneesama" She said with exaggerated patience. "You are the ONLY
person in the entire world
who understand those . . .lizards. . ."
Kasumi interrupted.
"Oh, no. They're not at all like lizards. They're actually more like .
. ."
"I don't care if they're related to . . .I don't care if they . . ..
It's just that NO ONE but YOU can
understand them. So if the 'MOON QUEEN' does call, just how am I supposed
to UNDERSTAND . . ."
"She's really very nice. It's just that I promised her some plum
preserves and I forgot. So if she
calls about them, I put them on the third shelf, on the left. Next to the
spices."
Nabiki put her head in her hands It was useless. Useless. She didn't
understand the world anymore.
Ryouga was a sailorsenshi. Her sister flitted back and forth visiting the
moon like she was going next door
to borrow a cup of sugar.
". . .won't hurt much."
Nabiki turned toward the sound to see Sail . . .no it was Haruka . .
.Ten'ou Haruka in this . . .form.
Looking like a beached whale . . .a pregnant beached whale, Haruka
reclined, not to say lounged in a
newly bought, over stuffed chair . . .her face buried in her ice-cream like
a tick on a hound-dog. Curled on
the floor beside her was
Pluto . . . Nabiki shook her head again trying to keep all the new names
and face's. Not Pluto . . .Setsuna,
. . .Meiou Setsuna.
"It's very nice here. Every body is excited about you coming. And I
don't have to stay at" Her
voice dropped to a whisper. "I don't have to stay THERE anymore. Usagisama
says that nobody has to
stay there forever anymore. I'm just an . . .advisor. And best . . ."
Nakiki shuddered. Sai . . .Setsuna followed Haruka around like a shadow . .
.talking to . . .
"Of course I'll be there to catch you. . .I'll never leave you again."
"Have you seen the Time Staff." Nabiki heard her sister rummaging
through a closet and
thankfully turned away form the unnerving scene.
"I think you were using it to prop open . ."
"Oh, here it is. Thank you Makoto."
Kasumi popped her head out of the kitchen and waggled her fingers at Minako.
"I'll be with you in a minute. Just let me make some sandwiches to
take with me. And had any one
seen my book?"
"What's it look like, Kasumisan."
Usagi asked breathlessly as she darted into the room.
"It's a big paperback . . ."
"Has it got this big hunk on the from with no shirt and this woman
with a tremendous . . .attitude .
. .falling out of her clothes?"
"That's it!" Kasumi exclaimed happily.
"I think Haruka's reading it." Makoto said.
"Oh! Well, that's alright. There are always plenty of people to talk
to."
Nabiki shivered at her sisters cheerful tone. Usagi and the senshi had
decided that the guardian of the
Time Gate should be rotated on a regular basis. Right now, eligible
guardians were limited to the senshi
Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury, Sailormoon . . . and her sister Kasumi. Kasumi
actually seemed to LIKE the
gate. Nabiki had screaming nightmares for weeks after her one brief visit.
Sailorpluto was exempt from
duty on the gate. Privately Nabiki thought the former guardian belonged in
a padded room, with lots and
lots and LOTS of good drugs. But she hadn't been consulted. And so far the
former senshi seemed content
to follow the very pregnant Haruka around and use her time powers for
things like keeping ice-cream
cold.
"Usagiii!"
Nabiki watched as Usagi dashed behind Mamoru.
"You'll protect me, won't you Mamo-chan?"
Chiba Mamoru looked down at his beloved princess, then up at the senshi of
fire, bearing down on them
like a lava flow.
"Ummm. Will you look at the time. I'm late for a meeting with the
reconstruction board." He
dropped a brief kiss on Usagi's lips. "I'll see you later."
"Cowarrrrrrrd" Usagi called after her craven prince. Then she turned
to face Rei.
"Heh, heh, heh. Uh, HI, Reichan. Eeeeeeep!" Usagi squealed as Rei
lunged for her and Usagi
twisted aside only because Hino Rei lacked two good arms. Usagi dashed for
the outside, with Rei close
behind. There was a sudden ,loud splash. Rei reentered the room in triumph
with a soaked Usagi
squishing in behind her.
"NO fairrrrr Reichan. You cheated!"
Nabiki shook her head, then turned to Shan Pu and Ukyou who were cooing
over the infant contentedly
nursing at Ranma's breast. Nabiki closed her eyes against a sudden stabbing
pain. This was worst of all. A
domestic, MATERNAL Ranma. Nabiki shuddered.
"Come on Akanechan. Eat it all up. So you'll grow up big and strong."
Nabiki couldn't stand it anymore.
"How do you KNOW that's really Akane. OUR Akane." Even having seen the
Silver Crystal . .
.and Eternal Moon and . . .everything." Knowing that both Ranma and Haruka
had been made pregnant
by the crystal. Seeing the preternatural growth of the infant 'Akane'. Even
so . . .
"How do you KNOW?" Nabiki repeated.
"Well, she eats like the original. Pretty soon she'll be as fat as the
original." Ranma grinned up at
Nabiki then yowled and yanked the infant loose from her breast. There was a
popping noise as the baby
broke suction.
"She BIT me." Ranma accused, dangling the baby in front of her.
"Well, you deserve it, telling her she's going to get fat." Ukyou
scolded.
"Spatula girl right. Should never say things like that. Could give
helpless child complex." Shan Pu
shoved a velvet hammer-shaped plush toy into the happily squealing infants
hands. "Here. Bash stupid
Ranma for saying bad things."
The baby grabbed the toy delightedly and began flailing away at Ranma's
head.
"'anma, 'anam,'anma." The baby burbled happily. "'anma, 'anma,'anma!"
"Hey, she said my name."
Nabiki's jaw dropped.
"'anma no BAKA. Baka,baka,baka!"
"That's my Akane!" Ranma beamed proudly as the infant girl happily
whapped him over the
head.
There was a knock at the door and Nabiki thankfully used the excuse to
escape. This was all too much.
Her big sister was best friends with an alien queen living on the moon, and
one of the guardians of the
time gate. Her baby sister really was a baby and the reincarnation of a
hundred thousand year old super
weapon. From what she'd overheard from the other senshi that was a
permanent thing too. And the time
storms. Nabiki trudged to the front door. They'd left behind so much chaos.
Viking long boats off the
coast of Europe, dinosaurs roaming middle Asia. It was all too much for
her. A gentle rapping came again
just as she slid open the door. A slender woman with soft brown eyes stood
in the entrance.
"M . . .mama?"
END
Furies
Thank you all for reading. I hope you enjoyed it.
(Revisions coming asap)
^_^