Hrm. Have idea for sequel to Oracle (can be found on webpages,
PAAC archives, or from me). Got some of it done, too, but have
hit nasty-nasty impasse. Thought perhaps post what have, then
ask, see who says stuff. Good idea, yes?
	(Chirrrr-- gotta get outta Wicked Tribe character-speak.
Is fun-fun-happy-interesting-time, but veryvery disconcerting,
eh? Blame it on working over holidays. No rest for the wicked,
not even the extremely wicked, eh?)




	Untitled, as yet. Filename is Second Oracle
(possible title, newnew just-thought-of is Second Sight)
Contains spoiler-type stuff for the second OAV series (moreso
later on, mind you).

    "You weren't at the last wedding," Makoto said
conversationally.

    Things had calmed down by now, Makoto and Fujisawa had both
escaped the immediate clutches of the women (although it was sunset
now and Masamichi was in the clutches of his wife, Mizu, once
more).

    "There really wasn't a wedding then though, was there," I said,
equally as conversational.

    We were in the gardens, in Gulistan with its perfumes wafting
around us in the heady dusk air. We stood at the ends of the
overhang, leaning on it. I faced the edge, looking outwards, while
Makoto leaned against it, keeping watch on the garden and anyone
who might come by, namely Nanami and Shayla.

    "I suppose you saw that, eh, Hayashi?"

    I shrugged. "My presence wasn't needed then," I explained. "I
knew this time would be for real."

    "Why didn't you tell us?"

    "Why didn't you wonder why  I didn't come?" I countered.

    Makoto sighed. "What were you doing in the garden, Hayashi?"

    "Just looking. The sunset will be beautiful, ten years from
today," I mentioned casually.

    Makoto grunted non-committedly, taking my word for it. The view
really is spectacular, and if I am in the garden in ten years, it
really will be a spectacular sunset.

    "Do you know how to record on those discs now, Hayashi?" Makoto
asked. One of the things I like about him is that he always uses my
name. For some people that is important-- we are defined by what
and not who we are. Take Lune Venus, the princess, for example.
Makoto never lets me forget I'm more than just my ability.

    "Yeah, no problem. You will show me how yesterday. It is easy."

    He nods slowly before he realises that the gesture is fairly
useless with me. I know he's doing it be the rustling sound of his
clothing, the collars, you see. He will chuckle slightly as he
realises his mistake. "If you say so," he said, good humour
returns.

    I fumble around for my staff, that branch of wood I found so
long ago in the woods when I first arrived in El Hazard. "An
exciting day, all around, wouldn't you say, Makoto?"

    Makoto laughs lightly. "I suppose so." He looked around a bit.
"So, what do you want to do? Boys night out or something? A little
rememberance for mister Fujisawa?"

    "Paint the town red, that sort of thing, Makoto?" I say with a
laugh. "It might be a better idea if you laid low for a day or
two."

    "Why's that? Did you see something?"

    "Well, let's just say that weddings can put women into
different moods, get them thinking about different things.
Especially women that already show interest in a particular man," I
am saying slowly, not quite spelling it out for him, but making
sure he knows what stands between the lines. "There is an extra bed
in my rooms which you might consider using for a couple of days.
You will be more than welcome to have used it, and I can tell you
that it is be a safe place for you."

    Makoto stared at me intently. "Let's go move some of my stuff
right now then, shall we?"

    "I thought you might say that, and I didn't even have to use my
power to do so," I will say with a smile.

    They would not think of looking for Makoto in my rooms; no one
comes there anyway-- not even me usually, since I am spending most
of my time these days away from the palace. I accept this happy
medium. If people want to find me, they know that the royal library
is a much better place, or perhaps in one of the adjacent workshops
Schtalubaugh has.
    We moved Makoto's belongings, or a sufficient amount to cover
the next couple of days, into my rooms. Later we could get more, if
we so desired. For now, some toiletries and clothing would be
enough.

    A day or two after Makoto had taken up temporary residence in
my quarters, he found himself in the most dangerous task of
wandering the palace halls. Most dangerous because not only was his
mind deep in thought, but because Shayla-Shayla and Nanami Jinnai
were on the prowl.
    The two women in question, will, at one point before this, ask
me about their love lives-- in other words, would they get Makoto.
I did not bother to dignify that with an answer, of course. I miss
being able to stare at people; it is hard to give people a look
when you have no eyes. I think I managed to convey the appropriate
idea though when I took off my blindfold. 
    Makoto made his ways safely through the halls and finds me in a
workshop, dictating to a recording device he has repaired.

    "...--ative El Hazard proves to be a little more difficult
to classify. The Phantom Tribe, or what we have seen, seem to share
a single power, telepathic in nature. They are able to project
convincing illusions, consisting of sight, sound and touch at the
very least (from events related to me by Makoto Mizuhara and
Shayla-Shayla of Najato on the Forbidden Isle). I would suggest
they stimulate the appropriate centres in the brain, bypassing the
sensory nervous system entirely-- it would probably be easier.
    Nanami Jinnai, on the other hand, is able to resist the Phantom
Tribe ability-- indeed, she does not even notice it. I would
suggest her power then is also telepathic in nature-- she is closed
off. Whereas everyone else is able to receive such telepathic
suggestions, she is not. Nanami does not see through the illusions,
to her they do not exist and there is nothing to see through. 
    Katsuhiko Jinnai, Nanami's brother, also possesses a telepathic
power. His ability is not only projective, like the Phantom
Tribe's, but also receptive. Katsuhiko is able to communicate with
the Bugrom, to understand and be understood by them, without any
training or research into their language. Most certainly he is
projecting and receiving the 'surface thoughts,' what he and the
Bugrom are actually saying. I would suspect that he does the same
with humans though. However, I believe the ability to be limited to
roughly hearing range, and one must specifi--." 

    At this point in time Makoto makes a noise that will alert me
to his presence. He clears his throat, if you must know. I pressed
a button, pausing my dictation.

    "Hello, Makoto. I was just dictating some notes. The machine
worked perfectly. What can I do for you?"

    "He started to speak, then stopped, and then starts again. "I
was just wondering-- after we stopped the Eye of God... you told
me.... Do you know what happened on after the first wedding
attempt?" he asks me bluntly.

    "You are wondering if she is who I will be referring to back
then?"

    "Yes, that's it exactly," Makoto sighed. Anxiously, he
continues, "Is she? She's not the same Ifurita, but you never told
me anything more than that I would see her again."

    I stood up and will fumble my way towards Makoto. I whisper
into his ear: "When you find her, bring her back, at least for a
visit. I want to talk to the woman who so stole your heart."

    I could feel the tension drain out of Makoto with my words.
"Why don't you come back and meet her back at home?"

    "This is my home, this world. I am of El Hazard now. I don't
know what happens if I go back to Earth; any time I look at that
decision, I can see nothing. I don't know if that means I would die
there, or if my ability just stops working. Either way I will not
go back, so you see you must bring her back here for me to meet
her."

    Makoto turns to leave. "Thanks, Hayashi. I owe you."

    "Makoto," I call out to him before he leaves. "I want to ask
you something. Would you tell me how to get to where this other
Ifurita is?"

    "Why do you ask? Are you interested in what Ifurita is like?"

    "There are questions about that period of time I have that she
might be able to answer. Besides, that area must be an
archeological treasure trove. It could prove to be a great find!"

    Makoto laughs. "You never could make up your mind whether or
not you liked the past or the future more, Hayashi."

    I grinned. "There's a difference?" We both laugh at that one,
even though I'm not entirely sure I was joking when I will be
asking that.


    I went to find princess Lune after I finished recording my
musings. I will had to get her permission to go, after all I needed
supplies and equipment. At least one other person, as well, since
it would be too far to walk, and not a very good idea for me to do
the flying.

    "I do not believe you will need my services," I say, tapping
the my head just to the left side of my eye sockets, "while I will
be gone.
    "Just think of it! The notes they must have made, the devices
and Ifurita herself, who has actual _memories_, memories! of the
time of the Holy Wars and perhaps before! The place is a veritable
font of knowledge! It is our duty to learn as much as we can from
it!"

    We drank mild coffee, a few cups only, just to be polite you
understand, and talk under blossoming trees and tropical plants.
Bostan provided the perfect place to talk and chat and beseech her.

    "I should not be gone long," I mention, sipping some of the
slightly too sweet coffee. Lune Venus always did like a little bit
more sugar in it than I did. "Just to do some preliminaries. Help
set things up for a team of archeologists."

    I can feel her smile, though I did not see it. "Are there any
other reasons? Perhaps who lives there?"

    "Makoto and the rest said that there were flora and fauna there
that were not native to other parts of El Hazard. I think that
therer are many who would give an arm and a leg to study them." I
will pause. "But you are not talking about them, are you, Lune?"

    "Of course not," she says, knowing better than to shake her
head. 

    "We could learn from her, about our past, about many things."

    "'Our?'" Lune queried.

    "Our. This land is my home, it is where I belong. I am of El
Hazard, Lune." I drank more of my coffee and filled it back up,
hoping to dilute the sugar a bit more and make it less sweet. I
meet with partial success. "That I will come from somewhere else is
not relevant."

    "Your tenses are getting worse again, Hayashi," she says,
gently reprimanding me.

    "Time ceases to matter to me. The past? the future?" I shook my
head. "They are concepts which are not the same for me as they are
for you. I know them with equal certainty, and it is an effort to
remember causality."

    "I try to remember which is which, and the difference between
what has happened and what will happen, though it means little to
me. Only with others does it matter.
    "She has to be alone there, by herself, Lune. Alone and
grieving," I say, switching the subject back. "No one should have
to suffer that."

    Lune sighed. Some time will have passed since we first start
talking because I can now feel the sun on me when I am in shade. 

    "Have you seen what will happen if you do not go, or if you
will go?"

    I shook my head-- after all, she can easily see me do this. "I
have not really looked. Nothing especially bad or good happens that
I can tell if I stay. My services do not appear to be necessary
during that time period. If I go?" I will shrug, "I survive. I do
not believe anything bad happens."

    I can hear Lune Venus sip her coffee delicately, like
everything she does. "You are always necessary, Hayashi, not just
as an advisor but as a friend as well." Her voice is as warm as the
sun I felt on the side of my face. "Go then with my blessings and
support. Have you decided on who to take?"

    "Thank you, Lune-- thank you. I have not yet decided or asked
anyone. I wanted to have your permission first. I don't want to
take too many people. I'll need someone to fly the ship there,
someone who knows how to get there, and someone who could
potentially help me do some preliminary research. Someone who was
there before would be ideal, as would someone who was interested,
of course since it will be their choice."

    "Do you have anyone in mind?"

    "A couple of people occur to me. I don't know whether or not
they will go though."

    "Can't you just look ahead and see?"

    "Yes, but I'm trying to control that reflex. Sometimes it is
fun not to know what is going to happen. Not easy to do, though,
since I think and look at the same time."

				------------------



    Problem is who to bring? Afura, most likely, since she's been
there before, plus also knows how to operate one of the skiff/boat/
fyling thingies. Makoto? Possibly. Unsure. If he goes, many others
will want to also. Afura is pretty definite, others are more
open. Leaning against Makoto, though not definite. Probable Bugrom
encounter (Katsuhiko?) at some point as well. Remember, Mizu and
Masamichi are married now, so probably won't be available
(Makoto, on the other hand, wanting to stay away from certain 
predatory females, might wish to go-- if they find out, possible
comic moments, now that I think. Hrm).
	Arguments for and against should be sent privately to
me (let's try and usher in the New Year with a minimum of spam,
yes?)

	Most likely won't be long fic, can't really think of much to
say. Basically brings the 2nd OAV series and Oracle together.
	Have all of little "essay" Hayashi was recording when
Makoto came in on him, printed here for your enjoyment
(also mention that sequel to On the Creation of Demon Gods has
finally been given more than passing attention. OtCoDG should
also be up on RAAC anytime... especially since it was posted
over a week ago. Yes I'm bitter, but I find being bitter and
complaining and cynical strangely soothing-- one of my little
pleasures, so nyah ^_^ ):





                        --Begin File--


    Yes, well, let's begin.

    First off, I should thank Makoto for fixing one of these
recording devices, and for finding a blank disk for me to record
on. Secondly, I should introduce myself, so you who are now seeing
this might know who I am. Perhaps I should have done that first?
What do you think? No matter, any reply you could give I wouldn't
receive anyway. 
    Where was I? Oh yes, Now I recall, I had just given you my
name. No, that's not right, I was just about to _give_ you my name.
I sometimes have troubles keeping track of whether things have
happened yet or not, you see, or maybe you don't. Anyway, my name
is Hayashi. I have another name now, although to be more accurate
it is my title-- Oracle.
    I know the question you're all asking: "Why is he doing this?"
These disks are a good way to record my thoughts, somewhat like a
journal, I suppose, but more than that because I will not be
talking about my daily life or anything like that. As you can
plainly tell, writing it down is of little use to me since I
basically need someone to read it back to me. No, this is much
better and more enduring as well. I like to think that what I have
to say might be of interest to future generations.

    Now, on to what it is I have to say.

    Psychic powers in El Hazard exist mainly in two specific and
discrete groups: telepathic and telekinetic. It should be noted
that while non-native life-forms seem to possess a power of some
sort (I'll go into why I think this is so slightly later),
manifestation of psychic ability is not limited to them. 
    The best and most famous example of native life exhibiting
psychic ability would have to be the priestesses of Mount Muldoon.
Each priestess possesses an ability which at its root is
telekinetic in nature. The fire priestess, Shayla-Shayla, for
instance is a pyrokinetic-- able to control and to cause fires.
This would be achieved by causing the molecules to vibrate quicker,
resulting in heat and finally fire. The control of the fire is also
primarily telekinetic in nature, and does not need to be described.
The speed with which she can create a fire is absolutely staggering
and with her booster, a psionic amplifier (each priestess has an
amplifier, which varies in design but not effectiveness) known as
the Lamp of Fire, she can create larger, hotter fires with much
greater precision.
    Shayla-Shayla as the fire priestess controls combustion, while
Afura Mann, being the priestess of wind, has control over air. I
suspect that Afura actually is able to exhert control over all
gaseous matter as the atmosphere is composed of various different
gases. This ability includes the manipulation of the gases to form
a vacuum, indicating she has some control over Brownian motion.
    Mizu Mishtal then has control over water, or more likely all
liquids, as most water is not pure dihydrogen-oxygen. Of course, I
could be mistaken, but it is a possibility. Again, this ability,
like that of the other priestesses, is fundamentally of a
telekinetic nature (although I believe it was once mentioned that
she could sense an underground river, and where said river would
take them. This might imply that she does not need line of sight to
control her ability, but to exact any means of finesse or control
she would certainly have to be able to observe it-- simple logic. I
would assume the same holds true for the other two).
    There is a question that nags me. Why no earth? Why is there
not one who manipulates the ground? There could be, I suppose, but
most likely the power, well, the effects would be less than
spectacular. The ground is a solid mass, and would require much
more effort to shape and manipulate, owing to the much stronger
bonds within the material. Most of the psychic's power would have
to go to breaking down these bonds before he or she could do
anything.
    It occurs to me that they are not priestesses of the elements
so much as they are of states of matter. Testing would need to be
done on this theory, mind you. Specifically, to see whether or not
Afura could manipulate other gases, or whether Mizu could control
more than water. Also needed would be to see how hot Shayla's
flames really are, because she would need to make plasma for my
theory to work (plasma being a very hot ionised gas, having
approximately equal numbers of positive ions and electrons and
being highly conductive, and considered by many to be a fourth
state of matter, on a higher energy level than gas_.
    This takes care of the native El Hazard psychic population and
their powers, as I understand them, for the moment, with a possible
exception. I am not quite sure why I mention it, because it seems
too far-fetched to be true, and too frightening if it were, but I
ask what if the princesses, Lune Venus and Fatora, what if they are
also psychic?
    Their power? Let me start off by asking this: what if the Eye
of God was not an engine of destruction so much as it was an
amplifier, like the Lamps the priestesses wear, but only much more
powerful. Such a large amplifier might be so powerful so that one
single person could not hope to channel or control it, hence the
need for two. A genetic trait, passed on only through the royal
family. 
    Nonsense, of course. Silly, obviously-- large holes in this
argument exist. If it were true, why have we never seen them able
to manifest that power on even a minute scale, like the priestesses
seem able to do. Then again, the priestesses do train to use their
powers, which might conceivably strengthen said powers. 
    This idea of the Eye, being nothing more than a magnifier,
would be copacetic with what we know of some ancient El Hazard
technology; that it was able to interact and sometimes mimic human
psychic powers. Ifurita, for instance, while a construct was able
to accurately and devastatingly replicate the attacks the
priestesses used against her. I'm just spinning out fanciful
theories right now though, there is no viable way to prove it
incorrect. 

    The non-native El Hazard proves to be a little more difficult
to classify. The Phantom Tribe, or what we have seen, seem to share
a single power, telepathic in nature. They are able to project
convincing illusions, consisting of sight, sound and touch at the
very least (from events related to me by Makoto Mizuhara and
Shayla-Shayla of Najato on the Forbidden Isle). I would suggest
they stimulate the appropriate centres in the brain, bypassing the
sensory nervous system entirely-- it would probably be easier.
    Nanami Jinnai, on the other hand, is able to resist the Phantom
Tribe ability-- indeed, she does not even notice it. I would
suggest her power then is also telepathic in nature-- she is closed
off. Whereas everyone else is able to receive such telepathic
suggestions, she is not. Nanami does not see through the illusions,
to her they do not exist and there is nothing to see through. 
    Katsuhiko Jinnai, Nanami's brother, also possesses a telepathic
power. His ability is not only projective, like the Phantom
Tribe's, but also receptive. Katsuhiko is able to communicate with
the Bugrom, to understand and be understood by them, without any
training or research into their language. Most certainly he is
projecting and receiving the 'surface thoughts,' what he and the
Bugrom are actually saying. I would suspect that he does the same
with humans though. However, I believe the ability to be limited to
roughly hearing range, and one must specifically want him to hear
for Katsuhiko to pick up the thoughts (a whisper would go unheard,
then, unless it was for Katsuhiko).
    Makoto Mizuhara is a bit of an anomaly. On one hand, his
ability to communicate with the ancient technology would seem to be
telekinetic (he has made things move and has broken circuits), yet
from what he has told me, with some of Ifurita's memories, and
giving some of his memories to her, as well as being able to divine
the function of some items, Makoto would be telepathic. I would
suggest that his ability is telepathic, because we already know
that the ancient devices can be responsive to psychic abilities.
The breaking of Ifurita's obedience circuit can easily be explained
as a telepathic, rather than telekinetic manifestation of power.
    Masamichi Fujisawa (sensei, it still feels weird not to call
him sensei) is easily telekinetic, boosting his strength to
superhuman levels. I would suggest that his reaction to alcohol and
what I will assume is the nicotine in cigarettes is a defense
mechanism on his part, especially with the alcohol. As his
self-control and motor function goes does, so does his strength so
that Masamichi does not do outrageous amounts of damage. 
    Another popssibility is that it is only when his body and brain
are free of contaminants and pollution that his ability is at its
full potential. This possibility is equally likely at this point,
since I am currently unaware of the full effects of nicotine upon
the human body (does it affect motor control, fine or gross, for
example. I know of nothing which says that it does).

    The only person left to discuss is me. What is my ability? How
do I classify it? Honestly? I do not know. Telepathic? Am I somehow
able to communicate with a future, or set of future mes dependant
upon which choices I make? Yet I see things, and since I now lack
eyes perhaps these alternate future mes never lost them. Perhaps I
am looking through their eyes-- but what do they see then? Am I
usurping their sight, or merely sharing it? I dislike this idea,
too complex, for one. Too many suppositions. 
    Perhaps I somehow mimic the Eye of God, creating small holes in
time/space which I look through. Again, my lack of optics, among
other things, makes this idea faintly absurd. My talent no longer
works like it used to, for one thing, and neither theory fit both
the way it used to work, and the way it does now. The best
approximation of my talent would be memory. I remember the future
with equal clarity that I remember the past-- in a very fundamental
way there has ceased to be any real difference between the two.
Before, when I had sight? Memory, I suppose, but the memory of a
dream, or the dream of a memory, at least. This idea of memory
(imperfect, imprecise. The language is not conducive to what I want
to express-- it is rather foreign) would rule out telekinetic
ability, but it really does not make it fit into telepathy, either.
    Possibly I represent a third category of psychic ability, or
perhaps I merely need to reclassify the abilities using other
categories. It is also possible that I am an anomaly in this
respect, some strange oneshot ability which fits into neither
category. Obviously further study into the psychic abilities is
needed before any definite conclusion can be drawn, including
research and possible classification of my own ability.



                            --End File-- 



My thoughts now are that Hayashi's ability from Oracle does not fit
in El Hazard, at least, not as I now conceive it. A better explanation
of his powers would be needed to fit in, especially considering how
they've changed through the story of Oracle. 




Stat Report: So, have a few EH projects in works. Have mentioned some,
one or two others still too classified for release-- come back with
better access codes. ^_^ Revision of When Ranma Was Two 2 has not yet
begun (some preliminary, mental, work has for #3 though-- Shampoo will
pop in on this one, guarantee). Work on BGC/GiTS is proceeding-- expect
quicker pace soon. Possible sequel to Ryoko's Choice (found a good
way to begin it)-- not definite, but possible. Work has started
(though it may come to nought). Few other projects, not yet ready to be
revealed (existence is uncertain, though at least one is mostly done).
Project consuming most of time is Soul of Ice: Synthesis-- Broken. 
Rewrote beginning and ending of it (usually don't do stuff like that,
very linear writer), but one would be able to see why with this, I
believe (ooh, hint? or just red herring? ^_^ ), and figured out how
to do the in-between stuff as well. Cleaning up a bit of SoI: Antithesis
may also take place-- last chapter has some big errors in it (also looking
over comments, both pre-reader and other, again, and contemplating some
changes)-- so slightly revised version might be available (get your comments
in now, before it's too late!)

			Plugs for other people: A public service

Busybusybusy time right now. Not managed to catch half the fics coming
down the list (which is sad, true), much less make any response to them.
Will say this, though: Caught Ranma: All Americans. Intriguing. Interesting.
Piqued my interest from the get go and has kept it (something more and
more difficult , these days, as I slip into ennui ^_^ ). Very good.
Recommend to read. New concept, to my knowledge (ahh! A new idea in
Ranma fanfiction! I thought there were supposed to be no new ideas or
stories for Ranma fics!). I really wonder how Gary does it, how he manages
to read all those fics, comment on them (many times giving in-depth comments
and criticism), and if that weren't stupendous enough, still write something
once in a while (you know, like HaM, perhaps? ^_^ ).
	Well, let's see if I can clear that backlog a bit (or better yet, get
some sleep... I mean, I was on day-shift, y'know) ^_^

Matthew "Maybeso" Lewis is:
InDefinitelyso on IRC
Sojiro_Seta on Kawaiimuck
	maybeso@ican.net
prone to exaggeration, 150% of the time
____________________________________________________________

Z embla, Zenda, Xanadu:
A ll our dream worlds may come true.
F airy lands are fearsome too.
A s I fade far from view
R ead and bring me home to you.
	-dedication from Haroun and the Sea of Stories
	 by Salman Rushdie
____________________________________________________________