================================================================
Twilight of the Dead -- Series I
A Ranma 1/2/Day of the Dead crossover
by James Epnett
================================================================
Authors Notes: Okay, few changes for this chapter.
First: the spelling of "Zombie" is being used as it
is in the old Haitian legend of the zombie (The
spelling of which is 'Zombi')
I also must thank Morgan Hudson for all his support
and help (pre-reading, giving ideas, etc.) Thanks
to him, this story went up in length by about 10
pages, and all for the better, I think. ^_^
WARNING: The following chapter contains adult
language and all that, so it has been labeled DARK
(like all the previous chapters) Don't say I didn't
warn ya!
^_^
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Chapter 5 - The Stage is Set
Sheri flipped the small, paperback book closed and
looked at its colorful cover. When she had
purchased it, just before leaving America for
Japan, it had been so much more inviting and
friendly-looking. She hadn't bothered to read it,
or the back cover, but only the title on the front:
'The Serpent and the Rainbow'.
She sighed and shook her head. She hadn't
really been interested in reading it, but a word on
the back had caught her attention -- Zombi.
Picking the book up in her small hand, she
flipped it over and began to read the back cover
for the third time, only now she did so out loud.
"Zombis... the Walking Dead... a mystery that
has long baffled, horrified, and tantalized Western
imagination. In April, 1982, ethnobotanist Wade
Davis traveled into the Haitian countryside to
research strange reports of men drugged, buried
alive, and ultimately resurrected from the
grave...." Sheri read on for a moment, her words
trailing off. She paused and made a sound of
curiosity.
"...Voodoo potions, powders, and poisons that
raise the dead..." she read out loud. Reaching up
to scratch her head, she looked back at the clock
and observed the early hour. She wondered if Dr.
Tofu would be awake.
Deciding to check, Sheri rose from her chair
and headed towards the door to her bedroom.
* * *
"No... No.... Kasumi..."
Sheri poked her head into the Infirmary and
looked around for a moment. The lights were set on
dim, and she could make out the sound of faint
mumbling.
"Kasumi!!"
Sheri started and squinted to see deeper into
the room. She could make out the figure of Dr.
Tofu, his head laying awkwardly on his desk. She
moved quickly into the room, over to where the
Doctor slept. "Dr. Tofu?"
"....."
"Dr. Tofu?" Sheri reached out and shook the
sleeping medicine man softly.
"Hmm! I.. I'm awake!" Tofu sat bolt upright,
knocking Sheri back.
Sheri rebounded and choked back a cry of
fright as the young physician shook his head and
picked his glasses up off of his desk. "Sheri? Is
that you?"
Sheri nodded. "Yes. I need to talk to you,
Doctor."
Tofu nodded clumsily and shook his head
sleepily as he stood and walked over to the light
control. He reached out and adjusted the knob,
causing the lights to brighten.
Sheri moved towards his desk and sat slowly,
waiting for Tofu to return. She placed the book
gently down before her.
"What may I do for you, Sheri?" Tofu glanced
at his watch and then at the teenager before
sitting down.
Sheri folded her hands in her lap gently. "I
was wondering, Doctor, if you know anything about
Haitian legend and mythology."
Tofu nodded and reached up to rub his aching
neck. "I know some, yes. Why?"
"Well I found this book in a bag of my stuff,
and I thought maybe you would like to have a look."
Tofu adjusted his glasses and looked down at
the book as Sheri slid it over in front of him.
"What's in this book?"
"Well, it talks about Zombies, only its
spelled differently than it would be in America,
and its outlook on the walking dead is a little
different than that of what the movies say."
Tofu crinkled his brow and took the book in
his hand. "What makes this so special?"
"It's based on fact." Sheri reached out and
opened the book.
Tofu watched as the young girl flipped the
pages quickly, until she reached page 338. "There
are three different types of Zombi, according to
this."
Tofu looked down at the pages and began to
read aloud. "Zombi astral: A zombi of the ti bon
ange. An aspect of the soul that may be transmuted
at the will of the one who possesses it." He looked
up for a moment.
The look on Sheri's face urged him to keep
reading.
Tofu continued, "Zombi cadaver: The corps
cadaver, gros bon ange, and the other spiritual
components. A zombi of the flesh that can be made
to work. And last, Zombi savane: An ex-zombi, one
who has been through the earth, become a zombi, and
then return to the state of living." He looked up
again, his brow crinkled in thought.
"You think it could mean anything? I mean, do
you think this could effect our situation?" Sheri's
voice was edged with hope, something it had lacked
for months.
"Effect our situation?" Tofu questioned,
looking back at the book. "Well, if I understand
this correctly, then this tells us two things. One:
these zombis aren't just here. Someone put them
here. And two: it's possible to revive a zombi,
return them to being humans."
Sheri nodded and smiled. "So... Do you think
this could help us?"
Tofu hesitated and then stood. "Do you think
I could borrow this book for a few days?"
"Of course," replied Sheri, nodding. "Keep it
if you think it might help us."
"Thank you, Sheri. I will study it
thoroughly."
Sheri smiled. It made her feel something she
hadn't felt in months -- joy. Things could go back
to the way they were. They could start over, and
make things right again.
"Am I interrupting something?"
Sheri and Tofu turned to see Hiroshi standing
in the doorway. He smiled, only slightly, and
entered the room.
"Not at all, Hiroshi," replied Tofu, circling
the desk. "What can I do for you?"
Hiroshi smiled at Sheri as he passed her and
stopped next to Dr. Tofu. "I need to use the PA
system, Dr. Tofu."
"Whatever for?" asked Tofu, blinking.
"I need to make an announcement. I need to
call a meeting, which I think everyone should
attend. It's urgent."
"But I have a first aid class," Tofu
objected, his face pulling back in a look of
annoyance.
"Then cancel it!" Hiroshi snapped, clenching
his fists.
Sheri stared at Hiroshi in surprise. She had
never seen him snap in that manner. It was slightly
unnerving.
Tofu sighed and forced himself to calm down.
"Very well. I will announce it shortly as I will
have to announce the cancellation of today's first
aid session."
Hiroshi nodded. "Good. Tell everyone to meet
in the main lobby." With that, he turned to exit
the room, determination painted over his dark
features.
* * *
Death.
His death. He didn't want to think about it.
But it wasn't just him. No, he was being selfish to
think that way. Always acting so composed and in
control of himself when really he wasn't.
And suddenly it all began to spiral out of
control. Daisuke didn't like what he saw. He knew
it would happen, eventually. Ranma would lose
control of his sugar-coated world of safety and it
would all collapse.
And suddenly he could feel THEM ripping at
his flesh, groaning their desire to tear him apart.
The agony of it all.
He could really feel it. It had to be a
nightmare, but the pain was so authentic.
First his stomach, and he was still alive.
His chest, and he was still alive. His toes,
separating painfully from his feet as dull, human
teeth clenched down around his tender flesh. And he
was still alive. Would it never end? Why would they
not let him die?! The beautiful tranquillity of
death. He ached for it.
And then it was dark, and there was nothing.
Hiroshi, Ranma, Kasumi, Mr. Tendo, Natsu, Sheri...
They were all gone.... And it still hurt, even in
death. The pain of fingers and teeth ripping at his
flesh, tearing at him, devouring him.
He was in hell.
* * *
Daisuke started from his dream pervaded world
and his eyes shot open abruptly, his voice catching
in his throat in a dry scream. His breathing was
erratic as he tried to calm himself, feeling the
cold perspiration that dripped from his heated
forehead. He was safe.
Daisuke settled back down into his bed. He
didn't like sleeping, but he knew his body could
not go without. And it scared him. The images, the
pain... He was terrified.
"What's it all about, I wonder?"
Daisuke looked around the room and then at
the door that led into the hallway, searching for
the voice.
People hurried through the hall noisily,
causing a resonance of sound that he found most
annoying. He wondered what was going on now. Every
time they settled one crisis, another one began.
He set up and groggily wiped his eyes. He
shook his head and ran his hands through his dark,
sweat soaked hair. He really didn't feel like
getting up, which meant it had to be earlier that
10:00am.
He looked over at his clock and frowned.
"Half past four?" he asked no one in particular,
groaning. He REALLY didn't feel like getting up. He
laid back down on his bunk and looked up at the
shadows that engulfed his ceiling. He was growing
tired of all the noise from the hall already, and
tried desperately to ignore it. But suddenly,
something caught his attention -- a name.
"That's what Hiroshi said..."
Daisuke looked towards the door and grimaced
as a girl called his friend's name. What had
Hiroshi done now? He sat up on his bed and tossed
his feet out over the edge. "This better be good,
Hiroshi." With that, he stood and walked to his
closet, grabbing his old Furinkan school uniform.
He slipped into it quickly and walked out into the
hall.
He stopped and looked around as he realized
that over half of the residents at the Square Soft
building were hurrying towards the lobby.
Daisuke watched as each person passed, until
he recognized someone as being his friend, for like
of a better word. "Hey, Sheri!"
Sheri Mitchell stopped and turned abruptly to
look at the young man who had given her the guided
tour of Furinkan when she had moved to Tokyo. She
watched him as he hurried towards her.
"Sheri!" Daisuke stopped next to the small
girl and looked down at her. "What's going on,
huh?"
Sheri searched for a name. She knew that she
should know. And it suddenly hit her. "Oh,
Daisuke!"
"Yeah?" Daisuke looked at Sheri blankly.
"Nothing." She smiled and began down the hall
again. "I don't really know what's going on. I just
know that Hiroshi has called a meeting. He said it
was urgent. He wants everyone to be in the lobby by
five. It was announced over the intercom earlier by
Dr. Tofu."
Daisuke frowned. An announcement? Hiroshi
never mentioned anything about an announcement to
HIM. He snorted. //So much for best friends.\\ He
shook his head and followed Sheri quickly. "You
have any idea what it's about?"
Sheri shook her head and continued on, almost
running. "Not really. There have been rumors that
Hiroshi has been talking about 'bringing the
so-called leader' down. I take it he means Ranma."
She looked back at Daisuke, arching a brow.
"Ah, yes. He thinks Ranma has gotten too big
for his britches. He never stops complaining about
it, but I didn't know he was thinking about
'bringing Ranma down'." A grim look crossed
Daisuke's face. It was unlike Hiroshi to act this
way. He couldn't imagine what was wrong, but he
intended to find out. He suddenly felt uneasy, the
way he felt back when he was young, right before a
bad storm hit.
* * *
Hiroshi moved slowly around a group of chairs
and up behind the pedestal that stood at the front
of the room. His conversation with Daisuke earlier
that night about leaving had convinced that he, and
he alone, had to ring the bell. After all, Ranma
wasn't going to do it, and he couldn't figure out
why.
Ranma ACTED like he wanted to keep everyone
there safe and alive, but when help arrived, he did
noting. It wasn't right, and it was his chance to
show Ranma for the fake that he was.
"It's time, Saotome, that the truth of your
treachery be exposed." Hiroshi slapped his hand
down on the pedestal and waited. He tapped his foot
impatiently and the continued to talk to the air.
"To think he would allow all of us to remain in
this extremely dangerous situation, waiting for
some miracle to come along and save us. I don't
know what he and his precious Tokyo Defensive plan
to accomplish. I mean, Tokyo no longer really
exists. He should have named the group 'Ode to
Ranma' instead. Every member of his 'Defensive'
worships him, after all. Well, except Kuno, and he
doesn't count because he died."
Hiroshi snorted and continued to rant. "And
for what? He died following up a bogus human
sighting. What a way to go. And it's all Ranma's
fault." He paused for a moment and shook his head.
He was ranting. He hated it when he ranted, it made
him sound like he was losing it. If anything, he
was the only one still with it anymore. He snorted
and turned to exit the room, heading toward the
restroom.
* * *
Ranma blinked into the bright, warm light
that splashed over his face. He squinted into it,
trying to make out the shapes and colors that
surrounded him.
And it all slowly began to fade into view.
Flowers - Dandelions, poppies, sunflowers, roses,
and other beautifully colored flowers, their petals
large and lush.
But why was he in a place like this? Wasn't
he... wasn't he in an old, rundown building? Or
maybe it was all a horrible nightmare. Maybe this
was where he belonged. Maybe....
"Ranma?"
Ranma spun on his heel and his eyes widened
in surprise. "A.. Akane!?"
Akane's slender figure stood before the
pigtailed martial artist. A blue sun dress accented
her beauty, along with the large, white straw hat
she wore on her head. She smiled, a warm, loving
smile as she stepped slowly through the field of
flowers.
Ranma looked down at himself and found that
he was wearing one of his fine, silk tai-chi tops.
It was white, with red knot cords and no sleeves.
He couldn't remember the last time he had seen it.
Ranma?"
Akane's voice floated with the breeze again,
assaulting Ranma's ears pleasantly. He looked back
up, and found himself face to face with his
fiancee.
"Ranma... You won't leave me, will you?"
Akane's hand slowly extended forward, reaching for
his.
Ranma swallowed hard and watched her hand. He
reached out slowly and feathered his fingers
between hers. He could feel her soft, cool flesh
rub against his as his hand closed on hers. "Of...
Of course I won't, Akane. You know that."
Akane stepped forward slowly and let her
other hand press against Ranma's chest as his arm
snaked around her, pulling her close to him.
He closed his eyes and sighed, holding her in
his gentle embrace. He didn't want to let go, not
ever. "Akane...?"
"Yes, Ranma?" The raven-hair girl's eyes
traveled up Ranma's chest, resting on his face.
Ranma looked down into her eyes, swallowing
hard. He had never told her how he felt. He had
never been able to say it. But now, he would. He
had too. "Akane... I.... I need to tell you
something.... Something I've wanted to tell you for
a while...."
"Yes, Ranma?"
"Akane... I... I lo..." Ranma closed his
eyes. "Akane I lo...."
* * *
Ranma's eyes opened slowly and focused on the
tabletop before him. He blinked a few times and
yawned. //Must have fallen asleep,\\ he thought,
sitting up slowly. And then he remembered the
dream. //So real... I... I almost wish...\\ He
shook his head and dismissed the thought.
Something suddenly caught Ranma's attention,
and he looked around the room in surprise. He had
never seen the kitchen empty, not even at the
latest of hours, mainly because it doubled as a
'theater'/rec room. The only TV in the building had
been put there, along with an air hockey table and
pool table.
He scratched the back of his head and began
to rise from his spot at the table. He looked up at
the clock and noticed the time -- 4:56am. He sighed
and began for the door, pulling the sleeves of his
tai-chi uniform up. He was exhausted. His normal 3
hour long sleep wasn't cutting it anymore. His body
was beginning to weaken beyond his control.
Oh well. He'd just have to cope with it.
There was too much around the base to be done.
Base? When had he started referring to it as a
base? He had never called it home, to be sure, but
base....?
It made him feel strange. He found that
things were becoming almost militaristic around the
old Square Soft building. Food and drink were
rationed, and people were limited access to certain
areas of the building, as they were deemed unsafe.
Ranma sighed again and watched his feet as he
walked down the corridor towards the medical area.
He really didn't like what was happening around the
'base'. He would have to speak to Tofu about it.
* * *
Daisuke found himself a chair between Kasumi
and Sheri. His eyes traveled up to the pedestal,
which was unoccupied. He wondered when his friend
would arrive. He looked down at the floor in front
of his feet and sighed, waiting.
He was starting to feel nauseous. An effect
of nervousness, he decided, and maybe even lack of
sleep. He reached up to rub his eyes and found that
his hands were trembling. He looked at them for a
moment and then clasped them together.
Suddenly, his head tilted up and turned to
his right as he felt a finger tapping on his
shoulder.
Kasumi smiled as Daisuke's gaze met hers. She
folded her hands in her lap and nodded. "Greetings,
Daisuke."
Daisuke forced a smile and lowered his head.
"Greetings, joson," he replied respectfully,
looking back up at her.
Kasumi smiled again. "Would you know why your
friend Hiroshi wants to talk with all of us? It's
getting close to breakfast time, and I need to be
in the kitchen."
"He did not tell me." Daisuke looked from
Kasumi back towards the stage. "But I have a
feeling it isn't going to be good, and an even
worse feeling that it is going to be about Ranma."
"Oh dear." Kasumi covered her mouth and shook
her head. "They don't really get along, do they?"
"Not really." Daisuke nodded and sighed. "I
just wish Hiroshi would hurry and get it over
with." He looked away from the stage and whispered,
"And I hope I know who to support when he does..."
* * *
They were everywhere, watching him. He could
feel it as the dark shadows and eerie sounds
assaulted his senses. He found himself quivering,
not only because of the pain, but because of the
fear. He never would have admitted it to anyone,
but he had to accept it. He was frightened.
Ryoga moved through the street as quickly as
his injured leg would allow. He didn't feel so hot,
and knew that the wound had probably become
infected.
He didn't really want to think about it. He
only knew he had to find Ranma's base, before his
leg encouraged more Flesh Stalkers to arise from
hiding. He just didn't need that right now, and he
needed even less for his injured appendage to get
any worse. He'd be a dead man for sure if he lost
function in his leg due to infection, and he would
be damned if that happened.
Ryoga's eyes darted back and forth across the
wide roadway that he traveled down. It was far less
cluttered with wreckage, and that made him nervous.
He'd rather be in a place where he could put
something between himself and the Flesh Stalking
bastards that had caused him so much grief and
anxiety.
And that encouraged him to keep going. He had
to find Ranma, if only to make Akane happy, just
for a little while. He knew, now, how Ranma really
felt about Akane. He held up the envelop he had
found and looked at it. //And now, thanks to you, I
know how Akane really feels about Ranma.\\
Ryoga continued on, knowing his time was
becoming dreadfully limited.
* * *
It stalked on silently, the need within it
growing steadily. It had been without for quite
some time, after all, and that only made the urge
more powerful.
On top of that, it could sense the presence
of what it sought, and the presence only grew
stronger as time passed.
It knew that more of its own, greedy kind
would certainly sense it too, and arise from their
areas of hiding to destroy what called to them, to
feast apon it in a vain attempt to satisfy the urge
to gourmandize, drink, and destroy.
* * *
Ranma turned a corner and walked into the
home-made infirmary that Tofu had designed shortly
after they had set up home in the building.
"Dr. Tofu, I..." Ranma trailed off as he
realized that the room was empty. He stopped in the
door and looked around. He made a sound of
confusion as his eyes moved over the abandoned
room. //I was told Tofu had an early first aid
class or somethin',\\ he thought, turning to head
out of the room.
He walked down the hallway slowly, bringing
his arms up and resting his hands on the back of
his head as his mind wandered in thought. He was
sure that they could all hold up here a little
longer. He didn't favor Tofu's theory on why the
dead had started falling back.
* * *
"Pulling their efforts, Ranma."
Ranma looked across the table at Tofu, as did
Soun, Natsu, and Konatsu.
"Pulling their efforts?" Natsu questioned,
looking between the pigtailed martial artist and
Tofu.
"He means that they are planing," Ranma
offered, looking from Natsu to Tofu. "Right?"
Tofu nodded. "Exactly. From what I have
witnessed, these creatures have at least basic
powers of deliberation. They aren't completely
without mind. They are more like animals than
humans, which is what worries me."
Konatsu's eyes bulged from within their
sockets. "So you think that these things could be
preparing a mass attack?"
Tofu hesitated, and then nodded. "It is very
possible."
* * *
Ranma shuttered. He knew the kind of damage
one of those things could do, let alone hundreds of
them coming head on for their base. And it worried
him. If the creatures WERE organizing a massive
push, there was no way the Tokyo Defensive could
push back, not in their current condition.
So, if Tofu was correct, he would have to
consider their options. //Maybe Hiroshi is right,\\
he thought, his eyes traveling to the floor.
//Maybe we should all evacuate, before it's too
late.\\
Ranma's brow crinkled in concentration as he
continued down the hall, towards the lobby.
"Let go of it!"
"Hand it over, it's mine!!"
"Hmm?" Ranma looked up and let his arms fall
to his sides as he heard the small commotion
directly in front of him. He stopped and looked
forward to see Natsu and an old student from
Furinkan, Rajin. He had been a member of the Kendo
Club, and one of Kuno's followers.
Natsu's hands were wrapped tightly around the
edge of packaged, rationed food, while Rajin tugged
at it from the other side.
"This is all I have!" Natsu pleaded, his old
arms unable to withstand the pressure of Rajin's
merciless tugging.
The food pulled easily away from Natsu and
Rajin jumped back away from him.
The ailing man watched the small silver
package of food retreat away with its abductor.
"Ha ha! It's all mine, Gramps." Rajin smiled
down at the old man. "Why don't you just buzz off
and...." His words caught in his throat as he felt
a rock hard hand wrap around his shoulder and
squeeze dangerously tight.
"Rajin, what a surprise." A rather sarcastic
smile painted over Ranma's bad mood as he squeezed
the other teenager's shoulder painfully.
"Ra~NM~a!" Rajin's voice cracked and he
smiled nervously.
"Got some kinda problem, Rajin? Cause ya
know, I just ain't in the mood for problems right
now." The satire in Ranma's smile grew, and a hint
of agitation began to show through.
The cheeriness in Ranma's voice was making
Rajin nervous. "No.. N--no problem, Ranma." He
thought about trying to jerk free, but decided it
was a bad idea as the pigtailed martial artist's
face turned towards Natsu, and his grip tightened.
"There a problem here, Gramps?" The pigtailed
martial artist addressed the old man in a slightly
more civil tone.
Natsu pointed at Rajin. "That little punk
stole the last of my breakfast ration! It's all I
have for the next two days!"
Ranma's gaze returned to the other teen, his
face now pulled back in complete agitation. "That
so, Rajin?"
"No! I was.. just.. ummm..." Rajin tossed the
food at Natsu. "There!"
Natsu caught the food in his heads and smiled
brightly, cradling it to his chest.
Ranma smiled. "Good. Now, I think you owe
Natsu here an apology." He shoved his face into
Rajin's, his fist clenching tightly between them.
"Mind if I beat it out of ya!!!"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Rajin looked between
Ranma and Natsu, his eyes wide. "I won't do it
again, I promise. I was just hungry, that's all! My
ration ran out yesterday."
"That's whatcha get for bein' a pig!" Ranma
smacked his hand over the back of Rajin's head.
Rajin stumbled forward from the force and
recovered soon enough to turn and come face to face
with Ranma.
Ranma jerked forward. "BOO!"
"AHHHH!" A smoke cloud in the shape of Rajin
stood before Ranma, terrified. He watched it fade
before sighing and turning to face Natsu.
"You okay, Gramps?"
Natsu nodded and smiled impishly. "Yes sir,
I'm fine."
Ranma pulled a face. "Yes sir? I ain't your
leader or nothin'."
Natsu blinked and nodded. "Oh, I see." He
shrugged and headed towards the lobby.
Ranma looked around and the followed the old
man. "Hey, Natsu, where is everyone?"
"Didn't you hear the call for everyone to be
in the second floor lobby at 5:00am?"
Ranma blinked and shook his head. "No. Why?"
"Hiroshi is giving a speech. Says he's got
something important to say." Natsu shrugged and
continued forward.
Ranma grimaced. //Oh boy.\\
* * *
Hiroshi approached the stage slowly, his eyes
scanning the room of crowded people. He noticed
that everyone was there, with the exception of
Ranma and the elderly man, Natsu.
He smiled. It didn't really matter if Ranma
was there or not. He would find out soon enough.
"Everyone, may I have your attention?"
The crowded room looked up towards Hiroshi as
they realized that the 17 year old was now before
them. They slowly grew silent, and Hiroshi cleared
his throat.
"Thank you all for being here," Hiroshi
started, laying his hands on the pedestal before
him. "I called you all here on a matter that is of
great importance to us all."
Daisuke rolled his eyes and groaned. //Oh
gods, what his he doing?\\ He looked up at the
stage and waited.
Hiroshi continued, "I am here now to tell you
that our 'great leader', Ranma Saotome, is nothing
more than a fraud!"
The room sat in a rather shocked silence for
a long moment. Sheri and Daisuke stared up at
Hiroshi, their mouths hanging open.
Kasumi's hand was over her mouth, suppressing
a quiet 'Oh my'.
Soun watched the man behind the pedestal, his
expression a confusing mix of emotions.
Tofu adjusted his glasses and waited to hear
the basis for such a claim.
"Who ever said I was tryin' to be a leader?"
The attention of the room turned towards the
door leading out into the lobby. Ranma stood
silently before them all, looking over the crowd,
then up at Hiroshi.
"All I'm doin' is tryin' to keep everyone
here alive."
"Then why have you lied to them, Ranma?!"
Hiroshi bellowed, a sour smile crossing his face.
Ranma grimaced and took a defensive step
forward. "What did you say!?" he yelled, clenching
his fists tightly.
"Excuse me."
Ranma and Hiroshi turned from each other,
looking at the crowd. Dr. Tofu stood silently,
looking between the two arguing teens. "Ranma.
Hiroshi. Please meet with me in the hall."
Kasumi watched Tofu walk towards the door.
Despite his calm attire, she could sense an
unnatural anger in the normally sweet, bumbling
Doctor. "Oh my...."
* * *
"I don't know what his problem is!" Ranma
growled, shaking his head. "I know Hiroshi has
always had this problem with me, but I don't know
what he's talkin' about."
"Don't play dumb, Saotome!" Hiroshi hissed
moving forward.
Tofu rose a hand and stopped Hiroshi. "Not a
good idea, Hiroshi." He turned his head to look at
Ranma. "Are you sure there isn't something you
haven't told me?"
Ranma blinked at Tofu. That was more of a
demand, not a question. It wasn't like him.
"Positive." Ranma replied, crossing his arms
and looked away from the other two men, taping his
foot impatiently.
"What about the helicopter?"
Ranma's eyes widened suddenly. "W... what?"
Hiroshi smiled. //Now I got him.\\
Tofu looked from Hiroshi to Ranma, his brow
crinkled in confusion. "Helicopter?"
"You're not the only one who sits up on the
roof to think, Saotome," Hiroshi continued, pushing
past Tofu. "I saw the helicopter, and I know you
did too. I've been waiting for you to tell
everyone. Waiting, and waiting, and waiting... And
nothing happens. That helicopter could be our
ticket out of here."
Tofu's face was blank as he listened, and
then he looked at Hiroshi. "You're sure you saw a
helicopter?"
Hiroshi nodded. "Positive."
And suddenly the blank, neutral look on
Tofu's face faded, and he felt himself snap as he
realized something... "So, Ranma... What Hiroshi is
saying is you hung all of us out to dry..." And
then he saw Kasumi's sweet, smiling face. He never
thought he could feel so angry so quickly.
"And just WHEN did you plan on telling us this?!"
"I couldn't tell you!" Ranma objected,
raising his hands defensively.
"Why the hell not!?" Tofu demanded, catching
Ranma and Hiroshi off guard. His voice echoed
through the hall, and back to him, and even he was
surprised.
"Cause I wanted to protect you all!" Ranma
turned to face his two peers. "I didn't want to
create a mad rush. Do you realize how many people
would be killed if they rushed blindly out into the
streets to find a helicopter that landed almost a
mile from here?"
Tofu thought it over for a moment and then
realized just what Ranma was saying. It made sense,
in some manner. He had always prided himself on
being a logical, reasonable man, and here he was
screaming and cursing.
He nodded. "I see the logic in that." His
voice was a little smoother now, less agitated.
"But you should have at least mentioned it within
the Tokyo Defensive. We could have sent scouts out
to..."
"Konatsu and Kuno were both killed scouting
out possible human sightings." Ranma snapped,
cutting Tofu off. "I ain't gunna risk the lives of
anyone else in MY squad."
Hiroshi snickered. "So NOW you claim to be
some kind of great leader."
Tofu flinched in surprise as Ranma's fist
connected hard with the side of Hiroshi's head.
Hiroshi's body lit up in pain and his vision
flashed white as his body flew through the air,
destroying the doors into the main lobby.
Tofu reached out suddenly and took Ranma by
the shoulder. "Ranma, hold!"
Ranma jerked away from Tofu, which he found
to be a chore. He suddenly remembered that he
wasn't the only long-time martial artist in the
building and turned to face Tofu. "Don't." With
that, he turned back toward the door.
* * *
Daisuke and Sheri both spun quickly, hearing
a loud crash. Daisuke watched as Hiroshi moved
through the air, landing near the pedestal at the
front of the room. "What the..."
"You mind your own business and stop tryin'
to cause trouble, Hiroshi!" Ranma bellowed,
following Hiroshi into the room. He stopped near
the middle of the walkway and looked up at Hiroshi,
who used the pedestal to pull himself up.
"Y... you're unstable... R...Ranma..."
Hiroshi trembled with the effort of staying on his
feet, and he could feel a warm fluid flowing down
the side of his head. He reached up and ran his
finger over his temple, causing his vision to flash
white again with pain.
When he could finally see again, he looked
his finger over, which was covered in blood.
"Hiroshi..." Daisuke took a step forward and
turned to look towards Ranma. "What'd you hit him
for?"
Every eye in the room turned to the pigtailed
martial artist.
Daisuke clenched his fists and felt his body
shivering. He had always liked Ranma, but now... He
couldn't take the stress of it all. He took a step
forward. "Ranma...."
Sheri stood quickly and rested a hand on
Daisuke's shoulder. "Please, Daisuke.. Don't..."
Daisuke looked around at Sheri, into her
eyes. "But he... He just..."
"Go help your friend, okay?" Sheri's eyes
were pleading as she watched Daisuke's face. She
whispered, "No more fighting..."
Daisuke turned from Ranma and took a deep
breath. //Lucky thing Sheri is here,\\ he thought,
//Cause Ranma would have killed me.\\
Ranma looked around the room, and the
agitated expression vanished from his face. His
fists unclenched, and he watched Tofu walk past
him.
He stopped and looked at Ranma. "Ranma, we
need to talk.... later."
"I... I..." Ranma shook his head and looked
down.
Hiroshi took a shaky step forward. "Look at
him.... he's attacking the p... people he claims
to... protect..."
Daisuke moved forward quickly. "Shut up,
Hiroshi." He reached out and slid a hand under his
friend's shoulder, helping him stand. He looked at
Hiroshi and whispered, "You're my friend and all,
but just be quiet and stop causing trouble."
Hiroshi' s head fell forward slowly, and he
was unconscious. Tofu moved quickly up to the stage
and helped Daisuke support Hiroshi. "Come on, let's
get him to the infirmary."
* * *
Ryoga fell to his knees. He was exhausted,
and his leg was on fire in nonstop agony. He found
that he couldn't even relax his jaw as his teeth
clenched tightly, and low grunts of effort escaped
him as he moved.
//So this is it....\\ he thought, shaking his
head. //This is where I will die... Figures. I... I
finally set out to do something for someone other
than myself... I finally try to help the man who
had once been my worst rival... And this is what I
get for it.... Ranma, you big jerk... This is all
your fault....\\
Ryoga fell forward, onto his chest. His
breathing was labored, and it was a struggle to
keep his eyes open. Slowly, he drifted off to a
far better rest than he had ever known.....
* * *
Tora, the young ex-soldier who had been
placed at the front door of the old Squaresoft
building squinted into the darkness. He thought he
could make out a figure, but he wasn't sure.
Cautiously, he moved out the door and into
the street. He looked around himself and then back
at the boarded up building. He didn't like leaving
it's safety.
Taking baby steps, Tora moved toward the
figure that lay on the ground. His rifle rose
slowly, and he held it at ready.
As he approached, he could hear the person's
labored breathing, and knew that it was a human.
He kneeled slowly and reached out. He let his
hand rest on the person's shoulder, and he shook
him lightly. "You okay?" His eyes suddenly widened.
"Oh! It's you!"
* * *
Cooper stood silently at the center of the
giant stone room, looking around at all the
different faces.
He rested his hands on his hips as he began
pacing slowly back and forth, growing slowly more
agitated. "Where the fuck is Weston?" he suddenly
demanded, looking out over the group of people.
Kelly shook her head and sighed. "How should
we know? He's one of your men, not one of ours."
Quinn looked up quickly. "He's on his way,
sir. I stopped by his room on the way. He had to
get dressed and ready."
Johnson snorted and picked up his gun.
"Little bastard's probably jerkin' off in Kelly's
Victoria Secrets catalog again." He began to laugh
as he loaded the 20 -round chamber on his handgun.
Rembrant frowned in disgust. "Are all of you
soldier-types always so vial?"
Johnson smiled as he began going over his
gun, cleaning it. "Yeah, we get off on it."
"Enough of this bullshit bickering!" Cooper
bellowed, moving over to his seat. "If he ain't
here in 5 minutes, I'm gunna go drag the little
ingrate out here."
Kelly sighed again and looked over at Quinn,
who carried a rather disapproving look on his face.
"No need for force."
Everyone looked up at the door.
Weston smiled as he walked into the room.
"I'm here." He moved quickly towards his seat over
near the scientists, and then snapped his fingers
and stopped before Johnson. "Oh, Johnson, I got
something for you." He removed a tattered 'Victoria
Secrets' catalog from his pocket and tossed it down
on the table. "On the house." He smiled and walked
to his seat.
Quinn chuckled to himself as he watched
Johnson pick the book up and toss it across the
room.
Kelly smiled lightly at Weston as he sat down
next to her, and then looked back toward Cooper.
"Now if everyone's done dicking around, it's
time to start the briefing." Cooper stood from his
seat and turned to look over everyone in the room.
"Put simply, Quinn and Johnson will accompany
Weston out in the Helicopter. Through the night,
Johnson has reported sounds of explosions,
screaming, and has even seen lights on in other
buildings. Today, Weston will be taking Quinn and
Johnson to a number of buildings that may possibly
shelter survivors."
"And we're to bring back any survivors, yes?"
Quinn looked up from his spot at the table.
"Only the one's in the profile." Cooper
tossed the profile folder across the room, where it
landed before Quinn.
"What about any other people?" Weston asked,
crinkling his brow.
Cooper's face remained dead serious as he
circled the table, moving toward the center of the
room. "Other people are extra baggage. We don't
have the time for led weights."
Quinn frowned. "So we leave them behind?"
"No," Cooper said, a small smile pulling
across his face. "You execute them."
========================================
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