Getting close to the end here, hope you like it.
Disclaimer: If anyone asks, I will deny everything.
The Warriors Path
by Andrew Wilson (templat@softcom.net)
Chapter 9: Confrontation or "Rumble in the 'Zone."
Normally Ranma Saotome was a morning person. The fact that
he was woken up by his father in the pre-dawn hours for
training insured that. However, ever since coming to this
demented place some called Earth, he had been treated to
worse wake-up calls then he had ever imagined.
Besides the time Cologne had shown up. Or the platoon of
skelebots. No, the worst ones had happened since arriving
at Psyscape, which was supposed to be a sanctuary. Waking
up in the middle of a shopping district had been bad
enough. The fact that he was in his underwear and a she at
the time made it worse. The worst one on record had been a
week ago, when he had woken up to find a giant panther using
him as a pillow. That event was almost enough to trigger
the cat-fist, and even the memories made him shudder.
As dawn's rays began to light his room, Ranma saw nothing
out of place. That was odd. Normally either Pirotess or
Drizzt pulled a wake-up prank once a week. As he slid out
of bed, Ranma noted that his balance was a little different
from when he went to sleep. *They must have changed me
while sleeping,* she thought. *Like that's gonna bother me
much.*
Still bleary-eyed as she entered the bathroom, Ranma had to
concentrate on order to focus on the image in the mirror.
Once she did, she nearly screamed.
The image in the mirror was not her. At least, she didn't
have red eyes, carrot colored hair, and a rather
underdeveloped figure. She reached around and grabbed her
pigtail, pulling it forward so she could get a look.
Orange.
*******
A scream from the bathroom interrupted breakfast.
"I see Ranma found your illusion," Ryoga commented between
biscuits.
Deedlit giggled. "I have you to thank for the idea. How
did you come up with it, anyway?"
Ryoga cracked a smile. "Easy, I got the idea from Ranma
learning magic. There's this show where we come from,
called Slayers. The main character is a powerful sorceress
that looks a little like Ranma's other form. I though it
might be funny for Ranma to think he was turning into her."
"Ha Ha," Ranma said, coming into the room and dropping into
a chair. "Mind changing me back now?"
"Ah, but ye look much cuter like that," Catti-brie said,
trying to restrain her own giggles. "Maybe ye should stay
like that for a few days."
The look of horror on Ranma's face was overruled by a look
of sudden hunger. She noticed the food on the table, and
promptly began to correct that oversight.
"That's the other bit of resemblance," Ryoga commented,
"they could be cousins or something."(1)
Even after nearly two months, Drizzt could not believe the
speed and quantity of Ranma's eating. "Does that remind you
of a friend of ours?" he murmured to Catti-brie.
This time Catti-brie did laugh. "Regis'd be insulted by
that."
There was a knock on the front door, and Deedlit dispelled
the illusion on her way to answer it. Ranma was still
female, but had regained her normal proportions and
coloration. Ranma didn't notice this, because she was in
the process of eating a cantaloupe like a normal person
would eat an apple.
Ryoga followed Deedlit to the door. He was curious as to
who would be visiting them, but more because he didn't like
watching Ranma eat.
"Yes?" Deedlit said as she opened the door. Courtesy does
not exist before eight in the morning.
"Sorry to disturb you this early," a familiar voice said,
though Ryoga couldn't place it, "but we heard that you would
be leaving today. If it's not too much trouble, there is a
matter of mutual interest that we would like to discuss."
The tone was formal, almost military. The accent was
American, much like Ryoga remembered from his travels back
in the old days. The memory of the voice clicked in Ryoga's
head as Deedlit nodded her consent. In walked a familiar
man in a dark blue uniform, followed by an even more
unforgettable woman with emerald green hair.
The man smiled, and extended his hand to Ryoga. "Well,
well. I thought this place looked familiar. Hibiki,
right? Ryoga?"
Ryoga took the hand in what should have been a bone-crushing
grip, but the man returned it with equal intensity. "That's
right, Lieutenant Hamilton."
"Just call me Conner, I've never been fond of titles."
"I see you two know each other," Deedlit said.
Conner shook his head. "We found him yesterday, wandering
north of the gateway valley, heading west."
"So that's how you were able to get back here so quickly,"
Ranma grumbled, remembering the interruption of his
studies. "We weren't expecting you for at least another
week."
Conner turned back to Ryoga. "I guess you weren't kidding
when you said you get lost easily."
"Don't. Go. There."
"Shall we get down to business?" Pirotess asked.
Conner nodded. "Sounds good to me. I heard that you're
heading into the Magic Zone for a little demon hunting."
Drizzt's eyes narrowed. "Where did you hear that."
"Your information source isn't exclusive to you. Ethan has
a deal with the Admiral. Mostly information exchange for
security reasons. We were told about some new demon lord,
and were sent to investigate."
Deedlit raised an eyebrow. "Just investigate?"
Conner shrugged. "Well, the actual orders said something
like 'new supernatural force being a treat to the balance of
power in this region,' and to 'investigate and ascertain
threat rating.' But what that really means is 'check it
out, and do anything you can against it without compromising
our secrets or getting killed.' I talked with Ethan, and he
pointed us here."
"So now what?" Ranma asked as she gulped down a gallon of
orange juice.
Conner blinked at the sight. "Well, since we're all going
the same way, we could join up. The two of us offer
significant firepower."
Pirotess pointed to Conner's companion. "Who's she?"
"I is," the woman began, then broke off. She made a
frustrated sound in her throat. "My name is Emerelda," she
continued, more slowly, "sorry, but my old accent comes in
unless I concentrate."
Deedlit smiled. "Well, why don't you two join us, we just
sat down a little while ago, and there's still food left, if
you get it before Ranma."
*******
They met an hour later at the stables near the gates.
Conner and Emerelda once again on his cycle and Conner
himself in his body armor.
Conner looked around the group. "Where's Ranma?"
Ranma began hitting his head against the wall. "Not again,
I'm sick of explaining it."
"Allow me," Deedlit said, conjuring two globes of water.
She proceeded to dump them over Ranma, first the cold
sphere, then the hot one.
Conner and Emerelda looked stunned. "And I thought your
friends were weird," he said, earning him a punch in the
arm.
"Why horses?" Conner then asked. "Why not an ATV, or some
hovercycles?"
"Because," Deedlit replied, "none of us know how to use
them."
Conner and Emerelda exchanged a glance. "We can drive on,
if you want. It makes sense. I can find us one that is big
enough for eight and our equipment, and they are better
armored than horses, as well as being more comfortable."
Ranma and Ryoga exchanged glances, remembering how sore they
were when they first started riding. "Sold," they said in
unison.
Which is how it came to be that a large, wheeled vehicle
went rumbling through the Ohio River valley.
*******
<Nerima>
"You look shocked, my son."
Tofu glared at the woman who had walked into his office. "I
am surprised. You have been in the area for close to a year
now. Why now?"
Cologne smiled. "There were things I needed to take care
of. I'm here now because I require your assistance."
"You, have come to me, for help?" Tofu laughed bitterly.
"There is nothing you could offer me in return for any aid.
I owe you nothing."
"I will undo the immortality magic."
That stopped Tofu short. "You can?"
"Of course."
"You would?"
"Yes."
Tofu thought about this turn of events for a moment. "What
do you require of me?"
Once again, Cologne smiled. "First of all, the time has
come for your father to die."
"I agree. My preparations are almost complete."
"The other thing is more difficult, but I will tell you
after the first is completed."
"Thank you. Though I have a question for you."
"Yes?"
Tofu sighed. "There are times when I loose all control over
myself. It usually happens in the presence of a particular
woman..."
"Kasumi Tendo?" Tofu nodded in response to Colognes
question. "That is because of your father's blood. She is
pure of heart, mind, and soul. Because of that, you are
having a type of allergic reaction. If we destroy the
demon, then his influence will disappear, and you will not
have to worry about such things."
"Then let us get started. I have been making preparations
for several years now, all is almost in readiness."
*******
<Rift's Earth>
The passenger cabin was large. Large enough for eight
people to sleep in. It was more secure than an open
campsite, and the elven women's wards would pick up anything
the sensors didn't. All in all, it was a relatively safe
place.
"So Conner," Ranma asked later, "you said you were a
lieutenant, where?"
"Long story. I'm part of a joint defense organization.
It's composed of three parts, only one of which originates
in this dimension. One section, where Emerelda is from,
provides some tech, and heavy weapons. Another provides
most of the advanced tech, like my bike. And the third,
where I'm from, provides manpower and raw materials."
"So what's the story?"
"Too long to tell here. Maybe another time. Suffice to
say, one group escaped total apocalypse, another has been
fighting to keep a relative peace, and the third was
fighting another war and landed in the middle of this
one."(2)
Ranma tried different methods of interrogation, all with the
same result. Eventually, all parties tired of the game, and
settled down for the night.
*******
The cave was like any in the area, with a couple of
exceptions. For one thing, the other caves in the area
weren't guarded by large, slobbering demon soldiers. And
the other caves in the area weren't the target of the group
crouching behind the next ridge over.
"Looks tough," Conner commented, easing back from the peak.
"What's the plan?" Ranma asked.
A voice came form over the ridge. "You die."
Ranma, Conner, and the others look up to see one of the
slobbering demons walking toward them. Further back, they
saw a small army coming out of the cave.
Drizzt promptly skewered the BUG, and regarded Deedlit as
she studied the approaching hoard.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Pirotess asked.
"I'm thinking a wall drop."
"I'm thinking you're right."
"What's going on?" Ranma asked.
"Quiet," the elves said in unison, "we're thinking."
Ranma backed off as the women began to cast a spell.
Suddenly, two large blocks of stone, they would have been
walls if they had been on the ground, dropped on the front
ranks of the monsters, smashing them.
"That was easy," Deedlit commented.
"Too easy," Conner said, heading back down the hill to his
cycle. As he mounted, he cast a glance back at where the
ATV was parked.
"What's on yer mind?" Catti-brie asked.
"I'm wondering if I should have brought the sidecar."
"Why?"
Conner gave her an evil grin. "The sidecar has extra ammo."
"Don't worry about it," Pirotess called, "They've been
smashed..."
She trailed off as a loud grunt came from under the walls.
With a second grunt, the walls were lifted into the air by
the creatures that were supposed to have been crushed. The
companions had enough time to run before the BUGs launched
the giant blocks in their direction.
Then the battle truly began.
Drizzt and Catti-brie worked back to back. She held the
claws, teeth, and tentacles back while he finished off the
owners of said appendages. This was their element, nothing
could stop them. A few attacks slipped through, but those
bounced off the new armor that Pirotess had acquired for
them.
Ryoga reverted to his usual "bash everything" idea, and did
quite well with the hammer. The BUG's quickly learned to
stay away from him, not that it helped them.
Ranma watched one of the big uglies charge toward him. He
concentrated, readying a spell that had come to him the
other day. He gauged the distance to the BUG. *This ones
gonna be close,* he said to himself, saying the words of the
spell and focusing the energy needed. About halfway
through, he saw the creature was closer than expected and
panicked. He rushed the last syllables of the incantation,
and was shocked (literally) when the spell fizzled.
"Oh, no," he said as the BUG connected with a large, spiked
fist. Ranma flew back, twisting in the air to land on his
feet. *Note to self, don't rush the words.* He rushed back
at the creature, and delivered an old fashioned thrashing to
the beast.
Deedlit shook her head. Ranma was learning, but still had
far to go. She then turned her attention back to the
monsters around her, and her spells of mass destruction.
After launching a cluster of lightning sphere's at the
hoard, she heard a pair of wet explosions behind her.
Spinning around, she saw the smoking remains of two more
BUGs, and Conner pointing the particle beam rifle that
finished them off.
She smiled her thanks, and watched in awe as Conner used a
third beast as a springboard to launch his cycle into the
air. As the jump reached it's peak, the cycle seemed to
shift. Components seemed to rearrange themselves and drew
Conner's body into the mass. By the time he started to
drop, it was clear that the cycle had become some kind of
power armor. A short blade extended from one of the large
shields on his arms, which had previously been the forward
hubcaps. Out of the other shield came four blades, spaced
equally. The blades blurred as they began to rotate around
the shield, much like a buzz-saw. The creatures under him
never knew what hit them. (3)
Neither did the ones Emerelda faced. Those that thought
they were facing an ordinary human received a rude
awakening. Before their eyes, she reformed her limbs (and
hair) into various sharp, blunt, pointy, and generally
painful weapons. She promptly used said weapons to hack,
shred, and smash anything that got in her way.
Pirotess noticed another wave beginning to pour out of the
cave, and shouted a warning to Deedlit.
Deedlit studied the new threat. With a shout of "cover me"
to Pirotess, began her most destructive spell.
Pirotess erected a force-field around both of them, then
paled as she recognized the spell Deedlit was casting. Her
friend had only used that spell twice before.
Time seemed to slow as a black sphere formed in Deedlit's
hand. With extreme care, she tossed it toward the mouth of
the cave, where the second wave of BUGs were gathering
preparing to charge. The eyes of every monster present were
drawn to he ball, everyone else saw the two elves running
like bats out of Hell and decided to join them.
Ryoga was a few feet from the cover of the ridge when he
heard of large explosion behind him, accompanied by a bright
light. Turning back, he saw a raging white inferno where
the BUGs had been. So hypnotized by the destructive beauty
that he didn't notice the shock wave that was flattening the
terrain not incinerated by the explosion.
The shock wave passed over the companion's heads, and sent
Ryoga flying halfway to the ATV. As the lost boy staggered
over to the group, Ranma turned to Deedlit.
"What was that?"
"That," Deedlit said, gasping for breath and obviously
tired, "was a little trick called annihilation."(4)
Ranma glanced over the peek. Where the Bugs had been, there
was a large, charred crater. A fair amount of the cave
complex was molten rock. Beyond the edge of the crater, a
few scattered body-part's were visible, but nothing intact,
or alive.
"Wow," Ranma gasped. "Where can I learn that?" Everyone
just stared at him. "I'm kidding. I don't want to know how
to do that, it's a little too destructive."
"No shit, Sherlock," Conner commented.
"It's come in handy a few times," Deedlit sighed, "mostly
like this. But I wish I didn't need it."
A booming voice came from all around them. "Too bad it
drained your energy as much as it did."
A growl came from Drizzt. "Errtu."
"Correct," the ground began to shack all around them. "And
now, it is time for you to die."
The ground split open, dropping the group down into a large
cavern. As they picked themselves up, they noticed Errtu
standing a distance away. The next thing they noticed was a
ring of BUGs, easily ten times the number they had battled
outside. There was no way they could defeat them all.
"Time to die, foolish mortals," Errtu growled.
End Chapter 9.
notes:
1: Once again, I tip my hat to one of the masters of lunacy.
2: Whole separate fic. I'm revising it for a possible
release, but more than likely not to the FFML. It would
fall under the heading prequel/side story, but can only
loosely be considered anime.
3: Source X-over #8 or so. Care to guess, dear readers?
4: annihilation is a rather powerful spell (only thing I can
think of that's worse is balefire, and no Deedlit does not
know that one). For all intents and purposes it drops a
gram or two of anti-matter on the target (which is a
some-odd number of megatons yield), but the blast radius is
more manageable.
Next time, the final battle (in case you couldn't guess).