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----- Original Message -----
From: "Christopher J Olsen" <GAMERS@prodigy.net>
To: <ffml@fanfic.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 23, 2000 12:56 AM
Subject: [FFML] [Ranma/Saber Marionette J]Strangers in a Strange Land:
Chapter 8
All the characters in this story are the creation of Akahori Satoru,
Kotobuki Tsukasa, and Rumiko Takahashi... or practically all of them,
anyway. The title is stolen from Heinlein... with one letter s added.
Strangers in a Strange Land
Chapter 8
Godai had not been idle at the palace. As soon as Otaru had left he
began making modifications to the Orange Blossom marionettes, using his
new authority. Ever since his successful test with Nabiki
]] Nabiki: Successful is in the eye of the beholder, of course. *I*
]] think it sucks!
]] Akane: But it is successful, since it works. Just be glad the
]] baka didn't make you *love* him.
]] Nabiki: ............
he had had
Yusaku producing large numbers of the control circuits he had created,
justifying it to the palace technicians, accurately enough, by
explaining the increased combat potential the chips gave, using the
recorded Martial Arts techniques of the Anything Goes school.
...
"Hmph." He groused. "Human females. I find it hard to believe
they would be any improvement over marionettes." Yusaku changed to
angle of the camera so that he could get a better look at Lorelei. "I
admit that she is attractive... but so are my marionettes. What's to
]] so much (instead of 'to' perhaps?)
much better about a human female?" He snapped off the monitor. "I'm
thinking about this too much. If I'm to find out the truth, it is
easier to simply test my hypothesis." He got up and waved to a pair of
Cherry Blossom for them to follow him.
]] Blossoms
Several twists and turns through
the house later, he was at the door to Lorelei's room. He tapped a code
in on the panel outside the door and it slid open silently. Confidently
he walked into the room, his Cherry Blossom's waiting outside.
]] Blossoms (plural not possessive).
Lorelei spotted him first, her widening eyes causing Nabiki to turn
around as well. "What do you want?" Lorelei asked politely, trying to
remain calm.
Yusaku stepped toward her. "What do I want?" He repeated
curiously. "I want you to do as I tell you, Lorelei, if you know what's
good for you."
Lorelei sighed. "I see. Oh Nabiki?"
Nabiki glanced at her. "Yes?"
Lorelei pointed at one corner of the bed. "Could you please break
me off a bed post and plug your ears?"
Nabiki didn't hesitate. "Right!" She grabbed a bedpost, snapped
off a two-foot section and tossed it to Lorelei, then plugged her ears
with her fingers and started humming before Yusaku could think to stop
her.
"Wait!" He yelled. "Stop!" Lorelei hefted her improvised club
once, then stood up quickly, lunging at Yusaku. Yusaku stepped back,
still yelling. "No! Wait! Someone protect me!" The Cherry Blossoms
rushed into the room but before they could reach him, Nabiki had moved
to intercept. Lorelei's swung wildly,
]] Lorelei swung (not using the possessive) OR
]] Lorelei's swing was wild (retaining the possessive)
]] Your call.
with little skill, desperate to
knock Yusaku out before he could escape or succeed in giving Nabiki a
command. Nabiki had crashed into the Cherry Blossoms and was fighting
them while shouting incoherently at the top of her lungs.
Yusaku fell backwards under Lorelei's swing and scrambled away from
her on his hands. "Wait! Stop! Nabiki, sentries, protect me!"
Lorelei brought down the bedpost and Yusaku dodged poorly, right into
her erratic swing. He crumpled senseless a moment later. Nabiki had
thrown one of the two Cherry Blossoms out of the room with sufficient
force to put it through the wall on the other side of the hallway, but
at Yusaku's call she and the other Cherry Blossom had turned away from
each other to head toward Yusaku. Nabiki seemed to jerk to a stop with
an effort of will and she grabbed the Cherry Blossom from behind,
pinning its arms, then swiftly snapping its neck.
]] She's programmed for business.
Nabiki froze in shock as the broken marionette fell to the ground at
her feet. "Oh.... oh god...." She shook her head in denial. "No...
no... I couldn't have... I... how could I? I... I killed them!"
Lorelei came up to her cautiously. "Nabiki, are you alright?"
Nabiki turned to the young woman and Lorelei tried not to flinch away,
trying not to picture how Nabiki had so casually destroyed them.
]] Another approach might be: trying to remember it was
]] programming that had destroyed the 'Blossoms so casually.
]] That the marionette... Nabiki was a victim of the Kunous
]] like Lorelei herself was. Surprise and shock melted to
]] comfort and compassion as the woman continued.
]]
]] this is just an idea, do with it as you will.
"They
were... machines, not like you. They were robots, simple programming,
no consciousness. You don't have to feel ashamed. "They would have
killed you, and you defended yourself, and me...."
...
Nabiki shook her head. "I might believe you, but the computer in my
head probably won't... and it could very well have me kill you if you
try." She shuddered. "My god, I'm a monster! Lorelei, if you find a
way to destroy me, use it. If they were to make me hurt anyone else, I
don't know how I could stand it." Lorelei looked about to protest and
Nabiki cut her off. "Besides, this is no life. I'm a prisoner in my
own head. I'd rather die."
]] Canon (rightly) disappeared early on from a characterization
]] perspective. Being a Marionette has changed the three former humans.
...
************************
...
Akane hesitated. "Well... I found their main computer in the
basement... but I kind of smashed it."
Cherry blinked.
]] Get used to it, Cherry.
"I see. Well, that should be a good place to
start. We may have to search the whole building."
Bloodberry gestured to the mansion impatiently. "So what are we
waiting for? Let's get going!"
Akane nodded. "Right, I'll show you the way." She headed quickly
for the front door and tried it. "It's locked!"
]] It's used correctly (does the happy dance).
Bloodberry shrugged. "Not a problem, I'll just knock it down...."
][] Akane's gonna like Bloodberry, I can see it already.
Cherry held up a hand. "Why don't you allow me." She went to the
door and pulled some metal devices attached to cords from out of her
arm. "This should only take a moment...." Just over ten seconds later
the door lock popped open and Cherry pulled the door wide. "See? No
problem at all."
Akane blinked at Chery's
]] Cherry
actions but then she moved in past her.
"Let's hurry. I want to find Lorelei quickly so we can go help rescue
Ranma." The short haired marionette led Cherry and Bloodberry toward
the stairs, but on the way down the hall they were intercepted by a pair
of spear wielding marionettes who charged out of a side passage.
Bloodberry and Cherry didn't hesitate, but jumped forward to meet them.
"Go on ahead, Akane!" Cherry shouted. "We'll cover you!"
Akane nodded and slipped by the embattled marionettes, reaching the
stairs easily, she ripped open the door,
]] See, Bloodberry and Akane will get along fine.
leaving it hanging crazily on
its hinges, then paused, looking back. Bloodberry had her attacker by
the throat, but seemed to be having difficulty hanging on as the Cherry
Blossom marionette was executing a skillful escape technique. Cherry
was on the defensive, dodging back as the second Cherry Blossom attacked
with fists and feet, having been disarmed right at the outset.
...
Bloodberry nodded. "Stronger too. These are from the last
generation of combat sabers. We're built a lot better."
]] Resists urge to make off color comment.
...
Two more marionettes ran around the corner behind them and Akane
charged forward with a yell, Bloodberry a step behind. A bluish aura
sprang up around Akane
]] Now HERE (once more) is a paradox. A machine should not be able to
]] generate a battle aura. Again, does the fact they are programmed
]] with human memories make these marionettes something more?
and she broke through the Cherry Blossom's
defenses with a fierce uppercut, knocking it through the ceiling and out
of sight. Bloodberry feinted toward her opponent, then dodged as it
attacked, catching its fist in one hand and holding tight. She went
into a contest of strength with the marionette, forcing its arm back.
The Cherry Blossom struck out with its free hand and Bloodberry caught
that as well. With a heave, the strongest of Otaru's marionettes
snapped both of the Cherry Blossom's arms off and booted her through the
wall.
...
Bloodberry glared down at Cherry. "You just got lucky. If Panther
and I hadn't have been right there she would have gotten away for
sure." The two Cherry Blossom marionettes moved in while their
opponents were seemingly distracted. When they were about to attack,
however, Bloodberry backhanded the one coming at her at the same time as
Cherry went to the floor and swept the legs of it's
]] Use possessive its.
counterpart.
Bloodberry turned to face her opponent as it bounced back to its feet,
waggling her finger at it in disapproval. "Uh uh uh!" She shook her
head. "Haven't you ever heard about radar? Looks like you two need
another upgrade."
Akane reached the room that had held the large computer she had
destroyed only a day or so earlier. The computer was still in pieces,
and Akane looked around for any clue to where there might be a backup
system for it. A large bunch of cables snaked from it into a nearby
wall, and Akane frowned to herself, then approached it, checking up and
down the wall for entrances.
"No door here... I'm not a mechanic... but I don't think that's a
power cable. Maybe it connects up to the Kuno's backup computer?"
Akane raised a fist and aimed for the middle of the wall. "Only one way
to find out." With a battle cry, Akane smashed through the wall,
surprising herself with the size of the hole she had made. "Wow... I
really am strong, aren't I." Stepping through, Akane saw what appeared
to be a computer council with a chair pulled up to it, and several
]] console
television monitors above. The camera's showed Cherry and Bloodberry in
]] cameras (plural not possessive)
the corridor, fighting with what appeared to be four sentry marionettes,
as well as several empty corridors, and one picture of a blond haired
woman in a destroyed bedroom, talking with what appeared to be....
...
Akane shook her head. "I'm sorry, I didn't recognize it. There are
a lot of rooms in this place, and I had to smash that computer to to
]] too to
save you."
...
**************************
...
The woman next to Nabiki nodded quickly. "Nabiki is telling the
truth. She's programmed to stop anyone from entering the room."
Akane hesitated. "Programmed? Nabiki, what happened to you? Are
you alright? What is going on here?"
]] Akane finally learns the horror of Kuno's plan.
...
Akane looked worried. "Ranma, is he... er, is she alright?"
]] oops!
Lorelei blinked. "I'm afraid I don't know for sure.... Is there
some reason you called Ranma a he?"
]] Dumm da dum dum. The story you are about to hear is true. The
]] gender had been changed to protect the... uh... innocent.
Cherry's voice came up from down the corridor. "I was wondering the
same thing, actually, Lorelei-sama." She came up to Akane looking
curious. "You used masculine terms to refer to Ranma several times
earlier. Why?"
Akane blinked, looking from Cherry to Lorelei. "Er...." She
glanced at Nabiki for help, but the mercenary Tendo just shrugged
helplessly. Akane wracked her brains for a good excuse. "Um... well
Ranma tends to... um... crossdress. Yeah, she crossdresses all the
time! She acts so much like a boy sometimes, you'd almost think she was
one!"
]] Kinda like Ukyou! (metallic sound of spatula meeting cranium)
She laughed nervously. <Please buy it, please buy it... please
don't think I'm crazy....>
]] Can't wait 'til we hear what Ranma has to say on the subject.
Lorelei blinked. "Oh. Well, Ranma did seem very tomboyish when I
met her. It's not a big deal when a girl dresses up like a boy, anyway,
at least it wasn't in my time." She smiled wryly. "Of course, it's not
quite so common here. Given that there really aren't any other girls
here on Terra Two." Lorelei shrugged. "I dress up in pants from time
to time myself."
...
Lorelei looked worried. "I hope they aren't planning on hurting
you, Nabiki-san. I know that this isn't your fault."
Nabiki shook her head. "If it means getting my body back, I don't
care what they have to do...." She looked at Lorelei in concern. "You
can... put me back together afterwards... right?"
Lorelei nodded firmly, putting a reassuring hand on the brown haired
marionette's shoulder. "I promise, Nabiki. I'll fix you as good as
new, no matter what happens."
]] Of course, the same was said to Humpty Dumpty...
Nabiki smiled wanly. "Thanks. For all it's worth, Lorelei-san, I'm
glad I met you. Take care of Akane for me, OK?"
]] I *hope* this isn't forshadowing...
...
Cherry stood up, brushing herself off. "I switched her off,
Lorelei-sama. Nabiki is almost completely undamaged."
]] Cherry and her amazing hairpin strikes again!
Lorelei breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. Now, we need
to get back to the palace as quickly as possible. Godai Kuno plans on
taking over Japoness in my absence, and destroying the baby girl clones
as soon as he can get away with it. He planned on using me as a
bargaining chip, and selling off my DNA to the highest bidder, once I am
the only source of female DNA again." Cherry, Akane and Bloodberry all
paled at that.
Akane's eyes were wide. "He's a monster! He'd kill babies?"
Lorelei nodded grimly. "There's no time to lose. Who knows what
he's doing at this moment?"
]] Hmm... What do they do with Nabiki?
***************************
...
*******************************
Lynx laid Ranma down in the back of the alley where she and Otaru
had decided to meet and waited. Before long, Otaru, Lime and Panther
came running up and hurried into the alleyway with her.
]] to join her, perhaps?
Otaru beamed at Lynx. "Good work, Lynx. You got her out! Did you
have any luck finding out what he's been up to in there?"
Lynx nodded. "General Kuno has been having the maintenance people
upgrade the combat computers on all the Orange Blossom marionettes.
That was all I was able to discover." She nodded to Ranma. "Do you
want me to reactivate her? There is some risk, as we may not be able to
contain her once she awakens."
Otaru hesitated. "I know, but... I trust Akane. I'm not really
sure why, but I think she told us the truth. Ranma has the memories of
a girl from the past in her,
]] Interesting way to put it. These ARE after all machines.
]] Though Akane's battle aura gives a glimpse that they might be
]] more.
and Godai is definitely up to something.
She may be very skilled at the martial arts, but I don't think she'll
hurt anyone if they're not trying to hurt her first. Remember the
fight? She could have done a lot more damage than she did. She might
have killed me when she had the chance, but all she did was try to stop
us."
]] ...
Otaru took a slow step forward. "We don't want a fight, Ranma. Can
we talk?"
Ranma blinked twice before answering intelligently. "Huh?"
Lime giggled. "She talks just like I do!"
]] The obligatory Voce Actress joke.
...
Ranma looked impressed. "Akane got you guys to do all that? Wow,
she really came though."
]] through.
She frowned again. "But her arm's busted!
She can't go and rescue anyone like that!"
Otaru shook his head. "No, no. A friend of ours fixed her arm.
She's as good as new. Now tell me about Nabiki. You say Kuno was
controlling her?"
Ranma nodded. "Yeah, she was acting just like the other
marionettes... like a robot or something. I'm really worried about
her."
]] I could just see Lime making some dumb, friendly comment here,
]] but can't think of what.
Otaru nodded. "OK, then we should head over to the Kuno's mansion
and see if they need any help...."
Lynx interrupted. "Otaru-sama, I am detecting three saber
marionettes coming in this general direction. They were headed toward
the palace, but they have changed course and are heading toward us
now... ETA, five seconds."
Otaru, Panther and Ranma all turned in the direction Lynx was
facing. Seconds later they were greeted by the sight of Cherry leading
Bloodberry and Akane into the alleyway. Bloodberry had Lorelei cradled
to her chest, and Akane held Nabiki the same way.
Cherry smiled as she came to a stop. "I told you I sensed them over
here! Otaru-sama, we rescued Lorelei!"
Otaru grinned broadly. "Great work! Lorelei, how are you feeling?"
Lorelei let Bloodberry help her to her feet and she tried not to
wobble. "A little motion sick... but otherwise I'm fine. Thanks to
Bloodberry, Cherry, and Akane, of course." She had on Yusaku's
clothing, and looked cheerful.
Ranma came forward to Akane quickly. "Hey, what's wrong with
Nabiki? She's not hurt bad, is she?"
]] AN interesting question here is WHAT would Nabiki do if
]] activated outside? Would her programming lock up since she was
]] outside? There was NO programming to return Lorelei to the
]] room, just keep her form leaving. THAT programming no longer
]] applies outside the room.
Akane shook her head. "No... we had to switch her off though. Kuno
programmed her to obey his every command, and she was supposed to be
guarding Lorelei. Lorelei says she can fix her as soon as we get her
back to her lab."
Lorelei nodded. "I should be able to disconnect the control
computer that's controlling her functions at this point.
]] Hmm... how about: control computer that's inhibiting her
]] programming at this point. (Lest there are two controls scant
]] few words apart)
The process
shouldn't be too difficult."
Ranma blinked. "Er... yeah, sounds great. So, now what? Do we
just go back to the palace, or what?"
Otaru grinned. "Yes. I can't wait to see General Kuno's face when
we bring Lorelei back, just before we arrest him for kidnapping!"
Cherry and Lynx both looked up suddenly, and turned around, just in time
to see Tamasaburo and Baiko drop down from the rooftops. The two
amazonian palace guards stood there impassively for a moment before
speaking.
"The actual charge would be high treason against the state." Baiko
stated calmly. Charges that will be brought against Godai Kuno as soon
as we get back to report."
Tamasaburo looked at Lorelei carefully. "Are you in good health,
Lorelei?"
Lorelei nodded. "I am fine, thanks to Akane, Cherry and
Bloodberry."
]] Hey, doesn't Nabiki get ANY credit?
She gestured to Akane and Ranma. "They are as much the
Kuno's victims as I was. Ranma, Akane and Nabiki all have the memories
of women of the past. Their maiden circuits function perfectly, as far
as I've been able to determine.
]] That is an interesting perspective on things. I wonder if Ranma,
]] Nabiki, and Akane would be added to Otaru's collection OR allowed to
]] 'live' autonomously?
]]
]] Perhaps as special security agents or something?
The Kuno's have been trying to get them
back in order to hide what they had done with them." She went over to
Akane and put her hand on her shoulder. "It isn't right for them to put
such controls on you. You're sentient beings, and you should be treated
as such."
Akane looked up gratefully. "Thank you, Lorelei-san."
]] It'll be interesting to see what happens.
...
The Orange Blossoms' eye blinked red, and a moment later they all
charged.
]] Talk about cliff hangers!
End Chapter 8
Please C&C, it's why I write!
]] Well, there you go!
Kevin D. Hammel
========================================
khammel@mail.anime.sobhrach.com
kevinsff@pacbell.net
http://www.fanfic.net/~khammel/
========================================