More thanks than I can possibly describe go to Slacker and
Mark Engelbert for pre-reading, and putting up with my
*really* weird ideas.
Previous chapters are avalible at
http://www.angelfire.com/anime2/KasumiandRanma/ and
http://tannim.anifics.com/
-- Attached file included as plaintext by Listar --
-- File: rbane12.txt
Disclaimer: They are not mine. I don't plan on making money off of them. (of course, donations to the Starving Students charity are greatly appreciated ^_^)
Ranma's Bane
By Andrew Wilson
Chapter 12: Out of the Frying Pan...
It sometimes seemed to Ranma that America was built from roadside motels. It was impossible to go more than a mile along any major road without encountering one of the small, dual-level dives. In one room, a shadow slowly opened the rooms solitary window and dropped silently to the floor. Bypassing the first bed, it creeped over to the sleeping figure in the second bed. Reaching out for the figure...
...the shadow was thrown against the wall and pinned there, a very sharp instrument pressed against it's Adam's Apple.
A flare of light coming from near the window illuminated the room. Zelgadis almost laughed as he observed Kasumi pressing the tip of her sai to Ranma's throat.
"You could have knocked on the door," Kasumi scolded.
"Not as fun," Ranma said in reply. Smiling, he disarmed Kasumi with a quick flick of his wrist. Reaching around, he replaced the sai in the empty sheath Kasumi had strapped to the small of her back, and took the opportunity to give his wife a quick kiss while he was at it.
Zelgadis dropped his light spell and flipped on the room's lights. "If you're done, Ranma, perhaps you can share what you saw."
Ranma immediately stopped smiling. "Kodachi and her goons are gone, I saw them hustle though a portal about two miles from here."
"That was quick," Zelgadis observed. "Why would they abandon a hunt?"
"Maybe we're in another Nightlord's territory?" Kasumi asked.
"Maybe," Ranma said.
"In any case," Zelgadis concluded, "she's gone, for now. Now the question is what to do next. Do we take Xelloss on his word?"
"What do you mean?" Ranma asked. Standing up, he immediately began to slowly pace the room, while Kasumi sat down on her bed.
"About there being a way to being Setsuna back."
"Should we?" Kasumi asked. "She's found peace. What right do we have to take that peace away?"
"Trust me," Zelgadis replied, "she is not at peace, and wants to come back."
Ranma stopped pacing long enough to stare at Zelgadis. "How do you know?"
Zelgadis' eyes acquired a far-off look before he replied. "I can't tell you. But I do ask you to trust me."
Ranma studied Zelgadis for a moment more. "Alright, we bring her back. How?"
"The lock of hair," Kasumi observed. "It must have something to do with it."
"Cloning?" Ranma's tone was incredulous. "I doubt bringing her back as a baby would help. Besides, where would we find a place to do it?"
"Think it through, Ranma," Zelgadis said. "I doubt Xelloss has much appreciation for science. And you've also seen how magic can do things that science is decades, if not centuries, away from reproducing."
"And given the amount of material manipulation that the process would take," Ranma finished, "it's a safe bet that whatever Xelloss was hinting at belongs to a Nightlord."
"But which one?" Zelgadis asked.
"Now it's your turn to think it through, Zelgadis," Kasumi said. "Most Nightlords are happy with their alchemical creations, like Hounds and Hunters. I can only think of one that would have any use of genetic manipulation, or of trying to enhance what he already has instead of creating a hoard of cannon fodder."
The trio was silent for a moment as they digested the information.
"Ahriman," they chorused.
*******
Far below the forbidding edifice of Ahriman's fortress, past the dank, damp, and generally unpleasant prison cells. Though a rusty, black, iron door, there was...
A clean and well-lit laboratory. Tended to by a petite woman with long, spiky, pink hair and a white lab coat.
Xelloss shook his head. "You do realize that this place detracts from the atmosphere of the rest of the castle as a whole?"
"But," the woman replied, "an unclean lab may skew the results of an experiment."
"Really, Washu, you're being paranoid. That equipment Lord Ahriman provided you with more than compensates for any problems which might occur." Of course, that 'equipment' was the only reason Washu remained. She had no real loyalty to Ahriman, instead was aiding the Nightlord in exchange for special lab equipment and an unlimited number of guinea pigs.
"In proper scientific studies, every precaution must be taken to ensure the data is not corrupted."
She was one of the most intelligent beings in any universe, and about the only one more enigmatic than Xelloss.
"In any case, you may have some visitors. Give them your full cooperation, but don't make it seem like you're doing so. And there is no need for the Master to know."
A dangerous gleam appeared in Washu's eyes. "What are you planning now?"
Xelloss knew his response would irk Washu, which was his main motivation. "That... is a secret."
*******
Ryoga checked the slip of paper in his hand, then checked the house in front of him. He rechecked his location. He did everything possible short of asking someone to make sure he was in the right place. Concentrating on putting one foot exactly in front of the other, no veering to the left, right, or some other direction to get lost it, he made it to the front door. His yearlong quest was almost complete.
His gentle knocks on the door were answered quickly. Nabiki stood in the doorway, and Ryoga had the satisfaction of being one of the few people who were ever able to surprised the 'Ice Bitch of Nerima' (not that anyone called her that to her face, not the sane one's anyway).
"Ryoga? I can't believe it."
"Is Akane here?" Ryoga asked, eager to end the four-year ordeal.
Nabiki glanced back, and Ryoga faintly heard someone grumbling.
"This isn't a good time. Her temper is a lot worse than you remember. She doesn't have as many vents as she did before."
"This is the only time that I've been able to get here. I have to see her now."
Nabiki shrugged. "Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you."
The grumbling grew louder after Nabiki left, and Ryoga recognized Akane's voice just before she came into sight.
"...And how dare he barge into our lives again. We wouldn't have been in that trouble if it wasn't for him, and he thinks by getting us out of there, when we didn't even need his help, makes it all better? And what he said to Aun- Ryoga! What are you doing here?" Akane's anger dissolved into shock.
Ryoga stammered an answer, a thin layer of sweat covering his face. "I-I-I c-c-came to apologize, for-"
"Taking advantage of an innocent girl while she slept?" Akane's anger was back at full force. "How dare you!"
Ryoga backed away, waving his hands to ward off potential blows. "Wait! It was four years ago! I was a dumb kid trying to piss off Ranma! How should I know that I'd get a crush on you?"
Akane calmed down. "You had a crush on me?" Like an inferno, her anger flared again. "YOU PERVERT!"
*POW!*
Ryoga rubbed his jaw as he sailed over Tokyo. *Hmmm, that kick didn't hurt as much as I expected. She must be slacking off in her training. I wonder what's Ranma's up to? It's been a week or two since we split up, after all.*
*******
"This is the place," Ranma said. "So how do we get in therrre?"
Zelgadis shrugged. "Hell if I know."
Ahriman's fortress was easily visible, past several miles of wasteland, and thousands of minions.
"I don't suppose you have any sort of teleportation?" Kasumi asked.
"No," Zelgadis replied. "I guess we have to find an alternate way in."
Ranma was about to comment when the ground dropped out from under them. There was no warning, no ominous cracking or crumbling. Just a sudden loss of cohesion for the soil and stone the three were crouched on. Kasumi managed to slow her fall a bit with her wings, and Ranma never had problems with drops, but Zelgadis hit the ground hard.
"What the hell was that?" Ranma grumbled.
Zelgadis dusted himself off. "I didn't think there would be an tunnels around Ahriman's fortress, given how paranoid he is."
"It could be a trap," Kasumi commented.
A large spear flew by and burried itself in the wall, missing Ranma's head by a hair.
"Yep," she said, "it's a trrrap."
The darkness didn't mean anything to Ranma or Kasumi, both saw the half dozen Hounds that were approaching quite clearly. Zelgadis, on the other hand, was forced to stay back in order to prepare his spells. The first order of business for him was a better set of eyes. His nightvision wasn't bad, but it paled compared to Ranma's, was insignificant compared to Kasumi's. He closed his eyes and began focusing his energy. The loud, metallic shrieks coming from the darkness almost caused him to lose his concentration, forcing him to slow down the process. By the time spell was finished, there was silence all around.
"Why is it always Hounds?" Ranma asked. "Can't these idiots be more crrreative?"
Zelgadis opened his eyes to see Ranma and Kasumi standing beside a large pile of black scrap metal.
"Well, that was rrrefrrreshing," Ranma sarcastically commented, sheathing her katanas.
"Don't get too cocky," Kasumi said, "the narrow corridor prevented them from surrounding you. We were lucky."
Zelgadis stepped between them. "Enough commentary, we should get away from this area before the minions on the surface decide to investigate the noise you two made."
"Oops," Ranma said, taking point.
The tunnel walls were smooth, suggesting to Ranma that they were traveling through some kind of ancient waterway. No one said anything until Kasumi broke the silence close to an hour after they had entered the tunnel.
"Look over there," she said, pointing to a hole in the ceiling, "it looks like some kind of chute."
"What do you suppose gets dumped in here?" Zelgadis asked. His question was answered when a swishing sound preceded a human corpse dropping into the tunnel.
"Ahrrriman's lunch," Ranma commented, moving past the body.
"I guess this means we're under the fortress."
"Poor man," Kasumi said before following the other two. A few minutes later, a thought struck her.
"Did either of you notice any other bones in the tunnel?"
Ranma stopped dead in her tracks. "I didn't. What about you, Zel?"
Zelgadis shook his head. "There must be some kind of disposal method."
Ranma's ears twitched (literally). "Rrrun!" she screamed as she grabbed Kasumi's hand and raced back down the tunnel.
Zelgadis noted a rumbling sound as he decided to follow Ranma. The catgirl was looking extremely nervous as she stood under the chute, where two more bodies had joined the first.
"Let's get out of herrre," Ranma urged as the rumbling grew louder.
"Up that?" Zelgadis asked, incredulous.
"It's coming fasterrr than we can rrrun," Ranma said as she leaped up the shaft, her claws digging into the rock walls as she climbed.
Kasumi shrugged, then folded her wings and jumped, following Ranma up.
"Some of us don't have claws," Zelgadis muttered, casting a levitation spell. His weight dropped to nothing as the thing came into sight. It was a giant worm, filling the entire corridor, with a gaping maw filled with large, serrated teeth. Zelgadis froze in shock for an instant, then floated up the shaft, getting clear of the tunnel seconds before the worm crawled by, scooping up the corpses in it's mouth.
"Very efficient trash collection," Kasumi commented.
"Quite," Ranma and Zelgadis agreed.
*******
At the top of the chute was a small, apparently empty, room.
"What do you think," Zelgadis asked, "trap or ambush?"
Ranma shrugged. "Maybe nothing?"
"Shouldn't there have been hounds waiting to attack us?" Kasumi asked. "After all, they can sense us from quite a distance."
"No," Zelgadis replied. "They can't detect us. And most of the residents of this fortress won't notice us as we move around."
"How did you manage that?" Ranma asked.
"I didn't."
"Then what arrre you talking about?"
Zelgadis' eyes glazed over, and a scowl appeared on his face. Ranma walked over and poked the stone man.
"Zel? What arrre you doing?"
"Enough!" Zelgadis growled. "I'm telling them!"
Ranma backed away. "Um, Zel? Arrre you feeling alrrright?"
"Yes," Zelgadis hissed, reaching under he coat. "But she's not."
Ranma turned to Kasumi. "She looks fine to me."
"Not her, her," Zelgadis pulled the silver key from his coat and held it in front of him.
Ranma and Kasumi both backed as far as they could.
"Zelgadis," Kasumi asked with concern, "did you take any hits to the head back in Chicago?"
"Setsuna's trapped in the damn staff," Zelgadis explained.
Kasumi raised an eyebrow. "How do you know?"
"Because she's been talking to me ever since Xelloss dumped us in that forest."
"So that's how she managed to survive." Everyone jumped back as Xelloss appeared in midair.
Zelgadis quickly put the key away. "I suppose you're going to bring the whole fortress down on our heads."
"Now why would I want to do that? After all, we are on the same side, for now."
"That's it," Zelgadis growled, drawing his sword, "I've had it with you. This is for Amelia, you bastard!"
Xelloss' staff came up to block the strike at the last second. "But if you attack me, I might not be able to give you this." Reaching below his robes, Xelloss pulled out a small, crystal amulet.
"What is it, trickster?"
"The Archmage's Eye. I believe you know of it." The golfball-sized gem could be seen reflected in Zelgadis' widening eyes. Xelloss continued to smile. "This is for you. In thanks for the century of fun I've had at your expense."
Zelgadis snatched the amulet out of Xelloss' hand. "This isn't over."
"I'd be very disappointed in you if it was. Until next time, then." Xelloss faded from sight before anything further could be said.
"That was odd," Kasumi commented.
"Oh, by the way," Xelloss faded into view briefly, "you might want to start your search in the dungeons." Zelgadis made a grab for the avatar, but caught only air.
"Verrry odd," Ranma confirmed. "Is it rrreal?"
Zelgadis examined the gem in his hands. "Judging by the power levels this thing is radiating, I would say so." Much to his companion's surprise, Zelgadis began to laugh. "After a century of searching, the cure just drops into my hands."
"Can we get out of herrre?" Ranma growled. "I'd rrratherrr not have to deal with whateverrr surprrrises Xelloss has in storrre for us."
"Should we follow his advice, and start in the dungeons?" Kasumi asked. "It's as good a lead as any."
Zelgadis slipped the amulet into his pocket. "I've waited a century, I can wait a while longer."
*******
Xelloss watched the group leave, and smiled (as usual). Everything was going according to plan.
*******
The dungeon was one long corridor stretching from one end of the fortress to the other. There were staggered iron doors marking cells in both sides of the corridor.
"How much longer should we stay down here?" Kasumi asked after the first hundred cells.
"Until we find something." Ranma replied.
"Don't get your feathers ruffled," Zelgadis said. "We should be approaching the end of the tunnel."
They continued forward, never trusting anything but themselves. Every cell door was a potential ambush. Every torch was treated like a trap, as were any odd-looking stones in the floor.
Despite their paranoia, nothing leapt out of the shadows to stop them. Eventually they reached a plain-looking, iron door, and Kasumi set to work examining the locks.
"Think you can pick them?" Zelgadis asked.
"I could," Kasumi replied, probing her claws around the locks themselves. "Conventional locks. Rather simple actually."
"Well? Why don't you just do it?"
Kasumi pressed several points around the lock, then gave a sharp tug. The lock itself popped out into her hand, and she tossed it to Zelgadis. "Picking them takes too long."
On the other side of the door was another corridor. This one, instead of being made from carved stone, the walls were polished steel. A second door, this one resembling a bank vault, was at the far end.
"Now this," Ranma commented, "smells like a trrrap."
Kasumi had to leap forward to prevent her wings from being sheared off by a pair of rapidly closing doors behind them.
"Told ya."
A speaker on the wall crackled, and a woman's voice filled the corridor. "Will you people stop wasting my time and get in here?"
The door at the far end slid open. Ranma exchanged a glance and a shrug with her companions before moving forward. Through the door was a spotless laboratory. Sitting at one of the pieces of equipment was a girl in a white lab coat, her spiky pink hair reaching to her ankles.
"I'm rather busy now," the girl said without looking up, "so make it quick."
Zelgadis stepped forward. "I have a better idea. You stop whatever you're doing and step away from the equipment."
The girl spared the group a glance, then returned to her work. "Nightbane, nice. If you want to cause trouble, go ahead. I've been wanting to test my new security system for a while now."
"You aren't the least bit afraid of what we can do?"
"No. The only thing that scares me is boredom. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm rather busy."
"You sound as though you live for challenges," Kasumi observed.
"True."
"Can you make clones?"
The girl snorted. "Is Xelloss annoying? Clones are child's play."
"What about a full grown one?"
"Not to hard. To make one in prime health is difficult, but far from impossible."
Zelgadis caught on a second before Ranma. "What about making a full grown one, in full health, and then merging it with the spirit of the original?"
The girl finally turned around. "You have to do better than that to challenge the great Washu."
Zelgadis pulled out the lock of hair, and the key. "A sample, taken from a twenty year old woman in excellent health. And the device her spirit is in. That is all you need to know."
Washu snatched away the hair. "I was hoping a challenge would present itself. I'm not quite ready to return home yet. I guess this might have to do for now."
"Rrreturrrn home?" Ranma asked.
Washu smiled as she placed the hair in one of her machines. "That's a secret." She stopped for a moment. "I've been talking to Xelloss too much."
All three groaned. While Ranma and Kasumi watched the pint-sized scientist analyze Setsuna's only physical remains, Zelgadis pulled the Eye out of his pocket and set about examining it.
He finally determined how it worked when a series of data flashed across Washu's screen. *It restores links. For something simple, like a severed limb, it could be used multiple times. But for something like restoring the link between my human form and Morphus, it would be consumed. No wonder these things are rare.*
"That's odd," Washu commented, drawing everyone's attention. "This looks like that project I did a while back. It was one of the first projects I did after being hired by Ahriman."
"What arrre you talking about?" Ranma asked.
Washu shrugged. "Simple, really. They called it a key to a key. They needed a powerful psychic, and didn't want random any random elements involved in it. So Ahriman decided to create a person, and hired me to do it. They also had this creepy guy named Bester coming it to do something with its mind."
"She was genetically engineered?" Kasumi asked in disbelief.
"Yeah. They never told me why, either," Washu didn't seem to notice the stunned looks she was getting. "This sample has degraded a bit, I'd better go with the original one, I think I still have it in the freezer. Oh, I guess that means I'll help. This should be interesting."
The companions could only stare at each other (and the miniature staff Zelgadis produced) as the redhead wandered over to a large refrigeration unit set into the wall, muttering to herself.
End chapter 12