DB Sommer wrote:

Dating from 7/13:

    Feeling my oats on this one.

    Undoubtedly, this will destroy what small credibility I've
garnered.

You have credability? :)

    See? I did when this was posted! I think...

  She let out a shout, descending from her leap like divine retribution
upon the unsuspecting creature, and

don't think you need that comma.

    Removed.

  Glaring, she waited for the creature to advance. Let _it_ make the
first move.

It cruised up to her side and said, "Hey, baby, what's your sign?"

    Ranma: 'Do not enter'.

  But it didn't. Ranma frowned, remembering what Washuu had said -- it
existed on all dimensional levels simultaneously, and hence, where Ranma
was standing at the time must have massive amounts of dimensional space
stacked on top of it. He shivered, remembering one of the numbers Washuu
had given him while after their bath.

It was '66', when Ranma said that was a lot, Washuu smacked him in the head
and departed, angry over what he had no idea.

    ...

    Calm down, Mr. Sommer. A little libido goes a _long_ way.

  Frowning, she eyed the creature standing near the shore of the lake,
and calculated her plan of attack. She remembered quite clearly the
first time that she had seen one of the creatures. It was able to simply
slide -- phase -- through things. Ranma knew that she could do the same,
but it was still... unnerving to see the giant monster able to do such a
thing.

Yeah. I can imagine.

    One would think...

  Ranma opened her mouth to shout in protest before catching herself.
Doubtlessly the thing was too stupid to respond to taunts.

Nice to see someold  habits are still there.

    More than just some.

  Alarmed, she wrenched her eyes off of the few strands of red hair
that were drifting down, instead staring in amazement as the reaver
caught itself on... something... in the air,

Oops. She didn't know it could do that.

    Apparently, however, it did!

    Reaver: I also know how to do embroidery, but does anyone ever ask? Nooo...

  Speeding away, she goggled, wondering what the monster was finding
purchase _on_

Vines. It's probably like Tarzan in that respect.

    Or maybe webbing. It could be an inner-city reaver.

  She spun in place over the ice she had created earlier -- if the
monster fell through, it could drown.

Sure. I'm so certain it can't breath underwater, considering everything else
it can do.

    Actually, they don't breathe at all.

  She snapped her fingers, darting towards the water. It if

If it

    Righty-o.

  Ranma took a deep breath -- unsettling herself when she realized that
her lungs were filled with water, yet she was still apparently
breathing. Shaking off the sensation, she rushed towards the reaver, as
it reoriented itself towards her, claws first. Trying to lead it into a
spiral, she ducked -- too late. It clipped her shoulder, tearing open a
searing line of pain as the cruel barbs on the ends of its claws sunk
in, tearing free and taking a chunk of flesh with it.

Ouch

    Try falling through a screen of rusty razor-wire.

  Washuu scowled, poking the taller woman's shoulder. "And your body?
Sasami's?"

  A shadow of a frown passed across Tsunami's face, and she shook her
head. "That, you should remember well enough."

Oh? Washuu has been through this before?

    It's probably not canon, but that's the angle I'm taking -- as far as I know, you're the ONLY reader astute enough to pick up on that fact, though...

with a great hammer after freezing it, and black and yellow chunks of...
reaver?... coated in ice lay strewn about. If it _had_ been a reaver, it
was now dozens upon dozens of small pieces, no longer a threat, at any
rate.

And another one bites the dust.

    http://www.rakhal.com/durandall/poe/tally.html

    There be spoilers for up-to chapter six in there, be warned!

  "Mmm... Smells good," she murmured, seeing Washuu and Sasami working
together in the kitchen, with an older man Ranma didn't recognize
observing the pair. She blinked at Washuu, staring at her when he
realized that she was in her adult form. She still hadn't managed to
figure out exactly what prompted that in the scientist....

Heh. Typical blind Ranma.

    It's more fun that way.

  Ranma groaned. "Great. A whole house of people with two forms, and
I'm _still_ the only one that changes gender."

Heh.

    Thank you... though that's PROBABLY a little too well worded for Ranma -- I'll let it slide.

  Sasami gawked openly, still recovering from the initial shock.
"Ranma-nee-niichan! Just like an anime character!"

    Maze reference!

  Ranma blinked, starting in on yet another bowl of rice. "Like one of
those Dragon Ball guys, right?" he managed between bites. "I bet I could
beat them, too."

Not yet. well, maybe Goku in his early days.

    Maybe. Really IFFY maybe.

  Washuu snorted. "I think you look more like Sonic the Hedgehog,
really."

True.

    Hehe...

  Washuu nodded, watching Sasami as well. "Hmm... things to consider
are that they learn from each time, so they're going to become more
dangerous each time. I don't think they'll ever become immune to intense
cold, though.

Why? They have upper limits? If so, they should figure a way to teleport
them directly into the sun.

    Hydrogen bombs are hotter than the surface of the sun, and those did no good -- only nukes. But then, the sun's probably got enough radiation...

    Mostly a lack of resources and poor planning. And the story would be too short if it were simple. :p

  Ranma nodded knowingly, taking a cup in one hand. "It's a technique
to turn someone's anger and hit

hot

    Right.

  Nodding in satisfaction, he leaned back, crossing his arms behind his
head. Washuu stared at the block of ice for a moment, excitedly.
"Ranma," she addressed him, "that skill defies explanation -- I _have_
to study it!"

Of course.

    Had to be done. I think.

  Ranma stared at the egg dumbly, while Washuu led Sasami around a
partition. "Uh... huh?"

This should be amusing.

    I can only hope. :p

  She sighed, as Ranma sat up, scratching Ran-oh-ki under the chin with
one finger idly. Seeming only then to be aware of Washuu and Sasami, he
smiled, holding Ran-oh-ki in one hand. "It's not a cat," he announced
cheerfully, "it's some kind of rat."

Heh. I guess that would help. Ryoachu.

    Ryoachu?

  The woman laughed, gliding forward to stand nearer Ranma, and placed
her fingertips on his forehead. He didn't flinch, and she smiled softly,
lowering her hand. "You have a beautiful heart, Saotome-dono."

My, how rather forward of her.

    Not entirely unprecendented, given how forward she was with Tenchi when he was in mortal danger...

  Tsunami's smile widened beatifically, and she stepped out across the
ring of water surrounding the small tree. "I will be taking Ryu-oh's
successor, and Funaho with me for safe keeping. I will return Funaho
when I can -- I rather suspect that Ayeka-sama will prefer to keep it
close..."

Funaho? Why?

    'Cause Ayeka cares for her brother? Well, more than that, but...

  Washuu sighed, shaking her head as Ran-oh-ki bit Ranma's finger,

Feisty fellow.

    I rather find it amusing, myself.

  Ranma floated ahead of Yosho and Washuu, and the other girl, noting a
thankful absence of the sense of reavers nearby,

I didn't think there were that many to being with from the sound of things.

    Only three hundred.

  He glanced back, surveying the situation, and not entirely
comfortable in his borrowed clothes. The man was named Terry Bogard, or
some such.

Heh. If this is post FF Motion Picture, he would have been able to give
Ranma a tussle before Ranma got his upgrade.

    More than that. I think post MP Terry could whup Ranma pretty soundly, upgrade or not.

The man moved in a way that spoke of years of rigorous training, but he
spoke of a woman

Two, unless he managed to lose a third.

    This is the third he's speaking of...

departed. Ranma made no move to ask, though something in her eyes spoke
of loss, as well. Yosho was solemn and remained silent. Washuu had given
him something, an extra 'key' she had called it.

Heh. So she has Master Key's lying around, eh?

    Or a Master Lock Pick. ;)

  It fit around the man's wrist like a bracelet, with two spikes
pointing forward.

Hmm. Unusual design.

    What works, works.

  He would have preferred to simply fly eastward as quickly as he
could, but there were survivors out there, though the only one to follow
them was the college student -- Morisato Megumi. More people to protect,
he supposed, though she was quiet, and worried about her brother. He
could respect that easily enough.

Her brother can have divine intervention to save his ass.

    Hehe...

  "Yeah, yeah..." he muttered digging through a pile of scrap. He held
up a bolt, examining it. "This?" he asked, holding it towards the
much-more confident Megumi. She nodded, reaching towards it, and
blinking as Ranma's odd pet jumped up and _ate_ the bolt, chewing it
only a few times before swallowing and making one of his noises, purring
and rubbing against Megumi's leg.

Heh

    Got a 'heh'!

  Ranma lounged in the back of the truck, listening to the women
chatter. They had picked up another girl in Osaka -- the only one
willing to follow them. The few other scattered survivors were reluctant
to join, or too dead inside to care.

And it will me.

    ... what?

  Momiji, he thought her name was. "So Saotome-san is a monster? I
know... I knew a boy who was a monster, too... and he..." she trailed

Blue Seed, eh? Not used too often. This must really hack her off since she
nearly sacrificed herself to save the world, and looked at what's happened
to it anyway.

    Yeah.

  "Traffic violation?" Miyuki asked half-heartedly. "You're kidding,
right?"

  Natsumi shrugged, peering about the more intact remnants of the
office. "Well, we still have our duties, I guess."

Now that's devotion. :)

    Or something.

  After a momentary burst of static, the answer came back, "Her name
is... uh... Nuku--" static cut out the rest for a moment, until the
operator repeated, "Her name is Nuku-Nuku, temporarily assigned from
Nerima ward. Uh... over."

Heh. They drafted her into helping.

    Or something. ;)

  Ranma smiled eagerly, seeing the vast majority of the buildings still
standing. "What's it say?"

Washuu: AHHHH!

Ranma; Oh, must be from Nerima then.

    Heh!

  Ranma shivered, as Ran-oh-ki sent vague reassurances that he was not
seeing a cat. Nothing to worry about. Collecting himself, again, he
called out to her, "Hey, we're going to help you, okay? What's your name?"

  The girl blinked, turning to look at him, and then Yosho before
smiling weakly. "Nuku-Nuku wants to protect..." she fell silent, smiling
sadly, as a tear crept from one eye. "Nuku-Nuku wants to protect..."

Oops. Looks like she might have failed protecting some of the people close
to her after all
.

    Er... yes.

  Ranma and Yosho darted forward together, unnerved that Nuku hadn't
coordinated, and worried for her welfare. A moment later, she exploded
away from the building, slamming into the skyscraper across the street,
and Ranma ducked a lashing claw... covered with slick wetness, and
scraps of cloth.

Don't think Nuku-Nuku bleeds to my knowledge.

    Oil. Would look the same against a reaver's claw.

  He was so stunned, that he didn't react, feeling only searing pain as
the reaver lunged forward, _biting_ at him, and severing his leg at the
calf.

Hungry fellow

    Or just foul-tempered.

  Yelling in anger, Ranma slashed wildly, only succeeding in
distracting the creature, while Yosho expertly finished it off, then
backed away from the toxic fumes.

My. They made quick work of that one. Very quick. Very surprising.

    Yosho's a bit better and more focused than Ranma.

  The shorter girl with brown hair, explained, "We're on patrol,
leading stray aliens towards capable defenders... are you registered?"

Ah ha. Organised defenses. I see.

    Yes. :)

  The women stared at her for a moment, then shook their heads. "Um..."
Miyuki began, "we can certainly use your help... and yours, too," she
said, turning to Yosho. He nodded slightly, folding his arms behind his
back. "Everything we _can_ to stop the reavers... we have some
Americans,

Wonder if it'll be anyone tough.

    Well, you'll see.

  "It's a marvel, really. She's well constructed. I think I can repair
this, since the biological centers aren't actually damaged."

Hmm. Yes, I suppose the brain might need artifiical organic systems to
sustain it.

    I assumed.

  Nuku's eyes drifted open slowly, and she murmured, "Nuku-Nuku
couldn't protect Mama-san and Papa-san... Ryunosuke... they can't play
with Nuku-Nuku anymore..."

Wonder if Aimee did, though.

    That is covered later.

  Kasumi hummed softly, her traditional smile weaker, as she strung the
laundry up to dry. Nodoka made a small noise, helping her. Kasumi smiled
a little more brightly. Nodoka had moved in, since her own home was
further north, and thus... more vulnerable.

Ah. So some of the old cast are still alive.

    Yep.

  Belldandy's face was flooded with a joy of her own, and she clasped
Keiichi's hands warmly. "Once she's back..."

Bell: We retreat to Heaven. Time to bail out on this lost planet.

    Yep.

  "Makoto-chan..."

Common name. Many possibilities.

  He smirked, stroking the woman's cheek gently. "I know. I know. But I
have to do what I can... I've already informed the Department that we're
leaving. They say that they're not happy, but they understand. Our time
here..." Sighing, Makoto Mizuhara hefted the key before him. "It's time
to go."

If Ifurita is with him, she'd better be having low energy problems or
something. She was capable of devastating entire cities with a single blast.

    That scene was deleted from later drafts.

  She nodded determinedly. "We can't do anything here, but we can take
our families and our loved ones to Cephiro with us, where it's safe."

Actually a sound strategy.

  "Maybe. If things get really bad, we can just stay there... but I'm
_sure_ Clef can manage something!

Clef: Yes. I'll hopefully manage to cut our dimension off from the reavers
before they find a way here as well.

    That's about the way I saw it. >_<

  There was a noise behind her, but it was too late -- the portal was
opening, and that meant that he _knew_ she needed help. "Vahn!" she
cried out urgently, rising through the air in a column of light, as the
monster below snapped at her in futility.

Wonder if there will all be just one shot appearances, or if we'll see them
again.

    Some of them figure in later. Much later. A little bit.

  He sighed, drawing her into an embrace, and looking around the
temple. The once-daily ritual of sweeping the steps before the shrine
had stopped when he had slain the... thing... there. Its blood ate away
the stairs, leaving precious little left, and he was worried that the
smell would make Kagome ill -- he knew it made him sick. "They will rest
in peace, if they can, Kagome. We have to go..."

Inu-Yasha?

    Yep!

  "When it's safe." If there were shards of the Shikon-no-tama, it
might be one thing... but as things stood, there was no reason to
attempt to fight the monsters any longer.

Yep

    But, hey, Inu-Yasha got a kill. Not many other characters can claim that.

  "Dokuja tanketsu shou!" he cried, utilizing an attack designed to rip
the heart out of an opponent.

Ah. The acid from it blood will cost him, all right.

    Nasty stuff that it is...

  But he had finally fought for what he believed in. Finally. He closed
his eyes, shutting out the world, and feeling an intense peace wash
through him. If only... he had stood for what he believed... sooner...

Hmm. Wonder if it really will be his end.

    Well, you could read more and find out. ;)

  Washuu squinted, trying to count them, as someone walked up to the
board with a checklist, and began removing them. A young man,
semi-unruly hair, and a very tired air about him. He finished removing
the markers, shaking his head, and picked up another clipboard,
shuffling some of the other markers around. "Seta-san!" He yelled, not
looking away from the board. "We haven't heard from Mano-san in a while."

Yohko probably.

    Bingo.

  Washuu winced, as a sharp yell rose from her communicator, though the
others couldn't hear it. She heaved a shuddering sigh, unable to keep
her eyes dry with the pain she could hear in Ranma's voice. "There's
another confirmed kill in Nerima," she whispered hoarsely.

Oh dear. Hope Genny doesn't die this time, but if he did, at least it was a
hero's death.

Nice work. Things are starting to move along. Will try to get to the next
one soon.

    Thank you _very_ much for taking the time to C&C for me, Mr. Sommer. ^_^

D.B. Sommer