To quote Durant: "Nothing says love like violence."

    Here's to a new year of fun and fanfiction! Enjoy, and Happy National Hangover Day!





    Process of Elimination -- Chapter Nine -- Part one

    Disclaimer: The primary colors in this story are from Takahashi, Viz (Ranma 1/2), Pioneer (Tenchi Muyo!), and Kitty Films, Naoko Takeuchi (Sailor Moon).

    Additional tinting provided by: Takada Yuuzou, and Kodansha (3x3 Eyes), Takada Yuuzou, and A.D.Vision (Bannou Bunka Nekomusume Nuku-Nuku), and Takahashi, Viz (Inu-Yasha). The easel is mine. That's all.

    Notes: Diverges from Ranma after volume 24, continuation for OAV 2 in the Tenchi universe (well, one of them). Nuku Nuku is from the OAVs, not TV. Sailor Moon occurs, well, at some point in the series, but it's something of an alt anyway. 3x3 Eyes diverges before OAV2. This fic uses the bizarrely vague 'Pick One!' scenario. Enjoy.

    Special Note: If you still have it from the last chapter, again, I recommend Resistance Line for the opening scene of this chapter.

    ---------------------------------------------

    "This bloody road remains a mystery
    "This sudden darkness fills the air
    "What are we waiting for?
    "Won't anybody help us?
    "What are we waiting for?
    "We can't afford to be innocent
    "Stand up and face the enemy
    "It's a do or die situation
    "We will be Invincible..."

    Pat Benatar -- Invincible


    "I, myself, came within inches of losing my life on that day. The... heroes, I suppose... they tried their hardest, but it wasn't good enough. We were helpless. Defenseless. We could only sit there and wait to be mown down like wheat, praying that guardians that weren't even entirely human could -- or would bother -- to save us. The Battle of Shanghai is what I see as one of Earth's darkest days. I'm just glad I escaped before..." [Message truncated].

    Takeshi Yuu -- Except from private letter to Counselor Aric, Old Terran Year 2002


    Silence ruled the scene, the golden light of the dawn's glow bathing the frozen combatants, granting Ranma an otherworldly, ethereal halo.

    A cold hard breeze, late from the ending winter, gusted across the stone courtyard, bearing a small swirl of dry leaves past the figures.

    For an eternal moment, with the blowing wind slowly rising in intensity, and then suddenly stopping, the tableau remained, both sides still. On some cue that no one except for Ranma and the reavers could determine, both sides moved to action.

    Flowing with an easily liquid precision, Ranma brought his massive blade -- as long as he was tall, and borne in one hand -- up, deflecting a strike from one reaver, and ignoring another as it leapt on him from behind.

    Where Ranma had been a moment prior, he vanished, and on either side of the reaver, he, still in the red robe and bearing the blade, and she, dressed only in the skin-tight black bodysuit, blades of energy in either hand.

    And then the battle truly began. The red-robed Ranma was slower, but sure, his blade biting deep into the hides of the reavers before they could draw away, while his smaller and faster counterpart harried them mercilessly, her blades much less effective, but still capable.

    The reavers attacked en mass, attempting to merely swarm the pair with their superior numbers, but both defenders merely rose out of their range. From the skies above them, the two became one again, and Ranma shook his head, slinging his sword over his shoulder and surveying the monsters below him.

    Wounded, and unsure, the monsters began to edge away, remembering their already felled brethren.

    "No," Ranma announced, voice angry and resonant. "There will be _no_ escape."

    He descended from his height upon the reavers, scrambling frantically to defend themselves as he spun, whirling his sword like a dervish. The second fell swiftly, wounded too deeply to struggle onwards. The third flung itself at Ranma in a suicidal rush of claws, goring Ranma's shoulder before the sword pierced its entire length, wrenching free to leave the reaver's innards pooling upon the stone.

    The fourth followed suit, scoring strikes on both of Ranma's legs, tearing through the red material of his robes before the area containing its howling maw was severed from the rest of its body.

    Attacking together, the final pair rushed him from both sides, and he again split. Rolling beneath the fifth, sword held aloft, Ranma carved directly through the monster before coming to a rest. His counterpart held both hands aloft as she grinned wickedly, allowing the final reaver to slam forcefully into an invisible wall of power.

    Landing, the creature spun, sinking immediately into the earth to try and escape. Then, an errant gesture from each Ranma, and a simultaneously spoken, "Mouko takabisha!" Twin globes of golden ki-flame erupted from their fingertips, slamming into the creature and trapping it in the ground to squeal helplessly.

    Finally having readied themselves, all six of the Marines armed with positronic laser rifles opened fire at the highest setting, bathing the last reaver in a lethal glow. Ranma rejoined, then grinned triumphantly.

    Washuu nearly swooned as he marched past the Marines, and offered, "Sorry, I was... consulting my ancestors. What's happened while I was gone?"

    ***

    A stabbing pain, however brief, flashed through Rei's head, momentarily staggering the girl. Ranma's grandmother turned to look at her, expression inquisitive.

    "I feel..." Rei trailed off, frowning. What had she felt? Her eyes widened with shock as she realized. "There's a reaver coming! I can --" She wheeled, staring towards the end of the street. She wasn't quite sure how she knew, only assuming that it was some remainder of the power that had touched her when she realized the true nature of the Sacred Flame, but she positive of what it meant.

    "Everyone!" she yelled, pointing directly at the center of an intersection. "Move back! Clear out of here!"

    When there was no immediate reaction, she stomped her foot, then climbing on top of a large vending machine, and preparing herself. "Move!" she yelled once more, her heartbeat accelerating with fear as she realized that they weren't listening. Why weren't they listening?

    Cologne had turned to regard her, frowning, and Rei realized that she'd have to take matters into her own hands. She used the weakest of her attacks, slowing it as much as she could, crying out a dramatic, "Fire soul!"

    Gathered from the essence of the air about her, flame swirled in towards her hands, as she pointed directly at the crowd. Realizing that they were in the path of her attack, they rapidly pushed back the Marine's cordon, expanding into the pair of side streets, as the fire was finally unleashed, spattering harmlessly into the pavement.

    The act garnered her nothing but angry yells and fearful looks from the sea of humanity below her, until the empty and singed street suddenly yielded a reaver, boiling up through the ground like a shadowy wisp. It charged immediately towards the crowd, which began to panic and shout in fright.

    Leaping across the crowds and barring it's path, Mamoru -- in his Endymion form, shining armor, sword, and all -- was there, rapidly slashing at the reaver and whirling back from it's respondent lunge. Rei prepared herself for another attack, momentarily jolted as Cologne snapped out, "Eric, help those two."

    As ordered, the large marine hurriedly shouldered his way through the crowd, quickly falling into position and readying his rifle. Unaware of Eric, Mamoru continued battling the reaver, unable to pierce its armor, until an errant swipe from the reaver slammed into him, throwing him across the intersection and slamming the man forcefully into the side of a brickwork building.

    The reaver lunged to follow, acting eager to finish the man off, but Eric distracted it, opening fire. Rei winced at the brightness of the Marine's blazing lance of energy, and added her own power to the struggle, throwing her most powerful attack at the creature. "Mars flame sniper!" she yelled, sending a bright arrow of red flame to harry the reaver further.

    Her magical fire seemed to do nothing more than wash across the reaver, bathing the intersection in flame and inciting the people further.

    The lance of green fire faded, and Eric ejected the fission battery, clipping it to his belt and swapping it with a fresh cartridge with mechanical precision, but too slowly -- and she was completely unable to damage the creature. Thinking swiftly, while the reaver charged the reloading marine, she seized an ofuda. Washuu had said that quantum signatures could interfere with the reaver's abilities.

    Cologne had termed that energy 'ki', and while Rei didn't know how well it would work, she was willing to hope that it would. Gathering herself, she leapt from her perch towards the approaching reaver, throwing the strip of paper towards it. The sliver of paper seemed, nearly of its own accord, to slip through the air and stick to the creature.

    Ignoring the attempt, the reaver continued forward, as Rei landed and rapidly backpedaled out of its reach. Eric finished reloading, and began firing again, slowly pacing backwards as the creature advanced on him. Its hide was scorched, and the attack staggered it, but it continued inexorably forward.

    ***

    Trusting the other half of the team to see to matters on the street corner, Cologne sped off, towing the hesitant Usagi, and with the much more eager Hotaru dogging her heels. Michiru followed hesitantly, unsure of what she could add to the fray.

    "Child," Cologne asked, pacing with the child as her run began to flag, "can you use your wall to push things around?"

    Hotaru shook her head, pausing to catch her breath, and admitted, "I don't know."

    "Well, we'll hope that you can," Cologne advised her. "Anyone else?"

    Michiru shook her head, gathering the small girl in her arms and picking up her pace. Usagi shrugged apologetically.

    The scent of blood reached Cologne long before the panicked shrieks. Her staff was before her, expertly spearheading a path for the others to follow her through -- if only the girls were all light and fast enough to take to the rooftops, as Ryouga and Mousse would have been able to.

    "We're too late!" she snapped, raising her voice to be heard over the screams. "Faster, girls."

    She sped up her own pace, as much as she could through the panicked and shoving mass of people before her, and the others followed as closely as they could.

    Breaking free of the crowd suddenly, they came upon the next reaver. The crowd was pressing away as quickly as they could, streaming into the abandoned buildings lining the streets to hide, while the reaver hunted them down with grim efficiency.

    Cologne strode forward, pausing when her allies froze to stare. "What are you doing?" she demanded. "Child, make a wall to protect those people!"

    Galvanized, Hotaru struggled out of Michiru's arms, leveling the Glaive towards the crowd and yelling, "Silence wall!"

    An invisible wall halted the reaver's claws, as the remaining stragglers dragged themselves to safety. Michiru and Usagi remained still, staring at the mass of bodies lining the street, blood pooling around some, others reduced too far by repeated slashes of the reaver's claws to positively identify who they might have been.

    Michiru dropped to her knees and retched, while Cologne glowered. "And you call yourselves soldiers," she muttered. "I can see now that I over-estimated your potential." Turning her back on the woman, Cologne bounded upwards, landing atop the reaver as it clawed in impotent rage at the wall of force.

    Sparing a last glance for the aqua-haired woman as she righted herself unsteadily, Hotaru visibly wavering with the strain of maintaining her field, Cologne stabbed her staff down into the reaver's hide and called out, "Bakusai-ten-ketsu!"

    Washuu had said that the reavers made their hides from metals and ceramics that they ate. She had also said -- in her own way -- that they had no ki. Perhaps, then, they would have breaking points.

    Her staff struck a point on the reaver's hide, causing it to ripple in its entirety once, resonating as though Cologne had tried to break an object many times the reaver's own mass. She blinked, as realization reached her, mid-leap away from the reaver.

    Countless dimensions of stacked mass unfolded into one, expanding outwards and exploding with monstrous force.

    ***

    Endymion, recovering from the blow, rose, still armored, and leveled his sword at the reaver, despite the intervening distance. A low rumble rose, small particles and grit rising from the ground to lazily revolve in the air near him. His gaze spoke of anger, and little else.

    The reavers hurt the Earth. It wasn't fair, or logical, that they could wound him, cause him pain, and leave him with nothing he could do in return.

    But in the haze of pain and desperation, he realized that he had been blinded -- the link was a two-way street. He felt what the Earth felt. With that thought in mind, he called on powers he was uncertain he could truly control.

    Voice hoarse, he called out words that came to his tongue, guided through the haze of what he was by what he had been, an incarnation and countless years ago. The forbidden powers, of course. Still, desperate times called for desperate measures. "Earth break," he said, a rumbling rift forming at his feet as he spoke.

    The chasm widened, shooting out and expanding, widening to accommodate the massive creature as it flailed, footing unsure on the shaking ground.

    The Marine threw himself flat, hauling Rei down with him and rolling away from a randomly lashing claw. That erratic lash turned into a desperate scrabbling for purchase, as Endymion finished the attack, "Earth bind." Not screamed, not a forceful imposition of will, but merely a quiet, stark realization.

    The chasm smashed shut, allowing a thin line of reaver's ichor to spurt upwards, as he sank to his knees, exhausted. Around him, everyone had fallen, shakily reclaiming their feet, nearby buildings collapsed into rubble, sending a massive cloud of dust skyward. But the devastation stopped, only a hundred meters away. Smiling in satisfaction, Endymion allowed himself to faint from the effort that the attacks had left him with.

    ***

    Ranma glanced upwards before Washuu could answer, still at a loss for words. In the distance, a monolithic column of dust and smoke shot upwards. Ran-oh-ki struggled from her lax grip, leaping to Ranma's shoulder.

    "Sorry," the boy said, sheathing -- somehow -- his massive sword in a too-small scabbard and tucking it through a loop on his robe. "I'm going to check that out. Norris, tell me if anyone needs help. Come on, Meiou."

    Washuu blinked, as Ranma grabbed the green-haired woman, who yelled in indignation. She hadn't even seen her arrive, as preoccupied as she had been with Ranma. "I... Ranma... it's... you..." the scientist managed as he passed beyond hearing range.

    "Ranma-papa-san!" Nuku cried, jumping up and down in celebration. "I knew Ranma-papa-san would come!"

    The Marines remained staring at the corpses for a long moment, before turning to Norris, who was gaping with his jaw hanging slack. "Th-th-that boy," he stuttered, "just took out... how many of them has he killed?"

    "Eleven," Washuu said, recovering her composure and gathering the dropped phase variance alignment rod from the ground. She tapped her bracelet, calling into it, "Ranma, tell me if you need anything."

    He answered a moment later, Norris jumping as it echoed through the radio, "Got it, Washuu."

    Turning her attention back to the Gate, Washuu tried to ignore the frantic hammering of her heart, clamoring for attention. Of course Ranma had come. How could he not?

    But what did he mean by, 'Higurashi Ranma'?

    ***

    The mass of shrapnel from the reaver's hide -- many, many times the reaver's own size -- exploded outward, a storm too thick for Cologne to ever dream of deflecting entirely. She closed her eyes, sighing. A suicide attack, probably, but if there were enough willing Joketsuzoku warriors, then it might turn the tide.

    She'd never thought much of suicide moves as the initial introduction to combat, but what was done, was done.

    A gentle arm wrapped around her. "Is that it?" she asked quietly, feeling a great stillness settle through her. "Have I returned to the Great Mother's side already?"

    "Nah," a voice said quietly. "Pops always said, 'respect your elders'. I guess I didn't do such a hot job of that, though."

    The woman opened her eyes, staring about herself in surprise. Where the reaver's carapace had exploded, it slammed firmly into Hotaru's wall of force and was halted there. Before striking her, however, it had struck another wall of force, inclined at an angle so that the shrapnel could only expand to the sides -- streets thankfully devoid of refugees, due to the Marine's cordon.

    She struggled, until her savior set her down, and she turned to stare in confusion. Ranma, clad in black skintight bodysuit, all too familiar flare of blue on her right arm, extended towards the wall of smooth black metal and ceramic.

    The hand lowered, as Ranma stared about in dismay. "I was too late," she said slowly, kneeling to inspect a body.

    Ranma's trembling fingers closed the body's eyes, a young girl who'd never see another summer. It hurt Cologne, but she was no stranger to death. Being familiar with it didn't let her enjoy it, though. Eyes bright with tears, Ranma shrugged, "What can I do? I'm still not strong enough. It'll never be enough. Look, you got a radio. Call me if you need me."

    Before Cologne could speak further, the girl vanished, leaving her alone on the street with the ill senshi. Hotaru's efforts had taken their toll, leaving the girl unconscious in Michiru's arms. Usagi merely stared at the aftermath, shaking her head slowly, and mouthing, 'no', to herself over and over.

    Children, not soldiers. The best of the lot was far too young and weak to be in the battle. Battle hardened warriors, but was the least pleasant way to learn. Still, when there were no choices... "I'm sorry," Cologne said, shaking her head as she approached the girls. "It's never easy... Do you want to talk about it?"

    ***

    Rei crawled out from under the large Marine, who was quietly swearing obscenities as he checked his rifle out for damage. Something tickled her memory about what Mamoru had done. Something about them from a far, far previous time than her own life.

    She shivered, as Ranma descended through the smoke, setting Setsuna down as he landed, his partner on his shoulder. Her eyes widened as she beheld the boy, clad in the same odd robes as from her dream. "That -- that--" she stammered, pointing at him, eyes wide, "that's the robe from my dream!"

    Ranma spared her a glance, studying the damaged buildings, and frowning. "What happened here," he asked.

    Eric stared, confused, then shrugged, answering in English, "I'm not sure, Sir. The gentleman in the armor did something, and the reaver fell into a pit and was crushed."

    Ranma grimaced, blinking, then spun, peering into the thick clouds of dust and ash. "Oh," he mumbled, striding forward and disappearing into the roiling column. He returned a moment later, Mamoru's arm slung over his shoulder as he hauled the unconscious man towards Rei. "Hey, he's breathing, you think he'll be okay?"

    The girl nodded, trying to shake off the sense of dread that Ranma's robe inspired in her. "Yes," she answered slowly.

    "Great," Ranma answered, "the old ghoul's got a radio -- have her ask for me if something goes wrong."

    He glanced at Setsuna, who was waiting crossly, and asked, "Ready, Meiou?"

    "Yes," the woman grumped. "We'll get your safe deposit box. Are you sure it's okay to go?"

    "Ran-oh-ki senses reavers, but they're pretty far away. We've got a few minutes."

    Not resisting, Setsuna allowed Ranma to seize her about the waist as he levitated upwards and vanished. "Oh, no," Rei gasped. "I never told him about the dream!"

    Eric merely stared after the boy, obviously impressed.

    ***

    Setsuna pointed down suddenly, prompting Ranma to shift his course and land before a bank. Ranma frowned at it, releasing the woman. "You're sure this is the place?" he asked.

    "Yes," she mumbled. "My future self would have no reason to lie to me. She seems to like playing tricks on me, though." She huffed indignantly at the last, shaking her head.

    Ranma quirked an eyebrow. "Uh. Right. Look, you get the stuff for me, I need to take care of something else. I'll be right back."

    "Fine," Setsuna grumbled. "Don't take too long."

    The boy nodded, rising into the air and vanishing again.

    Reappearing over the deck of the Kitty Hawk, Ranma staggered, momentarily drained. "Not good enough," he swore. Halting the explosive mass that had nearly overwhelmed Cologne had taken a lot out of him, especially since he was split at the time. Shivering, he plucked the gem from his ear, setting it in his left wrist.

    Almost immediately, strength and power flowed back into him, restoring his depleted reserves. "Better," he grumbled. "We're going all out this time, rat."

    Ran-oh-ki nodded solemnly, his ear tickling Ranma's. "Okay," Ranma continued, pulling his partner from his shoulder and setting him in his cupped hands. "This is how it's gonna work. Washuu's at one end of this big line, right? Well, the reavers are probably going to go after the Gate mostly, 'cause they're really big jerks, but they might try here, too. You're gonna stay here for me, and tell me where they are all the time. Okay?"

    The creature mewled, dismayed, but nodded. "Okay, and have yourself a ball -- they're not using this thing anymore, so eat your heart out. I think Washuu left a bunch of stuff in the hanger.

    Hearing that, Ran-oh-ki's ears instantly perked. "Miyah?" he noised hopefully.

    "Just be sure you keep an ear out, promise?"

    Ran-oh-ki nodded, hopping from Ranma's hands to sink through the deck of the ship.

    Smiling faintly, Ranma teleported back to Setsuna's side -- effortless with the additional gem. Swinging around the intensely massive Tetsusaiga was too draining for him to maintain long without a gem, though his innate physical prowess helped, and his ability to levitate did worlds of good for his balance. With the additional gem, he should be able to completely offset the drain that it caused.

    When he reached the bank, Setsuna was already inside, a pair of needles inserted into the lock of a safety deposit box. She glanced at him, then back, touching one of the needles just so, and opening the lock. Swinging the door to the box open, she set it on a low table behind her, and emptied it out carefully, retrieving a scroll first. Well aged and maintained, the scroll was accompanied by a pair of letters, and a carefully cloth-wrapped bundle.

    Ranma paused, using his link with Ran-oh-ki to ensure that there was no immediate threat of a reaver attack, then took the letters, glancing at Setsuna. She watched him expectantly.

    "I don't have anything to hide," Ranma said, shrugging. The first letter was addressed to him by name -- 'Higurashi Ranma'. He opened it carefully, aged paper crackling and produced a pair of sheets from within. One was ancient and yellowed, nearly illegible, and the other appeared far, far newer.

    He carefully set the aged letter aside, reading the somewhat cleaner paper first.


    Ranma,

    I hope that this letter finds you in good health, though I suppose now that I think about it, it's a little silly way to begin a letter. I'm sorry if I'm a little distracted, but life has a way of throwing you for a loop every so often. First off, when you find this letter, there should be another letter from my husband, a copy of the register showing that we've adopted you back into the clan -- not the same register as you'll find anywhere else, I'll warn you.

    Don't be surprised if there are two copies of the same letter, I wanted whoever took charge of this to make an extra copy, because if the letter becomes too aged and illegible, it'll do you no good.

    Secondly, and I hope it meets with your approval, but I can't imagine there's much use for it, or even much spare time to get your own, I've had a hanko made for you with the same kanji you wrote for me when we first met.


    Eyes moist, Ranma carefully refolded the paper, tucking both it and its elder companion back into the envelope he had drawn them from. There was time enough to read it later. He placed it atop the other envelope, then unwrapped the small cloth bundle. In carefully carved stone, the same kanji he had scrawled for Kagome only earlier that same day, and all those centuries ago.

    He suppressed a laughing sob, masking it with a cough, and swiftly wrapped it back in its cloth -- an ancient silk handkerchief with his own name embroidered into the corner in blue kanji.

    Maybe he didn't have his father and mother, but he had a family, and more importantly, people who approved of his fight in his past, and their words still spoke to him. "Okay," he said, tucking everything into his robes, "let's go back to Washuu and see where they want us to go."

    "Why should I do what you say?" Setsuna asked, not angry, instead seeming only to be curious.

    "Because I'm making sense, I guess. If you don't want to, you don't have to."

    "No," she said after only a moment. "I... my future self said I should stick with you."

    "What else did she tell you?" Ranma asked, curious himself.

    "Not much," Setsuna admitted. "Merely to watch my step in a place with a lot of springs."

    "I could have told you that," Ranma mumbled, lifting the woman off the ground and teleporting back to Renmin Park.

    She snorted, shaking her head and apparently completely unaffected by the rigors of teleportation after Ranma set her back down.

    Approaching the scientist, Ranma said, "Sorry about that. I guess I've missed a little bit -- what happened?"

    Washuu spun to face him, jumping again. "Don't _do_ that!" she exclaimed. Clearing her throat, she regained her composure, saying, "I can tell you, but Norris can probably explain it better. Just remember that your quantum-- that your ki can keep reavers from phasing, and to _be_ _careful_."

    Ranma grinned, nodding, "I told you so. And I'll be careful, don't worry."

    "Shoo!" she chastised him. "I need to finish this."

    The boy nodded again, walking back towards Norris, though his humor lasted only a moment past the return of his memories of his failure to protect.

    ***

    Finally recovering herself, though her stomach churned so that she couldn't imagine how she kept from vomiting as Michiru had, Usagi mumbled, "I... I have to fix this."

    Cologne glanced at her, frowning. "Of course," she assured Usagi. "That's why we fight."

    "No," Usagi protested, shaking her head, "that's not it at all! I need to fix all of this right now -- I can't let people suffer like this!"

    "What are you talking about?"

    Usagi shook her head, closing her eyes and thinking of the Ginzoshou. "I... I might be able to set things right," she explained. "If... I have to try, I can't just let people suffer. I might be able to use... magic, and simply set things right."

    Cologne stared, then shrugged, while Michiru looked up from her tending of Hotaru curiously. "If you truly think that it would change things," she said doubtfully.

    ***

    Ran-oh-ki was in a veritable paradise. Stacked neatly in the hanger of the carrier, where the not-always-so-nice woman with the long red hair usually worked with things that smelled very tasty, were a great number of metal objects.

    Not as good as the round green things with the squishy red centers, but he felt an odd craving for something in the metal there anyway. His senses reported the composition to him easily, and he immediately sought out the best parts, only pausing to relay to his partner when he felt a surge of power that he'd probably be interested in.

    The same energy that was in the reavers, actually.

    ***

    Norris handed the boy before him a radio, not entirely understanding why he'd need one when he hadn't before. "Okay," he addressed Ranma levelly, "I'm not entirely for it myself, but almost all of the other senior officers moved for it, so here's the deal:

    "For the purposes of this battle, I'm giving you a brevet rank -- all of the men in the field will report to..." He trailed off, as the boy stiffened suddenly, grabbing the woman who he had brought with him, and vanishing again.

    "Screw it," the man muttered. "He'll figure it out."

    ***

    Shouldering her way through the crowd -- aided in no small part by the swarthy Marine opening a gap for her -- Rei reached Cologne's side in time to witness something entirely unexpected.

    Ranma stood again, Setsuna at his side, staring in confusion mixed with horror, while his sword was held before him, the point mere centimeters from Usagi's throat. "What are you doing?" he growled, inhuman eyes glowing, blazing with fury.

    Shaking her head in confusion, Usagi explained, "I'm trying to fix things! I want to get rid of the monsters!" The other senshi simply stared in mute shock. They had come to trust Ranma, and he had decided to do this? Why had he changed so suddenly?

    "Why are you using their power?" Ranma snarled, the gems in his wrist flaring brightly green, enough to shine against the stark red of his robes.

    "I-- I'm not!" Usagi protested vainly, everyone else froze in shock. Murmurs from the watching crowd began, confused and angry.

    Ranma's sword was suddenly deflected by another blade, as Mamoru recovered himself and leapt in front of Usagi. "Who do you think you are?" the man reprimanded him, standing protectively before the girl.

    Snarling, Ranma drew back the blade, and turned to look at it in shock as the blade shimmered once, changing from a massive length of steel to a rusty katana. He stared at it for a moment, then sheathed it, summoning another blade of lambent blue energy. "I am Higurashi Ranma," he answered. "And I intend to stop every reaver I can. Tell me -- why the _hell_ is she using their power?"

    "I don't know what you're talking about," Mamoru snapped back. "The power of the Silver Millenium is pure, not like the evil that brings these monstrosities."

    Cologne stepped between them, prodding Ranma in the sternum with her cane. "Calm down," she snapped. Turning to Mamoru and Usagi, she continued, "What makes power good or evil is not the power itself, it's how it's used. But if Ranma says that it's the same power as the reavers, maybe you _shouldn't_ use that power until we know more, child."

    "What power?" Setsuna asked, standing at Usagi's side and staring at Ranma dubiously.

    "The Ginzoshou," Usagi answered swiftly. "I wanted to try and set things right with it. Get rid of the monsters and make everything better!"

    "No, Usagi," Setsuna said, shaking her head swiftly. "I don't think it could be that easy. There might not be enough power -- you could very well kill yourself trying something that dangerous."

    Staring at the woman in dismay, Usagi protested, "But-"

    "Usagi," Rei said, unsure of herself at first, but quickly gaining confidence, "please. We know that that we can't just wish everything better, and if Ranma says that... that it's the same power as the reavers, maybe he's right. Maybe someone used the power for evil once, but if they did, then it might not work on them, now. You could... you could... Usagi, don't do it."

    Unhappy, Usagi acquiesced, eyes brimming with tears. "I won't," she said, sniffling. "But... what about all the people who've died? It's not fair!"

    Ranma nodded emphatically, allowing his blades to vanish. "Something needs to be done," he said, eyeing Usagi mistrustfully.

    Mamoru glared at Ranma, who affected not to notice.

    "Fighting amongst ourselves will solve nothing," Cologne observed, as Hotaru roused.

    "Yes," Setsuna agreed, eyeing Ranma in doubt. "I'm... confused, to say the least."

    Hotaru climbed to her feet, using the Glaive as a staff. "Ranma-san!" she exclaimed, running to his side, grabbing him about his waist and hugging him tightly. "Where were you? We got attacked by a monster and it was scary!"

    "I was... fighting. There were some reavers in Renmin Park, attacking the Gate," he replied, staring down at the girl in complete and utter confusion.

    She nuzzled her face against Ranma's side affectionately. "You smell nice," she said after a moment.

    Ranma scratched his head, then shrugged, turning his attention to Cologne. "Hey, old ghoul--" He cut off, muffling a curse as Cologne struck him over the head with her staff -- not fast, and not so hard that it would even sting, truly. But the point was to ease the tension, Rei guessed. "Da-- uh... shoot. Grandmother, can you hang onto some stuff for me?"

    She nodded, smiling slightly. "Yes," she said, eyeing Ranma. "Though I'm curious to know where you go that robe and sword." And the new last name, of course.

    "It's a really long story," Ranma said quietly. "I'll explain later. You can read these if you want, but take care of it for me, okay?" So saying, Ranma handed over two envelopes, a scroll, and after a moment of fumbling, a tiny stone marker -- much like a traditional hanko. Gently disengaging the girl from his side, as she pouted at him, Ranma handed her a handkerchief. "Can you hang onto this for me?"

    She seized it, nodding happily. "Where did you get it?" Hotaru asked.

    "A gift from my ancestors," Ranma said quietly. "Take very good care of it, okay? It's one of the most valuable things I own."

    The girl nodded happily once more, beaming at him.

    Seeing that things had calmed, Mamoru dropped his sword to his side, still obviously displeased, but more accepting. "Higurashi," he addressed Ranma coldly, "do not threaten Usagi again."

    Ranma's eyes flickered from Hotaru to Mamoru, and then away. "Meiou," he asked Setsuna, "are you still with me, or are you going to stay here?"

    "I'll go with you, though I'm not happy about it," she answered.

    Ranma grunted, walking to the large barrier of recompressed mass that blocked the road from the destroyed reaver. "Fair enough," he said, drawing his blade. In his hands once more, no longer facing Mamoru, it became the fearsome blade that Rei had seen him point at Usagi, and with a softly resonant 'snicker-snack' cleft cleanly through the barrier in a long curve.

    Sheathing the blade, Ranma grabbed the upper edge of the barrier section he had carved -- a sharp edge thanks to the walls of force that it had blunted itself against -- and yanked it forward, then throwing the mass down the street. Coming to rest a good twenty meters away, it slammed forcefully into the ground and left an unsightly crater. Done, he shot Mamoru a bemused and smug glance, calling to Setsuna, "Let's go, Meiou." When she approached, Ranma vanished, taking her with him.

    Mamoru bristled, and extended one hand towards the barrier, "Earth--"

    "No," Rei said, silencing him. "Don't be petty."

    Grumbling, he dropped his hands, crossing his arms over his chest. "Arrogant bastard," he grumped.

    "Ranma-san's not arrogant!" Hotaru retorted. "He's that good!"

    "He'd like to think so," Cologne observed dryly. "Just give him a little room. I'm sure things will settle down. Fighting amongst ourselves solves nothing."

    "That boy needs a lesson in humility," Mamoru objected.

    "Maybe," Cologne hazarded. "But since I've adopted the boy, that's my responsibility, not yours."

    At that, Mamoru closed his mouth, considering.

    "Ranma-san... seems to be a little strange," Usagi admitted. "I don't think you should be angry at him, though."

    "He's also a superior officer," Eric mumbled quietly for the first time, eliciting the attention of all the gathered senshi. "If you had tried to hurt him, I've been ordered to protect him with my life."

    Rei stiffened, backing away from the Marine hesitantly. Cologne grumbled, "Idiot soldier. Don't you forget for a moment that we're all fighting together against the reavers. I won't allow this pointless and petty infighting."

    ***

    Yosho coolly ignored the crowd, while Yakumo offered them only the merest glance. Ami and Haruka fidgeted, wholly unused to being the recipients of such scorn.

    "Why are they angry?" Ami asked quietly.

    "I'm used to it," Yakumo answered. "Watching someone get blown to pieces and get back up usually leaves people a little edgy."

    "That's not it," Yosho mumbled. "They're scared. They can't do anything, they can't tell how long they have to live, and they see us as flawed guardians at best. Don't let it get to you, and fight your hardest when you have to. That's all we can do, right now."

    "I'd rather have them angry at me and alive, then happy with me and dead," Haruka agreed after a moment, still shifting her feet nervously.

    "Whatever it takes," Yakumo mumbled. "Tou-Chou can herd them away from danger if I have to. I doubt that he can hurt a reaver much, though."

    Yosho raised an eyebrow curiously. "What's that?" he asked the Wu.

    Yakumo waved a hand dismissively. "Beast magic. I have two beasts that I can summon to help me, though they won't help a lot against the reavers. Maybe some other stuff, though."

    "I need to know," Yosho insisted. "Every bit of power that we have against the reavers may be the one component we need to offset the reavers."

    "Okay," Yakumo sighed. He shot a look at Ami and Haruka, who were watching him curiously, and said, "I learned this while I was in China for a long while, looking for Pai and training in martial arts..."

    ***

    "... and once that's done, there's a delegation from... ah, well, you've met him."

    Tenchi sighed, rubbing at his temples. "Seiryo?" he asked, concentrating.

    "Yes, Tenchi-sama," Ayeka confirmed, still sorting through the stack of missives and requests. "Ah, if only they were just a little more organized about how they sent these requests..."

    "We should set them all on fire, and let whoever's important send them again," Ryouko suggested.

    Tenchi snorted, shaking his head, and standing from behind his desk. "I think that would be a bad idea," he commented wryly. "However, this isn't getting us anywhere at the moment. How much longer until the Council convenes?"

    Ayeka frowned thoughtfully, glancing at a device -- apparently a timepiece, though Tenchi couldn't fathom how it worked -- and answered, "We have a few minutes before they begin."

    "Good," Tenchi said, adjusting his robes and glancing over himself to makes sure everything was presentable. "Has anyone heard about the deal we've made with the Laruma, yet?"

    "I do not believe so," Ayeka said, biting her lip and turning to Ryouko questioningly.

    Ryouko glanced at Ayeka from her position across the room, sprawled over a short couch and toying idly with Ryo-oh-ki. "Rumors are flying all over the place. Mostly, the common people don't know what to make of you, because none of them know what happened certainly. Some of them say that you're going to use Ginraii to sell Juraian citizens into slavery, and some of them say that you're in bed with the Laruma -- so to speak. None of them are given much weight," the cyan-haired woman explained.

    "Too soon, I should think," Ayeka commented. "Too soon for them to judge you yet."

    Tenchi nodded, steeling himself, and checking to make sure the Tenchi-ken was still tucked safely away in his robes. "Let's find Genoh, and get going, then. I just hope that this fight does even a fraction as much good as all the battles that Jiji and his allies must be fighting right now," he said softly.

    ***

    Yakumo cracked his knuckles, then motioned Yosho and the girls to one side. "I'm not going to bother explaining the specifics of beast-magic, because it's dangerous, and very difficult, but I'll show you what it can do."

    Steeling himself, he pointed one arm at the ground, palm first, fingers splayed, and intoned, "Tou-Chou." All present took a step back, feeling as... something shifted... and the ground immediately beneath the extended hand sprouted three perfectly equidistant holes. "Straight line to the building and the dock, and back," Yakumo explained, smirking at Yosho.

    The three holes exploded, torn concrete chips flying up as they extended suddenly into furrows nearly five centimeters deep that tore along, quickly describing the path that Yakumo had stated. "I don't think it can cut through one of the monsters," Yakumo admitted after a moment. "But it might."

    Gesturing with his right hand as the furrows of plowed up concrete shot towards him, Yakumo muttered something, and the presence -- whatever it was -- vanished.

    "That was... impressive," Yosho admitted after a moment.

    "Isn't that a demon?" Haruka asked, unnerved. "Don't you put your soul on the line to use that kind of power?"

    "I don't have a soul," Yakumo assured her. "It got taken away, which is why I can't die. And no, I only risk my life to control them. Since I can't die, that's not a great risk."

    Ami blinked, turning her attention back to her computer, and gesturing slightly. A visor condensed before her eyes, and she stared at something for a long moment. "I can track them," she said slowly. "I just received a signal... I don't know how, but there are more, and they're coming quickly."

    "How many?" Yosho snapped, as Yakumo swore and checked the batteries on his rifle.

    "Three from the sea, one behind the crowd, and one under that building over there!" Ami exclaimed, pointing to the building that Yakumo's creature had created a line to.

    "It's a trap," Yosho swore. "They could all come up under the crowd again -- what are they up to?" Thumbing his radio on, he explained tersely, "This is Yosho, at the wharf, we've got five reavers headed towards us, over."

    A voice -- a very familiar voice -- answered Yosho. "I'm there." Yakumo took a step back, raising his rifle cautiously as Ranma teleported in, setting Setsuna down as he arrived. He glanced around, nodding at Yosho, and asked, "What's going on?"

    Yosho repeated what Ami had told him, shrugging helplessly. "What can we do? They're under the ground," he muttered.

    "They're moving," Ranma noted. "They're all coming after me."

    Ami gasped, her readings reporting the same, "Why, Ranma-san? Why do they want you?"

    "Maybe they want to die," Ranma said, eyes gleaming with a nearly feral light, gems flaring brightly green. "And for that, I'm going to give them what they want. Okay, Yosho, stay out of range. They've got a trick up their sleeves -- they have to, because I just killed six of them at Renmin Park, and they started running. See if you can figure it out, and stop it once they do. Meiou, don't get yourself hurt." He drew his sword, taking a deep breath, and the chipped and rusty blade blurred into a great, monstrous weapon, nearly glowing under the light of the sun.

    Yosho nodded quickly, adding, "Yakumo, make sure the crowd stays out of the way, Haruka, if you have a clean shot, take it. Ami, the same. If you can freeze them, we can make this much easier."

    Decided, Yosho broke away from the crowd, Ami and Haruka close by as he summoned his blade and shield. Setsuna followed after a moment of hesitation, while Yakumo ran towards the crowd, then wheeled, facing Ranma, and summoned his servant again. This time, though Yosho couldn't hear what Yakumo told it, it ran around Ranma in a neat circle at forty meters, granting him enough room to battle.

    The crowd edged away from the scene, nervous, as the first of the reavers erupted from the ground.

    ***

    Rousing, dizzy, and with every fiber of his being aching soundly, Ryouga found himself on the ground, stiff, aching, and his head resting on something... soft. Comforting, even. Opening his eyes slowly, he looked up into the eyes of the blonde girl with the chain. Minako.

    He sat up, grunting. As he shook his head to clear it, the pain slowly receded, and he blinked, looking around in confusion. The center of the street was replaced with a massive crater, and the hotel immediately across the way was demolished, lying in rubble. Mousse and the Marine were busily throwing larger pieces of the ruin into the crater, slowly covering the acidic ichor lining the bottom and making it theoretically passable.

    Grunting again, he stood, testing his balance as he did so. Ryu leant against the building at his back, nursing a freshly bound arm and testing it unhappily. "Hey," he called out, Makoto at his side, staring at him with worry. "Nice one, there. Got two of them."

    "Two?" Ryouga asked, scratching his head in confusion. "One... in the street, where was the other one?"

    "Trying to knock down the hotel," Ryu answered blandly. "I made it drop straight down, but it was you that smacked the reaver down there with ki so that it couldn't go through the crap after it got knocked down."

    "Okay," Ryouga said, collecting his thoughts. "So, how are we doing? How long was I out?"

    "Not long," Makoto assured him from Ryu's side, watching the crowd closely. "I think lightning stuns them a little."

    "We're not doing so hot," Ryu grunted. "Ranma cracked six of my damned ribs a couple days ago. Breaking my fucking arm doesn't help things a lot."

    "Ryu!" Makoto protested, upset.

    "Sorry, Mako-chan," he responded bluntly. "There are dead people, and I got a broken arm. I didn't do such a fantastic job when both arms were working -- let's face it, we're in a big-assed heap of trouble right now. A little swearing is kind of appropriate, I think."

    "Great," Ryouga grunted. "How did you break a bone if you're such a great martial artist?"

    "I had a fucking building dropped on me, Fearless Leader. Why don't you give it a shot and see how you come through?" Ryu snapped back.

    "Calm down," Ryouga growled. "Maybe Cologne will have something."

    "Usagi can heal," noted Makoto, frowning at Ryu. "Hotaru-chan can, too."

    "Well, it's something," Ryu grumped. "Now how the hell do we get me there, or one of them here?"

    Ryouga shook his head. "I don't know," he admitted. "Ask someone on the radio for help. Maybe Ranma can take you there when he comes back. For now, I'm going to help Mousse and the Marine fill in the crater."

    Ryu caught the radio in his good hand, after Ryouga tossed it towards him. "Great," he grunted. "Sorry about losing my temper, Mako-chan."

    ***

    Yakumo spared no time for thought, merely reacting, though one part of his mind still focused on keeping Tou-Chou under control. The innocents at his back wasted no time in backing away from the cordon, and further when the first of the reavers burst from the ground, three rising in a triangular pattern at equidistant points about the boy in the red robes.

    The other came up directly beneath him, and he rocketed skyward, lashing at them with the massive blade on his shoulder as he evaded.

    He blinked, staring at the three stationary monsters. They remained at the very interior edge of the impromptu arena, ignoring Tou-Chou completely.

    Ranma dove back towards the reavers, blade swinging like the scythe of death, come to claim the nearest reaver. A pair of claws deflected the blade -- at cost, as ichor sprayed and the limb was severed -- but spared the reaver its own life.

    Frowning, Yakumo sighted the nearest stationary reaver, and fired the laser. Shots didn't get any clearer than that, after all.

    Describing a perfect circle, the creature seemed to... slide... almost as though it was warping the space around it, and maintaining their equidistant formation. The shot came perilously close to striking Yosho, as the man leapt away. Across the circle, Ami and Haruka fired their own charges into the fray, and again the reavers seemed to merely slide.

    With a sick fascination, Yakumo watched their magical energies enter the circle, then arc wildly around it, to emerge directly in line with him. Banishing Tou-Chou instantly, he called on his second servant -- Chin-Kuu. Like a tiny reaver itself, it clung to his arm, dispelling the magical energy of Ami's attack, and deflecting Haruka's upward before it vanished.

    Yakumo swore, summoning Tou-Chou again. Whatever magic the girls had thrown at the reavers was damnably fierce, to be able to send Chin-Kuu away so quickly.

    In the circle itself, Ranma dropped forcefully to the ground before a reaver, stunned. "Shit," Yakumo swore softly. Whatever the reavers were doing was obviously affecting the boy in some manner. Pointing at Ranma, he instructed Tou-Chou, "Circle him at three meters."

    The magical beast shot from his waiting position, and slammed forcefully into whatever barrier the reavers were maintaining.

    Yakumo swore again, calling the creature back as he sprinted around the circle, trying to reach Yosho and the others.

    Yosho was attempting to enter the ring to aid Ranma, but whatever force had halted Tou-Chou kept him at bay, as well. "What the hell's going on?" Yakumo yelled, sliding to a halt before Yosho .

    Cursing extravagantly, Yosho spread his hands helplessly. "I don't know," he said. "But we need to help Ranma, somehow. Whatever they're doing, it's affecting Ranma's powers!"

    "I've got it!" Ami called nervously. "Washuu-sensei showed me how to use -- Oh! They're doing something to the space around them. It's called phase-shifting." She looked at Yosho nervously, as the man paled, swallowing and staggering away from the barrier. "What's wrong, Masaki-san? What is it?"

    "It's... they cut an area of space out of our own dimension, and moved it to a near-dimension. Light and energy can enter, but they can designate where and how. The only thing that would get them all would probably get Ranma, too."

    Yakumo reached towards the barrier tentatively, only to be called back by Yosho's added warning, "Don't touch that! Matter that attempts to pass a phase barrier will either be blocked, or... rearranged."

    "How?" Yakumo asked, angrily. "What else can we do?"

    "Pray?" Yosho nearly whimpered. "Washuu might have something, but I don't!"

    "There's gotta be something!" Yakumo snapped.

    "There are more coming," Ami warned. "Another three -- this was just a trick to get Ranma-san out of the way! They're going for the people!"

    Yakumo spun, dashing once more around the barrier, towards crowd, "Then hurry!" he yelled. "We need to move them!"

    ***

    Tenchi coughed quietly, bringing the meeting to order. All in the Council turned to face him expectantly, and he offered them a grim smile.

    "First order of business," he declared without preamble. "Electing a new member to Council."

    Near the opposite end of the table, one of the Councilmen cleared his throat loudly, stabbing at disk to represent his disapproval.

    "Aric," Tenchi called to the man levelly.

    "Your Eminence," the man began, eye ticking angrily at Tenchi's lack of an honorific. "I object. There's no reason to remove anyone from Council at this point, and it would serve you poorly, given your... zeal... for your own kind. Slowing proceedings with something as trivial as-"

    "Aric," Tenchi overrode the man. "Spare me the honorific. We have better things to do with our time then tell each other how great we are. Now, I'm going to have to overrule your objection, I'm afraid. As Emperor, I am permitted to remove everyone on the Council upon my inauguration, which cannot be vetoed. I call to do that now."

    The Councilmen all gaped openly. "But -- Your Eminence! That's unprecedented! The last time it was called for was..." Aric trailed off, swallowing nervously, then completed, "after the Amatera were exiled."

    "Left willingly," Tenchi corrected. "Gentlemen, you're all dismissed from the Council for the moment. I expect all voting on replacements and reelections to be concluded within the day." With that, he rose, smiling sardonically. "Unless there are any objections?"

    "You can be overruled," noted Jakugo quietly.

    "Only by Tsunami," Tenchi countered in an even lower voice.

    ***

    Ranma ignored the reavers at the periphery of his senses -- they weren't moving, anyway. Yosho and the others could probably finish them off easily enough, but if the reavers were coming after him specifically, then it would work that much better for him -- that many fewer people at risk.

    He was dimly aware of the people beyond the circle of gouges in the pavement, but the sounds were muted, removed.

    The reavers both fell away beneath him, landing on the ground and waiting. He dove obligingly, and then something --

    -- wrenched, and he fell into the ground, the mechanism for his levitation failing him suddenly. He slammed into the concrete, and rolled to one side, Tetsusaiga over his head as he narrowly evaded a stabbing claw that rent the ground and sent large chips of rubble flying.

    Swearing, he hopped over a slashing claw and attempted to teleport. That too, failed, and he was forced to contort his body to evade the pair of attacks from the reavers. Lashing out wildly with his blade, he narrowly deflected another stabbing claw, and scored a handful of scratches on the thick hide of the first reaver, still missing the limb he had severed previously.

    Leaping high, he sailed over the pair, and spun, wincing. Without his levitation, he found his range and ability much lessened. A halfhearted attempt at the body duplication trick yielded identical results, leaving Ranma to realize unhappily that without the Tetsusaiga he was completely unarmed. "Damn it!" he swore, rolling beneath another claw and earning a gash on his shoulder for it.

    Slipping into the Umisen-ken, he was able to boggle the reavers, and grant himself a heartbeat to think. What the hell was going on?

    "Tsunami," he whispered, wondering where the words came from. If she had been there, perhaps, just perhaps, the reavers could have been destroyed by her ship's cannons. But, she wasn't there, and praying would do little good at that point.

    Hearing his whisper, even as he was hidden, both reavers turned towards him, launching themselves with claws extended.

    ***

    At the base of the most revered of the Ouke-no-ki, beyond the glowing pool that surrounded it, a small spark lit, a faint will'o'wisp of power.

    It winked brightly, bobbing over the polished and well tended  floor, then flickered and began to brighten, summoning smaller cousins to dance and swirl about it merrily.

    Suffusing a deep golden and blue, the point of light expanded into a globe, its smaller brethren swimming through the air to join with it, even as more bright motes of light sprang into being to enter that dance.

    There was a pause, when the glow was large enough that a Juraian -- had any been present -- could have walked into it. In that pause, the golden light seeped into the core of the glow, leaving the outside a soothing, azure blue. That glow intensified at the peak of the globe, sending smooth, graceful lines through the surface, curving gently down and in.

    It opened slowly, luminous streams of power peeling away like petals of a flower, to lay against the floor in a great circle of light surrounding the core. In a matter of minutes, as the petals each took their turn in the regal opening process, a figure was revealed, curled into a small ball at the very heart of the display.

    The figure stirred, uncurling languorously from rest, and a pair of eyes opened. Eyes of the softest pink, blank and confused. Slowly, painfully slowly, awareness and memory crept into those eyes, as they widened, and darkened.

    Shifting, the figure sat up, staring down at itself in fascination. Flesh and blood, simply, what had once been female only in concept, and in borrowed skin, was now truly real. She smiled, her first true expression aside from the confused blankness, and murmured, "I must be clothed."

    As she spoke, the luminous circle of power about her quivered once, stirring from its quiescence, and rose, encircling her closely. She raised her arms, as the glow of the petals engulfing her intensified to near blinding levels, then suddenly vanished, as though it had never been.

    In its place, where all had been energy and power before, the girl was left clad in the immaculate robes appropriate of the Goddess of Jurai. Clasping her hands before her gently, aware of the strange newness, and stranger comforting familiarity of the garment, she bowed her head, and whispered thanks to what she had been, and further thanks for what she knew she would become.

    Answering her whisper, echoing quietly in her soul, and more loudly in her heart, someone called for her.

    ***

    Ignoring Ranma for the moment, Yakumo studied the crowd. "Where are they coming up?" he asked staring around in consternation.

    Ami bit her lip, consulting her computer, then pointed. "There, there, and there," she indicated, pointing to three distinct locations within the crowd. "We'll never get them to move fast enough! People, listen to me--"

    Yakumo shook his head, slinging his rifle over his shoulder and summoning Tou-Chou again. "Scare people away from those areas," he ordered, gesturing. "Don't hurt them."

    Ami gaped, staring at Yakumo in horror. "You can't do that!" she protested.

    Haruka placed a hand on Ami's shoulder, shaking her head. "Remember what I said earlier, Ami?"

    The younger girl swallowed nervously, and watched, petrified, as the crowds pushed back from Yakumo's servant, yelling and screaming. True to Yakumo's orders, none were harmed, and in short order, the area was clear. "See?" Yakumo asked. "It worked better that way--"

    The rest of the words were cut off by a loud series of booming noises, as blood blossomed across Yakumo's chest. He stared at the wounds in surprise, as they slowly resealed. Raising his head, he looked up in time to see a small group of Marines, three with standard rifles leveled at him squarely, and another who swiftly readied his positronic laser rifle.

    He only had enough time to blink before a single shot from the laser took him squarely in the chest, turning most of his torso to ash and leaving him to fall on the concrete, blood slowly seeping from the massive wound. Free of Yakumo's direct control for the moment, his servant broke from its studious patrol of the crowd, and vanished.

    Ami was too shocked to react, only Haruka's last-second lunge saving her, throwing her to the ground as the searing heat of laser-fire burnt through the air above her. Bullets bit into the concrete near her, spraying fragments of rubble, and larger fountains of dust towards her face. Whimpering, she covered her head with her hands, as Haruka rolled free, yelling something the girl couldn't quite make out.

    Why was this happening? She was one of the defenders, and they had just slain one of her allies! Again she silently asked herself, why?

    ***

    Yosho sped around the barrier at the sound of gunshots -- there was nothing he could do for them at the moment. Ami lay on the ground, cowering, and Haruka crouched nearby, yelling for Ami to get up.

    The green-haired woman that Ranma had brought seemed to appear before Haruka at just that moment, holding a staff before her. He faintly heard her yell, "Garnet ball," before a forcefield sprang up around her, shielding herself and her allies.

    The Marine with the positronic laser leveled it at the forcefield and unleashed a blindingly bright stream of firepower at the small bubble of power surrounding the senshi. As Yosho watched, the sphere wavered, cracking slowly as it gave way to the power of the laser.

    He steeled himself, launching into an all-out run towards the sphere to reinforce it with his own shield. He had no idea who had started the conflict, and he had no great love for Setsuna and her attitudes, but an ally was an ally.

    As the bullets from the other Marine's rifles screamed through the air about him, Yosho readied his shield, realizing too late that he'd never make it before the forcefield gave. Setsuna's expression was of grim determination, and sheer fatigue, but she wavered, wobbling unsteadily for a moment and finally collapsing, as the sphere gave way in a massive cloud of dust.

    The Marine paused only moments before he resumed firing, turning the entire cloud of dust a malignant shade of green. As Yosho watched, the beam lanced into the cloud, and was somehow reflected back, neatly shearing all four of the Marines in half, and causing the warehouse immediately behind them to collapse in flames, sending a massive column of smoke and dust skyward.

    Yosho froze, staring in shock as Yakumo staggered out of the smaller dust cloud, one hand on an actively regenerating chest wound, the other carrying another of his creatures, not terribly unlike a reaver in appearance, if much smaller. He grunted, shaking his head unhappily. "Idiots," he said, bitterly.

    As if on cue, the reavers chose that moment to burst from the ground.

    [End, Process of Elimination chapter Nine, Part One.]

    ---------------------------------------------
    Author's Notes:

    Thanks to Slacker, Bjorn, Ginrai, MageOhki, Alex Raven, and William Dix for pre-reading.