Time to listen to the Berzerk CD and get back into the swing of things, at
least for a little while. And since this is next in order on the list:

    Terry let part of his mind drift, focusing instead on the rhythm of
motion, smooth, leaping bounds, the cat-like girl pacing him easily.

Nuku-Nuku must have fun with a playmate that can actually keep up with her.

    Nuku kept up, even when he increased his speed, going at what he
judged surpassed the speed of the average vehicle. There was, at least,
a certain... freedom... in the act of simple running.

    Even if he couldn't run forever.

Don't know until you try. ^_^

    Nuku stopped behind him, looking around curiously, and not even
winded. He snorted, eyeing the streets ahead. As wide as Tokyo's streets
traditionally were, only packed tightly with people, more of the
worrisomely vast wall of humanity trickling in to try and cram their way
forward. It was nothing short of sheer luck, as far as Terry could tell,
that kept the masses from breaking down and panicking.

Either that or their too numb to care.

    She certainly had a lot of energy. "Well," he remarked, "let's get
going then!" With that, he vaulted out across the crowd, ignoring the
gasps and yells of surprise, and rebounding off of

can drop 'of'

    "Oneesan," Nabiki said firmly. "Listen to me. Ranma's... Ranma's
better off without that stuck-up..." she trailed off, composing herself.
"I'm sure that Nodoka's just a little unbalanced. With some time, she
should be able to calm down, and since Ranma's... pet... ate her sword,
she's no longer dangerous."

To anyone but herself, at any rate.

    Both girls broke of their ruminations, as a pale beam of light swept
through the walls of the house, bathing the pair and brightening in
intensity until Nabiki was forced to close her eyes. When she opened
them again, she found herself sitting in the center of a vast wooden
deck, Kasumi and Nodoka close by, and looking equally stunned.

Hmm. Ranma's doing?

    A man wearing officious robes attended by a pair of tiny wooden
cylinders floating -- one over each shoulder -- approached, nodding
slowly, and scanning a small display that the cylinders projected before
him.

Oh. I see.

    "Hello," he pronounced slowly, "I hope this translator is working
correctly. Are any of you injured, or required back on the surface of
the planet?"

Nabiki: Hell, no. Now get us out of here.

    A figure stood before her, bending low and placing a hand on her
shoulder. "Nabiki? When Kasumi comes to her senses, tell her that I love
her. I love both of you." Nabiki blinked, trying to work her jaw as the
figure -- her father -- straightened, and approached the man with the
wooden cylinders. "I need to return, can you please send me back?"

Hmm. Interesting choice, but I wonder why. The girls really need him more
than he's needed back on Earth.

    Another man in officious robes, accompanied by a trio of slightly
smaller wooden cylinders over one shoulder, approached. His bearing
screamed, 'military,' to Nabiki, and she gathered her will, trying to
collect her senses. "Hello, and welcome aboard the Freya-oh. My name is
Laruma Genoh, and I'm with the Silver Journey -- Ginraii.

Heh

    "Joudai Arashi," the salaryman mumbled. "This is my daughter, Yuki.
I'm with the Tokyo Index and Exchange. I summarize the Index..." he
trailed off into silence, looking as lost as Nabiki felt. "What happens
now?"

Genoh: Just stand there and convert oxygen into carbon dioxide for our space
tree and we'll get back to you.

    Shaking his head, Ryouga glanced around, wondering what would happen
next. Mousse eyed the redheaded woman curiously, adjusting his glasses
from time to time. They were both dying to ask the same question, he
knew, but both knew

two 'knew's close together. I'd just get rid of ''he knew' myself.

 better than to do so. He sighed, scratching at his

bandana morosely, and sinking

and sank (I think)

into one of the abandoned seats.

    Mousse joined him after a moment, the two having settled into a
companionable silence. Washuu and Cologne murmured quietly to each other
about China, the old woman having produced a pile of charts and numerous
baubles

baubles? I can't imagine what she has that would be important in this case.

earlier.

    He sighed again, wishing he could trust himself to walk outside...
but Checkers had settled down for a nap, and rousing the dog just to
wander about didn't suit him. He grimaced, trying to think about the
situation rationally.

But since it wasn't a rational situation, it did him little good.

    Mousse looked thoughtful, glancing towards the two women, and
shrugged. "Us going to China," he said. "I guess, at any rate. The old
mummy probably wants to go home... our village is there, among other
things. Probably a few things back home that might help, too."

    Ryouga raised an eyebrow. "Things that might help?"

Mousse: Help in the name of a demi-god named Saffron, since this is pre-38
and he's not an infant.

    Rocking back in his chair slightly, Ryouga nodded. "That's true," he
admitted. "I didn't think of that."

    Mousse simply shrugged. "I just hope we don't end up being totally
useless.

Cologne: Oh, it's much too late for that.

    Ryouga nodded, staring at the table before him in thought. Was that
it? It was jealousy? Ranma was still doing better than they -- rescuing
his fiancees, and then coming back to keep fighting, despite his losses.
Was it that it? Was he simply trying to one-up his old rival? Hanging
his head, Ryouga sighed. Had he been that petty towards Ranma?

Ryouga decided that he had, and more importantly, that it didn't bother him
at all. "It's good to be petty," he decided.

    It was a bleak day indeed

I would think it's been nothing but bleak days since the Reavers came out to
play. It's just a question of how bleak they have been.

    Further west, not far from the sun's own position lower in the sky,
Fuji was clearly visible,

but it wasn't surprising, considering how much weight Mr. Fuji had put on
since his tenure in the WWF lo those many years ago.

    >
    Ryouko nodded from her position nearby,

Under Ranma's pelvis. They had been getting along really and Ryouko had
taught him many things.

    "What?" she asked.

    He shrugged, drifting towards the ground gently. "I just... I don't
know. Have you ever done that, before? Just... let yourself go for a
bit, and then caught yourself again?

Ryouko: Yep. Of course, I destroyed a lot of Jurai back then...

    Ryo-oh-ki chose that moment to transport them to the surface in a
dizzying surge of light and color, before reverting from ship to the
small creature that Ryouko so loved to torment.

I don't really picture Ryouko tormenting RyoOhki all that much.

    Ayeka had taken care to recognize each of the Emperor's own
bodyguards on sight, and these two were no exception.

Although there were a lot of guards more bright than Moe and Curly.

    Giving the guards just enough time to open their mouths, she
smoothly overrode them, saying, "Peruma, Saryo,

Ah, A Saryo comeo.

    He glanced back at her, worry plain on his face. She'd have to teach
him to hide that better... Not even the Minor Houses would be fooled by
his best poker faces.

Therefore he should act surprised all the time. That way they won't know
when he really is surprised.

    The Emperor's pride exceeded his skill at hiding his expression, and
he smirked broadly, nodding at Yosho as he drew near, Tenchi trailing
him. Yosho coughed loudly, stopping some paces before his father, and
held one hand towards Tenchi. "Give me the Tenchi-ken," he commanded
quietly.

So Tenchi buried it in his chest. "How's that?" the new Emporer of Jurai
asked.

    Yosho eyed the key for a moment, running his fingers across the
jewels in the hilt, and then looked up to meet his father's gaze. "I'm
here," he said simply. "Now what?"

Emperor: Now you must strike your son down and give yourself fully to the
dark side of the Force.

Yosho: Wrong movie.

Emperor: Sorry.

    "We see no problem with that request," came the response. Brows
furrowing slightly, the Emperor remarked, "It was ever our intent. Why
do you request this, then?"

Because he's up to something.

    Smirking broadly, Yosho snatched the Tenchi-ken from the air as it
fell back towards the ship's deck, and announced, "Right now."

    Ayeka bit her tongue, hard, and Tenchi simply gaped openly.

Nice move. Making an all or nothing demand. I approve.

    The Emperor grimaced, and Ayeka drew in a slow, hissing breath. If
The Emperor said 'no', what could Yosho do? Shaking his head slowly, he
appeared as though he would refuse... but he relented, dubiously.
Sourly, he commented, "As... As you wish it, then. I hereby pass the
crown to you, knowing that I am leaving the Empire in good hands." With
that, Azusa, no longer the Emperor, removed his mantle, and handed it to
Yosho hesitantly.

Hmm. He must have secretly wanted out all along.

    Yosho donned the mantle nodding as he tugged it on, and leaving his
father to stand in confusion, and wonder what his role was, now... But
then, Ayeka realized, his role was over, and Yosho was the ruler. She
could see the Court boiling beneath their carefully composed exteriors.
Likely they saw a way to change things to their own liking, and Yosho
was horribly out of date on Court customs. Unlike Ayeka, he'd had his
memories of the correct way of handing things dulled over the last seven
hundred and more years of being no more than a priest at a shrine.

Somehow, I doubt that.

    Ayeka swallowed nervously. Whatever Yosho was planning, it couldn't
be good...

Well, it's all relative on who it is good for.

    The man sighed, and tossed the Tenchi-ken to Tenchi. The boy caught
it belatedly, horribly confused, as Yosho slipped off the mantle of
Emperor. "My first act as Emperor of Jurai," he announced, throwing the
mantle towards Tenchi, after the blade, "is to step down.
Congratulations, Emperor Tenchi."

Heh

    Azusa nearly suffered a visible conniption fit, exploding, "Now WAIT
just one moment here--"

    Tsunami raised a hand, and the Emperor fell silent. In these
matters, Ayeka remembered as a hollow feeling formed in the pit of her
stomach, the decision could not be disputed by the Emperor. They were to
be settled by the Court. The only possible allowable exception to this
was the word of the Goddess of Jurai. Tsunami.

Jurai: Tsunami. (I think)

    The court fell silent, stunned, and Azusa visibly fumed. "Yosho," he
hissed, "how could you betray me so!"

Err, because you betrayed him by forcing upon him a role he did not want in
the first place?

    Yosho shrugged indifferently, gathering Ryo-oh-ki into his hands.
"About as easily as you can betray my people, Father. Now, if you don't
mind, I've got a planet to get back to and defend." Dropping his voice
to a whisper, he turned towards Tenchi and Ayeka. "Sorry to force you
into this, but you can manage things... there... better than I can."

I can see him executing some of the nobles that tweaked him off. There's
nothing worse than a ruler who doesn't want to rule and doesn't want to put
up with crap.

    Misaki nodded in agreement. "Yes, I'm afraid that I cannot
reasonably allow you to approach the Emperor, in my capacity as the
Supreme Commander of the Royal bodyguard."

Heh

    Tenchi sighed forlornly, dismissing them for a moment, and
struggling into the mantle. _His_ mantle, now. Glancing at Ayeka, he
swallowed nervously, whispering, "I guess... Um... I guess this means
that I should marry you now, like Jiji said, right?"

    Was that what he had said? Ayeka suddenly felt very faint. "Oh, my,"
she managed. "But then, that would make me the Inspector General of
Information, Tenchi-sama..."

Why? She could be Commander of the Royal Bodyguard instead, or some other
position, certainly. I doubt if every one of the two wives was one or the
other position. They could be quite bad at it, after all.

    The faint smell of the harbor was evident, a salty tang that just
barely managed to survive against the harsh smell of the city -- droves
of humanity, old air from automobiles, and the sour reek of wet asphalt.

That will be ending in a short while with the planet depopulated and
everything.

    The base of the tower, Terry belatedly realized. And inset into the
wall, a massive steel door, small dents marring the seams where it was
sealed. Nuku pointed at the door. "There," she stated firmly.

Hmm.

    Terry grumbled, leaning close to examine the door. He had no clue
how to operate the security device at its side -- it looked like the
previous one. Like a card-reader. Sighing, he tapped at the door once,
sounding it out for thickness and solidity, then drew himself into a
more advantageous stance, and launched his fist at the door with a
resolute, "HA!" The steel rang dully, but didn't give way.

Oh, I think he can change that in a hurry.

    A tall, lanky, dark-haired man pulled himself upright from one of
the piles of amassed and discarded machinery, peering around blearily.
Wearing a worn looking lab-coat, the man smacked his lips together
tiredly, dislodging some of the devices that had somehow come to bury
him. "What's going on?" he asked, his voice tired enough to suggest that
he was about to fall asleep again. Blinking, he focused on Terry and
Nuku, slowly waking himself up. "Oh, hey... you guys got any mayo?"

Heh. Nice intro.

    The man gave out a put-upon sigh. "You know, in the training video,
they made a big deal of how Mishima 'cares for the salaryman,' yet they
can't even spend five bucks on a jar of Hellman's. You ever wonder why
that is?"

Terry: Because they're all dead?

    Durant scowled, turning to glare at the card-reader like an old
nemesis. "Fine. That's how we'll play it," he muttered quietly, rifling
through a stack of papers, schematics, old circuitry, and half-eaten
donuts. Terry wouldn't have been entirely surprised to find that the
heap of junk concealed a piece of the Armor of Mars.

And oh how he wished he had it at the moment.

After a mere second

or so, Durant produced a weighty, but much abused looking

abused-looking

    And the door remained sealed.

"But it always works in the movies!" Durant wailed

    Terry shuffled his feet nervously, and handed the pieces of the
crowbar back to Durant. "Uh... sorry about that."

    Durant's eyes welled up with tears. "But... but... but..."

    Moving past both of the men, Nuku placed her palm against a panel on
the side of the door opposite the scanner, which emitted a sound,
'ker-chunk', swinging open smoothly.

heh

    Durant looked at Terry. "Huh. You must be more hard-assed than you
look."

    Terry snorted, turning towards the open door, and shot back, "You'd
better believe it."

Hmm, he wasn't big on bravado like that. I would think he would make it an
icy comment instead.

    ***

    Two girls walked slowly through a deserted park, side by side. Both
had long hair, and

think you can drop the comma

    She shrugged, wondering what had brought back the memories of her
long gone boyfriend so abruptly. "Not really. Well, maybe. I don't
remember that part really well. Mostly I just remember his eyes... he
had the most gorgeous eyes."

    "I wish I had a boyfriend like your old sempai!"

    Makoto snickered, shaking her head. "Who wouldn't?"

    "Say... what was his name, anyway?"

    Makoto sighed dreamily, already half-lost in fond remembrances.
"Saotome Ranma..."

Of course. I see this has the potential to get messy.

    The newcomer stared in a stunned silence for a long moment, giving
Ranma time to take in his features. A boy of about his own height,
wearing dusty green camouflage fatigues, a light brown duster, and a
pair of goggles to banish the worst of the airborne grit. The breeze
ruffled his medium-length shock of black hair, and he reached up to pull
down his eyewear, revealing a flash of the white bandana that served to
keep his unruly hair in check.

Doesn't ring any bells.

    Nodding to Ranma slowly, he tucked the goggles into a pouch on his
waist, introducing himself, and rending Ranma speechless. "Uh... nice to
meet you, I guess," he said. "My name is Saotome Ranma."

Oh. Ryu Kumon.

    The nobles would back away when presented with something stronger
than the reavers -- but more importantly -- something also much closer
than the reavers.

Good thinking.

    Shrugging, Ranma answered, "Was in a rush." He turned to Washuu,
bobbing his head apologetically, and still hovering off of the ground.
"Sorry about taking so long. Didn't want to leave this guy out here

alone."

Ranma; He's crazy and thinks he's me.

    Cologne coughed pointedly, drawing some of attention away from the
boy.

newcomer (You use boy later)

    Washuu stared at him for a moment, then sighed. "Okay, well, if
you're willing to help, stay with Yosho. Tanma? We're going to need your
help under the bay."

I can't see the Tanma thing lasting long.

    Ranma started at that, turning to look at Washuu in surprise. "Under
the bay?" he asked. "You mean... under the water, on the bottom?"

    "Yes."

    He stared at her, frowning. "I'd rather stick with Yosho, really..."

    Washuu waggled a finger at him. "Unless you know a way to be two
places at once,

Well, if he's like Ryouko, he probably could learn that trick.

    Ranma shrugged, explaining, "I just came to drop Washuu and the old
ghoul off. I've going to get back to Yosho." Cologne turned to reprimand
Ranma, who had answered in Japanese, but an echo of his words sounded an
instant later, in perfect, concise English.

Very convienent, those gems. :)

    "You know," he rumbled quietly to Mousse, "we should get on his good
side. I don't think we could beat him if we pissed him off, now."

Couldn't do it before, truth be known.

    Ran-oh-ki's senses filled in where his own lapsed,

Nice touch

    Ranma spared a nod as he flew towards the life-sign

lifesign (I think)

    "Anyway," Soun continued, "I'm... I'm staying here. This is my
place, now..."

How rude of him, abadoning his daughters when they need him now more than
ever.

smiling.

    Ranma closed his mouth slowly, finding himself without words for the
situation.

    "But... I'm done, Ranma. I'm tired... tired of being weak, being a
coward... the master left." He changed the subject abruptly. "I don't
know where. I suppose I don't care, really. All I had left was a friend,
and he died earlier today

Eh? This was all in the same day? That doesn't sound quite right.

    He rummaged in his gi for a moment, producing a much worn and
tattered scroll. "This scroll," he explained, "carries a school your
father never passed on to you. I think he'd want you to have it now,
though. It's not complete,"

Heh. How convienent. :)

    The captain's face twisted into a sour grimace. "Fine," he muttered.
"Go ahead, if you think it will help. But what we really need is a
long-term solution to destroy these enemies, and a one-shot cannon isn't
going to do the trick."

True. But with every one that's destroyed, that's one less to deal with sinc
e they don't replicate.

    Washuu gestured to Ranma, who nodded, summoning her blades. The
captain nearly leapt out of his seat, staring in shock at her. Ranma
smiled, letting the blades vanish, and rising to float a slight distance
off the ground, tucking her feet beneath her as though she were sitting.
"I can handle a few," Ranma tossed out casually.

    "What are those?" the captain managed after a minute.

"Deadly," Ranma said.

    Terry took off his hat, and scrubbed his hands through his hair.
"Okay," he said slowly, glancing around. "Maybe I can get someone on the
radio to tell me how to work this thing." He frowned, trying to remember
anything he knew about more complex machines. Red buttons were bad.
Glass shielding over a button was there for a reason. And a very
important one, yellow and black warning tape meant 'Don't touch!'

Heh. Cute layman's terms.

    She nodded, and her ear-like sensors popped upwards. "Yes," she
stated firmly. "Eimi-chan? Are you still here?" she asked, much less
confidence in her voice.

Oh? This should be interesting.

    The screen slowly focused inward, raising the level of detail and
giving Terry the sensation that he was falling. He looked away for a
moment, nauseous. "Woah,"

Whoa (I think)

    "Bogard. Terry Bogard."

    "Pleased to meet you, Bogard-san. My name is Eimi. Would you like me
to sing you a song? Kyusaka-sensei taught it to me..."

Heh. I think this is a good place to tune out for a while, all right.
Singing is dangerous, after all. :)

D.B. Sommer

    ***

    -- End Chapter 5 Part A --

--
I write fanfiction. Too much of it. You can read it here, thanks to a kind

grant from the Larry F foundation:

http://members.tripod.com/lwf58/fan_fiction/durandall/index.html
--
Haiku of my lament:

Forgive my spelling,
my U.S. education,
is the source of blame.


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