Almost slipped my mind to reply to this. That I am ill and having problems
sleeping doesn't help things. And now I've got a couple of wrestling video
tapes to watch, which will be another 8 hours or so of time that won't be
spent on the list and writing. ^_^

Took most of your grammar comments, as usual.

$Got delayed while we made our video application to compete in Junkyard
wars.  Again.

Good luck. Hope you make it.

And here's the second half. Glad to get it to you before Christmas.
Enjoy

$And here's the second half.  Glad to get it to you before next
Christmas.

Heh. I know that feeling.

her miniature state. Oh, he still bore a heady feeling when he was in
the
same room with her, but he was coherent and could think quite well,
though
sometimes it required a bit of concentration.

$I guess Kasumi really is best taken in small doses.

Cute.

Now free to do as she pleased, Kasumi flexed her wings and took off,
flitting about the office. "Good. It'll be nice to fly around without
worrying about Akane seeing me. I wouldn't want to frighten her. It
would be
difficult to explain what's happened to me. It's far better she never
finds
out about this. I don't think anyone but you would understand."

$Probably the funniest part about this fic is that everyone is so
convinced that they're the only special ones.

Yeah. I've done this sort of thing before in other fics, and I found the
concept amusing.

Tofu watched her fly past, still marveling at her quickness and agility.
It
was like watching a hummingbird, considering the speed which she darted
through the air. It was less distracting now that she had finally sewn
some
outfits for that size. Although for some reason she had a developed an
affinity for daring garments that fit her snugly in many of the more
sensitive areas of her body.

$Ain't it cold in that?  Especially with the flying around.

Never seemed to bother Jan. :)

 Had she worn any of them at normal size, Tofu
wagered he wouldn't have been the only one to become incoherent around
her.

$Breast jokes would be in abundance.

Nah. Ranma would still be determined to show he has the biggest ones.

story.
Kasumi seemed to revel in being able to wear such garments and act less
reserved than in her normal housekeeping role. Some of the things she
said
made even him blush.

$I assume you changed this?  I'm not sure how you would, but he would
probably blush at just about anything he says.

Yeah. It has been modified.

condition that it was only part-time since he did have a business to
run.
Thus, with his course decided, 'Giant Man' had been born.

$I dunno, I think 'Humungous' would be better.  But, of course, that
one's been taken.

True. Bill Foster as 'Black Goliath' still ranks as one of my fave's as
well. :)

molecules, a
new innovation from an American scientist named Richards. These unstable
molecules somehow enabled the outfit to change in accordance with the
wearer's form, a sort of variation on the ultimate elastic.

$Yeah, but long term exposure increased your risk of skin cancer, and,
while flame retardant, don't even get near anything radioactive.

Heh.

 It was so
effective that even when Tofu grew, the outfit would change in size
instead
of tearing. He didn't understand how it worked, only that it did and
saved
him the problem of buying material large enough to cover his giant
frame.

$But, I always wondered, if it shrank or expanded to cover whatever it
was wrapped around, wouldn't it shrink to near nothingness if you took
it off?

Marvel probably through the 'theory' on how it worked in there somewhere. I
decided not to get into it. Either you will buy it or you won't.

was at
Wasp size. She had to put them on when she was small, and wasn't able to
grow with them on since the material would rip, treating everyone to a
real
eyeful of her.

$Whee!

But Ranma/Bucky still has the edge in flashing everybody with her chest. :)

the
gas that reversed the shrinkage, one would remain trapped at that
diminutive
height, potentially forever.

$But could he still grow back to his original height when shrunk?

With the reverse gas, though in theory his innante ability to grow could
reverse the effects.

keep
him out of his mother's sight for a while. Compared to her constant
harping
about marrying and raising a family, fighting super-villains would
almost
seem relaxing.

$I bet she'd be the mother in law from hell, too.

Since she runs Hydra, one would safely assume this. :)

"Near a tire?" Whizzer shrugged. "This is getting a bit hectic. I hope
those
people we're waiting for show up soon. I'm getting tired of running
around
and beating up these annoying pests. They're almost as bad as the
Chinese
army. Not really dangerous, save in large numbers."

$I bet a nuke would hurt.

Yes, but no one's shot one at the yet.

"But you're the only one who calls us that."

$Whizzer: Details.  It'll catch on, believe me.

When they're running the world. You betcha.

his skills taken to the limit. Now confronted with the actuality of his
long
standing desire, he was no longer certain that was necessarily a good
thing.

$Well, he asked for it.

Yep.

to
her in some way. Of course she would have to prove her worth and help
Daredevil in taking out these two buffoons before she could 'talk shop'.
Given how bright the bad guys in question seemed, she and Daredevil
should
be deep in conversation in under ten minutes.

$Heh, I may not have read many comic books, but I know how it goes with
the main bad guys, and that ain't it.

Yep. Would be rather anti-climatic if they get stomped on too easily.

it
later, since he only had two left in his robe.

$Heh.  He's getting sloppy on inventory.

Yep.

"Damn!" she muttered through a sore jaw. She had barely seen him move.
This
was almost worse than the time she had been hypnotized into believing
her
arrows were snakes.

$I think I missed that one.

Chapter 5: Thor and Raiden Present: Lessons On Why It's Bad to Play With
Electricity.

"And now you won't talk at all!" Whizzer began to run forward even as
Hawkeye finally fired the notched arrow into the opposite wall. The
speedster would be aiming for his opponent's jaw this time, intent on
reducing it to powder with repeated blows for daring to imply that he
pontificated too much.

$Actually, I don't think bones reduce to powder very well.  More like a
calciferous mush with repeated pounding.

It's just a saying. :)

Once her opponent encountered his makeshift break pad, Hawkeye
immediately
drew another stun arrow. This time she would not miss.

$Unless interferred with.

I see I telegraphed that one. OTOH, I think I can throw at least one curve
in the standard Super Hero genre in a chapter or two your way.

"I'll kill you for that!" Power Man raged as he brought his good arm up.
However, Daredevil stepped back, throwing some sort of white powder into
the
larger man's face. The move was unexpected enough that Power Man
couldn't
close his eyes in time. Instantly, his eyes teared up, blinding him. All
he
could do was roar in even greater agony and flail about.

$I'd have used itching powder.  Scratch that.  I'd have used diethyl
cyanide and hauled ass away, holding my breath.

Well, DD is somewhat less bloodthirsty than that. This isn't the current
'your hero needs guns/claws and a propensity to kill the villain they're
fighting.' This is a semi 'old school' lot. Pretty much the polar opposite
of say, The Authority.

sense was accurate, was quick and inhumanly silent; he could barely
detect
her footsteps even with his heightened hearing. But no one could sneak
up on
the 'man without fear'; not even an ant.

$Adam: Want to bet?

Hehehehe. Talk about flashbacks. Haven't seen him mentioned outside of an
80's flashback album.

forward,
and the fist that was aimed at his head only stuck a glancing blow off
the
base of his neck and shoulder. Against a man with normal strength, it
would
have only hurt somewhat. From Power Man, it was like someone driving a
two
by four into it. Daredevil fell unconscious immediately.

$Better than having your skull cracked like an egg.

Yeah. Luckily prereaders warned me away from that, which was the contact
point in the first version.

produced when an arrow was fired from it. She had tried to explain it to
other people, but only fellow archers who allowed themselves to be fully
immersed in the art understood. It was the result of becoming one with a
weapon, a conjoining of sorts. Perhaps it was some sort of psychological
substitute for not being able to become one with a man,

$Freud would certainly have a feild day with it.  The big phallic arrow
entering the target...  Oh, yeah, she's hard up.

Pretty much what she was saying.

"What are you, the Musketeer?" Hawkeye asked.

$A logical assumption, to be sure.

A thought so.

The man bowed. "No. I possess no musket. Such a weapon is unseemly and
inelegant. I find only the naked steel of the sword is suitable to a
warrior
of my caliber."

$Hawkeye: And what is your caliber? .22?  I bet that big sword is just
overcompensation for having a little dick.

Hey, to paraphrase Midnighter 'That's what it says on the back of his
Villain Collecto's card.'

"Musketeer's weren't really known for marketing things."

$But he's not one.

And this is not true, as somone else pointed out, the Three Musketeers are
rather good at plugging candy bars. :)

"Oh yes. I sometimes forget that in severing my ties to the past to keep
from being killed, either through mysterious other powers or boredom, I
now
need to lower myself by occasionally accepting contributions in return
for
lending my talents to those deserving of them. Now, as to my payment,
once
we're ruling the world, I am to be given Kyoto, correct?"

$Not all of Japan?  He gets bought off easy.

Indeed.

up
to her elbow. Her mane of long black hair was partially kept under wraps
by
a bandanna. All of her attire was the same blood red color. A pair of
sais
stuck out of a sash tied at her waist, and the hilt of a katana poked
out of
a scabbard strapped to her back.

$Not a tai chi sword or one of those long swords she likes so much?

To be honest, my lack of martial arts weaponry is showing here.

$caught, too?

"Actually we just wanted to check out your breasts."

$And it all comes together.

Yep. Ironically enough.

"And I shall allow you to bleed all over me if you try," Elektra said
with a
tongue as sharp as her sais.

$Actually, I didn't think that even the real sai were sharpened, except
for the point.

True. They were a thrusting weapon as a remember, essentially.

it.

"He's mine." Power Man moved forward, intent on twisting Ranma into a
swan.

$He'd make a better donkey, I think.

Heh

And just as quickly all thoughts were driven from Ranma's mind when a
yellow
bolt of energy leaped forth from the hilt of the blade.

$Well, that's interesting.

Part of the Swordsman's gimmick as that he had a trick sword.

She wondered if she should contact her 'Uncle' Peter in America about
the
problem. During one of his visits, her father's old friend had once
mentioned the difficulties with heroes in the United States and what
measures he felt should be taken to control them. From what she had
gleaned,
his attitude concerning them was very similar to her own. He was an
influential man in his government. Perhaps it was a matter worth looking
into.

$Heh.  Gotta have the normal against everybody.  Wouldn't be the same
without some good old fashion racism.

And it lays groundwork for intro Peter Henry Gyrich, hero hater
extraordinare into the works, giving it a more Marvel touch to it by using
Marvel characters.

impressive feats of strength to her own royal lineage, many would...

Seducing women?

$I missed part of this, I know, but doesn't she know that she used to
be a guy?

Nope. Her memories of the past are very hazy (for a reason). Currently she
is convinced she has always been a woman, and will become irritated at the
idea the mythology books completely screwed up her gender when confronted
with it.

She went over and examined the unconscious Daredevil. A woozy sigh
escaped
his lips as he slowly regained consciousness.

$She does know his name is Daredevil, right?

Yeah

"I don't know, but I have to find them." Daredevil silently raged
against
what had happened. The first serious threat he had come across, and he
had
been beaten handily.

$Yep, that's how it goes.

Well, he's had it easy up until now, actually.

was
the one who was in charge and calling the shots. That was as it should
be,
for it was blatantly obvious she was the most brilliant, tactically
sound,
and noblest person present.

$Not the vainest, though, no matter how hard she tries.

She will be in competition with a lot of people this time around.

Under her helmet, Kodachi grimaced. Having a secret identity took some
getting used to. Still, it was a mistake that was easily rectified. "I
have
no small ability in the field of electronics. Whereas I am nowhere near
as
brilliant as the beautiful genius,

$*snort*  It's a good thing none of these people have any sense, she'd
be figured out in a heartbeat of meeting her out of armor.

Yep. Common sense isn't all that common in this group, though raw power is.

 Miss Kodachi Kunou, I have capabilities
that far surpass the average layman. Modifying the sensor systems aboard
the
quinjet will be simplicity itself for one of my numerous talents.
Ohohohohoho!"

$Hell, that'd be a dead giveaway.

Not really. Kodachi Kunou doesn't laugh like that.  It's only when she feels
liberated inside the armor that she gives the Ohhoho laugh. She's got issues
too.

found
herself smitten by the man's obvious charms. Of course, with her luck he
might turn out to be a total jackass, but given the hunk of manhood in
question, she was certainly willing to take the chance if it meant
getting
to know him better.

$And even if he was a jackass, what she had in mind didn't involve him
talking.

Heh. She's not that raunchy here.

delivered to her like a gift from the gods was a clear sign they were
destined for one another. At last the rose of iron she had become would
be
allowed to blossom in the hands of a man, as it was always meant to be.
She
tittered under her armor.

$Eww, that's gross.  She's going to have to clean that out.

Heh

Resentment rose in Daredevil. He could tell from the sounds of their
voices
that all three were interested in the Captain for reasons other than
practicality. Hawkeye's interest surprised him most of all. The blind
youth
made a mental note never to change clothes in the archer's presence.

$Heh.  I wonder why there aren't more gay superheros?

Not popular theme until the last few years.

no
end. He vowed to keep a close 'watch' on this Captain Japan. Daredevil
knew
he was twice the man the egotist was, and would be eager to prove it at
every opportunity.

$Oddly enough, when I read the last two lines there, my mild dyslexia
kicked in and I read it as 'he was twice the egotist the man was, and'

Heh. A bit of a problem, that.

had already made an offer that was accepted and would never back out now
for
fear of appearing cowardly. Still, for some odd reason he wondered if
even
with all the help they could give him, if hanging around them would end
up
being the greater of two evils.

$You bet it would.

As we'll find out in upcoming chapter, when I get around to writing them.

differences they display can be overlooked for the sake of their
appearance,
and I will try to keep their more canon personalities in line. Just
wanted
to clear that point up.

$That's okay.  Sure.

It was an issue brought about by others in the first half of the chapter and
agreed with by others. I thought it best I clarify things here.

Well, another chapter down. Originally I anticipated everything I had
outlined in my head to take only one 120K or so chapter. Boy was I
wrong. It
nearly doubled in anticipated size.

$I'm starting to get used to that feeling as well.  Now I just want
everything to stay below 200k per chapter.

Hehehe. Welcome to hte club.

 Looks like 'Ten Rings' will be three
minimum, to possibly four chapters, but very unlikely to stretch beyond
that. We'll see as things progress.

$Well, the setup looks interesting.  Players lining up on opposing
teams, battle lines being drawn and all that.  I'm guessing that Ryoga
is going to get recruited, or at least nominally recruited as one of the
bad guys.  Who knows, maybe we'll even see some more of him next
chapter.

Yep. Ryouga will finally be a regular next chapter.

Hope to see more of this soon.

However it's looking like you'll have to settle for later, at least at the
moment while I get over this illness and try to catch up on backlog again.

As always, thanks immensely for the C+C. It was very useful and appreciated.

D.B. Sommer




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