And finally trying to finish up at last now that I have the time.

"What is done is done, and cannot be undone.

Unless one has access to a time machine or wish granting device, but that's
not important right now

Kintaro studied the girl in his viewscreen, glancing for a moment at the
relayed data from the other GP craft on the reaver's trajectories.
Flipping a switch, he raised the channel security, so

Don't think you need that comma

 that no others

could listen in. "Yep," he said, nodding. "Kohito's fine, according to
Maintainer Shiname."

"Are you sure?" the girl asked anxiously.

Kintaro smirked. "He's just resting --

The amputations went well. Oh, he's a vegatable, but at least he looks like
an onion. NOw if he was shaped like a pea, then there would be problems.

 but try not to tell anyone. This

information is classified, until the investigation is over." Turning his
attention back to the monitor that showed the reaver's trajectories

We know that from the last paragraph. Dump the reaver's trajectories part
and end it at 'monitor'

, he

raised an eyebrow as the three objects disappeared, whatever force that
had caused them to vanish also disrupting communications for a moment.

That's a 'Bad Sign'

After the last of the Home Fleet passed through the Gate, Tenchi allowed
it to shut, nearly sagging with relief

Who does one 'nearly sag'? Usually they do or they don't.

. The Tenchi-ken had been gripped

tightly enough to leave indentations in his palm,

Better than handling it by the blade part and having no palm at all. :)

and he knew -- this

time -- how much of the power that had gone into the attempt was his,
and how much had been Tsunami's. And far

Drop 'and' Start with 'Far', sounds better.

 too little of the power that

had gone into it was his own.

Ryouko and Ayeka watched closely, not rushing to his side, lest he appear
weak before the court. He recovered himself,

Awkward. I'd drop 'himself'

All of them regarded Tenchi with apprehension, and the Court slowly
increased the volume of its questioning murmurs. Tenchi wobbled on his
feet, one hand gripping the arm of the seat, trying to sort out the
message he was receiving from the Throne. "The reavers on Earth... have
destroyed the orbital platform," he said slowly.

Ah. That explains it.

"No," Ayeka answered flatly, before Tenchi could open his mouth. "Another
Gate cannot be risked at this time."

Hmm. She'd better watch it in speaking for him.

Tired, and upset at the limits on his powers and control, Tenchi merely
nodded. "Make it so,"

Everyone laughed at his Capt. Picard impression.

 he said, rubbing at the bridge of his nose as he

settled back into his seat.

***

Away from the Court, and attended -- as always -- by Ayeka and Ryouko,
Tenchi sat at the head of the table in one of the Throne's smaller
meeting rooms.

This one was only the size of a football field, rather than an entire
estate.

Karau frowned, glancing at Yohito, and offered, "Perhaps you're familiar
with the hyperspace bypasses that rumor says the Laruma have access to?"

Ayeka: Yes, but since the readers are not, I'll say no and you inform me,
and thus them, so they will know.

Ryouko snorted, rolling her eyes. "That's just a myth -- there's no such
thing," she grumbled.

Ryouko: Just like rumors of a Galatic Layline or a spacefaring race called
the Abh.

"What is it?" Ryouko asked, intrigued. "There are no usable hyperspace
bypasses. I would know -- I asked Washuu -- living things can't survive
in them for more than a few minutes."

What's to stop robots from going through then?

Ryouko blinked, clearly impressed. "Washuu would love to study that," she
said, nodding. "I guess you use the Light Hawk Wings as subspace sails,
and ride the current? What do you do if it's not going where you want it
to go?"

Karau: I hadn't thought of that. Maybe that explains why we lose so many
ships that way.

Ranma set Herb on a ledge, and shook her head and sighed. "Climb onto my
back, and we'll just go up slow enough we don't make your Phoenix People
angry. It's going to be dark soon, and I don't know how well you can see
without light."

"You make a solid point," Herb said wearily. "I do not understand how you
can climb so far, and not be tired."

Ranma; I'm not human anymore.

Ranma was able to control her curse, somehow. Herb had studied long and
hard, and while she knew of the cure easily enough, she did not know how
to control the curse while she still possessed it. "So," Ranma asked
quietly. "Why are you still cursed?"

Herb: It involves the ability to have multiple orgasms--

Ranma: I don't want to know.

"The last time I went to Jusenkyou, the pools were dry. When I returned
again, they had flooded. Mint and Lime were sent to wait there until the
pools returned to normal, and then inform me so that I could cure
myself," Herb offered.

Ranma snorted, shaking her head, and muttered, "They must have forgotten,
or taken their time getting there -- the springs looked pretty normal
when I was there yesterday."

"I told them to tell me when the springs changed," Herb muttered, anger
entering her voice. "They must have returned to normal before Lime and
Mint arrived."

Heh

"You do carry the blood of demons?" Herb asked quietly. She did not want
to upset Ranma, but her curiosity needed to be satisfied.

"Masu aren't demons," Ranma said indifferently. "They're... they're from
space, or something. I asked Washuu about it, once, and she explained
that Masu are, um, living anti-matter, or something like that. I didn't
understand much of what she said."

Washuu: That's because I made up a bunch of gobbley gook. I don't understand
how they work either, just that they do.

"The woman is very wise," Herb observed. "I do not entirely understand,
but would guess that she speaks of the cessation of all things. That
would indeed be the blood of demons."

Nah. That would be entropy.

The platform itself was cobbled, all of the stones rounded and raised.
There were no rails, and though the majority of the cobbles were gray,
the outer border of the area was lined in green, yellow stones weaving
subtle patterns through the entire length.

Ironically, the builder had been colorblind. The patterns, in fact, random.
It had all looked gray to her.

Both Ranma and Herb stared at the mosaic for a moment before Herb forced
down her awe at the display enough to look upward. Standing above the
head of the phoenix in the stone, and flanked by a number of winged
warriors, was the god of the Phoenix People. His robes were an
immaculate red with gold trim, his ruby-bright sun-golden eyes fixed on
Herb and Ranma. A pair of massive feathered wings rustled behind him,
the arc of the folded appendages rising over his shoulders, while the
outer edges jutted out at his sides. Borne in each of hands was a pair
of short staves, one topped with a ring, and one with a crescent-shaped
blade.

Herb: Bah. He's a pussy. He can't help us. Let's get out of here.

The god's mouth twitched upwards in a small smile. "You are, at best, a
pale imitation of us, Musk."

Herb: At least I don't molt.

After replacing the robe he had lost to a reaver in the battle,

With a leather ensamble Minako had given him.

The other part of that saying, if Mousse remembered it correctly, was
that if he couldn't let her go, then... then he didn't really ever love
her at all.

Heh. Yes, but trite sayings often conflict one with another. "Two wrongs
don't make a right,' but 'What's good for the goose is good for the gander.'
Your best bet is to play it by ear.

The darkness of the neighboring healer's hut was oddly comforting, Ryu's
steady breathing letting Makoto know that he still lived. The depth of
his wound -- and his final words before he fell unconscious -- worried
her endlessly. But Usagi and the other young woman were able to seal the
bloody gash and purge whatever the reaver had left inside him.

Now he slept, as he had since his wounds had been mended,

don't think you need that comma

Usagi looked distant for a minute. "It's been a long time since I've had
a really good meal," she admitted. "I don't like the stuff that the
soldiers gave us."

Heero: MREs are the food of the gods.

In the dark void somewhere beneath Tokimi's hall, Serenity, once Amatera
Omiki, moved about. There were places where her the

drop 'her'

Her form was the same form she'd worn when Tokimi had stripped the flesh
from her, and declared her to be the first of those she wished to
elevate. The dream, then, shared between the two of them, was to create
a perfect world with the powers of Tokimi that Tsunami and Jurai had
denied them.

Heh. That would have been bad.

Surely it would be to the goddess's advantage to rob Ranma of something
else -- perhaps his memories of how to fight, not something like a dark
fear of cats. What reason could she want to take that away, and leave so
much with him?

"Perhaps," she mused quietly, studying the web, "it is that if he is
reminded of something that is sealed, then the seal will break?"

Perhaps.

"I am," the god said, glowering. "The defilers concern us, and because I
must attend to them, I wish you to finish this quickly."

Hmm. Then they might work together.

"Oh?" the god said, folding his arms across his chest. "And now, for some
reason, you believe that your strength is enough to warrant our
attention, and thusly, our aid?"

Ranma: Since we've dropped a lot more of them than you have, you better
believe it.

"It is our hope, yes," Herb said quickly, motioning Ranma to be quiet
before the other girl could speak. "We would be willing to give you
something in exchange, of course."

"Think you that we would need to bargain with you?" he said disdainfully.

Herb: I've got birdseed.

Saffron: Cool. Okay. I'm in.

"And here it comes," Ranma snapped. "This is where you tell me how
bad-ass you are, and it degenerates into a slugfest -- which I'll win,
of course -- before you agree to help. If you aren't too keen on
reasoning, violence suits me just

Saffron raised his hand and vaporized Ranma.

Saffron softly intoned, "I hate cliches."

"Damn straight," Ranma said, walking forward two steps, and removing her
sheath from the sash of her red robes. "I've killed more reavers than I
can count,

Saffron; There aren't that many of them, you know.

Ranma; I know. I'm just dumb and never learned to count high.

"You... aggravate us," the god announced, one eyebrow ticking wildly.
Herb took several steps away from Ranma, silently gathering her ki to
herself in preparation for the battle Ranma seemed ready to invoke. "But
at the same time, one who can defeat even the weakened spawn of an
insignificant dragon in this tired world is intriguing. Tell me,
'Ranma', what blood flows through your veins?"

"Masu, youkai, human,"

Worcestershire sauce,

 Ranma said, shaking her head and shrugging. "What

does it matter?" Her sword rattled against its sheath as she threw it to
the ground, smiling grimly. "You'll help us once we kick your ass, right?"

The god glowered, striding forward menacingly. "Your annoyance outweighs
my interest," he declared. "My holy cleansing fires will unmake you."

Ranma: I'm wearing asbestos.

Saffron: Curses. You win.

"Let's do this," Ranma said quietly.

***

Outside of Mihoshi's ship, Kintaro sat astride an opened

just 'open' I think

engine casing,

and checked through an interface to monitor for damages.

Just 'damage' I think

 The handheld

unit chirped acknowledgement that a maintenance cycle was complete, and
Kintaro shook his head, disengaging the plug and transferring it to
another console.

Mihoshi, finally having completed her report to her superiors, leant

Light of 'leant' ing in this part. I'd use different words to describe them.

"Yes," Saffron said distantly, feeling the echoes through Ranma's aura.
"A woman with hair of fire, and another... the color of the living sea.
Who are these people?"

Hmm. Perceptive.

At the paired names, a flash of recognition slammed through Saffron,
staggering him to his knees, wings flaring wide as his hands slapped
against the cobbles of the courtyard. The twin staves of the Gekkaja and
the Kinjakan clattered noisily just outside of his reach. The eyes of
the women named by Ranma surged through Saffron's mind, memories more
ancient than any he could name to mortals flaring brightly. "In the
beginning," he said hoarsely, "there was placed a guardian for this
world. He is departed now, and I see why."

Hmm. Most unexpected.

"Why?" Ranma asked, trading a thoroughly confused glance with Herb.

"Yes," Herb questioned, "what brings about this sudden change of heart?"

he said, looking the gift horse in the mouth.

"Those older than I demand that it be so," Saffron said, rising to his
feet. "There are those that even I fear offending,

Saffron: They are called Old Ones, and your best bet is to pray they never
notice you.

His smile slipping, Saffron growled, "That was the least of my powers --
watch, Ranma, and grow wise."

Ranma: I haven't done that yet and have no intention of starting now.

"Very well, Ranma-san. Do take care," Tsunami said, the sound feeling as
though she were whispering into his ear. He shivered slightly at an
imagined breath of air against the side of his head, and glanced around
nervously.

Nice touch with the breath of air

"We are five hundred and twelve strong," one of the female Phoenix People
assessed quietly. "Lord Saffron, why do you agree to help these people?
Do we truly need their strength?"

Saffron: Can you ever have too much strength?

Nice work. Will continue.

D.B. Sommer




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