Hi all,

Here is the first draft of Ten's Chapter 15.  It's a bit rough around the
edges, and I've taken a few liberties here and there, but overall I think
it's worked out quite well.  Please enjoy.  If you'd like to share a
comment, please feel welcome, I appreciate any thoughts you may have about
the story.

                                  = = = =
                                   T E N

                            A Ranma  1/2 Fanfic

                                 By  R. E.
                           (ranma_e@hotmail.com)

                           Illustrations by Irka
                            (irka@ciudad.com.ar)
                                  = = = =

                              CHAPTER FIFTEEN
                   "The Satyr, the Seraph, and the Scion"
                              = = = = = = = =

Akane let her feet sink slightly into the waters of the Toyohira river, and
sighed gratefully as the soothing water embraced her aching feet with its
benignant touch.  She smiled in amusement as she watched Ranma deftly hop
from foot to foot.

The river's current caught the tiny patches of ice created by her
companion's touch and sent them gently drifting downstream toward the
ocean.  Her own foothold was rather more sturdy; the river itself held her,
its current parting around her feet, leaving her standing upon a perfectly
still circle of water.

Mt. Moiwa loomed ahead, seeming to tower over them despite its relatively
modest five-hundred and thirty-one metre height. It served to mark the edge
of the mountainous region to the west and the beginnings of the city of
Sapporo to the east.  In the winter, the slopes were coated in a thick
dusting of light white snow, transforming the green giant into an enormous
ski field.  Locals and tourists alike tore down the mountainside with
reckless abandon as often as the weather conditions would allow it.

Or so Ranma had said.

Their journey from Osaka to Hokkaido had been a long and arduous one, with
barely a stop along the way.  The past few days, spent trudging around or
over mountain after mountain, had been the hardest part of the journey.
They had crossed a seemingly-endless string of mountains, although Ranma
had repeatedly assured her that the next mountain was the last.

Ranma had talked at great length, recounting the stories Happosai had told
her. The old man spoke fondly of the White Illumination and the Snow
Festival, celebrations that filled the city with light and cheer during the
winter months, warming the temperament of the city despite the chill of the
snow.

There was no such snow anywhere to be seen as Akane eyed the southwestern
side of the mountain.  In fact, the sun had been unusually strong that day,
a change from the relatively cool days that had made the trek across
Hokkaido a bearable experience.

At least with the sun setting behind them the temperature was dropping as
day gave way to a much cooler twilight.  There were clouds in the sky, and
the telltale prickling of Akane's skin told her it would rain soon.  She
smiled up at the clouds, coloured a deep red by the alpenglow, and hoped
for the shower to begin.

Despite the length and difficulty of the trek, it was not entirely an
unpleasant experience.  The past three weeks had been a real change of pace
as far as Ranma was concerned.  Ranma had, following their disastrous
attempt at infiltration in Osaka, adopted a more cheery disposition that
reminded Akane of the girl she had met in her home so long ago.  Similarly,
she had felt her own mood lifting, despite the hardships of the journey.

Conversation had flowed more freely between them and Akane had found
herself enjoying Ranma's company once more.  Ranma had really opened to
her, telling her in detail of the times Happosai had brought her to his
home in the Shiroishi ward.  That was where he was hiding now, Ranma had
said, and so that was their destination.

>From what she had been told, she had a feeling that she would like the
city.  She had never been to Hokkaido before, and after their extended
separation from civilisation at large, the prospect of seeing a city again
had her excited.  Other than their overnight sojourn in Osaka, they had
studiously avoided populated areas.

I can even call Dad, she thought to herself.  It had been a long time since
she had been near a phone for long enough to even consider calling anyone.
She had wanted to in Osaka, but the urgency of their escape prevented that.
She was determined to contact him again now that she had the chance, now
that she was in contact with some technology again.

A droplet of water struck her nose, making her blink.  It was joined by
another, and another, and another, as the skies above opened and a light
sprinkling of rain began.  She closed her eyes and let out a contented sigh
as the liquid ran over her face in tiny rivulets, soothing her muscles.

"Hey, come on," came Ranma's voice.  "We can't stop now.  This rain is only
going to get worse."

"I know, I know," Akane replied, slightly disappointed.  Opening her eyes
again she glanced to Ranma, who was standing on the far bank of the river.
The droplets that fell in the redheaded girl's vicinity hardened into tiny
balls of ice, some thudding into the ground around her, others bouncing off
the top of her head.

Ranma scowled in annoyance, the dozens of impacts threatening to spoil her
previously cheery mood.  Akane, berating herself for enjoying the rain when
Ranma obviously hated it, stepped easily across the river and joined her
companion on solid ground.  Despite herself, she couldn't help a smile.

* * *

The alarm had sounded twelve minutes prior.  As per procedure, Alpha Team
had quickly suited up, donning their combat fatigues and body armour.  Once
their weapons were checked they proceeded to the launch hangar.

Ukyo had never actually entered the launch hangar before; their training
simulations had always ended at the doorway to the hangar, where their
performance would be assessed.  Today, though, was different.  This time,
the alarm was real.

The hangar was vast, with a startling array of helicopters and what Seraph
Wing described as VTOL planes.  The AI personality had explained the
exploration, infiltration and interdiction roles of the various craft, as
well as the expansive structure required to house them several days
earlier as part of an overall discussion on the design of the vessel.

Despite the lecture, she found herself staring, open-mouthed, at the one
spectacle she did not believe she would ever witness aboard the Leviathan
Spring: sunlight.

-The ceiling is retractable to allow aircraft launch, and reinforced with
ultrastrong materials to prevent pressure implosion whilst underwater,-
Seraph Wing dutifully explained, before proceeding into its own conjecture.
-The Leviathan Spring is designed to operate even with this entire hangar
flooded, but nevertheless, such an expansive egress in the hull must reduce
the vessel's maximum depth by a considerable amount.  The ability to launch
aircraft must have been deemed a worthy exchange for such a handicap.-

-I didn't even know we'd surfaced,- she replied, shaking her head in
wonderment.

-I apologise, My Lady,- Seraph Wing replied.  -I should have told you.-

The ground beneath them rumbled, as the platform she was standing upon
- along with the other members of Alpha Team, Colonel Hunter, a number of
ground crew and two transport helicopters - began to rise.  A loud whirring
sound echoed through the cavern as they were lifted slowly toward the
ceiling, the sliver of sunlight growing ever wider above them.

"Several days ago, surveillance operatives reported sightings of Ranma
Saotome on the island of Hokkaido.  As you may or may not know, the
Leviathan Spring was immediately dispatched to investigate these reports,"
Hunter began.  "Our investigation has paid off - fifty minutes ago, Saotome
was sighted near the top of Mt. Moiwa, accompanied by an unknown female."

Ukyo's ears prickled at the mention of Ranma's name.  They had found her?

-Did you know about this?-

-No, My Lady,- Seraph Wing replied.  -I have no access to classified
military systems.  This is the first I have heard of it.-

"We have been given authorisation to engage Saotome directly.  We have to
hurry if we're going to take advantage of this situation. This is going to
be a fluid operation that will involve both Alpha fireteams, so pay
attention," Colonel Hunter called, his booming voice drowning out the
insistent whirr of the platform.

"The primary fireteam, henceforth designated Red, will be led by Scar," he
continued.  "You're going to be the ones on the ground doing the dirty work
here."

"Sir," Scar acknowledged with a curt nod of his head.  He was, like all of
them, fully outfitted in combat gear, his helmet clutched under one arm.
The multitude of grenades and ammunition strapped to a bandolier that ran
across his chest gave him an extremely intimidating appearance; one that
was reinforced by the determined expression upon his face.

"You will deployed by chopper on the southwestern side of the mountain.
>From the LZ you are to fan out and surround the targets without arousing
their suspicion.  You are to provide fire support for Wing, who will subdue
Saotome.  Eliminating her is the primary objective of this mission, and
must be achieved.  Her companion is of secondary importance.  Once she's
been taken care of, the body is to be brought to the Spring for analysis.
Any questions?"

"Understood, Sir," Scar confirmed.  "No questions, Sir."

"The secondary fireteam, designated Blue, will be led by Fox," Hunter
continued.  "Your chopper will remain on station to provide backup in case
things go awry.  You have no fixed objective; instructions will be
communicated to you if the need arises.  You are not to hit the ground
unless directly ordered to do so.  Understood?"

"Yes, Sir," Fox - a gravelly voice that called over Ukyo's shoulder -
acknowledged.  She could see the faces of his team with her spatial sense,
Seraph Wing accurately reproducing every detail in her mind, but she did
not recognise any of them.  The AI dutifully searched personnel databases
to fill in the blanks, and filed a note for Ukyo to review their profiles
at a later date.

"Bravo Team will remain on standby for the duration of the operation, just
in case.  They will not be deployed to the field unless the situation
demands it.  Their two fireteams are designated Gold and Silver."

Ukyo felt her stomach tighten as the platform neared its apex.  The
sunlight was a deep shade of red, silhouetting the Colonel as the platform
slowed to a stop, flush with the top of the hull.  Not daring to move but
longing to look around, she reached out with her spatial sense and examined
the outside world for the first time in far too long.

The Leviathan Spring had surfaced quite some distance off the coast, far
enough that the land was little more than a green line on the horizon.  It
protruded high above the water, its hull rocking back and forth ever so
slightly with the ocean swell.  Salt air filled her lungs and she took a
deep breath, ignoring Seraph Wing's measurements of its moisture content.

The engines of two helicopters churned into life, the rotors' motion
kicking up strong gusts of air.  She had to admit, it felt good to be
outside again.

"This opportunity has been presented to us on a silver platter, ladies and
gentlemen," Hunter yelled, over the noise of the choppers.  "You are
authorised to use any and all force to subdue the target.  Do whatever it
takes."

* * *

The city of Sapporo stretched out as far as the Akane could see.  The
metropolis sparkled a dozen different colours, a sea of lights glimmering
beneath the gentle drizzle that tumbled down from the darkening sky above.
With the sun's final light dying behind the mountain, the city had taken on
an almost magical glow.

"Oh, wow," Akane breathed.  "It's beautiful, Ranma."

"I wanted you to see it," Ranma replied with a smile.  Her mood had
improved drastically since they had taken shelter from the rain, under a
cluster of trees.  "I've seen many things in my time, and this view is one
of the few I truly treasure."

"I didn't know you had an appreciation for things like this," Akane said,
slightly surprised.

"It's strange, you know.  I wouldn't have thought that myself, either,"
Ranma replied contemplatively.  "I've never had much respect for the human
race as a whole.  Over the years I've seen them destroy nature, and
themselves, more times than I care to remember.  But every once in a while,
they remind me that they can -create- something beautiful."

"It's a nice thought, isn't it?" Akane said.  "Humans aren't all bad.  I
used to be one myself, you know."

Ranma failed to suppress a laugh.  "Well, they aren't -all- bad, I
guess."

Akane smiled as Ranma's quiet laughter faded into a companionable silence.
They had been sitting together for a few minutes, huddled together near the
mountaintop, out of sight of any tourists who may have been about.  The
mountainside was not as isolated as they might have wished - far from it,
in fact.

Ranma had decided to wait until well into the night before proceeding down
to the city, and Akane had offered no argument. A rest, and an opportunity
to enjoy the view, were both welcome.

Akane chewed her lip thoughtfully, weighing up whether or not to press
Ranma further on the lab results they had obtained.  She had tried on a
couple of occasions to ask about them, but Ranma had steered the
conversation away each time with remarkable agility.  She knew that
pressing harder would likely achieve nothing, so decided against trying
again.  Hopefully, the answers would present themselves soon.

"Why did Happosai choose to live here?" she asked, breaking the silence.

"I don't know," Ranma replied with a shrug.  "He used to travel around a
lot, never stayed in one place for very long.  I guess he must have just
taken a liking to this place.  He still travels around - his kind have to -
but this is the closest thing he has to a home.  I guess he finally
realised that he needed one."

"I think I understand how he must have felt."

"Yeah, I suppose you would," Ranma replied, sounding wounded.

"Hey, I didn't mean--"

"I'm sorry for dragging you around Japan like this," Ranma said quietly.
She stared out over the city, watching the tiny motions of cars moving
along the streets between luminescent streams of street lights.  "You used
to have a home, a school, friends, everything a girl your age should have.
Now, you've just got me."

"And sore feet," Akane added.  Ranma grimaced; Akane squeezed her shoulder
gently and gave an embarrassed smile.  "I'm kidding, Ranma."

"I'm not.  I'm sorry, Akane.  If I knew another way to protect you ...."

"You've got nothing to be sorry about.  My old life was so ... -ordinary-.
I went to school, I studied, I came home, I trained.  I've been doing
that as long as I can remember.  It was boring."

"You know what?" Ranma asked.  "I've studied and trained for nearly nine
hundred years.  I'm stronger, I'm faster, I'm more skilled in battle than
anyone else on this planet.  My father taught me that being the best was
the most important thing in life.  I'm supposed to be -happy- that I'm the
best."

"But you're not?"

Ranma shook her head.  "If I could, I would trade it all for just one day
of an 'ordinary life'," Ranma said with a wan smile.  "I'm sorry that I had
to take that away from you.  I know how valuable it is."

"I never really thought about it like that."

"Being immortal gives you a different perspective on these things," Ranma
replied, a smirk creasing her features.

"How so?"

"I've lived ten lifetimes, but I've never really been -alive-.  What kind
of life is this, running away day after day?  Hiding in the wilderness by
myself for nearly a millennium?

"For nine centuries I've watched from a distance.  Watched ordinary people
living their ordinary lives.  They go to work, they go to school, they
spend time with their friends and their families and yet none of them truly
appreciate what they have.  None of them understand how lucky they are,
just to be alive."

"They've never known any different."

"You're right.  I had a life - a real life, even if it was bizarre by most
standards.  I know what it means to lose that.  I won't let you lose
yours."

"Don't worry, I'm not going to," Akane replied, a determined edge to her
voice.

"There's that hope of yours again.  You should be careful with that."

"Don't give up hope, Ranma," Akane said, after a time.  "You never know
what will happen.  You might get an ordinary life after this is all over."

"I gave up on that thought a long time ago, Akane.  That kind of hope is
dangerous.  Letting go of it is the only thing that's kept me sane," Ranma
replied.  She gave Akane a sad smile.  "No, I've accepted my place in this
world.  Just as you must accept yours."

"We don't have to accept anything!" Akane replied.  "You don't have to be
alone anymore.  I'll stick with you, and we'll figure this out.  We'll find
your ordinary life."

"I really would like to believe that.  Honestly, I would."

"Then -believe- it," Akane implored, grasping Ranma's hand.  The girl's
skin was icy cold, robbing Akane's fingers of sensation, but that didn't
matter anymore.  "Since the day I met you, you've been telling me to trust
you.  Now it's your turn to trust me."

"Akane, don't--"

"Listen to me.  You've been going it alone for nine hundred years.  Look
how well that's worked out for you.  You can hide in the forest for the
rest of time, or we can work together and figure out what the hell we're
supposed to be doing."

Ranma let out a long, slow sigh.  She wanted to run away, to hide and
pretend this was not happening.  But Akane would not allow that.  No, the
Tendo girl sat there, staring intently at her with Kayoko's eyes - Gods,
those eyes - and she knew it would be useless to resist.  She had long
known this moment would come; however, she had never imagined it would be
so soon.

After Kayoko, she had not dared tell any of the Tendo girls too much.  She
protected them from danger to the best of her abilities; she did not lead
them into it.  But ... Akane was different.  She had already led Akane into
danger at Osaka.  It was foolhardy and reckless, but Akane had persevered.
Just as Kayoko would have done.

"You're the last of the Tendo line," Ranma insisted, knowing it was futile.
"If you die ... I don't know what will happen.  I have to protect you."

"I'm going to die one day, Ranma.  I'm not immortal.  We can try to figure
this out before then, or we can wait around to see what happens.  I don't
know about you, but I don't want to die hiding in the trees.  If I'm going
to die, I want to die facing these Hunters of yours."

"Damn it, Akane," Ranma sighed.  That ferocious tenacity, that unbreakable
will; this girl was Kayoko in all but name.  "Fine.  We'll try it your
way."

* * *

-Your heart rate is too high, My Lady.  Try to relax.-

Ukyo scowled and wiped sweat from her forehead with the sleeve of her
uniform.  The heat inside her bulky helmet was positively stifling, and the
thick body armour she was forced to wear did not help matters in the
slightest.  Added to that was the distinct unease of flying for the first
time, the dizzying sight of first ocean, then trees, whizzing by the window
as the chopper hurtled forward with surprising speed.

-Easier said than done,- she replied irritably.  She had never imagined
that her encounter with Ranma would be unfolding in circumstances such as
these.  Still, the advantages she gained from her alliance with Hunter far
outweighed the annoyances.  She sighed, and tried to put it out of her
mind.

-Link has begun receiving GPS telemetry, My Lady.  I have opened a
connection to her data stream.  I'll interpolate the coordinates with your
spatial sense.-

-GPS?-

-Global Positioning System.  Each member of the fireteam is equipped with a
small GPS transmitter, which allows for---

-Just tell me what it means to me, Seraph Wing.-

-You shall be aware of the position of your teammates at all times.  The
knowledge may prove useful.-

-Thanks,- Ukyo replied.  She could feel a prickling sensation at the edge
of her mind, and became aware of the six others sitting in the helicopter
with her.  She could also feel the presence of the Leviathan Spring far
behind her; somehow she could feel its location, just as she could feel the
location of her hands without looking at them.  It was a strangely eerie
sensation.

"You feeling okay, Wing?"

"What?" Ukyo asked, turning to the source of the voice.  Angel, the team
medic, was watching her, a curious expression upon her face.

"You okay?  You looked a bit out of it there.  You've never flown before,
have you?"

"No," Ukyo admitted with a shrug.  She realised she must have looked
strange, silently conversing with Seraph Wing.  "I'm fine, though.  Just a
little lightheaded."

"Okay.  Let me know if you feel faint.  I can give you something to help."

"Thanks.  I'll let you know."

"You'll do fine tonight, I know it," Angel said with a kind smile.  "We all
know what you're capable of.  You have nothing to be worried about."

Ukyo nodded her thanks, then turned to face the window once more.  The
scenery had faded quickly into darkness, an black sea that stretched out
endlessly below.  Staring into the darkness was a distinctly unsettling
experience - doubly so given what lurked within that darkness.

Where are you hiding, Ranma?

Over the weeks, she had been so caught up in her new circumstances that the
impossible had almost happened - she had almost forgotten about Ranma,
about her search for vengeance.  It was so ingrained into her psyche that
she couldn't understand how she could have put it out of her thoughts for
so long.

For as long as she could remember, it had been the sole driving force in
her life.  Follow Ranma.  Find Ranma.  Kill Ranma.  It had been the only
reason for her existence.  How had it been relegated so easily to the back
of her mind?

A sign of the times, I suppose.  I've been distracted by ... other things.

-Ukyo?  Can you hear me?-

Ukyo almost jumped out of her seat at the voice.  -Ryoga?  Where are you?-

-I'm sitting at my desk.  I built an encrypted communications subchannel
into the Core so I'd be able to talk to you.-

-The military let you do that?-

-Actually, they ordered me not to.  That's why I had to hide it.  Even
Seraph Wing can't hear what I'm saying to you, or you to me.-

-There you go, taking risks for me again,- Ukyo said, unable to stop
herself from smiling.  She gave thanks nobody else on the chopper could see
her face.  -I don't want you getting into trouble on my account.-

-Let me worry about that.  I'll be damned if I'm going to let you go out
there after the dragon alone.  I'm going to listen in on the mission,
provide what support I can.  Okay?-

-Okay,- Ukyo replied, still smiling.  -Thanks.  I appreciate the company.
Good timing, too.  I was just thinking about you.-

* * *

"So what are we going to do now?"

"I guess our first step should still be to contact Happosai, and see if he
knows anything about these test results," Ranma said thoughtfully,
withdrawing the small folder from her cloak.  Opening it, she flipped
though a few pages.  "That's our best chance right now."

"Does it make any sense to you at all?" Akane asked, peering over Ranma's
shoulder.

"Not really," Ranma replied, holding her hand toward the report.  A faint
glow emanated from her palm, softly illuminating the pages.  "I recognise
the names of your ancestors, but that's about it.  Gods, I'd almost
forgotten there were so many."

Akane scanned over the list of names.  It depressed her to recognise none
of them besides her own, her mother's, and Kayoko's.  Her father had never
really talked about her mother's side of the family - now, of course, she
knew why.

"You knew all of them?" she asked.  "What were they like?"

"Unique," Ranma said.  She smiled in reminiscence.  "Each was as different
as the last.  I never knew what to expect."

"Would you tell me about them?" Akane asked.  She met Ranma's confused
glance with wide, pleading eyes.  "We've got some time to kill.  I don't
know anything about my family, and I want to change that."

"Very well," Ranma replied with a sigh.  "Which one do you want to know
about?"

"I ... I don't know, any of them," Akane stammered, surprised by Ranma's
acquiescence.  "Tell me about my great aunt.  What was her name?"

"Her name was Kasumi," Ranma replied, closing the folder, a troubled
expression taking root upon her face.

"Kasumi?"

"She was a nurse.  Kind to a fault, gentle, compassionate.  She helped
those who needed help," Ranma said, closing her eyes in remembrance.  "She
was a beautiful girl.  She could calm anyone's anger with just a few words,
heal the sick with the lightest touch of her fingers.  When she smiled, the
heavens themselves stopped to stare."

"She sounds like a wonderful person," Akane said, smiling.

"She was.  She didn't have an angry thought in her whole life.  I've never
met a more tolerant or forgiving person, before or since.  It's almost
ironic.  She was the very essence of the Lady of Life, without even knowing
it.  I didn't get the chance to tell her what she was."

"You mean ...?"

"Yes," Ranma replied with a slow nod.  She stared out over the cityscape
below.  When she spoke, her voice dripped with almost palpable sadness.
"Her kindness was her weakness.  It made her vulnerable.  She did not
... survive for long."

"Gods, that's terrible," Akane whispered, bringing her hands to her mouth.
She shook her head in disbelief.

"I ... I didn't let her suffer," Ranma said quietly.  She reached out and
gingerly placed one arm over Akane's shoulders.  "It was ... quick."

Akane sank into silence.  She appreciated now why Ranma had told her so
little.  The few words Ranma had spoken carried so much meaning.  The very
absence of detail filled her mind with horrific imaginings, a dozen
different deaths that her great aunt might have suffered through.

Ranma's face told a story of its own.  Akane looked deep into those haunted
eyes and thought of Ranma putting Kasumi out of her misery like a wounded
animal.

She grimaced at her mind's own creations.  If nothing else, she took
comfort in the fact that they strengthened her resolve.  She would not
suffer the same fate as the others.  She would be different.

"Thank you for telling me the truth," she said at length.  She rested her
head gently upon Ranma's shoulder.  "I appreciate it."

"I know I haven't exactly been forthcoming with the truth, but you have to
understand that it's for your own protection.  There are some things you
just shouldn't have to know."

"I know, Ranma, but you can't shield me forever.  I have to know sooner or
later.  Please, stop hiding things from me.  Protect me if you must, but
don't protect me from the truth."

Ranma gave a nod but said nothing, apparently deep in thought.  Akane
considered saying something to her, but decided against it.  Obviously,
remembering Kasumi was not a pleasant experience for Ranma.

Instead, she leaned back a little and gazed upwards, toward the sky.  The
ever-expanding cloud cover hid most of the stars, and those that were
visible were little more than faint spots hidden behind the bright light of
the city below.  Somehow, the city didn't seem so peaceful anymore.

"Akane, there's something I want to tell you," Ranma said at length.

"What is it?"

"It's something I've never told anyone before.  It's ... it's about my
curse."

"Which curse?"

"Jusenkyo," Ranma replied, a vague trace of bitter amusement in her voice.
Akane gave her a mystified look.  "The springs, remember?"

"Oh, I remember," Akane replied, recognition dawning.  One more tale
amongst the multitude she had been told.  She was somewhat relieved by the
change of subject.  "What about it?"

"Well, it's just that ... I wasn't ...."

"You weren't what?"

Ranma's eyes shot open, and she disappeared in a blur of motion.  Akane
managed scarcely more than a blink; Ranma was crouched, cat-like, her sword
drawn and her head flicking back and forth as she scoured the sky.  With
the shoulder supporting her gone, Akane fell backwards onto the grass.

"Do you hear that?" Ranma hissed, her voice filled with quiet urgency.

"Hear what?" Akane asked, sitting up.

"Listen!" Ranma instructed.  Akane did, straining her ears against the
sounds of the forest, but no matter how she tried she could not hear
anything out of the ordinary.

"What is it?" she asked.  "I don't hear anything."

"Helicopter," Ranma replied.  Reaching out, she grabbed Akane's hand and
pulled her to her feet.  "They must be tracking us.  Come on, we have to
go!"

* * *

Ukyo flipped the goggles down over her eyes and switched them to their
night-vision mode.  She had been trained in the use of the goggles, but
despite that the ingenuity of the technology still amazed her.  To be able
to see so clearly even in the black of night was an amazing advantage.
Just one of many advantages technology had presented her with.

"Red deployment complete.  Commencing sweep," Scar's voice said over the
radio.

"Roger that, Red.  What is your status, Blue?"

"We are coming on station and awaiting orders," came Fox's voice.

"Okay, you guys," Scar said.  "You know the drill.  I want a wide search.
Keep it fast, clean and quiet.  If you see anything, report it.  We'll
flank her and close the trap.  We're just here to get Wing within striking
distance - that's all.  I don't want any heroics.  Do not try to engage
without backup."

A string of "Roger"s echoed through the radio, one after another, Ukyo
adding hers at the end.  So, this is it.  The hunt is on.

She began her trek up the mountainside, her submachine gun held at the
ready, her spatial sense acutely aware of the other six moving alongside
her, a line that stretched partway around the mountain's base.

The tension had melted from her body, leaving behind a calm composure that
felt hauntingly familiar to her.  The technology may have changed, but her
body had always been well suited to the hunt.  Now she was on the ground
instead of stuck in that damnable helicopter, she could really concentrate.

The goggles presented her with a grainy, green-tinged representation of the
terrain before her.  It was much better than going without the goggles, but
it was still hazy enough to allow Ranma to slip through if she wasn't
careful.

Her spatial sense was a great help in that regard.  She had worked hard to
develop it, Seraph Wing an ever-patient tutor as she learned to interpret
the signals from the Core.  She could feel everything in a large circle
around her; the lay of the land, the shapes and positions of trees and
bushes; even the fleeting presence of the thousands of raindrops that
passed through the air around her every second.

Come on, Ranma.  Show me where you're hiding.

* * *

Akane pressed herself up against a tree trunk beside Ranma, who was peering
over her shoulder into the darkness.  She panted, grateful for the
momentary respite from their lunatic charge down the mountain.

Thunder rumbled deafeningly overhead and she glanced upwards, wondering
just when the thick clouds that dominated the sky had appeared.  Only a few
minutes earlier the sky had been much clearer.  She didn't mind at all; in
fact, the sudden rain was strangely comforting.

The gentle drizzle had become a torrential downpour, but Ranma was far too
focussed to care about the cascade of frozen water that pelted her body.
Akane kept a small distance between herself and Ranma, so the ice would not
hit her.  While the rain soothed her, the ice most certainly did not.

"Why don't we head into the city?" she whispered.

"No, it's easier to hide out here in the forest," Ranma replied.  "Why the
hell don't they have any searchlights on that helicopter?"

Akane glanced around, not bothering to answer the rhetorical question.  She
could not make out much of her surroundings - while her night vision had
improved over the months, it was still nowhere near as refined as Ranma's.
She felt blind, being led by the hand without any idea of where she was
going.

"Damn it," Ranma breathed, frustrated.  "Whatever they're doing, we can't
afford to stay here.  Come on."

* * *

"I've got movement," came Angel's voice.  "Coming my way, and fast.  I need
backup.  Repeat, I need backup."

"You heard the lady," Scar replied.  "Move in and outflank them.  Hammer,
Anvil, circle around behind them.  The rest of you move in from the sides."

"Quickly," Angel added.  "Damn, they're moving -fast-.  They're going to be
on me in a few seconds."

Ukyo whirled toward Angel and rushed toward her, all thought of stealth
forgotten as her feet sloshed noisily in the softening earth.  She could
feel a vague presence at the edge of her spatial sense: Ranma.

-Biokinetic plating online,- Seraph Wing reported.  -Lifeform monitors
active.  Adrenaline supplements administered.  You are ready, My Lady.-

Ukyo felt the electric hum of the biokinetic shield as it burst into life
around her, filling the air with a crackling energy as it neutralised the
many raindrops unfortunate enough to intercept its surface.  The hiss of
hyper-accelerated evaporation rang in her ears.

-Good luck, Ukyo,- Ryoga said.  -Be careful.-

-It's the dragon that will need luck,- she replied as she charged through
a group of bushes.  Switching her goggles over to infra-red, she saw the
red glow of Angel's body heat a fair distance away.  Glancing uphill, she
saw a tiny shadowy shape moving, a speck of blue far darker than the
ambient blue of the forest, heading straight for Angel.  Cold.  Very cold.

-Damn it, she's much too fast.  This damned rain is slowing us down.  She's
going to get to Angel before we can intercept.-

-Then we must slow her down, My Lady.-

"Angel," Ukyo called over the radio, her breath heavy as she clambered over
a clump of rocks.  "How's your aim?"

"Serviceable," Angel replied, her voice noticably shaky.  "But I've only
got a sidearm.  That's not even going to make a dragon blink."

"It'll slow her down long enough," Ukyo replied.  Her spatial sense told
her that she was the closest to Angel, and she was too far away to take a
shot.  If it wasn't for the thickness of the forest, the difficulty of the
terrain, and the damnable mud, she would be able to make it easily.  "I
need you to hit her.  Anywhere will do.  Just slow her down, and I'll take
it from there."

"I'll see what I can do," Angel replied, sounding completely terrified.

-Angel has the lowest marksmanship scores of Alpha Team.  She was recruited
as a medic.  This course of action is extremely risky.  You are putting her
in danger.-

"You'll be okay.  I know you can do it," Ukyo replied.  -Have some faith,
Seraph Wing.-

* * *

Angel lowered herself to one knee, her body shivering as she crouched in
the cold mud, hiding herself as best she could.  The rain was pouring down,
pelting her with intimidating force, almost a solid wall of water.  She
held her pistol forward, aiming at the rapidly-expanding shape of Ranma.

So much for the Hippocratic oath, she thought as she glanced down at the
handgun in her shaky hands.  I can't believe I'm doing this.

She was the team medic; she wasn't supposed to be involved in direct
combat.  She certainly wasn't supposed to go one-on-one with a dragon.  The
others were supposed to be here.  Her teeth chattered noisily despite her
best efforts to keep her jaw still.

In this state I'll be lucky to hit the mountain, she thought ruefully.  How
on Earth did I get myself into this situation?

"Angel," Scar's voice filled her ear.  "I'm on my way.  Hold on.  I'm
coming to help."

"The sooner the better," she replied anxiously.

"Blue team, we need some backup!  Covering this forest on the ground is a
nightmare.  Can you get to Angel's location?" Scar asked.

"Negative on that," Fox shouted into the radio, over the howling sound of
a raging wind.  "The wind shear up here is incredible.  We're pulling back,
the chopper can't take this kind of punishment.  I've never seen anything
like it."

They hadn't anticipated the dragon's ability to move so quickly over the
rough terrain.  That was the problem.  The gap between team members was too
great to cover the distance in time.  They should have deployed two
fireteams, not just one.

Of course, the net result of that lack of foresight on the part of the
mission planner was that she, the least combat-capable of the team, was
facing the most powerful entity on the planet with nothing more than a
low-calibre pistol and a field medical kit.  She wondered, for a moment,
whether the reprimand the planning officer would receive would compare to a
confrontation with Ranma Saotome.

The weather didn't help.  The mission planner would have reviewed the
meteorological situation; why weren't they warned about the storm?  The
wind howled like a banshee as it circled the mountain, drowning out the
voices chattering over the radio.  She decided she was better off not
knowing what they were saying; no doubt it would only worsen her panic.

The air turned cold around her, turning her breath to mist.  The dark
shapes emerged near her, a deep blue on her infra-red display.  She let out
a tiny whimper, not daring to imagine just what she was about to bring down
upon herself.  Concentrating on her training, she aimed her pistol and
smoothly squeezed the trigger, just as she had been taught.

* * *

The thunderclap of gunfire took Ranma totally by surprise, as did the
searing pain that lanced her shoulder.  She knew she had been shot the
moment it happened - she had experienced it many times before.  If she had
been prepared for it, she could have shrugged it off.

But she was not prepared; she could do nothing but grunt as her centre of
balance was thrown off, her inertia sending her tumbling into the mud
below.  Akane's hand slipped from grasp, disappearing into the night.
A second gunshot rang in her ears, but it was met with no pain.  She was
sprawled in the mud, presenting a small target, so it did not surprise her
that the second shot missed.

A yelp of pain jolted her out of her daze.  Her eyes shot open.  It was
Akane's voice.

"Akane!" she yelled, twisting her body as her eyes flitted back and forth,
seeking out her companion.  The sound of a bone snapping from the awkward
twist of her body registered dully in the back of her mind, but she paid it
no heed.  "Akane?!"

A flash of lightning burst over the skies above, casting its light down
upon Akane, who stood a short way behind Ranma, staring at her own
blood-soaked hand.  Blood gushed from an open wound in her hip, a torrent
of red liquid spilling into the mud and water below.

"It's so warm," she whispered, wide eyes staring in wonderment.  She
pitched forward and collapsed into the soft earth.  With her fall, so too
did the storm collapse - suddenly, utterly and completely.

The wind vanished, the rain ceased, and a deathly silence overtook the
forest.

"Akane!" Ranma cried, throwing herself to her feet.  A dull pain struck her
lower back, pushing her forward slightly.  Another struck her in her right
shoulder, sending a stream of blood dribbling down her arm.  She snarled,
whirling around to glimpse her attacker.  A bullet thudded into her
ribcage, crushing bone and tearing flesh as it passed through her body.
Another slammed into a tree trunk to one side of her.

A diminutive figure encased in bulky body armour knelt a few metres away,
a still-smoking pistol in its hands, pointed directly at her.  The muzzle
flashed, and another blow struck Ranma in the stomach.  Something inside
her gave way; her will, her concern, her self-control.  There was no longer
any thought for the danger she and Akane were in.  No conception of the
need to hide.  No thought for the lapsing consciousness of her ward.  There
was only fury, anger, and an undeniable thirst for revenge.

"You ..." she growled, shaking with uncontrollable rage as she slowly
advanced toward the figure.  She gripped her sword with a bloodied hand,
the red stain already frozen to her skin.  Her mind bubbled with fury,
barely able to contain the tortures she would inflict upon the bastard
human who had dared to injure her Akane.

* * *

Angel squeezed off round after round into the dragon, taking shaky steps
backwards as the shots seemed to have no effect whatsoever upon the
creature's advance.  For all the good the gun did her, she might as well
have been throwing mud.

Stop.  Stop.  Please stop.

She tried to keep her shots steady, aiming for the centre of mass as she
had been instructed, but her aim was not well developed and most of her
shots strayed wildly off course.  It did not seem to make any difference.
No matter where the shots hit, the dragon still came.

Stop, damn you.  Stop!

She squeezed the trigger again, only to hear the impotent click of an empty
chamber.  The quiet sound carried the somber weight of a death knell, the
same inevitability.

She had been told stories, fanciful fairytales about the dragons.  She had
always thought them little more than boastful exaggerations, but as she
stared at the advancing figure she realised they were all true.  To look
into Ranma Saotome's eyes - those empty, infinite orbs - was to stare Death
itself in the face.

She had abandoned religion as a child and turned instead to atheism, but in
her utter desperation she cried out, to any deity that would listen:

PLEASE HELP ME.

* * *

-Angel is on the move, My Lady.-

-On the run, more like it.  She must have run out of ammo.  Find me the
fastest way there, Seraph Wing.  Who else is close to her?-

-I've plotted a course for you, My Lady.  Hammer is the second-closest to
Angel, but his progress is slow.-

-Damn it.  What's taking him so long?-

-I do not know.  The storm's dissipation should have sped his approach.-

* * *

Angel's lungs burned with every breath as she forced herself down the
mountainside, stumbling over tree roots and sliding down slippery slopes.
The dragon was right behind her, drawing ever closer, its presence leeching
the warmth out of the air and her body.  She was slowing, she knew it; even
with so much adrenaline surging through her veins she would not be able to
keep up the pace forever.

A stray tree root caught her foot and sent her sprawling into the mud, the
impact knocking the wind from her lungs.  She slid for fifteen or twenty
metres before crashing heavily into a tree trunk.  Dazed, she could do
little but roll over onto her back and look up at the muddy trail she had
left behind her.

Her leg muscles screamed at her, denying her the strength to stand up
again.  Try as she might, she could not force them to cooperate.

I'm going to die.  I'm going to die.  I'm going to die.

Her hands flailed about, looking for a weapon, for something to fight off
her attacker.  It was ludicrous, she knew it, but desperation compelled her
to search.  It was a futile effort; all she could feel was mud and the tree
trunk that had hit her.  Clawing at it, she pulled herself up into a
sitting position.  At least now she was no longer sinking into the bog.

The impact had smashed her goggles beyond repair, so she tossed them aside
and reached down for one of the flares she kept attached to her belt.
Perhaps one of the others would see it and come to her aid.  If nothing
else, its light would let her see the face of her killer before she died.

Her hand closed around something small, metallic.  Certainly not a flare.
The realisation hit her like divine revelation - she carried a spare
magazine for her sidearm.  In her panic, she had completely overlooked it.
Fumbling with her gun, she managed to eject the spent magazine and slam the
new one home.  She yanked the slide back, released it, and raised the
weapon to point at the bushes further uphill.

I'm not out of ammo yet, you demon bastard.  Not yet.

It would do no good; she knew that.  She knew it would never stop the
dragon.  But, perhaps it would buy her a few more seconds of life.  A few
more seconds were worth fighting for.  That was all she had left.

She grabbed a flare from her belt, lit it, and tossed it into the mud near
her feet.  It fizzled for a moment, then burst into brilliant life, its
bright red light illuminating the nearby bushes.  Perhaps, she thought in a
fit of reckless optimism, it might even bring a helicopter to rescue her.

A rustling sound filled the air; she aimed her weapon at the source of the
sound and squeezed the trigger.  The gunshot echoed over the mountainside,
leaving a deafening silence in its wake.  Breathing heavily, she swept the
gun back and forth over the bushes, looking for any further sign of
movement.  Shadows danced among the leaves, the flare's bright smoke
casting bizarre shapes upon the foliage, but the leaves themselves were
still.

Something came flying at her out of the corner of her vision.  She turned
to it, bringing her pistol to bear, but it was too late.  She watched the
bushes carefully, eyes keenly searching for motion, but they saw nothing
more than the echoes of movement.  Whatever had been there was gone.

She reached down to grasp the object that had been thrown, finding its
landing place in the mud near her leg.  It felt warm, even through the
thick gloves she was wearing.  Holding it up, she examined it in the
flickering red light, and let out a gasp.

It was a bullet.  Her bullet.  Completely flattened.

* * *

Ranma caught sight of her elusive prey, standing between two stout tree
trunks.  At last, it seemed the desperate retreat had ended, and the
soldier had accepted his fate.  There could be no escape from the Lord of
Death.

Gripping her sword more tightly, she closed upon the soldier.  She could
almost taste his death upon her lips.  The anger burned within her, an
inferno in her mind and her heart that pushed all conscious thought aside.
There was only revenge.

This foolish human would suffer for what he had done.  She raised her sword
and leapt at him, her imagination offering up images of the exquisite
tortures he would endure, ready for her hands to recreate them.

Except her sword did not make contact.  It crashed violently into an
invisible wall in front of the soldier, its motion absorbed completely.
Arcs of energy sprung up around it, strands of electricity that danced
along its surface, holding it back from the soldier's body.

A sound met her ears, a voice that doused the raging fires of anger with a
chilling flood of realisation.

"Guess who, Ranma."

* * *

Seraph Wing's combat-survival programs went into primary mode, filling
Ukyo's mind with information about the location of the strike, its force
and direction.  Her muscles were instructed exactly how to dodge the attack
in the event of the plating's failure, but such precautions were
unnecessary, and gleefully ignored.  The shield held effortlessly.

"I bet you didn't think you'd see me again, not after what you did last
time," Ukyo said, a deep sense of satisfaction dripping from her words as
she admired the look of utter shock upon Ranma's face.  "Well, I'm here to
repay the favour."

"Ukyo?" Ranma asked, the sound more a stunned exclamation of surprise than
a question.

"That's right.  And here you thought I was a defenseless medic, ready for
you to cut up?  Wrong.  You're not getting anywhere near her."

She thrust a fist toward Ranma; Seraph Wing flooded energy along the Frame
fibres in her arms, charging and extending the plating around her hand,
expanding it into a globe of energy, an invisible fist.  It slammed into
Ranma with incredible force, blasting the dragon backwards to crash into a
nearby tree.  The wood cracked under the force of the impact, a jagged
fissure appearing around the base of the tree.

A smile crossed her face as she stepped over toward her foe, who was lying
dazed against the splintered wood.  The Frame poured energy into her
muscles, filling them with boundless strength.  She bent and grabbed Ranma
by the cloak, lifting the girl with ease, flinging her like a rag doll into
the mud.  Garyoutensei went flying from Ranma's hands and sank into the
heavy mud.

"What ... what are you?" Ranma asked, coughing up a fresh mouthful of blood
that immediately froze upon her chin.  She struggled against the grip of
the muddy bog, reaching with one hand for her mired sword.

"I'm something for you to fear, Ranma," Ukyo replied, stepping on Ranma's
wrist.  "I'm your equal.  I'm not a defenseless human for you to slaughter.
You enjoy that, don't you?  Killing people who can't fight back?"

Ranma winced in pain as the plating around Ukyo's foot pressed her arm into
the sodden soil.  She snarled with anger, her efforts to get up held easily
in check by Ukyo's newfound strength.

"My mother couldn't fight back, and you killed her.  But that's all changed
now, hasn't it, Ranma?  Now I can fight back, and it's your turn to die.
You're not going to murder anyone else."

Ukyo raised her fist, clenching her fingers as she felt Seraph Wing
building up an enormous charge in the plating that surrounded her hand.
Ranma's eyes widened in startled realisation; they stayed open for only a
tiny moment before Ukyo's highly-charged fist came slamming down into her
skull.

* * *

"Link, contact HQ, inform them of our status," Scar said, slinging his
submachine gun across his back as he stepped over to Angel.  Kneeling
beside her, he reached out and put a hand on each shoulder.  "Are you
okay?"

"She just ... wouldn't stop," Angel whispered, staring at the broken form
of Ranma, laying limp in the mud. "The look in her eyes ... Gods above, I
thought I was already dead."

"She's stopped now, and Wing couldn't have done it without you," Scar
replied reassuringly.  "You did a great job, soldier."

"I'm no soldier," she replied angrily, shaking her shoulders free of his
touch.  "I'm a doctor!  What the hell am I doing with a gun?"

"Defending yourself.  She would have killed you without a second thought."

"Sir," called Link.  The diminutive girl approached the pair of them,
glancing nervously at Ranma's body as she walked.  "HQ is requesting we
bring the dragon's body back to the Spring.  Bravo Team's two choppers are
en route to pick us up, ETA three minutes."

"I want Angel on board first," Scar replied, giving her a lingering glance
before standing.  "Wing - what is the dragon's status?"

"She's dead," Ukyo replied quietly, standing over the body.  She tilted her
head, looking intently at Ranma's blood-soaked face.  "If she doesn't stay
that way, I'll just have to kill her again."

"That doesn't fill me with confidence.  You're going to ride with her in
the second chopper.  I'm not putting anyone else near her; we've seen how
effective our weapons are against her.  Once we get her to the Spring, we
can figure out how the hell we're going to dispose of her for good."

"We're three short, sir," Link interjected.  "Baker is a hundred metres
uphill, but Hammer and Anvil are aboard Blue's chopper already."

"What the hell are they doing there?  I thought that chopper had left.  Get
me the pilot."

"Sorry, sir, I can't raise him.  I've already tried, he's not responding.
Hammer's transmission to the pilot indicates they requested a pickup to
evac a wounded female."

"Damn it," Scar fumed.  The familiar sounds of helicopters in flight
rumbled over the treetops; he glanced upwards into the sky.  He didn't have
time to worry about Hammer and Anvil for now.

"The pilots are requesting our evac plan, Sir," Link reported.

"Tell them to get down here ASAP.  We're riding in one, Wing and the dragon
go in the other."

"Yes, Sir."

Scar stepped over to Ukyo, raising his submachine gun to point at Ranma as
he drew nearer.  "Don't move her until our chopper is in the air.  I'm not
exposing any of my team to her.  Once we're all aboard and our chopper's in
the air, then you haul her ass into the second chopper.  We'll cover you
from the air.  Got it?"

"Got it."

* * *

Ukyo watched the chopper lift off, its rapidly-spinning rotor sending
leaves flying in every direction and buffeting branches around with great
force.  She shielded her eyes as it rose higher into the air, its bright
searchlights filling her vision.  Pulling the goggles aside, she looked
down at the broken form of Ranma.

-I do not detect a heartbeat, or any other vital signs, My Lady.-

-That doesn't mean anything, Seraph Wing.  I don't think she was truly
alive before, either.-

She sank to her knees alongside her fallen opponent.  There was so much she
did not understand about the dragon.  She had for so long thought of
nothing but her revenge.  Now her rival, her enemy, the reason for the
hunt, lay motionless at her feet.  Was that it?  Was that all she had been
striving for, for so very long?  Was that the great confrontation she had
anticipated?

She clenched her fist, bringing it up to her face.  Seraph Wing had made it
so easy.  Ranma was totally unprepared, and had fallen within seconds.  The
only emotion she could conjure was a vague sense of dissatisfaction.

She looked down again, the harsh white light beamed down by the chopper
illuminating the area surrounding Ranma's body in complete detail.  Ranma
herself was still hidden, however; her enormous cloak pooled on the ground,
giving the impression that Ranma was little more than a head and a pair of
hands protruding from a pit of tar.

Reaching down, she took one of Ranma's hands and lifted it, pulling the
forearm free of the cloak's protection.  It was pale, cold; the bright
light coloured it a sickly white pallor, stained red in places from the
plentiful blood that was frozen to the skin.  A litany of scars ran along
the skin, a testament to many years spent fighting, killing.  Each hiding
its own story.  A thin, snake-like dragon was tattooed from elbow to wrist,
many of the scars crossing it.

What secrets are you hiding, Ranma?  What exactly -are- you?

She narrowed her eyes as she ran her hand along Ranma's arm.  Would Ryoga
be able to study this body?  Perhaps he could give her the answers she
sought.

-The second helicopter has landed, My Lady.  It is time.-

-Please, be careful, Ukyo.-

Ukyo stood and turned to look at the second helicopter, shielding her eyes
from the searchlight.  She could see the pilot, little more than a head
encased in a helmet visible through the window, as he gave her a thumbs-up.
She nodded to him.

-This is unusual, My Lady.  I'm receiving a burst transmission.  I can't
quite pinpoint the point of origin.-

"Look out!" Angel's voice screeched in her ear with deafening volume.
"The dragon - it's moving!"

-No!  My Lady, it's---

Ukyo screamed in agony as a searing electric fire burst into her brain,
surging down her spine and out into every nerve ending in her body.  The
white-hot, blinding pain paralysed her as a dozen overload warnings flared
inside her mind.

---the Frame shutdown procedure, I can't stop---

It felt to Ukyo as though a switch in her mind was thrown.  Her body was
disconnected, her sense of the world cast aside.  She was vaguely aware of
her body, still twitching from the electrical shock, as it toppled
helplessly forward into the mud.  She felt no impact.

"Get that chopper out of there!" came a voice, muffled and distant.  She
tried to put together the words, find meaning in the sentence, even to
identify who spoke them, but her mind refused to provide her any answers.

Flashes of light filled her mind, the occasional burst from one of her
senses; she became aware of the metallic smell of blood, the cold, clammy
grip of the mud upon her body.  She saw a black shape moving away from her,
heard the smashing of glass and the distant, echoing pitter-patter of
dozens of gunshots.

One sound came to her addled mind, a voice that spoke with crystal clarity
through her fogged consciousness, a voice that penetrated the abyss
surrounding her.

It was Ryoga, calling her name.

= = = =
 T E N
= = = =



Regards,
R. E.

========

Ten
http://ten.waxwolf.com
Perfection has a price.

========

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