From rec.arts.anime Sun Jan 24 18:19:51 1993 Newsgroups: rec.arts.anime Path: lysator.liu.se!isy!liuida!sunic!mcsun!Germany.EU.net!news.netmbx.de!mailgzrz.TU-Berlin.DE!math.fu-berlin.de!ira.uka.de!yale.edu!think.com!rpi!gatech!emory!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!news.columbia.edu!cunixf.cc.columbia.edu!krim From: krim@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (KAL Rim) Subject: New Ranma 1/2 Fanfic Message-ID: <1993Jan23.210329.8905@news.columbia.edu> Keywords: Bear with me Sender: usenet@news.columbia.edu (The Network News) Nntp-Posting-Host: cunixf.cc.columbia.edu Reply-To: krim@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (KAL Rim) Organization: Columbia University Center for Computing Activities Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 21:03:29 GMT Lines: 588 This is sort of an experiment. It's going to star the cast of Ranma 1/2 but I'm planning on a lot of cameo appearances. One thing different about it is that it's going to be a bit more grim and serious than the usual, but with a more adventure type plot. Yes this may be a first. Yet it still will have it humorous points. Another thing is that I may seriously damage continunity here, but since this is a fan fiction, I don't care! :-) As for why I'm doing it, once you start writing fan fiction, you just can't stop! I'm also writing in story format instead of script format. I never did this before so things might appear a bit rough. But please bear with me and read it to the end. Hope you guys like it. Preview A couple are seen walking together in the streets. It's night time and the two have just left school, staying late together to do some extra work. They walk side by side with loving looks on their faces. There is a light snow drift covering the city. The young man looks at his girlfriend and is amazed how beautiful she looks in the snow and moonlight. Typical of all young Japanese girls (well in all the tv shows he always watched) she was slender yet you couldn't call her skinny. She wasn't exactly buxom but she definitely had the shapely form of a young girl about to enter womanhood. She had long flowing rich dark hair all the way down to her back. The most attractive thing he found about her face, it was just set in the perfect mixture of a pretty yet still cute face. Her smile was so dazzling and whenever he saw it his knees just buckled. She even smelled wonderful, with or without perfume, it was as if she just had a natural fragrance that just released freshness. But the thing he loved about her the most was her voice. Every time she talked it was as if a little twinkle of a chorus was playing. He could listen to her just talk for hours and days, it didn't matter what she was talking about, it could have been the most boring thing in the world. It didn't matter, whenever she spoke he was just enraptured by her melodious voice. It was a good thing she was a good student, if not he might have flunked out of school. Don't get him wrong, he wasn't a pervert. Or at least he didn't think of himself as one. When he was with this girl he just felt as if he was in love, not in lust. She was the type of girl that inspired love and relationship, not just some cheap physical one-shot attraction. Someday she was going to be his wife. "Oh", she said in a voice that silk would have envied, "tonight is just so beautiful!" "Yes, it is", he agreed and drew his arm around her. Her body trembled at his touch. He allowed himself a smile. And then she slapped him in the face. "Honestly!", the girl said sharply. "You just had to ruin a nice evening between two friends didn't you?!" The boy picked himself up, the slap actually knocked him down. "But.. But..", he mumbled out. "You know every one said you were a playboy. Oh sure you'd play it really cool as if you're so innocent. But then you'd hit on every girl that would help you study. Well forget it, I'm not falling for it. You can walk yourself home." With that she moved further up by herself. "This is what I get for being nice", she mumbled to herself. "But.. But..", was all he could get out. Rats!, he thought. He always blew it. But he did really like her. The other study-partners meant nothing to him! If only he could make her see. If only he could make her see that they were meant for each other. It was written in the stars. And she was going to be his wife after all, all he had to do was get enough nerve to ask her. He was so exhilerated at that thought. One day she would be his, Oh yes! she would be his. One way or another. Or so he hoped. He was willing to do anything for it. Boy, he hoped he wasn't as desperate as he sounded. Suddenly there was a scream. It sounded like his young wife-to-be. but instead of her normally sweet musical voice, it was more like a badly off-key note. He immediately leaped up and checked for the source of the distress. Once he was sure he found it, he then contemplated whether he should leap to the rescue or run for reinforcements. After all if it was something SHE was afraid of, then he couldn't be much help. He may be in love, but he wasn't stupid, he told himself proudly. "Is this your girl?", a voice from the darkness asked. It was a whispery eerie voice which chilled him to the bone. "Come and get her, she's still alive... and very warm", the voice continued to mock. "Or, if you wish not to die a futile heroic death you may run for your life." Then the voice broke off into a sinister laughter. Adrenaline pumped through the boy. He made up his mind to go for it no matter how stupid it was. He took a deep breath and turned and ran off with his tail between his legs. The bearer of the voice stared at him running off in the distance. "What a fool", the voice commented. "Together they may have had a chance, a slim one, but one nevertheless. Did he really think I would let him get away to alert anyone else?" First he would capture the fool, yes it would be a pleasurable game of cat and mouse, he thought. And then he would enjoy his spoils. The girl was only unconscious, he didn't have time to have her yet. But after he dealt with her "boyfriend" he would take his painstaking time with her. Oh Gosh! He just loved being a bad guy! But now the hunt begins. He left out a loud long blood currtling nauseating sterotypical bad-guy laugh and began the chase. [ A symphony suddenly starts up while a chase BGM begins. The words: "Presenting another Fan Fiction..." flash ] A white cloaked figure steps out of the shadows and starts chasing a boy. The boy is frightened silly and stumples as he tries to escape his attacker. [ The music reaches a crescendo and the words: RANMA 1/2 : THE DARKER HALF NEW LONG-STORY-LIKE FORMAT slide onto the screen ] The white drabbed fellow easily catches up to the fleeing boy. He grabs the boy's leg and throws him against a wall that conviently sprung up. Slowly he walks up to the trembling form of the boy. "Did you really think I'd give you a chance to run away? How stupid do you think I am?", he asked in his deep gluttoral voice. "Uh, is that a trick question?", the boy asked timidly. In response his assailant lets out a snarl, when he opened his mouth we clearly see his long fangs. The boy starts freaking. "Mommy!!!!" "I should warn you. This is going to hurt a lot..." [ Scene freezes again and the words: " Original story by Karl Rim. Semi-original plot by Karl Rim. New character designs by Karl Rim." appear] The white cloaked fiend was preparing to take a bite out of the Big-shot boy. "Please, you don't want me! I taste aweful! I treat my body really badly, nothing but fat and cholesterol! I haven't even bathed for two days!" But the cries of the victim are ignored and the demon/monster/alien, (technically they're all the same thing) prepared to feast. [ More words appear: " Various pre-appearing anime characters recycled Credit hasn't been properly alloted due to the writer's inability to write and remember Japanese names Mark of Smileyface approved :-) " ] Suddenly a fan comes out of nowhere and whips into the white clad figure's neck. He lets out a cry of pain. This was the type of cry that was just loud enough let you know that he was hurt and mad but not too hurt to let you know he was worried about losing. The would-be-victim sees his chance and runs off. "Looks like we found another stray one, Lover", exclaims a young girl wearing a white kimono. "I'm tired tonight, let's quickly send him back into the darkness." A tall fellow in blue whips onto the scene. The twosome link hands and cast the spell binding the monster into his abyssmal prison. The monster resists of course but to no avail. It screams and hollers and rips off it's outer form. What was thought to be a humanoid monster turned out to be some long scaly reptile-like monster. "You know Akane, you really shouldn't be watching this stuff" * * * * "Ranma!", screamed Akane, a little more loudly than she meant to. She was so enraptured with the TV she didn't notice Ranma coming up behind her. "Sorry, Akane I didn't mean to scare you.", replied Ranma. "I wasn't scared!" "Well you sure screamed loud enough. Besides, you really shouldn't be into weird shows like that, Akane." "Miyu is not weird! It's a sad romantic story" "You mean a sappy story with a gimmick to scare young girls into hugging their boyfriends" "I said I was not scared!" "Well you sure were trembling enough when I saw you. I mean, it's not even believable! They have to have this thing called a Shima: both God and Demon, whatever that means. They just can't have an ordinary vampire afraid of sunlight, garlic and religious symbols. Oh No, they just have to get fancy and make up some big storyline. At least they could make it a little bit more interesting, with more fight scenes..." "Ranma... You're too noisy! I'm trying to watch the show..." "Why, as if you can't guess the ending already. A Shima goes around killing innocent people. Miyu spends the first 20 minutes tracking it down as it kills even more people. They fight for 4 minutes. In the end she links up with her Lover-boy and banishes it to the darkness. Last 5 minutes some one makes some corny philosophical remark... OOF!" Out of patience Akane has just thrown a cushion in Ranma's face. "I said Shut-up! I'm trying to listen." "Remember", a voice from the TV says, "some times you must face your darker half that you fear the most to overcome a greater evil." "What did I tell you!", yelled out Ranma. Akane then picked up the couch and slammed it down on Ranma's head. "What did *I* tell *you!*", responded Akane. * * * * * In a familiar street scene a blue cloaked man is investigating some blood stains on the new snow. He bends down and seems to sniff at the blood. "Hmm. Fresh too. They're getting bolder. Do they really think they can hide from me with such carelessness? They will pay for their arrogance. Innocent lives will be Avenged! Vengeance shall be served!" The man raised his fist high in the air as he makes his pledge. At that time the night-time shoppers have started coming out. "Who is that?...." "I don't know...." "Is he some kind of wild-man?..." "No, I don't think he's the village idiot...." "Maybe we should call the authorities...." "Murmur....Murmur...." * * * * * Gosunkugi was happy. This might not seem unusual for some one to be happy but this was one boy who was usually in utter despair. So what could bring him out of his misery and make him happy? Only the love of the girl he desired the most. Akane Tendo. To him she was the most nicest and prettiest girl he had ever met. Whenever she would smile at him his heart just melted. He knew she could love him if he was just given a chance. If only that Ranma guy wasn't in the way she might actually be able to return his love. Since he was relatively a week guy, and Ranma was very strong, most people may have given up all hope. But one thing he learned was that there are always strong people in the world. The trick was to let them beat each other up leaving him free to grab the prize, Akane! One day she would be his, Oh Yes! She would be his. To accomplish this goal he usually he resorted to inane magical rites which never worked. But since that was all he really had, he had no other alternative. Occassionally Kunou would actually do his work for him but that was rare. Kunou could only get beat up every so often despite what he liked to think. But today was different. He got a real genuine summonings kit for only 10,000 yen. How did he know it was real? Well today he got lost on the way home and ran into a store selling magical items that he never saw before. Since he never encountered it on his way before it must have appeared by magic! He's seen all the movies and manga. A magical store would appear to aid those with a true heart. Then a magical entity would appear and give him anything he desired. Hmm, maybe this magical helper would even be female and really cute, and then maybe... No No No! His only desire was Akane Tendo. Gosunkugi knew all he had to do was summon a strong spirit to defeat Saotome Ranma and then Akane would be all his! As he drew the protective pentagram (one could never be too careful) on the floor and prepared himself for a summonings. Then just before he began he wrote his last will and testament. One could never be too sure. Poor Gosunkugi, little did he know that he would be setting in motions things beyond his control. He was doomed to failure. If only he saw the large "Grand Opening" sign on top of the store. He would do anything to win Akane. Anything. * * * * * In a far away and unknown place (well maybe not that far away since we don't know the exact location, heck it could be your neighbor! Ahem Ahem well back to the story) a dark and sinister meeting was being held. A group of figures, all wearing dark robes to match the dark room and the dark rite, were seated in a circle. They were in the middle of their own summonings ritual. Preparations took days and they have been chanting for hours. They were also dark in spirits. "How much longer do we have to do this?", one asked. "Until it works", another whispered back. "And why is this place so dark anyway?", a third silently complained. "Because our illustrious leader forgot to pay the electric bill." "I'm hungry!", yet a forth quietly exclaimed. "Will you guys keep it down, and get back to chanting!", their leader nearly screamed. "If we mess this up, we're going to have to start all over..." "...Again!" "This is stupid!", one figure yelled out. He got up and tossed his hood and cloak on to the floor. "This cloak is too hot and this lousy communication ceremony isn't working!" "Look you want to take this up with the boss? The last person who complained became the new wall decoration" "The whole point IS trying to take it up with the boss. But we can't because we're too busy trying to make contact. I mean if the boss is so powerful then why isn't communication just a snap of a couple of fingers..." "HELLO ALL", a loud voice boomed into the room. The voice seemed to be coming from every where. "It's the boss!", the men screamed. "YES IT'S ME." "Uh, welcome boss, it's been a while", one of the men nervously exclaimed. "BE QUIET. I DIDN'T COME TO EXCHANGE PLEASANTRIES. DON'T SPEAK UNTIL YOU'VE BEEN SPOKEN TO" "Right boss..." "I THOUGHT I SAID...." "Uh, sorry boss! I mean...!", he spat out. He was going to get it now, he was only burying himself deeper with every apology. "SIGH! NEVER MIND. NOW TO BUSINESS. WE NEED TO SECURE ANOTHER BASE OF OPERATIONS. MY EMPIRE IS EXPANDING AND WE NEED TO MAKE OUR PLANS BIGGER! I WANT A NEW NEXUS AREA OF POWER IMMEDIATELY. MAKE SURE IT HAS A SUPPLY OF STRONG WARRIORS FOR RECRUITING" "We'll get right on it, boss" "GOOD. ANYTHING ELSE?" "Well, do you mind toning it down a little boss? I mean we can all hear you fine, but the neighbors might start getting curious." "WHAT?! OH SURE, GIVE ME A SEC. JUST GOT TO FIND THE VOLUME SWITCH. There, how's that?" "Perfect, boss." "Of course! Now if there is no further business..." "None boss" "Good. Then who was the one that was complaining about my limited powers?" "HIM!", all the other men pointed their fingeres at a sole solitary figure. "Gee, thanks a lot guys", he said sardonically. "Well for your information, I can so set up communication like that " "Well, then, why didn't you do that before?!", he demanded. "Instead of making us wait for hours! We are your trusted followers! We have followed you through thick and thin! I would think we would expect a little graditude." Luckily for him he had still had a friend to defend him. "What he meant was: Oh, dear merciful Leader, did you find it necessary to test your most unworthy followers? If so we truly understand", his friend blubbered. "I just wanted to see how devoted you guys were.", came the response. "AND if if any one had any guts", "Huh?", her followers droned. "I like those who have spirit and a little spunk. "Then you're not angry?", the singled out man asked. "Well... may be just a little. No one likes a discontented army but sometimes it's better to have someone with some brains then a bunch of mindless wimps. Look, here's another trick I can do with just snapping my fingers " With that little sound, a loud snap of light crackled into existance. The light popped down and sped straight down like a lightening bolt. In fact it was a lightening bolt! It circled around the astonished men and impaled itself in one of the men's arms. Three guesses which guy. In a single instance it struck his left arm and transformed it into a charred lump. His cries of anguish echoed out into the chamber. "However", the leader's voice flared into pure venom. "There is a fine line seperating zeal and open defiance. Guess who crossed it? I will not tolerate such behavior in the future. Understood?!" "Yes, boss", the man replied weakly, clutching his injured arm. "Didn't hurt a bit", he rattled through clenched teeth. "You know, I kind of like you. Guess what, I'm going to promote you. I was looking for to head this new expedition. I think you've got what it takes to lead these ya-hoos." "You are too kind", he managed to let out. "Good, now start phase II" "Uh, boss...?", the present leader of the group timidly asked. "Oh right. Someone call the healer for him" "He IS the healer", he replied sadly. * * * * * From a far land there is a lone solitary figure, wearing an old cloak, sitting and meditating. Suddenly his head snaps up. He seems to be in pain but then slowly relaxes. "Yet another one. A great evil is rising. Justice will not wait. I am called... again." The figure picks himself up and dusts off a large stone block with some rune carvings on it. He then puts some straps around it and carries it on his back. He gathers up a few belongings as well. His journey begins. * * * * Gosunkugi had been chanting for hours. It didn't seem to be working. Well the thing was he couldn't read the manuscript since the writing was so faded. Despite the fact it was also in english, he made it up a summonings chant as best as he could from the parts that he could read. But no matter what happens he was safe in his pentagram. Suddenly a flare jumped out in front of Gosunkugi! The flare grew bigger and bigger until it become the size of a door. And like a door two figures stepped out. "Ohhh, I *hate* teleporting, makes me sick", said one figure wearing a green coat. "Oh quick complaining. We're here aren't we? Better than flying or running any day", said the other man who was wearing a purple suit with a purple coat. "Are you summoned spirits?", asked Gosunkugi, not quite believing he managed to summon not one, but two beings. Too bad they weren't very cute. "Hmm, is this the place?", asked the one in green. "Yeah, apparently there's supposed to be a good potential for power and troops here. Hey look a kid!", said the one in purple. "I am Gosunkugi. I am your master. I have summoned you here", Gosunkugi said, mustering as much bluster as he could. "Is this kid for real?", Green asked dryly. "Quiet, let me handle it. And he can't be stupid. He's got a protective pentagram." "I repeat, I am your master, Gosunkugi. If you wish to return to your home dimension, you must bargin with me!". Well that was assuming he could even send them back. He wasn't sure how he even got them here. Maybe by reading the encantations backward? "Oh great, master! (Quiet GC!)", purple said in a deceptive voice. "You truly have us at a disadvantage. Might we ask of what area of Japan you have imprisoned us in?" "I have called you to the city of Furinkan!" "Furinkan? Then this is the right place. Glad to know that the teleporter hasn't lost it yet", mumbled Green. "Will you please shut-up!", whispered Purple. "Wait, how did you know we're in Japan?" "You blew it", Green complained. "Shaddap! Uh, well you see, master... We're uh, really popular spirits. We're summoned all over by Japanese wizards...", Purple explained hesitently. "Um, uh, yeah, that's the ticket, yeah!", mocked Green. "Good! I have need of strong and experienced spirits", Gosunkugi said. He was very pleased that he managed to nab such flexible fellows. "Maybe he's not as smart as I thought", Purple considered thoughtfully. "Now for your task: I want you to defeat the man known as Saotome Ranma!", demanded Gosunkugi. You know, it was really easy to get into the absolute master role when you got gave it a little time. "Is he a strong warrior?" "Alas yes" "Pay dirt!", Purple whispered-yelled. "Now all we have to do is lose this kid.", Green whispered back. "No, if we kill him we may be losing a valuable source of information. We still know nothing about this place and it's defense levels.", explained Purple "We can handle anything", Green yawned. "Then why don't you step outside to see what time it is?" "Alright you got me there. Well in any case he's still protected by that lousy pentagram. Only our most powerful attacks will penetrate." "And they'll also kill him. No let me handle this.", Purple whispered. "Dear Boy. We have no intention of doing that.", Purple smiled his evil grin, the one that would really unnerve the inexperienced novice types, like Gosunkugi. Yep, it seemed to be working. Gosunkugi was already sweating like a pig. "What?!", exclaimed Gosunkugi worriedly. Was he really sure he got the defenses right? "But you can't! I'm your master!" "Master?! Snort! You couldn't even stop us from tearing you limb from limb", said Green as he advanced on Gosunkugi. "W...Wait! You can't approach me past the pentagram!" "Pentagram!? You sure are a novice aren't you? Any real experienced spiritualist would tell you that it's a Pentagon!" "Really?" "C'mon, the essence of magic is in it's simplicity and power. Look at the US, do you know why they're so strong militarily?" "Their nuclear war-heads?" "No... well mabye... Anyway the real reason they're so strong is that their military headquarters is the Pentagon!" "You're right! That makes sense. Wait! Wait", Gosunkugi desperately bent down and started erasing his badly drawn pentagram and quickly started drawing a pentagon over it. "Uh, how many sides?" "Five" "Thanks!" "They have to be completely even or the spell doesn't work" "Thanks again!" "No problem" "You are *good*", beamed Green admiringly. "Yeah, aren't I?", gloated Purple. "C'mon lets get him." Green roughly grabbed Gosunkugi by the neck. "Urk! Wait! I'm not finished yet!" "Oh yes you are", purred Green. "Don't kill him. We need him as an agent", Purple warned. "Trust me, I have my own tricks up my sleeve." Green gave a wink and locked his eyes on Gosunkugi's. Gosunkugi took one look at his eyes and suddenly all sense of resistance faded away. He saw in his eyes a primal force that screamed: Give up! over and over again. When he even considered about disobeying they started yelling: Die! Die! Gosunkugi tried to resist but he was no match for his powers. Green raised his right hand on top of the left side of Gosunkugi's face. "Be at peace. Be at rest. Do not fight me, else I will harm you. Our minds shall become as one. What you know I shall know. What I know only I shall know. We are together as one: Master and slave. "Our minds are one, Master", drummed Gosunkugi vacantly. "I think you've been watching too much star trek", Purple said sourly. "Live long, Prosper and stick it" * * * * * In another area, the absolute leader of the invaing force, was in conference with his elite officers. The current official was presenting the newest conditions of the advance. "All goes in readiness, your grace.", the official declared. His voice was a monochrome buzz, as if the voice was hundreds of years old, lacking almost any emotion whatsoever. "Excellent. Are all the forces in place?", the leader asked. "Yes they are. Lately all our agents have infiltrated major cities in the country. With the new power base centered in this town known as Furinkan, our power nexus will be complete. Japan will be yours" "Very Good. And then we can move across the world... Just how did you find this new base-city?" "We traced a weak mystic signal. Amazingly it was just what we were looking for. Agents Purple Coat and Green Coat are already there and have started building operations and subjugating the local populace." "What about man-power?" "This town seems to be ripe in supernatural power. It seems to be a natural magnet attracting many spectres and beings. In addition there is a fine cadre of experienced troops to be recruited. In the center of the room a large rectangular light suddenly blinks in. It then cools down into the form of a smooth mirror. In it several forms appear. First Ranma, then Ryouga, Mousse, Kunou, and a couple of others including Genma, Soun, Dr. Tofu and Mikado. "Hmmm. Very nice.", the leader murmurred. "What else?" "Well there also seems to be a very nice selection of possible *extensions* ". Again the rectangular mirror shimmered. This time images of Akane, Ukyou, Kodachi and Shampoo and a few more girls such as Azusa appear. "VERY Nice..." "What about the local constables?", the leader asked. "Yes. That is the beauty of it. There seems to be none." "What?! Explain." "Well, we're still not too sure about it yet. But there hasn't been a single sighting of law enforcement in years. Suprisingly crime hasn't run rampant except for some occurances of panty raids. We think it might be due to the high number of perverts in the city. We're still investigating it." "Hmm.. I don't like it. Take extra precautions. My plans are too important to be upset by any random factors. Anything else?" "Actually yes. There seems to be a slight problem. Actually two special cases." The magic mirror shimmered yet again and two small figures now dominated the plane. "Them!", gasped the leader. "Yes, your grace. But don't worry too much. Despite possible confrontations, we have already deployed special task force plans to neautralize the targets. They will not interfere. The power is ours. No one can stop us, no one" "No, there is still one who could ruin our plans" "The renegade? Surely we can handle him, he is only one and.." "No not him. We are now too strong for him to stop us. Besides last time I checked he was fighting the local constables in another town. He was always an idealistic fool. Actually I was thinking about the wandering one" "That wandering one? We don't fit his specific parameters. He's the stuff of ledgends, he hasn't been sited for.... "I know, I know, but he is real. We even clashed a very long time ago. I was still a young world-conqueror. I doubt he even remembers me. I was just small potatos to him, he never took me seriously. But our plans are becoming much too big for even him to ignore. He will seek us out, and when he does, we best be prepared" "Very good, your grace." * * * * In the distace, a lone figure is seen trudging mile after mile. Nothing will stop him. He would reach his destination without fail. It is his destiny and duty. He will fight his dark foe again. It is written in the stars. * * * * In another town nowhere near Furinkan, in a college class, two students notice their bracelets lighting up. "Kay-kun! Did you get the signal?", a young but very attractive girl asked a somewhat slow witted but comely young man. "Yes I did, Aih", the one known as Kay responded. "Then you know what this means. We've been called to duty and ..." "..and we get to cut school!", exclaimed Kay. "Fool! It means that we have a possible assignment. And that means it's dangerous.", Aih chastised. "Oh yeah, that's right. They wouldn't call us if it wasn't." "They only call us if it's something that the regular forces couldn't handle. Something para-normal" "Sounds like trouble" "It's always trouble. C'mon, we better head for debriefing" "Sigh! And midterms begin in two weeks. When are we going to prepare?" "Don't worry about. Maybe you won't come back from this one", Aih joked. * * * * * A figure is crawling through a desert. He slows down several times but he never completely stops. No, he is too determined. Onward he will go. He will never give up on his quest. Hours later he is still seen continuining. Finally he stops and bends down to catch his breath. He looks up to the skys as if challenging them. In a loud bellow he screams: "Does anyone know the way to the Tendo Dojo?!!" -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= This is end of Part 1. Please send the usual comments such as: 1 - Did you hate/like it? Should I continue or work on something else? 2 - The new story-like format was good/stunk. Get back to writing in script format? Or you don't care. 3 - Fix your writing. I couldn't understand what the heck was going on. 4 - This and that was good/bad... From rec.arts.anime Fri Jan 29 12:30:37 1993 Path: lysator.liu.se!isy!liuida!sunic!mcsun!uknet!bnr.co.uk!bnrgate!nott!torn!spool.mu.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!news.columbia.edu!cunixf.cc.columbia.edu!krim From: krim@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (KAL Rim) Newsgroups: rec.arts.anime Subject: Ranma 1/2 FanFic: Darker Half- Pt II Message-ID: <1993Jan27.190108.12691@news.columbia.edu> Date: 27 Jan 93 19:01:08 GMT Sender: usenet@news.columbia.edu (The Network News) Reply-To: krim@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (KAL Rim) Organization: Columbia University Center for Computing Activities Lines: 760 Nntp-Posting-Host: cunixf.cc.columbia.edu This story was not meant to be written in typical Ranma 1/2 story. I am just using the characters in a different style as a sort of experiment. So don't expect the usual slapstick (but of course some will still exist) However responses haven't been very good (or even existing). My experience has been that if it's not really good, people won't trouble themselves to read it or even comment on it. So as an attempt to boost up ratings, and for easier reading(you) and writing(me), I'm going back to writing in scripish format. Some parts were still written in story format since I wrote them before coming to my new decision. This next part also has something that I completely forgot about: COMMERCIALS! Ranma 1/2: The Darker Half Part II -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= [ At Furinkan High School it is the start of a new school day. Various students are seen coming in. However no matter how busy they may be, the students seem to always have time to exchange the daily gossip ] "Yeah, did you hear? Another student was reported missing." "Apparently she was coming home late from studying and never arrived home" "Well that'll teach them to study so much at school" "Well I heard she was having a secret tryst with her boyfriend" "Maybe she ran away with him" "Well she is just the 10th missing student so far" [ Enter Gosunkugi. He looks the same except something seems different about him. His stature, his walk, his entire attitude seems changed. He walks tall and straight yet something about his eyes. His eyes have a more tired and spaced out look, more so than usual. They're always just staring out into space ] "What's wrong with Gosunkugi, he's been acting weird" "What do you mean weird?" "I never see him do those mystic ceremonies anymore" "That's weird?" "Well, it's weird for him" "Hurry up, the Vice-Principle is calling a special session in the auditorium about the disappearing students" [ In the auditorium ] Vice Principle: Students of Furinkan Koukou. I am going to address a serious problem that has been plaguing this school. I'm sure you have all heard about the missing students. The Principle is out of the country on a educational exchange program in Hawaii. However the matter still hasn't escaped his attention, he has left a letter on the subject and instructed me to address it to you. [reading the letter] My dear students... The real world, as you are finding out, can be a very dangerous place. I regret I cannot be there to protect you all. In a sense I am your father and you are all my children. But since I am not there in body, I have left some careful instructions for you to follow to help protect yourselves. (1) If any of you are faking and playing hooky, as a result you will wash the toilets for 3 months! (2) Always walk home in groups. There is strength in numbers. (3) Walk in well lighted areas near a lot of people (4) Don't talk to strangers (5) Follow a curfew. (6) Hold hands when you cross the street and look both ways before crossing. (7) Always have your parents check your Halloween candy beore eating it (8) And get a traditonal Furikan Japanese hair style. Be marked as a proud patriot of your country. No one will dare cross a student of Furinkan High..... [ The students have already started filing out ] Vice: Hey?! Where is everyone going? Oh well, it was a stupid speech. [ Outside near a tree, a group of boys are meeting ] Boy1: Alright, Gosunkugi, what's up? Gosunkugi: You guys want to see something interesting? Boy2: Like what, Gosunkugi? Gosunkugi: Come to my house tonight and find out. Boy3: Well I'm not sure, I've got a lot of things to do Gosunkugi: I have some *special* pictues of Akane to show you. Boy3: Well, since you put it that way... Gosunkugi: Don't tell anyone you're coming. All: No problem! [ After the school day Akane and Ranma are walking home together ] Ranma: That's unusual. Akane: What Ranma? Ranma: Kunou hasn't showed up to fight for the past 2 days. Akane: Maybe he's given up? Ranma: You don't really believe that, do you? Akane: No, you're right. Maybe Kunou is one of the missing students... Ranma: I don't think so. I'm never that lucky. Akane: I can't help but feel something strange is going on. It's not just students, people all over Furinkan have been reporting people disappearing. Ranma: Great now all we need is a dead body and we can break into a mystery plot. Akane: Be serious! Ranma: I wouldn't worry so much, I've seen much wor..WHOOPS! Akane: Ranma! Are you okay? Ranma: Yeah, I just tripped over that hand lying over there.. Akane: ....HAND!!! [ cut back to a view of the city as Akane's scream pierces the entire city limits ] * * * * * In some secret government bunker a debriefing is taking place. Two figures walk in a conference room. One is a young man and the other is a young woman. Both are dressed in some sort of military uniform. "Officers Aih and Kay reporting for duty", the woman stated. They immediately snapped to attention. "At ease Em-chan, you know I don't like being formal", said a distinguished young man from a chair. Like the others he looked young but seemed a little older by maybe 5 years. From his markings he was a superior officer. "Please don't call me that, sir", officer Aih replied. "I'm your superior officer. I can call you whatever I want. Isn't that right Sugar-plum?", their superior asked officer Kay. "Uhh, where is officer Whii?", asked officer Kay trying to get off the subject. "Oh, he asked for time off to study for his College Entrance Exams. We're not totally heartless you know, Kay-kun" Kay just groaned and thought how low his GPA was going to be this semseter. "Can we just get to business, sir?", snapped Aih. "Ah yes, ever the woman of action", remarked their superior officer. "I'll let Dr. Kno handle the debriefing. Long boring explanations are his forte.". Another figure stood up. He was an old man wearing spectacles and a labcoat, looking very sterotypically scientist-like. "Thank you Officer Zen. I'll get straight to the point. This is the current situation..." The doctor pressed some buttons on a controller he was holding and a nearby monitor started lighting up various charts and data. "The city you see before you is the town of Furinkan. It looks like any other ordinary city. Recently however there has been some quite unusual activities. The local police force found it impossible to handle it so the government pulled them out and put us in. For the most part we have been observing via satellite and secret remote-controlled cameras. The town seems to have been dominated by extermely powerful paranormals. While exceedingly rare, such beings are not unheard of." The monitor begins to flash various scenes of popular fights in Furinkan. Ranma vs. Ryouga (various streets and buildings are being wrecked) Ranma vs. Golden Pair ( an ice rink is totally devestated ) Ranma vs. Mouse (minor property damage) Ranma vs. Shampoo's Great Grandmother (incidents at the beach) Ranma vs. Happosai (too numurous to log) Ranma vs. Panda (fights on a fence overlooking a river) Ranma-chan vs. Kodachi (school property severly thrashed) Ranma-chan vs. Shampoo (building structures are being destroyed) etc. Officers Aih and Kay look visibly shocked. "These people seem to be even stronger than Whii-kun!", Aih said amazed. "Oh please, Em-chan, I think you're still a match for some of these", Officer Zen remarked. "I wish Whii was here to back us up", gulped Kay. "Kay-kun, you never got along with Whii very well as I remember", Officer Zen reminded him. "Yeah, but if I'm going to get beat up, I want it to be from someone still human!", exclaimed Kay. Dr. Kno continues: "There are also appearances of what we believe to be mystical beings/monsters/ghosts and maybe even aliens..." Again the monitor flashes showing us some more of our favorite fight scenes: Ranma vs. Dojo Yaburi Ranma vs. a winged Minotaur Ranma vs. Demon Ghost-cat Ranma vs. GIANT Happosai Ranma interacting with various minor ghosts. "Ghosts....", whispered Aih. "You're making this up, right?", asked Kay nervously. "I thought you of all people wouldn't be suprised Kay-kun", scolded Officer Zen. "And even evidence of esper or magical power", Dr. Kno flashed more images. Ranma using his Heavenly Rising Dragon Whirlwind Fist attack. Ryouga attacks with his exploding point technique. Ryouga unleashing his Ki as a force bolt. Shampoo's Great Grandmother is preforming various special attacks. Happosai unleashing the power of his firecrackers in a wild display of fireworks. "So where do we exactly fit in?", asked Aih. "You and Kay-kun will be disguised as transfer students at the local high school. Both of you still look young enough to pass.", explained Zen. "That's because we are", Kay said. "Your goal will to closely observe the occurances in the town. We want specific reports on what's going on in the city", Zen said. "Why this personal interest all of a sudden?", enquired Aih. "Well, you see, crime wasn't a major problem even without the local police force. Even the Yakuza didn't overrun the city. We believe that there was a martial arts dojo of the Tendo clan to handle any such incidents." "So why the sudden interest?", persisted Aih. "Ah, Aih-chan, there's no putting anything past you. I never knew a more alert and capable officer..", "So *why* the sudden interest?", Aih interrupted. "Okay Okay. Something recently occured in the city that has us in an uproar. I'm hesitant to mention it to you since it might be a little shocking to you." "Well the department must feel it's not a big enough shock to prevent us from duty, since we were still called in for debriefing. I would rather know now than finding it out later by myself ", Aih said. "You're right. The thing is, about 50 people have all dissapeared. And more are missing every day." "That's not that unusual. What is this, some mass kidnapping ploy?", Kay commented. "Well six of them were found this morning..." "That's great!", Kay said. "...dead." The room fell dead silent after Zen's last remark. * * * * * [ At the Tendo Dojo, some town elders are asking for help in solving this unusual delimna. ] Soun: Please accept our sympathies. It is truly a shame about those six people.... Man: Since this terrible misfortune, the people of our fair city are all in turnmoil. For any semblance of normancy to return, this dark mystery must be solved and any missing survivors found. We humbly ask you to investigate this matter further. The security of the city rests on your shoulders Tendo-san. [ Bowing ] There is none other we can turn to. Soun: Please, there is no need. This too troubles me. There hasn't been a death in this town since.... since.... Nabiki: This has been the first time since we lived here father. Soun: Since as long as I can remember! And there shall be no more! This heinous deed shall not go unpunished!! The culprit will not escape the pursuit of justice! Ranma: You can count me in on this too. I haven't lived here as long as you all may have, but Furinkan has become my home and I don't want any filthy murderers running around it. Right, dad? Genma: Murderers?.... Kasumi: Oh dear, has any one seen Happosai? Soun: Well, honorable guests it was nice of you to stop by. [ he pushes them out the door ] Genma: What are we going to do?! We can't fight our sensei, Happosai! Ranma: Wait! Hold on! Before jumping to conclusions let's think this through carefully. [ Everyone takes a deep meditative form ] Soun: Simply being an underwear thief, a freeloader, and a merciless sensei hasn't been enough for him, Happosai has finally resorted to murder! Genma: Then we're next! [ Genma and Soun start packing everything up to move away ] Ranma: Will you two cut it out! Think about it. Happosai may be scum even a pig wouldn't touch, but he would never resort to something like this. Kasumi: But, he's been gone for so long. Ranma: Exactly, I'm willing to bet, that Happosai is one of those people that disappeared. Why didn't we report him earlier as missing? Genma: Well, we didn't really notice that he was gone.... Soun: And we didn't actually MISS him... * * * * * In a dark room a single shape stands out. A square window of light is floating on the floor. From it sounds and images are eminating. The command: "Execute general order 52!", came from the window. "Will you shut that thing off and hurry up?! The meeting is about to begin!", Purple Coat screamed out as he turned on the lights. "What?! Kirk just ordered the Enterprise to execute a...", Green Coat started protesting. "I don't care if he's about to execute the Klingon throneworld! The meeting is about to begin and you haven't even set anyting up." Grumbling Grean Coat shut off the TV. "You know you're getting awefully cranky, I think the power is getting to your head.", Green replied. "Enough! You are a Fang warrior, act like one", the invasion commander stated as he walked in. "I will not tolerate any more delays" Hmf! It was as if a guy couldn't even get a decent amount of television to enjoy, thought Green Coat. He and Purple Coat were doing fine until the old Battle-axe Invasion Commander came along to head the operation. He heard he got the command after a grueling interview in which he had his left arm struck by lightening. Something like that kind of makes you lose your sense of humor. But Green Coat still thought that was a poor excuse. "How many of the townspeople have you subjugated?", asked the commander. "About 50", responded Purple. "More like 60.", corrected Green. "We worked pretty fast.", he bragged. "You fool!", the commander yelled out and hitting Green's head with his fist. "If you keep up this pace we're bound to attract attention! If our cover is found out before our power base is complete all our plans may be ruined!" "Oh, who's going to notice?", Green asked. "And how are you keeping track of all your victims?" "Uh, well..." "Well, I'll tell you how you are. You're not! And because of your non-existant accounting, you cretins already lost six people!" "I thought HE was keeping track of them", Green and Purple each responded simultaneously, pointing to each other. "I don't care whose fault it is. The townspeople have already found the bodies. I want you to slow down the operations and be watchful of any who might be gettting too suspicious." "Yes sir!", Purple promised. "Yeah, yeah, Yow!", Green yelled out when the commander hit him again. There was just no satisfying this guy, thought Green Coat, rubbing his head. Why was he always blaming me? And how do these guys always manage to summon up a wooden mallet out of thin air anyway? * * * * * Akane: Ranma, where are you going at this time of the night? Ranma: Our dads and I are going to find those missing people. Akane: And how do you propose to do that? Ranma: Look, this is a man's job, leave the details to us. [ they leave] Kasumi: Please return safely. Akane: Those idiots. Well I guess it's up to me to do my own investigating. Kasumi: Don't stay out too long Akane, dinner will be ready in an hour! [ At Dr. Tofu's clinic ] Akane: Tofu sensei, you examined the bodies, what do you make of it? Tofu: ... [ Dr. Tofu has a very intense look on his face ] Akane: Tofu-sensei, what's wrong? Tofu: Akane-chan. Listen to me very carefully. Things are changing in Furinkan. Very bad things are happening. I want you to go home, pack your things and leave Furikan with your sisters for a while. Akane: Tofu-sensei.... Tofu: Please Akane-chan, go! There's no time to lose! [ Dr. Tofu pushes her out the door and closes it behind her. Akane is so bewildered she just stands outside for a while ] Akane: What.... [ She then hears some sounds fron the door. She tries listening but can't seem to make out anything. Apparently Dr. Tofu is working on something ] [ In another scene Ranma and the others are seeking out the help of Shampoo's Great Grandmother ] Genma: Ranma, is this wise? Ranma: Relax, with something this big I figure that old woman should know something about it. Genma: What if she's the one behind it?! [ We see Shampoo sweeping in front of her restaurant. ] Ranma: Shampoo! [ Shampoo just ignores her. She just continues sweeping ] Ranma: Shampoo, it's me Ranma. Ranma! Shampoo: Oh hello, Ranma. [ Ranma notices something wrong. Shampoo isn't running up and hugging him like she usually does. ] Ranma: Shampoo, what's wrong? Shampoo: It's Great Grandmother. [ continues sweeping ] Ranma: Uh, what about her? [ nervously starts looking around for any ambushes] Shampoo: She's gone. [ continues sweeping ] Ranma: What do you mean? [ still looking around ] Shampoo: Great Grandmother received a message from our village to return immediately. Something bad happened. But she wouldn't tell the family what it was. I'm afraid for her. Ranma: ... [ Genma and Soun who were hiding breath a sigh of relief ] Shampoo: I..I have to get back to work Ranma. [ Shampoo goes into her restaurant. ] Ranma: What could have Shampoo so worried about her Great Grandmother? I've never seen her so worried. Something is definitely very fishy around here. [ Genma and Soun are passing the time by fishing for goldfish at a shop ] * * * * * [ Commercial Break ] Hi there! My name is Ryo Seaba. You proabably know me better as the City Hunter, super-detective and all around hunk. Many of you have proabably complained about why Tokyo subways are always so darn crowded. Well take it from me. As long as I've been an investigative detective there's no better way to get around in Tokyo. The subway is cheap, fast, and mostly reliable. But if you think it's bad in here you haven't tried hailing a taxi or riding one stuck in a gridlock. And subways don't have meters running. Besides there are a lot of fringe benifits from riding on a crowded subway. [ Ryo smiles as he flattens himself against a young girl ] Oh! Excuse me miss. You know you have a very soft.... [ The girl starts screaming while Ryo continues leering ] I'm so sorry, but you see I just can't seem to move out of the way. Oh no, it looks like we're stopping between stops again, oh well.... "Ryo!!! I see you there!" [ Everybody in the subway train manages to take a step back allowing a running Kaori with a wooden mallet to reach up to Ryo. ] Uh, Kaori, how did you catch up to me? Kaori smiles, "I took the subway" Hi, my name is Leika, but you proably know me better in my role in BubleGum Crisis as the mysterious and glamorous singer/assassin Vision. I just want to spend a little time talking about a serious life and death subject. [ smiles] No don't worry, it's not a sex talk. [ We hear cries of BOO! coming from the background ] No, this isn't about AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases. No this is something worse. I want to talk to you about drugs. They're bad news. Don't let anyone push you into taking drugs. If anyone is telling you that drugs are cool they're lying and they're not your friends. As a matter of fact taking drugs is uncool. Don't listen to their lies. There's nothing exciting about taking drugs. Drugs won't make you popular or special. The only thing drugs will bring you is Trouble. Take it from me. I don't do drugs. And none of my friends do either. Remember, if someone asks you to try drugs, just "Say No!" [Announcer] Say No to Drugs and Say Yes to Life. This message has been sponsored by the Drug-Free Japan program. * * * * * [ In the secret headquarters of the invading force ] Purple: Sir, you were right, the townspeople have enlisted the local Martial Arts school to investigate the matter and search for the missing victims. Commander: I see. Purple: I wouldn't worry too much sir. Our spy tells us that for the most part, they're a bunch of idiots. They pretty much act like the local police force. It's amazing some other group hasn't infiltrated this place already. Commander: I wouldn't put too much stock in what your spy, Gosunkugi says, considering he's an unwilling pawn. And considering he's also an idiot. Purple: That may be so, but he does have his uses. Green: [ thinking] no, Battle-axe is right, he is an idiot. Guess it takes one to know one... Commander: What was that Agent Green Coat? Green: Uh nothing, sir! Just thinking out loud. Commander: By the way, you're right. Green: .... Purple: But Gosunkugi has even gotten us 5 new "recruits" just today. Commander: I see.... In any case, have this "police force" elimated descretely. We don't need any more publicity. I don't want any more investigators investigating the investorgator's deaths. Green: Could you say that one more time? [ The figure wearing the purple coat just glares at his partner to keep quiet] Commander: Just get to the job. Green: Right away, SIR. [ exits ] Commander: Is agent Green Coat always so insubordinate? Purple: He may act a bit rough, but he's one of the top agents. Commander: I see. Any word from Central? Purple: Yes. The Boss is still worried about the Wandering one. Commander: Ah yes. The entity our Leader seems to fear so much. In any case there is only a low probability that he will even seek us out. I'm more interested in any activities of the renegade. Purple: Latest intelligence reports that he is still stuck in the last city we attacked. Commander: I see... [ We here Green Coat in the distance: "Yeah, with both 'eyes'!" ] Still, he's very clever and dangerous, he might actually track us here. It might be best for the Teleporter to send us some more experienced reinforcements. Purple: If we are in need of strong warriors, this investigative police force may be what we are looking for. Command: I se.. uh, I mean: By all means, if they survive: recruit them. And even if they fail, it won't matter. There are still others that can fill our ranks. [ The Commander points to the end of the room where the unconscious forms of Kunou, Mousse and Kodachi lie. ] * * * * * "Look I'm telling you I'm innocent!" He was getting really annoyed. Here he was investigating a possible murder and tracking down this malicious organization and the next thing you know he's been arrested for the murder of two high school students. "You're making a big mistake!" But his explanations were falling on deaf ears. Okay maybe he was a little overzealous when he knocked out one of the police officers when they tried to handcuff him. Now he had to deal with about ten officers surrounding him. "Sure you are", one of the leading officers said. "Why don't you come down by the station and explain your side of things" "I already told you, precious time is wasting! The real murderers are getting away. It may already be too late!" "You sure seem to know an awful lot about this case..." "I didn't do it! I'm the good guy chasing the bad guys who did it. This is pointless and I really don't have time for this" "If it already may be too late. Then you won't mind spending a little more time in a cell explaining yourself." He stood up to his full height and gave a swipe from his blue cloak in a martial arts stance. He has had it! No Mr. Nice Good-Guy. "Foolish Man! You are dealing with forces beyond your understanding. I am attempting to aid your people and all I receive is scorn and distrust. Enough of this. I will take my leave of you.." "Oh, I don't think so..." "And how do you propose to stop me, little man?" "With these.." While they were talking police reinforcements have arrived. He couldn't believe they actually managed to stall him until morning. Had they really talked that long?! The Swat team came rolling in with their laser scopes and automatic weapons clicking and snapping and making all those darn neat-o sounds when a person was targetting his weapon. Hmmm, a team this size with this much firepower under these conditions might actually be an ...annoyance. "Okay, I give up.", he mumbled. They may have me, but they can't hold me... for too long anyway. * * * * * Genma: Where do you suggest we start looking now? Ranma: I figured we would just walk around town and hopefully run into them." Genma: And maybe if we walk around the corner we'll also run into a beautiful fairy who'll grant us all a wish. Ranma: You got a better idea?! Genma: Yes, let's go home. Ranma: Huh? Genma: Well, look at it this way. The missing people could be anywhere. The chances of us finding them are about the same as us looking anywhere else. Maybe we'll find them on the way home. Ranma: Yeah and maybe they'll just come looking for us and save us the trouble... Soun: Ranma-kun, look! From around the corners an army of people started coming out. One by one they trickled into the streets. First they appeared in front of them and then behind. In seconds they were surrounded. The trio would ordinarily have been happy to find all the missing people all like this. If only they all didn't have those crazy looks on their faces. If only they still looked alive. The crowd started moving in with shuffling steps. They were as pale as ghosts, dead in spirit and deadly in intent. Ranma: I think we found the missing people. Genma: Couldn't we just unfind them now? * * * * * "Hey chief." The police chief looked up from his desk. The night shift was just starting but he was still stuck here doing all this blasted paperwork. When he accepted his promotion he never expected such a drastic change from walking the streets to filing the reports. The rookie was just about to leave his shift before coming up to him. "What is it?", the chief asked the rookie. "That guy in cell 4..." "The one we picked up for the missing school kids?" "Yeah, that's the one, he gives me the creeps." "Well crazy killers all seem creepy." Remember when they dragged him in here this morning?" All he kept on saying the whole time was something about 'we were only dooming ourselves.' And then when he was put into a cell, he just sat there indian style and didn't even twitch." "Yeah, I remember. He would have done a statue proud." "He's just been sitting there for the last 10 hours straight. He hasn't asked for food, water or even go to the bathroom." "Wasn't the only time he moved was when we tried to fingerprint him or search him?" "Well, when we tried to do that, he just gave this really scary look at us. Nobody had enough nerve to go into the cell with him even with a battalion of armed guards right outside" "Well, we ran him through a metal detector on the way into his cell. It's the new standard equiptment. The only thing that registered was that circular metal disc with two slits which he claimed was his mask." "Aren't you afraid he might try to break out?" "Not really. That metal disc isn't going to help him pick or smash any locks. We probably couldn't even pry it away from him if we wanted to. Besides we have enough guards on duty to plug him full with holes if he tries anything. He's locked in an electronic windowless cell down in maximum security. He's has no tools and no weapons. He's not getting out." "Yeah I guess so chief, but he still gives me the creeps. You know, the only time he said anything was when I just left. He asked me if I was going to be replaced by the night shift." "What did you answer?" "I told him I was, I don't see how that's really going to help him. "He probably wanted to know how long he was down in there. There's no way he can even tell if it's even day or night." "Well so far he hasn't been very cooperative. Refuses to answer even the simplest questions." "Don't worry, he's not going anywhere without a proper explanation. I'm willing to let him rot in there until he starts talking. Even if he can bend bars, alarms will alert us if there is any tampering with the cell. There's no where for him to go. He's imprisoned in a secure, escape-proof maximum security cell", the chief said adamantly. We see flashes of the state-of-the-art detention facilities. The security monitors, the integrity alarm centers, the electromagnetic locks and the cool uniform bars all stand unchallenged. And in the maximum security ward we also see rows and rows of prison cells. And of course they're all empty. * * * * * Ranma was fighting these ghouls for what seemed like hours. None of them seemed to recognize him. He saw schoolmates, neighbors, people who yelled at him in the streets for destroying their homes, and even total strangers. All of them just had this blank look on their face. The cut he received from a one of these zombie's claws (don't these guys ever cut their fingernails?) on his back was starting to hurt. He certainly knew that all his moving around was only aggravating the wound. Every time he knocked one down three more would just rise up to take it's place. He lost track of the others in the resulting melee. And the goons wouldn't stay down, they just picked themselves up and kept coming and coming and... * * * * * Commercial Break 2: And it keeps going and going and going... [ We see a stuffed Panda Bear walking across, pounding on a drum and sounding a horn in it's mouth. It has a HUGE battery on it's back ] Nothing stops the energizer! Announcer: [ singing ] EN-I-GI-ZER! Panda: [sign] Are we off the air yet? My hands are getting tired. A young red haired woman is running for her life. Behind her is an army of men in military gear and are firing energy rifles at her. The woman dives behind some cover. She tries returning fire but her assailants have her pinned down very badly. A young woman with long dark hair dressed in a uniform that's a little more modest than a bikini steps onto the screen and speaks to the audience: "This is Gamma Zentrades. One of the more dangerous places for travelors. The people here are very strict and prefer to give out their own form of justice and punishment. There is almost no centralized government and no police force to appeal to. Raiders such as these hunt and destroy any unsuspecting visitors ignorant of their various sacred customs. Any hope to resolve a dispute in a peaceful fashion is almost non-existance.| "Yuri! I could use some backup here!", screamed Kei as her cover was slowly being blown away. "But if you think THIS is bad, wait till you see what happens when you DON'T carry your Bloody card. Because in Gamma Zentrades, they DON'T accept apologies and they DON'T take American Express. [ Yuri throws the Bloody card at the attackers. In a matter of seconds the Bloody card makes sushi out of them. ] BLOODY CARD: Your visa and secrurity to the Universe * * * * * [ Flashy Fight BGM starts up ] Next time on Ranma 1/2! Ranma is still caught in the unrelenting press of the zombie army. [ We see Ranma being overwhelmed by minless attackers ] Ranma: Give up?! The evil invasion continues unabated [ We see flashes of students being ambushed and kiddnapped. ] Purple: The Conquest is continuing according to schedule Invasion Commander: "Furinkan shall fall!" And who is the mysterious blue robed stranger? Is he a friend, or the most dangerous threat Furinkan will ever face? [ Fist a clip of the phantom stranger crushing stone blocks to powder. Next we see the blue cloaked warrior facing off Ranma in a death match. In the next frame he has Ranma in a headlock ] "The last sound you hear will be your own neck bones snapping" Join us next time for the next episode of Ranma 1/2: The Darker Half! -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Well that's part II. If people still show disinterest or utter contempt for the job, then I'm going to just scrap the whole project and write a new story that's more Takahashian-like. Send me all comments, critisms, threats, but send something if you want to see more of this storyline. From rec.arts.anime Tue Feb 2 10:39:21 1993 Newsgroups: rec.arts.anime Path: lysator.liu.se!kth.se!sunic!uunet!think.com!rpi!news.columbia.edu!cunixf.cc.columbia.edu!krim From: krim@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (KAL Rim) Subject: Fanfict: Ranma The Darker Half - Part III Message-ID: <1993Jan30.231651.9619@news.columbia.edu> Sender: usenet@news.columbia.edu (The Network News) Nntp-Posting-Host: cunixf.cc.columbia.edu Reply-To: krim@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (KAL Rim) Organization: Columbia University Center for Computing Activities Date: Sat, 30 Jan 1993 23:16:51 GMT Lines: 906 Thank you all who sent me comments. I'm sorry if I seemed like whining. The reason I was asking for feedback was that I was afraid this new Ranma style was really bad so I wanted to get a reaction to see if this thing was worth continuing or not. Heck, if no one liked it, why bother working so hard on it? But since there appears to some interest (both good and bad :) I will do my best to continue the story. There has been mixed preferences over the writing style. I decided to write in prose when there is a lot of activity and write in script whenever there is a lot of dialogue with more than two parties. To understand dialogue in prose, every different person or set of parties will have a different indentation. "Party 1" "Party 2" Also, I mistakenly called the city Furinkan, after the high school. The reason was I didn't know what the city name was so I used the HS name hoping no one would really notice. But someone recently informed me that the place is Tokyo, the Nerima ward on the outskirts. Ranma: The Darker Half Part III -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= How does he always get himself into these fights?, Ranma wondered. All he was doing was investigating the murder of six townspeople and 50 missing people with his father and Akane's father. Then while walking down the street they bump into them. But they were changed, they become like zombies. And true to their nature they started attacking, trying to flail off his flesh. Ranma fought the best he could, but the people just started clawing and biting. He just hoped whatever they had wasn't contagious. Suddenly there was a flash of green and Ranma felt a blow to the back of his head. When Ranma finally threw off the effects of his ringing head, he noticed that his assailants were pulling him down. Ranma struggled with all his might but he just couldn't budge them. There were too many of them. Slowly but surely he was dragged down down into the ground. With a last burst of strength Ranma managed to pull up. With a gasp of air he surfaced. To his suprise he was in a freshly dug grave. "How did I get here?", Ranma wondered. And then he noticed the tombstone, on it was written the name: Saotome Ranma. "No!", Ranma screamed. "NOOOOOOO!", he screamed a little louder as if volume alone could change the course of destiny. But soon the zombie hands were back, grabbing him and pulling him down again. Ranma: Get back! Get away....... NO! Leave me alone! Tofu: Ranma, stop struggling. Wake up, you're safe, you're safe... Ranma: Huh, huh, oh, it was a dream, just a dream... That's the last time I watch Vampire Hunter D and eat all that junk food before going to sleep. Oh, my body aches all over... Tofu sensei, what are you doing here?! Tofu: Taking care of you. Ranma: [ looks down at his body and notices he has a lot of bandages ] It wasn't a dream... it wasn't a dream.... Tofu: Ranma, get a grip on yourself! You were in a fight, but you're safe here in my clinic now. Ranma: Yeah, Yeah I remember now. HAHAHAhahahaha..... That was one spooky fight [ shudders ] Tofu: You were hurt pretty badly Ranma. Ranma: Wait! Where's everyone else? Where's Mr. Tendo? Tofu: Mr. Tendo is in even worse condition than you. He's still asleep. Ranma: What about my dad? Tofu: .... Ranma: Where's my dad? What happened to him? Tofu: He's not with us. He stayed behind at the battle. Ranma: WHAT?!?! Why would he do such a thing? Can he do such a thing? Tofu: Your father bravely defended our escape. Tofu: Please Mr. Saotome, Ranma and Mr. Tendo need immediate medical attenton! Genma: Wait Wait! Come back! Come back! Don't leave me! Ranma: Wow, I never knew he could make such a noble sacrifice. Tofu: I'm afraid he hasn't returned yet. You were very lucky I was passing by. Ranma: Well, I better get going, it's up to me to save the town again... Tofu: Ranma, please rest, you took a very nasty beating. Ranma: No problem Tofu-sensei, I'm trusting your unparralled medical skills.. Tofu: Ranma, I may be able to fix broken and dislocations but I can't do a thing to speed up cut wounds, if you start moving you're going to reopen your wounds... Ranma: ARRAHHARH!!! Tofu: Here Ranma, this will help you rest [ Dr. Tofu hits a nerve on Ranma and he flops unconscious ] Tofu: Rest easy Ranma, I will guard your dreams. * * * * * Clickity-clickity-clack, The Hack went down the Stack. What a bunch of amateurs. A blue robed figure was hacking away at a keyboard. First they lock me in a cage termed "maximum security" for a crime I didn't commit. Then they don't even moniter their own halls. And finally they leave their terminal room unguarded with direct access into their database. But it was still a challenge in the software sense. The police, like any other administrative system had their own unique operating system with a help mode that might as well have been in a foreign language. He had to quickly master it before he was discovered. Fat chance of that, not only was the police force totally incompetent, but he was a master of stealth, not a single sound would resonate from his graceful movements. But cracking the database and actually making up the right queries to get the information he needed wasn't an easy task. But he enjoyed having something to test himself to avoid his boredom. He knew it was a smart move to get his Computer Science Degree at night classes at Tokyo University. "AHA! I thought I heard someone in here!", came a voice. It was from a young redheaded police woman. What?!, he thought. How did she hear me? I'm as silent as the night breeze. "I knew something was wrong when I heard the clicky-clack of a keyboard but didn't hear anything else as well. Only a criminal cyberpunk would go to some such trouble to hide themselves.", she explained out loud. Oh well, you can't win them all, he consolded himself. He swiftly rose up with his back to her and stumbled into a chair he didn't see, making a loud clatter. Ouch!, he thought. "I wouldn't move if I were you!", she warned and pointed her gun. In response he slowly turned around confidently. What a shame he couldn't see the gun behind him. He started speaking in a voice like ice. As he spoke he slowly raised his head in a cheap theatrical ploy. + "I am the terror that hacks in the night I am the magnet which erases your hard drive I..." " ...talk too much.", she finished for him and then emptied her revlover. "But I don't think that'll be a problem anymore.", she said. * * * * * In the next day, a familar couple is seen walking towards Furinkan High. The pair turn out to be the Government Special Agents Kay and Aih. "It sure feels weird to be wearing school uniforms again", Kay said. "It's only been two years Kay-kun", responded Aih. "Well, truthfully, I didn't really enjoy high school. And I'm not very thrilled at the idea of retaking it." "I remember." Aih suddenly started giggling. "I remember that it was partly my fault too.", she confessed. "No, it wasn't. I was dumb enough to put myself in all those stupid situations." "But still, we did have a lot of fun together." Yes they did, thought Kay. But that all changed when he was "recruited" by the government. Still he couldn't blame the government for what they did. They did have a point about him protecting his country. He was being very selfish if he didn't use his special talents to protect those who needed them. His mother always told him that with great power came great responsibility. At times like these he really missed her..... "Kay-kun, are you listening to me?!", Aih said, interrupting his thoughts. "Oh sorry, Aih-san, my mind was just wondering a little..", apologized Kay. "Well pay attention, this isn't the classroom anymore. If you make a mistake it could mean more than a bad grade." "Sorry. So what were you saying?" "I said, remember: Keep a low profile. We're only here to observe." Easy for you to say, thought Kay. "Look, there's the Furinkan High campus", Kay said. "Remember to be inconspicuous." Aih gave a toss of her long hair and stepped in past the gates. Sighing, Kay followed in. * * * * * Barney: Watch me trick Fred out of his delicious Coco Pebbles. [ Barney dreses up in some sailor officer suit and has a car disguised as a Veritech in guardian mode. ] Barney: Help we need a fuel source! Fred: Captain Gloval! Barney: Alas our supply of protoculture will dwindle if we don't get a new supply of chocolaty Coco to refuel it. Fred: Here try my Delicious Coco Pebbles. It's Chocolately delicious and part of a balanced breakfast. Barney: Mmmm! It is chocolaty! Fred: Boy, I always wanted to fly one of these. [ Fred hits the ignition, the car flies off, slams into a tree and in the process knocks off Barney's hat and coat ] Fred: Barney! My Pebbles! Barney: Whoops! Well gotta "Fold". [ Fred chases Barney ] Hello music-fans! Presenting one of the hottest songs out now. This song is hot! It's breaking all the charts. Coming LIVE from a special performance in full stereo. And now here's Vision with her award winning messge to help fight the war on drugs! Say 'No!', Let's go! [ From a large stage, a lone woman stands. Suddenly the TV monitors around her all light up basing her in an inferno of light. The music starts, first a gentle beat, and then a guitar accompiament, and then the rest of the band swing into a full blaze of sound and fury ] [ Vision ] Like a wind, blue and tearing away, you have disappeared down the drug path. Even if I hold on to that day's voice, which said, 'Try the high.' Just wind blows I'll bite my lips with all my might until this storm stops, 'cause the more you use, the more fragile the valley of buildings seems to become. Say 'No!' Don't listen to the pills I want only you, Say 'No!' Drugs will only destroy your freedom and your heart Say 'No!' Because Life already offers so much to you. Please reach out, You can be, you can do, you can sing, you can live... Announcer: All procedings will go to the Drug-Free Japan fund. * * * * * A lone figure is walking down a road. He seems a little disoriented, anybody looking at him might have guessed he was traveling for days. The figure stops to rest a little. He then notices a farmer nearby. "Excuse me, do you know the way to Furinkan Koukou?", he asked. "Sure, you just go straight down and take the first left. You'll be there in no time." "Thank you" "No problem. You know, you're the forth person that asked me that in two days. Must be a popular place." "Forth?", he said to himself as he went down the road and turned right. * * * * * It was all over the school. Even during these mournful times, somethings never change. Soon every one heard the news. There were new students at Furinkan high. Everyone was curious to know what the new people were like. Gossip was already spreading like wildfire. "Hey, did you hear?" "Yeah, a couple of new transfer students just came in" "Boy did they pick the wrong time to come" "Who cares, let's see what they're like." "I heard one's a girl." "Is she hot?!" "What about the guy?" "Oh, I heard he was the nice niave looking kind. The type brainless over-cute girls fall for" "Yeah but *I* heard he looks a little older than normal" "Maybe he was left back?" "Let's go see!" "But the sensei is taking a roll call." "Big deal, with so many missing students he's not going to notice" In the classroom where the new students are being introduced, the halls around it are filled with curious students from various other classes. At the front stood two students, waiting for the teacher to finish roll call before introducing them. "Toyato" "Here" "Mishubusu" "Present" "Yotsuya" 'YO!' "Yotsuya gets a zero for today.... Godai" This time no response was given. "Godai Hmm, another missing student?" "..... Here! I'm sorry I'm late Otonashi-sensei" "Too late, I marked you as absent." "But.. But..." "You know the rules! Don't argue with me! Next time come early, I have no time to waste on lazy students." "Then if I'm marked as absent, I might as well leave." "Do that and I'll have you assign you to wash the toilets for playing hookey." ".... ..." "Tendo." The teacher waits again only to be greeted with continued silence. "Tendo Nabiki. ... Nabiki!" Still no answer is given. "Well, she probably just went to the bathroom...", the teacher nervously marked her as present thinking about the compromising pictures she had of him with a student. He just got his new job and he wanted to keep it. "Kunou" Again the teacher receives silence for an answer. "Is Kunou hanging out at that 2nd year classroom again? If anyone sees him tell him if he wishes to repeat his 2nd year in high school, it can be arranged." Meanwhile the other students in the hall were passing the time sharing more of the latest gossip. In irritation the teacher starts snapping at them. "You students in the hall! If you don't talk more quietly I'll have you all dismissed back to your classrooms!" The students immediately changed to whispering their gossip. "And now, if there are no further interruptions, it gives me great pleasure to present two new visiting students. Please introduce yourselves" The young man Kay walked up. Despite his age, he still looks as innocent and niave as the first day he originally started high school. He had a nice homely look, with clear eyes and brushy brown hair. "My name is Kay Kai, but you can call me Kei. I am very pleased to be here. I asked to be received with favor." Kay bowed to a small applause. Next the girl walked up. While Kay was an average looking student Aih was definitely not. She was a tall, thin and very attractive young girl. The class examined her carefully, from the tightness of her bright white socks with matching shining dark shoes up to her long flowing skirt and well formed blouse up to her perfectly chistled face and silky black hair which was pleasantly draping over her shoulders and back. She wasn't just cute she was pretty, heart-stopping, gorgeous and cute. She looked like a goddess! Every Otaku's dream girl and every school girl's role model. Aih was the central role, the standard every other girl in an anime story was measured up to. She opened her large green luminous eyes wide and took a deep breath before speaking, which gave the male students no end of delight. "Hello I am..." The deafening applause drowned out the rest of Aih's words. The teacher put up his hand to quiet the class. "..I am called Aih Em." Again the fanfare of clapping hands rose up to various shouts from the audience. "Hooray!" "Wonderful!" Again the teacher raised his hand to quiet them. "I am very pleased to be here...", Aih continued. On cue the class erupted into praise again. "Fantastic!" "You're welcomed here" "Are you busy Friday night?!" "Do you have a boyfriend?" This time the teacher stood up and gave a glare which said: Interrupt one more time and you'll be VERY sorry. "Please accept me with favor.", Aih finished and sat down. Yet again the students went crazy. "More!" "Speech! Speech!" "Do you want to have tea after school?" "I think she's cool!" "Were you ever a voice actress in an anime role?" The teacher lost all control of the situation and barely escaped being overrun by overzealous students. "Recess....", he said before being trampled. * * * * * Ranma awoke in the darkness. Where is everyone?, he thought. "We're right here Ranma!" a voice called out from the darkness. "What?", Ranma wondered. Then shapes started coming out. It was everyone one he knew. Akane, his father, Kunou, Kodachi, Shampoo, her Great Grandmother, Mousse, Happosai, Ukyou, Ryouga, Nabiki, Kasumi. But something was wrong with them. They were all pale like...like the missing people who attacked him. "You failed us, Ranma...", they chanted and advanced on him with their claws outstretched. "You failed..." No! Ranma thought. It's only a dream. Just another dream. And then Nabiki bit him and Ukyou slashed his face. "ARRH!", Ranma screamed in pain. "It's not a dream! It's a nightmare!", Ranma yelled out. But the legion continued, "You failed...." "Stay back! Please I tried my best...!", Ranma pleaded, not sure what they were talking about, but he wasn't about to argue with them. Soon he was overwhelmed with the crowd. But from the corner of his vision he saw a strange man wearing a long green coat. He seemed to be smiling wickedly at him. And all the time he was eating a bag of... popcorn? Immediately Ranma woke up in a cold sweat. Ranma: Oh my head... is this what a hangover feels like? Tofu: Good morning Ranma, how are you feeling? Your wounds have been healing very nicely. Ranma: Well, I'm a strong guy. I always heal fast. Tofu: You better eat something... [ rolls in a cartful of food ] Ranma: All for me?! Tofu: Ranma, you need to build up your strength. After all, you've been asleep for over 2 days. Ranma: TWO days?! Tofu: I was expecting three. Ranma: Okay, so what now? Tofu: Ranma, I have reason to believe that an army of bloodsucking monsters will be the city. Ranma: Why do you think that? Tofu: Well, remember the six deceased. Ranma: Yeah, Akane and I found the first one. Tofu: I was asked to examine the bodies. They were all almost completely drained of blood. And they had tiny puncture marks over their jugulars. Ranma: But those people I fought... Tofu: No, they were still alive in a sense: they were still warm blooded, I managed to take some samples. This is the part I didn't understand. They were nothing like the original victims. Ranma: So then are there two parties behind this? One kidnapps, the other sucks people's blood? Tofu: I can't say. What I want to do is re-examine those six bodies again. This time I want a more thorough autopsy. Ranma: But weren't they already buried? Tofu: Ranma, how do you feel about a little grave robbing?... * * * * * Outside the in the school yard, Aih was still being harrassed by a bunch of students asking her out. Aih just walked around the yard and tried to them and until recess was over. If anyone started getting to pushy, she would just give them one of her classic icy stares that could freeze a barbecue. She didn't really care for the attention. From a distance Kay could only stare at her. Every time someone got too close to her he would just feel a twinge of jealously in his heart. But he knew he could trust Aih-san, she wasn't that kind of punk girl to do such things. He kept telling himself to stop being so glum. It wasn't as if they were an item or anything. Sure they'll were good friends, but that was about it. I mean the two of them never even really kissed. Still, deep down he wished they were closer. Even all this time and all their sharing, Kay still didn't really know exactly what kind of relationship they had. Perhaps he should confront her with his inner feelings, but times like this, and from past experiences, he was just too afraid that the feelings weren't mutual. If things didn't work out, their friendship might never be the same. So he took the coward's way out. He wasn't proud of it but it was the only solution he could live and work with. At this point just being friends with Aih-san, to be near her, was enough for him. "Excuse, restaurant?" Kay yelped out in suprise and then scolded himself. He would have to stop his daydreaming in his line of work. One mistake like this and he could have been killed. Then he saw the source of the voice. It was from a really cute blue-haired girl of about 15 or 16. Her hair was arranged in a cross between a ponytail and a criss-cross braid. She must be chinese, he thought. For one thing she was wearing a chinese style top and pants in a matching color of lavendar and.... "Tell... Way.... Chinese.... Restaurant...", the girl continued. ...she had a thick Chinese accent when she spoke. "Uh..., are you hungry?", Kay asked, not sure what to make of this. "Kay-kun, what do you think you're doing?!", Aih demanded. "Whaaa! Aih-san.", Kay exclaimed. "What are you doing fratenizing with girls?!", Aih demanded. How did she get here so fast?!, thought Kay. And did he imagine it but, did Aih-san look a little jealous? That was good, that meant she liked him at least a little. But then again that was also bad since she was a combat expert. "You were supposed to keep a low profile and just observe, REMEMBER?", Aih scolded. Then again mabye she wasn't. "Well you see...", Kay stuttered. "Way... Chinese restaurant..", the girl persisted. Aih finally noticed the girl. "", Aih asked the girl in semi-fluent cantonese.++ "", the girl asked, a little suprised. Aih allowed herself a little smile. Aih: Girl: Aih: Girl: Aih: Lets see. [ Looks at a nearby map ] Girl: Aih: Girl: Arigatou... gozaimasu... Em-san... Aih: [ smiles ] You're improving. Girl: Lotion... 1000 thanks. "Bye" Aih: Goodluck. [ The girl leaves ] Kay: So what was that all about? Aih: Oh, she was just lost. I helped her out. Kay: That was nice of you. Aih: It was no big deal. Kay: You know, I think you have a weakness for those cute little sister types... Aih: Oh? You think she's cute? Do you think she was prettier than me? Kay: ..No no! I didn't mean... Aih: [ laughing ] Just kidding! Kay: So where was she heading? Aih: Oh, just this chinese restaurant called the Nekohanten.... Kay: Hmm, now why does that name sound familiar... What was her name anyway? Aih: I'm not sure... [ thinking ] What did she say?... * * * * * [ Flashes of various scenes of people in green military uniform fighting another army in dark leather. The two sides employ various weapons and vehicles such as state-of-the-art battle tanks, helecopters and jets. ] [ Song ] GI Jo a real Japanese hero! Gi Jo is there! It's GI Jo against Venom the enemy. Fighting to save the day GI Jo takes the fight to the land and sea and air Gi Jo is there! [ Announcer ] GI Jo is the code name for the nations's top special missions force. Their purpose: To stop Venom, a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule Asia! [ Song ] Never gives up, fights till the battle's won, GI Jo is there, GI Jo, A real Japanese hero! GI Jo! [ A long shot of all the members of the team lined up, all together they raise their arms and yell out: ] Oi, Jo! [Announcer] Weekdays at 4:30 on Channel X [ Scene: A young girl of about 4 or 5 is running. All around her is a blazing forest fire and she's caught in the middle of it. Another girl of about 10 or so is running after her ] Girl: Mei! Mei! Mei: Sister! I'm scared! [ Suddenly a big flue furry cat/owl like creature flying down on a child's top sweeps both of them to safety. From a safe distance away the three of them witness the devastating effects of the fire. ] Mei: Totoro, you can save the forest, can't you? [ The Totoro just looks away sadly and shakes its head. Totoro looks toward the audience and puts on a fire marshal's hat. On it are the words: "Only you can prevent Forest Fires" ] * * * * * Ranma: I can't believe I'm doing this... by myself too. Ranma: What do you mean I'm going alone?! Tofu: Well Mr. Soun is still in a coma. And someone should keep an eye on him in case he condtion deteriorates. Ranma: I can't go by myself! It's midnight! Only a fool or maniac goes grave robbing in the middle of the morgue by himself. Besides, weren't they cremated? Tofu: No, they haven't received a proper burial yet. The town elders decided to keep their bodies in the morgue for further possible study until this whole incident is behind us. Ranma: Why don't we just call up the authorities. Tofu: Ranma, there is no time to lose. We can't waste time with beaucratic red tape. That's why you're going in at night. All you have to do is bring me one of the bodies. It's not that difficult. Think of it as just running another errand for me. You're not scared are you Ranma? Ranma: No...Of course not... Ranma: Me and my big mouth. [ Ranma sneaks into a building room. He hears a commotion in the room. Ranma looks in, in the room he sees a tall man wearing dark blue robes. He is in the middle of decapitating someone's head, namely by ripping their head off. Already two previous victims lie on the ground. Anothe person tries to get away but the stranger quickly grabs him by the leg and pulls him in. ] Ranma: ....!! Stranger: You can't escape me, you fool. Prepare for true oblivion... Ranma: I won't forgive you! Stranger: What? [ turning ] [ When the stranger turns we get to see his face. But he doesn't have one. Instead, a smooth stainless metal circular mask is in the middle of his hood, the only features on it being two small eye slits. And on his chest seems to be the markings of four small bullet holes ] Ranma: ...Monster! Stranger: Another one! Ranma: You will die for your crimes! [ Ranma takes a flying leap at the stranger only to encounter a puff of mist ] Ranma: What.. [ At the other end of the room, a swirl of mist starts forming, and a deep voice like the whail of a ghost calls out.. ] I am the terror that guards in the night I am the laser that burns away darkness I am.... FireWater!+ Ranma: Is that your name or another metaphor? [ From within the mist, a form of a man appears, "FireWater" leaps out from it and tries to grab Ranma's neck. Ranma quickly dodges and rolls out of range. ] FireWater: Yes, you are a quicker one than these other deadbeats. Ranma: You won't find me such easy prey like the others. [ Ranma throws a chair and throws it at him. FireWater easily catches it smashes it to pieces with his bear hands ] [ Ranma and FireWater trade blows for several minutes. However as the fight progresses, it is clear that Ranma is outmatched. Ranma couldn't dodge a side kick given by FireWater into his wounded side. Groping in pain, Ranma just stood there while FireWater moved in to grab him a headlock ] FireWater: The last sound you hear will be the snapping of your own vertebra. Ranma: ..... * * * * * [ At the Nekohanten Resaurant ] Shampoo: Thank you please come again. Next! Please wait just a moment... Girl: Shampoo: [ She runs up to the girl and hugs her ] Lo-shin: Shampoo: Lo-shin: Shampoo: Lo-shin: Shampoo: Lo-shin: Shampoo: Lo-shin: Shampoo: Lo-shin: [ Shampoo hurriedly opens the letter and starts reading it. Suddenly she starts crying. Lo-shin tries to comfort her ] Lo-shin: Shampoo: Lo-shin: Shampoo: [ There comes an explosion. The door flies apart. The two girls scream in suprise and are buried under a small amount of rubble. The girls groggily pick themselves up. A figure walks in. ] Mousse: Shampoo! [ Strangely enough, Mousse is wearing DARK glasses ] Shampoo: Mousse...? Mousse: I have come for you. You must suffer by my hand. [ Mousse roughly grabs Shampoo by the neck ] Shampoo: You're hurting me! Mousse: [ huskly ] No, not yet. I have much to pay you back, for all the humiliation you caused me. I was completely devoted to you, but you threw me away to run after some half/girl foreign Jap transvestite!+++ Shampoo: Well that was better than a half/duck blind wimp! Mousse: [ squeezing harder ] That's it Shampoo, make me angrier. Shampoo: Mousse, you're killing me! Mousse: How does it feel Shampoo? Do you enjoy me as the pure warrior? Do you enjoy my new darker side? No more holding back on you Shampoo. It's time you learned what it means to be tamed by a real man! [ Suddenly Lo-shin appears and kicks Mousse in the chin ] Lo-shin: [ Mouse drops Shampoo but quickly recovers, he pulls out a mace out of his sleeves and swings it at her. His counter attack is so swift Lo-shin couldn't dodge or block. It hits her in the left rib area ] Mousse: Stay out of this little girl! This is a man's business! Lo-shin: Mousse: Let's just say, my eyes have been opened. [ Shampoo comes running back and manages to knock Mouse down. She's armed with her two "balloon" rods ] Shampoo: Lo-shin, run! I'll hold him off! Get help from Ranma! Lo-shin: But... Shampoo: He's crazy! Go! There's no time! Please, for my sake go! [ Shampoo barely manages to block Mousse's sword attack. Lo-shin takes her cue and runs off ] Lo-shin: [thinking ] Mousse. Mousse: It didn't matter, I have no interest in her. It's you I want! Shampoo: Then come and get me! Mousse: Very well. Just the two of us. And only one shall stand... [ Shampoo and Mousse each face off. Their gird themselves mentally as well as physically. Both prepare themselves for a clash of steel and strength and of skill as well. In a spring motion the two leap into battle with no reservations. The only purpose they have in their minds is to win and even to kill if becessary. Mousse and Shampoo duel off in a frenzy of thrusts, counters and kicks . In a sense it is a dance, deadly yet beautiful. On and on the two move about, as if in some great stage performance, each step seems pre-planned and executed with complete grace. But at last, the dance must end, with only one victor and one crown. ] Mousse: [panting] It's over Shampoo. [ Shampoo lied on the ground, bruised and battered. Her voice cracked with gasps and coughs. Her body overcome by spasms. Her clothes torn and scraped. Her eyes wet with tears. Most of all, her mind screaming at the fact of her defeat and plauged by some unknown feeling of betrayal. But still she resisted, her mouth set in a deteremined lock. She may be beaten but she would never give up. Her Great Grandmother taught her better ] Shampoo: What..What are you doing? [ Mousse stands over her with sword in hand, and moves in ever so slowly. The camera fades away and concentrates on the shadows. The sword's shadow comes in close and enters Shampoo's trembling form. We hear Shampoo struggling to control her terror, but soon it overwelms her and her cries pierce the air to be coupled by a sinister laugh, of one enjoying in another's suffering. ] Shampoo: What are you doing?! Stop!!! [ In the shadows lies a piece of paper. The camera moves in and we see it is the remains of the torn letter Shampoo received. On it the following words are written: "Shampoo, I might not last the next battle. The tribe feud has escalated into higher and higher levels than we could have imagined. But the reason I'm writing is not about me. Your childhood friend, Lo-shin should be delivering you this message. I have sent her away from all this destruction. Take care of her Shampoo. I decided that she would best take the news from you with the least amount of pain. When you feel she's ready, you duty is to inform her that her entire family is not at the front battle lines, but that they have already died defending the village. Comfort her. Raise her up in the old ways. You two may be our last seed. Tell "son" that he was a good rival and despite all our differences I respect.." * * * * * [ From a distance we see Agent Green Coat. He's munching on some popcorn ] Green: Boy wasn't that just depressing? A young man driven by his evil side to destroy what he loves the most. Don't worry, we may be the bad guys, but we're not *that* bad. After all, this series is just PG rated, we can't have too much gore or we'll lose our kiddie market. Good fight scene though. [ turns away from audience and walks into the scene ] Hey Mousse! Stop torturing her, we need her in one piece. Mousse: What?! But I didn't even shave her bald yet! I didn't even get to cut off her fingers one by one and laugh like it was incredibly funny. You said I could make her suffer any way I wanted to once I defeated her. You promised! Green: Well too bad. You know we want her body in one whole piece. You already got to bruise her up pretty badly. Mousse: No! I want more blood! More pain! Besides how are you going to stop me?! Green: Stupid question. * * * * * [ The door to the morgue cabinet snaps open as one of the bodies crawls out ] FireWater: What! More Fang foot soldiers. Ranma: Fang?! What the heck is a Fang soldier? FireWater: Don't play dumb with me, you... Hey, kid you're sure bleeding a lot for an undead trooper. Ranma: Who's an undead trooper!? [ At Dr. Tofu's clinic ] Tofu: [ Looking in a microscope ] From the samples I've taken, they bear remarkable similarities to ledgendary vampires. Maybe I should have told Ranma to go to the morgue first thing in the morning. [ back at the town Morgue ] FireWater: Then you're not an evil vampire monster? [ Snaps the neck of another undead assailant ] Ranma: Then you're not a kidnapping/murdering maniac? [ Gives a chop at a lunging corpse ] * * * * * [ In the Fang headquaters ] Commander: Report. Purple: All goes according to plan. Green Coat reports that the target has been acquired and the slave performed remarkably well. Although it was a little overzealous. Commander: Good, have him hit the next target: Utchan, with the other one. Any word on the six? Purple: They should have finished their transformation tonight. With any luck they'll be compelled to return here. Commander: Good, anything else? Purple: Latest intelligence reports the Wandering one was seen headed in this direction. Commander: WHAT?! Call central for reinforcements, if he should interfere... Purple: ...this area will become a 500 feet deep hole at ground zero.... * * * * * [ In the night a figure is wandering around the city ] Lo-shin: Please excuse me, does anyone know the way to Tendo dojo?! -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= + Yes, for those who watch DarkWing Duck, you'll recognize this ++ I am guessing she speaks the Cantonese dialect +++ No insult intended, you just have understand Mousse's incredible hatred for Ranma and Mousse isn't Japanese . From rec.arts.anime Sun Feb 7 20:51:12 1993 Newsgroups: rec.arts.anime Path: lysator.liu.se!isy!liuida!sunic!mcsun!Germany.EU.net!news.netmbx.de!mailgzrz.TU-Berlin.DE!math.fu-berlin.de!ira.uka.de!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!news.columbia.edu!cunixf.cc.columbia.edu!krim From: KAL Rim Subject: [FanFic] Ranma: Darker Half - Part IV Message-ID: <1993Feb6.194108.16070@news.columbia.edu> Originator: krim@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu Sender: usenet@news.columbia.edu (The Network News) Nntp-Posting-Host: cunixf.cc.columbia.edu Reply-To: krim@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (KAL Rim) Organization: The Krimlin Date: Sat, 6 Feb 1993 19:41:08 GMT Lines: 941 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= [ A slow spooky BGM starts up.... ] Bloodythirsty monsters have awakened and gathered for conquest Human victims have been abducted and slain Responses have risen in outrage against the actions. In the final night when fiends and humans clash, a young fighter Wanders in and the story begins.... [ From the darkness two forms emerge. One is a tall man in dark blue robes with a shining metal circular mask with only two eye slits as the features. The other is a young girl wearing a white kimono, her hair is arranged in a single braid to one side. She gives a twirl and we see her face. Ranma-chan opens up a fan and throws it at the audience. ] Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction: The Darker Half Part IV -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= [ Scene: Tendo Dojo, night, during a thunderstorm ] Nabiki: Hmm, I'm kind of dubious about all these missing persons. Five people who owe me money just completely vanished. Sister, did you notice some odd things happening in town? Kasumi: Well, the night market seems less crowded than usual. [ Thunder roars ] Kasumi: I'm getting worried. Ranma, Father, Mr. Saotome and Akane all haven't returned yet. And with this storm starting up, I hope they don't catch a cold. Nabiki: There's got to be a way to make some money out of this. I know! I'll place bets on who will disappear next! Or, what the count of disappearing people will rise to! Hmmm [does some calculating ] [ More Thunder ] Kasumi: Oh! That was the door bell. Akane is that you? Voice: Please open, it's Kunou. Nabiki: [ to herself ] Kunou? [ Louder ] Akane and the pony-tailed girl aren't here. Kunou: I want to talk business with you. [ The Thunder roars again ] Nabiki: Business? [ suspicious ] about what? Kunou: I'll make it worth your while. Nabiki: Not interested. Kunou: I'm willing to pay 3000 yen up front. Nabiki: Well, okay. [ opening ] What do you want? Kunou: You. [ The Thunder escalates into a frenzy. In the next lightening flash we see Kunou, he is soaked to the skin with rain. He has a blank look on his face and his eyes are a burning red. ] * * * * * [ NOW: It is two nights later, a blue robed man and Ranma are running in the night. Neither says anything during their run. ] Ranma: .... Man: .... Ranma: .... Man: Is it much further? Ranma: Not far now. Man: That's what you said 10 minutes ago. Ranma: Well, even less further now. Man: .... Ranma: .... [ The two run on ] * * * [ At the okonamiyaki store: Utchan ] Ukyou: I don't know why I let you stay here. Tsubame: Because I told you I'll work for free (just to be near you Ukyou-sama) Ukyou: I hope you're worth the trouble. Oh! Customers. Please come in! [ Suddenly the room is filling with black rose petals ] Ukyou: What?! Kodachi: Hohohohohohoho! Prepare to meet your end Kuonji Ukyou! [ Kodachi appears wearing her leotard and dark glasses ] Ukyou: You! [ to herself ] That bad girl who is bothering Ran-chan! [ out loud ] You and what army?! [ The wall collapses and an army of zombies enter ] Ukyou: .... You wrecked my store... scared away my customers I won't forgive you, army or no army! Tsubame! Take care of these losers while I'll handle the rose freak. [ The battle seems even with Ukyou's flying spatelas verses Kodachi's throwing batons. Then the two close in to clash personally, each seems to be just holding their own against each other. But in the last exchange Ukyou's spatella slices Kodachi's ribbon and rings. ] Ukyou: Gotcha! uhh feel weak... Kocachi: I guess you're finally feeling the effects of my sleep spray in those rose petals. Ukyou: Why you cheater.... [ A zombie lunges for Ukyou, but she sees it and rams the end of her spatula in it's head. ] Ukyou: Not over yet... Tsubame, you're supposed to be taking care of her goons for me! Tsubame: Ukyou-sama, help!! I'm caught! Ukyou: What.. Kodachi: Chance! [ Kodachi whips out a whip and attacks with no reserve. She hits her target at Ukyou's arm. The force of her strike is so great, Ukyou drops her spatula. ] Ukyou: ahh, my.. arm... it's numb... Kodachi: Feel the sting of my scorpion whip. It's coated with sharp spikes guarenteed to render flesh apart! Taste it again! [ Kodachi lashes again, Ukyou barely dodges. The next time she swings, Ukyou manages to block with one of her smaller spatulas. ] Ukyou: Losing blood fast.. only one chance.. I have to use my special technique.... Kodachi: You can't keep this up. Die! Ukyou: Kuonji Okonomiyaki Special! [ There is a flash of light as the scene fades out ] * * * * * Purple: Central should be sending in our reinforcements. Green: When are they arriving? Purple: Any moment now. The Teleporter is sending them. Green: Oh Great! Purple: Teleportation is one of the fastest, efficient and safest ways for supernatural beings to travel. What do you have against it? Green: Do you think I like having my atoms scattered all across time and space? Besides the guy never liked me. I'm afraid he'll sneeze in the middle of his spell and teleport me into a rock. Purple: Here they come. [ In a crackle of light a mystic doorway forms, through it comes two people ] Taihen: Hi guys! Green: Taihen! It's been a while! Taihen: Yeah, I just finished that major assignment in China. Purple: Where's the rest of the reinforcements? Taihen: Here she is, one spell caster. I'm the extra muscle. [ PurpleCoat takes one look at the woman in the black hooded robe and then at Taihen ] Purple: This is it?! We're supposed to overrun the city with only two extra agents?! Taihen: Well the budget is kind of tight right now and the Boss has other things to do as well. The Boss also said that you guys are way behind schedule. Everyone is waiting for this 13th town to be subjugated for the completion of the... Green: ...pow-er nex-us. Yeah yeah yeah. We know we know. Purple: The commander is going to have a fit. Taihen: Oh, by the way, intelligence also confirms that the Wandering one is definately headed this way. Purple: Great, just great! Did any one bother to try and delay him? Taihen: And risk a confrontation? Hey, we may be some of the toughest operatives in the field but we're not crazy. * * * * * [ Closeup of Linna ] Uh, guys? Can I talk to you for a little while? It's about Priss. Well you see, she just found out that not everyone was buying our OAV series. And to but it mildly, she was kind of upset. So if you want to keep all your arms and legs, I suggest you run out and buy a copy right now. The Bubblegum OAV series. Only $35 a tape. Cheaper than a hospital bill. [ "Dance in the sweet Memories", ending song of the third season, is playing lightly in the background ] Go back to the romance. Kyousuke: A..Ayukawa... Madoka: Kasuga-kun... Go back to the music. [ A soothing saxophone blues is playing ] < Madoka singing > And I....... will al-ways love you..... Go back to the excitement. [ Exposive rock music ] Madoak: I'll give you 3 seconds to get out of here. Punks: Ayukawa!! Go back to the fun! Kyousuke: Kurumi! Let me down! Kurumi: Not until you appologize. Jingoro: rawrrr! Kyousuke: Ahhhh! Don't you want to go back to that day? Well you can! Kimagure Orange College: The series with all new stories Coming soon to a newsboard near you! [ small print: Professional actors and events have been impersonated ] * * * * * [ At Dr. Tofu's clinic, Ranma and his companion finally arrive ] Ranma: Well here it is. Well what are you waiting for? Man: Aren't you even going to ask me in? Ranma: Oh stop fooling around and get in here. Man: Fair enough. [ walks in ] Ranma: Weird guy. [ also goes in ] [ inside Tofu-sensei is looking into a microscope ] Tofu: Ah, Ranma, did you get any body samples? Ranma: Not exactly. [ Tofu looks up ] Tofu: ... Oh my, it's alive. [ Next frame Tofu-sensei is holding a staff in a stance postion ] Ranma: No no! This isn't one of them! He was investigating in the morgue too. Man: I had to destroy those six bodies before they had a chance to fully awaken. Ranma: He's somewhat of an expert on the situation. Tofu: So, what is exactly going on? Man: Okay... it's like this. I have to warn you, this might be a little hard to believe. The group you are going up against is ancient vampire guild called the Fang. They have hordes of dark minions and mystical might. They're determined to conquer all of Asia. By now they have worked themselves into a foothold in your city. I've been trying to stop the Fang from doing that, which eventually led me here. ... You don't believe me, do you? Tofu: Why don't they want to rule the world? Man: They pretty much think the rest of the world stinks and plan to blow it up after they conquer Asia. Ranma: And you are... Man: I am... myself. Ranma: .... Can we have a little more cooperation here? We're only going to be risking our lives together. Man: Alright, Alright, you're right. I'm called FireWater, I'm sort of a freelance agent that specializes in cases such as these. But me and the Fang go back, way back. Almost two... a really long time. Ranma: Is 'FireWater' your real name? FireWater: Here's my library card. Ranma: "FireWater, Jo" Tofu: Do you always wear that mask? FW: One, in my line of work, secrecy is of upmost importance. Two, it strikes terror into the hearts of my enemies Three, Trust me, you don't want to see my real face Four, ... there is no number four Ranma: I thought you were going to be serious. FW: I thought *we* were going to get down to business, not brown-nose. Tofu: Please continue, Mr. FireWater. FW: Thank you. The Fang's standard method of operation is to infiltrate a city, destroy the local police force from within, subjugate the local population and "recruit" any new troops. Namely the most strongest fighters. Ranma: So I may be next. FW: Perhaps, Tofu: There's still a large number of alternatives. And we have no idea who haven't been targetted yet. Can you narrow it down a bit further? FW: Are any of your fighters pretty young girls? Tofu: I don't think this is exactly the time for... FW: NO!! It's not like that! The absolute Fang leader has a certain *taste* for cute strong girls. Tofu: Maybe you *are* next, Ranma. FW: Can you give a listing? Ranma: Let's see, there's Shampoo, Ukyou, Akane... Akane! I completely forgot about here! Tofu: Ranma, calm down, I told Akane to leave the city two days ago. Ranma: Akane leave town? That stubborn bratty girl will never listen! She might be in danger! I have to make sure! FW: Ranma wait, we can't afford to divide our forces! Ranma! Blast... Tofu: He could have just used the telephone. * * * * * Ukyou: Kuonji Okonomiyaki Special! [ She throws a large steaming okonomiyaki at the zombies's feet. They soon start fighting over who gets to eat it. ] Kodachi: Stop it you fools! She's getting away! Ukyou: I was right. They're half starved. No wonder they look so pale and ravengous. I have to find Ran-chan... [ exits ] Kodachi: Ukyou! If you don't surrender immediately, I'm going to whip your friend to death until you do. Tsubame: Don't do it Ukyou-sama! I can endure! Kodachi: ONE [whips] Tsubame: ARRHRH! Wait, I can't take it, give yourself up! [ to himself ] I'm so weak. Kodachi: TWO! [whips again] Tsubame: Please Ukyou! ARRHR!! Kodachi: THREE! FOUR! Tsubame: ..... Kodachi: FIVE! huff puff Tsubame: [ crying ] please... I can't take it... I'm dying... Zombie1: Mistress, I think... she already... left. Kodachi: GRR!!! Who asked you! [ whips the zombie ] COWARD!! COME BACK!! FACE ME LIKE A WOMAN! It's all your fault! [ whips Tsubame over and over again ] Tsubame: Please, stop the pain, please... ARRHHH! Kodachi: I'm going to make you scream loud enough until she can hear you if she were on the other side of the country! Tsubame: Please, she won't hear you. Please stop.... Kodachi: But I've barely even started... EIGHT! Tsubame: You..you're crazy! ARRARHH! Kodachi: Hohohooho! EIGHT! EIGHT! EIGHT! Hohohohoho! In the distance we see Ukyou stumbling away, clutching her injured arm. She stops as if she hears something. But then the pain from her wound snaps her back to reality. She then rips off part of her shirt for a makeshift bandage. "Darn!", she thinks. "This is one of my better shirts." Ignoring her pain she gets up and continues on. Behind her is a bright trail of blood. * * * * * Tofu: What did you mean by: 'they destroy the local police force' FireWater: Well they all they sort of disappeared, didn't they? Tofu: Yes, a while ago. First the law enforcement, and then even the direction guides vanished. FireWater: It sounds like their standard procedure. They usually pick a low police level area. If they can't find one they make it one. First they help fight crime to lower the police man-power. Most officers then get transferred out since there seems to be no need for so many officers. Then the Fang slowly take out who ever's left. The main police headquarters is usually too swamped with paperwork to figure out exactly what's going on. Instead they just assume the police stationed there are getting too lazy with inactivity, like closing the office and going fishing. Then the Fang operatives start kidnapping people for troops. In fact that's how I found this area looking for these specifications through the police database records. Tofu: What were you doing in the police database? FW: The same thing Ranma and I were doing in the morgue. Tofu: What about the missing people Ranma encountered before, you say they weren't vampire monsters? FW: No, they were only mind induced slaves. Usually a small "kiss" from a vampire helps makes them into suscepible zombies. Like vampires they dislike sunlight but it won't kill them. Tofu: Why didn't they convert all their victims into vampires? FireWater: The Fang still need servants that can operate unhindered by their own restrictions. Each victim must have more than 4 pints of blood drained from their body and rest 3 days to transform into a vampire. They can't always wait that long. And there is only so much blood a single vampire can drink at a time. Tofu: So all their prisoners are either all zombie slaves or transformed vampires? FW: No, occasionally they keep live hypnotised spies. They still have need of untainted sacrifices... * * * In the Fang headquaters, GreenCoat is showing the newly arrived Taihen the various sites. It is also a chance for old friends to become reacquainted and talk about old times. "And that finishes the tour. The place isn't that bad." GreenCoat finished. "Well, you should have seen the other place I was stationed.", Taihen replied. "You wouldn't believe it! The girls there will let you do anything to them if you just beat them up! Oh wait, we just destroyed it. Sorry guy." "Don't worry, we have a lot of cute girls here too.", GreenCoat assured his friend. "I see PurpleCoat hasn't changed.", Taihen remarked retrosepectively. "Yeah, well don't mention it, okay?", GreenCoat warned. "Purple still hasn't forgetten about that incident with Jo.", GreenCoat said as he walked. Genuine concern seemed to be on GreenCoat's face as he just kept staring at the ground. Suddenly he spun around grinning, "Hey, you hungry?" "Starved!" "Good, because we have about 100 people we need to transform into vampires." * * * * * FireWater: Any luck calling the Tendo's? Tofu: No answer, that could mean the girls left... FW: Or that they were already captured. Keep trying until Ranma gets there to answer the phone. Tofu: Excuse me, but what are those things on your chest? FW: What these? They're just bullet holes. Tofu: Why do you have four bullet holes in your chest? FW: Because the person missed twice, she was a really bad shot. Just a minute [ flexes his chest and four bullets pop out ] Tofu: I see. * * * * * [ Ranma arrives at the Tendo Dojo. It is completely empty but there are signs of a big fight ] Ranma: Akane!! I'm too late. [ he sees a girl lying on the ground nearby] Akane! Akane? Ukyou: Help... please..me.. Ranma: Utchan! What are you doing here? Utchan, You're hurt! Stay still, I'll carry you to a doctor. [ scoops her up in his arms ] girl: Ran-chan, I'm so glad you came to save me.. [ weakly hugs him ] Ranma: uhh, actually, you came looking for me. Lo-shin: Ranma!! What think you doing? Ranma: Ow! Sh-Shampoo! eh, you're not Shampoo. Lo-shin: So, you not so stupid. Ranma: What did you hit me for?! Lo-shin: What an unfaithful one. Shampoo must be crazy. Ranma: Who are you? Lo-shin: I.. Shampoo friend. Shampoo in great danger Ranma: Hey are you okay? [ notices that Lo-shin is clutching her side ] Lo-shin: Nevermind, Shampoo need help! Ranma: I think you're the one that needs medical help. [ pokes her in her injured rib ] Lo-shin: ARRHRHARH!! [ hits Ranma ] Why you do that?! Ranma: To prove a point. Lo-shin: No time... help... [ falls unconscious ] Ranma: I thought she was injured. Great, now I have to carry her too. [ Nearby the ruins, a shadow is watching. He sees Ranma pick up both girls and runs off ] * * * The Fang Commander was getting more and more stressed every day of the conquest. If it wasn't one thing it was another. The latest orders concerning their conquest goals just made him more dismal than ever. "What is the status of the targets?", he was almost afraid to ask. "The first two targets were slightly injured but in satisfactory condition. However the latest one, Kuonji, suffered an untimely demise.", reported PurpleCoat in the usual calm collected voice the Fang Commander was used to. His own however wasn't, "What?! What happened?!", he yelled. "Apparently the Kodachi-slave was a little overzealous, she practically brought back a corpse. Kuonji is no good to us in her present condition. She's barely even recognizable.", explained PurpleCoat. "Where was GreenCoat when this was happening? He was supposed to be supervising.", I'm gonna kill him, the Commander thought. "He was taking in a movie when this happened. He was so confident of the past preformance of the slaves, he thought that the slave could handle the operation independently. It was a mistake, it won't happen again. He has been properly disciplined.", Purple responded. "I don't think making him miss the newest episode of DeepSpace9 is exactly disciplinary." "Oh, you don't know GreenCoat." The Commander sighed. "Try and stabilize Kyonji's condition. We may still be able to use her later." How in blazes are we supposed to over take a city with such a sorry strike force?!", he asked himself. "Well, sir, our new spy has come up with a plan to optimize our forces." How did PurpleCoat do that? It was almost like mindreading, but the Commander dismissed such a ridiculous thought. Well it couldn't hurt at this point to consider it. "Very well, tell me the details." * * * * * Tofu: Does it hurt? [ bandaging Lo-shin ] Lo-shin: Heh, small wound like this. Not even bruise. [ Ranma looks like he's going to say something but a glare from Lo-shin makes him change his mind. ] Tofu: What is your name, miss? Lo-shin: I... Lo-shin. Ranma: Lotion? Tofu: Well, get some rest Miss Lotion. [ outside the recuperation room ] Ranma: How is Utchan? Tofu: She should be alright, she just had a bad cut. She just needs a little rest to heal. FW: Sorry, but they're not going to get it. We need all the help we can get. Ranma: Wait a minute! FW: No! Every minute we waste we're giving FANG a chance to get stronger. Soun: He's right, whoever he is. Ranma: Mr. Tendo! Tofu: You shouldn't be up, you should be resting. Soun: No, if my city, my family, and my friends are in danger, I cannot rest! FW: Glad to hear that. Vampires are a strong bunch. We'll need every fighting person. Soun: Vampires...?! Uh, I think I'm going to be ill... FW: No time for that now! You don't have the luxuary. Ranma: Alright, let's go over what exactly we're up against. FW: Vampires are super strong and highly impervious to harm Tofu: They can only be killed by a stake through the heart, sunlight or decapitation. Soun: They drink blood. Ranma: They can transform into night creatures or mist Tofu: But garlic retards their transformation powers and keeps them at bay. Soun: They drink blood. FW: They can't enter a home uninvited. Tofu: They can also control animals and the weather. Soun: They drink blood. FW: Vampires have powerful hypnotic ability by catching eye contact. Ranma: They can be frightened off by religious symbols Soun: They drink blood. Ranma: Will you cut that out! We're already spooked enough as it is. FW: They don't age. Tofu: They can be harmed by silver and holy water. Soun: They must feed, on average, every other night to avoid losing their strength, and they feed by drinking blood. FW: But that's not all. Higher level FANG vampires can also develop magical powers such as mind control, teleportation, spell casting and worse. They can even negate some of their mystical restrictions. ... but they still drink blood, they like the taste. * * * * * Commander: Are you in tune with the Wanderer? Purple: Yes, unless he masks his presence, some one of his caliber is hard to ignore. Commander: Spell-caster, are you ready?! [ In response, the woman in the hooded robe just nods ] Purple: Wait, I feel him, he's coming! Commander: He's ahead of schedule! Purple: Closer... Closer! Commander: Get that spell up!! Purple: He's Here!!!! Green: We're too late! Purple: Wait... He's going... Going... Gone! He passed us! [ Everyone collapses in a pile of groans ] Commander: Don't celebrate yet, we were only lucky. I want that spell up as soon as possible. * * * * * This is a public message for kids: Some Basic Military Strategy [ A blond guy wearing green togs appears in the screen ] Remember, GI Jo exists is to kill terrorist scum, not save lives. Don't take any prisoners and when you shoot down their aircrafts, for pete's sake, aim for the cockpit, not the engine! The last thing you need is an enemy paratrooper. Knowing may be half the battle but it's the results that count! This was a service message by: GI Jo! [ Ataru is walking towards the breakfast table ] Ataru: mm-hmm-mm... heheheh... Boy I'm hungry, I think I'll have some some breakfast. ANNOUNCER: Good morning! Ataru: WHAT?! Who are you? What the heck are you doing in my house? ANNOUNCER: I'm here to help you choose a nutricious breakfast. Ataru: Well, it's none of your business! If I want to eat a nutricious breakfast then I'll just have some Oat-bran rice. ANNOUNCER: I hope you're hungry. Ataru: Of course I'm hungry! ANNOUNCER: Why don't you try some Total cereal? [ A hand places a bowl of Total cereal in front of Ataru ] Ataru: Forget, I'm not touching that cheap foreign stuff. ANNOUNCER: Did you know that it will take FOUR bowls of your rice to match the nutrients in ONE bowl of Total? [ 4 bowls appear in front of Ataru ] Ataru: What?! Then I'll have Brown rice. ANNOUNCER: Then you'll have to eat EIGHT bowls to match ONE bowl of Total. [ 8 bowls slide in front of Ataru ] Ataru: Fine! Then I'll eat old fashioned white rice! ANNOUNCER: Then you'll have to eat FIFTEEN bowls [ Ataru is buried in a pile of rice ] Ataru: Okay! Okay! ANNOUNCER: So what do you say? Ataru: I'm going to eat the rice! ANNOUNCER: WHAT?! Ataru: Now I have an excuse to eat 15 bowls of rice! ANNOUNCER:... I give up! I'm going back to work in the states... * * * * * Officer Zen was busy doing his paperwork when he had one of his premonitions. He wasn't sure how it happens. Whenever something pivotal was about to happen, he would just get one of his feelings. Having nothing else to do, he poured himself two cups of tea. Right on cue, Dr Kno burst into his office without even bothering to knock. He was going to have to remind Dr. Kno of proper etiquette. "Officer Zen..!", Dr. Kno started. "Have some tea, cream no sugar, correct?", Zen offered. "Umm yes. I have some bad news..." "We've lost contact with the team" "Yes, how did you..." "How do I always know? Trust me, if I knew how I know, you'd be the first to know, Dr. Kno. Anyway I had a bad feeling about this. I think we should send in E.S.P.E.R. EPSILON." "Are you crazy?! We haven't even finished running all the tests! It's the ESPolice's newest..." "I know, I know, Doctor. But I've got a hunch that our team is going to need all the help they can get." "Let's not get carried away. After all anything could have happened. Maybe they just forgot to check in. Maybe Kay-kun broke the transmitter again. Maybe..." "Maybe he and Em-chan are just in grave danger and the only thing that can save them is our most powerful unit." "But.." "Dr., No. The issue is closed. You have your orders." "Yes SIR" "Dr. Kno, please try not to forget, I'm you're superior officer." "It's hard to sir, you keep reminding me all the time." "Well, I'm just afraid you might be getting senile in your old age." "I'm only 46." "Exactly." Dr. Kno slammed the door on the way out. "He didn't even thank me for the tea, he's so rude.", Zen thought. * * * * * Lotion: So, you Ranma's fiancee? Ukyou: That's right. Lotion: And Ranma have one more fiancee? Ukyou: You got it. Lotion: So confusing, he much playboy, no? Ukyou: Well, it's kind of hard to explain. [ looks away from Lotion out into the window ] But Ran-chan is a very caring, loving... Damn. Lotion: Ranma is a... dam? He fall in another pool? Ukyou: We better tell the others. Lotion: This not too personal for Ranma? [ In Tofu-sensei's main office ] FireWater: So we have to seek out any others who may still be able to fight.. Ukyou: We've got trouble! Ranma: Utchan, you shouldn't be out of bed. Tofu: What do you mean by trouble? Ukyou: What do you call being surrounded by an angry mob? Everyone: WHAT?! Ukyou: Okay, fine. We're surrounded by an angry zombie mob! [ outside, GreenCoat is leading a mass of zombie troops waving torches in the night ] Green: Oh, it feels so good not to be on