Ranma the Patryn
Chapter 1 - Prologue
Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma, nor I intend to make any money out of this.
(as if I could). Death's Gate Cycle is the property of Margaret Weis and
Tracy Hickman, may they forgive me for doing this.
Into the Labyrinth
by Wanderer D (wanderer@hotmail.com)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Possibilities. Everything's made of possibilities, and as the Wave
tries to correct itself, it creates more and more of these. Thus, after
the Last Gate was closed, there existed the possibility that it could
be opened.
And that someone, perhaps a higher power, with the know-how would be
able to take a peek at the doings of those who would've considered
themselves gods in another time. The same 'demigods' who had discovered
mortality, and who had been trapped in a world created by some of them,
a world that was hostile, relentless, and utterly evil.
The Labyrinth; a prison. Created Eons ago by the Sartan to imprison
their equals, the only other opposing force that existed when the world
was one; the Patryns.
Loners, without trust, the Patryns had been easy victims despite their
power.
Since they wouldn't trust each other even in the face of a common
enemy, they fell one by one to the hands of the Sartan, who, in their
imagined justice, sent them to a 'Correction House': the Labyrinth.
It was supposed to be a test. A difficult one, that would teach the
Patryns how to live peacefully.
Humbled, they would come out of this test and live in a beautiful city
built by their enemies; the Nexus, where they would live under the
watchful eye of the Sartan.
However, when the Sartan created this world, they did so in fear and
hatred for their enemies. And even as it was created with the best
intentions, the hidden anger of the Sartan seeped through the Runes
guarding it and gave it malevolent life.
Now, Eons after it's creation, the Sartan and Patryns are all trapped
inside, by the power of two of them: Haplo the Patryn and Alfred the
Sartan, who knew that should any of the races escape, they would free
the evil of the Dragon-Snakes once again on the four worlds created
after the Sundering.
It is the time of hope.
Thanks to the combined efforts of the Patryn Leader, Vasu and the new
Leader of the Council of Seven, Balthazar, Sartan and Patryns share a
common role: Survival. And thanks to these two leaders, Sartan and
Patryn will fight together.
And hopefully, learn to live together.
Into this chaos peeked two representatives of this 'higher power'.
Unseen by the people and creatures of this world, they contemplated the
seemingly futile efforts of the Sartan and Patryns to save those who
were still deep inside the Labyrinth, and still try to defend themselves
against the forces of the Dragons-snakes.
"Some would say that they got what they were looking for," Urd
muttered.
Her companion nodded. "Yet, it is ironic how bitter enemies should
try to make the best of what they have. It would do to help them a
little. The Serpents will get stronger each day, feeding of the fear
of those still trapped inside... and the desperation of those outside,
who can hear them cry out in the night."
Urd glanced at Belldandy. "And the Dragons of Pryan?"
Belldandy shook her head. "Hope will fade slowly from the Labyrinth, and
the dragons will weaken."
Urd gazed through the possibilities of the Wave. This was not their
universe, but Kami-sama had sent them here for a reason. Urd noticed
that it was within the realm of possibility to do something about it.
She called her sister's attention to it. Belldandy nodded, seemingly
having thought of the same thing.
***
Genma sat over the metal plate he used to cover the pit. He flinched
ever so slightly when one of Ranma's screams was particularly high
pitched even muffled by the plate, those bothered him a lot. Other
than those, he was able to block out the moans, screams, groans,
meows, hisses and the sound of hundreds of pointed claws scratching
the walls of the pit and the flesh of his son.
The martial artist had decided that this third time would be the last.
If his ungrateful son could not learn the technique, then to hell with
the boy. He couldn't stand any more of this. The sausages and fish had
not been cheap. And his unskilled heir had the temerity to actually
ignore the training giving a group of starving animals a scratch-pole
and free food.
Pathetic.
Genma then noticed that the mewing and screams had stopped. Carefully,
he stood up and stretched, looking up at the moon. Seemingly, it had
taken a couple of hours for it to finish. He started to lift the plate
when it flew up suddenly, followed by a small shadow.
Genma stared as his son landed on all fours, covered in blood and
scratches.
"S-son... you've done it! You've learnt the Cat Fist!"
Ranma's only response was a hiss as he jumped towards Genma, hands
emulating claws.
Genma's screams woke up more than one neighbor, and when they arrived,
Genma was unconscious, covered in deep gashes. Of Ranma, there was no
sign.
***
Neko-Ranma ran on all fours towards the forest. His instincts told
him to flee the men and women with the light, as they would probably
hurt him too.
His awakening to pain, and the subsequent battle had left him confused.
He noticed a cave, near the base of the mountain next to the forest.
He didn't stop to think that he hadn't seen that cave before... he just
wanted out! Neko-Ranma ran into the cave that sometimes seemed too far,
and sometimes as close as a short leap away.
Finally, when Neko-Ranma felt that it wasn't worth the effort, he found
himself entering the cavern... and then he wasn't in one any more.
***
Belldandy and Urd watched Ranma cross, unknowingly, Death's Gate.
"It's done." Urd muttered. "Now this world's Ranma will have a chance
to a different life."
Belldandy smiled half-heartedly. "Let's just hope he survives."
Together, both sisters turned around and faded away.
***
This had been an eventful day in the life of Rue. Ten years ago,
she had been left behind with a group of Squatters, Patryns who lived
in groups, unlike her parents, who had been Runners.
Rue hadn't blamed them for leaving her behind. At such a young age she
would've become a nuisance to them, getting them in unnecessary danger
and possibly getting all of them killed.
However, this morning, she and the nomad tribe she was traveling with,
had been attacked by Tiger-men.
The fearful creatures, stronger physically than most Patryn had
attacked in a large group, just when they were close to the Last Gate!
All of a sudden, a large, dragon with golden-green and golden-blue
scales, had swooped down, low enough for a group of Patryns to jump off
it's back.
Together, their own warriors and these Patryns had fought off the Tiger
men, which the Dragon attacked with its fire when they had gone far
enough.
Then, another surprise, not all of these Patryns were Patryns at all!
Some were Sartan! The ancient enemy!
The leader of the group was a Patryn, however, and he approached the
headman to talk with him. Rue was close enough to hear some of the
conversation and ran off to tell the others that they were to be
escorted out of the Labyrinth.
Finally, the last surprise. The headman called Rue back to where he
and the stranger were talking.
"This is Rue, Haplo." he said to the tall man.
Haplo knelt down in front of her, looking up to meet her eyes. Rue was
ten gates old. Haplo looked up at the headman, who nodded.
"My name is Haplo, Rue." He said.
Rue couldn't believe it. This man, a warrior, a runner and leader of
a group that could control both Dragons and Sartan was crying! He
touched the side of her head and moved her chestnut colored hair to
the side, so he could see her eyes clearly.
"You have your mother's eyes..." He said, smiling.
Rue stared. She knew that smile. A quiet smile. She had seen it for
a long time, whenever she reached a river, or whenever she looked
at herself in a mirror. It was her smile.
Then, the impact of what he had just said struck. "You... know my
mother?" Rue asked, eyes wide. "My real mother?"
Haplo nodded. "And I also know your father." He smiled more fully.
"Quite well, I should add."
Rue jumped into his arms, as he cradled her. "I'm sorry Rue... I
should have brought you with me... I should've never left you alone..."
Rue sniffed. Then turned around, ashamed that her own father would see
her crying. She then noticed one of the Sartan walking up towards them.
She put up a brave face, tried to show the enmity to the Sartan she
had been taught.
Then, the Sartan, a balding man, stumbled and fell to the ground with
a 'whoop'. She stared. This... this couldn't be one of the enemies,
the fearful Sartan that had imprisoned them...
"Alfred..." She hear Haplo sigh, and saw him stand up and help the
Sartan up.
She stared as Haplo, her father, guide Alfred towards her. "Alfred, I
want you to meet Rue. My daughter."
Alfred stared at her as if she'd suddenly sprouted two heads.
"You mean..." he asked, turning to face Haplo.
The later nodded.
"Then..." he knelt in front of Rue staring at her. "All those times...
all those times you went back into this place... the Labyrinth to
search for her..."
Rue was thinking fast. Was this true... had her father conquered the
Labyrinth once, only to come back later to search for her?
"But... how can you be sure it's her?" Alfred asked suddenly. Rue's
stomach grew cold.
"It is her, Alfred. The headman recognized me, he remembered Merit...
and... look at her, Alfred..."
The Sartan turned to look more closely at her. She tried a small smile.
"It is her!" Alfred said, awed. She could see the happiness burning in
this Sartan's eyes, happiness for her, and for her parents. She already
liked him.
A signal was given. Apparently everyone was ready to leave. As they
walked forth, the Dragon circled above to protect them. And after a
couple of hours they had reached the Final Gate.
The Final Gate was the most dangerous part of the Labyrinth. At the far
end, one could clearly see the exit to the Nexus, but the way was
nothing more than plains. It offered no cover whatsoever, and it was
full of horrible creatures. Griffin, Wolfen... whatever the Labyrinth
would want to throw to those who would escape it.
The caravan slowed it's pace. Although Rue could tell everyone in her
tribe wanted to rush down to the end. But Haplo stopped them. The Patryns
and Sartan that had come with him stopped them.
To give in to a wild rush would only result in their deaths.
As they walked, Rue noticed something. A Chaodyn. Only one. Alone, it
wouldn't attack. Suddenly, there were two Chaodyn.
She had never fought the ugly insect-like creatures. But she knew how
to fight them. The Chaodyn's exo-skeleton was very hard to penetrate,
however, if you hurt it, you would not be fighting one, but two, then
four, then eight if you continued fighting. The only way to kill a
Chaodyn is to hit it in the heart. Kill it before it knows it's dead.
She looked as yet another Chaodyn appeared. Scared, she grabbed hold of
Haplo.
He looked at where she pointed, and his eyes grew wide. Quickly calling
a halt, he and the rest of the warriors ran towards the Chaodyn.
With spells they trapped most of the creatures, finished first with
those that were still free, then with the ones trapped.
Nobody questioned if it was right or wrong to kill a trapped and
defenseless enemy. In the Labyrinth, you either killed or were killed.
Haplo returned, holding a child of about her age. He was unconscious,
covered in scratches and blood. But he was alive. It was incredible
that someone so young had caused a group of Chaodyn so much trouble.
She kept watch over him, noticing the lack of tattoos. A shout distracted
her, and she looked up.
Then, she forgot all about him.
They had reached the Nexus.
She was out of the Labyrinth.
***
The entrance to the Nexus was heavily guarded by Patryns, Sartan and
Dragons.
Rue watched, amazed how everyone seemed to be living in apparent
harmony. Living in the Labyrinth had taught her to be observant, and
she noticed that despite everything, Sartan kept to Sartan, and
Patryns with their own.
"How sad," she thought. "that even now, after achieving all of this,
they still can't stand each other." She risked a glance at her father
and Alfred, who were together trying to re-animate the boy.
Word spread fast, and soon the leaders of both races came running.
Rue was surprised to notice that, unlike the custom inside the
Labyrinth, the Patryn leader, a man named Vasu, was obviously not the
strongest fighter.
He was not lean and muscular, he was... rounded... soft looking. The
leader of her own tribe looked at him doubtfully, but, following custom,
talked deferentially to those who would admit them into their midst.
Rue waited with the others until both, Vasu and Balthazar had welcomed
their tribe, then ran to join Haplo and Alfred.
She stood by them as they discussed what to do.
"... you sure?" Alfred was asking her father.
"Yes... definitely. Although I don't know why his parents didn't tattoo
his name at least." Haplo answered, looking at Ranma's bare skin.
"Maybe... maybe his parents were killed before they were able to name
him." Alfred noted.
The boy coughed and started to twist. Both, the Patryn and the Sartan
gave him room to stand. Rue peeked closer.
Haplo, noticing her, wrapped his arm protectively, check that, lovingly
over her shoulders.
The boy finally sat up, and looked around confused.
Alfred sat in front of him. "Who are you?" he asked.
"Ranma." the boy answered, still looking around in awe.
Rue felt a twinge of envy. This boy, of her own age had managed to get
to the Last Gate, and had fought off Chaodyn long enough to be rescued.
And her? she had traveled protected, in comparison, all her life.
***
Ranma looked around the place. All over, people with Tattoos covering
their bodies, except for the head and undersides of the hands, or the
other robe covered men and women were talking, mounting guard or
moving around.
The walls next to him were covered in shining drawings that glowed red
and blue.
Above him, he could make out giant lizards covered in glistening
scales. He was so entranced by the sights that he ignored the bald
man's next question. Finally, he looked back at the two men and the
young girl that were next to him.
"What?" he asked.
"I asked how old you were?" the bald man asked again. His way of
speaking was strange. When he heard him talk, Ranma also saw images
in his mind.
"I'm ten years old."
Alfred looked startled. Haplo frowned. Ranma hadn't used the
characteristic term 'gates' in reference to age, he had used the mench
word 'years'.
"How did you get here?" Haplo asked.
"I..." unknowingly transmitting mental images to the other three, he
subconsciously revived the cat fist training.
The others were subjected to panic, images of claws and hisses, shouts
and clawing at the wall, trying to get away.
Haplo grabbed Ranma by the shoulders, and shook him softly. "Don't
worry, you're at the Nexus now. The Labyrinth can't hurt you."
Ranma's tension relaxed as Haplo worked a sleeping spell on him. Soon,
Ranma was asleep.
***
Ranma woke up later on, safely tucked inside a bed. A young pale man of
about twenty eight smiled at him when he opened his eyes.
"Welcome to the land of the living, Ranma." he said.
"Who are you?" the boy asked, taking a look at his host. He was not a
fighter, obviously, although he had sad eyes that talked about long
suffering, but something in his smile spoke of having found happiness.
"My name is Jorel." the man answered bowing. "I... we, Usha and I, will
be your guardians for a while."
"My guardians?!" Ranma asked looking at him in surprise.
"Yes. Something like a surrogate family, if you will." Jorel answered.
"But..." Ranma stopped. While he had been asleep, he had dreamt of a
tall man, dressed completely in black, who had told him something...
Ranma closed his eyes, trying to remember.
His mind opened and the whiteness returned.
"What is this?!" Ranma had demanded, floating in whiteness.
"This is the realm of dreams, Sir, where some of us live." a voice
had answered.
Turning around, Ranma had faced a gentleman. Imposing- dressed all in
black: black breeches black velvet coat, black silk stockings; white
hair, tied in back with a black ribbon.
"What am I doing here?" Ranma asked. "Am I asleep?"
"Yes," answered the man. He appeared amused. "You are asleep, but this
is no dream, young sir."
"I have come here to tell you that you are not in your world. You were
brought here for a reason: the Wave tries to correct itself. Here, you
will learn the skills you need to learn to survive, and help others.
Someday, you might go back to Earth, for now, take what these people
are offering. Learn from them. And live."
Try as he might he couldn't remember anything else... other than
more fragments which he couldn't place in any order at all.
Jorel was waiting patiently.
"I... thank you for taking me in..." Ranma answered, bowing.
Jorel smiled. "The pleasure is all ours. Now, come, Ranma. I will
introduce you to my wife."
Ranma followed Jorel into the small kitchen, where another young woman,
covered in tattoos was preparing to fry a skinned rabbit.
Somehow... she didn't really seem the motherly type, while at the
same time she managed to seem... motherly.
She was slender. She had strong muscles and moved about with the grace
of a warrior. Her tattoos drew Ranma's immediate attention.
"Why is she tattooed all over?" Ranma asked Jorel, who seemed a little
surprised at the question.
Usha answered for him, turning around and smiling at Ranma. "This, son,
are Runes. I will teach you about these, and Jorel will teach you about
Sartan Runes."
Ranma nodded. "Um..."
"Yes, Ranma?" Usha asked.
"Well, I... I would like to know if you knew someone who was a good
fighter? I would like to continue training..."
Usha smiled. "I'll train you."
"You?" Ranma appeared dubious. Sure, she looked capable but... she was
a girl.
"You'll learn," Jorel said, putting his hand on Ranma's shoulder. "that
Usha is quite a warrior. She's fought in a couple of wars, already!"
Ranma's eyes shined. "Really?" He asked Usha, who nodded back.
"Tell me about it!" Ranma insisted as he helped Jorel prepare the table
for dinner.
"Well, it all started when a man named Haplo arrived in Abri..." Usha
started.
***
Outside the window an old man in gray robes, with a battered, pointy hat,
almost sneezed.
"Well, he's already blending in." He muttered.
"That he is, Sir." The man in black answered.
"You think he might want to join her Majesty's Secret Service?"
"I very much doubt it, Sir." The man answered, taking hold of the older
man's arm and walking him away.
"But he'd be an excellent agent!"
"Most probably, Sir." The man answered patiently. "Now, we must leave."
"Ah." The old man nodded. "Q must be waiting."
"No sir, I believe you wanted to talk to M."
"Quite right, quite right..."
The old man and the gentleman in black continued talking, until they seemed
to fade in the darkness of the night.
***
End Chapter 1
***
Comments, criticisms, etc, to my email. Try to be constructive. ^_^
Chapter 1 - Prologue
Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma, nor I intend to make any money out of this.
(as if I could). Death's Gate Cycle is the property of Margaret Weis and
Tracy Hickman, may they forgive me for doing this.
Into the Labyrinth
by Wanderer D (wanderer@hotmail.com)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Possibilities. Everything's made of possibilities, and as the Wave
tries to correct itself, it creates more and more of these. Thus, after
the Last Gate was closed, there existed the possibility that it could
be opened.
And that someone, perhaps a higher power, with the know-how would be
able to take a peek at the doings of those who would've considered
themselves gods in another time. The same 'demigods' who had discovered
mortality, and who had been trapped in a world created by some of them,
a world that was hostile, relentless, and utterly evil.
The Labyrinth; a prison. Created Eons ago by the Sartan to imprison
their equals, the only other opposing force that existed when the world
was one; the Patryns.
Loners, without trust, the Patryns had been easy victims despite their
power.
Since they wouldn't trust each other even in the face of a common
enemy, they fell one by one to the hands of the Sartan, who, in their
imagined justice, sent them to a 'Correction House': the Labyrinth.
It was supposed to be a test. A difficult one, that would teach the
Patryns how to live peacefully.
Humbled, they would come out of this test and live in a beautiful city
built by their enemies; the Nexus, where they would live under the
watchful eye of the Sartan.
However, when the Sartan created this world, they did so in fear and
hatred for their enemies. And even as it was created with the best
intentions, the hidden anger of the Sartan seeped through the Runes
guarding it and gave it malevolent life.
Now, Eons after it's creation, the Sartan and Patryns are all trapped
inside, by the power of two of them: Haplo the Patryn and Alfred the
Sartan, who knew that should any of the races escape, they would free
the evil of the Dragon-Snakes once again on the four worlds created
after the Sundering.
It is the time of hope.
Thanks to the combined efforts of the Patryn Leader, Vasu and the new
Leader of the Council of Seven, Balthazar, Sartan and Patryns share a
common role: Survival. And thanks to these two leaders, Sartan and
Patryn will fight together.
And hopefully, learn to live together.
Into this chaos peeked two representatives of this 'higher power'.
Unseen by the people and creatures of this world, they contemplated the
seemingly futile efforts of the Sartan and Patryns to save those who
were still deep inside the Labyrinth, and still try to defend themselves
against the forces of the Dragons-snakes.
"Some would say that they got what they were looking for," Urd
muttered.
Her companion nodded. "Yet, it is ironic how bitter enemies should
try to make the best of what they have. It would do to help them a
little. The Serpents will get stronger each day, feeding of the fear
of those still trapped inside... and the desperation of those outside,
who can hear them cry out in the night."
Urd glanced at Belldandy. "And the Dragons of Pryan?"
Belldandy shook her head. "Hope will fade slowly from the Labyrinth, and
the dragons will weaken."
Urd gazed through the possibilities of the Wave. This was not their
universe, but Kami-sama had sent them here for a reason. Urd noticed
that it was within the realm of possibility to do something about it.
She called her sister's attention to it. Belldandy nodded, seemingly
having thought of the same thing.
***
Genma sat over the metal plate he used to cover the pit. He flinched
ever so slightly when one of Ranma's screams was particularly high
pitched even muffled by the plate, those bothered him a lot. Other
than those, he was able to block out the moans, screams, groans,
meows, hisses and the sound of hundreds of pointed claws scratching
the walls of the pit and the flesh of his son.
The martial artist had decided that this third time would be the last.
If his ungrateful son could not learn the technique, then to hell with
the boy. He couldn't stand any more of this. The sausages and fish had
not been cheap. And his unskilled heir had the temerity to actually
ignore the training giving a group of starving animals a scratch-pole
and free food.
Pathetic.
Genma then noticed that the mewing and screams had stopped. Carefully,
he stood up and stretched, looking up at the moon. Seemingly, it had
taken a couple of hours for it to finish. He started to lift the plate
when it flew up suddenly, followed by a small shadow.
Genma stared as his son landed on all fours, covered in blood and
scratches.
"S-son... you've done it! You've learnt the Cat Fist!"
Ranma's only response was a hiss as he jumped towards Genma, hands
emulating claws.
Genma's screams woke up more than one neighbor, and when they arrived,
Genma was unconscious, covered in deep gashes. Of Ranma, there was no
sign.
***
Neko-Ranma ran on all fours towards the forest. His instincts told
him to flee the men and women with the light, as they would probably
hurt him too.
His awakening to pain, and the subsequent battle had left him confused.
He noticed a cave, near the base of the mountain next to the forest.
He didn't stop to think that he hadn't seen that cave before... he just
wanted out! Neko-Ranma ran into the cave that sometimes seemed too far,
and sometimes as close as a short leap away.
Finally, when Neko-Ranma felt that it wasn't worth the effort, he found
himself entering the cavern... and then he wasn't in one any more.
***
Belldandy and Urd watched Ranma cross, unknowingly, Death's Gate.
"It's done." Urd muttered. "Now this world's Ranma will have a chance
to a different life."
Belldandy smiled half-heartedly. "Let's just hope he survives."
Together, both sisters turned around and faded away.
***
This had been an eventful day in the life of Rue. Ten years ago,
she had been left behind with a group of Squatters, Patryns who lived
in groups, unlike her parents, who had been Runners.
Rue hadn't blamed them for leaving her behind. At such a young age she
would've become a nuisance to them, getting them in unnecessary danger
and possibly getting all of them killed.
However, this morning, she and the nomad tribe she was traveling with,
had been attacked by Tiger-men.
The fearful creatures, stronger physically than most Patryn had
attacked in a large group, just when they were close to the Last Gate!
All of a sudden, a large, dragon with golden-green and golden-blue
scales, had swooped down, low enough for a group of Patryns to jump off
it's back.
Together, their own warriors and these Patryns had fought off the Tiger
men, which the Dragon attacked with its fire when they had gone far
enough.
Then, another surprise, not all of these Patryns were Patryns at all!
Some were Sartan! The ancient enemy!
The leader of the group was a Patryn, however, and he approached the
headman to talk with him. Rue was close enough to hear some of the
conversation and ran off to tell the others that they were to be
escorted out of the Labyrinth.
Finally, the last surprise. The headman called Rue back to where he
and the stranger were talking.
"This is Rue, Haplo." he said to the tall man.
Haplo knelt down in front of her, looking up to meet her eyes. Rue was
ten gates old. Haplo looked up at the headman, who nodded.
"My name is Haplo, Rue." He said.
Rue couldn't believe it. This man, a warrior, a runner and leader of
a group that could control both Dragons and Sartan was crying! He
touched the side of her head and moved her chestnut colored hair to
the side, so he could see her eyes clearly.
"You have your mother's eyes..." He said, smiling.
Rue stared. She knew that smile. A quiet smile. She had seen it for
a long time, whenever she reached a river, or whenever she looked
at herself in a mirror. It was her smile.
Then, the impact of what he had just said struck. "You... know my
mother?" Rue asked, eyes wide. "My real mother?"
Haplo nodded. "And I also know your father." He smiled more fully.
"Quite well, I should add."
Rue jumped into his arms, as he cradled her. "I'm sorry Rue... I
should have brought you with me... I should've never left you alone..."
Rue sniffed. Then turned around, ashamed that her own father would see
her crying. She then noticed one of the Sartan walking up towards them.
She put up a brave face, tried to show the enmity to the Sartan she
had been taught.
Then, the Sartan, a balding man, stumbled and fell to the ground with
a 'whoop'. She stared. This... this couldn't be one of the enemies,
the fearful Sartan that had imprisoned them...
"Alfred..." She hear Haplo sigh, and saw him stand up and help the
Sartan up.
She stared as Haplo, her father, guide Alfred towards her. "Alfred, I
want you to meet Rue. My daughter."
Alfred stared at her as if she'd suddenly sprouted two heads.
"You mean..." he asked, turning to face Haplo.
The later nodded.
"Then..." he knelt in front of Rue staring at her. "All those times...
all those times you went back into this place... the Labyrinth to
search for her..."
Rue was thinking fast. Was this true... had her father conquered the
Labyrinth once, only to come back later to search for her?
"But... how can you be sure it's her?" Alfred asked suddenly. Rue's
stomach grew cold.
"It is her, Alfred. The headman recognized me, he remembered Merit...
and... look at her, Alfred..."
The Sartan turned to look more closely at her. She tried a small smile.
"It is her!" Alfred said, awed. She could see the happiness burning in
this Sartan's eyes, happiness for her, and for her parents. She already
liked him.
A signal was given. Apparently everyone was ready to leave. As they
walked forth, the Dragon circled above to protect them. And after a
couple of hours they had reached the Final Gate.
The Final Gate was the most dangerous part of the Labyrinth. At the far
end, one could clearly see the exit to the Nexus, but the way was
nothing more than plains. It offered no cover whatsoever, and it was
full of horrible creatures. Griffin, Wolfen... whatever the Labyrinth
would want to throw to those who would escape it.
The caravan slowed it's pace. Although Rue could tell everyone in her
tribe wanted to rush down to the end. But Haplo stopped them. The Patryns
and Sartan that had come with him stopped them.
To give in to a wild rush would only result in their deaths.
As they walked, Rue noticed something. A Chaodyn. Only one. Alone, it
wouldn't attack. Suddenly, there were two Chaodyn.
She had never fought the ugly insect-like creatures. But she knew how
to fight them. The Chaodyn's exo-skeleton was very hard to penetrate,
however, if you hurt it, you would not be fighting one, but two, then
four, then eight if you continued fighting. The only way to kill a
Chaodyn is to hit it in the heart. Kill it before it knows it's dead.
She looked as yet another Chaodyn appeared. Scared, she grabbed hold of
Haplo.
He looked at where she pointed, and his eyes grew wide. Quickly calling
a halt, he and the rest of the warriors ran towards the Chaodyn.
With spells they trapped most of the creatures, finished first with
those that were still free, then with the ones trapped.
Nobody questioned if it was right or wrong to kill a trapped and
defenseless enemy. In the Labyrinth, you either killed or were killed.
Haplo returned, holding a child of about her age. He was unconscious,
covered in scratches and blood. But he was alive. It was incredible
that someone so young had caused a group of Chaodyn so much trouble.
She kept watch over him, noticing the lack of tattoos. A shout distracted
her, and she looked up.
Then, she forgot all about him.
They had reached the Nexus.
She was out of the Labyrinth.
***
The entrance to the Nexus was heavily guarded by Patryns, Sartan and
Dragons.
Rue watched, amazed how everyone seemed to be living in apparent
harmony. Living in the Labyrinth had taught her to be observant, and
she noticed that despite everything, Sartan kept to Sartan, and
Patryns with their own.
"How sad," she thought. "that even now, after achieving all of this,
they still can't stand each other." She risked a glance at her father
and Alfred, who were together trying to re-animate the boy.
Word spread fast, and soon the leaders of both races came running.
Rue was surprised to notice that, unlike the custom inside the
Labyrinth, the Patryn leader, a man named Vasu, was obviously not the
strongest fighter.
He was not lean and muscular, he was... rounded... soft looking. The
leader of her own tribe looked at him doubtfully, but, following custom,
talked deferentially to those who would admit them into their midst.
Rue waited with the others until both, Vasu and Balthazar had welcomed
their tribe, then ran to join Haplo and Alfred.
She stood by them as they discussed what to do.
"... you sure?" Alfred was asking her father.
"Yes... definitely. Although I don't know why his parents didn't tattoo
his name at least." Haplo answered, looking at Ranma's bare skin.
"Maybe... maybe his parents were killed before they were able to name
him." Alfred noted.
The boy coughed and started to twist. Both, the Patryn and the Sartan
gave him room to stand. Rue peeked closer.
Haplo, noticing her, wrapped his arm protectively, check that, lovingly
over her shoulders.
The boy finally sat up, and looked around confused.
Alfred sat in front of him. "Who are you?" he asked.
"Ranma." the boy answered, still looking around in awe.
Rue felt a twinge of envy. This boy, of her own age had managed to get
to the Last Gate, and had fought off Chaodyn long enough to be rescued.
And her? she had traveled protected, in comparison, all her life.
***
Ranma looked around the place. All over, people with Tattoos covering
their bodies, except for the head and undersides of the hands, or the
other robe covered men and women were talking, mounting guard or
moving around.
The walls next to him were covered in shining drawings that glowed red
and blue.
Above him, he could make out giant lizards covered in glistening
scales. He was so entranced by the sights that he ignored the bald
man's next question. Finally, he looked back at the two men and the
young girl that were next to him.
"What?" he asked.
"I asked how old you were?" the bald man asked again. His way of
speaking was strange. When he heard him talk, Ranma also saw images
in his mind.
"I'm ten years old."
Alfred looked startled. Haplo frowned. Ranma hadn't used the
characteristic term 'gates' in reference to age, he had used the mench
word 'years'.
"How did you get here?" Haplo asked.
"I..." unknowingly transmitting mental images to the other three, he
subconsciously revived the cat fist training.
The others were subjected to panic, images of claws and hisses, shouts
and clawing at the wall, trying to get away.
Haplo grabbed Ranma by the shoulders, and shook him softly. "Don't
worry, you're at the Nexus now. The Labyrinth can't hurt you."
Ranma's tension relaxed as Haplo worked a sleeping spell on him. Soon,
Ranma was asleep.
***
Ranma woke up later on, safely tucked inside a bed. A young pale man of
about twenty eight smiled at him when he opened his eyes.
"Welcome to the land of the living, Ranma." he said.
"Who are you?" the boy asked, taking a look at his host. He was not a
fighter, obviously, although he had sad eyes that talked about long
suffering, but something in his smile spoke of having found happiness.
"My name is Jorel." the man answered bowing. "I... we, Usha and I, will
be your guardians for a while."
"My guardians?!" Ranma asked looking at him in surprise.
"Yes. Something like a surrogate family, if you will." Jorel answered.
"But..." Ranma stopped. While he had been asleep, he had dreamt of a
tall man, dressed completely in black, who had told him something...
Ranma closed his eyes, trying to remember.
His mind opened and the whiteness returned.
"What is this?!" Ranma had demanded, floating in whiteness.
"This is the realm of dreams, Sir, where some of us live." a voice
had answered.
Turning around, Ranma had faced a gentleman. Imposing- dressed all in
black: black breeches black velvet coat, black silk stockings; white
hair, tied in back with a black ribbon.
"What am I doing here?" Ranma asked. "Am I asleep?"
"Yes," answered the man. He appeared amused. "You are asleep, but this
is no dream, young sir."
"I have come here to tell you that you are not in your world. You were
brought here for a reason: the Wave tries to correct itself. Here, you
will learn the skills you need to learn to survive, and help others.
Someday, you might go back to Earth, for now, take what these people
are offering. Learn from them. And live."
Try as he might he couldn't remember anything else... other than
more fragments which he couldn't place in any order at all.
Jorel was waiting patiently.
"I... thank you for taking me in..." Ranma answered, bowing.
Jorel smiled. "The pleasure is all ours. Now, come, Ranma. I will
introduce you to my wife."
Ranma followed Jorel into the small kitchen, where another young woman,
covered in tattoos was preparing to fry a skinned rabbit.
Somehow... she didn't really seem the motherly type, while at the
same time she managed to seem... motherly.
She was slender. She had strong muscles and moved about with the grace
of a warrior. Her tattoos drew Ranma's immediate attention.
"Why is she tattooed all over?" Ranma asked Jorel, who seemed a little
surprised at the question.
Usha answered for him, turning around and smiling at Ranma. "This, son,
are Runes. I will teach you about these, and Jorel will teach you about
Sartan Runes."
Ranma nodded. "Um..."
"Yes, Ranma?" Usha asked.
"Well, I... I would like to know if you knew someone who was a good
fighter? I would like to continue training..."
Usha smiled. "I'll train you."
"You?" Ranma appeared dubious. Sure, she looked capable but... she was
a girl.
"You'll learn," Jorel said, putting his hand on Ranma's shoulder. "that
Usha is quite a warrior. She's fought in a couple of wars, already!"
Ranma's eyes shined. "Really?" He asked Usha, who nodded back.
"Tell me about it!" Ranma insisted as he helped Jorel prepare the table
for dinner.
"Well, it all started when a man named Haplo arrived in Abri..." Usha
started.
***
Outside the window an old man in gray robes, with a battered, pointy hat,
almost sneezed.
"Well, he's already blending in." He muttered.
"That he is, Sir." The man in black answered.
"You think he might want to join her Majesty's Secret Service?"
"I very much doubt it, Sir." The man answered, taking hold of the older
man's arm and walking him away.
"But he'd be an excellent agent!"
"Most probably, Sir." The man answered patiently. "Now, we must leave."
"Ah." The old man nodded. "Q must be waiting."
"No sir, I believe you wanted to talk to M."
"Quite right, quite right..."
The old man and the gentleman in black continued talking, until they seemed
to fade in the darkness of the night.
***
End Chapter 1
***
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