Ranma Xero
Part 8
Aftermath
Ranma stood before his father and Soun Tendo with his head hung low. Both men were scowling at him angrily from behind the desk in Soun's office. Genma stood beside his friend as the man shuffled through papers and waved them at Ranma angrily.
"Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused?" he snapped.
"I ain't gonna sit and do nothing," said the boy quietly.
"Ranma! You could have been killed out there! This isn't China!" snapped Genma bitterly.
Soun looked up at him with a confused look and quickly diverted his attention back to the boy standing before them. "We can't have you going out and risking your life this way boy."
"Why not? Akane's doing it," said the boy in retort.
"That's different!" snapped Soun.
"How?" replied the boy calmly.
"We have no choice, you know as well as I do that only young girls can pilot those things. It cannot be helped," said Soun with a heavy sigh.
"I'm no stranger to combat Mr. Tendo," replied the boy with his maddening calm yet again.
"I can see that, especially with the way you handled that rifle, but that's not the point son!" snapped the man as he started to loose patience again.
"I will not sit idly," replied the boy as he returned the firm gaze that both men were giving them.
"You've already been barred from the armory. You'll have to sit the next one out this time. I won't have you endangering your life this way. We need you here boy," said Genma as he turned and gazed out the window.
"I didn't get the rifle from the armory," replied the boy.
This took both men by surprise. "Then where?"
"I took it off of one of the wounded men when I went outside. I'll fight them barehanded if I have to."
"You'll do no such thing Ranma!" snapped his father as he jumped across the table and slapped him hard across his face.
Ranma remained still and did not move to return the blow. "I don't care what you say old man. I will fight again. You can't stop me."
"Can't we?" said Soun with a dangerous cool about him suddenly.
"No."
Soun hung his head and turned to gaze outside. He had a tired look on his face. "We'll discuss this later."
Ranma stood silently and walked out of the room.
After the boy had left Soun turned to Genma and frowned. "Where did he learn to handle a weapon like that Saotome?"
"It shames me to say, but we were traveling across China in the middle of a war Tendo. Both of us were armed." Genma sat down in the chair opposite his friend and hung his head. "We saw several battles with the enemy while traveling. We did not become involved, but the cruelty that they showed got to my son. I had to hold him back several times and actually physically carried him away a few times as well. He's seen a bit of combat on the handful of times I couldn't stop him."
"I see," replied the man somberly as he continued to gaze at the city in the distance.
"Tendo, perhaps we should give in a little, give him something to do during the battles?"
"What do you mean Saotome?" said Soun as he looked up at his friend in surprise.
"My son is a very honorable man. A man among men, if we give him some sort of duty, he will perform it without fail."
"Are you thinking of ... ?"
"Have him guard something, something he can't just leave behind," said Genma with a small smile appearing on his face.
"I think I understand. I will have him join the guards who protect the families within the complex," Soun sat back and relaxed somewhat with their new problem seemingly solved.
"That should be enough to sate him," agreed Genma.
The intercom on the desk suddenly chimed and Soun leaned forward. "Yes?"
"Sir, someone is here to speak with you," said the secretary.
"Who?" said the man as he looked at his planner. There were no meetings scheduled.
"Lou Xian, she claims to work in the armory department," said the woman with a slight strain in her voice.
"Send her in," replied the man after a moment of consideration. His eyes almost bugged out of his head at what he saw enter the room. A woman in her mid twenties dressed in what appeared to be battle armor of some kind. She was wearing Chinese clothes and had her hair tied up in buns on top of her head. "Can I help you miss?"
"Mr. Tendo, I have come with a request," said the woman in a very formal tone as she prostrated herself on the ground before him.
The secretary walked in behind her and was shaking with fear. Several security guards were laid out in the waiting room unconscious. "She was very insistent sir."
"I can see that," replied Soun as he stood up and reached into a small drawer behind the desk. "What is this about young lady?"
"Yesterday I received a telegram that my home village in China had been destroyed. A small group of survivors has managed to escape, but they need help badly."
"I don't see what we can do for them," ventured Soun carefully.
Lou Xian continued as if he had not spoken. "This morning, one of the elders contacted me again. This time it was a video communication. I requested that they come here."
"Why?" said Genma dumbly.
"Indeed young lady, this outpost is not equipped to deal with refugees," agreed Soun. "I'm afraid I will have to turn them away. The security risk alone ... " He was cut off as the woman spoke again.
"They are not idle, my people are warriors Mr. Tendo, and they have a unit of their own. It is badly in need of repair, but still functional."
"My dear, we manufacture hundreds of those things. Surely ... "
"You did not manufacture this one Mr. Tendo. It is one of theirs. If we delay, the Chinese Government will find and seize it for their own use."
That shut the man up. He looked at her carefully and sat back down in his chair taking his hand from the drawer where it had been for the entire conversation. "I make no promises, but I will speak with this elder of yours."
"Thank you sir," replied the woman as she stood up and bowed to him. After that she turned away and exited the room.
"We could use a few more men here," said Genma as he looked down at his old friend.
"Another of their units? How did they get it to work? All of the ones we have we had to make ourselves. No human could pilot that thing we found all those years ago."
"What are we going to do about her though?"
"I'm afraid she'll have to be arrested. We cannot overlook her actions here. She will be held for a short time and then released, to satisfy the old men." Soun turned towards the window again and watched the city.
"She'll lose her job of course."
"I'm afraid so," agreed Tendo. "If what she says is true, I may find it in my heart to allow them to stay. Especially if they have someone who can pilot the alien units."
"It will remain sealed of course?"
"I have no intention of risking anything on this. They could be spies of the enemy."
"They'll be found out quickly. We have ways of detecting their kind," said Genma sagely.
"We'll find out soon enough," said Soun calmly. "We'll get the details from her while she's detained."
"Perhaps we don't need to allow them to stay? After all, once they bring the unit to us ... " Genma didn't finish.
Soun nodded and hung his head. "I don't see the need for that yet. After all, she said they had a pilot. There is no need to train a new one if someone already knows how to operate the machine. I shall decide our course of action after I speak with this village elder of hers. However, I will not allow an opportunity like this to slip by, we will take the unit by force if need be."
"A wise decision Tendo," said Genma with a smirk on his face.
Soun looked up at the clock on his wall and smiled. "Ah, it's almost time. I have to go meet with the Major."
---------------------------------------
Akane fell to her knees and gasped for breath. "How many times are we going to do this today?" Kodachi stood next to her in about the same condition and merely gasped wordlessly.
"Until you get it right," replied Ranma with a small shrug.
"I already know the kata by heart!" snapped the girl bitterly as she stood up and wiped her brow.
"Then why did you forget it on the battlefield?"
"What?" said the girl in shock.
"I saw you out there, running around like a gorilla or something. You forgot everything me and pop taught you! You're lucky you didn't die! If she hadn't been there you would have!" snapped the boy as he suddenly became angry.
Both girls jumped back at the outburst and simply stared at him.
"What do you know about that? It's completely different out there!" cried Akane defensively.
"No! It isn't!" snapped the boy as he rushed up to her face and shifted into his female form suddenly. "You think you're the only one who's been in a fight? I know exactly what it's like on the battlefield! You're getting sloppy and it's going to get you killed!"
"Jerk!" screamed the girl as she punched him across the room.
Ranma jumped up and rushed forward with an angry scowl on her face. She lashed out in a punch and stopped just in front of her nose. "You're too slow, you let your anger get the best of you, and you're uncute."
"What did you say?" she cried in retort.
"I didn't stutter," replied the redhead as she jumped back from another clumsy strike.
Akane's vision went red and she charged forward like an angry bull. Ranma merely dodged around her blows and tagged her several times with light punches.
"What are you doing? Fight me damn it!" screamed the girl in rage.
The redhead kicked out low and swept her feet from under her sending her to the floor face first. Akane pushed herself up and blinked. "Look at yourself! You call that martial arts? You're nothing but a brawler," said Ranma as she put her foot on her back and forced her back to the ground. "Why should I bother training you? As soon as you lose your temper you forget all of it anyway."
Akane started to cry where she lay and simply gave up her struggle to rise, but she was severely weakened by her training. "Why? Why do you have to be such an insensitive jerk?"
"Do you think your enemy is going to ask you if you had a good day or somethin? Jeez, Akane, get real! They're gonna do anything they can to screw you up, and they've done a pretty good job of it so far." Ranma's features softened somewhat and he helped her back to her feet. "Akane, this anger is going to get you killed. You've got to learn to control yourself."
The girl looked up at him and blushed as he smiled at her and walked her back to her spot next to Kodachi. The other girl had been watching the whole scene rather passively.
"Now, we're going to do it again," said the boy as he stepped back and took up the first stance of the kata.
Both girls looked at him and groaned.
----------------------------------
"Our units are severely outclassed by these things they keep sending down. We haven't been able to repel a single attack. The only thing we use the damn things for is heavy lifting." A gruff looking man walked next to Soun Tendo dressed in a pressed and neat military uniform. "The General was supposed to come down for this next week, but since I'm here anyway, we just decided to get it out of the way now. Tendo, this had better be good."
"I'm sure we are glad to accommodate your busy schedule Major," replied Soun with a small diplomatic smile. "It's the least we can do after you helped us repel those invaders."
"Yes I appreciate the effort, and we are thankful for your hospitality. My men are enjoying their stay here," said the man honestly.
"Ah, here we are," Soun stopped before a large hangar on one of the lower levels of the complex. They passed by the guards and entered the room. A large drab green painted robot, about half the size of the mechs Akane and Kodach piloted loomed over them.
"Impressive Tendo. How does it perform?"
"As you can see it is still rather bulky. We are able to reproduce much more of their technology now though. Any human, not just young girls can pilot these, as with the units you use now. However, these are much more maneuverable and much more agile," said Soun as he pointed towards the massive form standing over them.
It was heavily armored and resembled an upright walking tanks, with arms and a head that looked rather like a motorcycle helmet with antenna protruding from it.
"What kind of firepower can it handle?" asked the man calmly as he walked up and inspected it up close.
"A standard blast cannon is attached to the right arm, it also has a chain gun and missile ports inside the right and left breastplates."
"That doesn't sound too much better than what we have now Tendo," commented the Major.
"There is still much we don't understand about their technology. We are able to duplicate it, but some systems require something we haven't been able to figure out yet. That is why only young girls are able to pilot the more advanced models we use here. We still aren't sure why."
"So, we're still technologically inferior are we?"
"That cannot be helped," said Soun with a sigh.
"Still, it is better than what we have now," said the man as he turned away from it and started walking towards the doors again.
"Yes, but we only have a few hundred of these models made at the moment, and this is the only one we have on sight. The rest are still at the Nagasaki plant."
"The General was pleased with the prototype demonstration."
"Yes, that was the impression he gave me Major."
"I'll be going now, there is something I want to speak with you about later Tendo."
"I'm sure we'll speak again then."
--------------------------------------------
"So, playing around with women Saotome?" Ryoga Hibiki was leaning against the wall outside the training hall as Ranma emerged from the room with a towel across his shoulders.
"What of it?" said the boy as he paused and looked at him.
"Nothing, I just think it's amusing that you spend so much time around your own gender these days."
"What's this about Hibiki?" said Ranma.
"Why did you run out on our fight Saotome?" snapped the man bitterly.
"I waited three days for you to show up."
"And when I arrived on the fourth day, you had already run away!"
"Ryoga, why did it take you four days to get there? It was five hundred feet from your house."
"You shut up! I suffered to meet up with you, and when I arrived on the fourth day, you were gone. Our homes were burned to the ground, and there was nothing but death to come home to."
"Don't tell me about that. I was there," said Ranma firmly. "If you recall, I was still waiting for you in that lot when they came. I figured you were dead Ryoga."
The boy turned his head away and laughed humorlessly. "I guess we both have our own problems to deal with, no time for childish quarrels."
"Right," said Ranma as he turned away.
"That still doesn't excuse what you did though."
"So, you want to finish it now? The dojo is right there," said Ranma without turning to face him.
"Sorry, but some other time Saotome. I'll get in more trouble than it's worth at the moment. Besides, you're in no condition to fight me right now. I'll catch you some other time little girl."
"I'll see you later Ryoga," said Ranma as he started walking again.
"Right," said the boy as he turned and wandered in a random direction. "Damn, I still don't know where the bathroom is!"
-----------------------------------------------
Soun stared at the withered figure on the screen in front of him and frowned. "So, you'll be arriving tomorrow? How will you be transporting the unit?"
"We have a ship," said the old woman calmly.
"There are about twenty five of you?"
"That is correct."
"Where shall we meet you then?"
"There is no need. We have a truck to transport the unit, we will come to your complex and meet there."
Soun frowned, he could tell the old woman was suspicious of him, but there was also a bit of desperation in her voice.
"I'll prepare some rooms here," he said calmly.
"There will be no need. We will not be staying with you. I only wish to get rid of this damnable thing, and the Chinese government has not exactly kept a good relationship with us. If we were to approach them now they would destroy us in our weakened state. That is why we come to your country."
"It's an awfully long trip just to unload an unwanted piece of equipment," commented Soun.
"Our tribe has been destroyed Tendo, we will go where we feel we are safe. The thing that Shampoo fought may return to finish her. We would be completely wiped out if we chose to stay in our homeland."
"This Shampoo, she is your pilot?" Soun leaned forward with a sudden interest.
"Yes, she is. That is another reason we come to you. She wishes to continue to fight, and avenge the Joketsuko tribe. The Chinese would merely take the beast away from us and use it for their own purposes. You were the only option we had where there was a chance she could continue her battle."
"I see," said Soun calmly.
"I shall see you tomorrow. Know this Tendo, we are entrusting you with our future. Do not take this lightly."
"Indeed."
-------------------------------
Outside the complex a thunderstorm blew in the darkness. An expensive looking limousine rolled up to the gate of the complex and passed by the security guard. It pulled up the doors and stopped. A man emerged from the driver's seat and rushed around to open the back door. A figure emerged from the back in a heavy cloak that obscured its face and body from view. It paused and looked up at the building before walking to the doors.
"Genma, it has been a while," said a masculine voice.
Genma paused as he allowed the man to enter and began to walk with him. "It has been a while hasn't it?"
"He is here?"
"Yes."
"I will speak with him later; I must say it is a surprise to see you here."
"We arrived about three weeks ago," said Genma.
"Yes, I have come to see Tendo."
"He's in his office."
The man stepped into the elevator and Genma stopped just outside the doors. "I shall see you again soon?"
"Of course, we have a lot to catch up on, Genma," The man raised his head up and smiled. Genma could barely make out his features beneath the cloak, but two golden colored eyes stared back at him. The doors closed and he turned away with a small shiver running down his spine.
TBC...
Next Time: The unwanted residents.
C&C to: Carrotglace@juno.com
Url: Http://www.geocities.com/misatira/
Part 8
Aftermath
Ranma stood before his father and Soun Tendo with his head hung low. Both men were scowling at him angrily from behind the desk in Soun's office. Genma stood beside his friend as the man shuffled through papers and waved them at Ranma angrily.
"Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused?" he snapped.
"I ain't gonna sit and do nothing," said the boy quietly.
"Ranma! You could have been killed out there! This isn't China!" snapped Genma bitterly.
Soun looked up at him with a confused look and quickly diverted his attention back to the boy standing before them. "We can't have you going out and risking your life this way boy."
"Why not? Akane's doing it," said the boy in retort.
"That's different!" snapped Soun.
"How?" replied the boy calmly.
"We have no choice, you know as well as I do that only young girls can pilot those things. It cannot be helped," said Soun with a heavy sigh.
"I'm no stranger to combat Mr. Tendo," replied the boy with his maddening calm yet again.
"I can see that, especially with the way you handled that rifle, but that's not the point son!" snapped the man as he started to loose patience again.
"I will not sit idly," replied the boy as he returned the firm gaze that both men were giving them.
"You've already been barred from the armory. You'll have to sit the next one out this time. I won't have you endangering your life this way. We need you here boy," said Genma as he turned and gazed out the window.
"I didn't get the rifle from the armory," replied the boy.
This took both men by surprise. "Then where?"
"I took it off of one of the wounded men when I went outside. I'll fight them barehanded if I have to."
"You'll do no such thing Ranma!" snapped his father as he jumped across the table and slapped him hard across his face.
Ranma remained still and did not move to return the blow. "I don't care what you say old man. I will fight again. You can't stop me."
"Can't we?" said Soun with a dangerous cool about him suddenly.
"No."
Soun hung his head and turned to gaze outside. He had a tired look on his face. "We'll discuss this later."
Ranma stood silently and walked out of the room.
After the boy had left Soun turned to Genma and frowned. "Where did he learn to handle a weapon like that Saotome?"
"It shames me to say, but we were traveling across China in the middle of a war Tendo. Both of us were armed." Genma sat down in the chair opposite his friend and hung his head. "We saw several battles with the enemy while traveling. We did not become involved, but the cruelty that they showed got to my son. I had to hold him back several times and actually physically carried him away a few times as well. He's seen a bit of combat on the handful of times I couldn't stop him."
"I see," replied the man somberly as he continued to gaze at the city in the distance.
"Tendo, perhaps we should give in a little, give him something to do during the battles?"
"What do you mean Saotome?" said Soun as he looked up at his friend in surprise.
"My son is a very honorable man. A man among men, if we give him some sort of duty, he will perform it without fail."
"Are you thinking of ... ?"
"Have him guard something, something he can't just leave behind," said Genma with a small smile appearing on his face.
"I think I understand. I will have him join the guards who protect the families within the complex," Soun sat back and relaxed somewhat with their new problem seemingly solved.
"That should be enough to sate him," agreed Genma.
The intercom on the desk suddenly chimed and Soun leaned forward. "Yes?"
"Sir, someone is here to speak with you," said the secretary.
"Who?" said the man as he looked at his planner. There were no meetings scheduled.
"Lou Xian, she claims to work in the armory department," said the woman with a slight strain in her voice.
"Send her in," replied the man after a moment of consideration. His eyes almost bugged out of his head at what he saw enter the room. A woman in her mid twenties dressed in what appeared to be battle armor of some kind. She was wearing Chinese clothes and had her hair tied up in buns on top of her head. "Can I help you miss?"
"Mr. Tendo, I have come with a request," said the woman in a very formal tone as she prostrated herself on the ground before him.
The secretary walked in behind her and was shaking with fear. Several security guards were laid out in the waiting room unconscious. "She was very insistent sir."
"I can see that," replied Soun as he stood up and reached into a small drawer behind the desk. "What is this about young lady?"
"Yesterday I received a telegram that my home village in China had been destroyed. A small group of survivors has managed to escape, but they need help badly."
"I don't see what we can do for them," ventured Soun carefully.
Lou Xian continued as if he had not spoken. "This morning, one of the elders contacted me again. This time it was a video communication. I requested that they come here."
"Why?" said Genma dumbly.
"Indeed young lady, this outpost is not equipped to deal with refugees," agreed Soun. "I'm afraid I will have to turn them away. The security risk alone ... " He was cut off as the woman spoke again.
"They are not idle, my people are warriors Mr. Tendo, and they have a unit of their own. It is badly in need of repair, but still functional."
"My dear, we manufacture hundreds of those things. Surely ... "
"You did not manufacture this one Mr. Tendo. It is one of theirs. If we delay, the Chinese Government will find and seize it for their own use."
That shut the man up. He looked at her carefully and sat back down in his chair taking his hand from the drawer where it had been for the entire conversation. "I make no promises, but I will speak with this elder of yours."
"Thank you sir," replied the woman as she stood up and bowed to him. After that she turned away and exited the room.
"We could use a few more men here," said Genma as he looked down at his old friend.
"Another of their units? How did they get it to work? All of the ones we have we had to make ourselves. No human could pilot that thing we found all those years ago."
"What are we going to do about her though?"
"I'm afraid she'll have to be arrested. We cannot overlook her actions here. She will be held for a short time and then released, to satisfy the old men." Soun turned towards the window again and watched the city.
"She'll lose her job of course."
"I'm afraid so," agreed Tendo. "If what she says is true, I may find it in my heart to allow them to stay. Especially if they have someone who can pilot the alien units."
"It will remain sealed of course?"
"I have no intention of risking anything on this. They could be spies of the enemy."
"They'll be found out quickly. We have ways of detecting their kind," said Genma sagely.
"We'll find out soon enough," said Soun calmly. "We'll get the details from her while she's detained."
"Perhaps we don't need to allow them to stay? After all, once they bring the unit to us ... " Genma didn't finish.
Soun nodded and hung his head. "I don't see the need for that yet. After all, she said they had a pilot. There is no need to train a new one if someone already knows how to operate the machine. I shall decide our course of action after I speak with this village elder of hers. However, I will not allow an opportunity like this to slip by, we will take the unit by force if need be."
"A wise decision Tendo," said Genma with a smirk on his face.
Soun looked up at the clock on his wall and smiled. "Ah, it's almost time. I have to go meet with the Major."
---------------------------------------
Akane fell to her knees and gasped for breath. "How many times are we going to do this today?" Kodachi stood next to her in about the same condition and merely gasped wordlessly.
"Until you get it right," replied Ranma with a small shrug.
"I already know the kata by heart!" snapped the girl bitterly as she stood up and wiped her brow.
"Then why did you forget it on the battlefield?"
"What?" said the girl in shock.
"I saw you out there, running around like a gorilla or something. You forgot everything me and pop taught you! You're lucky you didn't die! If she hadn't been there you would have!" snapped the boy as he suddenly became angry.
Both girls jumped back at the outburst and simply stared at him.
"What do you know about that? It's completely different out there!" cried Akane defensively.
"No! It isn't!" snapped the boy as he rushed up to her face and shifted into his female form suddenly. "You think you're the only one who's been in a fight? I know exactly what it's like on the battlefield! You're getting sloppy and it's going to get you killed!"
"Jerk!" screamed the girl as she punched him across the room.
Ranma jumped up and rushed forward with an angry scowl on her face. She lashed out in a punch and stopped just in front of her nose. "You're too slow, you let your anger get the best of you, and you're uncute."
"What did you say?" she cried in retort.
"I didn't stutter," replied the redhead as she jumped back from another clumsy strike.
Akane's vision went red and she charged forward like an angry bull. Ranma merely dodged around her blows and tagged her several times with light punches.
"What are you doing? Fight me damn it!" screamed the girl in rage.
The redhead kicked out low and swept her feet from under her sending her to the floor face first. Akane pushed herself up and blinked. "Look at yourself! You call that martial arts? You're nothing but a brawler," said Ranma as she put her foot on her back and forced her back to the ground. "Why should I bother training you? As soon as you lose your temper you forget all of it anyway."
Akane started to cry where she lay and simply gave up her struggle to rise, but she was severely weakened by her training. "Why? Why do you have to be such an insensitive jerk?"
"Do you think your enemy is going to ask you if you had a good day or somethin? Jeez, Akane, get real! They're gonna do anything they can to screw you up, and they've done a pretty good job of it so far." Ranma's features softened somewhat and he helped her back to her feet. "Akane, this anger is going to get you killed. You've got to learn to control yourself."
The girl looked up at him and blushed as he smiled at her and walked her back to her spot next to Kodachi. The other girl had been watching the whole scene rather passively.
"Now, we're going to do it again," said the boy as he stepped back and took up the first stance of the kata.
Both girls looked at him and groaned.
----------------------------------
"Our units are severely outclassed by these things they keep sending down. We haven't been able to repel a single attack. The only thing we use the damn things for is heavy lifting." A gruff looking man walked next to Soun Tendo dressed in a pressed and neat military uniform. "The General was supposed to come down for this next week, but since I'm here anyway, we just decided to get it out of the way now. Tendo, this had better be good."
"I'm sure we are glad to accommodate your busy schedule Major," replied Soun with a small diplomatic smile. "It's the least we can do after you helped us repel those invaders."
"Yes I appreciate the effort, and we are thankful for your hospitality. My men are enjoying their stay here," said the man honestly.
"Ah, here we are," Soun stopped before a large hangar on one of the lower levels of the complex. They passed by the guards and entered the room. A large drab green painted robot, about half the size of the mechs Akane and Kodach piloted loomed over them.
"Impressive Tendo. How does it perform?"
"As you can see it is still rather bulky. We are able to reproduce much more of their technology now though. Any human, not just young girls can pilot these, as with the units you use now. However, these are much more maneuverable and much more agile," said Soun as he pointed towards the massive form standing over them.
It was heavily armored and resembled an upright walking tanks, with arms and a head that looked rather like a motorcycle helmet with antenna protruding from it.
"What kind of firepower can it handle?" asked the man calmly as he walked up and inspected it up close.
"A standard blast cannon is attached to the right arm, it also has a chain gun and missile ports inside the right and left breastplates."
"That doesn't sound too much better than what we have now Tendo," commented the Major.
"There is still much we don't understand about their technology. We are able to duplicate it, but some systems require something we haven't been able to figure out yet. That is why only young girls are able to pilot the more advanced models we use here. We still aren't sure why."
"So, we're still technologically inferior are we?"
"That cannot be helped," said Soun with a sigh.
"Still, it is better than what we have now," said the man as he turned away from it and started walking towards the doors again.
"Yes, but we only have a few hundred of these models made at the moment, and this is the only one we have on sight. The rest are still at the Nagasaki plant."
"The General was pleased with the prototype demonstration."
"Yes, that was the impression he gave me Major."
"I'll be going now, there is something I want to speak with you about later Tendo."
"I'm sure we'll speak again then."
--------------------------------------------
"So, playing around with women Saotome?" Ryoga Hibiki was leaning against the wall outside the training hall as Ranma emerged from the room with a towel across his shoulders.
"What of it?" said the boy as he paused and looked at him.
"Nothing, I just think it's amusing that you spend so much time around your own gender these days."
"What's this about Hibiki?" said Ranma.
"Why did you run out on our fight Saotome?" snapped the man bitterly.
"I waited three days for you to show up."
"And when I arrived on the fourth day, you had already run away!"
"Ryoga, why did it take you four days to get there? It was five hundred feet from your house."
"You shut up! I suffered to meet up with you, and when I arrived on the fourth day, you were gone. Our homes were burned to the ground, and there was nothing but death to come home to."
"Don't tell me about that. I was there," said Ranma firmly. "If you recall, I was still waiting for you in that lot when they came. I figured you were dead Ryoga."
The boy turned his head away and laughed humorlessly. "I guess we both have our own problems to deal with, no time for childish quarrels."
"Right," said Ranma as he turned away.
"That still doesn't excuse what you did though."
"So, you want to finish it now? The dojo is right there," said Ranma without turning to face him.
"Sorry, but some other time Saotome. I'll get in more trouble than it's worth at the moment. Besides, you're in no condition to fight me right now. I'll catch you some other time little girl."
"I'll see you later Ryoga," said Ranma as he started walking again.
"Right," said the boy as he turned and wandered in a random direction. "Damn, I still don't know where the bathroom is!"
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Soun stared at the withered figure on the screen in front of him and frowned. "So, you'll be arriving tomorrow? How will you be transporting the unit?"
"We have a ship," said the old woman calmly.
"There are about twenty five of you?"
"That is correct."
"Where shall we meet you then?"
"There is no need. We have a truck to transport the unit, we will come to your complex and meet there."
Soun frowned, he could tell the old woman was suspicious of him, but there was also a bit of desperation in her voice.
"I'll prepare some rooms here," he said calmly.
"There will be no need. We will not be staying with you. I only wish to get rid of this damnable thing, and the Chinese government has not exactly kept a good relationship with us. If we were to approach them now they would destroy us in our weakened state. That is why we come to your country."
"It's an awfully long trip just to unload an unwanted piece of equipment," commented Soun.
"Our tribe has been destroyed Tendo, we will go where we feel we are safe. The thing that Shampoo fought may return to finish her. We would be completely wiped out if we chose to stay in our homeland."
"This Shampoo, she is your pilot?" Soun leaned forward with a sudden interest.
"Yes, she is. That is another reason we come to you. She wishes to continue to fight, and avenge the Joketsuko tribe. The Chinese would merely take the beast away from us and use it for their own purposes. You were the only option we had where there was a chance she could continue her battle."
"I see," said Soun calmly.
"I shall see you tomorrow. Know this Tendo, we are entrusting you with our future. Do not take this lightly."
"Indeed."
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Outside the complex a thunderstorm blew in the darkness. An expensive looking limousine rolled up to the gate of the complex and passed by the security guard. It pulled up the doors and stopped. A man emerged from the driver's seat and rushed around to open the back door. A figure emerged from the back in a heavy cloak that obscured its face and body from view. It paused and looked up at the building before walking to the doors.
"Genma, it has been a while," said a masculine voice.
Genma paused as he allowed the man to enter and began to walk with him. "It has been a while hasn't it?"
"He is here?"
"Yes."
"I will speak with him later; I must say it is a surprise to see you here."
"We arrived about three weeks ago," said Genma.
"Yes, I have come to see Tendo."
"He's in his office."
The man stepped into the elevator and Genma stopped just outside the doors. "I shall see you again soon?"
"Of course, we have a lot to catch up on, Genma," The man raised his head up and smiled. Genma could barely make out his features beneath the cloak, but two golden colored eyes stared back at him. The doors closed and he turned away with a small shiver running down his spine.
TBC...
Next Time: The unwanted residents.
C&C to: Carrotglace@juno.com
Url: Http://www.geocities.com/misatira/