Chapter 3: Mean, green machine
Standard Disclaimer: There is no spoon
*******
A/N: Well, just in case you missed it, in the movie when Peter fights Flash at school, there is an obvious token Matrix move when Peter arches his back and nearly touches the floor with the back of his head. With that in mind, I rewrote the fight with Ranma (which would be more adept at fighting then flash on any day of the week) with my own 'matrix' touch, and it'll be reffered to later. This chapter's purpose is to forshadow the next few steps of the story.
I'm going to go ahead and say it: I'm not going to follow the movie very well from here on out, or Marvel for that matter. The idea of turning all the characters into Marvel superheroes is an interesting one, but I think an origional twist is coming to mind that I just can't resist! (plus, I think the curse/spidergirl idea is really starting to grow on me)
Enjoy!
*******
"Doc! Hey, Doc!" called out Muu Tsu as he breezed through the double doors of the health clinic. A few patients sat in the waiting area as he walked by. He gave them a courteous nod and proceeded on his way. "Doc, I've got something really important to show you!" the youth exclaimed.
"Inside voice, Muu Tsu," Tofu warned the young man as he rounded the corner into the research room. This room was only dubbed so as a kind of joke between the two, because of the brief library on one side of the room, along with a spartan collection of beakers and bunsen burners among other basic pieces of chemistry equipment. Tofu was bent over a few figures and notes when he entered. After a moment of unexpected silence, Tofu waved him into a chair.
"Sit, Muu Tsu. I've got to lay some heavy stuff on you, I'm afraid," said the Doctor as he stood from his examining. The Chinese youth smirked briefly.
"Spicing up your vocabulary, I see," he noted. Tofu shared his expression for a moment, then his face turned grave. They both sat down in a pair of wooden chairs aside an examination table.
"Yeah. Kind of like a mid-midlife crisis, you could say. Anyhow, I haven't been as honest with you as I would have liked to be."
"What do you mean?" asked Muu Tsu. The doctor paused, contemplating his words before continuing.
"I know you come and help me out in here because you are something of a budding scientist, and I really appreciate your enthusiasm. When I told you that we were working on an herbal supplement, I wasn't telling you the whole truth," Tofu said tentatively. Muu Tsu waited for the other shoe to drop.
"And?"
"We've been working on something much, much larger," said the doctor, pulling out a file from the shelf. Muu Tsu eyed the paper lettering carefully. "Where are your glasses, Muu Tsu? You'll need them to read that file," asked the Doctor. Muu Tsu glanced up at him, caught offgaurd.
"I...don't need them anymore," he said at length. "Long story, I'll tell you later," said the Chinese youth, eyeing the folder again. "It says SEELE. What's that?" he asked. Tofu exchanged glances with him before opening the file and thumbing through its contents.
"SEELE is a secret organization as old as civilization itself. That's not really important, though; what we've been working on is the beginning stages of what has been recently dubbed the 'Human Enhancement Project.' The formulas we've been working on have been based on herbal and horticulture arts designed for body fortification and aural manipulation. What we've been looking for is a way to develop a way to strengthen a human being to withstand forces far more powerful then a regular person could. I'm starting to question the committe's motives, though," he said, shuffling through one page after another.
"Why have they asked you? Why do they want a herbalist from Nerima doing this job? No offense, of course."
"None taken. Don't get me wrong, I'm only a cog in the machine. What we're working on is only a small part of the complete project. The organization is working towards leaps and bounds in genetic engineering, and various levels of spiritual manipulation. That requires expertise from many walks of life, including simple herbalists," he replied with a smile.
"My project is based around the idea that from each person's aura stems the Inner Light of their soul. This light can manifest around their form as a protective field. To unleash this power takes certain kinds of changes in a person's biochemistry and aura. That is what we've been working on," said Tofu, his words gaining momentum as he progressed. At the last, he produced a narrow vial of green fluid for the youth.
"The only problem," he continued, "is that I still have to work out some fundamental flaws in the formula. The committee wants it anyway, flaws or no, but I cannot allow them to have this serum until I can work out the problems."
"Which are-?" asked Muu Tsu, getting edgy at the one-sided conversation.
"Well, aside from the increased strength, stamina, and durability, the last effects are inevitably insanity and uncontrollable violent tendencies."
"Ah, I see; just like everything else to come out of Nerima."
"Yeah, well, we can't all be perfect. I'm going to need your help over the next few weeks to experiment this mess out before the committee starts to demand results, because I couldn't stand to let them use something I made that causes such horrid side effects. I just wanted to clear the air with you before asking for your help. I couldn't live with anything less."
"Ok, good. My turn to talk? Allright. Well, first of all, I'm going to have to say this is some really freaky stuff but it only ranks number two on my list for today. Second of all, something tells me you got mixed up with the wrong kind of people. Years of living in the People's Republic have taught me a few things about secret organizations. There's much more at work then what they're telling you, and there's a good chance your life may be in danger-
"-at this very moment," said Muu Tsu's voice from the monitor. Section 2 Agent B-14 took a few notes and picked up a handset phone, speaking briefly into it before lighting a cigarette and getting back to his work. The two figures on his screen continued their conversation unaware.
"I knew it was risky when I began the project. I guess I was a little naïve at the time. This is my life's work though, Muu Tsu. Everything I've ever delved into in my life has been poured into this project, and I must see it through. The applications for humanity's progression stagger the mind," said the Doctor. Muu Tsu sighed in resignation.
"You know I'm going to help you no matter what," he began. "But believe me when I say that this whole scenario has the words 'backstab' written all over it. I'd seriously watch out if I were you."
"Agreed. Now, what is it exactly that you wanted to tell me?" asked the doctor with interest. Muu Tsu scratched the back of his head, and wondered where to begin.
"Well, I'm not sure. It's the darndest thing, really…"
**
Meanwhile, back at the Tendo Dojo…
Ranma was upset. More then upset, he was downright damn perturbed. He had met defeat at the hands of Muu Tsu! He had been mauled by the 'duck-boy!' Even worse, the Chinese martial artist did it without even breaking a sweat or showing any sign of exerting effort. How in God's name did he do it? Ranma meditated on this thought on his head, in the center of the dojo floor.
"Boy! What are you just sitting around here for? Get back over to that cat café and give that second rate Amazon punk what-for!" ranted the senior Saotome as he paced across the width of the Dojo. "Hey, are you listening? Maybe you've just gotten soft Ranma! No son of mine gets-"
"CAN it, old man!" roared Ranma as he dealt a swift strike upside Genma's head. "Somethin's happened to him. He's changed, and I mean seriously. He's even beaten the curse."
"What?!" exclaimed Genma. His attention was immediately piqued.
"You heard me. Xian Fu said that no matter how many times she's doused him, they can't get him to turn into a duck. You know what that means, don't you?" asked Ranma with a conspiratorial glint in his eye.
"He's found the cure!" beamed Genma.
"And we've got to find some way to beat it out of him!" affirmed Ranma, cracking his knuckles in anticipation. Their half-cocked hopes were interrupted by the sound of a sliding door. Nabiki entered the room, her presence immediately gaining their undivided attention.
"Oh, you simple creatures," she sighed. "Did you really think with the pummeling he gave you at lunch you're going to be able to even touch him in a fight? It looked to me like he was Keaneu Reeves and you were Agent Smith; he beat the holy crap out of you." Ranma's mood-o-meter immediately spiked at 'Mt. Vesuvius' level.
"That's _not_ true! He, he- "
"He what?"
"He's got some bogus trick up his sleeve, same as always!" the martial artist roared. "He's nothing but a two-bit circus act, and _no one_ beats Ranma Saotome!"
"Someone just did," shot back Nabiki. "Now, you can admit that, and try and find out his secret the smart way, or you can get into another fight with him and see how _you_ like traction for a change." Ranma and Genma both considered this for a moment before answering.
"So...what's the smart way?" asked Ranma cautiously.
"I'm glad you asked!" beamed Nabiki, yen signs glowing in her eyes. Both Saotomes gulped, and great indeed was the gulping therof.
**
"Muu Tsu! This is incredible, come look at this!" called Doctor Tofu from his microscope. Muu Tsu bent over to peer at the specimen under the lens.
"What am I looking at?" he asked carefully, impressed at the varying sizes and shapes of microorganisms.
"This is that sample I just took of your blood," explained the Doctor. "The reason you really can't recognise it as blood is the abundance of new antibodies, cell types, hell, I don't even know what half of what's in here is for. Something tells me, though, that the spider that bit you still possessed all of these specially engineered chemicals and genetic fragments from the genetics project, and passed them along to you. That's why your aura's harmonized so quickly with your new body!"
"So what does this mean?" asked the youth again. He was a science nut, but a whole lot of this was still flying way over his head.
"This means that the key I was looking for to fix the problems in my serum is right here in your blood!" Tofu exclaimed.
"Seriously?"
"I'm dead serious, Muu Tsu. This could mean that we would have a perfected serum in the space of a week. Of course, I would have to do some isolating with the plasma in your blood. We don't want _all_ the recipients of this serum to be wallcrawlers, do we?"
"Of course not," said Muu Tsu, a touch of defiance in his voice. He had begun to grow a little proud of his powers. As an afterthought, he added, "also, I know I kind of made a spectacle of myself earlier, but I really would like to try and keep this a secret. I don't want every nut in Nerima challenging me just to show that they're top dog."
"Been taking notes when it comes to Ranma, eh?" asked Tofu. Muu Tsu nodded.
"Being on the top as long as he's been, he's had to fight off every nutbar that comes along."
"Including you?"
"Damn straight, and look what it got him," said Muu Tsu with a smirk.
"Now watch that attitude, Muu Tsu," warned the Doctor. Muu Tsu eyed Tofu suspiciously.
"I have the ability to do so much with the knowlege I have amassed in my life," Tofu continued. "But just because I can knock someone out with a shihastsu pressure point doesn't mean I should. With great power, comes great responsibility, remember that."
"Um...ok," said Muu Tsu, shrugging his shoulders.
"Good, now, let's get to work-
-and finish this project up," spoke the doctor's voice from a set of headphones on Nabiki Tendo's desk. In her hands was a notepad, and at her fingertips was a switchboard of all the various microphones she had managed to plant throughout the neighborhood.
"Great power, huh? We'll just see where this takes us," she said, finishing up her notes and setting her pad down. Among the words and scribblings she had taken note of, the word "Wallcrawler?" stood out in the middle with three lines underneath.
*****
I told you I wanted to hand it out in chewable chunks, didn't I? Well, I was telling the truth! I wanted to set up the next chapter with a basic thought without drawing it out too much. Besides, I want to feed this out for today, and write my really intense next segment for tommorrow. Be prepared for things to really take off!
Standard Disclaimer: There is no spoon
*******
A/N: Well, just in case you missed it, in the movie when Peter fights Flash at school, there is an obvious token Matrix move when Peter arches his back and nearly touches the floor with the back of his head. With that in mind, I rewrote the fight with Ranma (which would be more adept at fighting then flash on any day of the week) with my own 'matrix' touch, and it'll be reffered to later. This chapter's purpose is to forshadow the next few steps of the story.
I'm going to go ahead and say it: I'm not going to follow the movie very well from here on out, or Marvel for that matter. The idea of turning all the characters into Marvel superheroes is an interesting one, but I think an origional twist is coming to mind that I just can't resist! (plus, I think the curse/spidergirl idea is really starting to grow on me)
Enjoy!
*******
"Doc! Hey, Doc!" called out Muu Tsu as he breezed through the double doors of the health clinic. A few patients sat in the waiting area as he walked by. He gave them a courteous nod and proceeded on his way. "Doc, I've got something really important to show you!" the youth exclaimed.
"Inside voice, Muu Tsu," Tofu warned the young man as he rounded the corner into the research room. This room was only dubbed so as a kind of joke between the two, because of the brief library on one side of the room, along with a spartan collection of beakers and bunsen burners among other basic pieces of chemistry equipment. Tofu was bent over a few figures and notes when he entered. After a moment of unexpected silence, Tofu waved him into a chair.
"Sit, Muu Tsu. I've got to lay some heavy stuff on you, I'm afraid," said the Doctor as he stood from his examining. The Chinese youth smirked briefly.
"Spicing up your vocabulary, I see," he noted. Tofu shared his expression for a moment, then his face turned grave. They both sat down in a pair of wooden chairs aside an examination table.
"Yeah. Kind of like a mid-midlife crisis, you could say. Anyhow, I haven't been as honest with you as I would have liked to be."
"What do you mean?" asked Muu Tsu. The doctor paused, contemplating his words before continuing.
"I know you come and help me out in here because you are something of a budding scientist, and I really appreciate your enthusiasm. When I told you that we were working on an herbal supplement, I wasn't telling you the whole truth," Tofu said tentatively. Muu Tsu waited for the other shoe to drop.
"And?"
"We've been working on something much, much larger," said the doctor, pulling out a file from the shelf. Muu Tsu eyed the paper lettering carefully. "Where are your glasses, Muu Tsu? You'll need them to read that file," asked the Doctor. Muu Tsu glanced up at him, caught offgaurd.
"I...don't need them anymore," he said at length. "Long story, I'll tell you later," said the Chinese youth, eyeing the folder again. "It says SEELE. What's that?" he asked. Tofu exchanged glances with him before opening the file and thumbing through its contents.
"SEELE is a secret organization as old as civilization itself. That's not really important, though; what we've been working on is the beginning stages of what has been recently dubbed the 'Human Enhancement Project.' The formulas we've been working on have been based on herbal and horticulture arts designed for body fortification and aural manipulation. What we've been looking for is a way to develop a way to strengthen a human being to withstand forces far more powerful then a regular person could. I'm starting to question the committe's motives, though," he said, shuffling through one page after another.
"Why have they asked you? Why do they want a herbalist from Nerima doing this job? No offense, of course."
"None taken. Don't get me wrong, I'm only a cog in the machine. What we're working on is only a small part of the complete project. The organization is working towards leaps and bounds in genetic engineering, and various levels of spiritual manipulation. That requires expertise from many walks of life, including simple herbalists," he replied with a smile.
"My project is based around the idea that from each person's aura stems the Inner Light of their soul. This light can manifest around their form as a protective field. To unleash this power takes certain kinds of changes in a person's biochemistry and aura. That is what we've been working on," said Tofu, his words gaining momentum as he progressed. At the last, he produced a narrow vial of green fluid for the youth.
"The only problem," he continued, "is that I still have to work out some fundamental flaws in the formula. The committee wants it anyway, flaws or no, but I cannot allow them to have this serum until I can work out the problems."
"Which are-?" asked Muu Tsu, getting edgy at the one-sided conversation.
"Well, aside from the increased strength, stamina, and durability, the last effects are inevitably insanity and uncontrollable violent tendencies."
"Ah, I see; just like everything else to come out of Nerima."
"Yeah, well, we can't all be perfect. I'm going to need your help over the next few weeks to experiment this mess out before the committee starts to demand results, because I couldn't stand to let them use something I made that causes such horrid side effects. I just wanted to clear the air with you before asking for your help. I couldn't live with anything less."
"Ok, good. My turn to talk? Allright. Well, first of all, I'm going to have to say this is some really freaky stuff but it only ranks number two on my list for today. Second of all, something tells me you got mixed up with the wrong kind of people. Years of living in the People's Republic have taught me a few things about secret organizations. There's much more at work then what they're telling you, and there's a good chance your life may be in danger-
"-at this very moment," said Muu Tsu's voice from the monitor. Section 2 Agent B-14 took a few notes and picked up a handset phone, speaking briefly into it before lighting a cigarette and getting back to his work. The two figures on his screen continued their conversation unaware.
"I knew it was risky when I began the project. I guess I was a little naïve at the time. This is my life's work though, Muu Tsu. Everything I've ever delved into in my life has been poured into this project, and I must see it through. The applications for humanity's progression stagger the mind," said the Doctor. Muu Tsu sighed in resignation.
"You know I'm going to help you no matter what," he began. "But believe me when I say that this whole scenario has the words 'backstab' written all over it. I'd seriously watch out if I were you."
"Agreed. Now, what is it exactly that you wanted to tell me?" asked the doctor with interest. Muu Tsu scratched the back of his head, and wondered where to begin.
"Well, I'm not sure. It's the darndest thing, really…"
**
Meanwhile, back at the Tendo Dojo…
Ranma was upset. More then upset, he was downright damn perturbed. He had met defeat at the hands of Muu Tsu! He had been mauled by the 'duck-boy!' Even worse, the Chinese martial artist did it without even breaking a sweat or showing any sign of exerting effort. How in God's name did he do it? Ranma meditated on this thought on his head, in the center of the dojo floor.
"Boy! What are you just sitting around here for? Get back over to that cat café and give that second rate Amazon punk what-for!" ranted the senior Saotome as he paced across the width of the Dojo. "Hey, are you listening? Maybe you've just gotten soft Ranma! No son of mine gets-"
"CAN it, old man!" roared Ranma as he dealt a swift strike upside Genma's head. "Somethin's happened to him. He's changed, and I mean seriously. He's even beaten the curse."
"What?!" exclaimed Genma. His attention was immediately piqued.
"You heard me. Xian Fu said that no matter how many times she's doused him, they can't get him to turn into a duck. You know what that means, don't you?" asked Ranma with a conspiratorial glint in his eye.
"He's found the cure!" beamed Genma.
"And we've got to find some way to beat it out of him!" affirmed Ranma, cracking his knuckles in anticipation. Their half-cocked hopes were interrupted by the sound of a sliding door. Nabiki entered the room, her presence immediately gaining their undivided attention.
"Oh, you simple creatures," she sighed. "Did you really think with the pummeling he gave you at lunch you're going to be able to even touch him in a fight? It looked to me like he was Keaneu Reeves and you were Agent Smith; he beat the holy crap out of you." Ranma's mood-o-meter immediately spiked at 'Mt. Vesuvius' level.
"That's _not_ true! He, he- "
"He what?"
"He's got some bogus trick up his sleeve, same as always!" the martial artist roared. "He's nothing but a two-bit circus act, and _no one_ beats Ranma Saotome!"
"Someone just did," shot back Nabiki. "Now, you can admit that, and try and find out his secret the smart way, or you can get into another fight with him and see how _you_ like traction for a change." Ranma and Genma both considered this for a moment before answering.
"So...what's the smart way?" asked Ranma cautiously.
"I'm glad you asked!" beamed Nabiki, yen signs glowing in her eyes. Both Saotomes gulped, and great indeed was the gulping therof.
**
"Muu Tsu! This is incredible, come look at this!" called Doctor Tofu from his microscope. Muu Tsu bent over to peer at the specimen under the lens.
"What am I looking at?" he asked carefully, impressed at the varying sizes and shapes of microorganisms.
"This is that sample I just took of your blood," explained the Doctor. "The reason you really can't recognise it as blood is the abundance of new antibodies, cell types, hell, I don't even know what half of what's in here is for. Something tells me, though, that the spider that bit you still possessed all of these specially engineered chemicals and genetic fragments from the genetics project, and passed them along to you. That's why your aura's harmonized so quickly with your new body!"
"So what does this mean?" asked the youth again. He was a science nut, but a whole lot of this was still flying way over his head.
"This means that the key I was looking for to fix the problems in my serum is right here in your blood!" Tofu exclaimed.
"Seriously?"
"I'm dead serious, Muu Tsu. This could mean that we would have a perfected serum in the space of a week. Of course, I would have to do some isolating with the plasma in your blood. We don't want _all_ the recipients of this serum to be wallcrawlers, do we?"
"Of course not," said Muu Tsu, a touch of defiance in his voice. He had begun to grow a little proud of his powers. As an afterthought, he added, "also, I know I kind of made a spectacle of myself earlier, but I really would like to try and keep this a secret. I don't want every nut in Nerima challenging me just to show that they're top dog."
"Been taking notes when it comes to Ranma, eh?" asked Tofu. Muu Tsu nodded.
"Being on the top as long as he's been, he's had to fight off every nutbar that comes along."
"Including you?"
"Damn straight, and look what it got him," said Muu Tsu with a smirk.
"Now watch that attitude, Muu Tsu," warned the Doctor. Muu Tsu eyed Tofu suspiciously.
"I have the ability to do so much with the knowlege I have amassed in my life," Tofu continued. "But just because I can knock someone out with a shihastsu pressure point doesn't mean I should. With great power, comes great responsibility, remember that."
"Um...ok," said Muu Tsu, shrugging his shoulders.
"Good, now, let's get to work-
-and finish this project up," spoke the doctor's voice from a set of headphones on Nabiki Tendo's desk. In her hands was a notepad, and at her fingertips was a switchboard of all the various microphones she had managed to plant throughout the neighborhood.
"Great power, huh? We'll just see where this takes us," she said, finishing up her notes and setting her pad down. Among the words and scribblings she had taken note of, the word "Wallcrawler?" stood out in the middle with three lines underneath.
*****
I told you I wanted to hand it out in chewable chunks, didn't I? Well, I was telling the truth! I wanted to set up the next chapter with a basic thought without drawing it out too much. Besides, I want to feed this out for today, and write my really intense next segment for tommorrow. Be prepared for things to really take off!