Choices Made, Roads Taken
Chapter 12: Convergence
What has happened before: Ranma, after getting out from under the "man among men" suicide pledge, has traveled to New York City with retired super hero Jeff Anderson to get his life together. But there are those who are determined to have their say, whether Ranma wants to hear it or not.
-----
Thanksgiving was not a tradition that Ranma had ever experienced before. While the Japanese calendar was full of festivals and other holidays, Ranma didn't recall anything like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Anne and Jeff had to explain who most of the giant balloons were, and even then, they were stumped twice. Little Bill just smiled at the colors and the noise. Big Bill was stretched out on Ranma's futon. Not wanting to fight holiday traffic, he'd come to his daughter's home for Thanksgiving dinner the night before. Ranma gave the older man his bed and slept on the couch instead.
As far as meta-human activities went, it was quiet. There was something like a gentleman's agreement that put the event, along with Times Square on New Year's Eve, off limits to much of the super villain community. Anne figured it was because they liked to have fun now and then too. Jeff wasn't worried, he knew Strike Force Alpha was providing high cover anyway. Plus, if prior years were any guideline, over half the meta-human population of New York was watching the parade from some vantage point.
This allowed the Anderson family, plus one, to watch the event in peace before returning home for the preparation and consumption of an enormous meal. Knowing her husband ate enough for two people and her house guest for three, Anne hoped the fourteen pound turkey would be enough. Not everything was made from scratch, she wasn't that determined a cook, but Anne wasn't expecting any complaints.
Ranma demolished the last of the pumpkin pie after eating as much as Anne, Jeff and Big Bill combined. This did not go unnoticed. "Looks like your friend there can really pack it away. You forget to feed the poor boy this week?" Big Bill asked as he dried another dish.
"I think he's just showing off Dad," Anne answered as she began rinsing what had been a bowl full of cranberries in sauce when the meal started. Apparently, Ranma liked cranberries... and turkey... and sage dressing... and mashed potatoes... and pumpkin pie... and...
While Anne and her father did dishes, and Ranma tried to get Lil' Bill to make a proper fist, Jeff was in the master bedroom taking a status report from Monster. A red event flag popped up on his screen half way through. Jeff opened the flag, read the computer generated note and swore quietly but very thoroughly.
'No need to bother Ranma with this yet,' he thought. Pulling up one of his many contingency files, he glanced over the instruction list and told Monster to get busy executing it.
-----
Kodachi unwrapped the last of her bandages herself. No one else could be present, lest the work she had paid so highly for fail in restoring her beauty. The unwrapping complete, she slowly turned to face her mirror. And smiled.
Her face was prefect. Once more the world would have the pleasure and privilege of seeing her elegant, refined features. The heart shaped face, the delicate nose, the perfect lips. Yes, all had been restored. She could now begin executing the plans she had made. The plans that would inevitably lead to taking her rightful place at her beloved Ranma's side.
"Let those who would try to stop the Black Rose tremble. Ranma shall be mine! OH HOHOHOHOHOHO!!" Kodachi's laugh rang out across Nerima for the first time in over six weeks.
A plastic surgeon, who had made an obscene profit from the relatively simple procedure of realigning a little cartilage, shivered on his way to cash a very large check given to him by a very short black-clad man.
Kuno Tatewaki looked up from his task of choosing which photographs of Tendo Akane and the pigtailed girl to take with him. He suddenly decided that the four albums he'd already selected would have to suffice.
Kasumi paused momentarily in taking down the laundry. Something deep in her subconscious thought, "Not quite an emergency."
Shampoo, Ukyo and Akane all sneezed.
Ranma, sleeping off a turkey induced tryptophan overdose, shuddered without knowing why.
The Kunos left Japan on separate flights. Kodachi, who had been planning and preparing for weeks, entered the United States with scarcely a ripple. Her flights had been first class, her trip from airport to hotel was by chauffeured limousine and her hotel suite provided a lovely view of Central Park. She knew better than to bring her Martial Arts Gymnastics gear through Customs, but the problem of proper armament had already been addressed. One phone call would have people bringing weapons to her for her approval and selection. Once she was suitably armed, the hunt could begin.
Kuno Tatewaki on the other hand, was not much of a planner. He simply told Sasuke to "Obtain suitable transportation and lodging for myself, the rising star of the kendo world, the great Blue Thunder of Furinkan High School, the undefeated Kuno Tatewaki and the purple haired ramen delivery girl."
Sasuke arranged for a chartered jet and lodgings at a hotel near the Japan Society building on East 47th. He took care of his master's travel documents and obtained suitable fakes for Shampoo. Sasuke had mixed thoughts about the whole situation. Having both his charges out of the fortress would give he and the rest of the staff a long overdue vacation. But who would protect them (from themselves if no one else) while they were gone? He'd been ordered to stay in Nerima, so he couldn't do it.
Very reluctantly, Sasuke began dropping coins into the pay phone installed in the servant's quarters. He'd been saving this favor for many years, but what choice did he have? His charges must be protected.
-----
The week after Thanksgiving had proved fairly quiet. The only MATRIX mission was a fight against a magician who had summoned a horde of monster bugs from another dimension. Limelight and Sunray knocked out the mage with a combined force/light blast. Playing exterminator took a lot longer.
During the fight, Ranma observed his teammates when he wasn't too busy with his own opponents. Each had their preferred methods. Big Tex was direct. He picked the largest targets available and keep swinging until they fell down. FreeFall preferred shooting from a distance, but also mixed it up with good effectiveness when necessary. Limelight was difficult to gauge. He stayed airborne until all the flying bugs were taken care of and then fought shoulder to shoulder with Big Tex the rest of the way. Sparx used a lot of evasion and misdirection. She never engaged a bug directly. Sunray was almost pure sniper. Using carefully timed sunbursts, she managed to blind many of bugs without harming her own side. Then taking full advantage of whatever cover she could find, she fired burst after burst of burning light into her targets.
As for his own performance, Ranma appreciated having something he could pound on without having to hold back. But without a guiding intelligence, the bugs weren't much of a threat. He'd have much rather gone a few rounds with Ryoga.
On his own initiative, he offered to teach the rest of MATRIX martial arts. Only Sunray accepted, even though FreeFall finally set a time for their long delayed sparring match. Although he was disappointed, Ranma decided he had to start somewhere.
-----
The problem with calling in old favors is occasionally the people who owe you the favor are no longer around to collect from. In this case, the organization Sasuke contacted was still around, but the new leader of that enterprise didn't feel any obligation to help the ninja. He did know an opportunity when he saw it however. His operatives were certainly ready for another mission since the Javits Center job had gone so well.
-----
Ranma and FreeFall bowed formally to each other, signifying the end of their two hour long sparring session. Ranma smiled with the joy of giving more than he'd got. The big man was clearly a better hand to hand fighter than Jeff. Jeff fought instinctively and relied on speed. FreeFall had formal training and it showed. While not as fast as Jeff, the solid foundation of martial arts technique FreeFall possessed made excellent use of what speed he had. Ranma figured a match between FreeFall and his father could prove interesting.
Ranma also learned what kind of difference super human abilities made in a fight. FreeFall's ability to automatically dissipate kinetic energy was difficult to overcome. His superhuman leaps made Ranma feel at home. FreeFall was much more disciplined than Ryoga, if not as strong. It was the farthest Ranma had been pushed since coming to America.
As for the match itself, even though Ranma connected far more often, he had to use chi to inflict damage. Without chi, aikido techniques were his most effective tools. He'd tried some judo early, but FreeFall was Olympic caliber in that discipline. Despite his best efforts, Ranma had been thrown several times, usually while making an aerial assault. 'That's where Jeff picked that up,' he thought to himself. Overall, it was an interesting two hours. Both men agreed they'd have to do it again sometime. After cleaning up, they went to the kitchen to refuel their bodies and discuss the session.
"I could tell when you were using that chi stuff. You got faster and stronger and I could feel the hits. Didn't feel a thing the rest of the time. It's like what I've got. Although mine's constant, you have to consciously use yours," FreeFall said before taking a bite out of his ham sandwich and a pull from his beer.
Ranma politely finished chewing and swallowed before he responded, "I know what chi feels like, what you have... is not chi."
"But it does the same stuff. At least from what you've said," FreeFall replied. "Increased strength, speed and durability for starters."
"Yeah," Ranma agreed. "But chi comes from within, it is not something that someone gives you."
"Like hell."
"I think I know more about chi than you do," Ranma said confidently.
"And I know some things you don't. When Ground zapped my powers, you got screwed up too. Right?
"But-"
"Am I right?"
"Yeah. But... I did not lose all my chi." Ranma covered his unease by taking a bite from his own sandwich.
FreeFall thought that over while taking another pull from his beer. "Heck that probably proves me right. If you're generating all this chi, why didn't you lose all of it when you got zapped?"
"I... don't know," Ranma slowly admitted.
"Simplest answer is you've got some chi, but you're drawing most of it from outside sources. If you think of Ground's power as a way to disrupt energy flows, it makes perfect sense."
Ranma didn't think it was that simple. Jeff had explained Ockham's Razor to him, but that was just a theory, not a natural law. Considering his life, it wasn't even that good of a theory. But could FreeFall be right? "Is that how Ground's power works?"
FreeFall shrugged and said, "You'd have to ask a bigger brain than mine for that one. Tach might know, but I think Limelight would be the better one to ask. With that powersuit of his, he probably knows more physics."
Ranma merely nodded in acknowledgement. When FreeFall noticed the time, he quickly finished his sandwich, and left the building on his hoversled soon after. This left Ranma alone with his thoughts. Since he didn't really like that particular feeling, he left MATRIX headquarters soon after.
Once he returned 'home', Ranma meditated on what FreeFall had said. Could he be correct? He remembered how heavy and slow he'd felt after Ground let loose with his nullifying power. Was chi something that truly came from within, or was he just a lens that focused energy from his surroundings? Did it even make a difference? It was a question that Jeff couldn't help him with. It was, Ranma realized, a question that he'd have to answer on his own. For some reason, he felt good about that.
-----
Shampoo and Kuno had taken a few days to get settled. The plan to watch Ranma's post office box had been explained to the point where even the mighty "Blue Thunder" understood it. Observation points had been carefully chosen. All that was required now was patience.
While Ranma sat in his room and contemplated the true nature of chi, Shampoo came to relieve Kuno for her shift of postal surveillance. 'Maybe there are better ways to do this,' she thought. All the watching and waiting was driving her nuts.
Kuno was still going on about the failure of Ranma to appear and take his proper punishment when a man boldly walked up to Ranma's mailbox, opened it with a key and emptied it. It certainly wasn't her airen, nor was it his meddling American friend. Could this place be a blind drop? Ranma wasn't that clever, so it had to be the American's doing.
Before the man could lose himself in the crowd, she'd grabbed Kuno by the sleeve of his coat and dragged him off in pursuit. It hadn't been that difficult to get him to forego his usual attire. The cold December air was powerful persuasion. Her own clothing hid her distinctive hair color. No sense in allowing herself to be spotted by her target. Although she did admit the long rectangular box that held Kuno's bokken and the rather large package containing her own bonbori were conspicuous enough. 'Soon airen. Soon you will know that I am the only one for you.'
The quarry walked south along 8th Avenue at a steady pace. It was no problem at all for Shampoo and Kuno to keep up. But as they continued to follow the man, both began to feel a vague sort of unease. The neat rectangular street pattern of Manhattan above 14th Street dissolved into the chaos of Greenwich Village.
"This doth not feel right purple haired ramen girl," Kuno said as their quarry finally turned from 8th Avenue and headed west toward the Hudson River.
If that imbecile Kuno could feel that something was wrong, then perhaps she should heed her own instincts. "Shampoo think so too. Something not right. Strange man never look back once for entire time." They had been in pursuit for twenty minutes, but it was true.
"Americans do tend to ignore their surroundings. But this... Tis most unusual." As they rounded the corner their quarry had turned, they were just in time to see him turn down an alley on their left.
"Hmm. Shampoo think bad idea to follow too too close now. Shampoo take three jump to roof over there and see down into alley. Can bokken boy follow?"
"It ill fits the dignity of the scion of the House of Kuno to leap around in such an ungainly manner," Kuno replied.
"Why not bokken boy just say no can do?" Kuno didn't deign to answer. Shampoo sighed, grabbed Kuno bodily and in five instead of three bounds, landed on her chosen spot.
"Unhand me woman!" the outraged kendoist cried even as Shampoo released him.
"Argue later. Search now." But there was no one to be seen. Shampoo's skills were sufficient to spot her quarry's tracks. "Man go through that door down there. Not chance of other place," she informed Kuno as she pointed out the trail's end.
"The fiend Saotome and the fair pigtailed girl may lie behind that portal? We must proceed at once!" He tore open the package that concealed his bokken and tossed his heavy coat aside. He'd need his full mobility. "Forward!" he cried.
"Bokken boy not jump from too too high place!"
"Perhaps the fair ramen delivery girl has failed to notice yon fire escape?" Kuno said ironically before quickly descending same.
Kuno was very annoying when he was wrong. When he was right, he was insufferable. He was also faster than Shampoo had thought. Before she could catch him, Kuno had descended the fire escape, crossed the alley and slashed open the door she had indicated. She managed to grab the back of Kuno's pants, but she was dragged into the building by the kendoist anyway.
Shampoo didn't have time to notice a steel door slamming down to cover the open doorway behind her. Both her and Kuno's attention were focused on the seventy black clad people pointing guns at them. Not even Kuno was that stupid.
-----
Jeff swore silently to himself after checking the latest status report from Monster. Not only had both Kunos entered the US, the idiot-with-a-stick had brought a female companion, most likely Shampoo. He couldn't imagine Akane or Ukyo being desperate enough to travel with Kuno, Nabiki most likely wouldn't need to use a false ID and Kodachi was already accounted for.
'Oh well, time to carry the bad news from A to B,' Jeff thought before leaving his desk to interrupt Ranma's meditation.
-----
After herding Shampoo and Kuno into the center of the room at gunpoint, an unseen male voice had given orders to those present. The black clad men and women divided themselves into three groups. The smallest, all men, had climbed up to a series of catwalks that stretched across the room. They held sub-machine guns trained on the Amazon and the kendoist.
After they were in place, a larger group holstered their pistols and pulled out sinister black devices that neither Kuno or Shampoo recognized as stun-guns. The largest group been ordered to holster their weapons by an unseen male voice and "Take down our honored guests from Japan."
That had been fifteen minutes ago.
The black garbed enemy prepared for another rush. Shampoo panted heavily and raised her remaining bonbori to defend herself. She'd lost the other ten minutes earlier. Kuno was starting to show some signs of strain himself. She could hear his ragged breath, the only outward sign he gave of the pain he must of felt. The crack when Kuno's left arm had been broken had been unmistakable. But he fought on, downing three opponents in as many seconds as they tried to crowd him.
Shampoo realized that she would have to revise her opinion of Kuno's fighting skill drastically upward. She had believed his skills were marginal at best considering that he couldn't even defeat Akane. To Ranma, he was a mere annoyance. But as he downed yet another foe, she realized that Kuno actually did hold back against women.
The forty enemies that had began the battle had been whittled down to an even dozen. As she stood back to back with the kendoist, she could see that even if they finished off this group, there were more waiting. Including one rather large late arrival.
Shampoo bashed a man that tried to grab her as Kuno cut down the man who had appropriated Shampoo's other bonbori.
The unseen voice cried "Enough! Cadre, disengage." The remaining ten attackers ceased their activities and began dragging away the injured who had not been able to limp off the field of combat under their own power. Shampoo took the opportunity to regain her lost weapon.
"Benny, they're yours," the voice said calmly. The large man that Shampoo had only glimpsed earlier came forward. He was a good two meters tall and easily outweighed Kuno and Shampoo combined.
Kuno snarled defiantly, and leapt to the attack. But the chi that would normally have been used to aid Kuno's prowess was tied up in keeping him conscious. The same slash which had felled many of his earlier opponents did nothing to the new one. A second attempt was met with a backhand that broke Kuno's bokken and had enough force left to knock Kuno across the room.
Before Kuno even landed, Shampoo began her attack. Her overhand right was designed as a feint to draw attention away from the thrust directed at the target's groin. The heads of both bonbori were caught before they could land. Shampoo tried to wrench her weapons free of the large man's grasp and failed. As strong as she was, Shampoo failed to move them or her opponent a millimeter. As she let go of the weapons to prep a kick to man's kneecap, the larger man crushed both bonbori as if they were empty beer cans instead of best quality Amazon weapons.
The kick landed, and Shampoo was glad to see the man had at least noticed her attack. She stayed with hit and run tactics in an attempt to wear the larger man down. It wasn't until Kuno distracted her by attempting to reenter the battle that Benny landed a blow. One was all it took to stop Shampoo in her tracks. The last thing she remembered was the sound of demented female laughter.
-----
Jeff knocked on the door to Ranma's room.
"Come in," Ranma said.
Jeff opened the door and paused for a split second. Ranma was in full lotus position. That wasn't too surprising. But he was also upside down.
"More balance training?" Jeff asked.
"Yeah," Ranma answered as he righted himself and sprang to his feet. "What's up?"
"I've got bad news and I've got worse news."
Ranma sighed and asked, "Who showed up?"
"Both Kunos and I think Shampoo. Tatewaki and a female companion have a suite at the Waldorf, Kodachi has a suite at the Mayflower on Central Park West."
Ranma said a word in his native tongue that Jeff didn't recognize. "Kuno and Shampoo are together? Are you sure?" Ranma asked in a puzzled tone.
"Sure enough. I gotta admit, I didn't see that coming."
"What are we going to do?"
"It's your call. Unless they threaten Anne or Little Bill, in which case it's my call."
Ranma pondered the situation. Even after all he'd been through, he was still far more reactive than proactive. He preferred to deal with problems as they came. So far this one hadn't, even if he saw it looming on the horizon. Supremely confident that he could handle any difficulties when and if they did come, he eventually told Jeff, "They will have to find me first."
Jeff nodded in acknowledgement, but didn't think it would be quite that simple.
-----
The office of a man whose criminal enterprises granted him a net income in the low eight figures each year should be impressive. Colin Hawksmoor's was. Artwork by Monet and Picasso, leather bound books on polished cherry bookshelves, a liquor cabinet holding only the choicest beverages, the room was furnished as if straight from Versailles.
It was almost as impressive as the man himself. Tall, but not too tall, muscular without being bulky, his full red beard added ten years to his apparent age and his steel blue eyes missed absolutely nothing.
Not that Kodachi cared one bit. To her, he was just hired help, albeit rather effective hired help. Not only had his organization provided suitable weapons for her upcoming hunt, for an additional fee they had also removed her brother and the Chinese peasant from the picture.
After dismissing the servants who had brought tea for himself and his guest, Hawksmoor said, "Well Miss Kuno, your brother and his associate were everything you claimed. I must admit, I am impressed."
Kodachi set down her excellent cup of tea before she answered, "My beloved Ranma could defeat both of them without drawing a deep breath."
"So you've said," Hawksmoor replied to his guest. Although to himself, he added 'Repeatedly.' "But I've taken their measure. Without the sword, your brother is no threat. The girl is far more interesting."
"I don't really care what you do with that base born slut, but my brother is... my brother. After I have taken my revenge, he is to be released unharmed."
"My medical people are tending to him now."
After a few more minutes of conversation, Kodachi left to pursue her own interests. Hawksmoor then summoned Benny and watched the surveillance footage of the battle until his 'enforcer' arrived.
Benny, hair still damp from a quick shower, entered the lavish office. "You wanted to see me Boss?"
Hawksmoor answered with a question of his own. "What did you think of our 'guests'?"
"Can't really judge the guy, his arm was broke by the time I got there. Did pretty good considering. The girl... I've _never_ seen a woman fight like that. Strong enough to be a low level meta too."
"Interesting. Did you notice anything else?"
Benny allowed the merest trace of annoyance to creep into his voice. "No. Wasn't really looking." Hawksmoor might have significantly increased his pay after taking over from 'Cap'n Al' but Benny still preferred his former employer.
"We'll discuss your powers of observation another time," Hawksmoor began. "But the most interesting thing I saw was those two took down thirty cadre without hurting them one bit more than they had to. If this Ranma fellow is as good as Miss Kuno says, and if he fights the same way, I want a shot at him myself."
END CHAPTER 12
Chapter 12: Convergence
What has happened before: Ranma, after getting out from under the "man among men" suicide pledge, has traveled to New York City with retired super hero Jeff Anderson to get his life together. But there are those who are determined to have their say, whether Ranma wants to hear it or not.
-----
Thanksgiving was not a tradition that Ranma had ever experienced before. While the Japanese calendar was full of festivals and other holidays, Ranma didn't recall anything like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Anne and Jeff had to explain who most of the giant balloons were, and even then, they were stumped twice. Little Bill just smiled at the colors and the noise. Big Bill was stretched out on Ranma's futon. Not wanting to fight holiday traffic, he'd come to his daughter's home for Thanksgiving dinner the night before. Ranma gave the older man his bed and slept on the couch instead.
As far as meta-human activities went, it was quiet. There was something like a gentleman's agreement that put the event, along with Times Square on New Year's Eve, off limits to much of the super villain community. Anne figured it was because they liked to have fun now and then too. Jeff wasn't worried, he knew Strike Force Alpha was providing high cover anyway. Plus, if prior years were any guideline, over half the meta-human population of New York was watching the parade from some vantage point.
This allowed the Anderson family, plus one, to watch the event in peace before returning home for the preparation and consumption of an enormous meal. Knowing her husband ate enough for two people and her house guest for three, Anne hoped the fourteen pound turkey would be enough. Not everything was made from scratch, she wasn't that determined a cook, but Anne wasn't expecting any complaints.
Ranma demolished the last of the pumpkin pie after eating as much as Anne, Jeff and Big Bill combined. This did not go unnoticed. "Looks like your friend there can really pack it away. You forget to feed the poor boy this week?" Big Bill asked as he dried another dish.
"I think he's just showing off Dad," Anne answered as she began rinsing what had been a bowl full of cranberries in sauce when the meal started. Apparently, Ranma liked cranberries... and turkey... and sage dressing... and mashed potatoes... and pumpkin pie... and...
While Anne and her father did dishes, and Ranma tried to get Lil' Bill to make a proper fist, Jeff was in the master bedroom taking a status report from Monster. A red event flag popped up on his screen half way through. Jeff opened the flag, read the computer generated note and swore quietly but very thoroughly.
'No need to bother Ranma with this yet,' he thought. Pulling up one of his many contingency files, he glanced over the instruction list and told Monster to get busy executing it.
-----
Kodachi unwrapped the last of her bandages herself. No one else could be present, lest the work she had paid so highly for fail in restoring her beauty. The unwrapping complete, she slowly turned to face her mirror. And smiled.
Her face was prefect. Once more the world would have the pleasure and privilege of seeing her elegant, refined features. The heart shaped face, the delicate nose, the perfect lips. Yes, all had been restored. She could now begin executing the plans she had made. The plans that would inevitably lead to taking her rightful place at her beloved Ranma's side.
"Let those who would try to stop the Black Rose tremble. Ranma shall be mine! OH HOHOHOHOHOHO!!" Kodachi's laugh rang out across Nerima for the first time in over six weeks.
A plastic surgeon, who had made an obscene profit from the relatively simple procedure of realigning a little cartilage, shivered on his way to cash a very large check given to him by a very short black-clad man.
Kuno Tatewaki looked up from his task of choosing which photographs of Tendo Akane and the pigtailed girl to take with him. He suddenly decided that the four albums he'd already selected would have to suffice.
Kasumi paused momentarily in taking down the laundry. Something deep in her subconscious thought, "Not quite an emergency."
Shampoo, Ukyo and Akane all sneezed.
Ranma, sleeping off a turkey induced tryptophan overdose, shuddered without knowing why.
The Kunos left Japan on separate flights. Kodachi, who had been planning and preparing for weeks, entered the United States with scarcely a ripple. Her flights had been first class, her trip from airport to hotel was by chauffeured limousine and her hotel suite provided a lovely view of Central Park. She knew better than to bring her Martial Arts Gymnastics gear through Customs, but the problem of proper armament had already been addressed. One phone call would have people bringing weapons to her for her approval and selection. Once she was suitably armed, the hunt could begin.
Kuno Tatewaki on the other hand, was not much of a planner. He simply told Sasuke to "Obtain suitable transportation and lodging for myself, the rising star of the kendo world, the great Blue Thunder of Furinkan High School, the undefeated Kuno Tatewaki and the purple haired ramen delivery girl."
Sasuke arranged for a chartered jet and lodgings at a hotel near the Japan Society building on East 47th. He took care of his master's travel documents and obtained suitable fakes for Shampoo. Sasuke had mixed thoughts about the whole situation. Having both his charges out of the fortress would give he and the rest of the staff a long overdue vacation. But who would protect them (from themselves if no one else) while they were gone? He'd been ordered to stay in Nerima, so he couldn't do it.
Very reluctantly, Sasuke began dropping coins into the pay phone installed in the servant's quarters. He'd been saving this favor for many years, but what choice did he have? His charges must be protected.
-----
The week after Thanksgiving had proved fairly quiet. The only MATRIX mission was a fight against a magician who had summoned a horde of monster bugs from another dimension. Limelight and Sunray knocked out the mage with a combined force/light blast. Playing exterminator took a lot longer.
During the fight, Ranma observed his teammates when he wasn't too busy with his own opponents. Each had their preferred methods. Big Tex was direct. He picked the largest targets available and keep swinging until they fell down. FreeFall preferred shooting from a distance, but also mixed it up with good effectiveness when necessary. Limelight was difficult to gauge. He stayed airborne until all the flying bugs were taken care of and then fought shoulder to shoulder with Big Tex the rest of the way. Sparx used a lot of evasion and misdirection. She never engaged a bug directly. Sunray was almost pure sniper. Using carefully timed sunbursts, she managed to blind many of bugs without harming her own side. Then taking full advantage of whatever cover she could find, she fired burst after burst of burning light into her targets.
As for his own performance, Ranma appreciated having something he could pound on without having to hold back. But without a guiding intelligence, the bugs weren't much of a threat. He'd have much rather gone a few rounds with Ryoga.
On his own initiative, he offered to teach the rest of MATRIX martial arts. Only Sunray accepted, even though FreeFall finally set a time for their long delayed sparring match. Although he was disappointed, Ranma decided he had to start somewhere.
-----
The problem with calling in old favors is occasionally the people who owe you the favor are no longer around to collect from. In this case, the organization Sasuke contacted was still around, but the new leader of that enterprise didn't feel any obligation to help the ninja. He did know an opportunity when he saw it however. His operatives were certainly ready for another mission since the Javits Center job had gone so well.
-----
Ranma and FreeFall bowed formally to each other, signifying the end of their two hour long sparring session. Ranma smiled with the joy of giving more than he'd got. The big man was clearly a better hand to hand fighter than Jeff. Jeff fought instinctively and relied on speed. FreeFall had formal training and it showed. While not as fast as Jeff, the solid foundation of martial arts technique FreeFall possessed made excellent use of what speed he had. Ranma figured a match between FreeFall and his father could prove interesting.
Ranma also learned what kind of difference super human abilities made in a fight. FreeFall's ability to automatically dissipate kinetic energy was difficult to overcome. His superhuman leaps made Ranma feel at home. FreeFall was much more disciplined than Ryoga, if not as strong. It was the farthest Ranma had been pushed since coming to America.
As for the match itself, even though Ranma connected far more often, he had to use chi to inflict damage. Without chi, aikido techniques were his most effective tools. He'd tried some judo early, but FreeFall was Olympic caliber in that discipline. Despite his best efforts, Ranma had been thrown several times, usually while making an aerial assault. 'That's where Jeff picked that up,' he thought to himself. Overall, it was an interesting two hours. Both men agreed they'd have to do it again sometime. After cleaning up, they went to the kitchen to refuel their bodies and discuss the session.
"I could tell when you were using that chi stuff. You got faster and stronger and I could feel the hits. Didn't feel a thing the rest of the time. It's like what I've got. Although mine's constant, you have to consciously use yours," FreeFall said before taking a bite out of his ham sandwich and a pull from his beer.
Ranma politely finished chewing and swallowed before he responded, "I know what chi feels like, what you have... is not chi."
"But it does the same stuff. At least from what you've said," FreeFall replied. "Increased strength, speed and durability for starters."
"Yeah," Ranma agreed. "But chi comes from within, it is not something that someone gives you."
"Like hell."
"I think I know more about chi than you do," Ranma said confidently.
"And I know some things you don't. When Ground zapped my powers, you got screwed up too. Right?
"But-"
"Am I right?"
"Yeah. But... I did not lose all my chi." Ranma covered his unease by taking a bite from his own sandwich.
FreeFall thought that over while taking another pull from his beer. "Heck that probably proves me right. If you're generating all this chi, why didn't you lose all of it when you got zapped?"
"I... don't know," Ranma slowly admitted.
"Simplest answer is you've got some chi, but you're drawing most of it from outside sources. If you think of Ground's power as a way to disrupt energy flows, it makes perfect sense."
Ranma didn't think it was that simple. Jeff had explained Ockham's Razor to him, but that was just a theory, not a natural law. Considering his life, it wasn't even that good of a theory. But could FreeFall be right? "Is that how Ground's power works?"
FreeFall shrugged and said, "You'd have to ask a bigger brain than mine for that one. Tach might know, but I think Limelight would be the better one to ask. With that powersuit of his, he probably knows more physics."
Ranma merely nodded in acknowledgement. When FreeFall noticed the time, he quickly finished his sandwich, and left the building on his hoversled soon after. This left Ranma alone with his thoughts. Since he didn't really like that particular feeling, he left MATRIX headquarters soon after.
Once he returned 'home', Ranma meditated on what FreeFall had said. Could he be correct? He remembered how heavy and slow he'd felt after Ground let loose with his nullifying power. Was chi something that truly came from within, or was he just a lens that focused energy from his surroundings? Did it even make a difference? It was a question that Jeff couldn't help him with. It was, Ranma realized, a question that he'd have to answer on his own. For some reason, he felt good about that.
-----
Shampoo and Kuno had taken a few days to get settled. The plan to watch Ranma's post office box had been explained to the point where even the mighty "Blue Thunder" understood it. Observation points had been carefully chosen. All that was required now was patience.
While Ranma sat in his room and contemplated the true nature of chi, Shampoo came to relieve Kuno for her shift of postal surveillance. 'Maybe there are better ways to do this,' she thought. All the watching and waiting was driving her nuts.
Kuno was still going on about the failure of Ranma to appear and take his proper punishment when a man boldly walked up to Ranma's mailbox, opened it with a key and emptied it. It certainly wasn't her airen, nor was it his meddling American friend. Could this place be a blind drop? Ranma wasn't that clever, so it had to be the American's doing.
Before the man could lose himself in the crowd, she'd grabbed Kuno by the sleeve of his coat and dragged him off in pursuit. It hadn't been that difficult to get him to forego his usual attire. The cold December air was powerful persuasion. Her own clothing hid her distinctive hair color. No sense in allowing herself to be spotted by her target. Although she did admit the long rectangular box that held Kuno's bokken and the rather large package containing her own bonbori were conspicuous enough. 'Soon airen. Soon you will know that I am the only one for you.'
The quarry walked south along 8th Avenue at a steady pace. It was no problem at all for Shampoo and Kuno to keep up. But as they continued to follow the man, both began to feel a vague sort of unease. The neat rectangular street pattern of Manhattan above 14th Street dissolved into the chaos of Greenwich Village.
"This doth not feel right purple haired ramen girl," Kuno said as their quarry finally turned from 8th Avenue and headed west toward the Hudson River.
If that imbecile Kuno could feel that something was wrong, then perhaps she should heed her own instincts. "Shampoo think so too. Something not right. Strange man never look back once for entire time." They had been in pursuit for twenty minutes, but it was true.
"Americans do tend to ignore their surroundings. But this... Tis most unusual." As they rounded the corner their quarry had turned, they were just in time to see him turn down an alley on their left.
"Hmm. Shampoo think bad idea to follow too too close now. Shampoo take three jump to roof over there and see down into alley. Can bokken boy follow?"
"It ill fits the dignity of the scion of the House of Kuno to leap around in such an ungainly manner," Kuno replied.
"Why not bokken boy just say no can do?" Kuno didn't deign to answer. Shampoo sighed, grabbed Kuno bodily and in five instead of three bounds, landed on her chosen spot.
"Unhand me woman!" the outraged kendoist cried even as Shampoo released him.
"Argue later. Search now." But there was no one to be seen. Shampoo's skills were sufficient to spot her quarry's tracks. "Man go through that door down there. Not chance of other place," she informed Kuno as she pointed out the trail's end.
"The fiend Saotome and the fair pigtailed girl may lie behind that portal? We must proceed at once!" He tore open the package that concealed his bokken and tossed his heavy coat aside. He'd need his full mobility. "Forward!" he cried.
"Bokken boy not jump from too too high place!"
"Perhaps the fair ramen delivery girl has failed to notice yon fire escape?" Kuno said ironically before quickly descending same.
Kuno was very annoying when he was wrong. When he was right, he was insufferable. He was also faster than Shampoo had thought. Before she could catch him, Kuno had descended the fire escape, crossed the alley and slashed open the door she had indicated. She managed to grab the back of Kuno's pants, but she was dragged into the building by the kendoist anyway.
Shampoo didn't have time to notice a steel door slamming down to cover the open doorway behind her. Both her and Kuno's attention were focused on the seventy black clad people pointing guns at them. Not even Kuno was that stupid.
-----
Jeff swore silently to himself after checking the latest status report from Monster. Not only had both Kunos entered the US, the idiot-with-a-stick had brought a female companion, most likely Shampoo. He couldn't imagine Akane or Ukyo being desperate enough to travel with Kuno, Nabiki most likely wouldn't need to use a false ID and Kodachi was already accounted for.
'Oh well, time to carry the bad news from A to B,' Jeff thought before leaving his desk to interrupt Ranma's meditation.
-----
After herding Shampoo and Kuno into the center of the room at gunpoint, an unseen male voice had given orders to those present. The black clad men and women divided themselves into three groups. The smallest, all men, had climbed up to a series of catwalks that stretched across the room. They held sub-machine guns trained on the Amazon and the kendoist.
After they were in place, a larger group holstered their pistols and pulled out sinister black devices that neither Kuno or Shampoo recognized as stun-guns. The largest group been ordered to holster their weapons by an unseen male voice and "Take down our honored guests from Japan."
That had been fifteen minutes ago.
The black garbed enemy prepared for another rush. Shampoo panted heavily and raised her remaining bonbori to defend herself. She'd lost the other ten minutes earlier. Kuno was starting to show some signs of strain himself. She could hear his ragged breath, the only outward sign he gave of the pain he must of felt. The crack when Kuno's left arm had been broken had been unmistakable. But he fought on, downing three opponents in as many seconds as they tried to crowd him.
Shampoo realized that she would have to revise her opinion of Kuno's fighting skill drastically upward. She had believed his skills were marginal at best considering that he couldn't even defeat Akane. To Ranma, he was a mere annoyance. But as he downed yet another foe, she realized that Kuno actually did hold back against women.
The forty enemies that had began the battle had been whittled down to an even dozen. As she stood back to back with the kendoist, she could see that even if they finished off this group, there were more waiting. Including one rather large late arrival.
Shampoo bashed a man that tried to grab her as Kuno cut down the man who had appropriated Shampoo's other bonbori.
The unseen voice cried "Enough! Cadre, disengage." The remaining ten attackers ceased their activities and began dragging away the injured who had not been able to limp off the field of combat under their own power. Shampoo took the opportunity to regain her lost weapon.
"Benny, they're yours," the voice said calmly. The large man that Shampoo had only glimpsed earlier came forward. He was a good two meters tall and easily outweighed Kuno and Shampoo combined.
Kuno snarled defiantly, and leapt to the attack. But the chi that would normally have been used to aid Kuno's prowess was tied up in keeping him conscious. The same slash which had felled many of his earlier opponents did nothing to the new one. A second attempt was met with a backhand that broke Kuno's bokken and had enough force left to knock Kuno across the room.
Before Kuno even landed, Shampoo began her attack. Her overhand right was designed as a feint to draw attention away from the thrust directed at the target's groin. The heads of both bonbori were caught before they could land. Shampoo tried to wrench her weapons free of the large man's grasp and failed. As strong as she was, Shampoo failed to move them or her opponent a millimeter. As she let go of the weapons to prep a kick to man's kneecap, the larger man crushed both bonbori as if they were empty beer cans instead of best quality Amazon weapons.
The kick landed, and Shampoo was glad to see the man had at least noticed her attack. She stayed with hit and run tactics in an attempt to wear the larger man down. It wasn't until Kuno distracted her by attempting to reenter the battle that Benny landed a blow. One was all it took to stop Shampoo in her tracks. The last thing she remembered was the sound of demented female laughter.
-----
Jeff knocked on the door to Ranma's room.
"Come in," Ranma said.
Jeff opened the door and paused for a split second. Ranma was in full lotus position. That wasn't too surprising. But he was also upside down.
"More balance training?" Jeff asked.
"Yeah," Ranma answered as he righted himself and sprang to his feet. "What's up?"
"I've got bad news and I've got worse news."
Ranma sighed and asked, "Who showed up?"
"Both Kunos and I think Shampoo. Tatewaki and a female companion have a suite at the Waldorf, Kodachi has a suite at the Mayflower on Central Park West."
Ranma said a word in his native tongue that Jeff didn't recognize. "Kuno and Shampoo are together? Are you sure?" Ranma asked in a puzzled tone.
"Sure enough. I gotta admit, I didn't see that coming."
"What are we going to do?"
"It's your call. Unless they threaten Anne or Little Bill, in which case it's my call."
Ranma pondered the situation. Even after all he'd been through, he was still far more reactive than proactive. He preferred to deal with problems as they came. So far this one hadn't, even if he saw it looming on the horizon. Supremely confident that he could handle any difficulties when and if they did come, he eventually told Jeff, "They will have to find me first."
Jeff nodded in acknowledgement, but didn't think it would be quite that simple.
-----
The office of a man whose criminal enterprises granted him a net income in the low eight figures each year should be impressive. Colin Hawksmoor's was. Artwork by Monet and Picasso, leather bound books on polished cherry bookshelves, a liquor cabinet holding only the choicest beverages, the room was furnished as if straight from Versailles.
It was almost as impressive as the man himself. Tall, but not too tall, muscular without being bulky, his full red beard added ten years to his apparent age and his steel blue eyes missed absolutely nothing.
Not that Kodachi cared one bit. To her, he was just hired help, albeit rather effective hired help. Not only had his organization provided suitable weapons for her upcoming hunt, for an additional fee they had also removed her brother and the Chinese peasant from the picture.
After dismissing the servants who had brought tea for himself and his guest, Hawksmoor said, "Well Miss Kuno, your brother and his associate were everything you claimed. I must admit, I am impressed."
Kodachi set down her excellent cup of tea before she answered, "My beloved Ranma could defeat both of them without drawing a deep breath."
"So you've said," Hawksmoor replied to his guest. Although to himself, he added 'Repeatedly.' "But I've taken their measure. Without the sword, your brother is no threat. The girl is far more interesting."
"I don't really care what you do with that base born slut, but my brother is... my brother. After I have taken my revenge, he is to be released unharmed."
"My medical people are tending to him now."
After a few more minutes of conversation, Kodachi left to pursue her own interests. Hawksmoor then summoned Benny and watched the surveillance footage of the battle until his 'enforcer' arrived.
Benny, hair still damp from a quick shower, entered the lavish office. "You wanted to see me Boss?"
Hawksmoor answered with a question of his own. "What did you think of our 'guests'?"
"Can't really judge the guy, his arm was broke by the time I got there. Did pretty good considering. The girl... I've _never_ seen a woman fight like that. Strong enough to be a low level meta too."
"Interesting. Did you notice anything else?"
Benny allowed the merest trace of annoyance to creep into his voice. "No. Wasn't really looking." Hawksmoor might have significantly increased his pay after taking over from 'Cap'n Al' but Benny still preferred his former employer.
"We'll discuss your powers of observation another time," Hawksmoor began. "But the most interesting thing I saw was those two took down thirty cadre without hurting them one bit more than they had to. If this Ranma fellow is as good as Miss Kuno says, and if he fights the same way, I want a shot at him myself."
END CHAPTER 12