Last time, Bloom and co. arrived on Solaria to locate the next Stone of Power. As it turns out, Stella had the yellow stone all this time in her personal vault. While planning a trap for The Shadow Riders, someone stole all the women's underwear in the palace, someone that Ranma and the martial artists were all too familiar with. It was Elise whom caught the perverted thief: Happosai of the Anything Goes Martial Arts Style. Our heroes were prepared to hand Happosai over to The Galaxy Police for deportation back to Earth. Just then Malaketh, the witches and Toro showed up with a stunning crystal. On with the show!

Chapter 32: No Need for Revenge

As Bloom's sight and hearing slowly recovered, she saw to her horror, Icy, Darcy, Stormy, Toro and Malaketh gloating over Happosai, while everyone else was feeling the effects of the stunning crystal. "Remember me, Happosai?" glared Malaketh, "You should remember me, we have unfinished business to attend to."

"My memory isn't as good as it was," said Happosai, "So why should I remember you?" "Does the term Shadow Riders stir your memory?" asked Malaketh, "Because you sold them out to The Galaxy Police fifty years ago."

"Come to think of it," said Happosai, "I do remember such a group. And I do remember you, Malaketh. How's Salamei doing?" "She's fine," said Malaketh, "But that's not important right now. What is important is that I kill you for what you did. You told The Galaxy Police where our headquarters were."

"Only because you wouldn't let me get my grove on with your girlfriend," said Happosai, "You were jealous of what Salamei felt for me." "She felt noting for you!" raged Malaketh, "You tried to rape her, you piece of sh$t Earth man! Then you sold us out! For that you must die!"

"Before you kill him, Master," said Toro, "Remember your promise." "I remember," said Malaketh, "But make it quick, every inch of me wants to get some killing done today."

"I'll be as quick as I can," said Toro. "Why Pantyhose Toro," said Happosai, "I didn't expect to see you out here in the galaxy." "Cut the crap, old man," said Toro, "I no longer answer to that name. I am Toro the Destroyer now. All that is needed to make it official is your approval."

"Your only chance of a quick and somewhat painless death," said Malaketh, "Is to legally change Toro's name. So get to it!"

"Never!" snapped Happosai, "The boy has a perfectly good name and I won't change it for anything, even my own life," he glared at Toro, "You are Pantyhose Toro, now and forever."

"It's obvious we're not going to get anywhere with this sick bastard by just talking and yelling," said Darcy, "so leave it to me to tear down his resolve."

"Just you try and force me to change my mind!" snapped Happosai, "My will is stronger than iron. Besides, I'm inside this force field, you can't even touch me!"

Darcy simply kicked one of the crystals maintaining the force field. With the square disrupted, the force field disappeared. "Still feeling cocky?" asked Darcy as she aimed her hand at Happosai, "How about now?"

Happosai didn't answer, for Darcy had used her telepathic powers to stimulate every pain receptor in his body. The agony the small martial artist was feeling was indescribable by mortal means.

"I think he's had enough," said Toro after about a minute and a half. Darcy lowered her hand, ceasing Happosai's agony. "Tell me, godfather," said Toro, "How did that feel?"

"It felt like I was dieing," panted Happosai. "Do you wish to feel that way again?" asked Toro. "No," answered Happosai flatly.

"I can make it much worse," said Darcy, "Believe me, I can. All you have to do to avoid such an experience is to allow Toro to change his name, that's all."

Happosai glared daggers at both Darcy and Toro before saying, "Alright! Take whatever name you want, you ungrateful brat!" "Thank you," said Toro, a huge sigh of relief escaping his lips, "Thank you so much."

"Whatever, you little bastard," said Happosai, "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a UFO to hitch a ride on." "Not so fast," said Malaketh, "The two of us still have unfinished business to attend to."

"Excuse me," said Stella, "But I think you've forgotten about something." Bloom, Ranma, Tenchi and the others were ready and waiting for battle. "Indeed," said Malaketh, "I have forgotten about you interlopers. I'll be with you in a minute, Happosai, so don't think you can escape."

Malaketh then glared at Bloom, "Where's the stone?" he asked. "Right here," said Bloom as she held the yellow stone in her hand, "But you'll never get it."

"Oh?" asked Icy, "And why's that?" "The answer is simple, Icy," said Carmen as she took off her jacket to reveal a vest full of what at first appeared to be TNT, "I have a bomb!"

"What!" exclaimed Stella, "You brought a bomb into my home!" Everyone then took several steps away from Carmen. "Yes, Stella," said Carmen, a detonator pen in her left hand, her thumb just above the button, "I have a bomb on my chest, a corbomite bomb to be exact."

"And what's so special about a corbomite bomb?" asked Darcy, who was starting to sweat.

"What makes a corbomite bomb so special," said Carmen, "Is that just one ounce of corbomite has enough destructive power to completely destroy everything within a thirty-foot radius, leaving nothing but ashes. I must have about 20 lbs of the stuff strapped to my chest, with my thumb ready to push the button, so you do the math."

"If you press that button," said Malaketh, "You and your friends will die as well." "So will you," said Bloom, "And if our deaths is the price to pay to rid the universe of your evil, then so be it."

"You heard her," said Carmen, "So here's the deal: leave this planet and never come back, or we all die, right here, right now. The choice is yours."

Malaketh glared at Carmen before saying, "Very well. Keep the stone for now; it matters not. You won't be willing to sacrifice yourselves all the time, we'll get it eventually." With a flash, The Shadow Riders exited the scene.

"That was close," said Carmen as she removed the vest full of corbomite, "It almost didn't work, Bloom." "Well it did," said Bloom, "We have the stone and nobody got hurt."

"How dare you!" Stella raged at Bloom and Carmen, "How dare you bring a bomb into my home! I thought we were friends!" "Relax, Stella," said Bloom, "Nobody was in any danger of getting blown up."

"She's right," said Elise, "We weren't in any real danger form the bomb. I'm surprised that it worked." "You knew about the plan?" asked Carmen, "I thought only Bloom and myself knew. We talked about it while Stella was taking her bath."

"I guessed what you were doing," said Elise, "And I was right." "What are you talking about?" asked Stella.

"There's no such thing as corbomite," said Carmen, "I was bluffing!" "You were?" asked Ranma, "Well, you'd make one hell of a poker player."

"I can't believe you'd scare me like that," pouted Stella, "You could have at least told me about your plan." "I'm sorry, Stella," said Bloom, "But Carmen and I both agreed that the fewer people who knew about it, the better."

"And the point is that it worked," said Carmen, "We have the stone. The down side is that now that I've used 'The Corbomite Maneuver©,' it probably won't work again on the same person."

"Well you shouldn't have scared us like that," said Stella, "I thought you were going to kill us all." "I have to agree with Stella," said Morgan, "You gave an all too convincing performance."

"You really think so?" asked Carmen, "I was trying my best to sound sincere." "Trust me," said Akane, "You did."

"Hold it right there, old man!" exclaimed Ranma, for Happosai was trying to tiptoe out of the room, "We're not done with you yet!"

"Oh come on, Ranma," said Happosai, "You're still going to hand me over to the cops after all that?" "As a matter of fact," said Elise as she aimed her hand at the short pervert to stun him, "We are. Zaker!"

Three hours latter several Galaxy Police officers arrived at the palace, among them was Detective First Class Mihoshi. "Don't worry, everyone," said Mihoshi, "We'll make sure this little pervert gets back to where he belongs." Happosai had been tied up in a straightjacket and secured in a metal box.

"If he wakes up on the way back to Earth," said Ranma, "Don't hesitate to knock him out again, he's a wily bastard." "We'll be extra careful with him," said Mihoshi, "You'll see."

"Before you leave, Detective Mihoshi," said Tecna as she held a data chip in her hand, "You told us on Jurai that those in charge of The Galaxy Police would need positive proof that The Shadow Riders had returned. This data chip has that proof."

She handed the chip to Mihoshi, "I took a few pictures of Malaketh while he was here," said Tecna, "There's a few other pictures from previous encounters as well. That should be evidence enough for The Galaxy Police."

"It should," said Mihoshi as she took the chip from Tecna, "I'll see this personally to the heads of The Galaxy Police." "Just don't lose it," said Ryoko. "Never happen," said Mihoshi as she pocketed the chip.

"I hope that isn't the only copy you have," said Tenchi as Mihoshi and her fellow Galaxy Police officers escorted Happosai out of the palace. "Don't worry," said Timmy, "We have several more in case of an emergency."

"So what now?" asked Brandon, "Do we go after the next stone?" "We will," said Bloom, "As soon as Washu locates the next one."

"And as luck would have it," said Washu as she and Amanda entered the room, "I have. The next Stone of Power is somewhere on Azati Prime."

"Azati Prime," said Tecna as she checked her computerized star charts, "That's one the other side of the galaxy, at least a week away in hyperspace."

"At 8,500 times light speed," said Amanda, "We can be there in three days. We'll have to refuel about two-thirds of the way there, but it can be done." "Then what are we waiting for," said Bloom, "Let's go!" "8,500 times light speed, " said Stella, "I just know I'm not going to like this."

Meanwhile…

"I had to see it to believe it," said Darcy, "I would never have thought Carmen Dawson would do something like that."

"Who knew she had the balls to risk blowing herself up like that," said Stormy, "And she was willing to risk killing everyone else as well. That takes a stone cold heart."

"I don't think so," said Icy, "Carmen is just like those disgusting pixies, especially Bloom. Carmen is too full of compassion and feeling to be called a real witch." "That maybe true," said Toro, "But we all saw that vest of corbomite on her. She was ready to push the button."

"First of all," said Icy, "Carmen was bluffing. There's no such thing as corbomite." "You mean she tricked us!" raged Stormy, "That bitch! I'll kill her." "Not only did Carmen trick us," said Darcy, "She also fooled Malaketh as well."

"That's right," said Stormy, "He fell for it just like us." "But what good does it do us?" asked Toro, "How does it get us closer to killing Malaketh, Salamei and getting out of The Shadow Riders?"

"It may not," said Darcy as she pulled out several glass vials, some rubber tubing and several sharp needles from her purse, "But it made me feel that we should have an insurance policy of sorts. I'll need a sample of everyone's blood." "Damn," said Stormy, "I just know I'm gonna throw up."

The end of chapter 32. Next chapter our heroes finally meet up with Kodatchi again, but the reunion maybe shorter than our heroes think. Reviews will be rewarded with cake and pie. See you next time!