SMST 5B: Journey to Adventure! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, ST and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 18
Meanwhile…
"To think how far down we need to go, in order to get to the center of the Earth," Gina said to Usagi.
"Well, that's nothing compared to the life forms that one can find down here," Usagi said. "Imagine Mole Men, or Crab People or Goths."
"'Goths'."
"Yep."
"We're talking about the emo types, right?"
"Yep, pale skin and emotional disposition. The original Goths were indeed from Europe. However, as Christianity began to spread, they went underground."
"Wait," Brandon said. "Are we talking about the volcanic venting system again?"
"Yep. Of course, years can pass that could completely wipe them out, but the Goths were good at using entire lava beds and tunnels to find homes. Eventually, they came to live where they live now."
"Interesting…"
"You know, Brianna, the next YOU suggest we go on a field trip with Ranma, count me out," Brittany said, as she, her sisters Gina and Briann, Ranma, Usagi, Brandon, Jason and Olga trudge through the darkened caves of the abandoned mine…
"I told you, I'm sorry," Brianna said in a huff. "I just…want to spend time with Ranma."
"Hey, dude," said Jason, as the teen goes up to Ranma.
"What?" Ranma replied.
"You have a wife AND a girlfriend?"
"What?" Olga the guide said.
"Yeah. So?"
"That's awful," Olga said. "And sexist, too."
"Olga, you're a guide, not an ethicist," Ranma said. "And besides, you're suppose to be more…European, you know."
"Now, THAT is a stereotype. And, I'm native of Iceland, not Europe."
"Well, personally, I think its cool," Jason replied.
"Jason, having a girlfriend and a wife is not that fun and games,' Brandon said.
Olga turns towards Brandon.
"So, you have the same deal as my so-called 'employer'?" Olga said with disgust.
"Of course not!" Brandon said. "I'm more, um, enlightened?"
Ranma simply shook his head. He could make a play for Olga, if he wanted, but he could see that Brandon had a thing for the guide.
"Man, it's dark here," said Jason. "And I don't we have enough flashlights to go around."
"Then allow me," Usagi said, as she begins glow, including her eyes. Swirls of sparkles leapt from her person.
"Wow," Jason said, just as he was about to touch Usagi.
"Kid, don't touch," Ranma said.
"I wasn't going to make a play for your wife, dude."
"Well, I KNOW that, shrimp. Usagi has the power of a thousand exploding Suns-"
"WHAT?" Everyone, save for Jason, yells.
"Are you crazy?" Brandon yells.
"Um, if you let me complete my sentence," Ranma said mockingly, "I can tell you that Usagi has the power of a thousand exploding Suns, which can help us on our journey."
"She's not going to explode or anything?" Brianna asked.
"No, SHE won't," Usagi said mockingly, as her inner light adjusted so that she could touch others without burning them. "Ranma was correct in stopping you, Jason. I needed time to make sure that I am safe to touch."
"Well, I do like the ambiance," Olga said.
"Where to next?" Gina asked.
"Let's see," Olga said, as she got out her map. "If I recall, the volcanic shaft that we need to journey to is behind the main mine, where many had lost their lives in the past."
Ranma looks up to see two passageways.
"The lion or maiden," Ranma said.
"I prefer one and two," Olga said.
"You must have gone to a liberal arts college or something."
Brittany sniffs the air…
"I smell oil…old," Brittany said.
"Well, I don't know about you, but I think the nose has it," Brandon said, as he goes down one of the tunnels.
"Uncle Brandon-" Jason called out.
"Wait for it," Olga said.
A few minutes later, Brandon returns.
"Um, which tunnel is it?" Brandon asked Brittany.
"The other one," Brittany said flatly.
"Oh, thanks. Come, let's be off."
And down the path Brandon goes…while listening to the snickering behind his back.
"Don't make me turn this trip around," Brandon yelled.
"Oh, can you?" Brittany said.
"I second that motion," Olga replied.
Soon, the group arrive at the main junction of the mine, specifically, the generator station.
"Okay, we should have something," Olga said, as she steps forward. She assumed that no one in her party could speak the local language…or read it, for that matter.
"Why do we need the lights?" Jason asked. "We got 'light bright' here."
"If we activate the generators, we can load up the next motor car," Olga said.
"Like a ride of some kind."
"Exactly."
"Well, then allow me to prove myself," Ranma said.
"As a womanizer?" Olga replied.
"Funny," Gina snickered.
"If I was, we'd be dating by now," Ranma said, as he puts on his glasses.
"That's not funny, Ranma," Brianna said.
"I concur," Olga said.
"Relax, you, two," Ranma said, as he takes a look at the instrument panel. "It's called 'rumor'. Buy some."
"Ha, BURNED!" Jason said.
"Jason, I don't want you to act like Mr. Saotome," Brandon said. "His ways are not ours."
Ranma looks back.
"What am I? An alien?"
"Well, you're just out of this world, love," Usagi said.
"You're NOT helping, Usa…"
"Oh, like you can read this," Olga complained.
Ranma looks back towards Olga…again.
"Yes, yes I can."
Ranma the looks at Usagi for help.
"Usagi-"
"On it," Usagi said, as she touched the panel…
"Now what?" Brandon said.
Usagi closes her eyes.
"The circuit has been broken."
"What does that even mean?" Olga asked.
Usagi opens her eyes.
"It's not plug in," Usagi said with a smile.
"…"
"You mean, this?" Brandon said, as he picks up some two plugs.
"Yes, but wait until-"
Brandon connects the wires together, thus completing the circuit. Unfortunately-
ZARK!
"Argh!"
"Uncle Brandon!" Jason said, as he goes to his uncle's side.
"Oh, no…he's dead!" Brianna said.
"Nope, I'm alive," said Brandon, as he steadily gets up. He then turns towards Usagi.
"Why didn't you SAY something?" Brandon yells.
"Had you let me complete my sentence, I would have told you to make sure that the generator was off before plugging the connectors together," Usagi said.
"Oh. Well, trial an error?"
Brittany shook her head. For a smart guy, this geologist can be such a clod…
"Anyway," Ranma said, as he turns his head back to his work. "We should have something…now."
Ranma switches the main switch.
CHUNK!
WRRRRRRR…
"Ah, lights," said Brandon with a smile.
"Obviously," Olga said, as three motorized mining cars come roaring down the tracks. RUUUUMMMMBLE!
"We're going to use those to get around?" Gina asked Ranma, as the cars stopped in place.
"Well, I rather ride down that walk miles down," Ranma said. He then turns towards his companions.
"All in favor?"
"Aye!" said everyone save for Olga.
"All opposed?"
"Nay," Brittany said, as she looks at the condition of the motorized cars.
"What is it?" Ranma asked.
"We don't even know the condition of the tracks," Brittany said. "And remember, Olga mentioned that this place was closed due to a mining accident."
"That is correct, but I'm sure the place will hold up some what," Olga said, as she checked the breaks.
"Well, all I can say is that it's faster getting down, than not, Brittany," Ranma said.
"That's what I am afraid of…"
"I don't know about you guys, but I rather be first," Jason said, as he hops into the first car.
"Move over, kid," Brandon said, as he hops into the same car as his nephew.
"This will be interesting," Gina said, as she and Brianna get into the car. Brianna turns towards Ranma.
"Ranma, why don't you sit with me?" Brianna asked.
"Naw, I'm going to steer this thing, since it's my idea," Ranma said. "And besides, somebody has to kept Usagi company.
"Oh, okay…"
"I guess I'll be sitting with you, Olga," Brittany said, as she hops into the same mine car as Olga.
"Well, better you than Mr. Saotome," Olga said.
"There," Ranma said, as he and Usagi hops in the main mining cart, which allowed the operator to manipulate the previous cars. "Let's see…okay."
CLICK!
RUUUUUUUMBLE!
"We're moving!" Jason said with excitedly.
"I can see that," Brandon said, as he checks the conditions of the track.
"Attention, all passengers," Ranma said mockingly. "Be sure to keep all hands on the rolling bar, and remain in the upright position."
Everyone turns to see what's wrong with Ranma.
"Do you mind?" Brittany asked.
"Er, sorry," Ranma said. "Anyway, here we go-!"
With that, Ranma shifts gears and eases off the breaks, increasing the speed of the carts.
"This isn't so bad," Brandon said.
And then, he sees that there was a steep drop ahead of him.
"Oh, shi-!"
And thus the ride of Brandon's life commences.
A short while later…
SCREEE-BAM!
The lead cart smashes into the dead end, while the third cart tumbles towards the side. Earlier, the second cart went missing over the edge of a bottomless pit. Thankfully, Usagi caught Brianna and Gina, before they, too, fell into the pit. In the end, everyone was okay, even if a little frazzled.
The motorized cart, with everyone stuffed within it, screeches to a halt.
"Let's do that again!" Jason said.
"Let's not," Brandon said warily.
"Oh, great," Brittany said. "We're at a dead end!"
Olga looks inside.
"I don't think so," Olga said, as she stares backwards. "The sides look smooth."
"Let me see," Ranma said, as he takes a peek inside. He then turns his head back towards his companions.
"We here," Ranma said with a smile.
"We found one of the paths straight down?" Usagi asked.
"Yep. Everyone, come on…"
Once everyone has entered the shaft, Gina turns towards Ranma.
"THIS is the path to the center of the Earth?" Gina asked.
"Wait," Brandon said, as he sees something sparkling on the walls. He picks up one of the minerals.
"Ha!" Brandon said, as he smiles. "Diamonds!"
"Exactly," Ranma said. "The Shining leads to Center of the World."
"Can I?" Jason asked.
"Yeah, me, too!" Brittany said.
"Okay, gather just a handful of diamonds if you want," Ranma said. "Usagi, when I give the world, shatter the floor."
"Wait, what?" Olga said.
"Oh, no!" Brandon said, as he realized that he and everyone was stepping on a thin lair of rock.
"Relax, Brandon," Ranma said. "You'll appreciate the experience."
"How far down does these Shining Paths go?" Gina asked.
"Straight down. I just hope that we don't end up in a magma pit."
"WHAT?"
"That's it, I'm done," Brandon said.
"But, what about Dad?" Jason asked.
Brandon turns to look at his brother's son…
"Fine, but I want something nice on my birthday," Brandon said.
"You got it," Jason said.
"Is everyone ready?" Ranma asked.
Everyone speaks their minds.
"Will this hurt?" Brianna asked.
"Naw," Ranma replied. He then turns towards Usagi.
"Now."
"Okay," Usagi said as she sees the weak points of ground she and the others were standing on. And then, she takes a diamond from the wall, and tosses it off center upon the ground…
CRACK!
"Okay, here we GO-!" Ranma said, as the ground gives way.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-!"
And then, there was darkness.
Tbc.