Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma or terminator. In addition if you aren't allowed to watch 'R' rated movies you probably ought to avoid this story…

Baba Yaga's Curse: Friction with the machine

Chapter 4:

Sailor Sol flew above an old beat up Chevy Malibu. Normally the use of her senshi powers like this would have her lighting up the night sky, but she kept herself concealed from the driver by using a combination of her own powers and those that she had learned from her Umi Sen Ken training. The car came to a stop outside a hotel and Sol dropped to the ground. The occupant of the Chevy exited he was a young man, perhaps twenty four and he had short cropped brown hair. He was wearing leather bikers gear and stepped out of his car without looking behind him.

The man approached his hotel and Sol followed him in. She watched him walk into an elevator and watched its display. The machine stopped briefly on the sixth floor and continued up. Sol quickly entered the stair way and ran up to the sixth floor. She opened the door there and was just in time to hear another door shut.

She walked to where she had heard the sound and pressed her ear to the door. She waited some time, but heard no voices or noise coming from the room. She pulled out a small silver device and said in a quiet voice. "Alright everything seems successful. I followed Wolf; he is staying at the Vegas Inn room 615. I'll stay here for a little while longer to see if anything happens."

A single click from the other end signaled receipt of Sol's message and so she waited with her ear pressed to the door. Few sounds came from the room and after a long time Sol determined that perhaps nothing would happen. She walked away from the door and down the stairs. Once she was outside she flew off towards her apartment.

Sol sat down in a comfortable chair in her shared apartment and transformed into Ranma Taya. The young pig tailed boy grabbed a remote and turned on the TV. He waited for Beryl and Hotaru to return from their positions and the empty noises of a local news program started to send him to sleep.

His drowsy state was suddenly shattered by recognition. One of the people involved in what was being called the 'Tragedy of Trinity Towers' had been able to provide police sketch artists enough description to make drawings from. One of those drawings was on the screen and next to it was a picture. The reporter was saying, "Police now believe that the man responsible for this action is the same man who wreaked havoc in 1993 killing a number of officers in their barracks. This same man is wanted for questioning involving another recent incident at Cyberdyne Research Systems."

Ranma listened to the news some more, but no more details about the tragedy were forthcoming. He turned the TV off and started to pace as he thought. A Terminator unit is currently out there right now, but what is it doing at the Trinity Towers in Las Angeles? Who or what is it looking for? Are Sarah and John in that area right now?

His thoughts were interrupted by the opening of the door. Beryl and Hotaru walked in dressed as themselves and he turned to them and said, "Looks like Wolf may be on the level, but that's not important right now. Right now the most pressing issue we have is a Terminator unit in Las Angeles."

The two girls looked at Ranma with surprise evident in their eyes and he said, "I know it doesn't make sense to me either, but I think we need to go there and investigate. The only problem is getting those plans from FBI agent Wolf."

"I can stay here Ranma. My experience is best suited for this type of operation. You and Hotaru should check out what is happening in Las Angeles and I will join you as soon as I receive the plans."

Ranma thought about it for a moment and said, "Alright it's a deal, but if anything looks fishy you should bug out, you got me? Transform if you have to, in fact I suggest that anytime you meet with Wolf or others you should be transformed, just like we were at the bar."

Beryl nodded and said, "Luckily I have been able to enhance the range of our radios just as I did in the future of this world. I am quite amazed that no one has yet to discover the technology."

Hotaru smiled and said, "Come now Beryl you know that Quantum Communication is rather difficult to understand. Besides which I doubt any of the scientists had the magical field of the earth to work with when they wanted to make things."

The two were about to get into an argument about technology and its various elements Ranma just knew it. They would talk about Bosons, photons, quanta and more for hours if he let them. He walked away from the discussion and prepared dinner. By the time he was done their discussion was cooling down. The arrival of dinner seemed to turn up the heat again and Ranma said, "Enough, you're both brilliant okay? If I have to hear another thing about Bosons and other Quantum doodads I'll scream. Let's just eat and then Hotaru and I need to be on our way."

Dinner became more somber for awhile and the discussion turned to the news story that had led Ranma to this point and what possibilities it might entail regarding Skynet. By the time the meal was over it was late and Beryl was saying, "Why don't you and Hotaru start out tomorrow morning Ranma? I doubt one day will have that much affect and you'll be in much better condition to drive after a good nights sleep."

Hotaru teased, "Yes, sleep is a good thing. I hesitate to consider the implications of Ranma-san driving while he is sleepy."

"Oh come on it was only that one time. I swear you destroy a truck in one single training exercise and get branded for life."

Hotaru and Beryl looked at him and then they both said in sweet voices, "Please."

Ranma couldn't help himself and said, "Alright we'll head out in the morning, but then that means we can get some training in now."

He stepped up from the table and put his dishes away. He walked intently towards the room of the house reserved for light sparring and training and the two girls followed him. As they did Beryl whispered into Hotaru's ear, "We haven't been separated in a long time; perhaps I should give you both a going away present?"

Hotaru looked a bit confused and said, "What would you give me Beryl-san?"

Beryl smiled a lecherous smile and said, "Oh I can think of quite a number of things Hotaru, quite a number indeed."

Hotaru squeaked a bit, but didn't quite mount a protest and then they were in the small training room. The three practiced in their normal forms for some time after that and then they all went to bed.

Some short time after that Beryl walked slowly into Hotaru's room and slid into the covers. The shorter dark haired girl said, "Beryl-san what are you doing here?"

A soft caress filled Hotaru's body with heat as a voice said, "I'm changing things. I think it's time we made a real decision here. Will we compete with each other for Ranma's affections or shall we work together?"

The hand moved and a delicious feeling filled Hotaru's mind. She turned her head towards Beryl and said, "I don't want to compete with you Beryl-san, but I do love him her so much. Can we do this with each other and still be true to Ranma?"

Beryl kissed Hotaru's soft lips and all was silence for s brief moment. Arms wrapped around each other and a naked body came into contact with one that was wearing silk pajamas. After what seemed an eternity of bliss the kiss ended and a voice said, "We are and have been a team for a long time and I think I have enough love in my heart for you both. Will you accept me Hotaru or will you send me out into the night to be alone?"

Not an instant went by and Hotaru said, "I will always accept you Beryl-san."

In a small nondescript building in Washington D.C. a thin owlish man in his late forties with a receding gray hairline was looking at a pile of black dust in a small plastic bag. The rounded spectacles on his nose twitched up and down as he gritted his teeth in frustration. He pulled out one single photo of a man wearing a Chinese outfit and sporting a single black pig tail and shoved it into a young brown haired man's face and screeched. "Thank you for that report is this really all the physical evidence you were able to get?"

The younger man said, "Yes, Mr. Tonsberry and I was lucky to get that. General Blackstone gave me this picture and told me of the information in the file mere minutes before going to interrogate Mr. Taya. I asked for more, but Blackstone made his opinion of me and the NSA very clear."

Tonsberry clamed a bit, nodded, and said, "Yes, it is well known that the pentagon tells its generals how useless the NSA is. Alright Carson, here is what I want you to do. I want you to gather a team and locate this Ranma Taya. You are to keep him and the girls you described under surveillance at all times."

The man named Carson seemed confused and said, "That's all sir?"

"For now, I want to see what he and his companions are truly capable of before we try to apprehend them again," he waved dismissal and Carson walked out of his office. He then picked up his phone and said, "Sheila, get me agent Finster."

He waited for some time and said, "Finster, what information do you have."

The voice on the other line spoke for some time and Tonsberry said, "Keep this FBI agent under close surveillance. If he does sell any maps I want you and your team to retrieve them immediately is that understood."

Tonsberry put the phone on its hook and then he picked it back up. "Sheila, get me the pentagon. I need to have a discussion with the secretary of defense."

A voice on the other end sounded and he said, "Mr. Secretary, I believe we have a severe problem on our hands that has only been exacerbated by the actions of General Blackstone."

The voice on the other end spoke and Tonsberry said, "Yes, I see early retirement was it, but that hindsight will not help us any now. I need to know that my operatives will have the full cooperation from any local base at a moments notice."

The voice spoke again and Tonsberry said, "Thank you sir and I promise that we won't underestimate this person again."

Ranma got dressed early in the morning and walked downstairs. He was rather surprised when he arrived at a scene of eye wrenching proportions. Beryl and Hotaru were both working together to prepare breakfast, but they were wearing some of the sheerest silk nightgowns he had ever seen. The gowns barely passed below their behinds and the tops were allowing a generous amount of cleavage to show. The two were working efficiently and easily with each other and were almost glowing with happiness.

They twirled around when as he approached and both of their gowns went up. His mind briefly registered the fact that they were not wearing underwear and then it shut down.

He woke up moments later with his head resting on a warm surface and carefully opened his eyes. Hotaru was sitting close to him leaning over him she was falling out of her gown and he slammed his eyelids tightly shut and said, "What's going on here?"

As Beryl's voice spoke from behind him he realized that his head had to be in her lap. "Hotaru and I just knew you'd be waking up early, so we decided to make a large Ranma style breakfast. After all it will be a long car ride."

That made sense to him and so he said, "What about the um night gowns?"

Hotaru replied with a touch of sadness, "Don't you like them Ranma-san we picked them out just for you."

Nervousness filled him and his mind started to fog as he said, "Oh no, no they're just fine, it's just that well…."

The silence stretched and then Beryl said, "Well what Ranma, too short, wrong color, or something else. Please tell us and we will be happy to rectify the situation."

Ranma found that he wasn't even sure what exactly his problem was or how to explain it. His thoughts were all running towards what he had seen and how he had seen the same things at other times and then it would squelch the thoughts. He was tense and confused, waiting for a blow that had yet to come from either of these two girls. Even so he was afraid that if he voiced his approval or any of the other feelings they would turn on him and call him a pervert. He took a single deep breath and exhaled slowly, and then he made a decision and opened his eyes.

Hotaru was still kneeling close and she was still falling out of her outfit. Beryl was behind him and he knew that his head was resting on her legs. He carefully stood up and said in a clear voice, "Well, nothing. I like those outfits you can wear them whenever you like."

Two feminine forms came close to him, and each one gave him a simple peck on the cheek and then they went back to preparing breakfast. Leaving him to sit down at one of the chairs and slowly rub the areas with a small smile on his face. Hotaru and Beryl smiled as well knowing that they had just won a small victory for their cause.

Breakfast went rather quickly and then Ranma and Hotaru headed out the door. They placed items of clothing in the trunk of their Mazda. The parting seemed sadder to Ranma than previous partings had been. Something had changed within their group and he knew it. As Beryl came and hugged them both goodbye he said to her, "Don't take too long with this Wolf guy. Get the map from Cheyenne Mountain and then take a plane."

Beryl smiled and hugged him briefly saying, "I'll miss you too Ranma," she then backed away and smiled with an evil glint in her eyes and said, "Be good with Hotaru while you're away."

Ranma sputtered a bit and then he just got into the car. He sat down and looked over at Hotaru. She had changed into a pair of blue shorts and a low cut blouse. She smiled at him waved a key ring with a pink Pegasus on it at him and said, "Are you ready Ranma-San?"

He nodded and said, "Yeah let's do this thing."

Gusoin was looking at his three lieutenants. Two of them were simply composed of a type of liquid metal, but the third was more. It was the same liquid metal over an array of powerful weapons the likes of which the current time period had no knowledge of. He smiled at them and said, "I have given the others of your kind minor demons. Small imps inhabit their metallic and flesh bodies now, but you deserve more don't you think?"

The three looked at him and then said almost as one, "Skynet has ordered us to serve you. If this is your desire we must comply."

Gusoin nodded and his powerful metallic arm rose in the air and he made a gesture. Suddenly a large pentagram lit up on the floor; mystical symbols surrounding it lit up as well and Gusoin said, "By my own power I call upon my servants. Demons from the depths that I rule come to me now."

Three figures appeared in front of him and he smiled. "Yes, just what I was looking for," he motioned to the first two and said, "Jurgen, Gorge take the fully amorphous ones."

Two bulk male demons approached the T-1000's and entered infusing their demonic essence with that of the machines. The third form floated close and he smiled at its sensuous form. "Lorycia, I knew you would answer my summons. I want you to take the third form. You will be inventive and cruel and it has so many little devices for you to play with."

The naked female with red wings smiled an evil smile and walked over to the machine. She integrated herself with it and said, "Will this do my lord?"

Gusoin looked at her and said, "Clothing is not optional Lorycia." Her shape changed and clothes appeared on her succulent curves. He smiled and then released his powers. The red glow disappeared from the pentagram and he said, "Now we must make some plans. Jurgen and Gorge will wait here with me. You Lorycia will go and find John Conner and his mother Sarah. Kill them and return to me."

The three demonic machines smiled at their large metallic Minotaur god and said, "As you command."

The next day Beryl approached the meeting place warily looking for a trap of some type. She carried the money in a suitcase and waited in the hot Nevada sun. An old beat up truck pulled over next to her small Honda motorcycle and its occupant exited the vehicle. She recognized the man as Wolf. Today he was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a simple T-shirt, but she easily recognized him.

He looked at her and his eyes roved over her tight and skimpy shorts as well as her tight leather bustier lecherously and said, "Hello Cherry, I see why you picked that name."

Beryl smiled seductively and said, "So Wolfie do you have the merchandise?"

He nodded and held out a cylindrical container. "Been in the archives for a few years, so some of the offices changed, but I penciled in what the new names were for you. The rest of the layout should be about the same."

Beryl handed him her briefcase and said, "It's been a pleasure doing business with you Wolfie."

The man tabbed open the case and examined the bills before handing over the map and then he said, "Likewise Cherry, but I do have to be going now."

Beryl said, "Just a moment Wolfie, I'd like to make sure I have the real thing." She pulled out the map and examined it for a moment. She concentrated on one of the rooms and allowed her earth powers to flow through her. A connection was established and she said, "Yes, these will do just fine. Now go ahead I'll wait for you to go and then head out in the opposite direction."

Wolf nodded and got into his car. He started it and drove down the road. Beryl watched him go and then got onto her motorcycle and drove away as well. A few miles down the road she noticed a black car in her rear view mirror. She sighed and then gathered the power of Earth. Shem smiled as she looked at the black car again and said, "Let's see what you want shall we?"

A small gas station was up ahead and so she pulled in to it and went to the pumps. She went into a small market and said to the man at the counter, "Pump 5 please."

He nodded and hit a button under his very comfortable looking chair. She smiled and said, "Thanks." She walked out the door and noticed that the black car had come here as well. It was directly in her path and its occupants were now outside of the vehicle. They were all wearing nondescript black suits and black ties. She smiled at the odd scene as they just stood out there in the Nevada sun standing around. She counted four of them and then approached them with a swish of her hips pointing to their black car and using a ditzy voice to say, "Isn't it rather cramped in that thing for you boys?"

A tall and menacing dark skinned man without any hair walked to her, the three other agents followed close behind him. He pulled out a wallet and showed her an ID card saying, "I am Special Agent Finster," he pointed to the men behind him and said, "These are my assistants. We have reason to believe that you have acquired material that is a threat to the security of the United States."

Beryl shook out her currently honey blonde hair. It was part of her Cherry disguise and it often seemed to have a mind of its own, she fluffed it into place, eyed them with a completely mindless look, and then she said, "Me? Why if you say so, here let's go over to my bike pack and I'll show you everything I have."

She bounced and then tittered a bit, blushed and said, "Well I mean everything in my pack. I haven't known you boys long enough to show you everything I have." As she did so she thought to herself, Well Sailor Moon it seems like I learned something from being your enemy after all.

The agents weren't quite buying her act, but she led them to her bike anyway, chatting about inconsequential details of her bike, its power, and how much she really wanted to get a custom made job sometime soon. She pulled the bike pack off her bike, handed it to the men and said, "It will be pink and sleek, low to the ground, but light. I'll be the envy of every other girl."

Agent Finster wasn't as sure of himself as he had been, but he was determined to do his Job. How could anyone this ditzy end up paying for a map of Cheyenne Mountain? Maybe she's just a courier? Maybe she doesn't know what she really has? He took the pack and said, "Um, of course you will ma'm. We'll just open this and take a look inside okay?"

She nodded and he handed it to the other two men in black suits. They proceeded to empty its contents quickly and efficiently. When they were done one of them said, "Nothing in here sir."

They re-packed the pack and handed it to Finster. He gave it back to Beryl and said hotly, "Where is the Map?"

She looked at him blankly and said, "Map?" Then pretending to get an idea she said, "Oh you mean my atlas. She walked over to her bike and unfastened a cord attached to her handle bars and a large folded, white item. She pulled the cord fully off the white item and revealed a map of the State of Nevada and then handed it over keeping the cord. "Here you go, it's pretty up do date too." She then scratched her head and said, "Why would a map of Nevada be a matter of national security?"

Finster just stared at the map as fury started to show on his face. Beryl just looked at him and pretended to get a new idea, "Oh its Area 51 isn't it? I have it marked on my map, but I haven't been there. Did they accidentally put something on the Rand McNally road map that shouldn't be there?"

Finster got very close to Beryl and practically shouted, "No! You stupid girl! You were just down the road speaking to an FBI agent and he gave you a map in return for a briefcase full of money. Now all I want you to do is tell me where the map you received from agent Wolf is. Do you understand that?"

Beryl pretended to be a bit afraid continuing her ruse and said, "I'm sorry mister Agent sir, but I don't have a map. Maybe you mean my courier cylinder? I can't give you that cylinder. My boss always told me that a courier can't just give up her items. I could lose my job."

Finster put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it tightly. "You could lose more than a job if you continue to defy us."

Beryl stepped back a bit hesitantly and then pretended to shake with fear as she lifted her fists and spoke with a quavering voice, "I'm sorry Mr. Agent Finster if you try to hurt me I'm going to have to fight back."

Finster was six and a half feet tall and towered over Beryl. His broad shoulders and rounded chest made him twice her width as well and he laughed at the very prospect. He then growled menacingly, "Look, girl I'm going to give you one last chance, and then it will go bad for you."

Beryl softened her stance kept up her fearful act and said, "No, I'm sorry Mr. Agent sir I just can't do that."

Finster made a lunge and she easily sidestepped it. The man looked rather surprised and then lunged again. This time Beryl grabbed one of his hands and flipped him over her back, sending him flying into his companions. All of the agents went down and she made a flying leap to land right onto her motorcycle. She kicked the starter and then gritted her teeth in anger when it didn't start. She berated herself saying, "Should have known they would do that."

Finster's voice sounded loud and authoritative. She turned towards him with a smile; he and his allies had untangled themselves and were holding out sidearms. He chambered the bullet in his gun and said with obvious menace, "The map, just give me the map."

Beryl raised her hands and smiled a ditzy and accommodating smile. She then stepped off her bike and pulled the cylinder out saying, "This map?"

He nodded and said, "Bring it to me." She held it out in her hands and approached closely. She started to hand the map to the man and then when his hand was outstretched to receive it she acted. An amazingly powerful right hook sent him off his feet and towards the ground. His two companions turned their weapons towards her, but she just smiled and said, "Kinjin Rashu Dan!"

Three vacuum blades slammed into the weapons and shattered them. After that Beryl attacked. She was a whirlwind of strikes and kicks. The men's combat training was nothing compared to what Ranma had taught her. It was over very quickly and Beryl started to walk away. A shot rang out, but her honed instincts had made her tumble out of the way before she even heard it. She turned towards the shooter and said ditzily, "My Mr. Agent Finster are you still awake?"

The Black man was in a kneeling shooters position and looking right at her. He fired again, but she was out of its way again. Moments after that he lost track of her and then her foot was colliding with his shooting hand sending his weapon flying. A powerful blow to hi sternum made the breath whoosh out of his body and he had to drop his hands down to keep himself from eating dirt. Beryl stared down at him; her voice was no longer light and airy. Instead it was ice cold as she said, "I was trained by the best there ever was Mr. Finster. The finest and most noble martial artist the world will ever see. You and your colleges will never be in our class. Now, go home, go home and let us do our job."

The man looked at her with anger, hatred and suspicion. He finally managed to catch his breath and said, "Exactly what is your job miss?"

She continued to look at him with that ice cold stare and said, "Protect the weak, defend the defenseless. Now you can either help me or hinder me. It's my turn to ask a question and your turn to answer. What did you do to my bike?"

Finster slowly stood up with his hands in the air thinking that if he could just surprise her his bulk would do the rest. He said, "We took a sparkplug out that's all. It's right here." He pulled out the plug and then he made his move lunging at Beryl while her hand was outstretched to take the item. He didn't even get close, her hands blurred in a super fast motion and hundreds of punches took him down.

Beryl took the plug and walked over to her bike. She placed it in the correct housing and filled the vehicle up with gas. When she was done with that she walked back into the store. The old man was still sitting comfortably in his chair as she pulled out Agent Finster's wallet and took out some bills. "There should be enough here for my gas. You can tell him that he owed me that much just for the trouble."

The old man nodded and she walked out the door. She hopped on her motorcycle and started driving. Some time down the road she gritted her teeth in annoyance when she heard helicopter blades in the distance. She stopped her bike, took off her clothes and inspected them. She found some electronic surveillance equipment in them and in her pack and discarded them. She then put her clothes back on and drove away leaving the helicopter to land next to a pile of discarded surveillance equipment.

After more than half a day of driving Hotaru and Ranma finally arrived in Las Angeles, they went to the Trinity Towers and inquired at the front office about renting an apartment. The manager looked at them with a very surprised look and said, "Really? You're not kidding me are you?"

Ranma said, "No, we aren't we're just looking for a place to stay. We figured rent would be cheap here due to the recent news"

The rotund manager said, "Well you're right about that. We've been having people cancel their leases every day. The company that owns this place is offering the first two months free and no security deposit."

"Great we'll take it. How soon can we move in?"

The man said, "Today," then he hurried off to collect the appropriate paperwork. It was quickly signed and out of the way. Ranma and Hotaru were escorted to their new room and the Manager opened the door. Hotaru and Ranma were given a quick tour and then the Manager left. Ranma and Hotaru busied themselves by unpacking their belongings. When they were finished Ranma sat in his futon and said, "Okay we're here. Now what?"

Hotaru looked at him and said, "Don't you know Ranma-san?"

"We could try to find Sarah and John I guess, but they won't be in the city. Still this should be a good recon point." He thought on that and said, "You know thinking about it, they may not be all that far away right now. He pulled out a file folder and looked at it. He smiled in glee as he pointed to it and said, "What do you know I'm right. Sarah and her son spent quite a bit of time working as farm labor around these parts at this point in history."

"Would Skynet have this information as well Ranma-san?"

He said, "I don't know, but they are in this area and they are looking for them. We had best do the same and hope we find them before the machines do."

Hotaru nodded and rustled through their things. She found what she was looking for and stretched out a California map book. The two of them went through it and a copy of the local phone book to see where all of the farms where. Ranma used the report written by Sarah to try and narrow down their search. They settled on six different farms. Ranma pointed at the closest one and then looked out a window. "We'll start on this one and work our way out tomorrow. I doubt any people are doing farm work right now."

Hotaru nodded in agreement and they each headed for their own rooms. As Ranma opened his door he heard Hotaru's footsteps hurrying back toward him. He turned towards her and said, "What is it?"

She smiled at him and then put her arms around him and said, "Goodnight Ranma-san."

A kiss was placed on his cheek and then she was gone, down the hallway and into her own room. Ranma could still feel the kiss lingering on his cheek as he closed his own door and went to sleep on a bed roll.

Author's Notes: That's it for this chapter. It is a bit slow, but it's a development chapter. More will be forthcoming soon. Just as an FYI: I do not intend to make this into a lemon at all. The scenes above are about the most you will get.