CHAPTER 41

-"THE BLAST KING WANTS TO BE A ROMEO! ERICK COOKS UP YET ANOTHER SCHEME!"-

Aw, man! This narrator can't BELIEVE what happened in the last chapter! Why does LAN get to do that, and not ME! First, it's Dan and Mai, then Ran between Ranma and R, then R and KODACHI, of all people, for cryin' out loud! You know, I'm going to say something to the authors when this chapter's over! I don't get paid enough for this! Hmm, maybe I should ask them for a raise…

[AUTHOR'S NOTE: Please excuse the narrator's ranting. He's just a sad, lonely man who wishes he could be cool like Erick and me. Kinda like Dan, when you think about it. We now return you to our story in progress. It'll get good, folks, trust me!]

RED CATS' SECRET BASE:

In one of the rooms of the base lies Grenademan… where he's writing something on a piece of paper. What is it, you ask? Well…he's trying to write poetry…

"Uuuh…lets see, what should I write for that lovely chick –(Ran)-, it has to be something nice, something pretty, some garbage that girls love, but what, what can I write? Let's see…" He starts writing. "Roses are Red, -(Butt-Head idiotic moan)- uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh, Violets are like Blue, or something, I am pretty and so are you…hmm, not bad, not bad at all, OH YEAH! But before that, I need some opinions, but who to ask? I think I'll ask that weird priest guy Erick, maybe he'll know something…now let's go find him!"

But Erick wasn't in the Red Cat Base….

SHADOWLOO H.Q. – IN A LABORATORY:

We see Erick, with Delia by his side, M. Bison, Tron Bonne, and the rest of Bison's followers. In front of them there was a large glass tube filled with water and bubbles. B.B. Hood is floating inside of it, with no clothes on, except her bra and panties, and a breathing helmet on her face to breathe.

M. Bison says to the RED CATS' High Priest, "Tell me again Erick about this project of yours. You said that it was going to be interesting."

Erick grins at him. "Oh, and it will be, Bison. You just have to be patient."

"Why, if I may ask?"

"Well, first of all, the subject known as Baby Bonnie Hood must be healed. After all, she took quite a bit of damage from Tron's sonic wave attack."

Tron blushes. "Um…sorry, my bad."

"Not to worry girl, that's why she's inside this healing tank, and once she's healed…" Erick flashes a wicked smile. "…that's when you guys are gonna see my project."

M. Bison says, "Very well, but how long will it take?

"Not too much longer. I'd say about three hours."

BACK AT THE RED CATS' HIDEOUT:

Grenademan wanders around, trying to find someone to help him with his 'so called' poems, and on his way he bumps into Bubbleman:

Bubbleman waves at him, greeting him. "Hey Grenademan, how're you doing? Um, what ARE you doing?"

Grenademan replies, "Just here trying to make a poem for someone."

"A poem! YOU?"

Grenademan glares hard at Bubbleman. "Yeah, ME! What? Don't think I can write a poem?"

Bubbleman's waving his hands like crazy, trying to avert Grenademan's explosive fury. "Oh nononononoooo! Sure you can…!" Seeing that the Blast King's not going to blow him up, he calms down and asks, "So why ARE you writing a poem, and who's it for?"

"Oh that's easy…it's for the lovely girl known as Ran!"

Bubbleman, with a kawai face – how can a robot that looks like a scuba-diver / frogman look cute? – says, "Oh, for Ran? How cute and…" He then gasps loudly, his mouth wide open, "RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!?"

"Yes, for Ran…you have a hearing problem or something?"

"No, it's just that…Grenademan, are you sure about that? Lady Ran is wanted by the Cat Ghost King for treason!"

"Don't care…I will make her mine! OH YEAH!!"

Bubbleman is worried. "I don't know man…what if you get into trouble?"

"Well that's MY problem…anyway, I want your opinion of my poem…read it and tell me what you think."

"Oh, you don't want my opinion, I don't know anything about poems…Hey, why don't you ask the High Priest Erick? Maybe he can help you."

"Good idea…where can I find him?"

Bubbleman remembers, "Oh, he's not here at the moment."

"Drats…oh well, maybe later, thanks…OH YEAH! I almost forgot! HWAH!" Grenademan then socks Bubbleman hard below the belt!

THUMP!

Poor Bubbleman drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes, crying in a pinched voice, "OWWWWWWW…!! WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR?"

"THAT's for your stupid –'Vending Machine Costume'- idea that you gave me! I had lots of trouble with it, and some stupid human hit me in my groin!"

Then Grenademan leaves, leaving Bubbleman on the floor…

BACK AT THE SHADOWLOO LABORATORY – 3 HOURS LATER:

M. Bison and his crew are with Erick and Delia in the lab…in front of them was B.B. Hood. She's still in the tube…

M. Bison has his arms crossed, waiting for the good news. "Okay Erick, I hope that you are ready to show me what you've promised."

Erick confirms, "Oh, it is Bison."

"Well…what is it?"

"You said something about your using your creepy Cells for a project?" Tron asks.

Erick gives a polite reply, "Quite right Miss. Bonne." He clears his throat, "Ahem… Okay, first of all, Bison, what would you say about acquiring B.B. Hood's services?"

M. Bison wonders, "Her? Why?"

"Well, I was thinking of suggesting you recruit this young lady in your service."

OK, Bison's confused. "But her? Now why would I want to do that"?

"Why not, Bison? She, like Tron Bonne, could be a very important member for Shadowloo."

"Explain."

"Gladly…you saw first hand Ms. Hood's skills in battle, her expertise with weapons, and her fierce battle against Tron."

"Well, yes…"

"Now imagine if she works for YOU Bison…she could be your hit-man, or hit-girl."

Bison's intrigued by Erick's idea. "How?"

"Think about it. Suppose that you have someone that you want to get rid of, like a judge, prime minister, general, etc. This girl can be your assassin, and she will eliminate them."

M. Bison objects, ridiculing the notion, "But, come on, look at her! She doesn't look like she could pose any danger! She's just a girl."

Erick just smiles his evil smile. "Ah, but that's 'her' biggest weapon…her looks."

Tron blinks. "Huh? Why?"

"Easy…who would ever suspect that a sweet little girl could be a deadly assassin? Nobody!"

M. Bison thinks it over, reconsidering, "That's so? Hmm, interesting…"

Erick assures Bison, "It is…believe me. This girl, what she lacks in innocence, she more than makes up for it in insanity."

M. Bison thought it over for 5 minutes and came up with his answer. "I think I like your idea, Erick."

Erick's pleased. "Excellent! Now, I've taken the liberty of programming some commands into her mind, commands that you'll love Bison."

"Oh!"

"Yes…let's see them, or rather, hear them…"

Then Erick presses a button on the computer and, picking up a microphone, starts to talk to B.B. Hood. "All right. B.B. Hood, please tell us your Prime Directives."

B.B Hood was still asleep inside the tube, but still she answers, in the unsettling monotone of the hypnotized, "Serve Shadowloo'. 'Protect Bison'. 'Uphold his Law."

Erick turns to Bison, awaiting his ally's approval. "What do you guys think?"

M. Bison, as Erick hoped, indeed approves. "That's fascinating Erick. I like it a lot."

"That's so cool!" Tron gushes.

Erick then offers, "Now, Bison…before I unleash the Cells, care to put more commands into her, or will those three be fine?"

Bison thinks a little… but then, "Hmm…wait, I have some commands I want to put in!"

"Good. Put them into the computer."

Then Bison began to tap in the commands as he verbally commands, "Obey M. Bison. No one else'. 'Receive orders from M. Bison only, with no questions asked'. 'All enemies of M. Bison and Shadowloo must be destroyed'."

Erick raises an eyebrow at this, but maintains his cool. "Wow, Bison, those were cool."

"Thanks."

"Now…what you guys are going to see may shock you." Then Erick takes out a canister, filled with the DVL Cells. The others look closer into it in awe:

Tron's in awe. "Those are the Cells? They look kinda creepy!"

Erick humors her, "They do, don't they? Now…to place them inside the tube, and they shall merge with B.B Hood…observe!"

Then Erick connects the canister into a pipe that connects to the tube, presses a button, and he fills the holding tank with the Cells! The Cells enter the water like a dark red fog and cover B.B. Hood up head to toe. "Now guys, you're about to see firsthand how my babies work."

They see the Cells merge with B.B. Hood inside her mind. Then they're gone:

M. Bison complements, "Remarkable, Erick. That was impressive."

Erick accepts, "Thank you."

"But tell me something. Why do you think THIS project will be different than before with that boy Hibiki?"

Erick is only happy to explain. "I'm glad you asked. You see, the DVL Cells invade the host's mind and take over. Unfortunately, if the person's soul and mind are strong enough to resist, the Cells will have a hard time controlling him or her, but they will. In THIS subject, however, the Cells will have no problem."

Tron's confused here. "Why?"

"Easy, the soul and mind of THIS girl are full of hate, greed, and ambition. So the Cells had no problem whatsoever controlling her. In other words, the weaker the person is, the easier it is for my Cells to dominate them."

Having heard the process explained in detail, Bison has a wide grin on his face. He secretly thinks about his own uses for the Cells once he gets access to them – for example, with those Cells, plus a sizable dose of Psycho Power, he could reactivate the DOLL Project… By having immutable loyalty programmed into a small cadre of perhaps a dozen or more young women Bison could not only take power but he would become un-seatable because after the flawless, selfless lady guardians had removed the "others" (i.e. his many enemies, of which Ryu, Chun-Li, Guile, Charlie, and Cammy (who was once the first of his DOLL Agents) have been at the top of THAT list. AND certain other people, like that pathetic Dr. Wily, that ridiculous Cat Ghost King, or that annoying vampire Demitri) they could be conditioned to take certain "commands" from him which they would never, ever, ever plot against Bison and would reflexively choose to die themselves rather than see any harm come to him.

Bison's smile grows even wider. His partnership with Erick and the RED CAT GANG is proving to be quite beneficial both now… and in the near future. "Impressive. Those Cells are really something Erick."

Tron compliments Erick too, "Yeah, those are very cool."

Erick beams up. "Why thank you, Bison. It's so good that someone recognizes the hard work of a fellow genius…now, why don't you go and have a drink while Delia and I prepare Baby Bonnie Hood and come back to our base later."

"Why?"

"We need to prepare, tend, clothe, and feed this girl, so that she's ready when I hand her over to you."

M. Bison considers that ('cause who knows what else Erick might program into B.B Hood's already deranged little mind?), then says, "Very well, I'll trust you, but she'd better be as good as you've told me Erick."

Erick assures him, "Oh, she will Bison, I promise." To Delia, he says, "Let's go, Delia."

Delia nods, "Okay Erick-san." Then, to a group of RED CAT Soldiers who've accompanied Erick and Delia to Shadowloo HQ, she orders, "Pick up the girl and let's go."

A RED CAT Solider salutes, "Yes ma'am."

The soldiers carry the tube and head for Erick's personal Airship to return to the RED CATS' Base.

THE NEXT DAY – AT THE MCD's REAL BOUT MARTIAL ARTS BAR & GRILL:

Yukime arrives in time to the restaurant for her first day on the job. The Sub-Manager greets her and then takes her to meet the owner. Yukime was kinda nervous. Then it happens. They arrive at THE MCD's office, where he was sitting at the desk, doing his work:

Satoro knocks on the door, "Excuse me D, but here's the girl for the job."

THE MCD looks up. "Oh! Send her in."

"Yes, sir." Satoro then calls Yukime, "You may come in now."

Then Yukime enters the office and sits down. The MCD politely introduces himself, "Hello there, young girl, my name is The MCD."

A little nervous, Yukime replies while introducing herself, "Um, nice to meet you sir, my name is Yukime."

The MCD smiles, complimenting her. "A lovely name. So…are you ready to start your job here?"

Yukime nods, "Yes sir. I'm ready."

"Good, but let me tell you; sometimes, this work will be very hard. Do you think that you can handle it?"

Yukime is determined. "Yes sir, I will give it all my will and dedication."

The MCD's smiling – he likes that answer. "Good, that's all I wanted to hear. So then… its settled. Welcome aboard Yukime, we're so glad to have you on our team."

"Thank you so much sir," Yukime happily says while bowing. "I promise to work very hard and I won't let you down!"

The MCD chuckles. "That's okay Yukime. Once again, welcome aboard."

Then he shakes hands with Yukime. When they touch each other, he begins to feel something from her, a strange aura; so does Yukime:

Intrigued, The MCD's thinking, Hmm, the aura this girl has…It's very weird, its like she's a…no! Can it be? I'd better keep a good eye on her.

Yukime softly gasps, thinking, Oh my god, the aura and strength of will this man has! It's very powerful, so full of energy. Just like… She shakes her head, not believing this is possible. …no, even more stronger than Nube! How can it be?

After they finish shaking hands, The MCD then says, "Well, Yukime, I'll take you to meet the rest of my staff and you can begin working."

Yukime expresses her gratitude. "Thanks a lot."

MEANWHILE, AT THE RED CATS' SECRET BASE:

Erick's personal Airship landed on the base docks…Erick steps down, followed by Delia. Some RED CAT Soldiers are carrying the Tube where B.B. Hood lies inside.

Erick's ordering the Cat Soldiers, "Take B.B. Hood to my room, and fix and clean her clothes, while you two inform our personal chefs to fix a delicious meal for me, Delia and B.B. Hood…NOW!"

RED CAT Soldier 1 salutes, "Yes sir."

RED CAT Soldier 2 risks asking his boss, "Okay…but…what meal do you want us to tell the chefs to prepare, sir?"

Erick's response to that, "Tell them to surprise me…Now go!"

"We shall obey you, sir!"

Then the soldiers take B.B. Hood inside. Erick is heading for his private chamber with Delia, when Grenademan spots him walking down the hall and goes over to him:

Grenademan gets happy. "All right, there he is! OH YEAH!!" He waves and yells to Erick, "HEY ERICK! HEEEEEEEEY!!"

Erick turns around and sees Grenademan running toward him. "Grenademan, what do you want? I'm kinda in a hurry."

"Don't worry, man, this won't take long, I just need your help on something."

"Well tell me already. What is it?"

Grenademan tells him, "Erick…can you help me? I want to write a poem for someone."

Erick and Delia are confused and gasp at Grenademan's unusual request. The crazy-happy bomber wanted to write a poem.

Erick (having gotten over the initial shock) manages to speak. "Excuse me, you said that you want to write a POEM, and for someone?"

Grenademan replies, "Yep, that's what I said. OH YEAH!"

"Well…you really took me by surprise there…but WHY do you want to write a poem…and most of all…for who?"

"Aw shucks…that's a secret, but, are you gonna help or what? I KNOW that you know all about these things!"

"Well…alright, I suppose I can help you a little."

"GREAT! OH YEAH! Look, this is what I wrote. Read it and tell me what you think!"

Erick read the so called poem that Grenademan wrote and…

Grenademan eagerly wants to know the High Priest's opinion. "So, what do you think? Is it cool? Is it romantic? What, what, whaaaaaaaaaat?"

Erick sweatdrops. "Um…" Then, he says, "… well, do you want the truth or sarcasm?"

"Uh…the truth!"

"Okay… Don't quit your day job, Grenademan."

"So that means that it WAS romantic! OH YEAH!"

"Not unless you were addressing this poem to Beavis and Butt-Head."

Grenademan STILL doesn't get it. "Uhh… and that means…"

Delia bluntly explains it for him, "It means that your poem doesn't have anything romantic in it."

Hurt by Delia's criticism, Grenademan objects, "HEY! I put a LOT of work into that!"

Erick reminds Grenademan, "Well, you said you wanted the truth, didn't you!?"

"But not like that! Well… can you help me, help me to make good poems!"

"I suppose I can give you some assistance… Okay, here's what I'll do…"

Then Erick chants a spell and a book appears. "Here Grenademan, take this."

Grenademan wonders, "But, how's this gonna help me?"

"Simple…that book contains the works of great writers, like Shakespeare, Cervantes, etc. Read it."

The "Blast King" whines, "But…I don't wanna read! It's BORING! Can't you just tell me how to do it?"

Erick shakes his head no. "Sorry buddy, but poetry is something that one must do on their own. It's a special art that must come from the heart, because when it's written from the heart it's more romantic."

Delia adds, "That's right…if you put your heart, or whatever you have inside, into it, your poem will truly spark feelings of love"

Erick concludes, "So Grenademan, read that book and you'll be able to write your poems for that person. Also, you can write Love Letters, that also help to conquer girls, isn't that right Delia-chan?"

Delia smiles at her beloved, "Yes!"

Grenademan frowns, but he accepts the advice Erick's given him. "Okay…but I still wanted you to help me, since you're the High Priest."

Erick admits, "I COULD, but then your poem wouldn't be special now, would it? Speaking of which Grenademan, how are your plans for destroying Ranma? Remember, you only have two days till your deadline."

Grenademan assures, "Don't worry, I've just finished it and I'll be putting into motion soon. That Ranma boy will get what's coming to him! OH YEAAAAAH!"

Erick seems pleased. But in a serious voice, he warns, "Good, for YOUR sake that is, because second opportunities don't repeat again, got it?"

"*Gulp*…got it, sir."

"Good, now good luck." To Delia, Erick says, "Let's get going Delia."

Then Erick walks away, leaving a worried Grenademan…

"Oh man, I'd better prepare my plan to eliminate that cursed freak Ranma! OH YEAH! But first, I must read this book for my poems for that lovely creature Ran."

NERIMA WARD OF TOKYO - TENDO DOJO:

Alone in the Dojo, Ran was having difficultly dealing with her strange crush on Ranma. She knew that it couldn't be true, yet deep in her heart she felt otherwise. After all, she didn't have the guts to tell Ranma that:

Worried, Ran's thinking, Oh man, what am I gonna do? Is it love what I'm feeling for Ranma? Do I tell him? But what would he say…? Something occurs to her, and the thought scares her. What would Akane say?

"Hey, Ran," a girl's voice says.

"WHA…!?" Startled, Ran turns around and sees Akane entering the Dojo. "Aka…Akane, how you are doing?"

Akane replies, "Fine… say, Ran, are you alright?"

Ran nervously laughs, "Fine! I'm doing fine! Hahahaha…"

Akane blinks. "Are you sure? Kasumi told me that you weren't acting like you usually do."

Ran assures her friend. "I'm fine Akane. Don't worry about it."

Akane smiles. "That's good. Just remember Ran that if you want to talk about it, or if you're having a hard time with something, you can count on me. After all, you're like a sister to me too, okay?"

Ran nods, "Okay."

Then Akane walks away. Ran's feeling REALLY guilty now! Way to twist the knife into her, Akane!

Interrupting the narrator, the author says, "HEY! Enough already! We get the picture! GET ON WITH IT!! Geez… stupid narrator…"

Oh, right. Anyway… Meanwhile, poor Ran was now hit with guilt. She moans, "Oh man, now it's gonna be even harder to tell them my problem."

RED CAT' SECRET BASE – ERICK'S DARK CHAMBER:

B.B. Hood woke up weakly and looks at her surroundings. She was feeling very strange:

"Where am I? What is this place?"

"You're in my room little girl," a man's voice says.

B.B. Hood blinks, "Huh!?"

She looks at Erick standing in the doorway, along with Delia:

B.B. Hood greets them, "Hello!"

Erick smiles at her. "How're you doing Bonnie-chan?"

B.B. Hood admits, "Kinda weak. Where am I anyway?"

"You're in the Red Cat Gang's Base, in my room. Tell me girl, do you remember anything?"

The psycho Little-Red-Riding-Hood thinks it over, recalling, "Um…not much, except serving Bison and this and that."

Erick grins, thinking, Good, it looks like my lovely DVL Cells are in control of this girl's mind forever. "Okay, but before we talk more, how's about if you put some clothes on girl…" He chuckles, "…not that I don't mind the peek show."

B.B. Hood's confused by his statement, but when she looks at herself she gasps big time, for she was wearing nothing but her lovely pink Bra and Panties. She blushes, crying out, "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!"

Then Erick walks away from the room to allow B. to change. 30 minutes later he enters again and sees that B. is changed into her clean clothes. "Now that you're all dressed up, I want to welcome you to your new life. Now you'll be working for M. Bison, isn't that right B.?"

B.B. Hood nods, remembering the suggestions planted in her mind. "Yes, that's right…hey, where's Harry my dog?" she remembers, looking for her pet.

"Oh yes, Delia if you please."

"Yes." Delia waves her hand and a little brown dog appears…

"Bark bark bark!", the dog, erm.. barks.

B.B. Hood squeals, "Harry, there you are!"

Erick mentions, "Your puppy was also healed, 'cause of the battle you were in, but now it's okay." With a wicked smile, he adds, "…and, as a bonus, Delia and I gave Harry a little…modification."

B.B. Hood blinks, "Um… modification? What do you mean?"

Harry begins to glow and is cover in blue flame and changes into a….-(Not yet dudes!)-

B.B. Hood is in awe and impressed with her puppy's "new" form. Harry then reverts back to his original form.

Erick wants to know what she thinks. "So tell me, did you like your mascot's new form?

"WOW, THAT WAS AWESOME! I DIDN'T KNOW HE COULD DO THAT!"

"Well, with a little incantation and a little will, anything is possible. But back to business; are you ready to serve your new master B.?"

B.B. Hood nods obediently, "Yes I am."

"If so…tell me, what are your Prime Directives?"

"To serve M. Bison and Shadowloo only, and destroy all enemies."

Erick pulls a C. Montgomery Burns, as he says, "Excellent. Before we take you to him, we'll have lunch, how about that?"

B.B. Hood 's tummy rumbles. "Good idea, I'm starving!"

"Then let's go and eat, just follow me."

Later, Erick, Delia and B.B. Hood are seated at the main table having a meal. B.B. Hood's eating like mad. Erick and Delia just sweatdrop at the girl's appetite:

Erick chuckles, "Boy, she wasn't kidding when she said she was hungry!"

Delia observes, "Yes, poor girl. It's as if she hasn't eaten in a long time."

After lunch, Erick takes B.B. Hood to a secret door. When he opens the door they are in a white room:

B.B. Hood risks asking, "Where are we? Why have you brought me here?"

Erick explains, "I brought you here so that you can arm yourself…now take your Special Picnic Basket and grab any weapons you like."

"But, I already have my weapons…" B.B. Hood looks into her basket but finds nothing. She freaks out, "HEY, WHERE ARE MY WEAPONS?"

Erick snorts, "Oh, those old things? We threw them away."

B.B. Hood looks liks she's about to cry. "B-BUT WHY!?"

"Listen, you won't need those old guns, for I'll give you Real Weapons. Weapons of mass destruction…now grab all the weapons you like."

B.B. Hood looks everywhere. "But…what weapons, I don't see anything here!"

"Look again."

Then Erick snaps his fingers…and in a millisecond, lots of weapons appear, filling the room from wall-to-wall…-(Just like in the movie The Matrix)- B.B. Hood sees all those weapons and is delighted…she's like a little girl in a candy store. The weapons are State-Of the Art. Vulcan guns, Hyper Rocket Launchers, Supreme Heavy Machine Guns, and many types of Laser Guns…the works:

B.B. Hood 's teary-eyed. "NO WAY…!! LOOK AT ALL THOSE WEAPONS! OH MY GOODNESS, I'M IN HEAVEN!!"

"Glad you like it, now pick as many as you wish," Erick instructs.

B.B. Hood realizes, "But…they won't ALL fit inside my basket."

"About that…I also made a little modification to that basket of yours."

"What did you do?"

"Simple…with a simple spell I installed a sub-space inside your basket…now you can put as many things as you like inside it."

"REALLY? I CAN?"

"Yes…and, all you have to do is think of the specific weapon you want and just pull it out of your basket."

"SUPER!"

Then B.B. Hood begins to grab all the weapons she liked the best and puts them inside her Basket. She was impressed when she sees that she could really put lots of weapons inside her small basket. Like a shopaholic during a big holiday sale, she almost cleans out the place. Now, she was prepared. Prepared to serve her new Master… M. Bison, the leader of Shadowloo.

TO BE CONTINUED…