Dance in Sin City
Disclaimer: I own nothing here, tis a shame, the only thing I own is the plot.
So, for those of you who have contacted me about doing art, I have seen your DMs and reviews. I'll get back to you soon.
Chapter 5
It was a week later that Nabiki found herself in Las Vegas where she and the contractor she had hired to build the casino and hotel had met up at a nearby cafe. "Are you sure that you don't want me to go faster?" The contractor asked her. "We could have had this done in three days."
Nabiki shook her head. "No, too fast and humans start poking around. I don't want that just yet."
The contractor smirked at her. "Yet, she says. Still, I'm grateful for you allowing us to have first dibs on any contracts with humans here."
Nabiki waved her hand at the Devil sitting across from her. "Considering that I had to ask your king for permission." As much as she loved Ranma and his peerage, none of them had the skills needed for this. "I think it's fair to have my costs covered by contracts."
The Devil frowned thoughtfully. "Despite being a large city, I'm surprised how few Devils are in this country relative to its population and size."
"Oh, it's simple," Nabiki said as the waitress came over and put down their drinks. She stirred the straw in her glass for a moment before answering the other Devil's question. "The vast majority of the population of the United States lives to the East of St. Louis. Roughly eighty percent of this country lives out there."
"And yet they live such meaningless lives." The Devil shook his head. "Anyway, at our current pace, it'll take us at least two months to finish up."
"That's fine." Nabiki responded idly. "I'll need that time to work some business deals out."
"Of course." The Devil nodded and got up. "Well, I have to make sure my guys don't work too hard, don't want to make humans think too much."
Nabiki nodded and watched the Devil leave. She looked around and realized how many non-humans moved freely with the general populace. Considering that the city was around two million permanent residents, it wasn't too surprising.
A random conversation on the other side of the room caught Nabiki's attention. "You going to watch the All-Star game in three days?" Someone asked another person.
The other person snorted. "Too many people got hurt already. It'll probably be a snooze fest. Besides, I got work that night."
"Good point. I'll tell you if that guy, what's his name?"
"José."
"Yeah! Him! If he does well, I'll let you know."
"Thanks, I got a bet that he'll hit a home run."
Nabiki smirked softly. 'Ah right, people bet on sports here, don't they?' It wasn't any different than betting on Rating Games after all. Just a lot less violence than most Rating Games. Getting up, she left a generous tip and walked out of the cafe.
(-)
Meanwhile, in Japan...
"Can you repeat that?" Haruka asked Setsuna as she took a sip of her coffee. "You want us to do what?"
"Accompany myself, Makoto and Minako to Las Vegas." Setsuna said calmly and put her coffee cup down. "I don't think I need to point out that having the Princess go with and putting her at such risk is something that none of us want."
"What about Rei and Ami?" Michiru asked her.
"While I have no doubt that they would want to go to help Makoto and Minako, and under any other circumstance, I'd agree, I think it's best if they stay here." Setsuna told her. "I can't stop them, naturally, but I'd feel better if you two came with me."
"It's not like we can convince them to abandon their friends." Haruka told her and Setsuna nodded. "Do you have a plan beyond just asking them?"
"Beyond pointing out that this isn't a world-ending threat, not really." Setsuna admitted. "I fear that logic and reason won't be enough for this."
"That's for sure." Michiru said as she thought about the reaction that Ami, Rei and Usagi would have if they weren't allowed to accompany Minako and Makoto without good reason. She knew that she'd have a similar reaction if she wasn't allowed to accompany Haruka or Hotaru into a dangerous mission. "And it's not like none of us haven't faced horrible situations before."
Setsuna sighed and nodded. She just knew that this wouldn't go well with them.
(-)
Later...
'I was right.' Setsuna thought to herself as Ami, Rei and Usagi all agreed that they should go with Minako and Makoto. The group was sitting on couches at the Hikawa Shrine and personally, she was thankful that the Senshi would stick together. "I really wish that you three wouldn't go through with this." She shook her head.
"Can you give us one good reason not to back up Makoto and Minako?" Ami asked and Setsuna nodded.
"Well, for one, this isn't a world-wide threat and there's no reason to participate." Setsuna held up one finger before a second finger joined it, "there's the fact that you, Ami, are going to university to become a doctor in a few weeks. Plus Rei's father being a politician would draw scrutiny towards her or her family if she was to go to America." She looked at Usagi, "and you read the risks of what is likely to happen, Princess. Do you want to risk getting captured and raped?"
"I don't, but I don't want you, Mako-chan or Mina-chan to suffer that either!" Usagi protested, her blue eyes shining with her worries.
"And what if something like that random tentacle monster and those succubi appearing happens again?" Setsuna asked her. "I want to make one thing perfectly clear to you three, I am not trying to stop you because I want something bad to happen, I don't want you three to go because I'm worried about something bad happening. Minako and Makoto, had they not already volunteered, I would try to talk out of this as well."
"And what of Haruka and Michiru?" Rei asked.
"They're currently trying to talk Makoto and Minako out of going." Setsuna told them. She mentally sighed at their determined looks. "Princess, please understand, I don't want you to go through with this. I've worked with Devils before and things can go pear-shaped in a real hurry."
"There's no way I can just abandon my friends." Usagi protested and Setsuna shook her head.
"You're not abandoning them." Setsuna told her. Seeing Usagi's determined look, she shook her head. "Princess, I..."
"No." Usagi shook her head. "I saw the warnings, I know that if something bad happens, it will be really bad."
"This isn't an end of the world situation though." Setsuna said. "But, if that's what you three truly want, I won't stop you. Do realize though, Princess, that no one's safety can be guaranteed."
"That's why I want to go with." Usagi told her. "If something bad were to happen to any of you and I could have been there, I wouldn't be able to live with myself."
Setsuna closed her eyes and nodded. "I understand that, Usagi, but I had hoped that you, Rei and Ami could finally take some time and live for yourselves." When the others started talking among themselves, she stood up and left quietly.
(-)
Elsewhere...
Melinoe looked at her wrist and nodded. She had another couple of days before everyone would meet. Walking forward, she knew what she had to do. "Hello there." She waved at the open space. At first, it seemed like she was waving into an empty cave when suddenly something large moved, causing the ground to shake and wobble as it drew closer. She simply smiled as she saw the large being, known as a Hecatoncheires, come into view. "Hello, Cottus!" She waved at the one-hundred armed being.
Twenty of the fifty heads started to chuckle as Cottus knelt down to get a closer look at the Goddess. "Well, if it isn't little Melinoe! Are you here to visit your father?"
Melinoe nodded. "Yes. I just want to talk to him. Surely Uncle Zeus and the other Gods can't get angry at me for doing that."
Cottus reached one of its hands out and Melinoe jumped on it. Relative to how large Cottus was, Melinoe looked almost like a flea in comparison. "Do realize, little one, that while I, Briareaus and Gyges can look the other way while you talk to your father, that if he somehow got free that we would not allow you back here."
"Of course." Melinoe said as Cottus stood up and walked towards the holding cells of Tartarus. Even for Gods like her, places like this were unpleasant.
To say the least.
"Here we are." Cottus said as it moved its hand to where Hades was being held.
"Thank you, uncle!" Melinoe said with a bow and ran to the cell that had her father in it. "Hello, daddy."
Dressed in ragged cloth, Hades, despite his flesh disappearing a long time ago, seemingly perked up as he saw his daughter. "Melinoe! It's been too long.' He walked up to the barrier that held him in and put his hand on the clear screen. "How have you been?"
"Quite well, actually." Melinoe told him. "I've been busy and continuing your work." She looked back at where Cottus was and then back at Hades. "In fact, thanks to some interesting and new developments, I may be able to improve the SDP." She said in a low tone of voice, knowing only Hades could hear her. "It involves cloning and it's almost done. A few more weeks and I'll find out if it works." A small smile came to her face. "In fact, the scientist that I'm working with managed to get me some good samples and has even helped replace some variables that should make the process smoother and fix all sorts of issues involved."
Hades had a confused look on his face, well, as confused as a skeleton could have, but nodded.
"Anyway, I wanted you to know that's what's going on." Melinoe smiled and kissed her index and middle fingers and put them on the barrier. "Love you, daddy!"
Hades watched his daughter go to where Cottus was and wandered back into his cell, feeling more relaxed than he had in a long time. "...What variable and scientist was she talking about?"
He supposed it didn't matter, he'd find out in the future.
End Chapter 5
There will be a bonus H-chapter after this, 5.5 You can skip if you wish.