Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma and Gundam SEED FREEDOM, Halo, Macross, Tenchi Muyo
FOR EVERYONE, HAVE A NICE CHRISTMAS MORNING!
Chapter 9
SECRETS
Cosmic Era 75
Tabletop
"Ah, crap!" was Shinn remarks which was the opinion of everyone present, and Ranma released Durandal neck and let him breath the lifesaving air back to his lungs as Ranma was seething mad as do Washu.
"My sentiments exactly, Shinn. Ah Crap!" said Ranma in agreement
"So, where is this backup system for Destiny Plan?" Ranma asks
"I gave it to Aura, but I don't know where it is now" Durandal replied as he breathing heavily
"If she has it hidden somewhere, it's useless in her hands since no one would be so stupid enough to support it, not after the last time" Luna said
"Zealots doesn't care if people support it or not, Ms. Hawke" Ranma counter "And even If they do try it again, they will be facing opposition, which means they are going to need military power, resources and support for it. Aura can't establish Destiny Plan without it, and I doubt she would risk open war with everyone, even if foundation have an impressive military power, it's not enough,"
It was then Durandal drop a bombshell
"I-I diverted portions of Zaft resources to Aura people during my tenure, and I had the acquisition and accountancy office covered the cost and falsify reports of losses" Durandal said surprising everyone
"You, you did what?" Ezalia was aghast at the confession and it made her angry at what was revealed.
"The Plants Supreme Council approved several massive military projects during your tenure as chairman, Gilbert. The mobile base Messiah alone cost half of Zaft budget!"
Ezalia even heard rumors of sympathizers in Zaft, diverting several high mobility types of Zaku and resources like flare motors which were used to move Junius Seven from its orbit and crash to Earth.
It was 'Break the World' event and the start of the Second Alliance-Plants War.
There was supposed to be an investigation ordered by Durandal. However, the investigators were dragging their feet and even now, nothing has come out of it.
Funding Zaft military expansion has pushed the country into a financial crunch and giving away resources to a foreign nation without consent or knowledge from the council is a serious crime.
Then, Ezalia remembered something "Hari Jagannath!" she exclaimed "He was the head of Zaft acquisition and accounting office during your administration. Now he's,"
"Chairman of the national defense of the Plants" Ranma finished
For Ezalia, the council approved a new budget proposal for Zaft offered by Jagannath, and this was to rebuild their military after the last war. What bothered her the most was the lack of oversight because the funds they gave him came from the sale of ten newly built hourglass colonies to the Sanzenin group.
It has been two years since the end of the second war and Ezalia couldn't fathom how much resources they gave to Zaft and went to someone else's purse without the council's knowledge. She is already thinking of opening an investigation into Jagannath and the offices he's served in, both former and current and if this was true, he will be charged of corruption, and that could undermine the council credibility to the public.
For Ranma, Durandal has revealed some very important information they needed to know and he's not withholding anything back.
"You have been more than cooperative, Durandal. I thought you would give more of a resistance than this" Ranma suspicious
Durandal gave a bit of a defeated chuckle "What would be the point of withholding things from you, the one who truly holds the fate of this world, hiding in the guise of a Major in the Earth Alliance military"
Ranma raised a brow "I am many things, but I don't hold the fate of the world on my hands Durandal"
Durandal laugh at that idea "Yes, you are many things, which is why, I believe you played a major part in the retaking of the Alliance from Blue Cosmos hold, far more than you let on" Durandal said as leans back
"After war, the Earth Alliance Forces was severely weakened and a brewing infighting among the ranks as the majority of their senior officers and soldiers not affiliated with Blue Cosmos and Logos was pushing for reforms, meaning they want to push out the last remnants of Blue Cosmos from their ranks and that Donald Hayes and Henry Gloval the only high ranking officers with legitimate rights was up front leading the charge, and they not only succeeded but led the Alliance recovery at remarkable speed. Almost like magic"
"I don't know what you are getting at Durandal"
"It's quite simple really, Hayes and Gloval commands military bases that has no strategic value, or should I say, a dumpsite for obsolete military equipment and… their officers"
"Careful what you say Durandal" Ranma warned menacingly
"Excuse me, but what I mean is, Hayes and Gloval are nothing more than glorified babysitter of obsolete ships in San Diego, California and Norfolk, Virginia. You refer to them as a mothball fleet. Alliance Command has a habit of dumping their own in far off and useless places when they don't fit their in their ideal world"
"I am not sure what you are getting at Durandal"
"It's simple really. Hayes former posting…it was the UN Military Command which he serve as military attaché whereas you know, there were very much disliked by both side. Now Donald Hayes became the chairman of the EA joint chief of staff and Gloval, he directly commands the Seventh Spacefleet on a modernization program"
"I'm surprised you heard about that"
"You allowed the prisoners access to television sometimes, especially when news broadcast and thanks to first amendment rights restored, freedom of speech is allowed, and government propaganda banned, which is the handiwork of the new Atlantic Federation president" Durandal suspects
"I must say, you have continued to amaze me, Major Saotome. The moment you joined COMPASS, you made a name for yourself, from passing your certification test by blowing thru an army of Zaft mobile suits, and your victory over Kira Yamato, Rising Freedom was quite inspirational for Natural's everywhere"
"Then add to your dossier of achievements, the resolving of the Coordinators infertility problem by bringing sensei Washu to the Plants along with my former classmates" Durandal look towards Washu who is just sitting at the side, quiet. Her neutral and unreadable expression suggests a look of disappointment.
"No one can convince her to come to the Plants except you, and for that you've changed the fate of this world far more than anyone has ever done and maybe without you, the Earth Alliance would not have recovered so well"
"The Alliance is capable of recovering on its own" Ranma said
"Not like this"
Durandal pointed out "I know you help stop the infighting in the Alliance" he gestured at the prison "the Inmates here have been cursing your name, day in and day out, and some of them are even fantasizing on revenge plots in doing all sorts of things to you. Then you turn into a female and suddenly their revenge plots became…erotic" Durandal was amused when he shivered at the thought of the inmates serving her is thinking about
"Still, they credit you to being the spearhead in retaking the Alliance from Blue Cosmos control, outmaneuvering them with the officers and soldiers who followed you, followed your plan and that's denying them control of the alliance by securing vital military installations, communication hubs, military camps, airbases, munitions depot and supply base.
You, prevented BC remnants from taking them to enact a coup, sparing the Earth Alliance in what could have been a bloody civil war"
Durandal explained that, seeing that their plan had failed, they took their forces and whatever they could get their hands on, went underground to start a guerilla warfare against Plants and Zaft allies. Colonel Michael was the most fanatical among them with resources enough to cause trouble for anyone for years.
Durandal look up toward Ranma
"With the alliance secured, you introduced Overtechnology to them to help upgrade their forces, and during which you prevented an economic collapse of the Atlantic Federation and if their economy fails, the rest of the world would not be too far behind"
"How do you suppose I prevented that?" Ranma queried as he crossed his arms
"The old fashion way of course, you bought their enormous debts with the help of the Sanzenin group as a cover" he answered
Thinking about it, what Durandal said was plausible, except that he wasn't the one who planned all that.
"I won't take credit for something that I have no involvement in, Durandal" he told him
"What"
"From what I heard, the Sanzenin group bought the government debt, which is true, but that's in exchange for full access to Overtechnology cutting edge science" Ranma explained
"The Atlantic Federation, partly owned Overtechnology as well as its sole client and it wants to monopolize its advanced technology. Hell, the gravity plating technology alone is worth a fortune when it comes to building new spaceships, spacestations and orbital habitats that don't need rotating sections'
Unfortunately, they are in a financial pinch, no thanks to the last administration. The Sanzenin buying their debt was too much of a tempting offer to say no and thanks to that, Overtechnology has a new business partner and with the Sanzenin global market access, it can now sell to anyone in the world. Of course, their focus is on the civilian market not military"
"So, it wasn't you?" Durandal look very surprised
"No. I am a soldier, and I maybe many things, but a cutthroat businessman I certainly am not" Ranma answered
It made Ranma wonder though, how the Sanzenin convinced the AF government to agree to it as they are not keen sharing their advanced tech with anyone until they finish exploiting it themselves.
"I guess, I was mistaken then. I apologize" Durandal gracefully admitted his error but he wasn't giving up
"Still, you cannot deny the repercussion of Tabletop existence!" Durandal opened his arms gesturing to the island. Durandal look to Ezalia and the others "The Earth Alliance is in possession of an island, completely hidden by a sophisticated cloaking field that would put the Mirage Colloid field to shame, and it's been here for centuries, and only a handful of people who knew of this place even existed, and they are members of the United Nations Security Council and I am pretty sure you pass by the replica of the old UN Building"
To the others, they do remember passing by a building with numerous flags lined up, flags that represented countries.
'So that's what it was' Ezalia thought as Durandal explained
"I heard whispers of this place for years. A story that is almost an equivalent to the legend of North America's Area 51, about aliens found in Roswell New Mexico in the 1950s, where only a handful of people, namely the president of the former United States of America and those in the UN Security Council is aware of the existence of Tabletop, an island in the possession of a highly advance human race of people called, the Juraian."
Ranma and Washu didn't react to that but let Durandal talk about it
"When terrorists bombed the UN Council Hall on Copernicus city killing the Secretary-General and all UN leadership and representative sponsors, including the entire UN Command that leads the peacekeepers, this island became isolated. Only a handful of people that survived the bombing, and one of them is military attaché Rear Admiral Donald Hayes, his second, Captain Henry Gloval and the Atlantic Federation UN ambassador, Catherine Foster."
Ranma read about the loss of the UN through the media and the net, for this was before he arrived on Earth. He has seen videos posted showing of the few survivors. The AF Ambassador to the UN was Foster was seen crying as the UN Building burned to the ground.
Its loss became the start of the world sliding into humanity's worst time in centuries.
"Don't you think it's odd Major? Three people who survived that tragic day are now holding the reigns of the Atlantic Federation and the Earth Alliance?"
"Durandal" Ranma spoke up "could you clarify of what you mean by that?"
"It's simple, Major Saotome. The current head of the Earth Alliance Forces is a former military attaché to the UN Command and the current President of the Atlantic Federation is a former representative ambassador to the UN herself"
"So, what's your point?"
"My point is, individuals who returned to their respective countries, were pass off promotion and forgotten in positions in governments regarded as inconsequential to the grand scheme of things. Now, they are in a position of power that influence change" Durandal then go into detail
"Catherine Foster, after recovering from her injuries, her government assigned her to a dying and obscured office as postmaster general in North America."
In a time of emails, fast telecommunications and a multitude of delivery services, the need for traditional delivery like paper mail became less and less and referred to as the office where they put people into exile or sent to pasture.
"Donald Hayes, another survivor was assigned to a naval base of a mothballed fleet of old and rusting fleet of US Navy warships, which nothing more than a junkyard of obsolete ships, and neither position has any influence in the Earth Alliance or the Atlantic Federation, and it's the same to his second, Henry Gloval he was banished to a similar junkyard"
"Be that as it may, they are still senior officers" Ranma reasoned "The AF and the EA had no choice but to reorganize the government after the current administration was killed at Arzachel moonbase. Unfortunately, there were not enough public servants and officers at the upper level available to fill in positions. President Foster and Admiral Hayes is one of a few with seniority"
"And with their new position, they now have the resources they need to access Tabletop!"
"What's so special about Tabletop? Other than being a super-secret alliance base that no one can find," Lunamaria sarcastically injected a question as she felt irritated about why the former chairman is insistent on further implication of the island existence.
Ezalia answered that for her "Tabletop is not just a base Lunamaria, but a repository of knowledge"
Everyone look to Ezalia and hear her explanation "I have read absurd stories, about two former UN members, the United States and the Japanese governments, in possession of an island full of knowledge so advanced, that it took centuries for humanity to gain enough of an understanding of the science they found and centuries more to develop it to technology"
"Why would you say it's absurd?" Shinn asks this time
"Because it sounded like a knock off version of Plato, Legend of Atlantis" Ranma answered
"Atlantis is a legend, Tabletop is not, now the Earth Alliance is putting all their resources into this island, and now Overtechnology is applying what they have learned into the Earth Alliance fleet, namely the Seventh Fleet!"
Ranma thought of denying it but on some levels, it's partly true. The Masaki family have been managing the island since the beginning when they brought it down to Earth for a different purpose that was fulfilled, and now it became a joint research and development center under the UN banner and the watchful eye and close supervision of the Masaki family.
Tabletop also housed the largest collection of books both in hard copy and digital. The AF have been transferring in secret, all the collection of the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Museums to Tabletop and other Museums across the world, replacing priceless artefacts and works of art with replicas.
Of course, no one even noticed that all the worlds' museums were being emptied and their items brought to the island and what Ezalia says about Tabletop was a cover story released to spread public disinformation, for what better place to hide the truth than to tell the truth but give no evidence of its existence and make people question and theorize it for years.
Ranma would have added fuel to the fire, but unfortunately, he didn't get the chance
"HEADS UP!" Ranma warned, because for a while now, Ranma felt the simmering rage and anger of femininity.
Meaning Mrs. Hibiki just blew a gasket.
The smart glass tinted the room so they don't know what's happening, however, Ranma can clearly sense, of a really pissed off female and it just erupted.
Crashing through the Smart glass and sailing pass between Ranma and Durandal, is Ulen Hibiki who looks like someone gave him a brutal punch to the face and that several of his teeth, blood and saliva came fly out of his mouth and one of the bloody teeth landed on the table in front of Ranma and Durandal.
"Ewww, gross" Ranma remark
"YOU ARE AN ARROGANT, STUPID AND INSENSITIVE HUSBAND OF MIND!" yelled a furious looking woman coming thru the hole.
"Honey, please wait" the man begged as he stood up hands in front of him trying to stop an angry woman
"Don't you honey me, Ulen!" Via shouted angry with the sound of knuckles from her hand "How dare you call my son a failure, after the hell you put him thru and our entire family after you took him away from me before he was even born" Via is angry and crying
"You turn our child Kira into the Ultimate Coordinator, and you succeeded Ulen" Via started "you gave our son the highest potential for advanced intelligence, physical capabilities, and improved health, and none of the genetic anomalies found in a standard Coordinator. You did it Ulen, you should be happy, but how could you call our son another failed test subject you prick!" Via grab him by the shirt and pulled him close to her face.
Teeth baring as Ulen felt the surge of pain between his legs as a knee was violently connected to his groin
"After everything he endured… survived and surpassed and achieved so much…and you dare to call him a failure because of what, you see that he's not giving his fullest potential and that everything he did is below your expectation!?"
Via suddenly head-butted Ulen and he's in a daze as she pulls back her fist ready to throw another punch
"ULEN, YOU'RE A STUPID PRICK! HOW DARE YOU CALL MY SON A FAILURE!"
Ulen was given another round of beating from his wife while Durandal was taken back to his cell after watching the spectacle of Ulen having his come upends. No one seems to care as he pleads to everyone to stop his wife from beating the life out of him.
When Ranma heard all that and looked towards Kira as he's being held by Lacus and Kasumi and an angry Cagalli being held back by Athrun and Colonel Kisaka as Via asks them to hold her back because, it's not her child position to kick the father head, despite how mad as hell she is, and wants to pound her father for being an A-hole.
Ranma couldn't help but feel sorry for Kira because despite the potential he was born with, one part of him is always his Achilles heel, Kira mental and emotional fortitude is not strong enough and the last time he had a full-on existential crisis like this was during his confrontation with Le Creuset at the Mendal Colony, when Crueset revealed the origin of his birth.
'Despite everything he went through and survives, all the tragedies and losses he experienced and he's still an emo boy for crying out loud!' Ranma thought disappointing
'I'm surprised he got this far without getting killed. Hell, he should've gotten over his atychiphobia (intense fear of failure) already!'
'Ranma, give him time to overcome,' Sasami said to him telepathically, but more of a mental outburst that took Ranma by surprise
'Sasami, were you watching?'
'The Island has the best surveillance system on the planet Ranma. Of course I was watching'
'Then you saw what happened?"
'I do Ranma, and believe me, the man deserves every bit of pain he's getting from his wife' she said with no ounce of sympathy to the man
'Well Sasami, time is a luxury we don't have Sasami right now' Ranma look to the others, especially Lacus and the worried expression on her face as she tries to comfort Kira while Via is still at it with Ulen, as his last glance he sees Via bending one of Ulen limbs in the wrong directions, which cause him to scream in pain.
"Aren't you going to stop this?" Washu inquired and doesn't look all that concerned herself
"You want me, getting between that? Now way, I'm not that suicidal!" Ranma answered
"But she's going to kill him"
Ranma heaves a sigh and signal the guards, Dearka and Elsman to restrain the couple or more precise, restrain Mrs. Hibiki from killing his husband and she wasn't happy about it.
"Let me go!"
"Ma'am, please calm down" Dearka pleaded as he and Yzak grabbed both her arms and now two coordinators with impressive strength would have restrained one angry Natural mother.
Boy, were they wrong
"Calm, I'll show what's calm!" Via first stomped hard on Dearka foot causing him to let go and got an upper cut to the jaw and then quickly gave Yzak an elbow to his ribs and made him gasp in pain until a back hand strike hit to his face and like a lever, fist to his groin.
After a few seconds and several kicks and punches, the two of them and two guards went flying into the air, over a table and slamming at the nearest wall, like some anime characters
They groan in pain as they slid down to the floor.
"VIA, THAT IS ENOUGH!" Washu yelled and she quickly restraining rings to stop her
"Calm down, calm down" Washu told her and slowly calms down and let her anger slip away as more guard entered
"Take Mr. Hibiki to the infirmary" Ranma ordered the guards
"Yes sir"
Dearka and Yzak stood up still feeling the punch and bruises they got for their troubles
"Dang! Kira Mom is stronger than she looks" Yzak remark as he feels like several of his ribs is cracked
"Remind me not to get between another couple's fight, ever again" Yzak remark feeling sore jaw and his groin "especially when someone who knows mix martial arts and wearing brass knuckles, oww!"
Ranma shook his head in dismay as this outcome of their visit though he was not surprised to see the Hibiki family monstrous strength finally revealed after years and generations of dormancy.
'Yep, she's Ryoga descendant alright' he thought 'thankfully his kin didn't inherit his tendency to get eternally lost. At least, that's something'
"This visit is over" Ranma declared
Later at the prison guard's infirmary station, Dearka and Yzak and two guards are having their bruised ego being treated by the nurses station. Meanwhile, Ranma brought a cup of orange juice and gave it to Kira who is still looking gloomy after what his father told him.
Ranma pulled a seat and talk with Kira while the others left to give them privacy except for Lacus who is beside Kira
"I kind of figured he would react like that. He's no different to my old man" Ranma remark
"What?" Kira looks up and confused
"Kira, both of our fathers tried to mold us into something that they want, and though their methods are different, the intent is the same, and that they want their child to be the best of the best. It's the reason why coordinators are born in the first place, and you and I were made to feed their ego than anything else, as well as control"
"Control?" Lacus didn't understand
"Kira, you have lived most of your childhood with people who love you and friends who see you as a person than anything else. You have choices and have live your life freely. I, however, live a life of a martial artist where my whole existence revolves around my father training me day in day out, molding me to become the best martial arts fighter in the world." Ranma explaining his life experiences
"He controlled every facet of my life until I started questioning everything and he didn't like me questioning his intent, then, one day I surpass him, and he wasn't happy about it because he couldn't control me anymore because I set myself free from him." He breathes deeply as he leans back
"My old man tried to berate me everytime I defy him, question his intent or anything that's against him, calling me an 'ungrateful son' and most the time it's about forcing me into an arrange marriage with a girl of his best friend daughter, which I am unable to get along with most of the time and believe me, I tried."
"Are you talking about Ms. Kasumi sister?" Lacus asks
"Akane, yes" Ranma with a feeling of sadness and guilt
"My father and his best friend, they have this obsession in uniting the two schools through their children. It was their dream, much like Ulen Hibiki dream of creating the Ultimate Coordinator. We were barely in our teens, and they tried to push the idea of marriage in us,"
Ranma shakes his head in the wrongness they try to do "Akane was a boy hater due to the constant stalking and abuse coming from her male classmate a senior with romantic fixation, but it's not like what you think" Ranma cleared what he means
"That senior, who had a long interest in Akane as she is quite popular in school, and this was before I even showed up on her doorstep. Now sometime before I arrived, he made a decree—a stupid speech of a contest—stating he would punish anyone who tried to date her without first defeating her in combat, thus resulting on Akane having to fight her way thru a barrage of boys every morning when she arrived at school.
"Everyday?" Lacus/Kira was in disbelief of what
"Yep! Everyday!"
"Don't believe me asks Kasumi, but anyway, you can imagine how that affect her attitude towards boys" Ranma said "I spent almost three years trying to make a relationship with her work even just being friends was enough—eventually we broke the engagement, to the dismay of our scheming fathers who is still adamant in trying to force us to get married"
'The day before I left, I got a call from my mother, telling me to come home fast because of a family emergency, and what an emergency that was' he thought as he looks back to Kira
"Kira, you have already decided for yourself, of what you want to do with your life. Don't let that man tell you otherwise"
Both try to mold their sons the way they want it, both has ulterior motive as to why they did it and both are disappointed that their sons don't reach their expectations or in Ranma case, he surpass it and Genma can no longer control or manipulate his son that he spent most of his life molding him, become the greatest martial arts master in the world and that he will puppet master Ranma to do all the work for him and reap the benefits.
"Does what that man think and say of you…matters to you?" Ranma asks
Kira thought hard and long and questions himself 'does what that man-my father think of me really matters?'
"No, no he doesn't" and that answer man Ranma smile as do Lacus and Cagalli quietly listening
"Good man" Ranma stood up and extend a hand to Kira to shake his hand and pull him up from his seat "Now, let's get the hell out of here," he suggested
After leaving the prison, Ranma directed the convoy to the private residence of Sasami as they traveled there, Ranma look back at the passenger seat and see Kira looking much better now as Lacus lip talk to him saying 'thank you' and Ranma responds 'you're welcome'
"Oh yeah, my wife called me and says, she wants you all to stay for the night"
"We don't want to impose," Lacus was not sure about meeting Ranma wife
"It's fine Lacus, Sasami wanted to see you all before we head for Orb and then the Foundation"
"Ranma" Kira calls his attention "what will happen to my father?"
"By law, cloning is illegal, and he's here serving a prison sentence of twenty-five years for that offense with no chance of parole" he answered and added some information
"This prison was originally first built to incarcerate people with high offenses under the UN International law. Your father and mother were apprehended by Interpol, and quietly snuck out before Blue Cosmos terrorist attack Mendel Colony. They were taken here to Tabletop, where your father has been incarcerated for the past twenty years. The court was lenient to your mother and spent most of her life here on Tabletop unable to leave the island"
"She spent her life here?" Kira asks
"For the most part yes, and it a lot better than a jail cell" Ranma answered
When they were driving back to the main highway, Ranma continued to explain about Tabletop
"When the UN Council Hall was bombed, every organization connected to the UN was dissolved as most of the sponsor nations withdraw their support and Tabletop became isolated from the rest of the world."
'It's also the only safe harbor for every UN employee and their families, especially agents from Interpol and ICC Judges and their families that became a target by every criminal and terrorist, most of which were affiliated with either Blue Cosmos or Logos'
"Ranma, I was wondering" Kira asks, "How did the UN kept its location a secret after so long?"
"They don't" Ranma answered as he looks out the window showing that they pass by the UN building
"The UN Security Council may know its existence, may know its location, but what they can't do is enter Tabletop without the explicit permission from the owner themselves. The Earth Alliance here is on a lend lease operation" looking out they can see the rising city
"This is Monument city, and what you are seeing is barely the tip of the iceberg of what is actually here"
"So, who owns Tabletop?" Kira asks and Ranma just smiled
"We are seeing her now"
The head of security at the front seat look back and reported "Major, we are here sir,"
"Thank you"
Ranma turn to look back to Kira and Lacus "I would like to introduce you to someone"
The convoy of SUV traveled to a private lake with several houses around it and when Lacus saw the house in front of them, she couldn't believe it, the house looks the same as the one in Washu subspace lab
"This house…It looks exactly the same"
"It's a replica of an old house with fond memories, a history of a happier times for Washu and…my wife Sasami, along with others who lived in that house"
"Your wife?" when Lacus heard that, her heart skips a beat as she's about to meet the woman who married Ranma and wonders what kind of person she is.
It was at that moment that a person came out of the house with a company of pint size guardian logs flying around a young woman with blue hair and pink eyes… wearing an apron, rubber gloves, carrying a bucket with cleaning implements on one hand and a mop on the other.
"Is that…the major wife?" Athrun remark
"She looks… like any other normal housewife, and she looks around our age" Yzak muttered in remark as Ranma, Kasumi and Washu is walking towards her
"Ranma, Kasumi, Washu Welcome home!" Sasami cheerfully greeted them and was about to hug them as she signals her guardians slash assistants to take away the cleaning implements and apron from her and then, her attire glowed and changes right before everyone eyes. Like something out of an anime transformation sequence, Sasami attire change to that of a formal wear.
"That's a convenient way to change clothes" Yzak mutters as he and everyone else nodded in agreement as they have never seen something like that.
Ranma pulls back and look at her sternly "Seriously Sasami, you knew we were coming and yet I find you doing house cleaning?"
"I had to clean the guest houses for all your friends to stay over."
"You have servant drones for that Sasami"
"Ranma I like doing chores and its relaxing for me" she replied as she looks to the side and glance at Lacus and then look back behind to Ranma
"So, that's her, Lacus Clyne in person" she muttered
"Indeed, she is Sasami" Kasumi confirmed
"She's as beautiful as they say she is. Figures why our wildhorse is so love struck when he first saw her picture, eh Kasumi?"
"Sasami" Ranma whines in embarrassment
"Oh, tish tosh Ranma!" Sasami suddenly push Ranma to the side and headed straight towards Lacus and grab her hand and shaking it
"Hello, you must be Lacus Clyne, my name is Sasami Masaki of Jurai,"
"Uhmn, hello" Lacus could only answer as she was surprised by her greeting her cheerfully
"Do you know my husband have all your albums, pictures and even those fake Lacus poster he glued to the wall in one of the rooms that he turns it into an altar… including all those photoshop of other girls in swimsuits,"
"Photoshop of other girls…in swimsuits?"
"SASAMI!" Ranma screamed as His cheeks turns red and sweating bullets when Sasami revealed that sets of secrets that he never wants to come to light 'I was only trying to see how she looks in a bikini…and in negligee'
"I was in a phase, and I don't have an altar, just a set of magazines and albums and I put those away!" he defended
"Yes, yes right after you agreed to voluntarily join COMPASS for you will be working side by side with the real thing you, Lacus Clyne number one fan!" she said with more mischief in every word
Sasami giggled "Oh! We have so much to talk about my dear!"
She quickly drags Lacus into the house as Ranma feels like he brought Lacus to the den of the beast to be devoured by Sasami endless gossiping mostly if not all of it, embarrassing things about Ranma.
As the night sky appears, Sasami and her helpers prepared a feast of home cooked meal for everyone as Sasami, Kasumi with Lacus, Cagalli and Via insistence of helping with the cooking. Sasami welcomed them and started cooking.
Meanwhile, Ranma, Kira, Athrun took a few chairs and a table and took it to the lake docks with floating lights giving them illumination as they wait for the ladies' finish cooking and it was then Athrun asks Ranma about he, Sasami and Kasumi.
"Ranma, don't you find it awkward, having your wife and fiancée cooking together?"
Looking back to the house, the smell of their cooking is reaching them, and Ranma shake his head
"Nah! You don't have to worry about them guys, Sasami and Kasumi are one of the gentlest people on the planet so it's cool" Ranma answered
"Your wife is cool about you being engaged to another woman?" Kira inquired about that, because he never encountered anyone having a wife and fiancée together "Isn't there a law written somewhere, about not getting engage when you are already married"
"There is a law, yeah but my wife says it's okay and…she knows the reason how I got engaged to another girl… and that there is more than one girl who I am engage to, no thanks to my stupid crooked pops"
"Huh!?"
"Well, you already heard that my old man sold me for a bowl of rice, fish and some pickles when I was a baby right?" Ranma growled at the memory explaining how he got into such a mess
Athrun and Kira frown at the thought of a father selling his son for a rice meal and they can already tell that they don't like him.
He explained it was to engage him to their daughter. Ranma stupid ass old man started an engagement scam and did it to God knows how many families, fleecing them with their money, treasure and martial arts secrets. Then he steals Ranma back from them and did it to other families mostly to families with martial arts heritage.
"When my mother, found out about the scam he was running…well what Kira's mother did to his oldman, multiply it to a factor of ten which, resulted in him staying in the hospital for the next six months recovering from nearly beaten half to death"
"Wow Ranma, your father really is a real deuce bag. Sorry" Athrun remark in displeasure
"I have to agree with Athrun, your old man made my father look like a saint" Kira added
"It's alright, I have the same opinion about that scumbag as everyone else does" Ranma said in agreement not caring what others think.
"The man only think about is his stomach. Other than furthering my family martial arts school, he planned on using me to live on as his, personal retirement fund" Ranma cursing about Genma shaking in disbelief of what he did to him and everyone else and made Kira and Athrun felt disgusted at the man known as Genma Saotome and sorry for Ranma being his son.
"I'm the one who has to clean up the mess he made when one of those families he scammed of money came knocking on my doorstep, and honestly, I still don't know how many are still out there!"
Athrun curiously asks "So, how many came knocking on your doorstep?"
Thinking of how many, which is quite a lot, so he settles for a number
"Not counting my wife, Kasumi and her sisters that I'm engage to…yeah fourteen, give or take"
"FOURTEEN!"
"And those are just the ones who came looking for me and some of them were girls who wanted to skinned me and pops alive because well, they don't want an arrange marriage bullshit as much as I do!" he said annoyingly as he bangs his head on the table
"That stupid panda" he mutters
"Stupid Panda?" Kira heard that but doesn't know what that had to do with anything
Meanwhile, Sasami and the ladies continued their cooking and revealing somethings that left them in disbelief
"You are… over 200 years old?" Cagalli was shocked at this "That's impossible! You don't look…that old"
"Why, thank you Lady Cagalli, and so does Ranma and Kasumi and they are just as old as I am, except Washu, she's older than all of us" Sasami said as to elbow Washu age
Sasami sees their disbelief and only smile at them "My people the Juraians are a long-lived race Lady Cagalli, but we are not immortal. No, we just age differently than you do"
"Is this related to being Natural Born Coordinators, like Ms. Kasumi and Major Saotome?" Lacus inquires with curiosity "She was Lady Washu student with my mother and, she doesn't look like she aged at all" 'including my mother'
Washu answers that "Kasumi and Ranma, being Natural born Coordinator is a different matter and just being one doesn't always equate to having youthful appearance" Washu explained
"Their circumstances are quite different, from a family of martial arts masters and Ranma is the current Grand Master of the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts and Kasumi is just as much a practitioner of the Tendo School of Anything Goes Martial Arts and a capable a fighter at that"
They look towards Kasumi who is about to cut some vegetables at the other end of the kitchen table, when she suddenly threw them up in the air, quickly picks up a kitchen knife and did a slashing move, as the vegetables landed neatly into different bowls already cut and ready for cooking and then, calmly put down the knife like nothing happened.
Lacus and Cagalli had a delayed reaction because, they didn't see how she did that
'Is, everyone around Ranma this ridiculously talented?' Lacus questioned
Looking how Kasumi went through the ingredients for the next dish was astounding, as if she was in her element which is the kitchen and not in the laboratory.
"Sasami, the vegetables are ready" she informed sounding quite cheerful
"Thanks Kasumi, and could you fillet the tuna for me, I have my hands full over here"
"Sure thing, Sasami. Happy to help!"
On the kitchen table, is a freshly caught yellow fin tuna on the cutting board. She looks at it for a moment as if analyzing the tuna before her and then Kasumi picks up filleting knife as the tuna seems to levitate around a circulating wind coming from somewhere, and then, in a blink of an eye, the tuna was professionally cut and deboned perfectly as if by magic.
Kasumi put down the knife as she looks satisfied in her work
Cagalli and Lacus was slack jaw on what they saw or didn't see because it was too fast for their eyes to track
"H-How did she," Cagalli stuttered in surprise at what she just witnessed
"Mother?" Via put her hands on Cagalli shoulder to calm her down
"You don't see skills like that anywhere, Cagalli" Via said
"Was that… magic?" Cagalli asks
Via giggled at that "No, that's not magic my dear. That, is pure skill right then and there Cagalli"
Via explained "Kasumi and Ranma are in a different level. She has great physical skills with unmatched intelligence, and it's one of the reasons why she's Washu top student"
Kasumi felt a little embarrassed by the compliment "Via, you flatter me"
"Well, it's the truth Kasumi!" Via exclaimed "And I don't know anyone that can match you in physical combat"
Via remembers a certain incident back when they were students, when they were on a vacation during one holiday night in Tokyo. A bunch of guys, most likely Yakuza gang tried to accost her, Sophia and Kasumi to a van one night and would have succeeded until suddenly, Kasumi exploded in speed power and agility that she made all twelve members of the of the gang kissing the floor, their limbs broken, concrete walls smeared in their blood as their faces smash thru pavement and their manhood brutally step on with razor sharp spike heels and lastly, the leader of the gang, an oversized musclehead tried to intimidate her with muscles and a katana only he got himself beat down.
They left that street corner in a rush, as police just arrived to find a dozen broken bodies and one gang leader, begging, crying and pleading for help as he tried not to move so much because someone shoved his katana into his mouth all the way up to the hilt.
'It was so cool how she dealt with those hooligans and shoving that sword down to his throat without killing him was incredible' she muses
'Can she match the Major,'
"I am nowhere near Ranma in regard to martial arts skills, if that is what you are thinking Via" Kasumi said otherwise
"I lived for two hundred years, and in all those times I learn, I practice and improve my martial arts while expanding my own knowledge. Yet still, my physical abilities cannot hold a candle to Ranma, not even close" Kasumi then open her palm and reveal a glittering star, a ki ball, something Ranma once showed and still it looks incredible.
"Ki manipulation" she declared "the first time I tried this; it was roughly the size of a grain of sand and that took me fifty years and it took me another fifty years to reach this level. Ranma mastered this in only a few days, and he was in his teens when he's capable of this of level power"
"I thought something like that are only in Kung Fu movies, purely fiction" Cagalli remark
"I had the same thought as well when I saw this, Lady Cagalli. however, some fictions do have some grounding in reality and Ranma and some of his 'frienemies' prove it, all too often back home"
"Frienemies?" Lacus and Cagalli doesn't recognize the word
"It's a fusion of friend and enemies as in part time friend and part time enemies and the occasional rival that pop up and challenge him almost in a daily basis" Sasami explained with some sense of disapproval because she sees it as harassment.
"Ranma has lots of them growing up and yet none of them has ever reached his level…not for a long time. However, thanks to their interaction with him, they revealed secrets long thought lost were rediscovered" Kasumi disperses the Kit ball and explained to them while still doing the cooking
"From what Ranma explained to me, when you increase your ki reserves in a certain level, your body will be capable of fast healing, from bruises to deep cuts and even recover from gunshot wounds. You, can even channel it to another person and heal their injuries, and if you get your ki levels high enough, you can sustain your body good health for years and even slowdown the aging process of your body"
"An ability like that could be invaluable to people" Cagalli remark in seeing so many possibilities
"Sadly however, it takes a lifetime of dedication to reach even an inkling of what I can do let alone Ranma level" she let go a sigh
"With impressive abilities, Ranma is still mortal despite having a thick skin, he can still get hurt if he's not careful"
"Thick skin?" Lacus gave a questioning look
"Ranma learns a martial art technique called the Iron Body Technique and it made him almost invulnerable to bladed weapons and small arms fire when he channeled his ki throughout his body"
"That sounded like phase shift armor on a Gundam" Cagalli made comparison
"In a way yes, and like it, it takes a lot of power to sustain it and from what I understand, losing a single moment of concentration, or being overwhelmed or getting distracted can be devastating if he's not careful…like when he was shot that day, outside of COMPASS base"
Lacus flinched as she remembered that day quite vividly. The day when Ranma put himself between them and the shooter and nearly lost his life shielding them, something she's eternally grateful for. However, 'if we weren't there at that moment and distracted Ranma,'
"It was not your fault" Sasami and Kasumi both spoke at the same time, realizing what Lacus was thinking about
"What"
"We know what you are thinking and what happened that day was neither your fault nor your responsibility, Lacus. So don't guilt trip yourself of what happened to him that day" Sasami said but Lacus still feels guilty at what happened, not to mention the unfairness of pushing his certification test when he should be recovering.
"He was attacked by Zaft troops who have a grudge against him. I invited the Earth Alliance to build bridges of mutual respect and cooperation, I never expected something like,"
"If there was anyone who is truly at fault for what had happened, it would be the ones who led Zaft and not you" Kasumi cut her off as she pointed out who is truly responsible.
"Ranma never blames you and neither will we. So, please my dear, let it go" Sasami asks her and for a moment she nodded and that satisfied them.
"Good, now let's finish this before your mother Sophia arrived from her meeting with the NGO people"
"I'll set up the tableware" Washu said
"I'll help as well" Via offered and followed Washu
"Lacus, Cagalli could you help me over here" Kasumi asks
"Happy to help!" Lacus and Cagalli replied cheerfully
The dishes are a mix of both western and Japanese cuisine which by the delightful smell, the meal will be heavenly which is something the Sasami and Kasumi is proud of making
It was right then that Lacus asks a curious thought that came in mind as she placed the dishes on a kitchen trolley
"Ms. Kasumi, I was wondering"
"About what?"
"Is there anyone who can match Ranma in martial arts skills. Do any of his rival can beat him?" Lacus asks curiously
Thinking of a few that came in mind "Well, there are a few that I could think of, but some of them are gone now, and… there is one other that I could confidently say, is a close match to Ranma martial arts skills… and she's been in constant training for many years just for a rematch" Kasumi deduce
"S-she?" Lacus' tone was of surprise and a sneaking suspicion of who she is to Ranma, as Lacus remembers that his father sold him for a bowl of rice and fish at one time.
One of Genma Saotome, arranged marriage scams.
"It's another one of Ranma fiancée, isn't it?" Lacus is guessing coldly
"Good guess!" Kasumi and Sasami confirmed cheerily and Lacus groaned
"Soo, who is she?" Lacus asked and the two looked at each other and Sasami decided to answer her first.
"She is…someone who tried to kill Ranma the first time around they meet"
"She tries to what!?" that was a surprise and a concern for her
"Believe it or not Lacus…she's one of the most dangerous girls that Ranma has ever got engage to, and he chase after her." Kasumi added, like pouring gasoline to the flame
The thought of someone like that is a bit alarming for Lacus 'A dangerous woman who can match Ranma's skills in martial arts is trying to kill him!?' oddly enough, Kasumi and Sasami don't look all that worried
"Kasumi, you do not seem concern for him, if this woman is as dangerous as she says she is…and why on Earth would Ranma chase after her of all things if she can," Kasumi place a calming hand on Lacus shoulder
"Lacus, there is no need to worry, for she is not someone who would raise a finger against Ranma because, well, she owes her life and her freedom to him…as do many people… but mostly it's another damsel in distress"
Kasumi sigh shaking her head exasperated "One of Ranma major weaknesses, if we can even call it that… is he can't say no to helping other people or can't stand people who are in distress…mostly when it comes to girls"
"He can't?"
"No, he can't, and it's the sole reason why he saved Durandal from dying in the first place because, Talia Gladys begged him to save Gilbert life, as do Washu wanted him to spare his life"
Kasumi explained that during the last moments of Zaft Messiah fortress, a team of Alliance Special Forces led by Ranma, boarded the fortress to make sure to destroy the quantum computer housing Destiny Plan completely. Ranma stumbled upon three survivors namely Gilbert Durandal, Rey Za Burrel and Talia Gladys and they took all three as prisoners.
"Ranma was the one who saved them" she realized
"He had no obligation to do so but, Ranma did so anyway" Sasami said
"I-I see" thinking about it, Lacus about most of the women who are connected to him,
'Kasumi and Sasami, they belong to the same time as Ranma… from two centuries ago. Before the Cosmic Era even began and they all have amazing abilities, skills and power'
"Are all the women connected to Ranma, this amazing?" Lacus asks out loud
Kasumi and Sasami look to each other and to Lacus "Whatever do you mean Lacus?"
"I mean, you are all, quite extraordinary, including the one that tried to kill him"
The two can only smile at the complement but they disagree with her.
"Lacus, you, Cagalli, Kira and your all friends are much more extraordinary than we are" Sasami said to her
"You fought two global wars, pursued the path of peace, while facing incredible odds and won. Now, you are fighting to keep the peace which is no easy feat" Kasumi said recognized Lacus and her friends of what they have achieved and felt grateful of being recognized
"Circumstances of your birth aside, you are all capable of great potential, Natural born or a Coordinator it matters little, you can make your own path"
"Sadly, the path is obstructed by the hate and anger of so many who refused to let it go and those who believed that their way is the right way and are forcing others to follow them"
"I am aware of your current situation, and I sympathize to you for your struggles, but I know you will prevail" Sasami was about to push the trolley when she gave Lacus one advice
"Don't forget one thing"
"What's that?"
"Make puppy eyes when you ask his help" and with that Sasami pushes the food trolley out the kitchen leading a confuse Lacus until Washu clears it with a smile as she understands the advice.
"It's for Ranma"
"For Ranma?"
"When you ask for his help, make puppy eyes and he's puddy in your hands"