Part 16, Version 1.0 ... 8-15-97
Disclaimer: Any copyrighted materials in this story belong to their respective owners.
Ranma 1/2 Z Part X VI
The Final Battle
Written By Tony Chen ====================================================================== ======================================================================
*December 25th, 4:00 am. The waning crescent of the moon shines dimly over the snow-covered cityscape of the Nerima district. It’s ominous light reflecting off countless chips of snowflakes, giving the image of thousands of stars that are at their last twinkle. Howling winds rip through the thin air, as if they are sounding out the cries of tortured spirits. Nerima never looked so desolate; except for a lighted house in the center of the region, this entire section of Tokyo is lifeless and dark as pitch. The view centers on and zooms to the particular lighted dwelling, known to us as the Tendo residence. A group a youths is gathered at the living room, each with a grim look on his or her face. Among the group is a grown man with a mustache, wearing a brown gi, and a short figure with long white hair standing on a short staff. *
Akane: *wearing a blue sweater with a hood, and purple pants made of light material. She looks to the circle of friends around her* Is it time?
*Shinnosuke gravely nods*
Ukyou: Gero said to be there by morning, but he didn’t mention if that was sunrise or any specific moment.
Herb: We’ll strike early, surely this will give him less time to plan whatever he is planning.
Ukyou: *looks around* Alright, now, are all of you up to this?
Shampoo: *still wearing her battle suit, which is still as new and undamaged as the first time she put it on. Her hands are gripping her bonboris, but they seem unsteady. Her eyes are also slightly flinching, and looking somewhat at the floor.* Shampoo not want to die *whispering, admitting for the first time that she is scared.*
Cologne: *raises a brow and looks at Shampoo* Hush, child, I trained you not to fear death. And you shall not die, if you are confident and use your skills wisely.
Mousse: *puts his hands on Shampoo’s wrist, and, without his glasses, looks at her with a gentle smile.* You know I’ll always protect you, Shampoo. I swear that as long as I still have a drop of blood left in my body, I won’t let anything happen to you.
Shampoo: *looks at Mousse, for the first time not with disgust.* Mousse....... *she says softly, as her eyes become watery and crystal-like*
Shinnosuke: *looking sheepish, and takes a short glance at Akane* ............. *deep in thought*
Toma: *catches Shinnosuke’s glance to Akane from the corner of his eyes* ..........
Akane: *comes near Shampoo, and puts a hand on her shoulder* Look, you don’t have to go, if you don’t want to.
Shampoo: *turns sharply at Akane* No! Shampoo must! No amazon girl ever run away from battle. It be great disgrace! *Grips her bonboris more firmly* Shampoo no abandon team!
Mousse: and I won’t abandon you, Shampoo.
*Shampoo looks at Mousse, and nods.*
Cologne: *looks at them, and also nods thoughtfully* {Could it be..... that Shampoo’s attitude toward Mousse, has changed? A pity that Son-in-law ran away. I had hopes of him and Shampoo fighting side by side. Could his disappearance affected my granddaughter that much?}
Soun: *comes up to Akane, and puts his hands on her shoulders.* Please return safely, my daughter, you know I can’t live on without you.
Akane: *hugs her dad* I know, otoosan; I promise to be careful.
*Soun bursts into tears with Akane in his arms.*
Toma: *looks to Soun* Mr. Tendo, Akane is our leader, all of us would fall first before Akane comes to any harm. *Looks at Shinnosuke* Right, Shinnosuke?
*Shinnosuke looks at Toma surprisingly, and nods*
Soun: *looks at Toma* Thank you, son.......
*Meanwhile, Kasumi and Nabiki have both gone down from their rooms to join the crowd in the living room. Nabiki folds her arms, and leans against the wall.*
Kasumi: *approacches Akane* Akane, would you like to have breakfast before you go? *Smiles*
Akane: Oh... that’s alright, oneechan, I don’t think I can eat anything with this knot in my stomach.
Kasumi: oh.... alright, well, good luck! *cocks her head and does her patented Kasumi smile, which is encouragement enough for anybody*
Akane: *somewhat smiles* Thanks, oneechan.
Nabiki: I’m betting all my winnings on you, sis, don’t let me down. *Does the V with her fingers from her folded arm position*
Akane: *looks at Nabiki* Right, oneechan. *Smiles* *looks at Soun* Otoosan, be careful, just in case Dr. Gero does send out his robot all over the city, you’ll have to get everyone to safety.
Soun: *looks up at Akane* Don’t worry, the Heavenly Bodies will always guard our family and our ancestral home. We will be safe; it will protect you as well, my daughter.
Akane: I know otoosan, I know......
Ukyou: *calling behind Akane* Akane, are you ready?
Akane: *her smile fades, as she turns around.* As I’ll ever be, let’s go everybody. *Opens the sliding door, and is instantly greeted with wind and snow.*
Ryuu: Finally.
Akane: *takes out her communicator, and turns it on* Trunks?
Trunks: *static* huh? *More static* Oh.... *the signal becomes clear* Right here Akane.
Akane: We’re going.
Trunks: This early? Hmm, well, I guess this is as good a time as any. You know what to do, right?
Akane: yeah, Ukyou’s got the mini computer set up like you told her.
Trunks: Alright then, it’s time to raise hell for Doc Gero! We can do it!
Akane: Hai! *Motions to everybody else* come on, let’s move it! *leaps out of the door.*
*every one else follows, taking off one by one, leaving a wailing Soun, a pondering Cologne, accompanied by Kasumi and Nabiki*
Akane: *suddenly poking her head back through the door* Oh, I forgot, Merry Christmas, Otoosan. *Smiles and turns back to rejoin the group*
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*In Kami’s palace. Kami is standing somewhere in his vast yard*
Kami: *gets a worried look on his face* No... it’s too soon. Ranma may not be ready.
*A new figure lands in front Kami, his appearance and apparel are both similar to Kami’s*
Piccolo: Hello, Kami. *smiles*
Kami: *eyes widen with surprise* Piccolo! What are you doing here?
Piccolo: I know everything you know, and believe it or not, I’m here to help.
Kami: *looks at Piccolo suspisciously* Oh? And just what do you mean.... by “help.”
Piccolo: Lets cut to the chase, you plan to train Ranma Saotome in the House of Spirit and Time? Right?
Kami: *surprises yet again* Well, yes, but he’s too tired right now to enter it.
Piccolo: *growls* That’s always been your problem, you’re too soft! You’ll get nothing done this way, that’s why I’m taking it upon myself to train the boy.
Kami: What?! You mean to tell me that I should trust you to properly train the only person capable of stopping Gero?
Piccolo: *grins* precisely. There is no reason for you not to trust me. If Gero gets control of Earth, it’ll be much harder for me to become the ruler of this planet.
Kami: I, I see. {He’s right, I could only help Ranma so far. As for training him, there is no better teacher than Piccolo. His methods may be harsh, but they are effective} All right, Piccolo..... I’ll let you have the boy.
Piccolo: Good, I see you’ve finally come to your senses.
Kami: Follow me. *Goes inside the palace*
*Piccolo follows Kami inside, and opens the door to the chamber where Ranma is sleeping on a bed, still tired and injured from the battle raged inside his mind.*
Piccolo: *hollers at Ranma* WAKE UP!
Ranma: *turns to the other side and shifts his position. His head is resting on his right arm, his left arm hanging over the side, and both his legs are bent and almost stacked on top of each other* ugggggg.....
Piccolo: This is not time for sleeping! *Goes to Ranma and pinches a nerve on the back of his neck*
Ranma: YEEEEEOWWWW! *Vaults off the bed, holding his nape*
Piccolo: Good, you’re awake.
Ranma: *his face contorts to an angry expression, and he looks at Piccolo* The hell I am! What’s the big idea?! Forcing me up in the middle of the night like that, Kami-sama?
Kami: *steps besides Piccolo* That’s not me.
Ranma: *looks at the two nearly identical figures* Huh? Did they already perfected the cloning process?
Kami: Ranma, this is..... *looks at Piccolo* my friend, Piccolo.
Ranma: Piccolo? Darn, I was so close with “Piano”. Well, nice to meet you. *Falls back on the bed*
Piccolo: *roughly grabs Ranma’s collar and drags him up to his feet, off the ground* I see I’m going to have a lot of work to do with him.
Ranma: *raises both his arms and grabs Piccolo’s which is holding him, flips his body up while twisting his grip, forcing Piccolo to let go, then flips backward and lands on his feet* I’ve had just about enough of you. *Adopts a fighting stance*
Piccolo: hmmm, he’s nimble. Good.
Kami: Ranma, let me explain, Piccolo is here to train you for the inevitable battle with Dr. Gero and his cyborgs.
Ranma: So? Can’t this wait till morning?
Kami: *shakes his head* Your friends are going to confront Dr. Gero’s army this very moment for a final confrontation.
Ranma: WHAT! No! They can’t!
*Kami puts his hands on Ranma’s forehead, and concentrate on Akane and others as they are on their way to Gero’s base*
Ranma: *closes his eyes, as images of Akane, Ukyou, Shinnosuke, Toma, Herb, Ryuu, Shampoo, Mousse, and Tarou each flash momentarily in his mind. With Kami’s help, he seems to be able to read their thoughts. He senses the significant increase in power in all of them. They are determined, with no intention to turn back and delay the encounter. It was all, or nothing.* No.... they have no idea what they’re up against.....
Kami: *draws back his hand* You see, time is short. Your friends can only hold out for so long.
Ranma: *clenches his fist* Then I’m going right now!
Kami: No Ranma, if you go right now, then all out efforts has been wasted. You are still not powerful to face the opponents ahead of you.
Ranma: *desperation overcomes his face* But, what can be done? There’s no way I’ll improve any more in such a short time.
Piccolo: That’s where you’re wrong. Come with me. *Turns around, swishes his cape, and heads out the door*
Kami: Just do as he says. *Walks out the door as well.*
*The three heads down via stair cases to the far bottom of the bowl shaped palace, to a small room decorated with thin pillars and various clocks hanging over a thick door.*
Piccolo: it’s inconvenient to fight in this form. *He grasps his hands, and bends down a little, and concentrates* aa.......aaaaa...... *Sweat begins to drip down his wrinkled head*
Ranma: What the.....
Piccolo: AAAAAA!!!!!!!!!
*Bright rays of light shoots out from Piccolo’s eyes, mouth, and ears, then quickly dims. His eyes becomes empty and dark, as if he no longer has a soul. A moment later, a thin ray of light coming from the inside penetrates his head from the top, and slices it’s way down. The skin begins to split apart to the left and right, connected only by some strands of slime. The loose skin falls to the ground, and standing before Ranma and Kami is the younger version of piccolo, climbing out of the rest of the old skin. He is in his white shoulder mantle and cloak*
Ranma: *his eyes bulge, and covers his mouth with his hands* Nan da......
Piccolo: *stretches in his new form* Much better.... *looks at Ranma* This is no time for making faces, let’s go *opens the door, revealing a large and bright empty space on the other side*
Ranma: *gets over his disgust, and looks through the door* Wow, what is that place.
Kami: That’s the house of Spirit and Time. Each day on Earth is the equivalent to an entire year in there, and each hour is equivalent to 15 days.
Ranma: huh?
Piccolo: *calls from the House of Spirit and Time* Kami, if you please, heal the boy’s injuries, then get him in here!
Kami: *touches Ranma on his shoulder* There...
Ranma: *tries to remember where his bruises and pains were* Hey! I’ve completely recovered! *Jumps around slightly*
Kami: *points to where Piccolo is* there, go now!
Ranma: *still confused, but decides not to question Kami’s command* OK! *Walks through the door*
**THUD!** *Ranma instantly falls flat on the ground the moment he stepped through.*
Kami: Ranma, good luck, it’s all up to you. *Closes the door*
Ranma: *plants his arms on the ground and pushes himself up, exerting a lot of force* Geeze! The ground is like some kind of super magnet! Piccolo: *looks at Ranma trying to get up* Well of course, the gravity here is ten times as strong as the one on Earth. And the air is four times thinner, which means it take you 1/4 the time for you to get tired here compared to on Earth. We won’t do anything training today. You must first get use the pressure and the air.
Ranma: A day! But I need to help them now!
Piccolo: You forget, a day here is only 4 minutes on the outside.
Ranma: *finally manages to stand up* Oh hell, I’ll just transform *makes the posture for transforming* haa.....
Piccolo: No! You will train as your normal self! I calculate that you can only be in here for 2 months, or 4 hours of real time. That is how long your body can last here, but only if you keep your normal form. If you transform right now, you will use up even more energy, and cut your stay here to only 1 month. And while you are in your Saiyajin state, I can’t train you effectively.
Ranma: *looks at Piccolo, and stops his concentration.* Oh... ok, but how can I improve in my Super Saiya state if I only train in normal form?
Piccolo: The powers of your Super Saiya state is directly proportional to the powers in normal state. If you improve your skills in normal form, then you will naturally improve when you are in Super form.
Ranma: um, ok. *Uses considerable strength and takes a step toward Piccolo* Now what do I do?
Piccolo: Just do basic walking, and we’ll move on to running, jumping, and levitating. But first..... *points his open palm at Ranma* You need a change in clothing.
*Ranma’s torn red and black outfit is suddenly replaced by a new fighting uniform, similar to Piccolo’s, but without the heavy mantle. Ranma is wearing a black T-shirt, with a dark-purple vest on the outside which is tucked in at his new blue belt. His loose-fitting pants are also dark-purple, with it’s ends tucked inside a red boot on each feet. Red wrist guards wrap around Ranma’s wrists. Unknown to Ranma is also an emblem stitched to the back of his vest, identical Piccolo’s emblem.*
Ranma: *checks out his new clothes* Cool.....
Piccolo: *grin* Now, we’re ready to begin.
==========================================================================
*At Gero’s base. There is a lot of computer activity going on in the main chamber. Constant beeps of sounds and flashes of lights makes the room look somewhat like a high-tech disco room. Dr. Gero is constantly walking around, inspecting every screen and diode. He is wearing a silver helmet protecting most of his head from his forehead to the back of his neck. It’s designed with a wing pointing upward on each side of his head, and curved back and connected to each other, reinforcing the basic helmet. His wrinkly face can be clearly seen. His thick brow over his beady and icy pupils, combined with his dense mustache directly under his pointy nose, makes his face one that rivals the ugliness of Medusa’s. His body armor is more elaborate than the one on Cyborg X, with more impressive shoulder blades pointed slightly upward at the tip, and a chest plate equipped with hidden accessories. Cyborg X, in the mean time, is always on the main controls and screen.*
Cyborg X: All 1500 units are fully operational. 200 of them have been deported to hidden posts around the area.
Gero: Oh, how I have waited for this moment. Just wait till the young fools come, they shall be my first victims.
*A sudden loud beaping rings throughout the chamber, accompanied by a screen turning on*
Cyborg X: *looks at the screen, seeing nine figures walking through.* Don’t look now, doctor, but they are here, and entering the perimeter.
Gero: hmmmm, so early? They are eager, I see.
Cyborg X: They don’t seem hostile. Non of them are in any attacking formation.
Gero: They won’t fool me into lowering my guard that easily. ready the neuro gas. The smallest inhale of the toxin will render our visitors unconscious. I’ll greet them outside. *Starts walking out*
Cyborg X: *pushes some more buttons on the panel* I’m coming with you, just in case they try anything.
Ryouga: *comes out of the dark corner of the room and follows Gero outide* As am I. I’ve been waiting for a rematch with Ukyou. *Growls* She’ll pay for humiliating me.
*As they leave, at the control panel, a small pink button begins to blink. Right next to it, a message also starts to blink on the screen: “Security breach in cell 15.”*
*Cut to the outside. At the base of the mountain, a small gap forms in the rocks, and neatly slides up, exposing an metallic opening to the inside of the base. Dr. Gero, Cyborg X, and Ryoga steps out from opening to the outside. It is still dark in the morning.*
Dr. Gero: *looks far away at the nine familiar figures* Here they come.
*After a while, Akane and her team are at a close distance to Dr. Gero and his men.*
Akane: *looks to Gero* Dr. Gero, we have come like you directed, and we came with a proposition for you.
Gero: *looks at Akane, surprised* Oh? And that is?
Akane: If you will spare Earth, we’ll give ourselves up and be your servants. You can turn us into cyborgs, or do whatever you wish. As long as you leave Earth alone. With us under your control, you can surely take over other worlds....
Gero: *twirls his moustache* hmmmm, you strike an interesting bargain. *Grins* Let me a moment to decide.
===========================================================================
*In the House of Spirit and Time, already 14 days have passed. Ranma’s body has compensated for the gravity and the air, and is able freely move around, although still not as well as on Earth. We see Ranma, or rather, we DON’T see Ranma and Piccolo training inside a pitch black room in one section of the House, where there is not a single ray of light. On top of that. Ranma is blindfolded, so even if someone fires a blast of light, he would not see it.*
Ranma: *grunting, as he raises his hand and blocks a incoming punch from Piccolo, but gets nicked at his ribs with a kick* This...... *rolls over* sucks! *Jumps back to attack* I can’t see a thing!
Piccolo: Good, *parries all of Ranma’s attacks* This will train you to rely on other sense rather than your sight. Don’t always trust what you see. *Ducks and sweeps*
Ranma: Yeah, *jumps up, spins backwards and delivers a kick at Piccolo’s head* you mean like hearing and other stuff, right?
*Piccolo grabs Ranma’s feet, tosses him to the air, jumps up above him, and whacks him to the ground*
Ranma: *crashes, but quickly rights himself* Ow.... Lost you for a moment there.
Piccolo: hearing is only a part of it. You must learn to sense your opponent’s move before he actually makes it, and instantly develop a counterstrike. You must keep track of your opponent, no matter where he goes! Your oponnent’s ki, is the key. Raaa! *Shoots a beam at Ranma*
*Ranma senses the beam, dodges, plots the most sensible spot for Piccolo to be in after the blast, and jump kicks in that position. It connects, and Piccolo flies backwards until he could right himself*
Piccolo: grrr, that’s it! *Attacks Ranma with greater skill*
Ranma: *braces for the attack* This would be so much easier if I could just.... see.
Piccolo: Stop...... Complaining! Hyarrrr!
*Piccolo fakes a punch to Ranma’s head, who falls for it and raises his hands to block it. Piccolo follows up with a knee to Ranma’s stomach, and a elbow to his chest, sending him crashing back.*
Ranma: Ugh! *stands up and wipes dirt away from his face* You didn’t have to hit so hard..... *holding his side*
Piccolo: Shut up and fight back!
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*Back to the gathering in front of Gero’s base*
Gero: *after a few minutes of hearing Akane’s proposal, he grins, and looks at her* Very well, I accept your offer. Robots, surround them.
*On command, the 200 robots comes out from various spots under the ground. Their heads are merely a oval metallic sphere with a lens in the front, their body is a round upside-down triangular shape, with thick tentacles for arms and legs, with smaller tentacles on each to represent fingers and toes. They quickly come together and form a circle around the Akane and her team, and seem to aim at them with some kind of a blaster on the tip of their hands*
Akane: *her facial expression, as with the others, does not change* Remember your promise, Gero.
Gero: Cyborg X, go apply the neuro gas. *Looks at Akane* I must say, I expected a struggle from you, but looks like you came to your senses without need of persuasion. It is a wise choice. In return for your cooperation, I promise not to harm Earth.
*Cyborg X fixes a tube of brown liquid inside his arm cannon, and walks to his enemies.*
Ryouga: Doctor, please let me fight Ukyou and Akane, I wish to defeat them myself.
Gero: *looks at Ryouga* I see you still have the thirst fighting, but you will have your chance. Just be patience. More important matters are at hand.
*Cyborg X is now in range, and ready to fire the gas at the group. Akane only looks emotionlessly at Cyborg X*
Gero: *calls to Akane* There’s one thing you should know....... *grins* promises are made to be broken.
*Cyborg X sprays the gas at the emotionless figures, while Gero laughs the usual “villain” laugh. The gas cloud soon covers all of Akane’s team.*
Gero: Fools! *Laughs again*
*Suddenly a large beam of energy comes out of no where and knocks half the robots scattering.*
Gero: *his eyes bulge at the beam* WHAT?!!!!
*(Fast-paced music begins) Gero traces the origin of the beam with his eyes, and sees a feminine figure with short hair, standing upright behind a snow-covered bush. Smoke is coming out of the her outstretched hands. She jumps out of the bush, showing that she is Akane. Then, from some other bushes and trees, emerges Ukyou, Herb, Ryuu, Shampoo, Mousse, and Tarou, all standing beside their leader. As the smoke clears, the nine figures are no longer there, much to Cyborg X’s surprise.*
Cyborg X: Doctor! They were just
Akane: Holograms! courtesy of Capsule Corp technologies!. And now..... HYAAAH!
*Akane transforms, so does Ukyou, and they both rush toward Gero, ready to deal him a punishing blow.*
Cyborg X: No you don’t! *Moves in front of Akane and Ukyou, menacingly pointing his arm cannon at the two. It makes a high pitched sound, sending by a bright yellow blast toward them*
*Akane and Ukyou splits up to different directions, as the beam passes right through them and explodes at a boulder.*
Gero: All units! Assault mode! *To himself* Big mistake, Akane Tendo. Grrrr. *His eyes flares red for a slight second*.
*The robots break up from their ring, and the ones that fell quickly stands up, and using jet propulsion, they fly at the remaining fighters, like a swarm of bees all going after the same target *
Herb: *flings off his cape and dragon armor, both his hands glowing brightly* Feel the wrath of a Dragon Prince, automated cretins.
*Herb, Ryuu, Shampoo, Mousse, along with Tarou-minotaur, stands ready to face the incoming hord. Together, the robots look like a tidal wave of moving tentacles and horrific eyes, dangerously looming the five bodies and ready to consume them whole.*
*with loud battle cries, a green energy beam shoots through the middle of the robot’s ranks, and red ki-blades decapitates several heads. Chains, maces, steel blades, bolas, and various weapons soars out of Mousse’s kimono, successfully entangling, denting, and cutting through many units. Tarou flexes his huge biceps, extends his wings, roars, and destroys several units with powerful punches. Shampoo seems to be everywhere all at once, jumping from one unit to another, and cracking the lens of each one and crunching their heads with her bonboris*
Akane: *looks to her team* {Hope they can hold their own} *looks to Cyborg X, then back at Ukyou, and nods*
Ukyou: *nods back at Akane, and looks at Cyborg X* hmp....
Akane: *cups her hands in front of her, pointing at Cyborg X* Shinkuu Ha!
*Ukyou leaps at Cyborg X just a little before Akane releases the beam, hoping to go behind him and have him in a lock. However, five small spinning blades cut through the air and intercepts Ukyou, who changes her course just in time to let the blades dig into the earth instead of her body. Ukyou turns to see owner of the blades, while Cyborg X unnecessarily dodge the beam.*
Ukyou: Ryoga!
Ryoga: *comes closer, and wickedly grins at Ukyou* I’ve been aching for a re-match, Ukyou.
Cyborg X: *looks at Ryoga, and growls* your help was unnecessary, I didn’t need your interference.
Ryoga: *growls back at Cyborg X* I wasn’t trying to help you, I’m only doing what I’m interested in.
Ukyou: *raises a brow* Looks side we have ourselves a showdown.
Gero: X, Ryoga, you may have your way with them, but don’t kill them. They are essential for my future reign over the galaxy. I’ll grant these foolhardy adolescents a warrior’s defeat. I’ll enjoy watching the fall of my enemies one by one.
*Akane and Ukyou have regrouped next to each other*
Akane: *whispers to Ukyou.* good, it looks like we have their attention. We have to keep them distracted, no matter the cost, or else all our efforts will be for nothing.
Ukyou: Right. But do you think we’re powerful enough to stand up against Ryoga and Cyborg X?
Akane: ......*silent for a moment* We won’t know till we try.
Ukyou: ........ *says nothing, and stands ready*
Ryoga: *cracks his knuckles and looks at Ukyou* hmp....
Cyborg X: *grins at Akane* I hope you put up better fight than what you showed last time against Ryoga.
*The two pairs stand ready and looked at each other for some minutes, trying to discover an opening. Not one to be more patient, Ryoga jumps up into the air with a loud yell, towards with his fist pulled back. Seeing that his “partner” has taken the innovative, Cyborg X rushes toward Akane as well. Both heroines braces for their foes*
***cut to a corridor inside Gero’s base***
*We see a figure holding a metallic staff, with a golden tip on each end, stealthily shuffling along the high-tech corridor, accompanied by a shorter figure wielding a glowing green sword*
Shinnosuke: *holding Ukyou’s mini computer. Trunk’s face is seen on the small screen.* I hope everything’s going well outside. *Looks around for anything suspiscious*
Trunks: Since they didn’t discover us yet, I’d say the strike team is doing a pretty good job.
Toma: *also seeming alert* It was lucky Dr. Gero open that hatch, so I could teleport us to an open area behind him. If I made a mistake and teleported us inside something solid, our bodies would just fuse with the rocks.....
Shinnosuke: We have to hurry and find the main control room, who knows how long Akane and the others would be able to hold out.
Trunks: show me where you’re at right now.
*Shinnosuke holds out the mini computer, with the monitor facing front, and slowly waves it back and forth, while Trunks scans the walls and ceiling with his eyes.*
Trunks: Stop! There, at that plate with the 4 screws. Lift it out.
*Shinnosuke turns his staff into the side of a needle, sticks it into the crevice outlining the plate, and pries it off. A panel of some kind is revealed, with colorful buttons and lights.*
Trunks: *inspects the panel* Take the jack out of the little compartment at the back of the mini computer, and plug the end that you see into that socket. The other end should be already connected to the computer.
*Shinnosuke does as he is told, and makes the link. The computer beeps for a while, and the lights on the panel starts to flash in a erratic pattern.*
Trunks: The mini computer is downloading information from the console now, and transmitting the data to the computer I have with me. I’m analyzing it right now. *Types fast on his keyboard* Got it! You can unhook it now.
Toma: What did you get?
Trunks: I have your current location, and a 3D map to the main control room. Here. *Press’s “enter” on his computer*
*The monitor on the mini computer projects a realistic hologram of the mountain base for Shinnosuke and Toma. It is in the shape of the mountain, a rough triangular shape, and an outline of all the rooms and corridors in the base. There is a blinking red dot somewhere in the middle of hologram, and a blinking blue star near the top of the hologram.*
Trunks: The red dot is where you are now, and the control room is the blue star. I’ll trace the optimal route for you to get there. *Types some more*
*A yellow line starts to form from the red dot, does a couple of turns left and right, back and forward in the 3D map, and reaches the blue star.*
Trunks: Just be careful of guards and traps. Even without Dr. Gero’s direct control, this is a fortress with automated defenses.
Shinnosuke: Toma, can’t you just teleport us directly to the room?
Toma: *shakes his head* I can’t see where I am teleporting. If I just do it blindly, I could get us stuck inside something solid.
Shinnosuke: Then let’s not waste any time. *Runs forward* There’s the lift that’ll get us one level up.
Toma: *notices as Shinnosuke runs pass a certain point, two lights on the side of the walls light up* Shin! Watch out!
Shinnosuke: *hears a creak above up, and looks up, only to see the ceiling falling on top of him* Eyaaaaahhhh!
*With one quick motion, Toma waves his sword, teleports to Shinnosuke, and with another wave, teleports them both pass the collapsing celing area.*
Shinnosuke: Arigtatoo.....
Toma: Everytime I do this, it uses up a bit of my ki.... you have to watch out, eventually I won’t have enough energy to teleport anymore. *Gets in the elevator*
*Shinnosuke gets in the elevator as well. The elevator makes a whhhrrrr sound, and ascends*
Trunks: Every unit that stays in the base is planted with a certain chip, something like an authorization card, so they could get through freely, we’ll need to get some of those chips.
*As they arrive on the next level, the elevator door opens, and they see two guard robots standing on the sides of the corridor, about 10 yards away The robots point their lens at them, zooms back and forth, and advances toward Shinnosuke and Toma.*
Toma: here comes the welcoming committee. *Stands ready.*
Shinnosuke: *jabs out with his staff* Extend!
*The staff stretches to the robot, and penetrates it’s lens and through his head. Shinnosuke picks up the robot, and swings it into the other one, knocking them both out. Their tentacles are still swinging around, however, and Toma quickly fixes that and chops them off with his solidified sword. They crackle with electricity and finally becomes quite.*
Trunks: The card should be planted in their heads, snap open that little lid.
*After some robot brain surgery, Shinnosuke and Toma equip themselves with the authorization chip, and slips them in their belts. They quickly follow the yellow path to a joining corridor*
Trunks: turn here.
*Shinnosuke and Toma takes a left, and comes to a door. The forcefully tries to open it, with no avail.*
Trunks: It’s no use, it’s reinforced with titanium alloy. Hook the computer up with the side panel, I’ll see if I can override the security mechanism.
*Shinnosuke does it, and Trunks furiously types away. The panel makes a long beep, and the door slides open with a loud swish.*
*Shinnosuke and Toma steadily makes their way to main control room, dispensing more and more robots on the way, and constantly having to deal with security coded doors, while their friends on the outside fights valiantly in order to give them the time they need.*
==========================================================================
*15 more days has past at the House of Spirit and Time and all the space around it. We see Ranma and Piccolo sparring in the open environment, which has adapted itself to look like a plain with plateaus and hills. Ranma and Piccolo are running in parallel, staring at each other. Piccolo makes the attack with a palm blast. Ranma jumps over it, Piccolo attacks him in the air. They fight while airborne, delivering quick punches and kicks. Piccolo finally sees an opening, and sends Ranma to the ground with knee. Piccolo shoots down faster than Ranma, gets below him, and fires at him with a mouth blast. Ranma sees this, turns around, and counters the blast with a Moko Takabishya. Ranma lands, seemingly pissed, and attacks Piccolo with full force. His body is generating a strong current around him. Piccolo is forced to the defensive. Ranma finishes his attack with a Hiryuu Shoten Ha.*
Piccolo: *retreats from the hurricane, and grins* Good good, you learn quickly.
Ranma: *looks at Piccolo while breathing heavily* It’s all..... thanks... to you.
Piccolo: It’s now time for you to train in Super Saiyajin mode..... transform.
Ranma: Hai. *Concentrates* haaaaaaaaaHHHH!
*A gust of energy bursts out from Ranma’s body, and expands in all directions. Piccolo is forced to a more steady stance to avoid being blown away*
Piccolo: Incredible! *Looks at Ranma in awe.*
Ranma: *His hair golden, his body surrounded by a spiky aura. He looks around his body in amazement* I...... of all the times I tranformed, I never felt so powerful.
Piccolo: *grins* Of course, it all comes from the training..... but you are still not powerful enough. I sense that your rival, Hibiki Ryoga, is till stronger.
Ranma: Nani!? That’s impossible! But..... isn’t that good? If he’s that strong he can take on Gero himself.
Piccolo: *shakes his head* So, Kami didn’t tell you this. *Looks gravely at Ranma.* Hibiki is under the control of Gero. His body is cybernectically enhanced, that’s how he got the power.
Ranma: *his hopes dashes* You mean, not only do I have to fight Gero, but Ryoga too?
Piccolo: *nods* it’s unavoidable. It seems that his grudge against you is the primary reason he was so easily enticed to join Gero.
Ranma: *grits his teeth* Why that low down son of a.... *snaps his head up in shock* Then Ryouga must be fighting with Akane and the others! They won’t stand a chance against Ryoga, Cyborg X, and of those robots that I saw when I tapped into Gero’s computer. I have to go help!
Piccolo: Don’t be so impatient. You are right, they don’t have a chance of winning, Gero knows that too. That is why he doesn’t want a quick victory. Hibiki and the Cyborg are fighting only with a partial of their of their true power, against the Tendo and Kuonji girl.
Ranma: Ukyou! *Facefaults* but she..... *he concentrates his ki, and focuses on Ukyou* She is fighting in Super Saiya form....... Nani! .... her ki is powerful, but it’s slowly diminishing..... *focuses on the ki that is causing Ukyou’s to be weakening. The ki is familiar, but it’s much more powerful, and it’s fused with an dark evil aura.* Ryoga...... *tightens his fists* He’s become.... a monster.
Piccolo: Now you see why must you train in the House of Spirit and Time. You have roughly 15 more days here, since you are now in Super Saiyajin form.
Ranma: *nods solemnly* Then.... let’s not waste any more time.
========================================================================
*Back at the battle front. The team consisting of the Herb, Ryuu, Shampoo, Mousse, and Tarou. Is gradually taking out all 200 units. 40 are left that are in perfect condition. But the 5 non-Saiyajin fighters are suffering from fatigue. Ukyou is still battling with Ryoga, and Akane still with Cyborg X, but the girls do not have a chance for attacking, as they are constantly forced to defend against punches, kicks, and blasts. Then, from far away, two figures comes into sight. They are the Kuno cyborgs.*
Kuno: *lands next to Gero* Salutations master. *bows* Forgive my tardiness in fetching you the last of the coveted Dragonballs. Had it not been for my miscreant of a sister, the task would have been accomplished with far greater efficiency. *Brings out the 7-star Dragonball and humbly hands it to Gero with both hands*
Kodachi: *snatches the ball from Kuno.* Master Gero, It was my brother who constantly got in my way. It was I who found it first, so I shall have the pleasure of presenting you with the last sphere.
Gero: *takes the dragonball from Kodachi* Enough. *Smiles at the ball, his reflection can be seen on the smooth surface* Yes...... *laughs* I have the item neccessary to insure my success.
*Gero opens a compartment in his chestplate, and the other six dragonballs falls to his hands.*
Gero: Now..... *wicked grin* To summon Sheng Long, for the last time.
*Gero places the Dragonballs on the ground in a circle, with one ball in the middle, and the other 6 surrounding it.*
Gero: Come out Sheng Long, and grant my wish!
*As Gero says the chant, the Dragonballs glows golden in and out. The sky gets even darker, as black clouds starts covering the entire sky. All the fighters seem to halt momentarily. Ryoga and Cyborg X have stopped their attack, and are both staring at the sky in amazement. A strange energy surges throughout the land, even the remaining robots seem to be entranced, and direct their cameras at sky directly above the glowing the circle of Dragonballs.*
Herb: *seeing that the robots seem paralyzed, and their attention diverted* Now! Attack them with full force while they are distracted! *Powers up* HITO RYU-ZAN HA!!!!
Ryuu:*powers up his aura* SAI DAI KYU KIJIN RAISHU DAN!!!!!!!
*Herb’s dragon waves and Ryuu’s chi blades combine into a roaring barrage of energy, annihilating most of the robots. Shampoo, Mousse, and Tarou quickly finishes off the rest.*
*As the five warriors take a deep breath in their momentary reprieve, the dragonballs goes into the second stage of their effect. A large crooked beam energy shoots out from the circle, likes a thick lighting bolt shooting out from the ground. The energy fluctuates, as thunder sounds from the clouds above it.*
***Cut to Kami’s palace***
Kami: *looks up at the dark sky, with concern on his face* So..... Sheng Long is summoned for the first time in this world. *Sweat drops down on his face* This is it...
***Cut back to Gero***
*As the huge beam spirals upward, Sheng Long’s head takes form first. With a loud roar, he soars into the sky, the rest of his body taking form below the head. Completely formed, his long body curved many times in the sky above the doctor.*
Akane: *staring at Sheng Long* That’s.... Sheng Long! The Dragon God!
Ukyou: *looks in awe* I heard of the legend, but never thought he actually existed.
Akane: Gero’s going to make his wish, we have to stop him!
*Akane tries to run to Gero, only to be blocked by Cyborg X.*
*Sheng Long looks at Gero with huge red eyes*
Sheng Long: You are the one who summoned me. I will grant you one wish. What is your desire?
Gero: *looks up at the dragon with a evil smile* Sheng Long, I wish for the Dragonballs to be destroyed!
Sheng Long: Your wish is granted.
*In a huge flash of light, Sheng Long is gone. The dragonballs float up to the sky, and shatters to a million pieces. The dark clouds begin to move away as well.*
Gero: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...........
==========================================================================
***Back at Kami’s palace***
Kami: urk!.... *wobbles, and grips on to his staff* No...... just as I feared, he’s destroyed the Dragonballs, and I’ll be die along with it..... and there’s no way to reverse the effect, since no more wishes are possible. If the rest of Gero’s plan succeeds, he would take over Earth, and without the dragonballs, there is no way to stop him..... *starts to turn transparent*
***At the House of Spirit and Time***
*This time, the environment has taken on the form of the arctic, with whirling wind and snow, and glaciers and huge mountains of ice every where. Piccolo and Ranma are seen in a floor of ice and snow, surrounded by huge ice pillars.*
Ranma: *frightfully looking at Piccolo* You’re... disappearing!
Piccolo: *falls to his knees* It’s Gero, he made the wish.... to destroy the Dragonballs.....
Ranma: You mean that sudden darkness, was his doing?
Piccolo: *nods* If the dragonball are gone, so will it’s creator, Kami....... and if Kami dies, so will I.
Ranma: *looks at Piccolo* What are you talking about? You’re going to die? And Kami too!?
Piccolo: Yes... you don’t have to understand how it works, just know it’s happening..... Kuso! Now Earth will never be mine...... *smiles* But I guess it’s not so bad, there’s nothing else I can teach you. I am proud to have you as my student, but now you must train on your own, and discover your true power......
Ranma: Piccolo-san......
Piccolo: There may be one last thing I can do for you.... kneel beside me...
*Ranma does as he is told, looking solemnly at Piccolo. The ice slowly climbs up from his legs, but Ranma doesn’t seem to notice.*
Piccolo: *puts his barely solid hand on Ranma’s forehead* Now you can see what is happening to your friends....
*In his mind, Ranma sees the entire battlefield at Gero’s base. He sees Herb, Ryuu, Shampoo, Mousse, and Tarou, barely standing up straight, with a pile of scraps and pieces of metal around them, covered partly with snow. He sees Akane and Ukyou together, in defensive stances, with wind and snow blowing through their hair, ready to again face Ryoga and Cyborg X. He also sees the frightful form of Dr. Gero, standing erect and looking fiendish and victorious.*
Ranma: Nooooooo!!!!! *One last image flashes across his mind, and Piccolo is completely gone* Piccolo-san!!!!! *By this time the ice has already reached up to his neck.* RRAAAAARRRR!
*Ranma darts up, breaks free of the ice. His aura flares up to ten times it’s normal size, the shockwave of which destroys all the ice pillars around him. The ice mountains start to reverberate, and every thing starts to collapse and crumble. Gradually things become quite, and Ranma is standing once again in a blank open area.*
==========================================================================
***Back to the battle field***
Gero: My victory is almost complete.
Kuno: Master, look yonder at the five languishing wretches. They appear to be bored, without any more units to do battle with.
Gero: *turns to Kuno* and what do you suggest?
Kuno: please allow me the pleasure of dispensing with the band of weaklings.
Gero: *looks ahead* They don’t seem out of a fight yet, they may give you more of a fight than you bargain for, but very well, you and your sister may deal with them if you like. I don’t savor the idea of wasting any more of my robots on them.
Kuno: Thank you, master. *Grins and walks toward Herb and the others*
Kodachi: wait for me, my overeager brother. *Goes with Kuno.*
Herb: *his hands on his knees, and looks at the swordsman and the gymnastic girl coming their way.* Good, now at least I shall have more worthy opponents.
***Inside Gero’s base***
Shinnosuke: *running fast* The door to the control room is just ahead!
Toma: *running along with Shinnosuke* I wonder what was that sudden dim in the lights are all about.
Trunks: Akane spoke to me on her communicator. Gero has made his wish...... the dragonballs on earth are gone, no one will able to make wishes later, which means it’s now or never that we stop him.
*Shinnosuke hooks up the link with the door panel, Trunks types in the code, and it opens, revealing the dark and huge chamber.*
Shinnosuke: The main computer is on the other side. Let’s go! *Runs ahead*
*They reach the main controls where Cyborg X is usually at, and admires the advanced technology.*
Trunks: Don’t just stand there. Plug the jack into the socket by that lever.
*Shinnosuke does it. The screen turns on, showing the battle outside. Beeps are frequent as data is gathered into the mini computer.*
***On the outside***
*small beeps click in Gero’s helmet.*
Gero: What! There are intruders inside my base. But how can that be possible? *Starts counting the number of his enemies* There’s only 7! The other 2 must have somehow gotten inside. Grrrrr..... and they are manipulating my system. There’s no time for me to go back in and stop them..... very well..... I’ll just employ a less direct method. *He closes his eyes, as more beeps come from his helmet.*
***Inside***
Trunks: come on..... almost. What? I’m receiving static......
*The link between the console and the mini computer starts to short circuit.*
Trunks: hold it together...... It’s coming through! YES!!! I have the access codes to launch a self destruct protocol into all the robots, even Cyborg X and maybe Dr. Gero himself!
Shinnosuke: *beams* Honto! We did it!
Toma: Yeahhhh!!
Trunks: Cross your fingers.... *types furiously at his computer* I’m sending the protocol..... now!
*Electricty travels back and forth on the link between the two computers, as Trunks sends the data. Lights and buttons start to flash erratically.*
Toma: Come on......
Trunks: Did it!
*the electricity in the link grows to an intolerable level, and the mini computer finally explodes in a BOOM*
Shinnosuke: Nani.......
*Suddenly all the screens and monitors in the room blinks on, showing Dr. Gero’s face*
Dr. Gero: hahahahaha. You don’t think you could do as you please undetected, do you? The central computer is directly linked with my mind, I would pick up any tampering done to it.
Shinnosuke: *with some fear in his voice* Ha! It’s too late now, Trunks has already ordered all of your robots to self distruct!
Dr. Gero: Oh really? Trunks is more clever than I thought, to be able to get you this far without directly being here. It may be his intention to have my units self destruct, but the actual results are quite different. Look at the main monitor.
*Shinnosuke and Toma looks at the monitor, which shows multiple hatches opening in the mountain, and hundreds of robots take off like a squadron of insects, heading in Tokyo’s direction.*
Dr. Gero: What Trunks did was to give the command for the robots to go to Tokyo, and turn every citizen into my minions. True, at first he did have the correct codes for my robots to self destruct, but I intervened just in time, and changed the effect of the code. You came to disable my robots, but instead it was you who unleashed my army on Tokyo! How ironic. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA.
Shinnosuke: KUSO!!!!! USEE!!!!! RAAAARRRR!!!!!
*In blind rage, Shinnosuke lashes out with his staff, shattering monitors, bashing the controls, and destroying everything else he can reach. In response, the room starts will fill up with toxic gas.*
Toma: Come on! We’ll have to get out of here! *Teleports them both to the outside, into the battlefield*
Akane: *steps back from his battle with Cyborg X* Shinnosuke! Toma! *Despairingly looking at the robots heading for Tokyo. She also notices the sun starting to come out in the horizon.*
Shinnosuke: Akane, I’m sorry..... we failed....
Toma: *looks at Herb and the other fighting Kuno and Kodachi* Forget about that now, we’ll have to help the others.... *jumps to the fight*
Shinnosuke: grrrrr..... *also joins the fight.*
Akane: *turning his attention back to Cyborg X, breathing heavily. Her left sleeve is totally torn, and various rips and tears are also seen on her clothing* I .... can’t last much longer against him...
Cyborg X: *looks at Akane, and smiles* what’s the matter? Don’t tell me the leader is giving up already?
Akane: *wipes some sweat away* Never! Raaaaarrrrr!
*Akane charges Cyborg X, again blasting her vacuum beam.*
Cyborg X: *easily dodges* is that all you got?
*He is answered with a swift kick to the head, knocking him to the side. Akane rolls along the direction Cyborg X is falling, and gives another kick to his back. Cyborg X turns and catches her leg, and flings her to the air. He quickly fires a blast from his cannon at Akane, who dodges down, and comes at Cyborg X*
Akane: Sukedachi Ryodan Kyaku! *Extends her legs, and swipes at Cyborg X’s face with a quick crescent kick.*
*Cyborg X backs up, but Akane manages to nick his cheek, and cause a cut. Blood starts to fill up the cut.*
Cyborg X: *feels his cheek, and looks at blood on his finger, then looks at Akane.* hmp, you managed to cause me to bleed, now I’ll return the favor a hundred fold! *Powers up his cannon and jumps at Akane*
* Meanwhile, at the battle with Ukyou and Ryoga.*
Ukyou: *panting, looking at Ryoga. Her condition is not much better than Akane’s* Why.... won’t you go down.....
Ryoga: *grins* It’ll take much more than you have to defeat me Ukyou. Not even that coward Ranma can defeat me now...
Ukyou: Ran-chan is not a coward! *Jumps at Ryoga.*
Ryoga: So, still not down for the count?
*Ukyou makes a punch to Ryoga’s solar plexus, but Ryoga just grabs the punch, pulls Ukyou up to the air, then slams her down the snow-covered ground. Using her free hand, Ukyou takes some powder from her belt, and throws it at Ryoga’s face. It was an unexpected attack, and Ryoga is blinded for a moment. Ukyou flips up, throws a strong elbow into Ryoga’s rib cavity, a low side kick to knock him off balance, chained up with a high kick to the head, and finishes her combo with a spinning backfist. Ryoga crashes back and bites the dust. Ukyou stands, her face cut and bleeding, and more of her clothes are ripped away.*
Ryoga: *stands up, more angry than hurt* Ukyou! Prepare to die! *Charges her*
Ukyou: *takes a look at Cyborg X attacking Akane relentlessly, then back at Ryoga* hmp!
*Ukyou parries the attacks, and backs up in Cyborg X and Akane’s direction.*
Akane: *takes a quick look at Ukyou and Ryoga coming her way, and back at Cyborg X* Come on, a baby can dodge your attacks. AHH! *Gets kicked in the ribs*
*The two pairs come closer to each other. And at the moment when Ukyou and Akane are back to back...*
Ryoga: *raises his finger, and looks at Ukyou* Bakusai Tenketsu!
*Ryoga jabs his finger on the ground in front of Ukyou. Ukyou and Akane both leaps up, and Cyborg X becomes Ryoga’s new target. He gets in the middle of the blast, and is blown back*
Ryoga: Nani!!!!
Cyborg X: *stands back up* you stupid bonehead! Plasma barrage! *His cannons whirls, as hundreds of energy bolts fires at Ryoga.*
Ryoga: WAHHHHHH *takes the hits directly, and falls back, slightly smoking* Who told you to get in my way, jackass!
*Akane and Ukyou lands somewhat far away, both breathing heavily.*
Akane: Good....*inhales* idea, *exhales* Ukyou..... I needed a break.
Ukyou: I... hope.... they’ll.... keep it up...
Gero: *looks at his men fighting each other* What are those idiots doing!
*Meanwhile, the seven other fighters are having their hands full with Kuno and Kodachi.*
Kuno: *striking at Shinnosuke with a metal boken* What a fool this mortal be! To think he can withstand the puissant of one such as the magnificent Tatewaki Kuno!
Shinnosuke: Oh shut up! *Raises his staff and blocks the sword, and forcefully tipping the other end, which slams up from under Kuno’s chin*
Kuno: *feels his chin* I barely felt the minuscule force of that blow. *Lowers his boken to his waist* Taste the punishing blows from my instrument of anguish! Cha hya ya ya ayayayayaya!
*Kuno does his patented lighting fast stikes at Shinnosuke, who cannot block the cyborg enhanced-speed. Fortunately, Mouse throws a dozen weapons at Kuno’s attack range, and Ryuu attacks Kuno from the back*
Ryuu: Kinshi Kinbakusho!
*Ryuu puts a gold cord around Kuno’s neck, pulls back hard. He then plants his feet on Kuno’s back, using it as a fulcrum, and pulls on the cord with his entire body, pulling Kuno’s head far back. Shinnosuke readies his staff, and swings it hard into Kuno’s ribs. A loud CRUNCH follows. Kuno snaps his head forward, and throws Ryuu over his head.*
Kuno: *feels the dent on his ribs* You have succeeded in angering me, now you shall face the full wrath of my fury! RARRRRR
*Kodachi hops around the area, whipping around her ribbon at everybody her way, and laughing her trademark maniacal laughter that Dr. Gero would be jealous of. Tarou has already suffered her blows, and is on the ground, with bruises and whip marks all over his body, and surrounded by clubs. Shampoo is over after the Kodachi herself.*
Shampoo: *striking with her bonbori* Shampoo hate gymnast bimbo!
Kodachi: *turns and looks at Shampoo* HO HO HO! Well if it isn’t little miss china. *Takes out many clubs* Senju Konbo!
*Shampoo spins her bonbori and knocks out the club out of Kodachi’s attack.*
Kodachi: you’re not bad, but not good either! *Jumps at Shampoo, and wraps her in ribbon*
Shampoo: *swirms* Ughhh....
Kodachi: Now to finish this! *Takes out a spiked club* Ha! *Strikes at Shampoo’s face.*
*Shampoo falls on her back intenionally, bends up her bounded legs, and kicks at Kodachi, sending her away, then breaks from her bonds.*
Shampoo: *jumps at Kodachi, ready to smash her with both bonboris* Kyahhhhhh!!!!
*Kodachi takes out a sack of paralyzing gas, and throws it at Shampoo’s face*
Shampoo: AIYAHHH! *Drops his bonbris, and falls the ground, not being able to move*
Kodachi: *leaps at Shampoo like a torperdo* HA HAHAH HO HOHO *arms herself with more spiky clubs*
*Just a split second before she reaches Shampoo, Kodachi is bombarded with seemingly a truck load of anvils, bowling balls, hammers, and other heavy steel objects, and sends her crashing into a boulder. Mousse stands heroically before Shampoo.*
Mousse: *reaches down and pulls up Shampoo* Shampoo..... Daijobu ka?
Shampoo: *the effect of the gas passes* H...hai..... Arigatoo, Mousse.
***Switches back to Akane and Ukyou***
*Ryoga and Cyborg X have been going at each other for the last few minutes, giving Akane and Ukyou precious time to take a breath.*
Cyborg X: *dodges the latest Shi Shi Houkou Dan from Ryoga, and looks at Ukyou and Akane, and gets back his senses* Ryoga! Stop! We’ve been tricked!
Akane: *looks alert* Looks like we’ll have to fight again...... *gulps in breath*
Ukyou: Kuso! Looks like they’re ticked off enough to use their full power...... *looking grave* there’s one chance....... *her eyes turns hollow, and her aura starting to radiate.*
Ryoga: *still attacking Cyborg X* Rarrrr!!! I’ve had enough from you! Bakusai Tenketsu!
Akane: *looks at Ukyou, seeming a bit alarmed* Ukyou.... what are you... doing....
Ukyou: *Her aura grows larger* I’m taking this opportunity to take them down both at once..... in one blow.... I’m not going to back away from this, we won’t get another chance....
Akane: *looks to her, with a bit of admiration* Ukyou.......
Cyborg X: *dodges the blasting point* Ryoga! Listen! *Oblivious to Ukyou*
Ukyou: Akane.... go back farther away...... *the tone of her voice indicates she won’t stand for disobedience*
Akane: H...hai...... *levitates and backs away*
Ryoga: Usseeee! *Continous his attack*
Ukyou: HYAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! *Her aura explodes to astonishing proportions*
*That got the attention of both Ryoga and Cyborg X, as they look at her with awe.*
*Ukyou rises into the air, with a trail of light in her wake. Clouds starts to come together above her.*
Ukyou: *looks down at Ryoga and Cyborg X below her* Denjinzoku Histu Satsu Gijutsu...... *Thunder sounds around her, followed by flashes of lightning, illuminating her face. She raises her right arm above her, and plunges downward. Lightning crackles around Ukyou’s right arm as she descends upon Cyborg X and Ryoga.*
Ryoga: Kuso! *realizes the power potential of the Ukyou’s attack, jumps on Cyborg X’s head, and uses it as a spring board and leaps away from being directly hit*
Cyborg X: arggg! *Falls down as Ryoga bounces away*
*from far away, Dr. Gero raises a brow looking at Ukyou*
Ukyou: *her body now surrounded with electricity, and a huge bolt of lighting seems to trace Ukyou’s arm on her way down* MAGNUM THUNDER FLARE!!!!!!! *Strikes out with the arm as she reaches the ground.*
**FFFSSSSSSOOOOOMMMMMMMMM** *The ground explodes in a gigantic geyser of energy, with Cyborg X trapped in the most destructive region.*
Cyborg X: ARGGGGGGGGGGG *he feels his armor breaking, his chest plate cracking*
*Cyborg X is blown to another mountain, and crashes deep into it. Ryoga barely escaped unharmed. All the other fighters stare at Ukyou’s attack in amazement*
*The energy settles down around Ukyou, she stands up in the middle of the crater she made, and falls back down to the ground, all her energy spent.*
Akane: Ukyou! *Flies over to her, and lifts her away* Ukyou! Are you alright?
*Shinnosuke and the others quickly stop their fight with Kuno and Kodachi, and rushes toward Ukyou and Akane*
Ukyou: *being supported by Akane, she slowly lifts her eye lids* Did I.... get them?
Akane: ...... Yeah.... Cyborg X.... at least.
Shinnosuke: Akane!
*Everybody regroups in the same spot, all looking worn out.*
Gero: *his eyes widen* Damn, she totaled Cyborg X..... I won’t let something like that happen again.... *calls out* Ryouga! Kuno! Kodachi! Surround them! They are a greater risk than I thought!
Ryoga: *comes near the team, grinning* With pleasure.....
*Akane’s team form a tight circle around Akane and Ukyou, as Ryoga, Kuno, and Kodachi advances toward them, each with a grim look on his or her face.*
Ryoga: *charges up his aura* hehehe, I’m going to enjoy this.
Kuno: Prepare to meet thy maker, young fools.
Kodachi: adieu, mes ennemis. Hohohohohoho
Gero: *looks outward* Any last words?
Akane: *looks down in dispair, and speaks to her team* We’ve lost..... we didn’t stop Gero from launching his robots...... and now, we can’t stand up to his cyborgs...... there’s only thing left to do.
Shinnosuke: *looks to Akane, worried* Akane.... what are you suggesting?
Akane: *solemnly looks at Shinnosuke* if I give myself up, maybe he’ll let the rest of you go, and Trunks can develop a plan later on....
Toma: Akane! No! I would rather fight to the end.
Akane: Toma, you teleport as many us as you can out of here, take Ukyou with you. I’ll stay here. Find a safe hiding place somewhere on Earth, and see if you can organize other fighters in the world..... and maybe one day, you can do a counterattack.
Toma: Akane, I can’t abandon you!
Akane: I must stay with Gero to insure your safety...
Shinnosuke: Akane, No!
Akane: My mind’s made up. *Raises her head* GERO!
Gero: *perks up his ears* Yes? Akane Tendo? *Grins*
Akane: I......
*Just before Akane could state her proposal, a booming “TEISHI!!!” (stop!) is heard from far away, behind them. It echoes across the mountains. All action stops. Ryoga, Kuno, and Kodachi turns their heads to investigate the sound. Akane and her team are surprised as well, as they raises their head and looks around. On the top of a plateau, is a figure in red and blue, standing boldly on the edge. The half-risen sun is directly behind him, and the high contrast of light glorifies his stance even more. Akane looks at the figure with huge, astonished eyes, as the view moves out from Akane’s team, and closer to the figure. The view angles in on the figure from the top, lowers down to the side, and spins 360 degrees around him to get every aspect of this figure on top of the plateau It finally zooms in to his face. He is looking at the circle of fighters, along with their enemies, and Dr. Gero, all with fire in his eyes. *
Akane: R......... RANMA!!!!
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-end part 16
Whew! That was a monster of a part! Undoubtedly this was the toughest part to write to date. Tell me what you think of it ^_^ I hope I won’t have as much trouble writing the final part (and also an epilogue)
Tony Chen
(Ranma Nibunnoichi)