Daniel Gibson
21st June 2006, 05:22 PM
53 - Dimm'd Fereigners Part 2 of 2
X-Original-Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 13:20:26 GMT
Followup-To: rec.arts.anime.fandom
Chapter 53 - Dimm'd Fereigners
[Ranma][NGE][HPL][AMG][Fusion][Fanfic] Sic Semper Morituri Chapter 53 -
Dimm'd Fereigners
The character Janice Berkley was created by Rory McLean, and is used with
his full permission.
Disclaimer:
I do not own any of the characters from Ranma 1 / 2, Neon Genesis
Evangelion, Ah My Goddess, or the Lovecraft Cycle involved in these stories.
C&C, MSTs are welcome
E-mail: dan_s.comments@worldnet.att.net
Stories are available in Rich Text Format and HTML at:
http://home.att.net/~danjess.gibson<http://home.att.net/%7Edanjess.gibson>
(these are the most updated versions)
Stories are available in Plain ASCII at:
http://archives.eyrie.org/anime/Ranma/Sic-Semper-Morituri/
ftp://ftp.cs.ubc.ca/pub/archive/anime-fan-works/Ranma/Sic-Semper-Morituri/
http://www.cs.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/ftp/archive/anime-fan-works/Ranma/type/Sic-Semper-Morituri
(these are the original versions)
Il ne faut etre plus royaliste que le roi [One must not be more royalist
than the king.]
French saying from the time of Louis XVI
Dimm'd Fereigners
A Hero To His Valet
Ranma and Sammi returned to their apartment.
"After we get the homework done, what about going to Misato's place and
giving it a thorough cleaning," Sammi suggested. Ranma didn't disagree, but
showed no real enthusiasm either. Sammi forced herself not to grind her
teeth. "Okay. Let's get started on getting this place ready for Shinji and
Rei."
They cleaned and organized, hanging up Shinji and Rei's clothing in
their closets.
No complaints from Ranma about this being `women's work,` or that
Shinji and Rei aren't here to help, Sammi worried, He's doing it
desultorily, but he doesn't seem to care.
"Ranma, would you mind cooking dinner? I've got a ton of paperwork to
do." That didn't get an explosion either, Sammi brooded, Either he's
growing up, or something is _seriously_ wrong.
"I thought she'd hate staying in the hospital," Ranma said as he
entered the kitchen, giving slight head shakes so his red braid lashed like
an angry cat's tail.
"Maybe she's hiding." Sammi collected the reports on the kitchen
table. Like you are, she realized, You can't fight this and you don't know
what _else_ to do.
"Don't forget about Rei - " Sammi began as Ranma set out the food to
start cooking.
"I've got something meatless planned for her," Ranma told her, muttered
something about 'koshaa' and continued cooking with every sign of enjoying
himself.
That's a good sign, Sammi thought, He's realized this is a way he _can_
fight, make the others comfortable.
She looked at the first item on the stack of paperwork. Misato wanted
Rei and I to take Asuka's room while Ranma and Shinji would have to squeeze
in together in Shinji's room, Sammi looked at the paperwork, she crumbled up
the paper and put it in the burn container, Too bad I never saw it, but five
or six people sharing one shower and one toilet would be a logistical
nightmare. This place has four complete baths and six toilets.
Sammi returned to her paperwork, and enjoyed the smell of Ranma's
cooking. It won't be fancy, but it will be good and plentiful, she thought
happily, Like home..
---------------------------------------------------------
Asuka sat on her bed. I should be doing something, she thought as she
sat in the middle of her bed, But I don't want to. She wanted to get up and
_do_ something. But nothing seems important enough, she silently lamented,
Even, my anger at Stoneface wasn't enough. I'm just tired.
She heard the door open, but couldn't make herself look over at the
`intruder`.
"I am concerned. I require your assistance," came Wondergirl's voice.
"You're worried about me, Wondergirl, I'm touched - " Asuka turned,
just to see _what_ Wondergirl could possibly - "_|Your_hair_!_|" she
shrieked.
Wondergirl's usual blue flyaway hair was knotted and plastered to her
scalp like strands of greenish-brown mud. Asuka sat bolt upright.
"I - miscalculated," Wondergirl admitted, "The instructions called
for - "
"You used too much!" Asuka cut her off as she slid off the bed and
stalked towards her fellow pilot, "But too much of _what_?_!_"
"Ammonia, I believe," Wondergirl said, "I realized I have become the
most beautiful pilot, since the Heavens must surely protest, I decided to
cement my position."
Asuka frowned at Wondergirl's lame joke. "Cement is certainly what it
looks like," Asuka told her, as she approached Wondergirl, taking a strand
in her hands, "And leave the awful jokes to Raccoon." Wondergirl began to
shy away, then steeled herself.
"If I don't know what you did," Asuka grabbed Wondergirl's shoulders
and angrily told her, "I can't help you."
"Reasonable," Wondergirl told her, stood still while Asuka felt the
hair, "Please don't hate me because I am beautiful."
Asuka felt a smile touch her lips. "I've got plenty of other reasons,
Wondergirl, don't worry your . . . yuck-covered head about that. Only you
could figure out how to make your hair dry _and_ greasy all at once."
"I would prefer not to attend school in this condition," Wondergirl
said.
Asuka stepped back and smiled, "So, you do have some pride after all."
"I have always sought excellence in piloting," Wondergirl replied.
"You _aren't_ the best pilot," Asuka told her.
"I have sought only to be better than I was," Wondergirl told her,
"Mein Grossfeldmarschall, as have you."
Right, Asuka thought. "Come on, we'll need to head over to Search and
Rescue," Asuka said as she dragged Wondergirl out of the medical wing, "If
Dr. Akagi were here, I'd go see her, but we can't."
Asuka missed the faint smile on Wondergirl's face.
Suddenly Asuka jerked to a stop, as if Wondergirl had suddenly turned
to stone. "What -? Why'd you stop?"
"Search and Rescue is that way." Wondergirl pointed.
"Okay, fine!" Asuka told her, "_You_ lead, you know so much!" Asuka
followed Wondergirl, grumbling the entire way.
---------------------------------------------------------
Rei let another smile ghost across her face. It is working, she
thought, The plan functions as it should. She hid a smile as another string
of complaints proceeded from `Mein Grossfeldmarschall`. She is returning to
normal, Rei thought, Not burning rage, but seething discontent, that is the
proper setting.
Finally, they arrived at Search and Rescue.
"Where is Janice?" Mein Grossfeldmarschall loudly demanded, fully in
charge.
Officer Akira Kuroda pointed, and Mein Grossfeldmarschall dragged her
in that direction, sputtering curses and imprecations as she pulled Rei
along. Rei considered how to keep Asuka in this state or near it, until she
fully recovered.
"You wanted to help," Mein Grossfeldmarschall announced as she entered
the equipment bay. Everyone stopped and stared at the pilots, in fear and
amazement. "Can you fix _that_?_" She pointed at Rei's hair.
The addressed woman paled and stared, along with her colleagues.
Something is familiar about her, Rei thought as she scrutinized the
woman, but dismissed the thought as her fellow pilot stood, looking angry
and tapping her foot impatiently. `Mein Grossfeldmarschall` glared while
the cowed woman carefully approached Rei.
The Search and Rescue officer examined her hair and frowned. "This is
going to take some work," the woman said, as if she feared a detonation for
delivering bad news.
"We have time," Mein Grossfeldmarschall complained, "Unless you have
some overwhelming need to be elsewhere, Wondergirl."
"No," she replied without showing her elation.
---------------------------------------------------------
Nabiki rolled in a complete daze, barely acknowledging the pause to
lift her through the hatchways. "Someone _could_ have told me," she
complained as Maya pushed her wheelchair.
Maya and Ritsuko smiled at each other. "But we didn't want to spoil
things," Ritsuko teased.
"Ha, ha, ha," Nabiki said tiredly, letting her head droop, "Where's
Raccoon?"
"The Admiral's aide is escorting him. Also he's arranging for the
shipment of what his parents meant to pass to me," Ritsuko told her.
"I think he had as much fun as you did," Maya teased as Ritsuko carried
Nabiki in her wheelchair, through a hatchway by herself.
"You sure he isn't just retreating from the Japanese?" Nabiki asked
sadly.
"I think you're overreacting," Ritsuko said firmly.
"I . . . I don't know. We didn't see what happened," Nabiki turned to
Ritsuko and said, "Maybe I _am_ overreacting, but who can help Asuka?
Misato, the most immature of the children of NERV, and if you don't think
she hates Asuka, you can't see. Rei, she might _try_, but does she know
how? Ranma, sweet but fumbling. Shinji, he has woken up you said. Gendo,
no chance. That leaves Admiral Simson, Captain Ramsey, General Tomlinson,
or Colonel Stedman, somehow I doubt it." She turned away.
"What about Sammi and Juri?" Maya asked to distract Nabiki.
"They'll be more interested in preventing it from happening again,"
Nabiki replied coldly.
"How does that apply to our wayward pilot?" Ritsuko asked.
"Because he wants to go protect - his sister - in all but blood,"
Nabiki said, "The Japanese hurt his family, he might not be able to lash out
at a target, so he tries to avoid the pain."
"I believe you _are_ exaggerating," Ritsuko said, "But I _will_ check
up on him."
"Thank you," Nabiki said sleepily as they arrived at her cabin. The
light in Jeff's was off. He's either already asleep, Nabiki considered, Or
he hasn't arrived. So many pretty starlets, so little time . . . " . . .
yeah right."
---------------------------------------------------------
With dinner ready to be served, once the others arrived, Ranma helped
Sammi clear out the fourth bedroom, so Shinji could use it. What else _can_
I do? Ranma wondered, Mope? That's not me. And I don't know who to fight.
Halfway through, Shinji arrived. Ranma thought Shinji was smiling about
something, And hiding it badly, Ranma considered and went back to work.
"At least I don't have all the stuff Asuka does," Shinji muttered as he
began sweeping up.
Ranma doubted Shinji thought he could be heard. Then Rei arrived
alone, not bringing Asuka with her.
"Your hair!" Ranma shouted in shock, he practically felt his pigtail
bristling in shock. Rei's hair was red, RED, very red, redder than copper,
redder than blood. "I thought you didn't like red, I thought you _hated_
red!" He looked at Shinji who was only mildly surprised. Okay, Ranma
thought, _That's_ what you knew. Ha! Ha! You got me.
"Red was the only color that adequately covered the previous color,"
Rei said calmly, she took a few strands, stared at them, she cocked her
head, "Perhaps we should contact Nabiki-kun, all female EVA pilots would
have short, red hair. Uniformity was a concern."
Ranma wasn't sure if Rei was joking or not. "What about the boys?" he
asked lamely.
"Black would be the standard," Rei said as she pushed past to help
straighten up.
Ranma turned to Shinji. "You knew about this?" he accused weakly,
trying to figure things out.
Shinji shrugged. "What if I did?" He grinned at Ranma.
"You could have told me," Ranma complained, as he went back to work.
"I didn't want to, 'a martial artist must be ready for anything'. Or
does that only apply to getting beaten up?" Shinji asked as he returned to
work, ignoring Ranma's unintended `Angry-Asuka` impersonation.
Hiro arrived with Penpen. "Hello, do you have need of another pair of
hands? I guess I can help too," he said as he set Penpen down. The penguin
scurried over to Shinji, pleased to see the boy again.
"Yes," Rei said as she walked out into the main room.
Hiro pointed at her, tried three times to ask, then gave up. Penpen
just fell over in shock.
I think she's doing that on purpose, Ranma realized as he glanced at
the others enjoying the effect on a pair of new `victims`.
"I misused hair dye. This was the only color strong enough to disguise
the previous color," Rei admitted, "Asuka was most helpful."
Ah ha! Ranma realized.
"Let's wire Miss Tendo - " Hiro began gleefully.
"We have already considered that," Rei said, "As well as Roku-kun."
"Hello," Misato's voice could be heard, she came through the door and
set down a pile of her and Shinji's clothes. Her jaw dropped. "_REI_!_
What happened to your hair?"
"Is there something amiss with my hair?" Rei asked as she looked from
one pilot to the other.
------------------------------
It was quite late before everyone had completed their ablutions, Sammi
stared at Misato snoring on the couch. Shinji covered her with a sheet and
some blankets, Sammi considered, Funny, he seems a lot more tolerant and
solicitous. I wonder what brought that about. I also wonder why Hiro
watched that little scene so carefully.
Rei wandered out of her room, up the stairs and to the table where
Sammi finished up the reports on the last few days. Rei continued staring
at her. "Yen for your thoughts," Sammi offered.
"I do not need a yen."
"I'd like to know what you are thinking. You're wondering something.
I'd like to hear about it," Sammi said, gesturing at all the paperwork, "I'd
like to hear something other than my own thoughts."
Rei considered. "This follows no pattern," she said tiredly, "They
cannot believe what they claimed they want."
Now Sammi considered if Rei was right, it could all be a diversion.
For what? Sammi wondered. "If they achieved what they want, what did they
want?" Silence greeted her, Rei had laid her head on the table. Sammi
thought the bright red hair was a good change for Rei. And her reason and
willingness to perform the change, is an even better sign, Sammi thought.
"Sleep on it, maybe we'll get an answer in the morning," Sammi told her, Rei
closed her eyes and was immediately asleep. I meant go back to your room
first, Sammi thought, Or did you think I needed the break and the physical
activity. She gathered the small girl in her arms and carried her
downstairs. Or am I over analyzing all of this? she wondered, While I envy
the talent to sleep anywhere, I wouldn't want to have to follow orders as
Rei does.
----------------------------------------
Ranma stared at it in his bathroom mirror, he heard no other noises in
the apartment. He knew he was alone, completely and totally. He had his
pigtail in his hand, as did his reflection. A short braid of red hair. Why
is it such a big deal? he asked himself, It's not just a `girly` thing.
Ranma wouldn't want to cut it off either. He considered how Asuka-like
Rei's hair had looked. All in aid of Asuka and making her feel . . . less
outside, Ranma mentally `translated` Rei's dinner table comments, So why is
it such a big deal? Ranma sighed.
Ranma glanced down at the scissors sitting on the counter. Just a snip
and it's over. Why am I treating this as a major sacrifice? It's not like
it used to be, with my hair growing uncontrollably. It isn't - or shouldn't
matter. I don't care what my girl side looks like. I don't care if I'm
`pretty`, but . . . Ranma had no answer for his hesitancy.
She didn't ask for this. She'd call it stupid, Ranma rationalized, Rei
didn't ask, although she said she called Hikari, Natsumi and the others with
her plan. So a lot of them are doing something. But all she called it was
'a plan'. To me, no details.
He stared at the mirror, glanced down at the scissors then back. Why
am I hesitating? Would I hesitate for Nab-chan, or Raccoon? Hell yes!
They wouldn't _need_ me to do this, it wouldn't have any effect if I did, he
thought, There were _other_ ways I could make Nab-chan or Raccoon feel
better. Ranma squirmed at those thoughts, and the memories of the dream,
Where I, as a he and a she, cuddled night after night with Nab-chan to drive
away her nightmares, or talked to Raccoon about my hopes and dreams for the
future.
Silly, stupid to get worked up over hair . . . but that's what Asuka is
doing, now I'm doing the same. Is it because this stupid piece of hair is
so much a part of _me_?_ That without it, am I less of who I was? It
doesn't make sense. I don't care if I'm pretty . . . or do I? Isn't _that_
weird. I don't _want_ to be a girl, but if I am one, do I want to be an
attractive one? I'd clobber any guy who'd try to put the moves on me!
Ranma sighed. I should quit thinking about it and just _do_ it! Ranma
thought, as he grabbed the scissors raised them, and stopped.
Don't think, just do, Ranko considered her reflection, But that's
gotten me into a lot of trouble around here. She stared at her hair as she
undid the braid, letting her hair flow out and down her back, she stared at
the image in the mirror. I am very pretty, with such beautiful hair. I
remember tickling Nab-chan with it, and her tickling me with it, I remember
Raccoon brushing it or just running his fingers through it. I remember how
good _they_ felt, and how good I felt. Her hair reached below her
shoulders. It was so fine she could collect the entire volume in such a
small package. She ran her fingers through her hair. Instead of feeling
good, as it had, instead of calming and soothing her, it made her feel
terribly guilty.
It would simplify things if I could just give this to Asuka, give her
back what she had, what she lost, she thought sadly, Except I don't know
how. Am I selfish, not wanting to give up . . . something I need to feel
safe, just to help Asuka? She stared at the mirror and thought, cursing
herself for her indecision.
---------------------------------------------------------
Misato woke, she had a dream of people wandering the apartment, with
knives. Dozens of Reis of all ages had appeared out of nowhere, and beaten
the invaders with fish. She'd woken before she could see what the invaders
planned or which side prevailed. She sat up off the couch, went to Asuka's
room, and saw it was empty. Relax, she's at the med center , she reminded
herself.
Rei had curled up into a ball, sound asleep in her room. And what are
you dreaming? Misato wondered, I hope they aren't nightmares. She slid the
door closed and opened the door to Shinji's room.
Ranma's door opened suddenly, the redhead stood staring at the
`intruder`. I could swear I saw her eyes glow, Misato thought. Shinji sat
up in bed, also staring at her. It's like being in the middle of a tiger
pit, she thought as she froze. Ranma recognized her and relaxed, and went
back into her room, but left the door open. Shinji nodded, smiled and put
his chin on his knees. She considered calling him out to talk, but
abandoned the idea. He needs his sleep, and so do I, she thought. She
returned to the couch, a new nagging feeling lodging in her mind.
----------------------------------------
Nabiki looked at the table next to her bed, at the pieces of plaster
covered with names. "John Wayne, Randolph Scott, Omar Bradley, Fred
Astaire. God, I don't even _remember_ meeting these people." She bowed her
head in dejection. "I just saw people and tried to be pleasant. The man
who `danced` with me must have been Astaire . . . or Gene Kelly. Oh God,
how could I forget _that_!_ How could I not know! The one who talked about
doing my job, was that Wayne, or Gable, . . . or Colonel Stewart, or did all
three of them talk about it?" She covered her face and laughed. "I met all
those famous people, and I can barely remember the details. I can't discern
which person said what, and when. I was just so overwhelmed." She turned
over and buried her face in her pillow.
She flopped back over in her bunk, to stare at the ceiling. "At least
I didn't turn into a complete idiot . . . like I did last time," she said.
She laughed at herself again. She picked up the cast piece that the Navy
men had carefully varnished, so none of the signatures would wear off. She
remembered the man kneeling before her, so he could look her straight in the
eyes. 'Well, the difference is that you got a `million dollar wound` and
then went back into the fight. That's a real measure of heroism.`' "I
couldn't get my brain sufficiently engaged to argue," she lamented, then
added in amazement, "Veterans, movie stars, came to see _us_!_" She shook
her head and laughed. "Sure, some were already down here for the Del Mar
races, but the rest came on a train headed down here, while Raccoon and I
were loading the EVA aboard," she told the room, "I guess I need to get over
myself. Accept that `Brown Bess` is who I have to be, and the `Ice Queen`
is gone forever. Now I just have to live up to the standard I set for
myself and others' . . . expectations. The ones I have to live up to, not
live down to, what a joke."
She stared at the pieces of pasteboard that she and Raccoon had been
working on.
---------------------------------------------------------
Treachery Is All Their Trust
August 9, 1947
The campfires of the army dotted the slope of the entry to the pass,
like fireflies over calm water. Like those fireflies, they seemed oblivious
to the spiders who, waited the slaughter.
The Scholarly Dragon had watched the Spiders of Leng and their slave
legions troop past, some as close as 100 yards from his position. They will
attack at night, he thought, Because that is when their vision is most
superior to humans. But they are seeing with their hubris, not their eyes.
He looked at the campfires, tents, and the pass beyond.
His attention returned to the Meliorist, who had returned to them. Not
healed, he lamented, But well enough. An easy victory is what she needs.
The Spiders and the men of Leng continued to close on the picket line.
The skies boasted a few of the Moonbeast's air galleons. The Scholarly
Dragon had several dozen dragons tasked to deal with them, once the trap was
sprung.
"They never considered it doesn't take an army to light that many
fires," Anna commented as she crept up beside him, "I want to tell you, the
artillery and cavalry are in position."
The Scholarly Dragon looked at the pass their army had advanced
through. "Build a golden road for your enemy to retreat through," he
rumbled quietly.
"That's where you put the fougasses," Anna added as she slipped back to
her unit.
The enemy gave the signal, their own massed attack on the tents,
campfires and the mannequins simulating guards. A few moments of elation
gripped the spiders, then growing confusion.
"Charge!" the Scholarly Dragon's voice thundered over the plains.
Dozens of dragons leapt into the sky, and the artillery rained fire
down on the camp. Canvas, straw and spiders went up in flames as the
naphtha/phosphorus mixture lit up the night sky with hundreds of lesser
fires, some of which ran screaming through the ruins of their plans.
The Scholarly Dragon watched some spiders try to rally their slaves,
while the majority ran for the pass.
"Forward!" the Meliorist ordered her cavalry, the thundering hooves
drown the screams of the victims. The Scholarly Dragon leapt into the sky,
as close air support.
More headed towards the pass, and into it, he thought as he conjured a
bright red flare of light that hung in the sky, Release the avalanches to
the local commanders. Soon very soon. He banked and looked for any Spiders
or men of Leng who looked willing to resist. A blast of his breath weapon
destroyed either them, or their resolve.
---------------------------------------------------------
Someone was shaking him awake. He saw Nabiki's face, and her horrified
expression.
"Why did they do it?" she demanded, "They had to know! They had to
know and they gave it all up!"
"Because someone was paying them, because it was a good idea, because
they hoped it would get them sexual advantage," he offered groggily, "What
are you talking about?"
"You know!" she said desperately, looked around the cabin's bulkheads,
floor and ceiling, as if they were closing in on her, "You have the memory,
it has to be the same as mine!"
Jeff sighed, tried to put the slaughter of the forces of Leng out of
his mind, and focus as best he could on the girl pacing. Her frantic
gestures worried him.
"Memories, you mean the memories of the Brothers?"
"And Chaugnar Faugn," she replied brittlely, unconsciously slipping
into the Chaugnaroid's tongue, "I went looking. I went to see. They had a
civilization, something more than sitting in a cave and waiting for
sacrifices." She stopped pacing and stared at him, while not hostile, it
was disconcerting. "You went looking, Ranma said, went looking inside the
memories to find things out."
"Yes, but that's just facts, data, like reading a book, not living
their lives. Ranma admitted he had a few dreams, but they were disconnected
things and they faded within days."
"No." She covered her mouth. "It's just me, it's happening." She
looked around frantically. "I am going mad," Nabiki began pacing as if she
was driving the walls back by charging at them.
Jeff knew what he was about to do was unfair, even cruel. But she's
like an engine without a governor, he thought, If I let her go, she'll
destroy herself. "Stop," his voice had the odd harmonics from Chaugnar
Faugn and the dragons, forcing her compliance.
Nabiki stopped and sat on the edge of the bed. She began throwing off
the compulsion almost immediately.
Have to act quickly, he thought. "You're saying that you delved into
their memories," he said, "The memories of several or all of the Brothers
you absorbed."
"Yes," she said sharply as she realized what he'd done to her.
"The dates, places, motivations behind actions, that kind of thing."
"_YES_," Nabiki said belligerently. She stood, towering over him in a
rage.
"I can't," Jeff said flatly.
Nabiki froze. "You - can't -?" She collapsed, catching herself on the
edge of his bunk.
"The Great Old One I absorbed, fell apart soon after I absorbed it,"
Jeff explained, "I can determine facts but the emotional impact behind
them - I haven't the foggiest." He shrugged. "I know how angry Chaugnar
Faugn was about the rebellion, but _I'm_ not the least bit angry about it."
Nabiki had gone white as a sheet as she stared at him. "But I do," she
said in a tiny voice. "This can't be happening!" she whispered desperately.
"Look," he told her firmly as he took her shoulders, "None of the rest
of us absorbed what you did, the compilation of the servant race. You also
said that _you_ went looking for _them_, not that _they_ invaded _your_
mind." He held her shoulders as her breathing slowed back to normal.
"Yes," she said as she gathered herself in, her knees under her chin
and arms wrapped around her legs, "I went looking, and there were so many.
So many . . . people, odd, alien, but considering where I grew up, this
place is almost as alien." She looked at him, her eyes red with unshed
tears.
"You aren't going mad," he told her, "You aren't wrong by being able to
do this." He was worried that only his grasp on her shoulders kept her from
toppling. Physically or psychologically, he thought, And later she'll
torture herself about `cheating` on Ranma. When is she going to realize the
first thing _he_ wants is people around him, and if they interact, that's
fine as long as they don't leave _him_!_
Nabiki sighed, laid her head on her knees. "I _HATE_ this!" She
unfolded and sat on the edge of his bunk.
"It's the reality of being a pilot," Jeff told her, "Imagine it from
the other end. I had to learn how to act human, admittedly it was from a
young age, but half the time I get frustrated when someone doesn't `follow
the script`. You have _no_ idea how irritating some yutz is who says 'I
don't have to play by the rules, I am a wolf among sheep.' But it is so fun
watching their faces, when they realize that I am taking them at their word.
If they don't have to follow the rules, then _I_ don't have to play by the
rules." He smiled evilly.
That got a chuckle out of Nabiki.
"Now, you stormed in here asking 'Why did they do it?, 'They had to
know!', 'They had to know and they gave it all up!' What did they do, what
did they give up?"
"The Chaugnaroids," Nabiki began, seeming to collapse in on herself
again, keeping hysteria at bay by pure will, "They had a culture . . .
music, art, literature, architecture. I may not know all the science, but I
know beauty when I see it. It was alien, weird, but it was . . . it _was_
beautiful. They asked a lot of the questions we did - do." She put her
hands on his shoulders, and pulled him against her. "Then they gave it all
up. I know they did it, all of them did it, all at once, but _why_!_?_" she
demanded, "Money and power are a means to an end, not an end to themselves,
even if it is only to have more than anyone else, so they can't use it
against you. But you don't throw _everything_ else away!"
"To gain the secrets of the universe, the true and deeper meanings," he
told her, "They thought it would be worth it."
"It _isn't_ worth it!" Nabiki insisted, "Couldn't they _see_ that?!
Couldn't they stop?!"
"You know that, because you can make the comparison," Jeff told her
fondly, "They couldn't. The people I mentioned, SEELE, they're in the same
boat. They don't see us advancing fast enough, so they'll throw it all away
to push us to the next step in human evolution."
"That's insane," Nabiki said firmly, realization dawned, "That's why
they're insane. They gave up everything . . . and for what? Understanding?
There are things we shouldn't know."
"That's why they have to be stopped," Jeff replied, "That's also why I
don't consider the Great Old Ones and Outer Gods our _enemies_. They may be
our opponents, but they aren't our enemies." He chuckled. "Our silly
illusions, our hopes and dreams put us so far ahead of them. Yig, the
Father of Serpents, he loves us, as much as a Great Old One can. Because
after millions of years, geological epochs of trying to create the 'perfect
serpent', a bunch of hairless apes do it in 50,000 years without trying.
And not in one place, not of one type, but _thousands_. Cthulhu was the
God-King of his people _before_ his `ascension`, apotheosis, whatever. Then
he brought them along for the ride, so he still retains some of the creative
spark. It's why such a second-rater in terms of raw power is so feared, he
can still make things: civilizations, alliances, all the things the
Chaugnaroids surrendered."
"Would they have attacked Asuka?" Nabiki asked, "Because she's in the
way of their power?"
"I wouldn't discount it," Jeff said, "They _are_ responsible for our
friends down below. If not them directly, their supporters in the U.S.
Government or Military."
"Bastards," Nabiki spat, she pushed herself away from Jeff and stared
at him, "Why haven't you killed them all?"
"Patience," he chided, "A pack of nitwits can't do what they've been
doing without powerful backing."
Nabiki stood and backed away. "Nyarlathotep is helping them," horror
straining her voice, her eyes widened, she covered her mouth as if to
prevent the next words from escaping, "He helped the Chaugnaroids! His help
destroyed them. He did it on purpose!"
Jeff stood, walked over until he was facing Nabiki. Nabiki backed away
from him, more afraid of him than her revelations/realizations. "That is
why _we_ are going to destroy _him_!_" he said firmly.
----------------------------------------
The chants were sung in unison, the runes were laid out in tandem. In
this, the ritual and the invoker had much in common. The two faces no
longer looked half-melted. The creature looked as much like a statue of
Janus as was possible. Its beauty while only a temporary seeming, was
statuesque, finally.
The necklace of runes was complete, and would never be taken from it.
But it was on the mainland not because of this, but in spite of this.
The human cultists cared nothing for `the Twins`, save for their
mistaken belief that it was an avatar of their paired gods. They gloried in
the contact with their matched gods. The Twins simply offered a plan, and
an agreement.
Only one of the pilots could successfully oppose them. The Twins would
dispose of this one, leaving the world open for their sire and dame. The
summoned projection/avatar of the duplicate deities accepted the offer: the
target's greatest weakness was revealed, the great dragon would be chained
so the Twins could take its body for its own.
The deal concluded, the Twins left, not telling the cultists, nor their
gods, of the other deal it had struck. The world would be cleared of all
who lived, made clean for another pair to step forward and rule.
----------------------------------------
Raccoon lay on the bed. "What's true is lies and what were lies are
now truth," he murmured, "Stupid, Grade A, unadulterated stupidity. Beats
anything Ranma could manage."
"What's that?" Nabiki asked as she lay on the room's other bunk.
"The exercise, infiltrating people's dreams," he replied despondently.
"Yes," Nabiki said as she sat up, "You finally taught me something I
can actually use. With practice, I'll get better."
She noted the mirthless chuckle. "What's so funny?" she asked.
"You don't understand. That exercise, it's a time waster, it's to
start teaching the apprentice to get comfortable with the idea of
manipulating energies outside their bodies without _any_ instrumentalities,
no machines or devices to help them."
"So?" Nabiki asked, something about his tone bothered her.
"_Nothing_ can do what you did: Infiltrating a dream while remaining
awake. Nyarlathotep has to separate off avatars/subsections, to be in the
Waking world and in dreams. Cthulhu, the master of dreams, sleeps to send
his dreams, when awake, he only has his mind, telepathy if you will. But
_none_ of them can do what you do. To waking, enter a dream. It could be
that's why Cthulhu made the deal he did, he wanted to preserve a new
technique. Later he might offer something, so you will teach it to him."
He clapped softly. "Congratulations, your power exceeds the might of the
gods, in your area of expertise."
"So, I lied to you on a standard exercise, and you beat it."
"Oh," she said to banish the image of her playing her old 'Ice Queen'
games, doling out favors, rumors and dirt to the Great Old Ones and Outer
Gods. Not this time, they may be as crazy as Kuno and the others, but I
doubt they are as gullible, she thought.
"Then when you did make it work, I didn't want to say anything because
I wanted you to develop your skill, without anyone telling you 'that's
impossible'. I apologize for that. Ask Ritsuko what the truth is, the
truth about me, the great wall you tried to get through. It hides the
truth - " He paused a while, Nabiki waited for him to continue, doing
nothing to fill the silence. "All I `know` about my past is wrong. I
finally went and looked . . . after Sharon died. I had some help."
"I'll go." Nabiki stood up, and hobbled to Ritsuko's cabin. The
doctor was in. "He's talking about truths you know about him. On . . .
ly," her voice trailed off as Ritsuko paled, "Is there something to those
meanderings?"
"Yes," Ritsuko admitted.
"What?" Nabiki asked as she stepped inside and closed the door. She
didn't demand any more due to the fearful expression on Ritsuko's face.
"Okay," Nabiki relented, "But since you _do_ know, you ought to talk to
him about it."
"I - " Ritsuko squirmed. "I wouldn't know how to act."
"Try human. If he's a hurt little boy, mommy; if he's a wounded man,
wife or doctor." Nabiki sighed, put her irritation aside. You two are
worse than Ranma! And me, she thought.
------------------------------
Misato woke again, an hour before dawn. Now there were definite noises
upstairs, she pushed off the covers quietly, she had her pistol at the ready
as she crept up the stairs. She peeked over the edge of the stairs. Rei
was in the kitchen cooking, Ranma was practicing katas. They both moved as
quietly as they could, but made some noise, it was faint sound, silence,
faint sound, that had woken her. She wondered, How does Sammi put up with
it? And neither is saying a thing to the other, they seem to be steadfastly
ignoring one another. What's up with that?
She considered stepping out of the stairway to talk with them, then
recognized what she was wearing, or not wearing. No wonder Ranma and Shinji
stared at me, she realized, After I went prowling through the house like
this last night.
She decided to leave them alone for a while. Instead, slipped
downstairs and dressed. I'll need the added `authority` of the uniform to
talk with them. After how I walked around last night . . . she thought,
Where Shinji might be too intimidated, these two need a little intimidation.
"' 'hayo," Ranma whispered as he paused in his katas to let Misato
pass.
"Ohayo gozaimasu, Major." Rei continued her quiet cooking.
"You two are up early," Misato said.
"Actually, Major," Rei admitted, "We slept in."
"Do you usually sleep curled up in a ball?" Misato teased, smiling at
Rei.
"I do not know," Rei replied quietly, barely glancing at her, "I am
asleep."
Misato glanced at Ranma who had restarted his katas while she and Rei
were talking, as she turned her attention back to Rei, she'd gone back to
cooking.
"All right, what is the problem with you two?" Misato put her fists on
her hips. Rei stared at her, Ranma stopped, the two pilots exchanged
glances.
"I do not understand, Major," Rei stated.
"My name is Misato." She realized Rei had sidetracked her, "You two
haven't said a civil word to each other since you got here."
"We have not said an uncivil word," Rei said quietly.
She grimaced, "Ranma." He stopped his katas. "Is there a problem
between you two?"
Ranma looked at Rei.
"Don't look at him, answer for yourself."
"Uh, Rei-chan's a she," Ranma said, "Aren't you?"
"Under most circumstances," Rei replied.
"You know what I meant," Misato insisted.
"I dunno, I guess there's no problem," Ranma admitted, "You think
there's one?"
Misato was angry, and getting angrier by the moment. "I thought your
standoffishness was a pilot problem. You act the same way, the forced
politeness, you two are like a pair of tomcats ready to fight."
"I would lose such a fight," Rei said, "Although calling the Fourth a
tomcat was needlessly cruel, Major."
"Got that right," Ranma agreed in a whisper, shivered.
"We are different people, Major."
"My name is Misato. People call me Misato."
"You are in uniform, Major, to treat you otherwise would dishonor the
uniform," Rei said with cold politeness, "If you did not wish to be
considered a Major, perhaps you should not have worn your uniform, and
instead wore what you did last night."
Misato paled at that.
"Or taken off the rank insignia," Ranma commented as he restarted his
katas.
Misato turned from Ranma to Rei, who had turned back to her cooking.
Ranma stared at both of them while he practiced.
Misato felt confused. She threw up her hands and stalked back
downstairs.
------------------------------
Ranma continued his katas, to warm up before the morning class, while
Rei finished cooking breakfast. She set the dishes and utensils on the
counter. She pointed to the plates, then at the table. Ranma replied with
his tongue. Rei gave him an all-teeth-visible smile. Ranma took the dishes
and utensils, slunk over to the table and set them out silently. He smiled
at Rei's faint grin at his antics. Ranma stepped up to the counter and
jerked his thumb at Misato's couch, shrugged.
Briefly, Rei frowned slightly, shrugged back. She considered, then
made a winding motion next to her head. Ranma nodded and returned to his
katas.
----------------------------------------
Usagi arrived early at the school. She looked around the school yard
in amazement. There seemed almost no girls who didn't have short hair.
"By the Goddess!" Tomoe breathed.
Usagi agreed. She looked at some of the girls carefully clipping the
hair of others. "Dear sister, you are on your own." Usagi marched through
the crowd. She felt the eyes of the shorthaired girls on her. I've never
felt such hostility, she thought, Yuki, you _idiot_!_ You thought you'd
break that girl, she cursed silently, All you did was make her a _martyr_!_
And martyrs are unreal and undestroyable!
"Mirei-dear!" She'd found Ranko's little friend. "Someone's been
keeping secrets," she chided the girl slightly, "That shows a lack of
respect for your Team Captain," she said sweetly, "Or are you all playing a
little joke on me?" She smiled to show she could take a joke, and there was
no harm done.
"No, Team Captain!" Mirei assured her, "It's just a show of support for
Miss Langley."
"Oh dear," Usagi said with distress, "My mother would never allow me to
cut my hair. 'It isn't ladylike', she'd say. She barely tolerates my
sports, she'd never allow this." She covered her face with her hands and
managed a few tears. Yuki, there are times a show of weakness is better
than a show of strength, she thought.
"Team Captain. I can do your hair up in a bun, like some of the other
girls. Your mother will never know."
"Oh!" Usagi brightened. "You are _so_ dear. Yes, it makes perfect
sense, once someone cleverly points it out." She turned and bent down so
Mirei could quickly do her long hair into a tight bun.
"Also, Team Captain, I heard that Yuki-san wasn't coming to school."
"Yes, she's a little under the weather," Usagi said. Under a load of
bricks, Usagi thought, She never told me who dropped the building on her,
she just kept begging us not to steal her shoes. Whatever that means.
Once Mirei had finished, Usagi hugged the girl and gushed her thanks.
"You won't tell anyone, please?" she asked with her hands clasped as if in
prayer, her `puppy dog eyes` at full power.
"No, Team Captain," Mirei assured her.
Usagi hugged the girl and headed off. Now that I'm coiffured properly,
she noted as she walked, I am more acceptable. This could hardly be a
greater disaster, if Tendo planned our moves and the counters.
"You are such a - " Tomoe began disgustedly.
"I intend to fit in," Usagi interrupted her sister, "If you don't, then
enjoy the consequences. Yuki's 'marvelous plan' has become a nightmare. As
bad as things have gotten, short of the Goddess giving up on this world, I
don't see how it can get significantly worse," Usagi said as the pilots
arrived.
"Like a bunch of conquering heroes," Tomoe groused.
They are, Usagi thought, Our enemies, and now _we_ have made them so.
---------------------------------------------------------
The drive to school had been quiet. Ayanami-san and Saotome-san
maintain a polite silence,Shinji thought, But I think they are fighting a
war at the same time, somehow. And they're both enjoying it. I think
Ayanami-san enjoys the `unorthodox` combat methods, and Saotome-san's
goading to practice. But I don't think Saotome-san appreciates how
Ayanami-san interprets his 'a martial artist must be ready for a fight at
all times' business. I have to talk to her before she takes it _too_
seriously. Or she may toss him out a window and ask if he's ready, while
he's falling.
While Shinji enjoyed the silence for a while, he was overjoyed when he
saw Asuka getting out of another NERV van. She's subdued, Shinji worried, A
loud Asuka is a constant in our lives. An occasional break from it is not
unwelcome, but the loss of it forever . . . that's not something I want. He
walked towards her, smiling. He noted that Ayanami-san and Saotome-san fell
in behind him as he approached Asuka.
"Hey, Asuka!" he hailed her, she waved back, but no insult and no
change in her expression. Shinji glanced back at Ayanami-san and
Saotome-san who stared at Asuka. They seem concerned, he noted.
Hikari and Toji stepped up towards him. They stared in shock at
Ayanami-san's red hair, although Hikari's hair was now shorter than Toji's.
"You two go talk to her," Toji said, "I'll stay close, and just keep quiet."
Shinji glanced around the schoolyard and realized that Asuka's hair was
actually among the longest in sight. Only Saotome-san's pigtail and Sammi's
hair were longer. Many of the kids from the old school stared open-mouthed
at Ayanami-san's red hair.
Shinji felt a little of Toji's guilty concern. "I don't think she
holds you calling her 'Sour Kraut' against you." Toji shifted nervously.
"What are we supposed to do?" Saotome -san asked.
"I'll take care of that," Hikari said and pointed to Mirei, "Your lady
friend will give you a way to fit in, Ranko-san." Hikari smiled and moved
towards Asuka.
Ayanami-san even thought of that, or did the others? Shinji thought as
he headed towards Asuka with Hikari. "Are you all right?" Shinji asked.
Asuka gave a weak smile. "Yeah, I decided I couldn't lay around
anymore. Hikari, what's gotten into you, first Wondergirl, then you."
Hikari blushed and ran her hand through her much shortened hair. "I
guess I had to do something. What about you?"
"It wasn't any good sitting around feeling sorry for myself," Asuka
admitted, looked around the school yard, "There must have been a lot of
fights about that."
"That's why we did it at school," Hikari said, "The girls may get
yelled at, but what can be done? Besides, it's for a good cause."
"But . . . for me?" Asuka asked in a small voice.
"For you," Shinji said, "And for themselves." They failed. Let them
atone, even if they cannot apologize, Shinji thought to Asuka.
Hikari nodded.
"Look at poor Toji," Shinji teased, "Without anything to do."
"What! I oughta -!" Toji shouted and advanced with his fists raised.
"Yes," Asuka said analytically, "I see and understand. A jock like him
has to pound something. More civilized people find other ways."
Toji advanced on Asuka, as Asuka prepared for battle, with every sign
of enjoying what would come.
"Natsumi-san has a theory," Ayanami-san said, as she had appeared next
to the pair, causing both of them to jump, "She believes we may have
something to do." Ayanami-san looked at the two shocked almost-combatants.
Asuka turned to face Ayanami-san, then she calmed down and reached up
and brushed Ayanami-san's hair out of her face. "You should wear something
to keep your hair gathered, let Baka-Shinji see your face."
Shinji blushed, Ayanami-san looked embarrassed.
----------------------------------------
Chasing Magic
Nabiki watched the papers scatter all over her cabin and her wheelchair
spin on its rear wheels. The windstorm ended as suddenly as it started.
Nabiki grabbed the papers and pieces of card stock, checking them over for
what was missing. She noted that her wheelchair was also gone. "Oh no!"
She considered calling the Marines and discarded the idea. Too many
explanations, she thought. Instead she struggled to her feet, grabbed her
coat and hobbled out of her cabin and down the passageway.
----------------------------------------
Ritsuko and Maya stared at the stack of books Jeff carried to the
examination table in the medical wing.
"All those!?" Maya lamented.
"There's probably only a paragraph's worth in each one. I should stick
them all in the refrigerator first," Jeff said as he set the stack down,
"Just to make it fair." He picked up the first, started paging through it.
"I have been putting the instruments in warm water before using them,"
Ritsuko said in high dudgeon, "As if you haven't noticed."
Jeff set the open book in front of Ritsuko. "First, check that out."
Ritsuko looked at the paragraph and started to ask a question. She
stared from Jeff, to the passage, then back. "Okay, I _do_ understand it.
Maybe I _do_ understand magic adequately."
Jeff smiled, Maya giggled. "Then you are competent to give Maya your
opinion on what might happen to her or anyone else, who accompanies a pilot
on a mission. She doesn't believe me when I tell her, she'll be fine."
"Very well," Ritsuko said, she sighed, "Since she isn't a Children,
there is effectively no chance of her picking up such powers."
Maya sighed with relief.
"Unless the Children specifically directs power to her, channeled
through them first," Ritsuko said.
"Nabiki-chan wouldn't do that," Maya said aghast, looking from Jeff to
Ritsuko in fright.
"No," Jeff said, "She wouldn't. Nobody should have that." He turned
away and stared at the wall. Missing the fearful looks between Ritsuko and
Maya.
----------------------------------------
Sammi had been planning to get the kids involved in her counterattack
plan. Juri was staring at the byplay among the 'First Three', they were
smiling, the first time since the incident. "What's caught your attention?"
Juri whispered to Tomiyo.
Rei spent the night watching over Langley, Sammi thought but didn't
say, Her dream-self guarded Langley as well.
Your plan? she almost heard Nabiki ask.
I might have suggested something along those lines on the first night,
Sammi `replied` silently, If Rei hadn't taken her own initiative in the
Dreamlands.
"You aren't giving up yet, are you?" Juri asked Tomiyo, who seemed a
little stiff and sore from the morning's practice.
"I've never given up, and I won't now, I may take a while to retrench,
but I don't quit," Sammi told them.
Tomiyo smiled, "Glad to hear it. Rei-sama brought up an interesting
point. One I think we need to look into."
"Do you know how many crazies who hate the pilots there are out there?"
Juri asked.
"No," Tomiyo admitted.
"I think you'd better, then we'll put the plan into action," Juri said.
----------------------------------------
"Come on!" Nabiki hobbled with all the speed she could manage on
crutches. She could feel the sweat pouring out of her as she struggled to
pursue her quarry. Sailors and Marines got out of her way, but she still
wasn't fast enough. 'Never attempt to forge a new rune or element, unless
I'm there to guide you', she thought as she wound her way through the
carrier, But after what I found, I had to do something. I had to . . . I
don't know . . . create something, since most of our opponents can't.
The flying wheelchair also drew attention, but most saw that they would
get no answers from her.
"He's going to clobber me." She hoped Jeff had the hematite he claimed
he always carried.
----------------------------------------
Ritsuko had excused herself to check on something, leaving Maya and
Jeff alone.
"Jeffrey," Maya began nervously, "You've pretty much proven I don't
have any . . . powers, changes . . . alterations."
"Yes," Jeff assured her. There's more to this, he thought.
"Is there any way you could . . . arrange things?" she asked nervously.
"_WH_ - at?" Jeff barely controlled his shout. "Why would you _want_
something like that? This isn't the same as surgery or learning a skill.
You're talking about giving up part or all of your Humanity."
"You've said that _you_ can simulate Humanity, that it is something you
practice, not something you are," Maya countered smoothly, but still clearly
showed her nervousness.
Jeff sighed. "I'm getting tired of getting my own words thrown back at
me. You haven't answered why."
Maya glanced at the door through which Ritsuko had left. "Sempai is
very old. If I am with her, it will only be a short time. It will hurt
her, I know it, and I don't want to hurt her."
Jeff sighed, trying to clear the tightness in his chest. "Yes, I have
heard tales of such a process. But I've never seriously researched it."
Because once I got Chaugnar Faugn's memories I had it all, he didn't add.
"Even then, this isn't something that can be reversed, there will be a whole
long list of problems. I want you - "
"I _have_ considered it," Maya whispered intently, glancing uneasily at
the door, expecting Ritsuko to return and put a stop to this, "I want to be
with her, always."
"Does she want to be with _you_, always?" Jeff asked in a concerned
tone, trying to point up the problems, "Forever is a _very_ long time, and
shoggoths don't form the pair bonds that humans do." Do you understand she
may not love you when you aren't human? he silently asked.
"She will," Maya assured him, "I'm sure of it."
_Are_ you sure? he asked her silently, Or are you projecting your hopes
onto her? What is that in my pocket? He started to reach into his pocket,
instead he excused himself to make a phone call. The hematite sphere was
practically burning a hole in his jacket, when he was able to slip into a
phone booth. "Yes." He held the handset up to cover talking to the
silvery-red, stone sphere.
"Jeff I'm sorry, I need your help. One of the elements got away, I'm
chasing it now."
Nabiki, I . . . he canceled the thought, Help first, scold later.
"I'll make my apologies to Maya and Ritsuko, and I'll be there quickly. If
it's an element, I can track it." He headed back to the room, Ritsuko had
returned.
"Sorry, Nabiki has a - problem, if you have enough notes head back to
the doctor's cabin. I don't think I'll need help, but I'll call the ship's
Captain if there's anything he can help with."
"Should we come too?" Ritsuko asked, suddenly worried.
"No, stay safe. Don't read too much." Jeff left in a hurry, he
watched the pair collect the books.
X-Original-Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 13:20:26 GMT
Followup-To: rec.arts.anime.fandom
Chapter 53 - Dimm'd Fereigners
[Ranma][NGE][HPL][AMG][Fusion][Fanfic] Sic Semper Morituri Chapter 53 -
Dimm'd Fereigners
The character Janice Berkley was created by Rory McLean, and is used with
his full permission.
Disclaimer:
I do not own any of the characters from Ranma 1 / 2, Neon Genesis
Evangelion, Ah My Goddess, or the Lovecraft Cycle involved in these stories.
C&C, MSTs are welcome
E-mail: dan_s.comments@worldnet.att.net
Stories are available in Rich Text Format and HTML at:
http://home.att.net/~danjess.gibson<http://home.att.net/%7Edanjess.gibson>
(these are the most updated versions)
Stories are available in Plain ASCII at:
http://archives.eyrie.org/anime/Ranma/Sic-Semper-Morituri/
ftp://ftp.cs.ubc.ca/pub/archive/anime-fan-works/Ranma/Sic-Semper-Morituri/
http://www.cs.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/ftp/archive/anime-fan-works/Ranma/type/Sic-Semper-Morituri
(these are the original versions)
Il ne faut etre plus royaliste que le roi [One must not be more royalist
than the king.]
French saying from the time of Louis XVI
Dimm'd Fereigners
A Hero To His Valet
Ranma and Sammi returned to their apartment.
"After we get the homework done, what about going to Misato's place and
giving it a thorough cleaning," Sammi suggested. Ranma didn't disagree, but
showed no real enthusiasm either. Sammi forced herself not to grind her
teeth. "Okay. Let's get started on getting this place ready for Shinji and
Rei."
They cleaned and organized, hanging up Shinji and Rei's clothing in
their closets.
No complaints from Ranma about this being `women's work,` or that
Shinji and Rei aren't here to help, Sammi worried, He's doing it
desultorily, but he doesn't seem to care.
"Ranma, would you mind cooking dinner? I've got a ton of paperwork to
do." That didn't get an explosion either, Sammi brooded, Either he's
growing up, or something is _seriously_ wrong.
"I thought she'd hate staying in the hospital," Ranma said as he
entered the kitchen, giving slight head shakes so his red braid lashed like
an angry cat's tail.
"Maybe she's hiding." Sammi collected the reports on the kitchen
table. Like you are, she realized, You can't fight this and you don't know
what _else_ to do.
"Don't forget about Rei - " Sammi began as Ranma set out the food to
start cooking.
"I've got something meatless planned for her," Ranma told her, muttered
something about 'koshaa' and continued cooking with every sign of enjoying
himself.
That's a good sign, Sammi thought, He's realized this is a way he _can_
fight, make the others comfortable.
She looked at the first item on the stack of paperwork. Misato wanted
Rei and I to take Asuka's room while Ranma and Shinji would have to squeeze
in together in Shinji's room, Sammi looked at the paperwork, she crumbled up
the paper and put it in the burn container, Too bad I never saw it, but five
or six people sharing one shower and one toilet would be a logistical
nightmare. This place has four complete baths and six toilets.
Sammi returned to her paperwork, and enjoyed the smell of Ranma's
cooking. It won't be fancy, but it will be good and plentiful, she thought
happily, Like home..
---------------------------------------------------------
Asuka sat on her bed. I should be doing something, she thought as she
sat in the middle of her bed, But I don't want to. She wanted to get up and
_do_ something. But nothing seems important enough, she silently lamented,
Even, my anger at Stoneface wasn't enough. I'm just tired.
She heard the door open, but couldn't make herself look over at the
`intruder`.
"I am concerned. I require your assistance," came Wondergirl's voice.
"You're worried about me, Wondergirl, I'm touched - " Asuka turned,
just to see _what_ Wondergirl could possibly - "_|Your_hair_!_|" she
shrieked.
Wondergirl's usual blue flyaway hair was knotted and plastered to her
scalp like strands of greenish-brown mud. Asuka sat bolt upright.
"I - miscalculated," Wondergirl admitted, "The instructions called
for - "
"You used too much!" Asuka cut her off as she slid off the bed and
stalked towards her fellow pilot, "But too much of _what_?_!_"
"Ammonia, I believe," Wondergirl said, "I realized I have become the
most beautiful pilot, since the Heavens must surely protest, I decided to
cement my position."
Asuka frowned at Wondergirl's lame joke. "Cement is certainly what it
looks like," Asuka told her, as she approached Wondergirl, taking a strand
in her hands, "And leave the awful jokes to Raccoon." Wondergirl began to
shy away, then steeled herself.
"If I don't know what you did," Asuka grabbed Wondergirl's shoulders
and angrily told her, "I can't help you."
"Reasonable," Wondergirl told her, stood still while Asuka felt the
hair, "Please don't hate me because I am beautiful."
Asuka felt a smile touch her lips. "I've got plenty of other reasons,
Wondergirl, don't worry your . . . yuck-covered head about that. Only you
could figure out how to make your hair dry _and_ greasy all at once."
"I would prefer not to attend school in this condition," Wondergirl
said.
Asuka stepped back and smiled, "So, you do have some pride after all."
"I have always sought excellence in piloting," Wondergirl replied.
"You _aren't_ the best pilot," Asuka told her.
"I have sought only to be better than I was," Wondergirl told her,
"Mein Grossfeldmarschall, as have you."
Right, Asuka thought. "Come on, we'll need to head over to Search and
Rescue," Asuka said as she dragged Wondergirl out of the medical wing, "If
Dr. Akagi were here, I'd go see her, but we can't."
Asuka missed the faint smile on Wondergirl's face.
Suddenly Asuka jerked to a stop, as if Wondergirl had suddenly turned
to stone. "What -? Why'd you stop?"
"Search and Rescue is that way." Wondergirl pointed.
"Okay, fine!" Asuka told her, "_You_ lead, you know so much!" Asuka
followed Wondergirl, grumbling the entire way.
---------------------------------------------------------
Rei let another smile ghost across her face. It is working, she
thought, The plan functions as it should. She hid a smile as another string
of complaints proceeded from `Mein Grossfeldmarschall`. She is returning to
normal, Rei thought, Not burning rage, but seething discontent, that is the
proper setting.
Finally, they arrived at Search and Rescue.
"Where is Janice?" Mein Grossfeldmarschall loudly demanded, fully in
charge.
Officer Akira Kuroda pointed, and Mein Grossfeldmarschall dragged her
in that direction, sputtering curses and imprecations as she pulled Rei
along. Rei considered how to keep Asuka in this state or near it, until she
fully recovered.
"You wanted to help," Mein Grossfeldmarschall announced as she entered
the equipment bay. Everyone stopped and stared at the pilots, in fear and
amazement. "Can you fix _that_?_" She pointed at Rei's hair.
The addressed woman paled and stared, along with her colleagues.
Something is familiar about her, Rei thought as she scrutinized the
woman, but dismissed the thought as her fellow pilot stood, looking angry
and tapping her foot impatiently. `Mein Grossfeldmarschall` glared while
the cowed woman carefully approached Rei.
The Search and Rescue officer examined her hair and frowned. "This is
going to take some work," the woman said, as if she feared a detonation for
delivering bad news.
"We have time," Mein Grossfeldmarschall complained, "Unless you have
some overwhelming need to be elsewhere, Wondergirl."
"No," she replied without showing her elation.
---------------------------------------------------------
Nabiki rolled in a complete daze, barely acknowledging the pause to
lift her through the hatchways. "Someone _could_ have told me," she
complained as Maya pushed her wheelchair.
Maya and Ritsuko smiled at each other. "But we didn't want to spoil
things," Ritsuko teased.
"Ha, ha, ha," Nabiki said tiredly, letting her head droop, "Where's
Raccoon?"
"The Admiral's aide is escorting him. Also he's arranging for the
shipment of what his parents meant to pass to me," Ritsuko told her.
"I think he had as much fun as you did," Maya teased as Ritsuko carried
Nabiki in her wheelchair, through a hatchway by herself.
"You sure he isn't just retreating from the Japanese?" Nabiki asked
sadly.
"I think you're overreacting," Ritsuko said firmly.
"I . . . I don't know. We didn't see what happened," Nabiki turned to
Ritsuko and said, "Maybe I _am_ overreacting, but who can help Asuka?
Misato, the most immature of the children of NERV, and if you don't think
she hates Asuka, you can't see. Rei, she might _try_, but does she know
how? Ranma, sweet but fumbling. Shinji, he has woken up you said. Gendo,
no chance. That leaves Admiral Simson, Captain Ramsey, General Tomlinson,
or Colonel Stedman, somehow I doubt it." She turned away.
"What about Sammi and Juri?" Maya asked to distract Nabiki.
"They'll be more interested in preventing it from happening again,"
Nabiki replied coldly.
"How does that apply to our wayward pilot?" Ritsuko asked.
"Because he wants to go protect - his sister - in all but blood,"
Nabiki said, "The Japanese hurt his family, he might not be able to lash out
at a target, so he tries to avoid the pain."
"I believe you _are_ exaggerating," Ritsuko said, "But I _will_ check
up on him."
"Thank you," Nabiki said sleepily as they arrived at her cabin. The
light in Jeff's was off. He's either already asleep, Nabiki considered, Or
he hasn't arrived. So many pretty starlets, so little time . . . " . . .
yeah right."
---------------------------------------------------------
With dinner ready to be served, once the others arrived, Ranma helped
Sammi clear out the fourth bedroom, so Shinji could use it. What else _can_
I do? Ranma wondered, Mope? That's not me. And I don't know who to fight.
Halfway through, Shinji arrived. Ranma thought Shinji was smiling about
something, And hiding it badly, Ranma considered and went back to work.
"At least I don't have all the stuff Asuka does," Shinji muttered as he
began sweeping up.
Ranma doubted Shinji thought he could be heard. Then Rei arrived
alone, not bringing Asuka with her.
"Your hair!" Ranma shouted in shock, he practically felt his pigtail
bristling in shock. Rei's hair was red, RED, very red, redder than copper,
redder than blood. "I thought you didn't like red, I thought you _hated_
red!" He looked at Shinji who was only mildly surprised. Okay, Ranma
thought, _That's_ what you knew. Ha! Ha! You got me.
"Red was the only color that adequately covered the previous color,"
Rei said calmly, she took a few strands, stared at them, she cocked her
head, "Perhaps we should contact Nabiki-kun, all female EVA pilots would
have short, red hair. Uniformity was a concern."
Ranma wasn't sure if Rei was joking or not. "What about the boys?" he
asked lamely.
"Black would be the standard," Rei said as she pushed past to help
straighten up.
Ranma turned to Shinji. "You knew about this?" he accused weakly,
trying to figure things out.
Shinji shrugged. "What if I did?" He grinned at Ranma.
"You could have told me," Ranma complained, as he went back to work.
"I didn't want to, 'a martial artist must be ready for anything'. Or
does that only apply to getting beaten up?" Shinji asked as he returned to
work, ignoring Ranma's unintended `Angry-Asuka` impersonation.
Hiro arrived with Penpen. "Hello, do you have need of another pair of
hands? I guess I can help too," he said as he set Penpen down. The penguin
scurried over to Shinji, pleased to see the boy again.
"Yes," Rei said as she walked out into the main room.
Hiro pointed at her, tried three times to ask, then gave up. Penpen
just fell over in shock.
I think she's doing that on purpose, Ranma realized as he glanced at
the others enjoying the effect on a pair of new `victims`.
"I misused hair dye. This was the only color strong enough to disguise
the previous color," Rei admitted, "Asuka was most helpful."
Ah ha! Ranma realized.
"Let's wire Miss Tendo - " Hiro began gleefully.
"We have already considered that," Rei said, "As well as Roku-kun."
"Hello," Misato's voice could be heard, she came through the door and
set down a pile of her and Shinji's clothes. Her jaw dropped. "_REI_!_
What happened to your hair?"
"Is there something amiss with my hair?" Rei asked as she looked from
one pilot to the other.
------------------------------
It was quite late before everyone had completed their ablutions, Sammi
stared at Misato snoring on the couch. Shinji covered her with a sheet and
some blankets, Sammi considered, Funny, he seems a lot more tolerant and
solicitous. I wonder what brought that about. I also wonder why Hiro
watched that little scene so carefully.
Rei wandered out of her room, up the stairs and to the table where
Sammi finished up the reports on the last few days. Rei continued staring
at her. "Yen for your thoughts," Sammi offered.
"I do not need a yen."
"I'd like to know what you are thinking. You're wondering something.
I'd like to hear about it," Sammi said, gesturing at all the paperwork, "I'd
like to hear something other than my own thoughts."
Rei considered. "This follows no pattern," she said tiredly, "They
cannot believe what they claimed they want."
Now Sammi considered if Rei was right, it could all be a diversion.
For what? Sammi wondered. "If they achieved what they want, what did they
want?" Silence greeted her, Rei had laid her head on the table. Sammi
thought the bright red hair was a good change for Rei. And her reason and
willingness to perform the change, is an even better sign, Sammi thought.
"Sleep on it, maybe we'll get an answer in the morning," Sammi told her, Rei
closed her eyes and was immediately asleep. I meant go back to your room
first, Sammi thought, Or did you think I needed the break and the physical
activity. She gathered the small girl in her arms and carried her
downstairs. Or am I over analyzing all of this? she wondered, While I envy
the talent to sleep anywhere, I wouldn't want to have to follow orders as
Rei does.
----------------------------------------
Ranma stared at it in his bathroom mirror, he heard no other noises in
the apartment. He knew he was alone, completely and totally. He had his
pigtail in his hand, as did his reflection. A short braid of red hair. Why
is it such a big deal? he asked himself, It's not just a `girly` thing.
Ranma wouldn't want to cut it off either. He considered how Asuka-like
Rei's hair had looked. All in aid of Asuka and making her feel . . . less
outside, Ranma mentally `translated` Rei's dinner table comments, So why is
it such a big deal? Ranma sighed.
Ranma glanced down at the scissors sitting on the counter. Just a snip
and it's over. Why am I treating this as a major sacrifice? It's not like
it used to be, with my hair growing uncontrollably. It isn't - or shouldn't
matter. I don't care what my girl side looks like. I don't care if I'm
`pretty`, but . . . Ranma had no answer for his hesitancy.
She didn't ask for this. She'd call it stupid, Ranma rationalized, Rei
didn't ask, although she said she called Hikari, Natsumi and the others with
her plan. So a lot of them are doing something. But all she called it was
'a plan'. To me, no details.
He stared at the mirror, glanced down at the scissors then back. Why
am I hesitating? Would I hesitate for Nab-chan, or Raccoon? Hell yes!
They wouldn't _need_ me to do this, it wouldn't have any effect if I did, he
thought, There were _other_ ways I could make Nab-chan or Raccoon feel
better. Ranma squirmed at those thoughts, and the memories of the dream,
Where I, as a he and a she, cuddled night after night with Nab-chan to drive
away her nightmares, or talked to Raccoon about my hopes and dreams for the
future.
Silly, stupid to get worked up over hair . . . but that's what Asuka is
doing, now I'm doing the same. Is it because this stupid piece of hair is
so much a part of _me_?_ That without it, am I less of who I was? It
doesn't make sense. I don't care if I'm pretty . . . or do I? Isn't _that_
weird. I don't _want_ to be a girl, but if I am one, do I want to be an
attractive one? I'd clobber any guy who'd try to put the moves on me!
Ranma sighed. I should quit thinking about it and just _do_ it! Ranma
thought, as he grabbed the scissors raised them, and stopped.
Don't think, just do, Ranko considered her reflection, But that's
gotten me into a lot of trouble around here. She stared at her hair as she
undid the braid, letting her hair flow out and down her back, she stared at
the image in the mirror. I am very pretty, with such beautiful hair. I
remember tickling Nab-chan with it, and her tickling me with it, I remember
Raccoon brushing it or just running his fingers through it. I remember how
good _they_ felt, and how good I felt. Her hair reached below her
shoulders. It was so fine she could collect the entire volume in such a
small package. She ran her fingers through her hair. Instead of feeling
good, as it had, instead of calming and soothing her, it made her feel
terribly guilty.
It would simplify things if I could just give this to Asuka, give her
back what she had, what she lost, she thought sadly, Except I don't know
how. Am I selfish, not wanting to give up . . . something I need to feel
safe, just to help Asuka? She stared at the mirror and thought, cursing
herself for her indecision.
---------------------------------------------------------
Misato woke, she had a dream of people wandering the apartment, with
knives. Dozens of Reis of all ages had appeared out of nowhere, and beaten
the invaders with fish. She'd woken before she could see what the invaders
planned or which side prevailed. She sat up off the couch, went to Asuka's
room, and saw it was empty. Relax, she's at the med center , she reminded
herself.
Rei had curled up into a ball, sound asleep in her room. And what are
you dreaming? Misato wondered, I hope they aren't nightmares. She slid the
door closed and opened the door to Shinji's room.
Ranma's door opened suddenly, the redhead stood staring at the
`intruder`. I could swear I saw her eyes glow, Misato thought. Shinji sat
up in bed, also staring at her. It's like being in the middle of a tiger
pit, she thought as she froze. Ranma recognized her and relaxed, and went
back into her room, but left the door open. Shinji nodded, smiled and put
his chin on his knees. She considered calling him out to talk, but
abandoned the idea. He needs his sleep, and so do I, she thought. She
returned to the couch, a new nagging feeling lodging in her mind.
----------------------------------------
Nabiki looked at the table next to her bed, at the pieces of plaster
covered with names. "John Wayne, Randolph Scott, Omar Bradley, Fred
Astaire. God, I don't even _remember_ meeting these people." She bowed her
head in dejection. "I just saw people and tried to be pleasant. The man
who `danced` with me must have been Astaire . . . or Gene Kelly. Oh God,
how could I forget _that_!_ How could I not know! The one who talked about
doing my job, was that Wayne, or Gable, . . . or Colonel Stewart, or did all
three of them talk about it?" She covered her face and laughed. "I met all
those famous people, and I can barely remember the details. I can't discern
which person said what, and when. I was just so overwhelmed." She turned
over and buried her face in her pillow.
She flopped back over in her bunk, to stare at the ceiling. "At least
I didn't turn into a complete idiot . . . like I did last time," she said.
She laughed at herself again. She picked up the cast piece that the Navy
men had carefully varnished, so none of the signatures would wear off. She
remembered the man kneeling before her, so he could look her straight in the
eyes. 'Well, the difference is that you got a `million dollar wound` and
then went back into the fight. That's a real measure of heroism.`' "I
couldn't get my brain sufficiently engaged to argue," she lamented, then
added in amazement, "Veterans, movie stars, came to see _us_!_" She shook
her head and laughed. "Sure, some were already down here for the Del Mar
races, but the rest came on a train headed down here, while Raccoon and I
were loading the EVA aboard," she told the room, "I guess I need to get over
myself. Accept that `Brown Bess` is who I have to be, and the `Ice Queen`
is gone forever. Now I just have to live up to the standard I set for
myself and others' . . . expectations. The ones I have to live up to, not
live down to, what a joke."
She stared at the pieces of pasteboard that she and Raccoon had been
working on.
---------------------------------------------------------
Treachery Is All Their Trust
August 9, 1947
The campfires of the army dotted the slope of the entry to the pass,
like fireflies over calm water. Like those fireflies, they seemed oblivious
to the spiders who, waited the slaughter.
The Scholarly Dragon had watched the Spiders of Leng and their slave
legions troop past, some as close as 100 yards from his position. They will
attack at night, he thought, Because that is when their vision is most
superior to humans. But they are seeing with their hubris, not their eyes.
He looked at the campfires, tents, and the pass beyond.
His attention returned to the Meliorist, who had returned to them. Not
healed, he lamented, But well enough. An easy victory is what she needs.
The Spiders and the men of Leng continued to close on the picket line.
The skies boasted a few of the Moonbeast's air galleons. The Scholarly
Dragon had several dozen dragons tasked to deal with them, once the trap was
sprung.
"They never considered it doesn't take an army to light that many
fires," Anna commented as she crept up beside him, "I want to tell you, the
artillery and cavalry are in position."
The Scholarly Dragon looked at the pass their army had advanced
through. "Build a golden road for your enemy to retreat through," he
rumbled quietly.
"That's where you put the fougasses," Anna added as she slipped back to
her unit.
The enemy gave the signal, their own massed attack on the tents,
campfires and the mannequins simulating guards. A few moments of elation
gripped the spiders, then growing confusion.
"Charge!" the Scholarly Dragon's voice thundered over the plains.
Dozens of dragons leapt into the sky, and the artillery rained fire
down on the camp. Canvas, straw and spiders went up in flames as the
naphtha/phosphorus mixture lit up the night sky with hundreds of lesser
fires, some of which ran screaming through the ruins of their plans.
The Scholarly Dragon watched some spiders try to rally their slaves,
while the majority ran for the pass.
"Forward!" the Meliorist ordered her cavalry, the thundering hooves
drown the screams of the victims. The Scholarly Dragon leapt into the sky,
as close air support.
More headed towards the pass, and into it, he thought as he conjured a
bright red flare of light that hung in the sky, Release the avalanches to
the local commanders. Soon very soon. He banked and looked for any Spiders
or men of Leng who looked willing to resist. A blast of his breath weapon
destroyed either them, or their resolve.
---------------------------------------------------------
Someone was shaking him awake. He saw Nabiki's face, and her horrified
expression.
"Why did they do it?" she demanded, "They had to know! They had to
know and they gave it all up!"
"Because someone was paying them, because it was a good idea, because
they hoped it would get them sexual advantage," he offered groggily, "What
are you talking about?"
"You know!" she said desperately, looked around the cabin's bulkheads,
floor and ceiling, as if they were closing in on her, "You have the memory,
it has to be the same as mine!"
Jeff sighed, tried to put the slaughter of the forces of Leng out of
his mind, and focus as best he could on the girl pacing. Her frantic
gestures worried him.
"Memories, you mean the memories of the Brothers?"
"And Chaugnar Faugn," she replied brittlely, unconsciously slipping
into the Chaugnaroid's tongue, "I went looking. I went to see. They had a
civilization, something more than sitting in a cave and waiting for
sacrifices." She stopped pacing and stared at him, while not hostile, it
was disconcerting. "You went looking, Ranma said, went looking inside the
memories to find things out."
"Yes, but that's just facts, data, like reading a book, not living
their lives. Ranma admitted he had a few dreams, but they were disconnected
things and they faded within days."
"No." She covered her mouth. "It's just me, it's happening." She
looked around frantically. "I am going mad," Nabiki began pacing as if she
was driving the walls back by charging at them.
Jeff knew what he was about to do was unfair, even cruel. But she's
like an engine without a governor, he thought, If I let her go, she'll
destroy herself. "Stop," his voice had the odd harmonics from Chaugnar
Faugn and the dragons, forcing her compliance.
Nabiki stopped and sat on the edge of the bed. She began throwing off
the compulsion almost immediately.
Have to act quickly, he thought. "You're saying that you delved into
their memories," he said, "The memories of several or all of the Brothers
you absorbed."
"Yes," she said sharply as she realized what he'd done to her.
"The dates, places, motivations behind actions, that kind of thing."
"_YES_," Nabiki said belligerently. She stood, towering over him in a
rage.
"I can't," Jeff said flatly.
Nabiki froze. "You - can't -?" She collapsed, catching herself on the
edge of his bunk.
"The Great Old One I absorbed, fell apart soon after I absorbed it,"
Jeff explained, "I can determine facts but the emotional impact behind
them - I haven't the foggiest." He shrugged. "I know how angry Chaugnar
Faugn was about the rebellion, but _I'm_ not the least bit angry about it."
Nabiki had gone white as a sheet as she stared at him. "But I do," she
said in a tiny voice. "This can't be happening!" she whispered desperately.
"Look," he told her firmly as he took her shoulders, "None of the rest
of us absorbed what you did, the compilation of the servant race. You also
said that _you_ went looking for _them_, not that _they_ invaded _your_
mind." He held her shoulders as her breathing slowed back to normal.
"Yes," she said as she gathered herself in, her knees under her chin
and arms wrapped around her legs, "I went looking, and there were so many.
So many . . . people, odd, alien, but considering where I grew up, this
place is almost as alien." She looked at him, her eyes red with unshed
tears.
"You aren't going mad," he told her, "You aren't wrong by being able to
do this." He was worried that only his grasp on her shoulders kept her from
toppling. Physically or psychologically, he thought, And later she'll
torture herself about `cheating` on Ranma. When is she going to realize the
first thing _he_ wants is people around him, and if they interact, that's
fine as long as they don't leave _him_!_
Nabiki sighed, laid her head on her knees. "I _HATE_ this!" She
unfolded and sat on the edge of his bunk.
"It's the reality of being a pilot," Jeff told her, "Imagine it from
the other end. I had to learn how to act human, admittedly it was from a
young age, but half the time I get frustrated when someone doesn't `follow
the script`. You have _no_ idea how irritating some yutz is who says 'I
don't have to play by the rules, I am a wolf among sheep.' But it is so fun
watching their faces, when they realize that I am taking them at their word.
If they don't have to follow the rules, then _I_ don't have to play by the
rules." He smiled evilly.
That got a chuckle out of Nabiki.
"Now, you stormed in here asking 'Why did they do it?, 'They had to
know!', 'They had to know and they gave it all up!' What did they do, what
did they give up?"
"The Chaugnaroids," Nabiki began, seeming to collapse in on herself
again, keeping hysteria at bay by pure will, "They had a culture . . .
music, art, literature, architecture. I may not know all the science, but I
know beauty when I see it. It was alien, weird, but it was . . . it _was_
beautiful. They asked a lot of the questions we did - do." She put her
hands on his shoulders, and pulled him against her. "Then they gave it all
up. I know they did it, all of them did it, all at once, but _why_!_?_" she
demanded, "Money and power are a means to an end, not an end to themselves,
even if it is only to have more than anyone else, so they can't use it
against you. But you don't throw _everything_ else away!"
"To gain the secrets of the universe, the true and deeper meanings," he
told her, "They thought it would be worth it."
"It _isn't_ worth it!" Nabiki insisted, "Couldn't they _see_ that?!
Couldn't they stop?!"
"You know that, because you can make the comparison," Jeff told her
fondly, "They couldn't. The people I mentioned, SEELE, they're in the same
boat. They don't see us advancing fast enough, so they'll throw it all away
to push us to the next step in human evolution."
"That's insane," Nabiki said firmly, realization dawned, "That's why
they're insane. They gave up everything . . . and for what? Understanding?
There are things we shouldn't know."
"That's why they have to be stopped," Jeff replied, "That's also why I
don't consider the Great Old Ones and Outer Gods our _enemies_. They may be
our opponents, but they aren't our enemies." He chuckled. "Our silly
illusions, our hopes and dreams put us so far ahead of them. Yig, the
Father of Serpents, he loves us, as much as a Great Old One can. Because
after millions of years, geological epochs of trying to create the 'perfect
serpent', a bunch of hairless apes do it in 50,000 years without trying.
And not in one place, not of one type, but _thousands_. Cthulhu was the
God-King of his people _before_ his `ascension`, apotheosis, whatever. Then
he brought them along for the ride, so he still retains some of the creative
spark. It's why such a second-rater in terms of raw power is so feared, he
can still make things: civilizations, alliances, all the things the
Chaugnaroids surrendered."
"Would they have attacked Asuka?" Nabiki asked, "Because she's in the
way of their power?"
"I wouldn't discount it," Jeff said, "They _are_ responsible for our
friends down below. If not them directly, their supporters in the U.S.
Government or Military."
"Bastards," Nabiki spat, she pushed herself away from Jeff and stared
at him, "Why haven't you killed them all?"
"Patience," he chided, "A pack of nitwits can't do what they've been
doing without powerful backing."
Nabiki stood and backed away. "Nyarlathotep is helping them," horror
straining her voice, her eyes widened, she covered her mouth as if to
prevent the next words from escaping, "He helped the Chaugnaroids! His help
destroyed them. He did it on purpose!"
Jeff stood, walked over until he was facing Nabiki. Nabiki backed away
from him, more afraid of him than her revelations/realizations. "That is
why _we_ are going to destroy _him_!_" he said firmly.
----------------------------------------
The chants were sung in unison, the runes were laid out in tandem. In
this, the ritual and the invoker had much in common. The two faces no
longer looked half-melted. The creature looked as much like a statue of
Janus as was possible. Its beauty while only a temporary seeming, was
statuesque, finally.
The necklace of runes was complete, and would never be taken from it.
But it was on the mainland not because of this, but in spite of this.
The human cultists cared nothing for `the Twins`, save for their
mistaken belief that it was an avatar of their paired gods. They gloried in
the contact with their matched gods. The Twins simply offered a plan, and
an agreement.
Only one of the pilots could successfully oppose them. The Twins would
dispose of this one, leaving the world open for their sire and dame. The
summoned projection/avatar of the duplicate deities accepted the offer: the
target's greatest weakness was revealed, the great dragon would be chained
so the Twins could take its body for its own.
The deal concluded, the Twins left, not telling the cultists, nor their
gods, of the other deal it had struck. The world would be cleared of all
who lived, made clean for another pair to step forward and rule.
----------------------------------------
Raccoon lay on the bed. "What's true is lies and what were lies are
now truth," he murmured, "Stupid, Grade A, unadulterated stupidity. Beats
anything Ranma could manage."
"What's that?" Nabiki asked as she lay on the room's other bunk.
"The exercise, infiltrating people's dreams," he replied despondently.
"Yes," Nabiki said as she sat up, "You finally taught me something I
can actually use. With practice, I'll get better."
She noted the mirthless chuckle. "What's so funny?" she asked.
"You don't understand. That exercise, it's a time waster, it's to
start teaching the apprentice to get comfortable with the idea of
manipulating energies outside their bodies without _any_ instrumentalities,
no machines or devices to help them."
"So?" Nabiki asked, something about his tone bothered her.
"_Nothing_ can do what you did: Infiltrating a dream while remaining
awake. Nyarlathotep has to separate off avatars/subsections, to be in the
Waking world and in dreams. Cthulhu, the master of dreams, sleeps to send
his dreams, when awake, he only has his mind, telepathy if you will. But
_none_ of them can do what you do. To waking, enter a dream. It could be
that's why Cthulhu made the deal he did, he wanted to preserve a new
technique. Later he might offer something, so you will teach it to him."
He clapped softly. "Congratulations, your power exceeds the might of the
gods, in your area of expertise."
"So, I lied to you on a standard exercise, and you beat it."
"Oh," she said to banish the image of her playing her old 'Ice Queen'
games, doling out favors, rumors and dirt to the Great Old Ones and Outer
Gods. Not this time, they may be as crazy as Kuno and the others, but I
doubt they are as gullible, she thought.
"Then when you did make it work, I didn't want to say anything because
I wanted you to develop your skill, without anyone telling you 'that's
impossible'. I apologize for that. Ask Ritsuko what the truth is, the
truth about me, the great wall you tried to get through. It hides the
truth - " He paused a while, Nabiki waited for him to continue, doing
nothing to fill the silence. "All I `know` about my past is wrong. I
finally went and looked . . . after Sharon died. I had some help."
"I'll go." Nabiki stood up, and hobbled to Ritsuko's cabin. The
doctor was in. "He's talking about truths you know about him. On . . .
ly," her voice trailed off as Ritsuko paled, "Is there something to those
meanderings?"
"Yes," Ritsuko admitted.
"What?" Nabiki asked as she stepped inside and closed the door. She
didn't demand any more due to the fearful expression on Ritsuko's face.
"Okay," Nabiki relented, "But since you _do_ know, you ought to talk to
him about it."
"I - " Ritsuko squirmed. "I wouldn't know how to act."
"Try human. If he's a hurt little boy, mommy; if he's a wounded man,
wife or doctor." Nabiki sighed, put her irritation aside. You two are
worse than Ranma! And me, she thought.
------------------------------
Misato woke again, an hour before dawn. Now there were definite noises
upstairs, she pushed off the covers quietly, she had her pistol at the ready
as she crept up the stairs. She peeked over the edge of the stairs. Rei
was in the kitchen cooking, Ranma was practicing katas. They both moved as
quietly as they could, but made some noise, it was faint sound, silence,
faint sound, that had woken her. She wondered, How does Sammi put up with
it? And neither is saying a thing to the other, they seem to be steadfastly
ignoring one another. What's up with that?
She considered stepping out of the stairway to talk with them, then
recognized what she was wearing, or not wearing. No wonder Ranma and Shinji
stared at me, she realized, After I went prowling through the house like
this last night.
She decided to leave them alone for a while. Instead, slipped
downstairs and dressed. I'll need the added `authority` of the uniform to
talk with them. After how I walked around last night . . . she thought,
Where Shinji might be too intimidated, these two need a little intimidation.
"' 'hayo," Ranma whispered as he paused in his katas to let Misato
pass.
"Ohayo gozaimasu, Major." Rei continued her quiet cooking.
"You two are up early," Misato said.
"Actually, Major," Rei admitted, "We slept in."
"Do you usually sleep curled up in a ball?" Misato teased, smiling at
Rei.
"I do not know," Rei replied quietly, barely glancing at her, "I am
asleep."
Misato glanced at Ranma who had restarted his katas while she and Rei
were talking, as she turned her attention back to Rei, she'd gone back to
cooking.
"All right, what is the problem with you two?" Misato put her fists on
her hips. Rei stared at her, Ranma stopped, the two pilots exchanged
glances.
"I do not understand, Major," Rei stated.
"My name is Misato." She realized Rei had sidetracked her, "You two
haven't said a civil word to each other since you got here."
"We have not said an uncivil word," Rei said quietly.
She grimaced, "Ranma." He stopped his katas. "Is there a problem
between you two?"
Ranma looked at Rei.
"Don't look at him, answer for yourself."
"Uh, Rei-chan's a she," Ranma said, "Aren't you?"
"Under most circumstances," Rei replied.
"You know what I meant," Misato insisted.
"I dunno, I guess there's no problem," Ranma admitted, "You think
there's one?"
Misato was angry, and getting angrier by the moment. "I thought your
standoffishness was a pilot problem. You act the same way, the forced
politeness, you two are like a pair of tomcats ready to fight."
"I would lose such a fight," Rei said, "Although calling the Fourth a
tomcat was needlessly cruel, Major."
"Got that right," Ranma agreed in a whisper, shivered.
"We are different people, Major."
"My name is Misato. People call me Misato."
"You are in uniform, Major, to treat you otherwise would dishonor the
uniform," Rei said with cold politeness, "If you did not wish to be
considered a Major, perhaps you should not have worn your uniform, and
instead wore what you did last night."
Misato paled at that.
"Or taken off the rank insignia," Ranma commented as he restarted his
katas.
Misato turned from Ranma to Rei, who had turned back to her cooking.
Ranma stared at both of them while he practiced.
Misato felt confused. She threw up her hands and stalked back
downstairs.
------------------------------
Ranma continued his katas, to warm up before the morning class, while
Rei finished cooking breakfast. She set the dishes and utensils on the
counter. She pointed to the plates, then at the table. Ranma replied with
his tongue. Rei gave him an all-teeth-visible smile. Ranma took the dishes
and utensils, slunk over to the table and set them out silently. He smiled
at Rei's faint grin at his antics. Ranma stepped up to the counter and
jerked his thumb at Misato's couch, shrugged.
Briefly, Rei frowned slightly, shrugged back. She considered, then
made a winding motion next to her head. Ranma nodded and returned to his
katas.
----------------------------------------
Usagi arrived early at the school. She looked around the school yard
in amazement. There seemed almost no girls who didn't have short hair.
"By the Goddess!" Tomoe breathed.
Usagi agreed. She looked at some of the girls carefully clipping the
hair of others. "Dear sister, you are on your own." Usagi marched through
the crowd. She felt the eyes of the shorthaired girls on her. I've never
felt such hostility, she thought, Yuki, you _idiot_!_ You thought you'd
break that girl, she cursed silently, All you did was make her a _martyr_!_
And martyrs are unreal and undestroyable!
"Mirei-dear!" She'd found Ranko's little friend. "Someone's been
keeping secrets," she chided the girl slightly, "That shows a lack of
respect for your Team Captain," she said sweetly, "Or are you all playing a
little joke on me?" She smiled to show she could take a joke, and there was
no harm done.
"No, Team Captain!" Mirei assured her, "It's just a show of support for
Miss Langley."
"Oh dear," Usagi said with distress, "My mother would never allow me to
cut my hair. 'It isn't ladylike', she'd say. She barely tolerates my
sports, she'd never allow this." She covered her face with her hands and
managed a few tears. Yuki, there are times a show of weakness is better
than a show of strength, she thought.
"Team Captain. I can do your hair up in a bun, like some of the other
girls. Your mother will never know."
"Oh!" Usagi brightened. "You are _so_ dear. Yes, it makes perfect
sense, once someone cleverly points it out." She turned and bent down so
Mirei could quickly do her long hair into a tight bun.
"Also, Team Captain, I heard that Yuki-san wasn't coming to school."
"Yes, she's a little under the weather," Usagi said. Under a load of
bricks, Usagi thought, She never told me who dropped the building on her,
she just kept begging us not to steal her shoes. Whatever that means.
Once Mirei had finished, Usagi hugged the girl and gushed her thanks.
"You won't tell anyone, please?" she asked with her hands clasped as if in
prayer, her `puppy dog eyes` at full power.
"No, Team Captain," Mirei assured her.
Usagi hugged the girl and headed off. Now that I'm coiffured properly,
she noted as she walked, I am more acceptable. This could hardly be a
greater disaster, if Tendo planned our moves and the counters.
"You are such a - " Tomoe began disgustedly.
"I intend to fit in," Usagi interrupted her sister, "If you don't, then
enjoy the consequences. Yuki's 'marvelous plan' has become a nightmare. As
bad as things have gotten, short of the Goddess giving up on this world, I
don't see how it can get significantly worse," Usagi said as the pilots
arrived.
"Like a bunch of conquering heroes," Tomoe groused.
They are, Usagi thought, Our enemies, and now _we_ have made them so.
---------------------------------------------------------
The drive to school had been quiet. Ayanami-san and Saotome-san
maintain a polite silence,Shinji thought, But I think they are fighting a
war at the same time, somehow. And they're both enjoying it. I think
Ayanami-san enjoys the `unorthodox` combat methods, and Saotome-san's
goading to practice. But I don't think Saotome-san appreciates how
Ayanami-san interprets his 'a martial artist must be ready for a fight at
all times' business. I have to talk to her before she takes it _too_
seriously. Or she may toss him out a window and ask if he's ready, while
he's falling.
While Shinji enjoyed the silence for a while, he was overjoyed when he
saw Asuka getting out of another NERV van. She's subdued, Shinji worried, A
loud Asuka is a constant in our lives. An occasional break from it is not
unwelcome, but the loss of it forever . . . that's not something I want. He
walked towards her, smiling. He noted that Ayanami-san and Saotome-san fell
in behind him as he approached Asuka.
"Hey, Asuka!" he hailed her, she waved back, but no insult and no
change in her expression. Shinji glanced back at Ayanami-san and
Saotome-san who stared at Asuka. They seem concerned, he noted.
Hikari and Toji stepped up towards him. They stared in shock at
Ayanami-san's red hair, although Hikari's hair was now shorter than Toji's.
"You two go talk to her," Toji said, "I'll stay close, and just keep quiet."
Shinji glanced around the schoolyard and realized that Asuka's hair was
actually among the longest in sight. Only Saotome-san's pigtail and Sammi's
hair were longer. Many of the kids from the old school stared open-mouthed
at Ayanami-san's red hair.
Shinji felt a little of Toji's guilty concern. "I don't think she
holds you calling her 'Sour Kraut' against you." Toji shifted nervously.
"What are we supposed to do?" Saotome -san asked.
"I'll take care of that," Hikari said and pointed to Mirei, "Your lady
friend will give you a way to fit in, Ranko-san." Hikari smiled and moved
towards Asuka.
Ayanami-san even thought of that, or did the others? Shinji thought as
he headed towards Asuka with Hikari. "Are you all right?" Shinji asked.
Asuka gave a weak smile. "Yeah, I decided I couldn't lay around
anymore. Hikari, what's gotten into you, first Wondergirl, then you."
Hikari blushed and ran her hand through her much shortened hair. "I
guess I had to do something. What about you?"
"It wasn't any good sitting around feeling sorry for myself," Asuka
admitted, looked around the school yard, "There must have been a lot of
fights about that."
"That's why we did it at school," Hikari said, "The girls may get
yelled at, but what can be done? Besides, it's for a good cause."
"But . . . for me?" Asuka asked in a small voice.
"For you," Shinji said, "And for themselves." They failed. Let them
atone, even if they cannot apologize, Shinji thought to Asuka.
Hikari nodded.
"Look at poor Toji," Shinji teased, "Without anything to do."
"What! I oughta -!" Toji shouted and advanced with his fists raised.
"Yes," Asuka said analytically, "I see and understand. A jock like him
has to pound something. More civilized people find other ways."
Toji advanced on Asuka, as Asuka prepared for battle, with every sign
of enjoying what would come.
"Natsumi-san has a theory," Ayanami-san said, as she had appeared next
to the pair, causing both of them to jump, "She believes we may have
something to do." Ayanami-san looked at the two shocked almost-combatants.
Asuka turned to face Ayanami-san, then she calmed down and reached up
and brushed Ayanami-san's hair out of her face. "You should wear something
to keep your hair gathered, let Baka-Shinji see your face."
Shinji blushed, Ayanami-san looked embarrassed.
----------------------------------------
Chasing Magic
Nabiki watched the papers scatter all over her cabin and her wheelchair
spin on its rear wheels. The windstorm ended as suddenly as it started.
Nabiki grabbed the papers and pieces of card stock, checking them over for
what was missing. She noted that her wheelchair was also gone. "Oh no!"
She considered calling the Marines and discarded the idea. Too many
explanations, she thought. Instead she struggled to her feet, grabbed her
coat and hobbled out of her cabin and down the passageway.
----------------------------------------
Ritsuko and Maya stared at the stack of books Jeff carried to the
examination table in the medical wing.
"All those!?" Maya lamented.
"There's probably only a paragraph's worth in each one. I should stick
them all in the refrigerator first," Jeff said as he set the stack down,
"Just to make it fair." He picked up the first, started paging through it.
"I have been putting the instruments in warm water before using them,"
Ritsuko said in high dudgeon, "As if you haven't noticed."
Jeff set the open book in front of Ritsuko. "First, check that out."
Ritsuko looked at the paragraph and started to ask a question. She
stared from Jeff, to the passage, then back. "Okay, I _do_ understand it.
Maybe I _do_ understand magic adequately."
Jeff smiled, Maya giggled. "Then you are competent to give Maya your
opinion on what might happen to her or anyone else, who accompanies a pilot
on a mission. She doesn't believe me when I tell her, she'll be fine."
"Very well," Ritsuko said, she sighed, "Since she isn't a Children,
there is effectively no chance of her picking up such powers."
Maya sighed with relief.
"Unless the Children specifically directs power to her, channeled
through them first," Ritsuko said.
"Nabiki-chan wouldn't do that," Maya said aghast, looking from Jeff to
Ritsuko in fright.
"No," Jeff said, "She wouldn't. Nobody should have that." He turned
away and stared at the wall. Missing the fearful looks between Ritsuko and
Maya.
----------------------------------------
Sammi had been planning to get the kids involved in her counterattack
plan. Juri was staring at the byplay among the 'First Three', they were
smiling, the first time since the incident. "What's caught your attention?"
Juri whispered to Tomiyo.
Rei spent the night watching over Langley, Sammi thought but didn't
say, Her dream-self guarded Langley as well.
Your plan? she almost heard Nabiki ask.
I might have suggested something along those lines on the first night,
Sammi `replied` silently, If Rei hadn't taken her own initiative in the
Dreamlands.
"You aren't giving up yet, are you?" Juri asked Tomiyo, who seemed a
little stiff and sore from the morning's practice.
"I've never given up, and I won't now, I may take a while to retrench,
but I don't quit," Sammi told them.
Tomiyo smiled, "Glad to hear it. Rei-sama brought up an interesting
point. One I think we need to look into."
"Do you know how many crazies who hate the pilots there are out there?"
Juri asked.
"No," Tomiyo admitted.
"I think you'd better, then we'll put the plan into action," Juri said.
----------------------------------------
"Come on!" Nabiki hobbled with all the speed she could manage on
crutches. She could feel the sweat pouring out of her as she struggled to
pursue her quarry. Sailors and Marines got out of her way, but she still
wasn't fast enough. 'Never attempt to forge a new rune or element, unless
I'm there to guide you', she thought as she wound her way through the
carrier, But after what I found, I had to do something. I had to . . . I
don't know . . . create something, since most of our opponents can't.
The flying wheelchair also drew attention, but most saw that they would
get no answers from her.
"He's going to clobber me." She hoped Jeff had the hematite he claimed
he always carried.
----------------------------------------
Ritsuko had excused herself to check on something, leaving Maya and
Jeff alone.
"Jeffrey," Maya began nervously, "You've pretty much proven I don't
have any . . . powers, changes . . . alterations."
"Yes," Jeff assured her. There's more to this, he thought.
"Is there any way you could . . . arrange things?" she asked nervously.
"_WH_ - at?" Jeff barely controlled his shout. "Why would you _want_
something like that? This isn't the same as surgery or learning a skill.
You're talking about giving up part or all of your Humanity."
"You've said that _you_ can simulate Humanity, that it is something you
practice, not something you are," Maya countered smoothly, but still clearly
showed her nervousness.
Jeff sighed. "I'm getting tired of getting my own words thrown back at
me. You haven't answered why."
Maya glanced at the door through which Ritsuko had left. "Sempai is
very old. If I am with her, it will only be a short time. It will hurt
her, I know it, and I don't want to hurt her."
Jeff sighed, trying to clear the tightness in his chest. "Yes, I have
heard tales of such a process. But I've never seriously researched it."
Because once I got Chaugnar Faugn's memories I had it all, he didn't add.
"Even then, this isn't something that can be reversed, there will be a whole
long list of problems. I want you - "
"I _have_ considered it," Maya whispered intently, glancing uneasily at
the door, expecting Ritsuko to return and put a stop to this, "I want to be
with her, always."
"Does she want to be with _you_, always?" Jeff asked in a concerned
tone, trying to point up the problems, "Forever is a _very_ long time, and
shoggoths don't form the pair bonds that humans do." Do you understand she
may not love you when you aren't human? he silently asked.
"She will," Maya assured him, "I'm sure of it."
_Are_ you sure? he asked her silently, Or are you projecting your hopes
onto her? What is that in my pocket? He started to reach into his pocket,
instead he excused himself to make a phone call. The hematite sphere was
practically burning a hole in his jacket, when he was able to slip into a
phone booth. "Yes." He held the handset up to cover talking to the
silvery-red, stone sphere.
"Jeff I'm sorry, I need your help. One of the elements got away, I'm
chasing it now."
Nabiki, I . . . he canceled the thought, Help first, scold later.
"I'll make my apologies to Maya and Ritsuko, and I'll be there quickly. If
it's an element, I can track it." He headed back to the room, Ritsuko had
returned.
"Sorry, Nabiki has a - problem, if you have enough notes head back to
the doctor's cabin. I don't think I'll need help, but I'll call the ship's
Captain if there's anything he can help with."
"Should we come too?" Ritsuko asked, suddenly worried.
"No, stay safe. Don't read too much." Jeff left in a hurry, he
watched the pair collect the books.