Phoenix@citynet.net	

"Ranma 1/2:  Mechwarrior Team Jusenkyo"

"Chapter 1"

By:  James "Phoenix" Jones

	
< > indicates thought

[Solaris VII]

	The Shadow Hawk moved slowly through the debris ridden field, dodging the shattered remains of battlemechs and columns of steam that littered its path.  Its autocannon, poised to fire at moments notice, glinted in the harsh afternoon sunlight.  Inside, the pilot surveyed the damage she had caused.
	The readouts on her main screne showed that the Griffin she had been fighting had gone up completely, pilot and all, but she had sustained very little damage herself.  She unconsiously breathed a sign of relief. 
	<Where is everybody?> she asked herself.
	Almost as if to answer, a Crusader 'mech emerged from one of the columns of steam, but it was moving in the opposite direction.  The pilot of the Shadow Hawk couldn't make out the insignia, so she called, "This is Mallet of Jusenkyo Stables, identify yourself!"
	The Crusader slowed and turned toward her.  Over the comm unit, she heard, "This is White Bow, Mallet."
	Mallet breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "Nice to see you finally decided to join the fight, White Bow.  _I_ already got my kill in."
	"Just ain't been my day, Mallet." the other pilot replied (a note of annoyance in the voice) as the Crusader looked at the remains of what had once been a Griffin. "Lets get a move on, according to my transponder, we've only got a couple of more 'mechs that haven't been taken out."
	"Copy that, White Bow." the Mallet replied.  "Follow me.  The others are in Sector 21L."
	"Lead the way, Mallet."  
	

	Two 'mechs, a massive Battlemaster and a smaller Phoenix Hawk moved swiftly over the rocky terrain chasing after the fleeing Locusts. As they moved, each fired off a shot at the flew 'mechs any time they were cool enough to.  The Phoenix Hawk's large laser clipped a massive amount of leg armor from on Locust, but the Battlemaster pilot, fireing the 'mech's PPC was not having the same luck.
	"Come on, Lost Boy!" called the Phoenix Hawk pilot.  " You can do better than that!"
	"Damn it, Wild Horse!" the other pilot replied.  " I told you not to call me that!"
	The Phoenix Hawk slowed so that it was running even with the Battlemaster.  "Well, would you prefer me to call you  'P-Chan'?"
	Static was the only answer.
	"What's the matter Lost Boy?  Afraid to get your little piggies wet?"
	Still static.
	"Wait. . . I know what's wrong." Wild Horse teased.  "You're afraid that I'll get to those mechs first and boot you out of the running for the team's kill record."
	The Battlemaster came to a screaching halt and, dropping the PPC from the 'mech's hand, turned on the Phoenix Hawk. As it did so, the pilot screamed, "That's the last straw, Wild Horse!"
	Pushing hard on the controls, the Lost Boy brought his mech's arm back for a punch.  <It won't do a tenth of a PPC's damage, but 45 tons of wrecking ball punches will flatten that bastard!> he thought, slamming the controls forward.  
	The punch contacted solidly with the shoulder of the smaller mech, causing it to stagger, but Wild Horse didn't topple.  "Why you!!" he yelled, dropping his own weapon and moving into the best combat stance a 'mech could manage.  Pulling on his own controls, he made ready to deliver his own punch.  However, the punch was halted before it began as a new voice entered into the cockpits.
	"You two knock it off!!" the voice yelled.  "If you want to kill each other do it on your own time!!  Right now you've got a job to do!!!"
	Both pilots were left speachless.  The voice was louder than most of the battlefield noises around them and neither one had expected it.
	"You two are worse than the Red Angels!" the voice said again.  "At least they don't fight each other while there's a friggin battle going on!!"
	Both pilots were about to reply when another new voice entered.  "No worry, Phoenix.  I take care Locusts."
	"What!?" screamed Lost Boy and Wild Horse in unison.
	"I say, I take care of Locusts."
	The two continued to stare dumbly as the Mad Cat omnimech emerged from the smoke and walked over to join them.
	"Good work, Neko." the voice sounded again.  "That gets all of them."
	Wild Horse stared dismally at his console, accross from him, he could almost see Neko laughing at him behind her armored canopy.  <Damn it!> he thought <That only puts me five. . . no four kills above her!>
	"Attention all Jusenkyo battlemechs.  The match is over, return to hanger."
	Wild Horse, moved the controls and turned his 'mech around, pausing briefly to retrieve his laser rifle.  As his mech moved forward, his external camera noted Neko turning Lost Boy back in the right direction and Wild Horse couldn't surpress a laugh. <That jerk never learns.> he thought.
	Calling up his readouts, he noted with satisfaction that only one of his teammates had been eliminated.  Laughing again, he urged the mech into a run, heading for the hanger.
	A few moments later Wild Horse's trio of 'mechs entered the hanger, just as the doors ground shut.  Sighing at the lose of what should have been an easy kill, he powered down his mech, removed his neuro-helmet and climbed out of the cockpit.

	As she climbed out of her Shadow Hawk, Mallet couldn't help but marvel at the diversity of the 'mechs that lined the walls of the hanger.  All the 'mechs were specially painted and adorned with the Jusenkyo Stables emblem, a small mountain overlooking a pool.  
	Most of the 'mechs were Inner Sphere, but a few were Clan omnimechs.  <I can't stand those clan bastards.> Mallet thought. <But at least they fight good.>
	As she reached the ground, she noticed Wild Horse walking toward her, his black hair plastered against his forehead with his ponytail flopped over one shoulder.  Unconsiously, she blushed and tied her cooling vest tighter around her chest as he walked toward her.
	"How'd you do today, Ranma?" she asked.
	Ranma walked up to her and was about to reply when White Bow and Black Rose suddenly clamped onto his arms.
	"Oh Ranma-sama, I was eliminated before I could aid you!" yelled Black Rose.
	"Shut up you bitch!" White Bow countered. "Why would he want _your_ help when he's got me!?"
	"At least _I_ managed to remove a 'mech from combat before I was eliminated, Spatula Slut." 
	"That's 'White Bow' to you, you . . . ."
	The arguement continued around him as Ranma deperately tried to wiggle out from between the two girls.  
	Mallet looked on at the fight, still in shock as to how quickly it started.  Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder.  She didn't even need to look to know who it was.
	"Blue Thunder. . . ." she said.
	"Tatawaki Kuno needs not be refered to by his adopted name, when not demonstrating his combat prowess, my love."
	"Alright 'Kuno' get your hand off of my shoulder." 
	Kuno refused to move and continued,  "Ah. . . the beautious Akane Tendo.  In recongition of your kill this afternoon I shall allow you to date with me."
	"What about your 'Pig-Tailed Goddess', Kuno." Akane countered.
	"She shall accompany us as well as soon as the sorcerrer Saotome releases her." Kuno said, turning to look at Ranma, tightly compressed between the two arguing girls.  "I honestly do not see what my younger sister sees in that lout."
	By this time, Akane noticed that Kuno's hand was still on her shoulder and her battle aura began to glow.  "Why don't you sleep on that thought, Kuno." she said.
	"Ah . . . but alas, I am in no need of sleep at the moment, my love." Kuno said.
	"I can help you with that." Akane replied, rather coyly.
	"And how may I ask. . ."  Kuno never got to finish the sentence as Akane's fists slammed into his face.  As he fell, his head hit the floor with a hollow "THUNK."
	<MMM. . . the day just wouldn't be complete without that.> Akane said to herself, turning back around to look at the fight.
	As she did, she saw Black Rose suddenly pull Ranma toward her and kissed him full on the lips.  Akane's temperature hit boiling as soon as she realized that Ranma wasn't even resisting.
	"RANMA NO BAKA!!!!" Akane screamed as she launched herself forward, catching him square in the gut with a front kick and sending him into the wall.
	"Why did you do that you insolent peasent!?" screamed Black Rose.
	"Oh shut up, Kodachi!" Akane yelled.  "I have a good mind to . . ."
	"To what?" Kodachi asked, pulling a ribbon out of her vest.
	"I don't know what she plans to do Kodachi, but I plan on helping." White Bow interjected.
	"No need for that, Ukyou." Akane replied, taking up a combat stance.
	 "Oh yes there is." Ukyou countered.  "I still owe you for what you just did to Ranchan."
	"Why you . . ."
	The three girls took up combat stances as the rest of the team circled around them.  Out of the corner of her eye, Akane saw Nabiki making a bet with Natsume on who would win this time.
	The three rushed to attack, but stopped short as an ear-splitting scream echoed off the walls, forcing everyone to cover his or her ears.
	Once the echo had died down, a new voice rang out.  "Glad to see I finally got your attention." it said.
	The team members turned to look at the speaker.  A man in his walked out of the shadows toward them.  He wore jet black jumpsuit devoid of any insignia other than the Jusenkyo emlem.  He couldn't have been over forty, but he looked much older.  As he walked forward, two criss-crossed scars became visible across his deepset, steel gray eyes.  He stopped just outside the group's circle.
	He stood, unmoving, before them for a few seconds, waiting for the affect of his Phoenix Call to wear off.
	Turning his head, he said, "Alright, guys, get those 'mechs checked out."
	In response, four people rushed out from one side of the hanger toward some of the more heavily damaged 'mechs.  Akane recongnized both Ranma's father and her father in the lead.  Behind them, walked Hikaru Gosonkugi, his costomary search-light strapped to his forehead.  At first, she didn't regonize the other, being as a it looked like a walking engine, but then she realized that could only be Tsubasa.
	"Alright everybody," the man said.  "Fun's over for now.  Someone pry Ranma out of the wall over there.  Then get down to the debriefing room."  With that, he turned and walked back the way he came.  Everyone but Akane followed him.
	Sighing, she walked over and grabbed Ranma's limp form by the ponytail, dragging him behind her as she hurried to catch up to the other.

	In the debriefing room, everyone was sitting waiting for the score postings.  In the front, the man in black leaned heavily against the desk, waiting for the last of them to walk in (or in this case be dragged).  As Akane tossed Ranma into a chair, he laughed.
	"Thanks for waiting, Jace." she said.
	"No worries." Jace replied in a raspy voice.  "Now, here's the tally for today's match."
	Everyone shifted in the hard plastic chairs and turned toward the screen, trying their best to get comfortable as Jace brought up the score sheet.



Match results:

Rank #1:  Ranma Saotome		3 kills  (Hunchback, Jenner, Victor)
Rank #1(tie):  Ryouga Hibiki		3 kills  (Battlemaster, Hussar, Goliath)
Rank #2:  Shampoo			2 kills  (Locust, Locust)
Rank #3:  Mousse			1 kill   (Phoenix Hawk)
Rank #4:  Akane Tendo			1 kill   (Griffin)
Rank #5:  Kodachi Kuno (eliminated)	1 kill   (Raven)
Rank #6:  Tatawaki Kuno			1 kill   (Flea)

Ukyou Kouji		No kills
Natsume Tendo		No kills
Karumi Tendo		No kills


	Jace clicked off the screen and said, "Not bad for a days work."
	"Jace," Ukyou said.  "You don't normally call us down here just to show us the scores.  What's up?"
	In response he said, "Good question, Ukyou.  I called you here to keep me from killing Ranma and Ryouga." As the others began to laugh, he concluded his point by throwing a glass of water into Ranma's face.
	"AAAAHHHH!!! COLD!!!!" cried Ranma, his voice raising in pitch drastically.  "What'd you do that for!?"
	"Quickest way in the world to wake you up." Jace replied.  "I need to talk to you and Ryouga about that little 'incident' out on the field."
	"Hey now, that was. . ." Ranma and Ryouga began in unison, but Jace's ice-like stare shut them up quick.
	Jace stared at both of them for a few seconds, making them both really nervous.
	<This is not good.> thought Ranma as he figited under the gaze.
	<I wonder if there's any truth to that rumor that he could melt steel by looking at it?> thought Ryouga, also figiting.
	After a few minutes, Jace walked around the desk and leaned up against it. "This isn't the first time I've had to break up a fight between you two." He said.  "Now, tell me;  Why do I keep having to break up fights between you two?"
	Neither boy had an answer.
	"I'll tell you why." Jace said slowly.  "But first, Ranma, how many kills do you need before you make the record?"
	"Two." Ranma said.
	"What about you, Ryouga?"
	"The same." Ryouga replied.
	Jace laughed coldly.  "That's your problem." he said, his voice grave.  "You two are so damned set on beating the other to that medal for the kill record that you'll do anything. . ." he paused when he noticed they weren't listening and slammed his fist on the table, getting back their attention.  
	"As I was saying," he continued.  "You two will do anything to beat the other, that includes endangering each other and the rest of the team."
	"That's not true, Jace." Akane interjected.  <Why did I say that?> she asked herself.
	Jace turned toward her and winked.  "That may be true, Akane, but the fact remains is that if they can't work together, they can't work at all.  And it's gonna get somebody killed." he said.
	Ranma opened his mouth to retort, but someone else caught the floor first. "Typical freebirth sentiment." said the speaker.
	Ranma felt his blood begin to boil as he turned around, but kept his voice calm and asked, "What was that, Mousse?"
	In the back of the room, a young man wearing a white robe and a thick pair of glasses looked up at him, smirking.  "I said, that it is typical freebirth sentiment that keeps Ranma Saotome and Ryouga Hibiki fighting each other." Mousse said, matter of factly. 
	Ryouga lept out of his chair and faced Mousse.  "You got no right to say that you Clan bastard!"
	Mousse lept up to face Ryouga and said, "I have every right, freebirth!  My superior genetic make-up gives me any right I choose."
	"If your so genetically superior to us, Mousse." Ukyou added. "Then how come you're half blind?"
	"I am half blind, Ukyou Kouji, because of an accident I suffered during my sibko days." Mousse answered.
	"Okay." said Ranma.  "Then explain how us 'lousy freebirths' can beat you so easily out on the battlefield."
	"Because whether I like it or not, Ranma Saotome, you are my teammates." 
	"And to what end does that fact apply?" asked Kodachi.
	Mousse laughed and answered, "Because you are my teammates, I do not wish to harm you, thus I do not fight to the fullest of my abilities."
	"Mousse lie."
	"Watch your tongue, Mechwarrior Shampoo." he said, getting angry.
	"We no in clan now, Shampoo no have listen Mousse."
	Mousse's grip on his anger broke.  "You goddamned freebirth!" he yelled, catching Shampoo in the side of the face with a jab.
	"You bastard!" shouted Ranma as he jumped between Mousse and Shampoo.
	"Come on then." Mousse countered.
	Both combatants took up positions, but the fight never started.  Another scream issued forth.  The reverberation of the scream of the walls of the small room nearly knocking everyone down.
	"Everybody sit down." said Jace, through clenched teeth.
	"But he . . ." Ranma began.
	"SIT DOWN!!!"
	Everyone quickly moved to take a seat.
	"Now I want to get one thing straight." Jace said.  "We are a _team_ here.  Does anyone know what that means?"
	Silence.
	"It means that we work together."
	"But he . . ." Ranma began again.
	"Whether you're Clan or Inner Sphere makes no difference, Ranma." Jace said.
	"I am sorry Jace Steel, but it makes all the difference." said Mousse.
	"Well I'm sorry too Star Captain Mousse, but it makes no difference.."
	Mousse nodded and turned around, mubbling something about freebirths under his breath.  Unfortunately, he didn't say it quiet enough.
	"I've had enough of this talk about trueborns and freeborns, Mousse."
	"I cannot help that I am a trueborn." he said.
	"Just like the rest of us can't help that we're freeborns." countered Natsume.
	"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Jace said.  "There is no such thing as a trueborn . . . or a freeborn."
	Mousse jumped up in surprise.  "How can you say such heresy?"
	"It isn't heresy, Mousse.  Like it or not there's no difference between your so-called freeborns and trueborns."
	"Trueborns are genetic perfection.  We . . ."
	"Simply because someone placed some carefully selected genes inside a metal womb and stirred them together to make you does not make you perfect!" shouted Kodachi.
	"Of course it does."
	"Okay, Mousse." Jace said, leaning against the desk again.  "To make an example:  You think that you're superior to Shampoo because she's a freeborn, right?"
	"Correct."
	"Do you agree with this, Shampoo?"
	Shampoo was about to say something but remained silent.  Everyone in the room looked at her expectantly, but each one knew that she was in love with the other clansman and wouldn't speak up without some proding.  Of course Mousse, having "proper" clan upbringing, was completely oblivious to the fact that love even existed.
	<At least the freeborn knows when to keep her mouth shut.> thought Mousse.
	"Think about this Mousse; What if you were the freeborn and she was the trueborn." said Jace a moment later.
	"She is not a trueborn, therefore it does not matter."
	"But what if she was?"
	"I . . ." Mousse clamped his mouth shut as the words failed him.
	Jace stared at him coldly and continued, "Trueborn or freeborn, we're all human."
	"That's right." said Ranma.  All around the room a murmer of agreement began.  Mousse was unable to counter the words.
	"Now that that's over, I think . . ."  He stopped suddenly and began to caugh horsely.  A moment later, there was a knock at the door.  "Come in." he said trying to catch his breath.
	As the door opened, Nabiki walked in.  Akane snickered as Nabiki figited in the flight suit that she had to wear in order to work in the stables.  In her hands, she carried a single white piece of paper.
	"This just arrived from the judges."  She said.
	By now, Jace had gotten his breath back. "Well, read it." He said.
	"I already did." she said, smiling broadly.
	"I meant to the rest of us."
	"Oh . . . well, do you want the gist of it or the long version." she said.
	"Whichever is cheaper." Ryouga joked.
	Nabiki shot him a dirty look and, opening the letter read:

> It is my pleasure to inform the mechwarriors, commander and personnel of < >Jusenkyo Stables, that they will participate in the championship match to be < >held at this stadium.  Congratulations. <
 
>Your opponents will be the "Dynasty." The champions of stadium fourteen. <

>This is a double elimination match.  The first round of this match will take < >placeone week from today. <

	"And it is signed by the owner of the stadium, Mr. Sanzinin." Nabiki concluded.
	Everyone began to cheer and clap.  Jace whistled loudly to get their attention.
	"Well," he said.  "It looks like I can drop what I was about to say."  He paused and smirked as Ranma and Ryouga let out an unmuted sigh of relief.
	"Normally I'd be making comments about the battle today.  But in light of this news." he paused.  "Everybody's dismissed!  Go out and have some fun!"
	Immediately the room was filled with chatter, as chairs grated against the floor and people began to file out.  
	"Ranma, Ryouga, you two stay here."
	The two boys paused at the door and turned to face Jace.  
	"I thought we were dismissed." said Ranma.
	Jace walked over to them slowly and pushed the door shut.  Both boys couldn't help but think he looked extremely tired for some reason.
	After a moment, he turned to face them.  "I need to finish what I was talking to you two about." he said.
	They both gulped.
	"I've been running this stable for almost fifteen years now.  Did you know that?"
	"No." they said in unison.
	"Hmm. . . well I have, but I've been working here for a lot longer." he paused and sat down, motiong the others to sit as well.  "My dad started these stables the year the clan invasion began, it'll be sixty this year.  In the time I've been working here, I've seen thirty teams go in and out of this place."
	"What's that got to do with us?" asked Ryouga.
	"In thirty years, I have never seen a pilot that could match the caliber of combat skill you two show."
	"You mean that?!" Ranma said, practically screaming.
	"Yeh. . . I do, but. . ." he paused as a fit of coughing overtook him again.  Ranma and Ryouga moved to help, but he waved them away and continued, ". . . but, you two have some serious problems."
	"Like?" they both asked, still concered.
	"Your attitudes." he said.  "You both want to get the record for the most kills made in this stable.  That's fine, it's good to have a goal . . ."
	"Then why . . .?" Ranma began.
	"Let me finish." he said finally catching his breath.  "It's good to have a goal, but don't let that goal interfere with your character and don't let it endanger others."
	Neither boy spoke.
	"That medal that you both want so badly, is just a useless piece of metal." Jace said.  "What else will it do?  It won't do anything."
	"It says were good fighters." Ryouga countered.
	Jace laughed and said, "A piece of metal doesn't say your a good fighter."
	"Maybe not. . . but it helps." Ranma added.
	Jace shook his head and stood up, saying, "Just remember, that that medal comes with a price, just like everything else.  And that price usually more than you're willing to pay, but it's always higher than you _should_ pay."
	"We aren't planning on getting killed." said Ranma.
	"No one ever _plans_ on getting killed, Ranma." Jace said.  "But often, when you're paying a blood price, it's somebody else that gets killed for that greed."
	Both boys stood silently, abosrbing what they had been told.  Jace pushed each of them toward the door and said, "I'm not breaking up any more fights between you two.  From now on, you break up your own."
	"Well . . ." they both began as Jace shoved them out the door.  
	"Come on." he said as he moved in front of them and began to walk away.  "We you made the championship, when we catch up to the others, first round's on me."
	Ranma and Ryouga said nothing, but followed Jace out of the stadium.


	The teammates convened about a half an hour latter at the Nekohaten.  A small, well kept bar just outside the stadium gates that was run by an old couple that looked more like trolls than humans.  
	The rush that occured whenever a match let out was over, and only a few regular patrons remainded, the teammates had no trouble finding a table.  As they sat, the old man bounded over to them.
	"Well hello!" he said.  "Welcome to the Nekohaten!  I'm . . .
	"I know who you are Happosai." said Ranma.  "We drink here after just about every match, and have been for almost a year now!"
	Happosai smirked and "accidentally" knocked a glass of water over on Ranma and glomped onto her breast.  "I know that my dear, but the old lady says if I don't say that I've had it." 
	"Get it off of me!" yelled Ranma.
	Ryouga, laughing, snagged Happosai by the shirt and yelled, "Hey, Cologne!  The old pervert's at it again!"
	"I am doing no such . . ." he was cut off as a gnarled walking staff sailed through the air and implanted itself in his mouth.
	The staff carried Happosai out of Ryouga's hand and into the wall, a second later an _extremely_ old woman walked out of the kitchen.  "Quit harassing the customers, Happy!" she said.  Turning to the group she asked,  "The usual, gentlemen and ladies?"
	The team all replied in the affirmative and the old lady bounded toward the kitchen.  She returned a moment later carrying two trays loaded with mugs of sake, beer, and other assorted drinks, as well as a kettle of hot water for Ranma.  Jace handed her a few C-bills and she bounded back into the kitchen.
	The rest of the team took their respective mugs, most of them downing the contents in one gulp.
Genma announced the next round was on him and he called for more.
	Less then an hour later, both Genma and Soun were passed out, with the rest of the team in a comfortable state of relaxing.  Ranma was sipping at his fourth mug of sake when he noticed Jace hadn't even finished his first mug.
	"Yo, Jace." he said.
	Jace apparently didn't hear him and just kept running his finger lightly over the rim of his mug. Ranma repeated the question.
	"Hmm. . . what is it Ranma?"
	"Why arent you drinking?"
	Jace shrugged and said nothing.  
	"Jace," Akane said, "I was wondering something?"
	Turning to face her, he asked, "What?"
	She turned in her chair to face him better and asked, "You're one of the best pilots around, why don't you fight in the competitions?"
	"I just don't fight anymore."
	"Anymore?" asked Ryouga, joining in the converstation.
	Jace shook his head and said, "I used to be a mechwarrior, but I gave that up a long time ago."
	"Why?" Ranma asked.
	"I'd rather not talk about it." was the reply.
	"But . . ." Akane began, but she stopped in mid-sentance as the door to the bar burst open.  All the team members (with the exception of Soun and Genma) spun in their chairs to see what had happened.
	Nine people, dressed in ocean blue jumpsuits walked though the door.  Behind them, walked a man that easily towered over everyone in the bar by at least a couple of feet.  The gathered patrons had no trouble recognizing him as a Clan Elemental.
	The man in the lead motioned to a table for the others, while he walked to the bar.
	"Drinks for my points, freeborn!" he called to the old woman, who pointedly ignored him.
He angrily repeated himself.
	"I don't mind serving clansman," Cologne said, "but if you're going to drink here, you'll address my as 'Cologne' or 'Barkeep,' understand?"
	The man fumed for a second, but he was thirsty, so he let the insult slide.  "Very well then, 'Cologne,'" he said.  "I am Galaxy Commander Herb, formerly of Clan Wolf."
	"Nice to meet you." She replied, somewhat sarcastically.  "Now, what would you like?"
	"The strongest drink you have for my mechwarriors and myself."
	Cologne made a show of thinking, and then said, "Alright, have a seat and I'll be right out."
	Herb nodded curtly and went back to his group.
	A moment later, Colonge walked out carrying a tray and deposited the drinks on the table.  Herb picked up the mug and took a sip.  He spit it out almost immediately.
	"You call this 'strong' you stupid freebirth?!"
	Cologne swung her staff at him, but he easily caught it in mid-swing.
	"You insolent . . . so you want a fight do you?"  Herb yelled, wheeling back his hand for a punch.
	"If I were you . . ." said Kodachi, slowly turning to face the clansman.  "I would learn some better manners in the presence of a lady."
	"Stay out of this, freebirth." Herb retorted.  "Or you are next."
	"You dare to threaten I?" Kodachi screamed, as she stood up and drew her ribbon.
	"I said, 'stay out of this.'" 
	That was more then Ranma could take.  Angrily, he stood and pushed his way in front of Kodachi to stand between her and Herb.
	"Let the old women go." he said.  Cologne, after prying her staff out of Herb's grip bonked him solidly on the head.
	"Who said I'm old?" she scolded.
	Ranma jumped up, rubbing the bump on his head.  "I was trying to help, you old ghoul!" he screamed.  Behind Herb, he heard the rest of the newcomers laughing.
	"Typical freeborn sentiement!" shouted a young man wearing a tiger skin cap.
	Ranma ignored him and faced Herb again.  "Just who the hell are you bastards anyway?" he asked.
	"We are clansman." said Herb.  "I am Galaxy Commander Herb, leader of the Dynasty Stables Mechwarrior contingent.  Who are you?"
	Behind him, Ranma heard some of the others gasp.  <This is our competition?> Ranma thought gloomily.  However, that didn't stop him from saying, "I'm Ranma Saotome of Jusenkyo Stables Mechwarrior Team."
	"So you are the lambs which we shall slaughter next week." Herb said smuggly.
	"Why you. . ." 
	"A team of freebirths has no chance of beating a team comprised solely of trueborns." said the older warrior behind Herb.
	Ranma fumed silently as Herb laughed at the statement.  Ranma clenched and unlenched his fist and would have punched Herb, if Jace hadn't stepped between them.
	"For a trueborn," he said, "you have the manners of a dog."
	"W. . . what?!" Herb stammered.  "You dare to . . . to . . ."
	"I know all about how the clans operate Galaxy Commander." Jace countered. "I was a bondsman to Clan Jade Falcon for about six years, before I was released."
	"The clans do not release bondsman."  Herb retorted.
	"Escape counts as release."
	"Coward!" Herb yelled.
	"He's braver than you are!" shouted Akane.
	The two teams stood almost simultaneously, their battle auras raging.
	"Well?" asked one of the clansman.
	"We fight!" Shampoo retorted.
	"No!" Jace shouted.  Everyone turned to look at him.  "Let's go." he said.
	"WHAT?" the teams shouted in unison.
	"Jusenkyo Mechwarriors, let's go!" he repeated.
	Each of the teammates started to protest, but some cold stares made them cooperate and they walked out, muttering curses the whole way.
	Behind them, they heard Herb say, "Typical freeborn cowardice!" 
	The rest of Herb's team burst into gails of laughter.
	"Ignore them." Jace commanded.
	"If that is how you handle a fight," Herb shouted after them, "I shall enjoy watching you pilot!"  	
	The team continued walking, the clansman's laughter echoing in their ears.
	"I want everybody in his or her respective barracks as soon as we get back to the stables." Jace said solemnly.  "Understood?"
	The team could only mumble and curse, Jace could see the questions in their eyes, but the questions were ones he couldn't. . . wouldn't, answer.
	As they reached the stables a few minutes later, they said their 'good nights' and left, the sound of slamming doors echoing through the building.
	
	Shampoo walked a few steps behind Mousse as they moved toward their respective rooms.  Outside his room, Mousse stopped and gave a _very_ curt 'goodnight' to Shampoo before he began to open the door.
	"Mousse?" She asked.
	"What is it, Mechwarrior Shampoo?" he replied.
	"Why you think Jace leave like that?"
	Mousse appeared to contemplate the question for a moment and then said, "I assume that he did not wish to endanger Cologne by allowing a fight to break out."
	"But whole team made of good fighters.  And Shampoo see Cologne fight all time."
	"True, but still, I rather doubt that Jace is a coward."
	Shampoo nodded her agreement and began to walk away, but at the last minute she stopped and walked back toward Mousse.
	"What is it now, Mechwarrior Shampoo?" 
	In answer, Shampoo leaned forward and began to kiss him, Mousse roughly pushed her against the opposite wall.  "Wh. . ." she started.
	Mousse glared at her and said, "I have told you before, Mechwarrior Shampoo, I do not relate with freeborns!"
	"But. . . Shampoo love you."
	Mousse backed up in shock.  <She . . . loves me?  But. . . that is not the clan way>  He stood for a moment trying to sort his thoughts.  <She has tried to act kindly to me before but . . . love?  No . . . I doubt that.>  "I do not believe you, Mechwarrior Shampoo."	
	Shampoo looked at him, her face betrayed that her feelings were badly hurt.  <We aren't in the clans anymore, Mousse, why can't you let them go?>  "It true, Mousse."
	"No it isn't." he said.  "Love is nothing more than a second-hand emotion reserved for the artisan caste to compose poetry by."
	"But . . ."
	"Goodnight, Mechwarrior Shampoo." he said, walking into his room and bolting the door.
	Shampoo stood in the hall staring at he door for a second and thought <You're right about Jace not being a coward, Mousse.  But love _is_ important and I do love you.>  Wiping a tear from her eye, she walked into her own room and closed the door.  Laying down on her bed, she buried her head in the pillow and began to cry herself to sleep.

	Ranma, of course, ingored the order to go to bed and instead went to the gym.  He couldn't believe that they had just walked away from what should have broken out into a fight.   He angrily began to punch on of the wooden poles that he had placed in the gym for just such occassions.
	Unfortunately, the action just made him madder, and he broke the pole.  Swearing he pulled the remains out of the ground and inserted another pole.  
	<How can you talk about courage and then run from a fight?> he thought as he began punching again.

	Akane was in bed long before anyone else, but she couldn't sleep, the confrontation with Herb had put her more on edge then she thought.  It had been a long time since she had fought hand to hand (aside from the typical pummeling of Ranma and Kuno, but that wasn't really fighting), and she no longer felt really confident in her martial arts skillsl.  <Guess, I spend too much time inside 'mechs now-a-days.> she thought.  <Well, I do something about that. . . right now.>
	Throwing aside her blankets, Akane stood and stretched.  Moving to her closet, she pulled out her old gi.  A moment later, she was dressed and heading out into the hall toward the gym.  About halfway there, she noticed that the light in the simulator room was on and decided to investigate.  What she saw when she entered, filled her with a sense of shock and panic.
	Jace was leaning heavily against the simulator with his hand, covered in blood, was over his mouth.  At his feet was a small pool of fresh blood.  Long forgotten instincts kicked in, and Akane immediately rushed to his side.
	"Are. . . are you alright?" she asked, her voice choking with concern.
	He pushed her back angrily and began to answer, but stopped as he began coughing up more blood.  Ignoring his push, Akane put her arm around his shoulders and tried to lift him, but he was too heavy for her.
	"L. . . l . . .let go." he commanded, his voice still choking.  To Akane, it sounded like he was angry at her, instead of being concerned about his health.
	"You're sick," she scolded.  "I've got to get you to Dr. Tofu."
	"No doctors." he coughed.
	"But, you need . . ." 
	"No doctors!!" he repeated, still fighting for breath.  Akane reluctantly let go and he leaned back against the simulator.  She backed away a step, but her eyes betrayed the concern she felt.
	"What's wrong with you?" she asked.  "You need to go see . . ."
	"No doctors. . ., Akane." he said, finally getting back his breath.  "I've waited this long to die, I've no intention of letting them make me live longer."
	The words hit Akane like an LRM.  <Waited this long to die?>  "What do you mean?" she asked.
	"Might as well tell you," he replied, still shaking.  "Sit down if you can find away around the blood."
	She moved to one side and sat, it was then she noticed that the blood wasn't only coming from his mouth.  It was also leaking out of his eyes, the sight made he sick and she had to turn away it.  "I'm listening." she said, trying to sound tough.
	Jace wiped off his eyes and looked at her.  "I'm dying, Akane.  I have been for a long time." he said bluntly.
	<WHAT?> she wanted to shout, but she didn't, instead she asked, "From what?"
	"Radiation poisoning." he answered.  "When I was nine, I was helping my brother in the core on a jumpship.  I knew I wasn't supposed to be there, but I had insisted."
	"And?"
	"We had a core breach and got trapped against the wall.  Daniel, my brother, couldn't stop the core from going critical, so he sounded abondon ship.  There was only one escape pod in the core room, so he shoved me into it.  But before the launch was completed, some radiation seeped into the pod, not enough to kill me, just enough to 'hurt' me."
	"Is that what . . ." Akane began to ask, unsure of how to ask the question.
	"Yea." he said.  "I was trapped in the pod for a week with that radiation.  The medics checked me out after I was picked up and told me I had this radiation poisoning a couple of days later.  They also told me that it would take a minimum of thirty years to kill me."
	Akane didn't know what to say.  Ever since she had known him, Jace had seemed fine.  Well,   their was that cough of his, but for some reason she had assumed that it was caused by smoking or something when he was younger.
	"Isn't there anything you can do?" she asked.  He shook his head no.  "Is this why you gave up being a pilot?"
	"No."
	"I didn't think so." she said.  "But, I don't understand, if you knew that you were dying, why didn't you just walk out and let somebody blow the shit out of you on the battlefield?"
	"Because nobody can kill me!  Why the hell do you think people nicknamed me 'Phoenix'?" he answered, standing up suddenly, his voice tensed with anger.  "I was the luckiest damn person in the corps!  Akane I got my mech shot out from under me more times then I can count!  But every time, I'd walk away with nothing worse then an occassional broken bone!"
	"Then why'd you quit?" she asked.  "Even a phoenix runs out of luck sometime."
	"I just quit." was the reply, he appeared to be calming down.
	"Just decided to get out of the fighting, huh?"
	"No, Akane." he said, getting angry again.  "I quit because the fight went out of me!"
	"Huh?"
	"It was my sec. . . thir. . . fourth year of being a mechwarrior, about a month after I made captain." he explained.  "I had been fighting non-stop in a vain hope that somebody would kill me.  Well, about the time I made captain, I met a woman named Amanda Black, Amy the guys used to call her.  I fell for her the minute I saw her, and trying to make sure she was safe made me realize that I had something to live for." 
	"Where is she now?" Akane asked.
	"She's dead!" he yelled, almost crying.  "I loved her.  But I would never get close to her, I'd do anything to keep her away from me, simply because I didn't want her to know I had radiation poisoning.  You see back then, it was still believed that you could contaminate others if you had it.  Anyway, no matter what I would say, she'd always act nice to me.  But, one day, just before a mission during the invasion, I really blew up at her.  She stormed away, and I was glad, I thought 'Yes!  She'll keep away now.'  I was wrong."
	"How do you mean?"
	"The movement was a disaster, the clans tore my unit apart and forced us to retreat."  As he said it, Akane saw the look in his eyes that said he remembered the mission like it had just happened.  "I was covering the rear of the retreat in my Behemoth ,my legs got shot out from under me and the mech went down.  I guess I blacked out for a minute, because the next thing I knew, Amy's Jenner was over top of me, trying to help." he paused to catch his breath and continued.  "The last thing I saw before I passed out, was about two dozen LRM-20's slam into her torso, and her mech exploding.  Do you know what that's like."
	"No."
	"I don't expect you to.  But, I never thought . . ." he choked back another sob.  "I mean. . . I nearly killed her with what I said, but she saved me anyway.  And, just before I saw her die, she told me that . . ."
	"That what?"
	"She told me that she loved me."
	"My God." it was all Akane could say.
	"That's why I don't fight anymore, Akane, I just couldn't bare what happened."
	"I . . . I'm sorry."
	"Thanks for listening to me."  As he said it, he looked at her and smiled.  "But . . . I'd kind of like to be alone right now."
	Akane nodded and began to walk away, but stopped as Jace called her name.
	"Akane," he said, "I've answered all of your questions.  Will you answer one for me?"
	"If I can." she replied.
	"Do you have any feelings for Ranma?"
	"Wha. . . I . . . of course I don't."
	"Really?"
	"I . . ." she stopped and thought about it.  <_Do_ I have any feelings for Ranma?> she asked herself.
	"If you do," Jace continued.  "tell him.  I never told Amy."
	Akane was stunned and could only nod dumbly as she walled out.  <I'm sorry for you, Jace.> she said to herself as she resumed her walk toward the gym, trying to sort out her thoughts.
	<I . . . I guess I . . . sorta . . . like Ranma.  Don't I?>
	She was still pondering the question as she tried to turn on the gym lights, only to realize they were already on.
	"Who. . .?" she began, before she recognized Ranma's all too familiar ponytail.  He was punching a wooden pole feverishly, around him lay several other pieces of splintered wood.  Between breaths, she her him saying:  "Coward!  You damn coward!"
	"Who's a coward?" she asked.
	Suprised, Ranma stopped the punches and turned toward her.  "Jace." he said bluntly.
	"WHAT!?" 
	Ranma looked at her coldly and resumed punching the pole as he spoke.  "You saw how he ran from those clan bastards!  I mean . . . my God . . . I've seen him fight before and he could have probably killed them all!"
	"Sometimes it takes more guts to walk away from a fight." Akane retorted.
	Ranma stopped again and walked toward her, his face angry.  Akane prepared her comeback for his insult.
	 "I just needed to work off some steam." he said, suprising her.  "I'm going back to bed."  With that, he pushed past her and walked away, leaving her staring at the space he had just occupied.
	<You should say something!> the voice in the back of her head told her, but she couldn't.  
"S . . sleep well." was all she could manage.  He acted like he hadn't heard and as she saw him continue to walk back toward his room, she moved to walk into the gym.
	"Akane?"
	She stopped and turned to look at him, but his back was still to her.  "What?" she asked.
	"I still say girls make lousy mechwarriors."
	<WHAT?>  She thought, getting ready to pummel him.
	"But. . ." he turned to face her.  "You're doing better.  Good Luck during the championships."
	She stood back in shock, like she had been slapped and could only manage a weak, "Thank you, Ranma."
	"Anytime." he said, walking away.
	No longer angry, Akane suddenly felt very tired and decided to hold off her workout till morning.  <I love you Ranma Saotome.> she said to herself.

	Once Ranma had shut his door, he flopped down on his bed and pulled his arms behind his head.  <She is cute.> he thought. <Especially when she smiles.  Oh Akane, why don't you smile more often.  Why . . . eeekkk, I'm sounding like Kuno!>
	He sat up and hit his head a couple of times.  <Concentrate on the match dummy!  You can think about girls any time.  Winning's all that matters!> he thought.
	Having scolded himself enough, he laid back down and closed his eyes.  <And you, Galaxy Commander Herb . . . you're gonna be the first one I take down next week.>
	With that, he was asleep.

*************************************End Part 1

O.K.  Here's the first part of the "Mechwarrior Team Jusenkyo" story.  If you haven't already figured it out,  "Jace" is the character I play in the actual Mechwarrior (tm) RPG.

I debated about using myself as a character because the team owner had a lot of lines in the first part and I didn't want to sound like I was steeling the story.  Unfortunately, I already know the ending of this story, and I couldn't think of an appropriate Ranma 1/2 character to use for the team owner because of it.  (O.K. thats the only foreshadowing I'll give you!^_^)

The bar scene was originally going to end in a fight, but I decided against that in favor of some different conversations.

This story contains a lot of terms that you probably don't know if you don't play or read Battletech, so I'll give you a brief rundown of some of the things.

-The phrase "when they were cool enough"-- refers to the fact that the weapons a 'mech uses causes it to heat up rapidly.  If a mech overheats, it shuts down and is useless until it can cool down to a safe heat level.

-PPC is an short-hand way of saying a Particle Projectile Cannon--Which uses magnetic accelerators to fire high-energy proton or ion bots that cause damage through both heat and high damage.

-LRM is short-hand way of saying Long Range Missle -- indirect missiles that are fired at long  distances and are used in racks of 5, 10, 15, and 20.

-The Clans are another set of factions trying to take over the innersphere.  The clan ranking system is different than that of the innersphere.  Herbs "Galaxy Commander" ranking is roughly equal to a four star general.  In the clans, when a person is born, they have only a first name.  Later, when (if) they receive warrior status, the are then referred to as "Mechwarrior" and then the name or by their rank after they have a better rank.  Later on, they are given a chance to earn what is called a "Bloodname" (please don't ask me to explain that) through a series of one on one matches with other possible bloodname candidates.  Once earned, the bloodname is used as the clansmans last name until they die.  
	(Authors Note) It was because of this no last name bit that I chose Shampoo and Mousse to be clansman.

-Trueborn -- is a clan designation of a human that has been created through use of genetics.  They are produced in artifical wombs from carefully selected gene samples taken from only the greatest clan warriors.

-Freeborn -- the clan designation of a human that has been born through the natural union of a man and woman.  They are considered to be inferior to trueborns and are given very little respect.  The alternate form of this word, "freebirth" is a considered to be the worst insult one clan warrior can give to another.

I have no idea if clansman defect into the Inner Shpere, but I needed it to be that way in this story so I decided to use it.  If I am wrong, I most humbly beg the forgiveness of any I have offended.

I hope you like this story, even though it doesn't have the usual level of comedy (and I should warn you, I have other fanfics in mind that have almost no funny scenes in them at all).

All Ranma 1/2 characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi and the company that publishes them.  All names, references and paraphernalia assosiated with "BattleTech" is the property of FASA corporation.

Comments and Criticisms are requested, but limit them to story content, not on grammer and spelling.
As per usual, all flames will be read, thought over, laughed at and promptly discarded.

Thanks for reading.

Phoenix@citynet.net			James Jones:  The Blood Phoenix