Part Six
Boom, Boom, Sha-Boom!
Seated inside a large movie theater, Ranma, Akane,
and Konatsu waited for the show to begin. As the rest
of the audience filed in, Konatsu gazed around
apparently confused before turning to look over at
Ranma.
"So are you going to tell me why we are here?" he
asked.
Ranma patiently opened his box of Chocolate Sesame
dip sticks, taking a bite before answering. "I figure
that Krin has a better chance of finding us if we check
into any motels."
"In Tokyo? Ranma there must be over fifty Hotels,
not to mention all the other Hostels and Youth Centers.
Krin is not going to search every one of them in one
day."
"Yes he will, he's already proven that. I also
figure he and his cronies can find a way into the
Internet."
"And?"
Ranma shrugged. "All they have to do is a search
for our names and next thing we know, unannounced room
service."
"We use fake names."
"Right. You have a fake I.D. card too?"
Konatsu shook his head and sat back. "How about
going back to my place?"
"Nope. Krin found Akane's address, what's to say
he doesn't have yours?"
That much was true. Konatsu could only agree and
slumped down in his seat trying to get comfortable. "I
just do not like being this much exposed. It is too
risky."
Ranma leaned forward. "How is Krin going to find
us? He can't, so relax. You don't see Akane having
any problems with this."
Seated between the two men, Akane sat holding two
2 liter cups of water in her lap silently listening to
the conversation as she slurped on the straws.
"How are you doing?" Ranma asked her.
Akane paused, then drew the straws from her mouth.
"I am fine, Guardian," she replied.
Ranma jumped not ready for the change. Drawing in
a breath, he leaned close again. "Say uh, could you
like give use a heads up when you're going to do that?
I'm not used to the Jekyl and Hyde routine."
"I'm sorry, Guardian."
Akane blinked, then she turned her head sharply
around to him. "Stop it, Ranma. He doesn't know any
better, okay."
"Alright, alright," replied Ranma.
Another twitch, Akane's expression dropping.
"Guardian, where are we?" asked the Regent.
"We are about to watch a movie," answered Ranma.
"Movie . . . some form of visual stimulus?"
Ranma laughed. "Yeah, I guess you can say that."
"What are we watching?"
"Akane?"
"Who else?"
Konatsu reached into a pocket and produced his
ticket stub. "It's a foreign movie. `Lethal Weapon
Six: Another Case of Mayhem'. Hmm, this might prove to
be interesting."
The lights in the theater dimmed. Akane reached
over and gently tugged on Ranma's sleeve.
"Ranma, are you sure we're safe here?"
"Of course, Akane. There's no way Krin can find
us. Now relax and enjoy the show."
Akane tried to relax, but something pressed at the
back of her mind, a feeling that they should leave
before it was too late. The movie started, and she
forced it away settling lower into her seat.
* * * * *
Zed listened to T's update on their status, and of
the trap they had planned for Krin when he arrived.
[Okay, T. Good job, Agents. You handled this one
well for being on such limited resources.] he said.
"Hey, Zed-man. You've got the premier team on the
scene," said Jay. "Nothin wrong can happen now."
[Don't speak too soon, Agent J. The Mocabians are
concerned about the Regent.]
"As well they should be," replied Elle.
[It's more than that, Elle. When I told them that
the Regent had been transferred from his carrier, they
went into a mild state of panic.]
"Why?"
[The Mocabian lifeform cannot handle certain
environments, one being our very own planet.]
"I don't follow you, Mister Zed," said Kasumi.
"If the Mocabian is a protoplasmic life, then Earth
should be an ideal place for them."
[For short periods, uhm?]
"Kasumi."
[Yes, Kasumi. You see they need a certain
humidity factor to maintain the liquid portions of
their bodies.]
"Well that explains why Akane was drinking all
that water," said Ukyo.
Kasumi appeared to be worried all of a sudden.
"Kasumi, is there something wrong?" asked Elle.
"There might be. I noticed that Akane was
drinking increasingly large amounts of water over the
past few hours."
"You think that could be a problem, big-sister?"
Nabiki said.
"Well . . . if Mister Zed's information holds
true, then I think it was a mistake to send Akane out
like we did."
T could see Zed's brows furrowing together.
Quickly, Elle went over to the computer. After several
minutes, she drew back clearly stunned.
"She's right," Elle finally said.
"What is it, Elle?" asked T.
"I input Kasumi's observations into the medical
computer. Based on our previous scan of the Regent and
Akane's metabolisms . . . it appears that they both are
dying and fast."
Groans passed through the agents at the turn of
events.
"This is great, this is just great!" exclaimed
Ryoga.
"And how are we going to find Ranma?" asked
Kodachi. "They shut off their watches."
[So, Jay. Nothing can go wrong, eh?] said Zed.
"Alright, Zed. We just made a slight mistake
that's all."
[Slight mistake? Did I mention that the Mocabian
fleet will be over Tokyo in . . . four hours?]
"No, but I guess it's too late to complain," said
Tatewaki.
Zed twitched ready to unleash on him, but T
quickly drew his attention.
"We will find them before they arrive, Zed," he
said.
"We will?" said Jay. Elle kicked him in the leg.
[Please do, T. If the Regent is not there and
unharmed, Tokyo might not exist in the near future.]
"We will not fail."
Zed's eyes drifted across them, then the screen
went blank. A sigh of relief went through the agents,
but only for a short moment.
"Man, I cannot believe our luck!" said Jay.
"Well it was a good plan up until now," Ryoga said
to T. "Now what?"
"We'll have to search the city," replied T.
"I repeat Evil Kuno's question, T. How we find
Ranma?" said Shampoo.
"Blind luck, Shampoo," he replied.
"That's not very good, boss," Mousse said. "I'm
an expert at that and I know it's not a good thing to
be relying on."
"Okay, standing here won't help us find Akane,"
Nabiki said. "Let's do something now before Krin shows
up to add even more trouble to this problem and--,"
Nabiki paused to squint at something in the
strands of Mousse's dark hair. "And kill all of them
in the process," she finished while moving over to him.
Without warning, Nabiki lashed out smacking Mousse
at the side of the head. He yelled, drawing back.
"Hey, what did I do!?"
Nabiki stamped a foot down on the floor. "Looks
like M.I.B. Tokyo will be needing an exterminator in
the future," she said.
They all looked at the crushed remains of the
insect. Ringo shot out of his chair, forced his way
through them and knelt close to it.
[Wilytokee Kludifcu!!!] he exclaimed looking back
to T.
"What!" he shouted.
[Deekulyiid!]
T stood up looking frantically around the room.
Jay frowned.
"Yo, T. What's up?"
"That was a bug Nabiki just killed," answered T.
Confused looks were exchanged between the others.
"Yeah, and?"
T spun around. "Not a bug bug, Jay. A Bug, as in
eavesdrop."
Elle knelt down next to the crushed remains. It
certainly did not look like an species she had ever
seen on earth. "Krin," she muttered.
"Search the room!" cried Jay and the agents
scattered. They clambered over consoles peering over
and between the fixtures in the Command Center.
Mousse, shimmying up a pole to the overhead lights,
suddenly let out a call.
"Hey, I got one up here!"
The small dark Listener immediately darted across
the room in a blur as knives, spatulas, books and
anything else streaked up towards it. Just short of
the door a thick sticky appendage caught it up, jerking
the Listener into Ringo's open mouth. A sharp crunch
and chew ended its life.
"Nice catch, Ringo my-man," said Jay.
[Okkiee Taka, Lilieekiou.]
"Yeah, yeah, whatever."
Ukyo suddenly let out a shriek. "I got one!" she
shouted, chasing another listener out of it's niche
under a chair. A quick toss of a spatula sliced it in
half.
"T, this is going to take us all day," said Elle.
"We've got to find Ranma before Krin does."
"Right," said T. "Everyone check each other. We
can't take the chance that one of these bugs are on
us."
"You think one of those things would be stupid
enough to touchdown on one of us?" asked Jay.
A sharp slap from Elle at the base of Jay's neck
sent him staggering. "Yow, Elle! What'cha doing,
woman?"
Elle grabbed Jay by the back of his collar. She
turned the lapel up and the remains of a Listener fell
to the floor.
"That answer your question?" she said.
The rest of the agents quickly checked each other
out, finding several more hiding amongst them.
"That bastard Krin," snarled Tatewaki as he nursed
a small lump on his head. "I cannot wait to get my
hands on him."
T was furious. If the Listeners were on them,
then two to one Ranma, Konatsu, or Akane had been
bugged as well.
"Ringo, sweep the rest of M.I.B. . Everybody else
take a section of the city and start searching for
Ranma."
"T, that's a lot of ground to cover," said
Tsubasa.
"Then let's not delay," he replied running for the
exit.
* * * * *
Explosions wracked the large screen, gunfire and
cries echoing around the theater. Ranma flinched
sharply as yet another rip of machine-gun fire traced
after one of the heroes in the movie. He blinked
slightly amazed by all of the action foreign films
could deliver. Nothing like some of the ones he'd seen
here, but nevertheless quite an impact.
Looking over to see how his current charge was
doing, Ranma found Akane staring transfixed at the
screen. Her mouth hung slightly agape, eyes wide as
two saucers.
"Akane?" he whispered giving her a slight nudge.
Akane blinked, then looked over.
"What?"
"You looked lost. Are you two okay?"
"Well I for one can't help but wonder how anyone
can believe such silliness, but the Regent I believe is
having the time of his life."
A flutter of eyelids told Ranma that the Regent
was in control now.
"Guardian, are you humans always in such turmoil?"
"Uh, no. This is all just make believe, your
Highness. Entertainment."
The Regent/Akane gazed back up at the screen.
"Certainly exciting. I could learn to enjoy this."
Ranma snickered, humored by the Regent's comments.
Tipping slightly forward, he watched Konatsu studying
the movie with close interest.
"Well, what do you think, Konatsu?"
Konatsu arched a brow. "This Mel Gibbson's style
is awkward. His kicks are slow, and he lacks grace and
flow."
"And the movie?"
"Humorous. I would have subdued the villain by
now."
Ranma shook his head sitting back. "Never ask a
Ninja to critique an action film," he sighed.
The film was nearing it's climax drawing the
attention of the trio. So caught up were they that
they missed the movement in the chairs behind them.
Something pressed up against the back of Ranma's chair.
Probably the foot of the person behind him, he chanced
a quick glance back not wanting to miss to much of the
film.
The face that greeted him sent his blood cold.
"Hello, Ranma," said Krin, grinning broadly.
"Krin," he gasped.
Konatsu and Akane heard him, heads snapping
around. Konatsu started to move, but a sharp prick to
the side of his neck by Binimi's tongue stopped him.
He shuddered then slumped down in the chair. Akane let
out a short moan, the only thing she could do before
Glator's slight flick of a finger to the back of the
head rendered her unconscious.
Ranma stared at his disabled friends unable to
help them.
"So, Ranma. I believe you humans have a saying.
What is it . . . ah yes, Checkmate," said Krin.
Ranma placed his free hand on his watch and
activated it moments before a sharp jolt of electricity
sent him off to join his friends.
"Careful, Morea," commented Krin. "I don't want
him cooked. Not yet."
"We have them now. Let's go," Teq said.
"Wait," replied Krin. He stared up at the screen
for a moment. "This is interesting. I'd like to see
how this image ends."
"What if M.I.B. catches up to us?" asked Binimi.
"They will not. Now be quiet. Humans are being
killed."
Binimi and Morea traded looks, then shrugged
sitting back to watch the rest of the movie.
* * * * *
Jay strained to see through the crowds walking
around the streets of central Tokyo hoping to catch
even a glimps of a familiar face. T guided the car at
a moderate pace down the road; in back Nabiki and
Kasumi monitored their scanners in case one of the
three activated their watches. The rest of the gang
had spread out over the entire Shinjuku/Central Tokyo
districts in a valiant attempt to find their three
friends. Unfortunately, Ranma had done his work well
and everyone knew that time was running out fast.
"We ain't gonna find Saotome like this," said Jay
sitting back in frustration.
"Don't give up yet, Jay," replied T.
"I'm afraid Jay is right, T," said Nabiki. "This
is futile. I have to say this, but our best bet is to
hope Ranma has a reason to reactivate his watch."
Jay looked back. "You mean hope Krin finds them?"
She shrugged. "As much as I hate to admit it,
yes."
"Krin is only after Akane now, Nabiki," said T.
"He might kill Ranma and Konatsu for revenge."
"It's for revenge that he won't. Not right away
at least. If he's all this evil demented character
you've painted for us, then no doubt he's going to take
them as well as Akane."
"Are we speaking from experience?" asked Jay.
Nabiki noted the light giggle from Kasumi,
smirking at her. "Not experience. I just happen to be
familiar with these type of characters."
"Hmm. I see now. You're just as much of a pirate
as Krin is."
"I am not!" exclaimed Nabiki, stiffening at the
insult. She started to protest, then paused to think a
moment.
"I prefer Entrepreneur, thank you very much."
Jay snickered peering back out the front window.
He pondered Nabiki's theory. "Say T, Nabiki could be."
"Do you think Krin has them?"
Kasumi's scanner suddenly started beeping.
"Oh goodness," she muttered.
Nabiki peered over, a solemn expression written on
her face. "Looks like I was right," she said, taking a
hard swallow.
"Where are they?" asked T.
"They're moving," replied Kasumi. "West, towards
the foothills."
"Fuji?" said Jay giving T a knowing look.
"Nabiki, get online with the others. Tell them to
head for the Onashi Observatory. We'll meet them
there."
As Nabiki did as instructed, T wheeled the car
around the next street, heading for the highway.
Kasumi updated the position of Ranma and T shook his
head.
"We don't have a chance of intercepting them
anytime soon. Krin's lead is to great," said T. "Our
only chance now is to gather our forces, then close in
before they can lift-off in their ship."
"Then why are we going back to the observatory?"
asked Jay.
"Most likely Krin's ship is hidden somewhere's
close by."
"Is that a hunch?"
T nodded.
"As long as Ranma's watch is on, we'll be able to
track Krin."
"Krin is no fool. He'll discover Saotome's
tracker soon enough. Let's hope it's not before we are
close enough to pick up the lead without it."
Jay was right and T felt the urgency rush through
him as he increased speed.
* * * * *
It was a bright gleam of light that greeted Ranma
from his involuntary slumber. He felt dizzy, unable to
orient himself, wondering what had happened. Slowly,
things started to come back to his mind. Ah yes, the
last thing he recalled was being seated inside a movie
theater watching some foreign film, Akane and Konatsu--
.
Akane?
Konatsu?
. . . Krin!
Abruptly, Ranma sat up immediately wavering as
blood rushed through his temples. Looking around, he
found himself lying at the center of a large round pad;
Konatsu a short distance across from him. The room
around them appeared to be a kind of control room not
unlike the command center back at M.I.B. Tokyo. He
heard a short whine and peered back over his shoulder.
Akane lay on a flat table with some sort of
glowing bubble surrounding her body. He could see her
wriggling about trying to escape, but her effort proved
futile. A mechanical arm slid into position above her,
it's steely sharp tips gleaming under the light
centered on her. Krin and the rest of his pirates
stood around the room watching with expectant glee as
their leader prepared to do his work.
"Akane!" cried Ranma leaping to his feet.
Krin turned away from the controls. "So, Ranma.
I see you have recover just in time to witness our
extraction of the Regent from your pitiful female."
"Get away from her!" shouted Ranma.
Akane let out a moan. "Guardian!" she wailed.
"Hold on your highness . . . Akane. I'll get you
out of there in a moment!"
That brought a laugh from Krin and his crew,
angering Ranma even further. He charged towards them
ready to fight the whole lot, but upon reaching the
edge ran into something hard. He bounced back tumbling
to the floor.
What the hell, he wondered while shaking away the
pain. Carefully, Ranma crawled back over to the edge.
He reached out and his hand pressed up against an
invisible force field. The pirates laughter increased;
Krin walking over to him.
"Stupid, Ranma. You would think I would allow you
an opportunity to interfere with my plans?"
"I swear, Krin. If you so much as hurt either of
them in the least bit, I'm going to pound you into
nothing!"
The toothy grin returned. "I do not foresee this
happening at anytime. You would do well to keep your
threats back, Ranma. Once we are on our way to the
Planetarium, I have another difficult choice to make."
"What choice?"
"Weather or not to eat you alive, or dead."
Ranma drew back.
"I knew that would get your attention. Now if you
will excuse me, I must go and finish preparing Akane
for extraction."
Ranma pressed up against the force field again.
"Krin! Krin don't you do this!"
"Be silent, Ranma," replied Krin.
It was no good Ranma realized. Unless the rest of
M.I.B. arrived soon the Regent would be in Krin's
hands, and the three of them garnishing some alien
dish. Frantically, he looked around trying to find any
small clue that would get them out of this trap. Ranma
spotted their weapons and nuralizers on a smaller table
across the room. He could see the watches among them.
A light glow from one told him that Krin still did not
know that they were being tracked. Now if the others
thought to check the scanners, rescue might be
possible. It would still take some time, and who knows
if they had seen his alarm or not.
Kneeling next to Konatsu, he began shaking him.
"I've got to stall for time," Ranma muttered to
himself. "Lets just hope it's enough."
* * * * *
The urgency of the situation had the agents
gathered at the Onashi observatory in rapid time. T's
hunch was not far from the mark and they soon found
themselves standing at the edge of a wide field freshly
plowed for next seasons planting. Two cars sat
abandoned at the side and their initial scan of
lifeforms verified that the pirates had been there.
Jay peered across the ground through a pair of
binoculars, then brought them down turning to Nabiki.
"Are you sure that tracker is here?" he asked her.
Nabiki held the portable scanner up rechecking the
coordinates. "Yep. This is the place."
"There's nothing here," said Ukyo.
Elle took the binoculars from Jay giving the field
another look. "T, Krin's ship was too large to be
missed by anybody," she said. "You think he's using a
cloaking device?"
T remained quiet for a moment. He studied the
terrain then shook his head. "No. The energy readings
would be higher."
"So where are they?" wondered Tatewaki.
Shampoo peered over Nabiki's shoulder at the
screen. "Funny blinking dot say Ranma, Akane, and
Konatsu here in field, but Shampoo not see how."
"So what's our next course of action?" asked
Ryoga.
Jay drew his blaster, powering it up. "Only one
thing left, and that's going out there," he said
gesturing ahead.
They spread out, forming a skirmish line along the
edge of the field. Weapons were powered up; Jay
glancing up and down the line checking to see if
everybody was ready. Next to him, Kasumi powered up
the Pulse Energy Rifle.
"You gonna be able to handle that, Kasumi?" he
said watching as the tri-barreled rifle cycled.
Kasumi slung the rifles strap over one shoulder.
"I'm fine, Mister Jay."
"Oh-kay," replied Jay. He looked over at T
gaining a nod, then at Elle. She flashed him a thumb
up.
"Well as the Duke would say, YO!"
They started out across the field.
* * * * *
"GUARDIAN!" Akane's adopted tremolo voice cried up
to the overhead. Around her, Krin, Binimi, and Morea
positioned the instruments for the operation as Qu'tok
ran a final scan over her body.
Inside their strange prison, Ranma and Konatsu
took turns ramming their bodies up against the
invisible wall, desperately trying to break through.
Another attempt had Konatsu floundering back on the
floor.
Ranma knelt next to him. "Konatsu?"
Konatsu slowly looked up at him. "Ranma, I do not
think we are going to get through that anytime soon,"
he said.
"We've got to keep trying. Akane and the Regent's
lives are at stake!"
Another cry from Akane brought Ranma around. "Be
with you in just a moment, Akane."
"Ranma, do something!" shouted Akane.
Krin chuckled. "I do not think he's going to be
able to save you, Akane Tendo."
Akane glared up at him. "You won't get away with
this, Krin! M.I.B. will see to that."
"This resistance is admirable," said Binimi. "For
such a small morsel, you do put up a good fight."
Ranma slammed an angry fist against the barrier.
"Krin. Damn it don't do this!"
"And like I said before, Ranma. Why?"
"Because . . . because it's wrong that's why!"
"Oh yeah. That is really going to stop him,"
muttered Konatsu.
"What do you want me to say!" Ranma shouted at
him.
Krin smirked. "Stupid theory, Ranma," he said
continuing his preparations. "You just don't know how
much credit we have to gain from holding the Regent."
"Look, if this credit is anything like money, I'm
sure M.I.B. can make it worth your while not to hurt
them."
That stopped Krin. The notion alone was worth
considering. What a reputation he would gain.
Extorting credit from the Galaxies prime law
enforcement agency, what a--. Krin shook the thought
from his mind.
"M.I.B. would not do such a thing, Ranma. I do
wish you would stop delaying me. It's starting to get
annoying."
"Hey, how do you know? We want them both back in
one piece. Otherwise the Mocabian fleet that's coming
here might just incinerate Tokyo."
Krin spun. "Mocabian fleet? Coming here now?"
"Yep. Should be here soon."
Lost expressions covered the pirates faces,
stunned by the news. Konatsu suddenly kicked Ranma
hard at the back of the leg. He let out a cry, taking
Konatsu up by the collar.
"What's that for?" he growled low.
"You idiot," Konatsu snapped back. "Why did you
tell them that?"
"I had to tell them something!"
"That was not the thing to tell them, Ranma. Did
you think that Krin might decide to leave now and cut
Akane open once we've left Earth?"
Ranma paused. He arched a brow, cutting his eyes
to one side for a moment. "I'm hoping he'll stall long
enough for the rest of the gang to find us. My tracker
is on."
"Ranma, the Mocabians are a good two hours away by
my guess. Krin's not going to stall for that long."
"Then we'll try something else."
"In here?"
Ranma and Konatsu looked over to the pirates.
They were grouped around the operating table in intense
conversation.
"Our current condition will not allow us to fight
off the Mocabians, Krin," Qu'tok said.
"We need to go and right now," added Morea.
"I don't recommend that," said Alid.
"Why not?" asked Krin.
"I set the levels as Qu'tok instructed, but if we
try to run without D'skta's full support, we risk
blowing the engines apart."
Frowning, Krin turned to his crewman. "What does
that have to do with anything?"
Binimi spoke up. "Alid is right, Krin. You
cannot attempt to extract the Regent from Tendo without
the help of the computer."
Krin growled. He narrowed his eyes glancing over
to Qu'tok. "Is this true?"
"I'm afraid so, Krin. Reaching the Planetarium
with the Regent still inside Tendo is not wise. They
are already showing signs of expiration. I do not
think either of them will arrive alive."
That small bit of news only upset Krin further.
He gnashed his teeth, stifling the cry he wanted to let
out. After a moment, he regained control of himself.
"D'skta!"
[Yes, mighty one.]
"Knock off the comedy, D'skta! Conduct a star
scan of the surrounding sectors and be quick about it!"
The computer laughed while it worked, stopping
abruptly as its sensors picked up the emissions of
several ship approaching Earth.
[Krin, we are in serious trouble,] reported
D'skta.
"How long D'skta?"
[46 Biases, give or take a few.]
"Ranma, what's a `Biases'?" Konatsu whispered.
Ranma shook his head. "I don't know, but
hopefully it means sooner than expected."
Taking in the information, Krin weighed his
options carefully.
"Qu'tok, the operation we are about to conduct.
Is there any way to shorten the procedures?"
"Why yes there is, Krin. Several ways in fact."
"And with the Mocabians just a short distance out,
how many of them would we need to omit to gain control
of the Regent alive?"
Qu'tok made several calculations before answering.
"Just one. Step two."
"Leaving us with--?"
"More than enough time to lift off and depart
before the Mocabians could turn any weapons on us."
Krin clapped his hands together. "Let us begin
then."
Akane looked frantically back and forth between
the two pirates. "Wait. What's is this step two
you're skipping!" she cried.
Leaning closer, Krin arched his brows humorously
at her. "Oh, it's not really an important step for us
to succeed, Akane Tendo."
"It isn't?"
"Of course not."
"So what part is it?" asked Ranma.
"The Anethsesia phase," answered Krin.
"RANMA!" cried Akane.
"Krin, don't you do it!" shouted Ranma again,
beating his fist against the force field.
"No more delays!" announced Krin. With a sweep of
a hand all the sounds coming from Ranma and Konatsu's
desperate attempts of escape were muffled. Akane began
to cry, straining harder against the field.
Taking up a long, wicked looking blade Krin smiled
evilly down on his helpless victim. "You won't feel a
thing, your majesty," he said inching the blade closer
to Akane's chest.
"What about me!" cried Akane.
"Oh, you'll feel everything, but hey even I have
to have some fun on this trip."
The blade passed through the restraining field,
pressing down on Akane. A short swipe cut away the
buttons of her shirt, exposing her breast. Akane
clenched her eyes tight waiting for the first sting of
pain. As Krin placed the cold metal against her skin,
D'skta suddenly called to him.
[Krin,] said the computer.
"Not now, D'skta. Can't you see I'm busy!"
[Oh. Then I suppose the M.I.B. agents approaching
the ship are of no consequence then?]
"WHAT!"
Krin drew away from the table, spinning around to
face the main screen. D'skta anticipated his command,
displaying a view of the surrounding field and the line
of agents moving towards them.
"How?" stammered Krin too stunned to do much more
for the moment.
Qu'tok rubbed his chin. He glanced over at Ranma
and Konatsu, letting out a low hum. Quietly, he walked
over to the table where their equipment lay. A brief
once over found his attention locked on Ranma's watch.
It out of all the others was the only one on and he
smirked.
"Very good, Saotome," said Qu'tok.
"What have you found?" demanded Krin.
"He used our own trick on us," replied Qu'tok.
Holding it up for all of them to see, Qu'tok's hand
closed around the watch crushing it to pieces. Ranma
and Konatsu took fearful swallows as the pirates
approached.
Krin glared at them hard.
"Not wise, Ranma," he said.
"What do we do about other agents?" asked Teq.
"Crush them!" declared Glator.
"No," said Krin. He paused looking back up at the
screen. "Yes."
"Fight now?" questioned Morea. "Krin, we have got
to be moving on before the Mocabians get here!"
"I know, Morea. Qu'tok is there still time to
greet our soon to be new guest?"
Chuckles emanated from Qu'tok, enjoying the idea.
"Depends on how long it takes to round them up," he
replied.
"Should not take long," replied Krin. "Morea,
you, Glator, Alid, and Koo prepare to `greet' M.I.B.
properly. Qu'tok, Teq, Binimi stand ready incase
things get out of hand."
"And the operation?" asked Binimi.
"It can wait for the moment."
Krin's crew quickly went to prepare their traps.
For a moment, the Pirate leader stood before the
holding chamber thinking, then looked back up at his
two prisoners.
"I will deal with you personally, Ranma," he said
with a snarl.
Ranma and Konatsu could only watch helpless as he
strode away to join the others.
* * * * *
The line of M.I.B. agents stopped, waiting for
Nabiki to update the position on Ranma. She stood
fiddling with the controls of the scanner banging it a
few times on the side. Jay went over to see what was
wrong.
"The signals gone," Nabiki told him.
"Uhoh. That means Krin found the watch," he
replied. "And two to one he knows we're here."
"What now?"
Jay gazed across the field then called over to T.
"Yo, man. I think we're busted!" he said.
T knew what that meant, smirking at the news.
"How close were we to the signal?"
Nabiki called up the last position of the signal.
"About Fifty meters."
"Where the hell can this ship be?" asked Elle
looking around.
"I like the idea of a cloaking device," added
Tsubasa.
"This ain't Star Trek now, people!" said Jay. "No
beam me aboard Scotties here on Earth."
Shampoo let out a huff. "Beam aboard Scotty . . .
you are such Lilleekiou!" she said.
"Hey, T-man! What the heck does that mean, and
why do they know about it?"
T hid his grin from Jay. "Later, Jay," he said.
"Alright everyone, this is not the time to be arguing.
Let's keep moving until we find something."
"And what if something finds us first?" asked
Mousse.
"We handle it," replied T.
"I'll take point," said Ryoga moving ahead to lead
the way.
Slowly the agents resumed their advance watching
for any signs of trouble. Ryoga soon reached the spot
and held up a hand. He stood looking around in silence
then turned to face them. A slight shrug and shake of
the head mirrored the confused expression on his face.
T motioned for him to move on. He did, making his way
across their path at an angle. After a few more steps,
his next one hit the ground and kept on going through
the soft earth.
Ryoga disappeared, his cry cutting the air.
"Stay back!" shouted Elle before anyone could rush
to the spot.
"Ryoga!" called Ukyo.
Elle told her to be quiet. They watched for any
sign of movement, but there was nothing. Giving
Kodachi a signal to follow, she started making her way
towards the spot. Elle could see a large hole in the
ground as she approached. Dropping to a crouch,
together the two women inched up to the edge and peered
down.
"Ryoga?" called Elle.
".yeah?" came his weak reply.
"Are you hurt, Ryoga?"
".no."
"Well, that is a good sign," commented Kodachi.
Elle strained her eyes trying to make out Ryoga's
features in the dim light. "Ryoga, what's down there?"
A long silence followed. Elle and Kodachi traded
worried looks, then they could hear slight movement
coming from below. A short grunt sounded; Ryoga
muttering something to himself as he recovered his
senses. Jay called to Elle and she looked back over
her shoulder.
"Well?"
"He's alive, lost but alive," she replied.
"What is down there?" called Tatewaki.
She shook her head unable to answer him.
"Ryoga Hibiki, stop all of this mystery and tell
us if you found my darling Ranma," Kodachi shouted down
into the hole.
"I didn't find you're `Darling' Ranma, Kodachi,"
replied Ryoga. A short pause followed. "Elle?"
"Yes, Ryoga?"
"Get everyone down here."
"What did you find?"
"I think I've found Krin's ship."
* * * * *
Retrieving a rope and flashlight from the car, the
team soon found themselves standing on the upper half
of Krin's pirate ship. It sat in a hollowed out
cavern, the perfect hiding spot from unwanted eyes.
"Those reports of unusual rumblings," said T to
Elle and Jay, recalling the police reports they
reviewed just the other day.
"Krin is such a sly son-of-a-bitch," said Jay.
"He definitely deserves to get his as busted!"
"Let's find a way inside first," added Elle.
Tsubasa suddenly called, motioning for them to
come over to his position. He pointed down to a round
panel on the hull, several buttons lit in a recess at
the center.
"Door?" he asked.
"Could be," replied Ukyo.
"Does us no good if it is anyway," said Mousse.
"Looks like it's locked, and unless anyone knows the
combination, or has a key, we're not getting in anytime
soon."
"Got a key," said Elle.
"We do?" asked T.
She smiled. "Ryoga--,"
"Right. One access coming up."
Ryoga knelt down, feeling the surface of the hatch
with his fingers. His sensitive touch found the weak
spot in the metallic surface. "Stand back," he said,
drawing back a fist. With a sharp rap, the hatch
vibrated then popped up exposing the crawlway below.
"Amazing," commented T, impressed by his skill.
"Breaking Point Technique," said Shampoo. "Great
Grandma teach Ryoga well."
"M'man Ryoga. Gimme some dap on that," said Jay
exchanging taps with him.
T shined the flashlight down into the opening. It
looked clear and he drew his blaster.
"Shall we?" he said stepping down onto the first
rung.
It was not a far climb down into the ship, the
bottom opening to a large corridor lit by several soft
blue lights running along the top. An adjoining
corridor led off to the left; T carefully checking it
as the others made their way down. As soon as everyone
was there, he quickly formed a plan of action.
"We will have to split up," he told Elle and Jay.
"I'll take Mousse and Shampoo with me and check
forward."
"I'll take Tough-Guy and check that side
corridor," said Elle.
"Guess I get the back of the bus," said Jay.
"Let's try to be smart about this while we're
moving along," continued Elle. "Krin knows we're here
remember that, so be careful okay, Jay?"
"You ain't worried about your partner now all of a
sudden?"
"I'm more worried about our fledglings."
"We'll be alright, Elle," said Kasumi.
"Yeah, and we better get moving before time runs
out on us," added Nabiki.
Jay gave Elle a confiding wink, tuning to lead his
team down the corridor. T told her to call if they run
into any trouble, leading Mousse and Shampoo down the
opposite end.
Ryoga stood eyeing her for a moment. "Something
bothering you, Elle?" he asked her.
The tension at the back of her neck would not go
away, Elle drawing in a deep breath trying to relax.
She shook her head.
"Let's go," said Elle.
* * * * *
Jay and Tatewaki inched carefully down the empty
corridor leading the way watching for signs of Krin and
his pirates. He knew they had to be setting some kind
of trap for them knowing how much of a disadvantage
they were here in unknown territory.
Rounding a bend, another crossing intersection
came into view. Jay signaled a stop.
"Man this place is confusing," he said.
"I did not think this ship was that large,"
replied Tatewaki.
"Got to be some sort of an illusion."
Cutting a quick glance around the corner, Jay
stepped out into the center. All clear, he waved the
rest of the team forward as he moved along down the
right extension. Suddenly up ahead a figure stepped
into view turning to face them. It was Morea.
The clatter of safeties sounded, weapons quickly
trained on her. "Freeze!" shouted Jay, and Morea
flinched drawing back slightly as she stared at
assortment of barrels pointed at her.
"Wow, I didn't think you M.I.B. guys had such an
arsenal," she said.
"We got quite a few things for your ass if you
want us to introduce them to you!" shouted Jay. He
started moving towards her.
"Watch out, Mister Jay. She could be part of a
trick," Kasumi said.
"Yeah, I ain't fall'n for it either," he replied.
"Kneel your tiny butt on the floor, NOW!"
"It's a deck. We're on a ship, remember?" replied
Morea.
"Who cares? You heard the man, get down on the
floor!" ordered Tatewaki.
Morea frowned dropping to her knees. "Sheesh!
Such ignorant humans, and rude too."
"Shut up!" Jay said. "Turn around, slow!"
She did, and the team quickly surrounded her.
Nabiki forced Morea face down, pinning her arms behind
her.
"Okay, now where are Ranma, Akane and Konatsu?"
she asked.
"Roasting in the oven," cracked Morea with a
laugh.
Nabiki twisted an arm. "Not funny, girl. Now
where are they!"
"Wouldn't you like to know!"
Ukyo smirked at Morea. "Something's wrong," she
suddenly said. "They could not have sent this pip
squeak down to stop us alone."
"It doesn't look like anybody else is about to
show up," said Kodachi.
"No. Ukyo's right. I don't like it at all," Jay
said.
Morea laughed again. "You don't think I can take
you all by myself?" she said to them.
Nabiki twisted her arm again. "Not while your
butt is lying down on this floor."
"Oh really?" said Morea, cutting her eyes back to
one side. "D'skta."
Where once there was a floor beneath them, now
there was empty space as the ships computer dropped
them down into the bowels of the ship. Surprised cries
echoed through the darkness then the several splashes
followed as the team landed suddenly in a pool of
water.
Jay broke the surface, huffing and clearing his
face to see where they were. The water was only waist
deep and he stood up. Kasumi burst forth from the
water next to him hacking and coughing from the
mouthful of water she had inadvertently swallowed.
"You okay?" Jay asked her.
Kasumi wiped her face. "I lost the rifle, Mister
Jay," she answered.
"Probably at the bottom of this pool."
Kasumi looked around then took a deep breath,
diving back into the water.
Around the pool the rest of Jay's team splashed
about, more confused and angry for allowing themselves
to be trick like this. Kasumi resurface hefting her
rifle in one hand.
"Here," she said handing Jay a blaster.
Jay made a quick sweep around him. "Where is
she?" he said.
Morea was nowhere in sight and that only made
things worse.
"She better not show her face again!" raged Ukyo.
"How are we going to get out of here without her,"
snapped Tatewaki.
As if she heard, Morea suddenly exploded from the
center of the pool, splashing down on her back.
"Hi!" she said.
Jay and Kasumi trained their weapons on her.
"Not very funny, kid!" said Jay.
Morea pushed out her bottom lip in a pout,
apparently hurt by his words. "You don't like my
room?" she asked him.
"Get us out of here!"
"Okay, okay." Morea stopped, peering at the rifle
Kasumi held on her. "Are you planning to shoot tanks
with that?"
In a flash, Nabiki made her way over to Morea.
She grabbed her by the scruff of the neck, forcing her
around.
"You little bitch. Get us out of here now!" she
shouted.
Morea sneered up at her. "I have every intention
of getting you all out of my pool. You're messing it
up anyway."
"Just do it!"
A dark gleam came to Morea's eyes. "But not as
your prisoner."
Nabiki tensed, a throttled cry passing through
grit teeth as a surge of energy went through her body.
The rest of the team too stood held in rigid shock
unable to move or react. In seconds, Morea's attack
had rendered all of them inert, and they collapsed
floating eerily on the surface of the dark water. Morea
gazed down upon Nabiki's lifeless face.
"So what were you saying about not being able to
handle you all?"
* * * * *
"T," whispered Shampoo waving him over to her.
She stood at the corner of another corridor checking to
see if the coast was clear. Something caught her eye,
something that made her stop and bring T's attention to
it. He stole up behind her.
"Trouble?" he asked.
"No. Not yet anyway."
He peered slowly around the corner. There halfway
down was an open doorway, the room beyond dark. It was
the first one they came across in such a state and that
immediately aroused their suspicions.
"Is trap, no?" asked Shampoo.
"Yes," replied T.
"We avoid then, yes?"
"No," answered T.
Shampoo smirked, confused by T's response. "Why
we be silly, T? Is not better to skip weak attempt of
capture and find Krin?"
"And what if Krin is in there? Having him roaming
around behind us is not a wise move either."
"So what we do?"
Thinking, T turned motioning for Mousse to move up
across from them.
"What's up, boss?" he called lightly over.
"Cover us, and I'm not `boss'."
Mousse flashed him an Ok.
Rolling his eyes up, T refocused on their current
situation. Gingerly, he stepped out into the open and
started moving towards the room with Shampoo close
behind. They neared the entrance and T moved to the
opposite side of the corridor. Holding his blaster up
at the ready, a slight gesture with his head signaled
Shampoo to move up. She pressed against the wall, then
taking a light breath whipped around the corner.
The space was completely empty.
Shampoo relaxed. Slightly disappointed, she
turned around. "T, we out of luck. No sign of bad
guys. Room as empty as Mousse's head."
"Hey, that's not fair!" protested Mousse.
"There's nothing wrong with my head."
"Why you keep useless notions about Shampoo in
there then, eh?"
"Useless! One day Shampoo. One Day you will be
mine!"
"Feh! See, silly talk. Sign of no brains.
Nothing up there."
"Settle down people," said T.
As Mousse fumed in silence, T looked around. This
door was not left open for nothing, he thought. The
pattern does not fit. Something was up he was sure.
"Mousse, take the lead," he said still eyeing
their surroundings.
"Humph! Why don't we just send the `Ice Queen'
ahead. If she's attacked she probably wouldn't feel
anything."
"Who you calling Ice Queen?" snapped Shampoo.
"Please, you two. Don't start--,"
T stopped abruptly as something bumped up against
the back of his head. He turned spotting a thin strand
of webbing dangling from the overhead and followed it
up. There, perched conveniently in the dark recesses
of the crossbeams sat Alid, holding a mass of webbing
in his arms.
"Peek-a-boo," he said grinning down at the
surprised agents.
T and Mousse pointed their blasters up, only to be
ensnared beneath the mass of sticky webbing dropped
down upon them. Shampoo took aim, but from the
darkness behind her several strands snaked out,
wrapping themselves around her. Shampoo dropped her
weapon, crying out as she was yanked through the
doorway.
"Shampoo!" cried Mousse. He struggled to free
himself, T's grunts mimicking his own but it was
futile. Alid was quickly down, looping several more
strands around them and in moments they were
immobilized in a tight ball.
"Ooo, naughty, naughty," said Alid as he disarmed
the two agents.
"You bastards. Let us out of this stuff!" shouted
Mousse.
Alid laughed, humored by the request. A short cry
came from the room, then Shampoo was tossed out bound
tightly by several strands of webbing. Koo stepped
out, dusting his hands.
"See, she's not so tuff once you have her
restrained," he said.
"Shampoo get strange man for this!" she yelled up
at him, straining against her bonds.
"Well, it looks like dinner is served," said Alid.
"By all means after you, my dear brother," replied
Koo.
The two leered down at the helpless trio, but
before they could feed, another voice from up the
corridor stopped them.
"Alid, Koo. Not now!" Teq said.
"What, again?" Alid said in disbelief.
"Look, you know what happened the last time we let
them live longer," protested Koo.
The rifle in Teq's hands came to life, a vicious
snarl forming on his lips. "I said stop. Do I have to
reiterate that to you in a different manner, hmm?"
Both men took hard swallows. "No," they said
together.
"Good. Now bring them along. There will be
plenty of time to feast once we are on our way off this
forsaken planet."
Muttering curses, Alid and Koo took hold of their
struggling prisoners, dragging them along as they
headed back to the control room.
* * * * *
"Jay, wake up!"
Jay's reaction to the frantic voice was a sharp
smirk, wondering why somebody would be bothering him
while he slept. A pair of hands gripped him by each
shoulder.
"Jay, wake up, damnit!" the voice demanded again.
A sharp shake finally brought Jay around. He
looked up, finding Ranma, Kasumi and Kodachi staring
down at him.
"Uh oh. If I see Ranma, then I can guess we are
in some heavy duty trouble," he said.
"Things aren't looking good for us right now,
Jay," answered Ranma.
With Kasumi's help, Jay sat up. He held his head
in his hands for a moment letting the rush of blood
pass, then blinked his eyes and gazed around. They
were in some kind of holding chamber, the room around
them full of alien equipment. On a table lay Akane, an
eerie glow around her. There was a light chuckle, Krin
stepping into view.
"So, the loud mouth finally wakes up," he said.
"Yo, Sat-man. He must be talk'n to you," said
Jay.
"Hey, I've been here awhile pal, so I know he's
not talking to me. And it's Saotome, get right
will'ya!"
"Will you two stop bickering!" Nabiki shouted at
them. "We're in trouble here and all you can do is
fight!"
Krin's laughter brought their attention back to
their present situation.
"I must admit, you Earth M.I.B. agents have
certainly been . . . entertaining."
"Yeah, well you're not going to think that once we
get done kicking the stuffing out of your hide!"
shouted Tsubasa.
"I don't think so, puny human."
Qu'tok and Morea suddenly entered, arms full of
M.I.B. weapons. They dumped them on the table with
rest of them, and joined Krin at the chamber.
"You guys made an awful mess of my home," said
Morea.
Nabiki pressed up against the invisible partition
glaring down at her.
"You little bitch. When I get my hands on you,
you're going to regret ever crossing us!"
Morea frowned.
"I'll bet your hide is tough," she said. "I'm
going to enjoy cooking you."
"Actually, it is probably quite soft and tender,"
remarked Tatewaki. A sharp kick to the rear from
Nabiki silenced him.
Jay stood up. "Krin, you haven't won anything
yet, man," he said walking up to the edge.
"It looks like I'm about to, `Jay'."
"We aren't done yet!"
For a moment, Krin acted as if he was worried,
rubbing his chin. "Yes, your friends. They're being
rounded up even as we speak. As for any other M.I.B.
fools, or the Mocabians for that matter, (heh) we will
be long gone before they can do anything."
"You won't get away with this, Krin!"
Krin smiled. "That's what Ranma keeps saying.
Cute."
Through the main doors Teq appeared forcing a
bound T roughly forwards towards the holding chamber.
Alid and Koo followed with both Mousse and Shampoo
slung over a shoulder.
"You see!" exclaimed Krin. "I do believe the good
guys are winning this little fight."
Teq forced T down to his knees before Krin. "Not
much of a challenge for these two," he said.
"It was like child's play," added Alid.
"I would say easier than--," began Koo, but Krin
cut him off.
"Will you two shut up," he snarled.
Without warning, Krin took T by the throat,
hefting him from the floor. He drew him close until
they were eye to eye.
"So you thought you could defeat me! How sorry
you M.I.B. agents are. Overconfident and ignorant to
the point of being stupid."
The grip tightened; T gurgling as he struggled.
"Now the game is over. I will soon have the
Regent, and you and your friends will be nothing more
than dinner." He sneered slightly. "M.I.B., you
disgust me. Get out of my sight."
A light toss sent T towards the holding chamber.
Ranma called out a warning to Jay and the others, but
before anyone could move, T passed effortlessly through
the pane colliding with several of the others.
"Oops, forgot to tell you all about that little
trick," said Konatsu.
Ukyo rose up on her arms, glaring at him.
"Thanks," she said sarcastically.
Shampoo and Mousse were tossed in on the pile.
The pirates laughed at them then Krin turned to the
table. Binimi stood monitoring the readouts on Akane,
noting the her worsening condition.
"Is she still ready for the operation?" asked
Krin.
"Yes, but I don't think they will last for very
much longer," answered Binimi.
"Then we must cut Akane Tendo open now."
That brought a furious round of protest from their
prisoners.
"You can't kill my sister!" cried Kasumi, beating
desperately on the force field.
"You fiend! How dare you threaten the life of the
Fair Akane," shouted Tatewaki.
"Krin. Don't you do it!" said Jay furiously.
Krin muted the chamber again, tired of all the
distractions.
"Hey, where's Glator?" Alid suddenly asked.
"Good question," said Qu'tok.
"He's probably smashing what's left of those two
M.I.B. agent he went after into jelly," replied Krin.
"Should we go and check on him? He has been gone
awhile," said Teq.
"No. Those two can't harm him. Let's finish this
operation so we can get off this rock."
Leering down at Akane, Krin took up his tools once
more.
"Now then . . . where were we?"
* * * * *
Krin was right about one thing. Glator could not
be hurt by Ryoga or Elle. However, he could not
foresee the future otherwise he might have had second
thought about not checking up on his crewman.
Elle and Ryoga found the corridor they were
searching ended abruptly at a long crawlway leading
down into the decks below. Deciding it would be better
to continue on, they started down, coming out into the
lower part of the ship.
It reminded Elle of the cargo hold she and Jay
just visited a few day ago. She giggled, remembering
what had happened there.
"I missed the joke," Ryoga said wondering what it
was she found funny.
"Long story. I'll tell it to you later," she
replied.
Ryoga shrugged it off. Drawing the Noisy Cricket
from his jacket, he started down the walkway eyeing the
large doors along the left side. Elle followed him,
the tension increasing as they moved along.
Soon they reach an intersection and Ryoga stopped.
He looked back with a questioning shrug wondering if he
should go on. Elle figured why not. They had gone
this far without any encounters, no sense in stopping
now. She gave him a nod and Ryoga stepped out.
He did not expect to find the hulking figure of
Glator lying in wait, nor expect the quick sharp slap
that caught him across the face. Propelled through the
air, Ryoga landed hard, his tiny weapon clattering
across the walkway and down through an opening. Elle
fired a shot, but Glator was on the move dodging out of
harms way. He reached out grasping her gun hand by the
wrist and pointed it up. The pressure was to much,
Elle grimacing as she reluctantly let the gun fall from
her hand.
Glator kicked it away, then tossed Elle over to
join Ryoga. "Glator kill M.I.B. agents with his bare
hands!" he growled moving towards them.
"Run, Elle!" said Ryoga shooting to his feet. He
took stance ready to fight the hulking monstrosity
coming for them. Elle glanced up the walkway noticing
that it was a dead end with no way up or down.
"Run where, Ryoga!" she cried.
"Just run!"
Elle backed away as Glator lunged for Ryoga.
Letting out a yell, Ryoga let lose with several rapid
blows dotting Glator's massive body that would have
normally stopped an opponent dead in their tracks. It
did not even faze him, Glator merely shrugging off the
pain. He launched a blow and Ryoga barely side stepped
out of the way. The fist hit the walkway leaving a
deep indentation in the metal.
"Man, how do I get into these fights?" wondered
Ryoga. A retreat was in order and he backed away with
Glator following right along.
Meanwhile, Elle started working the buttons on the
cargo doors hoping to find one that was not keyed shut.
So far she was having no luck and with Glator pressing
down on them, the choices were getting lesser and
lesser.
A slap sounded, Elle looking up in time to see
Ryoga rocketing towards her. She let out a yell as
they collided, sprawling to the deck.
Ryoga shook the stars from his eyes and sat up.
"I don't think we're going to make it out of here,
Elle," he said.
Elle painfully drew herself up to her knees.
"Please, Ryoga. No jokes okayEEEEEE, LOOK OUT!"
Instinctively, Ryoga rolled to the other side of
the walkway as Elle scrambled away from Glator's fist
crashing down from above. He made a desperate leap,
latching both arms beneath the walking mass of muscle's
chin in a desperate attempt to strangle him.
Glator smirked, stopping for a short moment to
wonder what this tiny man was trying to achieve.
Noticing that his efforts were getting him nowhere,
Ryoga peered over Glator's shoulder.
"Nothing, eh?" he asked.
"Futile," snarled Glator.
Reaching up, Glator grabbed Ryoga by the scruff of
the neck and tossed him up the walkway. He hit the
bulkhead and slid down to the deck grimacing in pain.
Elle fled, running over to where Ryoga lay.
"Ryoga, Ryoga, don't leave me here to face this
thing by myself," she said shaking him by the collar.
Ryoga opened an eye. "I'm not doing to good as it
is now, Elle so I don't think it's going to make a big
difference if I'm here or not."
The heavy footsteps brought Elle around. Glator
stalked purposely towards them, death clearly set in
the maniacal expression on his face. Desperately she
pulled Ryoga over to the last door and hit the buttons
on the panel. There came a hiss and the door slid up.
Thanking God for this timely break, she pulled Ryoga
through the threshold and closed the door.
Boxes and containers of all shapes and sized
filled the cargo hold. Elle set Ryoga up against a
large crate then frantically looked around for anything
to use as a weapon. A long carrying rod stood up in
its holding rack, and Elle quickly pulled it down. She
attacked the control panel on the inside, beating at
the front plate until a satisfying spark flashed
through the panel. She could hear Glator punching the
control button on the other side and inched back.
Nothing happened and the door remained shut.
Relief flowed through Elle. She staggered over to
Ryoga and sat down beside him. For a moment they were
quiet, then Ryoga slowly looked over.
"Nice job," he said.
"Yeah, but now we're trapped in here. All Krin
has to do is pop that door and we're finished."
Ryoga let out a grunt, smiling. "Well the
immediate problem is solved. Anything else we can
handle as it rises."
A sharp blow from the door startled them. Another
one cut the air and a bulge appeared in the metal.
Several more followed, then finally one of Glator's
fist burst through. He drew it back and peered through
the hole.
"I don't believe this!" said Elle.
Glator laughed at them. He reached back through
the opening and hooked his arm up against the inside.
Every sinew and muscle rippled as Glator strained with
all his might. The door let out a creek, then started
to rise.
"Give him an A for persistence," joked Ryoga.
They stood up and started backing away as Glator forced
the door up far enough for him to move up under.
"Still want me to run?" said Elle.
"Yeah. I'll distract him. While he's after me,
make a break for the opening."
"But he'll kill you, Ryoga."
"Better than killing both of us now, isn't it?"
Elle did not argue that fact. Ryoga took in a
breath and stepped boldly up.
"Okay, big guy. Let's try another round," he said
beckoning Glator to come on.
He was not about to be disappointed. Glator's cry
filled the room as he charged. A mighty swing was
barely dodged by Ryoga, thundering into a stack of
containers. As they crashed to the deck, Ryoga ran
behind a large box.
"Ya missed, looser," he said taunting Glator.
All that achieved was to make him all the more
angrier. Furiously, the massive fist came down
shattering the side of the box Ryoga cowered behind. A
pile of gold bricks tumbled out.
"Great. I finally find wealth, and now I've got
to throw it all away," said Ryoga.
Picking up a brick, Ryoga hurtled it as hard as he
could at Glator. He was surprisingly on target,
connecting square at the center of his forehead. The
burly giant let out a growl and staggered back. Ryoga
threw another, but this time Glator was ready. He
swatted it back across the room. Ryoga leaped rolling
across the floor. By the time he stopped, Glator was
on him. A hand latched tight around his throat lifting
him high into the air.
Ryoga struggled, desperately gasping for breath.
The grip tightened and Glator grinned taking great
pleasure in the various expressions crossing Ryoga's
face.
Something suddenly hit Glator across the back. He
flinched as another blow struck him. Turning around, a
third blow landed across his face. Ryoga dropped from
Glator's grasp as he turned to face this new threat.
Elle held the carrying rod in her hands, backing
away as Glator stared down at her. She looked to find
the rod now warped and bent, virtually useless as a
weapon now.
"Uh, just kidding?" said Elle, grinning
sheepishly.
Glator's hand caught Elle beneath the chin,
sending her sailing over a stack of boxes.
Before he could go and put the finishing touches
on her, Ryoga's cry sounded from behind. Glator turned
around, only to catch another stack of containers come
crashing down on his head. Strength or no strength,
Glator could not resist the force and collapsed beneath
their weight.
Ryoga stood chest heaving from his exertions.
There was no sign of movement from the pile and he
sighed. A light moan made him look up. "Elle," he
said rushing to find her.
She lay sprawled out on the deck in a daze,
moaning as she fought to recover her senses. Ryoga
knelt and took her up in his arms.
"Elle, Elle are you all right?" he said patting
her lightly on the cheek.
She swatted his hand away. "I don't care if it's
my birthday, let me sleep!" said Elle in her delirium.
"Elle, Elle it's me, Ryoga. Come out of it,
please!"
Elle shook her head and opened her eyes. "Ryoga?"
"Yeah. I thought I told you to make a break for
it?"
"And . . . and leave you to face that monster
alone? No way."
Ryoga laughed. "Thanks. You saved my life."
"Don't mention it. So where is Big Gruesome at
anyway?"
"Taking a nap up under a pile of crates. Can you
walk?"
Elle tested her limbs. "Nothing feels broken. I
don't see why not," she replied.
"We better get out of here then before Too-Tall
wakes up."
He helped Elle up to her feet, and started for the
opening when suddenly, Glator's hulking frame blocked
the way. Ryoga forced Elle back behind him. With a
hard kick he knocked over several stacks before them as
they retreated into the far corner. Glator let out a
yell of rage, bashing and kicking his way through the
obstacles.
The two agents hunkered down behind a crate
listening as the sounds of destruction grew closer.
"Now we are going to get killed," said Elle
fearfully.
Ryoga chanced a look up over the top, quickly
ducking back down as a small box sailed over head.
"You got any ideas?" he asked her.
"Not at the present moment. You?"
Ryoga grimaced, thinking desperately. He suddenly
took another look over the top, then snapped his
fingers.
"Elle, he's like us isn't he?" said Ryoga
gesturing toward Glator.
She smirked, wondering what he meant by that.
"What!"
"He's a human like us, right?"
"He could be. I couldn't tell you without running
test!"
Anther box smashed up against the wall.
"Elle, yes or no?"
"I don't know!"
Ryoga knew he had to take a chance. Frantically,
he reached into his jacket, then started patting around
his body.
"Great, I lost them."
"Lost what?"
"My shades."
With no hesitation, Ryoga reached into Elle's
jacket and pulled out her shades and Nuralizer.
"Ryoga what are you doing!"
"Playing a hunch!"
Putting the protective sunglasses on, Ryoga stood
up. Glator stood towering over them, a large metal
crate held over his head. Elle doubled up and covered
her eyes.
A snarl sounded from Glator; Ryoga holding the
Nuralizer up. "Say `Cheese'!" he said.
FOOSH!.
* * * * *
FOOSH!
FOOSH!
Bright flashes briefly lit the control room as
Alid and Koo stood taking turns zapping each other with
two of the Nuralizers. Alid giggled like a child with
a new toy delighted by the effects he felt coursing
through his body. Koo leaned forward beckoning for his
brother to give him a burst. He did, and the pirate
immediately went rigid for a moment. The effects
quickly passed and Koo started giggling too, staggering
around like a punch drunk fighter.
Inside the holding chamber, Jay and the rest of
the agents were shouted and screaming at the two,
shielding their eyes against the seductive light.
"Hey, man. Knock that shit off!" shouted Jay. He
held up his arms as Koo zapped Alid once again.
"Will you stop that before somebody gets hurt!"
Ukyo raged at them. A stray burst caught her and she
tensed, shuddering uncontrollably.
Jay caught her before she could fall. He snapped
his fingers in front of her face. "Ukyo, come out of
it. Nothing happened, you're just like you were
before!" Jay said.
She blinked, coming out of her stupor. "Thanks."
"No prob. Wouldn't want you running around do'n
something silly now would we?"
To the surprise of everyone, Krin suddenly raced
over and snatched the Nuralizers from Alid and Koo.
"Knock it off, you idiots!" he growled, crushing them
in his grip.
"Aw, Krin. You take away all of our fun," Alid
complained.
"Fools! You're disrupting the equiptment with
these things, and distracting me. Now get over there
before I place both of you in permanent suspension!"
The brothers cringed, shirking away towards the
operating table. Krin stopped briefly in front of the
holding chamber.
"Do you see what I have to work with?" he said to
them, moving on.
"There has got to be some way out of this thing,"
said Jay looking around their prison once more.
"If there is, we won't find it before Akane gets
cut to shreds," replied Tsubasa.
"Don't say things like that!" Kasumi said. "We
can't just give up!"
"I'm sorry, Kasumi, but Konatsu and I have tried
everything we could think of or do. Nothing works,"
Ranma said.
"Well we'd better try something else and fast,"
commented Nabiki. "Krin's getting ready to cut Akane
open."
Everyone pressed up against the force field
watching helpless as Krin stood with blade held over
Akane's chest. It gleamed in the light, Akane to weak
now to do much more than watch it moving towards her.
". . .Ranma," she gasped low as the tip set down
on her skin.
"NO! Krin don't do it!" cried Ranma desperately.
"Akane!" called Kasumi, tears brimming her eyes.
Krin paused, leering back at them. He turned the
blade to the side and made a quick short thrust. Blood
pooled around the edge of the incision. Akane let out
a cry as the pain rushed through her.
"Krin, we're going to get you!" T screamed in
rage. Kasumi broke down, Jay holding her tight as she
sobbed.
"You a dead man, Krin!" he said. "Once we get out
of here, you are dead. Hear me? Dead!"
"Ranma, do something!" pleaded Nabiki.
Krin ignored them. He drew the blade up a few
inches more, enjoying Akane's tears and anguish.
"Be careful, Krin. You need to peel back the skin
first before attempting any penetration through the
bone," Qu'tok reminded him.
"I know! Can't you see I'm having fun here?"
"Oh, so you get to have fun, but we can't," Koo
said, still smarting from the earlier rebuff.
Krin leveled a vicious sneer on him and he
started, cowering protectively behind Alid.
"Will you all stop bothering me so I can get this
done!" he shouted.
Reaching up, Krin took hold of a surgical saw.
The jagged round blade immediately began spinning, it's
high pitched whine filling the air. Akane moaned as
the tool was positioned over her.
"Now, Akane Tendo, comes the interesting part,"
said Krin.
It looked to be the end for Akane and the Regent.
With the of the M.I.B. agents conveniently contained,
there seemed to be no hope for them at all. That was
until the main doors slid open.
Glator's heavy footsteps stopped Krin. He turned
to see his hulking henchmen walking towards them, Elle
and Ryoga held by the collar in each hand. Elle's face
was turned down in a scowl, arms across her chest in
distinct displeasure.
"So he's like us," she said in a mocking tone,
glancing over to Ryoga.
"Hey, I didn't know!" replied Ryoga.
Glator set them down before Krin.
Inside the holding chamber, a feeling of disaster
passed through the agents.
"Well, there goes our last chance of getting out
of here," said Mousse.
Jay stared at them for a second. His instincts
told him that something was about to happen. "Hold up,
people," he said to them. "Let's not cash in all of
our chips just yet."
Back at the operating table, Krin stood looking
the last two agents over. "Excellent work, Glator," he
said checking out the bruises and cuts on there faces.
"And you're just in time to watch me extract the Regent
from Tendo."
Ryoga's eyes widened slightly as he caught sight
of the bloody incision that ran up Akane's chest. He
tensed but held himself back, not wanting to
jeopardized their position. He cut a narrow gaze at
Krin, eyes slitted menacingly.
"You're going to pay, Krin," he snarled low. "You
and your flunkies here."
"Again, overconfident M.I.B. agents," replied
Krin. "You just don't realize who you are dealing
with."
"Maybe it's you who are just a bit overconfident,
Krin," Elle said.
Krin smirked. "Another stupid comment. Glator,
throw these fools into the holding chamber!"
Krin expected Ryoga and Elle to be immediately
tossed through the air, but Glator stood glaring down
at his leader. Elle looked over at the others. Her
eyes found Jay, and she gave him a quick wink.
"Heh, heh, heh, heh. . . Yo' Krin, standby to get
your world rocked!" he said.
Krin stared up at his man. "Glator did you not
hear me?" he said.
Ryoga smacked his lips, rubbing his chin while
grinning like the Cheshire Cat. "Uh, let me help you
there, Krinny ol'boy," he said. Looking back up at
Glator, Ryoga arched a brow. "Glator."
A massive fist plowed into Krin's face. He
rocketed back up against Qu'tok and together they
crashed headlong into the side of a console. Ryoga
leaped executing a roundhouse kick that caught Teq up
under the chin knocking him across the room. In a
flash, Elle had drawn her blaster, pointing at the
remaining pirates. "Freeze!" she shouted. Stunned,
Binimi, Morea, Alid and Koo slowly raised their hands.
She motioned them away from the table.
"Elle! Elle, get us out of here!" T said.
Glator went over to one of the control panels and
hit a button. The force field abruptly went away and
the agents inside tumbled to the deck.
"Hey we could have used a warning before you did
that!" complained Jay as he stood up.
"Always bitching," Elle said. "How about `great
job' or `nice going' for a change!"
"You did well," said T. Retrieving a blaster from
the pile, he strode over to Krin and Qu'tok. "The
tables have turned, Krin," he said covering them.
Meanwhile, Ranma and Kasumi rushed over to the
operating table. Glator deactivated the field holding
Akane, and they pulled her off.
"Akane," said Ranma lying her gently on the deck.
Kasumi quickly pulled off what remained of Akane's
shirt and folded it into a neat bandage. She placed it
over the open wound binding it tightly around her torso
with Ranma's tie.
"We've got to get her to a hospital," said Kasumi.
Akane's eyes fluttered open. "Ranma," she said in
a hoarse voice.
"Hang in there, Akane. You're going to be
alright. I promise!"
She smiled then her eyelids fluttered again.
"Guardian," she said.
Kasumi felt Akane's forehead. It was hot and she
knew what need to be done. "We need to get them some
water."
"Where's there any water around here?" asked
Ranma.
"You may find water in Morea's section of the
ship," said Glator.
Disbelief covered the pirate's faces.
"Glator?" questioned Morea.
Krin angrily stood up. "Glator, what has happened
to you? Why are you not bashing these pitiful M.I.B.
agents into mush!"
"Yo', you can forget about talk'n down to m'man
Gee here," Ryoga said. He looked over at Jay. "Did I
get that right?"
"You all over it, cuz," replied Jay.
Ryoga smiled. "Glator here is now on our side,
Krin," he finished.
"I have seen the error of my ways, and am more
than willing to assist M.I.B. in apprehending you,
Krin." added Glator.
T laughed. "You Zapped him," he said to Elle.
"Yep. Isn't this great."
"Yuck!" exclaimed Binimi. "You could have at
least left his voice the same. He sounds so . . . odd."
"Not as odd as you all are going to sound after a
few years in a prison," said Tatewaki.
Krin gawfed at them. "We are not going to any
prison," he said defiantly. "This has gone on long
enough. I do believe we should show these fools what
they are really up against."
"Well it is about time," said Alid.
"Don't do anything stupid!" Jay shouted, pointing
his blaster at Krin.
A grin formed on the pirate leaders face, a grin
that continued to stretch disfiguring the humanoid
features. More stretching and popping erupted from the
other pirates, then Nabiki and Kodachi let out
terrified cries as Qu'tok's head sloughed forward.
Arms, appendages, antenna, and other assorted features
rose up from the now useless husk. A mantis like being
pulled itself free, its dark brown skin glistening
under the lights. Alid and Koo also shed the coverings
that were once F and O, pulling three more sets of legs
out along with the rest of their spider like bodies.
Binimi's upper torso continued to rise up to the
overhead, stretching the skin from her original body.
The husk parted at the waist, and a long thick scaly
hide slid out. Most of the feminine features remained,
but where she had held hair was now a broad hood. Her
red snake-like eyes blinked at them, tongue flicking
lightly. Morea's husk had dropped to the deck exposing
her smooth, dark gray skin. The only major change lie
in her facial features; eel-like jaws and eyes
replacing the human features she once had.
Teq reached up grabbing the top of his head and
pulled, parting the skin. A mass of dark brown fur
appeared, then his jaw began to stretch outward, canine
teeth and fangs extending down. Stepping out of his
covering, Teq's wolfish features brought fear to those
standing around him.
But not one of the agents expected what erupted
from Krin's disguise. He was huge, a muscular
reptilian standing on two legs, green scales adorning
his hide. Sharp claws clicked together as Krin flexed
his fingers.
"Now we can play properly," he slurred, the rows
of razor sharp teeth gnashing together.
"Wow," stammered Tsubasa, echoing the shocked
expressions of the others.
To the surprise of the pirates, Jay started
chuckling.
"What is so funny, human?" asked Krin.
"I seen this trick before," he answered him. "I
fact, didn't you have a cousin visit here a few months
back there ah, Qu'tok?"
Qu'tok's mandibles snapped angrily together at the
remark.
"Oh yeah, I forgot. We blasted his ass for trying
to be stupid, ain't that right, Elle."
"Just like we can do to you folks if you want,"
she said.
"It doesn't matter what form you're in, Krin. We
still have you," said Konatsu.
"But you do not have my ship," replied Krin.
<D'skta, disarm these fools!>
[Here I am again saving your hide,] said the
computer.
Abruptly, all the weapons were snatched out of the
agents hands, disappearing through an opening in
overhead.
[Please, Krin. Try not to make too much of a mess
on my consoles.]
A brief growl up at the overhead sounded from
Krin. He gazed back down and clicked his claws
together once again.
"Now we end this game once and for all."
"This was not part of the deal, T," Nabiki said.
"Too late to renegotiate, Nabiki."
Jay took off his jacket, throwing it down. "Okay,
you want a fight. Well bring that ass on, Krin!"
Krin was not about to disappoint him. With a loud
roar he leaped at Jay, the signal for the rest of the
pirates to attack.
* * * * *
Shouts, cries of pain, and the breaking of
equipment filled D'skta's control room as the M.I.B.
agents battled Krin and his pirates for the life of
Akane and the Regent inside her. There would be no
room for quarter, both sides knowing full well what the
consequences were if they were beaten.
At the center of the room Krin fought with Jay,
Ranma, and Glator. They ducked his swipes, landing
punches and kicks holding the pirate at bay while Akane
crawled across the floor towards the main doors. Jay
clung tight to Krin's thick neck, straining as he tried
to bring the pirate down. A sold kick from Ranma to
the stomach staggered Krin, angering him further. He
jerked his shoulder sharply forward and Jay cried out
as he sailed through the air. A swipe at Ranma forced
him back.
"I will kill you, Ranma!" snarled Krin.
"Fat chance on that happening!" replied Ranma.
With fist flying, Ranma connected repeatedly with
Krin's chin rocking him. Suddenly he was caught up by
one wrist and slung painfully down to the deck.
"Hurt?" leered Krin, slinging Ranma around to the
other side.
Heavy blows crashed down upon Krin's head as
Glator came to Ranma's aid. Lifting him up, Glator let
out a yell and tossed the pirate across the room.
"Are you okay, Ranma?" asked Glator.
Ranma shook his head and leaned up on his arms.
"Yeah . . . uh fine, Glator," he answered. Jay
staggered up.
"Yo man, where did he go?"
"Right here human!" cried Krin, leaping towards
them. They collided, tumbling back across the room.
Over in the far left of the room, T, Tatewaki, and
Tsubasa battled Qu'tok. They clung to the insectoid,
holding back his arms; Tsubasa latched tightly about
his upper torso like a cowboy riding a bucking bronco.
Qu'tok thrashed madly about trying to dislodge them.
He lashed out an arm jerking T through the air and
shook him around, but T was not about to release him.
A study kick to the elbow joint made Qu'tok cry out.
He kicked again, hearing the satisfying crack of fibers
and ligaments. The now useless limb dropped down to
the side. T took a step back facing Qu'tok.
"This is for those you've hurt needlessly!" he
shouted. T's fist went into a blur, blow after blow
landing between the Mantin's dark eyes. He tried to
block the barrage, but Tatewaki clung tightly to his
other arm pinning it back against his body.
Finally, Qu'tok staggered. His legs buckled and
he fell forward, letting out one last grunt before
passing out.
"Ah, it is well this cretin has surrendered,"
commented Tatewaki. "Otherwise, I `Blue Thunder' would
have had to show him the true meaning of power."
T's chest heaved, winded by all of his exertions.
He furrowed his brows. "'Blue Thunder'?" he asked.
"Don't get him started," said Tsubasa.
Quickly hobbling Qu'tok's limbs with their ties,
the three rushed to help the other in the melee still
raging around the room.
The crash of chairs and consoles marked Ukyo and
Kodachi's path as they fled before Binimi's menacing
pursuit. Her snake-like body shot over a console and
she came down behind Ukyo. A forearm to the back of
the head stunned Ukyo and she fell. Almost immediately
Binimi pounced, entwining her in her coils.
"III Hhaavvveee youuu nowww!" she hissed. Her
mouth stretched open, Binimi ready to swallow Ukyo down
in one quick gulp. Desperately, Ukyo strained against
the tightening coils. She managed to pull one arm
free, and caught Binimi by the throat.
"K-K-Kodachi!" she called out.
Kodachi turned and gasped in surprise. "Unhand
her, you foul being!" she shouted. A light leap and
Kodachi twirled through the air landing gracefully on
her hands. She executed a perfect backflip, coming
down feet first on Binimi's chin. The coils went slack
as Binimi reeled, but Kodachi was not done yet.
Another handstand, Kodachi spinning around legs spread,
hitting Binimi repeatedly about the head.
The snake-woman crashed up against a console and
sagged down in a dazed stupor.
"Hoh, hoh, hoh, hoh," laughed Kodachi as she stood
triumphantly before her. "Have you had enough?"
Binimi hissed. Her head snapped up, fangs barred.
"Too the likesss offff youooo? NEVERRRR!"
She lunged, but Kodachi jumped effortlessly up
over her head. She came down behind Binimi, turning
with a laugh then realized to late her mistake.
Binimi's tail cut Kodachi's legs from under her.
Landing hard on her back, she looked up finding
Binimi's evil figure rearing back ready to strike.
A fist caught Binimi at the side of her chin, Ukyo
following up with a solid uppercut which sent the alien
reeling. "Bitch!" growled Ukyo, kicking Binimi up over
the top of the consoles behind her. In between their
narrow space, Binimi could hardly move and Ukyo quickly
took advantage of this. She dived over the top and the
sounds of rapid fist blows began. Kodachi, not wanting
to miss out on all the fun, followed her. The consoles
shook violently, a glimpse of a tail or arm briefly
rising up over the edge.
Suddenly, Binimi rose up. She reached out
desperately trying to escape the two raging women, but
Ukyo grabbed her by each end of her hood thrusting her
back down. The beating resumed then abruptly stopped.
Binimi's unconscious form was tossed over the top.
Ukyo and Kodachi stood, leaning against the consoles
exhausted. They stared down at Binimi, then Kodachi
started to laugh.
"That was quite fun," she said, looking over at
Ukyo.
Ukyo frowned, drawing back. "You're sick,
Kodachi," she replied, climbing up over the top of the
console to secure their prisoner.
Facing off against Teq, Ryoga and Kasumi stood
covering Nabiki as she helped Akane move away from
potential harm. Morea came up, specks of electrical
energy sparkling around her body. A growl from Teq
sounded.
"Morea, get the Regent," he ordered her. "I'll
have these fools ripped to shreds in a moment."
Morea gazed over at Nabiki. "With pleasure," she
said moving towards them.
Ryoga started to block her, but Teq pounced
landing on his chest and they tumbled across the floor.
Kasumi cried out as the two fought, then sprang into
action. Without any forethought, she jumped on the
wolfman's back, grabbing his ears and pulled. Teq
howled in pain, drawing back from Ryoga's throat. He
released him and staggered around trying to shake her
off. A sharp jerk, Kasumi fell painfully to the floor.
Teq whirled. "What were you trying to achieve,
woman?" he snarled down at her.
Kasumi cringed, covering her face protectively
with an arm. Teq drew back, but before he could
deliver his swipe, Ryoga gripped him tightly by the
wrist.
"Not so fast buster. We still have a dance to
finish!"
Ryoga's fist launched Teq through the air,
slamming into the far wall with a resounding crash. He
leaped, yelling loudly, coming down to land another
crushing blow to the wolfman's head. Baying in pain,
Teq tried to crawl away, but Ryoga was having none of
that.
"Come'ere!" he shouted latching on to Teq's tail.
A sharp jerk flung Teq over his head, another jerk
returning him back to his previous spot. Several times
did Ryoga do this until Teq's eyes went cross, glazing
over.
"What a wimp," commented Ryoga. "Not even worth
my efforts. Gosunkugi would be a better challenge."
Kasumi giggled. She suddenly gasped. "Ryoga!"
she said pointing towards Nabiki and Akane.
Morea was still advancing on them, arms held up
ready to shock them both. She cackled loudly, enjoying
the frightened expressions written on their faces.
"Weren't you the one telling me how much pain you
were going to inflict upon me, huh hmmm?" she said to
Nabiki.
Nabiki swallowed hard. "Okay, maybe I did speak
just a bit prematurely," she replied.
"Don't try squirming out of this. I'm going to
enjoy frying you into charred embers."
Running footsteps sounded from behind, Morea
turning in time to see Ryoga racing towards her. She
made a slight step to one side and poked a finger into
the side of his arm. Ryoga cried out, jerking
uncontrollably from the electric shock. He collapsed
in a heap at Morea's feet.
Looking up, she spotted Kasumi tying the final
knots in the length of wire binding Teq's arms.
"No, NO! Get away from him, you, you, you HUMAN!"
she screamed.
A length of wiring snaked suddenly around Morea,
tangling her up. Nabiki pulled several more feet from
the shattered console she was at, looping them as fast
as she could around the struggling alien.
"You want power," she said dragging the exposed
ends over to an arching circuit panel. "Here let me
help you!"
"GGGGGYYYYYYYAAAAAA!" cried Morea as a surge of
power hit her. Even as adapt as her system was, it
could not hold the excessive voltages she was now
receiving. Morea made one last shudder, then collapsed
unconscious.
"Persons got to know their . . . limitations," she
said smiling sardonically.
Alid and Koo scuttled rapidly about the walls,
Mousse, Shampoo, and Konatsu dodging the streams of
webbing being shot down at them. Mousse picked up a
chair, shielding himself from Alid's attempt to ensnare
him.
"Hey, why don't you guys come down here and fight
like men!" he shouted at them.
"Silly request," screeched Koo scrambling across
the overhead trying to get a better shot at Shampoo.
"We're having to much fun playing with you now."
"Playing, eh," said Mousse. He pulled on the
chair drawing it back until the webbing around it
stretched tight. "Well play with this!"
The chair snapped up through the air straight
towards Alid. All the Arachnid could do was screech in
terror as it hit square in his face. Alid's hold
relaxed and he dropped to the deck.
"ALID!" screeched Koo, scrambling down to his
brother's side. There was no response to Koo's frantic
calls, an occasional twitch of a leg the only sign that
any life remained.
Mousse, Konatsu, and Shampoo stood before them.
"You give up now, silly spider-thing?" asked
Shampoo.
Koo turned, body quivering with rage. A horrid
shriek made them grimace, then Koo charged. Shampoo
and Mousse leaped away, but Konatsu stood his ground
waiting for the being to reach him. A strand of
webbing shot out; Konatsu ducking aside. Koo went for
him but the ninja rolled lashing up with a foot that
hit him sharply on one side. He staggered dropping
back only to receive another solid blow from Mousse
that knocked the air from him. In desperation, Koo
tried to leap back up to the overhead.
"No you don't!" said Konatsu. A roundhouse kick
sent Koo winging through the air. Mousse rolled back
catching him at mid-section with his feet.
"Coming your way, Shampoo," he said levering Koo
over his head.
Shampoo cracked her knuckles, waiting ever so long
for this chance of revenge.
"Shampoo not like being wrapped up like fly. Take
this!"
Her warcry barely drowned out the smack of her
fist against the forepart of Koo head. He rocketed
back out of control, slammed into a console, slid down
to the floor and was still.
The three agents waited for him to get up, but
after a moment they realized that this fight was over.
Konatsu smiled. "Well if I must say. I do
believe some `dap' is in order here," he said holding
up his fist.
Exchanging curious looks, the couple traded taps
with Konatsu, and they all burst out laughing.
Now there only remained Krin to defeat, and the
pirate leader was showing no signs of surrendering to
them soon. He noticed the suddenly growing numbers of
agents attacking him and realized that something was
amiss. Batting away Tsubasa and Tatewaki, he retreated
to the center of the room and looked around. The only
people left standing were M.I.B. agents, his crew lying
inert or bound helpless on the floor.
The ring of agents closed around him, and he
snarled.
"Yo, Krin," said Jay. "Looks like your people
here ain't got no juice after all."
"You've lost, Krin," shouted T. "Give up now!"
"Yeah, we gotcha and there's no way to escape,"
Ranma added.
They stood waiting to see what Krin would do next.
He slowly looked around him, briefly stopping on Akane.
"I'm not through with you yet, you insignificant
worms," he said.
"So I see you do want us to pound the stuffing out
of you," said Kasumi much to everyone's surprise.
"You know it's bad when Kasumi-girl here is
talking tough, Krin," said Jay. "I'd suggest you just
go on and throw them hands up in the air."
Krin glanced back at Akane again. He leered
slightly at her, then faced Jay. "Not ever, cretin.
D'skta!"
Without warning the lights went out.
* * * * *
The darkness concealed Krin, allowing him to make
his next move. Naturally, the agents charged hoping to
get a hold of him before he made good any escape. That
was not what lay on Krin's mind though, and a confused
scuffle broke out.
"Where is he!" shouted Ranma swinging blindly
around hoping a lucky shot would catch Krin.
"Like we know!" snapped Ryoga from the murk.
Somebody let out a cry, then a crash sounded
followed by several more screams.
"Who was that?" shouted T.
"Sounded like Ukyo!" replied Tsubasa.
"Find a light switch!" said Elle.
Heavy steps ran through the room, then a blow
landed against one of them. A piercing shriek cut the
air, and Ranma immediately recognized it.
"AKANE!" he cried desperately trying to find his
way to her.
"HELP ME!" she shouted.
"Damn, Krin's got Akane!" said Jay.
"It sounds like he's heading for the doors!"
called Tatewaki.
Ranma stopped and listened for Krin's steps. He
concentrated and homed in on the sound. Turning to his
left, Ranma ran not caring who he ran over in the
process. The doors leading out of the control room
parted and Krin's silhouette appeared at the threshold.
He could see Akane struggling in his grip as the pirate
dragged her out.
Jay stood not far away from the doors, turning
around in time to see Krin run out. Ranma suddenly
leaped, and Jay reacted. He dived, barely passing
between the closing doors. They clanged shut sealing
the rest of the M.I.B. agents and Krin's pirates
inside. Rolling to a stop against the wall, Jay
quickly sat up. Krin was already out of sight around
the next bend; Ranma in full stride after him. The
frantic beating against the door brought him around.
"Hold on man, I'll get you guys out of there!" he
shouted.
"Don't bother, Jay!" T shouted back. "Get after
Krin before he kills Akane and the Regent."
"You guys gonna be alright?"
"Just go, man!" shouted Tatewaki.
"Okay, okay, I'm gone, I'm gone!"
Jay sprinted down the corridor, wondering how he
and Ranma were going to be able to stop someone the
likes of Krin by themselves.
It wasn't going to be easy.
* * * * *
Despite her pain, Akane fought and thrashed about
in Krin's grasp trying to get free. Blood began to
stain the front of the makeshift bandage over the
wound, but she continued knowing quite well what Krin
would do to her and the Regent both if he managed to
find enough time to complete his devious work.
Suddenly, Krin flung her through another accessway.
She slammed into the wall beyond and slid to the mesh
deck dazed.
Krin stepped in. He reached over to the panel on
the wall and with a low hiss, the door closed down
behind him. Setting the lock, he turned and glared
down at her.
"Now Tendo, it is time for me to finish what I
started," he said.
Akane's head slowly came up, speckles of light
still playing about her eyes. A clawed hand clasped
around her throat and she was jerked from the deck.
Krin raised his other hand, flexing his fingers.
"Sorry I don't have the proper utensils, but it does
not matter anyway."
Warmth passed through Akane, what little energy
the Regent inside could spare being passed on to her.
It was enough to raise her awareness, and she lashed
out kicking Krin sharply in the stomach, the only real
soft spot of his body. The air rushed from the
lizardman and he dropped Akane, doubling over. Pain
shot through Akane's chest as she landed, but she got
up and ran as fast as her injuries would allow down the
corridor.
"CCCOOOOOMMMMEE BBAACCKK HHHEEERREE!" growled
Krin. Akane staggered around the bend.
Pulling himself to his feet, Krin let out a roar
dashing after her.
* * * * *
"We need to get these lights back on," said Elle.
"Glator, where the hell are you?"
There was a hum, then the lights snapped back on.
Glator stood before one of the wall panels, pressing a
series of buttons.
"About time you did that," commented Ryoga.
"Sorry," Glator replied.
While the rest of the group dragged their
restrained prisoners to the center of the room; T and
Kasumi went to help Nabiki and Ukyo lying on the floor.
Krin's frantic attack had caught Nabiki across the top
of her left shoulder, blood staining the edges of the
slashing wounds. Nabiki grimaced as her sister sat her
up.
"Oh great, my first brawl and what do I get? Cut
like some block of cheese."
Ukyo, the right side of her face swelling from the
blow she took, leaned against T as he lifted her up to
her feet. "Well at least you can say you've been in a
fight now," she said.
Placing Ukyo in a chair, T returned his attention
to their current dilemma. The guys were busy attacking
the door, trying to pry it apart with brute strength.
It was doing them no good though and they stepped back.
"Glator, you can pull these things apart, can't
you?" asked Ryoga.
Glator headed for the doors, but just as he was
about to touch them, a ripple of energy washed across
the surface driving him back. He looked up at the
overhead. "D'skta."
Tsubasa frowned. "Disco?" he questioned.
"The ships computer. Krin still has control of
it."
"Can you override it?" asked T.
"That was not my area."
A laugh sounded, everyone turning to see Qu'tok
chuckling uncontrollably.
"You M.I.B. people still have not learned," he
said. "As long as Krin has control of D'skta, he has
control of this ship."
"You better start thinking about changing that,
buster!" Tsubasa yelled furiously at him.
"Otherwise, I might have to conduct an operation
of my own," added Kodachi, letting out her sinister
laugh.
"There's no time for that," said T. Is there
anyway we can see where Jay, Krin and Ranma are right
now?"
"That I can help you with," replied Glator.
Going to the command chair, Glator activated the
main screen. Parts of it were broken in places, but
enough of it remained so the agents could see the
corridor Jay was currently moving down. Another panel
appeared, Ranma standing before a closed door beating
frantically on the controls on the wall.
"This doesn't look good," said Mousse.
"Why are Jay and Ranma not together?" asked
Konatsu.
"It has to be this computer's doing," Elle
deduced. "It's closing doors, keeping them apart just
like it's trapped us in here."
"That mean Ranma and Jay not together when Krin
find them," said Shampoo.
"And by themselves, Krin will tear them apart,"
finished T.
Glator looked down at the panel again, then drew
slightly back. Scratching the side of his head, he
brought up another panel. Akane appeared staggering
down a corridor, face twisted in agony. Her fingers
were bloody as she pressed the makeshift bandage tight
to her chest.
"Akane got away from Krin!" exclaimed Nabiki.
"Yes, but she's not going to get far if she keeps
bleeding like that," said Elle.
Kasumi moved closer to the screen. "Akane, Akane,
go back to Ranma!" she pleaded up at the image. Akane
could not hear her, staggering to a stop next to
another door. Her head whipped sharply up, eyes
growing wide as Krin appeared at the far end.
"Run, Akane, Run!" cried Tatewaki.
"Brother dear, she cannot hear you," Kodachi
reminded him.
"There must be something we can do," said Ukyo.
On the screen, Akane was pressing the open button
for the doors with no success.
"Why aren't they opening?" T asked Glator.
"D'skta," he answered.
They could see Akane cry out to the sky, tears
streaming down her cheeks. With a short flutter of her
eyes, Akane suddenly placed a hand on the panel. It
glowed, and the two doors parted long enough for her to
dive through.
"That a boy, Regent!" Ryoga said ecstatically.
Moments later Krin arrived. The doors opened, but
Akane had vanished.
"Where are they at?" asked Elle.
"That is Engineering. Akane Tendo is sure to be
caught in there."
T did not like the helpless feeling inside of him.
He started pacing, trying to figure out a way to help
Akane before it was too late.
"We've got to override this computer," he said.
Glator shook his head. "Like I said, the only
person I know who can do that is Qu'tok."
"Don't look to me for any help," said Qu'tok.
Ryoga was just about to pummel the Mantin to death
when Nabiki called him.
"Help me up," she said. He pulled her from her
chair. "Glator, where's this `Diskwhatever's
monitoring panel?"
Glator pointed over to a console and Ryoga quickly
carried her over to it. The top was battered from the
fight, but it was still functional.
"What are you going to do, Nabiki?" Ryoga asked
her.
"I'm going to try and bypass this machine," she
replied.
"Miss Tendo, that is a remote station. I would
think D'skta has heard you, and has disconnected
himself from it."
"Yeah, but this is still a operating station, so
that means there has to be control circuits and relays
in it."
"But what good will that do?" asked Tsubasa. "For
that matter, how are you going to do that if you don't
even know what type of technology their using?"
Nabiki told Ryoga to open the front panel up. "A
computer is still a computer no matter who builds it.
There are basic laws that are universal and have to be
followed."
"Like?"
"I send out a signal, something happens on the
other end. Got it now?"
"Okay. So what signal are you going to send out
first?" asked Elle.
"I'll try to get the doors opened. If Ranma and
Jay can get down to Engineering, Akane will have a
chance."
Undoing the last clip, Ryoga yanked open the
panel. A myriad of solid crystal couplings, conduit
wires, and micro panels made both of them grimace.
"I hope you can get this right," said Ryoga,
giving her a doubtful look.
Nabiki let out a deep sigh and began shifting
around connectors.
* * * * *
The smell of blood filled Krin's nostrils,
stopping him briefly to take in the vibrant coppery
scent. That would make tracking her down all the more
easier. He imagined the taste of her flesh, the
tearing of sinew and muscle between his teeth,
salivating unconsciously at the thought.
Slowly, he gazed around the Engine room focusing
on the strongest trail. There were several places
Akane Tendo could hide amidst among the walkways and
levels around the large room, but Krin knew she could
not avoid him forever. It was only a matter of time
before she finally collapsed from the loss of blood, or
the overheating caused by her union with the Regent.
He closed the door, setting it to lock and moved
to the railing. "TTTTTTTEEEEEEENNNNNNDDDDDDOOOOOOO,"
he called out with a devious smile.
Akane hunkered in a small crawlway up under the
run of a large pipe, trembling fearfully trying to
remain silent. She heard the call and let out a low
whimper. Tears welled up in her eyes and she quickly
wiped them away.
"Ranma . . . Guardian," she whispered low
imagining he could hear her desperate plea for help.
Krin drew in another deep breath. The scent drew
him towards the steps leading down, and he was just
about to descend to the next level when the lights
flickered. Looking up in confusion, he growled. The
door to engineering briefly snapped open.
"D'skta! What are you doing?" he shouted up to
his computer.
[I am doing nothing, Krin. It is one of those
M.I.B. agents toying around with my relay systems.]
"Well then kill them!"
[What about our people?]
"They failed me, so they deserve to die as well!"
In the Control Room, shock passed through Krin's
pirates at his harsh remark.
"WWWHHHAAAT!" cried Binimi jerking upright.
"Have to just admire that `Brotherly love'," said
Mousse.
Sadness covered Morea's face, the comment hitting
her especially hard. "I, I can't believe he said
that," she said.
"He did," commented Elle. "Now what do you think
about your illustrious leader?"
Binimi jerked against her bindings. "Lleeettt
mmmeee gooo. III'll killl hhhiimmmm mmmyyyysselllfff.
Untie mmmeeee!"
The closing of vents suddenly sounded around the
room, all eyes cutting up to the overhead.
"That not sound good," said Shampoo.
Qu'tok calmly leaned back, looking over to
Konatsu. "You, female looking human male. Go over to
that panel on the wall behind you."
Konatsu smirked, not sure if he should do what
Qu'tok asked. He glanced up at T, and the M.I.B. agent
gave him a nod. Konatsu opened the panel and stared at
the multi-colored lights arrayed before him.
"And?" asked Konatsu.
Before Qu'tok could answer, D'skta called down to
him. [Qu'tok, you would not help these humans now,
would you?]
Qu'tok's brief snap of his mandibles was his only
reply. A hiss filled the room. Everyone dropped to
the deck clutching their throats as the computer began
drawing the air out.
"It's. . . going. . . to. . . suffocate. . . us!"
Elle gasped.
Qu'tok turned back to Konatsu. "The. . . blue. .
. circuit strip. Pull it. . . if you. . . would. . .
please. . . Quickly!"
Konatsu's fingers desperately fumbled across the
front of the circuits He found the edge and with a
sharp jerk pulled the strip from the panel.
Immediately the vacuum stopped and the vents reopened.
T pulled himself up and went over to Qu'tok.
"Control of the doors!" he said.
"That will take a few moments," replied Qu'tok.
Still not trusting him, T called Ryoga and Mousse
over. They carried the Mantin over to Nabiki. "Tell
her how to do it."
Qu'tok agreed, dictating the proper instructions
to Nabiki.
Back down in the passageways, Ranma continued
fighting with the sealed door separating him from
Akane. He let out a sigh and stopped realizing he was
getting nowhere. With the door at the other end shut,
there was no place to go. Akane was doomed and it was
all his fault. Ranma rested his forehead against the
smooth metal.
"I'm sorry, Akane," he muttered. "Some Guardian I
turned out to be."
Without warning the door slid open. Ranma let out
a yell of surprise as he flopped down to the deck.
[Ranma! Ranma get up and get down to Engineering.
Krin's got Akane cornered down there!]
It was Elle's voice blaring down at him from the
overhead. Ranma scrambled to his feet. "Which way?"
he called out.
[Straight, then left. Hurry!]
In another passageway, Jay listened to Elle's
instructions, then started shouting up to the hidden
speakers. "Yo' Elle! Hey, open this damn door so I
can get down there and help Ranma!"
The door in front of him snapped open. [Hang a
right at the first intersection, then left at the end,]
Elle told him.
"Yeah, I'm on it!" Jay dashed down the corridor.
In engineering, Krin also stopped his search when
he heard Elle's voice cut across the intercom. The
only thing that could mean was that D'skta had somehow
lost control, or had been overridden. From the sounds
of things, Ranma and Jay were on their way here to stop
him from killing Akane and the Regent.
The thudding of footsteps from outside warned him
that company was quickly approaching. Krin snarled,
barring his teeth then slipped quickly off out of sight
amongst the equipment.
Ranma came to a stop at the entrance to
Engineering. Pressing up against the side, he
cautiously hid the access button. Nothing happened.
"Elle!" he shouted.
Elle could see his dilemma. Turning, she glared
at Qu'tok. "Well?"
Qu'tok watched as Nabiki carefully moved fibers
and filaments around the microboards. "Patience,
M.I.B. female. We are working on this," he replied.
Nabiki pushed the last strand in place, and on the
screen the door to Engineering slid open. Ranma
flashed a thumb up, then peered around the corner. No
Krin, he slipped in began searching for Akane.
"Can we get a view in there?" asked Ryoga.
"One thing at a time, Ryoga," Nabiki answered.
"Forget that, let's get our doors open so we can
go down and help them," said Ukyo.
"I'm working as fast as I can!" shouted Nabiki.
"Release me and I can do what you ask faster than
this woman here," said Qu'tok.
T paused but only for a moment. He reached down
and undid Qu'tok's bindings. The Mantin rose up.
"Don't try anything stupid," T said narrowing his
eyes at him.
"Thanks to you, I'm not in any condition to do
that."
Nabiki moved aside allowing Qu'tok to lean down
over the open panel. Kasumi gently took his shattered
arm and pressed it up close to his body. Much to his
surprise, she began dressing his wounds.
"That is very nice of you. . . for a human," he
said.
"Just help my sister," she answered.
Touched by her kindness, Qu'tok nodded. "I'll do
what I can."
* * * * *
Arriving at the door to engineering, Jay stopped
and peered inside. Finding the walkway clear he went
in and stood gazing around the room.
"Saotome!" he called.
From amidst the equipment and machinery, Ranma
voice called back.
"Yeah that its, Jay. Let Krin know we're here."
"Don't be a smartass, Sat-man! That fool probably
knew we were here already."
"Who are you calling a fool?" Krin's throaty growl
said.
"RANMA!" cried Akane.
"Stay quiet, Akane," Ranma told her.
Jay looked around for anything he could use as a
weapon. Three thick, clear round rods sat in a holder
next to the door. Pulling the middle sized one out, he
hefted it in his hand feeling its weight. No matter
what material it was made out of, it was something he
could use. Jay held it like a baseball bat ready to
swing at the first sign of trouble. He moved to the
stairwell leading towards the upper tiers and began his
search in this deadly game of cat and mouse.
In her hiding spot, Akane remained perfectly still
awaiting the arrival of Ranma or Jay. Her eyes cut
from side to side searching for any sign of them, worse
yet the appearance of Krin. That thought she tried to
suppress, but a slight shudder creased her spine.
Inside her, Akane could feel the once warm ember
of the Regent fading, and with it her own existence.
She was parched, light-headed and dizzy from all the
loss of blood. Mentally she told the Regent to hold on
a bit longer, trying to pass on a bit of her own life
forces to him. It seemed to work, the warm feeling
growing steady for the moment.
A scraping noise suddenly caught Akane's ears from
above. She drew in a breath, trying to focus on it,
pressing closer to the mesh walkway. It sounded again,
much nearer now. Akane wanted to call out to Ranma,
but knew that would only expose her position.
Carefully, she pulled herself out from under the pipe
and crawled on all fours to the outer walk way.
It was empty and she scrambled on staying low,
hugging the side of the machinery humming lightly in
their task. A strange bright pinkish-white glow shined
up through the section she passed over. Akane stopped
and peered down at it, watching as a stream of energy
traveled in brief pulses up and down three large
transparent tubes surrounded by a protective
containment field.
"Electro-Plasma Drive System," hissed a voice from
above.
Akane turned spotting Krin clinging to the side of
a machine casing by one hand. He leaped down
straddling her and she screamed. Krin took a fistful
of Akane's hair and yanked her from the floor. Her
cries increased, legs kicking madly as the pirate stood
eyeing her victoriously. Drawing his free hand back,
he raised her higher to get a better shot at her chest.
"RAAAANNNNMMMMMAAA!" wailed Akane.
Krin laughed then jerked violently forwards with
Ranma wrapped tightly on his back. The three tumbled
to the walkway in a tangle of arms and legs. Akane
pulled away as Ranma wrestled with the raging lizard
man.
"Get out of here, Akane!" he shouted at her. She
backed off, then Krin rose up on his knees. He pitched
back, slamming Ranma into the side of the machinery.
Ranma yelled but kept his grip, landing a punch to the
side of Krin's earhole. A loud growl of pain sounded;
Krin staggering to his feet trying to shake Ranma off.
He pitched back again and this time Ranma hit the
corner. The pain was too much for him and he released
Krin falling away.
Krin's chest heaved with anger as he rounded on
him. He made a swipe, the taloned claws making an evil
hiss through the air, but Ranma rolled to the side.
Crawling back, Ranma found his footing and lunged
plunging a knee into Krin's side. It felt like he had
just hit one of their practice bags at the dojo, a dull
thud sounding. The thrust barely phased Krin. He
backhanded Ranma, knocking him to the side of the
railing.
"No!" shouted Akane. She kicked Krin in the back,
stopping his advance on Ranma.
It was the break Ranma needed. Jumping to his
feet, another blow to the side of the head sent Krin
staggering. He turned only to receive a combination of
punches on the chin. Pale red blood began to flow from
Krin's bottom lip, several teeth knocked askew in his
mouth. A kick sent him staggering back. Akane went to
her hands and knees, tripping Krin over her back. He
crashed to the walkway.
Ranma knelt beside her. "Akane, are you okay?" he
asked her.
Even as weak as they were, Akane smiled. "I knew
you'd come," she said resting her head on his chest.
Krin slowly sat up, his deep grumble prefacing the fury
he was about to unleash on them. Taking off his
jacket, Ranma placed it around Akane's shoulders.
"Stay behind me," he said, moving her back.
Akane crawled away; Ranma standing up ready to
face Krin once more. He slowly retreated before the
incensed alien, waiting for him to attack. Krin raised
his arms ready to pounce, when a sturdy tap hit him on
the shoulder from behind.
From out of the gap between two of the machines,
Jay stepped out. "Yo, Krin," he said as the pirate
turned. "You wanna stop picking on those kids and
tangle with somebody whose got a little more
firepower?"
BLIP!
Krin's head rattled as the pipe in Jay's hand
caught him up under the chin. He slammed up against
the railing, sagging like a raggity-anne doll to his
knees. The shock was only brief and Krin stood up.
"Now I'm going to teach you a few things about
riot control and baton fighting courtesy of the New
York City Police Department!"
A sharp jab hit Krin in the left eye, another jab
to the nose drawing blood with a satisfying crunch.
Whatever the rod of made out of, it was better than
steel, strong enough to make Krin scramble back out of
harms way. Ranma suddenly kicked him in the back
sending him forward.
"Where you think you going, Krin," said Jay
landing a few more blows to his chest. "You had this
ass kicking come'in for a long time now!"
Krin lashed out, but Jay deflected the blow. He
rolled the bar around his body bringing it up the other
side while ducking beneath Krin's wild throws, smashing
him across the top of his head. By now the pirate was
a mess, blood and other unrecognizable liquids
streaming from his nostrils and mouth.
Deliberately, Jay stepped back to build up another
strike that would end this fight. He swung the bar
down, but Krin was far from defeat. He caught the bar
in one hand, Jay jerking to a surprised stop. Several
grunts sounded from Jay as he exerted more energy into
his efforts. Nothing doing, Krin stood up. A quick
swipe sent the bar end over end over the railing,
clattering out of view.
"Uh oh," said Jay.
The blood stopped flowing to Jay's head as Krin
clutched him by the throat, lifting him up out over the
railing. Realizing what this mad being was about to
do, Jay hooked his legs over the top rail straining to
keep from being tossed to his death.
"... yo, Sat-man," he gasped.
Ranma frowned, crossing his arms. "It's Saotome,"
he said.
"... aaaghhgh . . . What?"
"It's Saotome. Say it!"
A blow to the leg startled Ranma. He looked down
to see Akane glaring angrily up at him. There were no
need for words.
Ranma tackled Krin; Jay crying out while dangling
precariously over the side. As the two fought, Jay
strained to pull himself up. He reached out barely
taking hold of the rail. Ranma slammed up next to him.
"Kind'a reminds me of that WWF stuff you Americans
have on TV," he said with a laugh.
A roar from Krin made both of them cry out as he
attacked. Jay let his legs drop free, swinging like a
monkey out of harms way. Ranma dived up under Krin's
hulking form, and the pirate landed mouth first on the
metal railing. Taking advantage of the situation,
Ranma grabbed Krin by the legs, Jay by the back of the
head. Together they pulled him over the side.
With arms flailing, Krin let out a steady shriek
as he headed towards the decks below. He hit the
protective power field, sparks arching around his body.
Another sharp flash scorched his hide. Ranma, Jay, and
Akane watched as Krin's smoking body finally hit the
bottom. They were silent, then Jay looked up at Ranma.
"WWF?" he said.
"Seemed like it," Ranma replied.
"Ha, ha, ha, funny. You want to help me up now?"
Ranma leaned on the railing, grinning wide.
Jay smirked. "Saotome," he finished.
"Much better," replied Ranma, extending a hand.
