[Episode 112328] [Episode 112328]"Ah," said Ranma, understanding that grandpa was always trying to upgrade his Invincible Army.
"Since that is the case, I have been exploring the concept of individual identities and this connection, studying each and preparing unique prisons for each," said the Overlord. "That they connect on this primal level makes them ideal for such research."
Ranma flinched, having seen and talked to a few. He had even snuck one of them some food. He hoped he wasn't going to get into major trouble for this.
"This was their leader," said the Overlord, opening a door and walking in. The center of the room was dominated by a sphere of complete blackness. "As the center point of their connection, I removed everything of power from her that I could and then trapped her within this. Within it she can see nothing, hear nothing, feel nothing. Her movements are restricted by inertrium bindings, and she is fed through a connection on one of those bindings directly to her bloodstream. Various hormones and chemicals are added to the mix to assist in her breaking."
Ranma glanced behind him once at the sphere as they left the room again.
"This one was their scholar, their tactician, and the single intelligent one," said the Overlord. "I believe you've met her."
Ranma nodded, wondering if he was going to get some punishment now for this.
"Of course," said the Overlord, "she was far more intelligent before the chemicals were applied. Now she's illiterate, innumerate, and about as smart as your average dog. If the chemical injections stop, she'll eventually recover. You've been sneaking her scraps though. Hmmmm. Perhaps I'll give her to you. Your mother has been trying to get you a personal slave, and right now she's more of a pet. At current recovery levels it would take nearly a year for her to regain her full intelligence. Well - I'll think about it."
"Gahh?" said the blue-haired girl, rattling her chain as she spotted the non-tormentor and hoped for sweets. Scary one was here though.
The Overlord stopped. "Go ahead."
Ranma looked uncertain.
"Not much goes on here without me becoming aware of it," stated the Overlord. "I know you've got those peppermints in your pocket."
Not without some trepidation, Ranma held out a hard peppermint candy out for the girl who took it from his hand and began licking it. Ranma couldn't help but affectionately ruffle the girl's hair briefly, earning a pleased sound.
The Overlord turned and walked to the next room, letting the jailor on this level lock the doors behind them now.
"This one was the second-in-command, apparently, but not the brightest of commanders." The Overlord stopped in front of this cell. "The bright one with the connections is wrapped in darkness and cut off from everyone and everything in total isolation. The intelligent one has been reduced to an animal. This one I have also isolated, though the mechanism is different. Locked in a virtual world where her mind's feedback produced an ever-deepening nightmare, then channelled into more productive manners once she broke. I was surprised at how quickly she's progressed."
Ranma looked past the Overlord at the girl wrapped in armor and cables.
The next chamber proved to be a frigid place where Ranma was quickly shivering.
"This one had powers of fire and spirit," said the Overlord, letting an armored hand touch the crystal encasing what appeared to be a sleeping girl. "Hopelessness has made her far more tractable and now she sleeps but her dreams are under my control."
Ranma nodded, trying to show he'd been paying attention.
"Each of them has a prison which siphons off their powers and was built to prey on their individual weaknesses." The Overlord paused and considered his grandson. "They were enemies, but after their defeat they are merely my prisoners. Of their number, two have already been completely converted to loyal servants."
Ranma looked askance at his grandfather, not sure of what he was speaking of.
"The thing is, Ranma, I don't think you have enough sense to stay alive long enough for me to become a great-grandfather." The armored head shook sadly. "Your fighting skills are fine. It's the lack of common sense and gullibility I have problems with. That's why:"
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(Posted Sat, 31 Jul 2004 10:20)
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