"Before you finish that, the system brought back some new data."
"Oh? What is it now?" Ranma asked curiously.
"Seems your more," Celes gave a discrete cough that seemed to smother a laugh. "creative methods of fundraising actually earned you a Preserver bonus."
"What's that?" Ranma asked.
"It's when one of your actions save someone's life, either directly or indirectly, and you want nothing in return."
"So Phoenix Mountain wouldn't count, because he got Akane back in 'repayment' for saving her life, right?"
"Exactly. This time he took out a street gang that, if left unchecked would take their tormenting of a high school student too far, and killed her."
"Good lord." Nabiki murmured. "What kid of sick fucks are they?
"The girl, named Tomoe Hotaru, has supernatural healing abilities. Most people fear her because of that. Sad really." Celes said. "But Ranma took her would be assassins out of commission before that event could occur."
"That's good to know." Ranma said with a smile. "I meant that is the real point of the Art. To protect those who can't protect themselves."
"Well this allows you one other option, our Journey of Empowerment. It's a rarely chosen package, both because of its costs and dangers."
"What does it entail?" Nabiki asked, leaning forward.
"You're put into a randomly chosen party of volunteers or those destined to be with you. Don't ask how we determine that, because we're not really not really sure how it works."
"There's some level of magic involved, I assume?" Ranma asked, garnering a nod from Celes. "I'm curious as to how reliable those are."
"In our long operational history, we have never failed to assemble a complementary party. While the group may take some time to mesh well, all of our teams have had a 98% complimentary ratio as of their debriefing. Also, we have never failed to have a disembarkation portal on every world at some point in time. And we have never put a party into any life threatening situation that is inescapable at their current skill level, though in some circumstances earning your power up or apprenticeship may be uncomfortable, or embarrassing. But not fatal."
"So you watch out for the participants?" Nabiki asked.
"To a very limited extent." Celes leaned across the desk to hammer this point home. "You're not going to have someone holding your hand on this trip. Everything you need to survive will be provided to you, along with some things you might not need. Some might even hurt you. You won't always be able to charge blindly in an plan on the fly RANMA." The catgirl's steely glare made it clear that she wanted the pigtail youth to take this seriously. "Those sort of reckless gung ho antics can and will get your whole team killed. No return, no do over, nothing of that nature will be provided by the EDTA. You will be dead. Have I made that abundantly clear?"
"So we gotta learn to use our heads too, huh... Maybe this isn't the best idea Nabs. I mean it's one thing if I die cause I do something stupid, just deserts and karmic balance and all that. But the idea of taking you or another noncombatant with me... I ain't comfortable with it."
"We haven't committed to anything yet Ran." Nabiki said. "If it were you and... hell anyone else shy of Cologne, I'd totally agree that backing out would be a good thing. But it's me. I'm fairly smart and sharp on my toes. And I'd like to think I'm a pretty good teacher. So I'll make you a deal, Saotome. You watch my back, keep me breathing and train me to do it without you around, and I'll do my best to patch up those little holes in your personal portfolio. Deal?"
Ranma stared at slender hand in front of him, noticing that it wasn't held straight out as intended for a professional handshake but angled slightly upwards in a less formal, more brotherly fashion, the kind that more often then not would lead into a friendly round of arm wrestling. Ranma grinned and clasped the short haired girl's hand to seal the pact. "Deal!"
"I take it that you're interested in the package then?" Celes said with a catty smile.
"Of course." Nabiki said as Ranma nodded.
"All right. I'm glad I was able to help. The financial part of your bill comes to... 80,000 yen." The pair nodded and paid. "And then READ and sign these waivers."
"That say if we get dead it's not your fault right?" Ranma said.
"Among other things." Celes said. "Please read carefully and ask me if you have any questions."
As she expected she was pelted with questions from the pair that were easily explained and answered, before they both signed the release forms.
"Ready to go then?" Ranma asked.
"One more thing, of a more... personal nature." Celes took off her glasses and knelt so she could look Ranma in the eyes. "It's... about your art."
"You mean Anything Goes?" Ranma said in surprise.
"Yes... Ranma it's a cursed school."
"Cursed how?" Nabiki was concerned as she like her sisters had some rudimentary training in Anything goes when they were younger.
"Karmically. Not only does it provide a near constant inflow of negative karma, but it also brings the negative Karma of all other practitioners."
"So you're saying not only am I being buried under a constant flow of bad juju, but I gotta deal with the junk comin' from Pops, Old man Tendo, myself and," Ranma gave an involuntary shiver. "Happosai."
"And Akane." Celes confirmed. "Please Ranma, there's no way to redeem the school. Find another Art, please."
"I'll... look into it." Ranma mused, as Nabiki lead him through a door that hadn't been there before.
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(Posted Thu, 12 Aug 2004 07:24)
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