Ranma didn’t know where they were going, but it hardly mattered. His mother had shifted into her “normal” Japanese woman wearing a kimono as she held his arm. She seemed pretty content with that. He had seen his mother become high strung only a few times, but she always seemed so calm and certain. Always looking forward to the time they could spend together, not really looking back at the time they had lost. This morning was something else. Perhaps that is why she was in her “Nodoka” form right now, she was seeking some peace within her after confronting her past so directly.
A past that included children she had and let go. A brother who looked like something out of a fairy tale book, and an adopted sister… brrr, if looks could kill. They made no secret that they hated their mother, and by her own admission, she had made them hate her deliberately. So what did that make Ranma? A last chance at redemption? A final chance to become the mother she wanted? Ranma decided he was ok with that. After all, he only wanted her to be happy and he also wanted to be that son for her.
He also wanted to get to know these new siblings, especially since he never had any before now. But he was more concerned with his mother at the moment, though she seemed to be improving with each step away from Xavier’s mansion.
“What are you thinking about?” his mother asked.
“Oh, just wonderin’ what we should do now. W-what about you?” he asked cautiously, “How you doin’?”
She sighed, “Ask me again in couple of days. Right now, I’m not even sure. I’m a bit relieved and still a little scared.”
“Of what?”
“You. That you might decide to judge me like the others do.”
“Mom if you don’t want to talk about this...”
“No. Ranma, maybe I do need to talk about this. I’ve been running from my past for so long now. I’ve been thinking about what you said, about how we are always making new decisions. Well, you’re right. It’s just that we get caught in a rut making the same decisions over and over again. Perhaps it’s time to break that cycle and make new choices.”
“I think that’d be good. Maybe the others’ll see it as well.”
“Perhaps, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.”
They walked on a bit farther before Ranma spoke again, “So, you were a criminal?” Nodoka stiffened up at the question. “You said you wanted to talk about it. I mean it’s no biggie, Pops stole stuff all the time.”
“All right then. Yes, I was a criminal. I’ve been a petty thief, a con artist, a cat burglar,” Ranma shuddered, “a criminal mastermind, and even a terrorist. Does that surprise you?”
“Well, it does concern me a little. I mean everything Pop’s done has come back and bit him in the butt one way or another. And you were involved in larger things than his petty cons. Well, we’ll deal with ‘em when they show up.”
“That’s part of the reason you always get into trouble, you need to think ahead and anticipate them for when they do show up. Like Magneto. The good thing is, we already know he’ll show up, the only questions are how and when?”
“Yeah, what’s his deal, anyway? He want to rule over the world or somethin’?”
“Yes and no. He wants to make the world safe for mutants, much the same as Professor Xavier. Unlike the professor, Magneto is willing to kill then entire human race in order to do it.”
”What?! That’s insane. There are a lot of innocent people out there that have no part of this.”
“That doesn’t matter to him. And afterwards, well, he’s not too concerned about that, he just wants to be the messiah of mutant-kind.”
“That guy’s nuts. What’re people doin about him?”
“Xavier and his X-men are the only ones who have been effective in standing in Magneto’s path.”
“And we just left them, didn’t we?” Ranma asked ruefully.
“I want no part of this.” Nodoka said with a little more force than she intended. “I’m tired of the fighting and the schemes and watching my children put in the line of fire. Well, no more.”
“Except for the fact Magneto’s going to come after us anyway.”
Silence fell between them for some time as they continued to walk.
Ranma finally got tired of it, “Where are we going, anyway?”
“I have a house just outside of town. It’s not far now. We’ll get cleaned up and rest there. Jet lag must be getting to you sometime soon.”
Ranma tried to stifle a yawn but failed, “Ya just had t’mention it.” His mother chuckled at him.
After a while, they turned down a lane into an unkempt yard, “Here we are, ‘home sweet home’.” she opened the door and was almost hit on the head by some plaster that fell from the ceiling, “...or what’s left of it.”
She walked in, but the door slammed shut before Ranma could enter, “Hello, Boss Lady.”
Mystique spun around to Magneto’s son leaning against the door. “Peitro.”
“My dad’s been looking for ya. Seem’s you should have acquired a trinket by now that he’s anxious to have.” The other members of the Brotherhood stepped out, Blob from the kitchen, Avalanche from the living room and Toad at the top of the stairs. If she felt nervous, Mystique didn’t show it as she transformed from her Japanese persona to her normal self.
A knock on the door interrupted them, “Mom? Is everything all right?”
Pietro cocked an eyebrow and opened the door, “Well, well. Look what we have here, boys. It’s double bonus days.” Before Ranma could react, Quicksilver grabbed him by the front of his shirt and yanked him inside.
Ranma stumbled and stood next to his mother, “What is this about?” he snarled.
“Allow me to make the introductions,” Mystique said, “That’s Todd at the top of the stairs, the big guy is Fred, over there is Lance, this one is Pietro Maximoff, the son of Magneto, who has come to try and enforce his father’s will.”
“Oh?” Ranma said, “Really.”
“Yeah, really.” Pietro said. “So you’re the normal human who escaped my dad, huh? You don’t look like much.”
“What’s all the racket down here?” a female voice called from the top of the stairs.
Mystique voice tightened a little more. “Looks like the gang’s all here. This is Wanda.” She looked at Wanda who was staring at Ranma and suddenly seemed self-conscious of her looks, “Wanda, I’d like you to meet my son, Ranma.”
“Yo!” said Ranma.
“Um, hi! I’ll be right back.” and she dashed back up stairs to her room again. Toad stared after her with hearts in his eyes.
“Hello? Mystique.” Pietro called, “Back to business? Where is that puzzle piece you were suppose to get from the X-men?”
Ranma looked at the boy who was trying to intimidate his mom and he didn’t like it one bit. But for some reason, his mom didn’t seem ready to cross the boy. “It’s right where we left it, in the hands of Sensei Xavier.”
“Heh, you must be Chinese or sumt’in.” said Toad.
“Japanese.” Ranma said.
“Same difference.” Pietro said. “In case you haven’t noticed, Boss Lady, we have your boy again, so you better get your behind back over to Xavier’s and get that piece.”
“Hey.” Ranma got up in Pietro’s face. “No one threatens my mom, got it?”
“Back off, little man. You don’t know what you’re dealing with.”
“Sure I do, you’re a mutant, just like my mom, the X-men, and your old man. And just for the record, you don’t ‘have’ me.”
“Oh really?” Faster than Ranma could blink, Pietro moved behind him and pushed him into the blob who wrapped his enormous arms around him, holding him still. “Better think again, bright boy.”
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See other episodes by David L. Battley
(Posted Mon, 16 Aug 2004 02:27)
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