Back in the United States, in Westchester, Charles Xavier was using Cerebro to scan the japanese islands for mutant presence. Mutsumi Otohime had been trained by Jean and himself to use the device but Cerebro-J (the one for the Yashida school) was not operational yet. Each time he would detect a mutant, he filed a report to Sunfire who would then decide if he or she could be recruited.
Each time he did that, the professor was also keeping tabs on Ranma and the others. He found him easily, he was in a Tokyo public park talking with some people. Millia was there too.
Wait a second... Xavier concentrated and felt another mutant presence near Ranma. It was faint, indicating either a latent mutant or one good at hiding. When he identified the new mutant, he smiled *Well, it looks like Fate does not want Ranma to completely cut himself off from his past in Nerima* He decided to watch more for eventual new developments.
*****
"My father, when he was a young boy, lived near Nagasaki. He and his family left only when the effects of the radioactivity became apparent" Nodoka had to sit, overwhelmed by the news that her son was a mutant. She wiped tears from her eyes "I would never have dreamed that something like that would come of it"
Ranma nodded "No one is to blame for this. The X-Factor is a gift, not a curse. Someone said to me : With great power comes great responsibilities. I am still Ranma Saotome. I am still... your son. Only my priorities in life have changed"
His mother pulled him into a hug and sniffled "Oh, Ranma... Promise me you'll come see me again when you can. At least write me letters if you can't"
Ranma smiled and returned the hug "I promise, mom..." He turned to face Nabiki "You'll explain the situation to the others, won't you, Nabiki ?"
The middle Tendo daughter looked sadly at him "Of course, Sao... Ranma. Free of charge. It's the least I can do after what I did" She wouldn't admit it but she will miss having the big jerk around "Take care"
Millia put a hand on Ranma's shoulder "Come on, Ranma. It's time to go"
"All right, Millia" As he moved to leave, his danger sense suddenly screamed "Watch out !" He rolled to the side, grabbing his mother while Millia did the same for Nabiki. The spot they had been standing on exploded in a shower of dirt and grass. When it cleared, he saw someone he hoped he would never see again "Shampoo..."
The amazon warrior was in full battle dress, armed with her trademark twin bonboris and a chinese sword tied to her belt. Her expression was grim. *Great ! She must think Millia is another 'obstacle for killing', Why me ?*
She pointed one of her bonboris in his direction "Airen come with Shampoo now !" He could see her stance, she was serious about this !
"No more games, Son-in-Law. It is high time you returned to China with us" Cologne was there too. She dropped from a tree and stood on her cane "Your resistance has grown tiresome"
"Hey, old ghoul ! I already told you : I AIN'T MARRYING SHAMPOO !" Damn the old bat. He didn't have time for this. He looked around, wondering what the ninjas were waiting for to intervene.
Cologne laughed "You think you have a choice ? You are already married by our laws. And don't bother... we took care of your bodyguards. Those ninjas were good but they are nothing before amazon might..." Her eyelids shrinked to slits "If you don't come willingly, we will use force and your mother and companions will suffer for your stubborness"
"Damn you ! Where is your honor, Cologne !?" He saw Mousse in the corner of his eyes, throwing daggers in hand, the poison coating the blades giving them a gloomy sheen. He was taking position to cut off retreat. He had to stall for time "Listen to me ! You're making a terrible mistake. Even if I came with you, your tribe would be destroyed !"
Cologne snorted "We have survived for 3000 years, boy. Your enemies do not frighten us. In any case, you and your children will protect us with your powers !"
Ranma was shocked "You know I'm a mutant !? You've been listening since I was here, haven't you !!? You can't seriously believe the amazons can stand against the likes of Sinister !?! You must have grown senile, old mummy..."
"Believe what you want, Son-in-Law... What is your decision ? I'm offering you safety among us" *And a place as prime breeding stock* she thought. Shampoo would understand that her husband's genes had to be shared among the tribe.
Ranma was getting angry and it showed [OLD GHOUL...] Shampoo and Cologne were startled as Ranma's eyes changed to twin pools of raw darkness and his voice became... alien [YOU THINK YOU CAN CONTROL ME, JUST LIKE THAT ?]
"You're not fooling me, Son-in-Law. This little display would only frighten unwary children, not true amazon warriors" Her statement wasn't backed up by Shampoo and Mousse's reactions. They had had nervously moved back a little.
[FOOL ! YOU THINK THAT BECAUSE YOU ARE MARTIAL ARTISTS, EVERYTHING MUST GO YOUR WAY. DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH !] Cologne frowned at that but Ranma continued [SINISTER'S MARAUDERS WOULD TEAR YOU APART. THE HORSEMEN OF APOCALYPSE COULD EXTERMINATE YOUR TRIBE AND EAT HERB OR SAFFRON FOR BREAKFAST. MAGNETO ALONE IS CAPABLE OF KILLING ALL OF YOUR WARRIORS AND MATRIARCHES IN A SINGLE ATTACK. BEFORE MUTANTS, YOU... ARE... NOTHING !!!"
*Let's see her be on the receiving end of the superiority speech for a change* The X-Men's files had been most informative about enemy mutants capabilities. He realized Cologne was like the master of magnetism in a way. Convinced that her people was superior because of their martial arts training and extraordinary capabilities, she thought of other humans as inferior and that her ways were the best and infallible.
Ranma's eyes returned to normal "Admit it, old ghoul. You lost. If you value your tribe's existence, you'll back off... NOW !" He looked at Millia, she smiled and nodded. No one had noticed that her hair had grown in length and that one long lock had buried itself.
Cologne was outraged but showed no emotion "Irrespectuous and rebellious to the end. I will personally take great pleasure at breaking you of these deplorable character traits when we arrive in our village. Surrender to us now or else..."
Ranma scowled "My answer is... no" Millia acted instantly. The buried lock of hair emerged under Mousse and took him completely by surprise. He screamed in pain as it slashed him across his chest, spraying blood around. It then ensnared him, lifted him up and made him fall headfirst on the ground, repeatedly *WHAM ! WHAM ! WHAM ! WHAM !* Duck-boy went nighty-night.
Shampoo and Cologne jumped to attack, right in one of Ranma's flares. They screamed as the light blinded them. Cologne jumped backwards, using her ki and other senses. Shampoo didn't have the same blind-fighting capabilities as her great-grandmother and was almost defenseless against Ranma's assault. She went down in a few seconds.
"Last chance, old ghoul. Leave now and don't bother me ever again !" The amazon elder had already recovered her sight. She had underestimated Son-in-Law... again. That blonde caucasian was a mutant too, a dangerous one. It was far too late for a retreat now. Too much was at stake.
For all his new powers, he would still be vulnerable to pressure points strikes. A stab of her cane on the ground provoked an explosion of rocks and dirt under Millia, stunning her *A long-range breaking point !* thought Ranma. A ki-blast was launched and struck the russian girl, sending her into unconsciousness.
"It's just you and me now, Son-in-Law" Cologne's battle aura appeared and burned fiercely *Oh, shit. She's going full out* "I told you. Don't call me Son-in-Law !" Ranma's own battle aura rose. The two martial artists stared at each other, looking for openings in their opponent's guard.
Nodoka and Nabiki could only watch as Ranma was about to fight one of the most important battles of his life. And the stress the middle Tendo sister felt at the situation awakened the X-Factor sleeping in her DNA.
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See other episodes by Jamil Nate
(Posted Thu, 21 Nov 2002 00:14)
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