She lacked feline features, it was just kind of the way she moved. She spent as much time on all fours as she did crouched over. Everything and anything was investigated by the curious girl and she made various trills and chirps as she did.
"Urrr?" asked Ami, fingers clumsily gripping the control device.
clik
"...and one - and two - and three - and four - and lift from side to side -"
"Urrrr?" asked Ami, seeing the bouncing and twisting forms on the screen. "Ooooo?"
Ranma winced as Ami started duplicating the movements of the figures on the screen. Well, at least he'd found a way to get her plenty of exercise.
Though the way she bounced and stretched and gyrated was making him shift uncomfortably in his chair.
The two were prepared for their new roles much as Ami had, though as the roles were more complicated than Ami's, so too were the preparations.
The Overlord himself apparently approved. On seeing his stamp on the approval papers, Nodoka was momentarily taken aback until she figured out his reasoning.
No doubt he'd gotten the same reports as she had. The school performance records and genetic studies had indicated a number of qualities that she'd want to see in grandchildren. The Overlord's greatgrandchildren. So she had his approval? All the better.
"Continue with the grooming, ma'am?" asked one of the technicians.
Nodoka eyed the girl briefly. Comely enough. Well, best to hold off for now. Her son's shyness problem wasn't going to be overcome by forcefulness. She nodded.
"Right away then," said the technician, who wasn't sure why she felt like a specter of doom had just passed her by.
Nodoka looked out at the bay where the two soldiers were being prepared for their new tour of duty.
The problem with being an Invincible Overlord was that others were always after your job.
There were underlings plotting at rising above their station through something other than honest work. There were those out amongst the populace who thought they could do a better job. There were those who wished to return to another time or had their own idea of what would make a good government - with themselves in the positions of power of course.
"Yes, I understand that valley has some potent magical forces and some formidable martial artists," said the Overlord. "If they want to revolt, then we'll just have to make an example of them. Contain first. Then send a messenger to see if they'll be reasonable."
"They sent back his head," came the reply.
Within his armor, the Overlord shrugged. "So why are you bothering me? You can use up to orbital bombardment if you want. You know all this, General Zhang."
"Sir! I wanted to try something a little different here. It's possible to settle an inversion layer, like the smog boundary that forms over certain cities. Once formed, the air is contained fairly well within the dome."
The Overlord listened briefly to the strategy. "Very well, General. Usual rules. If it fails, you'll be busted down to Captain again. Succeed and you'll get 20% of the profits."
"SIR!"
"You've got retirement coming up in two years, General. Nice to see you're planning ahead, I'll expect a written report on my desk tomorrow morning," said the Overlord, cutting the connection.
Either Zhang would succeed or not. He encouraged his people to understand both gain and loss. Do well and be rewarded. Do poorly and, well, he had to get his reputation for cruelty and mercilessness from somewhere, didn't he?
He'd prefer Zhang did well. If not, well, there was that Bison fellow to deal with. A little redemption mission, succeed against incredible odds, and Zhang might make General again in order to keep his retirement plans.
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(Posted Thu, 24 Nov 2005 08:47)
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