Looking around, he found himself in a fairly nice futon. The futon's construction was very recent, and Ranma sensed a echo of the presence he'd felt seeing the wall repaired earlier. He muttered to himself, "They build beds?"
That familiar yet different voice replied off to one side, "They do a lot of things, actually. I'm going to be giving a review on all this when Kolchak is fully rejuvenated. It won't take long. She's going to re-immerse him and retrieve him at periodic intervals, so his self-image doesn't undo all the hard work of getting his body in shape."
Ranma paled at first, then demanded, "She, who?"
The woman in a buffed and perfected Akane body coolly replied, "That's a major part of the presentation. Don't worry, you're not going to be led around by the nose here, Saotome." She was very brisk, as she typed on a keyboard while watching a monitor showing a blond Japanese American. Ranma's eyes were not dull, so he trusted their impression of the Mohave Desert she and a young girl looking very like her were standing in.
"Alright, then. Then who are the ladies?" He indicated the screen as he got up and stretched into a minor kata. The clingy clothes allowed him full freedom of movement, but Ranma was sure they would adjust to fit his girl body. I may not like all this, but they do plan well. Ranma shrugged on a jacket that matched the pants and a pair of Chinese slippers.
Sharon answered "Those are Aya and Eve Brea. Their domain, their world I should say, was set up on the more biological issue of how humans define what being human is. They are going to be our last recruits before the operation is handed to us. We're going to need their help when it comes time to reseed. But I'm getting ahead of the real question I am sure is on your mind. I'm not Akane Tendo, nor am I that Kiima woman. But this body is mine, and was created both as a home for my mind as well as a object lesson so you don't do yourself and another great harm as you develop your powers."
Ranma frowned. "What do you mean, myself and another? I'm sensing all this activity, and it feels like I'm near ghosts or something."
Sharon raised a eyebrow. "I mean you might harm someone while trying to do a good thing without knowing the details, and I'm told that sort of thing tears you to pieces inside. Frankly, I know the feeling, and I've had to do it while knowing all the likely consequences. Which is no doubt another reason I got asked to help you avoid that if you can help it!"
Ranma blinked, "Whoa, didn't mean to tick you off there. Now don't get all weepy, I-"
After banging Ranma on the head none too lightly, Sharon calmly said "Didn't I just say I am NOT one of your intended brides?" She waited until he stammered out enough of his incoherent apology before adding, "It's a good thing you're easy of the eyes, or I honestly think you'd be doomed to spinsterhood. I better keep you from swallowing the other leg. Here's the deal: You have the power to affect all that stuff you're sensing, but like your martial arts, you have to learn the skills. As you learn, your power's going to increase. Our sponsor worried that as you grew in power, you might try to get Akane back. You could come close, too. The problem is that it would be someone else you made into Akane, and I mean mentally. I'm just in a Akane body, albeit a very good one if I'm any judge."
Ranma opened his mouth as she spoke, then he blinked. Finally he ventured,"Let me get this straight, I could yank somebody out of that stuff I'm sensing, but I'd be making them think they were Akane?"
Sharon sighed, "It's very possible, Ranma, and they'd think like you believed Akane thought, feel the way you were sure she felt. In essence, you'd be writing over what that person was like before and making a Akane out of them. I'm told you actually had to deal with imposed memories before."
Ranma snorted. "More like imposed amnesia! But I get your point all right. Uh, since I know enough to not try that kind of thing, are you going to lose your body?" He paled at the idea.
Sharon couldn't help a flush from Ranma's concern. Damn biology, anyway! "No, Ranma, I'm needed here as well. We all have talents and parts to play here. And it's very likely we'll find need to bring others into all this, as I found need for the Breas. We're playing for higher stakes than you have ever done before. And I for one am just the sort to take the piece of shit on top of the problem to task, once I can do so safely."
Ranma ignored Sharon's reaction. He was still hurting very badly over losing Akane, and the last thing he wanted was any form of romance at this point. He was honestly glad at her being businesslike about whatever mess he'd landed in this time. "There a place I can do some serious kata? I need to need at the top of my form, and I need to pound something."
"Follow me." Sharon smirked as she led Ranma up some recently cleared stairs to what looked like a very technical area. Various computer terminals and consoles were wreckage, and the dust was still dissolving. Ranma sensed the myriad tiny things sweeping it all and changing it into more of themselves, which then went to work on the damaged gear. Already repaired were a number of seats that looked like the inner cockpit of a fighter jet. Sharon said, "Sit yourself down in whichever complete station you care to, and I'll begin. This is just one method I'll be detailing in that briefing later."
Ranma wondered what the hell this all had to do with Martial Arts, but he felt so lost he decided to try it out and see what he could learn from it. He reclined into the seat, watching as another similar station was literally growing into place slowly. Those little things never seemed to stop working to improve and maintain this weird place. Ranma could appreciate that as he had similar drives regarding his own Art and body.
Sharon alerted Ranma, "Okay, here we go." before tapping in a sequence. Ranma saw a visor of light spring from the rising protrusions on either side of his head as Sharon spoke again. "Ranma Saotome, going hot!"
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(Posted Thu, 09 Feb 2006 20:58)
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