"We meet again, Ranma Saotome. What brings you back to this valley ?" Ranma and the other students chosen to come with Sunfire's delegation had stayed near the plane, ready to rush to their teachers' rescue on the first sign of battle. Nabiki, Mutsumi, Millia and Fuujin didn't recognize the man in the elaborate and luxurious costume but noticed the traits setting him apart from humanity : pointed ears, slitted pupils and his long two-colored hair. He also exuded power and confidence.
Ranma rose from his sitting position on the ground and faced the newcomer "Hello, Herb" He smiled cockily "Here for a rematch ?"
The musk prince jumped and floated gently where Ranma stood "Not quite, Saotome. I only came to talk" He looked at Ranma's companions and frowned "In private..." All the girls except Mutsumi glared in irritation at the dragon prince, Ranma had warned them about him and his people's misogynist traditions.
Ranma was going to protest but Mutsumi spoke in his mind. Do not worry, I scanned his mind. He's alone and does not plan any treacherous action. At any sign of trouble, I will contact you telepathically.
Thanks, Mutsumi-chan. Ranma nodded at Herb and the two martial artists went away to talk.
*****
"You have my sympathies, Saotome. No one cursed by the spring of drowned girl should suffer a fate like what you described me" The musk prince shivered himself a little since he had the same curse as Ranma.
Ranma was puzzled "Really ? Wasn't what the Musk did with the Chisuiiton similar ?"
"Please, the days of the animal brides are long past. We take human wives strong in body and spirit since the last two centuries" He smirked "As long as they're not amazons"
Even if the wars between the amazon tribe and the Musk dynasty were just a memory, the two communities didn't get along, primarily because their opinions on which sex must lead were opposed. In other words, they ignored each other. When he approached Cologne to learn of the whereabouts of the Kaisuifuu, it was a desperate move and he now owed the elder a debt of gratitude.
"Even if I have a life-debt to you, I won't help you against Cologne" Ranma wanted to retort but was interrupted "Bear in mind that I won't help her either. She's too proud of her amazon heritage to ask for the assistance of a mere male, even if he is a prince of the Musk"
"What about Jusenkyo ? Have the springs dried up ?" If he could get a cure, Ranma was willing to make a detour by the cursed springs before leaving.
Herb shook his head "Yes, they have, to a certain extent. If you think of using the spring of drowned man, don't bother... Unless you want to turn into a hermaphrodite with cold water ?" He smirked nastily at Ranma's horrified expression "Did you think you were the first to think of this solution ? We have transformed powerful male warriors into women in the past and some of them tried it. The curses mixed each time..."
Ranma was a little green at the mental pictures this conjured "When I think I almost got some... Ugh..."
"Tell me more, Saotome" The musk prince's expression returned to deadly seriousness "Are all these... mutants dangerous ?"
"Not all of them, either by the nature of their powers or their personality. Why do you ask ?"
"Maybe you don't know but the People's Republic of China has its own super-soldier team, patterned after the chinese zodiac. They could be sent against the valley to take it by force one day. I have to watch over my people..." His face then took a disgusted expression "There's something else. The musk dynasty's lands are close to the tibetan border. The chinese communists have buried vast quantities of radiactive waste there. It is possible that mutations have or will occur because of this"
Ranma winced "Yeah, that's not very encouraging" Such an outbreak of mutations in a conquered province bordering semi-independant communities would push the chinese government to intervene militarily and Jusenkyo valley would be in their path. Powerful martial arts and magic cannot stop bullets, tanks and bombs for long after all.
*****
Finally their conversation came to an end and the two former enemies parted ways with a promise for a rematch when Ranma would control his new abilities. He returned to the plane at the same time Sunfire and the other teachers did.
"I guess it's better than nothing..." declared Ranma when he was told of the negociations' results "I doubt that will dissuade Cologne and Shampoo from trying..."
"I know, Ranma-kun" Sunfire could see the moral conflict in the young man's eyes "Remember this : they killed innocent men and women who were just doing their job to escape. They had families and loved ones. If we face them in battle, mercy will be a luxury we cannot afford"
Ranma thought back to his fight with Saffron. Sadly, there were times when killing became necessary or face greater loss. At that time, it was him or Akane and the others' lives.
"The line has been drawn here... Enough fall back. They will pay for what they've done" He wouldn't like it but it had to be done. His freedom and countless lives depended on it.
The journey back home was spent in silence. Ranma was already devising plans in case of an all-out fight with Cologne.
See other episodes by Jamil Nate
(Posted Sat, 14 Dec 2002 15:37)
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