Nodoka looked around in amazement. She was standing in a big hall, surrounded by dozens of bizarre life forms that were different in size, color, and number of limbs. She could see creatures that looked like animals - mammals, lizard, birds and many more - but also beings that looked like they should be inanimate, but they were moving just as well as everyone else. She saw a hopping sword passing her, and a little further down the hall, a floating fireball with a happy face.
The hall had many doors and elevators, and behind her was a pair of massive double doors. In the middle of the room, she could see the enormous stone statue of a person that somehow looked like a man, but was clearly not human. On a sign on its pedestal, she could read: 'Lord Maduin, leader of the original Espers.'
'I guess that means I'm in the Esper realm now,' Nodoka pondered. She looked up. From the ceiling, a giant chandelier was hanging in the air... but it wasn't connected with the ceiling, it just floated freely. Over the heads of the other creature, little teddy-bear-like creatures with purple wings and red pompoms on their heads flew around, carrying letters and memos while constantly shouting 'Kupo'.
She shook her head. What a weird building.
Suddenly, a person appeared next to her. That means, she wasn't really sure, because she didn't see him appear out of thin air. But she was pretty sure that he didn't stand there several seconds ago.
He was clothed in a dark red cloak with a hood that covered his face. Only a small slit allowed her to see his nose and eyes. Out of the cloak, six arms were jutting out.
"Mrs. Saotome," he said in a pleasant, if slightly cushioned voice. "Welcome to the Esper Headquarters, or, as many of the employees like to call it: HQ! My name is Gilgamesh, and I'm here to take you to our human resources department. If you would come this way, please..."
Nodoka just nodded and followed the strange, six-armed man. On their way to the elevators, she nearly stumbled over a very small, yellow bird, that quickly scampered away with a loud 'Kweeeh'.
They passed under the legs of a giant wearing only a loincloth. Nodoka took a small glance upwards, blushed and whispered: "My... what a MANLY man..."
When they entered the lift cabin, a few of the letter-carrying teddy bears came flying in as well. "Kupo," one of them greeted her. She nervously smiled.
"Don't mind the moogles," Gilgamesh said. "We just don't have enough income to afford a modern telephone system - except on the top floor. So the moogles are just flying between departments and delivering letters... they are doing their job very well."
"Kupo! But sadly, we don't get health insurance," one of the moogles said.
Gilgamesh shrugged. "It's in the rules. I can't do anything about it."
The elevator moved several floors upwards, when it stopped. Some of the moogles left the cabin. "Kupo!"
While a tall man in heavy armor entered the lift, Gilgamesh hold Nodoka back. "Not yet. We still have 34 floors to go."
Nodoka took a quick glance at the display of the elevator.
'100 floors??'
The armored man positioned himself in one corner of the elevator. He wore a scarf and a helmet shaped like the face of a wolf.
"Hey, Gilgamesh," he greeted the six-armed man. "Say, have you spoken to Eden yet? I wanted to, but you know how busy I am."
"I'm sorry, Lobomon," Gilgamesh sighed. "But Eden thinks creating passageways leading to the Digital World from the Esper worlds still leaves too many unanswered questions."
"Damn! Well, have to talk to him myself then, I guess."
Gilgamesh nodded. "You do that!"
The elevator stopped again. Gilgamesh nodded towards the Saotome matriarch. "This is our stop. See ya later, Lobomon." The wolf warrior nodded.
They entered a hallway with many, many doors. It was very long... Nodoka couldn't even see the other end.
"How long is this corridor?" she asked. Gilgamesh seemed to smile under his hood. "As long as we need it to be."
He led her to a door that really didn't look different from the others and went in. Inside, there was a small office room with a single desk, in the chair behind it sat a small girl with black hair. In her hand, she held a cell phone. Next to her desk, Nodoka could see another door.
"Of course," Gilgamesh grumbled. "She is allowed to use a cell phone, but us hard workers..."
The finger of the girl moved to her lips and she threw him an annoyed glance. Then she continued her conversation:
"I'm really sorry, Mewtwo, but Hades already told you you can't join our company. .... Yes, I know you can 'wipe the floor with him'. This isn't just about strength, you know? You have to earn your place in here. .... You want to check that with the boss? .... No, I didn't think you would. So, now let me get back to my work already. And don't call again."
She pressed on a button and put the cell phone away. She smiled. "Welcome in the Esper HQ human resources department. What can I do for you, Gilgamesh?"
He smiled. "This is Nodoka Saotome. She wants to join our little company to help her heroic son on a quest."
"Do you have an appointment?" the girl asked.
Gilgamesh frowned. "You know me. If we wouldn't have an appointment, we wouldn't stand here, right?"
"I guess so. But I have to ask, you know? It's my job!" She turned towards Nodoka. "Hades is our human resources director. He will interview you in a few minutes."
Nodoka took a look at the strange symbols on the girl's forehead. "Are you... an Esper too?"
The girl shook her head. "No, no. This is just my part-time job. I'm a goddess. My name is Skuld. Goddess of the future, one of the three norns. At your service!"
Suddenly, dark mist flowed from underneath the next door, and a diabolic laughter filled the room. Skuld sighed. "That means Hades is ready for you. Just go in."
Gilgamesh tapped her on the shoulder. "Well, good luck!"
----
Darkness surrounded Nodoka. Behind her, only a single door floated through the nothingness.
In front of her, she could see a white, shining pentacle.
"Enter the pentacle, mortal, and we shall begin the interview," the diabolic sounding voice told her.
Nodoka stepped onto the pentacle, and suddenly, a giant throne made of gold appeared. On it, there was a large figure wearing long, elaborate robes in a dark blue. Out of the sleeves, two skeletal hands protruded. And from underneath the cloak's hood, a grinning skull with gleaming eyes grinned at her.
"I am Hades, human resources director," the skeleton continued in a slightly more normal voice. "And you are..." He pulled out a scroll. "Nodoka Saotome, son of Ranma Saotome, who is assisting the Espers in an important matter of hero recruiting. Currently trying to bring peace to the world Spira." He cleared his throat. "You must be very proud of your son, Mrs. Saotome."
Nodoka beamed. "Oh yes! My Ranma is really a man amongst men!"
Hades sweat-dropped. "Um... right. Well, let's begin. Before you can join our little company, I'm afraid I have to ask you several questions. Is that acceptable?"
"Oh, of course!"
Hades nodded. He snapped his fingers, and a large cauldron appeared before him. He took a small bag from his belt and pulled out several, multi-colored vials.
"Well, Mrs. Saotome... what is of more importance to you? Glory, Honor, Wisdom or Wealth?"
"Honor, I would say."
Hades took one vial and threw it into his cauldron.
"Next question: Are you trained in using any sort of weapon?"
Nodoka nodded and showed him her bundled katana.
"Ah yes, excellent..." He threw in another vial.
"Now, you're here to help your son... Which word would you use to describe him?"
Nodoka beamed. That was easy: "MANLY!!"
"Uuuhh... okay, got it." This time, he took a bright red vial.
"Last question: If someone would be endangering your son, how would you react? What would you offer this person?"
With a SHING!, Nodoka drew her katana and smirked.
"D E A T H ! !"
Read the comments on this episode
See other episodes by Shritistrang
(Posted Mon, 31 Jul 2006 19:47)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.