It was a Chained World. The institution of slavery had morphed early on and evolved, but it was still at its base the owning of an individual by another individual. A different morality applied.
Fights where one person or another was defeated were common, blood sport had never gone out of fashion. Things had changed over the eras though, and fights to the death had never been as common in Rome as was depicted by Hollywood. After all, the ancient gladiators couldn't have a rematch if all fights were to the death. Still, fights were bloodier and more savage and the code duello was still common in many parts of the world.
Most professional sports had elements that would horrify their counterparts from the world Ranma had originated from. There were more risks involved, and rewards.
There were also more problems involved. People had odd talents, like the aged hero who had given Ranma the scroll for the Second Sight special manuever. Harcourt had a 'knack' (which was a common term for those little talents) for sizing up people he met, he'd kept in touch with a wide variety of contacts as a result. Which included Ranma and Genma.
There were heroes, like Harcourt, who kept the balance of power. Some did it for 'King & Country' and some did it for reasons as varied as the challenge or because they had a grudge against someone working the other side.
There were villains as well. Ernst Stavro Blofeld being a perfect example of such.
Born on May 18, 1908, he was quite old now and not nearly so mobile as he had once been. Yet there were illegal means of lengthening one's time in that world, and he was quite enamored of his own life. If there WERE any sort of divine judgement he was going to delay it as long as possible.
He had formed SPECTRE, an international criminal organization, in the aftermath of a great war. During that war he'd been able to profit from both sides and found that strife and conflict were great teachers. In that time, he'd found religion but not one of the current recognized faiths.
No, Ernst Blofeld didn't particularly believe in an afterlife - he was a Progressive Darwinist. Morality was something lesser minds concocted to limit themselves, success was the only thing that mattered. And Ernst Stavro Blofeld was quite successful.
Nor was SPECTRE the only player in the international cartel slot. It too had its rivals and competition in this sort-of two-fisted pulp world.
"There they are," said one of the ninja into his headset. "I'd recognize those two anywhere."
"Who's that with them? Some broad?" asked another ninja.
"Doesn't matter, we'll... back away very slowly," said a third.
"What? Why?" asked the first.
"Because she looked at me and I saw a red laser targetting tag appear on my chest," said the third. "If we're going to attack from ambush we have to have surprise."
"I suppose," said the first.
"So what's this special technique you've got?" Ranma asked as they walked to the train station.
KOS-MOS seemed to consider something far away briefly, then went to where an old metal barrel was near a corner. "Excalibur Blow!"
There was a clang as the barrel split down the middle.
"Hmmmm, may have to learn that one," said Ranma. "What else have you learned?"
"If you like I shall demonstrate such techniques later when we have come to rest, where they would be more appropriate," said KOS-MOS.
"Okay, like massage techniques or something?" asked Ranma.
"Or something," agreed KOS-MOS.
"The laboratory researching the ancient artifacts require our assistance," said Genma. "We've got to be there first thing in the morning when those artifacts arrive. Meanwhile, they're paying for our hotel room."
"We sleep indoors tonight? Hot baths?" asked Ranma.
Read the comments on this episode
(Posted Fri, 30 May 2008 20:25)
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.