Red
The sun's setting. It's really pretty. Even with everything I've been through, I get some comfort from getting to see something so beautiful every day.
It doesn't last. The sun sets, the starts come out, and the power slams into me like a river, rushing through me. And with it comes everything I've come to associate with being a ranger. Strength, speed... and that god awful feeling in the pit of my stomach that means the Cores have come out to play too. I'm not surprised, they've never taken a night off in two years. Why would they start now?
“A lot out tonight.” Blue sighs, her uniform sparkling into existence around her. Okay, the transformation sequence is a bit more impressive than that, lots of spinning and glowing lights, but I'm not so good with words, so I'll skip it. Mine was annoying like that until I figured out how to turn it off. Now it's just straight forward sparkly stuff, and boom, uniform. The others stuck with the whole sequence though.
On topic though, she's right. At least five or six, which means we'll have to be fast, or people are going to get hurt. Another reason to hate this job. We're responsible for these peoples safety. If we're to slow whatever happens is on our consciences. I just hope these Cores wont be to tough, or to widely spread out, or else...
“Two to the east, three to the west, one dead centre.” Black mutters, her eyes closed. She looks a little sick, not that I blame her. Pinpointing demons magnifies the discomfort they cause by ten or so. “Blue, Red, Pink, head for the western ones, I'll take centre, and Yellow take the east. If you can handle both of them at once, do so, but use your own judgement. I don't want you getting killed because of your ego. If any of them are particularly strong, or, god help us, Pure Cores, call it in and you'll get my priority. All clear?”
We've heard the speech maybe a hundred times now. We know what we're doing. But still:
“Yes sir!” Our response is unanimous.
And with that we head out. Much as I hate this job, there are a few bonuses, like the sunset thing I mentioned earlier. The ability to cross the city by roof hopping is another. It's fast, there's an interesting view up here, and the air is fresher, more free. Plus there's less people to crowd you in.
I've lost sight of the others now. Yellow's already gone to take care of her pair. I'm not to worried about her, two on one sounds more dangerous than it really is. Cores aren't picky about what they attack, and they defiantly don't know the meaning of the word 'allies'. As long as Yellow can keep an eye on both of them and keep them from getting distracted by anything that could be called a victim, she should have no trouble. And since she likes to get up close and personal with those blades of hers, I doubt that'll be a problem. The others should be fine to. We're experts at this by now.
Almost there now. This one doesn't feel to strong. If I'm lucky it's weak point will be easy to find, and Black wont have to exhaust herself running over her to help me take it out. That happens some times. But then again sometimes finding the damn spot can take all night. It's a coin toss. A really annoying one.
Ah, here we go. Let's see, crowds of screaming people running around? Check. Lots of random area damage? Check. Trembling housewife kneeling on the floor while the Core prepares to finish her off with one blow? Crap, double check. Move!
I make the dash with just enough time to push the woman out of the way before it's fist comes down. I neglected to get myself out of the way, but that's ok, I'm a magical girl, remember? It takes some serious fire power to hurt me like this. Like I said, there are some bonuses. The hit may cause a bruise (which'll heal by school tomorrow), but I can live with that. It also sends me skidding on my butt for a few meters, which I am less happy about.
I get to my feet, giving it my best death glare. It just blinks at me dumbly. And now that I have a chance to actually look at it clearly, one thing becomes apparent. That thing is hideous! I mean, no Core would win a beauty pageant, but this thing is is just hair and... lumps. It reminds me of a deep sea life forms special I caught on the discovery channel once. Ewww.
I'll admit, I have no idea how or why Core's get their forms. Some of them just look like wild beasts, while some can look like some weird sci-fi tech gone haywire. You'd have to ask Black about it, she might know. But whatever process it is they go through, surely it's no excuse for being that ugly, right? I mean really no- Woah!
Okay, I spent a liiitle to much time complaining there, and apparently ugly though it is, it swings a mean punch. That would be why I now find myself laying upside down on a desk in the office block across the street. What a pain.
It didn't follow after me, so that means I've got to go after it instead. That's a shame, this place looks pretty quiet. Must be after work hours by now, I guess. Damn things can't do anything the easy way. I pick myself up and hoist myself back through the hole in the wall I made coming in, still muttering about how inconvenient all of this is. It gets worse when I get to the other side.
I've barely stood up before I get a camera flashing in my face and a small crowd of suicidal people-fans-media-cretins yelling a dozen questions at me at once. Idiots, can't you see there's a freaking monster going around wrecking the place? Oh, look, here it comes. I guess it wants to know what all the fuss is all about. That, or kill us all. Gee, wonder which.
I try to get through the crowd to deal with the thing before someone gets hurt, but they don't want to let me through until I've answered a question or two. Look, guys, do you seriously have a death wish? 'Cause if the Core doesn't kill you soon, I will. But no they're not listening, though a few of them back off a bit when I start waving my sword around. Not enough of them. I lose my temper.
“WILL YOU IDIOTS JUST GET OUT OF HERE!”
“Getoutta heaarrr...?”
...Who said that?
“Geytoouta herr?”
No... no way. It can't be...
“Gateartahor?”
Core's can't talk. They're not smart enough to do anything except mindless destruction.
“Geyt Ooot ohf har?”
So how the hell is this one smart enough to copy me? It's impossible!
Finally the maniacs with the cameras have noticed the thing. Ah, there they go, running around like headless chickens. Much better. That's one problem down, at least. But now I've got a much more pressing one.
“Guys, there's something odd about this Core. I think it's trying to copy me or... whatever. Something weird's going on.” I mutter into my collar mike, raising my sword into an offensive stance.
Whatever the hell you are Core, you scare me. I've never seen a Core with enough brain-cells in it's head to walk and breathe at the same time, let alone try to speak. I don't like being scared though. I really don't. So I'm going to make this a very quick fight.
Read the comments on this episode
(Posted Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:06)
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.