Red
Ugh. This is annoying. As Cores go Furry McLump thing is nothing special, fighting wise. Packs a strong punch, but it moves way to slow to ever actually hit me with one. But unlike normal Cores I’m not allowed to kill this one. Okay, I admit that doesn’t sound particularly hard, but think about it for a sec. A Core’s weak point can be anywhere, and every weapon I have is filled to bursting with magical insta-Core-death, and that includes my entire body. I can’t touch the damn thing without risking destroying it. It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes that’s really all it takes.
If I destroy it, I’ll get Black mad. I don’t wanna do that. I made her angry once. Never again. Oh god, she- gah. Come on Red, keep it together, fight time is now. This lamp-post I ripped up is starting to look a bit like a pretzel. Better find a new weapon.
Right. Duck. Throw. Listen to the satisfying clang as Furry Lumps’ head makes a new outline in the post. Roll backwards. Grab whatever comes to hand. Ah, manhole cover. Now I have a shield. Should buy me a few seconds.
Crack
Orrr not. Honestly, what do they make these things out of, paper? Guess I’ll have to stick to dodging. Unless… Hmm, lets see, new lamppost in hand, mostly undamaged, ‘cept for the being ripped out of the ground thing (they can’t be that expensive to replace, can they?). Now I just have to wait for Mr. Furry Lumps to come charging at me, and of course he’s just so happy to help, isn’t he?
5.4.3.2.1. Jump! Flip, hook, twist, and tie it with a nice bow, like that, there. One ugly Core beast, wrapped up and ready to go. Did I mention having super strength is awesome? It’s not like there’s anyone else around who can use a lamp-post as a rope now is there? Oh yeah, I rock. Yuh huh, go Red!
Well then. With Lumpy here all tied up, I guess my job here is done! Now Black just needs to show up and study this thing and then the world can finally be rid of this hairy abomination. All thanks to me. Oh, I can hear the adoring crowds now. Not the actual crowds, no, they’re a bunch of jerks that can just go die. All “Will you pose for some pictures Cutie?” this, or “Show us some leg girl!” that. Maybe if my skirt was longer I wouldn’t have to deal with all this...
What was that sound? I would very much like to believe it wasn’t what it sounded like, ‘cause what it sounded like was a thoroughly abused lamp-post snapping like a twig.
Oh. Right. Cores get the whole super strength dealie too. Forgot about that. Damnit Black, get here already, I’m running out of ways to contain this thing without exploding it. Not that that doesn’t sound really, really tempting right now. Stupid Core.
“Helloota here!”
It’s talking again. There’s only one response to that:
“Shut up!”
That told it!
There’s a thud as a dark shape lands on the pavement a few steps away. Our leader has arrived. Finally!
“Not finding the joy of scientific discovery to your liking, Red?”
“Nope,” I try to answer, but it gets a bit garbled when I have to lean back to avoid another punch. Pretty sure the human spine was not meant to bend this much. Scientific discovery, eh? “Now can you do your thing so I can make it disappear? I’m not a fan of this whole defensive fighting thing.”
“Somehow that doesn’t surprise me. Hold it back a little longer; I need some time to get a good look at it.”
“Of course you do. Fine.” I manage to straighten up just in time to dodge another swing. “Don’t suppose you could tell me where this things weak point is, could you? Be helpful if I knew where not to hit it.” Of course I might just hit it anyway. This thing bugs me. Could you tell?
“I think… hmm…” And out comes the juice box. Hurry? Oh no, there’s no hurry. Take all the time you need! “You promise you wont kill it the second you know?” …That’s right, she knows me. Damnit.
“No?”
“Red.”
“Fine, I promise, I promise.” Lousy mind reading geniuses…
“Stick away from the forehead. It’s right dead centre.”
Blink. “That was fast.” On a good day it usually takes Black at least 30 seconds…
“It’s pretty clear. The wiring inside this thing is all twisted up. It really spoke?”
I let Lumpy do the talking for me while I focused on deflecting its next attack.
“Goot ohuta hire!”
"That was supposed to be Japanese?”
“It’s trying to copy me. Badly.”
“… Red, I know you’re falling behind in classes, but-”
“Hey! It’s the dumb one, not me!”
“Heh.” Lousy mind reading geniuses with huge foreheads… “Ok, just keep it distracted for a bit, this is a strange one.”
“I hadn’t noticed. Fine, distraction is me. That’s all I’ve been doing this entire fight anyway.” Just ‘cause I’m itching to slice this thing in half doesn’t mean I have no self-control. Just very little. Hear that Lumpy?
“Red, it can’t read your thoughts.”
Oh right. Yeah, that was pretty stupid of me. Maybe I’m getting a little too carried away on the Power rush- Wait a sec.
Black just smiles smugly at my expression. That was a guess. Had to be a guess. Riiight. Concentrate on the fighting Red.
This is becoming routine though. Dull dull duh-dullll. Flip, handstand, dodge right, dodge left, damnit can’t this Core do anything right?! All it knows how to do is throw punches! I could fight this thing without the power! I can’t believe I was scared of it!
But there is something strange. This weird little uneven beat in Lumpy’s timing. A fist I thought’d hit there hits there instead. Nothing important, really, so why am I noticing it so much? ‘Cause this fight’s so boring, I guess. It’s not like I love having to fight for my life every night, but they could at least make it challenging, y’kno-!!!
Oh.
“Red!”
Huh. Lumpy was a bit faster than I thought. Sharp claws under all that fur…
Ah… yeah. Black, could you handle this thing for me?
I’m just finding it a little tricky…
Right now…
Legs don’t wanna move… That’s a lot of blood, actually…
This might be… bad…
Read the comments on this episode
See other episodes by A Wandering Jedi
(Posted Sat, 31 Jan 2009 12:50)
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.