The punishment or whatever had been 'diversification' - which was now these Hexes and Half-hexes that divided the world up.
Go to the edge of a Hex and there was often a slight discontinuity - as different air pressures or even slight changes in physical laws between one hex and another met.
Mostly though it was divided up into the Northern and Southern zones. North of the equatorial wall, there were variants of humanity. Those hexes were Earth-like or close enough, and the forms within were variants not too far varied from their previous humanity.
Almost immediately came the speculations as to what the aliens wanted. Even before the vast alien ships had (apparently) left the confines of the solar system, theories were abounding.
One theory, championed by the Werewolves of London, was that the alien test had been geared towards determining humanity's civility. Clearly the amount of large-scale conflict in the world, the poverty levels worldwide, and the amount of crime and downright brutal behavior was unacceptable.
Another theory, put forth by the Dryadi of what had once been Mexico, was that the ecosystem damage to Earth had been so severe that the aliens had moved to stop it.
The Nagafolk of what had once been a large swath of Libya hissed about all that when it was absolutely clear that the Werewolves had it entirely wrong. What this all was about was that their previous human forms had been evolutionarily stagnant. What was meant to be was that all the races would do battle and select what would be the NEW humanity.
The Nagafolk's neighbors, particularly the Hakazit, decided they didn't like the sound of that at all and were ready to kick snakey butt if the Nagafolk tried anything.
The Pixies of formerly-Eastern-France thought the Nagafolk had something there, but it wasn't warfare that was the answer. No, one race would prove to be more successful in the long run and THAT would end up being the new humanity. This was just a second test that the aliens had applied.
The Gedemondas of what-had-once-been-Tibet philosophized that the aliens were simply alien, and all the races of humanity were still basically human - and therefore the alien motives were going to be inscrutable.
Ranma Saotome, heir of the Saotome School Of Anything Goes Martial Arts, didn't concern himself with the alien motivations.
He was himself in general looks. Oh, the horns were new. So was that he looked to be wearing scaly gloves and boots. The wings were DEFINITELY new and he was having to go shirtless a lot, not that he was alone in that regard.
The Draconoids occupied a hex that included the northwestern most part of Tokyo and stretched off in that direction. The temperature, as it was soon discovered, was a good ten degrees warmer than in neighboring areas.
Draconoids came in castes apparently. Ranma was Warrior caste. Kasumi Tendo was Maker caste. Warriors could fly and had heavier claws on their hands than Makers. Makers lacked wings but had tails that were long and snakey.
That they were the only two who had been staying at the Tendo household that were still there was duly noted.
As for Akane, she had been relocated and was now:
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(Posted Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:20)
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