Still, the high didn’t come from the sudden shift from human into a cat-like being, oh no. The adrenaline onslaught coursing through every vein in his being came from dealing out the mother of all ass-kickings... The sweet sensation of releasing years of pent up frustrations and the rage that had come from finding out the truth about uncaring lesbian fiancées; breaking bone and inflicting pain as he handed out their just punishment.
But now, the adrenaline was calming down. It calmed down after a bright flash which blinded Ranma, leaving him in a sensation of vertigo for a moment. Without the high he was on, he was starting to think more clearly now. And while he felt no remorse, no guilt over what he had done... He was still nervous.
He realized his surroundings. And this certainly wasn’t anywhere he knew; it wasn’t even the place that the fiancées had dragged him to, to have their fun with him. The room he was currently in... It reminded him of a Japanese Government Command Center from one of those old Godzilla movies; a large table in the center, crystals all over the perimeter like monitors and a domed ceiling with a mural while a large diamond-shaped dark pink opaque crystal hovered seemingly in mid-air. Looking past it, Ranma could see that the mural on the dome had the depiction of animal-like people... Like what he had become.
Frowning deeply, Ranma got the sudden feeling he’d been kidnapped all over again. “Okay, just where the hell am I?” The newly lycanthropized Ranma shouted out into his surroundings.
Ranma blinked his eyes as the large hovering crystal started to hum to life, a series of pink, red, and white lights shimmering inside in indefinite patterns. He raised his hands as a light shimmered out and was illuminating over him. The hackles on his neck rose as he prepared for anything.
However, unknown to Ranma, this Crystal was more or less the ‘heart and soul’ of the Eastern-most Base of Iceron’s Kingdom. A magical matrix of spells and program that would take care of everything going on in this buried fortress that had managed to last millennia, untouched by the outside world.
And it was scanning him.
Species phylum, Panthera Pardus. Werepanther. A voice seemed to originate from the crystal. Commence further scanning through Iceron’s records.
Ranma’s eyes widened. That thing could talk!? “Hey, you know what I am?” Ranma asked as he was still covered by a light shining down upon him.
The Crystal Matrix chose to ignore the command as it scanned over its database on files concerning werepanthers of Iceron’s ranks. From the lowliest Infantryman to the highest Captain...
It found nothing.
State your name, rank, and unit. The Crystal voiced out once more.
His ears flattening back, Ranma blinked his eyes and answered in an unintelligent, “Huh?
State your name, rank, and unit. The Crystal repeated.
“Uh, well...” Ranma blinked his eyes as he wasn’t sure how to humor this situation. He had gone from a rather familiar situation of battle... Or in his case, bullying, but they deserved it. But he was now on his own, in a place he didn’t know, and there was some omnipotent gem-like thingy speaking in ‘holier-than-thou’ tones.
So, deciding to find out what the hell was going on, he’d play along. “I’m Ranma. Saotome Ranma.”
Registered, one Saotome Ranma, The Crystal said as it was creating a memory file of this new Werepanther. Rank?
“Uh... I ain’t got one,” Ranma said honestly. “Nor am I part of any ‘unit’.
No rank or of any military unit. Wait for assignment as situation assessment is made The Crystal commanded. There was a series of beeping noises before the Crystal once again spoke. Requiring information concerning state on Lord Iceron’s army.
Blinking his eyes once, twice, thrice, Ranma asked, “What army?”
Somehow defying physics of anatomy, and inanimate crystal sweat-dropped. What do you mean, “what army”?
Ranma nodded his head. “Yeah. There ain’t no army.”
Again, the Crystal sweat-dropped further. What of Lord Iceron?
“Who?” Ranma asked.
Lord Iceron, The Crystal Spoke up. God-King of the Lycanthrope, all-powerful conqueror of the Elven Kingdoms. Your creator.
“Uh, hate to burst your bubble...” Ranma started slowly. “But no one created me. I just came into being like this after a... Problem, is all. I was human.”
So you’ve no clue what‘s going on? The Crystal began to surmise.
“Yep,” Ranma nodded his head.
There is no war of revenge upon the wererats that betrayed the lord and master, King Iceron? The Computer-Crystal asked.
“Wererats? What? Just how many weres are out there?” Ranma asked in return.
Taking that as a no, the Focal-point of the base let off another sweat-drop. ...So there is no return of the King? The Crystal asked.
“Not unless you’re a fan of Tolkein movies,” Ranma explained.
What date is this? The computer matrix of magic asked.
“Uh, it’s 2005 AD,” Ranma said. “That help?”
Processing that date for a moment, the Crystal replied, ... Terminology unknown. How long since the presence of the last Elven Kingdom?
“Uh... No clue,” Ranma chuckled nervously. “There’s, like, not much I can say. There hasn’t been a real elf in, like... Ever.”
The Crystal just continued to hover in place in utter silence, not even a the sound could be heard from it’s inner-workings of magic until it finally spoke again. You’re pretty much not only the only werecat left in this region, but the only MAGICAL creature, aren’t you?
“Concerning werecats, Maybe...” Ranma said as he shrugged. “There’s lots of other weird little magic items, and curses, and junk, but I don’t know, and frankly, I don’t care.”
You should, The Crystal told him. According to Protocal, you would be the temporary commander of this base until Iceron himself or one of the higher-ups could be contacted. But since it’s likely there’s not a chance to get a hold of any of them, you are now in charge.
“I’m WHAT!?” Ranma asked in shock.
In charge, The magical information Crystal repeated. Proper protocal dictates that a leader is needed in this war. As the first Lycanthrope to trip my scanners in a currently un-estimated but apparently too long a time, you are now the leader by default. What can I do for you?
Ranma was staring at the Crystal. No, he redefined stared. This thingamajig was more or less telling him he was in control of this place... Whatever it was. And now it wanted to know what he wanted? “Oh... Kay…” Ranma said slowly. “Can you tell me what I’m supposed to do here?”
As the new Captain of Iceron’s Forces... Which right now is just you and me, The Crystal admitted. It is up to us to take care of the Master’s enemies. The Wererats, betrayers of the cause, and the Elves, the rivaling powers to Master Iceron’s rule.
“But I don’t think there’re any wererats and elves left,” Ranma chuckled nervously.
Do you wish me to scan, Captain Saotome? The Crystal asked it’s new owner.
“Well, I...” Ranma blinked his eyes. “Wait a minute... Captain?”
You are the new commander of this Base. Possibly the last base of Iceron’s forces. The Crystal reaffirmed. Now what is your command, Captain Saotome?
“First off, please, call me just ‘Ranma’ okay?” The werepanther asked the sentient magical device. “I ain’t no captain, and it’s hard enough just going by the name Saotome.”
...How about Captain Ranma? The Crystal said. My programming dictates I call people by title. If you wanted to have me just call you by your name, that would take extensive Ribbon-rewriting. Skills I highly doubt you lack. No offense, Captain Ranma.
“Uh... None taken,” Ranma said. “But what’s ‘ribbon’?”
Magical script for writing and reading spells, The Magical Crystal explained. What are your orders, Captain Saotome?
“Well...” Ranma started slowly.
Read the comments on this episode
See other episodes by Red Priest of the 17th Order
(Posted Sat, 21 May 2005 16:50)
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.