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Ranma 1/2 Z Neo:  Part 4


The Future


chapter by Fanime Lynn; story idea by Tony Chen
+=====+======+=======+=====+======+=======+======+


*The scene is the one Trunks originally left from, a medium-sized room with a
stand in the center.  There is a window on the side opposite the door, which
shows a view of many nice buildings, and signs of very advanced technology all
over the place.  One can easily see  hover-cars zipping by in one direction in the
clear night: out of the city.  The room is very quiet; the walls muffle all the traffic
and other city noises.  Suddenly, the platform in the center of the room starts to
glow.  An odd- looking machine slowly fades in, and one can see five
transparent people sitting in it.  Four looked rather awed, and stare about the
room in amazement.  The other closely watches a panel in the front of the
contraption.  The machine and the people in it suddenly become solid.  The one
watching the panel looks up and addresses the others.*

Trunks:  We're here.  You can get out now.  *looks amused, watching the others
stare about in wonder.

Akane: So this is your home....

Ranma: *looking out window*  Wow.

Ryouga:  (I've got to be careful not to get lost)  Where's everybody going?

Trunks: Probably trying to leave the city.  I doubt anybody really wants to face
these people, whoever they are.

Ranma: Except us.

Trunks: Yeah.  I'm going to tell okaasan we're here.  *leaves group crowded
around window.*

Bulma: *as Trunks walks in*  You're back. *sounds very relieved*  What took you
so long?

Trunks: I couldn't remember exactly when I left, so l programmed it to take me to
now, just to be safe.  What's the situation now?

Bulma: It's quiet.  They're not making any moves right now.  Why don't you let
the others get accustomed to the time, and wait till morning to do anything? 
Besides, I want to meet them.  They all came, right?

Trunks: Yeah.  But what did they do with otousan and the others?

Bulma: *innocently* Who? The kids from the past?

Trunks: *sweatdropping*  No, the strangers.

Bulma:  They took your father and the others to their ship.  They didn't act like
they were going to hurt them further.  So did they all come?

Trunks:  *innocently*  Who, the strangers?

Bulma: No, the teens from the past.

Trunks: Hai.  They're staring out the window in the lab right now. I'll bring them
out.  *Goes back to room with Time machine.*

Ranma: *still staring out the window* Do we need to start fighting now?

Trunks: iie.  Come meet my mother.  *with some difficulty, tears group away from
window*

Bulma:  Hello, I'm Trunks' mother.  Call me Bulma.  (They're so young.  I hope
they can do it.)

Ranma:  Hello.  I'm Ranma, this is Akane, Ryouga, and Ukyou.  (Blue hair?  oh,
well.  Guess I should be used to unusual hair colors by now.)

Bulma:  Mind if I do some tests?  I'll only need to draw a little blood...

Trunks:  Not now, Okaasan.  You can test later.

Bulma:  Fine.  I'll take some of your blood to see if I can find a cure for what they
did.  *takes out a needle and sticks it into Trunks*

Trunks:  Owww!

Bulma: Hold still.  *finishes and goes off to analyze sample*

Ranma: That's your mother?

Trunks: Yeah.  She's a genius, like Ojiisan is.

Ranma: Oh.

Ryouga: So what should we do now?

Trunks:  Mom says they're not doing anything right now, so you should probably
familiarize yourselves with the area, then go to sleep.

Ukyou:  Go to sleep?  We just woke up!

Trunks: But you'll fight better if you're refreshed when it's time, and we're not
going to fight right now.

Akane: So how will we see the area if we don't want to be detected?  Fly low?

Trunks:  *trying not to laugh* No, I've got a hologram of everything.  (I've got to
remember they don't know anything about the technology)
*takes out holographic map*

*Group stares at map for a while, memorizing everything.  Trunks messes
around with the controls to show how everything is now.*

Trunks:  That's how it  was when I left.  I'll go see if it's on the news; they'll show
if anything has changed. *goes into next room and turns on TV*

Akane: It sure has changed since we last saw it.  What's the year now, anyway?

Ranma:  *looks around for some hint of when it is*  No idea.  There's nothing
here that says.

Ryouga: Are you sure this is even the same place we just left?

Ranma: Of course not, Pig-boy. It's..... well, however many years in the future.

Ryouga: (He's insulting me again! Ranma, you'll pay for that!!....later.) *with
considerable restraint, since he actually might need Ranma later* 	Shut up,
Ranma. 

Trunks: *coming back in*  It's the same except that now they know where  the
ship is.  *adds ship to map*

Ryouga:  It's huge!

Trunks: No, not really.  For a spaceship it's pretty small.

Team Akane:  Gaaaahhhh!!  *everybody falls over*

Trunks: What?

--------------------------------------------------

*Everybody eventually goes to bed, where they attempt to get too sleep.  They
all do after a while, though Ryouga had to get some water in the middle of the
night and couldn't find his way back to his room.  Ranma found him just as he
was about to leave the building, and escorted him back to bed, where he then
locked, barred, and chained the door.  When morning came, Ryouga didn't
notice and just opened the door to walk out.  Trunks finally found him in a closet. 
Nobody was very hungry, but they ate anyway.  They then started to get ready
for the day.*

Trunks: Are you guys sure you can handle this?

Ranma/ Ryouga:  *with their typical pride*  Of course! 

Akane/Ukyou: *more intelligently*  I think so.

Trunks: Everybody remembers what we're going to do, right?

Ranma:  How come Ukyou is staying?

Ukyou: Because I know how to treat wounds!  Would you trust HER around a
broken arm? *points to Akane* 

Ranma:  *shudder* I see your point.

Akane:  RANMA NO BAKA!! *doesn't hammer him, just shouts* (If I didn't need
you so much today.......)

Ranma: *goes flying into nearest wall out of habit*  Jeez, Akane, you've
ingrained it in me now! 

Trunks:.........

Ukyou: *watching Ranma peel himself off wall, completely unhurt since there
was no force behind the crash*  Besides, Akane is too, well, hippy.  She'd never
fit in.  I'm flat, though, and I'm more square.

Akane:  The way you said it makes me sound like an American from the 70's.

Ukyou:  How else am I to put it?

Akane: *shrugs to answer Ukyou, then addresses Ranma* I'd also rather be
fighting by your side than crawling around in small, dark places.

Ranma:  Alright, alright, I won't complain!

Trunks:  Ukyou, you have the pendent, right?

Ukyou: Right.  *takes out a pendent identical to the one Trunks had given Akane
during the Gero incident.*

Trunks: Good.  Everybody ready?

Team Akane: Hai.

Bulma: *coming out of next room over*  Trunks-kun, I've almost found a cure. 
When I do, you're going to have to get it to Ukyou.

Trunks:  I'll try. Hey, Ranma, do you think you can cover for me?

Ranma:  Yeah, we'll keep them distracted.

Ryouga: Unless we've already beaten them!

Akane: *rolls her eyes* Men.

Bulma: I expect you'll need these.  *holds out small bag of senzus.  Akane takes
it.*

Trunks:  Where'd you get those?  I thought we were out.

Bulma:  Yaamcha had extras.

Trunks: That reminds me, where are the others?

Bulma:  They've gone to the beach.

Trunks:  THE BEACH??!!

Bulma:  They couldn't just stay here, now could they?  Why not have fun if you're
given a chance?

*at the beach*

Bulma's dad: *sitting on a beach chair sipping a soft drink*  You don't think they'll
need us, do you?

Yaamcha:  Of course not.  What could we do, anyway?  We'd just be in the way.

Videl:  He's right, you know.

Bulma's dad:  Oh, well.  Last one too the water's a rotten senzu bean!  *the three
rush to the ocean*

*back at the Capsule Corp headquarters*

Ranma:  Sound like a good idea to me.  Why don't we all go to the beach when
we get back to our time?

Ukyou/Akane: All right!

Ryouga:  Uhhh... I'd probably just get lost and all........ (Akane would find out I'm
P-chan!)

Akane:  Don't worry, you don't have to go.

Ryouga: Thanks!

Akane: After all, there's nothing wrong about being water- phobic.

Ryouga: ........ 

Trunks: We're leaving now..... Coming?

Akane/Ryouga: Hai.

*The group, minus Ukyou, is now flying over the area of mass destruction where
Goku, Vejita, Trunks, and Goten had fought.*

Ranma: Wow..... Looks like an atomic bomb went off or something.

Trunks: In a way, I guess one did... or actually, three.  

Akane: *surveying the devastation* It's terrible.

*The whole group is slightly affected, but, since such scenes were common at
the Tendo dojo in smaller degrees, they quickly perk up again.*

Ryouga: Well, I'm ready to kick some butt. *jeers at Ranma* How 'bout you,
Ranma? Think you can keep up?

Ranma: The question is: Can you keep up with me? 

Ryouga: How about a wager? Whoever defeats his opponent first takes Akane
out to dinner!

Ranma: Hope you're ready to loose!

Akane: Hey, don't I have a say in this?

Ranma: Hey, come on Akane, it'll be fun. *adds to annoy Ryouga* I'll even let
you pick the restaurant!

Ryouga: What makes you think you're gonna win? I'll take you to you choice of
restaurant, Akane, and the fair!

*Akane rolls her eyes and concentrates on flying.  A minute later, she flies ahead
to speak to Trunks*

Akane: How much farther?

Trunks: We should be there any minute now. Are you sure you can handle this?

Akane: Yeah. What about you? After all, you won't be able to go Super Saiyajin
to protect yourself.

Trunks: If all goes right, then I won't need to. Besides, you're underestimating
yourselves.  You can hold them off. After all, if Super Saiyajins 	weren't able
to beat them, then they wouldn't have neutralized our powers.

Akane: Yeah, guess you're right. I'm just nervous, that's all.

*Trunks nods, knowing it's always nerve-racking  right before a big fight.
Suddenly, he slows down. Akane keeps on going for second before she realizes
he's dropped back, then stops herself and rejoins him. The others all gather
around him.*

Trunks: It's just over that building, hidden in a ditch that was a subway before
they dug it out. You know the plan.  Stay back behind me; I'll do 	all the
talking. Be prepared to start fighting at any second, but don't start the fight. It'd
be best if we could find out what their goals are 	before we try to get into
any trouble. *takes a pendent like the one Ukyou has out of his shirt* And you
know what to do, right, Ukyou?

Team Akane (including Ukyou, over pendent): Hai.

*With this, the courageous heroes fly over the line of buildings in their way,
staying low to the ground. On the other side, a shining metal bulk loomed above
them, visible only from underneath, due to special shielding. Suddenly, a
rectangular ribbon of light appears on the side of the ship, and the outlined area
vanishes. Three figures are standing in the doorway, two men and one woman.
All that can be seen is their outline against the brightness of the interior of the
ship.  One figure, the woman, reaches out to her side and touches the side of
the door. A walkway appears, leading to the ground. The three then fly down to
confront the five heroes at the bottom.*

Jet Stream: Well, I told you there were more of them.

Tempo: So what? We'll just take care of them like we did their friends. Won't
Argos be pleased?

Treble: Don't push your luck, woman. We'll do what Argos says, and only what
he says. And you know what he told us to do.

Tempo: You're such a baby. Of course I'm not going to disobey Argos. I'm talking
long run, that's all.

Trunks: *interrupting* What have you done with Otousan and my friends?

Tempo: Don't worry about them. They're fine........ for now. Worry about yourself
instead! *raises hand as if to shoot beam at them, but 	Jet Stream
interferes, grabbing her wrist*

Jet Stream: Not yet. The both of you, be quiet! *The two others glare at him, but
step back. He the addresses Trunks* You are a Saiyajin?

Trunks: *proudly, but with caution* Yes, I am. So what?

Jet Stream: And your little friends? *Indicates Team Akane, who stand a few
steps back from Trunks.*

Trunks: *scoffs* What do you think?

Jet stream: *Takes the bait, and thinks that they are, indeed, saiyajins, like
Trunks intended.* Good. *Steps back before Trunks can take time 	to start a
conversation to find out about him and the other two* Treble, Tempo, now.
*Tempo and Treble suddenly leap out at the 	team. All prepare for battle*

^maybe I should end the chapter here.... just kidding! =]^

*Jet Stream joins the other two in attack, and all three land in the pile of their
opponents at the same time. Jet Stream goes after Trunks and Akane, Tempo
Ryouga, and Treble Ranma. Ranma and Ryouga fight furiously, but find
themselves a bit pressed. Trunks and Akane have the same luck, finding the
strangers to be incredibly strong and fast. Soon, typical of Dragonball, all the
warriors disappear from view as their speeds reach faster than light.  Sounds of
fighting can be heard. *

*Trunks finds himself defending Akane while she goes into her usual impulsive
attacks. At first, it seems that together, the two have an advantage, but then Jet
Stream gets between them, cutting off Akane's only defense long enough to land
a few crushing blows on her, all the while keeping Trunks at leg's length with a
complicated kick-boxing technique. The pain seems to clear Akane's head
though, and she starts applying the strategies she learned from sparring with
Ranma. Still, even working together and planning, the two are outclassed. 
Soon, only minor punches and kicks get through, as Jet Stream gains
momentum.*

*Ranma  and Treble, meanwhile, exchange blows almost exceeding the speed of
light. However, Treble has the definite advantage, with his longer body and
speeding bulk.  Punch after punch gets through Ranma's defense, while he
himself takes only minimal damage.*

*Ryouga, also, is struggling, only to a much greater degree. Tempo is obviously
only toying with him, outclassing him by so much, and he soon finds himself
bruised and battered, while she is as fresh as she started out. However,
Ryouga's pure strength and endurance slowly come into play, and he starts to
take the offensive, pushing Tempo back and getting in a few devastating blows,
though still the worst off of the two. Suddenly, we hear Ryouga yelp.*

Ryouga: Yaa! Owww... What's your problem, lady? *He holds his hand to his
cheek; blood can be seen dripping down.  She ducks a punch 	from Ryouga,
and returns it with a kick to his chin, which he blocks. She calls out to her
companions*

Tempo: Hurry up, you two.

*As she says this, Akane gets a deep cut on her arm, and finds her own
opponent inside her defense. Trunks whacks him away, to score a cut on his
own hand as Jet Stream returns the favor. One by on, each hero finds
themselves with a bloody gash. They can't help but wonder why.....*

Jet Stream: HALT!!! *All fighting suddenly stops, Team Akane looking confused
as too why.  But now that their opponents are standing still, 	they can see that
each has a silvery lining at the fists... a sign of the razor-sharp blade each is
holding.*

Jet Stream: You're pretty good to last this long. But not good enough to beat us!
We'll give you one week to improve, then maybe we can 	have a real fight! 
Treble, Tempo, in the ship. *The two obey him.* In one week, I'll give you a
chance to fight for your friends' lives. Until 	then, prepare yourselves for your
loss. We will return. *With this, he flies off into the spaceship.  The door closes,
and the walkway 	(unused) disappears.  A loud rumbling is heard, and the ship
slowly rises. Team Akane watches with despair as it flies off.*

Trunks: *cries out* Otousan! Goku, Goten! Gohan! NO! 

*As he shouts this, a small, silver ball shoots out at the group. Ranma, Akane,
Ukyou, and Ryouga all jump away, but Trunks, blinded by anger and grief,
doesn't see it, and it hits him dead on.  The ball explodes, and a cloud of smoke
blocks the view of Trunks.*

Akane/ Ranma: Trunks!

Ryouga: Kuso!

* All four  try to peer through the smoke to see if he's okay.  Gradually, the
smoke clears, and Trunks can be seen, kneeling on the ground and holding his
head as if it hurts very much^. Ranma runs up to check on him, while the others,
not as good at treating injuries, stay back.*

^To Trunks-fans: Please don't hurt me!^

Ranma: Trunks, are you okay?

Trunks: *shakes head as if to clear it* Yeah, I think so.... Whatever that was, it
gave me a killer headache, but it's going away.

Ranma:  You should probably have someone check to make sure. I don't see
any physical injuries, though. *helps him stand up* Let's get back 	to your
home.

Trunks: Hai. *Group flies off.*

----------------------------------------------------------------

*back at Capsule Corp*

Bulma: I don't see anything physically wrong with you, but to be sure.... *draws a
needle out)

Trunks: *senses the pain implied*  Do you have too?

Bulma: *Sticks needle into Trunk's arm* Yes.

Trunks: *grumbles* I've never had so many shots before in so little time.

Bulma: Actually, you've never had ANY shots before this week. *Takes sample
to a testing machine and slides it in.*

Trunks: What do you expect to find, anyway?

Bulma: Who knows? Now go make dinner; I'm hungry.

Trunks: What?! Me, make dinner?

Bulma: Of course. I'm too busy to do it myself, and the others are guests.

Trunks: ....... *glares at his mother, then stalks off to the kitchen*

Ukyou: *Hearing someone in the kitchen, she goes to help out.* Hey, Trunks,
need some help?

Trunks: *staring at recipe book as if it were written in Greek* Uh-huh.

Ukyou: *shoving him out* All right, I'll cook.

Trunks: *as he's being pushed out* Hey, did you get it done?

Ukyou: Yeah, of course. You can always count on me. I'll give you the plans
later.... *has displaced Trunks, now returns to kitchen to cook*

*Ten minutes later, Bulma comes out of the lab and finds everyone, minus
Ukyou, sitting at the table talking. She glares at Trunks.*

Bulma: I told you to make dinner.

Trunks: *sweat-dropping nervously* Ukyou said she wanted to make dinner.

Bulma: *stares at Trunks a bit longer, just to make him uncomfortable, then
speaks again* Anyway, do you want the good news or the bad news first?
*without waiting for an answer* I'll give you the good news.  You'll be fine.

Trunks: *looking relieved* And the bad news?

Bulma: You'll have to stay in bed for two weeks.

Trunks: WHAT!?! Two weeks?! I can't do that! What about the battle?

Bulma: You really don't have a choice, at least, not if you want to live.  I located
a strand of talsfiovirus^ in you bloodstream... It's harmless as 	long as you
stay relatively inactive, but would be activated by any strenuous activity... like
training.  But it'll pass out of your bloodstream 	in about two weeks.

^As you can guess, I just made it up. As far as I know, talsfiovirus is just
gobbledygook.^

Ranma: Don't worry, we'll smash those guys for you when they come back...
That is, if they don't chicken out first.

Ryouga: I don't often agree with you, Ranma, but when you're right, you're right!
*smashes his fist against the palm of his other hand in 	anticipation of the
fight, and smiles*

Akane: That's right, when we're done, there won't be enough of those three left
over to bury!

Trunks: Thanks, guys.

Bulma: *interrupting* Oh, yeah, I forgot... I found the cure to that injection they
gave you.

Trunks: *facefaults* You forgot? How could you forget something like that?

Bulma: I don't know..... I forget how I forgot.

Trunks: *groans* Okaasan, what's with you today?

Bulma: *shrugs* I forget.

*Team Akane laughs.  Trunks, watching them rolling on the floor,  finally realizes
that his mother is joking.  Bulma gets the serum, and comes back with another
needle, ready to give it to Trunks.*

Trunks: *eyeing the needle resignedly* Here. *holds out his arm*

Bulma: Oh, this isn't going to be a shot. I only have it in the needle because
there was nowhere else to put it.

Trunks: *perks up a bit* Really?

Bulma: No. *sticks needle into Trunks; he winces* There, all done.

Ukyou: *entering the room with dinner* It's too bad you can't use it.  Have some
okonomiyaki, it'll cheer you up.

Trunks: Thanks. *He looks down at plate to see his okonomiyaki smiling up at
him. Ranma also finds a happy dinner, curtsey of Ukyou's 	custom sauce
decoration.*
Bulma: Hey, this is good.  What'd you call it again?

Ukyou: *with pride* Okonomiyaki.  I think Trunks said you didn't have any now, in
the future.

Bulma: We don't.

*The group eats dinner, then goes to bed wondering what surprises tomorrow
will bring. Mean while, off in space, a now familiar spaceship orbits the Earth.*

Argos^: Syme^, did you collect the samples?

^If you don't remember them, they're the guys from part 0, the doctor and the
leader guy.^

Syme: Hai. I am in the process of analyzing them now.

Argos: Jet, Tempo, Treble, you did well.

Jet Stream/ Temple/ Treble: Arigato, Argos.

Tempo: And we will do well for you again.

Argos: Gooood. *He laughs an evil laugh, almost as terrifying as Kodachi's.*

--end part 4
--------------------------------------------------------------

Author's notes:

What does the evil Argos have in plan for our heroes? And will Team Akane
save Trunks's friends? Tune in next time for......  Chapter 5!
(Sorry, I've always wanted to say that.)  Anyway, please send me feedback so I
know how I'm doing. I'll try to respond quickly, but please be patient with me.
Hope you've enjoyed this continuation so far.  I'll get chapter five out as soon as
I can.  And if anyone knows what to do about decorating homepages, please,
give me a call. (e-mail, whatever)   'Till then, Saiyonara!