Part 17, Version 1.0 ... 9-9-97

Written by: Tony Chen ============================================================================ ============================================================================

*For the moment, everything is quiet, except for the slight howling of wind and snow. All attention is now directed at the figure standing far away on top of the plateau. As Akane, who has turned back to normal, and her team fixes their eyes on Ranma, hope seemed to resurface in their hearts. However, Akane’s mind is troubled with mixed feelings. Ryoga de-transforms, his stare at Ranma is fired up with hatred, yet he is also satisfied that now he will have a chance to ultimately resolve his conflict with his almost life-long enemy. Dr. Gero just gapes at Ranma’s re-appearance. His tiny eyes seemed to have grown huge.*

Dr. Gero: Impossible! My instruments should have detected his life force if he was alive! There was no place on Earth that he could have hid from my surveillance!

*Ranma is in his normal form. He leaps lightly off the edge of the plateau, his right leg extended to absorb the impact of the landing, and his arm raised above him as he falls. His hair and clothes ripple fiercely as he descends from the great height.*

Gero: Now I am glad I only sent a thousand units into Tokyo. *Presses some buttons on his chest plate, and a new hatch opens on another part of Gero’s mountain base, revealing the remaining 300 robots.* Units 200 to 250, attack primary target!

*With bursts of jets, the first 50 of the robots rushes toward Ranma, who is slowly walking toward the battlefield. Ranma does not pay attention to the group of incoming robots, and allows them to get extremely close.*

Akane: *sees the robots about to attack Ranma as a group, she lets out a loud yell* Ranma!

*Ranma is now surrounded in all direction. All the robots leap toward him at once, with their tentacles outstretched, ready to rip open his body piece by piece. Without a word and no movement from his arms, Ranma flares up with energy, and unleashes a powerful cyclone around him, sending the robots sky high. After some electric sparkle, all the robots are thoroughly shattered apart in the cyclone; their remains falls the ground, scattered about. Ranma continues walking dangerously toward Ryoga, Kuno, and Kodachi.*

Dr. Gero: *witnesses the destruction of his 50 units.* So, he is the true Saotome. This may delay matters longer than I expected. *Calls out* Ryoga, Kuno, Kodachi, come to me at once.

Ryoga: *looks at Dr. Gero* But doctor, Ranma is mine!

Kuno: *looks at Ryoga* Tatewaki Kuno does not approve! And what I do not approve shall not be done. Mine shall be the only hands that will deal bitter defeat to Ranma Saotome.

Ryoga: *looks at Kuno angrily* Why you second rate cyborg, how dare you speak to me like that!

Dr. Gero: *getting peaved* Do not bicker! Kuno, obey my commands, or I will be forced to terminate you. Ryoga, you will get your chance, soon. In fact, I’m counting on you getting rid of this nuisance for me, so I wouldn’t have to personally deal with him. But first, you must come, and replenish your energy.

*Ryoga nods, and leaves the field to join Gero not too far away, still at the entrance to his base. A ridiculed Kuno and Kodachi follows without further question. His path now unobstructed, Ranma walks toward his friends faster, his eyes on Akane.*

Ranma: *comes into range* Akane.....

Akane: *looks at Ranma, and memories of when he left floods her mind. The pain she experienced resurfaced, almost overwhelming her. Her eyes gradually gets watery.* Ranma..... *not being able to withstand the thoughts, she falls to her knees and buries her face in her hands, and silently weeps.*

Ranma: *quickly comes over, gets on one knee to Akane’s level, and holds her shoulders with his hands. He looks at Akane apologetically, seemingly reading her thoughts* Akane, I’m sorry I left, I really am.

Akane: *uncovers her face, and looks at him, her eyes tainted with tears* Ranma..... you baka.... *her mind agitated at choosing between slapping Ranma for deserting, or hugging him for coming back*

Ranma: *acknowledges Akane’s anger and frustration; it pains him to see the hurt he has caused her, and almost turns his look away, but he wills himself to face her.* I... I know, I’m a jerk for what I did, I was so afraid of letting the cyborg mentality taking over me. I thought it would be best if I wasn’t around, but I didn’t think of how easy that would make for Dr. Gero to get his way. I’ll understand if you don’t forgive me...... *sighs* go ahead, slap me if it’ll make you feel better. *Closes his eyes*

*Akane bites her lower lip, as tears slides down her cheek. She shakingly raises her right arm, palms open, and looks at Ranma. All the others look silently at them, and does nothing to intefere.*

Akane: *after a long minute of staring at Ranma, and gathering her thoughts, she lowers her right arm, and suddenly lunges at Ranma, hugging him tightly, and buries her face in his chest* Ranma!

Ranma: *feels Akane’s tight embrace, and opens his eyes and looks down at her. He extends his arms around her as well* Akane...... it’s ok, I’m back now.... *

Akane: *looks up at Ranma, her tears almost gone* Don’t you ever do that again! You hear me?!

Ranma: *smiles and nods* Hai, I promise.

*Akane and Ranma both get up. Akane lets out some last sniffles, and wipes the tear from her face. She smiles slightly.*

Shinnosuke: *he has been silently watching Ranma and Akane, with thoughts also running in his mind. He sees that now the matter has been resolved between them, and breaks the silence.* Ranma, glad you’re back.

Ranma: *smiles at Shinnosuke* Thanks, Shin. You have no idea how much I appreciate your help and support to Akane. *Looks at Toma* You too, Toma.

Toma: *nods* It was no problem.

Ranma: *raises his head to look at the rest of the team, and notices Shampoo, and gets tense slightly, expecting her to jump and hold onto him as usual.* Hi Shampoo.

Shampoo: *only smiles and nod at Ranma* Nihao Ranma, Shampoo glad you return.

*Mousse grumbles a bit on the side, and Ranma looks completely dumbfounded. He’s glad Shampoo didn’t smother him in front of Akane, and also very astonished.*

Akane: *lets out a slight gasp* Oh, Ukyou! *Looks to Ranma’s right, behind Tarou.

Ranma: Uuchan!? *Looks where Akane is looking.*

*Tarou limply steps aside, and Ranma turns his attention now on Ukyou, who is supported by Ryuu. She is beginning to recover from her ultimate technique, and raises a hand so she could rest her forehead on the heal of her palm*

Ukyou: uhhhhggg...... *shakes her head slightly*

Ranma: Ucchan!

Ryuu: She’s coming out of it.

Ukyou: *her eyes slowly start to open, her vision blurry, but she recognizes the voice at once* Ranchan?!

Ranma: Hai, it’s me, Ucchan, sorry I didn’t make it here sooner.

Ukyou: *her vision starts to clear, and looks at the more sharply defined figure of Ranma in front her. She smiles* No sweat, Ranchan, I can handle it. I’m just happy that you came back.

Ranma: *smiles* So am I, Ucchan. *Looks at Ryuu* Ryuu, how are you feeling?

Ryuu: I’ve been better.... just some scratches here and there. Both Herb and I used up a lot of our chi.

*Ranma looks at Herb, who’s usually graceful and well groomed hair now looks like a bird’s nest. He no longer looks very princely in his weakened state. He nods in agreement with Ryuu at Ranma*

Ranma: *now lookling at the very injured Tarou-minotaur* Pantyhose Tarou, and you? You don’t look very good.

*The minotaur becomes angry at being called his hateful name, and strikes at Ranma. The sudden motion causes some wounds to open up again. It howls in pain.*

Ranma: Tarou! Are you alright? You’re.... bleeding.

*The minotaur grits it’s teeth, and tries to stay still*

Ranma: I’m sorry, I have no bandages..... I hope you can stand it until we can get something for you. In anycase, I’m really glad you joined the fight.

Shinnosuke: Ranma, this fight with Gero will decide the fate of this world. It’ll be just like protecting the forest of Ryoganzowa, except on a much larger scale. We can’t help but to help Akane. She can’t do it alone.

Toma: *nods* We are all somehow destined to be in this great struggle.

Herb: Hai, we were all called from our dreams by a mysterious figure to aid Akane.

Ranma: dream? *Thinks for a moment* maybe it wasn’t a just a dream...... there’s only one person I know that could.... Kami-sama!

Akane: Ranma, Kami-sama? What are you talking.....

*Akane’s pendant suddenly goes off. Everyone surprisingly turns to the beeping. Akane takes the pendant out, and dangles it out so everyone can hear.*

Trunks: Akane! *static* Are you still there?

Akane: Hai, Trunks! What happened? We lost contact.

Trunks: It was Gero. He somehow cut off the connection between my computer and the mini computer. It also made my system crash, so I couldn’t contact you. But I finally got it fixed. What’s happening!?

Ranma: *surprised* Trunks? I thought you were gone!

Trunks: *hears Ranma’s voice, and acts even more surprised* Ranma? Is that you? I thought YOU were gone.

Ranma: Long story.....

*In a frenzy, Shinnosuke comes over, and tells Trunks about his failure to sabotage Gero’s robots. Ukyou tells of the battles that happen outside, with Herb and Ryuu adding to it.*

Trunks: Kuso! Arrgggg. Alright, gotta think this through. Alright, so almost everyone’s energy is sapped, right? Akane, do you have the senzus?

Akane: *her eyes widen* the Senzus! Oh no! I forgot, they are back at the dojo! *Groan*

Trunks: nani! Arg! Then you must go back to the dojo and fetch it. It’s going to be essential to the outcome of this war against Dr. Gero.

Akane: Hai! I’ll go right away!

Trunks: Be careful, who knows what the robots might have done to the city already. If you can, avoid all confrontation until you have the senzus. You don’t want to attract a crowd of them.

*While Ranma and everyone else contemplate on what to do. Gero has been replenishing Ryoga’s energy by way of injecting some kind of serum into his body. Ryoga is obviously in great pain*

Gero: *retracts the needle from Ryoga’s arm* That’s the last of the RG-56 serum. How do you feel?

Ryoga: *looks at his hand, clasping and opening his fingers* Good as new, no, even stronger than before! *Looks at a nearby boulder 20 feet tall* Bakusai Tenketsu! *The boulder shatters into fine grains of sand upon contact* heh heh heh.... *his grin changes to a more evil looking one* That’s going to be what’s left of Ranma when I’m done with him.

Gero: *his grin more contorted and wicked than Ryoga’s* That’s it, Ryoga. This is the right time to unleash your rage and your maximum potential. Use the incredible powers I have given you to their maximum extent.

Kuno: *looks toward Ranma and the others* Sire! Suspicious activities are transpiring within the rank of our enemies.

***The focus now returns to the team***

Shinosuke: Akane, I’m coming with you. It’s too dangerous in Tokyo for one of us alone.

Toma: I’m coming as well.

Ranma: *nods, and looks at everybody* All of you should go with Akane. It’ll be safer if you are in a group. It’s more dangerous here with Gero. I must stay and fight, so no one would follow you.

Uykou: *strains to stand by herself* Hai, Ranchan, we’ll stick to Akane like glue.

Ranma: Arigatoo, Ucchan. Thank you, everyone.

*Ukyou, Shinnosuke, Toma, Herb, Ryuu, Tarou, Mousse, and Shampoo nods*

Akane: *slightly overwhelmed with the commitment of her team to her* Arigatoo, minna-san.... *looks at Ranma* Then we won’t waste any more time. Ranma..... please, don’t let anything happen to you. You may be a baka, but..... I need you to test out the food I cook. *Smiles a bit*

Ranma: *smiles at Akane, and laughs a bit* Hai, you too Akane..... be careful in getting the senzus.

*Akane nods, and takes off for Tokyo. Herb and Tarou follows her in the air, and everyone else implements their own way of traveling on the ground.*

*as everyone but Ranma leaves the battlefield, Kuno looks at Dr. Gero anxiously*

Kuno: Sire! All but Saotome are deserting! Shall I engage pursuit?

Dr. Gero: No need. Do you think Saotome would let you get pass him? This may be a more profitable situation, since now Saotome is alone. As for the others, if they are planning to stop the units from invading the city, they’ll be quite disappointed.

*Seeing that his allies are safely out of sight, he begins to walk toward Gero*

Ryoga: Doctor, Ranma is fast approaching!

Ranma: Gero! Come face me!

Gero: *looks at Ranma with a grin* Ah, Saotome. We finally meet in person. I suppose you’ve heard all the bad rumors about me? From that annoying Trunks, no doubt. If so, then you don’t understand me at all.

Ranma: I didn’t come here to hear about your psychotic reasoning. I’m not a psychiatrist. If you want to talk about yourself, go write an autobiography.

Gero: Saotome, before you do anything rash, I suggest you take a moment to look at my actions in another point of view. You see, from the beginning of time, the world is nothing but a chaotic sphere inhabited with random elements. All those that are non-living, as well as the living, stem from chaos. As Earth evolve, all such elements; plants, animals, and especially humans, mature into a less random higher order entities. The human race, which I once belong to, is governed by an erroneous element: emotion. This is what lead to the countless tragedies that have happened over the course of human history, such as the world wars. Because of emotions, humans are causing a retrogressive effect on the world, filling the world with more chaotic and random elements. I do not know what World War III would be fought with, but I’m sure that the World War 4 would be fought with stone tools. My goal is to set the world back in track of evolving correctly. To accomplish such a goal, I must eliminate all emotions and feeling of almost all humans on this planet, and give them only one goal: to serve me. Only specially selected individuals would be allowed to keep their sense of emotion. There would no longer be suffering; there would just be peaceful and orderly bliss. You must believe that I’m doing this for the g...

Ranma: Shut the hell up! *Clenches his fist* I’ve had just about enough of your yacking! You should know better to think I would even think that your reasoning would be sane!

Gero: *remains calm* Very well, but despite your objections, my plans for Earth will see itself through.

Ranma: Over my dead body!

Gero: your term is acceptable. *Looks at Ryoga* Ryoga, you may deal with Saotome any way you wish.

Ryoga: *grins broadly* Thank you doctor. *Walks between Gero and Ranma.* Ranma, you’ve seen your last sunrise.

Ranma: Damn you Ryoga, how could let this slime control you! I expected more from you.

Gero: His decision to join me was voluntary, Saotome. You should do the smart thing and join me as well.

*As the area around them stayed action-less for so long, snow gathers on the ground once again, covering the area with a thin blanket of frozen precipitation. However, no one seems interested or bothered by the cold.*

Ranma: *looks at Ryoga gravely* Ryoga, did you really sign yourself up to his puppet?

Ryoga: *enraged* I am no one’s puppet! I joined because I HATE YOU! You’ve made my life a living hell! I’ve hated you since grade school! and ever since you gave me the Jusenkyo curse...

Ranma: *groans* Look, I told you before, it ain’t my fault!

Ryoga: Shut up! And that’s just the beginning. If it wasn’t for you, I could have had a happy life with Akane!

Ranma: *chokes* Excuse me?!!!

Ryoga: *getting angrier, his aura is visible* You never loved her! But somehow she loved you. *Clenches his fist* You don’t know how much pain I felt, when I heard some of the things she said when she was sleeping.

Ranma: *his first impulse was to furiously pound Ryoga into the ground at the words “when she was sleeping” but then he back tracked to the more important thing Ryoga said, and becomes silent” ........

Ryoga: I WAS the one that truly loved her, the only way that she could have loved me is if I destroyed you!

Ranma: *also gets angry* Yeah, I forgot how many times you’ve tried to that.

Ryoga: *growling* Each time I failed only made me more determined to have my revenge.

Ranma: Hmp, and you think Akane would like you if you beat me?

Ryoga: No, not anymore. All I got for loving her was more pain. I realized it was a mistake. If you think I’m still fighting for Akane, or anyone else, you’re dead wrong. Now I don’t care what happens, all I have left is my desire to destroy you, Ranma Saotome! And I would do anything, kill anyone, including Akane, in order to get to you!

Gero: *getting concerned at Ryoga* {hmmm, the effect of partial memory erasure and reconstruction process must be gradually wearing off. Maybe the process didn’t twist his memories as much as I thought it would. I expected him to lash out at Saotome with all his rage, but he is taking this rather slowly. This must be resolved quickly} Ryoga, enough of this pointless discussion! This is time to end your feud with Saotome once and for all.

Ranma: *gets a indignant look on his face* Alright Ryoga, then I see that there is no hope for you. The control Gero has on you have made you to be beyond reasoning. I’m going to make him pay for what he did to you and everybody else, even if that means I’ll have to get through you first.

Ryoga: You won’t get pass me, Ranma. I’m more powerful than you can ever imagined. No matter where you were these last few days, and no matter what improvements you have made to yourself, you’re no longer a match for me. But don’t count me giving you a quick death, I’ll make sure it’s going to be long and painful one.

Ranma: Hmp, you call yourself a honorable warrior? Dr. Gero made you more powerful with his inventions, but in return you had to give up your humanity to serve him. You betrayed everybody.

Ryoga: Garrrrrr! Don’t talk to me about honor, Ranma! It is no longer a part of my vocabulary! RARRRRR! *His aura explodes as he transforms into his Super Saiya form*

Ranma: *flips back a good distance away* I expected as much. *Calmly, a golden aura shoots up from the bottom of his feet, clearing away the snow gathered and around his feet, as he matches Ryoga’s stage.*

Ryoga: *blinks, as Ranma transforms without any noticeable rage* What? Grr..... I’m going to KILL you! *Charges at Ranma, snow flies apart as he zips past*

Ranma: *notices Ryoga’s speed* {looks like this is going to take up some time} *focuses all of his attention on Ryoga, and adopts the most versatile stance*

*Ryoga attacks with both arms, unleashing a hail of fists that’s just as fast Ranma’s Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken. Surprised, Ranma dodges and parries the strikes. He returns with the same maneuver, with greater speed, but Ryoga blocks every single strike.*

Ryoga: *grins* As you can see, I’m just as fast, if not faster, than you are, and still a heck a lot stronger!

Ranma: I see your flies open.

Ryoga: What?!

*Ryoga receives a snap kick to his solar plexus. Ranma has hit him precisely between the moment after he had said “what” and the next inhale of air. The jolt to the abdomen caused Ryoga to lose his breath momentarily. He jerks back holding his stomach.*

Ryoga: *looks at Ranma* Rarrrr!!!

*Ryoga charges Ranma with a fierce straight punch, who stops it with his palm, slightly grabbing the fist. He then does a high roundhouse to Ranma’s head. Ranma ducks down, and sends up an uppercut. Ryoga grabs and stops the uppercut, and thrusts a front kick at Ranma. Ranma arcs back and completes a series of graceful and fast back-flips. Ryoga quickly regains his sight of Ranma, and charges after him. Ranma sees Ryoga coming, and at the last moment of his final back-flip, he places his hands firmly on the ground for propulsion, bends both his legs tightly, then springs them upward, sending both legs up at Ryoga’s chin. Ryoga is sent into the air, smarting from the blow. Ranma jumps after him, charging with his fists locked. Ryoga regains his orientation, and moves out of Ranma’s way just in time. Ranma turns around to deliver a back hand strike. Ryoga does a mid-block, and executes a flying side kick at Ranma. It connects, and Ranma bends over. Ryoga forms a hammer with both fists, and slams it down on Ranma, knocking him down back to the ground. Ranma rights himself while falling, and stops himself as much as possible before he crashes. The force of his impact created cracks on where he landed. Ryoga comes down, several yards in front of Ranma.*

Ranma: *stands back up straight, seemingly not very injured. He looks at Ryoga* Ryoga, you’ve really gotten better. But you’re holding back your true strength. What’s the matter? Think I can’t take it?

Ryoga: *blinks at the almost insignificant amount of damage he’s done to Ranma.* I’m surprised you’ve gotten so strong yourself. I’m cybernetically enhanced, but how did you improve so much?

Ranma: *grins* I’ll tell you after I take Gero down.

Ryoga: Hah, don’t get so cocky, Ranma. Yes, you’re right, I am only using 50% of my maximum potential power. I didn’t think I’ll need to go any higher in order to defeat you. Guess I was wrong. You’ve managed to impress me once again. It looks like you’ll give me a more satisfying fight than I expected.

Ranma: *grins* well, I’ve had enough of the warm-up routine. Come, lets just see how good you’ve gotten.

Ryoga: It’s your funeral. *Stands with his legs slightly apart, and locks them straight at the knees, his fists tightly closed at waist level.* Ahhhhhh........ YAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!! *his aura explodes, as energy gushes forth from his body, cracking and blowing away rocks and other objects from all around him.*

Ranma: *his golden hair blown backwards, but he keeps his eyes on Ryoga.* {damn, what did Gero do to him? his power is incredible, I couldn’t even stand a chance against him if I didn’t train in the house of spirit and time. Looks like I’ll have to get serious} Hmp! *Bends forward and down slightly, crosses his hands in front of his face, his and expression and even the color of his eyes begins to change* Yosh *Stands straight back up and uncrosses his arms to the sides* HHAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!! *His aura sears all about him, expanding to the magnitude of Ryoga’s. Even his eyes turn to a matching color of his aura.*

Gero: *analyzes the battle* {hmm, I can’t comprehend how Saotome returned. The only way he could have escape my detection is by death, unless he was protected by a force even I cannot grasp. And even if it is possible that he returned, I did not anticipate such sharp increase in his power level. How could he managed to improve to such a level, to be the equal of my enhanced Super Ryoga, in such a short period of time?} *a sweat bead drops down his head* {If matters become hazardous for me, I could be force to rely on my last insurance. I hope things would not come to that}

Ryoga: *stunned at Ranma* Kuso! How is this possible!

Ranma: *looks at Ryoga, with a determined expression* Ryoga, it’s time for us to fight for real. Only one of us is going to step away from this fight in the end.

Ryoga: That’s just the way I like it! I’m going to kill you RANMA!! *Charges him* Chyaaaahhhhh!

Ranma: Yiiiaaaaaahhhhh! *Charges Ryoga*

*The screen freezes in Anime Style just as they are about to collide, each showing their fury and determination.*

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*As the ultimate battle between the two life-long rivals continues, Akane and the others have made it to the border of Tokyo. Gray snow clouds cover the entire city and beyond. The nine stood; all except one are now suffering the bitter cold since they no longer have the benefit of heat from battle. Most of them huddled close to Tarou, for in his monster form, his furry coat and humongous body provides at least some protection from the frigid air. Shampoo stands somewhat apart from the huddled group; her special dress has effectively repelled the cold. She holds Mousse close to her so that he wouldn’t turn into a icicle. Akane looked outwards, and sees the destruction the cyborgs have already made to the city. Every house and building in the area now have roughly-made holes in their walls, making them look more like Swiss cheese structures rather than buidings.*

Akane: *talks into her pendant* Trunks, all I see are buildings almost completely destroyed by the robots. It looked like they just crashed through the walls of the buildings and make another hole on their way out.

Trunks: Then they’ve already gotten to the people in those buildings and houses. Whatever you do, don’t make contact with them. From the information I managed to download from Gero’s computer, they’ve already become Gero’s zombies. The process is quickly and deadly. Each robot is equipped with a needle that injects an enzyme into it’s victim through the neck., where instantly travels up to the brain. The enzyme carries infinitesimal microbes that targets neurons in the brain, and transforms them into tiny bio chips, ready to receive commands from Dr. Gero. Within minutes, all neurons will be assimilated. The victim would no longer be considered human, but only drones to carry out Dr. Gero’s plan. They are already preprogrammed to go after any of you if they see you. You must reach the dojo with as much stealth as possible. It is possible that it hasn’t been targeted yet. Follow a path of destruction that leads to the dojo, it’s unlikely that the robots will come to the same spot twice.

Akane: Hai! *Turns to everyone* alright, we need to go as quietly and fast as possible. But if we see a robot that’s on to us, dispose of it immediately so it wouldn’t contact other units. Let’s go!

*Everyone takes on the traditional method of roof hoping and quickly makes way to the dojo. As they get closer, they start to hear faint blood curdling screams coming from all around them, getting louder and more acute as they go. It seems like the entire city of Tokyo is screaming in pain. Fused with the almost unbearable shrieks of people are the sound of cannons and machine guns going off. Akane and the others occasionally turn their heads and see explosions of fire and smoke. It appears that the secretly governed military of Tokyo, and of Japan for that matter, will not go down without a fight. A tank squad has already been positioned in the southern part of Tokyo, trying their best to hold back the onslaught of the robots.*

Ryuu: *jumps particularly high, and looks in the direction of the explosions.* I thought Japan was banned from having any military developments after World War II, but I’m glad they broke the rule.

Shinnosuke: It must be concealed by the government, prepared especially for emergencies of this type.

Ukyou: *a bit of her strength has returned; she manages to keep up with the group, with the help of Akane by her side, lending her a hand* emergencies of this type? I hardly think this fits into ANY known type of emergency.

Herb: They fight valiantly, but I do not think they can hold off the opposition for an extended period of time.

Akane: Even though they don’t know it, the tank squad is keeping many units busy, leaving us with easier path. We must not let their efforts go to waste. Just about 10 more blocks and we should be at the dojo.

*The wall of a nearby house suddenly blows open, surprising everybody.*

Ryuu: *instantly knows what to expect flying out of the hole, and jumps forward.* Kijin Raishu Dan!

*Ryuu fires a chi blade at the figure flying out of the smoke. A sound of cutting metal is heard, as the robot falls to the ground and breaks into two pieces*

Akane: *looks grim despite the destruction of the robot* Nice job, Ryuu.... kuso, this must mean our path of safety has ran out. Everybody, stay on full alert!

*The hop several roofs further, and as they expected, they see robots breaking out of houses, leaving their holes. Several of them have noticed Akane and her team. They zoom out their lenses at them, retracts them, and jets towards them without further hesistation*

Akane: Kuso! Gggarrrrr! Get ready to fight!

Toma: *jumps in front of her, with his glowing sword ready* Akane, we’ll fight! But you must head to the dojo and retrieve the senzus! Don’t waste your energy with these units.

Shinnosuke: *also joins Toma with his staff* Go Akane! We’ll divert their attention to us!

*The robots extend their tendrils at Toma and Shinnosuke. Toma teleports out of the way and to the behind his attacker, and quickly slices away it’s tentacles. Shinnosuke spins his staff, breaking the other unit’s arms, and disposes of it with a few well placed swings.*

Akane: Hai! Arigatoo, I WILL be back with the senzus, so please stay alive! *Zooms off in a curved path to the dojo*

*The units’ destruction quickly attracts other units to the scene. Those who can still fight steps next to Toma and Shinnosuke.*

Akane: *flying as fast as she could* Gotta do this, everybody’s counting on me!

*Akane arrives at the dojo shortly, but the scene taking place turns her skin pale. She sees Cologne, Soun, and Genma in a desperate struggle against three robots. Laying near them are several disfunctional units. It is apparent that the attack on the dojo have just started mere moments ago, and Cologne, Soun, and Genma have managed to take out the first band, but they do not have the energy left to defend themselves any further. The moment after Akane arrived, Soun’s robot has parried his last kick, wrapped it’s tentacles around him, and about to insert an injection needle on its other arm into Soun’s neck. Soun turns his head, his eyes grow huge at seeing Akane, but as the needle entered his neck, he screams out in pain*

Akane: *instantly horrified* OTOOSAN!

* She charges at the robot and blasts it with a sudden burst of energy. It gets blown through the wall. She holds her father in her hands, with tears flowing out freely. All she sees is Soun rolling up his pupils and staying in that state.*

Akane: *slightly shakes Soun* Otoosan!

Cologne: *weak and from far away* Child!

Genma: *his voice thin* Akane! Urk!

*Akane raises her head to heed the calls, but it was too late. The injection to both Cologne and Genma has been made, and the only thing Akane could do is to trying to lock his ears from their shrieks. The two units fly away as soon as they’ve done their deed, seemingly uninterested in fighting Akane.*

Trunks: Akane! What’s going on?!

Akane: They... *teary eyed* they’ve gotten to otoosan and everyone at home!! NOOO!!!!! *Cries audibly*

Trunks: Akane, I don’t mean to sound heartless, but you must leave Soun, he is no longer your father! You must find the senzus! It’s top priority!

Akane: *sniffles* I know, Trunks, but...

Trunks: then get them now Akane! Your father would want you to avenge him, wouldn’t he? Now go Akane! Everybody is counting on you!

Akane:*reluctantly picks herself up* Hai....

*Akane runs into the house and up to her room. She opens up the drawer, finding the all important tiny sack.*

Akane: *momentarily feels elated* Trunks! I got it!

Trunks: quick! Take one and swallow it, then immediately go back to the others!

Akane: *takes out one bean from the sack, and swallows it. She instantly feels her strength coming back, her body seemingly completely renewed* incredible!

*Akane zooms down stairs, but she stopped when she saw Kasumi and Nabiki standing before her. Their eyes are hollow, their face showed no emotion*

Akane: *gasps* Oneechan!

*Kasumi and Nabiki looks straight through Akane, their hand twitches as they are brought up to neck level, and walks toward Akane*

Trunks: *guesses the scene from Akane’s yell* Akane, get away now! Your sisters as you know them don’t exist anymore. Consider them killed by Gero. What stands before you are just two of Gero’s drones disguised as your sisters. Every moment you waste here endangers the life of your team mates, including Ranma!

Akane: *backs away from Kasumi and Nabiki, her grief now overcome with raw anger. She controls the tears from coming out of her eyes.* That’s it! Dr. Gero has gone too far! I’m going to make Gero pay for taking my family away from me!

*Akane transforms, crashes through the roof, and flies toward her team at top speed. She quickly finds them still desperately battling against a dozen robots.*

Akane: Ahhhhhh!!!!!

*Bursts into the scene, scrapping three robots by crashing into them. Everyone stunned, and before they could react, she turns and kicks at the robot that’s attacking Mousse, and shoots a blast at the one attacking Herb. She then jumps forward and destroys Toma and Shinnosuke’s attackers. She then powers up her vacuum beam and wipes out the rest.*

Shinnosuke: *astounded* Akane!

Akane: *appears very angry* Dr. Gero is going to PAY!!!

Trunks: Akane, I realize your anguish, and the time will come when you’ll be able to unleash it. But you have to calm down for now. Check how many senzus are left in the bag.

Akane: grrr..... *checks the bag* there are only 3 beans left!

*Everyone looks grim, knowing that most of them would not be able to replenish their energy*

Trunks: damn........ we’ll just have to make the most of it.... alright, split two of the beans in half, so that we can have four halves. They will only be half as effective, but it looks like we have no choice.

Akane: *snaps two of the beans in half, and looks at her team* This is going to be tough.....

Mousse: *looks fairly battered up, certainly no condition to fight another round* Akane Tendo, seeing that our resources are limited, I will decline from taking the medicine.

Shampoo: *looks at Mousse, with admiration. No damage is visible on her body, but her breathing is clearly at an accelerated pace. Her strength is also greatly ebbed * Shampoo....*breathes* no need..... *breathes* get better ...

Akane: *reluctantly nods at them, and goes to Ukyou, who is still in extreme fatigue* Ukyou, *smiles* you had better not refuse, I know how spent you are, and we need you. *Drops the half-bean into Ukyou’s palm.*

Ukyou: *smiles at Akane* Arigtatoo, Akane. *Swallows the bean*

*Akane smiles, and looks to Shinnosuke and Toma*

Shinnosuke: *clutching on his staff, he shakes his head.* There’s no sense in giving me one of the halves.

Akane: Shinnosuke.....*nods* alright. hmmm... Toma, do you still have enough power to teleport?

Toma: *lowers his head* I’m shameful to say..... I don’t even have the strength enough to wield my sword of illsion.

Akane: *drops one half into Toma’s hands* Then you’ll need this. Take it and don’t argue.

Toma: *still appears shameful* h....hai.

Akane: *looks at Herb, who appears struggling even to stand up straight, and clutching his ribs.* Herb, and you?

Herb: *labored breathing* as humiliating... as it is for.... me to admit it, it seems that .....even my strength .....and limitless chi..... has been thoroughly drained.....

*Akane gives one to Herb, and looks at Ryuu next*

Ryuu: *resting on his knees, nursing numerous bruises and scratches* Don’t waste it on me, Akane. Tarou is the one that really needs the last half.

Tarou: Hggggrrr? *Winces slightly at his numerous wounds*

Akane: *nods at Ryuu, and gives the last half to the minotaur* Here Tarou, this is going to heal all your wounds.

*The Minotaur nods, somewhat gratefully, and takes the bean.*

Ukyou: *energized, and stands up* Wow, I feel like I’ve just rested for an entire month, and just eaten a ten course meal!

Toma: *swings his sword around* This is amazing!

Herb: *feels the power back in him* incredible! Not even in my royal garden of rare herbs exists such a plant!

*Tarou spreads the full width of his wings, and raises his hands imposingly above his head. He lets out a great howl. He seem to have grown twice as large*

*Just then, a squad of over a hundred robots all around them jets toward the team at full speed.*

Akane: *looks all around* here they come again!

Trunks: They must have reprioritized, since some of you have your energy back again, they must see you as a greater risk! Don’t waste your time with them, go help Ranma!

Ukyou: I’m take care of these washouts! I’ll show them not to mess with Ukyou Kuonji! *Crosses her hands in front of her chest, and closes her eyes* Thunder Temple Special Technique number 2!

*Lighting begins to surge throughout Ukyou’s body, the clouds above her became dark and thunderous. Everybody stares in awe.*

Ukyou: MAGNUM STORM!!!!!!!!!!!!

*She spreads out her arms, and in a thunderous explosion, bright bolts of lightning courses out of her body, zapping into all incoming robots. They explode on contact, unable to withstand such high voltage*

Ukyou: yata! Now we can go!

Akane: *eyes large* h...hai.... but Ukyou, how can you control Lightning like that?

Ukyou: Oh, didn’t I tell you? The temple I trained at was called Thunder Temple. They had very old carvings on some stone tablets that contains the secret techniques of the monks that used to live there. It was high up on the mountain, and electric storms happen like once every week. The monks decided that if they are going to live there, they must learn to control lightning, or else be destroyed by it. When I was little and went there for the first time, I thought the electric storm was a very impressive light show, until I got zapped, and was sent to the hospital for several months. But something happened after that. When I went there again, I never got harmed by the lightning again. It became my favorite training place. But I didn’t understand the carvings on the tablets at that time. It wasn’t until I went again after I met Trunks that I saw the incredible techniques written on the tablets, and studied the techniques. The first one is the Magnum Thunder Flare. It is very potent, designed to destroy anything within a small area, but it drains almost all of my ki. Magnum Storm, on the other hand, hits wide range, and it doesn’t take nearly as much ki. Nut we can talk about this later, lets go help Ran-chan!

Akane: Right! But...... *looks guilty* what about all those soldiers and tanks fighting the robots, shouldn’t we try to help them?

Trunks: Akane, the best way we can help them is by helping Ranma. Trust me.

Akane: Hai.... *looks to the team* Those of you that got the senzu and can fly, take one or more of those that are weak with you. *Looks to Tarou* Do you mind if Shampoo and Mousse ride on you?

*The minotaur grumbles, but complies, and lowers his body so Mousse and Shampoo can climb aboard.*

Shampoo: Aiyah! Pantyhose better fly smooth! Come on Mousse!

*Shampoo and Mousse climbs on Tarou’s back.*

Ukyou: Ryuu, I’ll take you.

Herb: I suppose I shall lend my aid to Toma.

Toma: *appears disappointed, as if he had hoped for another to help him* Gee, thanks.

Akane: Shinnosuke, that leaves you with me.

Shinnosuke: *smiles* Hai, Akane!

*Akane flies ahead with Shinnosuke. Ukyou takes off, lifting Ryuu with her; Herb does the same with Toma. Tarou follows last with his two riders.*

==========================================================================

*Back at heat of battle, most the landscape has been extensively destroyed by frequent blasts of energy or bodies slamming against the ground. Both Ranma and Ryoga have marks of injury on their faces, and clothes torn in several areas. They are still about even, neither are getting the upperhand. That point only serves to anger both fighters, and fight even more ferociously.*

Ranma: *feeling his chi depleted* {Ryoga is truly a monster, even after all my training, I can only manage an even match with him} *prepares for another attack*

Ryoga: *showing signs of fatigue* {Damn you Ranma! What does it take to take you down? No matter, I’m still going to kill you! Arggg!!!!!}

*Ryoga launches a right side power kick at Ranma, who ducks his head slightly, and blocks high with his left back arm. Ryoga retracts his leg, and throws a quick punch at Ranma’s chest. Ranma quickly shuffles a step to the side, locks Ryoga’s arm in his right armpit, and swings his leg from under Ryoga to knock him off balance. However, Ryoga leaps off the ground to avoid the swing, and sends both feet at Ranma’s head, using his arm that’s locked under Ranma’s hold as the pivot. Ranma takes hit hard, and reels his head back, but he refuses to let go of Ryoga’s arm, knowing that Ryoga is in a airborne position where very few maneuvers can be attempted. Ranma uses his left hand to grab Ryoga’s trapped arm, enforcing it’s position, flips up into the air, with Ryoga now under him, and brings a knee down Ryoga’s back as they crash to the ground.*

Ryoga: *CRASHHHHH!!!!!* mpfffffhhh!!!!!!!

*In his muffled yell, Ryoga raises his finger, and executes the Bakusai Tenketsu. Ranma instantly jumps off him to avoid the blast. Ryoga leaps out of the smoke and rubble, going after Ranma and thrusting his arm at Ranma, index finger extended. Ranma turns around, and thinks about the possibility of Ryoga perfecting the Bakusai Tenketsu to such a point that it even works on people. Even if it doesn’t, the force on Ryoga’s strike would be enough to allow the finger to puncture into his body. In any case, Ranma decides he better counter the strike, and immediately executes a knee-elbow sandwich combo, simultaneously raising his knee and bringing his elbow down on Ryoga’s attacking arm, crushing Ryoga’s forearm in the middle. **CRUNCH!!!** Ryoga lets out a loud howl of pain, and jerks back his arm.*

Ranma: {Now’s my chance!} *leaps forward*

*Ryoga ignores the pain as fast as it was formed, and sees Ranma coming at him fast. He ducks and leaps back up and sends a headbutt into Ranma’s forehead. Ranma bounces backward, seeing stars.*

*Meanwhile during the fighting, in an explosion of the boulders trapping a recently created cave in a nearby mountain, a very tattered figure walks out into the open space. It is Cyborg X, although he is barely recognizable. His hair has been burnt to a crisp; both his shoulder guards are cracked off; his chest plate is littered with cracks and rugged holes; his armor cannon seems to fritzing out with random sparks of electricity. He limps one leg to Dr. Gero.*

Cyborg X: ddd...zzz..d....damage *zkkkk* re...port *skzzz* -- [[DANGER!! Main power console 100% down, currently relying on backup power cell. Body armor at 0%, structural integrity at 20% and dropping. Right leg unit disfuctional. Arm cannon unit completely off line, diverting blaster plasma to maintain left leg unit motor functions. WARNING: plasma leak in section P35. Total time till all system failure: 10 minutes]]

*fortunately for Cyborg X, Gero spotted him, and rushes over with Kodachi and Kuno*

Gero: Cyborg X! You’re still functional!

Cyborg X: But.....not.....for....long.....

Gero: I didn’t make you to be destroyed this easily. *Takes Cyborg X’s arm cannon, opens up a panel, and pulls out a cord* Kuno unit, stand by!

*Gero plugs the cord into the middle of Kuno’s chest, and instantly freezes him. The cord glows as energy from Kuno’s body seems to transfer into Cyborg X’s.*

Cyborg X: [[primary power console back on line. Arm cannon function restored]] yes!

Gero: Now use your special integrate function to restore your structure!

*Cyborg X nods, and points the mouth of his cannon directly at Kuno. It whirls loudly, and glows blue. Kuno starts to glow as well, and turns into pure light after a while. The light is entirely sucked into Cyborg X via his arm cannon. His body immediately starts to repair itself. His internal circuitry is rebuilt to be fully operational. Lights fill up the cracks of armor, and seals them up. His shoulder guards seem to just grow out of the area where it had been cracked off, first as light and then as solid matter.*

Kodachi: what is happening! What happened to my brother! *Motions to escape*

Cyborg X: No you don’t! You’re my second course!

*He points his blaster at Kodachi, make the same whirling sound and light, instantly freezing her. Her body turns into light as well, and also gets sucked into Cyborg X’s arm cannon into his body. He continues his repairs, and in a finishing flash of light, he appears as if he is fresh off the assembly line.*

Cyborg X: [[All systems repaired and fully operational. All sub-systems working at optimal performance]] Alright!

Gero: *grins* Those two units are getting on my nerves anyway, they do better to serve as material and energy to repair you.

Cyborg X: *looks at the fight between Ranma and Ryoga* Doctor, shall I interfere?

Gero: Not yet, Hibiki seem so determined to defeat Saotome himself that if you interfere, he might attack you instead.

Cyborg X: *his eyes burns with anger* grrr, I owe Ryoga, and that girl whom nearly destroyed me.

Gero: Patience, you’ll get your chance.

*Back at the battle, although Ryoga is now having trouble using his right arm, it is still too difficult to tell who will be the victor. The injury just seem to anger Ryoga more. He attacks Ranma now with greater speed than ever. Ryoga charges, Ranma leaps up, but gets sent up faster by a high thrust kick from Ryoga. Ryoga zooms up and behind Ranma, throwing a left punch. Ranma uses his own speed to avoid it, but gets his face elbowed in where he moved to. Ryoga swings a left hook, which Ranma bends over to duck under. Ranma does a flip kick from his position, knocking Ryoga back. Almost instantaneously he disappears after finishing the flip, and appears behind Ryoga, locks his hands and send hammer into his back. Ryoga crashes to the ground, creating a long ditch where he landed.*

Ryoga: Kuso! *coughs and struggles back up*

*Both figthers are breathing heavily.*

Ryoga: *panting, his voice suddenlty becoming very dangerous* Ranma, there ....isn’t ....going to be.... a rematch..... This.... is.... a.... good... day.... to.... DIE!

Ranma: *blinks at Ryoga* {is he.... going to give everything?}

*Ryoga’s eyes become bright red, and it seemed that a layer of red aura is adding to his normal one. He crosses his arms, and goes into the motion for a projectile Shi Shi Houkodan. Ranma notes this, and also charges up for a Moko Takabishya. *

Ryoga: *his voice roaring* SHI SHI......

Ranma: {this had better work} MOKO......

Ryoga: HOUKOUDAN!!!!!

Ranma: TAKABISHA!!!!!!

*Their blasts roars out of their hands at the same time; their heads met in the halfway in an brilliant explosion, creating a huge round crater where they met. Each beam trying to overpower the other. Ranma and Ryoga both struggles hard to enforce the might of their ki. But while Ryoga solely wants to overpower Ranma, Ranma has another plan in mind.*

*Consumed with even more rage that his blast is not getting through, Ryoga strains and throws a surge of his ki into his attack, finally overpowering Ranma’s Moko Takabishya.*

Ranma: *looks at the fully powered Shi Shi Houkoudan coming at him* This is it! .... Umisen Ken Ultimate Technique! GOSHIN DAI RYU SEI FU!!!!!

*A huge meteor cloth comes out of Ranma’s body, and grows to enormous proportions, even larger than the incoming Shi Shi Houkoudan, which collides with it. The cloth wraps around the huge sphere of energy, then suddenly disappears, along with Ranma.*

Ryoga: *shocked* What?

Ranma: *appears right on top of Ryoga, making a huge shadow over him* New Special! SHI SHI HEN HIRYUU KORIN HA!!! *Ranma first unleashes the content of his meteor cloth, sending a huge Roaring Lion Sphere at Ryoga, then Ranma strikes out a Hiryuu Shoten Ha hurricane into the middle of the sphere. It goes straight into its center, modifying and adding the energy of the Lion Sphere to itself. It comes out of the bottom of the sphere as a huge red tornado, with the energy of the sphere continuously dissolving into it, adding to the tornado’s power. Ryoga looks at what is coming to him with huge eyes. He utters one last curse.*

Cyborg X: *blocks his eyes from the explosion of light* Shit!!! Ryoga has failed.

Gero: But he is still alive

*Amid the newly created crater, Ranma stands before the fallen Ryoga.*

Ranma: Ryoga..... you left me no choice.

*Unexpectedly, Ryoga’s body start to twitch, as he slowly pushes himself off the ground*

Ranma: Ryoga?!

Ryoga: *struggles to his feet* I.......won’t.....be.....defeated....again....

Ranma: What kind of monster are you?!

Ryoga: You.... didn’t think..... I’d actually... use... ALL.... of my strength into... my blast, did you? Hehehe...

Ranma: even so, you can’t expect to beat me now.

Ryoga: *grins. His eyes still red* as long as you’re in range, I still have one last attack left. You don’t know how useful these cybernetic enhancements can be. I’m going to take you to hell with me.

Ranma: Nani!

*However, before Ryoga can carry out literally his last technique.....*

Voice: Ryoga-san!

*The voice is familiar to Ryoga. He stops, and turns in the direction of the voice. A girl he knows, is running his way waving, from the open hatch that Dr. Gero stood many minutes ago. The girl is running with a huge pig behind her.*

Ryoga: A.....Akari!! *runs to her*

Ranma: *turns sideways* Huh?

Gero: *from far away* What! *His head seem to explode* How did that girl escape from her cell?!!!!

Cyborg X: Oh no!..... in modifying Ryoga’s memory, I forgot to do anything about the memories Ryoga has about this girl! All his feelings for her is still intact!

Akari: *Hugging Ryoga, crying* Ryoga-san, it was so horrible. The mad doctor seized both me and Sumo, and threw us into this awful prison! *Weeps* I’ve been trying to escape for so long now, but I know I’d be recaptured again. I had to wait till the doctor is no longer in the base.

Ryoga: *his eyes turn back to it’s normal color* Akari..... AHHHHHH!!!! *Grips his head and falls to the ground, obviously in pain. Real, untwisted memories begins to resurface in his mind.*

Akari: *gasps* Ryoga-san! *Holds him*

Gero: Nooo! Hibiki is regaining his memories. Seeing the girl must have triggered his mind into rejecting the twisted memories, and re-installing his true ones. This is unacceptable!

Ryoga: *remembering everything he did, and sheds tears* Akari..... you don’t know... the things I’ve done..... I.. I don’t deserve to live

Cyborg X: Grrrr! *Runs at Ryoga and Akari*

Ranma: *sees Cyborg X* Akari! Ryoga! Watch out!

Ryoga: huh?

Akari: huh? Ugkk! *Her world becomes black as a plasma beam goes through her heart*

Ryoga: *his face filled with horror and disbelief* AKARI!!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!

Cyborg X: *from some distance away* That takes care of one!

Ryoga: *turns to look at Cyborg X. His eyes filled with more hatred than ever before in his life* NO!!!!!! *Jumps at Cyborg X*

Ranma: Ryoga!

Cyborg X: *smirks* don’t make me laugh.

*Cyborg X points his arm cannon at Ryoga, and fires. Ryoga is sent flying across the skies to a forest area, with a trail of smoke tracing his path*

Cyborg X: you can join her in hell. Hmp, now we’re even.

*Sumo pig becomes just as horrified, and picks up Akari’s body on her back, and quickly runs away*

Cyborg X: Bah, let the pig go. *Looks at Ranma* I have more important matters to deal with.

Ranma: *barely has time to catch his breath, he gets into ready stance* {Grrrr..... Cyborg X is truly heartless, and I hate him for what he did to me too, but I can’t let my anger get the better me. Still.... I don’t stand a chance against him... not after the fight with Ryoga} *tries hard not to look tired* hmmp!

Cyborg X: *grins* there is still fight left in you. Good. Then I’ll give you the opportunity to die like a warrior. You deserve that much, at least.

Ranma: *pants* We’ll....see...

Cyborg X: I’ll not use my arm cannon, just to make this more worthwhile for me. *Puts his right arm behind him*

*Cyborg X rushes at Ranma quickly. Ranma is now too slow to react, and gets kicked far back. He flips back up, and sees Cyborg X coming at again. He swings arm at his chest, by Cyborg X just grips Ranma’s punch with his left arm. Ranma is then grabbed at the neck and lifted up, and quickly brought down into Cyborg X’s knees. Blood bursts from his mouth. Cyborg X then throws Ranma into a boulder.*

Cyborg X: *laughs* Is that all you’ve got, Saotome?

Ranma: *struggling to stay conscious, he gets up* Urk.... *falls to his knees*

Cyborg X: hehehe *slowly comes at Ranma*

*before Cyborg X reaches Ranma, he is suddenly blasted by a powerful ki beam, and feels his chest plate suddenly under a lot of pressure; he is knocked to the side*

Cyborg X: what?! *Turns in the direction of the beam*

Akane: get away from Ranma!

*She and the others have come. Ryuu, Shinnosuke, Mousse, and Shampoo are staying far away from the point of conflict, while Akane, Ukyou, Toma, Herb, and Tarou rushes forward.*

Ranma: *turns and sees Akane coming. Just seeing her coming seems to replenish some of his energy* Akane!

Cyborg X: *seemingly angry now, and points his blaster at Akane* G-Crusher!!!!

*A green swirling beam of energy shoots toward Akane.*

Akane: Shinkuu Ha!!! *Her vacuum beam screams out of her hands*

*The two similar beams collided, creating a huge inverse-gravity vacuum. It repels both Akane and Cyborg X back*

Ukyou: I’ll take him on, Akane! *Jumps in front of her*

*Cyborg X leaps back to reorient himself*

Cyborg X: *looks at his opposition* This is no good, must develop a strategy. *He looks past Ukyou and Akane, and sees the nearest of the weakened member of the team: Shampoo.* hehehe, if I make a fatal blast at that Chinese girl, she’s not going to have enough strength left to move out of the way, and Akane and Ukyou will have to block the blast for her*

*Cyborg X’s arm cannon whirls menacingly, and a blast the shape of a Kamehame Ha bursts out of the cannon, shoots past Ukyou and Akane, heading right for Shampoo. Ukyou and Akane turns and realizes the target, and as Cyborg X hoped, chased after the beam, yelling out Shampoo’s name. Shampoo looks at the blast heading towards her, and immediately tries to react. But the sudden excitement demanded a instant jump in blood flow, and because of her extremely tired state, her body can’t compensate, delivering insufficient amounts of oxygen to her blood cells, especially the ones in her head. She gets dizzy and her eyes start to close. The blast is now so close that it’s brightness is reflected off Shampoo’s body.*

Mousse: *he is diagonally behind and to the side of Shampoo* Shampoo!!!! *He sees that Akane and Ukyou will not make it on time.* Nooo!!!!!

*With one last burst of adrenaline, Mousse leaps in front of Shampoo, spreading his arms wide. The blast collides with his body, as he opens his mouth wide and screams in pain. The energy seeps into every pore of his body, tearing into his bones, but it did not go through his body. He drops flat onto the ground, with smoke going up from his body.*

Shampoo: *regains his orientation, and sees Mousse on the ground in front of her* Mousse!!!! *Bends over him, crying over his body* Mousse!!! Wake up!

Cyborg X: eh!?

Akane: *shocked as well.* Mousse?!

Shampoo: Mousse!!!! *and shakes his body, receiving no reponse.* Baka! You no die!

Ukyou: Shampoo......

Shampoo: *stands up, and gives a menacing look at Cyborg X far away. She arms her two bonboris* Shampoo.... Kill!

Shinnosuke: *comes over* Shampoo, don’t. You’ll only get yourself killed. Mousse sacrificed his life to save you, and if you get killed, his sacrifice will mean nothing. The only way you can honor his death is to stay alive.

Shampoo: *overcome with grief* H... Hai.... Shampoo.... understand.

Akane: Shampoo, we’ll take care of Cyborg X.

Ukyou: *sees a sudden blink of light far behind Cyborg X, coming from a forest. She lets out a slight gasp.*

Ranma: *turns and looks behind Cyborg X, and picks up a chi signature, it is very strong, and very volatile* Nani.....

Cyborg X: *not being able sense chi, he does not notice something approaching him quickly from behind him* Alright, then it looks like I’ll have to just fight through this one.

Gero: *the battle area has moved very far away from him. He sees the object coming at Cyborg X, and raises an eyebrow.* That can’t be....

Ranma: Ryoga!

*Ranma senses the most furious rage he has ever sensed coming from Ryoga. Ryoga is using his last strength to rush toward Cyborg X. His body is surrounded by a ferocious aura, blowing aside everything in his path. There is only one thing left for him to do.*

Cyborg X: *finally feels the rush of power behind him, he turns around, stunned, and cannot move out of the way. He could see the raging tempest inside Ryoga’s eyes.* Ryoga!

Ryoga: *grabs Cyborg X by his shoulders tightly, his voice so dangerous is does not sound like him anymore* You!!! She was all the I had left, and you KILLED her!!! I have nothing else in this world now, all you left me with is my vengeance!

*Ranma guesses Ryoga’s action, knowing the danger every body is in, and throws a frantic look at Toma.*

Ryoga: AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! *His body starts to glow, with Cyborg X still in his grip, struggling to get free*

*Toma catches Ranma’s look, and immediately takes out his sword, and concentrates. The sword glows brighter than it had ever glowed before.*

*The Earth rumbles violently* **FFFSSSSSOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!** *Ryoga’s body detonates, creating a super nova of energy more powerful than anyone has ever seen. The burst of pure energy clears away everything within the radius of a mile in all directions. And its force can be felt all the way to the ocean. Gero, although far away, is forced to use a force field to avoid being damaged. Ranma and everyone else is on top of a plateau far away enough to avoid the explosion. Toma is resting on his knees, breathing heavily after teleporting everyone simultaneously so far away. They look at the explosion gravely. After ten seconds, the energy from the discharge finally dissipates. Nothing is left*

Ranma: Ryoga......

Shampoo: *crying into her hands* Mousse..... *Mousse’s body has not been teleported out along with everybody*

Ukyou: Only Gero is left now......

Ranma: He is the cause of everything. It’s time he paid for his actions.

Akane: *nods* Ranma.... here, this is the last senzu. *Hands him the one remaining whole bean*

Ranma: *looks at Akane, and nods* hm! *Eats it, and motions to go down to Gero*

Akane: Ranma, I’m going to fight by you.

Ranma: Akane... *concerned*

Akane: I know what you’re thinking Ranma, that what if something happened to me.

Ranma: *lowers his head, turning somewhat reddish* H...hai.

Akane: Ranma, this is my fight too. Because of Gero, otoosan, Nabiki, and Kasumi.... are all dead..... *holds back her tears* including your dad. They’ve become Gero’s mindless slaves.

Ranma: *nods understandingly, and looks at Akane.* Akane, then I won’t stop you. We’ll stop Gero together.

Akane: *looks at him* Ranma, if anything DOES happen to me, don’t you dare and do something stupid like risking your own life to save me. Destroying Gero is our priority, no matter what the costs.

Ranma: Akane... *looks unwilling.*

Akane: Do I have your promise, Ranma?

Ranma: *looks at Akane admiringly* H...hai.

Ukyou: Alright, then I’ll stay behind and be the backup. Be careful, Ranchan.

Ranma: *smiles at Ukyou* I will, Uuchan. Arigatoo.

Akane: *hands the communications pendant to Ukyou* In case Trunks have any information, or he needs to know something, you’ll have to take this pendant now.

Ukyou: Hai, Akane.

*Ranma and Akane nods to each other, then they zooms towards Gero, who is making his way back to the entrance of his base.*

Ranma: *stops in front of Gero, with Akane by his side* Going somewhere, Gero? Your time has come.

Gero: *throws an angry look at Ranma and Akane* Looks like I’m forced to deal with you personally. How degrading. But since it is necessary, so be it. You will have the honor of combating me.

Akane: Gero, you’ve made a mistake coming here. Now you’ll be destroyed before you began your existence.

Gero: Hmp, you underestimate me. I am my own greatest creation, are you actually foolish enough to confront me?

Ranma: Enough talk! Moko Takabishya!

*The blast disperses into thin air before it hits Gero.*

Gero: You would first have to get through my force field first. And even if you do, I have insurance that you won’t dare to harm my body.

Akane: Oh?

Gero: Did you think I would not engineer plans to backup my plans? You see, I’ve hidden a bomb somewhere in Japan, underneath the earth. Its magnitude would be enough to completely destroy Earth. It can be triggered in two ways: when my structural integrity becomes dangerously low, or when I simply give the command. *Grin*

Ranma: *takes a step back* and why should we believe you?

Gero: Oh, you have every reason to not believe me, but even if there’s a slight chance that I am telling the truth, are you going to risk striking me?

*Akane looks at Ranma, as if asking him what to do*

Ranma: *quietly* Akane, go back to the others, and tell them of this. I really don’t know what to do, but maybe you guys can come up with something.

Akane: But what if Gero’s lying! Then you’d be fighting him all by yourself!

Ranma: there’s more at stake here. Even there is a chance that Gero is telling the truth, we’ll have to find the bomb. I have to keep Gero busy so that he can’t cook up anything new.

Akane: Hai, then I won’t argue. *Flies back to the plateau*

Gero: *grins as Akane leaves* Well Saotome, now lets see what you got. Lets you how you fair against someone who can use energy in the form of matter. *A huge energy sword forms in his right hand*

Ranma: *puffs up his aura, and stands ready* hmp! Then lets begin.

*Gero slashes the blade at Ranma, who easily dodges the first strike. Because Gero’s sword is also energy, it is weightless, and he easily makes a second swing at Ranma without having to recuperate. This time Ranma barely ducks in time. He can see some of his hair cut off. He acknowledges the danger of the blade, and makes a knifehand strike at Gero’s right wrist. As soon as the energy blade leaves his arm, it explodes, forcing Ranma to flip back.*

*Akane is now discussing the situation with everybody.*

Trunks: *stops typing on his computer, and reads the screen.* Akane, I have good news, and bad news. I’ve dug up the information from some encrypted data I got from Gero’s main computer. The bad news is that Gero is telling the truth, his bomb IS capable of making the whole world explode. The good news is that we don’t have to search all of Japan to look for it. It is located inside Mt. Fuji, the dormant volcano. The bomb itself isn’t that impressive, but its reaction certainly is. Once it detonates, it’ll start a chain reaction inside Fuji, causing lava to flow once more, and breaking into the center of Earth. It’ll excite the earth’s core so much that all volcanoes from all over the Earth will erupt, and Earth will eventually spontaneously combust. What’s worse, Gero won’t be destroyed along with it. He’ll get on his ship before that happens and escape into the space.

Ukyou: I don’t like the sound of that.

Akane: then we’ve got to go to Fuji now! It’s just south of Tokyo. If we fly at maximum speed, we can get there in 5 minutes.

Ukyou: *nods* then let’s go.

Toma: I’m coming!

Herb: I could be of some help, so I shall go as well.

Akane: *nods* Tarou, then you’re the only here that still can fight. You look after everybody.

Tarou: *nods*

*Ukyou and Akane helps up Toma and Herb, charges up their aura, and flies to the south like a rocket*

*Meanwhile, Ranma still in a pessimistic fight against Gero. Gero is rapidly slashing with energy blades, sickles, axes, hammers, etc., while constantly sending out streams of energy blasts at Ranma. Ranma cannot break through his defense, and finds himself barely dodging Gero’s attacks.*

Ranma: *ducks* Man, doesn’t *Flips back* this guy *bends left* yikes! Run out of energy?

Gero: *presses his attack.* My energy source is infinite, can you say the same?

*Shinnosuke stands and watches Ranma’s fight. He knows this way Ranma will certainly lose the battle. He thinks, then takes out the needle from his hair. It grows into the magical staff.*

Shinnosuke: Ranma, I hope this can be as useful to you as it was to me.

*With one great toss, the staff flies from Shinnosuke’s hands, spinning into the air, arcing toward Ranma.*

Ranma: *Leaps back, turns around, and sees the shining glint in the sky* huh? *He looks at Shinnosuke, and understands what to do.*

*Ranma makes a huge flip into the air, makes a triple roll; catches the staff in his hand; makes a full twist and lands. The staff glows golden in his hands.*

Ranma: *admiring the staff in his hand* I can feel..... it’s power. This is no ordinary staff. *Looks to Gero*

Gero: You think that’s going to help you? Don’t be foolish!

*Gero strikes downward with another energy blade. This time Ranma blocks the strike with the staff, and spins one end into Gero’s chin. Ranma does some practice spins and swings with the staff to get the feel for it. Light emits from the two golden tips, leaving a shining trail accompanying the movement of the staff.*

Gero: How can that staff repel my energy blade, it was supposed to cut through any matter! *Gets agitaged*

Ranma: *poses with the staff* Now we both have weapons Gero. It’s my turn to attack!

*Ranma leaps into the air. Gero sends energy blasts at Ranma, who deflects it with the staff. Ranma points the one end at Gero’s skull, and the staff quickly extends. Gero jumps back, and gets ready with another set of weapons.*

==========================================================================

*Akane, Ukyou, Toma, and Herb have arrived at the top of Mt. Fuji. They look down to the mouth of the dormant volcano, searching for the location of the bomb.*

Trunks: Find the spot that is in front of the a pyramid looking rock, and with a visible trench in front of it*

Ukyou: *looks around* Found it!

*Everyone heads to that spot*

Trunks: It’s roughly 100 ft below that exact spot.

Akane: How will we get the bomb out?

Trunks: That’s the problem. You can’t just dig it out. The bomb is set so that if there’s a change in it’s orientation, or where everything is pointed, it’ll detonate immediately. It also can sense if it is in contact with air, and when that happens, it’ll also detonate.

Toma: hmmm, I can’t teleport it out.

Herb: There is a possibility..... if I can extend my ki around it. I can enforce it’s original orientation and keep air from entering the pocket of chi, and lift it from the ground.

Trunks: Herb! *His voice brightens up* You can? Then by all means, do it now!

Herb: It’ll take a great deal of concentration, and unfortunately, an even greater amount of ki to accomplish a task of this magnitude. I will not have enough ki to lift the bomb up from that much ground. I’ll also have to replace the space the bomb as I go along with soil so that the lava underneath would not get excited.

Ukyou: *rests her chin on her hands* maybe not..... *looks at Herb* what if you had the ki of someone at Super Saiya level?

Herb: Yes, that would be sufficient ki. What are you suggesting?

Ukyou: There was one more technique I learned in Thunder Temple: “Ki Transfer”. I can transfer my ki to yours.

Akane: Really?! Then that’s it!

Ukyou: But I’m afraid that Herb will not be able to store all that ki in his body.

Herb: unless I use it as soon as I receive it! It’s worth a try! I’m attempting to send my ki down to the bomb right now. It should be easily detectable since it’s content is so different from the natural contents of the ground. *Closes his eyes, and points his palm toward the ground. His ki travels down the ground, unobstructed. It finally makes contact with the bomb* I found it! *Carefully wraps his ki around the bomb* I have it in position.* Now for the difficult part! *Concentrates hard, using all his ki to pull the bomb up* Ukyou!

*Ukyou opens his palms, and places them flat on Herb’s back. She closes her eyes, and glows with aura. The ki seeps into Herb’s body, and he channels it into moving the bomb. 100 ft down below, the bomb moves slightly up.*

===========================================================================

*Ranma and Gero are still not going very far with their fight. Ranma knows he cannot keep trading attacks with Gero for long; he will run out of energy first. He attacks fiercely with the staff, which caused some cracks on Gero’s armor, but still no major damage.*

Gero: *suddenly senses his bomb being moved out of position* No..... they’ve found the bomb. Desperate situation calls for desperate measures. *Looks toward Ranma* Saotome, your friends are smart, they’ve located the bomb. But I cannot allow their interference to go unpunished.

Ranma: You’re the only one that’s going to be punished!

Gero: *closes his eyes* There, I’ve started the count down on the bomb. It will detonate in exactly 45 seconds! If I cannot have this world, then it shall not exist at all! Hahaha! 43 seconds!

Ranma: *stands back* Kuso! Gotta tell Akane! *He closes his eyes, and touches his temples with his middle and index finger* {Akane, Akane!}

***At Mt. Fuji**

Akane: *hears her name being called in her mind, and gasps* Ranma?

Ranma: {Hai. I’m talking to you through telepathy. Don’t ask about that now. You must know that Gero just activated the bomb, it’s going to blow in 35 seconds!}

Akane: We’re getting it out now!

Ranma: {does Trunks have a way of defusing the bomb?}

Akane: I.. I don’t know, I’ll ask.

Ranma: {Hurry, time is running out. 30 seconds!}

Akane: Herb, get the bomb out as fast as you can! Gero started the countdown. Trunks! Is there any way to defuse the bomb?

Trunks: What! The bomb is activated?! Shit! *Types on his computer* I’m looking for a way to defuse it now!

*Upon hearing this, Ukyou concentrates harder, giving Herb more amounts if ki. Herb strains harder to manage the ki and uprooting the bomb.*

*20 seconds left, the bomb is 25 ft from the surface.*

Akane: hurry, please!

*Trunks works as fast as he could on the computer*

*15 seconds left, and 17 ft from surface.*

Herb: *straining, with sweat coming down his face* It’s 16 ft away.....

Trunks: Yes there’s a way! There’s a panel on the bottom, if you open it up and press this sequence....

Toma: *analyzes the situation* {there will not be enough time to defuse the bomb once its up to the surface. Something else must be done} Ukyou, when the bomb is within 4 ft to the surface, I want you to transfer part of your chi to me.

*Ukyou nods, not really sure what Toma is up to. She still strains to provide Herb with the chi*

Akane: 7 seconds!

Herb: 6 ft away.....

*The ground begins to puff up a little, as the bomb is making it’s way through.*

Akane: 5 seconds!

Herb: 4 ft....

Toma: Ukyou!

Ukyou: Ughhh!! *takes one arm from Herb’s back, and places it on Toma’s back, now straining even harder to transfer her ki to both*

*Toma grinds his teeth to control the chi, and activates his sword*

Akane: *looks at Toma, bewildered.* Toma....

*The bomb is now visible, halfway to the surface. It is 1 ft in diameter. The digital clock just turned 1 second*

Toma: *looks at Akane with a strained expression* Take care.... Akane.

*Toma reaches down, touches the bomb and simultaneously spins his sword. He disappears with the bomb in a flash of green light.*

*High up in the sky, beyond the Earth’s atmosphere, the bomb detonated in an blinding explosion, more intense than the summer sun.*

*** Back at Ranma and Gero:**

Gero: *sees the explosion in the sky* WHAT!!!!!!!

Ranma: *breathes in relief* yata! They did it......

***Mt. Fuji***

*Ukyou rests on the ground, along with Herb. Both have used up their chi reserves once again*

Trunks: Akane! Ukyou! Hello?! Are you still there!

Akane: *looks at the sky* Toma....

Trunks: *hears her* Thank god! I thought the worst happened.

Akane: No..... Toma, he teleported the bomb into space. He blew up with the bomb.

Trunks: *moment of silence* Such are the costs of war. Akane, there’s only one thing left to do now.

Akane: *nods* hai.... Ukyou, Herb, you think you can make it back.

Ukyou: *struggles up* Yeah sure, no problem, you go first Akane. We’ll follow.

*Akane nods, and flies off*

***Back at Gero***

Gero: *red stress lines fill his eyes* How dare they!!!! Arggggg!!!!

*Gero emits a force ball with his body, Ranma is forced to blocks his eyes and pushed far away*

Gero: THIS.....ISN’T......OVER!!!!

*Gero goes inside his base, and into his personal transporter.*

Gero: *looks all around.* Computer, initiate Base-T transformation procedure. Passcode: Zero Sigma 4-7X.

Computer: Affirmative, please step into the structure fusion command pod in Sector 1.

*All openings to Gero’s base closes. Suddenly the entire mountain of the base begins to rumble. As Ranma stares in awe, the mountain cracks open, revealing pure metal of Gero’s base. The base raises up, the position of all parts of the base starts to shift. As walls and rooms shift, Ranma can see the formation of legs, arms , and even a head. After all the titanic plates, joints, and gears have stopped moving, what stands in front of Ranma is a huge 150 ft tall robot. (How does it is look like? Imagine your favorite Gundam unit)*

Ranma: *eyes huge* I..... I have to fight THAT!?????

Gero: Meet my new body, Saotome. My base itself is a weapon of destruction.

Ranma: *backs off far away.* This could be trouble....

*surprisingly, instead of attacking Ranma, Gero jets into the air, and rockets itself in Tokyo’s direction*

*Akane arrives, and also sees the titanic robot moving off*

Akane: Ranma! Am I imagining things?!

Ranma: *turns around* Akane!

Akane: Nevermind, If that’s Gero, I’m going after it! Grrr..... *goes after it*

Ranma: Right! *Flies after the robot*

*Gero arrives at Tokyo, which is totally quiet now. It is snowing harder than ever. The tank squad has been defeated. Everybody in Tokyo is now under Gero’s control.*

Ranma: *follows Gero* What is he up to?

*All the robots suddenly rise into the air.*

Akane: is it a bomb rush? *Gets ready*

*All the robots fly toward Gero*

Ranma: No, Gero must be calling his robots back into his base, or body, and use the robots’s resources to make him stronger.

Akane: *takes a moment to look around Tokyo* Ranma, the city..... everybody has been turned to zombies...

Ranma: Akane, I know. We didn’t protect the city, but the least we can do now stop Gero from transforming any more cities. This stops in Tokyo! We make our stand here!

Akane: I’m with you Ranma. We’re going to take down Gero no matter what!

Ranma: Then let’s go!!

*Ranma charges up his aura, and rushes at Gero, who has just taken in the last of the robots. It turns, and feels a powerful kick in it’s waist area. It stumbles a bit.*

Gero: Even now you dare to challenge me?!

*Gero moves his huge hands and whacks Ranma aside. Akane follows up Ranma’s attack with bombardment of energy blasts. Gero brushes it aside, and throws a huge fist at Akane. Ranma gets up, Gero throws his other fist at him. Ranma locks his hands to cover his face, and is blasted to the ground. He flips back up, joins Akane, and attacks him together. Ranma kicks Gero in the back. Gero turns around and swings a hook, Ranma flies around it. Akane jabs a elbow to Gero’s rib area. Gero blasts Akane with a beam from his hand. Ranma takes out the staff, makes it 50 ft long, and attacks with his Tenshin Amaguriken. The sound of metal clanging rapidly rings throughout the city. However, Gero is suffering any major damage. In the process many buildings near Gero have been destroyed. Ranma regroups with Akane to one side.*

Ranma: We’re not doing much damage to him. If every part of his body is made of the same material the cyborgs are, we can’t even penetrate the skin.

Akane: *breathing slightly faster* What should we do.

*Before Ranma can respond, Gero launches a punch that separates the two, knocking them back in different directions.*

Gero: *maniacle laughter* Do you not see the futility of your efforts? Your so called Super Saiyan powers are nothing to me! This entire body is made with poly-carbonate titanium alloy. It’ll take much more than what you’ve got to pierce my super structure!

Ranma: Ahhhhh!!!! *Rushes at Gero*

*Gero backhands Ranma fiercely through many tall buildings, Akane gasps when she sees Ranma’s hair becoming normal black just before he hits the ground. But while Akane is distracted by thoughts about Ranma’s safety, Gero grabs her firmly in his left hand. Akane screams.*

Gero: *looks at Akane in his grip* Akane Tendo, hehehe, you’ve opposed me along with Saotome for quite some time now. Now I will make you regret ever meeting Trunks!

Akane: *sqirms unsuccessfully* Say what you will Gero, but Earth will never be under your control!

Gero: And whose going to stop me? You are already at the end of your resources.

Akane: And so are you! *Feels Gero tightening his grip* AHH!

Gero: Foolish Tendo girl, do you not see that it is useless? You may have frequently delayed my efforts, but ultimately you will fail! Look all around you, Tokyo is already completely under my control. Everyone in this city has been injected with my serum, and will serve me.

*From far away, Ranma slowly gets up from the rubble. His left shoulder is badly hurt. He clutches it, and walks back to where Gero is, in his normal form.* Ranma: *looks toward the gigantic Gero.* I have to continue the fight... *thinks back to when Kami picked him up to his palace* Kami put his confidence in me..... *Thinks about his training under Piccolo* Piccolo knew I can do it. I can’t let their efforts and energy go to waste, gotta make good their trust in me..... I’ve come this far, can’t stop now.*he charges up his ki as he walks.*

Gero: *laughs as Akane* You, like everyone else, are useless! You’ve failed to save your city....

Akane: *looks at Gero with hatred*

Gero: What makes you think you can save the world? Why, you couldn’t even save your own family! hahaha

*At hearing that last statement, Akane’s view of everything in front of her becomes dark, then cracks like glass. Gero rambles on, but Akane is focusing on the images that are coming to her mind. They are of Kasumi and Nabiki, looking at Akane with cold eyes.*

Kasumi: Akane, why are you so useless? Why did you let us die? And after all I’ve done to take care of you.

Nabiki: Yeah, because of you, I’ve lost the only bet in my life. I don’t know why I was so stupid to bet my entire life’s winnings on someone as incompetent as you.

*The images end with a blazing fire engulfing everything*

Akane: Oneechan....no..... I’m sorry..... *thinks back to the last time he saw his father, in the clutches of a robot, and remembers the look that Soun gave her, as if pleading to Akane with all his life for her to save him. It leads her into further sorrow, as another series of images form.*

Soun: Akane, why? Why didn’t you save your dad? You stood there, and did nothing, and let all of us die. How can you be so heartless? You are no longer worthy of being a Tendo, nor my daughter!

*Flames consumes the image of Soun, as another mental illusion forms in front of the wall of fire. It is Soun, Kasumi, and Nabiki standing together, all with fear in their face, and pleading to Akane.*

Kasumi, Nabiki, Soun: Akane! Please.... Help! Hfpmmmf! *Their voice muffled by metal plate clamped to their mouth, and part by part their body is replaced by metal covering and circuits. A laughing image of Gero looms over them*

*Akane closes her eyes tightly, and clenches her fist inside Gero’s grip. Akane finds herself trapped in a sea of fire, in the horizon she sees a phoenix surrounded by golden flames, it’s image is moving towards her.*

Gero: *feeling something different Akane in his grip. taking her silence as a sign that she is giving up, he rambles on* I bet your parents are proud that they raised a failure.

Akane: *she yells out* NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

*Akane bursts free of Gero’s grip, to his astonishment. Literally flames can be seen in her eyes, as her aura becomes more golden, and takes on the shape of flames.*

Ranma: *feels the sudden change in Akane’s ki* huh? *looks at Akane, his eyes grow wide.* That looks like.. the Phoenix! Of course! Why didn’t I see it, Akane’s spirit must be the Phoenix..... just like mine is the....

Gero: *gapes at Akane* What is this!? Her power level have just increased tremendously!

Akane: *Akane looks at Gero with eyes burning for his destruction.* I will make you pay, Gero!

*She launches herself at Gero’s body, delivering a burning punch. Gero stumbles back, the point where Akane made contact turns pinkish, then back to normal.*

Gero: *looks at Akane with an angry expression.* Now you’ve made me mad!

*Gero returns with multiple blasts at Akane, who maneuvers around it, and fires balls of flames at Gero’s body. It hits squarely, but doesn’t seem to affect Gero much, only scorching his skin.*

Ranma: *looks at the battle* Akane can’t do this alone, all she is doing is warming up Gero’s body. *Notices the coldness around him, which is now affecting him more since is he in normal form. He looks back at the battle. His eyes light up with an idea.* This has better work... HRRGGG! *Turns back to Super Saiya form.* No.... this is not enough. *Thinks when Piccolo said: “discover your true power”, and nods* I did what you said, Piccolo-san. Now I must summon it!

*Ranma closes his eyes, and focuses on only on thing on his mind. His disciplinary training with Kami and Piccolo have greatly increased his concentration. He finds himself in a sparkling blue sea with raging waves. He has been here once before for a very short moment. Through the waves in the distance he sees an image of a majestic Dragon, seemingly rising out of the sea, and touching the sun.*

Ranma: Haaaahhhhh....... YAAAAHHH*His aura color changes to a bright blue, and taking on the curves of waves. He opens his eyes and looks at himself* I did it....

*Ranma now refocus’s his attention on Gero and Akane. Akane is still attacking Gero both physically and with flames, while dodging Gero’s own attacks. He comes closer to within attack range, but Gero obviously does not see him while busy dealing with Akane.*

Gero: *the heat from Akane’s unrelenting attacks has cause his entire body to glow a dull red-brown. He makes unsuccessful swaps at Akane* Give it up girl! Where do you think this will get you! This body is designed to work under even extreme temperatures!

Akane: *doesn’t respond to Gero. She flies back to some distance.* Haaaahhhh......... *her flaming aura now flutters rapidly, as she pulls her right fist back.*

Ranma: *looks at Akane* This is it! *Stands firmly, his hands at waist level, and also concentrates his energy. His aura gets brighter and pulsates wildly. The force from it clears away nearby buildings.*

Akane: HOU’OU JIGOKU!!!!!! (Phoenix Inferno)

*With an explosion of blazing fire behind her, she strikes out her right fist, sending thick swirling streams of flames into Gero’s body. The blast is great enough to engulf his entire structure in flames, but it is not going thought his body.*

Gero: Arraaggg..... *feels the intense heat traveling through his system, he can hear his body sizzling; but his structure is holding still.*

Akane: *she strains to intensify her Phoenix Inferno, and feels her energy being sapped* Can’t.... .enforce.... my attack..much longer..

Ranma: *sees that Gero is now glowing bright red, and can see steam coming out of his body. He also notices Akane getting weaker.* It’s now or never! *In a burst of aura he comes at Gero* Akane, GET BACK!!

Akane: *loses her concentration on her attack* Ranma?!!!

Ranma: *Flies to the ground where Gero is standing directly above, and starts a dragon uppercut motion* TENKA SHUNMETSU HIRYUU HYOYAMA PA!!!! (Imperial Ascending Ice Dragon Glacier)

Gero: *makes some super fast calculations in his head regarding Ranma’s attack* Oh crap..... *makes one last transmition.*

*A huge swirling blue tornado of water travels up Gero’s body as Ranma continues his uppercut up to Gero’s head, instantly forming into ice that is just as cold as the Phoenix Inferno is hot. Almost instantly as Gero is being turned into a gleaming glacier, concave dents form as his entire body implodes all at once. Everything inside his structure suddenly being supercompressed. The crushing of internal gears finally leads to explosion.*

Ranma: *looks at the spectacular explosion under him, still feeling unsatisfied* It’s still not over....

Akane: *Flies up to Ranma, her hands clasped happily* Ranma! We did it!

Ranma: Gero would like us to think that he’s gone, but... *turns his head, and scans Tokyo* Akane, look!

*Akane turns her head slowly, and notices people walking out of houses, and going at every direction. She gasps*

Ranma: Shit! My guess is right. Gero transferred a bit of his brain pattern into each victim, each of them are capable of becoming Gero’s clones. If they escape into other parts of the world, we’ll never find them. We have to annihilate all of them!

Akane: But Tokyo is so large, and so many people!

Ranma: *flies close to Akane.* Akane, we’ll have to initiate the Ryuhou Tengoku Kiyomeru. *Holds out his hands in front of him, palms open and pointed toward Akane.* Just hold out your hands and touch mine, and you’ll understand.

*without questioning, Akane holds out her hands and pushes it flat against Ranma’s. She feels a surge of energy going through her body. Their auras merge. Akane closes her eyes, and sees a depiction of an roaring ocean combined with fire. In the middle of this fiery ocean is the Legendary Dragon, together with the Eternal Phoenix. They combine into one, generating an extremely bright, yet gentle white light.*

*The joined aura of Ranma and Akane glows flourescently, and expands in size up to a certain point, then suddenly contracts in height but expands in width, releasing a brilliant red and blue ring of energy throughout Tokyo and beyond. The city is flooded with light, clearing the city of the ominous clouds, and vaporizing all of Gero’s seeds of evil, completely eradicating all traces of his existence.*

*Screen turns white*

============================================================================

*Ranma slowly awakes from his futon.*

Ranma: *holds his head* Oh..... my head..... anyone got the number of that flying elephant?

Voice 1: Ranma!

Voice 2: Ran-chan! You’re ok!

Voice 3: For a moment there you gave me a scare, boy.

Ranma: huh? *His vision still adjusting.* wha?

Voice 4: Aiyah!!!

Voice 5: *seeminly weeping* At last, you’re awake, son.

Voice 6: Well done, son-in-law.

*Ranma is finally able to see clearly. He finds himself inside the Tendo Dojo, looking just as homey as it ever had been. There, standing in front and all around him are Akane, Ukyou, Shampoo, Mousse, Shinnosuke, Ryuu, Herb, Toma, Tarou, Kirin, Dr. Tofu, Soun, Genma, Nabiki, Kasumi, and Cologne, all showing smiles and expressions of joy.*

Ranma: *at a loss for words at what he sees. * ....... N...Nani!

*Before anyone can respond, Ranma bolts up and slides open the door, and is greeted with fresh air, clear skies, and sunshine. Ranma turns around, and sees Trunks leaning on the wall, who looks back at him his trademark smile and thumbs up.*

Ranma: Trunks-kun!!!!

Akane: *comes over to Ranma.* Ranma, I know what you feel right now, because I went through the same surprise when I woke up. *Shakes her head* Nah.... “Surprise” wouldn’t come close to describing all this. *Looks to Trunks* Looks like you’ll will have to explain everything AGAIN. *Laughs.*

Trunks: Ranma, hmmm, where should I start? Well first of all I gotta congratulate you and Akane for beating Gero.

Ranma: Thanks, but how did all this happen? I mean, the dojo, it never looked better, and the city! And Toma, and everyone else who died.....

Trunks: Whoa Ranma, one at a time. Let me start from the beginning....

*Trunks explained that he was on Namek, and everything that happened there.*

Trunks: ...I was able to watch your battle with Gero with the help of their highest elder: Gende. It was pretty amazing how you defeated Gero’s humongous body, which reminds me, just how did you.....

Ranma: Oh that.... well, when Akane was hitting Gero with her fire bursts, I remembered something when I broke free of Gero’s control. I got some information on Gero’s cyborgs before he broke the link. I remember something about the specification of the metal Gero used to make his cyborgs and his base. It can stand heat to a degree like the sun’s surface, and can withstand cold to the opposite extreme of the same value, but what it can’t stand is a sudden change from one extreme to another. Then I remembered something from chemistry class: heat expands, and cold contracts. I remembered the experiment where my teacher first heated up a soda can, then flipped it and put it in cold water. It’s cool the way the can just crushed itself. So I used the same idea on Gero. I just had to wait for the perfect time... when Akane baked him with the Hou’ou Jigoku. I was lucky that it worked.

Akane: wow Ranma, *smiles* I don’t know which is more amazing, that your idea worked, or that you actually remembered something from class.

Ranma: Uncute!

*Akane just laughs*

Ranma: Anyway, getting back to your story Trunks.

Trunks: Oh right.... well, Gero is completely gone, I had to use the Namek Dragonballs to undo the damage that he has done. My first wish is for Tokyo to be returned to it’s original state, and my 2nd wish is to revive all those whose death is directly or indirectly caused by Gero, except Cyborg X and Gero himself of course.

Ranma: Everyone?! So..... anyone, including cyborgs and people under his control, that was under Gero’s control is now back?

Trunks: *nods* of course they are back to their normal self, and the people who was under his control will not remember their experience of being under Gero’s control.

Akane: Ranma, there’s still YOUR mystery, just where did YOU go, and how the heck did you get so powerful and know so much?

Ranma: Oh, right! Well....

*Ranma tells his training with Kami-sama, and slightly changes some parts concerning Akane when he got to how he conquered the cyborg entity. He also tells about Piccolo and his training in the House of Spirit and Time.*

Trunks: Kami and Piccolo.... *smiles* I should have known....

Ranma: Oh yeah..... I also picked up how to talk to other people with just my mind, but for some reason, it only works with Akane.

Akane: *looks at Ranma suspiciously* just HOW did you beat the cyborg again?

Ranma: *laughs nervously* well, that’s not important, as long as I did, right? Well, when Piccolo died, he told me to find my true power..... and I found that the spirit of the Dragon is in me, and that it will come out only during the moment when I really need it. The same is true with you, Akane, only that your spirit is the Phoenix.

Akane: The Phoenix..... so that’s why......

Ranma: Oh, *looks at Trunks* and what about your third wish, Trunks?

Trunks: Well, to be instantly transported to Earth! What else? Why else I would be standing here? I picked up everyone and got them here to the dojo.*smiles*

Ranma: *facefaults and falls* You.... you could have done something about our curses!

*At hearing this, everyone that has a Jusenkyou curse groans loudly.*

Trunks: Oh, hehe *sweat drops* Gomen, I guess I didn’t thought of that....

Ranma: Oh great! And now with Earth’s Dragonball gone, there goes my last hope!

Trunks: *sees that Ranma still doesn’t know about the connection between Kami and the Dragonball* err.... *thinks about his answer* well, yeah, I suppose..... well, I guess you can’t have everything! *Laughs*

Ranma: I suppose.... *laughs* Hey! It’s still Christmas!

*Everybody gets noisy all at once, shouting cheers and filled with excitement. Words of celebration and partying is on everybody’s lips. They seemed to have forgotten that just hours ago how dead Tokyo was, and now, it is full of life again. For at least the time being, they have thrown away and all troubling thoughts aside, and concentrate on the celebration of the victory against the darkest force they have ever encountered, and the rebirth of Tokyo and of everyone’s high spirits.*

~~~~~Ending Theme: Kiyoku Tadashii Christmas (A Pure and Honest Christmas)~~~~~

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(well, maybe not THE end, check out the epilogue and the author's notes! ^_^)

Tony Chen (Ranma Nibunnoichi)

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