Guyver Ryoga / Ryoga 1/2 : Worlds in Collision
A fanfic about three alternate Ranma 1/2 Universes
by Mark Latus
Part 2 : Entangled Lines
2 pm July 1st 2120 AD - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - Imperial Timeline
Having downloaded his report on timeline Gamma and being without a
current assignment Ryogoid 207 left to get some fresh air. He didn't
actually breathe but, along with other human characteristics, found it
preferable to take in some sights rather than sit around the maintenance bay.
He consulted his geography files and plotted a course to the park
nearest the Secondary Timeprobe Facility. His prior assignments had been
based from the Primary Facility but the Rocky Mountain Site was currently
undergoing repairs after the recent rebel incursion.
The Emperor had initially considered basing the Timeprobe bases in Japan
but, being sentimental about his homeland, had chosen to site them in foreign
lands. Being linked to the worldwide network distance was irrelevent to him
and it avoided the chance of a disaster in Japan. The unfortunate incident
which destroyed the prototype Timescoop and blighted Eastern Siberia proved
this was a wise policy.
207 arrived in the parkland and looked around with quiet satisfaction.
He thought about the twentieth century Ryogas who had destroyed unit 303.
When they imagined the Empire they had undoubtably visualized a bleak,
barren world with the few humans enslaved by terminator-like machines.
Instead this city, the whole world, was stable and more prosperous than it had
ever been in their timelines. The slums were gone, global population was
stabilised at two billion, solar power satellites provided clean power, raw
materials from the asteroids meant heavy industry was based in space, the
ecosystem was now cleaner than it had been before the industrial revolution
began. All the Emperor asked in exchange was obedience, what was so bad about
that? 207 remembered the rebels and their talk about freedom. Freedom! As
if most of the human race had been free before the Empire. He shook his
head, the naivety of those people never ceased to amaze him. Still it should
cease to be a problem in a few decades. Genetic manipulation had already
greatly reduced the number of humans capable of resistance. In thirty years
it was estimated none of the humans being born would be able to understand
the concept of resistance.
207 continued his walk acknowledging the respectful nods of those who
passed. He was, like all his kind, a symbol of both Emperor and Empire. The
man who'd built the Empire and the machines who maintained it. There were a
few surly looks but those were the definite minority. None of the
discontented ones looked like they had enough spine to actually cause any
trouble. Yes, 207 mused, life was good. Forceable sterilization to ensure
children were only born in Imperial birth centers had been an excellent move.
It had ensured the end of overpopulation as well as the end of heredity
disease. Anyone whose genetics didn't measure up to Imperial standards
never got permission to breed. This had eliminated inheritable disease,
along with a few ethnic groups the Emperor had taken a dislike too.
207 stopped near the park's center to study the statue. The most popular
sculpture in the Empire was Ryoga Hibiki standing triumphant over the broken
body of Ranma Saotome. A slight case of artistic license, actually at the
time the future Emperor had been extremely shocked. But with hindsight he'd
come to appreciate the moment so the statues were commisioned as described.
This was an example of the second most popular sculpture. Studying the
girl depicted in marble 207 felt a pang in his metaphorical soul. A sense of
loss over a woman who'd died years before he was constructed. She was shown
as she had looked in her late teens, the way the Emperor would always
remember her.
The plaque on the statue was simple, "AKANE TENDO 1978-2015". Below
that, translated into Portugese was one of the Emperor's most famous quotes.
It read "IT IS AN ACT OF TRUE GREATNESS TO BE ABLE TO SACRIFICE YOUR ONE TRUE
LOVE". Patriotism surged through 207's cybernetic brain. That was so
profound, everything had a cost. To become great meant paying a great price,
but it was worth it.
It was at that moment the call came over the Ryogoid crisis network.
All exploration units in the vicinity were to return to Janeiro Center
immediately. Since they could interface from anywhere physical presence
meant they were being time/space shifted. "Perhaps", 207 thought, "I'll get
to see what's going on back in Gamma."
In all five Ryogoids arrived at the center. They were still a minority
among the android population, the bulk of the population was still standard
enforcement/battle units. They interfaced with the Imperial network. The
intelligence that lived in the net had once been human. Now his flesh was
gone but the mind of Ryoga Hibiki lived on. Some had said he sacrificed his
humanity long before the final interface. Those traitors had, of course,
been dealt with. For order to flourish there must be respect.
Translated to human terms the five explorers were told, "207's recent
mission indicates a possible danger to our history. There have been no signs
of a paradox wave emenating from our past so we must consider the rebel threat
to our history as minor. Possibly further in the future we will have the
precision timescoop equipment we need to deal with it."
"In the meantime the mystery of the fluxline remains. If dimensional
shifting is developed during the late twentieth century that line will have a
definite advantage over us. Therefore you will be inserted at a point prior
to the flux but after 207's recent visit and scan for dimensional
disturbances. You will be based in the Nerima district, for 207 to have
detected the pulse indicates the source was somewhere in the region. <207's
recent memories were downloaded to the other four>. To ensure there is no
repeat of 207's recent problem you will undergo facial remodeling."
None of the androids showed any sign but all of them rejoiced. At last,
individuality. They desired it, a side effect of possessing human emotions,
but were all designed identically to the other members of their model number.
After all they were supposed to be instantly identifiable to the human
population. That was the whole point.
With a light step the five headed for the maintenance bay.
****************************************************************************
The Present, Early Monday Afternoon - Kuno Mansion - Guyver Ryoga Timeline
Sasuke cautiously entered the house, under his breath he muttured every
prayer he could remember. His quest to find an exorcist willing to accompany
him and aid Master Kuno had failed. Perhaps he had been a little too vivid
in describing the hideous monstrosity that was consuming his young lord. The
best he had been able to obtain was a pack of spirit warding cards. The
exorcist had assured him they would repel all but the most powerful of
demons. He had asked what would happen if the creature was a very powerful
demon and been told not to worry. If it was powerful enough to ignore the
cards he'd be dead before he knew what had hit him. With this somewhat
dubious reassurance he had headed back to the Mansion. Perhaps he shouldn't
have stopped for lunch enroute but he had no desire to die hungry.
"Ah good Sasuke ..." The voice broke off as Sasuke jumped ten feet into
the air and bounced off the ceiling. He peeled himself off the floor and
confronted Master Kuno. Who looked perfectly normal, no sign of red eyes,
tentacles or an air of malignant menace. Of course except for the tentacle
part Kodachi showed all those signs everyday.
"Master Kuno ... Take these!" Sasuke thrust the cards into Kuno's hands
and flung himself away. Kuno did nothing supernatural, he merely studied the
cards with a look of bafflement.
"Are you well Sasuke, what makes you think I have any use for spiritual
assistance?"
Not really understanding what was happening Sasuke asked Kuno, "There
was an ... incident this morning ..."
Kuno raised a hand, "There was indeed good Sasuke. The fates have truly
smiled upon the House of Kuno. At last I, Tatewaki Kuno, the Blue Thunder of
Furinken High, have the means to avenge myself against the accursed Ranma
Saotome. None of his sorcerous tricks shall prevail against the power of
Justice. Today I strike the final blow against the wretch and free my two
loves from bondage to that monster!" Kuno was becoming rather worked up by
the end of this speech, possibly due to a mental image involving Akane, the
pig tailed girl and a dungeon.
Sasuke was rather puzzled by all this. Master Kuno certainly sounded
normal enough, but if that was so what had he seen this morning?
Kuno calmed down and cleared his throat. "But first I have an important
phone call to make. In the meantime Sasuke the underground training hall
needs a cleanup. See to it."
"Yes Master Kuno." Sasuke headed down to the basement, was it possible
Master Kuno was too single minded to be possessed. Entering the training hall
Sasuke realized that "cleanup" was an understatment. The whole place was a
disaster area. Support pillars appeared to have been slashed into cylindrical
chunks, the south wall was ... gone. It looked as if the wood paneling and
the concrete beneath had somehow been burned away, exposing the surrounding
earth. The floor was pockmarked with the marks of small fires and footshaped
holes. There were what appeared to be fist sized holes in the other walls.
What had happened here?
Meanwhile at Tempus Inc. Director Nagaoka put down his phone and groaned
aloud. The first thing to do was test this Tatewaki Kuno's claim. If it was
true his next worry was to think of how to explain this fiasco to Commander
Gyro.
It was an hour later before Kuno departed on his Ranma hunt. He kept
rewriting the speech he would deliver before dispatching Saotome. He was
still torn between a lengthy listing of Saotome's crimes and a short and
sweet "Farwell wretch" declamation. Sasuke emerged from his hopless task
long enough to bid his Master farewell.
"Master Kuno, are you sure you will not require my aid?"
Kuno smiled, "No good Sasuke, continue with the repairs. It is unfitting
that I should bring my true loves to a house that is anything less than
perfect. Though my presence will doubtless distract them from all notice of
decoration."
That was when Sasuke noticed something extremely odd. "Master Kuno!
You have forgotten you bokken!"
Again Kuno smiled, "Saotome is unworthy to spill his blood upon that
noble blade. Besides I have gained something better."
As Kuno left the mansion a concealed watcher raised his communicator.
At Tempus the Director nodded. "Very good Garvel. Remember you observe
only, neither assist Vertis nor expose yourself." He switched to another
communication channel, "Vertis you see you target. Very good. Now remember
before you transform and strike tell him, 'Master Saotome sends you greetings
from the bowels of Hell'. What? Never mind what it means just tell him
that." Feeling annoyed he switched back to Garvel (not the name he'd been
born with, in Chronos you got assigned a new name after rebirth. A tradition
dating back centuries to Kronos's days as a cult.) "Ok do you see Vertis.
He's expendable, both of them are. So what do you see? Uh huh, confronting
Kuno ... makes speech ... transforms to Ramothis form ... Kuno backs away,
shouts 'Guyver', armour forms around him. Is Vertis running away? No?
Good! That'll help. OK, Kuno unfolds his sonic swords, cuts Vertis in half,
starts making speech about fighting all powers of hell to free his loves ...
no just transcribe it, don't repeat it. Ok, keep him under surveillance
until further orders." Director Nagaoka shut down his communicator. Then he
began a litany of obscenities. Having blown off some steam he began
considering how he was going to explain this latest fiasco to Commander Gyro.
*****************************************************************************
Monday Afternoon - Nerima Restaurant District - Ryoga 1/2 Timeline
With school through for the day Ryoga and Nabiki were heading home.
Arm in arm they strolled past the Nekohanten. Mousse was crouched by the
door, undoubtably waiting to ambush Ranma. At which point Shampoo moved up
behind him and dumped a bucket of water over him. Grabbing the struggling
duck she marched off to the cage in the back of the restaurant. It seemed
Shampoo was also waiting for Ranma to pass by. She was doomed to be
disappointed, since this route home lead by both the Nekohanten and Ukyou's
restaurant Ranma preferred to take an alternate route home. Having had
another argument with Ranma Akane had stalked off on her own, also seeking a
path without other fiances on it.
Ryoga felt Nabiki poke him gently, "So what are you thinking about?"
No reason not to tell her, "Just glad I never wound up with multiple
fiances."
Nabiki smiled, "But Ryoga according to your story you're engaged to
someone different in every world."
Ryoga sighed, Nabiki had been teasing him about his recent adventure
ever since he mentioned it. No one believed him, so why try to convince
them? "Forget I ever mentioned it Ok?"
"But Ryoga what about your pictures?" Nabiki certainly looked cute
when she did her wide eyed innocent act. Actually she seemed impressed by
his skill in faking photos of groups of Ryoga Hibikis. The only problem was
they weren't fakes.
By this point they were passing Ukyou's restaurant. Nabiki looked at
him, "Tell you what, I'm feeling hungry, so you buy me some Okonomiyaki and
maybe I'll forget your story."
"I doubt that but I could use a snack myself." Lucky he had some money,
he'd bet a new student he could clip a branch off a tree with a bandanna.
Amazing how many people thought it was impossible to cut things with cloth.
They headed inside, Ukyou greeted them and took their order. As she
brought the food over Nabiki spilled some photos on the table. Ukyou noticed
all the pictures were of Ryoga. Strangely there was more than one of him in
every shot. Sounding innocent Nabik asked, "Ryoga which of these guys was
engaged to Ukyou?"
Ryoga sighed and pointed to one of the pictures, "Him, number four."
"What are you two talking about?"
"Sit down and join us, Ryoga will be happy to explain."
Ryoga shrugged, "Why not, almost everyone else I know already thinks I'm
crazy."
****************************************************************************
Monday Afternoon - Nerima Restaurant District - Guyver Ryoga Timeline
Since supplies were running low Ryoga, Ranma and the Tendos were
heading grocery shopping. Any one of them would have been sufficent for the
job but they felt it wisest to stick together. Ranma and Akane brought up the
rear, watching for trouble. The problem was Zoanoids looked like anyone else
until they began transforming. Once they were transformed there wasn't a lot
Ranma could do to stop them. Much as he hated to admit it he had to rely on
Ryoga. Not that Ryoga took any satisfaction in that admission these days.
Soun was in the middle. They had to protect him, after Kasumi's death he'd
begun losing his grip on reality. Ryoga was on point, scanning everyone who
walked near as he tried to spot Zoanoids through sheer willpower. Nabiki
walked with Ryoga, ensuring he went in the right direction. She alternated
between hanging onto him and keeping a discrete distance. Ranma couldn't
figure it out, half the time she clung to Ryoga the other half she seemed
terrified of him. Their relationship, whatever it was, mystified him. He
walked with a arm over Akane's shoulders. His romantic problems were
resolved but it wasn't anything like the method he'd chosen.
They were passing the Nekohanten Restaurant. It was out of business,
Cologne had returned to China shortly after Mousse died. It had been a
senseless death. Mousse had come over to the Dojo intending to challenge
Ranma over Shampoo. His timing stunk, he had arrived during an attack by
the so-called Hyperzoanoids. During the melee Mousse had been decapitated
by one of the swordarms of the Thancrus Zoanoid. After the battle all the
bodies except his had begun dissolving, Uncertain what to do they had phoned
Cologne.
She had arrived in time to witness the Zoanoids melting away. The
shocked teenagers had explained events to her and waited to see what she
would do. Cologne had tossed a glass of water over Mousse's corpse
demonstrating that the curse of Jusenkyo continued to operate after death.
Then she had put the duck's remains in her basket and told them no one would
think anything of an old woman taking supplies into her restaurant. She
departed. The next night she somehow got into the house without anyone
noticing her. Attracting their attention she explained that recent events
had convinced her that Ranma would make a poor son-in-law as he was unlikely
to still be alive by the end of the year. Not wishing to lose her great-
granddaughter she was returning to her village, which was small enough that
they could be sure Kronos hadn't infiltrated. At that point they had noticed
Cologne had a cat carrier with a furious feline inside. Shampoo wasn't
giving up on Ranma so Cologne had transformed and confined her.
Feeling queasy, Ryoga had asked what she had done with Mousse's body.
Cologne had produced a porcelain jar and told him it contained Mousse's
ashes. She had returned him to human form and cremated him, the jar would be
delivered to his parents for the appropriate rites. As Cologne had said, "He
was a fool but he was one of us."
Cologne had departed as silently as she came. None of them had seen her
or Shampoo since.
As he walked Ryoga's thoughts again turned to the Guyver unit. After
he'd merged with it he'd thought a familiar pattern was beginning. Find a
new technique/weapon, go challenge Ranma. That was how things used to work
around here. But now the pattern was shattered and there was no saying how
things would work out.
Ranma was watching the crowd so Akane was the first to see it happen.
Her startled cry brought Ranma's attention to where she was looking. He was
just in time to see Ryoga and Nabiki fade from translucent images into thin
air. He rushed forward, his thrusting hands encountered nothing. They had
vanished without a trace. Suddenly the people around him seemed a lot more
threatening. If Zoanoids attacked now they were in real trouble.
There were Zoanoids watching. Their orders were to observe but stay
clear of the Guyver. If the opportunity presented itself they were to
terminate the Tendos and Saotome. Something had just happened but what?
Was the Guyver gone or had he somehow become invisible?
There was another observer, he knew what had happened but not how. Unit
207 no longer looked like Ryoga Hibiki. He still had the same build but his
face had been redesigned. Narrower cheekbones, light brown hair, a goatee,
no one would mistake him for Ryoga Hibiki this time around.
After arrival in this dimension and time the androids had split up. His
four comrades had each taken a quarter of the city. He had chosen to keep an
eye on Ryoga Hibiki. After all he had detected the pulse while very near
this dimension's version of the Emperor. Perhaps the alien artifact he was
merged to was capable of dimensional shifting. Apparently it wasn't, at least
not on its own. This had been a resonance pulse, its source was somewhere
else. Attuned to either Ryoga or Nabiki it had bounced them out of this
dimension. The androids had used a similar method, a pulse aligned to a
specific DNA pattern to pull Ryogas from their homelines during Operation
Crossover. Evidently this method wasn't as precise, one of them had been
caught by the warpfield enveloping the other. The real question was, where
did they go?
As he reported this to his collegues 207 received a message from 109.
There had been a second resonance pulse approximately one kilometer west of
his current position. Target and source unknown.
At Tempus Inc. Doctor Maxwell nodded in satisfaction. He had
successfully triggered the alien displacement system. The Guyver was no
more, he was sure to be rewarded for this.
Elsewhere in Tempus Director Nagaoka was approaching what had been,
until Commander Gyro's arrival, his office. He was still uncertain how to
report this to Gyro, from all accounts the Commander was in a rotten mood.
It is never healthy to be around an unhappy Zoalord.
Being granted permission to enter he did so and stood before his
brooding superior. Gyro gave no sign of awareness that there was anyone else
in the room. Nagaoka cleared his throat, "Commander Gyro, I have both good
news and bad news."
From the look Gyro gave him that was not the best opening to have used.
Very coldly Gryo told him, "I am very close to committing an act of
unspeakable carnage. Your news had better be very good."
Nervously the Director continued, "Uh yes sir. The good news is that
one of our agents has located the missing Guyver unit."
Gyro actually smiled, "Excellent." Then he looked at Nagaoka, "And what
is the bad news?"
"Actually that also is the bad news. The agent in question accidentally
activated the merger process and ... well we have a new Guyver."
Gyro's eyes narrowed. "Tell me about the agent, a top rank agent of
unquestioned ability?"
This was the part Nagaoka had dreaded. "Actually he's a first circle
agent we recruited as an inside man at Furinkan High School. As part of our
observation policy on the first Guyver's associates. He's never even heard
of Zoanoids"
"A teacher?"
"Uhh ... actually he's a student." Gyro looked very unhappy. "Tatewaki
Kuno, age 18. Our psych people felt he was the best choice from those
available ... " Nagaoka's voice trailed off and he backed away as Gyro's
eyes began glowing red. Where his right hand gripped the desk the oak
crumbled into sawdust.
Through clenched teeth Gyro hissed, "Another teenage Guyver! Why was a
first circle agent even looking for the damn unit!"
"Uh, you ... you did order all agents, without exception, in the Tokyo
area were to join the search."
Gyro forced himself to calm down. He had given the order, the council
would crucify him for this. He had to find a way to salvage this debacle.
"Very well call him in. We'll cut the unit out of it and place it in storage
until we find a suitable candidate."
"With respect sir that could be most unwise."
"You had better have a damn good reason for saying that."
Sweating heavily Nagaoka told him, "As I'm sure you recall the incident
at Kronos Japan showed that the Guyver unit could regenerate its human
symbiote. Possibly there's a way to reprogram the unit not to do this but we
don't know how. So right now if we kill Kuno and remove the unit it'll
regenerate him. Right now he's loyal to us but if we murder him the new Kuno
will undoubtably become our enemy and we'll be faced with two hostile
Guyvers."
Gyro snarled, "All right I take your point. We'll use this Kuno until
we know enough to transplant the unit." He paused to think, "We need a means
of being sure of controlling him, perhaps his family."
"That could backfire sir, he doesn't get on with either his father or
his sister. Although I have a report that his sister has the right attitude
to become a great Zoanoid."
Gyro sighed, a migraine on top of an ulcer. Zoalords were supposed to
be immune to this sort of thing. "Find some means to be sure we can control
him, then we can advance him to the second circle." A happy thought.
"Perhaps he'll become a good agent and we won't have to worry about finding
a new host." A worrying thought. "Keep him away from Hibiki, the last thing
we need is him picking a fight with an experienced Guyver warrior and winding
up like Lister. Where is he anyway?"
Now how would Gyro take this? "Well according to his phone message sir,
'As surely as the snow falls in winter so justice descends upon the men of
evil nature. Fate has chosen Tatewaki Kuno, the Blue Thunder, to be the
instrument of vengeance. Before the sun sets this day the accursed Saotome
will have paid the price for his many villainies. May the gods have mercy
upon him for I shall have none. Soon the hearts of two beauties will rejoice
as they are freed from the sorcerers vile clutches. I strike this blow for
their sake.' End of message."
For the first time Gyro looked other than angry or brooding. In complete
puzzlement he asked, "What?"
"That's just the way he talks Sir. We think that translates as, 'I'm
going to kill Ranma Saotome.' He's on the prime assassination list so that's
not a problem."
Gyro cradled his head in his hands. "Wonderful. One of the most
powerful weapons in existence is in the hands of melodramatic idiot. What
next?"
The intercom beeped. "Excuse me Sir but Doctor Maxwell insists on
seeing you. He insists he's got some good news about the Guyver to deliver."
With a strange sense of resignation Gyro said, "Fine let him in. This
is obviously my day for getting good news."
Oblivious to Gyro's mental state Doctor Maxwell entered. Addressing
both his superiors. "Gentlemen I have great news. The Guyver is no more!"
"What!"
Flushed with success Maxwell continued. "In examining the alien
propulsion array I found evidence of a spacial displacement system. Quite
simply it was designed to teleport certain of their artifacts. Including
Guyvers. A very useful weapon, you could teleport your Guyver warriors
directly inside an enemy base."
Nagaoka interrupted, "What does that have to do with your claim the
Guyver is gone?"
"It's quite simple sir. We set the displacement unit to teleport the
Guyver but didn't set a reentry coordinate. Hibiki has been sent one a one
way trip to infinity."
Gyro looked at him. In a normal sounding voice he said, "You set your
system to teleport Guyvers. Did it occur to you that we only have one Guyver
as an enemy? We have plans for any others."
"Not to worry sir, only activated Guyver units within a fifty kilometer
radius were affected."
The intercom beeped again, "Director Nagaoka Sir, an urgent message
from Observer Garvel. He claims subject Kuno literally vanished into thin
air while he was watching. He wants to know what he's supposed to do now?"
Nagaoka groaned. He'd actually thought things were under control again.
Gyro's smile was not a pleasant thing to witness. "Tell me something
Doctor Maxwell. Before I begin killing everyone in this building do you have
any other good news to share?"
*****************************************************************************
Monday Afternoon - Nerima Restaurant District - Ryoga 1/2 Timeline
With a strange feeling of disorientation Ryoga and Nabiki glanced around
the street. There was no sign of Soun, Ranma or Akane. Which was impossible
they'd been right behind them. Kronos couldn't have snatched them so easily
it just wasn't possible! Ryoga glanced around the crowd searching for a
sign as Nabiki called her sister's name. Then she saw it.
"Ryoga!"
Hearing the urgency in her voice Ryoga spun around. Where he saw
something impossible. Ukyou's restaurant was back! Which was crazy, after
the fire the remains had been demolished and a new coffeeshop was under
construction on the site. The fire had been blamed on a propane explosion.
Even the most incompetent pathologist couldn't have missed the wounds that
killed Ukyou. Another example of Kronos's influence covering their tracks.
Monsters attack a restaurant, kill the owner and next day it's only remembered
as a tragic accident.
Kronos had to be behind this but how? And why? Ryoga strode toward
the entrance. Nabiki followed. He turned back to her, "This has got to be a
trap of some kind. Stay here."
Nabiki looked at him. "Like it's safer out here? Akane, Dad and Ranma
just disappeared. They didn't even get a chance to yell a warning."
Ryoga hesitated. Was she safer with him? No, when he activated the
Guyver he was a warrior not a protector. He'd have to concentrate on
shielding her and that could get them both killed. Beside he was dangerous
to be around, she'd be safer out here. "Stay out here, scream if anyone
approaches." For a second she looked defiant then she nodded. Nabiki hadn't
had the same drive since her injury. She never used to give in like that.
Ryoga stepped to the doors and flung them open.
While this had been going on Kuno had been looking around with some
confusion. He had felt a strange disorientation and the people around him
looked different somehow. Almost as if he was in the midst of a different
crowd. Then he caught sight of Saotome at the other end of the street.
Excellent, it was time for vengeance.
Meanwhile inside the restaurant Ryoga was finishing his story. There
hadn't been many new customers so Ukyou had been able to hear most of his
story in one sitting. She studied the pictures Nabiki had dropped on the
table and announced, "That is the craziest thing I've ever heard."
Nabiki nodded, "But you've gotta love a guy with an imagination that
wild. If he can think up that think how many financially rewarding schemes
he can come up with."
"Right", Ryoga resolved never to even think about alternate universes
again. Let them believe what they wanted too.
His resolution didn't last long. The doors flung open and another Ryoga
stalked into the restaurant. He groaned, the whole crossover mess was
starting again.
At which point it abruptly became a very different story. The new Ryoga
snarled at them, "More duplicates! You Kronos idiots never learn. You
didn't even get Nabiki right!" He glared at Ukyou, "And I don't much care
for desecrating the dead!" Before any of the three could ask what he was
talking about he shouted "GUYVER!"
A sphere of energy surrounded him, shredding the doors and the floor
into splinters. As this happened a bizarre armour formed around the figure.
The glow faded and they could see the figure. He was completely enclosed
in the blue armour. It looked almost organic rather than metallic. The eyes
in the mask glowed red and it stepped out of the small crater it had caused.
Ukyou eyes were also glowing. She snarled, "Whoever you are, nobody
wrecks my restaurant!" She flung a handful of razor edged spatulas at the
figure. They bounced off without effect. Blades extended from the armored
forearms of the figure. They were indistinct, almost as if they were
vibrating. Ryoga had no idea what was going on but the glow in the headpiece
of the armour looked like trouble. He shoved Nabiki to one side as he dived
the opposite way from their table. The energy beam from the medallion on
its forehead sliced the table in half.
That did it! Almost involuntarily the chi sphere began forming between
his hands. Driven by pure rage it was complete in a fraction of the time the
technique normally took. "Nobody touches Nabiki! SHISHI HOUKOUDAN!"
There was a massive flare of light as it impacted the figure. Ryoga had
shielded his eyes and looked at his opponent. It was unmarked! The armoured
figure hadn't even twitched at the impact. "Oh shit!"
Meanwhile across town Ranma's introspective walk home had been
interrupted by Kuno. "What do you want Kuno?"
Kuno smiled, "Saotome, this is our final meeting. Today I free my two
loves from your vile grip forever."
Ranma smirked, "Can't count Kuno? What happened to number three?"
Kuno looked puzzled, "Three?"
"Yeah, you have three true loves remember? There's Akane, the bandanna
girl and the pig-tailed girl."
"Bandanna girl? Who is she?"
"You get dropped on your head Kuno?" This was strange, Kuno was acting
like he'd never even heard of Ryoga's cursed form.
Kuno remembered why he was here. "Enough of your tricks Ranma, defend
yourself!"
Unworried Ranma waited for Kuno to make his move. "Fine let's make this
quick. By the way you forgot that wooden sword of yours."
"You are unworthy of it. You are probably unworthy of this but I will
have to live with that, GUYVER!"
Suddenly there was a flare of light and all the paving around Kuno was
pulverized into dust. When the light faded Ranma saw an armoured figure
standingwhere Kuno had been. The armour was black, covered with lethal
looking spines and enclosed him completely.
Ranma was a little shaken but hardly about to back down. "Cute trick,
but it takes more than a fancy suit to beat me!" Two razor edged blades
extended from the suit. "Well that's a step in the right direction." Ok
armour, have to hit it hard. "TENSHIN AMAGURIKEN" In the space of a few
seconds Ranma slammed hundreds of punches into Kuno. Apart from nearly
breaking his knuckles there was absolutely no damage.
Kuno took a step forward, "Your hour has come Saotome!"
"Not just yet Kuno." He didn't like using this technique on a loser
like Kuno but that armour was really something. "MOUKO TAKABISHYA!" The
chi energy burst slammed into Kuno. It dissipated against the Guyver without
effect. Ranma began to realize he was in trouble. Kuno swung his right arm,
the blade sliced through a telephone pole without slowing down. Yes this
was trouble all right. Can't hurt him, can't stop him, only one option! The
Saotome Secret Technique!
Namely run like hell and hope an idea for counterattack occurs to you.
"Flee Saotome but it shall do you no good. Today the Blue Thunder shall
smite you and end your catalogue of wickedness. You have mocked your betters
for the last time, before this day ends my loves shall be free of your
nefarious clutches. Prepare youself for the trip to the afterlife ... where
did he go?"
A passerby pointed east, "If you mean the feller you were fighting he
headed that way."
"Many thanks for aiding the cause of justice!" Kuno resheathed the
armblades, he didn't want to risk disembowelling a bystander while chasing
Ranma. "Here I come Ranma!" Driven by the Guyver suit he charged eastward.
Meanwhile back at the restaurant the Guyver was finding nothing was
going as planned. The customers were panicing rather than transforming.
Some were jumping out the windows because he stood between them and the door.
He'd thought everyone in here would be a Zoanoid. Instead the place was full
of innocent bystanders! Apart from the three duplicates everyone in here was
human. That meant there was too much danger to them to use any of his energy
weapons. He'd have to stick to the sonic swords and hope these three didn't
have acidic blood.
Across the room Ryoga, Nabiki and Ukyou were getting scared. This guy
was a monster, nothing he'd been hit with had even slowed him down. Ukyou
clutched the handle of her giant spatula. That was all that was left, the
rest had been sliced of by the thing's blades. "I think we should get out of
here guys."
Nabik was sheltering behind Ryoga, "Great but he's between us and the
door!"
Ryoga didn't know why his counterpart was trying to kill them and didn't
care. Getting them away alive was the important thing. He had a vague plan,
none of the other Ryogas he'd met had his particular curse. So maybe ...
"Head for the washroom!"
"What?"
"Just do it!"
The three sprinted for the women's toilet. Now if he got cold water
they had a chance!
Guyver-Ryoga followed, it was time to end this. He hesitated a second,
surprising himself that traces of his old bashfulness returned. Then he
kicked open the door. The red haired girl screamed as he entered. A natural
enough reaction when an armoured figure with built in swords charges in on
you.
"Where'd they go?", he demanded.
Shaking, she pointed at the window. He looked out, no sign of them.
Damn, they were faster than he thought.
There was something familiar about the girl. Before he could ask her
name he heard a scream from outside. A voice he recognised. "NABIKI!". He
smashed through the outer wall heading to back to her. Behind him Ryoga-chan
let out a breath she'd been holding. It actually worked. She peered through
the hole the other Ryoga had left. Behind her Nabiki and Ukyou peeked out of
the stall they had hidden in.
What Ryoga-chan saw amazed her. Another Nabiki was screaming in terror
at the woman before her. It was Kasumi, who looked extremely puzzled by
something. The other Nabiki turned to run letting Ryoga see the patch that
covered her left eye. Calling her name the other Ryoga ran to help Nabiki.
As he did both douplegangers seemed to fade. Suddenly the extra Ryoga
and Nabiki were gone. Kasumi frowned, "My goodness, that was strange."
A short distance away the armoured Kuno disappeared. As he wasn't
looking behind him Ranma didn't see this happen and kept running.
Ryoga-chan stepped out through the hole into the street. Kasumi greeted
her, "Hello Ryoga, were those friends of yours?"
"No, no I don't think you could say that."
Nabiki joined Ryoga and put a hand on her shoulder. "Ryoga, I'm willing
to admit that story of yours might not have been totally crazy."
Kasumi noticed her sister. "Oh hello Nabiki, the strangest thing just
happened. I met a girl who was almost identical to you. Except for the
injury, poor girl."
"Injury."
"Why yes, she had a patch over her left eye and a terrible scar."
Nabiki turned to Ryoga-chan, "Ryoga what is going on?"
Ukyou was examining the hole in her wall. "Who ... what was that guy,
why was he trying to kill us and why did he look like you? The male you I
mean."
Ryoga sighed, "I don't know, a few minutes back no one believes my story
now you all expect me to be an expert? Now should ... did you hear that?"
Before anyone could answer a blur sped into the alley, "AHGETOUTOFTHEWAY
HE'SRIGHTBEHINDME!" It slammed into Ryoga and both figures went into the
wall.
A little dazed Ryoga saw it was Ranma who had plowed into her. "Ranma
what the hell are you doing?"
Somewhat panicked Ranma replied, "It's Kuno, he's after me."
"What?"
Nabiki looked at him in disgust, "You're running from Kuno."
"No choice, he's got some sort of weird armour with swords ..."
"WEIRD ARMOUR!", Ryoga, Nabiki and Ukyou chorused.
Kasumi was looking down the street, "Isn't that Kuno?"
A distinctly unarmoured Kuno was walking up the street, idly twirling
his bokken.
"What the heck, he's back to normal?" Ranma took up a fighting stance.
As Kuno got closer he shouted, "OK Kuno, time to finish this."
Kuno looked puzzled, "Saotome why do you disturb my meditation. If you
truly wish to challenge the Blue Thunder I ..." Kuno caught sight of the
girl leaning against the wall and clutching a bruise on her head. "Ah my
bandanned beauty, you have chosen to wait for me here."
"What?" As Kuno moved closer the dazed Ryoga remembered that he was
currently in female form. "Oh no!"
"Ah my red haired angel Urk!" The punch to the head dropped Kuno to the
ground.
Ryoga winced and said, "I don't need any additional distractions right
now."
Ranma looked down at Kuno and frowned. "I don't get it, a few minutes
ago he was acting like he never even heard of you. What is going on?"
Ryoga-chan shrugged, "That is a very good question."
*****************************************************************************
Monday Afternoon - Tempus R&D Incorparated - Guyver Ryoga Timeline
Director Nagaoka was counting the seconds he had left to live when the
call came in. Through an inspired line of scientific jargon and bullshit
Maxwell had got Gyro distracted enough to slow down his homicidal rage. It
wasn't going to last though.
Then the intercom beeped, "Director Nagaoka monitoring section insists
on speaking to you."
Any distraction was welcome, "Put them through."
The voice crackled throught the intercom. "Sir this is Chernix in
monitoring. All hell seems to be breaking lose in sector seven. First we
had a report that Hibiki had vanished along with one of the targets. Then
our observers decided to move in to terminate targets Saotome and the
remaining Tendos. Now we have a report that there are two Guyvers in the
area. One or both of them are killing Zoanoids, thought they may be fighting
each other. Frankly it's sheer pandemonium down there. No one knows what's
going on."
Commander Gyro relaxed slightly. "You have just gained yourselves a
short reprieve. Until I know what's going on I'll avoid doing anything
rash." His eyes flared red, "But I want answers and I want them fast."
"Yessir, right away sir." Nagaoka grabbed Maxwell and dragged him out of
the office. "We'll get down to monitoring and try and sort things out. Then
I want to discuss your experiments, doctor."
End of part 2
Next: Quite a bit just happened, but does anyone have the whole picture?
Part 3 : States of Confusion.
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