From the Scriviner:
        I've had this idea for months. Which initially started 
out as a fairly simple, Ranma cast with superpowers type of 
story, but I decided to make it more interesting by melding the 
Ranma Universe with the Strikeforce Morituri Universe. To those 
who aren't familiar with Morituri, I suggest asking about it at 
your local comic book store, it was one of the good series by 
Marvel Comics back in the eighties until it got cancelled.
        The premise of Strikeforce Morituri is simple. Aliens 
land on Earth and in order to fight them, people are given super 
powers by the government. There's a catch though... the people 
who undergo the Morituri process have only one year left to live. 
Keep it in mind. This may not be a particularly happy series. 
Life has a lot of pain in it. Especially if you know... you 
really KNOW that death is coming for you. If you want a comedy go 
read one of my other fanfics... or something by RpM.
        Once again, as with all of my melds, keep in mind that 
the character in the story, while sharing the name and basic 
world view of the original, may not necessarily act the way the 
original would due to the differing experiences of each. Anyway, 
enough talk. Please read on...

Sentai Morituri: Death Come Not By Halves.
A Ranma 1/2 / Strikeforce Morituri meld by the Scriviner

Rights for Strikeforce Morituri belong to Marvel Comics. Ranma 
and cast are owned by Rumiko Takahashi. Lord help me if they ever 
decide to sue. 


Prelude: Parting Words. 

	The following is a transcription from the final recorded 
message left by Dr. Mamoru Chiba after his vehicle was recovered 
at the outskirts of the alien's territory:

<continuous background noise is the muted sound of a car engine>

	Toufuu, I know you will find this, so I at least have the 
satisfaction of saying goodbye to you, my friend. I had to get 
all of this off my chest and I know you will listen.
	I am going to die in a few hours and this is the happiest 
I've been in weeks. I am more than ready to go because there's 
nothing left for me. They are all dead. A dozen strangers, my 
wife... all dead. 
	God help me, I killed them, we killed them.
	I know what you'll say, Toufuu... it wasn't my fault. It 
none of it was our fault... we didn't know that our preliminary 
process would burn them out within a matter of days. But we 
didn't have a choice did we? The Horde had landed and our 
defenses were being decimated. 

<bitter laughter> 

	We were such desperate fools... grasping at straws. It 
seemed like such an elegant solution, didn't it? Use the alien 
technology to fight them on our terms. We found a means of giving 
our volunteers superhuman powers by simply 

<twenty eight words deleted for security purposes>

	 Our Morituri process is both an astounding success and a 
dismal failure. It worked, Toufuu. It worked incredibly well. 
Within several hours of the process all of our volunteers had 
acquired superhuman abilities... the very same powers that killed 
them within several days. But you know all of this.
	I never should have allowed Usagi to volunteer. I never 
should have even let her find out about it. I know what you're 
going to say. Our screening process was entirely sight unseen and 
without names, just the silly code names our superiors cooked up. 
	I couldn't possibly have known it was her... but it is 
still my fault. I hope you understand that. 
	You're probably wondering where I went after the 
debriefing. You know... the one where they told us we'd be 
getting a new batch of volunteers? Well... I locked myself in my 
quarters and I got stinking drunk. 
	A couple of hours later... I don't know how long, I 
eventually found myself in the lab. I wanted to smash everything. 
I wanted to destroy all of our work... I didn't want to be 
responsible for any more deaths! I think you might have noticed 
the shattered test tubes and beakers...
	But I had a better idea.
	I've subjected myself to the process, Toufuu. Usagi was 
right... it is exhilarating. As though I've come alive for the 
very first time. I didn't bother with any of the preliminary 
treatments and my lifespan will probably measure only a few hours 
instead of days. But I don't care. It will be more than enough. 
	I am dictating this to you from my car. I am currently 
driving towards the alien base and I intend to kill as many of 
the bastards as I can before I burn out. I seem to have developed 
an unusual ability. I can generate destructive pulses of 
energy... Interestingly enough, it seems to come naturally, 
almost as if I've been doing it all my life...
	I feel sorry for you, Toufuu... you are going to have a 
dozen eager young hopefuls all asking for the privilege of 
allowing them to die... I couldn't take it any more... I hope you 
can forgive me, though... but I don't expect it. Truth to tell, I 
don't care anymore at this point.

<engine sounds slow to a halt>

	Well... this is as far as the car goes, Toufuu. I'll be 
leaving this tape here. I'm going to go see how many of the 
bastards I can drag to hell with me. God help you Toufuu. God 
help you all...

<sound of the car door opening then closing followed immediately 
by a muted roar and faint shouting>

<tape is silent for thirty minutes followed by the sound of an 
massive explosion in the distance>

<tape ends eight minutes later. No further sounds on recording.>


Chapter 1: Departures from the norm...

	Toufuu let the tape play itself out. He'd heard it too many 
times over the past week. It wasn't simply the death of his best 
friend... there would be even more deaths to follow this. But the 
sacrifice of a few could help to save so many lives... if only 
they didn't have to be so young. 
	Mamoru was right, of course... the optimal age for the 
subjects for the subjects was seventeen. Usagi, Rei, Makoto, Ami, 
Minako... they had all been in their twenties... they were 
fortunate to have even survived as long as they did.
	Even for the new batch of volunteers, all seventeen and 
under, none of them would live to see the year out. It wasn't 
fair. To anyone. He let out a defeated sigh as he rubbed his 
temples... damn migraines.
	"Dr. Toufuu? Are you here?" A gentle voice called out in 
the darkness.
	Toufuu roused himself from his depression a little, "Over 
here Kasumi."
	He couldn't see her at all, but he could hear her gliding 
silently through his room. She'd been here often enough before 
when the two of them were working late. She knew where everything 
was.
	"Toufuu..." she said quietly, putting a hand on his 
shoulder, "You've been listening to the tape again."
	"Yes."
	"You know this isn't the best thing for you to have on your 
mind when you're going to be addressing the Director."
	"I know... it's just..."
	"Shhh... I understand... you don't have to explain anything 
to me. Just try to relax a little." She placed a second hand on 
his other shoulder and gently began to massage him...
	Toufuu felt the tension drain out of him a little, "Thank 
you. You always know what I need."
	Kasumi smiled in the darkness, "That is my power."
	Toufuu relaxed under the continued motions of her fingers. 
Even his migraine had retreated and he closed his eyes to savor 
the sensations. So little time left... so little...
	"You're thinking how much longer I have left aren't you?" 
Kasumi asked quietly as she continued to knead his shoulders...
	Toufuu gave a small chuckle, "Are you sure you're not 
telepathic?"
	"It's just the way your body tensed up again... and about a 
dozen other little things... don't think about that. We all have 
as much time as we are given."
	"If you say so. I just... I don't know if I could stand 
losing you..."
	"It had to be done, Toufuu." Kasumi replied, continuing her 
motions, "The computer projections regarding my likely ability 
were right. Project Morituri needs me as I am now."
	Toufuu sighed in resignation, "Yes, they do... but..."
	"I'm here for you as well, Toufuu." Kasumi interrupted him, 
"For as long as you need me."
	"Thank you."
	"Now... please no more listening to Dr. Chiba's tape?"
	"Alright."
	"And no more of this brooding in the dark?"
	Toufuu smiled slightly, feeling far more relaxed now than 
he'd been scant minutes ago, "But if I didn't sit here in the 
dark, how would you know I need you to visit me?"
	"I'll know." Kasumi replied, also smiling slightly... she 
stopped massaging him and wrapped her arms around his neck, her 
lips nearly brushing his ear, "I'll always know."
	"I love..." Toufuu began to say.
	She kissed him lightly on his cheek, "I know that too..." 

- - -

	In a manor at the outskirts of Tokyo, a young man knelt, 
praying silently in darkness broken only by a pair of flickering 
candles. He was dressed in a formal kimono before a family shrine 
which held photos of a man and a woman. He was severely handsome, 
his short curled hair held back by a headband.
	"Father. Mother." he said formally, "My sister and I 
continue to be in blessed good health. We wish the same and more 
for yourselves... wherever you may be. She wished for me to 
inform you that..." His face hardened even more as though finding 
it difficult to speak.
	"My sister intends to inflict the vengeance of the Kuno 
family upon the heathen cowards who so brazenly slew you. She 
informed me that it is her intention to redress your deaths by 
sending a hundred of the Horde to their most deserved doom for 
each of you. I..." He closed his eyes for a moment... as if 
trying to hold back tears.
 	"I... I most desire to join her on her quest... but I have 
learned that what she intends to undergo in order to avenge you 
shall see her dead inside the year. I have tried most 
persistently to thwart her from this course of action but she 
will not be swayed."
	He heaved a heavy sigh and continued, his voice getting 
stronger with each word. "Despite my wishes... my place is here, 
most honored parents. I must remain to carry on the proud name 
and tradition of the Kuno family. Despite all hindrances which 
may bar my way. Though the infernal Horde seek to reduce the rest 
of this world to naught but smoking ruin, the House of Kuno shall 
remain steadfast and vigilant. I most humbly ask both of you to 
watch over Kodachi and keep her well... and draw her safely to 
your bosom when the time comes." 
	After an immeasurable span of time, he stood finally. His 
face serene and composed as he left the family shrine. He walked 
slowly, his thoughts heavy in his mind as he reached the front 
gates of the Kuno estate where his sister was finally preparing 
to enter the limo which would take her away.
	"Sister." Tatewaki called to her.
	The girl turned to face him. She was a beautiful young 
woman, perhaps sixteen, with long dark hair tied in a ponytail. 
Her eyes were bright and cheerful, but there was steel behind 
that gaze. "Brother... I thought you didn't wish to see me off." 
She was surprised. The two of them had not spoken more than two 
words to each other since their argument regarding Kodachi's 
decision.
	"Surely you could not think that, Kochi..." the man smiled 
after a few moments, "We are all that remain of the line of Kuno, 
dear sister... and now you go off... in all likelihood to die... 
I certainly could not allow such a thing to transpire without my 
presence."
	The girl looked at the man fondly and put a hand to his 
cheek, "Tachi... you phrased that very pompously again... but I 
understand what you mean."
	The man's serene expression cracked for a moment as he 
directed a mildly sour look at the girl, "There is no need to 
insult me even as you leave, Kochi."
	She gave a slight giggle and pinched him lightly on the 
cheek, "I couldn't help it, big brother. You were acting like an 
arrogant brat again." She heaved a sigh as she glanced at the 
limo, "I have to go, Tatewaki... I'll write... you'll pray for me 
won't you?"
	"Every day, my sister." Tatewaki replied a stiffly, "Now 
go, Kodachi Kuno of the House of Kuno... fulfil your promise to 
mother and father." His eyes hardened, "Two hundred of them as 
retribution."
	Her eyes hardened as well, "Yes, brother dear. Two hundred 
of them to begin with."

- - - 

	China is a very large place. Finding one person in China 
can be likened to the task of locating a specific needle in a 
mountain of needles. Of course, most people who are searching 
through the aformentioned mountain of needles don't have the 
resources or the desperation of the Japanese government. It only 
took them a week to locate the man in question somewhere in 
Central China, living with the Joketsozoku tribe. The Project's 
government handlers weren't sure why he was needed... Oracle 
claimed that this person was absolutely essential to the 
functioning of the first batch of Project Morituri's 
volunteers... who were they to argue with the project 
intuitionist?
	The young man in question stuffed the last of his clothes 
into the already overflowing backpack. That was it for his 
possessions. Not to mention the various souvenirs his friends 
here had given him. He swept his small room one more time to 
check for anything he had missed and realized that he still had a 
framed photo on the crude desk... he's seen it there so often 
that he'd started to think of it as part of the room.
	He took the photo in both hands and stared at it, 
collapsing on the bed as he did so. It was a photo of a young 
couple kissing while around them people in Chinese outfits 
cheered. The man in the photo was the same as the one who was now 
looking at it. A fairly handsome tallish young man of about 
sixteen with his hair in a pigtail... The photo had been taken 
only a few months ago, on the day he and his father had 
accidentally stumbled onto the village during their ten year long 
martial arts training journey. They'd wandered into town on the 
day of the local martial arts tournament and somehow... he still 
wasn't clear on how it had happened... He'd found himself 
challenged by the local champion. He managed to disarm her and 
lock her into a fairly elementary grapple to restrain her... 
whereupon the other members of the village had surrounded the two 
of them... then the next thing he knew, she'd gotten free, 
wrapped her arms around him and kissed him!
	Someone in the tribe interestingly enough owned a polaroid 
and was quick witted enough to snap a picture of the two of them 
kissing... it was a pretty good shot too... he actually looked 
like he knew what he was doing.
	He smiled briefly at the memory of that... That was his 
first kiss. Which, he had to admit, he'd enjoyed immensely. That 
and the ones that followed. It wasn't until later that he and his 
father learned about the Amazon Law that required their members 
to marry the men who beat them. The village elder, Cologne, had 
managed to convince his father to let him stay in the village for 
a while so that the two 'young lovers', (Cologne's exact phrase) 
could get to know each other better before the formal marriage 
ceremony. If you could call laying a fairly sharp dagger against 
his father's throat until he agreed, 'convincing'. That was 
exactly a week before the first Horde attack on the village. 
Ranma still didn't know until today if his father made it back to 
Japan safely.
	Ranma closed his eyes and sighed. He was amazed at the 
Joketsozoku people. They were using archaic weaponry to fight off 
a well armed and obviously well equipped army of aliens... and 
they were holding their own, if barely. It's pretty hard to 
forget watching someone... somehow... managing to lever open a 
tank with a quarterstaff...
	The casualties were already up to fifty, surprisingly small 
considering how small the village was, but still far too many... 
and there would be more if it didn't end soon. If the people from 
Japan who were here to pick him up claimed they had a better way 
to fight the Horde and it needed him, he was definitely ready to 
volunteer. No matter the cost. 
	His door suddenly bursting open snapped him out of his 
reverie. A beautiful young girl in an abbreviated cheongsam which 
did little to hide her figure strode into the room. She had done 
her hair up in a pair of buns at the sides, but most of it fell 
freely. This was Shampoo... his fiance... of sorts.
	"The people on the helicopter are growing steadily 
impatient, my beloved." Shampoo told him in Mandarin.
	"Eager to get rid of me already, Shampoo-chan?" he asked 
playfully in Japanese, trying to lighten her mood. He still had 
trouble with his pronunciation, but Shampoo understood his 
language and he understood hers.
	Shampoo wrapped him in her arms with a sober expression, "I 
could never possibly be made happy at the thought that you would 
leave me, Ranma."
	He returned the hug awkwardly. Four months of living in the 
same house with her and he was still not used to this sort of 
intimacy. "I know. But if what they tell me is true, I'm going to 
be worth at least a hundred villagers. I can stop these attacks. 
Besides... Cologne believed them and you know how canny your 
great grandmother is."
	"If they were telling the truth, you'll die!" Shampoo 
replied fiercely, "I don't care if they make you more powerful 
than a dragon, I don't want you to die!"
	"Shhh..." Ranma soothed her, "Better just me than more of 
the Joketsozoku. I'm not going to let more of our people die if I 
can help it."
	Shampoo looked up at him with surprise, "That is the first 
time you've referred to yourself a one of the Jokesozoku..."
	"Um... I did? Er... uh..." Claiming false membership of the 
Joketsozoku is grounds for getting your skin peeled off. In 
strips.
	"You've been honorary Joketsozoku since you became my 
fiance." Shampoo continued smiling sadly, "Everyone's considered 
you a true Joketsozoku since you first helped repulse the Horde 
attack. A majority of the elders have even moved to have you 
adopted by the tribe even if you don't marry me, but I had great 
grandmother veto it because I DID want you to marry me."
	"I hadn't about heard that..." Ranma replied, slightly 
stunned.
	"You wouldn't have, closed session," Shampoo sighed, "Of 
course you would been full and true Joketsozoku already if you'd 
married me in the first place and quit all of this nonsense about 
getting to know each other better."
	"Shampoo-- come on, we've only known each other five 
months... most of that's been while we've been fighting the 
Horde..."
	"Excuses always excuses... now you're going off to die and 
you're not even leaving me the honor of a decent legacy or a 
name..."
	"Shampoo... what are you talking about?" Ranma asked 
utterly confused.
	Shampoo suddenly shifted to her limited Japanese and 
grabbed him by the front of his shirt, "You marry Shampoo and 
have honeymoon many times before leave or Shampoo tie you up and 
hide you under bed until helicopter people go away!!!"
	Ranma jerked in surprise. She'd always been content to wait 
before... but the situation had changed considerably... even so, 
he shook his head sadly, "I won't marry you, Shampoo. I really 
like you and everything... but... I wasn't ready for marriage 
before I even found out about this whole Project Mori-something-
or-the-other... definitely not now. I'm not going to leave a 
widow behind." It took a moment for his brain to realize 
something, "'Have honeymoon many times?'" he blushed.
	"Aiyah!" Shampoo continued in Japanese, her fists at her 
hips, "You so easily embarrass, husband. It... it... Shampo don't 
know what she say anymore..." she settled her head against his 
chest and murmured in Mandarin, "I just don't want you to leave."
	"But I have to." He replied after a while.
	"I know. You are thinking of what is best for the village. 
The mark of a true Joketsozoku." Shampoo said wistfully.
	"Uh... Thanks." He knew a compliment when he heard it.
	"But I will have one thing from you before you leave, my 
beloved." Shampoo told him.
	"Um... this doesn't involve 'honeymoon many times' again, 
does it?" Ranma asked nervously. She'd broached the subject 
before... numerous times. He always said no... It always made him 
nervous.
	Shampoo sighed, "I was going to ask for it... but if you 
won't grant it to me, then half of a kiss."
	"Half of a--?"
	"A Joketsozoku custom, my love. Performed between lovers 
who must separate. It will ensure that the two of us will meet 
again. I will claim the other half of the kiss when next we 
meet." Shampoo finished. 
 	"Ahh... I think I can give you that..." Ranma replied 
thoughtfully. 
 	"Good." Shampoo shifted to Japanese, "And if you no visit, 
no call or write in two week, Shampoo following you! Swim Sea of 
Japan and run Horde blockade if have to!"
	Ranma grinned in relief... At least Shampoo hadn't tried 
harder to stop him. For that he was grateful. He'd have to 
remember to call though... if they let him.
	Shampoo smiled, trying to at least look cheerful, even if 
she had meant every word, "Now, kiss Shampoo and go say baibai to 
everyone or they get mad at you."

- - - 

	Tsubasa Kurenai stole quietly out of his bedroom, clutching 
a small duffel bag. In his hand was a crumpled sheet of paper 
which told him where volunteers could report to. He'd been 
forbidden... forbidden!! To join the volunteers to fight the 
Horde, by his parents. 'No son of mine is going to sully his 
hands as a common soldier', indeed! Of course, a relatively minor 
thing like that wasn't going to stop him! Not a chance. They'd be 
proud of him, even if it killed him. Which it probably would at 
that.
	He shouldered the duffel bag and tried to settle it 
comfortably. He'd have a lot of walking to do. Travel between 
cities was difficult enough because of the Horde attacks... Japan 
had been fairly lucky. Only a few Japanese cities had fallen so 
far, largely on Hokkaido. Tokyo had been practically untouched, 
but occasional battles had managed to take out enough of the 
freeways to keep people from travelling between cities easily.
	Tsubasa peered at his reflection in the mirror and thought 
wryly, "Wow, I make a really cute girl."
	He did at that. He was wearing one of his younger sister's 
dresses. That in combination with the delicate features he'd 
inherritted from his mother, a wig he'd swiped from an unused 
closet, the acting talent and makeup skills which he'd learned 
from his father completed the illusion of his being a rather 
attractive fourteen year old girl rather than a fragile looking 
sixteen year old boy. Just one of the advantages of having 
parents who were both actors and who expected their children to 
follow in their footsteps.
 	He knew this was a somewhat extreme disguise just to dodge 
the few people who might recognize him as Tsubasa Kurenai, but he 
was never one for taking half measures.
	There were advantages to parents who were both actors. The 
disadvantages as well. Neither of his parents regarded the Horde 
attack as anything more than yet another minor crisis on a world 
already rife with them. Nothing to concern true thespians in the 
practice of their craft. His father once berated a producer for 
stopping the show from going on during opening night for the 
petty reason that the theatre had gotten blown up. His mother was 
worse. Neither of them could understand that people were dying 
out there. All they wanted to do was ACT.
	Well Tsubasa wanted to act too... but not on stage. He 
refused to waste his life on something so... so... empty... so 
hollow. He wanted reality. He wanted to be something other than 
that nice Kurenai couple's ungrateful son. He frowned, although 
he was able to keep sufficiently in character to make it into a 
pretty pout. Even now that still stung. Just because he disagreed 
with them on occasion didn't make him an ingrate. 
	He tried to push it out of his thoughts. This was his 
chance to make a difference. Maybe even become a hero. He liked 
that thought.
	Tsubasa managed to make it to the front door of the family 
apartment without making excessive noise. It was three in the 
morning but the Kurenais were all light sleepers. He eased the 
front door open then shut it quietly behind him... out. He heaved 
a sigh of relief. Whatever it was he was volunteering for... he 
was going to show everyone. Tsubasa Kurenai wasn't someone to be 
dismissed so lightly.
	"You know..." A voice said from somewhere near his right 
knee, "If you're going to sneak out of the house, you could do it 
a lot better if you didn't stand there grinning to yourself like 
some kind of idiot."
	Tsubasa stifled a scream and looked down quickly. He found 
his sister huddled near the door, a half-eaten donut in one hand 
and a cup of tea in the other. "You took your time, elder 
brother. Nice outfit. Hey... that looks like my dress..."
	"What are you doing out here, Asuka?!" Tsubasa demanded in 
a fierce whisper. His sister... one year younger than he was and 
the darling of the family. Little miss perfect. The two of them 
looked so much alike that it was sometimes voiced that perhaps 
they should've been twins.
	Asuka stood up slowly, stretching her cramped muscles, 
"Waiting for you. I knew you were going to volunteer for that 
thing... mom and dad should've known better." She took a second 
look at his clothes and added quietly, "That IS my dress."
	"Um... what're you talking about, sis... I... um... I was 
just going for a walk..." Tsubasa said nervously.
	She sighed, "Oh come on, bro. You don't really expect me to 
believe you got into that disguise and brought a stuffed bag with 
you just so you could have a little fresh air."
	Tsubasa put the bag down, "I guess the jig is up then, sis. 
You gonna tell mom and dad?"
	She nodded, "Yup. As soon as they wake up. I expect you to 
get some miles between here and yourself by then."
	"Aren't you going to stop me?" Tsubasa asked.
	Asuka put a hand on her elder brother's shoulder, "Course 
not. You're the one who's always talked to me about wanting to 
get out there... and making a name for yourself... well, here's 
your chance. I'm not going to stop you."
	"I... I didn't expect that..." he admitted.
	His sister gave a small sad smile, "Yeah. I just wish you 
hadn't picked this stupid Project Morituri thing to do it 
with..."
	"I thought you weren't going to try and stop me..." Tsubasa 
frowned.
	"That's not it you, dummy." Asuka replied without much 
heat, "I know the two of us have had our differences... and 
you're a pain in the ass... and a crossdresser... and an 
obsessive... and a jerk... and you borrow my clothes without 
telling me..."
	"I get the picture, get on with it..." he muttered.
	"What I'm trying to tell you is, you're still my big bro 
and I'm not sure I wanna lose you yet." She finished.
	"Awww..." Tsubasa replied and hugged his sister, "That's 
has got to be the sweetest thing you've ever said to me... ever."
	Asuka returned the hug and said quietly, "Yeah... I guess. 
You take care, big bro, okay? Don't forget your vitamins and 
stuff..."
	"I will, I will... you don't have to sound like mom."
	Asuka grinned and playfully ruffled his hair, "Hey, I do 
not... Oh I nearly forgot. These are for you." As she passed over 
a plastic bag and a thermos. "Donuts and tea for your way out."
	"Thanks... You don't know how much I really appreciate 
this..." Tsubasa replied, genuinely moved.
	"You'd better appreciate it, buster," She replied, "I'm the 
one who's going to be here when mom and dad find out."
	They both shared a quiet laugh over that and shared a last 
donut before Tsubasa said, "Well... there's at least one good 
thing in this for you, sis."
	"What's that?"
	"You finally get my room after all these years." Tsubasa 
grinned.
	Asuka rolled her eyes and sighed, "Will you just get out of 
here? Shoo... get going..."
	As Tsubasa finally reached the elevator at the end of the 
hall he heard his sister murmur softly as he waited, "Who 
knows... I might join up too..."

- - - 

	In the forest of Ryogunzawa, where legends claim monsters 
roam, mail is always late. After all, there's only one family 
that lives within the forest proper, and it wasn't as if they 
checked on their mail every day, so the post master in the 
village at the borders of the forest, allowed any mail they got 
to pile up at the office until one of the Kinos decided to get 
it.
	At least, that's how it used to be. The old man, Grandpa 
Kino, as he was called around here, had gotten into the habit of 
waiting impatiently every morning for the new mail to get in. 
He'd been like this for a while now, most of the other villagers 
reflected. Poor old man... left alone to take care of the forest 
by his grandson who went off to fight the aliens... Poor, poor 
old man...
	Grandpa stood stiffly just outside of the post office. He 
was leaning heavily on his staff... he was doing that a lot more 
than he used to... He waited impatiently for any word from 
Shinnosuke. Any word. Foolish boy, he groused, Doesn't even have 
time to write to his own grandpa... He amended that silently... 
perhaps a little foolish, but a good boy underneath... Shin had 
refused to leave because he didn't want to leave his grandpa 
alone in the forest... but some things just had to be done. He 
had a duty to volunteer. To fight. To protect. Even to the bitter 
end.
	Their family had been the protectors and caretakers of 
Ryogunzawa forest for forty generations now. Once there had been 
so many of them... now, there were only two still alive who could 
claim direct lineage from the first Kinos who's been given 
protectorship of the forest. And when the time came, only Shin 
would be left. To die. Quietly hiding in the forest while 
elsewhere aliens ravaged and pillaged and did other unspeakable 
horrors to everyone else... Not if he could help it... 
	"Gramps, you okay?" Sho the postmaster asked, "You look a 
little strung out..."
	The old man was snapped out of his reverie, "Ahh... think 
nothing of it Sho. I'm still in perfect health," he laughed.
	"If you say so, Gramps." Sho replied as he continued to 
sort through the few letters which were sent here...
	"Any word from..."
	Sho shook his head sadly, "Fraid not, sir... no letters 
from Shinnosuke. Just some junk mail."
	Gramps gave a disgusted snort, "I live in the middle of a 
damn forest and these jokers still send me these things... don't 
they know there's a war going on?!"
	The postmaster shook his head ruefully, "Well, you gotta 
admit, Gramps... we're pretty far off from any military 
targets... they're likely to overlook us anyway."
	"Hmmph! It's thinking like that that let this damn war get 
this far in the first place. Besides, they're aliens! How are 
they supposed to know what a military target is?"
	"Hey, Gramps... sorry... I didn't mean nothin' by it..."
	"No... no... it's alright... just a little upset that's 
all..."
	"Don't worry too much. Your grandson'll write to you soon 
enough."
	The old man sighed, "I suppose you're right. I'll head back 
to the cottage, I guess."
	"Take care, Gramps... watch out for the traps..." Sho 
called after him.
	"Hah!" Gramps called back proudly, as he stomped off, "I 
set most of those things myself, kid... I know where all of them 
are!"
	Just because he'd gone off and joined the military was no 
reason not to write to his own grandpa... I'm going to give that 
boy a sincere drubbing when I see him next, that's what I'm going 
to do. He sighed again and looked up into the sky... Shin did 
have a point, though... it was lonely here without him...
	He just hoped that when he next saw Shinosuke, it wouldn't 
be with the two of them arguing again. It wasn't that the boy was 
a coward... oh no... Shin was brave... very brave. It was just 
that he was too concerned about his grandpa... and the forest. 
The old man gave a snort. He was too damn concerned with what 
hadn't happened yet, that he couldn't see that if he didn't take 
care of the present, they wouldn't have a future. The boy still 
had a lot to learn.
	It was perhaps a good hour before he finally made it to the 
cottage where he lived. The last remnants of the once huge Kino 
household... He was very surprised to find a man in a suit with a 
very stern bearing in front of the door.
	"Hey! What are you doing here? Clear out. These woods are 
dangerous!" Gramps snapped.
	The man bowed respectfully to him and replied quietly, "I'm 
sorry for the intrusion, sir, but I have an important message for 
you."
	"Wha? You with the military, boy?"
	"I'm afraid so, sir... there's some... bad news about your 
grandson."
	"Shin-boy?" Gramps asked, breaking into a cold sweat, 
"What's wrong? He's not hurt or anything is he..?"
	The man produced a paper which he passed on to the old man, 
"I'm sorry... there was an accident during training... I'm afraid 
your grandson is dead."
	A shock went through the old man's heart... he'd sent his 
grandson to die. Uselessly... pointlessly... Shin was gone... he 
couldn't help... he knew what the man was saying was true. He 
didn't know how, but it had to be true... but he didn't have to 
believe it... 
	The old man's eyes were already beginning to overflow with 
tears, "That can't be right... it can't be... My grandson's got a 
duty to fulfil... he can't die during training of all things!! 
Get out of my forest you lying bastard! Get out now!" Gramps 
whipped his staff around and began whirling it in a complex 
pattern, threatening the younger man.
	Military type or not, the younger man knew better than to 
try to stick it out. He dropped the paper he held and made a dash 
for the nearest forest path, narrowly avoiding getting clipped on 
the ear. Gramps knelt down to take the paper... he knew what 
would be on it, but he read it, regardless. By the time he'd 
finished his tears began to fall... his sobs... soft to begin 
with grew steadily louder...
 	That day in Ryogunzawa where legends claim monsters roam, a 
low keening moan of lament could be heard clear to the town in 
the valley, cutting through the sounds of everyday life... a cry 
of grief... of anguish... and of loss... 

- - -

	The last thing the girl remembered was the wall falling. 
She had been under it at the time. She remembered holding someone 
as it fell... She couldn't move her arms, now. Or anything else 
for that matter... This doesn't feel like heaven, she told 
herself, I don't think I'm dead. But she felt close to it... so 
weak... she opened her eyes, reluctantly.
	She was in a crowded off-white room. Across from her were 
hospital beds where people in various states of injury were 
resting. She found her arms in casts and immobilized. She was 
still feeling quite drowsy, but she wasn't going to let sleep get 
the better of her. The bed beside her held a young man, maybe 
sixteen years old, but it was impossible to tell. He was 
obviously in worse shape than she was. His entire body was 
covered in bandages, that not even his eyes could be seen. Here 
and there she could see nurses and doctors making their rounds, 
talking to each of the patients in turn...
	"Hey, you're finally awake. How are you feeling, sugar?" a 
voice asked suddenly.
	The girl turned her head slightly to face the voice. It had 
come from a young individual dressed in a nurse's aide uniform. 
By the features, the girl would guess that the speaker couldn't 
have been more than seventeen. The aide's was fairly handsome 
with long brown hair was tied back and tucked into a bun to keep 
it out of the way and the girl could barely make out 'Kuo--' on 
the nameplate.
	"I... where am I?" The girl asked.
	"Temporary military hospital in Tokyo. They've been moving 
the really bad casualties here." The aide replied, 
	"Wasn't I in Osaka?" the girl asked, still somewhat 
confused...
	The aide looked somewhat worried at the question, "Um... 
I'm not sure if I ought to tell you this... 
	"What?"
	"Osaka was destroyed by the Horde..."
	"The what?"
	"The Horde... the aliens..."
	"You're kidding, right?"
	"I'm not kidding... this is full blown war... oh wait," the 
aide ducked to the foot of the bed and checked the girl's chart, 
"No wonder you don't know... you've been in a coma since the 
first Horde attack."
	The aide looked around to make sure the two of them weren't 
observed before pulling out a handheld TV with earphones. "Here," 
the aide said, passing it to the girl, "Turn it to CNN."
	The girl blinked at the small TV, "This gets cable?"
	"Would you just watch?" The aide replied quietly.
	The girl adjusted the set arriving at CNN just in time to 
see a long slow camera pan of a devastated landscape with a 
caption that read 'Rome'... the gutted ruins of buildings... 
human bodies littering the area... close to the horizon, 
explosions and movement... 
	She looked up at the aide, eyes flashing angrily, "What is 
this? Some sort of 'War of the Worlds' routine? A sick joke? Are 
my arms even really broken?"
	The man in the bed next to her moaned almost inaudibly, but 
it was enough to make her tirade run down...
	The aide sighed and said in a concerned, level tone, "I 
know it's a little tough to deal with all at once, but this is 
really happening... aliens have landed... Europe is mostly 
gutted. The Americas are alien territory now... China and 
Australia have been managing to fight them off, but only 
barely... Japan's actually been pretty lucky..."
	"You aren't kidding are you?" the girl said finally, 
reluctantly, "How long have I been out?"
	"About five months." The aide replied, rechecking the 
chart. "Your arms have set already... but they kept you in the 
casts longer than needed because you were in a coma."
	"What about my mom and dad? Where's the rest of my family?" 
the girl asked frantically.
	"Sorry. I don't really know." The aide replied, 
apologetically, "Um... you're listed as a Jane Doe... they 
weren't able to find any ID on you. What is your name?"
	"Mariko Konjou," The girl replied, quickly, "Does that 
help?"
	"A little... I'll pass it on to the Defense Department. I'm 
sorry to say this, but a lot of people died... they might've been 
among the casualties, I just thought you ought to be prepared for 
it just in case..."
	"I... I hope not..." Mariko answered, tears trickling down 
her cheeks...
	The aide quietly gave Mariko a hug to comfort her... she 
would've returned the gesture if she could, but her arms were 
immobilized. After a few minutes, Mariko's tears had stopped... 
the aide's shoulder was soaked. Mariko said quietly to the aide, 
"I don't think I got your name..."
	"Ukyou. Ukyou Kuonji." The aide replied, smiling quietly, 
"Wish we'd met under better circumstances."

- - -

	Information... this was what she needed to work. Oracle sat 
in the center of  a complex web through which information would 
be passed to her. She would then evaluate it, collate it, relate 
it to other information... then pass it on to others who would 
act on it. Every day, fifteen hours out of each day. A normal 
human would've cracked under the pressure. She wasn't normal 
anymore. She couldn't afford to crack.
	The chair was contoured to her body, the multiple banks of 
monitors arrayed in front of her, all easily taken in with a 
single glance. A pair of keyboards at each hand, on which she 
typed simultaneously with practiced ease. She spoke almost 
continuously into a small headset, while controlling a fourth 
interface by her eye movement. If she'd had an extra set of 
hands, she would've installed another set of keyboards, but she 
had to make do with what she had. That she could handle so much 
was amazing enough.
	Oracle was a beautiful young woman. About nineteen years 
old. Her long brown hair was tied in a ponytail which hung over 
one shoulder. A very minor nod to her vanity. If she'd been as 
practical as she'd often professed, she'd have gotten a haircut 
like her younger sister's a long time ago.
	All things are systems. If you can see them, understand 
them... see how everything relates to everything else... that is 
power. That was her power. She understood it all. There were 
times when she wished she didn't.
	There had been over a hundred volunteers for the Morituri 
Project. To be subjected to the process which would give them the 
power to fight the Horde... and to die fighting. Such a choice to 
make! To choose who would have the right to die. There were 
hundreds of factors to be collated in choosing each one... 
ranging from ability to integrate within a group, ability to take 
orders, intelligence, powers most likely to be developed on the 
basis of personality, level of power... in the end she had 
settled on five. They would do for a start. More would come 
later. To close the ranks of the fallen.
	She ticked off the time mentally. She had two minutes left 
before her self imposed five minute break for rest. If she'd been 
capable of it, she would've been at work 24 hours a day, but even 
she had her limits.
	She cocked her head slightly at the sound of a new incoming 
report... a project director moving to have her removed from the 
project and transferred entirely to the control of the military? 
She didn't think so... a quick phone call to his wife and his 
mistress ought to keep him busy...
	She allowed herself a slight chuckle... there were 
occasionally times when her powers had their perks. 
	It was time for her break... she stood up slowly, 
stretching as she did so. The occasional crick and pop of bone, 
testament to how long she'd been in that position. Oracle removed 
the headset with a practiced motion and glanced at the monitor 
she usually kept on Toufuu... he was still asleep. Good. By the 
smile on his sleeping face and by the way he was breathing, she 
could tell that he was dreaming of her again.
	Kasumi smiled. There were definitely times when she liked 
her power.

- - -

	Ranma awoke with a scream. He sat up in bed breathing 
heavily. His body slick with sweat... He'd been like this a lot 
these past few nights. The same dream... the Horde overrunning 
the Joketsozoku... Shampoo... dying hundreds of possible ways at 
the Horde's hands... or tentacles... or weapons...
	He knew perfectly well that it was just a dream... but it 
didn't make the fear he felt for her any less real... he didn't 
realize before he left the tribe just how much he'd become used 
to her presence. He found himself turning around hoping to find a 
familiar head of purple hair... he longed to hear the singsong 
chatter of Mandarin around him. He wanted her beside him when he 
lay down to sleep... that was another thing he'd gotten used to. 
Just for someone to hold... someone to make you sure that you 
were still alive... but he didn't have her with him now... it 
made things even worse.
	Having already undergone the treatment, he knew that he 
should keep his goals focused. That he couldn't allow himself 
human weakness anymore. He was more than that. The sheer 
strength... the endurance he now had was incredible. Dead lifts 
of upwards of a ton. Running for days nonstop with no food and 
water on a treadmill... but there was more... his every sensation 
became so much more pronounced. Every sight, every sound, 
everything. Actually, he was under the impression that the 
technicians studying his Morituri power were having nervous 
breakdowns over his manifested abilities... they couldn't 
pigeonhole them. They seemed to be too varied...
	When he'd first realized what he had gained, he'd almost 
wished Shampoo had undergone it as well... just to have someone 
with whom to share the experience with. Until it hit him that all 
of the wonder he could never share with her. It was all his. 
Until the day he died. Which would be within the year. The first 
nightmare happened that night. That was a month ago.
	This would be his first night on the 'secret' base where he 
and the other trainees would be housed. They would all meet for 
the first time tomorrow. That too worried him. He decided, curfew 
or no curfew, he needed a walk to clear his mind. He swung open 
the door of his room and stepped out into the hallway.
	He walked down the well lit hallway. It was actually little 
more than some sort of reconditioned officer's dormitory. He knew 
the layout well enough and he knew that the other Morituri 
conditioned volunteers were here too... there was rec room at the 
end of the hallway. Maybe there would be something there to take 
his mind off of things...	
	Even before he reached the end of the hallway, Ranma could 
hear someone in the rec room talking. Guess I wasn't the only one 
who couldn't sleep, he thought.
	The room he entered was fairly large. Numerous diversions 
existed scattered around. Weights, a few board games, a pool 
table, in fact several tables and sofas where people could lounge 
around at. He found two people seated at a table where a shogi 
set had been set up and two people were playing. Also on the 
table was a tray with some bread and a container of cheese spread 
with a butter knife sticking out of it.
	He didn't recognize either of the two. One was a short boy, 
with long reddish brown hair and an androgynous cast to his 
features... if anything, Ranma had a moment of confusion as to 
whether it was a boy or a girl, but the tanktop he was wearing 
relieved any doubts. The other person, also a boy with a messy 
thatch of black hair, tied off with a white bandanna sat opposite 
the first person. He was wearing a set of the regulation 
pajammas. It was apparently the shorter boy's voice Ranma had 
heard.
	The boy with the black hair raised his head at Ranma's 
approach and smiled a greeting.
	The other boy turned around in his seat and waved to Ranma, 
"Hi, there!"
	Ranma waved back and approached them. The shorter boy was 
close to check.
	"Hi," the black-haired boy bowed to Ranma, "Couldn't sleep 
either?"
	"Yeah," Ranma admitted.
	"Neither could we." The shorter boy chimed in. He seemed 
too cheerful, Ranma thought.
	"I'm Ranma Saotome."
	"Shinosuke Kino." Replied the black haired boy, waving 
Ranma to take a seat. "This over here's... um..."
	The other boy grinned and bowed, "Tsubasa Kurenai. Are you 
a Morituri too?"
	"Uh... yeah, I guess. You guys too?"
	"Um... yup." Shinosuke admitted reluctantly. "Although I 
still have trouble believing it."
	"Yeah, I know. It's pretty incredible." Ranma replied.
	"I'll say! It's great! Say... what can you do?" Tsubasa 
asked. "I can absorb stuff and become them... Shin here's... why 
don't you show him, Shin?"
	Shin smiled sheepishly at Ranma, almost as if he were 
embarrassed at Tsubasa's cheerful behavior. "I heal really fast."
	"I thought we all heal faster than usual now... wasn't it 
part of the usual Morituri package?" Ranma asked. "You know... 
strength, endurance, damage resistance, healing factor..."
	"No... I mean really, really fast..." he took the knife 
from the cheese spread, wiping it clean on a slice of bread... 
before he suddenly cut a huge gash on his palm.
	"Hey! Are you nuts?!" Ranma cried appalled, he moved 
forward to catch Shin's hand with inhuman speed... "Hey... 
it's... it's not bleeding..?"
	Shin held his hand up... not only was the wound not 
bleeding... it was closing up at an amazing rate... Ranma could 
almost see it sealing shut as if by magic. Inside of a few 
seconds, there wasn't even a scar... just a few spots of cheese.
	"Pretty cool." Ranma said after a moment.
	"Yeah... and I can do this... hey, pass me the knife 
wouldja Shin?" Tsubasa offered. Shin tossed him the knife. He 
caught it handily and closed his eyes.
	Ranma watched Tsubasa's skin become grayish... then acquire 
a metallic sheen to it... he quickly acquired the coloration of 
the knife... and his hair was beginning to duplicate the curls 
and designs on the knife handle.
	"I can pretty much do that with anything I can touch." 
Tsubasa explained... his voice suddenly ringing and quite 
frankly... metallic.
	"Well... they're having trouble figuring out what I can 
do... it's sorta... anything I set my mind on I can do."
	Tsubasa giggled, "Your power is stubbornness?"
	"Hey, it's not that!" Ranma snapped, "I dunno. I guess."
	"So like how do you use it? If someone tells you to do 
something you don't want to, you don't?" Tsubasa asked.
	"Not like that! It's more like if I'm running and I wanna 
go really fast... I just get faster... or when something hits me 
and I don't want to get hurt, I get tougher. Stuff like that."
	"Wow! That's cool!" Tsubasa rang.
	Shin smiled, grabbing a slice of bread to eat, "It's sounds 
useful... Well, in any case, do you play Shogi?
	"Yeah," Ranma nodded, "My dad taught me a little."
	"Just as well," Tsubasa rang, standing up to the 
accompaniment of metallic creaking, "I was losing ridiculously 
anyway. You guys want anything? I'm going to the pantry."
	"Nothing for me, thanks" Shinosuke replied. Ranma also 
shook his head.
	"I think there's some apricot preserves in there..." 
Tsubasa said as he walked out.
	"Awfully cheerful guy." Ranma said after Tsubasa had left.
	Shin nodded, "Yeah he is. I think he actually likes being 
here."
	"Weird." Ranma said, setting the board up.
	"Yeah. What were we talking about?"
	"How about you? Did you volunteer too?" Ranma asked.
	"Oh... um... truth to tell, I don't remember." Shin 
replied.
	"You... don't?"
	"Nope. They said I had a pretty nasty accident during 
training. Hit my head pretty hard. I healed it, but most of my 
memories are pretty scrambled. My short term memory's pretty bad 
too..."
	"That stinks." Ranma said sympathetically.
	"Tell me about it... um... what did you say your name was 
again?"
	"It's Ranma."
	"Oh. Good. Why is there a board here?"
	"We were going to play... are you putting me on?"
	"About what?"
	"Your memory can't be this bad..."
	"How did you know my memory's bad?"
	"You just told me!"
	"When did I do that?
	At this point Tsubasa swept in, looking human again and 
munching happily on some potato chips, "Hey, guys... The pantry's 
better stocked than I thought."
	Shin pointed at Tsubasa with a puzzled expression on his 
face, "And you are?"
	"Not this again... Tsubasa Kurenai! Don't you remember 
anything?!" he shot back slightly annoyed. 
	"Er..."
	"I guess you aren't putting us on." Ranma said finally.
	"About what?" 
	"You know..." Ranma asked finally, "If your memory is this 
bad, how do you expect to play shogi?"
	"Ha." Tsubasa giggled, interrupting Shin "He may have a 
rotten memory for names, people and events, but he can remember 
every single move on the board. It's uncanny."
	The two began to play.
	It was half an hour later that Ranma had gotten the better 
of Shin... it had been a very tense game, made all the stranger 
by Tsubasa cheering both sides on whenever a particularly 
brilliant move was executed. And they were executed frequently. 
Ranma smiled confidently as he took Shin's last piece.
	Shin smiled, "You're pretty good."
	Ranma grinned back, "Yeah. You're not bad yourself. Who 
taught you?"
	"I... uh.... don't remember."
	"Oh. Sorry."
	"Sure. What are you being sorry for?"
	"Not this again..." Tsubasa whined.
	"Excuse me," A new voice rang out, "Aren't you gentlemen 
supposed to be in your rooms?"
	All three boys turned. They noticed a someone of about 
their age, with long brown hair tied off in a ponytail, framing 
handsome features. The person was wearing a nurse's aide uniform 
and had arms crossed, one foot tapping impatiently.
	"Whoops... busted." Shin said.
	Tsubasa clapped his hands delightedly and jumped six feet 
across the room to stand next to the aide. 
	"Hello, Ukyou-sama!" Tsubasa cried locking arms with the 
aide and smiling up. The aide did not look particularly happy 
about Tsubasa's pressence and glowered at him.
	Ranma leaned over to Shin and asked, "Hey... is Tsubasa gay 
or something?"
	"Who's Tsubasa?"
	"Never mind."
	The aide, Ukyou, had finally managed to peel Tsubasa off. 
Ranma noticed that oddly enough, Tsubasa's chest had changed, 
becoming slightly... well... for lack of a better word... more 
rounded. Definitely more feminine... his hips were slightly wider 
too... it was hard not to notice this when Tsubasa was wearing 
only boxer shorts and a tanktop.
	"We were just having some trouble sleeping, Ukyou-sama. You 
wouldn't hold that against us, would you?" Tsubasa's voice had 
jumped upwards an entire octave... and his actions were softer... 
Ranma guessed it must've been a weird manifestation of Tsubasa's 
power... 
	Ukyou sighed, "You guys are supposed to be sleeping. You've 
got a big day tomorrow."
	"We were just going," Ranma said, helping the confused 
Shinnosuke up.
	"Hey... who's he?" Shin asked as he was being dragged away, 
pointing at Ukyou...
	"I dunno." Ranma replied as they entered the hallway... 
"But I guess Tsubasa's got a thing for him." He repressed a 
shudder as they headed for their rooms.
	Neither noticed the soft sobbing from one of the rooms that 
they passed.

- - -

	Kasumi shifted the monitor she'd been maintaining on the 
small group to the one in Kodachi Kuno's bedroom. It was good 
that they were getting along well... by the interactions she'd 
seen, the likely team leader when the time came seemed fairly 
obvious... She shrugged it off to concentrate part of her 
attention to the monitor. Kodachi was still crying in her dark 
room... her tears eating through her pillow and sheets.
	A pity none of them had passed by that room first... it 
would've helped... but then again... some things just couldn't be 
helped... the patterns were moving for one of them to comfort 
Kodachi... but it would have to wait until later... 



To be continnued...

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