Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Shantyworld ❯ Clear Weather Day ( Chapter 2 )

All characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, Pioneer and Monkey Punch. Shantyworld, Doozy Sack, Mama Prime and anything else you don't immediatly recognize as anime belongs to me. I would also like to thank my prereaders Ragun Paul Moody, Small Pink Mouse and my good friend Christopher Gwynn who helps me with my technobabble. So without further ado Montanto Productions proudly presents.

Shantyworld

A Ranma Fanfic

With Gratuitous Cameos

Chapter 2

Clear Weather Day

The Monitor had orbited the gas giant; referred to as Mama Prime by the locals, since the Governors rendered its largest moon, Doozy Sack, livable thousands of years ago.

The Monitors were the largest form of Peace Robot. Their jurisdiction was the trade lanes of space, and the defense in every system. This Monitor was a smaller model, a mere 50 kilometers from end to end. Still, it dwarfed even the largest imperial carriers that passed it by.

For a moment, the Monitor turned its attention from its sensors' pointed to the fleets to the ones that pointed at a small comet, several thousand kilometers away. A picosecond worth of calculations showed that the comet would miss Doozy Sack by an acceptable distance, but there was a 100,000 to one chance it could pose a threat within the next thousand years. Never one to take unnecessary risks, the Monitor shot off a single beam of energy and returned to viewing the imperial convoy on its way towards Doozy Sack. The comet exploded into a cloud of vapor.

The Monitor increased its magnification on the small world's main continent. There was little cloud cover to hindering its instruments. If the Monitor had been capable of subjective opinions, it would consider this phenomenon odd. It had been clear just four months ago, a most peculiar season.

Sensors, pointing towards the system's F4 class sun were activated. At this distance it was only discernable from the other stars by its incredible brightness. The Monitor beamed a weather report to the starports. Sentient life had to be warned on occasion.

* * * * * * * * * *

Akane stared at the girl standing at the entrance of the practice hall. "Well?" she demanded, "speak up Girl. What's your name?"

The new bondservant paused, unsure of what to say, "I'm Ranko, Mistress." She said finally.

Akane slowly circled the smaller girl looking her over. For someone her size, she was very well built, almost like a dancer with hardly a gram of fat on her. Her hair was a shade of red that Akane had never seen before. Bright, yet strangely vacant, blue eyes darted everywhere taking in everything. Akane stood in front of her in a casual pose. Ranko glanced at the floor, unable to maintain eye contact. "So, Kasumi thinks I can't be trusted outside of the house; are you my body guard as well?" Akane asked.

Ranko was silent for a moment. "Lady Kasumi said I was to protect you with my life, Mistress." She said finally.

"Oh really. And how do you intend to do that? Are you a martial artist? Or have you killed someone?" Akane asked, with a grin.

"I haven't killed anyone, Mistress. At least I hope I haven't." Ranko looked slightly worried as if the possibility had suddenly occurred to her.

"You mean you don't know?" Akane asked, puzzled. She reached out and held Ranko's jaw between her thumb and forefinger, slowly turning her head. She should have noticed. If she hadn't let her emotions get the better of her. "The void will take us all." She whispered. "You've been born again." Akane stated this as a fact, the symptoms were easy to recognize.

Ranko paused to think. "I'm not a Christian, Mistress."

"Christian?" Akane asked, confused. "What's a . . . . Oh yes, one of those First Generation cults. But what does that have to do with being born again?"

"I don't know, Mistress."

"Nevermind, go stand over there." Akane said pointing at the center of the floor. Ranko walked to the middle of the dojo and turned to face Akane. Akane studied her again, this time concentrating on the way she bore herself. For all of her apparent shyness Ranko stood up straight, unafraid, and confident. This one can fight, I can tell. Akane thought to herself.

"We'll have a little match. I want to see just how good you are, my life is in your hands after all." "Don't worry its just sparring." She said as she saw the look of concern in her servant's face. Comprehension dawned on Ranko's face, she smiled and she nodded hesitantly.

Akane started with a simple round house kick. It was one that an amateur could see coming, and easily block. Ranko leaned back an instant before Akane's foot would have connected with her face. Akane followed up with two quick jabs. The first to the face, and the other to the gut, she finished with a low sweeping kick meant to take out the legs of the opponent. Ranko dodged both hits and jumped over the kick with seemingly no effort at all. Akane huffed, it was exhilarating to have decent competition for the first time in years, but at the same time it was damn frustrating. At least she had forced Ranko towards the far wall. Try avoiding me now, she thought to herself.

"Okay, no need to be gentle." Akane said with a smile, which showed a few too many teeth. With no warning she threw a devastating punch that could have crippled Ranko had she been in its path. Ranko however was no longer there. Akane smashed her fist into the wall. She stared at the hole her fist had made as someone tapped her on the shoulder. Akane turned to see Ranko giggling hysterically. It was very contagious and Akane couldn't help but join in.

"Wow. You're much better then I thought, but tell me, why didn't you fight back?"

Ranko blinked in confusion. "Fight back. Mistress?" She asked.

"Yes. You know. Try to hit me."

"Hit you. Mistress?" Ranko looked slightly concerned.

"Of course," Akane said in exasperation, "what good is a sparring match if you just dodge me all the time? I have to improve too, you know. Come on. Take a swing at me." Honestly, it was like trying to explain sprinting to a Lollygagger.

"Lady Kasumi ordered me to protect you, Mistress," Ranko said slowly, while turning an ashen gray. "But you told me to hit you so I have to hit you. But that would harm you and I can not let you get hurt." Ranko clutched her head, gritting her teeth in pain. "Can not! Must follow orders! No. No! Please. MAKE IT STOP!!!" Ranko fell to her knees, sobbing.

"Oh no, Ranko!" Akane gasped, running to the smaller girl. "It's all right, really. You don't have to spar with me if you don't want to."

Ranko looked up at her. Her headache fading quickly. "I'm sorry, Mistress," she whispered.

* * * * * * * * * *

Ukyou drove through the Rimsides like a woman possessed. To say she was mad was an understatement. Ranma had not shown up at the scheduled time and, because of this, the meeting had been a complete failure. If a Peace Robot hadn't been attracted to the sounds of gunfire, and removed her pursuers she was sure she would have been dead by now. She had to get out of the city as soon as possible. She could not afford to believe the Peace Robots had gotten everyone. After all, if she had been able to escape someone else could have.

For a while she had considered heading south, to the Cliffsides. She had grown up there and, even now, had quite a few contacts. She thought better of it when she realized it would be the first place anyone would look. The last thing she wanted was to have the Cliffsides torn up beyond belief. Not that anyone would notice. The Rim Crater was a better choice. No one lived there except hermits and farmers. But before she did all of this she had to give a certain pig-tailed promise-breaking idiot the beating of a lifetime. Consequences be damned.

* * * * * * * * * *

Genma stretched in extreme satisfaction. It was the best he had eaten for several years. In the past week he had paid off all his debts and hired an agent to find the best dwelling place in the Gentryways. He was beginning to believe he could get used to his new wealth. He could plan how he would rescue Ranma later. After all, it wasn't as if his son was going anywhere soon.

He was just about to doze off when the noise of a souped up motor, generating several hundred horsepower, woke him. It was drowned out by the crash of a large armored catering van driving down an alleyway one meter too narrow. The noise stopped just below the apartment. For a moment it was silent with just the sounds of shattered bricks settling. If he had been sober, Genma would have considered running.

All of a sudden his front door burst into several pieces. Ukyou stormed in carrying what looked like a very large spatula. "Where is he, Old Man?" She demanded.

"Ah. Where is who?" Genma asked innocently.

"Don't give me that you stupid Effgee bastard! That no good inbred son of yours!"

"Ranma?" I'm sorry, you just missed him. He had to go on an errand." Genma stammered, trying desperately to buy time.

Ukyou glared at the cowering man before her in disgust. She sat down on one of the two chairs in the apartment. "We'll wait for him, " she said, leaning her spatula down on the table.

"Uh, That might not be a good idea. You see I haven't seen him for several hours and there is no actual guarantee that he will be home tonight. I think it would be best if..."

"Shut up! Do you think I care? Ranma nearly got me killed. I want my pound of ...." Ukyou stopped as she looked at two bottles of wine on the table. One was empty the other nearly finished. Both looked expensive. So did the half-eaten truffles and the Oni tobacco. She wondered how he could afford all this. In all of the time that she had known Genma Saotome he had not worked an instant longer then he had to and was almost always broke. Suddenly she remembered all the stories that Ranma had told her about his father. About his various scams and, even worse, the training exercises. She had thought they were excuses or jokes to show her that her life was not so bad. She should have known better. She should never have blamed him for her recent troubles. "What did you do to him?" She hissed.

"Do to Ranma?" Genma stammered. "Why, whatever makes you think I would possibly do something to my." Ukyou slammed the butt of her spatula into his stomach before he had a chance to finish. As he doubled over her knee shot up hitting him in the chin. Genma went sprawling into the wall..

"Let's try this again." She growled. "What did you do to Ranma?"

Genma fingered his jaw and spat out a gob of blood. Slowly, he climbed back to his feet. "I don't know what you're talking about." He stammered. "My son left just an hour ago. If you think some thing happened to him then," Ukyou slammed the handle of her spatula into his forehead, knocking him back to the floor.

"Don't give me that! That spread is worth 500 creds if it's worth one; You've never worked a day in your life. And you're too incompetent to steal. How else did you get the money?"

Genma mumbled something incoherently. Ukyo rose her spatula into a full swing. "The Governors! I SOLD HIM TO THE GOVERNORS!" Genma screamed in desperation.

The blade end of the spatula stopped just at his neck. A small drop of blood trickled down his throat. "If that's your idea of a joke, I'm not laughing." Ukyou said in a low, threatening tone.

Genma coughed getting his breath back, as he crawled back to his chair. Ukyou spun her spatula around and rested it on the table. The adrenaline was beginning to wear off and she felt very tired. She sat down overwhelmed by the new information. "How?" she asked, "the Governors never leave the Ports."

"The man said he represented the Governors. He could have been a Peace Robot, I suppose. If I had known then what I know now"

"Oh just shut up. It sounds like someone conned you good. Even if your ridiculous story is true, are you out of your mind? What did you expect to do, steal him back? Renege on the deal completely? These are the GOVERNORS! A verbal agreement is binding to them! They don't forget their agreements and if, by some miracle, you find yourself in the position you claim you're in, you DEFINATELY don't screw with them!"

Ukyou sniffed in disgust and glared at the cowering Genma. "So, what did you get for him?" She asked, her voice dripping with contempt. "A week's worth of food at the restaurant of your choice? A free ticket off of this rock? Bus fair?"

He told her.

Ukyou gaped in disbelief. "By the void." She whispered. "I know people who would sell their own," she paused and glared at Genma, "and I'm looking at one right now."

"Now Ukyou. You're being unreasonable. You have to understand my situation."

"Shut up!" Ukyou screamed. What I don't understand is why they paid you that much in the first place! A human bondservant wouldn't go for half a percent of that. What's so special about my Ranchan?"

"I don't know, he didn't say," Genma said desperately. "All they did was offer me more money then I could possibly imagine. I had to accept. What else could I do?"

"What else could you do?" Ukyou repeated, dripping with sarcasm as she turned to walk away. Genma breathed a sigh of relief that he had gotten away with a mere beating. He was caught completely off guard as Ukyou spun around and struck him in the face with her spatula. Genma fell to the ground spitting blood. The next blow broke several ribs. Ukyou in her anger lost all of her restraint and began to strike him over and over again. Finally she stood over the twitching and broken Saotome. "There," she gasped between breaths. Now you have something to spend your wealth on." She slung her spatula over her shoulder and walked out of the apartment slowly.

Ukyou broke into tears as she drove north to the Rimcrater in the Ucchan. "Ranchan," she whispered. "I'll never see you again." Still, there was something about the whole affair that seemed fishy to her.

* * * * * * * * * *

Kasumi walked into the atrium, of the Tendou townhouse, after a fruitless search. "Kyoko?" she called.

"Yes, Mistress?" her assistant asked, appearing out of no where.

"Have you seen Nabiki anywhere?"

"No, Mistress, not since her meeting with Master Tendou. I could ask Yotsoya, or Akemi. They're more likely to have seen her then I."

"Don't worry. I haven't seen her body guards either. She must have gone out already. This is awkward."

Akane entered, toweling herself off after her work out with Ranko. "What's awkward Kasumi?" she asked.

"Oh hello, Akane. Nabiki left without the Kunou's payment. If we wait, the interest will begin to accrue." Kasumi said turning to her little sister, still deep in thought. "I'd go myself but the function is tonight and I haven't finished the preparations."

Paying the Mayors their share of the freeport's gross profits was no laughing matter. One could not simply send a bondservant to do it. For the sake of protocol, it was extremely important for the client, or a member of the client's family, to make the payment in person. Otherwise they could inadvertently show disrespect to their "patrons".

"Can't we pay them at the Function, Mistress?" Kyoko asked.

Kasumi shook her head. "I'm afraid it just wouldn't do. To start with, the day will be over when the Function begins, by accepting our money in our home it will appear as if Kunou is abusing our hospitality. He must not lose face by breaking protocol, and, before you ask, sending it by electronic means would be equally rude. Thank you for suggesting though."

"I can go, Kasumi," Akane said cheerfully.

"Oh no. Akane. You mustn't," Kasumi said shocked.

"Kasumi! I'm old enough. I'll be safe. I have a bodyguard now! That's what you bought her for isn't it?" Akane said slightly exasperated.

"That's not what I meant, Akane. It's clear weather, are you sure you want to go out? You and Ranko will have to dress appropriately." Kasumi said sternly.

Akane sighed. "Clear weather," meant the Star would be out in all of its searing glory. An unforgiving pinprick, burning, in the day sky fully capable of blinding anyone foolish enough to look at it unprotected or worse. Even with the goggles it was difficult to look directly at the Star for more then a minute. Only clear weather could make Akane miss Doozy Sack's perpetual gloom. There were many people who said that, at over nine astronomical units away, Doozy Sack was too far away for the Star to harm anyone with, its high intensity ultraviolet radiation, but most people still feared the Star, and honored the traditions of the past. Most people did not even risk the Star's wrath and simply stayed indoors.

Standard clear weather gear consisted of a white star mask and a protective body stocking that went under clothes and changed color depending on the intensity of the light. The mask was the latest model. It looked like a Noh mask made of fine porcelain. What appeared to be porcelain was actually a soft, flexible polymer. It was white except for exaggerated rosy cheeks and red lips and a left eyebrow that was painted in a thin black arch trailing down the bridge of the nose. The eyeholes were covered with refractive lenses that looked like twin pieces of polished onyx.

Ranko's gear was nowhere near as impressive. It consisted of long flowing robes, a hat with a wide floppy brim, and a basic face plate and sun goggles that were more appropriate for spot welding then going to the beach. This was standard wear for a new servant.

Ranko took the gear; put it on slowly, and watched her mistress do the same. "Shouldn't you wrap up your pet as well?" she asked as she saw Akane pick up the small black piglet.

"P-Chan will be all right." Akane said in a matter of fact tone. P-Chan nodded in agreement. There was something Ranko didn't like about the pig. For one thing it had been staring at her since it had first seen her. If she didn't know any better she would have sworn that it didn't trust her. She shrugged and followed her mistress outside.

Kasumi and Kyoko waited for them at the door. Kyoko handed Ranko the Kunou's payment in a large leather pouch.

"Remember nothing is to happen to Akane." Kasumi said looking directly at Ranko. "This is your first and foremost responsibility. No matter what she says, protect her at all costs." Ranko nodded nervously. There was something about Kasumi that made her think that, even if she had a choice in the matter, she would never do anything so foolish as to disobey Kasumi.

Kasumi smiled and turned to her younger sister. "I want you to be careful Akane. People can get a little crazy in clear weather. I thought you might like to help Ichinose a little bit in the kitchen to make some dishes when you get back."

"You really mean that Kasumi?" Akane asked with excitement and disbelief. Behind her Kyoko was turning pale. Kasumi nodded. Akane rushed up and hugged her sister. "Oh thank you Kasumi. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Just you wait you wait. I'll make the best dish ever! Come on Ranko!" With that she ran out of the house.

Kyoko watched the two girls run down the empty streets and turned to her mistress. "Forgive my rudeness, Mistress, but is that wise? Remember what happened the last time you let her into the kitchen."

"No, that's quite all right. It is a calculated risk. You see there are going to be several Lollygaggers at the function tonight and I want everything to be special."

"I'll warn Ichinose then."

"Yes I think that would be a good idea."

* * * * * * * * * *

The walk to the Lazy Fair had been pleasant though quiet. Only the low rumble of imperial ships landing in the Northport, broke the silence. The locals had already become jaded to the fleet. The other day Akane had watched one of the Jurai's carriers descend. It was two kilometers long and was easily the largest ship to arrive so far, It no longer impressed anyone.

"We will catch a cab when we get to the Fair." Akane said. "With any luck it won't take to long to get too the Gentryways after that."

"Mistress?" Ranko asked finely.

"Yes, what is it?"

"What is the function that Kasumi and the others keep talking about?"

Akane sighed. "Officially it's a celebration. Tonight I will be welcomed into the community as an adult."

"I see. What is it for, really?"

Akane turned and stared at Ranko in surprise. She had never seen a bondservant, who had just been born again, that cynical. "The Void take us all," she muttered shaking her head. "In reality the function is a meeting of the business community to plan how to best exploit the coming of the fleets for the next few months as well as how to plan for the increased population caused by all of the camp followers such as Mercenaries and Freetraders."

"That sounds very important," Ranko said impressed.

"Oh yes. I honestly don't know how we could possibly live without it," Akane muttered.

Ranko decided that her mistress did not want to talk about it any longer and remained silent.

There was a huge crowd at the Fair when they arrived, mostly human and very vocal. It was centered on a man standing on the buyer's platform shouting at the top of his lungs.

"Anarchists." Akane muttered to herself. There were many political groups living in the city. Worlds such as Doozy Sack attracted the disenfranchised in droves. Peace Robots only took those that presented a threat to the community. That was fair. After all, the Governors believed in freedom as long as everyone did what they were told.

This was not enough for the Anarchists; they seemed to harbor the illusion that the Governors could be defeated. Akane had never understood this. What was the point of rebellion? To burn down the city out of spite? Even if a rebellion was successful, so what? Doozy Sack was a single grain in a bucket of sand in the eyes of the Governors.

Today's speaker was no exception. He was a small wiry and very loud man going on about all of his grievances against the world. There was something familiar about him. It wasn't just the way that he bore himself on the podium. It was the little things that just didn't seem right. For one thing, his clothes, though the standard attire for the Rimsides, looked a little too new. He also looked a little too well fed. Adding all of these factors gave Akane a sense of Déjà vu.

Judging by the banner he wore around his chest, he was a member of the Children of the Grak, one of the larger and more annoying groups that made a nuisance of themselves in the Rimsides. Akane had seen enough of them passing out fliers over the years. For the most part they were harmless. Of course, with Peace Robots around, so were terrorists and murderers.

The Anarchist had chosen this day well. The crowd would be his own, and he would not have to worry about normal citizens objecting. He would only have to preach to his personal choir.

"For years we have believed we lived under the heel of oppression." He said into his microphone. "I come here to tell you, that is not so." He paused to listen to the cheer of the crowd. "For too long we have let the Governors tell us what to do, and we have hidden when their servants have come to enforce their laws. Today that will come to an end, for today we will fight back!"

Akane gasped as she heard the anarchist speak. Stargoggles, wide brimmed hat, and a scarf over his mouth may have hidden his face, but it could not disguise his voice. "I know who that is," she whispered to Ranko. "I met him at a party once. He's the son of a first generation cloth merchant who lives on the edge of the Gentryways. Wish I could remember what his name was." Akane smiled in amusement, "amazing what people will do for attention." Ranko shrugged but said nothing.

Loud cheering drowned out Akane's comments. The speaker waved for them to stop. "I stand before you today as a single man who is unafraid, a single man who knows that together we can stand our ground against the Governors. Together we can burn their blight on this land and bring their Starports down upon them. Together we can act in the name of Freedom!"

The crowd exploded into an uproar with chants off "Freedom!" and "Death to the enforcers! Death to the Governors! Power to our species!"

The Anarchist was on a roll and readied himself for his finale. "The Governors have no hold over us! We do not fear them! And we will destroy them!"

The crowd had turned strangely silent.

"We do not fear the governors!" The anarchist shouted louder with emphasis. He stopped as he heard the only noise, besides the wind blowing and the distant rumble of landing ships, was a low hum. He realized just why his followers were silent.

A single Peace Robot hovered over the crowd. Everyone stood frozen as it passed above them. Slowly it drifted across the fairground until it stopped within a meter of the speaker. The anarchist stood frozen as the Peace Robot slowly orbited around him, it's sensor cluster never turning away from him. After what felt like an eternity it zipped away, seemingly unconcerned by what it had just seen.

It was at this point that someone decided to throw a rock at the Peace Robot.

The Peace Robot whipped around, with a loud snap, firing a laser that destroyed the rock before it even got close to its target. In the same second it fired a stun bolt at its assailant with pinpoint accuracy. The man fell to the ground. Everyone around him jumped away as if he carried the plague. The Peace Robot then flew off, responding to an unheard summons.

There was silence for the next minute as the crowd waited until they were sure that the Peace Robot was gone. The crowd turned to the Anarchist who was still unable to move.

"How dare you?" one demanded.

"Troublemaker!" shouted another, "you people are all alike! Keep it up and they'll punish you for sure!"

"DO YOU WANT ALL OF US TO BE BORN AGAIN?" A woman shouted, throwing a bottle at the speaker. The Anarchist jumped off of the podium covering his head with his hands to protect himself from the rain of garbage and rocks.

Akane and Ranko watched in the far back of the crowd safe from any possible danger. "Well, that was entertaining." Akane said shaking her head in amusement. "But we really have to get moving. She looked around for any possible Taxicabs. The only one that she could see was a large Gaff-drawn carriage driven by a Lollygagger. "Only in clear weather," She muttered to herself.

The Lollygagger gurgled an inquiry.

"Take us to the western end of the Gentryways and step on it." Akane said, climbing into the carriage.

The Lollygagger looked confused for a second, and belched a query.

"Just drive as fast as you can." Akane sighed.

The Lollygagger quivered in its equivalent of a shrug and shook the carriage's reigns.

"Mizunkoji! That's what his name is, Tobimaro Mizukoji!" Akane exclaimed in excitement as the carriage moved slowly towards the Gentryways.

* * * * * * * * * *

The roads collectively referred to as the Gentryways went up into a series of hills, which contained one of the most affluent communities on Doozy Sack. Strategically situated between two Ports it was the home of Plutocrats, merchants and of course Mayors. Akane was always impressed when she entered the Gentryways proper. Compared to the Rimsides, the streets were crowded for a clear weather day. Since nearly everyone in the Gentryways could afford appropriate gear, there was little reason to fear the Star. And what gear! Akane felt shoddy just looking at it.

The term Mayor was a bit of a misnomer. Mayors on Doozy Sack were not elected officials. It was the popular euphemism for the heads of certain families and organizations. Bribes and corpses counted the Mayors votes. For the past few centuries humanity lived on Doozy Sack, the Peace Robots had done little about the Mayors hold over the Rimsides. Whether they tolerated or ignored the Mayors' path to ascendancy will never be known. If they took anyone it was generally the dumb ones and so the Mayors prospered and became respectable.

The Kunous were one of the four families that held control of the areas directly around the Lazy Fair in a very delicate balance. Who knew what would happen if even one of the houses fell.

The Kunou townhouse stood near the western end of the Gentryways and had a very good view of the Lazy Fair and the southernmost parts of the Rimsides. There were houses that were more impressive then the Kunou's but certainly not many. Everything was made quite lavishly out of wooden logs no doubt imported at great expense. A huge tribal mask topped the huge doorway. Two guards stood at both sides of the door.

"Akane Tendou of Heaven's Way Freeport to see the Lord Mayor Kunou." Akane said formally. One of the guards nodded and led them into the Townhouse.

The house steward greeted them at the door of the conference room. He was a little man with buckteeth and whiskers who covered his head with a brown hood.

"Hello, Mistress Akane, it is good to see you all grown up. Congratulations on your coming of age. I hope to see more of you. I am Sasuke, chief steward of this house. I apologize for any delay, but the Lord Mayor is unavailable. Young Master Kunou is handling affairs today."

Akane somehow managed to hide her frustration, though it didn't really surprise her. The Lord Mayor had been "unavailable" for almost a year now. Tatewaki, his son had been handling most of the family affairs, at least the ones that required a public face.

"Ah, Master Kunou is available. You may enter now," the steward said opening the door to the conference room.

The conference room was a long, ornate, chamber with the walls decorated with murals of large fierce looking fish. There were twelve guards dressed in the manner of what Nabiki had once described as Samurai. (Some sort of elite warrior caste from the Old World that Kunou claimed he was descended from. Having heard the thick freetrader patois the Lord Mayor, his father, spoke in, Akane doubted his claim very much.

Tatewaki Kunou sat at the end of the chamber finishing his audience with his last client. He looked up to see Akane waiting. He dismissed the client with a gesture. "Ah the fair Akane Tendou here all by herself. For what do I owe this honor?" He asked.

Akane bowed in submission and approached. "Heaven's Way Freeport sends me to provide this months payment my lord." She gestured to Ranko who came forward with the satchel that contained the payment.

"Ah, a fair scarlet flower. Is she part of the tribute as well?" Kunou asked. Ranko stared at him in shock.

"No, my Lord. Ranko serves me alone." Akane said dryly.

Kunou shrugged. "It is well. It is unseemly for one such as I to own such a," he paused, "but Akane Tendou. I see that the rumors are true. You have come of age and are thus available."

"We just require your receipt and we will be on our way My Lord." Akane said, trying to keep her composure.

"No, this can not be, " Kunou said, getting up from his chair. "The fair, sweet, unplucked Akane Tendou plays hard to get. To arouse the passions of those who admire her from afar. It is unseemly to ignore the advances of one as noble and prestigious as I. Akane Tendou, I would court you!"

He rushed towards Akane with his arms outstretched. Ranko was in front of her mistress in an instant, striking Kunou in the jaw. Kunou went sprawling to the ground. Ranko stood in front of Akane with her fist still stretched out in a defensive pose. For a moment there was silence.

It was broken immediately as all 12 guards drew their weapons in unison. Akane could smell the ozone, as the zapsticks activated, and hear the crackle of electricity. She knew zapsticks were non-lethal, but they were painful, and too much exposure could short-circuit every neuron in your brain.

She stepped closer to Ranko who looked as if she was ready for anything. Akane wasn't too sure. "Get ready P-chan," she whispered. The little black piglet nodded as its eyes began to glow.

"What vitality." Akane turned to see Kunou getting up and rubbing his jaw. "What energetic beauty." He continued, ignoring everything around him except for Ranko.

Akane watched as the guards backed away. She grabbed Ranko by the shoulder and forced her down to the ground as she bowed low before Kunou. "Please take pity on this lowly one my lord!" she shouted staring at the floor if I had her trained better you would have not been harmed. She will not forget this day! When I am through with her she will wish she were never born. She will beg your forgiveness!" Ranko hit her head against the floor in a forced kow tow.

"No, no that is quite unnecessary." Kunou said, "to have the audacity to strike this august form . . . I must have her. Akane Tendou, name your price for the pigtailed girl."

"You flatter me with your forgiveness, my lord, but my useless unworthy servant one is hardly fit for the likes of you I would do you a disservice to offer her to you." Akane pressed Ranko into another bow. Hoping that Kunou would not see her gritted teeth.

"Nonsense, I will give you five thousand credits for her." Kunou said, producing a handful of credits.

"Oh my lord, how I wish that I could indeed give her to you as a gesture of good faith, but bondservants are the property of the house hold. You will have to discuss the matter with my sister, Kasumi" Akane said trying to buy more time. She was saved as the steward returned with the receipt. Akane took it with a nod of thanks and pulled Ranko up by the arm. "A pleasant day to you my Lord, I hope to see you again soon. She turned and walked slowly out of the conference room dragging Ranko behind her.

Kunou sat down and watched the two girls leave. "They are a feisty pair, aren't they, Sasuke?" he said still rubbing his jaw.

"Oh yes, most definitely, young master." The Steward answered.

"And yet she flees from the glory of my presence. Am I too overwhelming?"

"Oh I wouldn't say that Young Master, but young ladies are timid. Perhaps your forwardness scared them. Perhaps a more subtle and romantic approach would be more appropriate."

"Yes that has to be it, Sasuke," Kunou mussed, "frightened by my glory as the sweet young innocent does that they are. Perhaps, perhaps if they saw just how dangerous the forest is they will run to my bosom desperate for comfort and protection."

"I'll get on it right away, young master."

# # # # # ## # # #

Akane breathed a sigh of relief as they exited. "Why in the void did you do that?" She asked turning to Ranko.

"Mistress?"

"Why did you hit him? In his own house? Did you want to get us killed? Did you want him to take his revenge on my entire family?"

"He attacked you, Mistress. I thought you were in danger."

"I'm only going to tell you once, Ranko. You will know I am in danger when I shout 'Help. Ranko. I'm in danger.' Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Mistress."

"Good. Now, come along we've wasted quite enough time already. I want to get home as soon as possible. Kasumi's letting me cook." Akane turned and walked to the cab.

Ranko stood for a moment watching her mistress walking. Even though Kasumi had told her to ignore Akane in these areas it still felt like a conflict of interest. "Kawaiikune." She muttered under her breath. She covered her mouth in shock. She had no idea where that had come from.

* * * * * * * * * *

"Thomas Paine," Tobimaro Mizukoji slurred as he slammed his fifth whiskey onto the bar, "was an Asshole! Fair weather patriots, indeed!"

The Glass House Saloon was a popular establishment at the west corner of the Lazy Fair. It was known for its large mirrors that gave the place a wonderfully bright and open feeling and its wide selection of exotic beverages at a reasonable price. Normally, at this time of day, it was very crowded. However, during clear weather it was often empty except for a few customers. Mizokoji had come here after escaping the angry mob and was now quite drunk.

"How dare they!" he asked the empty room yet again. "All the Enforcers have to do is make the smallest display of power and everyone betrays me! They'll pay for this, by damn, trust me; they will pay for this."

Polly, the Tengu bartender and owner of the GlassHouse Saloon, bobbed his head in a gesture of understanding and sympathy. Business had been slow today. Clear weather was always like this. All potential customers, who could, stayed home, rather then risk the dangers of being roasted by the Star. But this male human was helping them make up some lost revenue. He was drinking, ranting, and then drinking some more, but as long as it didn't interfere with other customers, self-pity was very good for business.

Polly couldn't help wonder though. From the gossip he had heard (and Polly loved gossip) the male human had spoken out against the governors and had stood up to a Peace Robot! This human had to be a slow goer Polly thought to himself, using one of the less flattering terms for the human first generation. There were rumors that that the first generation of human's had traveled through the void in suspended animation. Could the cold storage have killed their brain cells? It would explain much. Only slowgoers constantly forgot what the Governors were capable of.

Polly found human behavior constantly fascinating. He had found that running a bar was the perfect method to dabble in his hobby of xeno-sociology. There were things he would never understand, of course. For example, why humans referred to the trrYreeayllK(phrik)Kak! as Tengu at all. Polly was in the debt of one female human who was willing to explain as she served him carrion Okonomiyaki. It still made very little sense as he had studied the picture she had given him. He saw no similarity other then the black feathers and the beak. And the description of the creature in the book, "Mischievous wind spirits?" the trrYreeayllK(phrik)Kak! were an honorable and solid people. Polly had categorized it into his collection of "cultural eccentricities" and filled another glass with grain alcohol.

"This one quite sure they not intend it, Kak! That how this one hear it, Kak!" Polly commented. "Fear, Kak! is most powerful motivator."

"That is not good enough!" Mizukoji shouted. "They let their weaknesses get the better of them. Look at them they hide!"

"Is the male human sure? Phrik! It clear weather outside, Kak! Why one want to burn when they has shade? Phrik? Those humans over there is away from home too, Kak! Is they brave? Phrik?" Polly gestured towards his only other customers as he shook his head in a symbol of interrogation and query.

The Anarchist turned to look at the people that Polly mentioned. There were two other patrons at the bar right now, a man sitting in a private booth and a woman sitting at a table near the bar. The man wore a wide brimmed hat that hid most of his face in shadow. The rest was covered in a scrubby beard. He sipped his drink as he eyed the door to the saloon. Another man entered and sat down next to the bearded man. He was young and handsome, dressed in the manner of one of Kunou's bodyguards. He casually fingered the weapon resting on his lap as he looked around the room. Neither said anything. The bearded man lit a cigarette. The silence was broken as Polly leaped over the bar to get the newcomers order.

Mizukoji turned in irritation as Polly's long feathered tail brushed against his face by accident. It brought his attention back to the woman sitting alone at the table. She had taken off all her clear weather robes except a wide brimmed hat revealing a nice figure. She nursed a drink and appeared to be crying.

Mizukoji bolted down his whiskey, and smiled. "Looks like there are people who need help after all," he said to Polly who had returned to get the man's order and temporarily perched on top of the bar.

Polly bobbed his head up and down in an expression of agreement and conspiracy. Humans may not have sensible hormonal cycles, but their mating rituals were endlessly fascinating. "Go and catch her, Kak! You carnivorous mammal, Kak! You, Kak!" Polly tried his best to emulate what he had heard one patron refer to as male bonding.

Mizukoji got up and walked over to her table feeling more than a little concerned. "Is something the matter?" He asked.

"Go away," the girl mumbled, not even looking up.

"No, you look as if you've had some trouble. I want to help," Mizukoji said sincerely.

"No one can help me." She burst into tears. Finishing her drink. Mizukoji put his hand on her shoulder. "Don't touch me!" She hissed, glaring right at him revealing her face for the first time. Once it had been a pretty face. Now it was awful. A leather patch covered what was once her right eye. It did not cover the terrible damage that had been done to the rest of her face. There was no way it could have been an accident. Long scars covered half of her face making it look like the reflection from a shattered mirror. Whoever had done this had used a knife and had been very creative.

Mizukoji jumped back in shock. "Who did this to you?" he demanded.

The girl blinked with her one good eye. "It doesn't matter. There's nothing you can do about it. There's nothing anyone can do about it! The Mayors' princelings will always get away with whatever they want. They're rich enough."

"Princelings?" Mizukoji. For the son of a Mayor to abuse the power he wrongfully held was anathema, but the knowledge did not help the Anarchist at all. Most of the local Mayors had sons. He had gone to school with some of them. "Which one? Mendou? Kunou?"

"Sanzenan. Pretty as a god, and twice as evil, Mikado Sanzenan," she sobbed. "He wanted me, 'a mere kiss' he claimed. I refused, so he grabbed me and he, he..." She broke down, unable to speak through her sobbing.

"Sanzenan, typical," Mizukoji muttered. Mikado Sanzenan was one of the princelings that he didn't know personally, but he had heard of the young playboy's quest to "'kiss' a thousand girls." He had never imagined that even the Mayors would stoop to this level to get what they wanted. "This is unacceptable," he stammered. "Why didn't the Peace Robots stop him?"

"Peace Robots?" the girl sneered. "The mayors own the Peace Robots! The Governors sell them wholesale. They serve anyone rich enough and step on anyone else. Peace Robots watched as he. . . . as he.." She broke into tears yet again. Shaking uncontrollably.

"Well if they won't do anything," Mizukoji growled, "someone must. The Mayors must pay. That little bastard can not be allowed to live!"

"No you can't! They'll kill you!" the girl shouted. "Give up; it's pointless. You can't do anything!"

"That is what they want you to believe!" Mizukoji shouted. "I may be killed; but if I do nothing I have already lost. The Mayors and their masters will fall! Someday soon, truth, justice and anarchy will prevail!" He turned and stormed out of the Bar.

"Don't go! Please!" The girl screamed. But it was too late, he was gone. She regained her composure and removed her wide brimmed hat and ran her fingers through her short brown hair. The two other patrons got up from their booth. The clean cut one walked to the door and watched the Anarchist run down the street. He nodded to the bearded one who went to the girl's table and handed her an ornate Starmask.

"Weren't you laying it on a little thick, Mistress?" he asked.

Nabiki Tendou smiled as she peeled off her scar tissue. "Jigen, Jigen, Jigen. After all I've taught you. If you want someone to believe you, lie loudly."

16