"Ranma Forever" Ch 6 Part 3
Michael Haney
I'm trying to work on a novel too. FRAK!!!! Anyway, please read and
review.
====================
The follow story is a work of fan fiction using characters that are
copyrighted and/or trademarked. The purpose of this story is for fan
enjoyment only free of charge. All original content is protected by
Creative Commons License 3.0.
oOOOo
Michael “TheZorch” Haney's
“Ranma Forever”
oOOOo
Chapter 6 – Part 3: And So It Begins
One week after touch down the SG-1 team ran into a raging battle
between Amazons, strange looking men who seems partially bestial,
people with wings and invading forces from North Vietnam. It was safe
to say the North Vietnamese didn't stand a chance. It was about that
time that they ran to a group of Amazon women. Teal'c had mentioned
several times that he thought they were being followed. Colonel
O'Neil tried setting up a trap for them a few times to no avail, their
pursuers were keeping a safe distance away. The Joketsuzoku explained
that they'd been commanded by their queen to ensure nothing happened
to them during their trip through China. So, the SG-1 team was lead
around the battlefield, which was more a massacre than anything else,
and took them deep into the rugged wilds of China.
With the detour it took them six more days to reach the Bayankawa
mountain range on foot. Jack had tried to talk the warrior women into
using a car but they refused each time. He and the four members of
his team believed that they were all in pretty good physical shape due
to all of training and missions. They soon learned that being in good
shape was a matter of opinion. The Joketsuzoku seemed superhuman when
it came to endurance. Teal'c was the only member of the group who
could really appreciate the strength of these women. He often
commented that they reminded him of his own people in many ways.
It was when they were a few days out from the village of Nyanchiczu
that things stopped going so smoothly. At least for a certain
archaeologist who was perhaps too curious for his own good. They'd
entered the Josenkyo valley deep in the Bayankawa mountains, it was
during this leg of their journey that Colonel O'Neil noticed a slight
change in the demeanor of their hostesses. Teal'c was the first to
notice it. As they entered a misty pass through the valley floor the
Amazons had them stay close and in a tight group. Soon, thought the
mist they began to see hundreds of tall bamboo polls still up in the
air. Around each one was a large pool of water. The warrior women
gave this place a wide berth, trying to avoid going close to it as
much as possible.
“What is this place?” Daniel had asked, speaking Mandarin. He'd
discovered that the language of these Joketsuzoku was entire Mandarin
but an amalgam of Mandarin and an older language that had its origins
in the steppes of Mongolia centuries ago. This further proved his
theory that they were the descendants of the legendary Amazons of
Greek legend.
One of the women looked in the direction of the pools and replied in
her tongue, “Josenkyo, do not go near for it is a cursed and sacred
place.*
“Josenkyo ... pools of sorrow,” Daniel thought out loud as he
translated the Mandarin word in his head. He'd remembered reading
something that referenced a place called the Pools of Sorrow but he
couldn't remember from where.
He asked, “Why is it cursed?” In his line of work old legends often
had their roots in fact. This applied to anything involving the
Ancients, the Goa'uld and the Asgard. Old Earth legends and myths
could not be overlooked, because they had a tendency to be very real
and often dangerous. Knowing what he knew now Daniel realized that
many archaeologists had been very close to death several times. They
had no idea that the seemingly primitive artifacts they unearthed were
sometimes very dangerous pieces of alien technology.
“The knowledge of why has been lost to the ages, know only that it is
dangerous to go near.” the warrior replied. Soon the group was taken
to a clearly that was still within sight of the springs. The leader,
a tall purple haired girl with tanned skin, said that they would be
camping there for the night. After the tents were pitched and the
fire started he Josenkyo Guide came over to greet them.
It was later that night that Dr. Jackson slipped out of his tent and
made his way over to the pools. They were fresh water springs, he
recognized the monkey poles from his study of the far east and
realized that this place had once been used for martial arts training
long ago. He tried questioning the Amazons more about Josenkyo
earlier that night but none of them were able to answer his questions
or were choosing not to answer his questions. So, he decided until
everyone was asleep before sneaking out.
He figured at least one Amazon was awake on look out duty, so he kept
low the ground as he approached the springs. From his jacket he
pulled out a sample container. He wanted to get a sample of the water
for Sam to analyze later. If the curse of this place was caused by
some kind of alien technology she might be able to tell from a water
sample. Slowly, carefully he was about to dip the container into the
water when he heard a footstep behind him.
“Daniel, what are you doing?”
“Getting a sample of this water for Sam,” he looked back only to see
Colonel O'Neil's silhouette in the waning campfire light.
Jack replied, “For some reason this screams 'bad idea', and coming
from me that says a lot.” He'd seen these warrior women do some
amazing things. He'd seem only a little of the battle the Amazons
were fighting and what he saw told him they didn't know the meaning of
fear. So, when they suddenly show open fear of bunch of glorified
puddles in the ground there just might be a good reason for why
they're afraid.
Daniel was already dipping the first sample container into the water.
“I'm only getting three samples, first form this pool and then two
others,” said Daniel. “What could possibly go wrong ... ok, I'm
starting to sound like you now.”
“Well, hurry it up before the one out on watch comes back and catches
us here.” Jack urged him. Daniel moved to the next pool, reached down
and took the second sample. He secured it tightly, put it away and
pulled out the next. The third and last pool he was going to get a
sample had higher banks so he had to reach down to put the sample
container in the water.
“Almost done ... Jack!” Daniel cried out as he felt an invisible
force tug on his arm and pull him towards the water. O'Neil was at
his side in an instant to grab him but wasn't nearly fast enough. All
Jack could do was watch as Daniel vanished beneath the surface of the
pool. He heard several footsteps behind him and turned around.
“Get away, this place is dangerous!” one of the Amazons yell pulling
him away from the spring.
“Hey, one of my people fell in there,” he pointed to the spring
Daniel had fallen into. It was at that moment that a figure surfaced
sputtering and gasping for breath. In the dim light they couldn't
make out the person's features. Jack caught the reflection of the
camp fire light on Daniel's glasses. He moved to help Daniel out but
one of the warriors stopped him.
“NO!” she demanded. “Go no closer, tempt not the magic of the
springs or they will pull you in.” Heeding the warning Jack just
watched as Daniel made it to the side of the pool and pulled himself
out. By this time Teal'c and Samantha Carter were up and had joined
the group after hearing the commotion.
“Jack, what happened?” Sam asked him, then she followed his haunted
gaze to the figure sitting stunned on the ground. She recognized the
clothes as those belonging to Dr. Jackson, she recognized the wire
frame glasses, but the face and was totally different.
Teal'c took one look at Daniel and said, “It appears the fear the
Joketsuzoku have for this place is indeed justified.”
Jack for once had no witty comments on the tip of his tongue this
time. “What are you guys loo .... what the hell happened to my
voice?!” Daniel exclaimed in panic hearing not his normal voice but
one that was considerably higher in pitch. Sam knelt down beside him
and got a very good look at Daniel's face. The reason for the change
was now quite apparent, and she was able to notice other changes as
well beside just in the face.
“That isn't all that's changed,” she said pointing to his chest.
Daniel looked down to see a considerable bulge there that hadn't been
there before. Carefully he opened the front of his jacket and put a
hand on his chest. When his hand felt what was there his ... her ...
eyes rolled up into the back of her head and passed out.
Jack finally came out of his shocked stupor and said while trying not
to break out into a fit of laughter, “I guess we gotta call him
Danielle now.”
“Indeed,” Teal'c deadpanned.
“Jack!” Sam reprimanded him while she looked Daniel over. “This is
serious, Daniel has been physically transformed by something in this
water. There is no telling how complete this change could be, whether
its permanent and how it can be reversed.” She didn't dare touch him,
at least not yet out of fear the change could be due to nano-machines
in the water.
One of the Amazons replied, “There is no cure, but the change can be
temporarily reversed. Bring him, it is safe to touch him and we'll
show you how to reverse his change.” The Amazons, totally unphazed by
what just happened as if they've seen it a thousand times before all
left the SG-1 team and went back to the camp. Jack and Teal'c picked
“Danielle” up off the ground trying not to cop a feel and carried her
back to the camp with Major Carter following behind them. Eventually
the now female Dr. Jackson sat by the fire in a fresh change of
clothes which didn't really fit her anymore and was sipping a cup of
hot chocolate.
“So, you say there is no cure yet his change can be temporarily
reversed,” said Jack to one of the Amazons. “I don't get it, you said
there isn't a cure so how can he change back at all?” Two of the
Amazons put a kettle of water on one of the stones ringing the camp
fire to heat up.
“The curse is triggered by cold and warm water,” one of the warrior
women explained. “Cold water triggers the change and he becomes a
she, and warm water reverses the change but only until he is drenched
with cold water.”
The Amazon who was apparently the leader added, “And, that will
happen often as the curse also makes the victim a water magnet. He
will find himself being splashed with cold water at some of the most
embarrassing moments, with both cold and hot water. It is the nature
of the curse. The only way to minimize that part of the curse is to
accept it as a part of your life and not to fight it.”
“How can I not fight this?” Dr. Jackson asked her looking up at her
with distress in her eyes. She could feel that this change was more
than just some kind of illusion. Her body felt different, she center
of gravity was all wrong so she wasn't too sure on her feet yet, and
her underwear was rubbing her in uncomfortable ways down ... there.
No, this change was far more than an illusion or just and outward
appearance. It was a total and completely physical transformation.
Either this was real magic like the Amazons claimed or it was Ancient
technology on a level they'd never seen before. Sam was thinking the
same thing.
“Are there any others who have this curse?” Sam asked them. The
leader nodded her head.
She replied, “The consort to a friend of the Red Queen has the curse,
from a different pool so he does not become a girl, and the Prince of
the Musk Dynasty has the same curse as your friend.”
“How many of these curses are there?” Jack asked, when she said “from
a different pool” something in him clicked and he immediately looked
towards the springs. There were a lot of springs.
“As many as there are springs in Josenkyo, be thankful your friend
fell into the Nyanniichaun or spring of drowned girl. At least he
stays human, other springs transform you into animals.” the Amazon
explained. She went over to the fire and checked the kettle to see if
it was hot enough now. Gingerly she picked it up and poured some over
Daniel's head. Jack, Sam and Teal'c watched in shock as his
transformation didn't happen slowly but was instantaneous. One second
he was a girl and now he was back to normal faster than the blink of
an eye.
“The change was instant,” Teal'c observed.
Sam surmised, “I've never seen or read about anything that could
possibly cause this kind of transformation to take place so quickly
that you can't see it happening with the naked eye.” She was nearly
at a loss for words.
Daniel felt his chest, not feeling anything soft yet firm he sighed,
“I'm a guy again, at least,”
Jack patted Daniel on the shoulder and asked, “Hey, you ok?” Dr.
Jackson nodded, the relief on his face at being male again was
unmistakable. “Good, look at it this way, at least you make a cute
girl.”
“Thanks Jack, that really helps,” Daniel said sarcastically.
“I am surprised, most people who acquire a Josenkyo curse are usually
in a panic and hysterical,” the Amazon leader said to Daniel. “Of all
the victims of the curse you seem to be rather calm.”
Jack laughed, “When you've seen what we've seen and done what we've
done something like this ain't a big deal.” The Amazons looked at him
with some confusion. He enjoyed the inside joke knowing there was no
way these women could know about the Stargate program and the wild
adventures him and his teammates have been on over the years.
Teal'c had been thinking and asked, “With as many springs as are
visible from the fire light one would assume there is a spring of
drowned man which should negate this curse, should it not?” His
question was greeted by a look of horror on the faces of all of the
warrior women.
The leader told them, “Never seek a cure to the curse using the
Nanniichaun or spring of drowned man. The promise of a cure using
that method is a trap, you'd lock you're friend into his cursed form
for the rest of his life.” The Jaffa visibly paled and Daniel gasped
at the prospect.
“So, there really is no cure for this?” Jack asked. He looked over
at Dr. Jackson, though he didn't say it he knew his friend and
colleague could sense his heart went out to him.
The leader replied, “That is correct, you either learn to accept the
curse or it destroys your life if you endeavor to resist it or find a
cure. It is the nature of the curse.”
Jack said, “Whoever made these curses was a real sadist.” He
couldn't really imagine himself living with such a curse and now here
one is teammates and best friend has one.
One of the Amazons said, “The magic of the springs was created by the
Old Ones.” As if that explained everything. Jack just looked at her
with an expression the easily read, “huh?”
Daniel's ears perked up at this. “The Old Ones, you mean the ancient
god of antiquity from long before the god of ancient Greek, Roman and
Egyptian mythology?” he asked.
The leader nodded and replied solemnly, “Yes, the ancient dark gods
who bore witness to the birth of this world and this universe and how
now thankful sleep in distant dark places far from the reach of mortal
beings.”
“Dark gods?” Sam asked looking at Daniel.
He explained, “There are many ancient tales of a pantheon of dark
gods who ruled the world long before the gods of the ancient classical
civilizations. According to many ancient stories the younger gods
banded together against them and drove them away. H.P. Lovecraft
often used these Old Ones in his stories based on ancient writings
that spoke of them.”
“So, there's a real Cthulhu out there somewhere?” Jack asked, but he
had a funny feeling he wasn't going to like the answer. Fighting big
bad aliens just went with the job.
“Cthulhu?” Teal'c said questioningly.
“Big ugly thing with tentacles and a bad attitude,” said jack.
Daniel replied, “Well, some say Lovecraft's works were purely fiction
but much of his works were based on ancient texts from Babylonian and
Egyptian mythology concerning great dark gods which once existed long
before the gods they worshiped appeared.”
“Could these Old Ones have been Ancients?” Sam asked him. They knew
the Ancients were very old, on the oder of a few million years. It
was a possibility.
Daniel shook his head. “I'm not sure, its possible but all of the
information I've obtained about them says that they were benevolent,
these Old Ones were said to be incredibly cruel.” he told her.
“I am sorry to interrupt this discussion, but we should rest for we
make for the village tomorrow.” the Amazon leader told them. They all
agreed and went back to their tents to get as much sleep as possible
before the sun comes up. It was late in the morning when they woke
and finally made the final trek towards Nyanchiczu. As they reach the
top of the hill the first sight that reached SG-1 was the great tree.
Daniel looked back at Sam who looked up at the massive arbor with an
expression of awe. It pretty much dominated the entire mountain niche
where the village was nestled. The village itself sprawled out
underneath the great tree as it it were stretching out its mighty
branches to protect it. From this distance they could see what looked
like structures attached to the great branches of the tree, rope
bridges and walkways that round their up far up to the top. The
Amazon village looked like many other villages SG-1 had seen on
different worlds that wee preparing for or were engaged in a war or
some battle. Joketsuzoku were everywhere doing different tasks. It
was a scene they've seen many times on their trips through the
Stargate.
“This way,” the leader of their escort pointed towards the great tree
and they made their way through the village. The Amazons glanced
their way only briefly not really paying much attention to them. Dr.
Jackson absorbed everything he saw as they went through the village.
Just from observing their war preparation activities he was learning a
great deal about these people. Indeed they exhibited behaviors and
customs which were part Chinese and part Eurasian. Their ancient
European Amazon roots were quite evident to his eyes, but it was
subtle so only someone who was trained to notice such things could
tell.
“Hard to imagine these little girls brought down the Chinese military
all on their own,” said Jack as he looked around at the relatively
primitive looking village. There was some evidence of twentieth
century technology but not much.
This elicited some rather harsh looks from the women who were within
earshot. “Uh, Colonel, this is a matriarchal society, I don't think
say that right now is a good idea.” Sam warned him hoping to save off
another Jack O'Neil foot-in-mouth incident. It wouldn't be the first
time they would have had to fight there way out an armed encampment
because of Jack's mouth.
“Remember, the Vietcong using primitive bamboo spike traps, old
surplus World War II issue Russian AK-47s, improvised bombs and land
mines, and limited supplies nearly defeated a high tech, well equipped
army in the Vietnam War.” Daniel reminded Jack.
Teal'c added, “I admire their warrior's spirit, it is not their
technology which win the battle but their determination to crush their
foes. In their eyes I see a flame burning, a fire I've seen in my own
people. They are driven to win because they believe they cannot be
defeated, and it is this which has allowed them to succeed.” He
received appreciative glances from their escorts for those words.
“Its probably just PMS,” Jack quipped.
“Jack,” Sam and Daniel signed together.
This was going to be one of those days.
oOOOo
“Milady, the Americans have arrived,”
Ranma looked up from her chair in the nursery where she was nursing
one of her newborns to look at the young Amazon who peek into the
room. Her mother sat opposite her holding one of the three tiny
bundles in her arms as the child slept peacefully. Since her arrival
and eventually acceptance of what happened to her son Nodoka had been
growing fonder of her “daughter”, but most of all she absolutely
adored her newborn grandchildren. They were all beautiful. She'd
almost forgotten how tiny newborns had been. Ranma had been a big
child as an infant. She had the stretch marks to prove it.
“Have them wait in the guest area until I'm done here,” she said.
The Amazon bowed and slowly closed the door behind so as not to awaken
the sleeping infants.
“Ranma, are you alright?” her mother asked. She regarded the older
woman with a smile which was obviously forced.
“They made me their queen because of some ancient scrolls they
found,” said Ranma. “I don't know anything about being a leader, or a
queen, or anything like that.”
Nodoka smiled back and replied, “But you've been doing a pretty good
job so far.”
Ranma sighed, “That's because Cologne is my advisor. I'm sure if I
didn't have her I be screwing things up.”
“I wouldn't sell myself so short if I were you,” Cologne said from
the door. She quietly walked into the room just in time to overhear
Ranma, her ever present staff slung over one shoulder. She went to
the red head's side and sat down in a nearby chair.
She continued, “The peace we enjoy with the Musk Dynasty and the
Phoenix Tribe were negotiated by you.”
“I wouldn't call those negotiations,” Ranma replied. “Its more like
I earned their respect and trust after fighting with them for a few
years.”
Cologne smiled and said, “Because of you our current modernization
plans got started. And, you have been doing a good job so far making
decisions as Queen. I've only advised on a few things, not everything
you've done.” Ranma smiled at the ancient woman she regarded as a
second mother. The infant in her arms stopped suckling, gently she
laid the tiny girl on her shoulder and rubbed her back until she let
out a little burp.
“That's the last one,” said Ranma as she gently laid the infant in
the crib next to her third sister. “I guess these kids really are
going to take after me, they sure do eat a lot.” She took the newborn
from her mother and laid her down next to the other two. The three
looked up at her briefly before closing their eyes and falling asleep.
“They're rather well mannered for newborns,” Nodoka observed. “You
kept us up the first six weeks we brought you home from the hospital,
Ranma-chan.”
The older woman was expecting a wince at the “chan” part, but she
guessed Ranma had been living as a woman long enough that it didn't
bother her anymore. Cologne was happy to see Ranma's mother was
starting to get used to her son being a girl. She didn't really want
to have to hurt the woman but she'd been prepared to kill Nodoka if
necessary. It looked like that was no longer necessary, which was a
good thing for both Ranma and her children.
“Ok, lets go see what the American's want,” Ranma said quietly as
they all left the room closing the door behind them gently. The three
made their way down the walkways suspended in the great tree towards
the guest area. This was the same place where Ranma's family had
first arrived. It seemed almost a million years ago. For Ranma it
was hard to imagine its been just a week since they came and since the
fireball fell from the sky.
Cologne commented, “I spoke to the warriors who brought them here.
They seem unusually calm and at ease with what they've seen so far, as
if the unusual and the strange is normal for them.”
Her eyes narrowed and she added, “The ebony skinned one has an
unusual aura like nothing I've seen. Be careful in there.” Ranma
nodded.
“I'll probably just get in the way here,” said Nodoka as she turned
to head back in the other direction. “The girls are all up on the
observation deck having tea with that nice young man who arrived a few
days ago with all of those girls.”
“You mean that, what was his name again?” she asked Cologne.
“Masaki Tenchi, I believe that was his name,” the elder replied. “He
and those girls also have strange auras, and what that one Ayeka had
said about this tree was rather interesting.”
“It does explain a lot,” said Ranma who put her hand on the massive
trunk of the tree, she could feel its power flow into her hand. “Do
you think what they said was true, that this tree came from another
world?” She looked at the ancient elder as if to gauge her response.
The elder regarded her with eyes filled with great wisdom.
She said, “Its possible, our legends of the great tree tell of it
descending from the heavens so there could be truth to what that one
named Ayeka said about it. By the way, she is rather eager to have an
audience with you after you're done here.”
“Tell her I'm sorry for making her wait, things have been crazy
lately.” Ranma told her as they neared the guest structure.
Cologne laughed, “That's putting it mildly.”
Ranma grasped the door handle and steadied herself. She said, “Ok,
lets do this.”
oOOOo
Nodoka reached the observation desk high in the tree just in time to
hear the trailing end of yet another argument between the boisterous
spiky, cyan haired girl named Ryoko and the dark purple haired girl
Ayeka who had a rather distinct regal bearing. She held back a smile,
they remind her so much of how the girls around her son come daughter
had acted all the time. While Akane hadn't been quite as loud as that
Ryoko girl she certainly had her temper. Ayeka was somewhat more
composed, around Tenchi, but whenever Ryoko made a snide comment
towards her Ayeka was instantly breathing fire. Tenchi, for his part,
had a better control over the situation than her son ever had. He had
the bearing of a martial artist about him, there was also something
else she couldn't put her finger on. It was as if he was radiating a
power of his own that ever she, a non-martial artist, could detect.
The girls deferred to him a great deal and when he spoke up for them
to stop they often listened. If only Ranma had commanded that kind of
control over the girls back in the day. Oh, well, she couldn't dwell
on things beyond her control. Those days were well behind her son
come daughter now, she was happy the way she was and because of that
Nodoka was a grandmother. She was in her happy place.
“Auntie Nodoka, was I ever that bad?” Akane asked her quietly after
she sat down at the table. A tea service had been set and trays of
delicious snacks beckoned.
Nodoka laughed behind her hands and said, “Not quit but close enough,
Akane dear.”
“My sister and Ryoko-san are always like this,” the young girl with
sky blue hair commented from her seat next to Kasumi and her husband.
The girl was perhaps twelve years old and beginning to flower, Nodoka
could tell her beauty would surpass her sister's in a few more years.
She liked Sasami very much, probably because she was so much like
Kasumi in many respects.
The red haired girl added, “They aren't as bad as they used to be, at
least they haven't destroyed the house in a few years.” Nodoka
remembered her name was Washu, she rather mature for a girl of her age
which was somewhere around Sasami's, but her eyes were her most
striking feature. They were ancient, showing wisdom far beyond her
years.
“Its like watching us fighting over Ranchan all over again,” Ukyo
said with a wistful smile as she remembered the good old days back in
Nerima.
Kasumi smiled, “Oh my, they certainly are like that aren't they.”
“We can hear you guys, we're sitting right here.” Ryoko groused
before taking a draw on a sake bottle.
Tenchi nervously scratch the back of his hand and apologized, “Sorry
about this,”
“You two have done nothing but argue since we arrived,” complained
the beautiful green haired woman whom Nodoka remembered was named
Noike. “It is disrespectful to our guests.”
Nodoka respected that girl. Tenchi had a little control over the
girls, but Noike was a different matter. When she spoke they listened
instantly, she had a very strong commanding voice and seemed to know
how to control younger people. She remembered Sasami saying something
about the girl having lots of younger brothers and sisters. It
showed. Noike was much like Sasami, very kind and sweet, but her
personality could make quick one eighty when needed especially when
Ayeka and Ryoko decided to have at it.
“I am truly sorry,” Ayeka said bowing her head, her cheeks blushing profusely.
“Ain't the princess's fault she can't accept that Tenchi and I are so
much in love,” Ryoko then said.
Ayeka responded, “In your delusional fantasies perhaps, but it is
Tenchi and I who are deeply in love. He could never love something
like you.” Sparks, visible to the naked eye sparks, flew between the
two women as they glared death at one another.
“Oh, please don't fight again,” the blond haired girl named Mihoshi
scolded them. Its often joked how blond haired girls were ditsy and
air headed. She girl took that stereotype and made it flesh. Nodoka
could see in her eyes great intelligence, eyes that have seen a great
deal of suffering, but she didn't show any of it in her personality.
“That's enough,” said Tenchi scolding them. “How come you two have
started fighting like this again? I thought we were behind all this.”
“Its because they're worried this Ranma might take a liking to you
and try to steal him away from them,” said Washu in a matter-of-fact
tone.
Nodoka looked at her puzzled for moment then Akane busted out
laughing. “As if that would ever happen,” she guffawed.
“Yeah, sugar, Ranchan isn't that flighty,” Ukyo explained. “And
besides, she just gave birth to her husband's children, she's happily
married.” Ayeka and Ryoko looked sheepishly at each other, their
secret worries had been eating at the two of them and giving them
short tempers.
“See, nothing to worry about,” said Noike. “So please stop making
things unpleasant for the rest of us.”
oOOOo
First impressions are everything, or at least that's what the old
saying says. Cologne's first impressions of the this group from
America were mixed. She quickly recognized the bearing of a warrior
in the ebony skinned man the moment her eyes fell on him. The one in
glasses wasn't so much a warrior but she could see a great deal of
intelligence in his eyes. The only woman among them was a fighter,
she had the build of one, but her eyes showed more intelligence than
anything. As for their leader, his aura and bearing screamed
“Military” and yet he had a rather laid back personality. He was also
something of a smart ass, which meant that he and Ranma were bound to
bump heads at some point.
For the SG-1 team it was a different story. They were expecting an
older woman in red to enter the room not the young girl who had
entered and knelt down before them. She was dressed in robes which
were both elegant and functional. Teal'c easily saw how the outfit
was designed to mask the fact that it was made for fighting while
looking regal. The big shocker was Cologne herself. At first Jack
though the old matriarch was a pet monkey until she spoke up. The
whole idea of a old woman as diminutive as a toddler was a major
shock.
“So your government just wants to know our intentions,” said Ranma
after listening to Col. O'Neil for the past several minutes.
O'Neil replied, “Pretty much, we're here to find out exactly what it
is you want and what you intend to do. Right now as it stands you're
pretty much all there is for a government in China right now.”
“Our intentions are to route out any last remnants of the old order
and usher in a new one here in motherland,” said Cologne, who had been
silent up until now. “This nation will be restored to imperial rule
as it once was before the communists too control.”
“I think what Colonel O'Neil was asking was what are your intentions
on an international level?” Major Carter asked, on her mind were all
of the nuclear weapons that China had in its possession. Which were
now in the hands of a new government, such as it was, and nobody knew
what they had in mind.
“Look at this way, you are a small group which took own one of the
world's biggest superpowers second only to the United States,”
Samantha continued. “Its got a lot of people nervous.”
Ranma sighed, “They're worried about China's nukes.”
“If that's what you're really worried about, let your people know
that we intend to destroy all of the nuclear weapons in this country,”
Ranma told them after a pause.
Jack said, “The UN would probably want inspectors during that.”
“They are free to come and watch if they want,” said Ranma.
Dr. Jackson could see the obvious tension in the room. He himself
had been a bit stunned at the beginning of his meeting. He wasn't
expecting the Red Queen to be so … beautiful. “Uh, what are your
intentions concerning the object that crashed in Mongolia?” Daniel
asked
“That country's independence from China has not yet been addressed,”
said Cologne in response to Daniel's question. “As it is the object
is under Joketsuzoku control at the moment.”
Jack scratched the back of his head and said, “Well, there's a
problem with that.”
Daniel cut him off and said, “The problem is, we know its a
spacecraft and our government is concerned that whoever figures out
what is inside it first might gain a significant technological edge
over the other countries.”
“You mean your government doesn't want China controlling the object,
that they want to be the ones with the technological superiority.”
said Cologne rather tersely.
“We don't know what's in the thing,” said Jack. “It could be really
dangerous for all we know, and I double you have scientists in your
feminist paradise thing you're got going here.”
Cologne bristle at those words and was about to verbally reprimand
the male but his female companion beat her to it.
“Jack,” Samantha scolded him. The others could feel the room somehow
getting colder, yet it didn't seem like the place had air
conditioning. Ranma knew loosing her temper here wouldn't be good,
and thus employed the Soul of Ice.
Teal'c, whom had been silent since this meeting began spoke up
finally and said, “Doctor Jackson and Colonel O'Neil have perhaps
chosen their words unwisely. They express a concern of the United
States government that the secrets of the spacecraft could potentially
enter the hands of those whom would do harm with them. I am not
accusing you of being the ones who would do harm, but there is the
possibility that it could occur under the current circumstances.”
Ranma sighed and said, “I'd allow a joint examination of the wreck
with the United States, but only under the stipulation that whatever
is discovered there is shared equally. There also cannot be any
secrecy or cover ups otherwise there will be no deal.”
“We know your government is obsessed with secrecy,” said Cologne.
“There are other nations which live with the threat of violence all
the time, yet you have one terrorist attack and you become paranoid to
the point of insanity.”
Col. O'Neil pointed out, “Well, those other nations also didn't have
two major skyscrapers knocked down by hijacked aircraft either.”
“And the hundreds who die each year due to the violence between the
Israeli and Palestinians doesn't count?” Cologne asked him angrily.
Major Carter threw up her hands and said, “Wait! This isn't getting
us anywhere. Look, times for us are uncertain, we've never had
anything like that happens to our country before so an overreaction is
to be expected.”
“Like I said, I would allow a joint investigation of the thing, but
there is to be nothing held back and there is to be no secrecy.” Ranma
said again.
Cologne added, “Those are the terms and they are non-negotiable.
What ultimately happens with the object once its been thoroughly
explored and studied is for another discussion.”
“We'll have to talk to our superiors about that,” Jack replied.
Ranma had been thinking about this for some time and finally said,
“We wouldn't object to some Red Cross assistance. There are a lot of
injured people out there and the hospitals as I understand are pretty
filled up to the bursting point. There were survivors in Beijing and
all along the whole swath of destruction that thing made as it
crashed, amazingly.”
Major Carter nodded and said, “That is something we can certainly
do. We're already involved in Japan and North Korea at the moment
where some survivors were found in the destruction.”
“Its amazing anyone survived at all, the pictures I've seen of
Beijing show the city was pretty much leveled to the ground,” said
Cologne.
Teal'c replied, “The tenacity to survive the most dire of
circumstances is one attribute of the human race that has always
impressed me.”
Ranma looked at him curiously. Something about what he said didn't
sit right. She could feel is aura, it was rather unusual in
comparison to the others before her. It reminded her of the strange
aura given off by the others who had arrived not long ago. Tenchi and
his personal harem.
“Yes, we do tend to persevere during the hardest of times,” said
Cologne whom also gave the ebony skin warrior another look and noticed
his strange aura as well. She exchanged a silent message with Ranma
using subtle hand gestures and body movement, an ancient and secret
form of communication among the Amazons that dated back centuries.
Ranma focused her gaze on Col. O'Neil and asked, “This wouldn't have
anything to do with the fact that your dark skinned friend over there
isn't human would it?”
The ebony man didn't show any surprise but the expression on the
faces of his colleagues told a different story. Both Ranma and
Cologne smiled when they saw their attempt to hide their expressions.
“Teal'c is human like the rest of us,” Samantha tried to correct her.
Ranma replied, “He's no more human than that boy and his gaggle of
girl friends who showed up here from Japan not long ago.”
Cologne added, “There are peoples who've lived in this region for
centuries who are not entirely human. Therefore, we have a lot of
experience in sensing who is and who isn't human. Your spiritual aura
which all Amazons possess the ability to sense is perhaps the most
effective way to detect the difference.”
“So try pulling the other leg,” Ranma told Sam as she looked right
into her eyes. Samantha could see in those crystal blue eyes a
powerful mind and intelligence, they weren't dealing with a fool here.
“We aren't at liberty to discuss that right now,” Jack said finally.
Ranma waved her hand and said, “I guess that answer is good enough,
for now. Lets continue this later at dinner. Our other guests will
be there so its likely going to be an interesting chat.”
Jack nodded and replied, “We can do that. In the meantime we'll get
in touch with our superiors and let them know what you've said.”
“Ok,” said Ranma. She turned to Cologne and said something to her in
Mandarin which only Samantha and Dr. Jackson were both able to
understand.
Cologne told them, “We've had quarters prepared for you before your
arrival. I'm certain that you must be rather tired from your long
journey here. If you'll follow me.”
Bouncing on her staff like a pogo stick Cologne lead the SG-1 team
out of the guest area and up the swinging bridge walkways that wound
throughout the branches of the great tree up towards another guest
area separate from the one currently being used by Ranma's family.
This one was much higher up in the tree and a natural opening in the
canopy afforded them a view of the valley below and the sprawl of the
village.
“I've seen some big trees before, but this is ridiculous,” Jack commented.
Cologne explained, “An ancient legend says the tree descended from
the heavens long ago. It possess a power and voice of its own. Our
queen has a unique bond with the great tree, she is able hear its
voice and understand what it is feeling. The night of the object
crashed the tree protected this region.”
“You're queen hears voices,” said Jack with a curious expression on his face.
Cologne narrowed her eyes and said, “It was the tree which warned the
queen of the impending arrival of the object from space.”
Their guest quarters were surprisingly spacious but there were only
three rooms. Sam and Teal'c were able to have rooms to themselves but
Jack and Daniel had to share a room. There was a small balcony
outside that overlooked the opening in the canopy of leaves and it
also had its own stone hearth for cold nights.
“This tree is sentient?” Dr. Jackson asked her.
Cologne regarded him from a moment. While he wasn't a fighter by his
build and the way he held his body she was impressed by his
attentiveness and his eyes which looked at everything with such
curiosity. He wasn't military by any stretch of the imagination
despite his attire. He had the bearing of a learned man more than a
warrior.
“Only the queen can say for sure,” she explained. “There are a lot
of mysteries surrounding this sacred tree, but I have a feeling our
other guests might know something about it. We'll see tonight.”
She pogo sticked over to the wall and pointed out a small rope
hanging from a level. “I must leave you now, if you need anything
pull his rope and someone will come and attend you.” she explained.
After everyone put their gear in their respective rooms the team
gathered in the main room of the guest dwelling near the hearth to
talk. This first meeting wasn't anything like they'd expect it to be.
They now had more questions than answers on their minds.
“How were they able to tell Teal'c wasn't human?” Jack asked Sam.
She shrugged her shoulders and said, “I'm not sure, but its clear
that they were able to sense something.”
“People who are spiritually attuned are said to be able to sense a
person's aura,” Daniel explained. “Typically the Tibetan monks are
among the groups whom are said to have this ability. We know so
little about these people or their ways so its hard to say what they
are really capable of doing.”
“They spoke of other non-humans living in this region,” said Teal'c.
Daniel nodded, “The entire orient is awash in ancient legend and
folklore of otherworldly beings coexisting with humans. There could
well be a grain of truth to those legends.”
Jack replied, “What sort of legends?”
“In this specific region, there are ancient stories of man beasts
half-man half-animal,” Daniel answered him as he read his notebook.
“There were also legends dating back several centuries of winged
people living in these mountains.”
“We know aliens once lived on earth a long time ago,” said Sam.
Jack replied, “Yeah, but weren't they Goa'uld?”
“Technically the Ancients would also be classified as aliens even
though they are our predecessors,” Daniel told him.
Teal'c spoke up and added, “It is possible that earth has been
visited by many races over the centuries since the uprising against
the Goa'uld.”
“The general is so going to love this,” Jack said as he dug the
satellite phone out of his pack. He and Teal'c went to the balcony
and setup the portal dish which could improve their transmission since
they would be using encryption for this call. Little did any of the
know their conversation at dinner time was going to be a major turning
point for their mission. It was going to an event that changed
everything.
oOOOo
Jack's little chat with General Hammond was an interesting one. He
was right about the General's reaction to everything that was
discussed. The fact that they could tell Teal'c wasn't human was a
major revelation. A few hours after the team's remote debriefing the
team received a call from the SGC on their satellite phone.
“This is Colonel O'Neil,” Jack said as he answer the call. The rest
of the team listened, each waring headphones with a mic so they could
each respond.
“Colonel, I just finished briefing the President,” said Gen. Hammond.
“You're orders are to secure a cooperative agreement and peace accord
with the Amazons at any cost, he's willing to accept their terms
concerning the Visitor and will be briefing the UN Security Counsel
concerning their plans for China's nuclear arsenal.”
Jack looked surprised and said, “Well that sounds good, but I hear a
big but in there somewhere.” He knew Hammond long enough to know he
seemed agitated by something, it was the tone of the man's voice.
“Unfortunately there is, we've learned that the Iranians are
interested in forging an alliance with the current government of
China.” the general replied.
Sam looked at Jack in surprise and said, “This is the first we've
heard of this, as far as we know we're the only foreign delegation
here.”
General Hammond told them, “Their delegation has arrived yet because
of a blockage by what's left of the Chinese navy. Technically they
still haven't surrendered and are working out amongst themselves what
to do next.”
“Do they intend to counter attack the Amazons?” Teal'c asked. It was
on the minds of everyone. Those ships carried nuclear weapons and
cruise missiles. Getting one here so far inland wouldn't be a
problem.
“That is a possibility,” said the general. “At the moment we have
three carrier groups in the Sea of China on the Japanese side of the
boarder. The President doesn't want this to escalate any further than
it already has so we're trying to negotiate with them, but its slow
going.”
“If they launch a nuclear cruise missile into this area we'll have
about ten to fifteen minutes to reach a safe distance,” Sam pointed
out this fact to Jack.
Daniel chimed in and said, “I don't think we'd be in danger. I
remember Cologne said the tree protected this region.”
“How?” Sam asked him.
“If this tree possess some form of power it would stand to reason it
generated a shield over this land.” said Teal'c.
“A tree, making a force field,” Jack said incredulously.
“Compared to all that we've seen over the years, I'd say its
possible.” said Daniel.
General Hammond asked, “Is this that massive tree you mentioned?”
“Yes, general, we're in a house built in its branches right now,”
Jack told him. He looked out over the balcony at the ground below to
judge their height. “I'd say we're about fifteen to twenty stories up
right now, and that's only half way up this thing.”
“Nothing like that has shown on satellite imagery.” Hammond told him.
That was also a surprise for the team, they looked at one another
questioningly.
“Well, its here and its real, general.” said Daniel.
After a pause the General continued, “Alright, SG-1 your orders are
to forge a treaty with the new government of Chinese using any means
necessary. I'll get back with you on everything else once we get more
intel on our end.”
“Yes, sir.” Jack said with a salute though he knew the general couldn't see it.
“Well, looks like we've got our work cut out for us.” Samantha said
as Jack shutdown the satellite link.
To be continued...
Notes: I had intended to put the dinner in this chapter but I was
running out of ideas, until I had an interesting idea of how to
advance the story and incorporate the dinner into that. I've been
fighting writer's block something fierce for a while now after
deciding to start my professional novel. Also, most of this chapter
is the original and most is new material because I had the document
open when the power went out and I hadn't saved in a while. Luckily
OpenOffice was able to restore most of the file and I only had to
replace some of it.
Anyway, the next chapter will refer back to the dinner in flashback
sequences. The story will be set further on into the future after the
new government of China and the United States forged a treaty and
start exploring the crashed ship together. In this time frame it will
be five years later. No more spoilers from here on. Hope you liked
this chapter and I promise to have the next one as soon as I can.
--
Michael "TheZorch" Haney
thez...@gmail.com
http://thezorch.googlepages.com/home
Skype: thezorch (Voice and/or Chat)
AIM: thez...@gmail.com
Yahoo IM: zorchhaney
ICQ: 343230252
GoogleTalk: thezorch
MSN Messeger: haneym...@hotmail.com
Free Your Computer from the Tyranny of Microsoft www.ubuntu.com
PCHeintz72
other things...
While actually not my most hoped for to be updated by you, I do read
this one as well.
Pretty interesting, even if it is more a bridging chapter than
anything big happening in it per se.
Daniel getting a curse was half expected with all the trouble that was
gone to to warn them off going near them.
Although not reading for errors, couple things stuck out, though I
know it was already posted to FF.NET.
>>"I wouldn't sell myself so short if I were you,"
Look forward to more from you... on this, and hopefully some of the
other works you've stopped over the years.
>>"Look at this way,
'at this' s/b 'at it this'
RS - 103
Regards
Luke Strange //
// Express GFX Website Designs //
(IM Contact)
Yahoo!: RanmaSaotome103 //
Skype!: ranmasaotome103 //
TheZorch
other story to update next. I think I should finish up A New
Direction Taken now.
--TheZorch
PCHeintz72
continuation. Personally my order of preference, not that it means
anything, would be something like:
1. 'Maho Shoujo Ranma' (2/2008) I've been hoping for more on.
Especially more with the Ami/Ranma relationship. Especially since the
last chapter seemed more a filler or transition chapter than a plot
moving forward chapter.
2. 'The Warrior and the Peacemaker' (8/2008) has long been a favorite,
and long been waiting to see what happens next.
3. 'A New Direction Taken' (10/2007) not bad, but not quite as
interesting to me as some of your other works since we seemed past the
critical plot phase, not that there is not more to write, but it left
at a good stopping point, at least IIRC. The Final chapter to the arc
would seemingly be more wrap up and flashback than anything else. I
want to see it done, but perhaps not as much as others continued.
4. 'Beneath A Crimson Sky' (5/2008) you left off at a fairly critical
point.
5. 'Sister Secrets' (5/2008) was an interesting start... but am
unsure I would want more.
6. 'Unification' (8/2006) had been let to sit for some 2 3/4 years
though.
One I do not know where to place in the list, as it was interesting,
was 'Fighting In The Dark' (3/2008).
Michael Haney
the novel I'm working on which I plan to publish.