Merciless, pt. 3

[greatestgenius]

It had started out as a replica of the Science Academy arena as re-purposed by two of the most demented minds ever to come out of those hallowed halls.  Now it had the look of a temple, or a court room.  Or both.  The ceiling, if there was one, was high enough that it was invisible, but spotlights hung high enough and were bright enough that the

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[your_mine_ryoko]

As Washuu passed on her little 'gift' to Nagi, the bounty hunter only stared in silence as she practiced with her new weapon. Her pain and hurt lifted, she was able to stand to her full height and focus more clearly. She looked down at the girl huddled before her. Nagi wasn't one to feel pity for anyone, but even she was hard pressed to just execute someone who was so mentally distrubed. Besides, she was a bounty hunter. She lived for the thrill of the hunt. She wanted a battle...not a simple execution

[greatestgenius]

Washuu stares at Nagi, defeated, aware that she is refusing to do the job right. Her last chance was turning away, watching the room change instead of taking the vengeance she ought to have had. She knew who had brought the others here, who had brought them all to the arena. Now there would be no stopping it and she'd have to go through it all. Unless

[earth_and_air]

"Washuu! Get a grip!" Before he knew what was happening, he was kneeling on the ground, trying to shake some sense into Washuu. He couldn't believe that a sprited girl like herself just wanted to end it all. As even-tempered as he was, he could never forgive Seto for what she put Washuu through. But now wasn't the time to dwell on it. "Washuu, I don't want it to end like this! We'll find Tsunami and we'll have her heal you! Just please hold on!" He feels his heart turn heavy as Washuu begins to weep

[tsunami_sasami]

A flash of light appeared in her mind

[mecha_zero]

Z tapped his fingers impatiently. He had been sitting in this dank, dirty alleyway on this backwater world for who knows how long waiting for his contact to get off her ass and meet him

[renegade_genius]

At that instance, a red-headed girl in a black jacket came bounding into view. Her stunning green eyes helped highlight her sharp and keen appearance.

"I truly am sorry about the hold up...but I was just putting some finishing touches on a special project that's been percolating in my head for a few months now."

Her gaze turned to Z's bloodied hand.

"Huh? Looks like a nasty cut you've got there...need me to take a look at it?"

[mecha_zero]

"No, No. We ain't got time for that. The anomaly I told ya about ain't gonna last for too much longer." Z spoke as he forced himself up, anxious to get this over with. He ran his non-bloodied hand through his hair and started down the alley.

"C'mon, the entry point is this way. Just hope nobody's stumbled across it while we were sittin' on our hands millin' around!" He muttered.

[renegade_genius]

Shrugging her shoulders, Washu just sighed and followed along Z's path through the dirty alleyways. She had to admit, she'd never thought she'd find herself associating with another science enthusiast after turning to her profession as a scientist for hire. While the gig DID pay the bills, the scientific community tended to shy away from dealing with careers as 'shady' as hers.

Still, it was nice to collaborate with someone on her level during a brief respite from her contracts...even if she felt he was a bit on the pushy side.

It didn't take them long to reach a secluded wearhouse in the middle of the slums. A quick check on her holo-top confirmed that this was the place they were probably looking for. Still, out of professional courtesy, she checked with her associate to make sure.

"So...this is the place, huh?"

[devil_princess8]

In Washuu's little world, Seto had distanced herself from the group in order to better gauge the situation. She had been told that something like this might happen, but she seemed oddly nonplussed about the situation. Her keen eyes scoured the battlefield looking for anything interesting or unusual.

She didn't have to wait long.

It started imperceptively at first...but as she watched, Seto noticed that Ryoko and Nagi were beginning to slow down as they approached each other. And it wasn't just them. All the others in the group began to slow their movements as well...all except Seto. In fact, she seemed to be the only one aware of it.

She chuckled. "Well, I suppose now WAS as good a time as any. Still, I was hoping to watch Nagi and Ryoko have a go at it...if only for the entertainment value." Seto smiled, knowing that her 'friend' was probably on his way.

[mecha_zero]

"Yeah, Yeah. Says you." A disembodied voice called out. A few seconds later, Z teleported in front of Seto. "I like a good catfight as much as the next guy, but we've got more important things on our plate right now, don't we?"

He strains his face, and he becomes more serious. "I don't know how long I can keep Tokimi-bitch outta this. I already had to wax one of her sisters...and she's probably kinda aware of Washuu's behavior problems. It's fine as long she thinks Washuu's behind it...which is why we're doin' this in this subspace hole...but if she finds out that we're..."

Seto just laughed.

[devil_princess8]

"Oh my dear Z, you worry far too much." Seto told him, whipping out a fan and bringing it to her face. "Like you just mentioned, we're conducting our business in this subspace chamber, formed from Washuu's own power. As long as that's the case, I'm sure Tokimi will be content to believe that Washuu's engaged in some sort of causality experiment. This is HER dimension after all, I'm sure she won't interfere in her sister's business...and I'm pretty sure she has her own affairs to attend to."

When Z had first appeared before Seto and asked for her assistance in achieving vengeance against his controlling masters, he told her everything about the powers of the three Chousin. Seto had absorbed it rather well...considering her limited knowledge of the supernatural before hand.

"Speaking of which, we should decide the fates of our little family here. While things are secure at the moment, I don't see a need to dally on their ultimate fates any further." Oh yes, she had big plans for them.

[mecha_zero]

Z began to snarl. "Yeah fate. I know all 'bout that rubbish. Come to think of it, I got my own ideas about the destinies of these guys." Z began to eye Tenchi and Washuu threatingly. He stomped over to the pair, still frozen in time. Washuu kneeling on the floor and Tenchi trying to comfort her.

"It's cause of this bastard that bitch Tokimi went around trying to create guys like me. Really. For this chump! It's kinda sickening ya know? Be better if I just put this loser out of everyone's misery."

Slowly, he began charging up some energy in his hand...