Number: 78

Title: Cold

Type: Fan fiction


Synopsis:
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This one is a mess; there's at least four different versions that I've
thought of.

The basic premise is that ice-ages are not natural events. They are
caused through the conscious efforts of an entity practically no-one
knows about. The few that do, and their attempts to stop it... that's
the focus of this story.

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COLD
by Rick Spiff

A Ranma 1/2 / Dragonball Z / Men In Black crossover fanfic, with
influence borrowed from Total Recall and numerous James Bond films.

    "Fate picks out our paths with bloodied hands and does not
     apologize for its failures." - Tzare Daidoji.

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OUTLINE

Prologue: Stigmata

Ryouga is training in the woods in northern Japan. Doing some rough
katas in what he thinks is the wilderness, a group of children surround
him, watching him. After a while, he realizes he's right next to a small
town. Finishing his practice, one of the children asks him about the
'funny lines' on his skin. Ryouga, however, can't see them. One of the
old men in the village comes up, shooing the kids away. He talks with
Ryouga for a moment, insisting that Lost Boy is indeed scarred, and
rather badly. Ryouga gets very aggitated, then (with some difficutly)
gathers his gear and departs.


Part 1: Echoes

Ryouga crashes into the Tendo abode, normal amount of chaos taking
place. Ranma, however, isn't around, and he's left with Akane to talk
to. After a while, he is trying to convince her he's not crazy while
presenting evidence that he is. Akane, confused, relays Ryouga's story
to Nabiki, who produces an un-labeled tape. None of them know what's on
the tape, but they know that it's important. Ryouga dashes off looking
for Ranma.

The next day is an uneasy one for Nabiki and Akane. Nabiki relates her
strange dreams to Kasumi



Things are being patched up in the Saotome home, which has been nearly
restored from the wedding disaster. Ranma is at the house with his
mother, moving about some heavy boxes. Genma is away at the hardware
store. Ryouga wanders into the place in a total panic, acosting Ranma
and telling him 'all is lost; it's the end of the world!' During a short
scuffle, Ranma blocks a clumsy boy from the lost boy. When their hands
touch, Ranma recoils, then dashes to the bathroom, loosing his lunch.

Ranma and Ryouga leave the Saotome home to get some answers. It seems
Nabiki has a video tape that has a few of them on it.

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Saotome Ranma stared in shock. The face on the TV was his, yet not his.
The eyes were harder, the body language refined and direct. Also, Ranma
did not recall ever making a video of himself--either in childhood or
recently. The figure on the TV looked almost older than him... and he
noticed a tracing of scars that up the double's left arm.

"Hello there." He said in a voice toned to be friendly without real
feeling. Ranma was tempted to say hello back to the doppleganger.

"If things have gone well, then this tape will be thoroughly destroyed
according to some written instructions. If things have gone badly, then
I'm talking to myself, and you--along with the rest of the
household--are recalling things they know didn't happen in this life.
You all may have noticed my scars. They are on you too, buddy." The
doppleganger sighed heavily. "I hate to do this to you, but things are
as bad as they seem."



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