Hello, all.

I probably won't finish the first draft of Sunrise Chronicles pt. 3 by my 
personal deadline.  I still have a few scenes to work on yet.  I'm not in 
a mood to write right now, and probably won't be for an hour or two.  I'm 
pulling an allnighter tonight, simply because I can't sleep.  I 
dunno...it's frightening, anymore.  The slightest thing will set me off, 
and that scares me.

Oh well.  

Anyway, a little something for you to enjoy, for Thanksgiving.  I'll be 
leaving for a few days to visit my parents for the holidays.  Please keep 
in mind that these are rough, as they never saw the light of a second 
draft until now.  All should be from early drafts of Circe pt. 2.

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     A few hours later, after going through a runaround between experiments 
and "feminine hygiene" (ugh), Mackie walked slowly toward the bathroom.   
She stripped her clothes off slowly, each discarded article revealing more 
details of her unpleasant change, a shudder coursing through her at each 
revelation.  By the time she was finished, the poor girl was nearly in 
tears.  So many dreams, so many fantasies...now gone, or in reversal.  
She walked over to a full-length mirror to take a look at her new self.  
The sight hammered home the sad truth, that, for some unusual, unholy 
reason, her body had molded...changed...into the form that was her.  
Crying, the girl sank to her knees.  She had never been a religious 
person, having been the son of a scientist, but this...this was beyond 
the hand of science.  She prayed, to any deity willing to listen, 
"...please...just change me back...I can't go through life as a 
girl...please..."  Mustering the strength to stand, she walked over to 
the shower, closed the door, and turned the water on.  More 
revelations...feeling sensations...as the cold water ran over her skin, 
tickling her now-sensitive bosom and nether areas....She placed a shaking 
hand on the wall, in an effort to remain standing.  Then the hot water 
kicked in.  A strange sensation...like an entire body being pricked by 
needles....

     Mackie opened his eyes, and started crying for joy.  Unable to 
contain himself, he ran out to his sister, not bothering to wrap a towel 
around himself.

*****************************************************************************

     "Uhhh..."

     Linna woke up from her nightmare to find...a stonewalled room, 
spartan in furnishings, with only the bed she was on and a couple of 
chairs.  Her hardsuit, once the proud armor of a Saber, was lying in 
pieces on the floor, damaged beyond any working order.  

     She moved to sit up...and instantly regretted it.  Waves of pain 
washed over her, nearly causing her to faint from the agony.  She turned 
very carefully as the wooden door to the room opened.

     "Ah.  You awake."  An older woman, looking about 50 or so, walked 
into the room, carrying a battered tea kettle in her hands.  She was tall 
and well-built for her age, with streaks of purple running through her 
gray hair.  Her dark eyes held a predator's focus as she eyed Linna 
carefully.  Linna struggled to sit up again, this time with more success.

     "What happened?  Where...am I?"

     The woman smiled.  "You fall in Jusenkyo spring.  You fly, then fall 
to earth.  I find, then take here."

     The Saber groaned from the aches of the previous day.  "Oooh...what 
was in those springs, anyway?"

     "You not know?"  She was clearly surprised by her guest's lack of 
information.  

     Linna shook her head no.  "I came to break into the lab and get some 
information."  At this, the old woman's face hardened.

     "Grrr...Genom pay for destroying family...village..."

     "So...Genom ruined your life too, huh?  I've known so many friends 
killed by those monsters...why do they do it, anyway?"

     "Who know."  She put down the kettle, picked up a fire bucket from 
the corner, and sat down on the bed next to Linna.  "So...want to hear 
about Jusenkyo?"

     "Sure..."

     "You see, each spring have own tragic legend.  Someone or something 
drown in each.  Now, you fall in, you gain body of whatever drown there.  
You fall in Spring of Drown Man."

     Linna looked nervous at this.  "Wh-what do you mean?"

     "This," the old woman said, throwing the bucket of water on the 
young lady.

     "......" Linna was speechless, eyes round as quarters as "she" 
looked down at "her" self.  Where once a curvaceous, lithe feminine body 
had been, a well-built, strong masculine body was.  He managed to stammer 
out a word, "H...How?", then was instantly quiet, surprised at the deep 
resonance of his voice.  

     The old woman picked up the kettle of hot water, and smiled sadly.  
"Noone know how.  It always been like that.  No cure, either.  Believe 
me, I try.  Now, cold water make you guy.  Hot water change you back to 
girl."  She proceeded to pour the hot water on Linna to demonstrate.  
Linna's eyes grew wide once more as he/she watched him/her self return 
back into her natural shape.  The old woman hugged her, then stood up. 

     "It could be worse.  You could be cat, like me, or dog, pig...even 
monster.  At least you still human."

     The woman looked surprised for a moment.  "Aiyaah, I not introduce 
self.  I Shampoo, last warrior of Niichieju."  She then extended her hand 
in greeting.

     Linna carefully extended her own, and accepted the warrior's 
greeting.  "I'm...Linna Yamazaki."

     "You warrior?  You say you fight Genom..."

     Linna shrugged.  "Yeah...at least I used to be.  I think my friends 
thought I died."

     "Hmmm...You want to stay for time?  I train you..."

     "What kind of training could you give me?"

     "Niichieju martial arts, of course.  I have no heir...anymore."  Her 
head drooped slightly.  "I show you how to crumble boomers...one touch.  
Show other moves, too..."

****************************************************************************  

     Two figures were silhouetted against the sunrise over the Bayankala 
Range, their fluid movements providing a surreal, almost supernatural 
beauty in the early light.  Punch, block, kick, parry...the ballet 
continued until one landed a decent blow.  Then, it started again, its 
beauty undiminished.  Voices could be heard from the combatants as they 
sparred.  

     "Why do I have to fight as a guy, anyway?"

     "You may not have choice."

     "But I already know how to fight!"

     "Not as guy you don't.  Guy form have more strength, more mass, less 
speed, less flexibility.  Once have fiance with same problem.  He not 
used to fighting as girl.  Had to develop speed to make up for lack of 
strength."  As if to punctuate her point, the woman landed a blow under 
the man's ribs.

     "OOF!...You had a fiance who was a girl?"

     "He fall in spring."

     "...(giggle)...I'm sure you made a lovely couple."

     "We have fun times.  Ohhh...that remind me.  You learn Kashuu 
Tenshin Amaguriken tomorrow."

     "Kashuu what?"

     "You hate me forever after this..."

     "Why?  Is it that bad?"

     "Ranma never trust great-grandmother after he learn."

     "Ranma?"

     "Ex-fiance."

     "So...whatever happened to him?"

     "grrr...He marry some slut name Akane."

     "oh."  The young man stopped for a moment.  "Have you ever thought 
about going back to Japan?"

     The old matriarch thought about it for a moment.  "Oh...on 
occasion.  Where I stay?"

     "I have a few friends..."

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     An hour later, the foursome sat in a booth at a nearby restaurant.  
Both Mackie and Ranma had changed back to their natural forms, and were 
wearing similar Mandarin-style shirts.  Sylia sat there, a picture of 
calm professionalism, while Nodoka stared at Mackie, intrigued by the 
young half-man sitting across from her.  The young lady coughed, then 
turned to Sylia.

     "So...why did Mackie become cursed?  Don't tell me you wanted him to 
fit in the armor..."

     Sylia shook her head and laughed.  "No, nothing like that.  Genom 
has a lab next to the springs.  We tried to raid it, when most of us got 
dunked.  Mackie was there for technical support."

     "Waitasec...Genom has a lab next to Jusenkyo?  Why?"  Ranma was 
getting nervous.  Sylia just locked eyes with the martial arts master.

     "Why do you think?"

     Ranma just shook his head.  "Oh man...if they can control or 
reproduce the curse...Are you planning on going back?"

     Sylia nodded.  "Once Mackie and Nodoka are fully integrated into the 
group, yes."

     Ranma's face was set in stone.  "Make sure you stay away from the 
springs, okay?  I don't want to see Nodoka cursed like I was."

     "Are you okay, Ranchan?"  An older woman stood before them, carrying 
four plates of okonomiyaki and drinks.  She was about Ranma's age, with 
gray hair tied back into a long ponytail.  Her slender, still-muscular 
frame was adorned with a traditional okonomiyaki cook's outfit and a 
bandolier with spatulas.  

     "I guess...Ucchan, these two are Sylia and Mackie Stingray.  Sylia, 
Mackie, this is Ukyou Kunoichi, co-owner of this place."

     "Waitasec...as in 'one of your old fiancees' Ukyou?"  Mackie was 
ready to burst out laughing.

     The chef's eyes lit up.  "You told him about us?"

     Ranma shrugged.  "Well, he has...water problems."

     "Sir!  I'd prefer if you didn't tell..."

     Ukyou's eyebrows shot up.  "You change?  Into what?  Don't tell me..."

     "Yep," Mackie said glumly, wishing the floor would swallow him whole.

     Ukyou nudged him gently.  "Don't worry about it.  You can handle 
it...I hope.  Anyway, here you go.  Four orders of the deluxe special," 
she said, setting the plates down in front of them.  "So...how's the dojo?"

     Ranma shrugged.  "It's okay.  Business is picking up."  He threw a 
sidelong glance at the Stingrays.  "How are things with you and Konatsu 
and Midori?"

     Ukyou laughed.  "Good.  Midori's graduating in a few weeks, so we're 
all excited about that.  The pregnancy's going fine, with no problems 
whatsoever.  As for Konatsu, he's still as crazy as ever.  You should 
come and visit more often.  Well, I've got customers, so have fun, okay?  
Also, it was nice meeting you two."  She then turned and walked back to 
the grill.  

     Mackie just shook his head.  "How did you end up engaged to her, 
anyway?"   

     Ranma laughed.  "Arranged engagement.  Her father offered Pop a 
yatai as a dowry, so he accepted, even though he already had me engaged 
to Akane."

     The young man sighed.  "Gee, I wish they still had those things 
around today.  It would simplify things so much..."

     "No, it wouldn't.  Trust me."

     "Besides, an arranged marriage can get in the way sometimes," Nodoka 
chimed, smiling at Mackie.

     All of a sudden, Mackie felt...uncomfortable.  Here was an 
attractive, energetic, intelligent woman, and he was...cursed.  
Still..."I guess.  So, when do we start training?"

     "Tomorrow, 10:00 AM.  Be ready to work."  Nodoka was still looking 
at him, smiling.  

     The group then dug into their meals and ate.   

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