Revision Note: Yeah, so after reading the profiles a little more closely, I figured what I originally wrote isn't going to cut it in my taste. Many of you might not agree, but then again even if I understand the Ouendan a little more than I did last time, it may not have changed a whole lot.
Episode 1: International Face-off
In southern Thailand, an outdoor, national mixed martial arts tournament is being held to determine which country has the strength and fighting style to win the trophy and be named "Champion of the Year". Among the thousands of contestants entering this year, one in particular, a young man with a brown buzz-cut, wearing black and red shorts doesn't seem too thrilled about being part of this nation-wide competition.
Though he had trained for days to prove his worth of taking over his master's dojo, just seeing the amount of competitors ranging from light-weights to sumo wrestlers made him feel doubtful about his chances of winning. Covered in sweat caused more by anxiety than the temperature of the hot, Thailand sun at high noon in the middle of Summer, the man is distraught between humiliating himself by defeat on the ring, or changing his mind and shaming both his master and the pupils who look up to him for courage and inspiration.
- - -
A glossy haired man with business glasses and a blue tux walks into the announcer's booth. He shuffles a stack of papers onto the desk in front of him before taking the mic and speaking into it.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, "Welcome to the National Mixed Martial Arts Tournament. Competitors from around the globe have trained day and night, through rain, wind and the blazing heat of the sun to prove their worth as this year's strongest and most undefeated champion!"
The crowd roars with excitement and anticipation as the announcer begins reading through the paper given to him early on in the day.
"Let's get down to it, shall we? For our first competitor: an apprentice of a jujitsu dojo in southern Japan with a goal to one day accept the task of mentoring his future pupils. Let's give it up for 25-year-old Shinji Tekatah!"
Shinji gulps nervously as he steps up onto the ring, looking around at the amount of people in the stadium surrounding it. The vulture-like stare of the eager audience almost made him feel as if they were waiting to laugh and humiliate him when he loses three seconds into the round. He began seeing his future crumble right in front of him; forced to be an apprentice for the next year, or worse, not be part of his master's dojo due to the excessive pummeling that would leave him permanently paralyzed.
"And his opponent," the announcer continues, "a reining champion of last years Mixed Martial Arts tournament, a heavy-weight wrestler with a small knowledge of kickboxing. You know him, you love him! It's Omar Burako!"
A buffed man with boxing gloves, blue and red shorts and a mean-looking face steps onto the ring. Shinji could've sworn he felt the ground shake with each step the man took, causing his anxiety to increase to the point of his knees knocking together.
Omar stops and looks down at his trembling opponent, his mean face widening as he imagines the pummeling he'll bring onto Shinji's Chihuahua-jittering hide.
A ref jumps onto the stage and heads to the center of the ring, taking two flags, one red and the other white, out of his pocket while looking between the two competitors.
"The rules are as followed," he said, "No head butting, eye gouging, hair pulling, biting or fish-hooking. Groin attacks are prohibited, as well as strikes to the back of the head, spinal area and kidneys. No grabbing or striking the trachea, no body manipulation, purposely throwing your opponents out of the ring; nor are you allowed to exit the ring for any reason at all."
Shinji is almost glade most of what's going through his opponent's head is forbidden in the tournament, or his pride won't be the only thing torn to shreds.
"At the sound of the bell, you may begin fighting," the ref said, quickly backing away. As soon as he left the ring, the loud sound of the bell signals the start of the round.
Omar roars as he rushes towards Shinji, preparing to grab the first thing he saw. The skinny fighter, having reached the peak of his anxiety, relies on one thought that courageously jumped into his head to save his spiraling reputation. Rearing his head back, he bellows a single word so loud it echoes throughout half of Thailand.
OUENDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!
As if expecting to be called, three men wearing black uniforms, resembling the kind Japanese students wear, sat among a crowd of people watching the tournament as it unfolds. Hajime Tanaka, with a gray buzz-cut, strapless glasses, a red bandana and arm band bearing the emblem of their squad, as well as being the younger of his two cohorts, Saito with glossy, short, black hair and an eye patch and Suzuki with the blond Mohawk, perks up at the sound of Shinji's hapless cry for help.
Omar hauls Shinji up into the air by his shoulders, his muscular body twitching with anticipation over what crushing moves he wants to throw. Shinji panics, thrashing his legs around in an attempt to break free. Just when he was about to admit defeat, the Ouendan show up on the sidelines, throwing their arms into the air while shouting "Osu".
Shinji's eyes literally burn with ambition as he brings his legs up and slam them into Omar's chest, forcing him to release his hold. He catapults off his opponent, landing at the end of the ring near where the Ouendan stood, taking up a fighting stance while Omar stumbles back from the impact, regains his snarling composure and charges off towards his skinny opponent, arms open for a grab.
Confident that Shinji is ready to fight, the Ouendan count down to the start of the first verse, using various cheer signals to encourage him to keep up his fighting spirit.
GATTSU da ze PAWAFURU tamashii
GATTSU da ze sui mo amai mo
GATTSU da ze Do the DOkonjou
Otoko wa ase kaite BESO kaite GO!
Shinji, burning with ambition, leaps into the air as Omar charges under him and collides with the ropes, ricocheting towards the center of the ring. Landing in one corner, Shinji began zooming around the ring at speeds so fast, he was almost a blur. Omar tries to keep up with him to the point of him spinning his body around, which ends with him swaying side to side in a daze.
MOTEnai dekinai
Iesoo mo nai (GATTSU da ze)
Kono CHINKE na OIRA ni
Ai o choodai
Aenai dakenai
Dekisoo mo nai (GATTSU da ze)
Kono ZANGE o kamisama
Kite choodai
Taking the opportunity, Shinji stops in front of his opponent and throws a flying uppercut into his face, sending him soaring clear across the ring. Omar hits the ground near the edge of the ring, stunned and out cold.
"Amazing!" the announcer yells through the music still playing in the stadium, "Running circles around his opponent, Shinji has managed to make Omar so dizzy, he couldn't even anticipate his blows! What secret techniques will he dish out in the next round!?"
Sensing Shinji's hesitation for the next round, the squad shouts "Osu" again, giving him another douse of burning ambition as he rigorously trains for his next fight.
Sonna yowaki de
Doosun no (doosun no)
GUtto nonde
PAtto yatte
Try Try Try
Tama nya hazushite
Feel So Good (Feel So Good)
Hora mangaichi kindaichi
Meikyuu iri suru mae ni
"Alright, folks!" the announcer says after the other competitors won and lost their rounds, "For the second preliminary round, we would like jujitsu apprentice Shinji Tekatah and kickboxing champion, Tikato Juti to enter the ring!"
Shinji eagerly jogs into the ring, looking at his opponent, who had short, spiky hair, a face guard, small boxing gloves and pads around his feet, walk on shortly after. The sight of Shinji jogging in place while throwing off some random moves leaves Tikato baffled as they wait for the bell to ring.
Once it did, Tikato rushes at Shinji, throwing punches and kicks that he merely dodges.
Umarete shinumade acchuu ma (acchuu ma)
Koi o motto koshi wa Hot Try Try Try
USO mo houben Feel So Nice (Feel So Nice)
Hora GUtto itte oshi no itte
Meichuu suru made
Shinji saw his opening when he ducks a flying punch from his opponent and clocks him in the jaws, sending him to the end of the ring the same way he did Omar.
"Another victory for Shinji!" the announcer roars, "Will this kid ever simmer down!?"
Another shout of "Osu" sends more burning ambition into Shinji as he once again prepares for his next victory.
GATTSU da ze
Yamato nadeshiko
GATTSU da ze
Oi mo wakaki mo
GATTSU da ze
Do the kawaii ke
Onna wa kawaiku
Kibishiku ne
One by one, Shinji's opponents were met with blow after blow of his jujitsu moves. Audiences were shocked and enthused by his determination to make it to the top. The only thing standing between him and the trophy is a wimpy, 18-year-old, tubby wrestler with messy, black hair and yellow striped, blue shorts that looked too tight to fit around him.
"And now Shinji's last challenge to the top," the announcer began, "Tony Salsar has been winning his battles by dumb luck. But now that he's facing Shinji in the final round of the tournament, I fear that it's completely run out."
Tony hasn't exactly been one for fighting anyone bigger and faster than him. But his retired father was dead set on proving that the wrestling skills, passed from father to son, would get him to the top. However, with his habit of winning his way to the top through terrifyingly punching, kicking, even allowing his opponents to trip over his fetal position and fall flat on their faces wound up being the only reason for his advancing to the final round of the tournament. Hajime, who had been watching the tournament while cheering his client on, could only look at him in pity when he motivates Shinji to take the title.
Repeating the routine of shouting "Osu" to fuel Shinji's burning ambition, they start up their next cheer performance.
Oh ikuka modoru ka
Dooshiyou ka (dooshiyou ka)
Chotto CHUUCHO
Dakedo icchou
Try Try Try
Moeru omoi wa
Beautiful (Beautiful)
Hora anta gatta
Sono taoozsei
Eikyuu Lovin' You Ah
GATTSU da ze PAWAFURU tamashii
GATTSU da ze sui mo amai mo
GATTSU da ze Do the DOkonjou
Otoko mo onna mo mori agette GO!
Fire burns in Shinji's eyes as he rushes towards Tony. The wimpy wrestler yells in fright and runs around the ring until he trip and fall on his face, looking up to find Hajime, Suzuki and Saito staring at him expressionlessly. Tony shutters in fright of their horror-enduing stare before looking behind him to find Shinji gaining on him at blinding speeds.
Scared out of his mind and with no way to defend himself, Tony throws his hands onto his head and screams at the top of his lungs.
HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALP!!!
At that moment, the music that gave Shinji the motivation to fight his way to the top comes to a scratching halt as a different tune possesses the speakers. Hajime frowns in confusion, looking around to see what was going on. At the same time, the sound of propellers filled the air, the wind throwing around the tails of the squads' coats, as well as the tails sticking out of Hajime's bandana.
The three look up to see a black helicopter flying 30ft in the air. The door swings open as a rope ladder flies out with three men in black suits attached to the handles.
J, with his large, orange pompadour and amber wayfarers, pulls out a wallet and flips it open, revealing his BA-2 license and badge.
"Agent J here! Let's get down and boogie!" he shouts. Morris, the back-up with the black afro, fedora, and blue, huge sunglasses, looks up at Spin, the rookie and third lead dancer with large headphones and green wayfarers.
"You ready to play follow the leader, bro!?" he shouts.
"You have no idea, man!" Spin shouts back as all three release hold of the ladder. They drop down towards the cheer squad who jump out of the way, each landing on a speaker surrounding the ring; Hajime landing on the speaker nearest the Agents while Saito and Suzuki land on the speakers furthest away.
Tony suddenly jumps up and starts waving his arms side to side. His expression, once terrified, now turns into that of joyous ambition. Hajime watches in overwhelming confusion as the three men count down to the start of the first verse.
Wake up, our life is calling!
There's smoke, but not a fire.
Give us a sign that we're alive.
Step out of indecision!
Have we been hypnotized
To think that everything's alright?
Shinji didn't know what was going on, but was too riled up in his own ambition to care. He rushes Tony, moving to throw a punch only to see him sidestep and send him flying into the ropes of the ring, the elastic material ricocheting him to the other side of the arena.
The clock is counting down...
The seconds tick away...
This is our time
Without a doubt!
Time to ignite...
We're not going down
Without a fight!
This is our time!
Get up off the ground!
Take what is mine!
We're not going down
Without a fight!
Hajime's frustration increases from the sudden shift in victory. Shinji pulls himself to his feet and rushes Tony again, throwing a punch as he did, only to see him drop onto his back while grabbing one of his legs, the jolt sending Shinji face first onto the matted floor. The men continue to dance and sing to the songs next verse.
Let's go, the curtain's open!
Get this show on the road!
I want to feel my heart explode...
The clock is counting down...
The seconds tick away...
This is our time
Without a doubt!
Time to ignite...
We're not going down
Without a fight!
This is our time!
Get up off the ground!
Take what is mine!
We're not going down
Without a fight!
Shinji, angered by his embarrassment, gets up and turns to Tony, who jogs in place, seeming to wait for his move. Growling, he charges his opponent, who does the same. Both arched their fists back and thrusts them forward as they near.
Yeah!
Come on, come on, come on!
Come on, come on, come on!
Hajime compresses his lips in more frustration, then turns to Saito and Suzuki, "Any of you know what's going on!?" the two looked at each other a few seconds before looking back and shrugging, which pissed him off, "Well think of something! Don't just stand there and shrug!"
Just as Shinji and Tony's fists neared their face a voice echoes throughout the entire stadium.
"YAMERU!!!"
In a split second, the music, Shinji and Tony, came to a screeching halt; Tony's fists being dangerously close to flattening Shinji's nose. The Agents frown as they look towards the source of the voice to find Ryuta Ippongi, the Ouendan leader with reddish brown, spiky hair and topknot, standing on the remaining speaker.
Morris reaches his microphone hand behind him, using its base to scratch his afro, "Yo, what's the deal?"
"I should be asking you the same question," Ryuta said, arms crossed, "My friend was in the middle of a cheer when you showed up out of nowhere and interrupted him."
Spin's frown tightens as he points his finger at Ryuta, "Yo! I don't know where you came from, but incase you aren't aware, our job is to respond to whoever calls us and encourage them to achieve their goals!" he then plants his hands on his sides, "And we ain't leavin' until that person gets what he wants!"
"If you're so obsessed with this person, then come back next year when there isn't someone who needs our help!" Hajime complains, "You didn't have to trample my performance for his sake!"
"What was that!?"
"That's enough!" Ryuta barks. He looks between Hajime and the Agents before sighing and rubbing his temples, "I didn't think it'd happen this soon; that we'd be crossing paths with the Elite Beat Agents."
"Ah, so you heard about us, have you?" J asked, rather rhetorically.
"Considering how you saved this planet from an alien invasion a month ago, it'd be hard not to at least hear who was responsible for our safety. But let's save the greetings for later. We still have a job to finish."
"And how do you suppose we do that?" Spin asked with a shrug.
"Backing down isn't an option between us, I'm sure you understand," Ryuta said with a cocky grin, "How about we make things more interesting and put our cheers to the test; your agents against my squad? Whoever cheers their clients to win the title will prove which of us is the better motivator."
"A cheerleading dance-off?" Spin pipes with excitement, "I'm all for that!"
"Amen, brother!" Morris said, "This could do us good to see how much we've improved over the years!"
"Well, looks like you got yourself a deal," said J with a shrug, "Just so you know, I've never lost a single dance-off. Except to Kahn of course."
"Really?" Ryuta said tauntingly, "Then there'll be plenty of room on your list of defeats for us to fit in."
"As if!"
Ryuta looks over to Hajime, "You should sit this one out."
"What!?" Hajime exclaims, looking at his high-ranking partner, "What for!?"
"Your own good." Hajime grits his teeth in frustration as he turns and leaps off the speakers, walking away from the ring as music cues up again.
The agents regroup behind Tony for another round while Ryuta leaps off the speakers and lands behind Shinji, Saito and Suzuki appearing beside him. Both count down to the start of the first verse before strutting off their form of cheer moves.
I Can't Stand It I Know You Planned It
But I'm Gonna Set It Straight, This Watergate
I Can't Stand Rocking When I'm In Here
Because Your Crystal Ball Ain't So Crystal Clear
So While You Sit Back and Wonder Why
I Got This Fucking Thorn In My Side
Oh My God, It's A Mirage
I'm Tellin' Y'all It's a Sabotage
Both Tony and Shinji are riled up with ambition as they once again charge towards each other. Shinji throws a punch that Tony ducks and counters with a fist to the stomach, sending him back a couple of feet in agony. Ryuta frowns in disappointment while J simply grins in satisfaction.
Ryuta shouts "Osu", causing Shinji's expression to turn from pain to eye-burning ambition as they go off into the next verse.
So, So, So
So Listen Up 'Cause You Can't Say Nothin'
You'll Shut Me Dow With A Push Of Your Button?
But I'm Out And I'm Gone
I'll Tell You Now I Keep It On And On
Shinji rushes Tony, catching him off guard by his speed, before punching him in the jaw. The impact threw the tubby wrestler into the ropes of the ring and ricochet right into his opponent's exposed knee, bluntly stabbing him in the gut. This time, it's Ryuta who grins in satisfaction while J frowns in annoyance.
'Cause What You See You Might Not Get
And We Can Bet So Don't You Get Souped Yet
You're Scheming On A Thing That's A Mirage
I'm Trying To Tell You Now It's Sabotage
Tony quickly regains his composure and both he and Shinji rush each other again, grabbing their shoulders and going into a show of strength.
Why...
Our Backs Are Now Against The Wall
Listen All Of Y'all It's A Sabotage
Listen All Of Y'all It's A Sabotage
Listen All Of Y'all It's A Sabotage
Listen All Of Y'all...
The two struggle to throw each other to the ground. With a grunt and a heave, Tony manages to lift Shinji and slam him hard onto the mat.
I Can't Stand It, I Know You Planned It
But I'm Gonna Set It Straight This Watergate
I Can't Stand Rockin' When I'm In This Place
Because I Feel Disgrace Because You're All In My Face
But Make No Mistakes And Switch Up My Channel
I'm Buddy Rich When I Fly Off The Handle
What Could It Be, It's A Miracle
You're Scheming On A Thing; That's Sabotage
Shinji throws a kick at Tony only to see him dodge it and throw his elbow down onto his gut, causing him to hurl saliva before falling, out cold, onto the canvas just as the song had ended. Tony looks with stun silence before jumping into the air and screaming with joy over his victory. Hajime frowns a bit as he watches the squad leader and his two cohorts drop to a kneeling position in defeat and disappointment.
- - -
Shinji walks out of the stadium in shame, wondering how he was going to explain to his mentor that he didn't win the title. Just as he exits the crowd surrounding the stadium, he saw an elderly man in a white rob under a sharp shouldered vest standing before him with four teenagers wearing the same black and red shorts as Shinji.
"Shinji," the man began, gaining a disappointed bow of head from the man he spoke to, "Even though you have lost the tournament, your act of strength has given my students the motivation to learn our ways." Shinji looks to his mentor in shock as he walks over and places his hand behind his back, "Come, let us head home and practice some more. I have a feeling your next entry will be a powerful one."
Shinji continues to look at his mentor in stunned silence before sighing and lowering his head.
"Thank you, master," he mumbled under his breath.
- - -
By the end of the day the stadium became nothing more than an empty lot with janitors going around cleaning up the junk spectators left behind. Spin, J and Morris had just finished handshaking Tony's father in thanks for helping him reach the top. They watch as the father and son figure leave the stadium to celebrate their victory.
Spin throws one arm up, reaching the other to around grab it as he stretches his muscles with relief.
"Wow! I ain't had that much fun since the invasion of the kissin' zombies," he said, enthusiastically.
"We sure have an amazing mission to report when we get home," J said as the trio heads for the rope ladder leading to their helicopter still in waiting.
"Agents," calls a voice from behind. The three turn to see Ryuta standing a foot away from them. Suzuki and Saito stood on either side of him while Hajime could barely be seen in the background of the squad, arms crossed and too distraught, confused and frustrated over what he had witnessed to look the Agents in the face.
J turns to face the lead Ouendan as he moves closer to him, his face stern for a moment before moving to a bit of a smile and presenting his hand in offering. J does the same, reaching over and firmly grasping the hand in acknowledgement.
"We lost," Ryuta admits, "but even then, the experience of battling you and your partners were great. We'll try harder to out beat you next time we meet in a similar situation."
"I look forward to it," J said with confidence.
Hajime finally turns his head towards the Agents as they continue to the ladder, climbing up to the helicopter and eventually flying off into the horizon.
- - -
Meanwhile, on the other side of the moon, a huge ship shaped like a diamond with a circle on each corner and a large, lavender eye peeked out towards earth. Inside the ship, a blue skinned woman with white hair and a gray gown sits upon the throne as one of the Rhombulan walks up to her, saluting.
"Ma' am," he began, "As-you-ordered, we-have-given-permission-to-release-the-droids."
"Good," the woman said, grinning devilishly, "Soon not only will I have avenged our nation from the likes of those Agents, but I'll also be able to render their only forces immobile, making our operation that much easier to execute."
"Ma' am, I-am-worried-about-the-cheer-squad-in-Japan. Already-they-have-seen-and acknowledged-the-Agent's-talents. They-may-form-an-alliance-if-the-need-comes."
"Why do you think I'm releasing the droids in Japan, silly? The humans there rely too much on these Ouendans to care about what good the Agents do. Rest assured, their alliance will be severed with but a single cry for help, and there's nothing these forces can do to avoid such a pitiful battle." The woman finishes with a chuckle as she continues to eye the planet in wait.
End Notes:
1. If you're wondering why Spin is cohort instead of Derek, the reason will be explained in the next episode. The reason the female Rhombulan isn't speaking like the others will also be explained later on.
2. The reason I chose Beastie Boys' "Sabotage" is because it seemed fitting for the duel between the Agents and Ouendan (That and I'm a big fan of the Beastie Boys, so it was one of the first songs that jumped into my head when writing this episode).
3. I got rid of the lines over Ryuta and Saito's names because it got annoying after having to imput the symbol several times.
