By Any other Name Chapter two: An Interesting Request(s)

Notes: Ah, more notes! I rewrote chapter two as you can see, mostly because I came back and an saw little thing wrong. So, here we go, and, once again, I spelled things wrong. New idea, let's see how many ways Xalan can mis-spelled Shusaku Ban's name! And now, back to your original notes: Kenichi was a bit out of character, but as I write more about him, hopefully I'll get a better feel for him, although I don't think I'll keep writing from his point of view. (It's Harrrrrrrrrd! *whines*) Also, I didn't really want to thrown in that last line of the last chapter, but it just walked right on. Horrible when your fanfics take over. And Kenichi's age. He and Tima looked only about 14 in the movie! My thought is, if 14 year old boys can pilot giant Gundum suits, then two 14 years old can certainly run around the city by themselves, and get into all that trouble they got into. And I didn't think Atlas died, just because someone stops talking and slumps over doesn't mean they've kicked the bucket. Soooo, he reappears! With some more sensible ways of going about things... And I'll just stop talking now....



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The desk clerk had his feet propped up on the desk. It was a slow night as usual, and while there were only about three people staying at the motel (which rooms were actually the living compartments of trains) so he mine as well get in a couple naps. Comfortable in his over-stuffed, and ripped in various places, chair, he was about to drift off to sleep when that young boy walked by. Half way opening one eye, he nodded towards the boy, noted the lad went straight to his room, and fell back into slumber.



Back in the room, Kenichi spread out the various manuals he'd found in an older bookstore across Zone 2. Digging through the bag laying next to the make-shift table, he pulled out all the notebooks, manual, books and disks that he's collected over the past two years, back when he'd first realized that he'd need knowledge of robots and mechanics if he ever wanted even a chance of rebuilding Tima. The more he learned though, the more hopeless it seemed. Dr. Loton had been a genius, and had owned a whole lab of sophisticated equipment at his hands. And while he, Kenichi, had nothing but the parts of Tima that Fi-fi and the other robots had helped him find over time while the debris from the Ziggurat was removed.

Glancing around the room however and he felt his sprits rise just a bit. His uncle and he had stayed here for his first night in Metropolis, and he'd later found out that Tima and his uncle had stayed there for a short while. And, while he came and went, Kenichi always felt just a little bit less homesick and lonesome here. Closer to his uncle and to Tima. A small smile flickered acrossed his face with that thought.

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It was an odd case, that part was certain. In the small room he used as an office in his apartment, Shanazku Ban looked several times through the yellow manila envelope and the papers that had come inside of it that had ended up in his mail box earlier that day. The whole room was stifling hot, even with the small fan on the corner of the desk blowing back and forth. Summer in certain parts of Japan weren't always pleasant, and this day was no exception. The people he could see from the third story room were barely moving, or trying to find shade. Not a good day to be out and about, or to try and concentrate on a puzzling case.

He'd just wrapped up one, a brother trying to find a sister, and was currently in the middle of another, a political matter, that was currently taking up much of his time. But this..this was just odd.

When he'd returned from Metropolis, two years ago, he'd filled out a report, and sent it, along with newspaper clippings confirming Dr. Loton's death, to his current client then, the Ocean's End Research Association, rather known as O.E.R.A. He'd been paid, and that was that. But now, here, on his desk, was letter requesting his services once again, and in just as an odd a manner as before. This time, they wanted Dr. Luaghton's notes. Not just his manchical notes, but the biological ones, concerning organ transplant, growth, and placement.

To many, it would have seemed like a natural request. If it had not come two years later, AFTER the case had been closed and paid for. And the amount they were willing to pay, for both the recovery of the notes, and for secrecy about the matter. That worried the Japanese detective. Before, they'd been quite willing to go about the matter without any worry of discretion, but now, in order just to get some notes..

His other cases could wait for the moment. This had his full attention now, and when Shanazku Ban had his mind caught on something, he had to go through with it. He'd gather the necessary background information needed, including some on this Ocean End's Research Association, and update his passport to Metropolis, the last known city of Dr. Luaghton's excursions.

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Sighing as he sat back in his chair, Samuel Oshko rubbed his forehead wearily. He'd been catching hell all day from the others. The Committee had been very adamant about having those reports in, and the inspections done. And now, with the recent disaster, it was going to take a hell of a lot of effort to straighten things out. And with Dr. Kabyo in the hospital, and Dr. Meiiki missing, not to mention the object that this whole mess was over, yes, things were going very badly indeed.

The silvery-grey haired man sighed again. He was going to need to help falling asleep tonight, was his line of thought as he reached for the small vital of sleeping pills in the bottom drawer of his desk.

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A knock on the door made Kenichi look up from his studies. Hastily pushing all of the manuals and books into the book bag at the foot of the table, and pushing it under, he shoved open the door the see a taller, brown haired youth standing there. Atlas. Grinning, for all the fact that Atlas was advent about disliking robots, he was a good person and friend, Kenichi greeted him.

"Atlas! I thought you'd be gone for a while now!"

Grinning back, the brown eyed young man replied, "Yeah, we leave tomorrow, to declare our position to the Board of Robots and Humans Rights Association. The flights got bumped down, so, Metropolis is stuck with us for one more day." Glancing around, "hey, aren't you gonna let me in, or something?"

Flushing reds, Kenichi nodded vigorously, and pushing the door open forth, lead Atlas to the table in the middle of the small room. Having been there before, Atlas made no comments about the papers scattered all over. Pulling an additional chair over, Kenichi sat down at the other side.

Atlas being Atlas, went straight to the point. Leaning over, brown eyes earnest, "Kenichi, how'd you like to come to Baventor with us?" At the younger boy's startled exclamations, he leaned back and grinned, "I've thought it all out. We're going to have to argue our position on the rights of the humans, and the robots taking over all the jobs, and the situation that has stayed the same here in Metropolis, even after all of the promises made. And I've got all the points marked out. But, we're going to need the perspective of an outsider, no hard feelings meant, sorry, to really make our point. And you were there through all of it, Kenichi. Everyone likes and trusts you, so there won't be any hard feelings in that area. It could only help us. Now, what do ya say to that?"

Speechless, Kenichi just stared at him.

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Well, there's the second chapter! Yay, I'm actually writing! *does the happy dance* I'm working on the next chapter as we speak, so that should be up soon too. Thanks to Reaalis for her review! *hugs* It'll probably be a while before Tima comes into the picture, but I've been practicing writing her out, to she'll be partly in character at least. Anyways, that's all from me, reviews please? I'm human, I like them too! *puppy eyes*