Chapter 4
I didn't leave G-Town that day, nor on any of the following days. My things were sent from Dr. Nambu's villa, and my life changed literally overnight. A new routine was developed: physical fitness workouts and occupational therapy in the mornings to adapt to my new uniform, in both civilian and Birdstyle forms. The afternoons were spent in flight training: at first on the simulators, and then eventually in the real thing: taking the Eagle Sharp out through the ocean, and into the air for test flights. This was the part of the day I loved most, and the hours always passed the most quickly. After I had been deemed sufficiently worthy by Dr. Nambu on the New God Phoenix simulators, I accompanied Ryu during his test flights of our new warship, taking over the controls from time to time in order to improve my skills.
Evenings were spent catching up on a year's backlog of technical manuals and security reports. We didn't know how long we had before Leader X returned to Earth and Galactor made its presence known again, so it was imperative that I get myself up to speed sooner rather than later.
Yet my greatest progress was in my physical capabilities. I would never regain my former abilities, but after a few months (thanks to my new prosthetics, which had been integrated into both my Birdstyle and my civilian uniform) I was able to walk without a limp (although it was still pronounced when I ran) and jump sufficiently high in Birdstyle to fly to the hull of the New God Phoenix. After long hours of practice, I was also able to jump down from the hull and glide to the ground, landing on two feet, albeit somewhat awkwardly. So far this was the full extent of my abilities. It pained me to recall the freedom of gliding through the air, jumping up high to land with a kick, whirling and dancing around my enemies with the grace of my wings.
Such skills were no longer mine.
Every few weeks, Dr. Nambu would approach the topic of cybernetic enhancements, yet my answer remained the same. After all I had done to return to the living, I wasn't about to let myself die now.
Of course, my refusal to acquiesce to the ISO's 'request' made it even more necessary that new members of the Science Ninja Team be found. One evening as I was reading through some intelligence reports, Dr. Nambu called me over my bracelet and requested that I come to his office.
My new bracelet looked exactly the same as my old one, but apparently it made use of a different transformation process and alternating-frequency communications, so that Galactor would be unable to use their Meganizer weapon, or track us by our bracelet transmissions. It was made of Pelcium 257, which emitted a combination of supersonic waves and alpha waves to initiate the transformations to and from Birdstyle.
I was able to simply stand up and leave the room, as I was wearing my civilian uniform. The white pants were reminiscent of my original civilian uniform, however these had my new prosthetic legs built into them, as well as socks and shoes. Thanks to these amazingly lifelike artificial limbs and my endless hours of physical therapy, I now looked as if I was entirely whole… as long as I didn't have to run anywhere. I could walk at a normal speed (albeit on the slower side of average) and appear as if my legs were completely functional. In Birdstyle I could manage a little better.
I caught sight of myself in the mirror as I passed through the door and into the hallway. I almost didn't recognize myself. My hair had gotten longer, and was now a little past my shoulders. My shirt was still something of a shock every time I put it on. My red t-shirt with its yellow number 1 had been replaced with a blue shirt in a sportier style, a 'digital' red number 1 on its chest. The sleeves were a lighter blue, vaguely reminiscent of the sleeves on my original shirt. I was able to deal with this aspect of my new uniform, but I still winced whenever I looked at my belt buckle. Someone had had the bright idea to give me a belt buckle in the shape of a K… as if I was going to lose it and forget which belt was mine without my initial on it. Or perhaps ISO Research figured that if I looked down and saw the K, I'd know I was Ken, while if I looked down and saw a G, I'd know I was in Birdstyle as Gatchaman. Whatever the reason, that golden K grated on me every time I saw it. Somehow, Ryu and Jinpei had both escaped this particular indignity, and I had to wonder why I had been singled out for this 'distinction'.
Pushing my thoughts away from my changed appearance, I made my way to Dr. Nambu's office through the transportation tubes that had been installed throughout G-Town. I suspected that Dr. Nambu had had them installed to assist me in moving around the base, yet Hakase insisted that they had been planned before I had lost my legs. Regardless, it was a convenience I wasn't protesting. I merely had to step into the tube and be whisked away to Dr. Nambu's office. Unfortunately, the tubes only worked in one direction, and I always had to walk back under my own power on the return journey.
"Good, you're here." Dr. Nambu said as I entered the room. "Please sit down, Ken."
"What's this all about?" I asked, noting that Jinpei and Ryu were not present. "Is there some kind of problem?"
"No, not at all." the Doctor replied. "I merely wanted to inform you as to the status of the search for the new members of the Science Ninja Team."
"Have you chosen them yet?" I asked curiously.
"No." Dr. Nambu shook his head. "But I have narrowed the field down to six candidates: three pairs of individuals who work well together. I've been sending them out on minor missions to get a feel for how they operate, and to evaluate their various strengths and weaknesses."
"What kind of missions?" I frowned. Was Hakase holding us back from active duty?
"Minor cleanup assignments." Dr. Nambu replied. "Things I might normally hand over to the UN. We've been receiving information about small Galactor installations in South Ifriquia and Brasilia, and I have been sending these two-person units to 'clean up' the various operations. At this point, these individuals don't know that they're being considered as potential members of the Science Ninja Team: only that they are acting as ISO operatives." He pushed a folder across his desk, in my direction. I picked it up and began to leaf through the data there. The Doctor remained silent, waiting for my comments.
I glanced through the information presented. For the most part, these units seemed to be working effectively enough to deal with the tasks they had been assigned. The first two units appeared similar, and unremarkable. I didn't see anything special there that would inspire me to have them on my Team.
However the third unit had some interesting notations on their reports. Rather than simply accomplishing the task they had been given, they had made various observations, attempting to gather as much data as possible from the Galactor installations before they were destroyed. And one report…
"What's this about the Galactor base having already been neutralized before your people got there?" I asked. "It says that the base was entirely intact, but that all Galactor personnel were gone. The data systems had been hacked and left wide open. Your unit surmises that someone had done this purposely, leaving the information for the ISO to collect."
"I had forgotten that was in the file." Dr. Nambu admitted, briefly tugging at his collar. "There are other organizations out there, tracking down 'Galactor remnants', such as UN operatives."
"But why would the UN leave the data wide open for us to find? That's rather sloppy." I thought out loud as I read through the file. "Wait… it says here that the time signature on the systems hack was only twenty minutes prior. Perhaps someone had been waiting for your people to show up?"
"Or perhaps my people interrupted them." the Doctor suggested. "Regardless, Unit #3 was able to extract significant information from that mission, which has proven invaluable to me."
"It seems like Unit #3 is the most qualified for inclusion on the Science Ninja Team." I noted, examining the remainder of their reports. These agents certainly seemed to go a step beyond, and displayed an understanding of strategy and tactics that I knew would come in handy during encounters with Galactor forces. I turned to the personnel records. Unit #3 consisted of a man and a woman by the names of Getz and Mako. They both had military background, but had been working as ISO agents for some time.
"I agree, but there is a problem." Dr. Nambu frowned. "Getz and Mako are personally involved. They are engaged to be married, although they have not set a date." I winced. This was a sore point with me. Hakase had always made it clear that he would not tolerate this sort of relationship on the Science Ninja Team, claiming that personal feelings of this nature could cloud decision-making and result in unforeseeable outcomes. I had known this when I had accepted the position of G1, yet as my feelings for Jun had developed, I had found myself chafing at this restriction more and more. How many times had I soothed myself with the knowledge that the war would eventually end, and then I would finally be able to tell her how I felt about her? The fact that I had never had that chance had been a bitter pill to swallow, and one that I could still taste in the dark of night, when sleeplessness claimed me.
"I gather you can't look past that." I replied, as calmly as I could. "So why are they still under consideration?"
"They're the best candidates by far." the Doctor admitted. "I keep hoping one of the other pairs will distinguish itself in some way, but so far that hasn't happened."
"There's still some time." I reminded him. "Leader X has not returned to Earth."
"Yet." Dr. Nambu added. "Once he does, we will have to act fast. I must know by then who will become a part of the Science Ninja Team."
"What if you had to choose today?" I asked. "Right now?"
"I don't know." the Doctor smiled thinly. "I was hoping you could help me with that."
"Right now, I'd pick Getz and Mako." I replied. "Despite their personal relationship, they seem to be the best fit for the Team." I flipped through the rest of their personnel files.
"Getz is an adequate driver… and Mako has significant experience with motorcycles." I mused. "They'd be able to adapt quickly to their appropriate G-Machines. They're experts in reconnaissance. Mako has had training with explosives, and Getz is an exceptional hand-to-hand fighter. It's a good match." My hands trembled as I closed the file. It was almost too good to be true. Getz and Mako would cover Joe and Jun's responsibilities more than adequately. And they were enjoying the kind of personal closeness that I had never been allowed to admit to… and now never would.
"I'll take that under consideration." Dr. Nambu concluded, reaching over to regain possession of the folder. "Of course… if you would agree to the cybernetic enhancements, it's possible that we'd only need one additional team member. Then I would be able to make a decision without being worried about interpersonal relationships amongst the Team members."
My response to this suggestion was communicated in the form of a silent, stony stare.
"But as you say, we still have time." Dr. Nambu concluded.
It was clear that this meeting was over.
88888
Training continued, and my skills improved. I began attending sessions with Ryu and Jinpei, and was impressed by the leaps and bounds they had made as well. They were both comfortable with their new weapons and vehicles, although Jinpei still carried an enormous chip on his shoulder. I was constantly taking him down a peg or two. It was almost as if he wanted to remember our fallen comrades by replacing Joe as the one on the Team who always had to disagree with me. The difference was that Joe had usually known when to back down, and Jinpei never did.
Two months passed, and I still hadn't heard from Dr. Nambu about the new Team members.
"I haven't finalized anything." he responded.
"Haven't you had enough time to make a decision by now?" I questioned.
"They'll be there when you need them." the Doctor replied. "For now, my source is still providing me with useful information… enough to know that it's not critical that I choose now."
"What source is that?" I asked suspiciously. "The same one who sent that other message? Who is it?"
"Yes." Dr. Nambu said shortly. "And their identity is not information you need to know at this time." The communication ended abruptly, and I was left staring at my bracelet in surprise.
It was clear that the Doctor was hiding something from us.
88888
Over the months we had been training, I had become somewhat more comfortable with Jinpei and Ryu. They no longer stared at me, or seemed startled by my abilities (or lack thereof) and I began seeing them more as friends and less as painful reminders of my past. Ryu and I grew especially close, as we trained together on the New God Phoenix. My skills piloting large warships had improved dramatically. I had no doubt that they would be needed.
"When do you think we'll be called into action?" Ryu asked me one day, as we passed off piloting control to each other. "It's been five months since Dr. Nambu reactivated the Team, and no sign of anything. I tell you, this waiting around has me nervous."
"Nervous?" I asked. "How so?"
"Well, if Leader X is going to return, why hasn't he come back already? What's holding him up? You'd think if he wanted to strike back, he wouldn't give us time to regroup. And what is Galactor doing? We're sitting here, training… what if they're doing the same thing? What if the Galactor we're going to face is stronger than before?"
"That's certainly a possibility." I replied. "But all we can do is trust in Hakase to stay informed and give us ample warning. At least we've had this chance to prepare. Can you imagine what things would have been like if Dr. Nambu had reactivated the Team only days before a Galactor strike? Or if he hadn't had a chance to get our new Birdstyles or vehicles together?"
"It could be worse, that's for sure." Ryu admitted. "I'd feel a lot better though, if we could start training with these 'new members'."
"I wish Hakase would make up his mind too." I agreed. "I'm not sure what's holding him back from making a final decision."
"Could you talk to him, Ken?" Ryu asked. "He listens to you. We need those new members now. We can't practice the new Tornado Fighter, because we need all five of us to generate it." I nodded, recalling the new technique Dr. Nambu had described to us. I would no longer have to put any strain on my legs to perform the Tornado Fighter, as this altered version simply had us standing on the ground in a circle, with the power generated from within our bodies, transmitted via the G symbols on our belts. It was far more powerful, yet the drawback was that it was dangerous to attempt without five participants.
"And we can't test out the new Firebird, because we can't get all five vehicles aboard the New God Phoenix." Ryu went on. "And while we're on the subject, I'd like some practice docking and releasing all of the new vehicles as well."
"You're making some good points, Ryu." I told him. "I'll be sure to bring this up with Dr. Nambu."
"Thanks, Ken." Ryu grinned with relief. "I knew I could count on you."
I made good on my promise to Ryu the moment we had returned to G-Town. Rather than calling Dr. Nambu on my bracelet, where he could simply terminate the communication from his end, I went down to the Doctor's office, making use of the transportation tubes.
"Hakase," I said as I entered, "I'd like to speak with you."
"What is it, Ken?" the Doctor asked. He looked up, his face worn and drooping with exhaustion. I was startled for a moment, unused to seeing him appear so haggard and… old.
"I'm hoping that you've made a decision on the new members for the Science Ninja Team." I told him, sitting down across from his desk. "We need to integrate them into the Team, get to know their fighting styles and their strengths and weaknesses. Right now we're unable to practice the new Tornado Fighter. Ryu has expressed concerns…"
A soft chime interrupted my carefully prepared speech. Normally I would have ignored it, but I couldn't help noticing the way Dr. Nambu froze at the sound, before attempting to listen to my concerns once more.
"If that's something you need to check on…" I invited him.
"No." Dr. Nambu shook his head, shifting his position ever so slightly. "It's not…"
But it was too late. I had seen the image that had appeared on the screen behind his back. My eyes widened with amazement.
"It's a message." I stated, my eyes narrowing in suspicion. "From your 'source'. The same one who warned you about Leader X before."
"Yes." Dr. Nambu replied. "And I'd like to read it in private, if you don't mind." He gestured toward the door, clearly indicating that I should leave.
"No." I refused. "This concerns the Science Ninja Team as well. I'd like to know what it says."
"I'll brief you later," the Doctor's tone was frosty, "if there's anything that concerns you."
"Why are you being so secretive about this?" I demanded. "How do we even know we can trust this person? Maybe it's a Galactor plant, sending you false leads."
"No, this is not Galactor." Dr. Nambu disagreed. "You don't know everything that's been going on, Ken. I have been able to verify…"
"I don't care what you've verified." I retorted. "I want to know what you're hiding from us."
"Fine, read the damn message." the Doctor growled. He sounded so upset that I nearly backed off. Yet I couldn't. I was too curious about this mysterious 'source' and the information he was sending to Dr. Nambu.
"Just let me…" The Doctor was attempting to enter something into his communications system, but I stood up, leaning across the desk.
"No." I insisted. "No alterations. I want to see the message as is." I pushed Dr. Nambu aside so that I could read what was on his communications screen.
X has returned. Standby for further instructions. 23
"What's '23'?" I asked.
"I'm not certain." Dr. Nambu replied. "Perhaps it's just some transmission noise as the message was being terminated." Yet the Doctor's answer was too smooth, too polished. I was suspicious, but knew I wasn't about to get any more information than that.
"I don't like the sound of this." I tried another approach. "This 'source' of yours claims X has returned, then tells you to await instructions? Does he think you're doing his bidding? Who's in charge here?"
"It's not what you're thinking." the Doctor sighed. "There are factors at work that you don't understand. This is why I wanted to explain everything to you myself, rather than having you barge in here and make demands." He accessed his console.
"As it turns out, ISO scientists observed a strange phenomenon just this morning." Dr. Nambu went on. "At first, it appeared to be a meteor, landing in the South Pacific, one hundred kilometers east of the Gilbert Islands. But on closer observation, we have discovered that this object is quite different from a meteor. It came from space, but data analysis shows it to be something we have never encountered before."
A series of numbers and chemical formulas ran across one of Dr. Nambu's data screens, and I blinked at the meaningless jumble of characters. I focused instead on the information I was able to process.
"You think it could have been Leader X."
"It would certainly fit with the other data we have uncovered." the Doctor frowned. "So far we have been unable to locate the object, although we have determined that the cruise ship Queen Margaret was in its landing path. The ship was destroyed, with only half of the passengers and crew surviving. Yet still, we can find no trace of this celestial object."
"That's horrible!" I gasped. "If Leader X's return has already caused such a disaster, what more does he have in mind?"
"He will certainly attempt to reform Galactor." Dr. Nambu replied. "Before leaving Earth nearly two years ago, his goal was to destroy our planet. I have no doubt that he will attempt to do so again. But his movement is limited on this planet. He needs to work through others. This is our chance to stop him. If we can thwart Galactor, they will be unable to do X's bidding, and the Earth will be safe."
"Hakase, we really need those new members now." I urged. "It's crucial that we have some time to integrate them into the Science Ninja Team."
"I'll think about it." Dr. Nambu promised reluctantly.