Outlaw ½: Act 11 the Race Part 1

By

triviatrap1982

I don't own Ranma ½, or Outlaw Star. They're owned by Rumiko Takahaishi, and Takehiko Ito.

It had finally arrived. It was the day of the race through the Heifong system. With even decent specs a ship could go through this system in three hours or less. However, unlike qualifiers, there was more strategy involved. It was a chess match. It was a chess match with Ranma participating. Everything was getting now getting into the final phases. Of course, Gene got a call on the communicator screen from the El Dorado wishing them a good race. Gene did so in turn. It would had been beyond rude to not return the same. After that, the communications were now only for the race officials, and for the maps. Ranma looked around. He was excited and nervous. Aisha she was just the same. Gene, he was ready to go. Of course he had to start fifteen minutes behind the El Dorado. That would be a short wait. Gene decided to review the course with everybody.

"Alright, we have this year 7 stations," Gene said. "Each of the stations will get harder as time goes on to test the best of the best."

"That's a challenge alright," Jim said.

"Our first station is a given that's 15 minutes away. then after that it's staggered out." Gene said.

"What's our best course to make it through in the fastest time?" Ranma asked.

"Gilliam, what would be our quickest way?" Gene asked.

"We can shave time off at the fifth check point through this asteroid belt," Gilliam answered. "However, it is risky and there's a secondary checkpoint for those who opt to go around."

"That's perfect, we will have to make best use of what's around us," Gene then returned.

"that is correct, I have the parameters set up to maximize our time on the curse," Gilliam returned.

"That's great," Gene said. "I know the El Dorado is doing the same thing."

"How many stations are there in this race?" Ranma asked.

"Well, according the map, there are ten stations," Jim said. "We they're well spared out in fifteen minute intervals."

"Right," Aisha said, "that would make things that much more interesting."

When they were finished and ready to go, the official gave them the two minute warning to get ready to go. They lined up in the starting line. Then when they got the green light and the area was cleared. They took off like a shot, when it was safe. Once out, they went all out to the first check point following the El Dorado. They realized that it would be a rough time. Still, it was early on and they were planning out their race. Ranma looked and he saw the El Dorado going faster than it needed to. He had to speak up.

"Um guys...I think they're trying to draw us out into using more of our fuel," Ranma said.

"I see that," Gene said.

"What do we do now?" Melfina asked from behind.

"I say we match them move for move," Gene suggested.

"Are you sure about that?" Jim asked.

"I'm totally sure," Gene said. "Even the El Dorado will have to conserve its fuel at some points in the race."

"Okay we should be heading for the second check point...it's to the left of the buoy," Melfina addressed.

"That's right, of anybody goes right, they'll be going the longest way around," Aisha observed.

"It's been 30 minutes already?" Ranma asked.

"It has been less than that," Gene said. "We should get going."

"Hey," Ranma said, "is that supposed to be there?"

"That's not supposed to be there at all," Gene said.

"What's that?" Ranma asked.

"That's a stray satellite," Jim returned.

"We'll have to avoid it," Gene ordered.

"Is it part of the course?" Melfina asked.

"I'm not sure," Gene said.

"This is not a part of the course," Gilliam announced. "We will have to move around it, or get disqualified."

Gene gave the word to go around. It wasn't that difficult to get around. Others opted to go the longer way adding 15 minutes to their travels. Gene was forced to contact the race officials. They did confirm the satellite was not theirs, and touching it was ill-advised. Gene got the race standings, and the El Dorado was still ahead of them by a couple of minutes to actually get through. Still, all of the teams now were alerted to the satellite. There was no reason for it to be there other than it was dead, and out of orbit. Still they made up the time and were within seconds of the El Dorado. Gene smiled happily.

"Well, this actually worked out great for us," Gene said.

"I wonder what other surprises are out there." Ranma asked.

"I don't know," Aisha said yawning.

"Aisha, if you're bored we can have you navigate..." Gene said.

"No thanks," Aisha returned bluntly, "Besides, Melfina is the only one who can do it without getting killed."

"Guys..." Ranma started.

"Right, we need to stay focused here," Gene remembered.

"We're nearly to the second checkpoint according to the coordinates," Melfina announced.

"That was quick" Gene said.

"Hey," Ranma spoke up, "is this check point through a satellite installation?" Ranma asked.

"It is," Gene said. "We'll have to slow down."

'Something's not right here,' Aisha thought.

"Why do I get the feeling that this is only the beginning of a trial?" Ranma asked.

"It always is," Gene answered.

Ranma and Aisha's gut feeling were proven correct. There were dead satellites that were in the way, and needed to be navigated through...until Ranma discovered a path that was around. It would have taken a couple of minutes longer, the time saved would have been a lot better than trying to navigate through. They took the path around and made it through the checkpoint that was 200 meters away from the satellite field. They were still in the course, they had to get resourceful. After, a while, they found they passed the El Dorado, after they navigated through the field. On the El Dorado, Harry wasn't exactly too happy with this.

"Ron we could have gone around," Harry said with pure displeasure.

"I didn't know we could," Ron defended.

"We lost about fifteen minutes from our time," he said. "We'll have to make it up somehow."

"It's only going to get harder from here," Ron said.

"Still, it's very ingenious that Gene figured out to go around quickly," Harry said off-handed.

"Looks like somebody's mood changed in an instant," Ron Remarked.

"We have little time to mess about," Harry returned from his own navigation tube.

"The next check point is a doozy..." Ron huffed.

Meanwhile on the Outlaw Star, the crew were working out how to navigate through the next check point that was less than 40 minutes away. Gene looked over to the check points list. and he frowned. He knew he could navigate quickly to the fourth checkpoint no problem. It was the one after that worried him. Aisha noticed and she had to speak up. She knew Gene was going off task, and that would knock them out of the race for good. She also knew (but didn't bring up) that they had heavy money riding on this race. She was going to break Gene out of his concentration, but Ranma beat her to the punch.

"Gene...we probably should concentrate on the up coming checkpoint instead of going for the one after," Ranma stated.

"That's right," Aisha said, "this one requires our full concentration."

"Wait, what do you mean?" Gene asked.

"This check point is not easy," Aisha said.

"According the map," Jim said, "this isn't a straight shot."

"We have to travel topside of this planet," Aisha noted.

"That's right!" Jim remembered. "This check point is on this planet's gravitational pull!"

"We'll have to power through it then," Gene said.

"Gene," Gilliam started, "A more optimal route, and faster route, is

"How so?" Gene asked.

"The checkpoint is between the geographical and magnetic north poles," Gilliam said. "This point here...is where the gravitational pull can help us out."

"So we follow that dotted red line?" Gene asked.

"We do," Gilliam said.

"Melfina, plot our course to the checkpoint," Gene said. "Everybody else, let's make sure we are spot on."

"I'm plotting the course to our checkpoint now," Melfina returned.

They wasted little time to get to the checkpoint. Gene killed the engines as soon as they hit the point spot on. They had to be careful. This planet wasn't exactly the best for any kind of life forms. This would take them at least ten minutes to get through, and their fuel would be saved for the rest of the race. The El Dorado was behind them still by two minutes. They were wondering what was going on, but watched in. They saw the Outlaw Star starting to rock and knock. This was normal, though they made it through the check point and restarted the engines. This ended up putting the El Dorado further behind through another five minutes.

"We'll have to power through," Ron said. "We can't make it exactly through without plotting the course."

"Let's not be foolish," Harry said. "I already had it plotted out when you brought it up."

"You work quickly," Ron said smiling.

"That's right," Harry returned. "if the others can't figure this out...then they will die point blank."

"Alright, plot the course," Ron said. "We'll have to get it exactly between both of the geographical and magnetic north..."

"We'll have to get exactly right...but of course, there will be turbulence," Harry answered. "We're on course...kill the engines."

Ron killed the engines and took the same course. They were off by one degree, and they had big troubles. They were forced to go with it, and maintain it. They made it through but it made zero difference in the times. Harry wasn't exactly pleased with what happened, but he chalked it up to an error of judgment on his part. He didn't want to do this again on the hardest check point upcoming...because that would prove to be deadly to all involved. Gene, meanwhile was a lot more calmed. He knew what was coming up. However, he was feeling adventurous. He knew what was going to happen if this actually went through.