PART 7
What's happened so far: Jeff Anderson, 'retiring' super hero, has come to Nerima for reasons involving a dead colleague and Mishima Heavy Industries. He has arranged a cover as a student teacher at Furinkan High. He's met the Ranma cast and learned about Jusenkyo. While he no longer things Ranma is a meta-human like himself, he thinks Ryoga is. He's figured out Ryoga is P-Chan too. A partial trace on a back door into the Mishima Heavy Industries computer system lead Jeff to the top of Natsume Kyusaku's apartment building. Unfortunately, Arisa and Kyouko came by to take Ryunosuke to his mother. One fight later, the aircraft was downed and Jeff injured. He's feeling better now, and is starting to get some of the information he needs to complete his mission.
-----
My alarm goes off, I roll out of bed and do my 100 push ups before checking on Monster's progress. On the backdoor front, nothing worth mentioning, estimated time to crack the new encryption, 3 weeks. On the Accounting front, no passwords themselves, but a memo indicating proper password formats that might make a brute force attempt a little easier. I reconfigure the search program to look for "words" that fit the password format. Also, a memo from yesterday, indicating that all costs in the clean up of the "terrorist attack" should be billed to Mishima Akiko's personal account.
I check my stitches and then remove same. The new skin between the edges of the wound is a bit lighter than my normal skin tone. If it is like prior injuries, I won't be able to find any trace of the wound in a month or so. Lucky for me, I don't heal, I regenerate.
I go outside to do some stretches and then, feeling up to it, grab my stuff, hop on my bike and start pedaling. First stop, Natsume Kyusaku's apartment. The missiles that landed in the playground in front of the building are gone, but the police lines are still in place. No visible cops though. I ride east to the crash site. Although the damage done by the crashing aerodyne is visible, the plane itself is long gone. There is one news truck doing a remote shoot, but they are too far away for me to hear anything.
Pushing myself a bit, I get to Ucchan's in time for breakfast.
"Irasshaimase! Double beef, right Jeff?" the smiling proprietor asks me.
"Yes, thank you."
After she pours batter on the grill, Ukyo asks, "So what happened with Shampoo?"
"I took her to the Nekohanten, she changed back to human and then attacked me with two maces."
"Maces? Oh, her bonbori."
"Is that what you call them?"
"Hai. Then what happened?"
"I got her to chase me for a bit and then I got her wet again. Her great-grandmother took her home after that."
Ukyo serves my food while laughing. "Wish I could have seen it."
Conversation is suspended while I stuff my face. I'm starting to eat like Ranma. I don't know whether it's because the food is so good or whether I want to get it all eaten before the next piece of weirdness happens. Might explain why Ranma and Genma eat the way they do.
After breakfast, I leave Ucchan's and bicycle to the school. Damn, got so tied up with the results from Monster that I forgot to buy the squirt guns. Some genius I am. Oh well, too late to worry about it now.
When I get to the school, I see the repairs on the stairwell are underway. I look around for any sources of trouble. Seeing none at the moment, I head in for my shower.
The day goes quietly. Kuno is absent the entire day, which suits me just fine. Nabiki is ignoring me as much as possible. Even lunch is quiet. A brief rain shower leaves the ground damp and the air clean. So far, it's been one of the quieter days since I came to Nerima. I just know that I'll end up paying for that later, but for the moment, I'll enjoy it.
After school, I head to the Tendo Dojo to perform my strength maintenance routine. Kasumi lets me in and I ask to see her father. He is playing go with Genma this trip. Guess shogi gets boring after a while.
"Pardon me Tendo-san. The last time I was here I broke one of the staves you had left for me. How much do I owe for a replacement?"
At the mention of money, Genma glances up at me and this time Soun takes a brief second to rearrange some pieces on the game board. Well, I guess as long as they both cheat, it's still a fair game.
"Don't worry about it Anderson-san. A little breakage is considered part of normal wear and tear." As he turns to face me, Genma rearranges a few stones on the board.
"I insist Tendo-san."
"Well then, 3000 yen should cover it."
Fair enough. I pull out the money from my wallet and from seemingly nowhere, Nabiki pops up and takes it before I can hand it to her father.
"I'll take that," she says. "Really father, you know you shouldn't handle money." Behind Nabiki, I see Kasumi move up to us all as quiet as a ghost. With a quick movement, she takes the money from Nabiki.
"Ah, grocery money. Thank you," Kasumi says in her beautiful voice before heading to the kitchen as quietly as she came. I note a look of frustration on Nabiki's face and manage not to laugh. Excusing myself, I head to the dojo.
My regular workout goes quietly and I'm near the end of my strength maintenance routine when it happens. I hear Akane shout "Ranma no baka!" This is followed by Ranma crashing through the wall of the dojo in a shower of splinters. I reverse the polarity of my repeller field to avoid becoming a pin cushion and drop to the floor in the middle of the dojo.
No doubt about it. He saw me floating there. He saw the splinters shear away when they got close. I'm busted.
"Some trick," he mumbles before passing out.
My "professional" instincts kick in and I dash to a point where I can see out the hole while I begin to check on Ranma. I see Akane trying to get her breathing under control. I'm not sure, but there may be a trace of a battle aura around her. If she sees me, she takes no notice. She does not appear to be an immediate threat so I focus on the matter at hand.
Nothing broken on Ranma, although he's going to have a couple of lumps and some bruises. How did she hit him? Ranma avoids most of what _I_ can throw at him. He dodges Kuno's bokken with ease. Akane just isn't that fast. From the looks of things, she hit him from the front, so he probably saw it coming. Why didn't he dodge? Or block?
Ranma regains consciousness. Before I can stop him, he bounces to his feet and shakes his head.
"You all right?" I ask.
Ranma bends and stretches for a few seconds before saying, "Yeah, I'm fine."
"About that trick..."
Ranma interrupts me. "Not here, Nabiki has the place wired," he says quietly.
"What?!?"
Ranma places his fingers to his lips and jumps up into the rafters. I take a quick look through the hole in the wall and, seeing no one, jump/fly up there with him. He points at a small black microphone. I think back over all the time I've spent in the dojo. I don't make much noise during a workout, and although I talk to myself frequently, I don't tend to do so out loud much. I don't recall saying anything that would give me away while here.
I drop back to the floor and Ranma leaps down beside me. There is a noise as the training dummies I set up to block the entrance to the dojo are knocked over when Genma and Soun enter. I'm not sure if those are looks of concern on their faces or not. At this point I really don't care.
I bow formally to Soun before speaking. "Tendo-san. It is with regret that I must inform you that I will no longer be using your Dojo."
"Eh? What is wrong Anderson-san?"
"When I came here, it was with the expectation of having privacy. This has not been the case." Maybe I'm being hypocritical. After all, MATRIX HQ is heavily wired for sight and sound.
"I'm sure Ranma didn't mean any harm," Soun says placatingly.
"I was referring to Nabiki's microphone." At least it wasn't a hidden camera. Given Nabiki's "Anything for a Buck" nature, that could have been fatal.
"What microphone?"
So as not to give away too much, I run to the corner of the dojo. Using a move cribbed from "Rumble in the Bronx", I bounce upward, repeatedly springing off both walls. I reach the rafters and quickly make my way over to the microphone. At the top of my lungs I shout "THIS ONE!!!" into it. I'm sure Nabiki has overload protection, but it feels good to shout anyway. I grab the bug then do a dangle and drop back to the floor.
I present the device to Soun. While he's looking at it (and Genma looks over his shoulder), I ask Ranma in a quiet voice, "Want that explanation?"
"Sure."
"Think of someplace we can talk about this." I gather my stuff, bow again to Tendo-san, and leave the dojo. As we go through the house, I notice Nabiki standing in the living room. She's rubbing her head behind her right ear, but looks eager to talk. "Ranma, give me a minute here."
Ranma glances at Nabiki before speaking. "Sure thing Jeff," he says as he heads to the kitchen. This leaves the two of us more or less alone.
Nabiki speaks first. "What I do, is done for my family."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"It doesn't matter if you believe me or not," she replies flatly.
She's right on that one. "Doesn't mean I like being spied upon." There follows an uncomfortable silence.
Ranma sticks his head back into the room. "Ready ta go?" he asks.
"Don't ask for a refund," Nabiki says in a dry voice.
"Never even crossed my mind Tendo-san," I say as I leave with Ranma.
Ranma and I walk for a bit, me walking my bike, Ranma walking on any fences that happen to be about. We're heading roughly in the direction of Ucchan's. An encounter with a crosswalk, a puddle and a passing car leaves both of us wet and Ranma female.
"Sure you want to go to Ucchan's to talk about this?"
"Why not? She'll have hot water so I can change back at least."
"Two reasons: First, as much as I like Ukyo, I'd rather keep the number of people who know about me to a minimum. Second, between my workout and that puddle, I need a shower before I do anything."
Ranma laughs and tells me, "I'm sure Ukyo will let you use her shower."
We're over half way there when I hear a familiar voice. "Pig-tailed girl! What are thou doing with that foul sorcerer? Worry not, the 'Blue Thunder' shall save thee."
Oh god, it's Kuno. At least he's smart enough not to have his bokken out. I'm not really in the mood to castrate him. Not that I have to worry about it. Kuno rushes to sweep up Ranma in his arms, Ranma takes one step forward and kicks Kuno into the nearest lamppost.
"What dark magics did that filthy fiend use to turn thy heart against me so?" Kuno cries out.
As much as I don't like him as a person, I do have to admire Kuno's stamina and tenacity. There is a noticeable dent in the lamppost and he's still standing. At least until he rushes in again and Ranma pummels him into unconsciousness while shouting various words you won't find in a Japanese/English dictionary.
Observing Ranma, I notice he does seem faster as a girl. I doubt he was going all out either. We prop Kuno up on a bench at a bus stop before heading on.
We get to Ucchan's and Ukyo is kind enough to let me use her shower as well as providing a kettle of hot water for Ranma. What he sees in Akane that he can't see in Ukyo, I don't know. But the heart makes it's own rules. Took me long enough, but I eventually figured that one out. When I get back downstairs, Ranma is busy pigging out on okonomiyaki while Ukyo is busy cooking up more for her customers.
Noticing my arrival, Ukyo asks, "Ran-chan said you two needed a private place to talk?"
"It's pretty important, it's personal... and Nabiki has the dojo bugged."
Ukyo snorts in a rather unladylike fashion. "Doesn't surprise me. Tell you what, if Ran-chan helps with the dinner rush, you can use my spare room after."
"That all right with you Ranma?" I ask.
Ranma grunts an affirmative between bites. He calls home to let them know he'll be late and why. I buy my own food before the big rush arrives.
The dinner rush comes. Ranma helps out behind the grill and handles the register. Occasionally, Ukyo asks me to bring up supplies from the back. At one point, I help unload noodles from a truck. It amazes me that Ukyo normally does all this herself. The dinner rush goes.
"Thanks a lot guys. I can handle it from here," Ukyo says after things slow down.
Ranma and I head up stairs to the spare room Ukyo mentioned. The only furnishings are a small nightstand with a lamp on it, so we sit on the floor. Ranma seems a little subdued, but at least he's not panicking.
"I'm sure you've got questions, so ask away," I begin.
"Are you human?"
"Depends on who you ask. I like to think so." I can tell he wants more detail, so I continue, "The generic name for people like me is 'mutant'. I prefer the term 'meta-human'."
"What's the difference?"
"I'm not sure my Japanese is up to explaining it, but I'll try. A mutant is born 'different' from his parents. The ability to drink cow's milk comes from a mutation. Some otherwise normal people are born with six fingers. That's a mutation too. My mutation, if it is one, is that I can move things with my mind." To prove my point, I float upwards a bit, turn in a full circle and resettle myself on the floor.
"Cool. What do ya mean 'if it is one'?"
"Guy I met once told me that all humans have the potential to learn telekinesis, just as all humans have the potential to learn magic."
"Really?" he asks in a interested tone.
"I don't know for sure. I tend to believe him though. After all, you said everyone has chi, but not everyone knows how to use it."
"Yeah, I did say that. So what's a meta-human?"
"To me, a meta-human is anyone who can do something that the best trained normal human can not. So it applies to people who are born different as well as people who have weird stuff happen to them. By that definition, chi users and mages are not meta-humans as these skills can be learned. My power is in sort of a gray area. I never learned how to use TK, I've just been using it for as long as I can remember. I didn't get good at it until I was your age."
"So if ya learn it, instead of being born with it, how good can ya get?"
"Supposedly, those who learn TK can eventually lift as much with their minds as they can with their bodies. I'm stronger than that, occasionally much stronger. So I think my power is more of a meta-human ability. Also, before you ask, I can't teach you."
"Damn... Why not?"
"I said it was teachable, not that I knew how to teach it." Funny how Cobalt never mentioned teaching during our discussion. But then, all mages are a little weird when it comes to revealing information.
"So what all is different about you? Just the telekinesis?"
"A few things. My senses are sharper than average, but not extremely so. I maintain muscle tone and endurance with less exercise than most people. My reaction time averages 0.07 seconds. Yours is better by the way."
"Thanks. So other than the telekinesis, you're just an above average guy."
"Well there are a few differences. I don't have an appendix. When I'm injured, I don't just heal, I regenerate."
"I saw that scar on your side. It looked a couple of weeks old."
"Remember, I didn't have it when we sparred last week. I got cut Saturday night. I took out the stitches this morning. In a month, there won't be a scar." Holding up the back of my right hand I ask, "See anything?"
"Should I?" Ranma inquires while examining my hand.
"Two years ago, I took a rifle bullet through my hand reaching for a light switch. You could see through the hole. It was four weeks before I could move all my fingers and another six weeks to get full mobility and sensation back. Nerve tissue doesn't regenerate for most people. It does for me."
"I'd say ya made that up, except ya _didn't_ have a scar there last week. Howd'ya get it?"
"I'd rather not say, but you should've seen the other guys."
This gets a brief laugh, but he gets quiet for a time afterwards.
"Anything else?" I ask.
"I'm thinking... Ya used telekinesis during that fight with Ryoga... and the one with Kuno... and the one yesterday."
"There were two yesterday, but the answer is yes to all of the above."
"_That's_ how I hit Ryoga so far." He sounds somewhat relieved by figuring that one out.
"Yep. Also how I stopped Kuno's first swing. Although I could have done that without TK. It would have just stung a bit."
"Ya didn't use it when ya was sparring with me or Akane." He states this as a fact, but it sounds more like a question.
"No. I try not to use it when I don't have to. I have limits."
A noticeable pause occurs before Ranma asks his next question. "So, why are ya here, in Nerima? It's not to challenge me or kidnap Akane."
At least he didn't ask what my limits are. "Well, it's not to be a teacher," I say with a laugh. "I can't give you the details, but it's for a good cause."
"That's all right," he replies.
"It involves secrets that aren't mine to share and promises I have to keep," I say emphasizing my point.
"Yeah, I know what that's like." Ryoga/P-Chan is my guess. Which is the main reason I think I can trust him with my secrets.
I stand up. Ranma does the same. "So I'm asking you, on your honor, not to tell anyone about me."
"Sure thing Jeff." We shake on it. "Your name is Jeff, right?" he asks in a mocking tone.
"Yep, that's my real name." I've got a couple of false identities I use for my data drops and covert work, but my real name is the only one I have a passport for. Which is the main reason I don't want Nabiki to find out I'm a meta-human. She'd attempt to blackmail me, and I don't know for sure what I'd do about it. Better to avoid the whole problem.
We talk about other things for a while. I demonstrate my repeller field and a few other tricks. He tells me a few stories. By the time we get downstairs, Ukyo is getting ready to close for the night. We help her clean up and she shows us out.
"With all this help, I've still got time to study tonight. Thanks guys," Ukyo says while smiling at us. (Well, mostly at Ranma.)
"Sure thing Ucchan."
"No trouble at all Ukyo," I say as she locks up and the downstairs lights go out.
We start for the Tendo's and I hear Ranma grumble, "Man, Akane's gonna kill me," under his breath.
"Why?"
"Cause I've been at Ucchan's. Akane gets so uncute when I spend time here."
"You told them where you were when you called home?" I wonder how private our conversation actually was if Nabiki knew where it was held. A good shotgun mike could have picked up most of it.
"Well, I didn't want Kasumi ta worry."
At least it was a good reason. "And Kasumi would tell Akane, if Akane asks?" But it still worries me.
"Yeah."
"Did you at least tell Kasumi you were with me?"
"Nah, it didn't come up." Well, that's a small break, but Nabiki already knew I was with Ranma. We walk along in silence for a bit. I'd better talk to Akane when we get to the dojo. I notice Kuno is no longer at the bus stop where we left him.
Ranma starts fence walking, I get tired of pushing my bike and start riding slowly. Ranma picks up the pace, and I follow. Eventually we're in an unspoken race. Ranma is running along fences and rooftops, while I kick it into cruising gear. He's cutting corners, while I have to stay on the roads, so he's actually making better time than I am. I'm closing on him after the final turn, but he makes it to the gates before I do. I prop my bike against the wall and go on in.
As I go through the gate after Ranma, I notice Akane approaching the two of us. She has a steely look in her eye, but that fades somewhat when she notices me with Ranma.
"Konban wa Akane," I say first, trying to draw her attention.
She stops where she is. "Konban wa Jeff. Ranma was with you all this time?" she asks.
"Yes. We had some things to discuss." While doing this I walk forward far enough to put myself between Ranma and Akane.
"You had to go to Ucchan's to talk? You could have talked here." There's a note of anger in her voice.
"It was a private conversation. Since I didn't want Nabiki listening in, we had to go somewhere else. You do know Nabiki has the dojo wired for sound? She probably has the rest of the house wired too."
"oh..." Akane's head of steam had suddenly evaporated.
I push the advantage. "Ukyo wasn't involved in the conversation. In exchange for the time and privacy, we helped her with the dinner rush and closing. She doesn't know what we talked about and she didn't ask."
"oh... gomen..." Akane suddenly turns and walks back to the house proper.
Ranma wears a sad look as he tells me, "Ya know... If I'd've told Akane all that, she'd've never believed me."
There's nothing I can really say to that, so I just say "Sorry."
Nothing else is said before Ranma goes into the house. I leave, closing the gate behind me. In a somber mood, I ride back to my room.
-----
Out of force of habit instead of any real hope of progress, I check with Monster. The results surprise me. Nothing on the backdoor, but the password search bore fruit.
Half a dozen files with "words" in the password format. Two of them are game cheat codes, so I cross them off the list. One looks like a typo coming in the middle of an otherwise useless document. Two more are just words in password format. Nothing to indicate what they are passwords to. I set those aside for future study. The last file gives a list of six passwords and lists the files those passwords are for.
The first file is a spreadsheet and ancillary documents under the heading Project SNK-98 Clean Up and Repairs. Interesting, but not what I'm looking for.
The second file is a small program labeled "Die Catgirl Die". Setting up an isolated processor in my laptop, I run it. A picture of the pink haired girl I saw last Thursday while I was riding to school appears. After that any key that is touched produces a gunshot sound and a bullet hole in the picture. Eventually I figure out you have to press the escape button to get the program to stop. I erase it and overwrite it just to be sure it's gone.
The third file, "Supplies", contains lists of weapons and ammo, sources for purchase and prices. The list includes things I _know_ are illegal for private citizens to own. File this one for future reference.
The fourth file is the same as the second one, except this time the picture is of Natsume Kyusaku. It gets the same treatment.
The fifth file is the oldest file of the group. It's also the most useful. Details on a field test of a power suit. Including suggestions for improvements. The suit in question looks like the suits we fought when Fastball died. There are no real technical drawings, but labeled cutaway views don't show the form fitted padding the suits we captured had. However, a request for better padding is on the list for suggested improvements.
I download a copy and sweep it for trojan horses and viruses. Satisfied it's clean, I run the copy through the JASON translation protocols again. I clean up some of the questionable grammar and start the modified copy on it's way to MATRIX HQ. (After all, no translation program is perfect.) Limelight might want to look at this, Flex might too. Those two are the house experts on this sort of thing.
The sixth file is the most recent, as well as the smallest.
==++==++==NUFO005/Facts and Probables==++==++==
Security Classification Red 1
Male, young adult
Height: 180 cm ± 2 cm
Mass: Unknown, est. 80 kg
Eyes: Unknown
Hair: Unknown
Other distinguishing characteristics: None known
Blood type: B+ (exotic subtype)
Subject speaks unaccented American English and accented Japanese. Vocabulary analysis suggests studied, but not practiced language skills. Subject appears to fly under own power, not leap as per NK-1124 or flight pack as per SNK-98. Subject capable of overriding missile flight controls. Method unknown but presumed not to be ECM. Subject showed considerable care in avoiding damage to bystanders. Subject showed care in avoiding damage to property. Subject showed some medical knowledge. Subject sustained bleeding injury during encounter. Severity unknown, but presumed minor.
Damage to Poison 02 canopy suggests subject possesses superhuman strength. Destruction of turbines requires upgrades for prevention of FOD in future Poison series craft. Investigate possibilities for retrofit to Poison 03.
Alt Ref NUFO005/Theories
NUFO005/Physical Evidence 001
NUFO005/Physical Evidence 002
Note: Contact with subject is a Class 1 priority. Hostile action is to be considered a last resort. This means you Arisa.
==++==++==END==++==++==
Hmm. They got the height right, and I look lighter than I actually am, so an estimate of 80 kilos is understandable. Must have left some blood behind in the wreck or on the ground nearby. That's probably one of the physical evidence files. Wonder what the other one is? Hmm. Another reference to SNK-98, wonder what it is? Well, it's nice to know they don't want to kill me. At least not on sight. Hah. Poor Arisa, it's never a good sign to be mentioned by name in a company memo. Well, at least it shows she lived.
I fiddle around for a bit, trying to find the files referenced in file six, but to no avail. I add NUFO005 to the search list along with the two passwords I had found earlier. Finally, I turn the problem back over to Monster before I crash out for the night.
END PART 7
In Part 8: Early risers -and- The cat with no hat comes back.
What's happened so far: Jeff Anderson, 'retiring' super hero, has come to Nerima for reasons involving a dead colleague and Mishima Heavy Industries. He has arranged a cover as a student teacher at Furinkan High. He's met the Ranma cast and learned about Jusenkyo. While he no longer things Ranma is a meta-human like himself, he thinks Ryoga is. He's figured out Ryoga is P-Chan too. A partial trace on a back door into the Mishima Heavy Industries computer system lead Jeff to the top of Natsume Kyusaku's apartment building. Unfortunately, Arisa and Kyouko came by to take Ryunosuke to his mother. One fight later, the aircraft was downed and Jeff injured. He's feeling better now, and is starting to get some of the information he needs to complete his mission.
-----
My alarm goes off, I roll out of bed and do my 100 push ups before checking on Monster's progress. On the backdoor front, nothing worth mentioning, estimated time to crack the new encryption, 3 weeks. On the Accounting front, no passwords themselves, but a memo indicating proper password formats that might make a brute force attempt a little easier. I reconfigure the search program to look for "words" that fit the password format. Also, a memo from yesterday, indicating that all costs in the clean up of the "terrorist attack" should be billed to Mishima Akiko's personal account.
I check my stitches and then remove same. The new skin between the edges of the wound is a bit lighter than my normal skin tone. If it is like prior injuries, I won't be able to find any trace of the wound in a month or so. Lucky for me, I don't heal, I regenerate.
I go outside to do some stretches and then, feeling up to it, grab my stuff, hop on my bike and start pedaling. First stop, Natsume Kyusaku's apartment. The missiles that landed in the playground in front of the building are gone, but the police lines are still in place. No visible cops though. I ride east to the crash site. Although the damage done by the crashing aerodyne is visible, the plane itself is long gone. There is one news truck doing a remote shoot, but they are too far away for me to hear anything.
Pushing myself a bit, I get to Ucchan's in time for breakfast.
"Irasshaimase! Double beef, right Jeff?" the smiling proprietor asks me.
"Yes, thank you."
After she pours batter on the grill, Ukyo asks, "So what happened with Shampoo?"
"I took her to the Nekohanten, she changed back to human and then attacked me with two maces."
"Maces? Oh, her bonbori."
"Is that what you call them?"
"Hai. Then what happened?"
"I got her to chase me for a bit and then I got her wet again. Her great-grandmother took her home after that."
Ukyo serves my food while laughing. "Wish I could have seen it."
Conversation is suspended while I stuff my face. I'm starting to eat like Ranma. I don't know whether it's because the food is so good or whether I want to get it all eaten before the next piece of weirdness happens. Might explain why Ranma and Genma eat the way they do.
After breakfast, I leave Ucchan's and bicycle to the school. Damn, got so tied up with the results from Monster that I forgot to buy the squirt guns. Some genius I am. Oh well, too late to worry about it now.
When I get to the school, I see the repairs on the stairwell are underway. I look around for any sources of trouble. Seeing none at the moment, I head in for my shower.
The day goes quietly. Kuno is absent the entire day, which suits me just fine. Nabiki is ignoring me as much as possible. Even lunch is quiet. A brief rain shower leaves the ground damp and the air clean. So far, it's been one of the quieter days since I came to Nerima. I just know that I'll end up paying for that later, but for the moment, I'll enjoy it.
After school, I head to the Tendo Dojo to perform my strength maintenance routine. Kasumi lets me in and I ask to see her father. He is playing go with Genma this trip. Guess shogi gets boring after a while.
"Pardon me Tendo-san. The last time I was here I broke one of the staves you had left for me. How much do I owe for a replacement?"
At the mention of money, Genma glances up at me and this time Soun takes a brief second to rearrange some pieces on the game board. Well, I guess as long as they both cheat, it's still a fair game.
"Don't worry about it Anderson-san. A little breakage is considered part of normal wear and tear." As he turns to face me, Genma rearranges a few stones on the board.
"I insist Tendo-san."
"Well then, 3000 yen should cover it."
Fair enough. I pull out the money from my wallet and from seemingly nowhere, Nabiki pops up and takes it before I can hand it to her father.
"I'll take that," she says. "Really father, you know you shouldn't handle money." Behind Nabiki, I see Kasumi move up to us all as quiet as a ghost. With a quick movement, she takes the money from Nabiki.
"Ah, grocery money. Thank you," Kasumi says in her beautiful voice before heading to the kitchen as quietly as she came. I note a look of frustration on Nabiki's face and manage not to laugh. Excusing myself, I head to the dojo.
My regular workout goes quietly and I'm near the end of my strength maintenance routine when it happens. I hear Akane shout "Ranma no baka!" This is followed by Ranma crashing through the wall of the dojo in a shower of splinters. I reverse the polarity of my repeller field to avoid becoming a pin cushion and drop to the floor in the middle of the dojo.
No doubt about it. He saw me floating there. He saw the splinters shear away when they got close. I'm busted.
"Some trick," he mumbles before passing out.
My "professional" instincts kick in and I dash to a point where I can see out the hole while I begin to check on Ranma. I see Akane trying to get her breathing under control. I'm not sure, but there may be a trace of a battle aura around her. If she sees me, she takes no notice. She does not appear to be an immediate threat so I focus on the matter at hand.
Nothing broken on Ranma, although he's going to have a couple of lumps and some bruises. How did she hit him? Ranma avoids most of what _I_ can throw at him. He dodges Kuno's bokken with ease. Akane just isn't that fast. From the looks of things, she hit him from the front, so he probably saw it coming. Why didn't he dodge? Or block?
Ranma regains consciousness. Before I can stop him, he bounces to his feet and shakes his head.
"You all right?" I ask.
Ranma bends and stretches for a few seconds before saying, "Yeah, I'm fine."
"About that trick..."
Ranma interrupts me. "Not here, Nabiki has the place wired," he says quietly.
"What?!?"
Ranma places his fingers to his lips and jumps up into the rafters. I take a quick look through the hole in the wall and, seeing no one, jump/fly up there with him. He points at a small black microphone. I think back over all the time I've spent in the dojo. I don't make much noise during a workout, and although I talk to myself frequently, I don't tend to do so out loud much. I don't recall saying anything that would give me away while here.
I drop back to the floor and Ranma leaps down beside me. There is a noise as the training dummies I set up to block the entrance to the dojo are knocked over when Genma and Soun enter. I'm not sure if those are looks of concern on their faces or not. At this point I really don't care.
I bow formally to Soun before speaking. "Tendo-san. It is with regret that I must inform you that I will no longer be using your Dojo."
"Eh? What is wrong Anderson-san?"
"When I came here, it was with the expectation of having privacy. This has not been the case." Maybe I'm being hypocritical. After all, MATRIX HQ is heavily wired for sight and sound.
"I'm sure Ranma didn't mean any harm," Soun says placatingly.
"I was referring to Nabiki's microphone." At least it wasn't a hidden camera. Given Nabiki's "Anything for a Buck" nature, that could have been fatal.
"What microphone?"
So as not to give away too much, I run to the corner of the dojo. Using a move cribbed from "Rumble in the Bronx", I bounce upward, repeatedly springing off both walls. I reach the rafters and quickly make my way over to the microphone. At the top of my lungs I shout "THIS ONE!!!" into it. I'm sure Nabiki has overload protection, but it feels good to shout anyway. I grab the bug then do a dangle and drop back to the floor.
I present the device to Soun. While he's looking at it (and Genma looks over his shoulder), I ask Ranma in a quiet voice, "Want that explanation?"
"Sure."
"Think of someplace we can talk about this." I gather my stuff, bow again to Tendo-san, and leave the dojo. As we go through the house, I notice Nabiki standing in the living room. She's rubbing her head behind her right ear, but looks eager to talk. "Ranma, give me a minute here."
Ranma glances at Nabiki before speaking. "Sure thing Jeff," he says as he heads to the kitchen. This leaves the two of us more or less alone.
Nabiki speaks first. "What I do, is done for my family."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"It doesn't matter if you believe me or not," she replies flatly.
She's right on that one. "Doesn't mean I like being spied upon." There follows an uncomfortable silence.
Ranma sticks his head back into the room. "Ready ta go?" he asks.
"Don't ask for a refund," Nabiki says in a dry voice.
"Never even crossed my mind Tendo-san," I say as I leave with Ranma.
Ranma and I walk for a bit, me walking my bike, Ranma walking on any fences that happen to be about. We're heading roughly in the direction of Ucchan's. An encounter with a crosswalk, a puddle and a passing car leaves both of us wet and Ranma female.
"Sure you want to go to Ucchan's to talk about this?"
"Why not? She'll have hot water so I can change back at least."
"Two reasons: First, as much as I like Ukyo, I'd rather keep the number of people who know about me to a minimum. Second, between my workout and that puddle, I need a shower before I do anything."
Ranma laughs and tells me, "I'm sure Ukyo will let you use her shower."
We're over half way there when I hear a familiar voice. "Pig-tailed girl! What are thou doing with that foul sorcerer? Worry not, the 'Blue Thunder' shall save thee."
Oh god, it's Kuno. At least he's smart enough not to have his bokken out. I'm not really in the mood to castrate him. Not that I have to worry about it. Kuno rushes to sweep up Ranma in his arms, Ranma takes one step forward and kicks Kuno into the nearest lamppost.
"What dark magics did that filthy fiend use to turn thy heart against me so?" Kuno cries out.
As much as I don't like him as a person, I do have to admire Kuno's stamina and tenacity. There is a noticeable dent in the lamppost and he's still standing. At least until he rushes in again and Ranma pummels him into unconsciousness while shouting various words you won't find in a Japanese/English dictionary.
Observing Ranma, I notice he does seem faster as a girl. I doubt he was going all out either. We prop Kuno up on a bench at a bus stop before heading on.
We get to Ucchan's and Ukyo is kind enough to let me use her shower as well as providing a kettle of hot water for Ranma. What he sees in Akane that he can't see in Ukyo, I don't know. But the heart makes it's own rules. Took me long enough, but I eventually figured that one out. When I get back downstairs, Ranma is busy pigging out on okonomiyaki while Ukyo is busy cooking up more for her customers.
Noticing my arrival, Ukyo asks, "Ran-chan said you two needed a private place to talk?"
"It's pretty important, it's personal... and Nabiki has the dojo bugged."
Ukyo snorts in a rather unladylike fashion. "Doesn't surprise me. Tell you what, if Ran-chan helps with the dinner rush, you can use my spare room after."
"That all right with you Ranma?" I ask.
Ranma grunts an affirmative between bites. He calls home to let them know he'll be late and why. I buy my own food before the big rush arrives.
The dinner rush comes. Ranma helps out behind the grill and handles the register. Occasionally, Ukyo asks me to bring up supplies from the back. At one point, I help unload noodles from a truck. It amazes me that Ukyo normally does all this herself. The dinner rush goes.
"Thanks a lot guys. I can handle it from here," Ukyo says after things slow down.
Ranma and I head up stairs to the spare room Ukyo mentioned. The only furnishings are a small nightstand with a lamp on it, so we sit on the floor. Ranma seems a little subdued, but at least he's not panicking.
"I'm sure you've got questions, so ask away," I begin.
"Are you human?"
"Depends on who you ask. I like to think so." I can tell he wants more detail, so I continue, "The generic name for people like me is 'mutant'. I prefer the term 'meta-human'."
"What's the difference?"
"I'm not sure my Japanese is up to explaining it, but I'll try. A mutant is born 'different' from his parents. The ability to drink cow's milk comes from a mutation. Some otherwise normal people are born with six fingers. That's a mutation too. My mutation, if it is one, is that I can move things with my mind." To prove my point, I float upwards a bit, turn in a full circle and resettle myself on the floor.
"Cool. What do ya mean 'if it is one'?"
"Guy I met once told me that all humans have the potential to learn telekinesis, just as all humans have the potential to learn magic."
"Really?" he asks in a interested tone.
"I don't know for sure. I tend to believe him though. After all, you said everyone has chi, but not everyone knows how to use it."
"Yeah, I did say that. So what's a meta-human?"
"To me, a meta-human is anyone who can do something that the best trained normal human can not. So it applies to people who are born different as well as people who have weird stuff happen to them. By that definition, chi users and mages are not meta-humans as these skills can be learned. My power is in sort of a gray area. I never learned how to use TK, I've just been using it for as long as I can remember. I didn't get good at it until I was your age."
"So if ya learn it, instead of being born with it, how good can ya get?"
"Supposedly, those who learn TK can eventually lift as much with their minds as they can with their bodies. I'm stronger than that, occasionally much stronger. So I think my power is more of a meta-human ability. Also, before you ask, I can't teach you."
"Damn... Why not?"
"I said it was teachable, not that I knew how to teach it." Funny how Cobalt never mentioned teaching during our discussion. But then, all mages are a little weird when it comes to revealing information.
"So what all is different about you? Just the telekinesis?"
"A few things. My senses are sharper than average, but not extremely so. I maintain muscle tone and endurance with less exercise than most people. My reaction time averages 0.07 seconds. Yours is better by the way."
"Thanks. So other than the telekinesis, you're just an above average guy."
"Well there are a few differences. I don't have an appendix. When I'm injured, I don't just heal, I regenerate."
"I saw that scar on your side. It looked a couple of weeks old."
"Remember, I didn't have it when we sparred last week. I got cut Saturday night. I took out the stitches this morning. In a month, there won't be a scar." Holding up the back of my right hand I ask, "See anything?"
"Should I?" Ranma inquires while examining my hand.
"Two years ago, I took a rifle bullet through my hand reaching for a light switch. You could see through the hole. It was four weeks before I could move all my fingers and another six weeks to get full mobility and sensation back. Nerve tissue doesn't regenerate for most people. It does for me."
"I'd say ya made that up, except ya _didn't_ have a scar there last week. Howd'ya get it?"
"I'd rather not say, but you should've seen the other guys."
This gets a brief laugh, but he gets quiet for a time afterwards.
"Anything else?" I ask.
"I'm thinking... Ya used telekinesis during that fight with Ryoga... and the one with Kuno... and the one yesterday."
"There were two yesterday, but the answer is yes to all of the above."
"_That's_ how I hit Ryoga so far." He sounds somewhat relieved by figuring that one out.
"Yep. Also how I stopped Kuno's first swing. Although I could have done that without TK. It would have just stung a bit."
"Ya didn't use it when ya was sparring with me or Akane." He states this as a fact, but it sounds more like a question.
"No. I try not to use it when I don't have to. I have limits."
A noticeable pause occurs before Ranma asks his next question. "So, why are ya here, in Nerima? It's not to challenge me or kidnap Akane."
At least he didn't ask what my limits are. "Well, it's not to be a teacher," I say with a laugh. "I can't give you the details, but it's for a good cause."
"That's all right," he replies.
"It involves secrets that aren't mine to share and promises I have to keep," I say emphasizing my point.
"Yeah, I know what that's like." Ryoga/P-Chan is my guess. Which is the main reason I think I can trust him with my secrets.
I stand up. Ranma does the same. "So I'm asking you, on your honor, not to tell anyone about me."
"Sure thing Jeff." We shake on it. "Your name is Jeff, right?" he asks in a mocking tone.
"Yep, that's my real name." I've got a couple of false identities I use for my data drops and covert work, but my real name is the only one I have a passport for. Which is the main reason I don't want Nabiki to find out I'm a meta-human. She'd attempt to blackmail me, and I don't know for sure what I'd do about it. Better to avoid the whole problem.
We talk about other things for a while. I demonstrate my repeller field and a few other tricks. He tells me a few stories. By the time we get downstairs, Ukyo is getting ready to close for the night. We help her clean up and she shows us out.
"With all this help, I've still got time to study tonight. Thanks guys," Ukyo says while smiling at us. (Well, mostly at Ranma.)
"Sure thing Ucchan."
"No trouble at all Ukyo," I say as she locks up and the downstairs lights go out.
We start for the Tendo's and I hear Ranma grumble, "Man, Akane's gonna kill me," under his breath.
"Why?"
"Cause I've been at Ucchan's. Akane gets so uncute when I spend time here."
"You told them where you were when you called home?" I wonder how private our conversation actually was if Nabiki knew where it was held. A good shotgun mike could have picked up most of it.
"Well, I didn't want Kasumi ta worry."
At least it was a good reason. "And Kasumi would tell Akane, if Akane asks?" But it still worries me.
"Yeah."
"Did you at least tell Kasumi you were with me?"
"Nah, it didn't come up." Well, that's a small break, but Nabiki already knew I was with Ranma. We walk along in silence for a bit. I'd better talk to Akane when we get to the dojo. I notice Kuno is no longer at the bus stop where we left him.
Ranma starts fence walking, I get tired of pushing my bike and start riding slowly. Ranma picks up the pace, and I follow. Eventually we're in an unspoken race. Ranma is running along fences and rooftops, while I kick it into cruising gear. He's cutting corners, while I have to stay on the roads, so he's actually making better time than I am. I'm closing on him after the final turn, but he makes it to the gates before I do. I prop my bike against the wall and go on in.
As I go through the gate after Ranma, I notice Akane approaching the two of us. She has a steely look in her eye, but that fades somewhat when she notices me with Ranma.
"Konban wa Akane," I say first, trying to draw her attention.
She stops where she is. "Konban wa Jeff. Ranma was with you all this time?" she asks.
"Yes. We had some things to discuss." While doing this I walk forward far enough to put myself between Ranma and Akane.
"You had to go to Ucchan's to talk? You could have talked here." There's a note of anger in her voice.
"It was a private conversation. Since I didn't want Nabiki listening in, we had to go somewhere else. You do know Nabiki has the dojo wired for sound? She probably has the rest of the house wired too."
"oh..." Akane's head of steam had suddenly evaporated.
I push the advantage. "Ukyo wasn't involved in the conversation. In exchange for the time and privacy, we helped her with the dinner rush and closing. She doesn't know what we talked about and she didn't ask."
"oh... gomen..." Akane suddenly turns and walks back to the house proper.
Ranma wears a sad look as he tells me, "Ya know... If I'd've told Akane all that, she'd've never believed me."
There's nothing I can really say to that, so I just say "Sorry."
Nothing else is said before Ranma goes into the house. I leave, closing the gate behind me. In a somber mood, I ride back to my room.
-----
Out of force of habit instead of any real hope of progress, I check with Monster. The results surprise me. Nothing on the backdoor, but the password search bore fruit.
Half a dozen files with "words" in the password format. Two of them are game cheat codes, so I cross them off the list. One looks like a typo coming in the middle of an otherwise useless document. Two more are just words in password format. Nothing to indicate what they are passwords to. I set those aside for future study. The last file gives a list of six passwords and lists the files those passwords are for.
The first file is a spreadsheet and ancillary documents under the heading Project SNK-98 Clean Up and Repairs. Interesting, but not what I'm looking for.
The second file is a small program labeled "Die Catgirl Die". Setting up an isolated processor in my laptop, I run it. A picture of the pink haired girl I saw last Thursday while I was riding to school appears. After that any key that is touched produces a gunshot sound and a bullet hole in the picture. Eventually I figure out you have to press the escape button to get the program to stop. I erase it and overwrite it just to be sure it's gone.
The third file, "Supplies", contains lists of weapons and ammo, sources for purchase and prices. The list includes things I _know_ are illegal for private citizens to own. File this one for future reference.
The fourth file is the same as the second one, except this time the picture is of Natsume Kyusaku. It gets the same treatment.
The fifth file is the oldest file of the group. It's also the most useful. Details on a field test of a power suit. Including suggestions for improvements. The suit in question looks like the suits we fought when Fastball died. There are no real technical drawings, but labeled cutaway views don't show the form fitted padding the suits we captured had. However, a request for better padding is on the list for suggested improvements.
I download a copy and sweep it for trojan horses and viruses. Satisfied it's clean, I run the copy through the JASON translation protocols again. I clean up some of the questionable grammar and start the modified copy on it's way to MATRIX HQ. (After all, no translation program is perfect.) Limelight might want to look at this, Flex might too. Those two are the house experts on this sort of thing.
The sixth file is the most recent, as well as the smallest.
==++==++==NUFO005/Facts and Probables==++==++==
Security Classification Red 1
Male, young adult
Height: 180 cm ± 2 cm
Mass: Unknown, est. 80 kg
Eyes: Unknown
Hair: Unknown
Other distinguishing characteristics: None known
Blood type: B+ (exotic subtype)
Subject speaks unaccented American English and accented Japanese. Vocabulary analysis suggests studied, but not practiced language skills. Subject appears to fly under own power, not leap as per NK-1124 or flight pack as per SNK-98. Subject capable of overriding missile flight controls. Method unknown but presumed not to be ECM. Subject showed considerable care in avoiding damage to bystanders. Subject showed care in avoiding damage to property. Subject showed some medical knowledge. Subject sustained bleeding injury during encounter. Severity unknown, but presumed minor.
Damage to Poison 02 canopy suggests subject possesses superhuman strength. Destruction of turbines requires upgrades for prevention of FOD in future Poison series craft. Investigate possibilities for retrofit to Poison 03.
Alt Ref NUFO005/Theories
NUFO005/Physical Evidence 001
NUFO005/Physical Evidence 002
Note: Contact with subject is a Class 1 priority. Hostile action is to be considered a last resort. This means you Arisa.
==++==++==END==++==++==
Hmm. They got the height right, and I look lighter than I actually am, so an estimate of 80 kilos is understandable. Must have left some blood behind in the wreck or on the ground nearby. That's probably one of the physical evidence files. Wonder what the other one is? Hmm. Another reference to SNK-98, wonder what it is? Well, it's nice to know they don't want to kill me. At least not on sight. Hah. Poor Arisa, it's never a good sign to be mentioned by name in a company memo. Well, at least it shows she lived.
I fiddle around for a bit, trying to find the files referenced in file six, but to no avail. I add NUFO005 to the search list along with the two passwords I had found earlier. Finally, I turn the problem back over to Monster before I crash out for the night.
END PART 7
In Part 8: Early risers -and- The cat with no hat comes back.