Jun studied him carefully. She wanted him to remove the visor. She would
remember his face. His eyes were burned into her memory.
Ken wasn't the only one who had nightmares about the last time they had seen him. Hers were about those haunted eyes, and the tears in them as he looked at his son. She had watched in horror, as he threw his son across the room and went to his death.
Red Impulse motioned to the office and they entered again. He followed and closed the door behind them, after giving orders no one was to disturb them.
Red Impulse sat behind the desk, and stared at them for a moment. Then he removed his glasses.
Jun studied him. Those were the eyes she remembered. It was him. She had no doubt. She stared in disbelief.
Joe stared at Red Impulse shocked. He was waiting for the trap to spring. He felt in his gut that this was real though.
Red Impulse broke the spell finally speaking.
"I'm sure you must have many questions. I'll do my best to answer them. I suspect it's going to be a long night." He said as he got up and went to the coffee pot.
He poured three cups of coffee and placed one in front of each of them.
The thought of Katse and the poisoned coffee flashed through their minds simultaneously. Red Impulse was about to take a sip of coffee when he noticed their horrified looks.
"You don't like coffee?" He asked.
The whole situation was too unreal for Joe. He knocked both cups off the table and leaped across the table at Red Impulse.
"Maybe you should drink first Captain!" He yelled out and shoved the cup to Red Impulse's lips.
"What the hell is wrong with you boy?!" Red Impulse yelled.
Red Impulse turned the attack as he and Joe fell to the floor wrestling.
Jun was immediately on both of them attempting to restrain them before someone got hurt.
"Stop it both of you!" She commanded.
They paused stunned for a moment at her tone. She spoke quickly before they started again.
"He doesn't know! He couldn't know think about it. He wasn't there. Katse was."
Joe considered her words as she continued.
"Think about it. Only the team knows. It was never recorded anywhere." She stated.
"Katse was where?" Red Impulse growled as he rose eyeing Joe.
Joe got up still at the ready.
Jun told him an abbreviated version of the story.
"Galactor and Katse tried to impersonate you several times. Katse almost had Gatchaman fooled. He nearly poisoned him with a cup of coffee."
Red Impulse's face filled with horror which quickly turned to rage.
"He was missing some vital information, so he failed." Jun stated.
Red Impulse nodded understanding.
"He didn't know who Ken was to me." Red Impulse said.
The answer seemed to satisfy Joe, and he sat down on the chair.
"Sorry." He mumbled
Red Impulse nodded. "Given everything it's understandable. Shall we start again? Coffee or would you prefer tea instead?"
Red Impulse's sarcasm felt comfortable.
"I assume you have a lot of questions for me." Red Impulse repeated.
They nodded. Jun went first.
"First, I would like to do a medical work up on you, Captain." She stated.
"Let me know what you need me to provide you." Red Impulse offered.
"Hakase was very specific Captain. I need to perform the physical and tests myself." Jun looked directly at him.
He raised a surprised eyebrow at her. "You need to do the exam?" He asked.
"God, this man could be so infuriating at times." Jun thought
Joe laughed.
"Captain, Hakase was very specific. In the years you've been away, I've earned a medical degree. My expertise is in cloning." She paused. "Captain, you are not going near ISO or Gatchaman, until I approve." Jun warned him.
Red Impulse looked surprised for a moment.
"I see the swan has become a hawk in my absence." He laughed.
He looked at Joe who just shrugged his shoulders.
"As the lady said we have our orders." He stated.
"OK, let's get this over." He said uneasily.
"What will you need?" He inquired.
"I have all the medical equipment. I just need a place to set it up." Jun stated.
Red Impulse nodded and got up. "I think the medical laboratory will do. Follow me."
He put his visor in place as they left the room.
They followed him down two levels to the medical wing. He entered a small medical laboratory. The equipment looked fairly recent and the room was well equipped.
"Will this meet your needs?" He asked Jun.
"Yes, thank you. It's going to take me a few minutes to get everything ready." Jun said and went to work.
"Captain, could I ask for some food and drink? Our dinner was rudely interrupted earlier." Joe mentioned looking at Red Impulse
Red Impulse laughed "Of course, sorry about that. I needed some time to get your stuff before the police figured out your identities."
Joe looked at him curiously. They had made their arrival very obvious to anyone who was looking for them. They knew Red Impulse would find them. They didn't think anyone else would be looking for them.
"I'll be back with some food in a few minutes" He said.
Red Impulse returned shortly with a cart loaded with food.
Both men were starting toward the food, when Jun interrupted.
"Captain, I need blood and tissue samples. Do you mind if I get them now? They can process while we're eating."
He nodded and came over to where Jun had set the equipment. She took a blood sample.
She apologized for the needle. Usually a needle was unnecessary, but she had to run a lot of detailed tests. Nambu had insisted on it.
"We have to run several tests with a lot of sample. I'd rather only have to do this to you once." She explained.
"At least you don't enjoy inflicting pain, doctor." He stressed the doctor.
Joe chuckled softly in the background.
"Captain, it is unwise to aggravate the person holding the sharp objects." Jun said in a soft voice.
Joe roared.
"Who replaced the sweet girl I remember from several years ago?" He asked Joe.
"She grew up." Jun stated.
"I'm all done here, Captain." She said several minutes later.
Red Impulse stood and headed for the food. Jun loaded the computer and started the tests.
They waited in silence for the results. Red Impulse left his visor off in their presence, and started eating.
Joe watched Red Impulse's face carefully. He could have trapped them by now.
"If this is a trap, we'll know soon enough." He thought and decided to eat the food. Jun and Joe ate from the same servings as Red Impulse.
The computer beeped indicating the initial results were done.
Jun stood and walked over to the computer. It was Kentaro Washio's DNA all right. She scanned the initial tissue sample results as well. They matched. There were no initial signs of cloning. The detailed tests and the physical exam would verify that for certain.
"Captain." Jun interrupted. "I need to do a physical exam to compare against our medical records."
He definitely did not seem pleased with this. He retrieved a robe from one of the lab drawers.
Jun motioned for Joe to stay with him and turned waiting for him to disrobe.
She heard a bit of mumbling from the behind her. "He doesn't sound very happy." She thought smiling.
"OK, I'm ready." Red Impulse grumbled.
Jun turned around and her face spoke volumes. The image of Red Impulse in a hospital gown would remain with her for a long time.
Joe took one look at Red Impulse and roared laughing. He couldn't resist commenting.
"Who knew he had such great legs? Let me get the camera. We'll want proof for later." Joe stated innocently.
"Out!" Red Impulse howled.
Joe only laughed harder.
"Sorry sir, where the lady goes so do I. I'm her security." He managed to choke out laughing.
Joe didn't seem that sorry. Jun turned her face away and regained her composure. When she turned back her expression was carefully neutral.
"Captain, I'm sorry for any discomfort this may cause, but I need a visual confirmation of old injuries listed in the medical records." Jun said.
Joe chuckled but wisely held his tongue.
She started comparing his medical record with old injuries. There were several bullet wounds from where he had been shot.
There was a stab wound to his side. His left shoulder had been both shot and stabbed at some point in the past. The list went on as she compared external scaring with the medical records.
She ran the portable medical scanner over him. Stab wounds had penetrated his spleen and kidney. There was scar tissue matching the old internal injuries.
It was amazing he had survived these injuries.
There were also indications of newer internal injuries not in the records.
"It was miracle these wounds hadn't killed him." She thought.
She examined him. The medical records all matched.
Red Impulse had seen several surgeries. He had obviously suffered extensive burn damage and internal injuries to his body. They had done an excellent job of regeneration. It must have been extremely painful for him. The wounds were within the time-frame of the V-2 incident. She made a note for Hakase.
The detailed DNA analysis was done.
She looked for DNA damage and scar tissue in the samples. Clones were rarely made with scars intact. It was possible, but difficult.
She scanned the DNA for manipulation or accelerated growth. There was frequently damage in cloned DNA and abnormalities in the packing of the DNA.
It would have taken someone years of research just to start making a clone this complicated. The medical documentation and test results confirmed it. This was the body of Kentaro Washio scars, bruises and all.
"Amazing, welcome back Captain!" She thought. There was no doubt Kentaro Washio was alive!
"You can get dressed now, Captain. I'm done." Jun said as she turned away.
Joe looked at her expectantly. The way she had said "Captain" caught his attention. "My God! He's real." Joe thought.
"OK. I'm done now." Red Impulse said.
He waited expectantly looking at Jun for a moment. "So, am I me?" Red Impulse finally asked.
"Based on the lack of personality, I would say that's a yes." Joe commented.
"Show some respect boy or I'll teach it to you again." Red Impulse threatened.
Jun smiled at him.
"Welcome back, Captain. Yes, without a doubt physically and genetically you are the original." She told him softly.
He smiled at her. A real smile that softened his whole face.
"It's good to be back." He said quietly.
Ken wasn't the only one who had nightmares about the last time they had seen him. Hers were about those haunted eyes, and the tears in them as he looked at his son. She had watched in horror, as he threw his son across the room and went to his death.
Red Impulse motioned to the office and they entered again. He followed and closed the door behind them, after giving orders no one was to disturb them.
Red Impulse sat behind the desk, and stared at them for a moment. Then he removed his glasses.
Jun studied him. Those were the eyes she remembered. It was him. She had no doubt. She stared in disbelief.
Joe stared at Red Impulse shocked. He was waiting for the trap to spring. He felt in his gut that this was real though.
Red Impulse broke the spell finally speaking.
"I'm sure you must have many questions. I'll do my best to answer them. I suspect it's going to be a long night." He said as he got up and went to the coffee pot.
He poured three cups of coffee and placed one in front of each of them.
The thought of Katse and the poisoned coffee flashed through their minds simultaneously. Red Impulse was about to take a sip of coffee when he noticed their horrified looks.
"You don't like coffee?" He asked.
The whole situation was too unreal for Joe. He knocked both cups off the table and leaped across the table at Red Impulse.
"Maybe you should drink first Captain!" He yelled out and shoved the cup to Red Impulse's lips.
"What the hell is wrong with you boy?!" Red Impulse yelled.
Red Impulse turned the attack as he and Joe fell to the floor wrestling.
Jun was immediately on both of them attempting to restrain them before someone got hurt.
"Stop it both of you!" She commanded.
They paused stunned for a moment at her tone. She spoke quickly before they started again.
"He doesn't know! He couldn't know think about it. He wasn't there. Katse was."
Joe considered her words as she continued.
"Think about it. Only the team knows. It was never recorded anywhere." She stated.
"Katse was where?" Red Impulse growled as he rose eyeing Joe.
Joe got up still at the ready.
Jun told him an abbreviated version of the story.
"Galactor and Katse tried to impersonate you several times. Katse almost had Gatchaman fooled. He nearly poisoned him with a cup of coffee."
Red Impulse's face filled with horror which quickly turned to rage.
"He was missing some vital information, so he failed." Jun stated.
Red Impulse nodded understanding.
"He didn't know who Ken was to me." Red Impulse said.
The answer seemed to satisfy Joe, and he sat down on the chair.
"Sorry." He mumbled
Red Impulse nodded. "Given everything it's understandable. Shall we start again? Coffee or would you prefer tea instead?"
Red Impulse's sarcasm felt comfortable.
"I assume you have a lot of questions for me." Red Impulse repeated.
They nodded. Jun went first.
"First, I would like to do a medical work up on you, Captain." She stated.
"Let me know what you need me to provide you." Red Impulse offered.
"Hakase was very specific Captain. I need to perform the physical and tests myself." Jun looked directly at him.
He raised a surprised eyebrow at her. "You need to do the exam?" He asked.
"God, this man could be so infuriating at times." Jun thought
Joe laughed.
"Captain, Hakase was very specific. In the years you've been away, I've earned a medical degree. My expertise is in cloning." She paused. "Captain, you are not going near ISO or Gatchaman, until I approve." Jun warned him.
Red Impulse looked surprised for a moment.
"I see the swan has become a hawk in my absence." He laughed.
He looked at Joe who just shrugged his shoulders.
"As the lady said we have our orders." He stated.
"OK, let's get this over." He said uneasily.
"What will you need?" He inquired.
"I have all the medical equipment. I just need a place to set it up." Jun stated.
Red Impulse nodded and got up. "I think the medical laboratory will do. Follow me."
He put his visor in place as they left the room.
They followed him down two levels to the medical wing. He entered a small medical laboratory. The equipment looked fairly recent and the room was well equipped.
"Will this meet your needs?" He asked Jun.
"Yes, thank you. It's going to take me a few minutes to get everything ready." Jun said and went to work.
"Captain, could I ask for some food and drink? Our dinner was rudely interrupted earlier." Joe mentioned looking at Red Impulse
Red Impulse laughed "Of course, sorry about that. I needed some time to get your stuff before the police figured out your identities."
Joe looked at him curiously. They had made their arrival very obvious to anyone who was looking for them. They knew Red Impulse would find them. They didn't think anyone else would be looking for them.
"I'll be back with some food in a few minutes" He said.
Red Impulse returned shortly with a cart loaded with food.
Both men were starting toward the food, when Jun interrupted.
"Captain, I need blood and tissue samples. Do you mind if I get them now? They can process while we're eating."
He nodded and came over to where Jun had set the equipment. She took a blood sample.
She apologized for the needle. Usually a needle was unnecessary, but she had to run a lot of detailed tests. Nambu had insisted on it.
"We have to run several tests with a lot of sample. I'd rather only have to do this to you once." She explained.
"At least you don't enjoy inflicting pain, doctor." He stressed the doctor.
Joe chuckled softly in the background.
"Captain, it is unwise to aggravate the person holding the sharp objects." Jun said in a soft voice.
Joe roared.
"Who replaced the sweet girl I remember from several years ago?" He asked Joe.
"She grew up." Jun stated.
"I'm all done here, Captain." She said several minutes later.
Red Impulse stood and headed for the food. Jun loaded the computer and started the tests.
They waited in silence for the results. Red Impulse left his visor off in their presence, and started eating.
Joe watched Red Impulse's face carefully. He could have trapped them by now.
"If this is a trap, we'll know soon enough." He thought and decided to eat the food. Jun and Joe ate from the same servings as Red Impulse.
The computer beeped indicating the initial results were done.
Jun stood and walked over to the computer. It was Kentaro Washio's DNA all right. She scanned the initial tissue sample results as well. They matched. There were no initial signs of cloning. The detailed tests and the physical exam would verify that for certain.
"Captain." Jun interrupted. "I need to do a physical exam to compare against our medical records."
He definitely did not seem pleased with this. He retrieved a robe from one of the lab drawers.
Jun motioned for Joe to stay with him and turned waiting for him to disrobe.
She heard a bit of mumbling from the behind her. "He doesn't sound very happy." She thought smiling.
"OK, I'm ready." Red Impulse grumbled.
Jun turned around and her face spoke volumes. The image of Red Impulse in a hospital gown would remain with her for a long time.
Joe took one look at Red Impulse and roared laughing. He couldn't resist commenting.
"Who knew he had such great legs? Let me get the camera. We'll want proof for later." Joe stated innocently.
"Out!" Red Impulse howled.
Joe only laughed harder.
"Sorry sir, where the lady goes so do I. I'm her security." He managed to choke out laughing.
Joe didn't seem that sorry. Jun turned her face away and regained her composure. When she turned back her expression was carefully neutral.
"Captain, I'm sorry for any discomfort this may cause, but I need a visual confirmation of old injuries listed in the medical records." Jun said.
Joe chuckled but wisely held his tongue.
She started comparing his medical record with old injuries. There were several bullet wounds from where he had been shot.
There was a stab wound to his side. His left shoulder had been both shot and stabbed at some point in the past. The list went on as she compared external scaring with the medical records.
She ran the portable medical scanner over him. Stab wounds had penetrated his spleen and kidney. There was scar tissue matching the old internal injuries.
It was amazing he had survived these injuries.
There were also indications of newer internal injuries not in the records.
"It was miracle these wounds hadn't killed him." She thought.
She examined him. The medical records all matched.
Red Impulse had seen several surgeries. He had obviously suffered extensive burn damage and internal injuries to his body. They had done an excellent job of regeneration. It must have been extremely painful for him. The wounds were within the time-frame of the V-2 incident. She made a note for Hakase.
The detailed DNA analysis was done.
She looked for DNA damage and scar tissue in the samples. Clones were rarely made with scars intact. It was possible, but difficult.
She scanned the DNA for manipulation or accelerated growth. There was frequently damage in cloned DNA and abnormalities in the packing of the DNA.
It would have taken someone years of research just to start making a clone this complicated. The medical documentation and test results confirmed it. This was the body of Kentaro Washio scars, bruises and all.
"Amazing, welcome back Captain!" She thought. There was no doubt Kentaro Washio was alive!
"You can get dressed now, Captain. I'm done." Jun said as she turned away.
Joe looked at her expectantly. The way she had said "Captain" caught his attention. "My God! He's real." Joe thought.
"OK. I'm done now." Red Impulse said.
He waited expectantly looking at Jun for a moment. "So, am I me?" Red Impulse finally asked.
"Based on the lack of personality, I would say that's a yes." Joe commented.
"Show some respect boy or I'll teach it to you again." Red Impulse threatened.
Jun smiled at him.
"Welcome back, Captain. Yes, without a doubt physically and genetically you are the original." She told him softly.
He smiled at her. A real smile that softened his whole face.
"It's good to be back." He said quietly.