Change! Getter ½
by Lord Raa
Chapter 3
Disclaim-me-do: A game of chess is like a swordfight, you must think first before you move.
In an office in the Shinagawa district of Tokyo, Toshihiro Inoue sat at his desk looking at the latest confidential memo to come his way.
'This is not good.'
"Miss Tamura?" he spoke into the intercom on his desk.
>Yes sir? >
"I need to speak with professor Saotome. Get him here as soon as you can."
>I'll phone him now, sir. >
Later that afternoon, Mr Inoue met with Takeshi Saotome.
"Takeshi, I need to speak with you about progress on your Getter project."
The perennially lab-coated Saotome was a little surprised by this. "We're making good progress on the whole Getter project."
"That's not the problem, Takeshi. No, the problem is this; we need you to bring the advanced prototype robot forward for weapons testing ASAP. There has been a development."
"What is it?"
Inoue handed the professor a piece of paper. "Read this."
To: Toshihiro Inoue, Director of Advanced Weapons Projects.
American intelligence reports that there is something of Extra Terrestrial origin broadcasting signals on the moon. In the event that it turns out to be hostile, we need a back up for the security of Japan and the rest of the world.
As director for Advanced Weapons Projects, we need you to decide which one is our best hope and should be suitably advanced.
The fate of the world may rest in your hands.
Regards
General H Yadate.
"Whoa, that's some responsibility. I take it that the reason you asked me here and showed me that memo is because you think that the military potential my Getter Robo project is the best option?"
Inoue nodded. "Yes. Takeshi, when can you bring the project up to the testing phase?"
"We just sorted out the new reactor shielding configuration. That was a last minute stumbling block," Takeshi mentioned as he considered his answer. "I think it's just a case of finding and training pilots while we assemble the test type."
Inoue looked happy at the progress his old friend had made. "Good. I'll contact the army for pilot candidates. What traits are you looking for?"
"I have a pilot in mind already, Toshihiro."
"Oh? And just who would that be? Not planning on manning it yourself are you, Takeshi?" Toshihiro joked.
"Ha ha! No, I'm getting too old for that sort of thing. I was thinking more along the lines of my nephew, Ranma."
Inoue looked at the professor. "You know I don't approve of nepotism, Takeshi. Is he up to the task?"
"I think so," Takeshi championed Ranma.
"Ok, I'll need to vet his application just like anybody else. We don't want to be relying on whiny, reluctant teenagers to save the world," Inoue replied with a smile.
Professor Saotome chuckled. "I take it that you don't like the idea of 'angsty saviours of humanity'?"
"You have no idea how much I fantasize about bitch-slapping some of these characters in the anime my son watches."
Saotome nodded. Screaming, whiney people were not one of his favourite things, either.
Ranma walked home from the lab, feeling pretty good. He'd managed to solve the last puzzle that prevented the placement of the Getter reactor on a mobile platform. That he remained male throughout the day, thus avoiding the leers from the male staff was a pleasant bonus.
He was in such high spirits that he smiled at the people he passed in the street, not realising the effect he was having on the women.
Especially the group of freshmen art students about to enter a café.
"Hey, Asuka," a tall brunette attracted the attention of a redhead, "what do you think?"
"Hitomi, I think that we should get him drunk so he'll agree to be our nude model."
"You would, Asuka," a third student chimed in.
Ranma's pleasant expression turned to a scowl when he saw the same Muppet that accosted his girl side a few weeks earlier. Again, he was with the one of the girls that caused him to change the course of his life.
"Nabiki Tendo, I must know more about the flame haired goddess that sometimes graces us with her presence!"
"I'm sorry, Kuno-chan, but I've heard nothing about her," Nabiki explained. Though she didn't like the situation, it was the truth. "It's like she's a ghost. If I hadn't seen her, I'd say you'd been hallucinating."
Seeing that Kuno had been put in his place, Ranma departed for home.
In the café, the students asked a waitress about the young man that they saw earlier.
"I see him from time to time, but to tell you the truth, you're not the first artists to think about using him for a model. He's quite elusive from what I hear. Plus there's his girlfriend. I've seen her: – she's as beautiful as he is handsome."
"Damn," Asuka muttered before ordering herself a latte.
The next day, "Ranko" was sitting down at a table to eat her lunchtime meal, when an attractive blonde woman sat down next to her.
"Is this seat taken?"
"No," Ranko replied not even looking up from her food.
The nervous office lady decided to bite the bullet. "Do you know Ranma Saotome?"
Ranko stopped eating for a moment. "Yes. Why?"
"I was wondering if you knew if he was going out with anybody at the moment."
"'He' told me that he's not interested in dating at the moment."
"I see. He turned you down then?"
Ranko turned to the attractive blonde. "Ranma is close enough to me to be my brother."
The blonde looked suitably embarrassed at her assumption. "I'm so sorry. It's just that he's been known to hurt those that try anything with you, so we assumed that the two of you were going out."
"It's ok," Ranko smiled. 'Maybe this woman isn't so bad.' "What's your name?"
"Motoko Morimura," the blonde replied.
'Mom seems to think that girls like me, I might as well see if it's true,' the redhead thought. "And just what do you see in Ranma?" Ranko asked.
Motoko acquired a blush as she tried to word her answer favourably. It wouldn't do to tell the sister of the guy you fancied that you wanted to drag him to the nearest secluded place for a quickie.
"Ah, Motoko, I needed to speak with you," a brunette called out as she walked up to the pair.
"Oh hello, Masako, this is Ranko, Ranma's sister. Ranko, this is Masako Fujita. She works with me in the accounts department."
"Hello Ranko. To tell you the truth Ranko, there was some debate about whether or not you and Ranma were an item."
"Really?" Ranko asked, her left eyebrow raised quizzically.
"Yes, the guys will be glad to hear that they don't have to compete with Ranma for your affections."
"And what about my brother? Is there any interest in him?" Ranko asked the newly arrived brunette.
"Are you kidding?" Masako asked incredulously. "He's the most sought after man in the building!"
"I'd nail him good," Motoko added.
"You mean that people are after him?" Ranko asked, completely misunderstanding Masako's point.
The two office ladies nodded, not realising that redhead's poor social skills were causing her to misread the situation.
Takeshi walked up to the trio and apologised for interrupting. "I need Ranko's help in the Getter lab."
"Ok Professor. I'll see you later, Motoko, Masako." Ranko bowed and quickly left.
Back at the lab, Ranma was returning back from the restroom, when Professor Saotome walked up to his nephew. "Ranma, I need to talk with you, in private."
This did not bode well for the young Saotome. "Yeah, of course, Uncle Takeshi. What about?"
"Step into my office."
A few minutes later, Takeshi had Ranma sitting in his office looking rather bemused as to the reason for this impromptu meeting.
"Ranma, I have something to ask of you."
"What can I do for you?" Ranma was eager to assist his recently rediscovered family.
"This request is not just from me," Takeshi sighed. "I've not told you the whole truth about my Getter ray research."
Ranma became still.
"No doubt you realise that this lab is furnished with expensive equipment."
Ranma nodded. He didn't understand how most of it worked, but he knew that it wasn't cheap.
"Most of the funding comes from the government. Their primary use for the Getter rays is not just an environmentally friendly power source, but the basis for an exploration vehicle for extreme environments like space and the ocean floor."
"That sounds pretty cool," Ranma commented.
"Thanks," the professor inclined his head in appreciation. "But there is more to the Getter Robo project. I'm sorry to say that the only reason we get so much funding is because Getter rays have a lot of potential for being used as weapons."
Ranma was a bit shocked by this revelation. "What kind of weapons?"
"Well, to tell you the truth, there is still a lot we don't know about Getter radiation. Some think that we can use it to power an energy weapon, a bit like a laser. A space based weapon like this could be useful, but there are things that you require a ground presence for."
As Ranma considered this idea, the professor explained further. "A robot with two legs could be more manoeuvrable than tanks, and it would be able to carry more firepower than a plane."
"But what does this have to do with me?" Ranma asked.
"We need a test pilot for the robot, and I want it to be you. You more than meet the physical requirements and experience with Getter rays that makes you an ideal pilot in my opinion."
"I-I don't know," Ranma replied honestly. "I mean, being in the army's a lot different than practicing martial arts."
Takeshi nodded. "I understand your feelings, Ranma, but at the moment it's only in a test pilot role. I want you to help us with the control and auto balancing systems. Obviously there would be different settings for the other pilots, but we need to get a feel for how we should proceed."
"Ok," Ranma nodded in agreement. "But only in a testing role – I don't like the idea of killing people."
"I'll do what I can to keep you from combat, Ranma. That's a promise."
Back at the Tendo house, Akane was practicing a newly learnt manoeuvre in preparation for the upcoming Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics competition. Akane had been drafted in after the Furinkan team had been incapacitated by the antics of one Kodachi Kuno.
Akane was happy to substitute in for the team, her confidence had been boosted considerably by the progress she'd made under the tutelage of Genma.
Balancing on the ball, she used the ribbon to snag a bottle of water from the bucket in the corner. As she quenched her thirst, she considered how it was that "Uncle" Genma had picked up such a technique.
"Probably used it for stealing food," she grumbled at such dishonourable uses of the Art. She was still unhappy that her father had allowed the unscrupulous man to use mealtimes as a training aid.
"'For my training' my ass, he's just greedy."
A few days later, Ranma was being examined by an army doctor as part of the selection process for test pilots.
"We just need a urine sample, and then we'll be done here, Mr. Saotome," Dr. Sakamoto said as he handed Ranma a sample cup.
"Sure thing, doc." Ranma turned towards the wall for privacy.
The doctor was finishing his notes as Ranma dressed.
"Here you go, doc." The pigtailed young man handed the shorter, bespectacled man a three quarters full container of urine.
"Thank you Mr. Saotome."
"Please, call me Ranma," Ranma asked, trying to make small talk until he was called for. "So what's your first impression?"
"Well, Ranma, I'd have to say that you are in fantastic shape. You easily pass the physical requirements for many Special Forces units across the world. You might have some problems with the written exams, but from what I've been told, you've not had a normal childhood."
"That's an understatement, doc," Ranma replied with a wry smile.
A knock on the door alerted the pair to the presence of a military policeman.
"Excuse me Captain, but I'm here to escort Mr. Saotome to the Committee's office," the young corporal explained after having his salute returned.
"I see, well we are done here, I just need to get these samples to the lab, and then I'll get my report to the committee."
Ranma was being escorted to the room where the Committee were ready to interview him by the young corporal.
"So what's it like in the Army?" Ranma asked, trying to make conversation.
"It's ok. The physical training took me by surprise – it was hard than I though it would be, but it's a job and I don't have to pay for a house or my food."
Incomplete, and only posted because I wanted to check something. Namely whether or not this should be continued or dropped it in favour of my other stories.
If you'd rather have me work on my other stories, then let me know which one(s) should be worked on in its place.
You know how to let me know what your opinions are.
Until laterer comes.
