Ace Combat: Ranma's War
Disclaimer: Ranma ½ belongs to Rumiko Takahashi; Ace Combat belongs to Namco; Area 88 belongs to Kaoru Shintani; Full Metal Panic belongs to Shoji Gatoh; and Stratos 4 belongs to Bandai Entertainment and Studio Fantasia
Author's Notes: I would like to make special mention and give my warmest thanks to two of my avid readers: Jax and ranma-tomoe. Without their support I would have shelved this along with my other unfinished works. Oh and don't worry guys I intend to finish this one (hopefully). I already made the beginning and I have an ending planned out, it's the in-between chapters that would be wracking my brains out in that I have to contend with in order to produce. And if you're wondering why Ranma seems to play a minor role in the story so far that would all change very soon.
Mission 104: Interludes
'When we returned to Sand Island, the first thing I did upon landing was relieving the nausea churning in my stomach. It wasn't a pretty sight.'
"…You alright?"
"Yeah…I'll be fine…" 'The Captain was too kind that it shamed me doing that embarrassing display in front of the entire base maintenance crew.'
"Alright, I have got make my report, wish me luck."
"…Good luck." 'I hurled a second time when Captain Bartlett left. I sure hope Lieutenant Colonel Perrault would go easy on him, and besides he did managed to get everybody back safe and sound, that's what important.'
"That's just plain disgusting! Don't expect us to clean after you, son." Kouichirou Sako, Chief Engineer and CO of Sand Island's aircraft maintenance personnel just blabbered on and on but I wasn't really listening, I just wipe my mouth and took aim with my camera, doing what a photo journalist had to do on an occasion like this: capture on film the heroes' triumphant return of Wardog Squadron. Why I say heroes? Besides the obvious warm welcome they received from the ground crew, I firsthand bore witness to their acts of bravery and heroism while up there with them. Ayamo Nakamura took the lead of avidly retelling the tale to the wide-eyed, gawking maintenance crew, of course embellishing it to her standards, as I recalled she shot zero enemy planes. Shizuha and Mikaze both played out their roles – taking in the praises and inquiries as they go while giving out their humblest smiles to their impromptu fans. Even their squad leaders weren't spared. The other day they were down and were nervous wrecks, after the unfortunate incident of losing their squad members, now they're still down but overwhelmed by all this attention they're receiving. But I wonder, how do they really feel after going through that baptism of fire so to speak, finally having killed someone using the Federation's millions of dollars worth of military hardware?
"Mr. Shinjou…" 'Lieutenant Iwasaki came into view of my lens. I lowered my camera to greet him.' "Hey Lieutenant, what's up…?" It's then there I noticed he's not alone. Accompanying him were two MPs who both looked awfully familiar – the two MPs who accosted me from before, when I first arrived here on Sand Island. When I saw those two I knew I had a bad feeling.'
"I'm afraid I have some disappointing news, Mr. Shinjou." 'All I could was stare at him right in the face and tense myself for what he had to say.' "I've been ordered by Lieutenant Colonel Perrault to confiscate your camera and any media correspondences you posses." 'That's it! I knew that fat bastard would do something like this.' "Furthermore you're to remain in the quarters provided you until further notice." 'Woah, is the Lt. Colonel really that desperate to suppress the truth that happened up there? This is just too much!' "These men will escort you to your room. I'm sorry…"
"Yeah, I'm sure you are." 'I gave him my camera and sling bag containing my tape recorder, some blank tapes and other knickknacks. Sure it might be wrong for me to pent-up all my ill-feelings towards the young Lieutenant at that moment after all he was just following orders from his messed-up superior, but my tolerance for this kind of treatment was beginning to thin. The sad part is that there is nothing I could do about it; I'm in their world which acted like a gag and straightjacket for me – a prisoner with little or no rights and a lot of restrictions. I gingerly allowed the two goons I've come to dubbed as 'Moe' and 'Curly' to lead me to my 'cell'.'
"Hey what's deal with Mr. Shinjou over there?" noticed Ayamo while holding off the wave of admirers milling about. "Huh," Shizuha saw it too but was preoccupied with the maintenance crew congratulating her. "Look we're flattered by this and everything but we must file in our report so if you excuse us…" Shizuha turned to see Airman 1st Class Saotome Ranma leaving the throng with Second Lieutenant Nagase in tow, pulling her out by the hand. Nagase seemed taken aback but was passive by this, allowing her subordinate to lead her away from the scene. Mikaze was a bit downcast by that, seeing Ranma leaving with the Second Lieutenant. She wanted to talk to her squad leader or at least hoped he would come and speak to her, of what transpired earlier in the battle, or just about anything, anything to talk about. Mikaze quickly force the notion off her mind. What was she thinking? It's then Mikaze realized that Karin was no where to be seen. The festive atmosphere was suddenly broken with Ayamo flaring up. "HEY! Who touched my butt? If I find out the PERVERT who did it, I'll KILL HIM!"
"Ranma hold on!" Ranma let go of Nagase's hand when he felt her tugging away.
"Sorry Lieutenant, I was overstepping my bounds," he said sheepishly. "But I did manage to get us of that rabble." Nagase just stared at him unable to make out her pig-tailed haired colleague, while rubbing her slightly aching wrist; she never knew Ranma had such a strong grip.
"Does it hurt? I sometimes don't know my own strength," smiled Ranma, trying to brighten the mood but Second Lieutenant Nagase looked dejected and avoided his gaze.
"No it's fine…" she said in small voice.
"Well," Ranma sighed as he made signs of leaving. "I guess I'll be going now, Lieutenant. Got to freshen up and…"
"Ranma, about the other day," she finally began, surprising him with her sudden change of disposition. "That was totally uncalled for by me. For being cold towards you…"
"Hey no prob Lieutenant, I was not thinking that time. I should have considered what you were going through. It was thoughtless in my part."
Nagase could only faintly smile at her subordinate's understanding, a smile that Ranma has not seen since the incident. "You should smile more Lieutenant, it really suits you," flattered the Airman.
"Really?" responded Nagase, astonished by the compliment. "I must have forgotten to do so of late, or I just didn't feel like it." Nagase's tone trailed off, becoming moody once again, her face downcast.
"Are you okay, Lieutenant?" Ranma offered feeling deeply concerned for her.
"Actually…No." she said, facing him. "Ranma…have you ever killed anyone in your entire life?" The question had taken him aback, jogging his memory of time he would rather not want to remember.
"W-Why do you ask?" It was a safe answer.
"It's just that this job we're in…It would eventually lead us to kill people. People that we never meant to hurt…it's all seem too surreal," Nagase began, troubled by the words coming into mind.
"I know exactly what you mean. I feel exactly the same way," happily shared Ranma, feeling glad of something in common with the Second Lieutenant.
"Really…Do you?" Nagase wondered if her subordinate was just making her feeling better but she was thankful for the sentiment nonetheless. She then continued. "When I joined the Air Force, I joined it for sake of an opportunity of flying. It has been my dream when I was young." At that point Ranma couldn't help but feel some kinship in Nagase's words, he wanted to say something to her but instead let her continue her rhetoric. "All this time I always hoped that our flights would remain peaceful and carefree…but I guess that isn't case anymore." She ruefully looked at the pigtailed- haired Airman. "You probably think of me as weird or something by me saying those things, hmm?"
Ranma shook his hands in defense while smiling at her awkwardly. "Aah, no! Of course not!" He sudden switched to being serious. "…You see it has also been my dream to fly when I was a kid, when I first saw birds doing it, and when got a glimpse of an airplane soaring high in the sky. I said to myself what it be like if had the chance to actually experience it." It was Nagase's turn to feel similarly for Ranma, she hadn't realized of such coming from him but then again she hadn't known him that long. When he first came to Sand Island, he was like any new recruit – enthusiastic and ready to jump in into the action. But like any newcomer to Wardog he was treated with much indifference and uncertainty by the other squad members. Being one of Wardog Squadron's COs, or because it was in her nature, Second Lieutenant Nagase made it a point to make the young Saotome welcome and accepted into the group. Since then, Nagase knew next to nothing of the pigtailed-haired Airman, save being outgoing and at times evasive – a clear sign of him having things to hide.
"Ranma?"
"Yes, Lieutenant?"
"Except for the Captain, you're the only one left of the original team…"
"Well I wouldn't say that Lieutenant, there's the girls…"
Nagase held up her hand to admonish his interruption. "Please let me finish…"
"Okay. I'm sorry."
"…What I'm trying to say is…I'd like to know more about you from now on since will be working close together." She said while trying to keep herself from blushing.
"Um…yeah," said Ranma, acting rather ineptly by the strange request of his superior. "Is that an order ma'am?"
"Please call me Kei…"
"Ayamo let it go already! Calm yourself!"
"CALM myself! How would like if somebody touched you indecently. Its sexual harassment I tell you!"
Makaze could only sigh at her companions' debate which has been going on since the alleged incident. Luckily both Mikaze and Shizuha managed to defuse the situation after restraining Ayamo before she could embroil up an ugly scene in the base grounds. But that didn't stop the fiery Nakamura girl from shooting her mouth off on and on over some perceived injustice she'd suffered, not since they've hit for their quarters to change and then headed towards for the cafeteria to grab a bite to eat. Mikaze had another reason for heading for the base's refectory which she correctly deduced eventually.
"Karin! There you are!" Mikaze exclaimed, having caught the queer short, blue-haired girl red handed slurping her third, no, fourth bowl of noodle soup dish, by a table. Karin just stared innocently, wide-eyed at her three friends while sucking in a mouthful of the soup-drenched, stringy dough.
"We were worried sick! I was worried sick that something happened to you during that farce earlier!" Mikaze added; feeling concerned for her teammate. Ayamo's eyes went wide with the implication.
"Hey don't pin all on me, Mikaze! It's not my fault somebody tried to sexually harass me!"
"Se-slurp haras-slurp?" Karin tried to form the words in between noodle intakes.
"Karin, don't try to talk with your mouth full," scolded Shizuha.
"I'm sorry everyone," said Karin after finally gulping in last morsel on her plate. "I really was hungry. So the first thing I did after we landed was to head straight here. Again I'm sorry for worrying you all." She meekly apologized.
"Well seeing you haven't changed out of your flight suit, I say you must have been really famished. Ayamo added her insight but at the same time couldn't help wince away at Karin's gluttonous display of appetite as evident by the number of stacked empty bowls and dishes on the table.
"Alright we forgive you, Karin. Next time try not going on your own. We're a team aren't we? And we've been the longest of friends so we must stick together. Are listening, Karin? And WHAT were you eating?" Seeing Karin's nonstop intake of food had Mikaze suddenly made her feel hungry herself.
"Excuse Miss, one order of tonkatsu udon soup coming through!" gregariously declared a dark hefty woman with Southern Yank accent, bearing a steamy bowl.
"Oh I'm sorry," said Mikaze, giving way for the sole cafeteria attendant but was surprise to see her delivering the dish in front of Karin's table. "KARIN!"
Seeing Mikaze's disparagement, the robust lady merely smiled and said: "Heh, you don't have to be riled about this, miss? I've seen how she can handle own intake and I'm glad she's happy! Besides she kinda reminds of my lil' ol' daughter when she was her age, back in Alabama, in the Union. She had such an appetite…" She rubbed off a tear of joy from her eye, reminded of happy times.
"Thank you Miss Alicia…" Karin immediately dug in with her latest acquisition, pulling a mouthful of noodles, making a lot of slurping sounds.
" Oh shucks!" said the dark, Yank woman, composing herself "You're welcome deary, but you can scratch the Miss part and just call me Alicia."
"…I'm-slurp, Karin," she breathed.
"Of course you are!" laughed Alicia at Karin's antics. "How could I not forget since it was Ranma who introduced you girls to me the first time you came here to the island, especially you Karin? I was amazed, god I thought Ranma was the only one with great appreciation for my cooking, but you sure did showed him a thing or two did you Karin?"
"Oh yeah, how can we forget?" Groaned Ayamo, remembering the first time they went here to the cafeteria. Karin was hungry and Airman 1st Class Ranma Saotome accompanied them here. I was then that all intimate prospects for the young Saotome by the Nakamura girl were dashed after seeing how he ate.
Both Mikaze and Shizuha also recalled that time having no words to describe what they saw when both Ranma and Karin ordered a mountain of food and acted as if they were in an eating contest, gobbling up dish after dish at an amazingly gluttonous rate. They would even try to stealing one another's food, prompting a food-grabbing battle. But in the end both finished and relished their respective meals, to the subdued disgust of the girls – dubbing the two as 'bottomless pits'.
"So girls want would want?" asked Alicia, breaking the three girls focus from Karin.
The girls finally made their orders and ate in silence after a long stressful experience; occasionally - can't help taking notice of Karin, who ordered for another round of serving.
The raging croon of crickets and the uniform thumping of a M6 Arms Slave, roving the base grounds, were the only signs of activity in a rather inactive Sand Island Base. Most flights for the day have halted and those planes that were still on patrol have not returned yet, giving the base and its surroundings a solemn calm as the fading sun sets in the west beckoning the eve of nightfall.
Capatain Bartlett's gazed at the setting sun from the open facade of an aircraft hanger, reminded of the fact that the enemy was in that direction. But other thoughts kept him preoccupied as well, with the conclusion of his 'report' to the higher-ups not withstanding. He worries for the future Wardog Squadron will play in the potentially explosive situation developing, knowing that they still have a long way to go in terms of combat experience. But there was another issue he was worried about.
"How did it go?"
The Captain's trail of thought was interrupted by the query of one Kouichirou Sako, Chief Engineer and Head of the Sand Island's Aircraft Maintenance Team. The question, went unanswered however. Captain Bartlett's face was a grim mask.
"That bad, eh?" replied Sako, nonchalantly returning to his tinkering of a parked F-5 within the folds of the hanger.
An approaching new face caught the attention of the stoic Wardog Captain easing some of his concerns, bringing a smile back to his face. "Hey mediaman, how's it been? I've heard what happened, aren't you supposed to be confined to quarters?"
Shinjou Makoto slyly smiled back at the satirical statement. "Yeah, but I manage to convince the good ol' Lieutenant to let me see you after your meeting; on the condition of keeping to myself what I'll learn."
"Lieutenant?"
"Lieutenant Iwasaki."
"Oh. Really?"
"I must admit, the Lieutenant ain't all that bad. I mean he practically got on his way of compromising his position just to allow me to see you."
"Is that so?"
"Hmph, the Captain and the Lieutenant go a long ways back during the post-war era," interjected Sako, a mischievous grin forming on his face.
"You mean like friends?" Shinjou turned to the Captain for confirmation but couldn't read his expression.
"More like rivals if you ask me," continued Sako. "He and the Lieutenant were going for a common love interest that time…and the Captain eventually got the girl and the rest…you can figure out for yourself."
"Sayaka!" Shinjou hit the mark. "Ms. Sayaka was the girl, right?"
Captain Bartlett uneasily shrugged. "You had to bring that out in the open, aye old man."
"Is that how you got the callsign: 'Heartbreak'? What happened that time?"
Kouichirou Sako gregariously answered the very inquisitive freelance but defunct photo journalist. "You probably don't know this, but Sayaka and the Lieutenant were under the Captain's wing, part of a program sponsored by the Federation of training new pilots in a post-war Nippon, in anticipation of a conflict with the Eastern Alliance. They, I and my Mihura were known as the Fabulous Five that time."
"Not that silly name again?" groaned Captain Bartlett, regretting for allowing the 'old coot' to jabber on such embarrassing recollections.
"You flew fighter jets?" Shinjou found it hard to picture Kouichirou in a flight suit acting like some maverick pilot.
"Sure I did and I had my share of dogfights during war. Oh the joy of flying and the glory of battle, those were the days…" reminiscent Chief Sako. "But I gave that all up for my true calling – and that's taking care of babies like these." He patted the F-5 he was working on, as if it were some docile pet.
"So what happened? Why didn't you two get to be?" Shinjou brought up the matter again. Captain Bartlett sighed, breaking his reluctance to speak and beating Kouichirou to the punch, less the Maintenance Chief start slurring the story or go of-topic again.
"There was an accident and Sayaka was involved in it." The Captain began, trying to shake-off some nasty memories. "We were at one of our final training sessions when it happened. Sayaka's landing gears malfunctioned and wouldn't flap down. The mechanical-know-hows on the ground tried everything by the book but nothing worked, they told her to eject but not before she set a course to ditch her plane in the ocean, but fate wasn't kind that day."
"Let me guess, the ejection system malfunctioned."
"Her only option left was to make an emergency crash-landing," Captain Bartlett continued on without flinching. "I could still remember hearing her panic on the radio, the hysteria she was going through. I gave her the reassurance that everything will be fine because I was going to guide her through the procedure. Everything went smoothly, right up to the point before impact." He paused for while before continuing.
"Her plane skidded, and in spite of having exhausted her fuel before making the attempt to crash land, it still caught fire. The aircraft rolled and tumbled so many times I wondered how someone would survive through it."
"But of course she obviously survived…" Shinjou stated the fact.
"That she did. And get this, when the rescuers got her out of the wreckage they found no wounds or bruises on her."
"Get out of here!" Shinjou exclaimed in disbelief.
"It's true; they say somehow the cockpit arrested her for getting injured. I could scarcely believe it myself that time, but she's living proof of that miraculous incident."
"But in spite of that she suffered traumatically afterwards. A few days later, she tendered her resignation from the Air Force. I couldn't blame her from her decision to leave. She needed the time to recover from her ordeal. But from that time on, that was it for her, for planes, for flying." Shinjou couldn't help detect some remorse in Captain Bartlett's demeanor.
"The thing was she wanted me to come along with her, to start off anew."
Shinjou waited for the Captain to continue on, although he already figured the answer.
The Wardog Captain sighed. "I chose my career over her…yeah I know, not the kinda ending you'd expect from two people supposed to be hitched, but I had a lot of things going that time and couldn't afford to just throw it all away."
"So what happened?" asked Shinjou.
"We said our goodbyes and parted our ways and that was last I saw of her, until just recently."
"Do you think she's still mad at you?"
"Mad? Now that you mentioned, I never really thought of it. I don't know. Maybe…"
"And what if I am, hmm?"
All three turned to the blue haired woman coming towards them, wearing a sardonic smile on her face.
"Well speak of she-devil herself." Spoke Captain Bartlett, returning to his usual derisively, gruff self.
"Awww, did I disturb your very sob story?" countered Sayaka. "Anyways, how was 'it'?"
"The meeting? Terrible! They've reprimanded me for insubordination, again, as if they can make it stick. Had I not done what I did up there, I and my entire squadron would be sleeping with the fishes under the sea right now! I don't know why they even bother reprimanding me?"
Kouichirou nudged Shinjou. "The Captain has been known to have long standing record of reprimands from the higher-up especially on how he handles his job. They say they find his methods are - unorthodox."
"Anyway, how are the girls?" Captain Bartlett asked, changing the subject.
"Hmm, I've checked with them and I must say they seem to be taking it quite well; better than I expected, although I can't be certain. Repercussions could manifest later on, especially if they'll get more involved in such situations. The 'situation' will escalate, wouldn't it?"
"Your guess is good as mine, Sayaka. But I'm sure the higher-ups are working on the clock, trying to make sense to all that has been happening of late."
"So you think it's the Tsungs that are behind all this?" Suddenly Shinjou asked
"That's what facts state so far," Simply answered the Captain.
"But weren't the Tsungnese allied with the Yanks in the 'Great War' fifteen years ago?"
"Yeah, but when the Yank Union came to Nippon's defense, offering amnesty for its war crimes, the Tsungnese were outraged. The Tsungnese were the hardest hit by the occupation and oppression by the Nipponese Imperial Army, and has never forgiven Nippon every since. Shortly after, they've closed contact with the global community and joined the Eastern Alliance, putting their lot in with the Rus. But in spite of that, there's little we know about the present state of affairs of the People's Republic; I hear even the Rus know next to nothing of their ally, who seems to shroud itself in mystery.
"Well, putting inter-politics aside, what of your people," asked Sayaka referring to Captain Bartlett's subordinates.
"Them? I haven't checked and I don't intend to start now. Besides it would be better for them to deal with it themselves."
"Would that kind of reasoning have resulted in your old team members being alive today?"
"Your point?" irritably responded Captain Bartlett, seeing where the discussion was leading to.
"My point is that your people need all the encouragement they'll need if they're function effectively as pilots and as soldiers. I certainly don't see it in your Second Lieutenant Nagase."
"What? Nagase? She may not look it, but she's tough in the inside, when the situation comes."
"And what if it doesn't, what if your overconfidence gets her…" Sayaka stopped, not wanting to say it in front of the Wardog Leader.
"Are we taking about the same Kei Nagase here or is it about you?"
"Certainly not! I'm not even sure what you're referring to?"
Captain Bartlett sarcastically scoffed. "You think it's my fault you left the Air Force, or maybe because I didn't come with you that time? Or maybe you're jealous of the Second Lieutenant, is that it?"
"Wha-You want to know the truth. I think you're an arrogant son of a bitch who thinks he has all the answers and doesn't need anyone to tell him anything better!"
"Hey, hey, take it easy you two; let's not add to the conflict already developing, okay?" said Shinjou, ready to stand between the two, going at it with each other, if things got ugly.
"Well, I may have the solution to your problems," Kuoichiro amusingly offered. "People involved with Wardog have had a stressful experience and what better way to ease the tension than to unwind with a good ol' R&R. Where you ask? Why Kou Chin of course…"
"You know old man Sako, you might have an idea going there," smirked Captain Bartlett.
"Kou Chin's…Yeah, it has been a long time since I visited the place…I wonder what has changed?" Sayaka could almost taste the authentic Tsungnese cuisine she learned to love from the said eating establishment several years ago.
"Well that was fast. Nice going there, Kuoichiro." Shinjou's eyes widen upon seeing the furious creasing brow of the Maintenance Chief, his face contorting into anger.
"How many times do I have to tell you, stop calling 'old man'! Am not that old yet, you stinkin' Yank! I'll have you know that…"
"Whoa! Easy there Chief, you got to watch your blood pressure," jested the Captain.
"So…Jack will it be a truce then?" awkwardly ask Ms. Kisaragi
"Eh, no sweat, I've already forgotten what we're auguring about." Both eyed each other as if trying to say something unsaid. A gruff 'ahem' of Makoto Shinjou brought their attention.
"Well I'm glad you're kissing and making up, but I don't think it would be appropriate for the both of you to be making-out in front of us," he said, jokingly smirking.
"You misunderstand," warded Sayaka, embarrassingly blushing at the implications.
"You can be sore thumb sometimes there, Mediaman."
"Hey, just lightening the mood. By the way, what is this 'Kou Chin'?"
Kuoichiro answered him. "Kou Chin is the oldest restaurant, serving fine Tsungnese dining, in the island. It's run by old Alice Mikuriya – a fine lady and fine host I might say. My and Miharu would have dinner there almost always."
"Not Miharu again?" Moaned Captain Bartlet who probably heard 'that' name uttered three times already. "Can't you give a rest will ya, Sako!"
"Why? You had Sayaka! Leave me alone with my Miharu! Can't a guy reminiscence some old good times?"
"Well, anyway there going to be problem I'm afraid…"
"Problem?" asked Sayaka.
"Yeah, one of my people - Ranma…he has an issue with Kou Chin's."
"What kind of issue?" continued Ms. Kisaragi.
"…It's kinda long story…and you wouldn't believe it when I tell you."
"Try me."
Kou Chin's
"…Aha…Mmm…Yes…Will be expecting you Bart-san. Oh you need not be bashful…anyways…see you at 7:30, will have everything ready by then…and don't worry I'll handle it…bye!" Alice Mikuriya, head proprietress of the Kou Chin's, put the handset back to phone set affixed on the wall. She then addressed her daughter, Ran, who was busily setting up the common area. "That was Captain Bartlett, he and members of his squadron will be dinning here this evening."
"Really? I thought all of his team members were lost recently?" said Ran with a note of lament in her saying.
"Apparently he has a new batch of recruits under his command now. They just came from the mainland not so long ago, and I hear that they're just teenagers – fourteen-year old girls to be exact."
"Fourteen-years old?" uttered Ran in amazement. "What is the military thinking, training teenagers for war?"
"Well as for me, letting the young ones see and experience the perspective of us adults, is go training ground for them, it will allow them to make better decisions and choices that we adults often take for granted."
"Whatever. I still think it's wrong. By the way, is Ranma among those coming?"
"Yes. He and Nagase were only ones who survive from the original group."
"If that were the case, then that means…"
Both women gazed at the gray and black, fur and lard of cat, splayed on the floor nearby.
"I'm afraid you'll have to stay out of sight, Arisu. It's for sake of one of our dear customers."
Arisu just nonchalantly stared at them. "Reowww."
Ranma laid on his bunk at the spacious quarter's reserved for Wardog's male pilots. Since their untimely demise Ranma had the barracks all to himself which didn't bode well with him. He would often hang-out on the roof-tops, around the base just to be one and to gaze upon the sky like he always did back in Nerima, but this time he didn't feel like it for many things were going through the pig-tailed haired Airman's mind. He couldn't erase the scene replaying in his thoughts, of those Tsung planes exploding in mid-air, destroyed, in at least one instance by his hands. He could imagine the horror those poor pilots must have gone through before dying, their screams of agony echoing in his ears. How did it all come to this? All he wanted was to fulfill his life long dream of flying.
Twelve years ago
The trail smoke of a high altitude aircraft can be seen painting the clear blue sky with a long white streak that can be seen miles around. This wonder was witnessed by a pigtail-haired youth, of no more than eight summers of age, staring at it in awe and marvel, with childish aspirations going through his young mind, wishing of being able to experience such a feat.
"RANMA! RANMA!"
"Over here, Pops!"
A hefty man in white gi, with a matching bandana covering his bald head, and wire-frame glasses over his eyes, came to the boy in the clearing of some forest with much urgency in his intentions.
"Ranma! What are you doing here loitering around; it is time for your 'special' training."
"'Special' training?" wondered the boy.
"I've already set it all up in the cottage we're staying, so come along now so that we can get start!"
"Umm, okay."
As they headed off for the 'training', Ranma spoke up. "Hey Pops, do you think that besides becoming the greatest martial artists in the world, do you think I could also become a pilot and fly planes? That way I could also become the greatest pilot in world!"
Ranma's father stopped in his tracks, taken aback by his boy's statement.
"What foolishness has gotten into that little head of yours, boy?" Ranma just stood there dumbfounded. He'd known his father for being strict, and shouting at him with insults was the norm, but he saw no reason for father to admonish him for something that is his dream, besides martial arts.
"Being a martial artist entails much devotion and dedication. There is no room for any other divergences. You're the sole heir of the Anything Goes Martial Arts School and that's what you'll become and no other!"
Ranma finally brought the courage to speak up. "But if I work and train doubly hard I could achieve both couldn't I; I know I can do it Pops!"
"What part didn't you understand, boy? You can't become a martial artist and a stupid pilot at the same time. You'll become a martial artist, and that will be the end of it! Now come along!" His father took him by the hand and pulled him along toward the site – a dark, covered pit, there to begin the Nekoken.
'Since that day something died within me – with my dream of flying among other things. How I wished I actually died during that accursed Neko Ken training had never been brought back to the harsh truth that was reality by that kindhearted lady. My Pops robbed me of my childhood and aspirations, immersing me in his stupid schemes that often left me to answer for; and for him – lording over the spoils. But in spite of all that, evenif I hated his guts, he's still my father.'
'Time passed on eventually our roads led us to the Cursed Springs of Jusenkyo - a place where martial artist were said to train to become stronger but it was the place where the worst of misfortunes would befall me. After falling in into one of the 'cursed' springs and gaining this mockery of an 'other self', my father conveniently had me set-up with one of the daughters of his best friend, Soun Tendo. An arrange marriage it was, to unite the two schools of the Anything-Goes into one. But who the hell does arranged marriages in this day of age? Of course I was against the whole idea all the way and so was Akane, at least we had an mutual agreement with that but for most of the time we were against each other, literally, with me getting the receiving end of her fist or mallet. After several misadventures, rivals, enemies and a failed wedding later, I came to realized something changed within me after Phoenix Mountain and after saving Akane from near death, I couldn't explain it – I was becoming mature! It was also then that I rekindled my life long dream.
"Ranma, what do you think you're doing?" Akane caught the pigtailed haired boy, traveling sack and all, sneak-walking like a thief in the night on the eve of the Tendo residence near by her window. It was past one in the morning. She couldn't sleep for some reason.
"Shhh! Akane I must leave. Don't tell anyone of this."
"Where? Where are you going at this hour?"
Ranma got agitated, fearing that his intentions would be discovered by rest of the household if he'd dilly-dallied a minute longer, especially if an argument breaks out between him and Akane at this time.
"I'll explain but not here, Akane. The park, I could take you there if you allow me." He said offering the carry the Tendo girl.
"Akane just glared at him, ever suspicious of his intentions, always seeing him as nothing more than an idiot and a pervert.
"Please Akane…" Those words, that voice, his pitiful eyes, took Akane by surprise. For the past few days she had noticed some profound changes from Ranma, changes that she herself fine hard to believe, which greatly frustrates her more. Is this even the same Ranma Saotome she has known for this past year and a half, the one she has learned to hate?
"Please trust me…just this once." Again he made his offer to carry her, reaching out with his hand to her, she stared at it for the longest time. Throwing out her doubt and animosity for the pigtail-haired martial artist, she much obliged to his offer, taking his hand and allowing him to gently bear in his hand and roof-hop toward the Nerima Park.
"Alright what's all this about Ranma?" Alane hugged herself by her sides, the chill of the morning air creeping in on her skin. She and Ranma were the only waking souls in the park at that hour. Ranma seemed deathly serious for some reason which Akane found unsettling. He finally faced her eye to eye.
"I'm leaving Akane, I'm leaving for good," he said simply, waiting for her response.
"Are you serious, Ranma? Where would you go? Why are we even discussing this? Are you…are you running away?"
Ranma waited for her to finish. He wanted to defend himself from a couple of her allegations but decided to just let it be. All will be made clear to her very soon, he thought to himself. "There's a newspaper article I've read,"
"You…read newspapers?" Akane couldn't help interrupting the pigtailed-haired boy, finding it hard to believe in what he just said.
"Yeah, I've been reading newspapers lately, among other things. Anyway, I found this add – it says that the Federation is offering a special program that trains aspiring pilots, no experience needed, for ages fourteen to twenty. I know you find this all weird," he said, noticing Akane's eyes rolling up in disbelief. "But flying has been my childhood dream and I intend to take this chance of a lifetime opportunity if it's true."
"You the Great Ranma Saotome, whose only concern in life has been anything, related to martial arts and nothing more has a childhood dream of flying? Now I've heard everything. Ranma, you really are an idiot. Haven't you considered that it could be all just a silly gimmick? There are a lot of those floating around the periodicals. God, I can't believe you'd run away for such a silly reason."
"Maybe you're right," he said in a subdued tone. "But I've decided, what ever happens, I'm not returning here to Nerima." Ranma turned around, looking down he shuffled the sandy dirt ground. "Don't you ever feel that throughout your life you felt being held down by the things you thought being dear to you – family, honor. Is it a bad thing to aspire for personal happiness…?" He turned again to Akane. "Let me ask you, do you really like martial arts?"
"What kind of question is that?"
"Just answer the question."
"Of course I do what else would there be."
"Isn't there anything else that you wanted to be, for your self?"
Akane would have blown up at this point, but she was amazed herself for having talked sensibly with Ranma this long without chewing his head off.
"Well I've always wanted to be the best cook, better than my sister, Kasumi – Hey! Don't give me that look! At least mine is more attainable than you're flying dream."
"I'm sorry, you're right. I think you can be a better cook, the best even, if you strive and work hard for it. But I ask you, why cooking?"
"Isn't that obvious, to make people happy, to make them appreciate my cooking."
"And?"
"And what?"
"What about for yourself?"
"Well I would be happy if they're happy."
"That's what I wanted to hear."
"Huh?"
"It's the same with my dream of flying, I would probably help people with it but on a personal note I would be the one greatly rewarded."
"You're serious. Ranma, you have really changed…"
The two just stood there, absorbing each others exchange. Akane couldn't help feel something for the pigtailed haired boy
"Akane am letting you go."
"What?"
"I'm one of those that have been holding you down…from living truly the life you deserve."
Akane felt like having being slapped in the face and left to wonder the reason for having to deserve such a treatment, by Ranma's words.
"The failed wedding is over, and honestly I don't know where our relationship is heading. The only thing that I'm certain is my dream is within my grasp and I'm taking it." Ranma turned to leave. He then stopped. Without looking back he gave his final words to fiancé not-to-be.
"Just remember what I said, choose the life that will give you happiness. Don't let anything hold you down to achieve it." And with that, Ranma melded with the dark morning shadows.
"Is that it?" Akane said her pitch and temper both rising. "You just say big things and just leave?" By this time she was shouting, unmindful of the scene and ruckus she was making. "Fine, go ahead, runaway Ranma! Run to your best friend, Ukyou! Go elope with that Amazon bimbo! And while you're at it, go get some kicks from the psycho-bitch, Kodachi, for all I care!" Dogs from several blocks mime her callous call, stirring-up the nearby neighborhoods. "Go follow your stupid dream! Flying, ha, what a joke! You hear me, Ranma, you're a joke! GO! Leave! Just leave me…leave me all alone…" Akane choked on the heavy feeling engulfing her heart, fighting the tears threatening to gush out. "Please…please…don't leave…me…I think…I think I'm falling in love with you…really...That's what…That's what I…wanted to say to you…all this time…but couldn't…because…I was afraid…How stupid of me…So please…don't leave me…Ranma…I don't know what to do…without you…"
The darkness didn't answer back as she folded to her knees and wailed softly, unable to hear the words spoken after some considerable distance away.
"Goodbye…Akane…" said Ranma one last time, throwing away all regrets and not looking back. With the road before him laid wide and open, Ranma moved forward toward a new beginning.
'That was the last I saw of Akane. In a sense she was right; I was running away from many things, things that have become in a way - my responsibilities, and no amount of excuses or justifications could resolve the fix I'm in. Yes I might not be able solve all my problems of past but I can certainly create a new beginning, a fresh start, where in I'm in control. Out with old and in with the new, as the saying goes.'
'Now I got what I wished for – being able to fly. But I never put into account of the possibility that joining the Federation Air Force would get me to kill someone. I figured that after a couple of years of flight experience, with the skills I've acquired, I would leave the military and get a job in the airline industry or a least establish a small time flying service to earn a living. But all those back plans seemed moot now with the brewing conflict that everybody has talking about that might explode. God, how I wish it wouldn't happen.' The image of Second Lieutenant Nagase suddenly came to his mind.
'The Second Lieutenant is an unusual girl, I mean, woman, unlike the ones I've met who were either loud or rash or demanding, or all of the three. She's different; she's mild-mannered, kind-hearted…but sometimes seems sad.' The image of Second Lieutenant pecking him with a kiss earlier comes to mind. He's not sure why she did that but from her un-ceremonial departure, he figured that she must be really disturbed of all that has been happening, and he worries for her even more. Ranma wants to help the Second Lieutenant, but he's not sure how. Girls he thought, women for that matter, he could never figure them out. His long reflection finally ended when a female's voice on the PA system ringed out an announcement.
"Attention! All members of Wardog Squadron are to report to the Crew's Readying Room. Repeat: all members of Wardog are to report to the Crew's Readying Room…"
"What? At this hour? What could it be…?"
The pigtailed-haired Airman acrobatically flipped off his bed into a standing position. Fixing the reams of his blue and grey uniform, he headed out for the meeting place.
