Galaxy of Stars
Summary: after the murder of the Echizen family, strange people seem to be interested in the Seigaku, Rikkai and Hyoutei regulars in particularly in Ryoma. Who, become much calmer and less enthusiastic than anyone has ever seen. Nadesico Crossover…
is it too late to do a disclaimer?? lol... i forgot all about it!! well as you all know i don't own Prince of tennis or Nadesico... and that's probably a good thing too... lol... there' might be random spoilers throught out the story... knowing me i probably placed a few in already... lol... oh well... there's the froth chapter... slowly i'm beinging to think the story line is getting weider and weirder... oh well... thank you for all the cool reviews!! i hope to not let you all down!! hugs and kisses!! enjoy the read... beware of slight randomness...
Chapter 4
"Is this the new recruits?" asked a man.
"Admiral Misumaru," saluted Jun.
"I see your well…" smiled the moustached man.
The regulars looked around and saw different coloured jackets and they knew that the ones wearing white were one with authority.
"Yellow are cooks, red are pilots, blue are maintenance and orange are communications," said voice next to them.
"Ochibi is that you?" asked Eiji, as he looked over too the short figure who was dressed in a black hooded trench coat, a white buttoned shirt and black jeans.
"Isn't it bad manners to wear a hood indoors?" asked Syuusuke.
"But it's not illegal," pointed out Ryoma.
"Admiral Misumaru, is this a new recruit?" asked Jun as he pointed to the man wearing a similar uniform to him however he had a back rope rather than red and did not have the triangular cloak. He had long blonde hair and there was one red streak on left side.
"This is Saburota Takasugi," said Admiral Misumaru.
"I'm here as a royal guard," said Saburota coolly. "So… where's my charge?"
"How do you know his not a spy?" asked Jun. A holograph screen appeared in clue and a group very overly dressed family appeared.
"Hello dear," said the man cheerfully. "But the time you receive this message it would mean that your mother, your brothers and I are no longer alive…"
"Isn't he a bit too cheerful to be saying that?" whispered Kuwahara.
"This will be your body guard," smiled the woman, "I know your independent and that's why you decided to leave home… but allow us this last wish…"
"We know that our lives will be targeted," said a boy.
Then they all smiled and said in unison, "We love you!"
"And that is my proof," said Saburota. "Now where is my charge?"
"I don't think the child needs your protection," said Prospector.
"Still have to make sure all suspicious people are thoroughly investigated," said Saburota. "Let's start with he kid with the hood…"
"Why would a kid be the most suspicious?" asked Jun, as he placed a hand on his shoulder. Saburota knocked his hand away and headed towards Ryoma.
"Kid… State your name and rank," said Saburota.
"I'm not allowed to divulge such information," said Ryoma in a bored tone.
"So you won't mind if I frisk you," smiled Saburota.
"I should warn you that you will regret it," said Ryoma.
"Lieutenant Saburota," warned Admiral Munetake.
"I'll only take a second," said Saburota cheerfully.
"I won't allow it," said Jun as he grabbed his arm only for Saburota to pull out a gun and pointed it at him.
"Lieutenant Takasugi, please place down your gun," said Ryoma.
Saburota just smiled, "And why would I do that?"
"Because I too have a gun to your head," said Ryoma.
Saburota put his hands up, "I knew you were not a normal kid…"
'You're not the only one….' thought the regulars and their family.
Saburota smiled and turned around quickly, hand swinging expecting to hit something. By the time he turned around and was pointing his gun. His gun pointed to air and he felt a gun under his chin.
"Ryoma Echizen," said Ryoma, "That's what they know me as… I'm currently the programs manipulator…"
"Echizen…? Echizen, I apologise…" said Saburota. "I didn't know Nanjiroh and Rinko had a kid…"
"We should get going," said Admiral Misumaru. "The meetings about to start…"
"Oh joy another boring meeting," said Saburota.
"You can sit out," said Admiral Munetake.
"No… I have the duty to sit through boring meetings if the person I have to protect has to… even though that person may not be here…" shrugged Saburota.
"How noble of you…" said Jun sarcastically.
"Lieutenant Takasugi," said Ryoma, "Please apologise to acting Commander Aoi…"
"Okay… okay… I'm sorry for almost blowing you up," said Saburota.
"Not exactly the apology I had in mind," said Admiral Misumaru, "But I'm sure Jun won't mind… after all you'll be in the same crew…"
"What?!" exclaimed Jun, "Him…! You have got to be kidding…"
"I believe the admiral is serious," pointed out Ryoma.
"Must you be so blunt…?" asked Jun wearily.
"I like this kid!" laughed Saburota, and placed an arm around Ryoma, "We'll get along just fine…"
Ryoma didn't seem at all fazed at this then again no one could see because of his hood hide his face in the shadows.
"Come now… we don't want to be late," said Admiral Misumaru, everyone headed toward the general entrance to the meeting room, "Where are you going, Ryoma…?"
"The general entrance…" said Ryoma and pointed to the door.
"You're supposed to go this way…" said Admiral Misumaru.
"If that washed up womaniser is in there, my name is Rurouni Hotoko," said Ryoma.
"You still don't like him do you?" asked Jun.
"Do you?" asked Ryoma.
"Well… no…" said Jun, "But… we have to keep the peace…"
"Okay… Rurouni… are you ready to head in?" asked Admiral Genpachiro Akiyama.
"Yes, sir," said Ryoma.
"Why does the kid get to go through there and I have to sit with everyone else?" whined Saburota.
"The kid has more experience on the field than you," said Admiral Misumaru.
"How's that…? He's younger than me," pointed out Saburota.
"And more mature," coughed Jun.
"Can't I just pretend I'm a no body?" said Ryoma.
"Come on," said Admiral Misumaru cheerfully and pushed Ryoma into the room. "Come on now… we better start the meeting. You need to explain some things in this meeting…"
They all entered the room and saw it was somehow like a large circular lecture room with an overhead screen at front.
"My… my… new comers," greeted Nagare Akatsuki. "I never knew there were enlisted men that were able to wear casual…"
"Rurouni Hotoko," introduced Admiral Akiyama, "resident programs specialist and weapons master."
"Really… the shrimp is a weapons master?" asked Akatsuki. "What's with the hood? It makes you look more like an assassin…"
"Ochibi is a weapons master?" whispered Eiji, "Wow…!"
"Okay… let's start," said Admiral Misumaru, "A few weeks ago there was an assassination of the Echizen family as well as the royal family…"
"Should I be surprised about this?" asked Akatsuki, "After all this wasn't a first time… it's just this one succeeded."
"It may be true however it seems that this was planned for years it seems," said Admiral Misumaru. "Our sources tell us that the victims were watched for years and made a move when they knew they were vulnerable…"
"I heard that they had an Echizen Ryoma," said Akatsuki, "However… there was no record that they had a son… or a child for that matter…"
"Have you ever thought that the kid could be their nephew?" asked Admiral Akiyama.
"Surely not from Rinko's side," said Akatsuki with a frown.
"Wouldn't his name tell you his on Nanjiroh's side," scoffed Jun.
"Indeed… strange… I was sure he had no relatives…" said Akatsuki.
"He's just a kid you they picked up off the street or rather allowed him into their home," said Ryoma, "There's no record of an Echizen Ryoma because he never existed… if both sides were keeping tabs on them… they should already know why there are no records…"
"He's… not an Echizen…?" whispered the regulars.
"A street kid…?" questioned Mr. Fuji.
"However the way that kid carries himself he doesn't seem to be one," said Saburota.
"Okay… Mr. Weapons Master please tell me your theory of the killing," said Akatsuki.
Ryoma stood up from his seat, "On the 27th of last month, Echizen Rinko was shot dead on her way to her monthly trip to Kanagawa. The shot was fired at an angle of 61° 11´ 7˝, it showed that the bullet fired was travelling at the speed of 150km/h, which suggests that it was fired at the range of 15 metres…"
"You don't have to stand," said Admiral Misumaru.
"Ah… okay…" said Ryoma and sat down and continued, "Since the road she travelled was mostly rural it meant that the shooter had been following her for a while and would suggest that the shooter was a pilot and waited for the target to drive past…"
"On the same day, Echizen Nanjiroh and Meino Nanako were at home and they opened to the door to their killer…" said Ryoma, "There was no sign of struggle which suggests that the person that killed them was a person they knew and there was no fire wasted. They both died instantly with one blow to the head each. The entry of the bullet suggests that the shooter was about 175cm in height… Nishi Kenichi fits this description…"
"Enough… are you sure you're a weapons specialist? It all sounds a bit Forensic to me," said Akatsuki.
"The bullet is the key," said Ryoma. "If they had blown up something then I would look at the type of bomb they used…"
"Rurouni has been very particular about weapons and technology…" said Jun.
"That reminds me… where is the commander of the Nadesico?" asked Akatsuki, "I would like to wish him luck… after all he is leading a ship of rookies into battle against elites."
"I assure you that these rookies will be more promising than the elites," said Ryoma, "They will after all be hand picked from their performance…"
"My… my… you speak as if you know which rookie will be on the ship," laughed Akatsuki, "Did the commander tell you who he was eyeing already?"
"Actually… the commander…" started Jun, however was interrupted
"The commander placed commander Aoi in charge until all things are green," said Admiral Misumaru.
"Well… I hope you pick the right men and of course women," laughed Akatsuki.
Three hours after, the meeting ended and Akatsuki left with his crew. Half way through the meeting Ryoma had excused himself and said he remembered that he had left a pot of water cooking on the ship and that he had skipped breakfast. At the same time Saburota had somehow sneaked out.
"Who's been unloading the ship?" asked Gakuto, as they saw a few boxes next to the ship.
"There's one on top of the ship," said Ryoma, who was holding his small compact laptop.
"Ah… found it!" said Saburota "Is that it? Your lucky I'm nice guy and was willing to help you… your not even part of my job…"
"Hopefully…" said Ryoma.
"What's wrong?" asked Prospector.
"Please direct all personnel in this area into the meeting room, Admiral Misumaru, Admiral Akiyama, Admiral Munetake, Commander Aoi, Mr. Prospector and Lieutenant Saburota please stay behind," said Ryoma calmly.
"Everyone… back into the room," commanded Admiral Munetake. They all groaned and walked back into the meeting room.
"It seems there's a double crosser amidst us," said Saburota and held up a red bug and a white bug.
"There's more than one…" said Ryoma. "They've placed a tracker and a canceller around the ship…"
"What can we do?" asked Jun.
"We can not tell them because we would also be informing the spy," said Ryoma, "the only way is to subtly give them different assignments that does not allow them to go onto the Nadesico…"
"Sounds good to me," shrugged Saburota.
...
"What do you think their saying?" asked Eiji as they all picked through the door.
"It looks serious," said Syuichiroh.
"It could be about those boxes… maybe it's something they don't want us to see," said Syuusuke.
"I must agree with Fuji," said Seiichi.
"Quick their coming our way," said Akaya. Soon all the admirals came in but there were no signs of Jun, Saburota, Prospector or Ryoma.
"It has come to our attention that not all of us are satisfied with what information given," said Admiral Munetake, "Some think that they should know the full detail…"
Everyone agreed, Admiral Misumaru continued on, "We'll be splitting into two groups… each one will be training, of course at different training sites… however before that we will interview you all and why you should be chosen as part as the Nadesico crew…"
By the time they got out of the room they found he boxes gone and the ship also gone, the only person there was Saburota.
"They left you on your lonesome?" asked Admiral Akiyama.
"They thought it would be fun if I was here and informed you that they'll be back by the time training starts…"
"Why would they take the kid with them?" asked Atobe, "The only person who has the ability to drive that from the three of them is Commander Aoi, even if he was from the original crew, he can not drive than thing alone…"
"They'll be fine…" laughed Admiral Misumaru, "If not then Prospector will definitely be saying his greetings from the deep blue sea…"
"How can they take this calmly?" whispered Syuichiroh. Thus began the questioning…
...
"Why do you want to be part of the Nadesico?"
"I want to go to space! Nyah…!"
...
"It is my duty… and it is an honour to serve my country…"
...
"Failure is not an option for me… therefore I will work hard to fulfil my role…"
...
"I didn't think I would be part of this…"
...
"Sa… Is Echizen in the crew? I wouldn't mind joining…"
...
"Echizen is an interesting opponent… even though I have not yet played against him… however his skills as a tennis player are promising…"
...
"He will be Seigaku's pillar of support…" (A/N: I don't think that was part of the question…)
And the questioning continued.
chapter four done!! how was it?? my line breaks went haywire on me once again... sorry!! Next time in chapter 5: Another legenday Nadesico member... class on defence with Ryoma... the regulars are placed into groups... laps and the 48 hour decoding...
i think that's enough with hints... yeah?? thanks for reading!!