Robotech Nibunoichi: Chapter Five
By Valkyrie01 ()
[Legal Stuff: Ranma 1/2 is created by Rumiko Takahashi and
Is distributed in the US by Viz. Communications. Robotech is
The property of Harmony Gold with the novels written by Jack
McKinney and published by Del-Rey. I'm only borrowing these
Characters.]
****(Notes before you begin: The events in the Ranma 1/2
Anime/ Manga takes place in 2010-2012 in this story to
maintain continuity with the Robotech storyline.)*****
(Previously in Robotech Nibunoichi: Ranma and Co. have moved to Macross City after the Rain of Death. Ranma was working for the White Dragon when he fought a full-size Zentraedi. Ranma was taken into custody after this by Lisa Hayes for questioning. While waiting for this we find out what happened just after the rain. Great suffering was endured by all.)
Chapter Five
To say that Ranma was nervous would be quite an understatement. He was under the scrutiny of Admiral Gloval,
Colonel Maistroff, and the rest of the R.D.F. leadership.
Luckily Nodoka and Cologne had shown up to help answer questions about Ranma's past.
Col. Maistroff began, "How did you perform these acts?"
"I, uh, just do them. Cologne and a couple others have trained me over the last couple of years in chi attacks. My father trained me in martial arts for my entire life before that," Ranma replied.
"So these moves are based in the martial arts?" inquired Gloval.
"Yes, they are," answered Cologne, "also they use emotions and bio-energy. They tend to drain the user pretty fast.""Bio-energy? Dr. Lang and Exedore may be interested in this.
I'm going to ask them to join us here," suggested Gloval.
It took a few minutes for Dr. Emil Lang and his assistant to show up. Ranma was startled when he saw Lang's assistant was none other than Dr. Tofu Ono. The good doctor was overjoyed when he saw Nodoka, Cologne, and Ranma.
"Doctor Tofu is that really you? I can't believe it!" yelled Ranma.
"Hello Ranma," stated Tofu.
Lang's pupil-less eyes looked first at his assistant and
then at the teenager sitting at the table and said," I take it you know each other."
"Yes, we do Emil. Do you remember those special cases I told you about in Tokyo?" asked Tofu.
"Yes."
Tofu pointed at Ranma and Cologne and said, "They're two of them."
"The ones who could take incredible punishment and dish out insane amounts of power?" asked Dr. Lang.
"Yes," Tofu answered, "Ranma could you give Lang a small demonstration?"
Ranma was feeling a little more confidant now that he knew that if he was going to be studied or something that Tofu would be there to help him. Ranma used this boost to his confidence to set off a small Moko Takabisha as a demonstration.
"Ah, very good," stated Dr. Lang. They adjourned downstairs to one of the now empty holds in the fortress to conduct some further tests.
Ranma took Tofu aside during a break to ask him something.
"You didn't mention my curse to him did you?"
"Of course not. That would violate the doctor-patient relationship. I do think that you should tell him but that's
Your decision Ranma," answered Tofu.
"I'll think about it," replied Ranma.
Exedore came in from his conference with Breetai at that moment to observe the tests and Ranma and Tofu walked back over to continue. The afternoon went great and Ranma didn't feel like a guinea pig at all. They stopped again to go over some data and Exedore pointed out something interesting.
"Emil, those maneuvers that boy performs remind me of something I've seen before," Exedore stated.
"What's that?" answered Dr. Lang.
"Little White Dragon."
Lang thought about it for a minute and startled himself when he realized it was true. Ranma's moves did remind him the stuff that they simulated in that movie.
"We need to talk to the Admiral immediately!"
In another part of the SDF-1 Miriya had just finished a medical exam. She and Max were about to receive both good and bad news.
"Miriya, I'm afraid I have to temporarily remove you from flight status," said the flight surgeon.
"What? Why? And for how long?" asked Miriya.
"It'll be for about nine months and your husband should be able to tell you why seeing as it's probably his doing."
Miriya looked at her husband with a look that could kill.
Max didn't notice because he was so overjoyed.
"Mir, honey, he's trying to tell you that we're going to have a baby. You're pregnant," Max told her.
"What's 'pregnant?'" asked Miriya.
Max and doctor Tofu both face faulted.
Nabiki was enjoying the concert from just off the stage.
Minmei was an incredibly talented performer. She was performing a classic song from the 20th century that the crowds had been really getting into lately. As the song ended she looked and saw Minmei waving her onto stage.
Speaking into the microphone Minmei said," Hey everybody,
I'd like to introduce you to my best friend and new manager
Tendo Nabiki."
Nabiki's face quickly flushed red. She had not expected to be introduced by the superstar. What Minmei said next almost sent her running off stage.
"She's of considerable talent herself and I would like all of you to hear her perform something me and her have been working on."
Nabiki put her hand over the mike and asked," What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"I am asking you to be more than my manager. I think I'm ready to take on a singing partner, what you think?" replied the superstar with a wry smile.
Nabiki thought about it for a second and realized that
Minmei was only trying to be the friend she was. Nabiki also realized that this was no small thing for Minmei to do.
"Okay, I'll do it this time but we need to talk about this."
Minmei's only reply was to cue the band to the song.
Afterwards Nabiki was elated. She hadn't really ever performed in front of a large crowd of strangers (The people at the Tendo Christmas parties weren't strangers.) She found it to be a thrill like no other and had decided to accept Minmei's offer.
Akane was elated herself at that moment. She and Kasumi were at the local shopping mall looking around. She'd just gotten paid and was out enjoying the fruits of her labors at the daycare. Akane picked up a yellow dress and held it in front of her.
"Kasumi, do you think Ranma will like this on me?" asked Akane.
"I don't know Akane. Wasn't he supposed to meet us here a little while ago?" Kasumi asked back.
"You know you're right. I think that I should call the restaurant and ask Mr. Lynn." Akane walked over to the nearest telephone and dropped in some change and called the White Dragon.
At the White Dragon, Lena answered the phone, "Hello?"
"Lynn-San have you seen Ranma in the last hour?"
"No honey I haven't. Cologne left a while ago with Nodoka to take care of some kind of emergency. It's not Shampoo or
Mousse though as they are here right now," answered Lena," They did say that they were going to the fortress though."
"Thank you very much Lena-San, Akane replied.
"Oh by the way have you talked to your sister today Akane?
I think that Nabiki's going to have great news for all of you," Lena threw in.
"No, I haven't. But I'm sure she'll call later. Talk to you later Mrs. Lynn," Akane said as she hung up.
Akane and Kasumi caught a taxi just outside the mall and went straight to the defense force base. The guards had been told to expect the girls and a yeoman escorted them to the conference room just in time for the second meeting with Gloval. Kasumi fainted and was only barely caught by Akane when she saw who was sitting next to Ranma. Dr. Tofu quickly rushed to Kasumi's side before she woke up.
Kasumi awoke to what she thought was a dream. The man that she loved and had believed dead was staring down at her with the same love in his eyes.
"Is it really you Ono-chan?"
Dr. Tofu was caught unawares by the last part of the question but stammered out a response anyway," Yes Kasumi it is. How are you feeling?"
"Much better."
They helped her into a chair. She was still in shock but was feeling better by the minute. The meeting resumed its previous track.
"Ranma there are some unforeseen difficulties that are developing as a result of your fight earlier today," stated
Lisa.
"And just what are those?" asked the teenager.
"We made a film during the war. It starred Minmei and Kyle.
It was about a girl who is kidnapped by giants and a boy that rescues her. The hero in the movie, played by Lynn-Kyle, uses attacks very similar to your Moko Takabisha. Some of the
Zentraedi populace might think the movie was about you," said
Lisa.
Rick added, "Your good Ranma, better that anybody I've ever seen, but even you couldn't take on a whole squad of full-size Zentraedi malcontents. You would be a target for them."
"I think I could handle them."
"Quinlan'n was only a missile gunner in the fleet. Most malcontents are former assault troopers who can fight much better," replied Exedore.
"Okay, so what do you suggest I do?"
"For starters, I think you should stay onboard the fortress for a few days," suggested Admiral Gloval speaking for the first time, "We'll work out other arrangements after that."
"I guess a few days couldn't hurt, but what about my family?" asked Ranma
"Your name isn't known, just your face. Your mom and the Tendo girls' should be okay at home," answered Lisa.
"Besides I think they'll be escorted by Dr. Lang's assistant anyway," Rick threw in, pointing towards Dr. Tofu and Kasumi.
Ranma looked towards Nodoka with a questioning look on his face. Nodoka knew that he was asking if he should stay. She silently nodded her approval in his direction. Ranma quickly agreed to stay.
The meeting broke up and Tofu went home with the women. Ranma walked with Rick down to the quarters on the ship. He led Ranma to his own bunkroom, adjoining his office in pilot country.
"Ranma you can use this room while you stay onboard. These are technically my quarters but I don't use them since I have a house in Macross," Rick told him.
Ranma was amazed that he would be allowed to stay here. He thought that they'd keep him in the brig or something and said as much to Rick.
"Are you crazy? If we put you in the brig, the Admiral would kill me personally. Actually I've got a patrol in the morning and I can finagle a VT-1D trainer if you'd like to go up with me. Do you want to?" Rick asked.
"Are you kidding me?"
"No, I take it that means yes."
Ranma nodded.
"Good, than get some sleep. You'll need it."
Ranma awoke the next morning and made his way to Skull's shower room. Evidently, a soldier had accompanied the girl's home to retrieve his clothes and toiletries overnight. Ranma was confronted as he entered by Lt. Ransom, who was wearing only a bath towel around himself.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Ranma Saotome, I'm staying in Rick Hunter's quarters."
"Oh,yeah. CAG came by and told me 'bout you last night.
Sorry, name's Robert Ransom, everybody calls me Bobby though," replied the young lieutenant.
Rick came in looking for Ranma. He was dressed in his flight suit already but wasn't in a hurry. Ranma took his shower and hurried back out to the dressing room. Rick had borrowed one of Max's flight-suits for Ranma seeing as they were about the same size. First came breakfast in the officer's wardroom.
Rick had to admonish Ranma," Don't eat too much. You'll just have more to throw up later."
Ranma looked at Rick and said," Martial artists don't throw up."
Rick just laughed at Ranma's smart remark. and thought, "You're going to regret that remark."
It was off to see the flight surgeon next to get the teenager medically cleared for the flight. Luckily Tofu had forwarded
Ranma's medical history to the surgeon. (This is the same doctor that gave Max and Miriya their news.) Ranma was then led up to the life support shop right under the Prometheus' flight deck to be outfitted with a "G"-suit and a "thinking cap" flight helmet. Then it was up to the flight deck and the orange and tan Veritech trainer.
Rick had lectured Ranma all the way through everything this morning and now was no exception.
"Ranma climb up the ladder and please sit in the front seat. Do not touch anything unless I tell you to," Rick droned on. He really hated this part of orientation flights.
Rick climbed into the raised rear instructor's seat. Ranma was going to get a catapault shot full force and from the front seat.
Rick continued, "Ranma plug in your helmet relays, oxygen line, and the bleed air pressure hose for the 'G' suit."
"Okay I'm finished with that, Now what?" asked Ranma.
"Fasten your safety harness while I explain the ejection process to you. If something goes wrong I'll yell 'Eject' three times. If you hear this straighten your back, plant your butt deep in the seat, put your head all the way back against the headrest and hold on. Got all that?" Rick continued.
"Yeah I got it," Ranma replied like he was bored with all the lecturing and wanted to get on with the flight.
"It's only like this the first time you go up. I don't have to repeat this lecture if you go up again. Ready to go?"
"Yes."
Rick taxied over to catapult one on the starboard side of the Prometheus and hooked up. He signaled Moira Flynn (1) (Mckinney, Jack) that they were ready and suddenly Ranma was plastered to his seat by the force of a zero to 150 knot in a 300 foot distance acceleration. (Approximately 3.5 'g's.) Bobby was shot off the port catapault five seconds later.
Ranma was amazed. He'd flown before but never like this.
Flying in a fighter was amazing. He heard a beeping noise in the back seat.
"Rick, what's that noise."
"It is just the communications system. Probably Lisa or Claudia at flight control telling us to turn to avoid an incoming flight."
Rick answered the call. It was Lisa and she looked a little perturbed.
"Hunter, just what are you doing taking a civilian on a patrol flight with you?" asked Lisa angrily.
"Hey, we take civvies up all the time Lisa," replied Rick
"Yes but they go through proper channels and are usually not permitted on actual combat patrols, just training flights.
You know better than this Rick. Luckily for you Breetai wants a combat drop training session to keep up his proficiency. I'm redirecting you to the combat range to engage him as he comes down from orbit."
"Roger control," was Rick's only reply. Switching back to
Inter-plane he talked to both Ranma and Lt. Ransom in the other plane. "Guys, I've got something special for the both of you. Breetai wants an air combat training session and we've been tasked to give it to him. Follow us Bobby."
Rick decided to have some fun with Ranma during the flight to the training range. He turned up the heat in the front cockpit and nosed over at about 2 negative g's (Ranma was rendered temporarily weightless) and his stomach immediately decided that it wanted to be empty.
"So much for martial artists not throwing up," quipped Rick.
"I feel like shit now, thank you very much," snapped Ranma.
"Hey don't feel bad. Everybody pukes once in a while. The pride comes in how quickly you recover form puking, not in preventing it. Also you get tougher at it the more you fly,"
Rick explained.
Skull's one and four flew over to the training range and engaged Breetai. Rick acted as lead while Bobby flew as his wingman. Rick and Breetai dodged back and forth with Rick switching between Fighter, guardian, and battloid modes when necessary. Ranma threw up at least six times during this fight until Breetai called "no joy" (2) and a drop-ship picked him up and he returned to his flagship.
"I told you not to eat so much for breakfast Ranma. Feeling better yet?"
"A little," replied the teenager.
"Good, would you like to take the controls?"
"Could I?" asked Ranma.
"Just don't tell anyone."
Rick started Ranma off with just trying to hold the fighter level. Ranma obviously mastered this quickly. Rick then had him perform a few turns and then a flip and a barrel roll. They flew all morning and then Ranma asked him about transformation.
"Okay, we'll try guardian mode first as that is close to
fighter and flies just about the same," Rick explained," Now don't just flip the switch for the change, you have to form the image of what you want to aircraft to do as well."
Ranma had adapted well to everything else this morning and
mechamorphosis was no exception. His martial arts training had allowed Ranma to control his thoughts during fighting and he used this while piloting the Veritech. The fighter quickly reconfigured into guardian mode and Rick was amazed.
"Wow Ranma, not even I figured out how to fly a Veritech this quickly. Of course I had to do it on my own for the most part until Roy showed up," Rick stated. Rick was also thinking that Ranma would make an excellent addition to the RDF as a whole and the Skull in particular. He decided right there to do everything in his power to convince Ranma to become a Veritech pilot.
Rick took over the controls, called Bobby on inter-plane and they headed back to the Prometheus.
End part 5
(1) If you are familiar with the Robotech story them you'll recognize Moira as the flight deck officer that's been decorated almost as much as Rick has.
(2) "No Joy" - a range radio call signifying the end of an air combat training session.