Robotech Nibunoichi: Chapter Six
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 sequestered
on board the SDF-1 for his own safety after a fight with a
full-size Zentraedi. While there he was taken on a flight by Rick in a Valkyrie.)
Robotech Nibunoichi Chapter Six
Ranma was elated as he climbed out of the mecha. That had been the most fun he'd had in almost a year. Hell, it'd been the most fun time in his whole life up to that point. He followed Rick to the door while the deck crew took care of the mecha.
Rick asked, "Have a good time?"
"You bet I did," Ranma shot back, "Can we go up again?"
"We'll see."
Rick and Ranma went to the equipment and life support shops to turn in their flight gear. When they were done Rick asked Ranma," Ranma wait outside for a second will ya?"
"Okay."
When Ranma stepped outside the door, Rick turned to the quartermaster there and said," Could you do me a favor?"
"Depends," answered the sergeant.
"Could we get him a flight-suit in black with red trim?
Call over to the Daedalus and ask for one from the Stallions if you have to."
"That won't be necessary sir. I can get one in red and black, Captain (Miriya) Sterling's are red with black trim.
I'll just have the parachute shop reverse the pattern and use Max's measurements." (1)(2)
Rick joined Ranma outside and headed for his office to fill out his flight reports. They were met there by Max Sterling. He had a wide grin on his face.
"Hey Rick, hi Ranma, I tried to catch you before you left earlier," explained Max, "Miriya's off the flight schedule for a while."
"Why, she's not hurt is she?"
"No, but you're going to be an 'uncle.'"
"Alright Max! I thought the Dr. Lang and Exedore had said that you and Miriya couldn't have children, with her being Zentraedi and all?" asked Rick.
"I know, it's great isn't it?" replied Max.
Ranma was happy for Max but wasn't sure what to say. He decided to just keep it simple, Congratulations."
"Thanks Ranma," Max replied.
Just then the communications unit on Rick's desk rang. He answered it, it was Claudia.
"Rick, Admiral Gloval wants you to bring the young up to the bridge at 1400 hours. That should give you time for a shower and a chance to eat first, which I suggest you do, 'cause this one's going a private one with the Admiral."
"Should I bring Lt. Comdr. Sterling as well?" replied Rick.
"That would probably be a good idea. Grant out."
Rick turned to Ranma and said, "Hungry?"
"Are you kidding?"
"Nevermind," Rick remembered that he was dealing with a teenage boy.
After lunch at the White Dragon, Ranma had insisted on seeing the Lynn's, they swung by the Saotome/Tendo home for some more clothes for Ranma. Ranma left a note for everybody while he was there.
Ranma initially met in private with the Admiral.
"Ranma we can't hold you here forever and you probably want to go home to your family and friends correct?" asked Gloval.
"Yes, of course I do," replied the teenager. Colonel
Maistroff was not in attendance for this one so Ranma wasn't as nervous yet.
"Good, well there doesn't seem to be any fallout from the fight so I think that we will let you go home in a week in nothing changes. I would like you to carry a warning device on you though in case you are attacked again," Gloval continued," I also hear that you got to go flying this morning, how did you like it?"
"I-I- loved it sir," Ranma was suddenly nervous. He could tell where this conversation was headed and wanted no part of being in military right now.
"Well, if you want to go again, just ask Commander Hunter during one of your morning sessions with him okay. I'll tell Lisa that she's to okay all requests from you." Gloval knew that this boy had potential and was going to give him every chance he could.
"I'm going to have Commanders Hunter and Sterling and Captain Hayes to join us now. They would like to ask you some things also," stated Gloval as he reached over and hit a button on intercom. "Lisa could you, Mr. Hunter, and Mr. Sterling please join Mr. Saotome and me. Send for a steward with some refreshments, too."
Lisa, Rick, and Max entered the office shortly thereafter.
Lisa started off by asking Ranma about martial arts.
"Ranma, Me and Max would like to know if you'd be interested in training us? Take a few minutes to think about it if you need to."
Ranma did think about this for a few minutes. He thought that
Rick could use a sparring partner that was close to his own level. Ranma also knew that Max was also a talented martial artist, supposedly he was almost as good as Kyle. Ranma decided right then that he was going to accept their idea, but with an alteration that Nabiki would be proud of.
"That's a great idea, but I think that I'm going to take advantage of you and set up a dojo here in Macross. You guys are all welcome to be in the first class though. You guys get your classes free as long as I get to advertise that you take classes there. I've got to think about mine and Akane's future. I can't work at the White Dragon forever can I?"
"Excellent idea young man, not my first choice, but still a good one," interjected Gloval, "I'll put in a good word for you with the business development group here in Macross for a no interest loan to start with."
The steward came in at that moment with the refreshments for the Admiral and his guests. She was a new recruit and extremely nervous about being in flag quarters. Her nervousness translated into an unsure walk and a trip over someone's foot. Her tray went flying and Ranma, being the water magnet that we all know and love, was right in the path of the water pitcher. He cringed as the water connected and he felt the change.
Lisa, Rick, Max, and Admiral Gloval were dumbstruck by what they saw. A very wet redheaded girl was sitting right where
Ranma was a second ago.
"What the hell! Who are you," yelled Lisa, "and where is Ranma?"
"I'm Ranma, I can explain this," answered Ranma
"No you're not, Ranma is a guy."
"Yes I am, just not in body at the moment. I once visited a place in Mainland China before the Rain. It was called Jusenkyo and they are a group of over one hundred cursed springs. My father had brought me there to train me in martial arts. We didn't know about the curses and began fighting on posts that stuck up out of the water. I knocked my father into one of them and a giant panda jumped out at me. It knocked me into another one of the springs and now every time I come in contact with cold water I change into this. Hot water reverses the effect, but only until the next time." Ranma then went on to explain some of the problems he's had with the curse over the course of the previous years.
"I, having been one of the people to explore the SDF-1 when it first crash landed, believed you. Transformations don't quite bother me that much anymore, even if this one was quite abrupt," Gloval thought aloud.
"Sir?" asked Lisa.
"I said I believe him Captain. You yourself have seen
Zentraedi soldiers change size and shape. Our Veritechs do it everyday. So this, while surprising, shouldn't bother you quite so much," Gloval insisted," Though this is the first time that I've heard of a Terran being able to do anything like this."
"Okay Admiral, I can accept that," Lisa turned to Ranma and said," Just how many people know about this anyway?"
Ranma responded, "Well, my mom, the Lynn's and everybody else from Nerima with the exception of Kuno and Lynn-Kyle."
"How can that Kuno guy not know, you told us that he's seen you change several times, even held you once during a change?" inquired Max.
"I guess you could say that he's a moron," responded Ranma.
"Does Dr. Tofu know of your condition?" asked Rick.
"Of course, he was my doctor while he lived in Nerima," replied Ranma.
"Why didn't he tell us?"
"Because it would have broken the doctor-patient relationship," answered Dr. Tofu as he entered Gloval's office.
"What are you doing here doctor?" asked Capt. Hayes.
"I was asked to attend by the Admiral," replied Tofu,
"Sorry I'm late, Emil and Exedore can be quite single minded when they are working on something."
"That's okay doctor, I know Emil quite well and you are
correct," answered Gloval, "I'm done with your friend now so
you two may leave. Rick will meet up with you in a little bit
won't you Commander?"
"Yes of course," answered Rick. One did not disagree with
the Admiral.
Ranma and Tofu left. They stopped by Rick's quarters to pick up Ranma's personal effects and the departed for Emil Lang's lab. Back up in Gloval's office the conversation continued.
"I want you three to keep an eye on that boy," Gloval began,
"He's quite good from what I gather and I want close ties to be maintained between him and the RDF. I'm making it an order for you to take the classes he's offering. This okay's it for you to count this as duty time."
"Admiral, should we bring Miriya in on this?" asked Max.
"That's up to you Max. I know about her pregnancy, congratulations by the way, and you two should decide this together, dismissed," Gloval replied.
"Yes sir," replied the trio.
On the way to Lang's lab Ranma stopped for some hot water.
After changing back he told Tofu-Ono about what happened during the meeting.
"Ranma, I think that maybe we should tell Dr. Lang about this. Gloval's going to tell him anyway, in fact I'd be surprised if he doesn't know by now. Emil and Admiral Gloval are pretty close," suggested Tofu.
"I think your right. But if he tries to lock me up in a lab, he's going to have one hell of a fight on his hands."
"Ranma, Emil's not like that. He'll want some samples for study obviously, and he will want to witness the trans-formation himself a few times. He won't lock you in a lab or a cell. I'd avoid his other assistant, Dr. Zand, though."
"Who's Zand?"
"He's like a cross between Emil and Happosai, just substitute
a craving for protoculture instead of sex," Tofu answered.
"Oh," was Ranma's only reply.
Ranma and Tofu quickly proceeded to the lab of Emil Lang while Tofu explained to Ranma what to expect. When they arrived Exedore Formo was also there and eyeing Ranma with a curious look. Ranma could sense that they already knew about the curse.
"Why do I have the feeling that you're waiting for me?" inquired Ranma.
Emil just answered him with a glass of water and a friendly smile. Ranma replied by dumping the water over with just a little bit of apprehension. They spent the rest of the day taking samples and observing details of the transformation. Dr. Tofu took care of some of the details that you would only want a private physician to take care of. (And that I do not presume to know anything about. I'm no doctor.)
Rick came by at the end of the day after another patrol to pick Ranma up and go to their gym. Ranma was too tired to train today and just had Rick practice some katas with him.
The week passed rather smoothly with Ranma flying thrice more and beginning his training of Lisa, Max, and Miriya. On the day that he got to go home Nodoka and Akane met him at the gate to the defense forces base. Akane asked him about how she compared to all the girls in the RDF.
Ranma replied, "There ain't any tomboys, even if they are all soldiers."
"Ranma no baka!"
The establishment of the training dojo went smoothly.
Gloval's assistance in getting the financing worked wonders.
The fact that the leadership of Skull squadron and the captain of the SDF-2 were taking classes there boosted membership immensely, also having Nabiki and Minmei perform at the opening helped as well. Even with his mother's help in the office and Akane teaching the beginners he eventually had to hire the Amazons to help with the sheer number of students. He was even scheduled only a half day for classes at the high school and he was given credit for PE and business classes.
By October 2012 they were already have to expand the training hall area for more capacity. Nabiki and Minmei were back in town and in the studio working on a new CD. Rick, Lisa, Max, and even the now 4-month pregnant Miriya were doing great in their class, which Ranma was instructing personally most of the time with only Cologne allowed to substitute.
Cologne watched Ranma train with Max Sterling. She was hoping that by helping Ranma run his dojo that he would fell indebted to Shampoo and marry her. This tactic was not working and she was going to have to try another one soon. The death of the Amazon village had made her only more desperate. She had even considered the point of releasing Shampoo from her "marriage" to Ranma and allowing her to seek other suitors. She'd even flirted for a few minutes on allowing Mousse to marry her great granddaughter. His bad vision wasn't heredtary, it was from an accident when he was very young.
Cologne thought about her Amazon niece, Lena-San. Lena-San had been one of the worst fighters in Joketskyu. She was of great bloodlines evidently, just look at her sons, Mousse was an accomplished combatent, even with his virtual blindness and his brother Kyle was phenominal in a normal way. They would be masters if not up against the likes of Ranma, Ryoga, Shampoo, and herself. Lena-San was on the other hand, one of the most formidable women in sheer willpower. How she dealt with a son who was blind and another who was a vocal pacifist she would never know. She then remembered how Mousse had been virtually blinded.
Lena had returned to Joketskyu for her annual participation in the tournament. She'd brought along her youngest son, Mu-Tsu, with her because her husband was busy with the restaurant they owned. Mu had been running along when a stray bonbori that had been thrown from the fight area had struck him in the face, forever ruining his vision. Shampoo had comforted her young friend initially. Mousse had interpreted this affection the wrong way and began to pursue the young Shampoo non-stop. He'd even managed to convince Lena to allow him to stay in the village when she went home. One of the male masters began to teach him to fight to win her love if necessary.
Mousse was a fine young man in his own right, just not for Cologne's great-granddaughter. He couldn't defeat her and that was reason enough for Cologne to prohibit him from pursuing Shampoo. His brother Kyle might be suitable if he could get over his alcohol problem and the fact that Shampoo couldn't stand him.
Cologne was again returning her thoughts on how to get her "son-in-law" to marry Shampoo when four people walked into the dojo. She recognized one of them as the Admiral from the meeting after Ranma's fight with that giant.
Admiral Gloval had heard that Claudia and her brother Vince were going down to the Saotome dojo to sign up for classes. He'd decided to tag along to check up on the young man he had helped start the place. Entering the dojo he noticed two other women in the place outside of those in classes. One was an older woman about a meter tall. The other was quite stunning to his eyes. She was wearing a traditional Japanese kimono and appeared to be taking care of receptioninst duties. He presumed this to be Nodoka Saotome, Ranma's mother.
Claudia and Vince walked up and introduced themselves and told Nodoka why they were there. She was more than happy to help them and noted that this must be the two new people that Max and Lisa had told her to expect. She had them signed up and they departed, leaving Henry Gloval there alone in the Dojo's lobby.
Nodoka eyed the older man that had entered with them with a curious look. He somehow seemed familiar but she was not sure where she'd seen him before.
Henry Gloval decided to take the first step, "Hello, my name is Henry, and you must be Nodoka. Your son speaks very proudly of you."
"Thank you. Are you here for a class?" inquired Nodoka.
"No, just checking on my subordinates," answered Henry.
"Subordinates?" and then she remembered who he was," Oh yes, of course Admiral. Would you like some tea?"
"That would be nice, thank you," he replied in his heavy Russian accent.
They made their way to the training room to watch the final class of the day, this happened to be the one for senior RDF officers.
Nodoka served the tea in silence as she studied Henry Gloval.
She could tell by the look in his eyes that he'd led a hard life. She could also tell that he was a man that cared for his friends and loved ones deeply. Suddenly thought of Genma entered her mind. She squashed these thoughts by also remembering that he was dead and that he'd not really been there the ten years before that.
Henry Gloval looked at Nodoka while she served the tea. He saw a woman who had seen great tragedy in her life. First her husband abandoned her, taking her only child with him, she finally locates them ten years later only to find out that her son is now cursed, and then she lived through the Rain of Death while all of her peers died. She must be quite a strong woman to still be sane after that.
Henry accepted the tea with a smile.
"How is the business doing?" asked Henry.
"Very well," answered Nodoka," the inclusion of your officers in our classes did wonders for our membership. Ranma's defeats of Kyle those two times that he showed up didn't hurt either."
"Yes, I know. The Lynn's must be so embarassed. Well at least he's getting help for his alcohol problem now," replied Gloval.
The two of them discussed various subjects for the rest of the class time. When the class was over about an hour and a half later, Henry asked her if she'd like to get something to eat.
Nodoka accepted and went to tell Ranma to go on home and that she would be in later.
Ranma was happily shocked. His mother going on a date,let alone the fact that it was with the head of RDF command. He rushed home to tell everybody. They were also overjoyed that Nodoka had found something besides running the dojo and taking care of the family.
Nodoka and Henry were walking home from the restaurant after
a simple meal and coffee. They were both happier than they'd been in years. They arrived at the Saotome/Tendo house and all the lights were on. They stopped on the front porch.
"Nodoka, I'd like to see you again," stated Henry.
"I would like that also," replied Nodoka
"How about this weekend?"
"Yes."
End Chapter Six
Sorry this one took so long. I made a major change in this
one and had to think it through before continuing.
Henry Gloval and Nodoka Saotome?
They are both sad and lonely souls in this story so I decided that
each needed something positive in their life.
(1)The sergeant recognizes Max's flightsuit
on Ranma. RDF flightsuits are unisex by the way.
(2)The parachute shop also functions as a tailor for flight
squadrons in the military.