These are the words of Hung Nguyen. I just have permission to post them and make it easier to read. Just want to give his stuff the recognition it deserves.
I am scrunching both works into one story, maybe even adding something extra. Any new updates will be told here. Think of this as the "Remastered version". Welcoming new and old readers alike!
Disclaimer: Ranma, Vandread and Tekkaman Blade all belong to their respective owners, so why bother me about it?
italics: Thoughts
Chapter 21 Part 3
Final Exam
The Radam Homeworld, formally the Harvesters Planet and once the Earth...
"Tekkadread Carnage has failed!" Saber said in disgust as he and Darkon were informed of the results of their latest experiment. "All of those resources and the trouble it took to capture those two! What a waste!"
Darkon chuckled as he said, "A waste? I wouldn't say that. I'd say that the experiment was quite a success."
"Success?" The crimson Tekkaman said incredulously. "Razor and Gunner had failed in their attack against Slade and the Nirvana!"
"The destruction of our enemies, though it is one of our ultimate goals, was not the point of sending them against their former comrades. The results of this battle has provided us with some important information, especially about the Radam Power source which drives their vessel. Now, we can use what we have learned to create a more perfect weapon to use against them. We already have the capability to create more Tekkadreads. The Nirvana was nearly destroyed by Carnage. Now, think of the possibilities of more than one Tekkadread, hmmm?"
The Nirvana...
Paiway gulped as she knew that she couldn't put it off any longer. Taking a deep breath, she donned clothing which had the insignia of the Tarak Medical Corps. It was a feminine version of Duero's bodysuit and trenchcoat, which she had the Supply Station made for her. She had decided to honor her mentor by wearing his uniform. After all, she was about to perform a complex and potentially dangerous operation, on the same person who had taught her the surgical techniques needed to free him from Darkon's control. However, if she failed, both he and Barnette would remain as slaves to the Radam or worse, die from the attempt.
Surprisingly, when she had asked for a volunteer to aid her in the surgery, nearly all of the members of the Supply, Dread, Vanguard, and Bridge personnel stepped forward. Despite the fact that Barnette and Duero had nearly destroyed everyone aboard the ship, they all wanted to help in bringing back their friends.
In the end, Paiway accepted Buzom as her surgical aid. She was somewhat surprised when the First Officer had informed her that she was familiar with Tarak surgical procedures, but assumed that as a former elite spy of Mejele, her expertise would be vital. However, a small part of her wondered if BC was hiding something.
Paiway was NOT looking forward to this, but there was no other way. The Radam parasites were too firmly entrenched in her patients' brain stems and even Mejele medical technology was not up to the task of removing them. They would have to be removed physically and that would require precise sectioning and excision, while keeping the patients' vital signs stable. The most Paiway had ever removed was a wart off of a crewmember's posterior, and even now that patient had trouble sitting down.
The young girl took another deep breath and entered the operating room. She nodded to Buzom as she stood between two tables. Strapped facedown and under heavy sedation were Barnette and Duero. Right beside the tables were twin trays of carefully arranged surgical instruments, sterilized and ready for use. Pulse monitors and other life-support devices monitored the bio-systems of both patients as Paiway said a quiet Mejele prayer and the operation commenced.
Paiway had decided to start on Barnette's parasite as hers wasn't as entangled in her central nervous system as Duero's. She also needed to observe how her empathic bond would affect the newly-created Tekkaman, as the Cerebral Scanners had revealed that the two were psychically linked.
She gave BC a nod and said, "Beginning initial incision. I need a Number Two Laser Scalpel."
Outside of the Sick Bay, Slade and the others waited in silence as they all gazed at the red light above the operating room's door. It was like some angry red eye that glared down at them and warned them that no interruptions would be tolerated. Though everyone wanted to help, the only thing they could do was wait and pray.
Paiway fought the urge to throw up as she peeled away the muscle and connective tissue. She couldn't believe that she was actually cutting into a friend in order to save her. She kept focused as she gently probed around for her target. Blood and precious fluids were continually pumped and cycled through Barnette's body to keep her vital signs at a controlled level. So far, there had been no reaction and she hoped it would stay that way.
Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, she came across what she was looking for. The enlarged lump was most definitely not a normal feature of human anatomy. It pulsed and throbbed like a grotesque miniature heart, and she could tell that it was leeching off Barnette's systems to survive. The monitors displayed the parasite's underside firmly entangled with the various nerves of the spinal cord and medulla oblongata. She had to be extremely careful as she asked for a probe in order to determine the nature of the attachments.
Buzom nodded as she handed Paiway a Number Six Micro-Probe. So far, Duero's apprentice was doing everything right.
On the bridge, Magno began to think that this was the longest day in their journey back to Mejele and Tarak. Two lives hung in the balance and it all depended on an untried medical apprentice. However, she kept up her hopes that everything would turn out fine.
Paiway stopped suddenly as the pulse monitor's readouts began to accelerate. The parasite was not going to be easily evicted from its home in Barnette's body. It was fighting back at her ministrations. She also noticed that Duero's life signs were also becoming elevated. However, she knew that she couldn't halt the operation at this point and made the choice to press on. Their life signs were still in the acceptable ranges, so Paiway asked for a Number Four Laser Scalpel and started to cut away at the parasite's attachments.
"I can't stand it!" Jura complained as she paced the floor of the waiting room. "How much longer do we have to stay here and do nothing?"
"As long as it takes, Jura." Slade replied. "Sit down."
"Slade's right." Meia agreed. "It's not like we can do anything. It's all up to Paiway and the Commander."
"Don't worry, Jura! Everything will work out." Dita said with optimism.
Jura continued to pace as she did not share her comrade's happy outlook.
Finally!
Paiway let off a sigh of relief as Barnette was freed from the parasite's hold. She had literally cut the organism to bits before it was at last removed. The thing had threatened to upset the patient's vital autonomic functions, but she had managed to bypass its attempts and got it out. The little monster lay on the dissection tray in several sections and was being preserved in fluids for later study. After making certain that Barnette's vital signs were still in controllable ranges, she looked toward her other patient.
Now, came the hard part.
Much later...
Paiway gritted her teeth as she asked for her assistant to hand her a Number Nine Laser Scalpel. The operation had been going on for several hours, but she was nearing her goal. As she carefully sectioned off the last of the parasite's entanglement with Duero's brain stem, her brow beaded with a constant sheen of sweat. Her assistant constantly sponged her brow. This was the most critical part of the operation. Though Barnette's parasite had already been removed, she still maintained her empathic bond with Duero. If Paiway were to cut even a millimeter off her intended target, then both her patients would immediately go into fatal cerebral seizures. Already, their life signs were dangerously low, and she had to complete the procedure and stabilize their conditions before it was too late.
I'm almost there! Paiway thought as she started cutting away the parasite and sealing off nerve clusters. The Radam implant was proving to be more stubborn than Barnette's and began increasing pressure on the doctor's vital autonomic center. His body started to twitch and spasm. The restraints on the table automatically tightened to hold him down, but when the Pulse Meter began to give off warning sounds, the young medical trainee started to panic. Barnette and Duero's heart rates were beating erratically and breathing was shallow.
No! I've got to do this! Paiway steeled herself as she continued to extract the second parasite. In less than a minute, the Pulse Meter was emitting critical signals as both patients showed signs of anaphylactic shock. With only seconds left, Paiway shunted off the last crucial artery. The Radam organism was pulled free and tossed onto the dissection tray. It squirmed a bit, then tried to scamper back to Duero's neck to reattach itself, but the young girl was not going to give it a chance.
Oh no you don't!
Using one of Duero's implements from his Tarak medical bag, she swiped at it and impaled the thing on the tip of the blade. She then stabbed down onto the tray, skewering the parasite through its main body. The organism let off a pitiful whine and struggled futilely for a few seconds before finally going limp.
As she left the scalpel sticking in the tray, she immediately turned back to Duero and Barnette. Her eyes widened as the Pulse Meter readings skyrocketed. Her own heart rate accelerated as she and her aide watched the readings redline. The Life Support devices began injecting large amounts of stimulants into them to try and stabilize their conditions.
Please Duero! Barnette! I've done all I can! I believe in my patients' will to live! Paiway thought as she remembered what Duero had told her to do in situations like this.
Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, their life signs dropped down and leveled off into the lower normal ranges. Their ordeal and Paiway's was over.
There was a feeling of relief and joy as the news of the operation's success spread through the ship. On the bridge, Magno smiled as she mentally thanked the goddesses of Mejele.
After several more hours, Paiway's patients were now resting peacefully and she decided to check on them. As she entered the recovery room, she found that Barnette was slumbering quietly, but Duero had already regained consciousness. The Tarak physician smiled at his visitor and weakly nodded to her.
"Hello Paiway."
For the first time since her apprenticeship, the young healer was seeing a more tender side to her instructor. The smile put her at ease as she approached him.
"Hello... Doctor... is everything all right?"
"Hmmm, I am feeling a touch of soreness at the base of my neck and a slight headache, but all things considered, I believe that I will recover."
"Uh... that's good. I can have some more painkillers put in..."
"That's quite all right. The minor discomfort I am feeling now is manageable and considering all that you've done, it is a small price to pay. The Commander had informed me that you had to perform a dual cerebral bypass and arterial shunts. I'm impressed."
"Uh... yeah. I'm afraid that you will have a bit of a scar on the back of your neck. Barnette won't have one, but your implant was harder to remove and..."
"That's quite all right. We men of Tarak are used to such things. Consider this scar as your diploma in Class A surgery. Congratulations, Paiway."
The young healer blushed furiously at the praise. Then she thought back to all the work she had done. None of that would have been possible if Duero hadn't constantly pushed her. Now she could truly call herself a medical officer. And it was all thanks to her patient and mentor.
"Uhmmm... there's something I wanted to tell you." Paiway said as she stood at Duero's beside.
"Oh, and what is it?" The physician asked as Barnette slept peacefully nearby.
"About... all the things you said to me before you got captured. And how I complained about the training, how hard you were to please, and stuff like that..."
"Go on..."
"Well, I just want to say that after all the stuff that you put me through..."
"Yes?"
Paiway twiddled her fingers for a long while, then got up her nerve. She leaned forward and kissed Duero on the right cheek. This of course, surprised the recovering healer, as he touched the spot where she had pressed her lips against, with his hand.
Paiway was blushing furiously as she turned and headed out of the Recovery Room. Before she exited, she called to him without looking back.
"Thank you."
After Paiway had left the Recovery Room, the Tarak physician reached behind his neck and gently caressed the spot where Paiway had performed the operation. It hadn't been a bad job of excision and suture work, considering her young age and limited experience. The suture was slightly off-center and rough around the edges, but overall, she had done him proud. She would make a fine replacement, when he would finally leave the Nirvana.
With that in mind, he looked over to the bed beside him. This was actually the second time he had seen Barnette in her sleep and he wondered just what she was dreaming of. She looked very peaceful and he couldn't help but admire her facial features and how... appealing she looked.
He kept on wondering why he had such unusual feelings toward her, and another female aboard this vessel. Was this what Slade had been referring to previously? Those ancient primal urges that a man would have toward a woman? And why did he feel that he was closer to Barnette than ever before? For some reason, he now knew of many of her likes and dislikes, including her favorite foods, colors, how to field-strip an ancient M-16 rifle in 5 seconds flat (where did that come from?), and other pieces of information. For the life of him, he couldn't remember when, if ever, she had told him of these things.
As he pondered, he almost didn't hear the Recovery Room's door open. He looked up to greet his newest visitor and was a bit surprised to see Parfet. The head engineer smiled nervously as she waved at him.
"Hi."
"I must say that this is a day to remember." Magno said as she and several of the crew members were in the Conference Room. She turned to Paiway and BC. "You two did a fine job. So what is the current status of the good doctor and Barnette?"
"For the moment, both are in stable conditions." Paiway said as she read a medical report. "The parasites are no longer causing any strains on their bodies and I expect them to make a full recovery."
BC nodded as she took over the report. "We did find a few things that were odd, though. Those parasites were in sync with each other when we used the Cerebral Scanner on them. Their brainwave patterns matched to that of Barnette and Duero's. We can only speculate that was the reason why they fought so well together when they attacked us. I might even go as far to say that they shared some kind of empathic link with each other. With such a strong psychic bond, there might be some after-effects, even with the parasites removed. We intend to keep them under observation for the time being."
"And the doctor's new status as a Tekkaman?" The aged captain asked.
"Hard to say at this point." Slade answered. "He's certainly got the power of a full-fledged Tekkaman, and I may have to train him like I'm doing with Dita and the others. The same may go for Barnette, since there were reports of her having enhanced strength and reflexes. But there're a lot more questions to ask. I mean, why did the Radam go through all the trouble of kidnapping the Doc and Barnette, and turn them into a Tekkadread team?"
"My guess is that they were just an experiment, a trial to test their new weapon. They came very close to destroying us." BC suggested. "Now if they have the capability to create one Tekkadread, then what's to stop them from making more?"
"One was almost enough to do the job." Meia said with a slight shudder. "Parfet said that the damage to the ship were almost critical and we'll be running on reserves for a week. I'm not sure I want to think about the possibility of more of those monsters, no offense to Barnette or the doctor."
"We also have another thing to worry about." Buzom pointed out. "With Gascogne out of commission indefinitely, who do we have to replace her at the Register?"
The Sick Bay...
"I'm... sorry, Duero." Parfet said as she bowed her head in shame.
"Sorry? What's there to be sorry about?" The physician asked in puzzlement.
"It was all my fault!" The head engineer said as she held in her tears. "If my Tekkasuit designs had been better planned, then you wouldn't have been captured and..."
Duero waved his hand nonchalantly. "Parfet, don't worry about it. Your Tekkasuits were fine and you did whatever you thought to be necessary to make them as best as you could. No one could have predicted what the Radam had planned. And if it makes you feel any better, it took a lot of effort on the Radam's part to get me out of my suit. And I'm certain that you've made a lot of improvements since I've been gone."
"Well, yes I did." She admitted. "Though I guess you won't be needing one anymore, now that you're a Tekkaman."
"Well... I suppose." Duero then held up a hand and focused a bit on the open palm. Instantly, in a flash of blue-white light, his Tekkacrystal appeared. Unlike Slade's, his crystal was shaped like a segmented square with four points. On two sides were a pair of points at a ninety-degree angle to each other. He gazed upon it for a moment, then made it disappear. Unlike Jura, Meia, and Dita, he had some prior training with the Radam before being sent with Barnette to attack the Nirvana. He nodded to the head engineer. "In any case, I'm not going to be re-assuming my position as the head physician for a while. Paiway will have to continue on in my place. Right now, I'm far too dangerous to be near a patient."
"What do you mean?"
"Right now, I can't even hold an instrument properly." He validated his point by reaching for a metal cup on a table next to his bed and casually picked it up. Without any effort, he crushed the cup to the size of a pea before letting it drop back down to the table. "See? I don't trust myself to be near an injured person. I'm too powerful right now and I can't control my strength. I'll just end up destroying all the delicate equipment in the Sick Bay."
"Whoa. I see what you mean. Paiway's not going to be happy to hear this."
"She'll get over it. I trust that she will be able handle it. I'll still be there to guide her if she needs it. Until I learn how to control my new powers, she'll have to keep on looking after the patients."
Parfet smiled as she felt a warm feeling from deep within. "Still, it's great to have you back, Duero. I... missed you... I mean, we all did." She then gave a discreet, though slightly envious glance to the still slumbering Barnette, whom she still considered as a rival for the doctor's affections. "Things weren't the same since you and Barnette were captured. What happened to you?"
"It was quite an experience, and one that I don't care to ever repeat. Now I truly understand how Slade must have felt when he was forced to become a Tekkaman. I even met the Radam commander... his name is Darkon."
"Darkon?" A new voice said as two new visitors came into the Sick Bay.
Both Parfet and Duero looked over to the entrance and saw Magno and BC.
"I do hope you will forgive our intrusion." The aged women said as she and her First Officer walked over to the doctor's bedside. "I know that you and Barnette need time to recover from your ordeals, but..."
Duero shrugged nonchalantly. "It's all right, Captain. I understand that you need to know about this enemy. It's... difficult to describe Darkon. He was evil incarnate. He exuded a kind of malevolence that defied all belief. He freely and proudly admitted that he and the Radam were the ones who massacred the Harvesters and took over the Earth."
"Really?" This bit of news did not ease her in the slightest. The Harvesters had been tough opponents, but facing against a foe that had obliterated them without remorse was unsettling.
"Yes. We are up against an enemy who is absolutely merciless and will use any and all means to destroy those who oppose them. Barnette and I... we were just mere tools to him. When we were transformed, we learned about the history of the Radam. They are a very old and vicious alien race that had spread death and destruction throughout the cosmos, long before the human race was born. Their only goal is brutal conquest, and countless civilizations have fallen over the eons. Their method of subjugating worlds is to turn sentient beings into Tekkamen, utilizing organic devices called Tekkapods. That's what happened to me. The Radam then control these warriors to take over their planets, using their Spider-Crab minions to overrun the populations and destroy all resistance. When they came to our galaxy, they had Earth in their plans of conquest, but due to some mysterious event, they went into hiding."
"A mysterious event?" BC inquired.
"I am not at all certain of the details, but the Radam encountered something that even they could not overcome. I believe it was that same force which caused our people to flee the Earth and founded our homeworlds of Tarak and Mejele. The Radam had been waiting all this time to reappear and resume their mission of total dominance over all worlds."
Meanwhile, in another part of the Sick Bay, a lone figure approached a large capsule which had a special patient slumbering within it.
Slade tried to keep a good mood, though like everyone else aboard, was concerned with Gascogne's condition and hoped that she would be fully recovered by the time the journey ended. He reverently placed a hand on the top of the capsule and gazed through the front window at her peaceful expression.
Of all the women on the Nirvana, aside from Magno, none had been able to challenge the former Saotome in a battle of wills like the Head of the Register. She was the only one who could match wits with him and win at times. And she was the only person who he tolerated being called D-Boy. His thoughts went back to all those times in the Register and when they played cards. Oh sure, his skills at poker were nowhere near hers, but still, she was good company and her presence was going to be sorely missed.
Like Magno, Slade had also begun thinking of who would replace her for the remainder of the voyage. He thought that Ukyo may be the logical choice and wondered how it would be like serving under her. It would be ironic to take orders from someone who followed him in the Warrior Squadron. Then again, she had become more amicable as time went on, and Slade couldn't help but feel nervous around her and Xian Pu.
Well, at least the worst was over for the moment and nothing could surprise him at that point.
The Sick Bay...
"Oh yes, Captain. There was one more thing I learned during my time under Darkon's control." Duero added. "Concerning Slade."
"Oh? And what was that?" Magno asked.
"When I learned about the history of the Radam, I also discovered that they had encountered the Earth, long before our current conflict with them. Well, it would be more accurate to say that a small branch of their collective had encountered the Earth."
"What do you mean?" Parfet inquired.
"The Radam periodically send out small probing forces to seek out potential worlds to conquer, and according to their records, a Tekkapod had made it to Earth some five-and-a-half centuries ago."
"What? You mean they actually landed on Earth, five hundred fifty years ago?" The First Officer was shocked to hear that their enemies had invaded the human race half a millennia ago. "But, if that was the case, then why had they not conquered the human race then? Surely at that period, the technology wouldn't have been able to stand up against them."
"Well, according to the archives I scanned, the pod had transmitted that it had captured a victim, but then the Radam lost contact with that Tekkapod. That was when they themselves went into hiding. When they were revived and took the planet from the Harvesters, they found only the recent remains of that Tekkapod, which meant that it had succeeded in its directive to transform a being into a Tekkaman. The pod had opened a little less than a year ago."
At this point, Parfet became puzzled. "So, what you are telling us is that the Tekkapod had transformed one of the Harvesters into a Tekkaman?"
The doctor shook his head. "No. I learned that the Tekkapods would only transform healthy, living beings. A Harvester would not have survived the process, given their dependence on collecting human organs to supplement themselves. That pod had captured a person BEFORE the time of the Harvesters, which leads me to suspect that Slade may be that individual."
"Doctor, do you realize what you are suggesting?" BC said incredulously.
"It makes sense, if you think about it." Duero pointed out. "Slade has no memory up to about a year ago, and that does coincide with the time that the pod had opened on Earth. His DNA is undamaged, so he is most definitely NOT from Mejele or Tarak. I had scanned the personnel logs of the ancient colony ships from that room we had found during... what was that time again? Ah yes, Christmas. There was no one aboard any of those ships with the same DNA match as Slade's. The only other possible answer was that he had come from Earth."
"But that's impossible!" Parfet insisted. "That would make Slade over five-and-a-half centuries old! He doesn't appear to be any older than nineteen! Are you saying that Slade is even older than the First Generation? How can that be possible?"
Duero shrugged. "Well, technically speaking, Misty is seventy-seven years old, considering that she spent sixty-three years in a cryo-stasis pod. It could be that Slade underwent a kind of suspended animation himself."
By now, the aged captain of the pirate vessel was more than intrigued. She then asked in a quiet tone, "Tell me, Doctor. Can you give me an estimated date in which the Radam lost contact with that Tekkapod? In the ancient calendar terms."
Duero pondered it for a moment as he matched star dates with the ancient terms of telling time. He nodded as he replied. "I would say that the year would have been... 1986 AD."
Magno froze when she heard that date and became pale as a ghost. This made her First Officer concerned as she placed a hand on her shoulder and shook it slightly.
"Captain? Is something wrong?"
Magno shook her head as she responded quickly. "No. Nothing is wrong." She paused for a long time, then said to her, the head engineer, and the doctor, "Tell no one of this, especially Slade."
"Why? I mean, shouldn't Slade of all people know about this?" Parfet inquired.
"That's an order, Parfet. The same goes for the two of you." Magno said resolutely as she gazed upon BC and Duero with an expression which brooked no argument.
Later that night, Magno decided to turn in. However, before she headed toward her bed, she went over to a small foot locker and opened it. She carefully took out a small metal box and laid it out on a nearby desk. The surface was covered in a film of dust that had accumulated over the decades, and its contents had not been disturbed for quite some time. She reverently opened the lid and reached inside, drawing out a long clear cylinder. Within the airtight confines of the tube was a rolled piece of parchment, suspended in an inert gas to keep it from degrading.
She gazed upon it for a long time and wondered.
After all this time... can it really be... him?
To be continued...
Preview...
Dita: "Barnette and Mr. Doctor are saved! Better yet, they've also gained cool Alien powers like us! We can take those bad aliens now!"
Jura: "Slade? What's wrong? Are you all right?"
Slade: " I… don't know what's… happening… to me…"
Meia: "Slade, stay back! We're Tekkamen now. We can handle this. Just focus on getting better."
Slade: "You can't! You haven't fully developed your abilities yet!"
Duero : "I'm sorry, Slade, but I have to ground you."
Slade: "Of all the rotten timing… they're Tekkamen now, but they're still inexperienced! Can they handle the Radam by themselves? Next time, on TekkaDread Remastered: 'Difficulties'. I know the reason behind my condition… I know that I am… dying…"
Author's Notes
Yeah, this chapter was short, but now this story is coming close to its climax and I need to speed things along. In chapter nine, we learn about the final fate of Rabat as Slade encounters some old friends and a lot of new problems. We also get to have a few more surprises along the way, including some interactions with Ukyo and Xian Pu. See you there!
Please read and review!