Author response: Thank You
LeitorObcecado; No, not a continuation
Guest; Oh the Plants will make some concessions to save face soon, with one person who will take Rap for not stopping it
CyberAngelOne; glad you like it, been a while making a new storyline
Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma or Gundam SEED FREEDOM
Chapter 2
The Last Grand Master
Cosmic Era 75
Plants Supreme council hall
A few days later
They rush Ranma to the Aprillius Colony Medical Hospital, and the surgeons immediately treated him as word got out that 200 members of Zaft came barging into COMPASS base and dragging the lone alliance soldier outside to be executed, only that lone alliance soldier defeated all 200+ of them and that every Zaft soldier were badly injured, and surprisingly, only one death.
Doctors did as much as they could to remove the two bullets that's lodge his chest and during which, they observe something rather odd and exciting which made them a bit more curious than they should have, that they did all kinds of test on him that were unnecessary and a bit invasive.
Dr. Janet Crane, a brunette and the head of the hospital research section, reports to the council and Lacus of their findings.
"We've removed the two bullets in his chest, and he's already recovered. DNA test shows that he's a Natural born and that's a definite, no genetic ailments of any kind, bones and muscles are quite dense or denser which led us to believe that he has quite the training regimen for a Natural. However, all this doesn't explain the odd and somewhat surprising things we've discovered and observed from him"
"Doctor, you said 'already recovered' as what kind of odd and surprising things have you found about him?" Lacus asks
"His body is healing the damage done by the bullets at a rapid pace that you can practically observe in real-time. The bones, skin tissue and arteries are in a rapid regenerating at a cellular level that we have not seen in any human being,"
"Regenerating at a cellular level? Doctor, I may not be verse in genetics, but a human body doesn't have that kind of ability, not even Coordinators" says chairman Lament
"I agree, but it doesn't all of explain this!" a screen shows the wounds after the doctors remove the bullet and was about to repair the damage it done, when the wounds themselves slowly closes leaving the traces of blood on the skin
"What in the," the other members were dumbfounded at what they just saw as the Doctor continued to explain
"This was real time, and as you can see, the wounds close up in just a minute after we remove the last bullets, and the bullet themselves shows something odd" she then shows a microscopic footage of the two bullets is being broken down by human antibodies treating the bullet as an invasive threat to the body like a virus, and showing a noticeable 25 percent of its mass is now gone.
"We've done every DNA test after DNA test, and it all shows no genetic modification or mutation or whatsoever in his body. We can't explain this incredible phenomenon at all, even though he's," the doctor stop herself from rambling as she never felt so frustrated and excited at the same time in her life,
"Even though he's what? Doctor, is there something special about his DNA, other than being born a Natural, what else have you discovered about Major Saotome?" Lacus inquired about it
"Well…look at this" the doctor answered with a holographic view of two DNA helix spinning, one from a Natural, the other is from a Coordinator, and they look almost the same and yet different
"Watch closely" she superimposes the two helix and the computer analyzing the two for differences and immediately showed matching DNA one after another in the samples with some differences.
Its conclusion
UNMODIFIED DNA MATCH to COORDINATOR DNA
100 PERCENT
The people inside the council hall were stunned
"All the signs are there, signs that-that he possesses DNA completely similar to Coordinator DNA but unmodified, making him the analog version of a Coordinator with all the benefits and none of the problems that every Coordinators is born with and yet it still doesn't account as to why he's capable of healing at such a rapid pace"
"This is Incredible" chairman Lament remark
The council and the doctors along with their advisor, talked and argued for hours about this discovery. The scientists wanted further to research on Major Saotome DNA, believing that he could be the key to resolving the genetic degradation issue that's plaguing them.
Many wanted him to be taken custody, but Lacus argued that they can't hold him as he is an Earth Alliance officer and doubted that the Major would let himself be their guinea pig.
Furthermore, the Earth Alliance is in an uproar at what happen to their golden boy, that 200+ Zaft soldiers try to kill one man and at a time where they are supposed to be at peace. They also find it amusing that Ranma beat all of them in a straight up fight, which was absurd until they show footage of the aftermath of the battle, but that still can't make people believe that it occurred practically in front of the base of COMPASS and unnoticed.
Still, there was enough body cam footage from several MPs and when those were released to the public, they were in disbelief that someone could literally catch a bullet with their bare hands and that he shielded Kira and Lacus from harm as he took a bullet for them.
For now, Ranma will be in close supervision with the president of COMPASS, and he will be under Commander Yamato team, at least for now.
Meanwhile, in a certain room of a hospital guarded by a dozen MP, Ranma is now fully recovered only after a day thanks to his fast recovery and now back in uniform which was odd because he wasn't carrying any luggage when he arrived at the Plants nor did anyone brought him any clothes.
The answer to that question is his own Hidden Weapons Technique or to be precise, a pocket dimension created by his KI which comes quite handy when you want to carry more stuff that your luggage can't hold.
"You got careless, which is not like you at all Ranma. You could have sense danger quick and response quicker" a voice in his head coming from somewhere, admonish him
"I know, I know! I let my guard down for just a moment!" Ranma admitted as he's not a fan of being reprimanded "The pressure I was exuding was making everyone uncomfortable and was about to pass out and it's not a good idea to have the new boss pass out because of me" he said
"I sense you were very uncomfortable a couple of times when you see her expression negatively'
"Y-yeah, you could say that" Ranma admitted
"Anyway, it's time for me to head back to base and begin my tour of duty with COMPASS. Staying here will result in me being poke and prodded by these doctors for days like I'm a freaking guinea pig if I continue!" he declared
"So, how is all our guest, are they adapting well on another planet?" he inquired as to change the subject
"Adapting well to their situation, better than expected." The voice replied
"Learning to work on a farm and tend to the number of orchards seems to have mellow them out a little bit and they seems to be pleased on the fruits of their labor"
"They resigned themselves to knowing that they cannot leave nor return unless I say so. Of course, I did promise to let them go eventually. But not right now" Ranma said
"May I ask why you save them? You could have just let them resign to their fate"
"They deserve a second chance." Ranma remark
"Besides, we may need their help in the future"
After returning all the stuff back to his subspace pocket and left a note on the bed for the doctors
"Oh yeah, tell the joint chiefs that sending me to the lion's den was a stupid ass order. I hope they enjoyed causing headaches for the Plants and Zaft, as that's the last time I will obey another stupid ass order" Ranma growled at the thought of being used
"Don't blame them for what had happened. They never expected 200+ Zaft soldiers to come calling for your head and you could've said no because you are a VIP for the Earth Alliance, and you can follow an order or defy them if you feel like it and you won't be reprimanded. Ranma, they are treating you like royalty"
"Yes, I know but now that I am here, I am staying to help COMPASS and once I complete my tour of duty, then I will return to the seventh fleet, and I doubt Zaft will try anything stupid again anytime soon"
"Ranma, they are not going to like it. They want you back to the seventh fleet immediately, for without you to show them the way there and,"
"Admiral Gloval will lead them just fine without me there and besides…I have a bad feeling about these Blue Cosmos incursions lately and this assistance that the Kingdom of Foundation I've been hearing about them offering assistance to COMPASS? suspicious," he said he took a deep breath and exhales
"A lifetime of experience, my gut instinct and all that stuff you shove into my head is telling me, that this smells like a setup in the works…and I like you tell Alliance Command and the Atlantic Federation of my concerns and immediate recommendations"
A few minutes later, the door to his room opens to a surprised group of bodyguards
"Gentlemen, it's time for me to return to base" Ranma declared
The leader of the guards saluted him in respect and begins to inform "Sir, the doctor says that you need to be confined in bed for at least a week for your recovery"
"I, am already fit for duty sergeant," Ranma told him
"The doctors just wanted me to stay so that they can poke and prodded me some more because they found someone interesting to be their guinea pig" Ranma said
"Respectfully sir," the sergeant was going to argue but Ranma cut in with a finger raised
"Sergeant no, please don't make me send you and your team to the infirmary, like I did to the 200+ guys who are renting room in this hospital today because of me" Ranma warned which made everyone dread the idea of facing the infamous Ghost Rider as the fresh memory of him bisecting the gunman with a swing of his hand was still fresh and wonder how he did that is a question in everyone mind
"Y-yes sir" he replied feeling defeated Ranma patted the man shoulder, knowing that they can't do anything against him
"Good man, and cheer up sergeant, nobody is blaming you for taking a step back, I am just that dangerous" Ranma declared
"Yes sir"
Walking thru the hallway of the hospital, this parade of MPs circling a man is a VIP, it draws the attention of a crowd, recognizing the man as an Earth Alliance officer. Some were shooting glare at the man while others with curiosity as the man showed no concern nor care of people throwing hateful looks at him.
Ranma can hear they're not so quiet whisper ranging 'killer' 'murderer' to 'what's an alliance scumbag like him doing here of all places' to final words 'that dog should be dragged out of here and be shot' which Ranma couldn't help but to respond to the last one because he is a doctor.
"You are welcome to try to drag this dog doctor, just like the 200+ Zaft soldiers that's in your infirmary right now" Ranma responded as he stops and glared at the man who said that last sentence and smirk at the man and he look like a deer who got caught by a car's headlight
"So, how many of your patients that are Earth Alliance dogs and how many did you let them die…or killed in their bed or maybe in the operating table?" Ranma is practically accusing him him with a heavy weight of ki rage and anger in his voice as the doctor said nothing but took a step back out of fear.
"Huh! So much for the Hippocratic Oath if you are calling out for someone to be drag out into the street to be shot, doctor" Ranma glared at the doctor who still said nothing and trying not fall on his ass and found that he couldn't move, like someone just put heavy weights on his feet with his heart beating very hard that it felt like someone grab hold of it, until the heavy feeling stops.
Ranma just huff and continues walking and then muttered loud enough for everyone to hear him say
"The man is a disgrace to his profession. He shouldn't be a doctor if he spoke such ill will unto others, especially to his patients" Ranma remark and the doctor felt like someone just slap him in the face, and it would be later on that, someone posted the incident in a social media as the doctor's words were clearly heard along with the rest of the people who made harsh remarks.
The hospital board was not happy about the incident as criticism was piling up and their public relations was on damage control. The doctor was severely reprimanded for that outrageous remark and was forced to involuntary leave until the board decided what to do with him.
On their way back to COMPASS, Ranma look thru a list of itineraries he could do for today and see one event happening at a Zaft base 'martial arts exhibition' and he smiled
"Sergeant, get me to this Zaft base and, can you do me a favor"
Zaft base training field
Ranma asks who is not doing anything to head for the Zaft base where a martial arts exhibition is ongoing, he also asks to put several objects like armored plate and such and when everyone was gathered, he began to lecture them about martial arts to a very hostile crowd but trying not to let their anger boil over and mobbed him as Ranma begin to speak.
"My school is called the Musabetsu Kakutō Ryū' which translates to 'Anything Goes Martial Arts' and it is based on learning and adapting many different styles of martial arts, taking what works and discarding what doesn't. As such, it is not confined to a single way of thinking or philosophy when it comes to martial arts combat. This gives the practitioner of Anything Goes Martial Arts the advantage, adaptability and unpredictability in a fight since he or she would ideally know moves and techniques from many different schools that complement each other, minimizing perceptible weaknesses.
In this respect, the practitioner of this art has the talent to adapt or modify these techniques in mid-battle to catch his opponent off-guard, and in a way, my school is the original if not THE original mixed martial arts, most of whom cross-train in many different disciplines to create a balanced, well-rounded fighting style.
I am the Grand Master of my school, and I know every martial art technique that is known and unknown and even those that are forbidden. Anything Goes Martial Arts is applied to all forms, from combat and warfare, from hand to hand to weapons of every type of firearms and…even to mobile suits" Ranma said
As he lectures, Lacus and Kira arrived followed by Shinn and Lunamaria. They were frantic when they found out that the major had already left the hospital and came here from all places, giving an exhibition. They quietly watch him on the side and can see that he doesn't look like he's hurt anyone mobbing him and would later reprimand him for leaving unannounced.
At the center of the gym are slabs of battleship plates standing upright in a stack and at the end of the stack is a 5-gallon bottle on a stool. Ranma took off his shirt and inner one to reveal an undershirt and a very well tone body with all the right muscles at the right places
One woman gave a low whistle in appreciation "Wow, he is sexy, I like" she commented flatteringly as the other ladies nodded in agreement
"Five slabs of armor for a battleship, each is over five inches thick" Ranma verify
Ranma gently put his right fist on the slab of metal and look towards his audience and smiled at them, and what can only be describe as a loud bang of metal on metal can be heard where at the end of the stack of metal the stacks of 5-gallon bottle are that just exploded like someone fired a shotgun at point blank range.
To a stun and surprised audience, Ranma pick one slab and punch it straight thru like it was made of tissue, and then pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket, imbued it with ki to straighten flat and use it cut the armored plate like they were made of butter and then pulled another and use Ryoga's Bakusai Tenketsu otherwise known as Breaking Point, which the armor plate shattered into pieces in just a single finger.
To everyone watching Ranma demonstrate one technique after another, it felt like they were watching a Kung Fu flick movies made 200 years ago, and they find it insane and impossible that someone can do this with their bare hands, muttering questions like 'is he even human' to remarks like 'the guy is a monster' 'and they call us space monster, then what is he?'
He finishes his demonstration with one last technique and that's when he rolled out a portable chestnut roaster from somewhere which is strange. He showed where a wok is filled with hot roasting chestnuts and black stones in them.
"Looks like they are ready" he remarks as he gave a little stretch to his fingers and in a blur, he picked one chestnut after another with his bare hands among the hot stones without burning his hands and it took only a few seconds to pick every chestnut in the roaster and it was this technique that they had a familiarity with, a technique that catches the bullet.
"Wow"
"Here you go Ms. Clyne, commander Yamato. I hope you like roasted chestnuts" He presents two bowls of roasted chestnut to them and accepted
"Uhh, thank you Major Saotome" said Lacus as she touches his right hand to examine it and she sees nothing to indicate that he got burned 'incredible,' she thought as she feels the warmth of the hand and 'what is that strange glow' which she seemed drawn, mesmerized by it.
"I never knew martial artists can do these amazing techniques as you call them" an amaze Lacus
"They don't actually" Ranma answered flatly "At least, not in these day and age"
"What"
"Not every martial artist can do the things that I can, not unless they are well trained and dedicated to the arts which a lifetime of hard training and even then, they can barely reach half my level before they die of old age. I am by all accounts… I am just…a relic"
"Relic?" Kira repeated a strange word to describe himself
"Yes, a relic of a bygone era" Ranma said and was about to step back when he noticed that Lacus haven't let go of his right hand yet as she seems to be fascinated in something
"Uhmn, Ms. Clyne" he called her attention
"Yes"
"Can, I have my hand back?" Ranma asks gently
"What, oh I'm sorry" she quickly let go feeling a bit red in holding the man hands for too long. Ranma just smiled as Ranma feels his right and sensing the soft hands that once held it
Kira on the other hand, just raised an eyebrow at the scene
"Now if you'll excuse me, I need to put this back where it belongs" he went back to the chestnut roaster and rolled it to a metal pole, passing it by which he disappeared and reappeared which made the people watching did a double take on what the heck they just saw and one of them even circle the metal pole and found nothing around it which made everyone scratch their head in confusion.
That night
Another video conference between Lacus, Kira, Cagalli, Mwu and Ramius and told them about Ranma demonstration and Mwu was laughing in amusement
"So, he did that martial arts exhibition in a Zaft base of all places, and I take it that a lot of people were intimidated by that display of martial arts prowess?"
"In a way, I mean I, never seen anyone punch holes thru the armor plating of a battleship with his fingers or cut it with a piece of paper, Mwu," said Kira admittedly amazed
"Yeah, I can see that, and it's his way of intimidation." Mwu told him
"He shows what he can do, and it makes people weary of him, to not try and mess with him. Blue Cosmos members never learn that lesson and they ended up kissing the dirt after he rams their heads thru the concrete floor to reach the dirt underneath it" Mwu heaves a sigh as he rubs the bridge between his eyes
"What is it Mwu?" Murrue asks and look worried when he came back to see a friend in the alliance in secret.
"I just got word from some of my contacts in the Alliance, hoping for more info on Major Saotome but instead he told me that the Joint Chiefs was in an emergency closed-door meeting with the president of the AF, and afterwards orders were sent to prepare fleet deployment to every commander to prepare for an unscheduled war game with the seventh fleet which is Major Saotome home fleet"
"Is it something serious Mwu?" Lacus asks
"Hard to tell since they do these snap military exercise all the time"
"What about the Atlantic Federation, what are they doing?" Cagalli asks with concern
"Nothing out of the ordinary, although there is a ground forces deployment military exercise scheduled next week across North America, but other than that, nothing"
"It may be nothing but," Lacus is thinking "this could be just a show since no one knows where the seventh is located and what kind of modernization did, they do to the seventh fleet"
"The question is, why. Why are they doing it right now?" Kira question
"I will make inquires in the Atlantic Federation but for now though, we need to deal with Blue Cosmos remnant in the buffer zone between Eurasia and the Kingdom of Foundation" says Lacus
"Major Saotome will be part of the deployment next month, but he needs to be certified to pilot one of our mobile suits"
Lacus. is thinking about which suits they have available that is suitable to him when a call came from Zaft command and put it thru the line
"Yes?"
"Madam president, an unknown transport vessel is waiting at our border, and a Sei Iori, is requesting to deliver a package to COMPASS, from Overtechnology, a for Major Ranma Saotome"
"A delivery, from Overtechnology?"
An hour later, on one of the hanger bays for mobile suit delivery
It took a while for the transport vessel to be allowed near the colony as this was a ship that's completely unknown. A spear design bigger than a Marseilles class, streamlined and more importantly, there are no indication of rocket engines and yet it moves and maneuverable very well for a vessel (Overtechnology got a transport vessel from Galaxy Police at an auction in secret)
Stepping out of the ship is a boy around 12 to 13 years old, blue hair and blue eyes wearing clothes similar to what captain Kirk would wear in 'Star Trek the Motion Picture'
"Good day, I am Sei Iori, Director of Robotics for Overtechnology" he greeted everyone, a boy barely hitting his teens.
"Sei, good to see you well" Ranma greeted him
"Big Bro Ranma, it's been a while!" Sei greeted him with a hug
"I couldn't believe what I heard that you volunteered in COMPASS, seriously?"
"Yeah, I know big surprise" Ranma just remark as to not to say anymore as the others finally came forward
"Lacus Clyne, president of COMPASS, welcome Mr. Iori"
"Kira Yamato, commander of team Yamato"
"Just call me Sei, it is pleasure to meet the famous songstress and commander Yamato" Sei said cheerfully to Lacus and Kira
"Mr. Yamato, you may not know this but, I was the model designer of the original Strike you piloted in Heliopolis during the war"
"Wait, you were the designer the GAT series?" Kira queries "You're an engineer?"
"Oh no, I was just the one who did the plastic model designs for the Strike at that time, it's one of my first design that I made when I was nine"
"Plastic Models? I don't understand"
"He means that he designed the mobile suit frames to put all the parts in it" Ranma clarified as he smiled at Sei who he ruffled his hair
"Hey!" Sei wasn't happy getting his hair ruffled
"Yep, this guy is a genius! Building a body to put all that technology and make sure it has no constraints so that it can move more human than robot, and that is Sei contribution to the G-weapons program on the Alliance side of the equation and now he works for Overtechnology"
"Problem was at that time was the Operating System, and we haven't finished it yet, otherwise the Strike would be more robot in movement than human. Then you Mr. Yamato developed the OS for the Strike, which is pretty impressive"
"Uh, your welcome" Kira said
"Thanks for bringing me my suit Sei," Ranma said as he floated up to get a close look at the mobile suit
"Oh, don't mention it Ranma," Sei said and question something "But, are you sure you want this one? I could give you something much better, one that compliments your martial arts, and more firepower than the Free-" it was at that moment Ranma cut in
"Every suit you make is excellent Sei, and she is one of your best works after all, so it will be fine" Ranma assured him
"If you say so, Ranma"
When personnel remove the tarp, it reveals to the world a new mobile suit to the Cosmic Era, in all its glory.
The GAT-X105B/ST Star Build Strike Gundam