Yet they had also been a growth experience for most of those who had survived. Those who managed to hang onto life had needed to reprioritize and learn new skills.
So it had been with Newt. Newt had survived by adapting. The robots mainly came out at night, where their radar and heat-imaging sensors gave them a distinct edge over the humans. Newt holed up at night, keeping her own presence small and easily overlooked.
Twice she had come close to getting blown up by Boomers. These were rat-sized robots that sought out human presences, and then self destructed. Twice she had managed to escape.
The little girl told her tale of woe there in the bombed out lingerie store, and even Happosai - the evil Master of Anything Goes - was moved to tears.
Ranma looked over his troops and wondered again why him.
The nine were wearing outfits identical except for the color. The outfit was something like a leotard, covering to just below the elbow and reaching to the top of the neck, with something like slippers encasing the feet.
"The outfit is four microns thick and looks to have been painted on," said Professor Natsume. "It is stretchable and fairly tough, though not very concealing."
"I noticed," said Ranma in a thick voice. He cleared his throat. "So I'll have to find 'em some new clothing too. Don't wanna think about what Oe or Saeba will do when they see 'em wearing that kinda stuff."
"It's up to you, Ranma," indicated Professor Natsume. "We're linking up with another group in two days. Have them ready by then. Try to teach them something of acting human in that time."
"That's a tough order," said Ranma. "Who're we linking up with?"
"Secret. As is the location until we're ready to move," said the Professor.
The mechanical girls continued to stand there at attention.
"Here's your new set of quarters," said Natsume, handing Ranma a sheaf of papers. "Set of rooms underneath this building here, formerly maintenance corridors for the amusement park."
"I'm going to Disneyland?" asked Ranma in disbelief.
"No, this is a different area altogether," assured Professor Natsume. "Similar idea though. Roppongi Marchenland."
"Fine," said Ranma, never having been to it.
Meanwhile:
(Posted Sun, 18 Jul 2004 09:14)
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