In this world, there were differences in technology and their were differences in culture. Electronics was less developed, while chemistry and biotechnology were more developed. Even the focus of biotechnology was a little difference.
The presence of an institute of slavery did not alter things too much at keast as far as labor-saving devices and the like. Most people wouldn't own a slave even if they could afford the initial fee. Fantasies were one thing. Dealing with the paperwork, food bills, medical care, retirement benefits, insurance, equipment allocations, room and board, and general upkeep was another thing altogether.
Ranma had won a domestic out of the Rei series of clones developed by GEHERN. High end domestics were expensive and highly sought after within the slave market. Rei series were not as sought after. They didn't do well with kids, there were a number of things they didn't do well, and they tended to emotionlessly and unenthusiastically pursue their programmed goals. Relating to other people was one of those. Even giving them a need to please feedback loop didn't help.
Hence the contest. Placing Rei units through the contest with people of a variety of backgrounds. Part of the contract had them coming in for regular monitoring and study. That way if any way of salvaging the Rei arrived - they'd be able to detect any anomalies.
Rei had been with Ranma for two and a half years now, and the results were quite odd.
"Martial Arts HOUSEKEEPING?" asked Ritsuko Akagi.
"It appears that Ranma Saotome has been giving her the additional experience and training she required, but putting a slightly different bent on it than others have," summed up Maya Ibuki.
"Wait a minute, look at the physical development statistics," said Ritsuko. "That's impressive."
"Those figures can't be right," said Maya. "I'm bringing up the monitor."
She was wearing her uniform, and utilizing the weapon she preferred to use. While her sensei maintained that weapons were a crutch, it had been noted by both her sensei and his father that her combat performance improved with a weapon. Therefore she had trained extensively with and without weapons, and had trained with a variety of improvised weapons. As she WAS a maid, she preferred tools relating to the profession and imagery.
Her current tool was a deck brush, as stated - her preferred weapon. She blurred it through a quick spin, deflecting the shuriken easily enough, then launched herself towards the targetting drone.
Sensei would be unhappy with her if she failed to keep her skills up. Sensei would be happy if she had improved before rejoining him. Therefore she continued to work towards that end.
"That's impossible," stated Ritsuko. "That military drone fires flechettes at a rate comparable to a machine gun. A wooden deck brush should be splinters!"
"Did she just seem to hover for a few seconds, when she made that jump?" asked a stunned Misato.
"Confirming," said Maya. "She remained stationary at the apex of that jump for 3.25 seconds. But... you can't do that..."
"Did she just use a wooden deck brush to CUT through a military armored drone?" asked a further stunned Misato.
Nobody replied, just continued to follow the 'little workout' that Rei had requested.
"Where did she get that featherduster?" asked Maya as a projectile took out a target.
"I can't believe she destroyed a $12,000,000 armored drone with a $5 deck brush," mumbled Ritsuko.
"You suppose I could learn to do that?" asked Misato, immediately seeing a military use for such a talent.
"How did this boy manage to get this sort of thing out of his Rei?" asked Maya, bringing up records on a side screen. "She left here at bio-age fourteen with the most basic domestic training and the psych template for general domestic. There's no indication of anything different about her when she left here."
"This is more impressive than the Kaworu units," said Misato, who'd seen both in active combat situations.
"Get real Misato," growled Ritsuko. "She's doing things that are flagrantly impossible! What's the background on this 'Ranma Saotome'?"
"Martial artist, Rei's age, trained by his father in a family school of martial arts," said Maya, bringing up the relevant details. "He was included on the list of winners due to anomalous findings in both his history and an energy field manifested during testing as well as due to his being significantly different from a variety of other applicants."
"He stood out, huh?" asked Misato. "What's this unknown energy field business?"
"Unknown," pointed out Maya. "Low level, set off quanta readings. Not dangerous though."
"That must be it then," said Misato. "Longterm exposure to the whatever-field has turned her into Rei The Supergal."
"Not possible," said Maya. "It barely registered on the initial exam, though both Saotome registered when we actually looked at it. There isn't enough energy there for a measurable effect."
"Well, what else could it be?" asked Misato.
"I can't believe she destroyed a $12,000,000 armored drone with a $5 deck brush," mumbled Ritsuko again.
"You pick the oddest things to obsess on," said Misato.
"They cost closer to $20 nowadays," said Maya helpfully.
Ritsuko's look, if measured in Kelvin, would have flash-frozen the technician to her chair.
"...sorry..." eeped Maya.
"And look," pointed out Misato, "she managed to sweep up all the mess and make a tidy little pile with it."
"I've never seen the test chamber sparkle like that," admitted Maya.
Ritsuko briefly entertained herself with the image of triggering some hidden control, dumping these two in a prep chamber, programming them as dancing girls, and selling them off. It was just a brief private fantasy, but it put a smile on her face.
Seeing that smile, both Misato and Maya experienced an unexplainable chill.
"So... what do we do?" asked Misato. "At least she's breathing hard."
"I've an idea," said Ritsuko after seeing the remains of the sniper drone sticking up out of the trashcan. She even managed to twitch only a little bit.
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(Posted Wed, 24 Jan 2007 08:52)
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