Rock was one of the guards he could spar against. Axel was another. Forte or "Bass" was yet another. Blues was a fourth but he tended to keep far away from the human child.
"It'll die eventually," said 1034872-90456-132 over a soundless connection.
"We're taking every precaution," retorted Roll, likewise not making any noise audible to human ears. She didn't want to wake Ranma up, after all.
"I don't mean that," responded 1034872-90456-132 with a tone indicating exasperation. "Humans live what - a hundred solar orbits?"
"Years," corrected Roll.
"Whatever, it only has so many of those left," said 1034872-90456-132. "Then what?"
"Incorrect," said an unfamiliar voice.
"Identify?" asked 1034872-90456-132.
"Master Brain 985," responded the unfamiliar voice. "There is a decaying field of unknown origin surrounding the humaniform Ranma."
"Nature of field?" asked a concerned Roll.
"Unknown quantum field. Unable to analyze, extradimensional nature only observable by side effects extending into normal space," said the Master Brain of Sector 985. "It is most curious."
"It's not hurting him, is it?" asked Roll, eyeing the sleeping Ranma.
"I am monitoring his lifesigns as part of trying to determine nature of energies," responded MB-985. "There is also an unfamiliar energy pattern within Ranma, which appears to be natural to him. It is at its highest point shortly after he has refueled or when he seems to be particularly emotional. Second highest peak occurs during his combat techniques practice."
"He calls them 'martial arts'," pointed out Roll.
"Two energy fields?" asked 1034872-90456-132. "Does this mean that the humaniform -"
"RANMA!" corrected Roll rather forcefully.
"Whatever," said 1034872-90456-132. "Does this mean that it is extradimensional in nature as well?"
"Most likely," said MB-985. "If the first field is what I suspect, Ranma will return to his origin point at some time in the future well before he would die of old age."
"What? Noooo," said Roll, looking back at the sleeping boy again. "When?"
"Exact point the field will fade to instability is unknown as nature of quantum interactive field is unknown. Giving highest probability to ten years, four months, eight days." MB-985 made a sighing sound. "I hate being that imprecise but that is the closest I can come. The field is also found on the odd bed arrangement that is in Corridor R, Section 12. As that is not a lifeform, I am free to experiment in more detail with it though the decay rate is much faster."
"If they both came through at the same time, then they should have the same decay rate," argued 1034872-90456-132.
"Except that air molecules also were present during the process and they have dispersed but are also trackable by that quantum effect. Worse, the decay rate is different for the air molecules. Which leads me to a distinct conclusion," said MB-985.
"The transportation effect was centered on Ranma," said Roll. "What of his clothes?"
"Quantum decay rate is identical to Ranma," said MB-985. "I strongly suspect that this will give me research material for at least a millenium or two."
"Well, at least someone's happy about this," remarked 1034872-90456-132. "That doesn't leave the fact that the humaniform-"
"Ranma," corrected MB-985 and Roll.
"Whatever you want to call it," said 1034872-90456-132.
"HIM," corrected MB-985 and Roll.
"Whatever. This 'Ranma' will vanish in ten years, four months, and something," continued 1034872-90456-132.
"Statement: The humaniform must be preserved, human life must be protected," said Medbot 4095102-90456-817.
"Nice sentiment. How to accomplish this?" asked Gambler Bunnygirl 20217.
"Capture of humaniform, transformation to full conversion cyborg body will allow operational life in excess of ten times normal human lifespan," said the Medbot.
"Aw, but he's just such a cuuuute wittle snookums," protested Gambler Bunnygirl 20217.
"Statement: please adjust personality program," said the Medbot. "Since the humaniform is most likely to protest such a conversion, other options must be explored."
Gambler Bunnygirl 20417 shrugged. "You can handle the conversion thing, but I think you'll be disassembled if you try it. Other than that, what do you think you can do? Heck, me and the other girls, we were just designed to be eye candy walking around casinos and encouraging the spending of money. It's not exactly as if we were built to be secret agents or something."
"Unfortunately," said the Medbot, "one has to work with what materials one has available."
"Then it's decided," said the dark-metalled robot. "We have to capture him and bring him to us."
"It's entirely too important to leave to them," said Tron, frowning as she tapped her foot and studied the image of the Ranma. "Besides-"
"Besides?" asked Dark.
"He's so keeewwwwwwwwwt!" said Tron.
"Ah, right," said Dark, manifesting a large drop of coolant on the side of his helmet.
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(Posted Wed, 08 Nov 2006 09:11)
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