Ranma sighed as he walked to school along a fence top. He still hadn't told his mother his secret, which seemed unfair as he just learned one of hers: he was adopted. She seemed so sad last night. Is it really worth it to hide from her because of this blasted curse?
Akane was worried, though she hid it well. Ranma seemed bothered by something lately. She just didn't know what to do. So she talked to her sister instead. "Can you believe it, Nabiki? Ranma is adopted. Though, I must say I do not find that surprising at all. Just look at Uncle Genma."
Nabiki rolled her eyes. "So the lug was adopted. Big deal. Plenty of people are adopted into clans all the time."
"But still, it makes you wonder."
Nabiki looked to her sister with a raised eyebrow. "What, that we might be adopted too? I've always tried to tell you that you were, but no, you never believed me." Nabiki enjoyed riling her sister up, especially as she used to often tease Akane about this very thing when they were younger.
Akane scowled. "Not that. I meant, makes you wonder who Ranma's real parents were and what they were like."
Bunsen Burner and Beaker, most likely. Ranma shook his head at his own self-deprecation. With my luck, they probably tried to cross Gonzo to his hen, Camilla.
"Good point," Nabiki replied to Akane. "Do you think they were martial artists as well? Maybe his dad is Son Goku, and Ranma is in reality a super-saiyan?" Nabiki began giggling when Akane seemed to be considering the idea.
Akane huffed. "Oh, stop that. I'm trying to be serious here."
"Lighten up. It is not like Ranma is going to run off to go find his real folks." Suddenly Nabiki and Akane stopped in their tracks and stared wide eyed at each other. Ranma walked on, oblivious or apathetic to the girls stopping.
Akane broke the silence. "He wouldn't, would he?"
"Well..." Nabiki chewed on her bottom lip. "I don't think Ranma knows the first thing on how to find them. And I doubt he could afford a P.I. So ... he might run off, but he'll be back in a week or two."
This satisfied Akane, who resumed walking. "Hey," she shouted when she saw how far ahead Ranma was, "wait up for us, you jerk!"
At lunch time, as Ranma went to eat outside, he stopped at a payphone. Feeding some coins into it, he dialed his mother's number.
"Hello? Hey Mom, it's Ranma." Ranma held the handset away from his ear as his mother screamed. "Ouch, I think I ruptured an eardrum."
"I know I never called before ... I got your number from Kasumi ... Look, there is something I want to tell you. In person, though, I can't say it over the phone ... This weekend will be fine ... I'll be around. Make it a surprise visit, it will help if Pops have no idea your coming... OK, see you then ... Bye, bye ... Ma! I'm at school ... No, I'm not gonna say it where people can hear me ... Bye Ma!"
The weekend couldn’t come soon enough for Ranma, but he had other concerns weighing upon his mind as well.
After school, Sargent Shizuno was waiting for Ranma, Standing by his parked car. “So, have you decided yet if you want to join us?” He asked as he slipped his mirrored sunglasses off.
Ranma shrugged. “Still thinking.”
Shizuno shrugged before returning to his car. “We could really use you,” he said as he turned over the engine. “The world looks idyllic when your young, but there’s a lot of bad elements out there.
“What the heck does ‘Idio-lick’ mean?”
Ranma was still staring after the departed car, long out of sight, when Nabiki strolled up to him. “Who was that, Ranma-baby?”
Distracted, Ranma replied. “Just some guy investigating my adoption.”
Nabiki quirked an eyebrow. “I didn’t think you could afford a P.I.”
“He’s not mine.” Ranma then shook himself into awareness and gave Nabiki an unreadable look from the corner of his eye. “I better be off.” He then jumped into the air and began to roof hop.
“Hmmm,” Nabiki mused. “Maybe Ranma’s real parents are looking for him.”
The next evening found Ranma dragging himself in, after a run-in with Ryouga. “I’m home. Any dinner left?”
But he went unanswered as everyone was crowded around a TV set. “What’cha watching? Is this some new period drama?”
“Shush,” Akane scolded him distractedly.
Ranma plopped down on the floor and began watching too, to see what everyone was so absorbed into. It was some sort of breaking news. It took him a few minutes to figure out what it was about, as he was confused by coming in at the middle. A nutcase had blown himself up inside of a subway station, killing many, injuring more, and causing fire and havoc. Then, some terrorist group had sent a message to the press taking credit for plotting the attack and promising more.
Ranma wished he hadn’t seen the news. It was gut churning, the horrific images, and he felt helpless. But the horror hit home when the phone rang and Kasumi came back from answering it.
“Uncle Genma. Ranma. That was the police. Nodoka was caught in the subway blast and is in the hospital.”
And so Ranma’s night became worse as he found himself pacing some hospital hall like a caged animal, full of fear and anger and helplessness. His temper ran short, and he somehow managed to upset Akane – who probably should have read the signs and let him be. Kasumi and Nabiki sat in the corner. Genma and Soun were in the cafeteria, eating, playing shogi, and sneaking sake. All waiting on some kind of news while his mother was in surgery.
This is stupid. I’m stuck here while a bunch of madmen are out there looking to do this again and again.
Then he remembered something he had heard. There’s a lot of bad elements out there. The next thing he knew, his feet had brought him to a payphone by the lobby. Ranma stared at the phone for long moments. He then dug into his pockets and took out a business card.
The Sergeant is right. He dropped a coin into the slot and dialed a number.
“It’s Ranma. Have you seen the news? ... I want them. All of them. I’m in, but that’s the first thing we fix.”
Ranma didn’t go to school the next day. Everyone had stayed the night at the hospital and it looked like no one planned to leave. They finally got word, around noon. Nodoka was stabilized. She was still sedated and in the intensive care ward with no visitors allowed. But the doctors felt her prognosis would be good. They had hope for her recovery. She’d be scarred and have some trouble walking and using her left arm, but she would survive.
While welcoming, the news didn’t settle the weight in Ranma’s stomach. His mom would live, but never be the same as before. It shouldn’t have happened in the first place. And he still felt like punching someone over and over.
No one blinked when he said he was going to go find food. He found an odango stand at a nearby street corner, bought some, and waited for his ride. He didn’t have to wait long and soon Sergeant Shizuno was driving him to meet with Dr. Okinari once more.
“Ranma, I am happy you have decided to join our project. Though I am saddened by how and why you came to that decision.” Dr. Okinari waved him to sit in a chair.
Ranma snorted as he dropped into a seat. “Just point me at them and stand back.”
Dr. Okinari shook his head sadly. “I’m afraid it doesn’t work quite like that. Little is know, so we’ll have to first investigate. I want you to shadow an investigator, to learn how to. Once we find them, then they’ll be brought to justice. What shape they are in after you hand them over will, of course, be left to your discretion.”
“Investigate?” Ranma asked nervously. “I’m just a kid.”
Dr. Okinari waved a small gesture. “Oh, I’ll hire you a tutor. After school, you’ll just have to do more studying. But you should probably help with a real one, see it in action. You won’t be investigating, you’ll just be helping.”
Ranma nodded.
“Also, I suppose it is time you met your partner.”
“You mean the person who’s investigating the bombing?”
The grin on Dr. Okinari’s face threatened to split it in half. “Oh, that will be a day or two, still. No, your partner. You see Project LEAD always was planned to have two very special features.”
“Wait,” Ranma interrupted. “What is Project LEAD?”
“Sorry, I guess I got ahead of myself. The name came the main principals that inspired it to begin with. Law enforcement and defense. That is, we wanted to defend our country, protect its people, and uphold its laws. But the ideas we had to do so? Oh, very brilliant indeed, if I may be so modest. You see, you’re the product of one of Project LEAD’s arms. You are a GOLD child.”
Ranma nodded. “Yeah, you said something about me being golden, last time. I know I’m the best, but I don’t really get it.”
Okinari shook his head in amusement. “Project GOLD was the name of a third of our research and studies. Genetically Optimized Law Defender. Enhanced humans, I’ll spare you details on the process, meant to excel as police and military personnel. Though, for now, you’ll have to be more like a secret agent. I guess that’ll do.”
“And my partner is also golden? You designed us in pairs.”
“No ... well we did specify there would be pairings and your design took such into account, but no. You partner is the product of Project SILVR. But to understand requires more than just mere words. If you follow me, I’ll introduce you.”
Ranma, still confused, got up and followed where Dr. Okinari led. Silver and Gold? He doesn’t seem a nutcase. Out into a hall, into an elevator, down a number of floors. The elevator doors opened onto a strange warehouse like space. There was pipes and wires and computers all around. Some people, technicians, were busy on one thing or another.
Okinari led him over to where someone had there head buried under the hood of a pink convertible. Ranma grimaced at the color of the car, though he did enjoy it’s sporty lines. Man, they ruined that fine car with an awful color. The person, he noted, had feminine lines and curves herself, filling out overalls in ways a guy couldn’t.
This must be my partner. A mechanic?
Dr. Okinari cleared his throat. The girl squeaked and bumped her head on the hood. “How is she coming? Will she be ready soon?”
“Oh yes,” the mechanic exclaimed as she turned around. Bright eyes and an easy smile filled a round face. “She’ll be ready to run in a couple hours. Not much left to do.”
Okinari nodded. “Ranma, this is Baru.”
Ranma bowed. “Pleased to meet you. I guess we’re working together now. Tell me, you know any martial arts?”
She giggled, then broke into full on guffaws. This confused Ranma.
“Oh, Baru isn’t your partner. Ranma, meet Ashi.”
“Hey Ranma,” a voice sounded from the direction of the car. Ranma craned his head to see who was sitting in it.
“Ashi?”
Dr. Okinari coughed. “Well, we were thinking, at first, Silvia – You know, Project SILVR. But we felt a Japanese sounding name would be more appropriate. Ashi won out over Satan.”
Ranma couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. Ranma walked around the car but found no one new. “Huh?” He asked Baru. “Are you Baru or Ashi?”
“I am Ashi’s mechanic.” She said, while her lips twitched with mirth.
“I’m right here, Ranma.”
Ranma was pretty sure he heard the car talk. “Ashi?” He asked in a strangled voice as he backed away from the car. In response, the car engine started and revved before turning back off.
“Stop that!” Baru berated the car. “I am still checking you out. A decade and a half in a crate collecting dust is not kind on motors.”
Dr. Okinari nodded his head. “Baru, I have secured those four pancake motors. When they arrive, please install them straight away.”
“What’s going on here?” Ranma was starting to feel weirded out. “Why does the car talk?”
The genial old man leaned over to Baru. “Could you give me a moment of privacy, please?” Once she walked over to a large bank of computers to discuss something with the people there, Okinari than shot Ranma a large grin. “Ah, will you grasp the genius of the plan? We knew we needed more than just manpower. So a long time ago a small group of us came up with a simple yet profound idea. We would produce specially designed autonomous vehicles to support and aid a human, and design or train special humans to support and aid the vehicles. Maybe today we could do better, but back then we knew that in a high speed chase, we’d need a human driver. And if we could have one with heightened reflexes and skills, all the better. We knew there were places a human can go that a car can’t. But also, we knew that defending our nation and its laws would require force and advantages that no human could ever possess.
From there, the idea grew. We studied human performance so we could push it. We explored technology so we could heighten it. We took science fiction and made it fact; we developed an artificial intelligence. Ashi here was one of our first prototypes that showed promise. If you two work out, I’d like to get Hoiruya out of storage next. But we only got permission for one, and she’s the most complete. The others still need work.”
Ranma nodded, serious again. “Not going to tell me how Hoiru was almost named Jack or Arrow or something?”
Okinari smiled. “Hoiruya. Go on, sit in her. Make a new friend.”
Ranma shot a dubious look. “I don’t have to drive her, do I?”
The car seemed to huff, the way it shook on all four tires. “What, I’m not good enough for you?” Her computerized voice sounded full of acid and Ranma was reminded of Akane. He backpedaled, as he would for Akane as well. “No, no.” He raised his hands and shook them. “I just don’t know how to drive, is all.”
“You’ll have to learn, but for now – Ashi can drive herself.” Okinari turned to peer at some monitors. “I’ll leave you two to it, then. Make like friends, now.”
Ranma shot a cautious look at the pink car. The driver side door popped open. “Come on, get in. I’ll even go topless,” the voice became saucy and her top retracted into the trunk. Ranma shrugged and climb in.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you seem rather girly.”
The car seemed to shrug, if a car could sink on its wheels and shrug. “I don’t actually understand, not having a true gender. So I don’t mind. Remember, my looks and voice and other design elements were put together by some guy somewhere. Someone else designed one or another of the others. So we’re all different. So, some of us might seem more girlish or less girlish. Logically, it doesn’t matter.”
“I’m so overwhelmed! Maybe I shouldn’t be here?”
“We’ll both need time to adjust. I been asleep for years and never been out in public.”
“Never? How are you suppose to show me how to investigate? I was really looking forward to catching the creeps who hurt my Mom.”
“Your mom was hurt? Oh, I am so sorry. My databanks are full of information on carrying out my duties, but no, I have not done any first hand. Don’t worry, I am sure we can find those responsible. Can you tell me anything about them?”
“Ah,” Ranma paused, taken aback. “Have you see the news, lately?”
The car made a strange dipping motion. “No, I haven’t. I am afraid I have been quite isolated. Can you tell me?”
“Some group of cowardly idiots set a bomb off not far from here. My Mom was in the area and was caught in the attack. She’s in the hospital, now. I can’t help but think of all the years I never even seen her and that she could have been taken away from me so suddenly. Makes me think all that hiding was for nothing.”
“Wait, what?” Ashi’s computerized voice was not emotional, yet her confusion was clear. “I don’t understand why you were hiding. Is that something people do these days?”
Ranma scratched his head. “Well, you see ... Pops took me on a training journey since I was very young. I don’t even remember anything before that, really. We only recently returned. But I couldn’t see mom, not as myself ... uh ... well, because ... there was this thing in China, and Pops made an agreement, and ... Anyhow, Pops was afraid that we’d have to die if I met my Mom.”
“That made absolutely no sense at all. Are they sure they found the correct, genetically enhanced warrior for justice? I thought you were all smart or something.”
“Hey!” Ranma exclaimed in indignation. But her ensuing giggles took away some of the sting. “Very funny. You’ll be happy to know I happen to be the best martial artist ever.”
“Oh, never lost?”
“Uh ... I always won the rematch.”
“No one that’s your better?”
“No one under the age of one hundred. I don’t think undead old ghouls count.”
“Ghouls? You mean, like some kind of vampire minion?”
“Uh ... no, just a couple of really, really, I mean very really, ancient old-folks who probably remember the dinosaurs. But the letch is a womanizing pervert and Cologne just wants to breed me to her granddaughter and uses sneaky, underhanded tricks. But I beat up Ryouga and Tatewaki all the time.”
“And there great martial artists?”
Ranma shrugged. “Kuno is an idiot. But Ryouga is cool. He’s my best friend. We have this thing were I piss him off and he attacks me for all he’s worth.”
“Hmmm ... I think we’ll be working on your people skills first. Were you raised in the mountains on this training journey?”
“Yeah? How’d you know?”
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(Posted Thu, 15 Oct 2015 05:32)
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