“The Americans found a hole in their shuttle’s heat shield and they can’t land. They’re still investigating their options, but it is pretty obvious even to their own news agencies that they just aren’t willing to admit that they can’t do anything,” Nabiki responded cynically while writing out a simple contract.
“Wait… didn’t something like that happen before? Shouldn’t they have made some sort of plan?”
“It simple cost benefit, they figure it only happened once in years of flying, what are the odds of it actually happening again? They came up with some ideas for patching it, which they’ll probably end up doing, but it’s anyone’s guess on whether it will hold up. Want to place a bet?” Ranma noticed at this point that Nabiki had a ledger and a phone with her.
“Isn’t betting on whether people live or die just a bit…,” Ranma paused as he realized who he was talking to, “never mind.”
“It isn’t like anything we do is going to possibly effect what happens to them Ranma. Even you don’t have a martial arts technique for this situation,” she finished writing the contract and handed it to Ranma.
Ranma read over the contract carefully. It was very simple, and didn’t actually have the half dozen loopholes he had expected. Maybe Nabiki was being honest, or she wanted the tv enough to be unwilling to risk this being turned around on her. Ranma signed the contract beneath Nabiki’s own signature, but didn’t give it back to her. He carefully stowed it in his weapons space.
Nabiki didn’t seem pleased that he kept the contract, which made Ranma feel much better about his decision. It was probably erasable ink or something. He’d get the other contract from her later.
Ranma finally looked at the tv again. It generally seemed to alternate between an anchor, a reporter at NASA, and very occasionally some images from the vehicle in question. The view of space was quite spectacular, even if only seen in small portions usually as the image focused on the people or vessel. He’d grown up looking at the stars a lot.
The view switched from space and Ranma broke from the dangerous trance he’d been in. He shook his head as if to shake loose his thoughts. He wasn’t someone that could afford to lower his guard with daydreaming.
The screen currently showed the orbit path of the vehicle, though it was still docked with the space station.
Apparently the Russians were having a great time with the whole thing. A well dressed Russian was speaking right now. His ability to keep a straight face while delivering his speech actually made it more amusing than it would have been otherwise.
“There is no need for worry. In the face of continued American incompetence, Russian reliability will not fail. We will be capable of sending up a supply rocket at great cost to ourselves to keep the astronauts supplied long enough for the Americans to prepare another one of their shoddily constructed shuttles. All Russians will pray that one doesn’t break down too. We are fresh out of tow trucks.”
Ranma rolled his eyes. Russia and America reminded him of Ryouga and himself really. Everyone knew who was better, but the least mistake would be pounced on and criticized for as long as possible.
Ranma crouched into his usual thinking position, was he forgetting something? It seemed to be nagging at the back of his mind, it was important right? Wait… yes, that’s it! He had missed a meal, it was impossible, how could he have allowed this travesty to come to pass. Ranma wandered out of the house, the story no longer holding his interest.
Where could he acquire something to eat at this time of day? He was outside when it occurred to him.
It wasn’t past dinner time at all; the sun was still hanging in the sky far too high for that. Ranma sighed with relief: he shouldn’t have suspected the worst so readily. He was still hungry though, usually he could tell by hunger alone when meal times were. It was quite strange that he’d be hungry so soon. Then again… he had used a prolonged amaguriken, and that teleportation didn’t seem to take much energy, but he wasn’t really sure.
Ranma had stopped in the backyard for the moment while he thought. Was there anything else he was missing?
Ranma slapped himself. The answer was so blindingly obvious.
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(Posted Sat, 14 Feb 2009 03:32)
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