Hibiki Tokai, third class citizen and worker at the armament factories of the all-male planet Tarak, was returning to his home after another day of hard work. He was lost in his thoughts when something caught his eye. He blinked at the sight of this 'Trans-Dimensional Anime Store', he could have sworn that this shop wasn't here before. He would have noticed it with his gaudy neon signs and colorful advertising.
Out of curiosity, he approached the window and looked at the merchandise. He didn't know what Anime was (for that matter, he doubted the others in the barracks knew either). From what he could see of the various items on display, it was like movies but made with drawn pictures instead of live actors or computer graphics. He also wondered what those creatures who were looking a bit like men but slender, with softer features and abnormal chests could be... (He still pictured women as they were described in Tarakian propaganda).
Out of curiosity, he entered the store and began to browse in the DVD aisle *Hey ! I think we have an old TV post and player in the barracks !* Life for a third class citizen wasn't very exciting and any possible entertainment would be welcome. He looked at several boxes and suddenly froze...
With trembling hands, he took two DVD boxes to inspect them "Vandread... and Vandread : the second stage..." He looked at the covers. The only male character shown on them with those strange not-men and a silly-looking robot was... "That's... That's ME ! What the hell !?!"
"Have you found something to your liking, young sir ?"
"AAAAGGHH !!!" Hibiki jumped in surprise at the voice. He turned to see a man in his forties wearing what he supposed to be the store's uniform "Don't do that !"
"My apologies if i startled you. May I assume you want to purchase these articles ?"
"Huh ?" Hibiki's mind was still confused. How did he end up in one of these anime thingies ? Better to find out what the drawers had done to him... "Er... Yes ! How much do these cost ?"
*****
Hibiki entered his room with his new acquisitions. He smiled, he had gotten a good deal out of the man in the store. What was in his pockets ? Ha ! A little money and food pills. Nothing really valuable...
He spent the next hour jury-rigging a television set and an old disc player found in the thrash a few days ago. Once it worked, he put the first Vandread DVD in and watched...
Hibiki Tokai's jaw fell to the ground and his eyes bugged out "Eeeep..."
*****
Hours later, Hibiki had watched the entire two series of Vandread. He ran back to the store only to find it gone... He decided it was some kind of elaborate prank but who would do something like this ? To show the females in a positive light... (If these were truly women !). And the fleet was launching today ! Just like in Vandread !
Something else changed his mind. This evening, he was caught in the same conversation there was in the first episode about sneaking in the Ikazuchi and stealing a vanguard... Whether it was reflex or fate, it played out exactly like he had seen it.
He realized that somehow, he got a foretelling of things to come... Now what to do with it ?
See other episodes by Jamil Nate
(Posted Sat, 25 Jan 2003 23:27)
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