The time stream had been rewritten. Not only was the clock turned back a year (or so), but several adjustments had been made to bring the new reality in line with the conditions required to fulfill the “Sleeping Beauty” wish. Most of the changes were subtle, because the major events of the timeline still needed to take place since many of these events were crucial to the development of the primary recipients of that wish.
One of those whose past was most affected by the changes was the person now known as Ranma Saotome.
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Long, long ago a spaceship dodged and swerved, desperately dodging the energy beams shooting in from its pursuers. The ship lurched, as one of the shots hit home, leaving a gaping wound where one engine used to be.
On board the pilot of the fleeing vessel cursed and quickly read the flashing damage reports. Damn! He had hoped to outrun them, but with one engine gone that wouldn’t be possible.
Worriedly, he looked at the young boy sleeping at his side. His son hadn’t complained once during their hurried flight, but the hours had caught up with him. He looked so peaceful asleep in the copilot’s seat. As he looked at his child, he found himself missing the boy’s mother. Surely if anyone could have found a way out of this, she could have.
Reluctantly, the man realized that he could not escape. But, there was still a chance to, perhaps, save his son. Placing the sleeping boy in the ship’s life pod, he activated the pod’s stasis field and prepared it for launch. As the pod sped away, he turned his ship to face the attackers head-on. As out-gunned as he was, this was tantamount to suicide, but if he kept them occupied for long enough, they might never notice the pod’s departure.
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In obedience to its programming, the life pod remained at minimum power, its velocity limited to that imparted by its initial launch. One month went by. Two.
Finally, at the end of the third month, the pod’s systems cautiously came to life. When passive systems failed to detect pursuit, it chanced an active scan. No one was in sight.
Satisfied that it had lost its enemies, the pod brought its systems fully online. Almost immediately, alarm messages flashed to life.
It hadn’t escaped unharmed. A stray blast from the fight had seared across its side. Automated systems assessed the damage and repaired what they could. They managed to fulfill their first priority and restore the stasis and life support circuits to 100%, but the communication circuits were completely destroyed. So were the main propulsion systems and a good deal of the radiation shielding.
The onboard computer considered its options. It had no way to contact anyone for a rescue, and the secondary propulsion systems were mainly intended for landing the pod on a planet. They wouldn’t be able to make more than minor corrections to the pod’s trajectory when it came to interstellar distances. This was alarming, for the pod was currently heading toward the edge of the galaxy, away from the more populated sectors.
Most life pods wouldn’t have been able to overcome these difficulties, but this pod had been extensively upgraded by its owner’s wife in the early years of their marriage. Scanning its databases, the computer determined that, based on its current speed and direction, there was only one hope for saving the pod’s occupant. The Jurian database listed a restricted colony world that was just barely in reach. It would take centuries, but, if it shut down all the unneeded systems during the flight, it had a chance of making it. One cause for concern was the effect such a long voyage would have on its occupant. Normally, with stasis, this wouldn’t matter, but this flight would take far longer than ever anticipated, and the damaged radiation shields were a concern. A quick calculation showed a 62% chance that the damaged shielding would still maintain enough protection to protect the pod and its passenger over the long journey ahead.
And so it was that, millennia later, a worn and battered life pod made its way to Earth. As it entered the solar system, its systems came online. Obeying its programmed priorities, it first checked the health of its occupant, concerned that it’s damaged shielding and aged systems may have already jeopardized its primary mission. Much to its electronic relief, a scan revealed no detectable damage, although it did note with concern an odd pigment shift in the hair and eyes.
Satisfied that its charge was healthy, the computer next needed to locate an appropriate landing site. A preliminary scan of the planet revealed traces of Jurian energy on an island just east of the largest continent. Unable to get a precise fix on the source of this energy, the pod decided to made landfall on that island anyway. It shielded its descent from the primitive devices of the natives, but it hoped that any Jurians nearby would notice and send a rescue party.
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Genma Saotome was desperate.
His attempt to train his son to be a Master of the Art was a disaster. The boy just had no aptitude for the Art! It seemed to take him the longest time to master even the simplest moves. Why, if Genma didn’t watch him closely, the boy would start reading one of those infernal books he seemed to always find, instead of practicing his katas!
And then there was this latest disaster. Genma hadn’t interfered with his son’s friendship with that Kounji girl. He had been happy enough over the fact that Ranma managed to win his fights with the girl. Until, that is, he actually witnessed on of the fights. To his trained eye it was obvious that his son’s skill was even less than that of the girl he was facing! That Ranma still managed to win by outwitting Ukyo didn’t appease Genma. He was supposed to be able to outfight his opponents, not outthink them! A true Master of Anything-Goes wasn’t supposed to use his brain! (After all, Genma rarely did.) Determined to put an end to this, Genma sat down for a long chat with the Kounji girl’s father…
Genma had been miles down the road before he realized that Ranma was no longer sitting on top of the Okonomiyaki yattai. He immediately back-tracked, only to discover that neither Kounji, nor Ranma and Ukyou, were to be found. His attempt to search further came to an end when he made the, somewhat foolish, decision to inquire with the local police. They didn’t know anything about Ranma, but one of them had recognized Genma and had rudely brought up some old business from his training with the Master. Genma had attempted to explain, but soon realized that discretion was the better part of valor. Unfortunately, it meant that he had to leave the area (at least until the search died down) without locating his son. Nodoka was going to kill him!
So now, sonless, he wandered rural Japan, racking his brain in an effort to decide what to do next. Nothing came to mind. However he considered it, the fact remained that he needed a son!
“Oooff!”
Genma’s thoughts were interrupted by his impact with something blocking the path. Looking up in surprise, Genma’s eyes bulged as he took in the thing before him. Even its current charred and battered appearance didn’t fully hide its sleek, and obviously expensive, construction.
A quick glance around assured him that he was alone. Wasting no time, he tried to pry it open in search of something valuable. When the thing resisted his attempts, he called upon his art, focusing his ki to aid in his endeavor.
The life pod was on its last legs. Its secondary propulsion system had suffered far more from old age than it had thought. While it had managed a survivable landing, its remaining systems had paid the price. Its sensors and even its logic circuits were rapidly deteriorating, but it still held true to its primary purpose. It needed to ensure that its charge was turned over to someone responsible. Up until this point, the life pods computer had classified Genma as a native, uncivilized, and potentially a danger to its charge. When Genma started channeling his ki, it reconsidered. It sensed that Genma was controlling some form of energy to aid him. It knew that some Jurians could call upon the energy of Jurai. Since it had detected Jurian energy in the area, it made sense that nearby Jurians would investigate its landing. Its sensors were no longer able to determine if the energy sensed was Jurian, but records didn’t indicate any energy-producing ability among the natives.
Genma jumped back as the thing suddenly opened wide. Peering inside, he saw a young boy sleeping. Why, he couldn’t be more than a year younger than Ranma! He even looked something like Ranma.
Genma was ecstatic. The gods had answered his prayers and given him a second chance! This time he would do things right! Taking the boy out of the pod, he hurried off into the night.
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Many hours later, an old shrine priest came walking up the trail. He stopped on seeing the open pod and immediately scanned the area. Moving with surprising quickness for one of his apparent years, he soon located Genma’s trail. He frowned briefly, but walked back to the pod. Taking a moment to marvel at its age, he reached inside and, with a few swift motions, removed the pod’s electronic Log. He put this in his pocket and then pressed a series of buttons. Turning away, he set off along the trail he had spotted earlier.
As he moved out of sight, the pod started glowing. With a loud “POP” it consumed itself, leaving behind only a dusting of ash to blanket the trail.
(Posted Wed, 09 Apr 2003 09:00)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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