[As the smoke clears from the showing of "Reunions, Rememberings,
and Returnings......]
RAN:[stepping down from the bridge] caauuugh, cauuugh. Well,
this is going to take a lot of work to clean up.[looks around]
The blocker lemming must have totally disintegrated. I don't
see any pieces of lemming anywhere.
[From the ruins of the couch, we see a shuffling, then a snout pops
out....a lemming!]
LEMMING: Bligh' me, that was a blast and a half.
RAN:[furiously grabbing at the critter's throat] WHY YOU STUPID
LEMMING. HOW COULD YOU DESTROY MY LIVING ROOM LIKE THAT?
[We recognize the lemming as the blocker lemming from the last
MST. He's charred (RANs a little charred too. And soaking wet.
Looks like her talk with Oyuki got a little heated!)]
BLOCKER: Well, I really don't have much control over that, ma'am.
Whoever plays us controls all that. And those lemmings
not destroyed by that have to make due whereever they
end up.
RAN:[sly grin forming] So that means you're stuck here, eh?
BLOCKER:[sweatdrops] Uh, Yes ma'am......eeeep
RAN: Well, I guess I have work for you.....Blocker Joe.
*********************************************************************
[Begin opening theme - "Black Magic Woman" by Santana]
It's...Ran's Fanfic Theatre, episode 2
Now Showing: Urusei Yatsura - Tales of the Daishi'cha: "It Takes a
Spark" by William Geiger
Ran, along with all other characters from Urusei Yatsura are the
creation of Rumiko Takahashi. Rights held by Shogakukan (Japan),
and Viz (U.S).
Lemmings lifted from the games "Lemmings" & "Oh No: More Lemmings"
by Psygnosis, Ltd. Blocker Joe the Lemming is a creation of
Steven P. Cornett.
Comments, flames, grunts and loud noises to cornetts@gemair.com
*********************************************************************
We open at a Kisaten, the famous Da Capo's Famous Songs cafe. At
the table is Ran and to her left is the lemming who blew up in the
last episode, the infamous BLOCKER JOE. A cup of coffe is available
for both, and the usual supply of snacks you would expect for
a talk show.
RAN: [at low volume] Talk about ending with a bang! [Realizes she's
on] Konnichi-wa, and welcome to Ran's Fanfic Theatre, which due
to unfortunate circumstances is now at a kissaten here in the
Tomobiki business district.
[See people drinking coffee, gabbing, and one or two raise the 'V'
symbol in front of the camera. Others raise one finger less. :-P]
RAN: Today we take up the prequel to the fic reviewed the last time.
Thing of the last show as part two and this as part one.
BLOCKER JOE: Excuse me ma'am, but isn't that the reverse of the
usual procedure. I mean, aren't you supposed to
review the first story before the second.
RAN: In most cases but this gives us a chance to see the improvement
in William Geiger's writting style since hopping into Fred
Herriot's camp and taking up this...dubious...form of
fanfic endevour.
BLOCKER JOE: Would this perhaps be another love story?
RAN: Nope. Remember when I said in any other TSY story you stood
an even chance of gunplay?
BLOCKER JOE: I do?
RAN: Consider this heads! Battlesuits blazing, lasers firing,
destruction all around....Kind of looks like one of Benten's
all night parties! Deadly but not serious, like a bad
Gundum episode! All this, in the following fic.
Urusei Yatsura - Tales of the Daishi'cha: "It Takes a Spark"
by Robert Geiger
PHPN65A@prodigy.com
**** **** ****
WRITER'S NOTES:
1)This story takes place two years after "GFA Final: The Last
Farewell." Why two years? I rolled a 6-sided dice...^_^
RAN: Six sided Die?
BLOCKER: Is cast!
RAN: Cast a whammy on you in about a minute!
2)Everyone has returned to his/her respective planets during this
time. Thus the grouping of VIPs in the story. Noriko and Kazumi were
present at both battles against the Mikado and the battles against the
Niphentaxians, however since I wrote this story late in the series, they
were not mentioned. Noriko is in the Heavy Missile Troop at the time of
this story (Warsuits armed with ship-to-surface missiles for use against
fortifications and spacecraft). Kazumi is in the Anti-Aircraft Troop
(Warsuits that use AAA [anti-aircraft artillery] and AAM [anti-aircraft
missiles]).
RAN: In other words, in a race of girls with guns, these two got some
of the biggest!
**** **** ****
"Cho!" Noriko said, aiming a snap-kick at Kazumi.
The brunette Terran-born warsuit pilot blocked as her partner
attacked. "Kya!" Kazumi replied and aimed her fists towards Noriko's face.
BLOCKER JOE: "Cho" and "Kya!"?
RAN: The start of a match of strength between woman. Less formal than
a coffee table throwing match between Akane Tendo and our own
Shinobu, but with ritual all its own.
Noriko rope-a-doped, absorbing the blows by her forearms, when
suddenly Kazumi, ducking under Noriko's guard, slams a fist into Noriko's
ribs, causing her to inhale sharply. Noriko responded with a headbut to
Kazumi. Kazumi staggered when another kick to the gut sprawled her onto
the mat. Noriko grinned and bounced on her feet. Kazumi, grinning
fiercely, sprung to her feet, spitting out some blood from her cut lip.
RAN: In the first sentence, change "slams a fist" to "slammed a fist".
BLOCKER: To maintain the tense of all verbs in the sentence.
RAN: Of course.
BLOCKER: What about the last sentence.
RAN: That works just as it is, since "grinning fiercely" describes her
state at that moment, not what she does.
Both *daishi'cha* were training at the Warsuit Brigade's
Headquarters and Support Squadron barracks outside Kyre'sha City.
Befitting any military unit destined to confront the wide variety of
operational conditions Sagussa's combat mecha legions would face, the
Squadron's barracks were outfitted with a physical exercise facility with
fully stocked weight lifting units, pools, physical therapy services and
combat simulators. Right now, Noriko and Kazumi, commanders of two of
Yohko's saber troops, were sparring on a mat using the rather brutal Maui
Thay martial art. On the bleachers watching the two trash each other sat
their brigade commander, Leona, two of the squadron commanders, Annapuma
and Unapuma, and First Defence Squadron's ace of aces, Tita. "If you
didn't know better," the Fukunokami-born pilot said, sipping some water
>from a bottle, "...you'd think they were the worst of enemies instead of
squadron-mates."
BLOCKER JOE: Looks like we found a long paragraph that could be broken
up!
RAN: Yes, I think you're right. The sentences after the phrase "Right
now, Noriko and Kazumi," would stand on there own as a separate
paragraph.
BLOCKER JOE: The paragraph looks like it contains two separate trains
of thought.
RAN: That's why they should be apart. The paragraph is the unit of
composition, containing a single thread of ideas. The sentences
before the phrase I mentioned describes the facility where Noriko
and Kazumi are training. The paragraph afterward returns to the
sparring match.
A sweat bead crept down Una's face, giving her away. "Gossip in
the HQ locker room," she replies, trying to sound nonchalant but failing.
"Bullshit!" Anna snapped. She grabbed Una's cheek and tugged.
"You've been going behind my back again, haven't you?"
BLOCKER JOE: In other words......
RAN: It looks like Unapuma been having a sparring session of her own
with one of the sisters.
BLOCKER JOE: Or both.
"No more then you!" Una latched onto both sides of Anna's face.
"I saw you with that hussy Naru a week ago! You were as sober as a judge,
so don't give me that 'I had no idea what I was doing' excuse!"
RAN: Which wouldn't play very well on Sagussa anyway, given their
moral stance that all encounters be mutually agreed upon.
Both Leona and Tita rolled their eyes. Anna and Una, despite
their close resemblance to each other, were unrelated. In addition, with
the former's Echo Squadron based in Ly'sha and the latter's Foxtrot
Squadron in Tere'na, they lived in an "open bond-mating," delighting in
constantly sparring over each others' blatant affairs. It was an old game
that neither was tired of and used to add spice to their relationship.
RAN: The paragraph would be more effective if the first sentence stood
by itself, as below:
Both Leona and Tita rolled their eyes.
Anna and Una, despite their close resemblance to each other, were
unrelated. In addition, with the former's Echo Squadron based in Ly'sha
and the latter's Foxtrot Squadron in Tere'na, they lived in an "open bond-
mating", delighting in constantly sparring over each *other's* blatant
affairs. It was an old game that neither was tired of, and added spice
to their relationship.
BLOCKER: That last sentence sounded different.
RAN: That's because in the original, there were two parts of the sentence,
which should have similar form. That means similar noun-verb structure.
RAN: In fact, it would be better if "was tired" was changed to "tired",
giving the sentence more ummph, like so!
It was an old game neither tired of, that added spice to
their relationship.
BLOCKER JOE: But which spice, ma'am?
RAN: Cayanne pepper. Or something so hot only an Oni would eat it.
Finally, both women stopped trying to reshape each others faces
and retreated to their mutual corners. After a while, Anna asked, "How
was it?"
"Um...good," Una sweated a bit, not meeting her eyes.
"Hmm?! Why are you so uptight?! Anything go wrong?"
Una coughed. "No! Not at all. It was...too good. You know how
I was sick a few days back?"
Anna nodded. "I was completely wasted," her bond-mate continued.
"We were at it all night. It was the damndest thing! I wasn't tired at
all. But the next morning after I left, I was wiped out...utterly drained
and dizzy. I went for a check up and the docs told me that I was
suffering from complete exhaustion and ordered me to take it easy."
BLOCKER JOE: That's interesting.
RAN: Sounds like the reverse of a lifeforce drain. The power seems
to add stamina to another individual, causing them to burn out
their own supplies. When contact is separate, the receptor is
left without the energy he had.
BLOCKER JOE: That's not like you lifeforce vampirism, is it?
RAN: Not in the least. One kiss and the wind is out of your sails
immediately!
Leona was in her office when Noriko and Kazumi arrived. The
office was a simple room with desk, chairs and filing cabinets. A few
pictures of Leona's friends and loved ones adorned the walls, including a
big portrait of the brigade commander with her bond-mate Mokoto, adding a
cheerful aura to the place. Both warsuit pilots saluted when they entered
and took seats when Leona returned the salute. Leona leaned back
slightly. "How would both of you like to transfer to a project developing
a new kind of warsuit?"
BLOCKER: Would a futuristic society still have filing cabinets?
RAN: You would think it would have a server or something instead. So
much for the paperless office. ;-)
Kazumi stretched and yawned. It was getting late and she needed
to get to bed to be ready for tomorrow. She looked over at Noriko, who
was studying the warsuit's systems on her labtop. "Pinpoint defense
systems, almost pure energy based weapons, dual lasers and pulse cannon,
redirectible main shields, energy saber. Hmm...definitely top of the line
here."
BLOCKER: Shouldn't that be 'laptop'?
Entering, they found Misato, a psychologist usually assigned to
watch over SDF personnel, already waiting for them. "Glad you're here.
Please follow me," Misato lead them into a room filled with all sorts
equipment. Assistants were warming things up.
RAN: That should be "Misato lead them into a romm filled with all sorts of
equipment."
Misato shook her head. "One of the things we have discovered
during initial testing, is the imprinting of one's *mei'na* signature
because of the constant flow of psionic energy flowing between the pilot
and the warsuit. Each suit can only be used by the one it is made for
unless the imprinting is wiped out and the warsuit reset for the new
pilot. That would take someone who is a master psi-cyber specialist to
accomplish or a facility like this one."
BLOCKER: That last sentence is a little rough.
RAN: Yes, the paragraph can stand some improvement. The last sentence can
be structured in a more concise manner:
That would take either a master psi-cyber specialist or a
facility like this one to accomplish.
BLOCKER: Couldn't the first sentence be clearer?
RAN: It might be better to say "One of the things we have discovered
during initial testing is that, because of the constant flow of
psionic energy flowing between the pilot and the warsuit, it's
necessary to imprint one's *mei'na* signature upon the suit.
And so the testing began. It boiled down to having many wires
connected to their heads and concentrating. They were asked to exercise
their inborn telepathic and empathic abilities. At times, Misato took
their hands to experience it personally. Misato did this quite often.
Her brow furrowed a lot and she took copious notes and talked to her
assistants who ran tests and shook their heads, seemingly puzzled
themselves.
BLOCKER: Here's another paragraph that could be improved considerably.
RAN: The last sentence in particular can be much more concise and
emphatic than it is. Also, the sentences in the middle can
be pared down. "Often, Misato took their hands to experience
it personally." expresses basicly the same thing.
After one such episode, Misato cocked her head and addressed them
directly. "For the life of me, I've seen something in you two I've never
seen before."
"Is something wrong?" Kazumi asked.
"I wouldn't call it 'wrong.' Not at all," Misato answered.
"You're doing excellently. The 'problem' is that I've discovered
something amazing. Simply put, you both possess a highly unusual bond. It
resembles a conduit, allowing psionic energy to flow between you in a sort
of loop. It unique since there is no special emotional bond like a
bond-mating.
BLOCKER: Or sisterhood?
RAN: True, though as we find out their really old schoolmates....very old
schoolmates.
The next day, Noriko and Kazumi found themselves in the main development
center for warsuits. To the pilots' surprise, the Engineer Commander and
the Armourer-prime were personnally overseeing the project. "Glad to see
you two," Ryuunosuke said, her eyes behind her ever-present sunglasses.
"You know the drill for warsuit operations so I'll spare you the details.
Besides getting fitted for the warsuits and putting them through the
paces, we'll be synchronizing you psionically with the suits."
Ryuunosuke gestured over to where two warsuits stood in partial
completion. Both seemed identical even though right now, the armour
plating had not been installed. Technicians climbed around the
scaffolding and blue light arced from wielding lasers. "Right now, let's
get to the fittings," Ryuunosuke said and led the pair off.
* * *
The days that followed were gruelling, but both Noriko and Kazumi
relished the challenge. Ryuunosuke had them put into training warsuits
which were adjusted to each pilot's frame and the results copied in the
new warsuits command computers. Then came the psionic synchronization.
Misato arrived to transfer terabytes of data into the units. Both Noriko
and Kazumi wore electrodes attached to their heads which would serve as
conductors for the psionic energy which would be directed to an amplifying
unit which would then transfer it to different parts of the suit as
needed. Noriko and Kazumi needed to learn how do manipulate the energy
with only their natural telepathic abilities.
RAN: The middle sentence could be tightened up to say "which served as
conductors for the psionic energy, which was directed through
an amplifier unit to different parts of the suit as needed.
The next (and near final phase) was easier. The now fully
constructed suits were rigorously tested out in the field, gauging their
unamplified and amped abilities while running, flying and firing their
weapons. Since Noriko and Kazumi had already gone through warsuit
training, this part went quicker and they were soon ready for the final
test.
BLOCKER: amped?
RAN: That might need to be 'enhanced'. And the last sentence can end
"this part went quickly and they were soon ready for the final
test."
BLOCKER: That actually flows into the final sentence of this section
better as well!
Space combat.
Noriko looked up at her warsuit. It towered above her, the black
armour gleamed dully in the light, glinting off the weapons dotting the
surface. "Today's the day," Noriko mused. She brushed a hand through her
newly close-cut hair. The psi-helmet (for lack of a better word) worked
better when there was less hair to get in the way, though both women had
been very adamant and refused to be shaved completely bald.
RAN: Couldn't blame them. War may be hell, but it shouldn't require total
baldness.....
"Both Noriko and Kazumi are ready to launch," Ryuunosuke's voice
came over the speaker to the bridge.
"Good!" Benten, here to oversee the tests, nodded. "Have all
ships clear the area. After they launch, prepare to launch the drones."
BLOCKER: Are your friends involved in this story?
RAN:[shuddering] In *name* only. Those are daishi'cha given *our* names
by Ataru when he became the Great Father.
BLOCKER: You mean the one you call 'Darling'.
RAN: The Ataru in this series is NO DARLING!
"All systems go," Lan stares at her portable labtop.
"Everything's working like clockwork. Energy readings, Misato?"
RAN: As I said, that ain't me out there!
"Excellent," Misato looked over some monitors. "The levels are
near prime level, they should increase when they go into combat."
The viewscreen showed both Warsuits hovering before the
"Ossa'cha," several others showed the flow of psionic energy as a blue
aura around the two units. "Good!" Benten nodded. "Launch the drones."
The Sagussans, hating waste, collected the wrecked warsuits and
fighters after battles. They were modified, stripped of most components,
with remote controlled on-board computers redesigned for combat training.
Remote controlled warsuits were launched out of the bays of the
warsuit carriers. These were standard suits armed with pulse guns.
Gladiators followed after them and took up position as a second wave.
"Begin!" Benten said.
The wardrones swept to the attack...
* * *
"I'll take defense!" Kazumi said positioning herself before
Noriko. The pinpoint defense shields were raised and Kazumi parried a
volley of lasers as Noriko slipped to port to fire her quad-lasers.
Burning energy bolts, augmented by psi-energy, ripped into the
armour of one of the warsuits, destroying its energy core. Both of the
ampsuits were on the move before the first return volleys slammed home,
each alternating defensive and offensive roles.
* * *
"Energy levels have reached optimum levels," Misato said as the
warsuits darted across the monitors. Absentmindedly shredding her
pen, Misato scanned the streams of data before her. She looked up at the
monitors and blinked. There was a brief flickering in the auras of the
Warsuits, it looked like... flame? *Couldn't be!* Misato thought, her
gaze returning to her monitor.
BLOCKER: I never heard of anyone shredding a pen.
RAN: She could bite on her pen or mangle it (though that could be
messy). She could even shred a pencil.
BLOCKER: Assuming they have pencils on Sagussa.
RAN: Probably a good bet.
* * *
Out in space, Noriko directed energy to her shields and ploughed
through the incoming fire from a pair of Warsuits. The energy saber
flashed out and sliced off the shoulder of one suit. Noriko reversed the
stroke and sliced the head off of the other one. She flew off as both
suits exploded.
* * *
"Last warsuit destroyed," Nagisa said.
"Send in the Gladiators!" Benten ordered.
The transformable fighters charged, firing light concussion
missiles. Kicking in boosters, Noriko and Kazumi moved to intercept.
The missiles homed in as the women drew pulse cannons and loosed a double
barrage of firepower that blew the missiles apart.
"Not bad at all," Benten said. "Their teamwork is perfect."
"Benten! Look at this," Misato said.
Benten scanned the monitors indicating the psionic energy
readings. Both of the surrounding auras flashed in rhythmic harmony. The
output for both was the same. "Perfect!" Benten murmured as she returned
her gaze to the viewscreen. Both ampsuits lead the fighters on a merry
chase around the wreckage of the first wave. The pair used the wreckage
to avoid incoming fire while popping up and firing their weapons,
eliminating a ship with each shot.
* * *
"Last one!" Noriko said and pumped energy into her guns.
Kazumi drew the Gladiator's attention and Noriko vaporized it with
a two-fisted blast.
* * *
"Second wave destroyed," Nagisa reported. "Begin last phase?"
"In a moment," Benten said and opened a comm line to the
warsuits. "How are the two of you doing?"
Noriko brushed some sweat away. "Just great! Can I have thirds?"
"Everything's okay here, Minister," Kazumi added. "Ready for
more."
Benten turned to Misato. "How are they doing?"
"Energy levels have dropped slightly," Misato said. "There's a
dip, probably due to exhaustion, but that's because this is their first
actual combative use of the psi-amp system. However, I see no reason to
stop."
Benten nodded. "Girls," she addressed Noriko and Kazumi. "It's
time for the last part of the testing. Attack the 'Ossa'cha.'"
There was a pause, then Kazumi's voice finally came over the
speaker. "Uhh...say again, ma'am?"
Benten grinned. "You heard me. Consider this a 'bonus.' While
your past battles were against computer controlled drones, this final
phase will be against living opponents. You don't have to worry; only the
anti-fighter and anti-warsuit weapons of the 'Ossa'cha' will be used and
power levels will be scaled down to the lowest settings. Also, members of
the Warsuit Brigade will be manning the guns so you don't have to worry
about getting blown up."
Unapuma's face suddenly popped up on the screen. A small message
on the bottom said AW BATTERY TWO. "I wouldn't be to sure of that," she
grinned. "I have to pay you two back for putting me in the hospital!
RAN: Geez! And people say *I'm* vengence crazed!
"Budda, budda, budda!!!" Unapuma chanted as she fired her
anti-warsuit gun. She had knocked her chair over and had taken a macho
looking stance.
Annapuma just shook her head, then shrugged in a "why me?" gesture.
BLOCKER: "Budda, budda, budda"???
RAN: I thought that was "Baddah, baddah, baddah" from baseball. Still,
a good bit of humor, without going over the top as in other TSY
stories.
Noriko and Kazumi dodged madly. Where Kazumi had taken defense
before, both women now focused on defending each other as they looped
around the "Ossa'cha" and tried to get a few shots in. When they did
however, even amped shots were easily deflected by the "Ossa'cha's"
shields. Light tremors were felt by those near the struck areas however.
BLOCKER: Again with 'amped'
RAN: 'Amplified' would be acceptable.
"Nyyahahaha!" Unapuma laughed. She tracked Noriko's movements and
aimed at a spot were Noriko was headed. As Noriko dodged another barrage
of lasers. Unapuma let fly and scored a hit against the ampsuit sending
it into a spin.
"Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord!" Unapuma pumped her arm.
RAN: But not for long.....
"Hey, Una!!" Noriko's voice jibed over the comm-system. "I'm
surprised your such a lousy shot!"
Una gritted her teeth and yanked on the trigger again.
"Not surprising, Noriko," Kazumi chimed in. "She can't hack it
behind the gun as well as in bed!"
RAN: that could be "She can't hack it in bed or behind a gun!"
Both women laughed. "WHAT?!?!?!" Unapuma roared.
"*KIMEI'NE!!!!!!*" she flicked off the safety of her turret and fired a
full strength volley before the controls were shut off by the "Ossa'cha's"
computer.
<<I think she wants to hit us!>> Noriko psi-linked Kazumi.
<<Well,>> Kazumi smiles. <<Let's oblige her.>>
Both ampsuits charged directly into the line of fire! "No!!!"
Benten shouted as the bolts struck home.
As the blast faded, the minister expected to see twisted
wreckage. Instead, she saw both ampsuits standing unharmed with their
pinpoint defense systems forming a double shield before them. Suddenly,
there was a flash and both shields vanished. "Pinpoint defense systems
down due to overload!" Nagisa reported.
Both ampsuits drew their pulse cannons and shot downwards at
Unapuma's location, the blasts struck home sending a tremor through that
area. The cannons then sparked and exploded.
"Pulse cannons destroyed!" Nagisa said.
"You two!" Benten barked over the comm. "The test is over!"
"Might as well finish up!" Noriko pouted.
"All good things must come to an end." Kazumi mused. "Shall we?"
Both suits linked hands again and rocketed upwards. "Shield power
switched to feet!" Nagisa said. "Propulsion system overheating!"
Misato gazed dumbfounded at the red-lined monitors. Both ampsuits
reach the pinnacle of their flight. Noriko and Kazumi screamed out at the
top of their lungs as they kicked in the boosters and plummeted down!
"***SUPER...LIGHTNING...KICK!!!!!!***"
RAN & JOE: GEKIGANGER.....KICK!!!
The ampsuits crashed into the "Ossa'cha," shaking it with enough
force to cause those near the impact to stagger!! On the bridge, monitors
giving readings on the ampsuits went blank as all input stopped. "Get
rescue crews out there right now!" Benten snapped orders. "I want damage
reports on both suits now!"
Nagisa quickly ran sensors over the suits. "Legs are crippled.
All systems connected to psi-amp systems are burnt out. Life support is
still functioning. Sensors indicate both pilots are alive but
unconscious."
"Lyna's Soul!!" Benten leaned back into her seat. "Those two are
too much even for an ampsuit! Hey, Misato! Do you have any ideas how
this could've happened?"
"I'll have to run tests," Misato said. "But I do believe I've
figured out a name for the ampsuits."
The psychologist replayed the section before the ampsuits crashed
into the "Ossa'cha." The monitors showed both suits wrapped in a roiling
ball of psionic fire. "Looks like a fireball," Benten mused.
"No," Misato said. "An Inferno."
BLOCKER: Never mind the damage caused to the ship!
* * *
The next day...
Both Noriko and Kazumi stood rather nervously inside Benten's
office. Both of them knew they were being made to sweat, with good
reason. After they regained consciousness, they were put into the
regeneration matrix to recover. After being hauled out, they were told to
clean up and report directly to Benten's office where they had been
standing at attention until the Minister of Defense arrived.
The door opened and Benten strode in. She returned Noriko's and
Kazumi's salute but did not let them drop their stance. Benten sat down
behind her desk and leaned back, resting her chin on her fingers. "Right
now, both of you are in quite a bit of trouble. You disobeyed direct
orders to cease combat and you crippled both warsuits...AND you did it in
such a way that could have caused the 'Ossa'cha' damage."
All three knew this would be highly unlikely, but there was that
chance. "On the other hand," Benten said, "...you performed excellently
before that 'incident' and have given us valuable data on both the
Infernos and Sagussan psionic abilities. Misato has requested that I not
be to harsh since she wants you both on the field so she can observe you."
RAN: That should be "that I not be *too* harsh".
Both Kazumi and Noriko relaxed a bit.
Benten leaned forward. "So I have decided to remove you from your
troops and from the Inferno project."
Both pilots face-faulted, but kept their tongues in check!
"Now don't give me those looks!" Benten grinned. "I said you are
to be removed from piloting Infernos and moved to a project more suited to
your skills and talents."
Benten pressed a button and a holographic image sprang up from the
desk. The image was of an Inferno. Or more exactly, a warsuit that
looked very much like the Inferno that it towered over in the image.
"The big one you see is what we are calling 'Inferno-X.' This was
planned as a command unit for a squadron of Infernos, and is still on the
drawing board pending a completed report. It has increased armour and
weapons, and can handle greater amounts of psionic energy because two
pilots are needed to man it."
Realization dawned on Noriko's and Kazumi's faces.
"That's right," Benten said. "You'll be moving up to commanding
your own squadron of Infernos...that is, if you have what it takes.
However, I need a written guarantee that your high-minded disregard for
obeying orders is under control. We can't afford you two destroying all
of our Infernos.
"Aye-aye, ma'am!!" Noriko and Kazumi saluted, beaming.
* * *
And truth be told. They did in fact NOT blow up the Inferno-X...
Not quite!!
BLOCKER: Not quite?
RAN: I wonder what happened to the Inferno-X.
BLOCKER: I got the impression from the second story that the project was
dropped due to military considerations!
RAN: Or something like that. That is a inconsistancy between the two
stories that should be resolved.
BLOCKER: All in all, a decent filler piece.
RAN: This is obviously an early venture into the idiom for Geiger-san,
and as we seen, can stand improvement. But the plot itself it
quite solid.
BLOCKER JOE: Nothing disasterous happened during the entire review!
That amazing!
RAN: Yes, so let's rap it up before something terrible happens! This
is Ran, saying good night and.....
ATARU: Ran-chan [flying over] Let's go out tonight....
LUM: DARRLINGGG....
ZZZZZZ A PPPP
Z A A P P
Z AAAAA PPPP
Z A A P
ZZZZZZ A A P
BLOCKER: So much for lack of disaster [watching Ataru scurry out into
the sunset.]
Until next time, this is Blocker Joe the Lemming saying ja ne!
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REVIEWERS NOTES:
First comment: why go with that tired horse for an ending. Especially
in a TSY story?
1). Why not?
2). The old cliches are old because sometimes they work! Especially
in a last minute pinch.
**********************************************************************
comments, flames (many when TSY authors glance upon the end), grunts
and loud noises to:
cornetts@gemair.com